tending to a crown of glory 29. These Priests hear Confessions and either presently give absolution or defer it for a time as they see cause 30. They reserve the Sacrament which consequently they often administer in that one kind in which it is reserved 31. They use Exorcisms against the Devils who are cast out at their command many times 32. The people flock to them to crave their blessing 33. They give this Blessing with their hand making the sign of the Cross God sometimes miraculously curing the sick by the blessing of holy Priests and Bishops 34. The Bishops who ordain and govern these Priests are themselves governd by their Metropolitans and Primats These Primats are placed in this Authority by the Pope and alwaies invested by him giving them their Pall to use only at solemn Mass 35. The Primacie of the Bishop of Canterbury is not instituted by any King but by the Pope giving that Bishop full power over all English Bishops though living then under several Kings 36. These Bishops when they suffer any grievances from their Metropolitans or Primats in England do make their Appeal immediately unto the Pope as to their highest Superior on Earth their Accusers prosecute their Accusation not in England but in the Popes Court at Rome they being there cast obey humbly in their own Kingdom and by the sentence of the Pope English Bishops depos'd are acknowledg'd to be legally restor'd and this even in a publick Synod of the English Church And this Appeal used by their most holy Bishops 37. The most holy also and most Apostolick Bishops ask the Popes license and blessing to preach to Heathens 38. They have evermore recourse to the Pope in the most important Ecclesiastical causes 39. They admit the use of such priviledges as the Pope granteth to any in England 40. They admit of more Councels then the four General Councels 41. The Pope in these Ages is stiled Bishop of the whole World He is said to exercise this his Supremacy in place of S. Peter who is call'd the first Pastor of the Church and Prince of the Apostles is the ordinary name by which then at every word they call'd S. Peter S. Peter also owneth the deeds of his Successors who also give the blessing of S. Peter to Kings as to inferiors for without all contradiction the less is bless'd by the better as S. Paul saith Heb. 7. v. 7. Hence also as a father he calleth Kings his sons 42. He sends Apostolick Preachers over the world 43. Those who divide from Prelats commissioned by him are accounted Schismaticks and God bringeth ruine upon them as is miraculously by such Prelats prophecied unto them They also by manifest Miracle are convicted to follow falsity 44. The Tradition of the Church is to be held and that of the Church of Rome is preferr'd before all other 45. The Church of Rome held at this time Catholick and Apostolick 46. The yearly Feasts kept by us after the custom of the Roman Church 47. Conformity to be held with that Church which is spread over the face of the Earth 48. Decrees of Councels to be observ'd and that it is a damnable sin to hold against the Church when we are fully certified that she teacheth such or such a point contrary unto us 49. All these things were believ'd and practis'd by the English Church at that Age in which she in all things followed the Catholick Rule As here Bede testifieth Behold dear Countrymen near half a hundred things all to be seen by thee in that old English Church of which not any one can be seen in the present English Church This thou beholding attentively with thy own eies without any noise of disputation or intanglement of captious arguments wilt be able manifestly to conclude that all these half hundred points so oppos'd and scoffed at by all Protestants shew those ancient English not to have been Protestants And to see this thou canst not but have learning enough if thou canst but read It is also here as clearly to be seen that no one of those Religions with which England doth now so abound was the Religion of those daies And that all that you most scoff at in the Religion which you call Popery was then most in use Now lest thou shouldest not observe these thing as thou readest this little book I have everywhere in the Margent noted down for thee all the places where every one of these half hundred points may be beheld by thee in the short passage through this Book In less then a quarter of an hour thou by casting an eye upon these Marginal notes maiest take a sufficient proof of any point here mentioned and see if what I say be not as clearly to be seen in the practise of this old pure Church as it is here set down by me in this Summary of such things as are in this Book to be view'd Whence the Reader cannot but see either the gross ignorance or over-lashing boldness of Dr. Henry Ferne who durst lately say that the faith which England cast off in Hen. the 8. his daies or rather in the daies of Q. Fliz. was not the same faith which was brought into England at our conversion under S. Gregory and thac if we had kept that faith the English Church could not justly have in this Age divided from the former English Church And yet neither he nor any though never so learned a Protestant Dr. is able to shew the time when or the place where or the persons who or the means â—y which or any one single point in which all England chang'd the faith receiv'd under S. Gregory That faith as we prov'd in the beginning of this Preface was the same which the Scots had receiv'd in the fourth Age and which the old Britans received even in the beginning of the 2d Age after Christs Passion not full 100. years after the Scripture was finisht At that tâ—me then undoubtedly the faith of England was uncorrupt You have east off the faith agreeing in all points now in controversie with that faith therefore you have 〈◊〉 off the true faith And this very faith is the only faith which England cannot now endure but forceth us point by point to abjure in her new coined oath of Abjuration so unlike is this present English Church to the Old English Church If this short Work makes thee not to see this with thy eies I desire no kind of credit with thee but if with thy own eies thou seest all this then I beseech thee as thou lovest thy own soul not to let those find credit with thee who would perswade thee that to be false which thy eies tell thee to be most true I know there is no way to answer this so palpable a conviction but by finding some shift to detract from this Historie what shift this will be I cannot devise First Thou canst not say that the History saith not what we make it say For we
1. c. 4. did not pretend any cause of division from Augustines Doctrine about Mass use of the Crosse and Images worship of Saints and Relicks or any other point wherein we and Protestants differ A demonstrative argument that none of these things brought in by Augustine were contrary to what was delivered to the Britans not a full hundred years after the Apostles time So that as long as Augustines Religion was kept in England the Apostles Religion was kept Chap. 3. Augustine ordain'd two Bishops Mellitus Justus Mellitus he sent to preach to the Province of the East Saxons whose chief City is London As soon as the Province by Mellitus preaching had receiv'd the word of Truth King Ethelbert built St. Pauls Church in London where Mellitus and his successors ever after were to hold their Bishops Seat Justus was ordain'd by him Bishop of Rochester in Kent where Ethelbert built St. Andrew the Apostles Church After this the dearly beloved Father in God Augustine dyed and his body was laid by the Church of the Apostles Peter and Paul in Canterbury which after it was finisht was brought in and honourably buried in the North-part thereof where also were interred the bodies of all the Archbishops following as long as there was room This Church hath an Altar in it dedicated to the honour of St. Gregory Pope at which Altar every Saturday the Commemoration of these departed Bishops is celebrated by the Priest of the place Upon St. Augustines Tomb is written Here resteth Augustine the first Archbishop of Canterbury who being sent hither by blessed Gregory Bishop and by working of Miracles supported by God brought King Ethelbert and his People from Idolatry to the Faith of Christ He dyed the 26. of May CHAP. 4. Laurence succeeded him in the Bishoprick whom Augustine yet living ordain'd least after his death the State of the Church rude as yet and newly converted might have wavered and faln if it had lackt a Pastour and guide never so little Wherein he followed the example of the first Pastour of the Church the most blessed Prince of the Apostles Peter who having laid at Rome the foundation of Christs Church consecrated Clement his Coadjutor and Successor Laurence seeing the ground-work of his Church to enlarge which was well and throughly laid endeavoured to raise the same to a perfect height by frequent exhortations and continual example of pious works He earnestly laboured as a true Shepheard not onely for the modern Church of the English but also for the Church of the old Inhabitants of Britany and Scots in Ireland whose profession as soon as hâ— knew to be lesse Ecclesiastical and not well ordered in many points especially about Easter they not celebrating it in due time He wrote unto them beseeching them to receive and keep the society of Catholike observance with the Church of Christ spread over the whole world To our dearest brethren the Bishops and Abbots in Scotland Laurence Mellitus c. When the See Apostolike according to the usuall manner of sending to all parts of the world directed us hither to preach the word of God We c. About this time Mellitus Bishop of London went to Rome for advice of the Apostolike Pope Boniface and for necessary causes of the English Church This Pope call'd a Councel of Bishops to appoint some order concerning the life of Monks Mellitus sate among them to the end that what there was legally decreed he confirming might bring with him to the English Church as precepts and rules to be observed He brought also letters from the Pope to Laurence Archbishop to the Clergy and the King This Pope cleansed the Temple Pantheon converting it into a Church in honour of our Lady and the Martyrs Chap. 5. In the year 613. Ethelbert King of Kent after he had raigned six and fifty years entred into eternal blisse the one and twentieth year after he had receiv'd the Faith and was interr'd in St. Martins Porch within the Church of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul Edbald his son much harm'd the tender sprigs of the Church but Gods scourge was not wanting for both an unclean spirit and a frâ—nzie possest him Moreover the death of Sabereth King of the East Saxons and Nephew to Ethelbert much encreased the persecution of the Church who going hence to the everlasting kingdome left three sons who all fell to Idolatry These Princes seeing the Bishop in the Church after he had said Mass giving to the people the Sacrament said unto him Why doest thou not give us also of that white bread To whom he answered If you will be washt in that wholesome Font wherein your Father was you may also eat of this blessed bread but if you contemn the laver of life you may not tastâ— the bread of life Hereupon the King commanded Mellitus and all his company to depart the Realm so he and Justus went over into France Chap. 6. Laurence the Archbishop being now ready to forsake Britany and follow Mellitus and Justus commanded the night before he was to go that his bed should be laid in the Saints Peter and Paulâ— Church where after many prayers and tears powr'd out to God for the State of the Church the blessed Prince of the Apostles appearing in his sleep unto him scourged him a good while and with Apostolicall Authority asked him Why he meant to forsake the flock which he himself had committed unto him and to what Shepheard running now away he would leave the sheep of Christ beset with ravening Wolves By these stripes and the words of St. Peter Laurence the servant of God imboldned came and presented himself to the King and throwing open his garment shew'd him how pittifully he had been beaten When the King all amazed demanded who durst inflict such stripes upon a man of his dignity when he understood it was for his salvation and that by the Apostle of Christ he became afraid and abandoning the worship of Idols and his unlawfull wedlock embraced the Faith of Christ and was baptized promoting the good of the Church to the utmost of his power He call'd home Mellitus and Justus commanding them to return to their Churches and instruct their flock Thus the King with all his Subjects from that day that he was converted submitted himself to the Precepts of God He built a Church in honour of our Lady the blessed Mother of God within the Abbey of St. Peter Prince of the Apostles which Mellitus hollowed Chap. 7. Relates How the holy Archbishop Laurence departing hence to heaven his body was buried in the Abbey-Church of St. Peter the Apostle Mellitus of London succeeded in the See of Canterbury the third after Augustine who by birth was noble but nobler by his singular virtue It chanced that the City of Canterbury was set on fire and great part consum'd and the raging flames drew nigh
a Monasticall and Solitary life than all worldly wealth After some years spent in a Monastery he made a Voyage to Rome to see what rights and ceremonies were observed there as well of Seculars as Religious He told the Queen the desire he had to visit the Monuments of the Holy Apostles which she approved At Rome he became acquainted with a Holy learned Arch-deacon called Boniface one of the Apostolike Popes Councellors by whose instructions he learnt the foure Books of the Gospell and Easter and many other things concerning the discipline of the Church which he could not attaine to in his Country Returning into England he was favoured by King Alfrid who had learned to follow in all things the Catholike Rules of the Church This King finding Wilfrid Catholick gave him Stamford and Rippon which the Scots had before to build Abbeies He was made Priest and followed the the Kings Court as Preacher and not long after was made Bishop by Agilbert Bishop of Paris In King Egfrids raigne he was deprived of his Bishoprick of Yorke and another ordeyned in his place Wilfrid going to Rome to plead his cause before the Apostolike Pope was driven into Frizland where he preacht unto them Christ And where many thousands being cōverted and baptized by him he was the first began this Evangelicall work which the most Reverend Bishop Willebrord afterwards finished Wilfrid having past the VVinter with his new Converts reassumed his journey to Rome where his cause was debated in presence of Pope Agatho many Bishops He was found by all their judgments to be without any fault and worthy of the Bishoprick The Pope gathered a Sinod at Rome of 125 Bishops against those who held but one will and operation in Christ Wilfrid sate among them where he was to declare his Faith and the Faith of his Countrey which was found to be Catholick This was thus registred in the Acts. Wilfrid the vertuous Bishop of Yorke appealing to the See Apostolike for his cause and by that Authority absolved and placed in Judgement Seat in the synod together with 125. other Bishops hath declared for all the Northerne parts of Britany the true and Catholike Faith confirming the same with subscription Wilfrid at his returne converted the South-Saxons and in the second year of King Aldefrid was restored to his Bishoprick After five years being again turned out he followed his appeale at Rome and his accusers being present he again was acquitted Returning through France he fell sick to death and told Acca how in that sicknesse one appeared to him in a white habit telling him that he was St Michael who said to him I am sent by God to recall thee from death For our Lord hath given thee life by the intercession of our Lady Mother of God but remaine prepared for after foure years I will come again to visite thee Thou shalt be restored to the greatest part of thy possessions and end thy life in peace Recovering he came into England where King Aldefrid refusing to restore him shortly dyeth Then a Synod is called by the votes of all he is reestablisht After four years of Peace he died in a Monastery of Abbot Cudbalds but entered in his own Monastery at Rippon in the Blessed Apostle St. Peters Church by the Altar These Verses are in his Epitaph Wilfrid that worthy Prelate Lyeth buried in this grave Who mov'd with Godly Zeale To Christ this Temple gave And of the Apostle Peters name St. Peters Church did call Christ gave To whom the Keyes of Heaven Cheif Governour of all He guilded it with finest gold With Scarlet hung it round And set up there a Crucifix Of Gold even from the ground Chap. 21. Acca succeeded Wilfrid in the Bishoprick of York a man for his courage and gallant deeds gracious in the sight of God and Man He enlarged the Church dedicated to St. Andrew and adorned it with many exquisite works He did both then and doth at this very day endeavour to gather together the Holy Apostles and Martyrs Reliques that he may in their honor build Altars He provided Holy Vessels lights and other necessaries appertaining to the better adorning the Church of God Chap. 22. Naitan King of the Picts abandoning the Errours which he and his Country had long kept touching Easter brought them all to the Catholike observation which that he might effect he required aide of the English whom he knew to have fram'd their Religion according to the Church of Rome and See Apostolike He sent Embassadors to that end to Reverend Abbot Ceolfrid of the Monastery of St. Peter and Paul He requested further to be instructed what manner of Tonsure the Clergy then should use He desired to have some cunning workmen sent him to build a Church after the manner of Rome promising to dedicate it in the honor of St. Peter Prince of the Apostles and to follow ever more the order and faith of the Church of Rome and See Apostolike In Ceolfrids letter to the King be these words We exhort you most humbly to take care that your Clergy may beare the same Tonsure which the Church doth receive For as all congregations of the faithfull are accustomed to carry the signe of the Crosse in the forehead that by the power thereof they may be defended from the assaults of the Devil and by often remembrance of it be instructed so it behoveth them who being made by vow Monks or by profession of the Clergy binde themselves more strictly with the bridle of continencie to beare on the Head by shaving the shape of a Crown as our Saviour did a Crowne of Thornes at his Passion as well to express their ready minde to suffer mockeries for Christ as strengthen their hope for a Crowne of glory In the same letter he Relateth what concerning this point he said to the Scotish Abbot Adaman I said quoth he Brother if you seek the fellowship of St. Peter why do you follow the manner of shaving which he used whom St. Peter did excommunicate and why rather shew you not that you desire with your heart his character with whom you desire to live in blisse If you desire to follow his steps and counsell whom you took to have as a Patron with God the Father then he commands thus It beseemeth you most puissant Prince to observe all that agreeth with the unity of Christs Catholick and Apostolick Church So it will come to passe that the Prince of the Apostles will open to you and yours the gates of Heaven By this advise in short time this Prince with all his dominions was brought to the true observation of Easter all the Ministers of the Altar and Monks had their heads shaven round in forme of a Crowne and the whole Nation being reformed did rejoyce to see themselves disciples of the most blessed Prince of
command of Preists they declared both the manner of the tempest they raised and the danger like to have ensued confessing they were overcome by their merits and command Upon their arrivall they filled the Island with their good name preaching and vertues and the word of God was taught by them as well in Churches as in the open streets and in the Countrey so that in all places the found and Faithful Catholikes were confirmed and they that before swarved from truth were reduced Thus in short time through their authority vertue and learning the whole Country was brought under obedience to their Doctrine The Authors of Heretical errour lay lurking all this while and like the wicked spirits were vext to see the people daily fall from them At length they undertook to try the matter by open disputation which being consented to they come forth richly and sumptuously apparell'd attended by a number of flatterers chusing rather to commit their cause to open contest than seem to the People whom they had subverted to have nothing to say in defence thereof Thither flockt a great number of people with their wives and children The blessed Priests German and Lupus gave their Adversaries leave to speak first who vainly entertain'd the people with naked words Then the reverend Bishops poured forth their Eloquence confirm'd with sacred Texts from the Gospel and Apostles Thus vanity was convinced falsehood confuted and in effect at every objection their Adversaries were forced to confesse their errour not being able to answer The people could hardly hold their hands from them yet shewed they their judgement by their acclamations Chap. 18. This done a certain Colonel cometh forth offering them his daughter of ten years old to be cured who was blinde They bad him carry her to their Adversaries but they their own conscience frighting them from such an enterprise joyn with the girls Parents desiring the Priests to doe the cure who seeing their Adversaries dismaid made their Prayer Then Germanus full of the holy Ghost calling upon the blessed Trinity looseth from his neck a little bag full of Reliques of the holy Saints and in the sight of them all applyed it to the eyes of the Maid VVhereupon she strait receiv'd her sight to the great joy of her parents and the amazement of the people at the Miracle From that day the said errours were so rooted out that with most earnest desire they all imbraced the doctrine of the Bishops Thus damned falshood being supprest the Authors confuted and all mens minds instructed in purity of Faith they went to St. Albans to give God praise and thanks by him Where Germanus having Reliques of the Apostles and divers Martyrs making his prayer commanded the Tomb to be opened with intent there to deposite those precious treasures thinking it good that the members of the Saints gotten in divers Countries might be shrin'd together in one Tomb who like in Merits rejoyced with God in Heaven Which being done with much honor he took some of the dust of the place where the holy Martyrs blood was shed and carried it away with him and a great number were that day converted Chap. 19. As they were returning back it happened by the Devils procurement that Saint German by a fall brake his leg that so by the affliction of the body the merits of the holy man might be more encreased VVhilest by reason of his weakness he was fain to tarry still in one place the next house to his lodging was by chance set on fire which having consumed all neer it drew nigh where this good man lay But that the power of God might appear the fire spoiled whatsoever the people sought to save except what the sick man lying in his bed preserv'd for in the midst of the raging flames the house which this weak man kept remain'd untouch'd all wondring at the Miracle Before the Cottage of this poor Prelate lay a multitude of people without number some to be cured of the maladies of their souls others of their bodies It cannot be exprest what Miracles Christ wrought by his Servant and what cures this sick man did In the mean time suffering no remedy to be applyed unto himself one night he saw a beautifull young man all in White at his bed side who stretching forth his hand seemed to lift him up and bid him stand and from that houre his pains were asswag'd and he restor'd to health Chap. 20. About this time the Saxons and picts waged war against the Britans who fearing they should not be able to match them implored the help of the holy Bishops who coming to the Camp filled their hearts with such confidence as if a mighty Army had been come to aide them This hapned about the holy time of Lent which was more devoutly observed through the presence of the Priestâ— In so much as being instructed by continual preaching many of the Countrey were daily Christned and the greatest part of the Army required Baptism On Easter-day they made in the Campe the form of a Church adorning it with boughes where they were solemnly Baptized by virtue whereof they became fervent in Faith and bold in hope of Gods strength The Enemy having intelligence of their sober demeanour and order of their Campe thinking to surprize them being unarm'd and obtain the victory marcht in great speed towards them Now the holy-dayes of Easter being past the Army goeth fresh from Baptism to their weapons S. German making himself their Captain pickt forth a choice Troup of souldiers placing them covertly in a Valley where it was thought the enemy would passe giving them all warning that as they heard him say they should all answer the same Thus suddenly breaking out of Ambush where they lay the enemy being not aware of them the Priest of God cryed aloud thrice together Alleluja all the Troop repeating answered the same The eccho from the hils resounded as though they had been thrice as many whereat the Enemy was so amaz'd as though heaven had fought against them Whereupon with all speed they fled casting away their weapons thinking it enough if they could escape with life The British souldiers gathered up the spoiles and with great joy acknowledg'd God onely to be the giver of that overthrow The Island being thus set in good order the Bishops returned home to whom God gave a prosperous passage both for their own vertues sake as also at the Intercession of the blessed Martyr Alban CHAP. 21. Not long after word was brought out of the same Island that the Pelagian Heresie was reviv'd Again therefore are directed to the Bishop the entreaty of all the Priests that he would go through with the Cause of God which he had taken in hand So he return'd again into Britany with Severus who was disciple of the most blessed Father Lupus ordain'd Bishop of Trevers preaching first unto that part of Germany the word of
either to build new or repair old Churches And it was not long before the King himself much delighted with their purity of life and example of godly conversation and by their sweet promises which they prov'd to be true by working many Miracles believ'd and were baptiz'd Then the People daily more and more resorted to their Sermons and renouncing Heathenish Rites joyn'd themselves to the unity of the Holy Church The King also appointed them a place and Seat befitting their Calling in his head City of Canterbury giving them necessary possessions for thier maintenance Chap. 27. After this the man of God Augustine came to Arles where by Etherius Archbishop of that City he was ordain'd Archbishop of the English according as St. Gregory had commanded and returning into Britany he sent Laurence Priest and Peter Monk to Rome to make relation to St. Gregory that the English had receiv'd the Faith and he made their Bishop he also requir'd his Answer to certain Queries Pope Gregories answer to Augustines first demand For as much as you being brought up under Monasticall rule must not live apart from your Clergy in the Church of the English which is but newly entred upon the Faith of Christ you must follow the prescript and form of life which was us'd in the Primitive Church among the Fathers for there was none among them that said that to be his own which he possessed but all was in common And if there be any of the Clergy who having not yet receiv'd holy Orders cannot live chaste they may take Wives and have their stipend allowed them apart from the rest Augustines second Demand Whereas there is but one Faith why be there so many sundry customs of the Churches and one custome of Masses observ'd in the holy Roman Church and another in France Gregories Answer You knew the custome of the Church of Rome wherein you were brought up but if you have found any thing be it in the Church of Rome France or elswhere that may please God more I am content that you choose it planting in the English Church which is but lately come to the Faith the best orders you can gather from them all Augustines nineth question concerns illusions in Dreams whither such things hapning a Lay-man may receive the body of Christ or a Priest say Mass Another of his questions is whether and when Children are to be Baptiz'd Gregories Answer is that in necessity they are presently to be Baptized Chapter 28. nothing but a Letter from the Pope to the Archbishop of Arles to assist Augustine Chap. 29. The same Pope for as much as Augustine had advertized him that there was a great harvest and but few labourers sent him more Preachers of which the chiefest were Mellitus Rufinianus Justus Paulinus By these he sent such things as were necessary for the Purniture and Ministry of the Church as holy Vessels Altar-Cloths Church stuffe apparrell for Priests and Clergie with Reliques of the holy Apostles and Martyrs and Books He sent him a Pall and by letters instructed him what order to hold in making Bishops throughout Britany Gregories Letter To his most Reverend and holy Brother Augustine the servant of the servants of God Since by the goodnesse of God and your industry the new Church of the English is brought unto the Faith of Christ we grant unto you the use of the Pall to wear when you say Mass and we give way that you ordain Twelve Bishops under your jurisdiction but so that the Bishop of London be henceforth consecrated by his own Synod and receive his Palâ— from this holy and Apostolike See wherein I by the Authority of God do now serve Also our will is that you send a Bishop to York to whom we intend to give a Pall To you shall be subject not onely the Bishops you make or he of Yorke but all the Priests of Britany to the end that by your manner of life they may receive a pattern both to believe and live well Note that the Pall wherewith the Pope invests Metropolitans is a shoulder-piece imbroidred with Crosses made not of fine linnen aâ— the High-Priests was Exod. 28. but of fine sheeps wool to minde them of Christs carrying the lost sheep on his Shoulders It was first laid on St. Peters shrine and given to them thence Chap. 30. The holy Father Gregory sent letters to Mellitus shewing how earnestly he thirsted the good of our Countrey Vnto his dearly beloved Son Mellitus Abbot Gregory the servant of the servants of God When God shall bring you to our Brother Augustine tell him with serious deliberation I thought fit that not the Temples but the Idols in them be broken that holy Water be made and sprinkled about the said Temples Altars erected Reliques plac'd It may be allow'd that in Dedications or Birth-dayes of Martyrs whose Reliques are there reserv'd the people make them bowers Feasting together after a good religious sort Chap. 31. About this time Gregory wrote to Augustine concerning such Miracles as he knew done by him wishing him not to run hazard of vain glory by the great number of them I know saith he dear brother it hath pleased God to shew by thee great Miracles among the people whom by thee he hath called to the Faith Thou hast cause to joy that by the means thereof the English mens souls are won to the Faith but thou oughtest to fear least by the said Miracles thou by outward praise be puffed up c. Chap. 32. Contains the Letter of Pope Gregory to King Ethelbert with Presents and the blessing of St. Peter Chap. 33. Augustine being now Bishop obtain'd an old Church antiently of the Romans and Dedicated it to the Name of our Saviour making it a perpetual Seat for him and his Successors Not far Eastward of the City he built a Monastery to the which King Ethelbert through his advice new built a Church to the honour of the Sts. Peter and Paul enriching it with sundry gifts Laurence his Successor consecrated it The first Abbot thereof was one Peter a Priest who being cast away at Sea and by the Inhabitants buried after a homely manner Our Lord intending to have it known how worthy a man he was caus'd to appear every night a light from Heaven over the place where he was buried The Inhabitants gathering hereby that he was some holy man remov'd his body thence burying it honourably in the town of Bullen in France In the 34. Chapter nothing but civil affairs The Second Book Chap. 1. IN the year 605. holy Pope Gregory having govern'd most gloriously the See of the Roman Apostolike Church departed this life to an everlasting seat in Heaven He converted our English Nation from the power of Sathan to the Faith of Christ whom we may well also must call our Apostle For as soon as
he was High Bishop over the whole world and appointed Governour of the Churches newly converted he made our Nation the Church of Christ which till then had been the bondslave of Idols so that we may truly make good the saying of the Apostle that although he were not an Apostle to others yet to us he was for the seale of his Apostleship we are in the Lord Laying aside his worldly Nobility by special grace from God he turn'd it to the purchasing of eternal glory in Heaven Putting off his secular habit he betook himself unto a Monastery where he liv'd in that perfection that as he was wont to witnesse with tears all transitory things became subject to him undervaluing the world and thinking on nothing but heavenly things and though immur'd in an earthly body by contemplation he surpast the natural bounds of flesh loving death as an entrance unto life All this he telleth of himself not boasting of his encrease in virtue but rather lamenting the want and decay thereof He swarv'd not from Monastical perfection by any occasion or trouble of his Ecclesiastical charge His House was like a well ordered Monastery for although he was taken thence and made Bishop and ordain'd to the Ministery of the Altar and sent Legat from the See Apostolike to Constantinople yet he never intermitted his wonted course of life but had with him Religious of the Monastery for the better keeping regular observance that by their example he might be fastned as with a strong Anchor to the pleasant port of prayer strengthening his soul by daily reading and conferring with them Whereas other Bishops took pains in building Churches and beautifying the same with gold and silver he altogether was employ'd in gaining souls What money he had he carefully distributed among the poor He made our Nation by Preachers sent hither partakers of eternal liberty This holy Pope ordain'd that in the Chappel of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul Masses should be said at their Bodies To the Canon of the Masse he added these words which still appear in our Mass dispose our dayes in peace free us from eternal damnation and number us in the stock of thine Elect. He was buried in S. Peters Church before the Vestrie T is reported that seeing British children sold at Rome he inquired what was the name of that nation they told him they were called Angels or English with good reason quoth he for they have an Angels face and it is fitting they should be inheritors with the Angels in Heaven Then he ask't the Name of the Province the Merchants said they were called Deires they may so quoth he for they shall be delivered from the Ire or anger of God and call'd to the mercy of Jesus Christ Then he asked the Kings Name they answered his Name was Alle St. Gregory alluding to his Name said Alleluja must be sung in that Princes Dominions Hereupon he besought the Bishop of the Roman Apostolike See for he was not then Bishop thereof to send into Britany Ministers of the Word for their conversion offering himself ready for that work if so it had pleas'd the Apostolick Pope but the Citizens of Rome would not let him goe so far from them Afterwards being Pope he accomplisht this good work so long desired sending thither divers Preachers he himself helping at home by Prayer and wholesome instructions Chap. 2. About this time Augustine call'd together the Bishops and Doctours of the greatest Province which was of the Britans perswading them as a Brother to Catholick unity and to hold communion with him For as yet they kept not Easter Sunday in due time but from the 14. to the 20. Moon They used also many other things contrary to the Unity of the Church which being shew'd unto them and that neither for entreaty nor rebukes of Augustine they would assent preferring their own traditions before all other Churches which through the whole world agreed with them This Father said unto them let us pray to God that he will vouchsafe to signifie unto us by some heavenly sign which tradition is to be followed Let some sick body be brought and by whose prayers he shall be healed let his Faith be believed His Adversaries granting unto it there was brought forth a blinde man who first presented to the British Priests when by them he was not cured Saint Augustine on his knees besought our Lord to restore sight unto him that so his grace might be enkindled in the hearts of many and forthwith the blind-man saw and Augustine was held of the people as the true Teacher For all this they assembled a second and greater Synod to which t is said seven British or Welch Bishops carne with many learned men especially from the chiefest Monastery of Bangor whereof Dinoch was Abbot All these openly refusing subjection to Augustine he said to them Although deare brethren in many points you do contrary to us or rather contrary to the custome of the Vniversall Church yet if you will in these things agree with us viz. To celebrate Easter in due time to administer baptism according to the manner of the holy Roman and Apostolike Church preaching with us the word of the Lord to this English Nation All your other Ceremonies Rites Observances and Customs though contrary to ours we will willingly bear with But they replyed they would doe none of these things nor hold him for their Archbishop Whereupon the man of God Augustine threatningly prophesied that since they waved peace with their brethren they should have war from their enemies and since they refus'd to preach the word of Life to the English Nation by their hands they should suffer death Which in all points came to passe as he had foretold For Edilfrid that valiant King of the English raising a mighty Army made a great slaughter of this wicked people For being about to give battel perceiving their Priests met together to pray for their Souldiers he asked who they were and to what end they met there Most of them were of the Monastery of Bangor in Wales where such a number of Monks are said to have been that their Monastery divided into seven parts with their Prelats no one of them had fewer than 300. Most of these having fasted three dayes met at the Camp to pray King Edilfrid understanding the cause of their convening If quoth he they invoke their God against us they fight against us though they bear no Arms Whereupon he commanded the charge to be made upon them and in the end though with losse he quite ruined the other Troops of this wicked Army They say there perisht in that battle about 1200 of those that were assembled to pray and so was accomplisht the Prophesie of Augustine the holy Bishop Note That these Welch Bishops living in the Faith receiv'd from Pope Eleutherius An. 156. as was said B.