Nations on all sides of the Roman Empire as if universally excited by a Trumpet broke their limits amongst the rest the Picts Saxons Scots and Attacotti vex'd the Brittains with incessant Calamities Who the Picts and Scots were hath been before-declar'd the Saxons as yet infested the Sea-shores but who the Attacotti were St. Jerom tells us They were saith he a Savage People upon the Northern Mountains of Scotland who neglecting Beeves and other Cattle fed themselves with Humane Flesh as their principal Delicacies living without Law or Government and who had promiscuous Wives and hildren in common These were easily induc'd to joyn with the Scots and Picts against the Civil Britains The Emperour Valentinian to suppress these Incursions leaving his Brother Valens to govern in the East made an Expedition into Gaul where having compos'd great Troubles he met with very ill News from Britain so as he sent one of his Principal Officers to remedy those Disorders there at last more horrible Rumours increasing he made choice of Theodosius to go General thither a Man Famous for many Martial Exploits who attended with Courageous Legions prosecuted the Expedition with a Noble Confidence The Saxons not only Infested the British Coasts but made an impression even to London To remedy which injuries the vigilant General Theodosius being landed near Sandwich in Kent with his Co-horts march'd streight to London and dividing his Army into several Squadrons set upon the stragling Enemies loaden with Spoils and dispersing them Rescu'd the Prisoners with the Cattle and other Prey which he restor'd to the miserable Natives except some small part of it that was bestow'd upon his wearied Soldiers He then enter'd the City in Triumph and was joyfully receiv'd by the People recover'd from their Misery by his Valour while he stay'd there having intimation that so many fierce Nations could not be better suppress'd than by subtilty to divide them therefore he published Edicts promising Pardon to such as would submit Those which came in he dispers'd into Quarters severally well providing for them which encourag'd many more to submit He sent to the Emperour that Civilis might be sent over as his Deputy-Governour in Britain and Dulcitius as his Lieutenant in Martial Affairs and well skill'd therein And two years after he march'd Northward and put to flight several Nations who invaded the Roman Provinces and restor'd Peace to many Cities which had been vex'd with many troubles There was then in Britain one Valentinus a Pannonian banish'd into Britain for great Crimes who had like to have circumvented Theodosius by Treason after all his Conquests for this Valentinus being of an ambitious and turbulent Spirit sollicited many of the Soldiers to Conspire against him But this design being discover'd the good General contented himself with the Death of Valentinus and his nearest Associates least by searching too far into the Conspiracy he might stir up a Mutiny in his Army This danger escap'd he so successfully prosecuted the War that he recover'd all the Provinces from the Enemies and secur'd them by strong Garrisons and a particular Governour So that now so much of Britain as was under the Roman Dominion became divided into five Provinces The first call'd Britania prima containing all the Southern parts from the Sea and Thames to the Severn the second Britania secunda comprehending all Wales the third call'd Flavia Caesariensis probably from the Son of this Theodosius afterwards Emperour of the Flavian Family embracing all the Regions to the River Humber the fourth call'd Maxima Caesariensis reaching from Humber to the River Tine Lastly Theodosius having repell'd the Picts and Scots out of all the Provinces beyond Tine as far as Dunbritton and Edenburgh call'd the fifth Province Valentia wherein a Roman Legion Winter'd to repress the Incursions of the Scots Theodosius having thus Happily settled Britain was two years after recall'd by the Emperour to Rome and made General of the Horse as also Honour'd with a Statue of Brass by the Senate and at last by his eminent Exploits recommended his Son to the Empire The year after the departure of Theodosius from this Island our Ecclesiastical Monuments Commemorate St. Ninias his Journey to Rome there to be instructed in the Orthodox Faith and whither it is probable he attended Theodosius Which Faith afterwards with great efficacy he communicated to his Country-men This Ninias was born in Britain of a Princely Stock in Cumberland who then had its peculiar King his Father was a Christian In Childhood he was Sober sparing of his Tongue diligent in Reading Grave in Conversation careful to subject the Flesh to the Spirit He also shew'd great Devotion to Churches At the last by a forcible instinct of Gods Spirit despising the World and Carnal Affections he Travell'd into Italy and so to Rome and there address'd himself to Pope Damasus and declar'd the Cause of his Journey whereupon the Holy Bishop appointed him Teachers in the wholesom sense of Scriptures by whom he was instructed in true Wisdom to the Comfort and Profit of others To this time is refer'd the memory of St. Augulus born in London Bishop and Martyr as also of St. Moyses said also to be born in Britain Famous for many Miracles who after a Solitary Life in the Desart was made Bishop of the Saracens and after he had Converted many of that Nation to the Orthodox Faith he there dy'd in Peace To Valentinian succeeded his Son Gratian who nine years before had been nam'd Augustus by his Father and about six days after his younger Brother Valentinian was saluted Emperour by the Soldiers with the Consent of Gratian. And now the Picts and Scots began to make Incursions into Britain again in one of which they led Captive with them the Child of Calphurnius Socher call'd afterwards Patrick in the 16th year of his Age whom they Sold to a Nobleman in the Northern parts of Ireland call'd Milchu he Imploy'd the Holy Youth in keeping his Swine to be try'd betimes in the Furnace of Affliction for six years the Devout Youth spent in this Slavery in which time nevertheless God wrought great Miracles by him St. Patrick's Imployment withdrawing him from Conversation of men afforded him the more space to attend upon God He is said to address his Prayers to God a hundred times a day and as often by night to his Prayers he added Fasting for the Mortification of his Senses with these two wings he mounted to such Perfection that he enjoy'd a frequent Conversation of Angels insomuch as an Angel call'd Victor frequently visited him and told him He did well to Fast and that e're long he should return into his Country Let no man wonder at this unusual Name of an Angel for as St. Gregory observes Angels are design'd by particular Names to signifie their particular Virtucs and Operations And this of Victor might intimate to St. Patrick that first he should Conquer his own Tribulations and then the Power of the Devil in that
and Tomb of Saints because it had been Built by the immediate Disciples of our Lord and to him Dedicated as Venerable Antiquity doth testifie All which consider'd to deny so great a Blessing confer'd on our Nation must savour of Passion and un-excusable Partiality The time and occasion of St. Joseph's Arrival here and the particular Acts of him and his Companions after so many years of change and alteration cannot befully accountable The time in all likelihood was when Suetonius Paulinus was Pretor here and when Policletus Favourite to Nero came hither with his Retinue the occasion of his coming is less certain Some write that St. Joseph was sent hither by St. Philip the Apostle or Evangelist grounding their opinion from Procalphius who speaks little to that purpose Tradition informs us that St. Joseph at his first coming Address'd himself to Arviragus then King of the Britains and said to be the Founder of the University of Oxford by the help of an Augur or Prophet named Olenus Calenus from whom it was first called Calena And although Arviragus did not submit to the Doctrine of St. Joseph yet he gave him leave to publish it in Peace so well was he prepar'd to the Entertainment of Divine Truth by humane Education Nay he was also pleas'd to afford Joseph and his Companions a place of Retreat not only commodious for their Devotions but sufficient for their Sustenance call'd by the Britains the Glassey-Island or Avallonia in which certain Lands were alloted both by Arviragus and his Son Marius containing about 12 Hydes for the Nourishment of those Godly persons being the first of ground in this Island Dedicated to the Service of God and after called Godney The first thing these new Inhabitants undertook was to build and Consecrate a Church for the Worship of God which they Dedicated to the Honour of the most Blessed Virgin Mary And as is affirm'd amongst other things relating to Glastonbury Monastery in an Epistle of St. Patrick who died there was Consecrated Miraculously by our Blessed Lord himself to the Honour of his Mother This wonderful Consecration is more fully declar'd by the Testimony of the Illustrious Bishop of St. David the Extirpator of Pelagianisme out of Britain as hath been Collected out of the Antiquities of Glastonbury by Willià m of Malmsbury to this effect following That St. David with other Bishops coming to Glastonbury invited by the Sanctity of the place resolv'd to Consecrate the Church there formerly erected to the Honour of the Mother of God and having provided all things necessary for that purpose the night before his intended Ceremony our Blessed Lord appear'd to St. David in his sleep and demanded the cause of his coming thither which St. David forthwith declar'd whereupon our Lord taking him by the Hand told him That he himself many years before had Dedicated the said Church to the Honour of his Mother and that That Holy Ceremony was not to be Profain'd by any mans repeating And having said this with his Finger pierc'd through the Bishops Hand telling him this should be a sign that what himself had formerly Anticipated ought not again to be Renew'd and withall promis'd him that when the said Bishop the next day at the Canon of the Mass should pronounce the words Per ipsum cum ipso in ipsoâ—â— His Hand should be restor'd sound to him The Bishop awaking found his Hand pierc'd and others saw and touch'd the Wound with great Admiration and the Preparation for the Consecration was laid aside and during the Celebration of Mass the Bishops Hand became Sound The sum of what hath hitherto been here related is repeated by St. Augustine the Convertor of our Nation in an Epistle of his to St. Gregory the Great and by Copgrave in the Life of St. Joseph and is further testify'd by an Antient Inscription cut in Brass fasten'd to a Pillar in the same Church declaring in effect what hath been said already This Inscription is recorded by Sir Henry Spelman in his Collection of Councels and yet by him pretended to be Fabulous First He doubts whether any Christian Churches were Erected so early Which doubt is certainly groundless unless he mean such Magnificent Structures as have been built since Christianity hath been publickly cherish'd and countenanc'd but that even under the Harrows of Persecution the Christians made shift to Erect or Assign places to meet in and perform the Rites and Duties of Religion is Attested by all Ecclesiastical Histories Secondly If Churches were Built yet they were not Encompass'd with ground for Burial before St. Cuthbert 's time Burial within Cities being forbidden by the Roman Laws Sure this is a false conceit for King Ethelbert and his Bishop St. Augustine before St. Cuthbert's days were Buried in the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul at Canterbury Constantine the first Christian Emperour was buried amongst the Relicks and Bones of the Apostles and Martyrs And as for the Roman Law forbidding Burials in Cities it was antiquated long before this however Glastonbury was no City scarce a Village rather a Desart far from Rome and under the Dominion of Brittish Princes well-wishers to Christianity and the simplicity thereof in those days Thirdly Dedication of Churches was not then in use Doubtless many Ceremonies and Solemnities have been added by the Church but as certainly the Houses or Places which the most Primitive Christians assigned for the Worship of God were by some Ceremonies Dedicated to that use as by erecting a Title fixing a Cross c. as the most antient Records testifie But lastly That which most displeases Sir Hen. is the Dedication of this Church to the Blessed Virgin for he thinks such a kind of Devotion was not thought of until many Ages after but then he must forget the Tradition of Spain attested in all their Liturgies and many of their Councils that from the first entrance of Christianity into that Kingdom several Churches have been erected to the Honour of that Blessed Virgin witness that most Famous Temple at Saragosa called Dell Pilar Celebrated above 1000 years since by St. Maximus Bishop of that City in several Hymns by him composed in Honour of that Venerable House called Angelical because the Pillar on which the Virgins Statue was fixed is thought to be brought thither by the Ministery of Angels After the Death of Arviragus Marius his Son succeeds him in the Brittish Throne resembling his Father as in Courage and other Prince-like Virtues so also in his kindness to these holy Strangers This Marius is reported to have had a great Victory over the Picts who were doubtlesly no other than the Northern Britains then unconquered and consequently unciviliz'd by the Romans but who remaining in their Barbarous custom of painting their Bodies got a new name of Picts After the Death of this Marius in the Reign of Coilus his Son our St. Joseph is said to end his Labours and Mortality in the 82 of our Lord and second year of
invented by Fausta maliciously because the young man would not yield to her Lust she was by Constantine's order stifled in a Hot Bath After which Crimes and Calamities as appears by the second General Councel of Nice Almighty God struck Constantine with a Leprosie anxious to find a remedy the Soothsayers told him The only way to be restor'd was by a Bath of Infants Blood This detestable Medicine being abhorr'd by Constantine God was pleas'd to instruct him by a Vision of St. Peter and St. Paul in his sleep That it would be a certain remedy for him to receive Baptism at the hands of the Pope Which he did accordingly with great Solemnity In the place where he was Baptiz'd he Erected a Magnificent Chappel wherein was a Font of Porphyrie cover'd with Silver and over it hung a Phiale of Pure Gold wherein yearly 200 l. of Balsom was Burn'd on the brink of the Font was plac'd a Lamb of pure Gold weighing 30 l. and pouring forth water into the Font At the right side of the Lamb stood the Statue of our Saviour all of pure Silver weighing 170 l. On the left side was plac'd St. John Baptist holding a Scroul whereon was written Behold the Lamb of God Behold him who takes away the sins of the World c. The Emperour according to the Churches custom being for seven days cloath'd in White Consecrated each of the said days with some Signal act of Piety On the first day he publish'd a Law That Christ is the true Lord who cleans'd him from his Leprosie and whom he commanded to be Ador'd through the whole Empire On the second day he Decreed Severe Punishments on those who by Word or Deed should Dishonour him On the third day he Decreed Like Penalties against those who should Persecute or Molest any Christians On the fourth day He confer'd on the Roman Churches Imperial Priviledges On the fifth day He granted Immunities to all other Churches On the sixth and seventh he added many other Gists to Ecclesiastical Persons And the day after he appear'd in publick perfectly cleans'd from his Sins and Leprosie and coming to the Confession of St. Peter He took his Diadem from his Head and putting off his Impertal Robes with a Spade open'd the Earth for a Foundation of a new Church and in Honour of the 12 Apostles carry'd on his Shoulders 12 Baskets of Earth and with great joy receiving the Bishop into his Chariot he return'd to his Palace After all this he extended his Munificence to Gods Church all the Empire over and sent Letters to the Eastern Bishops encouraging them to Build Churches supplying them out of his publick Treasure which Churches he caus'd to be Consecrated to the Honour of the Apostles and Martyrs whose solemn Feasts he commanded to be observ'd even by the Pagans with Honour and Veneration And as for the Christians they repair'd thither with great Zeal and as Supplicants there demanded the intercession of those Martyrs a practice then us'd not only by the meaner sort but by persons of the highest rank also As St. Chrysostom witnesses He who wears the Imperial Robe saith he comes hither he embraces the Sepulchers of the Martyrs and laying aside all haughtiness and pride stands before them in the Posture of a Supplicant beseeching them to intercede on his behalf This so publick and zealous Profession of a new Religion render'd Constantine displeasing to some of the Senate who could not with Patience endure the decay of their Antient Superstition For this cause he grew weary of Rome and made a Progress into the Eastern Provinces where he establish'd a new seat of the Empire at Bizantium after from his Name call'd Constantinople and this he did the rather to compose the Tumults rais'd by the Blasphemous Heresie of Arius who deny'd the Divinity of the Son of God affirming That time was when he was not though he was first of all Creatures In which Heresie not a few Bishops joyn'd with him to the great disturbance and scandal of the Christian Church Alexander Bishop of Alexandria first admonish'd then Excommunicated Arius Constantine by Exhortations and Letters treated with both of them for the composing of their differences but finding no means available caus'd a Councel of the whole Church to be assembled at Nicaea in Bythinia consisting of 318 Bishops who desided the Controversy from Scripture and Tradition determining That the Son was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Consubstantial with the Father It is observable with what Meekness Charity and Respectfulness the Pious Emperour behav'd himself towards the Bishops how he refus'd to judge of their Recriminations how he fortify'd the Determinations of the Synod by his Authority commanding submission thereunto and how he banish'd the Arch-Heretick Arius In this Councel was further Order made For the universal Observation of Easter upon the first Sunday following the 14th day of the first Moon after the Vernal Equinox for the better finding out of which it was recommended to the care of the Patriarch of Alexandria every year to give notice to the Bishop of Rome upon what day Easter was to be observ'd and this was to be communicated unto all remoter Churches and during Mass on the Epiphany a Deacon with a loud voice declar'd the following Easter whereby Lent and all other moveable Feasts were regulated And accordingly the British Churches also were guided until recourse from Rome was interrupted by Domestick Broils and the invasion of the Saxons and when by such interruption the Britains varied from the Western Churches they kept not Easter as the quarto decimani precisely upon the 14th day of the Moon after the Jewish mode But if that 14th day hapen'd upon a Sunday they did not defer the Observation until the Sunday following as other Catholick Christian Churches us'd to do Soon after this Councel of Nice Helena the Mother of Constantine being near 80. years old had the Courage to undertake a Pilgrimage to Jerusalem to visit the Holy places sanctify'd by our Lords Actions and Sufferings and to Adore his Footsteps to which tedious Journey she is said to be incited by Divine Admonition The Sepulchre of our Lord she most ardently desir'd to see which the flagitious Impiety of the Pagans had endeavour'd to hide from the World so that it cost incredible Labour to remove that vast heap of Earth wherewith it had been cover'd on the top whereof a Temple to Venus was Erected But the place being cleans'd Constantine caus'd a most Magnificent Temple to be Erected upon it Besides which his Mother began the building of two other Sumptuous Churches one at Bethlehem where our Lord was born another on Mount Olivet where he ascended into Heaven both which after her Death were finish'd by her Son. In the Mount was yet extant the Impression of our Lords Feet which this Devout Empress Honour'd with due Veneration The Prophet Zacharias long before Prophesied saying And in that day his feet shall stand upon the Mount Olivet
Orthodox Howbeit at the same time his prime Disciple Caelestius was Condemn'd for his Heresies at Carthage in a Synod there held from which he Appeal'd to the Roman See but not daring to pursue his Appeal he fled into Asia where by fraud he obtain'd the degree of a Priest These Errors were afterwards condemn'd at a Synod held at Milevis in Numidia and both Condemnations were approv'd by Pope Innocentius who Excommunicated as well Pelagius as Caelestius yet so as upon their revoking their Errours they might be restor'd to Catholick Communion Nevertheless their Heresies still spreading the African Bishops of both Councels deputed St. Augustine to confute them which Charge he perform'd to his great Renown Both these Hereticks cloak'd their Doctrines in Ambiguity of words and endeavour'd to surprize the Popes by a dissembled submission to their Judgements but their fraud being detected and their Tergiversations at last discover'd Pope Zosimus again Condemn'd their Doctrine and Excommunicated their Persons which Sentence was Solemnly pronounc'd by Sixtus a Roman Priest not long after Pope whom the Pelagians esteem'd their Patron but without cause Now this Heresie having been Proscrib'd by so many Synods and more than once by the Roman See the Emperour Honorius publish'd an Imperial Sanction by which he not only Banish'd Caelestius and Pelagius out of Rome but ordain'd That the Teachers thereof should incurre the same Punishment Notwithstanding all this care yet inregard this so execrable an Heresie favour'd the Corruption of Nature and Humane Pride and Sensuality it continu'd in many Countries especially in Britain so as the Churches of Gaul thought fit to send two Eminent Bishops thither At the same time another Infamous Heretick Vigilantius infected Gaul also St. Hierom would rather have him call'd Dormilantius for that being full of an unclean Spirit he went about to Combat against the Spirit of Christ by teaching That the Sepulchres of Martyrs were not to be venerated and condemning the Devout Vigils Celebrated before the Festivals of Gods Saints He likewise with Jovinian Declaim'd against Fasting preferr'd Riches before voluntary Poverty and Marriage before Virginity which Errours saith St. Jerom Were detested by the whole Catholick World. In the year of Grace 406. the Picts and Scots wasted the Confines of Britain Marcus was then Governour whom on a suddain the Army Saluted Emperour but the inconstant Soldiers finding his Incapacity as suddainly depos'd him and chose Gratianus born in this Island Him also within four Months they slew which being divulg'd abroad Scots Norwegians and Danes march'd Cross the Island wasting all with Fire and Sword. In this extremity the British Army proclaim'd a Soldier call'd Constantine Emperour not for merit but the fancy of his Name as if the present ruines could not be repair'd but by another Constantine Geffery of Monmouth tells another Story of the Election of this Constantine as if he had been Brother to a King of Armorica or Little-Britain of British Extract this indeed is little better then a meer Fiction For first this Constantine as Bede witnesseth was chosen Ex infima Militia out of the lowest rank of the Army Secondly He directed Messengers to Honorius to excuse himself as compell'd by the Soldiers to accept the Title Howbeit this Constantine passes over into Gaul where gathering an Army he subdu'd all the Regions on this side the Cottian Alpes and then accounted his possession of the Empire secure So as he drew his Son Constans out of his Monastical Solitude and created him Caesar He placed the seat of his Empire at Arles planted Guards upon the River Rhine and broke the Forces ef the Vandals and other Nations who had wasted those Provinces Constans prov'd successful in Spain and for his good success there was pronounc'd Emperour by his Father to whom he repair'd leaving Gerontius General in Spain but the year following Constans was sent back into Spain attended by Justus a famous Captain which so offended Gerontius that he took sides with the Barbarous Soldiers in Gaul so as Constantine could not repress them which caus'd both in Gaul and Britain a Revolt from the Roman dependance although some Authors insinuate That Honorius himself by his Letters exhorted the Britains to shift for themselves Gerontius hereupon assumes the Title of Emperour and Invests Maximus whom he left in Spain with the same Purple Afterwards he marcheth against Constantine whom he Besieg'd at Arles Honorius sent an Army into those parts upon the approach whereof the Soldiers of Gerontius forsook him and the remaining Spaniards attempt to kill him setting the House on fire in which he was whereupon having first kill'd his Wife he kills himself Constantine afterwards having been Besieg'd and past hope of Relief devests himself of the Imperial Purple and flying for refuge to a Church was there Consecrated a Monk and after slain with his Son Julian in his passage to Italy A year before whose death Rome was sack'd by the Goths and not only the Immense Wealth of that City but the Ornaments of Churches also became a Prey to the Barbarous Soldiers About this time mention is made of Melorus a young British Martyr He was the Son of Metianus Duke of Cornwall dispossess'd of his Dukedom and slain by Rinaldus his Brother Melorus at his Fathers Death was not above seven years old The Cruel Uncle to secure himself in his unlawful possession designes the death of the Child a whole Synod of Bishops there Assembled intercede for the Life of it so as the Tyrant contented himself with the cutting off the Childs Right-hand and Left-foot in place whereof were fram'd a Hand of Silver and Foot of Brass Melorus thus maim'd was Educated in a Monastery of Cornwall till he was fourteen years Old spending his time in Reading Holy Scripture and every day growing in Innocence Virtue and Piety Rinaldus at last by many Gifts and Promises tempted the Childs Guardian to cut off his Head which he sent to Rinaldus the Messenger who carried it by the just judgement of God fell from the Castle-Wall with the Head in his Hands and broke his own Neck It is said That the Childs Nurse coming to the place where the Body lay there she saw a Vision of Angels and Heavenly Lights shining with unspeakable Brightness The Body was after Buried in a Decent place but the day following found above ground three several times it was Buried and still the same accident happ'ned By common advice therefore the Body was laid upon a Cart to which were fastned too young Bulls never us'd to the yoak These were permitted to go at liberty without any Leader whether Gods Providence should direct them The Bulls becoming Tame carried the Body to a certain place and then stood still but the Company attending the Cart not liking the place as not fit for the Childs Burial us'd all means by forcing the Wheels and otherwise to drive the Cart further but found it so fix'd by Divine Power that it could be no
into Britain to Consecrate themselves unto God in a Life of Austerity and Contemplation Cornwall was the Province to which they most frequently betook themselves In so much as Cambden had just ground to say That the People of Cornwall have always born such Veneration to the Irish Saints that retir'd thither that almost all the Towns in that Province have been Consecrated to their Memory There is St. Buriens Dedicated to an Irish Religious Woman of that Name to the Church whereof King Ethelstan in the year 936. gave priviledge of Sanctuary There is the Town of St. Jies so call'd from St. Jia a Woman of singular Sanctity who came thither from Ireland There is St. Colomb so nam'd from an Irish Saint Columba There is St. Merven St. Erben St. Eval St. Wenn St. Enedor and many other places all which took their Names from Irish Saints But one special Irish Saint is there Venerated call'd St. Piran by the Irish St. Kiacan concerning whom Bishop Vsher writes That he hearing that in Rome Christian Religion was most purely taught and Faithfully practis'd forsook Ireland and Travell'd thither where being arriv'd he was instructed in the Christian Faith and Baptiz'd and there he remain'd 20 years reading Divine Scriptures and learning Ecclesiastical Rules with all diligence He adds further That at Rome he was ordain'd Bishop and sent into Ireland 30 years before St. Patrick So that by some Irish Writers he is call'd the first born of their Saints Howbeit in the Roman Martyrology St. Patrick is said to be the first who Preach'd Christ in Ireland probable it is that this Saint was one of the first 12 Bishops Consecrated by St. Patrick to propagate the Faith first Preach'd in Ireland by him and was by his Example as many others were so inflam'd with Divine Love that they forsook all Worldly things and led an Hermetical Life for it is Reported that St. Piran calling his Disciples together and other People told them It was the Divine Will that he should forsake Ireland and go into Cornwall there to expect the end of his days And having thus dismiss'd them he sail'd into Cornwall where he built a Mansion for himself and after many Miracles which God had there wrought by him an Infirmity of Body seiz'd upon him of which Languishing he call'd his Brethren together whom he Copiously instructed in the concerns of Gods Kingdom and commanded his Grave to be made ready which done he went down into it and there render'd up his Soul to God which with great Glory was receiv'd into Heaven His Sacred Body Reposes in Cornwall towards the Northern Sea 15 Miles from Padstow or Petrockstow and 25 Miles from Mousehole Cambden mentions a Chappel Dedicated to St. Piran seated in a Sandy place He was saith he a Holy man which came from Ireland and if we may believe the Legend fed ten Irish Kings and their Armies with his three Cowes rais'd to Life dead Men and dead Pigs and in that place divested himself of his Mortality During the Reign of the Infamous King Vortigern when the Britains were so Effeminated with Vice that being unable to resist the Tyranny of their Neighbours they call'd in from a remote Country more Cruel Tyrants God to blot out the shame and Cowardice of the former Armies rais'd another British Army of Virgins conducted by a Royal and Saintly Virgin St. Vrsula Some assign this story to former times but for many very considerable reasons it will suit with no other times then we are now upon viz. When Attila King of the Huns truly Sir-nam'd Gods scourge wasted Italy and the Western Regions with Germany and Gaul burning the City of Metz Massacring Priests before the Holy Altars insomuch as we read That the Holy Bishop St. Lupus was led Captive by Attila from Troyes to the Rhine Now whereas in the Gests of these Holy Virgins mention is made of the Tyrant Maximus it cannot be intended of that Maximus who slew the Emperour Gratian but of a younger Maximus descended perhaps from the stock of the former and who also invaded the Empire after the death of Valentinian And indeed if we consider the then present state of Britain the Martyrdom of these Virgins cannot so properly be ascrib'd to any other times then to this when the poor Britains were distress'd on every side as well by their Revolted Friends the Saxons as by their Enemies the Scots and Picts It was then but lately that Vortigern had call'd in the former against the latter and Hengist with his Brother Horsa at first Fought successfully against them But soon after those Valiant Captains despising their Friends for their Vices and Cowardice they wrought upon the Luxury of Vortigern seeking to entrap him with the Beautiful Rowena Daughter of the Deceitful Hengist Vortigern thus ensnar'd bought Rowena at no less price than the whole Province of Kent Then the Saxons begin to pick a quarrel with their Benefactors and making Peace with the Picts and Scots turn their Arms against the poor Britains threatning to lay the whole Island waste which Threats they soon Executed with all Inhumanity and in a dismall manner took revenge of all the Crimes committed by the Britains against God and his Religion by them profess'd During these Miseries and Troubles a world of Britains of both Sexes forsook their Country forsaken by God and fled into strange Regions whilst others submitted to perpetual slavery under the Saxons Gildas expresseth this Calamity thus saying That very many passed over Sea with grievous Howling and Lamentation and in their Voyage joyntly with Mournful Voices repeated these Words of the Psalmist Thou hast O Lord given us up as Sheep to be devour'd and hast dispers'd us among the Nations This Complaint suits best with the weaker Sex especially those Virgin Martyrs whose Relicks were dispers'd among all the Nations of Christendom Having thus settled the time of their Martyrdom Without all Controversy they were all Britains though some Writers would have them to be Irish without any solid reason The constant opinion is that they were no less in number then 11000. This appears by the Hymn used in the Church of Colen for the Celebration of their memory The cause why so many Virgins departed into Foreign parts is thus related by Trihemius though he erre in point of time The number of Soldiers saith he which under their Captain Conanus went out of Britain into Armorica was 30000 Fighting-men and 100000 Plebeibians to Till the ground of these many were unmarry'd Now Conanus and his Company being Christians would not take Wives of the Idolatrous Pagans At that time there was a Prince in that part of Britain which is opposite to Armorica nam'd Dionatus a prudent man who succeeded his Brother Caradoc in that Principality He had a Daughter nam'd Vrsula the most Beautiful amongst all the Virgins of Britain and withall very Devout to our Lord. Conanus the ninth Prince of Armorica sent Letters to this Dionatus
both the King and his Castle were consum'd so as his Body was never after seen Vortigern thus remov'd the whole Power of the Kingdom was devolv'd upon Ambrosius by the Unanimous Consent of the whole Nation For which purpose saith Sir Henry Spelman a Council or Assembly was call'd about the Mountains of Erir in North-wales by which he was exalted to the Royal Dignity In the year 465 or in the year following How Happy this change was will appear by what follows for Ambrosius as soon as he was plac'd in the Throne imploy'd himself in repairing Churches which had been ruin'd He was indeed a Prince Magnificent in his Gifts Sedulous in the Worship of God averse from Flatteries a Valiant Soldier and very Skilful in Commanding an Army and for these Virtues was famous in far distant Regions and being so renown'd a Prince he may possibly be the same Ambrosius mention'd by Eugypius in the Life of St. Severine wherein he intimates That the Holy Bishop finding favour from Odoacer whose Reign in Italy he had fore-told requested the King to free a person call'd Ambrosius from Banishment And truly Baronius citing this passage is of the same opinion several years pass'd after Ambrosius attain'd the Throne either in Peace or without any considerable War between the Britains and Saxons During this calm St. Patrick who many years before return'd out of Ireland dy'd in his Solitary retreat at Glastonbury in the Antiquities whereof we may find That after the Death of Vortigern Aurelius Ambrosius raign'd and then it was that St. Patrick the Apostle of Ireland and first Abbot of Avallonia after he instructed his Brethren in Regular Discipline and competently enrich'd that Monastery with Possessions procur'd from Kings and Princes yielded to nature in the 39th year after his return to that Island and was buried in the Old Church on the Right-hand of the Altar by direction of an Angel a great flame in the sight of all breaking forth in the same place The Irish Writers will needs have it that St. Patrick's Body reposes in the Church of Down-Patrick in Ireland on whose side St. Bernard seems to be in his Life of St. Malachias where he intimates That St. Patrick 's Body rests in the See of Armagh accompanied with those of St. Columbanus and St. Bridget The difference may easily be decided for no doubt but some considerable Relicks of his Sacred Body at the request of the Irish have been deposited at Down aforesaid a world of Examples of the like Errour being extant in Ecclesiastical History The space of eight years being compleat after the Battle of Whippedsflet Hengist took up Arms against the Britains and once more discomfited them carrying away immense Spoils The Truth is in these days sometime the Britains and sometime their Enemies had the Victory so that Hengist perceiving that with those Forces which he had he could make little progress against so Valiant a Captain as Ambrosius nor hardly maintain the Provinces given to him by Vortigern sent for new and greater Supplies out of Germany whereupon a famous Saxon call'd Ella with his three Sons Cymen Pleting and Cissa and a numerous Army took Sea and by the direction of Hengist bent their course towards Sussex and landed at Cymen-Shore so call'd from Ella's Eldest Son. Now while the Saxons were landing the Britains rais'd a loud Cry at which a World of People repair'd to them from the places adjacent and straight a Combat began the Saxons men of great Stature and Courage receiv'd the Britains Politickly and they as Imprudently set upon their Enemies for coming in loose Companies one after another they were easily slain by the Saxons who kept themselves together in close Bodies So as the Britains who still came in to Aid their Country-men were suddainly discourag'd by the noise they heard of the formers Defeat They were all therefore put to flight as far as a Wood call'd Andredsleige so as the Saxons possess'd themselves of the Sea-coast of Sussex every day by little and little enlarging their limits until the ninth year after their coming In which ninth year whilst Ella and his company boldly enter'd further into the Country the Princes and Nobles of the Britains met in Arms at a place call'd Mercredeburn and Fought against the Saxons The Victory was doubtful for on both sides the Armies were much impair'd and broken So as each of them retir'd back to their own quarters Matthew of Westminster saith That Ella and his Sons were forc'd to forsake the Field and fearing his strength not enough to make good his present Conquests much less to enlarge them sent into Germany for new Supplies which being arriv'd he continu'd his Progress in gaining more Territories 'till he establish'd a new Kingdom of South-Saxons Now while Aurelius Ambrosius imploy'd his Forces in repressing those Southern-Saxons Hengist having left his Kingdom of Kent well guarded took a Journey into the Northern Provinces where joyning with the Picts and Scots he took many Cities and Towns before the Britains could oppose him and for Security of his Conquests he built many Castles and Strong-holds but demolish'd all Churches wheresoever he came King Ambrosius being inform'd hereof with great Courage as in Gods Cause march'd after him and beholding as he pass'd on his Journey the Towns laid waste and the lamentable ruines of the Churches with the Miseries of the poor People he could not as is said refrain from Weeping Whereupon by Vow He promis'd Almighty God that if he Would render him Victorious over the Saxons all the ruin'd Churches he would re-build and restore How this Pious Vow was approv'd by God let the success demonstrate Ambrosius now resolv'd to provoke the Saxons to a Combat found Hengist with his Forces beyond Humber who intended to set upon the Britains in a Field call'd Maisbely through which Ambrosius was to pass whom he hop'd to find unprovided But the British King had notice of this design and prevented it However the two Armies met in good order and a fierce Battle began between them much Blood was shed on both sides At last Hengist perceiving his Army to give ground and the Britains to prevail fled to a Town nam'd Cair-conan now Cuningsbury but considering the weakness of that Town he betook himself to the Swords and Spears of his Soldiers Ambrosius pursued him and by the way put all the Saxons he found to the Sword and having obtain'd a great Victory gave devout Praise and Glory to the God of Heaven Hengist indeed Fortified his Camp the best he could near the said Town but in a few days was forc'd to come to a Battle before his Camp which prov'd fatal to him and his for the greatest part of his Army was cut in pieces and himself taken Prisoner and Beheaded by the Brittains This Battle was Fought on the bank of the River Don. The manner how Hengist was taken is thus related The Valorous Duke or Consul of Glocester Eldoll was very desirous
was next to St. David Now the Church of Menevia enjoying all the Priviledges of the Church of Caerleon must needs be Metropolitan and consequently the Archbishop thereof wore a Pall which he probably carried over with him to Dole in Little Britain in the year of Grace 566. when the whole Province of Menevia was almost depopulated by a raging Pestilential Disease to avoid which by the importunity of his Friends he undertook that Voyage Being arriv'd there he was admitted into great Favour by Childebert King of France and with his License and Contribution Founded a Monastery there where he led a Holy Life imploy'd in Divine Meditation and by his Pious Example and Admonitions directed many Disciples in the same way St. Sampson in this Voyage took with him a Companion of suitable Holiness call'd St. Conaid by the French vulgarly St. Mein said to be the Son of a Noble Britain living near Caer Guent and recommended to the care of St. Sampson One special Miracle is recorded to have been wrought by St. Mein viz. That by his Prayers a Fountain sprang forth in a dry Soyl very effectual for Curing several Diseases Especially the Scurvy there call'd the Disease of St. Mein After St. Sampson had spent some years in the Monastery of Dole the Bishop of that City dying he was Elected in his place and made use of his Pall there from whence his Successor in Dole assum'd the Honour of wearing a Pall and consequently challenging Arch-Episcopal Jurisdiction and an exemption from the Metropolitan of Tours This continu'd 'till the days of Innocent the III. and all that time the See of St. David's though own'd the Prime Church of Wales yet abstain'd from the Pall for which cause Eugenius the III. under King Henry the I. subjected it to the See of Canterbury in the year of our Lord 1148. 33 years St. Sampsom with admirable Sanctity administred that Bishoprick and in the year 599. receiv'd his Eternal Reward His Body by reason of the frequent Incursions of the Danes and Normans was remov'd from Dole to Orleans where it was receiv'd with such Reverence that a Church was built on purpose to keep it which to this day is Dedicated to his Honour although destitute of that Sacred Pledge which among many other Bodies of Saints was Impiously burn'd by those profess'd Enemies of Sacred things the Huguenots in the last Age who seiz'd on that City Some part of his Relicks was with great Veneration repos'd in the Abbey of Middleton in Dorsetshire which was built by King Ethelstan in expiation of being at least accessary to the Murder of his Brother Edwin in the year 934. His Successor in the See of Dole was his Kinsman and Companion in his Voyage St. Magbore another Kinsman of St. Sampson call'd St. Maclovius or St. Malo otherwise St. Mainutus was famous at that time He during the Tempest in Britain by the reason of Mordred pass'd likewise into Little Britain the common refuge of Devout men in those times He was born in Britain his Fathers Name was Went. His Mother was call'd Derwella or Darwalla being 60 years of Age when she was deliver'd of him in the Valley of Elan Carvan in Glamorganshire In the same place then liv'd a Holy man call'd St Brenden Abbot of the Monastery of Elan Carvan by whom this Infant thus wonderfully born was Baptiz'd and after Educated in all Virtue and Piety From his Childhood he is reported to have shin'd Gloriously by innumerable Miracles which accompanied him all his Life-time Our Learned Cambden affirms That the constant Tradition was that he was after made a Bishop of a City in the Province of the Iceni now Huntingdonshire call'd Durosipons after Gormoncester from Gormon or Guthrum the Dane to whom becoming a Christian King Alfred gave those Provinces St. Malo upon occasion of the troubles at that time went into Little Britain also where he liv'd in great Sanctity and contemning his own Glory retir'd privily into a Bodering Island where in his Eremetical manner of living he express'd an Angelical Purity But the brightness of the Divine Splendour discover'd this Light which endeavour'd to conceal it self For when the Inhabitants of the Island understood that a stranger excelling in the Gift of Preaching and Power of Divine Miracles hid himself there from the Conversation of men they in common Assembly came and drawing him by force out of his Solitude chose him for their Pastor and inviting the neighbouring Bishops placed him in the Pontifical Chair of Aleth and partly by entreaties and partly by force compell'd him to be their Bishop The Saint being thus exalted shed forth abundantly the Beams of that Divine Grace wherewith he was replenish'd illustrating mens Souls with the true knowledge of God inflaming them with his love and affording both Admonitions and Examples of all Virtues to which he added a great efficacy by wonderful Operations and Miracles Insomuch as since the Apostles times we read not of any one who wrought greater wonders than he For with his word he calm'd Tempests he restor'd three dead persons to Life to the Blind he gave Sight by the sprinkling of Holy Water he expell'd Devils and quench'd the Poison of Serpents Neither did he resemble those Princes of our Faith in working of Miracles only but in Patience also to the tryal whereof he was often put for he was Assaulted by certain Impious persons and suffer'd many Calamities for Religion and Justice so as at last he was violently thrust out of his Episcopal Throne and Diocess with seven other Devout persons his most especial Companions who imitated him in Purity of living Yet did he bear this heavy Cross after our Lord with a Courageous mind Attended with these Holy men St. Mahutus fled into Aquitain and in the City of Xaintes was most kindly entertain'd and Fatherly assisted by St. Leontius Archbishop of Bourdeaux and Metropolitan of Xaintes who there accomodated him with a convenient Habitation for serving God St. Leontius bare a tender affection to him Admiring and Reverencing the Divine Grace which he observ'd in him esteeming him as sent from Heaven to assist him in his Pastoral Charge for which reason in all his Visitations he took him for his Companion entreating his Councels and Prayers Howbeit the man of God though he were so despitefully and unjustly exil'd was not unmindful of his Flock but forgetting all Injuries daily invok'd our Lords Clemency for the Conversion of that stubborn People The Divine Majesty condescended to his Prayers and by an Angel did acquaint him That his Flock was Penitent and desir'd his return that he should repair to them and restore to Health that Region which was grievously afflicted with the Scourges of Divine Severity that he should restore plenty to the barren Earth bestow his Benediction on the Inhabitants And lastly Returning to Xaintes that there he should be divested of corruptible Flesh and his Soul ascend to Eternal Felicity As soon as he was come
as it grew to a reasonable high Hill and so remains as is said to this day All the People seeing these wonders after they were instructed in the Faith receiv'd Baptism and thus by his Doctrine he freed the Nation of the Picts from Idolatry and Heresie He Converted likewise the Country of Albania therein building many Churches and Founding many Monasteries Whilst St. Kentigern liv'd among the Picts St. Columba by the English call'd Columkill hearing in his Monastery in the Isle of Hy the Fame of this Holy Bishop came with a great Troop of his Disciples to visit him and was met by him with the like multitude which they divided on each side into three Companies The First of Young men The Second such as were of Perfect Age And the Third Venerable Old men All which on the way towards one another Sang Spiritual Songs and when St. Columba came in sight of the Bishop turning himself to his Disciples he said I see a Pillar of Fire as it were a Golden Crown in the third Choire descending upon the Bishop and casting a Caelestial Splendor about him Then the two Holy men approaching to one another with great fervour of Affection gave and receiv'd mutual Kisses and Embraces The King of the Picts is said to be present at the meeting and afterwards St. Columba going to a Monastery joyning to the Castle of Caledonia built by Convallus there instructed the Caledonians in the Faith the Horesti also and other Neighbouring Nations In the same place was afterwards Erected a Church Dedicated to St. Columba and Plentifully endow'd by the following Kings of the Scots which Church being an Episcopal See was vulgarly call'd Dunkeld Yet it may be likely that the Author of this Relation concerning the Church of Dunkeld may be mistaken confounding the Actions of two Saints both Nam'd Columba for it is certain that St. Columba who was first Bishop of Dunkeld flourish'd almost a 100 years after this time and to him it was that St. Cuthbert being then a Child was recommended which mistake is Pardonable because as Bishop Vsher observes There were in Ireland almost 20 several men of the Name Columba In the year of Grace 593. St. Kentigern out of Britain and a Bishop call'd Alban out of Ireland went to Rome to visit Pope Gregory the Great saith Bishop Vsher And as it may be probably guess'd at from a consideration of the state of the Church in those times upon this special occasion The famous Council of Chalcedon having condemn'd Eutyches and his Doctrine which confounded the two Natures in Christ was rejected by a Faction of the Eutychians call'd Acephali because it seem'd to them to favour the contrary Heresie of the Nestorians formerly condemn'd who acknowledg'd not only two Natures but two persons in our Lord. The grounds on which the Acephali charg'd the Council was First Because it seem'd to approve an Epistle of Ibas Bishop of Edessa And Secondly The Writings of Theodorus Bishop of Mopsuestia full of Blasphemous passages savouring of Nestorianism Thirdly Because it had receiv'd into Communion Theodoret Bishop of Cyrrhus who had written sharply against the 12 Capita of St. Cyril Hereupon the Emperor Justinian being desirous to repress the Acephali who had rais'd great Commotions in Aegypt and the East by the Advice of Theodorus Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia a secret Favorite of the Acephali publish'd a large Edict call'd tria Capitula in which he proscrib'd Ibas Theodius and Theodoret procuring likewise a Condemnation of their Writings as Heretical from the Bishops of the East Notwithstanding Menas Bishop of Constantinople in his Subscription to the Emperours Decrees added this Condition If these things were approv'd by the Bishop of Rome So as Justinian perceiving that without the Sentence of the Pope his attempts would be inneffectual call'd Vigilius then Bishop of Rome from thence to Constantinople Who at his departure was seriously admonish'd by the Churches of Rome Africk Sardinia Greece and Illyricum That he should by no means consent to any Novelty nor suffer any prejudice to the Council of Chalcedon In complyance with whom by Letters to Menas He freely reprehended their Condemnation of the three Bishops desiring Justinian to recall his Decree and when he came to Constantinople he suspended from his Communion the Bishops which had subscrib'd the said Condemnation And yet five Months after at the request of the Empress Theodora he restor'd them to his Communion And though he would not subscribe to the Emperors Decree by his consent the whole Cause was discuss'd in a Synod of 70 Bishops at Constantinople and when the Suffrages of the Bishops were brought to him he wrote a Decree which he sent to Menas in which also he confirm'd the tria Capitula Howbeit this Condescention of Vigilius to avoid a rent in the Eastern Churches was ill taken in the West insomuch as the Bishops of Africa Illyricum and Dalmatia withdrew themselves from his Communion and Facundus who defended their Cause call'd him a Prevaricator Upon which Vigilius endeavour'd to perswade the Emperor in the presence of Menas and other Eastern Bishops That whatever had pass'd on either side should be rescinded and that a Synod should be assembled to which particularly the African and Illyrian Bishops who had been scandaliz'd should be call'd But they being unwilling to obey Vigilius was dealt withal That in Case the Western Bishops would not comply he joyning with the Greeks should condemn the three Bishops Which he utterly refusing the Emperor's Decree was notwithstanding publish'd And when Vigilius together with Dacius Bishop of Milan threatn'd the Grecian Bishops with Excommunication in case they consented to the Decree The Emperor was so incensed that Vigilius was forc'd to sly for refuge into St. Peter's Church from which Sanctuary when the Emperor's Officer endeavour'd to draw him he was repell'd by a Tumult of the People But many injuries being still offer'd to Vigilius he fled by night to Chalcedon into the Church of St. Euphremia But the constancy of Vigilius procur'd this effect That laying aside the Imperial Edicts the discussion of the whole Cause should be reserv'd to a Synod which the Pope desired to have Celebrated in Italy but the Graecians refusing it was agreed that an equal number of Western Bishops should be summon'd to Constantinople which agreement notwithstanding the Emperour summon'd all the rest of the Eastern Patriarchs Thus a Council of Eastern Bishops only met at which Vigilius refus'd to be present not esteeming it Canonical in regard the Western Bishops were absent who were most concern'd in the affair However after 20 days respite obtain'd Vigilius sent a writing to the Emperor which he call'd a Constitutum wherein he at large gave his judgment of the Tria Capitula telling him That as to the Blasphemies of Theodorus he did abhor them but in imitation of the Council of Ephesus would spare his Name Again that it would be superfluous to cast any infamy on the
Writings of Theodoret against St. Cyril since St. Cyril himself and the Councel of Chalcedon had requir'd no other satisfaction from him but only to pronounce Anathema against Nestorius which he did And as for the Epistle of Ibas no discussion should be made of it after the Council of Chalcedon This Constitutum the Emperor contrary to his Promise reserv'd to himself but withall acquainted the Synod with Vigilius his mind concerning the Tria Capitula which he had often-times both by words and writing express'd the Synod proceeded to a condemnation of them complaining withal That the Pope would not afford his presence to them After this definition of the Bishops in the Council the Pope being in extream Anguish because he saw how the Western Bishops would be offended and that the Scandal would be the greater because the Emperor had not sent his Constitutum to the Council utterly refus'd his Consent or Approbation of their Definition for which refusal he was by the Emperour sent into Banishment with other Bishops His Banishment continu'd not long for six months after the Synods Definition Vigilius sent a Decretal Epistle to Entychius Successor to Menas in which he condemn'd the Tria Capitula and profess'd Communion with all those who embracing the four Councils of the Church had condemn'd the same meaning thereby the last Council which he would not Name This Decree of Vigilius was by the Graecians referr'd among the Acts of the Council by virtue whereof it became a Lawful Oecumenical Council This end being given to this unnecessary Controversy all the Western Churches excepting only the Bishops of Istria Venice and Liguria consented to it But these Churches being under the Dominion of the Longobardi broke into an open Schism which continu'd till the time of St. Gregory the Great Besides them we find no other Church unsatisfy'd except Ireland only To the Bishop whereof St. Gregory a year before St. Kentigern's Journey to Rome wrote an Epistle in Answer to one of theirs who had charg'd the Roman See with injuring the Councel of Chalcedon by condemning the Tria Capitula But St. Gregory inform'd them That this Controversy did not at all touch the Faith of the Church but the Persons only of two or three Bishops That the Authority of the Council of Chalcedon was entire both with those who oppugned and those who defended the Tria Capitula and therefore none could have just cause to make a rent in the Church upon so trifling a quarrel This answer of the Pope's seems to give satisfaction to the Irish for several Epistles afterwards past from him to them as unanimous Brethren instructing them touching the Rites in Baptism and whether it were to be administred to those who return'd from the Nestorian Heresie c. This Controversy was hotly agitated when St. Kentigern went to Rome and perhaps it might be a considerable motive of his Journey especially in regard an Irish Bishop call'd Albanus went thither at the same time And although the British Churches are no where taxed for partaking with those who were divided from the Roman See yet it might well become the Zeal of so Holy a Bishop as St. Kentigern to inform himself truly of the state of such a Controversy as hath been therefore the more at large set down The man of God St. Kentigern after his return from Rome being worn away with Age for he was 85 years old had his Nerves so dissolv'd that he was forc'd to sustain his Jaws by tying a linnen Ribbon about his Head which came under his Chin that with the less trouble he might pronounce his Words This dissolution of his Nerves was promis'd him a little before his Death to the end that since his whole Life had been a continual Martyrdom by the good pleasure of our Lord his Death might be milder and easier then that of other men ordinarily At length calling together his Disciples he earnestly exhorted them To continue their observance of the Duties of their Holy Religion their mutual Charity Peace Hospitality their diligence in Reading and Prayer He bequeath'd to them earnest and efficacious Precepts firmly to obey the Decrees of the Holy Fathers and constitutions of the Holy Roman Church After which exhortation he departed to our Lord. The Fame of his Sanctity soon after his Death was every where spread by a World of Miracles as many Authors relate Constantine before-mention'd being dead or remov'd Aurelius Conanus his Nephew a Young man of extraordinary worth and well deserving the Crown as some report succeeded him His only fault was that he was given to Civil Contentions He cast into Prison his Uncle to whom the Crown of Right belong'd and Murder'd two of his Sons who stood in his way to the Kingdom which Ambition and Cruelty perhaps occasion'd some of our Historians to charge him with the Murder of Constantine his Predecessor Gildas also accuses him of many horrid Crimes for which he denounces to him a short reign and endless miseries Matthew of Westminster allows him 30 years rule but true Chronology not above four in the third whereof while the British Provinces consum'd themselves in Civil Contentions a new and Powerful Kingdom of the Saxons was establish'd in the Northern parts call'd the Kingdom of Northumbers in this manner Hengist in the beginning of his reign in Kent sent his Brother Otha into those Northern parts with his Son Ebusa men of great Courage Experience and Nobility as deriving their Descent from Woden who had three Sons Weldege Withlege and Beldege from the Eldest descended the Kings of Kent from the Second the Kings of the Mercians and from the Third the Kings of the West-Saxons and Northumbers whose first King Ida reckon'd himself the Tenth from Woden Now Otha and Ebussa the first Saxons which brought an Army into those Northern parts fought many Battles with the Inhabitants and having Conquer'd those which resisted them took the rest into their Protection notwithstanding they and their Successors for many years contented themselves with the Titles of Governours or Dukes acknowledging a Submission unto and Dependance upon the Kings of Kent but in the 99th year after their first arrival they assum'd the Title and Dignity of Kings the first of which was call'd Ida others affirm that the Region of Northumbers was divided into two parts That which was more Northern extending it self from the Bay of Edinburgh to the Picts Wall inhabited by the Bernicians the other reaching from the Picts Wall to the River Humber was held by the Deiri so that the whole Kingdom of the Northumbers Antiently contain'd the Provinces of the Picts Laudon Northumberland Cumberland Westmorland Durham York and Lancaster This may appear by the Lives of several Saints said to have liv'd in the Kingdom of the Northumbrians This Division is said to have been made by Ida who leaving his Son to govern the Deiri fix'd his own habitation among the Bernicians Aurelius Conanus dying in the fourth year of his