that cause put all the Popes hitherto to death did most tw harte and disagree And therefore among diuers others Ihon Funccius the Protestant Antiquary doth thus freely acknowledge That at this time there were many most renowned Bishops in France whose help and assistance for the Conuersion of Britaine King Lucius might farre more easily haue vsed then to haue sent so farre as Rome for Preachers to be sent hither and order to be giuen from thence for effecting that worke but that the dignitie and prerogatiue of the Pope of Rome called vpon him to appeale to him for ordering and settling these affaires and giueth this Act and example of King Lucius the most potent King of the Britains as he stileth him for a sure and certaine signe and Argument of the Popes of Rome true honour at that time when they were so dishonored by the Emperours and worldly proceedings Quo in honore Io. Funccius l. 6. commentarior in Chronolog ad An. 178. Romani Pontifices eo tempore fuerint ex hoc satis apparet quod potētissimus Britanniarum Rex Lucius qui ea tempestate Christi fidem primitus ex continenti vltra Germanicum Oceanum in Britannicam Insulam publicè vocauit non ab alio quodam Episcopo Doctores veritatis petijt quam à Romano cum tamen eodem tempore multi per Gallias clarissimi haberentur Episcopi And in this all Antiquaries doe or ought to agree THE XIV CHAPTER WHEREIN IS RELATED HOW KING Lucius did not onely sue vnto the Pope of Rome by his Embassadges for the generall setling of Christian Religion in Britaine but for ciuill and temporall lawes also to be allowed by him to rule heare in Temporall affaires 1. OVR auncient Historian Ethelwerdus warranted as some thinke by S. Gildas and Nennius before cited writeth that Pope Eleutherius sent letters and a Legate to King Lucius of Britaine admonishing and calling vpon him to make profession of the holy Christian faith and Catholike Baptisme Eleutherius beatissimus Christi famulus per Nuntium literas Lucium adijt Insulae Ethelwerdus in Chronico in Eleutherio Gildas Nennius in M. S. Historijs supr Regem ammonens eum de fide Baptismo Catholico qui tum Britanniae Regni potestate pollebat To which Legacie and letters King Lucius did very soone after send as pleasing and contenting an answeare both by Ambassadors and letters to Pope Eleutherius as the letters and Legacie of the Pope about so greate and holy busines which he had so much and long desired were wellcome and gratefull vnto him for allthough he most affected the accomplishing of this blessed worke before this incitation giuen him by this renowned Pope according to this auncient Authour of our Nation who also say the fame of this Pope was greate in all the worlde ab ortusolis vsque ad occasum exijt sancta opinio eius yet now receauing new couradge warrant and direction without any further delay or procrastination as this Authour writeth yeeldeth to the counsayle and exhortation of Pope Eleuthererius Qui concessit verisimili ratione Christianum se esse futurum And by the aduise and consent of his Nobles and others of this kingdome whome it most concerned sent two Ambassadors with suppliant and humble letters to this holy Pastor of the Flocke of Christ to giue him thanks for that fatherly care he had of his spirituall children so farre off to signifie his most willing assent to godly Admonition and entreate his further and speedy care and prouision for the effecting thereof 2. The most Authorised Historie of S. Eleutherius and these letters warranted vnto vs by the Church of Christ in the Feast of this holy Pope deliuereth Act. Eleutherij in Breuiar Rom. in festo eius 26. die Maij. the manner and tenure of them in this order Huic Initio Pontificatus supplices literae venerant à Lucio Britannorum Rege vt se ac suos in Christianorum numerum reciperer In the beginning of the Popedome of S. Eleutherius humble letters came vnto him from Lucius King of the Britans to receaue him and Damas Pontif. in To. 1. Concil in Eleutherio his people into the number of Christians The old Pontificall asscribed to S. Damasus saith of this Pope and this busines hic accepit Epistolam à Lucio Britannico Rege vt Christianus efficeretur per eius mandatum Pope Eleutherius receaued an Epistle from Lucius a Brittish King that by his commandement he might be made a Christian The auncient Ecclesiasticall Annals or Martyrologes doe thus expresse it Lucius Legationem misit ad Eleutherum Romanum Pōtificem Antiq. Tabulae Eccles apud Baron To. 2. Ann. an 183. per Eluanum Meduinum Britannos rogans per eos Eleutherum vt per se suosque ministros ad Christianam Religionem suscipiendam aditum patefaceret King Lucius sent an ambassadge to Eleutherius Pope of Rome by two Britans Eluan and Medwine entreating Eleutherius by them that by himselfe and such as he should please to employ therein he would make prouision that his kingdome might receaue Christian Religion I haue cited Sabellicus before that King Lucius wrote to Anton. Sabellic l. 3. Ennead 7. Pope Eleutherius to this purpose in the beginning of his Papacie Cum Eleutherio nuper dignitatem adepto Lucius Britanniae Rex per literas egit vt se suos vellet Christianorum numero addicere Martinus Polonus saith Pope Eleutherius receaued an Epistle from Lucius a Britan King that by his commandement he might be made a Christian Hic accepit Epistolam a Lucio Rege Britanno vt Martin Polon Supput in Eleut Hartm Schedel Chronic. chronicorum f. 114. p. 2. Ponticus Virun Brit. Hist l. 4. Magdeb. Cent. 2. c. 2. col 8. Christianus per eius mandatum fieret Hartmannus Schedel writeth that Eleutherius receaued an Epistle from Lucius a Britan King to receaue him and his subiects into the number of Christians Eleutherius Papa a Lucio Rege Britanno Epistolam accepit vt se ac suos in Christianorum numerum susciperet The like hath Verunnius and other forreine Catholike Historians as also their Protestants writing of Brittish affaires among which the Magdeburgians witnesse That Lucius King of Britaine did send Eluan and Meduuin very Learned Britans to Eleutherius Pope of Rome entreating him to send some Doctors from thence that might renewe Christian Religion and abolish Ethnicisme in his kingdome Ad Eleutherium Romanae Ecclesiae Episcopum Eluanum Meduinum Britannos doctrina praestantes mittit ac rogat vt inde Doctores quosdam accipiat qui Christianam Religionem in suo Regno abolito toto Ethnicismo instaurent And if we come home into Britaine our most auncient approued Historiās both Britans and Saxons make the same Relation vnto vs S. Gildas and Nennius haue before told vs how the Pope of Rome wrote to King Lucius to haue Christian Religion planted heare he
sowne in our minds and either enforce vs to returne vnto our former wickednes with deeper securitie then before or els to become meere Atheists which is a greate deale worse for this cause therefore did Lucius send to Rome the second time for a Copie of such politick orders as were then vsed there in their Regiment of the Church Thus farre this Protestant Antiquarie And then he bringeth the holy Pope S. Eleutherius so to vnderstand King Lucius petition to be both for the Ecclesiasticall Lawes of the Church of Rome to Rule heare in spirituall affaires and the Lawes of the Emperous for temporall gouernment and saith he findeth it so in sondry verie auncient Copies of Pope Eleutherius Answeare to King Lucius thus beginning by his Translation you require of vs the Roman ordinances and thereto the Statuts of the Emperours to be sent ouer vnto you and which you desire to practise put in vre within your Realme and kingdome Then seeing the Decrees of the Popes of Rome for Church Discipline were generally generall for the whole Church as many of them cited before by Protestants allowance doe testifie and this our Britaine was vtterly ignorant in such things but as it had receaued them from Rome Our Apostles Preachers and Conuerters came from thence and diuers of them still remained heare in cheife spirituall cammande and many other Christian Romans were mixed with our Britans heare and our Brittans absolutely and wholly directed by the Pope of Rome and his Legats in such busines this considered no man of Iudgment will apprehend how any other but the Roman Papall Church Discipline was then receaued or admitted it this kingdome THE XXIV CHAPTER OF THE COMMING OF THESE HOLY LEgats to Glastenbury their holy labours deeds and long aboade there their renewing there the old Religeous Order of S. Ioseph of Aramathia and his brethren greate priuiledges and Indulgences by them procured to that holy place the glory honour and renowne thereof in the whole Christian world 1. I Haue made mention before of diuers Monasteries and Religeous houses in Britaine in this time now to take some notice in what honour and Reuerence such holy places the parsons resident in them and the Monasticall Religeous life which they there liued and professed were we cannot better come eyther to the certaine knowledge or not to be denied opinion thereof then to take direction herein from these our Apostles Founders and Fathers in Christ by that litle memory which is left in our Histories of the Religeous paines and labour they tooke in finding and founding them the greate zeale and deuotion they exercised there the Immunities Indulgences and priuiledges they procured vnto them from holy Popes and Princes what spirituall comfort and pleasure they had in themselues and what example of pietie they left to posteritie by their heauenly Conuersation in them and what Pastorall care and Prouidence they had to make this perpetuall had not the Impietie of late times and parsons like wolues as it was aunciently prophesied destroyed that which the pietie of our first Auncestours in Religion had so long and firmely founded Has aedes sacras pietas construxit Auorum Antiq. Monast Croyâ—andiae Quas Successores vastabunt more luporum I will principally and cheifly for all exemplifie in the holy house of Glastenbury the first Mother of that contemplatiue holy profession both in this and other Nations from which we may drawe a proportion to others the sacred children thereof How diligently these holy Legats sought to finde out this Religeous place I haue some what insinuated before for they had heard of the greate Renowne and Sanctitie of S. Ioseph and his companions first in habiting there and the Venerable Sanctitie of the place especially the miraculously sacred Church there builded by heauenly admonition in honour of the most blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God for the memory of it was allmost quite forgotten the first Religeous men inhabitants there being all dead before this time and the holy Church so desolate that it began to be a Denn of wild beasts to lodge in which was before an habitation of Saints Sancti memorati in eadem Eremo sic degentes affluentibus multis annorum curriculis carnis Antiq. Glast tabulis fixae Gul. Malmes l. de Antiq Caenob clast Io. Capgrau in S. Ioseph S. Patricio erg astulo sunt educti idemque locus caepit esse ferarum latibulum qui priùs fuerat habitatio Sanctorum This is the testimonie and relation of the old Antiquities of Glastenbury William of Malmesbury in his Manuscript Historie of the Antiquitie of that Monastery Capgraue and others 2. But it was the will of God and the will of the blessed Virgin to haue her sacred Oratory come to the knowledge of their faithfull Seruants donec placuit beatae Virgini suum Oratorium redire ad memoriam fidelium Which was in this manner these holy Legats trauailing throughout Britaine teaching preaching and baptizing and receauing from the Brittish people Information where abouts this sacred Habitacle was as Moses they entered into this Desart to finde it and at the last finding the old Church builded by the hands of Christs Disciples and a Crosse the signe of our Redemption and other Christian figures or Images they were assured thereby that this was the place where those Disciples of Christ inhabited Praedicando baptizando Britanniae partes peragrantes in Insulam Aualloniae more Moysis Legislatoris interiora Deserti penetrantes sunt ingressi Vbi antiquam Deo duce Britanniae repererunt Ecclesiam manibus Discipulorum Christ constructam humanae saluti à Deo paratam Figuram nostrae redemptionis aliasque figuras manifestas repererunt quibus cognouerunt quod Christiani priùs locum inhabitauerant This so diligent searching and seeking for this holy place by S. Phaganus and Damianus and their assured knowledge by the remembred Can. 6. signes and badges there left and remayning that they had founde it seemeth by that which followeth in this Narration to haue bene before their returne to Rome to procure the confirmation of their proceedings heare After this they founde the Antiquitie of the comming of S. Ioseph and his Brethren thither as also the Acts and liues of them there how religeously they liued and how three Pagan Kings ministred necessaries by a certaine portion of Land for their sustenation the miraculous building and consecrating that holy place as I haue shewed in the first Age wherevpon filled with vnspeacable ioy they continued there long time nyne yeares in praysing God oratorio illo sic reperto ineffabili sunt referti gaudio ibidem in Dei laudibus moram protrahentes diuturnam per nouem videlicet annos And in memory of the first twelue in the time of S. Ioseph they did chuse 12. of their owne company to dwell there in that Iland King Lucius consenting thereto Which remayned there as Anchorits in diuers places or Groaues locis
Confirmation of what they had done 312. 2. S. Damianus came backe againe with the same 316. 1. c. We finde nothing of their finall departure 319. 4. S Damianus and Fugatianus â—ad places of honor here according to their worth ib. S. Damianus and Fugatianus search after the Monastery of Glastenbury 323. 2. or 321. 2. S. Damianus and Fugatianus contitinued long at Glastenbury ib. S. Damianus and Fugatianus appointed 12. to dwell at Glastenbury in honour of the first 12. inhabitants ib. S. Damianus and Fugatianus submitted themselues to the Rule of S. Ioseph 332. 8. S. Damianus and Fugatianus preached likewise to the Scots 334. 1. c. S. Damianus and Fugatianus Actes committed to writing 337. 1. S. Dauid the Popes Legat in Britaine 332. 8. S. Dauid founded Monasteries of our auncient Brittish Order ib. Deacons not to marrie 382. 11. or 392 11. Deacons to assist at the Altar 384. 13. or 394. 13. S. Decumanus Parents and birth place 567. 6. S. Decumanus flieth the world 368. 6. S. Decumenus miraculous beginning of an Eremiticall life ib. S. Decumenus manner of life ib. S. Decumanus Martyred ib. S. Decumanus carried his head after it was cut of to a fountaine 569. 8. The same euer since called by his name ib. The same healthsome for the Inhabitants ib. S. Decumanus buried and a Church dedicated to him in the same place 569. 8. S. Decumanus had a Church dedicated to him in the Towne of Welles 569. 9. What happened to one Demetrius a Grecian trauailing in Britaine 17. 8. Denotus made Bishop of Wincester and when 320. 6. Denotus his great possessions ib. Diadumenus v. Macrinus Dioclesian chosen Emperour 391. 1. Dioclesian adioyned Maximianus vnto him in gouernment ib. Diocleans and Maximians wicked plots wherewith they began their Persecution in Britaine 413. 1. Dioclesian forebad any to buy or sell without offering sacrifice 416. 4. Dioclesians Persecution lasted but 9. yeares in Britaine 416. 4. Dioclesians Persecution when first raised in Britaine 420. 3. Dioclesians Persecution exceeding cruell 422. 1. c. S. Dionisius Pope and Martyr 384. 14. or 395. 14. S. Dionysius a Monke and Eremit before he was Pope ib. S. Dionysius conuerted the wife and daughter of Decius ib. Domitian created Emperour 169. 2. Domitian commanded himselfe to be worshipped as a God 170. 2. Domitian raiseth a cruell Persecution against Christians 160. 2. Domitians Persecution did not extend inselfe into Britaine 170. 2. Donaldus the first Christian King of the Scots 334. 2. Douer Castle builded by Aruiragus 287. 3. The Druids prophecied of a virgins Conception 9. 1. The Druids cheife Schooles Doctors were in Britaine ib. The Druids auncient residence in the I le of Man by whom and when giuen vnto them 10. 3. The Druids dedicated temples Ignoto Deo 16. 7. The Druids acknowledged after their Pythagoricall manner that mens soules were immortall 17. 9. 242. 2. The Druids great learning 206. 8. The Druids Religion not prohibited by Marcus Aurelius 238. 4. The Druids Religion prohibited to Citizens by Augustus 238. 5. The Druids Religion opprest in France by diuers Emperours 238. 5. The Druids accustomed to sacrifice Romans Prisoners 239. 5. or 234. 5. By the Druids direction Bunduica slew 80000. Romans ib. The Druids Religion odious to the Romans 239. 6. or 234. 6. Druids the greatest hinderers of Christian Religion 1â—â— 1. The Druids for temporall respects iustly troubled for feare of the Conuersion of Britaine 240. 1. Diuers disputations in Britaine betwixt the Druids and Christian Apostolike men 241. 1. The Druids reason for defence of their Religion ib. What Nations ioyned with the Druids in Religion ib. The Druids worshipped the Gentils Gods Iupiter Apollo c. ib. The Druids florished from the time of Druins that great King and high Preist ib. The Druids from whence so called ib. The Druids pretious attire 242. 2. The Druids statly houses ib. The Druids sometimes resorted into woods ib. The Druids exempted from all exactions ib. The Druids cheefe iudges in temporall and spirituall affaires 242. 2. The Druids had one chiefe ouer the rest 278. 8. The Druids great witt 242. 2. The Druids vsed as Ministers by all that would offer sacrifice ib. The Druids depriued the trew God of all worshipe 243. 3. The Druids neither taught nor worshipped the trew God 244. 3. The Druids absurde opinion of the transmigration of soules 244. 4. The Druids Chymericall fiction of soules informing bodies in an other world ib. The Druids tooke away all thinges which are required vnto a trew Religion ib. The Druids Idols were not inferiour in number to those of Egipte 244. 5. The Druids immolated men in their execrable sacrifices 245. 5. The Druids diabolicall practice of Magicke ib. The Druids wiues and children coÌ„mon 246. 6. The Brittans of the Druids Religion fedd on mans fleash ib. The Druids abolishing made an alteration in politike maters 256. 4. S. Dubritius the Popes Legat in Britaine 332. c. E. EAster to be obserued on the Sunday 244. 2. Easter to be celebrated the same day with the Church of Rome 482. 2. Easters erroneous obseruation not receaued by our Britans from their first instructors in Religion 345. 3. Edenburge in Scotland a Flamens Seat 336. 5. Edenburge founded by King Ebrancus ib. The Egyptians adored a childe and a virgin and why 6. 7. S. Edwine King of Morthunberland Christened at Yorke 100. 1. S. Eleutherius was not Pope or probably Preist when King Lucius sent Ambassadors to Rome 219. 8. S. Eleutherius in great estimation for his learning 221. 3. S. Eleutherius renowned in Britaine longe before his Popedome ib. S. Eleutherius probably a Cardinall of one of our Brittish Churches in Rome 222. 4. S. Eleutherius probably personally in Britaine ib. S. Eleutherius succeeded S. Soter in the See Apostolike 247. 1. S. Eleutherius established the true obseruation of Easter 247. 2. S. Eleutherius a Professor of that Religion which Protestants call Papistty 248. 2. S. Eleutherius claymed the Popes spirituall supremacy ib. S. Eleutherius ordained that in the Bishops causes nothing should be determined but by the Pope of Rome ib. S. Eleutherius by letters exhorted King Lucius vnto Christian Religion 252. 1. S. Eleutherius emploied diuers Britans in the Conuersion of Britaine 265. 7. S. Eleutherius sent to King Lucius a hallowed Crowne with the title of King of Britaine 299. 4. S. Eleutherius prescribed King Lucius the precincts of his kingdome ib. S. Eleutherius granted many priuiledges and Indulgences in Britaine 338. 3. S. Eluanus a Catechumen when he was sent to Rome by King Lucius 213. 2. S. Eluanus consecrated Bishop and that sent backe into Britaine ib. S. Eluanus praised for vertue and learning 217. 7 S. Eluanus was not brought vp in the Schoole of S. Ioseph of Arimathia 258. 7. S. Eluanus gaue place to S. Thean to be Archbishop of London before him 217. 7. S. Eluanus and S. Medwin were not the
holy Pope sent a Legate to our King in Britaine to exhort him to Christian Religion and the benefite thereof Traian commaunding that Christians should not be persecuted 1. S Anacletus hauing gloriously ended his dayes by Martyrdome Martin Pol. in Euarist Damasus in eodem vit S. Euaristi in Breuiar Rom. 26. die Oct. Matth. West an gratiae 111. Martin Pol. in Euaristo an 112. Plin. l. 10. Epist 97. Epist Traiani ad Plin. apud euÌ„deÌ„l 10. Epist 98. Tertullian Apol. Matth. Westm an 107. Martin Pol. in Traiano Mar. Scot. l. 2. aetat 6. in Traian Martin Polon supr in or about the 111. yeare of Christ Traiane still continuing his Empire and Coillus King in Britaine S. Euaristus borne of a Iewe by Father called Iudas in the Citie of Bethlem succeeded him in the Papall dignitie and continued therein 9. yeares and 3. Moneths Some say 10. moneths and 2. dayes Matthew of Westminster giueth him 10. yeares Martinus saith 13. yeares 7. moneths 3. dayes In his dayes the Church of Christ enioyed more quiet then it had done in his Predecessours time For Traiane the persecuting Emperour being moued with many and forcible motiues did not onely mitigate the Persecution so much as he could but vtterly forbad any at all to be vsed First vpon the letters of Plinius the second his Lieutenant or Prefect in Bithinia of the greate number of Christians there their feruour and zeale in their Religion their Innocency and pietie of life and Inoffensiuenes to the Roman Empyre and lawes in other respects he so farre mitigated the former rigour of Persecution that he commanded no enquiry should be made to call them into question And some be of opinion that although much Persecution was vsed in his time yet it was by the instigation of his Substituts more then his desire Traianus non perse sed per suos Consiliarios tertiam Christianis iussit inferri Persecutionem And this is further Traiane the Emperour a fauourer of Christians in Britaine and all places confirmed by Suidas an auncient Greeke writer who doth insinuate so much and plainely witnesseth that vpon the letters of information from Tiberianus Prefect in Palestina how the number of Christians was so greate and their desire of Martyrdome so much that he was not able to putt all to death which voluntary offered them selues to dye for that cause Whereupon Traiane Suidas in vitis Caesarum in Traiano the Emperour sent expresse commandement to all his Prefects in all places that they should not persecute Christians any longer Traianus Christianis aliquid induciarum concessit Nam qui illis temporibus à Romanis Magistratus redimebant ad demerendos Imperatores varijs Christianos supplicijs afficiebant adeo vt Tiberianus qui primae Palestinorum genti praeerat ad eum retulerit se non parem esse Christianis occidendis qui vltrò supplicia appeterent Vnde Traianus omnibus Praefectis mandauit ne supplicijs eos afficerent Whereupon we haue warrant sufficient to hold that this Mandate of the Emperour which was so generall that it was to all his Prefects omnibus Praefectis was sent also in to Britaine and Nennius Hist M. S. in Mults exemplan an t so farre extended itselfe which is with aduantage confirmed by our auncient Brittish Historian Nennius in many Manuscript Exemplars where he doth assure vs that the RomaÌ„ Eâ—perour which was when S. Euaristus was Pope was onely Traiane who did not onely forbid Persecution in Britaine but sent a solemne Ambassadge hither missa Legatione ab Imperatore Romanorum that they which would might be baptized and professe Christian Religion 2. And that S. Euaristus then Pope making religeous vse of this lenitie of the Emperour and his fauour to Christians did write and send to our King heare Coillus at that time and Nobles of Britaine to receaue the Christian Gildas NeÌ„nius writt how longe before K. Lucius S. Euaristus Pope sent a Legat to the King of Britaine to persuade him to the Christian faith faith and so there came a double Ambassadge from Rome hither then about that busines one from the Pope exhorting and an other from the Emperour permitting it Missa Legatione ab Imperatore Romanorum Papa Romano Euaristo Gildas also as our Protestants terme that Authour in his Manuscript History in two distincts Libraries in Cambridge giueth the same testimonie of S. Euaristus Pope his sending hither at this time and differeth from Nennius onely in this that whereas Nennius hath told vs that the Ambassadge was sent hither by the Roman Emperour and the Pope of Rome Euaristus Gildas saith it was sent from the Roman Emperours and Euaristus Pope of Rome Missa Legatione ab Imperatoribus Romanorum à Papa Romano Euaristo Which more confirmeth this matter for howsoeuer we will take these Gildas hist in Bibliotheca public Cantabrigiae in Collegâ—o S. Benedicti Emperours of the Romans eyther for the cheife Emperours as commonly they are vnderstood or the cheife Rulers vnder them in the Roman Empyre as he seemeth some time to accept that worde and the word Imperator properly signifying a Ruler will beare it in some sence it cannot haue a proper and literall reference such as these worthie Authours would vse to the time of King Lucius though there was such a sending after in his dayes by like men and meanes which is made plaine by their ioyning of S. Euaristus with them who dyed in the time of King Coillus Father to King Lucius by all accomps and by common computation before King Lucius was borne and by their rekening which giue the soonest life to King Lucius which is Matthew of Westminster saying he was borne in the yeare of Grace 115. WheÌ„ Matth. Westm an gratiae 115. he was a childe sixe yeares old at the most his Father liuing and reigning King when neyther Emperour nor Pope would write or send to him about such busines and the words of Suidas are plaine before the Emperours commande in these affaires was to his Prefects omnibus Praefectis mandauit such as his Father King Coillus and Iulius Agricola were then in Britaine And allthough in the same places where Gildas Nennius speake of these Messadges from the Pope Euaristus and Emperour they write also of King Lucius and his Nobles conuersion this can be no Argument that they sent to King Lucius but his Father Coillus for allthough they mention both those things neare together after their breife manner of writing they must make them two distinct matters and neuer say that the messadge was sent to King Lucius neither could they so haue done if the time and other circumstances would haue giuen allowance thereunto for they which write of King Lucius his Nobles and Countrie 's Conuersion doe write also how he wrote for and entreated it by suppliant letters to Pope Eleutherius Secondly both these being learned Britans and the best writers they had and knowing aswell as any
the time of their Conuersion in King Lucius and Pope Eleutherius time could not be so mistaken in such a cause to miscalculate so many yeares for the Copie of Gildas saith 164. annis post aduentum Christi Lucius Britannicus Rex cum vniuersis Britanniae Regulis Baptismū suscepit that King Gildas supr Lucius was baptized with all his Nobles of Britaine 164. yeares after the coming of Christ and Nennius saith it was three yeares afte◠Post centum sexaginta septem annos post Aduentum Christi Lucius Britanulcus Rex cum omnibus Regulis Nennius supr totius Britannicae Gentis baptismum suscepit So that whether we will take the accompt of S. Gildas or Nennius for King Lucius his time of cōuersion though others make a greater difference by 20. yeares and more we see that King Lucius was conuerted 44. yeares after the death of S. Euaristus and 54. from his first entrance into the Papacie 7. Popes S. Alexander Sixtus Telesphorus Higinius Pius Anicetus and Soter being betwene him and S. Eleutherius in whose time by all accompts King Lucius was conuerted of which two such renowned writers could not be ignorant much lesse may we iudge without greate iniury and dishonour to them and bold rashnes in our selues that they would or could erre or be mistaken in so high a degree the one of them Nennins the meanest stiled by our Catalogists of such men both Catholiks and Protestants the most excellent Doctour of the Britans Principall or Arch-Abbot Io. Lelandus in Nennio lo. Pitsaeus de vir Illustrib aetat 7. in Nennio Bāchorensi Balaeus centur 1. Script Brit. in eod of the most renowned Monastery of Bangor renowned both for wisedome and Religion Britannorum eximius Doctor egregius Britannorum Doctor famosissimi Monasterij Banchorensis Archiabbas Banchorensis Collegij Pontifex sapientia clarus Religione conspicuus The other S. Gildas the most renowned writer of the Britans of whome Histories remember by all Antiquities wherein he is stiled for his excellent and singular wisedome singularly Gildas sapiens Gildas the wise and so doth this Manuscript begin Incipiunt gesta Britonum à Gilda Sapiente composita Here begin the Acts of the Britans composed by Gildas Initium Gildae in Bibliotheca public Cantabrigiae Volum 247. tract 3. Surnamed the wise And if the firme grounde of such so auncient and worthie Authours could neede Supporters there is an other Manuscript in the Library of S. Ben ets Colledge in Cambridge so aūcient and credible that it is bound vp in the same Volume with Nennius the auncient History of Landaffe and such others and by the Protestant Publisher of the Titles of the Manuscripts of Cambridge and Oxford stiled Gildae Sapientis Historia the Historie of Gildas Thom. Iames in libris Manuscr Cantabrig in Bibl. Collegij S. Bened. Volum 373. tract 7. Surnamed the wise but by an auncient note in that Copie ascribed to an other auncient writer Quastus or much like which is more likely for euen in this place there is some difference though not materiall betwene that Copie of Gildas in the publike Librarie where is written 164. annis post Aduentum Christi and this in S. Benets Colledge there readeth post centum sexaginta quatuor annos post Aduentum Christi And this so commended and authorised Manuscript hath the same words with Gildas and Nennius in this point missa Legatione à Papa Romano Euaristo That S. Euaristus Pope wrote to the King of Britaine to receaue the faith of Christ And for the difference betwene S. Gildas and Nennius about the Emperour or Emperours of the Romans writing is of the same minde with Gildas missa Legatione ab Imperatorihus Romanorum à Papa Romano Euaristo That they were the Emperours of the Romans in the plurall number which thus sent to the then King of Britaine 3. And this confirmeth not onely the exhortation of Pope Euaristus to our King then to receaue the Christian faith but that besides the command of Traiane the Emperour against all Persecution of Christians sufficiently proued by Suidas and Nennius sent to his Prefects and Lieutenants heare as in other places but that these Roman Lieutenants themselues did signifie so much to King Coillus that it was Edicted and commanded of Traiane the Emperour that Christians should not be persecuted in Britaine For in that sence which I somewhat insinuated before doth S. Gildas vnderstand Imperatores Romanorum in the same worke where speaking of the Tribute which was payed to the Emperour of Rome sayeth it ceased to be payed in that Gildas supr in Claudio manner and was payed to the Britaine Emperours in tempore Clundij quieuit dari census Romanis à Britannia sed Britannicis Imperatoribus traditur Which so named Emperours of the Romans that were in Britain must needs be their Prefects or Lieutenants heare receauing that Tribute to the vse of the greate Emperour and Senate of Rome And by this clemency of Traiane towards Christians with prohibition to persecute them not onely our King which was euer before a fauourer of them did now receaue new spirit to doe all friendely offices he could to the Christian Britans subiect vnto him but the Roman Prefects which then were commorant in this kingdome did eyther willingly or forcebly by the Emperours Mandate permit all Romans and others which were or desired to be Christiās quietly and without any trouble or molestation to enioy their Religion which both for the present and after times gaue greate assistance to the happy encrease of Christians in this kingdome for the conuerted Romans and their Apostles by long conuersation now made acquainted with the languadge and manners of the Britans were become not onely for such as were learned among them to be fittist men among strangers to preach vnto them but the very vnlearned themselues most desirous all they could to promote and further so holy a worke became ready and skilfull Interpreters to such Apostolike men as the See of Rome sent of forreyne Countries into this Nation to conuert it to Christ THE III. CHAPTER OF THE STATE OF BRITAINE IN ECCLE siasticall Affaires in the time of S. Alexander Pope Adrianus Emperour and Coillus or Lucius his sonne King heare Their affections to Christian Religion and of diuers Apostolike Dio in Traiano Eutropius lib 8. Spartian in Adrian Matth. Westm ann 117. 118. 119. Marian. aetat 6. in Traiano Adriano Martin Polon Supput in eisd Martyrol Rom. 28. die Octob. Bed Vsuard Ado eod die Vit. Alexand. 1. 3. die Maij in Breuiar Rom. Dam. in Pontif. in Alex. 1. Method apud Marian. in Adrian Imp. Matt. Westm an 120. 115. 124. men sent from the See of Rome preaching heare 1. TRAIANE the Emperour being now dead about the 117. 118. or 119. yeare of Christ the accompts being somewhat and so much different therein Adrianus succeeded him in the Empire wherein he ruled 21. yeares or
regno sacerdotio clero iurare antequam ab Archiepiscopis Episcopis regni coronaretur Tres enim Rex habere debet seruos scilicet luxuriam auaritiam cupiditatem quos si habuerit seruos bene illustrè regnabit Regno omnia debet praemeditari hoc Regis est Quia malè cuncta ministrant impetus iuxta Euangelium omne regnum in se diuisum desolabitur Truly a King ought of right to obserue and defend all the Lands and honours all the dignities and rights and liberties of the Crowne of this kingdome wholly with all integritie and without diminution and with all his power recall to the auncient state and due all the rights of the kingdome which were dispersed dilapidated and lost And all and the whole Land and all the Ilands vnto Norwey and vnto Denmarke doe belong to the Crowne of his kingdome and they are of the Appendences and dignities of the King and it is one Monarchie and one kingdome and aunciently was called the kingdome of Britaine but now is â—alled the kingdome of the English men For our Lord Eleutherius Pope who first by inspiration of God did send an hallowed crowne to Britaine and Christianitie to Lucius King of the Britons did ordayne and impose to the Crowne of the kingdome such boundes and limits as are spoken before by his Decree in the yeare one hundred sixtie seuen after the Passion of Christ A King also ought to doe all things in the kingdome truely and by the Iudgment of the Peeres of the kingdome For Right and iustice ought to Reigne more in a kingdome then wicked will That is Lawe which allwayes doth right but will violence and force is not right A King ought to feare God and loue him aboue all things and keepe his Commandements throughout the kingdome He ought also to preserue foster maintaine gouerne and defend against Enemies the holy Church of his kingdome with all integritie and libertie according to the Constitutions of the Fathers and Predecessours so that God may before all things be honoured and euer had before his eyes He ought also to erect good Lawes and customes allowed and blott them out which be wicked and bannish them all from the kingdome He ought to doe right iudgment in the kingdome and keepe Iustice by the Counsaile of the Nobles of his kingdome All these things a King must sweare in his owne parson looking vpon and touching the holy Ghospels and vpon holy and sacred Reliks before the Realme and Preisthood and Clergie before he be crowned by the Archbishops and Bishops of the kingdome For a King must haue three things slaues vnto him to wit luxury aâ—arice and concupiscence which if he maketh sâ—aâ—es he shall reigne well and renownedly he must premeditate all things for the kingdome and this is the office of a King Because violences doe minister all things ill according to the Ghospell euery kindome diuided in itselfe will be desolate 5. Hitherto this our holy and auncient Lawe of the office and dutie of our Kings vsed and practized euen from the beginning of Christianitie publikly receaued heare both in the Britans and Saxons gouernment founded warranted and grounded vppon the Authoritie and direction of the holy Pope S. Eleutherius as appeareth by that part of his Epistle which I first recited immediately without any one sentence worde or sillable interposed betweene them annexed and ioyned to this Lawe as the originall cause motiue allowance and confirmation thereof Whereby we may cleartly see the greate power prerogatiue and Iurisdiction the Popes of Rome euen from the beginning and first founding Christian Religion heare claimed had and exercised in this kingdome and from the first Christian King we enioyed a Saint and blessed man all our Kings Britans Saxons or whatsoeuer Christians to these dayes did with this whole kingdome allowe to the Apostolike See of Rome as much as it claimeth now at our hands and as any good and learned Catholiks doe yeeld vnto it From that holy and eminent See we had by these greatest Testimonies Christian Religion planted and Iuridically setled heare Our Episcopall and Archiepiscopall Sees assigned our first Bishops and Archbishops to enioy them appointed and consecrated Direction giuen euen in temporall and ciuill affaires what Lawes we should take our King Possessor but of a part of this kingdome declared to be King of all Britaine and so many adiacent Ilands enioyed by his enemyes and an hallowed Crowne sent him to weare as Monarch and King of them all A Protestant Lawyer Bracton l. 1. de acquir rer Dom. c. 8. Io. Selden Analect p. 46. and Antiquarie saith that from this Popes donation our Kings had the Title viracius Dei vicar or vicegerent of God and citeth Bracton for his Authour who rather denyeth then affirmeth it onely he saith against the sence of Protestants that it is euident a King ought to be vnder the Lawe being but Gods vicegerent Quod sub lege Rex esse debeat cum â—it Dei vicarius And Roger Houeden who reciteth this verie Lawe verbatim hath not that Title Vicarius noâ— the woâ—de Regert to Rule which our Protestants apply to the Church the Title is Regis Officium the Kings dutie and is this Rex atque Vicarius eius ad hoc Roger. HouedeÌ„ Annal. part poster in Henric. â— c. de legib Angl. est constitutus vt regnum terrenum populum Dei super omnia sanctam Ecclesiam reuereatur ab Iniuriatoribus defendat maleficos ab ea euellat destruat penitus disperdat where aboue all things he must reuerence the holy Church and be ruled by it and not Rule it And this all our Christian Kings to King Edward the sixt a child did publikly professe before their Coronation as the old Order thereof is witnes And these Titles to be Vicarius Cbristi in his Pontificale Roman in Benedictione Coronatione Regis holy Church is as fully before giuen to Pope Eleutherius by King Lucius and his Christians and Regere to rule it vnder Christ made by them the Popes peculiar as they were euer after to these Times 6. And to speake more particularly of the ciuill and temporall Lawes which King Lucius requested Pope Eleutherius to giue direction in and he accordingly established in this kingdome this holy King now a Christian did not and could not by his Religion demand the Roman Pagan Lawes without alteration or correction of S. Eleutherius but according to such moderation change or alteration he should vse in them to speake in a Protestant Bishops words Lucius made request vnto Eleutherius to send him some Kinde of Abstract of the Roman Lawes whereby he might establish a setled order of Gouernment Godwin Conu of Britaine p. 29. in his Dominions And when Pope Eleutherius directed him to take his Lawe conformable to the Lawe of God by the aduise of his kingdome ex illis Dei gratia per consilium Regni
things which starre when the wise men of the Chaldeans did behold in the night time they said It signified the new birth of God The like doe Philo. l. 3. Chronogr an 3. Herodis Macrobius l. 2. Saturnal Dion Cass in vita Augusti Suidas in Augusto Nicephor l. 1. hist Ecclesiast c. 17. Euseb de praepar Euangel Philo the Iew Macrobius Dion and Cassian Pagans besides the Scriptures and Christian writers testifie of the martyrdome of so many thousand Innocents by Herode and the relation of that as of such other euents made presently to Augustus the Emperour at Rome Who also about this time offering to his Pagan God Apollo Pithius their Hechatombe greate sacrifice of an hundred Oxon could receaue noe other Answere but this that an Hebrewe child that ruled the Gods was borne and their Oracles put to silence wherevpon the Emperour builded in the Capitoll a greate Altar with this Latine Inscription Ara primogeniti Dei The altar of the onely begotten sonne of God Then all these things thus happening at and about the Natiuity of Christ were thus truely and faithfully deliuered at Rome and so came to the knowledge of our Britans there and from them and the Romans also both to the Romans and Britans in this kingdome So did other mysteries concerning Christ especially of his flyeing into Egypte then subiect vnto Caesar Augustus and the Presidents there keeping the same lawe and custome of giuing intelligence vnto him 7. Among which one so admirable publike generall and beyond example Epiphanius l. de ProphetaruÌ„ vita interitu in Ieremia Dorotheus in Synopsi in Hieremia propheta Fascicâ—l tempor Palladius in vita Apollinis there testified by the auncient Fathers Sainct Epiphanius Dorotheus and diuers others could not might not be concealed Ieremias signum dedit sacerdotibus Aegyptiacis quod oporteret simulachra corum concuti decidere per Seruatorem puerum ex virgine nasciturum in praecepi iaciturum Propterea etiam nunc virginem in lecto infantem in praesepio collocant adorant Et cum causam olim Ptolomaeus Rex percontaretur responderunt mysterium esse ipsis à maioribus traditum quod illi à sancto Propheta acceperunt Ieremy the Prophet gaue a signe to the Preists of Egypt that their Idols should be broken in peeces and fall downe by the Sauiour of the world a child to be borne of a virgin and to be layed in a stall Therefore euen still they worship a virgin in a bedd and a child in a Cribbe And wheÌ„ longe agoe their King Ptolomy demaunded the cause They Answered it was a mystery deliuered to them from their Auncestours which they receaued from the holy Prophet And according Origen in Exod. Pallad Hist Pan. in vit Apol. Sozom l. 5. hist Eccle c. 20. Cassio l. 6. c. 42. Nicephor l. 10. c. 31. Guliel Eiseng cent part 1. dist 3. volaterâ—â—n coÌ„ment l. 13. Petr. de Natal l. 3. c. 218. If. cap. 19. v. 1. Pallad hist sup to this so soone as our Sauiour was brought into Egypt a contry as Origen and others write most full of Idols they all fell downe and were broken in peeces Diuers write that S. Aphrodisius sent Bishop into France by Sainct Peter was prefect of Egypt then and moued by that miracle S. Aphorodisius genere Aegypti praefectus eo tempore quo puero Iesu in Aegyptum fugato in templa deorum illato Idola omnia corruerunt B. Petri Apostolorum Coryphaei discipulus Buturicensis Ecclesiae consecratus est antistes Anno Christi 48. This was also foretolde by the Prophet Esay who by our Protestants translation writeth of this time The Lord shall come into Aegypt and the Idols of Egypt shall be moued at his presence Wherevpon Palladius in the life of Apollo saith he had scene a Temple neare vnto Hermopolis in which when Christ with the blessed Virgin Mary his mother and Ioseph came into Egypt at his entrance into the city all the Idols fell downe prostrate vpon their faces on the earth according to the prophesie of Esay And S. Epiphanius in his booke of the liues and deaths of the Epiphanius l. de vita interitu Prophetarum Prophets shewing how besides those things which be contained of them in holy scripture many or most of them did also further prophesie to the people where they liued of the coming of Christ and the miraculous signes and tokens of that time as namely Ieremy Azarias Helisaeus Ezechiel Osee Ionas Abacuc He writeth of the Prophet Osee signum dedit prodigium Dominum Epiphan supr in vita Osee scilicet venturum caelitus caeterum hoc fore indi cium aduentus eius si quercus illa in Selom findatur è seipsa in portiones bis senas fierent totidem quercus accidit ita He gaue for a signe and wonder that our Lord should come from heauen and this to be a signe of his coming if an oke tree which was in Selom should cleeue a sunder from it selfe into twelue parts and be made so many oke trees and so it came to passe These and so many other most straunge and miraculous things of that time remembred in histories most euident signes and demonstrations of the miraculous birth of Christ being according to the custome and Imperiall decree exactly certified by the presidents of all prouinces where they hapened to Augustus the Emperour at Rome where so many Britans were of this nation Galfrid monum lib. 4. hist cap. 11. Theater of great Britaine l. 5. c. 6. Guido de ColuÌ„na apud Fabian in hist in Cunob Fabian ib. of greatest dignity learning and wisedome as King Kimbeline himselfe at or about that time many both his noble attendants and hostages and Druids that ruled in matters of religion and were our most learned men to instruct them there were present or resident and for their singular straungnes being noted and obserued by all as concerning all in the greatest question of their soules could not be singularly or carelessely passed ouer by so many worthy wisest Britans alone They alone could not be straungers and vnacquainted with the preachings and prophesies so publike and manifest to all as they were for if we may beleeue Pagans or Christians Catholike or Protestant writers For thus it is related This Sybilla indued with the spirit Matth. Westm aetat 4. cap. 14. Protest annot ib. in Merg Iudic. Sebastian Munster Cosmograph lib. 2. Hertman Schedel chronic aetat 3. fol. 35. August serm contra Iudaeos Lactant. Euseb of prophesie preached in Macedonia Herostaia Agalguldea Cilicia and Galatia Then she went into Ethiopia Gabaon Babylon Africke Lybia Pentapolis and Palestina Audientes igitur Romani famam eius nuntiaucrunt haec omnia Imperatori Mittens ergo Imperator decernente Senatu ad eam legatos cum magno honore vocatam fecit eam adduci Romam Therefore the Romans hearing her fame told all these things to
should reigne so many certainely appointed 24. yeares that a married man especially a king should liue and die a virgine And the rest before remembred hauing no causes in nature to know them by should thus miraculously and infallibly be foretolde so long before there was no leaste hope expectation or in morall Iudgmentany probabilitie or rather possibilitie at all of many or most of these extraordinary future euents But rather a doubted Alred Rieual in vit S. Edward Guliel Malmes sup Stow. hist in K. Edward Confess Holinsh. l. 8. hist of Engl. c. 7. Theater of great Britaine in K. Edward Conf. with others Godwyn Catal. in Winchester 3. Brith wold Holinsh hist of England l. 8. cap. 1. Stowe hist in K. Edward Confess will Malmesb l. de gest Reg. Anglorum c. 13. feare or certainety of the contrary And yet all these things were published to the world diuers yeares before they tooke effect and in the life of sainct Brithwold proposer of them who by the same reuelation was dormire cum patribus to be dead before they began Which is apparantly true euen by our Protestants themselues to giue them their choise whether sainct Brithwold Bishop of winchester or wilton it was that had this vision For these Protestants assure vs that sainct Brithwold of winchester was dead allmost 30. yeares before the returne of sainct Edward from exile And it is the common opinion the reuelation was made to him And if it was Brithwold Bishop of wilton he was also dead by these mens accompts 22. yeares at the leaste before these things were accomplished Therefore I must infallibly conclude that sainct Peter or whosoeuer it was which so prophetically and miraculously foretold so many things of this holy King and this kingdome to be effected so long after was not and possibly could not be an vntrue or doubtfull Relator of sainct Peters first preaching in this Nation conteined and as constantly auouched as the rest of those reuealed mysteries foretold in that vision And the Inhabitants of Britaine are so much more bounde to glorifie God and Honor this most blessed Apostle as both his extraordinary first labours in instructing this kingdome in the true Religion of Christ and this his extraordinary care and Pastorall loue in so many wayes making it knowne vnto vs to lett vs vnderstand how much we are bounde vnto him for such inestimable benefices deserue it Which we reade in our historyâ—s both Catholik and Protestant to be confirmed by an other example of like nature but of more auncient memory a thowsand yeares since in the time of king Ethelbert our first christian king of the Saxons Race When sainct Peter miraculously testified concerning the Church of Westminster in London in these M. S. antiq in S. Edward Confes Guliel Malmes l. 2. de gest Pontif c. de Episcopis Londin Alred Rieuall in vit S. Edward Ioan. Capgrau Catal. eodem Franc. Mason Consecr of Bish. pag. 47. Nichol. Pap. 2. in epist ad Edward Reg. Angl. apud Capgrau in S. Edward M. S. antiq in eod Alred Rieuall in vit S. Edwardi words as a Protestant writer translateth them Est mihi locus I haue quoth S. Peter a place in the west part of London chosen to my self and deare vnto me which sometimes I did dedicate with my owne hands Quem locum quondam proprijs manibus consecraui renowne with my presence and Illustrate with diuine miracles the name where of is Thorneia Westminster Which cannot litterally truely be vnderstood of any spirituall vision wherin sainct Peter in his onely glorified soule should appeare as in the time of King Ethelbert we reade he did but of his personall presence there before his death when and neuer after nor vntill the day of Iudgment and the generall Resurrection sainct Peter had or at any time shall haue proprias manus his owne hands or any parte of his body vnited to his soule yet he speaketh plainely here proprijs manibus consecrauithe consecrated that place with his owne hands which is not true either in a spirituall vision or where an assumpted body is vsed for an aslumpted bodie hand foote or any other member caÌ„not be called the proper and owne body Hande foote or other member of any parson Therefore Pope Nicholas the second speaking of this matter in his Epistle to sainct Edward the Confessor saith this place was consecrated by S. Peter whose vicar he was primam autiquitus consecrationem à heato Petro accepit cuius licet Indigni Vicarij sumus Therefore except Pope Nicholas may be said to be Vicar to sainct Peters Soule and not to him as he was Bishop of Rome in body and soule we most by him and this antiquarie referre this matter to sainct Peters first preaching in this land when he liued and not to any apparition in soule onely as that was wherein he appeared at Westminster in the time of King Ethelbert and S. Mellitus Bishop of London of which more hereafter Now I will answeare to some vaine and weake obiections of a few Protestant writers and also shew by such men in what time or times once or oftner S. Peter preached personally in this Iland so neare as probably may be concluded in such a case as also what holy offices he performed heare in founding the Church of Christ in Britaine THE XV. CHAPTER WHEREIN IS BOTH ANSWEARE MADE to Protestant obiections againct S. Peters preaching in Britaine by the Protestants themselues and their owne Authors and by the same confirmed that S. Peter preached in this kingdome A Protestant Bishop challengeth S. Symeon metaphrastes for writing so confidently of S. Peters preaching heare hauing not Godwyn Conu of Britaine p. 3. cap. 1. any thing to except against him first vpbraydeth him with his CouÌ„tries of Greece Graecus fuit haec natio est fuitque semper ad mentiendum promptula he was a Grecian and that Nation is and euer was a litle promt to lie But by such libertie we may condemne the greatest lights of the Chuch of God S. Athanasius Chrysostome SS Gregories Naziancen and Nissen the seeuen first generall Councels kept in Greece and cheifely of Greeke fathers and so leaue nothing certaine in the Church of God But how free from all suspition of lying that holy Saint was in this poinct I haue shewed to the shame of all such accusers before demonstratiuely prouing by all kind of Testimonyes that his testimonye herein was true And whereas this Protestant Bishop vrgeth against that holy Saint that Caesar Baronius should write of him in his esse hallucinatuÌ„ constat Baron annal Eccl Christi an 44. pag. 371. it is euident he was deceaued in these things It is most euident this Protestant Bishop was either deceaued in himself or went about to deceaue others his readers in this point for Cardinall Baronius is so farre from going about to take the least exception against S. Simeon Metaphrastes for testifiing S. Peters
the Roman See Apostolike And therefore the finall determination of our King his Nobles and most Religious and wisest Aduisers in this Noble worke was to petition to the Pope of Rome by letters and Ambassadors from hence that he would accordingly as his high Pastorall charge and office called vpon him in such affaires to take this greate Action in hand and effect it by such men and meanes as should be thought most fit and approued vnto him Whether this Resolution and Ambassadge of King Lucius was made and directed first at this time in the Papacie of S. Eleutherius or toward the later end of Pope Soter I dare not to determine because we reade in the best and most allowed Relation of this Ambassadge that it was now acted in the very beginning of the Popedome of Eleutherius and then both King Lucius letters and Ambassadors were come to Pope Eleutherius at Rome with this suite Huic Eleutherio initio Pontificatus supplices literae venerunt à Act. Eleutherij Papae in Breuiar Rom. die 26. Maij. Anton. Sabellicus l. 5. Ennead 7. Platina in Eleutherio Lucio Britannorum Rege vt se ac suos in Christianorum numerum reciperet Which giueth Argument that if such letters and Ambassadors were not sent in the life of Pope Soter and hindered of execution by his vnexpected Martyrdome yet at the least the Resolution heareof was made in his time otherwise those Ambassadors and letters could not haue bene transported so farre and so soone if we should expect resolution to his dayes as to be there in the beginning of his Papacie The largnes of this kingdome the diuersitie and manifold number of parsons euen of cheife accompt both in spirituall and ciuill respect commorant in distinct and much seperated places whose consent was requisite and many of them thir Iudgments not presently conuicted Stow Hist in Lucius Matt. Park Ant. Brit. p. 4. Io. Gosceln Eccles Hist Io. Balaeus l. de Script cent 1. in Lucio Pio. Act. S. Soteris in Breu. Rom. 22. April Baron Tom. 2. an 179. in Sotere Eleuther Seuer Bin. notat in to 1. Concil in Vita Soteris Eleut Anton. Sabellic l. 5. Ennead 7. Goscelin Bal. supr for such a messadge and other difficulties drawe me deeper into this opinion that this Ambassadge was attempted or concluded in Pope Soters time For as our learned Protestant Antiquaries write haec contigerunt anno à Christi aduentu in carne 179. vt veriores Annales commemorant according to the truest accompt in Histories this Ambassadge was in the 179. yeare of Christ in which yeare by the common accompt S. Soter was put to death on the 22. day of Aprill and the See Apostolike was voide before S. Eleutherius his Election 10. dayes So the remnant of this yeare from the second day of May is farre too short a time to assigne for the managing of so many and important affaires especially if we add the sending hither againe from Rome by Pope Eleutherius Damianus and Fugatianus which was also done in this yeare as these men affirme and much more if Eluanus and Meduuinus which were but Catechumens and not Baptized when they were sent from hence to Rome were so perfectly instructed examined and ordinarily as the course of the Roman Church was at that time proceeded in taking Ecclesiasticall Orders Eluanus returning a Bishop and Meduuinus a cheife Preacher and Preist these things requiring a longer time then is allotted before to be done in the Papacie of Eleutherius if they returned hither this yeare with S. Fugatius and Damianus as our Antiquaries incline to deliuer I must needs also incline to hold this Ambassadge was begun in S. Soter his time and by his death hindered Bal. l. de Script cent 1. in Lucio Matth. Parker Antiq. Brit. p. 5. Stowe Hist in Lucius Io. Gosc Hist Eccl. from execution vntill this beginning of S. Eleutherius Ruling in the Church of Christ 4. But how soeuer this Ambassadge may be questioned when it was taken in hand in the time of Pope Soter or not before the entrance of S. Eleutherius into that chardge it is a confessed truth and out of Controuersie among all Historians Catholiks or Protestants both that this Ambassadge about the publike Conuersion of Britaine was from King Lucius King in Britaine to the Pope of Rome as also that at this time all Countries betweene this kingdome and Rome as France Lorrayne Germany and Italy had many renowned learned Bishops and Preists neyther was Britaine destitute of such as I haue proued before And this was well knowne to King Lucius as our Protestant Antiquaries thus assuer vs hereof Cumque cognouisset Lucius Matth. Parker Antiq. Brit. p. 4. quamplures nobiles Romanos fidem Christi à Romano Pontifice accepisse eorumque exemplo Christianum nomen in singulas Prouincias sparsum disseminatum statuit All Nations in the west part of the world as well as Britaine by all antiquaries receaued the Christian faith from Rome in eadem fide sub Eleutherio tunc Romano Pontifice inaugurari When King Lucius knew that very many noble Romans had receaued the faith of Christ from the Pope of Rome and by their example the Christian name was dispersed and sowen into all Prouinces he appointed to be inaugured in the same faith by Eleutberius then Pope of Rome Where we see it iustified by the first Protestant Archbishop that euer was whome the rest of our English Protestants doe willingly followe that not onely the Nobles of the Romans had receaued the faith of Christ from the Pope of Rome but all Prouinces had followed their example therein Whereby it is euident both that there were many learned Bishops and Clergie men betweene this and Rome of whome King Lucius with farre lesse labour and difficulties might haue receaued the faith of Christ then from the Pope of Rome had not the Preeminency of that Apostolike See in such cases called vpon him to appeale thither for the generall and Iuridicall setling of himselfe and kingdome in the Christian faith And by this narration itselfe without further Authoritie in this place it is manifest that if King Lucius had not vsed the Roman Popes power and direction herein he had bene singular hauing no example to warrant him but the example of all Prouinces singulas Prouincias in this part of the world receauing the faith from the Pope of Rome to condemne him euen in the Iudgment of Protestants themselues if he had otherwise proceeded in this busines 5. Therefore I can but maruayle what a Protestant Bishop meaneth first to extoll with greate praise our King Lucius for this Action and after asmuch condemne him in the same respect He commendeth him in this manner great cause haue we with all thankfullnes to celebrate the memory of this excellent Godwin conu of Brit. p. 35. Prince by whome God did not onely blesse this Land with the knowledge of his
truth but in such sort did it as thereby he hath purchased vnto the same the Title of Primogenita Ecclesiae the most auncient and first begotten of all the Churches in the world for that as Sabellicus hath well noted allthough Christ was preached elswhere priuately Britaine the first Kingdome in the world which publikely and generally receaued the saith of Christ in many other Nations long before yet omnium Prouinciarum prima publicitus Christi nomen recepit Of all Nations it was the first that with publike approbation of Prince and State receaued the Profession of Christian Religion Thus farre he commendeth King Lucius for the carriadge of this busines afterward insinuating first to his Readers that there were Christian Preists and Preachers heare in Britaine when King Lucius sent to Pope Eleutherius about the generall Conuersion of this kingdome and to vse his words there is no doubt to be made that at their hāds if he were not he might haue bene baptised that were the Instrumēts of his Conuersion And then he immediately thus addeth to dishonour this Noble King for this his most honorable Ambassadge But what shall I say humanitūs aliquid passus est he thought happily it would be some litle glory vnto him and a countenance also to the action to fetch them that might seeme to be the Authours of this designe from Rome the Seate of the Empire the Mistresse of the world yea and also happily the vpholders of his Crowne and Authoritie regall Thus farre this Protestant Bishop and Antiquarie all which I haue answeared before and now breifely repeate if King Lucius was or might haue bene baptised by any heare all they as I haue proued before of S. Timothie Marcellus Mansuetus and others sent hither or conuerted being cōsecrated Preists or Bishops heare by Authoritie from the Apostolike Roman See he must needs also be baptised by power from thence if he had not sent this solemne Ambassadge thither So likewise if he stayed the returne of his Ambassadours Eluan and Medwin if the Pope had sent no others hither seeing by all Antiquities these were but Cathecumens and not baptised when they were sent to Rome but there perfectly instructed baptised and cōsecrated the one a Priest the other a Preist and Bishop if these or eyther of them baptised him and his people if they alone had bene able to performe so generall and greate a worke it had bene done by the power of the Pope of Rome who consecrated them and by Authoritie sent them hither to that end 6. So if King Lucius had appealed in this busines to the Bishops of France or any Country betweene Rome and vs and if they had harkened vnto him herein without consulting with the Pope of Rome yet all they being consecrated and directed thither by his Authoritie as we haue seene before King Lucius and his subiects resolued to be Christians must become such by the labour power and warrant of the Pope of Rome And by that which is saide before by the warrant of our Protestants of the both claymed and practised supreame spirituall power of all Popes from S. Peter to this time of S. Eleutherius and of him also it is euident that this kingdome nor any other could be in such solemne and publike manner conuerted and all Ecclesiasticall matters with change of Temporall lawes be established without the warrant and approbation of the Apostolike See of Rome and Church thereof in which respect and noe other Sabellicus and others which truely call this our Britaine the eldest daughter of the Church primogemita Ecclesiae so terme it in respect of the Church of Rome our holy Mother which brought forth this Country generally and publikly to Christ before any other in the world by sending holy Preachers and Apostolike men hither which so brought it to passe to the greate honour of this Nation Eleutherius Graecia oriundus sed Neapoli Anton. Sabellicus l. 5. Ennead 7 in Italia ortus successit Soteri Cum hoc nuper dignitatem adepto Lucius Britanniae Rex per litteras egit vt se suos vellet Christianorum numero addicere Missi sunt eo Fugatius Damianus viri pietate insigni hi Regem cum tota domo populoque vniuerso Baptismi Sacramento insignauerunt sublatoque malorum daemonum cultu vera in gente pietas constituta est Sic Britannia omnium Prouinciarum prima publicitus Christi nomen recepit Where it is euident that Sabellicus this Protestant Bishops Authour giueth this dignitie to Britaine to be the eldest and first borne daughter of the Church because the Roman Church first and before all other Nations did bringe it wholy forth to Christ wholy conuerting it in which sence the King of France accompteth and stileth himselfe primogenitus Annal. Galliae in Claudio Ecclesiae the first begotten child of the Church among Kings because Stephen a King in France rather a Duke was in their opinion in the time of Claudius the Emperour conuerted to the faith of Christ by Apostolike men sent from the See of Rome And our King Iames whome our Protestants would haue to be the fourth such supreame heade of their Church in England after King Henry the eight the yoūge child King Edward the sixt and Elizabeth a woman and Queene plainely and publikly in open parlament hath thus confessed I acknowledge the Roman Church to be our Mother Church Therefore except Mother and Daughter be not correlatiues and vnseperable Britaine King Iames speach in his 1. Parlament was the Daughter hauing no elder Sister Daughter of that Church was the first borne Daughter of the Church by this prerogatiue primogenita Ecclesiae 7. And the Arguments which this Protestant Bishop would haue to accuse or condemne King Lucius of vaine glory for sending to Rome to establish Godwin Conu of Brit. supr p. 35. the Conuersion of Britaine because Rome was then the Seate of the Empire Mistresse of the world and happily vpholder of his crowne and regall Authoritie doe aduance the honour of King Lucius his zeale in Religion and Dutie to the Roman Church For if the Conuersion of Britaine in so vinuersall established order could haue bene compassed without allowance of the Pope of Rome it had bene more secure for him to haue abstayned from that Ambassadge sent vnto the Pope liuing in state of Persecution for his Christian Religion and cheife office therein by the temporall and Imperiall Rome temporall Seate of persecuting Emperours their times of conniuency onely excepted temporall Mistresse of the world temporall Vpholder or friend to the Regall crowne of Britaine so farre as it did nothing which tasted of alienation from the Roman Pagan Imperours will and dignitie with which King Lucius his professing a Religion persecuted by them and suing for establishing and confirmation thereof by the Authoritie of the Pope of Rome which aboue all other things was most distastfull to the Roman Empire and had for
consented therto The old Manuscript Manuscr Peruetustum de primo statu Landauen Ecclesiae Brittish Antiquitie of the first State of the Church of LaÌ„daffe thus recordeth it Lucius Britannorum Rex ad Eleutherium Apostolicae Sedis Papam Legatos suos scilicet Eluanum Meduinum misit implorans vt iuxta eius Ammonitionem Christianus fieret Lucius King of the Britans sent his Ambassadors Eluan and Medwne to Eleutherius Pope of the Apostolike See beseeching him that Galfrid Monum Hist Reg. Brit. l. 4. c. 19. Antiquit. Glast Tabulis affixae Capgr in S. Patric according to his admoniton he might be made a Christian The Authour of the old Brittish History saith Lucius Epistolas suas Eleutherio Papae direxit petens vt ab eo Christianismum reciperet King Lucius directed his Epistles to Pope Eleutherius desiring to receaue Christianitie from him The old Antiquities of Glastenbury citing other Brittish Authours doe tell vs that very cridible Antiquities deliuer that Lucius King of the Britans did send to Pope Eleutherius to pray him that he would illuminate the darknes of Britaine with the light of Christian preaching Tradunt bonae credulitatis Annales quod Lucius Rex Britannorum ad Eleutherium Papam miserit oratum vt Britanniae tenebras luce Christianae Praedicationis illustraret S. Bede saith King Lucius did entreate Pope Eleutherius Bed l. 1. Eccles Hist c. 4. Theat of Brit. l. 6. Radulphus de Diceto Hist in Eleutherio an 188 Abbreuiat teÌ„p inter an 170. 180. by his letters that by his commandement he might be made a Christian obsecrans vt per eius mandatum Christianus efficeretur Dicetus in his auncient Manuscript History writeth King Lucius of Britaine obtained of Pope Eleutherius by his Epistle written vnto him to be made a Christian Ad Eleutherium Papam Lucius Rex Britanniae missa Epistola se fieri Christianum impetrat The old Authour of the Manuscript History termed Abbreuiatio Temporum if it was not the same Radulphus de Diceto hath the same words though not precisely at the same yeare wherein the copie of Dicetus in the Kings Library as our Theater Protestants cite him but as I haue alledged him Marianus Marian. Scot. l. 2. aetat 6. an 177. Florent Wigor Chron. an 162. 184. Sigebert GeÌ„bl Chronogr in Regno Britan. Matth. Westm an gratiae 185. saith the very same also Lucius Britanniae Rex ab Eleutherio Papa per Epistolam Christianum se fieri impetrat Florentius wigorniensis writeth in the same words Sigibertus saith King Lucius request was the cause that the Britans receaued the Mysteries of Christian Religion by the Legats of Pope Eleutherius Britanni instantia Lucij Britanniarum Regis per Legatos Eleutherij Papae Mysteria Christianitatis perceperuÌ„t Matthew of Westminster giueth the like testimony to this petition of King Lucius to Pope Eleutherius Lucius Britannorum Rex ad Papam Eleutherium Epistolas direxit petens ab eo vt Christianus efficeretur Henry Archdeacon of Huntington saith When Eleutherius was Pope of Rome Lucius King of the Britains sent an Epistle vnto him beseeching him that by his commandement Henricus Huntingt Hist l. 1. in Marco Antonino Vero Aurelio Lucio CoÌ„modo Harding Cronicle in King Lucius c. 51. f. 43. Manuscr Antiq. de Vita S. Dubtitij Io. Capgrauius Catal. in eod he might be made à Christian Cum Eleutherius Pontificatui Romanae Ecclesiae praeesset misit ad eum Lucius Britanniarum Rex Epistolam obsecrans vt per eius maÌ„datum Christianus efficeretur Harding saith this was done at the supplication of Lucius The old Manuscript of the life of S. Dubritius which Capgraue and others followe witnesseth that King Lucius sent two Ambassadors Eluan and Medwine to Pope Eleutherius that he might be made a Christian according to his direction Lucius Britannorum Rex ad Eleutherium Papam Legatos misit stilicet Eluanum Meduinum vt iuxta eius ammonitionem Christianus fieret And in the life of S. Helen the Empresse our Country woman Lucius Epistolas Eleutherio Papae humiliter direxit petens vt ab eo fidem Christianam recicipere mereretur King Lucius did humbly direct Epistles to Pope Eleutherius desiring that he might be thought worthie to receaue the Christian faith from him The like hath Ado Lucius Britannorum Rex missa ad Eleutherium Romae Episcopum Epistolà vt Christianus efficeretur petijt Many others and they auncient Catholike writers of greate credet there be both of this and other M. S. in Vita S. Helenae Et Capgrau in ead Nations which thus confidently for most certaine deliuer this History vnto vs which for auoiding tediousnes I omit as I might haue ouerpassed many of these but to shew to my Readers that the mistakings of some Scribes before remembred and reconciled about times and Titles doe nothing hinder Ado in Chron. inter an 163. 181. the vndoubted and vnquestionable truth of the Relation hereof That the generall Conuersion of this kingdome to Christ was happily brought to passe in the time of Pope Eleutherius by his direction warrant and Papall Authoritie 3. For confirmation whereof by all manner of Antiquaries euen our Protestants most aduerse to the prerogatiues of the holy Apostolike Roman See they generally consent vnto it in this Order Matthias Flaccus Illiricus Ioannes Vuigandus Matthaeus Index and Basilius Faber the Magdeburgian Protestant Historians haue thus of this matter Lucius ad Eleutherium Romanae Ecclesiae Centur. 2. cap. 2. col 8. Episcopum Eluanum Meduuinum Britannos doctrina praestantes mittit rogat vt inde Doctores quosdam accipiat qui Christianam Religionem in suo Regno abolito toto Ethnichismo instaurent King Lucius of Britaine sent two excellently learned Britans Eluanus and Meduuinus to Eleutherius Bishop of the Church of Rome and desired him that he might receaue some Doctours from thence that might establish Christian Religion in his kingdome and abolish Heathen superstition out of it And they alledge Gildas Albanius that this King was addicted to Christian Religion euen from the beginnig of his Reigne Non erat omnino iniquus Lucius Christianorum Religioni statim initio sui Imperijmouebatur enim nonnihil miraculis illustribus quae à Christianis in testimonium ornamentum suae doctrinae passim edebantur vt Gildas Albanius in libro de victoria Aurelij Ambrosij refert A Protestant Bishop of England whome these Magdeburgians cite and follow writeth in like manner cum Io. Bal. l. de Scriptor Brit. cent 1. in Lucio Eluano Meduuino audisset per â—â—esaris Legatos Trebellium Pertinacem Romanorum illustres aliquot quiescente Persecutione Christianam Religionem admisisse statim per eruditos Britannos Eluanum Meduuinum ad Eleutherium Romanorum Pontisicem misit ac scripsit pro suscipiendo Baptismo Epistolam When King Lucius vnderstood by the Emperours
cōuerted to Christ to be directed by him in his ciuill Lawes had receaued an hallowed Crowne and warrāt and Limits of his kingdome from him was as carefull and sollicitous to haue all things now effected to be approued and confirmed by the same highest spirituall Papall Power and Authoritie which as he well knew by the Testimonies of diuers Popes holy Saints and Martyrs before as our Protestants haue acknowledged was instituted and ordained by Christ himselfe as a Rule and direction to all other members of his Catholike Church And therefore when it could otherwise be no Polecy or pleasure to our holy King to spare from hence so long a time the Legats he had so much desired no ease to them now old and weryed in Labors to trauaile to Rome and returne hither againe nor expedient for a new conuerted kingdome to want the Apostles and conuerters thereof so soone before it was perfectly setled in the Religion it had receaued by them but very dangerous to them all in respect of the Roman state so Ieleous and violent an enemy to diuers things now thus to be confirmed against their challendg and claime at that time for the kingdome either to haue incited or allowed that Iorney and confirmation or the Legats to haue vndertaken it with so much trouble hazard and perill had it bene either a needlesse or meere voluntarie and no necessarie busines was in so many and worthie parsons the greatest madnes could de deuised 2. And yet our Antiquities assuer vs our Ecclesiasticall state and affaires were thus confirmed and all things accompted as vncertaine vntill such confirmation was procured and obtayned The old Brittish Historie Virunnius Matthew of Westminster with many others both Manuscripts and printed Antiquaries Galfr. Monum Hist Reg. Brit. l. 4. c. 20. vlt. Pont. Vir. l. 4. in fine Matth. Westm an gratiae 186. Masnuscr Hist antiq in Luci. tell vs Beati Antistites Faganus Deruuianus Romam reuersi quae fecerant impetrauerunt à Papa beatissimo confirmari The blessed Bishops Faganus and Deruuianus returning againe to Rome obtayned to haue the things which they had done to be confirmed by the most blessed Pope Where we see that the Pope by petition and proofe made vnto him of the orderly and Religeous proceedings of his Legats in Britaine confirmed what they had done heare What that was in founding the Church of Christ in this kingdome I haue mentioned before all which was now confirmed by the Pope himselfe And if a generall confirmation will not confirme and conforme vs in this truth let vs resorte for the most questionable things to those particulars which cheife Protestants with others haue deliuered and warranted before out of our generally binding and receaued auncient Lawes and Pope Eleutherius owne writings in which we often finde Lucius to be adiudged King of Britaine and the kingdome of Britaine to be his kingdome And yet many Historians Italians Epist Pape Eleutherij supr leg S. Edwardi apud Plur. Authores Baron Tom. 2. Annal. in Eleut Hect. Boet. Scot. Hist l. 5. f. 83. Godwin Cōuers of Brit. p. 22. Scots English Catholiks and Protestants haue doubted thereof Baronius would haue him if any at all but a pety King Hector Boethius alloweth him but a King by courtesie Lucius Britonibus Caesaris beneuolentia authoritate imperitabat A Protestant Bishop thus disputeth it It is made a doubt and not without good cause whether euer there could be any such King as Lucius or no. In this very season that is appointed by our writers to the Reigne of Lucius the Romans possessed Britaine quietly as may appeare by all the Roman writers to wit during the times of M. Antoninus and Commodus and long after this Britaine was wholly subdued vnto the Romans and brought vnder the forme of a Prouince to wit in the time of Domitian as W. Malmesbury hath deliuered and amongst later writers two men of greate iudgment Baronius and Maister Camden which is partly confirmed by Tacitus deliuering that a great part of it was reduced into the forme of a Prouince as a foresaid in the time of Claudius These things being so how should a King haue any Gouernment heare Thus this Protestant Bishop and Antiquarie What force is in his allegations I haue sufficiently said for the honour of this kingdome in other places But in this case and question if we allowe him all for truth both he and we thereby are necessitated to allowe so much the greater prerogatiue and power to Pope Eleutherius the Pope of Rome to haue Authoritie in cases doubtfull or where a kingdome or true Heire is by violence oppressed to declare a true lawfull and vndoubted King as this Pope in this Act did by our King Lucius and this kingdome which with all others this Protestant Bishop himselfe acknowledgeth per consilium Regni vestri sume legem per illam Dei patientiâ vestrum Reges Britanniae Regnum Vicarius Dei Epist Eleutherij apud Godw. sup p. 30. 31. Matth. Parker Antiq. Brit. p. 5. Foxe to 1. Act. Guliel Lamb. in Legib. S. Edwardi Stow Hist in Eleuth Leges S. Edwardi cap. 17. apud Gul. Lamb. l. de Legib. Priscis f. 130. estis in Regno Gentes Regni Britanniae populi vestri sunt Where notwithstanding any clayme or Title the Romans at that time did or could make to Britaine or any part thereof King Lucius is by Pope Eleutherius openly pronounced and declared to be King of Britaine and all the people and Nations of Britaine to be his people and subiects And for further confirmation and proofe heareof he did expressely declare as our publike Lawes still witnesse that all this kingdome or I le of Britaine was his kingdome as also all the Ilands vnto Norway and Denmarke belonged to the Crowne of this his kingdome Vniuersa terra tota Insulae omnes vsque Norwegiam vsque Daciam petinent ad coronam regni eius And to secure King Lucius herein he sent him as King of the Britans an hallowed Crowne to weare as King of all these remembred Dominions Tales metas fines constituit imposuit coronae regni Dominus Eleutherius Papa sententia sua qui destinauit coronam benedictam Britanniae Christianitatem Deo inspirante Lucio Regi Britonum How this holy Pope did giue direction and instruction to this King about his Lawes I haue said before as also of the former more at lardge So likewise of the setling three Archbishops in the three named places with Bishops vnder them which was long before S. Eleutherius time decreed by other Popes and from the Apostles and so needed litle confirmation being by Apostolike Order long before instituted 3. Yet this being a cheife and principall thing in setling our Church affaires by the holy Legats it was by the same euidence as carefully and principally confirmed by this holy Pope and so was obserued throughout this kingdome vpon
old Latine Manuscript History mortuus est Lucius sepultus in Claudiocestria The old Manuscript of S. Peters Church in Cornhill at London auoucheth from diuers Antiquities that he was buried at Gloucester where the Church of S. Francis was after builded being at the time of his death the Cathedrall and Episcopall Church of that Citie as I haue remembred Ihon Harding also witnesseth of this Kings death and bury all at Glocester At Cairglowe buried after his dignitie 6. And not to exclude the testimony of our Protestant Antiquaries in this Relation in their Theater of great Britaine written and coÌ„posed by diuers of their best Historians and published with their common applause and Approbation they make this History of King Lucius his death in Britaine a matter without question true and thus scoffingly condemne those writers Which would carry him to end his dayes in Germanye That this Lucius should be the Apostle to the Bauarians or that his Sister Emerita was crowned with the Flames of Martyrdome fifteene yeares after his death I leaue to the credit of Aegedius Schudus and Hermannus Scedelius the Reporters Others of them plainely say Lucius was buried at Glocester Yet this generall consent of Antiquitie for his first buriall at Glocester doth nothing hinder but as the kuowne deuotion both of the Britans and Saxons after them towards holy Reliks did often and with greate reuerence and solemnitie remoue the bodyes of holy Saints or parts of them for their greater honour So it might or did after fall out with the whole body of this renowned King or some part thereof And the Tradition of Winchester is that the whole body of King Lucius or a greate part thereof being once remoued before was the second time Translated thither there lieth in the bodie of the greate Church vnder a marble stone eleuated about two foote froÌ„ the pauement the same stone being now broken in two places hauing vpon â—t and those holy Reliks a Crosse of 7. greate brasse buttons whereof 5. are set downe in length and the other two making the perfect figure and forme of the Crosse one on each side of the others making the length And this reuerent Translation of King Lucius body to diuers places in Britaine is sufficiently insinuated by the old Authour of the French Manuscript History I Manuscr Gallic sup c. 9. haue cited before who allthough he confidently affirmeth that King Lucius died at Glocester deuia a Gloucestre yet he addeth that he was afterward buried in the cheife See in the Citie of Caerlegion En Leglise del Primer See cest assauoir en la cittie de Legions estoit enterres and this he saith was in the 196. yeare of Christs Incarnation l'an de l'Incartion 196. 4. or 5. yeares sooner then others before haue set downe his death except the forenamed Manuscript Compilation which hath the same Computation of his death saying sepultus Compilatio M. S. de gest Brit. Angl. in Lucio est Anno Incarnationis Dominicae 196. herede carens THE III. CHAPTER HOW NOTWITHSTANDING THE DEATH of King Lucius without Heire to succeede in the gouerment of the kingdome the Brittans perseuered constantly in the Christian faith and the Scots by Preachers sent from Sainct Victor Pope of Rome at the entreatie of their King Donalde receaued the faith and as the Brittans continued in it vntill the Protestants time euen by their owne confessions 1. AND both to assure vs further of the vndoubted truth of those Histories which testifie the death and buriall of King Lucius to haue bene in Britaine and not in any forreine The greate losse Britaine had of King Lucius his death Region as also to giue vs better notice and triall what honour peace and quiet spirituall and temporall with other happines this kingdome enioyed by King Lucius blessed life and loste them by the losse of him it is the constant agreement of Antiquities Galfr. Monum Hist Reg. Brit. l. 5. c. 1. Virun l. 5. Histor Matth. Westm An. 201. Holinshed Hist of Engl. l. 4. c. 19. Compilatio M. S. de gest Brit. Angl. in Lucio that Britaine now made by his death destitute not onely of so worthie a King but also of any certaine Heire or Successor of that Regall Race fell to intestine discord and variance by which it was miserably afflicted long time vpon that occasion Caruerat ille sobole oritur seditio inter Britones de successuro in Regnum Romana potestas infirmata est A Protestant Historian thus writeth in generall of this matter King Lucius dyed without issue by reason whereof after his decease the Brittans fell at variance which continued about the space of fiftene yeares as Fabian thinketh howbe it the old English Cronicle affirmeth that the contention betwixt them remained fifty yeares though Harding affirmeth but foure yeares Which his words of Hardings opinion that this variance among the Brittans continued but 4. yeares are to be ameÌ„ded for Harding setteth downe Matth. Westm An. 205. Florent Wigor in Chro. Marianus Scotus Martin Polon in Seuero Harding Chronic c. 51. f. 44. the dissentions of the Brittans as other Historians doe and maketh them of as long continuance onely he saith that Seuerus the Emperour came hither foure yeares after the death of King Lucius to seeke to appease things so doth Matthew of Westminster Florentius and others as farre as Harding doth his words be these of King Lucius death For cause he had non heire to keepe the land Through all Britaine the Barons gan discord Vnto the time that Romans tooke on hand To chose a Prince by their stedfast accord But 4. yere were gone or then they could accorde In which then Seuer the Senatour Hether came to be their Gouernour Where Harding doth limit the foure yeares onely to the Romans to take notice and deliberate of these things and conclude to send Seuerus hither saying But foure yeares were gone or then they could accorde Meaning the Romans about this matter for it is euident both by Harding and all other Antiquaries that Seuerus did not accord the Britans but the variance continued heare during his whole life and he was slaine at Yorke in the same contention as both Harding and all others testifie Harding saith But King Fulgen of Pightes and Scots againe Harding Chron. c. 53. s 45. With hoost full great seiged Ebranke citee Which Seuer rescowed and was slaine And Fulgen also for beten there did die And he continueth the Brittans warrs and tumults heare long time after Seuerus his death and his sonnes after him as other Antiquaries likewise Christians in Britaine quiet for Religion vntill the Persecution of Dioclesian doe finding litle quiet heare vntill the later end of Constantius Father of Constantiue the Greate Emperour Which will more appeare hereafter so farre as it carrieth any connexion with our Ecclesiasticall History 2. And yet notwithstanding such a worlde of vnquietnes heare
Iulia his second wife a Roman if she may be termed a wife his first lawfull still liuing He reigned as Baronius contendeth 17. yeares 8. moneths and 3. dayes But our Historians make Baron An. D. 195. 213. Flor. Wigorn. Chron. An. 180. 202. his Empire somewhat longer Matthew of Westminster maketh him Emperour compleate 18. yeares Romanum consecutus Imperium imperauit annis 18. Florentius Wigorniensis citing Cassiodorus and the Roman Historie saith he was Emperour 18. yeares and 3. Moneths Seuerus regnauit annis 18. teste Marian. Scot. l. 2. aetat 6. in Seuero Galfr. Mon. Hist Reg. Brit. l. 5. c. 2. Pontic Virun Hist l. 5. Matth. Westm an 206. Ioan. Harding Chron. c. 53. Bal. l. de Script Brit. cent 1. in Fulgenio Audaci Cassiodoro mensibus etiam tribus secundum Historiam Romanam Marianus Scotus saith he held the Empire 19. yeares Cum 19. annis Seuerus tenuisset Imperium decessit And whereas it is generally agreed vpon both by our Brittish and Saxon Historians and Antiquaries whether Catholiks or Protestants that Fulgenius after his former discumfiture by Seuerus went ouer into Scythia interpreted to be that Country which now is called Denmarke and brought with him a greate Armie of the people of that Nation which our Antiquities call Picts before he fought with Seuerus and they both there were slaine or died at Yorke Fulgenius cum diutius resistere nequiuisset transfretauit in Scythiam vt Pictorum auxilio dignitati restitueretur Cumque ibi omnem InuentuteÌ„ Patriae collegisset reuersus est cum maximo nauigio in Britanniam atque Eboracum obsedit these were none of the Christian Picts or Scots which liued in our Ilands who had ioyned with Fulgenius before and many of them were slaine as the same Authours testifie conâ—ucebat in auxilium sibi quo scumque Insulanos populos inueniebat but they were Pagan Picts of whome many remaining heare after the death of these two Generals they had a place giuen vnto them to Inhabite in the Country Albania Carausius vt triumphum habuit dedit Pictis locum mansionis in Albania vbi cum Britonibus mixti per sequens aeuum Galfr. Mon. supr c. 3. Fabian Hist Polychron Wil. Harrison descri of Brit. c. 22. Hollinsh Histor of Engl. l. 4. c. 23. Bed Hist Eccles l. 1. Capgr in S. Niniano Hect. Boeth Scotor Hist l. 7. Bal. l. de Script cent 1. in Ninia Bernicio manserunt Thus write our Brittish Historians and our Protestant Antiquaries agree when they say that Carausius gaue vnto the Scots Picts and Scithians the Country of Cathnesse in Scotland which they afterward inhabited And these were those Pagan Picts and people which S. Ninian and others sent from Rome did longe after conuert to the faith of Christ as S. Bede and others testifie for the Ilanders which were Picts and Scots were conuerted in Pope Victor his time as I haue declared before which is an other Argument against the Scottish writers which would haue themselues seated in the Country now called Scotland so long a duration of yeares as they haue claymed before THE VII CHAPTER HOW IN THE TIME OF BASSIANVS SONNE of Seuerus being Emperour he was both in Britaine whence he was discended and other places he was a friend to Christians and Persecutour of their Persecutours How S. Zepherine the Pope then sent diuers Apostolike men into Britaine 1. AS soone after the death of the Emperour Seuerus the TeÌ„porall state of our Britans being freed from many surges waues of calamities did finde a calme So the Church of Christ especially in this kingdome eÌ„tered thereby into an harbour of some ease and quietnes from such enormities afflictioÌ„s as vsually growe and happen in such times For the Quarrell for this kingdome being principally betweene Seuerus and Fulgenius their Complices and Confederats allthough Seuerus was actually slayne in that bloody conflict at Yorke yet Fulgenius followed presently after being by all Writers mortally wounded in the same Battayle Fulgenius laethaliter vnlneratus est And for Posteritie the Galfr. Mon. Hist l. 5. c. 2. Pontic Virun l. 5. Matt. Westm An. 206. Harding Chron. c. 53. condition of Seuerus was farre berter then that of Fulgenius for whether the Britons or Romans should preuayle in choosing a King or Emperour Seuerus leauing two Sonnes one of the Brittish the other of the Roman blood left prouision for both euents When the case of Fulgenius was not such he himselfe not noted to haue had any true Title to the Crowne of Britaine but chosen King or Captayne of them which would not admitt the Romans Gouernment duce Fulgenio and Fulgenius Dux populi profligati And King Fulgenius Galfr. Mon. Hist l. 5. c. 2. Pontic Virun l. 5. Matt. Westm supr Hard. supr elected to be King rather of Loue and necessitie then by any Title he had so to be And if he had any Right by discent to the Crowne of Britaine seeing we reade of no child or Brother he left behinde him that Title which he claymed must needs discend to the eldest Sonne of Seuerus which was Bassianus Sonne also to the Sister oâ— Fulgenius as some before haue written now hauing by the death of his Father Seuerus and vnkle Fulgenius both their Titles with the allowance of the Empresse Martia his Mother lawfully inuested in him 2. Therefore to decide and end all Controuersies in this busines the Britans with common assent did chuse and accept Bassianus both for their King being the next and vndoubted Heire whether we shall staÌ„d eyther vpon his Fathers or vnkles Title and also for Emperour as the Eldest Sonne and Heire of Seuerus vndoubted Emperour and for his leauing Sonnes behinde as the cheifest cause made a God among the Romans So writeth Herodian with others Mos est Romanis consecrare Imperatores qui superstitibus filijs vel successoribus Herodian l. 4. moriuntur And an English Protestant Antiquarie though not citing Authoritie deliuereth the same in these words The Romans accustome to consecrate Stowe Hist Romans in Seuerus with Immortalitie such Emperours as at their death leaue eyther children or Successours in the Empire behinde them And those which are endued with that honour they canonize amongst the Gods Therefore to vse the speach of an other Protestant Historian from Antiquitie Seuerus by birth a Roman but in blood a Harrison descr of Britaine c. 22. Manuscr Gallic Antiq. cap. 109. Galfr. Mon. l. 5. c. 2. Pontic Virun l. 5. Matth. West an 206. Harding Chron. in Seuerus Bassianus Holinsh. Hist of Eng. l. 4. cap. 22. Harris descript of Brit. c. 22. Tertull. ad Scapul c. 4. Spartian in Caracall Briton and the lineall Heire of the body of Androgeus Sonne of Lud and Nephew to Cassibelan was Emperour and King of Britaine Geta borne of a Roman woman Iulia was chosen Emperour by diuers Romans but soone after slayne by his halfe Brother Bassianus the Briton This
cheife in the Conuersion of Britaine 262. 4. S. Elueus Bishop of Meneuia 586. 12. S. Elueus baptised S. Dauid ib. S. Emerita whose Sister she was 348. 4. S. Emerita bannished out of Britaine 414. 2. S. Emerita martyred 402. 2. An Epitome of some Roman Emperours 391. 1. Eridon or Criclade an Vniuersitie in Britaine 206. 8. S. Euaristus succeeded to S. Anacletus in his Papall dignity 192. 1 S. Euaristus borne of a Iew called Iudas 192. 1. S. Euaristus ruled the Church in greater quietnesse then any before ib. S. Euaristus sent a Legat to perswade Coillus King of Britaine to become a Christian 193. 2. S. Euaristus by all accoumpts died in the time of Coillus ib. S. Euaristus martyred 195. 1. S. Eubulus named by S. Paul probably the Father of S. Claudia a Britaine 58. 6. S. Eusebius Pope instituted the Feast of the Inuention of the holy Crosse 463. 1. Eusebius a Subdeacon of Rome sent into Britaine by S. Pius 228. 2. S. Eutichianus Pope Martyr 385. 16. S. Eutichianus buried with his one handes 300. Martyrs 385. 17. F. S. Fabianus miraculously chosen Pope 378. 4. S. Fabianus his Decrees ib. S. Fabianus condemned the Heresies of the Nouatians Helchites ib. S. Fabianus martyred 379. 4. The Faith of Christ preached in America and by whome 32. 4. Fastidius not improbably Archbishop of London 591. 3. Fasting vsed in the primatiue Church 136. 2. 190. 5. S. Felix Pope and Martyr 385. 15. S. Felix Decrees ib. S. Felix 2. substituted in the Papacy for Liberius by the Arrians 556. 1. S. Felix throwne out of the Church by the Romans 557. 2. S. Felix excommunicated Constantius for his Arrian Heresie 558. 3. S. Felix martyred ib. Fergusius King of the Scots a restorer of Monasteries 605. 12. or 608. 12. Fincomarke King of Scotland 582. 6. Fincomarke Successor to Crathlint 583. 6. Finnanus King suffered any that would to adore the trew God 10. 3. The word Flamen not knowne vntill Numa Pompilius daies 281. 2. Flamens why so called ib. The Flamens malice against Christians 197. 3. The Flamens Sees turned into Bishops seats 275. 5. Flamens v. Archflamens France neuer esteemed a barbarous Nation 117. 2. France once called Galatia 119. 5. The Romans altered the name into Gallia 120. 5. The limits of France 118. 3. France farre remote either from the Artike or Antartike Pole 117. 2. France the place where the Romans children were accustomed to be instructed in learning and ciuility 118. 2. The French had learning before the Gretians 118. 2. Free-will taught by S. Cyprian 380. 8. S. Fridolin a Princes sonne of Britaine 594. 4. S. Fridolin preached in Britaine and else where ib. S. Fugatianus v. Damianus Fulgenius contends with Seuerus for the Kingdome of Britaine 369. 1. Fulgenius gathered an army of Picts against Seuerus 369. 5. Fulgenius slew Seuerus in a Battle at Yorke 368. 4. Fulgenius mortally wounded in the same battle 370. 1. Fulgenius had no Title to the kingdome of Britaine ib. G. GAlba Emperour but 6. mōths 165. 1. Gallienus recalled all Edicts against Christians 387. 1. or 397. 1. Gallienus giueth free liberty for Christian Religion ib. The Gaules deuided into the Gaules of Europe and those of Asia 118. 3. Gaules in Asia described ib. The Gentils generall Conuersion mentioned by the Prophet Malachy reserued to the honour of Britaine 541. 1. Genuessa Queene of Britaine Aruiragus wife 121. 8. S. German a Monke of Lirinum 332. 8. Germany when first so called 119. 4. The Germans worshipped none for Gods but such as they could See 243. 3. Gildas a Brittish Writer stiled The wise 194. 2. Tow other Britan Writers of the same name 112. 1. Who they were and where they liued and died ib. Gildas Cambrius a noble Britan Poet. 158. 7. Gildas Cambrius probably brought Martials Epigrams into Britaine ib. S. Gildas Albanius a renowned Preacher in Britaine and when 385. 11. S. Gildas Albianus famous for miracles 603. 9. S. Gildas Albianus builded himselfe a Cell 603. 9. S. Gladusa Daughter to Braghan a noble Britan. 585. 10. S. Gladusa married to King Gundleus ib. Glamorgan an Vniuersitie in Britaine 206. 8. Glastenbury a Towne in Somersetshire 127. 1. Glastenbury Monastery once a solitary desert 123. 1. Glastenbury called the second Rome for the multitude of Saints buried their 106. 5. 324. 3. Glastenbury Monastery renewed by the assistance of King Lucius 309. 7. Glastenbury Religious men all dead before the time of King Lucius 322. 1. Glastenbury found out by S. Damianus and S. Fugatianus 323. 2. or 321. 2. Glastenbury inhabited a new by 12. of S. Damianus and Fugatianus companions 324. 3. The Churches builded their by them ib. Glastenbury Churches Indulgences ib. Glastenbury Monkes cōtinued their many hundread yeares 326. 5. Glastenbury not ruinated either by the Roman Saxon or Danes Persecution 326. 5. Glastenbury miraculously preserued from the destruction of the Danes 327. 5. or 328. 5. Glastenbury Monkes chastitie pouertie and obedience 327. 1. or 328. 1. c. Glastenbury Monkes holines and austerity of life 328. 2. Glastenbury Monkes eate onely fruites hearbs and bread 329. 4. Glastenbury Mōkes did drinke onely water 329. 5. Glastenbury Order and Monastery the most auncient of all the world 330. 6. Glastenbury the Mother of diuers Orders ib. Many Apostolike men and Orders that came into Britaine ioyned with those of Glastenbury 331. 7. Glastenbury Monkes much different from the Monks of any newe Order that came into Britaine 333. 9. Glastenbury Monastery wether destroied by Maximian renewed by Constantine doubtfull 470. 4. The names of the Monkes liuing at Glastēbury in S. Patriks time 599. 1. Glocester once Caerglou built by King Aruiragus 132. 2. Gnostik Heretikes giuen to all filthinesse 366. 2. Gnostikes accompted for Christians with Pagans ib. Gnostikes the cause of Persecution against Christians ib. God without beginning or ending was caused by no other 243. 3. God onely to be adored ib. The Celestiall bodies witnes that there is a God ib. No God could be consecrated by the Emperour amongst the Romans without approbation of the Senat. 15. 6. S. Gudwall brought vp consecrated Preist and Bishop in Britaine 586. 11. S. Gudwall enters into a Monastery ib. S. Gudwall preacheth in Flāders ib. The time of his death ib. The place of his buriall ib. Guiderius King of Britaine 27. 7. Guiderius denied tribute to the Romans 23. 8. Queene Guenhumar receaued the habit of a Nunne and where 603. 9. S. Gundleus leaues his Kingdome to his sonne Cadocus 585. 10. S. Gundleus great austerity of life ib. H. THe Hand-kerchif wherewith S. Veronica wiped our Sauiours face brought to Rome 13. 3. The same receaued with great reuerence by Tiberius ib. It healed his incurable disease ib. Where it is to be seene at this present ib. Heirgustus King of the Picts a Christian 575. 6. Heirgustus suffered by Maximus to reigne quietly for a small tribute ib. Heirgustus great reuerence to S. Andrews
the vision of Protest Index in Guliel Malmesb in Brithwold Index Protest in hist Bed Stowe and Edw. Howes hist in K. Edward Confessor Basilius Ioannes Heroldus in ep dedic ante Marian Scotum Bishop Brithwold againe more plainely Brithwoldus Episcopus Sanctum Petrum Apostolum videt Bishop Brithwold doth see sainct Peter the Apostle So other Protestants as Stowe Howes Ioannes Heroldus and others among which this last writing to our late Protestant Queene Q. Elizabeth speaking of the greate prouidence of God to this kingdome proueth it by this vision and Reuelation of S. Peter to sainct Brithwold calling it oraculare Testimonium Diui Petri the Oracular Testimony of sainct Peter 13 S. Alredus whome our Protestants haue so dignified before and alledged for wittnes of sainct Peters first preaching heare maketh it a most miraculous and true heauenly vision and prophesie of many things to come which could not be foretold but by supernaturall or heauenly knowledge thus he relateth it saeuiebat gladius bostilis in Anglia caedibus rapinis omnia replebantur vhique luctus clamor desolatio incenduntur Ecclesiae monasteria Alredus Rhieual in vit San. Edward Regis Confess in Antiquis M. S. apud Surium Lipp Io. Capgr in Catalog in S. Edward Confes alios denastātur sacerdotes à suis sedibus fugati in locis desertis communē miseriam deplorantes delitescebant Inter quos vir venerabilis Brithwoldus wintoniensis Episcopus caenobium Glasconiense moerens ac tristis ingressus orationibus vacabat psalmis Qui cum aliquando pro Regni plebisque liberatione preces lachrimasque profunderet inter preces tandem lachrimas fatigatum sopor suauis excepit videtque per somnium beatum Petrum in eminētiori loco constitutum ante eum praeclari vultus in forma decenti regalibus Insignijs amictum Edwardum Quem cum proprijs manibus Apostolus consecrasset vnxisset in Regem monita salutis adiecit praecipue que caelebem vitam commendans quot esset annis regnaturis aperuit obstupefactus Praesul tanti miraculi nouitate petit sibi à sancto huius visionis mysterium reuelari De statu in super Regni de instantis periculi fine Apostolicum exegit oraculum Tunc placido vultu Intuitus Intuente se ait Domini ô Praesul est Regnum Ipse dominabitur in filijs hominum Ipse transfert Regna mutat Imperia propter peccata populi regnare facit Hypocrytam Peccatum peccauit pupulus tuus domino tradidit eos in manus gentium dominati sunt eorum qui oderunt eos Sed non obliuiscetur misereri Deus nec continebit in ira sua misericordias suas Erit enim cum dormieris cum patribus tuis visitabit Dominus populum suum faciet Dominus redemptionem plebis suae Elegit enim sibi virum secundum cor suum qui faciat omnes voluntates suas qui me opitulante Regnum adeptus Anglorum Danico furori finem imponet Erit enim acceptus deo gratus hominibus terribilis hostibus amabilis ciuibus vtilis Ecclesiae laudabilemque vitam sancto fine concludet The enemyes sword did rage in England all places were full of slaughters rapynes Lamenting crying and desolation was euery where Churches are burned monasteries destroyed Preists driuen away from their seates be wayling the common misery lay hid in desart places Among whom a venerable man Brithwold Bishop of winchester moorning and sadd entring into the Monastarye of Glastenbury continued in prayers and psalmes Who on a certaine time when he powred forth his prayers and teares for the deliuery of the kingdome and people At the last wearied in prayers and teares fell into a swete sleepe and in his dreame seeth sainct Peter placed in an eminent place and before him Edward of a beutifull countenance in a comely forme cloathed in kingly Robes Whom when the Apostle had consecrated with his owne hands and annointed him King he gaue him Precepts of saluation and principally commending vnto him the chaste life declared vnto him how many yeares he should reigne The Bishop astonished with the strangenes of so greate a miracle desireth to haue the mystery of this vision to be reuealed vnto him and further desired the Oracle of the Apostle about the state of the kingdome and the end of the Instant danger The Apostle with a frendly countenance looked vppon him beholding him and said ô Prelate The kingdome is the Lords and he shall reigne ouer the sonnes of men He transferreth kingdomes and chaungeth Empires and for the sinnes of the people suffereth the Hypocrite to reigne Thy people haue sinned against God and he hath giuen them ouer into the hands of Nations and they which hated them haue ruled ouer them But God will not forget to haue mercy nor conteine his miserations in his angor For it will come to passe when thou shalt sleepe with thy Fathers our Lord will visit his people and make redemption of his seruants For he hath choasen a man according to his heart who shall fullfill his will in all things who by my help obteining the kingdom of England shall make an end of the Danis be furie For he shall be acceptable to God gratfull to men terrible to enemies amiable to citizens profitable to the Church and shall conclude his laudable life with an holy end Thus farre this holy sainct and immediately addeth Quae omnia in beato Edwardo completa rei exitus cōprobauit All which things the euent of the thing did proue to be fullfilled in sainct Edward Wherevppon a Protestant historian from antiquitie writeth Stowe hist in K. Edward Confes This King Edward of famous memory saith mine Author before the day of his nauitie was elected of God who perseuering in chastitie ledd all his life dedicated vnto God in true marriadge wherefore as we haue knowne proued by good and sufficient men being wittnesses God greately glorified him in his life with wonderfull signes Thus we see by inuincible testimonies and many Protestants themselues confessing and approuing them that this was a most certainely true and infallibly an vndoubted heauenly vision That it was sainct Peter glorified in heauen that appeared and reuealed these things to our holy Bishop sainct Brithwold 14. And to demonstrate sainct Brithwold to be a true proposer of these secrets he had proposed them to the world and was dead before they began to take effect and be fullfilled The mysteries foretold were beyonde the compasse of naturall knowledge to foresee or prophesie of As that a bannished child and perhaps then vnborne should beconne so worthie so holy so victorious a King That a Nation so generally and long time ouerwhelmed with so greate calamities should so strangely and beyond expectation in a time foretold be redemed and set at liberty That at a time appointed a bannished exile should become so miraculous potent and victorious a King that he