the ground This Church from the days of King Lucius was design'd for a Burying place of our Kings as at this day and after it was Re-edify'd by St. Edward the Confessor A second Metropolitan Church was about this time erected in the City of York esteem'd in that Age the prime City and Church of Britain The third Metropolitan Church was then also built at Landaff or Caerleon upon Vsk in which City now ruin'd were three Noble Churches one bearing the Title of the Holy Martyr Julius Beautifi'd with a Monastery of Virgins Consecrated to God. A second founded by the Name of his Companion St. Aaron And a third famous for being the Metropolitan See of all Cambria although Dubritius is mention'd in History to be the first Arch-bishop of the Welsh Britains concerning the Church of Landaff and the Superiority of it something may be gather'd out of the Protestation of Vrbanus before Calixtus the second in the Councel of Rhemes However sure it is that after the coming of St. Augustine the Monk the Bishop of Landaff hath always been subject to the See of Canterbury This King Lucius built another Church also at Dover in Honour of our Blessed Saviour and his Glorious Mother and some other Churches elsewhere As this King shew'd himself Munificent in Building of Churches so also was he Liberal in his Endowments and Priviledges bestow'd upon them by transferring the Possessions of Idol-Temples to Christian Churches and further Enriching them with more Lands and greater Immunities so that some Malefactors might have refuge within their Precincts which benefit of Sanctuary hath been continu'd and increas'd by most succeeding Princes neither were the Revenues belonging to Pagan Temples inconsiderable for that Religion was very costly for it is certain that the Pagan Flamens in London Sacrific'd yearly 40000. Cows 100000. Sheep innumerable sorts of all Fowl besides 30000. Savage Beasts as Staggs and other Beasts of the Forrest Besides all this King Lucius in the 6th year after his Conversion Founded a Church and Monastery at Winchester which he plentifully Endow'd it is said to be a Church of vast Dimensions and Adorn'd with an Episcopal Palace the Possessions of it extended 12. Miles round about the City This Church was Dedicated to the Honour of our Saviour by Fugatius and Damianus and Devotus a Monk by them Constituted the first Abbot from this time until the time of Dioclesian the Monks here quietly serv'd God after the Rule and Order prescrib'd by St. Mark the Evangelist and first Bishop of Alexandria which Rule is thus describ'd by Cassianus saying These Monks did not content themselves to retain the order of living practis'd by the Primitive Christians whereof we read in the Acts of the Apostles That they had all things in common accounted nothing their own sold their Possessions and laid the price at the Apostles feet to be divided amongst such as had need But these Monks aspir'd to practices more sublime for retiring them to the most secret places they led a Life of unparallel'd Abstinence and Austerity in Reading of Holy Scripture day and night in fervent Prayer and continual Labour of their Hands without regard of Food or Sustenance save only that every second or third day they would receive some slender Sustenance for necessity not for the satisfaction of their Apetite and not then until after Sun-set The Light they spent in Labour or Holy Exercises Darkness suffic'd for the care of their Bodies Under the Persecution of Dioclesian this Holy Fraternity was dissipated but not long after again restor'd and their Church Consecrated by Constantius Bishop of Winchester in the year of Grace 309. taking a new Name from St. Amphibolus who with St. Alban was Crown'd with Martyrdom and by this Name Gildas calls it in his relation of the Sons of Mordred Murder'd by Constantine in this place It suffer'd a second Eclipse when the Infidel Saxons laid waste all Holy places in this Island Howbeit no sooner did the Saxons embrace the Faith of Christ but they repair'd this Church and Monastery after call'd de Hida and restor'd it to greater Splendor and Magnificence then it had before in which Splendor and Beauty it continu'd fortify'd by Charters of Kings and Bulls of Popes untill all Religious Houses were swallow'd up by the sury and Avarice of Henry the VIII So as St. Edward the Confessor in his Charter to the Monastery of Westminster prov'd a Prophet who declar'd The same Charter should continue in force so long as the love of Christianity should remain in this Nation Our Devout and Wise King Lucius did not only endow Churches and Monasteries for the present Worship of God but provided Seminaries of Learning and Piety for the future increase thereof the most Famous of which was the School and Monastery of Bangor in North-Wales It is said to be the first Colledge of Christian Philosophers but is in some Authors mistaken for another of that Name in Vlster from whence proceeded the famous Bishop St. Malachias whose Life is elegantly written by St. Bernard However this famous Monastery it seems prosper'd so well for a long time that at the coming of St. Augustine into England more than 2000. Monks were found in it This King was not only careful to plant and settle the Christian Faith within his own Kingdom but as many Antient and Credible Records testifie personally sow'd the Seeds of Christianity in Germany and other Forreign parts and as some say there ended his days as his Virgin Sister and Martyr also did Fugatius or Phaganus and Damianus being inform'd of St. Joseph and his Companion 's retirement to Glastonbury and their deaths there visited the place which they found reduc'd to little better then a Covert of Wild-Beasts so little encouragement or countenance had the Christian Faith receiv'd yet by Divine conduct they discover'd an Antient Church built by St. Joseph and his Companions and Consecrated as afore-said by God himself they also found the Holy-Cross with several Writings and other Tokens declaring the place to have been formerly an Habitation of Christians and receptable of those prime Disciples They therefore added another Oratory built of Stone Dedicated to the Honour of St. Peter and St. Paul and on the Top of the Tor or Mountain rais'd a Chappel to the Honour of St. Michael the Arch-Angel And lastly to continue the Service of God which had been interrupted they establish'd a succession of 12 Devout persons in memory of St. Joseph and the first 12. which Succession continu'd till the coming of St. Patrick the Apostle of Ireland unto this place These two Holy men made this place their Retirement for the space of nine years and there dy'd and were bury'd as is believ'd about the year of our Lord 199. After the Death of Lucius which happen'd in the 7th year of Severus none of the British Race were permitted to reign but Legats from the Emperour commanding the Roman Army In the time of Commodus
be found again soon after the Sacred Body was translated to the Church of St. Alban and many Miracles were there continually wrought through the intercession of the Blessed Amphibalus who suffer'd in the year of our Lord 287. Although the place of this Saints Burial was long obscur'd yet as appears by Gildas his memory was precious for within ten years after he suffer'd a Church was erected to his Honour and in the year of our Lord 309. another Church was Consecrated to this Saint at Winchester which being after Re-built by the Saxons was Dedicated to St. Peter When the Body of this Holy Man was discover'd other Bodies were found lying by it conjectur'd to be those who suffer'd with him Much about this time two famous Martyrs Julius and Aaron before-mention'd Citizens of Caerleon and Disciples of St. Amphibalus are recorded to have suffer'd for the Faith of Christ These two had a long time addicted themselves to the Holy Faith and were also diligent in the study of Arts and Humane Learning both at Rome and else-where They suffer'd saith St. Bede with many others of both Sexes intoller able Torture their Members being torn asunder with unheard of Cruelty at last consummating a Glorious Martyrdom their Souls were receiv'd into the joys of the Heavenly City Their Memories were preserv'd and Honour'd by Erecting Altars and Churches in their Names each of them had a famous Church Erected to their Honour in Caerleon for three Magnificent Churches are said to have been Built of Old time in that City one of the Martyrs St. Julius adorn'd with a Choir and Convent of Religious Virgins a second Dedicated to the Honour of his Companion St. Aaron and Graced with a Noble Choir of Canons the third was the Metropolitan Church of all Cambria and was after Translated by the Holy Bishop St. David with the concurrence of the Pope's Legate and all this long before the coming of the Saxons Besides these the memory is Celebrated of two Noble Britains Disciples of St. Amphibalus who suffer'd Martyrdom in the same Persecution of Dioclesian their Names were Stephanus and Socrates to whose Honour two Churches were built in the Province of the Silures To this time also is refer'd the Murdering of all the Monks in the Monastery of Winchester built by King Lucius During the rage of this Persecution in Britain many Christians withdrew themselves from the fury of it as Gildas reports which considering the frailty of Mankind was not imprudently done for it was thought fit that such as had not the courage to sustain the weight of Martyrdom might at least hold fast the Grace of Confession This flight of Christians in Britain gave occasion to the Persecutors to extend their rage upon Churches and Monasteries all which by such their rage were so utterly destroy'd that in this Island few marks remain'd of Christian Religion This Desolation continu'd untill the Happy return of Constantius by whose Clemency the Christian Faith and Worship flourish'd again in Britain sooner than in other places Which Mercy of God as Bede saith was the rather extended towards the Britains because they only preserv'd among them their Primitive Faith receiv'd in the days of King Lucius entire and inviolate untill the reign of Dioclesian The Tyranny of the Roman Empire against Christians God was pleas'd to revenge by permitting another Tyrant to rise against them in Britain namely Carausius a man Vigilant and Active both in Councel and Execution Imploy'd by the Emperour to scowre the Seas of Pyrats This Imployment Carausius made use of rather to Enrich himself than Benefit the Empire and thereby became so suspected that the Emperour Maximianus commanded him to be put to Death for the avoiding whereof he assum'd the Imperial Purple and possess'd himself of Britain Maximianus prepar'd to oppose him but his attempts proving vain he was forc'd to make a Peace with Carausius who after subdu'd the Caledonian Britains and rais'd a new Rampire to enclose them more Northward than any had been before with a Triumphal Arch in memory of his Victory He govern'd here quietly untill the year 293. when Constantius made his Expedition against him Now though in the time of Carausius Persecution against Christians abated yet by the Rapine of his Soldiers most of the Churches and Monasteries were destroy'd or Spoil'd among the rest those of Winchester and Westminster the latter Converted into a Temple of Apollo In those days the Roman Empire on all sides was greatly shaken both by open Invasions and Civil Dissentions to appease which two new Caesars were chosen Constantius by Maximianus and Galerius by Dioclesian in whom notwithstanding the Supreme Authority and Majesty of the Empire resided the better to strengthen this Association Dioclesian gave his Daughter Valeria to Galerius Maximianus his Daughter Theodora to Constantius who thereupon was compell'd to a Divorce from his former Wife Helena so as she was after esteem'd his Concubine or at least his Wife in the second or inferior place However this pretended Divorce did not it seems prejudice their Son Constantine who born before in Marriage enjoy'd his right of Primogeniture and succeeded his Father in the Empire although he had other Sons by Theodora How Helena was dispos'd of after this Divorce is controverted The best Opinion is that she was plac'd at Triers where Constantius built her a Magnificent Palace and where she was Honour'd with the Title of Augusta In the mean time her Son Constantine was receiv'd into the Family of Dioclesian and there remain'd Uninfected with the Vices of the Court in great Favour with Dioclesian highly Graced by him and acceptable to all that saw him for his Beauty Gracefullness and Modesty especially to the best sort of Men for his Virtue and Piety Constantius being Created Caesar made an Expedition into Gaul with intent to pass over into Britain against the Tyrant Carausius In Gaul he took the Sea-Town Gessoriacum or Buloign which the Tyrant had strongly Fortify'd In the mean time Carausius was Murder'd in Britain by a new Tyrant Alectus General of the Forces of Carausius Alectus to secure himself assum'd the Title of Emperour Against him Constantius the year following sail'd into Britain and landed without opposition though he was way-laid by a strong Fleet plac'd in the Isle of Wight by Alectus When he was landed he set his Ships on Fire and divided his Army one part he led himself the other he committed to the Conduct of Asclepiodorus Prefect of the Praetorian Band Alectus avoiding Constantius chose to try his Fortune with Asclepiodorus by whom he was easily defeated and slain Howbeit a great part of his Army consisting of Strangers Franks and Battavians seeing their Prince Dead fled towards London hoping to Enrich themselves by the Spoils of that City But Constantius coming on them unawares preserv'd the City and cut those Rovers in pieces if any escap'd they became Captive to the Londoners By this return of Constantius the poor
THE STATE OF CHURCH-Affairs In this Island of Great BRITAIN Under the Government of the ROMANS AND BRITISH KINGS LONDON Printed by NAT. THOMPSON for the Author and are to be Sold by the Booksellers of London Anno MDCLXXXVII THE STATE OF CHURCH AFFAIRS IN THIS ISLAND UNDER THE Romans and British KINGS Before the Coming of St. AUGUSTINE THe Britains who were the first known Inhabitants of this Island were led blind-fold by their blind Guides the Druides into the most pernicious Idolatry and by Them instructed in Rites and Ceremonies most horribly Impious and Inhumane so as this Island at that time might be truly esteem'd the School and Nursery of Devilish and Barbarous Mysteries and the miserable Inhabitants no other then Bond-slaves and Captives to Satan the common enemy of mankind Julius Caesar first discover'd this our Island to the more Civiliz'd World and made some little Entrance into it for the All-conquering Romans to proceed by Degrees in the more ample Conquest of it It was indeed a Happy Conquest to those wretched Britains occasioning their Redemption from the Bondage of the Devil and bringing in so great Knowledge and illustrious Light amongst them that this our Island soon became the School of True Religion and Virtue the Nursery of Saints and Refuge of Persecuted Christians This Entrance of Caesar's was before the Birth of our Blessed Saviour which happened not until the 43d year of Augustus when Cunobelin is said to Reign who is likewise said to be the Son of Cassibelaun whose Seat was Camolodunum now Maldon in Essex The Romans made little advantage of this beginning of Caesar's until the time of the Emperour Claudius who by Aulus Plantius his General Invaded this Island with a great Army and soon after in his own Person and by his said General prosecuted the War more vigorously Insomuch as not long after Caractacus a Prince Renown'd amongst the Britains being perfidiously yet betray'd by some of them was with his Wife and Daughter sent Prisoners to Rome where his Noble and Generous Carriage was such as procur'd wonder from his Spectaters and obtain'd Favour Respect and Compassion from the Emperour By this time through the dissention of the Britains the Romans got good footing in this Island but met with a dismall check from Boadicea a British Queen whom they provok'd by their Cruelty and Avarice who yet was at last crush'd by the Invincible Power of the Romans What little glimmering of Learning or Knowledge the Britains in those days had dropt only from the Lips of their Druids and Bards they were Priests and Prophets to that be-wildred People by Them they were taught what Deities to Worship and with what execrable Rites they were to Worship them Their Principal Gods were Belinus Baal or Bel Diana or the Moon Camulus or Mars Andate or Adraste whom Boadicea is Recorded to have invok'd when her last Battle was shaken by the Roman Forces with a number more of petty Dieties which the Land of Egypt the very Fountain of Theology never thought of and yet Caractacus before-mention'd in gratitude for his release from Captivity and Restitution to his Throne consecrated a new Altar to his Royal Benefactor the Emperour of Rome which he erected in Cama'odunum with this Inscription The Altar of Eternal Domination and might indeed have greater Obligations to this his Mortal Deity then to any of his Antient Falsly called Gods which he and the rest of the Britains had so long Ador'd with Unmanly and Slavish Superstition as they were directed by their blind Priests and Druides For they order'd both publick and private Sacrifices they dispens'd Rewards and Punishments determin'd all Controversies and who ever refus'd to obey their Decrees were forbidden to be present at the Sacrifices and consequently were avoided and abandon'd as most Impious and detestable persons Most of their Rites and Ceremonies were vain and foolish such as they used in gathering of Mistletoe from the Oak to which they ascrib'd great Virtue but many of them Barbarous and Excerable by which to Divine of future Events they would make their Altars flow with Humane Blood and consult their Cruel Gods by searching into Entrails of Innocent Men Insomuch as Claudius himself though a Heathen thought fit by rigorous Edicts to Interdict this Execrable Religion to his Romans but could not weed it out of the Hearts of the Besotted Britains But what the Authority of the Roman Emperours could not effect the Power of Almighty God soon brought to pass sending a new Caelestial Light to dissipate that more than Egyptian Darkness wherein this our Country had been so long involv'd This our Island though divided from the rest of the World yet perceiv'd the bright Beams of the Sun of Righteousness to dawn in it sooner then many other Countries nearer approaching to that place where this ever Blessed Sun arose If we may believe our Antient Gildas This day Star sprung from on high visited us soon after the Assension of our Saviour toward the end of the Reign of Tiberius Caesar by which this Antient Historian might mean at least that about that time many zealous Apostolical persons were then in preparation for their Journey into Britain though perhaps it might be before they could arrive hither The Attestation of other Credible Writers to this of our Gildas may induce us to believe without any violence to our Reason that the Zeal of some Primitive Christians might very early carry them as far as this our Country to divulge the Blessed Tidings of Salvation then forthwith to be Preach'd indifferently to all Nations and likely to be most welcom to them Two great advantages these forward Missioners had for their Entrance into this Island to which a way was open'd bythe Roman Conquest 1st The coming of St. Peter at that time from Antioch to Rome 2dly The being of Caractacus with his Queen Brethren and Family and consequently a multitude of Attendants then at Rome The former is attested by Eusebius and others with the intent of St. Peter's coming thither in pursuit of Simon Magus and to take his Apostolical Chair in the Metropolis and principal City of the Roman Empire from whence the Christian Doctrine might be the more easily dispers'd over the whole World. The latter is confirm'd by Learn'd Writers and in particular that a Noble British Virgin either Attendant to Caractacus or as some say his Daughter became a Disciple to St. Peter and by her Virtue and Christian Piety prov'd a more Illustrious Ornament to our Country than Caractacus himself by his Heroick Magnanimity This Lady it may seem after Married Rufus a Noble Roman and chang'd her British Name into Claudia Ruffina after the Roman Dialect and was the same which Martial so highly Celebrates in a short Epithalamium upon her Marriage with one he calls Pudens who by Tradition is said to have Entertain'd St. Peter in his House which was after erected into a Church True it is St. Paul in his 2d
and Tomb of Saints because it had been Built by the immediate Disciples of our Lord and to him Dedicated as Venerable Antiquity doth testifie All which consider'd to deny so great a Blessing confer'd on our Nation must savour of Passion and un-excusable Partiality The time and occasion of St. Joseph's Arrival here and the particular Acts of him and his Companions after so many years of change and alteration cannot befully accountable The time in all likelihood was when Suetonius Paulinus was Pretor here and when Policletus Favourite to Nero came hither with his Retinue the occasion of his coming is less certain Some write that St. Joseph was sent hither by St. Philip the Apostle or Evangelist grounding their opinion from Procalphius who speaks little to that purpose Tradition informs us that St. Joseph at his first coming Address'd himself to Arviragus then King of the Britains and said to be the Founder of the University of Oxford by the help of an Augur or Prophet named Olenus Calenus from whom it was first called Calena And although Arviragus did not submit to the Doctrine of St. Joseph yet he gave him leave to publish it in Peace so well was he prepar'd to the Entertainment of Divine Truth by humane Education Nay he was also pleas'd to afford Joseph and his Companions a place of Retreat not only commodious for their Devotions but sufficient for their Sustenance call'd by the Britains the Glassey-Island or Avallonia in which certain Lands were alloted both by Arviragus and his Son Marius containing about 12 Hydes for the Nourishment of those Godly persons being the first of ground in this Island Dedicated to the Service of God and after called Godney The first thing these new Inhabitants undertook was to build and Consecrate a Church for the Worship of God which they Dedicated to the Honour of the most Blessed Virgin Mary And as is affirm'd amongst other things relating to Glastonbury Monastery in an Epistle of St. Patrick who died there was Consecrated Miraculously by our Blessed Lord himself to the Honour of his Mother This wonderful Consecration is more fully declar'd by the Testimony of the Illustrious Bishop of St. David the Extirpator of Pelagianisme out of Britain as hath been Collected out of the Antiquities of Glastonbury by Willià m of Malmsbury to this effect following That St. David with other Bishops coming to Glastonbury invited by the Sanctity of the place resolv'd to Consecrate the Church there formerly erected to the Honour of the Mother of God and having provided all things necessary for that purpose the night before his intended Ceremony our Blessed Lord appear'd to St. David in his sleep and demanded the cause of his coming thither which St. David forthwith declar'd whereupon our Lord taking him by the Hand told him That he himself many years before had Dedicated the said Church to the Honour of his Mother and that That Holy Ceremony was not to be Profain'd by any mans repeating And having said this with his Finger pierc'd through the Bishops Hand telling him this should be a sign that what himself had formerly Anticipated ought not again to be Renew'd and withall promis'd him that when the said Bishop the next day at the Canon of the Mass should pronounce the words Per ipsum cum ipso in ipsoâ—â— His Hand should be restor'd sound to him The Bishop awaking found his Hand pierc'd and others saw and touch'd the Wound with great Admiration and the Preparation for the Consecration was laid aside and during the Celebration of Mass the Bishops Hand became Sound The sum of what hath hitherto been here related is repeated by St. Augustine the Convertor of our Nation in an Epistle of his to St. Gregory the Great and by Copgrave in the Life of St. Joseph and is further testify'd by an Antient Inscription cut in Brass fasten'd to a Pillar in the same Church declaring in effect what hath been said already This Inscription is recorded by Sir Henry Spelman in his Collection of Councels and yet by him pretended to be Fabulous First He doubts whether any Christian Churches were Erected so early Which doubt is certainly groundless unless he mean such Magnificent Structures as have been built since Christianity hath been publickly cherish'd and countenanc'd but that even under the Harrows of Persecution the Christians made shift to Erect or Assign places to meet in and perform the Rites and Duties of Religion is Attested by all Ecclesiastical Histories Secondly If Churches were Built yet they were not Encompass'd with ground for Burial before St. Cuthbert 's time Burial within Cities being forbidden by the Roman Laws Sure this is a false conceit for King Ethelbert and his Bishop St. Augustine before St. Cuthbert's days were Buried in the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul at Canterbury Constantine the first Christian Emperour was buried amongst the Relicks and Bones of the Apostles and Martyrs And as for the Roman Law forbidding Burials in Cities it was antiquated long before this however Glastonbury was no City scarce a Village rather a Desart far from Rome and under the Dominion of Brittish Princes well-wishers to Christianity and the simplicity thereof in those days Thirdly Dedication of Churches was not then in use Doubtless many Ceremonies and Solemnities have been added by the Church but as certainly the Houses or Places which the most Primitive Christians assigned for the Worship of God were by some Ceremonies Dedicated to that use as by erecting a Title fixing a Cross c. as the most antient Records testifie But lastly That which most displeases Sir Hen. is the Dedication of this Church to the Blessed Virgin for he thinks such a kind of Devotion was not thought of until many Ages after but then he must forget the Tradition of Spain attested in all their Liturgies and many of their Councils that from the first entrance of Christianity into that Kingdom several Churches have been erected to the Honour of that Blessed Virgin witness that most Famous Temple at Saragosa called Dell Pilar Celebrated above 1000 years since by St. Maximus Bishop of that City in several Hymns by him composed in Honour of that Venerable House called Angelical because the Pillar on which the Virgins Statue was fixed is thought to be brought thither by the Ministery of Angels After the Death of Arviragus Marius his Son succeeds him in the Brittish Throne resembling his Father as in Courage and other Prince-like Virtues so also in his kindness to these holy Strangers This Marius is reported to have had a great Victory over the Picts who were doubtlesly no other than the Northern Britains then unconquered and consequently unciviliz'd by the Romans but who remaining in their Barbarous custom of painting their Bodies got a new name of Picts After the Death of this Marius in the Reign of Coilus his Son our St. Joseph is said to end his Labours and Mortality in the 82 of our Lord and second year of
by Bishop Vsher It is related That Lachanus gave the Holy Child to certain Britains who carefully brought him up and gave him the Name of Albeus because he was found alive under a Rock the Grace of God being with him Not long after this St. Kebius came into those parts sent thither by the See Apostolick many years before St. Patrick to sow the Faith of Christ there but the Irish being Pagans he was receiv'd by few He then went into Munster where he found this Holy Child Albeus Praying in the open Air with his Eyes rais'd up towards Heaven that the true Faith might be reveal'd unto him and saying His desire was to know the Creator of all things and to believe in him who made Heaven and Earth and declaring that the Elements could not be made without a skilful Workmaster nor be produc'd by any man These things being heard by this Holy Priest he not only saluted but instructed this Holy Child Baptizing him and continuing the same Name of Albeus to him Several other Persons were Converted and Baptiz'd by him as Meclarus and Kiaxanus who prov'd eminent for Sanctity and were after exalted to Episcopal Dignity before the arrival of St. Patrick After some years abode in Ireland the Holy Bishop Kebius return'd to his See in Anglesey where he dy'd in the year of Grace 370. The place of his Burial seems to be in Denbighshire for in the Story of St. Winefred we read That she was buried near the Sepulchres of Chebaeus and Senanus call'd Gwethern Which Chebaeus was certainly our Kebius whose memory remains still saith Cambden in Anglesey where the Promontory call'd Holyhead is by the Natives nam'd Caer Gubi from Kebius a Disciple of St. Hilary whose memory is also there preserv'd by another Promontory call'd Hilary-point The same year in which St. Kebius repair'd to St. Hilary then newly return'd from banishment was illustrious for the Birth of the great Apostle of Ireland St. Patrick as most Authentick Authors agree the place of his Birth is agreed to be in Britain by the Irish themselves He is said to be born in Pembrokeshire of Calphurnius and his Wife Conchessa Sister or Sisters Daughter to St. Martin Bishop of Tours After this Birth Calphurnius became a Priest or Deacon and profess'd Continency as many others did Now Constantius dying of a Feavour in Cilicia Julian having been created Caesar succeeded him in the Empire which he polluted by his infamous Apostacy He was from his Infancy bred in the Profession of Christianity and inscrib'd in the Ecclesiastical degree of a Lectorour but being of an inconstant curious disposition and unfortunately becoming acquainted with Pagan Philosophers and Magitians he was by them perverted and though during the Life of Constantius he dissembled his change yet being in possession of the Empire he publickly declar'd his defection from Christianity and an implacable hatred of it with a resolution to imploy all the Power of Earth and Hell for its destruction The first proof hereof he gave in taking away that famous Labarum or Imperial Ensign of the Cross which in his Predecessors times had given them assur'd Victories In place whereof he restor'd the Images of Heathen Gods or Devils with the representation of Eagles Vultures Minotaurs c. which the Soldiers were commanded to Adore All the Monuments of the Holy Cross he endeavour'd to abolish insomuch as he caus'd a Representation of Constantinople to be dig'd up on the top whereof Constantine had fix'd the Cross to denote the Felicity of his new City He usually objected to Christians by way of Ignominy That they left off to Adore and Worship the Ancilia which Jupiter let fall from Heaven as a pledge of his Protection of their City instead of which they Ador'd the Wood of the Cross painting Images thereof in their Forcheads and before their Doors Thus scoffing Julian censures the Rites of the Antient Church and of the Faithful in his time for their Veneration of that Blessed Instrument of our Redemption All other Sacred Images and Statues erected in memory of Divine Benefits together with the Relicks of Saints and Martyrs this Apostate endeavour'd to abolish in particular he caus'd that Miraculous Statue of our Saviour to be thrown down which the devout Woman who had been Cur'd of her Bloody-Issue had rais'd at Caesarea Philippi and in the place thereof erected his own which not long after was divided in the midst and the upper-half thereof thrown all black to the ground where it remain'd so for a long time This Impious Emperour consulting an Oracle at Daphne near Antioch and perceiving the Devil in it to remain mute save only that he was able to declare That the Body of the Holy Martyr Babylas hindred his Speech Caus'd the Sacred Body to be remov'd into the City which was done by the Christians with great Solemnity in Singing Psalms especially such as derided Idolary which so incens'd the Cruel Emperour that he caus'd many of them to be Tormented Howbeit by the intercession of the Holy Martyr their Torments were miraculously Converted and melted into Pleasure A War against the Persians interrupted his rage against the Christians whose Extirpation he threat'ned at his return from that Expedition In the heat of this War Libanius a Heathen Sophister in derision of our Saviour Ask'd a Christian what the Carpenters Son was then doing who answer'd He is preparing a Cossin for Julian The event made the words Prophetical for the wicked Emperour receiv'd from an unknown hand a Wound Mortal to himself but Healthful to all the World besides In his place the Army chose Jovian Emperour which Honour he refus'd professing That being a Christian he neither would nor could govern an Army poison'd with Heathenish Idolatry Whereupon all the Army cry'd out That they also were Christians So that it seems the two years Reign of Julian could not extirpate the good Seed sown in their Roman Hearts Jovian thus chosen restor'd the Christian Faith reducing the Church to its former Splendour He publish'd a Law by which In all Cities a proportion of Wheat was contributed to Sacred Virgins by Vow Consecrated to God Another which inflicted Death on any who should Ravish or but attempt their Chastity There is extant an Epistle of St. Athanasius in answer of one from this Emperour to him wherein He desir'd the Judgement of the Saints who among the divided Sects of Christians retain'd the Orthodox Faith. Several Nations are mention'd in this Epistle as constantly Persevering in the Faith of our Saviours Divinity establish'd in the Councel of Nice and amongst the rest St. Athanasius makes an Honourable mention of the British Churches This Pious Emperour enjoy'd his Soveraignty but one year and Valentinian equally Orthodox was his Successor yet unhappily he made his Brother Valens Partner in his Empire He infected with the Arrian Heresie prov'd Impiously Zealous in the promoting of it In the first year of Valentinian's Reign the barbarous
into Britain to Consecrate themselves unto God in a Life of Austerity and Contemplation Cornwall was the Province to which they most frequently betook themselves In so much as Cambden had just ground to say That the People of Cornwall have always born such Veneration to the Irish Saints that retir'd thither that almost all the Towns in that Province have been Consecrated to their Memory There is St. Buriens Dedicated to an Irish Religious Woman of that Name to the Church whereof King Ethelstan in the year 936. gave priviledge of Sanctuary There is the Town of St. Jies so call'd from St. Jia a Woman of singular Sanctity who came thither from Ireland There is St. Colomb so nam'd from an Irish Saint Columba There is St. Merven St. Erben St. Eval St. Wenn St. Enedor and many other places all which took their Names from Irish Saints But one special Irish Saint is there Venerated call'd St. Piran by the Irish St. Kiacan concerning whom Bishop Vsher writes That he hearing that in Rome Christian Religion was most purely taught and Faithfully practis'd forsook Ireland and Travell'd thither where being arriv'd he was instructed in the Christian Faith and Baptiz'd and there he remain'd 20 years reading Divine Scriptures and learning Ecclesiastical Rules with all diligence He adds further That at Rome he was ordain'd Bishop and sent into Ireland 30 years before St. Patrick So that by some Irish Writers he is call'd the first born of their Saints Howbeit in the Roman Martyrology St. Patrick is said to be the first who Preach'd Christ in Ireland probable it is that this Saint was one of the first 12 Bishops Consecrated by St. Patrick to propagate the Faith first Preach'd in Ireland by him and was by his Example as many others were so inflam'd with Divine Love that they forsook all Worldly things and led an Hermetical Life for it is Reported that St. Piran calling his Disciples together and other People told them It was the Divine Will that he should forsake Ireland and go into Cornwall there to expect the end of his days And having thus dismiss'd them he sail'd into Cornwall where he built a Mansion for himself and after many Miracles which God had there wrought by him an Infirmity of Body seiz'd upon him of which Languishing he call'd his Brethren together whom he Copiously instructed in the concerns of Gods Kingdom and commanded his Grave to be made ready which done he went down into it and there render'd up his Soul to God which with great Glory was receiv'd into Heaven His Sacred Body Reposes in Cornwall towards the Northern Sea 15 Miles from Padstow or Petrockstow and 25 Miles from Mousehole Cambden mentions a Chappel Dedicated to St. Piran seated in a Sandy place He was saith he a Holy man which came from Ireland and if we may believe the Legend fed ten Irish Kings and their Armies with his three Cowes rais'd to Life dead Men and dead Pigs and in that place divested himself of his Mortality During the Reign of the Infamous King Vortigern when the Britains were so Effeminated with Vice that being unable to resist the Tyranny of their Neighbours they call'd in from a remote Country more Cruel Tyrants God to blot out the shame and Cowardice of the former Armies rais'd another British Army of Virgins conducted by a Royal and Saintly Virgin St. Vrsula Some assign this story to former times but for many very considerable reasons it will suit with no other times then we are now upon viz. When Attila King of the Huns truly Sir-nam'd Gods scourge wasted Italy and the Western Regions with Germany and Gaul burning the City of Metz Massacring Priests before the Holy Altars insomuch as we read That the Holy Bishop St. Lupus was led Captive by Attila from Troyes to the Rhine Now whereas in the Gests of these Holy Virgins mention is made of the Tyrant Maximus it cannot be intended of that Maximus who slew the Emperour Gratian but of a younger Maximus descended perhaps from the stock of the former and who also invaded the Empire after the death of Valentinian And indeed if we consider the then present state of Britain the Martyrdom of these Virgins cannot so properly be ascrib'd to any other times then to this when the poor Britains were distress'd on every side as well by their Revolted Friends the Saxons as by their Enemies the Scots and Picts It was then but lately that Vortigern had call'd in the former against the latter and Hengist with his Brother Horsa at first Fought successfully against them But soon after those Valiant Captains despising their Friends for their Vices and Cowardice they wrought upon the Luxury of Vortigern seeking to entrap him with the Beautiful Rowena Daughter of the Deceitful Hengist Vortigern thus ensnar'd bought Rowena at no less price than the whole Province of Kent Then the Saxons begin to pick a quarrel with their Benefactors and making Peace with the Picts and Scots turn their Arms against the poor Britains threatning to lay the whole Island waste which Threats they soon Executed with all Inhumanity and in a dismall manner took revenge of all the Crimes committed by the Britains against God and his Religion by them profess'd During these Miseries and Troubles a world of Britains of both Sexes forsook their Country forsaken by God and fled into strange Regions whilst others submitted to perpetual slavery under the Saxons Gildas expresseth this Calamity thus saying That very many passed over Sea with grievous Howling and Lamentation and in their Voyage joyntly with Mournful Voices repeated these Words of the Psalmist Thou hast O Lord given us up as Sheep to be devour'd and hast dispers'd us among the Nations This Complaint suits best with the weaker Sex especially those Virgin Martyrs whose Relicks were dispers'd among all the Nations of Christendom Having thus settled the time of their Martyrdom Without all Controversy they were all Britains though some Writers would have them to be Irish without any solid reason The constant opinion is that they were no less in number then 11000. This appears by the Hymn used in the Church of Colen for the Celebration of their memory The cause why so many Virgins departed into Foreign parts is thus related by Trihemius though he erre in point of time The number of Soldiers saith he which under their Captain Conanus went out of Britain into Armorica was 30000 Fighting-men and 100000 Plebeibians to Till the ground of these many were unmarry'd Now Conanus and his Company being Christians would not take Wives of the Idolatrous Pagans At that time there was a Prince in that part of Britain which is opposite to Armorica nam'd Dionatus a prudent man who succeeded his Brother Caradoc in that Principality He had a Daughter nam'd Vrsula the most Beautiful amongst all the Virgins of Britain and withall very Devout to our Lord. Conanus the ninth Prince of Armorica sent Letters to this Dionatus
to cope with Hengist and therefore with the Forces under his command furiously piercing into the Enemies Squadrons found him at last and laying hold on the fore-part of his Helmet with main force drew him within his own Troops saying God hath at last fulfill'd my desire He it is who hath given us the Victory Vpon this the Saxons fled Octa the Son of Hengist to York Esca and not a few with him betook themselves to the City of Acluid After this Victory Ambrosius took the City Caerconan which he enter'd Triumphantly Then Ambrosius calling his Captains together commanded them to Decree what should become of Hengist whereupon Eldad Bishop of Glocester and Brother of Eldol impos'd Silence on them all and gnashing his Teeth for rage told them Though all there present had a desire to set him free I my self would cut him in pieces Why saith he do you delay O Effeminate Britains did not Samuel a Prophet having taken the King of Amalec Prisoner in Battle cut him in pieces one Limb after another saying As thou hast made many Mothers Childless so will I make thy Mother Childless this day Do you therefore deal in the same manner with this Barbarous King who is another Agag and hath depriv'd a world of British Mothers of their Children When Eldad had thus said He drew his Sword and leading Hengist out of the City cut off his Head sending his wretched Soul to Hell. Whether this Speech or Action became a Christian Bishop I must leave to Graver Judgments Ambrosius thus Triumphing was not unmindful of his Vow but took care to repair the Houses of God which had been lately destroy'd and placing in them Priests and other Clergy-men he reduc'd the Divine Service to its Pristine order and where ever he found any Idols or Temples of False Gods he defac'd them utterly out of the memory of men He Studiously observ'd Justice and Peace especially as to Ecclesiastical persons on whom he liberally confer'd Revenues injoyning them to Pray for the King and state of Gods Church Hengist thus dead his Son Aesca by Bede nam'd Oisc succeeded in the Kingdom of Kent and from him his Successors were call'd Oisckings what became of his Brother Otta who was said to fly to York can no where be found in any Antient Writer and therefore little Credit is to be given to what is reported of him by some late Writers That Ambrosius should bestow upon him the Province of Galloway in Scotland which was not in his disposal The same year wherein Hengist was slain the Holy Virgin St. Bridget came out of Ireland into Britain to obtain some Relicks of her Dear and Honour'd Patron St. Patrick whose Disciple she had been and a great admirer of his Sanctity She stay'd here some years in a small Island near Glastonbury call'd Bekery where was an Oratory Consecrated to the Honour of St. Mary Magdalen afterward leaving behind her Scrip Chain Bell and other Vestments of her own wearing which for the memory of her Sanctity were there repos'd she return'd to Ireland where not long after she rested in our Lord and was Buried in the City of Down Concerning her we may thus read in the Martyrologies This day the first of February is Celebrated the memory of the Blessed Virgin St. Bridget who in Testimony of her Virginity having touch'd the Wood of an Altar it became presently green She is said to have out-liv'd St. Patrick only 30 years In the English Martyrology there is a Commemoration of a British Martyr call'd St. Sophias whose death is assign'd to the 490 year of our Lord He was the Son of Guilleicus Prince of the Ordovices or North-Wales and undertook a Monastical Profession in a Monastery Built by himself in the same Province He had such Devotion to our Lords Passion that he made three Pilgrimages to Jerusalem to visit the Marks and Foot-steps of it A great Veneration also he had for Rome and those places which had been Consecrated by the Blood of the two Princes of the Apostles Being at Rome he was by the Bishop thereof Consecrated Bishop of Beneventum which See he govern'd with Prudence and Sanctity till at last he was slain by an Impious Pagan at the Holy Altar while he was Celebrating the Mystery of our Redemption No less famous at this time was the Holy British Virgin St. Keyna Illustrious she was for her Birth being the Daughter of Braganus Prince of that Province in Wales which from him was call'd Brecknokshire but more Illustrious for her Zeal to preserve her Chastity for which she was call'd in the British Tongue Keynvayre that is Keyna the Virgin This Prince Braganus or Brachanus is said to have had twelve Sons and as many Daughters by his Lady call'd Macella Daughter of Theodoric Son of Tethphalt Prince of Garthmatrin afterward nam'd Brecknock their first born Son was St. Canoc of whom more hereafter their eldest Daughter was Gladus Mother of Cadocus by St. Gunley a Holy King of the Southern Britains their second Daughter was Melaria or Nonita the Mother of the Holy Archbishop St. David mention will be made hereafter of Almedha another of their Daughters As for St. Keyna when she came to ripe years many Noble persons sought her in Marriage but she utterly refus'd that state having Consecrated her Virginity to our Lord by a perpetual Vow at length she determin'd to forsake her Country and find out some Desert place where she might attend to Contemplation wherefore directing her Journey beyond Severn and coming to certain Woody places She requested the Prince of that Country that she might be permitted to serve God in that Solitude The Prince was willing to grant her request only he told her The place did so swarm with Serpents that neither Men nor Beasts could inhabit in it To which she reply'd That her Trust was fix'd in the Name and Assistance of Almighty God and therefore she doubted not to drive all that Poisonous brood out of that Region Hereupon the place was readily granted to the Holy Virgin who prostrating her self to God in fervent Prayer obtain'd of him to change all the Serpents and Vipers there into Stones so as to this day the Stones in that Region resemble the Windings of Serpents through all the Fields and Villages as if they had been so fram'd by the Hand of the Engraver Cambden gives some account of this Miracle On the Western Banks of Avon saith he is seen the Town of Cainsham some are of Opinion that it was nam'd so from Keyna a most Holy British Virgin who according to the Credulous perswasion of former Ages is believ'd to have turn'd Serpents into Stones for that such like Miracles of sporting Nature are there sometimes found in the Quarries I my self saith he saw a Stone brought from thence representing a Serpent roll'd up into a Spire The Head of it stuck out in the outward Surface and the end of the Tayl terminated in the Center Many years
his Eyes and say a Prayer or Benediction on them But receiving no benefit thereby David said to him Father command me not to look you in the face for ten years are past since I studied the Scriptures with you and in all that time I never had the boldness to look you in the face Paulens admiring his Humility said Since it is so it will suffice if by touching mine Eyes thou pronounce a Benediction on them Presently therefore as soon as he had touch'd them Sight was restor'd to them The same year wherein the Synod of Brevi was Celebrated Cerdic began the Kingdom of the West-Saxons That is saith Huntingdon in the seventy first year after the first coming of the Saxons in the reign of the Emperour Justin the Elder This Cerdic is said to be Crown'd with Pagan Ceremonies at Winchester in a place which once had been the Church of the true God but which these Barbarous Heathens had chang'd into a Temple of Dagon after they had slain all the Monks who serv'd God there The raising of this new Kingdom disproves the Fictions of Geffrey of Monmouth concerning the great and frequent Victories of King Arthur in these days It is likely to be more true which Huntingdon expresly declares namely That this year a terrible Battle was fought between Cerdic and the Britains and that on both sides the Captains Fought Magnanimously till Even but then the Saxons got the Victory which would have been more Bloody to the Britains had not the darkness hind'red the Pursuit After this the Fame of Cerdic and his Son Kenric was largely spread through the whole land and from that day began the Kingdom of the West-Saxons which having swallow'd all the other Principalities remains to our times Many Battles are said to have been Fought between King Arthur and this Cerdic wherein sometimes one sometimes the other had the better But at last King Arthur grew weary and contenting himself with an Oath of Fidelity from Cerdic gave him the Provinces of Hampshire and Somerset Some Authors affirm a League to have been made between them wherein a special Priviledge was provided for Cornwall to be permitted upon an Annual Tribute the free exercise of Christian Religion Which Indulgence seems to be prov'd by the great number of Saints which in those and the following times flourish'd in that Province whereas scarce any can be found in other parts of Britain subject to the Saxons And in truth it is very like that great multitudes of Britains flying from the fury of the Saxons betook themselves to Cornwal and Wales as places most distant and more defenceable and where they might expect better Conditions and more advantage of resisting their new Masters then in other parts for no doubt this Kingdom of the West-Saxons was made up of more Provinces than Hampshire or Somerset so that Cerdic had good footing in Devonshire Dorsetshire Barkshire and Wiltshire to which shortly after was added the Isle of Wight bestow'd by Cerdic on his late arriv'd Kinsmen Stuffa and Whitgar who destroy'd the British Inhabitants there at Whitgarburg so call'd from Whitgar but now contractedly Caresburg While Cerdic was busie in establishing his new Kingdom in the year 520. Colgrin Baldulf and Cheldric whom King Arthur had lately subdu'd at York and forc'd to abjure the land returning landed at Totness from whence passing through Cerdic's Dominions they came to the City of Bath and Besieg'd it King Arthur hearing thereof caus'd the Hostages which they had left to be Hang'd and gathering a mighty Army came to raise the Seige where the Armies being joyn'd he calling on the Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary whose Image he wore over his Armour slew great numbers of his Enemies and amongst the rest Colgrin and his Brother Baldulf which Cheldric perceiving fled and was pursu'd by Cador the Duke of Cornwall to the Isle of Thanet and there slain by him the rest being forc'd to yield King Arthur as may be remembred obtain'd a Battle before he was King near Bath at the Mountain Badonicus now this is likely to be another defeat given by King Arthur to the Saxons and the City of Bath being in the utmost extremity West-ward of Cerdic's Kingdom it might at this time have been in the possession of the Britains As for King Arthur's invoking the assistance of our Blessed Lady in the Fight it was a Devotion generally practic'd by the Church in this Age. For two years before there having been Assembled two Councels in the East one at Jerusalem and the other at Constantinople the Synod at Jerusalem wrote to the Bishops of the other Councel thus We beseech you most Holy Bishops to Pray with us to our Lord for these things for the Necessities of Gods Priests ought to be common make your Supplications likewise with us to the most Holy and Glorious Virgin Mary Mother of God that she would intercede for the Peace of the Catholick Church and for the Victory and long Life of our most Excellent and Pious Emperour The like practice we find else-where of which many Examples may be given The next year King Arthur was call'd into the Northern parts to assist Prince Howel who three years before was come out of Little Britain to his Aid and was now Besieg'd by the Picts and Scots in the City call'd Acluid wherein he lay Sick. Upon King Arthur's approach the Enemies retir'd to a place call'd Mureif whither he pursu'd them but they escaping by night fled to a Lake call'd Lumoney Whereupon King Arthur gathering many Ships together encompass'd the Island and in 15 days brought them to such extreme Famine that many thousands of them Perish'd In which utmost danger the Bishops of that Region came Barefoot to the King with Tears beseeching him To take pitty of that miserable People and to give them some small portion of that Country to inhabit under the yoak of perpetual Servitude The King thus mollify'd with the Tears of the Bishops pardon'd his Enemies and granted their request Hence it is that some Writers ground the subjection of Scotland to the Crown of Brittain and particularly Walsingham but certainly better grounds may be found of it than this Whereas it is said that certain Pictish and Scotish Bishops were Supplicants to this King for their Distress'd Countrymen it hath been already demonstrated that the Province of the Picts where the City of Acluid is seated had many years before receiv'd the Christian Faith by the Preaching of St. Ninianus but who were his Successors is hard to conjecture In the Annals of Ireland mention is made of a certain Bishop call'd Nennion who is said to have flourish'd in Britain about the year 520. and to have had his seat in a place call'd the great Monastery This man probably was the Successor of St. Ninianus and that great Monastery the same with Candida Casa where the Monument of that Apostolick Bishop was which by reason of frequent Miracles wrought there invited great
back he was receiv'd with more then ordinary respect but presently after dy'd full of Days and Sanctity and was bury'd by Leontius in Aquitain Now though the Inhabitants of Aleth were depriv'd of the Sacred Relicks of their prime Prelate whom they had treated so injuriously yet the name of Blessed Maclovius remains never to be blotted out adorning and defending that City to this day with his Coelestial Benefits and Glorious Perfection Howbeit the Episcopal See does not now remain at Aleth but is remov'd to an Island two Miles distant from thence Antiently call'd Aaron where a City new built is in memory of their Holy Prelate and Patron call'd St. Malo and Vrbs Macloviensis It is said that St. Mahutus with his seven Disciples in Devotion visited Rome where he redeem'd many Infidel Captives and having instructed them in the true Faith Baptiz'd them Saint Brendan his Spiritual Father and Instructor though no Britain by Birth is not to be deny'd some place in this History He came out of Ireland to visit the Holy man St. Gildas Albanius in Britain He was also Superiour in the Monastery of Lancarvan where he Baptiz'd St. Maclovius and returning into Ireland where he was made an Abbot there dy'd Happily in the year of Grace 571. The death of this Blessed man is said to be reveal'd to St. Columba who declar'd That he saw the Heavens on a suddain open'd and a Choire of Angels descending to meet St. Brendan 's Soul by whose incomparable Splendour the whole World was that night Enlightn'd St. Brendan thus call'd to Heaven enjoy'd on Earth also an Eternal Monument of his Name and Sanctity For in the Isle of Orkney a Town and Church were built and call'd from his Name the reason was because his Sacred Body was thither translated In this Age flourish'd a Holy British Abbot call'd St. Doc of whom is written That when St. Canic of whom the Province of Kilkenny took its Name was grown to an Age of capable knowledge being desirous of instruction he pass'd over into Britain to a Religious man call'd Doc and under him studied diligently and was taught both Learning and Piety This St. Doc was one of the three Holy Britains from whom the Irish learn'd the form and Rites of Celebrating Mass The other two were St. David and St. Gildas After the death of King Arthur Constantine according to his designation succeeded him in the Government of Britain He was the Son of Cador Duke of Cornwall and Kinsman to the King His sufficiency to discharge that employment for the Benefit of his Country was enough approv'd by the choice of his glorious Predecessor But Almighty God having fix'd a period to the British Monarchy permitted many Factions to arise and many Pretendants to the Principality the opposing of whom hindred Constantine from advancing the common profit and safety of the Kingdom Moreover Ambition and Revenge had such a Power over him that they invited him to commit Crimes which hast'ned the ruine of his Country Hence it is that Gildas calls him the Tyrant of Danmonia Tyrant in regard of his Cruelty and Tyrant of that Province because at that time several others had invaded each one their several Principalities and for the maintaining of their unjust Usurpations fill'd the whole Nation with all manner of Impieties which gave occasion to the same Gildas to publish a Passionate Invective against the Vices of the whole British Nation which had universally depriv'd the Inhabitants of all states and conditions an exceeding few excepted who forseeing the unavoidable destruction of the Nation withdrew themselves from publick Affairs and in solitude deplor'd the sins of others by great Pennances and Austerities procuring Indulgence to their own Souls In former times saith Gildas our Kings publick Officers private Persons Bishops and other Ecclesiasticks every one kept their Order and perform'd the Duties belonging to them But when they were dead there succeeded a Generation utterly ignorant of the former Virtues among whom all the Rules of Truth and Justice were so shaken and subverted that no footsteps nor so much as the least Monument of those Virtues appear'd in any of the said Orders Constantine at his first Ascension into his Throne bound himself by a Solemn Oath to govern Justly and to use his utmost endeavours to defend his Subjects from Injuries and Oppressions and the Commonwealth from the violence of its Enemies And yet the year following we find him charg'd with Perjury and the violation of his Faith by his Barbarous Cruelty and Sacrilegious Prophanation of Gods House For the two Sons of Mordred rising up in Arms against him to revenge their Fathers death joyn'd in Confederacy with the Saxons and fought many Battles with him but at last being compell'd to fly Constantine pursu'd them and one of them he slew before the Altar of St. Amphibalus his Church in Winchester the other who had hid himself in a Convent of Monks he Condemned to a Cruel death in London For this Sacrilegious Inhumanity Gildas in his too free stile calls Constantine The Tyrannical Whelp of the Lioness of Danmonia an infringer of the dreadful Sacrament of an Oath by which he bound himself before God and all his Saints to abstain from all Injustice and Treachery to his Subjects notwithstanding which in the very bosom both of their Carnal Mother and Spiritual Mother the Church near the most Holy Altar he had torn the Bowels of two Royal Youths though cover'd with the Vestments of a Holy Abbot whilst they stretch'd forth their Hands not armed with Swords to resist but to implore help from God and his Altar and yet he most Barbarously shed their Blood which with a Purple dye stain'd the seat of the Ecclesiastical Sacrifice and the Sacred Palls which cover'd it To this Invective the same Author adjoyns most pressing Exhortations to Constantine That he would do suitable Pennance for these horrible Crimes that if possible he might avoid the dark inextricable Torrents of Eternal fire in which otherwise he must for ever be roll'd and roasted By these Expressions it should seem these two Sons of Mordred were not so much to be blam'd for their rising all Circumstances consider'd Probable it is that these or such like Exhortations wrought a good effect upon Constantine for though some write that he was slain by Conan who succeeded in the Kingdom yet others tell another Story viz. That after a short reign having been depriv'd of his Wife and Children be grew weary of his Kingdom and privily stealing from his Friends went into Ireland and there for the love of Christ labour'd unknown like a poor Servant in a Mill but afterward by perswasion of a Monk to whom he discover'd his condition he was induc'd to shave his Head and Consecrate himself to a Religious Life in a Monastery where he is said to live with such Piety and Devotion that he became a pattern of all Virtues to the rest of the Monks That at last