most illustrious are S. Aaron and S. Iulius who in this persecution of Diocletian and Maximianus consummated a most glorious Martyrdom there 3. Concerning whom our Countrey-man Balâ— though as became an Apostat a bitter Enemy of the Roman-Catholick Church writes thus Iulius and Aaron Noble Cittizens of the famous Citty of Caer-Leon for so Isca of the Silures is called from two Legions garrisond there and Disciples in Christ of the holy Martyr Amphibalus were most illustrious ornaments of piety to our Countrey of Brittany These two addicted themselves with much diligence to the study of learning not only in their own countrey but also undertook a Voyage into forraign Nations for the attaining skill in good arts for history informs us that they studied at Rome especially and therfore celebrates them much for their Learning 4. Iohn Fox likewise commends these two holy men but mistakes when he calls them Cittizens of Verolam whom Gildas and S. Beda positively affirm to have been inhabitants of Caer-Leon The words of S. Beda are these At the same time during the persecution of Diocletian Aaron and Iulius Cittizens of Caer-Leon together with very many others in diverse places of both sexes suffred Martyrdom Who after the suffering of severall tortures had their members torn asunder by unheard of cruelty and at last consummating a glorious Martyrdom they sent up their soules to the ioys of the heavenly Citty The same expression is used concerning them in the Roman Martyrologe on the first of Iuly when the Martyrdom of Aaron and Iulius is commemorated And both the said Martyrologe and S. Beda have borrowed the phrase describing the manner of their death from our most ancient Historian Gildas 5. And the deuout Brittains of those times after the same manner honourd the Memory of these two Holy Martyrs as they had done that of S. Albanus and S. Amphibalus by erecting Altars and Churches to their honour Thus Giraldus Cambrensis in his Itinerary of Wales treating of the famous Citty of Caër-Leon writeth Here lye the bodies of two Noble Christians and next to S. Albanus and S. Amphibalus the most illustrious Protomartyrs of Brittany who were here crowned with Martyrdom I mean Iulius and Aaron each of which had a famous Church erected to his honour in this Citty For there were in ancient times in the said Citty three magnificent Churches One of the Martyr S Iulius adornd with a Quire and Convent of Religious Virgins A second dedicated to the honour of his Companion S. Aaron and graced with a Noble Quire of Canons The third was the Metropolitan Church of all Cambria This last Church was afterward translated by the holy Bishop S. David to Menevia the authority of Dubritius Legat of the Bishop of Rome concurring thereto 6. It is observable that all these Churches were built by Brittains long before the Saxons entred into this Island So that there is no need of expecting S Gregory the Great or S. Augustin the Monk to him who would find arguments to proove the Antiquity of the Roman Faith touching the Veneration of Saints in Brittany 7. Besids these wee find celebrated in ancient Martyrologes the memory of two Noble Brittish Christians the Disciples of S. Amphibalus who were crownd with Martyadom in the same persecution of Diocletian their names are Stephanus and Socrates Mention is made of them likewise by S. Beda Vsuardus Ado and others whereto also severall ancient Manuscripts doe accord We find no particular Gests of theirs only in the English Martyrologe it is said that in the Province of the Silures Churches were built to their honour Now whether this Stephanus was Bishop of London it is a doubt A Bishop of that name is sayd to have governed that See in this age though Authours place him somewhat later To this time likewise is referd the murdring of all the Monks in the Monastery of Winchester built by King Lucius Of which wee shall speak in the next year but one 8. Whilst the Romans thus raged in Brittany very many Christians not having the courage to keep their ranks expose themselves to their Enemies Violence yet resolving not to betray their Faith withdrew themselves from the fury of men least by the immanity of torments they should be compell'd to renounce it Thus Gildas writes of the remainder of Christians in those dayes Those persecuted Christians saith he which were left hid themselves in woods defarts and caves of rocks expecting from God the iust Iudge of all when he would please to execute his iudgments on their persecutours and restore safety and liberty to their own soules 9. This Christian prudence and caution of theirs was suitable to the advice given the year before by the holy Pope and Maâ—tyr Caius at Rome when the persecution first began For he in an Assembly of beleivers meeting together on that occasion thus spoke to them Our Lord Iesus Christ who perfectly foresees and knows the frailty of mankind hath ordained two ranks and degrees of Beleivers namely Confession and Martyrdom to the end that those who have not strength or courage enough to sustain the weight of Martyrdom may at least hold fast the Grace of Confession Let such yeild up the glory of Martyrdom to the valiant soldiers of Christ which are resolved to coÌ„bat for him and take a sollicitous care of their own soules Let them therfore who are so disposed depart out of this feild of battell whither they please together with our dear children Chromatia and Tiburtius and for the rest who are more courageously resolved let them remain still here in the Citty with mee 10. This flight of Christians in Brittany suitable to the Roman practise gave occasion to Persecutours to extend their rage upon Churches and Monasteries all which by this tempest were so uterly destroyd that as Gildas saith in severall Provinces of this Island there remained no marks at all of Christian Religion This desolation continued about seaven years till the happy return of Constantius as soon as he was created Caesar by whose clemency the Christian Faith and worship again flourishd in Brittany and this much sooner then in any other parts of the Roman Empire Which mercy of God seems to have been extended in a speciall manner toward the Brittains because as S. Beda saith they only preserv'd among them their primitive Faith received in the dayes of King Lucius entire and inviolate till the Raign of Diocletian XX. CHAP. 1.2.3 Carausius the Admirall of the Emperours Navy his rapines and rebellion he takes possession of Brittany 4.5 Maximianus his preparations against him without effect 6. The Tyrant left in quiet possession of Brittany subdues the Caledonian Brittains A monument of his Victory 1. THIS Tyranny of the Roman Emperours against Christian Religion God was pleased to revenge by permitting another Tyrant to raise himself against them in Brittany This was Carausius who saith Victor drew his Originall from
but that afterward the sayd Abbey was destroyed which was again repaired by S. Edward the Confessour and richly endowed In which testimony is implied that from the beginning there were placed in it a Convent of Monks Concerning whose Rule and Institute we shall treat hereafter 4. A Second Metropolitan Church at this time was erected at the City of York which a learned Writer Philip Berterius quoted by Bishop Vsher esteems in that age the prime Citty and Church of Brittany Whose opinion the Bishop seems to approve saying Though as this day London be the most noble Citty of the whole British Kingdome and though it has been in former ages celebrated by Ammianus Marcellinus as an ancient Town and by Cornelius Tacitus as famous for Marchandise and abord of strangers Nowithstanding the most learned Berterius positively affirms that York was much rather the ancient Metropolis of the Diocese of Brittany not only as being a Colony of the Romans but because there was placed the Emperours Palace and Courts of Iudgment And hence it is that Spartianus in the life of the Emperour Severus calls it by way of preeminence The Citty The same thing is likewise further proved by this That in the Synod of Arles assembled under Constantin the Great among the subscriptions the name of Eborius Bishop of York precedes Restitutus Bishop of London Though I am not ignorant that in the ordring of such subscriptions regard was had rather to the antiquity of the persons then dignity of their Sees 5. As for the third Metropolitan Citty of Cair-leon upon Vsk Henry of Huntingdon thus writes of it In Cair-legion there was an Arch bishoprick in the times of the Brittains but at this day one can scarce discern any remainders of its walls except a little where the River Vsk falls into Severn And Giraldus Cambrensis adds that in the same Citty there were in ancient times three Noble Churches One bearing the Title of the holy Martyr Iulius which was beautified with a Monastery of Virgins consecrated to God A second founded by the Name of his companion S. Aaron ennobled with an illustrious Quire of Canons And the Third famous for being the Metropolitan See of all Cambria 6. Notwithstanding however this Citty of Cair-leon being in the times of King Lucius the Civill Metropolis of those parts might then to be design'd from an Archiepiscopall See yet we doe not find in History any ancient Bishops with that Title Yea the Church of Landaff seems to have enjoy'd that Title before Cair-Leon Concerning which Church thus writes Bishop Godwin The Cathedrall Church of Landaff as some report was first built by King Lucius about the year of Grace one hundred and eighty Notwithstanding I doe not find any Bishop there before Dubritius who was consecrated Bishop there by S. German Bishop of Auxerre and was by the King and whole Province elected Arch-bishop over all the Welsh Brittains saith the Authour of his life extant in Capgrave 7. Vpon these grounds it was that in succeeding times the Bishops of Landaff refused Canonicall obedience to the Metropolitans of Menevia or S. Davids as appears by a Protestation made by Bishop Vrbanus in the Councill of Rhemes before Calixtus second Pope of that name part whereof is cited by Bishop Vsher out of the Register of that Church as followeth From the time of our ancient Fathers as appears by the handwriting of our Holy Patron Teiliavus this Church of Landaff was first founded in honour of S. Peter and in dignity and all other Priviledges was the Mistresse of all other Churches Thus it remained till by reason of intestin seditions and forraign war in the days of my Predecessour Herwold it became weakned and almost deprived of a Pastour by the cruelty of the inhabitants and invasion of the Normans Yet there always remain'd in it Religious men attending to Divine service After this partly by reason of the neighbourhood of the English from whom we differed nothing in matters touching Ecclesiasticall Ministery as having been bred and instructed together and likewise because from most ancient times that is from the time of Pope Eleutherius there hath always been a Bishop of this place subject to none After the coming of S. Augustin into Brittany the Bishop of Landaff has always been subject and obedient both to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury and also the King of England Thus argued the sayd Bishop Vrbanus but what proofs he had does not appear Certain it is that in all Records at this day extant there is no mention of any Bishop actually sitting at Landaff before Dubritius Whence it is that the erecting of that See is attributed to S. Germanus by Mr. Camden saying Germanus and Lupus French Bishops having repress'd the Pelagian Heresy largely spread in Brittany erected Landaff into a Cathedrall Church preferring thereto the most holy man Dubritius to be the first Bishop to wit in the year of our Lord four hundred thirty and six 8. Besides these the same King built a Church at Dover concerning which Bishop Vsher writes in this manner That in the time of King Lucius there was a Chappell erected in the Castle of Dover and dedicated to the honour of our Saviour is related by Leland out of the Annals of the same Citty venerable for their great antiquity The same thing we likewise read in a Commentary touching the first beginning of the sayd Castle where it is sayd That in the one hundred sixty one year of our Lord King Lucius built a Temple to Christ on the height of Dover-Castle for the maintaining of which he assign'd the Tribute of that Haven And whereas in a later Chronicle of Dover we read That among other liberalities besto'wd by King Lucius on God and his Church one was the building of a Church in the Castle of Dover to the honour of S. Mary the glorious Mother of God where both the King and his people as likewise their Catholick Successours received the Sacraments and Holy Rites of Christian Religion This does not prejudice the foregoing Record for all Churches are primarily erected to the honour of Christ and in consequence thereof to the honour of his Saints 9. There are severall other sacred places and Churches which in old Records pretend to King Lucius as their Founder but whose pretentions cannot in reason and prudence be admitted Thus the Authour of the Chronicle of Glastonbury written about four hundred years since relates That in the one hundred eighty seaventh year of our Lords Incarnation the Bishoprick of Somerset took its beginning being erected by the Holy men Fugatius and Damianus and for a long time the Episcopall See was placed at Kungresbury in which very many Bishops sate successively till the dayes of Ina King of the West Saxons the number gests and times of which Bishops can no where be found But in the time of the foresayd King Ina Daniel who as we have received
and without any consideration of their affinity mutually butchering one another Till in the end Vespasian being the conquerour Peace was at last restored 3. Now during these furious contentions only in Brittany the Roman armies were uninteressed and consequently free from either doing or suffring mischeifs And the reasons given by Tacitus hereof were partly their distance from the cheif Scene of these Tragedies and partly because having been exercised with severall expeditions against the unquiet Brittains they were taught to direct their hatred rather against their enemies then any party among the Romans 4. Trebellius Maximus who had been sent Propretor into Brittany by particular factions in the army was forced to fly out of the Countrey and had recourse to Vitellius newly proclam'd Emperour In his place succeeded Vectius Bolanus who saith Tacitus governed with more mildnes then was fitting in a Province so feirce and apt for commotions 5. Assoon as Vespasian was declared a pretender to rhe Empire the Roman Army in Brittany quickly express'd great favour towards him as one who had been made Leader of the Second Legion there by the Emperour Claudius and perform'd severall exploits with great reputation 6. After three years spent by Vectius Bolanus in a quiet government of Brittany there was by Vespasian who had then been three years Emperour sent to succeed him Petilius Cerealis who presently upon what provocation it doth not appeare assailed the Nation call'd Brigantes took their cheif Citty York the most populous then of all Brittany as Tacitus affirms and fought many battels some of them very bloody conquering a great part of rhat Province and engaged the Romans in a war with the rest 7. In the sixth year of Vespasians raign Iulius Frontinus was sent in the place of Cerealis during whose governmēt the Silures inhabiting the Western parts of Brittany rebell'd against the Romans whose Countrey he with great courage invaded and though partly by their valour but principally by difficulties of passages they brought him to great extremities yet in the end with wonderfull constancy he conquered all opposition and entirely subdued them And to restrain them from future commotions he fortified in their Province the Citty call'd Isca placing one of his Legions there from whence it took the name of Caer-Leon or the Citty of the Legion 8. After Frontinus the Government of the Roman Army was committed to Iulius Agricola in the ninth which was the last year of the raign of Vespasian Whose worthy exploits and signall vertues both in war and peace have been most nobly described by his son in law Cornelius Tacitus in a Book purposely written of his life Which exploits because they were perform'd after the death of St. Ioseph and his companions we will delay the giving a breif account of them to the next Book and we will conclude this with relating some considerable circumstances attending the death and buriall of those Apostolick Saints and Patrons of our Nation XII CHAP. 1. S. Ioseph dyed and was buried at Glastonbury This not contradicted by the Ro-Martyrologe 2.3 S. Ioseph an example both of a Pastorall and Monasticall life 4.5 The particular place where S. Ioseph was buried unknown 6. One Iohn Blome upon a suppos'd inspiration petition'd that he might search it 7. His action censured 1. IT is a received generall Tradition in this Island that S. Ioseph ended his days in his solitude of Avallonia or Glastonbury and this on the twentie seaventh of Iuly in the eighty second year of our Lords Incarnation Notwithstanding in the Roman Martyrologe on the seaventeenth of March we read thus At Ierusalem is the commemoration of S Ioseph a noble Counsellor of Arimathea and a Disciple of our Lord who took down his Body from the Crosse and buried it in his own new Sepulcher But hereby is evinc'd neither that he dyed then nor at Ierusalem but only that on that day his memory was celebrated there as in the same Martyrologe there are severall examples of the like 2. Now though this holy Saint dyed at Glastonbury we are not to imagin that he spent his days there since the design which brought him to Brittany was to preach the Gospell and convert soules Bishop Godwin without any authority would inform us that he and his companions perceiving that their preaching had little or no effect among the rude Brittains and despairing of doing any good gave themselves at last to a Monasticall contemplative life But we should wrong their charity and Apostolike zeale if we should think they would so soon faint and be weary of their holy employment It is more then probable that they would frequently retire into this their solitude to the end by undistracted Prayers to renew their courage and patience in their Apostolike employment as likewise to repose after their labours so we read in the Gospell that the Apostles after their Mission perform'd return'd to our Saviour who for their refreshment was pleased to withdraw them from a common conversation into a desert there to repose 3. We may likewise prudently judge that it was the speciall design of the Divine Providence to make choice of these particular Saints to be not only Preachers of his word but examples also of a Monasticall Conversation in an Island so commodious for it Excepting S. Mark in the deserts of Egypt we doe not find any other of the Primitive Disciples which seem'd to have had such a design There wanted not indeed from the beginning many who relinquish'd their worldly employments and gave their riches to the poore that without any impediments they might wholly give themselves to God and being freed from all distractions practise the exercises of Divine Contemplation But this they did apart in their own houses and not in Community as S. Ioseph and his Companions did wherin they were imitated by their Successours So that Brittany was the almost only place in the world where the Christian Faith began with a Monasticall Profession And we see also that when that Profession by persecution ceased the same Faith likewise was banished 4. That S. Ioseph and his companions also were buried at Glastonbury in or near the Church built by him we are informed by the Great Table of Glastonbury mention'd by Bishop Vsher where it is sayd In this Church doe repose the bodies of the twelve Disciples of our Lord of whom S. Ioseph of Arimathea who buried our Lord was the Cheif and Superiour Many Pagans also converted to the Faith of Christ and baptised by them doe rest there likewise the multitude of whom is for their number so great that they cannot be reckoned The same likewise is affirm'd by the Authour of Eulogium 5. As for the particular place in which the Tomb of our Saint was seated most probable it is that it was in a Cave under ground in a Chappel afterwards built and dedicated to his honour as this Epitaph imports Ad Britones veni
that the Constantin mention'd by him as then alive could not be the first of that name Who was then the Constantin so highly extoll'd by Firmicus Surely no other then his Son Constantius who most frequently in his Edicts call'd himself Constantin And being ambitious of Titles as Historians observe he usually annexed the word Magnus and Maximus to his name And that Constantius alone was intended by that Authour in this glorious Character appears by that clause That from the first step of his age he managed the stern of the Commonwealth for he was created Caesar being only eight years old wheras his Father was above thirty before he governed the Empire 6. Now whereas Firmicus extolls his Constantin for freeing the world from tyrannicall excesses and domesticall seditions this does exactly fitt Constantius who as Aurelius Victor Eutropius and Ammianus Marcellinus observe was very fortunate in civill warrs as he was unprosperous in extern for he depress'd these Tyrants Magnentius Decentius Potentianus Vetranio Silvanus Chonodomarius Badomarius c. 7. There remains one only difficulty in a heathenish Prayer which Firmicus makes to the Sun Mercury and Venus to continue for ever the raign of Constantin and his children Lords and Ceasars c. for it is certain that Constantius had no children Notwithstanding such a Prayer might properly enough be made in hope that the Emperour might have children afterwards And besides though Constantius had no children born to him yet he had children by adoption to wit Gallus and Iulianus both of them created Cesars by him Now the Form of adoption was this I doe affirm that this man is my Son and I have bought him with this money So that Firmicus his prayer applied to Constantius might be very proper and seasonable 8. Now of Constantius the Son of Constantin it is certain that be was born at Naïsus a Citty of Illyricum this is expressly affirmed by Iulianus his Nephew in an Oration made in his praise This Citty indeed was the Native soile of the whole family Iulius Constantius the Father of Constantin was there born as likewise Diocletian and both the Maximians And wheras Licinius had possess'd himselfe of this countrey Constantin in the twelfth year of his raign overcame him here after which victory he continued severall years in those parts and Naïsus being the Metropolis of the region he adorned it much with buildings and from thence published many Rescripts Here then it was that his second son by Fausta Constantius was born For at Arles in France she brought forth her first son Constantin five years before this So that it is apparent that the Testimony of Iulius Firmicus does nothing at all avayle Lipsius his pretention against Constantins being born in Brittany 9 To conclude this controversy a witnes of great authority may be produced for ours and against Lipsius his assertion which if he had well considered doubtles he would not have prefer'd so highly the authority of so inconsiderable an Authour as Nicephorus This is our glorious Bishop S. Aldelm who lived not much more then three hundred years after this time He in his excellent Treatise of Virginity expressly affirms that S. Helena was a Brittish Lady And this Treatise having been with high commendation mention'd by S. Beda an advantage is added to our assertion by his testimony involved in the other And one considerable argument therby is wanting to our adversaries who make Saint Beda's silence touching S. Helena and Constantins birth in Brittany a strong proof that they were born in the Eastern parts IV. CHAP. 1.2 c. The honour and reputation of Helena Mother of Constantin cleared from aspersions layd on her by Nicephorus and other Grecian Writers 1. HAving thus cleared the title which Brittany hath to the birth of Constantin justice requires that we should be as diligent in clearing the reputation of his Mother Helena who has indeed been most rudely treated by the penns of many Writers We have seen how Nicephorus has publish'd her for a vile prostituted harlot S. Ambrose upon report calls her Stabulariam a common hostesse Stabulariam hanc primo fuisse asserunt sic cognitam Constantio Seniori Some affirme says he that she was a publick hostesse and as such was first known to the Elder Constantius S. Beda gives her a little better title writing thus Constantius left his Son Constantin begot of Helena his Concubin Emperour of the Gaules 2. Now whilst Christian Writers thus disgracefully set her forth we will not wonder to find Zosimus a Heathen and profest enemy both to Constantin and his Mother reporting that Constantin was born 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of a dishonourable Mother 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and one who against law cohabited with Constantius 3. These imputations though in propriety of language they were indeed injurious Yet it cannot be denyed but there was some shadow of truth in them For by the Roman Laws it was enacted That if any Prefect of a Cohort or Troop of horse or any Tribune should against the Prohibition of Law marry a Wife in the Province in which he bore Office that Matrimony should be null Now this was the very case of Constantius with Helena who married her when he was sent by Aurelian the Emperour with authority into Brittany 4. Notwithstanding this Roman Law did not so indispensably condemn such Mariages but that they might afterward be rendred lawfull for the famous Lawyer Paulus thus states the matter If after such an office is depos'd the person shall persevere in the same will to acknowledge her his wife then such a mariage becomes iust and lawfull Now it is certain that severall years after Constantius had quitted the government of Brittany he constantly cohabited with Helena It was therfore a slanderous speech of Zosimus to say that Constantin was born by one nights meeting of them two since it is evident that they continued together a very long space as in a lawfull and chast mariage 5. Moreover Constantins succession in the Empire without any contestation declares him a legitimate Son of Constantius Which is further confirmed by severall passages in the Orations of Rhetoricians in those days among whom Eumenius commends Constantin for the Noblenes of his Extraction saying that by his birth he deserved the Empire and that his Father on his death bed being demanded to whom he would leave the Empire answered as became a Prince truly Pious And another French Rhetorician in an Oration pronounc'd at the Mariage of Constantin with Fausia among other Vertues of his Father imitated by his Son insists much on the speciall vertue of Continence Now it had been ridiculous and most uncivill to commend the Fathers continence before a son who was a bastard But so far was Constantin from being esteem'd the issue of an unlawfull bed that when afterward his Father upon reason of state and policy was obliged to marry
administration of his Kingdom to a Nephew by his Sister and Son of Loth King of the Picts called Mordred Who taking advantage of his Vncles absence invaded the throne upon a pretence that King Arthur was a bastard as being born not in lawfull mariage And to this treason he added the crime of incest violently taking his Vncles wife Queen Guenhumara Moreover to strengthen him self he entred into a Confederacy with the King of the West-Saxons to whom he quietly yeilded severall Provinces 3. These infamous crimes being come to the ears of King Arthur he presently returned into Brittany inflamed with a rage and hatred unquencheable against his abominable kinsman Mordred was prepared to hinder his landing at which time a cruell batell was fought between them in which Angusâ—lus King of Albania and Walwan another Nephew of King Arthur were slain Notwithstanding at last with infinite difficulty he landed And renewing the fight he made a great slaughter of his enemies and compelled Mordred to fly to Winchester Whither he was with great fury pursued by King Arthur where in a second batell after much blood shed Mordred was again putt to flight which he directed towards Cornwal But King Arthur not ceasing to follow at last overtook him neer the River Camblan in which place the controversy between them was ended but fatally to them both 4. For Mordred having ranged his army in a desperat fury rushed among his enemies resolved rather to dye then once more to shew his back to them In this coÌ„bat which continued almost a whole day after horrible blood-shed on both sides King Arthur with the courage and fury of a lyon rushed into the troop where he knew Mordred was and making way with his sword at last with horrible slaughter dispersed his enemies There fell the Traytour Mordred and with him severall Saxon Commanders Cheldric Elaphius Egbrith and Bruning and many thousands with them 5. But this Victory cost King Arthur his life also For in the combat he received a mortall wound Whereupon he was conveyed into the Isle Avallonia now Glastonbury by the charity of a kinswoman of his a noble Matron called Morganis This gave the foolish Brittish Bards occasion to invent the story of a Faery Goddesse called Morganis which caried the Body of King Arthur by Magical skill into Avallonia with a promise that she would cure his wounds and that he should return with his former courage and strength to govern his Brittains And for this reason during many years yea ages his return was expected by them as foolshly as the coming of the Messias is by the Iewes 6. When Queen Guenhumara heard of the return of her husband and his war with his Nephew she fled in great hast to the Citty Caër-leon where she took the Habit of Religion among the Nunns in the Monastery of S. Iulius the Martyr 7. The true reason why King Arthur would be caried to the Monastery of Glastonbury doubtles was partly to prepare himself more perfectly for death in the company and by the assistance of the Holy Monks living there and likewise that after his death he might be buried among such a world of Saints as reposed there from the beginning of Christianity The like design we read of in Constantin for he ordaind his buriall in like manner to the end he might be partaker of the Suffrages of so many Saints of the prayers of such as in succeeding times should come to visit their Monuments 8. King Arthur before his death gave unto the said Monastery Brent-march and Poulden with other lands beside Which the Pagan Angli took away but afterward being converted to the Faith restored with advantage He appointed likewise for his Successour a kinsman of his called Constantin and having recommended himself to the Prayers of the Monks he dyed happily and after a Christian manner was buried with a Crosse. 9. His conveyance to Glastonbury was it seems by own order done with great secrecy and by the same order his death and place of burial was studiously coÌ„ceald The reason is given by Mathew of Westminster in these words The dying King was desirous to be hidden least his enemies should insult and his freinds be molested for so great a calamity And hence it is that since our Histories doe relate nothing of his death and buriall the Brittish Nation out of their great affection to him doe contend that he is still alive And on this occasion was invented the Prophecy fathered on Merlin the Magician that he should appear and raign once more Lastly Malmsburiensis affirms that in his time who dyed in the year of Grace one thousand one hundred forty two the Sepulcher of King Arthur could no where be found whereas the Monument of his Heroical Nephew Walwin Prince of a Territory called Walwerth had lately been found in the time of King William near the Sea-coast and that it was fourteen foot long 10. Notwithstanding a little while after in the raign of King Henry the Second by the pious industry of certain devout persons King Arthurs Monument was at last found and the expectation of his return utterly vanished among the Welsh Nation The manner how it was found together with the description of it we have in severall of our Historians as Mathew Paris and Giraldus Cambrensis who affirms that the Abbot who found it shewd him the Crosse which lay over King Arthurs body the characters whereof he curiously read c. 11. But the most authentick account hereof we may receive from the Great Table of Glastonbury framed on purpose to continue the memory of the said Invention a copy whereof is preserved by B. Vsher in this tenour In this Island Avallonia or rather this Tomb of Saints at Glastonbury doe rest King Arthur the flower of the Kings of Brittany and Guenhavera his Queen who after their decease were honourably buried near the old Church between two stone-Pyramids heretofore nobly engraven And in the same place have their bodyes rested for many ages to wit six hundred twenty eight years till the time of Henry de Soili who after the burning of the said Church was Abbot of the same place The which said Abbot after many admonitions by severall persons commanded men to digg between the said Piramids to try whether they could find the Kings body but before they began to digg the place was all encompassed with cortains They digged therefore exceeding deep and at last found a very great Biere of wood altogether shutt which with their instruments they opened and within it discovered the Kings body and a certain Crosse of Lead of which one whole side was filled with this Inscription Here lyes buried the famous King Arthur in the Island Avallonia Then they opened the Tomb of the Queen and the hayr 's of her head were spread over her body and seemd as if she had been lately buried but assoon as they touched them they fell all
Arch-bishop of Bourdeaux and Metropolitan of that Citty who there accommodated him with a convenient habitation for serving God For the Holy Arch-bishop Leontius bore a most tender affection to him admiring and reverencing the Divine Graces which he observ'd in him whom he esteemd as sent from heaven to assist him in his Pastorall charge For which reason in all Visitations of his Diocese and Province he took him for his companion earnestly beseeching him to be his assistant by his wholesom counsells by his Prayers acceptable to God and by the examples of his holy Life 9. Moreover this Man of God although so disgracefully and uniustly exild was not unmindfull of his flock but forgetting all iniuries he dayly invok'd our Lords clemency for the conversion of that stubborn people The Divine Majesty aâ— last condescended to his Prayers and by an Angel acquainted him that his flock was now penitent and earnestly desir'd the return and favour of their Pastor and that it was Gods will that he should repair to them and restore to health that Region which was greivously afflicted with the scourges of Divine severity that he should restore plenty to the barren earth and bestow his benediction on the inhabitants And lastly having done this that he should again return to Xaintes where he was to be devested of his corruptible flesh that his soule might freely ascend to partake eternall felicity All these things the Holy Bishop perform'd according as God had commanded and when he came back from Brittany S. Leontius receiv'd him with greater ioy and express'd more respectfull Offices and kindnes to him then formerly 10. Shortly after this S. Mahutus or S. Maclovius dyed full of dayes and sanctity and was buried by Leontius in Aquitain And though the inhabitants of Aleth were deprived of the sacred Relicks of their prime Prelat whom they had treated so iniuriously yet the Name of Blessed Maclovius remains never to be blotted out which to this day both adorns and defends that Citty with his glorious protection and celestiall benefits Notwithstanding the Episcopall See does not now remain at Aleth but is remov'd to an Island two miles distant from thence anciently call'd Aaron where a Citty new built is in memory of their Holy Prelat and Patron call'd S. Malo Vrbs Macloviensis 11. To this large relation in the Gallican Martyrologe Iohn of Tinmouth adds That S. Mahutus with his seaven Disciples in devotion visited Rome where he redeemd many Infidell Captives and having instructed them in the true Faith baptis'd them Moreover that after forty years government having been iniustly and violently driven from his See at Aleth he cursed and excommunicated the people and then retired to an Island in Aquitain calld Agenis from whence he repair'd to Leontius a Bishop there Which relation contradicts the Gallican Martyrologe according to which S. Maclovius was so far from cursing his flock that he prayed dayly for it However the Centuriators of Magdeburg charitably remember only his cursing and not his prayers and most unskilfully write that he flourish'd under Leontius Bishop of the Saxons mistaking Saxonum for Santonum and that he curs'd the Brittains his own countreymen from whom he never receiv'd any iniury How long he liv'd appears not but his death is in our Martyrologe assign'd to the year of Grace five hundred sixty four XXX CHAP. 1.2 Of S. Brendan 3. Of S. Doc and S. Canic 1. SAint Brendan the spirituall Father and Instructour of S. Maclovius though by birth no Brittain is not be denied a place in this History Concerning whom we read in B. Vsher that he came out of Ireland to visit the Holy man S. Gildas Albanius in Brittany where he built a Monastery and a Church He was also Superiour in the Monastery of Lancarvan where he baptised S. Maclovius After that he returned into Ireland where he was Abbot of a Monastery call'd Birra and in the year of Grace five hundred seaventy one most happily ended his holy Life Of whose glory and Beatitude revealed to S. Columba the Authour of that Saints life call'd Adamannus thus writes where he introduces S. Columba thus discoursing with his Minister Diormitius Columba Goe and quickly provide all things necessary for celebrating the Holy Eucharist for this is the day of the blessed death of S. Brendanus Diormitius Why doe you command that we should prepare so solemnly for Masse to day since no Messenger from Ireland Scotia has yet brought tidings of the death of that Holy man Columba However goe and faile not to doe as I have commanded for this last night I saw heaven on a sudden opened and quires of Angels descending to meet S. Brendans soule by whose incomparable splendour the whole world was that houre enlightned 2. S. Brendan thus call'd to heaven enjoyd on earth also an eternall Monument of his name and Sanctity for in the Isles of Orkney a town and Church were built and were call'd from his Name The reason of which honour and devotion was because his Sacred body was thither translated The day of his death is celebrated in our Martyrologe on the sixteenth of May and his Translation on the fourteenth of Iune 3. We will here conclude with the Memory of a Holy Brittish Abbot call'd S. Doc who flourish'd in this Age. Of whom the Irish Annals thus write in the life of Saint Canic from whom the Province of Kilkenny took its appellation importing the Church of Canic When S. Canic was grown to an age capable of knowledge he was desirous of instruction and therefore pass'd over the Sea into Brittany to a Religious wise man naimed Doc and under him he studied diligently and was taught both learning and piety This S. Doc was one of the three Holy Brittains from whom the Irish learnd the form and Rites of celebrating Masse as hath already been shewd the other two were S. David and S. Gildas THE TWELTH BOOK OF THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY I. CHAPTER 1.2 c. Constentin succeeds King Arthur His Cruelly Pennance and undertaking a Religious life 1. IT seems the Brittains at the beginning had no such conceit of King Arthurs returning for surely they would have expepected awhile and not immediatly have filled his Throne with a succession of strange Princes The Bards had not yet contrived their fantasticall Stories which could find none in these times to hearken to them 2. Therefore after King Arthurs death Constantin according to his designation succeeded him in the Government of Brittany He was the Son of Cador Duke of Cornwall and kinsman to King Arthur His sufficiency to discharge that employment for the benefit of his countrey was enough approv'd by his glorious Predecessours choice But Almighty God having fix'd a period to the Brittish Monarchy permitted many factions to arise and many pretendants to the Principality the opposing of whom hindred Constantin from advancing the common proffit and safety of the Kingdom 3. Yea