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
among the stains and Errours of his writings they reckon these That he seems to maintain the libertie of mans will And that the law is possible for he sayes it is no impossible thing for men who have a good will to love God above themselves and their neighbours as themselves Yea moreover he denyes concupiscence to be sin Lastly in general they write that the doctrine of Iustification was delivered by the Doctours of this age too negligently and obscurely that is much otherwise than Luther delivered it 34. In the third Century they find yet more things to displease them The Doctours of this age say they for the greatest part admitt free will Thus Tertullian Origen Cyprian and Methodius Again the most sublime article of Iustification is for the most part obscured by Origen and Methodius And as for the doctrine touching Good works the Doctours of this age did yet more decline from the true Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles and Luther then those of the former For they invented and inculcated many voluntary observances Thus Tertullian doth immoderatly extoll chastity and continence Origen attributes to good workes that they are a preparation to salvation and consequently a cause And with the like errour was Cyprian misled who ascribes to good works that they are the Guardians of hope the stay of Faith and cause us to abide continually in Christ to live in God and to attain to heavenly promises and Rewards Then for Pennance the doctrine thereof hath been wonderfully depraved by the Writers of this age They impute remissions of sins to Contrition Cyprian expressely affirmes that sins are redeemed and washed away by penitentiall satisfaction Moreover the same Cyprian speakes dangerously not according to the Tradition of Christ and the Apostles concerning unction in Baptisme saying it is necessary that the person baptised should be annointed with Chrisme that thereby he may become the annointed of God and have the grace of Christ in him And concerning the Eucharist Cyprian does superstitiously faine that some vertue accrews thereto from the person administring it for he sayes the Eucharist sanctified on the altar And again The Priest doth execute the office of Christ and offers sacrifice to God the Father Which phrase of offring sacrifice is used also by Tertullian You may moreover say they observe in the writings of the Doctours of this age Origen and Cyprian not obscure signes of Invocation of Saints And lastly touching the Primacy of the Bishop of Rome Cyprian affirms expressely and without any foundation of holy scripture that the Roman Church ought to be acknowledged by all for the mother and root of the Catholick Church Likewise Origen sayes that Peter by vertue of Christs promise deserved to be made the foundation of the Church The foresaid Cyprian hath moreover on this subiect other dangerous opinions as where he tyes and limits the Pastorall office to ordinary succession And for bids inferiours to iudge Bishops and prelates of the Church 35. It is pitty to proceed any further in producing out of the following Centuries the sometimes sad but most often angry complaints acknowledgments made by these honest German Writers how generally their Patriark Luthers Doctrines have been preiudged and condemned by the fathers and Doctours of Gods Church and the Faith of the present Roman Church asserted The further they proceed in their collection a greater number of yet more Severe Iudges they discover till in short tyme they cannot find one to speake a good word for them And this like a conscionable Iury they attest In so much as one would be tempted almost to suspect that they had been secretly bribed by the Pope to publish their own condemnation 36. These things considered I cannot fore see any probabilitie of a Debate likely to ensue touching this Historie I mean for asmuch as concerns the doctrinall part of it nor any considerable arguments to proove against the result of it that the points of Catholick faith have not been taught through all the ages comprised within its limits And as for the ages following that is since the Conquest by the Normans it is out of all dispute that our forefathers have been Romans in a deeper degree perhaps then wee their children are now 37. But I must acknowledge I am not secure against quarrels for as much as concerns the Christian practises of pietie and vertue commended in the Saints whose Gests are heere related and the reason is because our modern sectaries have a quite different notion of vertue and pietie from that which Catholicks from the beginning to this age have entertained Therefore such Readers missing in this booke storyes of Exploits performed in old tymes such as they magnifie in their primitive red-lettred saints of their new fashioned Calendars and finding practises here exalted for vertues which with their good-will they would renounce in their Baptisme as works and pompes of Sathan I shall not want adversaries good store of all ages and sexes 38. For I confesse that among the hundreds of Saints commemorated in this book of whom not a few are acknowledged for Saints even by the Protestants and which is more for Workers of stupendious Miracles not one can be found of their new Mode Not one can be found magnified as Inventours of new Doctrines opposite to the Common faith of the Church Not one who to spread abroad such Doctrines armed subiects against their Princes demolished altars burnt Churches violated Holy Virgins or invaded the possessions of God Not one who thought his Christian libertie could iustifie sacrilegious lusts in breaking vowes of Chastity and soliciting others to doe the like Here we shall not read of somuch as one Good-wife of the citty or country not one chamber-maid Prentice or Groome disputing with Doctours and Bishops and confuting all the Fathers and Councils of Gods Church c. So that if for want of such qualifications as these all our antient Holy Bishops Martyrs Doctours and Virgins must be unsainted there remains for us no remedie but the old uncomfortable one Patience 39. Yet perhaps this defect or want of heroicall perfections will not so confidently at least in publick be obiected against our Worthies as the vertues for which we commend them A continuall macerating of the flesh with abstinences fastings Watchings Haire-cloathes lying on the cold hard ground and the like these austerities our moderne spiritualists will mock at as uselesse us voluntary self-afflictions concerning which they assure God wil say Who hath required these things at your hands And they will be yet more angry and doe hope that God will be so too against consecrating ones self to perpetuall Virginity or continence in Mariage against secluding ones selfe from all conversation with the world against almost all use of the tongue except speaking to God against an entire submission of the will to the Direction of another and specially against renouncing riches honours Pleasures c. 40. But such
ancient Ecclesiasticall Monuments a wife of another name assign'd to him namely Priscilla Notwithstanding this being the name of Pudens his Mother it is not unprobable that Claudia in succeeding times might for her husbands sake assume his Mothers name However matters in this point stood it can not be denyed that our Countrey has a great Obligation to a late Noble and Learned Writer Francis Moncaeus Lord of a Signory call'd the Cold Valley who has published a Discourse full of ancient literature entitled Ecclesiae Christianae veteris Britannicae incunabula Regia in which he confidently pretends out of Antiquity to demonstrate this our Claudia Ruffina to have descended from the Royall blood of Brittany and to have been the Wife and Mother of Saints far more glorious And moreover this one proof hereto may be added that our Ancient Histories report that Timotheus the eldest son of Pudens came into Brittany where he converâ—ted very many to the Faith and at least disposed King Lucius to his succeeding Conversion Now it is very likely that it was out of regard to his Mother a Brittish Lady that this Apostolicall Saint made so particular a choice of Brittany to be the Province in which he desired to exercise his Christian zeale and charity 10. It only remains to be spoken of this Claudia Ruffina what we find in the Martyrologe of England upon the seaventh of August where we read these words A Commemoration of S. Claudia 11. It is an ambition scarce excusable upon groundlesse suspicions to lay claim to Saints and Patrons as some modern writers would entitle the Wife of Plautius who in Claudius his time as hath been sayd triumphed for Victories over Brittany to an Apostolicall office of converting many in this Island when she was here with her Husband Her name was Pomponia Graecina and according to Tacitus his relation â—he was accused of a strange Religion externae Superstitionis forbidden by the Roman Laws the cognizance of which pretended crime was by the Senat permitted to her husband who according to an ancient Institut in force at Rome in the presence of her kindred sate as Iudge of the fame and life of his Lady and in conclusion pronounced her innocent This Account given of her by Tacitus has induced learned Writers to beleive that this extern Superstition layd to Pomponia Graecina's Charge was no other then the Profession of the Christian Faith the fruits of which in her practise being perfect humility obedience chastity and all other celestiall vertues it is no wonder that her husband should so easily absolve her But that she should be a companion of Plautius when he was sent General into Brittany was against the Roman Laws and Custome as the same Tacitus elsewhere declares Probable it is that staying at Rome in regard of her husbands authority in Brittany she might be visited by Claudia Ruffina and other new converted Brittains and by such means be made partaker of Evangelicall light and become a Disciple of S. Peter 12. But a more unquestionable Disciple of S. Peter we find in ancient Ecclesiasticall Monuments by birth a Brittain by name Mansuetus and by office an Apostolicall converter and Patron to the Citty of Toul in Lorrain being the Metropolis of a people called Leuci. Concerning whom Isengrenius as likewise Arnoldus Mirmannus out of old Records gives this Testimony that he was by Nation a Scot born of a Noble family a Disciple of Simon Bariona that is S. Peter Cheif of the Apostles companion of S. Clement Bishop of Metz and consecrated by S. Peter the first Bishop of Toul a Citty of the Leuci in the forty ninth yeare of Christ and in the raign of Tiberius Claudius Caesar. 13. Now wheras he is called a Scot this is to be understood as King Lucius in Ancient Records is called a King of England that is of that Countrey which was afterward call'd England For as Mr. Cambden well observes after most diligent disquisition the name of Scots is not to be found in any Ancient Writer till the Age of Constantin the Great about which time they are supposed to have settled themselves in the Northern parts of Brittany So that it may confidently be affirmed that S. Mansuetus was a Northern Caledonian Brittain who either in the company of Adminius a Brittish Prince or Bericus a Noble man of the same Countrey or as an Attendant of Caractacus went to Rome where he was converted by S. Peter and as hath been sayd design'd by him the Apostolicall Bishop of Toul probably at the request of some Proselytes of that Countrey 14. A yet more authentick Testimony both of the life and death of this Holy Bishop is extant in the ancient Gallican Martyrologe on the third of September where we read this passage At Toul a Citty of the Leuci there is on this day a commemoration of S. Mansuetus a Bishop who was of Noble birth by Originall a Scot and one of the first Disciples of S. Peter by whom being baptized he devested himself of his former Heathenish name and assumed the Title of Mansuetus or Meek from the Meeknes of the Lamb of God which he imitated He by the same S. Peter was sent to enlighten this Citty with Evangelicall verities At his first entrance whereinto he found it so wholly given up to abominable Idolatry that his preaching and exhortations would have produced little fruit had not Divine power promoted his endeaâ—vours by a wonderfull Miracle by whose assistance this Preacher of salvation restored to life and health a son of the Governour of this Citty who from a high Tower beholding certain horse-troops exercising themselves fell down to the ground all bruised and torn Vpon occasion of this Miracle the Governour with his whole family and a great number of the Cittizens joyn'd themselves to the flock of Christ and were signed with the saving Character of Baptisme After which the word of God had a free course and great multitudes not only of the Inhabitants of this Citty but also of the Countrey adioyning were established in the knowledge of salvation Thus S. Mansuetus enioying a firm peace erected and consecrated a Church to the Holy Trinity under the Patronage of S. Steven the first Martyr He likewise ordained here Ecclesiasticall Ministers and having instructed the people generally in the knowledge and practise of all manner of Piety in the fortieth yeare after he had begun the exercise of his Apostolicall Office he quietly closed his eyes in the sleep of death and so attained to the fruition of eternall rewards with Christ whom he always only thirsted after 15. A third holy Brittish Disciple though not Convert of S. Peter's Antiquity records to wit one both in Title and reality Beatus or Blessed Of this Saint mention is made by severall Writers some of them averse from Catholick Religion Yet none of them speak of him without admiration The summe of his Acts recorded by them is
Martyrologe on the twenty fourth of March as likewise an Epistle written by the Holy Pope Pius to Iustus Bishop of Vienna in France 3. The Copy of which Epistle is as followeth Pius Bishop of Rome to his Brother Iustus Bishop Before thou didst depart from Rome our Sister Euprepia if thou doest well remember assign'd the Title of her house for maintaining the poore where we abiding with our poore brethren doe celebrate Masses Now we are desirous to be informed concerning thy affairs most happy Brother since thou tookst thy iourney to that Senatoriall Citty of Vienna as likewise with what successe thou hast spread abroad the seed of the Gospell Those Priests which had their first education from the Apostles and have continued to our dayes with whom also we divided the care of preaching the word of Faith having been call'd by our Lord doe now repose in their eternall mansions Saint Timotheus and Marcus have ended their dayes by a happy conflict Take care dear Brother that thou follow them by imitating their zeale and freeing thy selfe from the chains of this world Make hast to obtain with the Holy Apostles the everlasting palm of victory that palm which S. Paul attain'd by a world of suffring and S. Peter also from whom the Crosse it selfe could not take the love of Christ. Soter and Eleutherius worthy Priests salute thee Salute the Brethren who live with thee in our Lord. Cherinthus Satans prime Minister seduces many from the Faith May the Grace of Christ dwell for ever in thy heart 4. In this Epistle we see what a generall care this holy Bishop expresses and how his solicitude for the salvation of soules is not confin'd to Rome or Italy only As likewise how he professes that he divided the care of propagating the Gospell to Priests subordinate to him So that it cannot be doubted but that S. Timotheus his employment in our Lords Vineyard in Brittany proceeded from his care and was accompanied with his benediction A further proof whereof is afforded us in another letter of his to the same Iustus Bishop of Vienna which we here set down 5. Pius Bishop of Rome to his Brother Iustus Bishop health Attalus is arrived here bringing with him the Epistles of the Martyrs there whereby he has fill'd our hearts with inestimable ioy for their triumphs He acquainted uâ— that our holy Collegue Verus has victoriously triumphed also over the Prince of this world and that thou art seated in his place in the Senatoriall Citty of Vienna being cloathed with Episcopall Vestments Be carefull therefore faithfully to discharge in our Lord the Ministery which thou hast received Let not thy diligence be wanting decently and reverently to bury the bodies of the Martyrs as the members of Christ for the Apostles treated S. Steven Visit the prisons of the Saints and take care that none of them loose the fervour of their Faith Approve holy Martyrdoms by the light of the Holy Spirit in thee Encourage and encite them to continue constant in the Faith Let the Priests and Deacons observe thee not as a Master but as a Minister of Christ. Let thy piety and holines be a protection to the whole congregation under thee Our brethren whose names Attalus will acquaint thee with are freed from the Tyrants cruelty and now rest in our Lord. Pastor the Preist hath built a Title or Church and is happily dead in our Lord. Know O most blessed Brother that it has been revealed to me that the end of my life approaches shortly One thing I earnestly begg of thee that in the holy Communion thou wilt not be unmindfull of me This poor Senat of Christ at Rome salutes thee I salute the whole assembly of Brethren with thee in our Lord. 6. That which this holy Pope mentions of his approaching death was by the event prov'd to have been a Divine revelation for the year following he was crown'd with Martyrdom after he had sate ten years And Anicetus a Syrian succeeded him 7. As touching that advice concerning the Bodies of Martyrs severall examples of those Primitive times demonstrate that what he there advises was no superstitious invention of his own as our Modern Separatists doe call it but a duty received from the Apostles Such reverence did the Church of Smyrna expresse to the Relicks of S. Polycarpus who was martyrd two years after S. Pius as appears in their Epistle relating the circumstances of his blessed death The malicious Iews would have perswaded the Roman President to have refused the holy Martyrs body to the Christians of Smyrna least sayd they they should forsake their crucifica God and worship Polycarpus for a God for these miscreants could not distinguish a sacred Veneration due to holy Relicks from that Supreme adoration which belongs only to God But those holy Primitive Christians were better instructed for thus they write We say they have reposed the bones of Polycarpus more valuable to us then precious stones and purer then gold in such a place as is decent and becoming Where being all of us assembled God will give us the grace to celebrate with all possible joy and exaltation the day of his Martyrdom as being indeed the day of his more happy Nativity XVI CHAP. 1. Commotions in Brittany pacified by Calphurnius Agricola 2.3 Long and dangerous war in Germany A victory miraculously obtain'd by the Prayers of Christians 4. Successions of Popes Touching King Lucius 1. IN the eighth yeare of the raign of M. Aurelius and L. Verus the Northern part of the Empire especially in Germany and Brittany was cruelly agitated with tempests of seditions and wars In Brittany the Northern Province of the Ottadini about Berwick broke out into open rebellion for reducing of whom Calphurnius Agricola was sent into the Island upon whose approach the rebels quickly submitted And all that remains besides to keep alive his Memory is an Inscription upon a Pillar rais'd by A. Licinius wherein Calphurnius Agricola's name is engraved Which Pillar is dedicated to the Syrian Goddesse Dea Syria worship'd it seems by the Romans in that place Concerning which Goddesse the reader may consult our learned Mr. Selden in his Treatise of that argument 2. But the German war was more lasting and doubtfull which not belonging to our present design the relation of it must be sought for in the Roman Historians of this age Yet one circumstance in it conducing much to the glory of Christian Religion must not be omitted Which was the saving of the Emperour and the whole Roman Army not only from a certain destruction by the German Nations the Marcomanni Catti c. by whom they were inclosed but from a more irresistible enemy extremity of thirst All this obtain'd by the Prayers of Christian souldiers not only interrupted all persecution of them but obliged the Emperour by his publick Letters sent into all Provinces to professe his gratitude for so eminent a
perspicuous 5. And concerning Amphibalus some Writers doe not without some reason doubt whether Amphibalus the Teacher of the Caledonians be the same with him who taught S. Albanus Because both the regard of time and quality of their persons seem to pronounce them to be severall He who taught the Caledonians is in ancient Writings said to have been forty years before a Bishop of the Prime See in the North under King Crathlintus wheras this Amphibalus the Converter of S. Albanus to the Faith is by our Historians simply call'd a Clark some times a Preist or a Monk for so we read in the Annalls of Winchester S. Amphibalus a Monk and Doctour in the Church of Caermardin otherwise call'd the Citty of Melin in wales 6. But as touching the time it does not necessarily proove his age to have been so excessively long but that he might have lived to this time and those who describe his Martyrdom affirm him to have been very old 7. Again considering his Titles it is well known that the name of Sacerdos Preist and Bishop were in those ancient dayes used promiscuously And moreover Amphibalus having had his Mission from the Bishop of Rome to preach the Gospell in Brittany no doubt was qualified for Episcopall functions Then whereas he is stiled a Monk it was the usuall practise among those Primitive Apostolicall Missioners to spend much of their time in solitary retirements to exercise prayer and Mortification And Cairmardin being not far distant from Caïr Leon the place of S. Amphibalus his Nativity might probably be chosen by him for such a retreit 8. But it will be more difficult to determin the place from whence he last came into the Southern parts of Brittany for if we beleive the Scottish Historians we must say that he came from the Caledonians though indeed they declare that their Amphibalus dyed quietly without any violence or persecution Whereas our writers professe that he came from the Western provinces of the Silure or Dimetae now South Wales But according to the more Authentick Narration of S. Albanus his life he seems to have come into Brittany from Rome and through France for he is sayd to have pass'd through regions of Heathens or such as professed the Pagan Idolatry of the Romans 9. Next for as much as concerns S. Albanus in our English Martyrologe he is stiled the Cheif Procuratour Oeconomus of Brittany from whence we may collect that he was the Emperours Quaestor or Treasurer to gather his rents and Tributs For such Officers were usually sent into the Provinces which were not Consular And these Procurators were some times Gentlemen of Rome of which rank S. Albanus his family seems to have been Some times likewise they were the Emperours liberti or freed servants as Dio informs as 10. Having premis'd these remarks touching the two holy Martyrs we now proceed to the Narration of their Gests according to the ancient authentick relation preserv'd by Capgrave X. CHAP. 1.2 c. The Ancient authentick Acts of S. Albanus his wonderfull Conversion by S. Amphibalus c. 1. THis then is the tenour of the Acts of the holy Proto-martyr of Brittany Saint Albanus thus they begin when the persecution under the Emperour Diocletian moved against Christians began to rage through the whole Empire a certain man named Amphibalus illustrious for his vertues and learning having pass'd the Sea into Brittany came through the divine conduct to Verolam And having entred the Citty he resorted to the house of Albanus desiring to be entertain'd as a stranger Now this Albanus was a Cittizen of Verolam eminent for his quality being descended from an illustrious Roman family He received the holy man with great kindnes and liberality And having withdrawn him from the noise of the servants into a privat room he ask'd him secretly How could you being a Christian passe without danger through the regions inhabited by Gentiles and arrive safely 〈◊〉 his Citty 2. This question was seasonably indeed made considering the subtile means employed by Diocletian for the discovery of Christians for as we read in the Acts of Martyrs cited by Baronius it was not permitted to any one either to buy or sell till he had offred incense to certain little Idols sett up in the Markets And moreover about all streets passages and fountains were placed Officers with order to compell all that would draw water or have their corn ground to sacrifice first to such Idols To this question therfore S. Amphibalus thus answered 3. My Lord Iesus Christ the son of the living God sayd he preserv'd mee safe among all dangers and sent mee into this Province for the salvation of many to the end that by preachin◠his holy Faith I may prepare a people acceptable to him But who is this Son of God replied Albanus Can God be said to be born These are strange speeches such as I never heard before I desire therfore to be inform'd what opinion you Christians have of these matters Then the Holy man answered thus Our Faith teaches us to acknowledge the Father to be God and the Son likewise to be God Which Son of God in infinite mercy vouchsafed to take our flesh upon him for the salvation of mankind that he might redeem us by suffring death And discoursing at large of the Birth Passion Resurrection and Ascension of Christ he added If you O Albanus will beleive these things to be true you will receive power by calling on the name of Christ to restore to health any infirm sick persons And the truth is I an come into this Citty on purpose to preach to you the healthfull Doctrin of our Lords Passion because our mercifull God will reward your kind offices of humanity and hospitality to which you frequently addict your selfe with the inestimable recompence of eternall happines Then Albanus ask'd him What honour and worship must I exhibite to Christ in case I embrace his Faith The other answered Beleive this that our Lord Iesus together with the Father and the Holy Ghost is one God and thou wilt have perform'd a work of high esteem in his sight But Albanus sayd what is all this Sure thou art mad thou knowst not what thou sayst No human understanding or reason can comprehend these things But be sure of this that if the inhabitants here of this Citty came to know that thou makest such discourses of Christ without delay they would put thee to a cruell death For mine own part I am very solicitous in thy behalf for fear some mischeif befall thee before thou departest from hence Having said this be arose and went his way much disturbed As for Amphibalus he spent the whole night alone in watching and prayer 4. The same night whilst Albanus was sleeping on the topp of the house wonderfull visions from heaven were presented to him With which being much affrighted he rose presently from his bed and went down to the lower
them used all manner of despight to them and endeavoured either to hide or consume them with fire and cast the ashes before the wind 2. Thus in the Acts of S. Sebastian who suffred the same or next year to S. Albanus we read That they tooke the Body of Sebastian by night and cast it into a common sink saying Least perhaps the Christians make him their Martyr And again three years after we find in the Authentick Acts of S. Tharacus this passage The President sayd to him Doe not think thou shalt be dispatch'd at once I will make an end of thee by peece meale and the remainders of they carkeise shall be devoured by beasts Tharacus answered him what thou hast a mind to doe doe quickly doe not delay mee by promises The President said Thou thinkest villain that after thy death silly women shall have thy body and embalme it with unguents and spices c. And afterward The President said Doest thou not think that I will thus destroy thee and thy relicks least foolish women should enwrapp it in clean linnen and honour it with unguents and odours And concerning the Martyr Andronicus The President said Consume him to ashes and disperse them before the wind least some of his impious Consorts or foolish woemen should gather up any of them and preserve them as if they were some precious holy thing 3. Now how acceptable to God this devout reverence of Christians to the Relicks of Martyrs was was often declared by the miraculous ways which God shewed in discovering the said holy Relicks when they were either conceal'd or their members mix'd and confounded with those of impious malefactours putt to death with them Thus we read in the said Acts of S. Tharacus S. Andronicus and another Christian martyr'd with them how when some devout Christians adventured to search them out by night three bright torches like starrs appeard over their bodies and afterward went before them conducting them to the other side of the Mountain where they secretly buried them 4. This practise was so generall among the Primitive Christians that the Manicheans only were observed to be contemners of it as if there were in it some Idolatrous Superstition But their folly and profanenesse is excellently confuted by S. Augustin who distinguishes the Veneration due to Saints and their holy Relicks which he calls Dulian from the Supreme degree of adoration due only to God which he terms Latrian 5. Now that such reverence was express'd to the Body of S. Alban is not to be doubted Which that it may appeare a passage in our ancient Brittish Historian Gildas will sufficiently confirm it Who after he had treated of the Martyrdome of this Holy Martyr as we declared before consequently shews the great change in Brittany nine years after this tempest rais'd by Diocletian His words are as followeth 6. The space of two lustres that is ten years after the foresaid storm being not entirely fullfilld when the violence of those bloody Edicts against Christians abated all the devout Soldiers of Christ with ioyfull eyes beheld and received the lightsomnesse and temper following so tedious a winters night Then they began to restore Churches formerly demolishd they founded new sacred Temples consecrated to the honour of Holy Martyrs these they erect accomplish and adorn celebrating publick Festivities and Sacrifices with pure hearts and mouthes as manifest signs and tropheys after their victory 7. This happy change hapned when the Tyrants Carausius and Allectus were vanquished and expell'd by Constantius who in the year of Grace two hundred ninety two being created Caesar received the government and administration of Brittany By which calculation of Gildas evidently appears that S. Albanus suffred Martyrdom in the beginning of Diocletians raign nine years before Constantius the second time governed Brittany 8 Likewise by this Testimony of Gildas is reproved the assertion of Protestant writers who attribute to S. Gregory the Great the bringing into Brittany the custome of dedicating Churches to the honour of Martyrs in the time of the Saxons Wheras besides this authority of Gildas the said assertion is manifestly confuted by the story of S. Germanus of Auxerre and S. Lupus of Troyes French Bishops who came into Brittany before the entrance of the Saxons to root out thence the Pelagian Heresy For thus we read in the Galliean Martyrologe The Memory of S. Albanus shined gloriously in Brittany to whose honour a famous Church was erected in the place whereby shedding his blood he had triumphed The which Church was by S. Germanus visited with great devotion to the end he might there pay his thanks to God for his victory against the Pelagian Hereticks There opening the holy Martyrs Sepulcher to honour him he repos'd in it severall Relicks of Apostles and Martyrs which he had brought out of France And because he would not depart thence without the protection of the Holy Martyr from the place where the Martyrs blood had been shed he took a lump of earth which at his return he caried to his own See And from this action of S. Germanus the Veneration of S. Albanus the Brittain was spread through allmost all the Churches of France being consign'd in all the Ecclesiastical Tables of most Episcopall Churches there particularly of Bourges Sens Orleans Austun S. Malo Constantia c. The same story concerning S. Germanus is related likewise by S. Beda 9. Hence may be argued the mistake in the supplement to the French Martyrologe where it is sayd that Otho the second Emperour of that name translated to Colen the Body of S. Albanus which S. Germanus had brought out of Brittany into France For certain is is that not his body but only a portion of earth dyed with the Holy Martyrs blood was transferd by Saint Germanus as S. Beda expressly affirms and as the following Annalls of Brittany confirm where we read how Off a King of the Mercians translated the sacred Body and built over his Monument a most magnificent Church 10. It is here to be observed that S. Albanus is venerated at Ments in Germany under the name of S. Albinus The occasion wherof was this Theophania wife to the Emperour Otho the second having obtained at Rome a portion of the Relicks of S. Albanus caried them with her into Germany intending to place them at Colen in the Monastery of S. Pantaleon In her way she passed through Mentz in which Citty was celebrated with great devotion the Memory of another S. Albanus a Martyr also Hereupon Wiltegecus Bishop of Mentz deeply apprehending least the Memory of our Brittish Albanus should obscure the glory of their Speciall Patron Albanus by reason of agreement in name together with the Imperiall Authority which probably would promote his veneration made it his most humble and earnest suit unto the Empresse that our Brittish Saint should afterward in those countreys be call'd Albinus for distinctions sake which humble request by the
or regard of age or affinity mercilesly without any resistance putt to the sword all their thousand countreymen for the Faith of Christ neighbours murdring neighbours freinds freinds and kinsmen kinsmen As for the holy man Amphibalus who was reserved to a more cruell death being compass'd aboue with the livelesse bodies of these holy Martyrs he with ioy commended their happy soules to God 9. As touching the place where so cruell and inhuman a butchery was made it is not agreed by Historians some affirm it to have been among the Silures in the Province of Monmouth and hereto the Authour of Amphibalus his life seems to accord but others more probably say that these holy Martyrs suffred among the Cornavij in Warwick shire where their persecutours overtook them in their way towards Wales at Lichfeild which Citty seems to have taken its name from this slaughter of so many Martyrs for as Iohn Rosse of warwick interprets the word it signifies the feild of dead bodies which are also to this day the Arms of the Citty XVII CHAP. 1.2 S. Amphibalus lead prisoner towards Verolam in the way miraculously cures a sick person 3. He is barbarously tormented his gutts wrapp'd about a stake 4. During his torments he enveighs against Idolatry 5. His Executioner is converted 6. A voyce from heaven testifies S. Amphibalus his Sanctity He dyes and his Body is privatly buried 1. AFter the offring made of so many immaculate Victimes to God S. Amphibalus saith Mathew of westminster became the sole object against whom these bloody Executioners powrd forth all their rage for binding his arms with sharp and streit cords they so drove him with naked feet before their horses toward the Citty of Verolam who the nearer he approached to his beloved Disciple S. Albanus the lesse was he sensible of the roughnes of the wayes and toyle of the iourney Moreover in the way Amphibalus fast bound as he was had yet the vertue to unloose a sick person from the bonds of his infirmity 2. This miracle is thus related in the life of S. Amphibalus In the way as they pass'd a certain infirm person began to crye out O servant of the High God help mee that by thy intercession I may be freed from this my greivous infirmity for I beleive that by calling on the name of Christ over mee thou maist speedily restore my health Whereupon immediatly in the sight of them all the sick person arose chearfull and perfectly recoered This miracle finds credit generally among all except Iohn Foxe who says there was no cause which might move almighty God to shew his power As if there were neither infidells to be converted nor beleivers to be confirm'd nor such malicious Sectaries as himself to be preiudged 3. But to proceed in the suffrings of this glorious Martyr as they are related in his Acts to have been inflicted on him at the end of his long iourney when he was entred into the confines belonging to the Citty of Verolam There the foresaid Inhabitants of Verolam barbarously stripp'd him of his garments and fastning a stake into the ground they with a sword ripp'd up his belly and tying the end of his gutts about the stake with cruell whipping thy forced him to walk about it so inwrapping it with his bowells And not content thus they with knives and lances tore the rest of his body as if he had been a mark sett on purpose to exercise their weapons upon All this while the man of God stood with a cheerfull countenance as if he had suffred nothing being every moment more constant though there was not left any part of his body in which there were not imprinted marks of his Martyrdom insomuch as it seemd a prodigious thing that after so many tortures and sorts of death he could have any life remaining in him 4. The same moment diverse who were there present and saw the constancy of the holy Martyr renounced their Idolls and submitted themselves to the Faith of Christ beseeching the Blessed man to pray to God for them that they might partake eternall Happines for the obtaining of which they were ready to lay down their lives Which when it was known the Cheif Magistrate calling the Officers gave them command to kill all those who had cast off the worship and reverence of Heathen Gods and embraced the Doctrine of the Christian Preacher Immediatly they executed this horrible Edict and putt to death a thousand persons whilst Blessed Amphibalus look'd on and commended their soules to our Lord. 5. Then one of the by-standers ruder then the rest thus spake to the man of God O pâ—ttilesse wretch way hast thou deceived these simple people with thy frudulent speeches withdrawing them from the worship of the Gods By thy cunning perswasions we have utterly lost our parents and freinds Notwithstanding though hereby thou hast above measure incensed both Gods and men yet even now at last by thy repentance thou maist recover their pardon and favour And this will be a proof and sign of thy repentance if thou wilt renounce the impious Sect which hitherto thou hast followed and begin to adore the omnipotent Gods which perhaps out of ignorance thou hast offended If thou wilt doe this then the same all-powerfull Gods will restore again to life those whom thou hast murdred 6. To whom the Holy man thus answered O Infidell whilst thou endeavourest with thy false praises to exâ—â—ll thy Gods be assured that thou hast offended the true God by thy speeches For it is Iesus Christ my Lord who alone has the power to raise and give life to the dead As for those whom yee worship as Gods and think them to be powerfull in heaven they doe now suffer most horrible torments in hell And partakers in the fellowship of those torments shall be all injust persons adulterers slanderers and such as by their reprobate actions whilst they liv'd here rendred themselves like to Devills And for thy part O Pagan and all who like thee worship Idolls except you quickly renounce your heathenish Superstition and convert your selves to the Faith of Christ you shall all incurr the same punishments in hell Doe not despair for the mercy of God is great Breake off your evill wayes and make hast to be partakers of the Grace of Baptism By Baptism all sins are forgiven Heaven is opened to men who therby become as it were new creatures having devested themselves of their old wicked inclinations For those who before Baptism by their sinns were Children of the Devill become afterward Sons of God Run therfore for refuge to this Grace that you may escape everlasting torments 7. When the impious Pagans heard these speeches they were kindled with rage and with all their forces laboured to deprive him of life But the holy Martyr though he was on all sides bruised with a great multitude of stones which were thrown at him yet he remain'd immoveable in prayer
fled to Fincomark King of Scotland who refused to yeild him up at the request of Traërnus on the contrary in his quarrell he rais'd an army fought and vanquish'd Traërnus in the Province of Westmerland which say they since Carausius his times belonged to Scotland All which story seems an invention on purpose to illustrate the name of Scotland and its pretended Kings of which no mention as yet can be found in any approved Authours 7. At this time Constantin made his abode in Gaule afterward called France where he was much distracted and disquietted and more by the factions of Schismaticks among Christians then any commotions of confining barbarous Nations Vpon which occasion he was compell'd to command a Generall Assembly or Synod of the Western Empire to meet at Arles for composing the seditions rais'd by the Donatists To which Synod since the Brittish Bishops were by name call'd it is requisite we should make some stay to declare the proceedings of it IX CHAP. 1.2 c. Schism of the Donatists and its occasion 3. c The Donatists after severall condemnations still appeale 1. THE Enemy of Truth and Peace having lost the advantage of opposing Christian Religion by the violence and rage of his instruments the Heathen persecuting Emperours did not for all that cease from his malice which was heightned by Envy against it but rather executed another way with more successe by suggesting matter of seditions and divisions among Christians themselves The first publick infamous Scene of which scandalls was Carthage in Africk And the occasion was this 2. Caecilianus Archdeacon to Mensurius Bishop of Carthage had reprehended a Spanish woman call'd Lucilla then living in that Citty because before receiving the holy Sacrament she had with veneration kiss'd the head of a certain person esteem'd by her a Martyr yet not acknowledged for such by the Bishop Lucilla being a woman of great power and wealth upon this reprehension conceived an implacable rage and fury against Cacilianus earnestly expecting all occasions of revenge 3. This was afforded her not long after in the year of Christ three hundred and six when upon the death of Mensurius Caecilianus was chosen Bishop of that Citty For he requiring a restitution of certain vessells of silver and gold belonging to his Church which in the late time of persecution had by his Predecessour been recommended to the fidelity of certain Elders of that Citty they to avoy'â— the necessity of restoring them ioyn'd themselves to the faction of Botrus and Celesius who had ambitiously sought after the same Bishoprick and were rejected the resentment of which repulse incited them to question the Election of Caecilianus Lucilla earnestly ioynd herself to this faction of unjust discontented persons who publickly withdrew themselves from the Communion of their Bishop by which means there was rais'd in Africk a most horrible and irreconcileable Schism the flame wherof could not for many ages be extinguish'd 4. These factious persons to strengthen their party invited to Carthage a number of African Bishops who formerly in a publick Councill at Cirtha had been convicted Traditores that is such as for feare of persecution had deliver'd up to Heathen Magistrats the Holy Vessels and Books belonging to the Church among whom the principall was Secundus Bishop of Tâ—gisis and Primat of Numidia These Bishops seaventeen in number kept their Assemblies at Carthage separated from Caecilianus in opposition to whom they presumed sacrilegiously to ordain another counterfeit Bishop of Carthage calld Maiorinus one who had been Lector to Caecilianus when he was Archdeacon and was now a Domestick of Lucilla 5. Moreover to iustify their Schism these Bishops who were most manifest Traditors themselves alledged that Caecilianus his Ordination was illegall because he had received imposition of hands from Felix Bishop of Aptungis and others whom they falsly accused of their own crime They likewise wrongfully charged Caecilianus that he had forbidden necessary provision to be administred to certain Martyrs in prison during the last persecution All which calumnies they by letters spread through the whole countrey of Africa Caecilianus in the mean time being acknowledged lawfull Bishop by Marcellus Bishop of Rome and all other Bishops through the Catholick Church before whom he confidently offred himselfe to a legall tryall This relation is given by S. Optatus and Saint Augustin 6. Now though this Schism was cheifly forged by Botrus and Celesius together with the foremention'd Elders and Lucilla and encreased by Secundus and other Traditors Bishops yet it first took its name Title from Donatus Bishop of a place call'd Casae nigrae or Black Cottages in Numidia who first at the instigation of Lucilla withdrew himself from the communion of Caecilianus whilst he was Deacon But the Donatists being ashamed to take their appellation from one who had been condemn'd by Pope Melchiades chose rather to call themselves Donatists from another Donatus who succeeded Majorinus in the Schism and whom they esteem'd a person of great eminence both for learning and Sanctity 7. This unhappy Schism received such strength in a short space that within three years ioyning themselves with Traditors Bishops and drawing into their sacrilegious Communion all the Numidians they assembled a Councill of no fewer then two hundred and seaventy Bishops which continuing together seaventy five dayes and repeating all their former Constitutions made a Decree that all those who were guilty of the horrible crime of Tradition if they refused to be rebaptised should notwithstanding be admitted into Communion as if they were innocent 8. When Constantin had overcome Maxentius the Donatists obtain'd of Anulinus Governour of Africk to send his letters full of calumnious accusations against Caecilianus unto the Emperour who was then in Gaule and some of the same Schismaticall Bishops made a voyage to him earnestly requesting him to appoint Iudges of their cause The Emperour himself saith Optatus with great indignation answered theÌ„ You require a secular iudgment from mee who my self expect the iudgment of Christ. Yet with extreme importunity they at last wrested from him for their Iudges Maternus Bishop of Colonia Agrippina Rheticius Bishop of Austun Marius of Arles 9. But presently after this Constantin conâ—idering of what weight and necessity the authority of the Roman Bishop was in such a cause he commanded the Donatists Bishops together with Caecilianus and as many other of his Communion to attend these three Iudges at Rome to debate and conclude the cause before the holy Pope Melchiades in a Roman Synod To whom likewise the pious Emperour wrote a letter in which he tells the Pope that he thought fitt to send these contending Bishops before him to the end they might receive iudgment from him and the other Iudges as you know saith he the most holy law of God requires 10. A Synod therfore being assembled at Rome the result therof after a diligent examination of the parties and witnesses was a
One William Basing likewise is sayd to have built a Church consecrated to S. Helena at London XVII CHAP. 1.2 Constantins zeale against Paganism and Heresy 3. c. He is seduced by his Sister to favour Arius c. but repents 5.6 He adorns his New Citty Constantinople 7.8 Miracles by the Holy Crosse. 9. Other acts of Constantins piety 1. AFter S. Helena's death Constantin returned into the East where he express'd his zeale against Pagan Idolatry For Eunapius a Pagan writer complains Through the whole world the most celebrated Temples were overthrown by Constantin He made severe Lawes against Heathenish Sacrifices mention'd in Theodosius his Code 2. Neither was he wanting to establish the Churches Peace and Vnity by publishing rigorous Edicts against Hereticks Novatians Valentinians Marcionists Paulians Montanists c. forbidding all Assemblies among them both publick and private and withall exhorting them to return to the Communion of the Catholick Church that so they might be rendred partakers of its Sanctity and so attain to Truth Thus writes Eusebius adding that hereupon many of them did acknowledge their errours and at last joyn'd themselfves to the Churches Communion 3. Notwithstanding being seduced by the Craft of Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia the Pillar of the Arian faction he began a persecution against S. Athanasius then Bishop of Alexandria This Eusebius had cunningly insinuated himself into the affections of Constantiae the Emperours Sister by whom at her death he was recommended to Constantin in whose mind a scruple likewise was injected by certain speeches of hers threatning a severe punishment to him after death for his severity against so many innocents so she called the Arians Wherupon he commanded that Arius himself should return and be received at Alexandria For which purpose he wrote threatning letters to S. Athanasius that he should be deposed in case he refused him Notwithstanding being inform'd by Athanasius that Arius did not repent of his Heresy but was still a profess'd Enemy of the Councill of Nicaea Constātin desisted from urging his reception 4. Afterward the Meletians accused Saint Athanasius of many crimes but Constantin upon examination finding his innocence quickly absolved and dimiss'd him Yea moreover the pious Emperour turn'd his anger against him who was the cheif Architect of all machinations against S. Athanasius to witt Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia as appears by his letters written to the people of that Citty and recited by Theodoret in which he complains how himself had been deluded by his forgeries and lyes And on that occasion he proceeds to pronounce Sentence against the whole faction of the Arians banishing Eusebius and severall other Bishops from their Sees 5. But the year following by occasion of the inauguration of his New Citty Constantinople among other Examples of his Clemency he restored them Nicephorus writes that the Citty was consecrated to our Lord and his immaculate Mother with offring the unbloody Sacrifice and prayers Adding that Constantins Statue was erected in a publick place upon a pillar of Porphyry having in his right hand a golden Apple on which was placed the Holy Crosse with this Inscription To thee O Christ our God I commend this Citty 6. Eusebius describing the Magnificence of Constantin in adorning this Citty with many Churches consecrated to the Holy Martyrs saith The Emperour intending to illustrate after an extraordinary manner the Citty called by his own name adorn'd it with many magnificent Churches partly in the Suburbs and partly in the Citty it self by which he both celebrated the Memories of the Holy Martyrs and consecrated the Citty it self to the God of Martyrs The principall of those Martyrs are recorded to have been S. Mocius S. Agathonicus S. Mennas and S. Acacius 7. Sozomen likewise an eye witnes especially celebrats a Church built in a place formerly dedicated to Vesta which was afterward named Michaelium from an apparition of that Holy Archangell In which many Miracles had been wrought by vertue of the Holy Crosse there erected of which vertue the Authour acknowledges that himself had been partaker Among which one speciall Miracle must not be omitted which he relates after this manner 8. I have been informed saith he that a Soldier of the Emperours Guards called Probianus being afflicted with greivous torments in his feet not only received ease in that place but was also honoured with a wonderfull divine vision For he having been formerly a Pagan and converted to Christianity though he were satisfied of the truth of all other instituts of our Religion yet he would never be perswaded that the Holy Crosse could be the cause of mankinds salvation Being thus affected there was offred to him a Divine Vision which set before his eyes the Image of the Crosse which usually was sett on the Altar of that Church and the same Vision declared to him manifestly that whatsoever thngs had been performed either by Angells or Holy men for the publick or privat proffit of men since the time that Christ was crucified were not rightly performed but by the vertue of the saving Crosse. 9. Besides these sacred Ornaments Constantin added much wealth to endow the holy Churches built by him He likewise caused a world of Copies of the Holy Scriptures to be curiously written in parchments richly adorned which he dispersed through severall Churches in the Citty He gave likewise great priviledges to Physicions Grammarians and Professours of other Arts by which means learning much flourish'd there In a word he endeavour'd to make it equall in all respects to Old Rome placing there a Senat with the same honours and authority into which many Christians were elected as Baronius declareth XVIII CHAP. 1.2 S. Athanasius persecuted by Arians 3.4.5 He is banish'd into the west for his safety 6.7 Arius conven'd before Constantin 8.9 c. His fearfull death 10. Pope Iulius 1. BVT the restlesse malice of the Arians against S. Athanasius the principall defender of the Faith declared by the Nicene Councill urged them to invent and forge new accusations against him of breaking a Chalice of murdering a man and using enchantments with his dead hand of committing adultery by violence c. With these crimes they charged him before the Emperour importuning him that he might be condemned and deposed 2. Hereupon a Synod of Bishops being assembled at Tyre Athanasius his cause was there examined and though in all particulars his innocence was evidently declared ye◠he was condemned by them Which manifest injustice astonish'd Constantin as appears by a Letter of his recorded by Saint Athanasius in his Apology 3. Notwithstanding these impious Bishps after they had consecrated at Ierusalem a magnificent Church built by Constantin repairing to Constantinople there renew'd their accusations and probably by the favour of the Emperours Son Constantius infected with their Heresy did so beseige Constantins eares that S. Athanasius could scarce gett accesse to prove his
necessary or expedient for humane life Now this one particular is worthy of eternall memory that immediatly before his last day he recited a funerall Oration in the place accustomed wherin by a continued discourse he spoke of the immortality of soules of the rewards which God had prepared for those who lived piously in this world and on the contrary of the miserable end of those who lead ungodly lives Which discourses pronounced with gravity and constancy aâ—d so affect some of his domesticall servants that one of them a Pagan Idolater who pretended to wisedom being ask'd What his opinion was of the Emperours Oration answered though with some unwillingnes that the things spoken by him seem'd to him to be true and particularly that he could not but highly commend his discourse against a multitude of Gods Such entertainments as those the pious Emperour had among his familiar freinds a little before his death by which he seem'd to make the way to a better life more easy and eaven 5. Eutropius relates that there appeared in heaven at that time a Comet of an unusuall biggnes portending his death After which he fell into some distemper which encreasing forced him to make use of hott bathes in the Citty From whence saith Eusebius he was removed to his Mothers Citty Helenopolis in Bithynia where for a long time continuing in the Church consecrated to the Holy Martyr S. Lucianus he offred his Prayers and publick vowes to God 6. The same Authour in another place pretends that Constantin was at this time baptis'd by the Arian Bishop of Nicomedia neer that Citty But the generall Tradition of the Western Church refutes him as hath been shew'd Therfore what was done by Constantin was not receiving Baptism but Pennance which the same Eusebius relating it calls an imitation of saving Baptism For thus he writes when the consideration of his last day came into Constantins mind he iudging this an opportune time for him to be cleansed of his sins which as a mortall man he had committed and beleiving that by the efficacy of Divine Mysteries and an imitation of the saving laver of Baptism his soule would be purged he I say considering these things fell humbly on his knees in the Church of Martyrs at Helenopolis and there confessing his sins he offred himself a suppliant to God for the pardon of them And then it was that he first became worthy to receive absolution by imposition of hands and prayer 7. In the last place touching his death the same Authour thus prosecutes his Narration Assoon as all holy Mysteries were perform'd he was cloathed with Kingly robes shining brighter then light and was layd in a bed of a most pure whitenesse for his Imperiall Purple he rejected and would never make use of it afterward Then with a clear distinct voyce he prayd and gave thanks to God adding words to this purpose Now I am assured of happines and immortall life now I am made partaker of Divine light Withall he with detestation bewayld the state of miserable Pagans whom be affirm'd most unhappy in that they were deprived of such divine blessings 8. And when the Centurions and other Superiour Officers were admitted and deplored with mournfull voyces their unhappines in the losse of such an Emperour wishing him a longer life To these he answered that now he had attain'd true life indeed and that himself only understood his own happines for which reason his desire was to hasten his departure to God After this he disposed his will in which he gave honourable pensions to such Romans as inhabited the Royall Citty new built by him As for his Empire he left it as a Patrimony to his children Thus dyed Constantin during the solemnity of Pentecost 9. As for the Vniversall mourning the clamours of the people the tearing of garments and prostration of bodies on the ground practised by the Soldiers to testify their inconsolable sorrow for so great a losse together with the glorious solemnization of his funeralls at which was only of all his Sons Constantius present all these things may be read at large in the same Authour This one passage in him must not be omitted where he writes thus Great multitudes of people together with the Preists did not cease with teares and much groaning to powre forth Prayers unto God for the soule of the Emperour wherin they performed an Office very acceptable and desired by the pious Prince himself And likewise God therby shew'd his singular goodnes to his servant both in that after his death his Empire descended to his own dear children and that himself obtain'd repose in the place so affected by him wherin the Memory of the Apostles was ioyâ—tly celebrated 10. That the Church did not doubt of the happines and glory of this pious Emperour after his death the Martyrologes of the Greek the Gallican and Brittish Churches are assured testimonies in which on the one and twentieth of May his Memory is anniversarily solemnised And particularly in Brittany Temples were built and dedicated to his honour One of which still remaines in the Province of the Ordovices or Northwales call'd at this day by his name which was erected by the Brittains when they Were driven by the Saxons into those quarters THE EIGHTH BOOK OF THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY I. CHAP. 1.2 Constantin divides the Empire among his three Sons 3. Brittany under Constantin the younger 4. His kindnes to S. Athanasius 5. He is slain by his Brothers soldiers 1. THE Emperour Constantin at his death divided the Roman Empire among his three Sons so as that his eldest Son Constantin enioy'd for his portion the Provinces of Gaule Spain Brittany and all other conquer'd countreyes on this side the Alpes Constantius the Second Son being only present at his Fathers death took possession of the Eastern Regions together with Egypt and the youngest son Constans had the government of Italy and Africk 2. Now the Gests of these and severall succeeding Emperours we will leave to such Historians as have written of the generall affaires of the Church and Empire For having confin'd our selves to matters which concern the Ecclesiasticall state of Brittany our purpose is to treat no further of such Emperours then as they are necessary for Chronology or shall concern our own countrey 3. As touching therfore the Second Constantin within whose Iurisdiction Brittany was comprised his Raign was short not lasting entirely four years And all that we can record of him is that he was constant in the Profession of the Catholick Faith establish'd in the Great Council of Nicaea wherin he was imitated likewise by his Youngest Brother Constans So that by these two Emperours means all the Western Churches were secured from the infection of Heresy which miserably defaced the Eastern parts by reason that Constantius raigning there suffred himself to be perverted by Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia and other Arian Hereticks 4. Now an illustrious proof
used to speak in it remaining mute only being able to signify that the Body of the holy Martyr Babylas hindred his speech Iulian caused the Sacred body to be removed from thence into the Citty which the Christians perform'd with great solemnity singing Psalms all the way specially those wherin Idolatry is derided to the infinit indignation of the Emperour who thereupon caused many of them to be tortured but by the intercession of the Holy Martyr their torments were miraculously converted into pleasure The same Story is confirm'd likewise by S. Chrysostom 7. But a war against the Persians interrupted his rage against Christians who at his first setting forth threatned that when that Expedition was finish'd he would destroy all who profess'd the name of Christi A threatning very acceptable to the Pagans but greivous to the afflicted Christians Whilst he was busy in the prosecution of this war Libanius a Heathen Sophister in derision of Christ ask'd a certain Christian What the Carpenters Son was then doing Who answerd He is preparing a Coffin for Iulian. And the event made these words propheticall for the wicked Emperour receiv'd from an unknown hand a wound mortall to him self but healthfull to all the world beside 8. In his place the Army chose Iovian Emperour though he refus'd that honour professing that being a Christian he neither would nor could govern an Army poysond with heathenish Idolatry Whereupon all the soldiers cryed out that they also were Christians those who were ancient among them having been train'd up in the piety of Constantin and the younger imbued with the precepts of Constantius So that the two years raign of Iulian could not extirpate the good seeds sown in their hearts 9. Iovian thus chosen restored the Christian Faith reducing the Church to its former splendour He also publish'd a Law by which in all Cittie 's a certain proportion of Wheat was contributed to Sacred Virgins by vow consecrated to God And another which inflicted death on any who should ravish or but attempt their Chastity He likewise ordain'd that all Catholick Bishops who had been formerly banish'd should return to their Sees There is extant an Epistle of S. Athanasius in answer to one from the Emperour who had desir'd to be inform'd by him who among the divided Sects of Christians retain'd the Orthodox Faith Which Epistle challenges a mention in this History because among the severall Nations constantly persevering in the Faith of our Saviours Divinity establish'd in the Councill of Nicéa he expressly names Brittany Whence appears that hitherto the Brittish Churches were pure in their Faith however some particular persons there might have been infected 10. This pious Emperour lived but one year to whom succeeded Valentinian a Prince equally Orthodox But who unhappily made partner in his Empire his Brother Valens infected with the Arian Heresy and impiously zealous in the promoting of it XI CHAP. 1.2.3 Picts Scotts and Attacotti infest the Brittains Who these last were 4.5 c. Theodosius Governour of Brittany His Victories there 8. Brittany divided into five Provinces 9. Theodosius recall'd 1. IN Brittany during Iulians raign the Prefect was Alipius the Successour of Gumoharius Where quietnes continuing the Picts and Scotts securely multiplied both in numbers and strength Of which presently after they showd terrible proofs For as Marcellinus relates in the first year of Valentinians raign the barbarous Nations on all sides of the Roman Empire as if universally excited by a trumpet broke their limits made furious incursions into the Roman Provinces The Alamanni wasted Gaule and Rhetia The Sarmatians and Quadi made irruptions into Pannonia and the Picts Saxons Scotts and Attacotti vexed the Brittains with incessant calamities 2. By which appears that the Enemies of Brittany were multiplied For to the Picts Scotts here is an addition of the Saxons and the Attacotti never mention'd before in Story with relation to Brittany As for the Saxons a Germā Nation who now first made thēselves known by their cruelty to the Brittains within a few years they will be too well known not by their piracies on the Seacoasts as at this time but by an invasion of the whole Island so successfull to them that they gott almost an entire possession of it leaving only a barren mountainous corner to the fearfull Brittains 3. But who were the Attacotti S. Hierom will tell us What shall I say of the immanity of other Nations I my selfe in my youth saw in Gaule the Attacotti a Brittish Nation who nourish'd themselves with human flesh These men in the forrests meeting with heards of beeves sheep and swine neglected them and cutt off the hanches of the Pastours breasts of the woemen and fed upon them accounting these to be their principall delicacies It seems therefore that these Attacotti were a Savage people in the Northern mountains of Scottland living without all Law or Government who likewise had promiscuous wives ad common children This rude multitude were invited by the Picts Scotts ioyn with them in the invasion of the Civill Brittains 4. Vpon this occasion the Emperour Valentinian leaving his Brother Valens to govern the East made an expedition into Gaule where he compos'd the troubles rais'd by the Alamanni This being done as he was in a hasty march from the Province of the Ambiani or Amiens toward Triers he was stopp'd by an astonishing message out of Brittany which informed him how by a conspiracy of severall barbarous Nations the Brittains were reduc'd to the utmost extremity How Nectaridius Admirall Comes of the Sea coasts had been slain by the Enemies and Bulchobaudes the General circumvented by their ambushes Vpon which horrible reports the Emperour dispatch'd into Brittany Severus one of his cheif Officers to remedy those disorders But shortly after recalling him he sent Iovinus thither making a suddain provision of ammunition and store preparing strong armies to assist him according to the instant urgent necessities In conclusion fresher and more horrible rumours encreasing he made choice of Theodosius to goe General thither a man famous for many martiall exploits happily atchiev'd who being attended with courageous Legions and cohorts made up of lusty youth prosecuted the expedition with a noble confidence 5. At the same time the Franks and Saxons had infested the coasts both of Gaule and Brittany and into this latter they had made an impression as far as London where they drove all the countrey about To remedy which injuries the vigilant Generall Theodosius took shipping at Boloyn in Gaule and passing the Sea landed at Rutupiae Richborough in Kent neer Sandwich Which is a secure Station for ships Whither as Soon as his Cohorts call'd Herculij Iovij Victores Fidentes c. aborded he marched from thence streight to London an ancient town afterward call'd Augusta and dividing his Army into severall squadrons he set on the stragling Enemies loaden with
consecrated Bishop by S. Siricius Successour to Pope Damasus sent back into his own countrey to preach the Gospell to the Picts shall be shew'd in due place 8. There are not wanting besides our own some forraign Authours also who affirm that the famous Bishop Moyses the Apostle of the Saracens was born in Brittany by name Notgerus Bishop of Liege Henry Fitz-Simon a learned Irish Iesuit Certain it is that he was in a speciall manner commemorated his Festivall observ'd in the Brittish Martyrologe compos'd by S. Beda where we read these words In Brittany in the Citty Augusta London is on the seaventh of February celebrated the memory of S. Augulus Bishop and Martyr Likewise of the Venerable Bishop S. Moyses Who first of all leading a solitary life in the desart became famous for many miracles He was afterward by his illustrious merits vertues and glorious miracles made Bishop of the Saracens at the request of Mauvia their Queen He preserv'd the Communion of the Catholick Faith without blemish and after he had converted to the Faith of Christ the greatest part of that Nation he rested in peace A larger narration of his Gests may be read in Theodoret Socrates and Ruffinus which are omitted by reason of the uncertainty whether they pertain to our present History XIII CHAP. 1. Fraomarius a Tribune in Brittany 2. Gratianus succeeds Valentinian 1. VAlentinian the year before his death sent over into Brittany a certain German King of the Bucinonantes call'd Fraomarius to exercise the Office of Tribune over the Alemanni a powerfull sqadron of the Brittish army And the reason was because the little territory pagus of which he was King lying neer to Moguntiacum Mentz had been wasted and impoverish'd by occasion of his Predecessour Macrianuâ— his rebellion saith Marcellinus Where we may observe how in those times the Title of King was attributed to such as govern'd a very small Territory So that our Legendaries are not much to be blam'd when they so frequently bestow that Title on petty Princes 2. To Valentinian succeeded his Son Gratianus who nine years before had been named Augustus or Emperour by his Father And six dayes after his younger Brother Valentinian also was saluted Emperour by the Soldiers which election Gratianus meekly approv'd XIV CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Patrick in his childhood made a Captive His wonderfull piety c. 5. He is freed 1. THE Picts Scots and other Enemies of the Brittains though they had been repress'd by Theodosius the Emperour Valentinians Generall yet were not so enfeebled but that they made frequent incursionâ— into the Roman Provinces there And particularly in one of them they led captive with them the child of Calphurnius Socher call'd afterward Patrick in the sixteenth year of his age whom they sold to a Noble man in the Northern parts of Ireland call'd by Florilegus Nulcu by Capgrave Miluch or rather as Malmsburiensis reads the name Milchu who employ'd the holy youth in keeping his swine 2. Iocelinus the most exact writer of his life thus relates the matter Inasmuch saith he as according to Scripture gold is tryed in the furnace and a just man by tribulation S. Patrick that he might be better fitted to receive a crown of glory was first exercis'd with tentations For the illustrious child entring into his sixteenth year was snatch'd away captive by Pirats which wasted that countrey and was caried by theÌ„ into Ireland There he was sold a slave to a certain Pagan Prince called Milcho whose territory lay in the Northern parts And herein his condition was parallell to that of the Holy Patriark Ioseph who at the same age was sold into Egypt And as Ioseph after his humiliation was exalted to the Government of all Egypt so likewise did S. Patrick after his captivity obtain a spirituall principality over Ireland Again as Ioseph by his providence nourish'd the Egyptians with corn during a long famine so S. Patrick in processe of time fed the Irishmen ready to perish by their Idolatry with the saving nourishment of Christian Faith So that on both of them affliction was brought for the advancement of their soules in piety for affliction had the same effect on them that the flaile has on corn the furnace on Gold the file on iron the wine-presse on grapes and the Olive-presse on Olives Now Saint Patrick by the command of the foresaid Prince was deputed to the keeping his hoggs 3. Six whole years the devout youth spent in this slavery during which time what wonderfull miracles God wrought by him are at large recited by the same Authour as likewise by Capgrave Bishop â—sher c. to whom I refer the curious reader for as much as a particular account of all the Gests or Saints would swell enormously our present History And in selecting their principall actions it seems more proffitable to recount their vertues which may and ought to be imitated by all then their Miracles which exceed the power of nature and some times of beleif 4. S. Patricks employmens therefore withdrawing him from the conversation of men afforded him space enough to attend to God Insomuch as Iocelinus testifieth that a hundred times a day and as oft in the night he address'd his prayers to God And to Prayer he added Fasting for the mortification of his Sences So that with these two Wings he mounted to such perfection as he enjoy'd a frequent conversation with Angells And particularly in Capgrave we read how an Angel calleâ— Victor frequently visited him and said to him Thou doest very well to fast Ere long thoâ— shalt return to thy countrey Now the Reader needs not wonder at the unusuall Name of this Angel For as S. Gregory observes Angels are therfore design'd by particular names that they may signify their speciall vertues and operations Therfore S. Patrick who was to conquer first his own tribulations and afterward the power of the Devill in that Idolatrous Nation was properly visited by an Angel named Victor or Conquerour 5. The Piety devotion Fasting patience in labours other heavenly vertues of this holy young man at last moved the divine Goodnes miraculously to free him as he had the Israëlites out of his captivity For as Malmsburiensis relates after six years slavery S. Patrick by the admonition of an Angel found under a certain â—urf a Summe of Gold which he gave to his Lord and so was deliver'd from captivity and returned to his parents and countrey which he gloriously illustrated with the admirable sanctity of his life The prosecution of his Gests we remit to the following age XV. CHAP. 1 Valens the Emp. burnt 2 Theodosius made partner of the Empire 3 4. c. Maximus Governour of Brittany Caries all the forces out whence came the Destruction of the Island 10. Mistake of those who place the Martyrdom of S. Vrsula c. here 1. ABout this time the
quelled their fury Then he admonished his Collegue and encourag'd all the rest So with one breath and clamour prayers were powr'd forth to our Lord. Immediatly the Divine vertue shewd it self present the infernall Enemies were dissipated a calm tranquillity ensued the winds are turn'd and become favourable to their voyage the waves serviceably drive on the ship so that in a short time having dispatch'd a vast space they safely arriv'd in a quiet and secure haven 11. This Oyle made use of by S. Germanus was not that Sacramentall oyle consecrated for the spirituall comfort of the Sick but ordinary Oyle which we frequently read to have been used by holy men upon the like occasions and by their benediction of it to have produc'd the like effects in severall exigences Of the former fort of Sacramentall Oyle S. Iames in his Epistle speaks and of this latter S. Mark in the sixth Chapter of his Gospell saith Baronius Severall examples of the like may be read in Sozomen as where S. Anthony by annointing a lame man with oyle cur'd him and another holy Monk call'd Benjamin by the like means cured severall diseases And Ruffinus testifies that in his presence and sight severall miracles were after the same manner wrought by religious Hermits V. CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Germanus his Disputation against the Pelagians and Miracle 10. c. A victory over the Scotts by his Prayers 1. THese two Holy men saith the same Constantius being landed a great mulâ—itude from severall quarters meâ—t to receive them of whose coming they had been informed by the predictions of wicked Spirits which were sore affrighted thereat For these being by the power of Preists cast out of those whom they had possess'd did openly declare the furiousnes of the tempest and the dangers which themselves had oppos'd to their voyage and how by the command and sanctity of those holy men they had been vanquish'd Afterwards these venerable Bishops with their fame preaching and miracles fill'd the whole Island of Brittany the greatest of all others And being ouerpress'd with the multitudes of those who resorted to them they preached Gods word not only in Churches but in lanes and high wayes whereby Catholicks were confirmed in their faith and those who had been deprav'd were reduced to the Church They were receiv'd as if they had been indeed Apostles considering the authority which their holines gave them the eminency of their learning and the wonderfull miracles wrought by them Divine Truth therefore being declared by persons so qualified generally the whole Island submitted to their doctrin The authours of the contrary perverse persuasion lurked in dark holes being as the wicked Spirits also were vexed to see the people freed from their snares But at last after long study and meditation they presum'd to enter into dispute with these Apostolick men 2. The place made choice of as most proper for this disputation was not London as Hector Boethius imagins but Verolam then a famous Citty neer S. Albans where the Body of the glorious Martyr Saint Alban repos'd Now what pass'd in that solemne conflict is thus related by Constantius 3. The Pelagians came pompously attended by their flattering disciples in glittring and costly raiment and they rather chose to run the hazard of a conflict then by their silence to confesse they had an ill cause Infinite numbers of people were assembled there with their wives and children The disputants stood on each side very unlike in their condition For on one side was placed divine authority on the other human presumption Here was Orthodox Faith there perfidious Errour Here Christ was acknowledg'd the authour there Pelagius At the first entrance the Holy Bishops gave free scope of disputing to the Pelagians who vainly spent the time and tired the auditory with empty verball discourses But after them the Venerable Bishops poured forth the torrents of their eloquence accompanied with Evangelicall and Apostolicall thunder They mingled with their own discourses texts of divine Scripture and their assertions were attended with testimonies of Gods word Thus vanity was convinc'd and perfidiousnes confuted insomuch as the Pelagians by their inhability to reply confessing their own guilt the people standing by as iudges could scarce contain their hands frrom violence to them and with clamours acknowledged the Victory 4. Immediatly after this a certain person of authority being a Tribune of the army coming with his wife into the midst of the Assembly leading in his hand his young daughter about ten years old which was blind Her he presented to the â—oly Bishops desiring their help for her cure But they bid him first to offer her to the Adversaries Who being deterr'd by an ill conscience joyn'd their entreaties with her parents prayers to the Venerable Prelats Whereupon perceiving the expectation of the people and their adversaries conviction they address'd themselves to God by a short prayer And then S. Germanus full of the Holy Ghost invok'd the Blessed Trinity and taking from his neck a little boxe full of Holy Relicks in the sight of the whole multitude he applied it to the eyes of the young maid which immediatly loosing their former darknes were filld with a new light from heaven At this so apparent miracle the parents exult and the people tremble And after this day all mens minds were so clearly purged from their former impious heresy that with thirsting desires they receiv'd the doctrin of these Holy Bishops 5. The truth of this narration is acknowledg'd by severall Protestant Writers as Archbishop Parker S. Henry Spellman and others who highly exalt the learning Sanctity and Orthodox Faith of these two Apostolick Bishops but withall they purposely conceale the miracle and manner how it was performed fearing to commend that in S. Germanus which they resolve to reprehend in the Holy Monk S. Augustin calling his devotion to Gods Saints superstitions and his bringing into Brittany holy Relicks triviall fopperies affirming him to have been a Teacher rather of superstition then Faith But let us proceed in the Narration of Constantius 6. Perverse Heresy being thus repress'd saith he and the Authours of it confuted so that all mens minds were illustrated with the purity of Faith the holy Bishops repair'd to the Sepulcher of the glorious Martyr Saint Alban with an intention to give thanks to Almighty God by his intercession There S. German having with him Relicks of all the Apostles and diverse Martyrs after Prayer made he commanded the Sacred Sepulcher to be opened because he would there lay up these precious Gifts For he thought it convenient that the same Repository should contain the members of many Saints out of diverse regions whom Heaven had receiv'd and crownd for the equality of their merits Having then with great reverence depos'd joynd together so many Sacred Relicks he digg'd up from the place where the Blessed Martyr S. Alban had shed his blood a masse of dry earth which he
where nothing occurs in the way which has any note of antiquity but only a chappell dedicated to S. Piran seated in a sandy place who was a Holy man which came from Ireland and if wee may beleive the Legend fedd ten Irish Kings and their armies with his three cowes rais'd to life dead piggs and dead men and in that place devested himself of his mortality 6. Wee might adjoyn here the Gests of other Holy men who began to be known about this time as S. Cadocus sirnamed Sophias Abbot and Martyr likewise S. Gildas not the Historian though he also liv'd at the same times and S. David Bishop of Menevia who was born in the year of Grace four hundred sixty two But because their principall actions were perform'd many years after in the following Age wee will refer them thither XX. CHAP. 1.2 c. Proofs that the story of S. Vrsula belongs to this time And Disproofs of all others pretentions 1. DVring the raign of the infamous Brittish King Vortigern whilst the minds of the Brittains effeminated with vice yeilded allmost without resistance to the tyranny of their neighbours and call'd in for more barbarous enemies from a remote countrey to be Tyrants of their own God rais'd another Brittish army to blott out the shame and cowardice of the former an army of Virgins conducted by a Royal and Saintly Virgin the glorious S. Vrsula For that to this time their Martyrdom is to be referd and not to any former age many circumstances in their Story which cannot suit with former times doe demonstrate strongly 2. For those Authours which assign this Story the year of Grace two hundred thirty eight are manifestly disproved because the name of Hunns who were their murderers was not in those days known in Italy or Germany besides they mention a certain Pope named Cyriacus of whom there is no memory in the rank of Roman Bishops saith Baronius Adde to this that no reason can be alledged why such numbers should then either fly or be sent out of their countrey 3. Other Writers therefore more probably affirm that S. Vrsula and her companions suffred when the Tyrant Mayimus in the year of Christ three hundred eighty three lead with him into Gaule a great army of Brittish soldiers which he seated in Armorica to whom these virgins are suppos'd to be destin'd for wives This opinion is iustified by Baronius from Galfridus and Polydor Virgil to whose authority may be added that of the Breviary of Sarum in the Lessons of that Feast 4. But the short time of Maximus his raign after his passing ouer into Gaule and his continuall employment in warr could not permitt him to attend to the settling Colonies of inhabitants in Armorica whither himself never went for as Zosimus writes he presently march'd to the banks of the Rhene Moreover the French Historians refer the erecting a Principality of Brittains in Armorica to a much later date when Meroveus was King of the Francks which was in the year of Grace four hundred forty eight Likewise Dionotus Prince of Cornwal who was Father to S. Vrsula is acknowledg'd by our best Historians to have liv'd long after the Emperour Gratianus his time who was slain by Maximus so that S. Vrsula could not be alive much lesse mariageable in those dayes Neither is there any mention among Historians of Hunns so early infesting Germany or exercising Piracy on the River Rhene or the Western Ocean 5. Those Historians therefore have best orderd their calculations who assign the Martyrdome of these glorious Virgins to the present Age when Attila King of the Hunns truly sirnam'd Gods Scourge wasted Italy and the Western Regions To demonstrate which if we consult the Writers of those times we shall find that the Armies of Attila consisting of a mixture of many barbarous Nations to the number of seaven hundred thousand soldiers overran and destroy'd a great part of Germany and Gaule and this both by Sea and land For this we have the Testimonies of Writers either then alive or within few years after Thus Sidonius Apollinaris elegantly describes in verse this horrible invasiō of Gaule by vast armies of those barbarous Nations in a Panegyrick to Avitus chosen Emperour in Gaule written by him And Gregory Bishop of Tours relates their wasting of Germany the burning of the Citty of Metz their massacring of Preists before the holy Altars c. And in the life of S. Lupus we read how that holy Bishop was lead away captive by Attila from the Citty of Troyes to the Rhene 6. Now wheras in the Gests of these Holy virgin-Virgin-Martyrs frequent mention is made of the Tyrant Maximus for which cause principally Baronius and other Writers doe assign their Martyrdom to the time when Maximus who slew the Emperour Gratianus went out of Brittany into Gaule attended with a numerous Brittish Army We shall in the Roman story find another Tyrant Maximus also descended from the stock of the other Maximus slain by the first Theodosius as Procopius relates which younger Maximus in these times invaded the Empire after the death of Valentinian and of whom Sidonius makes mention at the same time that he describes the wasting of Aremorica whither these Holy Virgins intended their voyage And moreover the same Authour in the same Panegyrick mentions the Piracy exercis'd by these barbarous people on the Brittish Sea where he again repeats the name of the same Maximus who appointed Avitus his Generall to resist them All these circumstances and occurrents meeting at this time strongly argue that now it was that S. Vrlusa and her holy Companions so gloriously began and finish'd their voyage 7. This will yet more clearly appear if we consider the present state of Brittany For now Vortigern having call'd in the Saxons to aid him against the Picts Hengistus and his Brother Horsa at first arriving with small but warlick Troops serv'd the Brittains successfully against their Enemies But afterward despising their freinds for their vices and cowardlines they sent for more numerous forces and together with them Hengistus caus'd his beautifull daughter Rowena to be brought with whose allurements the foolish King Vortigern being ensnared demanded her for his wife and bought her of her Father with the price of the whole Province of Kent After which the Saxons making peace with the Picts and Scotts turn'd their arms onely against their Benefactours At first they began complaints about pay and want of provisions theatning unless they might be satisfied to lay the whole Island wast Which threats they presently after with all inhumanity executed and in a dire manner took revenge of all the crimes committed by the Brittains against God and his Religion which they professed 8. During these troubles and miseries tragically described by Huntingdon a world of Brittains of both sexes forsook their countrey upon which a malediction from God did so visibly lye and fled into strange
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
by the incitement of Odobert he had submitted himself to receive Holy Orders By which exercises of Piety the shining beames of his Sanctity were spread abroad to the admiration of all 5. The Enemy of mans Salvation could no longer support the brightnes of Divine Graces shining in this Saint to obscure which he inflamed with lust the mind of a certain Noble Woman dwelling near who impudently attempted to expugne the Chastity of the Seruant of God But Saint Clare resolutly resisted the shameles Lady notwithstanding which resistance when her sollicitations still more encreased he was forced for his own quietnes and liberty â—o forsake the Monastery 6. The lascivious Woman desperatly enraged with his departure sent two Murderers in search of him who at last found him in a poor cottage where he had fixed his habitation with one onely companion named Cyrinus There they first sett upon him with many opprobrious speeches and at last drawing out their swords they most cruelly cutt off his head whilst he devoutly kneeling offred his Sacrifice of Chastity to our Lord the lover of pure minds and Patron of innocence 7. This glorious Champion of Chastity being thus Victorious by patience presently after arose and with his hands taking up his head by the assistance of Angells caried it to a fountain not far distant into which he cast it and then caried the same back to the Oratory of his Cell and going on a little further towards a Village seated near the River Epta which since took a new name from this glorious Martyr he there consummated his course and transmitted his blessed Soule to Heaven 8. Much to the same effect is the Narration of this holy Saints Martyrdom extant in Capgrave Where concerning his Companion Cyrinus we read That he being first dangerously wounded was by the prayers of Saint Clarus wonderfully restored to health And hence it follows in the fore said Martyrologe in this manner 9. Saint Cyrinus miraculously recovered took care of the Holy Martyrs buriall Who also afterward in a conflict for piety consecrated his own name likewise to Martyrdom whose memory is there celebrated on the thirteenth of Iune Moreover the Sacred Head of Saint Clarus is with due Veneration conserved in a Village in the territory of Paris called by his name whither it was afterward translated And at Paris it self in the ancient Monastery consecrated to Saint Victor the Martyr his commemoration is anniversarily repeated For thither the most Chast Martyr like the Patriark Saint Ioseph is sayd to have fled from the face of the foresaid unchast Lady And a fitt place it was for his retirement being in those dayes divided from the noyse and tumult of that Citty 10. The distinct place where this Holy Martyr suffred is there said to be in the Territory about Roâ—â—en in Normandy in tractu Vulcassino neer the River Seyne where in the Primitive times another S. Clarus a Preist and Martyr is recorded to have suffred Who immediatly after the Apostles times being sent from Rome to preach the Gospell illustrated a good part of Celtick Gaule first with his Doctrine and after with his Blood The day of his Passion is said to have been the fourth of November as that of our present Martyr the fifteenth before the Calends of August IV. CHAP. 1.2 c. The Martyrdom of two Kentish Princes Ethelred and Ethelbert 6 7. their murder miraculously discovered 8.9 c. Satisfaction made for it by King Egbert 1. A Little before the arrival of a New Arch-bishop of Canterbury from Rome two young innocent Princes Ethelred and Ethelbert in the Kingdom of Kent were crownd with Martyrdom For that Name was given to the violent death by which they were taken out of this world without any demerits of their own inasmuch as God was pleased miraculously to testify their innocence 2. We have before declared that Eadbald King of Kent had by his Queen Emma two sons Ermenred the elder and his Brother Ercombert Ermenred dying before his Father and leaving behind him two infants Ethelred and Ethelbert of whose Martyrdom we now treat not they but their Vncle Ercombert succeeded in the Throne Notwithstanding these two young Princes were bred as became their birth and were yet more enriched with Divine Graces then secular ornaments For saith Mathew of Westminster after their Regeneration by Baptism they remaining in their innocence and voluntary neglect of worldly advantages fortified their other vertues by the safe-guard of Humility 3. King Ercombert at his death recommended them to the care of his Son and Successour King Egbert who being a Prince of great benignity treated them with all Kindnesse and affection not having any jealousy or preiudice against them though their Title to the Kingdom in reason and iustice ought to have taken place of his who was their Vncle since they were children to the Elder Brother 4. But his kindnes to them did not last long For by the ordinary fate of Courts certain Sycophants suggested to him that by cherishing them he fomented his own danger Among these the principall Counseller of mischeif was one called Thunrâ— chieâ— Minister of state in that Kingdom who in a seeming care of King Egberts safety advised him to take out of the way these two Princes now of an age fitt for government whose vertues and excellent endowments had fixed them in the affections of the people so that it was iustly to be feared that either they would challenge their right or the people voluntarily give them it 5. These Suggestions at first were unwillingly heard by King Egbert who forbad him to continue them But Thunre called by others Thimur pretending duty and a zealous care of the Kings Safety again renewed them more earnestly and eloquently then before till in the end the King made no reply but by silence seemed to consent to his proposall Hereupon Thunre promising to himself at least impunity inhumanly murdred these two innocent Princes It was easy for him to execute this crime by reason of his familiarity and privacy with them for in his outward profession and behaviour he always expressed a great tendernes and affection to them in so much as they not suspecting any treachery at all from him afforded him all advantages against themselves so that with drawing them into a solitary place amidst his caresses and embracings of them he stabbed them with his ponyard 6. Having thus murdred them as the report is he buried their bodies in a deep trench which he digged under the Seat where the King was wont to sitt supposing that none would seek for them there But the Eye of Divine Providence from whom the secrets even of hearts are not concealed quickly discovered them and by many Miracles testified their innocence For the next time that the King was sitting there a flame issuing out of the Seat scorched and extrely terrified him Whereupon his servants digging the ground under it where they
filthy Idolatry the Devill to interrupt that good work or to be revenged on the worker kindled again in the minds of his Adversaries among the Northumbers that envy and malice which seemd to have been asswaged by his exile insomuch as they became enraged to hear that the Holy Bishop persecuted by them should be made an instrument of good to Srangers Hereupon by messages and gifts they solicited the Franks to procure the murder of the Apostolick Prelat 5. There lived still in greatest power among the Franks Ebroin Maire of the Kings Palace who as hath been declared had already embrued his hands in the blood of Dalphinus Bishop of Lyons and severall other Prelats of the French Church Him did the malicious Northumbers hire to this execrable murder Who immediatly by promises gifts and menaces solicited Adalgise King of the Frisons to be the Executioner But this barbarous half-pagan Prince did so utterly abhorr this unchristian proposall that he threw the Letters of Ebroin into the fire after he had read them in the hearing of Saint Wilfrid who was then feasted by him and whilst they were burning he added these words So may he be burned who for covetousnes of gold would dissolve the band of freindship once agreed upon 6. Thus by the watchfull Providence of God did the Holy Bishop escape the snares layd against his life and when the Spring had mitigated the feircenes of the aire and opened the wayes for travelling Saint Wilfrid renewed his iourney towards Rome and as William of Malmsbury relates passing through the Kingdom of the Franks inhabiting beyond the Rhene came to the King of that Nation called Dagobert Who entertained him with all kindnes and respect calling to mind how when he himself had formerly by a faction of his Nobles been driven out of his Kingdom into Ireland at his return this Holy Bishop had lodged him freindly and moreover furnished him with horses and attendants to his own countrey To expresse his gratitude therefore this King not only with extreme benignity received Saint Wilfrid but with most earnest prayers solicited him to accept the Bishoprick of Strasbourg and fixe his habitation in his countrey This kind offer the Holy Bishop thought not convenient then to accept but deferred his resolution till his return from Rome Whereupon he was though unwillingly dismissed by the King and being accompanied with his Bishop Deodatus prosecuted his iourney 7. Thus writes the said Historian But what he relates of Dagoberts expulsion into Ireland ought to be applied to Theodoric King of the Franks who lived at this time and being reiected by his Subjects might have been thus hospitably entertained by S. Wilfrid Whereas King Dagobert was dead severall years before this 8. Saint Wilfrid being thus dismissed with recommendations passing through Champaigne diverted out of the straight way to visit Berthaire Prince of that Province This Prince had from the Holy Bishops enemies been informed of the cause of his journey and moreover invited by promises to procure some mischeif to him Whereupon at his first coming he received him with an arrogant frowning countenance but assoon as he had been acquainted with a true relation of the cause his displeasure was mitigated insomuch as he did not only abstain from doing him any hurt but by his recommendation and assistance brought the controversy to a good end Withall professing that he was induced hereto by the humanity of the King of the Hunns in whose Court he had formerly lived during his banishment who though he was a Pagan yet could by no offers be corrupted to doe the least harm to him to whom he had once promised security 9. The like courtesy and Civility did Saint Wilfrid find from all Princes through whose Courts and Provinces he passed insomuch as at last he arrived safely at Rome where he found Pope Agathon busily employed in repressing the Heresy of the Monothelites who taught that our Saviour though subsisting in two Natures yet had but one Will. This Heresy had at that time greivously infected the Eastern Churches for the extirpation whereof and preventing the spreading of it in the West that Holy Pope had at this time assembled a Synod at Rome to which S. Wilfrid was invited where likewise his cause was determined But before we relate the successe thereof it will be expedient to declare how in his absence almighty God justified his innocence by inflicting a sharp judgment on his Enemies and persecutours at home III. CHAP. 1 2. c. Saint Wilfrids Prophecy fullfilled Winfrid Bishop of Lichfeild expelled 1. THAT Propheticall denunciation by which Saint Wilfrid being derided by the Courtiers of King Egfrid for his Appeale to Pope Agathon â—oretold them That their laughter should precisely within the space of a year be turned into greivous lamentation was exactly fulfilld the next yeare in which he remaind at Rome For not long after his departure Ethelred King of the Mercians Brother of Wolfere being desirous to avenge the iniuries of his brother sustained from King Egfrid who had overcome him in battell and possessed himself of the Province of the Lâ—ndesfars or Lincolnshire he denounced war against the said Egfrid Who swelling with pride for his former victory courageously mett him with an army not doubting of like successe against him 2. The two armies mett saith Saint Beda near the River Trent where coming to a decisive battell the Mercians utterly defeated the army of the Northumbers and among a multitude of others there was slain Eâ—win the Brother of Egfrid a young man â—bout eighteen years old tenderly loved both by the Northumbers and Mercians for his Sister named Ostrids was wife to King Etheâ—red And it hapned that on the very day a twelf-month after Saint Wilfrid had suffred the â—orementioned iniury the dead body of that hopefull young Prince was brought to York which caused a generall and long continued mourning both to the Citty and Province 3. If this battell was fought on the South side of Trent in Nottingham-shire where remains a village called Edwinstow it is most probable that place took its name rather from this Prince who by William of Malmsbury is called Edwin then from the Holy King and Martyr Saint Edwin who by Saint Beda's testimony was slain at a place called Heathfeild in Yorkshire 4. By this victory King Ethelred recovered that portion of his Kingdom called the Province of the Lindesfari which Egfrid had formerly won from his brother Wolfere But this one defeat not concluding the war to the continnance of which both these Kings made great preparations S. Theodore Archbishop of Canterbury trusting in the Divine assistance interposed himself between them and by many zealous exhortations pacified their minds so as that flame was quite extinguished insomuch as no other satisfaction was given to King Egfrid for the death of his Brother but only a summ of money And the peace concluded between the two Nations continued
hundred and fourteen days besides the Canonicall howers he recited the whole Psalter twice a day and this when he was so sick that he could not tide on horse-back but was forced to be caried in a Litter every day except that on which he passed the Sea and three days before his death he sung Masse and offred the Saving Sacrifice to God 16 He dyed on the five and twentieth day of September in the year after our Lords Incarnation seaven hundred and sixteen upon a Friday after three of the clock in the after noon in the feilds of the foresaid Citty of Langres and was buried the day following in the Monastery of the three twin-Twin-Martyrs about a mile distant from the Citty toward the south there being present no small army partly of English who attended him as likewise inhabitants of the Monastery and Citty adioyning all which with loud voyces sung Psalmes at his enterrment Thus far writes S. Beda 7. It seems his body did not remain at Langres for in the Supplement of the Gallican Martyrologe on the six and twentieth of November we read celebrated the Translution of Saint Ceolfrid an English Abbot who at his return from his pilgrimage to Rome dyed at Langres in France and was buried in the Church of the three twinn Martyrs Afterward his countrey-men demanding his Sacred Body which had been glorified by many Miracles it was with great veneration caried back to his own Monastery The day of his deposition is celebrated in our Martyrologe on the five and twentieth of September II. CHAP. 1.2 c. The death Buriall and Miracles of S. Swibert 1. THE same year as hath been sayd Saint Swibert the glorious Apostle of the Germans and Frisons ended his mortality This was the third year after he had visited Prince Pipin and was returned to Werda saith Marcellin At last Almighty God who is himself the great reward of his faithfull servants and who by a temporall death of the flesh translates the living Stones of his Church from earth to his heavenly building was pleased to call the valiant Champion of his Faith Saint Swibert to receive his Crown in his eternall kingdom Therefore in the said year Saints Swibert replenished with all Divine Graces and inflamed with a cordiall desire to See God after he had celebrated the Divine Mysteries on the Feast of Saint Peters Chair in his Monastery a languishing sicknes took him so that he was forced to confine himself to his bed 2. And when he saw that his disease every moment grew more violent he called all his Brethren and Disciples togeâ—her to the number of twenty and in the first place admonished them to follow our Lords foot-steps and to be carefull to preserve peace and charity with one another and with all of the house-hold of Faith Likewise that with all care they should observe the Instituts of Regular Disciplin which he had taught them by Word and example Then he told them expressly that the day of his death was at hand whereupon they all began to weep bitterly But the Holy Bishop said to them My beloved Brethren doe not weep but rather reioyce in my behalf for now I shall receive the recompence of all my labours Extend your charity to mee at this time of my retiring out of the world and protect mee with your prayers After he had said this he much reioycing in our Lord exhorted them to a contempt of this present world and an earnest desire of heavenly rewards again putt them in mind by their watchings prayers and good works to prevent the hour of his death which was uncertain And having added other words to this effect and bestowed his Benediction on them by his command they went out to the Church with great sadnes 3. But he retained with him the Superiour of his Monastery Saint â—iâ—eic with whom he ioynd in most devout Prayer to God and meditation of Divine things And when the day of his departure and repose was come of which he had before been informed by an Angel causing his foresaid Brethren to be once more assembled he commanded that Masse should solemnly be celebrated in his presence Then arming himself with the Communion of our Lords Body and making the sign of the Crosse on all that stood about him he quietly slept in death and his blessed soule was caried by Quires of Angels to the eternall happy Society of the Saints And immediatly his face became of a shining brightnes his Cell likewise yeilded an odoriferous fragrancy which wonderfully refreshed all that were present Thus this most Holy Prelat Saint Swibert Bishop of Werda happily dyed in the sixty ninth year of his age on a friday being the first day of March on which day the Church every where celebrates his Memory 4. In the same hower that he dyed his soule with great glory and ioy appeared to Saint Willebrord his beloved companion Bishop of Vtrecht then in his way returning from Epternac to Verona requesting and admonishing him that he would be present at his Funeralls in Werda and commend his body to the Sepulcher This being declared to us by Saint Willebrord with much greif he presently took boat and made great hast to Werda There was then present with him his illustrious Spirituall daughter the Duchesse Plectrudis with certain Prelats who blessed God for the merits of his holy Confessour Saint Swibert All these the day following being Saturday as they were according to custom singing the Vigile of the Dead a young man was brought among them who had been made blind by lightning and with his clamours interrupting the Psalmody and calling to the Saint to have his sight restored assoon as he had touched the Coffin he immediatly recovered his sight to the astonishment of all Besides another who was raging mad being brought in and kissing the cover of the same Coffin was presently restored to his senses A third also who was possessed by the Devill by the same means was perfectly freed from the Wicked Spirit 5 At last on Sunday after all the solemnity of the funerals had been devoutly fullfilld the Sacred Body with hymns and Lauds was reverently committed to the ground by Saint Willebrord Arch-bishop of Vtrecht Saint Willeic a Preist the glorious Princesse Pâ—ectrudâ— Duchesse of the Austrasians and many others his Brethren and Disciples 6. And I Marcellin Preist who have written this History and had been formerly a Disciple and companion of the Holy Bishop S. Swibert I was also present at the Buriall with Saint Willebrord after which at the earnest request of my dear Brethren Willeic Gerard Theodoric and others we remained with them in the Monastery of Werda fifteen dayes for their consolation I will therefore here relate among many some few testimonies of Miracles which I saw with mine own eyes and many other with mee so that it not only deservedly may but ought to be beleived that the said Holy Bishop is great in
happy Therefore resigning himself into Gods hands he chearfully pursued his journey 8. King Offa at that time had his residence at a certain town now called Sutton-Wallis in Herefordshire seated upon the River Lugge Lugus There the King received him with demonstrations of kindnes and ioy the like did the Queen whose name was Quendreda But whether this kindnes on the Kings part was sincere or no it is left doubtfull But certain it is that the impious Queen presently after his arrivall most execrably contrived her Son in Law 's murder whereby without any danger or trouble she might procure to her family the accession of a new kingdom This horrible design it is sayd she discovered to her husband King Offa who at first expressed a detestation of it but at length was perswaded by the Impious Queen if not to ioyn in the execution at least to suffer her to doe it alone 9. She had before this layd the execrable design and provided a fitt executioner His name was Winebert and to him was assign'd the Office of conducting King Ethelbert whensoever he was to treat about the accomplishing the Mariage One day therefore after he had excused to him King Offa's meeting him upon a pretence of indisposition he lead the innocent King through certain obsâ—ure passages of the Palace where with the help of his associats there attending he murdred him And so was fullfilld his vision of a beautifull tree cutt down and a stream of blood issuing from it Yea withall the other part of the vision likewise was accomplished in which was represented a glorious Pillar of Light and a Bird with golden wings mounting to the top of it and there entertaind with celestial Musick Which Bird was the soule of this pious King and Martyr received into heavenly ioyes 10. Some of our Historians relate the fact after another manner That in the Kings Bed-chamber a chair sumptuously adorned was placed upon planches which at pleasure might sink down and draw the person after And King Ethelbert having after a day spent in feasting been conducted into this his Bed-chamber and sitting in the said Chair fell down into a hollow place where being over whelmed with bed-cloaths and pillows he was stifled However the crime was performed all consent that it was principally by the Queen Quendreda's contrivance that this pious King was murdred though all doe not charge King Offa with the guilt of conspiring or so much as knowing of it till it was executed 11. The Blessed Kings body being taken out of the Cave was by the command of King Offa buried privatly at a place called Marden near the River Lugg whither whilst it was caried it was found so light as if it had been already ennobled with the Dotes of a glorified Body But it lay not long in that ignoble Sepulcher for the night following was seen a Pillar of Light sparkling its beams to the place where the Sacred Body lay And the third night after S. Ethelbert appearing in a vision to a simple husband-man commanded him to transport his body to a Monastery built on the banks of the River Wye which he accordingly performed and by the way a blind man was restored to sight by the merits of this Holy Martyr for so is he generally called in all ages since by reason of the frequent Miracles wrought by his intercession and this Title is expressly iustified by William of Malmsbury 12. The place where he was buried was by the Saxons called Fernley but now Hereford where a fair Church had formerly been built To which King Offa in testimony of his Repentance gave very rich Presents There also he built a magnificent tombe for him and in succeeding times the opinion of the holy Martyrs Sanctity did so encrease that Milfrid one of the following Kings of Mercia much enlarged the same Church dedicating it anew to the honour of S. Ethelbert For thus writes Leland From the time of King Offa the Citty of Hereford received great augmentation by occasion of the Monument of the glorious Martyr Ethelbert King of the East-Angles and it is deservedly esteemed the prime Seat of that Province 13. Out of the place where the Body of S. Ethelbert was first buried issued a fountain of most clear water called S. Ethelberts well over which now stands a Church no doubt built to his honour For what other motive could the builder have since it is placed so near the River Lugg which every floud being overflown by the muddy waters of the River never diminishes any thing of its own purity This wonderfull effect to this day the neighbours even Protestants take notice of and impute it to the Sanctity of the Saint yet think it an impiety to honour the Saint so highly honoured by God His Memory is celebrated in our English Martyrologe on the twentieth day of May. VIII CHAP. 1.2 c. King Offa's devout Pilgrimage to Rome and pious actions there 4. Great Priviledges granted to the English by the Pope 5. His Queen Quendrida iustly punished for the murder of S. Ethelbert 1. KIng Offa by the testimony which God gave to the Sanctity of King Ethelbert perceiving the enormity of his own crime for though it were true that his own hand had not been defiled with the Martyrs innocent blood yet a great crime it was to permitt so horrible a crime to passe unpunished He thereupon conceived great remorse for it and sought all wayes how to pacify Gods displeasure Some Writers impute the founding of that magnificent Monastery of S. Alban to his desire of making some manner of satisfaction for that Offence which therefore they conceive to have preceded that building However certain it is that the remaining years of his life he employed in memorable works of Charity and devotion 2. Besides this the year following he undertook a devout Pilgrimage to Rome there to begg pardon of God at the shrines of the two Princes of the Apostles There also he with great fervour visited most other places dedicated to the honour of Saints 3. During his abode at Rome he confirmed through his whole kingdom containing one and twenty Provinces or Shires that Contribution called S. Peters-pence or Rome-Scott which King Ina had before imposed on his Kingdom of the West-Saxons And moreover he endued with large possessions the Schoole of the English formerly founded also by the same King Ina at Rome for the sustentation of such his English subiects as should repair thither either out of devotion only or a desire also to perfectionate their minds with the Study of Sacred learning This Schoole saith Mathew Paris by reason of the great confluxe of strangers thither to seek comfort and sustenance was turned into an Hospitall called the Hospitall of the Holy Spirit 4. Lastly he supplicated Pope Hadrian not only to confirm by Apostolick authority the large possessions which he had lately and should hereafter bestow on his New-founded Monastery of S.