be found again soon after the Sacred Body was translated to the Church of St. Alban and many Miracles were there continually wrought through the intercession of the Blessed Amphibalus who suffer'd in the year of our Lord 287. Although the place of this Saints Burial was long obscur'd yet as appears by Gildas his memory was precious for within ten years after he suffer'd a Church was erected to his Honour and in the year of our Lord 309. another Church was Consecrated to this Saint at Winchester which being after Re-built by the Saxons was Dedicated to St. Peter When the Body of this Holy Man was discover'd other Bodies were found lying by it conjectur'd to be those who suffer'd with him Much about this time two famous Martyrs Julius and Aaron before-mention'd Citizens of Caerleon and Disciples of St. Amphibalus are recorded to have suffer'd for the Faith of Christ These two had a long time addicted themselves to the Holy Faith and were also diligent in the study of Arts and Humane Learning both at Rome and else-where They suffer'd saith St. Bede with many others of both Sexes intoller able Torture their Members being torn asunder with unheard of Cruelty at last consummating a Glorious Martyrdom their Souls were receiv'd into the joys of the Heavenly City Their Memories were preserv'd and Honour'd by Erecting Altars and Churches in their Names each of them had a famous Church Erected to their Honour in Caerleon for three Magnificent Churches are said to have been Built of Old time in that City one of the Martyrs St. Julius adorn'd with a Choir and Convent of Religious Virgins a second Dedicated to the Honour of his Companion St. Aaron and Graced with a Noble Choir of Canons the third was the Metropolitan Church of all Cambria and was after Translated by the Holy Bishop St. David with the concurrence of the Pope's Legate and all this long before the coming of the Saxons Besides these the memory is Celebrated of two Noble Britains Disciples of St. Amphibalus who suffer'd Martyrdom in the same Persecution of Dioclesian their Names were Stephanus and Socrates to whose Honour two Churches were built in the Province of the Silures To this time also is refer'd the Murdering of all the Monks in the Monastery of Winchester built by King Lucius During the rage of this Persecution in Britain many Christians withdrew themselves from the fury of it as Gildas reports which considering the frailty of Mankind was not imprudently done for it was thought fit that such as had not the courage to sustain the weight of Martyrdom might at least hold fast the Grace of Confession This flight of Christians in Britain gave occasion to the Persecutors to extend their rage upon Churches and Monasteries all which by such their rage were so utterly destroy'd that in this Island few marks remain'd of Christian Religion This Desolation continu'd untill the Happy return of Constantius by whose Clemency the Christian Faith and Worship flourish'd again in Britain sooner than in other places Which Mercy of God as Bede saith was the rather extended towards the Britains because they only preserv'd among them their Primitive Faith receiv'd in the days of King Lucius entire and inviolate untill the reign of Dioclesian The Tyranny of the Roman Empire against Christians God was pleas'd to revenge by permitting another Tyrant to rise against them in Britain namely Carausius a man Vigilant and Active both in Councel and Execution Imploy'd by the Emperour to scowre the Seas of Pyrats This Imployment Carausius made use of rather to Enrich himself than Benefit the Empire and thereby became so suspected that the Emperour Maximianus commanded him to be put to Death for the avoiding whereof he assum'd the Imperial Purple and possess'd himself of Britain Maximianus prepar'd to oppose him but his attempts proving vain he was forc'd to make a Peace with Carausius who after subdu'd the Caledonian Britains and rais'd a new Rampire to enclose them more Northward than any had been before with a Triumphal Arch in memory of his Victory He govern'd here quietly untill the year 293. when Constantius made his Expedition against him Now though in the time of Carausius Persecution against Christians abated yet by the Rapine of his Soldiers most of the Churches and Monasteries were destroy'd or Spoil'd among the rest those of Winchester and Westminster the latter Converted into a Temple of Apollo In those days the Roman Empire on all sides was greatly shaken both by open Invasions and Civil Dissentions to appease which two new Caesars were chosen Constantius by Maximianus and Galerius by Dioclesian in whom notwithstanding the Supreme Authority and Majesty of the Empire resided the better to strengthen this Association Dioclesian gave his Daughter Valeria to Galerius Maximianus his Daughter Theodora to Constantius who thereupon was compell'd to a Divorce from his former Wife Helena so as she was after esteem'd his Concubine or at least his Wife in the second or inferior place However this pretended Divorce did not it seems prejudice their Son Constantine who born before in Marriage enjoy'd his right of Primogeniture and succeeded his Father in the Empire although he had other Sons by Theodora How Helena was dispos'd of after this Divorce is controverted The best Opinion is that she was plac'd at Triers where Constantius built her a Magnificent Palace and where she was Honour'd with the Title of Augusta In the mean time her Son Constantine was receiv'd into the Family of Dioclesian and there remain'd Uninfected with the Vices of the Court in great Favour with Dioclesian highly Graced by him and acceptable to all that saw him for his Beauty Gracefullness and Modesty especially to the best sort of Men for his Virtue and Piety Constantius being Created Caesar made an Expedition into Gaul with intent to pass over into Britain against the Tyrant Carausius In Gaul he took the Sea-Town Gessoriacum or Buloign which the Tyrant had strongly Fortify'd In the mean time Carausius was Murder'd in Britain by a new Tyrant Alectus General of the Forces of Carausius Alectus to secure himself assum'd the Title of Emperour Against him Constantius the year following sail'd into Britain and landed without opposition though he was way-laid by a strong Fleet plac'd in the Isle of Wight by Alectus When he was landed he set his Ships on Fire and divided his Army one part he led himself the other he committed to the Conduct of Asclepiodorus Prefect of the Praetorian Band Alectus avoiding Constantius chose to try his Fortune with Asclepiodorus by whom he was easily defeated and slain Howbeit a great part of his Army consisting of Strangers Franks and Battavians seeing their Prince Dead fled towards London hoping to Enrich themselves by the Spoils of that City But Constantius coming on them unawares preserv'd the City and cut those Rovers in pieces if any escap'd they became Captive to the Londoners By this return of Constantius the poor
THE STATE OF CHURCH-Affairs In this Island of Great BRITAIN Under the Government of the ROMANS AND BRITISH KINGS LONDON Printed by NAT. THOMPSON for the Author and are to be Sold by the Booksellers of London Anno MDCLXXXVII THE STATE OF CHURCH AFFAIRS IN THIS ISLAND UNDER THE Romans and British KINGS Before the Coming of St. AUGUSTINE THe Britains who were the first known Inhabitants of this Island were led blind-fold by their blind Guides the Druides into the most pernicious Idolatry and by Them instructed in Rites and Ceremonies most horribly Impious and Inhumane so as this Island at that time might be truly esteem'd the School and Nursery of Devilish and Barbarous Mysteries and the miserable Inhabitants no other then Bond-slaves and Captives to Satan the common enemy of mankind Julius Caesar first discover'd this our Island to the more Civiliz'd World and made some little Entrance into it for the All-conquering Romans to proceed by Degrees in the more ample Conquest of it It was indeed a Happy Conquest to those wretched Britains occasioning their Redemption from the Bondage of the Devil and bringing in so great Knowledge and illustrious Light amongst them that this our Island soon became the School of True Religion and Virtue the Nursery of Saints and Refuge of Persecuted Christians This Entrance of Caesar's was before the Birth of our Blessed Saviour which happened not until the 43d year of Augustus when Cunobelin is said to Reign who is likewise said to be the Son of Cassibelaun whose Seat was Camolodunum now Maldon in Essex The Romans made little advantage of this beginning of Caesar's until the time of the Emperour Claudius who by Aulus Plantius his General Invaded this Island with a great Army and soon after in his own Person and by his said General prosecuted the War more vigorously Insomuch as not long after Caractacus a Prince Renown'd amongst the Britains being perfidiously yet betray'd by some of them was with his Wife and Daughter sent Prisoners to Rome where his Noble and Generous Carriage was such as procur'd wonder from his Spectaters and obtain'd Favour Respect and Compassion from the Emperour By this time through the dissention of the Britains the Romans got good footing in this Island but met with a dismall check from Boadicea a British Queen whom they provok'd by their Cruelty and Avarice who yet was at last crush'd by the Invincible Power of the Romans What little glimmering of Learning or Knowledge the Britains in those days had dropt only from the Lips of their Druids and Bards they were Priests and Prophets to that be-wildred People by Them they were taught what Deities to Worship and with what execrable Rites they were to Worship them Their Principal Gods were Belinus Baal or Bel Diana or the Moon Camulus or Mars Andate or Adraste whom Boadicea is Recorded to have invok'd when her last Battle was shaken by the Roman Forces with a number more of petty Dieties which the Land of Egypt the very Fountain of Theology never thought of and yet Caractacus before-mention'd in gratitude for his release from Captivity and Restitution to his Throne consecrated a new Altar to his Royal Benefactor the Emperour of Rome which he erected in Cama'odunum with this Inscription The Altar of Eternal Domination and might indeed have greater Obligations to this his Mortal Deity then to any of his Antient Falsly called Gods which he and the rest of the Britains had so long Ador'd with Unmanly and Slavish Superstition as they were directed by their blind Priests and Druides For they order'd both publick and private Sacrifices they dispens'd Rewards and Punishments determin'd all Controversies and who ever refus'd to obey their Decrees were forbidden to be present at the Sacrifices and consequently were avoided and abandon'd as most Impious and detestable persons Most of their Rites and Ceremonies were vain and foolish such as they used in gathering of Mistletoe from the Oak to which they ascrib'd great Virtue but many of them Barbarous and Excerable by which to Divine of future Events they would make their Altars flow with Humane Blood and consult their Cruel Gods by searching into Entrails of Innocent Men Insomuch as Claudius himself though a Heathen thought fit by rigorous Edicts to Interdict this Execrable Religion to his Romans but could not weed it out of the Hearts of the Besotted Britains But what the Authority of the Roman Emperours could not effect the Power of Almighty God soon brought to pass sending a new Caelestial Light to dissipate that more than Egyptian Darkness wherein this our Country had been so long involv'd This our Island though divided from the rest of the World yet perceiv'd the bright Beams of the Sun of Righteousness to dawn in it sooner then many other Countries nearer approaching to that place where this ever Blessed Sun arose If we may believe our Antient Gildas This day Star sprung from on high visited us soon after the Assension of our Saviour toward the end of the Reign of Tiberius Caesar by which this Antient Historian might mean at least that about that time many zealous Apostolical persons were then in preparation for their Journey into Britain though perhaps it might be before they could arrive hither The Attestation of other Credible Writers to this of our Gildas may induce us to believe without any violence to our Reason that the Zeal of some Primitive Christians might very early carry them as far as this our Country to divulge the Blessed Tidings of Salvation then forthwith to be Preach'd indifferently to all Nations and likely to be most welcom to them Two great advantages these forward Missioners had for their Entrance into this Island to which a way was open'd bythe Roman Conquest 1st The coming of St. Peter at that time from Antioch to Rome 2dly The being of Caractacus with his Queen Brethren and Family and consequently a multitude of Attendants then at Rome The former is attested by Eusebius and others with the intent of St. Peter's coming thither in pursuit of Simon Magus and to take his Apostolical Chair in the Metropolis and principal City of the Roman Empire from whence the Christian Doctrine might be the more easily dispers'd over the whole World. The latter is confirm'd by Learn'd Writers and in particular that a Noble British Virgin either Attendant to Caractacus or as some say his Daughter became a Disciple to St. Peter and by her Virtue and Christian Piety prov'd a more Illustrious Ornament to our Country than Caractacus himself by his Heroick Magnanimity This Lady it may seem after Married Rufus a Noble Roman and chang'd her British Name into Claudia Ruffina after the Roman Dialect and was the same which Martial so highly Celebrates in a short Epithalamium upon her Marriage with one he calls Pudens who by Tradition is said to have Entertain'd St. Peter in his House which was after erected into a Church True it is St. Paul in his 2d
the ground This Church from the days of King Lucius was design'd for a Burying place of our Kings as at this day and after it was Re-edify'd by St. Edward the Confessor A second Metropolitan Church was about this time erected in the City of York esteem'd in that Age the prime City and Church of Britain The third Metropolitan Church was then also built at Landaff or Caerleon upon Vsk in which City now ruin'd were three Noble Churches one bearing the Title of the Holy Martyr Julius Beautifi'd with a Monastery of Virgins Consecrated to God. A second founded by the Name of his Companion St. Aaron And a third famous for being the Metropolitan See of all Cambria although Dubritius is mention'd in History to be the first Arch-bishop of the Welsh Britains concerning the Church of Landaff and the Superiority of it something may be gather'd out of the Protestation of Vrbanus before Calixtus the second in the Councel of Rhemes However sure it is that after the coming of St. Augustine the Monk the Bishop of Landaff hath always been subject to the See of Canterbury This King Lucius built another Church also at Dover in Honour of our Blessed Saviour and his Glorious Mother and some other Churches elsewhere As this King shew'd himself Munificent in Building of Churches so also was he Liberal in his Endowments and Priviledges bestow'd upon them by transferring the Possessions of Idol-Temples to Christian Churches and further Enriching them with more Lands and greater Immunities so that some Malefactors might have refuge within their Precincts which benefit of Sanctuary hath been continu'd and increas'd by most succeeding Princes neither were the Revenues belonging to Pagan Temples inconsiderable for that Religion was very costly for it is certain that the Pagan Flamens in London Sacrific'd yearly 40000. Cows 100000. Sheep innumerable sorts of all Fowl besides 30000. Savage Beasts as Staggs and other Beasts of the Forrest Besides all this King Lucius in the 6th year after his Conversion Founded a Church and Monastery at Winchester which he plentifully Endow'd it is said to be a Church of vast Dimensions and Adorn'd with an Episcopal Palace the Possessions of it extended 12. Miles round about the City This Church was Dedicated to the Honour of our Saviour by Fugatius and Damianus and Devotus a Monk by them Constituted the first Abbot from this time until the time of Dioclesian the Monks here quietly serv'd God after the Rule and Order prescrib'd by St. Mark the Evangelist and first Bishop of Alexandria which Rule is thus describ'd by Cassianus saying These Monks did not content themselves to retain the order of living practis'd by the Primitive Christians whereof we read in the Acts of the Apostles That they had all things in common accounted nothing their own sold their Possessions and laid the price at the Apostles feet to be divided amongst such as had need But these Monks aspir'd to practices more sublime for retiring them to the most secret places they led a Life of unparallel'd Abstinence and Austerity in Reading of Holy Scripture day and night in fervent Prayer and continual Labour of their Hands without regard of Food or Sustenance save only that every second or third day they would receive some slender Sustenance for necessity not for the satisfaction of their Apetite and not then until after Sun-set The Light they spent in Labour or Holy Exercises Darkness suffic'd for the care of their Bodies Under the Persecution of Dioclesian this Holy Fraternity was dissipated but not long after again restor'd and their Church Consecrated by Constantius Bishop of Winchester in the year of Grace 309. taking a new Name from St. Amphibolus who with St. Alban was Crown'd with Martyrdom and by this Name Gildas calls it in his relation of the Sons of Mordred Murder'd by Constantine in this place It suffer'd a second Eclipse when the Infidel Saxons laid waste all Holy places in this Island Howbeit no sooner did the Saxons embrace the Faith of Christ but they repair'd this Church and Monastery after call'd de Hida and restor'd it to greater Splendor and Magnificence then it had before in which Splendor and Beauty it continu'd fortify'd by Charters of Kings and Bulls of Popes untill all Religious Houses were swallow'd up by the sury and Avarice of Henry the VIII So as St. Edward the Confessor in his Charter to the Monastery of Westminster prov'd a Prophet who declar'd The same Charter should continue in force so long as the love of Christianity should remain in this Nation Our Devout and Wise King Lucius did not only endow Churches and Monasteries for the present Worship of God but provided Seminaries of Learning and Piety for the future increase thereof the most Famous of which was the School and Monastery of Bangor in North-Wales It is said to be the first Colledge of Christian Philosophers but is in some Authors mistaken for another of that Name in Vlster from whence proceeded the famous Bishop St. Malachias whose Life is elegantly written by St. Bernard However this famous Monastery it seems prosper'd so well for a long time that at the coming of St. Augustine into England more than 2000. Monks were found in it This King was not only careful to plant and settle the Christian Faith within his own Kingdom but as many Antient and Credible Records testifie personally sow'd the Seeds of Christianity in Germany and other Forreign parts and as some say there ended his days as his Virgin Sister and Martyr also did Fugatius or Phaganus and Damianus being inform'd of St. Joseph and his Companion 's retirement to Glastonbury and their deaths there visited the place which they found reduc'd to little better then a Covert of Wild-Beasts so little encouragement or countenance had the Christian Faith receiv'd yet by Divine conduct they discover'd an Antient Church built by St. Joseph and his Companions and Consecrated as afore-said by God himself they also found the Holy-Cross with several Writings and other Tokens declaring the place to have been formerly an Habitation of Christians and receptable of those prime Disciples They therefore added another Oratory built of Stone Dedicated to the Honour of St. Peter and St. Paul and on the Top of the Tor or Mountain rais'd a Chappel to the Honour of St. Michael the Arch-Angel And lastly to continue the Service of God which had been interrupted they establish'd a succession of 12 Devout persons in memory of St. Joseph and the first 12. which Succession continu'd till the coming of St. Patrick the Apostle of Ireland unto this place These two Holy men made this place their Retirement for the space of nine years and there dy'd and were bury'd as is believ'd about the year of our Lord 199. After the Death of Lucius which happen'd in the 7th year of Severus none of the British Race were permitted to reign but Legats from the Emperour commanding the Roman Army In the time of Commodus
inviting his Countrymen to the imitation of his Virtue and Piety St. Germanus and Lupus encourag'd him to go into Ireland and that especially upon this occasion On a day St. Patrick in his sleep saw a man coming to him out of Ireland with many Letters in his Hand one of which he gave to the Saint who read it In the beginning of it was written This is the voice of the Inhabitants of Ireland As soon as St. Patrick had read these words He heard the voices of many Infants crying to him as out of their Mothers wombes in several Provinces of Ireland Holy Father come and converse amongst us St. Patrick having heard this felt great Compunction in his Heart but could read no more of the Letter As soon as he awak'd he gave Thanks to God being assur'd by this Vision that our Lord had call'd him to be an Instrument of the Salvation of those who thus cry'd unto him It is written That St. Patrick hereupon asking Councel of our Lord touching this Affair and by the means of the Angel Victor receiv'd this Divine Oracle That forsaking his Country and Parents he should pass over into Gaul there to be more perfectly instructed in the Christian Doctrine and Discipline Palladius sent into Brittain by Pope Caelestine being as yet but a Deacon sound the Civiller part formerly under the Roman Jurisdiction defil'd with Heresie and the Northern parts under the Scots wholly buried in the mists of Paganism Of this he sent notice to the Pope who re-call'd him to advise of Remedies for both these mischiefs To oppose the Pelagian Heresie he directed Germanus and Lupus to rescue the Northern parts of the Island from Paganism he sent back Palladius after he had exalted him to an Episcopal Degree as his Legate and Apostle of the Scottish Nation as Prosper more at large relates It is said that Palladius attempted the Conversion of the Irish but in vain so that the British Scots were the peculiar objects of his care and endeavours and this appears the more clearly for that Servanus and Tervanus the two principal Disciples of Palladius are reckon'd among the Learned Teachers of Britain of whom the former was sent to instruct the Inhabitants of the Orcades and the other to the Picts over whom he was created Archbishop and as some say succeeded St. Ninianus The labours both of Servanus and Tervanus were very prosperous but Palladius is thought not to have liv'd above a year after he was made Bishop Soon after the first Voyage of Palladius into Britain the People thereof being neither willing to receive that perverse Doctrine which Blasphem'd the Grace of Christ nor able to refute the Subtilties of those who maintain'd it by common advice crav'd assistance from the Gallican Bishops who in a Synod for that purpose assembled made choice of St. Germanus and St. Lupus one Bishop of Auxerre and the other of Troyes to pass over into Brittain to confirm the Faith of Coelestial Grace All which was done as appears by Prosper with the Consent and by the Direction of Pope Caelestine Germanus was born at Auxerre descended from Illustrious Parents brought up in good Literature wherein he so advanc'd himself that he became an Ornament to his Country and that nothing might be wanting to the perfecting of his Learning after he had frequented the Gallican Schools where he was taught the Liberal Sciences he went to Rome where he inrich'd his Mind with the perfect knowledge of the Imperial Laws At his return he was made Governour of the City and Territories of Auxerre the place of his Nativity While he was Governour there Amator the Bishop of that City a Holy man preparing himself in the Church to perform his Office and perceiving Germanus their Prefect entering with a Body and Mind compos'd to Modesty and Piety commanded immediately that the Doors should be fast Lock'd And then accompanied with many of the Clergy and Nobility laid hold on Germanus and devoutly calling on the Name of the Lord cut off his Hair and devesting him of his Secular Ornaments respectfully cloath'd him with a Religious Habit and said thus to him Now my Dear Brother it is our Duty to be diligent in preserving this Honour committed to thee without stain For as soon as I am dead Almighty God commits to thee the Pastoral Charge of this City Amator shortly after dy'd in whose place Germanus succeeded about the year of Grace 418. From the first day in which he undertook the Episcopal Office to the end of his Life he never us'd Wine Vinegar Oyle nor so much as Salt to give a Relish to his Meat At his Refections he first took Ashes into his Mouth and after that Barley-bread and this so slender and ungrateful Diet he never us'd till toward Sun-set sometimes and as is said he would Fast half a Week yea seven whole days without any satisfaction given to his craving Stomach his Bed was hard Boards cover'd over with Ashes and to prevent any profound sleep he would admit no Pillow under his Head He spent indeed whole nights in continual Sighing and incessantly water'd his hard Couch with his Tears He was a zealous observer of Hospitality and when ever any poor or Strangers came to him he would prepare for them a Plentiful Feast while himself Fasted yea with his own Hands he would wash their Feet Kissing and sometimes Bedewing them with showers of Tears He built a Monastery into which he oft retir'd feeding and refreshing his Mind there with the wonderful sweetness of Caelestial Contemplation St. Lupus was born at Toul a City of the Leuci of a Noble Family after his Fathers death he was sent to School and there imbew'd in the study of Rhetorick he Married the Sister of St. Hilarius Bishop of Arles she was inflam'd with the Love of Chastity from her youth Hence it was that after seven years spent in Marriage by Divine Inspiration both of them exhorted one another to a state of Conversion Lupus by a strong impulse from Heaven was mov'd to visit the Blessed St. Honoratus first Abbot of the Famous Monastery of Lerins to whose Discipline he humbly submitted himself in continual Watchings Fastings and Mortifications and intending to Sell his Possessions and distribute the Money to the Poor he was on a suddain compell'd to take upon him the Bishoprick of Troyes where he behav'd himself so well that he was stil'd the Father of Fathers Bishop of Bishops and a second Jacob of his Age. These two Holy men under the conduct of our Lord took upon them to be the Apostolick Reformers of the British Churches their Humility and Austerity of Life had a proper and specifick Virtue to oppose the Pride and Sensuality of the Pelagian Hereticks What befell them at Sea would not be omitted At first their Ship was carried with favourable Winds from the Gallick Coasts 'till they came into the midst of the Sea where no Land could be discover'd but presently after the
to the Walls they also return upon their backs By this means the Saxons were extreamly Harrass'd and great slaughters made of them till at last the Saxons were compell'd to divide their Army into two parts and to imploy one part in expugning the City while the other was in readiness to Fight with the Britains from without Then indeed the Besieged weak'ned with Famine could no longer resist the Saxons by whom they were all consum'd with the Sword moreover in revenge of the great losses sustain'd by the Saxons during this Siege they demolish'd the City so as it was never built again There only remains the mark of a place where once a Noble City had been seated We find mention made of a Provost of a Company of Soldiers under the Count of the Saxon-shore placed at Anderida as the Romans call'd it to defend the Coasts from Saxon Rovers There is left now no foot-steps of this great City only a great Forrest call'd by the Saxons Andraedwald and by the Britains Lord Andred which being Antently seated near where the said City of Anderida stood continues the name of it About this time Ambrosius is said to have come to the Mount of Ambri near Caer Carec now Salisbury where Hengist Treacherously slaughter'd so many Princes for whom he intended to raise a Famous Monument There also he is said to have constituted two Metropolitans St. Sampson at York and St. Dubritius at Caerleon The second year after the Erection of the Kingdom of South-Saxons was Illustrious for a great Victory obtain'd by the Britains against the Saxons at the Hill Badonicus as Bede writes The Britains conducted by their famous King Ambrosius took Courage and provoking the Victorious Saxons to Combat by the Divine Favour obtain'd a Victory over them after which sometimes the Britains sometimes the Saxons prevail'd until the Saxons were Besieged in the Mountain Badonicus and a great slaughter was made of them Polydore Virgil will have this mountain between Yorkshire and the Bishoprick of Durham but Cambden with greater probability makes the Territory of the Antient City of Bath the Scene of this Battle and Victory By the Britains it was call'd Caer Badon The City saith he was Besieged by the Saxons but by the coming of the War-like Prince Arthur they were forc'd to retire to the Mountain Badonicus where after a long and desperate Fight they were overcome and great numbers of them slain This Mountain seems to be that which is now call'd Bannesdown at the foot whereof is seated a little Village call'd Bathstone where to this day are seen Rampires and Trenches the marks of a Camp. This Victory is principally to be ascrib'd to Ambrosius under whom the said Arthur his Nephew Son to his Brother Vterpendragon was indeed a principal Officer and is said often to have repress'd the Haughty Saxons swelling with the Pride of their Conquests This is that Arthur of whom the Britains have wrote so many trissing Fables A Prince worthy to be magnified by the Truth of History and not to be made the subject of idle Dreams since by his own admirable Courage he sustain'd his declining Country and incited the Heartless Britains to reassume their Courage One thing is remarkable in this Prince that in the Siege of this Mountain Badonicus confiding in the Protection of our Blessed Lady whose Image he carried Sow'd to his Arms he put to flight and slew 900 Saxons His custom was to make use of these Spiritual Arms and as Huntingdon affirms In a Combat near the Castle of Guinton he carried the same Image on his Shoulders and by the power of our Lord Jesus and his Holy Mother Mary that whole day the Saxons fled before him Florilegus writes That Prince Arthur 's Shield on which the Image of our Lady was Painted was named Pridwen and that in a certain Battle he drawing ferth his Sword Caliburn invok'd the Name of the Blessed Virgin and with great Violence peircing into the midst of the Enemies at one Blow he slew whomsoever he touch'd with it nor gave he over till he had slain 840. of his Enemies with his Sword alone About this time there was a wonderful Apparition of the Glorious Arch-Angel St. Michael on the Mountain Garganus in Calabria the memory whereof is Celebrated Anniversarily by the Catholick Church on the 8th of May We here make mention of it because a Holy Bishop born in this Island of Saxon Parents St. Richard by Name was present at the Consecration of a Church built in memory of this Apparition This Bishop was the first of the Angli or Saxons recorded in Ecclesiastical Monuments to have been gain'd to Christ soon after their entrance into Britain and before any open Hostility broke forth between the Nations He was born of Illustrious Parents and in the year of Grace 455. his Innocence and Piety appear'd in his tender years and in that Age he was averse from Luxury and Wantonness diligent in reading the Scriptures conversing chiefly with men of Learning and Virtue by which he not only gain'd Love from his Parents but Veneration from his Companions and Strangers But because the following War and the Idolatrous Rites of his Country-men furious Enemies of that Religion to which our Lord had call'd him were a hindrance to his Progress in Piety While he was intent upon his Devotions the Glorious Apostle St Peter appear'd to him in his sleep commanding him in the Name of Almighty God To take a Journey into Apulia there to Preach the word of God to the Andrians and that he should not apprehend the length of the way or menaces of the Infidels because our Lord would be present to assist him St. Richard thus awak'd from sleep immediately rose and casting himself before a Crucifix gave humble thanks to God and St. Peter for this Visitation The day following he forsook his Brethren and taking his leave of his Dearest Friends notwithstanding their importunity to detain him began his Journey and being arriv'd at Rome he address'd himself to the Holy Pope Gelasius and declar'd what had been in his Vision impos'd upon him by the Holy Apostle begging his Permission and Blessing to go for Andria there to fulfil his Ministry Gelasius hearing this greatly rejoyc'd and observing the Venerable Aspect of St. Richard with his Gravity ordain'd him Bishop of Andria commanding him wheresoever he went to Preach the Gospel of Christ and and so Kissing him gave him his Benediction St. Richard accordingly throughout his Journey Preached the Word of God and by many Miracles and Cures of the Sick Converted many to the Faith and Worship of God. At length he arriv'd at Andria where before the Gate of the City he saw a Blind-man and a Woman Bowed and Contracted together both which beg'd an Alms of him He began to expound the Word of God to them and perceiving the Blind man Attentive to him he said If thou wilt believe in Jesus Christ and be Baptiz'd thou shalt receive thy
back he was receiv'd with more then ordinary respect but presently after dy'd full of Days and Sanctity and was bury'd by Leontius in Aquitain Now though the Inhabitants of Aleth were depriv'd of the Sacred Relicks of their prime Prelate whom they had treated so injuriously yet the name of Blessed Maclovius remains never to be blotted out adorning and defending that City to this day with his Coelestial Benefits and Glorious Perfection Howbeit the Episcopal See does not now remain at Aleth but is remov'd to an Island two Miles distant from thence Antiently call'd Aaron where a City new built is in memory of their Holy Prelate and Patron call'd St. Malo and Vrbs Macloviensis It is said that St. Mahutus with his seven Disciples in Devotion visited Rome where he redeem'd many Infidel Captives and having instructed them in the true Faith Baptiz'd them Saint Brendan his Spiritual Father and Instructor though no Britain by Birth is not to be deny'd some place in this History He came out of Ireland to visit the Holy man St. Gildas Albanius in Britain He was also Superiour in the Monastery of Lancarvan where he Baptiz'd St. Maclovius and returning into Ireland where he was made an Abbot there dy'd Happily in the year of Grace 571. The death of this Blessed man is said to be reveal'd to St. Columba who declar'd That he saw the Heavens on a suddain open'd and a Choire of Angels descending to meet St. Brendan 's Soul by whose incomparable Splendour the whole World was that night Enlightn'd St. Brendan thus call'd to Heaven enjoy'd on Earth also an Eternal Monument of his Name and Sanctity For in the Isle of Orkney a Town and Church were built and call'd from his Name the reason was because his Sacred Body was thither translated In this Age flourish'd a Holy British Abbot call'd St. Doc of whom is written That when St. Canic of whom the Province of Kilkenny took its Name was grown to an Age of capable knowledge being desirous of instruction he pass'd over into Britain to a Religious man call'd Doc and under him studied diligently and was taught both Learning and Piety This St. Doc was one of the three Holy Britains from whom the Irish learn'd the form and Rites of Celebrating Mass The other two were St. David and St. Gildas After the death of King Arthur Constantine according to his designation succeeded him in the Government of Britain He was the Son of Cador Duke of Cornwall and Kinsman to the King His sufficiency to discharge that employment for the Benefit of his Country was enough approv'd by the choice of his glorious Predecessor But Almighty God having fix'd a period to the British Monarchy permitted many Factions to arise and many Pretendants to the Principality the opposing of whom hindred Constantine from advancing the common profit and safety of the Kingdom Moreover Ambition and Revenge had such a Power over him that they invited him to commit Crimes which hast'ned the ruine of his Country Hence it is that Gildas calls him the Tyrant of Danmonia Tyrant in regard of his Cruelty and Tyrant of that Province because at that time several others had invaded each one their several Principalities and for the maintaining of their unjust Usurpations fill'd the whole Nation with all manner of Impieties which gave occasion to the same Gildas to publish a Passionate Invective against the Vices of the whole British Nation which had universally depriv'd the Inhabitants of all states and conditions an exceeding few excepted who forseeing the unavoidable destruction of the Nation withdrew themselves from publick Affairs and in solitude deplor'd the sins of others by great Pennances and Austerities procuring Indulgence to their own Souls In former times saith Gildas our Kings publick Officers private Persons Bishops and other Ecclesiasticks every one kept their Order and perform'd the Duties belonging to them But when they were dead there succeeded a Generation utterly ignorant of the former Virtues among whom all the Rules of Truth and Justice were so shaken and subverted that no footsteps nor so much as the least Monument of those Virtues appear'd in any of the said Orders Constantine at his first Ascension into his Throne bound himself by a Solemn Oath to govern Justly and to use his utmost endeavours to defend his Subjects from Injuries and Oppressions and the Commonwealth from the violence of its Enemies And yet the year following we find him charg'd with Perjury and the violation of his Faith by his Barbarous Cruelty and Sacrilegious Prophanation of Gods House For the two Sons of Mordred rising up in Arms against him to revenge their Fathers death joyn'd in Confederacy with the Saxons and fought many Battles with him but at last being compell'd to fly Constantine pursu'd them and one of them he slew before the Altar of St. Amphibalus his Church in Winchester the other who had hid himself in a Convent of Monks he Condemned to a Cruel death in London For this Sacrilegious Inhumanity Gildas in his too free stile calls Constantine The Tyrannical Whelp of the Lioness of Danmonia an infringer of the dreadful Sacrament of an Oath by which he bound himself before God and all his Saints to abstain from all Injustice and Treachery to his Subjects notwithstanding which in the very bosom both of their Carnal Mother and Spiritual Mother the Church near the most Holy Altar he had torn the Bowels of two Royal Youths though cover'd with the Vestments of a Holy Abbot whilst they stretch'd forth their Hands not armed with Swords to resist but to implore help from God and his Altar and yet he most Barbarously shed their Blood which with a Purple dye stain'd the seat of the Ecclesiastical Sacrifice and the Sacred Palls which cover'd it To this Invective the same Author adjoyns most pressing Exhortations to Constantine That he would do suitable Pennance for these horrible Crimes that if possible he might avoid the dark inextricable Torrents of Eternal fire in which otherwise he must for ever be roll'd and roasted By these Expressions it should seem these two Sons of Mordred were not so much to be blam'd for their rising all Circumstances consider'd Probable it is that these or such like Exhortations wrought a good effect upon Constantine for though some write that he was slain by Conan who succeeded in the Kingdom yet others tell another Story viz. That after a short reign having been depriv'd of his Wife and Children be grew weary of his Kingdom and privily stealing from his Friends went into Ireland and there for the love of Christ labour'd unknown like a poor Servant in a Mill but afterward by perswasion of a Monk to whom he discover'd his condition he was induc'd to shave his Head and Consecrate himself to a Religious Life in a Monastery where he is said to live with such Piety and Devotion that he became a pattern of all Virtues to the rest of the Monks That at last