the ground This Church from the days of King Lucius was design'd for a Burying place of our Kings as at this day and after it was Re-edify'd by St. Edward the Confessor A second Metropolitan Church was about this time erected in the City of York esteem'd in that Age the prime City and Church of Britain The third Metropolitan Church was then also built at Landaff or Caerleon upon Vsk in which City now ruin'd were three Noble Churches one bearing the Title of the Holy Martyr Julius Beautifi'd with a Monastery of Virgins Consecrated to God. A second founded by the Name of his Companion St. Aaron And a third famous for being the Metropolitan See of all Cambria although Dubritius is mention'd in History to be the first Arch-bishop of the Welsh Britains concerning the Church of Landaff and the Superiority of it something may be gather'd out of the Protestation of Vrbanus before Calixtus the second in the Councel of Rhemes However sure it is that after the coming of St. Augustine the Monk the Bishop of Landaff hath always been subject to the See of Canterbury This King Lucius built another Church also at Dover in Honour of our Blessed Saviour and his Glorious Mother and some other Churches elsewhere As this King shew'd himself Munificent in Building of Churches so also was he Liberal in his Endowments and Priviledges bestow'd upon them by transferring the Possessions of Idol-Temples to Christian Churches and further Enriching them with more Lands and greater Immunities so that some Malefactors might have refuge within their Precincts which benefit of Sanctuary hath been continu'd and increas'd by most succeeding Princes neither were the Revenues belonging to Pagan Temples inconsiderable for that Religion was very costly for it is certain that the Pagan Flamens in London Sacrific'd yearly 40000. Cows 100000. Sheep innumerable sorts of all Fowl besides 30000. Savage Beasts as Staggs and other Beasts of the Forrest Besides all this King Lucius in the 6th year after his Conversion Founded a Church and Monastery at Winchester which he plentifully Endow'd it is said to be a Church of vast Dimensions and Adorn'd with an Episcopal Palace the Possessions of it extended 12. Miles round about the City This Church was Dedicated to the Honour of our Saviour by Fugatius and Damianus and Devotus a Monk by them Constituted the first Abbot from this time until the time of Dioclesian the Monks here quietly serv'd God after the Rule and Order prescrib'd by St. Mark the Evangelist and first Bishop of Alexandria which Rule is thus describ'd by Cassianus saying These Monks did not content themselves to retain the order of living practis'd by the Primitive Christians whereof we read in the Acts of the Apostles That they had all things in common accounted nothing their own sold their Possessions and laid the price at the Apostles feet to be divided amongst such as had need But these Monks aspir'd to practices more sublime for retiring them to the most secret places they led a Life of unparallel'd Abstinence and Austerity in Reading of Holy Scripture day and night in fervent Prayer and continual Labour of their Hands without regard of Food or Sustenance save only that every second or third day they would receive some slender Sustenance for necessity not for the satisfaction of their Apetite and not then until after Sun-set The Light they spent in Labour or Holy Exercises Darkness suffic'd for the care of their Bodies Under the Persecution of Dioclesian this Holy Fraternity was dissipated but not long after again restor'd and their Church Consecrated by Constantius Bishop of Winchester in the year of Grace 309. taking a new Name from St. Amphibolus who with St. Alban was Crown'd with Martyrdom and by this Name Gildas calls it in his relation of the Sons of Mordred Murder'd by Constantine in this place It suffer'd a second Eclipse when the Infidel Saxons laid waste all Holy places in this Island Howbeit no sooner did the Saxons embrace the Faith of Christ but they repair'd this Church and Monastery after call'd de Hida and restor'd it to greater Splendor and Magnificence then it had before in which Splendor and Beauty it continu'd fortify'd by Charters of Kings and Bulls of Popes untill all Religious Houses were swallow'd up by the sury and Avarice of Henry the VIII So as St. Edward the Confessor in his Charter to the Monastery of Westminster prov'd a Prophet who declar'd The same Charter should continue in force so long as the love of Christianity should remain in this Nation Our Devout and Wise King Lucius did not only endow Churches and Monasteries for the present Worship of God but provided Seminaries of Learning and Piety for the future increase thereof the most Famous of which was the School and Monastery of Bangor in North-Wales It is said to be the first Colledge of Christian Philosophers but is in some Authors mistaken for another of that Name in Vlster from whence proceeded the famous Bishop St. Malachias whose Life is elegantly written by St. Bernard However this famous Monastery it seems prosper'd so well for a long time that at the coming of St. Augustine into England more than 2000. Monks were found in it This King was not only careful to plant and settle the Christian Faith within his own Kingdom but as many Antient and Credible Records testifie personally sow'd the Seeds of Christianity in Germany and other Forreign parts and as some say there ended his days as his Virgin Sister and Martyr also did Fugatius or Phaganus and Damianus being inform'd of St. Joseph and his Companion 's retirement to Glastonbury and their deaths there visited the place which they found reduc'd to little better then a Covert of Wild-Beasts so little encouragement or countenance had the Christian Faith receiv'd yet by Divine conduct they discover'd an Antient Church built by St. Joseph and his Companions and Consecrated as afore-said by God himself they also found the Holy-Cross with several Writings and other Tokens declaring the place to have been formerly an Habitation of Christians and receptable of those prime Disciples They therefore added another Oratory built of Stone Dedicated to the Honour of St. Peter and St. Paul and on the Top of the Tor or Mountain rais'd a Chappel to the Honour of St. Michael the Arch-Angel And lastly to continue the Service of God which had been interrupted they establish'd a succession of 12 Devout persons in memory of St. Joseph and the first 12. which Succession continu'd till the coming of St. Patrick the Apostle of Ireland unto this place These two Holy men made this place their Retirement for the space of nine years and there dy'd and were bury'd as is believ'd about the year of our Lord 199. After the Death of Lucius which happen'd in the 7th year of Severus none of the British Race were permitted to reign but Legats from the Emperour commanding the Roman Army In the time of Commodus
be found again soon after the Sacred Body was translated to the Church of St. Alban and many Miracles were there continually wrought through the intercession of the Blessed Amphibalus who suffer'd in the year of our Lord 287. Although the place of this Saints Burial was long obscur'd yet as appears by Gildas his memory was precious for within ten years after he suffer'd a Church was erected to his Honour and in the year of our Lord 309. another Church was Consecrated to this Saint at Winchester which being after Re-built by the Saxons was Dedicated to St. Peter When the Body of this Holy Man was discover'd other Bodies were found lying by it conjectur'd to be those who suffer'd with him Much about this time two famous Martyrs Julius and Aaron before-mention'd Citizens of Caerleon and Disciples of St. Amphibalus are recorded to have suffer'd for the Faith of Christ These two had a long time addicted themselves to the Holy Faith and were also diligent in the study of Arts and Humane Learning both at Rome and else-where They suffer'd saith St. Bede with many others of both Sexes intoller able Torture their Members being torn asunder with unheard of Cruelty at last consummating a Glorious Martyrdom their Souls were receiv'd into the joys of the Heavenly City Their Memories were preserv'd and Honour'd by Erecting Altars and Churches in their Names each of them had a famous Church Erected to their Honour in Caerleon for three Magnificent Churches are said to have been Built of Old time in that City one of the Martyrs St. Julius adorn'd with a Choir and Convent of Religious Virgins a second Dedicated to the Honour of his Companion St. Aaron and Graced with a Noble Choir of Canons the third was the Metropolitan Church of all Cambria and was after Translated by the Holy Bishop St. David with the concurrence of the Pope's Legate and all this long before the coming of the Saxons Besides these the memory is Celebrated of two Noble Britains Disciples of St. Amphibalus who suffer'd Martyrdom in the same Persecution of Dioclesian their Names were Stephanus and Socrates to whose Honour two Churches were built in the Province of the Silures To this time also is refer'd the Murdering of all the Monks in the Monastery of Winchester built by King Lucius During the rage of this Persecution in Britain many Christians withdrew themselves from the fury of it as Gildas reports which considering the frailty of Mankind was not imprudently done for it was thought fit that such as had not the courage to sustain the weight of Martyrdom might at least hold fast the Grace of Confession This flight of Christians in Britain gave occasion to the Persecutors to extend their rage upon Churches and Monasteries all which by such their rage were so utterly destroy'd that in this Island few marks remain'd of Christian Religion This Desolation continu'd untill the Happy return of Constantius by whose Clemency the Christian Faith and Worship flourish'd again in Britain sooner than in other places Which Mercy of God as Bede saith was the rather extended towards the Britains because they only preserv'd among them their Primitive Faith receiv'd in the days of King Lucius entire and inviolate untill the reign of Dioclesian The Tyranny of the Roman Empire against Christians God was pleas'd to revenge by permitting another Tyrant to rise against them in Britain namely Carausius a man Vigilant and Active both in Councel and Execution Imploy'd by the Emperour to scowre the Seas of Pyrats This Imployment Carausius made use of rather to Enrich himself than Benefit the Empire and thereby became so suspected that the Emperour Maximianus commanded him to be put to Death for the avoiding whereof he assum'd the Imperial Purple and possess'd himself of Britain Maximianus prepar'd to oppose him but his attempts proving vain he was forc'd to make a Peace with Carausius who after subdu'd the Caledonian Britains and rais'd a new Rampire to enclose them more Northward than any had been before with a Triumphal Arch in memory of his Victory He govern'd here quietly untill the year 293. when Constantius made his Expedition against him Now though in the time of Carausius Persecution against Christians abated yet by the Rapine of his Soldiers most of the Churches and Monasteries were destroy'd or Spoil'd among the rest those of Winchester and Westminster the latter Converted into a Temple of Apollo In those days the Roman Empire on all sides was greatly shaken both by open Invasions and Civil Dissentions to appease which two new Caesars were chosen Constantius by Maximianus and Galerius by Dioclesian in whom notwithstanding the Supreme Authority and Majesty of the Empire resided the better to strengthen this Association Dioclesian gave his Daughter Valeria to Galerius Maximianus his Daughter Theodora to Constantius who thereupon was compell'd to a Divorce from his former Wife Helena so as she was after esteem'd his Concubine or at least his Wife in the second or inferior place However this pretended Divorce did not it seems prejudice their Son Constantine who born before in Marriage enjoy'd his right of Primogeniture and succeeded his Father in the Empire although he had other Sons by Theodora How Helena was dispos'd of after this Divorce is controverted The best Opinion is that she was plac'd at Triers where Constantius built her a Magnificent Palace and where she was Honour'd with the Title of Augusta In the mean time her Son Constantine was receiv'd into the Family of Dioclesian and there remain'd Uninfected with the Vices of the Court in great Favour with Dioclesian highly Graced by him and acceptable to all that saw him for his Beauty Gracefullness and Modesty especially to the best sort of Men for his Virtue and Piety Constantius being Created Caesar made an Expedition into Gaul with intent to pass over into Britain against the Tyrant Carausius In Gaul he took the Sea-Town Gessoriacum or Buloign which the Tyrant had strongly Fortify'd In the mean time Carausius was Murder'd in Britain by a new Tyrant Alectus General of the Forces of Carausius Alectus to secure himself assum'd the Title of Emperour Against him Constantius the year following sail'd into Britain and landed without opposition though he was way-laid by a strong Fleet plac'd in the Isle of Wight by Alectus When he was landed he set his Ships on Fire and divided his Army one part he led himself the other he committed to the Conduct of Asclepiodorus Prefect of the Praetorian Band Alectus avoiding Constantius chose to try his Fortune with Asclepiodorus by whom he was easily defeated and slain Howbeit a great part of his Army consisting of Strangers Franks and Battavians seeing their Prince Dead fled towards London hoping to Enrich themselves by the Spoils of that City But Constantius coming on them unawares preserv'd the City and cut those Rovers in pieces if any escap'd they became Captive to the Londoners By this return of Constantius the poor
or Vsk as by the ruines there may appear At the first indeed Bishops did not confine themselves to one place but exercis'd their Pastoral Duties from one place to another as they had occasion but after their Flocks incrcasing each Bishop was limited to his peculiar Flock and seated themselves in the eminent Cities then in number about 28. and consequently so many Bishops were ordain'd We find in the Antient Book belonging to the Monastery of Abingdon to this effect That Eleutherius sent his Missioners Faganus and Divianus Learn'd and Holy men to King Lucius who Baptiz'd the King and his People embraceing the Christian Faith destroy'd Idols and built Churches and decreed that in those Cities where formerly resided Arch-flamens according to the Pagan Superstition there Arch-bishops should be establish'd and where ordinary Flamens were there Bishops should succeed the chief Cities then were London York and Caerleon which became the Seats of three Arch-bishops Possibly the Title of Flamens and Arch-flamens was given to these Druid Priests by the Romans who might be distinguish'd amongst themselves by some other Name The Names of these 28 Cities have been collected out of History I. Cair Gumeguir which perhaps is Norwich by the Britains call'd Cair Guntius or perhaps rather Winwick in Lancashire some say Winchester II. Mincip or Municip which is Verulam near St. Albans III. Cair Lualid Luguballia now Caerleil IV. Mediolanum at this day Meivod in Montgomery-shire V. Cair Colon or Colonia now Colchester VI. Cair Ebranc now York VII Cair Custeint near Carnarvan by Antonine call'd Seguntium and Cair Custeint because Constantius the Father of Constantine was there buried and his Body there found in the time of Edward the First after the Conquest and by him Honourably Interr'd VIII Cair Caratauc or Caradoc in the borders of Shropshire between the Rivers Teindus and Colunus where Caractacus was Defeated by Ostorius IX Cair Grant now Cambridge upon the River Grant. X. Maucguid Mancunium in Lancashire as some think Manduessedum or Manchester in Warwickshire as others XI Cair Londein or Cair Lud now London XII Cair Guorthigirn in Radnorshire where King Vortigern hid himself from Divine Justice but could not escape it but was Burnt by Lightning in and with that City XIII Cair Ceint now Canterbury formerly Dorbernia XIV Cair Guorangon Branonium now Worcester XV. Cair Peris or Portcester now Portsmouth XVI Cair Daun or Danus now Doncaster in Yorkshire XVII Cair Legio of the 20th Legion there quarter'd now Chester XVIII Cair Guaricon or Guarvinc of Guarth a Garrison in the British Tongue now Warwick XIX Cair Segesut or the City of the Segontiaci the first People of this Island who yielded to Caesar since call'd Silchester in Hampshire XX. Cair Leon from the second Legion or Vsk from the River it was seated in Monmouthshire and is now ruin'd XXI Cair Guent or Venta Belgarum now Winchester XXII Cair Brito now call'd Bristol XXIII Cair Lerion by the Saxons Legecestria now Leicester XXIV Cair Draiton which Bishop Vsher thinks to be that which is now call'd Draiton in Shropshire XXV Cair Pentavelcoit seated upon the River Ivel in Somersetshire now Ilchester yet the said Learn'd Bishop thinks it should be written Pensavelcoit supposing it to be Pentsey in Sussex where William the Conqueror first landed XXVI Cair Vervac or Vriconium now Wroxcester in Shropshire XXVII Calemion or Calion which Cambden takes to be Comelet in Somersetshire where Roman Coins are frequently found and where are the footsteps of a Camp. XXVIII Cair Luitcoit or Lindcoit or Lindum now Lincoln These were the 28 Cities perhaps not all extant in the days of King Lucius at least under those Names which were design'd then for the Seats of Arch-bishops and Bishops though perhaps some other might be design'd for that purpose And it may be the Name of Arch-bishops was not then us'd yet the jurisdiction was alike under the Name of Metropolitans from the Metropolis or most Eminent Cities How many of these Cities were supply'd with Bishops is not certain Records only mention besides Elvanus Consecrated at Rome Theanus only a Britain and first Metropolitan Bishop of London where our Devout King Lucius built a Church in Cornhill Consecrated to St. Peter the Truth whereof is manifested by an Inscription on an Antient Table not long since hanging in the said Church to this effect following In the year of our Lord 179. Lucius the first Christian King of this Land founded the first Church at London namely the Church of St. Peter in Cornhill He establish'd there an Arch-Episcopal See it was the prime Church of the Kingdom and so continu'd for 400. years until the coming of St. Augustine the Apostle of England Some make Theanus Founder of this Church assisted therein by Ciranus the Kings Cup-bearer How long Theanus govern'd in this See is uncertain however he was succeeded by St. Elvanus though Malmsburiensis makes it doubtful in what place the Arch-Episcopal jurisdiction was fix'd during the time of the Britains Fugatius and Damianus after their three years successful Labours in this new Vineyard of our Lord as Historians witness return'd to Rome to give an account to St. Eleutherius how affairs stood in Britain As to this Matthew of Westminster expresses himself most fully affirming That in the year of Grace 186. the Blessed Prelates Fugatius and Damianus return'd to Rome and obtain'd from the Holy Pope Eleutherius a confirmation of all they had done in Britain and then came back again accompany'd with many others By whose Instructions the British Nation being confirm'd in the Faith of Christ became Illustrious the Names and Acts of these Holy men may be found in the History of our Gildas concerning the Victory of Aurelius Ambrosius It was the practice of Christian Churches to have frequent recourse to the Chair of St. Peter and about this very time the Church of Lions in France sent Irenaeus to St. Eleutherius for the resolving of questions about Ecclesiastical Affairs as St. Jerom witnesseth and of the same Errand before this time went St. Beatus to Rome as is before-mention'd This hath been frequently done in a due Subordination to the Supream Tribunal of the Church and for the preservation of Unity the Center whereof the Chair of St. Peter was ever accounted When Fugatius and Damianus came back into Britain they presented the King with a Crown Bless'd by that Holy Pope with many Divine Admonitions more acceptable than the Crown relating to the Government of his Civil State and his Defence of Holy Church It is said the Pope also prescrib'd the limits of his Kingdom so far Northerly that some conjecture that from thence it is that so many of those Northern Provinces became subject to the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Church of York Other Churches were afterwards built as first at Westminster in the place of an Idol Temple consecrated to Apollo which in the Reign of Antoninus Pius was by an Earthquake cast to
in that only true God which his Mother Helena Worship'd all her Life and his Father Constantius towards his end To that God he offer'd Zealous and Devout Prayers That he would discover to him who he was and how he would be Worship'd and would protect him in his present condition of danger His Devotion was not in vain for by a stupendious Miracle in the sight of the whole Army God declar'd his acceptance of his Supplicants Prayers for he saw over the Sun then begining to decline the Sign of the Cross in Heaven figur'd by a resplendent light together with these words inscrib'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 By this be Victorious Which Spectacle caus'd great admiration both to himself and his Army Artemius one of the Spectators afterwards relates this Miracle to Julian the Apostate and Vouches many of his then present Soldiers for Spectators and further Witnesses thereof some writers add That many Angels were seen with this Apparition who encourag'd constantine and promis'd him Victory by that Sign and that he himself saw an Arm'd Horseman who bore in his Hands the sign of the Cross as an Ensign The Christians in Constantine's Army were Encourag'd by this Coelestial Vision but the Pagans look'd upon it as a Fatal and Ominous Sign until the succeeding Victory prov'd it otherwise Nay at first the good Emperour himself was in great doubt what this strange Vision should Portend until at night our Lord appear'd to him in his Sleep bearing the same Sign with him and commanded Constantine To cause a Draught or Copy thereof to be fram'd and to be made use of by him as a Guard and Protection in all his Battels Accordingly Constantine instructed his most cunning Workmen to make a Banner in imitation thereof Adorn'd with Gold and Precious Stones which he perpetually had carry'd before him in his Army He caus'd likewise innumerable representations of the Cross to be fix'd in several publick and Private places especially in several parts of his own Palace where it was for the most part fram'd of Gold Jewels and Precious Stones No wonder then if the veneration of the Holy Cross every day more and more increas'd amongst Christians a practice us'd from the most Primitive times and now Authoriz'd by our Lord himself from Heaven as it hath been sure confirm'd by innumerable Miracles wrought in several Ages by it Constantine encourag'd by this Promise of Divine assistance and Arm'd with this Glorious Sign of the Cross makes towards Italy Conquers several Nations reduces several Cities and overcomes all Resistance and having clear'd all the Provinces behind him marches Couragiously to Rome it self where the Tyrant for more than six years had exercis'd all manner of Wickedness He had not Courage to Issue out of the City or oppose Constantine's Progress stupify'd with his Lusts and afrighted with Prodigies and the Divination of his South-sayers But when Constantine approach'd the City Maxentius was enforc'd to draw out his Army consisting of 17000 Foot and 1800. Horse these numerous Forces he rang'd beyond the Milvian Bridge so that they were shut out of the City by the River The Tyrant us'd this Stratagem also he caus'd the Bridge to be so fram'd that at his pleasure he might dissolve it Constantine having rang'd his Army on the other side himself with great Courage gave the on-set by which he immediately broke his Enemies Ranks so as little resistance was made except by the Praetorian Soldiers who having Created Maxentius Emperour expected no Pardon and cover'd the ground with the dead Bodies Those who endeavour'd flight found it unsuccessful being hindred by the straitness of the Bridge the slaughter was exceeding great there being no other way to avoid the Sword but plunging into the River wherein great multitudes were swallow'd The Tyrant himself casting off the marks of Authority adventur'd into Tyber and being hurry'd down the Stream was drown'd his Body being cast upon the shore the People found and cut off his Head which with great Joy and Triumph they carry'd up and down the City fastn'd to a Pole. It is affirm'd that since Rome was built never was a day Celebrated with greater or more universal Joy than the day whereon Constantine Triumph'd for this Victory His Triumphant Chariot was attended not with Conquer'd Princes or Generals but with the Nobility of Rome freed from Dungeons and Chains Rome did not indeed Inrich her self with Spoils of Enemies but ceas'd to be the Spoil of an Inhumane Tyrant However this Pious Emperour would have this common Joy and Applause ascrib'd not to himself but to God only by virtue of the Holy Cross to whom only he gave the Praise and Honour of this Victory At his Triumphal entrance into the City he caus'd the Cross to be carried before his Army that Rome might see by what Arms she had been freed from Slavery he also enjoyn'd the People and Senate to Prostrate themselves before that Triumphant Sign and to Adore the Name of Christ who had Enobl'd the same It is therefore a narrow conceit of some who will not acknowledge that the Cross was ever Honour'd or Venerated by this Emperour or his Command when it is most manifest by undenyable Testimony for it is well known that Constantine Dedicated a Church to the Honour of the Holy Cross This Honour of the Cross Prudentius thus sounds forth Vex illum Crucis summus Dominator Adorat And not only so but the said Emperour signifies his will that all the World should also do so This Prince also further to Honour this Sign of our Salvation causeth his Statue to be set up in Rome holding a Cross in the right Hand with this Inscription By this saving Sign the Emblem of Fortitude I deliver'd your City from the yoak of Tyranny and having given perfect Liberty to the Senate and People of Rome I restor'd them to their Antient Greatness and Splendour There was another Inscription Engraven in Stone by the Decree of the Senate of like purport with the former wherein the Victory is ascrib'd contrary to the Roman custom to one True God and not to the many Gods there Ador'd After this signal Victory Constantine sent for Licinius the Emperour to Millain and there gave him to Wife his Sister Constantia and procur'd an Edict from him for free Liberty to profess the Christian Religion what belong'd to Churches was restor'd unto them Both Constantine and Lacinius joyn in their request to Maximinus the Eastern Emperour to grant the like freedom within his Dominions to which request Maximinus with much unwillingness yielded Matthew of Westminster affirms That about this time Constantine chose into the Senate his three Vncles before-mention'd which might perhaps give occasion to Julian the Apostate afterwards to darken the memory of this Glorious Emperour as a perverter of the Antient Roman Laws in being the first who Adorn'd Barbarous Strangers with Consular Robes In the year of Grace 314. Silvester succeeded Melchiades in the Popedom It
over-against Jerusalem to the East And St. Jerom testifies That the same footsteps of our Lord imprinted on the ground were shewn in his time so as though the Earth were continually taken away by the Devotion of Christians yet these Holy footsteps did receive and retain their former state Sulpitius Severus relates a strange story namely That the place where our Lords feet at his Ascention stood could not be continu'd to the rest of the Pavement about it for whensoever Marble was laid on it the Earth refus'd to receive it casting the Stones oft times upwards in the Faces of those which apply'd them and the footsteps of our Lord there seen are a lasting Monument that the Dust there had been trod on by our Saviour To this Beda adds That whereas the Temple built over this place consisted of three Stories the uppermost whereof were Vaulted with Arches that which was the lowest and most inward could by no Art or Labour be clos'd with a Vault The Holy Empress was now in earnest quest of the Holy Cross on which our Lord perfected the Redemption of Mankind by the Apparition of which her Son had been lately drawn to Faith and Baptism A Rumour there was that it was still extant and hid up in some of those Holy places but where to find it was the difficulty several places thereabout were dig'd but all in vain at last the Religious Lady was by a Coelestial Admonition inform'd where it lay Whereupon causing all the Rubbish to be remov'd she found under ground three Crosses in a confus'd order whereby her joy was diminish'd by the uncertainty which was the true one there was also found with them the Title which had been written by Pilate in Greek Latin and Hebrew Letters but being separated gave no token to discern which was our Lords Cross In this doubtfulness the only remedy was by Prayer to beg a Divine Testimony At the same time there was in the City a Woman of quality who lay Sick of a Grievous Disease ready to Expire Macarius Bishop of Jerusalem seeing the Empress so sollicitous to discover the true Cross commanded that all-three should be brought not doubting but that God would discover the true one and being enter'd with the Empress into the Sick Womans Chamber Pray'd That God would be pleas'd to shew unto them which of those three Crosses was imploy'd to glorisie our Lord and which for the punishments of the Malefactors and that this discovery might be made by the restoring of the Woman half dead upon the touches of the True Cross The first and second were apply'd without any avail or effect but as soon as the third was apply'd unto her she open'd her Eyes and rose up in perfect Health and went about her House with great alacrity Praising and Glorifying the Power of God. And thus was the Empress satisfy'd in her longing desire by the Attestation of many Ecclesiastical Writers so as in memory of this saving sign she Dedicated a peculiar Church and for the Cross it self thus found she sent part of it to the Emperour to be Honourably bestow'd in his Palace the remainder she enclos'd in a Box of Silver and gave it to the Bishop of Jerusalem to be reserv'd as a Monument of our Salvation and for many years after upon the day of our Lords Resurrection it was produc'd with Veneration by the Bishop and expos'd also to the People to be by them likewise Venerated That part which was sent to Constantine he enclos'd in a Statue of his own which was plac'd on a mighty Pillar of Porphyry in the Market-place of Constantinople and was by him esteem'd as a mighty Bulwark of his Empire The Nails which pierc'd our Saviours Sacred flesh were artificially enclos'd in the Emperour's Helmet as a Guard for his Head. One of them indeed in a great Tempest the Empress threw into the Adriatick Sea and by that means as is presum'd sav'd her self and Company from Shipwrack Our Helena being a British Princess drawing near the end of her Life increas'd in her Zeal and Piety her Humility and Devout respect to Holy Virgins Consecrated to the Service of God appear'd by this example That she invited some of them to Dinner and thought it not enough that her Maids should attend upon them but girding her self after the manner of a waiting Maid set Meat upon the Table gave them Drink and pour'd Water on their Hands Thus though an Empress she esteem'd her self no better than a a Servant and Handmaid of Christ and his Virgins In all her Progress through the Eastern Provinces she largely express'd her wonderful Munificence giving innumerable Gifts not only to particular Persons but to whole Cities she largely reliev'd the Poor such as were condemn'd to work in Mines or perpetual Imprisonment she set at liberty the Oppress'd she deliver'd from fraud and injury and the Banish'd she restor'd to their own Country In her return out of Palestine into Greece she pass'd by Drepanum in Bithynia where repos'd the Body of the Glorious Martyr Lucianus as soon as she saw his Relicks neglected without any mark of Honour or Reverence she caus'd a Sumptuous Church to be Built over them and enlarg'd the place into a City with Walls and Bulwarks call'd by her Son after her Name Helenopolis Moreover this Holy Empress in her Progress through the East having been inform'd where the Bodies of the three Wise men who came to Bethlehem to Adore our new-born Saviour repos'd brought them with her to her Son Constantine who Reverently laid them in the chief Church of his new City from whence they were translated to Milan and from thence to Colen where they now are Celebrated with great Veneration In such Pious Works did this Holy Empress conclude her Worldly Pilgrimage It is most probable she Deceas'd at Rome Aged above 80 years and was there Honourably Interr'd her occasion of returning thither was after the laudable custom of Christians in those days to visit the Sepulchres of the two chief Apostles She brought with her to Rome a part of the Holy Cross which with great Veneration she plac'd in a Church there Built at her Request by her Son call'd by the Title of the Holy Cross It is reported She spent her last days in great Devotion and approaching to her Death after her receiving the Sacraments of the Church she was comforted with a Vision of our Lord Jesus encompass'd with a multitude of Angels and holding his Cross shining with inexpressible Brightness Eusebius testisies That her Son Constantine with all humble respect attended her in her Sickness and was present at her Death having receiv'd many Devout Exhortations and the Benediction of a Parent from her Such was the Emperour's Piety and Respect to his Mother that she is said To have reign'd as Empress with him to be stil'd Augusta to be transfer'd into the Flavian Family so that many Golden Coins were made and stamp'd with her Image After her Death her
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
Abbot of Glastonbury attended by St. Gildas and all the Clergy came between the two Armies and by perswasion induc'd Melvas to restore the Queen to her Husband which being perform'd Peace ensu'd and both the Kings bestow'd great Possessions and Immunities on the Monastery After which St. Gildas with the Abbots permission retir'd again to an Hermetical Solitude on the bank of the River Axus near Glastonbury where he built a Church Consecrating it to the Blessed Trinity and there spent his time in Prayer Fasting and other Austerities His Sanctity was so exemplary that many came from the farthest part of Britain to visit him and take Spiritual Councel from him He then fell into a Sickness and knowing that his Death approach'd he call'd to him the Abbot of Glastonbury and requested of him That his Body might be buried in the Church of that Monastery which was readily granted So the Holy man dying the 4th day before the Calends of February many saw an Angelical Splendour about his Sacred Body which yielded a most Pleasant Odour And after a solemn Recommendation of his Soul with many Tears of the Religious his Sacred Body was carry'd with great Honour to the Church and there bury'd in the midst of the Pavement of the Antient Church in the year of Grace 512. What hath been here related agrees with the Antient Monuments of Glastonbury where this Holy man is stil'd Historicus neque Insulsus neque Infacetus and most particulars of his Life are with a large Character of him confirm'd in the Gallican Martyrology where is also added That he being during his Childhood sent into France was recommended to the Instructions of Iltutus a Disciple of St. German and that his Voyage into Ireland was to root out many Heresies sprung up amongst the late Converted Christians and to reform many Vices and unlawful Customs and that the Heresie most oppos'd by him in the Northern parts of Britain was Pelagianism What is there said of his going over to Little Britain in his old Age and his being buried in the Church of Vannes contradicts our British Authors but it is probable that when the Saxons infested our Western Provinces his Sacred Relicks might be translated and repos'd in the great Church of Vannes where he is to this day Venerated as Patron of that City Many mistakes have fallen out by consounding this St. Gildas with two others one Confessor and Abbot of Bangor and another the Historian Sirnam'd Badonicus Howbeit the precise Territory where this Gildas Albanius was born may be collected out of Antient Manuscripts quoted by Bishop Vsher which relate That the Blessed St. Gildas was born in the most fruitful Region call'd Arecluta His Fathers name was Caun a most Noble and Catholick person This Region Arecluta a part of Britain took its Name from the River Clut by which the greatest part thereof is Water'd and is now call'd Argyle Argathelia And Clut before that Glotea and Cluida was Northward the bounds of the British Provinces under the Roman jurisdiction beyond which liv'd the Caledonians c. In the sixth year after the Battle where Vther was slain new Supplies came out of Germany to the Saxons For Stuff and Whitgar Nephews of Cerdic landed with three Ships at Certic-shore The Britains early in the morning in very good order rang'd their Armies against them The Sun then arising cast its beams upon the British Armour and reflecting thence partly from the Mountains and partly from the Valleys below struck a great Terrour into the Saxons But when they came to Fight the Britains were quickly defeated because God despis'd them By this Victory the Saxons gain'd a great extent of Land and Cerdic became so Terrible that he march'd whither he pleas'd without controll The year following Ella King of the South-Saxons dying his Son Cissa succeeded whilst Ella liv'd though his Territories were narrow yet was he for his Courage esteem'd the most potent of all the Saxon Princes insomuch as the Princes Nobles and Military Officers of the Angli had a great dependance on him But this lasted not long for it was shortly after transferr'd on Cerdic the West-Saxon whose Kingdom though not yet begun yet had its foundation from this Victory Cissa being of a milder Spirit contented himself with his own little Kingdom without extending his Power further He imploy'd his time in exercises of Peace especially Building and Fortifying of Cities In two of which he left the memory of his own Name Chichester and Cisbury as our Cambden relates adding That this Cissa with his Father Ella and Brother Cimen landed in a Port of that Province call'd therefore Cimenshore The year wherein Cerdic obtain'd the last mention'd Victory is famous for the Birth of the renown'd British Bishop St. Kontigern the strangeness of which since it is Celebrated by many Antient Writers is not here to be omitted His Mother is said to be Thenis the Daughter of Loth King of Pictland and Anna the Daughter of Vterpendragon and consequently he was the Nephew of King Arthur Who was the Father of St. Kentigern is not certainly known some suppose him to be Eugenius the Third King of the Scots John of Tinmouth an Antient Historian thus relates his Original A certain King in the Northern parts of Britain who was a Pagan begot of his Wife a very Beautiful Daughter she having been a frequent hearer of Sermons preach'd by the Servants of God obtain'd the Grace to believe his Truth and renounce the Worshiping of Idols and though she had not yet been Purified with the Sacrament of Baptism yet she was diligent in observing Gods Commandments with an Humble and Devout mind being much given to Prayer and Alms-giving and other Duties of Ecclesiastical Discipline as much as the fear of offending her Father would permit She bore so great a Devotion to the fruitful Virginity and Integrity of the Blessed Virgin Mary that mov'd with a Womanish presumption she beg'd of our Lord that she might in some measure imitate her in her Conception and Birth At length as she thought she obtain'd her desire for she found her self with Child Now it is not to be conceiv'd that this happ'ned without the Embraces of a man notwithstanding who this man was or in what manner and when this was done she oft Protested and with Oaths confirm'd it that she was utterly ignorant Her Father perceiving this and not being able either by fair Speeches or Threatnings to wrest from her who was the Father of the Child for she seriously Protested that she had never suffer'd the unlawful Embraces of any man Hereupon in a great rage determin'd to execute upon her the Law of the Country which was That whatsoever young Maid should be found with Child by Fornication in her Fathers House should be thrown Head-long from the top of a high Mountain and the person who corrupted her should loose his Head In conformity to this Law the young Woman was placed on the highest
part of a mountain in that Country call'd Dunpelder from thence to be thrown down and torn in pieces She therefore with deep Sighs looking up to Heaven implor'd the Mercy and Help of her Redeemer with many Tears after this she was cast down but by the fall was neither bruis'd nor receiv'd the least harm but sliding down easily and slowly came safe to the bottom The Pagans there present ascrib'd this deliverance to the Magical Inchantments of the Christians and therefore with the Kings Consent they carried her several Miles into the Sea and there left her in a small Boat made of Leather without any Oares and destitute of all Humane help But it seems he who commands the Winds and the Seas was her Protector for by his Power the Boat was carried straight to a far distant Haven with greater swiftness then either Oares or Sails could have driven her Being there arriv'd the young Lady soon after at a place call'd Collenros was deliver'd without the assistance of a Midwife of a Son This Collenros probably is the same which St. Bede calls Coludi and Ptolomy Colania in the Province of Louden The next morning St. Servanus came to the place and seeing the desolate Mother with her Infant said My Beloved Child Blessed art thou who art come in the Name of the Lord He took them into his care nourish'd and Baptiz'd them calling the Mother Thanen and the Child Kentigern that is Cheif-Lord The Child being of a towardly Disposition profited much in Learning and Virtue and was Belov'd of St. Servanus beyond all his Companions and call'd Munhu as he is still nam'd among the Scots So as they who affirm his Birth to have been at St. Asaph in Flintshire are much mistaken which mistake perhaps ariseth from his being afterwards Bishop there However after 25 years we shall find him Consecrated Bishop of Glasco and then more is to be said of him The continual Troubles rais'd by the Saxons would not permit King Arthur to Solemnize his Coronation 'till eight years after his Fathers death But in the year of Grace 516. the Ceremony was Magnificently perform'd in a General Assembly of Bishops and Nobles at Caerleon St. Dubritius Bishop of that City setting the Crown on his Head. After which the Holy Bishop retir'd into a certain Island in Northwales call'd by the Britains Enhly and by the English Berdsey which Island saith Cambden Was inhabited by so many Saints that beside Dubritius and Merlin the Caledonian no fewer then 20000 Holy men were Buried there as Records inform us Concerning this Island saith Bishop Vsher It was call'd by the Britains The Rome of Britain for the distance of it the difficulty of Passage the Sanctity and Security of it since 20000 Saints are there Venerated as Martyrs and since it is on all sides encompass'd with the Sea. By which may be collected what esteem the Britains then had of Rome and what agreement in Religion there was between them At this time the Saxons invited more of their Country-men out of Germany And under the conduct of Colgrin they subdu'd all that part of Britain which lyes from Humber to the Sea of Cathanes whereof when King Arthur was inform'd he march'd with an Army towards York which was then held by the Saxons Colgrin met him with a great multitude near the River Duglas in Lancashire but coming to a Battle Colgrin was put to flight and pursu'd by King Arthur to York Baldulph the Brother of Colgrin at that time lay with some Forces toward the Sea expecting the coming of the Saxons He intended to make an Irruption by night into King Arthur's Army but the King being admonish'd thereof by Spies sent Cador Duke of Cornwall with 600 Horse and 3000 Foot to intercept the Saxons which Forces setting on the Saxons unexpectedly kill'd a great number of them and put the rest to flight King Arthur closely Besieg'd York during which Siege a famous German Captain call'd Cheldric arriv'd in Albania with 700 Boats. These great succours frighted the Britains from their Siege so as the King retir'd with his Army to London from whence he sent Messengers to his Nephew Hoel King of Little-Britain to inform him of the Calamity of this Island Hoel to succour his Uncle landed shortly after with 15000 men at the Haven of Hamon where he was with great Joy and Honour receiv'd by King Arthur Encourag'd with these new Forces he obtain'd the next year two famous Victories against the Saxons the former near the River Bassas the latter in the Wood Chelidon both in Lincolnshire near Lincoln the chief City No fewer then 6000 of the Saxons were slain the rest fled into the Wood or Forrest of Caledon and were pursu'd by King Arthur and there Immur'd by great Trees cut down and laid athwart so as they were thereby reduc'd to such extream Famine that they beg'd leave to depart the Realm leaving all their Spoils behind them By this Exploit the Saxons were driven out of the middle part of Britain Howbeit in the Western part they so prevail'd that Cerdicus there establish'd a Kingdom Another Victory this Heroick King is said to have obtain'd though the time be not mention'd against these Barbarous Enemies near the Castle call'd Guinnion In which Battle the King carried upon his Shoulders the Image of the Blessed Virgin-mother of God and all that day by the Virtue and Power of our Lord Jesus Christ and St. Mary his Mother compell'd the Saxons to fly after many had perish'd with a great slaughter the succeeding Exploits of this King follow after Whilst most of the Provinces of that part of Britain which is since call'd England were thus miserably disquieted the parts thereof since call'd Wales enjoy'd good repose and were made Illustrious by great numbers of Saints who flourish'd there as St. Dubritius St. Sampson St. David St. Thelian St. Kined St. Paternus St. Daniel St. Justinian and others some of these have been already mention'd and more of their Gests will follow As for St. Daniel he is reported by Bishop Vsher to have built a Colledge or Monastery of the Apostolick Order for the Sacred Exercises of Learned and Pious men in Arvonia the Country of the Venedati not far from the streight where men pass into the Isle of Anglesey out of Wales Which Colledge was by the Founder call'd the Port or Haven It was built in the year of our Lord 516. In the same place not long after Malgo Conan built a City which for the Beautiful Scituation of it he call'd Bancor or Bangor after it was the seat of a Bishop wherein this St. Daniel was the first who sate So that Bishop Goodwin is mistaken in affirming that no Bishop had been there before the Norman Conquest This City of Bangor was a place distinct from the famous Monastery of that Name There was indeed a Monastery in both places but this was seated in Arvonia now Caernarvan upon the River Menai dividing
his Eyes and say a Prayer or Benediction on them But receiving no benefit thereby David said to him Father command me not to look you in the face for ten years are past since I studied the Scriptures with you and in all that time I never had the boldness to look you in the face Paulens admiring his Humility said Since it is so it will suffice if by touching mine Eyes thou pronounce a Benediction on them Presently therefore as soon as he had touch'd them Sight was restor'd to them The same year wherein the Synod of Brevi was Celebrated Cerdic began the Kingdom of the West-Saxons That is saith Huntingdon in the seventy first year after the first coming of the Saxons in the reign of the Emperour Justin the Elder This Cerdic is said to be Crown'd with Pagan Ceremonies at Winchester in a place which once had been the Church of the true God but which these Barbarous Heathens had chang'd into a Temple of Dagon after they had slain all the Monks who serv'd God there The raising of this new Kingdom disproves the Fictions of Geffrey of Monmouth concerning the great and frequent Victories of King Arthur in these days It is likely to be more true which Huntingdon expresly declares namely That this year a terrible Battle was fought between Cerdic and the Britains and that on both sides the Captains Fought Magnanimously till Even but then the Saxons got the Victory which would have been more Bloody to the Britains had not the darkness hind'red the Pursuit After this the Fame of Cerdic and his Son Kenric was largely spread through the whole land and from that day began the Kingdom of the West-Saxons which having swallow'd all the other Principalities remains to our times Many Battles are said to have been Fought between King Arthur and this Cerdic wherein sometimes one sometimes the other had the better But at last King Arthur grew weary and contenting himself with an Oath of Fidelity from Cerdic gave him the Provinces of Hampshire and Somerset Some Authors affirm a League to have been made between them wherein a special Priviledge was provided for Cornwall to be permitted upon an Annual Tribute the free exercise of Christian Religion Which Indulgence seems to be prov'd by the great number of Saints which in those and the following times flourish'd in that Province whereas scarce any can be found in other parts of Britain subject to the Saxons And in truth it is very like that great multitudes of Britains flying from the fury of the Saxons betook themselves to Cornwal and Wales as places most distant and more defenceable and where they might expect better Conditions and more advantage of resisting their new Masters then in other parts for no doubt this Kingdom of the West-Saxons was made up of more Provinces than Hampshire or Somerset so that Cerdic had good footing in Devonshire Dorsetshire Barkshire and Wiltshire to which shortly after was added the Isle of Wight bestow'd by Cerdic on his late arriv'd Kinsmen Stuffa and Whitgar who destroy'd the British Inhabitants there at Whitgarburg so call'd from Whitgar but now contractedly Caresburg While Cerdic was busie in establishing his new Kingdom in the year 520. Colgrin Baldulf and Cheldric whom King Arthur had lately subdu'd at York and forc'd to abjure the land returning landed at Totness from whence passing through Cerdic's Dominions they came to the City of Bath and Besieg'd it King Arthur hearing thereof caus'd the Hostages which they had left to be Hang'd and gathering a mighty Army came to raise the Seige where the Armies being joyn'd he calling on the Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary whose Image he wore over his Armour slew great numbers of his Enemies and amongst the rest Colgrin and his Brother Baldulf which Cheldric perceiving fled and was pursu'd by Cador the Duke of Cornwall to the Isle of Thanet and there slain by him the rest being forc'd to yield King Arthur as may be remembred obtain'd a Battle before he was King near Bath at the Mountain Badonicus now this is likely to be another defeat given by King Arthur to the Saxons and the City of Bath being in the utmost extremity West-ward of Cerdic's Kingdom it might at this time have been in the possession of the Britains As for King Arthur's invoking the assistance of our Blessed Lady in the Fight it was a Devotion generally practic'd by the Church in this Age. For two years before there having been Assembled two Councels in the East one at Jerusalem and the other at Constantinople the Synod at Jerusalem wrote to the Bishops of the other Councel thus We beseech you most Holy Bishops to Pray with us to our Lord for these things for the Necessities of Gods Priests ought to be common make your Supplications likewise with us to the most Holy and Glorious Virgin Mary Mother of God that she would intercede for the Peace of the Catholick Church and for the Victory and long Life of our most Excellent and Pious Emperour The like practice we find else-where of which many Examples may be given The next year King Arthur was call'd into the Northern parts to assist Prince Howel who three years before was come out of Little Britain to his Aid and was now Besieg'd by the Picts and Scots in the City call'd Acluid wherein he lay Sick. Upon King Arthur's approach the Enemies retir'd to a place call'd Mureif whither he pursu'd them but they escaping by night fled to a Lake call'd Lumoney Whereupon King Arthur gathering many Ships together encompass'd the Island and in 15 days brought them to such extreme Famine that many thousands of them Perish'd In which utmost danger the Bishops of that Region came Barefoot to the King with Tears beseeching him To take pitty of that miserable People and to give them some small portion of that Country to inhabit under the yoak of perpetual Servitude The King thus mollify'd with the Tears of the Bishops pardon'd his Enemies and granted their request Hence it is that some Writers ground the subjection of Scotland to the Crown of Brittain and particularly Walsingham but certainly better grounds may be found of it than this Whereas it is said that certain Pictish and Scotish Bishops were Supplicants to this King for their Distress'd Countrymen it hath been already demonstrated that the Province of the Picts where the City of Acluid is seated had many years before receiv'd the Christian Faith by the Preaching of St. Ninianus but who were his Successors is hard to conjecture In the Annals of Ireland mention is made of a certain Bishop call'd Nennion who is said to have flourish'd in Britain about the year 520. and to have had his seat in a place call'd the great Monastery This man probably was the Successor of St. Ninianus and that great Monastery the same with Candida Casa where the Monument of that Apostolick Bishop was which by reason of frequent Miracles wrought there invited great
back he was receiv'd with more then ordinary respect but presently after dy'd full of Days and Sanctity and was bury'd by Leontius in Aquitain Now though the Inhabitants of Aleth were depriv'd of the Sacred Relicks of their prime Prelate whom they had treated so injuriously yet the name of Blessed Maclovius remains never to be blotted out adorning and defending that City to this day with his Coelestial Benefits and Glorious Perfection Howbeit the Episcopal See does not now remain at Aleth but is remov'd to an Island two Miles distant from thence Antiently call'd Aaron where a City new built is in memory of their Holy Prelate and Patron call'd St. Malo and Vrbs Macloviensis It is said that St. Mahutus with his seven Disciples in Devotion visited Rome where he redeem'd many Infidel Captives and having instructed them in the true Faith Baptiz'd them Saint Brendan his Spiritual Father and Instructor though no Britain by Birth is not to be deny'd some place in this History He came out of Ireland to visit the Holy man St. Gildas Albanius in Britain He was also Superiour in the Monastery of Lancarvan where he Baptiz'd St. Maclovius and returning into Ireland where he was made an Abbot there dy'd Happily in the year of Grace 571. The death of this Blessed man is said to be reveal'd to St. Columba who declar'd That he saw the Heavens on a suddain open'd and a Choire of Angels descending to meet St. Brendan 's Soul by whose incomparable Splendour the whole World was that night Enlightn'd St. Brendan thus call'd to Heaven enjoy'd on Earth also an Eternal Monument of his Name and Sanctity For in the Isle of Orkney a Town and Church were built and call'd from his Name the reason was because his Sacred Body was thither translated In this Age flourish'd a Holy British Abbot call'd St. Doc of whom is written That when St. Canic of whom the Province of Kilkenny took its Name was grown to an Age of capable knowledge being desirous of instruction he pass'd over into Britain to a Religious man call'd Doc and under him studied diligently and was taught both Learning and Piety This St. Doc was one of the three Holy Britains from whom the Irish learn'd the form and Rites of Celebrating Mass The other two were St. David and St. Gildas After the death of King Arthur Constantine according to his designation succeeded him in the Government of Britain He was the Son of Cador Duke of Cornwall and Kinsman to the King His sufficiency to discharge that employment for the Benefit of his Country was enough approv'd by the choice of his glorious Predecessor But Almighty God having fix'd a period to the British Monarchy permitted many Factions to arise and many Pretendants to the Principality the opposing of whom hindred Constantine from advancing the common profit and safety of the Kingdom Moreover Ambition and Revenge had such a Power over him that they invited him to commit Crimes which hast'ned the ruine of his Country Hence it is that Gildas calls him the Tyrant of Danmonia Tyrant in regard of his Cruelty and Tyrant of that Province because at that time several others had invaded each one their several Principalities and for the maintaining of their unjust Usurpations fill'd the whole Nation with all manner of Impieties which gave occasion to the same Gildas to publish a Passionate Invective against the Vices of the whole British Nation which had universally depriv'd the Inhabitants of all states and conditions an exceeding few excepted who forseeing the unavoidable destruction of the Nation withdrew themselves from publick Affairs and in solitude deplor'd the sins of others by great Pennances and Austerities procuring Indulgence to their own Souls In former times saith Gildas our Kings publick Officers private Persons Bishops and other Ecclesiasticks every one kept their Order and perform'd the Duties belonging to them But when they were dead there succeeded a Generation utterly ignorant of the former Virtues among whom all the Rules of Truth and Justice were so shaken and subverted that no footsteps nor so much as the least Monument of those Virtues appear'd in any of the said Orders Constantine at his first Ascension into his Throne bound himself by a Solemn Oath to govern Justly and to use his utmost endeavours to defend his Subjects from Injuries and Oppressions and the Commonwealth from the violence of its Enemies And yet the year following we find him charg'd with Perjury and the violation of his Faith by his Barbarous Cruelty and Sacrilegious Prophanation of Gods House For the two Sons of Mordred rising up in Arms against him to revenge their Fathers death joyn'd in Confederacy with the Saxons and fought many Battles with him but at last being compell'd to fly Constantine pursu'd them and one of them he slew before the Altar of St. Amphibalus his Church in Winchester the other who had hid himself in a Convent of Monks he Condemned to a Cruel death in London For this Sacrilegious Inhumanity Gildas in his too free stile calls Constantine The Tyrannical Whelp of the Lioness of Danmonia an infringer of the dreadful Sacrament of an Oath by which he bound himself before God and all his Saints to abstain from all Injustice and Treachery to his Subjects notwithstanding which in the very bosom both of their Carnal Mother and Spiritual Mother the Church near the most Holy Altar he had torn the Bowels of two Royal Youths though cover'd with the Vestments of a Holy Abbot whilst they stretch'd forth their Hands not armed with Swords to resist but to implore help from God and his Altar and yet he most Barbarously shed their Blood which with a Purple dye stain'd the seat of the Ecclesiastical Sacrifice and the Sacred Palls which cover'd it To this Invective the same Author adjoyns most pressing Exhortations to Constantine That he would do suitable Pennance for these horrible Crimes that if possible he might avoid the dark inextricable Torrents of Eternal fire in which otherwise he must for ever be roll'd and roasted By these Expressions it should seem these two Sons of Mordred were not so much to be blam'd for their rising all Circumstances consider'd Probable it is that these or such like Exhortations wrought a good effect upon Constantine for though some write that he was slain by Conan who succeeded in the Kingdom yet others tell another Story viz. That after a short reign having been depriv'd of his Wife and Children be grew weary of his Kingdom and privily stealing from his Friends went into Ireland and there for the love of Christ labour'd unknown like a poor Servant in a Mill but afterward by perswasion of a Monk to whom he discover'd his condition he was induc'd to shave his Head and Consecrate himself to a Religious Life in a Monastery where he is said to live with such Piety and Devotion that he became a pattern of all Virtues to the rest of the Monks That at last
place now unknown Egelsburgh now Ailesburgh in Buckinghamshire Bensingtun or Benson in Oxfordshire and also Egnesham now unknown After which Victory Cuthulf departed this life In the year 575. the Kingdom of the East-Angles was Erected in Norfolk Suffolk Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely the Name of the first King was Offa from whom his Successors and Subjects were call'd Vffings Some place Kings in this Region before Offa's time if such were they seem to be Dependant and upon Courtesie as after they were again Beneficiarii sometimes of the Kentish Kings sometimes of the Mercians Two years after the beginning of Offa's reign was fought a Battle fatal to the Britains by which they were expell'd almost out of all the fertile Plains of this Island and driven to the Mountains of Wales The Britains had hitherto defended themselves in their Cities of Glocester Cirencester and Bath but this year Ceaulin after an overthrow given in Battle expugn'd those three Cities and forc'd the Britains to retire into mountains and Woods This Battle saith Cambden was fought at a place call'd Deorham after which the City of Bath was given up to the Saxons And in this Battle it is said three Christian Kings of the Britains were slain whose Names were Comagil Candigan and Faringmagil so that Ceaulin became so terrible to the Britains that all places hast'ned to render themselves to their Power Nevertheless the Britains after seven years rest again attempted another Combat with the Saxons at a place call'd Fedhanlea where on both sides they fought with horrible fury Insomuch as Cuthwin the Son of Ceaulin being oppress'd with multitudes was slain But Ceaulin having repair'd his Army the Soldiers whereof bound themselves by Oath not to fly at last in Battle vanquish'd the Conquering Britains and pursuing them too many Provinces and innumerable Spoils In the year of Grace 585. the Kingdom of the Mercians took beginning under their first King Croeda or Crida though its foundation might be laid sooner This Crida reckon'd himself the tenth in Descent from Woden the Idol Diety of the Saxons And whereas the others possess'd themselves of the outward parts of Britain this Crida peirc'd into the Bowels of it by little and little possessing himself of all the Provinces towards the North confin'd with the Rivers Humber and Mersey on the South with the Thames on the East with Severn and Deva on the West with the German Ocean The Britains themselves by a voluntary Cession made Crida's way very easie to his new erected Throne in which he as yet sat contented with the inferiour title of Governour or Duke For the Saxons being now dispers'd through all the parts of Britain and every day gaining more strength became intollerably burdensom to the poor Britains and being Infidels publish'd Laws extreamly prejudicial to Christian Religion Whereupon by agreement between the Clergy and other British Inhabitants hitherto mixt with the Saxons they resolv'd to quit the Country and to retire some to the Mountains of Wales some into Cornwall others to Little Britain and other Christian Regions Then it was to wit in the year of our Lord 586. that the Arch-Prelates Theonus Bishop of London and Thadioc or Theodoc of York seeing all their Churches levell'd with the ground attended with many Ecclesiasticks sled into Wales and carried with them the Sacred Relicks of Saints least by an irruption of the Barbarous Saxons the Sacred Bones of so many and so great Saints should be destroy'd So that the Provinces of Loegria and Northumbria were utterly depriv'd of Christian Congregations Upon the Bodies of some Saints reverently hid in Monuments great heaps of Earth were cast least they should be obnoxious to the contumelious scorn of Insidels for the Kings of the Angli and Saxons as they were very Powerful in Arms so were they malicious Pagans thirsting after nothing more then the disgrace of Christ and the Subversion of his Worship where-ever they subdu'd a Country if any Church were left untouch'd they turn'd it into a Temple of their Profane Idols with their Impious Sacrifices polluting the Altars of the true God. Concerning this Theonus Arch-Bishop of London he was formerly Bishop of Glocester and from thence translated to London in the year 553. and in the year 586. with his whole Clergy fled as is said into his own Country Afterwards the Metropolitical Dignity was transfer'd to Canterbury from London as shall hereafter be declar'd And never after the departure of Theodoc do we read of any other Arch-Bishop of York 'till by the Conversion of Edwin Son of Alla King of the Northumbrians St. Paulinus was there Consecrated Arch-bishop By the Secession and flight of the British Clergy and other Inhabitants there remain'd the miserable Relicks of the Britains in three Provinces only namely in Cornwall stretching forth it self like a Horn into the Sea in South-Wales and North-wales with these narrow limits they were forced to be content nevertheless they never departed from the true Faith of Christ One thing there is indeed for which they are justly to be reprehended the mortal hatred which they long did bear to the English Nation who expell'd them was so as they would less communicate with them then with Dogs So mistaken are they which will needs think that the Saxons were instructed in Christianity by the Britains and not by St. Augustine from Rome The Saxons were no sooner in a secure Possession of this Island but Almighty God so dispos'd the effects of his Divine Providence as to prepare the way of their Conversion to him in order to their eternal Happiness as if an earthly Kingdom had not been a reward answerable to their merits in destroying an ungrateful People abandon'd to all Impiety The instrument of this Felicity now approaching was the Blessed man St. Gregory then a private Priest though soon after a most worthy Successor of St. Peter in the Apostolick Chair at Rome Upon this Happy occasion a number of young English Youths were brought to Rome and there expos'd to the publick Market to be Sold Gregory excited by a zealous Affection to propagate the Name of Christ and mov'd with a tender compassion towards those Children with whose Beautiful Features and amiableness he was affected and understanding that the Nation from whence they came was destitute of the knowledge of Christ took a resolution to sow amongst them the Divine Seed of Christian Faith And being after exalted to the Pontificate in order to the effecting of his design sent St. Augustine the Monk to lay the foundation of a Christian Church in this Island joyning with him other Auxiliaries and Devout Companions of his Labours Bishop Parker seems to doubt this Story because of the improbability that the Saxons should Sell their Children whereas Tacitus recounting the Manners of the Antient Germans affirms They would out of greediness of gaining in Dice playing even set their own liberty at stake And Malmburiensis says It was a familiar and almost a natural
Authority Now the said Island is usually govern'd by an Abbot who is a Priest to whose Jurisdiction the whole Province and even Bishops themselves by a custom no where else practic'd ought to be subject according to the example of their first Teacher S Columba who was only a Priest and Monk and no Bishop Of whose Life and Sayings many strange things are extant compil'd by his Disciples but what manner of man soever he was sure we are he left Successors famous for their great Continency Divine Love and Regular Institution The Companions to St. Columba are said to be twelve who came with him into Albion eminently indu'd with the Doctrine of Christ and adorn'd with great Sanctity their Names were Bathemius and Cominus afterwards Superiours over Monasteries and no mean Ornaments of the Christian Church among the Scots Also Cibthacus and Ethernau Nephews to St. Columba and Priests Moreover Domitius Rutius and Fethuo men Illustrious for their Descent but more for their Piety Lastly Scandalaus Eglodeus Totaueus Moteser and Gallan These men after Travell'd through the Region of the Scots and Pict and by their labour in Teaching Disputing and Writing imbu'd both those Nations with virtuous Manners and true Religion The Scotish Writers add one Companion more to St. Columba namely St. Constantine formerly King of the Britains who repenting his Crimes sharply reprov'd by Gildas became a Monk and went with St. Columba into Scotland where he Preach'd the Faith to the Scots and Picts He built a Monastery in Govane near the River Cluid which he govern'd as Abbot He is said to have Converted to the Faith the whole Province of Kentire where he likewise dy'd a Martyr and was buried in his Monastery in Govan The King who bestow'd the Isle of Hy upon St. Columba and by the eminence of his Piety drew him thither is said to be St. Comgal or Conval King of Dalrieda At the same time not far from St. Columba liv'd St. Kentigern lately return'd to his Bishoprick of Glasco to whom no doubt St. Columba was an Officious assistant in his Apostolick Office. Of the Solemn meeting of these two Saints with their Disciples we have already spoken That there was a perfect agreement between these two Saints and their Disciples is no doubt and between them and St. Augustine also except in one Rite or Ceremony about the time of keeping Easter Upon which inconsiderable difference some would infer that the British Churches received their Faith from the Eastern Churches and not from Rome St. Columba having spent more then 30 years in this Place and Service he impatiently beg'd of God to end his Pilgrimage after his Prayer ended he saw in a Vision certain Angels approaching to him to conduct his Soul to Heaven which sight was so joyful to him that his Disciples took notice of it But this sight was soon turn'd into sorrow for the Angels told him That upon the Prayers of the Pictish Churches God had added four years more to his Life At last in the year of Grace 597. the same year St. Angustine came into Britain this Holy man dy'd and his Holy body was buried in the Monastery of Hy from whence it was after translated or a great part of it into Ireland and repos'd in the Church of Dun-Patrick by an Inscription on his Monument it is signified That in that one Tomb three Saints St. Patrick St. Bridget and St. Columba did repose Hitherto the Saxon Princes had imploy'd their Forces to the destruction of the Britains but now finding little resistance from them turn'd their Arms against one another For three years after the coming of St. Columba into Britain Ceaulin and Cutha mov'd a Civil war against Ethelbert which Ethelbert the rather enter'd into because the Power of Ceaulin so much increas'd that he took upon him the Title of Monarch Hereupon Ethelbert a Valiant Young Prince mindful of the Glory of his Ancestors who had always enjoy'd a Preheminence above other Princes resolv'd to keep it And raising an Army march'd with it into the Province of the Regni or Surry where passing unwarily over a little River call'd Wandalis he was rudely repuls'd by Ceaulin but endeavouring again to march forward the Armies met at a Village call'd Wibbandun now Wimbledon where he was with a great slaughter of his men compell'd to fly back into Kent having lost his two chief Captains Oslaf and Kneban Where this Battle was fought still remains as a Monument of it a Rampire rais'd in a round form as encompassing a Camp call'd Knebensbury Ethelbert after his loss sought to strengthen himself by a Friendship and Confederacy with the Neighbouring Powerful Kingdom of the Franks to make which Confederacy more lasting he desir'd to confirm it by Marriage which he effected This Kingdom heretofore was call'd Gaul but afterwards the Franks a German Nation under their King Pharamond invading it and possessing the greatest part of it chang'd the Name from Gaul to France The Successors of Pharamond for several Generations were Pagans till by St. Remigius Bishop of Rhemes in the year of Grace 499. King Clodoveus was Converted to the Christian Faith and with him the greatest part of his Kingdom which Faith ever after continu'd and encreas'd there This Kingdom of the Franks was at that time govern'd by four Kings Sons of Clotharius a Daughter of one of which Kings Elthelbert Married nam'd Berta Gregory calls her Aldiberga to whom he attributes the Conversion of the the Saxons Her Parents not without some difficulty deliver'd their Christian Daughter to the Bed of a Pagan but had an engagement from Ethelbert to allow Her and her Family an entire freedom in Religion and so the Marriage was concluded The Lady was accompanied into Britain by a Prudent and Devout Bishop call'd Lethardus who is Styl'd The Percursor to St. Augustine and one who open'd the door to Christianity here There were then in Doroberni or Canterbury several Churches which had been built by Christians many Ages before in the times of the Romans and were not utterly demolish'd by the Saxons amongst which the Queen made choice of that which had been Dedicated to the Honour of St. Martin and stood Eastward of the City The Author of Life of this Bishop Lethardus tells us what Devotions this Queen perform'd in this Church viz. That she and her Family frequented the Sacraments of Masses and Prayers in the Celebrating whereof the Blessed Bishop Lethardus was President or chief Priest The saying or singing of Masses were the Solemn Devotion of the Church in those times as appears by the Councels of Orleans and Tours Celebrated in these very times insomuch as St. Columba by Revelation knowing the death of St. Brendan in Ireland Celebrated a Solemn Mass for his Soul. In the year of Grace 571. Cuthulf the Brother of King Ceaulin fought with the Britains at Bedanford now Bedford and having obtain'd the Victory he took from them four Royal Cities Linganburgh a