the Archbishops of that place which were since the Conuersion Much persecution and Martyrdome was in Londen before this vnder King Lucius in any Historie and for other reasons before mentioned I haue rather made him farre more auncient Yet it is apparant enough that London tasted of this Persecution euen in the first arising thereof for we reade that in the time of Alectus to whome Asclepiodotus succeeded Paganis Galfrid Mon. Hist Brit. l. 5. c. 4. Virun l. 5. Hist Harding Chron. c. 56. Mat. West An. 294. Manuscr Antiq. in Vit. S. Albani Iacob Genuen Capgrau in â—od me was publikly professed there which could not easely be done without greate Persecution of Christians especially the sacred Preists of the Arehiepiscopall See in that Citie And in the Towne of Verolamium where S. Alban was Martyred it was a strange thing at the time of his death to heare of Christianitie and they which were conuerted by his miraculous death had neuer bene Christians before but were vnbaptized as that History relateth This Persecution being generall to all Churches and places euen in the beginning thereof came to the Citie of Caerlegion where the Church being destroyed and the Schoole founded by King Lucius ouerthrowne the holy Preists and other Christians there had their part therein 2. Among others S. Iulius and S. Aaron were then cruelly Martyred in that Citie being by all Citizens and Inhabitants there Aaron Iulius Legionum Gild. l. de excid c. 7. Bed Hist Eccl. lib. 1. c. 7. Galfrid Mon. l. 5. c. 5. Girald Cambr. Itin Cambr. l. 1. c. 5. Henric. Hunting Hist l. 1. in Diocletian Capgrau Catal. in S. Alban Io. Bal. Praef. in l. de Script cent 1. in Amphibalo Dauid Powell Annot. in c. 4. Girarld Cambr. descr Cambriae vrhis ciues most cruelly then torne in peeces with Torments neuer heard of before passi sunt inaudita membrorum disceptione in testimonium Dei excelsi Others say it is euident in Histories that they were learned meÌ„ brought vp in the Colledge or Schoole there founded by King Lucius thus write two of our cheifest Protestant Antiquaries Ex Sanctorum Historijs constat Amphibalum Aaronem Iulium sanctissimos Dei Martyres caelestem Christi doctrinam apud vrbem Legionum inter litteras tradidisse Ex nobili Gymnasio vrbis Legionum viri multi summa pietatis doctrinae laude conspicui prodierunt vt Amphibalus Iulius Aaron By which Authorities and testimonies ioyning these holy Martyrs for education Schoole learning preaching and professing Christ with that most renowned Prâ—ist and Bishop S. Amphibalus they incline to hold and teach that they also were Clergy men And if we remember what I haue said before how S. Alban was not our Protomartyr in respect of time but otherwise and this Persecution at Caerlegion when these holy Martyrs were putt to death was at the destruction of the Cathedrall Church there being at the same time as the like desolation was at Winchester loÌ„g before S. The old schoole of CaerlegioÌ„ brought forth many glorious Martyrs in this time Alban his Martyrdome I must needs say the same of these Saints as the Annals of Winchester doe of their Martyrs And this the rather because our Antiquaries before haue told vs that S. Amphibalus that conuerted S. Alban was borne bredd instructed in learning and remayned at Caerlegion and being there in all probable iudgment when these trobles began there was as our Brittish History witnesseth pursued and in present danger to be apprehended by the Persecutours when S. Alban gaue him first entertaynment and succour and addeth plainely that when S. Amphibalus thus fledd from Caerlegion S. Iulius S. Aaron were absque cunctamine presently Martyred there S. Iulius and S. Aaron martyred at Caerlegion with many others before S. Alban Galfr. Mon. Hist Reg. Brit. l. 5. c. 5. hauing their members so torne in peeces as the like had not bene heard of before Inter caeteros vtriusque sexus summâ Magnanimitate in acie Christi perstantes passus est Albanus Verolamius Iulius quoque Aaron vrbis Legionum ciues quorum Albanus charitatis gratia feruens confessorem suum Amphibalum à Persecutoribus insectatum iam iam comprehendendum in domo sua occuluit Caeteri verò duo inaudita membrorum discerptione lacerati ad egregias portas Hierusalem absque cunctamine cum Martirij trophaeo conuolauerunt The very same testimony Gildas l. de excid c. 8. is giuen hereof by S. Gildas both for S. Amphibalus then flying the Persecutours and the Martyrdome of these Saints at that time S. Bede also is witnesse that S. Alban entertayned S. Amphibalus flying the Persecutours Clericum quendam Persecuâ—ores fugientem hospitio recepit And that S. Aaron S. Iulius were martyred at that time Passi sunt ea tempestate Aaron Iulius Bed Hist Eccl. l. 1. c. 7. Matth. Westm an 303. Girald Cambr. Itiner Cambr. l. 1. c. 5. Gildas excid Bâ—â—t c. 8. Legionum vrbis ciues The like haue others Therefore Giraldus Cambrensis doth worthely call them our two Noble Protomartyrs in this time onely in dignitie second and next to S. Alban and Amphibalus but in time first and before them Duo nobiles post Albanum Amphibalum praecipui Britanniae Maioris Protomartyres These our two Protomartyrs are wonderfully commended in our Histories S. Gildas saith of them that they stood out in the Army of Christ with greatest magnanimitie summa magnanimitate in acie Christi perstantes dico Giraldus Cambrensis is witnes that among the Martyrs of that time they were the cheifest next to S. Alban and S. Amphibalus Post Albanum Amphibalum praecipui Martyrio coronati Iulius Aaron How Girald supr Itiner Cambr. l. 1. c. 5. they were honoured of the holy Catholike Christians of that time with Churches dedicated vnto them Pilgrimages to the places of their Martyrdome and they both there and in other places honoured inuocated and The Martyrs then honored with prayers and Pilgrimages to them prayed vnto presently vpon the ceasing of the Persecution I will declare among other memories of that time in their place in the beginning of the next Age. 3. Now it will suffice to conclude with that their Title of glory and renowne Girald Cambr. supr which the auncient and learned Bishop of their Nation before hath giuen them as their due and honour to the place of their triumphant death Iacent hic duo Nobiles Britanniae Maioris Protomartyres ibidem Martyrio coronati Iulius Aaron Heare lie at Caerlegion the two Noble Protomartyrs of great Britaine and crowned with Martyrdome there Iulius and Aaron This Title to be the first Martyrs of Britaine in that most terrible Persecution and with such exceeding magnanimitie and Christian constancy as hath bene before remembred in enduring Torments neuer vntill then heard of without any example going before them but giuing themselues the first example
dicebat Petre instat tempus tuae resolutionis oportet teire Romam in qua cum mortem per crucem sustinueris accipies mercedem Iustitiae Cum ergo propterea deum glorificasset egisset gratias apud Britannos mansisset dies aliquot verbo gratiae multos illuminasset Ecclesias constituisset Episcoposque Presbyteros Diaconos ordinasset duodecimo anno Caesaris Neronis rursus Romam reuertitur when S. Peter had stayed but a short time with the Romans and had baptized many and fownded the Church and ordeyned Linus Bishop he came to Tarracina in which when he had ordeyned Epaphroditus Bishop he came to Sirmium a citie of Spaine in which place when he had constituted Epinaetus Bishop he came into Egipt whē he had made Rufus Bishop of Thebes which hath seuē gates and Marke the Euangelist Bishop of Alexandria he came againe to Hierusalē by reuelatiō for the migratiō or passing out of life of Mary the mother of God After this returning into Egipt through Africk the returned againe to Rome From which he came to Milane and Photice which are cities in the cōtinent in which after he had appointed Bishops and Preists he came into Britaine in which place whē he had stayed a longe time and had drawne many natiōs not named to the faith of Christ he had an Angelicall visiō which said O Peter the time of thy Resolution is at hand And thou must goe to Rome in which when thou hast suffered death by the crosse thou shalt receaue the reward of Iustice Therefore whē he had glorified God for it and giuen thākes stayed after with the Britans some dayes and illuminated many with the word of grace and constituted Churches and ordeined both Bishops and Preists and Deacons in the twelfth yeare of the Emperour Nero he returneth to Rome Hitherto the Relation of this holy learned and auncient Sainct writer Where the labours and trauailes of S. Peter are so orderly and punctually set downe after his first coming to Rome that except so worthie a man had sounde certaine and vndoubted Authoritie for such a Relation no man can be so malicious as to thinke he would so confidently and particularly haue written of that matter 10. And it appeareth plainely by that I haue written before that both by Catholiks Protestants all the rest of S. Alredus his narration of S. Peters Iorneyes are most true certaine except this last of his coming hither and so longe remayning in this our Britaine these parts which I matuaile that any man of this kingdome will call in question being deliuered by so many Authorities before and aboue all other parts of that his Relation fortified by so manie vndeniable circumstances and Arguments as the time when the way by which he came a longe continuance of his aboude heare his passage by this Iland to drawe many vnnamed nations to the faith of Christ what he did heare his making of Bishops Preists and Deacons founding of Churches his loue to this kingdome so greate that vntill he was admonished from Heaven by an Angell to returne againe to Rome to receaue his crowne of Martyrdome he had so happily placed his Apostolicall Cathedrall See in this Imperiall and commanding Iland of this Northren and westerne world and by his blessed presence and heauenly labours left it Illustrious to succeeding generations not onely to be stiled Romana Insula the Roman Iland as I haue written before but as the same Apostle himself did testifie to S. Brithworld S. Peters preaching in Britaine proued by infallibly diuine authoritie Bishop of Winton or Wilton as our Protestant Historians doe plainely testifie together prouing that S. Peter first preached in this kingdome of greate Britaine The Protestant Theater writers haue these words It is reported by Aluredus Riuallensis the writer of King Edward the Confessors life that a holy man Theater of great Britaine l. 6. c. 9. studious and carefull for a gouernour to succeede was in his sleepe told by S. Peter that the kingdome of England was his wherein himself had first preached and would also prouide him successors Which other Protestants thus further confirme Alredus Francis Mason of Consecrat of Bishop l. 2. c. 2. p. 47. Sutcliffe subuers Godwyn conu of Britaine p. 4. Riuallensis an English Abbot left written aboue 500. yeares agone a certaine Reuelation or apparition of S. Peter to an holy man in the time of King Edward the Confessor shewing how he had preached himself in England and consequently the particular care he had of that Church and Nation Thus farre these Protestants So that if this was a true Reuelation there needeth no more testimony in this matter for the wittnes of Angels glorified Saints cannot by any possibilitie be vntrue and the vision testifiing that S. Peter himself had first preached heare in this kingdome is an euident demonstration both that he preached heare and was the first either immediately by himself or mediately by his disciples and Substituts which preached the faith of Christ in this kingdome Therefore all the difficultie will be in the proposers of this holy Reuelation he to whome it was made and they which haue commended it to writing And because supernaturall things such as this was cannot be proued by naturall Argument a priore by their cause to giue some certaine and vndoubted proofe thereof a Posteriore by some effect necessarily conuincing some supernaturall power to haue had Influence thereto for the more credite of this sacred truthe proue by these Protestants themselues 11. And first concerning the writer and recorder of this holy history they haue told vs it was Alredus Riuallensis a man of that worth learning and Ioh. Balaeus de Scriptor Cētur 2. fol. 88. p. 1. in Alred Riual pietie that to speake in a Protestant Bishops words he was Cistertiensiū Monachorum Abbas natione Anglus gencre doctrina inculpatae vitae moribus praeclarus enituit Episcopatum ac alios honores mundanos omnino recusabat vt ad virtutum exercitia maximè ad Euangelij praedicationem expeditior haberetur Vir erat vt alter Bernardus ingenio pius consilio modestissimus Abbot of the Cistersian monkes by Country an English man he was eminently renowned by birth learning and holy life and conuersation he refused a Bishoprike and other worldly honors vtterly that he might be more ready to the exercises of vertues chefely for preaching the ghospell he was a man as an other S. Bernard Godly in wit and most modest in counsaile He that desireth more of this holy witnes may finde in our auncient M. S. antiq de vit Sanct. Ioh. Capgr in Cata. l. in S. Alred Abb. Manuscripts our learned Countriman Ihon Capgraue and others how he is registred among the most glorious and miraculous Saints of this Natiō to which our Protestant Bishop before hath giuen allowance where he giueth vs assured knowledge that this
23. Septemb. in S. Lino gubernauit Ecclesiam How carefull and mindefull this Pope was of the spirituall good of this Nation and the meanes he had to effect it may be gathered by his acquaintance and familiarity which he had with our Britans then remayning Pope Linus his care of Britaine at Rome by whom and with whom he was most releiued and resident as is before related And to instance in some particulars it seemeth that both S. Beatus and his other holy Brittish companion of whome I haue Hâ— consecrateth diuers Brittish Preists of this Nation spoken before were consecrated Preists and sent into these parts by this Pope S. Linus To which opinion both our English and German Protestants with other Authours induce me Our English Protestant Antiquaries write in this manner As Beatus Rhenanus in his Historie of Germanie Pantaleon and others Theater of great Britaine l. 6. §. 9. doe reporte one Suetonius a Noble mans sonne in Britaine conuerted to the faith by the first Planters of the Ghospell in this Iland and after his baptisme called Beatus was sent by the Brethren from hence vnto Rome to be better instructed and further directed by Saint Peter By which and that I haue proued before that S. Peter was put to death soone after his returne to Rome from hence it may well be concluded that S. Beatus and consequently also his companion in the same case were consecrated by S. Linus and not by S. Peter for Pantaleon proueth that these men were long at Rome to be instructed both in faith and learning requisite for such Ecclesiasticall parsons before they were consecrated Preists and directed into these Countries and this rather by S. Peters succesfor then by himselfe then Martyred and in heauen S. Beatus Heluetiorum Apostolus Henric. Pantal. de viris Illustrib Germ. parte 1. p. 114. Stumpff l. 7. Bibliotheca Patrum minor Chronic. chronicor tom 2. Beatus ille nobilibus parentibus natus ex Britania RomaÌ„ profectus est vt a S. Petro in vera fide rectius institucretur Cum autem in humanioribus literis optime profecisset atque Suetonius diceretur Christianis dignus visus est qui doctrinaÌ„ veram perciperet atque eandem vbique disseminaret Which could not be well effected in so short a time as is shewed before S. Peter liued after his returne from Britaine to Rome Therefore I must needs asscribe it to the time and ordinance of S. Linus Which I may safely affirme in both opinions concerning S. Linus aswell of them which deny him to haue bene Pope and affirme that what he did in Papall affaires he did it by S. Peters direction and appointment ex praecepto beatt Petri Apostoli as also of such as say he was true Pope and immediate successor to S. Peter in which last opinion there can Marian. Scot. l. 2. aetat 6. Mart. Polon Supput in S. Lino Leo 2. epist decret Florent Wigorn. in Siluan Otho be no pretence of difficultie at all And in the former opinion allthough we may not without iust reason say that Expâ—aecepto Petri S. Linus proceedings by commandment of S. Peter are to be vnderstood of things he did in the life of S. Peter and time of his absence from Rome for if S. Linus was not Pope after but S. Clement it should rather be said that S. Linus did ex praecepto S. Clementis as S. Clement then liuing commanded and directed then by the commandement of S. Peter who being dead neither could command as Pope nor be esteemed Pope yet we may lawfully suppose that S. Peter who had bene in Britaine and had such care thereof And seeing in his life time S. Beatus and his Brittish companions went so long a Iorney as from hence to Rome to be instructed in the faith and desirous to be consecrated Preists to preach in their Countrie would giue chardge and direction to S. Linus his successor to performe those duties for the spirituall good and honor of this Nation 5. And so we may probably vpon sufficient warrant suppose these holy Brittish Preists and Saints were directed into these parts both by S. Peter and S. Linus Authoritie and Order By this holy Pope also were such Britans as were Christians in Rome at that time instructed the most principall place of S. Linus Residence being then in the house of S. Claudia our Brittish Lady and so ordinary and vsuall that S. Paul before seemeth to number and accompt him one of that family Eubulus greeteth thee and Pudens and Linus and Claudia that house being as is allready shewed the most knowne and frequeÌ„t place of ChristiaÌ„s in Rome eyther to instruct or be instructed in ReligioÌ„ minister or receaue the holy Sacraments thereof And allthough King Coillus of Britaine did not openly professe himselfe a Christian at that time for feare of the Roman Emperour and Senate yet being brought vp at Rome and in this time and so farre a Christian in iudgment and affection that he confirmed to the Eremits of Glastenbury those immunities and priuiledges which Antiquit. Glast in tabula antiq Io. Capgr Cat. in S. Iosepho Ara. Gulielm Malm. l. de antiq coenobij Glast M. S. his Grandfather and Father Kings Aruiragus and Marius had graunted before vnto them we must needs affirme that he learned this his so greate allowance and loue to Christians and their Religion at Rome from S. Linus and his Disciples in whose time of Papacy he liued and had his education and Instruction there by all Antiquities And to giue vs assurance that this S. Linus had a Pastorall care as part of his greate chardge and cuer as necessitie required and the times would permite to send Bishops and preachers into these parts where Britaine is we are told by diuers French Historians and from their primatiue Antiquities that euen in the first yeare of his dignitie he sent Saint Cler to the Realme of Britanny Armorike who brought with him the Mere des histoires chroniques de France lib. 1. fol. 87. Alani Bouchard Annales de Bretaigne l. 1. f. 19. Nayle wherewith the right Arme of S. Peter was crucefied and S. Cler there setled his Episcopall See in the city of Nantes in the yeare of grace 72. THE XXXV CHAPTER OF THE STATE OF CHRISTIAN RELIGION in Britaine in the time of Pope Cletus King Marius or Coillus and how we had heare in Britaine a continued Succession both of Preists and Bishops all this first hundred of yeares 1. S Linus being martyred S. Cletus succeeded him in the Apostolike Roman See and was Pope aboue 11. yeares And for temporall Rulers Matthew of Westminster and diuers after him doe testifie that King Marius died in the 78. yeare of Christ left Coillus his sonne his Successour in this kingdome Anno gratiae 78. Marius Britannorum Matth. Westm an 78. Catalog Regum Britann in Mario Stowe Hist in Marius Harding Cronicle in King Marius c.
addeth all these workes Eugeny confirmed Then if Pope Eugenius or Harding Chron. f. 43. c. 51. Higinius confirmed and allowed these affaires and proceedings we must needs yeeld they were in a greate forwardnes in this his time No man can reasonably say that the name Eugeny is mistaken for Eleutherius for there is no proportion betweene those two names for any Authour Scribe or Printer to commit so greate an error especially no man correcting it as an escape in writing and to assure vs heareof the same Authour maketh mention in Hard. supr the same Page both of Eleutherius calling him by our English phrase Eleuthery and Higinius by the same manner of our languadge naming him as before Eugeny which confirmed these things And it is no maruaile or any singular thing but vsuall and the ordinary common course for Popes to giue such order before hand how things shall be setled when there is such hope of happy proceedings and Apostolike men taking the chardge in hand as heare it was at this time if God shall so cooperate with their labours and to proceede otherwise is to worke without warrant and Authoritie So S. Paul writeth to S. Titus that he had left him in Crete to constitute Bishops or Preists in euery Citie yet it would be greate and vnwarranted boldnes to say that S. Titus profited there so much in his time to make and ordaine so many Preists or Epist Pauli ad Tit. cap. 1. Bishops there for we are told by Homer Strabo liuing about S. Pauls time and others that there were an hundred Cities in Crete and there vpon it was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the I le of an hundred Cities in Homers time Poeta aetate sua Cretam Strabo Geograp l. 10. p. 338. Homet Odyff 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est centum vrbibus instructam esse inquit So when S. Peter sent any Apostolike man or men into any Nation he gaue him direction and warrant where to constitute Bishops so did the other Apostles so did the Popes of Rome in this last Age in the Conuersion of America other Countryes and for this our Britaine I haue proued before that S. Anacletus euen by the order of the Apostles gaue direction and made a litle booke setting downe therein where Pirmats and others were to be resident and this when there was lesse hope of our Britans Conuersion then now and no such successe therein 4. Thus it was also in the time of S. Augustine when he was sent hither by S. Gregory to the Saxons He sent him his Archiepispopall Pall to be Archbishop of London yet he seated himselfe after by warrant at Canterbury and gaue him power to send an Archbishop to Yorke if that Country should receaue Greg. Epist ad August Bed Eccles Hist Gent. Angl. l. 1. c. 29. the Christian faith and he would send him an Archiepispopall Pall and that See should haue Bishops vnder it and be a Metropolitan See Ad Eboracum vero ciuitatem te volumus Episcopum mittere quem ipse iudicaueris ordinare ita du ntaxat vt si eadem ciuitas cum finitimis locis verbum Dei receperit ipse quoque duodecim Episcopos ordinet Metropolitani honore perfruatur Quia ei quoque si vita comes fuerit Pallium tribuere Domino fauente disponimus And yet it is certaine that S. Augustine in his time neuer sent Archbishop to Yorke neither did he make aboue two Bishops in his owne Prouince S. Mellitus at London and S. Iustus at Rochester Neither did S. Gregory liue to send a Pall to any Archbishop of Yòrke or see any there Neither euer had that See since the Saxons time twelue or halfe twelue Bishops vnder it Neither did S. Augustine who receaued this warrant for all the Saxons preuaild so farre nor all that came with him or after him from Rome to conuert halfe the English Nation but farre the greater part of them was conuerted by holy Bishops Preists Religious men which were of our auncient Hierarchiall Brittish succession and order heare And allthough I doe not finde it expressely affirmed in any Antiquarie but Harding that S. Higinius now Pope did so particularly giue assistance and direction in this busines of our Britains Conuersion yet many very auncient and renowned Writers giue such testimonie herein that we must needs graunt that to be most true which Harding affirmeth and that after coming Scribes and Copiers of their Histories haue done the Authours wronge by their negligence or ignorance in writing one man for another Eleutherius for Higinius For among others S. Bede as he is extant saith that King Lucius of Britaine did write to the Pope of Rome in the yeare Bed Eccl. Hist l. 1. c. 4. of the Incarnation of our Lord 156. anno ab Incarnatione Domini centesimo quinquagesima sexto that by his order or command he might be a Christian Obsecrans vt per eius mandatum Christianus efficeretur The Manuscript Antiquities of the Church of Landaffe more auncient in probable Iudgment then S. Bede Antiq. M. S. Eccles Landaffen Galfr. Monum Hist Reg. Brit. l. 5. c. 1. Hist Brut. Stowe Hist in Lucius Caius Anti. Cātabr l. 1. p. 107. M. S. ant and written by a Brittan which should not be ignorant in that the greatest busines of his Country giueth the same testimonie of the same yeare anno ab Incarnatione Domini 156. The auncient Authour of the Brittish Historie also a Brittan maketh King Lucius a Christian in and before this yeare 156. in direct termes So testifieth the old Historie called Brutus auncient Records belonging to the Guildehall in London the Antiquities of S. Edwards Lawe◠Goceline in the life of S. Augustine so writeth Nauclerus and diuers auncient Manuscript Antiquities which I haue seene Therefore to saue so many auncient and worthie Authours and their Scribes from a double error both of the time and name of the Pope to whome King Lucius did now write we must needs lay this single taxe vpon such as haue Transcribed their Histories that they did mistake the name of the Pope writing Eleutherius for Higinius And this they were more easily drawne vnto because they found that Pope Eleutherius was a greate Agent in the generall Conuersion of this Nation which was long after this time and their Scribes are more excusable in this point And this by their leaue we must say or els both wander from the proued truth of this Historie and lay a double imputation of mistaking vpon these Authours or their Transcribers For it is euident by all Antiquities that S. Eleutherius was not Pope many yeares after this time which they must contradict if they will maintaine their mistaking And where they say that King Lucius wrote to the Pope of Rome in this yeare they must recall that and say he wrote then to no Pope for Eleutherius was not Pope vntill long after King
dedicated vnto them which were changed into Christian Churches Leland writeth that King Lucius built a new Church in the Castle of Douer and citeth the Annals thereof for warrant Io. Leland assert Arthurij c. 7. Annal Duren ibid. Will. Lambard peramb. of Kent p. 158. Iacob Genuen Epis in Vita S. Aug. Cantuar. Archiep. Capgr Catal. in eodem Tradunt Annales Dorensis Caenobij Lucium Regem Britannorum Christianum Ecclesiam Seruatori suo in Durensi Castro consecrasse William Lambard the Antiquarie of that Country also saith King Lucius builded a Church within Douer Castle Iacobus Genuēsis Bishop of Genua Capgraue and others writeth of an old Church at Compton in warwicke shire carrying argument of foundation in that time The Authour saith it was a Parish Church and had such a Preist for the Pastor thereof receauing Tithes hundred of yeares before S. Augustine time which if it were so we may make coniecture of an vnsearchable number in the same condition Which our Antiquities sufficiently confirme before teaching that the Temples of all the Gods of the Gentils which were in all parts of Britaine were changed into Christian Churches And Anacletus apud Rob. Barnes in Vit. Pont. in eod our Protestants tell vs it was the old Decree of Pope Anacletus which these Legats of the Pope would not transgresse that as Bishops were to be in cheife Cities so they should appoint Preists in Castles Townes and Villages binding them to Residencie there Ne Episcoporum dignitati derogaretur in egregijs tantum vrbibus Episcopos constituendos censuit Presbiteros verò ab Episcopis in Castellis Pagis ac Villis constituendos esse ea lege vt inibi vitae suae spacium transigerent Which to haue bene obserued in this Conuersion the multitude of Bed Hist Galfr. Mat. Westm alij in Diocles Churches destroied heare by Dioclesian within an hundred yeares after sufficiently declareth 5. And we finde in Antiquitie that in this very time of King Lucius besides the Cathedrall Churches in the greate Cities there were others also builded in them as namely Glocester Worchester Caerlegion and others for we reade of diuers kindes of Churches in them all both Cathedrall and others King Lucius was buried at Glocester in the Church of the cheife Order in Ecclesia primae sedis The same distinction is giuen for Winchester which necessarily Galfr. Monum Hist l. 5. c. 1. Mat. Westm an 201. Galfr. l. 8. c. 17. l. 9 c. 12. Bed Mat. supr inferreth other Churches or a Church in eyther of them of inferious Order For the word first proueth a second for the Inferiour Churches besides the Cathedrall in Caerlegion they are remembred in Histories So of other Cities not inferiour vnto these Glocester being then but a new and no greate Citie We may finde others as at Abington in Oxfordshire Ambsbury in Wilshire Cambridge Stamford and other places to be remembred hereafter where to haue bene Christian Churches in that time there is still sufficient Argument and Euidence left vnto vs. And the Pagan Temples being throughout the whole kingdome and now with their Reuenewes encreased by King Lucius and changed into Churches dedicated to Christ and his Saints as before is proued euidently conuinceth these to haue bene more honorable and as generally in all places and so not to be numbred as the others were and all this alteration made by King Lucius with the direction and Order of the Roman Legats S. Phaganus and S. Damianus And this is that which our old Manuscript Annals of Landaffe with other Antiquities testifie that our Ecclesiasticall Hierarchie was setled Bishops ordayned and the Rule of well liuing taught in Britaine according to the commande and direction of Pope Eleutherius secundum Antiquitates Manuscr Eccles Landauen Iussum be ati Eleutherij Papae Ecclesiasticum ordinem constituit Episcopos ordinauit benè viuendi normam docuit And to prouide aswell for the continuall maintenance and repayre of the house of God at the first founding and building thereof those auncient Schooles Colledges or Vniuersities of this kingdome which all now had receaued the faith and Religion of Christ and so were to be as Seminaries and Mothers of Christian Diuinitie and holy learning for preseruation and Vpholding of Gods Church King Lucius endowed with greate Priuiledges and Immunities that they might more quietly and diligently employ themselues to their so profitable and holy studies 6. This his Charter of priuiledge to the Vniuersitie of Cambridge the Antiquaries thereof proue by diuers auncient Testimonies the Bull of Pope Honorius Bulla Honorij Papae ann 624. Charta Regis Cadwalladri An. 685. Charta Regis Arthuri an 531. die 7. Apr. apud Caium l. 1. de Antiq. accad Cantabrig 1000. yeares since the Charter of King Cadwalladrus and King Arthur long before wherein is contayned that he granted to the Vniuersitie of Cambridge as King Lucius with other Kings had done before to be free from all publike Vectigals and Burthens that they might more quietly and freely attend their studies consilio assensu omnium singulorum Pontificum Principum istius Regni Licentia sedis Apostolicae statuo praesenti scripto firmiter decerno vt Ciuitas Scholarium praedicta vbi hactenùs splendorem scientiae lumē doctrinae gratia fauente Conditoris mei Praedecessores acceperunt à publicis vectigalibus operibus onerosis absoluantur vt quietudine Doctores inibi Scholares valeant doctrinae studio inhaerere sicut gloriosus Rex Britanniae decreuit The like I may Ioan. Harding Chron. c. 25. f. 22. Io. Rosse Histor Manuscript Io. Caius Apol. accad Cant. de Antiq. l. 1. William Harrison Descr of Britaine c. ◠Tit. of Vniuersities pag. 146. Stowe Hist in Bladud Bal. praefat in lib. de Script Twyn l. de Ant. Oxon. Harrison supr Harris Manuscr Hist Grafton Chron. Bal. l. de Script Brit. cent 1. in Congello Bannachorren Galft Mon. Hist Brit. l. 11. c. 12. Matth. Westm an 603. Io. Bal. Praef. in l. de Scri. Brit. Galfi Mon. Hist Brit. l. 9. c. 12. Galft Mon. Hist lib. 4. c. 19. Matt. West an 185. King Lucius founded diuers Monasteries both of men and women affirme of Stamford which from the time of King Bladud vntill it was interdicted by S. Gregory Pope for Pelagian Heresie continued an Vniuersitie So of Glamorgan clayming but a litle later Originall Greekelade and Lichelade of such Antiquitie Bellisitum now Oxford as it pleadeth Theodford where as a Protestant Antiquarie boldly writeth there were 600. students in auncient times and others not so well remembred To all which now conuerted to the faith of Christ and trayning vp spirituall souldiers for the defence Profession and maintenance thereof we haue sufficient grounds before to affirme King Lucius gaue the like priuiledges as vnto Cambridge one and the same reason being for all And yet besides these which he found founded before he himselfe
heare of so wonderfull patience loue of Christ and Heroicall true fortitude to so many thowsands which by their singular example with inuincible couradge imitated them therein is the greatest honour we can yeeld to such blessed Saints one earth Their Festiuitie is celebrated by the old Roman Martyrologe vpon the first day of Iuly On which day as Baronius plainely writeth many Martyr Rom. die 1. Iulij others suffered Martyrdome with them Iulius Aaron Martyres cum alijs plurimis in Britannia sub Dioclesiano primo die Iulij So likewise affirmeth a Caesar Baron in Indice NominuÌ„ Sanctorum in Iulio Aarone Author of Engl. Martyr 1. Iul. late English Wtiter And the Roman Martyrologe which Baronius glosseth may well carry that construction for setting downe for a certaine truth that these two holy Martyrs were putt to death in Britaine vpon the first day of Iuly Primo die Iulij in Britannia Sanctorum Martyrum Iulij Aaron qui in persecutione Dioclesiani passi sunt it presently addeth Quo tempore ibidem quamplurimi diuersis crutiatibus torti saeuissimè lacerati ad supernae ciuit atis gaudia consummato agone peruenerunt At the same time in the same place very many tortured with diuers torments and most cruelly torne hauing ended their combate came to the Ioyes of heauen And S. Bede saith that ea tempestate Martyrol Ro. 1. die Iulij Bed l. 1. Hist c. 7. Henr. Hunting Hist l. 1. in Diocles Matt. West an 303. Io. Capgr in S. Albano alij Girald CaÌ„bren Itiner Camb. l. 1. cap. 5. Ranulph Higed l. 1. c. 48. Dauid Powel Annot. in Girald supr Harrison Descript of Brit. c. 13. Humfr. Lhuyd Brâ—uiar Britan. Et Tho. Twyne ib. f. 82. The glory of Caerlegâ—â—nâ—ur Archieâ—iscâ—â—all see before this time at that time when S. Aaron and S. Iulius were Martyred diuers others both men and women were putt to death Alijque vtriusque sexus passi sunt ea tempestate So hath Henry of Huntington passi sunt co tempore Aaron Iulius alij quo que plures vtriusque sexus So haue others And we cannot probably thinke that those raging Persecutours which in places where there were not in any degree so many Christians as in this renowned Citie an Archiepiscopall See and Christian Vniuersitie putt them to death by thowsands sent these heare by cruell Martyrdome to heauen alone These holy Martyrs by all Antiquities suffered Martyrdome at Caerlegion and both Giralâ—us Cambrensis Ranulphus Higeden writing at Westchester as also our Protestant Antiquaries of the same Country plainely say it was at Caerlegion in Monmouthshire which was the Archiepiscopall Citie and Schoole distinguishing it from Westchester by some called Caerlegion also I will onely cite one thus Englished to my hand by a Protestant Historian In this Region Monmouthshire is situated the most auncient and Noble Citie of Legions which our Countrymen call Caerleon are Wish that is to say the Citie of Legions vpon Vsk for difference sake betweene it and the other which is builded in Northwales vpon the Riuer Dee Of whome Giraldus writeth thus The same was an auncient and noble Towne the tokens whereof remayne as yet an huge Palace a Giantlike Tower goodly Bathes and hotehouses Reliques of Churches and places like Theaters compassed with beautifull walles â—artly yet standing Also buildings vndeâ— the grounde Conducts secreâ—â—e passages and Vaultes vnder the earth framed by wonderfull workemanship Thâ—â—â—â—â—th two Martyrs Iulius and Aaron which had Churches dedicate◠〈…〉 The like and more plainely haue many others auncient and late Catholiks and Protestants Therefore that Protestant Bishop which singularlie saith it was at Chester apud vrbem Legionum Cestriam nun vocatam is much deceaued in this matter Io. Bâ—l. Prâ—fat in l. de Scriptor THE XVIII CHAPTER HOW SAINT AMPHIBALVS A BRITTISH Bishop and many holy and learned Preists of the Britans in this Persecution went to the Scots and Picts were reuerently receaued of them and preached liued and continued there in greate Sanctitie and left greate Succession of such there after them 1. VPON this Persecution and Martyrdome of these holy Saints Gildas l. de excid c. 8. and others at that time as S. Gildas with others writeth they which escaped death hidd theÌ„selues in Woods Desarts Dens and fledd into Ilands to the Scots for refuge Qui superfuerant Hector Boeth Hist Scotor l. 6. f. 102. Georg. Buchan Rer. Scot. l. 4. in Rege 33. Hollinsh Hist of Scotland in Crathlint and Fincomarke siluis ac desertis abditisque spelnncis se occult aâ—ere Our Scottish Historians say a greate number of our Brittish Christians to auoide the crueltie of the Persecutours fledd to the Scots and Picts Magnus piorum numerus persequentium saeuitiam declinare cupiens ad Scotos Pictos concessit They haue preserued the particular names of diuers of them whome they recompt among the most renowned learned men of that Age such were Amphibalus a Bishop Modocus Priscus Calanus Ferranus Ambianus and Carnocus worshippers of God called in the old Scottish languadge Culdeis which by their preaching taught the Religion of Christ with many labours throughout the Scots Countries There were then very many more but these the cheifest of them whose names came to posteritie Inter Nostrates eadem fuere tempestate sacra doctrina pollentes Ampbibalus Amistes Modocus Priscus Calanus Ferranus Ambianus Caroncus Dei cultores Culdei prisca nostra vulgari lingua dicti Christi Seruatoris doctrinam omnes per Scotorum Regiones concionando multis pijsque sudoribus seminantes Fuere tunc alij permulti sed hij quorum nomina ad Posteros delata praecipui Many of these holy Brittish Christians liued in poore Georg. Buchan Rer. Scotic l. 4. Reg. 35. Hollinsh of Scotl. in Fincomarke Cels professing the most austeere penitentiall cremiticall life in so greate sanctitie that as these Scottish Antiquaries haue before deliuered their very Cels were dedicated into Churches after they were dead and with such reuerence obserued with that Nation our Protestants so confessing and testifying that from the time of those holy Brittish Saints which thus liued there the old Scots called Churches by the name of Cels Ex â—â—que consâ—etudo mansit apud Posteros vt prisci Scoti templa Cellas vocent 2. Among these our holy Bishop S Amphibalus a man of singular pietie and excellent in diuine learning Amphibaluâ— Brito vir â—â—sigâ—â— pietate sacra doctrina pollens preached the word of Christ throughouâ— the Scots and Picts S. Amphibalus a BritaÌ„ and Martyr a learned and holy Bishop in Mona I le with the Scots Countries speaking and writing much against the Pagans Religion 〈◊〉 dogma per Scotorum Pictorumqae Regiones propâ—â—aâ—do mâ—lâ—a a contra Geâ—â—â—â—um Religionem dicendo scribendoquâ— Crathlint then King of the Scots entertayned this holy Bishop and his company with greate loue and builded for them a â—hurch in the I
the Christians heare in this Nation did not onely enioy freedome and Immunitie from all penalties and Persecution against Christian Churches and Monasteries that were ruinated restored and new builded Religion but as in the time of his Father made and freely had publike exercise and Profession thereof as our old Churches reedified new builded and erected Bishops Preists and all Cleargie and Religious men restored to their former quiet Reuenewes honours and dignities 2. Of this we haue diuers testimonies and examples in particular yet left vnto vs as out of the old Annalls of Winchester where we finde of that old Church builded in the time of King Lucius and destroyed in the late Persecutiō the Church of Winchester builded in the time of King Lucius and hallowed and dedicated Annal. Eccles Winton Godwin Catalog of Bishop Wincester in initio October 29. 189. By Faganus and Damianus Bishops amongst the rest at this time of Dioclesian went to wracke the buildings thereof being ruinated and made euen with the ground and the Monkes and all the officers belonging vnto it either slaine or enforced to fly for the present time in the yeare 309. the Church a foresaid was againe reedified and that with such wonderfull forwardnesse and Zeale as within one yeare and thirty dayes both it and all the Edifices belonging vnto it as chambers and other buildings for the Monkes and officers were quite finished in very seemely and conuenient manner The 15. day of March following it was againe hallowed and dedicated vnto the honor and memory of Amphibalus that had suffered death for Christ in the late Persecution by Constans Bishop of Winchester at te request of Deodatus Abbot of this new erected Monastery It is euident by this Relation and that is saide before that this holy worke so publike and with freedome and zeale was quite finished in the time of Constantine his being heare before he went hence against Maxentius And yet we see both Bishop Abbot Preists and Religious men publikly and honorably restored to their former condition The Church with vnspeakable deuotion builded and dedicated to that holy Saint and Martyr which in the late Persecution was most hated by the enemies of Christ So I say of the Church of S. Alban Ecclesia a Church as S. Bede writeth mirandi operis atque eius martyrio condigna extructa est a Church Bed Eccl. Hist l. 1. c. 7. Mat. West An. 313. of wonderfull workemanship and worthie of his martyrdome was builded so soone as the Christians were heare at quiet Redeunte temporum Christianorum serenitate Matthew of Westminster hath the same words and explaneth this time of the quiet of Christians heare when this Church was so sumptuously builded to haue bene ten yeares after his Martyrdome decem scilicet annis post passionem eius elapsis the perfect finishing whereof he setteth downe to haue bene in the same yeare in which Constantine went from hence towards Rome against Maxentius Which was by him in the 6. yeare of Constantine and before the generall ceasing of Persecution in other places Constantine not being absolute and sole Emperor vntill his victory against Maxentius nor the generall quiet then presently ensuing Both S. Bede and the Monke of Westminster write that in their seuerall times often curing of infirmities and Bed Matth. supr other miracles were wrought there in quo videlicet loco vsque ad hanc diem curatio infirmorum frequentium operatio virtutum celebrari non desunt The old Churches of S. Iulius and S. Aaron martyred in the late Persecutio◠in the Citie of Caerlegion deriue their auntient Foundation from this time So doe many others founded in honor of seuerall Martyrs then cruelly putt to death for the name of Christ So I affirme of all the Cathedrall Churches Archiepiscopall and Episcopall which I haue before remembred with their Particular Sees and Cities founded in the time of King Lucius and destroyed in the Persecution of the Tyrants Dioclesian and Maximinian as also those that were not Episcopall but subordinate and inferior ouerthrowne with that tempest of Persecution for S. Gildas S. Bed and others testifie without exception that all they which were then pulled downe euen to the ground were now reedified renouant Ecclesias ad solum vsque destructas Matthew of Westminster Gild. l. de excid conquest Brit. ca. 8. Bed Eccles Hist l. 1. c. 8. Mat. Westm an 313. plainely writeth that besides the new Churches builded in honor of their late Martyrs of which S. Gildas and S. Bede also make this memory Basilicas Sanctorum Martyrum fundant construunt perficiunt The Christians heare at this time renewed builded againe all the Churches dedicated to former Saints which had bene so destroyed and throwne downe to the ground Sanctorum Ecclesias ad solum vsque destructas renouant 3. And when we are warranted both by Protestant and Catholike Antiquaries Matth. Parker Antiq. Brit. pa. 8. Io. Goscel Eccl. Hist Manuscrip de Archiep. Can. tuar prope Init. Manuscr Gallie Antiq. cap. 28. also that from the beginning of Christianitie heare we had many Abbots Monkes and Monasteryes in euery Age tot tantaque Abbatum Monachorum Cenobiorum vetusta nomina quae quouis seculo extiterunt And that these Monasteryes were all destroyed in Dioclesian his Pesecution we must needs assigne their restauration to this time as I haue first exemplified before in the old Monastery of Winchester now reedified with so greate speede and deuotion the Abbot thereof being called Deodatus To this I ioyne the Monastery of Abingdon allready spoken of where this our greate King and Emperour Constantine as the old Annalls thereof doe pleade had his education when he was young wherein there where as it testifieth further aboue 500. Chron. Monast Abingdon apud Nich. Harpesf Eccl. Hist saecul 10. c. 9. Monkes liuing by the labour of their hands in th◠woods and Desarts adioyning vpon son dayes festiuall dayes comming to the Monastery besides 60. which did continually abide in the same seruing God there Quod Monachi supra quingentos illi fuerant adscripti qui per syluas loca deserta quae in vicinia fuere manuum labore victitabant ad Coenobium singulis Sabbatis Dominicis conuenientes praeter sexaginta qui assiduè in ipso Coenobio versabantur quod Constantinus ille Magnus Abingdoniae educatus fuerit Therefore we cannot doubt if we will accept this auntient Record for witnesse but of all other Monasteries this greate Emperour had an especiall care of restoring and endowing this his nursing place of education 4. To this time we may assigne the reedificing of the noble Monastery first builded by the Founder Ambrius or Ambry after called Amsbury in Wiltshire where at the comming of the Saxons hither there were 300. Religious men Coenobium trecentorum fratrum in monte Ambrij qui vt fertur fundator Galfr. Monum Hist Brit. l. 8. c. 9.
cod Holinsh. supr taken a Prisoner out of Britaine and so kept by the Irish Pyrats and Infidels both Princes and subiects there being such at that time Further whereas they say it was a Pictish woman that was so prefect and learned a Christian then to conuert that kingdome of Ireland it is made certaine in Histories that S. Ninianus the first Apostle and Conuerter of the Picts was not borne at this time 8. How then is it credible that there was such a woman among them hauing Theodoret. supr Ruffin Histor Eccl. l. 1. cap. 10. Apostolik gifts as Theodoret writeth of that woman which conuerted the Iberians in Armenia Apostolica dona consecuta est And Ruffinus liuing in this Age saith she cured the sick by laying them vpon her sackcloth addeth further that this Iberia was farre from our Ireland Iberorum gens quae sub axe pontico iacet And he relateth this History from the mouth of the King of that Country named Bacarius Gouernor of Palestina liuing with him in Hierusalem as a familiar friend Haec nobis ita gesta fidelissimus vir Bacarius gentis ipsius Rex apud nos domesticorum comes exposuit cum nobiscum Palaestini tunc limitis Dux in Hierosolymis satis vnaminiter degeret When we finde no such King of Ireland much lesse that went then to Hierusalem and was so imployed there by the Emperour Wherefore seeing our Scottish Chroniâ—lers theÌ„selues make this Historie as it appertaineth to Ireland but Ferunt a report and our Boeth Scotor Hist l. 6. fol. 104. Hollinsh supr English Antiquaries before haue it but from them which thus receaued it and giue it no more credit then it had from them and not any otherwise allowing but rather improuing it by the Irish Tradition itselfe I dare not say that Ireland was thus and then conuerted but the Identitie or nearenes of name gaue first originall of that opinion vnto some Writers in these parts to apply that to Ireland which is ment in Histories of Iberia in Armenia Whosoeuer desireth to knowe how many Kingdomes Countries in the worlde were conuerted vnto or confirmed in the faith of Christ in and by the happy Regiment of Constantine may make some coniecture thereof by the names and number of Bishops subscribing to the Nicen Councell besides so many of the Westerne parts as I haue remembred before Eusebius and others testifiing that out of all Europe Afrike Asia were present there Their Subscriptions Socrat. Histor Eccl. l. 1. cap. 5. Euseb vit Const l. 3. cap. 7. Concil Nicaen Tom. 1. Concil in subscript are out of Egipt Thebes Libia Palestine Phaenicia Syria Arabia Mesopotania Persia Cilicia Cappadocia Armenia the lesser and greater PoÌ„tus both the one and other Galatia Asia Lydia Phrygia Pisidia Licia Pamphilia Rhodes Cous Lemnius Corcyra Caria Isauria Cyprus Bythinia Dacia Misia Macedonia Achaia Thessalia Calabria Carthadge Dardania Thessalia Dalmatia Pannonia Gallia Gothia Bosphorus THE XII CHAPTER OF THE CALLINC OF THE NICEN COVNCELL by the temporall assistance of Constantine against the Arrian Heretiks The Decrees thereof highest spirituall Power of the Popes of Rome and generall Councels by generall agreement of all Pope Emperor and others 1. THE externall warrs and conflicts of holy Christians with Iewes and Pagans being thus happily appeased and quieted by this our most blessed Country King Emperor and cheifest nursing Father that euer was in the world of the Church of Christ as was foretold by the Prophet erunt Reges nutricij tui An other kind of combat and ciuill Sedition was raised against them by domesticall Aduersaries the Arian Heretiks for appeasing whose rage fury not onely the spirituall Power of the highest See Apostolike and other sacred Catholike Bishops but the brachium seculare and temporall assistance of this most worthy and magnificent Emperor was necessary and to be vsed 2. How needfull the authoritie of the cheifest See was in such an Assembly and for decision of such Controuersies as were there debated is sufficiently proued before this Councell itselfe giueth pregnant testimony vnto making it a rule and Square to all Churches Antiqui mores seruentur Quandoquidem Nic. Conc. Can. 6. Episcopo Romano hoc est consuetum And Eusebius confesseth that although the Bishop of Rome was old yet the cheife rule belonging to that Citie he sent Preists thither to supply his place Quanquam vrbis illius penes quem Imperium Euseb l. 3. Vita Constant c. 7. est Episcopus ingrauescente aetate praepeditus abfuit eius tamen Presbyteri qui aderant illius locum suppleuerunt So haue others And in the Councell they being onely Preists and no Bishops they did not onely and singularly definitiuely subscribe which no other Preists were allowed to doe but subscribed before the Bishops in the name of S. Syluester then Pope Victor Vincentius Presbyteri vrbis Romae pro venerabili viro Papa Episcopo nostro sancto Syluestro Nicen. Conc. in subscr Tom. 1. Conc. subscripsimus ita credentes sicut supra scriptum est 3. That the Assembly of all or so many Bishops as could be called together The highest spirituall authoritie of generall Councels and Popes of Rome in generall Councell was necessary in that and such times of contention to embrace true faith sinceare charitie and due worship to God that without such meanes those duties could not firmely and certainely be obserued that holy Emperor himselfe giueth a publike testimony in his generall Epistle to all Churches Vna fides concors dilectio ac erga omnipotentem Deum pietas aliter Epist Constant apud Euseb l. 3. de Vit. eius c. 16. Theodor. l. 1. Hist c. 10. stabili firmoque ordine constitui non potuit quam in Caetu omnium aut saltem plurimorum Episcoporum coacto His ita institutis suscipite lubentibus animis coelâ—stem gratiam plane diuinum mandatum Quicquid enim in sacris Episcoporum Concilijs constitutum fuerit id ad diuinam voluntatem est referendum Neyther hath he giuen lesse dignitie before by his Imperiall Constitutions to the See of Rome then the primatiue Popes thereof haue claymed vnto it from the beginning by the Donation and gift of Christ to be the cheifest and commandresse of all Churches Which this glorious Emperor doth often reiterate vt Principatum Constant in Priuileg Rom. Eccl. teneat super omnes in vniuerso orbe terrarum Ecclesias And this he declared publikly not onely by his owne Imperiall Authoritie but with the consent of all his Nobles and the Roman Senate cum omnibus nostris Satrapis vniuerso Senatu Optimatibus que meis 4. This renowned Emperor was farre froÌ„ clayming Primacie in spirituall affaires in authoritatiuely assembling Councels or any other respect Yet were not the teÌ„porall duties offices of this good Emperor waÌ„ting vnto this sacred Councell But as our auncient Christian Kings from our first Conuersion did
of Christ when by Socrates reckening Constantine the Greate dyed When Theodoret saith plainely that this greate Constantine restored S. Athanasius by his Decree restituit autem Alexandriae decreto suo Athanasium quamuis adesset Eusebius summis Theodoret. l. 2. Histor cap. 1. viribus dissuaderet And Sozomen also doth euidently testifie that the Greate Constantine in his life time commanded S. Athanasius to be restored and so left it in his last Will and Testament and recordeth this returne of S. Athanasius as the first matter of moment done after his death Dum haec geruntur Theodoret. Hist lib. 1. cap. 31. Athanasius ex Gallia ad solem Occidentem vergente Alexandriam reuertitur Quem Constantinus dum adhuc maneret in vita reuocari in patriam iusserat Fertur etiam eum hoc idem in Testamento suo praecepisse Which Constantine the Sonne then ruling in those parts speedely and honorably for S. Athanasius performed testifying in his Publike Letters extant in the Workes of S. Athanasius Sozom. Histor Eccl. l. 3. cap. 2. Theodoret Sozomen and Socrates himselfe that it was his Fathers Ordinance and Commande Cum Dominus noster faelicis memoriae Constantinus Augustus Pater meus haberet in animo Episcopum illum ad propriam Sedem locumque restituere morte ante occupatus occumberet quà m id quòd erat sibi in optatis Epistol Const filij apud Athan. Apol. 2. Theod. l. 2. c. 2. Sozom. l. 3. c. 2. Socrat. l. 2. c. 2. Niceph. Hist Eccl. lib. 9. c. 3. l. 8. c. 54. explere posset consentaneum existimaui vt ipse institutum tam pij Imperatoris mihi exequendum susciperem 4. And the same Socrates manifestly proueth that this returne of S. Athanasius to Alexandria from Treuers after his so longe continuance there was presently vpon the death of Constantine the Father so soone as the certaine notice thereof did come to his sonne Constantine in France Eusebius setteth downe many memorable things of this greate Emperour done by him yet lyuing after the time of his supposed death by Socrates Namely the marriage of his second sonne with greate sumptuousnes the Father Emperour leading his sonne by the hand to that Solemnitie the Ambassages and gifts sent Euseb lib. 4. de vit Const c. 49. 50. 51. 56. 57. vnto him from the Indians His diuiding the Empire betweene his sonnes His dayly making of Lawes both concerning ciuill and warlike affaires assiduè leges ferebat aliquando de rebus ciuilibus aliquando de bellicis He prepared his greate Expedition against the Persians in so forcible and victorious manner associating diuers Bishops with him to giue assistance both by their counsaile and prayers that the Persians vnderstanding thereof fearing themselues not able to make resistante sent Ambassadors vnto him to entreate for peace Oratores ad eum de petenda pace mittebant which they obtayned vpon conditions for the quiet of Christians among them 5. Among these prouisions he caused a moueable Church magnificently to be made to carry with him in his Army for his Cleargie and himselfe to serue God in Ad bellum illud suscipiendum Tabernaculum ad Ecclesiae similitudinem magnificientia faciendum curauit in quo Deo victoriarum datori ipse cum Episcâ—pis supplicaret And further to explode the error which holdeth he was not baptised vntill a little before his death when these Ambassadours came vnto him it was the holy time of Easter and Constantine watched all night with Constantine his greate deuotion at the feasts of Easter other Christians in the Church magna agebatur diei Paschâ— eo tempore celebritas Imperaror cum caetâ—ris pernoctans vota precesque Deo persoluebat And this custome he yearely vsed in this greate Festiuitie as the same Author present witnesse thereof thus testifieth Statis quotidie teÌ„poribus soluscuÌ„ sololoquebatur Deo Cap. 21. 22. supr supplici voce in genua proiectus humili vultu deiectis oculis à Deo petebat ve quibus egeret rebus per illum consequeretur Sed hanc Religionis executationeÌ„ salutaris festi temporibus augeÌ„s omnibus viribus cum animi tum corporis diuinos sacroruÌ„ ritus obibat quasi qui huius magnae solemnitatis exempluÌ„ omnibus praeberet NocturnaÌ„ verò in hoc festo per vigilationeÌ„ tam claram reddidit quà m diurnaÌ„ lucem accensis tota vrbe per certos homines quibus hoc munus delegatum fuit quà m celsissimis cereis caÌ„delis etiam laÌ„padibus igneis omnes latebras collustraÌ„tibus vt illâ— mystica pernoctatio longe clarior ipsa solis luce redderetur Ad hunc moduÌ„ Deo ille sâ—o quasi sacerdos quidam sacra faciebat He did dayly at certaine vsuall times huÌ„bly vpoÌ„ his knees pray vnto God but this exercise of religion he encreased in the times of the Feast of Saluation with all The ceremony of lights in the Church vsed by Constantine in greate aboundance of them and watchings power of soule and body executing the sacred ceremonies giuing as it were an example vnto all of this greate Solemnitie In this Feast he made the watching in the night as bright as the light of the day most high waxe condels were set vp burning in all the Citie as also laÌ„pes shyning in euery corner diuers meÌ„ being assigned to execute that office So that this mysticall watching through all the night was made farre more bright then the light of the sonne After this manner as if he had bene a Preist he serued God 6. Vpon the opportunitie before remembred of the King of Persia sending Constantine procureth quiet for the Christians in Persia Ambassadors vnto Constatine to procure peace he also wrote vnto that King Sapores that the ChristiaÌ„s in his Dominions which were there in greate numbers at that time cum accepisset apud Persas frequentes esse Dei Ecclesias infinitum pene populum Christi gregibus contineri might liue at libertie and freedome Euseb l. 4. supr Sozomen lib. 2. Hist cap. 14. for their Religion And if we may beleeue Eusebius then lyuing and best knowing the affaires and proceedings of this most Noble Emperour after all these things were compassed and brought to end he began that glorious and renowned worke and foundation of the most sumptuous Church of the twelue Apostles in Constantinople vbi iam haec peracta fuerunt omnia Euseb supr c. 58. Apostolorum templum in fui cognomine ad perpetuam illorum memoriam conseruandam aedificare caepit Where it is euident by this then lyuing Authour and witnesse that he did not begin to build this Church vntill long after his tricennall Feast first finishing and ending those things I haue remembred and others And yet the glory and statelines of that worke as it is described by the same Writer was such that it could not be effected finished in many yeares Cap. 60. supr and yet
Peter the Apostle Consecrated Primate of all Fraunce and Archbishop of Sens in the 54. yeare of Christ when Tybertus Claudius was Emperor and to him succeeded in the yeare 74. sainct Potentianus Martyr also one of the 72. Disciples and Scholler of sainct Peter cheife of the Apostles and Companion of sainct Sauinian sanctus Sauinianus siue Sabinus vnus ex 72. Christi Discipulis a sancto Petro Apostolo Primas totius Galliae Senonensis Archiepiscopus consecratus est anno Christi 54. Tyberio Claudio Caesare Augustoâ—cui successit anno d. 74. sanctus Potentianus Martyr â—â—â—e ex 72. Petri Apostolorum Corypha discipulus beati Sauiniani in Itinere comes peregrinationis Therefore If the two first Primates of all Fraunce were the Disciples of sainct Peter and by him placed in that Dignitie ouer all the Bishops of Fraunce the rest must needs be at his Dispotion and substitution and the first of them being so placed in the yeare of Christ 54. in the Empire of Claudius when sainct Paul was a strunger in this part of the world this prerogatiue and honour must needs be yeelded to sainct Peter who was the first did send the first preachers and Bishops into Fraunce in the time of Claudius by all testimonies longe before sainct Paul came into any westerne parte or Nation his first coming thither being in the time of Nero and yet as a Prisoner to Rome and so continuing there two yeares as both Scripture and Historyes giue ample Testimony The Authorities for this sending and mission by sainct Peter are too many to be alledged Therefore I will onely set downe diuers of these first Bishops and the yeares wherein they were first consecrated and directed thither as they are gathered and collected out of many Authors by Eisengrenius and Democharez that It may be euidently knowne by the time it selfe that onely sainct Peter by his Disciples founded the Church of Fraunce 5. I haue spoaken of sainct Maximinus and sainct Lazarus the first Bishop Guliel Eisengr Centenar 1. in S. Maximin Lazaro Iuliano of Aquens the second of Massilia consecrated and deputed to those places by sainct Peter no other Apostle being in these parts to accomplish that holy worke these being ordeined Bishops there as these Authors tell vs in the yeare of Christ 46. in which yeare also sainct Simon Leprosus whom our Sauiour cured of that infirmitie was consecrated Bishop of Cenomanenses This Anton. Democ. l. 2. de MissacoÌ„tra Caluin Gul. Eisengren Cent. 1. part 1. dist 3. also was called sainct Iulianus In the yeare following 47. sainct Martial Disciple and Godchila to sainct Peter D. Petri Apostolorum Principis in Baptismate filius was with diuers others sent by the same holy Apostle and was father in Christ to so many Prouinces and people in Fraunce as the Annals thereof doe mention In the same yeare sainct Trophimus out of whose spirituall Magdeb. Centu. 1. in Trophim mart Rom. in S. Troph Tom. 1. coÌ„cil Gul. Eisengr CenteÌ„ 1. Matth. Westm Arnold Mirm. in Theatr. conuers gent. alij Gul. Eisengr centen 1. in S. Aphrodisio fountaine as Pope Zosimus writeth all the Ryuers and brookes of Fraunce were filled was ordeyned Bishop of Arles which must needs be by sainct Peter being twelue yeares at the least before that time some thinke he was left there by sainct Paul In the yeare following being 48. sainct Aphordisius by birth an Egiptian and Prefect of all Egpyt at the time when our Sauiour being driuen into Egypt the Idols of the temples there fell doune being the Disciple of S. Peter Prince of the Apostles at Antioch was consecrated Bishop of the Church of Buturigum in Fraunce sanctus Aphrodisius genere Aegyptius totius Aegypti praefectus eo tempore quo puero Iesu in Aegyptum fugato in templa Deorum illato Idola omnia corruerunt B. Petro Apostolorum Coryphaei apud Antiochiam Discipulus Buturicensis Ecclesiae consecratus est Antistes anno Christi 48. sedit annis VolaterraÌ„ comment l. 13. Petrus de Natalib l. 3. c. 218. Gul. Eiseng Centenar 1. part 1. dist 3. Franc. Belleforest to 1. Eisengr Centen 1. fol. 56. sex moritur 11. calâ—ndas Aprilis anno Saluatoris 54. he was Bishop there sixe yeares and dyed the eleuenth of the calends of April and sanctus Vrsinus à beato Petro consecratus consecrated by sainct Peter whom some call Nathaniel succeeded hym in his Bishoprick in the yeare of Christ 54. And the same yeare 48 except Eisengrenius and others cited by him deceaue vs Paulus Sergius was consecrated Bishop of Narbon eight or more yeares before sainct Paul came to Rome and so by no other Apostle but sainct Peter The next yeare after the 49. of Christ by the last accompt sainct Clement surnamed Flauius with Caelestus Faelix and our contryman sainct Mansuetus first Bishop of Tullum were directed in Gallias the parts of Fraunce by sainct Peter In the yeare 54. thes Authors testifie That sainct Amator Potentianus Sauinianus Fronto with others were sent Bishops by sainct Peter into Fraunce all longe before sainct Paules coming to Rome And for a Religious memory and due honour of sainct Peter and the See of Rome in that respect Those Sees of Bishops which were first founded by sainct Peter and his Successour sainct Clement of whom Annal. Gall. Booke of Estat in Fraunce Edw. Grymston p. 97. I shall speake hereafter in his proper place are for the most part the cheifest Archbishops Sees there at this time As the Archbishops of Reims Sens Lyon Soissons Amiens Noyon Paris Charters Orleans Anger 's Mans Beuuis Burges Bishops sees founded in Fraunce by S. Peter in honor thereof are for the most part Archbishops Sees at this time Tours Chalon Auxerre Troys Meaux Angolesme Baion Narbon Rouen Burdeaux Aix Vienna and others all first founded by sainct Peter the Apostle and his Successor sainct Clement as before sainct Peter and in sainct Clement hereafter is and shall be related 6. And because some Question hath bene by whom sainct Trophimus so renowned in Fraunce was first sent to Arles there to passe ouer other testimonies the epistle of the Bishops of that Prouince to sainct Leo the greate S. Trophimus sent to Arles in FrauÌ„ce by S. Peter Pope of Rome cleareth this for to be sainct Peters doing Omnibus Regionibus Gallicanis notum est sed non sacrosanctae Ecclesiae Romanae habetur incognitum quod prima inter Gallias Arelatensis ciuitas missum à beatissimo Petro Apostolo Epistola coÌ„prouincialium Episcoporum Metropolis Arelaten ad S. LeoneÌ„ Papam inter epist S. Leonis epist 108. in Tom. 1. concil sanctum Trophimum habere meruit sacerdotem exinde alijs paulatim regionibus GalliaruÌ„ donum fidei Religionis infusum It is knowne to all Countries of Fraunce neyther is it vnknowne to the holy Romane Church that Arles the cheife citie of Fraunce deserued to haue for
Preist sainct Trophimus sent from sainct Peter the Apostle and from thence by little and little the gift of faith was infused to the other Regions of Fraunce Where we see it proued by the publike letters and testimonie of all the Bishops of that Prouince That it was a certaine and confessed truth among all the Churches of Fraunce and knowne also at Rome that sainct Trophimus who was so renowned in Fraunce was sent thither by sainct Peter which yet doth not condemne their opinion which say sainct Paul in his Iorney from Rome to Spayne left him by the way at Arles whether he was formerly sent by sainct Peter and sainct Paul finding him at Arles went on his Iorney leauing sainct Trophimus where he found him Which confirmeth that I haue deliuered before of this matter and thus I haue compassed and circuited all CouÌ„tries round about vs find that they all first receaued the faith of Christ in these times by sainct Peter the Apostle and his disciples and no other meanes but this was left or to be fownde in histories to bring the first knowledge of saluation to this Kingdome And hauing this farre entreated of sainct Peters Disciples let vs now speake of that most glorious Apostle himselfe his preacing heare THE XIIII CHAPTER WHEREIN IS PROVED BY MANY ARGVments Authorities and Antiquaries both Catholiks and Protestants that sainct Peter the Apostle parsonally preached and founded Christian Religion in this kingdome 1. NOW I am come to giue that glory to this kingdome whereof a Protestant thus speaketh we should accompt it Godwyn Conu of Britâ—ine p. 6. a greate glory to our Nation to deriue the peti-degree of our spituall linadge from so noble and excellent a father as sainct Peter And diuers others of that profession will seeme to giue that Preeminencie vnto him To satisfie therefore these men and giue that due honour to this kingdome this is sufficieÌ„tly proued before by those that haue told vs he preached in all kingdomes and Ilands of the west therefore this Cuontry so greate and ample a portion of the westerne world and the most florishing Iland thereof cannot be excluded from this prerogatiue This moued our first Christian King Lucius and the S. Peter his personall preaching and founding our Church in Britain proued by all human authoritie cheifest of the cleargie heare in that time in the first publik and generall conuersion of this kingdome to dedicate the first and principall Churches of this Land to this glorious Apostle as our first father and founder in Christ as namely two in one cittie of London the one of them the Metropolitane cheife See diuers hundreds of yeares scituated in Cornhill and still keeping the name of sainct Peters Church The other at westminster also to this day Stowe hist in K. Lucius an D. 179 Holinsh. ib. hist of Engl. The Table of S. Peters Church there Ihon Norden Specul Britan. part 1. p. 42. Camden in Brit. Belgae Sommersetshâ—re Francis Mason Consecrat l. 2. c. cap. 2. pag. â—0 retayning the name sainct Peters Church and diuers others in this kingdome when except that of Glastenbury dedicated to our blessed lady sainct Mary we cannot finde the like of dedicating so auncient and many Churches to any other sainct sainct Paul sainct Ioseph or whom soeuer supposed to haue preached heare 2. The next argument shall be from the testimonie of our holy King Inas and the Clergie of England then Who in the place of the olde Church of Glastenbury building a very magnificent new Church dedicated it to Christ sainct Peter and sainct Paul and in the high forefront thereof engraued certaine verses in the honour of sainct Peter and sainct Paul among which these three are founde Surgit in his templum quod placet ara Deo Anglia plaude lubens mittit tilâ— Roma salutem Fulgor Apostolicus Glasconiam irradiat The first which our Protestants omitt to translate is thus in Thâ—se to wit sainct Peter and sainct Paul a Church and an Altar pleasing vnto God is raised The other two are thus tranâ—lated by our Protestants Be glad England Rome sâ—â—deth health to thee and Apostolicall Brightnes doth lighten Glastenbury And they say that this is ment either of doctrine or protection But the words mittit â—â—bi Roma salutem That Rome sâ—nt saluation vnto Britaine and the Apostolicall brightnes of sainct Peter and Paule did illuminate Glastenbury doe include onely doctrine and Saluation and no mention there at all is had of protection which is contrary to protestant Religion and in Catholik Religion for so worthie a King as sainct Inas was to ascribe the patronadge of Glasten burie to sainct Peter and sainct Paul if neither of them had giuen Influence to the first settling of Religion there and exclude sainct Ioseph who both liued and died in that place is an harsh vnworthie construction And to giue further testimonie that the words of that Inscription are altogether to be vnderstood of our first conuersion and receauing the faith from sainct Peter and Rome all those verses excepting the words Anglia and Glastonia England and Glastenbury are taken word by word from Venantius Fortunatus Bishop of Venant Fortun. l. 3. c. 7. Poyctires in Fraunce who testifieth in those verses as I haue by others proued before that Gallia Fraunce and the Allobroge people of Sanoye and the Dolphinists were conuerted by S. Peter and his disciples and S. Paul also preached there as I shall shew hereafter And therefore among the rest of the encomiasticall verses of those two glorious Apostles hath these Gallia plaude Lubens mittit tibi Roma salutem Fulgor Apostolicus visitat Allobrogas Which King Inas applyed to Britanie and Glastenbury in the same maÌ„ner onely changing Gallia into Anglia and Allobrogas into Glastoniam and to make a true verse visitat into Irradiat in the maner before related Anglia plaude lubens mittit tibi Roma salutem Fulgor Apostolicus Glastoniam irradiat Which he neither would nor truly could haue done except as venantius Fortunatus truely found by vndeniable Authorities that Fraunce and the people of Sauoy and Delphinate did first receaue the doctrine of Saluation from Rome S. Peter and S. Paul So King Inas had sufficient warrant to apply the very same and in the same sence to Britaine or England and Glastenbury to haue receaued the first light of faith from the same Rome and holy Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul 3. I may add to these the testimony of Kenulphus King of the Mercians with vs to Pope Leo the third where in his epistle vnto him thus he writeth vnde Tibi Apostolica dignitas inde nobis fidei veritas Innotuit from whence Apostolicall dignitie was deriued vnto thee which by all consent was from S. Peter Kenulphus Rex Mercior epist ad Leonem Pap. 3. the Apostle from thence the truthe of faith appeared or was made knowne vnto vs Which by the reason