cities of the Realme That is in London in Yorke and in Glamorgantia videlicet in vrbe Legionum by Wales Thus far these Protestants and one of them named the Archbishop telleth vs that the constitutinge of Archbishops in the places of the gentâ—les Archflamines by these Legats of Pope Eleutherius was to followe the example and order of S. Peter himselfe whoe did soe as S. Paul likewise and maketh this reason Whitgift dâ—f of the Answ. pag. 320. 321. Which might bee done in respect of the citie and place and not in respect of the Idolatrous preists for Archiflamines were in greate cyties which being conuerted vnto Christ might haue in the place of their Archiflamines godly and learned Archbishops to ouersee and direst the rest of the Bishops and preachers that vnitie and order might bee obserued Thus Paul did at Ephesus and Creta And why might not Peter doe it in other places likewise Master Iohn Selden a greate Protestant antiquary and lawier writinge of these two holy Legats speaketh thus Io. Selden Analect c. 6. Beati doctores cum per totam ferè Ierusalem paganitatem deleuissent Templa quae in honore plurimorum deorum fundata fuerant vni Deo ciusque Sanctis dedicauerunt diuersisque ordinatorum coetibus repleuerunt When the blessed Doctors had blotted out paganisme allmost throughout the Iland the temples which were founded in honor of manye gods they dedicated to one God and his Saints and replenished them with diuers companies of cleargie men The very same bee the words of Matthew of Westminster as hee is published by English Protestants Matth. Westm an Dom. 185. And this present Protestant Antiquarie refutinge the ridiculous and ignorant or verie willfull singularitie of Godwyn the Protestant Bishop singularlie and onely as hee himselfe writeth Godw. conuers of Britanie p. 26. excepting Sutcliffe denying Archflamines in this Iland citing for authors Pomponius Laetus and Fenestella thus addeth Pompn laet de Sacerdot Rom. ca. 7. Fenestell de Sacerd. Rom. c. 5. Quemadmodum autem Episcopis apud nos Archiepiscopi sic Flaminibus Archiflamines praeponebantur Horum potestati caeteri Iudices in Insula subijciebantur Hos autem ex praecepto Apostoli Idolatriae eripuerunt vbi erant Flamines Episcopos vbi erant Archiflamines Archiepiscopos posuerunt Sedes autem Archiflaminum in tribus nobilioribus ciuitatibus fuerunt Londonijs videlicet Eboraco in vrbe legionum His tribus euacuata superstitione octo viginti Episcopi subduntur diuisisque parochijs subiaeuit Metropolitano Eboracensi Deira Albania quas magnum flumen Humbri à Loegria secernit Eboracensis autem Archiepiscopis in omnes Scotiae praesules ac Antistites iure primatis olim fungebatur Quod resaucitum erat sub Henrico secundo Hugone Legato Pontificio celebrato concilio As Archbishops with vs Christians are in power ouer Bishops soe were Archflamines ouer Flamines In this Iland the other Iudges were subiect to their power these by the the coÌ„mandement of the Apostle and Pope they deliuered from Idolatry and where there were Flamines they placed Bishops and Archbishops where there were Archflamines And the Seats of the Archflamines were in the three more noble cyties in London to witt in Yorke and the cytie of the Legions To these three superstition beeing taken away eight and twentie Bishops are subiected and the parishes or diocesses beeinge diuided Yorkeshire Scotland which the great riuer of Humber doth diuide from Loegria England was made subiect to the Metropolitane of yorke And the Archbishop of Yorke did of old time enioy the Right of Primate ouer all the prelates and Bishops of Scotland Which was againe decreed in a cowncell held vnder kinge Henry the second and Hughe the Popes Legate The like to this haue all our Antiquaries Catholicks or Protestants writinge of this matter The Author of the old Brittish historie the booke of Landaffe the Antiquities of Glastenbury S. Bede Ponticus Virunnius Radulphus de Diceto Asserus Capgraue Will of Malmesbury with other auncients and our present Protestant Antiquaries consentinge as Cambden Holinshed Harrison Stowe Howes the Theater writers and others two many to bee recited and needles their workes commonly extant and to bee seene of all onely I will alleadge Bicetes because his manuscript is rare and hee much commended both for Antiquitie and Authoritie by the ProtestaÌ„t Authors of the greate Theater Thus hee writeth Eleuther Papa ad quem Lucius Rex Britanniae missa epistola se fieri Christianum impetrat Eleuther ergo misit Faganum Dinuanum qui Regem Lucium baptizauerunt Templa etiam quae in honore plurimorum deorum fundata erant vni Deo dedicauerunt Erant tunc in Britannia 28. Flamines tres Archiflammines vbi erant Flamines Episcopos vbi autem Archiflamines Archiepiscopos posuerunt Londonensi subiacuit Loegria Cornubia Eboracensi Diera Albania vrbi autem legionum Kambria Eleuther Pope of whome Lucius kinge of Britanie obteyned by an epistle hee sent vnto him to bee made a Christian sent Faganus and Dimianus which baptized Kinge Lucius The Temples which were founded in honor of manie gods they dedicated to one God There were then in Britanie 28. Flamines and three Archiflamines and where there were Flamines they placed Bishops and where there were Archflamines they placed Archbishops To the Archbishop of London England and Cornwall were subiect To the Archbishopp of Yorke were subiect Diera the North of England and Scotland and Wales to the Archbishop of Caerlegion Galfrid Monum l. 4. c. 19.20 Chronic. eccl Lond. apud Cam. l. 1. antiq cantabrig Antiq. Glast apud Capgra in S. Patric Bed l. v. hist c 4. Pontic Virun l. 4. Radulph de Dicet hist. in Lucio Guliel Malmes de antiq caenob Glast Camb. in Brig Holinsh. hist of Engl. in Lucius Harris descript of Brit. Stow Howes in Lucius Theat of greate Brit. lib. 6. Hector Boeth l. 5. fol. 86.85 with others Thus wee see by all historians olde and late Catholicks and Protestants that in this general plantinge of the faith in this nation all Religious matters were wholly ordered by these Legats of the Pope his supreame direction all Iurisdiction spirituall of Archbishops and Bishops with their peculiar diocesses and gouernements assigned and distinguished by this highest papall authoritie of the Pope of Rome by his legats here And to assure vs that nothing was then thought by the kinge himselfe or any christians here to bee firme and validate in this kinde without the confirmation of the Pope himselfe when these Archbishops and Bishops with their Iurisdictions were settled many churches dedicated to God and his holy Saints vniuersities or colledges for christian learninge and education assigned all orders of cleargie men instituted with all other necessary things in such a cause remembred in our histories which I haue at lardge related in an other place these holy Legates returned to Rome againe to obtaine the Popes confirmation
against S. Augustine Bed lib. 2. histor cap. 2. Galfrid mon. lib. 11. hist. Matth. Westm. an 603. Capgrau in S. Augustino and speaking of an Archbishop of the citie of Legions and yett not anie one of them maketh the least mention that any Archbishop did either resist S. Augustine or pretend the least dislike of the spirituall supreamacie in the See of Rome or gainesay any order or decree of the blessed Pope S. Gregorie which sent him hither nor any Protestants though diuers of them name the Bishops as they coniecture which resisted S. Augustine Matth. Parker ant Britan. in August Godwyn Conuers of Brit. Stowe histor in Ethelb Bal. l. de Act. Pont. Rom. in Gregor 1. doe once name S. Telaus or any Archiepiscopal See at S. Dauids or anye other place in Walles at that time to haue consented to that opposition Hardinge in his Cronicle maketh this matter playne that the Britans which gainsaid S. Augustine did not deny the supreame spirituall power of the Pope of Rome in Britanie at that time but rather defended and maintayned it and thereby alsoe as they thought did iustely refuse S. Augustine for when hee demaunded obedience of them thus they answeared by this Author Ioh. Hardinge Chronicle cap. 88. in Ethelbert kinge of Saxons fol. 83.84 To which Britōs answeared that they not knew That hee had such estate in all Britanie For they had three Archbishops to obeyu Of Caerlion London and Yorke citie By Bishops of Rome graunted to vs ordinate Full longe afore yee had such dignitie Wherefore wee will obey noe nevv primate And specially none English nevv prelate For Englishmen and Saxons haue vs noyed And haue our Land and all our kyn destroyed Where wee see the Britans were soe far from disallowinge the Popes Authoritie in such things that by the same they both claymed and maintayned the power and prerogatiues of three Archbishops amonge them now foure hundred yeares since But these Protestants themselues with others acknowledge that the moste renowned Bishops that were in this kingedome at that time both receaued the Authoritie of the Pope of Rome and submitted themselues to S. Augustine his holy Legate Of the holines and learninge of S. Assaph I haue spoken before yett a Protestant Bishop saith of him Bal. centur 1. in Assaph A Gregorij Pontificis Romani discipulis Angliam aduentantibus authoritatem accepit hee receaued authoritie from the disciples of Gregorie the Pope of Rome that came into England S. Asaph in the life of his Master S. Kētegern Capgraue and others after affirme as much of S. Kentegern S. Assaph Ioh. Capgrau in vit S. Kentegerni that hee did acknowledg this high power in S. Gregory the Pope and receaued power and confirmation from him All our histories with generall consent affirme the same of S. Lethardus the french Bishop that liued with Queene Bertha in Kerit I haue proued the same of S. Iuo the Persian Archbishop that then preached in Huntington-shire Of S. Telaus alsoe the Archbishop of Walles sufficient is said all-ready And yet these were onely the cheife holy and learned Bishops here in that time not anie one comparable to the meanest of these mentioned in any writer I can finde to haue resisted either the Popes ordinance or his Legats authoritie And to satisfie a vaine obiection of some Protestant writers That S. Columbanus the holy Irish or Scottish Abbot whose authoritie some Britans in the tyme of S. Augustine pretended for defence of their error in obseruing the feast of Easter not presently submitting thēselues to the cōmaund of the church of Rome it is euident by auntiēt histories that both this S. Columban and the cheifest of them submitted thēselues wholly vnto it receaued both instruction and iurisdictiō frō thence For it is testified in a very old Manuscript cited by Surius that both S. Kelian which was the most renowned of them and that S Columbanus and S. Gallus submitted themselues with their associats to the Pope of Rome in all thinges at that time Thus it testifieth of S. Keliā made Bishop of Herbypolis Wirtzburg in Franconia by the Pope Sur. in vit S. Kel M.S. peruetust apud eund supr Praedicationi abstinuit donec Romano se Pontifici praesentaret quatenus apud Romanā sedem integrū christianae Religionis dogma licentiā praedicādi acciperet Hibernia siquidem olim Pelagiana faedata fuerat haeresi Apostolicaque censura damnata Hee abstayned from preaching vntil hee presented himselfe vnto the Pope of Rome that hee might receaue frō the See of Rome both the sownd doctrine of Christian Religion and licence to preach For Irland his contry was auntiently defiled with the pelagian heresie and condemned by apostolick censure and there sheweth how hee had companions both of his iorney and submission amonge others Saint Columbanus and S. Gallus leauing the first in Italy and the other in Almayne The like hath Iohn Capgraue and a verie old manuscript which hee followeth if not the same with that of Surius Ioh. Capgrau in S. Kilian M.S. antiq pr. gloriosissimus Rex Eduardus in S. Kiliano In oppido orientalis Fraunciae quod Wirttzburch eorum lingua dicitur cum aliquo tempore sub silentio stetisset Romam profectus est officio praedicandi à Papa recepto Episcopus ordinatus socijs eius Columbano scilicet in Italia Gallo in Almania remanentibus Saint Kilian stayed in a Towne of east France called in their languadge Wirtzburch and when hee had beene there some time in silence hee went to Rome and receauing from the Pope power to preach and beeing ordeyned a Bishop returned leauing his Companions Columbanus in Italy and Gallus in Almayne Where it is euident not onely these Scottish Saints did not onely submitt themselues to the Pope in all matters both of doctrine and iurisdiction but the Pope at that time extended and exercised that his supreame spirituall power both in Italie Fraunce Almayne Britaine and Ireland both to censure a whole nation and to disable any to preach or exercise spirituall function without his licence And although the kings of Britanie after Kinge Arthur euen to the desolation of the Britans were by all histories euen of their owne as Gildas Nennius the Brittish historie and others moste wicked men and such that by all testimonie of Protestants and others their kingedome was ouerthrowne by God for the sinnes of them and their people yett not anie one of them by any historie did denie this power of the See Apostolick but euen their last kinge Cadwalladar as their owne historian writteth Gildas de excid Britan. Galfrid mon. l. 11. histor cap. 3.4.5.6.7.8 monum histor beeing admonished from heauen Nolebat Deus Britones in Insula Britanniae diutius regnare that God would not haue the Britans reigne any any longer in the Iland of Britanie went as hee was admonished on pilgrimage to Rome submitted himselfe to Pope Sergius and died an holy Saint in soe much
matter Which alsoe agree that these kingedomes were at that time longe before and vntill the vnion of them by our present Soueraigne kinge Iames not onely distinct and diuers kingedomes vnder diuers kinges lawes and gouernments but ordinarily as then they were at open warres and hostilitie in ciuill and temporall respects Therfore it was neyther Kinge Lucius whoe to vse the words of Hector Boethius Scator histor l. 5. fol. 83. Godwyn conuers of Britanie pag. 22.23 aggreing with our English Protestants and others in this was but a kinge by curtesie of the Romane Emperors and their Authoritie Lucius Britonibus Caesaris beneuolentia authoritate imperitabat Therefore hee neyther had nor possibly could haue his power and principalitie extended further then that of the Romans was which went noe further then the wall of Adrian which diuided the kingedomes makinge Scotland a distinct kingedome and neuer subiect to the Roman Emperors Which could not allowe to kinge Lucius more then they were Lords and Masters of themselues for accordinge to that lawe maxime vsed by manie Protestants and a grownde in the lawe and light of nature it selfe Nemo potest plus Iuris in alium transferre quà m ipse habet Noe man can giue more power to another then hee himselfe hath For soe hee should giue that which hee hath noe right or power to giue beeinge a thinge vnpossible Therefore kinge Lucius nor the Roman Emperors hauinge any power or right at all spirituall or temporall ouer the Scots or Britans or any people then dwellinge beyond that Wall in the kingedome now called Scotland they could not by any possibilitie giue such spirituall power to the Archbishop of Yorke to commaund in that contrie nor commaund the inhabitants of Scotland in noe respect subiect vnto them to bee subiect to the Bishop of Yorke their subiect in temporall respects Neither did would or could the kings of Scotland then pagans subiect and submitt their people and contry to the Archbishop of yorke of an other kingdome now enemy to them both in spirituall and temporall respects And it is directly against all Protestants professions confessions or churches that any Protestant Prince or other whosoeuer clayminge or pretending supreame spirituall Iurisdiction among them should challendge or presume to extend it further then their temporall ditions and Gouernments as is euident in all places where the new Religion is admitted as England the Lowe contries the cantons of Switserland and the rest where the spirituall Iurisdiction which they claime is limited and confined within the circuites of their temporall Dominions without any further progresse Parlam 1. Elizab. 1. Iacob Scotic Confessiones Heluet. Gallic Saxonia Belgic Therefore this highest supreame directing spirituall power which established at that time and longe after the subordination and subiection of Scotland and the Ilands to the Archbishop of Yorke must needs by these Protestants and all Antiquities bee onely peculiar to the Pope of Rome whoe and that alone effected these things as soe manie Protestants and others haue proued before and others from our best antiquities affirme that all ecclesiasticall thinges were ordered here according to the commaundment of Pope Eleutherius that blessed man Secundum iussum beati Eleutherij Papae Annal. Landaf apud Io. Caium l. 1. de antiquit Cantabrig p. 90. Which is an euident demonstration that this holy Pope had this supreame spirituall power ouer all this Iland at that time for without such a power these things could not haue beene performed And demonstrateth alsoe that noe other power on earth could haue duely performed it especially any temporall Kinge Prince Emperour or Lieutenant whatsoeuer for soe contrarie to the names offices and powers of such Rulers they should bee Emperors Kinges Rulers Regents and the like where they haue noe Empire Kingedome Rule Regiment soueraigntie or any subiects a thinge in the light of nature of it selfe imployinge contradiction and impossible And lett noe man say that accordinge vnto some as namely Giraldus Cambrensis this Iland was diuided into fiue prouinces Britannia prima Britannia secunda Flauia Maxima and Valentia which now is Scotland and that there was an Archbishop there Girald Cambr. l. de Iure Metropol eccl Meneu apud Park antiq Britan. pag. 24. Io. Pris def hist. Brit. For I answeare this diuision was made longe after this as the twoe laste prouinces Maximia Valentia proue in their owne names For the same Author saith that Maximia was soe named of Maximus the Emperour Maximia Ab Imperatore Maximo vocata and Valentia now Scotland was soe called of Valens the Emperour Valentia à Valente Imperaeore sic dicta est Girald Cambr. Parker Pris sup Both which Emperors Maximus and Valens were longe after this time and Scotland not vnder the Romans to bee made a prouince by them and besides soe many Protestant Authors and Antiquities before that there were but onely three Archbishops here at this time nor after diuers hundreds of yeares the Scottish histories and all Protestants agree that Scotland had neyther Archbishops nor Bishops perhaps longe after this time The testimonies of these things ar to manie to bee produced therefore I will onely instance in the present Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury and his deputy in writinge the booke Intituled of the Consecration of the Bishops of the church of England who speake in this maner Frāc Mason epist dedicat and l. 2. c. 3. pag. 54 The Romans before this time of Kinge Lucius his receauinge the faith had diuided Britanie into three Prouinces one of them was called Maxima Caesariensis the Metropolis whereof was Yorke An other Britannia prima the Metropolis whereof was London the third Britannia secunda the Metropolis whereof was Caerlegion And prouinge besides soe many other Authorities before cited both by Asseruius Meneuensis schole-master to Kinge Alfred Ptolomeus Lucensis in the life of Eleutherius William Reade De vit Pont. in Eleuther pag. 3. and Iohn Leland M.S. Leland in assert Arthur fol. 36. that the Archbishops of this Iland were onlie seated in those three Metropolitane cyties of London Yorke called also Maximia or that prouince wherof it was Metropolis and Caerlegion To answeare fully this obiection thus they add Georg. Abb. Fraunc Mason supr pag. 54. Although Britanie was after the Nicen. councell diuided into fiue Prouinces Valentia and Flauia Caesariensis beeinge added to the former yett there were noe new Archbishopricks erected The reason whereof was because those two new Prouinces Notitia Prouinc Occid pag. 117. were taken out of the former and consequentlie could not haue Bishopricks without the diminishinge of the authoritie of the former in whose Iurisdiction originally they were which was not sufferable because it was against the canon of the Nicen councell Can. 6. decreeinge that in Antioche and in other Prouinces the dignities prerogatiues and authorities of churches should bee maintayned And for S. Andrewes in Scotland to haue beene alwayes subiect to Yorke or when Yorke had
in Sampsone and was consecrated by S. Dubritius the Popes Legate and primate of Britanie Therefore there cannot bee the least suspition but that both hee and the prouinces both of the North of England and Scotland alsoe then vnder his iurisdiction were of the same opinion in this matter And if the Metropolitan See of London a little before destroyed as our histories tell vs. Galfrid mon. histor Reg. Brit. l. 8. cap 9. by the pagan Saxons with other churches of that prouince had then any Archbishop whose name is not remembred noe man of indifferent iudgement will thinke that he differed in opinion in this matter from those glories of this kingedome and church thereof S. Dubritrius the Popes Legate and S. Sampson consecrated by him by whome alsoe whose authoritie from the See of Rome if London then had any Archbishop at this time hee was likewise consecrated noe others then beeing to intermedle in that busines And our kings of that time Vortimer Aurelius Ambrosius Vther Pendragon and Arthur crowned kings by these holy Archbishops Legats patrons and knowne mainteyners of the priuiledges of the Apostolicke See of Rome Kinge Vortimer belonged to the age before therefore I onely here say of him as I am directed by our Protestants in the Brittishe historie as they approue it Galfrid Monum l. 6. cap. 14. Matth. Westm. an 454. That after hee was chosen kinge and obteyned victorie of the pagans soe soone as it was in his power hee did all thinges especially apperteyning to Religion by the direction or rather commaund as the words be of S. Germanus the Popes Legate Victoria potitus Vortimerus caepit reddere possessiones ereptas ciuibus ipsosque diligere ac honorare Ecclesias iubente Sancto Germano renouare Vortimer hauing obteyned victorie began to restore the possessions that were taken from the citizens and to loue and honor them and by the commaundement of S. German to renewe the churches Neyther can wee make it a straūge thing if wee will follow soe manie Protestant guides to leade vs as before that kinge Vortimer followed the commaundement of Saint German the Popes Legate in such affaires when they haue assured vs that by his direction and order both his Father Vortigern kinge before him was deposed and this man by the same power and order was chosen and erected to bee kinge And the same is the condition and case of Aurelius Ambrosius by the same power and proceedings made kinge as these Protestants tell vs when Vortigern was deposed the second time Protest Catalog Regum Britan. Stowe histor in Vortiger Aurel. Ambros and Vterp Holinsh in eisd Soe likewise of Vterpen-dragon his brother both of them made kings by cōmon consent of the cleargie nobles the line of Vortigern beeinge quite disinherited and hee himselfe to write in Protestāt words burnt in his castle in Wales by Aurelius Ambrosius his brother Vter Galfrid monum histor Reg. Brit. l. 8. cap. 2.17 But Nennius writeth that one opinion is which is in libro S. Germani in the booke of S. German that hee with his wicked wyues or concubines was burned with fier miraculously from heauen An other opinion there is that hee wandered vpp and downe vagrantly and his hart burst in sonder The third that the earthe miraculously opened swallowed him vp aliue All agree that for betraying the country to the Infidels and his other moste horrible sinnes hee was iustly and greeuously punished by God and died miserably with eternall infamie and the others were renowned patrons and obedient children to the church of God which had aduaunced them to the regall dignitie Matth. Westm an 465.466.488.490.498 Nennius in M. S. histor in Guorthigurno And if wee will followe Nennius the best Author wee haue of these thinges S. German omitted noe meanes to procure kinge Vortigern to penance when nothinge would preuayle notwithstanding the most horrible sinne of him with his owne daughter hee baptized the sonne soe begotten naming him Faustus hee brought him vp and soe instructed him in pietie that hee was a glorious Saint Nennius supr Quartus filij Guorthigirni fuit Faustus qui illi de filia sua natus est quem Sanctus Germanus baptizauit enutriuit atque docuit vnam habuit filiam quae vt diximus mater fuit Sancti Fausti Next to these was kinge Arthur whoe allthough hee was by birth disabled as our Protestants say ex furtiuo concubitu Vtheri Dulcissae Cornubianae natus Yett to speake in Protestants words Protest Index in Galfrid monum V. Arthurus Galfrid mon. histor Reg. Brit. l. 8. c. 19. Stowe histor in K. Arthur Arthur the sonne of Vther at the age of fifteene yeares was crowned kinge of Britanie by Dubritius Archbishop of Legions the Popes Legate as before And this was not the sole Act of that Saint but of all the Bishops and nobles of the kingedome Defuncto Rege conuenerunt Pontifices cum clero Regni populo ipsumque more regio humauerunt Quo facto Dubritius vrbis Legionum Archiepiscopus sociatis sibi Episcopis magnatibus Arthurum filium eius iuuenem quindecim annorum in Regem magnificè exercuit Matth. Westm. an 516. Galfrid mon. lib. 9. cap. 1. Kinge Vther beeing deade the Bishops assemble together with the clergie and people of the kingedome and bury him in kingely maner Which beeinge ended Dubritius Archbishop of the citie of Legions the Bishops and Nobles beeing associate vnto him magnificently erect for king-Arthur his sonne a yonge man of fifteene yeares old And yett this worthie prince soe by byrth by himselfe disabled and for age vnfitt to manadge soe many and greate matters yett made kinge by the power I haue related before and followinge the direction of the Pope in matters requisite and his Legate and Bishops here became soe renowned glorious a kinge as all histories report This kinge besides the common benefites hee bestowed on the church of Christ in Britanie then allmoste desolate by the rage of the pagan Saxons hee did in particular to shew his gratefull and due dependance on the Popes of Rome With the consent and counsaile of all the Bishops and peeres of the kingedome and with licence of the See Apostolique graunt priuiledge to the schoole of Cambridge to bee exempt and free from publick vectigals and burthenous workes and this hee did for the loue of the heauenly kingedome and remedy of the soules of his Auncestors as the Protestants of Cambridge produce vnto vs out of his owne charter beginninge thus Charta Regis Arthuri de priuileg Cantabr apud Ioh. Caium lib. 1. de antiquit Cantabr pag. 68.69 Arthurus regali à Deo fultus dignitate omnibus suis salutem pro amore caelestis patriae remedioque animarum antecessorum meorum Britanniae Regum pro augmentatione insuper Reipublicae Regni mei Britanniae ac profectu spirituali Scholarium in lege Domini iugiter Cantabrigiae studentium consilio assensu omnium
S. Dauid by his legatine power translated the Archbishops See from Caerlegion where it was instituted by Pope Eleutherius to Meneuia S. Dauids of this name where it after remayned in S. Dubrit S. Dauid Giral Cambr. itinerar Cambr. Capgrau in S. Dauid Wee reade of this our holy and learned Metropolitane that hauinge expelled the Pelagian heresie and restoringe the true faith Saint Dauid was constituted Archbishop of all Britanie and his citie dedicated the Metropolitane See of all the contry soe that whosoeuer should gouerne it should hee Archbishop Therefore all heresie beeing expelled all the churches of Britanie receaued the maner and Rule by the Romane Authoritie monasteries ar builded in all places and S Dauid vvas made the highest protector cheifest preacher from vvhome all receaued the Rule and forme of well liuinge Hee vvas an order correction and imitation to all learninge to the Readers life to the needy norishment to Orphans a susteyner of the naked the head of the contry a Rule to monkes life to seculars Expulsa haeresi fides sanis pectoribus roboratur sanctus Dauid totius Britanniae Archiepiscopus constituitur necnon ciuitas eius totius patriae Metropoâ—is dedicatur ita vt quicumque eam regeret Archiepiscopus foret Expulsa itaque haeresi omnes Britanniae Ecclesiae modum regulam Romana authoritate acceperunt Monasteria per loca construuntur sanctus Dauid summus protector summus praedicator à quo omnes normam atque formam rectè viuendi acceperunt effectus est Ipse cunctis ordo correctio imitatiu legentibus doctrina egentibus vita orphanis nutrimentum nudis fulcimen patriae caput monachis regula secularibus vita fuit The Archbishop of London in this time as our Protestants tel vs. Matth. Parker antiquitat Brit. pag. 7. Godwyn Catal. in London in Theonus Stowe histor in Lucius Holinâ—… histor of Engl. Matth. Westm. an 586. Galfrid Monument hist i. 11. c. 10. was Theonus or Theanus vvhoe takinge the chardge of London vpon him the yeare 553. the yeare 586. hee vvith Thadiorus Bishop of Yorke takinge their clergie and reliques of Saints with them gett them into Walles and Cornwall to the rest of their contrymen whom the Saxons had drovven thither Soe that except these Protestants deceaue themselues and others this Archbishop of London and Thadiorus of Yorke alsoe must needs bee of the same minde with the others before for the Roman spirituall power in this nation for these Protestants Godwyn Catal. in S. Dauids 1.2 telling vs that S. Dubritius liued vntill the yeare of Christ 522. and S. Dauid which succeeded him sate longe to vvit 65. yeares they both must needs bee made Bishops vnder him and their flyinge into Walles and ioyneninge with the Britans there dooth planely conuince that they were of that opinion for if S. Dauid was now deade which cannot appeare yet moste manifest it is that both S. Kentegern and S. Asaph those moste worthie Bishops cheifest then in those parts and all Britanie alsoe if S. Dauid was deade were longe time liuing ruling after this and yett such patrons of the Romane spirituall power with their whole cleargie as before is euidently proued by these Protestants that noe Catholick may yeeld more to the See of Rome in these then they did in those dayes And if S. Dauid was deade yett the next successors of him in that Archiepiscopall See which were Cenauc and S. Teliaus or Eliud must needs alsoe succeed him in that opinion of him towards the Roman See for though little is written of Bishop Cenauc but onely that hee was Bishop of Patern and after successor to S. Dauid in the See Archiepiscopall of S. Dauids this sufficiently conuinceth it for the Bishoprick of Paterne beeing then vnder the iurisdiction of S. Dauid wee cannot thinke that the Bishop thereof was otherwise affected in this matter then his soe holye and learned Metropolitane to whome hee owed obedience And his very beeing Archbishop of Meneuia immediatly after S. Dauid doth proue the same by these Protestants before Godwyn Catal. in S. Dauids Girald Cambr. itiner Cambr. antiquit eccles Meneuen apud Godwyn supr whoe haue tould vs that by the power of the Romane See Meneuia was made the Metropolis and this Bishop did not nor could accept it in any other sence or by other Title of S. Teliaus the matter is more manifest more beeinge written of him by Protestants and others that hee was Scholler to S. Dubritius the Popes Legate the vndiuided companion of S. Dauid in their holy pilgrimadge not onely soe farr as Rome but to Hierusalem it selfe where hee was consecrated Bishop and after his returne home and the death of Cenauc beeing Archbishop of Meneuia then had principalitie ouer all the churches of the west Britanie vnto the end of his life Principatum super omnes ecclesias occidentalis Britanniae vsque ad finem vitae suae tenuit Godwyn in Landaffe Girald Cambr. Caius antiquit Cantabrig l. 1. pag. 146. Catal. Epis Landaf Ioh. Capgr in Catal. in S. Theliao Engl. Martyrol die 25. Nouember And was Archbishop there at and after alsoe by some the death of S. Augustine For it is euident by the Brittish historie as it is allowed by our Protestants and by their owne chronologie of the kings of Britanie that S. Dauid himselfe liued within 16. yeares of S. Augustines coming hither Galfrid monum histor Reg. Brit. l. 11. cap. 3. Tunc obijt sanctissimus vrbis Legionum Archiepiscopus Dauid Meneuia ciuitate intra Abbatiam suam iubente Malgone Venedotorum Rege in eadem Ecclesia sepultus pro eo ponitur in Metropolitan sede Kincos Lampaternensis Ecclesiae Antistes ad altiorem dignitatem promouetur Then Dauid the moste holy Archbishop of the citie of Legions died in the citie of Meneuia within his owne Abbey and by commande of Malgo kinge of Northwalles was buried in the same church Kincus hee which by others before is called Cenauc Bishopp of the church of Patern is placed in the Metropolitane See and promoted to an higher dignitie For as these Protestants Matthew of Westminster and others are witnesses Protest Catalog Rer. Britan. in Malgo. Matth. West an 586 581. this kinge began his Reigne in the yeare of Christ 581. or 580. so that by this calculation there cannot bee from the death of S. Dauid dyinge in this kings time and the coming of S. Augustine hither by all accompts in the yeare 596. aboue 15. or 16 yeares at the moste Soe that wee either must say these two Successors of S. Dauid liued a very short time after they were called to that dignitie the contrarie whereof is sett downe before or that S. Telaus this patrone of the See of Rome and a canonized Saint of that church was liuing in the time of S. Augustines preaching in this kingedome Which is the more confirmed by all those histories which relate the opposition of some Brittish Bishops and religious men
saith Desiring Eleutherius Bishop of Rome to send some deuout and learned men by whose instruction hee and his people might bee taught the faith and Religion of Christ The old chronicle of LaÌ„daffe is implorans vt iuxta eius ammonitionem christianus fiat Humbly entreatinge that by his appointment hee might bee made a christian Annal. Landaf apud com antiq Cantab l. 1. pag. 98. thus our Protestants alleadge that Antiquitie Others of them say Lucius sent an Ambassadge to Eleutherius Bishop of Rome by Eluanus and Meduinus Britans intreating Eleutherius by them that hee would open a passadge by himselfe and his ministers for the fosteringe and cherishinge of christian Religion in Britanie Frauncis Mason l. 2. p. 52. ca. 3. Like is the testimony of other historians both Catholicks and Protestants that kinge Lucius proceeded in this humble and submissiue maner in his writings and Ambassadges to the Pope of Rome at that time in these affayres The which highest authoritie spirituall in the Pope of Rome these our Protestants further confirme in that they teach generally that these two Ambassadors of Kinge Lucius Eluanus and Meduinus receaued all the authoritie they had to preach here in Britanie from Pope Eleutherius whoe consecrated the one Eluanus a Bishop and made the other a Doctor to preach the ghospell Theater of great Brit l. 6. Stow. hist. in Lucius Godwyn conuers of Brit. Mason l. 2. c. 3. Bal. cent 1. in Eluan And the present Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury Doctor George Abbot director of Master Mason as hee protesteth and his directed Scribe ar of this opinion that all the Bishops of Britanie after this deriued consecration and succession episcopal from this one onelie Bishop Eluanus consecrated and authorized by Pope Eleutherius Frauncis Mason consecrat of Bish l. 2. c. 3. p. 55.56 Which and more is approued by an other a Protestant Bishop by whome Pope Eleutherius euen in this great busines is termed Paterfamilias the Master of this spirituall howse and familie of Britanie Bal. l. de Act. Pont. Rom. l. 1. in Eleuther and this kingedome was consequently of his family and vnder his rule and commaund and thereupon as a good Master and Gouernour of this familie did confirme and solidate the Brittans and the whole kingedome in the faith receaued by the Apostles Eleutherius vt bonus paterfamilias de thesauro suo noua cum veteribus proferens effecit vt confirmatis consolidatis Britannis in suscepta prius ab Apostolis doctrina totum illud regnum in eius fidei verba iuraret And to make moste euident demonstration further euen by these Protestants aswel as by al other Antiquities that the supreame power spirituall in all proceedinges in this kingedome at that time was wholly and vndeniably in Pope Eleutherius and those his twoe Legats which hee sent hither Damianus and Fugatianus as they are commonly called The Protestant Archbishop and his Mason tell vs in these words Mason l. 2. e. 3. p. 55 56. From Rome there came two Fugatius and Damianus but wee cannot learne that eyther of them was a Bishop This is the constant writinge of these Protestants yett to deale plainely these men knew not all thinges or else they might easelye haue knowne that both the Brittish historie Ponticus Virunnius and Matthew of Westminster as they are published by Protestants call them Antistates Bishops and a Protestant Bishop produceth an old Manuscript Author testifying that the first church of Wincester was hallowed and dedicated to the honor of our Sauiour October 29. 189. by Fuganus and Damianus Bishops Galfrid monum l. 4. hist. c. 20. Pontic Virun lib. 4. in fine Godwyn Catal. in Winchest Matth. Westm. an 186. And if they were noe Bishops it soe much more aduaunceth the Popes power in this kingedome for these Protestants with others shall testifie that by their legatine power from Pope Eleutherius they exercised more and greater Iurisdiction spirituall here then any Bishop or Archbishop of that time And if they were Bishops as those Authors affirme yett I finde none to write that either of them was an Archbishop yett as before and shall immediately bee proued they by their delegate power from Pope Eleutherius executed here greater Iurisdiction spirituall and more ample then any Bishop Archbishop prince kinge or whosoeuer the Pope himselfe excepted could lawfully doe Which these Protestants and other vndeniable antiquities doe thus demonstrate vnto vs. The first Protestant Archbishop of Canterburye Parker antiquit Britan. pag. 5. writeth from diuers wittnesses that these two Religious men were assigned by Pope Eleutherius as cheife worke men tanto operi praeficiundo in gouerninge soe greate a worke and establishinge the discipline of christian Religion In sancienda christianae religionis disciplina and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cooperarij adhibiti in administranda ecclesia pâ—riti Ioined by Pope Eleutherius with the Bishops in gouerninge the church beeings killfull therein Which must needes bee by their legatine power from Pope Eleutherius Martianus Polonius In Eleutherio Papa col 49. published by Protestants and dedicated by them to Queene Elizabeth saith Papa Eleutherius misit duos Religiosos viros Fuganum Damianum qui Regem praedictum populum baptizarent erant tunc in Britannia viginti octo Pontifices Idolorum quos Flamines vocabant Inter quos tres Archiflamines erant sed praedicti Sancti de mandato Apostolico vbi erant Flamines instituerunt Episcopos vbi Archiflamines Archiepiscopos Pope Eleutherius sent two Religious men Fuganus and Damianus who baptized the said Kinge Lucius and his people There were then in Britanie 28. high preists of the Idols whome they called Flamins amonge which there were three Archflamins but the said holy men by the commaundement of the Pope did institute Bishops where there were Flamins and Archbishops where there were Archflamins This is confirmed not onely by all Antiquities of these things but the cheife Protestant writers amonge which the Protestant Archbishop Whitgift and his frend Foxe write in this maner Whitg defence of the Answ. pag. 323. Foxe tom 1. fol. 146. Eleutherius the good Bishop hearinge the request of the kinge and glad to see the godly towardnes of his well disposed minde sendeth him certaine teachers and preachers called Fugatius or by some Fuganus and Damianus or Dimianus which conuerted first the kinge and people of Britanie and baptised them The temples of Idolatrie and other monuments of gentility they subuerted conuertinge the people from their diuers and many gods to serue one liuinge God Thus true Religion with sincere faith increasing superstition decayed with all rites of Idolatrie There were then in Britanie 28. Head preists which they called Flamins and three Archpreists amonge them which were called Achiflamins hauinge the ouersight of their maners as Iudges ouer the rest These 28. Flamines they turned to 28. Bishops and the three Archiflamines to three Archbishops hauinge their seates in the three principall