exprest by him in their proper Names are one only God. I believe saith St. Albanus and my firm Faith is that there is no other God besides my Lord Jesus Christ who for the Salvation of Mankind took our Nature upon him and suffer'd death upon the Cross He together with the Father and the Holy Spirit is one only God and besides him there is no other And having said this he often cast himself Prostrate before the Crucifix as if he had seen our Lord Jesus himself hanging on the Cross carnestly begging Pardon for his sins He often affectionately kiss'd his Saviours feet and places of his Wounds as if he had seen him Crucify'd Tears with Blood flow'd abundantly from his Eyes upon the venerable Cross and these words from his mouth I renounce the Divel and detest all the Enemies of our Lord to whom I wholly resign myself Amphibalus then bad him be of good Courage saying Our Lord is with thee whose Grace will never be wanting to thee The saving Faith which others attain by the Ministry of men thou hast learn'd by the Revelation of Christ himself And therefore being assur'd of thy constancy my purpose is to leave thee and Travel further that I may shew the way of Truth to other Gentiles also But Albanus prevail'd with him to stay a week longer that he might be more perfectly instructed in the Faith by him This Narration of St. Alban's Conversion is attested by a very Antient and Credible Author We shall now proceed to the History of his glorious Martyrdom He having been thus Instructed Baptiz'd and Confirm'd in the Faith by Amphibalus was at last contented with his departure but exhorted him to take care of his safety and in order thereunto disguis'd him in his own Military Vestment woven with Gold that he might the more safely pass through the Soldiers Early in the morning Amphibalus takes his slight Northward conducted part of the way by Albanus at last they parted with Tears Amphibalus hastens into Wales Albanus returns into the City cloath'd with the Caracalla or long Ecclesiastical Robe of Amphibalus and now left alone made great hast in his journey to Immortality All the enticements of the World became odious to him he found no pleasure but in Prayers and Tears at the foot of our Lords Cross he burn'd with a desire to requite the Love of Christ by dying for him His Domesticks and Neighbours observing the wonderful change in his manner of Life began to suspect and quickly found out the true cause of it so that in a short time he is publickly known for a Deserter of Heathenish Superstition and therefore complain'd of unto and conven'd before the Roman Magistrate to whom a certain Gentile had discover'd what ever pass'd between St. Albanus and St. Amphibalus This Magistrate thus Incens'd commanded they should both be brought before him St. Amphibalus being departed the Soldiers found only St. Albanus in his strange Habit at his Prayers with naked feet before the Cross of our Lord and ask'd him where the Clark was whom he had entertain'd He answered That the Holy man was under the Protection of God and fear'd not the Threats of Men When they heard this they laid hands on him bound him with Chains and violently drew him away some pulling at his Garments some at his Hair He had still upon him the Vestment of his Master knowing the sight of it was enough to make him odious he carried also in his hand the Image of our Lord that he might only appear a Servant of the Cross Being come before the Judge he was examin'd in many particulars but all his Answer was That he was Albanus and a Christian which he profess'd with great liberty of Speech The Judge enquir'd of him What became of the Clark who was sent by one call'd Christ to delude and seduce the People of this City Had he not saith the Judge had a guilty Conscience and been distrustful of his own Cause this worthy Master of yours would have freely presented himself before us to defend both Himself and his Disciples But by his own Carriage he makes known the falseness and Fraudulence of his Doctrine since he deserts thee and is Cowardly run away from thee whom if his Cause had been good he ought to have justify'd though with hazard of his Life So as I suppose thou now perceiv'st how silly a Fellow he was who seduc'd thee into Errours and brought thee by his idle suggestions into such a Frenzy as not only to renounce all worldly Advantages but to contemn the immortal Gods the injury against whom since we ought not to leave unpunish'd my purpose was to have reveng'd it by the death of the prophane Delinquent But seeing humane frailty is such that there is none but are obnoxious to Errour thou mayest yet by Repentance escape the indignation of the Gods and make them propitious to thee if thou wilt now renounce this abominable Sect. Hereto Albanus Answer'd It were a very easie matter to declare how vain and impertinent this long discourse of yours is for if it had seem'd good or agreeable to either of us That Holy Clark would not have fail'd to have been here But I confess his stay here could not be pleasing to me who well know how prone to mischief this People hath ever been The Doctrine taught by that good man I have heartily embrac'd neither can I repent me of it for the Faith which I profess will be prov'd to be Holy and Divine by the Testimony of Sick and Infirm People who by virtue thereof shall receive Health I will no longer Sacrifice to your Gods nor fear your Threats or Torments being secure under the protection of my good Lord. This being said at the command of the Judge he was Cruelly Scourg'd by the Officers for refusing to Sacrifice during which Torment he lifted up his Eyes to our Lord and with a chearful countenance said O Lord Jesus Christ I beseech thee keep this mind and good resolution which thou hast given me firm and stable My desire is O my God to offer up my Soul a whole Burnt Sacrifice to thy Glory and with my Blood to Seal thy Truth But when the Officers were weary with tormenting him the Holy man was thrust into a deep Dungeon where he continu'd six Months All the Elements soon bare witness of the injury done unto him and from the time of his Apprehension to his Death neither Rain nor Dew refresh'd the Earth the Winds were whist and the Region thereabout parch'd with excessive Heat of the Sun even in the night-time the stifing heat was intollerable neither Fields nor Trees produced any Fruit so that the whole World fought in the quarrel of this just man against his Impious Enemies insomuch as this excessive Heat and Drought Heathens themselves took notice of though they apply'd it to other purposes The Infidel Judge expected that the Constancy of the Holy Martyr would have
in that only true God which his Mother Helena Worship'd all her Life and his Father Constantius towards his end To that God he offer'd Zealous and Devout Prayers That he would discover to him who he was and how he would be Worship'd and would protect him in his present condition of danger His Devotion was not in vain for by a stupendious Miracle in the sight of the whole Army God declar'd his acceptance of his Supplicants Prayers for he saw over the Sun then begining to decline the Sign of the Cross in Heaven figur'd by a resplendent light together with these words inscrib'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 By this be Victorious Which Spectacle caus'd great admiration both to himself and his Army Artemius one of the Spectators afterwards relates this Miracle to Julian the Apostate and Vouches many of his then present Soldiers for Spectators and further Witnesses thereof some writers add That many Angels were seen with this Apparition who encourag'd constantine and promis'd him Victory by that Sign and that he himself saw an Arm'd Horseman who bore in his Hands the sign of the Cross as an Ensign The Christians in Constantine's Army were Encourag'd by this Coelestial Vision but the Pagans look'd upon it as a Fatal and Ominous Sign until the succeeding Victory prov'd it otherwise Nay at first the good Emperour himself was in great doubt what this strange Vision should Portend until at night our Lord appear'd to him in his Sleep bearing the same Sign with him and commanded Constantine To cause a Draught or Copy thereof to be fram'd and to be made use of by him as a Guard and Protection in all his Battels Accordingly Constantine instructed his most cunning Workmen to make a Banner in imitation thereof Adorn'd with Gold and Precious Stones which he perpetually had carry'd before him in his Army He caus'd likewise innumerable representations of the Cross to be fix'd in several publick and Private places especially in several parts of his own Palace where it was for the most part fram'd of Gold Jewels and Precious Stones No wonder then if the veneration of the Holy Cross every day more and more increas'd amongst Christians a practice us'd from the most Primitive times and now Authoriz'd by our Lord himself from Heaven as it hath been sure confirm'd by innumerable Miracles wrought in several Ages by it Constantine encourag'd by this Promise of Divine assistance and Arm'd with this Glorious Sign of the Cross makes towards Italy Conquers several Nations reduces several Cities and overcomes all Resistance and having clear'd all the Provinces behind him marches Couragiously to Rome it self where the Tyrant for more than six years had exercis'd all manner of Wickedness He had not Courage to Issue out of the City or oppose Constantine's Progress stupify'd with his Lusts and afrighted with Prodigies and the Divination of his South-sayers But when Constantine approach'd the City Maxentius was enforc'd to draw out his Army consisting of 17000 Foot and 1800. Horse these numerous Forces he rang'd beyond the Milvian Bridge so that they were shut out of the City by the River The Tyrant us'd this Stratagem also he caus'd the Bridge to be so fram'd that at his pleasure he might dissolve it Constantine having rang'd his Army on the other side himself with great Courage gave the on-set by which he immediately broke his Enemies Ranks so as little resistance was made except by the Praetorian Soldiers who having Created Maxentius Emperour expected no Pardon and cover'd the ground with the dead Bodies Those who endeavour'd flight found it unsuccessful being hindred by the straitness of the Bridge the slaughter was exceeding great there being no other way to avoid the Sword but plunging into the River wherein great multitudes were swallow'd The Tyrant himself casting off the marks of Authority adventur'd into Tyber and being hurry'd down the Stream was drown'd his Body being cast upon the shore the People found and cut off his Head which with great Joy and Triumph they carry'd up and down the City fastn'd to a Pole. It is affirm'd that since Rome was built never was a day Celebrated with greater or more universal Joy than the day whereon Constantine Triumph'd for this Victory His Triumphant Chariot was attended not with Conquer'd Princes or Generals but with the Nobility of Rome freed from Dungeons and Chains Rome did not indeed Inrich her self with Spoils of Enemies but ceas'd to be the Spoil of an Inhumane Tyrant However this Pious Emperour would have this common Joy and Applause ascrib'd not to himself but to God only by virtue of the Holy Cross to whom only he gave the Praise and Honour of this Victory At his Triumphal entrance into the City he caus'd the Cross to be carried before his Army that Rome might see by what Arms she had been freed from Slavery he also enjoyn'd the People and Senate to Prostrate themselves before that Triumphant Sign and to Adore the Name of Christ who had Enobl'd the same It is therefore a narrow conceit of some who will not acknowledge that the Cross was ever Honour'd or Venerated by this Emperour or his Command when it is most manifest by undenyable Testimony for it is well known that Constantine Dedicated a Church to the Honour of the Holy Cross This Honour of the Cross Prudentius thus sounds forth Vex illum Crucis summus Dominator Adorat And not only so but the said Emperour signifies his will that all the World should also do so This Prince also further to Honour this Sign of our Salvation causeth his Statue to be set up in Rome holding a Cross in the right Hand with this Inscription By this saving Sign the Emblem of Fortitude I deliver'd your City from the yoak of Tyranny and having given perfect Liberty to the Senate and People of Rome I restor'd them to their Antient Greatness and Splendour There was another Inscription Engraven in Stone by the Decree of the Senate of like purport with the former wherein the Victory is ascrib'd contrary to the Roman custom to one True God and not to the many Gods there Ador'd After this signal Victory Constantine sent for Licinius the Emperour to Millain and there gave him to Wife his Sister Constantia and procur'd an Edict from him for free Liberty to profess the Christian Religion what belong'd to Churches was restor'd unto them Both Constantine and Lacinius joyn in their request to Maximinus the Eastern Emperour to grant the like freedom within his Dominions to which request Maximinus with much unwillingness yielded Matthew of Westminster affirms That about this time Constantine chose into the Senate his three Vncles before-mention'd which might perhaps give occasion to Julian the Apostate afterwards to darken the memory of this Glorious Emperour as a perverter of the Antient Roman Laws in being the first who Adorn'd Barbarous Strangers with Consular Robes In the year of Grace 314. Silvester succeeded Melchiades in the Popedom It
care of his flock But if we consider consequents we shall find that the Catholick Church thereby receiv'd a great increase both in the number of Professors and the Zeal of their Profession for though those Barbarous Nations for a while Persecuted the Church yet e're long our Lord subdued their Minds and those strong Natural Passions of theirs were imploy'd in advancing Gods Church insomuch as the Apostles time and Primitive Age could scarce afford such Heroical Examples of Christian Zeal Magnanimity and Contempt of the World as those Barbarous People once Converted did So Healthful is the Severity of God towards his People Many Historians accuse the Cowardly Sloth of King Vortigern as if he weary of the Troubles of War chose rather with his Money to Hire Stipendiary Strangers than to train up his own Subjects to resist his Enemies and therefore invited the Saxons to Fight for the Britains But as Beda saith This was done by the common advice of the Nation For a meeting was assembled wherein it was thought best by all as well as by the King to demand Aide of the Saxons Which resolution doubtless was order'd by Divine Providence to punish the Impious Britains as the event declares for Gildas reflecting on the madness of this Consultation thus exclaims O the profound Blindness of the Britains minds O the Stupidity of their Senses These Saxons at whose Names they trembled when they were absent are now by the foolish Princes invited to live in their own Houses so senseless was their Councel How senseless soever it was Ambassadors were sent into Germany men of the highest repute and such as might most worthyly represent their Country Witchindus thus describes the order of this Embassage Fame saith he loudly proclaiming the Prosperous Victories of the Saxons the Britains sent Messengers to them to beg their assistance who did it in these words viz. O Noble Saxons our miserable Country-men the Britains wearied and even consum'd with the frequent Incursions of their Enemies having heard of your glorious Victories have sent us humbly to implore your Aide in recompense whereof they offer to you a Province Spacious and Abounding with all things We have hither to liv'd Happily under the Protection of the Romans after them we know no Nation better than your selves to whom we may have recourse we therefore desire to shelter our selves under the Wings of your Courage c. It may be doubted whether this Oration were deliver'd in so submiss a stile for they were sent to hire the Saxons with a large Stipend not to yield up the Country to them However sure it is the Saxons in their Answer assur'd the Britains They would be Faithful Friends to them ready always to assist them in their Necessities and to do them all Offices of Kindness With which Answer the Ambassadors return'd home well satisfied and were joyfully receiv'd by their Country-men This satisfactory Message was return'd in the year of our Lord 448. and the year following an Army of Saxons under their chief Conductors Hengist and Horsa landed in Britain whose coming Gildas in his Angry stile thus describes mingling with it a Prophecy among the Saxons relating to it Then saith he a drove of Whelpes rushing out of the Barbarous Lyonesses came hither in three Ships with full sails and an ominous Course encourag'd by a Prophecy certainly believed among them that for the space of 300 years they should Possess the Country toward which they directed the Prow of their Ships and that in half of that time they should often lay it waste They first fast'ned their terrible Nails by order of the unhappy Tyrant Vortigern on the Eastern part of the Island with a pretence to defend but with an intent to subdue the Country There may be some shadow of Truth in this Prophecy for the Saxons for 300 years may be said to be Possessors of the Island under the Title of Saxony beyond the Sea. After the Angli gave their own Name to it Besides after 150 years by the coming of St. Augustine they became Christians and of Wasters of the Country became more Gentle and Civil Inhabitants thereof They first possess'd themselves of the Ille of Thanet in Kent and there first landed at a place call'd Wipped-fleet from Wipped a Saxon Commander there after slain They being thus landed about the year of our Lord 450. the Scots and Picts invaded Britain with a mighty Army wasting the Provinces as they came along Vortigern gathers his Soldiers and Auxiliary Saxons together and march'd beyond the River Humber when they came to a Battle the Britains had little need to Fight for the Saxons Combated with such Courage that the Enemies formerly accustom'd to Victory soon turn'd their backs and fled Vortigern therefore having by their Valour obtain'd the Victory increas'd his Liberality to them and gave to Hengist their Captain great Possessions in Lyndsey part of Lincolnshire sufficient to maintain him and his Soldiers Huntingdon will needs have this Battle at Stanford in the Southern parts of the same Shire adding That the Picts and Scots had march'd so far without opposition and that they were only Arm'd and Fought with Darts and Lances but the Saxons with Battle-Axes and long Swords whose force and weight their Enemies not being able to sustain were soon put to flight Now as touching the Land thus given to Hengist Cambden gives us this Relation out of our Annals Hengist having subdu'd the Picts besides large Possessions conferr'd on him in other places requested Vortigern to bestow upon him in that Province so much ground as he could encompass with an Oxes-Hide which being obtain'd he cut it into Thongs extreamly Thinn and with it encompass'd a great Territory in the midst of which he built a Castle which by the Name perpetuates the memory thereof for it is call'd Thong-Castle As Carthage for many Ages remain'd a witness of Dido's Fraud for by thesame slight she obtain'd the Seat where she built that City so does this Castle still offer to our memories the Simplicity of the Britains and Craft of the Saxons such a gift could not satisfie the Ambition of Hengist whose aim was to be Master of the whole Island The subtile man therefore presuming of the Kings Friendship and easiness thus address'd to him My Lord the King you see how your Enemies disquiet you on all sides if you please therefore we will send into our Country for the increase of our numbers with new Recruits The King commanded him to do so withour delay that he might be freed from the fear of his Enemies Hengist sends Messengers accordingly who quickly return'd with 18 Ships laden with Soldiers and not with Soldiers only but with a fair Lady the Daughter of Hengist whose Beauty and Flatteries so bewitch'd the King that to please her he betray'd both his Faith and Kingdom Malmsburiensis reports this Rowena the Daughter of Hengist To be for Beauty the Miracle of Nature admir'd by all that look'd
to the Walls they also return upon their backs By this means the Saxons were extreamly Harrass'd and great slaughters made of them till at last the Saxons were compell'd to divide their Army into two parts and to imploy one part in expugning the City while the other was in readiness to Fight with the Britains from without Then indeed the Besieged weak'ned with Famine could no longer resist the Saxons by whom they were all consum'd with the Sword moreover in revenge of the great losses sustain'd by the Saxons during this Siege they demolish'd the City so as it was never built again There only remains the mark of a place where once a Noble City had been seated We find mention made of a Provost of a Company of Soldiers under the Count of the Saxon-shore placed at Anderida as the Romans call'd it to defend the Coasts from Saxon Rovers There is left now no foot-steps of this great City only a great Forrest call'd by the Saxons Andraedwald and by the Britains Lord Andred which being Antently seated near where the said City of Anderida stood continues the name of it About this time Ambrosius is said to have come to the Mount of Ambri near Caer Carec now Salisbury where Hengist Treacherously slaughter'd so many Princes for whom he intended to raise a Famous Monument There also he is said to have constituted two Metropolitans St. Sampson at York and St. Dubritius at Caerleon The second year after the Erection of the Kingdom of South-Saxons was Illustrious for a great Victory obtain'd by the Britains against the Saxons at the Hill Badonicus as Bede writes The Britains conducted by their famous King Ambrosius took Courage and provoking the Victorious Saxons to Combat by the Divine Favour obtain'd a Victory over them after which sometimes the Britains sometimes the Saxons prevail'd until the Saxons were Besieged in the Mountain Badonicus and a great slaughter was made of them Polydore Virgil will have this mountain between Yorkshire and the Bishoprick of Durham but Cambden with greater probability makes the Territory of the Antient City of Bath the Scene of this Battle and Victory By the Britains it was call'd Caer Badon The City saith he was Besieged by the Saxons but by the coming of the War-like Prince Arthur they were forc'd to retire to the Mountain Badonicus where after a long and desperate Fight they were overcome and great numbers of them slain This Mountain seems to be that which is now call'd Bannesdown at the foot whereof is seated a little Village call'd Bathstone where to this day are seen Rampires and Trenches the marks of a Camp. This Victory is principally to be ascrib'd to Ambrosius under whom the said Arthur his Nephew Son to his Brother Vterpendragon was indeed a principal Officer and is said often to have repress'd the Haughty Saxons swelling with the Pride of their Conquests This is that Arthur of whom the Britains have wrote so many trissing Fables A Prince worthy to be magnified by the Truth of History and not to be made the subject of idle Dreams since by his own admirable Courage he sustain'd his declining Country and incited the Heartless Britains to reassume their Courage One thing is remarkable in this Prince that in the Siege of this Mountain Badonicus confiding in the Protection of our Blessed Lady whose Image he carried Sow'd to his Arms he put to flight and slew 900 Saxons His custom was to make use of these Spiritual Arms and as Huntingdon affirms In a Combat near the Castle of Guinton he carried the same Image on his Shoulders and by the power of our Lord Jesus and his Holy Mother Mary that whole day the Saxons fled before him Florilegus writes That Prince Arthur 's Shield on which the Image of our Lady was Painted was named Pridwen and that in a certain Battle he drawing ferth his Sword Caliburn invok'd the Name of the Blessed Virgin and with great Violence peircing into the midst of the Enemies at one Blow he slew whomsoever he touch'd with it nor gave he over till he had slain 840. of his Enemies with his Sword alone About this time there was a wonderful Apparition of the Glorious Arch-Angel St. Michael on the Mountain Garganus in Calabria the memory whereof is Celebrated Anniversarily by the Catholick Church on the 8th of May We here make mention of it because a Holy Bishop born in this Island of Saxon Parents St. Richard by Name was present at the Consecration of a Church built in memory of this Apparition This Bishop was the first of the Angli or Saxons recorded in Ecclesiastical Monuments to have been gain'd to Christ soon after their entrance into Britain and before any open Hostility broke forth between the Nations He was born of Illustrious Parents and in the year of Grace 455. his Innocence and Piety appear'd in his tender years and in that Age he was averse from Luxury and Wantonness diligent in reading the Scriptures conversing chiefly with men of Learning and Virtue by which he not only gain'd Love from his Parents but Veneration from his Companions and Strangers But because the following War and the Idolatrous Rites of his Country-men furious Enemies of that Religion to which our Lord had call'd him were a hindrance to his Progress in Piety While he was intent upon his Devotions the Glorious Apostle St Peter appear'd to him in his sleep commanding him in the Name of Almighty God To take a Journey into Apulia there to Preach the word of God to the Andrians and that he should not apprehend the length of the way or menaces of the Infidels because our Lord would be present to assist him St. Richard thus awak'd from sleep immediately rose and casting himself before a Crucifix gave humble thanks to God and St. Peter for this Visitation The day following he forsook his Brethren and taking his leave of his Dearest Friends notwithstanding their importunity to detain him began his Journey and being arriv'd at Rome he address'd himself to the Holy Pope Gelasius and declar'd what had been in his Vision impos'd upon him by the Holy Apostle begging his Permission and Blessing to go for Andria there to fulfil his Ministry Gelasius hearing this greatly rejoyc'd and observing the Venerable Aspect of St. Richard with his Gravity ordain'd him Bishop of Andria commanding him wheresoever he went to Preach the Gospel of Christ and and so Kissing him gave him his Benediction St. Richard accordingly throughout his Journey Preached the Word of God and by many Miracles and Cures of the Sick Converted many to the Faith and Worship of God. At length he arriv'd at Andria where before the Gate of the City he saw a Blind-man and a Woman Bowed and Contracted together both which beg'd an Alms of him He began to expound the Word of God to them and perceiving the Blind man Attentive to him he said If thou wilt believe in Jesus Christ and be Baptiz'd thou shalt receive thy
part of a mountain in that Country call'd Dunpelder from thence to be thrown down and torn in pieces She therefore with deep Sighs looking up to Heaven implor'd the Mercy and Help of her Redeemer with many Tears after this she was cast down but by the fall was neither bruis'd nor receiv'd the least harm but sliding down easily and slowly came safe to the bottom The Pagans there present ascrib'd this deliverance to the Magical Inchantments of the Christians and therefore with the Kings Consent they carried her several Miles into the Sea and there left her in a small Boat made of Leather without any Oares and destitute of all Humane help But it seems he who commands the Winds and the Seas was her Protector for by his Power the Boat was carried straight to a far distant Haven with greater swiftness then either Oares or Sails could have driven her Being there arriv'd the young Lady soon after at a place call'd Collenros was deliver'd without the assistance of a Midwife of a Son This Collenros probably is the same which St. Bede calls Coludi and Ptolomy Colania in the Province of Louden The next morning St. Servanus came to the place and seeing the desolate Mother with her Infant said My Beloved Child Blessed art thou who art come in the Name of the Lord He took them into his care nourish'd and Baptiz'd them calling the Mother Thanen and the Child Kentigern that is Cheif-Lord The Child being of a towardly Disposition profited much in Learning and Virtue and was Belov'd of St. Servanus beyond all his Companions and call'd Munhu as he is still nam'd among the Scots So as they who affirm his Birth to have been at St. Asaph in Flintshire are much mistaken which mistake perhaps ariseth from his being afterwards Bishop there However after 25 years we shall find him Consecrated Bishop of Glasco and then more is to be said of him The continual Troubles rais'd by the Saxons would not permit King Arthur to Solemnize his Coronation 'till eight years after his Fathers death But in the year of Grace 516. the Ceremony was Magnificently perform'd in a General Assembly of Bishops and Nobles at Caerleon St. Dubritius Bishop of that City setting the Crown on his Head. After which the Holy Bishop retir'd into a certain Island in Northwales call'd by the Britains Enhly and by the English Berdsey which Island saith Cambden Was inhabited by so many Saints that beside Dubritius and Merlin the Caledonian no fewer then 20000 Holy men were Buried there as Records inform us Concerning this Island saith Bishop Vsher It was call'd by the Britains The Rome of Britain for the distance of it the difficulty of Passage the Sanctity and Security of it since 20000 Saints are there Venerated as Martyrs and since it is on all sides encompass'd with the Sea. By which may be collected what esteem the Britains then had of Rome and what agreement in Religion there was between them At this time the Saxons invited more of their Country-men out of Germany And under the conduct of Colgrin they subdu'd all that part of Britain which lyes from Humber to the Sea of Cathanes whereof when King Arthur was inform'd he march'd with an Army towards York which was then held by the Saxons Colgrin met him with a great multitude near the River Duglas in Lancashire but coming to a Battle Colgrin was put to flight and pursu'd by King Arthur to York Baldulph the Brother of Colgrin at that time lay with some Forces toward the Sea expecting the coming of the Saxons He intended to make an Irruption by night into King Arthur's Army but the King being admonish'd thereof by Spies sent Cador Duke of Cornwall with 600 Horse and 3000 Foot to intercept the Saxons which Forces setting on the Saxons unexpectedly kill'd a great number of them and put the rest to flight King Arthur closely Besieg'd York during which Siege a famous German Captain call'd Cheldric arriv'd in Albania with 700 Boats. These great succours frighted the Britains from their Siege so as the King retir'd with his Army to London from whence he sent Messengers to his Nephew Hoel King of Little-Britain to inform him of the Calamity of this Island Hoel to succour his Uncle landed shortly after with 15000 men at the Haven of Hamon where he was with great Joy and Honour receiv'd by King Arthur Encourag'd with these new Forces he obtain'd the next year two famous Victories against the Saxons the former near the River Bassas the latter in the Wood Chelidon both in Lincolnshire near Lincoln the chief City No fewer then 6000 of the Saxons were slain the rest fled into the Wood or Forrest of Caledon and were pursu'd by King Arthur and there Immur'd by great Trees cut down and laid athwart so as they were thereby reduc'd to such extream Famine that they beg'd leave to depart the Realm leaving all their Spoils behind them By this Exploit the Saxons were driven out of the middle part of Britain Howbeit in the Western part they so prevail'd that Cerdicus there establish'd a Kingdom Another Victory this Heroick King is said to have obtain'd though the time be not mention'd against these Barbarous Enemies near the Castle call'd Guinnion In which Battle the King carried upon his Shoulders the Image of the Blessed Virgin-mother of God and all that day by the Virtue and Power of our Lord Jesus Christ and St. Mary his Mother compell'd the Saxons to fly after many had perish'd with a great slaughter the succeeding Exploits of this King follow after Whilst most of the Provinces of that part of Britain which is since call'd England were thus miserably disquieted the parts thereof since call'd Wales enjoy'd good repose and were made Illustrious by great numbers of Saints who flourish'd there as St. Dubritius St. Sampson St. David St. Thelian St. Kined St. Paternus St. Daniel St. Justinian and others some of these have been already mention'd and more of their Gests will follow As for St. Daniel he is reported by Bishop Vsher to have built a Colledge or Monastery of the Apostolick Order for the Sacred Exercises of Learned and Pious men in Arvonia the Country of the Venedati not far from the streight where men pass into the Isle of Anglesey out of Wales Which Colledge was by the Founder call'd the Port or Haven It was built in the year of our Lord 516. In the same place not long after Malgo Conan built a City which for the Beautiful Scituation of it he call'd Bancor or Bangor after it was the seat of a Bishop wherein this St. Daniel was the first who sate So that Bishop Goodwin is mistaken in affirming that no Bishop had been there before the Norman Conquest This City of Bangor was a place distinct from the famous Monastery of that Name There was indeed a Monastery in both places but this was seated in Arvonia now Caernarvan upon the River Menai dividing
and Tomb of Saints because it had been Built by the immediate Disciples of our Lord and to him Dedicated as Venerable Antiquity doth testifie All which consider'd to deny so great a Blessing confer'd on our Nation must savour of Passion and un-excusable Partiality The time and occasion of St. Joseph's Arrival here and the particular Acts of him and his Companions after so many years of change and alteration cannot befully accountable The time in all likelihood was when Suetonius Paulinus was Pretor here and when Policletus Favourite to Nero came hither with his Retinue the occasion of his coming is less certain Some write that St. Joseph was sent hither by St. Philip the Apostle or Evangelist grounding their opinion from Procalphius who speaks little to that purpose Tradition informs us that St. Joseph at his first coming Address'd himself to Arviragus then King of the Britains and said to be the Founder of the University of Oxford by the help of an Augur or Prophet named Olenus Calenus from whom it was first called Calena And although Arviragus did not submit to the Doctrine of St. Joseph yet he gave him leave to publish it in Peace so well was he prepar'd to the Entertainment of Divine Truth by humane Education Nay he was also pleas'd to afford Joseph and his Companions a place of Retreat not only commodious for their Devotions but sufficient for their Sustenance call'd by the Britains the Glassey-Island or Avallonia in which certain Lands were alloted both by Arviragus and his Son Marius containing about 12 Hydes for the Nourishment of those Godly persons being the first of ground in this Island Dedicated to the Service of God and after called Godney The first thing these new Inhabitants undertook was to build and Consecrate a Church for the Worship of God which they Dedicated to the Honour of the most Blessed Virgin Mary And as is affirm'd amongst other things relating to Glastonbury Monastery in an Epistle of St. Patrick who died there was Consecrated Miraculously by our Blessed Lord himself to the Honour of his Mother This wonderful Consecration is more fully declar'd by the Testimony of the Illustrious Bishop of St. David the Extirpator of Pelagianisme out of Britain as hath been Collected out of the Antiquities of Glastonbury by Willià m of Malmsbury to this effect following That St. David with other Bishops coming to Glastonbury invited by the Sanctity of the place resolv'd to Consecrate the Church there formerly erected to the Honour of the Mother of God and having provided all things necessary for that purpose the night before his intended Ceremony our Blessed Lord appear'd to St. David in his sleep and demanded the cause of his coming thither which St. David forthwith declar'd whereupon our Lord taking him by the Hand told him That he himself many years before had Dedicated the said Church to the Honour of his Mother and that That Holy Ceremony was not to be Profain'd by any mans repeating And having said this with his Finger pierc'd through the Bishops Hand telling him this should be a sign that what himself had formerly Anticipated ought not again to be Renew'd and withall promis'd him that when the said Bishop the next day at the Canon of the Mass should pronounce the words Per ipsum cum ipso in ipsoâ—â— His Hand should be restor'd sound to him The Bishop awaking found his Hand pierc'd and others saw and touch'd the Wound with great Admiration and the Preparation for the Consecration was laid aside and during the Celebration of Mass the Bishops Hand became Sound The sum of what hath hitherto been here related is repeated by St. Augustine the Convertor of our Nation in an Epistle of his to St. Gregory the Great and by Copgrave in the Life of St. Joseph and is further testify'd by an Antient Inscription cut in Brass fasten'd to a Pillar in the same Church declaring in effect what hath been said already This Inscription is recorded by Sir Henry Spelman in his Collection of Councels and yet by him pretended to be Fabulous First He doubts whether any Christian Churches were Erected so early Which doubt is certainly groundless unless he mean such Magnificent Structures as have been built since Christianity hath been publickly cherish'd and countenanc'd but that even under the Harrows of Persecution the Christians made shift to Erect or Assign places to meet in and perform the Rites and Duties of Religion is Attested by all Ecclesiastical Histories Secondly If Churches were Built yet they were not Encompass'd with ground for Burial before St. Cuthbert 's time Burial within Cities being forbidden by the Roman Laws Sure this is a false conceit for King Ethelbert and his Bishop St. Augustine before St. Cuthbert's days were Buried in the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul at Canterbury Constantine the first Christian Emperour was buried amongst the Relicks and Bones of the Apostles and Martyrs And as for the Roman Law forbidding Burials in Cities it was antiquated long before this however Glastonbury was no City scarce a Village rather a Desart far from Rome and under the Dominion of Brittish Princes well-wishers to Christianity and the simplicity thereof in those days Thirdly Dedication of Churches was not then in use Doubtless many Ceremonies and Solemnities have been added by the Church but as certainly the Houses or Places which the most Primitive Christians assigned for the Worship of God were by some Ceremonies Dedicated to that use as by erecting a Title fixing a Cross c. as the most antient Records testifie But lastly That which most displeases Sir Hen. is the Dedication of this Church to the Blessed Virgin for he thinks such a kind of Devotion was not thought of until many Ages after but then he must forget the Tradition of Spain attested in all their Liturgies and many of their Councils that from the first entrance of Christianity into that Kingdom several Churches have been erected to the Honour of that Blessed Virgin witness that most Famous Temple at Saragosa called Dell Pilar Celebrated above 1000 years since by St. Maximus Bishop of that City in several Hymns by him composed in Honour of that Venerable House called Angelical because the Pillar on which the Virgins Statue was fixed is thought to be brought thither by the Ministery of Angels After the Death of Arviragus Marius his Son succeeds him in the Brittish Throne resembling his Father as in Courage and other Prince-like Virtues so also in his kindness to these holy Strangers This Marius is reported to have had a great Victory over the Picts who were doubtlesly no other than the Northern Britains then unconquered and consequently unciviliz'd by the Romans but who remaining in their Barbarous custom of painting their Bodies got a new name of Picts After the Death of this Marius in the Reign of Coilus his Son our St. Joseph is said to end his Labours and Mortality in the 82 of our Lord and second year of
Westminster as followeth Your request to Us is that we would transmit to you a Copy of the Roman and Imperial Laws which it seems you desire to make use of in your Kingdom of Britain But you must be inform'd that the Roman Laws and such as are Enacted by the Emperour are not of such obligation but they may be at any time rejected which the Law of God in no Case must be Now by the Divine Mercy you have of late submitted your self in your Kingdom of Britain to the Law and Faith of Christ so that you have already with you both the Old and New Testament out of Them therefore by Gods Inspiration and with the common Councel of your Kingdom collect and frame a Law and by it through the Divine assistance govern your Kingdom of Britain You are Gods Deputy in your Kingdom according as the Kingly Prophet says The Earth is our Lords and the fulness of it the round World and all that dwell in it And again the same Kingly Prophet saith Thou hast lov'd Righteousness and hated Iniquity Therefore thy God hath Anointed thee with the Oyl of Gladness above thy Fellows And again Give thy Judgements to the King and thy Justice c. He saith thy Judgement not the Judgement and Justice of Caesar for the Christian Nations and People of your Kingdom who live under your peaceable Protection are the Children of God under his care who according to the Gospel Protect them as a Hen gathering her Chickens under her Wings c. The Nations therefore of your Kingdom are your People which being hitherto divided you ought to gather into one unanimous Congregation to the Obedience of the Faith and Law of Christ constituting of them one Church which you must Cherish Maintain Protect and Govern that so you may Reign with Christ for ever whose Deputy you are in the said Kingdom Some modern Writers add indeed some other passages incoherent and impertinent to it most likely to be Fictitious as perhaps the whole Epistle may be thought to be did not the credit of Matthew of Mestminster somewhat support it Be the Objections against it or the Additions to it what they will sure it is the Conversion of St. Lucius doth not much depend upon it Doubtless this or some such like Answer was brought back by Elvanus and Medwinus and with them came two other Holy men Commission'd by Eleutherius not only to Instruct and Baptize the King and those who by his imitation embrac'd the Christian Faith but to order and establish all Ecclesiastical Affairs in the Kingdom the Names of those two Commissioners were Fugatius and Damianus accounted well qualify'd for their Mission and of the degree of Bishops or Preiates that they might be able to Consecrate Churches Erect Bishopricks Dispense Orders and the like Concerning Elvanus and Medwinus good Authors write that the first was Consecrated Bishop at Rome and the other Preacher or Doctor of the Christian Faith Though there be others who upon little or no ground suppose them only Cathecumens when they went thither and consequently uncapable of such Preferment Whereas it is very probable that they were eminent Preachers of the Christian Faith to King Lucius and others and as appears by Antient Monuments they were Disciples of Joseph of Arimathaea bred up at Glastonbury full of Zeal to Gods Glory according to knowledge and accustom'd to a Contemplative Life in Prayer and Mortification Fugatius and Damianus admitted to the Presence of King Lucius and acquainting him from whom they were sent and upon what Errand forthwith the King and his whole Family with many others receiv'd Baptism according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Roman Church The name of the Queen to King Lucius is not recorded but his Sister Baptiz'd with him in Antient Records is Nam'd Emerita of whose Holiness and Constancy in Martyrdom more is to be said hereafter As for the particular form this King was Baptiz'd in it was certainly done according to the Roman Church conformable no doubt to the Ordinances of the Apostles as St. Justin Martyr Irenaeus and Tertullian living all in or about that Age do confidently Affirm Now though to the Essence of Baptism nothing is more requir'd than due matter which is Water a due form of Words and a right intention of him who confers it Yet even in these Primitive times other Sacred and Ceremonious Rites were subjoyn'd the more effectually to apply and imprint the force and virtue of that Sacrament in the minds of the Receivers as is most evident from Tradition and the Writings of those times and this by the prescription even of the Apostles themselves and their immediate Successors But if not so who can deny the Authority of the Church as to the creating such Ceremonies as may make the Celebration of the Holy Sacraments more Solemn and August especially considering what our Lord hath pronounc'd concerning his Church He that heareth or obeyeth you heareth me Of these Additional Rites the principal are these First The Arming the Baptiz'd person with the Sign of the Cross Secondly The Anointing his Head with Holy Oyl and Chrism Thirdly The Blessing of the Water design'd for Baptism Fourthly The using of Exorcisms and Holy Prayers to drive away the Enemy of Mankind All these Rites were practic'd in the Primitive times as may be prov'd by a cloud of Faithful Witnesses in several Ages by constant Tradition as St. Basil fully demonstrates After the administration of Baptism to the King those Holy men Fugatius and Damianus together with Elvanus and Medwinus wholly imploy'd themselves in Preaching the Gospel of Christ through all the Provinces of the Kingdom in disputing against the Superstition of the Druids and demonstrating the vanity of their Idols and the abominableness of their Horrible Sacrifices And being attended with the Kings Authority and Zeal they broke in pieces those Idols and easily perswaded the Britains to renounce their Antient Superstitions So that in a short space the Christian Faith and Worship of the only true God came generally to be had in Honour and Admiration Matthew of Westminster adds That these Blessed Teachers having in a great measure defac'd Idolatry through all Britain they Dedicated to the Honour of one God and his Saints those Temples which had been founded to the Worship of many false Gods filling them with Assemblies of Lawfull Pastors Saying further That in divers Cities of the Kingdom they constituted or at least design'd 28 Bishops subject to three Archbishops or Metropolitan Sees the prime whereof was London to which Cornwall and all the Provinces on the South of Severn and Wales were actually subjected or design'd so to be The Second was York to which was laid Deira and Albania divided from Loegria or the former part by the River Humber The third the City of Legions which had Dominion over Cambria or Wales sever'd from Loegria by the River Severn This City was call'd Caerleon and scituate upon the River Osca
or Vsk as by the ruines there may appear At the first indeed Bishops did not confine themselves to one place but exercis'd their Pastoral Duties from one place to another as they had occasion but after their Flocks incrcasing each Bishop was limited to his peculiar Flock and seated themselves in the eminent Cities then in number about 28. and consequently so many Bishops were ordain'd We find in the Antient Book belonging to the Monastery of Abingdon to this effect That Eleutherius sent his Missioners Faganus and Divianus Learn'd and Holy men to King Lucius who Baptiz'd the King and his People embraceing the Christian Faith destroy'd Idols and built Churches and decreed that in those Cities where formerly resided Arch-flamens according to the Pagan Superstition there Arch-bishops should be establish'd and where ordinary Flamens were there Bishops should succeed the chief Cities then were London York and Caerleon which became the Seats of three Arch-bishops Possibly the Title of Flamens and Arch-flamens was given to these Druid Priests by the Romans who might be distinguish'd amongst themselves by some other Name The Names of these 28 Cities have been collected out of History I. Cair Gumeguir which perhaps is Norwich by the Britains call'd Cair Guntius or perhaps rather Winwick in Lancashire some say Winchester II. Mincip or Municip which is Verulam near St. Albans III. Cair Lualid Luguballia now Caerleil IV. Mediolanum at this day Meivod in Montgomery-shire V. Cair Colon or Colonia now Colchester VI. Cair Ebranc now York VII Cair Custeint near Carnarvan by Antonine call'd Seguntium and Cair Custeint because Constantius the Father of Constantine was there buried and his Body there found in the time of Edward the First after the Conquest and by him Honourably Interr'd VIII Cair Caratauc or Caradoc in the borders of Shropshire between the Rivers Teindus and Colunus where Caractacus was Defeated by Ostorius IX Cair Grant now Cambridge upon the River Grant. X. Maucguid Mancunium in Lancashire as some think Manduessedum or Manchester in Warwickshire as others XI Cair Londein or Cair Lud now London XII Cair Guorthigirn in Radnorshire where King Vortigern hid himself from Divine Justice but could not escape it but was Burnt by Lightning in and with that City XIII Cair Ceint now Canterbury formerly Dorbernia XIV Cair Guorangon Branonium now Worcester XV. Cair Peris or Portcester now Portsmouth XVI Cair Daun or Danus now Doncaster in Yorkshire XVII Cair Legio of the 20th Legion there quarter'd now Chester XVIII Cair Guaricon or Guarvinc of Guarth a Garrison in the British Tongue now Warwick XIX Cair Segesut or the City of the Segontiaci the first People of this Island who yielded to Caesar since call'd Silchester in Hampshire XX. Cair Leon from the second Legion or Vsk from the River it was seated in Monmouthshire and is now ruin'd XXI Cair Guent or Venta Belgarum now Winchester XXII Cair Brito now call'd Bristol XXIII Cair Lerion by the Saxons Legecestria now Leicester XXIV Cair Draiton which Bishop Vsher thinks to be that which is now call'd Draiton in Shropshire XXV Cair Pentavelcoit seated upon the River Ivel in Somersetshire now Ilchester yet the said Learn'd Bishop thinks it should be written Pensavelcoit supposing it to be Pentsey in Sussex where William the Conqueror first landed XXVI Cair Vervac or Vriconium now Wroxcester in Shropshire XXVII Calemion or Calion which Cambden takes to be Comelet in Somersetshire where Roman Coins are frequently found and where are the footsteps of a Camp. XXVIII Cair Luitcoit or Lindcoit or Lindum now Lincoln These were the 28 Cities perhaps not all extant in the days of King Lucius at least under those Names which were design'd then for the Seats of Arch-bishops and Bishops though perhaps some other might be design'd for that purpose And it may be the Name of Arch-bishops was not then us'd yet the jurisdiction was alike under the Name of Metropolitans from the Metropolis or most Eminent Cities How many of these Cities were supply'd with Bishops is not certain Records only mention besides Elvanus Consecrated at Rome Theanus only a Britain and first Metropolitan Bishop of London where our Devout King Lucius built a Church in Cornhill Consecrated to St. Peter the Truth whereof is manifested by an Inscription on an Antient Table not long since hanging in the said Church to this effect following In the year of our Lord 179. Lucius the first Christian King of this Land founded the first Church at London namely the Church of St. Peter in Cornhill He establish'd there an Arch-Episcopal See it was the prime Church of the Kingdom and so continu'd for 400. years until the coming of St. Augustine the Apostle of England Some make Theanus Founder of this Church assisted therein by Ciranus the Kings Cup-bearer How long Theanus govern'd in this See is uncertain however he was succeeded by St. Elvanus though Malmsburiensis makes it doubtful in what place the Arch-Episcopal jurisdiction was fix'd during the time of the Britains Fugatius and Damianus after their three years successful Labours in this new Vineyard of our Lord as Historians witness return'd to Rome to give an account to St. Eleutherius how affairs stood in Britain As to this Matthew of Westminster expresses himself most fully affirming That in the year of Grace 186. the Blessed Prelates Fugatius and Damianus return'd to Rome and obtain'd from the Holy Pope Eleutherius a confirmation of all they had done in Britain and then came back again accompany'd with many others By whose Instructions the British Nation being confirm'd in the Faith of Christ became Illustrious the Names and Acts of these Holy men may be found in the History of our Gildas concerning the Victory of Aurelius Ambrosius It was the practice of Christian Churches to have frequent recourse to the Chair of St. Peter and about this very time the Church of Lions in France sent Irenaeus to St. Eleutherius for the resolving of questions about Ecclesiastical Affairs as St. Jerom witnesseth and of the same Errand before this time went St. Beatus to Rome as is before-mention'd This hath been frequently done in a due Subordination to the Supream Tribunal of the Church and for the preservation of Unity the Center whereof the Chair of St. Peter was ever accounted When Fugatius and Damianus came back into Britain they presented the King with a Crown Bless'd by that Holy Pope with many Divine Admonitions more acceptable than the Crown relating to the Government of his Civil State and his Defence of Holy Church It is said the Pope also prescrib'd the limits of his Kingdom so far Northerly that some conjecture that from thence it is that so many of those Northern Provinces became subject to the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Church of York Other Churches were afterwards built as first at Westminster in the place of an Idol Temple consecrated to Apollo which in the Reign of Antoninus Pius was by an Earthquake cast to
Gentiles The question was pertinent and thus answer'd by Amphibalus Our Lord Jesus Christ Son of the living God saith he preserv'd me safe from all dangers and sent me into this Province for the Salvation of many that by Preaching his Faith I might prepare a People acceptable to him Who is this Son of God reply'd Albanus Can God be said to be born these are strange Speeches which I never heard of before I desire to know your Opinion of these matters The Holy man answer'd Our Faith teacheth us to acknowledge the Father to be God and the Son also to be God who in Infinite Mercy vouchsafed to take our slesh upon him for the Salvation of Mankind that he might redeem us by suffering Death And then discours'd at large of the Birth Passion Resurrection and Ascention of Christ Concluding If you O Albanus will believe these things to be true you will receive Power by calling on the Name of Christ to Cure any Infirm or Sick person And the Truth is I am come to this City on purpose to Preach to you the healthful Doctrine of our Lords Passion because our merciful God will reward your kind Offices of Humanity and Hospitality to which you frequently addict your self which is the inestimable recompense of Eternal Happiness Then Albanus ask'd him What Honour and Worship must I exhibit to Christ in case I embrace the Faith The other answer'd Believe this that our Lord Jesus together with the Father and the Holy Ghost is one God and thou wilt have perform'd a work of high esteem in his sight Then Albanus reply'd What is all this sure thou art mad thou know'st not what thou say'st no Humane understanding or Reason can apprehend these things But be sure of this that if the Inhabitants of this City come to know thou makâ—st such discourse of Christ without delay they will put thee to a cruel death For my own part I am very sollicitous on thy behalf for fear some mischief befall thee before thou departest from hence Having said this he went away much disturb'd As for St. Amphibalus he spent the night alone in watching and Prayer The same night a wonderful Vision from Heaven was presented to Albanus sleeping with which being awak'd he went to his Guest and said to him Friend if those things which thou told'st me lately concerning Christ be true I pray thee to tell me freely the meaning of my Dream Me thought I saw a certain man come down from Heaven and presently an innumerable multitude of men laid hold of him and tormented him all the ways they could devise they bound his Hands with Chains they tore his Flesh most grievously with Whips they hung him on a Tree stretching his Hands across he was quite naked not having Shooes on his Feet his Hands and Feet were fastned to the Wood with Nails his side was pierc'd through with a Spear and from his Wound as it seem'd to me there flow'd both Blood and Water in his right Hand they put a Reed and on his Head they put a Crown of Thorns And after this barbarous Cruelty they insult over him with despiteful Speeches saying to him Hail King of the Jews if thou art the Son of God come down from the Cross and we will believe in thee And although they continu'd a long while thus reviling him the young man answer'd never a word but at last cryed out with a loud voice and said Father into thy Hands I commend my Spirit And so Expir'd His lifeless Body was afterwards taken down from the Cross the Blood issuing abundantly out of it They then laid him in a Sepulchre of stone sealing the Monument and setting Guards to watch it But then follow'd a wonderful thing for the Bloodless Carcass return'd to Life and re-suming former strength came out of the Sepulchre Seal'd as aforesaid I my self with my own Eyes saw him how he rose again Then came from Heaven certain men cloath'd with Vestments white as Snow and taking the Man with them return'd from whence they came attended by an infinite number of others in like Garments which all the way ceas'd not to sing Praises Blessing the Father I not knowing who he was with his Son saying Blessed be God the Father with his only begotten Son. They express'd such wonderful joy as nothing could be compar'd to it These things I saw with many others which I neither will or ought to declare I beseech thee tell me what is signify'd by these things thus represented to me fear not any danger to your self but speak freely The Holy man Amphibalus having heard this sensibly felt his Heart visited by our Lord with all joy and presently taking out a Crucifix which he had about him secretly said to Albanus Behold in this Figure and Image thou may'st manifestly perceive the meaning and importance of thy last nights Vision for the Man which came from Heaven is this Jesus my Lord who refus'd not to undergo the punishment of the Cross that by his Blood he might free us from the guilt which we had contracted by the Transgression of our first Father Adam Now these men which laid violent hands upon him and so afflicted him were his own People the Jews For though they had a promise from God that he would send unto them from Heaven his own Son yet when He whom they so much and so long expected was come they would not acknowledge him to be the Author of their Salvation but contradicted him in every thing return'd to him Evil for Good and Hatred for his Love. And at last stir'd up with extream envy and malice against him they broke out into such horrible Impiety that they laid hold on him Crucify'd and Murder'd him Thus it was that our Lord redeem'd us with the price of his own Blood Thus by Dying he became victorious over death For being rais'd upon the Cross he drew all to him for descending voluntarily to the enclosures of Hell he freed from captivity his own Servants detain'd there and binding the Divel in everlasting Chains he cast him into utter darkness Then Albanus fill'd with wonder broke out in these words All that thou hast said of Christ is most true for the last night I evidently perceiv'd and with mine own eyes saw how Christ overcame the Divel how he bound him and thrust him down into the bottom of Hell where the damnable wretch lyes fast bound with Chains So that knowing what hath been told by thee is true from this moment I profess I will be thy most obedient Disciple Tell me therefore for I know thou art Ignorant of nothing how I must behave my self to the Father and Holy Ghost now that I profess my self a servant of the Son Amphibalus at this question gave thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ for that Albanus of himself had the knowledge to pronounce those three Adorable Names and bid him believe firmly and profess faithfully that those three persons so
been broken and spent by a tedious and painful Imprisonment whereas on the contrary his solitude which gave him opportunity to unite himself to God by Prayer increas'd and strengthned his Courage The Author of his Life hath thus exemplify'd one of his Prayers O Lord Jesus Christ do not permit the Divels malice so much to prevail as by his cuning machinations and this Peoples relenting my suffering for thee may be hindred Not long after being come out of Prison to suffer and addressing his Speech to the unbelieving People who flock'd to see him he told them He was an irreconcilable Enemy of their False Gods the works of mens Hands unworthy of Honour as having no Divinity they themselves could not but observe that these their Idols neither See Hear nor Vnderstand any thing and that it could be no other then detestable vanity to expect Life from them which have no Life to pray to those who could not Hear to expect safety or Happiness from them which were not sensible of the least good to themselves He therefore protests that whoever Honours such dead Idols must renounce all reason for whom can be more desperately miscrable than he who suffers himself to be enslav'd to Puppets of his own fashioning Wo therefore to Idels but greater Wo to their Adorers From hence may easily be observ'd that this Holy Martyr who thus earnestly inveighs against Idolatry yet with great Devotion Venerates the Cross of our Lord so far is the respect and Honour given by the Catholick Church to Sacred things from any taint of Idolatry And Tertullian in his Apology for Christians testifies That although they Ador'd the Cross yet Idols and all their Ornaments were detested by them and abominable unto them When these invectives against Idols were utter'd by St. Alban Sentence of Death was pronounc'd against him and he was led to Execution to a place call'd Holmburst a Plain cloath'd with all sorts of Flowers a fit Theater for so Glorious a Martyr Albanus being thus led to his Death came to a River which with a swift Torrent ran between a Wall on the one side and a Sandy-shore on the other where the Holy Martyr was to be Beheaded there he saw great multitudes of all Conditions Ages and Sects which no doubt by Divine instinct were assembled to Honour his Death and they so choak'd the passage of the Bridge that before night they could not all have pass'd over As for the Judge he had no intention of any respect to the Martyr but stay'd behind in the City St. Albanus therefore enflam'd with a Devout desire of a speedy Martyrdom approach'd near the River and lifting up his Eyes with Prayer to God the River became presently dry so as the Water gave free way to the passengers by the Prayer of the Martyr to this effect O Lord Jesus Christ from whose most Holy side I my self in a Vision saw both Water and Blood to flow I beseach thee to cause these Waters to be diminish'd and the floud to return back that the People without prejudice or danger may be present at my Sufferings He had no sooner pray'd thus but the Channel was immediately dry his Tears left no other water in the River the Power of his Prayer emptied the Torrent and clear'd a safe passage for the People The Officer who conducted St. Alban to his Death by the merits of the Holy Martyr obtain'd Eternal Happiness for seeing the Miracles he threw away his Sword and casting himself at the Holy Martyr's feet beg'd his pardon which when the People saw they laid hold on the Man beat out his Teeth and in a manner broke all his Bones This Pagan Souldier thus of a Persecutor chang'd into a Lover of the true Faith and willing to die for and with St. Alban the other Officers were at a stand and knew not what to do It is further related That the Holy Martyr ascending the Hill the People at the top thereof were tormented with extremity of Thirst the Martyr kneeling down Pray'd to God The People might receive no harm by his occasion Upon which brake presently forth a Fountain at his Feet and with a rapid course flow'd down the Hill so that all the Peoples Thirst was satisfi'd In the mean time another Executioner was appointed who to his great Unhappiness discharg'd that Impious Office and with his Sword cut off the Holy Martyr's Head kneeling in Prayer to God and Kissing the Crucifix which he held in his Hand And immediately O wonderful Almighty God by the suddain loss of this Executioners Eyes testified the Holy Martyr's Innocence for together with the Martyr's Head those remorseless Eyes sell to the ground With St. Alban the poor Converted Souldier was also Beheaded who by Divine Instinct refus'd to put the Holy Confessor to Death and doubtless though this new Convert was not outwardly cleansed with the water of Baptism yet being wash'd in the Laver of his own Blood he became worthy to be admitted into the Kingdom of Heaven His Name is said to be Heraclius of whom it is further reported That being left half dead by the Peoples Stroaks as aforesaid and creeping on his hands and feet toward the Crowd he was mock'd by one of the Judges And bid to address himself to his Patron Albanus then newly Executed and Pray him to restore Soundness to his bruis'd Limbs Run saith the Scoffing Judge make hast joyn thy Patrons Head to his Body no doubt thou wilt not fail of Health Bury the dead Carcass and thou may'st be sure whilst it is in thy Hands it will afford a Cure. The Souldier reply'd I do verily believe that this blessed Saint by his merits can restore unto me my perfect Health So that what you speak in Derision may in earnest be fulfill'd to me Having said this he imbrac'd the Martyr's Head and adjoyning it to the Body became immediately sound When the Infidels saw this they were fill'd with Envy and bound him with Chains tearing his Body with several sorts of Tortures and in the end cut off his Head. How acceptable to Almighty God these Martyrdoms were was presently declar'd from Heaven in a wonderful manner for behold the night following their Sufferings a Pillar of Light was seen to raise it self from the Grave of St. Alban up to Heaven by which Angels ascended and descended spending the whole night in Hymns and Praises to God repeating also these words The Illustrious Albanus is now a glorious Martyr of Christ As Venantius in his Poem for that purpose Elegantly sets forth Who this Author of St. Alban's Life was is unknown he was certainly of more Antiquity than St. Bede his Book was found in the Monastery of St. Alban and concerning the Persecution thus rais'd in Britain by Dioclesian gives us this Account That Almighty God who is willing all men should be sav'd to magnifie his Mercy to this our Country least it should be invellop'd in Darkness was pleas'd to Enlighten it with
means be mov'd and therefore giving Thanks to God buried the Sacred Body with great Solemnity in that place And thither many Devout people repairing and imploring the Martyrs help and intercession in their Afflictions and Infirmities have frequently with Joy obtain'd their desir'd remedy The Head of the Martyr was carried as aforesaid to Rinaldus who handled the same but died miserably three days after he being thus dead the Bishops and Clergy carried the Head and Buried it with the Body The Coffer wherein these Sacred Relicks lay some time after were carried through several places to Ambrosbury and their laid upon an Altar where the Saint and his Relicks were in a special manner Venerated as Bishop Vsher affirms This Ambrosbury is scituate in Wiltshire not far from Winchester Britain not forsaking its obedience to the Roman Empire was now govern'd by Victorinus a man grateful to the Britains but formidable to the Picts and Scots but he being too soon recall'd and the Roman Legion with him the poor Britains became immediately expos'd to the Cruelty of their Barbarous Enemies Bonifacius succeeded Zosimus in the Apostolick Chair who is said by Prosper To make use not only of Apostolick but of Imperial Edicts also for the suppressing the Pelagians the Affronters of Divine Grace In the time of this Boniface this Island was poison'd with their Presumptuous Doctrines especially by Agricola the Son of a Bishop Yet were there then several Bishops full of Piety and Learning who oppos'd this Heresie the most Famous whereof was Fastidius Priscus Archbishop of London a man skilful in Holy Scriptures and a zealous Preacher of Divine Truth Illustrious in Holy Conversation and Famous for his Sharpness of Judgement and Elocution it is not certain when he dy'd or when it was that Voadinus succeeded him in that Bishoprick As Britain was now infected with the Suggestions of Hereticks so was it infested with the Incursions of the Scots Picts and Norwegians In which necessity saith Gildas The poor Britains sent humble Petitions to Rome for assistance vowing their Eternal subjection to the Roman Empire so as their Cruel Enemies might be repell'd In complyance with which Request a Legion well Supply'd was sent which soon drove the Barbarous Nations out of the Borders and freed the Britains from vexation and slavery Who the Roman General was under whom this Victory was gain'd is not mention'd probably it was Chrysanthus the Son of Marcianus afterwards Bishop of Constantinople as Socrates seems to intimate Whoever was General both he and the Legion were soon recall'd But before their departure saith Gildas they gave order to the Britains to raise a Wall between the two Seas Glotta and Bodotria to restrain the Enemies and defend Themselves It began toward the West about two Miles from a Monastery call'd Aebercurnig in a place nam'd in British Penvahel or Penvelton and going Eastward it endeth near the City of Aciluth from this word Penvahel Cambden infers that the Picts were a British Nation for in Welch at this day Pengual signifies The Head of a Rampire But so useless was this ill built Wall most part of Turfe that before it was finish'd the Scots and Picts broke in again as Gildas observes Like ravenous Woolves enrag'd with hunger on all sides encompassing the Sheep-fold in the absence of the Shepherd so they with Oares and Full-blown Sails invaded the Island broke into the Borders and laid all waste in their way mowing down and treading underfoot the wretched Britains like ripe Corn. They therefore again send Messengers in a deplorable manner with rent Garment and Ashes on their Heads to implore Aide from the Romans endeavouring like fearful Chickens to shrowd themselves under their Mothers Wings They earnestly beg the rescue of their miserable Country and the freeing the Roman Name from the contempt of Foraign Nations This woeful Petition was address'd to the Famous Roman General Aetius Praefect of Gaul under whom Britain was also subject He mov'd with Pity sent Forces under the Conduct of Gallio a Citizen in Ravenna who once more Conquer'd the Enemies but having done this declares the Emperours pleasure to the Britains That for the future they must rely upon their own strength and expect no more assistance from Rome which at so great a distance and amidst so many Distractions could not attend to so remote a Province He advis'd them to exercise themselves in Military Affairs to Build Fortifications in Convenient places especially towards the Sea and to strengthen their Cities with Walls This was the last Farewel of the Romans to the discourag'd Britains however before they went they joyn'd with the Britains in Repairing the Wall which they made stronger than formerly both by publick and Private Expences THE Church History Under the BRITISH KINGS THe Romans having thus forsaken this Island two Kingdoms seem to have gain'd a firm establishment in the Northern parts thereof those I mean of the Picts and Scots for though other Kings and Princes are mention'd in other parts yet were they subject to the Romans and in a manner under their Allegiance The Picts being indeed no other then the remainder of the Unconquer'd Britains were so disturb'd by the Romans that they could not before this time come to any Settlement As for the Scots they were at the best but Auxiliaries to the Picts mingled with them in all their Invasions and often by the Romans driven back into Ireland from whence they came Now being rid of the Romans these Scots fix'd their Habitations and Erected a Kingdom in the Northern Coasts of Britain under Fergusius their King Of these two Nations and Kingdoms the principal in this Age was that of the Picts who possess'd the Provinces about Edinburgh confining to the Wall Antiently call'd the Picts Wall the Scots inhabiting the Provinces next to Ireland but after turning their Arms against the Picts they utterly destroy'd their Kingdom and Name and gave to the whole Country the Appellation of Scotland In the year of Grace 423. the Emperour Honorius dy'd in whose place succeeded Valentinian the III. and in the Eastern Empire Reign'd the younger Theodosius The same year dy'd Pope Bonifacius and after him was chosen Pope Caelestinus to whom our Islands of Britain and Ireland have an Eternal Obligation for by him they were preserv'd from Errour and effectually Converted to or Confirm'd in the Christian Faith By him St. Palladius was sent to the Scots whom he freed from their Barbarous Idolatry By him St. Patrick was directed an Apostolick Teacher into Ireland where he wrought the like effect and by him St. Germanus and St. Lupus two Holy and Learned Bishops of Gaul were imploy'd to Cure Britain of the Pestilent Infection of Pelagianism there spread by Agricola Now since Patricius the great Apostle of Ireland did both begin and end his days in Britain it will be little or no Excursion here to insert some of his Principal Gests He Convers'd here in Brittain by his Holy example
Long before St. Patrick came into Ireland by the Magicians and Pagan Prophets there intimation was given of his coming their Prophcy was to this effect That a man would come thither with his Wood whose Table should be placed in the Eastern side of his House and some persons standing behind together with others from the Table will Sing and the Congregation will Answer them saying AMEN When this man comes he will destroy our Gods subvert our Temples destroy Princes which resist him and his Doctrine shall remain and prevail here for ever With such words these blind Prophets incens'd both the Prince and People against St. Patricius They compos'd a certain Rhyme importing That a Head of Art and Skill with his Crooked Staff would come from that hour every House shall be bor'd through the Top He will chant an abomination from his Table at the forepart of the House and his whole Family will answer So be it So be it The meaning of this dark Rhyme is That the Master of Wisdom would come with the Sign of the Cross by which the hearts of all men would feel Compunction and from the Altar of the Holy Mysteries he would Convert Souls unto Christ so as all Christian People should Answer Amen And then our Pagan Kingdom shall fall as in truth it afterwards did This piece of Wood is by most taken for the Cross others affirm it to signifie A certain wonderful Staff which St. Patrick before his Journey receiv'd from a Holy Hermit and was call'd the Staff of Jesus The Author of St. Patrick's Life relates the Story of the Staff to this effect That St. Patrick by Divine Revelation pass'd over to a certain Solitary Hermit living in an Island of the Tyrrhen Sea whose Name was Justus a man of a Holy Life and great Fame this man of God gave to St. Patrick the foremention'd Staff affirming seriously That he had receiv'd it immediately from the Hand of our Lord Jesus Christ who had appear'd to him There were other men in the same Island at some aistance who also led Solitary Lives Some of these St. Patrick observ'd to be very Fresh and Youthfull others very Decrepid and Old were the Children of them who appear'd so Youthful at which the Saint being astonish'd and enquiring the occasion of so great a Miracle was thus Answer'd We from our Childhood by Divine Grace have been much addicted to Works of Mercy our doors stood ever open to Travellers demanding Meat or Lodging On a certain night it happen'd that a Stranger with a Staff in his Hand was Entertain'd by us and us'd with all the Courtesie we could the morning he gave us his Benediction telling us he was Jesus Christ and saying to us You have oft hitherto ministred unto my Members and this night Entertain'd me in my own Person this said He gave the Staff in his Hand to a man of God our Father both Spiritually and Carnally commanding him to keep it Till in succeeding times a stranger Nam'd Patrick should come to visit him and then to give it to that Stranger and having said this he ascended up into Heaven From that day those Hermits told St. Patrick They had remain'd in the same state of Youthful Comliness and Vigour whereas their Children who were then little Infants were as he saw become decrepid Old men This Story of St. Patrick and his Staff is reported by Jocelinus Author of his Life Now what Credit soever this Story may find in the minds of the Readers certain it is that a Staff believ'd to have belong'd to St. Patrick and nam'd the Staff of Jesus was for many Ages in great Veneration among the Irish And St. Bernard in the Life of St. Malachias an Irish Bishop mentions and describes this Staff and the great esteem it had in that Nation and if we will believe Giraldus Cambrensis It was the Vulgar Opinion that with this Staff St. Patrick cast out of the Island all Venomous Beasts He seems to have enter'd into Ireland in the year 432. as Bishop Vsher computes The Inhabitants of the Country having advice of his Landing flock'd to him from all Parts especially the common People came joyfully to him as if he had been of their own Nation He had indeed many Qualities which invited their good Will towards him He was of a Comely Personage very Civil in Conversation and though extreamly Grave yet without Morosity Besides this he spoke Irish perfectly and from his Youth had inform'd himself of their Natural Dispositions so as he presently became one of them But God was the principal cause of conciliating their Affections to him and by his special Grace great multitudes in a short time yielded their Assent and Obedience to his Christian Doctrine For St. Patrick like a good Shepherd carefully watch'd over his new flock informing them daily in all Duties of Piety convincing the Pagans of their Errors and confounding the Magicians which oppos'd him The Conversion of one Irish-man is specially taken notice of whose Name was Dicon whom St. Patrick gain'd as he was passing through his Land to submit to the Doctrine of our Lord and of a Wolf in a wonderful manner chang'd him into a Lamb For Dicon coming suddainly with Weapons intended to have kill'd St. Patrick and his Companions but as soon as he saw his face he was prick'd in his Heart our Lord immediately turning his Thoughts so as he meekly led him to his House where the Holy Bishop resided sometime Preaching to him the Faith of Christ so effectually that he became the first of all the Island who believ'd with all his Family Nevertheless another Antient Author cited by Bishop Vsher mentions the Conversion of one Sinel as the first of all his words are St. Patrick sent by Pope Caelestinus landed at the mouth of the River Dee but an impious Count call'd Nathi who formerly had resisted St. Palladius contradicted St. Patrick and his Doctrine However Sinel the Son of Finchado by the Preaching of St. Patrick believ'd in Almighty God and was the first among the Irish Scots who was Baptiz'd by the Holy Bishop upon whom and his Seed St. Patrick bestow'd his Benediction By which it appears that St. Patrick first landed in the Province of Leinster and from thence went to Vlster where having Converted Dicon he obtain'd a Field call'd Sabbul two Miles distant from the City of Doun His particular Journeys Laborious Preaching Pious Actions and Admirable Miracles are Copiously related by the Ecclesiastical Writers of Ireland It is said that Carantacus or Cernac thirty years before the Birth of St. David began to Preach the Gospel in Ireland He was a Britain born Son of Keredec Prince of the Province of Cardigan Cereticae Regionis Amongst many other Children Keredic had this Carantac a Child of good Disposition beginning early to do those things which he thought pleasing to God. In those days the Scots grievously vex'd Britain so that his Father unable to sustain
Rome into their Country were Martyr'd by Attila called the scourge of God near Colen in Germany I shall only here set down the Names of such of these Virgins as have escap'd Oblivion and adjoyn the Churches where many of them are Venerated in regard their Holy Relicks there repose St. Vrsula divided her Innocent Army into several Squadrons first she gave a general Authority over all under her to these Virgins St. Cordula St. Eleutheria St. Florentia and St. Pinnosa next she assign'd the Care and Inspection to each of these viz. St. Benedicta St. Benigna St. Carpophora St. Celindes St. Clementia St. Columba St. Laeta St. Lucia St. Odilia St. Sapientia and St. Sybilla other particular Virgins Names are recorded St. Agnes St. Antonina St. Areaphila St. Babraria St. Baldina St. Candida St. Caradumea St. Christina St. Columbina St. Corona St. Cunera St. Deodata St. Flora St. Florina St. Florentina St. Gratia St. Honorata St. Honoria St. Hostia St. Languida St. Margarita St. Margaria St. Oliva St. Pampheta St. Pamefrides St. Pavia St. Paulina St. Pharanina St. Pisona St. Sambaria St. Sancta St. Semibaria St. Terentia and St. Valeria The Body of St. Vrsula is still preserv'd at Colen but her Head was translated to Paris where the Illustrious Colledge of Sorbon acknowledge her their Patroness At St. Denis in France there is a Commemoration of Panefredis Secunda Gemibaria Florina and Valeria whose Relicks Repose there At Huy in Germany is Celebrated the Translation of St Odilia famous for frequent Miracles The Monastery of Marcian in Flanders possesses some part of the Body of St. Cordula The Monastery of Good-hope belonging to the Premonstratenses enjoys the Relicks of St. Terentia St. Marguarita St. Baldina St. Sambaria and St. Margaria Translated thither when Reinaldus was Arch-Bishop of Colen The Monastery of St. Martin in Tourney Glories in the Bodies of St. Honor at a and Florina and some part of the Relicks of St. Vrsula The Monastery of St. Amand in Pabula preserves the Bodies of three of those Virgins whose Names are unknown At Andain in Arduenna repose the Bodies of St. Grata St. Hostia and St. Areaphila An Hospital in Tourney possesses St. Languida at Arras the Bodies of St. Beata and St. Sancta are said to repose in the Cathedral Church four of these Holy Virgins are Celebrated in the Monastery of St. Bertini in St. Aumar At the Church of St. Salvius the Relicks of St. Pavia and St. Caradumea are Venerated The Norbertines at Vicorne possess the Bodies of St. Corona St. Pharanina St. Babcaria St. Margarita and another of the same Name St. Benedicta St. Cordula St. Sambaria St. Deodata St. Pampheta St. Christiana The Canons of Tongres Venerate the Heads of St. Pannosa and St. Oliva The Nunns of Mays Venerate the Relicks of St. Paulina St. Florentina and Eight other of the said Holy Virgins In the Town of Rheune in the Diocess of Vtrecht is Celebrated the memory of St. Cunera who it is said was a while conceal'd by a certain Noble Matron but being discover'd had her neck broken But the Belgick Writers say She was by a Noble-man in Compassion taken from the rest and convey'd to his House where his Lady stir'd up with Jealousy Murdered her and hid her Body in the Stable into which the Lords Horses at his return would by no means enter by reason whereof the Murder was discover'd The Nuns of St. Belian Honour the Body of St. Honoria Translated thither long since At Pobletum in Catalonia rests the Body of St. Columbina And at Dertosa are Venerated the Relicks of St. Candida In all the Religious Houses of the Jesuits throughout all Portugal some part of the Bodies of these Virgin Martyrs are Reverently repos'd and the Feast of St. Vrsula after a particular manner Solemniz'd over all that Kingdom Lastly A Father of the same Society nam'd F. Gomez carried with him into the East-Indies the Head of one of those Virgins by whose Intercession the Ship and Passengers escap'd from otherwise unavoidable dangers To conclude this Story with the observation of a Learned Writer upon it How great a measure of Christian Fortitude saith he hath been implanted in the Hearts of the Women of that Northern Island since the time that St. Eleutherius Bishop of Rome sent into Britain St. Fugatius and St. Damianus may be evidently seen by this one Example For from all Antiquity of the Church through the whole World cannot be produced an example equalling the Virtue and Courage of these Holy Kirgin-Martyrs The purpose of Almighty God began now to appear to root out the Incorrigible Britains and in their room plant the Saxons who were at first more numerous than their Companions either the Jutes or the Angli and from them having prevail'd this Country was call'd Saxonia transmarina though after it took its denomination from the Angli who became numerous and Powerful The Saxons were a Nation deriv'd from the Sacae a Powerful People of Asia who disburthening themselves by sending Colonies abroad settled in the Coasts of Germany toward the Northern Sea from the Rhene as far as Denmark so as their Teritories were Antiently much larger than the Dutchy of Saxony The Angli came out of a Region call'd Anglia scituate between the Saxons and the Jutes their Capital City in the Saxon Tongue is call'd Sleswick and by the Danes Haitby from these the greatest part of Britain is call'd England From these also came their prime Captains Hengist and Horsa and in truth the precise Seat of our Progentiors the Angli is a small Province in Denmark at this time call'd Angel The Jutes or Goots were Antiently seated on the Northern Coast of the Cimbrian Chersonesus call'd by the Danes to this day Jutland They were probably deriv'd from the Gutti placed by Ptolomy in Scandia and their seat is still call'd Gothland yet are they not the same Goths or Getes who with their Victories heretofore measur'd all Europe for their Habitation was near the Euxine Sea In what particular Provinces of Britain these Jutes seated themselves it doth not appear nor is there any mention of any Principality they had in this Island as the Saxons and Angli had to whom the Jutes were rather to be accounted Accessaries in mingled Companies though some think they possess'd themselves of the Kingdom of the South Saxons and the Isle of Wight They are all generally comprehended under the Title of Saxons and are describ'd to be of the most Robustious Bodies and most Agile of all the Germans Witchindus the Monk treating of them saith The Franks wonder'd to see such men of Tall Stature Invincible Courage of unwonted Habits wearing their long Hair spread over their Shoulders and Arms but especially they admir'd their undaunted Courage They wore short Coats and were Arm'd with long Lances and their Posture was to lean upon their Shields having great Daggers behind upon their Reins Impatient were they of any Scorn
Holy Abbot Son of Gunleus Prince of the Southern Britains and Gladus Daughter of Braghan The Father of St. Cadoc Gunleus by Divine Vocation growing weary of the World built a Church where he began to live in great Abstinence and Purity of Conversation His Cloathing was Sack-cloath his Diet Barley-Bread mingled with Ashes and his Drink Water he usually rose at mid-night and to abate Carnal Desires cast himself into Cold-water He received nothing from any but sustain'd himself with the Labour of his Hands This retirement of St. Cadoc's Father began while he was a Child who when he came to years of Discretion chose rather to imitate his Fathers Devotion then to be expos'd to the Temptations and Vicissitudes of the World in the enjoyment of his Principality He had for his Master and Director in the way of Piety a Learn'd and Holy man famous in that Age call'd Tathai who liv'd a Solitary Life in all Austerity among the mountains of South-wales 'till he was invited by Caradoc Prince of that Province to live Coenobitically and to institute young-men in Learning and Piety at a City call'd Venta Silurum in the Province of Monmouth which Region from that City was by the Britains call'd Guent the City being then an Academy Dedicated to the Studies of Literature over which St. Tathai was President and exercising that Office with great commendation built there a Church Under so worthy a Master St. Cadoc made wonderful Progress in Virtue and Piety and himself became a Guide in Spiritual Life and a Father of the Monks For that purpose he built a Monastery which was call'd Lancarvan from an admirable accident in the building of it wherein this Holy Father imploy'd wilde Harts which became familiar obedient and serviceable to him Thus both the Father and the Son contemning the World liv'd in it to God only and dy'd Happily As for Gunleus the Father when the end of his days approach'd he sent to St. Dubricius who had been Bishop of Landaff and to his Son Cadoc desiring the Charity of a Visit from them who came and comforted him and after he had receiv'd the Holy Communion for a Viaticum and defence of his Soul he departed to our Lord He was Honourably bury'd and at his Sepulchre Angels have been often seen and Sick persons of all Infirmities resorting thither and imploring his Intercession have been Heal'd Glorifying God in his Saint The day of his Consummation in our Martyrology is Celebrated yearly the 29th of March concerning his Son Cadoc it is related That he daily sustain'd 100 Ecclesiastical persons as many Widows and as many other poor People beside Strangers which frequently visited him For though he was an Abbot and had many Monks under his Government yet he reserv'd a Portion of his Fathers Principality to be Charitably distributed to such as had need Neither was this Charity of his any transgression of his Monastical Profession which forbids Propriety in Temporal goods because he only exercis'd a Pious Procuration as he did in other Goods of his Monastery He dy'd in the Province of the Ordovices and was there held in high Veneration For Harpsfield testifies That a Church was Erected to his Honour among the Danmonii at a place call'd Corinia which to this day conserves his memory In the Antient Martyrology he is Commemorated on the 24th of February In that Martyrology also the Names of other British Saints are recorded who dy'd about the year of Grace 500. Among the rest St. Dogmael or as the Britains call him St. Tegivel Illustrious for his great Virtues Sanctity and Miracles A famous Abbey in Pembrokshire took its Name from him The memory is there also preserv'd of St. Bernach Abbot a man of admirable Sanctity who in Devotion made a Journey to Rome and from thence returning into Britain fill'd all places with the fame of his Piety and Miracles The same year a famous Irish Saint and Martyr call'd Finguar is recorded to have dy'd He was the Son of Cliton a Prince in Ireland who for Contemplation's sake is said to have retir'd into Cornwall where with many others he was slain by Theoderick a Prince of that Country His Life is found written by St. Anselm Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Aesca the Son of Hengist who had been taken Prisoner by Vter and confin'd in London made his escape out of Prison and return'd to his Kingdom of Kent where he after remain'd quietly As for Cerdic being not able to establish a Kingdom in the Western parts he sent into Germany for new Supplies whereupon the year following Port a German Captain with his two Sons Bleda and Magla in two great Ships furnish'd with Soldiers landed at a Haven from him call'd Portsmouth Upon his landing the British Governour with a great multitude boldly set upon the Saxons but without Order and so were soon defeated This same year while the Saxons made a Progress in the Southern and more Fertile parts of Britain the Scots in the North laid a Foundation of their new Kingdom at the foot of the Mountain Grampius which was call'd the Kingdom of Albany Fergus the Son of Eric of the Seed of Chonare with a Nation call'd the Dalreudins from Reuda who first conducted them out of Ireland and first also took upon him to be King of Albany from Brun Albain to the Irish Sea where the following Kings of the Seed of Fergus to Alpin the Son of Eochal reign'd As from Ireland many Holy men sought a retreat for their Devotion in Britain so in these tumultuous times upon the same motive some were induc'd to retire out of Britain into Ireland Bishop Vsher exemplifies St. Petroc who born in Britain liv'd in Ireland to whose Care and Instruction a Youth of seven years of Age call'd Coemgen or Kegnius was there committed Saint Petroc was by Nation a Cambrian not a Cimbrian as in the Gallican Martyrology is mistaken born of Princely Parents in Wales and in his Infancy did so well imitate the Faith and Virtues of St. Peter Prince of the Apostles that his Name may seem to have been given him by Divine Inspiration as if God had destin'd him to be a Rock on which the Church of Britain should be built When the Prince his Father was dead the Nobles of the Country with the consent of the whole People were desirous he should succeed in the Royalty But he neglecting worldly Pomp assum'd with him 60 Companions and with them enter'd into a Monastery and there undertook a Monastical Profession After some time there spent he went into Ireland where for the space of 20 years he addicted himself to the Study of good Learning and the Holy Scriptures great part of which time St. Coemegen was under his Tuition Now having in this space of time heap'd up a great Treasure of Learning under the most perfect Teachers of that Island he return'd into Britain and in the Province of Corinia or Cornwall intended to imploy all that Treasure
his Eyes and say a Prayer or Benediction on them But receiving no benefit thereby David said to him Father command me not to look you in the face for ten years are past since I studied the Scriptures with you and in all that time I never had the boldness to look you in the face Paulens admiring his Humility said Since it is so it will suffice if by touching mine Eyes thou pronounce a Benediction on them Presently therefore as soon as he had touch'd them Sight was restor'd to them The same year wherein the Synod of Brevi was Celebrated Cerdic began the Kingdom of the West-Saxons That is saith Huntingdon in the seventy first year after the first coming of the Saxons in the reign of the Emperour Justin the Elder This Cerdic is said to be Crown'd with Pagan Ceremonies at Winchester in a place which once had been the Church of the true God but which these Barbarous Heathens had chang'd into a Temple of Dagon after they had slain all the Monks who serv'd God there The raising of this new Kingdom disproves the Fictions of Geffrey of Monmouth concerning the great and frequent Victories of King Arthur in these days It is likely to be more true which Huntingdon expresly declares namely That this year a terrible Battle was fought between Cerdic and the Britains and that on both sides the Captains Fought Magnanimously till Even but then the Saxons got the Victory which would have been more Bloody to the Britains had not the darkness hind'red the Pursuit After this the Fame of Cerdic and his Son Kenric was largely spread through the whole land and from that day began the Kingdom of the West-Saxons which having swallow'd all the other Principalities remains to our times Many Battles are said to have been Fought between King Arthur and this Cerdic wherein sometimes one sometimes the other had the better But at last King Arthur grew weary and contenting himself with an Oath of Fidelity from Cerdic gave him the Provinces of Hampshire and Somerset Some Authors affirm a League to have been made between them wherein a special Priviledge was provided for Cornwall to be permitted upon an Annual Tribute the free exercise of Christian Religion Which Indulgence seems to be prov'd by the great number of Saints which in those and the following times flourish'd in that Province whereas scarce any can be found in other parts of Britain subject to the Saxons And in truth it is very like that great multitudes of Britains flying from the fury of the Saxons betook themselves to Cornwal and Wales as places most distant and more defenceable and where they might expect better Conditions and more advantage of resisting their new Masters then in other parts for no doubt this Kingdom of the West-Saxons was made up of more Provinces than Hampshire or Somerset so that Cerdic had good footing in Devonshire Dorsetshire Barkshire and Wiltshire to which shortly after was added the Isle of Wight bestow'd by Cerdic on his late arriv'd Kinsmen Stuffa and Whitgar who destroy'd the British Inhabitants there at Whitgarburg so call'd from Whitgar but now contractedly Caresburg While Cerdic was busie in establishing his new Kingdom in the year 520. Colgrin Baldulf and Cheldric whom King Arthur had lately subdu'd at York and forc'd to abjure the land returning landed at Totness from whence passing through Cerdic's Dominions they came to the City of Bath and Besieg'd it King Arthur hearing thereof caus'd the Hostages which they had left to be Hang'd and gathering a mighty Army came to raise the Seige where the Armies being joyn'd he calling on the Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary whose Image he wore over his Armour slew great numbers of his Enemies and amongst the rest Colgrin and his Brother Baldulf which Cheldric perceiving fled and was pursu'd by Cador the Duke of Cornwall to the Isle of Thanet and there slain by him the rest being forc'd to yield King Arthur as may be remembred obtain'd a Battle before he was King near Bath at the Mountain Badonicus now this is likely to be another defeat given by King Arthur to the Saxons and the City of Bath being in the utmost extremity West-ward of Cerdic's Kingdom it might at this time have been in the possession of the Britains As for King Arthur's invoking the assistance of our Blessed Lady in the Fight it was a Devotion generally practic'd by the Church in this Age. For two years before there having been Assembled two Councels in the East one at Jerusalem and the other at Constantinople the Synod at Jerusalem wrote to the Bishops of the other Councel thus We beseech you most Holy Bishops to Pray with us to our Lord for these things for the Necessities of Gods Priests ought to be common make your Supplications likewise with us to the most Holy and Glorious Virgin Mary Mother of God that she would intercede for the Peace of the Catholick Church and for the Victory and long Life of our most Excellent and Pious Emperour The like practice we find else-where of which many Examples may be given The next year King Arthur was call'd into the Northern parts to assist Prince Howel who three years before was come out of Little Britain to his Aid and was now Besieg'd by the Picts and Scots in the City call'd Acluid wherein he lay Sick. Upon King Arthur's approach the Enemies retir'd to a place call'd Mureif whither he pursu'd them but they escaping by night fled to a Lake call'd Lumoney Whereupon King Arthur gathering many Ships together encompass'd the Island and in 15 days brought them to such extreme Famine that many thousands of them Perish'd In which utmost danger the Bishops of that Region came Barefoot to the King with Tears beseeching him To take pitty of that miserable People and to give them some small portion of that Country to inhabit under the yoak of perpetual Servitude The King thus mollify'd with the Tears of the Bishops pardon'd his Enemies and granted their request Hence it is that some Writers ground the subjection of Scotland to the Crown of Brittain and particularly Walsingham but certainly better grounds may be found of it than this Whereas it is said that certain Pictish and Scotish Bishops were Supplicants to this King for their Distress'd Countrymen it hath been already demonstrated that the Province of the Picts where the City of Acluid is seated had many years before receiv'd the Christian Faith by the Preaching of St. Ninianus but who were his Successors is hard to conjecture In the Annals of Ireland mention is made of a certain Bishop call'd Nennion who is said to have flourish'd in Britain about the year 520. and to have had his seat in a place call'd the great Monastery This man probably was the Successor of St. Ninianus and that great Monastery the same with Candida Casa where the Monument of that Apostolick Bishop was which by reason of frequent Miracles wrought there invited great
the second Order receiv'd the right Order of Celebrating Mass out of Britain from Holy men there living as St. David St. Gildas and St. Doc Moreover St. David sent over some of his Disciples into Ireland who grew famous for their Learning and Sanctity of whom the most Illustrious was St. Aedan call'd by the Irish St. Madoc After he grew renown'd for his Piety and Miracles he built at length a Monastery near the City of Fernes where having collected a great number of Devout Brethren he Consecrated himself to the Service of God living according to the form and rule which he had receiv'd from his Pious Father St. David the same which was observ'd by the Monks in Aegypt This St. Aedan was afterwards Bishop of Fernes and Metropolitan of Leinster while St. David liv'd whom he us'd to consult in Affairs of difficulty After many years spent by the Holy Bishop David in the exercise of all Christian Virtues it pleas'd Almighty God in love to him and just anger to the Ungrateful Britains to translate this burning and shining Light from Earth to Heaven there to shine in Glory to all Eternity According to the best account He dy'd in the year of Grace 544. having liv'd 82 years though some writers affirm him to have liv'd much longer It is said That when the hour of his Dissolution approach'd the Angel of the Lord appear'd to him saying The day so much desir'd by thee is now at hand prepare thy self for on the Calends of March our Lord Jesus Christ attended with a multitude of Angels will come to meet thee Whereupon the Holy man of God said O Lord dismiss now thy Servant in Peace The Brethren who assisted him having heard the sound of these words but not well understanding the sense fell Prostrate to the ground in great fear Then the Holy Bishop cry'd with a loud voice Lord Jesus Christ receive my Spirit Vpon this the Brethren pour'd forth loud Complaints but he asswag'd their sorrow with mild and comfortable words exhorting them to be constant in their good profession and unanimously to bear to the end that yoak which they had undergone and to observe and fulfill whatever they had seen or heard from him and from that hour to the day of his death he remain'd in the Church exhorting and encouraging them But when the hour of his departure was come our Lord Jesus Christ vouchsafed his presence as he had promis'd by his Angel to the infinite Consolation of the Holy Father who at the Heavenly sight exalted in Spirit cry'd out O my Lord take me after thee With which words in our Lords company he gave up his Spirit to God upon the Calends fore-mention'd and being associated to a troop of Angels mounted up to Heaven with them The Death of this Holy Bishop is said to have been divulg'd by an Angel and in an Instant spread through all Britain and Ireland That this was so seems to be confirm'd by a passage in the Life of St. Kentigern of whom it is said That having one day continu'd his Prayers with more then ordinary Devotion his face seem'd as on fire the sight whereof fill'd the by-standers with great amazement when Prayers were ended the Saint began to lament bitterly and when his Disciples demanded a reason of his sorrow he sate a while silent and at last said My dear Children know for certain that the Holy Bishop David the Glory of Britain the Father of his Country is this day dead he has escap'd out of the Prison of his Body and is flown to Heaven Believe me I my self have seen a multitude of Angels conducting him into the Joy of our Lord and our Lord himself at the Entrance of Paradice hath Crown'd him with Glory and Honour Know also that Britain which is depriv'd of so great a Light will a long time mourn for the Absence of such a Patron who oppos'd himself to the Sword of our Lord when it was half drawn out for the destruction of that Nation in revenge of their Sins and Impenitence Now will God deliver up Britain to a strange Nation which know him not and Pagans shall enjoy the land of its Inhabitants Christian Religion shall be utterly dissipated in it 'till the time prefix'd by God be ended But after that it shall through the Mercies of our Lord be restor'd to its former state yea to a far better and more Happy St. David was Buried in his own Church of Menevia which he had lov'd above all Monasteries of his Diocess because St. Patrick who had Prophesied of his Nativity had been Founder of it And also indeed he was bury'd there by the command of Malgo King of the Venedatae But after 500 years he was Solemnly Canoniz'd by Pope Calixtus the second This Church at first was Dedicated to St. Andrew but after took St. David for its Patron and the whole Diocess was thence call'd St. David's The memory of his Sanctity was so precious that within a few years after his Death the visiting of his Church prov'd a great Devotion of those times St. Oudoceus Successor of St. Thelian in the Bishoprick of Landaff after a Pilgrimage to visit the Monuments of the Holy Apostles at Rome made another to this Church of St. David and after when any one had a desire to go in Devotion to Rome and was hindred by dangers or difficulties he might equal the merit of such a Pilgrimage by twice visiting this Church of St. David perhaps as a compensation allow'd by the Pope St. Kinoc or Cenac was St. David's Successor translated thither from the See of St. Patern of whom and other Successors in the See of St. David little is found To keep the story of this worthy Bishop entire some interruption may be observ'd to have been made in the order of Time. It is therefore requisite to return to its due course In the year of Grace 532. Otta King of Kent dy'd leaving his Son Irmeric Successor in his Kingdom who was Illustrious for nothing more than that he was the Father of Ethelbert the first Christian King among the Saxons Two years after dy'd also Cerdic King of the West-Saxons in the 16th year of his Reign to whom succeeded his Son Kenric in all his Dominions except the Isle of Wight which he left to his Sisters Son Whitgar whom he lov'd especially for his Military Skill The great Commotions in Britain and Cruelty of the Saxons compell'd many to seek the means of serving God abroad amongst whom was a Holy Priest call'd John who retir'd to Tours in France there to live in Prayers and Solitude but after his Death his Sanctity by the good pleasure of God was made known by a Miracle thus related by that famous Bishop St. Gregory of Tours Not far from the Church of Caion saith he rests the Body of a Priest Nam'd John by Nation a Britain who living here with great Devotion and Sanctity Our Lord was pleas'd by him Miraculously to
was next to St. David Now the Church of Menevia enjoying all the Priviledges of the Church of Caerleon must needs be Metropolitan and consequently the Archbishop thereof wore a Pall which he probably carried over with him to Dole in Little Britain in the year of Grace 566. when the whole Province of Menevia was almost depopulated by a raging Pestilential Disease to avoid which by the importunity of his Friends he undertook that Voyage Being arriv'd there he was admitted into great Favour by Childebert King of France and with his License and Contribution Founded a Monastery there where he led a Holy Life imploy'd in Divine Meditation and by his Pious Example and Admonitions directed many Disciples in the same way St. Sampson in this Voyage took with him a Companion of suitable Holiness call'd St. Conaid by the French vulgarly St. Mein said to be the Son of a Noble Britain living near Caer Guent and recommended to the care of St. Sampson One special Miracle is recorded to have been wrought by St. Mein viz. That by his Prayers a Fountain sprang forth in a dry Soyl very effectual for Curing several Diseases Especially the Scurvy there call'd the Disease of St. Mein After St. Sampson had spent some years in the Monastery of Dole the Bishop of that City dying he was Elected in his place and made use of his Pall there from whence his Successor in Dole assum'd the Honour of wearing a Pall and consequently challenging Arch-Episcopal Jurisdiction and an exemption from the Metropolitan of Tours This continu'd 'till the days of Innocent the III. and all that time the See of St. David's though own'd the Prime Church of Wales yet abstain'd from the Pall for which cause Eugenius the III. under King Henry the I. subjected it to the See of Canterbury in the year of our Lord 1148. 33 years St. Sampsom with admirable Sanctity administred that Bishoprick and in the year 599. receiv'd his Eternal Reward His Body by reason of the frequent Incursions of the Danes and Normans was remov'd from Dole to Orleans where it was receiv'd with such Reverence that a Church was built on purpose to keep it which to this day is Dedicated to his Honour although destitute of that Sacred Pledge which among many other Bodies of Saints was Impiously burn'd by those profess'd Enemies of Sacred things the Huguenots in the last Age who seiz'd on that City Some part of his Relicks was with great Veneration repos'd in the Abbey of Middleton in Dorsetshire which was built by King Ethelstan in expiation of being at least accessary to the Murder of his Brother Edwin in the year 934. His Successor in the See of Dole was his Kinsman and Companion in his Voyage St. Magbore another Kinsman of St. Sampson call'd St. Maclovius or St. Malo otherwise St. Mainutus was famous at that time He during the Tempest in Britain by the reason of Mordred pass'd likewise into Little Britain the common refuge of Devout men in those times He was born in Britain his Fathers Name was Went. His Mother was call'd Derwella or Darwalla being 60 years of Age when she was deliver'd of him in the Valley of Elan Carvan in Glamorganshire In the same place then liv'd a Holy man call'd St Brenden Abbot of the Monastery of Elan Carvan by whom this Infant thus wonderfully born was Baptiz'd and after Educated in all Virtue and Piety From his Childhood he is reported to have shin'd Gloriously by innumerable Miracles which accompanied him all his Life-time Our Learned Cambden affirms That the constant Tradition was that he was after made a Bishop of a City in the Province of the Iceni now Huntingdonshire call'd Durosipons after Gormoncester from Gormon or Guthrum the Dane to whom becoming a Christian King Alfred gave those Provinces St. Malo upon occasion of the troubles at that time went into Little Britain also where he liv'd in great Sanctity and contemning his own Glory retir'd privily into a Bodering Island where in his Eremetical manner of living he express'd an Angelical Purity But the brightness of the Divine Splendour discover'd this Light which endeavour'd to conceal it self For when the Inhabitants of the Island understood that a stranger excelling in the Gift of Preaching and Power of Divine Miracles hid himself there from the Conversation of men they in common Assembly came and drawing him by force out of his Solitude chose him for their Pastor and inviting the neighbouring Bishops placed him in the Pontifical Chair of Aleth and partly by entreaties and partly by force compell'd him to be their Bishop The Saint being thus exalted shed forth abundantly the Beams of that Divine Grace wherewith he was replenish'd illustrating mens Souls with the true knowledge of God inflaming them with his love and affording both Admonitions and Examples of all Virtues to which he added a great efficacy by wonderful Operations and Miracles Insomuch as since the Apostles times we read not of any one who wrought greater wonders than he For with his word he calm'd Tempests he restor'd three dead persons to Life to the Blind he gave Sight by the sprinkling of Holy Water he expell'd Devils and quench'd the Poison of Serpents Neither did he resemble those Princes of our Faith in working of Miracles only but in Patience also to the tryal whereof he was often put for he was Assaulted by certain Impious persons and suffer'd many Calamities for Religion and Justice so as at last he was violently thrust out of his Episcopal Throne and Diocess with seven other Devout persons his most especial Companions who imitated him in Purity of living Yet did he bear this heavy Cross after our Lord with a Courageous mind Attended with these Holy men St. Mahutus fled into Aquitain and in the City of Xaintes was most kindly entertain'd and Fatherly assisted by St. Leontius Archbishop of Bourdeaux and Metropolitan of Xaintes who there accomodated him with a convenient Habitation for serving God St. Leontius bare a tender affection to him Admiring and Reverencing the Divine Grace which he observ'd in him esteeming him as sent from Heaven to assist him in his Pastoral Charge for which reason in all his Visitations he took him for his Companion entreating his Councels and Prayers Howbeit the man of God though he were so despitefully and unjustly exil'd was not unmindful of his Flock but forgetting all Injuries daily invok'd our Lords Clemency for the Conversion of that stubborn People The Divine Majesty condescended to his Prayers and by an Angel did acquaint him That his Flock was Penitent and desir'd his return that he should repair to them and restore to Health that Region which was grievously afflicted with the Scourges of Divine Severity that he should restore plenty to the barren Earth bestow his Benediction on the Inhabitants And lastly Returning to Xaintes that there he should be divested of corruptible Flesh and his Soul ascend to Eternal Felicity As soon as he was come
back he was receiv'd with more then ordinary respect but presently after dy'd full of Days and Sanctity and was bury'd by Leontius in Aquitain Now though the Inhabitants of Aleth were depriv'd of the Sacred Relicks of their prime Prelate whom they had treated so injuriously yet the name of Blessed Maclovius remains never to be blotted out adorning and defending that City to this day with his Coelestial Benefits and Glorious Perfection Howbeit the Episcopal See does not now remain at Aleth but is remov'd to an Island two Miles distant from thence Antiently call'd Aaron where a City new built is in memory of their Holy Prelate and Patron call'd St. Malo and Vrbs Macloviensis It is said that St. Mahutus with his seven Disciples in Devotion visited Rome where he redeem'd many Infidel Captives and having instructed them in the true Faith Baptiz'd them Saint Brendan his Spiritual Father and Instructor though no Britain by Birth is not to be deny'd some place in this History He came out of Ireland to visit the Holy man St. Gildas Albanius in Britain He was also Superiour in the Monastery of Lancarvan where he Baptiz'd St. Maclovius and returning into Ireland where he was made an Abbot there dy'd Happily in the year of Grace 571. The death of this Blessed man is said to be reveal'd to St. Columba who declar'd That he saw the Heavens on a suddain open'd and a Choire of Angels descending to meet St. Brendan 's Soul by whose incomparable Splendour the whole World was that night Enlightn'd St. Brendan thus call'd to Heaven enjoy'd on Earth also an Eternal Monument of his Name and Sanctity For in the Isle of Orkney a Town and Church were built and call'd from his Name the reason was because his Sacred Body was thither translated In this Age flourish'd a Holy British Abbot call'd St. Doc of whom is written That when St. Canic of whom the Province of Kilkenny took its Name was grown to an Age of capable knowledge being desirous of instruction he pass'd over into Britain to a Religious man call'd Doc and under him studied diligently and was taught both Learning and Piety This St. Doc was one of the three Holy Britains from whom the Irish learn'd the form and Rites of Celebrating Mass The other two were St. David and St. Gildas After the death of King Arthur Constantine according to his designation succeeded him in the Government of Britain He was the Son of Cador Duke of Cornwall and Kinsman to the King His sufficiency to discharge that employment for the Benefit of his Country was enough approv'd by the choice of his glorious Predecessor But Almighty God having fix'd a period to the British Monarchy permitted many Factions to arise and many Pretendants to the Principality the opposing of whom hindred Constantine from advancing the common profit and safety of the Kingdom Moreover Ambition and Revenge had such a Power over him that they invited him to commit Crimes which hast'ned the ruine of his Country Hence it is that Gildas calls him the Tyrant of Danmonia Tyrant in regard of his Cruelty and Tyrant of that Province because at that time several others had invaded each one their several Principalities and for the maintaining of their unjust Usurpations fill'd the whole Nation with all manner of Impieties which gave occasion to the same Gildas to publish a Passionate Invective against the Vices of the whole British Nation which had universally depriv'd the Inhabitants of all states and conditions an exceeding few excepted who forseeing the unavoidable destruction of the Nation withdrew themselves from publick Affairs and in solitude deplor'd the sins of others by great Pennances and Austerities procuring Indulgence to their own Souls In former times saith Gildas our Kings publick Officers private Persons Bishops and other Ecclesiasticks every one kept their Order and perform'd the Duties belonging to them But when they were dead there succeeded a Generation utterly ignorant of the former Virtues among whom all the Rules of Truth and Justice were so shaken and subverted that no footsteps nor so much as the least Monument of those Virtues appear'd in any of the said Orders Constantine at his first Ascension into his Throne bound himself by a Solemn Oath to govern Justly and to use his utmost endeavours to defend his Subjects from Injuries and Oppressions and the Commonwealth from the violence of its Enemies And yet the year following we find him charg'd with Perjury and the violation of his Faith by his Barbarous Cruelty and Sacrilegious Prophanation of Gods House For the two Sons of Mordred rising up in Arms against him to revenge their Fathers death joyn'd in Confederacy with the Saxons and fought many Battles with him but at last being compell'd to fly Constantine pursu'd them and one of them he slew before the Altar of St. Amphibalus his Church in Winchester the other who had hid himself in a Convent of Monks he Condemned to a Cruel death in London For this Sacrilegious Inhumanity Gildas in his too free stile calls Constantine The Tyrannical Whelp of the Lioness of Danmonia an infringer of the dreadful Sacrament of an Oath by which he bound himself before God and all his Saints to abstain from all Injustice and Treachery to his Subjects notwithstanding which in the very bosom both of their Carnal Mother and Spiritual Mother the Church near the most Holy Altar he had torn the Bowels of two Royal Youths though cover'd with the Vestments of a Holy Abbot whilst they stretch'd forth their Hands not armed with Swords to resist but to implore help from God and his Altar and yet he most Barbarously shed their Blood which with a Purple dye stain'd the seat of the Ecclesiastical Sacrifice and the Sacred Palls which cover'd it To this Invective the same Author adjoyns most pressing Exhortations to Constantine That he would do suitable Pennance for these horrible Crimes that if possible he might avoid the dark inextricable Torrents of Eternal fire in which otherwise he must for ever be roll'd and roasted By these Expressions it should seem these two Sons of Mordred were not so much to be blam'd for their rising all Circumstances consider'd Probable it is that these or such like Exhortations wrought a good effect upon Constantine for though some write that he was slain by Conan who succeeded in the Kingdom yet others tell another Story viz. That after a short reign having been depriv'd of his Wife and Children be grew weary of his Kingdom and privily stealing from his Friends went into Ireland and there for the love of Christ labour'd unknown like a poor Servant in a Mill but afterward by perswasion of a Monk to whom he discover'd his condition he was induc'd to shave his Head and Consecrate himself to a Religious Life in a Monastery where he is said to live with such Piety and Devotion that he became a pattern of all Virtues to the rest of the Monks That at last
place now unknown Egelsburgh now Ailesburgh in Buckinghamshire Bensingtun or Benson in Oxfordshire and also Egnesham now unknown After which Victory Cuthulf departed this life In the year 575. the Kingdom of the East-Angles was Erected in Norfolk Suffolk Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely the Name of the first King was Offa from whom his Successors and Subjects were call'd Vffings Some place Kings in this Region before Offa's time if such were they seem to be Dependant and upon Courtesie as after they were again Beneficiarii sometimes of the Kentish Kings sometimes of the Mercians Two years after the beginning of Offa's reign was fought a Battle fatal to the Britains by which they were expell'd almost out of all the fertile Plains of this Island and driven to the Mountains of Wales The Britains had hitherto defended themselves in their Cities of Glocester Cirencester and Bath but this year Ceaulin after an overthrow given in Battle expugn'd those three Cities and forc'd the Britains to retire into mountains and Woods This Battle saith Cambden was fought at a place call'd Deorham after which the City of Bath was given up to the Saxons And in this Battle it is said three Christian Kings of the Britains were slain whose Names were Comagil Candigan and Faringmagil so that Ceaulin became so terrible to the Britains that all places hast'ned to render themselves to their Power Nevertheless the Britains after seven years rest again attempted another Combat with the Saxons at a place call'd Fedhanlea where on both sides they fought with horrible fury Insomuch as Cuthwin the Son of Ceaulin being oppress'd with multitudes was slain But Ceaulin having repair'd his Army the Soldiers whereof bound themselves by Oath not to fly at last in Battle vanquish'd the Conquering Britains and pursuing them too many Provinces and innumerable Spoils In the year of Grace 585. the Kingdom of the Mercians took beginning under their first King Croeda or Crida though its foundation might be laid sooner This Crida reckon'd himself the tenth in Descent from Woden the Idol Diety of the Saxons And whereas the others possess'd themselves of the outward parts of Britain this Crida peirc'd into the Bowels of it by little and little possessing himself of all the Provinces towards the North confin'd with the Rivers Humber and Mersey on the South with the Thames on the East with Severn and Deva on the West with the German Ocean The Britains themselves by a voluntary Cession made Crida's way very easie to his new erected Throne in which he as yet sat contented with the inferiour title of Governour or Duke For the Saxons being now dispers'd through all the parts of Britain and every day gaining more strength became intollerably burdensom to the poor Britains and being Infidels publish'd Laws extreamly prejudicial to Christian Religion Whereupon by agreement between the Clergy and other British Inhabitants hitherto mixt with the Saxons they resolv'd to quit the Country and to retire some to the Mountains of Wales some into Cornwall others to Little Britain and other Christian Regions Then it was to wit in the year of our Lord 586. that the Arch-Prelates Theonus Bishop of London and Thadioc or Theodoc of York seeing all their Churches levell'd with the ground attended with many Ecclesiasticks sled into Wales and carried with them the Sacred Relicks of Saints least by an irruption of the Barbarous Saxons the Sacred Bones of so many and so great Saints should be destroy'd So that the Provinces of Loegria and Northumbria were utterly depriv'd of Christian Congregations Upon the Bodies of some Saints reverently hid in Monuments great heaps of Earth were cast least they should be obnoxious to the contumelious scorn of Insidels for the Kings of the Angli and Saxons as they were very Powerful in Arms so were they malicious Pagans thirsting after nothing more then the disgrace of Christ and the Subversion of his Worship where-ever they subdu'd a Country if any Church were left untouch'd they turn'd it into a Temple of their Profane Idols with their Impious Sacrifices polluting the Altars of the true God. Concerning this Theonus Arch-Bishop of London he was formerly Bishop of Glocester and from thence translated to London in the year 553. and in the year 586. with his whole Clergy fled as is said into his own Country Afterwards the Metropolitical Dignity was transfer'd to Canterbury from London as shall hereafter be declar'd And never after the departure of Theodoc do we read of any other Arch-Bishop of York 'till by the Conversion of Edwin Son of Alla King of the Northumbrians St. Paulinus was there Consecrated Arch-bishop By the Secession and flight of the British Clergy and other Inhabitants there remain'd the miserable Relicks of the Britains in three Provinces only namely in Cornwall stretching forth it self like a Horn into the Sea in South-Wales and North-wales with these narrow limits they were forced to be content nevertheless they never departed from the true Faith of Christ One thing there is indeed for which they are justly to be reprehended the mortal hatred which they long did bear to the English Nation who expell'd them was so as they would less communicate with them then with Dogs So mistaken are they which will needs think that the Saxons were instructed in Christianity by the Britains and not by St. Augustine from Rome The Saxons were no sooner in a secure Possession of this Island but Almighty God so dispos'd the effects of his Divine Providence as to prepare the way of their Conversion to him in order to their eternal Happiness as if an earthly Kingdom had not been a reward answerable to their merits in destroying an ungrateful People abandon'd to all Impiety The instrument of this Felicity now approaching was the Blessed man St. Gregory then a private Priest though soon after a most worthy Successor of St. Peter in the Apostolick Chair at Rome Upon this Happy occasion a number of young English Youths were brought to Rome and there expos'd to the publick Market to be Sold Gregory excited by a zealous Affection to propagate the Name of Christ and mov'd with a tender compassion towards those Children with whose Beautiful Features and amiableness he was affected and understanding that the Nation from whence they came was destitute of the knowledge of Christ took a resolution to sow amongst them the Divine Seed of Christian Faith And being after exalted to the Pontificate in order to the effecting of his design sent St. Augustine the Monk to lay the foundation of a Christian Church in this Island joyning with him other Auxiliaries and Devout Companions of his Labours Bishop Parker seems to doubt this Story because of the improbability that the Saxons should Sell their Children whereas Tacitus recounting the Manners of the Antient Germans affirms They would out of greediness of gaining in Dice playing even set their own liberty at stake And Malmburiensis says It was a familiar and almost a natural