world but by that office and priuiledge gaue chardge to those that were in the Easte to doe the same And there setteth downe what Order S. Peter Epist r. supra and the other Apostles tooke for setting of Patriarks or Primats in the cheife Cities where in the Pagans time their Archflamens were and cheifest Doctours Archbishops for their lesse cheife Flamens and Bishops in the other ordinary Cities And what was appointed him by S. Peter and he promised Matt. Westm an 94. Protest not ib. Francisc Belleforest hist Gall. Francisc Feuâ—ardentius in lib. 1. Iren. cap. 3. Anton. Democh. cont Calum Guliel Eisengr ceÌ„t in his behalfe that he effectually performed as into France which he named with other kingdomes of his chardge before he sent S. Denys Nicasius Taurinus Trophimus Regulus Paulus Saturninus Astroniomus Martialis Gratianus Iulianus Lucianus Firmius Photinus with others and the places whether he directed them are for the most part Archbishop Sees to this day Therefore we cannot doubt but eytheâ— S. Clement did well knowe that this kingdome of Britaine was yet prouided of such Apostolike men still liuing from S. Peters establishing them heare or els sending so many into our next neighboring Countrie he remembred Britaine in the same or like measure especially seeing it is euidently his owne words that he had a greater care of Britaine accompted a rude and barbarous Countrie at that time and among such reputed by S. Clement and so distinguished by that note from Italy Spaine France and Germany by him where recompting them he addeth that into those Nations that be more rude or barbarous he must send more wise and Clem. supr Ep. 1. austiere Bishops or preachers then into the other Ciuill Nations Vbi autem ferociores rebelliores gentes esse cognouerimus illuc dirigere sapientiores austeriores necessè habemus qui quotidie non cessent diuina seminare semina multos Christo lucrari ad rectam fidem viam veritatis perducere And this the rather Anaclet Epist 3. because he setteth downe the Apostles Order which he was to followe to Primats and Archbishops by S. Peter and S. Clement their order heare in Britaine besides other Biâ—hops constitute Primats where the Pagans had their cheife Archflamens as he did in France and his immediate Successour S. Anacletus as he himselfe and diuers others testifie did write a booke or Cataloge he calleth it a Tome of the names of the Cities both in Britaine and other places where such were to be resident and this according to the prescript and practise of S. Peter and S. Clement Episcoporum ordo vnus est licet sint Primates illi qui primas Ciuitates tenent Illi autem qui in Metropoli à beato Petro Apostolo ordinante Domino Girald Cambr. l. 2. de Iure Metrop Eccl. Meneuen ad Innoc. 3. Ioa. Pris defeÌ„s hist Britan. p. 73. 74. Matt. Park antiq Brit. p. 24. Werner Rolwinck in Fascic an Dom. 94. Harris descript of Brit. Harris Hist Manus l. 1. Godwin Catal. Yorke Parlm 1. Marian. Scot. l. 2 aetat 6. Method apud eund ib. Martyr Rom. die 11. Aug. Vsuard eod die Petr. de Natal l. 4. Vincent l. 11. à praedecessore nostro praedicto sancto Clemente seu a nobis constituti sunt non omnes Primates vel Patriarchae esse possunt sed illae vrbes quae praefatis priscis temporibus Primatum tenuere Patriarcharum aut Primatum vtantur nominibus quiahaec eadeÌ„ leges saeculi in suis contineÌ„t Principibus aliae auteÌ„ primae Ciuitates quas vobis conscriptas in quodam Tomo mittimus à sanctis Apostolis à beato Clemente siue à nobis Primates praedicatores acceperunt And according to this Cataloge or Tome of S. Peter S. Clement and S. Anacletus iuxta Tomum Anacleti ex Anacleto huius Insulae diuisionem Canterbury London Caerlegion Yorke and Alba in Scotland by some taken to be the Citie now called S. Andrewes vrbs Legionum Cantuaria Londonia Eboraca Alba vnde Albania prouincia were designed Sees of such Primats as Giraldus Cambrensis in his second booke to Pope Innocentius the third Sir Ihon Prise Matthew Parker the first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury with others testifie 7. Therefore seeing he plainely writeth that some of these Cities euen in Britaine had receaued such Primats from S. Peter or himselfe and we finde it witnessed by many that one S. Taurinus sent by S. Clement was Archbishop or Primate of Yorke which is one of the Sees remembred for such both by S. Peter S. Clement and S. Anacletus we may not vtterly deny that he was our first Primate in that Citie And if he was the same which was Bishop of Eureux in France sent by S. Clement as diuers hold being vsuall in that time as Methodius Marianus and others teach for one Bishop S. Taurinê° thought by some the first Archbishop of yorke and sente by S. Clement to preach in diuers places and Countryes he liued long much propagated the faith of Christ was renowned for Miracles he wrought as the auncient Roman Martirologe with others giue euidence Euangelij praedicatione Christianam fidem propagauit ac multis pro ea susceptis laboribus miraculorum gloria conspicuus obdormiuit in Domino But whereas some say and Harris supr l. 1. Matth. Westm an gratiae 115. Hector Boeth Scotor hist l. 5. for 76. 77. 78. alledge S. Antoninus for Authour that this S. Taurinus did raise from death a daughter of Lucius King of Britaine filiam Lucij Legis Britanniae a morte suscitauit I cannot be of that opinion for first Lucius our Christian King was not borne vntill the yeare of Christ 115. and we doe not reade of any daughter or child he had And though Lucius Antenous the Roman Prefect did as some write prescribe lawes heare and in that respect might S. Antoninus mistaken by some for writing S. Tauriâ—â—â— raised from 〈◊〉 a daughter 〈◊〉 â—ius King in 〈◊〉 be called King and liued in Yorke in the time of Adrian the Emperour and so both his name Title the place and time might well agree that S. Taurinus might there raise his daughter to life if he had any which died there being so Miraculous a man miraculorum gloria conspicuus Yet this could not be that Miracle which S. Antoninus speaketh of for in that very place which is cited for the raising of the daughter of King Lucius of Britaine he hath no such thing not once naming any Britaine much lesse any King of Britaine but plainely saith that the Father of that daughter which S. Taurinus raised from death to life was Lucius ciuis Ebroicensis Lucius a Citizen Francis Godwin Cat. of Bishops Yorke 1. of Eureux which is in France and farre from our Eboracum Yorke in Britaine Where as a Protestant Bishop writeth It is reported that Constantius Chlorus the Emperour appointed Taurinus Bishop
in that See was to be cheife Gouernour of all Churches and he gaue this instruction and direction generally vnto all and for all Christian people and Churches in all places and parts of the world Europe Asia or Afrike Anacl Epist 2. Epist 3. he immediately addeth of the Roman Church that by a singular Prerogatiue it did obtayne Primacie and Eminencie of power ouer all Churches and all Christian people not from the Apostles onely but from Christ himselfe haec verò sacro sancta Romana Apostolica Ecclesia non ab Apostolis sed ab ipso Domino Saluatore nostro Primatum obtinuit eminentiam potestatis super vniuersas Ecclesias ac totum Christiani populi gregem assecuta est as he said to S. Peter thou art Peter or a Rocke and vpon this Rocke will I build my Church c. sic vt ipse beato Petro Apostolo dixit Tu es Petrus super haue peâ—ram aedificabo Ecclesiam meam Clem. Epist 3. Epist 2. And a litle after showeth againe how the Roman Church was made the cheifest by authoritie from heauen prima ergo Sedes est caelesti beneficio Romanae Ecclesiae Then he nameth the See of Alexandria to be the second where S. Peters Disciple S. Marke the Euangelist seated himselfe by S. Peters Authoritie Secunda autem Sedes apud Alexandriam beati Petri nomine à Marco eius Discipulo atque Euangelista consecrata est And the third at Antioch by Authoritie of S. Peter also who was there resident before he came to Rome and placed a Successour there Tertia autem Sedes apud Antiochiam eiusdem beati Petri Apostoli nomine habetur honorabilis quia illic priusquam Romam veniret habitauit And to leaue it without question that he sent the names of all other Cities and places whether in Britaine or else where in which Primats were to be being the Order of the Apostles that the Bishops of all Nations might know who was to be Primate or Cheife among them that they might yeeld him due honour he addeth there Reliquas verò vt praediximus in quodam Tomo prolixitatem vitantes Epistolae vobis conscriptas direximus Inde namque beati Apostoli inter se statuerunt vt Episcopi singularum scirent gentium quis inter eos primus esset quatenus ad eum potior eorum folicitudo pertineret How according to this Tome or booke of S. Anacletus this Iland was diuided into fiue Prouinces I haue in some sorte insinuated before which Giraldus Cambrensis relateth and diuers Protestants and others in this manner as he saith he founde it then both in Papall and Imperiall Acts or Constitutions Iuxta Prouinciarum numerum quas tempore Gentilitatis habuerat Insula quinque Metropoles Iuxta Girald Cambr. l. de Sedis Meueuensis dignitate Matth. Parker l. antiq Brit. p. 24. l. Pris defens Histor Britan. p. 73. 74. Io. Leland Indice Brit. ant v. Britanniae Beat. Rhenan l. de redus German 3. p. 123. 124. Wolefangus Lazius in CommeÌ„tarijs Reipub. Romanae p. 172. Tomum enim Anacleti Episcopi Romani sicut in Pontificalibus Romanorum gestis Imperialibus continetur directum Galliarum Episcopis iuxta statum gentilium ante Christi aduentum Britannia habuit Prouincias numero quinque Britanniam primam Britanniam secundam Flauiam Maximiam Valentiam Prima dicta est Occidentalis pars Insulae Britannia secunda Cantia Tertia Flauia quae Mertia Quarta Maximia idest Eboraca Quinta Valentia Albania seilicet quae nunc abusiue Scotia dicitur according to the number of Prouinces which it had in the time of the Pagans the Iland of Britaine hath fiue Metropolitan Cities For according to the Tome of Anacletus Bishop of Rome as it is contayned in the Decrees of the Popes of Rome and Emperours directed to the Bishops of France according to the state of the Gentils before the coming of Christ Britaine had fiue Prouinees Britaine the first Britaine the second Flauia Maximia Valentia The first was the west part of the Iland the second Kent the third Flauia called also Mertia The fourth Maximia that is to say Yorke The fift Valentia Albaniae now corruptly named Scotland The Metropolitan Citie of the first Britaine was Caerlegion The Metropolitan of the second Dorobernia now Canterbury In the third London In the fourth Yorke In the fift Alba taken to be the Citie now named S. Andrewes Thus farre Giraldus out of S. Anacletus Tome extant in his time as he hath witnessed both in the Papall and Imperiall Decrees 3. And this diuision of this Iland into fiue Metropolitan Sees according to S. Anacletus diuision was obserued by S. Damianus and Fugatianus in King Eleutherius time preaching the faith throughout all the Iland from Sea to Sea Qui fidem Christi per vniuersam Insulam à Mari vsque ad Mare plantauerunt which diuision might then be allowed by these Legats but that Canterbury and S. Andrewes actually had Primats in them must haue relation to later times but this argueth their auncient Right from the beginning to haue bene Metropolitan Cities as now they are and long time haue bene The first Canterbury not then made a Metropolitan See because giuing that Title to London it could not haue so many Cities and Bishops vnder it as the diuision of S. Anacletus prescribed then twelue in number And for the other in Scotland no meanes then to erect it to that dignitie the King being still a Pagan Sigonius also who expressely handleth this matter testifieth that Britaine was diuided into those fiue Prouinces before remembred and was so before Constantine the Greate his time which obserued the diuision Sigonius l. 4. de Occidentali Imperio p. 89. 90. made before paucis mutatis changing few things among which for Britaine probably was that he allowed the names Maxima or Maximia for Yorke and Valentia for Albania or Scotland the first so named from Maximinus Girald Cambr. Matth. Park Io. Pris alij supr and the other by Valentinian Which is proued by Sextus Rufus a Pagan writer who writing to the same Valentinian the Emperour of the Prouinces of France and Britaine mentioneth the rest of Britaine not naming Valentia vnknowne then by that name as it seemeth by his recitall of our Sext. Rufus Breu. rer gestar Po. Ro. ad Valentianum Augustum Anicetus Ep. Decret to 1. Concil Gratian. dist 30. Beatus Rhenanus rerum Germanic l. 3. p. 123. 124. Pelag. 2. Ep. Decret t. 2. CoÌ„c Nicen. Concil Can. 4. 6. 7. Concil Aâ—elat 2. Can. 5. Conc. Antioch 1. can 9. Prouinces omitting it an Argument that name was but lately giuen vnto it and after S. Anacletus time And what this holy Pope hath written before of the Apostles constituting such Primats and Metropolitans and the places where they should be is word by word approued by S. Anicetus about the yeare 167. so likewise by S. Lucius expressely citing S.
it is that hauing first deliuered it as his owne opinion in one Godwin supr p. 27. place afterwards he citeth for the same Clement a Pope wherein either he abuseth vs in citing that which neuer was written or himselfe is abused by some couÌ„terfeit Clement Therefore whether this Clement be counterfeit or no this Protestant must needs be a counterfeit for if this ClemeÌ„t were a counterfeit he was couÌ„terfeited long before Gratians time being cited by him as auncient and so the auncient counterfeiter of Clement must needs broach this opinion before Gratian. But except the auncient Popes Anacletus Anicetus Stephen the first Lucius S. Leo the second S. Marianus Scotus and Florentius Wigorniensis Cap. 1. supr our learned Countrimen all before Gratian were deceaued are counterfeitors this was the true Clement Disciple of S. Peter and so they cite and approue him euen in this matter they confirme that not onely S. Clement but S. Peter the Apostle thus both practized and ordained and how in the time of the Pagans there were Archflamens and they were cheife ouer the other Flamens as Patriarks and Primats be ouer Bishops in the Lawe of Christ 3. And if this man had trauailed no further into Antiquities then those of this Nation he might haue found both Archflamens in the Pagans time heare in Britaine and that the Legats of Pope Eleutherius did constitute and ordaiâ—e Archbishops in their places and this affirmed by Authoritie more Abbas Spanheymens l. de Script in Sigeberto Gembl Bal. l. de Script cent 2. in Henric. HuÌ„tingt Henric. Huntin Histor lib. 1. in Prologo Hist auncient then Gratian was For both Sigebertus GeÌ„blacensis Henricus Huntingtoniensis and others which wrote before Gratian doe take often and expresse notice of our Brittish Historie in which we reade of this matter in these words fuerunt tunc in Britannia octo viginti Flamines nec non tres Archiflamines quorum potestati caeteri Iudices morum atque phanatici submittebantur Hos etiam ex praecepto Apostolici Idololatriae eripuerunt vhi erant Flamines Episcopos vbi erant Archiflamines Archiepiscopos posuerunt Sedes autem Archiflaminum in tribus nobilioribus ciuitatibus fuerant Londonijs videlicet atque Eboraci in vrbe Legionum quam super Oscam fluuium in Glamorgantia veteres muri aedificia sitam fuisse testantur There were then in the time of King Three Archbishops placed heare for the â— ArchflameÌ„s in London Yorke and Caerlegion Lucius 28. Flamens and 3. Archflamens to whose power other Iudges were subiect These by the commande of the Pope his Legats deliuered from Idolatrie and where there were Flamens they placed Bishops and where there were Archflamens they placed Archbishops The Seates of the Archflamens were in the three most Noble Cyties London Yorke and the Cytie of Legions which the old walles and buldings doe witnesse to haue bene vpon the Ryuer Oske in Glamorgantia Hitherto this old Brittish Historie which is older then Gratian by so many yeares as were betweene the end and writing thereof at the death of Gadwallader the last King of the Btitans where it endeth about the yeare of Christs Natiuitie 689. or 690. by Sigebertus and others computation when the Brittish Authour thereof composed it and the writing of Gratian aboue 400. yeares after And Sigebertus who endeth his Chronicle in the yeare 1112. and then dyed as his Continuator there noteth Sigebertus Gemblacensis Monachus Descriptor praecedentium Continuatâ—r Sigebertiin Chron. an 1112. Sigebertus GeÌ„blacens initio Chronici c. de Regno Britannorum in hoc libro temporum obijt cui nos illa quae sequuntur fideli narratione subiecimus is a sufficient witnes euen in the beginning of his History that this Brittish History then was an old History narrat antiqua Britannorum Historia and vsually and cheifely citeth and followeth it for the Brittish affaires And Henry of Huntington who by Baleus and others dyed before Gratian had written was well acquainted with this Historye and wrote a Booke of the Kings of the Britans yet extant in the publike Library of Cambridge and so conformable to the Brittish History that our Protestants which published his workes thereby excuse themselues for not publishing that his worke because there is nothing in it but what is written by S. Bede and Geffery of Monmouth more at lardge quia nihil noui affert quod non in Beda Monemuthensi plenius Protestantium Annotatio inter librum 7. 8. Histor Henrici Huntingtoniensis Ponticus Virun Hist Brit. l. 6. in fine Ciacon 〈◊〉 Rossus BostoÌ„ apud Godwin in Assaph Bal. l. de Script cent 2. in Galfrid Ar. Notatio in Manusc exempl Cantab. Io. Bal. l. de Scrip. Brit. cent 2. in Waltero Caleno reperiatur And Geffery Archdeacon of Monmouth when he translated this Booke out of the Brittish into the Latine tongue and after Bishop of Assaph and Cardinall of the Church of Rome as Virunnius Ciaconius Leland Rosseus Bostonus the Protestant Bishop Bale and others say was an excellent Historian Historicus egregius and as the note vpon the olde Manuscript Copie thereof in Cambridge witnesseth translated it most truely simplicissime transtulit And this Booke was brought out of litle Britaine by Walter Calenus Archdeacon of Oxford a Britaine by birth a man most famous for learning as our Authours say and the Booke was then he dying in the yeare of Christ 1120. anno Incarnati filij Dei 1120. a most old Booke vetustissimum Britannici sermonis Codicem written aboue 400. yeares before per quadringentos eo amplius annos From which date vnto his time the same Archdeacon of Oxoford continued the Brittish History cloquently non incleganti sermone protraxit Britannorum Annales 4. So we euidently perceaue that we can hardly finde either more auncient or credible Authoritie for any Historicall truth in our Brittish Antiquities then for this For the Authour both was a Britan and wrote in that Languadge and the last passadges thereof written allmost a thowsand yeares since The Agents and Instruments of the translation thereof both Britans and the best learned and greatest Historians of that time this Bookew preserued by the Britans of Armorica or litle Britaine in France driuen thither by the Infidell Saxons with their Antiquities and other Ritches most pretious vnto them And so the former parts of this Booke wherein the Historie of these Archflamens is contained carrieth sufficient Argument of a farre more auncient date Which the Authour himselfe both in the Copie which is printed and that which Virunnius did epitomate and was neuer printed as the note vpon it testifieth doth witnesse for he expressely citeth Gildas for this Historie And Ponticus Virunnius seemeth to make Gildâ—s Authour of that part of this Booke For thus he writeth â—orum noâ—â—na Aâ—â—us in libro reperiuntur quem alter Gildas de victoria Aurelij Ambrosij inscripsit The names
hauing three sonnes Locrinus Albanact and Camber did at his death diuide the IlaÌ„d into three parts or Prouinces Loegria now England to Locrinus his eldest sonne Albania Scotland to Albanact the second and Cambria Wales to Camber the youngest Locrino primoginito dedit illam partem quae quondam Loegria nunc vero Anglia nominatur Albanacto filio natu secundo dedit Albaniam quae nunc Scotia vocitatur Cambro vero tertio filio dedit Cambriam quae modo wallia nominatur reseruata Locrino Regia dignitate This might suffice for this busines for being testified with so many domesticall and forreine priuate and publike witnesses that this Tripartited diuision was heare from the beginning and first name of Britaine we must needs for euery seuerall part and Prouince assigne a seuerall gouernment and order therein as their Rulers and Gouernours were diuers and distinct 2. But our Antiquities carry vs further and informe not onely that London Yorke and Caerlegion were the seuerall cheife Cities in this diuision but the Kings which founded them for such ordayned them likewise to be the Seats and Residences of three seuerall Archiflamens or Protoflamens For the glory and Noblenes of London therevpon named Augusta I haue spokeÌ„ before and as it is the common opinion in Antiquities that it is the most auncient Citie of this Iland builded by Brutus as not onely the Brittish Historie Galfridus Virunnius and our English Antiquaries after them but Gildas Sigebertus and others sufficiently witnes and except M. Stowe is deceaued in his Authours Aethicus an old Pagan Philosopher testifieth no lesse affirming that Brutus named this kingdome Brutannia And Ihon Harding in his plaine verse with others recordeth how he there from the very beginning instituted an Archflamens Seate And Troynouant he made full especially An Archflaume his Sâ—e Cathedrall certayne A temple thereof Apolyne to optaine By Troian Lawe This is commonly written to haue bene 1100. yeares before Christ And it is a coÌ„mon receaved opinion among our Antiquaries that EbraÌ„cus sonne to Mempricius about 100. yeares after builded the Citie of Yorke calling it after his name Kairbranke as both Brittans and Saxons Catholiks and Protestants consent Whereas Harding and Stowe with others affirme he seated an Archflamen Harding saith Hee made a Temple in Ebranke Citie Harding Chron. c. 21. f. 22. Stowe Hist in Ebranke Of Diane where an Archflamen he sett To rule Temples as that time was his dett In the tweÌ„tith yeare of his Reigne writeth Stowe he builded Kayrbranke since by the Saxons called Euorwike now corruptly Yorke wherein he builded a Temple to Diana and sett there an Archflamen and was there buryed when he had reigned 60. yeares Thus auncient these our Historians make Archflamens in Britaine and I haue related their very words not that I thinke the name and worde Archflamen but onely their office and calling among the Gentils to be so auncient as the time assigned to our Brutus but of youÌ„ger continuance and age by diuers hundreds of yeares the word Flamen not knowne vntill the time of Numa Pompilius and taken from a kinde of attyre worne vppon their heads on Festiuall dayes yet the office of Flamen Ranulp Higed l. 1. c. 24. and Pontifex and Archflamen and summus Pontifex was allwayes the same among the Pagans 3. The Institution of the third Archflamen at Caerlegion vppon vske was of later time as also the Foundation of that Citie first builded by Belinus as the Brittish Historie Galfridus Virunnius Matthew Westm Ranulph Higeden Caxton Harding Stowe Hollinshed and to write in his words most parte of Holinshed Hist Engl. lâ—b 3. cap. 4. Galfr. Mon. l. 3. Hâ—st c. 10. Vâ—run l. 3. Matth. West aetat 5. Ranulpâ— Higeden l. 1. c. 48 all our writers haue deliuered Galfridus calleth this Citie Kaerose Virunnius nameth it Caerusc the Monke of Westm Kaerusc Higeden termeth it Caerhuth And such nake it kept vntill the comming of the Romans hither when of their Legions wintring there it was named Caerlegion as also Chester was as the same Ranulphus which liued and wrote his Historie there with others witnesseth And this Caerusc was the Metropolis of those parts And as diuers of the Authours testifie Belinus seated an Archflamen there as he also confirmed the Archflamens of London and Yorke Thus among Harding Cron. f. 29. c. 33. others Harding relateth Three Archflamens he made through all Britaine As Archbishops now in our Lawes bene There Temples all to gouerne and domaine At Troynouant one Logres to ouersene Her fals Gods to serue and to queme At Ebranke an other for Albany And at Caerleon for Cambre one soueranly So hath Stowe with others And their generall agreement is that these Stowe Hist in Belâ—n were the cheife most renowned and Metropolitan Cities in Britaine which being so amply proued and so many consenting that there were Archflamens in them all so long before the coÌ„ming of Christ lesse Authoritie then we haue for this matter might serue vs to coÌ„fesse that seeing at the abolishing of these Pagan Rulers and Rites they ought to be and were changed into so many Archbishops or Metropolitans in Christian Religion And this is so euident a truth in Histories that the Protestant Bishop himselfe which before with one onely opposed against Archflamens freely confesseth that at this time Archbishops were placed in those three Cities in Britaine and in them onely where so many haue testified and shall testifie further hereafter these Archflamens were resident Thus he writeth At what time Christian Godwin Cat. of Bishops in London 1. p. 181. edit an 1615. Râ—â—â—gion 〈◊〉 first publiâ—ly receaued in this Island there were established in the same 28. Sees or Cathearâ—â—i Churches whereof three were Archbishopricks Yorke whose Prouince was Scotland and the North of England Caerlegion now called Carlcon vpon vsk to which the Churches of Wales where subiect and lastly London that had Iurisdiction ouer the rest of England 4. Therefore this which is the cheifest matter in this busines being thus granted by all and the other so sufficiently proued I will onely add to the former for the more euidency hereof the testimonie of some few others such as eyther were before the time of Geffery of MoÌ„mouth the Translatour of the Brittish History or tooke their notice from other Authours then that History Ranulphus Higeden in his Manuscript History citeh Alfridus Beuerlacensis who by a Protestant Bishop wrote an excellent History from the beginning of the Britans and coming of Brute hither to his owne time in the Reigne of King William the Bastard allmost 100. yeares before Geffery of Monmouth could write Ab origine Britannorum ad suam aetatem vsque contexuit Historiam Io. Bal. l. de Scrip. cent 2. in Alfrid Beueâ—lacen Alfâ—idus Beuerl apud Ranulph â—â—geden l. 1. c. 52 de Episcopâ—tâ—b in lâ—bro Manusc perpulchram And writeth as Ranulphus citeth him that in the time of Lucius the first Christian
King of the Britans there were in Britaine three Archbishops Sees To witt at London Yorke and Caer-hursc the Citie of Legions in Glamorgan shire to whom there were subiect 28. Bishops then called Flamens that is to the Metropolitan of London were subiect Cornewall and all Loegria to the Riuer Humber To him of Yorke all Northumberland from Humber with all Albania To the Citie of Legions was subiect all Cambria then adorned with seuen Bishops now with fower Suffragans Sedes Archiepiscoporum in Britannia tres fuerunt tempore Lucij Regis Britannorum primi Christiani videlicet apud London apud Eboracum apud Caer-hursc vrbem Legionum in Glamorgancia Quibus tunc subiecti fuerunt 28. Episcopi Flamines tunc vocati Videlicet Londoniensi Metropolitano Cornubia tota Loegria vsque ad flumen Humbrum Eboracensi verò tota terra Northimbrina ab arcu Humbri fluminis cum tota Albania Vrbi Legionum subiacuit tota Cambria 7. tunc Episcopis nunc verò 4. Suffraganeis insignita Quam flumen Sabrinae tunc secernebat à Loegria I haue perused an old French Manuscript Historie whose manner of writing and Characters may well giue it a greater Age then any copy of Galfridus Translation though it be continued vntill within 400. yeares perhaps by some other but whether so or otherwise this differeth in very many things euen in this Historie from that Translation of the Brittish History whether we will follow that which our Protestants haue published or that which Ponticus Virunnius did epitimate and so he cannot ground what he deliuereth vppon Galfridus First they differ in the number of the Flamens Galfride and Ponticus number 28. in Britaine besides the Archflamens this History saith there were but 27. they say that King Lucius was buried at Glocester dying by Galfridus in the yeare 156. and by Virunnius an 159. the French History deliuereth he died in the yeare 196. So long after and though he died at Glocester yet he was buried at Caerlegion Galfride calleth this Citie Kaer-ose and Virunnius Caer-usc whereas the French Authour nameth it the Citie of Legions which iâ— vppon the Ryuer of Vsks not as others terme it And he nameth Yorke Euerwicks as the Saxons did and not as Geffry Ponticus and the Britans did of Ebranke Therefore this auncient Authour whether before or after Galfridus cannot be saide to take his directions from that Translation Manusc French Hâ—st very old pr. or que nous sommes c. 9. an 18â— with which he crosseth so often both in these and other matters Yet for this busines we haue now in hand he deliuereth it in these words At that time there were in Britaine now called England 27. Flamins and three Archflamins according to the manner of their Paganismâ— but the aforenamed Doctours Fagan and Damian cast them out and where were Flamyns they made Bishops and where there were Archflamyns they made Archbishops The Sees to these three Archflamins To what Archbishop what Bishops and Prouinces were subiect The Orchades Iles and Scotland subiect to the Archbishop of Yorkâ— M. S. Françoise supr an 180. Galfr. Monum Hist Brit. l. 5. c. 1. being in the three most Noble Cities of Britaine which were London Euerwicks and the Citie of Legions vppon the Ryuer vsks in the Country of Glamorgan in Wales not farre from Seuerne which is in a place delitious and passing in Ritches all other Cities To these three were subiect 27. Bishops To the Archbishop of Euerwicks were subiect Deira and Northumberland Scotland and Albania diuided by Dieceses beyond Humber which parteth them from Loegres which now is called England To the Archbishop of London were subiect Loegres and Cornwayle And he setteth downe with the truth and common opinion that these things were acted about the yeare of Christ 180. both in Pope Eleutherius and King Lucius time which the published Translation of Galfridus must needs mistake affirming King Lucius died in the yeare 156. when Eleutherius was not Pope while long after So this Authour must needs follow others and not Galfridus in this narration And the Manuscript History named Abbreuiatio Chronicorum in that copy which I follow beginning at Adam and ending in the yeare of Christ 1063. argueth the Authour farre more auncient then Geffry of Monmouth and placing this History of planting Religion heare by Faganus and Diuuanus Pope Eleutherius Legats betweene the yeare 170. and 180. writeth more truely of this matter then our published Galfridus Translation and could not imitate that herein Yet this Authour plainely testifieth that these two Legats finding heare in Britaine three Archflamens besides 28. Flamens one of them at London a second at Yorke and the third at Caerlegion constituted Archbishops in their places conformably limiting their Circuits and Iurisdictions Erant tunc in Britannia 28. Flamines tres Archiflamines vbi erant Flamines Episcopos vbi autem Archiflamines Archiepiscopos posuerunt Manuscr Hist Abbreuiatio Chronicorum inter ann 170. an 180. Io. Bal. l. de Scrip. Brit. cent 2. in Radulph de Rizeto Londonensi Archiepiscopo subiacuit Loegria Cornubia Eboracensi Deira Albania Vrbi autem Legionum Cambria 5. Vnto these I may ioyne Dicetus Deane of London or as a Protestant Bishop calleth him Radulphus de Rizeto who though he wrote a litle after Galfridus dying about the yeare of Christ 1200. yet he did not follow Galfridus Translation but assigneth this labour of the Popes Legats in placing Bishops and Archbishops for Flamens and Archflamens to the yeare of Christ 178. aboue twenty yeares after King Lucius death by Geffery his Translation Theater of great Britaine l. 6. Dicetus Deane of London a Manuscript in the Kings Library ad an 178. Yet by our Protestant writers of the Theater of greate Britaine in his Manuscript in the Kings Library at the yeare remembred 178. this matter is thus registrid There were in Britaine eight and twenty Flamyns and three Archflamins in stead of which so many Bishops and Archbishops were appointed vnder the Archbishop of London were the Prouinces of Loegria and Cornubia vnder Yorke Deira and Albania vnder vrbs Legionum Cambria And Harding differing aboue thirtie yeares in his computation from the Bishop of Asaph his Translation and so in no manner to be thought his follower in this matter yet thus he agreeth herein Harding Chron. f. 4â— c. 51. Of 3. Archflamens they made Archbishopricks One at London Troynouant that hight For all Logres with Lawes full autentikes To rule the Church and Christentee in right An other at Carlion a Towne of might For all Cambre at Ebranke the third From Trent North for Albany is kvde I haue cited Martinus Polonus Bergomensis Ptolomeus Lucensis Platina Hartmannus Schedel and diuers French Historians before all of them so farre differing from the Brittish Historie in their calculation and other circumstances that they caÌ„not be called followers thereof yet they all agree that the Flamens and Archflamens
Nennius as I could with my best diligence obserue Onely with this further difference that the note of their number to be 28. in all is in the first and later Manuscript written in the end after the Cities recited in the laâ—â— and oldest it is sett downe before the names of the Cities And although at the first vewe these Relations will seeme to vary much yet an indifferent Reader though but meanely exercised in reading auncient Manuscripts and obseruing how often and ordinarily vnlearned or improuident Scribes doe mistake alter add or detract letters in transcribing old writings he will reconcile them with litle or no materiall difference 2. And Henry ArchdeacoÌ„ of Huntington who as Geffry of MoÌ„mouth writeth Galfr. Monum Hist l. 12. c. 20. Henricus Hunting historiar l. 1. §. Hucusque L. 1. Fere in Initio had written his History before he translated the Brittish Historie had not seene it as he relateth the coÌ„ming of Brutus hither as he found it in other Authours which had written it before in alijs Authoribus reperi saith this our Britaine which he called so after his owne name ex nomine suo Britanniam vocauit besides innumerable walled stronge Castels had aunciently in the Britans and Romans time 28. most Noble Cities erat ciuitatibus quondam 28. nobilissimis insignita praeter Castella innumera quae ipsa muris turribus portis ac seris erant instructa firmissimis Ciuitatum autem nomina haec erant Britannicè And these 28. Cities names in Brittish speach were these Kair Ebrancid est Eboracum Yorke Kair chent 1. Cantuaria Canterbury Kair Gorangon 1. Wigornia worcester Kair Lundene 1. Lundonia London Kair Legion or Lirion 1. Leâ—â—â— stria Leicester Kair Collon 1. Coleceastria Colchester Kair Glou. 1. Gloueceastria Glocester Cair Cei 1. Ciceastria Kair-Briston Kair-Ceri 1. Cicerceastria Kair Guent 1. winceastria winchester Kair Grant 1. Granteceastria quae modo dicitur Cantebrigia alias Grantebrigia Cambridge Kair Lion quam vocamus Carleuil Carlile Kair Dauri 1. Doreceastria Dorchester Kair Dorm 1. Dormeceastria quae sita in Huntedonensi Prouincia super Flumen quod vocatur Nen penitus destructa est Dormanchester not Godmanchester or Gormanchester in Huntington shire vpon the Riuer Nen vtterly destroied It was betweene Wansford and Stilton about twelue myles North from Huntington in the Roade way to Yorke Kair Loitchoit 1. Lincolnia Lincoln Kair Merdin quae nunc quoque sic vocatur Still so called Kair Guorcon Kair Cucerat Kair Guortigern Kair vraac Kair Celemion Kair Meguaid Kair Licelid Kair Peris 1. Porcestre Kair Kegion al. Lerion in qua fuit Archiepisâ—opatus tempore Britonum nunc autem vix maenia eius comparent Vbi vsca â—adit in Sabrinam in which there was an Archbishops See in the time of the Britons now scarly appeare the walls thereof where the Ryuer Vsc falleth into Seuerne Kair Draiton Kair Mercipit Kair Segent quae fuit super Tamesin non longè a Reding vocatur Silcestre Haec erant nomina Ciuitatum tempore Romanorum Britannorum Kair Segent which was vpon the Riuer of Thems not farre from Reding and is called Silcestre These were the names of the Cyties in the time of the Romans and Britans Thus this Archdeacon of Huntington 3. And the Monke of Chester Ranulphus Higeden citing Alfridus thus writeth in the same manner Regio Britanniae quondam erat ciuitatibus nobilissimis Raâ—ulph Higid Polychronic l. 1. c. â—â— M. S. 28. insignita The Country of Britaine was in old times adorned with 28. Cyties besides an innumerable number of Castles defensed with most stronge walls Towers Gates and Locks The names of the Cyties were these Caerlud that is London Caer Ebranc Yorke Caerkent Canterbury Caergorangon worcester Caerlirion Leycester Caer Clau Glorcester Caer Golden Colchester Caerrei Chichester Which the Saxons aunciently called Cissancester Caerceri Cirencester Caerwent Winchester Caergrant Cambridge Caerliel Lugubalia Carlile Caerperis Porchester Caerdrom Dorchester Caerludcoit Lincoln Caermerthin that is to say the Citie of Merlin Caersegen Silcester which is seated vpon Thames nor farre from Reding Caerthleon or Caerlegion that is the Ciâ—ie of Legions which first was called Legecester but now it is named Chester Caer Badon Bathe which sometime was called the Citie of Achamannus Caer Paladur Septoma now Shastesbury There are also others names of Cities found in Chronicles Thus this Manuscript Authour speaking of Caerlegion vpon Vsc where the Achiepiscopall See was in the l. 1. cap. 48. next Chapter Diuers of these Cities had their Foundation or at the least tooke their denomition long after this time of the generall ordaining Bishops in our Cities as Caer Golden Colchester tacking the name from King Coel Father to the holy Empresse S. Helena mother to Constantine the Emperour Cair Guortigern of King Vortigern and Caer Merthin of Merlin so we may not number these among our first Episcopall Cities Diuers also of the others were so vnknowne in the time of Henry of Huntington that he a very learned and auncient writer dareth not to take vpon him to deliuer what or where they were as he and Ranulphus Higeden after him doth of the other remembred Cities Which we may take to be the reason that this later writer did not mention them at all But yet if we looke into our Histories we shall finde more auncient Cities as Ranulphus saith and among them diuers which were then Episcopall Sees Ihon Rous affirmeth that Oxford first Io. Rous apud Stowe Hist Brit. in Ebranke Galfrid Monum Hist l. 4. c. 16. Annales Duren apud Leland in comment Antiq Britan. v. Doris Leland supra verb. Couae verb. Manditi Castrum called Caier Mennip at building thereof after Bellisitum Caier Bossa Rhidohen and lastly Oxford was founded by King Ebranke as Yorke was Galftidus calleth it Caerpen huelgoit Leland from the Antiquities of Douer writeth that it was a Citie before the time of King Aruiragus that builded the Castle adioynÌ„ing and nameth it a most renowned Citie and that King Lucius builded a Church in that Castle referunt ijdem Annales Lucium Regem Britannorum And the same Authour from Antiquities is witnes that there was an other auncient City of the Britans called by them Cairbro by the I le of Wight He writeth also that there was aunciently a Bishops See at S. Maus in Cornewayle by Famouthe and that S. Manditus was Bishop there giuing that name to the place now a fisher Towne It is also euident in our Histories that besides the Citie Venta that is Wincester called among other names Venta Belgarum the Inhabitants in those parts being called Belgae there were diuers other auncient Cities of that name among the Britans as Venta Silurum by Camd. in Brit. in Belg. Io. Leland supr in Venta Verolamium Ptolom Cosmograph descript Britan. Hect. Boeth in elucidatione Regionum Oppid ante Historiam some in South wales neare Chepstow quite destroyed Venta
Simenorum Venta Icenorum and Verolamium where S. Albons standeth was famous euen with the Pagan writer Cornelius Tacitus and Ptolomaeus So was Barwicke which Ptolomy nameth Tuesis of the Ryuer thereby passing diuiding England and Scotland Hector Boethius saith that Corinimum which now we call Shrewsbury was in auncient time a most famous Towne oppidum olim celebratissimum And at the comming of S. Augustine hither besides their Archbishop there were seuen other Bishops of seuerall Sees and Cities in that Iurisdiction of which scarcely any one in probable Iudgment is before recited 4. Therefore to trauaile no further in this enquiry we haue found more then a sufficient number of old Brittish Cities to setle 3. Archbishops and 28. Bishops in and yet not carry any of them into Scotland but onely where King Lucius and the Romans ruled Now I will endeuour particularly to The Episcopall Sees and Cities in particular in that Age. finde out the seuerall Cities and Sees of all many or most of them A late writer in a Manuscript Historie neuer yet printed thus recounteth them Winchester Glocester Cilicester Worcester Chechester Bangor Hereford Cardiffe Landaffe Morgan Alclud Canterbury Godmanchester in Huntington Haâ—â—is Manusc Tom. 2. in Lucius shiere where S. Machutus was Bishop about the yeare of our Lord 550. for the rest except the three Archbishop Sees London Yorke and Caerlegion he confesseth ignorance where they were A Protestant Historian William Harrison in his Description of England hath vsed some more diligence in this busines And thus proceedeth herein in old time we reade that there were eight William Harrison description of England c. 13. of Cities and Townes and twenty Flamins and Archflamins in the South part of this Isle and so many greate Cyties vnder their Iurisdiction Then to shew where they were and where Archbishops and Bishops succeeded them he addeth If any man be desirous to knowe the names of those auncient Cyties that stood in the time of the Romans he shall haue them heare at hand in such wise as I haue gathered them out of our writers obseruing euen their manner of writing of them so neare as to mee is possible without alteration of any corruption crept vp into the same Then he setteth downe the names of these auncient Cyties in this order Lundon Yorke Canterbury Colchester Lincoln warwicke aunciently called Cair Guttelin Cair Line or Cair Leon Cair Gwair Cair vmber Cair Gwaerton Chester or Cair Legion vpon Vsk Carleill S. Albons aunciently named Cair Maricipit Cair Municip verolamium Verlamcester and Cair watteling of the street whereon it stood Winchester Cisceter Silcester Bath Shastesbury worcester Chichester Bristow Rochester Portchester Cair Marden Glocester Leircester Cambridge formerly stiled Grantabric Cair Graunt After these 23. he addeth Cair vrnach peraduenture Burgh castle Cair Cucurat Cair Draiton now a slender villidge Cair Celemon Cair Megnaid pleading Ignorance of the fiue last places as likewise Cair Dorman of which I haue spoken before and Alcluid of which more hereafter But seeing both Britans and Saxons Catholiks and Protestants before haue agreed vpon these Cities and the diuision of this Iland into Loegria Albania and Cambria wales and that in England or Loegria alone there were so many Cities in the Britans time as are remembred onely two of them Cair Leon vpon vsc and Cair Merthen to be found in wales except we will place Cair Guorchigirn there we may not depriue the Archbishop there of his Suffragan Bishops nor that auncient Countrye of the old Cities but say these fiue not to be found in any part of Loegria by any Authour were Cities of wales howsoeuer their names vpon many accidents be changed since Nennius time and diuers of them were Episcopall Sees allthough Cair Draiton bewraieth itselfe to be no older then the Saxons Languadge heare and so could not be a Bishops See in the Reigne of King Lucius For most of the rest the onely Argument of this Protestant Authour finding them called by diuers old Brittish names if we had no other giueth them probable title to that Honour 5. But I shall help him with more both reasons and Authoritie herein Harding c. 25. 26. 27. Harding Cron. c. 23. 24. Stowe and Howes Hist in Bladud Leir Harris Hist Galfr. l. 2. Virun l 2. Annal. Wintomen Manuscr Godwin Catal. of Bishops Winchester 1. For the auncient Cities of Canterbury winchester Shastesbury Leircester Bathe Carlile and Alcliud We haue both Brittish and Saxon Catholike and Protestant Antiquaries affirming they were the auncient Residences of Flamens and so must by that is said before needs be Bishops Sees in this time And to exemplifie in some of them the old Manuscript Antiquitie of Winchester saith King Lucius builded there a Cathedrall Church Lucius Rex fundauit Ecclesiam Wintoniensem dedicating it to our Sauiour which a Protestant Bishop thus also writeth from the same or like Antiquitie The Cathedrall Church of Winchester according to a report that I finde in an old Manuscript was first build and erected by King Lucius Seeing then a Cathedrall Church and a Bishop are knit together we must needs acknowledg there was then a Bishop there And to speake in this mans and his Authours words This Church was hallowed and dedicated October 29. 189. by Faganus and Damianus Bishops And he proueth from the same Antiquitie that in the yeare 309. one Constans was Bishop there And in S. Dubricius time by the Brittish History Diuuanius was Hist Brit. l. 9. c. 15 l. 8. c. 17. Harding Chron. c. 76. f. 67. the Bishop of that place Episcopatus Guintoniae Diâ—uanio decernitur And concerning the Bishoprike of Alcliud it was then giuen to one named Eledanius Pontificalis Infula Alclud Eledanio decernitâ—r Elednore by Harding was Bishop there Which proueth it was a Bishiprock froÌ„ the beginning no change Harding Chro. c. 24. f. 21. Abbreuiatio Chron. inter an 170. 180. in Lucio of Sees being before this time For Canterbury it was first a Flamens seate And the old Manuscript History Abbreuiatio Chronicorum saith in this time and setling Bishops in King Lucius Reigne that the old Church of S. Martin which liued in the Apostles time was builded Tunc constructa est extra Cantuariam Ecclesia sancti Martini and to notifie that he ment thereby a Cathedral and Episcopall Church he addeth this when he speaketh of changing Historia RoffeÌ„n Manuscr Lambert PeraÌ„b of Kent p. 113. Flamens into Bishops And all Histories testifie that the holy Bishop Lethardus which came hither with Queene Bertha before S. Augustins time vsed it as his Episcopall See And Canterbury besides the Archbishop had an other Bishop in that Church of S. Martin diuers hundreds of yeares and Harding Chro. c. 23. Harding sup c. 30. f. 24. Stowe Hist Britan. in Morg. and Cunedag Lel. com Brit. antiq v. Manditi Castr Cap. in Catal. in S. Kebio Meloro Vrsula Gul. Malm. l. 1. de Regib c. 6.
l. 3. in Gul. 1. Contin Flor. Wigorn. in Praesul Cridiat Godwin Catal. in Exeter 1. Ann. Eccl. Meneuen apud eund supra in S. Dauids Galfr. Monum Hist Brit. l. 5. c. 1. Matth. Westm an gratiae 201. Hist Manuscr apud Harris Hist Tom. 2. c. 21. M. Lambert the Pâ—otestant Antiquarie of Kent saith from Antiquities S. Martins Church built by the Romans in Canterbury was a Bishops See vntill the Normans came in and so two in one Citie this substitute to the Archbishop Likewise we may so say of Shastesbury Bathe Leicester and Carleil by the same reason all of these as before hauing Flamens and being old auncient Brittish Cities the first named Cair Paladour Septonia The second Cair Badon Aquae Solis and Thermae by Ptolomaeus Leircester before by Henry of Huntington Cair Legion or Cair Lirion Leicestria Carlile Cair Lueill Cair Leill Lugubalia Cair Doill Which proue they were auncient Cities both to the Britans and Romans as Harding saith In Britaine tongue plainely Cair is to say a Citie in their language As yett in Wales is their common vsage As in the time of the Pagans there was a Flamen in Cornwaile So in exordio Christianae fidei in the beginning of Christianitie heare as Capgraue and others before him write there was a Bishop and a Synode of Bishops there Diuers of their names be preserued Kebius Manditus Columbanus Iwanus Dotharius with others in Succession and the See some time at S. Manus S. Petroks Crediton or S. Germans vppon diuers changes remembred by Antiquaries And a Protestant Bishop hath produced an old Manuscript belonging to S. Dauids that in these times of the Britans there was a Bishops See and Bishop at Exceter in Deuonshire And that an other of these our first Primatiue Bishops was seated at Glocester Cair Glowy or Glou we haue diuers Authorities for most of our Antiquities that entreate of the death of King Lucius say he was buried there in the Episcopall and Cathedrall Church In vrbe Claudiocestriae ab hac vita migrauit in Ecclesia primae Sedis honorificè sepultus est And M Harris in his Manuscript Historie saith he had an old written Chronicle which spake of this Church The Table of King Lucius hanging in S. Peters Church in Cornhill in London is witnes this Church stood where the Order of S. Francis was placed in Glocester And no Authour speaking either of change of Sees or new founding any there after in the Britans time our Histories are witnesses that one Theonus Bishop of Glocester was made Archbishop of London in the Britans time So was Eldad long before Bishop of Glocester in the Reigne of Aurelius Ambrosius That Caer Segent Segen or Silcester now onely there being a Farme house was a Bishops See in those Matth. Westm an gratiae 489. Galfr. Mon. Hist Brit. l. 8. c. 7. Manuscript Gallic antiq an 477. c. 47. Galfr. Mon. Hist Brit. l. 9. c. 15. Manuscr antiq apud Stowe Hist Britans and Sax. in Arthur Galfr. Monum l. 9. c. 1. Hist Brit. l. 6. c. 5. Harding Chron. c. 76. f. 67. dayes besides the name and place for a Flamen we are assured from the Brittish History that in the time of S. Dubritius Archbishop and King Arthur when diuers old Bishops Sees were voide this was one among the rest and that Bishoprick was giuen to one named Mauganius Episcopatus verò Silcestriae Mauganio decernitur This Citie was so renowned in the Britans time that as an old Manuscript witnesseth Constantius sonne of Constantine was honorably buried there and Constantine and Arthur there crowned with such Pompe and solemnitie as our Histories declare This place is 6. miles or there abouts from Reading in Barkshire the remnants of the wall with 4. places where the 4. gates were were two myles in compasse much Roman Money there was found in digging 6. Ihon Harding saith that Chichester was a Bishops See in the time of King Arthur and S. Dubritius and that Mangauero was Bishop there in those dayes And among these I would take Dunwich to haue also bene an Episcopall See about that Age the place in Suffolke no other Towne assigned for a Bishops See in that part of England giueth way vnto it our English Antiquaries confesse it was an auncient Citie and in probable coniecture that which our old Nennius expresseth among the most renowned Brittish Cities by the name of Caer Daun or Dunn after by the Saxons Danmocke or Dunwick no oâ—her auncient knowne Citie more answeareable to that Brittish Appellation And to giue more life to this opinion when the Saxons became Christians and had Bishops it was the care of the Popes and spirituall Rulers then to place both Arcbishops and Bishops where such had bene in the Britans time The two Archbishops Sees of London and Yorke which were voide were by S. Gregory appointed for such againe and by this Title diuers decayed Cities as I shall more expresse hereafter had also Bishops being Episcopall Sees when the Britans and Romans heare ruled And so S. Faelix by Stowe sup liber Elu Records Dun. this Title was first Bishop among the East Angles and of that Citie so renowned that it hath had as a Protestant Historian writeth from the Tradition and Records of that Citie two and fyftie diuine houses and very many of them Parish Churches Heare I haue rather sought to setle a Bishop then at Colchester as one doth where besides the old name Caer common to very Will. Harrison descr of Brit. c. 13 Nenn. Histor Henr. Hunt Hist l. 1. many that neuer were Episcopall Cities besides what I haue said before I finde no motiue at all to say it was at any time much lesse then a Bishops See it is in a corner of that Country an vnwalled thing vntill S. Helen her time much to late to make it a Bishops Citie in King Lucius dayes I can neither finde a Flamen there before nor any Bishop since either when the Britans Romans Saxons or any others ruled heare And yet to giue all to Colchester which the aduauncers thereof require that it was the Towne called Camulodunum as also Colonia of the Colonie planted by the Romans which is more then I dare to doe to giue two so seuerall and distinct names to one singular place by one people at one time yet allowing it so and a Municipium enioying the Romans priuiledges yet all this doth not sufficiently able it for being a Bishops See for we doe not finde that the Romans were then such friends to Christian Religion in those times as with publike allowance to place such spirituall Rulers in their priuiledged Townes as were contrary to the priuiledges Immunities of them so that of all Cities heare those which were Municipia to the Romans as Verolamium S. Albons others were they were the furthest from hauing Christian Bishops in them And we see by experience in Verolamium their Municipium that within one hundred
yeares after this in the time of Dioclesian his Persecution when S. Alban a cheife man there was martyred for the Christian faith the Citie of Verolamium was by all Histories so ignorant thereof as if there neuer had bene any Christian there before much lesse a Bishop which should haue very ill intended to his greate office to suffer himselfe and his cheife chardge to haue so presently apostated from Christ 7. But I must rather hold that the rest of the Bishops Sees were where we finde Christians professing constantly euen to death their holy faith in that most tempestuous time of persecution where we finde any Bishop to haue bene then or where the first Bishops were seated when the Saxons were conuerted then where not any of these but a manifest priuation or destitution of these is found And we haue the old English Historie and others for witnes Old English hist part 4. in K. Lucius that many Bishopriks of the time of King Lucius were still in this Land in those dayes So we may probably add to these Bishopricks by these Titles the Citie of Lichfeild not vnprobably that which Nennius nameth Caerligalid Io. Ross Warwicen l. de Episcop Wigorn. Theater of great Brit. lib. 6. Stowe Hist Romans in Coill Holinsh. Hist of Engl. l. 4. c. 26. so constant in Christian Religion in the Persecution of Dioclesian that at one time it brought forth a thousand Martyrs and thereuppō tooke in the Saxon tongue the name Lichfeild a feild of blood and in the Conuersion of the Saxons was at the first a Bishops See by the old Scottish or Brittish Bishops The like I say of Dorchester now a Villadge neare Oxford but aunciently a Citie Caer Dor as before Dorcestria and Ciuitas Dorchestriae and in the Primatiue Church of the Saxōs a Bishops or the rather onely Bishops See of the kingdom of the Mercians or Middle English diuers hundreds of yeares vntill time of King William the first when Remigius Bishop thereof remoued his See to Lincoln That there was a Bishops See in Huntington shire eyther at the decayed Citie Caer dorm before named or at Godmanchester we haue diuers testimonies both of late and auncient time a late writer speaking of the Bishops ordayned by these Legats of Pope Eleutherius absolutely affirmeth They founded a Bishopricke in the Citie of Gumicastrum now called Godmanchester in Huntinghton shire where S. Machutus was sometime Bishop about the yeare of Harris Theatr. Brit. Tom. 2. in Manuscr Hist Vit. S. Machuti Theater of great Brit. in descr of Hunting shire Manuscr Antiq. Harding Chron. f. 26. 27. c. 30. our Lord. 550. So hath the old written life of S. Machutus as our Theater writers testifie and diuers others and among these an old Manuscript History Among these I may number besides the Archflamens and Arcbishops See in London an other inferiour place of a Flamen and Bishop after first founded as Harding with others witnesseth by Dunwallo S. Paules Church the Bishops See now is seated there He made sixe Temples say Authours in Logres Cambre and Albanie and as many Flamens to rule them of states as Bishops now doen. A Temple also in Troynouant sothely Of peace and concorde he made verely In which when there fell any discorde Emong his Lords there were they made accorde And thus noteth This Temple was S. Paules Church in London How the Pagans dedicated it to Apollo and there sacrificed to him I haue said before And this neuer being either the Arcflamens or Arcbbishops See and yet presently vpon the Conuersiō of the Saxōs made a Bishops seate giueth strength to this opinion and we finde in our Histories more Arcbishops of London in the time of the Britans then of Yorke and Caerlegion both Ioyned together yet was the Citie of London more subiect to tumults and alterations then eyther of these was some Argumēt that to make so greate a number both Archbishops and Bishops there be accompted together 8. But though we leaue London onely to an Archbishops See we shall otherwise make vp our common reckoning of 28. Bishops in that time A Protestant Bishop writeth that Chichester was a Bishops See in the Britans time and had a Bishop at the comming of S. Augustine hither and citeth Roger Houeden for his Authour which I doe not finde in him but that Chester Godwin Catal. in S. Dauids 1. Roger. Houedē Part. 2. Annal. in Rege was then a Bishops See he affirmeth in the life of King Ihon the place I take it which this Protestant meaneth Where he also plainely affirmeth the same of Worchester The old Citie of Lincolne also to haue bene then a Bishops See we haue the conueniencie of place Antiquitie of the Citie both with the Britans and Romans Cair Lud Coit Cair Loichoit Lindum Lindocollinum and that in the Conuersion of the Saxons next vnto Yorke it was made the first Bishops See in those parts 9. Now if we stay heare before we proceed further we haue probably found all the first Bishops Sees that were vnder the Iurisdiction of London both in Loegria and Cornewayle besides some others For Harding holding Hardin Chron. f. 29. c. 23. Sigebert Gemb Chron. ann 445. Matth. Parker Antiq. Brit. p. 9. there were 13. Flamens vnder the Archflamen of London and others that there were 14. we haue Antiquities to direct vs that there were but 7. Bishops vnder Yorke and no more vnder Caerlegion so allowing 28. with the common opinion 14. of these must needs be vnder the Iurisdiction of the Archbishop of London to witt the Bishop of Cornwayle of Exceter Bathe Glocester Worchester Silcester Shastesbury Winchester Canterbury Dunwich or some other Bishops Sees vnder the Archbishop of London in King Lucius or the Brittans time place among the Easte Angles afterward Godmanchester Leychester Leichfeild The other 4. Carleyle Chester Lincoln or Leichfeild if we subiect Lincoln to London and Alchlud were vnder Yorke this Citie of Alchlud was very auncient and renowned in the North parts and by Harding and others stood at Harding supr f. 20. c. 21. Bed Hist l. 1. c. 12. Galfrid Monum Histor Brit. l. 9. c. 5. 6. the West end of the Picts wall and by our Brittish History and S. Bede not farre from thence and as is euident before was both vnder the Spirituall Iurisdiction of Yorke and the temporall Gouernment also of our Kings in this part of Britaine distinct from Scotland long after this time And to speake as our Brittish History doth it was not in Scotland Albania but neare or towards it Constituit Ebrancus vrbem Alclud versus Albaniam And if it had Hist Brit. l. 2. c. 7. bene in that part which now is called Scotland yet when this Citie was builded Bishops Sees vnder Yorke and when it was also made a Bishops See the Scots had nothing to doe there abouts except as Theeues and Pirats then liuing in the out Ilands as both
thereof was in such renowne I must needs assigne the first beginning of it to King Lucius dayes And when we finde in good Authours such greate numbers of Monkes belonging to one onely Monastary of Elgue in Wales where S. Kentegern liued in S. Dauids time that they then amonted to allmost 1000. and this so euident that our Protestants themselues confesse it we must needs giue a very auncient being to that order there or not farre of A Protestant Bishop thus relateth it Kentegernus Godwin supr Bishop of Glascow in Scotland being dryuen out of his owne Country found meanes to erect a Monastery for himselfe and his company betweene the Riuers of Elwyd and Elwy where in processe of time hauing builded a Church and some other edifices fit for his entertaynemēt there flocked vnto him such multitudes of people as the nūber of his Monkes amonted vnto no lesse then 960. whereof it is said he appointed 300. that were vnlearned to tilladge and husbandry abroade other 300. he emploied in sondry Kindes of labous within the Monastery at home and the rest being diuided into companyes attended the seruice of God in the Church in such sort as day and night perpetually seruice was there continued some while by some and otherwhile by others according to an order by him established and set downe An other Io. Bal. l. de Scri. cent 1. in Kentegerno Bed Hist Eccles l. 2. c. 2. Galfr. l. 11. c. 12. Godw. Cōuers of Brit. Bal. l. de Script cent 1. in Dionotho Galfr. Mon. Hist Brit. l. 11. c. 13. Protestant Bishop saith the number of these learned Monkes in the Monastery were 365 in Elguensi Collegio trecentos sexaginta quinque literatos viros semper ad id paratos habebat All both Catholiks and Protestants agree that notwithstanding the greate Persecution of the Pagan Saxons there were in one Monastery of Bangor aboue 2000. Monkes when S. Augustine came hither and as the Brittish Historie with others reporteth there were then in those parts an innumerable company of Monkes and Eremites Innumerabiles Monachi Eremitae Therefore we may rather wonder to our owne shame and confusion of the Enemyes of Monasticall life that among so many Persecutions and trobles as fell among the Britans from the Reigne of King Lucius to those dayes the number of Religeous men should in that space growe to so greate a reckoning then make the least doubt that diuers Monasteries were founded heare by that our first holy Christian King which an old Historia Gallica antiq Manuscr c. 28. French Manuscript History plainely affirmeth when it witnesseth that the Monasteries of Britaine were destroyed in the Persecution of Dioclesian as other Churches were 6. The like I affirme of Nunneryes and Monasteries of Religeous women aswell as of men which we may finde in the first comming of the Pagan Saxons hither of which a Protestant Historian from Antiquitie thus writeth all the Churches in Kent were polluted with blood The Nunnes with other Stowe Hist Brit. and Saxons in Vortiger Religeous parsons were by force put frō their houses and goods And this was not peculiar onely in this Country but generall in all Britaine sacred Nunnes being in all parts thereof as for breuitie for the Archbishop-See of London these in in Kent for Yorke we reade that in the City it selfe when the Pagan Saxons had destroyed the Churches and Religeous houses there both of men and women King Arthur did repaire them and placed diuers Conuents both of men and women in the repayred Monasteries Ecclesias vsque ad solum destructas Galfr. Mon. Hist Brit. l. 9. c. 8. renouat atque Religiosis caetibus virorum ac mulierum exornat And for Caerlegion the same and other Authours tell vs there was aunciently a Nunnery in the very Citie Templum Deo sacratarum Virginum And a Queene Lib. 9. c. 13. Mat. Westm an gratiae 541. Io. Goscelin Hist Manuscript Matth. Parker Antiq. Brit. pag. 8. of Britaine there receaued the habit of Religion among the Nun nes Inter Moniales habitum Religionis suscepit As both auncient Catholike Historians and new Protestant writers doe witnesse among which be Ihon Gosceline in his Manuscript Historie and Matthew Parker the first Protestant Archbishop of Canterburye both which also for Protestants expressely acknowledge that there were Religeous parsons and Monasteries heare in Britainte in all Ages from the very first Conuersion The first saith presbyterorum Monachorum Abbatum Praesulum Episcoporum sedium nomina permulta quouis saeculo extiterunt ab eo tempore quo primo sit orta from the first beginning of Christianitie in Britaine there were in cuery Age very many names of the Seates of Preists Monks Abbots Prelates Bishops And proueth from Antiquitie that within the first 400. yeares of Christ there were 11000. vowed virgins in Britaine at one time puellae verè virgines Deo consecratae The Protestant Arcbishop saith Tot tantaque presbyterorum Monachorum Episcoporum Ecclesiarum Caenobiorum sediumque vetusta nomina quae quouis saeculo extiterunt Very many old names of Preists Monks Bishops Churches Monasteries and Sees haue bene in euery Age. Of such Religeous and Regular parsons and places especially at Glastenbury now renewed or reuiued I shall more and in particular hereafter entreate THE XXII CHAPTER HOW AFTER THESE ROMAN LEGATS had fully setled the affaires and estate of our Church heare they went againe to Rome to procure the Pope there to ratifie and confirme what they had done which he did and they returned hither againe with that his Confirmation and many other Preachers then sent hither from Rome 1. WHEN these holy laboures thus happily proceeded in all things required to the foundation and building the house of God in Britaine taken so good effect Archbishops and Bishops with their Sees consecrated and assigned Churches builded and endowed Schooles and Vniuersities erected and confirmed Monasteries and Nunneries founded and finished and all these holy proceedings prescribed taught directed and heare setled by these Roman Legats and Legatine power and most willingly and Religiously receaued and embraced by our first Christian King and Saint and holy Christian Britans his Subiects our late Nouelists Enemyes and Persecutors of this our old Christian Catholike Apostolike Apostles Roman and first holy Christian Kings Religion would haue thought and taught if they had then lyued that the Popes Authoritie by his Legats at our Kings suite and desire had taught allowed commanded and confirmed too much and would haue bene farre from seeking sueing for and requesting any further actuall and expresse confirmation or ratification of the Pope himselfe But those our holy Apostles and so glorious and renowned King were of a quite contrary minde to such men for our King who had sent such hūble petitions to Pope Eleutherius by his Embassadors Embassadges before to be instructed in the faith his kingdome Country Nobles all his people beloued Subiects to be
de Scri. Brit. cent 1. in Samuele Beulano Io. Lelan apud Pits l. de Vir. Illustr in Elbodo Harris Hist Ecc. Manuscr lib. 2. c. 20. Sampson there remayneth litle or no memoriall but their names onely And in the names themselues there is difference in those Memorials of them And both of them omitt their most renowned Archbishop Elbodus who ioyned with S. Augustine and his company and wrote against his owne Britans and Scots for their vntrue obseruatioÌ„ of Easter Some thinke he was created Archbishop by Augustine M. Harris inclineth to be of opinion that S. Fugatianus one of Pope Eleutherius his Legats was the first Archbishop of Caerlegion and S. Damianus the other Archbishop of London yet with the common opinion he had placed S. Thean there before both which may stand with truth in due construction if S. Damianus resigned it to S. Thean who as he saith was Archbishop there 18. yeares And seeing we finde no finall departure of these two holy Legats from hence but rather a continuall aboade heare after their returne from Rome as though they were wholly designed for the spirituall good of this kingdome if we ioyne hearewith what eminent men and Bishops they were we may not deny them any cheife place of honour heare according to their worth and deseruings heare 5. The old writer of Sainct Gudwalus life Surius Haraeus and others say Anonym in Vita S. Gudwali Surius Haraeus in eod 6. Iunij he was Archiepiscopus Britannus an Archbishop of Britaine by his life and aboade of no other place but our old Caerlegion And if we should followe theire opinions which hold that Caerlegion was Augusta where our renowned Archbishop S. Augulus of whome I haue spoken before was Martyred we must also make him Archbishop there And the old Brittish Historie with diuers others testifieth that Tremonus was Arcbishop there Tremonus vrbis Legionum Archiepiscopus long before S. Dubricius And it was foretold Galfr. Monum Hist Briton l. 8. c. 10. before S. Dubricius probably was borne or Tremonus was Archbishop of Caerlegion that this Archbishops See should be translated from thence to S. Dauids and there the Archbishops Pall of Caerlegion should be worne Meneuia Matth. Westm an gratiae 464. Galfr. Monum l. 7. c. 9. pallio vrbis Legionum induetur Which was after verified in the time of S. Dauid as also the Prophesy of the Translation of London to Canterbury by S. Augustine and the seuenth Archbishop of Yorke going into Armorica performed in S. Sampson all foretold at one time together long before Therefore as in London and Yorke there were Archbishops so in this Citie Caerlegion Girald Cambr. Catal. Archiep. Men. Antiquit. MeneueÌ„ in â—atal Godwin Catal. in S. Dauids and Landaff Capgr in S. Dubrit S. Dauid also there were such and wearing the Pall Archiepiscopall iustifiing the vndeniable changed and performance of that prediction After this time all Historyes agree of S. Dubritius S. Dauid Eliud Theeliaus Kinocus immediately succeeding each other and Elbodus in S. Augustins time Of these three new Archiepiscopall Churches a late Protestant Antiquarie vpon diligent search as he would haue his Readers enforme themselues thus writeth more absolutely then others in which three Cities of London Yorke and Caerlegion vpon vske there had bene beforetime three Archflamins erected vnto Apollo Mars and Minerua but now raced to the ground and three other Churches builded in their steeds by Lucius to the intent that the Countryes round about might haue indifferent accesse vnto those places and therewithall vnderstand for certaintie whether to resorte for resolution 6. Neither are we vtterly left destitute of the names of the holy Bishops then placed in the inferior Sees for we haue sufficient Testimony of Thomas Many Bishops of other Sees not Archiepiscopall Rudburne a Monke of Winchester Moratus an old Brittish writer and others that Denotus was then made Bishop of Winchester And all the possessions of Tho. Rudburne Chron. Maiore Morat l. 1. c. 9. Nichol. Harpesfeld hist Eccles p. 6. cap. 3. the Pagan FlameÌ„ there were coÌ„ferred vpon him his Cleargie which were so ample that euen about that Citie all the Lands within 12. miles of it on all sides were belonging vnto it containing in number 32. Villadges Besides him we had diuers others as S. Damianus one of the holy Legats S. Eluanus our CountrymaÌ„ of Britaine sent Bishop hither by Pope Eleutherius Medwinus a Brittan S. Aaron sent also with the Legats and Eusebius sent hither to S. Timothy all now probably Bishops besides diuers of the old Archflamens Flamens and other learned Druyds long since conuerted for vertue and Radulph Niger Harrison descr of Brit. c. 9. Harris Hist l. 2. c. 20. learning and number sufficient to supply those Episcopall Sees and dignities Besides among the so many quamplurimis which came hither with S. Damianus and Fugatianus the second time no man can question but diuers of them were not onely renowned and men in all respects worthie of Episcopall order and dignitie but de facto were there so promoted and supplied some of those vacancyes The rest for the most part for want of the Brittish languadge to preach to the people heare not so fit to be Pastors in Churches were placed in Monasteryes and inferior Orders Deacons Subdeacons Acoluthists Exorzists and the rest then generally vsed in the Church of Christ especially at Rome by whose exemple the frame of our Brittish Church was framed by the Popes direction his Legats execution and his owne after Papall Confirmation 7. And so Britaine neither had then nor could haue any other Religion Britaine receauâ—th Church discipline from Rome at this time or Church Discipline Lawes and order but as the Church of Rome then practized Which some of our Protestants haue remembred and confirme it both with King Lucius request and suite and Pope Eleutherius graunt and allowance One of them expresseth it in these Termes The faith of Christ being Will. Harrison description of Brit. c. 9. thus plaÌ„ted in this Iland in the 177. after Christ and Faganus Dinaw with the rest sent ouer from Rome 178. it came to passe in the third yeare of the Ghospell receaued that Lucius did send againe to Eleutherius requiring that he might haue some breife Epitome of the order of Discipline then vsed in the Church For he well considered that as it auayleth litle to plant a costly vyneiard except it afterward be cherished kept in good order and such things as aâ—noye dayly remoued from the same so after Baptisme and entrance into Religion it profiteth litle to beare the name of Christians except we doe walke in the spirit and haue such thinges as offend apparently corrected by senere Discipline For otherwise it will come to passe that the weedes of vice and vicious lyuing will so quickly abound in vs that they will in the end choke vp the good seed
Nam literas scribunt illi de ea re passim ad omnes mittunt And hauing thus proceeded they returne home in the same Socrat. Hist Ecc. l. 2. supr c. 18. Niceph Hist Eccl. l. 9. c. 13. minde to their owne Cities Episcopi qui Sardicae conuenerunt rebus constitutis ad suas eorum Ciuitates reâ—erterunt And after that time as Socrates Nicephorus and others testifie our Bishops of Britaine and others of the West seperated themselues from the Hereticall faction in the East Deinceps Occidens ab Oriente per secessionem diuisus est Non amplius enim Occidentales cum Orientalibus haud eadem secum sentientibus negotij sibi quicquam coniunctionis esse voluere Yet Niceph. cap. 14. supr many of the most glorious men of the East also perseuered in the same Catholike profession as our Brittish and other Westerne Bishops did as Paulus Patriarch of Constantinople S. Athanasius of Alexandria S. Anthony and generally the Monkes of Egypt Eusebius Emissenus Titus Bostrensis Serapion S. Basile Eudoxius Acacius S. Cyrill Theodorus Perinthius S. Ephrem and others without number S. hitherto we see the state of Christs Church in Britaine to haue bene glorious both for number of renowned Catholike Bishops and freedome from all contagion and infection of the wicked errors ad Heresies of that time THE XX. CHAPTER HOW BRITTAINE HAVING MANY BIshops at the greate Councell at Ariminum all were free from Heresie And very few Brittans consented to Arrianisme But were free from Heresie vntill that of Pelagius 1. THAT this Country of Britaine after this florished with greate numbers of Worthie Bishops no Citie then vacant heare of such a Pastor and Ruler we may gather from diuers Antiquities as from the Epistle of the greate Councell of Ariminum in Italy not longe after this time written to Constantius the Emperor where our Bishops were present testifying vnto him that they were assembled there forth of all Cities towards the West most properly and significently to be applyed to this kingdome most West from thence Cuncti Episcopi ex omnibus Ciuitatibus ad Occidentem sitis Arimini in vnum conuenimus And the words all Bishops out of Epist Concilij Arimini ad Constantium Imperat apud Socratem l. 2. Hist c. 29. Sozom. Hist Eccl l. 4. c. 16. Seuer Sulpit. sacrae Hist lib. 2. Cap. 21. supr apud Sozomen Lib. Notitia Ep. orb Christiani siue Cod. Prouinc Rom. all Westerne Cities cuncti Episcopi ex omnibus Ciuitatibus ad Occidentem sitis cannot carry any other true construction but that our Episcopall Cities in Britaine were then so furnished and many or most of them present at that CouÌ„cell This is confirmed by the number of Westerne Bishops aboue 400. as Sozomen and others write assembled at Ariminum ad Conciliâ—m Arimini congregati sunt amplius quadringenti Episcopi besides 160. of the Easte at the same time gathered together at Seleucia in Isauria dum haec geruntur Episcopi Orientis numero circiter centum sexaginta Seleuciam quod est oppidum Isauriâ— conueniunt When it is euident in the old Manuscript Catalogue of Bishops called Notitia Episcoporum orbis Christiani or Codex Prouincialis Romanus that Britaine and all the Westerne Nations present in that Councell of Ariminum had not at that time many more then fower hundred Bishops Therefore we must needs grant that the Bishops of all Cities as well of Britaine as other CouÌ„tries of the West which had not excusable letts impediments were there present in such sence as the Epistle of that Councell is cited before And Seuerus Sulpitius Seuer Sulpit. sacrae Hist l. 2. is sufficient witnesse for this our Britaine in particular that it had many Bishops there for relating the number to haue bene aboue foure hundred out of the West quadringenti aliquando amplius Occidentales Episcopi Ariminum conuenere And the Emperor the better to encline them to his Arrian faction as it seemeth commanded prouision should be made for them all at his cost quibus omnibus annonas cellaria dare Imperator praeceperat But the Bishops of France Aquitaine and Britaine refused it and rather made choice to liue at their owne chardges then to be maintained by the Emperour and this refusall was generall to all the Bishops of Britaine Aquitaine and France except three onely of Britaine which receaued allowance from the Emperour and refused maintenance by the other Bishops themselues being poore id Aquitanis Gallis ac Britannis indecens visum repudiatis fiscalibus proprijs sumptibus vinere maluerunt Tres tantum ex Britannia inopia proprij publico vsi sunt cum oblatam a caeteris collationem respuissent sanctius putantes fiscum granare quam singulos 2. This affirmation that all the Bishops of Britaine excepting onely three which were poore were profered to be maintained by their fellow Bishops which were generally ritch as I haue declared before in the Foundation of King Lucius giuing them both all the Flamens and Archflamens Lands Reuenewes And others doth euidently testifie that Britaine had many Bishops at Ariminum when the number of three is but a tantùm allmost nothing in respect of the othrs And the same Authour there prouing that the Brittish Bishops were both acciti and attracti Cited and drawne or forced to come to that Councell by the Officers of Constantius now after his brothers death a professed friend of the Arrian Heresie or rather a professed Arrian then reigning in Britaine maketh it euident that our Brittish Bishops which could not pleade sufficieÌ„t cause of excuse and absence were generally present there And if those few poore Bishops of Britaine which were not able to beare their owne charges were drawne thither to be maintained by the Emperour how much rather must we iudge the same of so many potent and ritch in this Country which could pretend no such excuse So that we see no excuse but Harris Eccles Hist tom 4. cap. 24. infirmitie either by Age or sicknes to haue caused any Brittish Bishops absence thence A late Writer thinketh Iltutus then as he coniectureth Archbishop of London the Archbishops of Yorke and Carleon the Bishops of Winchester Cilicester and Glocester with others were there I see no particular warrant he bringeth more for these then any other of so many Episcopall Brittish Cities of that time which I haue before remembred all of them being in the same condition for presence or absence but where iust excuses and letts were singular to any in particular aboue the rest for good Authours before haue testified that all in generall were vrged to be there without any exception or to be expempted And allmost all Bishops in the worlde were then caused to be either at Ariminum in Italy where those of the West were or at Seleucia appointed for the Earstern Bishops Interim in Oriente exeÌ„plo Occidentalium Imperator iubet cunctos fere Episcopos apud
his Epistle to the Romans was made Bishop of Britaine Dorothaeus agreeth wholy with this Protestant not in his booke of the Apostles but of the 72. Disciples where he plainely saith Aristobulus ipse ab Apostolo ad Romanos commemoratus Episcopus Britanniae factus est Aristobulus named by the Apostle to the Romans was made Doroth. in Syno 72. Discip in Aristobulo Bishop of Britaine Where by the words Bishop of Britaine and not in Britaine or any particular place of Britaine it is euident that he was made the cheife commanding Bishop or Archbishop of Britaine the whole kingdome of Britaine being subiected vnto him in spirituall proceedings and it is cleare in all such Examples in Antiquitie not one instance to be giuen to the contrary as appeareth in the same auntient Father S. Dorothaeus in that place and others entreating of the same subiect And the words The Bishop of Britaine will allowe no other interpretation And if there were no other motiue to induce vs to be of this opinion but the consent of writers both Catholiks and Protestants that this holy Bishop of Britaine was one of the 72. Diciples of Christ as both the same S. Dorothaeus our contriman Florenâ—â—us Wigorniensis Doroth. supr in Titul Florent Wigorn. in Catal 72. Discipul Arnold Mirm. in Theatr. Gul. Eiseng cent 1. Magdeb cent 1. and later Authours agree it would be a warrant sufficient in this cause when we doe not finde in Antiquities but probably all the 72. that suruiued were constituted Archbishops in their diuisions in those that concerne vs most which were settled in our neighbouring Nations Fraunce and Germany I haue exemplified before Alnoldus Mirmannius in his Theater of the Conuersion of Nations and the Authorities which he followeth will make this a matter out of question for he deriueth the whole Hierarchicall order of the Church of Christ in this kingdome from this holy man in Arnold Mirm. in Theatr. conu gent. in Britann this manner Britannia Straboni a Britone Regenun cuipata primum Aristobulum vnum certe ex classe 72. Discipulorum Apostolum est nacta Deinde nacta est Britannia Fugatium Damianum qui ordinem Hierarchicum Ecclesiae istic fundatae ab illo inchoatum constituerunt sanxeruntque more nimirum Apostolico Britaine so named by Strabo from King Brito or Brutus had first for the Apostle of it Aristobulus one doubtlesse of the order of the 72. Disciples After that it had Fugatius Guliel Eisengren centenar 1. in S. Aristobulo Actor cap. 13. and Damianus who constituted and confirmed after the Apostolik manner the Hierarchicall order of the Church there founded begun by him Where he ascribeth to S. Aristobulus this our holy Archbishop of this our Britaine named of Brutus three Attributes all commonly properties allmost quarto modo belonging to S. Aristobulus Archbishop of Britayne consecrated by diuers Authours an dom 39. and before S. Paule Archbishops to be our Apostle to haue founded our Church and begun our Ecclesiasticall Hierarchicall order Which cannot belong to any other then an Archbishop especially in so greate a kingdome 3. And if we will followe Eisengrenius and his Authours he will tell vs that this holy Saint and Archbishop of Britaine was made Bishop in the 39. yeare of Christ within fiue or sixe yeares of his Ascension and before S. Paule the Apostle himself did receaue imposition of hands or S. Mansuetus Other Bishops or some other Bishop then in Britayne besides S. Aristobulus by any accompt or any other that is remembred in Antiquities to haue bene a Bishop in or of this Nation except the most glorious Apostle our first Father in Christ S. Peter was made a Bishop Therefore it doth euidently followe that next vnto S. Peter that renowned Saint and Disciple of Christ S. Aristobulus was by S. Peters meanes the first Archbishop of this kingdome Who were these Bishops in particular in or of Britayne by this accompt Which maketh it also an vndoubted truth warranted both by holy Scriptures Apostolike Tradition and all cheifest Authorities as these Protestants haue proued vnto vs that we also had some Bishops whosoeuer they were subordinate to this cheife ouerseeing commaunding and Arch-Bishop S. Mansuetus Beatus his Anonymus companion and S. Augulus probably Bishops heare in Britayne and by the same Authoritie of S. Peter for all this is necessarily induced and depending of the name nature office and dignitie of an Archbishop instituted and ordayned heare by that greatest Apostles power and Authoritie For it is an implicancy of contradiction and in naturall euidence impossible that there should be an Archbishop aboue all other Bishops where Engl. Martyrol 7. Febr. in Augulus Drek in alm an 1620. 7. Febr. Io. King serm at Pauls Crosse 26. Mart. an 1620. pag. 45. Martyrolog Rom. 7. Febr. Bed Martyrol ib. vsuard hac die Petr. de Natal in Catal. l. 3. cap. 105. Ado Vuandelbert apud Baron in annot in Martyrol 7. Febâ— Calendar Eccles Sarisb Engl. Martyrol 7. Febr. Rabanus hac die there is no Bishop for him to be the cheifest or vnder him And that such we had by S. Peters ordination it is in plaine termes acknowledged before both by Catholike and Protestant Antiquaries testifiing and prouing that this highest Apostle when he instituted this most sacred subordination did ordaine both Bishops Preists Deacons in and for this kingdome Who these our Primatiue Bishops were in particular or any of them the Iniurie of time and so many Enemies of holy Religion vnder whose heauy burthens and persecutions this kingdome hath often groaned doe make it a greater labour Yet it is euident by that I haue already proued that S. Mansuetus S. Beatus and his holy companion though to vs now Anonimus of which two I shall speake more hereafter may be recompted in this number 4. To which we may probably add S. Augulus Bishop of Augusta London in England as both Catholiks and Protestants expound it and among them one in a Sermon before King Iames speaking to the Londiners saith your citty hath bene aunciently stiled Augusta For we reade both in the auntient Roman Martyrologe that also of S. Bede Vsuardus Ado Vandelbertus Petrus de Natalibus and others that this S. Augulus was Bishop of Augusta in Britannia Augusta or London in Britaine and was a martyr Augustae in Britannia Natalis beati Auguli Episcopi qui aetatis cursum per Martyrium explens aeterna praemia susâ—ipere meruit Baronius saith he cannot tell when he suffered Quo tempore passus sit hactenus mihi obscurum But if we compare the name of London at that time it was called Augusta with other circumstances and with the Catalogue of the Bishops of London after the time of King Lucius we shall very probably finde that this worthy Saint our Bishop of London is to be reckoned one of the first Bishops that were consecrated in this kingdome long
before our common Conuersion in the dayes of King Lucius and so consequently by S. Peter or his Disciple S. Aristobulus no other then with eminent Authoritie being heare to consecrate him Bishop and settle him Bishop of Augusta London For first this citie was not called Augusta in the Reigne of King Lucius when this Nation was generally conuerted but onely Londinum London nor neuer since that time or by any before but by the Romans at their first setling heare in the time of Claudius when as before is proued S. Peter preached in this kingdome Secondly the first Bishop of London as all the rest from King Lucius time to the coming of S. Augustine were Archbishops and this onely in all Antiquities called onely Bishop of Augusta in Britaine Thirdly this was a Martyr and so we doe not reade of any Iotz in Catal. Epis Brit. Io. Godcel de Episc Lōd Matth. Parker antiq Brit. Godwin Catal. of Bishops Stowe Histor Theater of great Brit. l. 6. Harris in Theat to 1. Will. Harris descr Archbishop of London except on S. Vodinus Martyred in the times of King Vortigerne and Hengist in whome both the times names callings and other circumstances are much different making it vnpossible that they were one and the same man Fourthly no Antiquitie or Antiquary Catholike or Protestant setting downe the Catalogue of the Archbishops of London as Iotzeline of Furnes Ihon Godcilene Matthew Parker Godwine Stowe the Theater writers or any other once nameth this S. Augulus to be any of them that were since King Lucus time But make S. Thean the first the last Theonus that formerly was Bishop of Glocester and in or about the yeare of Christ 553. became Archbishop of London and about the yeare 586. together with Thadiocus Archbishop of Yorke fled from the Pagan Saxons into wales and left their Sees vacant vntill the coming of S. Augustine And betweene these there is not any one but S. Vodinus before a Martyr or that hath any resemblance in name or other description with S. Augulus Their names be these Thean Eluanus Cadar Obinus Conan Palladius Stephan Iltut Theodwin or Godwyn Catal. in London alij supr Dedwin Thedred Hillary Restitutus Guitelnius or Guitelinus Fastidius Vodinus Theonus 5. A late writer in his Manuscript History of Britaine saith plainely that S. Harris in Theat tom 1. Nicasius the first Bishop of Roan in Normandy of Fraunce preached heare in this Britaine in these times And he seemeth to rely much vpon Arnoldus Mirmānius who saith Britones instruxit formauitque fide S. Nicasius imperante S. Nicasius Bishop in our Britaine by some writers Nerone Nicasius did instruct and forme in the faith the Britans in the time of Nero being then delegated an Apostle thither illuc Apostolus delegatus And this he proueth to be vnderstood of our Britans because the Britans of Armorica Arnold Mirm. in Theatr. Conu gent. in Fraunce were not called Britans vntill long after which by all writers is a thing most certaine and out of Question Therefore except that Authour spake very vnproperly to call them Britans that were not vntill 300. yeares after he must needes meane to speake truely the Britans of this Iland And this S. Nicasius being sent Apostle by Roman Authoritie as he saith to the Britans in the time of Nero it must needes be by S. Peter And although the same Authour in the same place ioyneth with the Britans whome S. Nicasius thus instructed in the faith the people of Normandy Roan Picardy which be people in Fraunce Britones Normandos Rothomagenses Picardos this hindereth nothing but he might preach both to them and the Britans heare also as many others did and that which followeth omnemque maris Oceani tractum instruxit he instructed in the faith all the Coaste of the Ocean sea cannot well be iustified except we bring him hither into our Britaine for those Countries he nameth in Fraunce be farre from being omnis maris Oceani tractus either all or the half part of the Coaste of the French Ocean 6. To these I may probably add S. Martine lyuing in the Apostles time and Probable that S. Martin Disciple of the Apostles was a Britan or preached heare so renowned in this kingdome that in the time of King Lucius to speake in an old Authours words constructa est extra Cantuariam Ecclesia Sancti Martini a Church was builded vnto him without Canter bury Which is the same S. Bede and others write was the old Church builded there in the time of the Romans who where departed hence before the dayes eyther of S. Martine M. S. Abbreuiatio tempor in Rege Lucio Bed hist Anglic. in S. Augustino l. 1. Stowe histor in Ethelbert Theater of great Brit. Matth. Parker antiq Brit. Godwyn Conu of Britaine p. 40. Ado in chronic ad an 101. Will. Lamb. perambulation of Kent p. 13. the Pope or S. Martine Bishop of Tours in Fraunce by all accompts And Ado and others testifie this S. Martine was a Bishop in the time of Traiane and armo D. 101. Disciple of the Apostles Martinus Episcopus Discipulus Apostolorum Viennae resedit And M. Lambert the Protestant Antiquary doth assure vs that this Church by Canterbury dedicated to S. Martine was both builded in the Romans time and was and continued a Bishops See vntill the coming of the Normans hither and so extraordinarily there were two Bishops Sees in one City this being substitute to the Archbishop which argueth how greate the honour was that this nation gaue vnto him And yet a Church so aunciently dedicated to him heare would of it selfe by Brittish proceedings in such affaires induce vs to thinke that eyther he was a Britan borne or preached in this our Britayne or both For in perusing our Antiquities of those times we shall hardly finde any Church dedicated in this kingdome to any Saint except the blessed Virgin Mary for her eminent priuiledge but to such as were Saints of this Nation as S. Alban Amphibalus Aaron Iulius or preached heare as S. Peter the Apostle S. Clement his Disciple and successor and such like 7. To make which more apparantly probable vnto vs we haue two renowned and annuncient Authors Methodius and S. Marianus who speaking Marian. Scot. l. 2. aetat 6. in Nerua Imp. col 254. Method apud cund supr of this holy Bishop S. Martine and telling he liued and suffered Martyrdome in the time of Nerua the Emperour within the first hundred yeare of Christ say That non solum propria prouincia sed in extremis vltimis industrius illustris non solùm confessione quin martyrio existens regna Tyrannorum vicit He was not onely industrious and renowned in his owne Prouince but also in the vttermost and last Regions not onely a confessour but a Martyr conquered the kingdomes of Tyrants Therefore to graunt vnto Ado that he was sometime Bishop of Vienna in Fraunce seeing so
allmost all the same reasons and Bed Martyrol 15. Cal. Octobr. Mart. Rom. die 17. Septemb. Vsuatd Ado Mart. Anglic. Secundum vsum Sarum cod die Engl. Marty 17. Sept. authorities to assist mee which I vsed for S. Augulus and therefore need not repcate them againe and no argument or Authour but that late writer without all warrant for these as for S. Augulus to impugne mee and him I haue fully answeared Onely one thing he writeth to their honour which I willingly allowe There are diuers Churches yet remayning in Wales that in auncient times haue bene dedicated in their honour among whom also their memory is yet famous vntill this day especially in Monmouthshire and the Southern parts adioyning But that they were martyred vnder Diocletian he bringeth no Authoritie The Authours which he citeth for them being those I alledged before are silent S. Soâ—ates and S. Stephen probably maâ—tyred in Britaine about this time of any such thing onely they say that vpon that day not speaking of any time they were martyred in Britaine Neyther can I finde any grounde with him or elswhere for that he saith of them They were conuerted to the faith of Christ in our Primatiue Church by the preaching of S. Amphiball Preist and Martyr For Britaine and the Britans were conuerted long before And though many Christians in Britaine were put to death in the time or Persecution commonly ascribed to Dioclesian as a thowsand at one place called Lichfeild which argueth the inhabitants heare then were Christians and more needed grace of perseuerance then preaching especially towards the Countryes now called Wales yet I doe not finde any particularly named in auncient Authours but S. Alban Heraclius Amphibalus Aaron and Iulius except we should allow of that which Regino writeth of S. Lucia Virgin and Martyr in Britaine Lucia Virgo in Britannia Which is discredited by himselfe for he saith she Regino in Chronic an D. 242. was putt to death in Britaine in the yeare of Christ 242. Which probably was before Dioclesian was borne Yet will I not denie but Regino PrunieÌ„sis mistaking the time for the number of yeares may otherwise write a truth that S. Lucia Virgin Martyr in Britaine by Regino Pruniensis Lucia a Virgin was martyred in Britaine and in the dayes of Dioclesian and if halfe so much Authoritie had or could be brought for S. Augulus Socrates or Stephen I should not so easilie haue disabled it Onely one thing I will adde concerning the place of S. Augulus Martyrdome 10. That a late French writer in his Historie of this our Britaine seemeth to Andre du Chesne Taurauge en l'Historie general d'Angleterre Escosse d'Irland thinke that Caerlegion was in the time of Iulius Agricola and by him named Augusta which if it were so it onely varieth the particular place of his Martyrdome nothing detracting from the glorie of him or this Nation or contradicting that I haue said of the time of his death for no memory is in Histories of any such there in the time of Dioclesian nor any Archbishops name of that place preserued long after Dioclesian his death Tremonius S. Dubritius the first that be named in Histories which rather confirmeth the honor of the place of his Martyrdome to LondoÌ„ especially seeing this Authour bringeth neither reason nor Authoritie to infring it if we take the denominatioÌ„ Augusta to haue bene giuen heare in respect of the Nobility of the place it must needs best agree to our most auncient and noble Citie as Camden and others yeeld that reason ea dignitate floruit Londinum vt Augusta dici caeperit many forreine Cities very famous were called Augusta in that respect as Vacienorum Augusta praetoria Camden in middle sex pag. 217. Monster in Cosmogra Cooper in Augusta Abraham Ortelius in Indice Antiq. Region Insul Vrb. Oppid c. Augusta Taurinorum Augusta Tricastinorum Augusta Veromanduorum Augusta Valeria Augusta Emerita Augusta Bracchara Augusta Acilia Augusta Tiberij Augusta Vindeliciorum Augusta Caesarea Augusta Vestonum Augusta Treuirorum and other famous Cities among Cosmographers which haue taken that name for their Noblenes and not from the Roman Legion called Augusta lying in so many places And of all places Caer-legion could not be so named from that relation no euidence giuen that any so named Legion continued there And the generll name Caer-legion the Citie of the Legion conuinceth it had not the name from any Legion in particular much lesse Augusta for then it should haue bene named Caer-augusta and not Caer-legion as we see all the others are before named Augusta absolutely without reference to any Legion either in generall or particular And the Cities before named Augusta are called as we see of the Countryes where they be or were and not from any Roman Legion 11. I haue mentioned before that the Emperour Traian was a Persecutor of Christians and among many others the renowned Pope S. Clement was barbarously first exiled and after cruelly put to death But this Persecution as it much aduanced the honor of our Brittish Christians so it gaue occasion to encrease their number Our noble Christian Brittish house at Rome as in this time and before it was the most frequented receptacle of Christians releeuing them in all their wants while they liued so now in this storme of Persecution besides the famous Sepulchrary and burying place which it had most charitably before prouided in via Salaria bearing the name of S. Priscilla our Brittish Foundresse thereof there was an other very costely burying place Loco caemiterij at their owne dwelling house as the Baron Annot. in Martyrol Rom. die 16. Ianuarij Romans haue before confessed where they secretly buryed the bodyes of the holy Martyrs suffering in these Persecutions ad sepeliendos sublatos occultè Martyres And as I haue shewed before this Christian Brittish house hauing so greate resorte of Christians vnto it that at one time there were in it baptized nonaginta sex homines 96. men besides women and children as that phrase is vsually taken in Histories and was as the coÌ„mon schoole Seminary cheife Church and place to minister Sacraments and consecrate holy parsons we must needs conclude from hence that this kingdome of Britaine was before all other Nations to take especiall fruite and benefite thereby to haue diuers of those holy Preists there consecrated to be sent hither vnto it This the lawe of the Ghospell allowed the chardge of S. Peter exacted and S. Clement as duely performed the lawe of nature pleading for Britaine to our Christian Brittish house and schoole in Rome that so it ought to be And yet an other lawe and of no small power with those that desired to serue Christ with quiet and securitie the lawe of necessitie drewe many Christians from Rome and those parts of the Empire where the Persecution then raiged as diuers both Catholike and Protestant Authours haue before proued to come vnto and liue
this Institution and Confirmation many hundreds of yeares by all Antiquities The exception which some may make by finding Britaine diuided into fiue Prouinces I haue fully answeared before and our cheife Protestants namely Doctour George Abbots Archbishop of Canterbury and such others as directed and assisted Maister Francis Mason in the Booke intituled Crosses and Christian Images then certaine tokens of Christians Of the Consecration of the Bishops of the Church of England he their Scribe will thus secondemee therein The Romans before this time of King Lucius his receauing the faith had diuided Britaine into three Prouinces one of theÌ„ was called Maxima Caesariensis the Metropolis whereof was Yorke An other Britannia prima the Metropolis whereof was London the third Britannia secunda the Metropolis whereof was CaerlegioÌ„ And prouing besides so many Authorities before cited by Asserius Meneuensis Schoolmester to King Alfred Ptolomaeus LuceÌ„sis William Reade Ihon LelaÌ„d that the Archbishops of this IlaÌ„d were onely seated in those three MetropolitaÌ„ Cities LondoÌ„ Yorke Caerlogion according to that diuisioÌ„ of Prouinces heare to cleare the obiectioÌ„ thus they had further in this busines Although Britaine was after the Nicen Councell diuided into fiue Prouinces Valentia and Flauia CaesarieÌ„sis being added to the former yet there were no new Archbishops erected The reason whereof was because those two new Prouinces were taken out of the former and consequently could not haue Bishopriks without the diminishing of the Authoritie of the former in whose Iurisdiction originally they were which was not sufferable because it was against the Canon of the Nicen Councell decreeing that in Antioch and in other Prouinces the dignitie prerogatiues and Authorities of Churches should be mainetained Hitherto these Protestant writers 4. And to leaue it without question that this placing both of Archbishops and Bishops also at this time in Britaine was both warranted and confirmed by this highest spirituall Papall Power and Prerogatiue in Pope Eleutherius among so many hundreds of Archbishops and Bishops as haue bene in Britaine as it conprehendeth England Wales and Scotland no Historie mentioneth no Antiquarie can proue that from this time of King Lucius vntill the Reuolt of King Henry 8. from the Church of Rome any one Archbishoprik or Bishoprik was eyther founded translated vnited diminished or any wise changed but it was eyther first done or afterward confirmed or made frustrate by this greate Apostolike and Papall Power of the Roman See I neede not the Assistance of Catholike Antiquities herein our Protestant Bishops and Antiquaries which haue written of this subiect of Bishops and their Sees Gul. Malmesb l. de Ant. Caenob Glaston doe leaue and cleare it for an euident truth And because such an including proposition without confession in particular would cost my Readers some labour to examine it let them take for pregnant witnesses hereof the two greate Flatterers of King Henry 8 Matthew Parker the first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury a man of all Religions with that King his sonne King Edward The Popes Legats con inue diuers at Glastenbury renew and setle reâ—igious meÌ„ there in place of the first of S. Ioseph his company and Queene Elizabeth and Polidor Virgill a time Pleaser and Seruant thereof The first speaking of King Henry 8. his Lawes against the Popes Authoritie and the time of the Saxons saith that by them then made the Popes Power which had euer vntill then continued in England and was thought vnsuperable was ouerthrowne his legibus potentia Papalis quae nongentis amplius annis in Anglia durauit insuperabilis visa est concidit The other writeth then a liuing witnes that the supreamacie taken from the Pope and giuen to the King was a thing neuer heard of in any time before Habetur Concilium Londini in quo Ecclesia Anglicana formam potestatis nullis ante temporibus visum induit Henricus enim Rex Caput ipsius Ecclesiae constituitur By which also as in a glasse by a truely representing species we may behold that it neyther was nor could be any other then the Pope of Rome onely clayming and exercising such spirituall Power heare in those times which did or could giue a full and finall confirmation to those Vniuersities or Schooles and Religeous houses of Britaine with the Rule and Order they followed and professed in these daies 5. Yet we are not alltogether destitute of Instances in particular of such Honorius Papa 1. in Bulla Vniuersitati Canta-Cantabr coÌ„cess ann 624. 20. die Februarij apud Io. Caium l. 1. de antiq Cantabr Academ p. 75. 76 77. confirmation For Schooles or Vniuersities the Antiquaries of Cambridge produce the auncient Bull of Pope Honorius the first 1000. yeares since coÌ„firming that Vniuersitie and priuiledges thereof and in the same affirming that his Predecessours Pope Eleutherius in whose time we are Fabianus Leo Simplicius Foelix and Bonifacius gaue the like confirmation and exemption vnto it Praedecessorum nostrorum Romanae Ecclesiae Pontificum Eleutherij Fabiani Leonis Simplicij Faelicis Bonifacij vestigijs debitè inhaerentes authoritate omnipotentis Dei districtiùs inhibemus sub paena excommunicationis ne quis Archiepiscopus aut eorum officiales c. Where it is said that these Popes gaue these priuiledges against all parsoÌ„s by the Authoritie of God For the Schoole of GlamorgaÌ„ we haue the like testimonie that the Pope gaue the cheife charge thereof to S. Iltutus renowned both for his learning and piety as also his most worthie Schollers and their greate number in which were both Gaules and Britans in whome S. Sampson S. Paulinus S. Dauid S. Gildas Magistralis Charta MerchiaÌ„ni Regis l. Sanct. Wall Caius sup p. 147. Capgr Catal. in S. Ilâ—uâ—o Abbate Confessore Io. Bal. l. de Script Britan. cent 1. in Elchuto Morgan Manuscr Antiq. Mona sterij S. Aug. Cantuariae tibi cura concessa est à Pontisice as King Merchiannus testifieth in his Charter of priuiledge vnto him and that his Schoole or Vniuersitie For our Monasteries and Religeous houses then that they were confirmed and priuiledged by this holy Pope I shall more fully shew when I come to these Legats returne and visiting Glastenbury bringing with them a confirmation Immunities and Indulgences from S. Eleutherius to that most auncient and Religious Monastery with an approbation of the holy Rule and Order which there and in all Britaine after many hundreds of yeares was kept and followed In the meane time he that will but behold if he may the old Manuscript of S. Augustins in Canterbury shall there see aboue 100. particular Bulls of Popes confirming the liberties and Immunities of that house He may reade in the first Protestantically made Archbishop there that as I haue proued and shall proue of our Britans how all their Archbishops had their ordination Power and Authoritie from the Popes of Rome so amoÌ„g the Saxons Matth. Parker Antiq. Brit. vntill he first
old Latine Manuscript History mortuus est Lucius sepultus in Claudiocestria The old Manuscript of S. Peters Church in Cornhill at London auoucheth from diuers Antiquities that he was buried at Gloucester where the Church of S. Francis was after builded being at the time of his death the Cathedrall and Episcopall Church of that Citie as I haue remembred Ihon Harding also witnesseth of this Kings death and bury all at Glocester At Cairglowe buried after his dignitie 6. And not to exclude the testimony of our Protestant Antiquaries in this Relation in their Theater of great Britaine written and coÌ„posed by diuers of their best Historians and published with their common applause and Approbation they make this History of King Lucius his death in Britaine a matter without question true and thus scoffingly condemne those writers Which would carry him to end his dayes in Germanye That this Lucius should be the Apostle to the Bauarians or that his Sister Emerita was crowned with the Flames of Martyrdome fifteene yeares after his death I leaue to the credit of Aegedius Schudus and Hermannus Scedelius the Reporters Others of them plainely say Lucius was buried at Glocester Yet this generall consent of Antiquitie for his first buriall at Glocester doth nothing hinder but as the kuowne deuotion both of the Britans and Saxons after them towards holy Reliks did often and with greate reuerence and solemnitie remoue the bodyes of holy Saints or parts of them for their greater honour So it might or did after fall out with the whole body of this renowned King or some part thereof And the Tradition of Winchester is that the whole body of King Lucius or a greate part thereof being once remoued before was the second time Translated thither there lieth in the bodie of the greate Church vnder a marble stone eleuated about two foote froÌ„ the pauement the same stone being now broken in two places hauing vpon â—t and those holy Reliks a Crosse of 7. greate brasse buttons whereof 5. are set downe in length and the other two making the perfect figure and forme of the Crosse one on each side of the others making the length And this reuerent Translation of King Lucius body to diuers places in Britaine is sufficiently insinuated by the old Authour of the French Manuscript History I Manuscr Gallic sup c. 9. haue cited before who allthough he confidently affirmeth that King Lucius died at Glocester deuia a Gloucestre yet he addeth that he was afterward buried in the cheife See in the Citie of Caerlegion En Leglise del Primer See cest assauoir en la cittie de Legions estoit enterres and this he saith was in the 196. yeare of Christs Incarnation l'an de l'Incartion 196. 4. or 5. yeares sooner then others before haue set downe his death except the forenamed Manuscript Compilation which hath the same Computation of his death saying sepultus Compilatio M. S. de gest Brit. Angl. in Lucio est Anno Incarnationis Dominicae 196. herede carens THE III. CHAPTER HOW NOTWITHSTANDING THE DEATH of King Lucius without Heire to succeede in the gouerment of the kingdome the Brittans perseuered constantly in the Christian faith and the Scots by Preachers sent from Sainct Victor Pope of Rome at the entreatie of their King Donalde receaued the faith and as the Brittans continued in it vntill the Protestants time euen by their owne confessions 1. AND both to assure vs further of the vndoubted truth of those Histories which testifie the death and buriall of King Lucius to haue bene in Britaine and not in any forreine The greate losse Britaine had of King Lucius his death Region as also to giue vs better notice and triall what honour peace and quiet spirituall and temporall with other happines this kingdome enioyed by King Lucius blessed life and loste them by the losse of him it is the constant agreement of Antiquities Galfr. Monum Hist Reg. Brit. l. 5. c. 1. Virun l. 5. Histor Matth. Westm An. 201. Holinshed Hist of Engl. l. 4. c. 19. Compilatio M. S. de gest Brit. Angl. in Lucio that Britaine now made by his death destitute not onely of so worthie a King but also of any certaine Heire or Successor of that Regall Race fell to intestine discord and variance by which it was miserably afflicted long time vpon that occasion Caruerat ille sobole oritur seditio inter Britones de successuro in Regnum Romana potestas infirmata est A Protestant Historian thus writeth in generall of this matter King Lucius dyed without issue by reason whereof after his decease the Brittans fell at variance which continued about the space of fiftene yeares as Fabian thinketh howbe it the old English Cronicle affirmeth that the contention betwixt them remained fifty yeares though Harding affirmeth but foure yeares Which his words of Hardings opinion that this variance among the Brittans continued but 4. yeares are to be ameÌ„ded for Harding setteth downe Matth. Westm An. 205. Florent Wigor in Chro. Marianus Scotus Martin Polon in Seuero Harding Chronic c. 51. f. 44. the dissentions of the Brittans as other Historians doe and maketh them of as long continuance onely he saith that Seuerus the Emperour came hither foure yeares after the death of King Lucius to seeke to appease things so doth Matthew of Westminster Florentius and others as farre as Harding doth his words be these of King Lucius death For cause he had non heire to keepe the land Through all Britaine the Barons gan discord Vnto the time that Romans tooke on hand To chose a Prince by their stedfast accord But 4. yere were gone or then they could accorde In which then Seuer the Senatour Hether came to be their Gouernour Where Harding doth limit the foure yeares onely to the Romans to take notice and deliberate of these things and conclude to send Seuerus hither saying But foure yeares were gone or then they could accorde Meaning the Romans about this matter for it is euident both by Harding and all other Antiquaries that Seuerus did not accord the Britans but the variance continued heare during his whole life and he was slaine at Yorke in the same contention as both Harding and all others testifie Harding saith But King Fulgen of Pightes and Scots againe Harding Chron. c. 53. s 45. With hoost full great seiged Ebranke citee Which Seuer rescowed and was slaine And Fulgen also for beten there did die And he continueth the Brittans warrs and tumults heare long time after Seuerus his death and his sonnes after him as other Antiquaries likewise Christians in Britaine quiet for Religion vntill the Persecution of Dioclesian doe finding litle quiet heare vntill the later end of Constantius Father of Constantiue the Greate Emperour Which will more appeare hereafter so farre as it carrieth any connexion with our Ecclesiasticall History 2. And yet notwithstanding such a worlde of vnquietnes heare
in body and soule he was not onely greate with a particular King but a greate and the greatest King and Emperour and so stiled Constantinus Magnus and Maximus that euer was in the worlde He did not onely bringe temporall safety and quiet to one kingdome and Nation but both temporall and spirituall happines and saluation to the whole Empire and to all kingdomes 2. Constantine being troubled with this Infirmitie if I may call that so which S. Augustine saith is a defect of colour and not of health or integrity of senses and members coloris quippe vitium est non valetudinis out Integritatis sensuum atque membrorum and seeking remedy yet finding none among his Aug. Quaest Euangel l. 1. c. 40. bodily Phisitians the Pagan Flamens aduised him to make a Bathe in the Capitole and therin washe his body with the warne blood of Infants Plyny Edictum Constantini Tom 1. Concil Act. Syluestri Papae Plin. l. 26. c. 1. Adrianus 1. Epist ad Constant Iren Simeon Metaphrast in Vita S. Syluestri Zonaras in Const Menol. Graecor Kalend. Ianuar. Gregor Turon and others writing that this greife hath bene so healed which to effect these Idolatrous GeÌ„tils prepared a greate nuÌ„ber of such childreÌ„ inteÌ„ding to kill theÌ„ and fill the Bathe with their blood which when Constantine considered and beheld the teares lamentations of the Mothers for their children he abhorred so great crueltie and wickednes causing the childreÌ„ to be restored to their Mothers with rewardes and meanes to carry them to their dwelling places In the night following the holy Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul doe appeare and say thus vnto him O Emperour because thow hast detested to shedd the blood of InnoceÌ„ts we ar sent vnto thee by Christ to teach thee meanes to recouer thy health Send for Bishop Syluester and he will prouide an holy Bath in which he will baptize thee and thou shalt be cured froÌ„ thy Leprosie and all diseases Which Constantine presently performed sending for S. Siluester who shewed there vnto him the Picturs of The apparition of S. Peter and Saint Paul to Constantine S. Peter and S. Paule which when the Emperour diligently beholded he openly before his Nobilitie confessed that these were they which appeared vnto him and being perfectly instructed by S. Syluester was baptized by him and Miraculously cleansed froÌ„ his Leprosie an hand from heauen as he himselfe did see and testifie touching him And when he was thus wonderfully cured and Christned S. Syluester ministred the The Images of the Apostles then reuerently vsed by Christians holy Sacrament of Confirmation vnto him anoynting and signing his forehead with sacred Chrisme as the Roman Church now vseth Benedicto fonte illic me trina mersione vnda salutis purisicauit positoque me in fontis gremio manum de caelo me contingentem proprijs oculis vidi De qua mundus exurgens ab omni me Leprae squalore mundatum agnoscite lâ—uatoque me de venerabili fonte induto vestibus candidis septiformis The Sacraments of Baptisme and Confirmation how ministred to Constantine with miracle gratiae sancti spiritus consignationem adhibuit beati Chrismatis vnctione vexillum sanctae Crucis in mea fronte liniuit dicens signat te Deus sigillo fidei suae in nomine patris filij spiritus Sancti in consignatione fidei Cunctusque Clerus respondit Amen Et adiecit Praesul pax tibi Simeon Metaphrastes a Greeke Writer saith that at the time of ConstaÌ„tine his Baptisme by S. Syluester a light Sim. Metaphr in Vit. S. Syluestri more bright theÌ„ the sunne did sodainely shine about all the house Lux repente totam domum circumfulsit lucis splendor plusquam sol enituit And the Emperour being baptized his flesh was pure and sound without any hurt or scarr and the water wherewith he was baptized was full of such filth as came from his sores like scales of fishes exijt Imperator ex diuino Lauacro habens carnem puram sanam neque plaga nec vlla apparente cicatrice aqua autem piscinae erat plena ijs quae ex vlceribus exciderant membranis ac pelliculis non secus ac squammis pisciuÌ„ Diuers both Greeke and Latine Writers say that his sonne Crispus was then babtized with him Magnus Constantinus cum Crispo filio Romae à Siluestro baptizatus est 3. These things being of so greate note and consequeÌ„ce in so greate a Prince Theophan Cerameus Chronolog Platina in Mar. and Commander and so concerning all people were not nor could be done in secret The infirmitie of Constantins Leprosie was generally knowne Phisitians had often bene consulted and done their best practise about it the place of the Capitole where the children should by the Pagans haue bene murdered about it was famous the gathering them from many places and Prouinces was knowne of all the open out-cries and lamentations of their Mothers could not be conceled the sending and seeking for S. Siluester were with honour and solemnitie performed so was his entertaiment and conference with the Emperour in presence of his Nobilitie The present conuersion of Constantine therevpon his preparation in penance seuen dayes before his Baptisme this solemnized in the publike Imperiall Palace and in an holy Fonte so curiously prouided as all Hictories agree and so Miraculously curing his corporall disease which no Art of man could heale made this Conuersion of Constantine renownedly knowne and manifest vnto all To the Christians for their vnspeakeable Ioy and comfort to the Iewes and Pagans to the shame and confusion of their obstinacy and saluation of many of them conuerted by this meanes 4. And Constantine himselfe did not onely send his Imperiall Edicts into all Euseb l. 2. de Vita Constant cap. 47. seq Bar. An. 324. Acts S. Syluestri Nicephor lib. 7. c. 34. Countryes both East and West for embracing Christian Religion but made his publike persuading OratioÌ„s to that purpose as namely in the opeÌ„ Church to the Senate and people of Rome in Basilica vlpia Wherevpon as Nicephorus a Gretian writeth in the onely Citie of Rome there were conuerted and baptized aboue twelue thowsande men besides women and younger people in the same yeare Egbertus from old Antiquities sicut antiqua nobis scripta commemorant seemeth to deliuer that all the Senators were then conuerted to Christ for he plainely saith that Constantine gaue the honour of the Senate of Rome to the Christian Clergie thereof and he withall the Senators departed from thence to Bizantium Totius Senatus honorem Clero qui cum ipso S. Siluestro Eckbertus Abb. Flor. Serm. 3. de Incremento manisestat Cath. fidei erat tradidit ipse cum Senatoribus omnibus de vrbe egrediens Bizantium transmigrauit 5. Therefore a wonder it is how some Greeke Writers which I haue remembred before should or could pleade ignorance of so concerning and memorable a thing so
Irish deriue their first preaching of the faith from such as came out of Britaine 25. 2. Diuers Islands conuerted immediatly after the promulgation of the Gospell 32. 4. Ilands about Britaine the refuges of persecuted Christians 425. 3. or 428. 3. Iteanus an Abbot 602. 7. Iulianus Apostota sonne of Constantius Clorus by Theodora 562. 1. Iulianus created Cesar ib. Iulianus married Helena Constantius his Sister ib. Iulianus inuadeth the Empire 554. 5. Iulianus renowned for his victories ib. Iulianus chosen Emperour 554. 5. 562. 1. Iulianus fauorable first to Catholikes 554. 5. Iulianus recalled Bishops banished by Constantius ib. Iulianus his short reigne 563. 2. Iulianus his persecution neuer extended to Britaine ib. Iulianus went aboute to build Hierusalem in fauour of the Iewes 564. 3. S. Iude Martyred in Persia 46. 4. Pope Iulius exempted Priests from secular iudges 540. 5. Pope Iulius maintained that no CouÌ„cell might be called with out the allowance of the Roman See ib. SS Iulius Aaron Martyred at Caerlegion 426. 2. SS Iulius and Aarons education ib. SS Iulius Aaron honored with Pilgrimages and praiers ib. SS Iulius Aarons heroical magnanimity 428. 3. or 425. 3. SS Iulius Aaron Martyred and on what day ib. Iulius Cesar made Britaine tributarie to the Romans 1. 1. Iulius Cesar carried Britans to Rome as hostages ib. Iulius Philippus the first Christian Emperour 391. 1. S. Iustins Apologie for Christians 202. 3. 230. 4. S. Iustin defended the same publikly in disputation 230. 4. S. Iustus ordained Bishop 210. 4. S. Iustus Bishop of Vienna Martyred 220. 2. K. S. Kebius sonne vnto Salomon Duke of Cornewaile 565. 1. S. Kebius refused the principality of Cornewaile 566. 2. S. Kebius went into France and why ib. S. Kebius consecrated Bishop by faint Hilarius and when ib. S. Kebius present at the Councell of Ariminum ib. The time of his death 565. 1. The place of his death 566. 3. S. Kebius his Miracles ib. S. Kebius place of aboad ib. S Keina a Noble Britans daughter 585. 10. S. Keina liued allwaies a holy virgin ib. S. Keina renowned for Miracles ib. S. Kentegern renowned for his regular life according to our Brittish Order 332. 8. S. Kentegern erected a Monastery in Wales 310. 8. The manner of liuing of his Monkes ib. The number of Priests and Preachers in his Monastery 332. 8. S. Kentegerns state of life approued by saint Gregorie ib. The Kings of Britaine were rather friends then enemies to Christian Religion in Tiberius daies 23. 7. No King of Britaine after our Sauiours Passion ioyned with the Romans in their Religion 164. 3. The King of France stileth him selfe Primogenitus Ecclesiae and why 251. 6. Kinges must reuerence the Church and not rule it 301. 5. Kimbeline King of Britaine 1. 1. Kimbeline present at Rome at the strange reports of our Sauiour 8. 9. L. THe Latin tongue frequent in Britaine 268. 3. None could beare office that vnderstode it not ib. The skill in the Latin tongue a great healp to the Britans conuersion ib. A Law amongst the Romans about the worshipping of their Gods 15. 6. A Law amongst the Romans concerning the illegitimation of wiues 397. 6. The auncient Lawes of Britaine for the most part ascribed to Mulmutius Dunwallo 301. 6. The old Lawes of Britaine translated out of the Brittish language into Latin ib. Lentulus Writes to Tiberius Concerning Christ 12. 2. Leporius Agricola a Monke of Bangor 607. 2. Leporius once a Pelagian ib. Leporius conuerted and made priest ib. Liberius succeeded saint Iulius in the Papacy 556. 1. Liberius was no Arrian or consenter to them ib. Liberius exiled by the Arrians ib. Liberius slandered by the Arrians to haue subscribed vnto their Articles 557. 1. The people in Armes for his returne ib. The Matrons of Rome seeke for his returne 558. 2. Liberius permitted to returne 557. 1. Liberius interdicted those who affirmed the error of the Arrians ib. Liberius exhorts the Easterne Bishops to confesse the holy Trinity 558. 4. Lich-feild why so called 446. 3. Licinâ—us Emperour in the East 486. 1. Licinius married Constantia ib. Licinius professed himselfe a friend to Christians ib. Licinius fell to warre with Constantine 487. 2. Licinius ouerthrowne ib. Licinius hangeth himselfe ib. S. Liephard a Bishop and Martyr of Britaine 587. 12. Lights vsed in the Church 552. 5. S. Linus care of Britaine 167. 4. S. Linus consecrated diuers Preists of this Nation 167. 4. S. Linus conuersed most with Britans at Rome 164. 3. S. Liuinus Disciple to saint Benignus 332. 9. S. Liuinus made Priest ib. Liuius Gallus slain 475. 4. Lollius Vrbicus sent with forces into Britaine 219. 1. Lollius Vrbicus fought some battailes against the Britans ib. London once called Augusta 94. 4. 178. 7. London called Augusta in respect of the Nobility of the place 181. 10. London builded by Brutus 280. 2. London the most auncient Citty of Britaine ib. London an Arch-flamens Seat ib. London a Primats See 178. 6. London opprest with the persecution of Dioclesian 426. 1. S. Lucius King when conuerted 193. 2. S. Lucius beginning of his reigne 201. 2. S. Lucius makes intercessioÌ„ to Rome to become a Christian 210. 4. 217. 8. S. Lucius consented at least to be a Christian in the time of Pope Higinius 211. 5. S. Lucius the first Christian King in the world 212. 1. S. Lucius perswaded to Christianity by the Christians of Cambridge 212. 7. S. Lucius not conuerted by S. Eluanus or Meduuinus 213. 2. S. Lucius conuerted by S. Timothius and Marcellus Britans ib. S. Lucius consulted with the Archflamens before he entered into disputation concerning Religion 217. 7. S. Lucius hindered by diuers human feares from open profession of of Christian Religion 219. 1. S. Lucius professed not Christian Religion publickly vntill the time of Pope Eleutherius 221. 3. S. Lucius deales with Pope Eleutherius about a generall Conuersion of Britaine 221. 3. S. Lucius certified of the Emperours and Roman Nobilities good liking of Christian Religion 238. 4. S. Lucius his Ambassage to Rome and time thereof 248. 3. A Protestant answered for blaming his Ambassage 250. 5. c. S. Lucius did write to Rome for the establishing of his temporall Estate 256. 3. S. Lucius did write to Pope Eleutherius for the Roman Lawes 295. 1. Pope Eleutherius his answere corrupted ib. S. Lucius his Lawes were for the most part our old Britan Lawes 301. 6. S. Lucius the first King Nutricius of Gods Church 304. 1. S. Lucius first deserued the Title of Defender of the faith ib. S. Lucius founded the Vniuersity of Bangor in Wales 380. 6. S. Lucius founded diuers other Monasteries both of men and women 308. 7. S. Lucius carefull to haue things in Britaine confirmed by the Popes authority 312. 1. S. Lucius kingly munificence and bountie 338. 2. S. Lucius death 346. 3. The day of his death 347. 1. 349. 5. S. Lucius preached not in Germany neither was he Martyred or died there 347.