chiefest City at this day in Essex wherein Lucius Helena and Constantine the first Christian King Empress and Emperour in the world were born which made Nechan to sing as he did From Colchester there sprung a star The rayes whereof gave glorious light Throughout the world in climates far Great Constantine Romes Emperour bright This City is walled about raised upon a high trench of earth though now much decaied having six gates of entrance and three posterns in the West wall besides nine watch Towers for defence and containeth in compasse 1980 paces wherein stand 8 fair Churches and two other without the walls for Gods divine Service St. Tenants the Black-fryars decayed in the suburbs St. Mary Magdelens the Nunnery St. John's and the Crochiet Fryers suppressed within towards the East is mounted an old Castle and elder ruines upon a trench containing two Acres of Ground where as yet may be seen the provident care they had against all ensuing assault This City was graced with the honour of a Viscount by K. James who Created Thomas Darcy Lord Darcy of Chich 1621. Viscount Colchester in Essex to him during his life the remainder to Sir Thomis Savage of Roch Savage in the County of Chester Knight and Baronet who had Married one of his Daughters and Coheirs Thomas Lord Darcy Argent 3 cinque foils Gules John Savage Viscount Rochester Colchester Argent 6 Lyons ramp 321 sable Now was the time come namely about one hundred and fourscore years after the Birth of our Saviour when Christian Religion which many years together had been for the most part shadowed with dark clouds of Heathenish superstition began to discover it self more openly in this Iland by the means of Lucius sirnamed Lever-Maur who by permission of the Roman Lieutenant did govern as King a great part of the Province For it appeareth by the testimony of some ancient Writers that Brittain received the Christian Faith even in the Infancy of the Church immediately after the death of our Saviour whose Apostles and Disciples according to his Commandment published and dispersed the same in divers Regions partly by themselves in their own persons partly by their Ministers among whom were sent into Brittany Simon Chananaeus that after his peregrination in Mauritania as it is reported was slain and buried in this Iland Aristobulus a Roman Brittish History fol. 108. l. 3. c. 3. of whom St. Paul in his Epistles maketh mention and Joseph of Arimathea a noble Man of Jury specially remembred of Posterity for his charitable Act in burying the Body of our Saviour This Man was appointed by St. Philip the Apostle then preaching the Christian Faith in Gallia to instruct the ancient Brittains among whom he began first as some write to institute an Eremitical life in a place then called Duellonia and afterwards Glastenbury where himself and his Companions imitating the austerity and zeal of solitude which they had observed in Mary Magdalen with whom they travelled out of Jury unto Marsilia in France sequestred themselves from all worldly Affairs that they might freely attend to the exercise of piety which they professed yea some Writers of former Ages have writ that the Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul in their own persons at several times came into Brittain and that afterwards one Sueton a noble Mans Son of that Country being converted by such Christians as first planted the Faith there and called after his Baptisme Beatus was sent by them to Rome unto St. Peter to be better instructed and confirmed in Christianity and that in his return homewards through Switzerland he found in the Inhabitants there such a desire and readinesse to receive the Christian Faith as he resolved to continue in that place where he erected an Oratory to exercise a Monastical life and departed the world about the year of Grace 110. but who were the very first Teachers and at that time the Christian Faith was first of all received there it is not certainly known saith this Author Howbeit it is likely that in the Expedition of Claudius the Emperor which was about the third year of his Reign and twelve years after the Ascension of our Saviour some Christians of Rome and Scholars of the Apostles themselves became first known unto the Brittains who in processe of time were drawn by the Exhortations and Examples of their Teachers to embrace the Truth The unblamable life of those religious Men moving sometimes even their Princes though yet unbelieving to protect and regard them as is shewn in Arviragus and others as Lucius then began to doe besides that the Roman Lieutenants also as well in Brittain as in other places did sometimes tolerate the exercise of Christian Religion as not altogether disliking it howsoever for worldly respects they forbare to shew themselves openly in favour of it But Lucius declared his inclination thereunto after another manner For inwardly disliking the prophane superstition then used among the Romans by the great constancy vertue and patience of the Christians at Rome and other places suffering Persecution and Martyrdome for the Faith of Christ the number of Christians whom many men esteemed for the Miracles they wrought as contrary to common expectation daily encreased That Pertinax and Tretellius two worthy Senators of Rome had been lately converted from Paganisme to Christianity that Marcus Aurelius the Roman Emperor then reigning began to conceive a better opinion of them then himself and his Predecessors had done and so much the rather by reason that not long before he had obtained a famous victory against his enemies the prosperous Event whereof he attributed to the prayers of the Christians at Rome Upon these considerations Lucius determined to be instructed in the Religion which they professed and first of all commanded Elevanus and Meduinus two learned Men of the Brittish Nation to go to Rome where Elutherius was then Bishop to require some meet persons to be sent into Brittain to instruct him and his people for which purpose Fugatius and Damianus were specially appointed by Elutherius with all speed to repair thither where they afterwards not without some danger by tempest upon the Seas arrived and applyed themselves both by doctrine and examples to perform the charge committed unto them the successe therein proving answerable to their endeavours for the prince and his Family was by them baptized some of the Inhabitants that had formerly received the Faith were confirmed therein and others that remained as yet in their infidelity were converted to Christianity But Lucius the Prince having received instructions from the Sea of Rome for direction of himself and his people in the profession and exercise of Christian Religion not desirous also to order his temporal estate according the Roman policy and to that end sollicited Elutherius the Bishop to send unto him the Lawes of the Empire out of which he might elect and compose some certain Ordinances for the Administration of civil justice whereupon Elutherius sent Letters to the
Tiranidis jugo liberavi civitatem S. P. Q. R. libertatem vindicans pristinae amplitudini splendori restitui You have here viewed Illustrious Prince our first Christian Emperor and his Father fit patterns for imitation Cast your Gracious eyes upon our first Catholick King Lucius and you shall find him Christianity being now established thus Charactered Interea gloriosus ille Britonum Rex Lucius cum intra regnum suum cultum vere fidei magnificatum esse vidisset maximo gaudio fluctuans possessiones territoria quae prius templa Idolorum possidebant in meliorem usum vertens Ecclesiis fidelium permancre concessit quia majorem honorem ipsis impendere debuerat augmentavit illas amplioribus agris mansis omnique libertate sublimavit And a little after Lucius the first Christian King of this Land then called Brittain founded the first Church in London that is to say St. Peters Church upon Cornhill where he setled an Archbishops See making that Church the Metropolis of his Kingdom neither was his zeal and piety confined to that City for you shall find him erecting a goodly Cathedral at Caerlegion in that part of England abusively called Wales which now is known by the name of Monmothshire as also the famous Vniversity of Bangor in the remotest parts thereof This holy King saith my Author granted made and signed many writings Charters and donations for defence maintenance and preservation of Religion as to the Vniversity of Cambridge the School of Shaftsbury with others and when he had done all this Anno 201. Inclitus Britannorum Rex Lucius in bonis actibus assumptus ab hac vita Claudiocesbriae migravit ad Christum in Ecclesia primae sedis sepultus honorifice King Arthur sealed many grants for the advancement of Religion and Learning and by reason of his great victories thrice changed his armorial ensignes at last advancing the cross for my Author saith King Arthur that mighty conquerour and worthy had so great affection and love to this sign that he left his armes which he used before wherein were figured three Dragons another of three crownes or as some say of thirteen and depicted in his shield a cross silver in a field vert and on the first quarter thereof he figured an Image of our B. Lady with her Son in her armes and with this sign he did wonders in Arms. And to this hour we see the Knights of the Noble order of the Garter of which number your Grace the flower of chevaldry is one to bear Argent a plain cross Gules the field signifying pureness of life the cross the blood that Christ shed for this our people whom Trevisa calleth the people of God and the Realm of Gods Land the same ensign did Joseph of Aramathia give unto Arviragus King of Brittain not many years after our Saviours passion Cadwalader the last Brittish Monarch for his armes bore Azure a cross for my fitched Or whole volumes may be compiled of this Subject and the worthy and most Christian acts of your sanctly progenitors But least I should convert an Epistle Dedicatory into History or Chronology I will proceed no further humbly offering up these my weak endeavours before the shrine of your goodness with all integrity beseeching Almighty God that you may if not excel at least equal the most valiant and vertuous of your Royal Progenitors which shall be the daily prayers of Your Royal Highness Most faithful and humble servant PERCY ENDERBY The Duke of York Anarawd King of Northwales Eidwal King of the same Meurick or Meirick Eidwal II. Jago Conan Griffith King of Northwales Owen King of Northwales Jorwerth Son and Heir to Owen married Marret D. to Madoc Prince of Powis Lhewelyn Prince of Northwales Gladis sole Daughter and Heir married to Ralph Lord Mortimer who in her right should have been Prince of Northwales Roger Lord Mortimer Edmund Lord Mortimer Roger Lord Mortimer Earl of March Edmund Lord Mortimer c. Roger Lord Mortimer Edmund Earl of March married Philip D. and H. to Lyonel D. of Clarence Roger Mortimer Earl of March left one only Daughter and Heir married to Richard Earl of Cambridge Richard Duke of York King Edward the Fourth Elizabeth sole daughter and heir married to King Henry the seventh descended from Owen Tudor Margaret eldest daughter to Henry the seventh and in her Issue his Inheretrix was Grandmother to Mary Queen of Scotland France and England Mother to King James King of great Brittain France and Ireland c. Grand-Father to James Duke of York who married Anne daughter to Sir Edward Hyde Baron of Henden and Lord Chancellor of England and hath Issue Charles Duke of Cambridge YORK The City of York anciently called Eboracum is seated upon the river Vre which we call Ouse in the VVest-riding of this County and is the second City of England both for fame and greatness a pleasant large and Stately place all well fortified and beautifully adorned as well with private as publick edifices and rich and populous with all seated on the river Ouse which cutteth it as it were in twain both parts being joyned together with a fair stone-bridge consisting of high and mighty arches a City of great fame in the Roman times and of as eminent reputation in all ages since and in the several turnes and changes which have befallen this Kingdom under the Saxons Danes and Normans hath still preserved its ancient lustre adorned it was with an Archiepiscopal See in the time of the Brittains nor stooped it lower when the Saxons received the Faith Richard the second laying unto it a little Territory on the VVest side thereof made it a county of it self in which the Archbishops of York enjoyed the rights of Palatines and for a further lustre to it Henry the eighth appointed here a councel for the Government of the Northern parts consisting of a Lord President certain Councellors a Secretary and other Officers and yet in none of these hath York been more fortunate then that it adorned so many Princes of the Imperial line of Germany and blood Royal of England with stile and attribute of Dukes and Earls of YORK 1. Otho of Bavaria Earl of York 2. Edmund of Langley fift Son to Edward the third Duke of York 3. Edward Plantagenet Son of Edward of Langley Duke of York 4. Rich. Plantagenet Nephew of Ed. of Langley Duke of York 5. Rich. of Shrewsbury Son of King Edw. Duke of York 6. Henry second Son to King Henry seventh Duke of York after King of England 7. Charles second Son of James King of England 8. James second Son to King CHARLES now Duke of York The Duke of CUMBERLAND It is needless to set down at large the Brittish line of this Heroick and VVarlike Prince Rupertus being sufficient to tell you that he is Son to that Peerless and unparallel'd Princess Elizabeth Queen of Bohemia daughter to James King of great Brittain sister to Charles King of great Brittain
work or act of the Gauls having done nothing for their part to make them carry away the Victory but that they should think it was no other thing but fortune alone who would needs shew her power Therefore it were now a notable and honourable Enterprize although somewhat dangerous to drive those strangers out of their Country considering that the onely end of their Victory was but to destroy and consume as fire all that fell into their hands wherefore if they would but onely take a good lusty heart and courage he would with opportunity and place assure them the Victory without danger The young men were pleased with these words of life and comfort whereupon Camillus went to break the matter also unto the Magistrates and Counsellours and having drawn them by perswasions unto this Enterprize Camillus perswades the Ardeans to take Arms against the Gauls he armed all that were of age to carry Armour and would not suffer a man to go out of the City for fear lest the Enemies which were not far off should have intelligence of the same Now after the Gauls had run over the Champian Country and were loaden with all sorts of spoils they did encamp themselves negligently in open fields and never charged Watch nor Ward but having their full Carriage of Wine laid them down to sleep and made no noise at all in their Camp Camill. Camillus being advertized thereof by his several Scouts caused the Ardeans with as little noise as might be forthwith to go out into the fields and having marched somewhat roundly the distance between the City and the Camp of the Gauls they came thither much about midnight Then he made his Souldiers make great shouts and cries and the Trumpets to be sounded on every side to put a fear in their enemies who yet with all the loud noise they made could hardly be made to wake they were so deadly drunk yet there were some notwithstanding that for fear to be taken tardy did bustle up at this sudden noise and coming to themselves fell to their weapons to resist Camillus which were slain by and by the rest and the greatest number of them lay here and there scattered in the middle of the field without any weapon dead asleep stark drunk with wine and were put to the sword and never struck stroke those that fled out of the Camp that night which were but few in numher were overthrown also next day by the horsemen which followed and killed them as they took them straggling here and there in the Field The bruit of this victory was blown abroad incontinently through all the Towns and Villages thereabouts which caused many young men to come and joyn themselves to Camillus but especially the Romans desired the same who had saved themselves in the City Veies after the battel lost at Allia who made their moans among themselves saying O Gods what a Captain hath Fortune taken from the City of Rome What honour hath the City of Ardea by the valiantness and worthy deeds of Camillus and in the mean season his natural City that brought him forth is now lost and utterly destroyed we for lack of a Captain to lead us are shut up here within others walls and do nothing but suffer Italy in the mean space to go to ruine and utter destruction before our eyes why then do we not send to the Ardeans for our Captain or why dowe not arm our selves and go to him for he is now no more a banished man nor we poor Citizens since our City is possessed with a Forreign power of our hatefull enemies so they all agreed to this counsel and sent to Camillus to beseech him to be their Captain and lead them But he made answer he would in no case consent unto it unless they that were besieged in the Capitol had lawfully first confirmed it by their voices for those said he as long as they do remain within the City represent the State and body thereof therefore if they commanded him to take this charge upon him he would most willingly obey them if otherwise they misliked of it that then he would not meddle against their good wills and commandment They having received this answer there was not a Roman amongst them but greatly honoured and extolled the wisdom and justice of Camillus But now they knew not how to make them privy to it that were besieged in the Capitol for they saw no possibility to convey a Messenger unto them considering the enemies were Lords of the City and laid siege unto it Howbeit there was one Pontius Cominius among the young men a man of a mean house but yet desirous of honour and glory that offered himself very willingly to venter to get in if he could so he took no Letters to convey with him to them that were besieged for fear lest they might be intercepted and so they should discover Camillus intention but putting on an ill favoured gown upon him he conveyed certain pieces of Cork under it and travelling at noon days kept on his way without fear untill he came to Rome bringing dark night with him and because he could not pass by the bridge for that the Gauls kept watch upon it he wrapped such cloaths as he had about his neck which were not many nor heavy and took the River and swimming with these Corks which he had brought at length he got over to the other side where the City stood then taking up those lanes where he thought the enemies were not seeing fire and hearing noise in other places he went to the gate Carmentall where he found more silence then in other places on the which side also the hill of the Capitol was more steep and upright by reason of the great rocks that were hard to clime up upon But he digged and crept up so long amongst them that he got up with great pain unto the wall of the Fortress on the which side also the enemy kept no watch and saluting the watch of the Capitol he told them what he was so they plucked him up to them and brought him to the Magistrates that ruled them who caused the Senate to assemble presently to whom he told the news of Camillus Victory which they had not heard of before and therewith also he did declare unto them the determination of the Roman Souldiers that were abroad which was to make Camillus their Captain and General and did perswade them also to grant him the Charge for that he was the only man abroad whom the Citizens gave consent to obey when they heard this all that were within the Capitol consulted thereupon among themselves and so did choose Camillus Dictator and returned the Messenger Pontius Cominius back again the self same way he came unto them this fortune in returning back was like unto his coming thither for the enemies never saw him And so he brought report to them that were abroad of the Senates decree and consent whereof they
' Imperator victoriam suam gaudenter attribuit And this I take to be the chiefest occasion of the mistakings in some Historians or their Scribes setting down so many and several times when King Lucius received the Christian Faith or professed it many saying it was in the year of Christ 156. Others in the year 164. and others 185 as William of Malmesbury and others Henry of Hartford 169. and others in other and later times That such was the state of Brittany for spiritual Affairs in this Idolatry and superstition daily diminishing and decaying and Christian Religion in all places and persons increasing and multiplying both Authority and the known certain effect it self the surest testimony in such cases shall witnesse And this was the condition thereof until about the beginning of the Papacy of St. Soter or in the end of the first year thereof about the year of our Redemption 175. when as it appeareth by the Edict of Marcus Aurelius Emperor before the strange delivery of him and his Army by the Christians miraculous prayers he suffered many Christians to live in quiet and had a great number of them about him Invenique magnam eorum multitudinem and seeing himself and his Army in distresse sent for them and intreated them to pray for his delivery Eos qui apud nos Christiani dicuntur ac accersivi ac rogavi Which he would not have done being a wise and learned Emperor but that either by the Apology of Athenagoras the Vertues and miracles of many Christians or some other invincible Argument his judgement was then wholly or almost convicted that their Religion was holy and they also and therefore likely to be powerable with God to procure his safety which his own prayers and sacrifices to his Pagan gods were not able to doe ' Deos patrios votis ' susceptis rogavi sed cum ab eis negligerer as himself publickly professed and therefore preferring the prayers of the Christians appealed unto them But after God by the prayers of the Christians which he procured them to make had so miraculously delivered him and his Army consisting but of four Legions not 27 thousand Men environed almost with a thousand thousands of Enemies as the common reading is ' Hostium nonagintorum septuaginta ' septem millia and his people distressed with thirst and hunger not having drunk in five days by sending a most cooling and comforting Rain into the Camp of the distressed Emperor and Hail like fire and lightning among his Enemies confounding and discomfitting them he presently sent out his Imperial Letters and Edict charging the Senate of Rome to confirm them with their Decree wherein wholly ascribing this Delivery of his Army and himself and confusion of his Enemies to the God of the Christians and their prayers unto him wherein he gave free Liberty for any man to be a Christian Concedamus talibus ut sint Christiani And no Man should be molested for being a Christian for Religion censeo neminem quod CHRISTIANVS sit esse in Crimen vel Judicium vocandum And he that should accuse any Christian for Religion should be burned alive and that he that shall professe himself to be a Christian shall be freed from all danger intended against him for that cause and no Governour of any Province shall punish any such for his Religion or deprive him of Liberty Volo eum qui Christianum accusarit vivum exuri illum vero qui se Christianum esse professus fuerit periculo omni quod ob eam rem intendebatur liberatum Is cui provincia commissa est nequaquam ad poenitentiam adigat aut libertatem ei adimat And he willed these things to be confirmed by the Senates decree and this his edict to be proposed in open market place to be read and that the prefect of the City then Vetrasius Pollio should cause it to be sent to all Provinces and no man should be forbidden to write it out Haec autem Senatus consulto etiam sanciri volo atque hoc meum edictum in foro Divi Trajani proponi ut legi possit curae autem erit Vetrasio Pollioni praefecto urbis ut ad omnes provincias haec constitutio mittatur neque quisquam qui eam exscribere vel ipse uti voluerit prohibeatur This was sent to the whole Senate of Rome Senatui Populoque Romano and by the Emperours publick charge and command as into other Provinces so likewise sent into Brittany for the priviledge of all Christians there by the Emperours publick Officer in such Affairs the Ruler of the Ctiy of Rome ad omnes Provincias haec constituo mittatur Any man that would might freely be a Christian and no man under pain of cruel death to burnt be alive might call any into question for that cause And to give greater testimony of those things in Brittain and see this Imperial edict for the freedom of Christians here take place and effect whereas our English Antiquaries and others tells us Floren. Wigorn. Chronic. anno 159. 181. that Trebellius and Pertinax the Roman Lieutenants here about this time were Christians our Countryman Florentius VVigorniensis plainly affirmeth that Pertinax was a chief Commander in the Emperours Army when this miraculous victory was by the Christians prayers and this edict written and decreed for their freedome and liberty and probably was then converted to the faith by this miracle and the Emperour himself who in his publick cited edict doth say of Christians that in equity he must think them now to be defended by God whom before he accounted for wicked men and alienated from God must needs be a Christian in Conscience and Judgement and he must needs at the least believe that true God whom he said the Christians did bear in their conscience And in no wise a learned Emperour could or would in Judgement Reason Equity and Conscience make a Law to condemn men to so cruel a death as burning alive which he afflicted upon the accusers of Christians except he knew or probably thought their accusation was unjust and the cause of the accused Lawful Just and Holy COILLVS COILLVS the Son of Marius was after his Fathers decease made King of Brittain in the year of our Lord 125. K. Coillus brought up at Rome saith Holinshed Fabian saith 126. This Coillus or Coill had his youthful education amongst the Romans in the very Imperial City it self who being of a Martial spirit applyed his time to warlike exercises in which he so excelled that he was both admired and beloved by the Romans and to requite their favours and to continue towards him their good affections he payed without any grudging or seeming discontent their accustomed Tribute by which means he spent his dayes in peace and tranquillity he so far excelled in bounty liberality that he drew unto himself the hearts and good wills both of the Nobles and Commons The building of Colchester is ascribed to this King which is the
before so many persecutors and in the highest of their malice and rage against St. Alban fell thereby into the same degree of hatred with them for presently thereupon to speak in an old Authors words The Enemies of truth apprehended him beat out his teeth rent his holy mouth and brake all his bones and although nothing remained in his body without hurt Gild. l. 2. de excid Brit. c. 8. yet his fervent faith remained without harme and being thus left so maimed lame and baptised in his own blood and also half dead with all the power and strength he could with his hands crept up to the hill where St. Alban was martyred whom when the judge espied he said unto him pray to thy Alban to set thy bones in order and lay his head here stricken off to thy body and thou shalt receive perfect health from him bury thou him and let him cure thee Heraclius answered I most firmly believe that St. Alban by his merits is able to heal me and easily performe that you mock us with Then reverently taking the head of St. Alban and devoutly laying it to his body he began to recover the former strength of the same despaired before and being thus miraculously recovered and made whole ceased not in the hearing of all the people to preach unto them the merit of St. Alban and power of Christ and digging the earth buried the body of the martyred Saint before them there which the Pagans seeing said among themselves what shall we do this man cannot be put to death with sword we have already broken his body and he hath already received his former strength again And apprehending him with horrible torment they tare his holy body in pieces and lastly cut off his head And so this happy Souldier persevering in the faith of Christ together with St. Alban deserved to be honoured with the crown of martydom The Judge himself was hereby so moved and convinced Mr. Br. 443. 2. that he presently commanded the persecution to cease Jacobus Genuensis Bishop of Genoa and his old English translation say this Souldier called by some before Herculius was a Knight And they yield a reason besides their assertion which was the noble renown of St. Alban who as they say was Lord of the City of Verulam and Prince of the Knights and Steward of the land Bede l. 1. c. 7. and the Judge dread for to slay him because of the great love that the Emperour had to him and for reverence of his dignity and power of his kindred unto the time that he had informed Dioclesian Jacob. Gon. in vit St. Alb. S. Amp. Anglica translat ibid. Mr. Br. f. 455. And therefore when judgment was pronounced against him the which was deferred six weeks until Miximian his coming into Brittain to see such wicked executions thus they deliver then Maximian and Asclepiodotus gave final sentence on him saying In the time of the Emperour Dioclesian Alban Lord of Verulam Prince of Knights and Steward of Brittain during his life hath despised Jubiter and Apollin Gods and to them hath done derogation and disworship wherefore he ought by the law to be dead by the hand of some Knight and the body to be buryed in the same place where his head shall be smitten of and his Sepulchre to be made worshipfully for the honour of Knighthood whereof he was Prince And also the crosse that he bare and Sklavin that he ware should be buried with him and his body to be closed in a chest of lead and so laid in his Sepulchre This sentence hath law ordained because he hath renied our principal Gods These Authours say Maximian and King Asclepiodotus gave this sentence we have spoken elsewhere of those Martyrs which suffered at Litchfield Let us therefore return to St. Amphibalus whom Almighty God had made the instrument to the conversion of so many souls These bloody persecutors having thus barbarously and without all commpassion of lineage kindred friendship country or whatsoever relation of love or mercy put these holy Saints to death they now pour out the bottom of their malice upon St. Amphibalus neither regarding his noble descent before remembred venerable and old years Mat. West an 303. Manus Antiq. in vita S. Amp Capg in eodem Mr. Br f. 447. 1 learning or whatsoever but bind his arms with thongs and drive him barefooted before their horses so long a journey from the borders of Brittain where they apprehended him unto the City of Verulam where the Prefect and Lieutenant then was resident And as they thus contemptibly carried him barefooted and bound a sick man lying in the way in the sight and hearing of them all cryed out unto him O thou servant of God Almighty help me that I which lye oppressed by my own infirmity may be relieved by thy intercession for I do believe that by the calling upon the name of Christ thou art able presently to restore my health unto me And forthwith the man which lay thus sick before the eyes of them all arose up joyfully and perfectly well When these wicked Pagan persecutors had thus barbarously brought him within the sight of the walls of the City as though this holy Saint had been unworthy to enter into it and their Troops so great by that is said before that they could not be conveniently received therein they stay themselves as it were pitching their tents in a place then desart now called Redburne three miles from St. Albans throwing down their shields and striking their speers into the ground And thus resting themselves only St. Amphibalus rested not but preached continually the doctrine of salvation to his enemies who in the mean time gave notice to the Prince and those of the City of their return and bringing with them the instructor of St. Alban and that they had put all those Christians before spoken of to death in the uttermost parts of the Kingdom after their long journey thither which when the Governour heard he called the people together and exhorted them Let us all go forth and meet our enemy that he that hath offended may receive revenge of us all And so hasting forth striving as it were who should go first went by the way leading to the North as our antiquities say the better to set down the old place and situation of that antient City which they then left almost vacant And coming in this raging madnesse and multitude to torment and Martyr this holy Saint they find him all wrapped in chains and bonds and presently stripped him naked slit his belly and pulled out his entrails tying them to a stake which they had fastned in the ground enforcing him to be led round about it And the holy Saint of God shewing no signe of grief at all among such and so many afflictions the wicked persecutors thereby the more enraged sent him for a mark as it were and with their knives and spears pierced and
brake the rest of his body Many converted at St. Amphibalus his martyrdom Jacob. Gonnen in vita S. Amp Manus Antiq. Capg in eodem After all which this holy Martyr stood with as chearful a countenance as if he had suffered no hurt at all and more constant though he now bore the signes of his Martyrdom in all his body Giving a miraculous spectacle of himself that he could still live after so great torments and so many kinds of death whereupon very many beholding and more and more wondering at the constancy of the blessed Martyr renouncing their Idols submitted themselves to the Christian faith and prayed with a loud voice to God that by the merits and intercession of the blessed Martyr they might be worthy to be partakers of everlasting life 1000 converted and presently put to death at the martyrdom of St. Amphibalus which when the Prince perceived and knew he presently called for the Tormentors and commanded all that had rejected and forsaken the worship of their Gods and embraced the doctrine of Amphibalus to be put to death Which savage Edict the Pagan Souldiers effected and killed a thousand which St. Amphibalus beholding and commending their souls to God perswaded his persecutors to renounce their errors and be converted to Christ without whom no salvation can be had nothing but hell and eternal damnation to be expected But the persecutors did still persevere in their impiety not ceasing so to torment this holy Saint with cruel stoning him besides so many tortures before remembred that when his body was afterward miraculously found there was not one whole bone in it Although it seemeth by the History of his life that many of his bones were broken with stones by those so enraged persecutors that after his blessed Soul was separated from his body thus lying still bound and tied they ceased not to break it more with their casting great stones upon it But so long as he lived in so great extremity of torments although the stones were cast at him as thick as hail as some write he still persevered in prayer never moving himself on the one side or other And being now come to the period of his punishments and to yield his Soul to God looking toward Heaven as another St. Stephen he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of his Father and heard a consort of Angels in Heaven and among them knew St. Alban whom he invocated to assist him saying O holy Alban pray unto our God that he will send a good Angel to meet me that the dreadful Robber lead me not nor the wicked part hinder me in my journey And a voice spake to him from Heaven in the hearing of all in this manner Verily I say unto thee this day thou shalt be with thy Disciple Alban in Paradise And two Angels shining with an heavenly brightness came down unto him and taking with them the Soul of the blessed resplendent with a wonderful whiteness with Hymnes and Praises carried it to Heaven which done to make him both glorious there and honourable on earth a Christian secretly conveying his body reverently buried it And God himself began now to honour him here and be revenged upon his Enemies and Persecutors Those lips of theirs which had been opened before to blaspheme towards God and revilings towards his holy Saints are now miraculously drawn away that their speech is hindred The tongues which had so abused him now burn and the faces of them which had so deformed him were made deformed all their members are so stiff that the stoners and tormentors of this holy man could not now lift one stone from the ground and the Judge or Prince himself losing his understanding of reason became mad and how many soever had lifted up their hands against our Lord did of him receive due revenge for their demerits Hereupon the whole City received the Faith of Christ and desired to be Baptized and many by the inspiration of God forsaking their goods go to Rome to bewail their sins and confess their errours With St. Amphibalus nine other Christians were martyred as Matthew of Paris writeth neither is it probable Matthew Paris Hist pag. 179 180 181. 182 183. that so renowned a Bishop as St. Amphibalus was apprehended alone being take as he was preaching to the people or such rage as then reigned in the persecutors would yield them much more favour than they did to St. Amphibalus but their malice being most unto him and he so famous all our Histories remember him almost forgetting the rest It is no great marvel though so few names of so great numbers and thousands are left unto us when by some Writers the persecution was so great in Britainy that except those which hid themselves and could not be Witnesses of things publickly done all the Christians of Brittain were then martyred Harpsfield Hist Eccle. Ang. in 6. primis soeculis c. 10. p. 17. and St. Gildas himself doth seem to declare no less when he saith they which were then left alive had hidden themselves in Woods Deserts and Dens yet he tempereth this hard assertion where he saith this persecution was so rigorous onely in some not all places of this Countrey And those parts which were then absolutely under the Romans command were by their merciless cruelty in this estate So many mutations of times changes of the names of Places the rages of Infidels Romans Saxons and others have deprived us both of the names and holy relicts of those Martyrs But after the death of so many renowned and glorious Martyrs Maria Sco. l. 2. Aetat 6. Col. 304. in Constant Flor. Wigorn. Chron. an 321. 299. Capg Catal. prefat in vita St. Helenae Marianas Sco. l. 2. Aetat 6. in Aurel. Bar tomo 2. Annal. an 306 Jac. Gordon an 273. in Aurel. Harris Hist Eccl. Britt Tom. 4. c. 2. Zosim l. 2. Suid. in Constan Matth. West an 273. Mar. Sco. l. 2. Aetat 6 in Aurel. whose blood beautified and encreased the Church of God Sanguis Martyrum semen Ecclesiae let us return to Constantius Clarus and his most admired consort and chaste Spouse St. Helena Some there be whether to detract so great a glory from his Nation and give it to another or of Ignorance in History do say that one Theodora was the first lawful wife of Constantius and the blessed Helena mother of that happy Emperour the great Constantine was not only a stranger to this Nation but of a mean estate and which is unworthy to be written not the wife but concubine of Constantius with name and attribute Concubina this the most noble Empress St. Helena is stiled by not onely among divers forreign Writers but of this Nation also as Marianus Scotus and Florentinus Nigorniensis as they are now published many of which do not to the dishonour of that most holy Lady and this her Countrey abstain from the same phrase of speech This errour being overthrown
Daughter to Hen. 7. and Grandchild to Owen Tudor lineally descended from the Prince of South-Wales Ferdinando Sans Issue male  William Earl of Derby Elizabeth Daughter to Edward Vere Earl of Oxon and Anne Cecil his Wife by which March as in the Pologâ—â—â— of Oxford Salisbury and Ex câ—â—â—â— appears this Family descends from the Brittish Princely Stâ—â—â— James Earl of Derby lost his head as a most faithfull and loyal Subject for his leige Lord King Charles of blessed memory Charlâ—t Daughter to the Duke of Tremulia Charles Earl of Derby Lord Stanley of Latham Lord Strange of Knocking and of the Isle of Man a faithfull Subject to his King a Patron to his Countrey and Terror to his Enemies  DErby is a part of the Coritain and took that name from Derby the cheif City a Town coveniently seated on the River of Derwent beautified with five Parish Churches a goodly stone Bridge and a large Market place and no less famous for good Ale than Banbury for good Cakes and Cheese finally the Town is well traded and of good resort and is the usuall place of holding Sessions and Assises for all the County The Countrey of the East and South parts well manured and fruitfull yielding a very spacious and pleasing prospect both out of Cutbury Castle and that of Boulsover The West part which they call the Peak is not so pleasing to the eye though possibly as profitable to the Purse being rich in Iron Lead and Coals which it yields abundantly and grazing multitudes of Sheep on the Mountain tops It contains in it 106 Parishes of the which eight be Market-Towns the chief thereof being Derby as before is said the Catalogue of whose Earls here followeth 1. William de Ferrars 2. William de Ferrars 3. William de Ferrars 4. Robert de Ferrars 5. Edm of Lancaster second Son to K. Hen. 3. after which this Title was continued in the House of Lancaster 6. Henry of Lancaster Son of Henry Earl of Lancaster created Earl of Derby in his Fathers life time 11. Edw. 3. 7. Henry of Bullingbrook son of John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster created Earl of Derby in his Fathers life 9 Ri. 2. 8. Thomas Stanley created Earl of Derby by K. Hen. 7. Lord Constable 9. Thomas Stanley 10. Edward Stanley 11. Henry Stanley 12. Ferdinando Stanley 13. William Stanley 14. James Stanley 15. Charles Stanley now Earl 1661. The End of the first Part or Tome CAMBRIA TRIVMPHANS OR BRITTAIN IN ITS PERFECT LUSTRE SHEVVING THE Origen and Antiquity OF THAT ILLUSTRIOUS NATION THE Succession of their Kings and Princes from the First to KING CHARLES Of Happy Memory The Description of the Countrey The History of the Antient and Moderne Estate The manner of the Investure of the Princes with the Coats of Arms Of the Nobility The Second Tome By PERCY ENDERBIE Gent. LONDON Printed for Andrew Crooke and are to be sold at the Green Dragon in St. Paul's Church-Yard 1661. TO HIS ROYAL GRACE THE DUKE BROTHER TO His Sacred Majesty MONARCH of Great BRITTAIN King of France and Ireland c. SIR GOld the sinue and nerve of war without which the greatest Princes and Polititians fall short of their desired ends and History the faithfull mirrour in which the most accomplish't of Commanders may dress and modifie themselves even to the very height of vertue and perfection in this walk hand in hand and keep an equal sympathy that whether they flow from the hands of Peers or Peasants they still retain the same vigour force and vertue why did great Alexander set so great an estimate upon grave Homers works but that he found in them examples worthy imitation and also inglorious deeds to be avoyded like Rocks in raging Tempests This work great Prince which most humbly begs your Protection as the safest Azylum proceeds from a pen altogether Rural yet doth it contain matter fit for imitation selected from Authors of faithfull integrity Behold a Constantius memorable for an Act recorded by many Ancient Historians who to make trial of true Christians and accordingly advance them first exiled from his Court all who would not perpetrate themselves and adore the Pagan Gods and after trial made the Complyers he abhor'd and revoked the constant refusers preferring them to places of greatest trust and honour affirming that they would never be true to a mortal Emperour that would be false to an immortal Diety Quomodo inquit fidem erga Imperatorem servare poterunt inviolatam qui adversus Deum optimum maximum perfidi esse manifesto convincuntur and therefore saith the same Author Decrevit secum hos qui se fideles erga D. O. M. declarassent in amicorum atque adeo consiliorum munero habere And for this and such like his pious and vertuous transactions Fertur Constantio Angelus astistisse which Pomponius Laetus in these words confirmes Cum Pater Caesarem fecerat celesti nuntio admonitus Constantinum c. The body of this glorious Caesar was first withall Princely solemnity interred at York and after translated to Carnarvon in the time of King Edward I. and by him commanded to be enshrined in that Church Apud Carnarvon maximi principis patris nobilis Imperatoris Constantini erat inventum rege jubente honorifice collocatum Thus we clearly see vertue and Noble actions not only crowned here upon Earth with glorious Sepultures and inscriptions but even approved by Heaven it self by Divine and Celestial Revelation Let us march a little further into the Court of Honour and great Theater where mighty Emperors and Monarchs act their parts and there we shall find a great Brittish Constantine the first Christian Emperor doing what taking in hand a doubtfull yet cruel war what did he then Deum quem pater sancte adoravisset solum observandum colendumque statuit Quo circa hujus opem precibus imploravit hunc oravit hunc obtestatus est ut tum quinam esset ipsi vellet significare tum rebus quas apud animum proposuisset dexteram velut adjutricem porrigere he resolved to have the true God whom his Father adored devoutly to be only adored and worshiped wherefore by his prayers he implored his help he prayed and intreated his aid him he besought to declare himself unto him and assist him in his enterprise and what followed these divine and Heavenly ejaculations and inspirations About noon the day somewhat declining Constantine saw in the Sky a lightsome pillar in form of a cross wherein were these words engraven In this sign overcome and the night following in his sleep he beheld Christ who said thus unto him Frame unto thy self the form of a Cross after the example of the sign which appeared unto thee and bear the same against thy Enemies as a fit banner or token of victory And that the effects were answerable to the divine promises hear what Eusebius relates as spoken by Constantine himself Hoc salutari figno vero fortitudinis judicio vestram