Selected quad for the lemma: death_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	aaron_n	beda_n	julius_n	24	3	9.6233	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A34964	The church-history of Brittany from the beginning of Christianity to the Norman conquest under Roman governours, Brittish kings, the English-Saxon heptarchy, the English-Saxon (and Danish) monarchy ... : from all which is evidently demonstrated that the present Roman Catholick religion hath from the beginning, without interruption or change been professed in this our island, &c. / by R.F., S. Cressy of the Holy Order of S. Benedict.	Cressy, Serenus, 1605-1674.	1668 (1668)	Wing C6890; ESTC R171595	1,241,234	706

most illustrious are S. Aaron and S. Iulius who in this persecution of Diocletian and Maximianus consummated a most glorious Martyrdom there 3. Concerning whom our Countrey-man Bal● though as became an Apostat a bitter Enemy of the Roman-Catholick Church writes thus Iulius and Aaron Noble Cittizens of the famous Citty of Caer-Leon for so Isca of the Silures is called from two Legions garrisond there and Disciples in Christ of the holy Martyr Amphibalus were most illustrious ornaments of piety to our Countrey of Brittany These two addicted themselves with much diligence to the study of learning not only in their own countrey but also undertook a Voyage into forraign Nations for the attaining skill in good arts for history informs us that they studied at Rome especially and therfore celebrates them much for their Learning 4. Iohn Fox likewise commends these two holy men but mistakes when he calls them Cittizens of Verolam whom Gildas and S. Beda positively affirm to have been inhabitants of Caer-Leon The words of S. Beda are these At the same time during the persecution of Diocletian Aaron and Iulius Cittizens of Caer-Leon together with very many others in diverse places of both sexes suffred Martyrdom Who after the suffering of severall tortures had their members torn asunder by unheard of cruelty and at last consummating a glorious Martyrdom they sent up their soules to the ioys of the heavenly Citty The same expression is used concerning them in the Roman Martyrologe on the first of Iuly when the Martyrdom of Aaron and Iulius is commemorated And both the said Martyrologe and S. Beda have borrowed the phrase describing the manner of their death from our most ancient Historian Gildas 5. And the deuout Brittains of those times after the same manner honourd the Memory of these two Holy Martyrs as they had done that of S. Albanus and S. Amphibalus by erecting Altars and Churches to their honour Thus Giraldus Cambrensis in his Itinerary of Wales treating of the famous Citty of Caër-Leon writeth Here lye the bodies of two Noble Christians and next to S. Albanus and S. Amphibalus the most illustrious Protomartyrs of Brittany who were here crowned with Martyrdom I mean Iulius and Aaron each of which had a famous Church erected to his honour in this Citty For there were in ancient times in the said Citty three magnificent Churches One of the Martyr S Iulius adornd with a Quire and Convent of Religious Virgins A second dedicated to the honour of his Companion S. Aaron and graced with a Noble Quire of Canons The third was the Metropolitan Church of all Cambria This last Church was afterward translated by the holy Bishop S. David to Menevia the authority of Dubritius Legat of the Bishop of Rome concurring thereto 6. It is observable that all these Churches were built by Brittains long before the Saxons entred into this Island So that there is no need of expecting S Gregory the Great or S. Augustin the Monk to him who would find arguments to proove the Antiquity of the Roman Faith touching the Veneration of Saints in Brittany 7. Besids these wee find celebrated in ancient Martyrologes the memory of two Noble Brittish Christians the Disciples of S. Amphibalus who were crownd with Martyadom in the same persecution of Diocletian their names are Stephanus and Socrates Mention is made of them likewise by S. Beda Vsuardus Ado and others whereto also severall ancient Manuscripts doe accord We find no particular Gests of theirs only in the English Martyrologe it is said that in the Province of the Silures Churches were built to their honour Now whether this Stephanus was Bishop of London it is a doubt A Bishop of that name is sayd to have governed that See in this age though Authours place him somewhat later To this time likewise is referd the murdring of all the Monks in the Monastery of Winchester built by King Lucius Of which wee shall speak in the next year but one 8. Whilst the Romans thus raged in Brittany very many Christians not having the courage to keep their ranks expose themselves to their Enemies Violence yet resolving not to betray their Faith withdrew themselves from the fury of men least by the immanity of torments they should be compell'd to renounce it Thus Gildas writes of the remainder of Christians in those dayes Those persecuted Christians saith he which were left hid themselves in woods defarts and caves of rocks expecting from God the iust Iudge of all when he would please to execute his iudgments on their persecutours and restore safety and liberty to their own soules 9. This Christian prudence and caution of theirs was suitable to the advice given the year before by the holy Pope and Ma●tyr Caius at Rome when the persecution first began For he in an Assembly of beleivers meeting together on that occasion thus spoke to them Our Lord Iesus Christ who perfectly foresees and knows the frailty of mankind hath ordained two ranks and degrees of Beleivers namely Confession and Martyrdom to the end that those who have not strength or courage enough to sustain the weight of Martyrdom may at least hold fast the Grace of Confession Let such yeild up the glory of Martyrdom to the valiant soldiers of Christ which are resolved to cōbat for him and take a sollicitous care of their own soules Let them therfore who are so disposed depart out of this feild of battell whither they please together with our dear children Chromatia and Tiburtius and for the rest who are more courageously resolved let them remain still here in the Citty with mee 10. This flight of Christians in Brittany suitable to the Roman practise gave occasion to Persecutours to extend their rage upon Churches and Monasteries all which by this tempest were so uterly destroyd that as Gildas saith in severall Provinces of this Island there remained no marks at all of Christian Religion This desolation continued about seaven years till the happy return of Constantius as soon as he was created Caesar by whose clemency the Christian Faith and worship again flourishd in Brittany and this much sooner then in any other parts of the Roman Empire Which mercy of God seems to have been extended in a speciall manner toward the Brittains because as S. Beda saith they only preserv'd among them their primitive Faith received in the dayes of King Lucius entire and inviolate till the Raign of Diocletian XX. CHAP. 1.2.3 Carausius the Admirall of the Emperours Navy his rapines and rebellion he takes possession of Brittany 4.5 Maximianus his preparations against him without effect 6. The Tyrant left in quiet possession of Brittany subdues the Caledonian Brittains A monument of his Victory 1. THIS Tyranny of the Roman Emperours against Christian Religion God was pleased to revenge by permitting another Tyrant to raise himself against them in Brittany This was Carausius who saith Victor drew his Originall from

con●●●●ed there the space of thirty years For 〈…〉 did not end in Brittany with S. Ioseph On the contrary the 〈◊〉 Kings favouring and the people applauding the piety and devotion of those primitive Saints such a solitary contemplative life was in high esteem among them so that after the decease of S. Ioseph and his companions others succeeded both to the right of the possession bestowd on S. Ioseph and the imitation of his manner of life ● Such a succession continued till the 〈…〉 At which time a free and 〈…〉 of the Gospell being 〈…〉 couraged it is 〈…〉 of that 〈…〉 by charity 〈◊〉 〈…〉 and without 〈◊〉 〈…〉 care of perfectionating their 〈…〉 both their Devotions and 〈◊〉 in converting and saving the soules of others For about that time 〈◊〉 we find related in the life of S. Ioseph that place was become a den of wild beasts which was before the habitation of Saints ● Howbeit in succeeding ages when there was no such necessity of so great a number of labourers in Gods vineyard by reason of the extension and fruitfullnes of it the Memory of S. Ioseph was renewd and devout Christians with great fervour visited the Church dedicated to the honour of the most Blessed Virgin Then their liberality was plentifully enlarg'd to adorn that place which they esteem'd the fountain and Originall of Christian Religion in Brittany as we find it call'd in our Kings ancient Charters THE THIRD BOOK OF THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY I. CHAP. 1.2.3 c. About the time of S. Iosephs death Iulius Agricola came to be Governour of Brittany His gests and Victories 1. THE death of S. Ioseph hapned little after the time that Iulius Agricola was sent Pretor into Brittany in the last year of the raign or the Emperour Vespasian At his first entrance he was entertained with seditions in the Army and commotions in the Countrey The former he by his prudence and authority easily quieted and the other by his courage and diligence 2. It was the Province of the Ordovices or Inhabitants of Northwales that taking example from their neighbours the Silures endeavoured to shake off the Roman yoke The first Act of their Rebellion was to invade and utterly rout certain Troops of horse quarterd amongst them Hereupon Agricola though then newly arrived and the Winter already beginning yet assembled the Legions and march'd into their countrey Which diligence of his so discouraged them that they durst not oppose him with an Army inso much as he freely wasted and destroyed almost the whole Province 3. That which made his conquest entire was an impression which he made into the Isle of Mona or Anglesey from the possession wherof Suetonius Paulinus had been recall'd by the rebellion of Boudicea Queen of the Trinobantes The Ordovices thought themselves secure in this Island because Agricola was unprovided of boats to passe his army But this defect he supplied by his wisdome and constancy For chusing among his Auxiliaries such as were most skillfull in swimming and in the water could both carry their arm 's and direct their horses he made them passe over into the Island Hereby the Enemies were so astonished that they humbly begg'd peace and deliver'd up the Island to him 4. After this victory Agricola's care was to govern the Province peaceably for which purpose he restrain'd the avarice of the Roman soldiers and defended the Natives from their injuries Yea moreover having terrified them with marches through all the difficult passages in the Island he by his courtesy civility invited them to take pleasure in living peaceably For which purpose he incourag'd them to conform themselves to the Roman fashion of life by building houses Temples and Market-places Yea he allured them to imitate even the vices of their Conquerours in magnificent banquets baths and other instruments of Luxury He likewise caused the children of the Brittish Nobility to be instructed in literature preferring their witts and naturall endowments beyond the capacities of the Gaules By which means not only the Roman tongue became familiar to the Brittains from which formerly they had a great aversion but they aspired also to learn and practise Eloquence 5. Such was the employment of the two first years of Agricola's government In the third he march'd Northward there discovering new Nations and Provinces whose countrey he wasted as far as the river Taus or Tweed And the summer following he continued his conquests as far as Bodotria or Edinborow-frith Eastward and Glotta or the Frith of Dunbritton Westward and the narrow space of land between them he strengthned with forts and garrisons so that the only Enemies remaining unconquer'd which were the Caledonian Brittains were driven beyond those Northern limits In the foresayd streits neare a town called by Ptolomy Coria now Abercurven there is to this day extant an ancient Structure of squard stones call'd by the Inhabitants Iulius Hot fancied by them to have been built by Iulius Caesar who yet never came near this Province but in all probability rais'd by Iulius Agricola as a Monument of his Conquests 6. In the fifth year of his Expedition he subdued the Northwest Provinces of Brittany looking towards Ireland into which parts he drew most of his forces as if he had had some thoughts of invading that Island from whence a petty Prince expell'd by a Sedition of his Subjects repaired to him whom with a shew of freindship he detaind intending when an opportunity offred it selfe to make use of him in a design upon that Island 7. The following yeare he spent in a march northward from Bodotria or Edinborough on purpose to find out the limits of the countrey for hitherto it was not known to the Romans whether Brittany was an Island or no. And both to secure his march and carry provisions he caused his Navy to keep pace with his land Army a spectacle of great terrour to the poore Brittains Who therupon united all their counsells and forces to endeavour by this last attempt to free themselves from danger by the Romans 8. Their first exploit was to assault the camp of the ninth Legion separated from the rest But the watchfull Generall came upon them when they were ready to break into the Camp and at last though with great difficulty dispersed them 9. The Caledonian Brittains fayling in this resolved to decide the whole controversy by a generall Combat Wherupon they assembled all their forces on a Mountain call'd Grampius which divides the whole countrey since call'd Scotland into the Northern and Southern Provinces Their Generall specially elected for this warre was called Galgacus eminent both for his Nobility and courage who omitted no arguments which might inflame his soldiers valour especially insisting on this That the Romans by their shipping having discovered that Brittany was an Island they had nothing behind them but the Sea and rocks to which by flying they might have recourse 10. Agricola on

One William Basing likewise is sayd to have built a Church consecrated to S. Helena at London XVII CHAP. 1.2 Constantins zeale against Paganism and Heresy 3. c. He is seduced by his Sister to favour Arius c. but repents 5.6 He adorns his New Citty Constantinople 7.8 Miracles by the Holy Crosse. 9. Other acts of Constantins piety 1. AFter S. Helena's death Constantin returned into the East where he express'd his zeale against Pagan Idolatry For Eunapius a Pagan writer complains Through the whole world the most celebrated Temples were overthrown by Constantin He made severe Lawes against Heathenish Sacrifices mention'd in Theodosius his Code 2. Neither was he wanting to establish the Churches Peace and Vnity by publishing rigorous Edicts against Hereticks Novatians Valentinians Marcionists Paulians Montanists c. forbidding all Assemblies among them both publick and private and withall exhorting them to return to the Communion of the Catholick Church that so they might be rendred partakers of its Sanctity and so attain to Truth Thus writes Eusebius adding that hereupon many of them did acknowledge their errours and at last joyn'd themselfves to the Churches Communion 3. Notwithstanding being seduced by the Craft of Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia the Pillar of the Arian faction he began a persecution against S. Athanasius then Bishop of Alexandria This Eusebius had cunningly insinuated himself into the affections of Constantiae the Emperours Sister by whom at her death he was recommended to Constantin in whose mind a scruple likewise was injected by certain speeches of hers threatning a severe punishment to him after death for his severity against so many innocents so she called the Arians Wherupon he commanded that Arius himself should return and be received at Alexandria For which purpose he wrote threatning letters to S. Athanasius that he should be deposed in case he refused him Notwithstanding being inform'd by Athanasius that Arius did not repent of his Heresy but was still a profess'd Enemy of the Councill of Nicaea Constātin desisted from urging his reception 4. Afterward the Meletians accused Saint Athanasius of many crimes but Constantin upon examination finding his innocence quickly absolved and dimiss'd him Yea moreover the pious Emperour turn'd his anger against him who was the cheif Architect of all machinations against S. Athanasius to witt Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia as appears by his letters written to the people of that Citty and recited by Theodoret in which he complains how himself had been deluded by his forgeries and lyes And on that occasion he proceeds to pronounce Sentence against the whole faction of the Arians banishing Eusebius and severall other Bishops from their Sees 5. But the year following by occasion of the inauguration of his New Citty Constantinople among other Examples of his Clemency he restored them Nicephorus writes that the Citty was consecrated to our Lord and his immaculate Mother with offring the unbloody Sacrifice and prayers Adding that Constantins Statue was erected in a publick place upon a pillar of Porphyry having in his right hand a golden Apple on which was placed the Holy Crosse with this Inscription To thee O Christ our God I commend this Citty 6. Eusebius describing the Magnificence of Constantin in adorning this Citty with many Churches consecrated to the Holy Martyrs saith The Emperour intending to illustrate after an extraordinary manner the Citty called by his own name adorn'd it with many magnificent Churches partly in the Suburbs and partly in the Citty it self by which he both celebrated the Memories of the Holy Martyrs and consecrated the Citty it self to the God of Martyrs The principall of those Martyrs are recorded to have been S. Mocius S. Agathonicus S. Mennas and S. Acacius 7. Sozomen likewise an eye witnes especially celebrats a Church built in a place formerly dedicated to Vesta which was afterward named Michaelium from an apparition of that Holy Archangell In which many Miracles had been wrought by vertue of the Holy Crosse there erected of which vertue the Authour acknowledges that himself had been partaker Among which one speciall Miracle must not be omitted which he relates after this manner 8. I have been informed saith he that a Soldier of the Emperours Guards called Probianus being afflicted with greivous torments in his feet not only received ease in that place but was also honoured with a wonderfull divine vision For he having been formerly a Pagan and converted to Christianity though he were satisfied of the truth of all other instituts of our Religion yet he would never be perswaded that the Holy Crosse could be the cause of mankinds salvation Being thus affected there was offred to him a Divine Vision which set before his eyes the Image of the Crosse which usually was sett on the Altar of that Church and the same Vision declared to him manifestly that whatsoever thngs had been performed either by Angells or Holy men for the publick or privat proffit of men since the time that Christ was crucified were not rightly performed but by the vertue of the saving Crosse. 9. Besides these sacred Ornaments Constantin added much wealth to endow the holy Churches built by him He likewise caused a world of Copies of the Holy Scriptures to be curiously written in parchments richly adorned which he dispersed through severall Churches in the Citty He gave likewise great priviledges to Physicions Grammarians and Professours of other Arts by which means learning much flourish'd there In a word he endeavour'd to make it equall in all respects to Old Rome placing there a Senat with the same honours and authority into which many Christians were elected as Baronius declareth XVIII CHAP. 1.2 S. Athanasius persecuted by Arians 3.4.5 He is banish'd into the west for his safety 6.7 Arius conven'd before Constantin 8.9 c. His fearfull death 10. Pope Iulius 1. BVT the restlesse malice of the Arians against S. Athanasius the principall defender of the Faith declared by the Nicene Councill urged them to invent and forge new accusations against him of breaking a Chalice of murdering a man and using enchantments with his dead hand of committing adultery by violence c. With these crimes they charged him before the Emperour importuning him that he might be condemned and deposed 2. Hereupon a Synod of Bishops being assembled at Tyre Athanasius his cause was there examined and though in all particulars his innocence was evidently declared ye● he was condemned by them Which manifest injustice astonish'd Constantin as appears by a Letter of his recorded by Saint Athanasius in his Apology 3. Notwithstanding these impious Bishps after they had consecrated at Ierusalem a magnificent Church built by Constantin repairing to Constantinople there renew'd their accusations and probably by the favour of the Emperours Son Constantius infected with their Heresy did so beseige Constantins eares that S. Athanasius could scarce gett accesse to prove his