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
the Archbishops of that place which were since the Conuersion Much persecution and Martyrdome was in Londen before this vnder King Lucius in any Historie and for other reasons before mentioned I haue rather made him farre more auncient Yet it is apparant enough that London tasted of this Persecution euen in the first arising thereof for we reade that in the time of Alectus to whome Asclepiodotus succeeded Paganis Galfrid Mon. Hist Brit. l. 5. c. 4. Virun l. 5. Hist Harding Chron. c. 56. Mat. West An. 294. Manuscr Antiq. in Vit. S. Albani Iacob Genuen Capgrau in â—od me was publikly professed there which could not easely be done without greate Persecution of Christians especially the sacred Preists of the Arehiepiscopall See in that Citie And in the Towne of Verolamium where S. Alban was Martyred it was a strange thing at the time of his death to heare of Christianitie and they which were conuerted by his miraculous death had neuer bene Christians before but were vnbaptized as that History relateth This Persecution being generall to all Churches and places euen in the beginning thereof came to the Citie of Caerlegion where the Church being destroyed and the Schoole founded by King Lucius ouerthrowne the holy Preists and other Christians there had their part therein 2. Among others S. Iulius and S. Aaron were then cruelly Martyred in that Citie being by all Citizens and Inhabitants there Aaron Iulius Legionum Gild. l. de excid c. 7. Bed Hist Eccl. lib. 1. c. 7. Galfrid Mon. l. 5. c. 5. Girald Cambr. Itin Cambr. l. 1. c. 5. Henric. Hunting Hist l. 1. in Diocletian Capgrau Catal. in S. Alban Io. Bal. Praef. in l. de Script cent 1. in Amphibalo Dauid Powell Annot. in c. 4. Girarld Cambr. descr Cambriae vrhis ciues most cruelly then torne in peeces with Torments neuer heard of before passi sunt inaudita membrorum disceptione in testimonium Dei excelsi Others say it is euident in Histories that they were learned meÌ„ brought vp in the Colledge or Schoole there founded by King Lucius thus write two of our cheifest Protestant Antiquaries Ex Sanctorum Historijs constat Amphibalum Aaronem Iulium sanctissimos Dei Martyres caelestem Christi doctrinam apud vrbem Legionum inter litteras tradidisse Ex nobili Gymnasio vrbis Legionum viri multi summa pietatis doctrinae laude conspicui prodierunt vt Amphibalus Iulius Aaron By which Authorities and testimonies ioyning these holy Martyrs for education Schoole learning preaching and professing Christ with that most renowned Prâ—ist and Bishop S. Amphibalus they incline to hold and teach that they also were Clergy men And if we remember what I haue said before how S. Alban was not our Protomartyr in respect of time but otherwise and this Persecution at Caerlegion when these holy Martyrs were putt to death was at the destruction of the Cathedrall Church there being at the same time as the like desolation was at Winchester loÌ„g before S. The old schoole of CaerlegioÌ„ brought forth many glorious Martyrs in this time Alban his Martyrdome I must needs say the same of these Saints as the Annals of Winchester doe of their Martyrs And this the rather because our Antiquaries before haue told vs that S. Amphibalus that conuerted S. Alban was borne bredd instructed in learning and remayned at Caerlegion and being there in all probable iudgment when these trobles began there was as our Brittish History witnesseth pursued and in present danger to be apprehended by the Persecutours when S. Alban gaue him first entertaynment and succour and addeth plainely that when S. Amphibalus thus fledd from Caerlegion S. Iulius S. Aaron were absque cunctamine presently Martyred there S. Iulius and S. Aaron martyred at Caerlegion with many others before S. Alban Galfr. Mon. Hist Reg. Brit. l. 5. c. 5. hauing their members so torne in peeces as the like had not bene heard of before Inter caeteros vtriusque sexus summâ Magnanimitate in acie Christi perstantes passus est Albanus Verolamius Iulius quoque Aaron vrbis Legionum ciues quorum Albanus charitatis gratia feruens confessorem suum Amphibalum à Persecutoribus insectatum iam iam comprehendendum in domo sua occuluit Caeteri verò duo inaudita membrorum discerptione lacerati ad egregias portas Hierusalem absque cunctamine cum Martirij trophaeo conuolauerunt The very same testimony Gildas l. de excid c. 8. is giuen hereof by S. Gildas both for S. Amphibalus then flying the Persecutours and the Martyrdome of these Saints at that time S. Bede also is witnesse that S. Alban entertayned S. Amphibalus flying the Persecutours Clericum quendam Persecuâ—ores fugientem hospitio recepit And that S. Aaron S. Iulius were martyred at that time Passi sunt ea tempestate Aaron Iulius Bed Hist Eccl. l. 1. c. 7. Matth. Westm an 303. Girald Cambr. Itiner Cambr. l. 1. c. 5. Gildas excid Bâ—â—t c. 8. Legionum vrbis ciues The like haue others Therefore Giraldus Cambrensis doth worthely call them our two Noble Protomartyrs in this time onely in dignitie second and next to S. Alban and Amphibalus but in time first and before them Duo nobiles post Albanum Amphibalum praecipui Britanniae Maioris Protomartyres These our two Protomartyrs are wonderfully commended in our Histories S. Gildas saith of them that they stood out in the Army of Christ with greatest magnanimitie summa magnanimitate in acie Christi perstantes dico Giraldus Cambrensis is witnes that among the Martyrs of that time they were the cheifest next to S. Alban and S. Amphibalus Post Albanum Amphibalum praecipui Martyrio coronati Iulius Aaron How Girald supr Itiner Cambr. l. 1. c. 5. they were honoured of the holy Catholike Christians of that time with Churches dedicated vnto them Pilgrimages to the places of their Martyrdome and they both there and in other places honoured inuocated and The Martyrs then honored with prayers and Pilgrimages to them prayed vnto presently vpon the ceasing of the Persecution I will declare among other memories of that time in their place in the beginning of the next Age. 3. Now it will suffice to conclude with that their Title of glory and renowne Girald Cambr. supr which the auncient and learned Bishop of their Nation before hath giuen them as their due and honour to the place of their triumphant death Iacent hic duo Nobiles Britanniae Maioris Protomartyres ibidem Martyrio coronati Iulius Aaron Heare lie at Caerlegion the two Noble Protomartyrs of great Britaine and crowned with Martyrdome there Iulius and Aaron This Title to be the first Martyrs of Britaine in that most terrible Persecution and with such exceeding magnanimitie and Christian constancy as hath bene before remembred in enduring Torments neuer vntill then heard of without any example going before them but giuing themselues the first example
Episcopor Curien Ecclesiae Germans was borne of the Regall Race among the Britans and to propagate the faith of Christ came out of Britaine into Germany and preached first at Salisburge then at Ausburge from whence he was cast out by the Infidels there and then went with his sister S. Emerita to the Cytie of Chur where preaching againe both he and his Sister Emerita were Martyred by the Pagans S. Lucius at Chur in the castle of Mars and S. Emerita at Trine-castle And that there is without the walls of Chur a very old Monastery called S. Lucius which was begun by him and was his Oratory Lucium hunc aliqui regio stemmate apud Britannos ortum natum esse affirmant venisse autem illum amore propagandae doctrinae de filio Dei Iesu Christo ex Britannia in Germaniam vt Christum Germanis etiam adhuc Idololatris concionaretur eos ad Christum conuerteret Id aiunt illum primum fecisse Salisburgi postea Augustae Vindelicorum vbi cum eijceretur ab Infidelibus dicitur Churam cum sorore S. Emerita cessisse vbi cum itidem Idololatricas opiniones reprehenderet aliquamdiu concionaretur Christum liberatorem ab Infidelibus tum Rhetis caesi Martyrio coronati sunt S. Lucius S. Emerita S. Lucius Churae in Martis Castro S. Emerta apud Trimontium Est Churae extra vrbis muros Caenobium S. Lucij preuetustum in vitifero colle situm quod ab eo caeptum Oratorij loco conditum aiunt And he vtterly disliketh their opinion which hold that this was our first Christian King S. Lucius And that onely Tradition that the S. Lucius which was the Apostle of that people was Martyred Curae in Martis Castro at Chur in the Castle of Sebast Munster Cosmogr l. 3. ca. 214. de Episcopatu Curiensi Aegyd Schud in descript Rhaetiae Alpinae c. 15. alij Mars doe make it vnpossible to be our King Lucius so doth their Tradition that this S. Lucius which first preached vnto them was their first Bishop of Chur for both Sebastian Munster Egidius Schudus and others doe demonstrate that the Citie of Chur was not builded vntill after King Lucius time so he could neither be Bishop of nor Martyred in that Citie then not extant 3. And how would or in conscience could so wise and Religious a King as Lucius hauing no child or Heire fitt or able to gouerne Britaine or which the Romans would allowe forsake his owne kingdome to leaue it in such certaine distresse and troble both temporall and spirituall as after his death ensued and could not but be morally foreseene in his prudence with the Apostacy of so many Britans his subiects to aduenture vpon vncertaine successe to preach in forraine Countries or what Antiquitie doth proue that he was either Bishop Preist or Cleargie man all our Historians sett downe the time and place of his death and buryall in Britaine making him onely a glorious King Lay parson and Confessour no Cleargie man nor Martyr And those forreine Writers which inclyne to hold he went out of Britaine into Germany either for the most part mistake their Authours or grounde vpon heare-sayes and vnsound reports Nicholas Viginier vseth S. Bede for witnesse which Nich. Vign Biblioth Hâ—st pag. 765. Naucler Chron. Genera 6. p. 565. Petr. Merssaeus in Episc Treuer in Episcop TuÌ„gar in S. Marcelio Henric. Patal de Vir. Illust Germ. part 1. p. 110. Magdeb. cent 2. c. 2. col 9. hath no such thing And he himselfe beleeueth it not rather teaching the contrary Nauclerus saith fertur it is onely reported and setteth downe King Lucius death as our Historians doe Petrus Merssaeus writeth doubtfully some times saying S. Lucius of Britaine that preached in Germany was a King otherwhiles onely a Prince as Constantius and S. Helens sonne was Henry Pantaleon the Annals of Chur as he citeth them and Stumphius onely say that S. Lucius the Apostle of Chur was borne of the Regall Race among the Britans ex Regio Britannorum sanguine prognatus which is true of the second S. Lucius The Magdeburgian Protestants terme it a very fable to thinke that King Lucius left his Country and kingdome to preach in Germany fabulam omnino resipiunt quod Lucius Rex Imperio suo sponte abdicato factus sit Concionator qui in Gallijs in Germania nempe Augustae in Sueuia passim praedicarit Christum ac denique Curiensis Ecclesiae Doctor effectus Martyrio occubuerit And they say it is one of the fables with which the Deuill defiled the Church of Christ His fabulis Diabolus conspurcauit Ecclesiam Christi when and where King Lucius dyed was honorably interred in Britaine in the Cathedrall Church of Glocester I haue set downe in his time before 4. And a very greate mistaking it is of Auentine Feuardentius Gaspar Bruchius and Sebastian Munster if they incline to thinke that this Apostle Auentin apud Magdeb. cent 1. l. 2. c. 10. Feuardentius Annot. in Irenaeum l. 1. Har. c. 3. Gaspar Bruch Cata og Episc Curien Augustano Martyrol Rom. die 3. Decembr Annal. Ecclesiae ChurieÌ„ Breu. Eccl ChurieÌ„ die 3. 4. Decembr in festo S. Lucij Emeritae Martyrol Rom. die 6. Maij. Bed Vsuard Ado eod die Sebastia Munster l. 3. cap. 217. Act. Apost c. 13. Naucler gener 6. Volum 2. pag. 565. Bishop and Martyr of Chur and the Rhetians named Lucius was Lucius Cyrenensis S. Paules Kinsman and mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles For besides all those Authours named before the old Roman Martyrologe the Annals of Chur and their publike Church office one the Feasts of S. Lucius and his Sister S. Emerita with others doe fully assure vs that S. Lucius the Apostle there was borne in Britaine of the Regall Race there brother to S. Emerita a Martyr and Martyred at Chur. Of which not any one agreeth with S. Lucius CyreneÌ„sis for he was borne at Cyrena in Lybia poore by birth sonne of S. Simon Cyrenaeus that bore the Crosse of Christ Bishop of Cyrena where he was borne no Martyr and died the 6 day of May on which his Feast is kept when they of Chur celebrate their Apostles solemnitie vpon the third day of DeceÌ„ber And it is proued before Sebastian MuÌ„ster himself vrging it that the Citie of Chur was not builded vntill loÌ„g time after the death of S. Lucius CireneÌ„sis No other S. Lucius though many of that name is remeÌ„bred in any Martyrologe or other MonumeÌ„t to haue preached suffered Martyrdome in or neare that place or this time nor any other a Britan borne or of such Noble Parentadge but this our renowned S. Lucius sonne of Constantius and S. Helen therefore of necessitie we must yeeld as his due this honour onely to him And glorifie God that so greate a Prince of this Nation eldest Sonne to an Emperour our King and Empresse our Queene and by iust discent Heire both
heare of so wonderfull patience loue of Christ and Heroicall true fortitude to so many thowsands which by their singular example with inuincible couradge imitated them therein is the greatest honour we can yeeld to such blessed Saints one earth Their Festiuitie is celebrated by the old Roman Martyrologe vpon the first day of Iuly On which day as Baronius plainely writeth many Martyr Rom. die 1. Iulij others suffered Martyrdome with them Iulius Aaron Martyres cum alijs plurimis in Britannia sub Dioclesiano primo die Iulij So likewise affirmeth a Caesar Baron in Indice NominuÌ„ Sanctorum in Iulio Aarone Author of Engl. Martyr 1. Iul. late English Wtiter And the Roman Martyrologe which Baronius glosseth may well carry that construction for setting downe for a certaine truth that these two holy Martyrs were putt to death in Britaine vpon the first day of Iuly Primo die Iulij in Britannia Sanctorum Martyrum Iulij Aaron qui in persecutione Dioclesiani passi sunt it presently addeth Quo tempore ibidem quamplurimi diuersis crutiatibus torti saeuissimè lacerati ad supernae ciuit atis gaudia consummato agone peruenerunt At the same time in the same place very many tortured with diuers torments and most cruelly torne hauing ended their combate came to the Ioyes of heauen And S. Bede saith that ea tempestate Martyrol Ro. 1. die Iulij Bed l. 1. Hist c. 7. Henr. Hunting Hist l. 1. in Diocles Matt. West an 303. Io. Capgr in S. Albano alij Girald CaÌ„bren Itiner Camb. l. 1. cap. 5. Ranulph Higed l. 1. c. 48. Dauid Powel Annot. in Girald supr Harrison Descript of Brit. c. 13. Humfr. Lhuyd Brâ—uiar Britan. Et Tho. Twyne ib. f. 82. The glory of Caerlegâ—â—nâ—ur Archieâ—iscâ—â—all see before this time at that time when S. Aaron and S. Iulius were Martyred diuers others both men and women were putt to death Alijque vtriusque sexus passi sunt ea tempestate So hath Henry of Huntington passi sunt co tempore Aaron Iulius alij quo que plures vtriusque sexus So haue others And we cannot probably thinke that those raging Persecutours which in places where there were not in any degree so many Christians as in this renowned Citie an Archiepiscopall See and Christian Vniuersitie putt them to death by thowsands sent these heare by cruell Martyrdome to heauen alone These holy Martyrs by all Antiquities suffered Martyrdome at Caerlegion and both Giralâ—us Cambrensis Ranulphus Higeden writing at Westchester as also our Protestant Antiquaries of the same Country plainely say it was at Caerlegion in Monmouthshire which was the Archiepiscopall Citie and Schoole distinguishing it from Westchester by some called Caerlegion also I will onely cite one thus Englished to my hand by a Protestant Historian In this Region Monmouthshire is situated the most auncient and Noble Citie of Legions which our Countrymen call Caerleon are Wish that is to say the Citie of Legions vpon Vsk for difference sake betweene it and the other which is builded in Northwales vpon the Riuer Dee Of whome Giraldus writeth thus The same was an auncient and noble Towne the tokens whereof remayne as yet an huge Palace a Giantlike Tower goodly Bathes and hotehouses Reliques of Churches and places like Theaters compassed with beautifull walles â—artly yet standing Also buildings vndeâ— the grounde Conducts secreâ—â—e passages and Vaultes vnder the earth framed by wonderfull workemanship Thâ—â—â—â—â—th two Martyrs Iulius and Aaron which had Churches dedicate◠〈…〉 The like and more plainely haue many others auncient and late Catholiks and Protestants Therefore that Protestant Bishop which singularlie saith it was at Chester apud vrbem Legionum Cestriam nun vocatam is much deceaued in this matter Io. Bâ—l. Prâ—fat in l. de Scriptor THE XVIII CHAPTER HOW SAINT AMPHIBALVS A BRITTISH Bishop and many holy and learned Preists of the Britans in this Persecution went to the Scots and Picts were reuerently receaued of them and preached liued and continued there in greate Sanctitie and left greate Succession of such there after them 1. VPON this Persecution and Martyrdome of these holy Saints Gildas l. de excid c. 8. and others at that time as S. Gildas with others writeth they which escaped death hidd theÌ„selues in Woods Desarts Dens and fledd into Ilands to the Scots for refuge Qui superfuerant Hector Boeth Hist Scotor l. 6. f. 102. Georg. Buchan Rer. Scot. l. 4. in Rege 33. Hollinsh Hist of Scotland in Crathlint and Fincomarke siluis ac desertis abditisque spelnncis se occult aâ—ere Our Scottish Historians say a greate number of our Brittish Christians to auoide the crueltie of the Persecutours fledd to the Scots and Picts Magnus piorum numerus persequentium saeuitiam declinare cupiens ad Scotos Pictos concessit They haue preserued the particular names of diuers of them whome they recompt among the most renowned learned men of that Age such were Amphibalus a Bishop Modocus Priscus Calanus Ferranus Ambianus and Carnocus worshippers of God called in the old Scottish languadge Culdeis which by their preaching taught the Religion of Christ with many labours throughout the Scots Countries There were then very many more but these the cheifest of them whose names came to posteritie Inter Nostrates eadem fuere tempestate sacra doctrina pollentes Ampbibalus Amistes Modocus Priscus Calanus Ferranus Ambianus Caroncus Dei cultores Culdei prisca nostra vulgari lingua dicti Christi Seruatoris doctrinam omnes per Scotorum Regiones concionando multis pijsque sudoribus seminantes Fuere tunc alij permulti sed hij quorum nomina ad Posteros delata praecipui Many of these holy Brittish Christians liued in poore Georg. Buchan Rer. Scotic l. 4. Reg. 35. Hollinsh of Scotl. in Fincomarke Cels professing the most austeere penitentiall cremiticall life in so greate sanctitie that as these Scottish Antiquaries haue before deliuered their very Cels were dedicated into Churches after they were dead and with such reuerence obserued with that Nation our Protestants so confessing and testifying that from the time of those holy Brittish Saints which thus liued there the old Scots called Churches by the name of Cels Ex â—â—que consâ—etudo mansit apud Posteros vt prisci Scoti templa Cellas vocent 2. Among these our holy Bishop S Amphibalus a man of singular pietie and excellent in diuine learning Amphibaluâ— Brito vir â—â—sigâ—â— pietate sacra doctrina pollens preached the word of Christ throughouâ— the Scots and Picts S. Amphibalus a BritaÌ„ and Martyr a learned and holy Bishop in Mona I le with the Scots Countries speaking and writing much against the Pagans Religion 〈◊〉 dogma per Scotorum Pictorumqae Regiones propâ—â—aâ—do mâ—lâ—a a contra Geâ—â—â—â—um Religionem dicendo scribendoquâ— Crathlint then King of the Scots entertayned this holy Bishop and his company with greate loue and builded for them a â—hurch in the I
obedient to the See of Rome 354 Chap. v. How the Emperour Seuerus which came into Britaine and ruled heare King after Lucius was of the Regall Race of the Britans and true heyre to the Crowne heare and so of others reigning heare after him 362 Chapt. vj. Of the state of Christians especially in Britaine in the time of Seuerus vnder whome allthough in some parts there was greate persecution of Christians yet not heare in Britaine but the Christians were heare in quiet without affliction 365 Chap. vâ—j How in the time of Bassianus sonne of Seuerus being Emperour â—e was both in Britaine whence he was discended and other places he was a friend to Christians and Persecutour of their Persecutours How sainct Zepherine the Pope then sent diuers Apostolike men into Britaine 369 Chap. viij How very many Kings with variable proceedings Ruled heare in Britaine before Constantius Father to the greate Constantine by sainct Helen our Brittish Lady yet the Christians heare were quiet from Persecution in all or most of their time 372 Chap. ix Of the Popes of Rome in this time how by all writers euen the Protestants themselues they were holy men and both they and other learned holy Fathers in this time were of the same faith and Religion which the present Roman Church and Catholiks now professe and Protestants deny and persecute 377 Chap. x. Of sainct Mello or Mellon a Britan sent Archbishop by Pope Stephen from Rome to Rhoan in Normandy Of sainct Mellorus a Noble Brittish Mâ—rtyr and a Prouinciall Councell of Brittish Bishops heare in Cornewalle in this time 386 Chapt. xj Containing an abbreuiate of some Roman Emperours and inuincibly prouing that the most holy Queene and Empresse S. Helen was a Britan of Regall Race the onely true and lawfull wife of Constantius Emperour and Constantine the Greate their true lawfull Sonne and Heire borne in Britaine 391 Chap. xij Of the other three children of Constantius and sainct Helen and particularly of two of them sainct Lucius and sainct Emerita renowned and glorious Martyrs for holy Christian Religion among forreine Pagans S. Lucius an holy Bishop preaching it to them in Germany 401 Chap. xiij That sainct Helen was all her life an holy and vertuous Christian neuer infected with Iudaisme or any error in Religion And that Constantius her Husband long liued and dyed a Christian and protected both Britaine and other Countries vnder him from Persecution 406 Chap. xiv By what wicked plotts practises and deuises Dioclesian and Maximian began and prosecuted their wicked Persecution of Christians in Britaine and how Constantius was innocent and free therein 413 Chap. xv When and by whome the Persecution called Dioclesians Persecution began in Britaine long before the Martyrdome of sainct Alban and many heare then martyred before him and in what sense the Title Protomartyr or prioritie in Martyrdome is yet duely giuen to him 417 Chap. xvj The wonderfull excesse and extremitie of this Persecution of the Christians in Britaine in generall and the most greuious torments miseries and afflictions they endured with theire renowned sanctitie constancie and patience 422 Chap. xvij Of diuers holy Martyrs most cruelly putt to death at Wincester Caerlegion and other places in Britaine long before the Martyrdome of S. Alban with their greate honour and renowne 426 Chap. xviij How sainct Amphibalus a Brittish Bishop and many holy and learned Preists of the Britans in this Persecution went to the Scots and Picts were reuereutly receaued of them and preached liued and continued there in greate Sanctitie and left greate Succession of such there after them 429 Chap. xix The returne of sainct Amphibalus from the Scots to the Britans his comming to the house of sainct Alban at Verolamium and preaching vnto him the miraculous vision and Conuersion of sainct Alban their exceeding zeale deuotioÌ„ deliuery of S. Amphibalus at that time 433 Chapt. xx Of the holy and most constant faith deuotion charitie sufferings miracles and Martyrdome of S. Alban 438 Chap. xxj The constant profession of Christ by the holy Souldiar Heraclius conuerted by the Miracles of S. Alban and his Martyrdome in at the same time and place with sainct Alban 442 Chap. xxij Of very many conuerted to Christ by the miraculous death of sainct Alban and after going to sainct Amphibalus to be fully instructed by him suffered Mattyrdome and being a thousand in number were diuers from the 1000. Martyrs at Lichfeild and those neare Verolamium 445 Chap. xxiij The Martyrdome of sainct Amphibalus and many others with him oâ— at that time and place and wonderfull numbers conuerted then to Christ by the Miracles then there shewed 447 Chapt. xxiiij How by Coilus being King and preuayling against the Roman Persecutours and their adherents heare the Persecution in Britaine ceased 450 THE FOVRTH AGE THE I. CHAPTER OF the greate peace and quiet the Church of Britaine enioyed during the whole life and Reigne of Constantius Emperor and King heare in Britaine and Constantine his sonnè by sainct Helen was heare brought vp in Christian Religion 457. or 475 Chapt. ij Of the finding the holy Crosse by S. Helen in Constantius his time His Christian life and death and crowning his sonne Conflantine Emperour heare in Britaine 462 Chap. iij. Of the coronation and Christian beginning of Constantine the greate Emperour and the generall restoring and professon of Christian Religion in all places of Britaine then 467 Chap. iv Of Constantine his profession of Christ his miraculous victories against his Pagan Enemies restoring and establishing Christian Religion and exalting the Professors thereof in all his Empire 470 Chap. v. The miraculous Baptisme of Constantine at Rome by S. Syluester Pope He was an holy and Orthodoxe Emperour to his death and both in the Greeke Church and with those of the Latine honored and stiled an holy Saint 474 Chap. vj. That S. Helen euer professed herself a Christian neuer ioyned with but against the Iewes Was in Britaine when Constantine was baptized in Rome and after going from Britaine to Rome was there with Constantine present at the Roman Councell consenting to the Decrees thereof 478 Chap. vij Of the presence at allowance and receauing of generall Councells by our Emperor Constantine our Archbishop and other Bishops of Britaine togeather with the doctrine then professed in those Councells and after practised in Britaine 482 Chap. viij The generall establishing endowing and honoring of Christian Religion Bishops Preists other Clergy men chast and Religious parsons in all places of the Empire by Constantine 486 Chap. ix ConstaÌ„tine did not prolonge his Baptisme so long as some write He was not baptized by an Arrian Bishop neuer sell into Arrianisme or any Heresie 489 Chap. x. The vndoubted truth of the donation and munificent enritching of the Church of Rome by Constantine the greate Emperour 497 Chap. xj Of the settling of the Imperiall Seat at Bizantium or Constantinople and Conuersion of or setling the Christian faith
writeth not so clearely of that matter as he might haue done leauing it almost doubtfull to his Readers by saying he will Godwin Conu of Britaine p. 16. c. 2. not stand to dispute it whether that Brittish Lady Claudia so honorably remembred by Martial the Poet lyuing in that time was the same Claudia which S. All obiections to disproue Claudia honored by S. Paul for a renowned Christian not to be our Brittish Lady Claudia are disproued Paul hath so renowned which words take away some credit from the true opinion making her a Christian and to be one and the same woman For our Protestants themselues which receaue her into the number of holy Christians deriue their greatest Authoritie for their affirming thereof from S. Pauls words recounting S. Claudia among the holy Christians at Rome 2. Allthough I haue sofficiently cleared the truth in this matter before to the eternall honor of that most noble Ladye and this her Country of Britaine yet for satisfaction of all I will now fully answeare all obiections It Martial Epigr. de morte PudeÌ„tis Bal. l. de Scrip. Brit. cent 1. in Claudia Rufina Doroth. in Synop in Pudens Martyr Rom. die 19. Maij. Vsvard eod die Bed Martyrol in S. Praxede â— Conu part 1. p. 17. 2. Timoth. 4. may be obiected by these men that Pudens spoaken of by Martiall the Poet husband to our brittish Claudia died in Cappadocia diuers hundreds of miles from Rome When the Ecclesiasticall monuments which speake of S. Pudens the Christian spoaken of by S. Paul say he died at Rome And S. Bede with others saith S. Praxedes his daughter was buryed at Rome by her Father Pudens as likewise her Sister S. Pudentiana was Other obiections there be of the difference of the supposed time and age hindeâ—ing the Christian Claudia to be so be wtifull in the dayes of Martial as he commendeth our brittish Claudia This Poet writing in the time of Vespasian and Titus and dying in the dayes of Traian whereas S. Pauls Christian Claudia was a woman and of note in Rome in the last yeare of Nero. Besides our Brittish Lady Claudia both as Martiall and our English Protestants are witnesses had onely three children or at the leaste they name but three S. Nouatus S. Praxedes and S. Pudentiana Whereas the old Roman Martyrologe proposeth vnto vs 4. Christian children of the Christian Parents S. Pudens and S. Claudia name those three remembred Nouatus Praxedes Pudentiana and S. Timotheus a Preist Romae depositio S. Nouati filij S. Pudentis Senatoris fratris S. Tymothei Martyrol Rom. die 20. Iunij in S. Nouato presbyteri sanctarum Christi virginum Pudentianae Praxedis qui ab Apostostolis eruditi sunt in fide Againe S. Bede and others write that the wife of Pudens the Christian mother to S. Pudentiana was called Sabinella Cuius mater erat Sabinella But these are easily answeared And first for S. Pudens finding but one of that name in this time for his dying or being rather in Cappadocia and yet buried at Rome we may either say that he returned to Rome before his death insinuated by Martial Martial l. 6. Epigram 58. Io. Pitseus lib. de Illustrib Britan. Script aetate 2. p. 72. in Claudia Rufina Martyr Bed 14. cal Iunij Rom. Martyrol die 19. Maij. Sospite me sospes Latias reueheris ad vrbes Or with other writers that his body by the Christians was brought from Cappadocia to Rome if the report of his death in Cappadocia is true Pudens in Cappadocia dicitur aâ—imam efflasse 〈◊〉 â—orpus Christiani Romamtranstulerunt in caemiterio Priscillae via Salaria sepultâ—re honoratae tradiderunt vbi postea Pudentiana Praxedes sepultae fuerunt And S. Bede saith he was buried at Rome 3. The obiection of the bewtie of our Brittish Claudia so recommended by Martial was neither worthie of proposing or deseruing answeare being but a blast of a vayne moÌ„uth vented by the pen of a Poet forward enough as such men be to giue too greate a flattering florish to womens bewtyes yet as our ProtestaÌ„t Antiquaries not vnprobably calculate she could not be aboue 40. yeares of age at the most when this Poet so commended her in that respect Godwin Conu of Brit. p. 17. 18. Theater of great Brit. l. 6. c. 9. and when his Epigram thereof was published although as he well saith that Epigram happily might be written some yeares sooner when her bewtte was more fresh and againe except the said Epigram as often it falleth out in those cases was made longe before it was published or some time after their marriage Which is most probable the Poet taking notice onely of three children she then had S. Tunotie not then yet borne And it is no meruaile if S. Timothie her sonne an holy Preist liuing in obscurity in that time and much in this kindome of Britaine as hereafter I shall shew was vnknowne to a Pagan Poet especially seeing for such respects there is litle memory of him in Ecclesiasticall monuments 4. How it came to passe that S. Claudia was also called Sabinella the same Poet will sufficiently informe vs when he telleth vs expressely that her Lady Claudia of Britaine the same holy Christian Claudia whome S. Paul remembreth husband S. Pudens had an house at Sabinum in Italy where she also liued after the auncient manner had her name Sabinella from thence Which two denominations of Claudia and Sabinella onely agreeing to our Brittish Claudia and by no possibilitie to any else I conclude it for a certaintie both by reasons and Authorities that our Brittish Lady Claudia mentioned Martyrol Rom. 20. die Martij Graeci in Menol. eod die Mart. Rom. 28. Maij Menol. Graecorum eod die by Martiall was the same renowned Christian Claudia which S. Paul speaketh of with so honorable memory The name time place and all circumstances agree and pleade it is so For of that name in that time place I finde no other such in Histories nor longe time after in any other place and then of two one at Amisis in Paphligonia the other at Ancyra in Galatia a Matrone and Martyr longe after this time and farre distant from Rome Italy where our S. Claudia liued and died Againe among the Roman writers much is spoken of her husband S. Pudens and their holy children bredd vp and borne amongst them and allmost a silence of the blessed Mother S. Claudia but that Martial lib. 4. Epigram 10. Godw. Conu of Brit. p. 17. Parker Antiq. Brit. pag. 2. Camd. in Brit. Stowe hist Bal. cent 1. Pitz. aetat 2. in Claudia Rufina Harrison descri of Brit. Harris hist l. 1. Theater of great l. 6. c. 9. Andre du Chesne histoire generale d'Angleterre c. p. 152. Mart. l. 11. Epigram 30. Io. Herald epist dedicat an t hist Mariâ—ni Scoti it pleased God by S. Pauls pen to remember her which argueth she was
and hauing cheife care and chardge of such things to acquaintaine him how willing he was to giue way to such proceedings and desire his highest Pastorall help and assistance therein Who hauing bene so diligent as before in such holy works that he had conuerted a greate part of the Roman Nobilitie would most willingly giue his best furtherance vnto this so laudable and honorable busines For the Martyr Rom. Bed Ado. Vsuard 24. Martij 20. Iunij 21. Iulij better and more easie and honorable effecting whereof all the paynes and chardges the happy children of our glorious Countrywoman S. Claudia would vndertake herein were accompted nothing vnto them hoping to see their Mothers Country conuerted to Christ The eldest sonne S. Nouatus still continued in Rome with his noble Patrimonie and Religeous offices assisting those which were imployed in this busines solliciting the holy Popes to prosecute with all endeauour so worthie a worke S. Timothie one of our Apostolike men his Brother came and parsonally preached heare and gayned the honour to be the Conuerter of King Lucius and one of the Apostles of this Nation Their holy Sisters S. Pudentiana and Praxedes made their houses and Patrymonie Seminaries and Instruments to harbour and entertaine Clergie men to be directed hither among other Acts of eternall memory and left to the honour of this their Mothers Country that among the few auncient Tituli titles or Churches all is one in Rome by which the Cardinals haue their honour stile two of the most auncient S. Pudentiana and S. Praxedes Onuphrius Panuin Veronen l. de Episc tit Diaconijs Cardinalium Baron in annot Martyr Rom. die 19. Maij in S. Pudente Act. Nouat Pudent Praxedis came by donation of our holy Britans And of all in Rome Baronius himselfe confessing it that of S. Pudentiana to be the most old auncient Vetustissimumque omnium Titulum Pudentis nomine appellatum qui item Pastoris nomine dictus reperitur hodie vulgo Ecclesia S. Pudentianae nuncupatur But of such things I shall speake more hereafter when I come to those blessed Sisters who to encrease their glory in heauen by their sufferings for Christ and Charitie in Harboring releeuing and burying his both liuing and martyred Seruants and Saints in earth liued longer time then their happie Brothers did Of some fruites effects among others whose memory is perished I will entreate hereafter in the next Pope in whose time and not or not much before it seemeth these Apostolike men designed by S. Alexander Pope for Britaine entered their chardge there their happie Sender hastening to his glorious end by Martyrdome 7. Onely in this place because they were appointed by S. Alexander the What Religion concerning matters now questioned these Apostolike men did teach in Britaine by Protestants ConfessioÌ„ better and more surely to be informed with our Protestants consent what Religion in matters now questioned they receaued of that holy Pope and brought hither I will call these Protestants themselues to be witnesses and Relatours thereof They haue with publike allowance and Authoritie of their cheife men in such matters both of England and their Flemmish Confederats in Religion the one penning and approuing the others approuing and publishing it to the world giuen vs their best assurance first that he was a man renowned for preaching the Ghospell and working miracles and suffering most greuious punishments for the holy doctrine he taught he was Robert Barn in Vit. Pont. Rom. in Alexandro 1. Io. Bal. in Rom. Pont. Act. l. 1. in eod Alex. Ioan. Martin Lydius Minist pâ—â—uileg Illustr DD. Ordâ—num general putt to death by Martyrdome studio Euangelizandi Miraculis celebris interfectus Martyr obijt Supplicia grauissima ad mortem vsque passus est This ableth him for a glorious Saint and so disableth him to deceaue vs in his doctrine which these men confesse was this He added in the Sacrifice of Masse all thâ—t is from the words Pridie quam pateretur The day before Christ suffered vnto these words Hoc est corpus meum This is my body Where the Consecrationis In this Sacrifice of the Eucharist he caused wine to be mingled with water For the Sacrifice of the Eucharist he commanded to take vnleuened bread He commanded water with salt mixed with it to be hallowed and kept both in the Church and in houses to driue away Deuils And in the end of Masse the people to be sprinkled with holy water He excommunicated those which resisted the Popes Legats he decreed that one sacrificing Preist should say but one Masse in one day Speaking of the Eucharist he saith that sins are blotted out by Sacrifice Therefore he instituted that the Passion should be recited in Masse He added the reason of such effect of this Sacrifice saying Because in Sacrifices nothing or none is greater then the bodie and blood of Christ In Missa pridie quam pateretur vsque ad haec verba hoc est Corpus meum addidit ad memoriam Passionis Christi inculcandam In Eucharistiae Sacrificio aquam vino admisceri voluit Ad Eucharistiae oblationem azinium panem non fermentatum sumendum esse praecepit Aquam admixto sale precibus benedicendam eamque in Templo domi ad Sathanam propellendum ad peccata tollenda seruari iussit Aqua consecrata populum finitis sacris aspergendum esse iussit vt inquit sanctificarentur purificeÌ„tur Legatis Apostolicis obsistentes Decreto excommunicauit Vno die vnam tantum Missam à singulis sacrificis fieri debere Decreto sanciuit Peccata Sacrificio de Eucharistia loquens deleri ait Ideo Passionem in Missa recitandam instituit Rationem effectus huius Sacrificij hoc est quod peccata expiet adiecit dicens Quia Corpore Sanguine Christi in Sacrificijs nihil maius est He also forbad that any Cleargie man should be called to a Lay Tribunall Clericum ad Plebenum Tribunal pertrahere prohibuit THE IV. CHAPTER OF THE ECCLESIASTICALL ESTATE OF Britaine in the Popedome of S. Sixtus the rest of the Empire of Adrianus and beginning of Antoninus Pius How many learned Britains were conuerted and conuerted others to the faith of Christ in this time 1. NEXT after Pope Alexander succeeded S. Sixtus the first of that name in the Papali dignitie Which he enioyed by the Damas Pontif. in Sixto 1. Martin Polon Supput in Sixto 1. Matth. Westm an 128. Marian. Scot. aetat 6. in Adriano an 131. Onup Pano l. de PoÌ„tif part 1. in Sixto 1. liues of Popes asscribed to S. Damasus 10. yeares three moneths and 21. dayes Sedit annos decem menses tres dies 21. the same word by word writeth Martinus Matthew of Westminster detracteth one onely day from that accompt sedit in Cathedra Romana annis decem Mensibus 3. diebus 20. Marianus assigneth him twelue yeares Sixto 12. annis Romanae Ecclesiae gubernaculis functo Onuphrius
quorum numero beatum Melorum fidenter credimus extitisse Which is further confirmed in the same Antiquities testifying that after many yeares the Reliks of this holy Saint were with greate reuerence translated to the Church of Amsbury and there in their shryne layed vpon the Altar Post multorum annorum curricula Praedicatores Alienigenae scrinium cum Reliquijs sancti Melori circumquaque deferentes peragratis terrarum tractibus iniunctum sibi officium exercentes Ambrisburiam tandem deuenerunt super altare Reliquias sanctas posuerunt The remouing of these Reliks to the Church and Nunnery of Amsbury must needs be before the preuayling of the Pagan Saxons and Hengist his murthering our Noble Britans and taking King Vortiger Prisoner hard by that place at Stonehendge by Treachery For at that time both that and all other Religious houses and Churches those Pagans could enter to were destroyed Yet the Historyes haue told vs before that many yeares were passed ouer betweene the buriall and remouing these holy Reliks thither Neither dare I affirme that this History is more auncient then this time For excepting the Religious house of Glastenbury all others had their Foundation after the Cōuersion of King Lucius who dyed in the beginning of this Age. And probably we may coniecture this Translation of these sacred Reliks was in the time of S. Germanus and Lupus the Legats of Pope Celestine being and preaching heare for they were praedicatores Alienigenae Strange Preachers and the most renowned strange Preachers we can thinke these to be much deuoted to the reuerēce of our holy Brittish Reliks by all Historyes making solemne Pilgrimadges vnto thē And if we affirme these holy Reliks were first interred in these dayes the circuite of many yeares post multorum annorum curricula after which they were remoued by strange Preachers will well agree with the comming of those strangers the Popes Legats hither about the yeare of Christ 432. which was before the Nunnery of Amsbury was destroyed 5. The Historie of this holy Saint is thus sett downe by the auncient writers S. Meliorus his Martyrdome thereof Melorus or Meliorus was the onely Sonne and Heire of Melianus Duke of Cornwayle Who in the seuenth yeare of his Gouernment calling an Assembly of the Nobles to consult about the affayres of his Country was in the same assembly murthered by his owne Brother named Rinoldus his Sonne Melorus being but 7. yeares old at that time This Rinoldus hauing thus killed the Father knowing his Sonne to be the onely true Heire and fearing if he should liue to mās estate he might take the Dukedome from him being his iust inheritance sought to murther him also and bringing him into Cornewayle where there was a Councell of Bishops and others gathered together whose consent he laboured to haue for the putting of Melorus to death to make himselfe secure in his so wickedly procured dignitie But when the holy Bishops assembled detested so barbarous impietie and cruelty and would in no wise assent vnto it This wicked vsurping Vncle to make this child loathsome and so vncapable or vnfitt for Gouernment caused his right hand and left foote to be cutt of After which he had an hand of siluer and a foote of brasse and was brought vp in a Monastery in Cornewayle vntill he was 14. yeares old daily profiting and encreasing in vertue and holy learning aswell as in yeares And this his siluer hand did miraculously bend too and froe and stretch out itselfe to doe the office of a naturall hand as if it naturally consisted of bones sinewes veines blood and flesh Mirumque in modum manus illa argentea quasi reflexus carneos habere manum extendere recludere caepit quasi natiuam ossibus neruis venis sanguine atque pelle Wherevpon the wicked Tirant his Vncle taking him from the Abbot and Religeous men committed him to one named Cerialtanus to be brought vp bribing him with promises of many possessions and rewards to putt Melorus to death which he most wickedly and barbarously effected cutting of his head Which done the Sonne of Cerialtanus with the consent of his Father bearing the head of the holy Martyr vpon the wall of the Castle fell downe from the wall broke his neck and died Cerialtanus then tooke vp the head of the Saint and brought it to the Tirant his Vncle. Who with ioy receauing it badd the wicked Murtherer goe to the topp of an hill adioyning and whatsoeuer he could there see he would giue him to possesse Cerialtanus going to the hill thinking to see round about sodenly was struken blinde one both his eyes and presently died And the wicked Vncle touching the sacred head brought vnto him within three dayes after ended his wretched life with a miserable death The Bishops and Clergie buried his holy body and head with great honour together Where they which faithfully prayed vnto him did obtayne their desire Sepulto ab Episcopis Clericis capite cum sacro Bishops Preists others pray to S. Meliorus Martyred corpore Corpus sanctum cum honore sepelierunt vbi opem eius cum fide implorantes optatum remedium gaudentes consequi solebant THE XI CHAPTER CONTAYNING AN ABREVIATE OF SOME ROman Emperours and inuincibly prouing that the most holy Queene and Empresse S. Helen was a Britan of Regall Race the onely true and lawfull wife of Constantius Emperour and Constantine the Greate their true lawfull Sonne and Heire borne in Britaine 1. I Haue spoken before how the Roman Emperours after the death of Heliogabalus vntill Constantius marryed first or after receaued againe Helen daughter of Coel had litle command in this kingdome and so not so necessarie to be much remembred in the Ecclesiasticall Historie thereof none of them except the two Philips the Father and Sonne dignified in Histories with name of Christianitie therefore it will suffice to sett downe breefely their names and continuance of their Empiers which our Protestant Antiquaries doe thus propose vnto vs After Seuerus Bassianus Surnamed Antonius Carracalla succeeded How 's Stowe Hist Titul the Romans in Seuerus in the Empire he was murthered by Martialis when he had gouerned sixe yeares Macrinus one yeare Antonius Heliogabalus three yeares Alexander Seuerus 13. yeares Iulius Maximus 3. yeares M. Antonius Gordianus one yeare Iulius Philippus they omitt Philip the second his Sonne the first Christian Emperour 5. An Epitomie of the Roman Emperours yeares Decius 2. yeares Trebonianus Gallus and Vibius Hostilianus two yeares Iu lius Aemilianus foure moneths Licinius Valerianus sixe Lacinius Gallicinus fifteene At this time there arouse in diuers Countries thirtie Vsurpers which are called the thirtie Tirants of the which Lollianus Posthumus Victorianus Tetricius as it is supposed kept Britaine from Gallicinus Flauius Claudius two Aurelianus fiue Tacitus sixe moneths Florianus three moneths This yeare 276. Aurelian the Dane was chosen Emperour he hated Christians and in the fourth yeare of his Reigne he
this time For S. Amphibalus S. Iulius and S. Aaron and what other soeuer certainely knowne and recorded to haue bene Martyred in this raging tempest of Persecution obtayned their triumphe and glory of Martyrdome after him And in this sence and meaning which I haue expressed doth our most auncient Antiquary call S. Alban the first or cheife Martyr heare reckoning him for his exceeding charitie constancy Miracles and other worthines in the first place before the rest Quorum Gildas l. de excid Brit. cap. 8. prior meaning S. Alban first named in those respects Otherwise both he S. Bede the Brittish Historie Matthew of Westminster and others onely say that S. Alban suffered Martyrdome among others heare in that Persecution but none of them affirmeth he was the first in time which then suffered Britanniam Gildas supr Bed l. 1. Hist cap. 6. 7. Galfr. Monum l. 5. Hist c. 5. Matt. Westm an 303. cum plurima confessionis Deo deuotae gloria sublimauit in ea passus est Sanctus Albanus Inter caeteros vtriusque sexus summa magnanimitate in Acie Christi perstantes passus est Albanus And S. Bede maketh it plaine that the PersecutioÌ„ especially about Verolamium did rather end soone after S. AlbaÌ„ his death then begin with him bringing in the Iudge to be so much moued with the Miracles wrought at S. Albans death that he caused the Persecution to cease Tunc Iudex tâ—â—ta Miraculorum caelestium nouitate perculsus cessari mox à Persecutione Bed sup cap. 7. praecepit And the old Writer of S. Alban his life affirmeth he was imprisoned sixe moneths betweene his apprehension and death in which space that raging Persecution made many Martyrs heare And the same Authour diuers Manuscripts and Capgraue testifie the Edicts against Christians were long time published and receaued for Lawes when S. Alban was putt to death and produce him thus to proue as much when the persecutors delayed to proceede to Iudgment against him Quid sustinetis Si non nostis ferre sententiam Anonym Script Vit. S. Albani Manuscr in eius Vita Capgra in eod Leges vestras consulite ciuitatis vestrae statuta requirite ipsa vobis insinuent quid agere debeatis Quid moras patimini sciatis vniuersi deorum vestrorum me grauem existere inimicum Ve Idolis ve cultoribus eorum And then immediately followeth that so soone as they heard him thus renownce their Idols and professe himselfe a Christian they pronownced sentence of death against him His auditis vnanimi consensu in sanctuÌ„ virum mortis tulere sententiam And Manuscr antiq Capgrau in Vita S. Amphibali Aliud Manuscr Antiq. an 286. Girald Cambr. Itiner Cambr. l. 1. c. 5. Idolatrie is there termed the Lawe of the Country cultura Deorum Lex patria An other old Manuscript saith Maximian did almost destroye all Christianitie in Britaine and setteth downe S. Albans Martyrdome afterward as Capgraue and others in the yeare 286. Maximianus omnem fere destruxit Christianitatem in Britannia qui interfecit martyrizauit Sanctum Albanum anno Incarnationis Domini 286. And if we insist vpon the word Protomartyr vsually giuen to S. Alban Giraldus Cambrensis giueth it also to S. Aaron and S. Iulius Duo nobiles Maioris Britanniae Protomartyres Iulius Aaron meaning by it cheife Martyrs THE XVI CHAPTER THE WONDERFVLL EXCESSE AND EXtremitie of this Persecution of the Christians in Britaine in generall and the most greuious torments miseries and afflictions they endured with their renowned sanctitie constancie and patience 1. THOSE Histories and Antiquities which be left vnto vs of those times being so sparing in relating the particulars of that Persecution that in probable iudgment where they remember onely the name of one Martyr they omitte a thowsand and more that suffered in that Tyrannicall time and so in other particular afflictions and calamities our holy Christians then suffered It will be the easiest and redyest way for vs to come to some proportionable estimate and apprehension of those miseries and persecutions if together with the malice of the most powerable Tyrant and his Inferior Instruments raging 9. yeares in those cruell proceedings we breifely recall to minde that Illustrious glory of Christs Church in Britaine wherein King Lucius left it not one hundred of yeares before as I haue allready deliuered and compare it with that lamentable state and condition which by our Antiquities it fell into by this most pitifull desolation We remember King Lucius left vnto vs 3. Archiepiscopall Sees Churches with 28. Episcopall besides other inferior â—hurâ—hes not to be nuÌ„bred they were all ritchly endowed prouided for with renowned Archbishops Bishops and holy Preists and other Cleargie meÌ„ We had our ChristiaÌ„ Vniuersities and Schooles Monasteries for our Religious meÌ„ women Britaine was then so Christian in the Inhabitants thereof from the King to the meanest that scarcely a Pagan was to be found Christs Lawe and the holy Scripturs with as full coÌ„mon renuntiation of Paganisme were heare generally receaued by publike Authoritie The faith of Christ being thus publikly receaued did continue with the Britans as S. Bede is witnesse inuiolated and perfect in quiet peace vntill these times of Dioclesian Susceptam 〈◊〉 â—â—cl Hist l. 1. c. 4. Galfâ— Mon. Hist Reg. Briton l. 5. c. 5. Gâ—ld l. de excid c 7. FloreÌ„t Wigorn. Chron. an 184. fidem Britanni vsque in tempora Dioclesiani Principis inuiolatam integramque quieta in pace seruabant So saith our Brittish History Christianitas a Tempore Regis Lucy integra intemerata permanserat So hath S. Gildas onely excepting that some kept it not so well and perfectly as others did Praecepta Christi ab Incolis suscepta apud quosdam integrè alios minus vsque ad persecutionem Dioclesiani Tyranni nouennem permansere FloreÌ„tius Wigorniensis hath the very same words with S. Bede So likewise hath Henry of Huntington that the Britans kept sound and inuiolate in quiet peace the faith of Christ which they receaued Henâ—ic Huntin Hâ—st l. 1. in Marco Aâ—â—â—nino Veâ—â— in the time of King Lucius vntill the Persecution of Dioclesian susceptamque fidem BritaÌ„ni vsque in tempora Dioclesiani Principis inuiolatam integramque quieta pace seruabant Our Protestant Antiquaries generally consent herein with these Antiquites so doe our later Catholike Historians 2. Now lett vs appeale to the same our most auncient and worthie Antiquaries to relate vnto vs some of the manifold miseries and afflictions the Christians of this kingdome suffered in that Persecution S. Gildas saith subuersae sunt Gild. l. de excid cap. 7. Ecclesiae cunctae sacrae scripturae quae inueniri potuerunt in plateis exustae electi sacerdotes gregis Domini cum innocentibus ouibus trucidati ita vt ne vestigium quidem si fieri potuisset in nonnullis Prouinciae locis Christianae Religionis appareret Diuersis crutiatibus torti sunt
is more plaine by the old Brittish Antiquities affirming that many thowsand Martyrs and Confessours bodies lay there Asserunt Antiquae Britonum Historiae multa Sanctorum Martyrum Confessorum millia in illa Insula nomine Enhly sepulturam habuisse Therefore these old Martyrs must needs be in that onely famous time of Martyrdome heare vnder Dioclesian no other such to be found in Histories Sainct Dubritius also with many others liued and died there The miseries and wants such numbers endured there may be coniectured by the the streitnes of the I le doubtfull whether it hath one Parish Church or no. So Harrison supr c. 10. I say of S. Lides Iland where a Church is dedicated to him So of I le Bree corruptly Hilbery renowned for Pilgrimadges thither in auncient times So Harrison supr c. eod Manusc antiq Capgr in Vita S. Kebij of Englsuash or holy I le so named of the BritaÌ„s as a ProtestaÌ„t Antiquarie coÌ„fesseth of the greate number of holy Saints whose bodies are buried there was also called Cairkyby of Kyby a Monke that dwelled there as he confesseth This S. Kebius was consecrated Bishop by S. Hilary and liued there some time moued by the auncient holynes of that place So of the Iles of S. Barri and S. Dunwen old Brittish Saints giuing names vnto them by their liuing there So of the Hebrides or Euboniae Iles 43. in number All which belonged William Harrison descript sup c. 10. Hect. Boet. Hist lib. 6. Hollinsh Histor of Scotl. in Fincomarke Bal. cent 1. in Amphibalo Hect. Boeth Hist l. 6. Hoâ—â—â—ns Hist of Scotl. in Crathl Georg. Buchan Rege 35. to the Iurisdiction of the Bishop in Man at the first as a Protestant confesseth the first there being S. Amphibalus in this time And so of other out Ilands vpon the Coaste of this kingdome diuided from Scotland of which Iles hereafter then desolate gaue also such entertaynment to those our Saints in that time whose particular memory is not so well preserued And as our Scottish Historians write many of them fledd into the Country now called Scotland Magnus piorum numerus No small number of the faithfull among the Britans fledd vnto the Scots and Picts to auoyd Persecution Where as a Protestant Antiquary with others confesseth they being many of them renowned both for learning and pietie liued in poore Cells in such austeritie holines of life that thereupon they were honoured with the name of the worshippers of God Culdeis that name being giuen vnto them and after their deaths their Cells changed and dedicated into Churches Multi ex Britonibus Christiani saeuitiam Dioclesiani timentes ad Scotos confugerunt è quibus complures doctrina vitae integritate clari in Scotia substiterunt vitamque solitariam tanta sanctitatis opinione apud omnes vixerunt vt vita functorum cellae in templa commutarentur ex eoque consuetudo mansit apud posteros vt prisci Scoti templa cellas vocent Hoc genus Monachorum Culdeos appellabant And for those that liued still in that part of Britaine where the Romans then reigned they write as our owne Historians haue done before Euagata est rabies illa non Hector Boeth Scotor Hist l. 6. fol. 100. modo ab oriente in Occidentem sed etiam per alterum Orbem Britanniam vnde Christiana pietas truculentis inhumanis eius ingenij adinuentis plagis concussa immani tortorum vesania ac Persecutionis diuturnitate tota fermè est eiecta pijs viris ac Religiosis persecutionum metu in Eremos ac ferarum lustra concedentibus vbi expertes iniuriarum verè Monasticam sanctissimamque exegerunt vitam Where we learne that our holy Christians then were put to such miseries that flying into the woods and wildernesses they did rather chose to liue Hungry and naked in the Dens of deuouring wolues hoping to find more mercy among sauadge rauening beasts then the persecuting Pagans allmost extinguishing Christian Religion heare with their crueltie Which may most truely be affirmed for to omitte particularities to their place the vnspeakeable malice of the Persecutours was so enraged that without all colour or pretence of iuridicall proceedings they most tyrannically Martyred the holy Christians that were to be founde euen by a thowsand and thowsand at a time in distinct times and places as we reade in the Historie of one onely blessed Martyr S. Amphibalus 2000. at two seuerall murtherings So we must apprehend of other times and places Manuscr Antiq. in Vita S. Amphibâ—â—â— â—apgr Catal. in eod otherwise so greate and generall a desolation in so lardge a Christian kingdome could not haue bene effected in 9. yeares Persecution The Antiquaâ—ies of Cambridge tell vs how among other desolations in this time by Maximian heare their Vniuersitie and Citie was burned as also all Churches were at that time Inter caeteras praeclara illa vrbs Philosophiae parens Cantabrigia palatijs Io. Caius Hist Cantabrig p. 24. aedificijsque pulcherrima ab Herculio Maximiano homine impio sanguinario Dioclesiani Exercitus Principe Imperij socio exustaest vnaque omnia templa euersa omnes Sacrosanctae Scripturae bonarum Artium libri qui occurrebant publicè in foro concremati And he that was then heare King at the deuotion of â—â—cobus GenueÌ„ io Vita S. Albani Amphibali Anglic. Antiq. scâ—iptor ibid. the Romans Asclepiodotus whome the Italian Writer Iacobus Bishop of Genua and his old Translatour into English heare in the life of S. Alban and S. Amphibalus call Askepodot ioyned in this Persecution with Dioclesian and Maximinian and gaue sentence and Iudgment against them and putt them and diuers thowsands of Christians then to death extending his Rge and malice against the Christians in all places he could as these and others witnesse Yet others there be that speake otherwise better of King Asclepiodotus as I shall relate hereafter THE XVII CHAPTER OF DIVERS HOLY MARTYRS MOST CRVELLY putt to death at Winchester Caerlegion and other places in Britaine long before the Martyrdome of S. Alban with their greate honour and renowne 1. THE first Persecution of Christians heare in Britaine which I Annal. Manuscr Eccles Winton finde in particular was that which I haue before remembred out of the Antiquities of Winchester in which the holy sacred Preists of the Cathedrall Church being then destroyed were putt to death Interfecti sunt Monachi in Ventana Ecclesia destructa The Martyrdome of the Monks of Winchester by the Annals of that Church was diuers yeares before S. Albanus which by the computation of those Annals was 7. or 8. yeares before the Martyrdome of S. Alban and yet the same Antiquities doe sufficiently insinuate that this Persecution of Dioclesian began in Britaine in the yeare before their Martyrdome Some before referre the Martyrdome of S. Augulus Archbishop of our old Augusta London to this time but not finding that name among
thought it their safest way though with so greate trauaile thither and danger there the Popes and Christian Romans then aboue all others persecuted to receaue baptisme and direction for their saluation there 5. But to finish the funerall honour of this our glorious Martyr allthough we doe not finde any man then which for feare of the persecutours presented himselfe to bury his holy body but the valiant Souldiar now the Souldiar of Christ conuerted vnto him which had boldly before them all reuerenced the Reliks of S. Alban who there digged a graue and layed the Martyrs body therein terram apperiens humo Corpus Albani operit tumulum desuper ipse Matth. Westm An. 303. composuit which was all he could doe then yet God allmightie in whose sight the death of his Saints is pretious as he had now glorified his Martyrs soule in heauen so yeelded from thence extraordinary honour to his body so meanely buryed making his poore graue more glorious then the sumpteous Tombe of Author Brit. Vitae S. Albani Manuscr Antiq. in Vit. eius Capgr in eodem Matth. Westm sup Manuscr Antiq. in Vit. S. Amphibali Capg in eod any Roman Emperour his persecutour or other for in the next night now following a Piller of Light was seene of all the Pagans themselues to stretch vp from the graue of the holy Martyr vnto heauen by which Angels discending ascending spent all the night in praising God and among other things which they did singe these words were often repeated and heard The renowned Man Alban a glorious Martyr nocte insecuta visa est columia lucis è tumulo beati Martyris caelos penetrare per quam descendentes Angeli ascendentes totam noctem in Dei laudibus deducebant Inter caetera vero quae canebant vox ista frequentius est audita Albanus vir egregius Martyr extat gloriosus Ad hoc spectaculum Honour of Saints subito fieret concursus And a thowsand PagaÌ„s ad mille homines were thereby conuerted to Christ S. Bede witnesseth that from the Martyrdome of S. Bed l. 1. Hist c. 7. Alban vnto his time cures and ofte Miracles were wrought in the place of his Martyrdome In quo loco vsque ad hanc diem curatio infirmorum frequentium Henric. Huntin l. 1. Hist operatio virtutum celebrari non desinit So hath Henry of Huntington long after him for his dayes also 6. The Crosse which he had in his hand when he suffered Martyrdome Matth. Westm an 303. Manuscr Antiq. in Vâ—ta S. Amphibali Capgr in eod Bed l. 1. Hist c. 18 Thomas Walsingh Hist Angl in Eduard 2. Râ—uerence of holy Reliks and was thereby sprinkled with his holy blood was reuerently preserued by the Christians then and presented to S. Amphibalus with greate honour The very ground where S. Alban suffered retained drops of his blood when S. German was sent hither by Pope Celestine and he carryed part thereof away for a greate Relike De ipso loco vbi beati Martyris effusus erat sanguis massam pulueris secum portaturus abstulit in qua apparebat cruore seruato rubuisse Martyrum caedem His Coate Caracalla which he had of S. Amphibalus and wherein he suffered Martyrdome was kept for a greate Relicke and in the time of King Edward the second the King himselfe with many Nobles present witnesses was so freshly bespotted with this Martyrs blood as if it had bene done Thom. Walsing supr but the day before So Miracously preserued as the blood in the place of his Passion Fas est credere quod ad honorem Sancti diuino Miraculo sanguis eius sic in hac veste seruatus sicut in puluere sui sepulchri per multa secula legitur conseruatus Cuius pulueris massam in qua rubebat adhuc sanguis Martyris Sanctus Germanus Altissiodorensis Episcopus secum abstulit detulit ad natale secum capellam construens in honorem Martyris memorati But of Churches and Chappels founded vnto his honour with Pilgrimadges vnto and reuerencing his holy Relicks I shall speake hereafter when I come to the ceasing of this Persecution and to speake of our other Martyrs THE XXI CHAPER THE CONSTANT PROFESSION OF CHRIST by the holy Souldiar Heraclius conuerted by the Miracles of S. Alban and his Martyrdome in and at the same time and place with S. Alban 1. GREATE is the honour which both our owne both Brittish and English and forreine Historians also yeeld to the Souldiar vntill then a Pagan and being one that ledd Saint Alban to his Martyrdome and conuerted by his Miracles in the way was then and there also most cruelly Martyred The old Roman Martyrologe thus remembreth him one of the Souldiars which ledd S. Alban Martyrol Rom. die 22. Iunij to his punishment being conuerted to Christ in the way suffered with him deserued to be baptized in his owne blood Passus est etiam cum illo vnus de militibus qui eum ducebat ad supplicium qui in via conuersus ad Christum proprio sanguine meruit baptizari S. Gildas saith this Martyr being conuerted by the Miracle S. Alban shewed when by his prayers the deepe Ryuer gaue place to him and a thowsand with him to passe ouer not wetting their feete the waters on both sides standing like walles as they did to the people of Israël to giue them passadge was of a wolfe made a lambe and did both vehemently Gild. l. de excid c. 8. desire and valiantly endure Martyrdome with him Iterignotum trans Tamesis nobilis fluuij alueum cum mille viris sicco imgrediens pede suspensis vtrimque modo praeruptorum fluuialibus montium gurgitibus aperiret priorem carnificem tanta prodigia videntem in agnum ex lupo mutaret vna secum triumphalem Martyrij palmam sitire vehementius excipere fortius faceret S. Bede relateth this History in like manner yet with more Emphasis of his glory for hauing spoken of the same strange Miracle by which this Souldiar was conuerted calling him Carnifex the designed Executioner to put S. Alban to death as S. Gildas and others doe to shew how wonderfully the grace of Christ wrought in him he addeth that by diuine Inspiration he made all speede he could to come to S. Alban and casting away his sword that was drawne to behead S. Alban Bed l. 1. Hist Eccles c. 7. Matth. Westm an 303. prostrated him see before his feete the whole assembly beholding it greately desiring that he himselfe might be worthie to be put to death with the Martyr or in place of the Martyr which he was commanded to strike Quod cum inter alios ipse carnifex qui eum percussurus erat vidisset festinauit ei vbi ad locum destinatum morti venerat occurrere diuino nimirum admonitus instinctu proiectoque ense quem strictum tenucrat pedibus eius aduo luitur multum desiderans vt cum
Martyre vel pro Martyre quem percutere iubebatur ipse potius mereretur percuti And so of a persecutour he became a companion in Truth and Faith Ex persecutore factus collega viritatis fidei Thus writeth Matthew of Westminster and others allthough with suppressing the name of this holy Martyr which the old Brittish Writer of S. Alban his life Capgraue and others call Heraclius and I am now to name him by it for allthough it was not giuen him in Baptisme Brit. Script Vitae S. Albani Manuscr Antiq. Capgr in eodem in water which he wanted yet his surest Baptisme in his owne blood for Christ his holy and most courageously and constantly sustained Martyrdome happily made him renowned and honorable thereby 2. This S. Heraclius hauing resolutely denyed his Paganisme craued pardon for his error and confessed Christ openly before so many persecutours and in the highest of their Malice and rage against S. Alban fell thereby into the same degree of Hatred with them for presently therevpon to speake in our old Authours words Inimici veritatis hominem arripiunt dentes excutiunt os eius sacrum dilacerant omnia eius ossa confringunt si nihil in corpore remansit illaesum fides tamen quae feruebat in pectore laedi non potuit The enemyes of truth apprehend him beate out his teeth rend his holy mouthe and breake all his boues and allthough nothing remayned in his body without hurt yet his feruent faith remayned without harme And being thus left so maymed lame and half dead with all the power and strength he could with his hands crept vp to the hill where S. Alban was Martyred whome when the Iudge espyed he said vnto him obsecra Albanum tuum pray to they Alban to sett thy bones in order and lay his head heare stricken off to thy body and thou shall receaue perfect health from him Bury him and lett him cure thee Heraclius answeared I most firmely beleeue that S. Alban by his merits is able to heale mee and easely performe that you mock vs with Tunc caput Martyris reuerenter assumens illudque corpori deuotus apponens desperatum corporis robur recuperare caepit sanus effectus Then reuerently taking the head of S. Alban and deuoutely laying it to his body he began to recouer the former strenght of the same despayred before And being thus miraculouslie recouered and made hole ceased not in the hearing of all the people to preach vnto them the meritt of S. Alban and Power of Christ and digging the earth buryed the body of S. Alban before them there Which the Pagans seeing said among themselues what shall we doe This man cannot be putt to death with sword we haue allready broken his body and he hath now receaued his former strength againe And apprehending him with horrible Torment they teare his holy body in peeces and lastely cutt of his head And so this happy souldiar perseuering in the faith of Christ together with most blessed Alban deserued to be honoured with the Crowne of Martyrdome 3. Hitherto the Relation of those our renowned auncient Historians whereby we doe not onely finde an example of Heroicall Christian fortitude in generall but learne euen in particular the holy and approued doctrine and custome of the Primatiue Christians of this kingdome aswell as of others to praye vnto holy Saints glorified in their Soules in heauen and reuerencing their sacred Relicks on earth thus miraculously allowed and approued of God before and for the euerlasting shame and confusion of so many his Persecutours and Enemies then present and all after commers that would oppose against those most Catholike doctrines and practises of the Church of Christ so publickly and inuincibly confirmed and warranted by his omnipotent and highest diuine Power before such a multitude both of Christians and Pagans so testifying the first by that meanes strengthned in the true faith the others in greate numbers as I shall presently declare conuerted to Christian Religion And the Iudge himselfe was hereby so moued and conuinced that he presently commanded the Persecution to cease Iudex tanta miraculorum Bed l. 1. Hist c. 7. caelestium nouitate perculsus cessari mox à Persecutione praecepit Iacobus Genuensis Bishop of Genua and his old English Translatour say this souldiar called Iacob Genuen Episc in Vita S. Albani S. Amphibal Anglic. Translat ib. by some before Herculius was a knight And they yeeld a reason besides their Assertion which was the noble renowne of S. Alban who as they say was Lord of the Citie of Verolame and Prince of the knights and Steward of the Land and the Iudge dred de for to slee him because of the greate loue that Emperour had to him and for reuerence of his dignitie and Power of his kindred vnto the time that he had informed Dioclesian And therefore when Iudgment was pronounced against him the which was deferred 6. Weeks vntill Maximian his comming into Britaine to see such wicked executions thus they deliuer it Than Maximian and Askepodot gaue finall sentence on him saying In the the time of the Emperour Dioclesian Albon Lord of Verolomie Prince of knights and Steward of Britaine during his life hath despised Iupiter and Appollyn gooddes and to them hath done derogation and disworship wherefore by the Lawe he is iudged to be deed by the hand of some knight And the body to be buryed in the same place where his heade 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 sklauin that he ware should be buryed with him And his body to be closed in a chest of Ledd and so layd in his Sepulchre This sentence hath the Lawe ordeyned because he hath renyed our principall Gods These Authours say Maximian and King Asclepiodote gaue this sentence THE XXII CHAPTER OF VERY MANY CONVERTED TO CHRIST by the miraculous death of S. Alban and after going to S. Amphibalus to be fully instructed by him suffered Martyrdome and being a thousand in number were diuers from the 1000. Martyrs at Lichfeild and those neare Verolamium 1. THAT we may take some notice of the greate numbers multitudes of people conuerted by the death and miracles of these two holy Martyrs we haue heard from approued Antiquities that euen many thousands had bene present eye witnesses of the miraculous diuiding of the water to giue free and dry passadge to S. Alban and those that were with him at his prayers when many drowned and lying in the bottome of the deepe Riuer were eyther miraculously preserued from death or so restored to life againe by his intercession the waters standing one both sides of their passadge like walls after their going ouer presently ioyned together againe and returned to their naturall current and flowing downeward as the propensitie of such liquid and heauy things requireth the fountayne one the topp of
So these were not one and the same but two distinct Martyrdomes for time place parsons and other circumstances different onely in number agreeing So I must likewise say of a third Martyrdome of so many Christians neare to Verolamium of which I shall speake when I bring S. Amphibalus thither againe Who at this bloody Massacre being compassed round about with the bodies of his Christian hearers thus martyred commended their blessed soules to God Sanctus Amphibalus vallatus corporibus occisorum beatas animas Domino commendabat THE XXIII CHAPTER THE MARTYRDOME OF S. AMPHIBALVS and many others with him or at that time and place and wonderfull numbers conuerted then to Christ by the Miracles then there shewed 1. THese bloody persecutors hauing thus barbarously and without Matth. Westm an 303. Manuscr Antiq. in Vita S. Amphibali Iac. Genuen Cap. grau in eod all compassion of Lynage kyndred friendship Country or whatsoeuer relation of loue or mercy put these holy Saints to death they now powre out the bottome of their malice vppon S. Amphibalus neyther regarding his Noble descent before remembred venerable and old yeares learning or whasoeuer but binde his armes with thonges and driue him barefooted before their horses so longe a Iorney from the Borders of Britaine where they apprehended him vnto the Citie of Verolam where the Prefect and Lieutenant then was resident Brachia loris dirissimis cōstringentes ante equos suos versus Ciuitatem Verolamium nudis incedere pedibus compulerunt And as they thus contemptibly carried him barefooted and bound a sicke man lyeing in the way in the sight and hearing of them all cried out vnto him ô Thou seruant of God almightie help mee that I which lye oppressed by my owne infirmitie may be releeued by thy intercession For I doe beleeue that by thy calling vppon the name of Christ thou art able presently to restore my health vnto mee And forthwith the man which lay thus sicke before the eyes of them all arose vp ioyfull and perfectly well 2. When these wicked Pagan persecutors had thus barbarously brought him within the sight of the Walles of the Cytie as though this holy Saint had bene vnworthie to enter into it and their troopes so greate by that is said before that they could not conueniently be receaued therein they stay themselues as it were pitching their Tents in a place then desart now called Redburne three miles from S. Albans throwing downe their sheelds and sticking their speares in the ground scuta reclinant hastas telluri defigunt And thus resting themselues onely S. Amphibalus rested not but preached continually the doctrine of Saluation to his enemies Who in the meanetime gaue notice to the Prince and those of the Citie of their returne and bringing with thē the Instructor of S. Alban and that they had put all those Christians before spoken off to death in the vttermost parts of the kingdome after their long Iorney thither Which when the Gouernour heard he called the people together and thus exhorted them Let vs all goe forth and meete our enemy that he which offended may receaue reuenge of vs all And so hasting forth striuing as it were who should goe first went by the way leading of the North tendentes per viam quae de Ciuitate vertit ad Aquilonem as our Antiquities say the better to set downe the old place and situation of that aūcient Citie which they then left almost vacant vrbem ferè vacuam reliquerunt And comming in this raging madnes and multitude to torment and Martyr this S. Amphibalus Martyred holy Saint they finde him all wrapped in chaines or bonds vinculis irretitum and presently stripped him naked slitt his belly and pull out his Intrals tying them to a stake which thy had fastned in the ground enforcing him to be ledd round about it And the holy Saint of God shewing no signe of greife at all among such and so many afflictions the wicked persecutors more thereby enraged sett him for a marke as it were and with their kniues and speares pearced and brake the rest of his body After all which this holy Martyr stood with as chearefull a countenance as if he had suffered no hurt at all and more constant though he now bore the signes of his Martyrdome in all his body Giuing a miraculous spectacle of himselfe that he could still liue after so great Torments and so many kindes of death Whereupon very many beholding and more and more wondering at the constancie of the blessed Martyr renouncing their Idols submitted themselues to Christian faith and prayed Many conuerted to Christ at S. Amphibalus martyrdome And prayer to martyrs with a loude voyce to God that by the merits and intercession of the blessed Martyr they might be worthie to be partakers of euerlasting life Which when the Prince perceaued and knew he presently called for the Tormentors and commanded all that had reiected and forsaken the worship of Iacob Genuens in Vita S. Amphibali Manuscriptum Antiq. Capgr in eod their Gods and embraced the doctrine of Amphibalus to be put to death 3. Which sauage Edict the Pagā souldiars effected killed a thousand such S. Amphibalus beholding it and commending their soules to God and persuading his persecutors to renounce their errors and be conuerted to Christ without whom no saluation can be had nothing but Hell and eternall damnation A thousand of the conuerted now to Christ are martyred with S. Amphibalus to be expected But the Persecutors did still perseuer in their impietie not ceasing so to torment this holy Saint with cruell stoning him besides so many torturs before remembred that when his body was afterward miraculously found there was not one whole bone to be found in it Nullum ex ossibus eius integrum appárebat Allthough it seemeth by the History of his life that many of his bones were broken with stones by these his so enraged Persecutors that after his blessed soule was separated from his body thus lying still bound and tyed they ceased not to breake it more with their casting greate stones vpon it Pagani Corpus exanime in vinculis constitutum lapidibus adhuc obruere con cessabant But so long as he liued in such extremitie of Torments as I haue related allthough the stones were cast at him as thick as hayle saxorum grandine as some write he still preserued in prayer neuer mouing himselfe on one side or other nec in partem alteram declinauit And being now come to the Periode of his punishments and to yeeld his soule to God looking towards heauen as an other S. Stephen saw Iesus standing on the right hand of his Father and heard a consorte of Angels in heauen and among them knew S. Alban whome he inuocated to assist him Saying ô holy Alban pray vnto our God that he will send a good Angell to meete mee that the dreadfull Robber lett mee not nor the wicked
the Christians heare in this Nation did not onely enioy freedome and Immunitie from all penalties and Persecution against Christian Churches and Monasteries that were ruinated restored and new builded Religion but as in the time of his Father made and freely had publike exercise and Profession thereof as our old Churches reedified new builded and erected Bishops Preists and all Cleargie and Religious men restored to their former quiet Reuenewes honours and dignities 2. Of this we haue diuers testimonies and examples in particular yet left vnto vs as out of the old Annalls of Winchester where we finde of that old Church builded in the time of King Lucius and destroyed in the late Persecutiō the Church of Winchester builded in the time of King Lucius and hallowed and dedicated Annal. Eccles Winton Godwin Catalog of Bishop Wincester in initio October 29. 189. By Faganus and Damianus Bishops amongst the rest at this time of Dioclesian went to wracke the buildings thereof being ruinated and made euen with the ground and the Monkes and all the officers belonging vnto it either slaine or enforced to fly for the present time in the yeare 309. the Church a foresaid was againe reedified and that with such wonderfull forwardnesse and Zeale as within one yeare and thirty dayes both it and all the Edifices belonging vnto it as chambers and other buildings for the Monkes and officers were quite finished in very seemely and conuenient manner The 15. day of March following it was againe hallowed and dedicated vnto the honor and memory of Amphibalus that had suffered death for Christ in the late Persecution by Constans Bishop of Winchester at te request of Deodatus Abbot of this new erected Monastery It is euident by this Relation and that is saide before that this holy worke so publike and with freedome and zeale was quite finished in the time of Constantine his being heare before he went hence against Maxentius And yet we see both Bishop Abbot Preists and Religious men publikly and honorably restored to their former condition The Church with vnspeakable deuotion builded and dedicated to that holy Saint and Martyr which in the late Persecution was most hated by the enemies of Christ So I say of the Church of S. Alban Ecclesia a Church as S. Bede writeth mirandi operis atque eius martyrio condigna extructa est a Church Bed Eccl. Hist l. 1. c. 7. Mat. West An. 313. of wonderfull workemanship and worthie of his martyrdome was builded so soone as the Christians were heare at quiet Redeunte temporum Christianorum serenitate Matthew of Westminster hath the same words and explaneth this time of the quiet of Christians heare when this Church was so sumptuously builded to haue bene ten yeares after his Martyrdome decem scilicet annis post passionem eius elapsis the perfect finishing whereof he setteth downe to haue bene in the same yeare in which Constantine went from hence towards Rome against Maxentius Which was by him in the 6. yeare of Constantine and before the generall ceasing of Persecution in other places Constantine not being absolute and sole Emperor vntill his victory against Maxentius nor the generall quiet then presently ensuing Both S. Bede and the Monke of Westminster write that in their seuerall times often curing of infirmities and Bed Matth. supr other miracles were wrought there in quo videlicet loco vsque ad hanc diem curatio infirmorum frequentium operatio virtutum celebrari non desunt The old Churches of S. Iulius and S. Aaron martyred in the late Persecutio◠in the Citie of Caerlegion deriue their auntient Foundation from this time So doe many others founded in honor of seuerall Martyrs then cruelly putt to death for the name of Christ So I affirme of all the Cathedrall Churches Archiepiscopall and Episcopall which I haue before remembred with their Particular Sees and Cities founded in the time of King Lucius and destroyed in the Persecution of the Tyrants Dioclesian and Maximinian as also those that were not Episcopall but subordinate and inferior ouerthrowne with that tempest of Persecution for S. Gildas S. Bed and others testifie without exception that all they which were then pulled downe euen to the ground were now reedified renouant Ecclesias ad solum vsque destructas Matthew of Westminster Gild. l. de excid conquest Brit. ca. 8. Bed Eccles Hist l. 1. c. 8. Mat. Westm an 313. plainely writeth that besides the new Churches builded in honor of their late Martyrs of which S. Gildas and S. Bede also make this memory Basilicas Sanctorum Martyrum fundant construunt perficiunt The Christians heare at this time renewed builded againe all the Churches dedicated to former Saints which had bene so destroyed and throwne downe to the ground Sanctorum Ecclesias ad solum vsque destructas renouant 3. And when we are warranted both by Protestant and Catholike Antiquaries Matth. Parker Antiq. Brit. pa. 8. Io. Goscel Eccl. Hist Manuscrip de Archiep. Can. tuar prope Init. Manuscr Gallie Antiq. cap. 28. also that from the beginning of Christianitie heare we had many Abbots Monkes and Monasteryes in euery Age tot tantaque Abbatum Monachorum Cenobiorum vetusta nomina quae quouis seculo extiterunt And that these Monasteryes were all destroyed in Dioclesian his Pesecution we must needs assigne their restauration to this time as I haue first exemplified before in the old Monastery of Winchester now reedified with so greate speede and deuotion the Abbot thereof being called Deodatus To this I ioyne the Monastery of Abingdon allready spoken of where this our greate King and Emperour Constantine as the old Annalls thereof doe pleade had his education when he was young wherein there where as it testifieth further aboue 500. Chron. Monast Abingdon apud Nich. Harpesf Eccl. Hist saecul 10. c. 9. Monkes liuing by the labour of their hands in th◠woods and Desarts adioyning vpon son dayes festiuall dayes comming to the Monastery besides 60. which did continually abide in the same seruing God there Quod Monachi supra quingentos illi fuerant adscripti qui per syluas loca deserta quae in vicinia fuere manuum labore victitabant ad Coenobium singulis Sabbatis Dominicis conuenientes praeter sexaginta qui assiduè in ipso Coenobio versabantur quod Constantinus ille Magnus Abingdoniae educatus fuerit Therefore we cannot doubt if we will accept this auntient Record for witnesse but of all other Monasteries this greate Emperour had an especiall care of restoring and endowing this his nursing place of education 4. To this time we may assigne the reedificing of the noble Monastery first builded by the Founder Ambrius or Ambry after called Amsbury in Wiltshire where at the comming of the Saxons hither there were 300. Religious men Coenobium trecentorum fratrum in monte Ambrij qui vt fertur fundator Galfr. Monum Hist Brit. l. 8. c. 9.
testified by S. Athanasius 555. 7. The Bishops of Britaine before S. Augustins time learned and truely Catholike and holy men 592. 3. Bishops of Britaine renowned in the Eastern Nations teaching there true Religion and condemning of Heresies 592. 3. Vide. Archbishop Braghan a noble Britan stiled King 585. 10. Braghan had 12. sonnes and 12. daughters all happy Saints ib. S. Brendon found in an Iland of America a Monastery of disciples of sainct Patrike and sainct Albeus 328. 3. Brennus commonly supposed to be a Britan and brother to our King Beline 119. 4. S. Briget became a Nunne in the I le of Mona 605. 11. or 608. 11. Britaine the Queene of Ilandes 32. 4. Britaine called by some an other world 141. 3. Three Britains of old 48. 6. Britaine deuided into Cambria Loegria Albania by Brutus 280. 1. Britaine deuided also into 5. Prouinces 35. 8. 187. 2. Britaine deuided into 3. Prouinces by the Romans their names and Metropolis 314. 3. Britaine had aunciently 28. Cities 285. 1. Their names 285. 1. c. The number of Britan Ilands 141. 3. Britaine subiect to diuers pettie Kings 127. 1. Britaine made Tributary to the Romans by Iulius Caesar â—1 1. Britaine kept vnder the Romans with a small garrison 1. 1. Britaine neuer so seruil to the RomaÌ„s as other kingdomes 232. 2. Britaine neuer subiects to the RomaÌ„s Iure belli 238. 4. All Britaine belonged to the RomaÌ„s in the time of Maximus 575. 6. Britaine had alwaies its owne Kings both by inheritance and descent froÌ„ their auncient Brittish Regall Race 232. 2. The old right and Title of Britaine to the Ilands neere Norway and Denmarke 334. 1. Britains Conuersion foretold by the Prophets of the old TestameÌ„t 31. 3. Britaine began to be enlightned with the sunne of the Gospell euen in the daies of Tiberius 21. 4. Britaine enioyed diuers Bishops and Preists after sainct Aristobulus death 171. 3. Manifold lets of the generall Conuersion of Britaine 232. 1. c. Britaine generally conuerted vnder S. Eleutherius 255. 3. 270. 6. Britaine receaued in king Lucius time the old Decrees of the primitiue Popes 338. 4. Britaine the first kingdome in the world that generally and publikly receaued the faith of Christ 250. 5. Britains generall Conuersion neither lawfully might or could be established without the help and Power of the Roman Apostolike See 248. 3. Britaine receaued Church discipline from Rome and when 320. 7. Great encrease of Christians in Britaine in Pope Higinius time 209. 3. Britaine a Paterne to deuide other Prouinces into Diocesses and Parishes 338. 1. Britaine at variance by reason of King Lucius death without a successor 250. 1. Britaine distempered in ciuill affaires by the longe absence of Constantine 542. 2. Britaine at ciuill warres 542. 3. Litle Britaine probably the place giuen by Constantine to the Brittish Souldiars which had serued him in his warres 542. 2. Britaine as free as any Nation from the Arrian Heresie 544. 7. Britaine receaued and obserued the Nicen faith 546. 9. All Britaine not perfectly free from the Arrian contagion 555. 8. Britaine in S. Ninians time did agree in Religion with the present Roman Church 589. 4. All Britaine subiect vnto the Pope in spirituall busines vntill Caluins time 353. 4. Britans carried as Prisoners and Hostages to Rome 1. 1. The Britans temporall dependance on the Roman Empire occasion of their greatest spirituall good 2. 3. The Britans beleife of Christ to come did not diminish in the inhabitants after the death of Iosinas and Finnanus 11. 6. Many Britans liued in perpetuall chastity before the Natiuity of Christ and why 16. 7. Some Britans came to more knowledge of Christ in Tiberius daies 12. 1. Many Britans conuerted at Rome 19. 2. A reason out of S. Ambrose of the Roman Britans so quicke Conuersion 20. 3. Britans of the Northren parts CoÌ„uersion before those of the South 34. 6. The Britans first Apostle necessary to be knowne 40. 1. With what Nations the Britans had commerce at Rome 21. 4. The Britans well affected to the Româ—ns vnder Tiberius 23. 4. Diuerse Britans probably conuerted with S. Mansuetus by S. Peter 32. 5. Diuers BritaÌ„s probably accompaned S. Peter from hence to Rome 162. 2. The first Christian Britans honor loue towards S. Peter 164. 3. Our Britan Christians probably buried S. Peter ib. Britans both at home and else where enioyed quietly vnder the RomaÌ„s the free vse of Christian Religion vntill the Persecution of Dioclesian 164. 3. 20000. Britans serued vnder Vespasian at the sacking of Hierusalem 166. 2. Credible that many of these Britans were Christians ib. Many Britans receaued the faith in the time of Antoninus Pius 203. 4. Britans euer loued learning 206. 8. Many Britans went to Rome to inable themselues in learning Religion for the generall Conuersion of Britaine 222. 4. Britans the first Christian people in the world 335. 3. Britans and Scots receaued not their first faith from any Church of Asia 353. 4. Many Britans fall againe into Paganisme 367. 3. Britans sent to Rome to pay Tribute accustomed to sacrifice in the TeÌ„ple of Mars 367. 3. Britans knighted at Rome with Pagan rites and ceremonies 367. 3. The Britan Christians manifold miseries in Dioclesians Persecution 423. 2. c. Britans fly to the Scots and Picts to auoide Persecution 429. 1. The Britan Christians care in restoring Religion after the Persecution of Dioclesian 180. 8. The Britans deuotion to S. Simeon Stellita 589. 5. The Britans detested the Pelagian Heresie 610. 6. S. Brithwald a Monke of Glastenbury 333. 9. Saint Brithwald chosen Abbot in the Monastery of Reculuer in Kent ib. S. Brithwalds Vision of S. Peter 76. 12. Brutus a Troian landed heare in the time of Hely and Samuel 280. 1. Brutus called this Country before named Albion Britannia ib. Brutus deuided at his death the Iland to his sonnes ib. C. S. Cadocus Bishop and Martyr a Prince by birth his Monanastery where builded 603. 9. S. Cadocus large almes 604. 9. Caelius Sedulius a Scot a man of great learning and by some a Bishop 593. 3. Caelius Sedulius preached in the East ib. Caelius Sedulius professed the same faith with the present Roman Church 593. 3. Caelius Sedulius his workes approued by sainct Gelasius Pope ib. Caelius Sedulius stiled by S. Gelasius Venerabilis ib. Some of his writings vsed in the Church publike seruice ib. Caerlegion first builded by Belinus 281. 3. Caerlegions diuers names ib. Caerlegion not so called from any Roman Legion 181. 10. Caerlegion an Archflamens Seat 281. 3. Caerlegions Archbishops 319. 4. The glory of Caerlegion 428. 3. or 425. 3. Caerlegion Schoole brought forth many glorious Martyrs during the Persecution of Diocletian 427. 2. S. Caffo sainct Kebius Disciple 567. 4. A strange wounder performed by him ib. Sainct Caius Pope and Martyr 385. 17. S. Caius Kindsman to the Emperour Dioclesian ib. S. Caius his Decrees ib. Caius Caligula the Emperor a freind to Christians 30.