most illustrious are S. Aaron and S. Iulius who in this persecution of Diocletian and Maximianus consummated a most glorious Martyrdom there 3. Concerning whom our Countrey-man Balâ— though as became an Apostat a bitter Enemy of the Roman-Catholick Church writes thus Iulius and Aaron Noble Cittizens of the famous Citty of Caer-Leon for so Isca of the Silures is called from two Legions garrisond there and Disciples in Christ of the holy Martyr Amphibalus were most illustrious ornaments of piety to our Countrey of Brittany These two addicted themselves with much diligence to the study of learning not only in their own countrey but also undertook a Voyage into forraign Nations for the attaining skill in good arts for history informs us that they studied at Rome especially and therfore celebrates them much for their Learning 4. Iohn Fox likewise commends these two holy men but mistakes when he calls them Cittizens of Verolam whom Gildas and S. Beda positively affirm to have been inhabitants of Caer-Leon The words of S. Beda are these At the same time during the persecution of Diocletian Aaron and Iulius Cittizens of Caer-Leon together with very many others in diverse places of both sexes suffred Martyrdom Who after the suffering of severall tortures had their members torn asunder by unheard of cruelty and at last consummating a glorious Martyrdom they sent up their soules to the ioys of the heavenly Citty The same expression is used concerning them in the Roman Martyrologe on the first of Iuly when the Martyrdom of Aaron and Iulius is commemorated And both the said Martyrologe and S. Beda have borrowed the phrase describing the manner of their death from our most ancient Historian Gildas 5. And the deuout Brittains of those times after the same manner honourd the Memory of these two Holy Martyrs as they had done that of S. Albanus and S. Amphibalus by erecting Altars and Churches to their honour Thus Giraldus Cambrensis in his Itinerary of Wales treating of the famous Citty of Caër-Leon writeth Here lye the bodies of two Noble Christians and next to S. Albanus and S. Amphibalus the most illustrious Protomartyrs of Brittany who were here crowned with Martyrdom I mean Iulius and Aaron each of which had a famous Church erected to his honour in this Citty For there were in ancient times in the said Citty three magnificent Churches One of the Martyr S Iulius adornd with a Quire and Convent of Religious Virgins A second dedicated to the honour of his Companion S. Aaron and graced with a Noble Quire of Canons The third was the Metropolitan Church of all Cambria This last Church was afterward translated by the holy Bishop S. David to Menevia the authority of Dubritius Legat of the Bishop of Rome concurring thereto 6. It is observable that all these Churches were built by Brittains long before the Saxons entred into this Island So that there is no need of expecting S Gregory the Great or S. Augustin the Monk to him who would find arguments to proove the Antiquity of the Roman Faith touching the Veneration of Saints in Brittany 7. Besids these wee find celebrated in ancient Martyrologes the memory of two Noble Brittish Christians the Disciples of S. Amphibalus who were crownd with Martyadom in the same persecution of Diocletian their names are Stephanus and Socrates Mention is made of them likewise by S. Beda Vsuardus Ado and others whereto also severall ancient Manuscripts doe accord We find no particular Gests of theirs only in the English Martyrologe it is said that in the Province of the Silures Churches were built to their honour Now whether this Stephanus was Bishop of London it is a doubt A Bishop of that name is sayd to have governed that See in this age though Authours place him somewhat later To this time likewise is referd the murdring of all the Monks in the Monastery of Winchester built by King Lucius Of which wee shall speak in the next year but one 8. Whilst the Romans thus raged in Brittany very many Christians not having the courage to keep their ranks expose themselves to their Enemies Violence yet resolving not to betray their Faith withdrew themselves from the fury of men least by the immanity of torments they should be compell'd to renounce it Thus Gildas writes of the remainder of Christians in those dayes Those persecuted Christians saith he which were left hid themselves in woods defarts and caves of rocks expecting from God the iust Iudge of all when he would please to execute his iudgments on their persecutours and restore safety and liberty to their own soules 9. This Christian prudence and caution of theirs was suitable to the advice given the year before by the holy Pope and Maâ—tyr Caius at Rome when the persecution first began For he in an Assembly of beleivers meeting together on that occasion thus spoke to them Our Lord Iesus Christ who perfectly foresees and knows the frailty of mankind hath ordained two ranks and degrees of Beleivers namely Confession and Martyrdom to the end that those who have not strength or courage enough to sustain the weight of Martyrdom may at least hold fast the Grace of Confession Let such yeild up the glory of Martyrdom to the valiant soldiers of Christ which are resolved to coÌ„bat for him and take a sollicitous care of their own soules Let them therfore who are so disposed depart out of this feild of battell whither they please together with our dear children Chromatia and Tiburtius and for the rest who are more courageously resolved let them remain still here in the Citty with mee 10. This flight of Christians in Brittany suitable to the Roman practise gave occasion to Persecutours to extend their rage upon Churches and Monasteries all which by this tempest were so uterly destroyd that as Gildas saith in severall Provinces of this Island there remained no marks at all of Christian Religion This desolation continued about seaven years till the happy return of Constantius as soon as he was created Caesar by whose clemency the Christian Faith and worship again flourishd in Brittany and this much sooner then in any other parts of the Roman Empire Which mercy of God seems to have been extended in a speciall manner toward the Brittains because as S. Beda saith they only preserv'd among them their primitive Faith received in the dayes of King Lucius entire and inviolate till the Raign of Diocletian XX. CHAP. 1.2.3 Carausius the Admirall of the Emperours Navy his rapines and rebellion he takes possession of Brittany 4.5 Maximianus his preparations against him without effect 6. The Tyrant left in quiet possession of Brittany subdues the Caledonian Brittains A monument of his Victory 1. THIS Tyranny of the Roman Emperours against Christian Religion God was pleased to revenge by permitting another Tyrant to raise himself against them in Brittany This was Carausius who saith Victor drew his Originall from
by succession Neither was it to be doubted but that he would conferr on thee supreme Power who had destind thee for his Son in Law before thou couldst request it 6. Hence appears the mistake of those Writers who affirm that Constantin was created Emperour in Brittany immediatly after the death of his Father For it certainly appeares that he took not that Title till the year after when he pass'd out of Brittanyâ—nto â—nto Gaule In the mean time he finish'd his Fathers Victories in Brittany aganist the Picts and Caledonians who rebelled and were repulsed by him beyond the Wall In which expedition he was assisted by a barbarous King of the Alamanni called Erocus by whose counsell likewise and endeavours he assum'd the Title of Emperour the year following as Aurelius Victor testifies II. CHAP. 1. Constantius overcoms two German Princes 2 Treats with Maxentius and is refused 3. Marries Maximians daughter Fausta and receives the Title of Emperour 4 c. Maximians treachery and punishment 1. THough Constantin at first refus'd the Title of Emperour yet he kepd a resolution to aspire to it either by agreement or force For which purpose he pass'd over with a great army into France Where his first exploit was to represse two barbarous Princes who fill'd the Countrey with factions inciting the Gaules to rebellion Their names were Ascaricus and Gaisus or Regaisus call'd his Comes Whom having overcome in battell for a terrour to others he expos'd them to be devoured by wild beasts This Victory of Constantin is celebrated by Eusebius in generall terms but with a notable errour in Chronology being placed by him before his voyage into Brittany 2. A firm peace being hereby restored to Gaule Constantin began to treat a league with Maxentius who the year before hauing been inform'd of the death of Constantius had possess'd himselfe of Rome and usurped the Title of Emperour being assisted by the Pretorian soldiers and hoping that Maximianus Herculius whose daughter he had maried would favour him in his ambition With which successe being puff'd up he rejected the motion of concord offred by Constantin whom he would not admitt into fellowship in the Empire 3. But Maximianus Herculius having heard the late glorious victory obtain'd by Constantin over the fore-mention'd barbarous Princes voluntarily bestow'd on him his daughter Fausta and with her the Imperiall Purple This is testified by a nameles Panegyrist of those times who expressly affirms that at this mariage the name of Emperour was given him and added to that of Caesar. 4. But presently after this mariage was celebrated Maximianus began to discover his treacherous mind and intention again to possesse himself of the Empire which he had voluntarily resigned and bound himself by a Solemne oath in the Capitol never to resume it This intention he had made known to his daughter Fausta before the mariage and for the execution of it he sent letters to solicite the armies and with promises of great rewards attempted the fidelity of the soldiers All these designs Fausta bearing a greater affection to her husband then her Father discovered to Constantin informing him that the Mariage was intended only to make him secure and that her Fathers purpose was to deprive him of the Empire and perhaps his life too 5. Hereupon Constantin found it necessary to prevent such treacherous designs of his Father in Law who presently after publickly resumed the Name and Authority of Emperour at Arles from whence retiring himself to Marseilles he was there beseiged by Constantin and afterwards made prisoner Whereupon he executed on himself the just vengeance of his perjury and treason by the most ignominious kind of death strangling himself with a halter Such a deserved end had this Tyrant who defiled the Western Empire with the blood of so many Christians Thus did Constantin a Brittish Emperour expiate the death of those glorious Martyrs S. Albanus and his companions who suffred in Brittany In which action Eumenius the Oratour though a Heathen elegantly frees him from all suspicion of cruelty 6. Constantin having composed affaires in Gaule prosecuted after ward his Victories into Germany into which he pass'd his army upon a bridge which he built over the Rhene about Triers There he subdued severall Nations especially the Bructeri which rebelled The Belgick Historians write that in Constantins army were many noble Brittains among which they name three Vncles of his Mother Helena Iohelin Traër and Marius Which gave occasion to the Panegyrist Eumenius to expatiate upon the praises of Brittany which he concludes thus O fortunate Brittany now happy beyond all other countreyes inasmuch as thou wast the first which didst see Constantin Caesar Nature did deservedly enrich thee with all the blessings of heaven and earth c. III. CHAP. 1.2.3 Monasteries builâ— in Brittany Namely Winchester and Abingdon 1. THough Constantin himself was not yet a Christian as appears by the Orations of Panegyrists to him in which he is extolled for his devotion to heathen Gods Mars Victoria and especially Apollo whose temples he visited to give them thanks for his Victories presenting there most magnificent Gifts and offrings Notwithstanding Christians enioyed the same peace and security through all his dominions and particularly in Brittany which had formerly been granted them by his Father Constantius 2. Hence it is that our ancient Records mention the rebuilding and replenishing severall Monasteries in this our Island Among which the most famous were the Monasteries of Winchester and Abingdon Concerning the former Bishop Godwin out of ancient Monuments testifies that it was begun and perfected with such admirable devotion and zeale that within the space of one year and thirty dayes both the Church the lodgings of the Monks and all other Offices and buildings for their severall uses were entirely finished And at the request of Deodatus the first Abbot of this New Monastery it was by Constans Bishop of Winchester consecrated to the memory of S. Amphibalus Martyr In which state it continued more then the space of two hundred years till Cerdicâ—s the first King of the Western Saxons driving away and killing some of the Monks turn'd it into a Temple of Idolatry The same account of it is given by Thomas Rudburn quoted by Bishop Vsher from Giraldus Cornubiensis and Vigilantius ancient Writers though he erre much in his Chronology placing this restitution in the year of our Lord two hundred ninety and three 3. As for the Monastery of Abingdon if the Chronicle of that place may be credited Constantin himselfe in his younger dayes had his education there And thereto belonged no fewer then five hundred Monks which liv'd by the labour of their hands in Woods and deserts and every Sunday and Sabbath day resorted to the Monastery to perform their devotions Besides which five hundred there remain'd constantly sixty Monks attending to dayly reciting of Psalms and holy Christian Sacrifices IV. CHAP.
c. Pascentius a Son of K. Vortigern comes with forces into Brittany And contrives the murder of K. A. Ambrosius But is slain by K. Vther 6. Vther overcomes the Saxons 1. THE Brittains though they had seen their Island thus dismembred and on all sides oppress'd by barbarous enemies yet sustained a greater dammage by civill dissensions rais'd by a Son of the late King Vortigern call'd Pascentius who in the end treacherously depriv'd them of their Noble King Ambrosius 2. This Pascentius after the death of his Father Vortigern seing the minds of the Brittains out of hatred to his Father inclin'd to Ambrosius fled into Germany where he remained severall years endeavouring to gather forces sufficient to place himself in the throne of his Ancestors At length in the year four hundred ninety six he came saith Florilegus with a powerfull and well furnish'd Army and landed in the Northern parts of the Island intending to revenge his own and his fathers injuries upon Ambrosius Who upon news hereof gathered likewise an Army and march'd speedily to meet him Shortly they came to a battell in which Pascentius was overcom and forc'd to fly 3. His refuge was into the countrey of the Scotts where again recruiting his army he return'd to try his fortune once more against the Brittains But hearing that Ambrosius lay sick in the Citty of Winchester he thought it best to work his revenge by treason rather then open force Therefore by gifts and promises he hired a certain Saxon call'd Eopa to fain himself a Physicion and a Brittain and by that means to attempt the murder Who under this feigned shew and with a pretence of great piety and affection to the King being admitted mingled poyson in a potion administred to him of which Ambrosius presently dyed in the one and thirtieth year of his raign 4. But Pascentius did not long enjoy the fruit of his Treason For Vther-pendragon the Brother of Ambrosius who during his Sicknes was Generall of the Brittish forces marching against Pascentius in a battell slew him and all his Captains that came along with him over whom he obtain'd a signall Victory 5. The year following saith Florilegus Vther the Brother of the late King Ambrosius came with hast to Winchester and calling an Assembly of the people and Clergy of the Kingdom took on him the Crown of Brittany which is said to have been set on his head by the Holy Bishop Dubritius And calling to mind how the year before a Comet had appear'd of a wonderfull magnitude darting forth onely one beam at the end whereof was seen a globe of fire shaped like a dragon out of whose mouth proceeded two beames one reaching to Gaule and the other shooting towards Ireland which ended in seaven lesser beames For this reason he commanded two Dragons to be made of gold like to that which had appear'd One of them he gave in oblation to the Church of Winchester the other he caried with him placing it in every combat in his Ensign And from that time he was call'd in the Brittish language Vther-pendragon And hence it is that to this day our Kings in their warlick expeditions cary the like Ensign 6. But Vther had no sooner put on his crown but he was forc'd to exchange it for a Head-peice for as the same Authour relates Eska the Successour of Hengist and his Son Octa attended with a mighty army of Saxons invaded the Northern Provinces of Brittany and destroyd all the Munitions between Albany and York At last when they attempted the seige of a Citty call'd Alcluid Vther-pendragon came upon them with all the strength of the countrey and entred battell against them The Saxons manfully resisted and in the end compell'd the Brittains to fly as far as to a mountain calld Danet which they seis'd upon as a place of refuge being so dismay'd that they scarce knew what they did But at last they resolv'd upon a prudent exploit which was to sett courageously upon the enemies by night This design they executed prosperously For the Saxons being thus unexpectedly invaded scarce rendred any combat at all but were utterly routed and Octa and Eska were taken prisoners whom the King caried with him to London where he caus'd them to be kept safe 7. That which follows in Florilegus touching King Vthers love to Igerna wife to Gorlo Duke of Cornwall on whom he is sayd to have begott Arthur with many other Fables repugnant to all order of time are not worth the exscribing In the narration of the Gests of Arthur wee shall follow William of Malmsbury a far more authentick Guide then Geffrey of Monmouth By him we are informed that Arthur at this time was of a full ripe age and by his assistance King Ambrosius had repress'd the Saxons XXI CHAP. 1.2 c Of S. Gunléus a Brittish Prince and Hermite and of his Son S. Cadoc and his Tutour S. Tathai 9. Of S. Dogmael and S. Bernach Brittish Saints 10. Of S. Finguar an Irish Saint in Cornwall 1. THE year of Grace five hundred is in our Ecclesiasticall monuments mark'd with the death of S. Cadoc not the Martyr sirnamed Sophias but the holy Abbot Son of Gunlaeus Prince of the Southern Brittains and of Gladus or Gundalus a daughter of Braghan who gave the name to the Province of Brecknock of whom we have already treated 2. His Father Gunleus by divine vocation growing weary of the world built a Church saith Capgrave where he began to live in great abstinence and purity of conversation His cloathing was sack-cloath his dyet barley bread mingled with ashes and his drink water He usually rose at midnight and to abate carnall desires cast himself into cold water He received nothing from any but sustained himself with the Labour of his hands 3. This retirement of his Father begun during the child-hood of S. Cadoc who when he came to years of understanding chose rather to imitate his Fathers devotion then enjoying his Principality to be expos'd to the tentations and vicissitudes of the world 4. He had for his Master and directour in the way of Piety a learned and holy man famous in that age called Tathai who liv'd a solitary life in all austerity among the mountains in Southwales till he was invited by Caradoc Prince of that Province to live coenobitically and to institure young men in learning and piety at a Citty calld Venta Silurum in the Province of Monmouth Which Region saith Camden from that Citty Venta was by the Brittains calld Guent And as wee read in the life of Tathai a Brittish Saint it was as an Academy dedicated to the studies of litterature over which was President the said Tathai invited from his solitude to that employment by King Caradoc the Son of Inirius This Office Tathai executed with great commendation and there built a Church 5. Vnder so worthy a Master S. Cadoc made wonderfull progresse in vertue and piety and
place in this History because they illustrated Brittany with their miracles and Sanctity those were S. Iustinian ad S. Patern 2. As touching S. Iustinian Iohn of Tinmouth who wrote his life extant in Capgrave relates that he took his Original from a Noble family in Lesser Brittany where having spent his youth in the study of Learning he received the Order of Preisthood and by a divine Oracle was commanded to forsake his countrey Wherupon taking with him certain companions they adventured to sea in a boat covered with leather praying earnestly to God that he would so direct their course that they might come to a solitude commodious for the Exercises of a Spirituall life At length they landed in a Province calld Cormer Where they aboad a certain time during which many began to repair to the Holy man desirous to partake of his Instructions Not long after he received a second command from God to reliquish that place Whereupon entring his boat and committing himself to the Sea and winds he landed in an Island then calld Lemeney in which Honorious a devout son of King Thefriauc then lived a mortified holy life having preferd poverty and a free attendance on God before all worldly contentments By him S. Iustinian was received with great benignity who seing the fervour of his piety offred the same mansion to him to the end he might without any distraction be vigilant in gaining soules to our Lord. But this offer S. Iustinian would not accept but upon this condition that S. Honorius his sister and a mayd attending on her might no longer abide in the same Island This scrupulousnes of the holy man was derided by certain unbeleivers there but S. Honorius to enjoy his devout instructions and conversation complied with his desire and sent his Sister away into a remote region 3. After this very many repaird to him to be instructed in the Christian Faith and piety who return'd sufficiently enlightned both to find the way of salvation themselves and to teach it to others Now when the same of so great a Saint came to the knowledge of S. David he sent Messengers to him earnestly and humbly entreating him to come to him To whom he condescended without delay and was with great honour received by him Being come S. David chose him for his Conâ—essour and under God the cheif directour of his soule and withall granted to him and the devout Brethren who lived with him the mansions which he had chosen both in the Island and adjoyning continent 4. In consequence hereto the Authour of his life relates at large the envy and malice with which the Enemy of mankind impugn'd the devout and mortified life of this Holy man seeking to interrupt it by severall and frequent illusions by suggesting scandalous lyes concerning him But in conclusion saith he when the Devill saw himself every way vanquish'd by the Holy man and that neither by violent assaults nor malicious suggestions he could withdraw him from the service of God he attempted other arts and guilefull machinations For he infus'd the poyson of his malice into the hearts of three of the Holy mans servants Insomuch as they having been reprov'd by him for their idlenes and mispending the time they were â—â—â—staâ—'d with fury against him insomuch as 〈◊〉 upon him they threw him to the ground and most cruelly cutt off his head But in the place where the sacred Head fell to the ground a fountain of pure water presently flowd by drinking of which in following times many were miraculously restore to health 5 But Mâ—racles greater then these immediatly suceeded his death For the Body of the Blessed Martyr presently rose and taking the head between the two arms went down to the seaâ—hore and walking thence on the sea pass'd over to the port call'd by his name and being arriv'd in the place where a Church is now built to his Memory it fell down and was there buried by Saint David with spirituall Hymns and Canticles In which Church our Lord vouchsafes frequently to attest the sanctity of his servant by many miracles His Commemoration is on the three and twentieth of August 6. The Island in this Narration call'd Lemency is the same saith Camden which Pliny calls Silimnum and Ptolomy Limâ—s and which in English hath obtain'd a new Name being calld Ramsey It lyes opposite and in sight of Menevia the Episcopall seat of Saint David and it was in former ages famous by the death of a Holy man calld Iustinian who arriving there from Lesser Brittany in this age abounding with Saints lived many years a solitary life continually united to God but was at last murdred by his servants and inscrib'd in the Catalogue of Martyrs IX CHAP. 1.2 c. Of Saint Paternus Abbot and Bishop 1. THE sanctity of S. Dubricius and S. David c. drew into Brittany from forrein parts also Saint Paternus a devout young man in the year of Grace five hundred and sixteen saith B. Vsher together with eight hundred forty seaven Monks which accompanied him These fixed themselves in a place calld Mauritania and there S. Patern built a Church and Monastery in which he placed the Monks under an Oeconomus a Provost and a Deane Thus we read in the life of S. Paternus extant in Capgrave 2. But in what part of Brittany may we find a place calld Mauritania In all probability that name proceeds from the Writers mistake being putt for that Church which in the Province of the Dimetae or West Wales was dedicated to the honour of Saint Paternus and is calld Llan Patern Vaur or as the Brittains pronounce it Llan Patern Maur from which last word seems to be derived the Name Mauritania 3. The Monastery planted there by S. Paternus seems to have sent abroad many Colonies of Religious men into the Province for we read in Capgrave that S. Paternus built Monasteries and Churches through all the Region calld Ceretica now Cardigan-shire As for the Church here calld Mauritania it was also an Episcopal See in which S. Paternus himself first sate as we find in the life of S. Sulgen born there and describ'd in verse cited by B. Vsher. Venantius Fortunatus likewise a famous Poet of this age celebrates the memory of S. Paternus in both qualities both as an Abbot and a Bishop 4. After one and twenty years spent by S. Paternus in governing the See erected by himself and from him named Paternensis he was by Prince Caradoc recalld into his own Native countrey of Lesser Brittany where he was made Bishop of the Church of Vannes having left his Successour in his former Bishoprick one named Kinoc There was also another Saint Paternus Bishop of Auvranches in France Abrincae Ecclesiae many of whose Gests are by our Historians ascribed to this S. Paternus The Memory the former is celebrated in the Gallican Martyrologe on the sixteenth of May wheras that of our present Saint
that dignity named Wighard to be by Pope Vitalian ordained Bishop But this good man with all his attendants presently after their arrivall at Rome dyed of the Pestilence After which the said Pope to the end King Egberts Message and request should not be wholly ineffectuall among his Preists made choice of S. Theodore whom he consecrated Arch-bishop of Canterbury assigning him a collegue and Counsellour the holy and prudent Abbot Adrian And knowing S. Benedict Biscop to be an industrious noble and religious person he enioynd him for a higher and more common good to interrupt his pilgrimage undertaken for Christ and to attend the said Arch-bishop in his iourney to Brittany in the quality of a guide and interpreter 7. Being thus arrived in Brittany S. Theodore committed to him the government of the Monastery dedicated to S. Peter at Canterbury Which charge assoon as Adrian arrived he resigned to him And after about two years abode there resumed a third iourney to Rome which he prosperously performed and shortly after returned furnished with a plentifull Library of sacred Books of all kinds some of which he bought with his money and some were given him by the liberality of freinds both at Rome and Vienna in France 8. Assoon as he was landed in Brittany his intention was to repair to Coynwalh or Kenwalch King of the West-Saxons with whom he had formerly contracted freindship and received many kindnesses But being informed that he at the same time was taken away by an untimely death he went into his own native countrey and presented himself to Egfrid King of the Northumbers To whom he related particularly all the occurrents of his Voyages how many sacred volumes and what plenty of holy Relicks of the Blessed Apostles and Martyrs of Christ he had brought into Brittany out of forrein countreys He did not conceale likewise from him the ardent desire he had to a Religious Profession and what knowledge he had gott at Rome and elsewhere of Ecclesiasticall and Monasticall Discipline 9. By such discourses he found so much favour and kindnes with the King that he presently bestowd upon him of his own possessions as much land as might maintain seaventy families commanding him to build theron a Monastery to be dedicated to the honour of S. Peter the Supreme Pastour of the Church This was done and the Monastery seated at the mouth of the River Wire Vedra on the northside of the River in the six hundred seaventy fourth year of our Lords Incarnation the second Indiction and fourth year of the raign of King Egfrid 10 Scarce a year was passed after the Monastery was built but S. Benedict went over Sea into France from whence be brought with him Masons to erect a Church of Stone according to the Roman fashion which he always most affected And so great was his diligence out of the love he bore to Saint Peter to whose honour it was built that within the compasse of a year after the foundations were layd it was entirely perfected insomuch as Solemne Masses were sung there Moreover when the building was almost finished he sent Messengers into France who brought back with them glasiers to make windows for the Church and upper galleries This was an art formerly unknown in Brittany and was taught the Brittains at this time being very commodious for lamps and other vessells usefull in the Church In a word whatsoever was convenient for the service of the Altar and adorning of the Church both vessels and Vestments which could not be found in Brittany he took order should be brought out of forrein countreys 11. And because he could not be furnished with all things out of France he undertook a fourth iourney to Rome from whence he came loaded with abundance of spirituall wares as Books Relicks Images c. Besides that he obtained oâ— Pope Agathon to send with him the fore-mentioned Iohn Abbot of S. Martins and Arch-Cantour of S. Peters Church in Rome to be a Master of Church-Musick and singing in his Monastery according to the Roman manner Which Office the said Iohn diligently performed not only in that but many other Churches in Brittany Lastly the devout Abbot Benedict brought with him from Rome another which was no mean present to wit a Bâ—eif of Pope Agathon by which the said Monastery was made free and exempted from all outward usurpations and oppressions Which Priviledge was dâ—manded by the advice and desire of King Egfrid 12. The said King being well satisfied and delighted with the zeale and industry of S. Benedict and perceiving that his former Gift had been well and proffitably employd he added a second Gift of a possession of forty families on which by command of the said King Egfrid he built another Monastery on the opposite side of the same River which he consecrated to the honour of S. Paul the Apostle sending thither seaventeen Monks under the government of Ceolfrid a Preist their Abbot Now a speciall care S. Benedict had in the constitution of these two Monasteries of S. Peter and Saint Paul the former seated at Wiremouth and the other at Girwy now called Iarrow that they were linked together in peace and unity as if they were but one body being governed by the same Rule and Institut 13. As for this Ceolfrid he had been a companion and assistant in all things to S. Benedict from the first foundation of the former Monastery He had also attended him in his last iourney to Rome which he willingly undertook both out of devotion and also a desire to encrease his knowledge in sacred and Ecclesiasticall matters Vpon occasion of which iourney Saint Benedict made choice of a certain Preist and Monk of the Monastery of S. Peter called Easterwin whom he constituted Abbot of the said Monastery to the end he might assist him in the labour of its government which by reason of his frequent iourneys and absence he could not sustain alone Neither ought it to seem absurd that two Abbots at the same time should ioyntly govern one Monastery For Ecclesiasticall History informs us that Saint Peter constituted two Bishops aâ— Rome under himself the necessity of affairs so requiring at that time And the great Patriark S. Benedict himself as the Blessed Pope S. Gregory writes of him appointed over his Disciples twelve Abbots subordinate to himself without any prejudice to Charity yea to the augmentation of it XII CHAP. 1.2 The Gests of the holy Abbot Easterwin his death 1. BEcause we will not interrupt this narration touching the foundation of those two Monasteries of S. Peter and Saint Paul with the discipline and government of them for severall years under the direction of S. Benedict and other Abbots subordinate to him we will proceed in setting down a summary of the Treatise of S. Beda touching that argument in which is contained an abstract of the lives and actions of the said Abbots beginning with him who dyed first which was the Venerable Abbot Easterwin 2.
of February But his principall Feast is obser-served on the fourteenth of October the day of his Translation 10. His Successour Saint Megingand who was one of those which Saint Boniface had called out of Brittany was come to a great age at the death of Saint Burchard yet he administred that See the space of fifteen years in all things conformable to the good example of his Blessed Predecessour And â—t last being oppressed with age by the consent of his Clergy he elected for his Successour a certain Disciple and Monk of his Monastery called Bernwelf to whom he resigned the whole care of his Bishoprick consigning into his hands all the possessions and goods left by Saint Burchard And attended by a few disciples he retired to a certain place given to him by a devout person named Hatto 11. But in this his choice he was not so happy as his Predecessour had been for instead of kindnes and respect due to him he found extreme ingratitude and persecution from his Successour Insomuch as whereas in the Monastery of Saint Kilian he had left fifty Monks laudable in their observance of Regular Disciplin all these did Bernwelf with iniuries drive out of the Monastery and compelled them to have recourse to his Master Mengingand And not content with that he most greivously and incessantly vexed the good old man with frequent clamorous accustions of having detained certain Vestments and Books left by Saint Burchard So great and insupportable unquietnes and troubles he caused to his Master who had made him Bishop that he was compelled to forsake that place of his retirement called Korinlathe and afterwards Nieustat which he gave up to the patronage of King Charles and betook himself to another further distant Monastery by the same King bestowed upon him and his Monks Where living in all freedom from secular molestation under the protection of the illustrious King Charles in all things being acceptable to God and men he in a short time full of good works departed this life to receive his eternall reward IV. CHAP. 1.2 c. The Gests and blessed death of Saint Willehade first Bishop of Bremen 1. AS for Saint Willehade he likewise came out of Brittany presently after Saint Boniface his Martyrdom and arrived at a place called Dockum where the said Holy Martyr received his Crown There he remaind a good space not deterred by the so late cruelty of the barbarous Pagans from boldly preaching the Gospell and God so blessed his labours that many were converted and baptized by him From thence passing over the River Lavinca he went to a place called Huchmark where endeavouring likewise to withdraw those barbarous people from their Idolatry they in a great rage cryed out that such a profane seducer ought to be killed And when they were ready to putt this in execution certain men among them more moderate told them that they ought to make a tryall according to the ancient custom of their countrey by casting of Lotts whether his death would be acceptable to their Gods or no And being hereto perswaded through Gods Providence he escaped so that they gave him free permission to goe out of their countrey 2. Leaving them therefore he went to a place called Drente where by his preaching many were converted and baptized But when his Disciples moved with zeale began to destroy the Heathen Temples the barbarous people became incensed and had a resolution to kill them Saint Willehade was sore bruised with clubbes and one among them ran upon him with his sword purposing to cutt off his head Lifting up therefore his sword he with all his force smote him on the neck Now the Holy man had at that time a case full of Relicks tyed about his neck The sword then curt a sunder the string only and did not at all enter into the flesh The Pagans therefore astonished at this Miracle let both him and his Disciples depart without any further harm done them 3. Now the Victorious King of France Charles having heard report of this Holy man's sanctity and zeale encouraged him much to be constant in preaching the Gospell He went therefore into a Territory called Wigmode where he converted many and built Churches Yea the greatest part of the Frisons inhabiting thereabout promised they would embrace the Christian Faith But not long after Wittekind Duke of the Saxons rebelled against King Charles and raising an army began a great persecution against the Christians The holy man therefore after he had escaped an imminent danger went to Rome Where being much comforted and encouraged by Pope Adrian he returned back into Franconia 4. Moreover at the command of the same King the man of God went again into Wigmode where he openly and boldly preached the Faith and repaired the Churches which the Pagans had demolished And God did so prosper his labours that the Frisons once more embraced the Faith which they had renounced Yea Duke Wittekind himself the Authour of all the mischeif submitting himself to King Charles was perswaded to receive Baptism 5. The said King seeing so many Christians converted thought good that a New Episcopall See should be erected for which purpose he made choice of a place called Bremen in the countrey of Wigmode there he caused a Church to be built and with the advice of Lullo he sent to Pope Adrian to demand that this Holy man Willehade should be consecrated Bishop of Bremen which was accordingly performed There is in the Annalls of Baronius extant the Charter of King Charles for the erection and endowment of this Episcopall See in which after thanks given to God for his many victories over the Saxons he declares the limits of this new Diocese what possessions and Tithes were annexed to it as likewise to a Monastery adioyning all which were committed to the care of the Holy servant of God Willehade Which Charter was dated in the year of our Lords Incarnation seaven hundred eighty eight 6. In this function Saint Willehade behaved himself with wonderfull piety and encreased his diligence in the practise and progresse in all vertues And falling into an infirmity of body he was commanded by Pope Adrian to eat fish for formerly out of a rigorous abstinence he forbore the use of them Scarce any day passed in which he did not with great contrition of heart celebrate Masse and besides that he would some dayes recite the whole Psalter twice or thrice Thus the blessed man did wonderfully adorn his Doctrine and by his own example confirm that which with his tongue he preached to others 7. At length after he had severall times with great zeale visited his Diocese he came to a certain place called Bleckensee now Plexem Where so violent a feavour took him that his Disciples despaired of his recovery And one of them being more familiarly conversant with him could not forbear to testify his greif by teares and complaints saying Holy Father doe not so soon
supposed Epistle This is undoubted that about this time a great scandall was given to the Western Churches upon occasion of the Doctrine touching Veneration of Sacred Images asserted a little before this time in the Seaventh Generall Councill assembled at Nicea In which Councill three hundred and fifty Eastern Bishops restored the Sacred use and Veneration of Images which had been with horrible cruelty impugned by severall preceding Emperours In the Decrees concerning which they taught the very same Doctrine and practise which King Charles and the French Church as likewise King Offa and the English-Saxon Bishops conformably to Pope Hadrian both beleived and practised Notwithstanding which two years after this in a Councill assembled by command of King Charles at Frankfort the said Council of Nicéa was sharply and bitterly condemned 8. It may seem strange that the Eastern and Western Churches should so well agree and so sharply disagree at the same time and upon the same Point But the wondeâ— will cease when it shall evidently appear that it was upon a most malicious and false misinformation that King Charles and his Bishops entertaind a prejudice against the Eastern Church being told that they maintained a doctrine which they expressly disclamed 9. To the end this may be demonstrated we will produce from the Western Council or Frankfort what iudgment they made of the Councill of Nicéa which upon misinformation is there called the Councill of Constantinople There was brought into the Synod to be publickly debated a Question concerning a late Synod of the Greeks which was held at Constantinople touching the adoration of Images in which was found written this clause That an Anathema should be denounced against all such as would not exhibite the same service or adoration to the Images of Saints as they doe to the Divine Trinity Such an adoration and service our Holy Fathers have with contempt renounced to Images and unanimously condemned it 10. This was indeed a iust and necessary condemnation of so blasphemous a Doctrine and no doubt both Alcuin and the English Bishops would not refuse to ioyn in the like condemnation But the Doctrin so worthily condemned is so far from being approved or asserted in the Councill of the Greeks at Nicéa that in the very Decision concerning the Veneration of Images they doe expressly renounce it as will appeare by their Decree here following 11. We insisting on the Doctrin of the Holy Fathers observing likewise the Tradition of the Catholick Church Doe define that venerable and Sacred Images commodiously framed in colours marble or any other matter according to the manner and form of the Venerable and like-giving Crosse are with all diligence and care to be dedicated in Churches in Sacred Vessells and Vestments in walls and tables in private houses and publick wayes and especially the Image of our Lord God and Saviour Iesus Christ next of the Divine Virgin-Mother of the glorious Angells and Saints To the end that by an inspection of such images all that look upon them may be brought to the remembrance and desire of the principall obiects represented by them and exhibite reverence and respectfull adoration to them yet by no means any true Divine Worship 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which according to our Faith is only due to the Divine Nature We therefore intend such a veneration as we shew when we reverently burn incense or light candles to the Type of the venerable and life-giving Crosse to the Holy Gospells and other oblations as hath been and iâ— the custom received from our predecessours 12. Whence appears how innocent the Bishops of that Synod were of the impiety condemned by the Western Bishops at Francfort So that we may conclude that this false information was given them from the Hereticks Iconoclasts condemned by the same Councill And theâ—efore the same Sir Henry Spelman writes truly and ingenuously saying I doe confesse that I doe not find that prodigious sentence concerning deifying of Images in the Exemplar of the Nicene Synod which is published by Binius VI. CHAP. i. 2 c. The Body of Saint Alban the Proto-martyr of Brittany miraculously discovered to King Offa who causes it to be translated and builds a magnificent Church and Monastery to his honour 1. THE year following Offa King of the Mercians residing then at the Citty of Bath was in sleep admonished by a Divine Oracle to take up out of the earth the Sacred Body of Saint Alban and place it more honourably in a shrine He therefore sending for Humbert Arch-bishop of the Mercians declared unto him his vision Then the said Arch-bishop attended by Ceoâ—ulf and Vnwona his two Suffragan Bishops with an innumerable multitude of both sexes mett the King at Verulam upon a day appointed There did the said King behold a Light from heaven darting its beams over the place where the Holy Martyr had been buried by which sign seen of them all they became assured of the truth of the former vision Then were all the people commanded to purify themselves by fasting almes and prayers and the Bishops adorned with their Sacerdotall Vestments begged the assistance of the Blessed Martyr For the place since the coming of S. Germanus and Lupus two French Bishops into Brittany to root out the Pelagian Heresy about three hundred forty four years before this had been quite defaced by the Pagan Saxons English and Iutes who conquered the countrey and destroyed all sacred places and among the rest the Church which after the death of the Holy Martyr had been magnificently built to his honour by the Brittains as Beda testifieth 2. The said Bishops therefore after fasting and prayers opening the ground found the Blessed Martyrs body in a woodden Coffin together with the Sacred Relicks of the Apostles and Martyrs which Saint Germanus had placed there This Invention drew teares of ioy and devotion from the eyes of all the Clergy and people present and the Bishops with great reverence and fear took out of the ground that precious Treasure which had been a long time hid and with a solemne Procession with Hymns and Canticles they transported it to a certain Church which had anciently been built to the honour of the said Holy Martyr without the gates of the Citty Verulam where in a shrine curiously wrought of gold and silver and adorned with pretious stones they deposed it 3. In the same place to this day divine miracles are frequently wrought for in the sight of many hearing is restored to the deafe walking to the lame sight to the blind and death both of mind and body to all who with confidence in the Divine mercy through the intercession of his Saint implore it These things were acted in the five hundred and seaventh year after the suffring of the Holy Martyr the three hundred forty fourth year after the coming of the English into Brittany the first Indiction and the first day of August 4 King Offa not content with preparing
Timotheus to his Brother and fellow preist Pastor and to his most holy Sister Praxedes health We being desirous in all things without delay to expresse our service beseech your holines to recommend us to the Memory and intercession of the Holy Apostles the holy Bishop Pius Prelat of the holy Apostolick See and all the saints I your humble servant perusing the letter you were pleased to direct to mee am more abundantly filled with ioy For my soule always was and still continues resigned to yours Wherfore your Holines may take notice that the same is pleasing to us your servant which was agreable to our Brother Novatus namely that what he bequeathed to mee should be at the disposition of the holy Virgin Praxedes and therefore hereby you have full power to employ the said legacy which way soever shall be thought good by you and the said holy Virgin 4. Now what was the successe of this holy negotiation appears in the ancient Acts of the same Pastor in these words Having therfore received this Epistle we were filled with ioy and presented it to the Holy Bishop Pius to be read by him Then the blessed Bishop Pius gave thanks to God the Father Almighty At the same time the holy Virgin of our Lord Praxedes having received such power from her Brother Timotheus humbly besought the Blessed Bishop Pius that he would dedicate a Church in the Baths of Novatus at that time not frequented because in them there was a large and spacious Edifice To this request Bishop Pius willingly yeilded and dedicated a Church in the Baths of Novatus at Rome in the street calld The Bricklayers street where likewise he constituted a Roman Title and consecrated a Font for Baptism on the fourth of the Ides of May. 5. These Bathes here named from Novatus have elsewhere their title from S. Timotheus being situated on the Mountain at Rome call'd Viminal To this place it was before a Church was solemnly consecrated that Christians usually repaired but privately for the celebration of holy Christian Mysteries as we find in the Acts of S. Iustin the Philosopher and Martyr For being examined by the Prefect of Rome concerning the place in which the Christians made their Assemblies his answer was I have hitherto had my abode near the house of one Martius at the Bath named The Timothin-bath For which Assemblies having been forbid by the Emperour the same Iustin four years after suffred Martyrdom 6. Now Wheras in this relation made by the holy Preist Pastor there is mention of a Roman Title constituted by Pope Pius we may observe that in the first infancy of the Church those who were ordained Preists to celebrate Divine Mysteries were not confined to any fixed residence but exercised their function in severall places as occasion presented it selfe But about the year of our Lord one hundred and twelve S. Evaristus Pope assign'd to each Preist a peculiar Cure and Parish in Rome which were called Tituli or Titles so named from the Ensigns or Marks set on the places where they assembled which in the ancient Churches were Crosses erected to signify that such buildings were appropriated to Christian Worship XIV CHAP. 1. The death of Antoninus Emperour to whom succeed Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus 2. The death of S. Praxedes 3. Persecution rais'd by M. Aurelius at the instigation of Philosophers 1. THE same yeare with S. Novatus did the Emperour Antoninus likewise end his life to whom succeeded Marcus Aurelius call'd the Philosopher and Lucius Verus so that the Roman Empire was joyntly governed by two persons with equall authority 2. In the second year of the raign of these Emperours dyed the holy Virgin Praxedes Concerning whom thus the Holy Priest Pastor continues to write Two years and eighteen days after this Church was dedicated there was a great persecution rais'd against Christians to the end to force them to worship Idols and many were crown'd with Martyrdom Now the holy Virgin of our Lord Praxedes being fervent in the Holy Ghost secretly conceal'd many Christians in the sayd Title or Church whose bodies she strengthned with food and their minds with exhortations proceeding from Gods spirit Then information was given to Antoninus that is M. Aurelius that Christian assemblies were made in the house of Praxedes Who sent Officers and layd hold on many among which was Symitrius a Priest with twenty two more All which he commanded to be put to death in the same Title without any examination Whose bodies the blessed Virgin Praxedes took by night and buried them in the Coemitery of Priscilla on the seaventh day of the Ides of Iune After this the Holy Virgin became much afflicted in mind and with many groans prayd unto our Lord that she might passe out of this life whose prayers and teares found accesse unto our Lord Iesus Christ. For on the thirty fourth day after the Martyrdom of the foresaid Saints the consecrated Virgin went unto our Lord on the twelfth of the Calends of August Whose body I Pastor a Priest buried next to her Father in the Coemitery of Priscilla in the Salarian way where at this day the Prayers and devotions of Saints are frequently exercised 3. This persecution was begun cheifly at the instigation of Heathen Philosophers especially the inhuman beastly Sect of the Cynicks For by reason of the Emperours studiousnes and profession of Stoicall Philosophy such persons had easy admittance to him Among whom Tatianus a learned Christian in that time takes notice of one infamous Cynick called Crescens whose vanity luxury cruelty and profanenes is well described by him and S. Iustin Martyr in his Oration publickly pronounc'd before the Senat mentions the same Cynick with contempt and indignation as it were prophecying his Martyrdom following and procured by those Sycophants XV. CHAP. 1.2 Of S. Timotheus his death by Martyrdom at Rome 3. A Letter of Pope Pius signifying this c. 4. His universall care over the Church 5.6 A second Letter of the same Holy Pope 7. Great care of Christians touching the Sacred bodies of Martyrs 1. THus we have the summe of what is in Ecclesiasticall Monuments delivered touching three holy children of Pudens a Roman Senatour and his wife Claudia Priscilla in the Acts of whom our Nation has an interest partly in regard of their Mother a Brittish Lady as likewise their Brother S. Timotheus who besides his generall Apostolicall Office exercised in this Island had no doubt a great influence in disposing King Lucius to the embracing of our Christian Faith 2. Now besides this generall Character of this our Saint there is little extant touching S. Timotheus but only that the year after his devout Sister Praxedes death he return'd to Rome where also he became a happy prey to those sensuall savage Philosophers and in the following year gloriously ended his life by Martyrdom together with another worthy companion called Marcus This appears both in the ancient Roman
Martyrologe on the twenty fourth of March as likewise an Epistle written by the Holy Pope Pius to Iustus Bishop of Vienna in France 3. The Copy of which Epistle is as followeth Pius Bishop of Rome to his Brother Iustus Bishop Before thou didst depart from Rome our Sister Euprepia if thou doest well remember assign'd the Title of her house for maintaining the poore where we abiding with our poore brethren doe celebrate Masses Now we are desirous to be informed concerning thy affairs most happy Brother since thou tookst thy iourney to that Senatoriall Citty of Vienna as likewise with what successe thou hast spread abroad the seed of the Gospell Those Priests which had their first education from the Apostles and have continued to our dayes with whom also we divided the care of preaching the word of Faith having been call'd by our Lord doe now repose in their eternall mansions Saint Timotheus and Marcus have ended their dayes by a happy conflict Take care dear Brother that thou follow them by imitating their zeale and freeing thy selfe from the chains of this world Make hast to obtain with the Holy Apostles the everlasting palm of victory that palm which S. Paul attain'd by a world of suffring and S. Peter also from whom the Crosse it selfe could not take the love of Christ. Soter and Eleutherius worthy Priests salute thee Salute the Brethren who live with thee in our Lord. Cherinthus Satans prime Minister seduces many from the Faith May the Grace of Christ dwell for ever in thy heart 4. In this Epistle we see what a generall care this holy Bishop expresses and how his solicitude for the salvation of soules is not confin'd to Rome or Italy only As likewise how he professes that he divided the care of propagating the Gospell to Priests subordinate to him So that it cannot be doubted but that S. Timotheus his employment in our Lords Vineyard in Brittany proceeded from his care and was accompanied with his benediction A further proof whereof is afforded us in another letter of his to the same Iustus Bishop of Vienna which we here set down 5. Pius Bishop of Rome to his Brother Iustus Bishop health Attalus is arrived here bringing with him the Epistles of the Martyrs there whereby he has fill'd our hearts with inestimable ioy for their triumphs He acquainted uâ— that our holy Collegue Verus has victoriously triumphed also over the Prince of this world and that thou art seated in his place in the Senatoriall Citty of Vienna being cloathed with Episcopall Vestments Be carefull therefore faithfully to discharge in our Lord the Ministery which thou hast received Let not thy diligence be wanting decently and reverently to bury the bodies of the Martyrs as the members of Christ for the Apostles treated S. Steven Visit the prisons of the Saints and take care that none of them loose the fervour of their Faith Approve holy Martyrdoms by the light of the Holy Spirit in thee Encourage and encite them to continue constant in the Faith Let the Priests and Deacons observe thee not as a Master but as a Minister of Christ. Let thy piety and holines be a protection to the whole congregation under thee Our brethren whose names Attalus will acquaint thee with are freed from the Tyrants cruelty and now rest in our Lord. Pastor the Preist hath built a Title or Church and is happily dead in our Lord. Know O most blessed Brother that it has been revealed to me that the end of my life approaches shortly One thing I earnestly begg of thee that in the holy Communion thou wilt not be unmindfull of me This poor Senat of Christ at Rome salutes thee I salute the whole assembly of Brethren with thee in our Lord. 6. That which this holy Pope mentions of his approaching death was by the event prov'd to have been a Divine revelation for the year following he was crown'd with Martyrdom after he had sate ten years And Anicetus a Syrian succeeded him 7. As touching that advice concerning the Bodies of Martyrs severall examples of those Primitive times demonstrate that what he there advises was no superstitious invention of his own as our Modern Separatists doe call it but a duty received from the Apostles Such reverence did the Church of Smyrna expresse to the Relicks of S. Polycarpus who was martyrd two years after S. Pius as appears in their Epistle relating the circumstances of his blessed death The malicious Iews would have perswaded the Roman President to have refused the holy Martyrs body to the Christians of Smyrna least sayd they they should forsake their crucifica God and worship Polycarpus for a God for these miscreants could not distinguish a sacred Veneration due to holy Relicks from that Supreme adoration which belongs only to God But those holy Primitive Christians were better instructed for thus they write We say they have reposed the bones of Polycarpus more valuable to us then precious stones and purer then gold in such a place as is decent and becoming Where being all of us assembled God will give us the grace to celebrate with all possible joy and exaltation the day of his Martyrdom as being indeed the day of his more happy Nativity XVI CHAP. 1. Commotions in Brittany pacified by Calphurnius Agricola 2.3 Long and dangerous war in Germany A victory miraculously obtain'd by the Prayers of Christians 4. Successions of Popes Touching King Lucius 1. IN the eighth yeare of the raign of M. Aurelius and L. Verus the Northern part of the Empire especially in Germany and Brittany was cruelly agitated with tempests of seditions and wars In Brittany the Northern Province of the Ottadini about Berwick broke out into open rebellion for reducing of whom Calphurnius Agricola was sent into the Island upon whose approach the rebels quickly submitted And all that remains besides to keep alive his Memory is an Inscription upon a Pillar rais'd by A. Licinius wherein Calphurnius Agricola's name is engraved Which Pillar is dedicated to the Syrian Goddesse Dea Syria worship'd it seems by the Romans in that place Concerning which Goddesse the reader may consult our learned Mr. Selden in his Treatise of that argument 2. But the German war was more lasting and doubtfull which not belonging to our present design the relation of it must be sought for in the Roman Historians of this age Yet one circumstance in it conducing much to the glory of Christian Religion must not be omitted Which was the saving of the Emperour and the whole Roman Army not only from a certain destruction by the German Nations the Marcomanni Catti c. by whom they were inclosed but from a more irresistible enemy extremity of thirst All this obtain'd by the Prayers of Christian souldiers not only interrupted all persecution of them but obliged the Emperour by his publick Letters sent into all Provinces to professe his gratitude for so eminent a
Gests of S. Lucius in his Apostolick Office 4.5 His death and buriall in the Citty of Curia or Chur. 6. Of S. Emerita a sister of King Lucius who accompanied him her Martyrdom 7. Dempsâ—ers ridiculous pretention that King Lucius as buried in Scotland 1. HAving from authorities of great weight asserted the Apostleship of this our Pious King in pursuance therof we will collect out of ancient Writers some of his particular Gests and suffrings in the discharge of the said Office 2. He having resolved to consecrate the remainder of his old age to the service of Christ pass'd first into France landing at Bolâ—ign a Citty of the Mâ—rini where saith Malbranque he first began his office of preaching the Faith of Christ and from thence made his progresse through the Region of the Nervians the Countrey of Liege to Triers in Germany After which the next place bless'd by his presence and Charity was Ausburg Augusta Vindelicorum where he converted to the Faith a Noble Cittizen call'd Campestrius with his whole family But there the Devill rais'd against him a great persecution for saith Nauelerus the people out of a hatred to a Religion formerly unknown by them pursued the preacher of it with stones and afterward cast him into a pit Out of which he was secretly drawn by some Christians there and conducted to the Citty of Curia where he ended his life by Martyrdom 3. From Ausburg S. Lucius went to Reginoburgum or Ratisbon where he efficaciously spread the seed of the Gospell And having spent almost all his strength in such works of Charity to others he desired to end his life in solitude quietnes and prayer For which purpose he retired himself into the mountainous countrey of Rhetia and saith Tscudus having pass'd over the hill under which is situated the Castle called Gutenberg which to this day retains the name of S. Lucius his Cliff he came into the Region where now the Citty Curia or Chur is placed together with his devout sister S. Emerita who presently after for preaching the Christian Faith suffred Martyrdom at Trimas or Trimontium distant from Curia the space of two or three miles But S. Lucius repos'd himselfe in a certain Grot in the Mountain above the Citty Curia where he taught the Faith of Christ. The place where he built a little Oratory doth still testify his Sanctity and abode there for in memory thereof there was afterward founded a Monastery of Norbertins Praemonstratenses which took its name from S. Lucius as Aubertus Miraeus and Raderus doe affirm 4. As touching the manner of S. Lucius his death the same Aegidius Tscudus writes thus At last Lucius was slain neer to Curia in the Castle call'd Martiola by the infidell inhabitants and the Prefect of that Region Notwithstanding other Authours affirm that he died in peace though the honour and Title of a Martyr cannot be denyed him since anciently as Baronius saith it was communicated not only to such as by a violent death for Christs honour were snatchd out of this world but likewise to those who for the confession of the Faith suffred any torments though they did not consummate Martyrdom by death 5. The precise year of the death of this glorious King is by Florilegus determin'd to be the year of Christ two hundred and one which was the seaventy eighth year of his Raign and the eighty eighth of his life Wherto the learned Chronologist Bishop Vsher likewise accords His words are these In so great a debate among Writers my iudgment doth incline to beleive that King Lucius ended his life in the first year of the third Century after Christ. And the grounds of this perswasion are because I observe that not only the Annals of the Church of Salisbury and the Chronicle of the Brittains abbreviated as likewise the London Tables but also Roger Wendover Mathew Paris and Mathew of Westminster together with the History of Rochester doe agree that he dyed in the year of our Lord two hundred and one 6. His sacred Relicks have been dispersed in severall places of Germany and to this day saith Raderus are venerated in a Church of the Franciscans and another of the Iesuits at Ausburg Which argues that he dyed not in Brittany but Germany Therfore although our Citties of Glocester and Winchester have boasted themselves to have been the Repositories of some parts of the body of this Pious King it is more likely that considering their near relation to him they should procure them from the Church of Curia then that the German Churches should obtain them out of Brittany 7. Now wheras in the Passage cited out of Aegidius Tscudus mention was made of Saint Emerita the devout Sister of King Lucius and companion of all his travails and dangers and how in the Countrey of the Helvetians she added the Crown of Martyrdom to the garland of Virginity our Brittish Martyrologe thus commemorats her At Trimas in the territory of Curia this day being the fourth of December is celebrated the Feast of S. Emerita Virgin and Martyr the Sister of Lucius King of the Brittains who together with her Brother went into Germany and for confession of the Christian Faith being persecuted by the infidells of that countrey consummated her glorious Martyrdom by fire about the year of our Lord one hundred ninety three The entire history of her life may be read in the Breviary of the Church of Curia Mention is made of this holy Virgin and Martyr by Isengrenius and Hermannus Schedelius in his Chronicle 8. But Philippus Ferrarius in his Catalogue of Saints omitted in the Roman Martyrologe being mislead by Dempster a Writer most ridiculously partiall for his Scottish Nation as Bishop Vscher observes assigns a place in the Western parts of Scotland call'd Trimontium and now Attetish for the place of this Virgins Martyrdom and in the Scottish Calander her commemoration is appointed on the twenty sixth of May. Which assertion is so evidently contradicted by many authentick Records of severall Churches and by Authours of such unquestion'd integrity that it deserves not a serious confutation XVII CHAP. 1.2 S. Fugatius and Damianus preach the the Gospell in Brittany 3.4.5 They retire to Glastonbury and rebuild it establishing a succession of Monks They find there the Holy Crosse c. 6. The place of their buriall uncertain 1. HAving thas largely set down the Gests of our Holy King Lucius the first among all Christian Kings we will adioyn hereto such particulars as our ancient Monuments furnish us with all touching the two Holy Legats Fugatius or Phaganus and Damianus or Diruvianus sent by the Venerable Pope Eleutherius to baptise the sayd King and to settle the affaires of the New Brittish Church 2. Now concerning these two glorious Saints thus writes Malmsburiensis out of the Ancient Records of Glastonbury Phaganus and Dervianus came into Brittany to preach the Gospell
not sacrifise to your Gods Neither doe I fear your threatnings or torments being secure under the protection of my God 9. When he had said this the throng of Officers which stood about him at the Iudges command began cruelly to scourge him for refusing to sacrifice and during that torment lifting up his eyes to our Lord he with a chearfull countenance said O Lord Iesus Christ I beseech thee keep this mind and good resolution which thou hast given mee firm and stable My desire is O my God to offer my soule a whole burnt sacrifice to thy glory and with my blood to seale thy truth Now when the Officers hands were become weary with tormenting him the holy man was thrust into a deep dungeon where he continued the space of six months 10. But presently after all the elements gave testimony of the injury and injustice done to him For from the time of his apprehending to his death neither rain nor dew refresh'd the earth the winds were silent and the region thereabout was continually parch'd with excessive heat of the Sun in the night time likewise the â—â—â—fling heat was intolerable Neither feilds nor trees produced any fruit so that the world it self fought in the just mans quarrell against his impious enemies 11. That which this devout Authour writes of the excessive heat and drought which God sent on Brittany as a just judgment for their cruelty against this holy Martyr impiety against God is taken notice of by the Heathen Oratour in a Panegyrick which this very year he pronounced before the Emperour Maximian then preparing an Expedition against the Tyrant Carausius who had possess'd himself of Brittany but as became an impudent flatterer he ascrib'd the intolerable heat and want of raine to the favour of their false Gods to the Emperour saying During the space of that whole year almost in which a clear untempestuâ—s season was necessary for thy design of building ships hewing of timber and beams encouraging the minds of thy soldiers to labour there was scarce one foule rainy day The winter it self imitated the warm temper of the spring We thought now that we were not in a cold Northern Climat but as if there had been a translation both of heaven and earth we felt the heat of the Southern Sun c. Of this expedition of Maximian against Carausius we shall treat assoon as we shall have finish'd the glorious Martyrdom of S. Albanus XII CHAP. 1.2 S Albanus his devotion and Prayer against Idolatry 3 Yet he venerates the Holy Crosse. 4.5 S. Albanus restores a Sick man to health 6.7 Being condemn'd and lead to his death he converts his Executioner 8. By his prayer he obtains a fountain of water 9. Another Executioner having cut off the Martyrs head looses his eyes 1. THE Infidel Iudge expected that by a tedious and painfull prison the Holy Martyrs Constancy should be broken and spent but on the contrary having an opportunity in that solitude to unite himself to God by Prayer his courage and strength was much encreased The ordinary subject of his dayly Spirituall meditations and entertainment with God and the effect they had is by the devout Writer of his life comprehended in this Prayer c. 2. O Lord Iesus Christ doe not permit the Devills malice so much to prevaile as by his cunning machinations and this peoples relenting my suffring for thee may be hindred And being come out of prison to suffer addressing his speech to the unbeleiving people which flock'd to see him Know all of you for a truth said he that I am an irreconciliable enemy of your false Gods Can any one iudge them to be worthy of any honour which manifestly have no divinity in them being the work of mens hands You your selves can testify that they neither see heare nor understand any thing O detestable vanity to expect life from them which have no life themselves to offer up prayers to those who never could heare to expect safety or happines from those which are not sensible of the least good to themselves Therfore I confidently protest that whosoever exhibits any honour to such dead Idolls is utterly voyd of all reason For tell mee I pray you what can be more desperatly miserable then that man who suffers himselfe to be enslaved by puppets of his own fashioning We therfore to Idolls and a greater 〈◊〉 to those who adore them 3. Here the discreet Reader may observe with how vehement a sharpnes this holy man contends against Idolatry whilst himself at the same time with great fervour and devotion venerates the Crosse of our Lord. From whence will necessarily follow that those who in our times impute Idolatry to Catholicks who give due honour to Sacred things are meer strangers to S. Albanus his Religion In those ancient times the Pagans usually called Christians Crucicolas Worshippers of the Crosse and the Centuriators of Magdeburg though Protestants acknowledge that Tertullian in his Apology testifies how the Christians at that time had all Idolls and the ornaments about them in horrible detestation Whence proceeded their vehement and bitter invectives against them Yet the same Authour in the same book seems to declare that those Christians usually had the Image of the Crosse which they sett up either in the places of their publick meetings or in their privat houses For which reason the Heathens oftimes objected to them that they religiously adored the Crosse. Thus were Christians from the beginning treated by Pagans and in the very same manner are Catholicks at this day treated by Sectaries Whence evidently appears that Modern Sectaries are in their hatred to the Church and the Venerable Crosse of Christ the Successours of Pagans as Catholicks are of the Primitive Christians But we will proceed in the Acts of S. Albanus 4. When these words spoken by S. Albanus in detestation of Pagan Idolatry were heard by the Iudge and the rest who were present with unanimous consent they pronounced sentence of death against him and lead him to execution to a certain place call'd Holmhirst Which place is described by S. Beda to be a very agreeable plain cloath'd with all sorts of flowers and about five hundred paces broad a fit Theater for so glorious a Martyr The same Authour adds that S. Albanus being lead to his death came to the river which with a swift torrent ran between a wall on one side and a sandy shore on the other where the holy Martyr was to be beheaded where he saw great multitudes of all conditions ages and sexes which no doubt by divine instinct were assembled to honour his death and they so choaked the passage of the bridge that before night they could not all have passed over As for the Iudge he had no intention to shew any respect to the Martyr but staid behind in the Citty S. Albanus therfore inflamed with a devout desire of a speedy Martyrdom approached neer the river
and lifting up his eyes with prayer to God the river became presently drye and the water gaue free way to the passengers Thus S. Beda 5. The manner how this Miracle was wrought is more expressly declared in the foresaid authentick Acts of S. Albanus from whence S. Beda borrowed his Narration For there it is said that when he was come to the river side he fell on his knees and prayed saying O Lord Iesus Christ from whose most holy side I my self in a vision saw both water and blood to flow I beseech thee that thou wouldst cause these waters to be diminished and the floods to return back to the end that this people may without any danger or inconvenience be present at my Suffring O wonder full he had us sooner bowd his knees but the channell was immediatly dry The tears flowing from Saint Albanus his eyes left no water in the river The power of his Prayer emptied the torrent and cleared a passage for the people between the floods on both sides 6. Then the Officer who conducted Saint Albanus to his death by the merits of the holy Martyr obtaind his own eternall happines For when he saw these miracles he threw away his sword and casting himself at the holy mans feet begg'd pardon of him Which when the people saw they laid hold on the man beat out his teeth tore his sacred mouth and in a manner broke all his bones 7. S. Beda thus relates this passage The soldier saith he fell down at S. Albanus his feet instantly desiring that himself might rather be slain with or for the Martyr whom he had been commanded to putt to death Now whilst he of a persecutour was chang'd into a companion of the true Faith and the sword lying on the ground the other officers were at a stand what they should doe the most venerable Confessour ascended the hill together with the multitudes 8. The Acts further declare as likewise S. Beda that when the people being come to the top of the hill were tormented with extremity of thirst S. Albanus kneeling down thus prayed to God O God who didst create man of the clay of the earth suffer not I beseech thee any of thy creatures to receive any harm by my occasion After which words there presently broke forth a fountain before his feet which with a rapide course flowed down the hill so that the people being refreshd with those waters escaped all danger by their thirst 9. In the mean time another Executioner was chosen from among the people into whose hands the sword was delivered who to his own great unhappines discharged that impious office For saith Mathew of Westminster while the holy Martyr kneeling offred his prayers to God and frequently with great fervour kiss'd the Crucifix which he held in his hands the Executioner drawing his sword cutt of his head and immediatly by a wonderfull miracle Almighty God by the losse of the Executioners eyes gave testimony to the Martyrs innocence For as S. Beda relates he who stretch'd forth his impious hand to cutt the pious Martyrs neck was not permitted to insult over him being dead for together with the blessed Martyrs head the Executioners eyes also fell to the ground This Miracle is confirmed not only by the forecited Acts but many other Authours of forraign Nations and particularly by Hiericus a French man who seaven hundred years since wrote the life of S. Germanus XIII CHAP. 1.2 The Martyrdome of the Converted Soldier his name c. 3. The glorious assumption of S. Albanus his soule into heaven 1. SAint Albanus had a companion in his death the Soldier who was design'd to be his executioner Concerning whom S. Beda thus writes There was beheaded with him likewise the foresaid Soldier who being moved by a divine instinct refused to kill the Holy Confessour of our Lord. Concerning whom this may without all doubt be affirmed that though he was not outwardly cleansed with the water of Baptism yet being washed in the Laver of his own blood he became worthy to be admitted into the kingdom of heaven 2. The Acts of S. Alban doe affor'd us a more exact relation both of this Soldiers name and occasion of his Martydom Where we read how the said Soldier by name Heraclius who as hah been declared was left half dead by the people afterward creeping on his hands and feet as he could followed them up the Mountain To whom one of the Iudges then present said in scorn Go to now addresse thy prayers to thy Patron Albanus even now executed that he would restore soundnes to thy bruised bones and limbs Run make hast ioyn his head to his body and no doubt thou wilt not fayle to obtain perfect health why doest thou stay bury the dead carkeise and thou maist be assured that whilst it is in thy hands it will bestow an entire cure on thee The Soldier answered I doe most firmly beleive that this Blessed Saint Albanus by his merits can restore unto mee my perfect health for that which you speak in derision may in earnest be fullfill'd in mee And having say'd this he embraced the head and adioyning it to the body he became immediatly as sound as before When the Infidells saw this they were filld with envy and malice and said what shall we doe Sure no sword can kill this man We have broken all his bones and yet now his former strength is restor'd him Then laying hold on him they bound him fast with chaines and tore his body with severall sorts of tortures and in the end with a sword cutt off his head 3. Now how acceptable to Almighty God the Martyrdom of this glorious S. Albanus was was presently after declared from heaven in a wonderfull manner for thus we read in his Acts Behold the night immediatly following his suffring a pillar of light was seen to raise it self from the sepulcher of S. Albanus up to heaven by which Angells descended and ascended spending the whole night in Hymns and praises of God frequently also repeating these words The illustrious Albanus is now a glorious Martyr of Christ. And hereto the ancient Christian Poet Venantius Fortunatus had regard when in a Poem of his among other Saints celebrating the memory of S. Albanus and his companion suffring in Brittany he says that Quires of Angells from heaven did with songs wellcom them at their entrance into glory and the glorified Saints enrich'd with the Crosse and blood of Christ did make hast to ioyn in Hymnes to God for them XIV CHAP. 1.2.3 Of the Authour of the ancient Acts of S. Albanus 4.5 His Relation confirmed by the testimony of Gildas 6.7 Iohn Fox his unfaithfullnes 1. HAving thus with as much fidelity and exactnes as we could given an account of the Gests of our first most glorious Brittish Martyr S. Albanus in which we have principally follow'd the Authour of his life being a precious
Monument of Antiquity preserved by our Countrey-man Capgrave The faithfullnes of whose relation is we see attested by other Historians also of good note and Authority as S. Beda Mathew of Westminster c. It will become us to say some thing of the said Authour himself and all that can be said is the Testimony that he gives concerning himself in these words full of Christian Modesty and Humility 2. Least posterity saith he be solicitous to know my name let them be contented to be informed that if they will give mee my true name they will call mee the miserable wretch worst of all sinners I am undertaking a iourney to Rome intending there to renounce the Errour of Paganism and by the Laver of Regeneration to obtain the pardon of all my sins This Book also I will present to the examination of the Romans to the end that if therin any thing should be found written otherwise then becomes a good Christian it would please our Lord Iesus Christ by their correction to amend it By which it appears that this Authour was at the writing of his Book as yet onely a Catechumen newly converted from Heathenish superstition What became of him in his voyage to Rome is known only to God who doubtlesse rewarded him highly for his piety and zeale to communicate to posterity the Gests of our glorious Martyr 3. This is he whom the learned Ecclesiasticall Historian Harpsfeild calls the nameles Authour whose Book was found in the Monastery of S. Albanus and who was more ancient then S. Beda And this Authour is frequently quoted by the Illustrious Cardinall Baronius who follows him likewise in his Narration touching this our glorious Martyr And to fortify the credit of his Authority in severall points before related touching the Martyrdom of S. Albanus we will here adioyn a memorable passage out of our ancient famous Historian Gildas who writing concerning this Persecution rais'd in Brittany by Diocletian saith as followeth 4. Almighty God who is willing that all men should be saved and who calls as well sinners as those who esteem themselves just hath magnified his mercy to us for in the foresaid persecution least our countrey of Brittany should be obscured by a dark night of ignorance he in his free bounty enlightned us by the bright shining Lamps of his holy Martyrs the places of whose Martyrdom and sepulchers of whose bodies would even now also imprint in our minds a great ardour of Divine love were it not that by the wofull aversion of barbarous Enemies and our own manifold crimes an accesse to those holy places is denyed us Those places I mean where repose the bodies of S. Albanus at Verolam and S. Aaron and Iulian at Caër-leâ—n and many others of both sexes in severall quarters all which with great magnanimity have stood up courageously in our Lords army Of which the first S. Albanus I mean after he had with much charity in imitation of Christ who lay'd down his life for his sheep entertain'd in his house and disguised with exchanging his own garments with him the holy Confessour of our Lord Amphibalus who was pursued by the Enemies of Christ and even ready to be apprehended moreover willingly offred himself in his foresaid brothers vestments to the persecutours Thus rendring himself acceptable to God he was during his holy Confession till he shed his blood in the presence of his impious Enemies who with a horrible pompe produced all the sorts of Roman tortures wonderfully adorned and glorified by God with many admirable miracles insomuch as by his fervent prayer in imitation of the passage of the Israelites with the Ark of the Testament through the waters of Iordan he with thousands following him went with drye feet over the Channell of the Noble river of Thames whilst on both sides the floods stood still like steep rocks By which miracle he converted the first Soldier deputed to be his executioner from being a wolf into a lamb and gave him the courage both vehemently to desire and valiantly receive the triumphant palm of Martyrdom 5. We here see the exact agreement between the ancient Brittish Historian Gildas and the foresaid Authour of the Acts of S. Albanus But our Modern Protestant Historians in relating this glorious combat and Victory of our first Martyr cutt of what they think good and decry or accuse of forgery whatsoever agrees not to their own faction without so much as pretending to any Antiquity to iustify their partiality 6. Particularly Iohn Foxe in his new fashion'd Martyrologe though he commends Saint Albanus and vouchsafes to call him a Martyr yet severall particulars mention'd by the forecited Authour of Saint Albanus his Acts in S. Beda and Gildas he superciliously censures or despises saying that he saw neither any necessity nor convenience why they should be recited by him For this reason he passes over with silence all mention of the Crosse with teares and great reverence honourd by Saint Alban and retain'd till the last moment of his life And as for the miracles perform'd by him the iubilation of Angells after his death and the like he confidently pronounces to be contrary to the truth of history And why Surely because he could not parallell such Miracles in the Gests of his new Protestant Martyrs no Angells God knows reioyced or praised God at their Executions 7. One observation of his full either of ignorance or malice must not be omitted That is where he says That the History of Saint Albanus his Martyrdom reports how the holy Martyrs head when it was cutt and separated from the body spoke some thing But this says he is like a Monkish fiction As if that namelesse Authour had been a Monke who was not so much as admitted into the Church by Baptisme But neither he nor any ancient or Modern Catholick Authour speaks of any such thing So that it seems he mistook the relation ascribing the Angells hymns to the Martyrs tongue XV. CHAP. 1. The Pious devotion of Ancient Christians to the Relicks of Holy Martyrs 2.3 Confirmed by the Acts of S. Sebastian c. 4. The Manicheans contemners of such Relicks 5.6.7 Temples built by Brittains to the honow of S. Albanus c. 8.9 Protestants wrongfully ascribe this Veneration of Relicks to S. Gregory 10. S. Albanus venerated at Mentz by the name of S. Albinus And why 11 12 The Controversy about the Body of S. Albanus between the Monks of Ely and S. Albans decided 13. S. Gregory Nazianzens testimony of the Veneration of Relicks 1. BEfore we quitt this argument we will shew with what piety and reverence the devout Christians in that and the following ages behaved themselves toward the ashes and sacred Relicks of our Holy Martyr This we may collect from the practise of those times in other Provinces For the persecuting Infidells knowing well with what solicitude Christians gathered the bodies and members of dead Martyrs and with what devotion they venerated
or regard of age or affinity mercilesly without any resistance putt to the sword all their thousand countreymen for the Faith of Christ neighbours murdring neighbours freinds freinds and kinsmen kinsmen As for the holy man Amphibalus who was reserved to a more cruell death being compass'd aboue with the livelesse bodies of these holy Martyrs he with ioy commended their happy soules to God 9. As touching the place where so cruell and inhuman a butchery was made it is not agreed by Historians some affirm it to have been among the Silures in the Province of Monmouth and hereto the Authour of Amphibalus his life seems to accord but others more probably say that these holy Martyrs suffred among the Cornavij in Warwick shire where their persecutours overtook them in their way towards Wales at Lichfeild which Citty seems to have taken its name from this slaughter of so many Martyrs for as Iohn Rosse of warwick interprets the word it signifies the feild of dead bodies which are also to this day the Arms of the Citty XVII CHAP. 1.2 S. Amphibalus lead prisoner towards Verolam in the way miraculously cures a sick person 3. He is barbarously tormented his gutts wrapp'd about a stake 4. During his torments he enveighs against Idolatry 5. His Executioner is converted 6. A voyce from heaven testifies S. Amphibalus his Sanctity He dyes and his Body is privatly buried 1. AFter the offring made of so many immaculate Victimes to God S. Amphibalus saith Mathew of westminster became the sole object against whom these bloody Executioners powrd forth all their rage for binding his arms with sharp and streit cords they so drove him with naked feet before their horses toward the Citty of Verolam who the nearer he approached to his beloved Disciple S. Albanus the lesse was he sensible of the roughnes of the wayes and toyle of the iourney Moreover in the way Amphibalus fast bound as he was had yet the vertue to unloose a sick person from the bonds of his infirmity 2. This miracle is thus related in the life of S. Amphibalus In the way as they pass'd a certain infirm person began to crye out O servant of the High God help mee that by thy intercession I may be freed from this my greivous infirmity for I beleive that by calling on the name of Christ over mee thou maist speedily restore my health Whereupon immediatly in the sight of them all the sick person arose chearfull and perfectly recoered This miracle finds credit generally among all except Iohn Foxe who says there was no cause which might move almighty God to shew his power As if there were neither infidells to be converted nor beleivers to be confirm'd nor such malicious Sectaries as himself to be preiudged 3. But to proceed in the suffrings of this glorious Martyr as they are related in his Acts to have been inflicted on him at the end of his long iourney when he was entred into the confines belonging to the Citty of Verolam There the foresaid Inhabitants of Verolam barbarously stripp'd him of his garments and fastning a stake into the ground they with a sword ripp'd up his belly and tying the end of his gutts about the stake with cruell whipping thy forced him to walk about it so inwrapping it with his bowells And not content thus they with knives and lances tore the rest of his body as if he had been a mark sett on purpose to exercise their weapons upon All this while the man of God stood with a cheerfull countenance as if he had suffred nothing being every moment more constant though there was not left any part of his body in which there were not imprinted marks of his Martyrdom insomuch as it seemd a prodigious thing that after so many tortures and sorts of death he could have any life remaining in him 4. The same moment diverse who were there present and saw the constancy of the holy Martyr renounced their Idolls and submitted themselves to the Faith of Christ beseeching the Blessed man to pray to God for them that they might partake eternall Happines for the obtaining of which they were ready to lay down their lives Which when it was known the Cheif Magistrate calling the Officers gave them command to kill all those who had cast off the worship and reverence of Heathen Gods and embraced the Doctrine of the Christian Preacher Immediatly they executed this horrible Edict and putt to death a thousand persons whilst Blessed Amphibalus look'd on and commended their soules to our Lord. 5. Then one of the by-standers ruder then the rest thus spake to the man of God O pâ—ttilesse wretch way hast thou deceived these simple people with thy frudulent speeches withdrawing them from the worship of the Gods By thy cunning perswasions we have utterly lost our parents and freinds Notwithstanding though hereby thou hast above measure incensed both Gods and men yet even now at last by thy repentance thou maist recover their pardon and favour And this will be a proof and sign of thy repentance if thou wilt renounce the impious Sect which hitherto thou hast followed and begin to adore the omnipotent Gods which perhaps out of ignorance thou hast offended If thou wilt doe this then the same all-powerfull Gods will restore again to life those whom thou hast murdred 6. To whom the Holy man thus answered O Infidell whilst thou endeavourest with thy false praises to exâ—â—ll thy Gods be assured that thou hast offended the true God by thy speeches For it is Iesus Christ my Lord who alone has the power to raise and give life to the dead As for those whom yee worship as Gods and think them to be powerfull in heaven they doe now suffer most horrible torments in hell And partakers in the fellowship of those torments shall be all injust persons adulterers slanderers and such as by their reprobate actions whilst they liv'd here rendred themselves like to Devills And for thy part O Pagan and all who like thee worship Idolls except you quickly renounce your heathenish Superstition and convert your selves to the Faith of Christ you shall all incurr the same punishments in hell Doe not despair for the mercy of God is great Breake off your evill wayes and make hast to be partakers of the Grace of Baptism By Baptism all sins are forgiven Heaven is opened to men who therby become as it were new creatures having devested themselves of their old wicked inclinations For those who before Baptism by their sinns were Children of the Devill become afterward Sons of God Run therfore for refuge to this Grace that you may escape everlasting torments 7. When the impious Pagans heard these speeches they were kindled with rage and with all their forces laboured to deprive him of life But the holy Martyr though he was on all sides bruised with a great multitude of stones which were thrown at him yet he remain'd immoveable in prayer
not stirring any way from the place where he stood 8. But when at last the hower was come in which he was to surrender to God his victorious spirit lifting up his eyes to heaven he saw our Lord Iesus standing at the right hand of the Father and heard an harmonious coÌ„cert of Angells in heaven amongst whom he saw his beloved Disciple S. Albanus whom he presently invoked to his help saying O Holy Albanus pray to our Lord that he would send his good Angell to meet and protect mee that the accursed fiend and his associats may not binder my passage into life Immediatly after which Prayer there appeared two Angells gloriously shining with celestiall splendour which came to him And a voyce from heaven was heard saying Verily I say unto thee thou shalt presently be in Paradise with thy Disciple 9. When the Pagans heard this celestiall voyce they stood amazed But the holy Angells took with them the Blessed mans soule shining with a brightnes white as snow and with hymnes and praises carried it into heaven In the mean time the Pagans ceased not to overwhelm with stones the livelesse body bound as it was with cords But afterwards a certain Christian privily took away the Body and with a diligent care buried it This is the summ of the Life and Martyrdom of S. Amphibalus recorded by an ancient Briâ—tish Authour who saith Harpsfeild lived before the time of S. Beda XXIII CHAP. 1.2 S. Amphibalus martyrd or buried at Rudburn near Verolam his Sepulcher miraculously discovered by S. Albanus 3. His Body translated to S Albons 4 The day of his Translation 5. His Tomb venerated for miracles c. 1. IN the foregoing relation there is no particular mention either of the precise time or place where S. Amphibalus was martyrd But touching the place Harpsfeild saith that the Holy man of God was putt to death in a village call'd Rudburn distant from Verolam three miles where as Thomas Rudburn relates there were reserved to his time two great knives with which he was killd Which Thomas liv'd about the year one thousand four hundred and eighty And indeed in the same village there seem to remain to this day some marks of his Martyrdom for in the way between Rudburn and Verolam there is shown a certain Tree of late enclosd within walls where it is beleiod was fixd the post to which the holy Martyr was tyed and where his bowells were forn out 2. Or rather probably there was the place of his buriall which was perform'd with such secrecy as hath been said that till the year of Grace one thousand one hundred seaventy and eight the sacred Body could never be discovered But in that yeare saith Mathew of Westminster the Blessed Martyr S. Albanus was seen visibly to goe out of the Church dedicated to him and to come to a certain man inhabiting in the town of S. Albons to whom he said Follow mee Who seeing him shining gloriously like the Sun was affraid yet in obedience followd him Northward and the high way shone with his brightnes As they walked the man said to the Holy man Sir who are you Who answered I am Albanus the first Martyr of Brittany and I now lead thee to the Sepulcher of S. Amphibalus by whose preaching I was converted to our Lord and became a Martyr that his bones may be discovered and reverently removed to a more decent place Thus they talked together familiarly like two freinds and in the end he shewd him the place which the man diligently observed setting certain stones in order there to be a mark for the finding it againe Thus writes that Authour and the same is related more diffusedly by Mathew Paris 3. Then it was that the Sacred Body was translated to the Church of S. Albans where 〈◊〉 â—any Miracles were wrought by his intercession that the year following Lewis King of France who came into England in devotion to visit the Shrine of S. Thomas of Canterbury was desirous to continue his voyage likewise to S. Albans but was disswaded by his Nobles accompanying him as the same Authour reports 4. As touching the time time of this Holy Martyrs death though the year be well-enough known to witt the two hundred eighty seaventh year of our Lord yet for the day it is not particularly design'd in any History or Monument For wheras in the English Martyrologe his passion is celebrated on the twenty-fifth of Iune three days after that of S. Albanus yet surely then was commemorated not his death but the Translation of his sacred ashes to Verolam where they were repos'd in the Church of S. Albanus built by King Offa. This day it is which Harpsfeild meant when he wrote thus Verolam never saw any day more joyfull and beneficiall A Martyr meets a Martyr the scholler meets his Master the Host meets his Guest and one Cittizen of heaven meets another Albanus now openly and honourably entertains that guest at his return whom before he had secretly dismis'd least he should fall into his Enemies hands He now leads him into a magnificent Temple to whom before he could give no security in a cottage These things happned in the year one thousand one hundred seaventy eight on the five and twentieth day of Iune 5. But though the Brittains had been formerly ignorant of the place where S. Amphibalus his Body lay yet that was no hindrance to their Veneration of him from the beginning For as may be gathered out of a forecited passage of Gildas within ten years after his Martyrdom a Church was erected to his honour And in the year of our Lord three hundred and nine another Church at Winchester was consecrated to S. Amphibalus which the Saxons afterward rebuilding dedicated to S. Peter XIX CHAP. 1. Severall companions with S. Amphibalus in his Martyrdom whose names are not known 2.3.4 Martyrdon of S. Iulius and S. Aaron at Caer-leon 5 6 Churches built to their memory long before the Saxons entrance 7. S Stephanus and S. Socrates Brittish Martyrs 1. BEsides S. Albanus and S. Amphibalus Brittany at this time was glorified with severall other Martyrs Capgrave writes that when S. Amphibalus his Body was found there were discovered likewise with it two other Bodies of Martyrs A namelesse Authour quoted by Bishop Vâ—her reckons three to which Mathew Paris adds five more so that saith he Blessed Amphibalus was reckoned the tenth And Thomas Rudburn as also the breif History of the Church of Winchester affirm that the bodies of S. Amphibalus and eight of his companions were discovered Which in all probability were the Relicks of these Martyrs which together with him suffred for the profession of the Christian Faith their names are only known in heaven 2. But that part of Brittany from whence S. Amphibalus drew his originall hath more carefully preserved the Memory of their fellow cittizens and Martyrs which suffred there Among whom the
demonstrated XXV CHAP. 1. Constantius goes into Gaule against the Alamanni 2. He is accompanied by Brittains who build towns there 3. He overcomes the Germans at Langres 1. AFTER three years abode in Brittany Constantius was oblig'd to passe over into Gaule to oppose a German Nation call'd by some Carpi by others Alamanni by others Marcomanni which grievously infested that Countrey and in his absence he left Asclepiodotus Governour in Brittany 2. It seems great numbers of Brittains attended Constantius in this Expedition if the conjecture of Adolphus Mekerchus be true that the Town of Bretta in Germany was at this time built by Brittains who followed Constantius The same Authour fancies likewise that the town of Heidelsheim was named by them from Helena the wife of Constantius whose name was most acceptable and precious to the Brittains But leaving conjectures let us pursue the more certain story of Constantius his Expedition thus related by Eutropius 3. At the same time saies he Constantius Caesar fought against the Germans in Gaule neer the Citty of Langres where in one day he had experience both of very great good and ill fortune For he was obliged upon a suddein and violent assault of the Enemies to retire into the Citty with so great hast and danger that they were forced to shut the gates and draw him up with ropes and a few hours after upon the approach of his army he set upon the Germans and kill'd neer sixty thousand of them The same Victory at Langres is likewise celebrated by the Oratour Eumenius who adds who adds that in that combat Constantius received a wound After which Victory he dispersed the remaining Germans into severall vacant places of Gaule XXVI CHAP. 1. Stephanus Bishop of London how a Martyr 2. Constantius returns into Brittany 3.4.5 Memorable examples of his Vertues His moderation For which he is tenderly affection'd by his subjects and master of their wealth How he tried the Constancy of his Christian servants 6. Brittish Guards 7. Constantius and his family Christians 8. Hereto S. Helena contributed much 1. THE quietnes which Brittany happily enioyed under Constantius is the cause that for some few years it affords little matter to furnish History Only in the year three hundred Stephanus Bishop of London highly commended for his sâ—â—ctity is said to have ended his life by Martyrdom Not that any were then putt to death for Christian Religion but he is call'd a Martyr according to the phrase of that Age for the persecution he had suffred formerly during the rage of Diocletian and Maximianus He is in the English Martyrologe stiled the eighth Bishop of that See wheras more truly he should have been call'd the seaventh for S. Augulus of whom shortly is by Historians nam'd the eighth 2. In the year of Grace three hundred and two upon occasion of the death of Asclepiodotus whom he had left President here Constantius seems to have return'd into Brittany establishing peace in that Church which himself had begun whilst in all other Provinces of the Empire whole rivers of Christian blood were shed with all imaginable cruelty and immanity 3 Now Brittany being the countrey where as Zosimus says Constantius made his longest abode 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and where for diverse respects he both express'd and received the greatest proofs of affection it is most probable that in Brittany and about these times were performed by him those memorable actions of bounty clemency and piety recorded by Historians which rendred him admired and beloved through the whole Empire 4. An illustrious Example of the prudent moderation of his Government of his liberality and of the mutuall affection between him and his subjects was as Eusebius records declared on this occasion The Emperour Diocletian being inform'd that Constantius by his too profuse liberality and negligence had utterly impoverished his Treasure by messengers sent on purpose sharply reproved him for it Constantius having desired the messengers to expect a few days for his answer in the mean space sent notice through his whole dominions to all his subjects especially such as abounded with wealth that he stood in great need of money and that a more fitt opportunity could never be offred them to testify their duty and affection to him Hereupon without any delay and with extreme chearfullnes and ardour each contended with other who should send most so that in a short time his Treasure was filld with innumerable summes of money This being perform'd Constantius invited the Messengers to be spectatours of his wealth desiring them to testify to the Emperour what they had seem Telling them withall that all those riches had been deposited by him in the owners hands as the most safe guardians The Messengers seeing the wonderfull aflection shew'd to Constantius by his subjects were astonishd at it When they were gone the kind and bountifull Emperour restored all that maâ—se of treasure to the owners expressing withall an affectionat resentment of their duty and good will to him 3. Another worthy action of the same Prince denoting both the sharpnes of his iudgment and religious disposition is to this effect related by the same Authour Bring desirous to order his family and Court distracted into factions by persons of various Sects and Religions he publish'd an Edict That whosoever would continue in his office should conform himself to the Roman Idolatry for he was resolved that no other should remain in his Court. As for others they should be permitted to enioy the liberty and possession of what they had but they must avoyd his presence This Ordinance caused great trouble in the minds of such Christians as ambitiously affected worldly honour and wealth who therfore preferring Mammon before God relinquishd their profession to conform themselves to Caesars Religion But severall other sincere and genuine Disciples of Christ shewd themselves willing rather to forsake their Princes seruice then Gods Which being observ'd by Constantius he chased from his Court all those fainthearted hypocriticall dissemblers saying they would never preserve their fidelity to him which had basely betrayd their Faith to God And those who continued constant he prefer'd to dignities committing the care of his safety to them 6. From hence it came that the Brittains who generally were Christians became Guards both to him and other Emperours This is affirm'd by Nicetas Choniates who therfore calls them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Brittish Guards which always encompass'd the Emperour being arm'd with long halberts 7. Such piety and constancy of Brittish Christians being observ'd by Constantius might probably be one strong motive inducing him to forsake Idolatry For so much is implied by Eusebius saying Constantius having for a long space shewd forth illustrious signs of vertues becoming a Prince at last he wholly renounced the impious Idolatry and worship of many Gods willingly acknowledging the onely true God Governour of all the world and firmly establsshd his Court by
necessary or expedient for humane life Now this one particular is worthy of eternall memory that immediatly before his last day he recited a funerall Oration in the place accustomed wherin by a continued discourse he spoke of the immortality of soules of the rewards which God had prepared for those who lived piously in this world and on the contrary of the miserable end of those who lead ungodly lives Which discourses pronounced with gravity and constancy aâ—d so affect some of his domesticall servants that one of them a Pagan Idolater who pretended to wisedom being ask'd What his opinion was of the Emperours Oration answered though with some unwillingnes that the things spoken by him seem'd to him to be true and particularly that he could not but highly commend his discourse against a multitude of Gods Such entertainments as those the pious Emperour had among his familiar freinds a little before his death by which he seem'd to make the way to a better life more easy and eaven 5. Eutropius relates that there appeared in heaven at that time a Comet of an unusuall biggnes portending his death After which he fell into some distemper which encreasing forced him to make use of hott bathes in the Citty From whence saith Eusebius he was removed to his Mothers Citty Helenopolis in Bithynia where for a long time continuing in the Church consecrated to the Holy Martyr S. Lucianus he offred his Prayers and publick vowes to God 6. The same Authour in another place pretends that Constantin was at this time baptis'd by the Arian Bishop of Nicomedia neer that Citty But the generall Tradition of the Western Church refutes him as hath been shew'd Therfore what was done by Constantin was not receiving Baptism but Pennance which the same Eusebius relating it calls an imitation of saving Baptism For thus he writes when the consideration of his last day came into Constantins mind he iudging this an opportune time for him to be cleansed of his sins which as a mortall man he had committed and beleiving that by the efficacy of Divine Mysteries and an imitation of the saving laver of Baptism his soule would be purged he I say considering these things fell humbly on his knees in the Church of Martyrs at Helenopolis and there confessing his sins he offred himself a suppliant to God for the pardon of them And then it was that he first became worthy to receive absolution by imposition of hands and prayer 7. In the last place touching his death the same Authour thus prosecutes his Narration Assoon as all holy Mysteries were perform'd he was cloathed with Kingly robes shining brighter then light and was layd in a bed of a most pure whitenesse for his Imperiall Purple he rejected and would never make use of it afterward Then with a clear distinct voyce he prayd and gave thanks to God adding words to this purpose Now I am assured of happines and immortall life now I am made partaker of Divine light Withall he with detestation bewayld the state of miserable Pagans whom be affirm'd most unhappy in that they were deprived of such divine blessings 8. And when the Centurions and other Superiour Officers were admitted and deplored with mournfull voyces their unhappines in the losse of such an Emperour wishing him a longer life To these he answered that now he had attain'd true life indeed and that himself only understood his own happines for which reason his desire was to hasten his departure to God After this he disposed his will in which he gave honourable pensions to such Romans as inhabited the Royall Citty new built by him As for his Empire he left it as a Patrimony to his children Thus dyed Constantin during the solemnity of Pentecost 9. As for the Vniversall mourning the clamours of the people the tearing of garments and prostration of bodies on the ground practised by the Soldiers to testify their inconsolable sorrow for so great a losse together with the glorious solemnization of his funeralls at which was only of all his Sons Constantius present all these things may be read at large in the same Authour This one passage in him must not be omitted where he writes thus Great multitudes of people together with the Preists did not cease with teares and much groaning to powre forth Prayers unto God for the soule of the Emperour wherin they performed an Office very acceptable and desired by the pious Prince himself And likewise God therby shew'd his singular goodnes to his servant both in that after his death his Empire descended to his own dear children and that himself obtain'd repose in the place so affected by him wherin the Memory of the Apostles was ioyâ—tly celebrated 10. That the Church did not doubt of the happines and glory of this pious Emperour after his death the Martyrologes of the Greek the Gallican and Brittish Churches are assured testimonies in which on the one and twentieth of May his Memory is anniversarily solemnised And particularly in Brittany Temples were built and dedicated to his honour One of which still remaines in the Province of the Ordovices or Northwales call'd at this day by his name which was erected by the Brittains when they Were driven by the Saxons into those quarters THE EIGHTH BOOK OF THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY I. CHAP. 1.2 Constantin divides the Empire among his three Sons 3. Brittany under Constantin the younger 4. His kindnes to S. Athanasius 5. He is slain by his Brothers soldiers 1. THE Emperour Constantin at his death divided the Roman Empire among his three Sons so as that his eldest Son Constantin enioy'd for his portion the Provinces of Gaule Spain Brittany and all other conquer'd countreyes on this side the Alpes Constantius the Second Son being only present at his Fathers death took possession of the Eastern Regions together with Egypt and the youngest son Constans had the government of Italy and Africk 2. Now the Gests of these and severall succeeding Emperours we will leave to such Historians as have written of the generall affaires of the Church and Empire For having confin'd our selves to matters which concern the Ecclesiasticall state of Brittany our purpose is to treat no further of such Emperours then as they are necessary for Chronology or shall concern our own countrey 3. As touching therfore the Second Constantin within whose Iurisdiction Brittany was comprised his Raign was short not lasting entirely four years And all that we can record of him is that he was constant in the Profession of the Catholick Faith establish'd in the Great Council of Nicaea wherin he was imitated likewise by his Youngest Brother Constans So that by these two Emperours means all the Western Churches were secured from the infection of Heresy which miserably defaced the Eastern parts by reason that Constantius raigning there suffred himself to be perverted by Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia and other Arian Hereticks 4. Now an illustrious proof
from whence Capgrave hath extracted the following Narration 2. In the primitive times of Christianity the Apostles Doctrin being dispers'd through all the regions of the world Brittany was likewise converted from Paganism to Christianity and of that Nation many beleiving in our Lord and in their lives conforming themselves to the Apostles precepts shined gloriously by many miracles Of which number we are confidently assured that Blessed Melorus was He was descended from a Noble family of the Brittains for his Father call'd Melianus enjoyd the Dukedom of Cornwall In the seaventh year of whose Rule an Assembly of the nobility being mets to consult about the generall affairs of the Province Rinaldus brother to the Duke coming with force upon him slew him and invaded the Dukedom 3. Now Melianus had then a young Son a child of seaven years old named Melorus Him also after his Fathers death his Tyrannous Vncle sought to kill fearing least being come to mans estate he should deprive him of the Principality With this deliberation he brought the child with him into Cornwall Where at the same time was assembled a Synod of Bishops Who all interceded for the life of the child so that the Tyrant contented himself with cutting off his right hand and left foot in place whereof there was framed for the child a hand of silver and a foot of brasse After this Melorus was educated in a certain Monastery of Cornwall till he was fourteen years old spending his time in the reading Holy Scripture every day growing in innocence vertue and piety 4. But then Rinoldus by many gifts and promises of large possessions tempted and obtain'd from Cerialtanus to whose care the child was committed an assurance of his death Which he impiously accomplished by cutting off his head which he sent to Rinoldus challenging his promis'd reward The person employ'd for carrying the Martyrs head was a Son of Cerialtanus who by a just iudgment of God fell from the Castle wall with the head in his hands and broke his neck 5. After this the Holy childs Nurse came to the house where the Body lay and there she saw a Vision of Heavenly Angells and lights gloriously shining And having buried the Body in a decent place the day following they saw it laid above ground Three severall times they buried it and still the same accident arrived By common advice therefore they laid the Sacred Body upon a Cart to which were tyed two young Bulls never used to the Yoke These they permitted to goe at liberty without any leader whither Gods Providence should direct them The Bulls then on a sudden becoming tame caried it to a certain place where being arrived they stood still But the company attending the Cart not liking the place which they thought unfitt for his buriall employ'd their hands arms and shoulders against the wheeles to force them to roule forward But they found the Cart by divine vertue so fixed that by no strength or art it could be moved After diverse attempts made to no purpose at last giving thanks to God they buried the Sacred Body with great solemnity in the same place There many devout people repairing and imploring the Martyrs help and intercession in their afflictions and infirmities frequently with ioy obtain'd their desired remedy 6. The Head of the Martyr was caried to the Tyrant Rinoldus which he having touch'd died miserably three days after After whose death the Bishops and Clergy caried the Head and buried it together with his Body Severall dayes after this certain Preachers not of Brittish blood took the Coffer wherin the Sacred Relicks repos'd which they caried in Procession through many places and at last according as they were enjoyn'd they arriv'd at Ambrisburg where they layd the Holy Relicks upon an Altar Thus find we related the Gests of S. Melorus in Capgrave 7. Now Ambrisburg is a well known town among the Belgae in Wiltshire in the Territory of Winchester so call'd from Ambrose the Son of Constantinus the late mention'd Vsurper of the Empire concerning whom we shall hereafter treat M Camden adds out of an ancient Book called Eulogium that there was erected a Monastery of three hundred Monks which afterward was pillaged by a certain barbarous Tyrant call'd Gurmundus Moreover that at Ambrisburg S. Melorus and his Sacred Relicks were in a speciall manner venerated Bishop Vsher affirms saying The solemnity of the celebrating the Relicks of S. Melorus by the inhabitants of Ambrisburg obscured in time the memory of Ambrius or Ambrosius XXVII CHAP. 1. Victorinus Governour in Brittany recalled 2.3 c. Brittany poyson'd with Pelagianism by Agricola a Bishop 4. Severall Arch-Bishops of London 1. AFter Constantins death severall other Tyrants arose in France as Maximus Iovinus and Sebastian but by the courage of Constantius they were quickly subdued As for Brittany it again return'd to the Obedience of the Roman Empire Constantius therefore sent Victorinus Governour thither a man gratefull to the Brittains and formidable to the Picts and Scotts whose violences he easily repress'd as the Poet Rutilius testifies But being too soon recall'd by Honorius and the Roman Legion with him the Brittains in a short time became miserably and iâ—remediably expos'd to their barbarous cruelties 2. Pope Innocentius dying after he had the space of fifteen years governed the Roman Church Zosimus succeeded him who with the like care endeavoured to preserve the Church from the infection of Pelagianism In whose place after two years was chosen Pope Bonifacius who saith Prosper made use not only of Apostolick but also Imperiall Edicts against the same Enemies of Divine Grace 3. In his time this Island of Brittany became poyson'd with their presumptuous Doctrines The unhappy instrument of which calamity was one Agricola the Son of a Bishop call'd Severianus Bale is mistaken when he affirms this Agricola to have been a Brittain a Monk of Bangor and companion of Pelagius for he was by Nation a Gaul And the same Authour with the like Errour confounds Agricola with Leporius who infected Gaule with the same Heresy But afterward going into Africa was there rectified in his iudgment by S. Augustin 4. In Brittany there were at this time severall Bishops full of piety and learning who oppos'd themselves against this Heresy Among whom the most celebrated was Fastidius Priscus Archbishop of London highly commended by Gennadius and Trithemius as a man skillfull in Holy Scripture and a Zealous Preacher of Divine Truth moreover illustrious in holy conversation and famous for his sharpnes of iudgment and elocution Bale adds that he left behind him a Book entitled Pious Admonitions which probably contain'd an Antidot against the contagion of that Heresy It is uncertain what year he dyed and consequently when it was that Voadinus succeeded him in that Bishoprick XXVIII CHAP. 1.2 c. The Brittains begg help of the Romans a Legion is sent and call'd back
a feirce battell was begun and much blood shed on both sides But at last Hengist perceiving his army to give ground and that the Brittains began to prevayle he presently fled to a town call'd Caêr-conan now Cuningbury But considering the weaknes of the town to resist he knew his only safety consisted in the swords and spears of his followers Ambrosius pursued him and by the way putt to the sword all the Saxons he found Thus having obtaind the Victory he with great zeale and devotion gave praise to the God of heaven 8. As for Hengist he fortified his camp as well as he could neer the said town But after a few days saith Camden he was forc'd to come to a battell before his camp which was fatall to him and his for the greatest part of his army was cutt in peices and himself being taken prisoner was beheaded by the Brittains 9. This battell saith Florilegus was fought on the banks of the River Don. And the manner how Hengist was taken prisoner was this The valiant Eldot Duke or Consul of Glocester Claudiocestriae had an earnest desire to cope with Hengist Therefore with the forces under his command furiously peircing through the Enemies squadrons he at last found him and laying hold on the fore part of his helmet with main force he drew him in among his own troops saying God at last hath fullfilld my desire It is he who hath given us the Victory Presently after this the Saxons fled every one his own way whom Ambrosius pursuing manfully slew Octa the Son of Hengist with the greatest numbers fled to York But Esca and not a few with him betook themselves to another Citty call'd Aclud After this Victory Ambrosius took the Citty Caër-conan which he entred triumphantly staying there onely three days 10. The same Author consequently relates the manner how Hengist was sentenced and executed after the fight After the saith he Ambrosius calling his Captains together commanded them to decreet what should becom of Hengist Whereupon Eldad Bishop of Glocester who was also Brother of Eldot impos'd silence on them all and gnashing his teeth for rage he thus said Though all here present had a desire to set him free I my self would cutt him in peices Why doe you delay O effeminat Brittains Did not Samuêl a Prophet having taken the King of Amalec prisoner in a battell cutt him in peices one limme after another saying As thou hast made many Mothers childles so will I make thy mother childles this day Doe you therefore deale in the same manner with this barbarous King who is another Agag and has depriv'd a world of Brittish Mothers of their children When he had thus sayd Eldad drew his sword and leading him out of the Citty cutt off his head sending his soule into hell 11. If this relation be true Eldad shew'd himself an unmercifull man and one who forgott the duty of a Christian Bishop who ought rather to have mitigated the rigour of other mens sentences then to pronounce so cruell a iudgment whilst others who were soldiers too held their peace He therefore little deserves the commendation given him by Pits for his piety and prudence which he â—ill express'd when gnashing his teeth for rage he extorted a Captive Kings death from an Assembly of soldiers The Book of Invective Orations for which the same Authour likewise reckons him among the ancient Brittish Writers probably proceeding from the same spirit deserved rather to be forgotten then recorded as in honour of our Ancestors 12. After this so signall a Victory Ambrosius mindfull of his Vow call'd together workmen Masons and Carpenters and took care to repaire the Houses of God which had been destroyed and placing in them Preists and other Clergy-men he reduc'd the Divine service to the pristine order And wheresoever he found any Idols or Temples of false Gods he defac'd them utterly out of the memory of men He was studious to observe iustice and peace especially to Ecclesiasticall persons and confer'd on them liberall revenews enjoyning them all to pray for the Kingdom and state of Gods Church 13. Hengist being thus dead his Son Aesca succeeded him in the Kingdom of Kent He is call'd Oisc by S. Beda who addes that from him the succeeding Kings of Kent were call'd Oiskings As for his other Son Otta in the former narration of Florilegus said to have fled to York nothing can be found of him among the Ancient Writers So that small credit is to be given to what Modern Historians relate concerning him that King Ambrosius bestow'd on him the Province of Galloway in Scotland since in those days that Province was not in the disposall of the Brittains XII CHAP. 1.2 S. Brigit comes out of Ireland into Brittany for Relicks and returns 1. THE same year in which Hengist was slain the Holy Virgin S. Brigit came out of Ireland into Brittany as we find recorded in the Antiquities of Glastonbury and her busines was to obtain some Relicks of her most dear and honour'd Patron S. Patrick for she had been his Disciple and a great admirer of his sanctity which she zealously imitated Being in Brittany she pass'd some years in a certain small Island near Glastonbury where there was an Oratory consecrated to the honour of S. Mary Magdalen The Island was called Bekery or the Little Island Afterward having left behind her scripp chain bell and other vestments of her own weaving which for the memory of her Sanctity are there expos'd she return'd into Ireland where not long after she rested in our Lord and was buried in the Citty of Down 2. This is that famous Virgin for her Sanctity and miracles venerated by Gods Church on the first day of February On which day we read in the Martyrologes of Rome S. Beda and Ado these words This day is celebrated the Memory of S. Brigid a Virgin who in testimony of her virginity having touch'd the Wood of an Altar it became presently green Her death is frequently assign'd by writers to the eighteenth year of the following Century But truër Chronology saith Bishop Vsher makes her to out live S. Patrick only thirty years XIII CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Sophias a Brittish Martyr and Bishop of Beneventum 1. IN our English Martyrologe on the four and twentieth of Ianuary there is a commemoration of a Brittish Saint and Martyr call'd S. Sophias whose death is assigned to the four hundred and ninetieth year of our Lord. 2. This S. Sophias was the Son of Guilleicus Prince of the Ordovices or Northwales He undertook a Monasticall Profession in a Monastery built by himself in the same Province It is written of him that he had such devotion to our Lords Passion that he made three pilgrimages to Ierusalem to visit the marks and footsteps of it He had likewise a great Veneration to Rome and those places which had been consecrated by the
filthy Leper But Abbot Lasrean answerd him O Duke doe not speak ill of Saint Munnu for though he be absent in body yet in Spirit he is present here and no doubt wheresoever he is he hears what thou hast said and our Lord will avenge upon thee the injury of his servant Now the same day before even Saint Munnu came to the Council and the company went went to meet him And when Saint Lasrean and Saint Munnu saluted one another Duke Subne was likewise present and asked Saint Munnu his benediction To whom the Man of God said Why dost thou ask the benediction of a Leper I tell thee for certain that when thou spokest so vily of mee our Lord himself blushed at the right hand of his Father For I am a true member of Christ who is my head now the head is sensible of every injury done to any member Wherefore before this Month be ended some of thy kinred shall kill thee and cut off thy head and cast it into the River Berow which shall never appear more And so indeed it came to passe for the same Month his Brothers Son killed him near the River Blathach and his head was cast into the River according to the Prophecy of the Man of God 4. After these words S. Munnu said to Abbot Lasrean before the people It is time the Council were ended that every one may return to his own home We have a contention about the Order of the Paschal Solemnity let us dispatch it in a word and pronounce Sentence in the Name of our Lord. I here offer thee O Lasrean the choice of these three things Let two Books one of the old Order and one of the New be cast into the fire and we shall see which of them shall escape burning Or let one of thy Monks and another of mine be shutt up together in a house and fire sett to it we shall then see which of them shall be delivered Or let us goe to the grave of the Monk Iustus lately dead and restore him to life and he shall tell us which of the two practises is best and let that be observed this year 5. After these proposals of S. Manna S. Lasrean said We will not contend with thee being assured that so great are the merits of thy labours and Sanctity that if thou shouldst command that Mountain Marga to come into this White feild or this White feild to remove to that Mountain Marga God would not delay to doe it for thee Now they were in the White feild at that time over which the Mountain Marga hangs After this the people consenting to these Saints returned to their houses Or as it is more fully expressed in another Copy after they all had professed their consent to the Holy man Munnu they returned home joyfull 6. Which consent it is to be feared was to the Old erroneous Order although Cummian in his Epistle to the Abbot Segeni affirms that in the said Council the Bishops decreed that the year following the Paschal solemnity should be celebrated together with the Vniversall Church But it appears from Bishop Vshers observation that they kept Easter differently from the Roman practise for he addes That year in which the Council was assembled seems to have been the six hundred and thirtieth according to the Christian account which year the Irish following the Cycle of eighty four years kept Easter day being Sunday on the first of April which was an entire week before the time prescribed in the Alexandrine Cycle of Nineteen years Enneadecateride received by the Romans Whereas the year following there interceded a full Month between the two accounts for the Irish kept Easter on the one and twentieth of April and the Romans on the four and twentieth of March. 7 Notwithstanding the summary deciding of this Controversy in the foresaid Irish Synod called the Synod of Leny from the place where it was kept to which the White feild belonged and in which the Arch-bishop of Imelac presided yet many there were unsatisfied being desirous to explore the Order observed at Rome For the â—ore named Cummian in his Epistle to the said Abbot Segeni writes thus We sent to Rome certain persons of whose prudence and humility we had experience as Children to their Mother Who by the Divine Will had a prosperous voyage thither and three years after returned to us And there according as they had heard they saw all things to be yea they were now more assured having seen then they were before upon report There they observed the Paschall Solemnity in the Church of Saint Peter in the company of a Grecian converted Iew a Scythian and Aegyptian all which were their companions in the same â—odging Which Paschall Solemnity was a whole month distant from ours The same men before the Feast protested to us that upon their knowledge Easter was celebrated through the whole world the same day it was at Rome 8. The same Bishop Vsher moreover testifies that the foresaid Abbot Lasrean with fifty others went to Rome this year about the same affair immediatly after the Synod of Lechen or Leny where he was ordaind Bishop by the Pope and moreover constituted his Legat in Ireland Where after nine years he dyed So that probably he and his companions were the same mentioned in the Letter of Cummian XX. CHAP. 1. Erpenwald King of the East-angles converted and for that made a Martyr 2.3 c Letters of Pope Honorius concerning the Paschall Solemnity c. 1. ANother proof of the piety and zeale of King Edwin to propagate the Faith or Christ beyond the limits of his own kingdom was given by him in the year of Grace six hundred thirty two in which he dealt effectually with Erpenwald the Son of Redwald King of the East-Angles to renounce vain impure Idols and not only himself to receive the Faith and Sacraments of Christ but to induce his Subjects to doe the like Neither did his zeale want a good effect for Erpenwald saith William of Malmsbury embraced puâ—e incorupt Christianity But the propagating the same right Faith among his Subjects was hindred by his death for not long after his profession of Christianity saith S. Beda he was slain by a certain Pagan named Ricbert and thence it came that that Province continued three years longer in Heathenish Errour He is deservedly stiled a Martyr because it was for his Religion and his care to introduce it into his kingdom that he was slain by the procurement of that great Enemy of Christ Penda King of the Mercians as Huntingdon affirms 2. This year according to Baronius King Edwin sent Messengers to Rome desiring Pope Honorius to send Palls both to S. Paulinus Arch-bishop of York and to Honorius Arch-bishop of Canterbury To which request the Pope câ—ndescending returned an Answer by letters the King and with them sent the two Palls 3 These arrived in Brittany the year
having surrendred the Kingdom to his Cousen Egric was retired into a Monastery Now Egric during his short raign had oft been vexed with the incursions of Penda King of the MerciaÌ„s but this year he invaded his countrey with a powerfull army which he was not able to resist In this danger by common advice it was decreed to call King Sigebert out of his solitude For which purpose Messengers were sent to solicite him to prefer the common care of the Kingdom before his privat Devotions He earnestly opposed a good while this proposal but at last saith Saint Beda even against his will they drew him from his Monastery to the Army for they hoped that the presence of so Noble and Valiant a Prince would encourage the fainting soldiers ready for fear to disband Notwithstanding Sigebert mindfull of his present profession though he was encompassed with a Royal army would not act the part of a soldier nor carry in his hand any other thing besides a rodd 2 Thus unarmed and with an intention to act the part of a General onely with his counsell and prayers he proceeded to the Battell Which was violently begun by Penda in which Sigebert being prepared to receive not give wounds took no care to defend his own life So that he became an easy Victime to the Enemies cruelty King Egric likewise was slain with him and for a perishing Crown received one that was immortall How precious the death of Sigebert was fighting for Religion and his countrey posterity shewd by giving him the title of a Martyr for with that dignity he is commemorated in our Martyrologe on the seaven and twentieth of September but in the Gallican on the seaventh of August 3. The innocent blood of Sigebert and Egric watering this Eastern feild made it fruitfully budd with flowers of many royal vertues in his Successour which was Anna the Son of Eni of the Royal family a Prince of admirable Vertue and Father of a most glorious Offspring saith S. Beda Now Eni was Son of Titullus and brother of Redwald so that Anna's succession being legal was unquestioned by all Never any Saxon King was blessed with such a progeny His son Erconwald afterward Bishop of London was for his Sanctity illustrious to the whole Church His daughters were Queen Etheldreda twice a wife yet always a most chast Virgin Sexburga also a Queen Ethelburga a most holy Virgin and Abbesse of Barking Edilburga a Virgin likewise and Abbesse of Brigue And lastly Withburga a chast Virgin All which are inscribed in our Martyrologe with the Title of Saints concerning each of which we shall hereafter treat in due place With so many glorious Stars did this one good King Anna adorn the palace of our Heavenly King X. CHAP. 1.2 c. King Oswalds Mercy and Piety 5.6 His desire to dye for his people 7.8 His battell against Penda and death 1. KING Oswald yet remained alive expecting the like end of his race But before we conduct him to his death it will be expedient after the old Roman fashion to adorn and crown the Sacrifice before its immolation by declaring some of those many vertues which he shewd both in living and dying We sayd some thing before of his Piety to God and munificence in his service These sublime vertues were accomâ—panied with others regarding Gods poorest servants whose wants and incommodities he would not only supply when they were in his view but he would often be inquisitive to find out objects of his mercy and liberality He never sent away from him any poore man empty-handed but performed exactly that precept of our Lord Give to every one who asks thee Yea his liberality was so boundlesse that he almost empoverished himself by supplying the indigence of the poore 2. One Noble Example of this vertue is recorded by S. Beda and generally all our Historians which was this On a certain Feast of our Lords Resurrection the Holy Bishop Aidan and King Oswald dined together when one of the Kings servants coming in told him that at the gate there stood a great multitude of beggars in great necessity King Oswald glad of an occasion to exercise his Charity stretched forth his hand and took up a silver dish full of meat which he commanded the servant to distribute among those poore not the meat only but the dish which for that purpose was to be broken in peices S. Aidan was much affected with so commendable an expression of piety in the King and taking that hand which had given the Plate said Let this hand never be consumed which has so liberally distributed the Gifts of God This propheticall benediction God heard and approved with a great Miracle For after the Kings death when all the rest of his body was dissolved into dust that hand remaind entire both in the flesh and sinews for many ages as shall be proved by many witnesses 3. How acceptable these vertues were to Almighty God he shewd by heaping on him even great temporal prosperity For sayes Saint Beda King Oswald together with the Nation governd by him was blessed not only with a sure hope of a heavenly Kingdom unknown to his Ancestours but moreover by Gods speciall assistance who made both heaven and earth he encreased his Dominion by the accesse of more Provinces then any of his Progenitours had enioyd For he not only united the Kingdoms of the Deiri and Bernicians but had a supereminent power over the four Nations and Provinces of Brittany which were divided into four tongues of the Brittains Picts Scotts and English 4. Yet did not the cares of so largean Empire withdraw his mind from a frequent conversation with God On the contrary the same Authour writes that whilst he managed the government of so many Provinces his cheif solicitude and labours were how to obtain a celestiall Kingdom The generall same gives that his frequent practise was to persist in his prayers from Morning Lawds to brâ—ad day and that by reason of his almost continuall custom of Praying and praising God wheresoever he was sitting he would hold his hands on his knees with his face looking up to heaven and lastly that he ended his life in the midst of his Prayers For being compassed on all sides with enemies and weapons when he saw himself upon the point to be slain he prayed for the soules of his soldiers And hence arose the Now common Proverb God have mercy on their soules sayd King Oswald when he was falling dead to the Earth This expression of piety we English Catholicks to this day owe to this good King for though the generall practise or the whole Church in all ages was to implore the Divine mercy for those who dyed in her Communion yet this speciall form of expressing our Charity by saying God have mercy â—n their soules came from this most pious King who in his last danger as it were forgetting himself became an intercessour for
severall years later X. CHAP. 1.2 c. The Gests of Saint Foillan Martyr And of S Vltan both of them Brethren of S. Fursey 1. THIS year was wonderfully fruitful in Saints For in the same S. Foillaâ— was crownd with Martyrdom He was Brother of S. Fursey and with him came oâ—t oâ— Ireland into Brittany where he lived a 〈◊〉 in the Monastery of Knobberri-burg and aâ—teâ— his departure succeded him in thâ— Oâ—ce oâ— Abbot as hath bene already declâ—â—â—d in thâ— year six hundred forty two He is commeâ—morated in our Martyrolâ—gâ— on the thirtieth of October and held in great veneration not only in Brittany but Ireland also and France 2. Concerning him we read thus in the French Martyrologe That out of Brittany he went to Rome to obtain a benediction and faculties from Pope Martin to convert Infidels Which having received he went into France where after some progresse made in his Apostolicall Office of preaching he was received with great reverence by S Gertruâ—e with whose assistance he founded the Monastery of Fosse Yet he did not so fixe himself in that place as if he had found there a quiet abode and secure haven and would dispense with his Apostolick Office but on the contrary his zeale to exalt the glory of Christ was so urgent in him that like lightning he went up and down plucking up the seed of Idolatry yet remaining there and sowing the true Faith he incited the inhabitants as yet spiritually blind to admitt the Light of Truth the Grace of God and eternall life to their soules those who were obstinat against the light he sharply reproved and both by exhortations and good example instantly besought and with a pious zeale even compelled them to be saved But the Enemy of mans salvation could no longer endure so watchfull a preacher of the Mystery of piety He therefore arms certain impious men with a blind envy and malice against hâ—m who violently and furiously assaulted this Holy Messenger of God in a forest of Hannow where with their swords they barbarously massacred him who did not resist them but dyed praying for them But God was not wanting to honour his servant for both from the merits of his past life and the miracles following his death he was acknowledged and honoured as a glorious Martyr and not long after a magnificent Monument was erected at his grave near Râ—dium a Town of Hannow which remains illustrious to this day where there is seen a Noble Monastery of Canons Regulars of the Order of Saint Norbert which takes its appellation from this Blessed Martyr 3. We must not separate Brethren Therefore we will here adjoyn the commemoration of Saint Vltan Brother to S. Fursey and Saint Foillan whose death in our Martyrologe is assigned to the same year on the second of May Concerning whom the Gallican Martyrologe thus writers on the first day of the same month At Peronne is the commemoration of Saint Vltan Confessour Abbot of the Monastery in the same town and Brother and Successour of Saint Fursey and of the glorious Martyr S. Foillan He was a wonderfull observer of Religious piety and by the assistance of Saint Gertrude of Nivelle having finished the Monastery of Fosse in the territory of Liege and emparted wholesome instructions to the Religious there returned to this Monastery of Peronne the Abbot whereof he was after his Brothers death he there honourably received and in a fatherly manner entertained S. Amatus Bishop of Sâ—ns who for his zeale to iustice was banished his Diocese and having spent the remainder of his life in a most holy conversation was called to his eternall reward and presently after was followed by S. Vltan Both whose Sacred Relicks are with due honour preserved partly at Peronne and partly at Fosse XI CHAP. 1.2 c. Of S. Christiana an English-Saxon Virgin 1. ABout this time most probably a Holy Virgin named Christina or Christiana derived from an English-Saxon family ended a most holy life yet her memory is not celebrated by any of our English Histories But Miraeus in his Belgick Calendar on the twenty sixth of Iuly thus writes concerning her Teneramund a town of Flanders Imperiall in the diocese of Gaunt seated at the meeting of the Rivers Scaldis and Tenera acknowledges two Tutelar Saints S. Hilduard Bishop and S. Christiana a Virgin whose Sacred Relicks are preserved there in a College of Canons S. Christiana was the daughter of a King of England And Saint Hilduardus flourished in the year seaven-hundred and fifty 2. But some what more particularly touching her parents and manner of life we read in the Gallican Martyrologe as followeth On the seaventh of September at Teneramund in the Bishoprick of Gaunt is commemorated the Translation of S. Christiana a Holy Virgin the daughter of Migraâ—nus King of England who coming into Flanders at Diclivena was received among the Religious Virgins and having devoutly performed her course of vertue in the service of our Saviour the Spouse of Holy Virgins there happily dyed and was buried with a great esteem of Sanctity And afterward being glorified by innumerable miracles to the end her veneration might be more frequent her Sacred Relicks were translated to Teneramunda and honourably reposed there in the Collegiat Church of the most Holy Virgin-Mother of God together with the bones of S. Hilduardus the Apostle and Tutelar Saint of the same town together with whom she is by the inhabitants of the same Town and Territory adioyning honoured as companion of the same Saint in the protection of that place 3. Again touching the manner how being born and educated a Pagan she was miraculously converted and exalted to so high a degree of Sanctity is thus further related in the same Martyrologe On the twenty seaventh of Iuly at Teneramunda in Flanders is celebrated the Memory of S. Christiana a Virgin who being the only daughter of Migramnus King of the English was in her tender age most devout to her false Gods and Idols according to the Tradition of her Ancestours But Almighty God looking on her with eyes of Mercy sent an Angell from heaven to her in the shape of a beggar who instructed her in the Christian Faith and commanded her to be baptised By whose conduct likewise she came to Dikelvenna where after she had with great perfection consummated her course she attained to eternall Beatitude Her Body afterward shining with many Divine Miracles was from thence translated to Teneramunda For whose honour and veneration Ringot Prince of that place having reedified a Church which had been demolished by the Normans commended the Patronage of that Citty to the same Holy Virgin Hence it was that to this day she is honoured by the inhabitants as their peculiar Protectresse 4. This Translation was performed in the year one thousand ninety two But who this Migramnus said to have been an English King was and what time he lived does not appear
we declared to have been of English parentage and kinsman of Oswin King of the Northumbers that he had his education from the Scotts was a Monk and afterward Abbot of the Monastery of Gethlin and last of all consecrated Bishop of the Mercians 5 But a greater difficulty remains How King Wulfere should deserve the Elogy here given him of piety and zeale for the propagation of the Orthodox Faith beyond the limits of his own Kingdom Yea besides this in other Authours we find him employd in building of Monasteries and Churches And William of Malmsbury gives him this generall Character that at his first Assumption to the throne to the end he might not deceive the expectation of his Subiects he spared no diligence study or labour to shew himself a good Prince who sought the proffit and felicity of his Kingdom Moreover that by his favour and countenance he earnesty advanced the Christian Faith then even gasping for life as being but a little before newly brought in by his Brother Whereas severall other Authours particularly such as have written our Saints lives paint him forth for a most horrible persecutour insomuch as seaven years after this Conversion of the South-Saxons by his incitation he is sayd to have putt to death his two sons Vlfald and Ruffin because by the preaching of S. Ceadda then Bishop of Lichfeild they embraced the Christian Faith 6. How can those things consist together Perhaps some will imagine that the praises given this King proceeded from flattery in the first Authours by whom those which followed were seduced Yet we shall find that those very Historians who so much celebrate his praises have not conceald his vices Thus the last mentioned Authour after the passage even now cited thus tempers the commendations given him Notwithstanding in these and whatsoever other vertues were in him were corrupted and depressed by the infamous crime of Simony of which he was the first King of England that was guilty selling for money the Sacred Bishoprick of London to a certain ambitious man called Wina He moreover adioyns the Off-spring of King Wulfere Kinred and Wereburga without any mention of the two Martyrs Vlfald and Ruffin So that in this Kings Story there is an obscure Mist which we may conceive to proceed from our Ancient Writers of Saints Lives who having a Story for the substance of it true to relate deliver it undigestedly without any choice of names times and other circumstances In order therefore to the clearing of this obscurity we will first breifly sett down the Summ of the Story of those two Martyrs and consequently endeavour to correct the circumstantiall faults of the relatours 7. Vlfald and Ruffin were Brethren sons of Wulfere King of the Mercians and Hermenilda who was daughter of Earcombert King of Kent and his wife S. Sexburga Wulfere their Father was an Infidell But Herminilda a devout Christian Lady of great Sanctity She during the tender age of these her children was diligent to imbue their minds with Christian Principles of piety and when they were come to riper â—ears she sought out a Master for them but with great secrecy least her Husband who was horribly averse from Christianity should know it She had recourse therefore to Ceadda Bishop of Lichfeild who instructed them more perfectly and regenerated them to Christ by the Water of Baptism These young Princes oft went forth â—pon pretence of hunting and either by their Mothers perswasion or their own inclination took that opportunity to Visit the Holy Bishop But being at last deprehended by their Father he agitated with the furies of his false Gods would compell them to renounce their Religion which they constantly refusing to doe he caused them both to be slain in the Sacred place of Prayer Their Holy Mother having understood the cruell death and Martyrdom of her children was desirous to give them an honourable buriall for which purpose she according to the Roman custom gathered a mighty heap of Stones for their Monument The place of their Sepulcher by its name still testifies the same for it is to this day called Stone a place which upon this occasion is grown to a populous Town Now when the death of these Holy Martyrs Vlfald and Ruffin was made known to the people and the cause likewise for which they dyed they began to be held in great honour and a Church with a Monastery was built consecrated to S. Vlfald yet so as that his Brother also became partaker of his honour By this means the place came to be frequented Neither was their Father King Wulfere more slow then others in honouring them For the guilt of the parricide committed by him wounding his conscience he in an humble manner went to Saint Ceadda and with great greif acknowledging his crime embraced the Christian Faith and with the Sacred Waters of Baptism expiated all his offences 8. This account doe our ancient Records give of the Martyrdom of these two Princes the substance whereof cannot reasonably be questioned considering the lasting monument yet remaining and that their names are extant among the Saints in our Martyrologe on the four and twenâ—tieth of Iuly But that they should have been instructed by S. Ceadda then Bishop of Lichfeild and slain in the year of Grace six hundred sixty eight by their Father then a Pagan this contradicts all our most authentick Histories in which long before that time King Wulfere is celebrated for his Faith and Piety Therefore it will be necessary to affirm that they were instructed by some Bishop of the Mercians before their Father began his raign during the time that their cruell Grand Father Penda lived who earnestly laboured to extinguish the Christian name and effectually caused the death of many Christian Kings 9. Therefore the Narration given by Camden deserves our acceptation who more distinctly and simply recounts the story in this manner To Peada King of the Mercians succeeded his Brother Wolfer who having been most averse from Christian Religion with barbarous inhumanity slew his Sons Wolfald and Ruffin because they had given up their names to Christ. But a few years after himself also embraced the Christian Faith and to the end he might by some pious work expiate that his impiety he finished a Monastery begun by his Brother XV. CHAP. 1.2 c. Of S. Winoc 1. SOme refer to this year the retiring of S. Winoc into the Monastery of Saint Bertin Thus writes Iperius in his Chronicle About the year of Grace six hundred sixty one S. Winoc Son of Iudicael King of the Brittains and brother of S. Iudocus of whom we have alreaâ—dy treated despising the world became a Monk in the Monastery of Sithiu under Saint Bertin together with his three brethren Kadanoc Ingenoc and Modoc S. Bertin then was Abbot over one hundred and fifty Monks among whom Saint Winoc shone like the Morning Starr 2. Marcellinus in his life of S. Suibert affirms that S
he taught every where things belonging to Christian Faith and Truth Presently after his consecration being struck with the contagion then raigning in that Province saith Huntingdon he dyed and was buried at a place called Womalet But in S. Beda it is called Peynalech who adds that it was a Monastery 5. Moreover as S. Beda testifies when the Scottish Monks living in Lindesfarn departed thence with their Bishop Colman those which remaind received for their Superiour with the authority of Abbot the most Reverend gentle and mild man Eata who before was Abbot in the Monastery called Mailros This Translation was made as the report is upon the request of Bishop Colman at his departure to King Oswi Because the same Eata was one of the twelve children which Saint Aidan in the time of his Bishoprick had received from the English Nation to instruct them in the Doctrine of Christ. The said request of Bishop Colman was easily granted by King Oswi because he loved him very much for his gravity and prudence This is the same Eata who a while after was ordained Bishop of the same Church of Lindesfarn 6. Presently after the death of the Venerable Bishop Tuda there followed great commotions and debates in the Church of the Northumbers by reason of severall pretenders to the administration of the same Church as shall shortly be declared more at large XXIII CHAP. 1.2 The Plague in Ireland 3.4 c. The Gests of S. Egbert a Saxon Preist He reduces the Scotts to Catholick conformity his death 1. THere are severall other Saints commemorated in our Martyrologe whose death is assigned to this year as the two Royall Martyrs Ethelâ—ed and Ethelbert Sons of Wulfere King of the Mercians of whom we have already treated demonstrating that their Martyrdom could not fall so late Likewise two Royall Virgins S. Mildreda and Saint Milburga Neices of the same King by his Brother Merevald of whom we shall treat more commodiously hereafter 2. Following therefore the progresse of this Pestilence it will lead us into Ireland were we shall find matter proper for our present Subiect and related by S. Beda in the manner following The same killing infection faith he with equall destruction raged in Ireland Now there were at that time in the same Island many persons both of noble extraction and meaner state who in the times of Finan and Colman Bishops leaving their native countrey retired thither some to gain instruction and others to attend to their Spirituall Exercises and Mortification Severall of them therefore undertook a Monasticall Profession and not a few going from Cell to Cell where learned Masters inhabited addicted themselves to Reading and Study All these were freely and with a good will entertained by the Scotts who afforded them upon free cost both dayly nourishment books to read and instruction likewise 3. Among these there were two Noble young men of vertuous and towardly disposition Their names were Edelhum and Egbert The former of these was Brother of Edilhum or Ethelwin a man of great Sanctity who likewise the year following went into Ireland to enrich his mind with learning and being well instructed returned into his Native countrey Brittany where he was ordained Bishop of Lindisse or Lindesfare and worthy governed that Church many years of whom we shall treat more at large hereafter 4. The said two young men being in a Monastery which the Scotts or Irish call Rathmesige where all their companions were either taken out of the world by the infection or dispersed in other places they likewise both of them were struck with the same disease and greivously affected And of these two Egbert as a certain grave and sincere Preist who professed that he heard it from Egbert himself assured mee beleiving that he should not escape went one morning out of the Infirmary into a retired place where â—itting alone he began seriously to call to mind his former actions and feeling great compunction by the memory of his past sins he bedewd his face with teares and from the depth of his soule prayed to Almighty God not to take him out of the world till he had more perfectly performed Pennance for his past negligences and faults committed in his child hood and youth and till he had more plentifully exercised himself in good works He made a Vow likewise that he would live all his days a stranger and never return into Brittany where he was born likewise that besides the Solemn Canonicall Office he would every day recite the whole Psalter in memory of the Divine praises and also every week passe one whole day and night in fasting except he should be hindred by some bodily infirmity 5. Having concluded his weeping prayer and Vows he returned to his Cell where finding his companion asleep he likewise layd himself on his bed and falling into a slumber he was presently awaked by his companion who looking earnestly upon him said O Brother Egbert what have you done I hoped we should both together have gone to heaven But know that the things thou so earnestly prayed for are granted thee For he had learnt by a Vision both the subiect of Egberts prayers and that God would perform his desires In a word the following night Edelhum died 6. But Egbert in a short time shaking off the pains of his disease recovered and lived many years after He received the degree and Order of Preisthood which he adorned by many good actions suitable to that Profession and according to his desire being full of vertue and piety he a little while since to witt in the year of our Lords Incarnation seaven hundred twenty nine being fourscore and ten years old went to everlasting ioyes 7. He lead a life with all perfection of Humility meeknes continence simplicity and iustice Insomuch as both by the example of his life by his assiduity in teaching zeale in correcting and liberality in giving what he had received from rich men he was very beneficiall both to his own countreymen and also to the Scotts and Picts among whom he lived 8. He added likewise to his forementioned Vows this Of never tasting any thing in Lent but once a day and then also onely bread and a small measure of thin milk Which milk his custom was to putt the day before in a glasse and when the night was past to take off the cream and drink the rest with a small portion of Bread The like measure of abstinence he was wâ—nt likewise to observe forty days before our Lords Nativity and as many after Pentecost 9. This is that S. Egbert who was the first and cheif mover of the glorious design of twelve Apostolicall English Preists to convert certain German Nations our Primitive Ancestors to the Christian Faith which they undertook and in a great measure performed These were S. Suâ—bert S. Willebrord S. Boniface and the rest of their illustrious companions S. Egbert was desirous to have ioynd in their labours and dangers but
and the feilds with a pleasant verdure brought forth fruits of all kinds in great plenty Thus abandoning their Idolatry the hearts and flesh of all the inhabitants exalted in the living God perceiving that he was indeed the only true God who in mercy had enriched them with goods of all kinds both for their soules and bodies 8 The same Authour in another place relates how Saint Wilfrid taught the people another remedy against the famine For says he the Sea and rivers in that countrey abounded with fish but the inhabitants had no skill at all in fishing except only for Eeles But by his command a great number of such Netts as were used for Eeles being gathered together they cast them into the Sea and by Gods providence took of severall sorts of fishes to the number of three hundred Which being divided into three parts one hundred was given to the poore anotheâ— to those which laboured and the third he reserved for the use of him and his attendants By such benefits as these he gott a cordiall affection of them all by which means they were the more easily induced to expect heavenly blessings promised them in his Sermons since by his assistance they had already obtained temporall 9 Great numbers therefore having been converted the next care was to appoint a Mansion for Saint Wilfrid and his companions This care was not wanting for as the same Authour says At that time King Edilwalch gave to the most Reverend Bishop a possession of eighty seaven families for the entertainment of himself and those who would not forsake him in his banishment The place was called Seolesea or the Island of Seales It was encompassed by the Sea on all sides except toward the West where the entrance into it is in breadth about a bow-shoot Assâ—on as the Holy Bishop had the possession of this place he founded there a Monasâ—ery placing therein for the most part â—uch as he had brought with him whom he instituted in a Regular conversation and this Monastery is to this day governed by such as have succeeded him For he remained in those parts the space of five years that is to the death of King Egfrid and worthily exercised his Episcopall Office both by word and deed And whereas the King together with the said land had bestowed on him all the goods and persons upon it he instructed them all in the Christian Faith and purified them with the Sacrament of Baptism among whom were men and mayd-serâ—ants two hundred and fifty all which were not only by baptism rescued from the slavery of the Devill but had likewise bestowed on them a freedom from human servitude 10. Severall Bishops anciently have had their Episcopall See in this Half-Island and were called Bishops of Selsey but none succeeded S. Wilfrid there till the year of Grace seaven hundred and eleaven Afterward about the year one thousand and seaventy the Episcopall See was translated thence to Cissancester now called Chichester where it remains to this day As for the ancient small Citty in which those Bishops resided there remains only the caâ—keyse of it which in high tides is quite covered with the Sea but at low water is open and conspicuous saith Camden 11. Over the Monks in this new founded Monastery S. Wilfrid appointed Abbot a devout Preist named Eappa of whom we have already treated And a little after hapned a terrible plague which swept away great numbers both of Religious persons there and in the countrey about By occasion of which the Monks appointed a solemn Fast three days together with prayers and Sacrifices for the asswaging of it And on the second day of the said Fasâ— hapned that Miracle which we mention'd â—â—fore at the Death of the Holy King Martyr S. Osâ—ald how a young child in the said Monastery lying alone sick of the infection whilst the Monks were at Prayers in the Church there appeared to him the Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul bidding him not to be afraid of death for the same day he should be caried by them into heaven but he was to expect till the Masses were finished after which he should receive the precious body and blood of our Lord for his Viaticum They commanded him likewise that he should call for the Preist and Abbot Eappa to whom he should declare that God had heard and accepted their prayers and excepting the young child himself not any one of the Monastery or possessions adioyning should dye of that sicknes And that this mercy to them was obtained by the intercession of the glorious King and Martyr Saint Oswald who the very same day had been slain by Infidels This the child declared accordingly to the Preist Eappa and the event confirmed the truth for he dyed the same day and not any one after him all that were sick recovered and the infection ceased X. CHAP. 1.2 Three Bishopricks among the Northumbers 3.4 c. Trumwin ordained Bishop of the Picts and afterward expelled 1. WEE will leave S. Wilfrid among the South-Saxons awhile busy in his Apostolick employment among his new Converts and return to take a view what passed in the mean time in the Northern parts of Brittany We have already declared how S. Theodore Arch-bishop of Canterbury partly in compliance with King Egfrids passion against S. Wilfrid and partly in conformity to a Canon of the Council of Hertford divided the single Diocese of the Northumbers into two that of York and another of the more Northern Provinces the Episcopall See whereof was placed indifferently at Lindesfarn and Hagulstad This was done in the year of Grace six hundred seaventy eight And two years after he again added a third Bishoprick in the same Province For wheras Eata had been consecrated Bishop both of Lindesfarn and Hagulstad he then divided that Diocese leaving that of Lindesfarn to Eata and ordaining Tumbert or Cumbert over that of Hagulstad now called Hexham 2. He instituted likewise at the same time a New Bishoprick among the Viccians or inhabitants of Worcester-shire consecrating Boselus their first Bishop For he who had been formerly designed thereto named Tatfrith a man of great courage and learning and of an excellent iudgment saith S Beda quote by B. Godwin had immaturely been snatchâ—â— away by death before he could be consecrated 3. At this time the Nation of the Pictâ— though they had embraced the Christia Faith many years before yet by reason oâ— the great vicissitudes hapning among them wanted a Bishop In the year six hundred forty two they were subdued by King Oswald and made tributary After the death of the next King Oswi and in the first year of the raign of Egfrid the same Picts saith William of Malmsbury contemning the infancy of this young King withdrew themselves from his obedience and boldly invaded his Kingdom under the conduct of a Noble man named Berney The young King courageously mett them and with an army much inferiour
the eyes of God and is with devotion celebrated by his Church being commemorated both in our English and also the Roman Martyrologe on the twentieth day of August But the Centuriators of Magdeburg reading all these things are moved to choler both against S. Beda Sebbe and all Monks in generall which choler suggested this profane censure to their pens A Monasticall course of life not having any ground in Gods word stood in need to be recommended by vain dreams and Visions And again In this seaventh age say they Kings began to relinquish their authority and to addict themselves to a Monasticall life Which impiety must be adorned with lying miracles Hence Beda writes concerning King Sebbe that in a Vision three men appeard to him as he lay sick in his bed and foretold to him both the day of his death and that it should be without pain So that to forsake all worldly pleasures and contentments purely for the Love of God is not only not warranted by Gods word but is an impiety excluding men from the enioying of God in the judgment of these new sensuall Evangelists 7. But how after this holy Kings death God was pleased to declare how far different a judgment he gave of his servant the same learned and devout Historian thus further relates A Coffin of Stone saith he was prepared for entombing the Body of this holy King But when they endeavoured to putt the Body into it they found that it was a hands-breadth too long for the Coffin Whereupon paring away as much of the stone at each end as they could they thereby lengthned it about the measure of two fingers breadth Yet after all it would not receive the body Whereupon finding so great a difficulty to enteire him they intended either to seek out a new Coffin or to endeavour by hewing the body to shorten it so much as to make it enter into the Coffin But by a wonderfull accident which could proceed from no lesse then a heavenly power both these designs of theirs were prevented for presently in the sight of the Bishop and Sighard son to the said King and Monk who together with his Brother Seofrid raignd after him a great multitude likewise of others being present the Coffin was found of a convenient length insomuch as there was room enough to place a cushion under his head and yet at the feet there remaind four fingers breadth beyond the body He was buried in the Church of Saint Paul the Doctour of the Gentiles by whose teaching he had learnt to aspire to heavenly things onely 8. To this day his Sepulcher is seen in the same Church adioyning to the Wall on the North side and encompassed with railes But the present Monument being of marble and not ordinary stone as at first shews that in ages following through some mens devotion it was changed and more honourably entombed So that a late malignant Historians skoffe does little prejudice S. Beda's narration saying that the Coffin which in the beginning was miraculously lengthned hath been since by a new Miracle again contracted 9. The Holy Bishop of Worcester Ostfor consecrated the year before by Saint Wilfrid this year dyed in whose place succeeded a Religious person named Egwin born of Princely blood but one who aspiring to a higher kingdom for Christs sake became poor Concerning whom we shall treat more largely hereafter for great examples of patience and equanimity in suffrings he will afford us insomuch as being tryed in the furnace of many tribulations his sanctity became illustrious not in Brittany onely but forrain regions also THE TWENTIETH BOOK OF THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY I. CHAPTER 1.2 Of English Missioners sent to convert the Germans 3.4 c. S. Egbert the First Mover in that work He is desirous to goe himself but is hindred by God and employed to bring the Scotts to the Vnity of the Church 8.9 Wibert preaches without Successe to the Frisons 10.11 S Willebrord with eleaven others undertake the Mission 1. THE same year of Grace six hundred ninety three was made illustrious by the death and Martyrdom of two Apostolicall Brethren of the English Nation both of them called by the same name Ewald whose zeale for the enlarging of Christs kingdom compelled them to become strangers to their own countrey and in the company of severall other devout Preists to passe over into Germany exposing themselves to all incommodities and dangers yea death it selfe for the rescuing of a world of soules from ignorance and Idolatry in which hitherto the Devill had held them captive 2. But before we apply our selves to the relating of the particular Gests of these two Apostolick Martyrs it will be requisite that we return three years back to the year six hundred and ninety in which the Mission for the conversion of severall German nations began We deferd it to this year because now are seen the first fruits of the labours of those Apostolicall Missioners It will now therefore be seasonable to relate the occasion and first execution of this Mission the names of the devout persons who undertook it their first attempt and succeeding progresse hitherto Which having done we will in due place declare the wonderfull and happy successe of it 3. The First Mover in this holy Work and cheif Architect of so glorious a design was S. Egbert of the rudiments of whose Sanctity this our History has from S. Beda treated in the year six hundred sixty four where we declared how he together with his companion Edelhum in the time when Finan and Coleman were Bishops went out of this their native countrey into Ireland together with many other associats both of Noble and meane condition Not long after the great plague which had almost wasted Brittany passed over into Ireland and among many others seised on this S. Egbert then living in an Irish Monastery called Rathmelsige Who expecting death with great compunction examined his former life and with many teares besought almighty God not to take him out of the world till he had performed due pennance for his sins He adioynd to his Prayers a Vow never to return to his native countrey to recite the whole Psalter dayly to fast every seaventh day c. After which God restored him to his health and he lived many years in great perfection of humility meeknes continence and simplicity and both by his example and teaching was very beneficiall to the Irish. 4. After he had spent twenty six years thus devoutly in Ireland in the year of Grace six hundred ninety saith S. Beda and out of him Baronius he took a resolution to extend his charity to forrain Nations and for that purpose to undertake the Apostolicall Office of preaching the Gospell to such as had yet never heard of it Particularly he knew that in Germany there were many Nations as yet in darknes from whom the English and Saxons now inhabiting Brittany drew their Originall such were the
he was ordained the Second Arch-bishop of Vtrecht And having spent sixteen years in preaching the Gospell through Friseland he together with his associats was crowned with Martyrdom In like manner S. Wirâ— a Bishop of the Deiri or rather of Iren that is Ireland and S. Plechelm Bishop of the Church by S. Beda called Candida casa Saint Orger a Deacon with other glorious Preists and Preachers But of these later Missioners wee shall speak more largely in due place for they are mentioned in this place by Marcellâ—â—us onely occasionally 7. Hereto he adds a Summary Narration of the various successes and ends of the Prime Missionners thus proceeding S. Acca returning in England with S. Swibert was by S. Wilfrid consecrated Bishop of Hagulstad and after many years spent in great purity and Holines there rested in our Lord. S. Wigbert as hath been declared was crownd with Martyrdom in Fosteland Saint Willâ—bald going into the Eastern part of France was made Bishop of Eystat S. Winnibald his Brother was ordained Abbot of Heyndelam the Sister of these two Holy men was the devout Virgin Walburgis Lebvin after he was consecrated Bishop was crownd with Martyrdom near Gaunt The two Brethren of the Name Ewald having preached Christ in Nabia and thence going up into Saxony ended their lives with a glorious Martyrdom Saint Werenfrid a Preist and worthy Preacher was sent towards Batua and piously governed the new-converted flock of Christ in Eâ—st and Westerwâ—irt being both in his life death illustrious through many Miracles at Westerwâ—irt happily rendred his Spirit to God on the Ides of September and was miraculously buried at Elst. S. Adelbert a Deacon son of Edilbald King of the Deiri who was Son of S. Oswald King and Martyr having built a Church at Egmond in Holland after the Conversion of many Pagans and glorious consummation of a most holy life happily rested in Christ on the seaventh day before the Calends of Iuly and was buried in Egmond where by his intercession many Miracles are wrought to this day He was an illustrious Confessour and first Arch-deacon of the Church of Vtrecht Thus writes Marcellinus touching his Brethren and devout companions and concerning himself adds these words 8. And I Marcellinus an unproffitable Preist was sent by the foresaid Holy Bishops to the Region beyond the River Isel and at the present have the care over Aldenseel Trent Tuvent Coverdy and Daventry in which places through Gods Providence and blessing I have by preaching gained to our Lord in a manner all the people having purged them from their Superstitious Idolatry As for Saint Willebrord he remained in his Diocese of Vtrecht and with great fervour preached the Gospell of Christ to all the people there about But the rest were dispersed here and there to preach the Word of God and after the Conversion of a world of Pagans happily rested in our Lord. XIV CHAP. 1.2.3 Lawes of King Withred 4. Ostritha Queen of the Mercians murdred 1. THE same year in Brittany there was assembled a Synod also by Withred King of Kent and Brithwald Arch-bishop of Canterbury at Berghansted where many wholesome Laws and Constitutions called The Iudgments of King Withred were enacted for the regulating both the Church and Civill state of that Kingdom 2. Of which Laws the first was That publick Prayers should be made for the King And the following regard severall Heads as the preserving the Peace of the State and Church The punishment of Adultery in severall conditions of men Against irregular Tonsure Forbidding working or travelling on our Lords day and the even before it Against offring any thing to the Devill and giving flesh to ones servant on a Fast-day Concerning the severall ways by which severall conditions of men were to purge themselves the King and Bishops by a simple affirmation without Oathes Preists and Abbots in this Form I speak the truth in Christ I lye not So likewise Deacons Inferiour Clerks with four compurgators laying one hand on the Altar and the other extended to the Oath a stranger without compurgators laying his hand on the Altar So likewise a Thane or Noble man of the King a simple countrey-man with four compurgators and bowing down his head towards the Altar That if any one depending on the Bishop be accused the hearing of the cause belongs to Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction c. That no compensation shall be made by one who kills a Theife c. And that if a stranger shall privily wander through the countrey and neither crye aloud nor sound with his horn he is to be taken for a theif and either to be killed or banished 3. These Iudgments of King Withred are extant among the Collection of Brittish Councills compiled by Sir Henry Spelman and translated by him into Latin out of Ancient Saxon Manuscript called The Text of Rochester Textus Roffensis to whom the Reader is referred 4. About this time a barbarous Act was committed by the Mercians against their Queen Ostritha or Ostgida Sixteen years before this she had been given by her Brother Egfrid King of the Northumbers a wife to Ethelred King of the Mercians as it were in compensation for the death of his Brother Elwin and to establish a peace between the two Kingdoms And this year saith Huntingdon the Mercians called South-humbers committed a base Villany for they inhumanly murdred Ostrida their Queen Wife to King Edelred and Sister to King Egfrid S. Beda particularly charges the Nobility of those Mercians with that foul crime namely the inhabitants of Lincoln or of Nottingham shire What was the Motive or provocation to this inhuman act does not appear in History XV. CHAP. 1.2 Edfrid succeeds to Eadbert in the See of Lindesfarn 3.4 c. Death of Adamannus the Holy Abbot of Hy he could not perswade his Monks to the Catholick Observance of Easter 6. The Northumbers defeated by the Picts 1. THE year of Grace six hundred ninety eight was the eleaventh after the death of S. Cuthbert in which the Monks in whose Church his sacred Body reposed having hitherto privatly performed veneration to his memory seing the frequent Miracles wrought at his Sepulcher thought fitt to translate his Relicks to some more honourable place and expecting to have found nothing but dry bones they saw his Body as entire yea and his garments as fresh as when they were first layd in the ground Which being certified to his Successour Saint Eadbert he caused New Vestments to be putt upon him and the Body to be raised above the pavement pronouncing withall happines to any to whom God would grant the priviledge to be layd by him Which Priviledge himself obtained this same year for rendring his devout soule to our Lord on the day before the Nones of May his Body was enterred under the Body of S. Cuthbert saith Bishop Godwin And his memory is celebrated not only in the English but Roman Martyrologe also on the sameday
English as should come to the Citty and in which if any of them hapned to dye here they might be buried Thus writes the same Authour who in another place declares that Burrhed last King of the Mercians going in pilgrimage to Rome and there dying was after a Royall manner buried in the Church of the Blessed Virgin adioyning to the Schoole of the English 5 It is not easy to determin in what region of this Citty the said Schoole and Church were placed Severall of our Historians agree that it was the same which is to this day called the Hospitall of the English or the Hospitall of S. Thomas thus write Polydor Harpsfeild Parker c But other Authours mentioning the frequent conflagrations of it particularly Anastasiuâ— Biâ—bliothecarius in his description thereof about the year of Grace eight hundred twenty three shews that it was seated in the Suburbs near to the Church of S. Peter in that place which is now called the Borgo and anciently Saxia because a Colony of Saxons was sent thither by Charles the great 6. King Inas having thus provided for securing a perpetuall succession and propagation of the Faith among his countreymen presently retired himself to a quiet repose in contemplation He therefore in the expression oâ— William of Malmsbury cutt off his hair and cloathing himself with a vile plebeian habit spent the short remainder of his age in a secret retirement And how acceptable this last sacrifice of himself was to Almighty God he was pleased to shew by many miracles saith the same Authour Now that by this plebeian habit was meant a Monasticall one the generall consent of our Historians doe confirm For the cloathing of Religious persons at the beginning was the same with that of the ordinary meaner sort of people but fashions altering among secular persons and Religious men not changing hence it comes that they have a distinct peculiar habit nothing at all resembling the generall fashion of other men in the world 7. His life was not prolonged at Rome For in our Martyrologe he is recorded to have dyed this same year and his memory is celebrated among Saints on the seaventh of February Which does not well agree together For his arrivall at Rome and the orders taken for such buildings could not be effected so early in the year Yet that he did not passe through the following year may be collected from hence that being dead his Sacred Body was buried with great honour in the entrance of S. Peters Church by reason that the Church founded by him to the honour of the Blessed Virgin was not quite finished XX. CHAP. 1.2 Death of S. Willeic and of S. Engelmund a Martyr 3.4 Oswold rebells against King Ethelard and is expelled 5 6 c. Death of S Egbert 8.9 Osric King of the Northumbers dying the pious King Ceolulf succeeds 1. TO this same year is consigned the happy death of the Holy Preist and Disciple of S. Swibert S. Willeic of whom some what hath been sayd before Concerning him thus writes Miraeus in his Belgick Calendar S. Willeic was an assistant of the holy Bishop S. Swibert in the preaching of the Gospell and became a Canon of the Church of Vtrecht lately erected After S. Swiberts death he governed the Monastery of Werda the space of ten years with great commendasion and esteem He dyed this year and his Memory is celebrated among the Saints on the second of March 2. About the same time also dyed yet more happily because his life was sacrifised by Martyrdom the glorious Saint and câ—panion of S. Willebrord S. Engelmund who according to the same Authour imbueâ— with Evangelicall Doctrin the â—acavians and Kenemarians But in the Supplement to the Gallican Martyrologe a larger Elogy is â—iven oâ— him in this manner At Welsa in Holland on this one and twentieth day of Iune is celebrated the happy death of S. Engelmund Preist and Martyr He by Nation an Englishman was companion of S. Willebrord by command of Pope Sergius was ioynd in commission with him in his Apostolick Office in preaching converting of soules and working miracles among the Pâ—isons He was also Abbot and directour of many Religious persons which he assembled together to praise our Lord. At length being zealously vrgent to withdraw the Savage Nation of the Prisons from their horrible Superstitions and barbarous manners he for so great Charity incurred their hatred and furâ—ous persecution with which he was at last oppressed So crowning his Apostolick Office with a glorious Martyrdom 3. The year following the Kingdom and Churches of the West-Saxons were much disquieted by the restles ambition of a young Prince of the Royall family called Oswold who it seems in indignation that King Ina in resigning the Crown preferred his kinsman Ethelward or Adelhard before him thought by force to give it himself Concerning this tumult and the successe of it unhappy to the aggressour thus writes Henry of Huntingdon Adelhard King of the West-Saxons before the first year of his raign was expired fought a batel against Oswold a young man of the Royall stock who attempted to obtain the kingdom for himself But the young man not being able to bring equall forces into the feild having for some time born the burden of a furious combat at last being overpowred was forced to fly and quite abandon the kingdom By which means King Ethelward was firmly established therein 4. This worthy King to shew himself a deserving Successour of King Ina presently after extended his Royall magnificence to houses of piety and Religion particularly to the famous Monastery of Glastonbury the memory whereof the Antiquities of that place doe thus commend to posterity When Câ—ngisle was Abbot in the year of our Lords Incarnation seaven hundred twenty nine Ethelard King and Successour of Ina bestowed for a stable possession to the Religious family serving our Lord in the Monastery of Glastonbury sixty hâ—des of land in Pohonholâ— and twelve hydes in Thoric His Queen likewise named Fridogitha gave Brunant How this devout Queen nine years after this quitted her Royall state and undertook a pilgrimage to Rome where she consecrated herself to God wee shall shew hereafter 5. This year likewise dyed the most holy Abbot Egbert of whom frequent mention has been made This is he who in the year of Grace six hundred sixty four being mortally sick of the Pestilence was wonderfully restored to health and forsaking his Native countrey Brittany went into Ireland in the year six hundred and ninety where for his admirable piety he was in â—igh estimation and being desirous to expose himself to all incommodities and dangers for spreading the Faith in forrain countreys waâ— by Almighty God who designed him for another employment hindred Notwithstanding by his exhortations the glorious Saint Willebrord Sutbert and their companions undertook that most famous Apostolick Mission into Germany This likewise was he who thirteen years
invâ—cation of the Blessed Trinity yea without any baptism at all a man might becom a good Catholick Christian only by the imposition of the hands of a Bishop 7. Now to prevent any further contagion by such guilefull seditious Ministers the Pope advised S. Boniface to collâ—ct a Synod and there not only depose them but likewise shutt them up in Monasteries there to doe Pennance to the end of their lives For which purpose he should require the assistance of the Noble Dukes and Potentats of France And particularly as touching that naughty Scottish Preist Nequissimum virum Sampson he required him not to content himself with only deposing him but that he should also excommunicate and expell him out of the Church XXI CHAP. 1.2 A Noble Charter confirming the Priviledges of the Church by Ethelbald King of the Mercians 3.4 c. A famous Miracle in Germany by the Intercessiâ—n of S. Swibert 1. IN the year of Grace seaven hundred forty nine Ethelbald King of the Mercians touched with a remorse for his Sins made worthy satisfaction to the Church for his formeâ— Sacriledges by publishing a Noble Charter to confirm its immunity Which Charter may be read in Sir H. Spelman thus inscribed by him The Priviledge of Ethelbald King of the Mercians granted to Monasteries and Churches In which being mindfull of the reprehension given him by S. Boniface in an Epistle fore mentioned and repenting his former Life he made all the Monasteries and Churches of his kingdom free from all taxes labours burdens gifts c. And at the end of it is signified that the said Charter was signed by severall Bishops and Noblemen in the three and thirtieth year of the said Kings raign at a famous place called Godmundsleech Which place is at this day called Godmunchester and it is seated in the Province of the Icens or Huntingdon shire 2 At the same time dyed Ethelwold King of the East-Angles called by some Elfwald by others Ethelred to whom succeeded his his son Ethelbert or as some Writers name him Albert who was born to him by his QueeÌ„ Leosruna Concerning whose admirable vertues Sanctity wee shall treat at large when wee come to his Mariage and death or more truly his Martyrdom immediatly attending it 3. Here wee ought not to omitt an illustrious testimony which God was pleased this year in Germany to give to the Sanctity of our glorious Saint and Apostle of the Germans Saint Swibert It is faithfully related in an Epistle sent by Saint Ludger Bishop of Munster to Rixfrid Bishop of Maestricht in which Epistle a large description is made of the affairs of the Authours own timâ— touching the Apostasy of the Frisons But that which concerns the glory of Sâ— Swibert is there thus related 4. It hapned in the year of our Lord seaven hundred forty nine that the illustrious Prince Pipin after a glorious Victory obtained against the Saxons and Westphalians hastned his return to Colen with his wearied Army But the Westphalians though utterly routed by the triumphant sword of this Noble Prince had such indignation to be under the dominion of Christians that without delay they gathered a new powerfull Army and marching by paths unhaunted and more compendious they gott before the Princes army near to the town of Werda where they cunningly layd ambuscades with a resolution furiously to rush upon him in his march 5. When this came to the Knowledge of Pipin by the relation of his Scouts he was some thing troubled by reason his Army was much diminished and had in it many wounded unserviceable men Notwithstanding calling to mind the many great Miracles which by the intercession of Saint Swibert whose body lay there at Werda had been performed and having a firm confidence in God he lighted from his horse and prostrating himself on the ground he with great devotion implored the help and Patronage of that most holy Bishop withall vowing to God and Saint Swibert that if by his intercession and merits he might obtain a Victory over the Pagans and bring his Christian Army safe home he would in a solemn Procession attended by all his Nobles with great devotion make a Pilgrimage to his shrine at Werda 6. This Prayer was no sooner made but immediatly a wonderfull light shone over the Christian Army which not only dazeled but quite blinded the Pagans insomuch as in a terrible fright least the God of the Christians should from heaven consume them they dispatched away to Prince Pipin two of their cheifest Princes to beg peace and make profession of subiection to him Who withall constantly related to him what they had seen and how much they were amazed at it 7. Assoon as the Prince heard this being assured that so great a delivery came by the intercession of S. Swibert with great ioy he adored and gave thanks to God and having received from the Pagans hostages for performance of conditions he attended by his whole army entred in an humble manner into Werda and there both himself and his Nobles putting off their shooes he visited the Shrine of S. Swibert and there offred Royall Gifts to Almighty God and S. Swibert for that without any effusion of blood he had gott the upper hand of his perfidious enemies And from that time he chose S. Swibert for his speciall Patron and Protectour Niether did his piety rest there but a few years after this he treated solemnly with the Pope for his Canonization XXII CHAP. 1.2 c. Of. S. Richard an English King the Father of S. Winebald c. He dyes at Lucca 5. The death of S. Tecla an English woman and Abbâ—sse in Germany 8. Of S. German an English Missioner in Germany and Martyr 1. THE year of Grace seaven hundred and fiâ—ty is consigned by severall Writers to the death of an English King called Richard memorable to posterity for his Sanctity A breif of whose life is represented in an Epitaph to this day extant in a Church of the Citty of Lucca in Italy where he dyed and was enterred the tenour whereof is as followeth 2. The sister of King Offo was Mother to S. Richard This King S. Richard was King of England a voluntary exile from his countrey a despiser of the world a contemner of himself He was Father to the two holy Brethren S. Willebald and S. Winibald and of their Sister S. Walburgis a Religious Virgin He made an exchange of an earthly kingdom for an heavenly He quitted a Kings Crown for a life-eternall He putt off his Royall Purple to take a mean habit he forsook a Royall throne and visited the shrines of the Saints He layd by his Scepter and took a Pilgrims staffe He left his daughter S. Walburga in his kingdom and went into a forrain countrey with his Sons Them also he left with S. Boniface the glorious Martyr theâ— Arch-bishop of Mentz a man of wonderfull sanctity and born in his own kingdom England Thâ— same
Alban but likewise to conferre spirituall Priviledges exemptions on it To which request the Pope willingly condescended for he adopted that Monastery to be a Speciall Daughter of the Roman Church exempted from all Iurisdiction Episcopall and Archiepiscopall as immediatly subiect to the See Apostolick He granted likewise that the Territory belonging to that Monastery should be the only place in his Dominions free from the generall contribution of Peter-pence Yea moreover that the Monks of S. Alban should be the Collectours of the same Contribution through the whole Province of Hertford which having collected they should reserve it to their own use for keeping hospitality To these he added this generall Grace that he enioyned King Offa for the remission of his sins at his returning home to call a Synod of his Bishops and Nobles and whatsoever possessions or Priviledges he with their advice should bestow on the said Monastery he promised that he would himself confirm such his Charter by his own authority And lastly in testimony of his great esteem of King Offa's piety he gave this generall Priviledge to all the subiects of his Kingdom That no publick Penitent should be obliged in execution of his Pennance enioyned to goe out of the kingdom that is Whereas in severall cases of enormous crimes men were obliged to seek Absolution at Rome he gave a generall Indulgence that for all sins men might be absolved at home 5. Thus did King Offa omitt no expedient wherby to expiate his crime touching the murder of the blessed Martyr King Ethelbert He returned not into his kingdom till the year following In the mean time severall occurrents hapning in Brittany require a place here As for his impious Queen Quendreda shee enioyd but a very short time the fruits of her cruelty for in the space of three months after she suffred a miserable death but well beseeming her wicked life And her Son Egfrid a vertuous and pious Prince for whose advantage especially she executed that horrible murder he was taken away by an untimely death after a few months raign by which means the Mercian Crown was translated from the family of King Offa to the posterity of King Penda And lastly her Daughter Alfreda designed to be the Spouse of the Holy Martyr she had such a horrour of her parents crime that out of a generall distast of the world she retired herself to a solitary devout life among the fenns of Croyland where she spent many years in aspiring to the embraces of a yet more glorious Bridegroom Concerning her wee shall treat further when we arrive to the year of her death IX CHAP. 1. The decay of Kentish Kings 2.3 c. The Scandalous Rebellions and Treasons of the Northumbers iustly punished by God Their miseries bewayled by Alcuin 1. THE same year which King Offa spent at Rome in his Devotions and Charities Alric King of Kent who was Tributary to King Offa ended his life after a raign of thirty four years He was the third and last of King Withreds children who succeeded him in that kingdom not any of them leaving heyrs behind them And afâ—er them saith William of Malmsbury the Noble stock of the Kentish Kings withred away and their generous blood lost all its vigour and Spirits Then any one who had impudence enough who either by fraud could make himself rich and popular or by faction terrible aspired to Tyranny there and unworthily adorned his head with the Regall Diadem Such an one was Edilbert sirnamed Pren who after Alric invaded the Kentish throne and after he had the space of two years tyrannised in that kingdom he had the foolish boldnes to provoke the Mercians by whom he was taken prisoner and forced to submitt his hands to chains and his body to captivity 2. The same decay likewise at this time befell the kingdom of the Northumbers for this being the fifth year after King Ethelred had been recalled from banishment to govern that Kingdom he was also slain by his Subiects And his death gave an end to the Kingdom of the Northumbers and after thirty three years vacancy and want of a Lawfull King it was seised upon and possessed by Egbert King of the West-Saxons Yet in the mean time there are named some few petty Kings there during the time of the Danish incursions Thus we read in the Books of the Succession of Saxon Kings The first who after the death of Ethelred usurped the place and title of King was Oswald and he after a short shew upon the stage for twenty eight dayes was compelled by the Northumbrians to flye to the King of the Picts so leaving place for Ardulf But the memory of these and some other like Kings following hath been in a sort obliterated by the tempestuous rage of the Danes wasting those parts at this time and putting all things in confusion 3. A most iust punishment that was sent by God to plague that rebellious Province the inhabitants whereof had no regard to the Maiesty of their Princes but freely defiled their hands with their blood by which they became odious both to God and man Yea the infamous scandall of their rebellions passed into forrein countreyes likewise as appears by a letter of Alcuin who at this time lived in France into which he was invited by King Charles the Great to assist by his learning the Church now combatted by New Heresies That Letter was written by him to Offa King of the Mercians the tenour whereof is as followeth 4. Your Maiesty may please to know that King Charles does oftimes speak to mee of you with much affection and sincerity and you have in him a most faithfull freind And to expresse his kindnes he has given order that presents should be sent to your Maiesty and your Bishops as likewise to King Ethelred and the Episcopall Churches in his Dominions But alas alas These presents together with letters were no sooner delivered into the Messengers hands but certain men out of Scotland which passed through your Countrey brought us a most sad Message concerning the unhappy death of that King of the Northumbers by the infidelity of his own subiects Hereupon King Charles presently in great anger drew back his presents intended thither calling them a perfidious perverse and rebellious Nation which so often murdered their own Kings esteeming them therefore worse then Pagans And if I had not interceded for them he would not only before this have hindred them from any good but likewise have done them all the micheif which lay in his power 5. Notwithstanding though Alcuin by his intercession with King Charles could avert the effects of his displeasure against the treacherous Northumbers he could not suspend the indignation and severity of Gods iudgments upon them For the same year a navall army from the Northern coasts like sharp stinging hornets invaded the kingdom of the Northumbers and the barbarous soldiers like dire half-famished Wolves ran up and down the
piety There inhabites an Abbot of Eminent vertues named Elerius who by continuall Pennance and Prayer is become so exempted from secular cares that nothing in this present life has any tast to him all his affections being employed on celestiall matters 12. Thither therefore the Holy Virgin directed her steps and the said Abbot Elerius by Gods holy Spirit being admonished of her coming went out to meet her and receiving her with great honour brought her into a Convent of Religious Virgins recommending them to her care and government Whosoever was sick and came to her returned back with perfect health and if any were sad or deiected in mind they received consolation and inward peace of soule 13. At last on a certain night as she was intenâ—ive to her devotions our Lord appeared to her and signified to her that the day of her dissolution was at hand Wherefore on the fourth day before the Nones of November being full of vertues and good works she gave up her Spirit to God And was buried neer the bodies of Saint Chebi and Saint Senan By her intercession Almighty God was pleased to work many Miracles among which this was one that she gave fight to a certain Carpenters daughter who had been blind from her Nativity c. 14. This is the account which Robert Abbot of Shrewsbury has given of the Gests of this glorious Virgin Saint Winefrid From what particular Records he extracted his Relation doth not appear But Tradition delivers that immediatly after her death her Story was written by the Holy Abbot Elerius her last Spirituall Father and probably from him the said Robert received most of the passages in his Narration 19. The Sacred Relicks of this Holy Virgin lay at Witheriac or Guitherine till the year one thousand one hundred and thirty eight at which time her Body was translated to a Monastery of Monks in Shrewsbury where Almighty God approved the Veneration which men with great devotion shewd to her by wonderfull miracles So frequent and so great a concourse there hath been ever since to her Shrine and likewise to her Well that in severall of our Kings raigns the fame of almost continuall Miracles wrought by her intercession hath invited severall Popes to confer speciall Indulgences on those which Visited them Her Feast on the third of November was generally celebrated in England with Nine Lessons and in her Office this Prayer was added O Almighty everlasting God who hast honoured the Blessed Virgin Saint Winefride with the reward of Virginity Grant to us we beseech thee by her intercession that we may despise the allurements of this world and together with her obtain the Seat of ever lasting glory Amen 16. Now it ought not to be esteemd a preiudice or ground of suspicion of the Truth of these Gests of Saint Winefride that Saint Beda and some other of our ancient Saxon Historians have not mentioned her among the other Saints of this age in whose praises they have so largely employed their Eloquence For Saint Beda professes his design to have been to relate the History of his own Saxon Nation onely in which he was imitated by following Historians and besides this so great a divorce there was in the affections of the Brittains and Saxons that they renounced all commerce together Hence it is that in the Writings of S. Beda c. there is a proâ—ound Silence not only of S. Winefride but likewise of S. Patrick S. Vrsuls S. David S. Dubritius S. Kentigern and others of whom we treated heretofore who yet without doubt were most illustrious Starrs of their respective ages and of the Brittish Church IX CHAP. 1.2 c. Of severall Brittish Saints Saint Beuno S Chebeus S. Senan S. Deifer S. Elerius 1 IN the forogoing Narration we have the Memory of five Saints celebrated Saint Beuno S. â—hebeus S. Senan S. Deifer and S. Elerius whose Names being written in the Book of Life have worthily found a place likewise in our Martyrologe As for S. Beuno no more of him is found then what hath been written already 2. S. Chebeus is no doubt the same whom heretofore we called S. Kebi sirnamed Corineus a Disciple of S. Hilary Bishop of Poâ—â—tiers in the year of our Lord three hundred sixty one who having instructed the Inhatants of Anglesey Monae in the Faith of Christ dyed and was buried in Northwales in whose Monument the Sacred Body of S. Winefride was layd His Memory is celebrated in our Martyrologe on the ninth of November 3. S. Senan the assistant and instructour of S. Winefride in the perfection of a Religious liâ—e is commemorated in our Martyrologe on the twenty ninth of April where his death is assigned to this year six hundred and sixty He was for his Sanctity famous not onely in Wales but Cornwall also where there is a small haven and Town of Fishermen called from his Name 4. S. Deifer at the same time lived a retired life not far from SS Winefrids Monastery built by S. Beuno whose Successour he was in the direction of the said Holy Virgin He for his Sanctity and Miracles is in our Martyrologe placed among the Saints on the seaventh of March and his death is ascribed to the year of Grace six hundred sixty four 5. The Memory of S. Elerius is more celebrated then the rest he lived longer with S. Winefride and built a Monastery in the vale called Clutina saith Leland c. because watered with the River Cluid which divides the Province of Flint from that of Denbigh There it was that S. Winefride directed by severall Divine admonitions found him He so conjoynd the exercises of an Eremiticall and Monasticall conversation that he had diverse Disciples of both sexes which imitated his example and Institut of life 6. He for some time to decline the frequent concourse of Visitants and that he might more freely attend to God retired into a desart saith Pits And from hence Malbranque a French Antiquary collects that he passed over into France and fixed his habitation in the Northern parts oâ— it amongst the Morini For thus he writes About the year of Lord six hundred and sixty Elerius a Noble personage of Brittany passing the Sea and travelling the way which from Bouloign leads to Teroâ—anne came to Fruge a little distant from the rising of the River Life where he chose a seat for his Solitary living To this day a fountain and little Chappell are monuments of his Memory These in ancient times afforded great benefit and help both to the inhabitants of those places and strangers 7. The same Authour acknowledges that he returned into Brittany where he also dyed as the Acts of S. Winefride doe testify Now though our Martyrologe doe consign his death to the year of our Lord six hundred and sixty yet since Pits and many other of our Writers doe affirm that he wrote her life and consequently out-lived her his death is to be placed