By means of which frequent taking away the dust a trench of no small depth and largenes was made in the place His name therefore is deservedly commemorated in our Martyrologe and the Roman likewise among the Saints on the Nones of Iuly 2. S. Hedda being dead the Bishoprick of that Province saith the same Authour was divided into two Dioceses one whereof was given to Daniel who governs the same to this day that is to the year of Grace seaven hundred thirty one in which S. Beda concluded his History and the other to S. Aldelm who worthily administred the same the space of four years Both these men were eminently skilfull in Ecclesiasticall affairs and in the doctrine of Holy Scriptures 3. S. Beda does not mention the name of the Episcopall See assigned to Daniel but other Authours doe generally agree that it was Winchester which he governed forty years As for S. Aldelm the Seat of his Bishoprick was Shirburn in the Province of the Durotriges or Dorsetshire in which a few of his Successours continued till the Episcopall See was afterward translated to SaruÌ„ or Salisbury 4. These were two Prelats of eminent learning and illustrious starrs of the West-Saxon Kingdom As touching Daniel we shall shew hereafter how S. Boniface the glorious Apostle of the Germans frequently consulted him in difficulties occurring about the discharge of that sublime office Hence it is that Bishop Godwin gives this Character of him Daniel was a man excellently learned and wrote many volumes amongst others these following Of the affairs of the Province of the South-Saxons Of the Life of the Holy Bishop Cedda Of the affairs of the Isle of Wight All which are now lost 5. As for S. Aldelm he was froÌ„ his youth bred up in learning and piety by S. Maâ—dulf a Scottish Hermiâ— from whom the famous Monastery of Malmsbury received its name for many devout persons moved with the fame of his Sanctity had recourse to him in that solitude by whom they were coenobitically governed and a Monastery was there erected by Kenwalch King of the West-Saxons In the year six hundred and seaventy S Maidulfus dying Saint Aldelm succeeded Abbot in his place And five years after the said Monastery was endowed by the liberality of Leutherius Bishop of the West-Saxons upon the suggestion of S. Aldelm For before that time the Monks lived there only upon courtesy Thirteen years after he attended King Cedwalla to Rome where he obtained from Pope Sergius a Breif of Priviledges and immunities to his Abbey How in the year of Grace six hundred ninety two he was appointed by a Synod to write to a certain Prince of Cornwall called Geruntius a Book in confutation of the Brittains erroneous observation of Easter and other miscariages hath heretofore been declared At last this year he was upon the death of S. Hedda ordained a Bishop of the West-Saxons and as hath been said kept his Episcopall residence at Shireburn 6. Being thus made a Bishop he gave a full and free authority to his Monks of Malmsbury to chuse their Abbot But their duty and affection to him was such that during his life they would acknowledge no other Spirituall Father Only they humbly petitioned him to grant them the Priviledge after his death to elect their own Abbot And that such Election should not pertain to the Bishop as the custom was in Kent by the Ordinance of King Withred but descend to the Monks This Priviledge S. Aldelm granted not only to them but to all other Monasteries which he had founded And moreover caused his Indult to be confirmed by the Subscription of K. Ina and of Daniel Bishop of Winchester Authentick Copies are still extant of this Indult and Priviledge granted both by S. Aldelm and King Ina in the Register of the said Abbey of Malmsbury Concerning this holy Bishop S. Aldelm more remains to be said when we come to speak of his death In the mean time the affairs of Germany happily managed by S. Swibert and his blessed companions recall us thither II. CHAP. i. 2 c. Swiberts Preaching and miraculous freeing a man possessed by the Devill 1. SAint Swibert after he had successfully preached the Gospell to the Inhabitants of Brunswick and other neighbouring Nations directed his steps to a people called Boructuarians or Prussians lying more Northerly and yet more savage then the former Concerning his progresse in their conversion we have this account from his companion S. Marcellinus Assoon as he was entred that Province saith he he instilled the saving Mysteries and precepts of the Gospell into their foolish and blind hearts and enlightned their savage minds with the luster of divine Truth being glorious among them in his preaching and holy in his actions So that turning them from their profane superstitions to the Faith of Christ he confirmed them in the same Faith by many wonderfull miracles But the multitude oâ— Converts encreasing the Devils envy likewise encreased who enraged to see so many escape his snares earnestly endeavoured by his malicious instruments either to kill him or expell him from that Province 2. On a certain day therefore as he was preaching to a great multitude of Pagans their sacrilegious Preists drunk with the Idolatrous cupp of Babylon sett violently upon him and after they had beaten him with their fists rodds and stones they endeavoured to drive him out of their coasts But by the industry of certain courageous Christians he was taken out of their hands and for a few days was concealed by them for they durst not kill him out of fear least their Governour should be offended But presently after the Holy Bishop renewd his preaching among them and dayly baptized great numbers which despising their Idols publickly confessed the Name of Christ. 3. Consequently the same Holy Writer declares how by occasion of the Devills malice the Faith of Christ became more illustrious among that people For saith he on a certain time in a village of the Boructuarians a Rich and potent man named Ethelhere was possessed by the Devill insomuch as they were forced to bind him with chains because he endeavoured to bite all that came near him and tore his own cloaths Now the same Ethelhere was one of those who had persecuted and incited others to persecute the Holy Bishop and was the first that had the boldnes to smite him with a staff This man being thus dayly in a horrible manner tormented by the devill it hapned on a certain day in the presence of severall Pagan Preists and others who came to visit and condole with him that the Devill cryed out Except Swibert servant of the living God and Bishop of the Christians come hither I will not depart out of this man And when he oft more and more loudly repeated the same words the Idolatrous Preists and other freinds of the Demoniack went away in great confusion and perplexity what they should doe At last they all agreed that Saint
they were most numerous that Countrey being the source of our Religion and also by reason of the Devotion which all of them bore to those holy places consecrated by the actions and suffrings of our Saviour to celebrate the memory of which there was continually a confluence of Beleivers from all the quarters of the world 2. This moved envy in the minds of the Iews and Gentiles likewise upon whose complaints the Emperour not only renew'd the persecution of them begun by his Predecessour but as Sulpitius Severus affirms imagining that he could destroy Christian Religion it selfe by iniurious defacing the place where it began he erected in the most sacred place of our our Lords Passion the Idols of Devils And because Christians were generally esteemed an off-spring of Iews be ordained a Cohâ—rt of souldiers to keep contâ—nuall watch to forbid all Iews an accesse into Ierusalem 3. S. Paulinus more particularly says that on Mount Calvary where our Lord suffred Hadrian placed the Idol of Iupiter S. Hierom adds that on the Rock where the Crosse had been placed he erected a marble-statue consecrated to Venus and profaned Bethleem the place of our Saviours Birth with the Temple of Adonis This he did as conceiving that the Root as it were and foundation of the Church would be destroyed if Idols were worshipped in those places in which Christ was born that he might suffer and suffred that he might rise again and râ—se that he might raign being iudged by men that he might be Iudge of mankind 4. In this desolation did those Holy places lye till Helena the Mother of the Emperour Constantin out of a pious affection to Christian Religion thought it worth her pains and industry to search out the Venerable Crosse. But neither that nor the divine Sepulcher of our Lord were easily to be found For the ancient Gentiles persecutors of the Church labouring with their utmost endeavours to oppresse and destroy Christâ—an Religion then newly strung forth overwhelm'd that place by heaping on it a great bank of earth And moreâ—ver encompassing the whole place both of the Sepulcher whence Christ rose Mount Calvary where he was crucified with a great wall in all sides â—â—hy afterwards profaned it by ornaments of their own heathenish fashion For first they paved it with stones and then raised up a Temple of Venus and in conclusion placed in it the Idol of that impure Goddesse This they did to the end that if any would adore Christ in that place they might seem to worship Venus and consequently to processe of time the true cause 〈◊〉 mâ—n had that place in Veneration would be utterly forgotten 5. We see here who they were to whom the Ensigns of our Lords Passion his Crosse and Sepulcher as likewise the place of his Nativity were venerable to wit the ancient Primitive Christians our Brittish Saint Helena c. and to whom they were odious to envious Iewes and persecuting Heathens And yet the abolishing of those sacred Monuments the scornfull reproaches and blasphemies cast on the Crosse of our Lord are of late made the proofs of Primitive Reformation The Crosse saith Lactantius was frequently to wicked Princes a principall Motive of persecuting Christians And the reason is given by S. Athanasius because by the preaching of the ignominy of the Crosse Idolatry was confounded and the golden Temple of the Heathens fell to the ground VIII CHAP. 1. Persecution against Christians mitigated why 2.3 c. Severall rebellions of Iewes and their destruction 1. THis persecution rais'd by Hadrian was shortly after mitigated upon occasion of a suggestion made to him by Grâ—vianus Prâ—câ—nsul of Asia that it was against all law and equity that persons in all other respects innocent should only for the name and and Title of a Sect be exposed to the fury of impious multitudes And moreover there wanted not among the Christians themselves persons of eminence and learning who employ'd their pens to write Apologies in justification of the piety and innocence of the Christian Profession such were Quadratus a Disciple of the Apostles and Aristides Bishop of Athens By such means the eyes of many were opened and men began to consider Christianity not by the erroneous judgments and rumours of the Vulgar or the malicious suggestions of Iewes but by the sober account given of it by prudent men and the untainted lives and constant deaths of the Professours of it These things moved many to approve and embrace it and the Emperour Hadrian himselfe to publish an Edict prohibiting the punishment of any for their Beleife if otherwise they were free from crimes 2. What effect this mitigation of the persecution probably wrought in Brittany we shall presently shew But first we will observe Gods just severity against the most inveterate hatred of the Iewes always active and restlesse to incite and inflame persecutions against innocent Christians 3. The Iews had rais'd a rebellion in the beginning of Hadrians raign and with much adoe were at last subdued insomuch as they were forbidden to enter into or so much as from a far to look upon their Citty Ierusalem The name of which was by the Emperour likewise changed into Aelia Capitolina and in it a Temple was built to Iupiter Yea moreover the Iews were by a Law forbidden to practise circumcision thereby to distinguish themselves from others 4. Vpon these provocations a second Rebellion far more violent and largely spread then the former was raised by them by which saith Dio the whole world was shaken and disordered To oppose them after that the Emperours first Generall Tinius Rufus had been unsuccesfull Iulius Severus was commanded out of Brittany which he had governed severall years and in his place was sent Lâ—ciniâ—s Priscus favoured by the Emperour for service formerly done against the Iewes in their first sedition Concerning whom nothing remains of any exploits done by him for all his employment was to guard the Wall or Rampire lately raised to restrain the inroads of the rude Northern Brittains Only there is still extant an ancient Inscription signifying this his promotion and the cause of it which Monument was raised by one of his Officers Q Cassius Domitius Palumbus 5. As for the particulars touching the prosecution of the Iewish war the savage cruelties exercised by them and the great hazards sustained by the Romans which yet ended in almost an utter extirpation of the Iewish Nation these things not pertaining to our present design are to be enquired into among the Histories of that Age. We will now return to the Ecclesiasticall affairs of Brittany hapning in this time which though of small moment are not therefore to be omitted IX CHAP. 1.2 The death of the Brittish King Coellus to whom succeeds his Son Lucius a child The reason of his name 3. A message sent from the Brittains to Pope Evaristus 4. An answer given by his Successour Pope Alexander 5. Many Baptis'd in Brittany
after so great a tempest of warrs and changes in which his parents who had worn the Royall Purple were slain Now though in these two ancient Authours the name of his parents be not extant it may be probably affirm'd that he was the Son of Constantin who fifty years before had pretended to the Roman Empire and in the attempt was slain in Gaule For that Constantin besides his Son Constans also slain had other children appears by the expression of Sozomen who calls the said Constans sirnamed also Iulianus the Elder Son of Constantin 5. That he was born and bred up in Brittany seems to appear because as severall Writers affirm in the competition for the Crown when Vortigern was chosen Ambrosius being a pretender was compell'd to quitt both his right and the countrey and to retire himself into lesser Brittany Frō whence notwithstanding during the raign of the generous King Vortimer he return'd and assisted him courageously against the Saxons as hath been related and it seems after his death retir'd again to his former refuge 6. The return of these two Princes was more formidable to Vortigern then any thing he could apprehend from the Saxons who therefore fortified himself more carefully in his new Castle I will not here trouble the reader with any large description of that prodigious omen of two dragons one red and the other white which issuing out of a lake whilst Vortigern sate on the bank began a terrible combat in which at last the White was conquerour By which two Dragons according to Merlins interpretation were meant the Brittains and Saxons and the successe of their fight was the flight and destruction of the Brittains These seem to be inventions of the old Bards easily composed after the event and foolishly collected by Geffrey of Monmouth to signalize the expiring of the Brittish Kingdome 7. Hengist being inform'd of the coming of Aurelius Ambrosius with considerable forces in aid of the Brittains endeavoured to come to a battell with him before the uniting of their Armies but was not able to effect his intention So that a main battell was fought by the two Nations in Kent neer the ancient famous port of Roch borow which is thus describ'd by Henry of Huntingdon A while after that auxiliary forces were come King Hengist and his Son Esca gathered an invincible army in the seaventeenth year after the coming of the Saxons into Brittany which was the year of Grace four hundred sixty five On the other side the Brittains uniting all their forces oppos'd them with an Army gallantly ranged into twelve Bodies The fight continued long and with little advantage But at last Hengist having slain the twelve Leaders and cast down their Ensigns forc'd the Brittains to flye He himself likewise lost great numbers of his soldiers and principall Officers and particularly a certain great Prince of his Nation call'd Wipped in whose memory the place of the battell was call'd Wippeds-stede So that this Victory was much bewayld by the Saxons themselves and therefore after that time neither did he take the confidence to enter into the Brittains Borders nor the Brittains into Kent X. CHAP. 1. King Vortigern consumed by fire 2.3 A. Ambrosius King his Character 5.6.7 Death of S. Patrick and place of his buriall 1. THE year following was free from an extern war against the Saxons which gave Aurelius Ambrosius an opportunity to convert his arms against the principall Authour of all the miseries of Brittany the unhappy King Vortigern Therefore he march'd to the Castle Genorium which he beseiged but found him so strongly fortified there that by no force or cunning he could expugn it At last by fire whether cast by Ambrosius or coming from heaven is uncertain both the King and his Castle were consum'd so as saith Huntingdon his body never appear'd 2. Vortigern being thus removed the whole power and authority of the Kingdom was devolv'd on Ambrosius not after a tumultuary manner or by the factious suffrages of the Army but by an unanimous Election of the Clergy Nobility and Commons of the Nation For which purpose saith S. H. Spelman a Council or Assembly was call'd in Cambria about the Mountains of Erir in the Province of the Ordovices or Northwales in which he was exalted to the Regal Dignity This he says was done in the year four hundred sixty five following the account of Mathew of Westminster But other Historians as Stow Speed c. more probably place this Election the year following after the death of Vortigern 3. How happy an exchange the Brittains made of their King will appear from this Character given to Aurelius Ambrosius by Matthew of Westminster far unlike that which all writers ascribe to Vortigern Ambrosius saith he assoon as he was placed on the throne of Brittany employed himself to the utmost of his power in repairing Churches which had been ruind He was a Prince magnificent in his gifts sedulous in the worship of God modest averse from flattery a valiant soldier on foot yet more valiant on hors-back and very skilfull in conducting an army For which vertues and endowments his fame was spread through far distant regions 4. Being so worthy a Prince it is not altogether unlikely that this is the same Ambrosius mention'd by Eugypius in the life of S. Severin who writes thus Odoacer King of the Erul◠having subdued Italy wrote kind and familiar letters to S. Severin desiring him to ask of him whatsoever he pleased This he did in consideration that the same holy Bishop had foretold him that he should raign there The Holy man encouraged with so kind an offer requested him to free from banishment a certain person call'd Ambrosius who had been thereto condemned by the said King Which passage being cited by Baronius he thus adds As concerning this Ambrosius my opinion is that he is the same who afterward going into Brittany with great courage attempted and in some degree effected the freeing of that Island from the oppression of the barbarous Saxons Thus writes the learned Cardinal though he erroneously places the beginning of Odoacers raign in Italy too late 5. Severall years pass'd after the Election of Ambrosius either in peace or not considerable war between the Brittains and Saxons The occurrents of which time is thus describ'd by S. Beda The Brittains under the conduct of Ambrosius Aurelianus a modest Prince and who alone of the Roman race had remain'd after the slaughter made by the Saxons in which his parents who had worn the Regall Purple were slain provoking at last that Victorious Nation to combat gave them an overthrow And from that time now the Brittains and now the Saxons gott the better in small encounters till at last new forces of strangers arriving the Saxons gott possession of the whole Island 6. During this lesse disturbed time it was that S. Patrick many years before return'd out of Ireland dyed
moreover ambition and revenge had such power over him that they invited him to commit crimes which hastned the ruine of his countrey Hence it is that Gildas calls him the Tyrant of Danmonia Tyrant by reason of his cruelty and Tyrant of one onely Province because severall others at the same time had invaded each one their severall Principalities and for the maintaining of their unjustly usurp'd power fill'd the whole nation with all manner of crimes and impiety 4. This gave occasion to the same Gildas to write and publi'sh a passionate Invective against the vices of the whole Brittish Nation which had universally deprav'd the inhabitants of all states and conditions excepting a few exceeding few who seing destruction unavoydably coming on the Nation sequestred themselves from publick affaires and in solitude deplor'd the sins of others and by great austerities and pennances procur'd indulgence to their own soules 5. In former times saith he our Kings publick Officers private persons Bishops and other Ecclesiasticks every one kept their order and perform'd the duties belonging to them But when they were dead Such as Ambrosius Vther-pendragon Arthur and likewise Dubricius David c. there succeeded a generation utterly ignorant of the former Vertues among whom all the rules of Truth and Iustice were so shaken and subverted that no foot-steps nor so much as the least monument of those vertues appeard in any of the foresaid orders and conditions c. 6. Constantin at his first ascending into his Throne bound himself by a solemn Oath to govern justly and to use his utmost endeavours to defend his subjects from injuries and oppressions and the common wealth from the violence of its enemies This appers because the year following we find him accused of perjury and violating his Faith given for his barbarous cruelty and sacrilegious profanation of Gods house 7. For two sons of Mordred saith Mathew of Westminster rose in arms against Constantin being desirous to revenge their Fathers death slain by King Arthur as hath been said These ioyning in a confederacy with the Saxons fought many battles with him But at last being compelled to flye Constantin pursued them and one he slew before the Altar of S. Amphibalus his Church in Winchester And the other who had hid himself in a certain Convent of Monks he condemned to a cruell death at London 8. For this Sacrilegious inhumanity Gildas in his too free stile calls Constantin the tyrannicall whelp of the Lyonnes of Danmonia an infringer of the dreadfull Sacrament of an Oath by which he bound himself before God and all his Saints to abstain from all injustice and treachery to his subjects notwithstanding which in the very bosoms both of their carnall Mother and the common Spiritual Mother the Church and nere unto the most Holy Altars he had torn the bowels of two Royal Youths though covered with the Vestment of a holy Abbot Sancti Abbatis amphibalo whilst they stretched forth their hands not armed with swords to resist but to implore help from God and his Altar notwithstanding all which he most barbarously shed their blood which with a purple dye stained the Seat of the Ecclesiasticall Sacrifice and the Sacred palls which covered it By which expression of Gildas it seems that these two children Sons of Mordred had not been guilty of raising war against Constantin but without any offence done by them had been murdred contrary to his â—ath 9. In consequence to which Invective the same Authour adioyns most pressing exhortations to Constantin that he would doe suitable pennance for these horrible crimes implore the Divine Mercy that if possible he might avoyd the dark inextricable torrents of eternall fires in which otherwise he must for ever be rolled and roasted 10. It is probable that this Zealous Writer who flourished at this time did personally use the like exhortations to him which he after recorded in his Book and that they wrought a good effect on him For though some of our Historians write that he was slain by Conan who succeeded in the Kingdom Yet Hector Boëtius relates how Constantin after a short raign having been deprived of his wife and children grew weary of his Kingdom and privily stealing from his freinds went into Ireland And that there for the love of Christ he laboured unknown like a poore servant in a Mill. But afterward by perswasion of a Monk to whom he had discovered his condition he was induced to shave his head and consecrate himself to a Religious life in a Monastery where he lived with such piety and devotion that he became a pattern of all vertues to the rest of the Monks That at last he was by the Prelat of that place sent in Mission to the Scotts to instruct that nation in the doctrin of Christ where he suffred Martyrdom by the hands of certain impious persons After some Ages he was venerated as a Saint and by the authority of succeeding Bishops Temples were dedicated to his honour which yet remain in that Nation 11. What is thus related by Boëtius receives a strong confirmation from the Authour of S. Davids life in Capgrave where we read That when the fame of S. Davids holines was spread abroad severall Princes forsaking their Kingdoms retired to his Monastery Likewise Constantin King of the Cornishmen which is the same Title with Rex Danmoniae in Gildas forsaking his Throne became a Monk there and after some time spent in the devout service of God he at last went into a far distant countrey where he built a Monastery II. CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Kentigern forced to flye into Wales where he founds a Monastery and Episcopall See Of Malgo a Prince who opposed him 1. BEfore we proceed to the Gests of Conan Successour to Constantin in the Kingdom of Brittany it will be requisite that we relate a great affliction and persecution which befell the famous and Holy Bishop Kentigern in the second year of the raign of the said Constantin His Birth Education consecration to the Bishoprick of Glasco with the defects attending it have been already declared 2. Now in pursuance of his succeding Gests Iohn of Tinmouth thus writes Certain Sons of Belial kinsmen to King Marke rose against the Saint conspiring his death Whereupon being admonished by Divine revelation he departed directing his journey to Menevia where the Holy Bishop David flourished with all vertues Near Caër-leon he converted many to the Faith and built a Church Being come to S. David he abode with him some time and received from the Prince of that Region Cathwallam a place commodious for a Monastery Which having erected at Egla Elwy he fixed there an Episcopall See Near that place there was a certain Noble man which often threatned and effectually endeavoured to expell him from thence whom God therefore smote with blindnes But upon the holy Bishops prayers his sight was restored for which he became
God they should devote themselves to He added That the vertuous innocent life of his Queen and her family had begot in his mind a greater esteem of the God whom she adored then any other and whether they should adhere to him only rejecting all their impotent Idols he desired them faithfully to advise 5. Such a discourse of the King was hearkned to attentively by the whole company present neither did any one among them expresse any dislike of his proposal Yea moreover a certain person among them named Coifius who was the Cheif Pontife of the Pagan Superstition freely confessed the vanity and impotency of the Idols which they had served and added that a plurality of Gods contradicted human reason concluding that One onely God was to be worshipped But whether the Religion professed by the Queen should be admitted that he desired them further to consider of Assoon as he had ended his speech the whole Assembly unanimously cryed out Let the Idol-Gods be taken away and the Religion of Christ professed But Coifius added moreover That he thought fitt that the Queens Cheif Preist Paulinus should be admitted to give an account of the Christian Religion professed by him which when they heard they might more advisedly proceed 6. Hereupon Saint Paulinus was sent for and required to expound to them plainly and sincerely the Nature qualities and condition of the Religion professed by himself and the Queen This task he chearfully undertook and with a discourse full of prudence and zeale began with an invective against the Idol-Superstition in practise among them shewing that the Gods which they worshipped were at the best but mortall and sinfull men unable to help and many of them meer fictions of mens brains or wicked impious Spirits which sought no other thing but the eternall perdition of their Worshippers Then he demonstrated that the Creatour of Heaven and Earth could be but one onely God the Principle and End of all things Yet that notwithstanding this Vnity of Nature there was in the Deity such a fecundity of divine perfections that three Subsistences or Persons were to be distinguished which three notwithstanding are but one God That among these the Second Person the Eternall Son of God out of infinite Love to Men lost in sin and misery had mercifully taken our Nature on him and by his humiâ—ity had exalted us by delivering a Law full of Sanctity and Perfection which Law he confirmed with his own death by which he made himself a Sacrifice of attonement for our Sins And after death by his own power restored himself to life and in the sight of many hundreds of Witnesses ascended gloriously into heaven thereby in his own person giving an assured proof that those who beleived in him and lived according to his Law should by the same power be raised from death to live for ever with him in happines incomprehensible That Christians therefore having such infinit obligations to Christ their Saviour ioyfully professe and are not ashamed to worship him who was willingly crucified since by a death so full of torment and shame he made them for ever free from all shame and torments 7. What hath been hitherto recounted is conformable to Saint Beda's relation But the successe of Saint Paulinus his Discourse shall be declared in his own expression After this saith he King Edwin having first consulted with the most eminent in wisedome among them asked them singly one by one what opinion they had of this Doctrine and new manner of Worship of which they had never heard before Hereto Coifi the Prime Pontife presently answered Doe thou O King consider how this Doctrin newly preached before us is to be esteemd for mine own part I declare upon assured knowledge and experience that the Religion which we have professed hitherto has in it neither vertue nor proffit at all There is not any of your Subiects has been more diligent and zealous in the service of our Gods then my self yet there are very many who have received far greater benefits and dignities from you then I have Now if our Gods were of any power or gratitude they would surely be most kind to them by whom they are best served It remains therefore that if in your opinion the advices lately given us how new soever be indeed better and of more proffit we should without delay admitt them 8. To this discrett perswasion of Coifi another of the Kings Nobles assenting added The present life of man upon earth compared with the time following it whose end is uncertain to us seems to mee as if Whilst your Majesty are feasting with your Nobles in the winter time in a room warmed with a good fire whilst abroad cold winds and tempests doe rage a silly sparrow entring into the room at a window should presently fly out at another opposite to it During that moment of time in which she passes through the roome she feels not the bitternes of the winter but immediatly she enters into the tempestuous cold and flyes out of your sight It is just so with this present life it appears for a short moment but what follows or what went before it we are utterly ignorant of Therefore if this new Doctrine can give us any certainty what shall befall us after this short life it deserves to be embraced 9. These and such other Discourses passed among the Kings Counsellours and Ancients of the Assembly To which Coifi again adjoynd that he was desirous to heare Paulinus once more discourse to this point of the God whom he preached Which being done by the Kings command Coifi cryed out It is not of late only that I have understood that the Gods worshipped by us are nothing worth because the more studiously I sought for Truth in their service the lesse I found Now therefore I openly professe that in this mans discourse the Truth appears manifestly and such a Truth as is able to conferr on us the Gifts of life and eternall happines Therefore my counsell is O King that without delay our Temples and Altars from which we never received good may be cursed and given to the fire 10. In conclusion not to be tedious the King openly and plainly professed his assent to the Doctrin preached by Saint Paulinus and renouncing his former Idolatry acknowledged that he received the Faith of Christ And having demanded of the foresaid Pontife to whom the care of proâ—aning the Altars Temples and ground about them dedicated to Superstition should be committed His Answer was To none but my self For who is more fitt to be a pattern for others in destroying those things which in the time of my folly I worshipped then my self now that by wisedom newly inspired by God I see their vanity And having said this immediatly abjuring his Superstition he desired the King that he might be furnished with arms and a horse which having mounted he hastned to destroy the Idols In which manner he rode to declare publickly his
a man of a red colour and a splendour inexpressible which marked the outward dore of the house with the Sign of the Crosse thereby happily prefiguring that the infant then ready to be born should constantly cary in his body the Crosse of Christ. A great multitude of neighbours there present being astonished with the strangenes of this Miracle concluded that some great unknown Mystery was represented by it when presently one of the Midwives issuing forth pâ—blished the birth of the infant When he was baptized he had the name Guthlac given him which in the Saxon language signifies A good gift And indeed he was given to his parents by God to the end he might courageously fight against their oppressours both carnall and spirituall and victoriously triumph over them He was of a countenance chearfull and mild so that he became gratefull and beloved by all 3. When he had attained to the four and twentieth year of his age seeing the Enemies of his countrey grow strong he began to aspire to military honours and raising soldiers he feircely invaded them broke into their Citties subverted their Castells and by many warlick exploits gaind to himself immortall fame Yet even in the midst of his fury he shewd mercy to his enemies and restored a third part of all the spoiles gotten by him 4. But at last calling to mind the sad and â—earfull deaths of many Princes from whom he had descended and considering how all secular pomp is but a smoke suddenly passing away that life is short death terrible a dreadfull Iudge and the pains to be suffred for sins incomprehensible endles Therefore calling his soldiers together he told them That having hitherto fought for vanities he would spend the remainder of his life in our Lords warfare That they should chuse themselves a Captain but for his part he would follow the Crosse of his Captain Christ. And when by no perswasions he could be drawn from this resolution quitting his arms he went to Rependon or rather Rippon where there was a famous Monasteâ—y in which receiving the Clericall Tensure he submitted himself to a strict Monasticall Discipline wholly abstaining from any drink which could inebriate He was very diligent in learning the Psalms and Church Hymnes and in the space of two years he with great facility advanced himself in the knowledge of Srcred Scriptures He had a pleasing aspect was humble in his gesture and gate religiously shewing great fear of in God his actions firm in Faith patient in hope profuse in Charity kind and mild to all provident in counsell and circumspect in his words 5. Having spent two years in a Coenobiticall conversation he aspired to greater austerities in a solitary Anachoreticall life Now there is in Brittany a vast fenny countrey which beginning from the River Gronâ—e extends itself Northward along the Sea coast for a very great space and it is variously divided by feâ—ns woods and serpentine rivers Thither did he repair having fiâ—st obtained leave of his Religious Brethren and was told by the inhabitants of the place that the Iâ—le was named Câ—oyland where severall persons having had a desire to dwell were forced to fly away by terrible apparitions of Devills This report not discouraging him he passed over into it in a fishers boat on the Feast day of S. Bantholmew the Apostle in whose intercession having a speciall confidence he resolved to make his abode there in that place of horrour and vast solitude having with him only two young men which had followed him 6. Whereupon he built himself a small cottages his cloathing was only raw skins of beasts and his nourishment barley-bread with muddey water and this never till Sunâ—ett and with great parsimony The Enemy of mankind therefore envying the Humility of this Man of God did suggest to his mind so vehement a tentation that he had falln into the pitt of despaire had not our Lord mercifully regarded him by the intercession of the Blessed Apostle S. Bartholmew For when he being in great disturbance of mind was upon the point to desert his Desart S. Bartholmew visibly appearing to him encouraged him to coÌ„stancy by discovering that such Tentations were permitted by our Lord for the tryall of his Faith and to the end that distrusting himself he might place all his confidence in God who would never forsake him After such like exhortations the Apostle vanished out of his sight and from that hower the Devill never had the boldnes to tempt him with the spirit of Despair 7. Consequently the devout Authour recounts severall other particular Tentations horrible apparitions of Devills in severall shapes sometimes perswading him to immoderate and indiscreet fasting thereby to destroy his health sometimes insulting upon him whipping binding and carrying him through those fenng places c. all which he despised and triumphed over 8. Now as hath been sayd there were attending him two younâ— men the name oâ— one of them was Bertelin he had received the Clericall Tonsure and served our Lord in Spiritual Exercises under the direction of the Holy man Now the Wicked Spirit perceiving that he could not by any tentation subvert the Saint raised in the heart of this young man so violent a passion against him that he took a firm resolution to murder his Master and Teacher that he being dispatched out of the way his house and furniture in it might descend as by right upon him But the pious servant of our Lord by revelation of the Holy Ghost was acquainted with all these malicious designs of Bertelin therefore on a certain day calling him to him he plainly and distinctly told him all his thoughts when and where and in what manner and with what intention he had designed his murder The young man perceiving that he was deprehended with great remorse cast himself at his feet begged and easily obtaind pardon And from that hower he shewed all fidelity to him and continued with him to his death after which he had the honour to assist at his buriall This is the same Bertelin who dictated all these particulars to Felix the Writer of his Life 9. Hereto the Authour addes severall miâ—aculous signs wrought upon severall occasions by the man of God which the Reader at leasure may have recourse to Moreover he relates how he was visited by a certain Bishop named Hedda who being a witnesse of his piety testified by his discerning the thoughts of a Preist called Wilfrid who attended the Bishop and promised to explore whether he was not an Hypocrite such as he had seen many in Scotland who pretending a solitary life gave themselves to idlenes and excesse Hereupon the Bishop forced the Holy man against his will to receive the degree and honour of Preist-hood 10. One particular more we will add breifly mentioned by the foresaid Authour of his life but more fully related by Ingulfus Abbot of Croyland who writes the History of his Abbey beginning it with this story of the Conversion of
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
a certain Prince of Mercia called Ethelbaldus by the good advice of S. Guthlac 11. In those days saith he that is in the year before the death of this Holy Hermit Prince Ethelbald great grandchild of Alwy the Brother of King Penda was banished out of the kingdom of the Mertians He was of an elegant stature strong of body and warlick of mind but which was to be bewayled he was high-minded and apt to any rash attempt against the King For which turbulent spirit of his as we may iustly imagine he was exposed to many dangers and for a long space debarred all medling with State-affaires And not only so but King Coelred did violently persecute him every where insomuch as being in great danger and wholly destitute of freinds and all means to resist he would oft come privatly to the man of God Saint Guthlac who was his Confessour to seek for spirituall counsell when all worldly assistance fayled him and to him he humbly made his complaints 12. The Holy man having heard him kindly and mildly comforted him and withall as one to whom future things were by divine revelation known he distinctly and particularly discovered to him what should succeed afterward promising him that he should be King of his Nation and subdue all his Enemies Yea moreover he bad him be confident that all these things should happen to him without any combat or effusion of blood only by Gods power and Providence over him 13. But to these comforting promises he added serious admonitions that he should fear our Lord God above all things and shew â—ll subwission and respect to his Holy Church That he should often deplore his former crimes and constantly make good his purpose of amendment For he told him that if he would be carefull to obey the Divne Law he might with confidence expect Gods help and favour By such exhortations and comforts the mind of the afflicted Prince was exceedingly refreshed insomuch as in the presence of his holy Father Saint Guthlac and others then standing by he expressly promised that assoon as God should sett him peaceably in the Throne of the Kingdom he would found a Monastery in the same place to the honour of God and memory of his sayd Father And this promise a short time after he effectually accomplished XXI CHAP. 1. 2. c. The death of Saint Guthlac and wonderfull occurrents Of his Sister Saint Pega 1. AFter a life spent with such austerity holines and devotion there must needs follow a death conformable to it which is thus related from the mouth of his companion and Disciple Berthelin 2. When the day of his departure approached he called to him his Disciple Berthelin to whom he sayd My son I am now going to reap the fruit of my Labours I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ. And after other words to the same effect he enioynd him to goe and with great affection in his name salute his Sister Pega desiâ—ing her to take care of his buriall Withall he bid him tell her that therefore he had avoyded the seeing and conversing with her in this present life that they might for ever enioy each others company in the life to come 3. Then his sayd Disciple took the boldnes to say thus to him I adiure you Holy Father that you will not refuse to tell mee plainly what the matter was that every morning and evening since I dwelt with you I heard you speak to and sometimes seem to answer some body Who was that person with whom you conversed Your speeches I heard but could never understand with whom you spoke To this question the Holy-man answered My dear son My last hower is now at hand It is not therefore expedient for mee now to lye who all my life have abhord it Know therefore that from my first entrance into this wildernes every morning and evening I have enioyd the conversation and comfort of a heavenly Angell who by his celestiall consolations refreshed mee in all my labours and tentations He foretold to mee things future discovered such as were absent and acquainted mee with hidden Mysteries which it is not expedient nor lawfull for mee to make known But now My son be carefull to seal up in silence these things and presume not to discover them to any but my Sister Pega and the devout Anchoret Egbert 4. When he had sayd this such an odortferous fragrancy came from his mouth that it seemed as if one had strowed roses or pourd forth balsam in the place And from midnight till morning a Light of inestimable brightnes shone through the whole house And assoon as the Sun was risen he sayd to his Disciple Bertelin My Son now is the moment that I must goe to Christ Having said this with hands stretched forth toward heave he fell asleep in our Lord on the third day before the Ides of April And the same Brother saw as it were a tower of fire reaching from the earth to heaven the splendour of which was so wonderfull that in comparison the light of the Sun at midday was pale and obscure A while after Blessed Pega the holy Mans Sister coming into the Island found the whole house replenished with a sweet fragrancy infinitly exceeding all odours which either art or nature could produce Then having decently buried her Brother S. Guthlat in his Oratory she returned to her own dwelling 5. About a year after his death his sister and other Preists came to his Oratory with a resolution to bury his body more honourably and they found it entire without the least corruption as if he had been asleep The ioynts likewise of his arms and fingers were as easily flexible as if the humours and spirits were yet running through his veyns his sinews had lost nothing of their former vigour Moreover the garments in which his sacred body had been wrapped preserved stil their primitive freshnes and glasse With great ioy and exaltation therefore they again reposed the Sacred Body once more in a Tombe expressly made for it 6. Now Prince Ethelbald in his exile having heard of the death of the Holy man was overwhelmed with greif and coming to his sepulcher he cryed out with many tears O Father whither shall I a poor banished man goe to whom shall I have recourse Now indeed I perceive that I am a miserable exile Dear Father Guthlac doe not you forsake him who is abandond by all and exposed to all miseries and torments Having spoken many such words with extreme greif and bitter sighs towards midnight he saw the Oratory wonderfully enlightned with an inexpressible brightnes and the Holy man himself appeard to him with a celestiall splendour saying to him these words My dear Son our Lord has a regard to thee be comforted and assured that within two years all thy travells shall have an end and thou shalt recover thy throne with great glory Besides this the Holy man expressly discovered to him how many