the Regal Authority Some Writers affirm He dy'd a Natural Death others say He dy'd by Poison administred to him by his Mother-in-Law Rowena into whose mind the Devil suggested to cause a Servant of his to give him Poison which he having drunk and perceiving the approach of Death he divided his Treasures among his Soldiers earnestly exhorting them to Fight Couragiously for their Country Moreover He commanded a Pyramid of Brass to be made and plac'd in the Haven where the Saxons usually landed upon which Pyramid his Body should be laid that the Enemies seeing the Body of so Valorous a Prince might be frighted back into their own Country More probable it is that he intended his Statue should be plac'd on the Pyramid for being a Christian Prince he was Decently and Solemnly Buried after the Christian manner And it is said He was Buried in the City of the Trinobantes now London and with him was Buried the Crown and Glory of the British Nation Beside his Courage he is said to be Eminent in other Virtues especially Piety and some say In his War against the Saxons he bore in his Ensign the Image of our Lord Jesus Christ To which Devotion of his we may impute his Victories or at least to his Pious and Charitable care in restoring the Churches destroy'd by the Saxons The year after Vortimer's death Hengist return'd out of Germany with greater Forces and took a firmer possession of his Kentish Kingdom and for the better Establishment of his Family therein joyn'd his Son Aesca with him in the Regal Power To oppose them the Britains invade his Country with a great Army consisting of four great Bodies Conducted by four Valiant Captains but when the Conflict was begun at Creganford the Britains found themselves too weak for the Saxons which were new Recruited with great numbers of chosen Robustious Soldiers who with their Swords and Battle-Axes cleft asunder the Bodies of the Britains Yet did they not give ground till their four Captains were slain but afterwards were so terrified that they fled as far as London and never after had the Courage to bring an Army into Kent again so that Hengist and his Son quietly enjoy'd that Kingdom fixing their Palace at Canterbury Thus began this new Kingdom of Kent in the eighth year after the Arrival of the Saxons in Britain It is not probable that this exalting of Vortimer was any Deposal of his Father for Vortimer being Dead his Father continu'd King and for a while gave proof of his Courage in repressing the Ambition and Violence of Hengist though after he return'd to his former Licentious Slothfulness Now during these Wars Hengist is recorded to have exercis'd extream Cruelty in all places where his Armies came and especially in Kent against Priests and Holy Virgins great numbers of which he caus'd to be Massacred Demolishing Churches and Profaning Altars Among the Victims of his Barbarous Cruelty the memory of Voadinus Arch-Bishop of London only remains in our English Martyrology who being a man of great Sanctity reprov'd Vortigern for repudiating his Lawful Wife and Marrying an Infidel which so inflam'd Hengist with rage that he commanded the Holy Bishop with many other Priests and Religious men to be slain Gildas declares That great numbers of Bishops and Priests were Massacred by this Saxon King And St. Bede relates more particularly the Rapines Cruelties and Devastations of this Impious King wherewith he miserably fill'd the whole Island The year of Grace 461. is noted with an Act of most Perfidious Cruelty perpetrated by this Barbarous Prince His Ambition was not satisfied with the Kingdom of Kent so as he resolv'd to enlarge his bounds in Britain by any means and finding that by exercise of War the British Courage increas'd he therefore turn'd his Thoughts to invent some Stratagem for the compassing his Designes He insinuates himself into the minds of Vortigern and his Nobility as if he were desirous of Peace and Amity with them which if they would grant he would turn his Arms against the Picts and Scots and drive them out of the Island quickly did he obtain belief from the easy Nature of Vortigern whereupon a meeting is appointed between the Britains and Saxons with this caution that each King should be attended with 300 only and those un-arm'd and at this meeting they were to treat of the Conditions of Peace The place appointed for this Fatal Assembly was a Plain near Sorbiodunum or Old Salisbury a City seated in the Province of the Belgae wherein remains a Monument of a Dire Tragedy for both sides being met a great Feast was prepar'd for the Britains at which the Articles of Agreement were to be ratified by mutual Promises and Oaths Towards the end of this Feast when they were dissolv'd in Wine Hengist on a suddain call'd aloud To Arms which was the Watch-word agreed among the Saxons who immediately drew out short Swords conceal'd under their Cloathes and quickly slew their Un-arm'd Guests the Britains Howbeit which is remarkable Eldol the Valiant Consul or Governour of Glocester snatching up a stake by Chance lying near with it slew seventy of the Treacherous Saxons A Monument of this Barbarous Tragedy not long after rais'd by the Britains continues to this day and is Vulgarly call'd Stone-henge Upon Salisbury-Plain where in a space of ground compass'd with a Ditch are placed as in a three-fold Crown Stones of an incredible vastness some of them 28 foot in hight and 7 in breadth over many of which other great Stones are plac'd a-cross Cambden believes That this Monument was rais'd in memory of this Treachery by Ambrosius Aurelianus or his Brother Vterpendragon by the help and Art of Merlin the famous Magician though others deliver that it was a Magnificent Sepulcher rais'd for Ambrosius himself slain near this place from whom the Town of Ambresbury-not far distant took its Name In this Slaughter the Saxons took Vortigern Prisoner and the year following bound him with Chains threatning Death unless he would deliver up 38 of his Cities and Strong-holds Vortigern to save his Life quickly yielded to their demands which being confirm'd by Oath they gave him his Liberty And first they seiz'd upon the City of London then York and Lincoln and then Winchester All which adjoyning Provinces they wasted killing the Inhabitants They Levell'd with the ground all Churches and Buildings belonging to Ecclesiastical Persons kill'd the Priests near the Altars burn'd all Books of Holy Scripture and heap'd Earth on the Sepulchres of Martyrs Religious men to escape their fury were sain to fly into Desarts Woods and Rocks carrying with them the Relicks of Saints And as for Vortigern seeing this horrible destruction he retir'd into the North part of Wales and there inclos'd himself in a Town call'd Genorium Now the three Provinces with which Vortigern redeem'd his Life are with more probability express'd by Malmsburiensis in this manner Of old saith he the Eastern and Southern Saxons with the
oppress'd Britains to their great joy were freed from Slavery and shameful Indignities and restor'd to the Roman Government under a Prince of great Clemency and Allied to them by his Marriage with Helena from whom they expected a Prince of their own Blood young Constantine then in Egypt with Dioclesian where he gave Illustrious Marks of his Courage in Battels being a very young man and inclin'd to the Christian Faith insomuch as Dioclesian began to envy him fearing least he should prove a destroyer of the Pagan Errours and thereupon by subtilty design'd his Death but almighty God preserv'd him the Tyrant no doubt knew the young man had been nourish'd from his Infancy with Christian Milk and with evil Eyes beheld what Cruelties were inflicted on the Christians He was therefore watch'd and detain'd under strict Guards and probably in danger of further mischief About this time he took to Wise Minervina by whom he had his Eldest Son Crispus The clemency and countenance of Constantius encourag'd the Christians to repair and new build Churches to the Honour of the Martyrs and publickly to Celebrate the Divine Misteries and Solemn Festivals contrary to the Report of some Scottish Authors For as Eusebius affirms Of the four persons conjoyn'd in the Government of the Roman World Constantius only clave to the living God and was displeas'd with the practices of the other three For whereas they wasted the Churches of God and defil'd their Provinces with the Innocent Blood of Christians He on the contrary procur'd Tranquility to his Subjects and as an Indulgent Father allow'd them the free exercise of the Christian Religion Constantius after three years abode in Britain was oblig'd to pass over into Gaul to oppose a German Nation which infested that Country he was accompany'd with a great number of Britains and with their help obtain'd a signal Victory In the year 300. Stephanus the VII Bishop of London is said to have ended his Life by Martyrdom not that he was put to death for the Christian Religion but for that the former Persecution he had suffer'd during the rage of Dioclesian which made his Life miserable and might perhaps hasten his Death In the year 302. Constantius seems to have return'd into Britain upon the Death of Asclepiodorus whom he left his President here Still he establishes Peace in the Church here whilst in all other Provinces Rivers of Christian Blood were pour'd out with great inhumanity The Bounty Clemency and Piety of this Prince render'd him Admir'd and Belov'd throughout the whole Empire the moderation of his Government and Liberality the mutual Affection between him and his Subjects is declar'd by this illustrious Example The Emperour Dioclesian having been inform'd that Constantius by his negligence and profuse Liberality had wasted his publick Treasure by Messengers sent on purpose sharply reprov'd him for it Constantius promis'd the Messengers in a few days to give them his Answer and in the mean time gave notice throughout his Dominions especially to the most wealthy of his Subjects that he stood in great need of Money and that they could never have a fitter opportunity to testifie their Affection and Duty to him Hereupon without any delay and with great chearfulness each contended with other who should send most so that in short time his Treasure was fill'd with innumerable sums of Money This being done Constantius invites the Messengers to be Spectators of his Wealth desiring them to tell the Emperour what they had seen And when they were gone the bountiful Emperour return'd all that Mass of Treasure to the respective Owners with an Affectionate resentment of their Duty and good Will to him It is further related of him That finding his Court and Family distracted into Faction by various Sects and Religions he publish'd an Edict That whoever would continue in his Service should conform himself to the Worship of the Roman Gods for no other should stay in his Court however they might enjoy their Liberty and Possessions but they must avoid his presence This Ordinance much troubled the Christians especially those who ambitiously affected worldly Honour for they preferring Mammon before God relinquish'd their Profession to conform themselves to Caesars Religion But several others sincere and genuine Disciples of Christ shew'd themselves willing rather to forsake their Princes service than Gods which being observ'd by Constantius he chased from his Court all those faint-hearted Hypocritical Dissemblers saying They would never preserve their Fidelity to him who had so basely betray'd their Faith to God So that he prefer'd to Dignities and committed the care of his safety to them whom he found constant From hence it came that the Britains who were generally Christians became Guards both to Him and other Emperours whom they usually encompass'd with long Halberts The Faithfulness of Christians probably mov'd Constantius to forsake Idolatry and willingly to acknowledge the only true God Governour of all the World and firmly to establish his Authority by the Prayers and assistance of Holy men and so he pass'd the remainder of his Life with great Glory and Tranquility To this happy change no doubt but St. Helena his Wife much contributed so that his Court seem'd little to differ from the form of a Church in which the Ministers and Servants of God offer'd daily Prayers and Sacrifice for him In the year of Grace 304. the Emperours Dioclesian and Maximianus after 20 years Reign weary of their fruitless Cruelty depos'd themselves from the Empire Galerius succeeded in the Government of the Eastern and Constantius of the Western Empire especially in France and Britain not affecting to heap up Treasure for himself but to Enrich his Subjects In the year 305. his young Son Constantine accompany'd Galerius in his War against the Sarmatians where he undertook a single Combat by the Emperour's Consent with their chief Leader whom by Divine assistance he overcame and led Prisoner to the Emperour and so obtain'd Glory by that which perhaps was intended for his Destruction This year as is Credibly reported St. Augulus Bishop of London receiv'd the reward of his constant Confession having been long persecuted for the Cause of Christ to him succeeded Iltutus or rather perhaps Restitutus who assisted at the first Councel and subscrib'd his Name thereunto The next year Constantius after he had quieted the Picts or Northern Britains return'd to York and there being Old was assaulted by his last Sickness The absence of his Son Constantine who was detain'd in manner of a Pledge by Galerius much afflicted him though he had other Sons with him by Theodora which gave him little satisfaction considering their want of Spirit and Courage Constantine observ'd how much he was both fear'd and envy'd and in danger of mischief whilst he remain'd in the Emperours hands and endeavour'd to secure himself by flight to contrive which with the more security he gave command that all the publick Post-horses should be Kill'd and by that means arriv'd in
he fell on his Face to the ground and burst asunder in the middle and was in that manner depriv'd both of Life and Communion This struck the Eusebian Faction with wonderful Terrour and consternation the Fame whereof soon spread it self over the whole World and confirm'd the Emperour's Faith and the Nicene Decrees This year dy'd the Holy Pope Marcus Successor of Silvester and in his stead Julius succeeded in the last year of our Renowned Emperour one of whose last Acts of Devotion was the building of a most Magnificent Temple at Constantinople in Honour of all the Apostles that he might Eternize their memory among all Nations In this Temple he placed twelve Honorary Repositories which should be as so many Pillars in memory of the twelve Apostles and caus'd his own Tomb to be plac'd in the midst of them enclos'd on each side with six of them having an opinion That their memory would procure much profit to his Soul by being so made partaker of their Prayers which would there be offer'd in Honour of the Apostles As many other British and Saxons Kings in erecting Churches and Monasterres have since done for the Redemption of their Souls and so express'd themselves in several Charters of their Foundation This Emperour it seems so Happily enjoy'd his faculties and strength of Reason in such perfection that till the extremity of his Age he still continu'd to write Orations and to Minister Advice to his Friends well becoming a good Christian He also publish'd good Laws expedient for Humane Society and not long before his Death he recited a Funeral Oration in the usual place wherein he Discoursed Of the Immortality of Souls of the Rewards of Pious men and the Miseries of such who liv'd ungodly lives This he pronounc'd with such Gravity and Constancy that one of his Domestique Servants a Pagan and pretender to Wisdom being ask'd what he thought of the Emperour's Oration Answered though with some unwillingness That the things spoken seemed to be true especially commending that part of the Oration which decry'd a multitude of Gods. It is said that a Comet of an unusual bigness appear'd in the Heavens as portending his death for he soon after fell into some Distemper which enforc'd him to use Hot Baths and being remov'd to his Mothers City Helenopolis in Bythinia he continu'd some considerable time in the Church Consecrated to the Holy Martyr St. Lucianus there offering his Prayers and publick Vows to God and there considering his last day he fell humbly upon his Knees in this Church confessing his sins and craving pardon for them and then it was that he first became worthy to receive Absolution by imposition of Hands and Prayer in imitation of the Saving Laver of Baptism After these and such like Holy Mysteries were perform'd he was cloath'd with Kingly Robes shining bright as the Light and then laid in a Bed of a most pure Whiteness his Imperial Purple he rejected and never made use of it afterwards Then with a clear distinct voice he Pray'd and gave Thanks to God declaring He was now assur'd of Happiness and Immortality being made partaker of Divine Light. With great detestation he bewail'd the miserable state of Pagans in that they were depriv'd of all Divine Blessings To his great Officers who stood about him and deplor'd their unhappiness in the loss of such an Emperour wishing him a long Life he answer'd That he had now attain'd true Life indeed and he himself understood his own Happiness and therefore he long'd for his departure to God. And having made his Will and given Honourable Pensions to the Inhabitants of his new City and left his Empire as a Patrimony to his Children during the Solemnity of Pentecost he departed this Life in Glory and Renown The universal Mourning and Sorrow of his People and the Solemnities of his Funeral are set forth at large by many Authors Great multitudes of the People with the Priests ceas'd not to pour forth their Prayers to God with Tears and Groaning for the Soul of their departed Emperour his memory was also so precious amongst the Britains that they built Temples in Honour of him one whereof still remains of his Name in North-Wales which was erected after they were driven by the Saxons into those quarters Constantine at his death divided the Roman Empire amongst his three Sons so that his Eldest Son Constantine enjoy'd Gaul Spain Britain and all the Conquer'd Countries on this side the Alpes Constantius his second Son only present at his Fathers Death possess'd himself of the Eastern Regions and Aegypt And the youngest Son Constans had the Government of Italy and Africk Now as touching the second Constantine within whose Jurisdiction our Country is compriz'd His Reign was short not lasting full four years sure it is He and his Brother Constans stuck close to the Catholick Faith Establish'd in the Nicene Councel so as all the Western Churches were by their means secur'd from the infection of Heresie which miscrably defac'd the Eastern parts in regard Constantius there suffer'd himself to be perverted by the Arrian Hereticks Constantine the younger in proof of his Orthodoxy and in performance of his Fathers Will restor'd Athanasius from his banishment at Triers where he had continu'd above two years to his Church at Alexandria his banishment was the easier to him in regard he was sent thither by Constantine the Father in order to his safety and entertain'd there with all Honour and Liberality by Constantine the Son whose constant residence was in Gaul and who govern'd Britain by a Deputy never coming thither himself In the 4th year of his Reign he pass'd over into Italy upon what design is uncertain However he was soon there Traytorously slain by his Brothers Soldiers if not by his Order By the Death of this Constantine the whole Western Empire became the Dominion of Constans who placed Vetranio as his Lieutenant in Britain where after a few years he usurp'd the Title of Emperour About this time there flourish'd in Britain a Holy Bishop of great fame call'd St. Gudwall who was born of Noble Parents and largely communicated to others those Treasures of Heavenly Wisdom which he had been gathering from his youth his Instructions Enlightn'd many so as they were enabled to enflame others with Divine Love the Odour of his Holy Conversation declaring in him the operations of Heavenly Grace was pleasant to all both Clergy and Laity The Patrimony he receiv'd from his Parents was very ample yet despising worldly Riches he gave it all to the Church And perceiving his Pastoral Office engag'd him in Worldly Cares and Solicitudes and willing to disburden himself thereof he recommends his Church to a worthy Successor and retires himself into a Monastery within his own Diocess where he led a perfect Monastical or rather Angelical Life His Monastery was placed near the Sea in a Bay where-of the Holy man observing a certain vast Rock or Promontory shooting forth retir'd
which discovery the rage of this Empress was much restrain'd For these Holy Bodies being with due Honour translated to the Ambrosian Church not only many vex'd with unclean Spirits were heal'd but a Citizen of Milan who had been blind many years hearing the noise and acclamations of the People desir'd to be led to the said Church and there obtain'd leave with his Handkercheif to touch the Coffin of those Martyrs and wiping his Eyes with the said Handkercheif they were immediately open'd so as he saw clearly to the joy and astonishment of the Beholders and whole City and although the fame hereof did nat heal the Empress fully of her Spiritual Blindness yet it allay'd her fury against the Holy Bisohp St. Augustine himself then at Milan gives a large testimony of these Miracles as also doth St. Ambrose himself who further also declares That the Devils themselves upon this occasion cast out confess'd it to be done by the Power and Virtue of the Martyrs which they were not able to resist but to their excessive torment Not long after this St. Augustine is said to have return'd to his own Country in Africk but by the way at Ostia to have lost his Blessed Mother Monica of whom in his Confessions he writes That when the day of her Dissolution was at hand she made it her request that Commemoration should be made of her at Gods Altar from whence she knew the Holy Sacrifice and Victim was dispens'd and by which she hop'd to blot out the Hand-writing against her and joyfully to Triumph over the Devil After the death of Maximus Theodosius left Valentinian Emperour of the West adding to his Government Gaul Britain and Spain infested with Tyrants But before he entrusted him with this great Charge the Pious Emperour Theodosius instructed him in the Orthodox Faith which he the more easily did in regard Justina Valentinian's Mother was then lately dead The year following broke forth an Heresie since renew'd by Luther Justifying such as renounc'd their Monastical Profession and approving the Incestuous Embraces of Consecrated Nuns Jovinian an Apostate Monk was the Author of this Heresie and publickly was declar'd an Heretick for it by Pope Siricius St. Hierom St. Ambrose and St. Augustine wrote against this Heresie in particular St. Hierom terms it Venemous Doctrine in three respects First For that it affirms Virgins Widdows and Married Women being Baptiz'd to be of the same merit in case they differ not in other works Secondly That those who with a compleat Faith have been Regenerated by Baptism cannot afterwards be subverted by the Devil Thirdly That there is no difference in point of Merit between Fasting from Meats and receiving them with Thanksgiving Siricius in his Epistle to the Church of Milan gives this Character of Jovinian That he was an Imitator of the Devil an Enemy of Chastity a Teacher of Luxury a hater of Abstinence and lover of Gluttony In opposition to which Doctrine a Synod is assembled by the same Holy Pope wherein is declar'd That the Vows of Marriage are not to be disparag'd yet greater Honour is to be attributed to the Spiritual Marriage of Virgins That Jovinian 's opinion was contrary to the Christian Law and Tradition of the Church and therefore Jovinian and all his Complices were condemn'd of Heresie and Blasphemy by this Synod and by their Sentence cast out of the Church And St. Ambrose in a Synodical Answer of the Church of Milan to the Pope tells him That those Hereticks who then fled to Milan were avoided by all as if they had been infected with the Plague and thrust out of the City like Vagabonds And St. Augustin reciting the Positions of this Heresie concludes That Holy Church had most Fruitfully and Couragiously resisted this Monster And in truth it was soon extinguish'd neither doth this Heresie ever appear to have crept into this Island in those times so precious and Venerable was Virginity especially here that Fasting and Abstinence were frequently us'd and Seminaries of Chastity in great numbers Erected and Plentifully Endow'd The young Emperour Valentinian after a troublesome reign of four years was slain near I yon 's before his death he desir'd Baptism but liv'd not to obtain it After his Death the Tyrant Eugenius invaded the Western Empire He pretended to be a Christian but was indeed addicted to Heathenish Superstitions he was soon slain by Theodosius who prepar'd himself to encounter this Tyrant not so much by Force of Arms as with Prayer and Fasting He kept watch rather in the Church then the Camp lying prostrate in the Company both of his Priests and People before the Monuments of the Apostles and Martyrs cover'd with Sack-cloth and begging Divine assistance The General employ'd in this Expedition was Stilico call'd out of Britain after he had freed the Country from the incursions of Scots and Picts and planted a Roman Legion to secure the Northern Borders The Holy young man St. Ninian before mention'd about this time shew'd forth the Glorious Fruits of his Pious Education under the Holy Popes Damasus and Siricius for he then was newly Consecrated Bishop and sent back into his own Country to Preach the Saving Truths of Christs Gospel to the rude Nation of the Southern Picts seated between Cumberland and the Bay of Dunbritton This man of God in his return from Rome was desirous to visit the Glorious Bishop St. Martin at Tours by whom he was Honourably receiv'd and very much esteem'd as a person of extraordinary Sanctity and like to prove a Happy Instrument of Salvation to many Being dismiss'd by St. Martin he arriv'd at the place where he design'd to settle and there found a great concourse of People who it seems had notice of his return and readily receiv'd him with great Joy and Devotion as a great Prophet He first began to root up their ill planted Superstitions to disperse their long gather'd wicked Customs and to demolish their impious Idolatries and having so purg'd their minds from Errour he instructed them in all the Duties belonging to good Christians and by his works and example shew'd them a pattern of all Virtue and Piety confirming all by frequent Miracles He chose for his seat of Episcopal residence a place afterward call'd Witehern seated near the Sea by which almost encompass'd it hath only one passage to it toward the North and as saith Cambden Is in the Province of the Novantes now call'd Galloway This Episcopal Seat by the Latin Writers is nam'd Candida Casa or the White-house and was here Erected by Ninianus in the time of this Theodosius And thus as St. Bede also confirms The Southern Picts receiv'd the true Faith by the Preaching of this Holy man. Many years he spent in his Apostolical Office for his death ensu'd not till 38 years after his first entrance He Consecrated Bishops ordain'd Priests dividing the Country into Parishes More will be said of him hereafter when his Death is to be related observing this
Eastern Angli were Subjects to the King of Kent for those Provinces Hengist the first King of Kent obtain'd of Vortigern not by open War but Treachery And in truth those People before-mention'd did at last obtain for their Habitation five Counties Essex Sussex Surrey Norfolk and Suffolk the Inhabitants whereof in the Romans time were the Trinobantes Regni Ireni The same year wherein Britain became thus dismembred God recompensed that loss to the British Church by the Birth of St. David one of the greatest Lights that ever the Church enjoy'd as well for his Sanctity of Life as Vigour of Authority and Zeal in suppressing Heresie with the Exaltation of Ecclesiastical Discipline His Birth was attended with several Wonders denoting his Eminency For St. Patrick before his going into Ireland being in the Valley of Rosma in the Province of Dimetae Northwest-Wales meditating on his Mission into that Island had a Revelation by an Angel That after 30 years a Child should be born in that Province which should give a great Lustre to that Country To this Prophecy regard was had in this Collect repeated Anniversarily in the Antient Church of Sarum on St. David's Feast O God Who by an Angel didst foretell the Nativity of thy Blessed Confessor St. David 30 years before he was born Grant unto us we beseech thee that Celebrating his memory we may by his intercession attain to joyes everlasting Thirty years being finish'd after the said prediction the King of the Region call'd Ceretica travelling to Dunetia met by the way a Religious Virgin Nam'd Nonnita of great Beauty which he Lusting after by Violence Deflour'd she hereby Conceiv'd a Son but neither before nor after had ever knowledge of any man but persevering in Chastity both of Mind and Body and sustaining her self only with Bread and Water from the time of her Conception led a most Holy Life The King thus Father of St. David is call'd Xanthus and his Mother by some Nam'd Melaria The eminent Sanctity of this Child the Fruit of his Holy Mothers Fasting Chastity and Prayer was by another Divine Oracle fore-told a little before his Birth For when Gildas Albanius was from the Pulpit teaching a great Congregation on the suddain he became dumb and un-able to speak but afterwards broke forth into these words A Holy Woman call'd Nonnita now present in this Church is great with Child and shall shortly be brought to Bed of a Son full replenish'd with Grace It was in regard to him that I was hindred from speaking by a Divine Power restraining my Tongue This Child shall be of so Eminent Sanctity that none in these our parts are comparable to him I will surrender this Region to him who will from his Infancy by degrees increase in Grace and Sanctity An Angel Gods Messenger hath reveal'd this unto me This Holy Child not long after born was Baptiz'd by Albeus Bishop of Munster who at that time by Divine Providence arriv'd there at a place call'd Portcleu During his Childhood he was Educated at a place nam'd the Old Bush by the Cambrians Henmenen and by the Latines Menevia he grew every day replenish'd with Grace and being of a perspicacious wit proceeded in the Study of Learning far beyond all other Children of his Age This Child after became the first Bishop of Menevia to which place he translated the Bishoprick of caerleon and which from him was call'd St. Davids for his Learning Sanctity and Miracles worthily Celebrated by the British Church Whilst Vortigern lurk'd Ingloriously in the Mountains of Wales busie in building a Castle for his Security the middle Provinces of Britain lest un-guarded were expos'd to the fury of the Saxons This Castle had the Name of Genorium afterward of Caer Vortigern It is plac'd saith Cambden in a vast Solitude fearful for the Horrour of Mountains and narrow turnings of the passage to it To this place Vortigern the Plague of his Country withdrew himself to seek refuge for his own person and there spent his time in consulting South-sayers especially his Magician Merlin Hereupon the Britains thus deserted by their King were compell'd to seek one abroad and therefore send Messengers into the lesser Britain beyond Sea to Aurelius Ambrosius and his Brother Vterpendragon who for fear of Vortigern were retir'd thither Them they beseech to return into their own Country that having expell'd the Saxons and their hated King Vortigern they might receive the Crown of Britain These Brothers now of ripe Age prosecute their Journey accordingly attended with Ships and Arm'd Souldiers All Authors speak of Ambrosius as a Modest Prince who alone of the Roman race had remain'd alive after so great a Tempest of Wars and Changes in which his Parents who had worn the Royal Purple were slain It may be presum'd that he was the Son of Constantine who about 50 years before pretended to the Roman Empire and in that attempt was slain in Gaul for that Constantine had other Children besides Constans who is said to be his Eldest Son when Vortigern was chosen this Ambrosius was a Competitor with him for the Crown and failing therein was compell'd to quit his Right and Country and to retire himself into little Britain from whence notwithstanding in the Generous Vortimer's time he return'd and Fought for him Valiantly against the Saxons as is before-mention'd but after his Death it seems retir'd to his former refuge The return of these Princes wrought a greater dread in Vortigern then the Saxons I shall omit the Fable of the two Dragons coming out of the Lake and how the Red Dragon was destroy'd by the White and proceed to the Gests of our Aurelius quickly set upon by the Saxons after his Landing For King Hengist and his Son Esca in the 17th year after the first coming of the Saxons and in the year of Grace 465. gather'd an Invincible Army On the other side the Britains uniting all their Forces oppos'd them with an Army gallantly rang'd into twelve Bodies The Battle was fought near the famous Port of Rochborow the Fight continu'd long and with little advantage untill at last Hengist having slain the twelve Leaders forc'd the Britains to fly but himself lost great numbers of his Soldiers and Principal Officers amongst the rest a great Prince of his Nation call'd Whipped in memory of whom the place of the Battle took the Name of Whippedstede So that the Saxons themselves bewail'd this Victory neither did they after that time take the confidence to enter into the Britains Border nor the Britains to Invade Kent The year following produc'd no Wars from the Saxons so as Aurelius Ambrosius had leasure to convert his Arms against the Author of all those present miseries the unhappy King Vortigern He marches therefore to the Castle Genorium and Besieges it but found the King so strongly Fortified there that by no force or cunning he could expugn it At last by Fire whether coming from Heaven or cast in by Ambrosius is uncertain
Epistle to Timothy sent to him from Rome amongst other Salutations joynes Pudens and Claudia And a late Learned Writer hath demonstrated out of Antiquity that this our Claudia Ruffina sprang from the Royal Blood of Britain and was the Wife and Mother of Glorious Saints And our Antient Histories report that Timotheus the Eldest Son of Pudens came into this our Island and Converted many to the Faith and at least dispos'd King Lucius to his succeeding Conversion And the reason of such his coming hither might be the Love and regard he had to his Mother a British Lady It is pretended that Pomponia Graecina the Wife of Plantius General of the Army under Claudius in this Island was a Christian and Devout Saint but this may be doubtful though it be clear by Tacitus that she was Accus'd of a strange Religion forbidden by the Roman Laws which might be the Christian Religion to the knowledge whereof she might attain by her Acquaintance with Claudia Ruffina But we have more unquestionable Records of one Mansuetus Companion of St. Clemens which Mansuetus was a Northern Britain who went to Rome either with Adminius a Prince of Britain or Bericus a Nobleman thereof or as Attendant upon Caractacus where the said Mansuetus might be Converted by St. Peter and be by him constituted Bishop of Toul in Lorrain upon a Miracle by him done in restoring to Life and Health a Son of the Governour of that City whose said Son fell down from a high Tower the effect of which Miracle was the Conversion of the said Governour his whole Family and a great number of his Citizens Insomuch as after the word had a free course not only in that City but in the Country thereabouts Priests were Ordain'd and a Church erected and Consecrated to the Holy Trinity About this time one Beatus of this Island was converted to the Christian Faith and went to Rome for further instruction therein by S. Peter and after became the Apostle of the Helvetians and dy'd amongst them illustrious for his exemplary Piety and great Miracles Thus early did it please God to enlighten this our native Country with his Divine Truth and to transform the Barbarous Inhabitants thereof into Apostles and Messengers of Salvation to other Countries also And as it appears by antient Monuments it pleas'd our good God to send his Prime Apostle S. Peter into this Island to establish and confirm what other Persons though of great Honour and Holiness had begun yet for want of the Episcopal Character could not establish Order and Government in this new planted Church as the Apostles could and did do Unquestionable antient Authors have Recorded that when the World was divided by Lott amongst the Apostles the West became the Portion of S. Peter and that from Rome he came to Britain and made a long abode there constituting Churches and ordaining Priests and Deacons this Truth has been confirm'd by many Holy and Primitive Popes by many of our British and Saxon Kings by the Vision of S. Peter to Edward the Confessor Nay our late King James the First of ever Blessed Memory did not doubt in a publick Audience to affirm that Rome was the Mother of all Churches In what particular year this coming of S. Peter was is not easie to determine whether upon the Emperour Claudius's Edict to Banish all Jews from Rome or in the beginning of Nero's Reign is doubtful But that he was absent from Rome when S. Paul wrote his Epistle to the Romans is more than probable since he omitted S. Peter out of his Salutations Certainly a freer scope was allow'd in this Island at that time for Divine Verities than in other places First Because Nero's Persecution never extended hither Secondly For that the power of the Romans here was a little limited by the British Princes who were at least civil to Christians Thirdly The great distance betwixt Rome and this Island as may appear by the quiet and un-interupted solitude of Glastonbury where was erected the first School of Contemplation and which continu'd the glorious Habitation of a World of Saints even to late years It may be found in a very antient Author who Writes of Church Affairs in the first Century that he mentions the exaltation of the British Church under Nero adding that many Churches were built in this Island by S. Peter and it is agreed of on all hands that the cruelty of Nero towards the Christians drove S. Paul out of Rome even as far Westward as Britain where though he was had in high Veneration yet we never read that the Church here planted was called the Seat of St. Paul but often the Chair of St. Peter Insomuch as Gildas inveighing against some of the British Clergy in his time tells them They usurp'd the Chair of St. Peter with impure feet Thereby intimating that the whole Ecclesiastical Order here receiv'd their Original Priesthood by a right Succession from St. Peter Howbeit our English Martyrology deservedly reckons St. Paul among the Apostles of Britain And so was Aristobulus also one of the 70 Disciples and a Follower of St. Paul Ordain'd a Bishop here and here also dy'd a Martyr in the second year of Nero or at least a Confessor in his very Old Age after he had spent some time in Solitude at Glastonbury the common Retiring place of many Eminent Saints It was certainly meant by St. Paul in his Epistle to the Romans when he Salutes the Houshold of Aristobulus omitting him being then absent in this Country or in his Journey towards it This progress had the Gospel in this Island before the Death of St. Peter or St. Paul and was mightily advanc'd by the coming of Joseph of Arimathea and his Companions about the end of Nero's Reign making up the number of Twelve Persons with himself one of which Twelve is said to be his Son of his own Name The coming and Preaching of Joseph and his Companions hath been publickly alledg'd in several General Councels by the English Orators as an Argument of Precedence in those Councels taken from the early approach of the Gospel to this Nation and further affirm'd by other Antient Records and especially by that Illustrious Charter of King Henry the II. to the Abbey of Glastonbury signifying his intention to Rebuild that Monastery not long before Consum'd by Fire and to renew all the Priviledges confer'd on it by his Predecessors King William the I. and II. and by more Ancient Kings St. Edgar the Father of St. Edward King Edmond and his Father Edward and his Grand-father Alfred by King Brithwald Hentwyn Baldred Ina the famous King Arthur Cantred and many other Christian Kings and even by Kenwalla a Pagan King of Britain And further affirming that he the said Henry the II. caus'd a diligent Inquisition to be made of the said Charters and Priviledges which were presented and Read in his Presence all which he Confirm'd and Renew'd to the same Church antiently stil'd The Mother
and Tomb of Saints because it had been Built by the immediate Disciples of our Lord and to him Dedicated as Venerable Antiquity doth testifie All which consider'd to deny so great a Blessing confer'd on our Nation must savour of Passion and un-excusable Partiality The time and occasion of St. Joseph's Arrival here and the particular Acts of him and his Companions after so many years of change and alteration cannot befully accountable The time in all likelihood was when Suetonius Paulinus was Pretor here and when Policletus Favourite to Nero came hither with his Retinue the occasion of his coming is less certain Some write that St. Joseph was sent hither by St. Philip the Apostle or Evangelist grounding their opinion from Procalphius who speaks little to that purpose Tradition informs us that St. Joseph at his first coming Address'd himself to Arviragus then King of the Britains and said to be the Founder of the University of Oxford by the help of an Augur or Prophet named Olenus Calenus from whom it was first called Calena And although Arviragus did not submit to the Doctrine of St. Joseph yet he gave him leave to publish it in Peace so well was he prepar'd to the Entertainment of Divine Truth by humane Education Nay he was also pleas'd to afford Joseph and his Companions a place of Retreat not only commodious for their Devotions but sufficient for their Sustenance call'd by the Britains the Glassey-Island or Avallonia in which certain Lands were alloted both by Arviragus and his Son Marius containing about 12 Hydes for the Nourishment of those Godly persons being the first of ground in this Island Dedicated to the Service of God and after called Godney The first thing these new Inhabitants undertook was to build and Consecrate a Church for the Worship of God which they Dedicated to the Honour of the most Blessed Virgin Mary And as is affirm'd amongst other things relating to Glastonbury Monastery in an Epistle of St. Patrick who died there was Consecrated Miraculously by our Blessed Lord himself to the Honour of his Mother This wonderful Consecration is more fully declar'd by the Testimony of the Illustrious Bishop of St. David the Extirpator of Pelagianisme out of Britain as hath been Collected out of the Antiquities of Glastonbury by Willià m of Malmsbury to this effect following That St. David with other Bishops coming to Glastonbury invited by the Sanctity of the place resolv'd to Consecrate the Church there formerly erected to the Honour of the Mother of God and having provided all things necessary for that purpose the night before his intended Ceremony our Blessed Lord appear'd to St. David in his sleep and demanded the cause of his coming thither which St. David forthwith declar'd whereupon our Lord taking him by the Hand told him That he himself many years before had Dedicated the said Church to the Honour of his Mother and that That Holy Ceremony was not to be Profain'd by any mans repeating And having said this with his Finger pierc'd through the Bishops Hand telling him this should be a sign that what himself had formerly Anticipated ought not again to be Renew'd and withall promis'd him that when the said Bishop the next day at the Canon of the Mass should pronounce the words Per ipsum cum ipso in ipsoâ—â— His Hand should be restor'd sound to him The Bishop awaking found his Hand pierc'd and others saw and touch'd the Wound with great Admiration and the Preparation for the Consecration was laid aside and during the Celebration of Mass the Bishops Hand became Sound The sum of what hath hitherto been here related is repeated by St. Augustine the Convertor of our Nation in an Epistle of his to St. Gregory the Great and by Copgrave in the Life of St. Joseph and is further testify'd by an Antient Inscription cut in Brass fasten'd to a Pillar in the same Church declaring in effect what hath been said already This Inscription is recorded by Sir Henry Spelman in his Collection of Councels and yet by him pretended to be Fabulous First He doubts whether any Christian Churches were Erected so early Which doubt is certainly groundless unless he mean such Magnificent Structures as have been built since Christianity hath been publickly cherish'd and countenanc'd but that even under the Harrows of Persecution the Christians made shift to Erect or Assign places to meet in and perform the Rites and Duties of Religion is Attested by all Ecclesiastical Histories Secondly If Churches were Built yet they were not Encompass'd with ground for Burial before St. Cuthbert 's time Burial within Cities being forbidden by the Roman Laws Sure this is a false conceit for King Ethelbert and his Bishop St. Augustine before St. Cuthbert's days were Buried in the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul at Canterbury Constantine the first Christian Emperour was buried amongst the Relicks and Bones of the Apostles and Martyrs And as for the Roman Law forbidding Burials in Cities it was antiquated long before this however Glastonbury was no City scarce a Village rather a Desart far from Rome and under the Dominion of Brittish Princes well-wishers to Christianity and the simplicity thereof in those days Thirdly Dedication of Churches was not then in use Doubtless many Ceremonies and Solemnities have been added by the Church but as certainly the Houses or Places which the most Primitive Christians assigned for the Worship of God were by some Ceremonies Dedicated to that use as by erecting a Title fixing a Cross c. as the most antient Records testifie But lastly That which most displeases Sir Hen. is the Dedication of this Church to the Blessed Virgin for he thinks such a kind of Devotion was not thought of until many Ages after but then he must forget the Tradition of Spain attested in all their Liturgies and many of their Councils that from the first entrance of Christianity into that Kingdom several Churches have been erected to the Honour of that Blessed Virgin witness that most Famous Temple at Saragosa called Dell Pilar Celebrated above 1000 years since by St. Maximus Bishop of that City in several Hymns by him composed in Honour of that Venerable House called Angelical because the Pillar on which the Virgins Statue was fixed is thought to be brought thither by the Ministery of Angels After the Death of Arviragus Marius his Son succeeds him in the Brittish Throne resembling his Father as in Courage and other Prince-like Virtues so also in his kindness to these holy Strangers This Marius is reported to have had a great Victory over the Picts who were doubtlesly no other than the Northern Britains then unconquered and consequently unciviliz'd by the Romans but who remaining in their Barbarous custom of painting their Bodies got a new name of Picts After the Death of this Marius in the Reign of Coilus his Son our St. Joseph is said to end his Labours and Mortality in the 82 of our Lord and second year of
he gather'd into a Flock the remainder of those who had been Converted by St. Joseph of Arimathaea and his Companions consirming them in the same Faith. This St. Marcellus was afterwards ordain'd Bishop of Tongres and Triers these two Cities being govern'd at that time by one Bishop In the Annals of which Church we read That Lucius King of Britain was made a Christian and Baptiz'd by this Marcellus a Teacher of the Inhabitants of Triers Yet there are more Authentick Testimonies demonstrating That he was Baptiz'd by Fugatius and Damianus sent by Pope Eleutherius This Holy Bishop Marcellus was the first Britain who suffer'd Martyrdom out of this Island as St. Alban was the first who suffer'd within it his Sufferings were in a great Persecution rais'd by Marcus Aurelius the Successor of Antoninus Together with Marcellus there came from Rome another Illustrious Saint of Noble Birth and Plentiful Fortunes which yet he relinquish'd that with the more freedom he might Preach Christ Crucify'd This Timotheus was the Son of Pudens a Roman Senator and of his Wife suppos'd to be the famous Claudia the British Lady forespoken of He was also Brother of Novatus as also of S. Pudentiana and Praxedes whose memories are Anniversarily celebrated by the Catholick Church His coming hither is a considerable proof that his Mother was a Britain It may be collected out of the Ecclesiastical Offices that Pudentiana a Virgin with her Sister Praxedes the Daughters of Pudens practising the Duties of Christian Religion with admirable Piety Sold her Patrimony and distributed to the Poor the Money thence arising giving her self wholly to Fasting and Prayer by her Zeal and endeavours her whole Family consisting of 96. persons was Converted to the Faith and Baptiz'd by Pope Pius And the publick Sacrifices being forbidden by Antoninus the Holy Pope Celebrated the Divine Mysteries with other Christians in the House of Pudentiana who afforded those Holy Persons all necessary Sustenance and being thus imploy'd in such Offices of Piety she dy'd the 14th of the Calends of June in the year of our Lord 161. and was bury'd in the Coemetery of Priscilla in the Salarian way Her Brother Novatus dy'd the year following concerning whose Death there is a Letter yet extant from Pastor a Holy Priest from Rome to Timotheus then imploy'd in his Apostolick Office in Britain signifying unto him That the venerable Virgin Praxedes was in great affliction for the death of her Sister Pudentiana Pope Pius and many Honourable Christians came to comfort her and amongst the rest her Brother Novatus who about two months after he departed from his Sister Praxedes fell sick and was forthwith visited by the Holy Pope and Praxedes as also by other godly persons to his great Comfort That Novatus in the presence of those persons declar'd his Will and bequeath'd all his Estate to Timotheus and Praxedes and shortly after departed in the Lord. And by this Letter Pastor desir'd To know of Timotheus how he would have the Estate of his Brother Novatus dispos'd to the end that what the said Timotheus directed might be observ'd therein To which Letter Timotheus is said to give this Pious Answer Persum'd with Christian Charity wherein after a Salutation savouring of the Holy simplicity of that Age and desire to be recommended to the Memory and Intercession of the Holy Apostles the Prelate of the Apostolick See and all Saints he signifies his desire That what ever share was given to him by his Brother Novatus should be at the dispose of his Holy Sister Praxedes and the Holy Priest Pastor to whom he return'd his Answer Which was after shown to Pope Pius who gave thanks to the Father Almighty and after at the request of Praxedes Dedicated a Church in the Baths of Novatus at Rome in the Bricklayers-street where the Holy Pope also constituted a Roman Title and consecrated a Font for Baptism Those Titles were for the most part signify'd by Crosses and were first in the nature of particular Parishes by Pope Evaristus assign'd to the cure of particular Priests The Bathes which are here nam'd from Novatus have elsewere their denomination from Timotheus and were scituated upon the mountain called Viminal And in Truth the Christians privately resorted to this place for the celebration of their Divine Mysteries before any Church was Solemnly Consecrated there as may be found in the Acts of Justin the Philosopher who calls it the Timothean Bath The same year that Novatus dy'd the Emperour Antoninus ended his Life after him succeeded Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus joyntly governing the Empire with equal Authority In the second year of these Emperours dy'd the Holy Virgin Praxedes the particulars of whose death are recorded by Pastor in this manner Two years and 18 days after this Church was Dedicated there was a great Persecution rais'd against Christians to enforce them to Worship Idols and many were Crown'd with Martyrdom Now the Holy Virgin Praxedes fervent in the Holy Ghost secretly conceal'd many good Christians in the said Title or Church whose bodies she strengthen'd with Food and their minds with Exhortations proceeding from Gods spirit Insomuch as notice was given to Aurelius that Christian Assemblies were made in her House he then sent his Officers thither who laid hold on Symitrius a Priest and 22 persons more all which the Cruel Emperour commanded to be put to Death in the same Title without any Examination their Bodies Praxedes took by night and bury'd in the Coemetery of Priscilla but soon after afflicted for the suffering of the Saints with many Groans she Pray'd that she might pass out of this Life her Prayers found access unto our Lord Jesus for in the 44th day after the Martyrdom of the fore-mention'd Saints she went unto the Lord and Pastor the Priest bury'd her Body in her Fathers Coemetery of Priscilla upon the Salarian-way This Persecution was begun at the Instigation of Heathen Philosophers especially of the beastly Cynicks particularly of Crescence that infamous Wretch mention'd with indignation by Justin Martyr Thus much is deliver'd concerning the Holy Children of Pudens the Roman Senator in the Acts of whom our Nation had an Interest partly in regard their Mother was a British Lady and that Timotheus was their Brother who exercis'd his Apostolick Office in this Island and no doubt had a great influence in disposing the mind of King Lucius towards the Christian Faith of Timotheus little more is written saving that after the Death of his Sister Praxedes he return'd to Rome where he became a Prey to those Sensual Philosophers and ended his Life by Martyrdom with his worthy Companion Marcus as appears by an Epistle of Pope Pius wherein amongst other things he declares S. Timotheus and Marcus to have ended their Lives by a Happy Conflict And he concludes his Letter to the Bishop unto whom it was directed thus Take care dear Brother that thou follow these Saints in imitating their zeal and freeing thy self from the Chains
little more of moment is mention'd concerning the British Affairs save that in his time Vlpius Marcellus drove back the Caledonian Britains who had made Irruptions into the Roman Territories in Britain The Conversion of Britain was so famous in the Church of God that Origen takes notice of it and the Faith of Christ spread it self even unto the Northern parts of this Island within two years after the Death of Lucius insomuch as Tertullian who liv'd about these times cryes out That those Provinces of Britain into which the Roman Armies were not able to pierce yet willingly submitted to the Faith of our Blessed Saviour Donaldus then King of those Northern quarters rejected the Worship of Divels embrac'd the Faith of Christ and obtain'd of Pope Victor the 15th after St. Peter several Learn'd and Illustrious men to be sent into those Northern parts to Baptize himself his Wife and Family with many of his Nobility Fulgentius a Kinsman of Lucius was certainly the first who instill'd the love of Christian Verities into the mind of Donaldus and advis'd him to send to Victor for more perfect Instructions By the conduct and Courage of this Fulgentius Donaldus obtain'd a great Victory over the Romans Severus himself was sain to engage his own Presence and Authority to repair this loss by a formidable Army this great exploit of the Emperour obtain'd him and his Sons the Title of Britanicus Fulgentius not long after ended his Life at York then the Imperial City Severus after this Victory built a new Wall with frequent Towers and a vast deep Trench and then retir'd with his Army to York but by the way was met and daunted with an Ethiopian Souldier Cole-black and Crown'd with Cypress who told him He had been all and overcame all and bid him now be a God This was an ill Omen which with others of like sort are said to presage his Death and indeed it follow'd soon after in that City where he was with exquisite Ceremonies made a God but his Ashes with Costly Odours were gather'd into a precious Box and with great veneration carry'd to Rome It is observ'd that these Caledonian Britains us'd no Garments but mark'd their Bodies with Pictures and Figures of Beasts as their chief bravery and from thence no doubt came to be call'd Picts or a Painted People In the fourth year of Antoninus Bassianus dy'd Donaldus who Coin'd Silver and Gold marking it on the one side with the Figure of the Saving-Cross on the other side with his own Face thereby to propagate the memory of the Christian Faith first embrac'd by him among all the Kings of that Nation he was bury'd in a field with Christian Ceremonies and Solemnities the same field having been Consecrated with accustom'd Prayers for the Burial of Christians By this the present Inhabitants of Scotland may discern the difference between the Christianity of this their first Christen'd King and that which they have lately chosen instead of it He would not rest after Death but in a place Consecrated by the Devotions of Holy Priests who celebrated his Obsequies according to the Primitive Christian Usage by making Oblations for him and offering the most Holy Sacrifice for the Refreshment of his Soul as St. Cyprian who liv'd not long after describes the manner or Antient Christian Burial and justly chargeth Bishop Martialis With Burying the Children of this Donaldus in the prophane Sepulchres of the Heathen Among other Ceremonies of Christian Burials this was one That a Cross was erected upon their Monuments Young Amphibalus born at Caerleon upon Vsk was from his tender years bred up in good Literature and about this time instructed in the Christian Religion afterwards he travell'd to Rome where he spent his time principally in Reading and Understanding Holy Scriptures and the Doctrine of Christian Religion till the beginning of the Cruel Persecution rais'd by Dioclesian This young man was ordain'd a Priest at Rome and sent back by the Pope into Britain and there became as some say Bishop of the Isle of Man. In the year of Grace 221. Pope Zephyrin dy'd and was succeeded by Calistus in whose time one Cadorus is said to be Bishop of London The Emperour Alexander Severus a Virtuous Prince no Enemy to Christianity which some conceive to have been profess'd by his Mother Mammaea was in the 14th year of his reign slain by the Treason of Julius Maximinus who succeeded in his place When Maximinus began his reign Christian Religion flourish'd not only in the Southern parts of Britain but among the Caledonians also where reign'd Chrathilintus a Christian Prince Successor of Donaldus he was instructed by Amphibalus returning about this time from Rome as some say At this time St. Pontianus Bishop of Rome govern'd the Church of God. Now the Tyrant Maximinus raising the sixth Persecution sharpen'd it especially against Bishops and Teachers of the Christian Faith by his command St. Pontianus suffer'd Martyrdom being beaten to death with Clubs To him succeeded St. Antherus a Graecian born who the year following was likewise put to Death by the same Tyrant Maximinus who was slain in his fourth year and the Holy Pope Fabianus sate in the Chair of St. Peter and about this time while Gordianus the younger reign'd the Christian Church enjoy'd great Tranquility in which calm the Bishops propagated the Faith many Churches and Altars were erected and no doubt in this Island also Obinus Bishop of London and Conanus his Successor were careful to imitate the Zeal of other Bishops Nonnius Philippus being Governour of Britain about this time Gordianus being in his 6th year was slain by the Treason of Julius Philippus who succeeded him Julius himself was also slain by his own Guards Howbeit before his death by the Grace of God he wash'd away his Sins by Baptisin and Pennance he was perswaded to embrace Christianity by St. Pontianus a man of high Dignity yet because Philip was known to be guilty of many Crimes he was not presently permitted to enter the Church until he had modestly condeseended to place himself among the Penitent and confess'd his sins with Reverent fear and Pious affection Now though after the death of Lucius no Britain generally was allow'd the Name of King yet several Princes of the British Blood exercis'd a Kingly jurisdiction amongst the rest Coelus had that Title over the Trinobantes Iceni and others and was the Father of Helena the Mother of Constantine the Great She is said to be born in Colchester the prime City of that Province which in memory of the Holy Cross found by her bears in its Arms A Cross between four Crowns Decius after the death of the two Philips extended his rage to the Religion by them Profess'd in whose time many Glorious Martyrs amongst the rest St. Fabianus Bishop of Rome who seal'd the firmness of their Religion with their Blood although some redeem'd themselves from Sacrificing to Idols obtain'd Libels falsely declaring they had Sacrific'd and
been broken and spent by a tedious and painful Imprisonment whereas on the contrary his solitude which gave him opportunity to unite himself to God by Prayer increas'd and strengthned his Courage The Author of his Life hath thus exemplify'd one of his Prayers O Lord Jesus Christ do not permit the Divels malice so much to prevail as by his cuning machinations and this Peoples relenting my suffering for thee may be hindred Not long after being come out of Prison to suffer and addressing his Speech to the unbelieving People who flock'd to see him he told them He was an irreconcilable Enemy of their False Gods the works of mens Hands unworthy of Honour as having no Divinity they themselves could not but observe that these their Idols neither See Hear nor Vnderstand any thing and that it could be no other then detestable vanity to expect Life from them which have no Life to pray to those who could not Hear to expect safety or Happiness from them which were not sensible of the least good to themselves He therefore protests that whoever Honours such dead Idols must renounce all reason for whom can be more desperately miscrable than he who suffers himself to be enslav'd to Puppets of his own fashioning Wo therefore to Idels but greater Wo to their Adorers From hence may easily be observ'd that this Holy Martyr who thus earnestly inveighs against Idolatry yet with great Devotion Venerates the Cross of our Lord so far is the respect and Honour given by the Catholick Church to Sacred things from any taint of Idolatry And Tertullian in his Apology for Christians testifies That although they Ador'd the Cross yet Idols and all their Ornaments were detested by them and abominable unto them When these invectives against Idols were utter'd by St. Alban Sentence of Death was pronounc'd against him and he was led to Execution to a place call'd Holmburst a Plain cloath'd with all sorts of Flowers a fit Theater for so Glorious a Martyr Albanus being thus led to his Death came to a River which with a swift Torrent ran between a Wall on the one side and a Sandy-shore on the other where the Holy Martyr was to be Beheaded there he saw great multitudes of all Conditions Ages and Sects which no doubt by Divine instinct were assembled to Honour his Death and they so choak'd the passage of the Bridge that before night they could not all have pass'd over As for the Judge he had no intention of any respect to the Martyr but stay'd behind in the City St. Albanus therefore enflam'd with a Devout desire of a speedy Martyrdom approach'd near the River and lifting up his Eyes with Prayer to God the River became presently dry so as the Water gave free way to the passengers by the Prayer of the Martyr to this effect O Lord Jesus Christ from whose most Holy side I my self in a Vision saw both Water and Blood to flow I beseach thee to cause these Waters to be diminish'd and the floud to return back that the People without prejudice or danger may be present at my Sufferings He had no sooner pray'd thus but the Channel was immediately dry his Tears left no other water in the River the Power of his Prayer emptied the Torrent and clear'd a safe passage for the People The Officer who conducted St. Alban to his Death by the merits of the Holy Martyr obtain'd Eternal Happiness for seeing the Miracles he threw away his Sword and casting himself at the Holy Martyr's feet beg'd his pardon which when the People saw they laid hold on the Man beat out his Teeth and in a manner broke all his Bones This Pagan Souldier thus of a Persecutor chang'd into a Lover of the true Faith and willing to die for and with St. Alban the other Officers were at a stand and knew not what to do It is further related That the Holy Martyr ascending the Hill the People at the top thereof were tormented with extremity of Thirst the Martyr kneeling down Pray'd to God The People might receive no harm by his occasion Upon which brake presently forth a Fountain at his Feet and with a rapid course flow'd down the Hill so that all the Peoples Thirst was satisfi'd In the mean time another Executioner was appointed who to his great Unhappiness discharg'd that Impious Office and with his Sword cut off the Holy Martyr's Head kneeling in Prayer to God and Kissing the Crucifix which he held in his Hand And immediately O wonderful Almighty God by the suddain loss of this Executioners Eyes testified the Holy Martyr's Innocence for together with the Martyr's Head those remorseless Eyes sell to the ground With St. Alban the poor Converted Souldier was also Beheaded who by Divine Instinct refus'd to put the Holy Confessor to Death and doubtless though this new Convert was not outwardly cleansed with the water of Baptism yet being wash'd in the Laver of his own Blood he became worthy to be admitted into the Kingdom of Heaven His Name is said to be Heraclius of whom it is further reported That being left half dead by the Peoples Stroaks as aforesaid and creeping on his hands and feet toward the Crowd he was mock'd by one of the Judges And bid to address himself to his Patron Albanus then newly Executed and Pray him to restore Soundness to his bruis'd Limbs Run saith the Scoffing Judge make hast joyn thy Patrons Head to his Body no doubt thou wilt not fail of Health Bury the dead Carcass and thou may'st be sure whilst it is in thy Hands it will afford a Cure. The Souldier reply'd I do verily believe that this blessed Saint by his merits can restore unto me my perfect Health So that what you speak in Derision may in earnest be fulfill'd to me Having said this he imbrac'd the Martyr's Head and adjoyning it to the Body became immediately sound When the Infidels saw this they were fill'd with Envy and bound him with Chains tearing his Body with several sorts of Tortures and in the end cut off his Head. How acceptable to Almighty God these Martyrdoms were was presently declar'd from Heaven in a wonderful manner for behold the night following their Sufferings a Pillar of Light was seen to raise it self from the Grave of St. Alban up to Heaven by which Angels ascended and descended spending the whole night in Hymns and Praises to God repeating also these words The Illustrious Albanus is now a glorious Martyr of Christ As Venantius in his Poem for that purpose Elegantly sets forth Who this Author of St. Alban's Life was is unknown he was certainly of more Antiquity than St. Bede his Book was found in the Monastery of St. Alban and concerning the Persecution thus rais'd in Britain by Dioclesian gives us this Account That Almighty God who is willing all men should be sav'd to magnifie his Mercy to this our Country least it should be invellop'd in Darkness was pleas'd to Enlighten it with
Britain with so Prosperous a Voyage as if he had been brought thither not by Post-horses but mounted and flying in a Heavenly Chariot Upon his approach to his Father he was receiv'd by him with great joy and devout Thanksgiving to God. The dying Emperour was now willing to embrace death and bequeath'd the Inheritance of the Empire to his belov'd and first born Son Constantine and so with comfort departed this Life He was bury'd in the City of York with Prince-like Solemnity and by the Heathenish Romans Deify'd with the Title of Divine Cambden reports That when the Houses of Monks there were in our Fathers memory demolish'd a Lamp was found burning in a little Vaulted Chappel in which by Tradition Constantius is thought to have been bury'd The Antients had doubtlesly an Art to maintain a flame for many Ages by Gold dissolved into a kind of Oyl Then certainly Matthew of Westminster must be mistaken who writes that the Body of Constantius was found in another place and from thence by the then Kings command translated to Caernarvon which must be understood of some other Constantius Now notwithstanding Constantius had Sons by Theodora yet passing them all by he left the Empire to his Eldest Son Constantine only and his disposal therein was Ratified by the Suffrages and Acclamations of the Army Howbeit such was the moderation and prudent caution of Constantine that he contented himself with the Title of Caesar refusing that of Augustus or Emperour Insomuch as when the Soldiers with great Affection would have cast on him the Imperial Purple he set Spurs to his Horse and fled from them In truth he had reason for this Caution for though Dioclesian and Maximianus had relinquish'd the administration of the Empire yet had they by Councels and Authority a great influence upon the State for by them Galerius Maximinus and Severus were chosen Caesars and Successors who had possession of Italy and the Eastern Empire so as Constantine being young and at so great distance might well think it dangerous without their consent to assume the Supreme Authority His first attempt therefore was to gain the Affection and Consent of Maximianus from whom his Father had receiv'd the Purple Robe and who had then a Daughter Marriageable call'd Fausta Her Constantine demands in Marriage presuming the Empire should be her Dowry In the mean time he finish'd his Fathers Victories in Britain and was therein assisted by King Erocas by whose Councels he was much guided afterward he pass'd over with a great Army into France and there suppress'd two Barbarous Princes who fill'd the Country with Faction inciting the Gauls to Rebellion Then he began to treat with Maxentius who a year before hearing of the death of Constantius possess'd himself of Rome and usurp'd the Title of Emperour by the help of the Pretorian Soldiers and upon the hopes that Maximianus whose Daughter he had Marry'd would favour him in his Ambition the conceit whereof made him slight all motions of Concord with Constantine Howbeit Maximinian having heard of the Noble Victories and Exploits of Constantine bestow'd his Daughter Fausta upon him and with Her the Imperial Purple But soon after this Marriage Maximinianus discovers his Treacherous intention to re-possess himself of the Empire which he had voluntarily resign'd and bound himself by Solemn Oath in the Capital never to resume This intention he first made known to his Daughter Fausta before the Marriage in pursuance whereof he Sollicits the Armies with Promises of great Rewards to stick to him All these Designs Fausta reveals to Constantine and withall informs him That the intended Marriage was but to make him secure that her Father might the sooner deprive him of the Empire and perhaps of his Life also This intention of Maximinian soon appears for he forthwith publickly assumes the Name and Authority of Emperour at Arles from whence retiring to Marseilles he was there Besieg'd by Constantine and soon made his Prisoner and afterward Executed upon himself the just vengeance of Perjury and Treason for he strangl'd himself with a Halter such a deserv'd and ignominious end had this Tyrant who defil'd the Western Empire with the Blood of so many Christians Constantine thus Victorious prosecuted his Victories in Germany where he built a Bridge over the Rhine and subdu'd several Rebellious Nations He had as is said several Noble Britains in his Army with him amongst which three Unckles of his Mother Helena are Nam'd Johelin Traer and Marius At this time although Constantine were not a Christian yet he afforded the Christians the like Peace which they enjoy'd under his Father Monasteries were Replenish'd and Built those of Abingdon and Winchester being the principal the first whereof was speedily Finish'd and Consecrated to the memory of St. Amphibalus and for the space of 200 years prosper'd till the time of Cerdicus the West Saxon who then destroying the Monks turn'd it into a Temple of Idolatry As for that in Abingdon if the Chronicle of that place may be Credited Constantine himself in his younger days had his Education there To this Monastery belong'd 500. Monks who got their living by their Labour abroad but every Sunday resorted to their Monastery to perform their Devotions sixty more were constantly Resident attending in the Recital of Psalms and Christian Sacrifices It was now that Almighty God in revenge of the Innocent Blood of the Christians shed by the Tyrant Galerius visited him with an inward and Incurable Rottenness whereof he dy'd having for a long time consum'd him by piece-meal with great Stench and Torment neither could he appease the wrath of God although but too late he acknowledg'd the Justice of God and sent out Edicts in favour of the Christians Thus ended the furious Persecution first rais'd by Dioclesian There yet remain'd four persons who Supremely and Independently govern'd their several Provinces Constantine in Gaul and Britain Maxentius in Italy and Africk Maximinus in the East and Licinius in the Pannonia Greece Illyrium and Thrace all which Provinces in a short time became united under the Monarchy of Constantine The 112th year of Christ was now come Prosperous to the Church of God Happy was it for Christians that Maxentius refus'd agreement with Constantine such were the manifold Vices Oppressions Murders Adulteries and great Enormities of Maxentius that Constantine was in a manner enforc'd not only for his own safety but the general good of Mankind to free the World of such a Monster odious not only to Christians but to Pagans also to conclude a War against the Tyrant though stronger then himself Constantine therefore had recourse to Divine assistance but such a multitude of Gods were Worship'd in the World that he was uncertain to which of them he should Address himself After serious consideration calling to mind how former Emperours had been abus'd to their own ruine by false Oracles Incantations and Inhumane Sacrifices offer'd to their Heathen Gods he resolves to put his Confidence
the weight and troubles of Government would have resign'd the Province to Carantac but he loving the Caelestial King more than an Earthly Kingdom fled away and having bought a Wallet and Staff of a poor man by Gods Conduct was brought to a Pleasant place where he reposing himself built an Oratory and spent his time in the Praises of God At last he pass'd over into Ireland invited by his Affection to St. Patrick when he came thither it was agreed between them that one of them should travel Preaching the Gospel toward the Right Hand and the other towards the Left In their company many Ecclesiastical persons attended them and they all agreed to meet once a year at an appointed place Where ever this Holy man Carantac went an Angel of our Lord in the likeness of a Dove accompanied him and chang'd his Name into Cernach being an Irish Appellation All along his Voyage he wrought great Miracles for the Confirmation of the Faith he Preach'd Healing many thousand of their Diseases The grace at first given to the Apostles is said to have been plentifully bestow'd on him He was counted an admirable Soldier and Champion of Christ a Spiritual and Devout Abbot refusing to Preach Saving Truth unto none He spent many years in that Island where he brought an incredible number to wash away their sins by Pennance by day and night offering innumerable Prayers to God and having Converted many People to our Lord who wrought many Miracles by him He at last return'd to his Native Country where he retir'd to his former Cave accompanied with many Disciples There having built a Church he determin'd to abide but not long after being admonish'd by a Voice from Heaven he return'd into Ireland where in a good Old Age and full of good Works he rested in Peace and was buried in his own City from him call'd Cherach I shall here add the Gests of another British Saint and Companion of St. Patrick into Ireland call'd Luman Son of Gollitus a Brittain and Nephew to St. Patrick by his Sister Tigridia He was the Founder of the Church of Trim in Ireland the occasion and manner whereof is thus related by Bishop Vsher St. Luman came to the Ford of Truim which runs before the Castle of Fiedilmed Son of Loiguor And early in the morning Froitchern Son of Fiedilmed found him Preaching the Gospel of Christ who wondering at the Doctrine taught by him presently believ'd and was Baptiz'd in Christ by Luman at a Fountain arising in the same place and stay'd with him until his Mother who sought after him came to the same place She was over-joy'd at the sight of the Holy man because she also came out of Britain and being instructed by him likewise believ'd and returning Home told her Husband what had hapned to her self and her Son Fiedelmed was much joy'd at the arrival of Luman because his Mother call'd Schotnoesa had been the Daughter of a British Prince Fiedilmed therefore went to him and Saluted him in the British Language questioning him in particular touching his Descent and Doctrine who answer'd That his Name was Luman a Brittain a Christian and Disciple of the Holy Bishop S. Patrick sent as he said by God to Convert the Inhabitants of that Country to the Faith of Christ and Baptize them Fiedilmed immediately believ'd with his whole Family and offer'd him and St. Patrick his whole Territory with his Son. Fiedilmed remov'd his Habitation beyond the River Boindeo but Luman with Froitchern stay'd at the Ford of Truim 'till St. Patrick came thither where they joyntly erected a Church about 12 years before the Church of Armagh Attimachae was founded the beginning of which Arch-Episcopal Church the Annals of Ulster ascribe to the year of Grace 444. We may now not unfitly treat of St. Benignus as his Story may be found in the Antiquities of Glastonbury The Venerable Bishop St. Patrick Preaching the Gospel through the Provinces of Ireland came to a plain call'd Brey or Breg very Spacious and Beautiful with which being delighted he determin'd there to Celebrate the Feast of Easter then at hand His first Acquaintance and Familiarity in that Province was with a man whom he had newly Converted to the Faith with him St. Patrick Lodg'd This man had a Young Child call'd Beonna who bore a tender Affection to the Saint he would often play with him and Kiss his Foot the Child would not sleep but when he lay with the Holy Bishop He therefore Prophetically perceiving the great Grace which the Divine Bounty would confer upon the Child vouchsafed to take him to his Bed and gave him the Name of Benignus When the Holy Bishop was ready to proceed in his Journey the Child with Pittiful cries beg'd to go along with him so as the Bishop was forc'd to receive him into his Waggon and Prophecy'd that he should be his Successor in the Bishoprick which accordingly came to pass This was the first Solemnity of Easter which the Holy Bishop Celebrated in Ireland and he did it by imitating the Son of God who at his last Supper with his Disciples Consecrated his Body and Blood for the Redemption of Mankind The day before this great Feast of our Lords Resurrection St. Patrick according to an Ecclesiastical Rite as Probus observes then in use Kindled the Holy fire the Flame whereof shone brightly about the place According to the custom of that Country it was it seems Vnlawful for any to Light a Fire before it was kindled in the Kings Palace The King whose Name was Logorius perceiving the brightness of the Flame in great indignation threatn'd Death to him who had infring'd that custom in his Kingdom His Magicians about him to incense him further told the King That the Fire which had so been kindled against Law unless presently extinguish'd would never cease to the Worlds end but obscure all the Fires which they kindled according to their custom and that the man who lighted it would be the destruction of his Kingdom While St. Patrick with great success thus labour'd in the Gospel Britain was Illustrated with the Memory of another great St. Winwaloc the Son of a Noble Person call'd Fracan Cousin-German of a British Prince Nam'd Coton This St. Winwaloc is said to have been from his Childhood inflam'd with an earnest desire of Heavenly things to despise Worldly Allurements and to live to God only wherefore he besought his Parents that he might be commended to the care of a certain Religious man to be by him imbew'd in the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and Documents of Piety his request being obtain'd he made wonderful progress in Virtue and Holiness under that Religious mans Discipline insomuch that when he was but seven years Old he became an example of all Piety and Goodness In process of time having undertaken a Monastical Profession Divine Graces shone more brightly in him so as he became withall enrich'd with the Gift of Prophecy Many Miracles God
numbers of Devout men to embrace a Caenobitical Life Of this Bishop Nennion we read in the Life of St. Finanus That he having been in his Childhood instructed by St. Coleman was afterward recommended to the care of Nennion when he came into Ireland and return'd with Nennion into Scotland and there Learn'd of him the Rules of a Monastical Life at his See call'd the great Monastery Finanus there also studied the Holy Scriptures and by invoking the Name of Christ is said to have wrought many Miracles And having been thus instructed by Nennion he took a Journey to the See Apostolick there to supply his defects in saving knowledge seven years he continu'd at Rome daily advancing in Sacred Science and then ascended to the degree of Priesthood This Nennion in probability was one of those who interceded with King Arthur and about the same time that St. Finanus liv'd under his Discipline I shall pass by the Death of Guenevera King Arthur's Wife and his second Marriage with great Solemnities at the sametime with the Prodigious Victories ascrib'd to him by some of our Writers in Forreign parts and proceed to other transactions more probable occurring in his time In the year 527. two new Kingdoms were Erected in Britain without any disturbance from King Arthur in the Eastern Provinces of Norfolk Suffolk and Cambridgeshire the Kingdom of the East-Angles was Establish'd and in Midlesex and Essex the Kingdom of the East-Saxons Which of these Kingdoms were first Erected is uncertain but both without doubt much about the same time The first King of the East-Saxons is believ'd to be Erkenwin the Son of Offa and the Kingdom of the East-Angles is thought to begin under Vffa from whom the succeeding Kings were Antiently call'd Vffings The year following the Isle of Wight by the Britains call'd Guith which signifies a divorce or renting asunder and by the Saxons Witland was Conquer'd by King Cerdic and given to his Nephews Stuffa and Whitgar But while Cerdic busied himself about the Invasion of the Isle of Wight St. David Bishop of Menevia Assembled a Provincial Synod call'd the Synod of Victory wherein all the Clergy of Wales or Cambria met together and confirm'd the former Decrees of the Synod of Brevy and added new ones for the Churches benefit from which two Synods all the Churches of Cambria receiv'd their Ecclesiastical Orders which also were confirm'd by the Authority of the Roman Church These Decrees were committed to Writing with his own hand and reserv'd in his own Church the Copies thereof being communicated to other Churches in that Province all which with many other Treasures of that Noble Library furnish'd by him have been lost partly by Age and Negligence but principally by the Incursions of Pirats who from the Isles of Orkney every Summer us'd to waste the Sea-Coasts of Cambria This loss indeed is to be deplor'd since by those Records we might have perfectly understood the state of the British Churches However we are assur'd that those Churches were regulated according to the Roman and practic'd the same both in Doctrine and Discipline and consequently that St. Augustine sent after to Convert the Saxons brought no Novelties with him since St. Gregory who sent him was exalted to St. Peter's Chair not above 60 years after this Synod It is written in the Life of St. Kined That when St. David had publish'd his Edicts for assembling this Vniversal Councel of Cambria he humbly invited St. Kined to it who excus'd his not coming in regard that for his sins he was become distorted and crooked in his Body and was besides unable to undertake such a Journey Whereupon it is said that St. Kined by the Prayers of St. David was restor'd to Heath and straightness and by his own Prayers reduc'd again to his Infirmity and Crookedness Whether this were so or no certain it is that this St. Kined fill'd Britain with the fame of his Sanctity He liv'd a Solitary Anachoretical Life in the Province now call'd Glamorganshire probably in the same place where yet remains a Chappel call'd St. Keneth's Chappel left as a Monument of his Sanctity as Cambden witnesses The Celebrating this Synod is the last publick Action we find recorded of St. David He would not accept of Metropolitical Jurisdiction but upon condition that he might transfer the See from Caerleon to Menevia a place of Remoteness and Solitude and in the Neighbourhood of many Saints and Religious Persons in the Islands and Territory adjoyning and therefore most acceptable to him Which Translation was approv'd by King Arthur and the Synod not then dissolv'd This Menevia is seated in the Province of the Dimetae now Pembrokeshire adjoyning to the most remote Province of Britain where the Soyl is Stony and Barren neither Cloathed with Wood nor interlac'd with Rivers nor adorn'd with Meadows but expos'd to the Sun and Windes yet with this Penury the Antient Saints and Bishops were best contented accounting the remoteness from Worldly Tumults and noise to recompense sufficiently all such Incommodities This Menevia or as the Britains call'd it Menew was in memory of this Holy Bishop nam'd by the Converted Saxons David Minster and by the Britains Twy Davy that is David's House and at this day St. Davids The Bishop whereof was for many Ages the Metropolitan of Cambria but at length became subject to Canterbury Notwithstanding the Inhabitants of Wales since the Norman Conquest commenc'd a Suit against the Arch-bishop of Canterbury for their former Right and Independance but the Cause was judg'd against them The Pastoral care and Zeal of St. David in maintaining the Catholick Faith against Heresies especially against Pelagianism and Ecclesiastical Discipline against Vices and Disorders was signally approv'd and manifested in the Synod of Victory Assembled by him ten years after his Consecration Neither was this his Pastoral care confin'd to his own Province but extended it self abroad also even to Ireland from whence he was often visited and consulted by Devout men In those days it was a frequent custom amongst the Irish-men to go in Pilgrimage and their Devotion was to visit the Monuments of the Apostles in Rome Amongst the rest one Barro an Abbot in the Province of Cork went thither and in his return pass'd by Menevia where he staid for the accommodation of a Ship and Wind. And indeed it was the practice of Devout Irish-men either in their going or returning to seek the Conversation of the Holy Bishop David whose Name like a precious fragrant Oyntment was spread all abroad It appears by Bishop Vsher's Catalogue that Irish Saints were to be sorted into several Orders according to the times wherein they liv'd The first Order Was of such as liv'd either Contemporaries with St. Patrick or presently after him The second Order Contain'd such Saints as liv'd about this Age such as were St. Finanus call'd by the Irish Fin and by the Britains Gain or Win St. Brendon c. It is said the Saints of
the second Order receiv'd the right Order of Celebrating Mass out of Britain from Holy men there living as St. David St. Gildas and St. Doc Moreover St. David sent over some of his Disciples into Ireland who grew famous for their Learning and Sanctity of whom the most Illustrious was St. Aedan call'd by the Irish St. Madoc After he grew renown'd for his Piety and Miracles he built at length a Monastery near the City of Fernes where having collected a great number of Devout Brethren he Consecrated himself to the Service of God living according to the form and rule which he had receiv'd from his Pious Father St. David the same which was observ'd by the Monks in Aegypt This St. Aedan was afterwards Bishop of Fernes and Metropolitan of Leinster while St. David liv'd whom he us'd to consult in Affairs of difficulty After many years spent by the Holy Bishop David in the exercise of all Christian Virtues it pleas'd Almighty God in love to him and just anger to the Ungrateful Britains to translate this burning and shining Light from Earth to Heaven there to shine in Glory to all Eternity According to the best account He dy'd in the year of Grace 544. having liv'd 82 years though some writers affirm him to have liv'd much longer It is said That when the hour of his Dissolution approach'd the Angel of the Lord appear'd to him saying The day so much desir'd by thee is now at hand prepare thy self for on the Calends of March our Lord Jesus Christ attended with a multitude of Angels will come to meet thee Whereupon the Holy man of God said O Lord dismiss now thy Servant in Peace The Brethren who assisted him having heard the sound of these words but not well understanding the sense fell Prostrate to the ground in great fear Then the Holy Bishop cry'd with a loud voice Lord Jesus Christ receive my Spirit Vpon this the Brethren pour'd forth loud Complaints but he asswag'd their sorrow with mild and comfortable words exhorting them to be constant in their good profession and unanimously to bear to the end that yoak which they had undergone and to observe and fulfill whatever they had seen or heard from him and from that hour to the day of his death he remain'd in the Church exhorting and encouraging them But when the hour of his departure was come our Lord Jesus Christ vouchsafed his presence as he had promis'd by his Angel to the infinite Consolation of the Holy Father who at the Heavenly sight exalted in Spirit cry'd out O my Lord take me after thee With which words in our Lords company he gave up his Spirit to God upon the Calends fore-mention'd and being associated to a troop of Angels mounted up to Heaven with them The Death of this Holy Bishop is said to have been divulg'd by an Angel and in an Instant spread through all Britain and Ireland That this was so seems to be confirm'd by a passage in the Life of St. Kentigern of whom it is said That having one day continu'd his Prayers with more then ordinary Devotion his face seem'd as on fire the sight whereof fill'd the by-standers with great amazement when Prayers were ended the Saint began to lament bitterly and when his Disciples demanded a reason of his sorrow he sate a while silent and at last said My dear Children know for certain that the Holy Bishop David the Glory of Britain the Father of his Country is this day dead he has escap'd out of the Prison of his Body and is flown to Heaven Believe me I my self have seen a multitude of Angels conducting him into the Joy of our Lord and our Lord himself at the Entrance of Paradice hath Crown'd him with Glory and Honour Know also that Britain which is depriv'd of so great a Light will a long time mourn for the Absence of such a Patron who oppos'd himself to the Sword of our Lord when it was half drawn out for the destruction of that Nation in revenge of their Sins and Impenitence Now will God deliver up Britain to a strange Nation which know him not and Pagans shall enjoy the land of its Inhabitants Christian Religion shall be utterly dissipated in it 'till the time prefix'd by God be ended But after that it shall through the Mercies of our Lord be restor'd to its former state yea to a far better and more Happy St. David was Buried in his own Church of Menevia which he had lov'd above all Monasteries of his Diocess because St. Patrick who had Prophesied of his Nativity had been Founder of it And also indeed he was bury'd there by the command of Malgo King of the Venedatae But after 500 years he was Solemnly Canoniz'd by Pope Calixtus the second This Church at first was Dedicated to St. Andrew but after took St. David for its Patron and the whole Diocess was thence call'd St. David's The memory of his Sanctity was so precious that within a few years after his Death the visiting of his Church prov'd a great Devotion of those times St. Oudoceus Successor of St. Thelian in the Bishoprick of Landaff after a Pilgrimage to visit the Monuments of the Holy Apostles at Rome made another to this Church of St. David and after when any one had a desire to go in Devotion to Rome and was hindred by dangers or difficulties he might equal the merit of such a Pilgrimage by twice visiting this Church of St. David perhaps as a compensation allow'd by the Pope St. Kinoc or Cenac was St. David's Successor translated thither from the See of St. Patern of whom and other Successors in the See of St. David little is found To keep the story of this worthy Bishop entire some interruption may be observ'd to have been made in the order of Time. It is therefore requisite to return to its due course In the year of Grace 532. Otta King of Kent dy'd leaving his Son Irmeric Successor in his Kingdom who was Illustrious for nothing more than that he was the Father of Ethelbert the first Christian King among the Saxons Two years after dy'd also Cerdic King of the West-Saxons in the 16th year of his Reign to whom succeeded his Son Kenric in all his Dominions except the Isle of Wight which he left to his Sisters Son Whitgar whom he lov'd especially for his Military Skill The great Commotions in Britain and Cruelty of the Saxons compell'd many to seek the means of serving God abroad amongst whom was a Holy Priest call'd John who retir'd to Tours in France there to live in Prayers and Solitude but after his Death his Sanctity by the good pleasure of God was made known by a Miracle thus related by that famous Bishop St. Gregory of Tours Not far from the Church of Caion saith he rests the Body of a Priest Nam'd John by Nation a Britain who living here with great Devotion and Sanctity Our Lord was pleas'd by him Miraculously to
English Upon which the Holy Pope perceiving that he was a sincere man of God confirm'd his Consecration knowing it came from God. Moreover at the earnest request of St. Kentigern though with some unwillingness he condescended to supply those small defects which were in his Consecration and so dismist him to the work of his Ministry enjoyn'd him by the Holy-Ghost So that it appears nothing essentially necessary in this Consecration was omitted because the Holy Pope supply'd the defects meerly upon importunity The greatest fault the Holy Bishop could impute to himself was his being Consecrated by one only Bishop against the express Canon of a General Councel though indeed considering the danger and unquietness of the times if the words of the Canon were transgress'd yet the intent was not as not obliging to Impossibilities And this sense of the Canon appears by the Resolution of St. Gregory to St. Augustine That he being the only Bishop in the Church of the Angli might himself alone ordain other Bishops It is said of this St. Kentigern That during the whole course of his Life his custom was to eat only every third day and sometimes every fourth his food was Bread Milk Cheese and Butter He always abstain'd from Flesh and Wine or any other Drink which could Distemper Next his skin he wore a very rough Hair-cloath and over that a Garment made of Goat-skins together with a close Cowle and his uppermost cloathing was a white Albe He always wore a Stole and carried a Pastoral Staff or Crosier not Spherical Gilded or set with precious Stones but of simple Wood bowing back at the Top and in his Hand he ever held a Book thus was he always in readiness to exercise his Function whenever necessity or reason requir'd He lay in a stone Chest made hollow like a Biere under his Head lay a stone and under his body were cast Cinders and Cilice of Hair in which posture with some unwillingness he admitted a short sleep after which he would plunge himself into Cold Water and so recite the whole Psalter This practice neither Snow nor Rain interrupted nor any thing but Sickness or Journeying He six'd his Episcopal See in the City of Glasco where he also ordain'd a great Congregation of Religious men who liv'd according to the form of the Primitive Church in community of all things The Infidels in his Diocess he converted to the Faith Apostates and Hereticks by his sound Doctrine he reduc'd to the bosome of our Holy Mother the Church He every where threw down Idols and Images of Devils and built some Churches He distinguish'd Parishes by their certain bounds He was always travelling to gain Souls to God never riding but in imitation of the Apostles always going on foot And because he would not eat his Bread in Idleness his custom was to labour with his hands in Agriculture About this time our famous King Arthur upon some unknown occasion Abroad left the Administration of his Kingdom to his Nephew Mordred Son of Loth King of the Picts by his Sister Mordred in the Absence of his Uncle invades his Throne upon pretence King Arthur was a Bastard and born out of Lawful Marriage To this Treason the Traytor adds the Crime of Incest violently taking his Uncles Wife Queen Guenhumara And to strengthen himself he enter'd into a Confederacy with the King of the West-Saxons to whom he yielded up several Provinces This infamous Crime soon brings King Arthur back into Britain inflam'd with rage against his abominable Kinsman Mordred was prepared to hinder his landing where a Cruel Battle was fought between them in which Auguselus King of Albania and Walwan another Nephew of King Arthur were slain notwithstanding which at last King Arthur with infinite difficulty landed and renewing the Fight made a great slaughter of his Enemies compelling Mordred to fly to Winchester whither he was pursu'd by King Arthur where in a second Battle after much Blood-shed he was again put to flight toward Cornwall But King Arthur not ceasing to follow at last overtook him near the River Camblan where Mordred having rang'd his Forces in a desperate fury rush'd amongst his Enemies resolv'd rather to die then once more to shew his back to them In this Combat which continu'd almost a whole day after horrible Bloodshed on both sides King Arthur with the Courage and fury of a Lyon rush'd into the Troop where he knew Mordred was and making way with his Sword at last with horrible slaughter dispers'd the Enemies There fell the Traytor Mordred and with him several Saxon Commanders Elaphius Egbrith and Bruning and many thousands with them But this Victory cost King Arthur his Life for in the Combat he receiv'd a Mortal Wound and was convey'd by the Charity of a Kins-woman of his a Noble Matron call'd Morganis into the Island of Avallonia now Glastonbury which gave occasion to the foolish British Bards to invent the Story Of Morganis a Faery Goddess who carried the Body of King Arthur into Avallonia by Magick skill with promise to Cure his Wounds and that he should return with his former Strength and Courage to govern the Britains Who for many Ages expected his return as foolishly as the coming of the Messias is look'd for by the Jews When Guenhumara heard of her Husbands return she fled to the City of Caerleon and there took the Habit of a Religious Woman among the Nuns in the Monastery of St. Julius the Martyr The true reason why King Arthur would be carried to the Monastery of Glastonbury doubtless was partly to prepare himself more perfectly for Death in the company and by the assistance of the Holy Monks there and that after his death he might be bury'd among such a world of Saints as repos'd there from the beginning of Christianity The like we read of Constantine who for the like purpose was bury'd in like manner That he might have the Prayers of such as in succeeding Ages should come to visit those Monuments King Arthur before his death gave to that Monastery Brent March Poulden and other Lands besides which the Pagan Angli took away but after being Converted to the Faith restor'd with Advantage King Arthur appointed for his Successor a Kins-man of his call'd Constantine and having recommended himself to the Prayers of the Monks he dy'd Happily and after a Christian manner was bury'd with a Cross His conveyance to Glastonbury was it seems by his own Order and done with all Secresie and by like order his Death and place of Burial studiously conceal'd For says Matthew Paris the King dying was desirous to be hidden least his Enemies should insult and his Friends be molested at so great a Calamity Hence it is that Histories relate little or nothing of his Death and Burial Insomuch as the British Nation out of their Affection to him contend that he is still alive upon which occasion the Prophecy was invented and father'd upon Merlin That he should appear and
by the Prelate of that place he was sent in Mission to the Scots to instruct that Nation in the Doctrine of Christ where he suffer'd Martyrdom by the hands of some Impious persons Some Ages after he became Venerated as a Saint and by Authority of succeeding Bishops Temples were Dedicated to his Honour which yet remain in that Nation To confirm this we read in the Life of St. David That when St. David 's Holiness was spread abroad several Princes forsaking their Kingdoms retir'd to his Monastery And that Constantine King of the Cornish-men or Danmonii forsaking his Throne became a Monk there and after some time spent in the Service of God at last went into a far distant Country where he built a Monastery Now it will be time to relate the great Affliction and Persecution which befell the famous and Holy Bishop St. Kentigern in the second year of Constantine Certain Sons of Belial Kinsmen to King Mark rose against the Saint conspiring his death whereupon being admonish'd by Divine Revelation he departed directing his Journey to Menevia where the Holy Bishop David flourish'd with all Virtues near Gaerleon he Converted many to the Faith and built a Church Being come to St. David he abode with him some time and receiv'd from the Prince of that Region Cathwallam a place commodious for a Monastery which having Erected at Egla Elwy he fix'd there an Episcopal See Near that place there was a Nobleman which often threatn'd and endeavour'd to expel him from thence whom God therefore smote with Blindness but upon the Holy Bishops Prayers his Sight was restor'd for which he became ever after Helper and Protector to the Bishop There were Assembled in that Monastery no fewer then 945 Brethren who all liv'd under Monastical Discipline serving God with great Abstinence of which number 300. who were Illiterate he appointed to Tilling the Ground and Guard of the Cattle out of the Monastery other 300. he assign'd for preparing Nourishment and performing other necessary Works within the Monastery and 365. who were Learn'd he deputed to the Celebrating Divine Offices daily Not any of which without great necessity would he permit to go out of the Monastery but ordain'd them to attend there continually as in Gods Sanctuary And this part of the Convent he divided so into Troops and Companies that when one had finish'd the Service of God in the Church another presently enter'd and began it again which being ended a third without any delay enter'd By this means Prayers were offer'd in that Church without intermission and the Praises of God were always in their Mouths Among these there was one nam'd Asaph more especially Illustrious for his Descent and Form who from his Childhood shone brightly both by Virtues and Miracles and daily endeavour'd to imitate his Master in all Sanctity and Abstinence To him this man of God bore ever after a particular Affection and committed the care of the Monastery to his Prudence and at last appointed him his Successor in the Bishoprick As touching the fore-mention'd Noble-man who oppos'd this Holy Bishop it is written to this effect That St. Kentigern at first built a Church of Wood and Lime but after he renew'd it of Stone although he was therein much hindred and molested by a Prince nam'd Malgo or Maglocun whose dwelling was six Miles thence at Deganwy but after being asswag'd he permitted him to place there an Episcopal See on which he bestow'd both ample Possessions and Priviledges as he did also upon the Monastery The See is by some call'd Elguy or Llanelwy so nam'd from the River Elwy over which it is seated St. Kentigern being the first Bishop thereof But in succeeding times it was call'd St. Asaph from the next succeeding Bishop Of this Prince Malgo more hereafter St. Kentigern's Life was prolong'd till after St. Augustine the Monks coming into Britain yet because his future Actions do not much relate to the general Affairs of the British Churches we may well in this place sum up the remainder of his Life He remain'd in Cambria seventeen years exercising most perfectly the Functions both of an Abbot and after of a Bishop at Elwy till in the end he was re-call'd to his first Bishoprick at Glasco in this admirable manner After that all his Enemies in Cambria had been consum'd by divers Calamities and Diseases the Inhahitants of that Region from whence he had been so long Exild through his Absence had forsaken the way of the Lord which he had taught them and were return'd to their Idolatry like Dogs to their Vomit which Apostacy of theirs it pleas'd God to puntsh by a grievous Famine the Earth the Sea and all the Elements refusing their accustom'd aid and comfort to them But at length our Lord was pleas'd to raise up a good King in that Region nam'd Rederech who had been Baptiz'd by some of the Disciples of St. Patrick and who was very desirous to restore the Faith of Christ in his Kingdom for which purpose he directed Messengers with Letters to St. Kentigern wherein he acquainted the Saint That the men who sought his Life were dead and besought him that he would no longer be absent from his flock for which he was oblig'd to Sacrifice his Life St. Kentigern having receiv'd the Message prepar'd for his return and having appointed St. Asaph his Successor in the Bishoprick of Elwy he attended with 600 of his Brethren took his Journey to the Region of the Cambrians and was met by the Devout King and great numbers of his People giving Thanks to God for his Presence upon whom the Holy man pronounced a solemn Benediction After this he cry'd with a loud voice In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ I command all those who envy the Salvation of men and resist the Preaching of Gods word to depart presently from hence that they may be no hinderance to those who shall believe Having said thus immediately in the sight of all an innumerable multitude of wicked Spirits horrible to behold both for their Stature and Shapes fled away from the Company which caus'd a wonderful Fear and trembling in them But the Holy man encourag'd and comforted them letting them see visibly who they were in whom they had believ'd and by whom they had been induced to Adore dumb Idols or the Elements which were Creatures appointed by God for their Vse and Service And for Woden whom by the Seduction of the Saxons they esteem'd their principal God And to whose Honour they Consecrated the fourth day of the Week he shew'd that he was no better than a Mortal man who had been King of the Saxons and Ancestor to several Nations that his Body was then dissolv'd into Dust and his Soul tormented in Hell fire for ever When he had said this with other Speeches in explanation of the Christian Faith The ground on which he sate in a plain Field call'd Holdelin swell'd up under him in the sight of them all so
inbred custom among them to sell their Children which unhappy custom continu'd many Ages in our Nation Insomuch as in the days of our King Henry the Second by the Testimony of Giraldus Cambrensis A Synod at Armagh in Ireland was fain to make a Decree for redeeming of such English Youths as had been sold for slaves in that Island And before that time among the Laws of Inas King of the West-Saxons there is more then one Decree which under great Penalties forbid this unnatural Traffique Lastly St. Gregory himself in his Epistle to Candidus his Procurator in France gives him order To redeem such English Children as he met with sold for Slaves in that Kingdom and to send them to Rome to be there instructed in the Christian Faith In truth almost all Antient Writers agree in the story though some differ about the time some ascribing it to the time of Pope Benedict but most and that most truly to the latter end of Pope Pelagius St. Gregory's immediate Predecessor St. Beda thus delivers the true Circumstances of this Story and tells us That by Tradition from their Ancestors it was brought to them that St. Gregory took so much care for the Salvation of our Nation that on a day when great variety of Merchandize was brought into the Market at Rome by Foreign Merchants St. Gregory especially took notice of three young Children of a pure Complexion Beautiful looks and Hairs Gracefully order'd and enquir'd out of what Country they came and being told they came from the Island of Britain where the Inhabitants generally are so Comely ask'd whether they were Christians or Pagans and being told they were Pagans Sigh'd saying Alas what pitty is it that the Prince of Darkness should possess men of such bright Countenances and that persons so amiable in their Looks should have Souls devoid of inward Grace Then he ask'd what was the Name of their particular Nation to whom was answered That they were call'd Angli Well may they be so call'd said he for they have Angelick Countenances suitable to such who shall be Co-heirs with Angels He further ask'd how the Province is call'd from whence they came the Answer was that they were Inhabitants of the Province call'd Deiri said he importing they should be deliver'd from the Ire of God de ira dei eruti and call'd to partake of his Mercy His last question was How the King of that Nation was call'd and being told Alle in allusion to that name he presently reply'd Allelujah must be Sung in those parts to the Praise of God who created all things After which Discourse he went to Pelagius then Bishop of the Roman and Apostolick See himself not being then Pope and humbly intreated him to send into Britain some Ministers of Gods word to Convert that Nation to Christ adding That he himself was ready to be employ'd with Gods assistance in such a work if his Holiness thought fit But his offer could not be taken for the Romans would not permit his Absence so far from the City Notwithstanding a while after when hewas exalted to the Popedom he brought to perfection what was so long and so earnestly desir'd by him sending indeed other persons to Preach the Gospel there but making their Preaching much more effectual by his Councels Exhortations and Prayers By which relation it is confirm'd that this did not happen in the time of Benedict for a good while pass'd after Pope Benedict's death before St. Gregory was Prefect of the City after which it was that he undertook a Monastical Profession in a Monastery built by himself Ad clivum scauri from whence he was call'd to be Arch-Deacon of the Roman Church then sent Nuncio to Constantinople At his return from thence he afforded our English Youths so much Grace and Favour But though Alla King of the Deiri by the Selling of the said Children gave occasion of bringing of Christianity to the Angli yet was not he so happy to hear any thing of it himself for the Divine Election regarded his Son Edwin who succeeded him not immediately but after the death of Edelric whose Reign was short and inconsiderable save only that in his first year St. Columban after he had spent many years in the Monastry of Banchor in Ireland came over into Britain with twelve Companions and from thence went into France He was not above 20 years of Age when he undertook this Journey and yet was so Courteously receiv'd in France by Childebert that he gave him choice of any place for his abode Whereupon He and his Companions entring into a Desart place found a ruinous piece of ground encompass'd with old Walls but water'd with warm Springs and of old call'd Luxovium and there fix'd their abode While St. Columban liv'd thereabout he was Instructor to the Holy Virgin Phara said to be a British Nun and Neece to the Saint himself but of this Nun more perhaps hereafter In the year 590. a War broke out between the Picts and Scots Aidan or Edan Crown'd King by St. Columba at Hy then enjoy'd the Principality over the Scots the cause of this War was the same which rais'd so much Contention between the Britains and Saxons for the Scots out of Ireland were invited by the Picts to assist them against the Britains as the Saxons were by the Britains to assist them against the Picts and Scots and these Irish Picts imitating the Saxons soon grew Insolent and being supply'd with new Aids at last obtain'd a Kingdom and then rooted out the very Name of Picts St. Columba though far distant in his Isle of Hy or Iova had a strange prospect of a great Battle then fought between these Scots and Picts for calling his Brethren together to Prayer he Kneeling down said Let us now Pray fervently for this People and their King Aidan for at this very hour the Battle against their Enemies begins A little while after rising up and looking towards Heaven he said Now are the Barbarous Enemies put to flight and the Victory is given to Aidan though dearly purchas'd for of his Army 303. are slain Ecclesiastical Stories are not without Examples of Gods Pleasure in revealing to his Servants things thus happening in parts remote This same year dy'd Cissa King of the South-Saxons and his Kingdom devolv'd to Ceaulin King of the West-Saxons yet so as Edelwalch Son of Cissa enjoy'd the Title of King as Homager to Ceaulin and this year also was chiefly Illustrated by the advancement of St. Gregory to the Popedom who immediately after the death of Pelagius was with wonderful Applause of all Degrees and Orders in Rome placed in St. Peter's Chair to the great benefit of the whole Church and the incomparable Felicity of our For his admirable Gests among which the most Illustrious was the Conversion of our Ancestors he was deservedly call'd St. Gregory the Great and the Apostle of England The year following Britain affords a memorable Example of the
sight The Blind man answer'd I believe in Jesus Christ whom thou Preachest and beg that I may be Baptiz'd Whereupon the Holy man with his Hands making the Sign of the Cross upon the Blind-man's Eyes he immediately receiv'd his Sight And casting away the Staves which had help'd him in walking he gave Thanks to God and St. Richard by whom he had been Enlightned As for the Woman when she saw the Miracle she likewise was Cnoverted so as St. Richard perceiving her Faith took her by the Hand whereupon she rose up streight and walking cry'd out with a loud voice There is only one most high God who by his good Servant hath made me whole At these Acclamations of the Woman the greatest part of the City met together and attending to the Holy Bishops Preaching were in short time Converted God by him working many Miracles so as the said Converts having broken down all their Idols were Baptiz'd by him Not long after which follow'd the Apparition of St. Michael to the People of Siponto who commanded them to Erect a Chappel there to his Name This they signified to their Bishop Laurentius and He to Pope Gelasius desiring his advice what was to be done His Answer was That being will'd by the Blessed Arch-Angel a Church should forthwith be built and that it should be perform'd by the Holy Bishops Laurentius of Siponto Sabinus of Cannusium Pelagius of Salapia Roger of Caunae and Richard of Andria Upon this the two Holy Bishops last mention'd took their Journey to Siponto on foot with daily Fasting toylsom Labours and incommodity from the burning heat of the Sun which incommodity upon their Prayers was miraculously remedied by the flying of a mighty Eagle over their Heads which shadow'd them during their whole Journey At their Arrival they perform'd what they came for as we may read in the publick Office of that Church The Death of this Holy Bishop is Commemorated in the Martyrology yearly on the 9th of April In the year of Grace 494. A third Noble German came into Britain Nam'd Cerdic a man of a High Spirit and Noble Descent as proceeding from the Stock of Woden Hearing of two Kingdoms already Erected in Britain he resolv'd to venture for a share in his Country-mens Atchievements For that purpose with his Son Cenric and five Ships he landed at a place after call'd Cerdic-shore and the same day was met by multitudes of Britains who Fought with him The Saxons having rang'd their Forces in order stood immoveable before their Ships The Britains boldly set upon them and then retir'd but were not pursu'd by the Enemy for they were resolv'd not to quit their place The Fight continu'd the Britains sometimes Charging then retiring 'till night sever'd them and after the Britains perceiving the fierceness of those new come Strangers departed yet so that neither side could boast of Victory only this advantage the Saxons had that they took possession of their Enemies Shore and by little and little enlarg'd their Conquests along the Sea Coasts Their landing was in the Province of the Iceni comprehending Suffolk and Norfolk but there they settled not for marching through the Island they came into the Western parts where in time they Erected the new and Powerful Kingdom of the West Saxons The Island thus dismembred by Barbarous Enemies yet sustain'd greater Damage by Civil Dissentions rais'd by Pascentius a Son of the late King Vortigern who after the Death of his Father perceiving the Minds of the Britains inclin'd to Ambrosius fled into Germany where he remain'd several years endeavouring to gather Forces sufficient to restore him to the Throne of his Ancestors at length about the year 496. he came with a Powerful and well furnish'd Army and landed in the Northern parts of the Island with intent to revenge his own and his Fathers injuries upon Ambrosius Upon news hereof Ambrosius marches speedily to meet him they came to a Battle wherein Pascentius was overcome and forc'd to fly into the Country of the Scots where he recruited his Army and return'd once more to try his Fortune against the Britains But hearing that Ambrosius lay sick at Winchester he thought it better to work his revenge by Treason then open force Therefore by Gifts and Promises he hir'd a certain Saxon call'd Eopa to fain himself a Physitian and a Britain who under this feign'd shew and with a pretence of great Piety and Affection to the King being admitted mingled Poison in a Potion administred to him of which Ambrosius presently dy'd in the 31th year of his Reign But Pascentius did not long enjoy the fruits of his Treason For Vterpendragon Brother to the dead Ambrosius and General of his Armies marching against Pascentius obtain'd a Signal Victory against him and in a Battle slew him and his Captains that came with him The year following Vter came to Winchester and calling an Assembly of the Clergy and People of the Kingdom took upon him the Crown of Britain which is said to have been set upon his Head by the Holy Bishop Dubritius Vter then calling to mind a great Comet which had appear'd the year before darting sorth only one Beam at the end whereof was seen a Globe of Fire shap'd like a Dragon out of whose Mouth proceeded two Beams one reaching to Gaul and the other shooting towards Ireland which ended in seven less Beams 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 in Winchester the other he carried with him placing it in every Combat in his Ensign and from that time he was call'd in the British Language Vtherpendragon And hence it is that to this day our Kings in their War-like Expeditions carry the like Ensign Vter had no sooner put on his Crown but he was forc'd to exchange it for a Head-piece for Esca the Successor of Hengist and his Son Octa attended with a mighty Army of Saxons Invaded the Northern Provinces of Britain and destroy'd all the Munitions between Albany and York At last when they attempted the Siege of the City of Alcluid Vterpendragon came upon them with all the strength of the Country and enter'd Battle against them The Saxons manfully resisted and in the end compell'd the Britains to fly as far as a Mountain call'd Danet which they seiz'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 Courageously to set upon the Enemies by night This Design they executed Prosperously for the Saxons being thus unexpectedly invaded scarce endur'd any Combat at all but were utterly routed and Esca and Octa were taken Prisoners whom the King carried with him to London where he caus'd them to be kept safe About this time Arthur became of ripe Age. The year of Grace 500. in our Ecclesiastical Monuments is remarkable for the Death of St. Cadoc the
Holy Abbot Son of Gunleus Prince of the Southern Britains and Gladus Daughter of Braghan The Father of St. Cadoc Gunleus by Divine Vocation growing weary of the World built a Church where he began to live in great Abstinence and Purity of Conversation His Cloathing was Sack-cloath his Diet Barley-Bread mingled with Ashes and his Drink Water he usually rose at mid-night and to abate Carnal Desires cast himself into Cold-water He received nothing from any but sustain'd himself with the Labour of his Hands This retirement of St. Cadoc's Father began while he was a Child who when he came to years of Discretion chose rather to imitate his Fathers Devotion then to be expos'd to the Temptations and Vicissitudes of the World in the enjoyment of his Principality He had for his Master and Director in the way of Piety a Learn'd and Holy man famous in that Age call'd Tathai who liv'd a Solitary Life in all Austerity among the mountains of South-wales 'till he was invited by Caradoc Prince of that Province to live Coenobitically and to institute young-men in Learning and Piety at a City call'd Venta Silurum in the Province of Monmouth which Region from that City was by the Britains call'd Guent the City being then an Academy Dedicated to the Studies of Literature over which St. Tathai was President and exercising that Office with great commendation built there a Church Under so worthy a Master St. Cadoc made wonderful Progress in Virtue and Piety and himself became a Guide in Spiritual Life and a Father of the Monks For that purpose he built a Monastery which was call'd Lancarvan from an admirable accident in the building of it wherein this Holy Father imploy'd wilde Harts which became familiar obedient and serviceable to him Thus both the Father and the Son contemning the World liv'd in it to God only and dy'd Happily As for Gunleus the Father when the end of his days approach'd he sent to St. Dubricius who had been Bishop of Landaff and to his Son Cadoc desiring the Charity of a Visit from them who came and comforted him and after he had receiv'd the Holy Communion for a Viaticum and defence of his Soul he departed to our Lord He was Honourably bury'd and at his Sepulchre Angels have been often seen and Sick persons of all Infirmities resorting thither and imploring his Intercession have been Heal'd Glorifying God in his Saint The day of his Consummation in our Martyrology is Celebrated yearly the 29th of March concerning his Son Cadoc it is related That he daily sustain'd 100 Ecclesiastical persons as many Widows and as many other poor People beside Strangers which frequently visited him For though he was an Abbot and had many Monks under his Government yet he reserv'd a Portion of his Fathers Principality to be Charitably distributed to such as had need Neither was this Charity of his any transgression of his Monastical Profession which forbids Propriety in Temporal goods because he only exercis'd a Pious Procuration as he did in other Goods of his Monastery He dy'd in the Province of the Ordovices and was there held in high Veneration For Harpsfield testifies That a Church was Erected to his Honour among the Danmonii at a place call'd Corinia which to this day conserves his memory In the Antient Martyrology he is Commemorated on the 24th of February In that Martyrology also the Names of other British Saints are recorded who dy'd about the year of Grace 500. Among the rest St. Dogmael or as the Britains call him St. Tegivel Illustrious for his great Virtues Sanctity and Miracles A famous Abbey in Pembrokshire took its Name from him The memory is there also preserv'd of St. Bernach Abbot a man of admirable Sanctity who in Devotion made a Journey to Rome and from thence returning into Britain fill'd all places with the fame of his Piety and Miracles The same year a famous Irish Saint and Martyr call'd Finguar is recorded to have dy'd He was the Son of Cliton a Prince in Ireland who for Contemplation's sake is said to have retir'd into Cornwall where with many others he was slain by Theoderick a Prince of that Country His Life is found written by St. Anselm Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Aesca the Son of Hengist who had been taken Prisoner by Vter and confin'd in London made his escape out of Prison and return'd to his Kingdom of Kent where he after remain'd quietly As for Cerdic being not able to establish a Kingdom in the Western parts he sent into Germany for new Supplies whereupon the year following Port a German Captain with his two Sons Bleda and Magla in two great Ships furnish'd with Soldiers landed at a Haven from him call'd Portsmouth Upon his landing the British Governour with a great multitude boldly set upon the Saxons but without Order and so were soon defeated This same year while the Saxons made a Progress in the Southern and more Fertile parts of Britain the Scots in the North laid a Foundation of their new Kingdom at the foot of the Mountain Grampius which was call'd the Kingdom of Albany Fergus the Son of Eric of the Seed of Chonare with a Nation call'd the Dalreudins from Reuda who first conducted them out of Ireland and first also took upon him to be King of Albany from Brun Albain to the Irish Sea where the following Kings of the Seed of Fergus to Alpin the Son of Eochal reign'd As from Ireland many Holy men sought a retreat for their Devotion in Britain so in these tumultuous times upon the same motive some were induc'd to retire out of Britain into Ireland Bishop Vsher exemplifies St. Petroc who born in Britain liv'd in Ireland to whose Care and Instruction a Youth of seven years of Age call'd Coemgen or Kegnius was there committed Saint Petroc was by Nation a Cambrian not a Cimbrian as in the Gallican Martyrology is mistaken born of Princely Parents in Wales and in his Infancy did so well imitate the Faith and Virtues of St. Peter Prince of the Apostles that his Name may seem to have been given him by Divine Inspiration as if God had destin'd him to be a Rock on which the Church of Britain should be built When the Prince his Father was dead the Nobles of the Country with the consent of the whole People were desirous he should succeed in the Royalty But he neglecting worldly Pomp assum'd with him 60 Companions and with them enter'd into a Monastery and there undertook a Monastical Profession After some time there spent he went into Ireland where for the space of 20 years he addicted himself to the Study of good Learning and the Holy Scriptures great part of which time St. Coemegen was under his Tuition Now having in this space of time heap'd up a great Treasure of Learning under the most perfect Teachers of that Island he return'd into Britain and in the Province of Corinia or Cornwall intended to imploy all that Treasure