Zelotes who according to diuers auncient writers among The Authour of the English Marty rologe printed ann 1608. 28. Octobr his greate mistaking authorities other his PeregrinatioÌ„s came into our IlaÌ„d of Britany about the yeare of Christ fourty and sixe and there preached the Christian faith baptized ordeined Preists DeacoÌ„s erected Churches and the like whereby we may worthely call him our Apostle and with greater solemnitie celebrate his feast by whom we receaued so singular graces benefites He afterward went into Persia with S. Iude to preach the ChristiaÌ„ faith to the infidels of that Country where at last he receaued the reward of his labours by martyrdome Nicephor l. 2. c. 40. Pol. Vir. l. 7. hist West ann 636. 652. Dor. in Synopsi Matth. Westm an 125. being nayled to a crosse though Dorotheus writeth that he suffered and was buried in Britany Hitherto this Authour and he citeth for his warrant as I haue placed theÌ„ in the Margin Nicephorus Polidor Virgil Matthew Westminster Dorotheus Of all which not any one affirmeth these things Matthew Westminster Poildor Vergil doe not so much as name S. Simon the Apostle except Matthew Westminster saith he was Bishop of Hierusalem next after S. Iames. Dorotheus doth not say that S. Simon the Apostle was either crucified or at all in Persia neither doth Nicephorus neither doth any of these or any other say that S. SimoÌ„ was heare about the yeare of Christ 46. neither caÌ„ that possibly be true by any coÌ„putation for by the vndeniable testimonies of many auncieÌ„t Fathers he was preseÌ„t with other of the Apostles at the death of the blessed Virgin in the same yeare or 45. yet by Nicephorus all that seeme to thinke Matth. Westm an 45. Dorotheus in Synop. Niceph. l. 2. c. 40. loc cit he was in Britaine he preached both through Mauritania all Afrike therefore noe being for him in Britaine at that time Nicephorus maketh it more vnpossible saying he trauailed through Egypt and Africk theÌ„ through Mauritania and all Lybia preaching the ghospell And the same doctrine he brought to the Occidâ—ntall Ocean Which all Cosmographers know not to be that part of the Otean which is next vnto vs vpoÌ„ the coste of Afrike for Britaine froÌ„ thence is in the Boreale North Ocean the Occidentall OceaÌ„ of Afrike is that which is next to the Asores Chanary Ilands others exteÌ„ding towards America Which seemeth to haue bene that which deceaued Nicephorus if he though Abrah Ortel in typo Orbis Africae descript Ptolom Bilibald Pirckeymher lij in Afric Stephan v. Brit. Isac in Lymphr S. SimoÌ„ came froÌ„ the west Ocean to the Brittish IlaÌ„ds taking perhaps all those IlaÌ„ds to be coÌ„prehended vnder that name But more probable it is that the Britannia to which S. Simon went if to any or was put to death in is the Britannia in the East Country neare vnto Persia For Isacius is witnes that of ould there were three Britaines this which we inhabit a second about Thyle now Island a third in the Easte which is most like to be that which Dorotheus Nicephorus meane in this matter Or if we will say that S. SimoÌ„ went froÌ„ the west coast Ocean of Afrike vnto Persia if he passed by the MediterreÌ„ Adriake sea which was his easiest iorney going by Iury as he did he passed by Britannis or Britannia an Iland in the Adriacke Sea called by some Elaphusa Stephanus v. Brettotia Brettannis or Elaphites 12. myles from Malta by Pliny And that there was an other Britania or BritaÌ„nis in the same passadge betweene Afrike Italy is testified by our English Protestants in their Theater who cite Polybius for Authour that Speed Theater l. 5. c. 4. Polyb. Eglog l. 10. 11. 42. Camden in Brit. Theater l. 5. c. 1. §. 11. Claudius Ptolomaeus in Geograph Sebast Munster in Cosmograph Bilibald Pirck-emher in Ptolom Abrah Ortelius in Theatro Orbis Rich. Hackluyt trauails of English c. Isidor l. de viâ—a morte Sanctoâ—um in S. Simone Harris Hist Ecc. of Britaine to 1. M. S. HaÌ„nibal was inclosed within the streights of Britaine which must needs be about Italy neare Afrike not out of his iorney by Sea to Iury Persia wheÌ„ if he had come by our Britaine to goe thither he should either haue returned the same way againe or compassed the greatest part of the whole coÌ„tinent passed the frozen seas by the North pole which way no man is remeÌ„bred and knowne to haue gone at that time yet vncertaine whether passable or no after his laÌ„ding he had most vast and Barbarous CouÌ„tries to trauaile through where no man writeth he euer was before he could come to Persia as all Cosmographers auncient late are witnesses wheÌ„ passing by the other Britaine or British IlaÌ„ds he had a short ready Iorney by sea by laÌ„d to trauaile onely through Iury or Syria to Persia those CouÌ„tries there where these ProtestaÌ„ts others tell vs he preached liued loÌ„g was put to death This was his trauaile by laÌ„d as we haue heard before froÌ„ such as wrote the life of that holy Apostle And that was the part which fell vnto him as S. Isidore others affirme when the Apostles diuided the world among theÌ„ to preach the Ghospell in 7. An other late writer there is who in his Manuscript History neuer printed would bring him hither after S. Paul which also some Protestants haue vrged before But I haue answeared this in theÌ„ already long before that time Britaine had by these protestaÌ„ts receaued the faith of christ The like I say to those Protestants which would haue S. Philip the Apostle to send S. Ioseph of Aramathia hither out of Fraunce in or about the yeare of Christ 63. many ChristiaÌ„s being heare by there owne coÌ„fession loÌ„g before that time yet wheÌ„ I come S. Philip the Apostle neuer came into Gallia Fraunâ—â— ly Britaine nor neare vnto it to the dayes of S Iosephs coming into this Iland I will proue at large that S. Philip the Apostle neuer came into this Gallia or neare vnto it For this place it will suffice that both by ProtestaÌ„ts Catholiks S. Philip the Apostle was crucified in Hierapolis in Phrygia many yeares before this his supposed sending S. Ioseph hither from this our Fraunce or Gallia So there is no place or possibilitie Protestant Author of the historie l'estat de l'Eglise printed an 1556. Euseb in Chronic. an 54. Philip. Borgom an 52. left for any Apostle but S. Peter to haue bene our first Father Master in Christian Religion Which I shall more plainely directly make this manifest hereafter In the meane time I am to set downe some former labours and proceedings of this holy Apostle S. Peter yet onely such as haue connection with our Ecclesiasticall Historie of Britaine THE XI CHAPTER
of the Ghospell to haue risen in this our west and this Island of Britaine to haue enioyed the very morning of his ascent the brightnesse thereof peirring through the mistie clowdes of errour and shining here in Britaine euen in the dayes of Tyberius towards whose end Christ suffered his death and by whose Indulgence towards Christians their profession was propagated farre and neare Which Assertion the said Gyldas doth not deliuer coldely or doubtingly but with greate confidence and relying vpon good grounds as it appeareth when he saith scimus we know for certaintie that this was in the later times of Tyberius which was immediatly after our blessed Samours Passion 5. An other English Protestant Antiquary writeth It may appeare that the Christian Religion was planted here in Britaine in this land shortly after Christs Holinshed hist of Engl. l. 4. c. 5. Franc. Mason ep dedicat Franc. Mason Consecrat lib. 2. cap. 3. pag. 51. time An other directed as he saith by the present Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury is so earnest vpon the words of Gildas or malice to Rome that thus he speaketh Tyberius died in the yeare of Christ 39. according to Baronius Where vpon it followeth that Britaine receaued the ghospell fiue yeares at least before either Paul or Peter came to Rome By which it is euident by these Protestant writers of England that they are confident that diuers of this nation receaued English Protâ—staÌ„ts from S. Gildas and otherwise proue that Britaine recâ—aued the faith of Christâ—n Tybâ—rius his time and by meanes of Rome the faith of Christ soone after his Ascension in the time of Tyberius which could probably be effected by no other way or mediation but by Rome where many Britans then liued and inhabited and as before where and whence onely they could take notice and knowledge of such things Which may sufficiently be coÌ„uinced euen out of that place of S. Gildas wherevpon these English Protestants doe ground themselues and as they are both published and vrged by them being these Interea glaciali frigore rigenti Insulae velut longiori terrarum secessu soli visibili non proximae verus ille non de firmamento Gildas l. de conq Britan. c. 6. solum temporali sed de summa etiam coelorum arce tempora cuncta exceâ—ente vniuerso orbi praefulgidum sui coruscum ostendens tempore vt scimus summo Tyberij Caesaris quo absque vllo impedimento eius propagabatur Religio comminata Senatu nolente a principe morte delatoribus militum ciusdem radios suos primum indulget id est sua praecepta Christus In the meane time he who is the true sunne not onely from the temporall firmament but from his high tower of heauen exceeding all times shewing his bright shinning to the whole world in the later time of Tyberius Caesar in which without any Impediment his Religion was propagated death being threatned by the Prince against the Senates will to the Accusers of his Souldiers Christ doth first afford his beames to wit his precepts to the Iland stiffe with frosen colde and by a longe separation of the earth seperated from the visible sunne Where we see that if our Protestant Antiquaries haue delt sincerely with S. Gildas he is both a witnesse that this Iland of Britaine which is that he there describeth did both take knowledge of Christ the true heauenly sunne and benefite of his celestiall light in the later time of Tyberius where he suffered for redemption of the world and that Emperour threatening death to the accusers of them which should receaue him for the Messias did giue occasion that the faith of Christ was so soone preached and embraced in this so remote and colde a Region then subiect to the Empire of Tyberius 6. Therefore we cannot by this auncient Authority deuise any better meanes how the religion of Christ was then first planted here but as I haue proued before from Rome the residency of that Emperour where these mysteries of Christianity were first reuealed authentically examined allowed and confirmed where that commaunde and priuiledge of the Emperour for Christians was decreed and published and where or whence onely the inhabitants of this nation by their dwelling and continuing there or receauing continuall intelligence from thence could learne or come to the notice of these things Neither can the Protestants of England contending thus that there were Christians here in this time be of any other opinion for they doe not yea cannot assigne any one other but such as were sent from S. Peter when he was come to Rome are from him and by his authoritie before he was seated there that preached the faith of Christ in this I land either in that time or aboue twenty yeares after for they finde not any other vntill the coming of S. Ioseph of Aramathia who buried our Sauiour and came not hither vntill the 63. yeare after his natiuity and the time of Tyberius the Emperour his death 24. at the least Longe before which time the Britans had both learned Preists and also Bishops sent hither or consecrated here by the blessed Apostle S. Peter 7. And if S. Mansuetus of whome I haue spoken before as the Germane histories assure vs was consecrated by S. Peter and sent or went so farre a Catal. Episcop Gullens in Lothoring Arnold Mirm. in Theatr. Conuers Gent. Gal. Eâ—sengren cent 1. part 1. dist â— fol. â—6 Pet. de Natal l. 11. c. vlt. Franc. Bellefor Cosmogr l. 2. col 263. Ant. Demochar l. 2. c. 33. de Miss contr Caluin Iorney to him in the easterne contries for that holy purpose whether he went out of this kingdome with direction or from the city of Rome with instruction giuen him there yet he being sent and directed to goe so farre to Peter and consecrated by him and by him againe directed and sent an Apostolike preacher and Bishop into these parts we may not be so alienated from that most blessed Apostle but to giue him this his due to acknowledge That he or they who directed this our contryman to S. Peter aboue all others was or were also first directed by the same S. Peter in such things And thus hauing the cheife Apostle of Christ highest Ruler in spirituall things taking notice care and charge of this kingdome in this his time The Emperour our frend and fauourer giuing all allowance and noe prohibition to Christianity and by so many extraordinary motiues as are before remeÌ„bred so greate a feruour and forwardnesse of the inhabitaÌ„ts here to receaue the faith Our Kings of Britaine were rather freinds and furtherers then enemies to Christian Religion in this time of Christ there could now no impediment be found to hinder it except in our owne Kings which was not so for concerning our gouernment here in Britaine if Aruiragus was then King here as some historians seeme to teach vs he was a frend and no Enemy to Christian religion as we shall
by sainct Peter yet this hindereth not but that as before he spent much time labour in that kinde as nature and charitie bound him in this his natiue contry which is testified in plaine termes both by Methodius that most auncient writer and sainct Marianus Scotus his owne contriman of this Iland who speaking of diuers Apostolike Marian. Scot. l. 2. aetat 6. in Nerua col 254. Method apud eund supr men of that time whom they call Insignes sanctitate gratia pollentes renowned men excelling in sanctitie and grace among whome they name both this our holy Bishop and sainct Clement his associate they say of them non solùm propria prouincia sed in extremis al. externis vltimis industrij illustres regna Tyrannorum vicerunt They were not onely industrious renowned for preaching in their owne contries but also in extreme or externe and vttermost nations ouercame the kingdomes of Tyrants Where it is euident by these two greate witnesses that this most blessed Bishop of Britaine preached here in his owne contry propria prouincia at that time And thus I end the Empire of Caligula Guiderius reigning in Britaine THE VIII CHAPTER OF THE TIME OF CLAVDIVS AND HOW by our Protestants testimony one of the twelue Apostles then preached in Britaine 1. NOw we are come to the time of Claudius when both Catholiks and Protestants assure vs both that the Apostles formally preached vnto the Gentiles and there were many Christians in this our Britaine But before we proceed further to auoide all ambiguitie or errour that might chaunce in these matters in the iudgment of Protestants let vs first craue their best assistance and direction by some certaine grounds and maximes in history as infallible rules truely and plainely to square our narration by least we be deceaued They Certaine historicall grounds and Maximes giuen by our ProtesiaÌ„t Antiquaries to knâ—we what Apâ—stles first preached in Britaniâ— propose some fewe for most certaine and vndoubted generall verities which will easily leade vs to many vndoubted particular conclusions First they say which in some sort is remembred before that this kingdome of Britaine receaued the faith of Christ soone after his Ascension Secondly that this holy Religion was preached here by some one at the least of the Apostles Thirdly who they are in particular of that most holy number and order of whom mention is made in histeries to haue preached in this nation Fourthly that in the time of Claudius of which we now intreate diuers Christians came hither from Rome when he persecuted them there Fiftly that sainct Paul came not to Rome or to any of these west parts vntill longe after the death of Claudius in the reigne of Nero Sixtly that sainct Simon Zelotes whom some write to haue preached and bene martyred in Britaine was put to death in Persia with sainct Iude. Seuenthly that it was the 63. yeare of Christ before sainct Ioseph of Aramathia that buried our Sauiour came hither with his religious companions Lastely that sainct Peter that great Apostle was one of those three Apostles sainct Paul and sainct Simon Zelotes the other two which are reported in histories to haue preached heare All which assertions Theater of great Britanie lib. 6. Camden in Britan. Stowe And howe 's hist Holinsh. hist of Engl. Godwyn Conu of Brit. Catal. of Bishop Protest Comm. Booke Parker antiquit Britan. Mason Booke of Ordin with others are taught by the cheifest Protestant antiquaries and historians of England in their common booke of their religion their Theater and other writings of most credit with them for vndoubted historiall verities By which it euidently will be concluded by their owne graunts and directions that sainct Peter was the onely Apostle that first brought or sent Christianitie into this kingdome Which is particularly also proued before in the case of S. Mansuetus the first Preist and Bishop which was borne in this Iland which any histories I reade make mention of yet consecrated by S. Peter sent and directed by him with others of his disciples into these parts 2. But to make all these things so euidently true euen by these Protestants that no man with any pretence of probabilitie shall be able to make contradiction vnto them They shall all and euery of them be particularly and Inuincibly proued true by these meÌ„ themselues The first of the faith of Christ receaued heare soone after his Ascension and in the time of Tyberius is verified before from these Protestant Authours To which I add this their Testimony againe The Apostle himselfe saith the sound of the ghospell went through the earth and was heard vnto the ends of the world Which his sayings cannot more Theater of great Britaine l. 6. c. 9. Rom. 10. v. 18. fitly be applied to any other Nation then to vs of Britaine whose land by the almightie is so placed in the terrestriall Globe that thereby it is termed of the auncient the the ends and deemed to be situated in an other world And againe Immediately after Christs death doth Gildas fasten our conuersion where he writeth that the glorious Ghospell of Iesus Christ which first appeared to the world in the later time of Tyberius Caesar did euen then spread his bright beames vpon this frosen Iland of Britaine The Gildas de excid Brit. like testimony they reiterate in an other place Which I will cite hereafter and according vnto this runneth the whole current of their writers of antiquitie from the highest and greatest to the louest and meanest among them 3. Their first Protestant Archbishop Matthew Parker in his Intituled Antiquitates Britannicae The Antiquities of Britaine proueth it from Antiquities in Matth. Parker antiquit Brit. p. 1 these words primam Christianae Ecclesiae originem institutionem in Insula Britannica ex antiquissimis patrum scriptorumque testimonijs repertemus nor modo peruetustam eam fuisse sed etiam ab ipso primum per Apostolos propagato per orbem Euangelio initia duxisse accepisse incrementa we shall finde out of the most auncient testimonies of the Fathers and writers That the first beginning and institution of the Christian Church in the Iland of Britaine was not onely very auncient but to haue had beginning and receaued increases euen from the time when the Ghosppell was first propagated in the world by the Apostles And he yeeldeth his reason immediatly in this maÌ„ner Gildas enim Antiquisâ—imus inter eos qui fide digni sunt Britannicaruâ— râ—rum scriptor tradit Britannos iam inde ab ortu Euangelij Christianam 〈◊〉 fidâ—m for Gildas the most auncient writer of Brittish matters among those that 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—edit doth deliuer that the Britons receaued the Christian faith euen from Engliâ—h ProtestaÌ„ts mistake the testimonie of Gildas about the time of the faith of Christ receaued heare the rising vp of the ghospell The Protestant Bishops and others Authors of their greate Theater of
our generall Conuersion to be compassed at this time so many principall Agents therein violently putt to death and the Emperours without whose permission or conniuencie it could not probably be brought to passe so enraged and cruell against vs for such things Yet cannot this stay and adiourning of this greatest publike good of this Nation be imputed to pusillanimitie of minde or want of Heroicall Christian fortitude and magnanimitie in our Christian King and diuers of his people and Nobles among them who as before had receaued the Christian faith and priuately professed it but to the Iniquitie of the violent and ouerswaying times and Pagan Emperours with their Lieutenants Imperiales or Proimperatours Proconsuls Propretours hindering that holy worke For allthough the state of Britaine was not so seruile to the Romans as the condition of many kingdomes was but we euer had our owne Kings both by inheritance and discent of our former auncient Brittish regall Race and with the desired allowance and agreement of the Roman Emperours after the marriadge of King Aruiragus with Genuissa daughter of Claudius and the greatest dutie they could demande was their Tribute yet because in a publike and authoritatiue change of Religion in a whole kingdome there must also be a change of such lawes and customes as were contradicting and repugnant vnto the Religion to be receaued this could not be done in such persecuting dayes without greate ielousie in the Persecutours Emperours of an vtter reuolt from them in all respects And therefore our old Manuscripts both of Nennius and S. Gildas also as they are commonly reputed doe tell vs that when our generall and publike Conuersion was there was also an Imperiall allowance permission or tolleration for it from the Roman Emperours or their Lieutenants heare Missa Nennius in M. S. Hist Gildas in Hist M. S. in publica Biblioth Cantabr in Colleg. S. Benedicti legatio ne ab Imperatore Romanorum saith Nennius Missa legatione ab Imperatoribus Romanorum writeth Gildas in two Seuerall Manuscripts one in the publike Library of Cambridge the other in saint Benets Colledge there The reasons hereof I shall deliuer in due place hereafter 3. That which is wanting yet and to be added to the honour of our Apostle and Countryman saint Timothie is his glorious Martyrdome so honoured of saint Pius the Pope then and soone after also martyred that writing to the renowned Bishop of Vienna not long vnmartyred and exhorting him to constancy and perseuerance in afflictions and Persecution in Christ proposeth onely vnto him for the most worthie examples this saint Timothie and his holy companion at Martyrdome and probably of his labours in Britaine saint Marke saying they were Preists brought vp by the Apostles continuing vntill this time with whome he had imparted the word of faith men called of God and now liuing in euerlasting Ioyes in heauen S. Timothie and Marke haue ended their course by a good Combatt O Brother remember thow imitatest them S. Pius Epist ad Iustum Vienn Episcop Tom. 1. Biblioth Sanct. apud Baron Tom. 2. Annal. an 166. in following them and be not bound with the bands of the world presbyteri illi qui ab Apostolis educati vsque ad nos peruenerunt cum quibus simul verbum fidei partiti sumus à Domino vocati in cubilibus aeternis clausi tenentur Sanctus Timotheus Marcus per bonum certamen transierunt Vide frater vt illos imiteris sequendo ne vinculis mundi illigeris This is that greate honour of Britaine and Gods Church whome saint Dionisius the Areopagite that wonderfull Diuine and His honor with S. Denis the Areopagite glory of saint Paules Schollers honored so much as euery Reader may see in his diuine Bookes de diuinis nominibus Ecclesiastica Hierarchia of diuine names the Ecclesiasticall Hierarchie calling him most holy sanctissime and the like and dedicated them to him as the auncient Title Compresbytero Timotheo Dionisius Presbyter Denys Preist to his fellow Preist Timothie and in his Baron Tom. 2. Annal. an 109. booke de diuinis nominibus citiâ—g an Epistle of saint Ignatius written after the other saint Timothie Bishop of Ephesus his death doe witnes Baronius and others so acknowledging How before his death he disposed his wordly Pius Pap. Epist ad S. Iust tom 1. Bibliot Sanct. Baron an 166. wealth to the glory of Gods Church and recommended the care of his Country Britaine to the most glorious lights then of Christs Church saint Pius Pope and his worthie friends and familiars saint Soter and saint Eleutherus or Eleutherius after Popes we may gather by his former loue and labours for this Nation The Martyrdome of S. Timothy and S. Pius Pope And so after so many yeares of most holy life trauailes for the Church of Christ after his releeuing and maintenance of so many Saints lodged Manuâ—cr Antiq. in Monast S. Cirian Martyrol Rom. die 24. Martij Tabul Ant. apud Baron Tom. 2. ann 162. Pius Pap. 1. Epist ad S. Iustum supr 1. Epist 2. ad eund fedd clothed and fostered both with temporall and spirituall sustenance his chardges and prouision in his holy house many of them also martyred there he was also martyred with his worthie Associate and fellow Preist saint Marke at Rome the 24. day of March an 165. And saint Pius the Pope of Rome was martyred also soone after vnder the same persecuting Emperours his death at hand being reuealed vnto him as he writeth in an other Epistle to saint Iustus of Vienna in France and Bishop there Reuelatum mihi esse scias collega beatissime citius me finem huius vitae esse facturum THE XI CHAPTER OF THE HOLY POPES NEXT SVCCEEDING S. Pius and their Religion The fauorable Edict of Marcus Aurelius Emperour for defence and protection of Christians and the Christian Lieutenants Trebellius and Pertinax with the forbidding the Druids Religion occasions of the publike receauing and profession of Christianitie in Britayne by King Lucius and his subiects 1. S Pius hauing thus gloriously ended his holy life and Papacie saint Anicetus by the more common opinion after many Auncients Iraeneus Tertullian Hegesippus Eusebius Epiphanius with others teacheth that saint Anicetus succeeded him in this hihest chardge Yet there be very auncient Hieron l. de Scr. in Hegesippo Optat. Mileu l. contra Parmen August Epist 161. Rober Barnes l. de Vit. Pontif. Ro. in Aniceto and worthie Authours as saint Hierome Optatus saint Augustine with others which hold that saint Anicetus was Pope betweene saint Higinius and saint Pius And an English Protestant writer though he followeth the first and more common opinion for the Order of his Succession next after saint Pius yet saying of him that he was Pope in Antoninus Pius his Empire sub Antonino Pio vixit he must fall to the second opinion by that I haue spoken before of the time of Antoninus
and was a professed and open Enemy to all which durst call God the Sonne a Creature Quamuis facilitate ingenij illecebris Religionis ab Episcopis in quorum potestate fuit seductus sit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 consubstantialis verbum ex fidei Symbolo sub vnionis coniunctionisque omnium praetextu sustulerit sinceram tamen dictionis eius sententiam est professus Quum etenim Deum verbum germanum filium ante secula ex patre genitum dixit tum certus manifestusque eorum qui creaturam illum vocare ausi fuissent hostis extitit The like Niceph. l. 9. c. 50. he hath in other places and citeth S. Gregory Nazianzen to like purpose who doth as much or more excuse him he saith he died an holy death was buried with all honour and reuerence with holy Christian singing Himes and lights sanctis carminibus nocturnis himnis lucernarum ignibus Christiani obitum pium cohonestandum censent He calleth him the most holy of all Emperours and most louing of Christ Imperatorum santissime Christi amantissime He saith he was after his death glorified in heauen changing his earthly for an heauenly Empire Qui ad Deum translatus sis gloriae caelestis haeres tanto longius a nobis secesseris quanto Imperium illud quod cum hoc commutasti est augustius Thus S. Gregory Nazianzen is cited by Nicephorus But in his owne workes Greg. Nazien l. de Laud. S. Athanasij orat 1. 2. in Iulian. he is more plaine for the excuse coÌ„mendatioÌ„s of CoÌ„stantius defeÌ„ding him or excusing him in all matters obiected against him Which were three things that he caused the death of his sonne in Law the secoÌ„d for making IuliaÌ„ which proued an Apostate Emperor the third for his professing or fauoring the ArriaÌ„ Heresie All which he confessed at his death in his last words repeÌ„ted Tria haec Greg. Nazian l. in Laud. Athan. mala Imperioque suo principatu indigna ipsuÌ„ agnouisse narrant vnuÌ„ quod generi suo necem attulisset alteruÌ„ quod IulianuÌ„ ApostataÌ„ Imperatorem nominasset tertium quod nouis fidei dogmatibus studuisset simulque cuÌ„ his vocibus è vita aiscessisse The word narraÌ„t meÌ„ testifie proueth this was the testimony of others besides S. Gregory and yet he lyuing in that time and those parts a man of so greate renoâ—ne his owne Authoritie if it had bene singular is not to be lightly esteemed Yet diuers others besides those witnesses confesse as much Zonoras saith of this Constantius citing others as much as S. Gregory did that this Emperour at his death professed himselfe to be penitent for those Errors Constantius obijt Io. Zonar Tom. 3. Annal. in Constantio trium vt aiunt se paenitere professus caedis propinquorum collati in Iulianum Tituli mutatae Religionis And for this cheife point for changing his Fathers Religion and following the Arrians Nicephorus saith he did not a litle repent Niceph. Hist lib. 10. c. 1. him Quem non parum quod aliquid de paternae fidei professione mutauerit paenituit And Theodoret one of his greatest Accusers herein confesseth as much and more affirming he did bitterly complaine that he had changed his faith acerbe fuit conquestus quod fidem immutasset And againe he died with groaning and Theodor. Hist Eccl. l. 2. c. 32. vlt. Theod. l. 3. c. 1. bewayling that he had chaÌ„ged his Fathers faith CoÌ„stantius cuÌ„ gemitu queremonia ob mutatam fidem paternam excessitè vita S. Gregory Nazianzen saith that at his death he purged and excused himselfe both before God and man in many words Deo hominibus multis verbis se excusasset atque purgasset Greg. Nazian orat in Iulian. conatuque suo animique impetu testacum Christianis reliquisset quanto pietatis tuendae studio impelleretur Wherevpon this holy learned Father saith he had pleasure to thinke of his end Ex postremis voluptas nascitur He saith this was the Orat. 2. in Iulian. more coÌ„mon opinion quod communius est that he died an holy death pio fine vitam clauserat he was buried with such solemnities as Catholiks vse in the Funeralls of them which make an holy end Publicis laudibus faustisque ominationibus pompisque deducitur ac Religiosis etiam his nostratibus cultibus nocturnis cantionibus faciumque gestationibus quibus nos Christiani pium è vita discessum honore prosequi consueuimus 7. And to confirme the opinion of men with the Authoritie and testimony of heauen and Angels he saith it was commonly related multorum auribus diuulgatum est that as his body was with such solemnitie carried to Constantinople to be buried there an Angelicall Harmony was heard by many as a reward of his pietie Vox quaedam summis è locis à nonnullis exaudiebatur velue psallentium prosequentium Angelicorum opinor caetuum quod pietatis illi praemium erat funebrisque remuneratio The same is related by Nicephorus and others Niceph. l. 9. Hist c. 50. Greg. Nazian orat 1. in Iulian. Wherevpon the same holy Father stileth him the Emperour most excellent most diuine and most louing of Christ ô Imperatorum praestantissime ac diuinissime Christique amantissime And confidently affirmeth he was after his death ioyned to God had receaued the Inheritance of the heauenly glory and departed hence to change his Empire for a better Qui Deo-coniunctus sis celestisque gloriae haereditatem acceperis atque hactenus à nobis migraris vt Imperium Greg. Nazian orat in laudem Athanasij cum meliore commutares Which no good and learned man such as this S. Gregory was could or would say of an irrepentant Heretike Therefore when he saith of this Emperour in an other place that some reported that he had vnprofitable repentance at his death inutili vt ferunt paenitentia in extremo vitae spiritu affectus he must needs speake as his owne words vt ferunt proue in the opinion of others And yet there speaking of the three things before cited which he repented him of two of them were theÌ„ remedilesse to wit the disinheriting of the next Heires to the Empire now being dead giuing Title to Iulian who had then vsurped the Empire and by force kept it But for his owne saluatioÌ„ there was no time too late in his life to haue true effectuall and iustifiing repentance And S. Athanasius then in exile farre from the place of Constantius his death and writing presently after that he was baptized by Athanas Epist de Synodis Aâ—ia Seleuc. Enzoius an Arrian and not hearing of his repentance after testified both by men and Angels as his silence thereof proueth might haue probable cause to thinke and write that he died as he liued an Arrian Constantius Haereticus suit ad finem vsque permanens in ea impietate This also may and
truth of the preaching of Moyses that for a memory holy relike of him they brought with them as both continued tradition and diuers historians verie auncient testifie the stone whereon Moses preached very miraculous one writeth thus Which stone was holy as some men then did teach And did miracles so was the common speach In honour it was had both of great and small And holden for a relike most speciall This stone was called the Regall of Scotland On which the Scottish Kings were set At their coronoment as I can vnderstand For holinesse of it so did they of debt All their Kings vpon this stone was set Vnto the time of King Edward with long shanks Brought it away againe the Scots vnthanks At Westmonastery it offered to Saint Edward Which is confirmed by the Scottish histories teaching how they brought this Hector Boeth Scotor hist l. 1. fol. 2. l. 13. fol. 309. stone out of Egypt to Portugall from thence to Ireland and then into Scotland where it remained vntill King Robert his time their King being crowned sitting vpon it vntill King Edward the third of England brought it with many others cheifest Iuells into England and they say it was a propheticall stone to that wheresoeuer it was found it forshewed the Scots should reigne there and thereupon had of old this inscription Ni fallat fatum Scoti quocunque locatum Inuenient lapidem regnare tenentur ibidem Which is now fulfilled in King Iames reigning here as it was by the Scottish long since in Portugall Ireland and Scotland in all which places they say the Scots haue reigned 6. So we see that the inhabitants of this kingdome from the beginning in many persons had knowledge of the true God and foreknowledge of Christ and not the Scots onely but Britans also for what was the opinion and foresight of the Druides concerning the true God and Messias to be borne of a Virgin must needs be the doctrine and religion aswell of Britans as Scots the same Druides being teacheâ—â— Masters and Rulers to both those peoples in religious affaires Neither did this their beleife of the true God and Christ to come faint or diminish in the inhabitants of this Iland after the death of King Iosinas who commaunded and Fynnanus that allowed and permitted the worshippe of the true God no King in this Iland for any thing we finde in histories British or Scottish euer forbidding but at the least consequently permitting what was commaunded or allowed before in such things But the nearer the time of the natiuity of Christ approched the signes and motiues to embrace it rather encreased then diminished vntill this nation actually and generally receaued the true faith after the Ascension of Christ with the first conuerted Gentiles as will be manifest in this history And here I end the time Matth. Westm an gratiae 15. Marian Scot. l. 2. aetat 6. Florent Wigor an 16. Hector Boeth in Metel hist Scot. alij of Augustus the Emperour Kymbeline continuing still King in Britaine and Metellanus among the Scots as they write in the 15. or 16. yeare of Christs Natiuity THE IV. CHAPTER Of THE TIME OF THE EMPEROVR Tyberius 1. IN the dayes of Tyberius the next succeeding Emperour The true knowledge of Christ was more clearely manifested vnto the world and among others to some Britans of this nation especially such as then liued in Rome For as in the time of this Emperour our Sauiour began and ended his preaching and suffered his passion for our Redemption So these things in such order as they were accomplished in the land of Iury they were presently and truely delated and sent to the Emperour at Rome and others there as many Protestant both of England and other nations with other Antiquities agree They of Protest praef in Mat. West Bal. centur 3. in Ranulph Hygeden Matth. Flori. Matth. Westm an D. 37. Ranul Hygeden in Polych l. 4. c. 4. Marian. Scot. l. 2. aetat 6. in Tyberio Metho hist Et apud Marian. supr England much recommend vnto vs Matthew of Westminster and Ranulphus Higeden especially as they haue publication and allowance by them Yet these Authours both in their printed and manuscript histories consent in this with others that Tyberius was truely informed at Rome of the miraculous life and preaching of Christ long before his Passion And being afflicted with a leprosie was so confident in the heauenly power of Christ esteeming him then at the least for a great Prophet Saint and worker of miracles that he sent with greate solemnity Volusianus to Hierusalem to entreate Christ Iesus to come with him to Rome to cure him of his incurable malady But the Iewes had caused Pilate to put him to death before the Ambassadour came thither 2. The Magdeburgian Protestants with others haue published to the world an Epistle of Lentulus out of the Annals of the Roman Senators to this Magdebur cont 1. l. 1. cap. 10. col 354. epist Lentulâ— ad Tyber Imp. Emperour Tyberius before the death of Christ thus beginning apparuit his temporibus adhue est homo magnae virtutis nominatus Christus Iesus qui dicitur à gentibus Propheta quem eius discipuli vocant filium Dei suscitans mortuos sanans omnes languores There appeared in these times and still is a man of greate vertue named Christ Iesus who is called of the gentiles a Prophet whom his disciples call the sonne of God raysing the deade and curing all diseases And presently vpon Egesippus Anaceph de morte Christi Matth. Westm an 33. Florent Wigor an 38. Tertull. Apolon c. 5. 21. Eust hist l. 1. cap. 24. Oros l. 7. c. 4. the death of Christ as it is proued both by our owne and forreine Antiquaries auncient and later Greekes Latines Catholiks and Protestants Pontius Pilate wrote vnto Tiberius the Emperour at Rome of the Passion of Christ in this manner De Passione Dominica Pilatus Tyberio Caesari scripsit in hunc modum Nuper accidit quod ipse probaui Iudaeos per inuidiam se suosque posteros crudeli damnatione peremisse Nam cum promissum haberent patres eorum quòd Deus illis mitteret de caelo sanctum suum qui eorum merito Rex diceretur hunc se promiserit per virgineÌ„ ad terram missuruÌ„ Iste me praeside HebraeoruÌ„ Deus cum venisset vidissent euÌ„ caecos illuminasse leprosos muÌ„dasse paraliticos curasse daemones ab hominibus fugasse mortuos suscitasse ventis imperasse super mare siccis pedibâ—s ambulasse multa alia mirabilia fecisse cum omnis populus IudaeoruÌ„ hunc Dei filiuÌ„ dicerent inuidiaÌ„ contra eum passi sunt Principes SacerdotuÌ„ mihique traedideraÌ„t alia pro alijs mentientes dixerunt illuÌ„ Magum esse contra legem eorum agere Ego autem credidi ita esse flagellatuÌ„ tradidi arbitrio eoruÌ„ At illi crucifixeruÌ„t eum sepulto ei
Baron Annotat. in Martyrolog Rom. die 16. Ian. Baron Tom. 2. Annal. Ann. 159. an 166. virginum de qua mentio habetur in Actis S. Pudentianae à Pastore conscriptis There was a most noble Matrone in Rome called Priscilla GraÌ„dmother of the virgins PudeÌ„tiana and Praxedes of whoÌ„ there is mention in the Acts of Pudentiana written by S. Pastour The like he writeth in other places where as she is there called by him the mother of PudeÌ„s Mater Pudentâ—s he must needs be vnderstood to speake in their Phrase which ordinarily all Mothers in lawe by the absolute name of Mothers as the coÌ„mon custome is Sometimes in other places Baronius faith S. Priscilla was wife to S. Pudens and mother to S. Nouatus Pudentiana and Praxedes so likewise doth Zepherinus Binius when it is euident before that S. Claudia our Brittish Lady was the onely wife of S. Pudens and Mother to those Saints Therefore to excuse the one from errour and the other from contradiction they must holde that both the Mother of S. Claudia and she herselfe also was sometimes called Priscilla as she was in Vmbria termed Sabinella of her husbands house at Sabinum there And this may sufficiently be gathered from those Antiquities Baronius citeth in which one S. Priscilla is called Priscilla Seniour the elder or old Priscilla to make which iustifiable we must haue also Priscilla Iunior the youÌ„ger or youÌ„g Priscilla this is vsuall for distinction sake where the mother and daughter Father sonne be of one and the same name to call the Father and Mother by their name with the addition old or elder and the sonne and daughter with the distinction younge or younger added vnto them And there be other distinctions betweene these two The eldest grandmother to those holy children as the Roman Martyrologe with others testifieth who died at Rome hauing employed Martyrol Rom. die 16. Februarij hereselfe and her goods to the seruice of Martyrs die 16. Pebruarij Romae Sanctae Priscillae quae se suaque Martyrum obsequio mancipauit Where we see her festiuitie kept vpon the 16. day of February and that she dyed at Rome Of the other the younger if by any called Priscilla we finde no such obseruation nor that she died at Rome but quite otherwise that after her husband S. Pudens death she liued so longe at his house at Sabinum in Vmbria that she thereupon tooke her name Sabellina and by all writers dyed there farre from Rome Secondly S. Pastor who liued in the Apostles time familiarly in that our Brittish house as I shall shewe in due place is witnesse euen Baronius acknowledging it That the elder S. Priscilla Grandmother to S. Nouatus Tymotheus Pudentiana and Praxedes which were S. Claudia her children was foundresse of that renowned Church-yard in via Salaria S. Pastor in actis S. Praxedis apud Baron in Annot. Martyr Rom. die 16. Ian. at Rome which boare her name caemiterium Sanctae Priscillae via salaria and was founded longe before S. Claudia was of yeares to be Authour thereof Caemiterium via Salaria nomine sanctae Priscillae Priscillae seniori Pastor tribuit in act is S. Praxedis And it must needs be this and noe other which prepared that most charitable Christian costly worke for we finde no other saints of that name especially in that time but onely her and S. Priscilla wife of S. Aquila diuers times mentioned by S. Paul being a Iewe who could not be authour of that foundation at Rome First because probably it was founded before she came to Rome being at Corinth there saluted by S. Paul in his 1. Cor. c. 16. first epistle to the CorinthiaÌ„s was with her husband coadiutresse to S. Paul with her husbaÌ„d in those parts before they came to Rome as the same Apostle testifieth Salutate PriscaÌ„ AquilaÌ„ Adiutores meos in Christo Iesu qui pro anima Rom. 16. mea suas ceruices supposuerunt Neyther did she with her husband stay so longe at Rome to effect such a busines for as S. Luke proueth they came from Act. 18. Rome vpon the bannishment of the Iewes from thence by Claudius which was soone after their coming thither And they were at or neare Ephesus a litle before S. Pauls death as he proueth writing his second epistle then to S. Timothie Saluta Priscillam Aquilam And the old Roman Martyrologe 2. Tim. 4. with others giue euidence they ended their liues in Asia the lesse vpon the 8. day of Iuly when the other S. Priscilla died as before at Rome farre from thence the 16. of Ianuary â—ctaua Idus Iulij In Asia minori Sanctorum Martyrol Rom. 8. Iulij Aquilae Priscillae vxoris eius de quihus in Actibus Apostolorum scribitur 9. And Baronius who was an eye wetnesse of the chargeable worke of that foundation found in his time shall proue all the wealth both of this S. Priscilla and her husband S. Aquila being but Tentmaâ—ers erant autem scenofactoriae Act. c. 18. artis as the scripture testifieth was not able to effect such a worke Baronius which had seene and often visited it compareth it to a citie for Baron Annal. Tom. 2. an 130. lardgnesse and streets vnder the earth relating that the whole citie of Rome was amazed to see it Mirabile dictu vidimus saepiusque lustrauimus Priscillae caemitcrium haud pridem inuentuÌ„ atque refossum via salaria tertio ab vrbe lapide quod nullo magis proprio vocabulo dixerimus prae cius amplitudine multisque atque diuersis eiusdem vijs quà m subterraneam ciuitatem quippe quòd ipsius ingressu primaria via caeteris amplior pateat quae hinc inde vias diuersas habeat easdem frequentes quae rursum in diuersos viculos diuidantur Angiportus rursus vt in ciuitatibus statis locis velutfora quaedam ampliora sint spatia ad conuentus sacros agendos eadâ—mque Sanctorum Imaginibus exornata nec desint licet nunc obstructa ad lumen recipiendum desuper excisa foramina Obstupuit vrbs cùm in suis suburbijs abditas se nouit habere ciuitates So wonderfull and chargeable a worke with such streets turnings Churches altars for holy Masse Images of Saints and the other things of price as they argue the ritch and noble degree of the blessed foundresse so for a lady of Britaine a straunger there to be at so excessiue chardg and expences to prouide such a Sanctuary for the honour of Christ safety releife and coÌ„forte both temporall and spirituall of his Seruants in a forreine Countrie must be a perpetuall glory of this Nation And to giue further testimonie that this our renowned Country woman was foundresse thereof we finde expressely that diuers of her family and posteritie namely S. Pudens her sonne in lawe her grandechildren his daughters S. Pudentiana and S. Praxedes as likely S. Nouatus and Timotheus were honorably
come before winter and sheweth he had then once ben called to his answeare Yet it is certaine that S. Paul ouerliued that winter and was pute to death by all testimonies vpon the 29. day of Iune which must needs be at the soonest about a yeare after And that S. Pauls full intention was at his first Imprisonment presently vpon his libertie to goe to the Hebrues and the Easte againe besides that is said before he plainely protesteth in his Epistle to the Hebrues written at Rome in his first imprisonment when he saith know yee that our Brother Timothie is sete at libertie with whome if he come shortly I will see you Where it is euident that S. Paul intended vpon his deliuery presently to returne into the Easterne Countries againe to visite the Iewes and Hebrewes there to whome he write in these words and the whole Epistle and not to come to make any stay at that time in any Western Nation much lesse Britaine so remote and diametrically allmost distant from all those Countries 5. And when he returned from this his Easterne Iorney againe it is euident by his owne testimonie that he was taken and kept a Prisoner at Rome againe soone after his returne from the East that if he came into Britaine at all he If S. Paul was in Britaine his stay was very short had no time betweene that Eastern Iorney and second Captiuitie to make any aboade heare For in his second Epistle to S. Timothie when he was a Prisoner euen vntill his Martyrdome he writeth as though he was newly come forth of the East at that time writing to S. Timothy to haue the cloake and 2. Tim. 4. v. 13. parchments brought vnto him which he left at Troas with Carpus And speaking againe of that his late Iorney he saith Erastus aboade at Corinth But Trophimus haue I left at Miletum sicke These he writeth as late accidents in that Iorney which he would not haue done if after his coming from thence there had bene so greate distance of time that he might and did come to make any long stay in this kingdome And that he did not come hither after this but continued a Prisoner to his death at Rome it is euident before and he in this Epistle thus confirmeth it I am now ready to be offered and the time of my depature 2. Tim. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. is at hand I haue fought a God fight I haue finished my course I haue kept the faith Henceforth there is laid vp for mee a Crowne of righteousnes which the Lord the righteous iudge will giue mee Thus our Protestants translate him Where we see S. Pauls trauailes were come to their end and his end and triumph by Martyrdome and Crowne and reward in heauen for his labours and merits one earth at hand 6. And to followe Historiall accompt and computation euen by Protestants allowance we shall be brought to the same want and distresse of time to bring S. Paule into Britaine to make but a small continuance heare for their best Antiquaries with common consent write in these words It seemeth Godwin Conu of Britaine p. 7. that S. Paule was called to his answeare in the third yeare of Nero which was the 59. of Christ and continued a Prisoner but with some libertie two yeares after so that it must needs be anno Domini 61. the yeare of our Lord 61. and the 5. of Nero Neronis 5. before he passed either into Spaine or Britaine And they affirme with the common Godwin supr p. 6. Protest notat in Mat. Westm an 157. FraÌ„cis Burgoing Hist Eccl. l. 3. c. 2. l. 2. c. 1. opinion also that S. Paule went from Rome into Spaine according to his promise and to vse their words spending some time there The Protestants of Geneua say that after S. Pauls libertie when he went into Spaine there were but sixe yeares of freedome for him vntill he was Prisoner in Rome againe or rather to the time of his death in the last yeare of Nero and further say During these sixe yeares vntill the last of Nero he visited the Churches of Syria of Asia and Greece Our Protestant Authours of the Theater of greate Britaine speaking of S. Paule his coming to Rome againe after this Easterne Iorney write in this manner Paule came not to Rome till the tenth of Nero and Theater of great Britaine l. 6. c. 9. §. 7. in his thirtenth yeare from the Prison wrote his Epistle to Timothie as Eusebius declareth So by these men he was there a Prisoner at this time the space of three whole yeares which they further confirme when speaking of his imprisonments they say they were longe Paul well knowne in Rome by his longe Theater supr imprisonments So that to follow that opinion which is most honorable for S. Paul and this Nation and best pleasing our Protestants of England to bring him into this kingdome this by no probabilitie or warrant can be effected vntill his second returne from the Easterne parts when so short a time as before is allotted and limited for that iorney and his labours therein to visit France Spaine Syria Pamphilia Lycaonia Phaenice Mysia Phrigia Galatia Bithynia Achonia Macedonia all the rest of Greece and Asia the Ilands in the Adriake sea Spaine and France againe Britaine the Orchades and all the other Countryes or Ilands of this Ocean as Venantius Fortunatus and Arnoldus Mermannius affirme and Germany and Italy as he returned to Rome in the last Iorney of his life he being Martyred by S. Hierome and the common opinion in the 69. or 70. yeare of Christ by our CountrimaÌ„ Matthew Hieronym Catal Scriptur in S. Paul Arnol. Merman in Theatro Conu gent. Matthew Westm an 66. of Westminster and others 2. or 3. yeares sooner and of this time from the beginning of that Iorney in the 61. yeare of Christ probably two yeares a Prisoner the time of his oboade in Britaine must needs be very short and his labours pâ—â—portionably as litle in so much as we haue not any fure foundation to my reading to build for certaine any memorable thing in particular which he performed heare in this respect For allthough Arnoldus Mermannius saith of S. Paule that he left heare and there Preists and sent hither and thither Apostles Euangelists Prophets Doctors and Pastors partim relictis hic ibi Mystis partin huc illuc destinatis Apostolis Euangelistis Prophetis Doctoribus Arnol. Merm in Theatro Conu gent. Pastoribus yet he doth not vnderstand this in any sense of Britaine but other places of S. Paules preaching there remembred and cheifly those where he and no other Apostle preached which he sufficiently insinuateth when he addeth that the other Apostles did the same id quod etiam alij Apostoli fecerunt Which cannot be vnderstood of Britaine where they were not but of the peculiar places of their preaching And S. Paul an extraordinary Apostle vsed not to
in the later end of the twelfth yeare of Nero as S. Simeon Metaphrastes noteth and the next yeare coming to Rome preached there some time and was Martyred in the beginning of the 14. and last yeare of Nero allthough Matthew of Westminster and some others set downe the death of S. Peter in the 13. yeare of Nero differing from those that say Nero killed S. Peter S. Paul and himselfe the 14. and last yeare of his Empire Nero Petrum se interfecit 2. By this we see the exceeding greate Pastorall and Fatherly care and S. Petâ—rs Pastorall â—are of Britaine â—â—nding Châ—ists Church in it loue of this greatest Apostle S. Peter to this kingdome that allthough he was so extraordinarily admonished by the holy Angel to returne to Rome yet he neither would nor did forsake this Nation vntill he had perfectly settled such an Hierarchicall Order and holy gouernement heare as I haue described and was needfull in the first founding of the Church of Christ among so many Countries and Prouinces of this Western world And the loue and dutie of many Britans especially such as were not so perfectly intructed in the faith cannot be thought but to haue bene reciprocall to that supreame Pastor How it is pâ—obable diuâ—rs Britans went with S. Peter from hence to Râ—me in so greate degree that it moued many of them to attend him in his returne to Rome to be better instructed in true Religion as diuers also after his departure hence did vndertake that Iorney to that end such as S. Beatus and his Associate were And S. Peter being now come to Rome immediately from this kingdome without staying in that Iorney as may be sufficiently gathered out of the words and admonition of the Angel vnto him before his going hence and both hauing in his company diuers Britans and at Rome finding yet aliue as appeareth by S. Paul writing to S. Timothie before diuers Christian Baron Tom. 2. Annal. Ann. 165. S. Iustin apud â—und supr Britans in that house which as is shewed before and Baronius from S. Iustine and others proueth was both his and other Christians common lodging patebat domus Pudentis ab initio Petri Romam aduentus hospitio Christianorum we are sufficiently allowed to be of that opinion that he was entertained now at this his coming againe to Rome froÌ„ Britaine in the same house as at S. Pâ—ter at 〈…〉 to Râ—m◠〈…〉 recâ—auâ—d againe in our Bâ—â—â—â—ns â—ouse with many â—â—herâ— his first coming and vsually in the time of his continuance and residence there And in this Noble Christian Britans house it seemeth S. Peter among other his Apostolicall labours and designments for the Church of God wrote his second Epistle wherein he maketh memory of some memorable things that chanced vnto him by all probable Iudgment in this Nation as of the Angells appearing vnto him the forewarning of his death at hand and that S. Peter in his 2. 〈◊〉 sâ—â—meth to 〈◊〉 â—f the visioÌ„ 〈…〉 â—râ—taâ—â—e it should be in Rome Knowing that shortly I must put off this my Tabernacle euen as our Lord Iesus Christ hath shewâ—d mee As our English Protestants translatâ— which words of the holy Apostle doe seeme to haue reference vnto that Apparition and admonition to him of his death at hand of which I haue spoken 2. 〈◊〉 1. vers 14. before For we doe not finde in Histories more then two warnings heareof giuen by Christ to S. Peter the first and most euident in Britaine and the other more obscure at Rome recorded by S. Linus Egesippus S. Bede and Linus l. de Pass Apost Egesipp de excid Hieros l. 3. c. 2. Beda Sermone de S. Petro Paulo Tom. 7. others when S. Peter a litle before his death being sought for by Nero and willed by the Christians to forsake Rome to auoide the fury of the persecuting Tyrant being come to the gate of the Citie Christ appeared vnto him and being demanded by S. Peter whether he went Domine quo vadis Christ answered Iterum veniâ— crucifigi Which S. Peter interpreted to be spoken of his Passion because Christ who suffereth in all his members was also to suffer with S. Peter Intellexit Petrus de sua dictum passione quod in ea Christus passurus videretur qui patitur in singulis non vtique corporis dolore sed quadam misericordiae compassione aut gloriae celebritate And this cannot be well construed to be that admonition of his death which S. Peter wrote off in his Epistle being both obscure and in all probable Iudgment after the writing of that his Epistle and immediatly before his apprehension and death as appeareth by those Authours affirming S. Peter was presently taken and martyred conuâ—rsus in vrbem redijt captusque à persecutoribus cruci adiudicatus Therefore seeing besides this so obscure admonition giuen to S. Peter by Christ of his death we finde no other but that most cleare and manifest foretelling thereof to S. Peter by an holy Angel in Britaine we must needs conclude that the holy Apostle in that passadge of his Epistle how he should shortly leaue the Tabernacle and dwelling place of his soule his mortall body as our Lord Iesus Christ had shewed vnto him did this Nation that honour to remember in his holy writings that foresight and admonition of his end approaching made vnto him by the heauenly vision and Instruction thereof which he had in Britaine And signifiing in the first words of this his laste Epistle that he wrote it to all beleeuing Christians at that time saying Simon Peter a Seruant and an Apostle 2. Petr. 1. v. 1. 2. of Iesus Christ to them that haue obtayned like pretious faith with vs grace and peace S. Peters care and loue to Britaine to his death and after in heauen by his owne promise be multiplied We must needs acknowledge that coming then immediately from the Christians in this Nation whome he had so lately conuerted he most fatherly remembred them with others in those words and the whole Epistle following especially where he writeth I thinke it meete as long as I am in this Tabernacle to stirre you vp by putting you in remembrance Knowing that Vers 13. 14. 15. shortly I must pute of this my Tabernacle euen as our Lord Iesus Christ hath shewed mee Moreouer I will endeuour that you may be able after my decease to haue these things allwayes in remembrance In which wordes this our kingdome of Britaine doth most iustly claime that S. Peter remembred it and rather then any other citing there the admonition which he receaued by the holy Angell heare and there protesteth his greate care he had of this CouÌ„try that it might not onely during his life but after his death remaine constant in the profession of Christian Religion And by Oecumenius and diuers others both the Greeke and Latine Text giuing way to that exposition S. Peter did there promise
would S. Clemens primum à beato Petro vt dicitur ordinatus fuit sibi Successor Sed propter periculum voluit ante se beatum Linum Cletum Pontificari ne videlicet hoc exemplo Praelati substituerent sibi quos vellent And the words themselues which S. Clement vsed when he yelded this Papall dignitie to S. Linus as S. Epiphanius doth alledge them from his owne workes will well beare such construction of his Religeous meaning in that matter Secedo abeo erigatur populus Dei I giue place I Clemens Rom. apud Epiph. haer 27. goe away lett the people of God be prouided for For so he saith in an Epistle saith S. Epiphanius and this we finde in certaine Commentaries Dicit enim in vna Epistola sua Hoc enim in quibusdam Commentarijs reperimus 5. So it appeareth by that is said that S. Clement was twice Pope and at S. Clement twice Pope both those times for some space executed that highest function and dignitie first when it was imposed vpon him by S. Peter and he wrote his Epistles with that Title Clemens Romanae Ecclesiae Praesul Clemens vrbis Romae Episcopus Clemens Rom. epistol 2. 3. 4. Const Apost 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Ignat. Epist ad Mariam Cassobol Iren. l. 3. c. 3. Tertul. l. 3. carm Optat. l. 2. Aug. Epist 161. Martyr Rom. in Lin. Clet Clem. M. S. antiq Brit. Martin Polon supput col 35. in Clemente Bishop of the Roman Church and doth in them iuridically sett downe things to be obserued of the whole Church So likewise in his other Books where he deliuereth the Doctrine Tradition of the Apostles concerning the holy Sacrifice and other matters generally to be kept of all And not long after yeelding it vp to S. Linus whome S. Ignatius Irenaeus S. Augustine Optatus an old Brittish Manuscript which I haue seene others make the next to S. Peter for some yeares by that Title of S. Clements Resignation And secondly after the death of Cletus when it was imposed vpon him againe the second time and died in that dignitie as Martinus Polonus and others write Clemens quamuis à beato Petro esset electus tamen coegit Linum Cletum ante se pontificari Et ita est ipse primus post Petrum per electionem tertius verò per gradum This I haue written more at lardge not to labour to putt those two glorious Bishops Saints and Martyrs S. Linus and Cletus out of the Catalogue of the renowned Roman Popes but to giue due to S. Clement one of our Apostles S. Clement was heare in Britaine with S. Peter some time heare in Britaine except good arguments deceaue vs according to his worth and merite in this part of the world and redeeme that his most learned Epistle or Booke to S. Iames S. Simon or Simeon Bishop of Hierusalem much concerning his honour and this Nation For although we haue good witnesse of S. Paul S. Irenaeus and others of his conuersation and familiarity with S. Peter and him yet therein we learne from S. Peter and S. Clement themselues that he was with S. Peter in all his Iorneys greate in these parts neuer forsaking him one reason why he principally made choyse of him for his Successour as being so best acquainted with his Apostolike course Qui mihi ab initio vsque in finem comes in omnibus fuit per hoc veritatem totius Paul Epist ad Philipp cap. 4. Irenaeus l. 3. haer Euseb Hist Eccl. l. 5. c. 5. 6. Clem. Rom. Epist 1. meae praedicationis agnouit Qui in omnibus tentationibus meis socius extitit fideliter perseuerans Quem prae caeteris expertus sum Deum colentem homines diligentem castum discendi studijs deditum sobrium benignum iustum patientem scientem ferre nonnullorum etiam ex his qui in verbo Dei instituuntur iniurias Propter quod ipsi trado à Domino mihi traditam potestatem ligandi soluendi O my brethren heare mee for as I am instructed of our Lord which sent me Iesus Christ the daye of my death is at hand I ordaine this Clemēt taking mee by the hand your Bishop to him alone I delyuer the Chayre of my preaching and doctrine Who from the beginning to the end hath bene a companyon vnto mee in all things or places and by this hath knowne the truth of all my preaching Who hath bene my fellowe faithfully perseuering in all my temptations whom aboue the rest I haue proued to worship God loue men to be chast giuen to the studies of learning sober gentle iust patient and knowing to beare the iniuries of some euen from them that be instructed in the word of God For which respects I deliuer vnto him the power of binding and loosing which was deliuered to mee by our Lord. Where we see it plainely testified both by S. Peter and S. Clement his Secretary aswell as Successour that he was with S. Peter in all his trauails and places euen to the end that we may be assured he was with him heare in Britaine which was his last place of stay before this at Rome and this was a cheife cause why S. Peter thought S. Clement most fitt for this dignitie for he whom he calleth homines diligentem so louing and kinde to all men must needs be more kinde and carefull of them with whom he had conuersed and whose necessities he best knew 6. And yet besides this loue of S. Clement to these parts of the worlde which he had so trauailed with S. Peter the same holy Apostle as he himselfe witnesseth gaue him expresse chardge to send learned Bishops vnto all Cities in those parts where S. Peter had not ordayned such before Episcopos S. Petrus Apost apud Clem. Rom Epist 1. per singulas ciuitates quibus ille non miserat perdoctos prudentes sicut serpentes simplicesque sicut columbas iuxta Domini praeceptionem nobis mittere praecepit And to make it manifest that among other Countries he sent also into this our Britaine S. Clement sent Bishops into Britaine and by S. Peters direction according to S. Peters direction he saith plainely that he desired and intended to send such Bishops and preachers into Italy Spaine France Germany and to include Britaine to all other Nations in these parts of this westerne world wishing the Bishop of Hierusalem to whom he wrote to doe so in the Easte Vos per vestras Dioeceses Episcopos sacrate mittite quia nos ad alias partes quod idem inssit agere curabimus Aliquos verò ad Gallias Hispaniasque mittemus quosdam ad Germaniam Italiam atque ad reliquas gentes dirigere cupimus Where we see S. Clement by this power committed to him by S. Peter and Prerogatiue of the See of Rome thought it is dutie and tooke vpon him not onely to send Bishops and Preachears into all this westerne
world but by that office and priuiledge gaue chardge to those that were in the Easte to doe the same And there setteth downe what Order S. Peter Epist r. supra and the other Apostles tooke for setting of Patriarks or Primats in the cheife Cities where in the Pagans time their Archflamens were and cheifest Doctours Archbishops for their lesse cheife Flamens and Bishops in the other ordinary Cities And what was appointed him by S. Peter and he promised Matt. Westm an 94. Protest not ib. Francisc Belleforest hist Gall. Francisc Feuâ—ardentius in lib. 1. Iren. cap. 3. Anton. Democh. cont Calum Guliel Eisengr ceÌ„t in his behalfe that he effectually performed as into France which he named with other kingdomes of his chardge before he sent S. Denys Nicasius Taurinus Trophimus Regulus Paulus Saturninus Astroniomus Martialis Gratianus Iulianus Lucianus Firmius Photinus with others and the places whether he directed them are for the most part Archbishop Sees to this day Therefore we cannot doubt but eytheâ— S. Clement did well knowe that this kingdome of Britaine was yet prouided of such Apostolike men still liuing from S. Peters establishing them heare or els sending so many into our next neighboring Countrie he remembred Britaine in the same or like measure especially seeing it is euidently his owne words that he had a greater care of Britaine accompted a rude and barbarous Countrie at that time and among such reputed by S. Clement and so distinguished by that note from Italy Spaine France and Germany by him where recompting them he addeth that into those Nations that be more rude or barbarous he must send more wise and Clem. supr Ep. 1. austiere Bishops or preachers then into the other Ciuill Nations Vbi autem ferociores rebelliores gentes esse cognouerimus illuc dirigere sapientiores austeriores necessè habemus qui quotidie non cessent diuina seminare semina multos Christo lucrari ad rectam fidem viam veritatis perducere And this the rather Anaclet Epist 3. because he setteth downe the Apostles Order which he was to followe to Primats and Archbishops by S. Peter and S. Clement their order heare in Britaine besides other Biâ—hops constitute Primats where the Pagans had their cheife Archflamens as he did in France and his immediate Successour S. Anacletus as he himselfe and diuers others testifie did write a booke or Cataloge he calleth it a Tome of the names of the Cities both in Britaine and other places where such were to be resident and this according to the prescript and practise of S. Peter and S. Clement Episcoporum ordo vnus est licet sint Primates illi qui primas Ciuitates tenent Illi autem qui in Metropoli à beato Petro Apostolo ordinante Domino Girald Cambr. l. 2. de Iure Metrop Eccl. Meneuen ad Innoc. 3. Ioa. Pris defeÌ„s hist Britan. p. 73. 74. Matt. Park antiq Brit. p. 24. Werner Rolwinck in Fascic an Dom. 94. Harris descript of Brit. Harris Hist Manus l. 1. Godwin Catal. Yorke Parlm 1. Marian. Scot. l. 2 aetat 6. Method apud eund ib. Martyr Rom. die 11. Aug. Vsuard eod die Petr. de Natal l. 4. Vincent l. 11. à praedecessore nostro praedicto sancto Clemente seu a nobis constituti sunt non omnes Primates vel Patriarchae esse possunt sed illae vrbes quae praefatis priscis temporibus Primatum tenuere Patriarcharum aut Primatum vtantur nominibus quiahaec eadeÌ„ leges saeculi in suis contineÌ„t Principibus aliae auteÌ„ primae Ciuitates quas vobis conscriptas in quodam Tomo mittimus à sanctis Apostolis à beato Clemente siue à nobis Primates praedicatores acceperunt And according to this Cataloge or Tome of S. Peter S. Clement and S. Anacletus iuxta Tomum Anacleti ex Anacleto huius Insulae diuisionem Canterbury London Caerlegion Yorke and Alba in Scotland by some taken to be the Citie now called S. Andrewes vrbs Legionum Cantuaria Londonia Eboraca Alba vnde Albania prouincia were designed Sees of such Primats as Giraldus Cambrensis in his second booke to Pope Innocentius the third Sir Ihon Prise Matthew Parker the first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury with others testifie 7. Therefore seeing he plainely writeth that some of these Cities euen in Britaine had receaued such Primats from S. Peter or himselfe and we finde it witnessed by many that one S. Taurinus sent by S. Clement was Archbishop or Primate of Yorke which is one of the Sees remembred for such both by S. Peter S. Clement and S. Anacletus we may not vtterly deny that he was our first Primate in that Citie And if he was the same which was Bishop of Eureux in France sent by S. Clement as diuers hold being vsuall in that time as Methodius Marianus and others teach for one Bishop S. Taurinê° thought by some the first Archbishop of yorke and sente by S. Clement to preach in diuers places and Countryes he liued long much propagated the faith of Christ was renowned for Miracles he wrought as the auncient Roman Martirologe with others giue euidence Euangelij praedicatione Christianam fidem propagauit ac multis pro ea susceptis laboribus miraculorum gloria conspicuus obdormiuit in Domino But whereas some say and Harris supr l. 1. Matth. Westm an gratiae 115. Hector Boeth Scotor hist l. 5. for 76. 77. 78. alledge S. Antoninus for Authour that this S. Taurinus did raise from death a daughter of Lucius King of Britaine filiam Lucij Legis Britanniae a morte suscitauit I cannot be of that opinion for first Lucius our Christian King was not borne vntill the yeare of Christ 115. and we doe not reade of any daughter or child he had And though Lucius Antenous the Roman Prefect did as some write prescribe lawes heare and in that respect might S. Antoninus mistaken by some for writing S. Tauriâ—â—â— raised from 〈◊〉 a daughter 〈◊〉 â—ius King in 〈◊〉 be called King and liued in Yorke in the time of Adrian the Emperour and so both his name Title the place and time might well agree that S. Taurinus might there raise his daughter to life if he had any which died there being so Miraculous a man miraculorum gloria conspicuus Yet this could not be that Miracle which S. Antoninus speaketh of for in that very place which is cited for the raising of the daughter of King Lucius of Britaine he hath no such thing not once naming any Britaine much lesse any King of Britaine but plainely saith that the Father of that daughter which S. Taurinus raised from death to life was Lucius ciuis Ebroicensis Lucius a Citizen Francis Godwin Cat. of Bishops Yorke 1. of Eureux which is in France and farre from our Eboracum Yorke in Britaine Where as a Protestant Bishop writeth It is reported that Constantius Chlorus the Emperour appointed Taurinus Bishop
allmost all the same reasons and Bed Martyrol 15. Cal. Octobr. Mart. Rom. die 17. Septemb. Vsuatd Ado Mart. Anglic. Secundum vsum Sarum cod die Engl. Marty 17. Sept. authorities to assist mee which I vsed for S. Augulus and therefore need not repcate them againe and no argument or Authour but that late writer without all warrant for these as for S. Augulus to impugne mee and him I haue fully answeared Onely one thing he writeth to their honour which I willingly allowe There are diuers Churches yet remayning in Wales that in auncient times haue bene dedicated in their honour among whom also their memory is yet famous vntill this day especially in Monmouthshire and the Southern parts adioyning But that they were martyred vnder Diocletian he bringeth no Authoritie The Authours which he citeth for them being those I alledged before are silent S. Soâ—ates and S. Stephen probably maâ—tyred in Britaine about this time of any such thing onely they say that vpon that day not speaking of any time they were martyred in Britaine Neyther can I finde any grounde with him or elswhere for that he saith of them They were conuerted to the faith of Christ in our Primatiue Church by the preaching of S. Amphiball Preist and Martyr For Britaine and the Britans were conuerted long before And though many Christians in Britaine were put to death in the time or Persecution commonly ascribed to Dioclesian as a thowsand at one place called Lichfeild which argueth the inhabitants heare then were Christians and more needed grace of perseuerance then preaching especially towards the Countryes now called Wales yet I doe not finde any particularly named in auncient Authours but S. Alban Heraclius Amphibalus Aaron and Iulius except we should allow of that which Regino writeth of S. Lucia Virgin and Martyr in Britaine Lucia Virgo in Britannia Which is discredited by himselfe for he saith she Regino in Chronic an D. 242. was putt to death in Britaine in the yeare of Christ 242. Which probably was before Dioclesian was borne Yet will I not denie but Regino PrunieÌ„sis mistaking the time for the number of yeares may otherwise write a truth that S. Lucia Virgin Martyr in Britaine by Regino Pruniensis Lucia a Virgin was martyred in Britaine and in the dayes of Dioclesian and if halfe so much Authoritie had or could be brought for S. Augulus Socrates or Stephen I should not so easilie haue disabled it Onely one thing I will adde concerning the place of S. Augulus Martyrdome 10. That a late French writer in his Historie of this our Britaine seemeth to Andre du Chesne Taurauge en l'Historie general d'Angleterre Escosse d'Irland thinke that Caerlegion was in the time of Iulius Agricola and by him named Augusta which if it were so it onely varieth the particular place of his Martyrdome nothing detracting from the glorie of him or this Nation or contradicting that I haue said of the time of his death for no memory is in Histories of any such there in the time of Dioclesian nor any Archbishops name of that place preserued long after Dioclesian his death Tremonius S. Dubritius the first that be named in Histories which rather confirmeth the honor of the place of his Martyrdome to LondoÌ„ especially seeing this Authour bringeth neither reason nor Authoritie to infring it if we take the denominatioÌ„ Augusta to haue bene giuen heare in respect of the Nobility of the place it must needs best agree to our most auncient and noble Citie as Camden and others yeeld that reason ea dignitate floruit Londinum vt Augusta dici caeperit many forreine Cities very famous were called Augusta in that respect as Vacienorum Augusta praetoria Camden in middle sex pag. 217. Monster in Cosmogra Cooper in Augusta Abraham Ortelius in Indice Antiq. Region Insul Vrb. Oppid c. Augusta Taurinorum Augusta Tricastinorum Augusta Veromanduorum Augusta Valeria Augusta Emerita Augusta Bracchara Augusta Acilia Augusta Tiberij Augusta Vindeliciorum Augusta Caesarea Augusta Vestonum Augusta Treuirorum and other famous Cities among Cosmographers which haue taken that name for their Noblenes and not from the Roman Legion called Augusta lying in so many places And of all places Caer-legion could not be so named from that relation no euidence giuen that any so named Legion continued there And the generll name Caer-legion the Citie of the Legion conuinceth it had not the name from any Legion in particular much lesse Augusta for then it should haue bene named Caer-augusta and not Caer-legion as we see all the others are before named Augusta absolutely without reference to any Legion either in generall or particular And the Cities before named Augusta are called as we see of the Countryes where they be or were and not from any Roman Legion 11. I haue mentioned before that the Emperour Traian was a Persecutor of Christians and among many others the renowned Pope S. Clement was barbarously first exiled and after cruelly put to death But this Persecution as it much aduanced the honor of our Brittish Christians so it gaue occasion to encrease their number Our noble Christian Brittish house at Rome as in this time and before it was the most frequented receptacle of Christians releeuing them in all their wants while they liued so now in this storme of Persecution besides the famous Sepulchrary and burying place which it had most charitably before prouided in via Salaria bearing the name of S. Priscilla our Brittish Foundresse thereof there was an other very costely burying place Loco caemiterij at their owne dwelling house as the Baron Annot. in Martyrol Rom. die 16. Ianuarij Romans haue before confessed where they secretly buryed the bodyes of the holy Martyrs suffering in these Persecutions ad sepeliendos sublatos occultè Martyres And as I haue shewed before this Christian Brittish house hauing so greate resorte of Christians vnto it that at one time there were in it baptized nonaginta sex homines 96. men besides women and children as that phrase is vsually taken in Histories and was as the coÌ„mon schoole Seminary cheife Church and place to minister Sacraments and consecrate holy parsons we must needs conclude from hence that this kingdome of Britaine was before all other Nations to take especiall fruite and benefite thereby to haue diuers of those holy Preists there consecrated to be sent hither vnto it This the lawe of the Ghospell allowed the chardge of S. Peter exacted and S. Clement as duely performed the lawe of nature pleading for Britaine to our Christian Brittish house and schoole in Rome that so it ought to be And yet an other lawe and of no small power with those that desired to serue Christ with quiet and securitie the lawe of necessitie drewe many Christians from Rome and those parts of the Empire where the Persecution then raiged as diuers both Catholike and Protestant Authours haue before proued to come vnto and liue
preached heare in Britaine by such as he should thinke The King of Britaine Sedeth to Pope Alexander to haue Christian Preachers sent hither fittest for that designement Albertus Krantzius a worthie Historian and one which hath giuen light to diuers of our Antiquities relateth this matter thinking it was King Lucius which now began so timely to shew his loue and liking of Christian Religion Religionem Christi Lucius quondam Britanniae Rex ab Alexandro primo eius nominis summo Pontifice impetrauit in Insula praedicari Albert. Krātzius Metropol l. 1. c. 6. Matth. Westm an 115. Baron Annal. to 2. an D. 132. Zepherin Binnius in Vit. Alexandr to 1. Concil Matth. Westm an 124. 132. Io. Bal. l. de Scri. Brit. Cent. 3. pag. 143. in Matth. Florigero Prot. Publ. of Matth. West in Praefat. Which may well stand with the common opinion of King Lucius his owne conuersion in the time of Pope Eleutherius especially if we will folow Matthew of Westminster and his followers which haue told vs before that King Lucius was borne in the 115. yeare of Christ for by that accompt he was 18. yeares of Age at the Martyrdome of S. Alexander by the common opinion in the 132. yeare of Christ and King Coillus had then bene dead 7. or 8. yeares by Matthew of Westminster whome our Protestāt Antiquaries stile a man excellently learned in all kind of learning and in the right Supputation of yeares singular Vir suo seculo in omni genere bonarum literarum plane eruditus quantum ad Historiam in recta annorum supputatione singularis So we haue King Lucius old enough by this mans testimony so singular in Historicall Accompts to write to Pope Alexander of this matter before his death and iustifie the very words of the recited Antiquitie Or if we will followe the other opinion which I haue written to be more probable that King Coillus liued longer this hindereth nothing but either Lucius in the life of his Father might request this of Pope Alexander and King Coillus thought by diuers before to haue bene actually a Christian to haue giuen allowance vnto it or he himselfe being so persuaded in iudgment did so write to that holy Pope more moued vnto it by the example of the Emperour and so many Nobles of Rome whome he ment to followe at the least in performing that fauour to so many Britans now allready Christians and more desiring so to be which his proceedings were honorable in him though he himselfe intended not to be a Christian and offensiue to none in Authoritie whome he needed to feare And yet afterward seeing S. Alexander so cruelly King Coillus supposed by some to be a Christian put to death for that Religion did deferre to procure that happines to himselfe which he did to others But Harding supposeth him to haue bene a Christian and therevpon saith Lucius was the second Christian King of Britaine Harding Chron. 50. 51. in Coillus and Lucius And it will appeare hereafter that about this time there were diuers Christian Preachers sent into Britaine within few yeares after the death of Pope Alexander if not in his life they conuerted many heare to the faith of Christ among whome I may probably number S. Timothie Marcellus or Marcellinus and S. Saluine Of who me I shall speake more in the certaine time of S. Timothie an Apostolike Preist sonne to S. Claudia a noble Britaine probably sent into Britaine by Pope Alexander King Lucius his Reigne 4. Heare onely I say of S. Timothie a Britiane of this Nation by his holy Mother S. Claudia Sabinella who as diuers write preached in this kingdome sent hither by the Roman See Apostolike must needs be sent hither about this time For as the auncient Roman Martyrologe with others testifie he was at Rome and martyred there in the time of Antoninus Romae Sanctorum Martyrum Marci Timothei qui sub Antonino Imperatore Martyrio coronati sunt Petrus Merssaeus Catal. Archiep. Treuer in S. Marcello 20. Magdeburgen Cent. 1. l. 2. Martyrolog Rom. die 24. Martij Which Antoninus began his Empire in or about the yeare of Christ 138. within 6. yeares of the Martyrdome of S. Alexander Pope Therefore to allowe him but competent and ordinary time for his coming hither from Rome where he was borne and liued his aboade heare returne to Rome againe and being there before his Martyrdome I cannot finde any fitter time or parson when and by whom he was sent hither then Pope Alexander sollicited by our King of Britaine to send such to preach heare and no S. Marcellus a Britan and Bishop preached heare in his time man more fitt then he by his Mother a Britane and so not vnskilfull in the Britans tongue and their affaires 5. S. Marcellus also was a noble Britan of this Nation and had preached heare and among others persuaded King Lucius to embrace the faith of Christ departed so soone hence at that time that he was the third Bishop of Caspar Bruch Cat. Episc Tungren Petr. Merssaeus Catal. Archiep Treuer Anton. Democh. l. 2. contra Calu. Guliel Eisengr centen 2. Tungers the first being S. Maternus S. Peters Disciple and by him sent with others thither into those parts the second Auitus our blessed Countryman the next continuing that See 29. yeares and was after Archbishop of Treuers where he was martyred and S. Metropolos succeeded him as the Annals of Treuers witnesse in the second yeare of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus long before the commonly supposed time of King Lucius Conuersion By which accompt he must needs be a Preist or Bishop heare in this time I haue now in hand Annal. Eccles Verdun Rich. de Wasseburg l. r. f. 32. antiq de la Gaule Belgique 6. So I say of S. Saluine the third Bishop of Verdune in Lorayne termed by the Annals of that Church long before King Lucius his death to haue bene his old acquaintance which must needs be heare in Britaine long time before and giueth some argument he was also borne in this kingdome And no man will doubt but King Coillus which in his younger time and S. Saluin probably Bishop heare in this time and a Britan. when Christian Religion was more persecuted by the Roman Emperours their Augustals Proconsulars Lieutenants and other Prefects in Prouinces then now it was and eyther vpon his owne pietie to that holy profession or at the suite and petition of Christians heare or their friends had as all the Antiq. Glast in Tab. ligneis Guliel Malm. l. de antiq Caenob Glaston Io. Capgr in Catal. in S. Ioseph ab Aramathia Etalij Antiquities of Glastenbury William of Malmesbury with others witnes confirmed to the Christian Eremits there those priuiledges which his Accestours King Aruiragus and Marius had granted before would now in more easie times be persuaded to write to Pope Alexander then the most renowned man in the Christian world
alloweth him but 9. yeares 9. moneths and 30. dayes sedit annos 9. menses nouem dies 30. By Baronius and others which begin his Papacie in the yeare 132. and giue him the shortest Regiment he continued onely vntill the yeare 142. by Marianus beginning his Papall Gouerment a yeare sooner then the others and allowing it the continuance of twelue yeares he entered the 143. yeare of Christ so Marianus from Methodius accompteth Vntill the ninth yeare of this Pope Hadrianus continued Emperour after whom then succeeded Antoninus Surnamed Pius the Godly who by Baronius reckning was Emperour 22. yeares Martyrol Rom. 6. die Aprilis Baron Tom. 2. Annal An. D. 163. Marian. Scot. aet 6. l. 2. in Antonino Pio. Flor. Wigorn Chron. an 12â— 145. seuen moneths and 26. dayes Annis viginti duobus mensibus Septem diebus viginti sex Which differeth not much from Orosius and Marianus which say viginti non plenis tribus annis And both Marianus and Wigorniensis say Eusebius and S. Bede gaue 3. moneths more then 23. yeares because it was the custome of HistoriaÌ„s to depute vnto the Emperour that yeare wherein he died therefore we may say say they that Antoninus Pius did not reigne full 23. yeares because he liued not vntill the end of the yeare Mensibus item tribus secundum Eusebium Bedam hoc est vsque ad Calendas Nouembris in anno 134. post passionem Domini Quia autem mos erat Historicorum vt Imperatori deputuretur Annus in quo moreretur velregno deficeret Ideo dici potest quod non plenis viginti tribus annis Antoninus Pius regnauit quum â—on vsque in finem anni vixit 2. In the Time of this Pope reigned heare King in Britaine either Coillus or Lucius his sonne according to the diuersitie of opinions before remembred But seeing all Antiquities and Antiquaries confesse so many greate and renowned things and of such labour and difficultie to be performed were effected for receauing generally Christian Religion and abandoning the Pagan Superstitions in this kingdome in the reigne of King Lucius we Harding Chron. c. 50. f. 42. p. 2. Matth. Westm an 124. must not keepe the Crowne of Britaine from King Lucius long after the death of Pope Sixtus Harding who saith his Father Coillus reigned but 13. yeares will make him King all this Popes time which Matthew of Westminster doth confirme with 4. yeares addition at the least to the time of his Reigne in the dayes of Pope AlexaÌ„der before And yet he maketh the yeares of his whole Age but 87. froÌ„ which if we deduct the whole terme betweene the yeare 124. when the Monke of Westminster saith Lucius begaÌ„ his Reigne vntill the yeare 142. or 143. when it is before agreed S. Sixtus was Martyred to proue by all accompts King Lucius regined in some part of the Papacie of S. Sixtus we make the time of his Reigne being very younge at the death of his Father old when he was borne as is before declared but 59. yeares and his Age not greate And Ihon Harding saith Lucius King of Britaine reigned Harding Croni c. 51. f. 43. Author of the English Martyrol die 2. Decembr 54. yeares And they which write he died in the yeare 84. make him reigne but 53. yeares if they allowe him King in Pope Sixtus time and yet leaue him dead before Pope Eleutherius which we may not doe That this holy Pope was for learning sanctity of life well gouerning the Church of God renowned these Protestants tell vs in these Termes He was a man powerable in worde and worke adorned the Church itselfe with certaine holy Acts allwayes carefull for the flock of Christ Sixtus Romanus in Sermone opere vir potens Io. Bal. l. 1. de Act. Rom. Pontif. in Sixto Io. Mart. Lyd. supr Ecclesiam ipsam pijs quibusdam factis ornauit pro Dei grege sollicitus semper And what holy deeds and doctrine they were with which this so worthie a man did thus adorne the Church of God and prouided for his flocke thus they declare vnto vs Sixtus Romanus Natione sacra vase ne qui praeter sacros Ministros Robert Barns in Vit. Pontif. Rom. in Sixto 1. Ioan. Martin Lyd. Ordin general supr attingerent praecepit Quod corporale appellant ex lineo panno fieri iussit Episcopum ad Pontificem Romanum accersitum domum redeuntem nisi Ecclesiae a Pontifice datas literas reddiderit non esse recipiendum ab Ecclesia sanxit Vt Sanctus in Communione Eucharistiae ter caneretur ordinanit Missam non nisi in Altari celebrandam esse constituit Ab Episcopo ad Romanum Pontificem appellandi ius dedit Ecclesiasticis Ministris Sixtus à Roman by Nation commanded that none but consecrated Ministers should handle the holy vessels He ordained that which we call the Corporall should be made of linnen cloth He decreed that a Bishop being sent for to the Pope of Rome and going home should not be receaued of the Church except be brought letters vnto it from the Pope he ordayned that Sanctus should be songe thrise in the Communion of the Eucharist he constituted that Masse should The Emperor Antoninus Pius his loue to Christians and their ReligioÌ„ not be celebrated but on an Altar He gaue power to Ecclesiasticall men to appeale from the Bishop to the Pope of Rome 3. Antoninus Pius the Emperour of this time was so frieÌ„dly to Christians that as both Catholiks and Protestants witnes he wrote into all places for Melit Sarden Apologia Melit apud Euseb l. 4. c. 26. 25. Magdeburg ceÌ„t 2. c. 3. col 9. Anton. Pius Ep. ad Populos Asiae pro Christian apud Euseb l. 4. c. 13. Nicep l. 3. c. 28. Iustin in fine orat ad Anton them to be free from Persecution Testatur Melito referente Eusebâ—o Antoninum Pium generaliter ad omnes ciuitates pro Christianis scripsisse And in his Epistle to the people of Asia recited at lardge by Eusebius Nicephorus and other writers he plainely affirmeth that the Christians had bene vniustly persecuted for worshipping the one true God mortem ob singularis veri Dei cultum oppetere And addeth further that their Persecutors did not obserue the worship of God and therefore did enuie the Christians which worshipped him and prosecuted them to death And that diuers Rulers of Prouinces had writen to his Father before against Christians to whome he wrote againe that they should not troble such men except they could be proued to doe any thing against the Roman Empire And many hauing writen to him also of such men to whome he answeared according to his Fathers sentence whome he ment to followe If any man hauing an Action against a Christian accuseth him onely as such a man the Christian accused shall be absolued allthough it is manifest he be such an one and his Accuser shall be punished in Iudgment And
or giuen any other note or distinction to knowe what Timothie it was which vndertoocke so greate labours and had so happie successe in this kingdome we must needs expressing it with great Ioy conclude it was S. Timothie Sonne of our renowned Brittish Lady Claudia which shewed so greate loue and atcheiued so worthie things in his and our Country Britaine And to leaue it without question it could be no other 4. The other S. Timothie Bishop of Ephesus was martyred and buryed there in the time of Domitian and many yeares by all accompts before King Lucius was borne And S. Onesimus mentioned by S. Paul was his Successour Vi◠S. Timothei Ephes in Breu. die 24. Ianuar. Martyrol Rom. eod die Bed Ado Lipp Ignat Epist ad Ephes Epist ad Antioch Nicep l. 3. c. H. Magdeb. cent 2. Breuiar Rom. die 22. August Martyrol Rom. 23. Aug. Bed Vsuard alij Martyrol Rom. 3. Maij. Menol Martyrol Rom. Bed Vsuard 21. Maij. Petr. Catal. l. 5. c. 28. Martyr Ro. Bed Vsuard 23. Aug. Greg. Tur. l. de glor Mart. c. 54. Martyrol Rom. alij 19. Decembr Martyrol Rom. Menol. 10. Iunij 2. Tim. 4. S. Pius Pap. 1. Ep. ad Iustum Viēn Epist sup apud Baron To. 2. Annal. an 166. and Bishop there in S. Ignatius dayes as he himselfe witnesseth both which were also martyred 50. yeares before this time I now entreate of by all witnesses Catholiks and Protestants There haue bene diuers other holy Saints of that name but none of that time and Episcopall or Preistly Function to whome we can possibly ascribe this honour S. Timothie of Antioch preached at Rome but long after this in the time of Pope Melchiades martyred there There was an other martyred in Macedonia but no Preist nor about this time An other martyred at Thebais but a married man Husband to S. Maura martyred with him in the time of the Arrians An other of that name was martyred in Mauritania with Polius and Eutichius Deacons he himselfe also onely a Deacon An other in Rhemes in France with S. Apollinaris but not noted to haue bene any Clergie man An other a Deacon onely in Mauritania An other with Tecla and Agapius but no Preist and in the time of Diocletian now vnborne as also S. Timotheus Bishop of Prusiadis in the time of Iulian the Apostata in Bithinia I can finde no more of that name for holy Saints neyther any eyther probabilitie or possibilitie that any of them conuerted or euer perswaded King Lucius to be a Christian 5. Therefore I leaue it as due to our glorious Countryman S. Tymothie sonne of S. Claudia and brother to S. Nouatus S. Pudentiana and S. Praxedes sufficiently insinuated by S. Paul himselfe when he so honorably enrolled his Parents for such his most beloued in holy Scripturs when that holy Pope which ordinarily liued in his house dedicated it for a Church was present in Rome to see his happy death by Martyrdome and next succeeded S. Higinius of whose Papacie we now write doth expressely witnes that he was brought vp by two most glorious Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul and was their Disciple Sanctus Timotheus qui ab Apostolis educatis Presbiter vsque ad nos peruenit Greate honor it was for the first Christian King of Britaine the first Christian kingdome of the world to be instructed in the faith by so noble and renowned Apostle of his owne Nation with the assistance and concurrance of the Pope himselfe S. Pius as he testifieth when he saith concerning S. Timothie and S. Marke that was Martyred with him that he dispensed the word of faith with them cum quibus simul verbum fidei partiti sumus What were the Impediments in temporall respects which hindered King Lucius from publike Profession of Christian Religion wherein he was thus instructed vntill or neare the Papacie of S. Eleutherius I shall declare hereafter and speake more of S. Tymotheus our Countriman and Apostle as also of S. Nouatus his blessed brother and the holy virgins his Sisters S. Pudentiana and S. Praxedes Onely I say now of him that he was a most worthie man to be Legate to the Pope of Rome of whome Ethelwerdus hath told vs before which in the yeare of grace 156. sent a Legate hither with letters to King Lucius exhorting him to the Christian Religion Beatissimus Christi famulus per Nuntium literas Lucium adijt Insulae Regem ammonens eum de fide Baptismo Catholico which he so honorably performed Yet in giuing this so greate deserued honor to S. Tymothie I doe not exclude others frō their due praise glory for their labours in this busines but as I haue proued before so heare I acknowledg againe in our Protestant Historians words Euen from the dayes of Ioseph of Arimathia and his fellowes or what other godly men first taught the Holinshed Hist of Engl. l. 4. c. 19. Britans the Ghospell of our Sauiour there remayned among the same Britans some Christians which ceased not to teache and preache the worde of God most sincerely vnto them But yet no King amongst them openly professed that Religion till Lucius S. Marcellus a Brittan conuerted King Lucius 6. Among these was S. Marcellus or Marcellinus afterward Bishop of Tungers and then Archbishop of Treuers where he ended his dayes with Martyrdome for the truth of Christ about the yeare 180. as diuers write and Petr. Merssaeus Catal. Episcop Tungren Archiep Treuer in S. Marcell Engl. Martyr 4. Sept. Anton. Democh. l. 2. Missae contra Caluin Guliel Eisengr cent 2. Part. 4. yet was Bishop of Tungers 29. yeares before he was translated to Treuers where he was Archbishop some time Therefore seeing we reade that he preached heare in Britaine his Country and to King Lucius aswell before his going into those forreine parts as after he must needs haue preached heare in or before the 150. yeare and so might well be one of those Cambridge Doctors before remembred The Annals of the Arcbishops of Treuers say of this man that Lucius King of Britaine now England was Baptized by his preaching huius praedicatione Rex Angliae id est Lucius Baptizatus est The Historie of Tungers speaketh more plainely that this S. Marcellus did by his preaching conuert Lucius Prince of Britaine with all his Nation to Christ S. Catal. Archiep. Treu. in S. Marcello al. Marcel lino Marcellus Lucium Britanniae Principem cum tota gente sua praedicatione ad Christum conuertit And the same Catalogue of Treuers saith that King Lucius was made a Christian and Baptized by this our renowned Countryman S. Marcellus S. Lucius Britanniae Rex factus Christianus atque ab hoc Marcello Petr. Merssaeus Catal. Episcop Tungren in S. Marcello Treuirorum Doctore Baptizatus And to giue vs notice that S. Marcellus must needs performe these holy offices heare at or about this time the same Annals of Treuers in
penance 40. dayes if vpon the Altar 3. dayes if vpoÌ„ the linnen cloath which is spredd vnder the chalice 4. dayes if vppon the other linnen cloath 9. dayes That they should licke vp the blood of Christ that was spilt or if that could not be done either pare it or washe it and so pared or washed to be burnt or layed in the Sacrary and preserued He dedicated the Bath of Nouatus for a Church He made them guiltie of Sacriledge which conuerted lands or other goods that were dedicated to Religion to prophaine vses He commanded that virgins should not be consecrated before they were 25. yeares olde He decreed that matters which belonged to Religion should be heard by the Synods of their Diocesse euer reseruing the Popes Authoritie This is our Protestants Relation of this holy Popes pietie and doctrine concerning the whole Church of Christ In which Narration there is one Act and practise of his more peculiar to this kingdome which is his conuerting and dedicating the house of S. Nouatus which these men terme Thermas Nouati Nouatus his Bathes some time belonging to him and adioyning neare his house to be a Church Of which and this holy man Sonne of our Noble Countrywoman S. Claudia his Brother S. Timothie of whome I haue spoken before and their holy Sisters S. Pudentiana and S. Praxedes their due time and place now call vpon mee to make some more memory of them which so honorably deserued of this Nation and the whole Church of Christ in their dayes 2. And because we are better assured which of them died then liued first I will begin with S. Pudentiana who as S. Pastor or Hermes which well knew them all and is supposed to haue written their Acts in his Epistle to S. S. Pastor Epist ad S. Timotheum fratrem S. Nouaâ—i Tom. 1. Biblioth Sanct. Tom. 2. Annal. Baron Timothie as it seemeth by the Tenor thereof in Britaine sent to him from Rome by Eusebius a Subdeacon of the Roman Church was the first of them which happily changed this transitory for immortall life This holy Virgin by her holy Mother S. Claudia of our Brittish Nation borne in that her happy house in Rome which by the Roman Tradition gaue the first lodging and entertaynement in that Citie to the glorious Apostle S. Peter The Râ—ligious honor of the house of â—ur Brittish Lady Saint Claudia in Rome The lodging and place of entrâ—tainment of S. Peter S. Paul Popes and other Saints was baptized and instructed in the faith by him and probably some time by S. Paule often making his aboade and residence in her parents house As her holy Mother had before both in the presence and long absence of her Husband S. Pudens in Cappadocia and other remote places made her house domus amplissima a most ample and honourable house as the Roman Historians terme it the prime and cheife Harbour and lodging of Christians then and there primum ac praecipuum hospitium Christianorum So that it being in Monte Viminali the auncient Poet of that time taketh notice that it was the ordinary place of Entertayning the Pilgrims which came to Rome in those dayes dictumque petunt a vimine collem viscera magnarum domuuÌ„ And founded that euer Baron Tom. 2. Annal. an 159. Tom. 1. not ad Martyrol Iuuenal Satyra 3. memorable monumeÌ„t reuerently to intoombe and bury the sacred bodies and Reliks of holy Martyrs and other holy Christians So this her blessed daughter following the example of so worthie a Mother persisted in the like works of pietie And allthough that honorable Liuing and reuenewe of her noble S. Pudâ—ntiana her daughter insisteth iâ— hâ—r Parâ—nts â—â—â—mâ—le of Pietie parents was now diuided to the Children into foure parts and the farre greatest by the Roman Imperiall Lawes vnto their sonnes her brothers S. Nouatus and Tymotheus yet wonderfull was that charitie she extended to all Christians both Britans and others both for spirituall and temporall releife in this time She caused an Altar to be erected in her house for the holy Popes to whom the greatest resort and concourse of people was to offer the holy Sacrifice of Masse and the holy communicants there to receaue the most venerable Sacrament of Christs blessed body And kept those Apostolike Popes as S. Pius others there with temporall maintenance to theÌ„ and those which resorted to them or continually remayned there with theÌ„ to those Religious purposes and intents Pius Pontifex in aedibus Puâ—entianae cum Christianis sacra Vit. S. Pudentianae â—n Brâ—â— Ro. die 19. Mâ—â—â— Adom Martyr die 18. Mâ—â—â— Surius eod die al. celebrabat There she and her family with these holy Popes and others serued God in all exercises of pietie day and night in omni exercitatione pietatis ita exâ—reuit vt nocte dicque incessanter hymnis orationibus cum familia sua Domino inseruiret Beatâ—sâ—imo Pio Vrbiâ— Episcopo cum ea in laudibus Dei participante And to testifie her long time spent in this Religeous conuersation in entertayning the Popes Preists and other Christians ministring vnto them in all necessaries the worthie writers of her life doe witnesse that she kept this Order euen from the death of her Father S. Pudens when she was first at her owne disposition euen to her dying day post obitum sancti Patris probably Matth. Westm an 98. Martial in Epigram Godwyn Conuers of Brit. c. 3. the space of 60. yeares or more for her Father by common opinion died in the time of Domitian slayne in his Pallace in Rome in or about the yeare of Christ 98. And for the greater increasing the number of Christs people she caused a Font to be made in this her house for the baptizing of new Christians and the more to persuade all people to Christian Religion it seemeth she redeemed many slaues and Bondmen from the Pagans and causing them to be catechized and baptized in her owne house made them free For we reade in her life in Ado Surius and others that at one time S. Pius the Pope baptized 96. such parsons in the Baptistery or Font belonging to her house which she had made Ad nonaginta sex numero manumissos Beatus Pius aquis Ado. Sur. supr die 21. Iulij in S. Praxede Lipelous aut Cornelius Grasius die 21. Iul. in S. Praxede salutaribus abluit In this manner she spent all her ample Noble Wealth and substance and after very many afflictions for her holy Religion and pietie after she had reuerently buryed many Martyrs and spent all her Riches vpon the poore seruants of Christ and his honour she changed earthly life things for heauenly and was buried neare her holy Father S. Pudens in the funerall place mentioned before founded by her renowned Mother Post Innumeros Agones post multorum Martyrum venerabiliter exhibitas sepulturas post omnes facultates suas in visceribus pauperum inclusas
renowned man being openly together with the holy Christians Cariton Caritina Euelpistius Hierax Pean and Valerian Menol. Graecor cal Iunij Metaphrastes die 1. Iunij Sur. Lipol eod die or Liberian conuented and examined by Rusticus Praefect of the Citie of Rome vnder the named Emperours in what place the Christians there vsed to assemble and his schollers came together to heare him Iustine answeared that he euer continued at Timothies Bath neare the house of one named Martius and hauing bene now twice in Rome knew no other place and there he preached to all that resorted to him Respondit Iustinus Ego prope domum Martij cuiusdam ad balneum cognomento Timothinum hactenus mansi Veni autem in vrbem Romam secundo neque alium quempiam locum nisi quem dixi cognosco Ac si quis ad me venire voluit communicaui cum illo veritatis doctrinam By which it is euident that this our Christian British house in Rome after the death of S. Praxedes and S. Timothie his warrant to dispose of it was employed to such holy vses as formely it was and that it now continued notwithstanding the greate trobles and Persecution against it the most famous and renowned place in Rome for entertayning maitaining afflicted Christians there preaching ministring Sacraments and other holy exercises And that it still continued at our Countriman S. Timothie his disposition as the still bearing his name as owner or cheife commander thereof Balneum cognomento Timothinum proueth which it could not truely beare vntill after the death of S. Nouatus the immediate and onely Possessor of it from his parents before And it seemeth that allthough S. Timothie had left it in the power of S. Pius Praxedes and Pastor to dispose of it they still reserued the Right and Interest thereof to S. Timothie and though at the Consecration of it for a Church it was termed Titulus Pastoris the Title or Church where S. Pastor was ordinary and cheife Preist yet S. Pastor dying presently after S. Praxedes as Baronius writeth and by S. Pius Epistle to S. Iustus Bishop of Vienna Baron Tom. 2. Annal. ann 164. Martyrol Rom. die 26. Iulij Pius Pap. Epist ad Iustum Episcop Viennen where he saith of S. Pastor that S. Pastor hauing this Title or Church conferred on him deceased presbiter Pastor titulum condidit dignè in Domino obijt And so preserued the hereditarie Right together with the Title and Church thereto S. Timothie the true heire and owner thereof from his Auncestors by lawfull and lineall discent THE X. CHAPTER OF THE LAST HOLY LABOVRS OF S. TImothie in Britaine his honour with S. Denys the Areopagite his returne from hence to Rome and Martyrdome there and Martyrdome of S. Pius Pope in the same place 1. I Left saint Timothie diligently labouring in Christs Haruest in Britaine and now I must attend to doe him honour at his glorious death and Martyrdome at Rome but before we bring him hither to take his heauenly rewarde for his sufferings and trauailes there we must for the greater glory of him S. Timothie his effectuall last labours in Britaine for the Conuersion thereof and our Nation by him make some esteeme how farre he profited and preuailed in that imployment We haue heard before that by the paynes and preaching of him and our Countryman saint Marcellus both our King Lucius became a Christian and a great part of Britaine began to professe the faith of Christ S. Lucius Britanniae Rex S. Timothei eruditione ad Religionem Christi inductus est Britannia magnam ex parte fidem Christi profiteri caepit And the perseuering of saint Timothie so seriously and with such intentiue feruour that no thing could separate him from that most Heroicall Enterprise not the death of his dearest Sister and Brother S. Pudentiana and Nouatus nor so ample and Noble a Patrimonie now fallen vnto him assureth vs if we had no other testimonie to adheare vnto that he was now Father of many spirituall children had many such Brothers and Sisters and by labouring long heare among the stones and Rocks of Britaine had founde out and procured to this kingdome greater and more enduring Mines of Treasure then all saint Pudens and Claudia his parents or saint Nouatus his Brother their wordly Riches could yeeld vnto him I can hardly be drawne to other opinion finding no reason to warrant mee but his inflamed loue to the spirituall good and happines of Britaine bounde and fixed him heare with the chaines thereof vntill with vnexpressible Ioy he did see and reape that fruite of his holy works my Authours before haue told vs of that by his meanes King Lucius was induced to Christian Religion and a greate parte of Britaine professed it And this was the occasion of his returne from hence and going to Rome hoping by that Iorney to be the happy Messenger and Instrument of relating His returne to Rome and occasiō thereof and procuring that which was reserued for the honour of saint Eluanus Meduuinus Damianus Fugatianus and their Associats after to see and effect the generall and publickly warranted both by Pope and Prince Conuersion of this Britaine now hindered for a time by a sodden and new raysed storme of Persecution vnder new Emperours For allthough at the time of saint Timothie his beginning his Iorney from Britaine to Rome the Church of Christ was at some ease and quiet Antoninus Pius that friend to Christians yet continuing his Empire or if Marcus Aurelius Antoninus the persecuting Emperour had begun his Empire yet he had not begun his Persecution at that time or the knowledge thereof had not yet trauailed so farre as Britaine to giue warning and notice to King Lucius of any such thinge eyther acted or intended But when he and his new Christian people heare had for certaintie learned what barbarous and cruell Persecutions were now in hand as all Antiquities of that time doe witnes and to be silent in others that our Noble Brittish Christian house in Rome which had continued so long quiet and bene such a Seminary of Religion for this kingdome was now so cruelly afflicted 23. renowned Martyrs tyrannically and without all tryall putt to death in the place and house itselfe as I haue related and saint Iustine and his sacred company after that carryed also from thence to durance and Martyrdome and saint Timothie our Apostle Countryman and owner of that holy house together with saint Marke his happy companion in Martyrdome and likely in his Trauailes in Britaine were taken from that place to Martyrdome and Pope Pius also which much conuersed there and should haue bene a cheife meanes in directing and assisting our generall Conuersion if it had then taken effect putt to death by these Emperours for that cause 2. These and such cruelties euen against the Christians of this kingdome by these persecuting Emperours being now knowne in Britaine there was no hope left of
vel lucis in the very same wherein the first twelue had formerly dwelled But they came together very often euery day crebrò conuenerunt quotidiè readeth William of Malmesbury Matth. Parker in Antiq. Britan. Io. Goscelin Eccles Hist de Episcop Godwin Catal. of Bishops that they might more deuoutely performe their diuine offices And as the three Pagan Kings had long before granted the said Iland with the Appertinances to the first 12. Disciples of Christ so the said Phaganus and Deruianus did obtayne of King Lucius to haue it confirmed for euer to these their 12. companions and others their Successours after them And so they continued by Succession yet allwayes in the same number of 12. Locum ipsum prae caeteris dilexerunt Qui etiam in memoriam primorum 12. ex suis socijs 12. elegerunt in praefata Insula Rege Lucio consentiente habitare fecerunt Qui postea in diuersis locis sicut Anachoritae manserunt ibidem in eisdem videlicet locis in quibus primi duodecim primitùs habitauerant In vetustam tamen Ecclesiam ad diuina obsequia Matth. Parker supr 68. in Thoma Cranmero p. 329. edit ann 1605. deuotiùs complenda crebrò conuenerunt Et sicut tres Reges Pagani dictam Insulam cum adiacentijs suis duodecim primis Christi Discipulis dudum concesserant it a praedicti Phaganus Deruianus istis duodecim socijs alijs in posterum secuturis ab eodem Rege Lucio eandem confirmari impetrabant sic autem multi alijs succedentes semper tamen in numero duodenario per multa annorum curricula in commemorata Insula permanserunt Polid. Virgil. Angl. Hist l. 27. in Henric. 8. p. 689. 3. Cap graue and his Authours say that these holy Legats caused lodgings to be builded there for these Religeous men ex suis socijs duodecim elegerunt in Insula illa Lâ—cio fauente aedâ—ficia construere vsque ad finem vitae perseuerare fecerunt And the words both of the before cited Antiquitre and William of Malmesbury that they inhabited and dwelled there inhabitare fâ—cerunt permanserant proueth as much for euery dwelling or habitation inferreth some house Cell or Lodging to dwell and inhabite in Which is further confirmed out of the lame Antiquities where it is proued that these Religeous men there placed by the Roman Legats did build an other new Chappell or Church of stone neare the old Churh and dedicated it to Christ and his Apostles S. Peter and S. Paule Huic Ecclesiae sic repertae aliud addiderâ—nt sancti Neophitae opere lapideo oratorium quod Christo sanctisque Apostolis Petro Paulo dedicauerunt And it is proued by the auncient gests and Acts of these Apostolike men S. Phaganus and Damianus writen in their time in a Volume or Booke that by admonition and direction from heauen they builded an other Chappell or Oratory in honour of S. Michael the Archangel that he might there haue honour one earth of men who at the command of God should bring men to eternall honours in heauen In cuius fine voluminis inuenimus Scripturam quae dicebat quod praedicti sancti Phaganus Deruianus per reuelationem They build a new Oratory neare in honor of Saint Michael to be there honored and protect such as honored him Domini nostri Iesu Christi idem oratorium ibi aedificauerant in honorem sancti Michaelis Archangeli quatenùs ibi ab hominibus haberet honorem qui homines in perpetuos honores iubente Deo est introducturus Where we see the greate reuerence was vsed to that holy place euen in our first Christianitie Three Chappels there founded with sacrificing Altars in them for the celebration of Masse as those Antiquities with others sufficiently mention one of them dedicated to the blessed Virgin Mother of God the second to S. Peter and S. Paule Apostles the third in honour of S. Michael the Archangell all which to haue bene confirmed by the holy Pope S. Eleutherius it plainely proued by the greate priuiledges he granted to these sacred places and parsons vpon the Information of his Legats heare ten yeares of Indulgence to the Pilgrims which should with deuotion visit the old Chappell of our Lady Sancti Phaganus Deruianus perquisierant Indulgences grauÌ„ted to the Church of Glastenbury by Pope Elentherius so to S. Michaels Chappell ab Eleutherio Papa qut eos miserat deceni annos Indulgentiae And to all Bishops that should to the honour of S. Michael the Archangell visit with deuotion the place sacred to him thirtie yeares of Indulgence Venerandi Phaganus Deruianus moram ibi fecerant per nouem annos quod ibi etiam perquisierant triginta annorum Indulgentiam omnibus Episcopis ipsum locum ob honorem beati Michaelis pia voluntate visitantibus This Religeous house was so renowned in or soone after this time that Pilgrims came to visit it from all parts and so much honoured it both in their life and death that before the time of Melchinus who others call Meuinus who as Capgraue writeth liued before Merlinus qui fuit ante Merlinum who liued in the yeare of Christs Incarnation Capgrau Cat. in S. Ioseph Io. Bal. l. de Script cent 1. in Ambros Merlino 480. Thousands of Saints were buried there Insula Aualonia auida funeris Millia dormientium accepit And so greate a number and of so holy Saints were buried there in the holy Church-yard Sanctum caemiterium as it is stiled in Antiquities that euen in our primatiue Church Age as we finde in the old Monuments of that reuerend place a Chappell was there founded to S. Michael S. Ioseph and the Saints in generall whose bodies were there interted De Capella Sanctorum Michaelis Ioseph Sanctorum in caemiterio requiescentium Thus the Title of that Relation in the old Manuscript of that Abbey And then it followeth Scientes Sancti Patres nostri dignitatem sanctitatem Prayer to Saints and for the deade there vsed huius sancti caemiterij quandam Capellam in eius meâ—io construxerunt quam in honorem sancti Michaelis Sanctorum inibi requie scentium dedicari fecerunt sub cuius altare ossa mortuorum sanctorum Reliquias licet incognitas magna multitudine Altares and hâ—ly Sacrifice of Masse there vsed and frequented cumulauerunt missam de caemiteriâ— in ea quòtidiè celebrari constituerunt Our holy Fathers knowing the dignitie and sanctitie of this holy Church yard did build a Chappell in the midle thereof which they caused to be dedicated to the honour of S. Michael and the Saints which rested there vnder the Altar whereof they heaped the bones of the deade and the Reliks though vnknowne of the Saints in greate multitude and appointed that an especiall Masse of the Churchyard should dayly be celebrated in it 4. And to testifie to posteritie the Religion and deuotion that holy time had to their Saints
must bewayle the vnspeakeable want and losse which this kingdome long time by many miseries and afflictions suffered by the death of so holy iust and prudent a Prince and Ruler hapning by the most diligent Calculatours of time we haue in the beginning and first yeare of this Age. Anno gratiae 201. Inclitus Britannorum Rex Lucius in bonis actibus assumptus ab hac vita migrauit ad Christum THE II. CHAPTER OF THE TIME AND PLACE OF KING LVCIVS his death That he did not die or was martyred in Germanie Neither had he any Sister called Emerita martyred there It was an other Prince of Britaine after this time This our first Christian King Lucius died at Gloucester in Britaine 1. BEING come to celebrate the day of the death of our glorious King Lucius for the Ioy that he enioyed thereby and bewayle The time of King Lucius death it for the vnspeakeable losse this Nation receaued thereby we are to fall into the like difficulties both of the time and place Matth. Westm an gratiae 201. Manuscript Antiq Eccles S. Petri in Cornhill Londin Matth. Paris in Hist maiori apud Io. Caium l. 1. Ant. Cantab. Acad. pag. 109. Martin Polon Supputat an 188. in Eleutherio thereof which we passed for the beginning of his Reigne and Conuersion to Christ before handled and dissolued yet for the time of his death the auncient Manuscript of S. Peters Church in Cornehill in London and Matthew the Monke of Westminster haue giuen vs particular intelligence that it was in the first yeare of this third hundred of yeares Matthew Paris writeth the same And Martinus Polonus that testifieth King Lucius wrote to Pope Eleutherius concerning his Conuersion in the yeare 188. must needs giue euidence to that opinion for certaine it is by all Antiquities that King Lucius liued many yeares after that to see his kingdome conuerted to Christ And our Protestant Antiquaries with the best Authours as they say which confesse this first writing of King Lucius to Pope Eleutherius was not before the 178. yeare of Christ Haec contigerunt anno à Christi aduentu in carnem 178. vt potiores commemorant Annales For William of Malmesbury Io. Bal. l. de script Britan. cent 1. in Lucio Pio. Caius supr pag. 111. in his Manuscript History of Glastenbury and other old Antiquities thereof doe proue that after S. Damianus and Faganus had conuerted this kingdome by the Papall Commission of S. Eleutherius they did continue 9. yeares at the least at Glastenbury King Lucius still liuing and reigning heare Guliel Malm. l. de Ant. Coen Glaston Antiq. Manuscrip tab fixae Glast Polid. Virgil. Hist in Lucio Lilius Hist alij Hollinshed Hist of Engl. l. 4. c. 19. Stowe Hist an 179. in Lucius Io. Bal. l. de Scriptor Britan. centur 1. in Lucio Pio. Author of the Engl. Martyrol 3. day of December Martyrol Rom. die 3. Decemb. alij Polidor Lilly Hollinshed Stowe and other Protestants leane to this opinion 2. About the day of his death there is better Agreement for both those which say he died in Britaine both Catholiks and Protestants as also they which deny it affirming he died in Germany agree that this was vpon the third day of December Lucius Pius Claudiocestriae tertia die Decembris vitae suae finem accepit So writeth a Protestant Bishop of England with others And the Roman Martyrologe with others which otherwise write of the place of his death consent Tertio Nonas Decembris Lucij Britannorum Regis qui primus ex ijs Regibus Christi fidem suscepit tempore Eleutherij Papae 3. The place and manner of his death is more questioned diuers forreyne writers contend that he forsooke his kingdome and being made a Preist and afterward Bishop preached to the Rhetians in Germany was Bishop there of Curre and died by Martyrdome The Roman Martyrologe inclineth to this opinion making his death to haue bene Curiae in Germania At Curre in Germanie saying plainely as I haue cited before that this Lucius which died there was the first of the Kings of the Britans which receaued the faith of Christ in the time of Pope Eleutherius This is the greatest Authoritie I finde for this opinion yet this Authour doth not take vpon him to say that he was eyther Bishop or Martyr which he would not neyther by his Order and rule of writing which might not omit such things could haue omitted if he had knowne or probably thought eyther of them to haue bene true And whereas this Authour confidently saith of King Lucius that he was primus ex ijs King Lucius did not preach in Germanie neyther was he martyred or died there Regibus qui Christi fidem suscepit the first of the Brittish Kings which receaued the faith of Christ it doth formerly appeare that diuers Authours euen of this Nation which might better learne the truth hereof then a stranger could haue written otherwise both of Aruiragus Marius and Coillus Brittish Kings And I haue giuen sufficient warrant before that for the faith and Religion of King Lucius in particular it was Christian before the Papacy of S. Eleutherius and the generall Conuersion of the kingdome of Britaine and not of King Lucius was wrought in the time of Pope Eleutherius And yet this Authour absolutely affirmeth that King Lucius himselfe did receaue the faith of Christ in the time of Pope Eleutherius fidem Christi suscepit tempore Eleutherij Papae Neither doth he in that or any other place make any memory of S. Author of the Engl. Martyrol ex Eisengren cent 2. d. 1. Breuia Curiensi 4. Decemb. Caspar Bruch Catal. Episcop Curien Io. Stumpff in Rhetia Magdeburg cent Guliel Eisengr centenar 2. Io. Naucler gener 6. volum 8. Petr. de Natal l. 1. cap. 24. Emerita supposed by some others to be Sister to our King Lucius and departing forth of Britaine with him to haue bene martyred in Germany in or neare Curre in Rhetia to which in some Iudgments the Ecclesiasticall Office of that Church seemeth to giue allowance at the least for one Lucius regio stemate apud Britannos ortus borne of the Brittish Kingly Race and his Sister S. Emerita but this proueth rather that it was not S. Lucius our King but an other of the Kingly Line which I shall proue hereafter to haue bene a Sonne of Constantius and S. Helena Empresse that honour of Britaine an elder brother to Constantine the Greate Emperour who became an holy Clergie man and preached in those parts of Germany Which together with the likenes or Identitie of name Regall Race and nearnes in blood gaue occasion to some to thinke it was the renowned first Brittish Christian King of that name which vndertooke that course of life and so ended it there 4. That our first Christian King Lucius could not be Bishop there is euident before when I haue kept him so long in Britaine that for
old Latine Manuscript History mortuus est Lucius sepultus in Claudiocestria The old Manuscript of S. Peters Church in Cornhill at London auoucheth from diuers Antiquities that he was buried at Gloucester where the Church of S. Francis was after builded being at the time of his death the Cathedrall and Episcopall Church of that Citie as I haue remembred Ihon Harding also witnesseth of this Kings death and bury all at Glocester At Cairglowe buried after his dignitie 6. And not to exclude the testimony of our Protestant Antiquaries in this Relation in their Theater of great Britaine written and coÌ„posed by diuers of their best Historians and published with their common applause and Approbation they make this History of King Lucius his death in Britaine a matter without question true and thus scoffingly condemne those writers Which would carry him to end his dayes in Germanye That this Lucius should be the Apostle to the Bauarians or that his Sister Emerita was crowned with the Flames of Martyrdome fifteene yeares after his death I leaue to the credit of Aegedius Schudus and Hermannus Scedelius the Reporters Others of them plainely say Lucius was buried at Glocester Yet this generall consent of Antiquitie for his first buriall at Glocester doth nothing hinder but as the kuowne deuotion both of the Britans and Saxons after them towards holy Reliks did often and with greate reuerence and solemnitie remoue the bodyes of holy Saints or parts of them for their greater honour So it might or did after fall out with the whole body of this renowned King or some part thereof And the Tradition of Winchester is that the whole body of King Lucius or a greate part thereof being once remoued before was the second time Translated thither there lieth in the bodie of the greate Church vnder a marble stone eleuated about two foote froÌ„ the pauement the same stone being now broken in two places hauing vpon â—t and those holy Reliks a Crosse of 7. greate brasse buttons whereof 5. are set downe in length and the other two making the perfect figure and forme of the Crosse one on each side of the others making the length And this reuerent Translation of King Lucius body to diuers places in Britaine is sufficiently insinuated by the old Authour of the French Manuscript History I Manuscr Gallic sup c. 9. haue cited before who allthough he confidently affirmeth that King Lucius died at Glocester deuia a Gloucestre yet he addeth that he was afterward buried in the cheife See in the Citie of Caerlegion En Leglise del Primer See cest assauoir en la cittie de Legions estoit enterres and this he saith was in the 196. yeare of Christs Incarnation l'an de l'Incartion 196. 4. or 5. yeares sooner then others before haue set downe his death except the forenamed Manuscript Compilation which hath the same Computation of his death saying sepultus Compilatio M. S. de gest Brit. Angl. in Lucio est Anno Incarnationis Dominicae 196. herede carens THE III. CHAPTER HOW NOTWITHSTANDING THE DEATH of King Lucius without Heire to succeede in the gouerment of the kingdome the Brittans perseuered constantly in the Christian faith and the Scots by Preachers sent from Sainct Victor Pope of Rome at the entreatie of their King Donalde receaued the faith and as the Brittans continued in it vntill the Protestants time euen by their owne confessions 1. AND both to assure vs further of the vndoubted truth of those Histories which testifie the death and buriall of King Lucius to haue bene in Britaine and not in any forreine The greate losse Britaine had of King Lucius his death Region as also to giue vs better notice and triall what honour peace and quiet spirituall and temporall with other happines this kingdome enioyed by King Lucius blessed life and loste them by the losse of him it is the constant agreement of Antiquities Galfr. Monum Hist Reg. Brit. l. 5. c. 1. Virun l. 5. Histor Matth. Westm An. 201. Holinshed Hist of Engl. l. 4. c. 19. Compilatio M. S. de gest Brit. Angl. in Lucio that Britaine now made by his death destitute not onely of so worthie a King but also of any certaine Heire or Successor of that Regall Race fell to intestine discord and variance by which it was miserably afflicted long time vpon that occasion Caruerat ille sobole oritur seditio inter Britones de successuro in Regnum Romana potestas infirmata est A Protestant Historian thus writeth in generall of this matter King Lucius dyed without issue by reason whereof after his decease the Brittans fell at variance which continued about the space of fiftene yeares as Fabian thinketh howbe it the old English Cronicle affirmeth that the contention betwixt them remained fifty yeares though Harding affirmeth but foure yeares Which his words of Hardings opinion that this variance among the Brittans continued but 4. yeares are to be ameÌ„ded for Harding setteth downe Matth. Westm An. 205. Florent Wigor in Chro. Marianus Scotus Martin Polon in Seuero Harding Chronic c. 51. f. 44. the dissentions of the Brittans as other Historians doe and maketh them of as long continuance onely he saith that Seuerus the Emperour came hither foure yeares after the death of King Lucius to seeke to appease things so doth Matthew of Westminster Florentius and others as farre as Harding doth his words be these of King Lucius death For cause he had non heire to keepe the land Through all Britaine the Barons gan discord Vnto the time that Romans tooke on hand To chose a Prince by their stedfast accord But 4. yere were gone or then they could accorde In which then Seuer the Senatour Hether came to be their Gouernour Where Harding doth limit the foure yeares onely to the Romans to take notice and deliberate of these things and conclude to send Seuerus hither saying But foure yeares were gone or then they could accorde Meaning the Romans about this matter for it is euident both by Harding and all other Antiquaries that Seuerus did not accord the Britans but the variance continued heare during his whole life and he was slaine at Yorke in the same contention as both Harding and all others testifie Harding saith But King Fulgen of Pightes and Scots againe Harding Chron. c. 53. s 45. With hoost full great seiged Ebranke citee Which Seuer rescowed and was slaine And Fulgen also for beten there did die And he continueth the Brittans warrs and tumults heare long time after Seuerus his death and his sonnes after him as other Antiquaries likewise Christians in Britaine quiet for Religion vntill the Persecution of Dioclesian doe finding litle quiet heare vntill the later end of Constantius Father of Constantiue the Greate Emperour Which will more appeare hereafter so farre as it carrieth any connexion with our Ecclesiasticall History 2. And yet notwithstanding such a worlde of vnquietnes heare
Wigor 198. 220. Matth. Westm An. 205. 206. noble Parents constat Seuerum fuisse Maiorum claritudine nobilissimum yet not able to describe his Auncestrie doth sufficiently proue him a stranger to those Countryes and their Historians And to make further Manifestation herein allthough he was borne in Afrike about Tripolis so farre from Britaine yet he had Marryed a Brittish Lady as diuers of the same Authours and others testifie and had by her Bassianus his sonne after King of Britaine and Emperour also Some say her name was Martia and the first wife of Seuerus and Sister of Fulgentius the Britan that warred against and slew Seuerus at Yorke Fulgenius Matris Bassiani frater as the Brittish History reporteth And this Brittish Lady could not be Married to Seuerus after his comming into Britaine but longe before where he then liued in the East parts of the world For in Britaine he liued but a short time by our Protestants calculation in their Catalogue of the Kings of Britaine 4. yeares The Magdeburgian Protestants haue the like accompt following Eusebius Florentius Wigorniensis maketh his aboade heare but three yeares The Monke of Westminster scarcely alloweth him 2. yeares continuance heare The like haue others all agreeing he was old and feeble at his comming hither Yet Bassianus his sonne by our Dio in Caracalla Brittish Lady was so old at his death that he succeeded him both in this kingdome and the Empire who being Emperour but 6. or 7. yeares was as Dio and others write at his death goeing on his 29. yeare of Age aetatis annum agens vndetrigisimum Allmost 20. yeares olde when his Father first landed in Britaine 4. Therefore it is so farre from being a disproofe of Seuerus his discent from the Regall Race of our BritaÌ„s because he was borne in Afrike that liued so remote from hence with so many difficulties ioyning himselfe in Marriadge with a Lady of Briraine of so Noble a Family that her brother claimed to be King heare is a pregnaÌ„t ArgumeÌ„t that he also was of our Brittish kingly Race and so discended as our Antiquarie hath before described And in this respect being the fittest most likely maÌ„ by his true Title to the Crowne of Britaine with the vnion of the Roman Brittish forces to appease the Tumults heare Galfr. Mon. Hist l. 5. c. 2. Harding Chron. in Seuer c. 52. alij by this his vndoubted Right to the Crowne of Britaine he was so coÌ„fident to effect this designe that he brought but two Legions of Roman Souldiers to assist him For the more willing enterprise whereof Britaine the Natiue Country of his Empresse she still liuing and Bassianus their sonn 's vndeniable Title to be King heare after his Father called vpoÌ„ him to take this expeditioÌ„ in his owne parson otherwise most vnfitt for such a Iorney and attempt for as diuers write he was not onely olde but so lame and trobled with the Goute that for the most part he was carried in his bed-couche Senex iam morbo articulari Hector Boeth Scot. Hist l. 5. f. 87. laborans lectica plurimum vehebatur Thus it appeareth how probable it is that Seuerus was not onely discended of the Line of our Brittish Kings but was immediate true Heire to the Crowne of Britaine for being granted that he was right Heire to Androgeus the eldest sonne of King Lud there could be Galfrid Mon. Hist Reg. Brit. l. 3. c. 20. l. 4. c. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Matth. Westm aetat 5. ca. 25. 26. 27. 28. Hard. Chron. c. 41. 42. 43. 44. Holinsh. Hist of Engl. l. 3. c. 10. Stowe and Howes Hist in Lud. Cassibelan Theomantius Balaeus l. de Scri. Brit. centur 1. in Fulgenio none to claime it before him For it is the generall consent of our Historians Brittish or Saxons Catholiks or Protestants that King Lud left two sonnes behinde him younge at his death the forenamed Androgeus being the eldest vndoubted Heire of Britaine and Theomantius or Tenancius the secoÌ„d two Brothers Cassibelan which next ruled in respect of the Minoritie of his nephewes Androgeus the eldest going a way with Iulius Caesar and Nennius after CassibelaÌ„ by the departing hence of the eldest brother Androgeus Theomantius ruled After whome Aruiragus Marius Coillus and Lucius by whose death without Issue or Heire in Britaine the immediate true Right of this kingdome belonged to Seuerus And after Seuerus his death Bassianus his onely sonne by the Brittish Empresse his wife Sister to Fulgenius of the Regall blood of Britaine Fulgenius vir sanguine Regio clarus and so neare Titler to the Crowne that he with greate assistance aduaunced his claime vnto it being both by Father and Mother his Father Vncle taken away by death the next immediate Heire was both King of Britaine and Emperour by all Antiquities And by this we finde how vntrue or to no purpose the supposed Decree of the Roman Senate was to disable those to gouerne heare which discended of Brittish Parents THE VI. CHAPTER OF THE STATE OF CHRISTIANS ESPECIALLY in Britaine in the time of Seuerus vnder whome allthough in some parts there was greate persecution of Christians yet not heare in Britaine but the Christians were heare in quiet without affliction 1. NOW to speake somewhat of Seuerus his Alienation or affection from or to Christian Religion it is the common opinion and our owne Antiquaries be of the same that in diuers places of the Empire he was an enemy so farre vnto it that many terme him the fift Persecutor among the Emperours after Nero and many Christians in diuers Prouinces were Martyred in his Empire Post Neronem Marian. Scot. l. 2. aetat 6. an 283. Matth. Westm An. 195. Florâ—nt Wigor in Cron. An. 189. 211. Iudas Scrâ—ptor Eccle. teÌ„pore Seueri apud Euseb l. 6. c. 6. Baron To. 3. Annal. An-204 Spartianus in Seuero Euseb in Chron. l. 6. c. 2. Hier. l. de Scrip. Eccl. in Origene c. 54. Magd. coÌ„t 3 Dio. Hist Rom. l. 51. Acta S. Phil. Martyris apud Baron To. 2. An. 204. notaâ— in Martyr 13. Sept. Martyr Rom. 13. Septemb. Bâ—d Vâ—nard Ado. eod die Act. S. Philipp supr Cornel. Tacitus l. 17. Seuerus quintam Persecutionem in Christianos excitauit plurimique Sanctorum per diuersas Prouincias Martyrio coronantur And it is so certaine by all forreine Antiquities that there was such Persecution in his time that it was allmost a common opinion that the comming of Antichrist was at hand as an Ecclesiasticall Writer of that time hath left to Posteritie propterea quod persecutionis tumultus contra nos excitatus multorum mentes tam grauiter perturbaret Antichristi aduentum omnium ore atque sermone iactatum iam tum appropinquare arbitratus est Yet we doe not finde any expresse Edict or Prohibition of him vntill about the tenth yeare of his Empire When as
conqu Brit. c. 7. ad Persecutionem Diocletioni Tiranni And not onely in the time of Dioclesian his Persecutiō following in this Age we finde euen whole Cities Townes as Verolamium and others vtterly destitute of Christians but long before and about this time we are assured that there were very many Britans and not of meane estate but such as were publikly employed about the affaires of S. Mello a Britan Archbishop of Roan in Normādy the kingdome and sent from hence to Rome about it that eyther were fallen from Christianitie or neuer forsooke their Pagan Religion For we reade both in auncient Manuscripts and other Authours in the life of S. Mello a Britan and after Archbishop of Roan in Normandy sent thither by S. Stephen Pope not onely that he and his Brittish Companions which were then sent to Rome to paye the Tribute of Britaine there were Pagans and sacrificed in the Temple of Mars but it was then the custome of the Britans comming thither about that office so to doe which to be a custome could not be Manuscr antiq in Vita S. Mellonis Episc Confessoris Io. Capgrau Catalog in eod younger then these dayes time short enough betweene this and that time to make a custome Tempore Valeriani Imperatoris Mello quidam de maiori Britannia oriundus Romam venit vt Patriae suae Tributū solueret Imperatori seruiret Ibique sicut mos erat cum socijs suis ad templum Martis ductus est vt sacrificaret And it seemeth this custome had bene from the first submission of the Britans to the Romans for both Protestants and others affirme that in Octauius Augustus time Ambassadours came from Britaine to Rome swearing Fealtie in the Stowe Howes Hist in Octauius Augustus Temple of Mars offering gifts in the Capitall to the Gods of the Romans And we haue Testimonie in our Histories that after King Lucius death and this very time which we haue now in hand it was the vse and custome of our Britans heare when any of their Nobilitie or Gentry were to obtayne the dignitie of Knighthood to send them to Rome to receaue that honour there and after such Pagan Rites and ceremonies that Christians could not in conscience so accept thereof And yet such multitudes euen in this time flocked thither from hence so to be created that in this time when S. Amphibalus was conuerted Iacob Genuen Episc in Catal. Sanctor in S. Amphabel and Alban to the faith by Pope S. Zepherine as Iacobus Genuensis a learned Bishop writeth 15. hundred were so created Of all which we finde no memory that any more were Christians then S. Amphibalus and S. Alban and yet both these conuerted after they had thus professed Paganisme S. Amphibalus by Pope Zepherine who after made him Preist at Rome and S. Alban S. Alban descēded of the Romans long after his returne from Rome by the same holy Saint Amphibalus sent hither by Pope Zepherine in Britaine And yet as the old Brittish Writer of Author Britan. Antiq. in Vita S. Albani Capgr in eod S. Alban his life Capgraue and others witnesse S. Alban was rather discended of Noble Roman then Brittish Parentage Albanus ex illustri Romanorum Prosapia originem ducens probably both of Roman and Brittish Auncestours 4. And it seemeth the condition of many of others was not vnlike and thereby a greate allurement for them to continue in the Romans Religion of whose blood they were discended in whose municipall and priuiledged Townes many of them liued and from whome they hoped and expected to receaue terreane honours and Aduancements The Britans generally or for the most part professing the holy Christian Religion preferring heauenly before earthly honours Yet it is euident by this is saide that in this short tract of time after the death of King Lucius many of the Britans by the continuall trobles of that time and conuersation with Pagans were either fallen from Christianitie or as holy Gildas saith professed it but coldly tepidè in respect of that zeale and feruour which was vsed in the dayes of Saint Lucius And yet Seuerus of himselfe was not so much giuen to wicked life but renowned Martin Polon Supput in Seuero not onely for warlike affaires but for learning and studyes Praeter bellicam gloriam ciuilibus studijs scientia Philosophiae clarus fuit And so greate an enemy to Incontinēcy that he puished Adultery by Lawe with death with such seueritie that Dio writeth that whē he was Consul he foūde by Records Dio in Seuero Herodianus in Seuero Herodianus l. 3. that 3000. had bene put to death for that offence Ego cum Consul essem inueni scriptum in Tabulis tria millia Maechorum morte fuisse mulctata And was after his death made a God among the Pagans And Herodianus saith he died rather of greefe for his childrens wickednes then of sicknes Maerore magis quam morbo consumptus vita functus est Which greefe for the sinns of his sonnes as also Galfr. Mon. l. 5. c. 2. F. or Wigorn. An. 195. 217. Mat. Westm an 205. Harding Cron. c. 53. f. 44. Galfr. Mon. Hist l. 5. c. 2. Matth. Westm an 206. Hard. sup Pont. Virunn l. 5. Dio Hist l. 55. of his owne in permitting the Christians in many places to be greuiously persecuted I would not deny but that he died of any such greefe is vntrue being most certaine that he after so many Conquests in other Countryes when he came to fight against his Country Christians he was enforced dishonorably to make a Wall and Trench of aboue 130. miles in lenght to keepe his Enemyes back from inuading him and slaine in battaile by Fulgenius others call him Fulgentius brother by some before to his first lawfull true wife the Empresse Martia a Briton Interfectus est Seuerus Imperator In acri certamine interficitur Seuerus And by the Roman Writers themselues he was at this time when he was so slaine at Yorke 65. yeares old And allthough he left 32. Legions as Dio writeth to defend that his temporall Empire which had so persecuted the Church of Christ yet that temporall Empire with all those propes began to stagger and notwithstanding so greate Persecution the kingdome of Christ as Tertullian then liuing witnesseth was adored and ruled in all places Cum Romani tot Legionibus suum Imperium muniant nec trans istas gentes Tertullian aduers Iudaeos c. 7. porrigere vires regni sui possint Christi autem Regnum nomen vbique porrigitur vbique creditur ab omnibus gentibus supranominatis colitur vbique regnat vbique adoratur And particularly heare in Britaine as he hath said before Christianitie reigned whether the Pagan Romans could not nor durst come but walled and trenched in themselues for feare 5. He left behinde him two sonnes Bassianus his eldest by his lawfull wife of Britaine before remembred and Geta by
Bassianus reigned alone both Emperour and King of Britaine vntill his death Besides his hereditarie Title to this kingdome it seemeth that the Christian Britans heare were not a litle moued to chuse and receaue him for their King for the hope they had that he would eyther become a Christian or at least a friend and no Enemy to that Profession of which in his youth and tender yeares he had giuen no vulgar Argument for besides many other hopefull graces and gifts he was then endued with and brought vp by a Christian Nurse and Christian children when he did see any Christian Martyrs brought to wild beasts to be killed and deuoured he would weepe or turne his face away as Spartianus is an ample witnes Si quando feris obiectos damnatos vidit fleuit aut ocolos auertit And being but seuen yeares old hearing that one of his Christian Playfellowes was greeuously beaten for that his Religion as the common interpretation is he could not long after enduer the Procurers of his beating by the same Authour Septennis puer cum collusorem suum puerum ob Iudaicam religionem grauius verberatum audisset neque patrem suum neque patrem pueri vel Authores Spartian supr verberum diu respexit Where the Pagan Authour by the Iewes Religion as often such men doe vnderstandeth Christian Religion which both his Nurse and this Playfellow of Bassianus her Sonne did professe And in this hope of the Britans now Christians that â—assianus would rather be a friend then Persecutour of such they were not deceaued for allthough contrary to his first education when he was with Christians being separated from them he fell to such and so many kindes of Impietie as Histories doe recompt and putt an innumerable company of the Pagan Roman Nobles to death and many of them which had bene greatest Enemies to Christians yet he died innocent from Christian blood and Persecution and by his seueare punishmeÌ„t towards their aduersaries iustly to be interpreted a Reuenger of their wrongs and former calamities The common opinion is that he reigned betweene 6. and 7. yeares Allthough I finde in an old French Manuscript Historie entreating Manuscr Gallic Antiq. c. 109. much of the affaires of this kingdome written aboue 400. yeares since that he was King of Britaine 29. yeares Bassian tenoit le Roilme de Bretaine 29. ans 3. All Bassianus his time and diuers yeares before in the Empire of Seuerus S. Zepherine was Pope of Rome who as our Protestant Antiquaries acknowledge being giuen wholly to the seruice of God more then earthly things ended his life with holy Martyrdome Zepherinus rei diuinae magis quam Ioh. Bal. l. 1. de Act. Rom. Pont. in Zephermo Robert Barns in Vit. Pont. Rom. in eod Matth. Parker Antiq. Brit. c. 17. humanae intentus Martyrio coronatus est These ProtestaÌ„ts also doe relate many worthy Actes of this holy Pope amoÌ„gst which these they sett downe at large in their publike Writings He Decreed saye they that Preists should not consecrate the blood of Christ in a Chalice of wood That all which were of yeares of discretion should communicate at Easter at the least euery yeare That Preists should be present when the Bishop said Masse That a Bishop accused should not without the Authoritie of the Pope of Rome be condeÌ„ned in Iudgment eyther by Primate Patriarke or Metropolitane Sanguinis Christi coÌ„secrationeÌ„ no in calice ligneo fieri debere statuit Omnes iaÌ„ Puberes vt semel in Anno ad Paschatis Ferias Eucharistiam sumerent edixit CuÌ„ Episcopus celebraret Missae sacra iussit omnes Presbyteros adesse Sine Romani Pontificis authoritate accusatuÌ„ EpiscopuÌ„ nec a Primate nec à Patriarcha nec à Metropolitano in iudicio coÌ„demnanduÌ„ esse This holy Pope as I haue cited before from Iacobus Genuensis others consenting thereto conuerted our renowned Countryman S. Amphibalus which Iacob Genuen Episc in Catal. Sanct. in S. Amphibalo Author of the Engl. Martyrol die 25. Iunij Io. Lidgâ—te Monac Buâ—iens in â—ius Vita Gerar. Liâ—gh in â—udim Insignium wonne by his preaching life and death after so many thowsands of this Nation to Christ Of whome a late Writer citing diuers Antiquities thus writeth S. Amphibale being a Noble young man of Britany and going to Rome with Bassianus Sonne to Seuerus Viceroy of the Britans was there by Pope Zepherinus instructed secretly in the Christian saith baptized made Preist and sent back into Britaine there to preach vnto others Neyther may we with prudence iudge that so greate a concourse of our Brittish Nobilitie being then at Rome and S. Amphibalus thus conuerted a greate Noble man termed in Antiquities the Sonne of a Prince and so not without attendance that he alone was thus conuerted and employed by that holy Pope at this time And not vnprobable but some of those holy Apostolike men which are yet remembred in Histories to haue assisted S. Amphibalus afterward in preaching Christ in Veremuâ—d apud Hâ—câ—or Boeth Scoâ—or Hist l. 6. f. 102. Holâ—insh Hist of Scotl. in Chrathlint these parts receaued their Ordination and Instruction for the same at Rome now or about this time such as were Modocus Priscus Calanus Ferranus Ambianus and Carnocus there is no repugnancie in time for these were old men when the Persecution of Dioclesian raged heare and S. Alban was martyred in the yeare of Christ 282. passus est gloriosus Martyr Albanus anno Domini Manuscr Antiq. Vit. S. Albani Capgr Catal. in eod Bar. Annal. An. 221. Robert Barnes in Vit. Pont. Rom. in Zeph. Io. Bal. l. 1. Act. Pont. Rom. in eod Dio in Caracal Spartian in Caracalla Dio in Macrino Manuscr Gallic Antiq. c. 14. CoÌ„pilatio M. S. de gest Brit. Ang. in Carausio ducentesimo octogesimo secundo And S. Zepherine continued Pope as both Catholike and Protestant Antiquaries agree vntill the yeare of Christs Natiuitie 220. when as a Protestant Bishop writeth he was crowned with Martyrdome anno Domini 220. martyrio coronatus est About this time also or a litle before Bassianus Emperour King of Britaine was murthered betweene Edessa and Carras by Mardianus a Centurion he marrying with the Sister of the holy Christian Lady Mammea left their Sonne Heliogabalus behind him who soone after was Emperour An old French Manuscript History saith that Bassianus was slayne by Carausius who after reigned 38. yeares The same hath the Manuscript Compilation in these words tandem fauentibus Britonibus Carausius dimicauit cum Bassiano interfecit eam sic gubernaculum regni in se suscepit THE VIII CHAPTER HOW VERY MANY KINGS WITH VARIABLE proceedings Ruled heare in Britaine before Constantius Father to the Greate Constantine by S. Helen our Brittish Lady yet the Christians heare were quiet from Persecution in all or most of their time 1. AFTER the death of S. Zepherine Pope Calixtus the first of Lamprid. in Diadame
Episcopor Curien Ecclesiae Germans was borne of the Regall Race among the Britans and to propagate the faith of Christ came out of Britaine into Germany and preached first at Salisburge then at Ausburge from whence he was cast out by the Infidels there and then went with his sister S. Emerita to the Cytie of Chur where preaching againe both he and his Sister Emerita were Martyred by the Pagans S. Lucius at Chur in the castle of Mars and S. Emerita at Trine-castle And that there is without the walls of Chur a very old Monastery called S. Lucius which was begun by him and was his Oratory Lucium hunc aliqui regio stemmate apud Britannos ortum natum esse affirmant venisse autem illum amore propagandae doctrinae de filio Dei Iesu Christo ex Britannia in Germaniam vt Christum Germanis etiam adhuc Idololatris concionaretur eos ad Christum conuerteret Id aiunt illum primum fecisse Salisburgi postea Augustae Vindelicorum vbi cum eijceretur ab Infidelibus dicitur Churam cum sorore S. Emerita cessisse vbi cum itidem Idololatricas opiniones reprehenderet aliquamdiu concionaretur Christum liberatorem ab Infidelibus tum Rhetis caesi Martyrio coronati sunt S. Lucius S. Emerita S. Lucius Churae in Martis Castro S. Emerta apud Trimontium Est Churae extra vrbis muros Caenobium S. Lucij preuetustum in vitifero colle situm quod ab eo caeptum Oratorij loco conditum aiunt And he vtterly disliketh their opinion which hold that this was our first Christian King S. Lucius And that onely Tradition that the S. Lucius which was the Apostle of that people was Martyred Curae in Martis Castro at Chur in the Castle of Sebast Munster Cosmogr l. 3. ca. 214. de Episcopatu Curiensi Aegyd Schud in descript Rhaetiae Alpinae c. 15. alij Mars doe make it vnpossible to be our King Lucius so doth their Tradition that this S. Lucius which first preached vnto them was their first Bishop of Chur for both Sebastian Munster Egidius Schudus and others doe demonstrate that the Citie of Chur was not builded vntill after King Lucius time so he could neither be Bishop of nor Martyred in that Citie then not extant 3. And how would or in conscience could so wise and Religious a King as Lucius hauing no child or Heire fitt or able to gouerne Britaine or which the Romans would allowe forsake his owne kingdome to leaue it in such certaine distresse and troble both temporall and spirituall as after his death ensued and could not but be morally foreseene in his prudence with the Apostacy of so many Britans his subiects to aduenture vpon vncertaine successe to preach in forraine Countries or what Antiquitie doth proue that he was either Bishop Preist or Cleargie man all our Historians sett downe the time and place of his death and buryall in Britaine making him onely a glorious King Lay parson and Confessour no Cleargie man nor Martyr And those forreine Writers which inclyne to hold he went out of Britaine into Germany either for the most part mistake their Authours or grounde vpon heare-sayes and vnsound reports Nicholas Viginier vseth S. Bede for witnesse which Nich. Vign Biblioth Hâ—st pag. 765. Naucler Chron. Genera 6. p. 565. Petr. Merssaeus in Episc Treuer in Episcop TuÌ„gar in S. Marcelio Henric. Patal de Vir. Illust Germ. part 1. p. 110. Magdeb. cent 2. c. 2. col 9. hath no such thing And he himselfe beleeueth it not rather teaching the contrary Nauclerus saith fertur it is onely reported and setteth downe King Lucius death as our Historians doe Petrus Merssaeus writeth doubtfully some times saying S. Lucius of Britaine that preached in Germany was a King otherwhiles onely a Prince as Constantius and S. Helens sonne was Henry Pantaleon the Annals of Chur as he citeth them and Stumphius onely say that S. Lucius the Apostle of Chur was borne of the Regall Race among the Britans ex Regio Britannorum sanguine prognatus which is true of the second S. Lucius The Magdeburgian Protestants terme it a very fable to thinke that King Lucius left his Country and kingdome to preach in Germany fabulam omnino resipiunt quod Lucius Rex Imperio suo sponte abdicato factus sit Concionator qui in Gallijs in Germania nempe Augustae in Sueuia passim praedicarit Christum ac denique Curiensis Ecclesiae Doctor effectus Martyrio occubuerit And they say it is one of the fables with which the Deuill defiled the Church of Christ His fabulis Diabolus conspurcauit Ecclesiam Christi when and where King Lucius dyed was honorably interred in Britaine in the Cathedrall Church of Glocester I haue set downe in his time before 4. And a very greate mistaking it is of Auentine Feuardentius Gaspar Bruchius and Sebastian Munster if they incline to thinke that this Apostle Auentin apud Magdeb. cent 1. l. 2. c. 10. Feuardentius Annot. in Irenaeum l. 1. Har. c. 3. Gaspar Bruch Cata og Episc Curien Augustano Martyrol Rom. die 3. Decembr Annal. Ecclesiae ChurieÌ„ Breu. Eccl ChurieÌ„ die 3. 4. Decembr in festo S. Lucij Emeritae Martyrol Rom. die 6. Maij. Bed Vsuard Ado eod die Sebastia Munster l. 3. cap. 217. Act. Apost c. 13. Naucler gener 6. Volum 2. pag. 565. Bishop and Martyr of Chur and the Rhetians named Lucius was Lucius Cyrenensis S. Paules Kinsman and mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles For besides all those Authours named before the old Roman Martyrologe the Annals of Chur and their publike Church office one the Feasts of S. Lucius and his Sister S. Emerita with others doe fully assure vs that S. Lucius the Apostle there was borne in Britaine of the Regall Race there brother to S. Emerita a Martyr and Martyred at Chur. Of which not any one agreeth with S. Lucius CyreneÌ„sis for he was borne at Cyrena in Lybia poore by birth sonne of S. Simon Cyrenaeus that bore the Crosse of Christ Bishop of Cyrena where he was borne no Martyr and died the 6 day of May on which his Feast is kept when they of Chur celebrate their Apostles solemnitie vpon the third day of DeceÌ„ber And it is proued before Sebastian MuÌ„ster himself vrging it that the Citie of Chur was not builded vntill loÌ„g time after the death of S. Lucius CireneÌ„sis No other S. Lucius though many of that name is remeÌ„bred in any Martyrologe or other MonumeÌ„t to haue preached suffered Martyrdome in or neare that place or this time nor any other a Britan borne or of such Noble Parentadge but this our renowned S. Lucius sonne of Constantius and S. Helen therefore of necessitie we must yeeld as his due this honour onely to him And glorifie God that so greate a Prince of this Nation eldest Sonne to an Emperour our King and Empresse our Queene and by iust discent Heire both
destroying Churches and martyring the holy Preists of them long time before the Martyrdome of S. Alban commonly called our first Martyr in those dayes A ProtestaÌ„t Bishop thus relateth the Testimonie of one Antiquitie The Church of Winchester was hallowed and decicated October 29. 189. by Faganus and Damianus Bishops About the space of 100. yeares the Church of Christ had theÌ„ peace in this LaÌ„d vntill the reigne of DioclesiaÌ„ who endeauouring to roote out Christian ReligioÌ„ not onely killed the professors of the same but pulled downe all Churches and TeÌ„ples any where consecrated vnto the exercise thereof Amongst the rest this of Winchester at that time went to wrake the building thereof being ruinated and made euen with the grouÌ„d and the MoÌ„kes all the Officers beloÌ„ging vnto it either slayne or enforced to fly This happened in the yeare of Christ 289. An other Manuscript of that auncient Church which beginneth Paganitas in Britannia setteth downe this Manuscr Antiq. Eccl. Wâ—nton desolatioÌ„ of Churches Monasteries heare 6. yeares before the Martyrdome of S. Alban particularly remeÌ„bring them both with their seuerall times And saith as the other doth that there were 100. yeares betweene the building of these Churches and endowing them by King Lucius and the sacking and destroying of them in this Persecution reporteth the martyring of their holy Preists theÌ„ coÌ„cerning that Church of Winchester it relateth how the MoÌ„kes thereof after an hundred yeares of their placing there in King Lucius time were now cruelly putt to death Durauit Christianitas in Britannia a primo anno Lucij Regis primi BritannoruÌ„ Christiani centum annis tam diu Monachi Deo seruientes praedictum vetus caenobium quietè inhabitabant Interfecti sunt Monachi in Ventana Ecclesia destructa a Ministris Dioclesiani persecutoris Anno Imperij suâ— secundo Longe by all accompts before the Martyrdome of S. Alban And it is Anonymus Brit. Script Vitae S. Albani Manusc Antiquâ—t in Vita eius Capgr Catal in Eod. alij euident by the words themselues of S. Alban to S. Amphibalus related by the old Writer of S. Alban his life Capgraue and diuers other Authours that there had bene greate persecution of Christians heare in Britaine before S. Alban was a Christian and before his harbouring of S. Amphibalus For at their meeting he maketh it a wonder how S. Amphibalus a Christian could passe and come through so many persecuting Pagans to his house at Verolamium Quomodo cum sis homo Christianus per gentilium fines transitum habere ad vrbem illaesus peruenire potuisci And S. Amphibalus did asscribe his preseruation to the especiall protection of Christ among so many dangers Dicit ei Amphibalus Dominus meus Iesus Chrisâ—us filius Dei viui securum inter discrimina me custodiuit This is further euident in that History wherein we finde that S. Alban would not suffer S. Amphibalus at any time during their being together to goe forth of his house but in the night time And when they were to part one from the other would not permitt S. Amphibalus to goe forth but in the night time he himselfe accompanying and guyding him and giuing him his owne Coate to weare which had a Priuiledge and immunitie by the fashion thereof and dignitie of the Owner from all persecutours Dans ei chlamydem auro textam qua tutior ab hostibus redderetur Vestis enim huiusmodi Capgr alij supâ— Mat. West 3â—3 tantae tunc temporis apud omnes dignitatis tantaeque fuit reuerentiae vt illâ indutus hostium Cuneos penetraret illaesus And it is euident by S. Bede and others that these persecutours Edicts were published prosecuted and executed in Britaine before this time when S. Alban was still a Pagan Albanus Paganus adhuc Bed Eccles Hist l. 1. c. 7. Matth. Westm An. 303. Martyr Rom. die 22. Iunij Bed Vâ—uaâ—d Ado eod die Capgâ—au alij sup in S. Albano cum perfidorum Principum mandata aduersum Christianos saeuirent Clericum quendam persecutores fugientem hospitio recepit And S. Amphibalus was then actually and particularly persecuted And S. Alban himselfe when at the first S. Amphibalus preached Christ vnto him is witnesse that if others of that Citie should know it they would presently haue putt him to cruell death for professing Christ Si noscent viri huius ciuitatis te talia locutum fuisse de Christo sine mora pessima morte te occiderent This is euident both by the Pagan Magistrats immediate and present prosecution after S. Amphibalus to putt him to death and their mercilesse and most cruell martyring of S. Alban for no other cause then receauing and concealing a Christian Preist and he himselfe professing the same Religion This is made manifest by the Souldiar which miraculously conuerted by S. Alban his Martyrdome and confessing Christ was presently for the same cause putt to death and baptized with his owne blood in place of Baptisme with water These and such Arguments and Authorities doe inuincibly proue vnto vs that this Persecution against the Christians in Britaine was raysed and by publick Edicts and Authoritie or power of the Tyrant Maximian most barbarously prosecuted some yeares before the Martyrdome of S. Alban and many Martyrs heare as the Monkes and Preists of Winchester and others in so many Churches and Monasteries at the same time being in the same state destroyed and left desolate did gloriously obtayne the Crowne of Martyrdome before S. Alban whose happy names and memoryes being by Iniquitities of times lost vpon earth are to be found in heauen where there eternall glory is 4. Yet I am farre from detracting any honour from S. Alban which Antiquitie doth or can giue vnto him I doe with humble reuerence allowe him his Title of our Protomartyr Primus Principalis Praecipuus first cheife or principall In What sence S. Alban is coÌ„monly termed the first Martyr or Protomartyr in Britaine Martyr whether we will follow the Greeke Latyne or our English phrase if we respect his temporall worthines his strange Conuersion his admirable charitie so soone Learned in Christian Religion to rescue the persecuted deliuer them to giue his owne life to redeeme an other being but a Neophite to be so constant in that most greuious Persecution and with such wonderfull patience and constancy to endure those torments he did and be so honorable for Miracles it is his deserued due so to be stiled and prioritie of time would be but a litle honour to him I haue proued before we had diuers Martyrs before this Age and in this Persecution we did not want those that suffered Martyrdome before him yet if we speake of prioritie in time of Martyrs whose names are kept in Histories this also is his owne in that sence in this PersecutioÌ„ for he is particularly the first that is registred by name in our Annals to haue suffered Martyrdome in
is more plaine by the old Brittish Antiquities affirming that many thowsand Martyrs and Confessours bodies lay there Asserunt Antiquae Britonum Historiae multa Sanctorum Martyrum Confessorum millia in illa Insula nomine Enhly sepulturam habuisse Therefore these old Martyrs must needs be in that onely famous time of Martyrdome heare vnder Dioclesian no other such to be found in Histories Sainct Dubritius also with many others liued and died there The miseries and wants such numbers endured there may be coniectured by the the streitnes of the I le doubtfull whether it hath one Parish Church or no. So Harrison supr c. 10. I say of S. Lides Iland where a Church is dedicated to him So of I le Bree corruptly Hilbery renowned for Pilgrimadges thither in auncient times So Harrison supr c. eod Manusc antiq Capgr in Vita S. Kebij of Englsuash or holy I le so named of the BritaÌ„s as a ProtestaÌ„t Antiquarie coÌ„fesseth of the greate number of holy Saints whose bodies are buried there was also called Cairkyby of Kyby a Monke that dwelled there as he confesseth This S. Kebius was consecrated Bishop by S. Hilary and liued there some time moued by the auncient holynes of that place So of the Iles of S. Barri and S. Dunwen old Brittish Saints giuing names vnto them by their liuing there So of the Hebrides or Euboniae Iles 43. in number All which belonged William Harrison descript sup c. 10. Hect. Boet. Hist lib. 6. Hollinsh Histor of Scotl. in Fincomarke Bal. cent 1. in Amphibalo Hect. Boeth Hist l. 6. Hoâ—â—â—ns Hist of Scotl. in Crathl Georg. Buchan Rege 35. to the Iurisdiction of the Bishop in Man at the first as a Protestant confesseth the first there being S. Amphibalus in this time And so of other out Ilands vpon the Coaste of this kingdome diuided from Scotland of which Iles hereafter then desolate gaue also such entertaynment to those our Saints in that time whose particular memory is not so well preserued And as our Scottish Historians write many of them fledd into the Country now called Scotland Magnus piorum numerus No small number of the faithfull among the Britans fledd vnto the Scots and Picts to auoyd Persecution Where as a Protestant Antiquary with others confesseth they being many of them renowned both for learning and pietie liued in poore Cells in such austeritie holines of life that thereupon they were honoured with the name of the worshippers of God Culdeis that name being giuen vnto them and after their deaths their Cells changed and dedicated into Churches Multi ex Britonibus Christiani saeuitiam Dioclesiani timentes ad Scotos confugerunt è quibus complures doctrina vitae integritate clari in Scotia substiterunt vitamque solitariam tanta sanctitatis opinione apud omnes vixerunt vt vita functorum cellae in templa commutarentur ex eoque consuetudo mansit apud posteros vt prisci Scoti templa cellas vocent Hoc genus Monachorum Culdeos appellabant And for those that liued still in that part of Britaine where the Romans then reigned they write as our owne Historians haue done before Euagata est rabies illa non Hector Boeth Scotor Hist l. 6. fol. 100. modo ab oriente in Occidentem sed etiam per alterum Orbem Britanniam vnde Christiana pietas truculentis inhumanis eius ingenij adinuentis plagis concussa immani tortorum vesania ac Persecutionis diuturnitate tota fermè est eiecta pijs viris ac Religiosis persecutionum metu in Eremos ac ferarum lustra concedentibus vbi expertes iniuriarum verè Monasticam sanctissimamque exegerunt vitam Where we learne that our holy Christians then were put to such miseries that flying into the woods and wildernesses they did rather chose to liue Hungry and naked in the Dens of deuouring wolues hoping to find more mercy among sauadge rauening beasts then the persecuting Pagans allmost extinguishing Christian Religion heare with their crueltie Which may most truely be affirmed for to omitte particularities to their place the vnspeakeable malice of the Persecutours was so enraged that without all colour or pretence of iuridicall proceedings they most tyrannically Martyred the holy Christians that were to be founde euen by a thowsand and thowsand at a time in distinct times and places as we reade in the Historie of one onely blessed Martyr S. Amphibalus 2000. at two seuerall murtherings So we must apprehend of other times and places Manuscr Antiq. in Vita S. Amphibâ—â—â— â—apgr Catal. in eod otherwise so greate and generall a desolation in so lardge a Christian kingdome could not haue bene effected in 9. yeares Persecution The Antiquaâ—ies of Cambridge tell vs how among other desolations in this time by Maximian heare their Vniuersitie and Citie was burned as also all Churches were at that time Inter caeteras praeclara illa vrbs Philosophiae parens Cantabrigia palatijs Io. Caius Hist Cantabrig p. 24. aedificijsque pulcherrima ab Herculio Maximiano homine impio sanguinario Dioclesiani Exercitus Principe Imperij socio exustaest vnaque omnia templa euersa omnes Sacrosanctae Scripturae bonarum Artium libri qui occurrebant publicè in foro concremati And he that was then heare King at the deuotion of â—â—cobus GenueÌ„ io Vita S. Albani Amphibali Anglic. Antiq. scâ—iptor ibid. the Romans Asclepiodotus whome the Italian Writer Iacobus Bishop of Genua and his old Translatour into English heare in the life of S. Alban and S. Amphibalus call Askepodot ioyned in this Persecution with Dioclesian and Maximinian and gaue sentence and Iudgment against them and putt them and diuers thowsands of Christians then to death extending his Rge and malice against the Christians in all places he could as these and others witnesse Yet others there be that speake otherwise better of King Asclepiodotus as I shall relate hereafter THE XVII CHAPTER OF DIVERS HOLY MARTYRS MOST CRVELLY putt to death at Winchester Caerlegion and other places in Britaine long before the Martyrdome of S. Alban with their greate honour and renowne 1. THE first Persecution of Christians heare in Britaine which I Annal. Manuscr Eccles Winton finde in particular was that which I haue before remembred out of the Antiquities of Winchester in which the holy sacred Preists of the Cathedrall Church being then destroyed were putt to death Interfecti sunt Monachi in Ventana Ecclesia destructa The Martyrdome of the Monks of Winchester by the Annals of that Church was diuers yeares before S. Albanus which by the computation of those Annals was 7. or 8. yeares before the Martyrdome of S. Alban and yet the same Antiquities doe sufficiently insinuate that this Persecution of Dioclesian began in Britaine in the yeare before their Martyrdome Some before referre the Martyrdome of S. Augulus Archbishop of our old Augusta London to this time but not finding that name among
heare of so wonderfull patience loue of Christ and Heroicall true fortitude to so many thowsands which by their singular example with inuincible couradge imitated them therein is the greatest honour we can yeeld to such blessed Saints one earth Their Festiuitie is celebrated by the old Roman Martyrologe vpon the first day of Iuly On which day as Baronius plainely writeth many Martyr Rom. die 1. Iulij others suffered Martyrdome with them Iulius Aaron Martyres cum alijs plurimis in Britannia sub Dioclesiano primo die Iulij So likewise affirmeth a Caesar Baron in Indice NominuÌ„ Sanctorum in Iulio Aarone Author of Engl. Martyr 1. Iul. late English Wtiter And the Roman Martyrologe which Baronius glosseth may well carry that construction for setting downe for a certaine truth that these two holy Martyrs were putt to death in Britaine vpon the first day of Iuly Primo die Iulij in Britannia Sanctorum Martyrum Iulij Aaron qui in persecutione Dioclesiani passi sunt it presently addeth Quo tempore ibidem quamplurimi diuersis crutiatibus torti saeuissimè lacerati ad supernae ciuit atis gaudia consummato agone peruenerunt At the same time in the same place very many tortured with diuers torments and most cruelly torne hauing ended their combate came to the Ioyes of heauen And S. Bede saith that ea tempestate Martyrol Ro. 1. die Iulij Bed l. 1. Hist c. 7. Henr. Hunting Hist l. 1. in Diocles Matt. West an 303. Io. Capgr in S. Albano alij Girald CaÌ„bren Itiner Camb. l. 1. cap. 5. Ranulph Higed l. 1. c. 48. Dauid Powel Annot. in Girald supr Harrison Descript of Brit. c. 13. Humfr. Lhuyd Brâ—uiar Britan. Et Tho. Twyne ib. f. 82. The glory of Caerlegâ—â—nâ—ur Archieâ—iscâ—â—all see before this time at that time when S. Aaron and S. Iulius were Martyred diuers others both men and women were putt to death Alijque vtriusque sexus passi sunt ea tempestate So hath Henry of Huntington passi sunt co tempore Aaron Iulius alij quo que plures vtriusque sexus So haue others And we cannot probably thinke that those raging Persecutours which in places where there were not in any degree so many Christians as in this renowned Citie an Archiepiscopall See and Christian Vniuersitie putt them to death by thowsands sent these heare by cruell Martyrdome to heauen alone These holy Martyrs by all Antiquities suffered Martyrdome at Caerlegion and both Giralâ—us Cambrensis Ranulphus Higeden writing at Westchester as also our Protestant Antiquaries of the same Country plainely say it was at Caerlegion in Monmouthshire which was the Archiepiscopall Citie and Schoole distinguishing it from Westchester by some called Caerlegion also I will onely cite one thus Englished to my hand by a Protestant Historian In this Region Monmouthshire is situated the most auncient and Noble Citie of Legions which our Countrymen call Caerleon are Wish that is to say the Citie of Legions vpon Vsk for difference sake betweene it and the other which is builded in Northwales vpon the Riuer Dee Of whome Giraldus writeth thus The same was an auncient and noble Towne the tokens whereof remayne as yet an huge Palace a Giantlike Tower goodly Bathes and hotehouses Reliques of Churches and places like Theaters compassed with beautifull walles â—artly yet standing Also buildings vndeâ— the grounde Conducts secreâ—â—e passages and Vaultes vnder the earth framed by wonderfull workemanship Thâ—â—â—â—â—th two Martyrs Iulius and Aaron which had Churches dedicate◠〈…〉 The like and more plainely haue many others auncient and late Catholiks and Protestants Therefore that Protestant Bishop which singularlie saith it was at Chester apud vrbem Legionum Cestriam nun vocatam is much deceaued in this matter Io. Bâ—l. Prâ—fat in l. de Scriptor THE XVIII CHAPTER HOW SAINT AMPHIBALVS A BRITTISH Bishop and many holy and learned Preists of the Britans in this Persecution went to the Scots and Picts were reuerently receaued of them and preached liued and continued there in greate Sanctitie and left greate Succession of such there after them 1. VPON this Persecution and Martyrdome of these holy Saints Gildas l. de excid c. 8. and others at that time as S. Gildas with others writeth they which escaped death hidd theÌ„selues in Woods Desarts Dens and fledd into Ilands to the Scots for refuge Qui superfuerant Hector Boeth Hist Scotor l. 6. f. 102. Georg. Buchan Rer. Scot. l. 4. in Rege 33. Hollinsh Hist of Scotland in Crathlint and Fincomarke siluis ac desertis abditisque spelnncis se occult aâ—ere Our Scottish Historians say a greate number of our Brittish Christians to auoide the crueltie of the Persecutours fledd to the Scots and Picts Magnus piorum numerus persequentium saeuitiam declinare cupiens ad Scotos Pictos concessit They haue preserued the particular names of diuers of them whome they recompt among the most renowned learned men of that Age such were Amphibalus a Bishop Modocus Priscus Calanus Ferranus Ambianus and Carnocus worshippers of God called in the old Scottish languadge Culdeis which by their preaching taught the Religion of Christ with many labours throughout the Scots Countries There were then very many more but these the cheifest of them whose names came to posteritie Inter Nostrates eadem fuere tempestate sacra doctrina pollentes Ampbibalus Amistes Modocus Priscus Calanus Ferranus Ambianus Caroncus Dei cultores Culdei prisca nostra vulgari lingua dicti Christi Seruatoris doctrinam omnes per Scotorum Regiones concionando multis pijsque sudoribus seminantes Fuere tunc alij permulti sed hij quorum nomina ad Posteros delata praecipui Many of these holy Brittish Christians liued in poore Georg. Buchan Rer. Scotic l. 4. Reg. 35. Hollinsh of Scotl. in Fincomarke Cels professing the most austeere penitentiall cremiticall life in so greate sanctitie that as these Scottish Antiquaries haue before deliuered their very Cels were dedicated into Churches after they were dead and with such reuerence obserued with that Nation our Protestants so confessing and testifying that from the time of those holy Brittish Saints which thus liued there the old Scots called Churches by the name of Cels Ex â—â—que consâ—etudo mansit apud Posteros vt prisci Scoti templa Cellas vocent 2. Among these our holy Bishop S Amphibalus a man of singular pietie and excellent in diuine learning Amphibaluâ— Brito vir â—â—sigâ—â— pietate sacra doctrina pollens preached the word of Christ throughouâ— the Scots and Picts S. Amphibalus a BritaÌ„ and Martyr a learned and holy Bishop in Mona I le with the Scots Countries speaking and writing much against the Pagans Religion 〈◊〉 dogma per Scotorum Pictorumqae Regiones propâ—â—aâ—do mâ—lâ—a a contra Geâ—â—â—â—um Religionem dicendo scribendoquâ— Crathlint then King of the Scots entertayned this holy Bishop and his company with greate loue and builded for them a â—hurch in the I
so now being a Christian exposed himselfe vnto danger of death for him imitating Christ that gaue his owne life for his sheepe Albanus charitatis gratia feruens Confessorem suum Amphibalum à Persecutoribus insectatum iam iamque comprehendendum primum in domo sua occuluit deinde se discrimini mortis obtulit imitans in hoc Christum animam suam pro ouibus ponentem For when these Enemies of Christ had raysed their Troopes euen an army magna manu as our Antiquities terme them to apprehend S. Amphibalus S. Scriptor Vitae S. Albani Manusc Antiq. Capgr in vita eius Alban in the night before conducteth him forth of his house and past danger and shifting garments with him to saue him from all perill caused S. Amphibalus to were his garment of dignitie and priuiledge in that time free from all trouble and molestation dans ei clamidem auro textam quo tutior ab hostibus redderetur vestis enim huiusmodi tantae tanc temporis apud omnes dignitatis tantaeque reuerentiae fuit vt illa indutus hostium cuneos penetraret illaesus And the garment of S. Amphibalus wherein the danger was being a Caracalla a Preists vesture as they say hauing bene discried he put it vpon himselfe together with the danger and so returned to his owne house alone hauing thus freed his holy Master and Tutor in Christ from that perill THE XX. CHAPTER OF THE HOLY AND MOST CONSTANT faith deuotion charitie sufferings miracles and Martyrdome of S. Alban 1. S Amphibalus being thus at this time deliuered by S. Alban the King Prince or Iudge for S. Bede Matthew Bed l. 1. Hist c. 7. Matth. Westm an 303. Iacob Genuen in Vit. S. Albani S. Alphib Capgr in S. Albano of Westminster and others giue all those Titles to that persecuting Magistrate sent his Souldiars to conuent these two holy Saints the old Brittish Writer of S. Albans life saith there were horsemen with an Army greate multitude or Power of footemen which were thus sent about this busines Equites cum magna manu peditum à Iudice missi The rage of the persecuting Iudge and PagaÌ„s against S. Alban And S. Alban being so renowned a man in this kingdome then and S. Amphibalus so famous a Prelate as before appeareth and so knowne to the Persecutours that they pursued him to the furthest parts of the Roman Iurisdiction in the parts now called Wales and from thence forcibly brought him by Authority to Verolamium againe there to be Iudged and Martyred Manuscr Antiq. in Vita S. Amphibali Capgr in eodem Matth. Westm an 303. alij which none but the highest Roman Power heare could doe make it an opinion sufficiently warrantable both that such forces were leuied for this exploite and the prime Magistrate himselfe supplyed the place of Iudge Sentencer in this cause of so Noble parsonadges the one spirituall the other temporall the greatest that are remembred in our Histories to haue suffered Martyrdome in Britaine in that raging Persecution The troopes of Souldiers nephandi Principis of the wicked Prince cateruatim irruentes rushing into the house of S. Alban by troopes like madd men efferatis animis and searching euery place and corner at the last founde him in his Country house where he vsed to watch and pray with S. Amphibalus Ipsum tandem in tugurio reperiunt The greate deuotion of S. Alban and his reuerence to the Crucifixe nudis pedibus ante crucem Domini quam sibi Magister suus reliquerat precibus incumbentem bare footed praying before the Crosse of our Lord which his Master had left with him wearing his Caracalla or coate vpon him and so representing S. Amphibalus who before was conueyed from them by Saint Alban which they vnderstanding manus ei iniecerunt rapitur trahitur dirisque nexibus cathenarum constrictus ab alijs vestibus ab alijs Bed lib. 1. cap. 7. Matth. Westm An. 303. Script Antiq. Vitae S. Albani Capgr in eod trahitur capillis They lay violent hands vpon S. Alban fetter him with locks and Chaines some of them hayling him by his Coates others by the haire of his head And being thus contumeliously vsed he continually carryed in his hands the Crosse which S. Amphibalus gaue him openly to pronounce and professe himselfe a Christian Vt se seruum crucis palam cunctis ostenderet signum dominicum iugiter in manibus praeferebat And being thus despitefully brought before the Iudge who laboured by all meanes he could to persuade and induce S. Alban to forsake his Christian Religion and Sacrifice to their Pagan Gods But this was all in vaine for to speake in the old Brittish Authour his words S. Alban answeared the iudge that his words were vaine and superfluous he did not repent him for receauing the faith of Christ for the miracles wrought in it in restoring the weake and sick to health doe teach it by their testimonie to be the way of Saluation He would not Sacrifice to their Gods and being supported by the help of God The torturs and longe ImprisonmeÌ„t S. Alban suffered and the miraculous punishment vpon his persecutors feared not their threats nor torments Vpon which words the company gathering together whipped him greuiously Who being thus beaten saied with a chearefull countenance O Lord Iesus Chtist I beseech thee keepe my minde ftom wauering from that state which thow hast giuen mee O Lord I desire to offer my life an Holocaust and with effusion of my blood to be thy witnesse And when the Tormentours hands were weary the holy maÌ„ was thrust into the bottome of prison and there kept sixe moneths whereupon the Elements themselues did testifie the Iniury done to the Martyr For from the time of his apprehension vnto his death neyther rayne nor dew did fâ—ll vpon the earth the windes did not blowe But euery day continuall the Land was parched vp with most feruent heate of the sunne and in the nights also was exceeding and vntollerable heate Neyther feilds nor trees bore any fruite the whole world did fight for the iuste one against the wicked The Citizens not able to endure this affliction said it was Christ whome Alban doth worship worketh this that no grasse nor corne doth growe vnto vs and taking pity vpon the Iniuries done to the holy man by the Iudgment of them all he is deliuered from his bonds of chaynes For which S. Alban was very sory and greately fearing least his Martyrdome might thereby be hindred looking vp towards heauen with groaning said O Lord Iesus Christ suffer not the malice of the deuill so much to preuaile that by his crafty deuises and assent of this people he may hinder my passion And turning himselfe to the people said vnto them Why doe you stay If you know not to giue sentence take Counsaile of your Lawes examine the statuts of your Citie they will insinuate vnto you what you ought
Martyre vel pro Martyre quem percutere iubebatur ipse potius mereretur percuti And so of a persecutour he became a companion in Truth and Faith Ex persecutore factus collega viritatis fidei Thus writeth Matthew of Westminster and others allthough with suppressing the name of this holy Martyr which the old Brittish Writer of S. Alban his life Capgraue and others call Heraclius and I am now to name him by it for allthough it was not giuen him in Baptisme Brit. Script Vitae S. Albani Manuscr Antiq. Capgr in eodem in water which he wanted yet his surest Baptisme in his owne blood for Christ his holy and most courageously and constantly sustained Martyrdome happily made him renowned and honorable thereby 2. This S. Heraclius hauing resolutely denyed his Paganisme craued pardon for his error and confessed Christ openly before so many persecutours and in the highest of their Malice and rage against S. Alban fell thereby into the same degree of Hatred with them for presently therevpon to speake in our old Authours words Inimici veritatis hominem arripiunt dentes excutiunt os eius sacrum dilacerant omnia eius ossa confringunt si nihil in corpore remansit illaesum fides tamen quae feruebat in pectore laedi non potuit The enemyes of truth apprehend him beate out his teeth rend his holy mouthe and breake all his boues and allthough nothing remayned in his body without hurt yet his feruent faith remayned without harme And being thus left so maymed lame and half dead with all the power and strength he could with his hands crept vp to the hill where S. Alban was Martyred whome when the Iudge espyed he said vnto him obsecra Albanum tuum pray to they Alban to sett thy bones in order and lay his head heare stricken off to thy body and thou shall receaue perfect health from him Bury him and lett him cure thee Heraclius answeared I most firmely beleeue that S. Alban by his merits is able to heale mee and easely performe that you mock vs with Tunc caput Martyris reuerenter assumens illudque corpori deuotus apponens desperatum corporis robur recuperare caepit sanus effectus Then reuerently taking the head of S. Alban and deuoutely laying it to his body he began to recouer the former strenght of the same despayred before And being thus miraculouslie recouered and made hole ceased not in the hearing of all the people to preach vnto them the meritt of S. Alban and Power of Christ and digging the earth buryed the body of S. Alban before them there Which the Pagans seeing said among themselues what shall we doe This man cannot be putt to death with sword we haue allready broken his body and he hath now receaued his former strength againe And apprehending him with horrible Torment they teare his holy body in peeces and lastely cutt of his head And so this happy souldiar perseuering in the faith of Christ together with most blessed Alban deserued to be honoured with the Crowne of Martyrdome 3. Hitherto the Relation of those our renowned auncient Historians whereby we doe not onely finde an example of Heroicall Christian fortitude in generall but learne euen in particular the holy and approued doctrine and custome of the Primatiue Christians of this kingdome aswell as of others to praye vnto holy Saints glorified in their Soules in heauen and reuerencing their sacred Relicks on earth thus miraculously allowed and approued of God before and for the euerlasting shame and confusion of so many his Persecutours and Enemies then present and all after commers that would oppose against those most Catholike doctrines and practises of the Church of Christ so publickly and inuincibly confirmed and warranted by his omnipotent and highest diuine Power before such a multitude both of Christians and Pagans so testifying the first by that meanes strengthned in the true faith the others in greate numbers as I shall presently declare conuerted to Christian Religion And the Iudge himselfe was hereby so moued and conuinced that he presently commanded the Persecution to cease Iudex tanta miraculorum Bed l. 1. Hist c. 7. caelestium nouitate perculsus cessari mox à Persecutione praecepit Iacobus Genuensis Bishop of Genua and his old English Translatour say this souldiar called Iacob Genuen Episc in Vita S. Albani S. Amphibal Anglic. Translat ib. by some before Herculius was a knight And they yeeld a reason besides their Assertion which was the noble renowne of S. Alban who as they say was Lord of the Citie of Verolame and Prince of the knights and Steward of the Land and the Iudge dred de for to slee him because of the greate loue that Emperour had to him and for reuerence of his dignitie and Power of his kindred vnto the time that he had informed Dioclesian And therefore when Iudgment was pronounced against him the which was deferred 6. Weeks vntill Maximian his comming into Britaine to see such wicked executions thus they deliuer it Than Maximian and Askepodot gaue finall sentence on him saying In the the time of the Emperour Dioclesian Albon Lord of Verolomie Prince of knights and Steward of Britaine during his life hath despised Iupiter and Appollyn gooddes and to them hath done derogation and disworship wherefore by the Lawe he is iudged to be deed by the hand of some knight And the body to be buryed in the same place where his heade shall be smitten of and his sepulchre to be made worshipfully for the honour of knighthood whereof he was Prince and also the Crosse that he bare And sklauin that he ware should be buryed with him And his body to be closed in a chest of Ledd and so layd in his Sepulchre This sentence hath the Lawe ordeyned because he hath renyed our principall Gods These Authours say Maximian and King Asclepiodote gaue this sentence THE XXII CHAPTER OF VERY MANY CONVERTED TO CHRIST by the miraculous death of S. Alban and after going to S. Amphibalus to be fully instructed by him suffered Martyrdome and being a thousand in number were diuers from the 1000. Martyrs at Lichfeild and those neare Verolamium 1. THAT we may take some notice of the greate numbers multitudes of people conuerted by the death and miracles of these two holy Martyrs we haue heard from approued Antiquities that euen many thousands had bene present eye witnesses of the miraculous diuiding of the water to giue free and dry passadge to S. Alban and those that were with him at his prayers when many drowned and lying in the bottome of the deepe Riuer were eyther miraculously preserued from death or so restored to life againe by his intercession the waters standing one both sides of their passadge like walls after their going ouer presently ioyned together againe and returned to their naturall current and flowing downeward as the propensitie of such liquid and heauy things requireth the fountayne one the topp of
By Martinus Polonus the same yeare The like haue others by which accōpt and Confession Constantine should either be vnborne or not aboue 2. yeares old at the most when he was King of Britaine and Emperor also after his Fathers death When it is proued before by all Antiquitie and the best Historians which haue written of this matter Greeke Latine Catholiks and Protestants that he was aboue 30. yeares of age at this time and his Mother S. Helen whom Matthew of Westminster seemeth at this reconciliation to call virginem valde speciosam an exceeding beutifull virgin and Harding both good and young had bene Constantius his wife 35. or 36. yeares before and brought him diuers children whereof Constantine the Greate now so old as I haue remembred was the youngest shortly after this comming of Constantius this Attonement betweene him and King Coel thus made King Coel died within fiue weekes saith Harding a moneth and eight dayes saith Galfridus Hard. Chron. c. 6. Galfrid Monum Hist Reg. Brit. l. 5. c. 6. Pōt Virun Hist l. 5. Harding Chron. c. 61. Emenso mense grauissima infirmit as occupauit Coel ipsumque intra octo dies morte affecit Virunnius saith within one moneth Intra mensem emortiur Coelus So likewise hath the Monke of Westminster Coelus elapso mense vitam finiuit Harding writeth that Cōstantius was Emperor before he was King of Britaine But King Constance of Rome was hie Cheiftain By the Senate first made the Emperour And after King of Britain and Gouernour 4. And all Historians agree that he was Emperour next and immediately to Dioclesian Maximinian who as Baronius Spondanus and others proue gaue ouer the Empyre in the 304. yeare of Christ Marianus saith in the 305. yeare when by common accompt before Constantius was come into Britaine and continued heare and not enioying the Empire aboue 2. yeares if he had then bene first marryed to S. Helen and Constantine had bene their first or onely sonne or child he could not haue bene aboue one yeare old at his Fathers death to be both king of Britaine and Emperour When it is certaine out of Eusebius and others before that Constantine was aboue thirty yeares old and had bene generall of an Army before his Fathers death which the same Author further confirmeth when comparing Cōstantine the Greate with Alexander the Greate saying that Alexander liued but 32. yeares and reigned litle more then the third part of that tyme Constantine was as old as Euseb l. 1. de Vita Constantini c. 3. 4. Alexander was at his death when he began to reigne doubled Alexanders tyme of life reigned thrise as longe At noster hic Imperator eo aetatis tempore regnum obtinuit quo ille Macedo cessit è vita illius autem vitae spatium temporis propagatione duplicauit regnique longitudinem triplo reddidit diuturniorem Therefore Alexander liuing 32. yeares compleate compleuit duos triginta annos Constantius finding the Christian Britans free and quiet at the death of King Coel so preserued them Constantine must needs be so old at his Fathers death when he began to reigne and so his Father and mother Constantius and Helen married together a longer tyme. 5. But King Coel hauing freed the Christians of Britaine from Persecution and now dying left them thus quiett and secuer from those vexations to Constantius Who during his life continued and maintayned them in the same or rather in better condition as I haue sufficiently remembred before not onely in giuing them tolleration and freedome from trouble and molestation as Sozomen with others witnesse Constantius Constantini pater permisit Christianis Sozomen Hist Ecclesiast l. 1. c. 6 potestatem libere suam religionem excolendi And was not against the lawe for Christians in Britaine to professe their Religion in his tyme Britannis non contra leges visum esse Christianam religionem dum adhuc vitae suppeditabat Constantio profiteri But he preferred the most constant Christians to the highest Euseb l. 1. de Vit. Constantini c. 11. offices and greatest trust stipatores suos ipsius regni custodes constituit He himself confessed the true God abolished Idolatrie Repudiata penitus impiorum in varijs dijs colendis superstitione Deum omnium moderatorem vltro agnouit And so consecrated his whole family to God that his Court was as a Church wherein were both Cleargie men and godly Christians truely seruing God Omnem suam familiā vni Regi Deo consecrauit adeo vt multitudo quae intra regiam ipsam coiuerat nihil ab Ecclesiae forma distare videretur in qua iner ant Dei Ministri qui continuos cultus pro Imperatore etiam tum obierunt cum piorum hominum genus verè Deo inseruientium alibi apud Gentilium multitudinem ne nominari quidem absque periculo poterat This blessing and benefite he brought into Britaine and to our Christians heare and publickly maintained it euen in those tymes as this auntient Author is witnesse when the name of Christians in other places was so odious that without danger it could not be spoken off Which he further confirmeth in an other place where speaking in the name of Christians he saith that among the Emperors of that tyme onely Constanstius did neither in any sort persecute Christians or participated with them which did but kept all them which were vnder him without hurt and secure from all trouble neyther pulled downe Churches or did any other thing Euseb Hist Eccl. l. 8. c. 14. against them Constantius solus ex nostri temporis Imperatoribus nec belli aduersum nos praesumpti vllo modo particeps fuit sed quos sub se habuit pios indemnes ab omni calumnia securos seruauit neque domos Ecclesiarum demolitus nec aliud Idem Eusebius apud Baron Spondan Ann. 304. quippiam contra nos operatus And els where he teacheth againe that the parts of the west Empire did generatly receaue quietnes from Persecution when Constantius reygned which allthough Baronius and Spondanus doe not so well allowe vpon Eusebius his words in all places of the west because as they alleidge Constantius neither presently would nor could be against the Edicts of the Emperors still lyuing when he himself remained in Britaine in the end of the world and Italy was then full of warrs But Eusebius writeth not this Sozomen l. 1. c. 6. singularly but Sozomen and others testifie as much that when the Churches of God were persecuted in all other parts of the world onely Constantius graunted libertie of Conscience to the Christians vnder him Cum Ecclesiae in alijs orbis partibus persecutionum fluctibus iactarentur solus Constantius Constantini pater permisit Christianis potestatem liberè suam religionem excolendi And againe generally of all Christian Churches in the part of his Empyre Ecclesiae quae erant in eâ Imperij parte quae
Constantino parebat in summa laetitia vitam egerunt And were not onely quiet vnder him but thus liued in greate Ioy and did encrease being honored and rewarded by him creueruntque in dies magis magisque tam beneuoli tamque pacis concordiae studiosi beneficijs ornatae 6. And relating his experiment to proue constant Christians before remēbred and how he admitted such for his nearest friends and Counsailers in amicorum atque adeo Consiliariorum numero habere decreuit He gathereth from hence that the Gaules Britans and others vnder him were by him exempted from the penall Lawes of the persecutors he taking them away and making them frustrate in his Dominions Hinc capere coniecturam licet neque Gallis neque Britannis neque alijs qui circiter montes Pyrenaeos ad Oceanum Occidentalem vsque incolunt contra leges visum esse Christianam Religionem dum adhuc vita suppeditabat Constantio profiteri And the obiections which Baronius maketh doe rather proue then improue the quietnes of Christians in this Nation when Constantius was heare For first the vnquietnes of Italy rather helped then hindered our peace our Persecution proceeding from thence now not able to persecute vs nor take reuendge of Constantius for protecting vs. And his being in Britaine he being so friendly allwayes to Christians as Baronius often confesseth must much more procure ease and freedome to our Christians where there was noe man of power to contradict or resist it Constantius being both King and Emperor heare and the kingdome of Britaine a Christian kingdome Therefore howsoeuer his reasons make doubt of some other places whose state and condition was not like vnto ours of Britaine Bed l. 1. Hist c. 8. Galf. Mon. Hist Reg. Brit. l. 5. c. 5. 6. Manusc Galli antiq c. 28. 29. Virun l. 5. Hist Harding Chron. cap. 57. 58. 59. 60. Henricus Hunting Hist l. 1. Socrates Eccles Hist l. 1. c. 1. Eus l. 1. Vit. Cōstantini c. 9. Theodoret. Hist Eccl. l. 1. c. 24. they doe not moue any question of the quiet thereof in cause of Religion but establish and confirme it And therefore our owne best allowed and auntient Historians S. Bede Galfridus Henry of Huntington an old French Manuscript Virūnius Harding others setle Constantius heare in Britaine after all our Persecution ended nothing but all fauour to Chrstiās heare in his time and not onely a tolleration graunted but publicke profession of Christianitie generally allowed by Regall and Imperiall warrant of Constantius vsed exercised as shall immediatly more plainely appeare in the next Chapter 7. And if we had rather harken to forreine writers in or neare that time we haue sufficient warrant not onely that he recalled himself from the worship of the Pagan gods as diuers are witnesses Constantius se à Deorum Gentilium veneratione auocauerat But as Eusebius and others testifie of him he gaue free power and licence to all vnder him to exercise Christian Religion without any molestation illis qui ab ipso regebantur liberam verae in Deum religionis sine Constantine the greate first instructed in Christian Religion in Britaine molestia excolendae permisit potestatem And this as he writeth when the greatest Persecution was in other places And had care to instruct his sonne Constantine the Greate which he left his Heyre in the same faith as we may easely conclude from the words of Constantine himselfe registred by Theodoret huius Dei adiutus ope orsus ab vltimis Oceani finibus vniuersum orbem terrarum Sozom. Eccles Hist l. 1. c. 5. Chronicon Monast Abingdonien apud Nich. Harpesfeld Hist Eccl. 10. saecul p. 203. c. 9. firmae salutis spe erexi that euē from the ends of the Ocean meaning Britaine he was assisted by God And Sozomen saith it is euidently knowne vnto all men that greate Constantine was first instructed in the Christian faith amōg the Britans Apud Britannos liquidò constat inter omnes Constantinum primum religione Christiana imbutum And the Cronicle of Abington neare Oxford testifieth he was brought vp in that old Abbey which we must needs asscribe to his parents Constantius and Helena And we find not any other but Constantius except we will apply it to King Coel and then it was receaued and approued by him who heare in Britaine caused the persecutors to be putt to death and the Persecution therevppon ceased as S. Gildas writeth emarcescentibus Gild. l. de conq Brit. c. 8. nece suorum Authorum nefarijs Decretis For this must needs be applied to Persecutors in Britaine and not to the Tyrants Dioclesian and Maximinian the Persecution heare endeed longe before their death as is proued before and neither of them nor any other Emperor but Constantius hauing power or commaund heare at this time And herevpon our Protestant Historians themselues thus testify of him Constantius abolished the superstition of the Stowe Howes Hist tit Romās in Constantius Constantine Gentils in his Dominians So that afterward Britaine felt no persecutions Constantius renounced the Idolatrie of the Gentils THE II. CHAPTER OF THE FINDING THE HOLY CROSSE by S. Helen in Constantius his time His Christian life and death and crowning his sonne Constantine Emperour heare in Britaine 1. I Haue shewed before out of S. Gildas and others aswell that the Persecution called Dioclesians did not continue ten yeares in this kingdome in one place he termeth it Persecutionem Dioclesiani Tyranni nouennem the nine yeares Persecution of Dioclesian the Tyrant and in the next Chapter not wholly ten yeares longe bilustro turbinis necdum expleto As also that it wholly ended Gildas l. de excid cōquest Brit. c. 7. 8. in the time of King Coel those Persecutours then hauing no power or Authoritie heare and so together with their other ouerruling and commanding Decrees the bloody Edicts of persecuting Christians heare were vtterly extinct and made inualidate and as is euident before neuer being renewed but alltogether omitted by Constantius this greate friend of Christians such of this Nation were fully and vndoubtedly thereby restored to their auncient liberties Priuiledges and Immunities in matters of Religion if Constantius and Helen our Emperour and Empresse King and Queene had then giuen no further and expresse approbation vnto them Which we may not reasonably call into question when we remember their absolute and independing regall right and possession without contradiction they had in this kingdome the naturall loue and affection they bore vnto it and that to them with their Religious care and desire they had to defend and aduance Christian Religion euen in times and places when and where they were not so enabled nor drawne therto with so many and strong bands of dutie and affection We haue heard before that other Churches vnder his Empire were endowed by his benefits and munificence thereby they lyued in greate Ioy and encreased the choysest Christians were his dearest Friends and
of the old Church of Winchester Manuscr Antiq. Eccl. Winton Marian. Scot. an 306. Martin Pol. An. 307. Manuscr Ant. Gall. ann 306. Matth. West ann 305. 307. Baron Spondan an 306 Gordan an 306. Iacob Grynaeus annot in c. 15. l. 1. Euseb de Vit. Constantini Anno 308. Henric. Hunt l. 1. Hist in Diocletian Constantio Regino Chron. l. 1. in Constant an 253. Stowe Howes sup Hist in Constantius that being destroyed with the rest in this late Persecution it was perfectly reedified in the yeare of Christ 309. and so either was in building or warranted to be builded in the dayes of Constantius then or so lately before by all accompts lyuing and reigning heare that it could not be done without his warrant or allowance The like we say of the Churches of S. Iulius and S. Aaron and other Martyrs of that time and all both Cathedrall Churches and others destroyed heare by Maximian that most cruell horrible faced man as Henry of Huntington calleth him Maximinianus vir crudelissimus vultu horrendus after whose leauing the Empire Christians were quiet heare as he saith and restored to their former liberties And as Regino writeth not onely in Britaine but generally where he ruled both Bishops were restored to their priuate Sees and many other things graunted for the profit of Christian Religion Constantij Temporibus pace Ecclesijs reddita Episcopi priuatis sedibus restituuntur alia plura Christianae Religioni profutura And particularly saith that the Monastery of Treuers was begun in his time Then much more in Britaine where he was both absolute Emperour and King to commande and no man daring to resist him To this our Protestant Antiquaries haue giuen sufficient allowance when they graunted vnto vs that Constantius abolished the superstition of the Gentils in his Dominions especially in Britaine where he now liued King and Emperor and so in abolishing the Pagans Rites and obseruances for dislike of them and loue to Christian Religion must needs for his short time be an extraordinary Aduancer thereof But when he had thus The death of Constantius in Britaine his great loue then of Christians and that Religion happily begun this holy worke in reparing the ruines of the Church of Christ in this kingdome and before he could bring it to due and his desired perfection he fell sick at the Citie of Yorke where soone after he deceased Yet in this short time of his sicknes his greatest care was to leaue and commit this his charge both concerning his Empire and this kingdome to his eldest sonne Constantine now liuing sonne of S. Helen who as he hoped for many reasons would be most ready and willing to maintaine and defend true Religion and with Iustice gouerne his subiects 5. And to this happy choise as both Zonoras and Pomponius Laetus doe Zonaras Annal. Tom. 2. in Constantino Pomp. Laet. Rom. Hist comp in Constātino Max. Euseb l. 1. de Vit. Constantini c. 18. Iac. Grynaeus annot in eum locum plainely testifie before and Eusebius and others sufficiently insinuate he was admonished and iustructed by Gods direction and an Ange Ilas is before related Which is confirmed by the effect and euent itselfe not onely of the generall establishing of Christian Religion in the world by Constantine in the time of his Empire but his extraordinary and Miraculous preseruation before he came vnto it and at this very time of his Fathers sicknes strangely escaping the Tyrants hands in Italy and comming safely to his sick Father Constantius at Yorke in our Britaine by the greate prouidence of God as Eusebius noteth who had often preserued him to bringe him hither so longe and dangerous a Iourney at that very time to succeede his Father Deus omnia eius causa faciebat prouide prospiciens vt in tempore praesto esset ad Patri succedendum Euseb Vit. Cōst l. 1. c. 14. And this Authour immediately addeth for presently when Constantine had escaped the stratagems of the deceipts he came with all speed to his Father and Cap. 15. supr after a longe space of time which he had bene absent from him presented him to his sight at that moment Constantius was ready to dye but when contrary to all hope he saw his sonne lepinge out of his bedd he embraced him saying that he had now cast that out of his mynde which onely troubled him at the point of death which was the absence of his sonne And therefore did ernestly pray and giue thanks for it to God affirming that now he rather desired to dye then lyue and setting himselfe in the midst of his children and in his place lying vpon his kingly bedd giuing ouer the Inheritance of his kingdome to his eldest sonne departed this life Thus hath Eusebius then liuing in that time Our Protestant Historians citing other auncient writers Hollins Hist of Engl. l. 4. c. 28. 27. cit Eutr Sext. Aurel. Vict. Niceph Tripart Hist not differing from Eusebius thus translate and epitomate this History from them Whilest Constantine remayned at Rome in manner as he had bene a pledge with Galerius in his Fathers time fledd from thence and with all post haste returned to his Father into Britaine killing or hewghing by the way all such horses as were appointed to stand at Innes readie for such as should ryde in post least being pursued he should haue bene ouertaken and brought backe againe by such is might be sent to pursue him Constantius whilest he lay on his death-bedd somewhat before he departed this life hearing that his sonne Constantine was come and escaped from the Emperours Dioclesian and Maximian with whome he remained as a Pledge he receaued him with all Ioy and raysing himselfe vp in his bedd in presence of his other sonnes and Counsellors with a greate number of other people and strangers that were come to visit him he sett the Crowne vpon his sonnes heade and adorned him with other Imperiall Robes and garments executing as it were himselfe the Constātius crowneth Constantine his sonne Emperor and prophesieth how he should aduaunce Christian Religiō office of an Herald and withall spake these words vnto his saide sonne and to his Counsellors there about him Now is my death to mee more wellcome and my departure hence more pleasant I haue heare a lardge Epitaph and Monument of buriall to wit mine owne sonne and one whome in earth I leaue to be Emperour in my place which by Gods good help shall wype away the teares of the Christians and reuenge the crueltie exercised by Tyrants This I reckon to chaunce vnto me in steed of most felicity Thus carefull was this holy Emperour euen at his death to aduance the honour of Christ Thus he did prophesying how his sonne after him should aduance Christian Religion now by his Father declared Emperour but as Eusebius writeth longe before designed to that dignitie by God King of all Euseb Hist Eccles l. 5. c.
Pope or Protestants vnto the temporall king and Prince both being present in and giuing allowence to the Decrees of this Councell so famous in all Contries both in respect of it self as the confusion of the best learned Iewes therein which as S. Aldelme writeth was knowne in all parts of the world celeberrimum spectaculi genus per totos mundi Cardines vulgatum THE VII CHAPTER OF THE PRESENCE AT ALLOWANCE AND receauing of generall Councels by our Emperor Constantine our Archbishop and other Bishops of Britaine togeather with the doctrine then professed in those Councells and after practised in Britaine 1. ABOVT this time and among such holy Christian workes Matth. Westm an 321. Baron Spond Annal. an 314. Seuerin Binnius Annot. in Concil Arelat 1. Tom. 1. Concil of Constantine or effected by his help and assistance the first greate Councell of Arles in France consisting as Nicephorus Ado and others say of 600. Bishops was celebrated as Baronius Spondanus and others from Antiquitie doe gather in the 314. yeare of Christ the 9. of the Empire of Constantine and second of the Papacie of S. Syluester In this Councell was present and subscribed Restitutus Archbishop of London and in all probable iudgment diuers others of this our Britaine for in that subscription vnto that Councell which is left vnto vs and Restitutus is subscribed Ex prouincia Britanniae ciuitate Londinensi Restitutus Episcopus there be not the names of 30. of those 600. Bishops there assembled registred and preserued And so Britaine being so neare vnto the place of this Councell and replenished with Bishops at this time as I haue before remembred may well make claime for a greater number of the Bishops thereof to haue bene present there A Protestant Antiquary of England would by this subscription of Restitutus inferr or haue it to be doubtfully thought he was no Archbishop nor that Title then vsed he writeth not himself saith this Protestant Historian Archbishop and therefore maketh that matter of Archbishops doubtfull or rather ouerthroweth that opinion Stowe Histor Tit. Romans in Lucius But I haue proued this Ecclesiasticall high dignitie before to haue euer bene in the Church of Christ and heare in Britaine from the Apostles time 2. And concerning the subscription to this Councell where it is most certaine many Archbishops were present not any one so subscribeth In this Councell as I haue related allready were present for the Pope of Rome S. Syluester Claudius and Vitus Preists Eugenius and Cyriacus Deacons and Constantine the Emperor And allthough it was cheifely assembled for the cause of Caecilianus Archbishop of Carthage yet it Decreed diuers other Canons some of which concerned euen this kingdome touching things Concil Arelat 1. can 1. Tom. 1. Concil questioned by some of our Protestant Writers as namely in the first Canon directed to S. Syluester Pope it hath that all Churches should keepe the day of Easter vppon one day with the Church of Rome and that the Pope of Rome by his letters should giue Order herein De obseruatione â—aschae Domini vt vno die tempore per omnem orbem obseruetur iuxta consuetudinem literas ad omnes tu dirigas Where we euidently see that the Church of Britaine then kept the true obseruation of Easter with the Church of Rome and not with some Churches of Asia erroneously as some of our Britans after did at the coÌ„ming of S. Augustine hither and that the Church of Rome then by old custome iuxta consuetudinem directed both our Brittish and other Churches in such things In the 8. Canon Imposition of hands vsually called Confirmation is proued to be a Sacrament and to giue grace to those that are baptized Si peruiderint Can. 8. Cau. 15. 20. in Patre Filio Spiritu sancto eos baptizatos manus eis tantum imponatur vt accipiant spiritum Sanctum It disableth all but Priests to say Masse and appointeth that euery Bishop a stranger so many then there present should haue a conuenient place to offer Sacrifice in vt peregrino Episcopo locus sacrificandi detur 3. Some haue thought this CouÌ„cell was kept about the the same time wherein the Nicen was celebrated But Baronius Spondanus Sepherinus Binnius Baron Spondan Annal. ann 314. Seuer Bin. Annot. in Conc. Arel 1. Tom. 1. Concil and others doe directly proue it was kept in the 314. yeare of Christ and first yeare of S. Syluester Pope presently after the death of Melchiades Which is also euident by the Epistle of Constantin himself extant in Eusebius written to Chrestus Bishop of Siracusas warning him to be present at that Councell and giueth him power to take of Latronianus his Prefect of Sicile a publik wagan for him and his company sayeing that against the first day of August following he had giuen direction for very many Bishops from diuers and innumerable places to assemble at the Citie of Arles in France Quamplurimos Episcopos Epistol Constant Magni ad Chrest Episcop apud Euseb l. 10. Histor c. 5. ex varijs innumeris locis ad Ciuitatem Arelatensem Calendis Augusti conuenire iussimus etiam tibi scribendum esse iudicauimus vt accepto ab Illustrissimo Latroniano Siciliae Praefecto publico vehiculo ac vna cum duobus quibusdam ex ijs qui secundi ordinis sunt quos tu ipse seligendos putaueris quin cum tribus seruis qui vobis in itinere seruire valeant intra eundem diem ad locum iam dictum accurras This Epistle of Constantine to SuÌ„man this Councell must needs be written in the later end of the yeare of Christ 313. or in the begining of the yeare 314. for Pope Melchiades died in the Moneth of December the yeare 313. And S. Damas in Melchiad Syluest Seuer Bin. Tom. 1. Concil in eisdeÌ„ Baron Spond an 313. 114. In appendic ad Optat. Baron an 314. Eusebius l. 4. de Vit. Constantini cap. 27. Syluester in whose first yeare this Councell was kept was chosen Pope the first day of February in the yeare following 314. The like letters and liberties to assemble other Bishops to this Councell were written and granted at this time by Constantine as appeareth in his Epistle to Ablauius Proconsul of Africke This Councell as others of the holy Bishops of this time and the whole Age of Constantine was approued and priuiledged by his Imperiall authoritie as Eusebius witnesseth that no other Prince or Potentate might abrogate and make them inualiditate Quae ab Episcopis in publicis Conuentibus editae erant regulae sua consignabat confirmabat authoritate ne reliquarum Gentium Principibus liceret quae ab eis decreta essent abrogare cuiusuis enim Iudicis sententiae Sacerdotum Dei Iudicium antâ—ponendum est Where it is euident that the Decrees decreed in Councels were the Decrees of the Bishops assembled in them and not the Decrees of Constantine the
nec non Orientis Ecclesias paucis admodum exceptis quae Arianicae opinionis sunt Therefore very grosse or willfull and malitious to the honour of this their Noble Country of Britaine is the Error of those English Protestants which are not ashamed to suggest vnto ignorant Readers that against so many euident and vndeniable arguments and Authorities formerly alledged this kingdome first receaued the faith from some Scismaticall Church of Asia and onely vpon this poore and simple preteÌ„ce because at the comming of S. Augustine hither allmost 300. yeares after this time diuers amoÌ„g the Britans obserued the Feast of Easter as those fewe Easterne Churches did and otherwise then the Nicen Councell receaued and decreed when it is most cleare and euident by these greate witnesses Constantine our Emperour S. Athanasius Theodoret Socrates and others that all Britaine generally held and obserued the true obseruation of Easter both at the time of the Nicen Councell long before and after 4. And S. Bede calculating the time of the continuance of that Error among the Scots and Britans heare from the beginning to the end thereof proueth that it had bene heare but 30. yeares at the comming of S. Augustine hither for he plainely affirmeth that in the yeare of Christ seuen hundred and sixteene when it was extinct in the Scottish-irish Christians the greatest Promoters of it in these parts it had continued onely one hundred fifty yeares Bed Hist Eccl. l. 3. c. 4. permansit autem huiusmodi obseruantia Paschalis apud eos tempore non pauco hoc est vsque ad annum Dominicae Incarnationis septingentesimum decimum septimuÌ„ per annos centum quinquaginta Which was 30. yeares before S. Augustine came into this Nation and no more When this kingdome first receauing the faith from S. Peter and the See of Rome must needs also receaue from them that obseruance they euer vsed in this Solemnitie which was the same the Nicen Councell receaued as Ceolfridus in his Epistle to Naitanus King of the Picts Ceolfred Abb. Epist ad Naitan Reg. Pict apud Bed Eccl. Hist l. 5. c. 22. Wilfrid apud eund l. 3. c. 25 with others learnedly proueth teaching S. Peter taught it for an Apostolicall Tradition at Rome and from him S. Marke at Alexandria Decreuit Apostolica Traditio quae per beatum Petrum Romae praedicata per Marcum Euangelistam interpretem ipsius Alexandriae confirmata est vt adueniente primo mense adueniente in eo vespera diei quartae decimae expectetur etiam dies Dominica a quinta decima vsque ad vicesimam primam diem eiusdem Mensis In quacunque enim harum inuenta fuerit merito in ea Pascha celebrabitur And greate must needs their Error or willfulnes be which if the Error of the Britans and Scots herein had bene more auncient that therefore they would thereby make any Argument to deriue either that or any practice or opinion they had from that part of Asia which erred in this point for they were quite different Errors that in Asia the same with the Iewes not obseruing our Lords day but an other through ignorance of Canons and Ecclesiasticall Computations as S. Bede others proue Paschae diem non semper in Luna quartadecima cum Iudaeis vt quidam rebantur sed Bed Hist Eccl. l. 3. c. 4. in die quidem Dominica alia tamen quam decebat hebdomada celebrabant sciebant enim vt Christiani Resurrectionem Dominicam quae prima Sabbati facta est prima Sabbat semper esse celebrandam sed vt Barbari rustici quaÌ„do eadem prima Sabbati Wilfr apud Bed l. 3. cap. 24. ea quae nunc Dominica dies â—ognominatur veniret minime didicerant And yet as S. Wilfrid witnesseth this Error was not heare generall but onely with some of them and not all his non totis And singular against all the world euen those parts of Asia from which our Protestants would bring it hither contra totum orbem stulto labore pugnant THE XIV CHAPTER OF THE FINDING THE HOLY CROSSE AND SEpulchre of Christ by S. Helen our Brittish Queene and Empresse and the greate honour done to them and other holy Reliks of Christs Passion 1. WHEN these holy and Religious workes and duties were thus in Action and performance by our Renowned King and Emperour Constantine his sacred and blessed Mother S. Helen our Queene and Empresse was noe lesse carefull and diligent in aduancing the honour of Christ And hauing as I remembred before forsaken and left her natiue Country of Britaine to visit Rome and exercise her greate Acts of pietie and deuotion there and those parts could not containe and confine the effects and labours of her zeale and charitie within those allthough so large and ample limits But knowing what blessings and happines were growne to the world by the Passion and death of Christ in Hierusalem vpon his holy Crosse hitherto by all meanes either Iewes or gentiles could procure obscured and suppressed could not end her painefull and pious pilgrimage vntill she had visited the parts where Christ had laboured and suffered so much for mans Redemption and as the Prophet had written and in an excellent manner aboue others was performed by her to worship Christ in the places theÌ„selues where his sacred feete Is c. 60. had stood on earth adorabimus in loco vbi steterunt pedes eius Which Eusebius and others after a singular manner in deuotion doe apply vnto her postquam Euseb l. 3. de Vit. Constant c. 41. locis in quibus Seruatoris erant impressa vestigia debitam venerationem adhibuerat idque conuenienter prophetico Sermoni dicenti adorabimus in loco vbi steterunt pedes eius she began by all meanes and industrie she could to finde out his holy Crosse to redeeme it from reproach and obscuritie and present it to publike honour and due luster of glory 2. The difficultie of this busines was greate for besides her tedious Iorney and Trauaile thither and diligent enquiry to finde out the place where the holy Crosse remayned by all meanes the Infidels could make concealed from the knowledge of Christians For as Socrates with others testifieth of the holy Sepulchre and the Crosse of Christ therein hidden or neare to it as they which embraced the faith of Christ did after his Passion worship his Sepulchre with greate honour So they which were enemies to his Religion did couer the place with a greate heape of earth and the more to suppresse the memory thereof did there erect a Temple to Venus her Idolatrous Statua Quemadmodum illi qui Christi fidem amplexarentur post tempus illius Passions illud Monumentum in magno honore habuerunt sic qui ab eius Religione abhorrereÌ„t loco illo aggere ingenti terrae mole obruto delubrum Venerâ—â— in eo Socrat. Hist Ecc. l. 2. c. 13. Theod. Eccl. Hist l. 1. c. 18. Sozom.
sauing Resurrection of Christ and his most holy Sepulchre as the Writers then affirme those Relicks Euseb l. 3. vit Constant supr cap. 27. were worthely called Ipsum venerandum sacrosanctum salutaris Christi Resurrectionis monumentum sepulchrum quod meritò sanctissimum appelletur 13. As this worke was vndertaken by S. Helen with Pilgrimage prayer and greate deuotion as is before remembred so Constantine did the like Deo Cap. 25. supr adiutore inuocato And so being armed they ouerthrowe and pull downe to the grounde all those Rampiers Temples Idoles and whatsoeuer the Pagans had there framed erected to obscure keepe from reuerence the holy Relicks of Christ caused them with greate charge and difficultie to be carryed farre from the holy place as infected with the impure contagion of deuills Neque satis habebat Imperator in istis solum rebus expediendis progredi sed rursus diuini numinis instinctu impulsus iubet vt ipsum solum ad ingentem altitudinem defossuÌ„ quippe impura daemonum contagione infectuÌ„ erat for as procul cum ipso aggere exportaretur 14 When all these strange workes of the Pagans were thus destroyed and remoued in such manner as I haue related they were framed there and the place wholly purged vntill they came so lowe as where our Sauiour was buryed they found his holy Sepulchre and neare vnto it the Crosse of Christ and the Title that was set vpon it by Pilate vpon a peece of wood Iesus of Nazaeth King of the Iewes and other two Crosses of them which were crucified with him So write Theodoret Sozomen and others the first saith oppresso Theodor. l. 1. Hist cap. 18. Sozom. Histo Eccl. l. 2. cap. 1. sepulchro iam apparente visae quoque sunt iuxta Domicum monumentum tres defossae cruces Sozomen writeth vt primum locus ille Imperatoris mandato fuit perpurgatus in profundo quadam in parte illius antrum vnde Christus resurrexit emersit in altera autem parte eiusdem loci tres inuentae sunt cruces aliud ligniculum separatum quod tabulae gessit similitudinem verbis literis non hebraicis solum verumetiam graecis latinis inscriptum quae verba ac literae non aliud complectebaÌ„tur quam Iesum Nazarenum Regem Iudaeorum Haec ipsa verba sicut in sacro Euangeliorum libri commemoratum est mandato Pilati Praesidis super caput Christi scripta fuerunt 15. Socrates seemeth to affirme that both the blessed Crosse of Christ as he Socrat. Hist Eccles l. 2. cap. 13. termeth it and the two others as also the Table in which Pilate in diuers languages did testifie that Christ was the King of the Iewes were all found in the holy Sepulchre Christi monumentum in quo sepultus est ex quo resurrexit diligenter peruestigat ac tandem licet valde aegrè Deo tamen illi opem ferente reperit tres cruces in monumento offendit beatam illam quidem in qua Christuâ— expansus fuit alteras duas quibus duo latrones suffixi occubuerant Cum quibus vna reperta est tabula Pilati in qua varijs variarum linguarum characteribus scripserat palamque declar auerat Christum crucifixum Regem fuisse Iudaeorum 16. This was warrant and testimonie sufficient that this Sepulchre was the sacred Sepulchre of Christ and that Crosse to which the Table of Pilats witnes so recorded in Scripture belonged was his holy Crosse But Christ Iesus who had giuen by his sacred body sacrificed vpon the one for mans Redemption and rested it in the other vntill he had happily obtayned wonne Victory ouer sinne death deuill hell and damnation so greate sanctitie and cause of worship vnto them both gaue a better and more sure a Miraculous witnes vnto their reuelation Of the holy Sepulchre Eusebius thus recordeth Euseb l. 3. de vit Constant c. 27. sepulchrum quod merito sanctissimum appelletur resurrectionis Seruatoris apté propterea expressit effigiem quod post tenebrarum caliginem quibus quasi sepultum iacuisset in lucem de nuo prodijt illustrem sane miraculorum ibi editorum visum qui reuera omni voce clarius Seruatoris Resurrectionem testificatus est sub aspectu eorum qui ad illud ipsum contemplandum veniebant subiecit The sepulchre which worthely may be called most holy did therefore fittly expresse the likenes of the Resurrection of our Sauiour because after the dymnesse of darkenes in which it had bene as buryed came againe to light and before the eyes of all which came to see it shewed a famous sight of miracles there done more clearely thereby then any voyce testified the the Resurrection of our Sauiour So haue others 17. And the Prophesie of Esay the Prophet was now perfectly fulfilled That the Gentils should beleeue in Christ the Messias and his sepulchre should be glorious Ipsum gentes deprecabuntur Et erit sepulchrum eius gloriosum The Hebrew Is cap. 11. v. 10. cabod and Greeke reading Timi signifiing honour itselfe are more euident for honoring this holy Sepulchre so longe before most plainely prophesied And the holy Crosse was as miraculously proued to be the true Crosse of Christ and knowne from the others by all Writers of that Historie One Breuiâ—r Rom. in fest Inuent S. Câ—ucis 3. Maij. Theod. Hist l. 1. c. 18. Sozom. Histor Eccl. l. 2. c. 1. Socr. Hist lib. 2. cap. 13. Ruffin Hist l. 1. c. 8. Niceph. Call Eccl Hist l. 8. c. 29. Panlin Nolan Ep. 11. ad Seuer Seu. Hist l. 2. Sozom. Hist Eccl l. 2. c. 1. Miraculous proofe amongst the rest they relate to haue bene in restoring to health in publike Assembly before Macharius the Bishop there a greate multitude a desperately diseased Noble woman with onely the touching thereof which neither of the other first triall made of them could performe Queene Helen herselfe being present at this miracle Nicephorus relating this miracle as others doe writeth further how among the other Miraculous effects of the holy Crosse at that time it being layed vpon the body of a deade man it presently restored him to life Dicunt quoque mortuo prorsus crucem impositam in vitam illum de repente reuocasse 18. The honour and reuerence which then and after was giuen to this holy Crosse was prophesied and knowen euen among the Gentils before the comming of Christ that it might not be any strange thing for Christians to performe that dutie Ista vt olim praecognita a sanctis Prophetis praeuisaque fuere sic postea factis plane admirabilibus tum confirmata cum Deo tempus visum est eiusmodi rebus opportunum neque certè tantoperc mirandum est praesertim cum ipsi gentiles ingenuè fateantur hoc esse Sibyllae carmen O lignum falix in quo Deus ipsc pependit Istud enim ita esse nemo etiamsi acri studio-contra pugnare
voluerit pernegabit Quare lignum crucis eius veneratio a Sibylla praesignificata est 19. And therefore our holy Empresse to haue the glory of this sacred Relike more renowned and diffused to many parsons and places sent part of this sacred Crosse to her sonne the other part she enclosed with siluer and left it in the place where it was to be reuerenced there Ligni ipsius salutaris partem detulit filio partem vero thecis argenteis conditam dereliquit in loco quae etiam nunc Ruffin Hist Eccl. l. 1. cap. 8. ad memoriam solicita veneratione seruatur And that parte which Queene Helen sent vnto Constantine was receaued and reuerenced with no lesse honor by him esteeming that Citie wherein that pretious Iewell was kept to be safe and sure ratus ciuitatem in qua illa seruaretur omnino saluam incolumem Socrac Hist l. 2. cap. 13. fore 20. The like honour and reuerence this renowned Empresse and Emperor performed and yeelded to the holy Nailes not onely wherewith the blessed body of Christ was fastened to his Crosse but others also with which it was nayled together For both Theodoret Ruffinus Socrates and others are witnesses Theod. Hist Eccl. l. 1. cap. 18. Ruffin l. 1. Hist cap. 8. Socrat. Hist l. 2. cap. 13. that S. Helen sent vnto her sonne Constantine 4. such Nayles at the least further entreating how he disposed them for the defence and safegard of himselfe by wearing them one his owne Armour and his horses which he vsed in warre against Christs Enemies such honour he gaue vnto these holy Nayles and so greate opinion he had of their vertue and power they diuiding them into two parts and diuisions reackon eyther of them in the plurall number and Theodoret Sozomen Nicephorus and others doe cite Zacharias the Prophet in his 14. Chapter where he playnely speaketh of Christ Theodoret. supr Sozomen Hist l. 2. cap. 1. Niceph Hist l. 8. cap. 29. Matth. Westm chron an 324. Zachar. cap. 14. to prophesy of the glory and reuerence of these holy Nayles Imperatoris mater Clauorum alios Galeae Regiae inseruit qui praesidio essent capiti filij sui hostiū tela repellerent alios fraenis equestribus coniunxit Regi protectionem parans priscum vaticinium implens longum enim est cum Zacharias Propheta clamat Et quod in fraenis fuerit sanctum erit Domino Omnipotenti And yet Nicephorus saith that S. Helen sent not all but some of the holy Nayles to Constantine misit illa ad eum ex sacris clauis quosdam quos ad monumentum repererat Nicephor supr 21. Therefore I must needs drawe to be of this minde that besides the three holy Nayles with which Christs most sacred body in the common opinion was fixed to his Crosse there were others also thereto belonging and reserued with greate Reuerence The Latine vulgar Translation in the place of Zacharias readeth as Theodoret Sozomen and Nicephorus before haue cited and expounded it In die illa erit quod super fraenum equi est sanctum Domino Like vnto this is the Greeke and Hebrew text also euen as Protestants translate Zachar. 14. v. 20. in Latin Graec. Hebr. textu Sebast Castal ib. Et alij Engl. prost ibid. them In eo die erunt equorum phaler ae fab ae sacrae Our English Protestants with King Iames his approbation reade In that day shall there be vpon the bels of the horses Holines vnto the Lord. But the Greeke and Hebrwe words Chalinos and Metziloth doe as plainely signifie the bridle or bitt thereof as fraenum in Latine doth and so doe the words for holines And the Hebrwe is to be translated fraenum aequi Sanctitas Domino And howsoeuer the Hebrewe worde may be extended to signifie tintinnabula or any parte of furniture then vsed for horses of warre to which this holy Relike was applyed to make that to which it was annexed holy the Interpretation and Glosse of the remembred Fathers is thereby sufficiently approued and the holynes of those sacred Nayles and reuerence due vnto them as plainely expressed in the Prophets words 22. The greate honour and reuerence which was from that time vsed to the holy Crosse the Fathers liuing in that Age doe manifestly declare S. Hierome did thinke it to be a greate dignitie and happines but to licke or kisse that sacred wood Crucis lambere lignum S. Paulinus clearely testifieth that the Bishop Hieron Epist 17. c. 8. Paulin. Nolan Epist 11. ad Seuerum Cyrill Hierosol Catech. 13. 4. 10. Cyrill Eremit in Vit. S. Euthimij Paulin. Nolan Epist 11. ad Seuer Ado Treu. in Martyrol 3. Maij. of Hierusalem did euery yeare at Easter propose it to be adored by all Pilgrims and he himselfe was the cheifest worshipper thereof Quà m Episcopus vrbis eius quotannis cum Pascha Domini agitur adorandam populo Princeps ipse venerantium promit And S. Cyrill Bishop of Hierusalem in this time doth often witnesse that the Pilgrims which came thither to worship this most holy Relicke and others there had carryed parcels thereof into all places of the world Lignum Crucis per particulas ex hoc loco per vniuersum orbem sparsum est Yet notwithstanding as S. Paulinus and others testifie that part of it which remayned in Hierusalem from which parcels innumerable were taken was nothing diminished but still remayned in the first forme and quantitie Crux in materia insensata vim viuam tenens ita ex illo tempore innumeris penè hominum votis lignum suum commodauit vt detrimenta non scntiret quasi intacta permaneret quotidie diuiduam sumentibus semper totam venerantibus 23 Gregorius Turonensis and other Aūcients write the like of worshipping Greg. Turon de Gloria Martyr l. 1. c. 5. 6. 7. 8. the Speare Reede Spunge Crowne of thornes the Piller to which our Sauiour was bounde and there beaten and his Coate without seame And how the holy Thornes 500. yeares after Christ was crowned with them were greene and florished Ferunt ipsas coronae sentes quasi virides apparere quae tamen si videantur aruisse folijs quotidie tamen reuire scere diuina virtute So I might relate of other sacred Relicks of our blessed Sauiour THE XV. CHAPTER OF THE GREATE AND WONDERFVLL zeale and deuotion of S. Helen our Brittish Queene and Empresse The longe and painefull Pilgrimages she performed to many farre and remote holy places and Reliks The sumptious and manifold Churches Monasteries and Oratories she founded in many places And after her longe and holy life her happy end and death 1. BVT because I onely write the Historie of Britaine I must leaue those things though neuer so memorable in themselues vnto others that be not properly or principally belonging to this Country or the worthie Natiues thereof and yet not want meanes to make it truely one of the most renowned Kingdomes
of God with eternall felicitie in heauen but had such honour and renowne also heare on earth that greater she could not haue she was Empresse the Coine stamped with her Image she had power ouer the Imperiall Treasure to vse it at her pleasure and being gloriously to dye about fourescore yeares old left her sonne Emperour and grandsonnes Caesars and the better to perpetuate her memory on earth two Cyties were founded of her name one in Bithinia the other in Palestina Pro quibus rebus videtur dignè a Deo remunerata esse Nam vita quam hic degebat eius generis fuit vt neque splendidior neque illustrior esse potuerit Augustaitem fuit appellata eiusque Imagine nummi signati Thesauri quoque Imperatorij potestatem a filio adepta eo pro arbitratu vsa est Mortem gloriasam obijt tum cum annos circiter octoginta confecisset filium simul cum nepotibus Caesaribus totum Imperium Romanum gubernantem post se relinqueret Denique nomen eius iam mortuae obliuione minime obrutum est sed sunt duae vrbes altera in Bythinia in Palestina altera vtraque eius nomine nsuncupata velut pignus ad illius memoriam perpetuandam aetati posterae relictâ— 24. At her death her sonne so greate an Emperour diligently wayted on her and held her hands and so most blessed woman she seemed vnto wisemen not to dye but leaue a worse for a better life Suo filio tanto tamque eximio Imperatore ipsi praesto assistente sedulo inseruiente manus ipsius tenente finem ita viuendi fecit vt beatissima quidem iure optimo non mori prudentibus videretur sed vitam caducam fragilem cum caelesti aeterna reuera commutare Her body Euseb lib. 3. de vit Const c. 46. Martyrol Rom. 18. Aug. Socrat. Hist l. 2. cap. 13. Niceph. l. 8. c. 31. honored with renowned obsequies attended with a wonderfull company of wayters on it was so conueyed from Rome vnto Constantinople and there layed in an Imperiall Sepulchre Eius autem Tabernaculum splendidis exequijs decoratum nam maxima satellitum turba ad ciuitatem quae principem locum tenet Imperij deportatum fuit ibique regali Sepulchro conditum 25. As she is glorious in heauen so on earth her Feast in the Latine Church is Martyrol Rom. supr Vsuard Ado. eod die Menolog Graec. 12. Cal. Iul. Inscript Antiq. ante valuas Eccles S. Gereonis Colon. Petr. Merssaeus Catal. Elect. Eccl. in Archiep. Colon. Io. Pitseus de Illustr Brit. Scrâ—pt aetate 4. in sancta Helen Io. Bal. l. Script Brit. centur 1. in Helen Fláuia celebrated the 18. day of August in the Greeke the 20. of Iune and in old Monuments proposed for and most honorably and singularly named a Paterne and Example for greate Kings and Princes and an Empresse full of grace as in the old Church of S. Gereon in Collen one of her Noble foundations Regibus Exemplum Sacroque Chrismate Plena Condidit hoc templum Sancti Gereonis Helena ConstaÌ„tinus Manasses calleth her faeminam beatissimaÌ„ A late English Writer writeth that from Christ to her time there scarcely was to be found a woman more adorned with all vertues and learned in all sciences A Christo nato vsque ad illud tempus vix viderat sol faeminam omnibus virtutibus ornatiorem in omnibus scientijs doctiorem And to giue vnto her Protestants praises not too lauish in commending such holy Saints they are enforced to confesse Helena Augusta Seremissimi Coeli Regis haeres vnica filia Magni Constantini Caesaris mater incomparabili decore fide Religione bonitate pia magnificentia Eusebio etiam teste per totum resplenduit orbem Inter omnes aetatis suae faeminas nulla inueniebatur eâ in liberalibus artibus doctior nulla in instrumentis musicis peritior aut in linguis Nationum copiosior Innatam habebat ingenij claritudinem oris facundiam ac morum ornatissimam compositioneÌ„ hebricè graecè Latinè erudita Marito Constantio Chloro Caesare Eboraci defuncto cum Anna illa Euangelica in sancta viduitate perdurauit ad vltimum vitae diem tota Christianae Religioni dedita Sunt enim Authores qui narrent peristam cessante persecutione pacem Ecclesijs datam ad tantam Philosopbiae cognitioneÌ„ eam ferunt peruenisse vt ediderit de Prouidentia Dei Librum vnum De immortalitate animae librum 1. c. The Empresse Helena Mother of Constantine the Emperour for her incomparable beauty faith ReligioÌ„ goodnes and pious magnificence as Eusebius himselfe witnesseth was renowned throughout all the world Among all woman of that Age none was found more learned in Liberall Arts none more skillfull in musicall InstrumeÌ„ts none more copious in the languages of Nations She had a naturall promptnes of wit eloquence of speach and most commendable conuersation in life Excellenlly learned in Hebrue Greeke and Latine Her husband Constantius Chlorus Emperour dying at Yorke with holy Anne spokeÌ„ of in the Ghospell she perseuered in holy wydowe hood vntill her death wholly deuoted to Christian Religion And Authours say that by her peace was giuen to Churches She is reported to haue come to so greate knowledge in learning that she wrote a Booke of the Prouidence of God one of the Immortalitie of the soule one the Rule of well lyuing One of Epistles to her sonne Constantin one of her Reuelations one to S. Anthony the Abbot one of Greeke Pontic Virun Hist Brit. l. 5. verses extant in Ponticus Virunnius his time as he writeth extant adhuc Carmina quae dam graeca quae illius fuisse perhibentur Thus this glorious Saint and Empresse ended her life so holy vertuous as Sozomen writeth that none could Sozomen Hist Eccl. lib. â— cap. 1. be more honorable renowned then it was vita quam hic degebat eius generis fuit vt neque splendidior neque illustrior esse potuerit 26. Baronius and the Roman Writers dare not for certaine deliuer or in Baron Spond Annal. an 326. particular set downe the yeare of her death but say it is not knowne quoto anno Domini defuncta fuerit incompertum habetur But our English Historians both Catholicks Protestants are more confident say she dyed in the 337. yeare of Christ being then as others also testifie 80. yeares old Octogenaria Io. Pitseus aetat 4. in S. Helena Ioh. Bal. l. de Script Britan. in Helena Flauia Baron Spond supr Sozomen l. 2. Hist cap. 1. Eus l. 3. vit Const cap. 45. Euseb l. 4. vit Const Baron SpoÌ„d Annal. an 335. Marian. Scot. aetat 6. an 385. Euseb supr cap. 40. Socrat. Hist Eccl. l. 1. cap. obdormiuit in Domino quinto Calendas Septembris anno Redemptionis humanae 337. And Baronius doth not write to the contrary but rather inclineth to confirme it when writing of the yeare
so soone so encounter ouerthrowe three Legions of RomaÌ„ Souldiars besides their adherents as these men say And Eusebius saith that Constantine himselfe came hither againe in Britanniam inuasit and was heare longer after this pretended Reuolt and at his death gaue Britaine his auncient Patrimony to his eldest sonne assignabat auitam sortem grandiori natu filio Againe these men say Octauius was King heare vntill Maximus his time and marryed his onely daughter and Heire vnto him When it is a common consent in Antiquities that this Maximus or Maximianus was not King in Britaine vntill after the 380. yeare of Christ Therefore he must needs be granted to haue bene very youÌ„ge and of too few yeares at the going of Constantine hence for him to commit the gouernment of Britaine vnto him or for himselfe to haue so soone vsurped it against so righfull and a potent King and Emperour 5. And our most auncient and best Historians S. Gildas S. Bede Marianus Gild. l. de Excid conq Brit. c. 10. â—â—â—gebert Chron. Eutrop. Hist Polyd Virgil. Angl. Hist l. 3. p. 49. Stowe Howes Hist in ConstaÌ„t Constantius Iulian Hollinsh Hist of Engl. l. 4. Fast Reg. Episc Angl. Ammian Marcelli l. 20. in init l. 26. 28. Florentius Wigorniensis Ethelwerdus Henry of Huntington and William of Malmesbury allthough as diligently as they could recoÌ„pting our Kings of Britaine neuer mention any such Octauius or Octauian But the cheifest and most auncient of them S. Gildas plainely saith that this Iland was at this time and vntill Maximus or Maximian a Britan tooke vpon him the Empire a Roman Iland Insula nomen Romanum tenens And diuers Historians both late and auncient Catholiks and Protestants doe particularly set downe our Kings after Constantine the Greate Roman Lieutenants heare vntill these dayes as Constantine Constantius Iulian Valentinian Gratian Emperours our Kings Martinus Lupicinus Nectaridius Theadosius Fraomarius and other Roman Lieutenants and Gouernours heare And when the Councell of Ariminum was kept about the yeare of Christ 360. and the 23. yeare of Constantius sonne of Constantine the Greate it is certaine that this Constantius was our King in Britaine and bore the chardges of the poorest Bishops of this Kingdome as then vnder his gouernment which were present there and he was so farre from loosing Britaine or any other Country of his Empire then that as Sozomen and others testifie that Councell thus wrote vnto him at this time sic tuum creuit Imperium vt vniuer si orbis terrarâ—m gubernacula teneas Epist Ariminen Concil ad ConstaÌ„tiuÌ„ Imp. apud Sozom. Histor l. 4. c. 47. His Empire was so encreased that all the world was vnder his Gouernment This was aboue 20. yeares after the death of the greate Constantine in whose time this Reuolt of Britaine from him is thus supposed and aboue twyce so longe time of the imagined vsurpation heare by Octauius And Zonaras writeth that this Constantius in the 14. yeare of his Empire bannished or rather carried with him S. Athanasius into Britaine at his comming hither Eodem anno 14. Magnus Athâ—nasius à Constantio in Britanniam deportatur Ioa. Zonar tom 3. Ann. f. 117. c. de Constantio Constante 6. Therefore I dare not to assent that in this time of the greatest florishing Estate of the RomaÌ„ Empire the Power thereof in Britaine especially from whence the glory of it grew to that greatenes eyther Octauius or any other so much preuailed heare to barre the Emperours of that honour But he might towards the time of Maximus or Maximianus when the Empire had more enemyes and lesse power preuaile in some such sort as these Historians haue writen of him allthough they differ also in Maximianus aswell as in Octauius One saith he was the sonne of Trahern vncle to S. Helen Maximian Harding Cronc c. 63. f. 51. Galfr. Monum Hist Reg. Brit. l. 5. c. 9. Pontic Vir. Hâ—st l. 5. Matth. Westm An. 379. Harding supr King Traherne his sonne to Constantine next Heire others affirme he was sonne of Leolinus an other vncle of S. Helen greate vncle to Constantine Leoninus Constantini auanculus ipsum genuerat And erat patre Britannus à Leolmo Constantini auanculo procreatus matre vero Natione Romanus ex vtraque parte regalem originem ducens And one of them saith Octauius was King but 14. yeares ending with the beginning of Maximian his reigne And so we may well allowe such an Octauius to haue borne the name of a King in Britaine in those troblesome dayes of the Romans ruling heare diuers petty Kings being probably at that time in this Nation aswell by the testimony of these Authours which then make Octauius King as others So they terme Conanus a King that Maximian tooke his Kingdome from him cui Regnum Britanniae eripuerat So was Dionotus King in Cornwayle Dionotus Rex Cornubiae So was his Galfr. Monum l. 5. c. 1â— 15. Pontic Virun l. 5. Matth. Westm an 390. 392. Manuscr Antiq. in vit S. Niniani Capgr in eod Bal. l. de Script cent 1. in Niniano brother Carodocus before him Dionothus qui fratri suo Caradoco in regnum successerat And yet vnder our cheife King and Emperour Maximian at that time Cui Maximianus Insulae principatum commendauerat And S. Ninian who lyued Bishop heare in the end of this Age had Kings for his Ancestores Regali ex prosapia beatus Ninianus extitit oriundus And yet the greate distance of the place of his birth from King Coel and these remeÌ„bred argueth he was not of their Line And all these Kings or Regents heare were most certainely by our Antiquities Catholike Christians 7. Therefore the Temporall State in respect of any of theÌ„ could not be any The falling of CoÌ„stantius Emperor to the Arrian Heresie a great hurt to Catholike ReligioÌ„ in many places hinderance but rather help and furtherance to the increase of Christian ReligioÌ„ in their time But it was rather the Heresie of Constantius the Arrian Emperour which hindered the glory of true Religion then in this Kingdome as it did in other places and Countries of the world if it did not so much florish heare theÌ„ as in his blessed Father CoÌ„stantine the Greate his Empire And yet we may be bold to affirme that the State of our Brittish Church euen in The kingdome of Britaine as free as any from the Arrian Heresie those distempered dayes when the holy Writers of that Age complaine the allmost whole Christian world to haue bene polluted with the ArriaÌ„ Heresie was as renowned for our Bishops and Cleargie and as free from that infection as any Nation was We haue heard before that our renowned Archbishop of London Restitutus with diuers others Bishops of this Kingdome was present at the greate Councell of Arles celebrated diuers yeares after CoÌ„stantine went from Britaine to Rome And allthough we doe not expressely finde it writen of
very probably be gathered by his extraordinary fauour and loue towards that greate light of Christs Church in that time S. Hilary most famously knowne to be the greatest Propugner and Defendor of the Nicen faith which was theÌ„ in the world and had written much against the Arrians and among the rest twelue Bookes of the blessed Trinitie and openly still professed himselfe a Catholike and the Arrians damnable Heretiks and both dedicated and deliuered this his Profession and Apologie in a Booke euen to the hands of Constantius and was by him with greate libertie freedome and honour restored and sent to his Bishoprike in France And in that his Apologie proueth that Constantius of himselfe but that he was much abused and violented by the Arrians had long desired to knowe the true Catholike faith in that Controuersie Recognosce fidem quam olim optime ac religiosissime Imperator ab Episcopis optas audire non audis Hilar. l. ad Constantium Augustum Dum enim a quibus ea requiritur sua scribunt non quae Dei sunt praedicant orbem aeternum erroris redeuntis in se semper certaminis circumtulerunt 8. And allthough being sodainely taken with sicknes and death no Catholike Bishop in any probable iudgment being present he was in extremitie baptized by Enzoius an Arrian as S. Athanasius writeth yet this proueth not but as S. Gregory saith he might be saued allthough he had repented before that Baptisme For the same S. Athanasius granteth in the same Epistle that those Arrians or Seminarrians which Constantius ioyned with did then keepe and vse the Catholike forme of Baptisme in the name of the Father and the sonne and the holy Ghost Qui in Ecclesia credunt baptizantur in nomine patris filij Spiritus sanctiâ—â— â—nd not that condemned forme in nomine patris maioris filij minoris c. Aâ—â— besides S. Gregory Nazianzen cited before Theodoret and others testifice that allthough Constantius being deceaued by them which could leade him as they listed did not admit the worde of Coessentialitie yet he manifestly confessed the sence Christ to be the naturall sonne of God begotten of the Father from eternitie and to be God vtterly reiecting and condemning them which durst call him a Creature which were they which vsed that inualide forme of Baptisme Etsi Constantius non admittebat vocem Theodor. Hist Eccl. l. 3. c. 3. Coessentialitatis circumuentus ab ijs qui quouis ducere eum poterant significationem tamen manifeste coÌ„fitebatur quod diceret filium germanum ante secula ex patre genitum Deum verbum prorsus abdicatis ijs qui auderent condituram dicere filium Thus hath Theodoret. And S. Gregorie Nazianzen and Nicephorus the same Greg. Nazian supr Niceph. l. 10. Hist c. 1. before saying that he professed the true and sinceere meaning of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 consubstantiall sinceram dictionis eius sententiam est professus And declared himselfe an open knowne Enemy of them who durst call Christ a Creature Tum certus manifestusque eorum qui creaturam illum vocare ausi fuissent hostis extitit And add that in all things he was a paterne of his holy Father but cheifely in pietie and worship of God and in abolishing Idols error and superstition Is fuit patris sui exemplar in omnibus rebus maxime vero in pietate Dei cultu atque in simulachrorum erroris superstitionis abolitione 9. This ConstaÌ„tius was at the time of his death by Sozomen about 45. yeares old annos natus circiter quadraginta quinque full 45. saith Socrates vixit Constantius Sozom. Hist Eccles l. 5. c. 1. Socrat l. 2. c. 37. vlt. Socr. Sozom. supr Nicephor Hist Eccl. l. 9. c. 50. Baron SpoÌ„d Annal. Tom. 4. annos 45. besides the time he reigned with his Father after his death say Socrates Sozomen and Nicephorus he was Emperour 25. yeares viginti Annos praeterea quinque post patris mortem imperauit he died on the third day the Nones of Nouember tertio Nonas NoueÌ„bris by Nicephorus his accompt in the 367. yeare of Christ Quum à Christo nato trecentesimus sexagesimus septimus ageretur Some set downe his death somewhat sooner as they haue done his Fathers before aboue 25. years soonerthen this Accompt of Nicephorus of the yeare of Christ 367. for Constantius his death yet grant he was Emperour 25. yeares after his Father died THE XXII CHAPTER IVLIAN THE APOSTATA NEVER PERSECVTED the Christians of Britaine But they during the whole tyme he was Caesar or Emperor were heare in peace and quiet both from Persecution Paganisme or Heresie 1. CONSTANTIVS the last ouerlyuing sonne of Constantine being dead Iulianus Brother to Gallus and sonne of Constantius Chlorus by Theodora a man by no Title of discent Heire or King of Britaine was acknowledged for Emperour for allthough this Constantius last Emperour by the instigation and persuasion of Eusebia Empresse made him a Caesar in the Empire he himselfe not able to discharge the whole charge for manyfold trobles and Inuasions of the Barbarous as the Romans termed strangers into 〈◊〉 places of the Empire especially in Gallia now France where as Zosimus saith they tooke 40. Cities neare the Riuer of Rhene Francos Alamanos Saxones quadraginta sitas ad Rhenum vrbes coepisse prorsus easdem deuastasse Ciues Incolas infinitae multitudinis cum innumerabili spoliorum copia secum abduxisse and gaue vnto him in Zosimus Hist l. 3 Socrat. Hist Eccl. l. 3. c. 1. Cassiodor Tripart Hist l. 6. c. 1. Niceph. l. 10. c. 1. Ammianus l. 21. Baron SpoÌ„dan Annal. ann 360. Marriage his Sister Helena And sent him to gouerne the part of the Empire on this side the Alpes postquam Iulianus in Italiam accersitus aduenisset Caesarem Constantius declarat Helenam ei sororem in MatrimoniuÌ„ tradit ad Nationes Transalpinas eum dimittit yet it is euident by Ammianus and others that he had no child by her which liued but she herselfe died before her brother Constantius Emperour Neuertheles the Ecclesiasticall State of Britaine rather gained then lost by his being Caesar in these Westerne parts and Emperour afterward For allthough Constantius had married his Sister Helena vnto him and in that respect so longe as she liued might seeme to haue a care rather to preserue then destroy him yet she dying as before during her brothers life that imagined loue of Constantius could not loÌ„ger endure in that respect and both Socrates Cassiodorus and others testifie it was thought that when Constantius sent him into the dangerous Warrs of Gallia he did it to haue him slaine by the cruell and potent Enemies Dicitur à nonnullis Constantium illum Socrat. l. 3. cap. 1. Cassiodor Tripartit Hist l. 6. c. 1. Niceph. Hist l. 10. c. 1. Socrat. supr alij Ammian lib. 21. Baron an 361.
Potestatem tamen saeculi praesentis omnino accipere renuit But lyued a poore penitentiall life with his 10. Disciples cum decem Discipulis suis which by some were termed Monkes monachi sunt as his History witnesseth some time vnder a Tent and allmost vnto his death in a Cottage or Cell vntill the King of Venedocia moued with his pietie and miracles gaue vnto him a Castle Contulit viro Dei Castellum suum Deo sancto Kebio in perpetuum 3. The miracles which God shewed by him were many and wonderfull Caecos illuminauit leprosos mundauit paraliticos mutos demoniacos sanauit His most aboad and residency was in Venedocia now Northwales and the Isle of Mona Man and as diuers write Bishop there if that Iland is not mistaken Anglesey Iland where S. Kebius both lyued and dyed being auntiently so called Mona In this Mona now Anglesey is the place called holy head of that holy Bishop where his Tombe still is or lately was and visited with reuerence as a late Writer confidently and as by experimentall knowledge thus testifieth He dyed at a place called Holy Heade in Wales where his ToÌ„be Harris Theater Tom. 4. cap. 32. is yet visited in Pilgrimage by the Inhabitants of that Country And as the Welch Writers euen Protestants doe freely confesse that this place of S. Kebius his aboad and death which the English men call Holy Heade is by the Welch or Britans still called S. Kebius Citie because he was Bishop there and of so greate Sanctitie Quod illi Angli holy heade quasi sacrum caput nos verò Caercibi Humfr. Lhuyd in Mona Insula apud Abraham Ortelium in fine Theatri Will. Harrison Descript of Brit. c. 10. in Anglesie id est ciuitatem Kibij dicimus Which an other Welch Antiquary a Protestant also thus confidently confirmeth The Welch men call it Tiremone or Mon and herein is a Promontorye or Byland called holy heade which hath in times past bene named Cair Kyby of Kyby a Monke that dwelled there 4. Yet to make vnion betwene these Authors both those Ilands some time of the same name situated in the same Sea and neare one to the other we may and not vnprobably grant that this holy Saint was Bishop of them both at the same time The names of his holy Disciples in particular I doe not finde for certayne except of S. Caffo to whose Sanctitie God gaue this S. Caffo miraculous testimony that in time of need being sent by S. Kebius for fier and the wicked Smith where he was to haue it denying it vnto him except he would carry it in his bosome which being enforced vnto he so carryed it vnto his Maister without any hurt to himselfe or his coate S. Kebius misit Manuscr antiq Capgr in S. Kebio Discipulum suum nomine Caffo vt ignem afferret Qui cum à quodam Fabro ignem peteret renuit ipse dare nisi in sinu suo portare vellet posito igne in sinu ei us reuersus est ad Magistrum suum sine laesione vestis suae ignem portans 5. But Maister Harris in his Manuscript Historie noting the yeare of Christ Harr. Hist tom 4. c. 33. 370. confidently writeth as hauing Authorie for it which he citeth not about this time lyued also an holy Saint of the Brittish Nation named Tefredaucus S. Tefredaucus in the I le of Mone where after his death he had a Church erected and dedicated in his name of whome Giraldus Cambrensis writeth this miracle In this I le of Mone saith he there is a Church in honour of S. Tefredaucus the Confessor into which on a time when Hugh Earle of Shrewsbury and the Earle of Chester came in by force and placing their houndes in the Church all night in the morning they founde them all madd And the cheife Earle himselfe with in one moneth after was slayne dyed a miserable death Giraldus thus truely hath this History but speaketh nothing of the Girald Cambr. l. 2. Itenerar CaÌ„br c. 7. time when this holy Confessor lyued Est in hac Insula Ecclesia Sancti Tefredauci Confessoris in qua Hugo Comes Slopesburiensis cum semel vna cum Comite Cestrensi hanc Insulam vi ingrederetur canes nocte quadam posuisset insanos omnes mane recepit Et ipsemet infra mensem miserabiliter extinctus occubuit If this Author is not deceaued in the time we may probably suppose this Saâ—nt Tefredaucus the circumstances aswell of time place and profession agreeing thereunto was one of the Disciples of S. Kebius then so conuersing lyuing and dying in that Iland of Mona or Anglesey The same History of this Church and Saint with Giraldus hath Humfrey Lhuyed in his Treatise of Mona onely he differeth in calling this Saint with a little difference Saint Fefridaucus Humfr. Lhuyd in Mona Insula Druidum Harris Tom. 4. c. 17. Ecclesia Sancti Fefridauci 6. M. Harris is of opinion that the holy Eremite and Martyr S. Decumanus lyued in this Age and before this time either in or soone after the 312. yeare of Christ And Capgraue with the old Manuscript of his life doth testifie S. Decumanus that he was of the olde Primatiue Christian Britans This man borne in the Io. Capgr Catal. in S. Decumano Heremita Martyre West part of Cambria of Noble and renowned Christian parents euen when he was very younge abstayning from the pleasures recreations of this life euen those that be voyde of sinne the more freely wholly to deuote and dedicate himselfe to the seruice of Christ loue of heauen and contempt of this world And knowing how difficult a thing it is for a man especially of Noble and greate parentage in his owne Country and among his carnall friends Ritches and delights continually apposing themselues against Christian perfection to serue God in so secure and holy estate in one conflict vanquished and subdued them secretly for feare of being pursued and hindered in his sacred course and enterprise stealing away from them and going into a Wildernes of a strange Country seperated from his owne by the Riuer or Sea of Seuerne where he Miraculously began his Miraculous Eremites life for comming to the Ryuer side and neither finding Ferry-man nor boate and fearing to be stayed by his friends pursuing him cutt a greate bundell of wandes growing there and binding them together in one faget passed vpon them to the other side neare Dorostor Castle as Capgraue nameth it now likely called Dunster adioyning vpon Seuerne Sea where he landed Defuit Naulum defuit Nauigium maturanda erat fuga è vestigio subsequentium vir Dei Misericordia Dei confidens nequaquam haesitans de potentia virgas secus mare in frutecto quas reperit crescentes colligauit in fasciculum tali vtens vehiculo misit se in profundum Et sic diuiua gubernante prudentia prouectus est ad
must needs make him no lesse auncient then I haue before remeÌ„bred him to haue bene borne in Britaine brought vp at Rome in the dayes of saint Syluester Pope and greate CoÌ„stantine Emperor Which the time of his death by all accouÌ„pts will also confirme if we consider the long liues of our holy men as saint Patrik Dauid Kentigerne and others in those neare succeeding dayes this worthie man is remembred particularly in Histories to haue liued vntill he was very old ad senium vsque plenus dierum aetate maturus and yet some place Io. Bal. cent 1. in Ninian Pits aetat 5. in eodem S. Alred Capgrau in vit eius him for his death with S. Ambrose and others in this Age others to haue dyed in the yeare 422. and they which make his death latest say it was in the yeare of Christ 431. or 432. which is farre from making him an extraordinary old maÌ„ for those dayes from that time I suppose his birth to haue bene in And by all reckenings in Historians saint Palladius and saint Patrike were sent hither from Rome in those yeares 431. 432. when the longest accoumpt setteth Hect. Boeth l. 7. Anton. Fitzharbert l. Ant. Rel. Cath. in Ang. pag. 17. Bal. cent 1. in Nin. Pits in eodem downe the death of saint Ninian And yet no Historian writing of their comming hither either maketh saint Ninian then liuing or lately dead which could not haue bene omitted in so singular and rare a man as S. Ninian was sent from the same place and authoritie of Rome and preaching in the same Countries and parts whether they came and where they preached by Commission from the same Apostolike Roman See if he had not bene dead some time before neither had their sending thither bene so needfull as it is made in Histories if his death had not bene knowne at Rome before their coÌ„ming sending from thence to performe the same Apostolike office and dutie in the same Prouinces which and where saint Ninian in his life time so nobly and gloriously supplied and executed by the same Legatine Power and authorite from Rome 7. Therefore I must needs set downe this renowned Britan Apostle of the Picts and most of his holy labors with the Conuersion of that people to Christ to haue bene in this Age and before the Empire of Maximus And yet it appeareth S. Ninian preached also to his Country Britans hy the old Writer of saint Ninian his life that although he was principally sent by the Pope to be their Apostle he preached vnto others in Britaine before he conuerted the Picts for at his first comming as I haue insinuated from that Author before S. Ninian was receaued heare as a Prophet sicut Prophetam eum habebant Greate coÌ„curse of people came vnto him greate ioy with all meruaylous deuotion and prayse of Christ euery where Magnus populorum fit concursus ingens cunctis laetitia mira deuotio laus quoque vbique resonat Christi all of these are sufficient Arguments that these first eâ—tertainers of S. Ninian heare were our Christian Britans and not the PagaÌ„ Picts Which is made more manifest by that which immediatly followeth capit mox malè plantata enellere male collecta dispergere malè aedificaâ—a destruere Purgatis ab omni errore fidelium mentibus omnia quae fidelibus agenda verbo docuit operibus exemplo monstrauit multis miraculis confirmauit He began to pâ—ll vp things ill planted scatter things ill gathered and destroye things ill builded and purging the mindes of the faithfull from all error whatsoeuer he taught by word the beleeuers to doe he shewed it in deeds and example and confirmed it with many miracles Where it is euident that they were beleeuing Christians although by neare cohabitation or conuerse with Pagans defiled with some Heresies or errors to whom he thus first preached and people different and distinguished from the vnbeleeuing Picts as they are expressely thus set downe and his preaching to these was afterward as thus it is remembred diuers from the other in the same History Interea Sanctus Ninianus Australes Pictos quibus adhuc error Gentilis inhaerens Idola venerari ac colere compellebat aggrediens Euangelij veritatem sequentibus signis praedicabat caeci vident claudi ambulant leprosi mundantur surdi audiunt mortui resurgunt oppressi à daemonibus liberantur Sicque fides suscipitur error abdicatur distructis templis Ecclesiae eriguntur currunt ad salutis lauachrum diuites pauperes gratias Deo agunt in Insulis quae procul sunt habitantes Ordinauit Presbyteros Episcopos consecrauit totam terram per certaâ— Parochias diuisit In the meane time S. NiniaÌ„ going to the Picts which yet were PagaÌ„s and worshipped Idols preached the truth of the Ghospell vnto theÌ„ with these signes following The blynde seâ— the lame walke lepers are cleÌ„nsed the dead are raysed and they which were oppressed with deuils are deliuered And so the faith is receaued error abandoned Pagan temples are destroyed Christian Churches erected Ritch and poore are baptized those that inhabited the Ilands a farre off giue thanks to God He ordayned Preists consecrated Bishops and diuided the whole land by certaine Parishes 8. And hauing thus conuerted and confirmed this people vnto and in the faith of Christ being the cheifest end of his Mission and comming hither he returned to his Church confirmatis in fide omnibus ad Ecclesiam suam est regressus This house Episcopall Church which he now returned vnto was the same which he had builded before of stone called for the rarenes of such building in Britaine that being the first as our Histories say thereby named Candida Bed Hist lib. 3. cap. 4. Capgrau in S. Niniano Guliel Malmes lib. 4. de gest Pont. Angl. Casa the White House or Church at a place called Witerne betweene Scotland and England as they are now termed vpon the Sea coast allmost quite enuironed with the Sea excepting the passadge on the North side thereof Candida Casa vocatur locus in extremis Angliae iuxta Scotiam finibus vbi beatus Confessor Nima requiescit Natione Brito qui primus ibidem Christi praedicationem Euangelizauit Nomen loco ex opere inditum quod Ecclesiam ibi ex lapide polito Britâ—nibus miraculum fecerit This Church saint Ninian dedicated to S. Martine of Tours so soone as he vnderstood he was dead which was in the end of this or beginning of the next Age by all accompts this Church being quite finished before that time Quoniam iam Sanctum Martinum quem miro semper venerabatur affectu à terriâ— ad caelos migrasse didicerat ipsam Ecclesiam in eius honore dedicauit By the Scottish Histories thus related Inter nostros Ninianus Episcopus sanctitate Hector Boeth Hist l. 7. Bal. cent 1. in Nin. Bernic miraculis clarissimus ac Casae Candidae Pontificalis in Galdia
write he was 16. yeares old when he was carried into Ireland and was kept there in seruitude 6. yeares Cum esset annorum 16. venditus est sex annis vixit in seruitute So he returned into Britaine being 22. yeares old about the yeare of Christ 390. Florentius Wigorniensis agreeth in the yeares of his Age 122. that he died in the yeare 491. and was borne in the yeare 372. and that he was carried Prisoner into Ireland in the 16. yeare of his Age as others doe saith An. 410. that his two Sisters stolen away with him were named the one Lupuit and the other Tigris He was sold to Miluc called a King in the North of Ireland his Sisters into an other part but he placing his death in the 491. yeare sayin An. 491. the was theÌ„ compleate 122. yeares old Anno 491. Sanctus Patricius Hiberniae Archiepiscopus annorum 122. beatissimo fine obijt doth misse his calculation and must say as I haue written before that he was borne in the 369. or 368. yeare of Christ 6. There where diuers other Christian Prisoners carried hence at that time with him into Ireland by those Pagan Pirats Cum esset annorum sexdecim cum caeteris in captiuitate ducitur Whose vertuous behauiour there made such way and disposition to that wilde Pagan Nation that theit Conuersion after by saint Patrike was made more easie For to speake cheifely of this holy YouÌ„ge man allthough he was borne of a Noble Linage Caphurnius vir morum honestate conspicuus diuitijs ac honoribus inclitus being his Father his Mother Sister to the renowned saint Martine Bishop yet now sold among Pagans and put Probus in S. Patric M. S. in vit eius Capgrau in eod Surius Lippom. die 17. Martij to the seruile office of keeping Swine though he began thereby to forget his Noble carnall birth yet of his spirituall Natiuitie in Christ he was so mindefull that euery day and night he prayed an hundred times Centies in Die centies in nocte Deum exorabat By which greate and extraordinary deuotion we may gather though not otherwise expressely remembred in what piety and Religeous conuersation he had bene brought vp heare by his holy Parents Nennius Histor Briton in S. Patricio Matth. Westm an 491. he exercised in Britaine before he was carried Prisoner heÌ„ce NeÌ„nius our old Brittish Writer Matthew of Westminster and diuers others compare him vnto Moises especially in foure respects first for the Angell appearing vnto Moses secondly for his fasting 40. dayes and 40. nights Thirdly for the yeares of his Age 120 fourthly for his graue and sepulchre vnknowne The first of these of the holy Angell often times appearing vnto and comforting saint Patrike keeping his cattaile as vnto Moses was perfectly and in an excellent manner performed not once or seldome but often times declaring his name Victor Conqueror conuersing with him victor Angelus saepe loquebatur cum eo And FloreÌ„t Wigorn. Chronic. supr Manuscr Antiq. Capgrau in S. Patricio testifying vnto him how acceptable his prayers and fastings were in heauen and he should shortly be deliuered from his Captiuitie Apparuit ei Angelus Domini Victor nomine qui frequenter eum Visitans dixit bene ieiunas cito exiturus ad patriam tuam And brought him money for his Ransome The Writer of S. Patricks life testifing that in his time the prints on the earth where the Angell stood were still coÌ„tinuing Stetit Angelus super terraÌ„ vsque hodie manent vestigia eius And allthough I dare not set downe his fast of 40. dayes and 40. nights which Nennius relateth to haue bene on the topp of the hill Eile Quadraginta diebus totidemque noctibus in cacumine montis Eile ieiunauit Wherein he secondly compareth him to Moises to haue bene at this time yet we haue heard his fasting now was such that the Angell commended it bene ieiunas Yet the old M. S. Antiq. de vit S. Patricij Io. Capgrau in eod Writer of his History Capgraue and others are witnesses that he fasted together in this time 30. dayes neither eating nor drinking and yet was well and merry Mansit Patricius diebus triginta non manducans neque bibens hilaris tamen perseuerabat The other two things wherein they compare him to Moises for his Age of 120. yeares and his place of buirall vnknowne must be reserued to their time at and after his death when they chaÌ„ced Onely this heare I add that whereas Nennius giueth vnto him onely with Moises 120. yeares others 122. or 123. the old Manuscript of his life Probus with others say he liued 130. or 132. yeares completis à Natauitate sua annis centum triginta migrauit ad Dominum Which giueth me more warrant to place a greate part of his life in this Age. M. S. Capgr supr Probus in vit S. Patricij Baron Spond an 491. For these Authours are so farre from making his Natiuitie later then I haue done that they say in the yeare of Christ 425. he was 64. yeares old Anno Domini quadringeÌ„tesimo vicesimo quinto hic erat annus aetatis suae sexagesimus quartus and so 39. yeares old in the end of this Age. Neither did S. Patrike in those his often and continuall prayers day and night centies in Die centies in nocte Prayer to Angels and Saints and their protection of lyuers one earth die nocteque precibus intentus pray onely to God omitting his Angels and Saints but vnto these also to his Angels by their often visiting and assisting and to his Saints as namely to Elias to help and deliuer him against the deuill tempting and afflicting him who heard his prayers and so freed him that the deuill confessed he should neuer haue any power ouer him Patricius vocauit Heliam bina voce in adiutorium venitque Helias liberauit eum ait ad eum diabolus ab hac die non habeo Potestatem in te vsque ad diem mortis tuae 7. The old Irish Writer of saint Patrike his life called Probus whomesome Probus in vita S. Patricij Tom. 3. oper Venerab Bedae doe vntruely take to be saint Bede the Booke being placed amoÌ„g his Workes the Authour disclosing therein both his name Probus and Country Ireland affirmeth that saint Patricke was three times taken Prisoner and ledd Captiue and the second time also Miraculously deliuered and restored to his Country Britaine Where he was diligently instructed in learning by the best Professors thereof optimus vsus praeceptoribus among whome saint Martine his Vncle Probus supr Sur. Lippom. die 17. Martij Bar. Spond in S. Paâ—ric Bal. cent 1. in Patricio Pits in eod Hollinsh Hist of Ireland was one staying with him foure yeares vntill his death as it seemeth by the time thereof before related A late Writer then bringeth him to Glastenbury and to haue
of Antioche 407. 2 Agritius made Archbishop of Treuers by S. Helens intercession ib. Alba in Scotlād a Primats See 178. 6. Alba taken by some to be the Citty now called S. Andrews 178. 6. 187. 2. S. Alban descended from the Romans 367. 3. S. Alban harboureth S. Amphibalus 435. 3. S. Albans Vision to persuade him to turne Christian ib. S. Albans Conuersion and great deuotion 436. 3. S. Alban deliuereth S. Amphibalus from the Persecutors by changing of cloths 437. 4. The rage of the iudge and Pagans against S. Alban 438. 1. S. Albēs reuerēce to the Crucifix ib. S. Albans torturs and longe imprisonment 421. 4. 438. 1. c. The forme of the sentēce pronoūced against S. Alban 444. 3. or 445. 3. S. Albans Persecutors miraculously punished 438. 1. c. Two miracles wrought before S. Albans execution 440. 3. S. Albans Executioner lost his eies 440. 4. The Souldiar who drew S. Alban to execution conuerted 440. 3. S. Alban buried by the same Souldiar 441. 5. A Church erected to saint Alban and when 468. 2. Miracles wroght in the same 469. 2. S. Alban in what sense the first Martyr of Britaine 421. 4. The iudge moued with the miracles performed at saint Albans death caused the Persecution to cease 421. 4. Alcluid Citty founded by King Ebrancus 336. 5. Alectus sent into Britaine with three Legions against Carausius 375. 4. Alectus ouerthrows Carausius and makes himselfe King 375. 4. Alectus continued King for three yeares ib. Alectus persecuted Catholikes not for Religion but for following Carausius ib. Alectus being at Sacrifice in London ouerthrowne flaine 375. 4. S. Alexander the first succeeded Euaristus in the Papacy 195. 1. S. Alexander conuerted to the faith a great part of the Roman Nobility 197. 3. S. Alexander renowned for working S. Alexander Martyred ib. miracles 199. 7. How longe he Ruled the Apostolike See 195. 1. S. Alexanders Decrees in Religiō by our Protestants confession 199. 7. Alexandria the second Episcopall See 187. 2. Alipius emploied by Iulian the Apostata to build Hierusalem for the Iewes 564. 3. Alipius sent into Britaine to resist the inuasion of the Picts ib. Alipius departed out of Britaine before Iulian began his Persecution ib. Alredus Riuallensis his worth learning and pietie 75. 11. Altars to say Masse on erected and vsed 136. 2. 306. 4. 325. 3. 524. 13. Amatus Matthaeus or Amathaeus Archbishop of Caerlegion 598. 9. Ambassadors from Britaine before Christ his berth demande and obtaine peace at Rome 1. 1. These Ambassadors left Noblemen for Pledges ib. The Ambassadors of King Lucius to the Pope what and from whence they were 257. 6. S. Ambrose a worthy Prelate 576. 7. S. Ambrose his māner of dealing with the Emperor Theodosius 575. 7 Ambrosius v. Aurelius America when inhabited by the Monkes of Glastenbury 331. 6. S. Amon and S. Alca S. Mansuetus his associats probably were Christians in Tiberius daies 24. 9. S. Amphibalus a Britan. 335. 4. S. Amphibalus borne at Caerlegion 434. 2. S. Amphibalus knighted at Rome ib. S. Amphibalus conuerted to the faith by S. Zepherine Pope 367. 3. S. Amphibalus consecrated Preist by S. Zepherine 434. 2. S. Amphibalus his pietie and learning 430. 2. S. Amphibalus a Monke and probably Bishop at Caermedin a Monastery in Walles 434. 2. S. Amphibalus flieth into Scotland from the Persecution of Diocletian 429. 1. S. Amphibalus louingly entertained by the Scottish King 430. 2. S. Amphibalus the first Bishop of the Scots in the time of Dioclesians Persecution 335. 4. 430. 2. S. Amphibalus Bishop of Soder in Mona 357. 4. Sainct Amphibalus Religion which he preached vnto the Scots the same that Catholikes now professe 430. 3. S. Amphibalus returns from the Scots into Britaine 433. 1. S. Amphibalus harboured at Verolamium by S. Alban 435. 5. S. Amphibalus preached the faith of Christ to S. Alban ib. S. Amphibalus conuerted a 1000. Pagans 445. 2. All those Martyred one excepted in Walles 446. 3. S. Amphibalus apprehended and brought to Verolamium 447. 2. S. Amphibalus cureth in the way an infirme man ib. S. Amphibalus his cruell martyrdome 448. 2. A 1000. newly conuerted to Christ martyred with him 448. 3. S. Amphibalus miraculous Vision at his martyrdome ib. S. Amphibalus praieth to S. Alban ib. S. Amphibalus his Persecutors and iudge strangly punished by God 449. 4. Amsbury Church Nūnery 389. 4. Amsbury Monasteries antiquity 309. 8. Amsbury Monastery founded by on Ambrius 469. 4. 601. 6 Amsbury Monastery had 300. Religious men at the comming of the Saxons ib. Amsbury Monkes manner of liuing 310. 8. Amsbury Monastery whē destroied and restored 310. 8. 601. 6. S. Anacletus consecrated Preist by S. Peter 186. 1. S. Anacletus S. Clemens Successor in the See of Rome 185. 1. S. Anacletus sent diuers Archbishops and Preists into Britane 191. 6. S. Anacletus martyred and when 192. 1. S. Anacletus ēioyed his See 9. yeares 3. months 10. daies 185. 1. S. Andrew elder brother to S. Peter 587. 1. S. Andrews Reliques translated into Britaine 587. 2. By whose means how and from whence ib. S. Andrews Relikes greatly worshipped in Britaine 588. 3. S. Andrews Towne from whence so called ib. Anglesey Iland the Residence of the most learned Druids 239. 6. or 234 6. S. Anicetus succeeded S. Pius in the Papacy 234. 1. A Protestants error concerning his Papacy ib. The lenght of S. Anacletus Papacy ib. S. Anicetus martyred 235. 1. S. Anicetus his doctrine and Religion 235. 2. S. Antherius Pope 378. 3. S. Antherus Martyred and when ib. S. Antherus ordained that a Bishop should not goe from on Bishoprike to an other without the Popes authority ib. Antioche the third See for eminency in authority and why 187. 2. Antoninus Pius succeeded Adrian in the Empire 200. 1. Antoninus began his Empire in the yeare 138. 198. 4. The lenght of Antoninus Empire 201. 1. Antoninus his loue to Christians and their Religion 202. 3 Antoninus laboured to saue Christians from Persecution in all places ib. Antoninus acknowledged the Christians to worship the true God ib. Antoninus imitats his Father in Law in clemēcy towards Christiās 202. 3. Antoninus incensed against the Britans 219. 1. Antoninus his time of death 205. 7. Apparitions of Saints 98. 10. c. S. Aphrodisius Prefect of Egypt at the entry of our Sauiour 6. 7. S. Aphrodisius sent Bishop by sainct Peter into France 6. 7. Apologies written vnto Adrian the Emperour in defence of Christian Religion 196. 2. The Apostles deuided the world to preach in 39. 5. Archbishops and Bishops placed in Britaine in the place of Archflamens and Flamens 272. 2. A Protestant affirming the contrary confuted 273. 2. Archbishops placed in London Yorke and Caerlegion for the three Archflamens of the same places 274. 3. Archbishops and Bishops placing in Britaine confirmed by Pope Eleutherius 314. 4. or 316. 4. To which of the Archbishops in Britaine the
subscribed to the Roman Councell vnder S. Syluester 481. 5. Constantine subscribed in the Councell of Arles 483. 3. Constantine did neuer call or confirmed any Councell as a supreame iudge or sentencer 541. 5. Constantine put out an Edict for the quiet of Christians in all places 486. 1. Constantine ouerthrows Licinius 487. 2. Constantine by publike Edicts ascribeth his victories to Christ 487. 4. Constantine honoreth the chast and virginall life 488. 7. Constantine exempted the Cleargy from secular Iudges 489. 7. Constantins donation and munificent enriching the Church of Rome 497. 1. l c. Constantine determined to place his Emperiall seat at Troy 500. 1. Constantine in a Vision commanded to build his Emperiall City at Bizantium 501. 1. Constantine cals his Emperiall Seat Constantinople 502. 2. or 495. 2. Constantine acknowledge the Primacy of the Church of Rome 506. 3. Constantine furdereth the Councell of Nice 507. 6. Constantine refuseth to sitt downe vntill the Councell had caused him so to doe ib. Constantine bannished Arrius 507. 7. Constantins humble reuerence to S. Anthony 522. 6. Constantine made peace with the Persians 531. 4. Constantine procureth quietnesse for the Christians in Persia 532. 6. Constantins greate deuotion at the feast of Easter 532. 5. Constantine frounded a famous Church to the 12. Apostles in Constantinople 532. 6. Constantine erected in the same stately Images of all the Apostles ib. Constantine held prayers and protection of Saincts and helpe to the dead by them and prayer for the dead by the liuing 533. 6. Constantine reuerenced Relikes ib. Constantine commanded S. Athanasius to be restored 531. 3. Constantins death 534. 8. Constantine died not so soone as some write 530. 1. Constantine liued vntill the yeare 339. or 340. 531. 3. Constantins dead body vsed with great Christian pompe 534. 8. Constantius dead body greatly reuerenced by the Christians 534. 8. Constantine worshipped in his picture after his death 535. 9. Constantine prayed for by Preists and others after his death ib. Constantins Reliques worke many miracles 535. 10. Constātins Image workes many miracles ib. Constantine enrowled among the Saints in the Greeke Meneologe 477. 5. S. Constantia Constantins daughter a Virgin and holy Nunne 535. 10. S. Constantia cured from a Leprosie by S. Agnes ib. S. Constantia erected a Nunnery by the place where she was cured 536. 10. Constantius not presently after his Father Constantins death infected with the Arrian Heresie 548. 1. Constantius consented to the recalling of S. Athanasius from exile ib. Constantius sent diuers friendly letters to S. Athanasius ib. Constantius falling into Heresie a great hurt to Catholike Religion in many places 544. 7. Constantius consented to the calling of the great Councell of Sardice 548. 1. Constantius laboureth to peruert the Councell of Ariminum 553. 4. Constantius persecuteth Catholikes 553. 5. Constantius commandeth Vrsatius to persecur the Bishops that would not subscribe to the Arrian Heresie ib. Constantius mallice against Liberius Pope ib. Constantius his Persecution came not into Britaine ib. Constantius by some excused to be no Heretike but a professed Catholike at his death 559. 6. Constantius confessed Christ to be the naturall sonne of God 561. 8. Constantius acknowledged three faults at his death and which they were 559. 6. Penitent for the same ib. Constantius his holy death 560. 6. An Angelicall harmony heard at his buriall 560. 7. Constantius baptized by Enzoius an Arrian ib. Constantius baptized with the true forme of Baptisme 561. 8. Constantius Age and time of death 561. 9. Constantius sent Iulian the Apostata to the dangerous warres of Gallia with intention to haue him slaine 562. 1. Constantius secretly incited Vadomarus King of the Frankes to take armes against Iulian. ib. S. Cornelius Pope maintained appeales to Rome 384. 12. or 395. 12. Sainct Cornelius his other Decrees ib. S. Cornelius Martyred 379. 5. Couche or rather Conche S. Martins Sister married in Britaine 577. 1. Couche S. Patrikes Mother ib. Couldeis men so called by the Scots and who they were 588. 4. Couldeis the principall instruments in conuerting the Scottish and Brittish Nations 389. 4 Couldeis chosen for Bishops ib. Generall Councells necessary 506. 3. No generall Councell to be gathered without the authority of the Church of Rome 540. 4. The first Councell of Anthioch ordained that in euery Prouince their should be a Metropolitan 188. 3. A Councell of Bishops in Cornewall 388. 4. A Councell gathered by S. Syluester at Rome 480. 4. This Councells Decrees concer-cerning Orders the Primacie c. 481. 5. The first Councell at Arles in France consisting of 600. Bishops 482. 1. The Legats of the Pope their present ib. This Councels Decrees 482. 2. The Councell of Nice gathered 505. 1. c. The Popes Legats subscribed first in the same 506. 2. The Councell of Nice desireth the Confirmation of the Pope 509. 12. The Councell of Sardice confirmed the Nicen faith 548. 1. The Coūcell of Sardice Orthodoxall 550. 3. The generall Councell of Sardice quite different from an hereticall Conciliable of the same name ib. The Councell of Ariminum gathered 551. 1. The number of Bishops there both Catholike and Arrian 552. 2. The Councell of Ariminum subscribed to a Materiall error 553. 4. The Councell of Ariminum dissolued ib. Crathlint King of the Scots builded S. Amphibalus a Church in the I le of Man 430. 2. Crathlint his great zeale and deuotion ib. Creete an Iland in the Adriatike Sea 142. 4. Creete aunciently knowne by the name of Hecatompolis 143. 4. 210. 3. The Metropolis of Creete Metropolis to the adiacent Ilands 143. 4. Crosses made and worshipped 138. 5. 328. 5. c. Crosses and Images certaine tokens of Christianity 323. 2. or 321. 2. The Crosse of our Sauiour found out by S. Helen 515. 8. c. The Crosse of our Sauiour knowne by a miracle 520. 22. The Crosse of our Sauiour diminished not for being cut and carried away 520. 21. Crucifying neuer vsed by Britans 45. 3. Curia a City in Rhetia when builded 348. 5. Curia when first a Bishops seat ib. A custome amongst the Romans to haue all strange euents related to the Emperour at Rome 3. 3. D. S. Damasus Author of the Pontificall 174. 2 S. Damasus an aduancer of that Religion which Protestants call Papistry 576. 8. S. Damianus and Fugatianus appointed by S. Eleutherius for his Legats into Britaine 260. 1. S. Damianus and Fugatianus their Power and Commission 260. 2. c. S. Damianus and Fugatianus planted Christian Religion in Britaine 263. 5. c. S. Damianus and Fugatianus were both Bishops 265. 7. S. Damianus and Fugatianus preaching in Britaine and many conuerted by them 266. 1. c. A Protestant confuted for affirming them to haue preuailed litle in preaching 267. 2. S. Damianus and Fugatianus conuerteth vniuersities 269. 4. Sainct Damianus and Fugatianus change the Pagan Temples into Christian Churches 304. 1. S. Damianus and S. Fugatianus returned to Rome for the