to Southampton The fourth Hekencldis-street or Kikeneldis-street which goeth forth by Worcester Wickham Bermingham Leichfield Darby Chester-field and by York to Tinmouth By this time Brennus had got so sar into favour with Seginus the Duke of Armorica that he married his Daughter and by the consent of his Nobles in case he failed of Issue-Male the same Duke was admitted Heir of the Crown and not long after by the death of the said Prince he was accordingly received as their lawful Prince all States of the Realm swearing Fealty to him Being now in the possession of a Kingdom Brennus raiseth a powerful Army and Lands in Britain intending to revenge the wrongs done him by his Brother Belyn And now was it that both Armies were ready to give Battle when their Mother Conwenna interposed as a Mediatress between them and by her many tears and powerful perswasions brought them to a Friendly accord so that embracing each other they were heartily Reconciled to the exceeding joy of all Spectators After their Arrival at Troy-Novant they consulted which way best to employ their Armies where the motion was made by Brennus and accepted by Belinus to joyn Forces and undertake the Conquest of all Gallia which Enterprize was attended with a Fortune beyond expectation For they did not only Conquer all Gallia but Italy and great part of Germany also and in the end sacked Rome it self where some say Brennus lost his life others that he survived that great and general Overthrow Some make Belinus a Partner with him in his Greatness others say he went not into Gallia with him or if he did that he soon returned leaving the management of all those Forreign employments to the Conduct of his Brother Brennus whom we will leave to the Histories of the Romans as if so be this were the same Brennus that sackt Rome to receive what Fate in most probability is assigned to him Vitus maketh him to have killed himself at his Repulse before Delphos BELYN now absolute Monarch of Britain sets himself to the beautifying of his Dominions He built Caerleon upon Uske called from thence Caer Uske and Caer Huth where he placed an Arch-Flamen He also adorned Troy-novant with a Gate called to this day Belings-Gate on the top of which he caused a Tower to be made and at the Basis or Foundation thereof an Harbour for Ships to Ride in He is said to be the first Founder of the Tower of London After he had Reigned two and twenty years he died being the first of all the British Kings whose Corps was consumed in a Funeral-pile and his Ashes carefully gathered in a Brazen some say a Golden Urne and preserved on the highest Pinnacle of the Gate or Arch he had built as some think for that purpose GURGUINT Sir-named Brabtruc according to others Barbarous i. e. the Red-beard the English Chronicle calleth him Corinbratus and was the Son of Belyn and succeeded him Anno Mundi 1596. In his daies the Danes refused the payment of their Tribute whereupon he sailed into Denmark and by sorce of Arms obliging them to renew their Treaty received Homage of their Kings and Chief Nobility then Embarked again for Britain In his Return he met with a Fleet of thirty Sail about the Isle of Orkney these he Encounter'd and having taken their Captain Bartholoin or Partholoin he demanded of him what he was and the reasons of his Adventures into those Parts Partholoin answers That He and his Followers were named Balences or Basclenses and were Exiles of Spain and banished their Country with their Wives and Children and thereupon struck out to Sea to seek out an Habitation It is said the King gave them Ireland being a place not then Peopled After his Arrival into Britain the King made it his business to establish and confirm the Laws of his Ancestors and in his Reign that Famous University of Cambridge was Founded by Cantaber Brother of Bartholin This King also built Caer-werith or Lancaster Caer-Peris or Porchester in Hampshire the Seat of a Flamen and Caer-Gaurvie now Warwick where he was buried after he had reigned nineteen years GUINTELINUS or Guintellus the Son of Gurguint was Crowned King Anno Mundi 3615 He was a Prince learned prudent and of singular Justice and Moderation and that which conduceth more to the Glory of his Reign was that he was blest with a Lady with no less Endowments and Excellencies her names was Martia From this Lady that Law called Mathehelage or Marchenelaghe had its beginning and Name translated by King Alphred out of the British into the Saxon Tongue Mr. Hollinshead wonders and admires at Providence that two such wise Princes should come at once to the management of the Kingdom especially at a time when so many Civil Discords were reigning But I find none of these Civil Discords reigning either in his own his Fathers Grandfathers or Great-Grandfathers daies 'T is true Belyn had War with his Brother but in a few years it was wholly ended to the great satisfaction of them both Where then are these Civil Discords Indeed Polidore Virgil out of his great Providence placeth this King before his Great-Grandfather which I suppose he did for the wonderful wisdom of this Prince and his Wife whom he thought best able to end the Civil dissensions caused by the Pentarchy and therefore where Polidore admires the wonderful Providence of God we ought to take him as applauding his own Invention for never before him was ever such an Invention made for the stating of the British Kings But Mr. Hollinshead who followeth on the Received course of the Succession ought not to complain of Civil Discords in this Kings Reign because they had been long since ended And this I take notice of more especially because I find the same Errour in other Authors who have written after Polidore which was grounded from the delight of their own Fancies rather than to deliver the truth exactly down to the People This King Reigned twenty six years and was Interr'd at Troy-Novant now London SICILIUS the second and Son of Guintolin being about seven years of Age was received as King under the Regency of his Mother Martia Anno Mundi 3641 and it seemeth that those Laws called Martiae were exacted by this Queen during the Minority of her Son rather than in the life of her Husband The Count Palatine will have this King to have reigned fifteen years alone but it is generally thought he Governed not above fifteen in all seven under the Tuition of his Mother and eight after his full Age and having given the signs of a hopeful Prince he was suddenly snatcht out of this World by Death and then the Government fell to KIMARUS the Son of Sicilius who began his Reign over Britain A. M. 3656 and being of a wild and ungoverned disposition as given up to all manner of Lusts and Exorbitances was kill'd in the Woods in his pursuit after his game of Hunting some say by
He reigned ten years and was buried at Winchester COILUS began his reign Anno Mundi 3813 and reigned ten years then was buried at Notingham PORREX the second began Anno Mundi 3823. This was a good Prince he reigned five years CHERIMUS Sirnamed the Drunkard succeeded Anno Mundi 3828 and swayed the Scepter one year Then succeeded FULGENTIUS the eldest Son of Cherimus Anno Mundi 3829 and reigned also but one year after him ELDRED the second Son of Cherimus reigned another year more Anno Mundi 3830. ANDROGEUS the third Son of Cherimus enjoyed the Government another year being 3831. URIANUS the Son of Androgeus began his reign Anno Mundi 3831 and he lived three years and in that time gave himself to all Riot and Intemperance ELIUD Anno Mundi 3835 He was a great Astrologer and ruled five years DEDANTIUS or Dedacus A. M. 3840 and he Ruled five years DETONUS A. M. 3845 he reigned two years as Mr. How affirmeth the Count Palatine speaketh nothing of this King but placeth Clotenus after Dedacus so likewise doth Fabius and after Clotenus he setteth Gurguenites the same as I suppose with Gurguenius put in the same Order by Count Palatine so that supposing this Detonus to be the same person with Clotenus the next Prince is GURGUINEUS A. M. 3847 reigned three years Merianus by the consent of all Writers reigned two years Bleduns or Bladunus two years Gapenus three years Ovinus two years Sisilius the third two years Then BLEDGABREDUS succeeded Anno Mundi 3861 He so far exceeded all men saith the Count Palatine in the Art of Singing that he seemed to be the God of Musick and besides his skill in Vocal saith Galfridus he was expert in all Instrumental harmony He reigned ten years ARCHIMALUS succeeded he was the Brother of Bledgabredus and Ruled two years ELDOLUS began his Government Anno Mundi 3873 and Reigned four years In his daies many Prodigies in the Heavens as flakes of Fire breaking through the Element loud Noises appeared RODIANUS or Redian succeeded and reigned two years REDARGIUS Count Palat. calls Roderecius he reigned three years SAMULIUS was King two years Penisillus three Fabian saith Samulius Penisillus was the same Person and reigned five years PYRRHUS Pyrrus or Phyrrus according to Fabian was King two years and CAPORIUS two years after him DINELLUS the Son of Caporius Fabian calls Glyguell Dinell who began his Reign Anno Mundi 3891. Com. Pal. commends him for many Princely Vertues he reigned four years and then died HELI his Successor reigned not a year so that we see the beginning of King LUDS Reign who succeeded Heli falls in the year of the World 3895 twenty years before Julius Caesars Arrival into this Island who is supposed to have made it Tributary in the ninth year of Cassibelan the Successor of Lud so that taking in the Eleven years of King Lud and the Ninth of Cassibelan and we shall find the time to fall exactly I know there is great difference in Authors not only concerning the Names of these Princes but the Numbers of them and the times of their Reigns and thereby great confusion is made in the British History but more especially from Elidure to Lud But this Calculation I have faithfully gathered by comparing the Authors of most Credit and so have set down their Names as they are most generally Received And seeing there is so little time allowed from Elidure to Lud for such a number of Princes being two or three and thirty and but 186 years allotted for their Reigns we cannot give Hely forty years according to Jeoffery of Monmouth but are forced to comply with others who abridge him seven Months Likewise Coel the First by the Count Palatine hath twenty years assigned him whereas others allow him but ten But to give my Opinion concerning this matter I think that the making of so many Kings from Elidure to Lud to succeed one another cannot agree either with Truth or Reason for as also the latter Princes of this Catalogue for above twenty years together have not excepting three or four of them above one two or three years at most assigned them for their Reigns so the Compilers of this History have been too profuse in the time they gave for the first Kings Reigns and this will appear if we consider Elidure died an Old man in the year of the World according to the best of their Computations 3716. Yet we hear of a Son of his named Gurguntius beginning his reign Anno Mundi 3783 that is sixty seven years after his Fathers death and continuing his Reign twenty years so that he lived in all after his Fathers decease eighty seven years now allowing his Father to have begat him but twenty years before his death which is but reasonable considering his years and we shall find Gurguntius to be 107 years Old a prodigious Age so Rimo lived seventy one years after the death of his Father Peridurus so strangly prodigal were the Composers of this Genealogy to the former Princes and so exceeding niggardly to the latter It is more rational therefore to believe these Kings not to have all of them succeeded one another but many of them to have been Rulers contemporary of particular Provinces of the Island as the Government thereof was found to be even twenty years after at the Invasion of it by Julius Caesar. King HELY built him a Palace and resided most especially in that part of the Kingdom called after his name Ely but Bede derives the Isle of Ely from Eels Polidore l'irgil from the Greek Helos signifying a Fennish or Morish Ground Humphry Llhoid whom Mr. Cambden followeth from Nelig in the British Tongue signifying an Osyer or Sallow which grows in abundance in those Parts and of which the Inhabitants make great profit by weaving Baskets and such like Wares This King was buried in the same Island LUD the eldest Son of Hely began his Reign Anno Mundi 3895 He was endowed with all the excellent qualities belonging to a Prince and is set down as an excellent Pattern of a wise and prudent Governour Amongst the most remarkable Monuments of his Reign was his Repairing or building the Walls of Troy-novant and on the West-side thereof erecting a most sumptuous and beautiful Gate called at this day Lud-gate Verstegan will by no means suffer that this Gate took its denomination from King Lud because of the last termination of it Gate shews the Name to be of Saxon and not British Original but Verstegan might have considered that the Saxons although they expressed the Names of many British Places by words of their own Language signifying the same thing yet what could they substitute in the room of a proper Name which remains alwaies the same in all Languages Besides he forgot clearly that there are many Places in England that remain mixed compounds of both the British and Saxon Tongues As for Example Durham Dunholne Dorchester and a thousand
of Eleutherius And the first is the Date it bears which in the Text is dated 169 in the Margin 156 yet neither agree with the time of Eleutherius his Popedom if we will follow the most approved Authors For although Bede saies he was made Bishop of Rome in the year of our Lord 167 yet Eusebius in his Chronicle places the beginning of his Popedom in the sixteenth year of the Emperour Antoninus that is in the year of our Lord 179 But in his History and indeed truer to the following year of Antonium which is of our Lord 180. Baronius is of the same Opinion also and confirms it by the Letters of the Martyrs at Lyons which were presented to Eleutherius himself 2. Besides if this Epistle be true it makes King Lucius to take a very preposterous course in sending so far as Rome to Eleutherius for the Roman Laws when he might sooner and with less trouble have procured them at home from the Roman Governour for from the time of the Emperour Claudius who subdued most part of Britain the Roman Laws were in force here nay very well known to the further parts of Yorkshire And Tacitus saies he had erected here Roman Courts and Tribunals which was about an hundred years before Lucius came to the Government But we shall pursue this discourse no further it being plain and obvious to any that are but meanly acquainted with those Histories 3. This Epistle makes no mention of any Power or Authority the Romans had in these parts but makes Lucius an absolute Monarch as in nothing subject to the Roman Governour You are Gods Vicegerent in your own Kingdom not Claudius Caesars or any other Emperour Contrary to the Customes of those times Among the Jews King Herod was under Pilate and King Agrippa under Faelix and Festus and so it was likewise usual in other Provinces but without doubt Lucius was a British King as he is rightly so stiled in the Life of Eleutherius but it was but of some part of it not of the whole Island or that part which separated from Scotland by a Wall which was under the Romans yet it is not to be doubted but that in some part of it he had a Power under the Romans neither is it any hard matter to describe the Places of his Government for he being the Son and Successour of King Coile and Coile the Son of Marius and Marius of Arviragus which some report to be Togenus others the same with Tacitus his Prasutagus King of the Iceni The Iceni inhabited that part of Britain which the East Angles did under the Saxons it comprehended Norfolk Suffolk and at some time Cambridge Their Royal City was Venta of the Iceni now called Castor in Norfolk near to the City of Norwich but this place is too far distant from Glastonia a little Village of the Belgae in the Kingdom of the West Saxons which Arviragus as they say gave to Joseph of Arimathea and his Companions that came with him But this seems to intimate that Arviragus was rather King of the Belga and Dobuni that is of the West Saxons than of the Iceni and that which promotes this Opinion is his being most usually in those parts and his entertainment in Claudiocestria if we will credit Gaufridus but that which takes away the doubt unless we will suspect the Author himself is the testimony of Hector Boethius Scotus who shews that Arviragus was by Birth an Icene and was substituted by Claudius Caesar King of Britain furthermore the Iceni first received the Christian Faith in Britain 4. This word Manutenere which we translate Maintain was not in use in Eleutherius his time but smells rather of the Norman Latin from which it crept into our Country Laws 5. Those places which are quoted out of the Holy Scripture are taken out of the Translation of St. Hierom who lived two hundred years after Eleutherius 6. This Epistle never came out in the World till almost a thousand years after the death of Eleutherius but out of what Monks Cell it came is uncertain but that which ought to be most observed is that it is no where to be found in Gaufridus Monumuthentis contemporary with Hovedenus who was always diligent in the Collection of the British Antiquities This Answer of the Pope by Letter to Lucius was sent by Fugatius and Damianus Men of sound doctrine and holy life by whose hands the King with all his Nobles received Baptisme and shortly after by their industry and the earnest desire and endeavours of King Lucius the Doctrine was so far propagated that the Temples and Altars of the Heathen Gods were in most places flung down and demolished the Christian worship set up in their places and the Church established under Form and Government In the Seats of twenty eight Flamens and three Arch Flamens which presided over the whole Nation being all of them either converted or expulied were constituted twenty eight Bishops and three Arch-bishops whose Chairs for the greater convenience of Government were continued in the same places the Archi-Flamens resided in The first and Metropolitan Seat was at London and the Cathedral St. Peters in the memory of that Saint from whose Successour Eleutherius they had received the Faith The second was at York The third at Carlile but of the particular extent of these places I shall treat more fully anon The Succession of Bishops in the See of London THe first to the Times of the Saxons is thus Theanus who was in the daies of Lucius consecrated the Church of St. Peters Cornhill and by the assistance of Ciranus the Kings Cup-bearer performed all the Rites thereunto belonging Some report he built the Church The second Eluanus he added a Liberary to it The third was Cadar the fourth Obinus the fifth Conanus the sixth Palladius the seventh Stephanus the eighth Iltutus or Iltutius the ninth Deduinus the tenth Theodredus the eleventh Hilarius the twelfth Vitelinus the thirteenth Vodinus Mr. Cambden calls him Theonus But before we proceed any further it will be necessary to say who and what these Flamens were and of their being changed into Bishops and Arch-bishops What these Flamens and Arch-flamens were and their being changed into Bishops and Arch-bishops I Wish we had seen the Book of Gildas for it can hardly be found in ancient Authority that there was ever any distribution of Flamens and Arch flamens into their particular Provinces or that the words Arch-flamens and Arch-bishops were in use in the time of Lucius or that Metropolitical Jurisdiction and the Ceremony of the Pall had any being in those daies For Flamens among the Romans were no other than their Priests so called from a Thred or String as Varro saith with which they bound their Head as Flamines some Pileamines from a Cap they wore and from Sacrificing commonly called Priests and every one of these lookt after the proper Offices and Duties of their particular Gods at first
hoping from those steep Precipes to regain their advantage of flinging their Darts But such was the eagerness of the Romans that they followed them at their heels the light Armed first and after them the heavy Legions The Britains who had gotten up bestowed their Darts plentifully but nevertheless the Romans went on and breaking into the Ranks some they flung down headlong others they kill'd and wounded as having neither Helmet or Breast-plate to defend them And now the Britains knew not which way to turn themselves if they engaged the light Armed and Auxiliary Forces of the Romans they were beaten down with the broad Swords and massie Pikes of the Legionaries if on the other side they set upon the Legionaries the light Spears and pointed Swords of the Auxiliaries were as equally fatal to them so that not able to hold up any longer they flung down their Arms a few only escaping This Victory was rendred famous by two Noble Captives here taken the Wife and Daughter of Caratacus and it had been well if that Princes Misfortunes had here ended for his two Brothers after his Overthrow revolted to the Romans and he himself as adversity is seldom safe having escaped the pursuit and fled to the Protection of Cartismandua Queen of the Brigantes was most basely delivered up and sent in Irons to the Conquerour The Scottish Histories say the Brigantes were a People of their Nation and Buchanan reads the verse of Seneca Scuta Brigantes Scota Brigantes and truly this Nation would very easily incline us to yeild to their pretention This great Overthrow happened in the ninth year of the Invasion of 〈◊〉 under Claudius Caesar. The fame of Caratacus heightned by the story of his sad 〈◊〉 not only spread it self through the neighbour Islands and adjoyning Provinces but reached even to Italy Every one longed to see that man who for so many years had stood out and bad defiance to their greatest Forces His name at Rome was no less celebrated the Emperour thinking he did Honour to himself in praising the worth of a Person and advancing the Credit of a Nation over both which before he had Triumphed Being come to Rome the People were called together as to a publick and solemn Spectacle The Emperours Guards were drawn out and stood to their Arms before the Camp to receive them First entred the Kings Retinue bearing Chains and Caparasons and divers Trophies he had won in other Wars next his Brothers then his Wife and Daughter and last of all himself appeared The Prayers and Submissions of others through Fear were base and degenerate but Caratacus Great even in the midst of his Misfortunes with a steady and erected Countenance and a look that yet retained its Majesty stands before the Tribunal of Claudius and speaks to this purpose If my Moderation in Prosperity had been as great as the quality of my Birth and Fortune I might have come to this City rather as a Friend than a Captive Neither could you have disdained an Allyance with one descended of so Ancient and Royal Blood and commanding many Nations My present condition to me is disgraceful but to you glorious I had Horses Charriots Men Arms and Riches no wonder if I was unwilling to forgoe them If of necessity you must Command all things it follows all must Obey If I had sooner been betrayed to you my Misfortune had made less noise in the World and your Conquests had not been so Renowned After my death I should have soon been forgotten but if you let me live you make me a lasting Monument of your Clemency Claudius being taken with his Behaviour pardons him his Wife and Brothers and commands their Irons to be knockt off After which they did their Reverence to the Empress Agrippina who sitting by in State expected it giving her the same Thanks and Praises they had done to the Emperour After this the Lords of the Senate assembled where many and magnificent things were discoursed concerning the Captivity of Caratacus And it was generally agreed that this Action was not less Honourable to Ostorius than the taking of King Siphax by P. Scipio or the Macedonian King Perses by Lucius Paulus or any others who had led Princes in Triumph and therefore for his eminent Service to the Commonwealth they decreed him Triumphal Ornaments But the like Fortune did not attend Ostorius in his succeeding Actions for whether the Romans were grown careless and negligent being rid of so considerable an Enemy as Caratacus or whether the Britains in compassion of the Misfortunes of so great a Prince were more eagerly bent upon Revenge whilest the Camp-Master and some Legionary Cohorts were left to fortifie some certain places in the Country of the Silures the Britains encompast them about and if succour had not speedily arrived from the neighbouring Towns and Garrisons there had not a man of them escaped Nevertheless the Camp-Master with eight Centurions and many of the forwardest Souldiers were slain Upon the neck of this followed another loss on the Roman side for a Party being sent out to Forrage were suddenly set upon beaten and dispersed together with some Troops of Horse who came too late to relieve them Ostorius sends some of his Foot lightly Armed to succour both Parties and to try to make them Rally but they served but to increase the Flight until the Legions coming up undertook the Battle and by main strength first poised it and afterwards turned the Scale The Britains got off with little or no loss the day being almost spent and never after appeared in great Parties but out of Woods Boggs and Marshes made frequent Sallies in small Bodies as Conduct or Chance led them upon Necessity or Valour Anger or Prey sometimes commanding others although without Command And this way of Skirmishing though taken up by the Britains out of Necessity rather than Choice yet had it greater success and proved more fatal to the Enemy than their great Bodies This the Silures well perceived and wisely managed the advantage and above all the British Nations they entertained a mortal Hatred against the Romans and watched all opportunities to do them mischief They had heard that the General should give out That he would root out the very Name of them A saying that they could never forget and although often courted to a Compliance they ever afterwards looked upon the Romans not only as their Enemies but the haters of their Nation This exasperating of a People of it self not very tractable proved of ill consequence to the Romans For they seeking out all means to vent their spight at last met with a comfortable occasion two Cohorts led on by the Avarice of their Commanders were gone out to pillage and plunder the Country and it seems following their business with more greediness than heed were insensibly drawn too far from their Head Quarters Upon their returns loaden with Spoil they were intercepted many of them slain and wounded and the rest
the judgment of God justly reward him for his Cruelties when under JULIAN he was burnt alive Upon the neck of these proceedings other Calamities followed in Britain for the Scots and Picts barbarous Nations brake down the Fronteirs and taking advantage of the Troubles and destruction of the Province wasted far and near JULIAN lately chosen Caesar and afterwards Emperour was then wintering at Paris who having notice of their Incursions yet because the Germans were but in a doubtful condition of Allegiance for it was dangerous to leave Gaul without a Governour durst not adventure to go in person into Britain but sent Lupicinus at that time Colonel of the Infantry and Master of the Armory to quell the Rebels and compose the Affairs in the Province He was an excellent Souldier well skilled in all Military Affairs but withal of a haughty and boasting nature a big Speaker and in his gesture savouring much of the Buskin in Tragedies and it was a question whether he were more Covetous or Cruel Having raised an Army of light appointed Men to wit the Herulians Batavians and many Companies of the Maesians now Bulgarians he sets out from Bullen with a Fleet well mann'd with a good fore-wind in the dead of Winter and landing at the Haven Rutupiae over against Bullen he marched directly to London in hopes the sooner to give the Enemy Battle but what his successes were is not left to Posterity Certain it is he was recalled by Julian the succeeding Emperour And now the Arrian Heresie whereof Constantius was a great favourer having spread over the whole World crept also into Britain a Nation desirous of change and stedfast in nothing concerning which hear our ancient Gildas complaining From the first year of CONSTANTINE the Great a sweet consent and harmony of Christ the head and his Members had still continued were it not for that persidious Arrianisme that so much poysoning and corrupting us caused so great a Separation as frequently so subjects us to be drawn away with Novelties and sticking close to nothing either firmly or seriously To nourish the deadly Opinions of these Arrians Constantius called of the Western Church four hundred Bishops to Ariminum contributing to their better maintenance necessary Provisions which by the Aquitanes French and Britains was accounted a very unseemly thing and so refused the acceptance thereof although it was an Express of the Emperours good-will Three only out of Britain being more necessitous than the rest received that maintenance but esteemed it more void of corruption and safe to charge the Common-Treasury than the estate of a private Man After this Constantius died when he had Reigned seventeen years without a Competitour seven years in the life of his Brethren and thirteen a Caesar in the daies of his Father Constantine the Great according to Socrates and Zosimus which computation I follow though others speak as if he Ruled twenty four years after his death THE British History In the Daies of CONSTANTIUS THE quarrel between Magnentius and Constantius being the chief matter of this Princes reign Basingstoak reporteth after this manner When Magnentius had slain Constans he sent Letters to his Brother Constantius with Embassadours to this purpose That he would be content with Thrace and the Eastern Empire and suffer him to enjoy Britain and Gaul now in his possession to which receiving no Answer and hearing that Constantius was advanced towards Italy to revenge his Brothers death he resolves by force of Arms to maintain his Suit Constantius hearing of his Preparations and fearing to engage too deeply the Roman State in Civil combustions yields to him Gallia upon condition he would quit his other pretences which Magnentius now grown high and not accepting they both prepared for a War The place where they met was at Mursa before the Fight Magnentius taking Counsel of a Sorceress was advised to sacrifice a Virgin and to give her Blood mixed with Wine to the Souldiers to drink whilest in the mean time she performed her Charms which done and the impious Ceremonies being over the Battle began in which Constantius was Victor Magnentius leaving his Horse and Imperial Robes at random that he might be thought slain fled disguised and gathering together as many of his scattered Forces as he could rally sent to Constantius first by a Grave Senatour who was refused and afterwards by Bishops to desire only the Government of Gallia to be held of him under the Title of Duke only The Souldiers hearing of this base Submission and doubting his Fortune was but low fled to Constantius daily so that Magnentius finding it high time to give Battle whilest he had any left with him met Constantius in the Field but was again overthrown when flying to Lions and perceiving his own Followers ready to betray him to gain favour with the Conquerour having first feigned himself Mad he murthered himself after he had reigned three years Thus Basingstoak but I fear in some circumstances he confounds Magnentius with that Maxentius who was overcome by Constantine Flav. Claudius Julianus Apostata JULIAN succeeding Constantius hath left no memory behind him of his Affairs in Britain Whilest he was Gaesar at Paris instead of coming himself into Britain to compose Differences arising he sent as hath been said Lupicinus in his stead now being Emperour again recalled him in whose room as may be guessed Alipius of Antioch was made Deputy but soon after employed upon another occasion For Julian in spight to the Christians and that he might frustrate the Prophecy of our Saviour sends for him out of Britain to re-edifie Jerusalem but fire breaking out of the Foundation so terrified the Work-men that they immediately desisted from the enterprize And now Paulus the Notary a Spaniard who carried on the bloody Inquisition in Britain in the last Emperours daies falling into the displeasure of Julian as I said before was burnt alive This is all that relates to our Island in the daies of Julian saving that from hence he exported every year great store of Corn to maintain the Roman Garrisons in Germany He Reigned about three years and was slain by a Dart in the Persian Wars Basingstoak writeth that one Gumoarius succeeded Lupicinus in Britain but I guess he means Fraomarius King of the Almanes who in Valentinians daies not long following was sent with Commission into Britain to suppress the Scots Picts Saxons and Attacotts which then infested it FLAVIUS JOVIANUS JOVIANUS the Son of Varonianus a Captain of good note was chosen Emperour by the Souldiers upon the death of Julian but refusing to command a Heathen-Nation as is reported the Souldiers cried out they were Christians upon which he accepted of the Empire His Reign was but short seven months only and that in the East so that we can expect nothing of our Island in his daies He died as is said by the damp of a new Mortered Chamber or of Coals set therein to dry it leaving behind
Convension Destroy the worship of Idols raze their Temples establish the Manners of your Subjects in the great Purity of good living by exhorting terrifying encouraging correcting and by showing the Examples of Good works that you may find him your Rewarder in Heaven whose name and knowledg you shall extend upon Earth for he shall make your Name more glorious to Posterity whose Honour you endeavour to advance and preserve in your Nation So formerly Constantine a most Pious Emperour freeing the Roman Commonwealth from the preverse worship of Idols submitted himself and It to our Almighty LORD Jesus Christ and applied himself and his Subjects with his whole mind unto GOD from whence it came to pass that he transcended his Predecessours as much in Fame as he exceeded them in good works And now therefore let your Majesty make all possible haste to disperse the knowledg of one GOD the Father Son and Holy Ghost to Kings and their Subjects that you may in commendation and merit pass the Ancient Kings of that Nation And by how much you endeavour to wipe away the sins of others by so much you may rest more secure of your own offences before the dreadful examination of Almighty God Our most Reverend Brother Augustine Bishop well taught in the rules of Monastick life filled with the knowledg of the Holy Scripture and endued through God's grace with good works whatsoever he shall advise you willingly hear devoutly perform and carefully lay up in your memory because if you shall hear him in that which he speaks for God Almighty the same Almighty God will the sooner hear him intreating for you But if which God forbid you should neglect his words when do you think Almighty God will hear him for you whom you neglected to hear for God With all your mind therefore joyn your self with him in the fervency of Faith and assist him relying on that power which God has given you that he may make you partakers of his Kingdom whose Faith you have received and endeavoured to preserve in your Kingdom Furthermore we would that your Majesty should understand that as we know in Sacred Writ out of the words of our Almighty Lord that the end of this present World is at hand and that the Kingdom of the Saints shall come of which there shall be no end But the end of the World drawing near many things shall happen which before were not viz. alterations of the Air terrours from Heaven and contrary to the course of Seasons Tempest Wars Famine Pestilences Earth-quakes in divers places all which shall not come to pass in our daies but all of them shall certainly follow our daies If therefore you shall find any of these things happen in your Land let your mind in no sort be disturbed because these signs concerning the end of the World are therefore sent before that we should be careful of our Souls mistrustful of the hour of death that we may be found in good works prepared for the Judg at his coming These things I have spoken to you in short Most Excellent Son that when the Christian Faith shall be increased in your Kingdom my discourse also may be inlarged towards you then 't will be more proper to speak more when the joyes for the perfect conversion of the whole Nation shall be multiplied in your breast We have sent you also some small Presents which will not be small unto you when you shall receive them from us with the benediction of the blessed Apostle Peter Almighty God preserve and perfect in you that Grace he hath begun and extend your life to the course of many years and after long time receive you into the Congregation of his Heavenly Country Let the Grace of Heaven my Royal Son keep your Highness safe Given the tenth of the Kalends of July in the nineteenth year of our Lord Mauritius Tiberlus Augustue Emperour after the Consulship of the same eighteenth year Indiction the fourth i. e. in the year of Christ 161. Gregory To Virgilius Bishop of Arles He commends to him Bishop Augustine HOW great kindness ought to be shewn to Brethren coming of their own accord may be gathered from hence that to shew our charity they are most commonly invited by us and therefore if it should so fall out that our common Brother Bishop Augustine should come unto you let your charity as it ought receive him with all tenderness and affection and cherish him with the benefits of your consolation and teach others how fraternal charity ought to be respected And because it falls out that those that are furthest off commonly are informed first of what ought to be corrected if he shall make mention to your Brotherhood of any enormities committed either by Priests or others sitting with him by diligent search and scrutining examine all things and behave your selves so strict and careful in those things that offend God and provoke him to anger that for the example and amendment of others punishment only may strike the guilty and that false judgment afflict not the innocent Given the tenth day of the Kalends of July Indiction the fourth Bede after this saich Afflict not the Innocent here in the end and so goes on God keep you safe Most Reverend Brother Given the tenth day of the Kalends of July our Lord Mauritius Tiberius Augustus being Emperour in the nineteenth year after the Consulship of the said Lord the eighteenth year Indiction the fourth i. e. in the year of Christ 601. Gregory To Melltus Abbot in France He gives Command to be sent to Augustine about the conversion of that Nation AFter the departure of our Congregation which is with you we were in great suspence because we could hear nothing of the happiness of your Journey but when it shall please Almighty God to bring you to our most Reverend Brother Bishop Augustine tell him I have a long time carefully considered of the condition of the English and am of opinion that the Temples of the Idols in that Nation ought by no means to be destroyed but only the Idols themselves that are in them Let holy water be provided and sprinkled about those Temples let Altars be built and Reliques kept in them For if those Churches are Elegantly built it is necessary they should be taken from the worship of Devils and appropriated to the service of the true God that whilst the people see their Churches are not destroyed they may put away their Errors from their hearts and knowing and worshipping the True God may more familiarly resort to those places they were wont to frequent And because many Oxen were wont to be slain in the sacrifice of Devils some other solemnity ought to be introduced instead of it that on the day of Dedication or Birth-day of the Holy Martyrs whose Reliques are there laid up let them make Arbors to themselves of the Branches of Trees about those Churches that were formerly Temples and let them celebrate the