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duty_n	baptism_n	bless_a	great_a	17	3	2.0871	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A34964	The church-history of Brittany from the beginning of Christianity to the Norman conquest under Roman governours, Brittish kings, the English-Saxon heptarchy, the English-Saxon (and Danish) monarchy ... : from all which is evidently demonstrated that the present Roman Catholick religion hath from the beginning, without interruption or change been professed in this our island, &c. / by R.F., S. Cressy of the Holy Order of S. Benedict.	Cressy, Serenus, 1605-1674.	1668 (1668)	Wing C6890; ESTC R171595	1,241,234	706

especially building and fortifying of Citties In two of which he left the memory and footsteps of his own name Chichester and Cisbury in the Province of Sussex Concerning which Camden thus writes Chichester is a large Citty compass'd with walls by Cissa the second Saxon Prince of that Province who succeeded his Father Ella From this Cissa it takes its name So likewise did another town call'd Cisbury Now this Cissa together with his Father Ella and Brother Cimen landed in a port of that Province call'd therefore Cimenshore V. CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Kentigern his Birth c. 1. THE same year in which Cerdic obtained an illustrious Victory against the Brittains was yet more signalized with the Birth of the famous Brittish Bishop Saint Kentigern Whose Nativity admirable for the strangenes of it since it is celebrated by many ancient Writers must not here be omitted This year is assigned thereto by Bishop Vsher in his Chronologicall Index where his Mother is sayd to have been Thenis the daughter of Loth King of Pict-land and of Anna the daughter of Vther Pendragon Whence it follows that he was Nephew to King Arthur by his Sister It is not known who was his Father yet some suppose Eugenius the third of that name King of the Scotts 2. Iohn of Tinmouth an Ancient Historian cited by Capgrave thus relates his originall A certain King in the Northern parts of Brittany who was a Pagan begot of his wife a very beautifull daughter She having frequently been a hearer of Sermons preached by the servants of God obtain'd the Grace to beleive his Truth and renounce the worshipping of Idols And though she had not yet been purified with the Sacrament of Baptism yet she was diligent in observing Gods commandements with an humble and devout mind being much addicted to prayer and Almsgiving and other Duties of Ecclesiasticall Discipline as much as the fear of incensing her Father would permit She bore so great devotion to the fruitfull Virginity and integrity of the Blessed Virgin Mary that mov'd with a womanish presumption she begg'd of our Lord that she might in some measure imitate her in her Conception and birth At length as she thought she obtain'd her desire for she found her self with child Now it is not to be conceiv'd that this hapned without the embrace of a man notwithstanding who that man was or in what manner and when this was done she oft protested and with oaths confirmed it that she was utterly ignorant 3. Her Father perceiving this and not being able either by fair speeches or threatnings to wrest from her who was the Father of the Child for she seriously protested that she had never suffred the unlawfull embraces of any man hereupon in a great rage he determined to execute upon her the law establish'd by his ancestours by which it was enacted that whatsoever young maid should be with child by fornication in her fathers house should be thrown down headlong from the top of a high mountain and the person corrupting her should loose his head 4. In conformity therefore to this Law the young woman was placed on the highest point of a Mountain in that countrey called Dunpelder from thence to be thrown down and torn in peices She therefore with deep sighs looking up to heaven implored the mercy and help of her Redeemer holding up her hands and shedding many tears After this she was cast down but by the fall was neither bruised nor received the least harm but sliding down easily and slowly came safe to the bottom 5. The Pagans who were present ascribed this deliverance 〈…〉 magicall enchantments of Christians and therefore with the Kings consent they caried her severall miles into the Sea and there left her destitute of all human help in a small Boat made of leather and without any oares But he who commands the winds and the Sea was her Protectour for by his power the Boat was caried streight to a far distant haven with greater swiftnes then either rowers or sayles could have driven her Being arrived there the young Lady went out of the Boat and presently after in a place called Collenros her throws of child-birth coming upon her she without the assistance of a Midwife was safely delivered of a Son Now the place here called Colenros is probably the same which Saint Beda calls Coludi and Ptolomy Colania in the Province of Laudon So that Pits from I know not what Authour erroneously makes the place of S. Kentigern's birth to have been S. Asaph's in Flintshire formerly called Elqua The ground of which Errour seems to have been because afterward he was Bishop and built a Monastery there from whence he is by the Centuriators of Magdeburg called Elicius 6. But whatsoever his Sirname was his proper name was given him by S. Servanus For thus it follows in Tinmouths narration The next morning Saint Servanus came to the place and seing the desolate Mother with her infant he said in his countreys language Mochohe Mochohe that is my beloved child my beloved child Blessed art thou who art come in the name of our Lord. He took them therefore into his care nourish'd and baptised them calling the Mother Thanen and the child Kient●ern that is Cheif Lord. The child being of a towardly disposition proffited much in learning and vertue and was beloved by S. Servanus beyond all his companions insomuch as usually he call'd him Munghu which signifies one dearly beloved By which name to this day saith Bishop Vsher the Scots call S. Kentigern Thus far the Nativity and Name of this Holy man After five and twenty years when he was consecrated Bishop of Glasco more will be sayd of him VI. CHAP. 1. King Arthur crowned 2.3 Of the Isle of Berdesey 4.5 c. Twelve Victories gained by K. Arthur 1. THE continuall troubles caused by the Saxons through all the quarters of Brittany would not alow King Arthur to solemnise his Coronation till eight years after his Fathers death Which Ceremony was magnificently perform'd in the year of Grace five hundred and sixteen in a generall Assembly of the Bishops and Nobles at the Citty Ca●r-leon And S. Dubricius Bishop of that Citty set the Crown on his head 2. After this the said Holy Bishop being very aged retired into a certain Island in Northwales call'd by Ptolomy Edri by Pliny Adros by the Brittains Enhly and by the English Berdsey Which Island saith Camden was inhabited by so many Saints that besides Dubricius and Merlin the Caledonian no fewer then twenty thousand holy men were buried there as ancient Records inform us 3. Concerning this Island we read in the Life of Aelgar saith Bishop Vsher that it was call'd by the Brittains the Rome of Brittany for the distance of it the difficulty of the passage likewise the Sanctity and security of it the Sanctity since twenty thousand bodies of Saints are there venerated as Martyrs And the

testimony of S. Gregory 5.6 B. Parkers calumnies against S. Augustin answered 7. The place where this Baptism was performed 1. THese buildings and foundations did not withdraw the minds of S Austin and the other Missioners from their more necessary duty and solicitude for converting soules For this very year our Records inform us of very great numbers which by holy Baptism gave up their names to Christ insomuch as no fewer then ten thousand are said to have been baptis'd this year on the Solemnity of our Lords Nativity This appears also by an Epistle sent the year following by S. Gregory to Eulogius Patriark of Alexandria who had given him an account of great numbers of Hereticks in Egypt by his endeavours reduced to Catholick Vnity In answer whereto S. Gregory after congratulation with him for so great a harvest informs him of a greater accession then lately made in Brittany of Pagans there converted from their Idolatry His words are these 2. We give thanks to almighty God for that we see fullfill'd in you what is written Where the corn abounds there the Oxen's strength is manifested For if it had not been a strong Oxe which fixed the plough of his tongue in the hearts of his hearers so plentifull a harvest would not have followed But because by the merit of the good actions perform'd by you there is made an addition or encrease for which you ought also to congratulate I will in return to your courtesy give you an account of occurrents among us not unlike those you have told mee And that is that whereas there is a Nation of the world which till our times has remained Infidels enslaved to the worship of wood and stones by the means of your Prayers it hath pleased God to inspire mee to send thither a Monk of my Monastery to preach the Gospell to them He therefore by my permission having been consecrated Bishop by certain Prelats of the German Nation with the help of some assistants which they gave him was conducted to that barbarous countrey and but even now letters from him have acquainted us with the news of his safety and labours and how both himself and his companions have been so glorified in that Nation by the miracles wrought by them that in the wonders they seem to imitate the power of the Apostles 3. Moreover in the last Solemnity of our Lords Nativity which fell in the first Indiction more then ten thousand of the English Nation as we are informed were baptised by him our Brother and Fellow-Bishop This I have told you that you may see how much good your preaching has wrought in Alexandria and your prayers in the utmost ends of the Earth 4. Now whereas in this Epistle the baptising of ten thousand English on the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord is sayd to have been performed by S. Augustin Bishop and in the first Indiction since the Indiction is reckon'd from the eighth day before the Calends of October it follows that S. Augustin was then Bishop and consequently returned out of France We may likewise observe that Saint Gregory calls the French Bishops Ge●mans because being Franks they came out of Germany 5. A late pretended Successour of S. Augustin B. Parker who studiously catches at all advantages to deprave this our glorious Apostle calls this an inverted and reciprocall Baptism and says that these were converted by others and not by him for we read no where that he preached on the contrary he loved his ease and lived an effeminate life If he had been truly Zealous for justice he should have required King Ethelbert to restore his Kingdom to the Brittains who were the true Lords of the Countrey c. 4. All which calumnies are manifestly disprov'd by all Antiquity For first S. Gregory in that Epistle sayes expressly that he sent S. Augustin to preach the Gospell and his assiduity in executing that Office is severall times magnified by S. Beda Again if S. Beda and Ethelwerd deserve credit S. Augustin was a man of a most pure life that in humility he always went on foot and never made use of a horse or waggon that he was patient of labour and a true Successour of the Apostles And whereas in B. Parkers iudgment King Ethelbert ought to have been required to restore his Kingdom to the Brittains He did not consider that that kingdom had been possessed by his family the space of one hundred and fifty years Which time if it be not sufficient to make a prescription and so legitimate his Title Woe be to all Christian Princes Lastly by his calling this an inverted and reciprocall Baptism he reflects on a passage of an obscure Writer that by reason of the multitudes of those who came to be baptised S. Augustin was forced after he had baptised some to teach them the Form and require them to baptise others But what inversion is here Since it is well known that Baptism being a Sacrament of such absolute necessity is valid and effectuall by whomsoever conferred since it does not require Iurisdiction in the Minister of it 7. As touching the place where this Baptism was celebrated it is commonly beleiv'd to have been not in Kent but in the Province of the Brigantes and County of Richmont belonging to the Kingdom of Deira where the River Swale in which it is supposed to have been performed was for that cause call'd the Holy River But the infancy and unsetlednes of the Churches of Kent the care of erecting Churches and Monasteries c. will not permit S. Augustins absence so soon It is not therefore to be doubted but that this solemn Baptism was celebrated in the Kingdom of Kent and the mistake of many of our Writers is grounded on the confounding this Baptism with another as solemn perform'd by S. Paulinus in the seaven and twentieth year of the following Century whose abode saith S. Beda was near to the said River of Swale in which he baptised many thousands because Oratories and Fonts could not so soon be built in the first beginnings of that Church Therefore Camden writing concerning that River of S●ale says that it was call'd Holy from S. Paulinus his baptising in it more then ten thousand men besides women and children in one day VIII CHAP. 1.2 S. Augustin sends to Rome for a Sup●ply c. 3. B. Godwins too sharpe Censure of S. Augustin 4 K. Ethelberts writings 1. IN the year of Grace five hundred ninety nine S. Augustin seing so plentifull a harvest and hoping for a yet greater encrease if more labourers were sent to cultivate the ground resolved to acquaint S. Gregory with the present state of affairs This respect his duty required from him For such an account of their Stewardship had S. Fugatius and Damianus given to Pope Eleutherius and the like was afterward done by S. Patrick In conformity therefore to such good Examples S. Augustin directed to Rome Laurentius a Preist and

Beda saith he was esteemed by many even above Gregory the Great for his exact skill both in the Latin and Greek tongues There is scarce any thing worthy the reading in all Antiquity which is not found in his Writings If he had lived in the times of Hierom Augustin and Chrysostom I doe not doubt but he might have come in competition with them for esteem He published very many works full of all kinds of learning and in a decrepit age he dyed at last among his Disciples and obtained a most happy end 15. Now since evident Truth extorted such praises from the penns of the desertours of that Religion which so pious and so learned a Doctour of Gods Church who both lived and dyed in eminent Sanctity always taught our dear Countreymen will doe wisely to attend to the affrighting admonition of the learned Cardinal Baronius saying The Holy English Church hath always gloried and with great reason in so holy Doctour whom since her Apostate children doe now reject and instead of him doe follow deceived and deceiving Apostles of Satan they have reason to apprehend least in the last Iudgment so great and powerfull an accuser standing against them before the Tribunal of our Lord they shall receive a sentence of damnation THE THREE AND TWENTIETH BOOK OF THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY I. CHAPTER 1.2 S. Boniface receives from the Pope a resolution of certain doubts 3 4. Likewise an Archiepiscopall Pall. 5 6. Of another Saint Wigbert his companion c. 1. HAVING with due honour buried S. Beda who hath hitherto been our principall and most secure Guide and with whom in the judgment of William of Malmsbury all knowledge in a manner of the Gests of former ages hath been buried We will pursue this History making use of the best Light can be found and beginning with an account of the proceedings the same year of the glorious English Apostle of Germany S. Boniface as we are informed by the Authour of his Life from the Writings of his Holy Disciple and companion Saint Willebald 2. S. Boniface saith he having by himself or his companions converted to the Faith of Christ many thousands whom he purified with the Water of saving Baptism heard news of the death of the Holy Pope Gregory second of that name whose Successour was a third Gregory Whereupon he sent Messengers with Letters to Rome to renew with the New Pope the league of amity which he had enioyd with his Predecessour to make profession of all duty and obedience to the See Apostolick and to give him an account of the great number of German Idolaters converted to the Faith Moreover he proposed certain difficulties occurring in the exercise of his Apostolick charge a resolution whereof he desired 3. Though S. Boniface's Epistle be not extant yet all these particulars may be collected from Pope Gregorye's Answer to him In which 1. He testifies his ioy for the great Benediction given by God to his preaching 2. He signifies to him that to give him more authority in those parts he has sent him an Archiepiscopall Pall which yet he was only to wear when he celebrated Masse or ordained Bishops Which power he now gives him 3. Whereas S. Boniface had given him notice of a certain Preist who went to Rome and at his return boasted that he had obtained Absolution of the Pope from his many scandalous and enormous crimes He tells him that such a Preist came to him signifying only that he was a Preist and desiring Letters of recommendation to Charles Martel but that he made no Confession to him nor by consequence received any Absolution Therfore he advises S. Boniface to avoyd Communion with him and such like as he 4 He advises him severely to pennance such as fed upon horse-flesh 5. He enioyns him to rebap●ize such as had been unduly baptized by Pagans and by a Christian Preist revolted from the Faith and who had sacrifised to Iupiter 6. That Oblations should be received and commemoration made by the Preist at the Altar not indifferently for all that were dead but only such as were true Catholick Christians 7. He disswades from Mariage to the seaventh degree of affinity or consanguinity 8. And counsells him to exhort men after the death of their wives not to marry more then once 9 As touching such as had murdred their Father Mother Brother or sister that they should be denyed Communion all their life except only at the point of death and be obl●ged to fast every Munday Wednesday and Friday 10. And whereas there was an impious custom among even the converted Germans to sell their slaves to Pagans to be sac●ifised by them he requires him absolutely to forbid it and to impose the same Pennance on transgressours which the Canons inflict on Homicides 11 Lastly that he should never consecrate any Bishop but in the presence and with the assistance of at least two Bishops 4. The Messengers returning with these Letters and Presents brought great ioy to S. Boniface who presently after erected two new Churches one at Fritzlare to the honour of S. Peter Prince of the Apostles and the other at Amanbury to the honour of S Michael the Archangel And to those two Churches he adioynd two Monasteries in which he placed a good number of Monks to serve and praise Almighty God 5. Over one of these Monasteries he seems to have appointed Abbot a certain Preist named Wigbert whom he sent for out of Brittany from out of the Monastery of Glastonbury Which devout Preist being arrived wrote an Epistle yet extant to his Fathers and Brethren at Glastonbury to give them notice of his prosperous iourney desiring their prayers to God that he would give good successe to his labours in this Mission which exposed him to great incommodities and dangers He requests them to give notice of all these things to his Mother Tetta and the Congregation with her 6. This S. Wigbert is evidently different from that Saint Wigbert a Martyr which wee mentioned six years before this time And he is doubtlesse the same concerning whom Miraeus thus writes in his Calender on the thirteenth of August In Germany the commemoration of S. Wigbert Preist and Confessour He was I suppose designed first Abbot of Fritzlare by S. Boniface the Apostle of the Germans His Relicks were afterward translated to the Monastery of Hirsfeld in Hassia by Lullus Successour of S. Boniface in his Arch-bishoprick To his name and honour Rabanus Maurus who was Arch-bishop in the year of our Lords Incarnation eight hundred and fifty built a Church in Hirsfeild And severall ages afterward Mathildis the most pious Empresse Mother of Otho the first did the like 7. This S. Wigbert was present at a Synod celebrated at Mentz in the year of Grace seaven hundred forty five and consequently outlived S. Beda Therefore whereas his name is found in S. Beda's Martyrologe and a Homily pretended as made by S. Beda on

the infant vowing him to Gods service Which they had no sooner done but his health was immediatly restor'd to him 3. Two years after therefore they being mindfull of their Vow delivered him to a venerable person named Theodoret who according to their order presented him to a devout Abbot named Egbald who governed a Monastery called Waltheim He with the advice and consent of his brethren received him as a Member of their Religious Congregation where he was bred up in all modesty piety and humility and withall according to his capacity was instructed in all Sacred learning 4. When he was arrived at a mature age he by earnest prayers obtaind permission to accompany his Father and Brother in a pilgrimage of devotion which they undertook to Rome In their return their Father S. Richard dyed at the Citty of Lucca where also he was buried with great honour as hath been else where declared After whose death an earnest desire took him to prolong his pilgrimage as far as the Holy land there to visit and perform his devotions in all the places where the principall Mysteries of our Salvation were wrought And accordingly being accompanied by two devout persons only he returned back and taking ship at C●●eta they sailed to Cyprus and from thence into Syria where arriving at a Citty called Emesa he with his cōpanions who were now seaven was taken prisoner and in danger to loose his life upon a suspicion that they were Spies Being thus made captives God disposed the heart of a certain old man who was a Sara●en to pitty them insomuch as he oft visited them and ●ent them dayly sufficient nourishment in their prison Not long after a Spanish merchant who had a Brother a servant of the Prince of that Ci●cy in great favour with him by his intercession obtaind the freedom of these Captives 5. From thence therefore they went into the Holy Land which they passed quite through scarce omitting any place that was memorable or recorded in Holy Scripture A particular account of all their proceedings with ●he names of each place in order may be read in the History of the said Religious Virgin who professes that she received the relation from S. Willibalds own mouth 6. When they were come to Gaza S. Willibald being present at Masse solemnly sung to the honour of S. Mathias the Apostle lost his sight and for the space of two months continued blind whereupon he returned to Ierusalem entring into the Church where the Holy Crosse was found his sight was again restored to him After this passing through severall citties and places of devotion they took ship again return'd into Italy arriving at Naples From whence S. Willebald with one companion travelled to the famous Monastery of S. Benedict calld Mount Cassin where they found very few Monks under the government of their Abbot called Petronax a man of great mildnes prudence There S. Willibald made his abode the space of ten years during which he was some times appointed Sacristan of the Church afterwards a Dean and lastly the Porter 7. In this place having perfectly instructed himself in all duties belonging to Regular Observance at last with permission of his Abbot he returned to Rome where he was with great kindnes received by Pope Gregory the third who took great delight in hearing him recount the marvellons variety of accidents which befell him in his long voyages And awhile after the said Pope told him that his kinsman S. Boniface had earnestly requested him to command him to quitt the Monastery of Mount Cassin and to send him into Germany to assist him there in preaching the Gosp●ll To which command S. Willibald humbly submitted and accordingly leaving behind him his companion in the Monastery be began his voyage into Germany and at last arrived at a place called Linthruth where he found S. Boniface who not long after sent him to a place calld Eystat Which place had been given to S. Boniface by a devout person called Suitgar who accompanied S. Willebald thi●her The Region thereabout was in a manner wast scarce any house to be seen but a small Church dedicated to our Lady Now after these two devout persons h●d chosen a place convenient to be the Seat of a Monastery they went to S. Boniface to give him notice thereof who returned thither with them and there ordaind S. Willibald a Preist A year after this S. Boniface called him into Thuringia whither being come he went to Heidenheim where his Brother was Abbot of a Monastery by whom he was with very great ioy received after so many years of separation To the same place shortly after S. Boniface came with two other Bishops S. Burchard and S. Wizo By whom S. Willibald was consecrated also Bishop and sent back to Eystat which Saint Boniface bestow'd on him to be an Episcopall See giving it the preeminence next to the Metropolis of Mentz 8. There he built a Monastery instituting the Monks in the Observāces which he had learnt at Mount Cassin And there leading an Angelicall Life among men dividing his employment between a quiet repose of Contemplation in the Monastery and charitable solicitudes in governing his Diocese he at last full of merits and Graces this year rendred happily his soule into his mercifull Creatours hands and was honourably buried in his own Church where his Memory is in great veneration and his Sanctity testified by many Miracles which are registred by Philip his Successour in the same Bishoprick Two hundred and eight years after his death he was solemnly Canonized by Pope Leo the Seaventh And both in the Roman and English Martyrologe his Memory is celebrated on the seaventh of Iuly XVIII CHAP. 1. The death of S Werburga 2. Succession of English Bishops 3. 4 c. A great miracle of a Soldier recovered by the Intercession of S. Bruno 1. ABOVT the same time is recorded the death of S. Werburga she had formerly been wife to Ceolred King of the Mercians after whose death which hapned in the year of Christ seaven hundred and sixteen she complying with a divine inspiration entred a Monastery where like the good Widdow Saint Anna the Prophetesse sh● never departed from our Lords Temple serving God night and day in abstinence and prayer the space of sixty five years partly as a simple Religious woman under Obedience and partly as Abbesse of the same Monastery with as much humility governing others as she had formerly obeyd 2. Then the See of Worcester being vacant by the death of Tilher it was supplied by the substitution of Adored in his place Ce●lmund likewise Bishop of Hereford dying there was ordained in the same his Successour named Vtell in the year of Grace seaven hundred eighty three 3. Little else occurring the same year in Brittany S. Ludger will inform us how wonderfully Almighty God glorified his servant Swibert in Germany so recommending the Faith which he had taught That year saith