for the Benefit of others And to shew that he had not deserted his Religious Profession he built a Monastery in a Town toward the Severnshore in those days call'd Loderic and Laffenac afterwards from him Petrocstow now more contractedly Padstow At this time the Saxons under Cerdic had possess'd themselves of that Province and when the Saint with his Disciples had landed and left their Ship certain Reapers then at work spoke rudely and bitterly to them and among other taunting Speeches requir'd them That their Conductor St. Petroc should for the asswaging of their Thirst cause a Spring of fresh Water to issue out of a Rock there adjoyning This was said either in Derision of them being Strangers or for a Tryal whether their Sanctity was answerable to their Profession Hereupon St. Petroc who never refus'd what was in his Power address'd his Prayers to our Merciful Lord and with his Staff smiting the Rock immediatly there gush'd forth a Spring of clear sweet water which is said to flow there at this day The Barbarous Pagans utterly ignorant of Christian Religion were astonish'd at this Miracle And when the Holy Servant of God ask'd them Whether there were any in that Province who Profess'd the Christian Faith They directed him to a Holy man call'd Sampson Who they told him led a Solitary Life and exercis'd himself in Corporal Labours Fasting Watching and Prayers sustaining himself daily with a small Portion of Barly Bread This is that Samson who succeeded St. David in the See of Menevia and after was Bishop of Dole in lesser Britain of whom more hereafter After 30 years abode in this Solitude wherein he is said to have instructed Credan Medan and Dathan three of his Principal Disciples Illustrious for their Learning and Piety he left his Monastery of Loderic and undertook a Foraign Pilgrimage to Rome and so to Jerusalem from whence he is said to have proceeded as far as India and to have spent seven years in the exercises of a Contemplative Life in a certain unknown Island of the Eastern Ocean from which tedious Voyage he at last return'd home and with 12 Companions retir'd himself into a dry and barren Solitude His death in our Ecclesiastical Monuments is referr'd to the year of Grace 564. and he was bury'd at Padstow in which Town was Antiently placed an Episcopal See which was after translated to Bodmin in regard the Body of the Saint was at first meanly Bury'd at Padstow and afterward transferr'd and Honourably repos'd at Bodmin But his Relicks did not always rest at Bodmin for as Roger Hoveden saith Martin a Canon Regular of the Church of Bodmin by stealth took away the Body of St. Petroc and fled with it to the Abbey of St. Meven in Britain the less Which Theft being discover'd Roger Pryor of that Cathedral Church with the Antient Canons of the Chapter address'd themselves to King Henry the Father for his Son was then likewise King and from him they obtain'd a strict command to the Abbot and Convent of St. Meven without delay to restore St. Petroc 's Body to the Pryour of Bodmin which if they refus'd the King gave order to Roland of Dinant the Governour of little Britain to take away the Sacred Body by force As soon as the Abbot of Meven heard hereof he restor'd the Body entire Swearing withall upon the Holy Gospels and the Relicks of certain Saints that it was the very same Body unchang'd and unimpair'd The reason why the Covent of Meven were so desirous of the Relicks of St. Petroc was because St. Meven the Patron of that Monastery was born in Great Britain and as many other Saints did fled into the less Britain and with great Veneration was Honour'd in the Territory of St. Malo where Judicael a Prince of that less Britain descended from this of ours built the said Monastery All Authors agree that the year 508. was fatal to the Britains for the loss of a great Battle wherein either their Valiant King or General of his Army was slain The Name of the Party mention'd to be slain makes the confusion The Noble Historian Ethelward expresly affirms That Cerdic and his Son Cenric slew Natanleod King of the Britains Mat. Paris indeed affirms That Uther was then sick and Natanleod his General Bishop Usher may decide this Controversy who affirms That Uther in the British Language was call'd Natanleod but after for his Valiant Acts obtain'd the Sir-name of Uter which in British signifies Terrible or Admirable Therefore his Son and Successor Arthur was call'd Mab Uther which signifies the Son of a terrible Prince because from his Childhood he was Fierce and Cruel Arthur being out of the British Language interpreted a Terrible Bear or an Iron-wall which breaks the Lyons Jaws Henry of Huntingdon thus describes this Battle Nazaleod saith he so he calls Natanleod was a Prince of great Fame and withall of great Pride of whom the Province was call'd Nazaleoli which after had the Name of Certicks-ford He gather'd an Army out of all Britain and Certic with his Son to enable themselves to encounter him had in so great danger obtain'd Aid from Aesca King of Kent and Ella the Potent King of the South-Saxons as likewise from Port and his Son lately arriv'd which Forces were divided into two main Bodies one led by Certic the other by his Son Cenric When the Battle was joyn'd King Nazaleod perceiving the right Wing of the Enemies conducted by Certic was much stronger than the other he turn'd all his Forces against it willing to destroy that which was Strongest He set upon it therefore with such Violence that he brake quite through them threw down their Ensign forc'd Certic to fly and made a great Slaughter of his Army in a short time But Cenric who conducted the left Wing seeing his Fathers Army routed rush'd vehemently on the backs of the Britains whilst they pursu'd their Enemies flying by this means the Combat became furious insomuch as King Nazaleod was slain and the Britains forc'd to fly of whom there fell 5000. and the rest sav'd themselves by their swiftness Thus the Saxons obtain'd a great Victory so that for some years they were not disturb'd by the Britains and the rather for that great multitudes of Valiant Soldiers came out of Germany to joyn with them This famous Battle fought in Hampshire the Province of the Belgae between the entire Forces of all the Saxons and Britains as it were for the Mastery had utterly ruin'd the British State had Vter left behind him a Successor of a Courage less Heroical then his Son Arthur that renown'd Prince whose glorious Exploits are now to be related The Gests of this Son and Successor of Vter are clouded by such mists of Fables that the Truth of his Story can hardly be related not for want but the excess of matter recorded of him and that by Writers who out of a desire to magnifie his Fame by their impudent Lies have almost
these extreme difficulties and tormented with Wounds Diseases Thirst and the burning Heat of the Sun could neither Fight nor draw off from the place nor expect any remedy when behold on a suddain there was a gathering together of many Clouds from which descended great showers of Rain to the great comfort and Refreshment of the Romans who being thus encourag'd by an unexpected assistance from Heaven set upon their Enemies astonish'd at such a Miracle and forc'd them to flee and seeing many of them in their flight kill'd with Lightning and Thunder-bolts from Heaven so as it was notorious to all the World that this so great Deliverance and Victory was the work not of Men but God only Now though Dio was by clear conviction enforc'd to the Confession of Divine Goodness yet his malice and envy against the Christians provok'd him to attribute this clear Miracle to Magick or some false God rather than to the true God of Christians For he adds in the Conclusion of his Discourse That the report then was that a certain Egyptian Magician call'd Arnuphis then attending on the Emperour did by Magical Arts invoke Mercury especially that Deity who rules in the Air and other Daemons and by their assistance forcibly procur'd those showers But Xiphilin the Abridger of Dio's History evidently convinces this Imposture shewing first that this Emperour was never addicted to the delusions of Magick or affected to the Professors of such Arts and afterwards declaring the true circumstances of the matter to this effect Marcus saith he having in his Army one Legion consisting of Souldiers which came from Armenia and were all Worshipers of Christ the Prefect of the Pretorian Bands came to him when he was in great fear what would become of his Armies and at a loss what course to take and told him there was nothing so difficult but those who were call'd Christians could obtain from God of which Profession there was then in the Army one entire Legion Marcus thus inform'd desir'd the Christians to make Supplication to their God in behalf of the Army which as soon as they had done God immediately granted their Prayers and with the same Showres refresh'd the Romans and destroy'd their Enemies Marcus wonderfully astonish'd with these Events by a publick Edict honour'd the Christians and call'd that Legion the Thundering Legion as by an Epistle of that Emperour extant at this day may appear and by the Apologies also of Apollinaris St. Gregory Nissen and Tertullian c. is made also manifest The fore-mention'd Epistle follows in these words The Emperour Caesar Marcus Aurelius Augustus c. High Priest in the 28th year of our Tribunitial Power and our third Consulship Father of our Country Pro-Consul to the Senate and People of Rome sends Health I have given you Information touching the greatness of our present Design and Resolution and all the Occurences which successively happen'd to me in Germany both in our Combats and Sieges Truly when I was at Cornutum our Scouts inform'd us that there approach'd within the space of nine Miles no fewer then 74 Ensigns of our Enemies and the same thing did Pompeianus our General declare to us which our selves likewise saw Now having in our Army only four Legions the First the Tenth the Twin Legion and that of the Ferentarii and there being in our Enemies Camp no sewer then 977000. when I compar'd our small Forces with the vast multitudes of our Barbarous Foes I address'd my Prayers and Vows to our Roman Gods But when I saw that was neglected by them and that the Enemy began to over-charge us I sent to call the Christians which were not a few in our Army whom both by Prayers and Threats also I urg'd to assist us but Threats were neither needful nor indeed seemly as I perceiv'd afterwards when I found how Powerful they were For they undertaking our Defence did not take care to provide themselves Weapons or to make use of Arms or Trumpets for to put their trust in such things is not acceptable to that God whose Name Cause and Honour they alway carry in their Hearts Therefore it is just that we should acknowledge those to be safely protected by God whom formerly we esteem'd to be Impious and Enemies to him For having cast themselves Prostrate to the ground they offer'd their Prayers not only for Me but for the whole Army that some remedy might be sent us to asswage the Hunger and Thirst with which we were tormented For by the space of five days we had Drank no Water there being none left amongst us nor means to procure any we being clos'd round about with Mountains in the very heart of Germany Now as soon as these Christians had cast themselves on the ground and Address'd their Prayers to that God of whom I was ignorant immediately there fell from Heaven abundance of Rain which to us was Cool and Refreshing but to the Enemies was accompany'd with Hail in the likeness of Fire and with Thunder-bolts Thus that God who cannot be overcome or resisted was in a wonderful manner Propitious to their Prayers and Supplications For this reason let us freely permit such as these to be what they Profess Christians least we force them by their Prayers to obtain such Weapons against us from Heaven My Judgement and Sentence therefore is that none be question'd or call'd into Judgement upon the Charge that he is a Christian So that if any one be found to lay this as a Crime against any one that he is a Christian let it be made known to the person so accus'd that he is to be presently dismiss'd and acquitted in case no other Crime be objected against him and let Him who accus'd such Christian be Burnt Alive Whosoever therefore professes himself a Christian is hereby freed from any danger in that regard threatned against him Neither let the Magistrate who governs the Province endeavour to make him renounce his Profession or any ways abridge his Liberty And my Sentence moreover is That this Edict be further Establish'd by Decree of the Senate and publickly expos'd in the Common place of Trajan that any one may Read it let Vetrusius Pollio likewise Prefect of the City take order that this Constitution be sent into all Provinces neither let any one be prohibited to take a Copy or make use of it Farewel The Emperour not content with so much advange to Celebrate the wonderful Power and Goodness of the true God by Edicts and Writings publish'd to the whole World proceeded to a yet more Illustrious Expression of his gratitude And because Edicts were only in force for the present age He to Eternize the memory of so great a Deliverance rais'd up in a spacious place at Rome a vast Pillar on which was engrav'd the whole History to be read in all future times Certainly such a Confession of the Debility of the Roman Deities and the Omnipotence of the True God Worship'd only by the Christians made
in that only true God which his Mother Helena Worship'd all her Life and his Father Constantius towards his end To that God he offer'd Zealous and Devout Prayers That he would discover to him who he was and how he would be Worship'd and would protect him in his present condition of danger His Devotion was not in vain for by a stupendious Miracle in the sight of the whole Army God declar'd his acceptance of his Supplicants Prayers for he saw over the Sun then begining to decline the Sign of the Cross in Heaven figur'd by a resplendent light together with these words inscrib'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 By this be Victorious Which Spectacle caus'd great admiration both to himself and his Army Artemius one of the Spectators afterwards relates this Miracle to Julian the Apostate and Vouches many of his then present Soldiers for Spectators and further Witnesses thereof some writers add That many Angels were seen with this Apparition who encourag'd constantine and promis'd him Victory by that Sign and that he himself saw an Arm'd Horseman who bore in his Hands the sign of the Cross as an Ensign The Christians in Constantine's Army were Encourag'd by this Coelestial Vision but the Pagans look'd upon it as a Fatal and Ominous Sign until the succeeding Victory prov'd it otherwise Nay at first the good Emperour himself was in great doubt what this strange Vision should Portend until at night our Lord appear'd to him in his Sleep bearing the same Sign with him and commanded Constantine To cause a Draught or Copy thereof to be fram'd and to be made use of by him as a Guard and Protection in all his Battels Accordingly Constantine instructed his most cunning Workmen to make a Banner in imitation thereof Adorn'd with Gold and Precious Stones which he perpetually had carry'd before him in his Army He caus'd likewise innumerable representations of the Cross to be fix'd in several publick and Private places especially in several parts of his own Palace where it was for the most part fram'd of Gold Jewels and Precious Stones No wonder then if the veneration of the Holy Cross every day more and more increas'd amongst Christians a practice us'd from the most Primitive times and now Authoriz'd by our Lord himself from Heaven as it hath been sure confirm'd by innumerable Miracles wrought in several Ages by it Constantine encourag'd by this Promise of Divine assistance and Arm'd with this Glorious Sign of the Cross makes towards Italy Conquers several Nations reduces several Cities and overcomes all Resistance and having clear'd all the Provinces behind him marches Couragiously to Rome it self where the Tyrant for more than six years had exercis'd all manner of Wickedness He had not Courage to Issue out of the City or oppose Constantine's Progress stupify'd with his Lusts and afrighted with Prodigies and the Divination of his South-sayers But when Constantine approach'd the City Maxentius was enforc'd to draw out his Army consisting of 17000 Foot and 1800. Horse these numerous Forces he rang'd beyond the Milvian Bridge so that they were shut out of the City by the River The Tyrant us'd this Stratagem also he caus'd the Bridge to be so fram'd that at his pleasure he might dissolve it Constantine having rang'd his Army on the other side himself with great Courage gave the on-set by which he immediately broke his Enemies Ranks so as little resistance was made except by the Praetorian Soldiers who having Created Maxentius Emperour expected no Pardon and cover'd the ground with the dead Bodies Those who endeavour'd flight found it unsuccessful being hindred by the straitness of the Bridge the slaughter was exceeding great there being no other way to avoid the Sword but plunging into the River wherein great multitudes were swallow'd The Tyrant himself casting off the marks of Authority adventur'd into Tyber and being hurry'd down the Stream was drown'd his Body being cast upon the shore the People found and cut off his Head which with great Joy and Triumph they carry'd up and down the City fastn'd to a Pole. It is affirm'd that since Rome was built never was a day Celebrated with greater or more universal Joy than the day whereon Constantine Triumph'd for this Victory His Triumphant Chariot was attended not with Conquer'd Princes or Generals but with the Nobility of Rome freed from Dungeons and Chains Rome did not indeed Inrich her self with Spoils of Enemies but ceas'd to be the Spoil of an Inhumane Tyrant However this Pious Emperour would have this common Joy and Applause ascrib'd not to himself but to God only by virtue of the Holy Cross to whom only he gave the Praise and Honour of this Victory At his Triumphal entrance into the City he caus'd the Cross to be carried before his Army that Rome might see by what Arms she had been freed from Slavery he also enjoyn'd the People and Senate to Prostrate themselves before that Triumphant Sign and to Adore the Name of Christ who had Enobl'd the same It is therefore a narrow conceit of some who will not acknowledge that the Cross was ever Honour'd or Venerated by this Emperour or his Command when it is most manifest by undenyable Testimony for it is well known that Constantine Dedicated a Church to the Honour of the Holy Cross This Honour of the Cross Prudentius thus sounds forth Vex illum Crucis summus Dominator Adorat And not only so but the said Emperour signifies his will that all the World should also do so This Prince also further to Honour this Sign of our Salvation causeth his Statue to be set up in Rome holding a Cross in the right Hand with this Inscription By this saving Sign the Emblem of Fortitude I deliver'd your City from the yoak of Tyranny and having given perfect Liberty to the Senate and People of Rome I restor'd them to their Antient Greatness and Splendour There was another Inscription Engraven in Stone by the Decree of the Senate of like purport with the former wherein the Victory is ascrib'd contrary to the Roman custom to one True God and not to the many Gods there Ador'd After this signal Victory Constantine sent for Licinius the Emperour to Millain and there gave him to Wife his Sister Constantia and procur'd an Edict from him for free Liberty to profess the Christian Religion what belong'd to Churches was restor'd unto them Both Constantine and Lacinius joyn in their request to Maximinus the Eastern Emperour to grant the like freedom within his Dominions to which request Maximinus with much unwillingness yielded Matthew of Westminster affirms That about this time Constantine chose into the Senate his three Vncles before-mention'd which might perhaps give occasion to Julian the Apostate afterwards to darken the memory of this Glorious Emperour as a perverter of the Antient Roman Laws in being the first who Adorn'd Barbarous Strangers with Consular Robes In the year of Grace 314. Silvester succeeded Melchiades in the Popedom It
the Catholick Bishops in the Synod unanimously subscrib'd to this definition wherein it is observable that although it was grounded on the Holy Scriptures yet those Scriptures were interpreted by the successive Tradition of the Church Whereas what the Faction of the Arrians separately Decreed according to the practice of other Hereticks agreed only with the bare words of Scripture by themselves interpreted For as Athanasius writes in a Creed made by them They profess the Son of God to be like the Father who begat him whose Generation according to the Scriptures no man knows but the Father only As for the word Substance it being simply set down by the Fathers not understood by the People and occasioning great Scandal in as much as it is not expresly contain'd in the Scriptures they Decreed that it should be quite abolish'd and that for the future no mention should be made of the Substance of God because the Holy Scriptures never mention the Substance of the Father and the Son but they say That the Son is in all things like the Father as the Scriptures in their judgement teach Now when the Arrian Bishops of whom Valens and Vrsacius were chief saw that they could not impose upon the Western Bishops they separated themselves from the rest of the Councel and were thereupon pronounc'd by the unanimous Suffrages of the Orthodox Bishops to be Hereticks and excluded from the Communion of the Church which done the Councel by common Letter inform'd the Emperour of all these things And whereas the Arrian Bishops to induce the Catholicks to comply with them argued That Peace and Vnity would be restor'd to the Church in case Catholicks should relinquish that one word Substance They therefore in their said Letter inserted That it was not as Valens and Ursacius affirm'd that Peace would follow by the subversion of things just and true but that rather more contention would arise both at Rome and other Cities They therefore Pray'd that the Councel might be dissolv'd considering the Poverty Age and Infirmity of many Bishops in it Constantius thus frustrated in his design of introducing his Arrian misbelief into the Western Churches broke forth into open Tyranny some of the Catholick Bishops he shut up in Prison others he afflicted with Famine and all manner of despightful usuage not suffering any to depart until they had subscrib'd a form of Faith wherein though nothing Heretical was express'd yet the True Faith was at least dissembled consequently the Arrian Faction prevail'd in Power through the whole Empire Constantius creates Gallus his Uncles Son Caesar and three years after Beheads him for his Cruelties and enormous Crimes and the next year assumes into the same Dignity and Succession of the Empire Julian younger Brother to Gallus call'd the Apostate Him he sent into Gaul to repress the Irruptions of the Franks In the fourth year of his Government troubles arising in Britain by the Excursions of the Picts and Scots he sent over Lupicinus to compose them who in the midst of Winter went with his Army to London but could not perform any considerable Exploit against his Enemies for that Julian who was proclaim'd Emperour by his Army was jealous of him least he should hinder his proceedings and therefore re-call'd Lupicinus and sent Gumobarius in his place to be General of the British Army who did little worthy of memory for notwithstanding any thing he could do the Scots a barbarous People first mention'd about this time coming out of Ireland rooted themselves so firmly in the Northern parts of this Isle that they establish'd a Kingdom there to themselves and their Posterity to this day It is written that when Nâ—le obtain'd the Monarchy of Ireland which was in the time of this Constanttus the six Sons of Mured King of Vlster passing over with a considerable Fleet possess'd themselves of the Northern parts of Britain and it is likely that the Eldest of those six Sons was that Reuda mention'd by Beda and his People from him call'd Dalreudini They at first possess'd themselves of a Corner of this Island but after encroaching upon the Picts enlarg'd their Seats until at last about the time when the Kingdom of Northumberland was in a manner ruin'd by Civil Contentions and the Incursions of the Danes they almost wholly consum'd the Picts and destroy'd their name and memory introducing to those Nothern parts the name of Scotland It is not likely that Arrianism ever took any great footing in this Island for when St. Hilary was banish'd into Phrigia by the false suggestions of Saturninus the Arrian Bishop of Arles he wrote Letters to the British Bishops especially to the Aged Restitutus Bishop of London Congratulating and Commending their firmness in the Faith that notwithstanding the attemps of Saturninus to infect them yet their constancy was famous over all the Empire insomuch as some of the Eastern Bishops became thereby asham'd of their Heresie Howbeit about this time this Restitutus being full of years dy'd and is worthily counted amongst the Illustrious British Writers and many Letters to St. Hilary are reckon'd to be of his writing A further proof of the Orthodoxy of the British Church was St. Kebius Sir-nam'd Corinius Son of Solomon Duke of Cornwall who took a Journey into Gaul to St. Hilary after his return from Exile to be by him instructed more perfectly in the Catholick Faith Copgrave in the Life of this Saint says That he abode several years with S. Hillary improving himself in Learning and Sanctity whereunto God gave Testimony by conferring on him the Grace of Miracles so that he gave Sight to the Blind Cleans'd the Leprous Cur'd those which were Dumb Heal'd the sick of the Palsey and those who were possess'd with Divels Afterwards being admonish'd thereunto by an Angel having been Consecrated Bishop by St. Hilary he return'd into his own Country and plac'd his See in the Isle of Anglesey and by his good Example and sound Doctrine instructed the Northern People of Wales It is He who was requested to take the Principality of Cornwall but refus'd to accept of any Worldly Authority and not long after he is said To descend with ten Monks who were his Disciples into a Meadow of King Ethelic pitching his Tents there wherewith when the King was acquainted he went with Company to cast these Monks out of his Country by the way he fell from his Horse which dy'd immediately and both He and his Followers were stricken with blindness Thereupon the King prostrates himself before St. Kebius devoting himself to God and the Saint by whose Prayers they were all presently Healed After this the King gave to the man of God two Churches and he giving the King his Benediction retir'd to Menevia afterwards call'd St. David's from whence he sail'd into Ireland and having built a Church remain'd there four years Very probable it is that this St. Kebius was that British Priest who Baptiz'd the Irish St. Albeus for in his Life written
Nations on all sides of the Roman Empire as if universally excited by a Trumpet broke their limits amongst the rest the Picts Saxons Scots and Attacotti vex'd the Brittains with incessant Calamities Who the Picts and Scots were hath been before-declar'd the Saxons as yet infested the Sea-shores but who the Attacotti were St. Jerom tells us They were saith he a Savage People upon the Northern Mountains of Scotland who neglecting Beeves and other Cattle fed themselves with Humane Flesh as their principal Delicacies living without Law or Government and who had promiscuous Wives and hildren in common These were easily induc'd to joyn with the Scots and Picts against the Civil Britains The Emperour Valentinian to suppress these Incursions leaving his Brother Valens to govern in the East made an Expedition into Gaul where having compos'd great Troubles he met with very ill News from Britain so as he sent one of his Principal Officers to remedy those Disorders there at last more horrible Rumours increasing he made choice of Theodosius to go General thither a Man Famous for many Martial Exploits who attended with Courageous Legions prosecuted the Expedition with a Noble Confidence The Saxons not only Infested the British Coasts but made an impression even to London To remedy which injuries the vigilant General Theodosius being landed near Sandwich in Kent with his Co-horts march'd streight to London and dividing his Army into several Squadrons set upon the stragling Enemies loaden with Spoils and dispersing them Rescu'd the Prisoners with the Cattle and other Prey which he restor'd to the miserable Natives except some small part of it that was bestow'd upon his wearied Soldiers He then enter'd the City in Triumph and was joyfully receiv'd by the People recover'd from their Misery by his Valour while he stay'd there having intimation that so many fierce Nations could not be better suppress'd than by subtilty to divide them therefore he published Edicts promising Pardon to such as would submit Those which came in he dispers'd into Quarters severally well providing for them which encourag'd many more to submit He sent to the Emperour that Civilis might be sent over as his Deputy-Governour in Britain and Dulcitius as his Lieutenant in Martial Affairs and well skill'd therein And two years after he march'd Northward and put to flight several Nations who invaded the Roman Provinces and restor'd Peace to many Cities which had been vex'd with many troubles There was then in Britain one Valentinus a Pannonian banish'd into Britain for great Crimes who had like to have circumvented Theodosius by Treason after all his Conquests for this Valentinus being of an ambitious and turbulent Spirit sollicited many of the Soldiers to Conspire against him But this design being discover'd the good General contented himself with the Death of Valentinus and his nearest Associates least by searching too far into the Conspiracy he might stir up a Mutiny in his Army This danger escap'd he so successfully prosecuted the War that he recover'd all the Provinces from the Enemies and secur'd them by strong Garrisons and a particular Governour So that now so much of Britain as was under the Roman Dominion became divided into five Provinces The first call'd Britania prima containing all the Southern parts from the Sea and Thames to the Severn the second Britania secunda comprehending all Wales the third call'd Flavia Caesariensis probably from the Son of this Theodosius afterwards Emperour of the Flavian Family embracing all the Regions to the River Humber the fourth call'd Maxima Caesariensis reaching from Humber to the River Tine Lastly Theodosius having repell'd the Picts and Scots out of all the Provinces beyond Tine as far as Dunbritton and Edenburgh call'd the fifth Province Valentia wherein a Roman Legion Winter'd to repress the Incursions of the Scots Theodosius having thus Happily settled Britain was two years after recall'd by the Emperour to Rome and made General of the Horse as also Honour'd with a Statue of Brass by the Senate and at last by his eminent Exploits recommended his Son to the Empire The year after the departure of Theodosius from this Island our Ecclesiastical Monuments Commemorate St. Ninias his Journey to Rome there to be instructed in the Orthodox Faith and whither it is probable he attended Theodosius Which Faith afterwards with great efficacy he communicated to his Country-men This Ninias was born in Britain of a Princely Stock in Cumberland who then had its peculiar King his Father was a Christian In Childhood he was Sober sparing of his Tongue diligent in Reading Grave in Conversation careful to subject the Flesh to the Spirit He also shew'd great Devotion to Churches At the last by a forcible instinct of Gods Spirit despising the World and Carnal Affections he Travell'd into Italy and so to Rome and there address'd himself to Pope Damasus and declar'd the Cause of his Journey whereupon the Holy Bishop appointed him Teachers in the wholesom sense of Scriptures by whom he was instructed in true Wisdom to the Comfort and Profit of others To this time is refer'd the memory of St. Augulus born in London Bishop and Martyr as also of St. Moyses said also to be born in Britain Famous for many Miracles who after a Solitary Life in the Desart was made Bishop of the Saracens and after he had Converted many of that Nation to the Orthodox Faith he there dy'd in Peace To Valentinian succeeded his Son Gratian who nine years before had been nam'd Augustus by his Father and about six days after his younger Brother Valentinian was saluted Emperour by the Soldiers with the Consent of Gratian. And now the Picts and Scots began to make Incursions into Britain again in one of which they led Captive with them the Child of Calphurnius Socher call'd afterwards Patrick in the 16th year of his Age whom they Sold to a Nobleman in the Northern parts of Ireland call'd Milchu he Imploy'd the Holy Youth in keeping his Swine to be try'd betimes in the Furnace of Affliction for six years the Devout Youth spent in this Slavery in which time nevertheless God wrought great Miracles by him St. Patrick's Imployment withdrawing him from Conversation of men afforded him the more space to attend upon God He is said to address his Prayers to God a hundred times a day and as often by night to his Prayers he added Fasting for the Mortification of his Senses with these two wings he mounted to such Perfection that he enjoy'd a frequent Conversation of Angels insomuch as an Angel call'd Victor frequently visited him and told him He did well to Fast and that e're long he should return into his Country Let no man wonder at this unusual Name of an Angel for as St. Gregory observes Angels are design'd by particular Names to signifie their particular Virtucs and Operations And this of Victor might intimate to St. Patrick that first he should Conquer his own Tribulations and then the Power of the Devil in that
Idolatrous Nation The Patience and Virtues of this Young man mov'd the goodness of God to free him from this Captivity for after six years Patrick by notice from an Angel found under a Turf a sum of Gold by which he redeem'd himself from his Slavery and return'd to his Parents and Country which he gloriously Illustrated with the admirable Sanctity of his Life About this time Valens the Arrian Emperour suffer'd a severe Punishment for his Persecution of the Orthodox Faith for the Goths and Hunns fierce Northern Nations entring into Thrace put the Eastern Empire in great danger Valens thereupon requir'd Aid of Gratian who came on with the Holy Sign of the Cross in the Name of the true God to his Assistance but Valens not staying his coming out of envy least he should partake any glory in the Victory would needs hazard Battle alone with the Barbarians by whom his Army was discomfited and himself wounded with a Dart and flying with his chief Officers into a House his pursuing Enemies set it on fire which consum'd him and his Company In his place the Emperour Gratian and Valentinian unwilling to leave the West assum'd Theodosius the worthy Son of that famous Theodosius who settled Britain and repress'd its Enemies into a part of the Empire and committed to him the care of defending the Eastern Regions against the insulting Goths At this time Flavius Clemens Maximus descended probably of the Imperial Family of Constantine challeng'd part in the Empire or at least made himself King instead of Governour of Britain and indeed exercis'd Tyranny against the Empire some say he was born in Britain for Gildas calls him A sprig of the British Plantation however surely he was a Prince of admirable Valour and Conduct The Scottish Writers confess him successful against the Scots and that he slew their King Eugenius and drove their chiefest Nobles into Norway and Ireland over which he had a kind of Dominion although in Truth it is believ'd Ireland was hardly ever attempted by Roman Armies Thus Maximus having subdu'd both Scots and Picts and thereby atchiev'd great Glory being vex'd at the promotion of the younger Theodosius to the Empire began to incense the Soldiers against the Emperour and receiv'd from them the Imperial Purple Had he not attain'd this Title against his Oath and Fidelity he was a Prince so Just and Couragious he might have been thought worthy to have been Emperour Being thus advanc'd he pass'd over into Gaul which passage prov'd fatal to this Island from whence he transported not only the Roman Armies but the flower also of the British youth which never return'd so as Britain thus dispoil'd of Military Forces became expos'd to the miserable and cruel Incursions of their Northern Enemies the Scots and Picts Maximus attended with so great a force quickly subdu'd both Gaul and Spain and by a Treasonable Stratagem slew the Emperour Gratian at Lyons and march'd straight into Italy against Valentinian It seems now was the time when Britain became infected with Herefie and greedy of Novelties the occasion might be the severe dealing of Maximus in Gaul against the Arch-Heretick Priscillian and his Companions Justantius and Tiberianus These Hereticks reviv'd a new Heresie out of the dregs of the Antient Gnosticks and Manichees which at first infected Spain then attempted Italy and being there rejected by Pope Damasus at Rome and by St. Ambrose at Milan The Infection began to spread in Gaul Complaint being made to Maximus by the Gallican Bishops a Synod was Assembled at Burdeaux by which Justantius was Depos'd Priscilian Appeal'd to the Emperour who at the instigation of some Bishops became severe against the Hereticks but by the intercession of St. Martin grew more mild abstaining from shedding of Blood yet afterward Priscilian Convicted of Magick and many filthy Doctrines and Practices As Praying Naked in a meeting of Women at night c. was Condemned with other his Associates to loose his Head only Justantius is said to be banish'd to the Isle of Silly with Tiberianus The Teachers of this Impure Heresie being placed so near the Confines of Britain no wonder if Doctrines favouring the Inclinations of corrupt Nature did quickly insinuate into unwary Minds affected with Novelties And indeed this Scandalously severe judgement hitherto unpractic'd in the Church was so far from cutting off the Heresie that it rather gave strength for his followers Honour'd him as a Holy man and Worship'd him as a Martyr The Emperour Maximus for that Title Theodosius allow'd him after the Death of Gratian was so zealous in defence of the Catholick Faith that he wrote an efficacious Letter in the behalf of St. Ambrose to the Emperour Valentinian who by the instigation of his Mother Justina persecuted the Holy Bishop and denounc'd War against him unless he would desist from his unjust persecution Maximus with his Wife also had a great respect for the Blessed Bishop of Tours St. Martin some have thought this Lady who so much Honour'd St. Martin was of British Extract and the rather therefore is she here mention'd After this Maximus not content with so large a Portion of Empire in Gaul Spain and Britain march'd with his Army into Italy at whose approach Valentinian fled into Illyricum and then learn'd by experience how unhappy he was in following his Mothers advice against the Holy Bishop St. Ambrose There is a Letter extant written by Maximus to Siricius who succeeded Damasus wherein he professeth the Orthodox Faith wherein he was Baptiz'd and soon after Proclaim'd Emperour and in this Letter he inveighs against the Priscillianites whom he calls Manichces Whose abominable Doctrines and Crimes were so Enormous even by their own Confession in judgement that Modesty forbids the further relation of them Theodosius sollicited by Valentinian whose Sister Galla he had Married came with an Army into the West preparing himself for the War by Earnest Prayerand Fasting and having heard of a certain Monk in the Deserts of Aegypt a Servant of God who had the Spirit of Prophecy sent to him and receiv'd from him an assurance of Victory which he soon obtain'd against Maximus who only wanted a good Cause thus Conquer'd he was brought before Theodosius who had a mind to pitty him to prevent which the Soldiers remov'd him from the Emperour's Presence and slew him and so expiated the death of the Innocent Gratian whom his Son Victor soon follow'd to the Grave after he had been made Caesar It will afford us a clear prospect of the judgement and practice of the Antient Church if somewhat be shortly related from the Mouth and Pen of St. Augustine which happen'd about two years before he was Converted and Baptiz'd by St. Ambrose Who being under the severe Persecution of Justina the Arrian Empress it pleas'd God in a Vision then to discover to that Holy Bishop the place wherein the Bodies of the Martyrs Protasius and Gervasius repos'd and had been there preserv'd incorrupt for many years by
the place where the sick Saint lay was preserv'd for the flames as if afraid to touch him flew quite over his lodging though on each side of it they rag'd with violence but left it untouch'd The multitude seeing this rejoyc'd and were well pleas'd that their Labours and Endeavours had been over-master'd by Divine Power Whilst this Holy man lay there he was watch'd and attended by a numberless multitude some seeking Health for their Souls some for there Bodies The wonderful Miracles which our Lord wrought by his Servant were so many they can scarce be re-counted he being infirm himself gave Health and Strength to others neither would he suffer any remedy to be apply'd to his Infirmity but on a certain night he saw a person standing before him in White Garments who stretching forth his Hand seem'd to raise him up from his Couch commanding him to stand firmly after which his pain pass'd away and his strength was so restor'd that the day following he confidently undertook to pursue his journey At this time the Picts and Saxons with joynt Forces made War upon the Britains who were therefore drawn together in a Body but being distrustful of their Ability to resist such Powerful Enemies they humbly implore the assistance of these Godly Bishops which they chearfully promis'd and hastening into the British Army so encreas'd the Courage and Resolution of the Britains as if a new Army had been joyn'd unto them so as our Lord himself by the Ministery of these his Captains seem'd to be General of the Army It was now the Holy time of Lent which the presence of these Holy Bishops caus'd to be observ'd with the greater Devotion and their daily Preaching invited many to partake of the Sacrament of Baptism A Church was thereupon prepar'd against the Solemnity of Easter and though the place was no other then open Fields yet it was ordered as if it had been in a City The Army went in Procession moisten'd with the waters of Baptism and being inslam'd with the fervour of Holy Faith they contemn'd the Guard of outward Weapons and expected a more sure Protection from Heaven This Posture of the British Army came to the Enemies knowledge who not doubting of Victory against Unarm'd People with great chearfulness hast'ned to set upon them The Britains had notice of their march and as soon as the Solemn Feast of our Lords Resurrection was past the greater part of the Army being newly Baptiz'd betook themselves to theirs Arms and prepar'd for Battle St. German being their General he made choice of a Band of Light Arm'd men and takes a view of the Country round about observing also a Valley compass'd with Mountains directly in the Enemies way he leads part of the Army into that Valley The fierce Enemies approaching and being discover'd by those who lay in Ambush St. German their Leader gave order to all his Soldiers That with loud clamour they should repeat the words by him pronounc'd And immediately while the Enemies thought to fall on presuming they had not been discover'd the Holy Bishop three times cry'd out aloud Allelujah whereupon the rest of the Army with one voice Thundred out likewise Allelujah the noise whereof was Terrible multiply'd and increas'd by the Eccho from the Mountains round about The sound alone of this Sacred Word suffic'd to terrify the Enemies Army which fell a trembling as if not the Rocks only but Heaven it self had fallen on their Heads insomuch as they all betook themselves to a general flight in all haste casting away their Weapons and glad to escape with their Naked Bodies Great numbers of them in their Head-long flight were swallow'd up by a River through which a little before they had march'd with confidence and leasure enough The main body of the British Army without striking one stroak was a chearful Spectator of the Vengeance of Almighty God to whom only they gave the Glory of the Victory The Holy Bishops indeed Triumph'd to see the Enemies defeated without Blood-shed they Triumph'd for a Victory obtain'd not by Arms but Faith only And having thus every way settled this Rich Island in Security both from the Pelagians and Saxons they prepar'd themselves for their return to the great Grief of the whole Nation The place of this unbloody Battle is said to be a Town call'd Mold in Flintshire where is a Field call'd from St. German in the British Tongue Maesgarmon there is also the little River Alen which runs hard by wherein probably the Picts and Saxons were drown'd besides the place being near the Sea it lay fit to set on board the Saxon Armies St. Gregory the great in expounding the words of Job makes mention of this Allelujah resounded thus by the Britains The Blessings conferr'd on this Island were in some degree recompens'd by their safe and prosperous return which they are said to have ascrib'd to the Intercession of our Tutelar Saint and Protomartyr Alban Their absence from home and residence here in Britain was little more than the space of a year in which time many wonderful things were wrought by them during the time that St. Germanus remain'd in Britain St. Patrick then 68 years of Age inseparably adher'd to him having learn'd from him many instructions in Christian Doctrine and Discipline and receiv'd many examples of Virtue and Piety for imitation By him likewise he was encourag'd to undertake the Conversion of the Irish Nation but with all admonish'd To expect a Commission from the See of Rome to execute that Apostolick Office. For which purpose he accompanied St. Germanus to Gaul from whence the next year he went to Rome being desirous to have his Journey into Ireland confirm'd by Authority from Pope Caelestinus St. Patrick took with him a Priest nam'd Sergetius a Devout Servant of our Lord as a Companion in his Travels when he came to Rome he committed himself to the Praebends of the Roman Church to be the more perfectly instructed in their Institutes He repair'd also to the Holy Pope Caelestinus and humbly casting himself at his feet besought him To employ his care for the Conversion of the Pagan Irish Nation The Petition was very acceptable to the Pope who chang'd this Holy mans Name from Magonius to Patricius as Prophecying That he should be the Father of many Souls His Name thus chang'd he was promoted to Episcopal Dignity and then directed to his Voyage into Ireland St. Patrick himself in one of his Epistles transcrib'd out of a Copy in the Abby of Glastonbury which Epistle is mention'd here before makes all this clear Together with the Episcopal degree the Pope bestow'd on St. Patrick 12 years Indulgence He was accompanied in his Legation with 20 Eminent Persons for his assistance one of which was Sergetius before mention'd He diverted in his return to his Instructor St. Germanus from whose Liberality he receiv'd Chalices Priestly Vestments and store of Books with many other things proper for his Ministery
Kings Consent where a Church was Built and Dedicated to the Honour of the prime Apostle St. Peter That an Arch-Episcopal See was here thus planted may be some mistake for when that See was transplanted to Caerleon an Arch-Episcopal See indeed was Establish'd there so that it may rather seem that only an Episcopal See was Erected at Landaff by Mouricus who is said to be Son of Theodoric Prince of Morgannia or Glamorganshire which Prince as Bishop Godwin relates Resign'd his Principality and embrac'd a Monastical or Hermitical Life But after when the Saxons invaded the Land he was drawn out of his Cell to be Leader of an Army and Courageously rushing among the Enemies receiv'd a Mortal Wound for which Merit he was Enroll'd in the number of Martyrs St. German's next care after Ordaining Bishops was to Visit the Schools the Sources of Learning and he is said to have Studied or rather Taught for sometime in Oxford and Establish'd good Orders there concerning which we may find an Illustrious Testimony of our Learned Country-man Asserius who liv'd about 800. years since and treating of the Controversy between the Students of Oxford and Grimbaldus whom King Alfred had call'd out of France to govern that University affirms That the Scholars prov'd by unquestionable Testimonies of Antient Annals that the Orders and Institutes of that place which Grimbaldus sought to change had been Established by Pious and Learned men As Gildas Melkin Nemri Kentigern and others who all grew Old in their Studies there and Administred all things in Peace and Concord affirm They further shew'd that St. Germanus came to Oxford and abode there half a year approving wonderfully their Orders and Institutions Whether this be not a later Addition to Asserius is suspected by some It will not be amiss a little to enquire what Doctrines were taught by St. Germanus to whom this Country of ours was so much beholding For by this enquiry it may appear whether St. Augustine the Monk sent by St. Gregory the Great in the following Age to Convert the Saxons taught them a Religion differing from that which St. German profess'd we need go no further in this enquiry then to Mr. Selden well known to be Learn'd in Antiquity The sixth Chapter of this Treatise call'd Analecta Anglo-Britanica touching the Practises of Ecclesiastical Discipline wherewith Germanus and Lupus Bishops imbew'd the Britains may easily satisfie us in this particular where he tells us That Germanus Bishop of Auxerre and Lupus Bishop of Troyes in Gaul came into Britain to restore Christian Religion deprav'd by the Heresie of Pelagius and Errours of Pagans The Doctrines saith he taught by them as the Fame is which also Giraldus Cambrensis testifies were as followeth First Of every Loaf of Bread set before them one Corner they gave to the Poor Secondly They sat three together at Dinner in memory of the Trinity Thirdly If any met a Religious Monk or Clergy-man in the way or any one in a Religious Habit he would presently lay aside his Weapons and with a low inclination of his Head demand his Benediction Fourthly Generally all the People earnestly demanded Episcopal Confirmation and Inunction with Holy Chrism by which the Holy Ghost is confer'd Fifthly They somtime bestow'd the Tythe of all their Substance Cattle and Sheep either when they Marry'd or undertooke some long Pilgrimage or by the Churches Order submitted to some extraordinary Pennance for their Sins This they call the great Tythes and two parts thereof they bestow'd on the Church where they were Baptiz'd the third they gave to the Bishop of the Diocess Sixthly Beyond all other External Labours of Mortification they were most Devoted to Pilgrimages undertaken to Rome to Visit the Monuments of the Apostles Seventhly Beyond any other Nation they express'd a Devout Reverence to Churches and Church-men to Relicks of Saints to Portable Bells Sacred Books and the Holy Cross and this Devotion hath been rewarded with greater Peace than any other Churches enjoy'd Eightly Entire security was observ'd in regard of Beasts seeding not only in the Church-yards but beyond them through all Grounds enclos'd with Ditches which Bishops design for observation of Peace and Indempnity And greater Churches to which Antiquity always afforded greater Reverence have power to grant and enjoyn the observation of such Peace and Security for Cattle whilst in the Morning they go and at Evening they Return from their Pastures This Peace is preserv'd so inviolable that if any one should incur the Mortal Indignation of his Prince and seek Refuge in a Church he may enjoy the Fruit of this Peace both for his Person and Goods Though indeed from such large Immunities beyond the Antient Canons which in such cases allow safety of Life to a mans Body occasion of great Abuses have been taken Scarce any one of these Christian practices but was allow'd by St. Augustine Yet is St. Augustine by some in those days condemn'd and St. German Absolv'd Our Ancestors indeed to testifie their high esteem of the Venerable Bishop St. German's Sanctity approv'd by Miracles after his Death built Chapels and Churches to his Honour on one of which Cambden thus writes In Cornwall near the River Liver there is a Village Nam'd from St. German to which during the Danish Tumults the Episcopal See of that Province was transfer'd out of fear as to a place more remote and secure There a Church had been Erected and Consecrated to the Honour of St. Germanus who Extirpated the Pellagian Heresie arising a new among the Britains In Yorkshire likewise a famous Monastery was Consecrated to him The River Owse Waters Selby a Town well Peopled there King William the I. Founded a Church in memory of St. German who is said To have wounded to Death the many Headed Hydra of Pelagianism often quell'd and often reviving again The Abbots of this Monastery and of St. Maries at York were the only Northern Abbots which had Seats in Parliament The memory of St. German is also much Celebrated among the Silures in North-wales for from him a part of Radnor-shire is call'd Guarthenian for as Nennius relates Vortimer the Son of Vortigern to satisfy for injuries done by his Father to St. German Dedicates that part of the Country to him where he had been chiefly wrong'd in memory whereof it took the name of Guartheny which in the British Language signifies A Calumny justly retorted Hitherto since the Romans relinquish'd their care of Britain the Provinces of the Island had been govern'd by Petty-Princes Independent one of another But in the year 438. by reason of the frequent inroads of their Cruel Enemies the Picts and Scots by common agreement of the Provinces a general Captain of the whole Nation was chosen after the manner of their Ancestors in the days of Julius Caesar and the Kingdom establish'd in that Captains Line The choice unhappily fell upon Vortigern born for the destruction of his Country He was a man void both of Courage
Prince of Cornwall entreating him to send her for his Wife and with her a certain number of Virgins to be Espous'd to his Soldiers according to their qualities Dionatus at this request of Conanus gather'd out of all the Provinces of Britain 11000 Maids of Noble Blood and of Inferior fort 60000 Women partly Maids and partly such as had been Married all these he commanded to be Transported for the purpose aforesaid These are said to be order'd and distributed into Ranks under several Leaders Of the 11000 Virgins St. Vrsula was Queen and Captain-General over the whole Army to her were joyn'd four other Virgins who had also a General command their Names were Pinnosa Cordula Eleutheria and Florentia Under these were appointed eleven others each of which was to govern a 1000. This story hath been so corrupted with Prodigious Fictions that the very Truth of it would have been question'd if not lost had not Revelation and extraordinary Providence rescu'd and preserv'd it True it is that neither Gildas or Bede make any express mention of this Story the first aiming chiefly to inveigh against the Vices of the Britains the latter to relate the Affairs of the Saxons yet both of them give us some intimations of this matter and St. Bede twice expresly mentions the Celebration of the memory of these 11000 Virgin Martyrs suffering for their Faith and Chastity at Colen The plain and simple Narration of their Gests is this In the year of our Lord 453. St. Vrsula and her fore-mention'd Companions for the purposes before rehears'd sail'd out of their Port in Britain toward Armorica but were so driven and disturb'd in their course by contrary Winds and Tempests that they were forc'd to shelter themselves at the entrance of the Rhene into the Sea At this time infinite numbers of Hunns Gepids and Russians and other Barbarous Nations of the North by Land and Sea vex'd both Germany and Gaul By Gods special Providence who intended to match these Holy Virgins to a Spouse incomparably better than their parents had design'd for them in the same station where they took Harbour a great Navy of those Savage Pyrats lay floating so that there was no possibility to escape them The poor Virgins are soon seiz'd on by those Pyrats who were mingled with many of the old Enemies of Britain the Picts for the chief Captains of this Fleet were Gaunus a Hun and Melga a Pict Being thus become Captives they were in Boats convey'd up the Rhene as far as Colen when they were arriv'd there and encompass'd with innumerable multitudes of Savages hating Christian Religion and Bruitish in their Sensual Lusts both the Faith and Chastity of these Holy Virgins were at once assaulted so as no means either by Allurements or Threats were left un-attempted to expugn their Chaste Breasts In this extremity St. Vrsula with flaming words exhorts her Companions to contemn Death and to Sacrifice their Chaste Souls and Bodies to their Caelestial Bride groom and willingly to follow him who call'd them to receive Eternal Crowns of Glory She tells them Though their Enemies be never so many strange and Cruel yet they should be unconquerable unless they would willingly yield up the Victory With these Exhortations the minds of these Holy Virgins became so full of Courage that they think their Executioners delay their Death too long insomuch as amongst so vast a multitude of tender Maids not one single person was found which either out of Hope or Fear yielded to the Wills of the Barbarous Soldiers They all willingly offer their Necks and Breasts to the Enemies Swords which with unheard of Cruelty were Imploy'd to exterminate from the Earth so many immaculate Souls who by a Miraculous care of Almighty God would not suffer any Violation in their Bodies Only one there was among them who though she would not yield yet through a Natural fear of Death sought by hiding her self to avoid it Her Name was Cordula yet she the next morning came to the place where her Companions Bodies lay Massacred and condemning her former Cowardliness willingly offer'd her self to her Persecutors professing publickly her Faith and Chastity so as though she came late to receive her Crown yet her Courage seem'd now greater in that she oppos'd her self single to an innumerable multitude of Savage Enemies Her memory is thus particularly Celebrated in the Roman Martyrology the day following the Martyrdom of St. Vrsula and the rest such a Sacrifice as this had never before nor hath since been offer'd to God by his Church We read of St. Agnes St. Katharine and St. Lucia with a few other Miraculous examples of Courage and Chastity in tender Virgins but they were single persons neither is it un-usual with God to shew the Power of his Grace in some particular Favourite of his to exalt the Faith and confound Vnbelievers There have likewise been recorded Illustrious Examples of multitudes of men who have freely without resistance suffer'd Martyrdom as the Thebaean Legion c. But such Courage in men especially in Soldiers who daily look death in the face is not very extraordinary Whereas here we find a far more numerous Army consisting of Young Timorous tender Virgins offering themselves to innumerable Swords not one single Soul yields to the Flatteries or fury of their Enemies one only delays her Suffering the space of one single night and then animated as it were with the united Spirits of all her Companions next day sollicits the fury of innumerable Enemies against her self alone and joyfully triumphing over the rage of Men and Hell is joyfully receiv'd amongst her Companions The fame of these Virgins Courage was no sooner spread abroad in the World but all Countries and Churches became suitors to be Enrich'd with a portion of their Sacred Relicks which have been since dispers'd through Germany Gaul Italy Britain yea Asia Africk and of late India it self to the sulfilling of St. Vrsula's Canticle Thou O God hast given us as Sheep to be devour'd and hast dispers'd us among the Nations Not above ten years after this Glorious Martyrdom about the year of Grace 463. Solinus Arch-Bishop of Colen in Reverence to the memory of the Holy Virgins enclos'd with Walls the Sacred place of their Martyrdom in which was Erected a Church Consecrated to their Chief Captain St. Vrsula which remains to this day by the access of which place the City of Colen was much enlarg'd He took out of the ground as carefully as he could their Sacred Bones which he again Reverently bury'd in Chests Hewn out of stone Neither did Britain long delay to testifie her Veneration of those her Blessed Children for Cambden treating of Maidenhead hath this Observation The Thames saith he winds back to a little Town formerly call'd Southlington afterward Maiden-head from the Superstitious Reverence there given to the Head of I know not what Holy Virgin one of the 11000. British Martyrs which under the conduct of St. Ursula returning from
care of his flock But if we consider consequents we shall find that the Catholick Church thereby receiv'd a great increase both in the number of Professors and the Zeal of their Profession for though those Barbarous Nations for a while Persecuted the Church yet e're long our Lord subdued their Minds and those strong Natural Passions of theirs were imploy'd in advancing Gods Church insomuch as the Apostles time and Primitive Age could scarce afford such Heroical Examples of Christian Zeal Magnanimity and Contempt of the World as those Barbarous People once Converted did So Healthful is the Severity of God towards his People Many Historians accuse the Cowardly Sloth of King Vortigern as if he weary of the Troubles of War chose rather with his Money to Hire Stipendiary Strangers than to train up his own Subjects to resist his Enemies and therefore invited the Saxons to Fight for the Britains But as Beda saith This was done by the common advice of the Nation For a meeting was assembled wherein it was thought best by all as well as by the King to demand Aide of the Saxons Which resolution doubtless was order'd by Divine Providence to punish the Impious Britains as the event declares for Gildas reflecting on the madness of this Consultation thus exclaims O the profound Blindness of the Britains minds O the Stupidity of their Senses These Saxons at whose Names they trembled when they were absent are now by the foolish Princes invited to live in their own Houses so senseless was their Councel How senseless soever it was Ambassadors were sent into Germany men of the highest repute and such as might most worthyly represent their Country Witchindus thus describes the order of this Embassage Fame saith he loudly proclaiming the Prosperous Victories of the Saxons the Britains sent Messengers to them to beg their assistance who did it in these words viz. O Noble Saxons our miserable Country-men the Britains wearied and even consum'd with the frequent Incursions of their Enemies having heard of your glorious Victories have sent us humbly to implore your Aide in recompense whereof they offer to you a Province Spacious and Abounding with all things We have hither to liv'd Happily under the Protection of the Romans after them we know no Nation better than your selves to whom we may have recourse we therefore desire to shelter our selves under the Wings of your Courage c. It may be doubted whether this Oration were deliver'd in so submiss a stile for they were sent to hire the Saxons with a large Stipend not to yield up the Country to them However sure it is the Saxons in their Answer assur'd the Britains They would be Faithful Friends to them ready always to assist them in their Necessities and to do them all Offices of Kindness With which Answer the Ambassadors return'd home well satisfied and were joyfully receiv'd by their Country-men This satisfactory Message was return'd in the year of our Lord 448. and the year following an Army of Saxons under their chief Conductors Hengist and Horsa landed in Britain whose coming Gildas in his Angry stile thus describes mingling with it a Prophecy among the Saxons relating to it Then saith he a drove of Whelpes rushing out of the Barbarous Lyonesses came hither in three Ships with full sails and an ominous Course encourag'd by a Prophecy certainly believed among them that for the space of 300 years they should Possess the Country toward which they directed the Prow of their Ships and that in half of that time they should often lay it waste They first fast'ned their terrible Nails by order of the unhappy Tyrant Vortigern on the Eastern part of the Island with a pretence to defend but with an intent to subdue the Country There may be some shadow of Truth in this Prophecy for the Saxons for 300 years may be said to be Possessors of the Island under the Title of Saxony beyond the Sea. After the Angli gave their own Name to it Besides after 150 years by the coming of St. Augustine they became Christians and of Wasters of the Country became more Gentle and Civil Inhabitants thereof They first possess'd themselves of the Ille of Thanet in Kent and there first landed at a place call'd Wipped-fleet from Wipped a Saxon Commander there after slain They being thus landed about the year of our Lord 450. the Scots and Picts invaded Britain with a mighty Army wasting the Provinces as they came along Vortigern gathers his Soldiers and Auxiliary Saxons together and march'd beyond the River Humber when they came to a Battle the Britains had little need to Fight for the Saxons Combated with such Courage that the Enemies formerly accustom'd to Victory soon turn'd their backs and fled Vortigern therefore having by their Valour obtain'd the Victory increas'd his Liberality to them and gave to Hengist their Captain great Possessions in Lyndsey part of Lincolnshire sufficient to maintain him and his Soldiers Huntingdon will needs have this Battle at Stanford in the Southern parts of the same Shire adding That the Picts and Scots had march'd so far without opposition and that they were only Arm'd and Fought with Darts and Lances but the Saxons with Battle-Axes and long Swords whose force and weight their Enemies not being able to sustain were soon put to flight Now as touching the Land thus given to Hengist Cambden gives us this Relation out of our Annals Hengist having subdu'd the Picts besides large Possessions conferr'd on him in other places requested Vortigern to bestow upon him in that Province so much ground as he could encompass with an Oxes-Hide which being obtain'd he cut it into Thongs extreamly Thinn and with it encompass'd a great Territory in the midst of which he built a Castle which by the Name perpetuates the memory thereof for it is call'd Thong-Castle As Carthage for many Ages remain'd a witness of Dido's Fraud for by thesame slight she obtain'd the Seat where she built that City so does this Castle still offer to our memories the Simplicity of the Britains and Craft of the Saxons such a gift could not satisfie the Ambition of Hengist whose aim was to be Master of the whole Island The subtile man therefore presuming of the Kings Friendship and easiness thus address'd to him My Lord the King you see how your Enemies disquiet you on all sides if you please therefore we will send into our Country for the increase of our numbers with new Recruits The King commanded him to do so withour delay that he might be freed from the fear of his Enemies Hengist sends Messengers accordingly who quickly return'd with 18 Ships laden with Soldiers and not with Soldiers only but with a fair Lady the Daughter of Hengist whose Beauty and Flatteries so bewitch'd the King that to please her he betray'd both his Faith and Kingdom Malmsburiensis reports this Rowena the Daughter of Hengist To be for Beauty the Miracle of Nature admir'd by all that look'd
his Eyes and say a Prayer or Benediction on them But receiving no benefit thereby David said to him Father command me not to look you in the face for ten years are past since I studied the Scriptures with you and in all that time I never had the boldness to look you in the face Paulens admiring his Humility said Since it is so it will suffice if by touching mine Eyes thou pronounce a Benediction on them Presently therefore as soon as he had touch'd them Sight was restor'd to them The same year wherein the Synod of Brevi was Celebrated Cerdic began the Kingdom of the West-Saxons That is saith Huntingdon in the seventy first year after the first coming of the Saxons in the reign of the Emperour Justin the Elder This Cerdic is said to be Crown'd with Pagan Ceremonies at Winchester in a place which once had been the Church of the true God but which these Barbarous Heathens had chang'd into a Temple of Dagon after they had slain all the Monks who serv'd God there The raising of this new Kingdom disproves the Fictions of Geffrey of Monmouth concerning the great and frequent Victories of King Arthur in these days It is likely to be more true which Huntingdon expresly declares namely That this year a terrible Battle was fought between Cerdic and the Britains and that on both sides the Captains Fought Magnanimously till Even but then the Saxons got the Victory which would have been more Bloody to the Britains had not the darkness hind'red the Pursuit After this the Fame of Cerdic and his Son Kenric was largely spread through the whole land and from that day began the Kingdom of the West-Saxons which having swallow'd all the other Principalities remains to our times Many Battles are said to have been Fought between King Arthur and this Cerdic wherein sometimes one sometimes the other had the better But at last King Arthur grew weary and contenting himself with an Oath of Fidelity from Cerdic gave him the Provinces of Hampshire and Somerset Some Authors affirm a League to have been made between them wherein a special Priviledge was provided for Cornwall to be permitted upon an Annual Tribute the free exercise of Christian Religion Which Indulgence seems to be prov'd by the great number of Saints which in those and the following times flourish'd in that Province whereas scarce any can be found in other parts of Britain subject to the Saxons And in truth it is very like that great multitudes of Britains flying from the fury of the Saxons betook themselves to Cornwal and Wales as places most distant and more defenceable and where they might expect better Conditions and more advantage of resisting their new Masters then in other parts for no doubt this Kingdom of the West-Saxons was made up of more Provinces than Hampshire or Somerset so that Cerdic had good footing in Devonshire Dorsetshire Barkshire and Wiltshire to which shortly after was added the Isle of Wight bestow'd by Cerdic on his late arriv'd Kinsmen Stuffa and Whitgar who destroy'd the British Inhabitants there at Whitgarburg so call'd from Whitgar but now contractedly Caresburg While Cerdic was busie in establishing his new Kingdom in the year 520. Colgrin Baldulf and Cheldric whom King Arthur had lately subdu'd at York and forc'd to abjure the land returning landed at Totness from whence passing through Cerdic's Dominions they came to the City of Bath and Besieg'd it King Arthur hearing thereof caus'd the Hostages which they had left to be Hang'd and gathering a mighty Army came to raise the Seige where the Armies being joyn'd he calling on the Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary whose Image he wore over his Armour slew great numbers of his Enemies and amongst the rest Colgrin and his Brother Baldulf which Cheldric perceiving fled and was pursu'd by Cador the Duke of Cornwall to the Isle of Thanet and there slain by him the rest being forc'd to yield King Arthur as may be remembred obtain'd a Battle before he was King near Bath at the Mountain Badonicus now this is likely to be another defeat given by King Arthur to the Saxons and the City of Bath being in the utmost extremity West-ward of Cerdic's Kingdom it might at this time have been in the possession of the Britains As for King Arthur's invoking the assistance of our Blessed Lady in the Fight it was a Devotion generally practic'd by the Church in this Age. For two years before there having been Assembled two Councels in the East one at Jerusalem and the other at Constantinople the Synod at Jerusalem wrote to the Bishops of the other Councel thus We beseech you most Holy Bishops to Pray with us to our Lord for these things for the Necessities of Gods Priests ought to be common make your Supplications likewise with us to the most Holy and Glorious Virgin Mary Mother of God that she would intercede for the Peace of the Catholick Church and for the Victory and long Life of our most Excellent and Pious Emperour The like practice we find else-where of which many Examples may be given The next year King Arthur was call'd into the Northern parts to assist Prince Howel who three years before was come out of Little Britain to his Aid and was now Besieg'd by the Picts and Scots in the City call'd Acluid wherein he lay Sick. Upon King Arthur's approach the Enemies retir'd to a place call'd Mureif whither he pursu'd them but they escaping by night fled to a Lake call'd Lumoney Whereupon King Arthur gathering many Ships together encompass'd the Island and in 15 days brought them to such extreme Famine that many thousands of them Perish'd In which utmost danger the Bishops of that Region came Barefoot to the King with Tears beseeching him To take pitty of that miserable People and to give them some small portion of that Country to inhabit under the yoak of perpetual Servitude The King thus mollify'd with the Tears of the Bishops pardon'd his Enemies and granted their request Hence it is that some Writers ground the subjection of Scotland to the Crown of Brittain and particularly Walsingham but certainly better grounds may be found of it than this Whereas it is said that certain Pictish and Scotish Bishops were Supplicants to this King for their Distress'd Countrymen it hath been already demonstrated that the Province of the Picts where the City of Acluid is seated had many years before receiv'd the Christian Faith by the Preaching of St. Ninianus but who were his Successors is hard to conjecture In the Annals of Ireland mention is made of a certain Bishop call'd Nennion who is said to have flourish'd in Britain about the year 520. and to have had his seat in a place call'd the great Monastery This man probably was the Successor of St. Ninianus and that great Monastery the same with Candida Casa where the Monument of that Apostolick Bishop was which by reason of frequent Miracles wrought there invited great
Gods threatning But the King fill'd with fury would not understand that he might do right but swore he would take revenge of the Kingdred of St. Columba and make them all slaves And in pursuance of his Oath he gather'd a mighty Army 23000 of Horse Foot and Charriots and with it march'd to the Confines of that Country whither St. Columba went with resolution utterly to extirpate the Inhabitants When therefore the People of Conal heard of the Kings coming they likewise assembled the number of 3000. resolving to Fight manfully in defence of their Country being in so great danger and placing all their hope in God alone St. Columba rose very early and being full of Gods Spirit encourag'd them and with a loud voice which sounded terribly through the whole Army he said to them Fear nothing God himself shall Fight for you as he did with Moses against the Egiptians at the red Sea not any of you shall suffer the least harm for our Lords wrath is inflam'd against the proud Kings Army So that if one only person shall in the Name of God give the Assault He alone by the Power of God shall put them to slight Be Courageous therefore not a man of you shall fall in this Combat When he had spoken this which his Army believ'd as an assurance from Heaven a few of his Soldiers the same moment with wonderful Courage rush'd upon their Enemies who expected them not And at the same time an Angel of God arm'd like a Soldier and in the shape of a man of an incredible high Stature appear'd in the Kings Camp His Aspect was so terrible that the Soldiers Hearts utterly fail'd them and instead of resisting their Enemies fell one upon another in hast to fly away and such a confusion there was of Chariots and Horses that they kill'd one another So that a handful of men without any loss defeated a great Army taking many Prisoners After this wonderful victory the man of God address'd his Speech to a young-man nam'd Scandalan with a Prophetick voice saying My Son this day will procure for me a tedious Pilgrimage in a strange Country where I must live from my Friends many years but say nothing of what I tell thee 'till the event shew the truth of my words After this St. Columba went to St. Finian or St. Findbar a Bishop to receive condign Pennance from him because of so much Bloodshed in the said War and it is said an Angel of God went with him shining with wonderful brightness but was visible to none but St. Finian The Pennance enjoyn'd by this Holy Bishop to St. Columba was That by Preaching and Example he should bring as many Souls to Heaven as by occasion of that War were sunk to Hell After which Sentence St. Columba with great joy declar'd That the judgement pronounc'd against him was equal and just Howbeit this Holy mans Troubles did not end thus for he was censur'd in a Synod of Bishops to abstain from the Communion though not without the dissent of many in it insomuch as great contentions and disputes arose among the Clergy for the composing whereof St. Columba himself sent a Letter to St. Gildas St. Columba wearied with these Ecclesiastical contentions resolv'd to quit his Native Country but not permitted to choose his place of Exile he by a Messenger consulted the Holy man St. Brendan Abbot of Birre to whom God had given the Spirit of Councel and Discretion who after he had lifted his Eyes and Heart to Heaven commanded to dig under the feet of the Messenger where was found a stone on which was Engraven only the letter I whereupon he bad the Messenger to tell his Master That he must go to an Island call'd J or Hy where he should find employment for his Zeal and be the cause of bringing many Souls to Heaven But Hector Boetius assignes another cause of his going into that Country saying The fame of the great Devotion and Piety of Conal King of the Picts drew St. Columba out of Ireland into Britain attended with a multitude of his Disciples where he became the Father and Director of many Monasteries This Island falsly nam'd in some Copies was at last call'd Iona In some Copies also this St. Columba is confounded with that St. Columbanus who being also an Irish man founded several Monasteries in France and Italy by the Britains St. Columba is usually call'd St. Columkill for the great number of Cells which he built in Britain The Author of his Life after he had extoll'd him for many Virtues and Austerities relates a Prophecy of him to this effect That a certain Disciple of St. Patrick nam'd Macceus foretold of him that in latter times should be born one call'd Columba who should illustrate the Age wherein he should live and be highly favour'd of God He should descend from Noble Parents and in the 45th year of his Age should pass over out of Ireland into Britain where he should live a Stranger in Exile for Christ S. Bede relates That in the 565. year of our Lord when Justinus the Son of Justinian govern'd the Roman Empire there came out of Ireland a certain Priest and Abbot call'd Columba with an intention to Preach the word of God to the Northern Picts whoare separated from the Southern Region by vast and horrible Mountains For as for the Picts dwelling on the South of those Mountains they had many years before renounced their Idolatry and embrac'd the Christian Faith as their Tradition is by the Preaching of Nynias a most Reverend and Holy Bishop born in Britain who had been Regularly instructed in the Misteries of Divine Truth at Rome The seat of whose Bishoprick dignified with a Church Dedicated to St. Martin where the said Holy Bishop with many other Saints doth rest is now in the possession of the Angli The place pertaining to the Province of the Bernicians is ordinarily call'd Candida Casa or White-House because a Church was there built of Hewn-stone a way of Building not practic'd by the Britains Now Columba came into Britain in the 9th year of the reign of Bridius the Son of Meilochon the most Powerful King of the Picts and by his Preaching and Example Converted that Nation to the Faith of Christ so that for a reward he receiv'd the Island Hy or Iona for the Possession of a Monastery The Isle is but small of about five Families His Successors long held it himself was buried in it being 70 years of Age after he had spent above 32 years in it This Holy man before his coming into Britain had Founded a Monastery of great Note in Ireland nam'd in that Tongue Dearmach or the Field of Oakes for the abundance of them there growing and from these two Monasteries of Hy and Dearmach many others were propagated in Ireland and Britain by his Disciples Among all which notwithstanding the Monastery of Hy in which his Sacred Body resided had the Preheminence and chief