dicebat Petre instat tempus tuae resolutionis oportet teire Romam in qua cum mortem per crucem sustinueris accipies mercedem Iustitiae Cum ergo propterea deum glorificasset egisset gratias apud Britannos mansisset dies aliquot verbo gratiae multos illuminasset Ecclesias constituisset Episcoposque Presbyteros Diaconos ordinasset duodecimo anno Caesaris Neronis rursus Romam reuertitur when S. Peter had stayed but a short time with the Romans and had baptized many and fownded the Church and ordeyned Linus Bishop he came to Tarracina in which when he had ordeyned Epaphroditus Bishop he came to Sirmium a citie of Spaine in which place when he had constituted Epinaetus Bishop he came into Egipt whē he had made Rufus Bishop of Thebes which hath seuē gates and Marke the Euangelist Bishop of Alexandria he came againe to Hierusalē by reuelatiō for the migratiō or passing out of life of Mary the mother of God After this returning into Egipt through Africk the returned againe to Rome From which he came to Milane and Photice which are cities in the cōtinent in which after he had appointed Bishops and Preists he came into Britaine in which place whē he had stayed a longe time and had drawne many natiōs not named to the faith of Christ he had an Angelicall visiō which said O Peter the time of thy Resolution is at hand And thou must goe to Rome in which when thou hast suffered death by the crosse thou shalt receaue the reward of Iustice Therefore whē he had glorified God for it and giuen thākes stayed after with the Britans some dayes and illuminated many with the word of grace and constituted Churches and ordeined both Bishops and Preists and Deacons in the twelfth yeare of the Emperour Nero he returneth to Rome Hitherto the Relation of this holy learned and auncient Sainct writer Where the labours and trauailes of S. Peter are so orderly and punctually set downe after his first coming to Rome that except so worthie a man had sounde certaine and vndoubted Authoritie for such a Relation no man can be so malicious as to thinke he would so confidently and particularly haue written of that matter 10. And it appeareth plainely by that I haue written before that both by Catholiks Protestants all the rest of S. Alredus his narration of S. Peters Iorneyes are most true certaine except this last of his coming hither and so longe remayning in this our Britaine these parts which I matuaile that any man of this kingdome will call in question being deliuered by so many Authorities before and aboue all other parts of that his Relation fortified by so manie vndeniable circumstances and Arguments as the time when the way by which he came a longe continuance of his aboude heare his passage by this Iland to drawe many vnnamed nations to the faith of Christ what he did heare his making of Bishops Preists and Deacons founding of Churches his loue to this kingdome so greate that vntill he was admonished from Heaven by an Angell to returne againe to Rome to receaue his crowne of Martyrdome he had so happily placed his Apostolicall Cathedrall See in this Imperiall and commanding Iland of this Northren and westerne world and by his blessed presence and heauenly labours left it Illustrious to succeeding generations not onely to be stiled Romana Insula the Roman Iland as I haue written before but as the same Apostle himself did testifie to S. Brithworld S. Peters preaching in Britaine proued by infallibly diuine authoritie Bishop of Winton or Wilton as our Protestant Historians doe plainely testifie together prouing that S. Peter first preached in this kingdome of greate Britaine The Protestant Theater writers haue these words It is reported by Aluredus Riuallensis the writer of King Edward the Confessors life that a holy man Theater of great Britaine l. 6. c. 9. studious and carefull for a gouernour to succeede was in his sleepe told by S. Peter that the kingdome of England was his wherein himself had first preached and would also prouide him successors Which other Protestants thus further confirme Alredus Francis Mason of Consecrat of Bishop l. 2. c. 2. p. 47. Sutcliffe subuers Godwyn conu of Britaine p. 4. Riuallensis an English Abbot left written aboue 500. yeares agone a certaine Reuelation or apparition of S. Peter to an holy man in the time of King Edward the Confessor shewing how he had preached himself in England and consequently the particular care he had of that Church and Nation Thus farre these Protestants So that if this was a true Reuelation there needeth no more testimony in this matter for the wittnes of Angels glorified Saints cannot by any possibilitie be vntrue and the vision testifiing that S. Peter himself had first preached heare in this kingdome is an euident demonstration both that he preached heare and was the first either immediately by himself or mediately by his disciples and Substituts which preached the faith of Christ in this kingdome Therefore all the difficultie will be in the proposers of this holy Reuelation he to whome it was made and they which haue commended it to writing And because supernaturall things such as this was cannot be proued by naturall Argument a priore by their cause to giue some certaine and vndoubted proofe thereof a Posteriore by some effect necessarily conuincing some supernaturall power to haue had Influence thereto for the more credite of this sacred truthe proue by these Protestants themselues 11. And first concerning the writer and recorder of this holy history they haue told vs it was Alredus Riuallensis a man of that worth learning and Ioh. Balaeus de Scriptor Cētur 2. fol. 88. p. 1. in Alred Riual pietie that to speake in a Protestant Bishops words he was Cistertiensiū Monachorum Abbas natione Anglus gencre doctrina inculpatae vitae moribus praeclarus enituit Episcopatum ac alios honores mundanos omnino recusabat vt ad virtutum exercitia maximè ad Euangelij praedicationem expeditior haberetur Vir erat vt alter Bernardus ingenio pius consilio modestissimus Abbot of the Cistersian monkes by Country an English man he was eminently renowned by birth learning and holy life and conuersation he refused a Bishoprike and other worldly honors vtterly that he might be more ready to the exercises of vertues chefely for preaching the ghospell he was a man as an other S. Bernard Godly in wit and most modest in counsaile He that desireth more of this holy witnes may finde in our auncient M. S. antiq de vit Sanct. Ioh. Capgr in Cata. l. in S. Alred Abb. Manuscripts our learned Countriman Ihon Capgraue and others how he is registred among the most glorious and miraculous Saints of this Natiō to which our Protestant Bishop before hath giuen allowance where he giueth vs assured knowledge that this
truth of the preaching of Moyses that for a memory holy relike of him they brought with them as both continued tradition and diuers historians verie auncient testifie the stone whereon Moses preached very miraculous one writeth thus Which stone was holy as some men then did teach And did miracles so was the common speach In honour it was had both of great and small And holden for a relike most speciall This stone was called the Regall of Scotland On which the Scottish Kings were set At their coronoment as I can vnderstand For holinesse of it so did they of debt All their Kings vpon this stone was set Vnto the time of King Edward with long shanks Brought it away againe the Scots vnthanks At Westmonastery it offered to Saint Edward Which is confirmed by the Scottish histories teaching how they brought this Hector Boeth Scotor hist l. 1. fol. 2. l. 13. fol. 309. stone out of Egypt to Portugall from thence to Ireland and then into Scotland where it remained vntill King Robert his time their King being crowned sitting vpon it vntill King Edward the third of England brought it with many others cheifest Iuells into England and they say it was a propheticall stone to that wheresoeuer it was found it forshewed the Scots should reigne there and thereupon had of old this inscription Ni fallat fatum Scoti quocunque locatum Inuenient lapidem regnare tenentur ibidem Which is now fulfilled in King Iames reigning here as it was by the Scottish long since in Portugall Ireland and Scotland in all which places they say the Scots haue reigned 6. So we see that the inhabitants of this kingdome from the beginning in many persons had knowledge of the true God and foreknowledge of Christ and not the Scots onely but Britans also for what was the opinion and foresight of the Druides concerning the true God and Messias to be borne of a Virgin must needs be the doctrine and religion aswell of Britans as Scots the same Druides being teacheâ—â— Masters and Rulers to both those peoples in religious affaires Neither did this their beleife of the true God and Christ to come faint or diminish in the inhabitants of this Iland after the death of King Iosinas who commaunded and Fynnanus that allowed and permitted the worshippe of the true God no King in this Iland for any thing we finde in histories British or Scottish euer forbidding but at the least consequently permitting what was commaunded or allowed before in such things But the nearer the time of the natiuity of Christ approched the signes and motiues to embrace it rather encreased then diminished vntill this nation actually and generally receaued the true faith after the Ascension of Christ with the first conuerted Gentiles as will be manifest in this history And here I end the time Matth. Westm an gratiae 15. Marian Scot. l. 2. aetat 6. Florent Wigor an 16. Hector Boeth in Metel hist Scot. alij of Augustus the Emperour Kymbeline continuing still King in Britaine and Metellanus among the Scots as they write in the 15. or 16. yeare of Christs Natiuity THE IV. CHAPTER Of THE TIME OF THE EMPEROVR Tyberius 1. IN the dayes of Tyberius the next succeeding Emperour The true knowledge of Christ was more clearely manifested vnto the world and among others to some Britans of this nation especially such as then liued in Rome For as in the time of this Emperour our Sauiour began and ended his preaching and suffered his passion for our Redemption So these things in such order as they were accomplished in the land of Iury they were presently and truely delated and sent to the Emperour at Rome and others there as many Protestant both of England and other nations with other Antiquities agree They of Protest praef in Mat. West Bal. centur 3. in Ranulph Hygeden Matth. Flori. Matth. Westm an D. 37. Ranul Hygeden in Polych l. 4. c. 4. Marian. Scot. l. 2. aetat 6. in Tyberio Metho hist Et apud Marian. supr England much recommend vnto vs Matthew of Westminster and Ranulphus Higeden especially as they haue publication and allowance by them Yet these Authours both in their printed and manuscript histories consent in this with others that Tyberius was truely informed at Rome of the miraculous life and preaching of Christ long before his Passion And being afflicted with a leprosie was so confident in the heauenly power of Christ esteeming him then at the least for a great Prophet Saint and worker of miracles that he sent with greate solemnity Volusianus to Hierusalem to entreate Christ Iesus to come with him to Rome to cure him of his incurable malady But the Iewes had caused Pilate to put him to death before the Ambassadour came thither 2. The Magdeburgian Protestants with others haue published to the world an Epistle of Lentulus out of the Annals of the Roman Senators to this Magdebur cont 1. l. 1. cap. 10. col 354. epist Lentulâ— ad Tyber Imp. Emperour Tyberius before the death of Christ thus beginning apparuit his temporibus adhue est homo magnae virtutis nominatus Christus Iesus qui dicitur à gentibus Propheta quem eius discipuli vocant filium Dei suscitans mortuos sanans omnes languores There appeared in these times and still is a man of greate vertue named Christ Iesus who is called of the gentiles a Prophet whom his disciples call the sonne of God raysing the deade and curing all diseases And presently vpon Egesippus Anaceph de morte Christi Matth. Westm an 33. Florent Wigor an 38. Tertull. Apolon c. 5. 21. Eust hist l. 1. cap. 24. Oros l. 7. c. 4. the death of Christ as it is proued both by our owne and forreine Antiquaries auncient and later Greekes Latines Catholiks and Protestants Pontius Pilate wrote vnto Tiberius the Emperour at Rome of the Passion of Christ in this manner De Passione Dominica Pilatus Tyberio Caesari scripsit in hunc modum Nuper accidit quod ipse probaui Iudaeos per inuidiam se suosque posteros crudeli damnatione peremisse Nam cum promissum haberent patres eorum quòd Deus illis mitteret de caelo sanctum suum qui eorum merito Rex diceretur hunc se promiserit per virgineÌ„ ad terram missuruÌ„ Iste me praeside HebraeoruÌ„ Deus cum venisset vidissent euÌ„ caecos illuminasse leprosos muÌ„dasse paraliticos curasse daemones ab hominibus fugasse mortuos suscitasse ventis imperasse super mare siccis pedibâ—s ambulasse multa alia mirabilia fecisse cum omnis populus IudaeoruÌ„ hunc Dei filiuÌ„ dicerent inuidiaÌ„ contra eum passi sunt Principes SacerdotuÌ„ mihique traedideraÌ„t alia pro alijs mentientes dixerunt illuÌ„ Magum esse contra legem eorum agere Ego autem credidi ita esse flagellatuÌ„ tradidi arbitrio eoruÌ„ At illi crucifixeruÌ„t eum sepulto ei
was the same Registerer of this heauenly vision set downe by him in S. Edwards life for speaking of the memorable works writings of this renowned Saint he saith composuit inter caetera Bal. sup centur 2. in Alred Rieual vitam Edwardi Anglorum Regis among other things he wrote the life of King Edward of England conteining aboue 28. chapters which was presented to King Henry the second So that there cannot be the least exception taken eyther to the Authour so learned worthie a Saint neither to the keeping or preseruation of that worke being presented to the King of England that then reigned and preserued in the Librarie of our kings from whence other copies Exemplars were taken Therefore now to make all sure let vs come to that learned holy man to whome this reuelation was made and to the subsequent effects which demonstratiuely proue it to haue bene a most certaine and vndoubted diuine testimonie and vision Continuator histor S. Bedae in S. Edwardo l. 2. Guliel Malmesbur de gest Reg. Angliae l. 2. Alred Rieual in vit S. Edward Reg. Capgrau Catal. in eod M. S. Antiq de Sanct. in S. Edward Confess Harpesfeld sec-11 c. 3. Godwyn Catalog in wynchester 31. in Brithwold in Salisbury or Wilton 8. in Brithwold Protest Index in Guliel Malmes in Brithwold 10. Herold epist dedic ante Marian. Sâ—â—t Godwyn in Cat. in Winchester in Brithwold â—1 Godwyn supr Balaeus de Script Brit. cent 2. in Gulielmo Malm. 12. All Authors that write of this matter agree whether Catholiks or Protestants that it was S. Brithwold an holy Bishop of England a most deuoute religious and miraculous man to whome this vision and Relation was made Onely there is some question whether it was S. Brithwold Bishop of winchester wintoniensis or sainct Brithwold Bishop of wilton or Salisbury wiltonensis the likenes of names Wilton Winton perhaps causing that doubt But because they were both so holy and renowned men that they haue gotten their worthie praise and commendation with all writers euen Protestants themselues and sainct Alredus liued in both their times to receaue the certaintie and vndoubted truth of these things from them or eyther of them It is not the difference of Vuintonensis or vuiltonensis can make any materiall difference in this point all vniformerly agreeing it was S. Brithwold an holy English Bishop and sainct of that time who had this Illumination and apparition from heauen A Protestant Bishop thus speaketh of this holy Bishop It is written of him that one night being late at his prayers he chaunced to thinke of the lowe ebb of the blood royall of England which now was all most quite consumed and brought to nothing In the midest of this cogitation falling a sleepe It seemed vnto him he saw S. Peter crowning younge prince Edward that liued in exile at tâ—at time in Normandie and furthermore to shew how he should reigne foure and twenty yeares and die at last without Issue And he citeth William of Malmesbury in his second booke of the kings of England for Author who because he is cited and approued by this Protestant Bishop and by an other most highly recommended in these words suo seculo in omni genere bonarum literarum plane eruditissimus in erueÌ„dis antiquitatibus ingenio diligentia curaque singularis Anglicae nationiâ— studio sissimus illustrator absolutely the most learned in his age in all kind of Learning and in searching out Antiquities singular for witt diligence and care the most studious ennabler of the English Nation I will cite him also thus he writeth entreating of the happy times of this Nation vnder that our holy king sainct Edward the confessor viderat quondaÌ„ sommij Gulielm Malm. l. 2. de gest Reg. Anglorum c. 13. reuelatione seculi illius faelicitatem Brithwoldus Vuiltunensis alias Vuintoniensis Episcopus viderat annuntiauerat Nam dum tempore Cnutonis caelestibus apud Glastoniam lucubraret excubijs subijssetque illum cogitatio quae frequenter angebat de regia stirpe pene deleta haec meditanti sopor irrepsit ecce in superna raptus videt ApostoloruÌ„ principem Petrum ipsism Edwardum qui tuÌ„c in Normannia exulabat in Regem consecrare caelibe designata vita certo viginti quatuor annoruÌ„ numero râ—gni computato Brithwold Bishop of wilton or winton had some time by reuelation of a dreame seene the felicitie of that age and declared it For when in the time of King Knut he was in the night attending to heauenly watchings and had à cogition which often trobled him of the regall race all most blotted out while he meditated these things sleep fell vppon him and behold beeing rapt on high he saw the prince of the Apostles Peter to coÌ„secrate for King Edward himself who then was bannished in Normandy designeing vnto him the chaste life and accompting the yeares of his reigne twenty and foure This same history the same commended Author more plainely remembreth in another place as also the CoÌ„tinuator of the history of sainct Bede in these terms Brithwoldus ex monacho Glastoniensis qui multis annis Gulielm Malm. de gest Pontif. Angl. l. 2. Continuator hist S. Bedae l. 2. in S. Edwardo a tempore Regis Ethelredi vsque ad Edwardum vltimum administrauit Episcopatum Is tempore Regis Cnutonis quadam vice caelestibus apud Glastoniam vt saepe faciebat intentus excubijs diuinam visionem expertus est Cum enim subijsset eum cogitatio quae frequenter eum angebat de Anglorum regia stirpe pene deleta hoc mâ—ditanti sopor irrepsit ecce in supernaraptus vidit Apostolorum principem Petrum manu tenentem Edwardum filium Ethelredi qui tunc in Normannia exulabat in Regem consecrare caelebe designata vita certo 24. annoruÌ„ numero coÌ„putato quo regni metam terminaret Brithwold first a monke of Glastenbury and now many yeares from the time of King Ethelred vnto the last Edward hauing bene a Bishop he in the time of King Knut vppon a certaine time as he often did attending to heavenly watches at Glastenbury had à diuine vision For hauinge à cogitation which often troubled him of the race of the Kings almost extinguished while he thus meditated sleepe came vppon him and being in an Extasis he saw Peter prince of the Apostles holding Edward the sonne of Ethelred then an exile in Normandy by the hand and consecrating him King and Assining to him the chast life and accompting a certaine number of 24. yeares in which he should end the time of his Reigne Hitherto this so renowned Antiquarie so much commended by our Protestants and as he is published and allowed by them so manifestly approuing this vision and Reuelation of sainct Peter to sainct Brithwold as is declared and so conuincingly that our Protestant publishers of his workes haue thus noted vppon those places Brithwoldi Episcopi visio
from one of the 12. Apostles by Protestants and portion of one of the cheife Masters in this sacred worke one of the Apostles of Christ himselfe Which the holy Prophet seemeth longe before to foreshew of this Iland one of the greatest and most remote longe from Hierusalem when speaking of the Apostles in the person of God he saith as Protestants Isai c. 66. v. 19. translate him And I will set a signe among them and I will send those that escape of them to the Nations to the Iles a farre of that haue not hard my fame neither haue seene my glory and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles Which diuers Protestants and not vnworthily apply to this Iland one of the Theater of Brit. l. 6. Godwyn supr Magdeburgen Centur. 1. l. 2. c. 7. col 518. Euseb l. 3. hist c. 1. Musculus ib. Prochorus hist c. 1. in tom 7. Biblioth patr S. Leo serm 1. de Apost Petro Paul Isidor l. de vita obitu Sanctorum c. 83. 71. Freculph Lexou To. 2. Chronic. l. 2. c. 4. Antiquit. Glast apud Capgrau in S. Patricio al. Hartman Schedel Chronic. Chron. f. 202. p. 1. Nicephorus hist Eccl. l. 3. c. 1. greatest in the world and furthest distant from Iury where this Prophesie was vttered 5. And this diuision a portition of the world among the Apostles to preach and publish the ghospell in is as these Protestants before doe warrant vs as also that Britaine as needs it must being one of the greatest Ilands of the world fell in this diuision among the Apostles Is plainely deliuered by soundry auncient writers The Magdeburgian Protestants tell vs that Eusebius saith it was a Tradition that the Apostles diuided the Prouinces of the world by lott amongst thē Quod Apostoli inter se sortiti sunt orbis terrarum prouincias And Musculus in his translation of Eusebius is witnes from Eusebius that it was the Tradition of the Church sicut traditio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 continet Which is confirmed by S. Prochorus one of the seuen Deacons made by the Apostles as we haue his works S. Leo saith That the Apostles vndertooke to preach the Ghospell to the world diuiding it into parts among them diuisis sibi terrarum partibus S. Isidor or whosoeuer that auncient Authour of the booke de vita obitu Sanctorum among his works Freculphus Lexouiensis writeth so also and excludeth S. Paul from any part in this ordinary partition being after called an extraordinary Apostle Paulo cum caeteris Apostolis nulla sors propria traditur So we reade in the auncient Antiquities of Glastenbury Abbey Hartmanus Schedel saith of the Apostles totum orbem per Prouincias inter se partiti sunt The twelue Apostles parted the whole world among them by Prouinces So Nicephorus in many places Apostoli sicut diximus per omnem dispersi terram Prouincias orbis ad Euangelium praedicandum sorte partiti sunt The holy Apostles diuided among them by lot the Prouinces of the world to preach the ghospell Thus our English Protestants Godwyn Stowe Howes and others Godwin Conu of Britaine Stowe Howes hist in Agricola and others Breuiar Roman in vit S. Philipp Apost 1. Maij S. Matt. 21. Sept. Ioa. Whitgift Answer to the Ad. and def Bilson against the Purit Barl. Ser. of Bish. Bridg. def of the Eccl. gouern Covel def of Hooker Downam l. 4. c. 4. of Bishops 6. And to make all sure the Church of God in the publike offices of the holy Apostles S. Philip on the first day of may and S. Matthew the 21. of September propoundeth the same for a certaine truth vnto vs. Neyther doth the rule of our Protestants Religion their communion Booke impugne it and so none doe contradict it And our Parlament Protestants of England such as stand for the dignities and functions of Bishops against the Presbyterian Puritans such as their Bishops Whitgift Bilson Barlow Bridges and others make a reason of this diuision not onely the better to deriue true doctrine but Iurisdiction also vnto Bishops succeeding them both in doctrine and Episcopall power It is manifest say these men that the Bishops haue receaued and deriued their authoritie from the Apostles whose successors they are not onely in respect of doctrine but also in the gouernment of the seuerall Churches not onely Diocesian Bishops but Archbishops such as Metropolitans are were from the Apostles time And they exemplifie who these were in many places where the Apostles preached And yet this nothing hindereth any thing I haue written before of diuers Britans of this Nation conuerted to the faith of Christ before the time of Claudius for I shewed that to haue bene the great extraordinary grace and fauour of Christ to those persons now I entreate of the ordinary calling and Conuersion of this Country among others by the publike consent and agreement of the Apostles which although it was before the calling of S. Paul to be an Apostle yet I do not thereby goe about to exclude him from this holy worke wherein being extraordinarily called he laboured as extraordinary and probably also honored this Nation with his presence although after it had receaued the faith of Christ The diuision of the world being among the 12. Apostles before S. Paul his Consecration THE IX CHAPTER WHEREIN IS PROVED BY PROTESTANT Antiquaries that among the three Apostles S. Peter S. Paul and S. Symon Zelotes which are thought by any Antiquaries to haue preached heare in Britaine it was not S. Paul which first preached heare but S. Peter 1. NOw therefore being thus warranted by so generall a consent and harmony of cheife Protestants that the Faith of Christ was so soone preached in this Iland by some or other of the holy Apostles there is no difference cōcerning the vndoubted truth of that sacred Religiō whether it was by S. Peter Paul Andrew Iames Ihon or any of the rest all of them after the coming of the holy Ghost being as infallibly confirmed in grace and truth as S. Peter or whosoeuer in any opinion was cheifest among them yet in other respects it is not vnworthie a short inquiry by these men Needfull to knowe who was our first Apostles who in particular it was First because in the end of this first hundred of yeares I shall deliuer in particular so farre as these Protestants my Directours will giue me leaue what Religion it was which euery of our Apostles and Masters in Christ taught and deliuered to this Nation for knowledge whereof the knowledge who they were is first to be required Secondly in that respect we shall be tied with a more strict and binding obligation of dutie and debt to render our most obedient and respectiue filiall obseruance of religious children to that our worthie father in Christ who trauailed so farre and paynefull a iorney from Hierusalem to this Nation to make vs his regenerate children with so many and
should reigne so many certainely appointed 24. yeares that a married man especially a king should liue and die a virgine And the rest before remembred hauing no causes in nature to know them by should thus miraculously and infallibly be foretolde so long before there was no leaste hope expectation or in morall Iudgmentany probabilitie or rather possibilitie at all of many or most of these extraordinary future euents But rather a doubted Alred Rieual in vit S. Edward Guliel Malmes sup Stow. hist in K. Edward Confess Holinsh. l. 8. hist of Engl. c. 7. Theater of great Britaine in K. Edward Conf. with others Godwyn Catal. in Winchester 3. Brith wold Holinsh hist of England l. 8. cap. 1. Stowe hist in K. Edward Confess will Malmesb l. de gest Reg. Anglorum c. 13. feare or certainety of the contrary And yet all these things were published to the world diuers yeares before they tooke effect and in the life of sainct Brithwold proposer of them who by the same reuelation was dormire cum patribus to be dead before they began Which is apparantly true euen by our Protestants themselues to giue them their choise whether sainct Brithwold Bishop of winchester or wilton it was that had this vision For these Protestants assure vs that sainct Brithwold of winchester was dead allmost 30. yeares before the returne of sainct Edward from exile And it is the common opinion the reuelation was made to him And if it was Brithwold Bishop of wilton he was also dead by these mens accompts 22. yeares at the leaste before these things were accomplished Therefore I must infallibly conclude that sainct Peter or whosoeuer it was which so prophetically and miraculously foretold so many things of this holy King and this kingdome to be effected so long after was not and possibly could not be an vntrue or doubtfull Relator of sainct Peters first preaching in this Nation conteined and as constantly auouched as the rest of those reuealed mysteries foretold in that vision And the Inhabitants of Britaine are so much more bounde to glorifie God and Honor this most blessed Apostle as both his extraordinary first labours in instructing this kingdome in the true Religion of Christ and this his extraordinary care and Pastorall loue in so many wayes making it knowne vnto vs to lett vs vnderstand how much we are bounde vnto him for such inestimable benefices deserue it Which we reade in our historyâ—s both Catholik and Protestant to be confirmed by an other example of like nature but of more auncient memory a thowsand yeares since in the time of king Ethelbert our first christian king of the Saxons Race When sainct Peter miraculously testified concerning the Church of Westminster in London in these M. S. antiq in S. Edward Confes Guliel Malmes l. 2. de gest Pontif c. de Episcopis Londin Alred Rieuall in vit S. Edward Ioan. Capgrau Catal. eodem Franc. Mason Consecr of Bish. pag. 47. Nichol. Pap. 2. in epist ad Edward Reg. Angl. apud Capgrau in S. Edward M. S. antiq in eod Alred Rieuall in vit S. Edwardi words as a Protestant writer translateth them Est mihi locus I haue quoth S. Peter a place in the west part of London chosen to my self and deare vnto me which sometimes I did dedicate with my owne hands Quem locum quondam proprijs manibus consecraui renowne with my presence and Illustrate with diuine miracles the name where of is Thorneia Westminster Which cannot litterally truely be vnderstood of any spirituall vision wherin sainct Peter in his onely glorified soule should appeare as in the time of King Ethelbert we reade he did but of his personall presence there before his death when and neuer after nor vntill the day of Iudgment and the generall Resurrection sainct Peter had or at any time shall haue proprias manus his owne hands or any parte of his body vnited to his soule yet he speaketh plainely here proprijs manibus consecrauithe consecrated that place with his owne hands which is not true either in a spirituall vision or where an assumpted body is vsed for an aslumpted bodie hand foote or any other member caÌ„not be called the proper and owne body Hande foote or other member of any parson Therefore Pope Nicholas the second speaking of this matter in his Epistle to sainct Edward the Confessor saith this place was consecrated by S. Peter whose vicar he was primam autiquitus consecrationem à heato Petro accepit cuius licet Indigni Vicarij sumus Therefore except Pope Nicholas may be said to be Vicar to sainct Peters Soule and not to him as he was Bishop of Rome in body and soule we most by him and this antiquarie referre this matter to sainct Peters first preaching in this land when he liued and not to any apparition in soule onely as that was wherein he appeared at Westminster in the time of King Ethelbert and S. Mellitus Bishop of London of which more hereafter Now I will answeare to some vaine and weake obiections of a few Protestant writers and also shew by such men in what time or times once or oftner S. Peter preached personally in this Iland so neare as probably may be concluded in such a case as also what holy offices he performed heare in founding the Church of Christ in Britaine THE XV. CHAPTER WHEREIN IS BOTH ANSWEARE MADE to Protestant obiections againct S. Peters preaching in Britaine by the Protestants themselues and their owne Authors and by the same confirmed that S. Peter preached in this kingdome A Protestant Bishop challengeth S. Symeon metaphrastes for writing so confidently of S. Peters preaching heare hauing not Godwyn Conu of Britaine p. 3. cap. 1. any thing to except against him first vpbraydeth him with his CouÌ„tries of Greece Graecus fuit haec natio est fuitque semper ad mentiendum promptula he was a Grecian and that Nation is and euer was a litle promt to lie But by such libertie we may condemne the greatest lights of the Chuch of God S. Athanasius Chrysostome SS Gregories Naziancen and Nissen the seeuen first generall Councels kept in Greece and cheifely of Greeke fathers and so leaue nothing certaine in the Church of God But how free from all suspition of lying that holy Saint was in this poinct I haue shewed to the shame of all such accusers before demonstratiuely prouing by all kind of Testimonyes that his testimonye herein was true And whereas this Protestant Bishop vrgeth against that holy Saint that Caesar Baronius should write of him in his esse hallucinatuÌ„ constat Baron annal Eccl Christi an 44. pag. 371. it is euident he was deceaued in these things It is most euident this Protestant Bishop was either deceaued in himself or went about to deceaue others his readers in this point for Cardinall Baronius is so farre from going about to take the least exception against S. Simeon Metaphrastes for testifiing S. Peters
Simenorum Venta Icenorum and Verolamium where S. Albons standeth was famous euen with the Pagan writer Cornelius Tacitus and Ptolomaeus So was Barwicke which Ptolomy nameth Tuesis of the Ryuer thereby passing diuiding England and Scotland Hector Boethius saith that Corinimum which now we call Shrewsbury was in auncient time a most famous Towne oppidum olim celebratissimum And at the comming of S. Augustine hither besides their Archbishop there were seuen other Bishops of seuerall Sees and Cities in that Iurisdiction of which scarcely any one in probable Iudgment is before recited 4. Therefore to trauaile no further in this enquiry we haue found more then a sufficient number of old Brittish Cities to setle 3. Archbishops and 28. Bishops in and yet not carry any of them into Scotland but onely where King Lucius and the Romans ruled Now I will endeuour particularly to The Episcopall Sees and Cities in particular in that Age. finde out the seuerall Cities and Sees of all many or most of them A late writer in a Manuscript Historie neuer yet printed thus recounteth them Winchester Glocester Cilicester Worcester Chechester Bangor Hereford Cardiffe Landaffe Morgan Alclud Canterbury Godmanchester in Huntington Haâ—â—is Manusc Tom. 2. in Lucius shiere where S. Machutus was Bishop about the yeare of our Lord 550. for the rest except the three Archbishop Sees London Yorke and Caerlegion he confesseth ignorance where they were A Protestant Historian William Harrison in his Description of England hath vsed some more diligence in this busines And thus proceedeth herein in old time we reade that there were eight William Harrison description of England c. 13. of Cities and Townes and twenty Flamins and Archflamins in the South part of this Isle and so many greate Cyties vnder their Iurisdiction Then to shew where they were and where Archbishops and Bishops succeeded them he addeth If any man be desirous to knowe the names of those auncient Cyties that stood in the time of the Romans he shall haue them heare at hand in such wise as I haue gathered them out of our writers obseruing euen their manner of writing of them so neare as to mee is possible without alteration of any corruption crept vp into the same Then he setteth downe the names of these auncient Cyties in this order Lundon Yorke Canterbury Colchester Lincoln warwicke aunciently called Cair Guttelin Cair Line or Cair Leon Cair Gwair Cair vmber Cair Gwaerton Chester or Cair Legion vpon Vsk Carleill S. Albons aunciently named Cair Maricipit Cair Municip verolamium Verlamcester and Cair watteling of the street whereon it stood Winchester Cisceter Silcester Bath Shastesbury worcester Chichester Bristow Rochester Portchester Cair Marden Glocester Leircester Cambridge formerly stiled Grantabric Cair Graunt After these 23. he addeth Cair vrnach peraduenture Burgh castle Cair Cucurat Cair Draiton now a slender villidge Cair Celemon Cair Megnaid pleading Ignorance of the fiue last places as likewise Cair Dorman of which I haue spoken before and Alcluid of which more hereafter But seeing both Britans and Saxons Catholiks and Protestants before haue agreed vpon these Cities and the diuision of this Iland into Loegria Albania and Cambria wales and that in England or Loegria alone there were so many Cities in the Britans time as are remembred onely two of them Cair Leon vpon vsc and Cair Merthen to be found in wales except we will place Cair Guorchigirn there we may not depriue the Archbishop there of his Suffragan Bishops nor that auncient Countrye of the old Cities but say these fiue not to be found in any part of Loegria by any Authour were Cities of wales howsoeuer their names vpon many accidents be changed since Nennius time and diuers of them were Episcopall Sees allthough Cair Draiton bewraieth itselfe to be no older then the Saxons Languadge heare and so could not be a Bishops See in the Reigne of King Lucius For most of the rest the onely Argument of this Protestant Authour finding them called by diuers old Brittish names if we had no other giueth them probable title to that Honour 5. But I shall help him with more both reasons and Authoritie herein Harding c. 25. 26. 27. Harding Cron. c. 23. 24. Stowe and Howes Hist in Bladud Leir Harris Hist Galfr. l. 2. Virun l 2. Annal. Wintomen Manuscr Godwin Catal. of Bishops Winchester 1. For the auncient Cities of Canterbury winchester Shastesbury Leircester Bathe Carlile and Alcliud We haue both Brittish and Saxon Catholike and Protestant Antiquaries affirming they were the auncient Residences of Flamens and so must by that is said before needs be Bishops Sees in this time And to exemplifie in some of them the old Manuscript Antiquitie of Winchester saith King Lucius builded there a Cathedrall Church Lucius Rex fundauit Ecclesiam Wintoniensem dedicating it to our Sauiour which a Protestant Bishop thus also writeth from the same or like Antiquitie The Cathedrall Church of Winchester according to a report that I finde in an old Manuscript was first build and erected by King Lucius Seeing then a Cathedrall Church and a Bishop are knit together we must needs acknowledg there was then a Bishop there And to speake in this mans and his Authours words This Church was hallowed and dedicated October 29. 189. by Faganus and Damianus Bishops And he proueth from the same Antiquitie that in the yeare 309. one Constans was Bishop there And in S. Dubricius time by the Brittish History Diuuanius was Hist Brit. l. 9. c. 15 l. 8. c. 17. Harding Chron. c. 76. f. 67. the Bishop of that place Episcopatus Guintoniae Diâ—uanio decernitur And concerning the Bishoprike of Alcliud it was then giuen to one named Eledanius Pontificalis Infula Alclud Eledanio decernitâ—r Elednore by Harding was Bishop there Which proueth it was a Bishiprock froÌ„ the beginning no change Harding Chro. c. 24. f. 21. Abbreuiatio Chron. inter an 170. 180. in Lucio of Sees being before this time For Canterbury it was first a Flamens seate And the old Manuscript History Abbreuiatio Chronicorum saith in this time and setling Bishops in King Lucius Reigne that the old Church of S. Martin which liued in the Apostles time was builded Tunc constructa est extra Cantuariam Ecclesia sancti Martini and to notifie that he ment thereby a Cathedral and Episcopall Church he addeth this when he speaketh of changing Historia RoffeÌ„n Manuscr Lambert PeraÌ„b of Kent p. 113. Flamens into Bishops And all Histories testifie that the holy Bishop Lethardus which came hither with Queene Bertha before S. Augustins time vsed it as his Episcopall See And Canterbury besides the Archbishop had an other Bishop in that Church of S. Martin diuers hundreds of yeares and Harding Chro. c. 23. Harding sup c. 30. f. 24. Stowe Hist Britan. in Morg. and Cunedag Lel. com Brit. antiq v. Manditi Castr Cap. in Catal. in S. Kebio Meloro Vrsula Gul. Malm. l. 1. de Regib c. 6.