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
before must needs be from S. Peter And we reade in an Epistle of Pope Ihon the fift written in the yeare 686. to Ethelred King of the Marshes and to Alfride King of Northumberland on the behalf of Bishop Wilfrid for the restoring his Chuch vnto him with certaine Monasteries that this land of Britaine first receaued the faith of Christ by S. Peter Ioa. Pap. 5. epist ad Ethelred Alfrid Reges Guliel Malmes l. 3. de Pontific c. de Archiep. Ebor ex libr. Step. Cantuariens in vita S. Wilfrid Archiepis Ebor. Harr. hist tom 1. cheife of the Apostles the words are as followe Dominis eminentissimis Ethelredo Regi Merciorum Alfrido Regi Deirorum Bernitiorum Ioannes Papa de vestra Religionis accâ—ssibus gratia Dei cooperante gaudemus feruorem fidâ—i â—ernentes in vobis quam ex praedicatione principis ApostoloruÌ„ Deo vestros animos illuminante percepistis efficaciter tenetis Pope Ihon to the most â—â—inent Lords Ethelred King of the Mercians and Alfride King of the Deires and Bernitians we reioyce of the accesses of your Religion the grace of God cooperating perceauing the feruour of faith in you which you haue receaued â—y the preaching of the prince of the Apostles Where we playâ—ely see the first preaching of the faith of Christ in those parts ascribed to S. Peter the Apostle For testimony whereof we may also add the words of Pope Alexander the third in his epistle to King Henry the second of England where he playnely saith That England was vnder S. Peters protection euer since Christs name was glorified there Or why did Arnobius that renowned father 1200. yeares since speaking of S. Alexand. Pap. 3. epist ad Henric. 2. Reg. Angl. Eugubin de donatione Const Arnobiuâ— lib. 2. contra gentes Peters trauayles say that he preached in all the Ilands and prouinces of the west in Insulis prouincijs quas Sol occidens lustrat except he thought he was heare in Britaine the most renowned Iland of all the western world Where the lesser and more vnnoble are included as by such generall words they are the most noble and worthie cannot be thought to be excluded 4. And so certaine this seemeth that a late writer inclineth to think that Harris in Theatr l. 1. S. Peter gaue denomination to some places at his being heare There is saith this Authour in the North parts an old Citie called Aldclihit which in the Britans time many hundred yeares passed bore his S. Peters name For Aldclihit in the Brittish tonge is as much to say as Peters Clyhit or Peterclyhit for so Henricus Huntingtoniensis a learned Author of reuereÌ„d antiquitie telleth vs in his first booke of Histories where he saith Orientalis autem habet in medio sui vrbem Guidi Henric. Hunting l. 1. hist occidentalis supra se hoc est ad dextram sui habet vrbem Aldclyhit quod lingua BritonuÌ„ significat Petrum Clyhit est autem iuxta fluuium nominis illius Thus in This Authour wrote before the printing â—f Henry of Huntington by the Protestans so citeth the Manuscript For the printed booke hath Petram Clyhit and not Petâ—um English the east part of Northumberland hath in the midst of it a cytie called Guidi and in the west part on the right hand thereof there is a cytie called Aldclyhit which in the Britans languadge doth signifie Peters Clyhit or Peter Clyhit The which standeth vppon a Ryuer of the same name In which sence also the words of S. Prosper seeme to be vnderstoode who writing of S. Celestine Pope of Rome his care to purdge this Iland of the Pelagian Heresie and conuert Ireland to the faith of Christ speaketh in this manner dum Romanam Insulam studet seruare Catholicam fecit etiam Barbaram Christianam while â—e studieth to keepe the Roman Iland Catholike he also made the Barbarous Iland Christia Whereas Prosper l. contra collatorem c. 41. by the Barbarous Iland he vnderstandeth Ireland so by the Roman Iland he meaneth and describeth this Iland of Britaine Which can in no other sence especially at that time be called the Roman Iland but as it was vnder S. Peters spirituall Empire and Regiment and his Successours Popes of Rome For first in respect of temporall subiection this Iland was neuer at any time wholly Romana Insula a Romane Iland all those Countryes beyond Seuerus or Adrians wall were free from subiection to the Romans and in S. Prosper his time and S. Celestine of which he speaketh It was further from hauing any such denomination both Scots Picts and Saxons hauing inuaded and spoyled diuers prouinces of that part Which the Romans did formerly possesse and the Romans at that time had nothing at all to doe in this Iland but the Britans had Kings of their owne as Vortigern Vortimer Aurelius Ambrosius and others Which construction of S. Prosper is more warranted by the first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury who citeth Cardinal Pole the Popes legate in these termes neuer improuing but allowing them haÌ„c Insulae nobilitatem atque gloriaÌ„ Dei prouidentiae atque beneficientiae soli acceptam ferendam sed tamen Matth. Parket l. antiquâ—t Brâ—t â—n Reginaâ—d Pol. Cardina p. 351. 1. cap. 69. viaÌ„ ipsam atque rationeÌ„ qua haec nobilitas atque gloria parta est a sede Romana nobis pâ—imo semperque monstratam patefactam fuisse we must ascribe tâ—is nobilitie and glory of this Iland to haue the first of all receaued the faith of Christ to the prouidence and Bounty of God but yett that the away and meanes how this Nobilitie and glory â—as gotten to this nation was first and alwayes shewed and made open from the See of Rome Which must needs be extended and ascend to S. Peter and the Apostles time as the words primo semperque first and alwayes doe demonstrate for it is the common opinion of our Protestant writers and amonge them three of their Bishops here cited that Britanniae Ecclesiae origo ab Apostolis ipsis Parker in Indice v. Britannia Bal. l. de Scriptor Cent. 1. in Ioseph Ara. Godwyn Conu of Brit. c. 2. p. 15. Theater of great Britaine l. 6. cap. 9. pag. 202. probatur that the begynning of the Church of Britaine was from the Apostles 5. How the first Apostle that preached heare could be no other then S. Peter I haue made manifest by our Protestants before and in their Theater of greate Britaine their best learned Antiquaries from diuers authors and approued Antiquities thus testifie sainct Peter the Apostle is supposed to haue preached in Britaine And agayne That S. Peter the Apostle preached the word of life in this Iland as to other Nations he did for whome God had chosen him that from his mouth they might heare the ghospell and beleeue as himself alledgeth and that he heare founded Churches and ordeyned Preists and Deacons which is reported Metaphrast Gul.
this Institution and Confirmation many hundreds of yeares by all Antiquities The exception which some may make by finding Britaine diuided into fiue Prouinces I haue fully answeared before and our cheife Protestants namely Doctour George Abbots Archbishop of Canterbury and such others as directed and assisted Maister Francis Mason in the Booke intituled Crosses and Christian Images then certaine tokens of Christians Of the Consecration of the Bishops of the Church of England he their Scribe will thus secondemee therein The Romans before this time of King Lucius his receauing the faith had diuided Britaine into three Prouinces one of theÌ„ was called Maxima Caesariensis the Metropolis whereof was Yorke An other Britannia prima the Metropolis whereof was London the third Britannia secunda the Metropolis whereof was CaerlegioÌ„ And prouing besides so many Authorities before cited by Asserius Meneuensis Schoolmester to King Alfred Ptolomaeus LuceÌ„sis William Reade Ihon LelaÌ„d that the Archbishops of this IlaÌ„d were onely seated in those three MetropolitaÌ„ Cities LondoÌ„ Yorke Caerlogion according to that diuisioÌ„ of Prouinces heare to cleare the obiectioÌ„ thus they had further in this busines Although Britaine was after the Nicen Councell diuided into fiue Prouinces Valentia and Flauia CaesarieÌ„sis being added to the former yet there were no new Archbishops erected The reason whereof was because those two new Prouinces were taken out of the former and consequently could not haue Bishopriks without the diminishing of the Authoritie of the former in whose Iurisdiction originally they were which was not sufferable because it was against the Canon of the Nicen Councell decreeing that in Antioch and in other Prouinces the dignitie prerogatiues and Authorities of Churches should be mainetained Hitherto these Protestant writers 4. And to leaue it without question that this placing both of Archbishops and Bishops also at this time in Britaine was both warranted and confirmed by this highest spirituall Papall Power and Prerogatiue in Pope Eleutherius among so many hundreds of Archbishops and Bishops as haue bene in Britaine as it conprehendeth England Wales and Scotland no Historie mentioneth no Antiquarie can proue that from this time of King Lucius vntill the Reuolt of King Henry 8. from the Church of Rome any one Archbishoprik or Bishoprik was eyther founded translated vnited diminished or any wise changed but it was eyther first done or afterward confirmed or made frustrate by this greate Apostolike and Papall Power of the Roman See I neede not the Assistance of Catholike Antiquities herein our Protestant Bishops and Antiquaries which haue written of this subiect of Bishops and their Sees Gul. Malmesb l. de Ant. Caenob Glaston doe leaue and cleare it for an euident truth And because such an including proposition without confession in particular would cost my Readers some labour to examine it let them take for pregnant witnesses hereof the two greate Flatterers of King Henry 8 Matthew Parker the first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury a man of all Religions with that King his sonne King Edward The Popes Legats con inue diuers at Glastenbury renew and setle reâ—igious meÌ„ there in place of the first of S. Ioseph his company and Queene Elizabeth and Polidor Virgill a time Pleaser and Seruant thereof The first speaking of King Henry 8. his Lawes against the Popes Authoritie and the time of the Saxons saith that by them then made the Popes Power which had euer vntill then continued in England and was thought vnsuperable was ouerthrowne his legibus potentia Papalis quae nongentis amplius annis in Anglia durauit insuperabilis visa est concidit The other writeth then a liuing witnes that the supreamacie taken from the Pope and giuen to the King was a thing neuer heard of in any time before Habetur Concilium Londini in quo Ecclesia Anglicana formam potestatis nullis ante temporibus visum induit Henricus enim Rex Caput ipsius Ecclesiae constituitur By which also as in a glasse by a truely representing species we may behold that it neyther was nor could be any other then the Pope of Rome onely clayming and exercising such spirituall Power heare in those times which did or could giue a full and finall confirmation to those Vniuersities or Schooles and Religeous houses of Britaine with the Rule and Order they followed and professed in these daies 5. Yet we are not alltogether destitute of Instances in particular of such Honorius Papa 1. in Bulla Vniuersitati Canta-Cantabr coÌ„cess ann 624. 20. die Februarij apud Io. Caium l. 1. de antiq Cantabr Academ p. 75. 76 77. confirmation For Schooles or Vniuersities the Antiquaries of Cambridge produce the auncient Bull of Pope Honorius the first 1000. yeares since coÌ„firming that Vniuersitie and priuiledges thereof and in the same affirming that his Predecessours Pope Eleutherius in whose time we are Fabianus Leo Simplicius Foelix and Bonifacius gaue the like confirmation and exemption vnto it Praedecessorum nostrorum Romanae Ecclesiae Pontificum Eleutherij Fabiani Leonis Simplicij Faelicis Bonifacij vestigijs debitè inhaerentes authoritate omnipotentis Dei districtiùs inhibemus sub paena excommunicationis ne quis Archiepiscopus aut eorum officiales c. Where it is said that these Popes gaue these priuiledges against all parsoÌ„s by the Authoritie of God For the Schoole of GlamorgaÌ„ we haue the like testimonie that the Pope gaue the cheife charge thereof to S. Iltutus renowned both for his learning and piety as also his most worthie Schollers and their greate number in which were both Gaules and Britans in whome S. Sampson S. Paulinus S. Dauid S. Gildas Magistralis Charta MerchiaÌ„ni Regis l. Sanct. Wall Caius sup p. 147. Capgr Catal. in S. Ilâ—uâ—o Abbate Confessore Io. Bal. l. de Script Britan. cent 1. in Elchuto Morgan Manuscr Antiq. Mona sterij S. Aug. Cantuariae tibi cura concessa est à Pontisice as King Merchiannus testifieth in his Charter of priuiledge vnto him and that his Schoole or Vniuersitie For our Monasteries and Religeous houses then that they were confirmed and priuiledged by this holy Pope I shall more fully shew when I come to these Legats returne and visiting Glastenbury bringing with them a confirmation Immunities and Indulgences from S. Eleutherius to that most auncient and Religious Monastery with an approbation of the holy Rule and Order which there and in all Britaine after many hundreds of yeares was kept and followed In the meane time he that will but behold if he may the old Manuscript of S. Augustins in Canterbury shall there see aboue 100. particular Bulls of Popes confirming the liberties and Immunities of that house He may reade in the first Protestantically made Archbishop there that as I haue proued and shall proue of our Britans how all their Archbishops had their ordination Power and Authoritie from the Popes of Rome so amoÌ„g the Saxons Matth. Parker Antiq. Brit. vntill he first