Anna heretofore King of that Nation had formerly built two Monasteries one for himself and the other for his Sister Edilburga His own Monastery was seated in the Province of Suderige or Surrey near the River Thames in a place called Ceorotesey that is the Island of Ceorot the present name is Chertsey His Sisters Monastery was in a place called Berekingham Barking in the Province of the East-Saxons where that Holy Virgin became a Mother and Nurse of many devout Virgins shewing her self worthy such a Brother being Zealous to advance the Spiritual perfection of those under her charge as severall Divine Miracles did testify 2. The fury of the pestilence wasting the countrey about invaded likewise this Monastery as well the part where the Virgins inhabited as that of the Monks which attended the Altar Whereupon the Holy Abbesse consulted with her Religious Subiects concerning a place commodious for the burial of the dead But receiving no resolution from them she purposed to expect an answer from God On a certain time therefore after they had ended their Midnight-devotions the Virgins going out of the Church to sing at the graves of the Monks on a sudden a wonderfull Light like a Sheet came over them wherewith they were so affrighted that they were forced to intermitt their Psalmody A little after the said light removed to the Southern part of the Monastery which lay west-ward from their Oratory and presently was taken up into heaven in the sight of them all insomuch as not any of them doubted but that the same light which was â—o conduct their Soules to glory marked also the place where their bodies were to expect a glorious Resurrection 3. The names of those Spouses of our Lord which out of this Monastery during this plague went to heaven are written in the Book of life S. Beda names only one before the death of S. Edilburga her name was Eadgida How she was called to her eternall reward he thus relates There was said he in the same Monastery a little boy not above three years old called Esica who by reason st his infant-age was bred up and taught by the Religious Virgins This child having been struck with the sayd infection and ready to dye called aloud to one of the said Virgins as if she had been present crying out Eadgid Eadgid Eadgid and with these words ended his present life and entred into life eternall And the same Virgin which the child at his death called on that very day dyed also of the same disease and followd him who had called her to the celestiall kingdom 4. Another likewise of those Handmaids of our Lord being struck with the same contagion and drawing to her end began about midnight to call to those which attended her desiring them to putt out the candle standing by This she often did but none obeyed her At last she said I know you think I speak I know not what but it is not so For I assure you I see so wonderfull a light in the room that the candles light is darknes compared to it And when after all this none answered her or complyed with her desire she said again Well let the candle burn if you please but know that is not my Light For my light will come at day-break After this she told them how a certain Holy man who dyed the same year had appeared to her assuring her that the next morning she should goe to everlasting light And the truth of this Vision was confirmed by the death of the said Virgin who expired at the break of day XXII CHAP. 1.2 c. The Plague among the Northumbers the death of S. Cedde and of Tuda Bishop of Lindesfarn 1. THe same horrible infection spread it self Northward likewise and there wrought the like destruction not only among the lay people but Religious also insomuch as many eminent for learning and Sanctity ended their mortality by it Among which the most illustrious were Cedd Bishop of London who according to his custom visiting his Monastery in the Province of the Northumbers was seised upon by that disease And Tuda Bishop of Lindesfarn 2. Concerning the former Saint Beda thus writes The Venerable Bishop Cedd having for the space of many years administred the Bishoprick of London in the Province of the East-Saxons and thereto ioynd the care likewise of the Monastery of Lestinghen in the Province of the Northumbers â—ver which he appointed Superiours it hapned that coming to visit the said Monastery in this time of Mortality the contagion surprising him he dyed there At first he was buried abroad but not long after a Church of Stone being built in the said Monastery and dedicated to the honour of the Blessed Virgin-Mother of our Lord his Body was removed and layd at the right hand of the Altar He committed the government of his Monastery after his death to his Brother Ceadda who was afterward consecrated a Bishop as we shall shortly declare 3. When the Monks of another Monastery of his in the Province of the East-Saxons heard that he was dead and buried in the Kingdom of the Northumbers about thirty of them went thither being desirous to live and when the pleasure of God should be to dye and be buried near the Body of their Venerable Father They were willingly received by their Brethren there and in a short time they all dyed of the same infection excepting one young child onely who as was constantly beleived was preserved from death by the prayers of the Holy Bishop For whereas he lived a long time after and gave himself to reading the Holy Scriptures he found at last that he had not been regenerated by the Waters of Baptism Whereupon being presently baptised he afterward was promoted to the Order of Preist-hood and did much good to many in Gods Church Therefore I doe not doubt as was said but that he was detaind from death by the intercession of his Holy Father out of love to whom he was come thither by whose prayers he thus escaâ—ped the danger of eternall death and also by hâ—â— teaching afforded the ministery of life and Salvation to others 4. In the same Province of the Northumbers by the same pestilence was snatcheâ— away also Tuda Bishop of Lindesfarn who had a little before upon the departure of Bishop Colman been ordained his Successour For so writes S Beda Colman said he being returnâ—â— into his Countrey the servant of our Lord Tuda received after him the Bishoprick of the Northumbers He had his instruction among the Southern Scotts and by them was ordained Bishop He received the fashion of the Ecclesiastical Tonsure according to the Custom of that Province but he observed the Catholick Rule of the Paschal Solemnity He was a good Religious Bishop but his government of that Church lasted a very short time He came out of Scotland during the life of Colman and with great diligence both by preaching and good example
with his Queen Brethren and no doubt a great multitude of attendants 4. As touching the former the ancient Fathers saith Baronius doe generally agree to what Eusebius a Grecian Ecclesiasticall Historian not at all partiall for Rome delivers in this passage of his Chronicle saying In the second yeare of Claudius which was the four and fortieth of our Saviours Nativity the Apostle S. Peter having founded and setled the Church of Antioch went to Rome where preaching the Gospell he continued Bishop of that Citty the space of five and twenty years that is sayth S. Hierom till the last yeare of Nero. The particular affaire obliging the Apostle to that voyage as the same Father after Arnobius c. affirms was the pursuing Simon Magus the Prince of all blaspheming Hereticks against whom this Prince of the Apostles was from the begining match'd in combat whose impieties he discovered and by true miracles rendred ineffectuall the others Sorceries till in the end during the raign of Nero by his Prayers he dissipated the fiery Chariot carried by Devils in the aire into which the Magician was mounted and in the sight of all Rome tumbled him down all broken into a precipice lower then the Earth it selfe 5. But besides this the Divine Providence had a more illustrious and universall design in disposing this journey of S. Peter to Rome whch cannot better be expressed then in this discourse of S. Leo the Great his most worthy Successour whose words are these When the twelve Apostles after having received by the Holy Ghost the power of speaking all Tongues had undertaken the Employment of communicating the Gospel to the whole world for which purpose they by common consent distributed the severall parts of it among themselves The most blessed S. Peter the Prince of the Apostolicall Order was design'd to the principall Tower of the Roman Empire to the end that the light of Divine Truth revealed for the salvation of all Nations might more efficaciously spread it selfe from the head to all the other members of the Body For what Nation was there some of whose inhabitants were not at Rome or what Region could be ignorant of what passed in that Citty Here the opinions of humane Philosophy were to be trampled under foot Here the vanities of earthly wisdome were to be dissipared Here the abominable worship of Devils was to be confuted here the impiety of all Sacrileges was to be destroyed For in this one Citty by a most superstitious diligence was heaped together in one masse whatsoever had been in any other parts of the world instituted by the vain errours of men To this Citty therefore thou O most blessed Apostle S. Peter wast not afraid to come and having the Apostle S. Paul afterwards a companion of thy Glory who as yet was busied in the ordering of other Churches thou courageously entredst into this forrest replenish'd with raging beasts and this Ocean horrible both for its depth and tempestuousnes of its waves yet thou entredst it with a far greater resolution then when formerly at our Lords command thou didst walk upon the Sea Neither didst thou feare Rome it selfe Mistresse of the world who before in Caiphas his house wast frighted by the Priests Maid servant And yet was not the Emperour Claudius his power and Nero's cruelty far more formidable then Pilats Tribunall or the Iews violence It was therefore a new Power of Divine Love in thy soule that was victorious over all inducements to feare neither didst thou esteem any terrour could deserve to be apprehended when thou wert imployed in procuring the eternall salvation of those who were committed to thy Love Thus S. Leo and thus doe many other Fathers expound the Oeconomy of Divine Wisdome in sendig S. Peter to Rome Many effects of whose Pastorall sollicitude in sending from that Metropolis of the world into all other Western Regions diligent labourers in Gods Vineyard and some particularly into Brittany we shall presently mention from the authority of ancient Records 6. A second not inefficacious Expedient furthering the effusion of Evangelicall Light into Brittany was as hath been sayd the captivity of the Brittish King Caractacus and his family whose magnanimous behaviour there together with the Emperour Claudius his favourable treating and as it is beleived restoring him to his Principality we have already related out of Tacitus 7. Among other attendants of this Captive Prince ancient Ecclesiasticall Monuâ—ments celebrate the memory of Claudia Ruffina a Brittish Virgin and as learned Writers probably judge one of the Daughters of King Caractacus who by her vertue and Christian Piety being a Disciple of S. Peter became a more illustrious Ornament to our Countrey then Caractacus was by his heroicall magnanimity She seems to have received a change of her Brittish name into Claudia from the Emperour whose captive she was for such was the Roman custome to which was added Ruffina from her husband Rufus This is the same Claudia Ruffina which the Poet Martial afterward so highly commended for her illustrious birth beauty and exquisite perfection both in the Grecian and Roman literature expressly declaring that she was a Brittain This the Epigrammatist writes in a short Epithalamium compos'd upon her marriage with Pudens a Roman Senatour 8. Now who this Pudens was is not evident in Antiquity Severall learned Writers of our own Nation and some Externs likewise doe confidently pronounce that this was that famous Senatour Aulus Pudens concerning whom Baronius thus writes It is delivered by a firme Tradition of Antiquity that the house of Pudens at Rome was the place of the first entertainment of S. Peter Prince of the Apostles and that there new converted Christians began their assemblies to celebrate Divine Mysteries Which house was erected into a Church by the most ancient Title of Pudens The Church it selfe yet remains wherein is extant this antique Inscription In this holy and most ancient Church dedicated by the Holy Pope Pius by the Title of Pastour heretofore the house of Saint Pudens a Senatour and the Hospice of the Holy Apostles there rest the bodies of three thousand Martyrs which the Holy Virgins of Christ Pudentiana and Praxedes buried with their own hands 9. If this was the same Pudens mentioned by Martial as husband to our Claudia Ruffina our Countrey has yet greater reason to glory in the title we have to her And that he was the same that passage of S. Pauls second Epistle to Timothy affords a not contemptible proofe where among the salutations sent to Timothy from Rome the Apostle in the same short verse joyns together Pudens and Claudia saying Eubulus and Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the Brethren salute thee Notwithstanding it cannot be denyed but that the difficulties oppos'd to this are considerable because that Pudens who first entertained S. Peter and was the happy father of four illustrious Saints Saint Timotheus Saint Novatus Saint Pudentiana and Saint Praxedes has in
the Grace of the holy Ghost celebrated frequently Masses and Synods in vaults where the Bodies of holy Martyrs rested 7. After S. Mello's Baptism S. Stephanus ere long promoted him by all the severall Ecclesiasticall degrees to the sublime Order of a Bishop for S. Mello continually adhered to him Now by how stupendious a Miracle he was designed to be the Bishop of Rhotomagum or Roüen we find in his life collected out of ancient Ecclesiasticall Records in this manner 8 S. Stephanus together with S. Mello persever'd in Fastings and watching Now on a certain day whilst the Holy Bishop S. Stephanus was celebrating Masse both himselfe and S. Mello saw an Angell standing at the right side of the Altar Masse therfore being finish'd he gave to him a Pastorall Croster or staff which the Angell held in his hand saying Receive this staff with which thou shalt govern the inhabitants of the Citty of Roüsen in the Province of Neustria And though the labours of away and course of life hitherto unexperienced by thee may prove burdensom notwithstanding doe not feare to undertake it for our Lord Iesus Christ will protect thee under the shadow of his wings Thus having received a benediction from the holy Pope he betook himself to his iourney And when he was come to Altissiodorum or Auxerre in Gaule having in his hand the staff which he had received from the Angell he by his prayer restored to health a man who had his foot cut in two peices by an axe 9. The learned Molanus calls S. Mello the first Bishop of Roüen and seems to proove it by an Ancient Distick of that Church importing as much But a former more authentick Tradition describ'd out of the ancient Catalogue of Bishops of that Church by Democharus declares that S. Nicasius preceded S. Mello in that Bishoprick However saith Ordericus Vitalis The Ancient Pagan Superstition after the Martyrdom of S. Nicasius possess'd the said Citty filling it with innumerable pollutions of Idolatry till the time that S. Mello was Bishop there XV. CHAP. 1.2 c A prosecution of the Gests of S. Mello Bishop of Roüen 5. Dempster impudently challenges him to be a Scott 1. BEcause we would not interrupt this story of S. Mello it will be convenient here to prosecute his life and Gests unto his death which hapned almost two and twenty years after his Ordination Thus therfore the Gallican Martyrologe relates concerning him 2. S. Mello unwilling to delay the execution of the Mission impos'd on him by the Holy Ghost departed from Auxerre and went streight to Roüen Where courageously setting upon his divine employment he began to preach to the inhabitants the name of Christ with such efficacy of speech and power of miracles to which the admirable Sanctity of his life added a greater vertue that in short time he brought almost the whole Citty to the obedience of Faith This great change began especially when on a certain day the people were busy in attending to an abominable sacrifice offred to a certain false Deity of theirs For S. Mello coming there suddenly upon them and inflam'd with a heavenly zeale sharply reproved that frantick people for their blindnes which worship'd a senceles stock as if it were a God And presently calling on the Name of Christ and making the triumphant Sign of the Crosse he immediatly tumbled down the Idoll and with the word of his mouth alone in the sight of them all broke it into small peices-Hereupon the people being astonish'd with this sight willingly attended to his admonitions who taught them the knowledge of the true God and the hope of immortall life to be attaind by his pure Worship By this means a great multitude of the Cittizens became imbued with the Doctrines of our holy Faith and purified by the water of Sacred Baptisme And S. Mello in the same place from which he had expelled the Devill erected the first Trophey to our Lord building there a Church under the Title of the Supreme most Holy Trinity In which Church the people being assembled every Sunday were instructed more perfectly by him in the Worship of God there he offred the unbloody Sacrifice and communicated to his flock the means and helps by which they might attain salvation 3. Thus the flock of Christ encreasing plentifully every day certain Merchants of other countreys negotiating there became attentive and obedient to the Divine Word for whose commodity the Holy Bishop built another Church in an Island where they might more conveniently assemble themselves to which he gave the Title of S. Clement He added moreover a third Church to the end he might comply with the fervour of the multitudes flowing together to see the Wonders wrought by him This he consecrated to the veneration of the most holy Virgin the Mother of God and placed there a Colledge of Preists therby designing it for an Episcopall See 4. Having thus persisted the space of many years in the discharge of his Apostolicall Office and by the seed of the Divine Word having begotten many thousand soules to Christ this Blessed man a veteran Soldier in our Lords warfare at last in the year of Grace two hundred and eighty departed to his eternall rest there receiving from his heavenly Generall whom he had served with great courage perseverance and glory an inestimable Doâ—â—tive and reward He was buried in a vault in the suburbs over which afterward was erected a Church dedicated to S. Gervasius a glorious Monument worthy of him From whence notwithstanding afterward when the Danish armies raged in France his sacred Body was removed into parts more remote from the Sea and reverently layd at a Castle called Pontoise where to this day it reposes in a Church which from him takes its Title where the memory of so illustrious a Champion of Christ lives with great glory and splendour 5. This account gives the Gallican Martyrologe of our Blessed Brittish Saint Mello or Melanius Probus as Possevin calls him Whom yet in opposition to the universall consent of all Writers and Records agreeing that he was a Brittain Dempster most impudently in his Scottish Menology will needs call a Scott falsly affirming that Possevin acknowledges him for such Wheras to this time there is not mention in any ancient Writers of such a Nation as Scotts in this Island Or if there had been certain it is that their countrey never having been subdued by the Romans there was no Tribut sent from thence to Rome which yet we see was the occasion of S. Mello's first going thither But it is Dempsters constant practise ridiculously to adopt into a Scottish family all persons whatsoever which in these Primitive times are called Brittains If this were granted Ireland would have a better title to this Saint then Scotland for in this age that Island was the only countrey of the Nation called Scots which afterward transplanted themselves into the Northern parts of the Caledonian Brittains But
this controversy is well determin'd by the learned Bishop Vsher though an Irishman who says Dempster is the first and onely Writer that ever dreamt that Melanius was a Scott XVI CHAP. 1. The Emperour Valerianus first favours afterward persecutes Christians 2. He is taken Captive by the King of Persia. 3. Many Tyrants and Vsurpers in the Empire 4. Gallienus Son to Valerianus slain 5.6 Claudius a Worthy Emperour succeeds His raign short but his posterity in the following age possesses the Empire VAlerian in the beginning of his raign showd not any disfavour to Christians but in his fifth year he raised a furious persecution which was the eighth against them in which the holy Pope Stephanus was crowned with Martyrdom to whom succeeded S. Sixtus the second of that Name who the same year tasted of same the Cup. And in his place sate S. Dionysius To the same Emperours cruelty the glorious Martyr S. Cyprian became a Sacrifice and at Rome S. Laurence though inferiour in degree yet excelling all other Martyrs in his magnanimously suffring with contempt most exquisite torments 2. But almight God speedily and heavily visited all this precious blood upon the Emperour Valerian who being taken prisoner in a battell against Saporeâ— King of the Persians lived many years in a most miserable slavery being made that Kings footstoole when he mounted his horse and at last his body was excoriated and salted with salt to be an eternall monument of the instability of human glory Neither was it a small aggravation to his unhappines that his Son Gallienus left sole Emperour never attempted either by treaty or war to redeem him 3. Notwithstanding though Gallienus was by iust title Sole Emperour yet never was there in so few years so many Vsurpers of the Empire as during his raign for in severall Provinces of the Roman world no fewer then thirty Tyrants assumed the Title of Emperours Among which those who had the Government of Gaule as Posthumius Tetricus c. were always favoured and assisted by the Armies in Brittany which was a portion of that Prefecture This is testified by a world of ancient Medalls inscrib'd by their names and faces which have been diggd up in severall places in this Island 4. At last after more then five years luxuriously and sluggishly spent Gallienus was by the treachery of Claudius his next Successour slain together with his Brother and children 5. Within lesse then three years Claudius dyed an Emperour highly esteem'd by the Romans for his courage wisdome and morall vertues but yet he was a persecutour of Christians After his death his Brother Quintillus took the Name of Emperour but within seaventeen days was slain by his own soldiers either for his austerity or because they had heard that Aurelianus was chosen Emperour by the Eastern Armies who therfore in history is esteemed the immediate Successour of Claudius 6. Notwithstanding the family of Claudius which was Flavian was sufficiently recompenced for the misfortune of his Brother Quintillus in that a daughter of his other Brother Crispus called Claudia being maried to Eutropius an eminent person of the Dardanian Nation bore to him Constantius Chlorus who established the Empire in his family for severall generations XVII CHAP. 1. Aurelianus the Successour of Claudius overcomes Zenobia and leads her Captive 2. He marches against the Tyrant Tetricus 3.4 He his accompanied by Constantius who makes himself illustrious 5 6.7 The Emperour Aurelianus his just Sentence in a controversy among Christians 1. AMong all the late Vsurpers of the Empire there remained only two in the beginning of Aurelianus his raign Zenobia in the East Queen of Palmyrene and Tetricus in the West Against these two therfore the Emperour turn'd his Arms beginning first with Zenobia a Lady of most masculin courage whom at last notwithstanding he with much difficulty subdued and lead with him in triumph to Rome where she and her off spring lived in a private but splendid fortune 2. After this Aurelianus march'd against Tetricus who had severall years acted the Emperour in Gaule with whom likewise conspired the Brittish Army But not dating to oppose the Emperour in battell he retired into Catalonia whither being pursued he voluntarily surrendred himself to him and was permitted not only to live but to live in esteem with him being trusted with the government of a Province in Italy 3. In this expedition Aurelianus was accompanied by Constantius Chlorus who here layd the foundations of bringing the Empire into his own family For behaving himself with admirable courage and conduit in freeing the Citty call'd Augusta Vindelicorum or Ausburg from a streit seige with which the barbarous Germans had surrounded it and afterward defeating the Enemies forces in a battell near the said Citty he gained so great a share in the Emperours favour and opinion that he made choice of him to be trusted with a Army into Brittany a Province then unquiet and ill affected 4. In this voyage of Constantius were layd the grounds of strange revolutions not only in regard of his own family but of the whole Church of God For now it was that he maried the so famous Brittish Lady S. Helena of whose birth we have already spoken Now it was that the glorious Emperour Constantin the Great was born and educated by his holy Mother in at least a love if not a Profession of Christian Religion by whom in a few years the Catholick Church was not only freed from the most heavy persecution it ever had groand under but made to triumph over Hell it selfe and the Kingdom of Hell Pagan Idolatry But a more full account of these things deserving our most exact inquiry we will referre to the following Book 5. And we will conclude this with relating a memorable passage out of Eusebius touching a most just and impartiall iudgment given by the Emperour Aurelianus alhough a Heathen in a controversy among Christians by which he acknowleged the authority and dignity of the Bishop of Rome contradicted and despis'd by Modern Sectaries The busines in debate was this 6. Paulus Samosatenus having broached a most execrable Heresy by which he denyed the Divinity of the Son of God was in a Synod of Eastern Bishops reduced from his Errour But upon his relapse he was by them excommunicated and deposed from his Bishoprick of Antioch But the obstinate Arch. heretick refused to relinquish either his opinion or his See Hereupon the said Bishops gave an account both of their iudgment and his perversenes to Dionysius Bishop of Rome and other Bishops in the West Now this controversy coming to the Notice of secular Magistrates the Emperour himselfe was desired to pronounce sentence therin which he performed in a manner that might have become a good Christian Prince related thus by Eusebius 7. When Paulus saith he refused to depart out of the house belonging to that Church of Antioch the Emperour Aurelian being desired to
be found in the Martyrologes of Canisius and of England as likewise in the Offices of a world of particular Churches which celebrate their memory as shall be shew'd hereafter And it must be ascrib'd to a miraculous Providence or Revelation that they have not utterly perished And thus having premis'd these generall observations touching this blessed Army of Saints we will now prosecute their Voyage XXII CHAP. 1.2 c. The story of the Martyrdom of S. Vrsula and the eleaven thousand Virgins 10.11 S. Cordula out of fear hides herself but next day returns and is Martyred 1. THE History of the Martyrdom of these glorious Virgins though for the substance of it attested by a world of particular Churches through all the Regions of Christendom yet has been so corrupted by the prodigious fictions of vain Writers even in more ancient times that some doe question whether ever there were any such persons at all and doubt not but the Legend of their Martyrdom is false The rather because the Writers of that age of the age immediatly following Gildas and S. Beda doe not in their Histories make any expresse mention of them 2. But as for Gildas his design to bewayle the generall destruction of the Brittish state and to declare the horrible crimes overspreading the Nation which provok'd Almighty God to give them up to the fury of a barbarous people which though ignorant of Gods Law yet was lesse stain'd with vices against the Law of Nature and reason then the other This considered no wonder if tying himself to his present subject he did not in so short yet comprehensive a narration involve occurrents hapning abroad Yet as hath been declared he has expressions which seem intended to describe in a generall way this particular matter deserving to be the sole argument of the Penn of a ready Writer 3. And as for S. Beda it is no wonder if his History intended only to relate the affaires of the Saxons does not recount such particular occurrents of the Brittains Notwithstanding in other Treatises he twice expressly mentions the celebration of the Memory of eleaven thousand Virgin Martyrs suffring for their Faith and Chastity at Colen to wit in his Martyrologe and in his Ephemeris So that his authority and testimony alone living so neer these times and being so wel vers'd in Ecclesiasticall Antiquities does render the truth of their story in grosse unquestionable 4. The particular Narration of which shall here be nakedly set down according to the consent of most of our Writers For as for the pretended Revelations of S. Elizabeth wherin we are told of an unheard of Pope Cyriacus of Iames a Patriark of Antioch of Seaven Bishops and eleaven Kings all these Brittains and accompanying S. Vrsula in her voyage as likewise of their wandring and sporting three years upon the Sea c. These things though formerly thrust into the Lessons of the Roman Breviary yet upon serious examination and correction of it by three Popes are now cast out as impertinent and uncertain Tales we following so great an authority will likewise neglect them 5. The plain and simple Narration of their Gests therefore is this S. Vrsula and her eleaven thousand chast companions chosen out of all the Provinces of Brittany together with a great but uncertain number of attendants partly to avoy'd the fury of Barbarous Saxons wasting their countrey and partly to goe to their design'd Husbands expecting them in Armorica in the year of our Lord four hundred fifty three saild out of their port in Brittany and pursuing their voyage Westward and toward the South by contrary winds and Tempests were not only stopp'd in their course but driven backward and forced to shelter themselves at the entrance of the Rhene into the Sea 6. At this time infinit numbers of Hunns Gepids Russians and other barbarous Nations of the North both by land and Sea vexed Germany and Gaule as the Writers of that age unanimously testify And by Gods speciall Providence who intended to match these Holy Virgins to a Spouse incomparably better then their parents had design'd them to in the same station where they took harbour a great Navy of those savage Pirats lay floating so that there was no possibility for them to escape 7. They are therefore seis'd upon by these Pirats among whom were mingled great numbers of the old Enemies of Brittany the Picts for the cheif Captains of this fleet are said to have been Gaunus a Hunn and Melga a Pict Being thus become Captives they are in boats conveyed up the Rhene as far as Colen where their generall forces were encamped and as some Writers affirm had beseig'd that Citty 8. When they were arriv'd thither and encompass'd with innumerable multitudes of Savages hating Christian Religion and brutish in their sensuall lusts both their Faith and chastity are at once assaulted and no means either by allurements or threatnings are left unattempted to expugnate their chast breasts In this extremity S. Vrsula with flaming words exhorts her companions to contemn death to sacrifice their chast soules and bodies to their celestiall Bridegrome and willingly to follow him who now calls them to receive eternall crowns of glory She tells them that in this conflict though their enemies be never so many strong and cruell yet that themselves were unconquerable unlesse they would willingly yeild up the victory c. 9. With this Exhortation the minds of these holy Virgins become so full of courage that they think their Executioners delay their death too long Insomuch as among so vast a multitude of tender maids not one single person was found which either out of hope or fear yeilded to the wills of the barbarous soldiers They all willingly offer their necks and breasts to the enemies swords which with unheard of cruelty are employ'd to exterminate from the earth so many immaculate soules not one of which by a miraculous care of Almighty God suffred any violation in their bodies 10. Onely one there was among them which though she did not yeild to the barbarous Enemies yet out of a naturall fear of death sought by hiding her self to delay it Her name was Cordula Yet she the next morning came to the place where her companions bodies lay massacred and condemning her former cowardlines willingly offred her self to her persecutours professing publickly her Faith and chastity And thus though she came late to receive her Crown with her companions yet her courage seem'd now greater in that she expos'd her self single to the fury of an innumerable multitude of savage enemies Her memory is thus particularly celebrated in the Roman Martyrologe on the day following the Martyrdom of S. Vrsula and the rest At Colen on the tenth of the Calends of November is solemniâ—'d the memory of S. Cordula who being one of the companions of S. Vrsula after she had in a fright to see their cruell massacre hid her self afterwards repenting she voluntarily came forth
out of her hiding place and last of them all receiv'd the crown of Martyrdom 11. Such a Sacrifice as this had never before nor hath been since offred to Almighty God by his Church We read of a S. Agnes a S. Catherine a S. Lucia and a few other miraculous Examples of courage and chastity in tender Virgins but they were single persons neither is it unusuall with God to shew the power of his Grace in some particular favourits of his to exalt the Faith and confound Vnbeleivers There have likewise been recorded illustrious Examples of multitudes of men which have freely without resistance suffred Martyrdom as the Thebaean Legion c. But such courage in men especially soldiers who dayly look death in the face is not to be esteemed very extraordinary Whereas here we find a far more numerous Army consisting of young timerous tender Virgins to whom ordinarily the sight of an Enemies look is insupportable offring themselves freely to innumerable swords Among them all not one single soule is found which yeilds to their flatteries or fury and but one which delays her suffring the space onely of a single night after which she as it were animated with the united Spirits of all her Companions next day solicites the united fury of innumerable Enemies against her self alone and gloriously triumphing over the rage of men and Hell too is ioyfully receiv'd among her blessed CoÌ„panions XXIII CHAP. 1 2.3 c. The Names of these Holy Virgins Their Sacred Relicks dispersed all the world over Names of Churches where they are Venerated 1. THE fame of this Tragedy in which was display'd the extremity of savage cruelty in men and miraculous courage in Virgins was no sooner spread abroad in the world but that all countreys and Churches became suitours to be enrich'd with a portion of their sacred Relicks which have been spread through Germany Gaule Italy Brittany yea Asia Africk and of late India it self So exactly was fullfill'd the Canticle of S. Vrsula and her Associats mention'd by Gildas Thou O God hast given us as sheep to be devoured and hast disperst us among the Nations 2. Not above ten years after this glorious Martyrdom that is about the year of Grace four hundred sixty three saith Hermannus Fleien one of the Canons of Colen Solinus nam'd by others Aquilinus Arch-Bishop of that Citty as we find in our ancient Records out of reverence to the Memory of these holy Virgins enclosed with walls the sacred place of their Martyrdom in which was erected a Church consecrated to their cheif Captain S. Vrsula which remains to this day by the accesse of which place the Citty of Colen was so much enlarg'd He also took out of the ground as carefully as he could their sacred bones which he reverently again buried in chests hewn out of stone 3. Neither did Brittany long delay to testify her veneration to these her blessed countrey-women A witnes whereof is a well known Town call'd Maidenhead For thus writes Camden The Thames saith he winds back to a little town formerly call'd Southlington but afterward Maidenhead from the Superstitious reverence there given to the head of I know not what holy Virgin one of the eleaven thousand Brittish Martyrs which under the conduct of S. Vrsula returning from Rome into their countrey were martyrd by Attila call'd the Scourge of God near Colen in Germany Thus he censures the piety of a world of devout Emperours Kings Princes Bishops and Doctours of Gods Church in all ages 4. A volume might be written if we should â—eap up all testimonies which a world of Churches have given of their veneration to these Holy Martyrs Therefore we will only here sett down a Catalogue of such of their Names as have escaped oblivion And thereto adjoyn the Churches where many of them are venerated in regard their Holy Relicks repose there 5. S. Vrsula for orders sake divided that innocent Army into certain Squadrons First then she gave a generall authority over all under her to these Virgins S. Cordula S. Eleutheria S. Florentia and S. Pinnosa Next she assign'd the care inspection of a thousand to each of these following S. Benedicta S. Benigna S. Carpophora S. Celindes S. Clementia S. Columba S. Lata S. Lucia S. Odilia S. Sapientia and S. Sybylla After which these particular Virgins names are recorded Saint Agnes S. Antonina S. Areaphila S. Babcaria S. Baldina S. Candida S. Caraduméa S. Christina S. Columbina S. Corona S Cunera Saint Deodata S. Flora S. Florina S. Florentina S. Grata S. Honorata S. Honoria S. Hostia S. Languida S. Margarita S. Margaria S. Oliva S. Panpheta S. Panefrides S. Pavia S. Paulina S. Pharanina S. Pisona S. Sambaria S. Sancta S. Semibaria S. Terentia S. Valeria 6. The Body of S. Vrsula her self is still preserv'd at Colen but her Head was translated to Paris where the illustrious Colledge of Sorbon acknowledges her their Patronesse At S. Denys in France there is a commemoration of Panefredis Secunda Semibaria Florina and Valeria companions of S. Vrsula whose relicks repose there At Huy in Germany is celebrated the Translation of S. Odilia famous for frequent miâ—acles In Flanders the Monastery of Marcian possesses some part of the Body of S. Cordula The Monastery of Good Hope belonging to the Premonstratenses enjoy the Relicks of S. Terentia S. Marguarita S. Baldina S. Samburia and S. Margaria translated thither when Reinaldus was Arch-Bishop of Colen The Monastery of S. Martin in Tornâ—y glories in the Bodies of S. Honorata Florina and some part of the Relicks of S. Vrsula The Monastery of S. Amand in Pabula preserves the Bodies of three of these Virgins whose names are unknown At Andain in Arduenna repose the Bodies of S. Grata S. Hostia and S. Areaphila A Hospital in Tornay possesses S. Languida At Arras the Bodyes of S. Beata and S. Sancta are said to repose in the Cathedrall Church Four of these Holy Virgins are celebrated at the Monastery of S. Bertin in S. Aumar At the Church of S. Salvius the Relicks of S. Pavia and S. Caradumea are venerated The Norbertins at Vicoine possesse the Bodies of S. Corona S. Pharanina S. Babcaria S. Margarita another S. Margarita S. Benedicta S. Cordula S. Sambaria S. Deodata S. Panpheta and S. Christina The Canons of Tungres venerate the Heads of S. Pinnosa and S. Oliva The Nunnes of Mays venerate the Relicks of S. Paulina S. Florentina and eight other Holy Virgins companions of S. Vrsula In the town of Rhenen in the Diocese of Vtrecht is celebrated the memory of S. Cunera which holy Virgin in our Martyrologe is said to have been withdrawn from the slaughter by a certain noble Matron in whose house she was awhile conceal'd but being discover'd had her neck broken But the Belgick Writers say that she in compassion was by a certain Noble man privately taken from the rest and conveyed to his house Where his
the Holy Bishop David the glory of Brittany the Father of his countrey is this day dead he has escaped out of the prison of his body and is flown to heaven Beleive me I my self have seen a multitude of Angels conducting him in to the joy of his Lord and our Lord himself at the entrance of Paradice hath crownd him with glory and honour Know also that Brittany which is depriv'd of so great a light will a long time mourn the absence of so powerfull a Patron He it was who oppos'd himself to the sword of our Lord which was half drawn out for the destruction of that nation in revenge of their sins and impenitence Now will God deliver up Brittany to strange Nations which know him not and Pagans shall empty the Island of its inhabitants Christian Religion shall be utterly dissipated in it till the time prefix'd by God be ended But after that it shall through the mercies of our Lord be restor'd to its former state yea to a far better and happier How true this Prophecy of S. Kentigern was the following Story will demonstrate 7 S. David was buried in his own Church of Menevia which saith Geffrey of Monmouth he had loved above all other Monasteries of his Diocese because S. Patrick who had prophecied of his Nativity had been the founder of it He adds that it was by the command of Malgo King of the Venedotae that he was there buried And that after five hundred years he was solemnly canoniz'd by Pope Calixtus the second of that name The Church in which he was buried was dedicated to S. Andrew but in succeeding times took S. David for the Patron by whose name it and the whole Diocese was call'd S. Davids 8. The Memory of his Sanctity was so precious that within a few years after his death the visiting of his Church was a great devotion of those times S. Oudoceus Successour of S. Theliau in the Bishoprick of Landaff after a Pilgrimage to visit the Monuments of the Holy Apostâ—es at Rome made another to the Church of S. David And afterward when any one had a desire to goe in devotion to Rome and was hindred either by the difficulties or dangers of the iourney he might equall the merit of such a pilgrimage by twice visiting the Church of S. Davids as appears by a Dâ—stick common in those times expressing so much Such was either the pious credulity of that age or perhaps that compensation was allow'd by Popes 9. The Successour of S. David in the Bishoprick of Menevia was called Kinoc or Cenac who was translated thither from the See of S. Patern But his and many of his Successours Gests have been buried in obscurity for the Name of Saint David did so fill the Church of Menevia for severall ages that the mention of his successours has been omitted XXI CHAP. 1.2.3 Death of King Otta and K. Cerdic 1. BEcause we would not discontinue the Gests of the famous Bishop S. David we have pursued them severall years beyond the date and season whereto we are arrived in the Generall History of the Ecclesiasticall state of Brittany Which disorder hereafter also oft to be committed especially in the lives of particular Saints we expect will find pardon because therby a greater disorder will be avoyded of delivering their actions peece-meale and by shreds to the Readers prejudice We will therefore return to the place from which we made this diversion 2. In the year of Grace five hundred thirty two Otta King of Kent dyed leaving his Son Irmeric Successour in his Kingdom who was illustrious for nothing more then in that he was Father to the glorious and happy King Ethelhert the first Christian King among the Saxons 3. Two years after dyed also Cerdic King of the West-Saxons in the sixteenth year of his Raign to whom succeeded his Son Kenric in all his Dominions except the Isle of Wight which he left to his Sisters Son Witgar whom he dearly lov'd both for propinquity of blood and military skill XXII CHAP. 1.2 c Of S. Iohn a Brittish Saint in France 4.5 c. Of S. Mochia a Brittish Saint in Ireland 1. IN our ancient English Martyrologe the death of a Holy Brittish Preist is assignâ—d to the year five hundred thirty â—eaven His name was Iohn and his fame was more celebrated in forrain Nations then his own The great commotions of Brittany and barbarous cruelty of the Saxons compelled great numbers to seek means of serving God abroad which they could not find at home Among whom this Holy Preist Iohn was one who retir'd himselfe into France and thoâ—gâ— he spent his liâ—e iâ— solitude and prayer in the Province of Tours yet it pâ—eas'd God by a miracle after his death to 〈◊〉 known his Sanctity Which Miracle I shâ—â—ld scarce have mention'd in this History were it not that I find it related by a famous Bâ—shop S. Gregory oâ— Tours in whose Provâ—nce thiâ— Holy Preist liv'd and who might himself have been an eye-witnes oâ— it The relation given by him is as followeth 2. Not far from this Church of Caâ—on rests the sacred Holy of a certain Preist named Iohn He was by Nation a Bâ—ittain and living here with great devotion and piety our Lord was pleas'd by 〈◊〉 miraculously to restore health to many He the better to attend to divine love avoyded the â—ight of men confining himself to a little Cell â—nd Oratory over against the Church of Caâ—on â—here 〈◊〉 a little Orchard cultivated by himself he had planted a few lawrel-trees which now are â—o encreased that the boughs of them being drawn â—ogether arch-â—ise doe afford a very pleasing â—hade Vnder those laurels his custom was to sit reading or writing as he thought fit After his death among the said trees whose wide-stretch'd branches made a very commodious shade there was one which through age was quite withered Then he to whom the care of the place was committed dâ—â—g'd up the roots of the said dry tree and of the body of it hewed out a seat or bench upon which when he was weary or would seriously meditate on busines he was used to sitt After he had made such use of the said seat the space of two years or mâ—re a thought of remorse came into his heart I beleive by divine Inspiration which forced him to say Alas Sinner that I am â—hy doe I for mine own convenience make use of a seat fram'd of the tree which so holy a Preist planted with his oâ—n hand Having said this he presently took a â—â—ade and digging a deâ—p hole in the ground presently he putt the seat into it after he had cutt off the â—eet which supported it and then cover'd it with earth Now behold a great wonder The very next spring this dry bench thus buried as hath been said sprouted forth into green branches as the other treese did which prosper'd so well that at this day there are proceeded
19. Now in that Island there had anciently been a Church built by King Ethelbert at Saint Augustins request which not long before this time had been destroyed by the cruell Tyrant Penda who had also slain or chased away the Preists attending it This Church the Holy Virgin restored in a more ample form and consecrated it as it had been formerly to the Honour of the most blessed Virgin Mother of our Lord. Thereto likewise she by the assistance of her Brother King Adulf adioyned a Monastery of devout Virgins which with great fervour flocked to her over whom she was constituted Abbesse And concerning her manner of life there wee thus read in S. Beda It is reported saith he that from her first entrance into the Monastery she never used any linnen vestments and very seldom any warm bathes except before the solemne Feasts of Easter Pentecost and Epiphany and then she would be the last to wash her self after she had ministred to all the other Virgins She rarely eat any thing more then once a day unlesse on the great Solemnities or when any infirmity forced her to doe otherwise From the time of Midnight Mattins till break of day she remaind in the Church intent on her Prayers Some affirm that by the Spirit of Prophecy she foretold both the Pestilence of which she her self dyed and likewise in the presence of her whole Convent she signified the number of those who were to be taken out of the world 21. The sweet odour of her piety and vertues drew many Virgins and Widows some of Royall descent to follow her For her Sister Sexburga Queen of Kent after the death of her husband Ercombert to whom she bore two sons Egbert and Lothair who succeeded in the Kingdom became a Nunne under the Government of S. Etheldred to whom likewise she succeeded in the care of the Monastery Moreover the daughter of the same Sexburga calld Erminilda Queen of the Mercians when her husband Wulfer was dead retired to the same Convent bringing with her her only daughter S. Wereburga of whom more hereafter 22. Besides the Monastery of Religious Virgins S. Ethelreda built likewise or rather restord in a place neer adioyning a Convent for Monks over whom she as Abbesse retaind Iurisdiction In both which Cloysters there were no fewer then a hundred devout persons continually attending on the service of God V. CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Ethelreds Body found incorrupt 7 Taudrey-lace 8.9 c. Apparitions and Miracles wrought by the Holy Virgin 1. SEaven years the Blessed Virgin Ethelreda governd her Monastery of Ely exhibiting her self a glorious example of Piety and all vertues after which in the year of Grace six hundred seaventy nine our Lord calld her out of this world to receive her reward on the eighth day before the Calends of Iuly and according to her own command she was buried among her own Religious Virgins in the same coffin of wood wherin she lay when she gave up her Spirit and her Sister Sexburga who had been the Wife of Earcombert King of Kent succeeded her in the Office of Abbesse 2. The wonderfull testimonies which God was pleased to afford in approbation of the Sanctity and purity of this Holy Widow twice a wife and always a Virgin are commemorated by S. Beda who himself might have been a witnes of them He was three and twenty years old when those things hapned and wrote them forty years after The relation by him given thus follows 3. Sixteen years after the Blessed Virgin Saint Ethelreda was buried her Sister Sexburga Abbesse thought fitt to take up her bones and putting them into a New Coffin to translate them into a Church dedicated to her honour She commanded therefore certain of the Monks to search out a Stone commodious for that purpose Now the region of Ely being all encompassed with rivers and marishes afforded no such stones of a convenient largenes They therefore taking boat went to a certain Citty not far distant which lay desolate calld in the English tongue Grandacister where presently neer the walls of the Citty they found a Coffin of white Marble elegantly made and fittly coverd with a stone of the same Perceiving hereby that God had prospered their iourney they with great ioy and thankfullnes brought the Coffin to the Monastery 4. Now when her Sepulcher was opened and the sacred body of this Holy Virgin and Spouse of our Lord discovered it was found â—s free from any corruption as if she had been buried the same day This the foresaid Bishop Wilfrid and many other eye-witnesses have testified But a more certain Witnes hereof was her Physician calld Cinfrid who assisted her at her death and was likewise present when her body was taken up He frequently made relation how in her sicknes she had a great swelling under the hollow of her arme Whereupon he was advised to make an incision in the said swelling that the noxious humour might flow out Which I having done saith he for two days after she found her self at more ease insomuch as many thought she would recover But the third day after her paines returning she was suddenly taken out of the world and made a happy exchange of paines and death for life and perpetuall health 5. And many years after when her bones were taken out of her Sepulcher a Pavilion was sett up about which the whole congregation of Religious men and Virgins stood singing Psalmes In the mean time the Abbesse attended with a few of the Nunnes where busy within the Pavilion taking up the body and on a sudden we heard the Abbesse from within cry out with a distinct voyce Glory be to the name of our Lord And presently after they opened the dore of the Pavilion and calld mee in where I saw the Sacred Body of the Holy Virgin taken out of her Sepulcher and placed in the Coffin where it lay as if she had been asleep After which taking the cover from her face they shewd mee the wound of the incision which I had made perfectly cured insomuch as instead of a wide gaping wound which was in her body when she was buried now only some small signs of a scarr appeared and those likewise were so fresh that they seemd as if they had been closed that very day 6. The Religious Virgins also reported that when by reason of the foresaid swelling she was tormenâ—ed with extreme pains in her neck and side of her face she took great contentment in her infirmity and was want to say I know of a certainty that I am iustly paind in my neck because when I was a young maid I wore about my neck weighty chains of iewells Therefore God in his mercy has thus punished mee that the fiery heat and rednes of the swelling in my neck may satisfy â—or my former pride and levity 7. Harpsfeild from this passage in S. Beda well collects that the custom in England for women
perceived the rubbish newly layd discovered the bodies and afterward a Church was built in the same place to honour their Martyrdom 7. Hereupon King Egbert saith Mathew of Westminster inwardly considering what had passed imputed the whole crime to himself alone and being wonderfully confounded in his mind spent the whole night following in tears Assoon as the morning light appeard he commanded an Assembly to be convoked of the newly arrived Arch-bishop Adeodatus or Theodorus and his Nobles and to them he freely related all former passages touching that busines and likewise how the night before a pillar of fire from heaven descended on the Bedies of those Holy Princes The Arch-bishop hereupon gave his advice that the Bodies should be caried to the Metropolitan Church and there buried after a Royall manner Thence proceeding therefore to the place they found the Sacred Relicks undecently layed under the Kings Chair These things befell in a village belonging to the King called Eastrey Wherefore taking up the Bâ—aâ—es and honourably putting them in coffins the Arch-bishop commanded to cary them to Christ-Church in Canterbury But in vain they attempted this for with all the force they â—ula use they could not remove them out of the place Whereupon changing his purpose he advised to transport them to the Church of Saint Augustin but with as little successe as before At last it was agreed that they should be caried to the Monastery of Wering or â—akering of great renoun in those days Which being resolved upon the Sacred Bodies were as easily removed as if they had no weight at all Being arrived therefore at that place the Exequies were solemnly performed by the Arch-bishop after which the Saints bodies were honourably buried near to the great Altar Where many wonderfull Miracles are dayly wrought to the glory of God and honour of his Saints The fame of which Miracles encreasing a certain Count of the East-Angles named Egelwin caused them to be translated to Ramsey in the time of King Edgar as shall in due place be declared 8 After this King Egbert by the advice of the Arch-bishop Theodorus and the holy Abbot Adrian endeavoured to redeem his former note of impiety by liberall Almes and many Religious Works Among which one memorable Monument of his Piety was the erecting a Monastery in the Isle of Thanet at a place called Menstrey or Minster This is testified by Thorne an ancient writer who saith The said Arch-bishop and Abbot sharply reproved King Egbert for his fault and perswaded him to send for Domneva Princesse of the Mercians and Sister to the two murdred Princes and Holy Martyrs of our Lord and to make sâ—me satisfaction to her for the losse of her Brethren She therefore being come received in the Isle of Thanet as much ground as a hind nourished by her at one course encompassed by running which contained forty eight ploughes There Domnevae with the Kings assistance built a Monastery of Virgins and sent for her daughter Milreda by Merwald Prince of the Mercians from the Monastery of Chelles Cala in France near Paris who being arrived was consecrated Abbesse of the said Monastery by the Holy Arch-bishop Theodore 9. Of this Lady Domneva we have already spoken she is called by severall names in our ancient Monuments Speed stiles her likewise by the Name of Edburga and Harpsfeild of Ermenburga As for her daughter Milreda she was not the first Abbesse of Minster in Thanet but succeeded to a Holy Virgin named Sabba to whom the government of the said Monastery was first committed 10. Such satisfaction the penitent King made for a crime the guilt whereof was cheifly to be imputed to his impious Minister Thunre who though by the Kings taking upon himself the whole sin he was not made a due Sacrifice to human iustice yet he scaped not the Divine vengeance For as William of Malmsbury writes When the said Thunere according to his usuall impudence with scornfull and depraved words misinterpreted the Kings piety in building the said Monastery he was swallowed up into the ground which opened wide under his feet and so descended quick into Hell 11. There is yet extant a Charter granted by King Edward the Confessour to the said Monastery in which severall of these particulars are recorded for therein we read this passage I likewise who am descended from the stock of the same King Edelbert and by the Divine Grace enioy his Kingdom doe in like manner grant the Isle of Thanet which King Egbert gave for an hereditary possession to the Venerable Queen Domneva the Mother of Saint Mildreda as much thereof as a Hind in her course encompassed in satisfaction for the murder of her two Brethren Ethelred and Ethelbert who by command of the said King were uniustly slain by the accursed Thimur whom presently after the Divine vengeance pursued in a terrible manner by a sudden death V. CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Theodore a Grecian sent Arch-bishop of Canterbury into Brittany with Adrian an Abbot 1. THE forementioned murder of the two innocent Princes hapned the same year that the new consecrated Arch-bishop Theodore arrived in Brittany Concerning the manner of whose Election we will now treat 2. The See of Canterbury had been now vacant four years since the death of the Arch-bishop Deus-dedit For Wigard who had been elected to succeed him and sent to Rome to receive consecration from Pope Vitalian dyed there of the plague before that could be effected After whose death the Pope as he informed King Oswi by letters undertook to provide that See and Church of a worthy Prelat 3. For which purpose after much consultation with his freinds saith S. Beda he at last resolved to make choice of a certain Abbot named Adrian residing in a Monastery called Nirida not far from Naples in Campania who was by birth an African eminently imbued in Sacred Learning as likewise in Monasticall and Ecclesiasticall Instituts and perfectly skilled in the Greek and Latin tongues Him therefore he sent for and enioyned him to accept of Episcopal Ordination and to repair into Brittany But the humble Abbot answered that he was unworthy of so high a degree yet withall told him that he could recommend another both for learning and age much better qualified for so sublime a charge then himself Therefore presenting to him a certain Monk named Andrew who was Spirituall Father in a Monastery of Religious Virgins near adioyning after examination he was acknowledged by all worthy of that Bishoprick Notwithstanding by reason of his corporal infirmity he obtaind to be excused Once more therefore the Abbot Adrian was urged to accept of that degree who humbly begged a short respit to the end he might try whether he could find any one more proper for that employment 4. Now there was at the same time in Rome a Monk well known to Adrian named Theodore born in Tarsus of Cicilia a man instructed both in secular and Divine litterature and skilfull
same purpose and that they having received his Benediction were returned full of sorrow the Monk who had heard the celestiall Musick went to the Bishop and prostrating himself to the ground before him said Venerable Father may it be permitted mee to ask you a question The Bishop answered Ask freely whatsoever thou wilt Then said he I beseech you tell mee What meant that ioyfull song which I heard sung by many with great ioy who came from heaven to this Oratory and after a while returned back to heaven again The Bishop replyed If thou hast indeed heard that Musick and perceived the heavenly company which came hither I command thee in the Name of our Lord that thou acquaint none with it before my death The truth is they were Angells and celestiall Spirits which came to call mee to receive those heavenly rewards which I always loved and desired and they have promised mee to return seaven dayes hence and conduct mee with them to heaven And indeed thus it came to passe as he had foretold For presently after a languishing infirmity came upon him which dayly encreased and on the seaventh day as had been promised him after he had armd himself against death by receiving devoutly the Body and blood of our Lord his soule was freed from the prison of his body and as we may piously beleive accompanied by Angells to celestiall ioyes Of whose glory S. Egbert was a witnes as we have already shewed in his Gests related by the same Authour 5. It is no wonder if he entertained with ioy the day of his death saith the same Authour since through the whole course of his life his cheif solicitude was to prepare himself for it insomuch as when any great wind or thunder hapned he would presently lay aside all other busines in hand and prostrating himself on his face pour forth his soule to God in prayer For as he told his Disciples the reason why God sends forth those voyces of terrour is to imprint his fear in mens minds and make them mindfull of those storms and tempests which shall be raised in the last dayes before the Generall Iudgment This S. Beda relates from the testimony of a Religious Monk called Trumbert his Master in Divine learning who had been a Disciple of this Holy Bishop 6. Now S. Ceadda dyed on the sixth day before the Nones of March and was first buried near the Church of our Blessed Lady But afterwards a magnificent Church having been built to the honour of the Prince of the Apostles his Sacred bones were translated thither And in both places for a proof of his Sanctity frequent miracles and cures were wrought 7. The place where he was buried was covered with a woodden tomb built in the form of a little house having a window in the wall through which such as in devotion came thither were accustomed to putt in their hand and take thence some part of the dust Which they mingled with water and gave to be tasted to sick men or cattell also by which their infirmities were presently taken away 8. We may with more assurance relate these Miracles because even the Lutheran Centuriators of Magdeburg acknowledge their beleif of them For thus they write Ceadda the Brother of Ced succeeded Iarumannus in the Bishoprick of the Mercians He received from King Wulfere his Episcopal See in a town of Lindissi called Lichfeild and governed the Churches of the Midland-English and Lindesfarians After his death he was renouned for Miracles insomuch as a man who was frantick and slept only at his tomb was restored to health and others afflicted with any manner of diseases by tasting the dust of his monument were perfectly cured 9. His Memory was with great devotion celebrated in all succeeding ages insomuch as the Cathedrall Church of his Bishoprick being raised with greater magnificence took its appellation from him This came to passe in the dayes of King Edward the second at which time saith B. Godwin Walter Langton Bishop of that See of Lichfeild bestowed two thousand pounds to enrich the Chest which contained the Body of his Predecessour S. Ceadda or Chad and likewise encompassed the precincts of the Church with a wall and ditch adding thereto two gates one very magnificently built toward the west and a lesser one to the East 10. To conclude this Narration we must not omitt one late memorable example of a wonderfull iudgment of God against the professed Enemies of his Saints In the beginning of the late rebellious warr a warr undertaken as much against Gods departed Saints as living Governours one of the most zealous Leaders of a Sacrilegious faction conducting his Army to this Citty of Lichfeild with an intention to break into the Inclosure of S. Ceadda's Church fortified by a Royal party whilst compleatly armed he pulled up the visour of his helmet that he might better view how to place his Ordinance against the wall was mortally wounded in the eye being the only part of his body exposed to danger by a bullet short at random Thus he perished in the heat of his fury whilst he assaulted the Church of S. Ceadda and upon the very Feast day of S. Ceadda 11. In the place of S. Ceadda the Arch-bishop Theodore ordained Bishop of that See a good and modest man saith S. Beda named Winfrid or Wilfrid who was Deacon to his Predecessour and at that time lived in the Monastery of Athburn Of whom we shall speak more hereafter X. CHAP. 1.2 c. The death of severall Saints Of King Oswi Of Abbot Boisilus Of Oswin a Monk of Diman and Adammannus 1. IN the six hundred and seaventieth year of our Lords Incarnation saith S. Beda which was the second year after the coming of Theodore into Brittany Oswi King of the Northumbers in the fifty eighth year of his age fell sick of an infirmity of which he dyed At the same time he was so affectionatly desirous to receive more perfect Instruction in Religion from the Apostolick See of Rome that he was determined in case he had recovered of that disease to goe thither and end his days at the Sacred places of the Apostles for which purpose he had desired the Holy Arch-bishop Wilfrid to be his guide in that journey for which he designed him a great summe of money He dyed the fifteenth day before the Calends of March and left his Son Egfrid heyr of the Kingdom He was buried in the Monastery of Strenshalch to which he had long before consecrated his daughter Edelfleda from her first infancy as hath been declared 2. That he dyed in general opinion of Sanctity appears in that his Name is read among the Saints in our Martyrologe on the fiâ—teenth of February And William of Malmsbury recounts how his body together with the bodies of many other Saints was removed three hundred years after his death For thus he writes At Streneshalt in the Quire
mutuall charity and Humility After which she happily departed to our Lord on the third day before the Ideâ— of Iuly and was both durâ—ng her life and after her death powerfull in Miracles 5. Her Body was with great honour enterred in the said Monastery of Menstrey where it reposed near four hundred years illustrious by the Veneration of pious Christians and the glory of frequent Miracles From thence about the year of Grace one thousand and thirty it was translated to Canterbury Alstan being Abbot there as shall be declared Concerning which Translation William of Malmsbury thus writes In following time the Sacred Body of Saint Mildred was translated to the Monastery of Saint Augustin in Canterbury where it is with great devotion venerated by the Monks and for the fame of her piety and sweetnes answerable to her Name honoured by all And although all the corners of the said Monastery are full of Saint Bodies eminent for their Sanctity and Merits insomuch as any one of them might suffise to give a luster to the whole Kingdom yet the Relicks of none are with more affectionate honour venerated then hers She is present to all that love her and ready to hear and fullfill the requests of every one c. At London likewise there remains to this day a Church dedicated to her honour 6. Moreover her Memory is celebrated in the Belgick Provinces For as Aubert Miraeus testifies part of her Relicks was transported to Daventry and reposed there in the Cathedral Church Mention is also made of the same Relicks in the Gallican Martyrologe on the thirteenth of Iuly in these words At Daventry in Belgium is the Veneration of the Relicks of S. Mildreda an English Virgin consecrated to God in the Monastery of Chelles in the Territory of Paris which are reposed in the Cathedral Church of S. Lebuin together with the Bodies of the same Saint Lebuin and also of S. Marcellinus Her departure out of the world have given luster to this day Saint Mildreda was conveniently associated to these two Saints Lebuin and Marcellinus for her agreement with them both in her faith and countrey For they were English-Saxons likewise who together with Saint Willebrord preached the Faith to the inhabitants of Friseland and Geldres of whom we shal treat hereafter 7. The determinate year of the death of these two Holy Virgins Saint Milburga and Saint Mildreda is uncertain Certain only it is that it is wrongfully ascribed by some Writers to the year of Grace six hundred sixty four For since the same Authours affirm that they were consecrated by Saint Theodore Arch-bishop of Canterbury who came not into Brittany till after that year it is evident that in their computation there is an Antichronism 8. We may therefore more commodiously ascribe it to this year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred seaventy six In which year on the six and twentieth of February our Martyrologe commemorates the Deposition of their youngest Sister Saint Milgitha or Saint Milwida Concerning whom a very shhort account is given by our ancient Authours For of her wee read only that she entred into the Monastery of Estrey built by the Penitent King Egbert in Kent where she so well imitated the Sanctity of her Sisters that she likewise deserved a place in the Catalogue of our Saints 6. From these we must not separate a young Brother of theirs called Mereâ—in Concerning whom Mathew of Westminster and Florentius testify this only that he was a child of eminent Sanctity XX. CHAP. 1. 2. c. The death and Miracles of Saint Ethelburga daughter of Anna King of the East angles 5. 6 Of S. Thoritgitha 7. Of S. Hildelida 1. TO the same year is referred likewise the death of Saint Ethelburga daughter to Anna the pious King of the East-angles and Sister to Saint Erconwald She was as hath been said Abbesse of the Monastery of Berking founded by her Brother 2. Concerning her death hapning the fifth day before the Ides of October thus writes Saint Beda When Edilburga the proâ—â— Mother of that devoâ—â— Congregation was to be taken out of the world a wonderfull vision appeared to one of the Religious Sisters named Theorethid who had lived many years in the Monastery serving our â—ord with all humility and sincerity and had been an assistant to the Holy Abbesse in promoting the observance of Regular Disciplin her charge being to instruct and correct the younger Sisters Moreover to the end that her spirituall strength might be perfected by infirmity as the Apostle saith she was suddenly assaulted by a most sharp disease and for the space of nine years greivously tormented with it This hapned to her by the mercifull Providence of her Saviour to the end that by this furnace of divine tribulation whatsoever defects or impurities through ignorance or negligence had insinuated themselves into her soule might be cleansed away and consumed 3. Now on a certain night towards the dawn of the morning this Religious Virgin upon some occasion going out of her chamber saw manifestly as it were a human body more bright then the Sun enwrapped in linnen which being transported out of the Dormitory of the Religious Virgins was caried up to heaven And whilst she observed diligently by what force the said body should be raised upwards she saw that it was so lifted up by certain ropes more resplendent then gold by which it was drawn higher and higher till at last the heavens opening it was received in after which she could see it no longer 4. Considering this Vision she did not at all doubt but that it imported that some one of that devout Congregation should shortly dye whose soule by good works formerly done should as by certains cords be raised up to heaven And indeed so it fell out For a few days after Saint Edilburga the devout Mother of the said Congregation was freed from the prison of her body who had lead her life in such perfection that none who knew her could doubt but when she left this world the entrance into her heavenly countrey would be opened to her 5. S. Ethelburga was buried in the same Monastery and after her death likewise was not wanting to procure comforts and blessings to her Religious Sisters For as the same S. Beda relates There was in the same Monastery a Devout Virgin of Noble descent but more ennobled by her Piety called Thorithgida who for many years had been so utterly deprived of the use of her limbs that she could not stirr any one of them She being informed that the Body of the Venerable Abbesse was caried to the Church where it was exposed some time before the buriall desired she might be transported thither and placed leaning toward it in the posture of one that prayes This being done she addressed her petition to her as if she had been alive beseeching her to obtain from her mercifull Creatour that she might at length be freed from her
mine own brain But having in my frequent voyages passed through no fewer then seaventeen-well ordred Monasteries I informed my self in all their Laws and Orders and selecting the best among them those I have recommended to you Moreover he enioyned them to have a speciall care that the most noble and well furnished Library which he had brought from Rome and which was so necessary for the instruction of the Church should not through negligence be spoyld or dissipated 5. But one speciall Injunction he often and earnestly renewd to them which was That in the Election of an Abbot no regard at all should be had by any of them to kinred but only to integrity of life and ability of reaching For said he I prosesse unto you that I would much rather chuse that this place in which I have founded this Monastery if such were the will of God should be reduced to a barren wildernes then that mine own Brother who we know does not walk in the wayes of Piety should succeed mee in the charge of Abbot And therefore my Brethren be yee in a speciall manner wary not to seek in my place a Father either among strangers or for propinquity of blood to any of you But according as is contained in the Rule of the Great Patriark and Abbot S. Benedict as likewise in the particular Decrees of this Monastery when you meet together in the common Assembly of your Congregation for the Election of an Abbot let him be proposed to the Bishop to receive his Benediction whom you shall unanimously chuse as most apt for that charge both with regard to his vertue and learning 6. The same Venerable Abbot Benedict likewise to qualify the tediousnes of long nights which by reason of his infirmity he was forced to passe without sleep was accustomed to send for one of the Monks to read to him some portion of Scripture suitable to his present state as the Story of the patience of Iob or such like by meditating on which his mind might be more vigorously affected to the love and desire of heavenly things And because he was utterly unable to rise out of his bed to the Quire and withall found great difficulty to raise his voyce and frame his tongue to the usuall course of Psalmody he out of a prudent devotion would every Ecclesiasticall hower send for some of his Monks and whilst they divided as it were into two quires chanted the Psalms proper for the Hower by day or night he as well as he could would ioyn his voyce with theirs and so by their assistance he would perform the divine Office which alone he could not doe 7. These two Venerable Abbots being thus oppressed with sicknes one day had a desire to meet together that they might see one the other and consult together touching the common good of the Monasteries which they were become unable any longer in their own persons to govern But so extreme was their weaknes that Abbot Sigfrid was carried in a Coffin to the Chamber where S. Benedict lay on his bed and both of them being placed close to one another with their heads on the same pillow yet their weaknes was such that without the help of others attending on them they were unable to ioyn their lips together to give and take their last kisse of charity which was a sad spectacle to the assistants who helped them to perform this last Office 8. At that time Holy Abbot Benedict by the advice of Sigfrid and consent of all the Monks of both Monasteries sent for Ceolfrid a man of nearer propinquity to his vertues then blood whom he had formerly constituted Abbot of the Monastery of S. Paul and proposed him to be Abbot of both the Monasteries whereto all the Religious men present willingly consented as judging it most proffitable to the common good and the preservation of peace and concord that one Spirituall Father should have the care and direction of those two neighbouring Monasteries 9. After these things were thus ordered within two months the Venerable and devout Abbot Sigfrid having passed through the fire and water of many tribulations was conveyed to the refreshment of eternall peace And four months after his death S. Benedict also the great conquerour of all vertues was brought to his last end That whole night the Religious Monks spent in watching and modulating Divine Psalms so comforting themselves in the losse of so beloved and reverenced a Father Severall of them continued in the chamber where the devout Abbot lay expecting his deliverance from mortality All that night they employed in reading some parts of the Gospell for his comfort and in prayers and his last hower approaching they gave him for his Viaticum the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of our Lord. And thus that holy soule after it had been purified in the furnace of many tribulations took her flight freely to eternall glory precisely in the point of time when the Monks reciting the whole Psalter were come to this Psalm Domine quis similis erit tibi c. the scope of which Psalm imports that notwithstanding the malice and violence of our spirituall enemies continually watchfull to destroy us yet by Gods help every faithfull soule shall triumph over them and mock at their eternall confusion So that it may seem that by Divine Providence this Psalm was recited the same moment when that happy soule left her mortall body to shew that no Enemy should have power to hinder her passage to eternall felicity 10. His death hapned in the sixteenth year after he had founded the Monastery of Saint Peter which he governed eight years alone and the eight years following with the assistance of Easterwin Sigfrid and Ceolfrid the first of whom continued Abbot four years the second three and the third one He dyed on the day before the Ides of Ianuary and was buried in the Church of the Blessed Apostle S. Peter to the end that after his death his Body might not be far divided from the Altar and Relicks of him to whom whilst he lived in the flesh he bore a devout affection and who was to open unto him the gates of the celestiall kingdom 11. Thus far have we continued the History of the two ancient and famous Monasteries of S. Peter and S. Paul at Wiremouth and Girwy together with the Gests and death of the first Abbots S. Benedict Easterwin and Sigfrid which though they hapned beyond the present time of this History yet I thought fitt not to interrupt S. Beda's Narration or divide each occurrent assigning it to its proper year to the prejudice of the Readers memory As for the Gests of the remaining Abbot Ceolfrid to whose care our famous and learned Historian S. Beda was committed we will treat of them hereafter in due place XIV CHAP. 1.2 c The Gests of Saint Ebba Abbesse of Coldingham 1. IN the year of Grace six hundred eighty three S. Ebba Abbesse of
Doe so answered he take boat and goe home in safety But when God shall have received my soule bury mee in this mansion near my Oratory toward the South which lyes Eastward from the holy Crosse which I have erected Now toward the Northern part of the said Oratory there is a Coffin covered with green turf which the Venerable Abbot Cudda gave mee long since In that Coffin lay my body having first enwrapped it in a sheet which you will find in the same place which I would never make use of in my life time having had a care out of my affection to the devout Abbesse Verca who sent it mee to reserve it for my Winding-Sheet 8. When I had heard him speak thus I said to him Since you speak of your sicknes and that you shall dye shortly I beseech your Paternity to permitt some of our Brethren to remain here to attend you But his answer was For the present goe away and in convenient time return hither again Notwithstanding I earnestly entreated him to accept of one to serve him which he utterly refusing at last I asked him when he would have us return to him He answered when it shall be Gods pleasure to direct you 9. Wee therefore according to his command went back to our Monastery where assembling all the Monks together I ordained Prayers to be said without intermission for him for said I I perceive by some speeches of his his departure is at hand Now I was very solicitous to hasten my return to him by reason of his sicknes But for five days together there was such a tempest that we could not possibly take boat And the event shewed that this impediment was caused by a speciall dispensation of Divine Providence For Almighty God having a purpose by his Fatherly chastisements to purify his servant from all staines of humane fraylty and to shew how weak were all attempts of his Spirituall Adversaries against the firmnes of his Faith he was therefore pleased that he should remain so long a time separated from all society of men that he might be examined and tryed to the uttermost both by bodily paines and a most sharp combat and assault of his Old Enemy the Devill 10. At last when the weather grew calm wee returned to the Island where being arrived wee found that he was gone out of his own mansion and was sitting in the house where wee ordinarily made our aboad when wee visited him Now because a particular necessity required it I took order that the Brethren who came with mee should sayle back to the next shore and my self remained alone in the Island to assist minister help and comfort to him Therefore warming some water I washed one of his feet which having been long swoln was broke then into an ulcer out of which corrupt matter issued so that it stood in need of dressing I likewise brought him a little wine which I had warmed also and desired him to drink of it For I perceived by his look that his spirits were even spent with fasting and feeblenes caused by his infirmity 11. After I had administred these refreshments to him he sate up upon his couch saying nothing and I also sate by him And when he remained still silent I sayd to him I perceive my Lord Bishop that since we left you you have been much tormented with your sicknes and indeed I wonder why you would not permitt us to leave with you any to assist you He answerd This was done by the Divine Will and Providence to the end that being destitute of all human society and help I might be exposed to suffrings For assoon as you were departed from mee immediatly my sicknes encreased and therefore I went out of mine own mansion to this place that if any of you came to attend mee they might find mee here and not be obliged to goe into my mansion And from the time that I entred into this room and seated my self here I have never stirrd from hence but remained these five dayes and five nights quiet in the same place I replyed But how was it possible you should continue so Have you remained so long a time destitute of all sustenance Then he lifting up a skirt of the Coverlet on which he sate shewd mee five onyons hid there and sayd This has been all my food these five dayes For whensoever my palate was dryed and burnt with thirst by tasting of these I received some refreshment Now I perceived that one of those onyons had had a lesse half of it diminished 12. Moreover he added saying My spirituall Enemies have these five last days assaulted mee with more frequent and bitter persecutions then they have done all the time that I have abode in this Island I durst not presume to ask him concerning the nature and quality of those tentations Therefore I only besought him that he would admitt of some to assist him To this request he yeilded and retained with him certain of our Brethren among whom one was the Elder Beda a Preist who anciently had been his familiar assistant and particularly had taken an account of whatsoever he had given or received Him he made choice of to the end he might acquaint him whether any thing had been received for which no recompence had been made and which before his death he would needs have restored He designed likewise among his attendants another Monk especially who a long time had been sick of a fluxe and could receive no help from Physicians but for his piety prudence and gravity became worthy to be a wittnes of the last words of the holy Bishop and of the manner of his happy death and departure to our Lord. 13. In the mean time I returned home and acquainted my Brethren that it was our Venerable Fathers will to be buried in his own Island But in my opinion it would be more just and fitting that we should solicite him to permitt his Body to be translated hither and buried with honour in our Church The motion made by mee was pleasing to them all therefore going to the Bishop we petitioned him saying We dare not presume contemptuously to disobey your Order that your Body should be buried in this place Notwithstanding we humbly request you to honour us so far as to permitt us to translate it to our Monastery that we may enioy the blessing of its presence among us He answerd Truly my desire was to repose in my body here where I have combatted so long time against my Spirituall Enemies and at last according to the Grace given mee consummated my course and my hope was that from hence I should be called by my mercifull Iudge to receive a crown of glory Moreover my opinion is that it would be more commodious for you also that I should repose here considering that notwithstanding my many imperfections a fame is gone out and entertained by the people that I am a faithfull servant of Christ by which many