THE ECCLESIASTICALL HISTORIE OF GREAT BRITAINE DEDVCED BY AGES OR CENTENARIES FROM THE NATIVITIE OF OVR SAVIOVR VNTO the happie Conuersion of the Saxons in the seuenth hundred yeare whereby is manifestly declared a continuall Succession of the true Catholike Religion which at this day is professed taught in and by the Roman Church WRITTEN BY RICHARD BROVGHTON THE FIRST TOME CONTAINING THE FOWER HVNDRED FIRST YEARES TO WHICH ARE ANNECTED FOR THE GREATER BENEfite of the Reader ample Indexes after the Preface both of the Authors out of which this Historie hath bâ—ne colâ—ecâ—ed and of the Chapters and at the end of this Tome a copious Index of the Speciall and particular matters contained in these fower hundred of yeares Remember the old dayes thinke vpon euery generation aske thy Father and he will declare to thee thy elders and they will tell thee Deut. 32. v. 7. DO FLAMMA ESSE SVVM FLAMMA DAT ESSE MEVM AT DOWAY By the Widowe of MARKE WYON at the signe of 〈…〉 M. DC XXXIII TO THE MOST ILLVSTRIOVS RIGHT HONOVRABLE AND VERTVOVS LADIES THE LADIE CATHERINE DVTCHESSE AND DOVVAGER OF BVCKINGHAM SOLE DAVGHTER AND HEIRE TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE FRANCIS LATE EARLE OF RVTLAND AND THE LADIE CECILIE COVNTESSE AND DOWAGER OF RVTLAND DEEM it not I beseech you MOST ILLVSTRIOVS NOBLE LADIES any the leaste disparagement to your NOBILITIES or blemish to your VERTVES that your humble seruant and Secretarie hath presumed to ioyne you within the narrowe straites and precincts of one and that so short an Epistle whom both terrene Dignities and heauenly Blessings haue so happily vnited in one most Noble STOCKE and LINAGE He is not ignorant that the SPLENDOR of a DVTCHESSE cannot commonly be paraleld by the DIGNITIE and TITLE of a COVNTESSE yet when he coÌ„sidereth the RENOWNE of a COVNTESSE descended from most antient and Noble Families Daughter to the Noble and by Name and Discent most antient S. Iohn Tufton of Tufton and before shee was wife to her moste Noble Father wife to the noble heyr of the greate and antient L. Hungerford should any whitt eclipse shadowe or obscure the RADIANT BEAMES of a DVTCHESSE but rather by adding Splendor to Splendor make both more GLORIOVS and RESPLENDENT Moreouer he apprehendeth a mutuall and long AFFECTION euen from the yonge yeares of the one betwixt MOTHER and DAVGHTER as also the vnited hearts of WIFE and DAVGHTER both embracing the most Noble Earle of Rutland of famous Memorie the one with the LOVE of a WIFE towards her HVSBAND the other with the AFFECTION of a DAVGHTER to her deare FATHER Whose LOVE to requite he with his owne hands stiled your GRACE his DEARE DAVGHTER and your HONOVR his DEARE WIFE of whome he further gaue his most ample Testimonie and in these words I WILL SAYE THAT THERE WAS NEVER MAN HAD A MORE LOVING AND VERTVOVS WIFE THEN SHE HATH BEENE TO MEE And as your LOVE hath beene GREAT to this most honourable Earle who was Discreet in his words Prudent and iust in all his Actions Charitable to the Poore Affable to all Faithfull to his Countrie Gratious to his Soueraigne Constant in his Faith and Religion most beloued and honoured of all and then whome noe Noble man of England was more affected or more Generally honoured in his life or more Bewayled and lamented after his death So your VERTVES doe shine in this world with a most resplendent LIGHT and are the DIAMONDS and PEARLES which adorne the RING of your Auncient NOBILITIE And these his and your Heroicall VERTVES being grounded on the ROCK of a true FAITH as they haue made the Earle so they will make you CONSTANT SVPPORTERS of holy CATHOLIKE RELIGION These being fixed to the ANCHOR of HOPE as they haue guided him so will they direct you to the quiet HAVEN of eternall FELICITIE Yea it is verily to be hoped that he by these VERTVES is there alreadie arriued whilst the one of you like a PHAROS and the other like the CYNOSVRE with the FLAMES of CHARITIE doe giue LIGHT vnto others in this time of DARKNES Wherefore MOST VERTVOVS LADIES to whome after the most Noble Earle to whome this WORKE was first designed and for whome before his death it was sett on the PRESSE can I more worthilie dedicate these CENTVRIES OF OVR ECCLESIASTICALL HISTORIE then to these in whome the Noble Earle still in renowme SVRVIVES If you esteeme NOBILITIE ioyned with SANCTITIE behold here LVCIVS HELENA and CONSTANTINE three great SAINCTS three great PRINCES and all great PROMOTORS and ESTABLISHERS of the RELIGION which you imbrace If you take pleasure to see the DAMASKE ROSES of MARTYRDOME here is an ALBAN our PROTOMARTYR here is an AMPHIBALVS with many more all stout and valiant CHAMPIONS Who haue sealed the TRVETH of our FAITH with there dearest BLOOD They all were once PILGRIMS in this VALE of TEARES as you both now are but now they are glorious COVRTIOVRS in the Triumphant HIERARCHIE If you followe theire STEPS and imitate theire VERTVES and CONSTANCIE in FAITH you may haue great CONFIDENCE to be Partakers of the like GLORIE and in the meane time your NAMES being prefixed before their HEROICALL ACTIONS may impetrate theire PATRONAGE in all your corporall and Spirituall NECESSITIES and I shall pray to THEM and to all the SAINCTS and by THEM to the SAINCTE of SAINCTS to bestowe on you here all TEMPORALL and in HEAVEN all ETERNALL FELICITIE MADAMS YOVR GRACES AND YOVR HONOVRS Most humble and deuoted Seruant R. B. THE PREFACE TO THE READER AMONG all Writers things written or to be written whatsoeuer none haue bene or can be in any time or place or by any person more vsefull or necessary then such as haue truely written bene or shall be written of the true office and dutie of all men of all Estates and conditions to God and his higâ—est ruling Powers this being the cheifest end of all men in this world to doe and performe sucâ— dutie This is the end of all good Lawes and Lawemakers Histories and Historians diuine and humane to giue and leaue direction both in present and to Posteritie to all men how to liue in dutie to heaueÌ„ly and terrene Authoritie And to take the worde Historie Historia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the most true and proper sence meanind and etymology 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spectare vel cognoscere to beholde or knowe what they write The holy Prophets Apostles Euangelists and other holy Writers of holy Scriptures beholding and most certainely knowing of God by diuine reuelation what they committed to writing are most properly and truely the best Historians and their Writings most properly best and truest Histories and next to them the true Narration or History of their Traditions and holy doctrine and teachings which were most true and certaine taken from the most auncient and approued Antiquities Antiquaries and Registers ef those things where they were performed And in times and places of Controuersies Contentions Questions about Religion noe
for entertaining and releeuing persecuted Preists and Christians his house there being dedicated a cheife Church most Christians resorting to it And other Apostolike men sent from Rome into Britaine in this time 227 Chap. X. Of the last holy labours of S. Timothie in Britaine his honour with S. Denis the Areopagite his returne from hence to Rome and Martyrdome there and Martyrdome of S. Pius Pope in the same place 231 Chap. XI Of the holy Popes next succeeding Sainct Pius and their Religion The fauorable Edict of Marcus Aurelius Emperour for defence and protection of Christians and the Christian Lieutenants Trebellius and Pertinax with the forhidding the Druids Religion occasions of the publike receauing and profession of Christianitie in Britaine by King Lucius and his subiects 234 Chap. XII How the Religion of the Druides in Britaine made some binderance for the generall receauing of the lawe of Christ But conuicted to be abominable Idolatrie and Superstition the Professors of it generally embraced the faith of Christ detesting their former Infidelities and Impieties 240 Chap. XIII Of Pope S. Eleutherius and how in his Papacie and by his Papall order and power Britaine had the honour to be the first Christian kingdome in the worlde and eldest daughter of the mother Church of Christ King Lucius by his Embassadors and petition to the Pope of Rome so obtaining 247 Chap. xvj Wherein is related how King Lucius did not onely sue vnto the Pope of Rome by his Embassadges for the generall settling of Christian Religion in Britaine but for ciuill and temporall lawes also to be allowed by him to rule heare in Temporall affaires 252 Chap. xv The mission of the holy Legats saincts Damianus Fugatianus Bishops and diuers others from sainct Eleutherius Pope of Rome at the request of sainct Lucius King heare in Britaine by Authoritie to plant and setle heare the true Christian Religion 260 Chap. xvi How these holy Roman Legats by Power and Commission from the Pope and Apostolike See of Rome conuerted and confirmed vnto and in the faith of Christ all manner of Parsons in all places of Britaine whether the Nobilitie Flamens Archflamens or of what Order or degree soeuer 266 Chp. xvij How in Britaine these holy Legats placed Archbishops Bishops in our Cities Archbishops in the places of Archflamens and Bishops for Flamens And how by all writers such dignities were among the auncient Pagans both in Britaine and other Nations 272 Chapt. xviij In what Places of Britaine these cheifest coÌ„manding Archflamens were to witt at London Yorke and Caerlegion and how these Roman Legats placed for them Archbishops with their seuerall commands and Iurisdictions some of them by the Apostoliâ—e power extending and coÌ„manding ouer Prouinces and Countries not temporally subiect to King Lucius of Britaine or the Romans but rather enemyes vnto them in ciuill affaires 279 Chap. xix Of the Episcopall Sees and Cities of the Inferiour Bishops subordinate to the Archbishops which where and how many they were ordained by these Roman Legats and continued Bishops Sees in the Romans and Britans time 285 Chap. xx How S. Eleutherius Pope did not onely by his Papall Authoritie establish and settle Religion Ecclesiasticall thiÌ„gs heare but directed what temporall Lawes were to be vsed appointed the bounds and limits of this kingdome sending and allowed Crowne to our King and such Lawes Order continued heare in many Ages after 295 Chapt. xxj Of many Archiepiscopall Episcopall and other Churches and Monasteries both of men and women founded and ritcly endowed and priuiledged in this time 304 Chap. xxij How after these Roman Legats had fully settled the affaires and estate of our Church heare they went againe to Rome to procure the Pope there to ratifie and confirme what they had done which he did and they returned hither againe with that his Confirmation and many other Preachers then sent hither from Rome 311 Chap. xxiij Of the Archbishops of London Yorke and Caerlegion in this time in particular many other inferiour Bishops and the Roman Church Discipline heare also setled by Papall Authoritie 316 Chap. xxiv Of the comming of these holy Legats to Glastenbury their holy labours deeds and long aboade there their renewing there the old Religeous Order of S. Ioseph of Aramathia and his brethren greate priuiledges and indulgeÌ„ces by theÌ„ procured to that holy place the glory honour and renowne thereof in the whole Christian world 322 Chap. xxv Of the greate honour and Renowne of our old Brittish Apostolike Order of Religion from the comming of sainct Ioseph of Aramathia in the yeare of Christs Natiuitie 63. without any discontinuance or Interruption by some and very short time after his death by all many hundreds of yeares in greate perfection without any change or alteration to be named a Mutation of Monasticall Rule being the Mother or Nurse of Monasticall holy life to many Nations and Religious Orders in them by which also many CouÌ„tryes to Christ were conuerted 328 Chap. xxvj That diuers of the Britans which liued in that part of Britaine then called Albania now Scotland were conuerted by the same meanes and manner by these Roman Legats as the other Britans of Loegria and Cambria were at that time 333 Chap. xxvij Of diuers bookes or writings of sainct Phaganus Damianus Eluanus Meduuinus and others Charters and Immunities of Pope Eleutherius and King Lucius the Scripturs heare receaued in the old Latine Translation and the same Canon of them which Catholicks now obserue and followe 337 THE THIRD AGE THE I. CHAPTER VVHerein is deliuered that sainct Victor being now Pope Seuerus Emperour and sainct Luciuâ— yet King of Britaine but shortly dying sainct Victor was Supreame in gouernment of the whole Church of Christ in Asia Afrike and Europe and particularly in Britaine which so acknowledged and receaued from him the true obseruation of Easter as it had done with other Catholike customes from sainct Eleutherius before 343 Chap. ij Of the time and place of King Lucius his death That he did not die or was martyred in Germanie Neither had he any Sister called Emerita martyred there It was an other Prince of Britaine after this time This our first Christian King Lucius died at Gloucester in Britaine 346 Chapt. iij. How notwithstanding the death of King Lucius without Heire to succeede in the gouernment of the kingdome the Brittans perseuered constantly in the Christian faith and the Scots by Preachers sent from sainct Victor Pope of Rome at the entreatie of their King Donalde receaued the faith and as the Brittans continued in it vntill the Protestants time euen by their owne confessions 350. Chap. iv That allthough the being of the Scots in Britaine in the time of sainct Victor is vncertaine and not proued but rather otherwise yet the Inhabitants of the part now called Scotland Britans or whosoeuer were conuerted in King Lucius and this time The Bishops of the conuerted Scots were euer true Bishops and they euer
giue the first entertainement to the blessed Apostle sainct Peter at his first coming thither as that Roman tradition of that their howse after by marriage with the holy Brittish Lady Claudia their daughter and heire with Pudens the Senator and so long after this coming of sainct Peter to Rome named the howse of Pudens the Senator assureth vs. Which I proue by an other vndoubted tradition of the Romans That S. Peter was 15. yeares in Rome before S. Paul came thither Romani autem dicunt Petrum annis 15. in Roma fuisse antequam Paulus ad Romam venit So writeth our Florentius Wigorniensis with the common consent of Antiquitie and writers both Catholiks and Protestants And the Roman Martyrologe itselfe telleth vs of this Pudens the Senator that he was baptized by the Apostles Qui ab Apostolis Coristo in baptismo vestitus Innocentem tunicam vsque ad vitae coronam immaculate cusiodiuit Martyrolog Rom. antiq die 19. Maij. And there calleth him plainely S. Pudens the Senator Father of S. Pudentiana the virgin S. Pudentis Senatoris patris supradictae virginis Pudentianae So that being baptized by the Apostles sainct Peter and sainct Paul for no others were then in Rome ab Apostlis this could not be by true accompt vntill at the soonest fifteene yeares after sainct Peter was first receaued in that howse And if the Martyrologe could carry that interpretation to vnderstand by Apostolis the Apostles in the plurall number one Apostle no propper constructioÌ„ yet by this frieÌ„dly more then lawfull interpretation he must needs be baptized by S. Peter so also a most vnprobable thing that diuers ChristiaÌ„s then being as before in Rome S. Peter could first coÌ„mit himselfe to a Pagan or Catecumene and he and the Christians of Rome make such an house their cheifest Church place of assembly for diuine things And to put all out of doubt this S. Pudens as I shall demonstrate hereafter in the proper place of him and saint Claudia his wife was either an infant or not borne when S. Peter came to Rome and was first lodged and receaued in that howse which after many yeares by title of marriage with our Lady the Lady Claudia came to be his howse not before but it still remayned in the hands of our Christian Britanes the Parents of that Lady there in Rome For more pregnant Martial Pocta Epigram proofe whereof we are told by him that liued in the dayes of this Pudens by the most common consent of writers both Catholiks and Protestants was well acquainted with him his state and Countrie that this PudeÌ„s was by birth and Countrie a Sabinite farre distant from Rome his howse at Sabinum the cheifest Towne there and no mention of any howse at all which of their owne eyther he or his parents had in Rome when by all testimonies of writers we are told the parents of Lady Claudia being Britanes were dwelling in Rome as hostages among others for this Nation there and without question had an howse there sutable and answerable to their honorable degree and that their daughter S. Claudia was borne there not in Britaine for no Auihour that I reade doth affirme she was borne in this Iland but onely of Brittish parents lyuing in Rome Claudia caerulcis cum sit progmata Martial l. 11. Epigr 54. de Claudâ—a Ruff. Godw. Conuers of Brit. p. 16. Theat of greate Britainel 6. Matt. Parker antiq Brit. p. 2. Io. Pits l. de vir Illustrib p. 72. Authour of conuers part 1. 2. Timoth. 4. Britannis Claudia borne of Britans But not in Britaine onely she is called of the Poet Martial peregrina a straunger as the children of straungers vsually are termed both with vs and other people And the time of her birth and age so conuince as I shall declare hereafter and may be plainely proued from S. Paul himselfe a litle before his death 4. And whereas we finde noe memory at all of any naturall parents of S. Pudens dwelling in Rome we haue sufficient testimony not onely of the permanent dwelling both of the Father and Mother of S. Claudia there before remembred but that by diuers probable Arguments they dwelled in that very howse where Pudens continued with them after his marriage with their daughter and were holy and renowned Christians although their natiue Countrie of Britaine hath hitherto bene almost wholy depriued of their honour and so must needs be by the Roman Tradition the first entertainers God win conu of Britaine p. 17. c. 3 â— Tim. 4. v. 21. of sainct Peter in Rome for as a Protestant Bishop in their common opinion writeth Pudens and Claudia were two young persons but faithfull Christians at that time vnmarried when Paul writ the second epistle vnto Timothie which was in the last yeare of Nero aâ— all men suppose that I haue reade except Baronius and that they were married in the later end of Vespasian or about the beginning of Domitian Therefore Pudens being so young in the end of Nero his Empire Although we graunt him then newly married yet this was by all computations at the least 24. yeares after the coming of sainct Peter to Rome And so it could not possibly be Pudens but the parents of Claudia our Britans that entertained first S. Peter in their house at Rome Who for certaintie being Britans of noble order degree lyuing in Rome as Hostages by all IudgmeÌ„t they enioyed more freedome and libertie in matters of Religion then the Romans did at that time The Emperours of Rome theÌ„ nor long after intermedling with the Britans for matters of Religion but leauing it voluntarie and free vnto them as other Tributaries to vse the Religion of their Contries or as they were best and most disposed priuately at the least euen in Rome itselfe without controlement So by the great mercy prouidence of God the subiection temporall captiuitie or restraint of diuers these our worthie Contrimen proued to be the most happy spirituall freedome in Christ both of those our Hostages there this whole kingdome afterward conuerted to the true faith from thence by this originall so renowned and glorious for euer to this Nation to haue in Rome it selfe the first Harbourers Receauers of that most Blessed highest Apostle S. Peter And thus I haue proued directly both against the Protestant Bishop of England denying it the truth of that Roman Tradition that sainct Peter was first with his holy Disciples receiued in Rome in the house which the Romans truely called the house of Pudens after he was God wyn supr Conuers of Brit. p. 17. c. 3. married to Lady Claudia of this Nation confuting his idle obiection of the young age of Pudens As also the Romans therefore calling it the house of Pudens because so it was in such sence as I haue declared and not truely inducing from thence that therefore Pudens the Roman Senator first entertained
most euideÌ„t it is that although the Roman Emperours had not published any Edict for the abolishing the Religion of the Druids in Britaine nor without the allowance and approbation of the King of Britaine could by the agreed conditions betweene them so farre intermedle to make any generall lawe to binde all the Druids or any other kinde of people in this kingdome Yet now both our King Lucius consenting and seeking it and the Roman Emperours so long desiring it and farre preferring Christian Religion before that which they professed the way is laid wide open and ready prepared for a common forsaking of the Druids superstition and embracing the sacred Religion of Christ in this Nation For allthough we yeeld to them which hold King Lucius did not Rule in all Britaine on this side the wall or Trench of Adrian yet most certaine in Histories it is that he and the Roman Emperours together possessed it all And these Emperours and their Lieutâ—nants had publikely as before giuen warrant for any man to be a Christian in all their Territories and Anton. Sabelicus Eunead 7. libr. 2. Hector Boeth Scot. Hist l. 3. f. 55 Hoâ—â—nsh Hâ—st of Engl. l. 4. cap. 9. Theater of great Britaine l. 6. they desired nothing more then the Druids vtter destruction and extirpation and P. Suetonius not long before Lieutenant heare for the Romans had begun it when in the Isle of Anglesey which was the resident place of the most learned and commanding Druids both for Britaine and Gallia he had vâ—terly destroyed them their execrable places of Sacrifice and scaâ—â—ely left there any memory of them By which proceedings the cheifest difficulties of the Conuersion of Britaine especially in temporall respects were now ouercome And for spirituall further helps besides so many holy and Apostolike men preaching heare then among the Britans of whome I haue made memorie before we finde that many among the Romans heare at that time were Christians and so had their spirituall guides to direct them and which also gaue Instructions to King Lucius and his Britans Lucius Britanniae Rex de Christianorum Hector Boeth Scot. Hist l. 5. f. 55 pietate miraculis à Romanis in Britannia sub Trebellio Pertinace merentibus permulta audiuit And we are further assured by forreyne Histories that in the time of this Pope S. Soteâ— and Emperour about the yeare of Christ 174. Anno quod excurrit 174. Pontifice Maximo Sotere diuers Bishops were Arnold Merm Theatro conu gent. alij apud eund ib. sent into these parts which these Antiquaries bring on their Iorney hitherwards as farre as Callice Morinis naming diuers of them as S. Fuscianus Victoricus Piato and their companions Antistitibus S. Fusciano Victorico Piatone alijsque socijs And to put vs in minde of their coming hither they tell vs they had there the shortest passadge into Britaine they bring auncient witnesses thereof Vnde breuissimus in Britanniam nunc Angliam est Traiectus vti Tacitus Iulius Caesar meminere THE XII CHAPTER HOW THE RELIGION OF THE DRVIDES in Britaine made some hinderance for the generall receauing of the lawe of Christ But conuicted to be abominable Idolatrie and Superstition the Professors of it generally embraced the faith of Christ detesting their former Infidelities and Impieties 1. WHEN matters were thus farre proceeded for the generall receauing of Christian Religion in Britaine the King and his Nobles seeking it the Roman Emperours and Lieutenants giuing consent there vnto and many holy Apostolike Bishops and Preists now heare both among the Britans and Romans which vrged it and offered themselues dayly to maintaine and proue that to be the onely true and lawfull seruing of God and way to eternall happines and saluation after this life And that profession of the Druids which the Britans heare before this time as also the Inhabitants of Gallia and a greate part of Germany had many hundreds of yeares followed and practised was impious false Idolatrous damnable and diabolicall many of the cheife Doctors and teachers thereof were much troubled and perplexed hereat and in teÌ„porall respects not without cause For if a forsaking of their Rites and Ceremonies should generally and with publike warrant and regall Authoritie ensue their temporall honours dignities reuenewes Immunities and priuiledges graunted vnto them onely in regard of their teaching and maintaining that their Profession would not onely be taken from them but in all Iudgment be conferred and bestowed as they after were vpon the Christian Bishops and Cleargie to succeed professed enemyes of their callings Heare vpon to giue a quiet and peaceable Introduction to the holy Lawe of Christ which alone yeeldeth all true peace and quietnes to the soules of men in earth and heauen and not to bring it in with the onely temporall swaye or power of the King of Britaine and Roman Emperours as the custome of Mahumetans and some others is which haue no thing but sword penall Edicts and Persecution to vent and supporte their bastardly Religions withall diuers conflicts and disputations were had in this kingdome betweene our Christian Apostolike men and the best learned of the Druids Lawe These vrged many reasons and popular for their manner and custome of worship yet preserued in Histories They had to pleade for themselues that not onely Britaine and Brittish IlaÌ„ds many in number but France and greate parts of Germany ioyned with them in Religion And in their worshiping for Gods Iupiter Apollo Mars Mercury Audate Berecynthia and some others most of the gentiles conspired with them Their Religion and themselues by that name had continued and florished in the world from the time of Druius that greate King and high Preist Druius Germanorum Pontifex Who reduced the gentils Religion into Henric. Pantal. l. de Vir. Illustrib Germ. part 1. p. 40. 41. Selden Analect Anglobr l. 1. c. 1. c. 4. Berosus Nichol. Vignier Biblioth Hist An. mundi 2200. Hist aggregatiue des Annales fol. 3. Bernard Giunti Cron. in Driius Ioa. Frisius Biblioth Philos Anno mundi 2070. Ante Christum 1892. Io. Bal. l. de Scriptor centur 1. in Samothe Camd. Brit. p. 12. Plini l. 12. cap. 1. Lud. Caelius l. 7. c. 1. Tacit. lib. de morib popul German Andr. Altham in schol in Cornel. Tacit. supr Iâ—l Caesar lib. 6. Belli Gallic Hector Boeth Scot. Hist l. 2. f. 22. 23. this order founded them a Colledge gaue them their denomination about the yeare of the worlds Creation 2900. Druius ille apud Germanorum Celtas vir magnae Authoritatis gentilitiam Religionom in ordinem redegit atque Druidarum Collegium Religionis ergo instituit a quo etiam Druides apud Gallos Germanos dicti And the Towne in Normandy called Dreux was also so named from him as their Histories say and the Ryuer Druentia running therby What was the certaine time of their beginning is not so certaine Pantaleon before saith it was in the yeare of the world 2900.
Annal. Treuer Sigeb Chron. alij her loue to that Citie and in respect of learning then there florishing as in the Metropolis of those parts she had part of her education and instruction in so greate learning there this will rather confirme that she was then actually an holy Christian For this Noble Citie receauing the faith of Christ by S. Maternus and his Associats Disciples of S. Peter the Apostle sent thither by him had euer since faithfully continued therein so generally and constantly that about the yeare of Crist 288. when that bloody Tyrant Maximianus Herculius Galerius which forced Constantius to putt away his true wife S. Helen to take the prophane Strumpett Theodora his daughter or daughter in Lawe by his Prefect Rixiouarus persecuted the Christians in those parts all the Inhabitans of Treuers were founde to be Christians and Pamachius Gouernour of the Citie being also a Christian with 11. Senatours thereof so encouraged them in their holy faith that all the Citizens men women and children not one excepted were putt to death for that glorious cause Haec vrbs à D. Materno ac eius socijs lege Christianâ imbuta est inde tempore Maximiani Tyranni qui fuit anno Domini 288. agente truculentissimo Rixiouaro Petrus Merssaeus Catal. Archiep. Treu. in encom eiusdem Francis Irenicus ib. Ro. Martyrol die 5. 6. Octobr. Sigebert in Chron. An. 1071. Tabul Eccles Treuer Petr. Merssaeus in Annal. Archie Treuer in ValeÌ„tino Praefecto tota ob Catholicam fidem interempta est Tum vrbis Gubernator ac Princeps fuit in clitus Pamachius Senator Pius qui ob Cristi Religionem cum vndecim Senatoribus ac totâ Ciuitate interfectus est Hij enim optimi viri ciuitatem illam ad Christi Religionem ita animauerant vt pro eâ constanter occumbere non dubitarent hic nulli aetati nulli sexui parcitum sed omnes ad vnum interempti The Roman Martyrologe and Sigebertus call that Christian Gouernour of Treuers and Martyr Palmatius and not Pamachius nor Palmachius And this opinion is more strengthned by the greate Religeous loue of S. Helen to that Citie after this desolation there procuring S. Agritius Patriarke of Antioche a man of admirable holines and learning to come forth of the East to be Archbishop there with allowance of S. Siluester then Pope of Rome enritching him and that Citie with most pretious Reliks the Seamelesse Coate of our Sauiour one of the Nayles wherewith he was fixed to the Crosse the Knife he vsed at his last Supper a greate parcell of the holy Crosse the body of S. Annal. Archiep. Treuer in S. Agritio 27. Matthias the Apostle and others causing her Pallace to be conuerted and dedicated a Church in honour of S. Peter The old Christian Writers and Inscriptions which before call her euen from the time of her Marriadge with Constantius and before sancta pijssima holy most Godly and the like will not be iustified in a Christians mouth penne or pencell except such esteemed her then a Christian for no other can by Christians be stiled and honoured with those Titles Neyther may we with prudence conceaue that King Coel at her Marriadge with Constantius hauing possession of or Title vnto Britaine a Christian kingdome nor the Religeous Christian Archbishops Prelates and Nobles thereof then at freedome in Religion would haue condiscended to such a match if neither Constantius nor she had bene a Christian that had not bene the way to procure to themselues peace and freedome which they sought but hazard of new trobles Tumults and PersecutioÌ„ which they thereby hoped to auoide Experience gaue a good Argument hereof to the Christians of this Nation for so long as this holy Lady and Queene was permitted to continue with her Husband the State of Christianitie was quiet heare and the persecuting Emperours Dioclesian and Maximian could compasse nothing against it in this kingdome but when they had forced Constantius to forsake her and take a Pagan in her place she herselfe was persecuted her Christian children bannished and that generall affliction and desolation of Religion ensued in this Nation that no semblance of the like is left in Histories to Posteritie The Christian Antiquities of Aquitaine will giue new strength to this in these their owne words Because Constantius was enforced to take Theodora daughter of Herculius he putt Queene Helen away who patiently Antiq. Aquitan apud Bouchet in Annal. c. 5. bore the Iniury and liued in merueilous holines separated from all worldly curiosities and Royall honours by the space of 17. or 18. yeares Such holines and merueilous holines no Christian may or will asscribe to any but true Christians among whome onely such holines is to be founde and with no others Besides our learned Antiquarie Ioannes Capgrauius doth freely confesse that before she was marryed to Constantius she was instructed and taught in the Christian Catholike faith in fide Catholicâ instructa atque edocta and liued Io. Capgr Catal. in S. Helena Christian like repraesentabat in suâ conuersatione gloriosa sacri Baptismatis mysteria And was a greate means to bring her Sonne Constantine to be a Christian he saith further of her that she was a most holy woman a most firme bulwarke or foundation of Christian Religion by her Husband an Empresse by her Father a Queene Helena sanctissima faemina Christianae Religionis Euseb de Vita Constant l. 3. c. 42. basis firmissima ex marito Imperatrix ex patre Regina Eusebius saith that Helen the Empresse was an holy Mother of the holy Emperour Helena Augusta pij Imperatoris pia mater And addeth further that through all her life she brought forth those true fruites of pietie which the Precepts of our Sauiour prescribe and this both in words and deeds In omnium bonorum affluentia omne vitae suae tempus ad extremam vsque senectutem obijsset Et tum verbis tum rebus ipsis veros pietatis fructus quos Praecepta Seruatoris praescribunt extulisset Therefore if all her life both in word and deed she liued as Christ commanded by the testimony of this old Authour well acquainted with her and her Sonne both he and all that will receaue him for an able witnesse must confesse she was a Christian all her life for no other doth or can keepe the Precepts of Christ in word and deed all their life And whereas the greatest Caesar Baron Annal. An. 315. Sponcâ—n â—b Seuer Bin. Tom. 1. Concil in Ann. in Concil Rom. sub Syluestâ—o obiection against this hath bene vrged by some out of the Acts which some would haâ—e S. Siluesters where it is said that S. Siluester baptized S. Helen the best Roman Writers themselues Baronius Spondanus Seuerinus Binius and others proue them to be erroneous euen in these particular respects concerning this matter in teaching Constantine was a Christian before Helena And that she was borne in Bithynia