the second Order receiv'd the right Order of Celebrating Mass out of Britain from Holy men there living as St. David St. Gildas and St. Doc Moreover St. David sent over some of his Disciples into Ireland who grew famous for their Learning and Sanctity of whom the most Illustrious was St. Aedan call'd by the Irish St. Madoc After he grew renown'd for his Piety and Miracles he built at length a Monastery near the City of Fernes where having collected a great number of Devout Brethren he Consecrated himself to the Service of God living according to the form and rule which he had receiv'd from his Pious Father St. David the same which was observ'd by the Monks in Aegypt This St. Aedan was afterwards Bishop of Fernes and Metropolitan of Leinster while St. David liv'd whom he us'd to consult in Affairs of difficulty After many years spent by the Holy Bishop David in the exercise of all Christian Virtues it pleas'd Almighty God in love to him and just anger to the Ungrateful Britains to translate this burning and shining Light from Earth to Heaven there to shine in Glory to all Eternity According to the best account He dy'd in the year of Grace 544. having liv'd 82 years though some writers affirm him to have liv'd much longer It is said That when the hour of his Dissolution approach'd the Angel of the Lord appear'd to him saying The day so much desir'd by thee is now at hand prepare thy self for on the Calends of March our Lord Jesus Christ attended with a multitude of Angels will come to meet thee Whereupon the Holy man of God said O Lord dismiss now thy Servant in Peace The Brethren who assisted him having heard the sound of these words but not well understanding the sense fell Prostrate to the ground in great fear Then the Holy Bishop cry'd with a loud voice Lord Jesus Christ receive my Spirit Vpon this the Brethren pour'd forth loud Complaints but he asswag'd their sorrow with mild and comfortable words exhorting them to be constant in their good profession and unanimously to bear to the end that yoak which they had undergone and to observe and fulfill whatever they had seen or heard from him and from that hour to the day of his death he remain'd in the Church exhorting and encouraging them But when the hour of his departure was come our Lord Jesus Christ vouchsafed his presence as he had promis'd by his Angel to the infinite Consolation of the Holy Father who at the Heavenly sight exalted in Spirit cry'd out O my Lord take me after thee With which words in our Lords company he gave up his Spirit to God upon the Calends fore-mention'd and being associated to a troop of Angels mounted up to Heaven with them The Death of this Holy Bishop is said to have been divulg'd by an Angel and in an Instant spread through all Britain and Ireland That this was so seems to be confirm'd by a passage in the Life of St. Kentigern of whom it is said That having one day continu'd his Prayers with more then ordinary Devotion his face seem'd as on fire the sight whereof fill'd the by-standers with great amazement when Prayers were ended the Saint began to lament bitterly and when his Disciples demanded a reason of his sorrow he sate a while silent and at last said My dear Children know for certain that the Holy Bishop David the Glory of Britain the Father of his Country is this day dead he has escap'd out of the Prison of his Body and is flown to Heaven Believe me I my self have seen a multitude of Angels conducting him into the Joy of our Lord and our Lord himself at the Entrance of Paradice hath Crown'd him with Glory and Honour Know also that Britain which is depriv'd of so great a Light will a long time mourn for the Absence of such a Patron who oppos'd himself to the Sword of our Lord when it was half drawn out for the destruction of that Nation in revenge of their Sins and Impenitence Now will God deliver up Britain to a strange Nation which know him not and Pagans shall enjoy the land 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 more Happy St. David was Buried in his own Church of Menevia which he had lov'd above all Monasteries of his Diocess because St. Patrick who had Prophesied of his Nativity had been Founder of it And also indeed he was bury'd there by the command of Malgo King of the Venedatae But after 500 years he was Solemnly Canoniz'd by Pope Calixtus the second This Church at first was Dedicated to St. Andrew but after took St. David for its Patron and the whole Diocess was thence call'd St. David's The memory of his Sanctity was so precious that within a few years after his Death the visiting of his Church prov'd a great Devotion of those times St. Oudoceus Successor of St. Thelian in the Bishoprick of Landaff after a Pilgrimage to visit the Monuments of the Holy Apostles at Rome made another to this Church of St. David and after when any one had a desire to go in Devotion to Rome and was hindred by dangers or difficulties he might equal the merit of such a Pilgrimage by twice visiting this Church of St. David perhaps as a compensation allow'd by the Pope St. Kinoc or Cenac was St. David's Successor translated thither from the See of St. Patern of whom and other Successors in the See of St. David little is found To keep the story of this worthy Bishop entire some interruption may be observ'd to have been made in the order of Time. It is therefore requisite to return to its due course In the year of Grace 532. Otta King of Kent dy'd leaving his Son Irmeric Successor in his Kingdom who was Illustrious for nothing more than that he was the Father of Ethelbert the first Christian King among the Saxons Two years after dy'd also Cerdic King of the West-Saxons in the 16th year of his Reign to whom succeeded his Son Kenric in all his Dominions except the Isle of Wight which he left to his Sisters Son Whitgar whom he lov'd especially for his Military Skill The great Commotions in Britain and Cruelty of the Saxons compell'd many to seek the means of serving God abroad amongst whom was a Holy Priest call'd John who retir'd to Tours in France there to live in Prayers and Solitude but after his Death his Sanctity by the good pleasure of God was made known by a Miracle thus related by that famous Bishop St. Gregory of Tours Not far from the Church of Caion saith he rests the Body of a Priest Nam'd John by Nation a Britain who living here with great Devotion and Sanctity Our Lord was pleas'd by him Miraculously to
Instability of Worldly Greatness and Power in the person of the hitherto Prosperous King of the West-Saxons Ceaulin who after all his Conquests was at last overcome in Fight and expell'd his Kingdom and Life also for such was the general hatred all men bare to him that they unanimously conspir'd his destruction A Battle was fought between him on the one side and the Saxons and Britains on the other side in Wiltshire at a place call'd Wansdike fabulously reported to have been made by the Devil upon a Wednesday taking its Name from Woden or Mercury the Saxon Idol The cause of raising this Rampire seems to be the separation of the Kingdom of the Mercians from the West-Saxons Near to this is seated a Village call'd Wadensbury and here Ceaulin Fighting this Battle was utterly broken and soon after dy'd After his death Cealric his Brothers Son possess'd the Kingdom of the West-Saxons but being much inferior in Courage to his Predecessors did not inherit that extent of Power which Ceaulin had exercis'd over the other Saxon Princes This opportunity was not omitted by Ethelbert King of Kent and next in Power to Ceaulin who without much hazard obtain'd the Preheminence by means whereof a freer way was open'd to communicate Christian Truths to several Provinces of the Kingdom after they were embrac'd by Ethelbert as they soon were St. Gregory in the third year after he was Pope by his Wisdom and Authority restor'd the Churches of Ireland to Catholick Unity from which they had been separated by a quarrel about the tria Capitula spoken of before His Epistle unto them concerning that subject is extant by which they received full satisfaction For presently after several of their Bishops and other Devout persons undertook Pilgrimages to Rome to express their Duty to the Supreme Bishop There is another Epistle of the same Holy Pope in Answer to certain doubts and questions which the Irish had propos'd to him touching the Rites and manner of Baptism But however the state of the Irish Churches then was the Churches of Britain are declar'd at this time free from any stain either of Schism or Errour in Doctrine In the year of Grace 593. Edelric King of the Northumbrians dy'd whom succeeded Ethelsred the Cruel At first he vigorously defended his own Dominions then unjustly invaded the bounds of others and every where sought occasions of exalting his Glory Many Combats were undertaken by him Prudently and executed Gallantly for neither would he be restrain'd by Sloth nor by his Courage prick'd on to Temerity about the same time Redwald came to the Kingdom of the East-Angles But fatal indeed was this year in the Death of our Saxon Princes for Crida King or Duke of the Mercians now ended his Life to whom succeeded his Son Wibba or Wippa who after also dying left behind him three Illustrious Children Penda Kenwalch and Sexburga About this time also dy'd the Virtuous Queen Ingoberga and received the reward of her Patience she had been the Wife of Childebert King of the Franks and after she had brought him a Daughter was unworthily repudiated by him Her memory challenges a place in this History as mother to Birtha or Aldiberga Queen of Kent whose Piety and Endeavours so dispos'd the Heart of her Husband Ethelbert that it was ready to receive the Christian Faith soon after tender'd unto him by St. Augustine And now behold the Sun of Righteousness began to dawn again upon this Island and dispel the Darkness of Idolatry and Superstition and now a new Seed of Pious Princes Immaculate Virgins Devout Monks and a multitude of all sorts excelling in Christian Virtues and Graces sprung up and flourish'd to the admiration of all Christian Churches so as even from this time our Island began to deserve the Title of the Isle of Saints It will be needful to give you a prospect at one view how the Provinces were divided and what Princes Rul'd in each It is agreed on all hands that this Day-Star of Christianity began to shine among the Saxons in the year of Grace 590. for then the Apostolick Messengers from Rome receiv'd their Mission from the most worthy Successor of St. Peter St. Gregory the Great in the seventh year of his Pontificate and began their Journey toward our Island though they did not arrive here 'till the year following At this time the Saxon Heptarchy was establish'd in Britain and all the Provinces thereof were entirely under the Dominion of the Angli and Saxons except the Northern Kingdom of the Picts and Scots the Western parts in Cambria and Cornwall were not yet wholly subdu'd by the Saxons The Kings governing the Heptarchy their Names and Provinces are as follows Ethelbert was then in the 35th year of his reign He was the Son of Irmeric Son of Otha Son of Eska Son of Hengist this Kingdom contain'd Kent as now bounded Next over the South-Saxons which Kingdom compriz'd Sussex and Surrey reign'd Eldwalch the Son of Cissa the Son of Ella who first establish'd this Kingdom this was the seventh year of Eldwalch his reign Thirdly the King of the West-Saxons under Celric in his first year as Nephew to Ceaulin who founded this Kingdom in the year of Grace 519. within his Dominions were comprehended Hampshire Barkshire Wiltshire Somersetshire Dorsetshire Devonshire and part of Cornwal Next over the East-Saxons Sebert was in the first year of his reign he was the Son of Sledda Son of Erkenwin who in the year of Grace 527. establish'd that Kingdom containing Essex Middlesex and so much of Hartfordshire as is under the Bishop of London's Jurisdiction whose Diocess is Adequate to that Kingdom After this was the Kingdom of the Northumbers to which belongeth whatever lyeth between Humber and Edenburgh It was sometime divided into two Kingdoms of Bernicia and Deiri Bernicia contain'd Northumberland with the South of Scotland to Edenburgh The Deiri consisted of part of Lancashire with the entire Counties of York Durham Westmerland and Cumberland The whole Kingdom at this time was govern'd by Ethelfrid in the fourth year of his reign who was the Son of Alla Son of Ida who founded that Kingdom in the year of Grace 547. After this in the year 575. the Kingdom of the East-Angles was founded containing Norfolk Suffolk Cambridgeshire with the Isle of Ely and some part of Bedfordshire At this time Redwald had been King four year he was the Son of Titillus Son of Vffa esteem'd the first King and Founder of the said Kingdom in the year of our Lord 575. The last though largest was the Kingdom of Mercia so call'd for that it is seated in the middle of the Island It was the Marches or limits on which the other Kingdoms did border It comprehended the the whole Counties of Lincoln Northampton Rutland Huntingdon Buckingham Oxford Worcester Warwick Darby Nottingham Leicester Glocester Stafford Chester part of Lancashire Herefordshire Shropshire and part of Bedfordshire At this time when St. Augustine was sent by Pope Gregory to the Conversion of the Saxons Wibba the Son of Crida was King or chief Governour of Mercia which Crida laid the Foundation of it in the year of our Lord 585. These were the Saxon Kings and these their limits when Almighty God sent his Apostolical Missioners to Convert the Blind Saxons to the Christian Faith Yet were these limits in continual motion as the success of Princes prov'd good or bad And among these Kings commonly one was most Puissant over-ruling the rest who stil'd himself King of the English Nation which Super-eminence Ethelbert King of Kent at this time enjoy'd to whom the Word of Life was first offer'd and by him thankfully accepted Thus stood the state of Christianity in this Island under the Government of the Romans and British Kings In what a different state it now is may easily be discern'd by the Judicious Reader Fiat Voluntas Dei. FINIS Jesus is condemned to die
or Vsk as by the ruines there may appear At the first indeed Bishops did not confine themselves to one place but exercis'd their Pastoral Duties from one place to another as they had occasion but after their Flocks incrcasing each Bishop was limited to his peculiar Flock and seated themselves in the eminent Cities then in number about 28. and consequently so many Bishops were ordain'd We find in the Antient Book belonging to the Monastery of Abingdon to this effect That Eleutherius sent his Missioners Faganus and Divianus Learn'd and Holy men to King Lucius who Baptiz'd the King and his People embraceing the Christian Faith destroy'd Idols and built Churches and decreed that in those Cities where formerly resided Arch-flamens according to the Pagan Superstition there Arch-bishops should be establish'd and where ordinary Flamens were there Bishops should succeed the chief Cities then were London York and Caerleon which became the Seats of three Arch-bishops Possibly the Title of Flamens and Arch-flamens was given to these Druid Priests by the Romans who might be distinguish'd amongst themselves by some other Name The Names of these 28 Cities have been collected out of History I. Cair Gumeguir which perhaps is Norwich by the Britains call'd Cair Guntius or perhaps rather Winwick in Lancashire some say Winchester II. Mincip or Municip which is Verulam near St. Albans III. Cair Lualid Luguballia now Caerleil IV. Mediolanum at this day Meivod in Montgomery-shire V. Cair Colon or Colonia now Colchester VI. Cair Ebranc now York VII Cair Custeint near Carnarvan by Antonine call'd Seguntium and Cair Custeint because Constantius the Father of Constantine was there buried and his Body there found in the time of Edward the First after the Conquest and by him Honourably Interr'd VIII Cair Caratauc or Caradoc in the borders of Shropshire between the Rivers Teindus and Colunus where Caractacus was Defeated by Ostorius IX Cair Grant now Cambridge upon the River Grant. X. Maucguid Mancunium in Lancashire as some think Manduessedum or Manchester in Warwickshire as others XI Cair Londein or Cair Lud now London XII Cair Guorthigirn in Radnorshire where King Vortigern hid himself from Divine Justice but could not escape it but was Burnt by Lightning in and with that City XIII Cair Ceint now Canterbury formerly Dorbernia XIV Cair Guorangon Branonium now Worcester XV. Cair Peris or Portcester now Portsmouth XVI Cair Daun or Danus now Doncaster in Yorkshire XVII Cair Legio of the 20th Legion there quarter'd now Chester XVIII Cair Guaricon or Guarvinc of Guarth a Garrison in the British Tongue now Warwick XIX Cair Segesut or the City of the Segontiaci the first People of this Island who yielded to Caesar since call'd Silchester in Hampshire XX. Cair Leon from the second Legion or Vsk from the River it was seated in Monmouthshire and is now ruin'd XXI Cair Guent or Venta Belgarum now Winchester XXII Cair Brito now call'd Bristol XXIII Cair Lerion by the Saxons Legecestria now Leicester XXIV Cair Draiton which Bishop Vsher thinks to be that which is now call'd Draiton in Shropshire XXV Cair Pentavelcoit seated upon the River Ivel in Somersetshire now Ilchester yet the said Learn'd Bishop thinks it should be written Pensavelcoit supposing it to be Pentsey in Sussex where William the Conqueror first landed XXVI Cair Vervac or Vriconium now Wroxcester in Shropshire XXVII Calemion or Calion which Cambden takes to be Comelet in Somersetshire where Roman Coins are frequently found and where are the footsteps of a Camp. XXVIII Cair Luitcoit or Lindcoit or Lindum now Lincoln These were the 28 Cities perhaps not all extant in the days of King Lucius at least under those Names which were design'd then for the Seats of Arch-bishops and Bishops though perhaps some other might be design'd for that purpose And it may be the Name of Arch-bishops was not then us'd yet the jurisdiction was alike under the Name of Metropolitans from the Metropolis or most Eminent Cities How many of these Cities were supply'd with Bishops is not certain Records only mention besides Elvanus Consecrated at Rome Theanus only a Britain and first Metropolitan Bishop of London where our Devout King Lucius built a Church in Cornhill Consecrated to St. Peter the Truth whereof is manifested by an Inscription on an Antient Table not long since hanging in the said Church to this effect following In the year of our Lord 179. Lucius the first Christian King of this Land founded the first Church at London namely the Church of St. Peter in Cornhill He establish'd there an Arch-Episcopal See it was the prime Church of the Kingdom and so continu'd for 400. years until the coming of St. Augustine the Apostle of England Some make Theanus Founder of this Church assisted therein by Ciranus the Kings Cup-bearer How long Theanus govern'd in this See is uncertain however he was succeeded by St. Elvanus though Malmsburiensis makes it doubtful in what place the Arch-Episcopal jurisdiction was fix'd during the time of the Britains Fugatius and Damianus after their three years successful Labours in this new Vineyard of our Lord as Historians witness return'd to Rome to give an account to St. Eleutherius how affairs stood in Britain As to this Matthew of Westminster expresses himself most fully affirming That in the year of Grace 186. the Blessed Prelates Fugatius and Damianus return'd to Rome and obtain'd from the Holy Pope Eleutherius a confirmation of all they had done in Britain and then came back again accompany'd with many others By whose Instructions the British Nation being confirm'd in the Faith of Christ became Illustrious the Names and Acts of these Holy men may be found in the History of our Gildas concerning the Victory of Aurelius Ambrosius It was the practice of Christian Churches to have frequent recourse to the Chair of St. Peter and about this very time the Church of Lions in France sent Irenaeus to St. Eleutherius for the resolving of questions about Ecclesiastical Affairs as St. Jerom witnesseth and of the same Errand before this time went St. Beatus to Rome as is before-mention'd This hath been frequently done in a due Subordination to the Supream Tribunal of the Church and for the preservation of Unity the Center whereof the Chair of St. Peter was ever accounted When Fugatius and Damianus came back into Britain they presented the King with a Crown Bless'd by that Holy Pope with many Divine Admonitions more acceptable than the Crown relating to the Government of his Civil State and his Defence of Holy Church It is said the Pope also prescrib'd the limits of his Kingdom so far Northerly that some conjecture that from thence it is that so many of those Northern Provinces became subject to the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Church of York Other Churches were afterwards built as first at Westminster in the place of an Idol Temple consecrated to Apollo which in the Reign of Antoninus Pius was by an Earthquake cast to
the ground This Church from the days of King Lucius was design'd for a Burying place of our Kings as at this day and after it was Re-edify'd by St. Edward the Confessor A second Metropolitan Church was about this time erected in the City of York esteem'd in that Age the prime City and Church of Britain The third Metropolitan Church was then also built at Landaff or Caerleon upon Vsk in which City now ruin'd were three Noble Churches one bearing the Title of the Holy Martyr Julius Beautifi'd with a Monastery of Virgins Consecrated to God. A second founded by the Name of his Companion St. Aaron And a third famous for being the Metropolitan See of all Cambria although Dubritius is mention'd in History to be the first Arch-bishop of the Welsh Britains concerning the Church of Landaff and the Superiority of it something may be gather'd out of the Protestation of Vrbanus before Calixtus the second in the Councel of Rhemes However sure it is that after the coming of St. Augustine the Monk the Bishop of Landaff hath always been subject to the See of Canterbury This King Lucius built another Church also at Dover in Honour of our Blessed Saviour and his Glorious Mother and some other Churches elsewhere As this King shew'd himself Munificent in Building of Churches so also was he Liberal in his Endowments and Priviledges bestow'd upon them by transferring the Possessions of Idol-Temples to Christian Churches and further Enriching them with more Lands and greater Immunities so that some Malefactors might have refuge within their Precincts which benefit of Sanctuary hath been continu'd and increas'd by most succeeding Princes neither were the Revenues belonging to Pagan Temples inconsiderable for that Religion was very costly for it is certain that the Pagan Flamens in London Sacrific'd yearly 40000. Cows 100000. Sheep innumerable sorts of all Fowl besides 30000. Savage Beasts as Staggs and other Beasts of the Forrest Besides all this King Lucius in the 6th year after his Conversion Founded a Church and Monastery at Winchester which he plentifully Endow'd it is said to be a Church of vast Dimensions and Adorn'd with an Episcopal Palace the Possessions of it extended 12. Miles round about the City This Church was Dedicated to the Honour of our Saviour by Fugatius and Damianus and Devotus a Monk by them Constituted the first Abbot from this time until the time of Dioclesian the Monks here quietly serv'd God after the Rule and Order prescrib'd by St. Mark the Evangelist and first Bishop of Alexandria which Rule is thus describ'd by Cassianus saying These Monks did not content themselves to retain the order of living practis'd by the Primitive Christians whereof we read in the Acts of the Apostles That they had all things in common accounted nothing their own sold their Possessions and laid the price at the Apostles feet to be divided amongst such as had need But these Monks aspir'd to practices more sublime for retiring them to the most secret places they led a Life of unparallel'd Abstinence and Austerity in Reading of Holy Scripture day and night in fervent Prayer and continual Labour of their Hands without regard of Food or Sustenance save only that every second or third day they would receive some slender Sustenance for necessity not for the satisfaction of their Apetite and not then until after Sun-set The Light they spent in Labour or Holy Exercises Darkness suffic'd for the care of their Bodies Under the Persecution of Dioclesian this Holy Fraternity was dissipated but not long after again restor'd and their Church Consecrated by Constantius Bishop of Winchester in the year of Grace 309. taking a new Name from St. Amphibolus who with St. Alban was Crown'd with Martyrdom and by this Name Gildas calls it in his relation of the Sons of Mordred Murder'd by Constantine in this place It suffer'd a second Eclipse when the Infidel Saxons laid waste all Holy places in this Island Howbeit no sooner did the Saxons embrace the Faith of Christ but they repair'd this Church and Monastery after call'd de Hida and restor'd it to greater Splendor and Magnificence then it had before in which Splendor and Beauty it continu'd fortify'd by Charters of Kings and Bulls of Popes untill all Religious Houses were swallow'd up by the sury and Avarice of Henry the VIII So as St. Edward the Confessor in his Charter to the Monastery of Westminster prov'd a Prophet who declar'd The same Charter should continue in force so long as the love of Christianity should remain in this Nation Our Devout and Wise King Lucius did not only endow Churches and Monasteries for the present Worship of God but provided Seminaries of Learning and Piety for the future increase thereof the most Famous of which was the School and Monastery of Bangor in North-Wales It is said to be the first Colledge of Christian Philosophers but is in some Authors mistaken for another of that Name in Vlster from whence proceeded the famous Bishop St. Malachias whose Life is elegantly written by St. Bernard However this famous Monastery it seems prosper'd so well for a long time that at the coming of St. Augustine into England more than 2000. Monks were found in it This King was not only careful to plant and settle the Christian Faith within his own Kingdom but as many Antient and Credible Records testifie personally sow'd the Seeds of Christianity in Germany and other Forreign parts and as some say there ended his days as his Virgin Sister and Martyr also did Fugatius or Phaganus and Damianus being inform'd of St. Joseph and his Companion 's retirement to Glastonbury and their deaths there visited the place which they found reduc'd to little better then a Covert of Wild-Beasts so little encouragement or countenance had the Christian Faith receiv'd yet by Divine conduct they discover'd an Antient Church built by St. Joseph and his Companions and Consecrated as afore-said by God himself they also found the Holy-Cross with several Writings and other Tokens declaring the place to have been formerly an Habitation of Christians and receptable of those prime Disciples They therefore added another Oratory built of Stone Dedicated to the Honour of St. Peter and St. Paul and on the Top of the Tor or Mountain rais'd a Chappel to the Honour of St. Michael the Arch-Angel And lastly to continue the Service of God which had been interrupted they establish'd a succession of 12 Devout persons in memory of St. Joseph and the first 12. which Succession continu'd till the coming of St. Patrick the Apostle of Ireland unto this place These two Holy men made this place their Retirement for the space of nine years and there dy'd and were bury'd as is believ'd about the year of our Lord 199. After the Death of Lucius which happen'd in the 7th year of Severus none of the British Race were permitted to reign but Legats from the Emperour commanding the Roman Army In the time of Commodus
thither that he might attend on God without interruption into which place he gather'd to him about the number of 180. Disciples It is reported That the place being too strait for so many the Blessed man having recourse to God in whose Power and Goodness he plac'd his confidence when the Sea at low ebb had left the shoar for a great space with a Rod which he had in his Hands made impressions in several places of the Sands and commanded the waters in the Name of Christ not to pass those bounds upon which the Sea was observ'd to restrain its own violence and swelling insomuch as to this day it hath never presum'd to pass those prescrib'd limits Thus the Holy man is said to bid adieu to all his Friends to the Vanities of this World and to all obstacles to Perfection Mortifying all his Sensual Desires and yet not contented resolv'd to leave his Native Country and accompanied with his Brethren landed in a Province of Belgick Gaul inhabited by a People call'd the Morini to whom he Preach'd the Christian Faith instructing many in the Perfection of a Holy Life About those parts there then liv'd a Prince call'd Mevorus at or near a place call'd at this day Cormon This Prince profess'd Christianity and having notice of the arrival of St. Gudwall within his Consines kindly receiv'd him Mevorus and his Wife were much stricken in years and had no Children St. Gudwall in a Dream appear'd to the Matron and promis'd her she should have a Son which should be call'd Simeon Mevorus being inform'd by his Wife of this her Dream promis'd that this Son when born with all his Hereditary Possessions should be assign'd to the Church and Monastery which this Holy Bishop and Hermite with the Treasure of Mevorus was then building probably near Ipre where a Village call'd Ghelwelt seems to afford some Marks of St. Gudwall's Name The Son thus Promis'd soon after was born and call'd Simeon brought up in Learning by St. Gudwall made a Monk and his Possessions confer'd on the Monastery It is said this Holy Bishop after all his Labours rested in our Lord about the year of Christ 403. It is written that before his death an Angel of our Lord appear'd to him with a Pleasant Countenance saying O worthy Soldier of God may the joy of our Lord always encrease in thee and his Peace continually remain with thee be prepar'd for e're long God will call thee out of this World and thou shalt meet thy Heavenly King with a Palm of Victory This Coelestial Messenger stay'd a good space filling his Soul with Spiritual Sweetness known only to God. After this another Angel appear'd to him and said I am Michael the Arch-Angel sent to thee from our Lord to acquaint thee That the hour of thy departure is at hand for after ten days thou shalt joyfully issue out of thy fleshly Prison and escape out of the Dungeon of this World and with unspeakable gladness thou shalt meet thy Heavenly King into whose presence we will bear thee he will receive thee with Glory and enroll thee among the Courtiers and Citizens of his Kingdom Some say the Mother and Sisters of this Holy man were present and assisting at his Death invited thither by the Fame of his Miracles and after his departure carried his Body back with them into Brittain But when the Pagan Saxons demolish'd Christian Sepulchres here it was transported again into Flanders The place of his Burial here is said to be the Isle of Plet or Plecit where it remain'd many years Illustrious by many Miracles until it was transported to the place aforesaid where not being entertain'd with due Honour it was by a Noble Marquess nam'd Arnulphus after by Gods appointment remov'd to the Monastery of â—landinium in Gaunt together with the precious Relicks of the famous Confessor Bertulphus when Clotharius reign'd in France his Body is yet carried in Procession yearly and each Procession renown'd by Miracles In the year of our Lord 342. great Commotions arose in Gaul by the coming in of the Franks which were soon suppress'd but Britain following the motions of Gaul and being in disorder Constans was enforc'd to pass over thither in the Winter Season and by his unlook'd for presence there soon frighted the Rebellious Islanders into Obedience Four years after this an unhappy Schism was like to break forth between the Eastern and Western Churches for the Eastern Bishops of the Faction of Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia chief Pillar of the Arrians had condemn'd St. Athanasius in two Synods at Tyre and Antioch On the contrary Julius Bishop of Rome in a Synod of Italian Bishops receiv'd him into his Communion notwithstanding the intercession of the Orientals who sent their Decree of Condemnation to Rome To prevent this Schism Constans being Orthodox sollicited his Brother Constantius to joyn with him in caling a General Councel thereby to preserve entirely the Heritage of their Fathers Piety by which he had subdu'd many barbarous Nations destroy'd Tyrants and establish'd the Empire Hereupon a Synod was Assembled at Sardica in Illyrium to which came out of the Western Empire about 300. Bishops and out of the East 76. only Some of the Western Bishops came out of Britain Restitutus Bishop of London was certainly one who before at the Councel of Nice consented to the Faith of the Consubstantiality of the Son of God. It will not be therefore impertinent to say something of this great Councel that the Conformity of the British Churches in those days to the Faith and Discipline of the Catholick Church may the better appear This Synod first establish'd the Faith of the Nicene Councel next declar'd the Innocence of Athanasius and other Orthodox Bishops persecuted by the Arrian Faction and the Condemnation of their Adversaries and other Eastern Bishops who deserted the Synod and made a Schismatical Assembly at Philopolis and in it publish'd contradictory Decrees This Synod as to matters of Discipline Decreed this especially That Appeals be made in Case of Contention to St. Peter 's Chair ultimately to be determin'd by the Pope or such as he should appoint in that behalf Now it is certain that the Donatists not long after in Envy to the See of Rome endeavour'd to suppress the Acts of this famous Synod as much as they could as St. Augustine testifies The Decrees of this Synod were after confirm'd by the Councel in Trullo Another Decree was made To restrain the Appeals of Deacons sent by their Bishops to the Emperour's Court appointing them to present their Petitions to the Bishop of the Roman Church to be by him examin'd whether just or not This Synod being dissolv'd the Emperour Constans us'd his utmost diligence and Authority for the Execution of these Decrees his chiefest care was about the Restitution of St. Athanasius whose return the Factious Bishops of the East oppos'd Constans wrote to his Brother for his Restitution mingling Threats if he were not comply'd with
Kings Consent where a Church was Built and Dedicated to the Honour of the prime Apostle St. Peter That an Arch-Episcopal See was here thus planted may be some mistake for when that See was transplanted to Caerleon an Arch-Episcopal See indeed was Establish'd there so that it may rather seem that only an Episcopal See was Erected at Landaff by Mouricus who is said to be Son of Theodoric Prince of Morgannia or Glamorganshire which Prince as Bishop Godwin relates Resign'd his Principality and embrac'd a Monastical or Hermitical Life But after when the Saxons invaded the Land he was drawn out of his Cell to be Leader of an Army and Courageously rushing among the Enemies receiv'd a Mortal Wound for which Merit he was Enroll'd in the number of Martyrs St. German's next care after Ordaining Bishops was to Visit the Schools the Sources of Learning and he is said to have Studied or rather Taught for sometime in Oxford and Establish'd good Orders there concerning which we may find an Illustrious Testimony of our Learned Country-man Asserius who liv'd about 800. years since and treating of the Controversy between the Students of Oxford and Grimbaldus whom King Alfred had call'd out of France to govern that University affirms That the Scholars prov'd by unquestionable Testimonies of Antient Annals that the Orders and Institutes of that place which Grimbaldus sought to change had been Established by Pious and Learned men As Gildas Melkin Nemri Kentigern and others who all grew Old in their Studies there and Administred all things in Peace and Concord affirm They further shew'd that St. Germanus came to Oxford and abode there half a year approving wonderfully their Orders and Institutions Whether this be not a later Addition to Asserius is suspected by some It will not be amiss a little to enquire what Doctrines were taught by St. Germanus to whom this Country of ours was so much beholding For by this enquiry it may appear whether St. Augustine the Monk sent by St. Gregory the Great in the following Age to Convert the Saxons taught them a Religion differing from that which St. German profess'd we need go no further in this enquiry then to Mr. Selden well known to be Learn'd in Antiquity The sixth Chapter of this Treatise call'd Analecta Anglo-Britanica touching the Practises of Ecclesiastical Discipline wherewith Germanus and Lupus Bishops imbew'd the Britains may easily satisfie us in this particular where he tells us That Germanus Bishop of Auxerre and Lupus Bishop of Troyes in Gaul came into Britain to restore Christian Religion deprav'd by the Heresie of Pelagius and Errours of Pagans The Doctrines saith he taught by them as the Fame is which also Giraldus Cambrensis testifies were as followeth First Of every Loaf of Bread set before them one Corner they gave to the Poor Secondly They sat three together at Dinner in memory of the Trinity Thirdly If any met a Religious Monk or Clergy-man in the way or any one in a Religious Habit he would presently lay aside his Weapons and with a low inclination of his Head demand his Benediction Fourthly Generally all the People earnestly demanded Episcopal Confirmation and Inunction with Holy Chrism by which the Holy Ghost is confer'd Fifthly They somtime bestow'd the Tythe of all their Substance Cattle and Sheep either when they Marry'd or undertooke some long Pilgrimage or by the Churches Order submitted to some extraordinary Pennance for their Sins This they call the great Tythes and two parts thereof they bestow'd on the Church where they were Baptiz'd the third they gave to the Bishop of the Diocess Sixthly Beyond all other External Labours of Mortification they were most Devoted to Pilgrimages undertaken to Rome to Visit the Monuments of the Apostles Seventhly Beyond any other Nation they express'd a Devout Reverence to Churches and Church-men to Relicks of Saints to Portable Bells Sacred Books and the Holy Cross and this Devotion hath been rewarded with greater Peace than any other Churches enjoy'd Eightly Entire security was observ'd in regard of Beasts seeding not only in the Church-yards but beyond them through all Grounds enclos'd with Ditches which Bishops design for observation of Peace and Indempnity And greater Churches to which Antiquity always afforded greater Reverence have power to grant and enjoyn the observation of such Peace and Security for Cattle whilst in the Morning they go and at Evening they Return from their Pastures This Peace is preserv'd so inviolable that if any one should incur the Mortal Indignation of his Prince and seek Refuge in a Church he may enjoy the Fruit of this Peace both for his Person and Goods Though indeed from such large Immunities beyond the Antient Canons which in such cases allow safety of Life to a mans Body occasion of great Abuses have been taken Scarce any one of these Christian practices but was allow'd by St. Augustine Yet is St. Augustine by some in those days condemn'd and St. German Absolv'd Our Ancestors indeed to testifie their high esteem of the Venerable Bishop St. German's Sanctity approv'd by Miracles after his Death built Chapels and Churches to his Honour on one of which Cambden thus writes In Cornwall near the River Liver there is a Village Nam'd from St. German to which during the Danish Tumults the Episcopal See of that Province was transfer'd out of fear as to a place more remote and secure There a Church had been Erected and Consecrated to the Honour of St. Germanus who Extirpated the Pellagian Heresie arising a new among the Britains In Yorkshire likewise a famous Monastery was Consecrated to him The River Owse Waters Selby a Town well Peopled there King William the I. Founded a Church in memory of St. German who is said To have wounded to Death the many Headed Hydra of Pelagianism often quell'd and often reviving again The Abbots of this Monastery and of St. Maries at York were the only Northern Abbots which had Seats in Parliament The memory of St. German is also much Celebrated among the Silures in North-wales for from him a part of Radnor-shire is call'd Guarthenian for as Nennius relates Vortimer the Son of Vortigern to satisfy for injuries done by his Father to St. German Dedicates that part of the Country to him where he had been chiefly wrong'd in memory whereof it took the name of Guartheny which in the British Language signifies A Calumny justly retorted Hitherto since the Romans relinquish'd their care of Britain the Provinces of the Island had been govern'd by Petty-Princes Independent one of another But in the year 438. by reason of the frequent inroads of their Cruel Enemies the Picts and Scots by common agreement of the Provinces a general Captain of the whole Nation was chosen after the manner of their Ancestors in the days of Julius Caesar and the Kingdom establish'd in that Captains Line The choice unhappily fell upon Vortigern born for the destruction of his Country He was a man void both of Courage
to cope with Hengist and therefore with the Forces under his command furiously piercing into the Enemies Squadrons found him at last and laying hold on the fore-part of his Helmet with main force drew him within his own Troops saying God hath at last fulfill'd my desire He it is who hath given us the Victory Vpon this the Saxons fled Octa the Son of Hengist to York Esca and not a few with him betook themselves to the City of Acluid After this Victory Ambrosius took the City Caerconan which he enter'd Triumphantly Then Ambrosius calling his Captains together commanded them to Decree what should become of Hengist whereupon Eldad Bishop of Glocester and Brother of Eldol impos'd Silence on them all and gnashing his Teeth for rage told them Though all there present had a desire to set him free I my self would cut him in pieces Why saith he do you delay O Effeminate Britains did not Samuel a Prophet having taken the King of Amalec Prisoner in Battle cut him in pieces one Limb after another saying As thou hast made many Mothers Childless so will I make thy Mother Childless this day Do you therefore deal in the same manner with this Barbarous King who is another Agag and hath depriv'd a world of British Mothers of their Children When Eldad had thus said He drew his Sword and leading Hengist out of the City cut off his Head sending his wretched Soul to Hell. Whether this Speech or Action became a Christian Bishop I must leave to Graver Judgments Ambrosius thus Triumphing was not unmindful of his Vow but took care to repair the Houses of God which had been lately destroy'd and placing in them Priests and other Clergy-men he reduc'd the Divine Service to its Pristine order and where ever he found any Idols or Temples of False Gods he defac'd them utterly out of the memory of men He Studiously observ'd Justice and Peace especially as to Ecclesiastical persons on whom he liberally confer'd Revenues injoyning them to Pray for the King and state of Gods Church Hengist thus dead his Son Aesca by Bede nam'd Oisc succeeded in the Kingdom of Kent and from him his Successors were call'd Oisckings what became of his Brother Otta who was said to fly to York can no where be found in any Antient Writer and therefore little Credit is to be given to what is reported of him by some late Writers That Ambrosius should bestow upon him the Province of Galloway in Scotland which was not in his disposal The same year wherein Hengist was slain the Holy Virgin St. Bridget came out of Ireland into Britain to obtain some Relicks of her Dear and Honour'd Patron St. Patrick whose Disciple she had been and a great admirer of his Sanctity She stay'd here some years in a small Island near Glastonbury call'd Bekery where was an Oratory Consecrated to the Honour of St. Mary Magdalen afterward leaving behind her Scrip Chain Bell and other Vestments of her own wearing which for the memory of her Sanctity were there repos'd she return'd to Ireland where not long after she rested in our Lord and was Buried in the City of Down Concerning her we may thus read in the Martyrologies This day the first of February is Celebrated the memory of the Blessed Virgin St. Bridget who in Testimony of her Virginity having touch'd the Wood of an Altar it became presently green She is said to have out-liv'd St. Patrick only 30 years In the English Martyrology there is a Commemoration of a British Martyr call'd St. Sophias whose death is assign'd to the 490 year of our Lord He was the Son of Guilleicus Prince of the Ordovices or North-Wales and undertook a Monastical Profession in a Monastery Built by himself in the same Province He had such Devotion to our Lords Passion that he made three Pilgrimages to Jerusalem to visit the Marks and Foot-steps of it A great Veneration also he had for Rome and those places which had been Consecrated by the Blood of the two Princes of the Apostles Being at Rome he was by the Bishop thereof Consecrated Bishop of Beneventum which See he govern'd with Prudence and Sanctity till at last he was slain by an Impious Pagan at the Holy Altar while he was Celebrating the Mystery of our Redemption No less famous at this time was the Holy British Virgin St. Keyna Illustrious she was for her Birth being the Daughter of Braganus Prince of that Province in Wales which from him was call'd Brecknokshire but more Illustrious for her Zeal to preserve her Chastity for which she was call'd in the British Tongue Keynvayre that is Keyna the Virgin This Prince Braganus or Brachanus is said to have had twelve Sons and as many Daughters by his Lady call'd Macella Daughter of Theodoric Son of Tethphalt Prince of Garthmatrin afterward nam'd Brecknock their first born Son was St. Canoc of whom more hereafter their eldest Daughter was Gladus Mother of Cadocus by St. Gunley a Holy King of the Southern Britains their second Daughter was Melaria or Nonita the Mother of the Holy Archbishop St. David mention will be made hereafter of Almedha another of their Daughters As for St. Keyna when she came to ripe years many Noble persons sought her in Marriage but she utterly refus'd that state having Consecrated her Virginity to our Lord by a perpetual Vow at length she determin'd to forsake her Country and find out some Desert place where she might attend to Contemplation wherefore directing her Journey beyond Severn and coming to certain Woody places She requested the Prince of that Country that she might be permitted to serve God in that Solitude The Prince was willing to grant her request only he told her The place did so swarm with Serpents that neither Men nor Beasts could inhabit in it To which she reply'd That her Trust was fix'd in the Name and Assistance of Almighty God and therefore she doubted not to drive all that Poisonous brood out of that Region Hereupon the place was readily granted to the Holy Virgin who prostrating her self to God in fervent Prayer obtain'd of him to change all the Serpents and Vipers there into Stones so as to this day the Stones in that Region resemble the Windings of Serpents through all the Fields and Villages as if they had been so fram'd by the Hand of the Engraver Cambden gives some account of this Miracle On the Western Banks of Avon saith he is seen the Town of Cainsham some are of Opinion that it was nam'd so from Keyna a most Holy British Virgin who according to the Credulous perswasion of former Ages is believ'd to have turn'd Serpents into Stones for that such like Miracles of sporting Nature are there sometimes found in the Quarries I my self saith he saw a Stone brought from thence representing a Serpent roll'd up into a Spire The Head of it stuck out in the outward Surface and the end of the Tayl terminated in the Center Many years
part of a mountain in that Country call'd Dunpelder from thence to be thrown down and torn in pieces She therefore with deep Sighs looking up to Heaven implor'd the Mercy and Help of her Redeemer with many Tears after this she was cast down but by the fall was neither bruis'd nor receiv'd the least harm but sliding down easily and slowly came safe to the bottom The Pagans there present ascrib'd this deliverance to the Magical Inchantments of the Christians and therefore with the Kings Consent they carried her several Miles into the Sea and there left her in a small Boat made of Leather without any Oares and destitute of all Humane help But it seems he who commands the Winds and the Seas was her Protector for by his Power the Boat was carried straight to a far distant Haven with greater swiftness then either Oares or Sails could have driven her Being there arriv'd the young Lady soon after at a place call'd Collenros was deliver'd without the assistance of a Midwife of a Son This Collenros probably is the same which St. Bede calls Coludi and Ptolomy Colania in the Province of Louden The next morning St. Servanus came to the place and seeing the desolate Mother with her Infant said My Beloved Child Blessed art thou who art come in the Name of the Lord He took them into his care nourish'd and Baptiz'd them calling the Mother Thanen and the Child Kentigern that is Cheif-Lord The Child being of a towardly Disposition profited much in Learning and Virtue and was Belov'd of St. Servanus beyond all his Companions and call'd Munhu as he is still nam'd among the Scots So as they who affirm his Birth to have been at St. Asaph in Flintshire are much mistaken which mistake perhaps ariseth from his being afterwards Bishop there However after 25 years we shall find him Consecrated Bishop of Glasco and then more is to be said of him The continual Troubles rais'd by the Saxons would not permit King Arthur to Solemnize his Coronation 'till eight years after his Fathers death But in the year of Grace 516. the Ceremony was Magnificently perform'd in a General Assembly of Bishops and Nobles at Caerleon St. Dubritius Bishop of that City setting the Crown on his Head. After which the Holy Bishop retir'd into a certain Island in Northwales call'd by the Britains Enhly and by the English Berdsey which Island saith Cambden Was inhabited by so many Saints that beside Dubritius and Merlin the Caledonian no fewer then 20000 Holy men were Buried there as Records inform us Concerning this Island saith Bishop Vsher It was call'd by the Britains The Rome of Britain for the distance of it the difficulty of Passage the Sanctity and Security of it since 20000 Saints are there Venerated as Martyrs and since it is on all sides encompass'd with the Sea. By which may be collected what esteem the Britains then had of Rome and what agreement in Religion there was between them At this time the Saxons invited more of their Country-men out of Germany And under the conduct of Colgrin they subdu'd all that part of Britain which lyes from Humber to the Sea of Cathanes whereof when King Arthur was inform'd he march'd with an Army towards York which was then held by the Saxons Colgrin met him with a great multitude near the River Duglas in Lancashire but coming to a Battle Colgrin was put to flight and pursu'd by King Arthur to York Baldulph the Brother of Colgrin at that time lay with some Forces toward the Sea expecting the coming of the Saxons He intended to make an Irruption by night into King Arthur's Army but the King being admonish'd thereof by Spies sent Cador Duke of Cornwall with 600 Horse and 3000 Foot to intercept the Saxons which Forces setting on the Saxons unexpectedly kill'd a great number of them and put the rest to flight King Arthur closely Besieg'd York during which Siege a famous German Captain call'd Cheldric arriv'd in Albania with 700 Boats. These great succours frighted the Britains from their Siege so as the King retir'd with his Army to London from whence he sent Messengers to his Nephew Hoel King of Little-Britain to inform him of the Calamity of this Island Hoel to succour his Uncle landed shortly after with 15000 men at the Haven of Hamon where he was with great Joy and Honour receiv'd by King Arthur Encourag'd with these new Forces he obtain'd the next year two famous Victories against the Saxons the former near the River Bassas the latter in the Wood Chelidon both in Lincolnshire near Lincoln the chief City No fewer then 6000 of the Saxons were slain the rest fled into the Wood or Forrest of Caledon and were pursu'd by King Arthur and there Immur'd by great Trees cut down and laid athwart so as they were thereby reduc'd to such extream Famine that they beg'd leave to depart the Realm leaving all their Spoils behind them By this Exploit the Saxons were driven out of the middle part of Britain Howbeit in the Western part they so prevail'd that Cerdicus there establish'd a Kingdom Another Victory this Heroick King is said to have obtain'd though the time be not mention'd against these Barbarous Enemies near the Castle call'd Guinnion In which Battle the King carried upon his Shoulders the Image of the Blessed Virgin-mother of God and all that day by the Virtue and Power of our Lord Jesus Christ and St. Mary his Mother compell'd the Saxons to fly after many had perish'd with a great slaughter the succeeding Exploits of this King follow after Whilst most of the Provinces of that part of Britain which is since call'd England were thus miserably disquieted the parts thereof since call'd Wales enjoy'd good repose and were made Illustrious by great numbers of Saints who flourish'd there as St. Dubritius St. Sampson St. David St. Thelian St. Kined St. Paternus St. Daniel St. Justinian and others some of these have been already mention'd and more of their Gests will follow As for St. Daniel he is reported by Bishop Vsher to have built a Colledge or Monastery of the Apostolick Order for the Sacred Exercises of Learned and Pious men in Arvonia the Country of the Venedati not far from the streight where men pass into the Isle of Anglesey out of Wales Which Colledge was by the Founder call'd the Port or Haven It was built in the year of our Lord 516. In the same place not long after Malgo Conan built a City which for the Beautiful Scituation of it he call'd Bancor or Bangor after it was the seat of a Bishop wherein this St. Daniel was the first who sate So that Bishop Goodwin is mistaken in affirming that no Bishop had been there before the Norman Conquest This City of Bangor was a place distinct from the famous Monastery of that Name There was indeed a Monastery in both places but this was seated in Arvonia now Caernarvan upon the River Menai dividing
his Eyes and say a Prayer or Benediction on them But receiving no benefit thereby David said to him Father command me not to look you in the face for ten years are past since I studied the Scriptures with you and in all that time I never had the boldness to look you in the face Paulens admiring his Humility said Since it is so it will suffice if by touching mine Eyes thou pronounce a Benediction on them Presently therefore as soon as he had touch'd them Sight was restor'd to them The same year wherein the Synod of Brevi was Celebrated Cerdic began the Kingdom of the West-Saxons That is saith Huntingdon in the seventy first year after the first coming of the Saxons in the reign of the Emperour Justin the Elder This Cerdic is said to be Crown'd with Pagan Ceremonies at Winchester in a place which once had been the Church of the true God but which these Barbarous Heathens had chang'd into a Temple of Dagon after they had slain all the Monks who serv'd God there The raising of this new Kingdom disproves the Fictions of Geffrey of Monmouth concerning the great and frequent Victories of King Arthur in these days It is likely to be more true which Huntingdon expresly declares namely That this year a terrible Battle was fought between Cerdic and the Britains and that on both sides the Captains Fought Magnanimously till Even but then the Saxons got the Victory which would have been more Bloody to the Britains had not the darkness hind'red the Pursuit After this the Fame of Cerdic and his Son Kenric was largely spread through the whole land and from that day began the Kingdom of the West-Saxons which having swallow'd all the other Principalities remains to our times Many Battles are said to have been Fought between King Arthur and this Cerdic wherein sometimes one sometimes the other had the better But at last King Arthur grew weary and contenting himself with an Oath of Fidelity from Cerdic gave him the Provinces of Hampshire and Somerset Some Authors affirm a League to have been made between them wherein a special Priviledge was provided for Cornwall to be permitted upon an Annual Tribute the free exercise of Christian Religion Which Indulgence seems to be prov'd by the great number of Saints which in those and the following times flourish'd in that Province whereas scarce any can be found in other parts of Britain subject to the Saxons And in truth it is very like that great multitudes of Britains flying from the fury of the Saxons betook themselves to Cornwal and Wales as places most distant and more defenceable and where they might expect better Conditions and more advantage of resisting their new Masters then in other parts for no doubt this Kingdom of the West-Saxons was made up of more Provinces than Hampshire or Somerset so that Cerdic had good footing in Devonshire Dorsetshire Barkshire and Wiltshire to which shortly after was added the Isle of Wight bestow'd by Cerdic on his late arriv'd Kinsmen Stuffa and Whitgar who destroy'd the British Inhabitants there at Whitgarburg so call'd from Whitgar but now contractedly Caresburg While Cerdic was busie in establishing his new Kingdom in the year 520. Colgrin Baldulf and Cheldric whom King Arthur had lately subdu'd at York and forc'd to abjure the land returning landed at Totness from whence passing through Cerdic's Dominions they came to the City of Bath and Besieg'd it King Arthur hearing thereof caus'd the Hostages which they had left to be Hang'd and gathering a mighty Army came to raise the Seige where the Armies being joyn'd he calling on the Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary whose Image he wore over his Armour slew great numbers of his Enemies and amongst the rest Colgrin and his Brother Baldulf which Cheldric perceiving fled and was pursu'd by Cador the Duke of Cornwall to the Isle of Thanet and there slain by him the rest being forc'd to yield King Arthur as may be remembred obtain'd a Battle before he was King near Bath at the Mountain Badonicus now this is likely to be another defeat given by King Arthur to the Saxons and the City of Bath being in the utmost extremity West-ward of Cerdic's Kingdom it might at this time have been in the possession of the Britains As for King Arthur's invoking the assistance of our Blessed Lady in the Fight it was a Devotion generally practic'd by the Church in this Age. For two years before there having been Assembled two Councels in the East one at Jerusalem and the other at Constantinople the Synod at Jerusalem wrote to the Bishops of the other Councel thus We beseech you most Holy Bishops to Pray with us to our Lord for these things for the Necessities of Gods Priests ought to be common make your Supplications likewise with us to the most Holy and Glorious Virgin Mary Mother of God that she would intercede for the Peace of the Catholick Church and for the Victory and long Life of our most Excellent and Pious Emperour The like practice we find else-where of which many Examples may be given The next year King Arthur was call'd into the Northern parts to assist Prince Howel who three years before was come out of Little Britain to his Aid and was now Besieg'd by the Picts and Scots in the City call'd Acluid wherein he lay Sick. Upon King Arthur's approach the Enemies retir'd to a place call'd Mureif whither he pursu'd them but they escaping by night fled to a Lake call'd Lumoney Whereupon King Arthur gathering many Ships together encompass'd the Island and in 15 days brought them to such extreme Famine that many thousands of them Perish'd In which utmost danger the Bishops of that Region came Barefoot to the King with Tears beseeching him To take pitty of that miserable People and to give them some small portion of that Country to inhabit under the yoak of perpetual Servitude The King thus mollify'd with the Tears of the Bishops pardon'd his Enemies and granted their request Hence it is that some Writers ground the subjection of Scotland to the Crown of Brittain and particularly Walsingham but certainly better grounds may be found of it than this Whereas it is said that certain Pictish and Scotish Bishops were Supplicants to this King for their Distress'd Countrymen it hath been already demonstrated that the Province of the Picts where the City of Acluid is seated had many years before receiv'd the Christian Faith by the Preaching of St. Ninianus but who were his Successors is hard to conjecture In the Annals of Ireland mention is made of a certain Bishop call'd Nennion who is said to have flourish'd in Britain about the year 520. and to have had his seat in a place call'd the great Monastery This man probably was the Successor of St. Ninianus and that great Monastery the same with Candida Casa where the Monument of that Apostolick Bishop was which by reason of frequent Miracles wrought there invited great