had taken publike notice of this matter is or lately was extant for Ihon Leland writing of this History saith ipsa Henricianae donationis verba ex Archetypo subscribam I will set downe the words of King Henry his graunt Ioh. Leland assert Arthurij fol. 12. out of his originall writing it self Therefore he had seene it And Maister Stowe making relation from this Charter of King Henry the second how all those Kings before remembred and many other Christian Kings besides had publikly confirmed this truth he addeth all which so to be the foresaid King Henry Stowe history the Romans in Agricola Theater of great Brit. lib. 6. cap. 9. Godwin Conu of Brit. p. 10. Theater sup l. 6. Ihon Harding Chronicle fol. 60. c. 47. Act. SS Damia Fugat apud Capgr in Catal. Leland in Asser Arthur Theat of Brit. l. 6. Epist S. Patric apud Capgr sup alios Godwin Conu of Brit. p. 10. Gaufrid Abbas Burton M. S. hist de vit S. Moduenae Virg. c. 2. 4. c. Nenius apud Harding Chron. fol. 41. c. 48. Melkin apud Capg in S. Ioseph in Antiq. Glaston Baleus l. de Scri. cent 1. in Melkino Matth. Parker in antiq Brit. sup Godwin Conu p. 10. Io. Anglic. Foxe to 1. Mon. Theater of great Brit. l. 6. c. 9. §. 2. Dauid Powel in Annot. in hist Cambr. p. 12. 13. Godwin Conu of Brit. p. 11. Ioh. Capgrau in Catalog in S. Patri the Auncient inscriptioÌ„ in Brasse Apud Capgrau in S. Ioseph M. S. Vatican apud Baron to 1. Theat of Brit. l. 6. Godw. Conu of Brit. Philip. Pantal. Chron. ad an 70. 75. Andre Chesne hist d'Angletere Escosse Hiber Matth. Parker Antiq. Brit. Bal. cent 1. in Ioseph Godwin Conu Mont. Infra Camden in Belg. Stowe Howes Hist Powell annot in hist Brit. Drayton in Poly olb Seld. Illustr established by his Charter which Charter myself haue seene and read 3. The Protestant Theater writers write in like manner and a Protestant Bishop writing in the yeare 1615. of this matter plainely writeth The Charters are extant of King Henry the second And the same Protestants late Theater telleth vs the like of the Charter of King Edward the third to the same effect one exemplified vnder the seale of King Edward the third is to be seene at this day wherein Relation is made of all those Charters and Testimonyes I haue before remembred Ihon Harding writing of the coming of S. Ioseph hither and the extraordinary fauour which King Aruiragus publikly shewed vnto him and his Associats saith it was at the entreaty of Vespasian the Roman Lieutenant vnto Aruiragus and his Queene We haue further witnesses heare of the Acts of the Legats of Pope and Saint Eleutherius in the second hundred yeare alledged by S. Patricke whether the first sent by S. Celestine Pope then of Rome as his Epistle testifieth or the second as a Protestant Bishop rather supposeth I doe not heare contend for this second also was a glorious Saint as Gaufride Abbot of Burton in his Manuscript History writeth â— sent by Pope Leo into Ireland the tenth in number from the first S. Patrike we haue or had also Nenius in his History in the Brittish tongue testifing the same except Ihon Harding doth deceaue vs. We haue the Epistle of that S. Patrike which lyued long and died at Glastenburye where S. Ioseph also lyued and died and was buryed to the same purpose We haue Melkinus who wrote aboue a thowsand yeares since witnessing the same and that he was buried vnder a marble stone at Glastenbury In Aualonia Ioseph ab Aramathia dictus somnum sub marmore caepit diuturnum And except two Protestant Bishops Parker and Godwyne and as they say Ioannes Anglicus long since deceaue vs S. Augustine our Apostle in an Epistle which he wrote to S. Gregory giueth like testimony Ihon Foxe the Theater writers Dauid Powell with sume others alledge the same from Gildas in his booke of the victory of Aurelus Ambrosius There is as a Protestant Bishop writeth and Ihon Capgraue citeth the same History an auncient Inscription in Brasse formerly fixed vpon a piller in S. Iosephs Chappell at Glastenbury and now or lately in the custody of M. Thomas Hewes Esquier in Wells but three miles distant thence expressely prouing that S. Ioseph of Aramathia with eleuen other holy men he being the cheifest came hither in the thirtith yeare after the PassioÌ„ of Christ Anno post passionem domini 30. duodecim sancti ex quibus Ioseph ab Aramathia primus erat huc venerunt And it is contained in the same Antiquitâ—â— that Saint Dauid in his time offered a Saphire of inestimable value vpon the Altar there cuius altare inaestimabili Sapphiro insigniuit And set a piller for a during marke betweene the Chappell which S. Ioseph had builded and other later additions vnto it perpetually to knowe it by with the perfect bredth and length thereof 4. We haue the auncient Poet to assuer vs that S. Ioseph was the principall of the twelue holy men coming to Aualonia Intrat Aualoniam duodena caterua virorum Flos Aramathiae Ioseph est primus eorum We haue forreyne testimonies hereof both Catholiks and Protestants the Manuscript history in the Vaticane Library at Rome cited by Baronius our Theater writers and others Philip Pantaleon a German Protestant telling vs that Ioseph of Aramathia with his fellowes preached the Ghospell in Britayne Iosephus de Aramathia in Britannia cum socijs suis Euangelium praedicauit So for France hath Andrew Chesne in his French History of England Scotland and Irelend with others at home we haue a generall consent of Historians Catholiks or Protestants in this matter namely among Protestants their Protestant Bishops Parker their Archbishop Bale Godwine and Montague of others Camden Stowe Howes Powell Selden Drayton and others Among these Doctour Montague Protestant Bishop of Welles with in three miles of the place where S. Ioseph dyed and was buryed and so taking the best knowledge thereof he could to present a Queene withall in his Panegiricall entertainement of the late Queene Anne producing foure parsons to represent S. Peter S. Paul S. Andrew Apostles and S. Ioseph of Aramathia bringeth forth the Representor of S. Ioseph thus to speake vnto her I am the Herald of these Saincts Peter Paul and Andrew sent hyther by them full fifteene hundred and fortie yeares agoe to bring the waters of life into this Isle of Britayne In this Isle I made choise of an Isle the Island of Aualon neare adioyning to this place where after I had planted and watered and God had giuen an happy encrease I rested from my labours and my body lay buried in a graue of honour hoping verely that since I had that honour to intombe that blessed body no body would haue done themselues that dishonour as to haue violated my sepulchre But God wot ruinated it is and with it the goodlyest Monastery that euer
King of the Britans there were in Britaine three Archbishops Sees To witt at London Yorke and Caer-hursc the Citie of Legions in Glamorgan shire to whom there were subiect 28. Bishops then called Flamens that is to the Metropolitan of London were subiect Cornewall and all Loegria to the Riuer Humber To him of Yorke all Northumberland from Humber with all Albania To the Citie of Legions was subiect all Cambria then adorned with seuen Bishops now with fower Suffragans Sedes Archiepiscoporum in Britannia tres fuerunt tempore Lucij Regis Britannorum primi Christiani videlicet apud London apud Eboracum apud Caer-hursc vrbem Legionum in Glamorgancia Quibus tunc subiecti fuerunt 28. Episcopi Flamines tunc vocati Videlicet Londoniensi Metropolitano Cornubia tota Loegria vsque ad flumen Humbrum Eboracensi verò tota terra Northimbrina ab arcu Humbri fluminis cum tota Albania Vrbi Legionum subiacuit tota Cambria 7. tunc Episcopis nunc verò 4. Suffraganeis insignita Quam flumen Sabrinae tunc secernebat à Loegria I haue perused an old French Manuscript Historie whose manner of writing and Characters may well giue it a greater Age then any copy of Galfridus Translation though it be continued vntill within 400. yeares perhaps by some other but whether so or otherwise this differeth in very many things euen in this Historie from that Translation of the Brittish History whether we will follow that which our Protestants haue published or that which Ponticus Virunnius did epitimate and so he cannot ground what he deliuereth vppon Galfridus First they differ in the number of the Flamens Galfride and Ponticus number 28. in Britaine besides the Archflamens this History saith there were but 27. they say that King Lucius was buried at Glocester dying by Galfridus in the yeare 156. and by Virunnius an 159. the French History deliuereth he died in the yeare 196. So long after and though he died at Glocester yet he was buried at Caerlegion Galfride calleth this Citie Kaer-ose and Virunnius Caer-usc whereas the French Authour nameth it the Citie of Legions which iâ— vppon the Ryuer of Vsks not as others terme it And he nameth Yorke Euerwicks as the Saxons did and not as Geffry Ponticus and the Britans did of Ebranke Therefore this auncient Authour whether before or after Galfridus cannot be saide to take his directions from that Translation Manusc French Hâ—st very old pr. or que nous sommes c. 9. an 18â— with which he crosseth so often both in these and other matters Yet for this busines we haue now in hand he deliuereth it in these words At that time there were in Britaine now called England 27. Flamins and three Archflamins according to the manner of their Paganismâ— but the aforenamed Doctours Fagan and Damian cast them out and where were Flamyns they made Bishops and where there were Archflamyns they made Archbishops The Sees to these three Archflamins To what Archbishop what Bishops and Prouinces were subiect The Orchades Iles and Scotland subiect to the Archbishop of Yorkâ— M. S. Françoise supr an 180. Galfr. Monum Hist Brit. l. 5. c. 1. being in the three most Noble Cities of Britaine which were London Euerwicks and the Citie of Legions vppon the Ryuer vsks in the Country of Glamorgan in Wales not farre from Seuerne which is in a place delitious and passing in Ritches all other Cities To these three were subiect 27. Bishops To the Archbishop of Euerwicks were subiect Deira and Northumberland Scotland and Albania diuided by Dieceses beyond Humber which parteth them from Loegres which now is called England To the Archbishop of London were subiect Loegres and Cornwayle And he setteth downe with the truth and common opinion that these things were acted about the yeare of Christ 180. both in Pope Eleutherius and King Lucius time which the published Translation of Galfridus must needs mistake affirming King Lucius died in the yeare 156. when Eleutherius was not Pope while long after So this Authour must needs follow others and not Galfridus in this narration And the Manuscript History named Abbreuiatio Chronicorum in that copy which I follow beginning at Adam and ending in the yeare of Christ 1063. argueth the Authour farre more auncient then Geffry of Monmouth and placing this History of planting Religion heare by Faganus and Diuuanus Pope Eleutherius Legats betweene the yeare 170. and 180. writeth more truely of this matter then our published Galfridus Translation and could not imitate that herein Yet this Authour plainely testifieth that these two Legats finding heare in Britaine three Archflamens besides 28. Flamens one of them at London a second at Yorke and the third at Caerlegion constituted Archbishops in their places conformably limiting their Circuits and Iurisdictions Erant tunc in Britannia 28. Flamines tres Archiflamines vbi erant Flamines Episcopos vbi autem Archiflamines Archiepiscopos posuerunt Manuscr Hist Abbreuiatio Chronicorum inter ann 170. an 180. Io. Bal. l. de Scrip. Brit. cent 2. in Radulph de Rizeto Londonensi Archiepiscopo subiacuit Loegria Cornubia Eboracensi Deira Albania Vrbi autem Legionum Cambria 5. Vnto these I may ioyne Dicetus Deane of London or as a Protestant Bishop calleth him Radulphus de Rizeto who though he wrote a litle after Galfridus dying about the yeare of Christ 1200. yet he did not follow Galfridus Translation but assigneth this labour of the Popes Legats in placing Bishops and Archbishops for Flamens and Archflamens to the yeare of Christ 178. aboue twenty yeares after King Lucius death by Geffery his Translation Theater of great Britaine l. 6. Dicetus Deane of London a Manuscript in the Kings Library ad an 178. Yet by our Protestant writers of the Theater of greate Britaine in his Manuscript in the Kings Library at the yeare remembred 178. this matter is thus registrid There were in Britaine eight and twenty Flamyns and three Archflamins in stead of which so many Bishops and Archbishops were appointed vnder the Archbishop of London were the Prouinces of Loegria and Cornubia vnder Yorke Deira and Albania vnder vrbs Legionum Cambria And Harding differing aboue thirtie yeares in his computation from the Bishop of Asaph his Translation and so in no manner to be thought his follower in this matter yet thus he agreeth herein Harding Chron. f. 4â— c. 51. Of 3. Archflamens they made Archbishopricks One at London Troynouant that hight For all Logres with Lawes full autentikes To rule the Church and Christentee in right An other at Carlion a Towne of might For all Cambre at Ebranke the third From Trent North for Albany is kvde I haue cited Martinus Polonus Bergomensis Ptolomeus Lucensis Platina Hartmannus Schedel and diuers French Historians before all of them so farre differing from the Brittish Historie in their calculation and other circumstances that they caÌ„not be called followers thereof yet they all agree that the Flamens and Archflamens
Age he was disabled for such a Iorney Further they which hold he was Bishop of Churr◠in Germany and Martyred there say this Martyrdome of his there was about the yeare of Christ 182. when I haue proued him liuing and King still in Britaine 9. yeares after Besides they say that S. Emerita his Sister went with him and was Martyred there also But it is euident by our Histories that our first Christian King Lucius had neyther Brother Sister nor childe but he was vnicus patris and begotten of King Coillus in his old Age hauing no other childe Anno gratiae 115. natus est Coillo Regi Britonum vnicus filius Matth. Westm an 115. Pontic Virun Hist Brit. lib. 4. quem vocauit Lucium qui factus est patri gaudium exultatio quia in senectute quasi ab haerede destitutus genuerat eum Whereby is euident that this King Lucius had neyther Brother nor Sister named Emerita or any other And with what probabilitie can it be affirmed that a King so holy and louing of his Countries good and quiet hauing no Christiā heire to succeede him would or in conscience could forsake his natiue Country and subiects in such a case that were in iustice belonging to his cheifest chardge which no other could execute to preach vnto forreyners which many of his subiects and others could and at his request would most willingly haue performed We reade in Histories that many descended of Regall Race haue in such cases bene taken forth of their Monasteries and Religeous Conuersation to gouerne kingdomes destitute of heires but that a King so vertuous wise louing and beloued of his Country hauing no such heire to succeede him but by such course to expose and leaue his kingdome to so many certaine miseries calamities as fell vpon Britaine by the death of King Lucius and probably were foreseene of all wise men did might would or could take such a course Antiquities haue no example iustice denieth it charitie cannot allowe it Further I shall proue hereafter that S. Emerita called the Sister of S. Lucius was the Sister of Lucius Sonne of Constantius and Helena and so neyther daughter of King Coillus nor Sister to our first Christian King Lucius and so he could not be that Lucius which preached in Germany Aegid Schudus in descript Rhethiae cap. 15. 5. And where they say he was Bishop of Curia Aegidius Schudus a German Writer proueth that Curia was not then builded no such Citie in that Country nor long after and therefore with Caspar Bruchius in his Catalogue of the Bishops of that Citie and others as well German and other Writers maketh Caspar Bruchius in Catal. Episc Curien in Init. the first Bishop of that place aboue two hundreds of yeares after the time of our first Christian King Lucius Bruchius saith it was not a Bishops See vntill about the 440. yeare of Christ Episcopatus Churensis vel Curiensis in Rhetis vnus ex vetustissimis Germaniae Episcopatihus caepit circa annum Christianae Redemptionis 440. and maketh Asimo the first and Puricius or Pruricius the second Bishop thereof Thus these German Writers themselues and others of them eyther doubt of or deny that History Iohannes Nauclerus much vrged Ioannes Naucl. in Chron. gener 6. pag. 565. for this Relation maketh it onely a report fertur and ouerthroweth the History of the Church of Curre so much stood vpon for this matter in confessing that by this History that Lucius which is said to haue preached in Rhetia was conuerted by S. Timothie the Apostle S. Paules Scholler dead long time before our S. Lucius was borne Sebastian Munster saith plainely that Sebast Monster Cosmogr l. 3. cap. 344. whereas there is a vulgar reporte à vulgo persuasum habetur he maketh no more of any Lucius preaching there that one Lucius peeached in that place if it were so it could not possibly be our first Christian King Lucius for he neuer went out of Britaine but very godly liued and died heare Britanniae ille Rex qui circiter Annum Domini 190. floruit patriam nequaquam exiens piè apud suos obdormiuit Caspar Bruchius also doth plainely reiect all that Historie as Caspar Bruchius in Catal. Episc Curien propè Initium Manuscr Gallic Antiq. An. 296. it is applyed by some to our King Lucius and among other reasons addeth that the greate difference of yeares will not permit it to be true Numerus Annorum non conuenit An old French Manuscript Historie ioyneth in the same and leaueth him liuing dying and buried in Britaine And if we come home to our owne Historians and Antiquities most likely to make the most true and King Lucius died and was buried in Glocester in the Cathedrall Church there certaine Relation of this their so renowned King they set downe the yeare the day and particular place of his death and the very Church one of his owne foundation where his body was enterred The day and yeare they haue remembred before the 201. yeare of Christ the third day of December Matth. Westm ann 201. Antiq. Eccl. S. Petri in Cornhill Lond. Galfr. Monum Hist Brit. l. 5. c. 1. Ponticus Virun Brit. Hist l. 5. in initio Matth. Westm 201. in Chron. Compilatio M. S. de gest Brit. Anglo in Lucio Manuscr Hist Gallicar Princip Or que nous sommes In Lucius Caxton Histor part 4. in K. Lucius Manuscr Hist Antiq. in Lucio Antiquit. Eccl. S. Petri in Cornhill Londini Harding Cronic c. 51. f. 44. Theater of great Brit. l. 6. c. 9. §. 18. Aegidius Schudus de Prisca Rhetia Hermanus Schedelius c. 3. Stowe Howes Hist Titul the Romans in Marcus Aurelius Antonius Harrisō Descriptiō of Britaine c. 9. S. Lucius body after translated to other places or some part thereof For the place our old Brittish History saith he died at Glocester and was with honour buried there in the Cathedrall Church In vrbe Claudiocestriae ab hac vita migrauit in Ecclesia primae Sedis honorificè sepultus est So likewise writeth Ponticus Virunnius vitam finiuit in vrbe Claudiocestriae sepultus Matthew of Westminster setting downe the time as before saith also he died at Glocester and was honorably buried there in the Cathedrall Church Inclitus Britannorum Rex Lucius in bonis actibus assumptus Claudiocestriae ab hac vita migrauit ad Christum in Ecclessa primae Sedis honortficè sepultus The same hath an ould Manuscript called Compilatio de Gessis Britonum Anglorum where in Lucio is sayed in vrbe Gloucestriae obijt in Ecclesia primae Sedis honorificè sepultus est The old Authour of the French Manuscript which beginneth or que nous sumes saith at the last he died at Gloucestre and was interred in the Church of the Cheife See Del primer See Our old English Chronicle saith he reigned with much honour and after died and lieth at Glocester so hath an
forreyne Christian and heathen to incline vs to thinke that the Scots were not long after this time so seated in any number in this greate Iland with such Power or commande that they could giue the denomination of Scotland to any greate part thereof or assume the name of a King vnto them called Scotorum Rex the King of the Scots but they still remayned in the out litle Ilands Hebrides Monâ— Orchads Iona and others We finde in an Oration of Iosephus the Iew to his Countrymen in the time of Titus speaking Iosephus orat ad Iudaeos apud Egesippum l. 5. cap. 15. Fascicul Temp. Anno D. 74. Humf. Lhoid in Breuiar Britan. of the Roman Emperours Power at that time Tremit hos Scotia quae terris nihil debet that our Scots then liued not in any greate part of Land but at Sea and in litle Ilands neare vnto Britaine Walterus Rollewink Authour of Fasciculus Temporum writeth that the Brittish Scots did begin heare but in the yeare of Christ 74. Scotagens oritur ex Pictis Hiberis in Albania propè Angliam circa Annum Domini 74. Which is manifest also by Matthew of Westminster and others writing that the Picts coming hither about that time and finding none but Britans heare desired to match with them in marriadge which the Britans refusing the Picts went to the Sots of Ireland in the yeare of Christ 76. and had wiues from thence And the Scots thus came first into Britaine Picti vxores non habentes filias cognatas Britonum petierunt ab eis Matth Westm Anno gratiae 76. 77. Bed l. 1. Hist Eccles cap. 1. At illi vt passi fuerunt repulsam transfretauerunt in HiberniaÌ„ exilla Patria mulieres reducentes pueros susceperant ex Pictis Hibernensibus Scoti originem habuerunt quasi ex diuersis Nationibus compacti Scot etenim illud dicitur quod ex diuersis rebus in vnum aceruum congregatur Our English Protestant Historians Hollinsh Hist of Engl. l. 4. c. 15. Stowe and Howes Hist Romans in Marius Humfry Lhoyd in Breui Brit. cap. in descript Scotiae thus relate this matter King Marius hauing conquered the Picts that came into Britaine granted licence to them that remained that they might inhabite in the North part of Scotland called Catnesse being as then a Country in manner desolate wirhout habitation whereupon they withdrew thither and setled themselues in those parts And because the Britans disdained to grant vnto them their daughters in marriadge they sent vnto the Scots into Ireland requiring to haue wiues of their Nation The Scots agreed to their request with this condition that where there wanted lawfull Issue of the Kings Linage to succeede in the kindome of the Picts then should they name one of the womans side to be their King Thus the Picts next after the Romans were the first of any strangers that came into this land to inhabite as most writers affirme allthough the Scottish Chronicles auouch the Picts to be Inhabiters heare before the Incarnation of Christ But the Victory which Marius obtained against their King Roderike chanced in the yeare after the Incarnation 87. neither was there any Writer of name that made mention either of Scots or Picts before Vespasianus his time about the yeare of the Incarnation 72. Henry of Huntington Henric. hunting Hist l. 1. following as he saith Auncient Authours haec sunt quae à scriptis veterum traduntur setting downe the comming of the Picts into Britaine and their marrying with the Irish setteth downe the comming of the Scots out of Ireland hither long after that time procedente tempore venerunt Scotti ab Hibernia Harding Cron. fol. 42. cap. 50. in Britanniam Harding citing Mewinus the old Brittish Writer for Authour affirmeth that the first Scots that came to Britaine came in the 75. yeare of Christ Giraldus Cambrensis maketh the first inhabiting of the Scots in Britaine to haue bene in the time of greate Nell Nelli magni King of Ireland who was Father to King Laegirius in whose dayes S. Patrike preached Girald Cambr. Topograph Hibern cap. 16. in that Country which was not by any accompt before the yeare of Christ 418. praedicto Nello Hiberniae Monarchiam obtinente sex filios Muredi Regis Vltoniae in classe non modica Boreales Britanniae partes occupasse Vnde gens ab ijs propagatâ— specisicato vocabulo Scotica vocata vsque in hodiernum diem Angulum illum inhabitant Where he confidently deliuereth that the name of Scots and Scotland in Britaine began heare at this time 2. And allthough the Scottish Histories contend that the Scots in Britaine had gathered a greate Armie of men and women as their vse and neede was against Maximus which they had gathered ouâ— of Ireland the out Ilands and such Scots as were then come into Britaine yâ—t being ouerthrowne in battaile they were so farre vnable after to make resistance euen by their owne Chroniclers that to vse their owne words A Proclamation comming forth from Maximus that all such as were naturall Scottish men should by a certaine day auoide out of those Countryes that they possessed in Britaine vpon paine of loosing life and goods and to deliuer vp their houses and lands vnto such Brittans and Picts as were appointed by the Romans for to enioy the same The Scots perceauing themselues not Boeth Scotor Hist l. 7. Hollinshed Hist of Scotland in Eugen an 352. Georg. Buchan Rerum Scot. lib. 4. in Reg. 39. able to make any resistance obayed this commandement some of them passing ouer into Ireland some into the Westerne Iles and some of them got ouer also into Norway and Denmarke and many got entertainemen amongst the Roman souldiers and went ouer with them into France And so there was neither man woman nor child of the Scottish Race left in Britaine their Preists also and Religious men were banished and fled into the I le of Iona. This was in the yeare of Christ 352. Boethius saith this was about the 379. yeare of Christ and the Hect. Boeth in Catal. Scotor Reg. in Eugen. 1. Fergusio 2. l. 6. Histor Hollinsh Hist of Scotland in Fethelmacus Scots had no King after this vntill the 422. yeare of Christs Incarnation Scoti inde quatuor quadraginta annis sine Rege ad Annum virginei partus quadringentesimum vigesimum secundum fuere And they confesse that Eugenius which was thus ouerthrowne by Maximus was but an Ilander of Mona Eugenius è Mona Insula and from thence made King of the Scots Paulus Orosius scholler to S. Augustine the Doctor liuing long after this time confineth the Scots to Ireland and the Iles Meuainae in his dayes Hibernia proprior Britanniae a Scotorum gentibus colitur Huic etiam Meuania Insula proxima est ipsa spatio non parua solo commoda aeque a Scotorum gentibus habitatur S. Bede also both by Paulus Orosius
that Carausius did kill Bassianus dimicat cum Bassiano eum interemit This was not Bassianus our King and Emperour sonne of Seuerus and Martia but one Quintus Bassianus a Legate of the Romans Perierunt eo tumultuario Hect. Boet. Hist Scot. l. 6. fol. 100. Holinsh. Hist of Scotl. in Chrathlint praelio Quintus Bassianus Legatus Hircius Caesaris Procurator in Britannia cum illis praeter Romanorum militum ingentem numerum gregariorum magna multitudo Now being the common receaued opinion both of Roman and other Writers that Seuerus died in the yeare of Christ 213. the Authour of the Catalogue of our Brittish Kings thus setteth downe their Successions RegimeÌ„ts with their continuance Bassianus Caracalla 6. yeares Carausius 7. yeares Alectus 6. Catal. Reg. Brit. ante Hist Galfr. Monum yeares Asclepiodotus 30. yeares Coelus 27. yeares After whome Constantius his sonne in Lawe by marrying his daughter S. Helen succeeded in the Crowne By which accompt we haue betweene the death of Seuerus and Constantius his reigning heare 76. yeares and from Carausius his death and the beginning of Constantius Reigne 65. yeares Harding maketh the distances Ioan. Harding Chron. c. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 59. shorter asscribing to Bassianus 7. yeares to Carausius 4. Alectus 3. Asclepiodotus 10. and Coile 11. yeares Yet by this accompt also Carausius was dead many yeares before that time wherein Hector Boethius and some others make him to haue first aduaunced any title to the crowne of Britaine 3. Yet we may make some part of Attonement betwene these opinions if we shall say with the Brittish and other Histories that Carausius was but a younge man in the time of Bassianus or Heliogabalus the true Kings of Britaine eo tempore erat quidam Iuuenis in Britannia nomine Carausius And he went to Rome to procure his Commission there of the Senate to be Admirall to keepe the Brittish seas Romam profectus petiuit liceÌ„tiam a Senatu vt Maritimam Matth. Westm an 286. Stowe Hist Titul the Romans an 285. Britaniae ab incursione Barbaricâ nauigio tueretur Quae petijt impetrauit cum chartis sigillatis Britanniam petiuit And after he was thus admitted Admirall longe time and diuers yeares must needs be spent before he could come to that power by sea and Land with Britans Picts and Scots to be King of Britaine allthough he was as diuers hold of the kingly Race ex Regio stemmate Hector Boeth Scot. Hist lib. 6. Hollinsh Hist of Scotl. in Crathlint and Vncle to that renowned Christian King of the Scots Crathlintus though some stile him to haue bene of base Linadge ex infima gente procreatus vnprobable in a maÌ„ obtaining such honour of the Roman Senate renowne amoÌ„g Princes Kings and Emperours and diuers of them Christians But to goe no further out of my way into a matter of temporall Historie whether Bassianus or his sonne Heliogabalus both Emperours and Britans by Parentage or Carausius was in Britaine at this time we are by this which is saide assured that the Christians heare were in quiet and peace for if Bassian us still continued Hector Boeth alij sup Harding cap. 53. King he had made peace with all Christians heare whether Britans Picts or Scots before his departure hence to Rome as I haue before remembred And allthough Heliogabalus was otherwise a man of such wicked conuersation that I had rather to referre any man desirous to knowe the manner both of his owne and Fathers life to forreine Writers then fill my pen with the dishonour of their Race in them yet no Historie maketh mention that he was any Persecutour of Christians If Carausius was King it is not vnprobable but he was a Christian aduanced chosen and honored with that kingely dignitie by the Christians confederate with and assisted by the Christian Scots and Picts their Kings or Rulers and against the Pagan Romans a professed Patrone and Propugnor of the Rights and priuiledges and Reuenger of the wrongs and Iniuries of the Christians heare contending by all meanes he could euen with the aduenture of his life loosing it in that Quarrell to restore the Christians of this kingdome to that quiet and honorable estate to be free from thraldome of forrein Pagans which they happily enioyed in the gouernment of King Lucius and the Roman Senate began now to infringe and violate This was the pretended end and scope of his designes allthough by some Writers not with a litle desire of his owne greatnes and exaltation no strange disease among greate Princes in any Age 4. Neyther doe we findeÌ„ that Alectus sent hither with three Legions against Carausius allthough he slew him in Battayle and ouerthrew his armie making himselfe King and so continuing three yeares insulam tenuit per triennium Compilatio M. S. de gest Brit. Angl. in Alâ—ect Galfr. Monum Hist Reg. Brit. l. 5. c. 4. Pont. Vir. l. 5. Maâ—th West an 292. Compilatio M. S. Supur did persecute the Christian Britans vnder pretext of Religion but for following Carausius and not yeelding subiection to the Romans as they required Alectus maximaÌ„ intulit Britonibus cladem quia relictâ Republicâ societati Carausij adhaeserant Where we see the reason of that affliction of the Britans by the Romans because quia they had forsaken the common wealth and Gouernment thereof and followed Carausius an Vsurper as the Romans esteemed him And other Historians maKe it plaine that onely the followers of Carausius and no others were thus prosecuted by Alectus interficitur Carausius in eius sequaces saeuitum est And Matthew of Westminster also saith that Alectus did afflict onely those Britans who forsaking their Country had committed themselues to the command of Carausius Alectus Carausium interfecit Pont. Virun l. 5. Deinde cladem maximam Britonibus intulit qui Republica relicta Carausij se coÌ„miserant Iussioni Which Harding more plainely coÌ„fesseth wheÌ„ he saith Matth. Westm an 292. Harding Cron. cap. 56. of Alectus Alecto then crowned and made King of all Britaine reigning fully yeares three and well he ruled in all manner werking And if Alectus or his Pagan Souldiers and Vnderrulers did vniustly persecute any Britans for Religion neyther he nor they did escape the Iust vengance of God executed vpon them by the Christian Britans in the like kinde for when Alectus and his Infidell consorts were at London gathered together to make solemne Sacrifice to their Idols they were by the Christians driuen from their Sacrifice Alectus Pontic Vir. l. 5. Galfr. Mon. l. 5. c. 4. Mat. West an 294. Harding Chron. cap. 56. Holinsh. Hist of Engl. l. 4. c. 23. Stowe Howes Hist Romans in Asclepiodotus shamefully putt to flight and slayne his army scatered and though by Leuius Gallus his Colleage in some part renewed againe yet both their Generall Gallus and all his Romans were slayne by the
Christian Britons in one day Factoque agmine denso inuaserunt Romanos vna die omnes interfecerunt And their Leader Gallus cōtemptuously throwne into a brooke taking name thereof as our Protestant Antiquaries with Antiquitie thus deliuer Asclepiodotus recouered Britaine and slew the Romans Captaine named Liuius Gallus neare vnto a brooke there at that time running into which brooke he threw him by reason whereof it is called in Brittish Nant Gallon since in Saxon tongue Gallus or Wallus Harding supr c. 56. Galfr. Monll 5. c. 5. Virun lib. 5. Matth. Westm an 294. brooke and to this day the streete where some times the brook rāre is called Walbroks And proueth the History of this Brooke both by publike Records and Inquisitions 5. Asclepiodotus vpon this Victory was crowned King of Britaine by Parlament saith Harding and by common consent of the people as both the Brittish History Virunnius and Matthew of Westminster write being Duke of Cornwall before Triumphatis Romanis caepit Asclepiodotus regni diadema capiti suo populo annuente imposuit All these last Writers except Matthew of Westminster say Dioclesian his Persecution began heare in his time of which I shall speake hereafter And it seemeth that diuers Historians not obseruing that Constantius was heare twice marrying S. Helen the first time and the second time receauing her againe when Maximian the persecuting Emperour had forced him to putt her away doe there vpon vary much about the yeares of our Kings in those times An old Manuscript Chronologie doth say Bassianus reigned 27. yeares Carausius whome yt calleth Carēcius 39. yeares Alectus 15. yeares Asclepiodotus 10. yeares Coel 4. yeares And after him his Sonne-in-Lawe and daughter Constantius and Helen 11. Matth. Westm an 295. Catal. Reg. Brit. supr Hollinshed Hist of Engl. c. 23. in Asclepiod Hollinsh Hist Engl. supr yeares The Protestant Cataloge of our Kings hath told vs that Asclepiodotus reigned 30. yeares The same hath Hollinshed calling it the common accompt of our Chroniclers And by the same Authours and diuers others King Coel in the later end of whose reigne the Romans by Constantius came in againe was King 27. yeares Thus he writeth of this matter Coelus Earle of Colchester began his Dominion ouer the Britans in the yeare of our Lord 262. Thus Coelus or Coell ruled the Land for a certaine time so as the Britans were well content with his Gouernment and liued the longer in reste from Inuasion of the Romans because they were occupied in other places but finally they finding time for their purpose appointed one Constantius to passe ouer into this I le with an armie the which Constantius putt Coelus in such dread that immediately vpon his arriuall Coelus sent vnto him an Ambassadge and concluded a peace with him couenanting to paye the accustomed Tribute and gaue to Constantius his daughter in marriadge called Helen a noble Ladie and learned Shortly after King Coell died when he had reigned as some write Cap. 27. supr Fabian Matth. Westm Galfrid Monum Pont. Virun Harding supr Manuscrip Antiq. pr. Regnū Brit. Compilatio M. S. de gest Bri. Angl. Lib. M. S. qui vocatur Scala mundi Sozomenus Hist Eccles l. 2. c. vlt. Euseb l. 4. de Vita Constantin Socrates Eccles Hist l. 1. c. vlt. Eutropiusl 10. Hier. in Chron. Ruffin l. 1. c. 11. Bal. cēt 1. in Flauio Constantin Stow. Histor in Cōstant Holins Hist of Engl. l. 4. c. 29. Bal. Cent. 1. in Helena Flauia 27. yeares And then he setteth downe as all other Antiquaries doe Constantius Father of Constantine the greate our next King And this he calleth the common opinion of our Writers Which I finde not onely in our printed Historians but in diuers Manuscripts not wanting Antiquitie for their warrant though among them there is difference about the yeares of the reignes of those Kings all consenting they reigned and succeeded one to an other heare as hath bene related 6. And we must eyther say Coelreigned long was twice King or not King when Constantius marryed S. Helen his daughter but after toward his death or els contradict all Antiquaries Greeks or Latines Christians or Pagans Catholiks or Protestants in the Historie of the Age and Empire of the most renowned noted and honorably remembred Emperour that euer was in the world Constantine the Greate For they all agree that he dying about the yeare of Christ 340. was then 65. yeares old hauing bene Emperour aboue 30. yeares and as Sozomen with others proue was at the least when he began to reigne 34. yeares of Age Constantinus circiter quintum sexaginta aetatis suae annum moritur Ex quorum annorum numero triginta vnum regnauit The like hath Eusebius duos triginta annos extra paucos menses dies cum Imperio fuit eundemque annorum numerum vita duplicabat Socrates saith vixit Imperator Constantinus annos sexaginta quinque triginta vnum regnauit Eutropius saith his Age was 66. and his Reigne 31. yeares S. Hierome and Ruffinus for the Latins agree with them Our Protestants say he died in the 66. yeare of his Age and the 32. of his Reigne è vita decessit senex aetatis suae anno 66. Imperij 32. à Christi Incarnatione 339. the 339. yeare of Christ And by all in the yeare 340. at the furthest The like Argument I may vse by the life and death of his blessed Mother S. Helena in all Iudgments dying before her Sonne being about 80. yeares old then and but a young Virgin when she was marryed to Constantius his Father One of our cheifest Protestant Antiquaries and not so plainely receauing the former Order in our Kings doth confirme it further saying Helena liued 79. yeares and then departed Holinsh. supr l. 4. c. 29. this life about the 21. yeare of her Sonnes reigne Her Sonne the Emperour Constantine liued till about the yeare of Christ 340. after he had ruled the Empire 32. yeares and odd moneths Therefore both he and all others must needs allowe the Reigns and Successions of our Brittih Kings before remembred and in a manner free this kingdome from the Romans in their times as also make it euident that the Roman Emperours neither did nor could raise any Persecution against our Christians in Britaine except in the time when Constantius first came hither in the dayes of the Emperour Aurelianus about the 3. yeare of his owne Empire and yeare of Christ 273. and marryed Helen Daughter of Coel then or after King or both which no Antiquitie affirmeth but all deny it or the short Reigne of Alectus vntill the comming of Maximian the Tyrant hither in the time of Asclepiodotus as the common opinion is THE IX CHAPTER OF THE POPES OF ROME IN THIS TIME how by all writers euen the Protestants themselues they were holy men and both they and other learned holy Fathers in this time were of the same faith and Religion which
and shew that S. Helen was neuer seduced to Iudaisme nor baptized by S. Siluester but onely confirmed in her Christian faith as all Christians present were by the Disputation betweene S. Siluester and the cheifest Iewes publickly inuincibly and miraculously by all mens Iudgments and their owne also conuinced by him And proue how among other euident falsehoods those supposed Acts contayne these that followe Constantius and Constans were Emperours in the East at this time Isach was high Preist among the Iewes That S. Siluester did abrogate the Faste of Satterday and instituted the Sonday and that he was ordayned Pope by Melchisedech with other such like monstrous fictions Therefore we may not loose the honour of our Country and most renowned Brittish Christian Queene and Empresse by such dreames and forgeries The wonderfull and exceeding greate zeale and deuotion of this most Noble Lady her piety and charitie to all with her bountie and munificence to the Church of Christ her restlesse paynes Pilgrimadges and labours to suppresse Idolatry and aduaunce the true honour and seruing of God when she was a free woman after her Husbands death I shall entreate in the next Age when I come to that time This which I haue said will redeeme and sett her free from the calumnies and aspersions which some would laye vpon her Parentage Country Conuersation in her young and wedded life 4. And to giue to Constantius her husband his due otherwise especially for his carriadge towards Christians and their Religion considering those ouerswaying times of Paganisme and Persecution against Christianitie allthough he was farre from giuing due to his Noble holy wife Queene Helen when for feare of the persecuting Emperours Dioclesian and Maximian he putt her away and tooke Theodora a Pagan Concubine vnder the name of a wife in her place except this his greate compelled blemish we must needs say he was a worthie Prince and in respect of Religion one of the best of all forreyne Kings or Rulers which Britaine had tasted of the Romans Imposition vpon it For allthough by the vnhappy yelding of Constantius vnto the persecuting Emperours Dioclesian Maximianus in or about the 292. yeare of Christ thereby making himselfe a Caesar to putt away Queene Helen and take Theodora he depriued himselfe of that Regall power in Britaine which he obtayned by his match with Queene Helen the true Heire and Queene of this kingdome and so armed the persecuting Emperors to extend their rage and fury against the Christian Britans which had bene exempted from that their vsurped Tyrany heare if Constantius had continued with his Christian Euseb in Chron. An. 292. Matth. Westm An. 296. wife Queene Helen and rested vpon her Title and the conditions betweene the Romans and Britans at that Marriadge and so cannot be excused herein yet otherwise their Persecution preuayling in his time we cannot finde he was any Instrument or Furtherer but rather an Asswager and to his power a Mitigator thereof euen whilst Theodora lyued with him being a greate Instrument to procure him to continue a Pagan as Fausta her Sister was to Constantine his sonne and both of them employed by their persecuting Father Maximian Emperour to that purpose Eusebius liuing in that time saith of him that he was the most renowned of all the Emperours in his time Fuit Constantius inter Imperatores nostri temporis facilè illustrissimus And giueth Euseb de Vita Constant l. 1. c. 8. cap. 9. his reason Cum quatuor in Romani Imperij gubernandi societate iungebantur solus hic faedere amicitiae cum Deo omnium Gubernatore pacto modum vitae a caeterorum institutis alienum disparemque consectatus est Illi enim Dei Ecclesias obsidione vastare euertere radicitus solo aequare ac templa concussis fundamentis disturbatisque prorsus delere aggressi sunt hic autem a nefando detestabili illorum scelere manus integras inuiolatas continuit neque vlla ex parte se similem illis praebuit Illi Intestina virorum simul ac mulierum pietatem maximè excolentium caede Prouincias suae ditioni subditas sceleratè contaminarunt when fowre were at one time ioyned together to Rule the Roman Empire this man onely Constantius among them making his leage of friendship with God the gouernour of all ledd his life diuers and different froÌ„ the Institutions of the rest For they weÌ„t about to pull downe the Churches of God vtterly to ouerthrowe them equall them with the ground and destroy them But Constantius kept his hand free and vnspotted from their abhominable and horrible wickednes and in no respect behaued himselfe as they did They pulled out the bowels of men and women that were the true worshippers of God and impiously defiled the Prouinces subiect to their Iurisdiction with slaughter hic suam ipsius animam asceleris labe vacuam assiduè conseruauit Constantius kept dayly his soule free from infection of sin The others to heape all sins together with certaine execrable wordes which they vsed to poure forth in worshipping their Idols deuoted first themselues and then all that were vnder their Rule to the cursed worshipping of deuils When Constantius contrarywise permitted free power to all vnder his gouernment to exercise the true Religion of God without molestation Illi quo mala omnia in vnum câ—aâ—eruarent vocibus quibusdam execrabilibus quae in simulachrorum cultu fundi so â—ent primum seipsos deinde omnes qui ipsorum obsequebantur Imperio nefariae daemo num venerationi deuouerunt hic pacis tranquillissimae illis qui ab ipso regebantur Authour factus liberaÌ„ eis verae in Deum Religionis sine molestia excolendae permisit potestatem The other three Emperours heare insinuated by Eusebius were the the greate persecutours Dioclesian Maximian and Galerius Actors in that most greuious Persecution commonly called the Persecution of Dioclesian he being the first and principall Mouer and prosecutour thereof The Euseb Hist Eccl. l. 8. c. 14. same Authour speaketh of him againe in the name of Christians nec belli aduersum nos praesumpti vllo modo particeps fuit sed quos sub se habuit pios indemnes ab omni calumnia securos seruauit neque domos EcclesiaruÌ„ demolitus nec aliud quippiam contra nos operatus He was not in any meanes partaker of warre against vs but those godly men which he had vnder him he kept them safe and secure from all troble neither pulling downe Churches nor working any thing against vs. Constantine the Greate his sonne giueth this testimony of him that in all his busines Const Magn. apud Euseb l. 2. De Vitá Const c. 48. and affaires he called vpon the true God with wonderfull deuotion Pater meus admirabili cum pietate in omnibus suis rebus gerendis Deo Patre inuocato clementiae opera executus est And in an other place witnesseth that his Father ConstaÌ„tius did worship all his life
made By heauens faire Orbes What ere Obliuion's shade Had ruined and in the doing lost Thou hast repayred at thy deare Memorye's cost Yea the whole SVMME OF BRITTISH MOTION Renew'd reduc d to present Notion Philosophers that hold NO ACTE THE SAME CAN TWICE BE DONE must needes adore thy NAME Thy so diuining so presageing NAME Whose euery lettre is a TRVMP of fame To sound Gods Church Thou haist BROVGHT back whole Ages The same to act ON oures and future stages Thou hast enforc'd great Rome with much a doe To know that wee haue OVR BARONIVS too Liue till thy bOOKE die laugh at Enuys dart And glory in thy AGE-REVIVING ART H. T. IN EVNDEM DOcta SOROR Latium magnis licet inuidet AVSIS Et dolet Angliacos tanta referre modos In laudes Broughtone tuas tamen ire superbit Miraturque Tuum quod cupit esse Suum Ne dubites en Romano te more salutat Atque NOVENA INGENS FRONDE coronat OPVS H. T. AN ANAGRAME ON THE SAME RICHARD BROVGHTON RIâ—H HARD BROVGHT ON RICH is thy worke in times best iewels RICH. Pure gold in euery Stitch. HARDE too What wonder all faire things are HARDE Faire same bee thy rewarde BROVGHT backe from death Who ere the like hath BROVGHT This past our Ages thought ON then least wanting thee times goe not ON THEE times relies vpon H. T. I can not speake thy WOORTH yet I desire To be amongst thy PRAYSERS and ADMIRE F. H. APPROBATIO HAEC Historia Ecclesiastica magnae Britanniae à viro docto elaborata multa continet ex vetustissimis monumentis eruta quae fidem Catholicam â primis saeculis in illa florentem demonstrant nec habet aliquid fidei aut moribus aduersum vt fide digno testimonio ab eo percepi qui opus totum perlegit Quapropter dignum visum est quod lucem aspiciat Actum Duaci 12. Octobris 1633. GEORGIVS COLVENERIVS S. Theol. Doctor Regius ordinariusque Professor Duacensis Academiae Cancellarius librorum Censor THE ECCLESIASTICALL HISTORIE OF GREAT BRITAINE THE FIRST AGE THE I. CHAPTER TREATING GENERALLY OF THE NATIuitie of Christ in the time of Augustus Emperour of Rome and Kymbelnie King of Brittayne And how it came to the knowledge of the Brittans 1. AFTER Iulius Cesar the first Emperour of Rome who had made this kingdome of Brittayne tributary to the Romans and carried many Hostages and Prisoners from hence to Rome was slayne and his next Successour Augustus the second Emperour say our Antiquaries auncient and late Catholiks and others by the will of God had established most sure peace through the world our Redeemer The blessed birth of Christ Iesus Redeemer of the world Ranulph Higeden hist l. 4. c. 6. Stow. Et howe 's hist tit the Romans in Cesar Augustus an 1. Christ Matth. Westminst chron an gratiae 5. Galfrid monum hist Britt l. 4. c. 11. Virun l. 4. Io. Harding f. 30. Stow. howe 's supra Matth. Westm aetat 5. an 9. 10. Theater of Brit. l. 6. Raph. holin hist of Engl. l. 3. p. 32. Hector Boeth Scotor hist l. 3. veremund hist Scot. Grim stoÌ„ in Scot. in Metellan Stow. hist in Cassibelan and Octau Augustus Io. Bal. l. de Script centur 1. in Gilda Cambr. Claudia Mat. Paâ—ker antiquit Brit. p. 2. Theater of Brit. pag. 202. Mat. Westm an 44. Golfrid hist Brit. l. 4. c. 9. Bal. supr in Androgeo Fabian hist in Kimbeline Guido de columna Holinsh. hist of Engl. l. 3. p. 32. Dion l. 59. Stow. hist in Guider Galfrid hist Brit. l. 5. c. 18. Holinsh. hist of Engl. l. 4. p. 51. Stow. hist in Coil Hector Boeth Scotor hist l. 3. f. 36. p. 2. Strabo l. de Situ orbis Hect. Boeth suprà fol. 37. Iesus Christ true God and man was borne in the 42. yeare of his Empire in the fift yeare of the Reigne of Canobelyne or Kymbeline in this Kingdome of Brittayne and as our scottish historiaÌ„s say Metallanus ruled then among the people called Scots A litle before which time by the greate prouidence of God to make this our Brittayne more timely and particularly partaker of such heauenly Tideings before other nations Augustus intending an expedition against this kingdome Ambassadours came from Brittayne to Rome entreating for peace swearing fealtie in the Temple of Mars offering guifts in the Capitole to the Gods of the Romans and submitted parte of the I le to Augustus They gaue him for securitie so many and greate Nobles of this Nation for pledges and hostages that all here were so quiet that one bande of Souldiars and a fewe horesemen were sufficient to keepe the I le in the Roman possession 2. And by such meanes the Romans did euer here secure themselues of the Brittans from their first Inuasion by Iulius Caesar carrying away from hence and keeping them at Rome for their glory honour and quiet not onely many of our cheife Nobilitie men women and children but of the regall race and blood and Kings themselues Among which we finde that Androgius sonne and heyre to King Ludd liued and died there Cassibilane his vnkle who was subdued by Caesar giue hostages and made this kingdome Tributary to the Roman Empire Theomantius his Nephew and Successour in the Kingdome payed tribute to the Romans which Cassibilane had graunted and reigned quietly And his Sonne Cunobeline King after him his Father was one of his Fathers hostages in Rome in his time and was kinghted there Adaminus sonne of King Cunobeline was kept at Rome by Caius Caligula Emperour His Brother Guiderius if he was King here at all reigned but a verie shorte time Aruitragus next King of Brittayne Married the daughter or neare kinswoman of Claudius the Emperour and had by her his sonne and heire Marius Successour in this kingdome Coillus his sonne heire and next King here after him was ab Infantia Romae enutritus brought vp at Rome from his Infancie King Lucius his sonne and heire and our first Christian in Britaine had the like dependances from thence and by that happy meanes and occasion together with his kingdome receaued publikely the faith of Christ from blessed Eleutherius Pope and Bishop there 3. Neither was this greate league of amitie onely betweene Rome such parts of Britaine which English inhabite now and longe haue done but with the whole Iland of Britaine and other parts about it also as the Scottish historians doe plainely write contending That the Emperour Augustus and Senate of Rome did not onely send Ambassadours to King Kymbeline to congratulate his being King of Britaine but also as These writers say to Metellanus King of the Scots to signifie their loue to him and the greate peace the Emperour had then established in all the world whereupon Metellanus to make this loue of the Romans more sure vnto him sent vnto Augustus Caesar and the Capitall of Rome guifts in his owne name and the Scottish nation by which
the Emperour Whereupon the Emperour The Senate so decreeing sent Ambassadours vnto her and brought her with greate honour to Rome Where she was publikely and honorably entertained Where she as publikely preached and foretold all the mysteries of the coming of Christ as if she had beene a present witnesse AmoÌ„g the rest telling that his name should be Iesus she said Mulier de genere Hebraeorum nomine Maria habens spon sum nomine Ioseph pariet erit Virgo ante partum Virgo post partum Qui ergo nascetur ex ea erit verus Deus verus homo prout Prophetae praedicauerunt adimplebit legem Iudaeorum irreprehensibiliter adiunget sua propria in simul regnabit in saecula saeculorum amen Nasâ—ente eo exercitus Angelorum a dextris a simstris erunt dicentes Gloria in excelsis Deo in terrapax hominibus bonae voluntatis eo autem baptizato à Ioanne praecessore suo veniet vox desursum dicens Hic est filius meus dilectus in quo mihi complacui ipsum audite erant autem ibi ex Sacerdotibus Iudaeorum audientes haec verba Indignati dixerunt ad â—am Ista terribilia sunt sileat haec Regina Respondens Sybilla dixit â— Iudaei necesse est ita fieri sed vos non credetis in eum A woman of the race of the Hebrewes named Mary hauing a spouse called Ioseph shall bringe fourth a child and she shall be a Virgin both before and after her child birth Therefore he that shall be borne of her shall be true God and true man as the Prophets haue foretold He shall irreprehensibly fulfill the law of the Iewes and adde also his owne And he shall Reigne world without end Amen When he is borne there shall be armies of Angels both on thc right and left hand saying glorie to God on high and vpon earth peace to men of good will when he is baptized by Ihon his foregoer in water there shall come a voyce from aboue saying This is my well beloued sonne in whome I am well pleased heare you him And there were some of the Preists of the Iewes hearing these things and being angry said vnto her These are terrible things let the Queene keepe these secret or in silence And Sybilla answearing said It is needfull to be so But you will not beleeue in him Then followeth how the Iewes should put him to death buffet spit vpon and whip him Should giue him gall and vinegre Crucifie him vpon a tree and put him to death He should arise the third day appeare to his disciples instruct them in his law and send them to preach it in all the world and in their sight ascend to heauen and of his kingdome there shall be no end 9. The Authours say this was Sybilla Tyburtina the same which by that name prophesied as before to Augustus and the testimony that the Emperour sent for her and so honorably intertained her so conuinceth for before Augustus there was no Emperour but Iulius Emperour but three yeares and three moneths who by no history had such conference with any Sybill and by the words of this Sybilla it is plaine that it was Augustus Caesar for she giueth his conquest of the world a signe of the Natiuitie of Christ Iesus In diebus illis erit Caesari Augusto regnum regnabit in Roma subijciet sibi omnem terram Which happened a litle before the birth of our Sauiour Therefore this thing being so publike as it was The Sybilla so renowned in so many nations so solemnely sent for by the Emperour and decree of the Senate so honorably entertained at Rome and there publikely prouing both against the Iewes and Gentils that the Messias of the world was then to be borne with such signes and circumstances that cannot deceaue vs but confounded all opposites we may not exclude our noble and learned Britans which were then at that time in Rome from that happines And if we may follow our british histories Matthew of Westminster a man as Protestants tell vs excellent for historie and supputation of yeares quantum ad historiam in recta annorum Io. Bal. l. de Scrip. centur 3. fol. 143. in Matth. florileg Galfrid monum hist l. 4. c. 11. Ponticus Virunnius hist Britan. l. 4. supputatione singularis and our late Protestant writers by computation of time our King Kimbelinus was then in Rome for we are told Post Tenuantium ad culmen Regale Kimbelinus filius suus miles strenuus quem Caesar Augustus nutriuerat promotus est After Tenuantius Kimbeline his sonne a valiant knight whom Augustus Caesar had brought vp was promoted to the kingdome of Britaine In those dayes our Lord Iesus Christ was borne Kimbeline was but yong when Augustus first quem Augustus Caesar nutrierat brought him vp and he stayed in Rome so longe that as diuers before and Pontius Virunnius also affirmeth Augustus made him knight quem Augustus Caesar nutrierat armis decorauerat Ponticus Virun supr l. 4. And if we follow this exact supputator of times Matthew of Westminster he was come from Rome to be King here but fiue yeares before the birth of Christ Anno Dominicae Incarnationis quinto Kimbelinus Rex Britanniam Matth. Westm An. Dom. 5. decem annis tenuisset So likely he was in Rome when these things concerning the Natiuity of Christ were so certainely and publikely foretold and proued in Rome And most certaine it is by all histories of our noble and renowned british hostages residence in Rome all the time of Augustus Caesar and after that we had many worthie Britans there eare and eye witnesses to know these passages by themselues and testifie them to their contrimen and freinds at home THE III. CHAPTER OF DIVERS PARTICVLAR MOTIVES preparations and dispositions at home for the inhabitants of Britaine to learne out knowe and embrace the Natiuitie and Religion of Christ 1. AND if we returne now from Rome and our Britans there and visit this kingdome of Britaine the inhabitants and many of their proceedings here in such affaires so farre as our decayed and worne out antiquities will giue vs leaue we shall finde an agreeing Sympathy and concordance of such things at Rome and in Britaine that hee will seeme a dull Expounder of Euents who would not or could not conclude from thence that the Messias and Sauiour of the world was then borne into it Our Protestant Theater writers following Postellus tell vs of the druides which ruled in spirituall and religious matters then in this kingdome Their offices were most employed about holy things and Theater of great Britaine l. 6. cap. 9. §. 10. their doctrine cheifely consisted in teaching the immortality of the soule the motions of the heauens the nature of things and the power of the Gods yea and Postellus from others will inforce that they prophesied likewise of a Virgins Conception These were the helps saith Tertullian that caused the
by him ordained the first Bishop of Tullum Toul in Lorraine was by nation borne in that part of Britaine which now and euer of late for many yeares is and hath beene called Scotland But whether he was a Britaine or a Scot those Authorities doe not determine But it will more fully appeare hereafter that he was by birth a Britian that part of this Iland at that time being part of Britaine and longe after which among others Martial the Poet maketh manifest for that time for speaking of the inhabitants of that part of this kingdome which now is called S. Mansuetus disciple of S. Peter the Apostle was a Britain Scotland To Quintus Ouidius that was to trauaile thither from Rome he calleth them Britans of Caledonia Quinte Caledonios Ouidi visure Britannos The contry now called Scotland was part of Britainâ— in this time and longe after And it should seeme by Martial that this Quintus Ouidius himselfe was a Britain of this nation and perhaps of the kindred or retinue of lady Claudia for he doth not onely speake of his longe Iorney from Rome to our North part of Britaine as before now Scotland but in the same place setteth downe that he was to returne againe into Italy from hence and make his abode at Martial l. 10. epigram 44. ad Quintum Ouidium Martial supr epigr. 44. Sabinam where the howse of our Contry woman lady Claudia and her Husband Pudens was Sed reddarâ— tuis tandem mansure Sabinis But this hereafter when I come to that time But this sufficiently conuinceth both that the northreÌ„ inhabitants of this kingdome in those dayes were called Britans and that there was entercourse betweene Rome Romans and them especially when we see an old man fitter to sit by the fire then to take so longe a iorney as the Poet there describeth him not onely to goe to the remotest places of this kingdome from Rome but to make his returne into Italy againe And here I end the dayes of Tiberius leauing Cunobeline still King in Britaine or Guiderius newly begun his Reigne THE VII CHAPTER OF THE TIME OF CAIVS CALIGVLA Emperour and some Christian Britans of this nation probably both at Rome and in Britaine in his daies 1. AFTER the death of Tiberius Caius Caligula succeeded in the Empire but reigned so short a time as I haue before remembred Caius Caligula Emperour a frend and fauourer of Christians neither doe we reade that among his other vices which were many and greate that he was a persecutour of Christians for those outrages which he committed against the Iewes which among others our owne historians doe report were rather in reuenge against the Iewes for the death of Christ and their persecuting of Christians then for any hatred to Christian Religion And it was a iust punishment of God towards that incredulous people their holy temple that had beene so longe renowned for the true worship and sacrifice of God to see it now polluted Matthew West an 40. Theat of Britaine in Caius Caligula with the Idolatrous sacrifices of the Gentiles the Idol of Iupiter and the Emperour himselfe a vile and wicked man to be worshipped and adored there as the Lord of heauen and earth Caesar templum quod erat Hierosolymis iussit prophanari sacrificijs Gentilium Iouis statuam ibi collocat seque vt Dominum coeli terrae coli adorari praecepit When otherwise concerning Christians he still permitted Matth. Westm 38. 39. Niceph. Histor Eccl. l. 2. cap. 10. Arnold Miâ—m in Theat Conuers gent. the fauourable Edict of Tiberius to remaine in force He bannished Pilate by whome Christ was crucified He depriued Herode of his kingdome and together with Herodiades his brothers wife which he kept the occasion of the martyrdome of S. Ihon the Baptist he driue into bannishment and these and such fauours and Iustice he extended vnto the Christians who together with their frends had complained to L. Vitellius President of Syria which he related the Christians proueing it to Caligula And though this man made a shew of warre against the Brittans yet it was not for any matter concerning Stow and howe 's hist in Gindeâ—ius Holinsh. hist of Engl. l. â— Galfrid monum lib. 4. hist cap. 13. Pontic Virun li. 4. Britan. hist Stab Geograph Christian Religion 2. And we are assured both by the British history Ponticus Virunnius diuers Protestant writers that not onely Adaminus sonne of King Kimbeline with his retinue liued with the Emperour Caligula but there were then many Britanni obsides Romae Britans kept for pledges or hostages then at Rome And this Emperour did nothing in matters of hostility against the Britans but only made a shew of warre and returned with contempt And the Brittish Kings at that time whether Kymbeline Guiderius or Aruiragus were frendly S. Mansuetus Britan made Bishop by S. Peter the Apostle vnto Christians In the time of this Emperour we reade that S. Peter the Apostle consecrated our holy contry man S. Mansuetus which he had Christened before in the time of Tyberius a Bishop and sent him to Tullum in Lorraine Tullenses habuere Apostolum suaeque in Christum fidei primum Antistitem Arnoldus Mirmannius in theatro conuersionis gentium §. Metensibus Eisengr cent 1. distict 3. part 1. Anton. Democh lib. 2. de Missa â—ontra Calo cap. 33. Petr. de natalib l. 11. c. vlt. Franc. Bellefor Cosmog l. 2. S. Mansuetum S. Petri Apostoli discipulum S. Clementis collegam origine Scotum The Tullensians or inhabitants of Tullum in Lorraine had for their Apostle and their first Bishop of their faith in Christ S. Mansuetus a Scot by natiuity the disciple of S. Peter the Apostle and câ—mpanion of S. Clement This is testified also by many others as Gulielmus Eisengrenius Antonius Democharez Petrus de natalibus with others saying S. Mansuetus natione Scotus ex nobili prognatus familia Simonis Bar-ionae Apostolorum Coryphaei discipulus socius beati Clementis Episcopi Metensis à Petro Loucorum in vrbe Tullensi primus Antistes consecratus est Mansuetus by nation a Scot so they terme our northren Britans borne of a noble family the disciple of Simon Bar-ionas the cheife of the Apostles fellow of S. Clement the Bishop of Metz was consecrated by S. Peter the first Bishop in the citie of Tullum 3. Hitherto these Authours onely this difference I finde betweene them Arnold Mirm. in Theatr. Conuer gent. in S. Clem. Metensi Episc that Arnoldus Mirmannius saith S. Clement whose companion S. Mansuetus was was Bishop of Metz by S. Peters appointement in the 40. yeare of Christ Caio Caligula Imperatore when Caius Caligula was Emperour And Eisengrenius saith S. Mansuetus was made Bishop of Tullum in the yeare 49. eight or neyne yeares after Which may easily be reconciled together by saying S. Mansuetus was sent by S. Peter in the yeare of Christ 40. and tooke
dicebat Petre instat tempus tuae resolutionis oportet teire Romam in qua cum mortem per crucem sustinueris accipies mercedem Iustitiae Cum ergo propterea deum glorificasset egisset gratias apud Britannos mansisset dies aliquot verbo gratiae multos illuminasset Ecclesias constituisset Episcoposque Presbyteros Diaconos ordinasset duodecimo anno Caesaris Neronis rursus Romam reuertitur when S. Peter had stayed but a short time with the Romans and had baptized many and fownded the Church and ordeyned Linus Bishop he came to Tarracina in which when he had ordeyned Epaphroditus Bishop he came to Sirmium a citie of Spaine in which place when he had constituted Epinaetus Bishop he came into Egipt whē he had made Rufus Bishop of Thebes which hath seuē gates and Marke the Euangelist Bishop of Alexandria he came againe to Hierusalē by reuelatiō for the migratiō or passing out of life of Mary the mother of God After this returning into Egipt through Africk the returned againe to Rome From which he came to Milane and Photice which are cities in the cōtinent in which after he had appointed Bishops and Preists he came into Britaine in which place whē he had stayed a longe time and had drawne many natiōs not named to the faith of Christ he had an Angelicall visiō which said O Peter the time of thy Resolution is at hand And thou must goe to Rome in which when thou hast suffered death by the crosse thou shalt receaue the reward of Iustice Therefore whē he had glorified God for it and giuen thākes stayed after with the Britans some dayes and illuminated many with the word of grace and constituted Churches and ordeined both Bishops and Preists and Deacons in the twelfth yeare of the Emperour Nero he returneth to Rome Hitherto the Relation of this holy learned and auncient Sainct writer Where the labours and trauailes of S. Peter are so orderly and punctually set downe after his first coming to Rome that except so worthie a man had sounde certaine and vndoubted Authoritie for such a Relation no man can be so malicious as to thinke he would so confidently and particularly haue written of that matter 10. And it appeareth plainely by that I haue written before that both by Catholiks Protestants all the rest of S. Alredus his narration of S. Peters Iorneyes are most true certaine except this last of his coming hither and so longe remayning in this our Britaine these parts which I matuaile that any man of this kingdome will call in question being deliuered by so many Authorities before and aboue all other parts of that his Relation fortified by so manie vndeniable circumstances and Arguments as the time when the way by which he came a longe continuance of his aboude heare his passage by this Iland to drawe many vnnamed nations to the faith of Christ what he did heare his making of Bishops Preists and Deacons founding of Churches his loue to this kingdome so greate that vntill he was admonished from Heaven by an Angell to returne againe to Rome to receaue his crowne of Martyrdome he had so happily placed his Apostolicall Cathedrall See in this Imperiall and commanding Iland of this Northren and westerne world and by his blessed presence and heauenly labours left it Illustrious to succeeding generations not onely to be stiled Romana Insula the Roman Iland as I haue written before but as the same Apostle himself did testifie to S. Brithworld S. Peters preaching in Britaine proued by infallibly diuine authoritie Bishop of Winton or Wilton as our Protestant Historians doe plainely testifie together prouing that S. Peter first preached in this kingdome of greate Britaine The Protestant Theater writers haue these words It is reported by Aluredus Riuallensis the writer of King Edward the Confessors life that a holy man Theater of great Britaine l. 6. c. 9. studious and carefull for a gouernour to succeede was in his sleepe told by S. Peter that the kingdome of England was his wherein himself had first preached and would also prouide him successors Which other Protestants thus further confirme Alredus Francis Mason of Consecrat of Bishop l. 2. c. 2. p. 47. Sutcliffe subuers Godwyn conu of Britaine p. 4. Riuallensis an English Abbot left written aboue 500. yeares agone a certaine Reuelation or apparition of S. Peter to an holy man in the time of King Edward the Confessor shewing how he had preached himself in England and consequently the particular care he had of that Church and Nation Thus farre these Protestants So that if this was a true Reuelation there needeth no more testimony in this matter for the wittnes of Angels glorified Saints cannot by any possibilitie be vntrue and the vision testifiing that S. Peter himself had first preached heare in this kingdome is an euident demonstration both that he preached heare and was the first either immediately by himself or mediately by his disciples and Substituts which preached the faith of Christ in this kingdome Therefore all the difficultie will be in the proposers of this holy Reuelation he to whome it was made and they which haue commended it to writing And because supernaturall things such as this was cannot be proued by naturall Argument a priore by their cause to giue some certaine and vndoubted proofe thereof a Posteriore by some effect necessarily conuincing some supernaturall power to haue had Influence thereto for the more credite of this sacred truthe proue by these Protestants themselues 11. And first concerning the writer and recorder of this holy history they haue told vs it was Alredus Riuallensis a man of that worth learning and Ioh. Balaeus de Scriptor Cētur 2. fol. 88. p. 1. in Alred Riual pietie that to speake in a Protestant Bishops words he was Cistertiensiū Monachorum Abbas natione Anglus gencre doctrina inculpatae vitae moribus praeclarus enituit Episcopatum ac alios honores mundanos omnino recusabat vt ad virtutum exercitia maximè ad Euangelij praedicationem expeditior haberetur Vir erat vt alter Bernardus ingenio pius consilio modestissimus Abbot of the Cistersian monkes by Country an English man he was eminently renowned by birth learning and holy life and conuersation he refused a Bishoprike and other worldly honors vtterly that he might be more ready to the exercises of vertues chefely for preaching the ghospell he was a man as an other S. Bernard Godly in wit and most modest in counsaile He that desireth more of this holy witnes may finde in our auncient M. S. antiq de vit Sanct. Ioh. Capgr in Cata. l. in S. Alred Abb. Manuscripts our learned Countriman Ihon Capgraue and others how he is registred among the most glorious and miraculous Saints of this Natiō to which our Protestant Bishop before hath giuen allowance where he giueth vs assured knowledge that this
before our common Conuersion in the dayes of King Lucius and so consequently by S. Peter or his Disciple S. Aristobulus no other then with eminent Authoritie being heare to consecrate him Bishop and settle him Bishop of Augusta London For first this citie was not called Augusta in the Reigne of King Lucius when this Nation was generally conuerted but onely Londinum London nor neuer since that time or by any before but by the Romans at their first setling heare in the time of Claudius when as before is proued S. Peter preached in this kingdome Secondly the first Bishop of London as all the rest from King Lucius time to the coming of S. Augustine were Archbishops and this onely in all Antiquities called onely Bishop of Augusta in Britaine Thirdly this was a Martyr and so we doe not reade of any Iotz in Catal. Epis Brit. Io. Godcel de Episc Lōd Matth. Parker antiq Brit. Godwin Catal. of Bishops Stowe Histor Theater of great Brit. l. 6. Harris in Theat to 1. Will. Harris descr Archbishop of London except on S. Vodinus Martyred in the times of King Vortigerne and Hengist in whome both the times names callings and other circumstances are much different making it vnpossible that they were one and the same man Fourthly no Antiquitie or Antiquary Catholike or Protestant setting downe the Catalogue of the Archbishops of London as Iotzeline of Furnes Ihon Godcilene Matthew Parker Godwine Stowe the Theater writers or any other once nameth this S. Augulus to be any of them that were since King Lucus time But make S. Thean the first the last Theonus that formerly was Bishop of Glocester and in or about the yeare of Christ 553. became Archbishop of London and about the yeare 586. together with Thadiocus Archbishop of Yorke fled from the Pagan Saxons into wales and left their Sees vacant vntill the coming of S. Augustine And betweene these there is not any one but S. Vodinus before a Martyr or that hath any resemblance in name or other description with S. Augulus Their names be these Thean Eluanus Cadar Obinus Conan Palladius Stephan Iltut Theodwin or Godwyn Catal. in London alij supr Dedwin Thedred Hillary Restitutus Guitelnius or Guitelinus Fastidius Vodinus Theonus 5. A late writer in his Manuscript History of Britaine saith plainely that S. Harris in Theat tom 1. Nicasius the first Bishop of Roan in Normandy of Fraunce preached heare in this Britaine in these times And he seemeth to rely much vpon Arnoldus Mirmānius who saith Britones instruxit formauitque fide S. Nicasius imperante S. Nicasius Bishop in our Britaine by some writers Nerone Nicasius did instruct and forme in the faith the Britans in the time of Nero being then delegated an Apostle thither illuc Apostolus delegatus And this he proueth to be vnderstood of our Britans because the Britans of Armorica Arnold Mirm. in Theatr. Conu gent. in Fraunce were not called Britans vntill long after which by all writers is a thing most certaine and out of Question Therefore except that Authour spake very vnproperly to call them Britans that were not vntill 300. yeares after he must needes meane to speake truely the Britans of this Iland And this S. Nicasius being sent Apostle by Roman Authoritie as he saith to the Britans in the time of Nero it must needes be by S. Peter And although the same Authour in the same place ioyneth with the Britans whome S. Nicasius thus instructed in the faith the people of Normandy Roan Picardy which be people in Fraunce Britones Normandos Rothomagenses Picardos this hindereth nothing but he might preach both to them and the Britans heare also as many others did and that which followeth omnemque maris Oceani tractum instruxit he instructed in the faith all the Coaste of the Ocean sea cannot well be iustified except we bring him hither into our Britaine for those Countries he nameth in Fraunce be farre from being omnis maris Oceani tractus either all or the half part of the Coaste of the French Ocean 6. To these I may probably add S. Martine lyuing in the Apostles time and Probable that S. Martin Disciple of the Apostles was a Britan or preached heare so renowned in this kingdome that in the time of King Lucius to speake in an old Authours words constructa est extra Cantuariam Ecclesia Sancti Martini a Church was builded vnto him without Canter bury Which is the same S. Bede and others write was the old Church builded there in the time of the Romans who where departed hence before the dayes eyther of S. Martine M. S. Abbreuiatio tempor in Rege Lucio Bed hist Anglic. in S. Augustino l. 1. Stowe histor in Ethelbert Theater of great Brit. Matth. Parker antiq Brit. Godwyn Conu of Britaine p. 40. Ado in chronic ad an 101. Will. Lamb. perambulation of Kent p. 13. the Pope or S. Martine Bishop of Tours in Fraunce by all accompts And Ado and others testifie this S. Martine was a Bishop in the time of Traiane and armo D. 101. Disciple of the Apostles Martinus Episcopus Discipulus Apostolorum Viennae resedit And M. Lambert the Protestant Antiquary doth assure vs that this Church by Canterbury dedicated to S. Martine was both builded in the Romans time and was and continued a Bishops See vntill the coming of the Normans hither and so extraordinarily there were two Bishops Sees in one City this being substitute to the Archbishop which argueth how greate the honour was that this nation gaue vnto him And yet a Church so aunciently dedicated to him heare would of it selfe by Brittish proceedings in such affaires induce vs to thinke that eyther he was a Britan borne or preached in this our Britayne or both For in perusing our Antiquities of those times we shall hardly finde any Church dedicated in this kingdome to any Saint except the blessed Virgin Mary for her eminent priuiledge but to such as were Saints of this Nation as S. Alban Amphibalus Aaron Iulius or preached heare as S. Peter the Apostle S. Clement his Disciple and successor and such like 7. To make which more apparantly probable vnto vs we haue two renowned and annuncient Authors Methodius and S. Marianus who speaking Marian. Scot. l. 2. aetat 6. in Nerua Imp. col 254. Method apud cund supr of this holy Bishop S. Martine and telling he liued and suffered Martyrdome in the time of Nerua the Emperour within the first hundred yeare of Christ say That non solum propria prouincia sed in extremis vltimis industrius illustris non solùm confessione quin martyrio existens regna Tyrannorum vicit He was not onely industrious and renowned in his owne Prouince but also in the vttermost and last Regions not onely a confessour but a Martyr conquered the kingdomes of Tyrants Therefore to graunt vnto Ado that he was sometime Bishop of Vienna in Fraunce seeing so
hither the time as before consenteth Morauia from whence they came is neare the parts where S. Philip preached The place where they arryued agreeth with S. Ioseph Iorney for by the Antiquities Antiquit. Glast Io. Capgrau in S. Ioseph alij of Glastenbury and others he must needs land about the North of this Iland from whence coming to GlasteÌ„bury he came by the parts now called Northewales and was imprisoned there and the number which landed with him was so greate that no Historye maketh memory of any such to haue arriued heare at or neare that time the Romans onely which were not friends but Enemyes to them excepted 8. And yet if we follow Ihon Harding he will tell vs that S. Ioseph and his Religeous company came hither with Vespasian Lieutenant to the Roman S. Ioseph by Harding and others came into Britaine with Vespasian the Roman President heare Emperour and he himselfe also afterward Emperour and that by the entreatie of Vespasian to the then King and Queene of Britaine Aruiragus and Genuissa those fauours freedoms which by our Histories he enioyed at Glastenbury were bestowed vpon him for speaking of Vespasian he saith With whom Ioseph full holy and full wise Ihon Harding Cronicle fol. 40. cap. 47. Of Aramathie with his fellowes fourtene Into this land then came and gaue contene For whome so then Vespasian prayed the King The Queene also to him to be good Lord fol. 41. And good Lady which they graunted in all thing When Vespasian to Rome returned home againe The King endued Ioseph in Meatrine Which Relation wanteth not probability to make it good for Vespasian Eutrop. l. 7. Mart. Polon Supputat an D. 71. in Vespasiano came hither out of Germany by which S. Ioseph must needs passe in his Iorney to Britaine from the Asiaticall Gallia and the adioyning Countries where S. Philip preached and in his way were those Disciples of S. Peter of whome I haue spoaken before S. Egistus Marianus Maternus Valerius Eucharius Clement Mansuetus and others Neyther was Vespasian an Enemie but a knowne friend and louer of Christians as I shall shewe when I come to the time of his Empire and the times of S. Iosephs and Vespasians S. Ioseph probably was directed into Britaine by S. Peter the Apostle coming hither may without difficultie be reconciled especially if we speake of their aboad heare 9. And if we will followe the best Antiquities we haue or Protestants themselues in this matter we shall easily finde that S. Ioseph rather came hither by direction of S. Peter then any other Apostle for first they assuer vs that Antiquit. Glast in Tabul Antiq. Capgrau in S. Ioseph and Patr. Godwin Conuers pag. 36. cap. 3. Godw. supr pag. 9. cap. 2. S. Ioseph was present with the Apostles at the time of the Assumption of the most blessed Virgin Mary secondly to speake in a Protestant Bishops words he receaued directions for his preaching and discipline eyther in the Councell of the Apostles gathered at Hierusalem or else of S. Philip the Apostle in France This second is disproued before and this Protestant authour himselfe doth disablâ— S. Philip the Apostle his being in France then much more that he directed S. Ioseph there And if S. Ioseph was then directed by some of the Apostles at Hierusalem to come into Britaine by whome should he take directions therein rather then of S. Peter who alone among the Apostles was to preach at that time in Britaine and these westerne parts Againe it is euident by the Scripture itselfe that S. Peter preached in Galatia or the Asian Gallia where S. Ioseph is said to haue bene Further these Protestants tell vs that S. Ioseph came hither in the beginning of the persecution of Nero and to auoide it one of them a greate Antiquary writeth in this manner I will adde in few words what I haue read of Iosephs arriuall heare First of all therefore you shall Will. Harrison descrip of Brit. p. 23. Theater of great Brit. l. 6. Godw. Conu note that he came ouer into Britaine about the 64. yeare after Christ when the persecution began vnder Nero. Therefore seeing that persecution by all Antiquities was in Rome and the nearer places of the Empire vnto it S. Ioseph was not altogether a stranger thereabouts otherwise he could not come from any of them by reason of the persecution there 10. To conclude we reade in the most approued Antiquities of Glastenbury that one which came in the company of S. Ioseph was his kinsman consanguineus Ioseph and a maÌ„ of such note that the History termeth him Rex a King Antiquit. M. S. â—laston intabul antiq some Prince or cheife Ruler among them Rex Orcaniae was named Petrus Peter which name was so new at that time being first giuen hy Christ himselfe to S. Simon Bar-Iona Peter the Apostle and rare in the world not found in Scripturs but onely in him and vnknowne also in histories being rather a name of signification then vsuall denomination to import what a Rocke and foundation of the Church of Christ S. Peter the Apostle was to be we cannot but thinke this Peter S. Iosephs Kinsman receaued that his name with his baptisme and Christianitie of S. Peter the Apostle and not altogether without iust merit of that name for as Ecclesiasticall writers and holy Scripture make S. Peter the cheife Piller spiritual in the Church of Christ so this Peter S. Iosephs Kinsman was as this Antiquitie affirmeth a temporall foundation and Father euen to Kings and Princes in these parts and in particular it lineally deduceth from him King Loth that marryed the Sister of King Arthur Therefore if so cheife a man in S. Iosephs company was in all probable Iudgment so nearely depending of S. Peter the Apostle we may not rashly make the rest such strangers vnto him but that they had direction from him in their proceedings as I haue euidently before proued and shall make it more manifest hereafter that when they were come hither they depended of him and his Disciples in things spirituall And such subordination had these holy men to the See Apostolike of Rome that when in the time of King Lucius their memory was allmost forgotten heare in Britaine for any thing we finde in Histories it was renewed from Rome euen as our cheifest Protestants themselues acknowledge among whome their first Protestant Archbishop affirmeth that S. Phaganus and Damianus were informed at Rome before their coming hither of the dwelling of S. Ioseph and his companions Matth. Parker Antiq. Brit. p. 3. in Britaine de Iosephi sociorumque in Britannia olim habitatione And maketh this his reason because Ioseph as also the other Apostles and Disciples dispersed throughout the whole world vsed to certisie by Messengers and letters their fellowes at Rome what they had done and suffered in euery Region for Christ and what profit they had And that by this meanes the
S. Ioseph al. Matth. Parker Antiquit. Brit. pag. 3. Io. Leland in assert Arthurij Godwin Conuers of Brit. pag. 10. outside of King Aruiragus Country as William of Malmesbury diuers Antiquities of Glastenbury Capgraue and others write and by the first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury and his Authours in Regionis suae finibus in the very end of his Dominion a place vnfit to conuert the whole Country or great parts thereof which Apostolike men Conuerters of kingdomes haue euer endeauoured and aymed at when they first setled themselues in any Countrye to conuert it to Christ THE XXVII CHAPTER THAT S. IOSEPH DID NOT ACTVALLY conuert to the Christian Religion eyther King Aruiragus Coillus or Marius 1. MVCH lesse can I be of their opinion that seeme to hold that S. Ioseph conuerted King Aruiragus Marius or Coillus to the faith of Christ A late writer speaking of King Aruiragus saith Quidam Historici testantur ipse omnium Regum Britannorum Io. Pitseus Rel. histor to 1. aetat 1. in Aruirago primus fidem Christi cum Sacramentis Christianis Christianus factus suscepit some Historians witnesse that of all Brittish Kings he was the first that being made a Christian receaued the faith of Christ with the Christian Sacraments An other thus plainely writeth of S. Ioseph He conuerted to the Christian Author of the Engl. Martyrol 27. Iulij in S. Ioseph of Aramathia faith Marius and Coillus sonne and Nephew to King Aruiragus The first doth not affirme that either S. Ioseph did Conuert Aruiragus or that he was at all conuerted to the faith of Christ but onely saith some Historians doe affirme that he was a Christian And Ihon Harding is Authour that he both was a Chistian and conuerted by S. Ioseph and plainely alledgeth Nennius King Aruiragus was not a ChristiaÌ„ conuerted by S. Ioseph or any other Ihon. Harding Chronic. c. 47. f. 41. Authoritie of this opinion thus he writeth Ioseph conuerted this King Aruiragus By his preaching to knowe the lawe diuine And baptized him as written hath Nenius The Chronicler in Britain tonguefull fine And to Christs lawe made him incline And gaue him then a shilde of siluer white A croise endlong and ouerthwart full perfecte Thus writeth this Authour but without warrant for any thing I can finde for whereas he citeth Nennius to haue written thus in the Brittish languadge it is euident by all Antiquities that Nennius which wrote in that tongue was Io. Bal. l. descrip Brit. cent 1. in Nennio Helio Io. Pitseus l. de Illustrib Britan. Scriptorib aetate 1. in Nennio Selden Illustr of Polialbion p. 128 long before the birth of Aruiragus or S. Ioseph and dead 50. yeares before the Natiuitie of Christ and was Brother to King Ludd and Cassibelam and was named Nennius Helius And so he could not write any such thing The other Nennius called Banchorensis as all Authours agree wrote onely in Latine and consequently could not write so in the Brittish tongue as that Authour thinketh and our best Protestant Antiquaries affirme they finde no such thing in any copie of Nennius Codices ij quos consuluisse me Nennij antiquos contigit huiusce rei parum sunt memores and for Catholiks I haue seene diuers affirme the same Neyther is King Aruiragus or S. Ioseph named by him Neyther doth any Antiquary of sound Iudgment so teach from any for Nennius or otherwise 2. And if we had no other Arguments or euidence then that I haue remembred before of the Desart and desolate place allmost vnaccessible vnto as M. S. de vita S. Gyldae per Caradoc both printed and Manuscript Histories tell vs propter munitiones Arundineti fluminis paludis so compassed and inuironed with Reeds Riuer and fennes which was allowed to S. Ioseph and his Christian company and a poore Oratory builded by themselues of such base Alder wands as that fenny wildernesse afforded giueth sufficient testimony how farre this King was from being a Christian that had nothing but such abiect and outcaste things to allowe to Christ and his seruants When for the maintenance of the Pagan Idolatrie which he professed both as the Brittish History Matthew of Westminster Galfrid Monum Hist Brit. l. 4. cap. 15. 16. Matth. Westm an 44. 73. Pont. Virun Hist Brit. l. 4. Ponticus Virunnius and others as well Protestants as Catholiks are witnesses he was Authour of stately and sumptuous buildings and so farre from diminishing any honour that was then giuen to the false Pagan Gods of the Idolatrous Britons that he added more vnto them namely worshipped the wicked Emperour Claudius whose Bastard Daughter he had taken as wife as God dedicated a costely Temple vnto him soone after his death yet after this his acquaintance with S. Ioseph for as I finde in an olde Manuscript Historie and others doe not dissent the Citie of Glocester then Cair M. S. Histor Antiq. an 66. Glou the Citie of Glaudius was builded by King Aruiragus in the yeare of Christ 66. Which was after the donation of priuiledge by Aruiragus to S. Ioseph 2. ot 3. yeares And it must needs be longer before the Idolatrous Matth. Westm an D. 73. Galfr. Monumeten Hist Reg. Briton l. 4. cap. 16. Pontic Virun Britan. Hist l. 4. King Aruiragus liued and died a Pagan Temple erected by him to the honour of Claudius was founded and finished 3. And to demonstrate that he both liued and died a Pagan this King Aruiragus was by his owne Order buried in that Pagan Temple in the yeare of Christ 73. Tenne yeares after S. Iosephs coming hither Aruiragus vt dies suos expleuit sepultus est Claudiocestriae in quodam Templo quod in honore Claudij dedicauerat construxerat And Ponticus Virunnius further addeth that he did euery moneth offer Sacrifice in that Temple after the Pagans manner so much he loued him singulis mensibus sacrificabat tantum eum amore prosequebatur And it is further euident by many Antiquities that Aruiragus did many publike Acts besides this which Christian Religion cannot permit as that after he had bene long time married to Voada Sister of Cataracus King of the Scots and had diuers children by her he disinherited the children put away and Compabellus Cornelius Hybern Verem apud Hect. Boeth l. 3. Hist Galfr. Hist l. 4. cap. 14. Pontic Virun l. 4. Matth. Westm Antiq. 44. Stowe Hist in Aruiragus Bal. l. Script Brit. cent 1. in Aruiragus Ioh. Pitseus de Vâ—r. illustr aetat â— in Aruiâ—ago Guâ—â—el Malm. l. de Antiquit. Glaston M. S. Capgrau in Catalog M. S. Ioseph ab Aram. Antiquit. Glaston apud eundem imprisoned the mother Marryed Genuesse the supposed Bastard Daughter of Claudius and kept her the other yet liuing and left the kingdome to Marius her sonne And was so farre from repenting this Barbarous Act contrary to Christian Religion that being chalenged for that Impietie he wrote a Booke in defence of
this his wickednes affirming therein that it was lawfull for him to haue pluralitie of wiues because neither the Roman nor Britan Pagan Lawes as he auouched denied that to Princes neuer speaking of or regarding the lawe of Christ and in this state he liued and died 4. Moreouer all Antiquaries whatsoeuer of any credit tell vs plainely that Aruiragus was no Christian but still persisted in his Pagan Religion First William of Malmes bury saith Rex qui tunc regnabat fuit Barbarus praedicationi eorum consentire noluit nec paternas Traditiones commutare volebat The King which then reigned was a Pagan and would not consent to their preaching nor would he change his Auncestours Traditions The Antiquities of Glastenbury Capgraue and many other auncients write Rex Barbarus cum sua gente tam noua audiens inconsueta nec paternas volens in meliùs commutare Traditiones praedicationi eorum renuebat The Pagan King with his people hearing such new and vnaccuctomed things as S. Ioseph and his fellowes taught would not change his Auncestours Traditions for the better but refused their preaching The first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury with his Protestant followers affirmeth Qorum praedicatione Rex Aruiragus cum Proceribus suis ab inueterata Druidum Religione abduci noluit King Aruiragus with his Nobles would not by the preaching of Ioseph and his companions be drawne from the inueterate Religion of the Druids Thus we see it manifestly declared that King Aruiragus was in all his actions life and death farre from being a Christian in profession 5. Now let vs examine whether as that late Authour saith S. Ioseph conuerted Neyther King Marius or Coillus was a Christian King Marius and Coillus to the Christian faith for this he bringeth no reason or Argument at all but onely in the Margent there citeth as teaching that opinion Ihon Capgraue Polydor Virgill Camden and Harpsfeld but not any one of these so affirmeth but the contrary Capgraue in the place by him cited calleth them duo Pagani Reges Marius Coillus Two Pagan Capgrau in Vita S. Ioseph Camdē in Rom. in Aruirago Polydor. Virg. l. 2. Hist Angl. p. 41. Kings Marius and Collius so Camden maketh them longe after S. Iosephs time and auoucheth King Lucius Sonne of Coillus to haue bene our first Christian King So doth Polydor Virgill thus plainely testifiing of Lucius Britannorum Regum primus Christianus factus est he was the first Christian of the Brittish Kings Harpsfeld saith that neither Aruiragus Marius or Coillus the Kings which followed did embrace the Religiō of Ioseph and his cōpanions Aruiragus caeterique Principes eum secuti etsi eorum Religionē non amplecterentur molesti eis non fuerūt immo Harpsf Hist Eccl. Angl. p. 3. virtutes eorū admirati beneficijs auxerūt But onely were not troblesome vnto thē admiring their vertues bestowed benefits vpō them Which no mā denieth but this is farre frō saying S. Ioseph conuerted to the Christiā faith Marius Coillus Engl. Martyrol in S. Ioseph 27. Iulij Sonne and Nephew to King Aruiragus the words of that Authour from these writers as he seemeth to pretend by his citing them And if we should follow either the computation of Sir william Camden the best Antiquary our Protestants euer had or others of that Religion we should make it vnpossible that any of these should be conuerted by S. Ioseph For first Sir Camden would haue them to haue liued long after the Age of S. Ioseph And for the Bal. l. de Script Britan. centur 1. in Ioseph Aram. in Aruirag Catal. Reg. Brit. ante Hist Brit. in Mario Matth. Westm an 72. Polydor. Virgil. l. 2. hist p. 38. rest they agree in this that King Marius and yet a Pagan ouerliued S. Ioseph To which computation Matthew of Westminster Polydor Virgill and others doe not dissent And concerning King Coillus he was ab Infantia euen from his Infancy by all writers brought vp at Rome and came not into Britaine while he came hither to reigne as King many yeares by all accompts after S. Ioseph was dead And so by no possibilitie could he be conuerted to the Christian faith in Britaine by S. Ioseph What dispotion or Inclination these had to the faith of Christ I will intreate when I come to their dayes hereafter in the meane time William of Malmesbury in his Manuscript of Glastenbury all other Antiquities of that place and Historyes as before generaly say these three were Reges Pagani Pagan Kings which Harding himselfe confesseth of Marius and Coillus though friends to Christian Religion neither doth Guliel Malm. M. S. de Antiq. Glaston Harding Chron. in Marius and Coillus he affirme that Aruiragus was a Christian but alledgeth Nennius wherein he seemeth to haue bene deceaued to be of that opinion And the Authour which before would haue King Marius and Coillus to be conuerted to the faith of Christ by S. Ioseph doth in an other place with the consent of Historyes name S. Lucius the first Christian King of Britany Therefore Marius and Coillus could not by his opinion without contradiction be Christian Kings Engl. Martyrol die 3. Decembr nor either of them a King Christian before him otherwise he had not bene the first but third or second in that order and degree 6. And if King Marius had bene a Christian or inclined to that holy Religion it carrieth no probability that he learned it of S. Ioseph for as Harding with others witnesseth he was of a child brought vp at Rome with the Emperour Claudius and his mothers kindred Who norished was at Rome in his Iuuente With his mothers kinne the best of th' Empire Hard. Chronic. in Marius c. 49. fol. 41. With Claudius also that was his owne Grandsire And not returning into Britaine vntill the death of Aruiragus his father to inherite the kingdome after him for any thing we reade in Historyes and by the common computation of Antiquities King Aruiragus and S. Ioseph dying within three yeares together it is not a thing to be easily beleeued Matth. Westm an 73. Bal. cent 1. in Aruirag Ioseph Aram. that Marius did or could learne Christianitie of S. Ioseph Neither did or could Christian Religion allow Marius a notorions knowne Bastard to Inherite the kingdome of Britaine as Heire to King Aruiragus he hauing diuers legittimate children by his lawfull wise Voada daughter of King Caratacus Hector Boeth Scotor hist l. 3. f. 41. Ex qua filium vnum duas filias susceperat All which by Christian Religion should haue inherited before them and he whether they had bene lyuing or dead by that could not claime Title to inherite and possesse the Crowne of Britaine as he did And the Scottish Historians who had best reasons Hector Boeth from the Scottish antiqu Scohist l. 4. fol. 58. Stowe hist Romans in Marius to keepe these things in memory doe tell vs that he
the time of their Conuersion in King Lucius and Pope Eleutherius time could not be so mistaken in such a cause to miscalculate so many yeares for the Copie of Gildas saith 164. annis post aduentum Christi Lucius Britannicus Rex cum vniuersis Britanniae Regulis Baptismū suscepit that King Gildas supr Lucius was baptized with all his Nobles of Britaine 164. yeares after the coming of Christ and Nennius saith it was three yeares afte◠Post centum sexaginta septem annos post Aduentum Christi Lucius Britanulcus Rex cum omnibus Regulis Nennius supr totius Britannicae Gentis baptismum suscepit So that whether we will take the accompt of S. Gildas or Nennius for King Lucius his time of cōuersion though others make a greater difference by 20. yeares and more we see that King Lucius was conuerted 44. yeares after the death of S. Euaristus and 54. from his first entrance into the Papacie 7. Popes S. Alexander Sixtus Telesphorus Higinius Pius Anicetus and Soter being betwene him and S. Eleutherius in whose time by all accompts King Lucius was conuerted of which two such renowned writers could not be ignorant much lesse may we iudge without greate iniury and dishonour to them and bold rashnes in our selues that they would or could erre or be mistaken in so high a degree the one of them Nennins the meanest stiled by our Catalogists of such men both Catholiks and Protestants the most excellent Doctour of the Britans Principall or Arch-Abbot Io. Lelandus in Nennio lo. Pitsaeus de vir Illustrib aetat 7. in Nennio Bāchorensi Balaeus centur 1. Script Brit. in eod of the most renowned Monastery of Bangor renowned both for wisedome and Religion Britannorum eximius Doctor egregius Britannorum Doctor famosissimi Monasterij Banchorensis Archiabbas Banchorensis Collegij Pontifex sapientia clarus Religione conspicuus The other S. Gildas the most renowned writer of the Britans of whome Histories remember by all Antiquities wherein he is stiled for his excellent and singular wisedome singularly Gildas sapiens Gildas the wise and so doth this Manuscript begin Incipiunt gesta Britonum à Gilda Sapiente composita Here begin the Acts of the Britans composed by Gildas Initium Gildae in Bibliotheca public Cantabrigiae Volum 247. tract 3. Surnamed the wise And if the firme grounde of such so auncient and worthie Authours could neede Supporters there is an other Manuscript in the Library of S. Ben ets Colledge in Cambridge so aūcient and credible that it is bound vp in the same Volume with Nennius the auncient History of Landaffe and such others and by the Protestant Publisher of the Titles of the Manuscripts of Cambridge and Oxford stiled Gildae Sapientis Historia the Historie of Gildas Thom. Iames in libris Manuscr Cantabrig in Bibl. Collegij S. Bened. Volum 373. tract 7. Surnamed the wise but by an auncient note in that Copie ascribed to an other auncient writer Quastus or much like which is more likely for euen in this place there is some difference though not materiall betwene that Copie of Gildas in the publike Librarie where is written 164. annis post Aduentum Christi and this in S. Benets Colledge there readeth post centum sexaginta quatuor annos post Aduentum Christi And this so commended and authorised Manuscript hath the same words with Gildas and Nennius in this point missa Legatione à Papa Romano Euaristo That S. Euaristus Pope wrote to the King of Britaine to receaue the faith of Christ And for the difference betwene S. Gildas and Nennius about the Emperour or Emperours of the Romans writing is of the same minde with Gildas missa Legatione ab Imperatorihus Romanorum à Papa Romano Euaristo That they were the Emperours of the Romans in the plurall number which thus sent to the then King of Britaine 3. And this confirmeth not onely the exhortation of Pope Euaristus to our King then to receaue the Christian faith but that besides the command of Traiane the Emperour against all Persecution of Christians sufficiently proued by Suidas and Nennius sent to his Prefects and Lieutenants heare as in other places but that these Roman Lieutenants themselues did signifie so much to King Coillus that it was Edicted and commanded of Traiane the Emperour that Christians should not be persecuted in Britaine For in that sence which I somewhat insinuated before doth S. Gildas vnderstand Imperatores Romanorum in the same worke where speaking of the Tribute which was payed to the Emperour of Rome sayeth it ceased to be payed in that Gildas supr in Claudio manner and was payed to the Britaine Emperours in tempore Clundij quieuit dari census Romanis à Britannia sed Britannicis Imperatoribus traditur Which so named Emperours of the Romans that were in Britain must needs be their Prefects or Lieutenants heare receauing that Tribute to the vse of the greate Emperour and Senate of Rome And by this clemency of Traiane towards Christians with prohibition to persecute them not onely our King which was euer before a fauourer of them did now receaue new spirit to doe all friendely offices he could to the Christian Britans subiect vnto him but the Roman Prefects which then were commorant in this kingdome did eyther willingly or forcebly by the Emperours Mandate permit all Romans and others which were or desired to be Christiās quietly and without any trouble or molestation to enioy their Religion which both for the present and after times gaue greate assistance to the happy encrease of Christians in this kingdome for the conuerted Romans and their Apostles by long conuersation now made acquainted with the languadge and manners of the Britans were become not onely for such as were learned among them to be fittist men among strangers to preach vnto them but the very vnlearned themselues most desirous all they could to promote and further so holy a worke became ready and skilfull Interpreters to such Apostolike men as the See of Rome sent of forreyne Countries into this Nation to conuert it to Christ THE III. CHAPTER OF THE STATE OF BRITAINE IN ECCLE siasticall Affaires in the time of S. Alexander Pope Adrianus Emperour and Coillus or Lucius his sonne King heare Their affections to Christian Religion and of diuers Apostolike Dio in Traiano Eutropius lib 8. Spartian in Adrian Matth. Westm ann 117. 118. 119. Marian. aetat 6. in Traiano Adriano Martin Polon Supput in eisd Martyrol Rom. 28. die Octob. Bed Vsuard Ado eod die Vit. Alexand. 1. 3. die Maij in Breuiar Rom. Dam. in Pontif. in Alex. 1. Method apud Marian. in Adrian Imp. Matt. Westm an 120. 115. 124. men sent from the See of Rome preaching heare 1. TRAIANE the Emperour being now dead about the 117. 118. or 119. yeare of Christ the accompts being somewhat and so much different therein Adrianus succeeded him in the Empire wherein he ruled 21. yeares or
that Christians were farre moore dutifull and faithfull to God then their Persecutors were Longe illi sunt quam vos erga Deum liberiores atque fidentiores Vos cultum Dei non tenetis Quocirca illum colentibus aemulatione inuidetis ad mortem vsque persequimini De rebus eiusmodi alij quidam prouinciarum Rectores diuinissimo patri meo scripserunt Quibus ille rescripsit nihil molestiae faciendum esse talibus viris nisi quid aduersus Imporium Romanum moliti esse deprehenderentur Quin ad me multi de eis literas dederâ—â—t quibus de patris mei quem imitandum mihi esse duxi sententia respondi Si quis actionem aduersus quempiam eiusmodi habens deferat illum duntaxat vt huiusmodi hominem Delatus quidem à crimine absoluatur etiamsi talis esse appareat Ipse autem Delator Iudicio paenas pendat And allthough diuers yeares of this Emperour his Reigne had passed before he established such publike Order for the quiet of Christians and much Persecution was in the beginning of his time yet it cannot be thought to haue had warrant and Originall from him And it was allmost in the beginning of his Empire the third yeare thereof as some write that S. Iustine wrote Matth. Westm an gratiae 141. an Anton. Pij 3. and deliuered vnto him his Apologie for Christians and made him friendly vnto them Anno gratiae 141. Iustinus Philosophus librum de Christiana Religione compositum Antonino tradidit eumque benignum erga Christianos fecit And he was surnamed Pius Godly by some iudgments for his pietie towards Christians aswell as for other respects Antoninus Pius gener Adriani erat erga Mart. Polon in Antonino Pio. Christianos Pius And he himselfe before is witnes that he proposed his adopting or Father in lawe Adrian so friendly to Christians to be imitated by him herein Quem imitandum mihi esse duxi And he therefore being so fully Antoninus Pius Epist supr persuaded that Christians did worship God truely and better then any Pagans their Persecutours these must needs be motiues to our King of Britaine Motiues to the King of Britaine to be a Christian euer a fauourer of Christians now much more to defend and maintayne that Religion when in so doing he might also maintayne his honour with God with the Emperour and thereby obtayne rest and quietnes to his conscience on earth and eternall peace and happines to his soule in heauen 4. And both for the continuance and encrease of Christians heare in Britaine all this time from Pope Alexander of whom the King of Britaine procured Godwin Conu of Brit. pag. 18. Caius l. 1. ant q. Cantab. Will. Harris descr of Brit. Holinsh. Hist of England Preachers to be sent hither we are assured not onely by Catholiks but diuers Protestant writers And sure if there had not bene Christians heare to exhort our King to Christian Religion and by him to be fauoured therein he could neyther haue bene persuaded by them to Christianitie or bene a friend to them for their quiet and libertie in professing thereof And yet besides the Court and Residence of our King we see euen by that litle light of Many Britans receaued the faith of Christ in this time our Antiquities that in sondry and farre separate places there were many which both preached the faith to others and which at such mens preaching embraced it Among others we reade in peruetustis Annalibus Burtonensibus sic lego Anno Domini 141. hic baptizati sunt nouem ex Doctoribus scholaribus Io. Caius l. 1. ant CaÌ„tab Accad p. 95. Cantabrigiae I reade in the very old Annals of Burton thus in the yeare of our Lord an hundred fortie one heare were baptized nine of the Doctours or Teachers and Schollers of Cambridge What great distance and separation of space Many Schollers of Cambridge now conuerted and conuerting others there is betweene Burton in Stafford-shire where these Annals were written and kept which testifie so many Schollers of Cambridge the cheife Towne of that Shire were baptized there at Burton hic baptizati sunt and the Vniuersitie of Cambridge is not vnknowne to English Readers And yet we are sure if they came so farre to be baptized they had bene catechized and instructed in the faith of Christ there before and so the faith of Christ had then bene taught at Cambridge and not by vnlearned Preachers to conuince so many learned men to be so deuoute to trauaile so farre to receaue holy Baptisme Neyther can any man imagin but the Brittish inhabitaÌ„ts betweene these two so distant places were also preached vnto by those holy men which preached in them both and passed from the one to the other Many others there be Stowe Histor Theater of great Brit l. 6. Willam Harris descript of Britaine Harris Theatr. l. 2. Annalâ—â— Burton in Coâ—â—â— S. Benedict in Bibliot ib. vol. 38. tract 2. Catholiks and Protestants which Iustifie this Antiquitie and the Antiquitie itselfe is yet extant in the Colledge of S. Benet in Cambridge where the very same words be without any difference at all Anno 141. hic baptizati sunt nouem ex Doctoribus Scholaribus Cantabrigiae And there written that the Booke belonged to the Abbey of Burton Qui fuit de Communitate Burtoniae 5. The Protestant Authours of the Theater of greate Britaine with others doe sufficiently approue what I haue written eyther of the continuance of the faith of Christ in Britaine in this time in generall as also of this Antiquity in particular although they adde some exceptions which rather are their owne mistakings then worthie the name ef exceptions First they truely testifie in this manner As we haue searched the first foundation of our faith so neyther Theater of great Brit. l. 6. c. 9. want we testimonies concerning the continuance of the same in this Lande vnto following Posterities allthough the iniurie of time and warre haue consumed many Records For the Britans that were dayly strengthned in their receaued faith by the doctrine of many learned and Godly men left not their first loue with the Church of Apoc. 2. 4. Zachar. 8. 23. Radulph Niger Euseb l. 4. c. 9. c. 13. l. 5. c. 5. Bal. Vit. l. 1. Ephesus but rather tooke hold of the skirts As the Prophet speaketh vntill the Tortures of Martyrdome cutt them of by death and those Fathers euen from the Disciples themselues held a Succession in doctrine not withstanding some repugnance was made by the Pagans and preached the Ghospell with good successe euen till the same at lenght went forth with a bolder countenance by the fauourable Edicts of The English Protestant Theater writers much ouer seeme in diuers things in this time Adrian Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius Emperours of Rome as Eusebius hath noted and in Britaine was established by the Authoritie of Lucius their King Of
supr an 201. Westminster the Antiquitie in S. Peters Church in Cornhill in London with others witnesse that Lucius was crowned King in the yeare of Christ 124. The yeare of our Lord God saith the Antiquitie of S. Peters Church 124. Lucius was crowned King and the yeares of his Reigne were 77. yeares To which the Monke of Westminster iustly agreeth crowning him King in the yeare 124. Anno gratiae 124. Lucius Regni diademate insignitus est And recording his death in the yeare 201. Anno gratiae 201. Inclitus Britannorum Rex Lucius ab hac vita migrauit ad Christum This Monke is stiled by our Protestant Antiquaries to be most exquisite in the true Supputation of yeares Matthaeus Florigerus quantum Io. Bal. l. de script Britan. centur 3. in Matth. Floriger ad Historiam in recta annorum supputatione singularis And of all writers of such matters we may lawfully Iudge that the auncient Authour or Authours of the Manuscript preserued in that Church dedicated to S. Peter to testifie to all Posteritie how that Church was founded by King Lucius and was the first Archiepiscopall See or Church in Britaine as is contained in that Antiquitie was most diligent and industrious in searching out the truth of such things so publikly to be receaued Such likely were the reasons which moued the Cambridge Antiquarie to affirme so resolutely as he hath done that King Lucius sent Eluanus and Meduuinus to Rome about his and this Countryes Conuersion so long before the dayes of the Papacie of Eleutherius and they returned hither againe in his time to help to effect that holy worke And I hope such an Vniuersitie as Cambridge would still be accompted and in Catholike times hath bene would not without greate warrant from their owne or some other Antiquities which they remember not in particular suffer it to be published and printed as the generall saying and testimony of their whole Vniuersitie That King Lucius when the question of Religion was in hand came purposely to Cambridge about it and there being resolued by the holy learned Christians which were students in Cambridge that the Religion which they professed was true he sent Eluanus Meduuinus to the Pope of Rome in the 156. yeare of Christ and the 18. of his owne Reigne for the receauing of Christian Religion in Britaine Cantabrigiam Lucius pius moderatus Princeps clementissimusque Hist Cantabrig Accadem Auth. Ioanne Caio ex aedibus Io. Daij An. Dom. 1574. pag. 22. Britannorum Rex venit Cui cum ex Sanctorum virorum qui Christum professi sunt Cantebrigiae studebant praedicatione persuasum est non fuisse vana quae de Deo deque Trinitate diuulgata sunt fidei Christianae cupidus à Pontifice Romano vt ad Christi fidem reciperetur per Legatos Eluanum Meduuinum petijt id egit Anno Domini 156. regni sui 18. THE VII CHAPTER DECLARING MANY HVMANE LETS and Impediments hindering King Lucius and his Noble Britans some yeares from publikely professing Christian Religion which secretly they embraced and the occasions of diuers mistakings eyther of Historians or their Scribes in the Date Times and Titles of letters written about the Conuersion of Britaine to the faith of Christ 1. WHEN the Estate of Ecclesiasticall affaires in Britaine had taken so happy proceedings and effect that both our King heare and many principall men were thus conuerted to the faith of Christ from their former errours and superstitions and so greate hope and forwardnes there was to haue that faith publikely professed which they Diuers humane feares and Impediments now chancing and hindering King Lucius from open profession of Christian Religion in Britaine priuately embraced and acknowledged for the onely truth many wordly temptations and oppositions did presently arise to hinder these new and vntrayned Souldiers of Christ to make so bold and open Profession of their holy Religion as many holy Martyrs at that time and they themselues not long after did and the glory of that required For as we may probably with many Antiquities affirme that the fauourable Edicts of diuers Emperours and among them Antonius surnamed Pius yet reigning had some what encouraged them in temporall respects actually to be baptized in that Religion The Martyrdome of the holy Popes S. Telesphorus and S. Higinius which their internall vnderstanding and Iudgment was by many inuincible motiues and Arguments conuinced before to be onely true So now by like contrary wordly euents and lets they were for some time more slowe and Antoninus Pius Emperour incensed against the Britans dull to professe it openly They did perfectly vnderstand that notwithstanding the pretended and expected fauour of the present Emperour eyther by his commande or permission two holy Popes to omit many others in other places S. Telesphorus and S. Higinius procures of their Conuersion cruelly Polydor. Virgil. Vrb. Anglic. Hist l. 2. pag. 42. Iulius Capitol in Antonin Nichol. Vignier Biblioth Histor and An. 143. were putte to death for that Religion euen in Rome itselfe vnder the Emperours sight within the space of foure yeares or litle more by all accompts And because present and home daungers doe most terrifie they did see and tasted that the present Emperour Antoninus was at this time incensed against the Britans and had allready sent Lollius Vrbicus with forces hither and he had fought some Battailes against the Britans As both our owne and the Roman Historians testifie Pius Antoninus id temporis Imperator Lollium Vrbicum The superstitious education and disposition of Marcus Aurâ—lius Antoninus adopted Successour in the Empire Legatum in Britanniam misit qui factis aliquot praelijs Insulanos in officio manere coegit 2. And to maintayne and foster these conceiued and ingendered humane feares and Impressions to liue and continue longer then Antoninus Pius was like to liue now being old and long time Emperour when he came first to the Empyre by the Adoption of Hadrian he was commanded or directed by him that Marcus Aurelius Antoninus whom from his Infancy he had trayned vp in the Gentils superstitions should succeed him in the Empire Iul. Capitolin in Marco Aurelio Antonino When he was but 8. yeares old he was putt by Adrian into the Colledge of the Salij most superstitious Preists of Mars and was made a Preist a cheife Marcus Aurelius Antoninus his PersecutioÌ„ against Christians Prelate or Ruler a Southsayer and Master among them octauo suae aetatis anno ab Adriano in Saliorum Collegium relatus est in Saliata functus Sacerdotio Praesul vates Magister nonnullos inaugurauit exaugurauit nemine praeeunte quod ipse carmina didicisset So that there could be litle hope but this man so superstitiously brought vp and such a maker and vnmaker of their Sacrificers and Enchaunter would still continue in the same and professe himselfe an enemy to all Impugners of such
proceedings such as all Chrstians were which he performed when he came to be Emperour raysing a generall Persecution against Christians which to omitt but as it concerned this kingdome and Christians thereof the holy house of our glorious Countrywoman S. Praxedes in Rome which vntill then both in the time of S. Nouatus her brother her holy parents S. Pudens and S. Claudia Sabinella or Priscilla and likely as before vnder her parents also Christian Britans had bene a safe refuge and as a Sanctuarie for persecuted Christians was now cruelly ransaked and 22. holy Christian Martyrs together with the sacred Act. S. Praxed per S. Pastor Martyr Rom. die 26. Maij. Bed Vsuard Ado eodem die Petr. Catal. l. 5. c. 58. Baron Tom. 2. Annal. an 164. Preist S. Simitrius most barbarously without any triall question or Iudgment presently putt to death of which blessed company we may not but thinke diuers of this kingdome to haue bene And S. Timothie himselfe returning from hence to Rome vpon the death of his brother and Sister S. Nouatus and S. Pudentiana was martyred there and before the 62. yeare of Christ if we will allowe of Matthew of Westminster his computation who saith that S. Iustus Bishop of Vienna after long exile was martyred that yeare Anno gratiae 162. in Gallijs plurimi pro Christo sanguinem gloriosè fuderunt Inter quos Iustus Viennensis Episcopus longo tempore exilio maceratus Martyr efficitur For S. Pius Pope of Rome in his Epistle to this S. Iustus writeth of the Martyrdome Pius 1. Papa Ep. ad IustuÌ„ Vienn Episc To. 1. Bibl. Sanct. Baron To. 2. Annal. an 166. of our S. Timothie And by no accompt he liued not aboue 4. yeares longer but was Martyred in this time So by some accompts our glorious Countryman S. Marcellus so diligent a procurer of the Conuersion of King Lucius as I haue declared was martyred in this Persecution And to heape vp the measure of fears for Christian Britans this Emperour did not onely thus persecute vs abroade but sent Calphurnius Agricola hither into Britaine with armed Troopes to keepe the Britans in subiection as Roman Pagan Iul. Capitolin in Marco Aurelio Antonin Polyd. Virgil. Anglic. Hist l. 2. p. 42. Writers terme it but Britans may say in a kinde of flauery 3. These and such were the worldly Temptations which allured King Lucius and many noble Britans to be more timerous and lingering to professe the Christian faith with such constancy openly as inwardly they firmely beleeued and honored vntill the Emperour himselfe conuicted by the written Marcus Aurel. Anton. Emperour miraculously conuerted to beleeue in Christ oâ— at the least to be a Protector of Christians Apologies and Miracles wrought by Christians was enforced to yeeld the honour to Christ and abstayne from Persecution and many of his noble Pagans embraced Christian Religion Imperator victoriam suam Christo gaudenter attribuit And this I take to be the cheifest occasion of the mistakings in some Historians or their Scribes setting downe so many and seuerall times when King Lucius receaued the faith of Christ or professed it Many saying Tertull. Apol. c. 6 Euseb Eccl. hist l. 5. cap. 5. Matth. Westm an 174. it was in the yeare of Christ 156. according as I haue before related Others in the yeare 164. others 165. as William of Malmesbury with others Henry of Hartford in the yeare 169 And others in other and later times All which be true if we speake of the Religion of Christ which he held and beleeued from the very first of these assigned times but for his and his Nobles publike profession thereof and the kingdome generall receauing it with building of Churches placing Christian Bishops and Preists in them and abandoning the superstitious Rites of the Pagan Gentils we must expect a later date in the time of Pope Eleutherius And the honour this holy Pope had long before he was Pope and the often occasion of King Lucius and others heare Occasions of so ofteÌ„ mistaking the name Pope Eleutherius in letters written to and from Rome by Historians or their Scribes writing and sending to Rome about this holy worke might occasion some errour in the Titles of letters to Pope Eleutherius when he was not yet Pope but in high estimation with the Popes there as a principall learned and holy Preist of the Church of Rome as appeareth in the first Epistle of S. Pius Pope to S. Iustus Bishop of Vienna wherein he onely sendeth him salutations from S. Soter after Pope and S. Eleutherius as the cheifest Preists then in Rome and so he recommendeth them salutant te Soter Eleutherius digni Pius 1. Epist 1. ad Iustum Vienn Episc Tom. 1. Biblioth Sanct. presbyteri Which Epistle was written and this honour giuen to Eleutherius by that holy Pope allmost twenty yeares before Eleutherius was Pope And yet he must needs be a renowned man long before that time and so no maruaile if diuers letters were written to him from Britaine and from him hither before his Papacie especially if we reflect to consider how probable a thing it is that he was most resident with our Christian Britans there and the Popes of that time committed vnto him to haue a peculiar care of this Country which his greate credit and familiaritie with Pope Pius conuersing so much Euseb Hist Chronic. Matth. Westm an 157. with our Britans there and with such principall men as were sent into these parts such as S. Iustus of Vienna then was will induce to thinke Iustus Viennensium Episcopus Lugdunensium Photinus in Ecclesia Christi clari habentur And our owne Annals doe sufficiently witnes that the fame and renowne of S. Eleutherius was greate heare in Britaine before he was chosen Pope ab Ethelwerd Chronic. ortu solis vsque ad occasum exiuit sancta opinio eius And that this his glory was so greate in Britaine before he was Pope those our both auncient and later Historians prooue which say that King Lucius wrote vnto him the first yeare of hâ—s Consecration to take Order for the generall Conuersion of this kingdome Marian. Scot. aetat 6. in Eleutherio Papa Harris in Theatro to 2. So doth the most authenticall and approued Relation of this History testifie that it was in the very beginning of his Papacie that King Lucius sent those letters and solemne Ambassadge vnto him about this Busines Huic initio Pontificatus supplices litterae venerunt à Lucio Britannorum Rege vt se ac suos Vita S. Eleutherij in Breu. Rom. 26. die Maij. in Christianorum numerum reciperet Which plainely proueth this fame and honour of S. Eleutherius so well knowne in Britaine did not now begin heare with his Papacie but was of farre more auncient continuance and Antiquitie For the very beginning of any Ruler or Gouernour cannot giue him so singular a commendation so
Ambassadours Trebellius and Pertinax that Persecution against Christians was ceased and some of the renowned of the Romans had embraced Christian Religion he presently sent and wrote an Epistle to Eleutherius Pope of Rome by learned BritaÌ„s Eluanus Meduuinus to haue Baptisme receaued heare And he sufficiently insinuateth there as the Magdeburgians before haue done that he would haue done this sooner but for feare of the Roman Emperours by whose permission and Authoritie as this man Bal. supr saith he was King in Britaine making him litle better then a King by courtesie onely Lucius Pius Coilli Regis filius vnicus Romanorum fautor Caesaris Marci Matth. Parker Antiq. Brit. p. 4. Antonini Veri beneuolentia authoritate Britannis post patrem imperabat The first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury setting downe the same motiue and how by the Romans example the Christian faith was now receaued in all Prouinces addeth for King Lucius Ad Eleutherium Romanum Pontificem illustres facundos viros Eluanum Aualonium Meduinum Belgam cum literis mandatis legauit In quibus petijt vt ad se iam doctrina Christiana imbutum Nuncios ac Legatos à quibus Baptismate lauaretur mitteret King Lucius sent renowned Iewell against Harding 119. Godwin conu of Britan. Catal. of Bishop Theater of great Britaine l. 6. Selden Analect Rob. Barn l. de vit Pontif. Rom. in Eleutherio Stow Hist in Lucius men Eluan of Aualonia and Medwin a Belgian to Eleutherius Pope of Rome with letters and commandements in which he requested that he would send Messengers and Legats to baptise him allready instructed in Christian doctrine His Protestant Successours Whitegift against the Puretans and George Abbot directour of Francis Mason in their Booke of Consecration as they followed him in place so in this opinion So their Protestant Bishops Iewell and Godwine So teacheth the whole company of Protestant Antiquaries in their Theater of Britaine So their particular Historians and writers Barnes Selden Stowe with others Lucius Britanniae Rex Christiano coetui cum suis subditis adiungi petijt â—er litteras An other saith King Lucius sent his two Ambassadours Eluanus and Meduuinus two learned meÌ„ in the Scripturs with his louing letters to Eleutherius Bishop of Rome desiring him to send some deuoute and learned men by whose InstructioÌ„ both he and his people might be taught the faith and Religion of Christ And these Protestants doe not stay their pens heare in giuing this supreame prerogatiue King Lucius did not onely send to the Pope to obtaine the setling of Religion heare but to establish the temporall state and Lawes of this kingdome as our Protestant Antiquaries with others acknowledge and preemineÌ„cie to the See of Rome for the ordering setling of spirituall affayres but goe further enforming vs that this holy King of Britaine Lucius so renowned in all Antiquities did appeale to the same Pope of Rome to haue the temporall and Ciuile Lawes of this Nation to be framed and enacted and so setled by his Authoritie And diuers of them are so earnest herein that they say King Lucius sent at this time and by these Ambassadours for obtayning thereof Their first Protestant Archbishop is playne in this opinion for hauing as before sett downe the Ambassadge our King sent to Pope Eleutherius desiring to haue Instructours sent hither to setle Christian Religion he immediately addeth with a connectiue phrase of speach entreating that those Legats this Pope should send hither for establishing Religion should also Matth. Parker Antiq. Brit. p. 4. bring with them the Roman Lawes by which he might describe and establish the state of Religion and common wealth in his kingdome Quique vnà deferrent Romanas leges quibus Religionis Reipublicae statum in Regno suo describeret atque stabiliret This mans opinion together with diuers others of the Protestant profession concerning this matter is related by a Protâ—stant Bishop and Antiquarie in this manner Lucius some time after his Conuersâ—on but whether Godwin Conu of Brit. p. 29. 30. before or after his Baptisme appeareth not made request vnto Eleutherius to send him some kind â—â—â—bstract of the Roman Lawes whereby he might establish a setled Order of Gouernment in his Dominions 4. Now whereas the Druids were the Iudges of all matters both in Caesar com l. 6. spirituall and temporall gouernment ferè de omnibus controuersijs publicis priuatisque constituunt si quod est admissum facinus si caedes facta si de haereditate de finibus controuersia est ijdem decernunt praemia poenasque constituunt The abolishing of these Druids made an alteration in politick matters aswell as Ecclesiasticall or concerning Religion so that the cause of reformation in both kindes being one and the selfe same I see no reason why we should not thinke that the remedie of both was likewise sought at once And true it is that the Authour of the booke called Antiquitates Britannicae Matthew Parker their Protestant first Archbishop last cited affirmeth how that Eluan and Medwin made the foresaid motion for the Roman Lawes at their being with Eleutherius before the Baptisme of Lucius and then receaued answeare So doth Foxe Iewell contra Hard. p. 119. M. Foxe and the Reuerend Father of happy memory Bishop Iewell thus one brother commendeth an other seemeth to be of the same opinion Yet because the Authours of our greate Chronicle Holinshead and the rest deliuer that this motion was made after the Baptisme of Lucius but also setting downe precisely the particular time doe say it was in the third yeare of his Conuersion I will not take vpon mee to pronounce eyther the one way or other but leaue it vnto the Readers Iudgment and discretion to determine of hitherto this Protestant Bishop for himselfe and his adherents in Religion concerning this matter This motion and request of King Lucius to the Pope about the temporall â—awes was after his first Ambassagâ— and receauing Christian ReligioÌ„ 5. But bccause he leaueth the determination hereof to his Readers Iudgment discretion I being one of his Readers will take vpoÌ„ me thus to determine against him his Brethren the Protestant Bishops and the rest by their owne testimonie citation for all these which he named as himselfe also cite at lardge the letter of Pope Eleutherius to King Lucius about this busines and it is all the light of this relation which is left vnto vs in Histories And therein Pope Eleutherius telleth vs plainely that this motion and answeare vnto it were after the publike Conuersion of this Country and after it had receaued also the holy Scripturs suscepistis nuper miseratione diuina in Regno Britanniae legem fidem Christi habetis penes vos in Regno vtramque paginam And seeing they were the Apostolike men which were sent hither by Pope Eleutherius to conuert the kingdome to Christ Which were principally to
these Ambassadors of King Lucius to be a Bishop but speake generally of the Roman Legats Damianus and Fugatianus presentlâ— sent hither from Pope Eleutherius with others to be Instruments in performing this greate designment S. Gildas Nennius S. Bede Marianus Florentius wigorniensis Ethelwerdus Matthew Westminster WilliaÌ„ Malmesburie HeÌ„ry of HuntingtoÌ„ Radulphus de Diceto Martinus Harding Ado Platina with others writing of this Ambassadge of King Lucius and S. Eleutherius sending his Legats hither about the effecting our Kings request are silent of this consecrating and sending Eluanus Meduuinus hither againe at this time or after in such manner as the others write And the Roman Antiquities of this matter which Baronius termeth the auncientest of King Lucius Acts vetustiora de Lucio monumenta Monum Vet. apud Baron To. 2. Annal. an 183. though they say King Lucius sent these two Ambassadors Eluanus and Meduuinus to Pope Eleutherius about the CoÌ„uersion of Britaine yet they onely testifie that King Lucius his suite was to haue it effected by Pope Eleutherius and such as he should thinke fittest to vndertake that labour how he therevpon sent Fugatius and Donatianus otherwise called Damianus to effect it as they did neuer naming further Eluanus or Meduuinus Agent herein Lucius Legationem misit per Eluanum MeduuinuÌ„ Britannos rogans per eos Eleutherum vt per se suosque ministros ad Christianam Religionem suscipiendam aditum patefaceret quod obtinuit Nam Idem pontifex Fugatium Donatianum aliter Damianum in Britanniam misit And diuers of our Protestants which relate Magdeb. cent 2. col 8. Io. Funccius l. 6. commeÌ„tar in Chronol ad An. 178. Ioan. Bal. li. de Scritp Brit. ceÌ„t 1. in Lucio Eluano Meduuino Idem l. de vitis Pontif. Rom. in Eleuth Rob. Barns l. de Pontif. Rom. in Eleutherio Godwin Conu of Britaine p. 21. this Historie make no memory therein of Pope Eleutherius his consecrating and sending Eluanus and Meduuinus hither such be the Magdeburgian writers Funccius Barns and their Bishop Bale allthough in his booke of writers dedicated to King Edward the sixt he expressely handleth this matter both in King Lucius Eluanus and Meduuinus and there speaketh of these men sent to Eleutherius at Rome yet he is silent of their consecration there seeming to thinke they were consecratd in Britaine before their going to Rome per Apostolicos viros in Christo renati in dispensandis Dei ministerijs inter primos haberentur And in his Booke of the liues of Popes writen after he speaketh not of them at all when he handleth this matter in Pope Eleutherius And an other 4. Protestant Bishop and Antiquary though he holdeth with them that say Pope Eleutherius made Eluanus a Bishop and sent both him and Meduuinus hither yet he addeth by most it is affirmed how that Eleutherius sent with these two before named S. EluaÌ„ and Medwin two other to order the state of the Church who had the honour of performing that office The one of them is called by some Damianus by others Duuanus and by others againe Deruianus Dimianus Diuianus and Donatianus the other is sometimes termed Faganus and sometimes Fugatius And the other last cited Protestant Bishop confirmeth Bal. sup in Lucio Eluan Meduuino Matth. Parker Antiq. Brit. p. 5. Stowe Hist Howes An. 179. in Lucius Io. Goscelin Hist Manuscr de Archiep. CaÌ„t. in Lucio Holinsh. Hist of England l. 4. c. 19. this telling vs all things were ordered by those two Legats of Pope Eleutherius 3. This is sufficiently yeelded vnto by their first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury and by most as the other hath before acknowledgde And Goscelin in his Manuscript History of the Archbishops of Canterbury relating this History of King Lucius sending Eluanus and Meduuinus is silent of any consecration or mission they receaued at Rome but asscribeth the ordering of all Ecclesiasticall matters heare to the Legats of Pope Eleutherius Fugatius vna cum Damiano â—uc remissus Christianam Religionem in Regno instaurant tota Ethnicismo abolito solidè constituunt Holinshed in his History of England is also silent in this consecration of our Ambassadors onely saying of them King Lucius sent vnto Eleutherius Bishop of Rome two learned men of the Brittish Nation â—â—â—an and Medwine requiring him to send some such Ministers as might instruct him and his people in the true faith more plentifully and to Baptize them according to the Rules of Christian Religion Heareupon were sent from the said Eleutherius two godly learned men the one named Fugatius and the other Damianus How they performed this chardge committed vnto them by Pope Eleutherius in the opinion of this ProtestaÌ„t he shall with others testifie when I come to entreate of their proceedings heare Our Protestant Authours of the Theater of greate Britaine relying much vpon the Authoritie of the Manuscript History of Radulphus de Diceto sometime Deane of S. Pauls Church Theater of great Brit. l. 6. in London in the Kings library as they cite him must be of the same minde that the chardge of this greate busines was committed by Pope Eleutherius to his Legats Faganus and Damianus for he writeth so and that all things heare Radulph de Diceto in Manuscr Hist inter ann 170. 180. Io. Leland in assert Arthurij Priseus defens Hist Brit. p. 73. 74. Selden Analect c. 6. Whitg defens of the Answere p. 323. Foxe To. 1. f. 146. Mason l. 2. c. 3. p. 52. 55. Godwin Catal. of Bishops of Yorke â—n Panlinus 1. Winchester 1. were setled by their Legatine Authoritie Leland in his Defence of King Authour and Sir Ihon Prise of the Brittish History affirmeth the like citing diuers others for warrant M. Selden relateth this matter as the others haue done before that King Lucius craued the direction assistance of Pope Eleutherius herein Pontificem Romanum qui tunc fuit Eleutherium vt cum suis Christiano nomine obsignaretur mandatis literis consuluit And he sent Fugatius and Damianus very learned and holy men to conuert this Country Fugatium Damianum imprimis doctos insignisque pietatis viros misit So write their two Archbishops white gift and Abbots M. Foxe Francis Mason And that ProtestaÌ„t Bishop himselfe who before would not haue this so vndoubted a truth as these his fellowes in Religion haue made it when afterwards he came to sounder Iudgment and better reflected vpon this History and grounds thereof maketh it a veritie vndeniable in this manner It cannot be denyed but Eleutherius Bishop of Rome at the request of Lucius then King of Britaine sent Damianus Faganus and other learned Preachers to sowe the seed of the Ghospell heare And in other places proueth from Antiquities that these Legats of Pope Eleutherius exercised Apostolike Legatine Power by Commission from that holy Pope in this kingdome 4. And of this their Power Commission from
was baptized his subiects followed his example Matth. Westm in such order that in a short time there was not heare any Infidell to be found Quod cum factum fuisset concurrerunt ad Baptismum Nationes diuersae exemplum Regis sequentes ita vt in breui nullus inueniretur Infidelis Hartmannus Schedel reporteth Hartni Scedel Chron. Chronic. f. 115. p. 2. Epist S. Patricij apud Capgrau in vita eius Leland assert Arthurij Antiq. Glast Scriptor vitae S. Helenae apud Capgrau in Catalog as others before that these Legats baptized the King and his people Regem ipsum ac populum The Historicall Relation of S. Patrike commonly called his Epistle witnesseth that they conuerted both the King people trauailing quite through Britaine Phaganus Deruianus Regem cum suo populo ad fidem conuerterunt peragrantes Britanniam The old Authour that wrote S. Helen her life recordeth how vpon the Baptisme of King Lucius all the people of the whole Nation presently flocked together to be instructed in the faith of Christ and were baptized Nec mora concurrentes vndique totius Nationis populi Regis exemplum insequuntur eodemque salutari lauachro mun dati caelesti Regno restituuntur Harding thus setteth it downe in his olde verses Eleuthery the first at supplication Harding Chron. c. 51. f. 43. Of Lucius sent him two holy menne That called wer Faggan and Duuyen That baptized him and all his Realme throughoute With hertes glad and laboure deuoute Sigebertus saieth generally of the Britans without restriction that they Sigebert Chron. in Regno BritaÌ„norum receaued Christianitie by the Legats of Pope Eleutherius sent at the request of their King Lucius Britanni instantia Lucij Britanniarum Regis per Legatos Eleutherij Papae Mysteria Christianitatis perceperunt Walterus Rollwink in his Fasciculus writeth that Fuganus and Damianus the Legats of Pope Eleutherius baptized both King Lucius and his people who vpon the solemne Baptisme of their King submitted themselues to Christian Religion Eleutherius Walter Rollw in Fascicul teÌ„p an 184. misit Legatos Lucio Regi Britonum qui eum cum populo suo baptizarunt Solemniter Rege Lucio baptizato subiectus populus eius exemplo fidei colla submisit pacificè THE XVII CHAPTER HOW IN BRITAINE THESE HOLY LEGATS placed Archbishops and Bishops in our Cyties 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 1. WHEN the Ecclesiasticall affaires of Britaine had thus prosperously proceeded that the King and all his Nobilitie were become Christians as Gildas Nennius the Antiquities of Landaffe and others after them testifie Rex cum vniuersis Britanniae Regulis Baptismum susceperunt And as an other Copie of Gildas agreeing with Nennius readeth Lucius Britannicus Rex cum vniuersis Regulis totius Britanniae Baptismum susceperunt And in the Antiquities of Landaffe Lucius totius Britanniae Primates Baptismum susceperunt And all Scholes Cities Druids Teachers and Schollers of Idolatrie were thus conuerted to Christ as all our Antiquaries Catholiks and Protestants haue deliuered so that all both Rulers and subiects both temporall and such as were then called spirituall had now embraced that Religion and worship of God which as it was diametrically as it were repugnant to the superstions of the Gentils in Britaine about their Idols termed Gods so it vtterly condemned many of their barbarous and prophaine customs and obseruations in meerely ciuill and human affaires and proceedings as I haue in very many things intollerable to be practized or permitted giuen Instance before Therefore as the state of Religion and reueâ—ence to God was now changed and onely heare wanted an externall Authoritatiue setling of an Ecclesiasticall Hierarchie of Bishops Preists Cleargie men to gouerne in Religion and places or Churches for professing and publike practise of the same which were now to be prouided by these holy Legats so King Lucius as the Vicar of Christ in this kingdome in temporall things as S. Eleutherius stileth him in his Epistle about this busines wrote vnto that holy Pope for his direction also in this greate affaire of changing his temporall Lawes to make all sure that nothing should be receaued and established heare either concerning the dutie and office of man to God or man to man one towards an other but what should haue direction or allowance Godwin Conu of Brit. p. 26. The Ecclesiasticall Hierarchie of Archbishops Bishops Preists and other Clergy men now setled heare by the Popes authoritie from the See Apostolike of Rome Of this second I will speake when I haue in some manner finished or deliuered the first the setling or founding our Ecclesiasticall Hierarchie and gouernement in such affaires 2. That these Roman Legats did presently vppon our Conuersion appoint the Sees of Bishops and Archbishops according to the place and number of the Flamens and Archflamens of the Pagans is so generally receaued for an vndeniable truth in Antiquities as a Protestant Bishop singularly excepting one other of his profession heare naming him that he perceiueth not any that haue gainesaid it before Maister Doctor Sutcliffe But contrariwise diuers both auncient and learned are to be found that haue partly broached it and partly applauded the same And yet this bold faced man against all learned Antiquitie in his owne confession pleaseth to call it a deuise so childish and ridiculous as he cannot but wonder that any man of Learning and Iudgment should approue it And bringeth no more reason then he doth Authoritie for this his singularitie Onely he saith that Fenestella which directly teacheth this dignitie of Archflamens among the Gentils is not the auncient Fenestella which was in the time of Tiberius the Emperour but a man of later time then that which Fenestella printed published by the ProtestaÌ„ts of Basile may not be so shuffled ouer vpon the bare word of one Protestant of England against all his Brethren in Basile where by their Authoritie the booke was printed and published for a true auncient Fenestella And it is a strange conceite of his to be vttered to vewe to thinke to Father this opinion first vpon Gratian as thus he doth The defendor of this conceit is Gratian whome I doubt not we may accompt the first Authour of the same For I haue proued in the first chapter of this Age at lardge both by Catholiks and Protestants that diuers lyuing and writing in the time of the Apostles were of this opinion and proued it by the practise of the Apostles themselues which appointed Primats for those cheife Cities of Prouinces where in the time of the Gentils their Archflamens were resident and Ruled and gaue order this vsadge should be obserued by Posteritie And this Protestant Bishop contradicteth himselfe in this matter for first making Gratian Authour heareof presently he thus addeth of him True
regno sacerdotio clero iurare antequam ab Archiepiscopis Episcopis regni coronaretur Tres enim Rex habere debet seruos scilicet luxuriam auaritiam cupiditatem quos si habuerit seruos bene illustrè regnabit Regno omnia debet praemeditari hoc Regis est Quia malè cuncta ministrant impetus iuxta Euangelium omne regnum in se diuisum desolabitur Truly a King ought of right to obserue and defend all the Lands and honours all the dignities and rights and liberties of the Crowne of this kingdome wholly with all integritie and without diminution and with all his power recall to the auncient state and due all the rights of the kingdome which were dispersed dilapidated and lost And all and the whole Land and all the Ilands vnto Norwey and vnto Denmarke doe belong to the Crowne of his kingdome and they are of the Appendences and dignities of the King and it is one Monarchie and one kingdome and aunciently was called the kingdome of Britaine but now is â—alled the kingdome of the English men For our Lord Eleutherius Pope who first by inspiration of God did send an hallowed crowne to Britaine and Christianitie to Lucius King of the Britons did ordayne and impose to the Crowne of the kingdome such boundes and limits as are spoken before by his Decree in the yeare one hundred sixtie seuen after the Passion of Christ A King also ought to doe all things in the kingdome truely and by the Iudgment of the Peeres of the kingdome For Right and iustice ought to Reigne more in a kingdome then wicked will That is Lawe which allwayes doth right but will violence and force is not right A King ought to feare God and loue him aboue all things and keepe his Commandements throughout the kingdome He ought also to preserue foster maintaine gouerne and defend against Enemies the holy Church of his kingdome with all integritie and libertie according to the Constitutions of the Fathers and Predecessours so that God may before all things be honoured and euer had before his eyes He ought also to erect good Lawes and customes allowed and blott them out which be wicked and bannish them all from the kingdome He ought to doe right iudgment in the kingdome and keepe Iustice by the Counsaile of the Nobles of his kingdome All these things a King must sweare in his owne parson looking vpon and touching the holy Ghospels and vpon holy and sacred Reliks before the Realme and Preisthood and Clergie before he be crowned by the Archbishops and Bishops of the kingdome For a King must haue three things slaues vnto him to wit luxury aâ—arice and concupiscence which if he maketh sâ—aâ—es he shall reigne well and renownedly he must premeditate all things for the kingdome and this is the office of a King Because violences doe minister all things ill according to the Ghospell euery kindome diuided in itselfe will be desolate 5. Hitherto this our holy and auncient Lawe of the office and dutie of our Kings vsed and practized euen from the beginning of Christianitie publikly receaued heare both in the Britans and Saxons gouernment founded warranted and grounded vppon the Authoritie and direction of the holy Pope S. Eleutherius as appeareth by that part of his Epistle which I first recited immediately without any one sentence worde or sillable interposed betweene them annexed and ioyned to this Lawe as the originall cause motiue allowance and confirmation thereof Whereby we may cleartly see the greate power prerogatiue and Iurisdiction the Popes of Rome euen from the beginning and first founding Christian Religion heare claimed had and exercised in this kingdome and from the first Christian King we enioyed a Saint and blessed man all our Kings Britans Saxons or whatsoeuer Christians to these dayes did with this whole kingdome allowe to the Apostolike See of Rome as much as it claimeth now at our hands and as any good and learned Catholiks doe yeeld vnto it From that holy and eminent See we had by these greatest Testimonies Christian Religion planted and Iuridically setled heare Our Episcopall and Archiepiscopall Sees assigned our first Bishops and Archbishops to enioy them appointed and consecrated Direction giuen euen in temporall and ciuill affaires what Lawes we should take our King Possessor but of a part of this kingdome declared to be King of all Britaine and so many adiacent Ilands enioyed by his enemyes and an hallowed Crowne sent him to weare as Monarch and King of them all A Protestant Lawyer Bracton l. 1. de acquir rer Dom. c. 8. Io. Selden Analect p. 46. and Antiquarie saith that from this Popes donation our Kings had the Title viracius Dei vicar or vicegerent of God and citeth Bracton for his Authour who rather denyeth then affirmeth it onely he saith against the sence of Protestants that it is euident a King ought to be vnder the Lawe being but Gods vicegerent Quod sub lege Rex esse debeat cum â—it Dei vicarius And Roger Houeden who reciteth this verie Lawe verbatim hath not that Title Vicarius noâ— the woâ—de Regert to Rule which our Protestants apply to the Church the Title is Regis Officium the Kings dutie and is this Rex atque Vicarius eius ad hoc Roger. HouedeÌ„ Annal. part poster in Henric. â— c. de legib Angl. est constitutus vt regnum terrenum populum Dei super omnia sanctam Ecclesiam reuereatur ab Iniuriatoribus defendat maleficos ab ea euellat destruat penitus disperdat where aboue all things he must reuerence the holy Church and be ruled by it and not Rule it And this all our Christian Kings to King Edward the sixt a child did publikly professe before their Coronation as the old Order thereof is witnes And these Titles to be Vicarius Cbristi in his Pontificale Roman in Benedictione Coronatione Regis holy Church is as fully before giuen to Pope Eleutherius by King Lucius and his Christians and Regere to rule it vnder Christ made by them the Popes peculiar as they were euer after to these Times 6. And to speake more particularly of the ciuill and temporall Lawes which King Lucius requested Pope Eleutherius to giue direction in and he accordingly established in this kingdome this holy King now a Christian did not and could not by his Religion demand the Roman Pagan Lawes without alteration or correction of S. Eleutherius but according to such moderation change or alteration he should vse in them to speake in a Protestant Bishops words Lucius made request vnto Eleutherius to send him some Kinde of Abstract of the Roman Lawes whereby he might establish a setled order of Gouernment Godwin Conu of Britaine p. 29. in his Dominions And when Pope Eleutherius directed him to take his Lawe conformable to the Lawe of God by the aduise of his kingdome ex illis Dei gratia per consilium Regni
Praeterea triginta millia Syluestrium ferarum cuiuscunque generis collectarum They sacrificed there at Trinouantum Lōdon forty thousand kyne a hundred thousand sheepe and foules of all sortes which could hardly be numbred and thirtie thousād wilde beasts of euery kinde which they had gathered together And Pōticus Virunnius hath the very same words in all things except in the first Ponticus Virun Hist l. 4. number which he much abateth vndecim millia vaccarum This for thankes to their pretended Gods for the repulse the Britans had then giuen to Iulius Caesar Of the Ritches reuenewes state and Pompe of the Pagan cheife Druids Flamens and Archflamens I haue spoken somewhat before therefore all this welth and substance and with so ample addition now conuerted by King Lucius to the vse of the Christian Clergie as we must needs yeeld him the remembred Titles so he employing them and so lardge immunities to Manuscr Gallic antiq ann 180. Antiq. Glascon Manuscr Capgr in S. Ioseph S. Patricio such a Clergie as builded and dedicated Churches and prayed vnto Saints and for the deade said Masse and gaue such Supreamacie to Pope Eleutherius we may not say he was of the Protestant Profession which hath taken all from that holy Religion and left nothing but Persecution and Oppression vnto it 3. How in this time all the cheife Temples in all the Cities of Britaine together with their Reuencwes were turned into the Sees of Archbishops and Bishops is before related and in diuers of those Cities new Cathedrall Churches founded and erected as I haue exemplified before in Winchester Landaffe S. Martins Church in Canterburie and S. Peters in Cornhill in London Manuscript in S. Peters Church in Cornhill in London for which the auncient Manuscript there still or lately hanging with diuers other Antiquities thus pleadeth Lucius the first Christian King of this Land then called Britaine founded the first Church in London that is to say S. Peters S. Peter◠Church in Cornhill in Lōdon a Metropolitan See Church vpon Cornhill and he founded there an Archbishops See and made that Church the Metropolitan and cheife Church of this kingdome and so endured the space of 400. yeares and more vnto the comming of S. Augustine the Apostle of England the which was sent to this Land by S. Gregory the Doctour then was the Arbishops See and Pall remoued from the foresaid Church of S. Peter vpon Cornhill vnto Dereberman that now is called Canterbury and there it remayneth to this day Hollinsh Hist of Engl. l. 4. cap. 19. Hollinshed writeth that there were in his time Tables hanging in the Reuestry of S. Paules Church in London which affirme the same An other Protestant citing the first cited Table in S. Peters Church vpon Cornhill and inclining to that opinion and addeth Iocelyn of Furnes in his booke of Brittish Stowe Histor Romans in K. Lucius Bishops saith Thean was the first Archbishop of London in the time of Lucius who builded the said Church of S. Peter in a place called Cornhill in London by the ayde of Cyran cheife Butlar to King Lucius Godwin a Protestant Godwin Catal. of Bish. in London 1. Polid. Virgil. Angl. Histor l. 2. p. 41. Richard Vitus in Hist l. 5. Holins Hist of Engl. l. 4. cap. 19. Will. Harrison descr of Brit. p. 24. c. 9. Sulcar apud Vit. supr Selden Annal c. 6. Bishop hath allmost the same words though not citing any Authour in particular Others both Catholiks and Protestants affirme that the Church of S. Peter at westminster by London was then founded and vsed for the Cathedrall Church as some write There be that affirme saith a Protestant Historian how this Lucius should build the Church of S. Peter at Westminster They add further that Thomas likely Theonus mistaken Archbishop of London preached read and ministred the Sacraments there to such as made resort vnto him And of this opinion that this Church was then made or reedified for that I haue written before is Sulcardus a learned Monke of Westminster most likely to write the truth of that Church liuing in the time of S. Edward the Confessour and that it was the Cathedrall Church to London Both which may be true if we make the old Church of Westminster the Cathedrall Church vntill the other was builded not finished in the first Arbishops How it is probable that both S. Peters Church Westminster and in Cornhill were Archiepiscopall Churches in this time time but by his Successour Eluanus who builded the Library likely some part of S. Peters Church vpon Cornhill William Harrison a Protestant Antiquarie borne as he saith in London and so chalendging knowledge of the Antiquities there proueth this by sondry reasons and citeth William of Malmesbury for the same opinion And Polidor Virgil with many others saith the Cathedrall Church in London was then Templum ornatu opere magnificum a Church magnificent both for ornament and worke Which Stowe supr frō others Will. Harrison supr c. ◠Gildas l. de Excid conq Brit. we doe not finde of S. Peters Church vpon Cornhill 4. And the same Authour witnesseth that the like magnificent Churches were then founded at Yorke and Car-legion Londini Eboraci in vrbe Legionum templa ornatu opere magnifica condita sunt And much like vnto this we must speake of all Churches in Cities that were Episcopall and Cathedrall whether they were new founded or of Temples of Flamens conuerted to be such as also of all other Pagan Temples which then were changed into Christian Churches For allthough all those temples were not destroyed and vtterly ruinated but newly dedicated to Christ and his Saints as our Antiquaries haue proued before yet the superstitious and Idolatrous Altars where vpon their prophane and adhominable sacrifices were offered in them to their false Gods were vtterly ouerthrowne and left desolate and as S. Gildas the most auncient Brittish Historian with others testifie Christian Altars which were the place of Christian Sacrifice of the holy Masse wherein Christs holy body and blood were offered and therefore termed by him the Polidor Virgil. l. 2. Hist p. 41. seate of the heauenly sacrifice sedes caelestis sacrificij and the Altars whereon their first Primatiue Preists offered that most diuine Sacrifice which we commonly call Masse Sacerdotes inter altaria Sacrificantes and in respect thereof Galfr. Mon. Hist Brit. lib. 11. cap. 4. Gildas supr Stowe Hist an 542. Holinsh. Hist of Engl. l. 5. c. 15. Mat. West an 543. the cheifest of the immunities before remembred were granted to those sacred Altars in all Churches in this kingdome of Britaine from King Lucius time And the ordinary Churches which were vnder the Iurisdiction of so many Bishops in so lardge a kingdome could not be few especially if we consider the multitude of Gods the Britans worshipped when they were Pagans and the greate number of Temples
cōuerted to Christ to be directed by him in his ciuill Lawes had receaued an hallowed Crowne and warrāt and Limits of his kingdome from him was as carefull and sollicitous to haue all things now effected to be approued and confirmed by the same highest spirituall Papall Power and Authoritie which as he well knew by the Testimonies of diuers Popes holy Saints and Martyrs before as our Protestants haue acknowledged was instituted and ordained by Christ himselfe as a Rule and direction to all other members of his Catholike Church And therefore when it could otherwise be no Polecy or pleasure to our holy King to spare from hence so long a time the Legats he had so much desired no ease to them now old and weryed in Labors to trauaile to Rome and returne hither againe nor expedient for a new conuerted kingdome to want the Apostles and conuerters thereof so soone before it was perfectly setled in the Religion it had receaued by them but very dangerous to them all in respect of the Roman state so Ieleous and violent an enemy to diuers things now thus to be confirmed against their challendg and claime at that time for the kingdome either to haue incited or allowed that Iorney and confirmation or the Legats to haue vndertaken it with so much trouble hazard and perill had it bene either a needlesse or meere voluntarie and no necessarie busines was in so many and worthie parsons the greatest madnes could de deuised 2. And yet our Antiquities assuer vs our Ecclesiasticall state and affaires were thus confirmed and all things accompted as vncertaine vntill such confirmation was procured and obtayned The old Brittish Historie Virunnius Matthew of Westminster with many others both Manuscripts and printed Antiquaries Galfr. Monum Hist Reg. Brit. l. 4. c. 20. vlt. Pont. Vir. l. 4. in fine Matth. Westm an gratiae 186. Masnuscr Hist antiq in Luci. tell vs Beati Antistites Faganus Deruuianus Romam reuersi quae fecerant impetrauerunt à Papa beatissimo confirmari The blessed Bishops Faganus and Deruuianus returning againe to Rome obtayned to haue the things which they had done to be confirmed by the most blessed Pope Where we see that the Pope by petition and proofe made vnto him of the orderly and Religeous proceedings of his Legats in Britaine confirmed what they had done heare What that was in founding the Church of Christ in this kingdome I haue mentioned before all which was now confirmed by the Pope himselfe And if a generall confirmation will not confirme and conforme vs in this truth let vs resorte for the most questionable things to those particulars which cheife Protestants with others haue deliuered and warranted before out of our generally binding and receaued auncient Lawes and Pope Eleutherius owne writings in which we often finde Lucius to be adiudged King of Britaine and the kingdome of Britaine to be his kingdome And yet many Historians Italians Epist Pape Eleutherij supr leg S. Edwardi apud Plur. Authores Baron Tom. 2. Annal. in Eleut Hect. Boet. Scot. Hist l. 5. f. 83. Godwin Cōuers of Brit. p. 22. Scots English Catholiks and Protestants haue doubted thereof Baronius would haue him if any at all but a pety King Hector Boethius alloweth him but a King by courtesie Lucius Britonibus Caesaris beneuolentia authoritate imperitabat A Protestant Bishop thus disputeth it It is made a doubt and not without good cause whether euer there could be any such King as Lucius or no. In this very season that is appointed by our writers to the Reigne of Lucius the Romans possessed Britaine quietly as may appeare by all the Roman writers to wit during the times of M. Antoninus and Commodus and long after this Britaine was wholly subdued vnto the Romans and brought vnder the forme of a Prouince to wit in the time of Domitian as W. Malmesbury hath deliuered and amongst later writers two men of greate iudgment Baronius and Maister Camden which is partly confirmed by Tacitus deliuering that a great part of it was reduced into the forme of a Prouince as a foresaid in the time of Claudius These things being so how should a King haue any Gouernment heare Thus this Protestant Bishop and Antiquarie What force is in his allegations I haue sufficiently said for the honour of this kingdome in other places But in this case and question if we allowe him all for truth both he and we thereby are necessitated to allowe so much the greater prerogatiue and power to Pope Eleutherius the Pope of Rome to haue Authoritie in cases doubtfull or where a kingdome or true Heire is by violence oppressed to declare a true lawfull and vndoubted King as this Pope in this Act did by our King Lucius and this kingdome which with all others this Protestant Bishop himselfe acknowledgeth per consilium Regni vestri sume legem per illam Dei patientiâ vestrum Reges Britanniae Regnum Vicarius Dei Epist Eleutherij apud Godw. sup p. 30. 31. Matth. Parker Antiq. Brit. p. 5. Foxe to 1. Act. Guliel Lamb. in Legib. S. Edwardi Stow Hist in Eleuth Leges S. Edwardi cap. 17. apud Gul. Lamb. l. de Legib. Priscis f. 130. estis in Regno Gentes Regni Britanniae populi vestri sunt Where notwithstanding any clayme or Title the Romans at that time did or could make to Britaine or any part thereof King Lucius is by Pope Eleutherius openly pronounced and declared to be King of Britaine and all the people and Nations of Britaine to be his people and subiects And for further confirmation and proofe heareof he did expressely declare as our publike Lawes still witnesse that all this kingdome or I le of Britaine was his kingdome as also all the Ilands vnto Norway and Denmarke belonged to the Crowne of this his kingdome Vniuersa terra tota Insulae omnes vsque Norwegiam vsque Daciam petinent ad coronam regni eius And to secure King Lucius herein he sent him as King of the Britans an hallowed Crowne to weare as King of all these remembred Dominions Tales metas fines constituit imposuit coronae regni Dominus Eleutherius Papa sententia sua qui destinauit coronam benedictam Britanniae Christianitatem Deo inspirante Lucio Regi Britonum How this holy Pope did giue direction and instruction to this King about his Lawes I haue said before as also of the former more at lardge So likewise of the setling three Archbishops in the three named places with Bishops vnder them which was long before S. Eleutherius time decreed by other Popes and from the Apostles and so needed litle confirmation being by Apostolike Order long before instituted 3. Yet this being a cheife and principall thing in setling our Church affaires by the holy Legats it was by the same euidence as carefully and principally confirmed by this holy Pope and so was obserued throughout this kingdome vpon
Archbishop or Archbishops of London with their See Archbishops as had bene before their going againe to Rome or now were here to be setled and confirmed in those Sees with all such Rites and Ceremonyes as belonged to that highest calling in the Church of Britaine By vertue and power whereof they placed and confirmed in the See of London S. Thean one Protestant writer calleth him Thomas he builded the Iocelinus l. de Episc Brit. Goscelin Hist Eccl. c. de Episcopis Londin Harris M. S. Hist to 2. Will. Harris descrip of Britaine Stowe Histor in King Lucius Hollinsh hist of Engl. l. 4. c. 19. Godwin Catal. of Bish. London 1. Godwin Catal. supr in Yorke 1. Catal. Episcop Hierosol Nicephor Continuator Flor. Wigor Eusebius Hist Eccl. Harris Hist l. 2. Will. HarrisoÌ„ descript of Brit. c. 9. Church dedicated to S. Peter in Cornehill in London by the ayde of Cyran cheife Butler to King Lucius this some what draweth mee to their opinion before remembred which rather make his Cathedrall See at Westminster at the least vntill the other was builded and I haue sufficiently insinuated before from Antiquities that all the Metropolitane Churches were either changed from Archflamens Temples or newly builded at the chardges of our King and no subiect named Concerning Yorke a Protestant Bishop writeth The first Archbishop that euer Yorke had our Histories say was one named Sampson appointed by the foresaide King Lucius The veritie whereof I cannot but suspect in regard of the name For I finde not that the names of the old Hebrewes or Christian Saints were yet in vse Which reason of his is not true for euen in Hierusalem itselfe where S. Iames was made first Bishop he had his next Successors Simeon Iustus Zachaeus Tobias Beniamin Ioannes Matthias And in Britaine itselfe I haue proued before that we had S. Aristobulus and S. Timotheus and as some write one Aaron in this time which came with the holy Legats hither and soone after S. Aaron our holy Martyr vnder Dioclesian S. Stephen was shortly after Archbishop of London and by some the first of all was named Thomas And as vntrue it is that either our Historyes doe say there were onely foure Archbishops of Yorke in the Britans time Sampson Taurinus Bishop of Eureux Pyrannus and Tadiacus or that Sampson was the first Archbishop there for the first of the number many reckoÌ„ dyuers others and more and this Sampson could not possible be the first by his owne accompt The first Archbishops and Bishops of Yorke placing Taurinus there in the time of Constantius Chlorus 200. yeares before S. Sampson was Bishop there And by the accompt of the Brittish History and others S. Sampson which fledd hence into litle Britaine was the seuenth Archbishop of Yorke Pastor Eboracensis septimus in Armorico regno frequentabitur So readeth Matthew of Westminster and diuers others Matth. Westm An. 490. Sigeb Gemblacen Chronico 445. Galfr. Monum Hist l. 7. c. 3. Mat. Westm an 464. Radulph Niger apud Harris Manuscr Hist l. 2. c. 20. Will. Harridâ—scr of Britaine cap. 9. Wherefore I must rather harken to Radulphus Niger as M. Harris in his Manuscript History writeth to himselfe ad William Harrison a Protestant Antiquary and others who tell vs that S. Theodosius was made the first Archbishop of Yorke in this time of King Lucius So they coÌ„fidently affirme And if this Protestant Bishop could proue that S. Taurinus Bishop of Eureux was Archbishop of Yorke in Canstantius Chlorus time we shall finde 10. Archbishops there from this time 7. to S. Sampson whome he nameth the first but was long after and beside S. Taurinus Pyrannus and Thadeoceus but S. Taurinus of Eureux was not lyuing aboue an hundred yeares before Constantius Chlorus time 4. Maister Harrys saith Eadnochus a Martyr was the third Archbishop there and S. Teruanus the fourth The second fift and sixt he nameth not Trith l. de Scri. in Sedul Manus Hist Vit. S. Niniani Capgr in eod Bal. l. de Script cent 1. in Niniano Hector Boet. Hist Scotor l. 7. f. 119. 133. Trithemius calleth Hildebertus Maister to Sedulius an Archbishop so doe others Among these we may number Ninian sent by the Pope into those parts and exercising Archiepiscopall Power both among the Britans Scots and Picts which none but the Archbishop of Yorke could doe and the Country of Pictland neuer was an Archiepiscopall Prouince So I say of S. Teruanus whome as our Scottish Historians write S. Palladius the Popes Legate made Archbishop neither Pictland nor Scotland many hundred yeares after hauing any Archbishop but the Archbishop of Yorke And likely it is this is the same S. Teruanus whome Maister Harris onely numbreth among the Archbishops of Yorke not yeelding his reason or any Authour If there was any Taurinus or Sampson besides him that was the seuenth and went into Armoca they may be added to this number but I dare nor take vpon mee to set them in order as they succeeded How the Pope subiected all the Country now called Scotland to the Iurisdiction of this See I haue said before and now he confirmed the same making that Metropolitan the spirituall Superior of that Country in which then there were many Christians and by the testimony of Tertullian and others before this time that the Christian Religion was preached and planted there from Rome whether the temporall power of the Romans could not come did truely confirme that Tertullian Apol. S. Leâ— Serm. 1. de Natali Apost Petri Pauli saying of S. Leo speaking to Rome per sacram beati Petri sedem caput orbis effecta latiùs praesideres Religione diuina quam Dominatione terrena Thow being made the head of the worlde by the See of S. Peter rulest further by Diuine Religion then terreane DominioÌ„ These streights we haue passed in seeking to finde Archbishops of Caerlegion the first Archbishops of London and Yorke in King Lucius time and now comming to Caerlegion we fall vpon greater difficulties in this trauaile A Protestant Bishop and Antiquarie would make this way vnpassable when he saith we must accompt S. Dubritius the first Bishop Not that I deny any other to haue sate Godwin Catal. of Bish. in Landaffe 1. and S. Dauids 1. there before him but because he is the first whose name is remembred And it is probable he had no Predecessors because the memory of his Successors is so carefully preserued But as this mans Authoritie is so weeke to be rested vpon that it hath often before deceaued them which builded vpon it so his reason heare alledged is of as feeble streÌ„gth For the memory of the Successors haue bene so carelessely preserued by his owne confession after that he hauing cited two different Catalogues of their names onely aboue twenty in number concludeth in these termes against himselfe before of these forenamed Bishops vntill Harpesfeild hist in fine 7. saeculi Io. Bal. l.
primi Mensis vsque in 21. celebraretur And the first generall Councell of Nice a our Protestants confesse did approue this Decree of S. Victor In Niceno Concilio Victoris Decretum approbatum est Et cautum est vt Pascha die Dominico celebraretur and was heare receaued in our Britaine And this is manifest in that Decretall Epistle of Pope Victor receaued by Protestants before where he plainely saith that his Predecessors had commanded before him that which he did for keeping Easter Celebritatem sancti Paschae Die Dominico agi debere Praedecessores nostri iam statuerunt nos illud vobis eadem Die celebrari solemniter mandamus quia non decet vt membra à capite discrepent nec contraria gerant Where we see he calleth himselfe the head of the Patriarke and Clergie of Alexandria and them his members And giuing other Rules in that Epistle both about solemne Baptisme in the time of Easter and not soleÌ„ne in time of necessitie and not intermedling in Bishops causes without the allowance of the See Apostolike of Rome prouing it was so from the Apostles time confirming his Decree both by the words of Christ to S. Peter and the first Epistle of S. Clement which some haue questioned he vtterly forbiddeth any man to alter or gainesay these Decrees Haec vero statuta nulla debent improbitate conuelli nulla nouitate mutari quia alia est ratio causarum saecularium alia diuinarum Ea vos iudicare ad Apostolicam delatum est sedem quae praeter nostram vobis dâ—finire non licet Authoritatem id est Episcoporum causas Vnde ita constitutum liquet a tempore Apostolorum deinceps placuit vt accusatus vel iudicatus a Comprouincialibus in aliqua causa Episcópus licenter appellet adeat Apostolicae Sedis Pontificem qui aut per se out per Vicarios suos eius retractari negotium procuret Et dum iterato Iudicio Pontifex causam suam agit nullus alius in eius loco ponatur aut ordinetur Episcopus Quoniam quanquam a Comprouincialibus Episcopis accusati caâ—sam Pontificis scrutari liceat non tamen definiri incoâ—sâ—lto Romano Pontifice permissum est cum B. Petro Apostolo non ab alio quam ab ipso Mattâ— 16. dictum sit Domino Quaecunque ligaueris super terram erunt ligata in caelo quaecumque solueris super terram erunt soluta in caelo Et alibi in Institutis legitur Epist 1. ClemeÌ„t Apostolicis Si quis putauerit se a proprio Metropolitano grauari apud Patriarcham vel Primatem Diaeceseos aut penes vniuersalis Apostolicae Ecclesiae iudicetur sedem Nihil aliud est fratres talis praesumptio nisi Apostolorum suorumque successorum terminos trangredi eoruÌ„que Decreta violare Culpantur enim vt scriptum est fratres qui aliter circa Episcopos iudicare praesumunt quam Apostolicae Sedis Papae fieri placuerit Et quis est qui iudicat eum quem Dominus sibi huic sanctae Sedi reseruari voluit iudicandum And as this holy and learned Pope and Saint claymed and exercised that highest spirituall power and Iurisdiction ouer the Churches of Europe where he liued and Asia he tooke also vpon him the same supereminent superioritie ouer the Clergie and Churches of Afrike the other part of the world commanding them to peace and concorde and vnitie in Religion and either actually excommunicating or threatning excommunication Victor Epist ad Vniuersos Episcopos Africae Tom. 1. con apud Magdebur cent 2. vnto those that should disobey him in those commands perlatum est ad Sedem Apostolicam aliquos vestrum nocere fratres velle vt cadant decertare Similiter in Sacramentis discrepare ob id contentiones aemulationes inter vos fieri a quibus dissensionibus vos auertere in his concordare opem ferre vicissim mandamus nam si hoc agere citò neglexeritis vicissim reconciliari non studueritis ab Apostolicae Sedis totius Ecclesiae communione vos pelli non dubitetis where he expressely declareth his Authoritie as Pope of Rome to excommunicate the Bishops and Churches of Afrike as he had done to those of Asia both from the Apostolike Roman and Catholike Church of the whole worlde 3. Now for his Power ouer the Churches of Europe wherein his Apostolike Roman See was by all Antiquaries Catholiks and Protestants euer the onely cheife Apostolike Metropolitan Church it cannot be questioned when we shall finde how euen by Ambassadge and entreaty he sent Apostolike men into the furthest parts of this Iland to conuert it to Christ And Holinsh. Histor of Scotland p. 68. in K. Donaldus our Protestant Historians confesse of this holy Pope that being glad to encrease the faith of Christ through all parts of the world sent into Scotland such well disposed parsons as he thought most fitt for that purpose The Scottish Historians say he sent his Preachers to the vttermost parts of this Westerne and Europian parts Veremundus apud Hector Boeth idem l. 5. Scotor Hist prope finem of the world and the Barbarous Inhabitans learned Diuinitie of those Apostolike Preachers which he sent Incaepere nostri tum primum sacras colere litteras sacerdotibus praeceptoribus quos Victor Pontifex Maximus ad Christ dogma propalandam in extremam miserat Albionem This will sufficiently declare that the Primatiue Christian Britans and Scots which were conuerted to Christian Religion by these two renowned Popes and Saints S. Eleutherius and S. Victor which so clearely and earnestly declared and commanded the true Apostolicall obseruation of Easter and had receaued also the first generall Councell of Nice where the same was defined and published to the whole Christian world did not receaue their erroneous Paschall obseruance from their first Maisters and Instructers in Religion but by long later accidents and ignorant Misinformations Of Seuerus the Emperour whether he was discended of our Britans Race or other I shall more particular entreate when I shall bring him to continue long time and to die in Britaine Onely Method apud Mar Scot. l. 2. aetat 6. Marian. ib. an 203. in Seûero Martin Polon Supputat col 51. florent Wigorn. Chronic. an 189. vel 211. Matth. Westm an 195. Manuscript of S. Peters Church in Cornhill Matth. Westm an gratiae 201. heare I say that by common coÌ„sent he was a greate Persecutour of Christians as both our owne writers and others testifie and therevpon stiled the fift persecuting Emperour after Nero. Post Neronem Seuerus quintam Persecutionem in Christianos exicitaâ—it plurimique Sanctorum per diuersas Prouincias Martyrio coronantur Concerning our most Noble Protochristian King Lucius as we are come to Ioye of his Immortall glory and honour in heauen by his happy Translation from a transitory terrestriall to an eternall celestiall and neuer ceasing kingdome so we
and many most or allmost all our Kings in the meane time being Pagans the Christians heare were quiet for Religion by Antiquities The auncient Manuscript of Winchester saith that from the first planting of the faith in Britaine in the Antiquitat Manuscr Ecclesiae Wintonien time of King Lucius to the first yeare of Dioclesian an hundred yeares together ChristiaÌ„ ReligioÌ„ was quiet in peace the Religious men all that while liued quietly in their Monasteries Durauit Christianitas in Britannia a tempore Bed Eccl. Hist l. 1. c. 4. Fâ—orent Wigor Chron. An. 162. 184. Henr. Hunting Hist l. 1. in Marcus Anton. Verus Peruetus Antiq. Manuscr de primo statu Landau Eccles Matth. Parker l. de Antiq. Britan. Goscelin Hist Io. Bal. cent 1. de Script Brit. Godwin Conuers of Brit. Theater of great Brit. alij Gildas l. de Excid Conquest Brit. c. 7. vide licet a primo Anno Lucij Regis primi Britannorum Cristiani vsque ad primum Annum Dioclesiani Principis quieta in pace centum annis tamdiu Monachi Deo seruientes praedictum vetus Caenobium Wintoniense quiete inhabitabant S. Bede absolutely affirmeth of the Brittans that from the planting of the faith of Christ among them in the dayes of King Lucius they kept it vnuiolate and whole in quiet peace vntill the times of Dioclesian Susceptam fidem Britanni vsque in tempora Dioclesiani Principis inuiolatam integramque quieta in pace scruabant Florentius Wigorniensis hath the verie same words so hath Henry of Huntington The old Manuscript History of the first state of the Church of Landaffe iustifieth that the Brittans kept this their first faith sincere without any stayne of error vntill the Pelagian Herisie Quam Christianae Religionis fidem sine aliqua praui dogmatis macula sinceram conseruauerunt vsqueduÌ„ Pelagiana Haeresis orta est This is also the generall opinio of our Protestant Antiquaries Yet we must not make this so vniuersall a truth to thinke that all which receaued the Christian faith in those dayes of King Lucius did Religiously obserue the same and that all the Brittans without exception were Christians for we reade in S. Gildas whose Authoritie we may not easily reiect praecepta Christi licet ab Incolis tepidè suscepta sunt apud quo sdam tamen integrè alios minus vsque ad Persecutionem Dioclesiani Tyrani nouennem permansere Allthough the Precepts of Christ which the Britans receaued in the time of King Lucius were coldly entertained of the Inhabitants heare yet among some they remayned whole and with others not in such integritie vntill the Persecution of Dioclesian the Tirant 3. We shall finde hereafter many continuing heare in Britaine in Paganisime both of the Princes and people before Dioclesian his Persecution began in this or any other Nation Yet it will be remembred for euer to the eternall honour of those our Primatiue Christian Brittans that notwithstanding the vniuersall Inundation of licentious Paganisme which had reigned heare before the hazard of the disfriendship of the Idolatrous Roman Emperours and Senate then swaying allmost the knowne world and diuers Persecutions of Christians raging in that time and ciuill dissentions now further by the death of King Lucius falling out among our Brittans yet in all these tempests of calamities and afflictions they still without any interruption or corruption continued in their holy Christian Religion not onely secretly but with externall glory and splendor of Bishops Preists Religious men and women Churches Altars and their Ornaments as I haue before remembred And at this present when in morall and wordly vsuall proceedings nothing could haue bene more feared then a relapse to Idolatry by the death of so worthie and holy a gouernour as King Lucius a new zeale and deuotion was kindled in the harts of the Northren Brittanes and Scots in imitating the example of The Scots with their King Donaldus receaue the faith of Christ froÌ„ S. Victor Pope him and his happy Subiects in this kinde For at or presently after his death King Donald then reigning ouer the Scots receauing from Pope Victor as King Lucius before had done from Pope Eleutherius holy Preachers and Instructors receaued and publikly with his wife Nobles and Hector Boeth Scotor Hist l. 6. f. 89. other subiects professed the faith of Christ Talem dederat Regi Donaldo animum pacis Princeps Authour Christus Dominus quod verae pietati aspernato malorum Daemonum cultu sese Paulo ante addixerat Nam Seuero imperante Romanis apud Victorem Pontificem Maximum qui quintusdecimus post Petrum Ecclesiae praefuit per Legatos obtinuit vt viri Doctrina Religione insignes in Scotiam ab eo missi se cum liberis coniuge Christi nomen profitentes baptismate insignirent Regis exemplum Scotica Nobilitas sequuta auersata impietatem Christi Religionem complexa Sacro fonte est abluta Fuit annus ille quo Scoti adlumen verae pietatis Dei optimi maximi benignitate vocati sunt recepti ab eo qui primus fuit humanae salutis tertius supra ducentesimum Christ our Lord Prince and Authour of peace gaue such a minde to King Donald that contemninge the worship of wicked Deuills he addicted himselfe to true pietie For when Seuerus was Emperour of the Romans by his Ambassadors he obtained of Pope Victor the fifteenth after S. Peter Which ruled the Church that men renowned for Learning and Religion to be sent from him into Scotland that might baptize him with his children and wife professing Christ The Scottish Nobilitie following the example of their King forsaking impietie and embrasing the Religion of Christ was baptized This yeare wherin the Scots by the mercy of God allmightie were called and receaued to the light of true pietie was the third aboue two hundred from the first of mans Saluation Thus farre this Scottish Georg. Buchan Rer. Scoticar l. 4. c. Rege 27. Holinsh. Hist of Scotl. in K. Donald Historian from the Antiquities of that Nation to which their Protestant Writers doe also in substance consent as also the Protestant Antiquaries of England Among which one writeth in this manner King Donald in the dayes of the Emperour Seuerus sent a Messenger with letters vnto Pope Victor being the 15. in number as they say after S. Peter declaring vnto him that he was fully minded to receaue the Christian Religion and vtterly to forsake the superstitious seruice of the Heathnish Gods and therefore instantly required him to send some godly learned men to instruct him in the right beleife The Pope hearing this and being glad to encrease the faith of Christ through all parts of the world sent with all speed into Scotland such well disposed parsons as he thought most meete for that purpose who at their arriuall there did their endeuour in such diligent sort that not onely the King but also through his exaÌ„ple a greate number of the Nobilitie
reuisere And that holy The Bishops of ScotlaÌ„d euer truely consecrated as the Roman vse was Bishop together with Plechelmus which went with him was so Consecrated by the Pope according to that custome a custome so long since with that Nation that it seemeth to haue bene there kept and obserued from the time of the first Bishop there S. Ninian consecrated and sent thither by the Pope of Rome For S. Bede saith that this S. Plechelmus which was thus Consecrated at Rome with S. Wyro by the Pope was Bishop of Candida Casa S. Ninian his See both builded and founded by him Plechelmus in ea quae Candida Bed Hist Eccl. l. 5. c. 24. Capgrau in S. Ninian Manuscript Capgr supr in S. Wyrone Episcopo casa vocatur Episcopi Praesulatum tenet Which standeth in that I le or Peninsula where this custome was to send their elect Bishops to Rome to be CoÌ„secrated by the Pope Moris erat apud Incolas eiusdem Insulae Pastorem a se electum Romam manibus Apostolicis ordinandum dirigere Which is euident by the words immediately following ordinatumque sedem plebem reuisere That the person thus elect and sent to Rome to be CoÌ„secrated Bishop by the Pope should after his Consecration returne to his See and people of his Diocesse which must needs be this Scottish Iland where Candida Casa was whether S. Pecthelmus or Plechelmus returned after his Consecration at Rome and there held his Episcopall See as S. Bede witnesseth so this custome must needs be in that Scottish Iland And except our Scottish Histories before deceaue vs when they call Teruanus Archbishop who was Bishop heare by S. Palladius Pope Celestine his Legate his ordination all the Scots obserued or were bound to this custome So that of all people in the world we may not call The ChristiaÌ„ Scots truely obedient to the See of Rome the validitie of the Scottish Bishops Consecration into any question or enter into the least suspition of any willfull reuolte of that people from the Church of Rome Of Ignorance as in the Paschall obseruation by distance of place and troblesomenesse of times they may be accused of any willfull error or disobedience they cannot be condemned 5. Allthough I haue bene thus sparing vpon the remembred reasons to affirme that the Scottish Nation either in this greate Iland or any the out Ilands thereof had before this time of S. Victor his sending Preachers to conuert them receaued the faith of Christ yet I may be bold vpon better warrant to deliuer that generally for the most parte the Inhabitants of that parte now called Scotland whether Britans Picts or Scots did then or soone after receaue the Christian faith for the Britans of that Country we haue heard before that they were conuerted in the time of King Lucius by the Legats Manuscr Antiq. de primo statu Landau Eccles Antiq. Glaston tabul ligneis Fixae Guliel Malm. l. de Ant q. Caenobij Glaston Tertull. l. contr Iudaeòs c. 7. Magdeburg centr 2. cap. 2. Theat of greate Brit. l. 6. and Apostolike Preachers sent by Pope Eleutherius To passe ouer printed Authorities in all mens hands the old Manuscript of Landaffe saith that both King Lucius and the Nobles of Britaine the name to the whole Iland then were baptized Lucius totius Britanniae Primates Baptismum susceperunt The Antiquities of Glastenbury from old Annals of credit Tradunt bonae credulitatis Annales doe deliuer that the Legats of Pope Eleutherius did preach and baptize through all parts of Britaine huic praedicando baptizando Britanniae partes peragrantes William of Malmesbury in his Manuscript Historie of the Antiquitie of that place plainely teacheth that they baptized preached and trauailed throughout the whole Iland Baptizantes praedicantes vniuersam Insulam peragantes And Tertullian speaketh directly of the Britans when he saith Britannorum Romanis inaccessa loca That the Britans in those places whether the Romans could neuer come had receaued the faith of Christ which must needs be vnderstood of the Britans which were then in Albania now Scotland And I haue proued before that in the time of King Lucius Pope Eleutherius and his Legats heare did make all the Christians of that Northren part whatsoeuer they were Britans Picts or Scots Bishops Preists others of the Cleargie or Laitie subiect to the Archbishop of Yorke And the Scottish Antiquaries who pleade so much for their honour say that Pope Victor his Preists which he sent hither did not onely preach the faith of Christ vnto the vttermost parte of this Iland of Britaine or Albion but instructed the people in Learning Diuinitie Incaepere nostri tum primum sacras Hector Boeth Scot. Hist l. 5. f. 89. 90. colere literas Sacerdotibus praeceptoribus quos Victor Pont. Max. ad Christi dogma propalandum in extremam miserat Albionem And by these Apostolike men thus sent from Rome by Pope Victor many of the Picts also which inhabited in the North of Britaine were coÌ„uerted at this time or before in the CoÌ„uersion in the time of King Lucius for allthough S. Ninian which came hither about the end of the fourth hundred of yeares of Christ is commonly reputed the first Bishop especially Consecrated at Rome and expressely by the Pope sent to that Nation yet many of them were long time before conuerted to Christian Religion and finding no other generall conuersions heare in our primatiue Church but vnder Pope Eleutherius and Victor we must asscribe these Picts Christianitie to them or their Disciples 6. Christian Religion was so propagated among these Picts in the later end of this Age that the very women of that Nation were able in dispute to confownd the best Learned Pagans Among them there was one most renowned Hector Boeth Scotor Hist l. 6. f. 104. 105. Ann. Scotici ibidem Hollinsh Hist of Ireland Marcus Antonius de Dominis l. 2. de Repub. Christ c. 8. p. 277. 278. not onely by our Irish Scottish Brittish or English Antiquaries whether Catholiks or Protestants but by the auncient Greeke writers among whome Theodoret with others witnesseth that a Christian Pictish woman so with reasons and Miracles conuinced a King and Queene with many others in Ireland in the time of greate Constantine Emperour that a Bishop was sent to that Nation to perfect that she had so happily begun And we finde that longe before the comming of S. Ninian both the King namely Heirgustus and people of the Picts generally were conuerted Christians and at the comming of S. Regulus thither with the holy Reliks of S. Andrewe the Apostle entertained and reuerenced them with greate zeale and deuotion and built a Church in honour of S. Andrewe endowing it with greate Hector Boeth Scot. Hist l. 6. f. 108. 109. Hollins Hist of Scotland in Augusiaâ—us An. D. 369. Will. Harris descrip of Brit. c. 9. Will. Harrison supr c. 9. possessions and
Iul. Capitolin in Macrino Matth. Westm an 214. Flor. Wigorn. Chron. an 226. Marian. aetat 6. in Macrin Mart. Polon in Macrino Henr. Hunt Hist l. 1. Dio in Macrino Eusebius l. 6. c. 15. Henr. Hūt Hist l. 1. Matth. West An. 215. Martin Polon alij Marian. aetat 6. in Heliogabalo Florent Wigor Chron. an 229. 207. that name succeded in the See Apostolike of Rome And Bassianus being as before murthered Macrinus a Mauritanian or Moriscan by Nation with his sonne Diadumenus or by some Diadumenianus obtained the Empire but they were both slayne by their owne souldiers rebelling against them when they had bene Emperours but one yeare and two moneths After whome Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Heliogabalus or Elagabalus sonne of Bassianus Caracalla before spoken of was chosen Emperour by the Armie his Mother was named Soemiades or Semiamira the daughter of Mesa Sister to Iulia the Empresse the second wife of Seuerus and this Soemiades or Semiamides was Sister to that most renowned Christian Lady Mamea Mother to Alexander the Emperour Henry of Huntington and Florigerus asscribe 4. compleate yeares to the Empire of Heliogabalus adeptus imperium tenuit 4. annis Martinus alloweth him not fully so longe a Regiment Yet Marianus saith with Roman writers that he was Emperour 4. yeares and 8. Moneths Marcus Aurelius Heliogabalus Antonini Caracallae filius regnauit annis quatuor mēsibus 8. iuxta Historiam Romanam Florentius Wigorniensis hath the same words both for that continuance of his Empire and Authoritie of the Roman History affirming it that he was true and immediate next King of Britaine not onely during the time of his Empire but in that space also when Macrinus and his sonne Diadumenus were Emperours euen from the death of Antoninus Bassianus Caracalla his Father the vndoubted King of Britaine both by his Fathers and Mothers Title For allthough Martinus saith that Seuerinus sonne of Bassianus was Emperour with his Father Antonius Caracalla imperauit annis Martin Polon Supput An. 212. in Anton. Caracalla in Macrino Marc. Anton. alij Septem Seuerinus filius eius yet seeing this Authour who so writeth consenteth with all others that Macrinus immediately succeeded to Bassianus Caracalla and Heliogabalus to Macrinus he must needs to iustifie that his testimonie of Seuerinus being Emperour with Bassianus his Father say that this Seuerinus died with his Father or before or was the same sonne of Bassianus which others doe call Heliogabalus Marcus Antoninus and other names which Heliogabalus is stiled by in Histories 2. While these things were acted with the Romans the state of Britaine was also vnquiet and allthough Heliogabalus and his brother Seuerinus also if Bassianus had any such sonne was next true King of Britaine yet neither of them enioyed it For by all writers one named Carausius was King of Britaine not onely next after Bassianus but by diuers Authours some time also while he liued giuing an ouerthrowe either to Bassianus the Emperour or Matth. Westm an 286. rather some Lieutenant or generall of his of the same or like name heare in Britaine and so made himselfe King of Britaine After whome by our Brittish Historie and Ponticus Virunnius Asclepiodotus Duke of Cornwayle was made King deposing Alectus sent hither against Carausius with three Legions Galfr. Monum Hist lib. 5. cap. 4. Pont. Virun l. 5. Matth. Westm An. 292. 293. 294 Harding Cron. c. 56. 57. Galfrid Mon. l. 5. Pontic Virun l. 5. Hard. Chron. cap. 59. Matth. Westm 302. Catal. Reg. Brit. alij Matth. Westm Ann. 286. Will. Harris Descript of Brit. Hollinsh Hist of Engl. l. 4. c. 23. and as Matthew of Westminster and Harding write was King three yeares vntill Asclepiodotus deposed him Next to Asclepiodotus was King Coel Father to the most renowned Empresse S. Helena married to Cōstantius Emperour and Mother to Greate Constantine their sonne our most glorious King and Emperour after which time our History will not be so obscure and confused as now it is For as in the Succession of these I haue remembred there is question so concerning the time of their gouernement and their conuersation also whether it was Christian or otherwise it is not free from difficultie Antiquaries agree that Carausius was next King to Bassianus Therefore when Matthew of Westminster and some others would not haue Carausius to be King vntill about the 286. yeare of Christ it must needs be an error either in them their Scribes or Printers for it is euident before and all the Roman Writers proue that Bassianus was dead many yeares and diuers Emperours had succeeded longe before this time and Matthew of Westminster himselfe saith that Bassianus making warre against the Parthians was circumuented slaine of his Enemyes betweene Edessa and Carras in the yeare of Christ 213. Anno gratiae 213. Bassianus Imperator contra Parthos bellum mouens Matth. Westm An. 213. Otto Frising Chron. l. 3. c. 29. Floren. Wigorn. an 204. 226. Marian. aetat 6. an 218. in Caracallo inter Edessam Carras ab hostibus circumuentes occisus est which was aboue 70. yeares before he bringeth Carausius to attempt any thing for the Crowne of Britaine Florentius Wigorniēsis followeth the like accompt and setteth downe the very place of his death there to be Osdroena And Marianus affirmeth the same with the Roman Histories saying it was in the yeare of Christ 218. And both our old Brittish History and Ponticus Virunnius who giue the greatest light in this matter say plainely that Carausius liued in Bassianus time Bassianus regno potitur Eo tempore fuit in Britannia Inuenis quidam Galfrid Mon. Hist Reg. l. 5. c. 3. Pont. Virun l. 5. nomine Carausius And add further that Carausius ioyning with the Picts which Fulgenius had got together against Seuerus Father to Bassianus fought with his Army and ouerthrowing it was made King of Britaine Prodiderant Bassianum Picti quos dux Fulgenius matris suae frater in Britanniam conduxerant Nam dum ei auxiliari debuissent promissis donarijs Carausij corrupti in ipso praelio diuerterunt se a Bassiano in commilitones eius irruerunt Vnde stupefacti caeteri Galfr. Pontic supr cum ignorarent qui socij qui hostis ocius dilabuntur Victoria cessit Carausio Qui vt triumphum habuit regnique gubernaculum suscepit dedit Pictis locum mansionis in Albania vbi cum Britonibus mixti per sequens aeum manserunt And these Picts and Scots must needs be those of which the Scottish Historians write when they say Bassianus made peace with them and the Britans which followed Fulgenius and so went from hence to Rome Icto cum Scotis Pictis Hector Boeth Scotor Hist l. 6. fol. 88. 89. Galfr. Virun sup faedere dataque pace Fulgentio ijs qui cum eo coniurauerant Britonibus Romam cum patris vrnâ contendit And whereas the Brittish History and Virunnius say
Lucius sonne to S. Helen this world and now greate Saints in heauen by forsaking terreane and temporall dignities to purchase spirituall and eternall We finde she had foure children heare in Britaine by her husband Constantius three sonnes whereof Annal. Eccl. Cathedralis Lucion in Aquitania Ion. Bouchet de Poictiers Annales Aquitan l. 1. c. 5. will Harrison description of Brit. c. 9. p. 25. col 2. Constantine after surnamed the Greate was the youngest S. Lucius the second the name of the eldest slayne or dying when he was but Younge is not so readily preserued in Antiquities and one daughter S. Emerita This S. Lucius is he that was Apostle to diuers peoples and places in Germany mistaken by some through I dentitie of name and Nation Regall discent and nearenes in time for King Lucius our first Christian King Grandfather to this Prince Lucius as the Annals of Aquitayne where he long time liued a most penitentiall and holy life in a Monastery which he there founded called after his name hath testified before and he also tooke his name Lucius from him de son Bisageal Roy d' Angleterre And this Lineal discent of Queene Helen from King Lucius proximitie in blood to him and thereby true Titler to the crowne of Britaine may seeme to haue bene a stronge motiue for the Romans so easely and desirously to consent vnto and procure the vniting Mariadge betweene her and Constantius The Historie of this S. Lucius S. Helen her sonne is thus recorded in those Antiquities as the Antiquarie of Aquitane relateth it from thence I fynde by the foundation of the Church of Lucon Bouchet l. 1. c. 5. supr Annal. Eccl. Cathed Luc. al. or Lucius in Poycters contayned in an Hymne beginning gaude LucionuÌ„ the said Lucius killed his elder brother son frere aisné and for that cause was bannished the Country and to liue in perpetuall Religion à tenir ReligioÌ„ perpetuell and embarked on the sea in a ship with greate riches and Relicks with many Preists and deuoute parsons Who all landed at Lucon which is vpon the sea and there Lucius founded a faire Abbey and Church to the honour of our Lady which he called by his name Where he lyued with his Preists Religiously And it was after erected into à Bishops See An English Protestant Historian thus relateth the occasion of Will. Harrrison description of Britaine p. 25. c. 9 Prince Lucius his forsaking Britaine his natiue Country It hapned that Lucius by meanes of a quarell growne betweene him his elder brother either by a fray or by some other meanes did kill his said brother whereupon his Father exiled him out of Britaine and appointed him from thenceforth to remayne in Aqnitayne in France He became a Bishop in the Church of Christ He erected a place of prayer wherein to serue the liuing God and is still called euen to this our time after Lucion or Lucius the first Founder thereof and the originall beginner of any such house in those parts In this also he and diuers others of his friends continued their times in greate contemplation and prayer and from hence were Translated as occasion serued vnto sondry Ecclesiasticall promotions in the time of Constantine his brother So that euen by this short Narration it is now easie to see that Lucius the King and Lucius the sonne of Chlorus were distinct parsons He had expressely said before in his merginall notation Chlorus had three sonnes and a daughter by Helena And thus more at Lardge in his Relation hereof Constantius Chlorus being at the first matched with Helena and before she was put from him by the Royall power of Dioclesian he had by her three sonnes besides one daughter called Emerita of which the name of the first is perished the second was called Lucius and the third Constantine S. Luâ—ius conuerted the Curienses and there was Martyred that after was Emperour And he after addeth Hereunto Hermannus Schedelius addeth also how he went into Rhetia with Emerita his Sister and neare vnto the Citie Augusta conuerted the Curienses vnto the faith of Christ and there likewise being put to death in Castro Martis lieth buried in the same Towne where his Feast is holden vpon the third day of December as may readily be confirmed whereas the bones of our Lucius were to be seene at Glocester That Schedelius erreth not herin also the auncient monuments of the said Abbay whereof he was the originall beginner as I said doe yeeld sufficient testimony beside an Hime made in his commendation intituled gaude LucionuÌ„ c. The said Schedelius furthermore setteth downe that his sister was martyred in Trinecastle neare vnto the place where the said Lucion S. Emerita S. Lucius his Sister Martyred dwelled whereby it appeareth in like sorte that she was not sister to Lucius King of Britaine Hitherto this Protestant Antiquarie But whereas he would make Hartmannus Schedel a witnesse that this was S. Lucius sonne of Constantius and S. Helena he is deceaued therein for that Authour saith expressly it was S. Lucius our King that was coÌ„uerted by Pope Eleutherius meanes Lucius Anglorum Rex Coilli Regis filius but supposing as it hath bene allready Hartman Schedel Châ—onic Chronic. f. 115. p. 2. proued that it was S. Lucius sonne of Constantius and S. Helena he goeth further and saith he conuerted all Bauaria and Rhetia betweene the Alpes Totam Bauariam Rhetiam inter Alpes Christo acquisiuit 2. But there be many german Authours which this Protestant might haue better cited for this purpose as Gaspar Bruchius Sebastian Munster with others who with diuers other Writers they alledge asscribe as much to S. Lucius that preached to the Rhetians as Schedel doth and more and yet plainely proue this could not be S. Lucius our King of Britaine who as Munster truely saith neuer went out of Britaine but liued dyed and was buried heare Britanniae ille Rex qui circiter annum Domini 190. floruit patriam nequaquam exiens piè apud suos obdormiuit And to demonstrate it could be no other Sebastian MuÌ„st Cosmogr l. 3. c. 344. p. 735. S. Lucius a Britan but this sonne of Constantius and S. Helena he bringeth from the German Antiquities that the Lucius which preached there continued his preaching vntill the most bloody Persecution of Dioclesian Ad vsque Dioclesionam illam cruentissimam persecutionem Which this onely S. Lucius did and could doe the other King Lucius being dead before Dioclesian was borne by all Antiquities And to cleare it further he writeth that diuers affirme he was of the kingely Race of the Britans borne among them neuer mentioning that he was a King Lucium hunc aliqui regio stemmate apud Britannos Cap. 214. ortum natum esse affirmant Gaspar Bruchius also hath the very same words for the opinion of diuers writers That S. Lucius which preached to the Gaspar Bruch l. de Episcopâ—â—b Geâ—maniae Catal
Engl. l. 4. c. 27. Stowe Howes Hist Titul Romans in Coil Galfr. Mon. lib. 5. c. 6. Hist Reg. Bâ—â—t and pleased them in vexing and tormenting Christians heare in Britaine yet otherwise he was very vnpleasing to them per omnia Romanam potestatem turhauerat He troubled the Roman Power in all things and therefore they were glad of his death Ponticus Virunnius himselfe a Roman saith they did esteeme him their greate enemy and as for such an one reioyced of his death Romani gauisi sunt tanto hoste interfecto And this Ioy was not onely of particular Roman Persecutours but of the whole Senate which ruled cheifely in matters of Estate Cumque id Senatui nuntiatum est gauisi sunt propter Regis mortem quia per omnia Romanam potestatem turbauerat Therefore when our Antiquities assure vs that Coel obtinuit Regnum obtayned the kingdome Regni diademate se insigniuit And Regni diademate potitus was Crowned and as an old French Manuscript speaketh reigned ouer Britaine regna sur Bretaigne and was thus enabled and made powerable to redresse what he found offensiue and wicked being absolute King and ioyfully so receaued of the Britans as our Historian said before Wherefore Britains were all full glad and fain Of King Coilus that succoured all their pain And he himselfe taking exceptioÌ„ to Asclepiodotus next to his chardging him with vsurping the Crowne for being too barkward in resisting the RomaÌ„ persecutors would not now fall into the like error with him but as is proued already succoured all their paine vtterly ceased the PersecutioÌ„ against the ChristiaÌ„s of Britaine which were thus Ioyfull of his CoronatioÌ„ thereby releiued redeemed theÌ„ froÌ„ their afflictioÌ„s all his time Which both by our owne forreine HistoriaÌ„s Catholikes ProtestaÌ„ts coÌ„tinued to the end of this third huÌ„dred of yeares the RomaÌ„s hauing no power heare either to persecute ChristiaÌ„s or to any other purpose But as our Brittish other Histories testifie wholy lost their gouernmeÌ„t heare vntill after the death of King Coel or the coÌ„ming of CoÌ„staÌ„tius his sonne in Law hither the second time very litle before King Coel his death Recolentes damnum quod de amisso regno habuerant Our Scottish Historians say that King Coel vtterly destroyed both the Romans and all the Britans also which were their Fauourers and set forth a seuere Edict to search forth all Romans and Britans which had followed them heare and caused them to be punished and put to death and so with most ioyfull and generall applause of the people Nobles and others that the crowne of Britaine was thus restored to the true Heyre of their Regall blood was crowned King and Hector Boeth Scot. Hist l. 6. f. 101. he established the kingdome in the Brittish gouernmeÌ„t againe Coel Victor factus Asclepiodotum Romanum Legatum cum Romanis Praesidijs quibusdam Britanis Nobilibus Romanorum fautoribus interemit Confectoque praelio Britonibus caeteris in fidem receptis vt summa potestas ad regiam progeniem cui impie fuerat adempta aliquando rediret populus omnis laetis acclamationibus Patribus authoribus ipsum Coelem regnare iubet Ille Primoribus regni ac populo quod regnum sibi detulissent gratijs actis vt regnum sibi stabiliret atroci iubet Edicto Romanos qui eorum sequebantur partes quoscunque Britannici sanguinis viros perquiri inuentos varijs extingui supplicijs So that now so seuere a Lawe being made and executed both against the persecuting Romans and all such Britans as had ioyned with them against the Christian Inhabitants of this Nation and all this done by the Authoritie of our King and with the consent both of the Nobilitie and people Primoribus regni populo we must needs end the persecution of Christians heare with the beginning of King Coel his Reigne 5. And it could not be singular in this point if we should hold that King Coel was actually a Christian and not onely a friend to such for first all they which affirme him to haue bene Kinsman or Heyre to our first Christian King S. Lucius easily proue him a Christian for such a man would not leade either child or any Kinsman which by him had that Title to haue any other theÌ„ Christian education Secondly by the time of his age whether he was to King Lucius so neare or no we must needs confesse he liued most part of his life when Christianitie florished in this kingdome being an aged man before Dioclesian his PersecutioÌ„ began Thirdly our Historians say that his daughter S. Helen which had her education by his direction was instructed taught in the Christian faith in fide Catholica instructa at que edoÌ„cta A late writer thus speaketh of this with his older Author Helena was first instructed in the faith of Manuscript antiq in Vit. S. Helenae Capgr in ead Harris Hist l. 4. c. 4. Petr. de Natal l. 7. c. 73. Christ by Coil her father as Petrus de Natalibus saith And yet if we encline to this opinion we may easely answeare them that will obiect the publike vniuersall restitution of Christian Religion as building Churches Monasteries and such holy Foundations was not in his time For by the common opinion his reigne was short litle or not aboue foure yeares A great part whereof was spent in extirpating the Persecutors and the rest in preparation Matth. Westm an 302. Galfrid Mon. l. 5. Hist c. 6. Virun l. 5. Harding Chron. c. 60. f. 48. to resist a new Inuasion of the Romans not reigning in quiet and securitie from these troubles and feares the space of two moneths by any Writers And so after so great and terrible tempest of Persecution it was a wonderfull comfort and happines for the Brittish Christians to enter into such a calme and quiet to liue in securitie and rest freed from their former miseries vnder so renowned a King which was all he could doe or they expect in such times and circumstances THE ECCLESIASTICALL HISTORIE OF GREAT BRITAINE THE FOVRTH AGE THE ECCLESIASTICALL HISTORIE OF GREAT BRITAINE THE FOVRTH AGE THE FIRST CHAPTER OF THE GREATE PEACE AND QVIET THE Church of Britaine enioyed during the whole life and Reigne of Constantius Emperor and King heare in Britaine and Constantine his sonne by Sainct Helen was heare brought vp in Christian Religion 1. BEING now to enter into the History of the fourth hundreth of yeares we finde the estate of the world and Church of Christ as we left theÌ„ in the last Age S. Marcellinus Pope of Rome cheife Ruler in the house of God on earth the holy Cleargy and other Christians liuing in Persecution and Dioclesian MaximiniaÌ„ the persecuting Emperors in all places where they did or could ouersway afflicting them with most cruell miseries in Britaine lately redeemed from their bloody tyranny by King Coel still reigning heare we liued still in rest and quietnesse free both from
casus pericâ—lae quibus nullo modo possent emergere alij in morbos aut perturbationes corporis incognitas dilapsi simul ac in eo loco Deum precati essent calamitatibus quibus premebantur penitus liberati sunt Verum quo pacto ista quibus hominibus euencrint singillatim persequi longum esset 4. And to giue some notice to Posteritie what manner of diuine seruice was vsed then in these holy Churches to assuer vs it was the Sacrifice of Masse which was offered there on sacred Altares and they adorned with Crosses holy Images the same Authour testifieth that in this Miraculous Church there was an Altar for offering that blessed Sacrifice with Crosse or Crucifix placed vpon it Crucis effigies in altari illius Ecclesiae statui solet And that vsage and custome was confirmed by diuine Miracle testifiing that from the time of Christs suffering vpon the Crosse what soeuer things were done either for the common profit of mankind or the priuate of some either by holy Angels or godly and perfect men they were not rightly done without the vertue of the sauing Crosse Visio diuinitus oblata quandam Crucis effigiem quae in altari illius Ecclesiae statui solet ante oculos proposuit declarauitque manifesté res quaecunque a tempore quo Christus in Crucem actus erat velad vtilitatem humani generis communem vel ad priuatam quorundam seu a diuinis Angelis seu a pijs perfectis hominibus gestae fuerunt non sine virtute Crucis salutaris rectè gestas esse 5. Where we finde as greate honour and reuerence giuen to the Crosse from Christ as after And this Authour liuing in this fourth hundred of yeares neare the dayes of this Emperour testifieth with diuers others that in the Empire of Constantine and by his meanes the faith of Christ was not onely dilated throughout the Roman Empire but into the whole world Christi nomen Constantino rerum potiente in orbem vniuersum propagatum sit Christi Religio etiam ad ipsos Barbaros peruasit The Celts the vttermost people of the Gaules by the Ocean the Gothes and people bordering vpon them the Inhabitants by Ister Armenians Perfians and others were then conuerted to the faith of Christ The Kingdome of Ireland by some Writers not conuerted in the time of Constantine the Greate 6. Among the Countryes and Kingdomes then conuerted diuers doe reckoÌ„ the Kingdome of Ireland to haue bene one and by this meanes and manner as both Catholike and Protestant Historians relate it Ireland receaued the faith of Christ in the yeare 335. when as Fincomarc reigned in Scotland and this happened by meanes of a woman among the Picts who growing famuliar with the Queene in the yeare 322. preached the Christian faith vnto her the Queene wonne the King shewing him what had bene preached vnto her And the King disposed his people to receaue Edw. Grymston booke of Estat in Ireland pag. 36. §. 15. Baptisme about the yeare 335. The Irish haue liued since in the Romish Religion vntill the time of King Henry the eight when as the Protestants Religion began to be preached the which hath bene since in that Country planted by Queene Elizabeth and King Iames. Thus hath a late Protestant Writer An other saith the Hollinsh l. of the first Inhabitation of Irel. Scotish Chronicles auouch that in the dayes of their King Fincomarke who departed this life in the yeare of our Redemption 358. Ireland was conuerred to the faith by this meanes A woman of the Pictish blood chanced say they to serue in those dayes the Queene of Ireland which woman being a Christian herselfe first instructed her Mistresse in the faith and true points of Christianitie and the Queene her Husband who conuerred the whole Irish Nation Hector Boethius for the Scottish Historians relateth it in the same maÌ„ner Hiberniam Hect. Boeth Scot. Hist l. 6. fol. 104. vnde Scotis origo per id tempus Christi cultum accepisse ferunt res a modico principio orta vt Nostratium scribunt noÌ„nulli miraculis coaluit Mulier Christianâ— pietatis cultrix Pictici eam fuisse sanguinis Scotici asseuerunt Annales Reginae insinuata Christi nomen illi mirificè praedicauit reuerendumque effecit Regina Regem docuit Rex vniucrsum populum Fincomarco Rege Scotis adhuc imperante And Not Ireland but Iberia in Armenia rather conuerted at this time addeth that this was at the same time when so many other Nations remembred before receaued the Christian faith Complexi sunt eadem tempestate complures Orientis Occidentisque populi laetis animiâ— verae Religionis cultum But I dare not affirme this History to be true of the Irish Nation for either the Theodoret. Hist Eccles l. 1. cap. 24. Sozomen Eccles Hist lib. 2. cap. 6. Hist Tripart l. 3. c. 1. Russin Eccl. Hist l. 1. cap. 10 same or the very like is related by Theodoret Sozomen Russinus Cassiodorus and others as done in the Country of Iheria and the people Iberes then inhabiting Armenia by many degrees seperated from our Hibernia or Iberia Ierna or whatsoeuer name it euer had and onely resembling it in demonination Eodem Imperatore Constantino regnante fertur Iberes ad Christi fidem deductos esse Est haec quidem Gens barbara robusta bellicosissima Armeniam interiorem incolit versus Septentriones 7. And the same auncient Authour liuing neare that time and the dayes of S. Patrike the Apostle and Conuerter of our Irish Nation doth take vpon him particular knowledge being a meere stranger to our Hibernia that the Sozomen supr c. 6. Iberes then and so conuerted did worship Christ with greate deuotion from that to his time ad hunc modum Iberes fuere ad fidem in Christum inducti eum adhuc permagno studio colunt When the contrary is witnessed by all Writers of the adioyning Irish people And the Relators themselues of this opinion to be vnderstood of the Iland of Ireland confesse as much One of them a Protestant Hollinsh supr thus writeth euen from the Irish Antiquaries By the report of the Irish Writers themselues this should not seeme alltogether true for they affirme that their Country was rather still esteemed as one of the vnchristened Ilands till about the yeare 426. whilst Celestine the first of that name gouerned the See of Rome Who sent S. Palladius and after his death S. Patrike thither to conuert that people When it is euident both by Sozomen Theodoret and the Composer of the Tripart History all the whole Nation of Iberia was conuerted in the time of Constantine and preserued in the true saith long after the dayes of S. Celestine S. Palladius and S. Patrike the Irish Apostles Againe it is euident in the life of S. Patrike by all Antiquities that S. Patrike being a Christian in his youth was Manuscr antiq in vit S. Patricij Capgrau in
but was among other his singular gifts and graces in that time endowed with the spirit of Prophesie and thereby foretold vnto the Emperor Maximus heare in Britaine before his going from hence the vnhappy end he should come vnto Martinus Turanensis Antistes vir pietatis eximae Maximo praedixisse fertur quum in Britannia adhuc esset infelicissimum eius vitae exitum So Sabellic l. 9. Ennead 7. Polydor. Virgil. Angl. Hist l. 3. pag. 5. writeth Sabellicus and Polidor Virgil in the very same words and diuers others before them as the word fertur vsed by them both sufficiently proueth for which we may be bold to vse Seuerus Sulpitius who wrote saint Martins life liuing in that time and familiarly acquainted with him for witnesse for he speaking of the comming of saint Martine to Maximus at Treuers before his attempting any thing against Valentinian in Italy that he should at the first preuaile but shortly after be ouerthrowne and perish he addeth that saint Sulpitius Seuer l. de vit S. Martini cap. 23. Martine Prophesied this vnto Maximus longe before S. Martinus eidem Maximo longe ante praedixit futurum vt si ad Italiam pergeret bellum Valentini ano Imperatori inferens sciret se primo quidem impetu futurum esse Victorem sed paruo post tempore esse periturum quod quidem ita vidimus Which Prophesie vttered by saint Martine to Maximus longe before must needs be heare in Britaine for after such time as saint Martine was thus renowned Maximus was not longe time before this longe ante any where but in this our Britaine And were it not that the Historie of saint Martine vsually read in the Church on his Feast saith he was borne in Pannonia now called Austria we might giue no feeble reasons that he was borne in Pomonia one of our Ilands for heare we are sure he was heare was his Sister or Sisters heare many of his kindred heare many Churches and Monuments of honor founded in his name his name and memory farre more celebrated heare then in Pannonia now Austria or any other Nation whatsoeuer excepting France where he was longe time a most glorious and worthie Bishop Our Iland Pomonia neare those places in Britaine where saint Patrike the sonne of his Sister Couche and saint Ninian sonne of an other his Sister by the Scottish Antiquities was borne often entercourse being betweene our Britaine France at that time of our learned holy men with saint Hilary Tutor to saint Martine which we cannot by any warrant of Antiquitie affirme of Pannonia or Austria especially Sabaria now Lazius Abrah Ortelius de Ant. Regionib oppid alij in descrip Austriae named Stain or Stein in the furthest part thereof set downe for the place of his birth by Sulpitius Seuerus not allwayes holding the soundest opinion in all things and others afterward from him from his Authoritie 3. And except we should vtterly and very rashly deny the Authoritie of S. Bede William of Malmesbury the old Manuscript History of the life of saint Ninian and others whose Authoritie we may not neglect or alltogether condemne the best Scottish Antiquaries in relation of their owne auncient and Religious affaires and proceedings which would bring all our Antiquities into question we must needs say that saint Martine and his Sisters were in Veremund Hist Scot. Willelm ab Elphinscun Hect. Boeth Hist Scot. l. 7. Britaine heare longe before his seating himselfe in France for these Scottish Antiquaries tell vs that S. Martine was Vnkle to saint Ninian Ninianus Episcopus sanctitate Miraculis clarissimus ac Casae Candidae pontificalis in Galdia sedis primus Institutor aedem condidit diuo Martino suo Auunculo sacram And saint Ninian wonderfully allways honored saint Martine Sanctum Martinum miro M. S. Antiq. in vit S. Ninian Capgrau in eod Bed Hist Eccl. l. 3. c. 3. Henric. Hunting Hist l. 3. Gul. Malmes l. 3. de gest Pont. Angl. vit S. Nin. Capgrau in eod Pits Bal. cum alijs in Ninian Hect. Boeth Hist Scot. l. 6. f. 108. 109. Hollinsh Histor of Scotl. semper venerabatur affectu The Historians both of Scotland and England haue warranted vs sufficiently before that the Picts whose first Apostle was saint Ninian as saint Bede Henry of Huntington William of Malmesbury and others write Nima Natione Brito primus ibidem Christi praedicationem Euangelizauit did receaue the faith of Christ at the least in the time of their King Heirgustus when he and his people about the yeare of Christ 369. or 370. were conuerted Christians By which accompt if it be true that saint Ninian was borne of a Sister of saint Martine marryed to saint Ninian his Father heare a Noble and holy Christian Britaine this Sister of saint Martine must needs be marryed heare in Britaine before such time as S. Martine came first into France by Sulpitius Seuerus and other forreine Historians And it further inuincibly proueth that saint Ninian was in this Age many yeares brought vp at Rome made Bishop there and by the Pope sent Apostle vnto the Picts longe time sooner then the common opinion of Antiquaries assigneth to his comming hither And euident it is by all Histories that saint Martine dying as before S. Ninian Apostle of the Picts a Britan sonne of S. Martins Sister renowned in this time about the 400. yeare of Christ was liuing at Tours in France many yeares after saint Ninian the Apostle of the Picts was sent vnto them by the Pope from Rome and had conuerted them also Therefore I may boldly with the Scottish Histories accompt him among the holy and learned Fathers of this Age whereof he spent a greate parte in most holy and austeare conuersation of life preaching the Ghospell of Christ and conuerting Infidels to his true Religion allthough lyuing longe as the Secretaryes of this greate Saint say he suruiued vntill the next Age where I shall more remember him In this place I shall onely entreate of him and his proceedings as they belong vnto and were done in this fourth hundred of yeares 4. This holy man borne heare in Britaine in the Westerne part thereof where the Sea diuideth England and Scotland so now called his Father was Manuscr Ant. in vit S. Ninian Io. Capgrau in eodem a noble Christian and so great that the old Writer of his life writing presently after the Saxons setling there as his words of Brittish Kings there ruling within the memory of some then liuing quorundam memoria comprobatur doe sufficiētly proue calleth him a King Pater eius Rex fuit Religione Christianus His Mother as his Neighbouring Antiquaries of Scotland haue told vs was Sister to saint Martine not Couche the Mother of saint Patrike being greate difference M. S. Antiq. Laurent Surius Zachar. Lippol die 17. Martij in S. Patricio alij euen in time betweene their births and saint Patriks Mother
aetate in multa veneratione habitus 6. If we will informe our selues when and about what time he first preached and what was the doctrine in particular which he learned and was so soundly and perfectly instructed in at Rome brought from thence and preached heare we cannot better be secured in them but to finde out so neare as we can by Antiquities when the Picts heare were first conuerted to Christ because we haue bene assuredly warranted before that he was the first which preached Christ vnto them conuerted them to him and thereby is honored by the name of their Apostle His Religion which he professed and preached heare must needs be the same which by all Authors he learned at Rome and had his commission from the Pope there to publish it heare in The Picts heare conuerted in this Age and how soone Britaine the same which I haue before proued to be the knowne Christian Religion of the Popes and Church of Rome in those dayes Which did not in any point agree with that Protestant new learning which is now practised in England or any so termed Protestant Country which will more plainely appeare hereafter by the publikly professed Religion of all of this kingdome Britans Scots or Picts in those dayes I haue insinuated before that both Heirgustus King of the Picts and his Pictish people and subiects were Christians and publikly professed that Religion This is plainely and inuincibly proued both by our Scottish and English Historians as also that in the yeare of Christ Veremund Hist Scot. Hector Boeth Scot. Hist l. 6. Hollinsh Hist of Scotl. 369. fuit annus virginei partus nonus supra trecentesimum sexagesimum at what time Heirgistus King of the Picts was obseruantissimus a perfect most obseruant Christian Prince a sufficient signe and Argument that he was no young Scholler in the Schoole of Christ but had made greate progresse and much profited therein so likewise had all the Inhabitants of those Northren parts whether Picts Scots or Britans for the Historians of those places and others also assure vs that not onely Britans but Scots and Picts had many Monkes And first for Scots when Maximus had both conquered and quite bannished them from this Iland both Scottish and English Catholike and Protestant Historians thus speake of them The same time the Scottish Bishops and Preists Boeth supr Hollinsh Histor of Scotl. in Eugen. Bucan Histor Scot. l. 4. in Reg. 39. being bannished as well as the other sort of the Scottish people a number of their Mōks got them into the I le of Iona now called Colmkill where they erected a Monasterie for their owne habitation the worthinesse whereof hath bene right famous euen to these our dayes as that which was afterward endowed with many faire reuenewes by diuers of the Scottish Kings who had their burials there after the returne of the Scots into Albanie This was in the time of Maximus his being King heare and before he assumed the Empire by all Antiquaries This was in the yeare of Christ 379. Annus à Christi aduentu in carnem trecentesimus septuagesimus nonus Hect. Boeth l. 6. Histor Georg. Buchan Rer. Scot. l. 4. in Reg 39. And at that time as their Historians proue the Picts were generally and publikely instructed and professed Christians nec à Sacerdotibus Monachis qui tum in summo erant honore Picti etsi publicè Christianis institutis imbuti Iniuriam abstinuerunt And tenne yeares before this time both the Picts and their King were professed Christians as is shewed before and professed the same Religion in the most strict Order of Monkes and otherwise as the Roman Catholiks now doe Among those that were famous then in this Profession diuers of their names be these with honour preserued Inter nostros Damianus Presbyter Gelasius Thebaculus Merinatus Damiani Germanus Diaconi Nerius Hect. Boeth l. 6. Hist fol. 108. Boeth supr Buchan l. 4. in Reg. 35. Holinsh. Hist of Irel. Elusenius Merinus Machabaeus Syluerius Monachi And yet long before this time also in the dayes of King Fincomarke of Scotlād who reigned 47. yeares died multis virtutibus nobilis noble for many vertues in the yeare of Christ 358 Salutis humanae āno trecētesimo quinquagesimo octauo the Picts had receaued the faith of Christ before that time for whilst King Fincomarke reigned Fincomarco Rege Scotis adhuc Imperante by diuers Writers diuers of the Irish Annal. Scotic Hect. Boeth sup l. 6. fol. 104. Hollinsh Hist of Ireland people receaued the Lawe of Christ by meanes of a worthie Christian womā of the Picts as the Scottish other Histories testifie Per id tempus mulier Christianae pietatis cultrix Pictici eam fuisse sanguinis Scotici asseuerant Annales Regina insinuata Christi nomen illi mirifice praedicauit reuerendumque effecit This or the like memorable History I haue placed before in the dayes of Constantine the Greate for other parts by auncient Writers of greate authoritie But our Scottish and English Historians applying it to these parts and in the time of King Fincomarke must needs hold their Picts Conuersion very auncient in the time of King Fincomarke as I haue related making his Reigne 47. yeares Hect. Boeth l. 6. Scotor Hist fo 101. Hollinsh Histor of Scotl. in Finkomarke and yet affirming that he began to Reigne in the first yeare of the Empire of Constantine the Greate and was immediate Successor to King Crathlint which so religiously entertained our Brittish Christians flying to the Scots for succour and releife in the greate Persecution of Dioclesian before mentioned and this King Crathlint reigning but 24. yeares decessit Crathlintus postquam rei Scotieae praefuisset annos viginti quatuor Some say he Georg. Buchan l. 4. rer Scot. in Reg. 34. Hector Boeth Histor Scot. l. 6. f. 102. reigned not compleate 24. yeares but died in that last yeare nor compleate and Fincomarke was not onely by him choasen his Successor but by publike applause and acclamation presently accepted and crowned King Crathlinthus vicesimo quarto sui principatus anno fato concessit Quo anno Fincomarcus eius Patruelis Cormacho Crathlinti Patruo prognatus regno per manus morientis accepto cunctis conclamantibus vt faustum faelixque foret fatali Marmori progenitorum more insidens Rex ab omnibus est salutatus Therefore ioyning these receaued opinions of Historians together that the Picts were so timely and perfectly conuerted to the faith that in King Fincomarke his Reigne they had euen their women so learned and excellent in Christian Religion that they were so singularly powerable and honorable therein that the like instance is not founde in Histories and that S. Ninian by so many S. Ninian Apostle of the Picts brought vp at Rome in the times of S. Siluester Pope and Constantine the Greate Emperor Authorities was the first Apostle and Conuerter of that Nation we
Abbots and other Noble parsons Venit cum Episcopis Abbatibus alijs Magnatibus in montem Ambri vbi die Pentecostes coronam portauit And after Britaine was more decayed by these Pagans yet there were still both Bishops and Abbots heare and they buried the body of their King Aurelius Ambrosius in Regall manner Ipsum ab Episcopis Abbatibus regni more regio Sepultum And thus it was in all places and Prouinces of this Kingdome where these Pagans raiged most London Winchester Lincolne Yorke and others Prouinces quasque Prouincias Where they destroyed Churches and all holy Monuments Matth. Westm an 462. Martyred the Preists at the Altars burned holy Scripturs and defaced and obscured Martyrs Tombes They founde euery where Religious parsons which flying their Persecution hid themselues in Caues wooddy places and desart craggs of hiles and Mountains carring with them Saints Relicks Ecclesias Ecclesiastica omnia ad solum vsque destruebant sacerdotes iuxta altaria trucidabant sacras scripturas igne concremabant super Sanctorum Martyrum sepulturas cumulos terrae congerebant viri Religiosi qui ab hac clade euadere potuerunt speluncas nemorosa loca atque deserta montium collium praerupta Sanctorum secum Reliquias portantes petierunt And yet this raige of the Saxons Infidels was not so generall that it destroyed all such holy places for we finde in the Antiquities of Glastenbury that this house then remayned in some sorte and had both Monks and Abbot before and at S. Augustines comming hither and that in the yeare 601. with in three yeares of S. Augustine his comming into England and before either he or any of his Mission came into those parts Morgret was Abbot there and a Noble man called a King of Danmonia Deuonshire gaue to that Abbot and Abbey the land called Inswitrin to the old Church and one named Manuto was then Bishop there wrote and signed the Charter thus Guliel Malmes I. de Antiq. Caenobij Glaston writeth William of Malmesbury in his booke of the Antiquities of that Religeous house and for his Authoritie citeth an other so auncient Monument thereof that the name of the King or Noble man could not be expounded Capgr in Vit. S. Petroci Harpesfeld Hist Eccl. in fine 6. saecul Harpesfel Hist Eccl. saecul 10. Annal. Abingd apud euÌ„d Matth. Westm an 590. Stowe Howes Hist in South-Saxons an 514. Polidor Virgil. Hist l. 4. M. S. Antiq. Capgr in Vita S. Kebij Harris descript of Brit. c. 10. Quis iste Rex fuit scedulae vetustas negat scire S. Petrocke also was an Abbot in his Monastery by the Riuer of Seuerne with diuers Monkes when the Inhabitants were Pagans So likewise S. Sampson an Abbot or Eremite liued then in those parts as also an holy Bishop not named well knowne to S. Petrocke And both Catholike and Protestant Writers make King Cissa a Saxon the first Founder or Renewer of the Monastery of Abingdon and yet he died diuers yeares before the comming of S. Augustine hither and Iteanus was then Abbot there ouer diuers hundreds of Monkes by the Annals of that place S. Kebius also in this Age had many Monkes vnder his Rule liuing with them at diuers times in diuers places and among the rest at holy head or Cairkiby names giuen from him and his Religeous men as our Protestant Antiquaries themselues thus acknowledge à Promontory or Byland called holy heade which hath in time past bene named Cairkyby of Kyby à Monke that dwelled there 8. We may haue some apprehension of the greate deuotion of our Britans both men and women in this Age to chast and Monasticall life by the Example of S. Vrsula so many thousands of holy virgins with her by so many Authors before deuoted to that profession Which we may further confirme vnto vs by the example of the Britans which were then in that part of Britaine now called Walles more free from the Saxons Persecution whose Antiquities although not well preserued not naming many Archbishops of Carlegion before those I named and very fewe Bishops in that Prouince hauing many from their first receauing the faith of Christ yet they doe record and propose vnto vs many Monasteries and of greate name and honor as that of Bangor stiling it famatum collegium where Pelagius before his Heresies liued and by some was Abbot Praepositus there hauing 2100. Monkes in it and diuided as it were into 7. Monasteries euery of them hauing 300. Monkes Which Monastery as S. Bernard our Protestant Antiquaries and others write was the heade or cheife of Principall Monasteries and brought forth many thowsands of Monkes In vita Malachiae Hiberniensis Episcopi Bernardus Clareuallensis hunc Io. Bal. cent 1. in Pelag. Calpâ—ur Agric. CoÌ„gello Bed Hist Eccl. l. 2. c. 2. Galfrid Monum Histor Brit. l. 11. cap. 12. Matth. Westm an 603. Bed l. 2. c. 2. Galfrid Matth. Westm supr Galfr. Monum Hist Brit. l. 9. c. 12. l. 11. c. 1. Matth. Westm an 541. Galfr. Mon. Hist Brit. l. 11. c. 3. Manuscr antiq Capgr in vit S. Dauid Bal. ceÌ„t 1. in Dauid MeneuieÌ„ Pits aetat 6. in eod locum tradit primorum extitisse Monasteriorum caput multa generauisse Monachorum millia This was the most Noble Monastery of this Country nobilissimum Monasterium as S. Bede and others terme it and so iustly did hauing so many Monkes that being diuided into 7. coÌ„panies vnder 7. Priors vnder their cheife Abbate euery one had 300. or more MoÌ„kes and among them most learned men Viri doctissimi plures de nobilissimo Monasterio BaÌ„cornaburg lingua Anglorum Inter caeteras erat in ciuitate Bangor quaedam nobilissima Ecclesia in qua tantus fertur fuisse numerus MonachoruÌ„ vt cum in septem portionâ—s esset cum Praepositis sibi Prioribus Monasterium diuisum nulla harum portio minus quam trecentos Monachos haberet 9. There were in this time 2. famous Monasteries one of Monkes the other of Nunnes in Caerlegion in that of Nunnes dedicated to S. Iulius our Martir Queen Guenhumar wife to King Arthur did after receaue the habit of Religion Guenhumara Regina in Monasterio Iulij Martyris inter Moniales habitum Religionis suscepit There was an other in Meneuia called afterward S. Dauids fouÌ„ded by S. Patrike as it seemeth in this Age. For as our Brittish Writers say S. Patrike prophesying of S. Dauid before he was borne founded this Monastery in that place to beare his name By which S. Dauid liuing 146. yeares by all accompts and dying in the yeare 540. this Monastery was founded in this Age. There was also an other Monastery in these parts then called Mancani Monasterium or Depositi Monasterium 30. yeares and more before S. Dauids birth So there was a Monastery of Nunnes in North Wales the name of the place I doe not finde but Nonnita or Nominta was a Nunne there
Holinsh Hist of Scotl. in Maximus Britaine they had very many Monkes Religeous men of their owne Scottish people which by the common generall Edict of Maximus to bannish all Scots whatsoeuer Ecclesiasticall or temporall without exception or limitatioÌ„ were exiled with the rest they erected new Monasteries in the out Ilands Among which one aboue the rest in the Hebrides Ilands in the I le of Iona was most renowned both for holy Monkes and Nunnes where the common funerall place was of the Scottish Kings There was an other such Monastery in the I le of Mona where S. Briget euen by our Protestant Antiquaries Io. Bal. cent 1. in Brigida Lagmési Hector Boeth Scotor Hist l. 9. Capgr in S. Brigida with three other Virgins at one time became Nunnes being professed by Machillas then Bishop of Soder or Soter this was when she was but 14. yeares olde Brigida sanctissima virgo decimo quarto anno vix superato ad Sodorensem Episcopum in Monam Iusulam paternis fortunis quae amplissimae erant contemptis aufugit precibus non sine lachrimis petens vt perpetuae virginitati Pontificia authoritate addiceretur Which time being compared with that of her life being very old at her death and that she had bene first buried in Mona and her body translated to Dune in Ireland in the yeare 518. must needs proue vnto vs that there was a Religeous house in Mona in this Age. 12. And not onely in Mona Iona and the Hebrides Ilands but in other out Ilands and places these Scotish Monkes made aboad and had Cels or Monasteries in this time For our Scotish Historians deliuering vnto vs how they were all by Maximus bannished with the other Scots out of the Country now called Scotland confesse also that there came but a part allthough a greate part for the nearnes and conuenieÌ„cy of those Ilands into the Hebrides Veremund Hect. Boeth l. 6. Scot. Hist Georg. Buchan Rer. Scoticar l. 4. in Rege 39. Quorum magna pars in Hebrides delata The others then must needs haue other resting places which the Antiquaries of Scotland euen Protestants confesse saying that the Scottish Preists and Monkes then held in greate honor reuerence were dispersed into all Countries rounde about and many of them came into Iona Neâ— Ã Sacerdotibus Monachis qui tum in summo erant honore Picti si publicè Christianis institutis imbuti Iniuriam abstinuerunt Illi vero profugi cum in omnes circumcirca Regiones dispergerentur multi in Ionam Aebudarum vnam deuenerunt atque ibi in Caenobium collecti magâ—am suae sanctitatis eruditionis â—amam ad Posteros transmiserunt Some of these Scots went into Ireland in Hiberniam from whome came the Irish Monkes so famous afterward and some of our Brittish Monkes also preached there in this time as I haue proued of S. Carantocus called by the Irish Cernath before And when in the beginning of the next Age the Scots came into this Iland againe the Monkes of Iona and Mona continuing there still there came so many Scottish Monkes inâ—o the part called Scotland in the time of Fergusius their King the second of that name from their places of Bannishment in so greate a number Veremund Hect. Boeth Scotor Hist l. 7. by the Scottish Writers that their King Fergusius founded and endowed for them being a vertuous Prince many Cels or Monasteries Restituit Fergusius templa dirutâ—â—â—ut populi defectu neglecta sacris ministris ad Dei cultum sacerdâ—tijâ— donatis Qui â—â—ularant Monachos reduâ—es mira charitate amplexus vt popuâ—um vera imâ—uâ—râ—nt â—ietate structis ad id patrio ritu Cellulis quibusdam ad vitae neâ—â—ssariâ— praeâ—â—â—s donâ—uit Where besides the Preists and their Churches we see many Religeous houses founded and endowed for the exiled Monkes returning in the begining of the next Age. Not vnprobable but diuers of these Boeth supr Georg. Buchan l. 4. 5. Hollinsh Hist of Scotl. in Fergusio 2. Monkes came with him from Scandia and Denmarke where he was borne and whether the Scotish Monkes with others fledd in the time of Maximus and other adiacent Contries and Ilands they then being dispersed into all parts about this Kingdome in omnes circumcirca Regiones And yet at the time of this dispersion of the Scotish Monkes the Brittish Monkes with their Cells and Monasteries were in quiet in the Country now termed Scotland as I haue proued before and were many 13. The same is euident of the Religeous people of the Pictish Nation now being Christians the exilement by Maximus onely extending to the Scots Among these some about saint Andrewes were famous One had bene the Palace of the Kings of Picts and at the comming of saint Regulus thither with the Reliks of saint Andrew the Apostle Heirgustus their King conuerted it to a Church or Monastery Heirgustus Regium Palatium amplis structuris vti ea patiebatur aetas ornataÌ„ diuo Andreae Regulo ac Sacerdotibus ibidem deinceps optimo Maximo Deo famulaturis liberè erogauit An other Monastery was that which the same King founded neare to the same place Struxit haud procul à palatio sacram aedem diuo Apostolo dicatam And furnished them both with pretious Ornaments and holy Vessels of gold and syluer Ornauit id templum donarijs amplissimis Pateris Cyphis Calicibus Peluibus Lauacris ex argeÌ„to auroque ac alia pretiosa supellectili in sacrorum vsum quaesita Sacerdotibus ad diuina perpetuò exequenda ibidem constitutis A third Monastery was founded there or very neare the same place either in this Age or the beginning of the next by our renowned Brittish Abbot saint Manuscr Antiq. in vit S. Cadoci Capgr in eod Cadocus after Bishop and Martyr who going one Pilgrimage to the Reliks of saint Andrew in Scotland stayed preaching there 7. yeares and founded a Monastery I haue spoken of saint Gudwal and his 180. Monks before who founded diuers Monasteries heare in this Age. THE XXIX CHAPTER OF CERTAINE HERETICKS AND HERESIES the Trimothian and Pelagian Britaine in this time 1. BVT as Britaine had many glorious Saints and Martyrs in this Age so it wanted not some Heretiks to disturbe the peace and quietnes of Christs Church both in this and other Nations Timotheus the name giuen to the Timotheani Heretiks was as Sigebert with others writeth of this kingdome held that the Diuine Nature in Christ was changed into his Human Nature and by a shew of Continency and Religion deluded many In Britannia Timotheus quidam Continentiae Religionis imagine multis illudeÌ„s eos in errorem suae Haeresis induxit dicens Christum verum quidem Deum verum hominem de Virgine Maria natum fuisse sed mentiens dicendo quod Diuina Natura conuersa sit in HumanaÌ„ Naturam The Collectors of our auncient Writers affirme that our Country man Leporius Agricola did write a
receaued the faith from one of the 12. Apostles 39. 4. Protestants confesse that onely either saint Peter saint â—aule or saint Simon preached here 41. 1. Protestants deny all priority of power amongst the Apostles 43. 1. Protestants grante Bishops to haue succeeded the Apostles both in doctrine and Episcapall power 40. 6. Protestants arguments to weake to bring saint Paule into Britaine 140. 3. c. The Protestant English Theater Writers much ouerseene in diuers thinges of Historie 204. 5. ProtestaÌ„ts errors CoÌ„cerning the Ambassadors of King Lucius 257. 6. Publius Suetonius vtterly destroied the Druids in the I le of Anglesey 239. 6. or 234. 6. S. Pudens by birth a Sabinete 55. 3. S. Pudens a Municeps of Rome 165. 4. S. Pudens not borne when saint Peter came to Rome 55. 3. S. Pudens house in Rome fell vnto him by his wife Claudia 55. 2. S. Pudens a soldiar for the Romans 159. 9. S. Pudens husband to our Brittish Lady Claudia 154. 2. S. Pudens compelled Martiall to correct his Epigrams 156. 6. S. Pudens neuer came into Britaine or neere it 158. 9. S. Pudens neuer preached any where 158. 9. S. Pudens reported to haue died in Cappadocia 154. 2. S. Pudens either returned from Cappadocia or else his body was brought from thence to Rome 154. 2. S. Pudentiana baptised and instructed in the faith 224. 2. S. Pudentianas pietie 160. 10. 224. 2. S. Pudentianas charity towards Christians 199. 6. S. Pudentiana entertained during the Persecution 96. persons in her house 160. 10. S. Pudentiana erected an Altar in her house 224. 2. S. Pudentiana made a Font in her house 225. 2. Sainct Pudentiana redeemed many slaues ib. She set them at liberty after Baptisme ib. S. Pudentianas Chruch the auncients Title of Cardinals in Rome 199. 6. S. Pudentiana died the first of sainct Claudias Children 224. 2. S. Pudentiana buried by her Father sainct Pudens 225. 2. Puritans denie euen the Apostles to haue bene coÌ„secrated Bishops 92. 1. R. S. Regulus a holy Abbot in Achaia 587. 2. S. Regulus sent by Constantine to worshippe sainct Andrews Reliques 588. 2. S. Regulus admonished from heaueÌ„ to carry some of those Relikes into Britaine ib. S. Regulus his safe arriuall in Britaine 588. 3. S. Regulus entertainment by King Heirgustus ib. S. Regulus obtained Heirgustus Palace for a Monastery ib. What Religion is 243. 3. The Religion taught in Britaine by the Apostolike men sent by Pope Alexander 199. 7. Religion not changed in Britaine at least vntill the comming of S. Augustinâ— euen according to Protestants 103. 2. Religion in Britaine kept from any staine of error vntill the Pelagian Heresie 351. 2. Christian Religion not brought into Britaine by the onely temporall swaye of the King 241. 1. Religious florishing Estate in Britaine in King Lucius time 422. 1. Religious greatly esteemed in Britaino 601. 6. Relikes honoured 325. 4. 588. 2. c. Restitutus Archbishop of London subscribed to the Counceil of Arles 482. 1. Restitutus without authority affirmed by a Protestant to haue married 484. 4. Rinoldus killed his brother Melianus 389. 5. Rinoldus sought to murder his nephew Melorus 390. 5. Rinoldus laboreth for the Bishops consent thereto ib. Rinoldus maimeth him and lastly killeth him ib. Rinoldus his miserable death ib. Rome horribly afflicted for almost 300. yeares and why 16. 6. Rome the Mother of all other Churches 53. 6. Christs extraordinary loue to the City of Rome 19. 2. The Roman Church hath Power ouer all other Churches 186. 2. The same deriued not from the Apostles but from Christ himselfe ib. The Roman Church acknowledged to be our Mother Church by King Iames. 251. 6. The Romans vsed to bring vp at Rome the Britan chiefe Nobility and why 2. 2. The RomaÌ„ people striue who should first honour Christ as God 15. 5. Many Romans goe into Iury to be instructed in the faith 19. 2. Romans did not intermedle with the Britans in Matters of Religion 164. 3. The Romans accustomed to make those Emperours Gods who lefte a Successour behind them 370. 2. The Roman Law against such as were vnmarried 488. 7. S. S. Sabinus consecrated by sainct Peter Primat of France and Archbishop of Sens. 65. 4. The Sacraments validity 65. 10. A sacrifice offered at London for the repulse of Iulius Cesar 305. 2. Saintes bodies translated 349. 6. c. Saintes make intercession for the liuing 381. 9. or 391. 9. Salii superstitious Priests of Mars 220. 2. S. Saluine probably borne in Britaine 198. 6. S. Saluine the third Bishop of Verdune in Loraine ib. S. Sampson Archbishop of Yorke 217. 7. S. Sampson not the first Archbishop of Yorke but the seuenth 318. 3. S. Sampson consecrated in a vision and by whome 98. 10. S. Sampson consecrated afterwardes with externall rites 99. 10. S. Sampson preached in Britaine and when 217. 7. Sanctuaries violated 309. 8. S. Saturnine saint Peters Disciple first Bishop of Tholose 64. 2. Saturninus an Arian excommunicated 563. 2. S. Sauinian and Potentian easely conuerted the people about Charters Orleons c. and why 10. 2. The Saxons destroyed Churches and Monasteries 601. 7. c. The SaxoÌ„s cruelty towardes Priests and others 602. 7. Schollers of Cambrige conuerted and conuerting others 203. 4. c. Many other learned Schollers of Britaine conuerted 206. 8. Scota King Pharaos daughter 11. 5. Scota driuen out of Egipt ib. Scotland called Valentia from Valentinian 188. 3. More concerning the name of Scotland 29. 7. Scotland subiect to the Arch-bishop of Yorke 283. 4. Scotland had aunciently many Monasteries 601. 11. Scots deduce their name from Scota King Pharaos daughter 11. 5. The Scots originall 355. 1. All Scots banished out of their CouÌ„try by Maximus 356. 2. When the Scots came first into Britaine and where they then liued 354. 1. c. The Scots not seated in Britaine vntill the departing of Maximus 335. 4. The auncient Scots the same people with the old inhabitants of some of the maritimate parts of Spaine 28. 6. The Scots receaued not the faith of Christ vntill the time of Pope Victor 335. 4. 352. 3. Scots in some sense more auncient Christians then Britans 125. 2. The Scots called Churches Celles and why 429. 1. The Scots accustomed to send their Bishops vnto Rome to be consecrated 358. 4. The Christian Scots truely obedient to the See of Rome 358. 4. Scripture will not make an Infidell a good Christian without a Preacher or Interpreter 158. 8. Scripture receaued here in King Lucius time in the Latin tongue with the same Canon of Bookes which the Roman Church now vseth 339. 4. S. Sebastian martyred 416. 4. Sedulius v. Caelius The Senat refused the consecration of Christ and why 14. 3. c. The Senat puts out an Edict against Christians 13. 5. The Senat could make no Decree against the Priuat worshipping of Christ 15. 6. The Senat most horribly afflicted for the space of almost 300. yeares why 16. 6. The Senat neuer disinabled
holy Pope sent a Legate to our King in Britaine to exhort him to Christian Religion and the benefite thereof Traian commaunding that Christians should not be persecuted 1. S Anacletus hauing gloriously ended his dayes by Martyrdome Martin Pol. in Euarist Damasus in eodem vit S. Euaristi in Breuiar Rom. 26. die Oct. Matth. West an gratiae 111. Martin Pol. in Euaristo an 112. Plin. l. 10. Epist 97. Epist Traiani ad Plin. apud euÌ„deÌ„l 10. Epist 98. Tertullian Apol. Matth. Westm an 107. Martin Pol. in Traiano Mar. Scot. l. 2. aetat 6. in Traian Martin Polon supr in or about the 111. yeare of Christ Traiane still continuing his Empire and Coillus King in Britaine S. Euaristus borne of a Iewe by Father called Iudas in the Citie of Bethlem succeeded him in the Papall dignitie and continued therein 9. yeares and 3. Moneths Some say 10. moneths and 2. dayes Matthew of Westminster giueth him 10. yeares Martinus saith 13. yeares 7. moneths 3. dayes In his dayes the Church of Christ enioyed more quiet then it had done in his Predecessours time For Traiane the persecuting Emperour being moued with many and forcible motiues did not onely mitigate the Persecution so much as he could but vtterly forbad any at all to be vsed First vpon the letters of Plinius the second his Lieutenant or Prefect in Bithinia of the greate number of Christians there their feruour and zeale in their Religion their Innocency and pietie of life and Inoffensiuenes to the Roman Empyre and lawes in other respects he so farre mitigated the former rigour of Persecution that he commanded no enquiry should be made to call them into question And some be of opinion that although much Persecution was vsed in his time yet it was by the instigation of his Substituts more then his desire Traianus non perse sed per suos Consiliarios tertiam Christianis iussit inferri Persecutionem And this is further Traiane the Emperour a fauourer of Christians in Britaine and all places confirmed by Suidas an auncient Greeke writer who doth insinuate so much and plainely witnesseth that vpon the letters of information from Tiberianus Prefect in Palestina how the number of Christians was so greate and their desire of Martyrdome so much that he was not able to putt all to death which voluntary offered them selues to dye for that cause Whereupon Traiane Suidas in vitis Caesarum in Traiano the Emperour sent expresse commandement to all his Prefects in all places that they should not persecute Christians any longer Traianus Christianis aliquid induciarum concessit Nam qui illis temporibus à Romanis Magistratus redimebant ad demerendos Imperatores varijs Christianos supplicijs afficiebant adeo vt Tiberianus qui primae Palestinorum genti praeerat ad eum retulerit se non parem esse Christianis occidendis qui vltrò supplicia appeterent Vnde Traianus omnibus Praefectis mandauit ne supplicijs eos afficerent Whereupon we haue warrant sufficient to hold that this Mandate of the Emperour which was so generall that it was to all his Prefects omnibus Praefectis was sent also in to Britaine and Nennius Hist M. S. in Mults exemplan an t so farre extended itselfe which is with aduantage confirmed by our auncient Brittish Historian Nennius in many Manuscript Exemplars where he doth assure vs that the RomaÌ„ Eâ—perour which was when S. Euaristus was Pope was onely Traiane who did not onely forbid Persecution in Britaine but sent a solemne Ambassadge hither missa Legatione ab Imperatore Romanorum that they which would might be baptized and professe Christian Religion 2. And that S. Euaristus then Pope making religeous vse of this lenitie of the Emperour and his fauour to Christians did write and send to our King heare Coillus at that time and Nobles of Britaine to receaue the Christian Gildas NeÌ„nius writt how longe before K. Lucius S. Euaristus Pope sent a Legat to the King of Britaine to persuade him to the Christian faith faith and so there came a double Ambassadge from Rome hither then about that busines one from the Pope exhorting and an other from the Emperour permitting it Missa Legatione ab Imperatore Romanorum Papa Romano Euaristo Gildas also as our Protestants terme that Authour in his Manuscript History in two distincts Libraries in Cambridge giueth the same testimonie of S. Euaristus Pope his sending hither at this time and differeth from Nennius onely in this that whereas Nennius hath told vs that the Ambassadge was sent hither by the Roman Emperour and the Pope of Rome Euaristus Gildas saith it was sent from the Roman Emperours and Euaristus Pope of Rome Missa Legatione ab Imperatoribus Romanorum à Papa Romano Euaristo Which more confirmeth this matter for howsoeuer we will take these Gildas hist in Bibliotheca public Cantabrigiae in Collegâ—o S. Benedicti Emperours of the Romans eyther for the cheife Emperours as commonly they are vnderstood or the cheife Rulers vnder them in the Roman Empyre as he seemeth some time to accept that worde and the word Imperator properly signifying a Ruler will beare it in some sence it cannot haue a proper and literall reference such as these worthie Authours would vse to the time of King Lucius though there was such a sending after in his dayes by like men and meanes which is made plaine by their ioyning of S. Euaristus with them who dyed in the time of King Coillus Father to King Lucius by all accomps and by common computation before King Lucius was borne and by their rekening which giue the soonest life to King Lucius which is Matthew of Westminster saying he was borne in the yeare of Grace 115. WheÌ„ Matth. Westm an gratiae 115. he was a childe sixe yeares old at the most his Father liuing and reigning King when neyther Emperour nor Pope would write or send to him about such busines and the words of Suidas are plaine before the Emperours commande in these affaires was to his Prefects omnibus Praefectis mandauit such as his Father King Coillus and Iulius Agricola were then in Britaine And allthough in the same places where Gildas Nennius speake of these Messadges from the Pope Euaristus and Emperour they write also of King Lucius and his Nobles conuersion this can be no Argument that they sent to King Lucius but his Father Coillus for allthough they mention both those things neare together after their breife manner of writing they must make them two distinct matters and neuer say that the messadge was sent to King Lucius neither could they so haue done if the time and other circumstances would haue giuen allowance thereunto for they which write of King Lucius his Nobles and Countrie 's Conuersion doe write also how he wrote for and entreated it by suppliant letters to Pope Eleutherius Secondly both these being learned Britans and the best writers they had and knowing aswell as any