sight The Blind man answer'd I believe in Jesus Christ whom thou Preachest and beg that I may be Baptiz'd Whereupon the Holy man with his Hands making the Sign of the Cross upon the Blind-man's Eyes he immediately receiv'd his Sight And casting away the Staves which had help'd him in walking he gave Thanks to God and St. Richard by whom he had been Enlightned As for the Woman when she saw the Miracle she likewise was Cnoverted so as St. Richard perceiving her Faith took her by the Hand whereupon she rose up streight and walking cry'd out with a loud voice There is only one most high God who by his good Servant hath made me whole At these Acclamations of the Woman the greatest part of the City met together and attending to the Holy Bishops Preaching were in short time Converted God by him working many Miracles so as the said Converts having broken down all their Idols were Baptiz'd by him Not long after which follow'd the Apparition of St. Michael to the People of Siponto who commanded them to Erect a Chappel there to his Name This they signified to their Bishop Laurentius and He to Pope Gelasius desiring his advice what was to be done His Answer was That being will'd by the Blessed Arch-Angel a Church should forthwith be built and that it should be perform'd by the Holy Bishops Laurentius of Siponto Sabinus of Cannusium Pelagius of Salapia Roger of Caunae and Richard of Andria Upon this the two Holy Bishops last mention'd took their Journey to Siponto on foot with daily Fasting toylsom Labours and incommodity from the burning heat of the Sun which incommodity upon their Prayers was miraculously remedied by the flying of a mighty Eagle over their Heads which shadow'd them during their whole Journey At their Arrival they perform'd what they came for as we may read in the publick Office of that Church The Death of this Holy Bishop is Commemorated in the Martyrology yearly on the 9th of April In the year of Grace 494. A third Noble German came into Britain Nam'd Cerdic a man of a High Spirit and Noble Descent as proceeding from the Stock of Woden Hearing of two Kingdoms already Erected in Britain he resolv'd to venture for a share in his Country-mens Atchievements For that purpose with his Son Cenric and five Ships he landed at a place after call'd Cerdic-shore and the same day was met by multitudes of Britains who Fought with him The Saxons having rang'd their Forces in order stood immoveable before their Ships The Britains boldly set upon them and then retir'd but were not pursu'd by the Enemy for they were resolv'd not to quit their place The Fight continu'd the Britains sometimes Charging then retiring 'till night sever'd them and after the Britains perceiving the fierceness of those new come Strangers departed yet so that neither side could boast of Victory only this advantage the Saxons had that they took possession of their Enemies Shore and by little and little enlarg'd their Conquests along the Sea Coasts Their landing was in the Province of the Iceni comprehending Suffolk and Norfolk but there they settled not for marching through the Island they came into the Western parts where in time they Erected the new and Powerful Kingdom of the West Saxons The Island thus dismembred by Barbarous Enemies yet sustain'd greater Damage by Civil Dissentions rais'd by Pascentius a Son of the late King Vortigern who after the Death of his Father perceiving the Minds of the Britains inclin'd to Ambrosius fled into Germany where he remain'd several years endeavouring to gather Forces sufficient to restore him to the Throne of his Ancestors at length about the year 496. he came with a Powerful and well furnish'd Army and landed in the Northern parts of the Island with intent to revenge his own and his Fathers injuries upon Ambrosius Upon news hereof Ambrosius marches speedily to meet him they came to a Battle wherein Pascentius was overcome and forc'd to fly into the Country of the Scots where he recruited his Army and return'd once more to try his Fortune against the Britains But hearing that Ambrosius lay sick at Winchester he thought it better to work his revenge by Treason then open force Therefore by Gifts and Promises he hir'd a certain Saxon call'd Eopa to fain himself a Physitian and a Britain who under this feign'd shew and with a pretence of great Piety and Affection to the King being admitted mingled Poison in a Potion administred to him of which Ambrosius presently dy'd in the 31th year of his Reign But Pascentius did not long enjoy the fruits of his Treason For Vterpendragon Brother to the dead Ambrosius and General of his Armies marching against Pascentius obtain'd a Signal Victory against him and in a Battle slew him and his Captains that came with him The year following Vter came to Winchester and calling an Assembly of the Clergy and People of the Kingdom took upon him the Crown of Britain which is said to have been set upon his Head by the Holy Bishop Dubritius Vter then calling to mind a great Comet which had appear'd the year before darting sorth only one Beam at the end whereof was seen a Globe of Fire shap'd like a Dragon out of whose Mouth proceeded two Beams one reaching to Gaul and the other shooting towards Ireland which ended in seven less Beams For this reason he commanded two Dragons to be made of Gold like to that which had appear'd one of them he gave in Oblation to the Church in Winchester the other he carried with him placing it in every Combat in his Ensign and from that time he was call'd in the British Language Vtherpendragon And hence it is that to this day our Kings in their War-like Expeditions carry the like Ensign Vter had no sooner put on his Crown but he was forc'd to exchange it for a Head-piece for Esca the Successor of Hengist and his Son Octa attended with a mighty Army of Saxons Invaded the Northern Provinces of Britain and destroy'd all the Munitions between Albany and York At last when they attempted the Siege of the City of Alcluid Vterpendragon came upon them with all the strength of the Country and enter'd Battle against them The Saxons manfully resisted and in the end compell'd the Britains to fly as far as a Mountain call'd Danet which they seiz'd upon as a place of refuge being so dismay'd that they scarce knew what they did but at last they resolv'd upon a prudent Exploit which was Courageously to set upon the Enemies by night This Design they executed Prosperously for the Saxons being thus unexpectedly invaded scarce endur'd any Combat at all but were utterly routed and Esca and Octa were taken Prisoners whom the King carried with him to London where he caus'd them to be kept safe About this time Arthur became of ripe Age. The year of Grace 500. in our Ecclesiastical Monuments is remarkable for the Death of St. Cadoc the
on her Hengist commands a Magnificent Feast to be provided for the Entertainment of his newly arriv'd Soldiers to which the King is Invited He appoints his Daughter to perform the Office of Cup-bearer to the King that he might surfeit his Eyes with her Beauty The design took effect for the King being a Slave to Beauty was presently wounded with the Gracefulness of the Maids looks and the Elegancy of her Gestures nourishing in his mind a hope to enjoy her Without delay he demands her for his Wife The Crafty Father pretends such a Marriage would be too mean for so great a Prince but with great importunity yields his unwilling willing consent to reward which and for a Dowry to his Daughter the King gives him the whole Province of Kent some writers say This Feast and Marriage were Celebrated at Thong-Castle where Rowena was instructed by her Father to Drink a Health to Vortigern after the German manner However certain it is that besides the infinite Damage to the Kingdom by Alienating so considerable a Member as Kent so convenient for the harbouring of new Forces this Marriage was in a high degree Pernicious because the King had another Wife and for that being a Christian he had joyn'd himself to a Pagan Idolatress Presently after this unhappy Marriage the Voyage and Martyrdom of St. Vrsula and her Companions happ'ned whose Heroical Constancy might help to wipe out that stain which the Lust of this King had cast upon the Nation Hengist having thus Prostituted his Daughter to the King who Prostituted his Country to Hengist the Saxons began to swell with ambitious Thoughts and knowing the Nation generaily dis-approv'd the Kings Marriage and cooled in Affection and Duty to him began to pick quarrels with him and contemn'd him for his Vices They therefore sought occasions of War against the Britains whom God had ordain'd to be punish'd for their Crimes so that Hengist boldly requir'd of his Son-in-Law the King a more Plentiful supply of Provisions otherwise he would renounce the League between them and lay waste the whole Island which Threats were presently attended with dismall Effects For the Saxons entring a League with the Picts gather'd an innumerable Army which without resistance spoil'd the whole Country Thus a flame kindled by the hands of these Pagans prov'd a just revenge of the Crimes of this Nation which Crimes were the less Pardonable because committed by those who profess'd themselves the People of the True God No wonder was it that the Saxons met with so little resistance seeing the Kings Marriage with an Infidel Lady his Divorce from his Lawful Queen and the delivering up so considerable a part of his Kingdom to Strangers had rais'd high Discontents against him among his Subjects However by common consent they besought him to take Pity on his Country ready to Perish at least not to neglect his Faith and the Church of God in danger to be destroy'd by Heathen Miscreants which if it should happen by his default and that the Diabolical Worship of Idols should prevail against Gods true Religion it would be punish'd by his own and his Peoples Eternal Misery The Bishops and Clergy repeated these Admonitions to him but all in vain wherefore Vortigern became deserted of all his Subjects and the Nobility by unanimous consent rais'd into his Throne his Son Vortimer No writers affirm that Vortigern was Depos'd but Deserted by his Subjects as a Prince given up to his Pleasures and therefore incapable to resist the Ambitious Designs of Hengist against whom the whole Nation was resolv'd to joyn all their Forces to expel him out of the Kingdom Vortimer was an earnest Incendiary of the War against these Saxons being resolv'd to endure their Boldness and Ambition no longer And for this reason most of the Britains follow'd him not that the Nobles depriv'd Vortigern of his Royal Authority or Created Vortimer King as a late Calvinistical Writer insinuates However this Change could not but work Divisions in the Kingdom for Vortigern for the space of sixteen years having had possession of the Kingdom could not want some Adherents to take his part so as those Divisions could not but give too great advantage to the Progress of the Ambitious Saxons Vortimer being thus exalted either as Associate with his Father in the Throne or as General of the British Forces hasten'd to give proof of his Country-mens good advice in their Election of him and taking notice of the Craft and Ambition of the Saxons study'd how to drive them out of the Nation vehemently urging his Father to attempt it so that an Army was soon rais'd this happ'ned the seventh year after their first entrance Great preparations were made on both sides at last they came to a Battle which was fought in the Fields of Eglestirpe now call'd Alesford a Town in Kent wash'd by the River Medway On the Britains side were three chief Captains who led each a third part of the Army Ambrosius Aurelianus led the first Division Vortimer the second and Catigern a younger Brother of Vortimer led the third The Saxon Army was Conducted by Hengist and Horsa In the beginning of the Battle Horsa set upon the Army of Catigern with such Vigour that it was disperss'd like Dust before the Wind and Catigern the Kings Son was slain but his Brother Vortimer a Prince of admirable Courage falling side-ways into Horsa's Squadrons routed them and kill'd Horsa the most Valorous of the Saxons the remainder of his Forces fled to Hengist who then was Fighting with Invincible Courage against Ambrosius so as the whole weight of the Combate lay upon Hengist who being Assaulted and brought into great straits by the Accession of Vortimer's Forces after he had a good while sustain'd the impression of the whole British Army was at last overcome and compell'd to fly which he had never done before Yet this Victory cost the Britains dear for great numbers of them were slain nay some Authors affirm That Hengist obtain'd the Victory The Body of Horsa was Buried at a place not far from the Battle in memory of him call'd Horstead Catigern's Body is suppos'd to have been Buried at Aylsford by the Saxons call'd Eglesford by the Britains Saisseneag-Haibail because the Saxons were there overcome To testifie which Victory there still remain four great Stones standing upright after the manner of Stonehenge in Wiltshire which from Catigern are vulgarly and imperfectly call'd Keith-cotyhouse Horsa thus dead the Saxons exalted Hengist to the Title of the King of Kent The same year he is reported to have Fought three Battles against the Britains but being unable to resist the Valour of Vortimer he was forc'd to retire into the Isle of Thanet where he was daily Assaulted with British Ships At last the Saxons leaving their Wives and Children in Thanet return'd to Germany to call in greater Forces The year after dy'd the Glorious King Vortimer the fourth year after he was assum'd to the Participation of
his Eyes and say a Prayer or Benediction on them But receiving no benefit thereby David said to him Father command me not to look you in the face for ten years are past since I studied the Scriptures with you and in all that time I never had the boldness to look you in the face Paulens admiring his Humility said Since it is so it will suffice if by touching mine Eyes thou pronounce a Benediction on them Presently therefore as soon as he had touch'd them Sight was restor'd to them The same year wherein the Synod of Brevi was Celebrated Cerdic began the Kingdom of the West-Saxons That is saith Huntingdon in the seventy first year after the first coming of the Saxons in the reign of the Emperour Justin the Elder This Cerdic is said to be Crown'd with Pagan Ceremonies at Winchester in a place which once had been the Church of the true God but which these Barbarous Heathens had chang'd into a Temple of Dagon after they had slain all the Monks who serv'd God there The raising of this new Kingdom disproves the Fictions of Geffrey of Monmouth concerning the great and frequent Victories of King Arthur in these days It is likely to be more true which Huntingdon expresly declares namely That this year a terrible Battle was fought between Cerdic and the Britains and that on both sides the Captains Fought Magnanimously till Even but then the Saxons got the Victory which would have been more Bloody to the Britains had not the darkness hind'red the Pursuit After this the Fame of Cerdic and his Son Kenric was largely spread through the whole land and from that day began the Kingdom of the West-Saxons which having swallow'd all the other Principalities remains to our times Many Battles are said to have been Fought between King Arthur and this Cerdic wherein sometimes one sometimes the other had the better But at last King Arthur grew weary and contenting himself with an Oath of Fidelity from Cerdic gave him the Provinces of Hampshire and Somerset Some Authors affirm a League to have been made between them wherein a special Priviledge was provided for Cornwall to be permitted upon an Annual Tribute the free exercise of Christian Religion Which Indulgence seems to be prov'd by the great number of Saints which in those and the following times flourish'd in that Province whereas scarce any can be found in other parts of Britain subject to the Saxons And in truth it is very like that great multitudes of Britains flying from the fury of the Saxons betook themselves to Cornwal and Wales as places most distant and more defenceable and where they might expect better Conditions and more advantage of resisting their new Masters then in other parts for no doubt this Kingdom of the West-Saxons was made up of more Provinces than Hampshire or Somerset so that Cerdic had good footing in Devonshire Dorsetshire Barkshire and Wiltshire to which shortly after was added the Isle of Wight bestow'd by Cerdic on his late arriv'd Kinsmen Stuffa and Whitgar who destroy'd the British Inhabitants there at Whitgarburg so call'd from Whitgar but now contractedly Caresburg While Cerdic was busie in establishing his new Kingdom in the year 520. Colgrin Baldulf and Cheldric whom King Arthur had lately subdu'd at York and forc'd to abjure the land returning landed at Totness from whence passing through Cerdic's Dominions they came to the City of Bath and Besieg'd it King Arthur hearing thereof caus'd the Hostages which they had left to be Hang'd and gathering a mighty Army came to raise the Seige where the Armies being joyn'd he calling on the Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary whose Image he wore over his Armour slew great numbers of his Enemies and amongst the rest Colgrin and his Brother Baldulf which Cheldric perceiving fled and was pursu'd by Cador the Duke of Cornwall to the Isle of Thanet and there slain by him the rest being forc'd to yield King Arthur as may be remembred obtain'd a Battle before he was King near Bath at the Mountain Badonicus now this is likely to be another defeat given by King Arthur to the Saxons and the City of Bath being in the utmost extremity West-ward of Cerdic's Kingdom it might at this time have been in the possession of the Britains As for King Arthur's invoking the assistance of our Blessed Lady in the Fight it was a Devotion generally practic'd by the Church in this Age. For two years before there having been Assembled two Councels in the East one at Jerusalem and the other at Constantinople the Synod at Jerusalem wrote to the Bishops of the other Councel thus We beseech you most Holy Bishops to Pray with us to our Lord for these things for the Necessities of Gods Priests ought to be common make your Supplications likewise with us to the most Holy and Glorious Virgin Mary Mother of God that she would intercede for the Peace of the Catholick Church and for the Victory and long Life of our most Excellent and Pious Emperour The like practice we find else-where of which many Examples may be given The next year King Arthur was call'd into the Northern parts to assist Prince Howel who three years before was come out of Little Britain to his Aid and was now Besieg'd by the Picts and Scots in the City call'd Acluid wherein he lay Sick. Upon King Arthur's approach the Enemies retir'd to a place call'd Mureif whither he pursu'd them but they escaping by night fled to a Lake call'd Lumoney Whereupon King Arthur gathering many Ships together encompass'd the Island and in 15 days brought them to such extreme Famine that many thousands of them Perish'd In which utmost danger the Bishops of that Region came Barefoot to the King with Tears beseeching him To take pitty of that miserable People and to give them some small portion of that Country to inhabit under the yoak of perpetual Servitude The King thus mollify'd with the Tears of the Bishops pardon'd his Enemies and granted their request Hence it is that some Writers ground the subjection of Scotland to the Crown of Brittain and particularly Walsingham but certainly better grounds may be found of it than this Whereas it is said that certain Pictish and Scotish Bishops were Supplicants to this King for their Distress'd Countrymen it hath been already demonstrated that the Province of the Picts where the City of Acluid is seated had many years before receiv'd the Christian Faith by the Preaching of St. Ninianus but who were his Successors is hard to conjecture In the Annals of Ireland mention is made of a certain Bishop call'd Nennion who is said to have flourish'd in Britain about the year 520. and to have had his seat in a place call'd the great Monastery This man probably was the Successor of St. Ninianus and that great Monastery the same with Candida Casa where the Monument of that Apostolick Bishop was which by reason of frequent Miracles wrought there invited great
Instability of Worldly Greatness and Power in the person of the hitherto Prosperous King of the West-Saxons Ceaulin who after all his Conquests was at last overcome in Fight and expell'd his Kingdom and Life also for such was the general hatred all men bare to him that they unanimously conspir'd his destruction A Battle was fought between him on the one side and the Saxons and Britains on the other side in Wiltshire at a place call'd Wansdike fabulously reported to have been made by the Devil upon a Wednesday taking its Name from Woden or Mercury the Saxon Idol The cause of raising this Rampire seems to be the separation of the Kingdom of the Mercians from the West-Saxons Near to this is seated a Village call'd Wadensbury and here Ceaulin Fighting this Battle was utterly broken and soon after dy'd After his death Cealric his Brothers Son possess'd the Kingdom of the West-Saxons but being much inferior in Courage to his Predecessors did not inherit that extent of Power which Ceaulin had exercis'd over the other Saxon Princes This opportunity was not omitted by Ethelbert King of Kent and next in Power to Ceaulin who without much hazard obtain'd the Preheminence by means whereof a freer way was open'd to communicate Christian Truths to several Provinces of the Kingdom after they were embrac'd by Ethelbert as they soon were St. Gregory in the third year after he was Pope by his Wisdom and Authority restor'd the Churches of Ireland to Catholick Unity from which they had been separated by a quarrel about the tria Capitula spoken of before His Epistle unto them concerning that subject is extant by which they received full satisfaction For presently after several of their Bishops and other Devout persons undertook Pilgrimages to Rome to express their Duty to the Supreme Bishop There is another Epistle of the same Holy Pope in Answer to certain doubts and questions which the Irish had propos'd to him touching the Rites and manner of Baptism But however the state of the Irish Churches then was the Churches of Britain are declar'd at this time free from any stain either of Schism or Errour in Doctrine In the year of Grace 593. Edelric King of the Northumbrians dy'd whom succeeded Ethelsred the Cruel At first he vigorously defended his own Dominions then unjustly invaded the bounds of others and every where sought occasions of exalting his Glory Many Combats were undertaken by him Prudently and executed Gallantly for neither would he be restrain'd by Sloth nor by his Courage prick'd on to Temerity about the same time Redwald came to the Kingdom of the East-Angles But fatal indeed was this year in the Death of our Saxon Princes for Crida King or Duke of the Mercians now ended his Life to whom succeeded his Son Wibba or Wippa who after also dying left behind him three Illustrious Children Penda Kenwalch and Sexburga About this time also dy'd the Virtuous Queen Ingoberga and received the reward of her Patience she had been the Wife of Childebert King of the Franks and after she had brought him a Daughter was unworthily repudiated by him Her memory challenges a place in this History as mother to Birtha or Aldiberga Queen of Kent whose Piety and Endeavours so dispos'd the Heart of her Husband Ethelbert that it was ready to receive the Christian Faith soon after tender'd unto him by St. Augustine And now behold the Sun of Righteousness began to dawn again upon this Island and dispel the Darkness of Idolatry and Superstition and now a new Seed of Pious Princes Immaculate Virgins Devout Monks and a multitude of all sorts excelling in Christian Virtues and Graces sprung up and flourish'd to the admiration of all Christian Churches so as even from this time our Island began to deserve the Title of the Isle of Saints It will be needful to give you a prospect at one view how the Provinces were divided and what Princes Rul'd in each It is agreed on all hands that this Day-Star of Christianity began to shine among the Saxons in the year of Grace 590. for then the Apostolick Messengers from Rome receiv'd their Mission from the most worthy Successor of St. Peter St. Gregory the Great in the seventh year of his Pontificate and began their Journey toward our Island though they did not arrive here 'till the year following At this time the Saxon Heptarchy was establish'd in Britain and all the Provinces thereof were entirely under the Dominion of the Angli and Saxons except the Northern Kingdom of the Picts and Scots the Western parts in Cambria and Cornwall were not yet wholly subdu'd by the Saxons The Kings governing the Heptarchy their Names and Provinces are as follows Ethelbert was then in the 35th year of his reign He was the Son of Irmeric Son of Otha Son of Eska Son of Hengist this Kingdom contain'd Kent as now bounded Next over the South-Saxons which Kingdom compriz'd Sussex and Surrey reign'd Eldwalch the Son of Cissa the Son of Ella who first establish'd this Kingdom this was the seventh year of Eldwalch his reign Thirdly the King of the West-Saxons under Celric in his first year as Nephew to Ceaulin who founded this Kingdom in the year of Grace 519. within his Dominions were comprehended Hampshire Barkshire Wiltshire Somersetshire Dorsetshire Devonshire and part of Cornwal Next over the East-Saxons Sebert was in the first year of his reign he was the Son of Sledda Son of Erkenwin who in the year of Grace 527. establish'd that Kingdom containing Essex Middlesex and so much of Hartfordshire as is under the Bishop of London's Jurisdiction whose Diocess is Adequate to that Kingdom After this was the Kingdom of the Northumbers to which belongeth whatever lyeth between Humber and Edenburgh It was sometime divided into two Kingdoms of Bernicia and Deiri Bernicia contain'd Northumberland with the South of Scotland to Edenburgh The Deiri consisted of part of Lancashire with the entire Counties of York Durham Westmerland and Cumberland The whole Kingdom at this time was govern'd by Ethelfrid in the fourth year of his reign who was the Son of Alla Son of Ida who founded that Kingdom in the year of Grace 547. After this in the year 575. the Kingdom of the East-Angles was founded containing Norfolk Suffolk Cambridgeshire with the Isle of Ely and some part of Bedfordshire At this time Redwald had been King four year he was the Son of Titillus Son of Vffa esteem'd the first King and Founder of the said Kingdom in the year of our Lord 575. The last though largest was the Kingdom of Mercia so call'd for that it is seated in the middle of the Island It was the Marches or limits on which the other Kingdoms did border It comprehended the the whole Counties of Lincoln Northampton Rutland Huntingdon Buckingham Oxford Worcester Warwick Darby Nottingham Leicester Glocester Stafford Chester part of Lancashire Herefordshire Shropshire and part of Bedfordshire At this time when St. Augustine was sent by Pope Gregory to the Conversion of the Saxons Wibba the Son of Crida was King or chief Governour of Mercia which Crida laid the Foundation of it in the year of our Lord 585. These were the Saxon Kings and these their limits when Almighty God sent his Apostolical Missioners to Convert the Blind Saxons to the Christian Faith Yet were these limits in continual motion as the success of Princes prov'd good or bad And among these Kings commonly one was most Puissant over-ruling the rest who stil'd himself King of the English Nation which Super-eminence Ethelbert King of Kent at this time enjoy'd to whom the Word of Life was first offer'd and by him thankfully accepted Thus stood the state of Christianity in this Island under the Government of the Romans and British Kings In what a different state it now is may easily be discern'd by the Judicious Reader Fiat Voluntas Dei. FINIS Jesus is condemned to die
of this World Make hast to obtain with the Holy Apostles the everlasting Palm of Victory that Palm which St. Paul attain'd by a world of Sufferings and St. Peter also from whom the Cross it self could not take the love of Christ Soter and Eleutherius Salute thee Salute the Brethren who live with thee in our Lord Cerinthus Satans prime Minister seduces many from the Faith may the Grace of Christ dwell for ever in thy heart We may see by this Epistle the Solicitude and Care of this Holy Pope for the Salvation of Souls not in Rome only but elsewere as also in another Epistle of his to Justus wherein he recommends The Decent Interring of the Bodies of Martyrs and a due Veneration of their Reliques In the 18th year of Marcus Aurelius and L. Verus the Northern Province of the Ottadini about Berwick broke out into Rebellion for reducing of whom Calphurnius Agricola was sent into this Island upon whose approach the Rebels quickly submitted A little before this time Pius the first departed this Life about the year of our Lord 166. and was succeeded by St. Annicetus and him after 9 years succeeded St. Soter who having for the space of five years fill'd the Chair of St. Peter had for his Successor St. Eleutherius in the year of our Lord 180. In whose third year our King Lucius then an old man after he had reign'd 58 years by Gods Grace had his Youth renew'd as an Eagle and was born again by Baptism and made an Heir of an everlasting Kingdom It may seem strange perhaps he should hold out so long against the Power of Truth But if we consider the tenaciousness of Humane Nature to inveterate Customs so agreeable to Flesh and Blood and the horrible Scandals and Prejudices then cast upon Christian Religion it can appear no less then Miraculous that a great King in his old Age should have the courage to submit his Crown and Scepter to the Spiritual Scepter of Christ's Kingdom The Motives which might induce him hereunto besides his long experience of the Innocence Patience and Peaceable Dispositions of his Christian Subjects May be First The Powerful Preaching and Perswasion of many Apostolick Preachers such as were St. Aristobulus St. Marcellus St. Timotheus c. Secondly The Testimony of the Emperours themselves to the Christian Faith and the Professors of it though otherwise Enemies to it Thirdly The Testimony of God himself in his miraculous rescue of the then reigning Emperour from unavoidable Ruine by the Prayers of his Christian Souldiers As to the Testimony of the Emperours not such as Nero Vitellius and Domitian whose favour to Christians would have been disgraceful but of Princes Venerable in the World for Prudence and Courage yet zealous for their own Superstition such as Nerva Trajan Hadrian Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius and what their Testimony of the Christians was may be collected out of the Edict of Antoninus as followeth The Emperour Caesar Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Pius Angustus highest Priest this 15th time possess'd of the Tribunitial Power and this third time Consul Father of his Country To the People of Asia Health I am assur'd that the Gods will not permit those men to lye hid in obscurity who refuse to pay due Honour and Worship to them for they themselves will far more severely punish such then you can And you do not consider that by Molesting and Tormenting those men whom you call Impious and charge as Enemies to the Gods you do thereby the more confirm and increase their Religion for to them it is a thing more desirable to be accus'd as Criminal to lay down their Lives for their God then to enjoy the present Life with worldly Contentment Hence it is that by exposing their Lives in this manner they obtain over you a more Glorious victory then if they should perform whatever you require Now as concerning the Earthquakes which both in late times and at this present also do happen I judge very reasonable to give you some Admonition Whensoever such Calamities befall you ye are presently disheartned and in despair you impute it straight to their Religion as if it alone were the cause of all misfortunes happening to you On the other side whensoever any such Accident befalls them they are thereby incited to a more constant and firm Trust in God Whereas all that while you either loose all knowledge of God and utterly despise all Sacred Duties not only refusing to pay the Worship and Service due to the Deity but grievously vexing and to death pursuing those who do observe and reverence him Now several Magistrates and Governours of our Provinces have heretofore written Letters to our most Holy and Deify'd Father Hadrian to whom his Answer and Rescript was That no further trouble should be given to those men except they should be otherwise guilty of any Crime or had a design prejudicial to the Roman Empire Many also have written to me in their favour to whom my Answer was That I assented to the Ordinance and Will of my late Father And my pleasure is that if any shall hereafter offer any Injury or Vexation to any Christian as a Christian the person so persecuted though found indeed to be a Christian shall be presently Acquitted and his Accuser undergo just and due punishment This Edict though directed particularly to Asia yet had influence over the whole Roman World and what could more advantageously recommend the Christian Religion than what this Heathen Emperour here publish'd of it and certainly the Testimony of such an Enemy who was of so great Authority could not but impress mightily upon the Hearts of moderate Heathens much more upon King Lucius who from his Parents inherited a Spirit of kindness and liberality towards the Christians But as for the Powerful Testimonies which Almighty God himself at this time signally gave to all Mankind by delivering not only the Roman Emperour but the Empire it self from inevitable Destruction by the Prayers of his Christian Servants Let Dio a Roman Historian living in those times and a bitter Enemy to the Christians proclaim in his own words The Emperour Marcus saith he after many Battles fought and dangers undergone in Germany in subduing the Marcomanni and Jaziges was enforc'd to a new and sharp War against the Quadi from which ensu'd a Victory happy to the Romans beyond their hope obtain'd indeed by the miraculous favour of God for the Romans in the midst of the Battle being brought in extream danger were sav'd after a wonderful manner and meerly a special Divine assistance They were narrowly inclos'd on all sides by the Quadi yet in places commodious fought valiantly but the barbarous enemy craftily forbore to come to a general Engagement hoping without that hazard to see the Romans destroy'd before their faces with extremity of Heat and Thirst whom by their Multitudes they had shut so in that they could come by no Water Now the Romans brought to
by the most Wise Learn'd and Virtuous Emperour of the Romans must needs have a strange influence on the minds of many men throughout the whole Empire to incline them to conform themselves to his Judgement though his Practise were otherwise for Worldly respects and indeed it produc'd a number of Christians not only out of the Vulgar Rank but of Honourable and Noted Persons Insomuch as Tertullian a Christian Writer of the next Age declares to the Romans That though they counted Christians as Externs yet saith he we fill all your places your Cities Isles Castles Free-Towns Camps Tribes Corporations Palaces Senates c. No wonder then if our British King Lucius prepar'd as aforesaid and inform'd by Trebellius and Pertinax principal Officers sent into Britain not only of the said Miraculous Deliverance but what numbers of the Roman Nobility and Senators had thereupon given up their Names to Christ No wonder if Lucius thus convinc'd in Judgement and not deter'd by the Roman Civil Power at last submitted his neck to the same easy yoak As for our Bale's conceit that Trebellius and Pertinax were both Christians and wrought upon Lucius there is no ground in History for it And as to the manner and order of this Kings Conversion it might have been more clearly publish'd to the World had not the Antient History of Elevanus who liv'd in the time of Pope Eleutherius been lost Nevertheless what may be glean'd out of Primitive Records as Relicks of Antient Tradition shall not be omitted especially if approv'd by modern Authors Amongst the rest thus writes Bale Lucius as he conjectures was scandaliz'd at the meanness and poverty of Christ as the Jews were For though Christian Religion had for the space of more than 100. years been propagated in Britain yet it seem'd to be depriv'd of its due splendour because hitherto Administred by simple poor and contemptible persons and wanted the Authority of the Empire to support it Therefore as soon as the said King was inform'd by the Emperour's Lieutenants that upon the ceasing of Persecution many Illustrious Romans had embrac'd the Christian Faith he then began to entertain a more worthy conceit of it and now seriously comparing this Holy Faith with what he had learn'd from his Druids the Simplicity and Sanctity of the one with the foul and barbarous Superstitions of the other and considering the inestimable Promises of Eternal Glory and Happiness propos'd and assur'd in and by the Gospel to any share whereof his own Priests never pretended the least claim he grew weary of his former Errours and was willing to be further instructed in those Verities with a few Beams whereof he had been formerly Enlightned And therefore though there wanted not such as had skill enough to satisfie this King in the Truth of Christian Religion especially Elvanus before mention'd and Medwinus among the Belgae yet the prudent King by their advice no doubt thought himself oblig'd to implore a greater Authority for the Establishing a new Church and settling the common Affairs of Religion amongst his Subjects However though in his neighbouring Kingdom of Gaule many renown'd and learn'd Bishops were then living especially St. Iraeneus Bishop of Lyons yet to none of these had Lucius particular recourse but sent two Messengers through that Nation directing them to St. Eleutherius a worthy Successor of St. Peter in the Apostolick Chair which He with the whole Christian World took to be the Fountain of all Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction This he might well learn from St. Iraeneus against Heresies who declares That every Church and all Christians where-ever dspers'd should have recourse to the Roman Church by reason of its more Powersul Principality Tertullian also then an Eminent Priest would have given the same advice for thus he bespeaks his Readers Who ever thou art saith he who would'st better imploy thy Curiosity in the business of thy Salvation take a view of the Principal Churches founded by the Apostles If Italy be nearest to thee thou mayest repair to Rome from whence our Authority in Africk is likewise deriv'd a Church it is happy in its constitution To which the chief Apostles together with their Blood shed forth the whole Doctrine of Christianity And as for St. Iraeneus he gives a Catalogue of all the Bishops of Rome to the time of Eleatherius with whom he was Contemporary and with his Catalogue this Assertion By making known the Faith of that chiefest and most Antient Church of Rome renown'd throughout the whole World founded and constituted by the most glorious Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul and by an un-interrupted Succession of Bishops deriv'd to our times we confound all those who any way either by an unlawful self-love vain glory blindness or perversity of Opinion make separated congregations professing other Doctrine Therefore to Elutherius Pastor of this Church King Lucius address'd himself to obtain Laws and Ordinances necessary for the constitution of a well order'd Church in this Kingdom what his Message was our Bishop Vsher hath declar'd out of an Antient Book belonging to the Monastery of Abingdon namely That King Lucius having heard the Fame of the Sanctity of Preachers at that time in Rome sent his Messengers with publick Letters in great Expedition most devoutly and earnestly beseeching the venerable Pope Eleutherius that by his Order and Will he might be made a Christian It is true the Bishop will by no means attribute this to the Primacy of the Roman Bishop but to the Commerce and strict Alliance between the Conquer'd Britains and that Imperial City contrary to the plain Judgements of Irenaeus and Tertullian before-mention'd and the Traditionary practice of all Ages In the Protestant Author of the British Antiquities we may find who were this Kings Messengers namely Elvanus and Medwinus before-mention'd and what their Message was more particularly viz. To request the Roman Bishop that he would be pleas'd to direct his Legates with order to Baptize him being already indued with Christian Doctrine and that they might bring the Roman Laws with them according to which he might Order and Establish both the Ecclesiastical and Civil State of his Kingdom The Pious Bishop Eleutherius much more zealous to propagate the Divine Doctrine than to Illustrate his own Fame signify'd to the King his inexpressible joy for the gaining of so great a King to the Obedience of Christ but for the Civil ordering of his Kingdom thought his interessing himself therein would be to little purpose for those Laws were not necessary for the constitution of a Christian Commonwealth and that by them many things were establish'd which ought not to be observ'd by those who profess the Christian Faith c. St. Bede mentioning these requests of the King to Pope Eleutherius adds presently That he obtain'd the effect of his Pious Petition as to so much thereof as concern'd his further instruction in Christian Religion As may appear by the Pope's Answer preserv'd to this day by Matthew of
Westminster as followeth Your request to Us is that we would transmit to you a Copy of the Roman and Imperial Laws which it seems you desire to make use of in your Kingdom of Britain But you must be inform'd that the Roman Laws and such as are Enacted by the Emperour are not of such obligation but they may be at any time rejected which the Law of God in no Case must be Now by the Divine Mercy you have of late submitted your self in your Kingdom of Britain to the Law and Faith of Christ so that you have already with you both the Old and New Testament out of Them therefore by Gods Inspiration and with the common Councel of your Kingdom collect and frame a Law and by it through the Divine assistance govern your Kingdom of Britain You are Gods Deputy in your Kingdom according as the Kingly Prophet says The Earth is our Lords and the fulness of it the round World and all that dwell in it And again the same Kingly Prophet saith Thou hast lov'd Righteousness and hated Iniquity Therefore thy God hath Anointed thee with the Oyl of Gladness above thy Fellows And again Give thy Judgements to the King and thy Justice c. He saith thy Judgement not the Judgement and Justice of Caesar for the Christian Nations and People of your Kingdom who live under your peaceable Protection are the Children of God under his care who according to the Gospel Protect them as a Hen gathering her Chickens under her Wings c. The Nations therefore of your Kingdom are your People which being hitherto divided you ought to gather into one unanimous Congregation to the Obedience of the Faith and Law of Christ constituting of them one Church which you must Cherish Maintain Protect and Govern that so you may Reign with Christ for ever whose Deputy you are in the said Kingdom Some modern Writers add indeed some other passages incoherent and impertinent to it most likely to be Fictitious as perhaps the whole Epistle may be thought to be did not the credit of Matthew of Mestminster somewhat support it Be the Objections against it or the Additions to it what they will sure it is the Conversion of St. Lucius doth not much depend upon it Doubtless this or some such like Answer was brought back by Elvanus and Medwinus and with them came two other Holy men Commission'd by Eleutherius not only to Instruct and Baptize the King and those who by his imitation embrac'd the Christian Faith but to order and establish all Ecclesiastical Affairs in the Kingdom the Names of those two Commissioners were Fugatius and Damianus accounted well qualify'd for their Mission and of the degree of Bishops or Preiates that they might be able to Consecrate Churches Erect Bishopricks Dispense Orders and the like Concerning Elvanus and Medwinus good Authors write that the first was Consecrated Bishop at Rome and the other Preacher or Doctor of the Christian Faith Though there be others who upon little or no ground suppose them only Cathecumens when they went thither and consequently uncapable of such Preferment Whereas it is very probable that they were eminent Preachers of the Christian Faith to King Lucius and others and as appears by Antient Monuments they were Disciples of Joseph of Arimathaea bred up at Glastonbury full of Zeal to Gods Glory according to knowledge and accustom'd to a Contemplative Life in Prayer and Mortification Fugatius and Damianus admitted to the Presence of King Lucius and acquainting him from whom they were sent and upon what Errand forthwith the King and his whole Family with many others receiv'd Baptism according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Roman Church The name of the Queen to King Lucius is not recorded but his Sister Baptiz'd with him in Antient Records is Nam'd Emerita of whose Holiness and Constancy in Martyrdom more is to be said hereafter As for the particular form this King was Baptiz'd in it was certainly done according to the Roman Church conformable no doubt to the Ordinances of the Apostles as St. Justin Martyr Irenaeus and Tertullian living all in or about that Age do confidently Affirm Now though to the Essence of Baptism nothing is more requir'd than due matter which is Water a due form of Words and a right intention of him who confers it Yet even in these Primitive times other Sacred and Ceremonious Rites were subjoyn'd the more effectually to apply and imprint the force and virtue of that Sacrament in the minds of the Receivers as is most evident from Tradition and the Writings of those times and this by the prescription even of the Apostles themselves and their immediate Successors But if not so who can deny the Authority of the Church as to the creating such Ceremonies as may make the Celebration of the Holy Sacraments more Solemn and August especially considering what our Lord hath pronounc'd concerning his Church He that heareth or obeyeth you heareth me Of these Additional Rites the principal are these First The Arming the Baptiz'd person with the Sign of the Cross Secondly The Anointing his Head with Holy Oyl and Chrism Thirdly The Blessing of the Water design'd for Baptism Fourthly The using of Exorcisms and Holy Prayers to drive away the Enemy of Mankind All these Rites were practic'd in the Primitive times as may be prov'd by a cloud of Faithful Witnesses in several Ages by constant Tradition as St. Basil fully demonstrates After the administration of Baptism to the King those Holy men Fugatius and Damianus together with Elvanus and Medwinus wholly imploy'd themselves in Preaching the Gospel of Christ through all the Provinces of the Kingdom in disputing against the Superstition of the Druids and demonstrating the vanity of their Idols and the abominableness of their Horrible Sacrifices And being attended with the Kings Authority and Zeal they broke in pieces those Idols and easily perswaded the Britains to renounce their Antient Superstitions So that in a short space the Christian Faith and Worship of the only true God came generally to be had in Honour and Admiration Matthew of Westminster adds That these Blessed Teachers having in a great measure defac'd Idolatry through all Britain they Dedicated to the Honour of one God and his Saints those Temples which had been founded to the Worship of many false Gods filling them with Assemblies of Lawfull Pastors Saying further That in divers Cities of the Kingdom they constituted or at least design'd 28 Bishops subject to three Archbishops or Metropolitan Sees the prime whereof was London to which Cornwall and all the Provinces on the South of Severn and Wales were actually subjected or design'd so to be The Second was York to which was laid Deira and Albania divided from Loegria or the former part by the River Humber The third the City of Legions which had Dominion over Cambria or Wales sever'd from Loegria by the River Severn This City was call'd Caerleon and scituate upon the River Osca
or Vsk as by the ruines there may appear At the first indeed Bishops did not confine themselves to one place but exercis'd their Pastoral Duties from one place to another as they had occasion but after their Flocks incrcasing each Bishop was limited to his peculiar Flock and seated themselves in the eminent Cities then in number about 28. and consequently so many Bishops were ordain'd We find in the Antient Book belonging to the Monastery of Abingdon to this effect That Eleutherius sent his Missioners Faganus and Divianus Learn'd and Holy men to King Lucius who Baptiz'd the King and his People embraceing the Christian Faith destroy'd Idols and built Churches and decreed that in those Cities where formerly resided Arch-flamens according to the Pagan Superstition there Arch-bishops should be establish'd and where ordinary Flamens were there Bishops should succeed the chief Cities then were London York and Caerleon which became the Seats of three Arch-bishops Possibly the Title of Flamens and Arch-flamens was given to these Druid Priests by the Romans who might be distinguish'd amongst themselves by some other Name The Names of these 28 Cities have been collected out of History I. Cair Gumeguir which perhaps is Norwich by the Britains call'd Cair Guntius or perhaps rather Winwick in Lancashire some say Winchester II. Mincip or Municip which is Verulam near St. Albans III. Cair Lualid Luguballia now Caerleil IV. Mediolanum at this day Meivod in Montgomery-shire V. Cair Colon or Colonia now Colchester VI. Cair Ebranc now York VII Cair Custeint near Carnarvan by Antonine call'd Seguntium and Cair Custeint because Constantius the Father of Constantine was there buried and his Body there found in the time of Edward the First after the Conquest and by him Honourably Interr'd VIII Cair Caratauc or Caradoc in the borders of Shropshire between the Rivers Teindus and Colunus where Caractacus was Defeated by Ostorius IX Cair Grant now Cambridge upon the River Grant. X. Maucguid Mancunium in Lancashire as some think Manduessedum or Manchester in Warwickshire as others XI Cair Londein or Cair Lud now London XII Cair Guorthigirn in Radnorshire where King Vortigern hid himself from Divine Justice but could not escape it but was Burnt by Lightning in and with that City XIII Cair Ceint now Canterbury formerly Dorbernia XIV Cair Guorangon Branonium now Worcester XV. Cair Peris or Portcester now Portsmouth XVI Cair Daun or Danus now Doncaster in Yorkshire XVII Cair Legio of the 20th Legion there quarter'd now Chester XVIII Cair Guaricon or Guarvinc of Guarth a Garrison in the British Tongue now Warwick XIX Cair Segesut or the City of the Segontiaci the first People of this Island who yielded to Caesar since call'd Silchester in Hampshire XX. Cair Leon from the second Legion or Vsk from the River it was seated in Monmouthshire and is now ruin'd XXI Cair Guent or Venta Belgarum now Winchester XXII Cair Brito now call'd Bristol XXIII Cair Lerion by the Saxons Legecestria now Leicester XXIV Cair Draiton which Bishop Vsher thinks to be that which is now call'd Draiton in Shropshire XXV Cair Pentavelcoit seated upon the River Ivel in Somersetshire now Ilchester yet the said Learn'd Bishop thinks it should be written Pensavelcoit supposing it to be Pentsey in Sussex where William the Conqueror first landed XXVI Cair Vervac or Vriconium now Wroxcester in Shropshire XXVII Calemion or Calion which Cambden takes to be Comelet in Somersetshire where Roman Coins are frequently found and where are the footsteps of a Camp. XXVIII Cair Luitcoit or Lindcoit or Lindum now Lincoln These were the 28 Cities perhaps not all extant in the days of King Lucius at least under those Names which were design'd then for the Seats of Arch-bishops and Bishops though perhaps some other might be design'd for that purpose And it may be the Name of Arch-bishops was not then us'd yet the jurisdiction was alike under the Name of Metropolitans from the Metropolis or most Eminent Cities How many of these Cities were supply'd with Bishops is not certain Records only mention besides Elvanus Consecrated at Rome Theanus only a Britain and first Metropolitan Bishop of London where our Devout King Lucius built a Church in Cornhill Consecrated to St. Peter the Truth whereof is manifested by an Inscription on an Antient Table not long since hanging in the said Church to this effect following In the year of our Lord 179. Lucius the first Christian King of this Land founded the first Church at London namely the Church of St. Peter in Cornhill He establish'd there an Arch-Episcopal See it was the prime Church of the Kingdom and so continu'd for 400. years until the coming of St. Augustine the Apostle of England Some make Theanus Founder of this Church assisted therein by Ciranus the Kings Cup-bearer How long Theanus govern'd in this See is uncertain however he was succeeded by St. Elvanus though Malmsburiensis makes it doubtful in what place the Arch-Episcopal jurisdiction was fix'd during the time of the Britains Fugatius and Damianus after their three years successful Labours in this new Vineyard of our Lord as Historians witness return'd to Rome to give an account to St. Eleutherius how affairs stood in Britain As to this Matthew of Westminster expresses himself most fully affirming That in the year of Grace 186. the Blessed Prelates Fugatius and Damianus return'd to Rome and obtain'd from the Holy Pope Eleutherius a confirmation of all they had done in Britain and then came back again accompany'd with many others By whose Instructions the British Nation being confirm'd in the Faith of Christ became Illustrious the Names and Acts of these Holy men may be found in the History of our Gildas concerning the Victory of Aurelius Ambrosius It was the practice of Christian Churches to have frequent recourse to the Chair of St. Peter and about this very time the Church of Lions in France sent Irenaeus to St. Eleutherius for the resolving of questions about Ecclesiastical Affairs as St. Jerom witnesseth and of the same Errand before this time went St. Beatus to Rome as is before-mention'd This hath been frequently done in a due Subordination to the Supream Tribunal of the Church and for the preservation of Unity the Center whereof the Chair of St. Peter was ever accounted When Fugatius and Damianus came back into Britain they presented the King with a Crown Bless'd by that Holy Pope with many Divine Admonitions more acceptable than the Crown relating to the Government of his Civil State and his Defence of Holy Church It is said the Pope also prescrib'd the limits of his Kingdom so far Northerly that some conjecture that from thence it is that so many of those Northern Provinces became subject to the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Church of York Other Churches were afterwards built as first at Westminster in the place of an Idol Temple consecrated to Apollo which in the Reign of Antoninus Pius was by an Earthquake cast to
the ground This Church from the days of King Lucius was design'd for a Burying place of our Kings as at this day and after it was Re-edify'd by St. Edward the Confessor A second Metropolitan Church was about this time erected in the City of York esteem'd in that Age the prime City and Church of Britain The third Metropolitan Church was then also built at Landaff or Caerleon upon Vsk in which City now ruin'd were three Noble Churches one bearing the Title of the Holy Martyr Julius Beautifi'd with a Monastery of Virgins Consecrated to God. A second founded by the Name of his Companion St. Aaron And a third famous for being the Metropolitan See of all Cambria although Dubritius is mention'd in History to be the first Arch-bishop of the Welsh Britains concerning the Church of Landaff and the Superiority of it something may be gather'd out of the Protestation of Vrbanus before Calixtus the second in the Councel of Rhemes However sure it is that after the coming of St. Augustine the Monk the Bishop of Landaff hath always been subject to the See of Canterbury This King Lucius built another Church also at Dover in Honour of our Blessed Saviour and his Glorious Mother and some other Churches elsewhere As this King shew'd himself Munificent in Building of Churches so also was he Liberal in his Endowments and Priviledges bestow'd upon them by transferring the Possessions of Idol-Temples to Christian Churches and further Enriching them with more Lands and greater Immunities so that some Malefactors might have refuge within their Precincts which benefit of Sanctuary hath been continu'd and increas'd by most succeeding Princes neither were the Revenues belonging to Pagan Temples inconsiderable for that Religion was very costly for it is certain that the Pagan Flamens in London Sacrific'd yearly 40000. Cows 100000. Sheep innumerable sorts of all Fowl besides 30000. Savage Beasts as Staggs and other Beasts of the Forrest Besides all this King Lucius in the 6th year after his Conversion Founded a Church and Monastery at Winchester which he plentifully Endow'd it is said to be a Church of vast Dimensions and Adorn'd with an Episcopal Palace the Possessions of it extended 12. Miles round about the City This Church was Dedicated to the Honour of our Saviour by Fugatius and Damianus and Devotus a Monk by them Constituted the first Abbot from this time until the time of Dioclesian the Monks here quietly serv'd God after the Rule and Order prescrib'd by St. Mark the Evangelist and first Bishop of Alexandria which Rule is thus describ'd by Cassianus saying These Monks did not content themselves to retain the order of living practis'd by the Primitive Christians whereof we read in the Acts of the Apostles That they had all things in common accounted nothing their own sold their Possessions and laid the price at the Apostles feet to be divided amongst such as had need But these Monks aspir'd to practices more sublime for retiring them to the most secret places they led a Life of unparallel'd Abstinence and Austerity in Reading of Holy Scripture day and night in fervent Prayer and continual Labour of their Hands without regard of Food or Sustenance save only that every second or third day they would receive some slender Sustenance for necessity not for the satisfaction of their Apetite and not then until after Sun-set The Light they spent in Labour or Holy Exercises Darkness suffic'd for the care of their Bodies Under the Persecution of Dioclesian this Holy Fraternity was dissipated but not long after again restor'd and their Church Consecrated by Constantius Bishop of Winchester in the year of Grace 309. taking a new Name from St. Amphibolus who with St. Alban was Crown'd with Martyrdom and by this Name Gildas calls it in his relation of the Sons of Mordred Murder'd by Constantine in this place It suffer'd a second Eclipse when the Infidel Saxons laid waste all Holy places in this Island Howbeit no sooner did the Saxons embrace the Faith of Christ but they repair'd this Church and Monastery after call'd de Hida and restor'd it to greater Splendor and Magnificence then it had before in which Splendor and Beauty it continu'd fortify'd by Charters of Kings and Bulls of Popes untill all Religious Houses were swallow'd up by the sury and Avarice of Henry the VIII So as St. Edward the Confessor in his Charter to the Monastery of Westminster prov'd a Prophet who declar'd The same Charter should continue in force so long as the love of Christianity should remain in this Nation Our Devout and Wise King Lucius did not only endow Churches and Monasteries for the present Worship of God but provided Seminaries of Learning and Piety for the future increase thereof the most Famous of which was the School and Monastery of Bangor in North-Wales It is said to be the first Colledge of Christian Philosophers but is in some Authors mistaken for another of that Name in Vlster from whence proceeded the famous Bishop St. Malachias whose Life is elegantly written by St. Bernard However this famous Monastery it seems prosper'd so well for a long time that at the coming of St. Augustine into England more than 2000. Monks were found in it This King was not only careful to plant and settle the Christian Faith within his own Kingdom but as many Antient and Credible Records testifie personally sow'd the Seeds of Christianity in Germany and other Forreign parts and as some say there ended his days as his Virgin Sister and Martyr also did Fugatius or Phaganus and Damianus being inform'd of St. Joseph and his Companion 's retirement to Glastonbury and their deaths there visited the place which they found reduc'd to little better then a Covert of Wild-Beasts so little encouragement or countenance had the Christian Faith receiv'd yet by Divine conduct they discover'd an Antient Church built by St. Joseph and his Companions and Consecrated as afore-said by God himself they also found the Holy-Cross with several Writings and other Tokens declaring the place to have been formerly an Habitation of Christians and receptable of those prime Disciples They therefore added another Oratory built of Stone Dedicated to the Honour of St. Peter and St. Paul and on the Top of the Tor or Mountain rais'd a Chappel to the Honour of St. Michael the Arch-Angel And lastly to continue the Service of God which had been interrupted they establish'd a succession of 12 Devout persons in memory of St. Joseph and the first 12. which Succession continu'd till the coming of St. Patrick the Apostle of Ireland unto this place These two Holy men made this place their Retirement for the space of nine years and there dy'd and were bury'd as is believ'd about the year of our Lord 199. After the Death of Lucius which happen'd in the 7th year of Severus none of the British Race were permitted to reign but Legats from the Emperour commanding the Roman Army In the time of Commodus
thither that he might attend on God without interruption into which place he gather'd to him about the number of 180. Disciples It is reported That the place being too strait for so many the Blessed man having recourse to God in whose Power and Goodness he plac'd his confidence when the Sea at low ebb had left the shoar for a great space with a Rod which he had in his Hands made impressions in several places of the Sands and commanded the waters in the Name of Christ not to pass those bounds upon which the Sea was observ'd to restrain its own violence and swelling insomuch as to this day it hath never presum'd to pass those prescrib'd limits Thus the Holy man is said to bid adieu to all his Friends to the Vanities of this World and to all obstacles to Perfection Mortifying all his Sensual Desires and yet not contented resolv'd to leave his Native Country and accompanied with his Brethren landed in a Province of Belgick Gaul inhabited by a People call'd the Morini to whom he Preach'd the Christian Faith instructing many in the Perfection of a Holy Life About those parts there then liv'd a Prince call'd Mevorus at or near a place call'd at this day Cormon This Prince profess'd Christianity and having notice of the arrival of St. Gudwall within his Consines kindly receiv'd him Mevorus and his Wife were much stricken in years and had no Children St. Gudwall in a Dream appear'd to the Matron and promis'd her she should have a Son which should be call'd Simeon Mevorus being inform'd by his Wife of this her Dream promis'd that this Son when born with all his Hereditary Possessions should be assign'd to the Church and Monastery which this Holy Bishop and Hermite with the Treasure of Mevorus was then building probably near Ipre where a Village call'd Ghelwelt seems to afford some Marks of St. Gudwall's Name The Son thus Promis'd soon after was born and call'd Simeon brought up in Learning by St. Gudwall made a Monk and his Possessions confer'd on the Monastery It is said this Holy Bishop after all his Labours rested in our Lord about the year of Christ 403. It is written that before his death an Angel of our Lord appear'd to him with a Pleasant Countenance saying O worthy Soldier of God may the joy of our Lord always encrease in thee and his Peace continually remain with thee be prepar'd for e're long God will call thee out of this World and thou shalt meet thy Heavenly King with a Palm of Victory This Coelestial Messenger stay'd a good space filling his Soul with Spiritual Sweetness known only to God. After this another Angel appear'd to him and said I am Michael the Arch-Angel sent to thee from our Lord to acquaint thee That the hour of thy departure is at hand for after ten days thou shalt joyfully issue out of thy fleshly Prison and escape out of the Dungeon of this World and with unspeakable gladness thou shalt meet thy Heavenly King into whose presence we will bear thee he will receive thee with Glory and enroll thee among the Courtiers and Citizens of his Kingdom Some say the Mother and Sisters of this Holy man were present and assisting at his Death invited thither by the Fame of his Miracles and after his departure carried his Body back with them into Brittain But when the Pagan Saxons demolish'd Christian Sepulchres here it was transported again into Flanders The place of his Burial here is said to be the Isle of Plet or Plecit where it remain'd many years Illustrious by many Miracles until it was transported to the place aforesaid where not being entertain'd with due Honour it was by a Noble Marquess nam'd Arnulphus after by Gods appointment remov'd to the Monastery of â—landinium in Gaunt together with the precious Relicks of the famous Confessor Bertulphus when Clotharius reign'd in France his Body is yet carried in Procession yearly and each Procession renown'd by Miracles In the year of our Lord 342. great Commotions arose in Gaul by the coming in of the Franks which were soon suppress'd but Britain following the motions of Gaul and being in disorder Constans was enforc'd to pass over thither in the Winter Season and by his unlook'd for presence there soon frighted the Rebellious Islanders into Obedience Four years after this an unhappy Schism was like to break forth between the Eastern and Western Churches for the Eastern Bishops of the Faction of Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia chief Pillar of the Arrians had condemn'd St. Athanasius in two Synods at Tyre and Antioch On the contrary Julius Bishop of Rome in a Synod of Italian Bishops receiv'd him into his Communion notwithstanding the intercession of the Orientals who sent their Decree of Condemnation to Rome To prevent this Schism Constans being Orthodox sollicited his Brother Constantius to joyn with him in caling a General Councel thereby to preserve entirely the Heritage of their Fathers Piety by which he had subdu'd many barbarous Nations destroy'd Tyrants and establish'd the Empire Hereupon a Synod was Assembled at Sardica in Illyrium to which came out of the Western Empire about 300. Bishops and out of the East 76. only Some of the Western Bishops came out of Britain Restitutus Bishop of London was certainly one who before at the Councel of Nice consented to the Faith of the Consubstantiality of the Son of God. It will not be therefore impertinent to say something of this great Councel that the Conformity of the British Churches in those days to the Faith and Discipline of the Catholick Church may the better appear This Synod first establish'd the Faith of the Nicene Councel next declar'd the Innocence of Athanasius and other Orthodox Bishops persecuted by the Arrian Faction and the Condemnation of their Adversaries and other Eastern Bishops who deserted the Synod and made a Schismatical Assembly at Philopolis and in it publish'd contradictory Decrees This Synod as to matters of Discipline Decreed this especially That Appeals be made in Case of Contention to St. Peter 's Chair ultimately to be determin'd by the Pope or such as he should appoint in that behalf Now it is certain that the Donatists not long after in Envy to the See of Rome endeavour'd to suppress the Acts of this famous Synod as much as they could as St. Augustine testifies The Decrees of this Synod were after confirm'd by the Councel in Trullo Another Decree was made To restrain the Appeals of Deacons sent by their Bishops to the Emperour's Court appointing them to present their Petitions to the Bishop of the Roman Church to be by him examin'd whether just or not This Synod being dissolv'd the Emperour Constans us'd his utmost diligence and Authority for the Execution of these Decrees his chiefest care was about the Restitution of St. Athanasius whose return the Factious Bishops of the East oppos'd Constans wrote to his Brother for his Restitution mingling Threats if he were not comply'd with
insomuch as that Constantius advis'd with many Eastern Bishops about it Who resolv'd him It was better to allow of Athanasius then hazard a Civil War. The year following Athanasius return'd into the East and was at first receiv'd by Constantius with some Kindness and permitted to return to his See at Alexandria But the year following the Arrian Bishops becoming boundless in their Power and Malice by the death of the Orthodox Emperour Constans who by the Conspiracy of Magnentius Chrestius and Marcellinus was Traytorously slain at Helena a Town in France It is said he had a Prediction That he should die in his Grand-Mothers Lap. His death was greatly bewail'd by St. Athanasius who foresaw the danger was like to ensue unto the Catholick Faith by the loss of Constans and the evil of the sole remaining Emperour who was yet at present very much incumber'd by two Tyrants the one was Vetranio who had once govern'd in Britain and was after Proclaim'd Emperour in Illyricum but was soon depos'd by Constantius who yet not only spar'd his Life but suffer'd him to spend the remainder of his Life in Retirement full of Pleasure and Abundance The other Tyrant was Magnentius who took the Title of Emperour at Augustodunum in France and held it three years and then after the loss of a Battel was forc'd to kill himself After this Victory Constantius would be call'd the Emperour of the whole World and assum'd the Impious Title of his Eternity and then extended all his Pride and Power to oppress the Catholick Faith and establish the Arrian Heresie even in the Western Churches also commanding a Councel to be Assembled at Arles in France where he extorted the Suffrages of the Bishops in favour of his Heresie and condemnation of St. Athanasius drawing in the Legate of Pope Liberius who had newly succeeded Julius Howbeit Liberius more than once sollicited the Emperour by Legates and Epistles on the behalf of St. Athanasius complaining That the Suffrages of Bishops were mercenarily sold according to the Princes inclination Whereupon Constantius perceiving the endeavours of Liberius render'd the Sentences of his pack'd Synods invalid sought to win him by Promises and Favours to his Party that proving ineffectual he sent for him when Liberius was come to him he stoutly protested He would suffer any thing rather than being a Christian to become an Arrian At which the Emperour being offended sent him into Banishment to Beraea a City of Thrace whereto he chearfully submitted rejecting 500 Crowns which the Emperour sent for his Maintenance In his place was substituted a certain Roman Priest call'd Felix one who though in judgement a Catholick yet comply'd with the Arrians Liberius wanting constancy and weary of his Banishment after two years return'd from it with as much Infamy as he had submitted to it with glory yielding at last to the condemnation of St. Athanasius and subscribing to a Confession of Faith fram'd in a Synod at Sirmium wherein though there was nothing Haeretical yet the word Consubstantiality being left out his subscription to it was scandalous and argu'd an unlawful complyance with the Arrians After all this returning again to Rome he breaks off all Communion with the Arrians and joyns himself in Communion with Athanasius to whom he thus writes Our Confession belov'd Athanasius is that the Word is the Son of God being according to his Nature begotten of God his Father not created he is God his Fathers Colleague in his Empire and obtains an endless Kingdom for infinite Ages Amen Whilst Constantius in the West thus afflicted the Catholick Church and Faith Gratian Father of Valentinian afterwards Emperour was Pro-Praetor of Britain He was rais'd from a vile Original to this high degree for his Courage and Virtue in his younger Age he is said to have been a Seller of Ropes such was his strength that five Soldiers were not able to wrest a Rope out of his Hands for his favouring Magnentius he was depriv'd both of Office and Estate Martinus succeeded him in his Pro-Praetorship of Britain who govern'd this Island with great Justice and Kindness to the Britains his Government was shortned upon this unhappy occasion Constantius being a Prince very Suspitious imploy'd Officers to search out such as were practising against him One Paul a Notary was very much esteem'd of him for his Malicious Sagacity in such matters and therefore sent by him into Britain to bring over in Chains such Soldiers as had intermedled in the Conspiracy of Magnentius Paul executed this Authority with such Cruelty and Injustice that the Pro-Praetor to prevent the Miseries of so many Innocents first intercedes by way of Intreaty and being therein unsuccessful protested he would leave the Province rather than behold such Oppression This Paul for his Subtilty call'd Catena being thus thwarted in his Cruelty Craftily involves the Pro-praetor himself in a Suspition of the same Guilt and Treason so as he presumes to seize upon him and put him in Fetters with the rest Martinus betakes himself to his Sword in defence of himself and therewith wounds Paul but not Mortally and thereupon turns his Sword upon his own Breast and so dy'd lamented of all men In the year of our Lord 359. the Church of God was expos'd to great danger and infamy by the Councel of Ariminum then Assembled by the Authority of the Arrian Emperour Constantius with design to abolish the Faith of the Consubstantiality of the Son of God. He commanded his Praefect Taurus That when the Bishops were met together he should not permit them to depart till they had all consented in one Faith It is said that out of Illyricum Italy Africk Spain and Gaul and out of Britain also under the notion of Gaul he gather'd together more than 400 Bishops The Emperour commanded allowance of Necessaries to these Bishops but those of Gaul and Britain refus'd it as an unseemly thing and chose rather at their own Costs to maintain themselves Three only out of Britain excepted who being destitute of Subsistence out of their own Sees made some use of the Emperour's Liberality and perhaps were not to be disprais'd for it These Bishops being assembled were prescrib'd what they should do by the Emperours Letters and severely enjoyn'd to determine nothing which might touch the Eastern Bishops and when they had finish'd their Decrees they were to send them to Court by two Bishops In these Letters it is observ'd that he Subscribes himself Constantine not Constantius Notwithstanding all which the Holy Bishops Couragiously perform'd their Duties for they confirm'd the Nicene Creed sorbidding any addition or diminution thereof and protesting They would never depart from the Faith which they had receiv'd from God the Father by the Prophets and our Lord Jesus Christ which the Holy Spirit taught in the Gospels according as was deliver'd by Tradition of the Fathers succeeding the Apostles to the times when this Controversie was debated at Nicaea against an Heresie which then arose All
only by the way that Galloway at that time belong'd to the jurisdiction of the Britains not of the Scots The Labours of St. Ninianus were no doubt much eas'd by the Arrival of another Saint who by Divine inspiration came thither out of Achaia bringing with him the precious Relicks of the Apostle St. Andrew This Saint named St. Regulus as Hector Boetius relates Watching one night at the Monument of St. Andrew was admonish'd from Heaven to take off the Holy Apostles Arm three Fingers and as many Joynts of one of his Feet and laying them Decently in a Vessel to carry them to the Island of Albion or Britain seated in the Confines of the World because in future times there would live a People which would give great Veneration to that Apostle and by his Intercession receive great Graces and Benefits both Earthly and Heavenly through the Divine goodness In complyance with which admonition the Holy man undertook that tedious Journey The Report of his arrival with that Sacred Treasure being spread through the Regions of the Picts inflam'd the minds of many to see and venerate those Holy Relicks Insomuch that as Boetius relates the People flock'd together from all quarters bringing Gifts and Offerings to the Holy Apostle Hergustus or Hungas their King invited with the fame of these things came also to visit this Holy man Regulus who receiv'd him with a Solemn Procession in which Priests and Monks Sang Hymns and Praises to God. The King as the same Author writes falling Prostrate on the the ground with great veneration kiss'd the Sacred Relicks and when all the Holy Rites were perform'd after the Christian manner he freely bestow'd his Royal Palace to the Honour of St. Andrew upon Regulus and the Priests with him and also built a Church not far from thence Dedicated to the same Apostle for the performance of Divine Service This is the place where in followiug Ages the Primates of Scotland establish'd their Arch-Episcopal See. Which place saith Cambden the Antients call'd Regimont or Regulus his Mount where Ungus King of the Picts built the principal Church of his Kingdom call'd to this day St. Andrews Boetius describes the Ornaments with which this Pious King Enrich'd this his new built Church viz. Pattens Copes Chalices Basons Lavers c. fram'd of Silver and Gold Some modern Writers question the Truth of this Story out of an aversion perhaps to Sacred Relicks However Pope Boniface the VIII in an Epistle to Edward the I. writes plainly thus Your Royal Highness may please to understand that the Kingdom of Scotland was Converted to the Vnity of the Catholick Faith by the venerable Relicks of St. Andrew the Apostle Such saith he was the great goodness of Almighty God. The Picts call'd the Priests which came with St. Regulus Coldei or Colidei Worshipers of God To these others from among the Picts and Britains joyn'd themselves leading a Solitary life With such fame of their Sanctity saith Buchanan that being dead their Cells were Converted to Churches Although in Truth if we speak of the prime Original of these Coldei they began in the times of Persecution under Dioclesian The Gests of this St. Regulus are Celebrated in the English Martyrology which some mistake only as to the time of his death In the year of Grace 395. the Glorious Emperour Theodosius dy'd for whose Soul St. Ambrose Devoutly Pray'd the Prince Honorius assisting at the Altar He left the Eastern Regions to his Eldest Son Arcadius the Western to his youngest Honorius of tender years under the Tuition of Stilico whose Daughter he had Married Stilico not content with this Honour attempted to Establish his own Son and to that end permitted Barbarous Nations to waste the Empire which were at last the ruine of it In the IV. year of Honorius Pope Siricius dy'd to whom succeeded Anastasius Aman saith St. Hierom of rich Poverty and Apostolick Solicitude He mainly oppos'd the Error of Origen then creeping into Rome and made an Edict directed especially to the Vicar of Britain That although he utterly forbad the Offering of Pagan Sacrifices yet his pleasure was that the Ornaments of publick Works though representing Pagan Superstititions should be preserv'd This Island at this time seems to sit at ease secur'd from the Violence of its Northern Enemies by a Roman Legion quarter'd in the Borders and govern'd by Marcus a Roman General sent thither by Honorius The Poet Claudian in his Panegyrick to Stilico gives testimony of this then Peaceable estate But alas this Calm lasted but a little while for the Troubles arising in Italy occasion'd the Forces which defended Britain to be call'd home and these troubles were caus'd by the Invasion of Alaricus King of the Gothes to which Stilico gave some stop vanquishing the Gothes in a Battle to their utter ruine if Stilico to promote his Ambitions designs had not permitted them to retire back into Pannonia that he might continue in possession of the Emperour's Forces And indeed upon a second Invasion of these Barbarous Enemies another Battle was fought by Stilico who once more overcame them and to this Battle the Roman Legions which defended Brittain were drawn from thence About these times Pope Anastasius dying Innocentius first of that Name succeeded a sincere oppugner of Pelagianism the founder of which Heresie Pelagius is said to be Born in Britain and therefore term'd the British Serpent St. Hierom takes him to be a Scot others affirm him to be Abbot of the famous Monastery of Bangor where 201 Monks got their Living by the Labour of their Hands Certain it is he was a Monk for St. Augustine tells us This Heresie was not invented by Bishops or Priests but by a Monk And as St. Isidore assures us By a stupid vain stragling Monk Incorrigible smelling Feasts and Fawning on Magistrates for their good Cheer having taken up his Graceless Heresie in his Old and almost doting Age He taught that man might be sav'd by his Merits without Grace That every one is directed by his own Natural free-will to the attaining of Justice That Infants are born without Original sin and as Innocent as Adam before his Fall that they are Baptiz'd not that they should be free from sin but that by Adoption they may be admitted into the Kingdom of God and that although they were not Baptiz'd yet they should enjoy an Eternal and Happy Life though excluded from the Kingdom of God. These Heresies began to appear in publick about the years 404 and 405. notice thereof being taken by Pope Innocentius Pelagius prepar'd a Letter of Purgation presented to Zosimus Successor of Innocentius His Doctrines being every where reprov'd he Appeal'd to the Judgement of a Lawful Synod but one of the Bishops appointed to Accuse him falling sick and so not able to appear at Lidda where the Synod was Assembled Pelagius gave such Cautelous Answers to the Proposals of the Bishops there present that he escap'd Censure and was accounted
means be mov'd and therefore giving Thanks to God buried the Sacred Body with great Solemnity in that place And thither many Devout people repairing and imploring the Martyrs help and intercession in their Afflictions and Infirmities have frequently with Joy obtain'd their desir'd remedy The Head of the Martyr was carried as aforesaid to Rinaldus who handled the same but died miserably three days after he being thus dead the Bishops and Clergy carried the Head and Buried it with the Body The Coffer wherein these Sacred Relicks lay some time after were carried through several places to Ambrosbury and their laid upon an Altar where the Saint and his Relicks were in a special manner Venerated as Bishop Vsher affirms This Ambrosbury is scituate in Wiltshire not far from Winchester Britain not forsaking its obedience to the Roman Empire was now govern'd by Victorinus a man grateful to the Britains but formidable to the Picts and Scots but he being too soon recall'd and the Roman Legion with him the poor Britains became immediately expos'd to the Cruelty of their Barbarous Enemies Bonifacius succeeded Zosimus in the Apostolick Chair who is said by Prosper To make use not only of Apostolick but of Imperial Edicts also for the suppressing the Pelagians the Affronters of Divine Grace In the time of this Boniface this Island was poison'd with their Presumptuous Doctrines especially by Agricola the Son of a Bishop Yet were there then several Bishops full of Piety and Learning who oppos'd this Heresie the most Famous whereof was Fastidius Priscus Archbishop of London a man skilful in Holy Scriptures and a zealous Preacher of Divine Truth Illustrious in Holy Conversation and Famous for his Sharpness of Judgement and Elocution it is not certain when he dy'd or when it was that Voadinus succeeded him in that Bishoprick As Britain was now infected with the Suggestions of Hereticks so was it infested with the Incursions of the Scots Picts and Norwegians In which necessity saith Gildas The poor Britains sent humble Petitions to Rome for assistance vowing their Eternal subjection to the Roman Empire so as their Cruel Enemies might be repell'd In complyance with which Request a Legion well Supply'd was sent which soon drove the Barbarous Nations out of the Borders and freed the Britains from vexation and slavery Who the Roman General was under whom this Victory was gain'd is not mention'd probably it was Chrysanthus the Son of Marcianus afterwards Bishop of Constantinople as Socrates seems to intimate Whoever was General both he and the Legion were soon recall'd But before their departure saith Gildas they gave order to the Britains to raise a Wall between the two Seas Glotta and Bodotria to restrain the Enemies and defend Themselves It began toward the West about two Miles from a Monastery call'd Aebercurnig in a place nam'd in British Penvahel or Penvelton and going Eastward it endeth near the City of Aciluth from this word Penvahel Cambden infers that the Picts were a British Nation for in Welch at this day Pengual signifies The Head of a Rampire But so useless was this ill built Wall most part of Turfe that before it was finish'd the Scots and Picts broke in again as Gildas observes Like ravenous Woolves enrag'd with hunger on all sides encompassing the Sheep-fold in the absence of the Shepherd so they with Oares and Full-blown Sails invaded the Island broke into the Borders and laid all waste in their way mowing down and treading underfoot the wretched Britains like ripe Corn. They therefore again send Messengers in a deplorable manner with rent Garment and Ashes on their Heads to implore Aide from the Romans endeavouring like fearful Chickens to shrowd themselves under their Mothers Wings They earnestly beg the rescue of their miserable Country and the freeing the Roman Name from the contempt of Foraign Nations This woeful Petition was address'd to the Famous Roman General Aetius Praefect of Gaul under whom Britain was also subject He mov'd with Pity sent Forces under the Conduct of Gallio a Citizen in Ravenna who once more Conquer'd the Enemies but having done this declares the Emperours pleasure to the Britains That for the future they must rely upon their own strength and expect no more assistance from Rome which at so great a distance and amidst so many Distractions could not attend to so remote a Province He advis'd them to exercise themselves in Military Affairs to Build Fortifications in Convenient places especially towards the Sea and to strengthen their Cities with Walls This was the last Farewel of the Romans to the discourag'd Britains however before they went they joyn'd with the Britains in Repairing the Wall which they made stronger than formerly both by publick and Private Expences THE Church History Under the BRITISH KINGS THe Romans having thus forsaken this Island two Kingdoms seem to have gain'd a firm establishment in the Northern parts thereof those I mean of the Picts and Scots for though other Kings and Princes are mention'd in other parts yet were they subject to the Romans and in a manner under their Allegiance The Picts being indeed no other then the remainder of the Unconquer'd Britains were so disturb'd by the Romans that they could not before this time come to any Settlement As for the Scots they were at the best but Auxiliaries to the Picts mingled with them in all their Invasions and often by the Romans driven back into Ireland from whence they came Now being rid of the Romans these Scots fix'd their Habitations and Erected a Kingdom in the Northern Coasts of Britain under Fergusius their King Of these two Nations and Kingdoms the principal in this Age was that of the Picts who possess'd the Provinces about Edinburgh confining to the Wall Antiently call'd the Picts Wall the Scots inhabiting the Provinces next to Ireland but after turning their Arms against the Picts they utterly destroy'd their Kingdom and Name and gave to the whole Country the Appellation of Scotland In the year of Grace 423. the Emperour Honorius dy'd in whose place succeeded Valentinian the III. and in the Eastern Empire Reign'd the younger Theodosius The same year dy'd Pope Bonifacius and after him was chosen Pope Caelestinus to whom our Islands of Britain and Ireland have an Eternal Obligation for by him they were preserv'd from Errour and effectually Converted to or Confirm'd in the Christian Faith By him St. Palladius was sent to the Scots whom he freed from their Barbarous Idolatry By him St. Patrick was directed an Apostolick Teacher into Ireland where he wrought the like effect and by him St. Germanus and St. Lupus two Holy and Learned Bishops of Gaul were imploy'd to Cure Britain of the Pestilent Infection of Pelagianism there spread by Agricola Now since Patricius the great Apostle of Ireland did both begin and end his days in Britain it will be little or no Excursion here to insert some of his Principal Gests He Convers'd here in Brittain by his Holy example
the weight and troubles of Government would have resign'd the Province to Carantac but he loving the Caelestial King more than an Earthly Kingdom fled away and having bought a Wallet and Staff of a poor man by Gods Conduct was brought to a Pleasant place where he reposing himself built an Oratory and spent his time in the Praises of God At last he pass'd over into Ireland invited by his Affection to St. Patrick when he came thither it was agreed between them that one of them should travel Preaching the Gospel toward the Right Hand and the other towards the Left In their company many Ecclesiastical persons attended them and they all agreed to meet once a year at an appointed place Where ever this Holy man Carantac went an Angel of our Lord in the likeness of a Dove accompanied him and chang'd his Name into Cernach being an Irish Appellation All along his Voyage he wrought great Miracles for the Confirmation of the Faith he Preach'd Healing many thousand of their Diseases The grace at first given to the Apostles is said to have been plentifully bestow'd on him He was counted an admirable Soldier and Champion of Christ a Spiritual and Devout Abbot refusing to Preach Saving Truth unto none He spent many years in that Island where he brought an incredible number to wash away their sins by Pennance by day and night offering innumerable Prayers to God and having Converted many People to our Lord who wrought many Miracles by him He at last return'd to his Native Country where he retir'd to his former Cave accompanied with many Disciples There having built a Church he determin'd to abide but not long after being admonish'd by a Voice from Heaven he return'd into Ireland where in a good Old Age and full of good Works he rested in Peace and was buried in his own City from him call'd Cherach I shall here add the Gests of another British Saint and Companion of St. Patrick into Ireland call'd Luman Son of Gollitus a Brittain and Nephew to St. Patrick by his Sister Tigridia He was the Founder of the Church of Trim in Ireland the occasion and manner whereof is thus related by Bishop Vsher St. Luman came to the Ford of Truim which runs before the Castle of Fiedilmed Son of Loiguor And early in the morning Froitchern Son of Fiedilmed found him Preaching the Gospel of Christ who wondering at the Doctrine taught by him presently believ'd and was Baptiz'd in Christ by Luman at a Fountain arising in the same place and stay'd with him until his Mother who sought after him came to the same place She was over-joy'd at the sight of the Holy man because she also came out of Britain and being instructed by him likewise believ'd and returning Home told her Husband what had hapned to her self and her Son Fiedelmed was much joy'd at the arrival of Luman because his Mother call'd Schotnoesa had been the Daughter of a British Prince Fiedilmed therefore went to him and Saluted him in the British Language questioning him in particular touching his Descent and Doctrine who answer'd That his Name was Luman a Brittain a Christian and Disciple of the Holy Bishop S. Patrick sent as he said by God to Convert the Inhabitants of that Country to the Faith of Christ and Baptize them Fiedilmed immediately believ'd with his whole Family and offer'd him and St. Patrick his whole Territory with his Son. Fiedilmed remov'd his Habitation beyond the River Boindeo but Luman with Froitchern stay'd at the Ford of Truim 'till St. Patrick came thither where they joyntly erected a Church about 12 years before the Church of Armagh Attimachae was founded the beginning of which Arch-Episcopal Church the Annals of Ulster ascribe to the year of Grace 444. We may now not unfitly treat of St. Benignus as his Story may be found in the Antiquities of Glastonbury The Venerable Bishop St. Patrick Preaching the Gospel through the Provinces of Ireland came to a plain call'd Brey or Breg very Spacious and Beautiful with which being delighted he determin'd there to Celebrate the Feast of Easter then at hand His first Acquaintance and Familiarity in that Province was with a man whom he had newly Converted to the Faith with him St. Patrick Lodg'd This man had a Young Child call'd Beonna who bore a tender Affection to the Saint he would often play with him and Kiss his Foot the Child would not sleep but when he lay with the Holy Bishop He therefore Prophetically perceiving the great Grace which the Divine Bounty would confer upon the Child vouchsafed to take him to his Bed and gave him the Name of Benignus When the Holy Bishop was ready to proceed in his Journey the Child with Pittiful cries beg'd to go along with him so as the Bishop was forc'd to receive him into his Waggon and Prophecy'd that he should be his Successor in the Bishoprick which accordingly came to pass This was the first Solemnity of Easter which the Holy Bishop Celebrated in Ireland and he did it by imitating the Son of God who at his last Supper with his Disciples Consecrated his Body and Blood for the Redemption of Mankind The day before this great Feast of our Lords Resurrection St. Patrick according to an Ecclesiastical Rite as Probus observes then in use Kindled the Holy fire the Flame whereof shone brightly about the place According to the custom of that Country it was it seems Vnlawful for any to Light a Fire before it was kindled in the Kings Palace The King whose Name was Logorius perceiving the brightness of the Flame in great indignation threatn'd Death to him who had infring'd that custom in his Kingdom His Magicians about him to incense him further told the King That the Fire which had so been kindled against Law unless presently extinguish'd would never cease to the Worlds end but obscure all the Fires which they kindled according to their custom and that the man who lighted it would be the destruction of his Kingdom While St. Patrick with great success thus labour'd in the Gospel Britain was Illustrated with the Memory of another great St. Winwaloc the Son of a Noble Person call'd Fracan Cousin-German of a British Prince Nam'd Coton This St. Winwaloc is said to have been from his Childhood inflam'd with an earnest desire of Heavenly things to despise Worldly Allurements and to live to God only wherefore he besought his Parents that he might be commended to the care of a certain Religious man to be by him imbew'd in the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and Documents of Piety his request being obtain'd he made wonderful progress in Virtue and Holiness under that Religious mans Discipline insomuch that when he was but seven years Old he became an example of all Piety and Goodness In process of time having undertaken a Monastical Profession Divine Graces shone more brightly in him so as he became withall enrich'd with the Gift of Prophecy Many Miracles God
care of his flock But if we consider consequents we shall find that the Catholick Church thereby receiv'd a great increase both in the number of Professors and the Zeal of their Profession for though those Barbarous Nations for a while Persecuted the Church yet e're long our Lord subdued their Minds and those strong Natural Passions of theirs were imploy'd in advancing Gods Church insomuch as the Apostles time and Primitive Age could scarce afford such Heroical Examples of Christian Zeal Magnanimity and Contempt of the World as those Barbarous People once Converted did So Healthful is the Severity of God towards his People Many Historians accuse the Cowardly Sloth of King Vortigern as if he weary of the Troubles of War chose rather with his Money to Hire Stipendiary Strangers than to train up his own Subjects to resist his Enemies and therefore invited the Saxons to Fight for the Britains But as Beda saith This was done by the common advice of the Nation For a meeting was assembled wherein it was thought best by all as well as by the King to demand Aide of the Saxons Which resolution doubtless was order'd by Divine Providence to punish the Impious Britains as the event declares for Gildas reflecting on the madness of this Consultation thus exclaims O the profound Blindness of the Britains minds O the Stupidity of their Senses These Saxons at whose Names they trembled when they were absent are now by the foolish Princes invited to live in their own Houses so senseless was their Councel How senseless soever it was Ambassadors were sent into Germany men of the highest repute and such as might most worthyly represent their Country Witchindus thus describes the order of this Embassage Fame saith he loudly proclaiming the Prosperous Victories of the Saxons the Britains sent Messengers to them to beg their assistance who did it in these words viz. O Noble Saxons our miserable Country-men the Britains wearied and even consum'd with the frequent Incursions of their Enemies having heard of your glorious Victories have sent us humbly to implore your Aide in recompense whereof they offer to you a Province Spacious and Abounding with all things We have hither to liv'd Happily under the Protection of the Romans after them we know no Nation better than your selves to whom we may have recourse we therefore desire to shelter our selves under the Wings of your Courage c. It may be doubted whether this Oration were deliver'd in so submiss a stile for they were sent to hire the Saxons with a large Stipend not to yield up the Country to them However sure it is the Saxons in their Answer assur'd the Britains They would be Faithful Friends to them ready always to assist them in their Necessities and to do them all Offices of Kindness With which Answer the Ambassadors return'd home well satisfied and were joyfully receiv'd by their Country-men This satisfactory Message was return'd in the year of our Lord 448. and the year following an Army of Saxons under their chief Conductors Hengist and Horsa landed in Britain whose coming Gildas in his Angry stile thus describes mingling with it a Prophecy among the Saxons relating to it Then saith he a drove of Whelpes rushing out of the Barbarous Lyonesses came hither in three Ships with full sails and an ominous Course encourag'd by a Prophecy certainly believed among them that for the space of 300 years they should Possess the Country toward which they directed the Prow of their Ships and that in half of that time they should often lay it waste They first fast'ned their terrible Nails by order of the unhappy Tyrant Vortigern on the Eastern part of the Island with a pretence to defend but with an intent to subdue the Country There may be some shadow of Truth in this Prophecy for the Saxons for 300 years may be said to be Possessors of the Island under the Title of Saxony beyond the Sea. After the Angli gave their own Name to it Besides after 150 years by the coming of St. Augustine they became Christians and of Wasters of the Country became more Gentle and Civil Inhabitants thereof They first possess'd themselves of the Ille of Thanet in Kent and there first landed at a place call'd Wipped-fleet from Wipped a Saxon Commander there after slain They being thus landed about the year of our Lord 450. the Scots and Picts invaded Britain with a mighty Army wasting the Provinces as they came along Vortigern gathers his Soldiers and Auxiliary Saxons together and march'd beyond the River Humber when they came to a Battle the Britains had little need to Fight for the Saxons Combated with such Courage that the Enemies formerly accustom'd to Victory soon turn'd their backs and fled Vortigern therefore having by their Valour obtain'd the Victory increas'd his Liberality to them and gave to Hengist their Captain great Possessions in Lyndsey part of Lincolnshire sufficient to maintain him and his Soldiers Huntingdon will needs have this Battle at Stanford in the Southern parts of the same Shire adding That the Picts and Scots had march'd so far without opposition and that they were only Arm'd and Fought with Darts and Lances but the Saxons with Battle-Axes and long Swords whose force and weight their Enemies not being able to sustain were soon put to flight Now as touching the Land thus given to Hengist Cambden gives us this Relation out of our Annals Hengist having subdu'd the Picts besides large Possessions conferr'd on him in other places requested Vortigern to bestow upon him in that Province so much ground as he could encompass with an Oxes-Hide which being obtain'd he cut it into Thongs extreamly Thinn and with it encompass'd a great Territory in the midst of which he built a Castle which by the Name perpetuates the memory thereof for it is call'd Thong-Castle As Carthage for many Ages remain'd a witness of Dido's Fraud for by thesame slight she obtain'd the Seat where she built that City so does this Castle still offer to our memories the Simplicity of the Britains and Craft of the Saxons such a gift could not satisfie the Ambition of Hengist whose aim was to be Master of the whole Island The subtile man therefore presuming of the Kings Friendship and easiness thus address'd to him My Lord the King you see how your Enemies disquiet you on all sides if you please therefore we will send into our Country for the increase of our numbers with new Recruits The King commanded him to do so withour delay that he might be freed from the fear of his Enemies Hengist sends Messengers accordingly who quickly return'd with 18 Ships laden with Soldiers and not with Soldiers only but with a fair Lady the Daughter of Hengist whose Beauty and Flatteries so bewitch'd the King that to please her he betray'd both his Faith and Kingdom Malmsburiensis reports this Rowena the Daughter of Hengist To be for Beauty the Miracle of Nature admir'd by all that look'd
the Regal Authority Some Writers affirm He dy'd a Natural Death others say He dy'd by Poison administred to him by his Mother-in-Law Rowena into whose mind the Devil suggested to cause a Servant of his to give him Poison which he having drunk and perceiving the approach of Death he divided his Treasures among his Soldiers earnestly exhorting them to Fight Couragiously for their Country Moreover He commanded a Pyramid of Brass to be made and plac'd in the Haven where the Saxons usually landed upon which Pyramid his Body should be laid that the Enemies seeing the Body of so Valorous a Prince might be frighted back into their own Country More probable it is that he intended his Statue should be plac'd on the Pyramid for being a Christian Prince he was Decently and Solemnly Buried after the Christian manner And it is said He was Buried in the City of the Trinobantes now London and with him was Buried the Crown and Glory of the British Nation Beside his Courage he is said to be Eminent in other Virtues especially Piety and some say In his War against the Saxons he bore in his Ensign the Image of our Lord Jesus Christ To which Devotion of his we may impute his Victories or at least to his Pious and Charitable care in restoring the Churches destroy'd by the Saxons The year after Vortimer's death Hengist return'd out of Germany with greater Forces and took a firmer possession of his Kentish Kingdom and for the better Establishment of his Family therein joyn'd his Son Aesca with him in the Regal Power To oppose them the Britains invade his Country with a great Army consisting of four great Bodies Conducted by four Valiant Captains but when the Conflict was begun at Creganford the Britains found themselves too weak for the Saxons which were new Recruited with great numbers of chosen Robustious Soldiers who with their Swords and Battle-Axes cleft asunder the Bodies of the Britains Yet did they not give ground till their four Captains were slain but afterwards were so terrified that they fled as far as London and never after had the Courage to bring an Army into Kent again so that Hengist and his Son quietly enjoy'd that Kingdom fixing their Palace at Canterbury Thus began this new Kingdom of Kent in the eighth year after the Arrival of the Saxons in Britain It is not probable that this exalting of Vortimer was any Deposal of his Father for Vortimer being Dead his Father continu'd King and for a while gave proof of his Courage in repressing the Ambition and Violence of Hengist though after he return'd to his former Licentious Slothfulness Now during these Wars Hengist is recorded to have exercis'd extream Cruelty in all places where his Armies came and especially in Kent against Priests and Holy Virgins great numbers of which he caus'd to be Massacred Demolishing Churches and Profaning Altars Among the Victims of his Barbarous Cruelty the memory of Voadinus Arch-Bishop of London only remains in our English Martyrology who being a man of great Sanctity reprov'd Vortigern for repudiating his Lawful Wife and Marrying an Infidel which so inflam'd Hengist with rage that he commanded the Holy Bishop with many other Priests and Religious men to be slain Gildas declares That great numbers of Bishops and Priests were Massacred by this Saxon King And St. Bede relates more particularly the Rapines Cruelties and Devastations of this Impious King wherewith he miserably fill'd the whole Island The year of Grace 461. is noted with an Act of most Perfidious Cruelty perpetrated by this Barbarous Prince His Ambition was not satisfied with the Kingdom of Kent so as he resolv'd to enlarge his bounds in Britain by any means and finding that by exercise of War the British Courage increas'd he therefore turn'd his Thoughts to invent some Stratagem for the compassing his Designes He insinuates himself into the minds of Vortigern and his Nobility as if he were desirous of Peace and Amity with them which if they would grant he would turn his Arms against the Picts and Scots and drive them out of the Island quickly did he obtain belief from the easy Nature of Vortigern whereupon a meeting is appointed between the Britains and Saxons with this caution that each King should be attended with 300 only and those un-arm'd and at this meeting they were to treat of the Conditions of Peace The place appointed for this Fatal Assembly was a Plain near Sorbiodunum or Old Salisbury a City seated in the Province of the Belgae wherein remains a Monument of a Dire Tragedy for both sides being met a great Feast was prepar'd for the Britains at which the Articles of Agreement were to be ratified by mutual Promises and Oaths Towards the end of this Feast when they were dissolv'd in Wine Hengist on a suddain call'd aloud To Arms which was the Watch-word agreed among the Saxons who immediately drew out short Swords conceal'd under their Cloathes and quickly slew their Un-arm'd Guests the Britains Howbeit which is remarkable Eldol the Valiant Consul or Governour of Glocester snatching up a stake by Chance lying near with it slew seventy of the Treacherous Saxons A Monument of this Barbarous Tragedy not long after rais'd by the Britains continues to this day and is Vulgarly call'd Stone-henge Upon Salisbury-Plain where in a space of ground compass'd with a Ditch are placed as in a three-fold Crown Stones of an incredible vastness some of them 28 foot in hight and 7 in breadth over many of which other great Stones are plac'd a-cross Cambden believes That this Monument was rais'd in memory of this Treachery by Ambrosius Aurelianus or his Brother Vterpendragon by the help and Art of Merlin the famous Magician though others deliver that it was a Magnificent Sepulcher rais'd for Ambrosius himself slain near this place from whom the Town of Ambresbury-not far distant took its Name In this Slaughter the Saxons took Vortigern Prisoner and the year following bound him with Chains threatning Death unless he would deliver up 38 of his Cities and Strong-holds Vortigern to save his Life quickly yielded to their demands which being confirm'd by Oath they gave him his Liberty And first they seiz'd upon the City of London then York and Lincoln and then Winchester All which adjoyning Provinces they wasted killing the Inhabitants They Levell'd with the ground all Churches and Buildings belonging to Ecclesiastical Persons kill'd the Priests near the Altars burn'd all Books of Holy Scripture and heap'd Earth on the Sepulchres of Martyrs Religious men to escape their fury were sain to fly into Desarts Woods and Rocks carrying with them the Relicks of Saints And as for Vortigern seeing this horrible destruction he retir'd into the North part of Wales and there inclos'd himself in a Town call'd Genorium Now the three Provinces with which Vortigern redeem'd his Life are with more probability express'd by Malmsburiensis in this manner Of old saith he the Eastern and Southern Saxons with the
both the King and his Castle were consum'd so as his Body was never after seen Vortigern thus remov'd the whole Power of the Kingdom was devolv'd upon Ambrosius by the Unanimous Consent of the whole Nation For which purpose saith Sir Henry Spelman a Council or Assembly was call'd about the Mountains of Erir in North-wales by which he was exalted to the Royal Dignity In the year 465 or in the year following How Happy this change was will appear by what follows for Ambrosius as soon as he was plac'd in the Throne imploy'd himself in repairing Churches which had been ruin'd He was indeed a Prince Magnificent in his Gifts Sedulous in the Worship of God averse from Flatteries a Valiant Soldier and very Skilful in Commanding an Army and for these Virtues was famous in far distant Regions and being so renown'd a Prince he may possibly be the same Ambrosius mention'd by Eugypius in the Life of St. Severine wherein he intimates That the Holy Bishop finding favour from Odoacer whose Reign in Italy he had fore-told requested the King to free a person call'd Ambrosius from Banishment And truly Baronius citing this passage is of the same opinion several years pass'd after Ambrosius attain'd the Throne either in Peace or without any considerable War between the Britains and Saxons During this calm St. Patrick who many years before return'd out of Ireland dy'd in his Solitary retreat at Glastonbury in the Antiquities whereof we may find That after the Death of Vortigern Aurelius Ambrosius raign'd and then it was that St. Patrick the Apostle of Ireland and first Abbot of Avallonia after he instructed his Brethren in Regular Discipline and competently enrich'd that Monastery with Possessions procur'd from Kings and Princes yielded to nature in the 39th year after his return to that Island and was buried in the Old Church on the Right-hand of the Altar by direction of an Angel a great flame in the sight of all breaking forth in the same place The Irish Writers will needs have it that St. Patrick's Body reposes in the Church of Down-Patrick in Ireland on whose side St. Bernard seems to be in his Life of St. Malachias where he intimates That St. Patrick 's Body rests in the See of Armagh accompanied with those of St. Columbanus and St. Bridget The difference may easily be decided for no doubt but some considerable Relicks of his Sacred Body at the request of the Irish have been deposited at Down aforesaid a world of Examples of the like Errour being extant in Ecclesiastical History The space of eight years being compleat after the Battle of Whippedsflet Hengist took up Arms against the Britains and once more discomfited them carrying away immense Spoils The Truth is in these days sometime the Britains and sometime their Enemies had the Victory so that Hengist perceiving that with those Forces which he had he could make little progress against so Valiant a Captain as Ambrosius nor hardly maintain the Provinces given to him by Vortigern sent for new and greater Supplies out of Germany whereupon a famous Saxon call'd Ella with his three Sons Cymen Pleting and Cissa and a numerous Army took Sea and by the direction of Hengist bent their course towards Sussex and landed at Cymen-Shore so call'd from Ella's Eldest Son. Now while the Saxons were landing the Britains rais'd a loud Cry at which a World of People repair'd to them from the places adjacent and straight a Combat began the Saxons men of great Stature and Courage receiv'd the Britains Politickly and they as Imprudently set upon their Enemies for coming in loose Companies one after another they were easily slain by the Saxons who kept themselves together in close Bodies So as the Britains who still came in to Aid their Country-men were suddainly discourag'd by the noise they heard of the formers Defeat They were all therefore put to flight as far as a Wood call'd Andredsleige so as the Saxons possess'd themselves of the Sea-coast of Sussex every day by little and little enlarging their limits until the ninth year after their coming In which ninth year whilst Ella and his company boldly enter'd further into the Country the Princes and Nobles of the Britains met in Arms at a place call'd Mercredeburn and Fought against the Saxons The Victory was doubtful for on both sides the Armies were much impair'd and broken So as each of them retir'd back to their own quarters Matthew of Westminster saith That Ella and his Sons were forc'd to forsake the Field and fearing his strength not enough to make good his present Conquests much less to enlarge them sent into Germany for new Supplies which being arriv'd he continu'd his Progress in gaining more Territories 'till he establish'd a new Kingdom of South-Saxons Now while Aurelius Ambrosius imploy'd his Forces in repressing those Southern-Saxons Hengist having left his Kingdom of Kent well guarded took a Journey into the Northern Provinces where joyning with the Picts and Scots he took many Cities and Towns before the Britains could oppose him and for Security of his Conquests he built many Castles and Strong-holds but demolish'd all Churches wheresoever he came King Ambrosius being inform'd hereof with great Courage as in Gods Cause march'd after him and beholding as he pass'd on his Journey the Towns laid waste and the lamentable ruines of the Churches with the Miseries of the poor People he could not as is said refrain from Weeping Whereupon by Vow He promis'd Almighty God that if he Would render him Victorious over the Saxons all the ruin'd Churches he would re-build and restore How this Pious Vow was approv'd by God let the success demonstrate Ambrosius now resolv'd to provoke the Saxons to a Combat found Hengist with his Forces beyond Humber who intended to set upon the Britains in a Field call'd Maisbely through which Ambrosius was to pass whom he hop'd to find unprovided But the British King had notice of this design and prevented it However the two Armies met in good order and a fierce Battle began between them much Blood was shed on both sides At last Hengist perceiving his Army to give ground and the Britains to prevail fled to a Town nam'd Cair-conan now Cuningsbury but considering the weakness of that Town he betook himself to the Swords and Spears of his Soldiers Ambrosius pursued him and by the way put all the Saxons he found to the Sword and having obtain'd a great Victory gave devout Praise and Glory to the God of Heaven Hengist indeed Fortified his Camp the best he could near the said Town but in a few days was forc'd to come to a Battle before his Camp which prov'd fatal to him and his for the greatest part of his Army was cut in pieces and himself taken Prisoner and Beheaded by the Brittains This Battle was Fought on the bank of the River Don. The manner how Hengist was taken is thus related The Valorous Duke or Consul of Glocester Eldoll was very desirous
to cope with Hengist and therefore with the Forces under his command furiously piercing into the Enemies Squadrons found him at last and laying hold on the fore-part of his Helmet with main force drew him within his own Troops saying God hath at last fulfill'd my desire He it is who hath given us the Victory Vpon this the Saxons fled Octa the Son of Hengist to York Esca and not a few with him betook themselves to the City of Acluid After this Victory Ambrosius took the City Caerconan which he enter'd Triumphantly Then Ambrosius calling his Captains together commanded them to Decree what should become of Hengist whereupon Eldad Bishop of Glocester and Brother of Eldol impos'd Silence on them all and gnashing his Teeth for rage told them Though all there present had a desire to set him free I my self would cut him in pieces Why saith he do you delay O Effeminate Britains did not Samuel a Prophet having taken the King of Amalec Prisoner in Battle cut him in pieces one Limb after another saying As thou hast made many Mothers Childless so will I make thy Mother Childless this day Do you therefore deal in the same manner with this Barbarous King who is another Agag and hath depriv'd a world of British Mothers of their Children When Eldad had thus said He drew his Sword and leading Hengist out of the City cut off his Head sending his wretched Soul to Hell. Whether this Speech or Action became a Christian Bishop I must leave to Graver Judgments Ambrosius thus Triumphing was not unmindful of his Vow but took care to repair the Houses of God which had been lately destroy'd and placing in them Priests and other Clergy-men he reduc'd the Divine Service to its Pristine order and where ever he found any Idols or Temples of False Gods he defac'd them utterly out of the memory of men He Studiously observ'd Justice and Peace especially as to Ecclesiastical persons on whom he liberally confer'd Revenues injoyning them to Pray for the King and state of Gods Church Hengist thus dead his Son Aesca by Bede nam'd Oisc succeeded in the Kingdom of Kent and from him his Successors were call'd Oisckings what became of his Brother Otta who was said to fly to York can no where be found in any Antient Writer and therefore little Credit is to be given to what is reported of him by some late Writers That Ambrosius should bestow upon him the Province of Galloway in Scotland which was not in his disposal The same year wherein Hengist was slain the Holy Virgin St. Bridget came out of Ireland into Britain to obtain some Relicks of her Dear and Honour'd Patron St. Patrick whose Disciple she had been and a great admirer of his Sanctity She stay'd here some years in a small Island near Glastonbury call'd Bekery where was an Oratory Consecrated to the Honour of St. Mary Magdalen afterward leaving behind her Scrip Chain Bell and other Vestments of her own wearing which for the memory of her Sanctity were there repos'd she return'd to Ireland where not long after she rested in our Lord and was Buried in the City of Down Concerning her we may thus read in the Martyrologies This day the first of February is Celebrated the memory of the Blessed Virgin St. Bridget who in Testimony of her Virginity having touch'd the Wood of an Altar it became presently green She is said to have out-liv'd St. Patrick only 30 years In the English Martyrology there is a Commemoration of a British Martyr call'd St. Sophias whose death is assign'd to the 490 year of our Lord He was the Son of Guilleicus Prince of the Ordovices or North-Wales and undertook a Monastical Profession in a Monastery Built by himself in the same Province He had such Devotion to our Lords Passion that he made three Pilgrimages to Jerusalem to visit the Marks and Foot-steps of it A great Veneration also he had for Rome and those places which had been Consecrated by the Blood of the two Princes of the Apostles Being at Rome he was by the Bishop thereof Consecrated Bishop of Beneventum which See he govern'd with Prudence and Sanctity till at last he was slain by an Impious Pagan at the Holy Altar while he was Celebrating the Mystery of our Redemption No less famous at this time was the Holy British Virgin St. Keyna Illustrious she was for her Birth being the Daughter of Braganus Prince of that Province in Wales which from him was call'd Brecknokshire but more Illustrious for her Zeal to preserve her Chastity for which she was call'd in the British Tongue Keynvayre that is Keyna the Virgin This Prince Braganus or Brachanus is said to have had twelve Sons and as many Daughters by his Lady call'd Macella Daughter of Theodoric Son of Tethphalt Prince of Garthmatrin afterward nam'd Brecknock their first born Son was St. Canoc of whom more hereafter their eldest Daughter was Gladus Mother of Cadocus by St. Gunley a Holy King of the Southern Britains their second Daughter was Melaria or Nonita the Mother of the Holy Archbishop St. David mention will be made hereafter of Almedha another of their Daughters As for St. Keyna when she came to ripe years many Noble persons sought her in Marriage but she utterly refus'd that state having Consecrated her Virginity to our Lord by a perpetual Vow at length she determin'd to forsake her Country and find out some Desert place where she might attend to Contemplation wherefore directing her Journey beyond Severn and coming to certain Woody places She requested the Prince of that Country that she might be permitted to serve God in that Solitude The Prince was willing to grant her request only he told her The place did so swarm with Serpents that neither Men nor Beasts could inhabit in it To which she reply'd That her Trust was fix'd in the Name and Assistance of Almighty God and therefore she doubted not to drive all that Poisonous brood out of that Region Hereupon the place was readily granted to the Holy Virgin who prostrating her self to God in fervent Prayer obtain'd of him to change all the Serpents and Vipers there into Stones so as to this day the Stones in that Region resemble the Windings of Serpents through all the Fields and Villages as if they had been so fram'd by the Hand of the Engraver Cambden gives some account of this Miracle On the Western Banks of Avon saith he is seen the Town of Cainsham some are of Opinion that it was nam'd so from Keyna a most Holy British Virgin who according to the Credulous perswasion of former Ages is believ'd to have turn'd Serpents into Stones for that such like Miracles of sporting Nature are there sometimes found in the Quarries I my self saith he saw a Stone brought from thence representing a Serpent roll'd up into a Spire The Head of it stuck out in the outward Surface and the end of the Tayl terminated in the Center Many years
numbers of Devout men to embrace a Caenobitical Life Of this Bishop Nennion we read in the Life of St. Finanus That he having been in his Childhood instructed by St. Coleman was afterward recommended to the care of Nennion when he came into Ireland and return'd with Nennion into Scotland and there Learn'd of him the Rules of a Monastical Life at his See call'd the great Monastery Finanus there also studied the Holy Scriptures and by invoking the Name of Christ is said to have wrought many Miracles And having been thus instructed by Nennion he took a Journey to the See Apostolick there to supply his defects in saving knowledge seven years he continu'd at Rome daily advancing in Sacred Science and then ascended to the degree of Priesthood This Nennion in probability was one of those who interceded with King Arthur and about the same time that St. Finanus liv'd under his Discipline I shall pass by the Death of Guenevera King Arthur's Wife and his second Marriage with great Solemnities at the sametime with the Prodigious Victories ascrib'd to him by some of our Writers in Forreign parts and proceed to other transactions more probable occurring in his time In the year 527. two new Kingdoms were Erected in Britain without any disturbance from King Arthur in the Eastern Provinces of Norfolk Suffolk and Cambridgeshire the Kingdom of the East-Angles was Establish'd and in Midlesex and Essex the Kingdom of the East-Saxons Which of these Kingdoms were first Erected is uncertain but both without doubt much about the same time The first King of the East-Saxons is believ'd to be Erkenwin the Son of Offa and the Kingdom of the East-Angles is thought to begin under Vffa from whom the succeeding Kings were Antiently call'd Vffings The year following the Isle of Wight by the Britains call'd Guith which signifies a divorce or renting asunder and by the Saxons Witland was Conquer'd by King Cerdic and given to his Nephews Stuffa and Whitgar But while Cerdic busied himself about the Invasion of the Isle of Wight St. David Bishop of Menevia Assembled a Provincial Synod call'd the Synod of Victory wherein all the Clergy of Wales or Cambria met together and confirm'd the former Decrees of the Synod of Brevy and added new ones for the Churches benefit from which two Synods all the Churches of Cambria receiv'd their Ecclesiastical Orders which also were confirm'd by the Authority of the Roman Church These Decrees were committed to Writing with his own hand and reserv'd in his own Church the Copies thereof being communicated to other Churches in that Province all which with many other Treasures of that Noble Library furnish'd by him have been lost partly by Age and Negligence but principally by the Incursions of Pirats who from the Isles of Orkney every Summer us'd to waste the Sea-Coasts of Cambria This loss indeed is to be deplor'd since by those Records we might have perfectly understood the state of the British Churches However we are assur'd that those Churches were regulated according to the Roman and practic'd the same both in Doctrine and Discipline and consequently that St. Augustine sent after to Convert the Saxons brought no Novelties with him since St. Gregory who sent him was exalted to St. Peter's Chair not above 60 years after this Synod It is written in the Life of St. Kined That when St. David had publish'd his Edicts for assembling this Vniversal Councel of Cambria he humbly invited St. Kined to it who excus'd his not coming in regard that for his sins he was become distorted and crooked in his Body and was besides unable to undertake such a Journey Whereupon it is said that St. Kined by the Prayers of St. David was restor'd to Heath and straightness and by his own Prayers reduc'd again to his Infirmity and Crookedness Whether this were so or no certain it is that this St. Kined fill'd Britain with the fame of his Sanctity He liv'd a Solitary Anachoretical Life in the Province now call'd Glamorganshire probably in the same place where yet remains a Chappel call'd St. Keneth's Chappel left as a Monument of his Sanctity as Cambden witnesses The Celebrating this Synod is the last publick Action we find recorded of St. David He would not accept of Metropolitical Jurisdiction but upon condition that he might transfer the See from Caerleon to Menevia a place of Remoteness and Solitude and in the Neighbourhood of many Saints and Religious Persons in the Islands and Territory adjoyning and therefore most acceptable to him Which Translation was approv'd by King Arthur and the Synod not then dissolv'd This Menevia is seated in the Province of the Dimetae now Pembrokeshire adjoyning to the most remote Province of Britain where the Soyl is Stony and Barren neither Cloathed with Wood nor interlac'd with Rivers nor adorn'd with Meadows but expos'd to the Sun and Windes yet with this Penury the Antient Saints and Bishops were best contented accounting the remoteness from Worldly Tumults and noise to recompense sufficiently all such Incommodities This Menevia or as the Britains call'd it Menew was in memory of this Holy Bishop nam'd by the Converted Saxons David Minster and by the Britains Twy Davy that is David's House and at this day St. Davids The Bishop whereof was for many Ages the Metropolitan of Cambria but at length became subject to Canterbury Notwithstanding the Inhabitants of Wales since the Norman Conquest commenc'd a Suit against the Arch-bishop of Canterbury for their former Right and Independance but the Cause was judg'd against them The Pastoral care and Zeal of St. David in maintaining the Catholick Faith against Heresies especially against Pelagianism and Ecclesiastical Discipline against Vices and Disorders was signally approv'd and manifested in the Synod of Victory Assembled by him ten years after his Consecration Neither was this his Pastoral care confin'd to his own Province but extended it self abroad also even to Ireland from whence he was often visited and consulted by Devout men In those days it was a frequent custom amongst the Irish-men to go in Pilgrimage and their Devotion was to visit the Monuments of the Apostles in Rome Amongst the rest one Barro an Abbot in the Province of Cork went thither and in his return pass'd by Menevia where he staid for the accommodation of a Ship and Wind. And indeed it was the practice of Devout Irish-men either in their going or returning to seek the Conversation of the Holy Bishop David whose Name like a precious fragrant Oyntment was spread all abroad It appears by Bishop Vsher's Catalogue that Irish Saints were to be sorted into several Orders according to the times wherein they liv'd The first Order Was of such as liv'd either Contemporaries with St. Patrick or presently after him The second Order Contain'd such Saints as liv'd about this Age such as were St. Finanus call'd by the Irish Fin and by the Britains Gain or Win St. Brendon c. It is said the Saints of
the second Order receiv'd the right Order of Celebrating Mass out of Britain from Holy men there living as St. David St. Gildas and St. Doc Moreover St. David sent over some of his Disciples into Ireland who grew famous for their Learning and Sanctity of whom the most Illustrious was St. Aedan call'd by the Irish St. Madoc After he grew renown'd for his Piety and Miracles he built at length a Monastery near the City of Fernes where having collected a great number of Devout Brethren he Consecrated himself to the Service of God living according to the form and rule which he had receiv'd from his Pious Father St. David the same which was observ'd by the Monks in Aegypt This St. Aedan was afterwards Bishop of Fernes and Metropolitan of Leinster while St. David liv'd whom he us'd to consult in Affairs of difficulty After many years spent by the Holy Bishop David in the exercise of all Christian Virtues it pleas'd Almighty God in love to him and just anger to the Ungrateful Britains to translate this burning and shining Light from Earth to Heaven there to shine in Glory to all Eternity According to the best account He dy'd in the year of Grace 544. having liv'd 82 years though some writers affirm him to have liv'd much longer It is said That when the hour of his Dissolution approach'd the Angel of the Lord appear'd to him saying The day so much desir'd by thee is now at hand prepare thy self for on the Calends of March our Lord Jesus Christ attended with a multitude of Angels will come to meet thee Whereupon the Holy man of God said O Lord dismiss now thy Servant in Peace The Brethren who assisted him having heard the sound of these words but not well understanding the sense fell Prostrate to the ground in great fear Then the Holy Bishop cry'd with a loud voice Lord Jesus Christ receive my Spirit Vpon this the Brethren pour'd forth loud Complaints but he asswag'd their sorrow with mild and comfortable words exhorting them to be constant in their good profession and unanimously to bear to the end that yoak which they had undergone and to observe and fulfill whatever they had seen or heard from him and from that hour to the day of his death he remain'd in the Church exhorting and encouraging them But when the hour of his departure was come our Lord Jesus Christ vouchsafed his presence as he had promis'd by his Angel to the infinite Consolation of the Holy Father who at the Heavenly sight exalted in Spirit cry'd out O my Lord take me after thee With which words in our Lords company he gave up his Spirit to God upon the Calends fore-mention'd and being associated to a troop of Angels mounted up to Heaven with them The Death of this Holy Bishop is said to have been divulg'd by an Angel and in an Instant spread through all Britain and Ireland That this was so seems to be confirm'd by a passage in the Life of St. Kentigern of whom it is said That having one day continu'd his Prayers with more then ordinary Devotion his face seem'd as on fire the sight whereof fill'd the by-standers with great amazement when Prayers were ended the Saint began to lament bitterly and when his Disciples demanded a reason of his sorrow he sate a while silent and at last said My dear Children know for certain that the Holy Bishop David the Glory of Britain the Father of his Country is this day dead he has escap'd out of the Prison of his Body and is flown to Heaven Believe me I my self have seen a multitude of Angels conducting him into the Joy of our Lord and our Lord himself at the Entrance of Paradice hath Crown'd him with Glory and Honour Know also that Britain which is depriv'd of so great a Light will a long time mourn for the Absence of such a Patron who oppos'd himself to the Sword of our Lord when it was half drawn out for the destruction of that Nation in revenge of their Sins and Impenitence Now will God deliver up Britain to a strange Nation which know him not and Pagans shall enjoy the land of its Inhabitants Christian Religion shall be utterly dissipated in it 'till the time prefix'd by God be ended But after that it shall through the Mercies of our Lord be restor'd to its former state yea to a far better and more Happy St. David was Buried in his own Church of Menevia which he had lov'd above all Monasteries of his Diocess because St. Patrick who had Prophesied of his Nativity had been Founder of it And also indeed he was bury'd there by the command of Malgo King of the Venedatae But after 500 years he was Solemnly Canoniz'd by Pope Calixtus the second This Church at first was Dedicated to St. Andrew but after took St. David for its Patron and the whole Diocess was thence call'd St. David's The memory of his Sanctity was so precious that within a few years after his Death the visiting of his Church prov'd a great Devotion of those times St. Oudoceus Successor of St. Thelian in the Bishoprick of Landaff after a Pilgrimage to visit the Monuments of the Holy Apostles at Rome made another to this Church of St. David and after when any one had a desire to go in Devotion to Rome and was hindred by dangers or difficulties he might equal the merit of such a Pilgrimage by twice visiting this Church of St. David perhaps as a compensation allow'd by the Pope St. Kinoc or Cenac was St. David's Successor translated thither from the See of St. Patern of whom and other Successors in the See of St. David little is found To keep the story of this worthy Bishop entire some interruption may be observ'd to have been made in the order of Time. It is therefore requisite to return to its due course In the year of Grace 532. Otta King of Kent dy'd leaving his Son Irmeric Successor in his Kingdom who was Illustrious for nothing more than that he was the Father of Ethelbert the first Christian King among the Saxons Two years after dy'd also Cerdic King of the West-Saxons in the 16th year of his Reign to whom succeeded his Son Kenric in all his Dominions except the Isle of Wight which he left to his Sisters Son Whitgar whom he lov'd especially for his Military Skill The great Commotions in Britain and Cruelty of the Saxons compell'd many to seek the means of serving God abroad amongst whom was a Holy Priest call'd John who retir'd to Tours in France there to live in Prayers and Solitude but after his Death his Sanctity by the good pleasure of God was made known by a Miracle thus related by that famous Bishop St. Gregory of Tours Not far from the Church of Caion saith he rests the Body of a Priest Nam'd John by Nation a Britain who living here with great Devotion and Sanctity Our Lord was pleas'd by him Miraculously to
English Upon which the Holy Pope perceiving that he was a sincere man of God confirm'd his Consecration knowing it came from God. Moreover at the earnest request of St. Kentigern though with some unwillingness he condescended to supply those small defects which were in his Consecration and so dismist him to the work of his Ministry enjoyn'd him by the Holy-Ghost So that it appears nothing essentially necessary in this Consecration was omitted because the Holy Pope supply'd the defects meerly upon importunity The greatest fault the Holy Bishop could impute to himself was his being Consecrated by one only Bishop against the express Canon of a General Councel though indeed considering the danger and unquietness of the times if the words of the Canon were transgress'd yet the intent was not as not obliging to Impossibilities And this sense of the Canon appears by the Resolution of St. Gregory to St. Augustine That he being the only Bishop in the Church of the Angli might himself alone ordain other Bishops It is said of this St. Kentigern That during the whole course of his Life his custom was to eat only every third day and sometimes every fourth his food was Bread Milk Cheese and Butter He always abstain'd from Flesh and Wine or any other Drink which could Distemper Next his skin he wore a very rough Hair-cloath and over that a Garment made of Goat-skins together with a close Cowle and his uppermost cloathing was a white Albe He always wore a Stole and carried a Pastoral Staff or Crosier not Spherical Gilded or set with precious Stones but of simple Wood bowing back at the Top and in his Hand he ever held a Book thus was he always in readiness to exercise his Function whenever necessity or reason requir'd He lay in a stone Chest made hollow like a Biere under his Head lay a stone and under his body were cast Cinders and Cilice of Hair in which posture with some unwillingness he admitted a short sleep after which he would plunge himself into Cold Water and so recite the whole Psalter This practice neither Snow nor Rain interrupted nor any thing but Sickness or Journeying He six'd his Episcopal See in the City of Glasco where he also ordain'd a great Congregation of Religious men who liv'd according to the form of the Primitive Church in community of all things The Infidels in his Diocess he converted to the Faith Apostates and Hereticks by his sound Doctrine he reduc'd to the bosome of our Holy Mother the Church He every where threw down Idols and Images of Devils and built some Churches He distinguish'd Parishes by their certain bounds He was always travelling to gain Souls to God never riding but in imitation of the Apostles always going on foot And because he would not eat his Bread in Idleness his custom was to labour with his hands in Agriculture About this time our famous King Arthur upon some unknown occasion Abroad left the Administration of his Kingdom to his Nephew Mordred Son of Loth King of the Picts by his Sister Mordred in the Absence of his Uncle invades his Throne upon pretence King Arthur was a Bastard and born out of Lawful Marriage To this Treason the Traytor adds the Crime of Incest violently taking his Uncles Wife Queen Guenhumara And to strengthen himself he enter'd into a Confederacy with the King of the West-Saxons to whom he yielded up several Provinces This infamous Crime soon brings King Arthur back into Britain inflam'd with rage against his abominable Kinsman Mordred was prepared to hinder his landing where a Cruel Battle was fought between them in which Auguselus King of Albania and Walwan another Nephew of King Arthur were slain notwithstanding which at last King Arthur with infinite difficulty landed and renewing the Fight made a great slaughter of his Enemies compelling Mordred to fly to Winchester whither he was pursu'd by King Arthur where in a second Battle after much Blood-shed he was again put to flight toward Cornwall But King Arthur not ceasing to follow at last overtook him near the River Camblan where Mordred having rang'd his Forces in a desperate fury rush'd amongst his Enemies resolv'd rather to die then once more to shew his back to them In this Combat which continu'd almost a whole day after horrible Bloodshed on both sides King Arthur with the Courage and fury of a Lyon rush'd into the Troop where he knew Mordred was and making way with his Sword at last with horrible slaughter dispers'd the Enemies There fell the Traytor Mordred and with him several Saxon Commanders Elaphius Egbrith and Bruning and many thousands with them But this Victory cost King Arthur his Life for in the Combat he receiv'd a Mortal Wound and was convey'd by the Charity of a Kins-woman of his a Noble Matron call'd Morganis into the Island of Avallonia now Glastonbury which gave occasion to the foolish British Bards to invent the Story Of Morganis a Faery Goddess who carried the Body of King Arthur into Avallonia by Magick skill with promise to Cure his Wounds and that he should return with his former Strength and Courage to govern the Britains Who for many Ages expected his return as foolishly as the coming of the Messias is look'd for by the Jews When Guenhumara heard of her Husbands return she fled to the City of Caerleon and there took the Habit of a Religious Woman among the Nuns in the Monastery of St. Julius the Martyr The true reason why King Arthur would be carried to the Monastery of Glastonbury doubtless was partly to prepare himself more perfectly for Death in the company and by the assistance of the Holy Monks there and that after his death he might be bury'd among such a world of Saints as repos'd there from the beginning of Christianity The like we read of Constantine who for the like purpose was bury'd in like manner That he might have the Prayers of such as in succeeding Ages should come to visit those Monuments King Arthur before his death gave to that Monastery Brent March Poulden and other Lands besides which the Pagan Angli took away but after being Converted to the Faith restor'd with Advantage King Arthur appointed for his Successor a Kins-man of his call'd Constantine and having recommended himself to the Prayers of the Monks he dy'd Happily and after a Christian manner was bury'd with a Cross His conveyance to Glastonbury was it seems by his own Order and done with all Secresie and by like order his Death and place of Burial studiously conceal'd For says Matthew Paris the King dying was desirous to be hidden least his Enemies should insult and his Friends be molested at so great a Calamity Hence it is that Histories relate little or nothing of his Death and Burial Insomuch as the British Nation out of their Affection to him contend that he is still alive upon which occasion the Prophecy was invented and father'd upon Merlin That he should appear and
by the Prelate of that place he was sent in Mission to the Scots to instruct that Nation in the Doctrine of Christ where he suffer'd Martyrdom by the hands of some Impious persons Some Ages after he became Venerated as a Saint and by Authority of succeeding Bishops Temples were Dedicated to his Honour which yet remain in that Nation To confirm this we read in the Life of St. David That when St. David 's Holiness was spread abroad several Princes forsaking their Kingdoms retir'd to his Monastery And that Constantine King of the Cornish-men or Danmonii forsaking his Throne became a Monk there and after some time spent in the Service of God at last went into a far distant Country where he built a Monastery Now it will be time to relate the great Affliction and Persecution which befell the famous and Holy Bishop St. Kentigern in the second year of Constantine Certain Sons of Belial Kinsmen to King Mark rose against the Saint conspiring his death whereupon being admonish'd by Divine Revelation he departed directing his Journey to Menevia where the Holy Bishop David flourish'd with all Virtues near Gaerleon he Converted many to the Faith and built a Church Being come to St. David he abode with him some time and receiv'd from the Prince of that Region Cathwallam a place commodious for a Monastery which having Erected at Egla Elwy he fix'd there an Episcopal See Near that place there was a Nobleman which often threatn'd and endeavour'd to expel him from thence whom God therefore smote with Blindness but upon the Holy Bishops Prayers his Sight was restor'd for which he became ever after Helper and Protector to the Bishop There were Assembled in that Monastery no fewer then 945 Brethren who all liv'd under Monastical Discipline serving God with great Abstinence of which number 300. who were Illiterate he appointed to Tilling the Ground and Guard of the Cattle out of the Monastery other 300. he assign'd for preparing Nourishment and performing other necessary Works within the Monastery and 365. who were Learn'd he deputed to the Celebrating Divine Offices daily Not any of which without great necessity would he permit to go out of the Monastery but ordain'd them to attend there continually as in Gods Sanctuary And this part of the Convent he divided so into Troops and Companies that when one had finish'd the Service of God in the Church another presently enter'd and began it again which being ended a third without any delay enter'd By this means Prayers were offer'd in that Church without intermission and the Praises of God were always in their Mouths Among these there was one nam'd Asaph more especially Illustrious for his Descent and Form who from his Childhood shone brightly both by Virtues and Miracles and daily endeavour'd to imitate his Master in all Sanctity and Abstinence To him this man of God bore ever after a particular Affection and committed the care of the Monastery to his Prudence and at last appointed him his Successor in the Bishoprick As touching the fore-mention'd Noble-man who oppos'd this Holy Bishop it is written to this effect That St. Kentigern at first built a Church of Wood and Lime but after he renew'd it of Stone although he was therein much hindred and molested by a Prince nam'd Malgo or Maglocun whose dwelling was six Miles thence at Deganwy but after being asswag'd he permitted him to place there an Episcopal See on which he bestow'd both ample Possessions and Priviledges as he did also upon the Monastery The See is by some call'd Elguy or Llanelwy so nam'd from the River Elwy over which it is seated St. Kentigern being the first Bishop thereof But in succeeding times it was call'd St. Asaph from the next succeeding Bishop Of this Prince Malgo more hereafter St. Kentigern's Life was prolong'd till after St. Augustine the Monks coming into Britain yet because his future Actions do not much relate to the general Affairs of the British Churches we may well in this place sum up the remainder of his Life He remain'd in Cambria seventeen years exercising most perfectly the Functions both of an Abbot and after of a Bishop at Elwy till in the end he was re-call'd to his first Bishoprick at Glasco in this admirable manner After that all his Enemies in Cambria had been consum'd by divers Calamities and Diseases the Inhahitants of that Region from whence he had been so long Exild through his Absence had forsaken the way of the Lord which he had taught them and were return'd to their Idolatry like Dogs to their Vomit which Apostacy of theirs it pleas'd God to puntsh by a grievous Famine the Earth the Sea and all the Elements refusing their accustom'd aid and comfort to them But at length our Lord was pleas'd to raise up a good King in that Region nam'd Rederech who had been Baptiz'd by some of the Disciples of St. Patrick and who was very desirous to restore the Faith of Christ in his Kingdom for which purpose he directed Messengers with Letters to St. Kentigern wherein he acquainted the Saint That the men who sought his Life were dead and besought him that he would no longer be absent from his flock for which he was oblig'd to Sacrifice his Life St. Kentigern having receiv'd the Message prepar'd for his return and having appointed St. Asaph his Successor in the Bishoprick of Elwy he attended with 600 of his Brethren took his Journey to the Region of the Cambrians and was met by the Devout King and great numbers of his People giving Thanks to God for his Presence upon whom the Holy man pronounced a solemn Benediction After this he cry'd with a loud voice In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ I command all those who envy the Salvation of men and resist the Preaching of Gods word to depart presently from hence that they may be no hinderance to those who shall believe Having said thus immediately in the sight of all an innumerable multitude of wicked Spirits horrible to behold both for their Stature and Shapes fled away from the Company which caus'd a wonderful Fear and trembling in them But the Holy man encourag'd and comforted them letting them see visibly who they were in whom they had believ'd and by whom they had been induced to Adore dumb Idols or the Elements which were Creatures appointed by God for their Vse and Service And for Woden whom by the Seduction of the Saxons they esteem'd their principal God And to whose Honour they Consecrated the fourth day of the Week he shew'd that he was no better than a Mortal man who had been King of the Saxons and Ancestor to several Nations that his Body was then dissolv'd into Dust and his Soul tormented in Hell fire for ever When he had said this with other Speeches in explanation of the Christian Faith The ground on which he sate in a plain Field call'd Holdelin swell'd up under him in the sight of them all so
that Prince Mouric and this the Crime against which Bishop Oudoceus exercis'd his Spiritual Authority as appears by the Acts of a Synod of Landaff lately rescu'd from Darkness and Worms by our diligent Antiquary Sir Henry Spelman where is declar'd by that Synod assembled by St. Oudoceus third Bishop of Landaff That in the year of Grace 560. Mouric King of Glamorgan for his Perfidious Murdering of Cynetu was Excommunicated King Mauric and Cynetu met together at Landaff and in the presence of St. Oudoceus Swore before the Relicks of Saints there before them that they would observe a firm Peace between them some space after this Solemn Oath King Mauric by Treachery slew Cynetu Whereupon Bishop Oudoceus call'd together all Ecclesiasticks from the mouth of Taratyrenguy to Tivy together with three Abbots Cousen Abbot of the Valley of Garben Cargen Abbot of Ildute and Sulgen Abbot of Docquini and in a full Synod did Excommunicate King Mouric for the Murder by him committed and for Perjury in transgressing the Covenant made in his presence and on the Altar of St. Peter the Apostle and of St. Dubritius and St. Thelian moreover inclining the Crosses toward the ground he interdicted the Countries of Mauric and so dismiss'd the King The Christian Communion also Curs'd the King with his Progeny the whole Synod confirming it saying Let his days be few his Children Orphans and his Wife a Widdow The King remaining with his whole Region the space of two years and more thus Excommunicated After being sensible of the Perdition of his own Soul and the damnation of his whole Kingdom he could no longer sustain so dreadful an Excommunication but humbly beg'd Pardon at Landaff of Bishop Oudoceus who therefore in the presence of three Abbots impos'd on him the yoak of Pennance proportionable to the quality and hainousness of his Crimes the King all the while humbly inclining his Head and shedding Tears abundantly His Pennance was to satisfie God By Fasting Prayers and Alms King Mauric undertook the yoak of Pennance and for the Redemption of his own Soul and the Soul of Cynetu he gave to the Church of Landaff and the Bishops thereof four Villages with their entire liberty free from all service forever with Common through his Country for the Inhabitants of those Villages in all Fields Woods Pastures and Waters These four Villages contain 24 Modii of Land The first is call'd Kirgracnauc the second Nantavo the third a Village beyond Kadava where Cynetu was slain the fourth a Village beyond Nadava call'd Gudberdh This was the form of the first Synod of Landaff out of which we may collect much of the Religion and Discipline of that Age The same Bishop Oudoceus for very like causes Assembled two Synods more extant in Sir Henry Spelman the occasions whereof and proceedings wherein here briefly follow King Morcant and his Vncle Frioc in the presence of St. Oudoceus and the three fore-nam'd Abbots at the Poduim or Church of St. Ildutus took their Oaths at the Holy Altar on which were placed the Relicks of Saints That they would observe Peace and Amity together without any guile adding That if either of them should Kill or commit Treachery against the other he should not redeem his Crime by Money or Lands but should be oblig'd to quit his Kingdom and spend his whole Life in Forreign Pilgrimages A good while after which Covenant made Morcant by the instigation of the Devil slew his Vncle but soon after came to the Holy Bishop Oudoceus and humbly crav'd Pardon for his Homicide and Perjury The Bishop thereupon Assembled a Synod at the Monastery of the Vale of Carban to which came all the Clergy and King Morcant also with the principal persons of Glamorganshire The Synod unwilling to be depriv'd of their Natural Lord gave judgement that the King should redeem his Pilgrimage with Alms Prayers and Fasting which Pennance the King laying his Hands on the four Gospels and Relicks of Saints undertook to perform promising withall that ever after he would in all things mercifully execute Justice The Pennance finish'd and the King restor'd to Christian Communion he presently proclaim'd the Churches of Catoc Ildut and Docunni free from all Regal Service Thus was the second Synod The third was Assembled many years after upon this occasion A certain British Prince nam'd Guidnerth in a Contention for the Principality slew his Brother Mercheen for which he was Excommunicated by St. Oudoceus in a full Synod in testimony of which Excommunication the Crosses were taken down and the Cimbals were turn'd thus he remain'd excluded from Christian Communion for the space of three years at the end of which demanding Pardon he was sent into the lesser Britain to St. Sampson Arch-Bishop of Dole from him to receive judgement and suitable Pennance This was done partly because of the great Amity between these Bishops but chiefly because the same Language being spoken in both Countries he would the more freely discover his fault and require Indulgence for the same This Voyage was undertaken by Guidnerth who having obtain'd Absolution he return'd with Letters Seal'd by St. Sampson before the year was ended but because he had not according to his Injunction remain'd a whole year in Exile the Bishop would not take off his Excommunication presently after St. Oudoceus dy'd to whom Berthguin succeeded in the Bishoprick of Landaff To him King Morcant and Guidnerth made an carnest request to take off the said Excommunication and to raise again from the Earth the Crosses and Cimbals with the Holy Relicks Whereupon after a promise made by Guidnerth to make satisfaction for his Crime by Fasting Prayers and Alms he was at last with great Devotion and many Tears shed Absolv'd by the Bishop After which Guidnerth to testifie his Gratitude gave to the Church of Landaff these Lands Lanu Catigual and Tye with all the Woods and Sea-coasts c. Bishop Godwin affirms this third Synod to be Celebrated by another Bishop of Landaff and that Guidnerth the Fratricide gave Lancadwallader now call'd Bishton or Bishopston to the Church of Landaff Which Mannor he saith is the only Mannor that is left to that See. The Author of the Life of St. Oudoceus relates That he quitted his Pastoral Cure and built a Monastery near the River Weye and there Assembling a great multitude of Brethren spent the remainder of his Life which lasted many years in wonderful Abstinence and Sanctity So as it may seem this third Synod was not held in his days We often have had occasion to draw Testimonies from our famous Historian Gildas Sir-named Badonicus and Sapiens call'd also the Younger Gildas to distinguish him from Gildas Albanius before-mention'd Now because we are come beyond the times of those Princes who have been painted out by him in their foul colours it will be necessary to say what may be found of this our Younger Gildas By his own Testimony he was born in the same year when the great Battle was
Fought at the Mountain call'd Badonicus between the Britains and Saxons in the time of Aurelius Ambrosius to which Mountains the Saxons retiring were Besieged by the Britains and after in a Battle discomfited this happen'd in the year of Grace 493. forty years after the first entrance of the Saxons into Britain This Gildas is affirm'd by the Author of his Life To be the Disciple of Iltutus and leaving him to have gone into Ireland He remain'd four years under the Discipline and Instruction of St. Iltutus and having pass'd through the Schools of many Learned Teachers in Ireland and like a diligent Bee collected the Juice of divers Flowers he laid it up carefully in the Hive of our Mother the Church to the end he might in opportune season pour forth the Mellifluous Doctrine of the Gospel to his own Country-men and thereby draw them out of Misery to Eternal Joyes and like a good Servant restore unto his Lord the Talent entrusted with him In this Island saith Bishop Vsher there flourish'd in this Age the Schools of Armagh wherein the Elder Gildas presided when he Piously labour'd in Cultivating the minds of the Irish in which imployment probably this our Younger Gildas succeeded him and here not only collected sweet Juice but got a sharp sting also which he after darted forth against the Vices of his own Country However in Ireland he restor'd Discipline to the Ecclesiastical Order he gather'd many Congregations of Monks and mercifully deliver'd many Captives from the slavery of Pagans After his return into Britain it seems he found small comfort or encouragement to pour forth the Honey which he had gather'd in Ireland for he found in this Island such Calamities and Confusions their reigning such a Contention of wickedness and misery which should exceed the other that almost his whole imployment was to bewail the approaching destruction of his Country and by publishing the Crimes especially of the Rulers as well in Church as State to justifie the Severity of God being in truth beneath their demerits and provocations Howbeit he was by a double invitation from Ireland interrupted in his sad Thoughts and withdrawn from beholding such mournful Spectacles as every where in Britain offer'd themselves to his Eyes The first Message about the year of our Lord 562. came from persons of quality in Ireland who sent an Epistle to him at the same time he received an Epistle also from St. Columba whom he very much esteem'd for his Sanctity The second Message or invitation was directed to him from a King in Ireland named Ammeric who requested this our Gildas To come to him promising that if he would undertake the Journey and restore to good Order the Ecclesiasticks of his Kingdom wherein generally the Catholick Faith was decay'd both himself and his Subjects would in all things be Obedient to him St. Gildas hearing this like a Valiant Soldier throughly furnish'd with Caelestial Arms presently went into Ireland there to Preach the Gospel of Christ Being come thither he was presented to the King by some Noble persons who were acquainted with him The King gave him many gifts and intreated him to stay some time and restore Order to that Region because the Inhabitants had in a manner lost the Christian Faith St. Gildas as thereupon Travelling through all the Provinces of Ireland restor'd Churches instructed the Clergy in the true Faith and Worship of the Holy Trinity Cured those who had been Poison'd with Heresy and expell'd all Teachers of Errour So that by his zeal and diligence Truth became again to flourish in the Country After this the Holy man built many Monasteries in the Country and instructed the Children of the Nobility in Learning and Piety and to win the greater number to the service of God he himself became a Monk and brought to the same Profession very many as well of the Nobility as others and also he compassionately freed many poor Christians from the slavery of Infidels and so became a second Apostle to Ireland repairing the ruines of that Faith which St. Patrick first Preach'd amongst them Now whereas it is said that the first Epistle to St. Gildas was brought by Faithful men it is very probable that the Holy Abbot Komgall was one of those Faithful men How long St. Gildas abode in Ireland is uncertain but it is certain that the great work he there perform'd could not be compleated in a short time and yet that he return'd into Britain where he dy'd in a good Old Age in the Monastery of Banchor after he had liv'd ninety years What Bishop Vsher refers to the former St. Gildas may reasonably be apply'd to this latter namely that St. Brendan the Son of Finloga in the year of our Lord 562. came into Britain to visit the Holy old man Gildas famous for his Wisdom this our latter Gildas at that time being above 70. years old In the year of Grace 561. Irmeric King of Kent dy'd after he had raign'd 30. years leaving behind him a Son and Daughter his Son and Successors Name was Ethelbert his Daughters Ricula This is that famous Ethelbert who according to his Name was the Glory and Splendor of this Nation who had the first Prerogative among the Saxons of receiving and propagating the Christian Faith. Some disposition thereunto began it seems in his Fathers time who permitted at least a private exercise of Christian Religion Thirty years of Ethelbert's reign were never the less spent before it was openly profess'd during which time he was frequently exercis'd in War wherein at first he sustain'd great losses which after he repair'd by many Victories with which he much enlarg'd the limits of his Dominions In the third year of his reign St. Columba by occasion of Civil Wars was compell'd to quit Ireland and come into Britain as Adelmannus who wrote his Life relates in this manner Some time after the Civil War at Culedrebene when Dermitius Son of Kerbail was Monarch of Ireland and all business was determin'd before the Kings Tribunal it happen'd so that St. Columba was oblig'd to appear before him to challenge a certain Free-man who had been made Captive and when the Cause being pleaded before the King an unjust Sentence had been pronounc'd by him the man of God rose up with great indignation and before all there present told the unrighteous King That from that moment he should never see his face more 'till God the just judge shall have diminish'd his Kingdom for his Injustice for saith he as thou hast despis'd me here before thy Nobles by an unjust Judgment so shall the Eternal God despise thee before thine enemies in the day of War. And having said thus he presently took Horse smiting him with his Whip so as the Blood issu'd from him This being observ'd by the Kings Councellors present they wonder'd at it and humbly entreated the King to comply with the Holy mans request least God should dissipate his Kingdom according to the man of
Authority Now the said Island is usually govern'd by an Abbot who is a Priest to whose Jurisdiction the whole Province and even Bishops themselves by a custom no where else practic'd ought to be subject according to the example of their first Teacher S Columba who was only a Priest and Monk and no Bishop Of whose Life and Sayings many strange things are extant compil'd by his Disciples but what manner of man soever he was sure we are he left Successors famous for their great Continency Divine Love and Regular Institution The Companions to St. Columba are said to be twelve who came with him into Albion eminently indu'd with the Doctrine of Christ and adorn'd with great Sanctity their Names were Bathemius and Cominus afterwards Superiours over Monasteries and no mean Ornaments of the Christian Church among the Scots Also Cibthacus and Ethernau Nephews to St. Columba and Priests Moreover Domitius Rutius and Fethuo men Illustrious for their Descent but more for their Piety Lastly Scandalaus Eglodeus Totaueus Moteser and Gallan These men after Travell'd through the Region of the Scots and Pict and by their labour in Teaching Disputing and Writing imbu'd both those Nations with virtuous Manners and true Religion The Scotish Writers add one Companion more to St. Columba namely St. Constantine formerly King of the Britains who repenting his Crimes sharply reprov'd by Gildas became a Monk and went with St. Columba into Scotland where he Preach'd the Faith to the Scots and Picts He built a Monastery in Govane near the River Cluid which he govern'd as Abbot He is said to have Converted to the Faith the whole Province of Kentire where he likewise dy'd a Martyr and was buried in his Monastery in Govan The King who bestow'd the Isle of Hy upon St. Columba and by the eminence of his Piety drew him thither is said to be St. Comgal or Conval King of Dalrieda At the same time not far from St. Columba liv'd St. Kentigern lately return'd to his Bishoprick of Glasco to whom no doubt St. Columba was an Officious assistant in his Apostolick Office. Of the Solemn meeting of these two Saints with their Disciples we have already spoken That there was a perfect agreement between these two Saints and their Disciples is no doubt and between them and St. Augustine also except in one Rite or Ceremony about the time of keeping Easter Upon which inconsiderable difference some would infer that the British Churches received their Faith from the Eastern Churches and not from Rome St. Columba having spent more then 30 years in this Place and Service he impatiently beg'd of God to end his Pilgrimage after his Prayer ended he saw in a Vision certain Angels approaching to him to conduct his Soul to Heaven which sight was so joyful to him that his Disciples took notice of it But this sight was soon turn'd into sorrow for the Angels told him That upon the Prayers of the Pictish Churches God had added four years more to his Life At last in the year of Grace 597. the same year St. Angustine came into Britain this Holy man dy'd and his Holy body was buried in the Monastery of Hy from whence it was after translated or a great part of it into Ireland and repos'd in the Church of Dun-Patrick by an Inscription on his Monument it is signified That in that one Tomb three Saints St. Patrick St. Bridget and St. Columba did repose Hitherto the Saxon Princes had imploy'd their Forces to the destruction of the Britains but now finding little resistance from them turn'd their Arms against one another For three years after the coming of St. Columba into Britain Ceaulin and Cutha mov'd a Civil war against Ethelbert which Ethelbert the rather enter'd into because the Power of Ceaulin so much increas'd that he took upon him the Title of Monarch Hereupon Ethelbert a Valiant Young Prince mindful of the Glory of his Ancestors who had always enjoy'd a Preheminence above other Princes resolv'd to keep it And raising an Army march'd with it into the Province of the Regni or Surry where passing unwarily over a little River call'd Wandalis he was rudely repuls'd by Ceaulin but endeavouring again to march forward the Armies met at a Village call'd Wibbandun now Wimbledon where he was with a great slaughter of his men compell'd to fly back into Kent having lost his two chief Captains Oslaf and Kneban Where this Battle was fought still remains as a Monument of it a Rampire rais'd in a round form as encompassing a Camp call'd Knebensbury Ethelbert after his loss sought to strengthen himself by a Friendship and Confederacy with the Neighbouring Powerful Kingdom of the Franks to make which Confederacy more lasting he desir'd to confirm it by Marriage which he effected This Kingdom heretofore was call'd Gaul but afterwards the Franks a German Nation under their King Pharamond invading it and possessing the greatest part of it chang'd the Name from Gaul to France The Successors of Pharamond for several Generations were Pagans till by St. Remigius Bishop of Rhemes in the year of Grace 499. King Clodoveus was Converted to the Christian Faith and with him the greatest part of his Kingdom which Faith ever after continu'd and encreas'd there This Kingdom of the Franks was at that time govern'd by four Kings Sons of Clotharius a Daughter of one of which Kings Elthelbert Married nam'd Berta Gregory calls her Aldiberga to whom he attributes the Conversion of the the Saxons Her Parents not without some difficulty deliver'd their Christian Daughter to the Bed of a Pagan but had an engagement from Ethelbert to allow Her and her Family an entire freedom in Religion and so the Marriage was concluded The Lady was accompanied into Britain by a Prudent and Devout Bishop call'd Lethardus who is Styl'd The Percursor to St. Augustine and one who open'd the door to Christianity here There were then in Doroberni or Canterbury several Churches which had been built by Christians many Ages before in the times of the Romans and were not utterly demolish'd by the Saxons amongst which the Queen made choice of that which had been Dedicated to the Honour of St. Martin and stood Eastward of the City The Author of Life of this Bishop Lethardus tells us what Devotions this Queen perform'd in this Church viz. That she and her Family frequented the Sacraments of Masses and Prayers in the Celebrating whereof the Blessed Bishop Lethardus was President or chief Priest The saying or singing of Masses were the Solemn Devotion of the Church in those times as appears by the Councels of Orleans and Tours Celebrated in these very times insomuch as St. Columba by Revelation knowing the death of St. Brendan in Ireland Celebrated a Solemn Mass for his Soul. In the year of Grace 571. Cuthulf the Brother of King Ceaulin fought with the Britains at Bedanford now Bedford and having obtain'd the Victory he took from them four Royal Cities Linganburgh a
inbred custom among them to sell their Children which unhappy custom continu'd many Ages in our Nation Insomuch as in the days of our King Henry the Second by the Testimony of Giraldus Cambrensis A Synod at Armagh in Ireland was fain to make a Decree for redeeming of such English Youths as had been sold for slaves in that Island And before that time among the Laws of Inas King of the West-Saxons there is more then one Decree which under great Penalties forbid this unnatural Traffique Lastly St. Gregory himself in his Epistle to Candidus his Procurator in France gives him order To redeem such English Children as he met with sold for Slaves in that Kingdom and to send them to Rome to be there instructed in the Christian Faith In truth almost all Antient Writers agree in the story though some differ about the time some ascribing it to the time of Pope Benedict but most and that most truly to the latter end of Pope Pelagius St. Gregory's immediate Predecessor St. Beda thus delivers the true Circumstances of this Story and tells us That by Tradition from their Ancestors it was brought to them that St. Gregory took so much care for the Salvation of our Nation that on a day when great variety of Merchandize was brought into the Market at Rome by Foreign Merchants St. Gregory especially took notice of three young Children of a pure Complexion Beautiful looks and Hairs Gracefully order'd and enquir'd out of what Country they came and being told they came from the Island of Britain where the Inhabitants generally are so Comely ask'd whether they were Christians or Pagans and being told they were Pagans Sigh'd saying Alas what pitty is it that the Prince of Darkness should possess men of such bright Countenances and that persons so amiable in their Looks should have Souls devoid of inward Grace Then he ask'd what was the Name of their particular Nation to whom was answered That they were call'd Angli Well may they be so call'd said he for they have Angelick Countenances suitable to such who shall be Co-heirs with Angels He further ask'd how the Province is call'd from whence they came the Answer was that they were Inhabitants of the Province call'd Deiri said he importing they should be deliver'd from the Ire of God de ira dei eruti and call'd to partake of his Mercy His last question was How the King of that Nation was call'd and being told Alle in allusion to that name he presently reply'd Allelujah must be Sung in those parts to the Praise of God who created all things After which Discourse he went to Pelagius then Bishop of the Roman and Apostolick See himself not being then Pope and humbly intreated him to send into Britain some Ministers of Gods word to Convert that Nation to Christ adding That he himself was ready to be employ'd with Gods assistance in such a work if his Holiness thought fit But his offer could not be taken for the Romans would not permit his Absence so far from the City Notwithstanding a while after when hewas exalted to the Popedom he brought to perfection what was so long and so earnestly desir'd by him sending indeed other persons to Preach the Gospel there but making their Preaching much more effectual by his Councels Exhortations and Prayers By which relation it is confirm'd that this did not happen in the time of Benedict for a good while pass'd after Pope Benedict's death before St. Gregory was Prefect of the City after which it was that he undertook a Monastical Profession in a Monastery built by himself Ad clivum scauri from whence he was call'd to be Arch-Deacon of the Roman Church then sent Nuncio to Constantinople At his return from thence he afforded our English Youths so much Grace and Favour But though Alla King of the Deiri by the Selling of the said Children gave occasion of bringing of Christianity to the Angli yet was not he so happy to hear any thing of it himself for the Divine Election regarded his Son Edwin who succeeded him not immediately but after the death of Edelric whose Reign was short and inconsiderable save only that in his first year St. Columban after he had spent many years in the Monastry of Banchor in Ireland came over into Britain with twelve Companions and from thence went into France He was not above 20 years of Age when he undertook this Journey and yet was so Courteously receiv'd in France by Childebert that he gave him choice of any place for his abode Whereupon He and his Companions entring into a Desart place found a ruinous piece of ground encompass'd with old Walls but water'd with warm Springs and of old call'd Luxovium and there fix'd their abode While St. Columban liv'd thereabout he was Instructor to the Holy Virgin Phara said to be a British Nun and Neece to the Saint himself but of this Nun more perhaps hereafter In the year 590. a War broke out between the Picts and Scots Aidan or Edan Crown'd King by St. Columba at Hy then enjoy'd the Principality over the Scots the cause of this War was the same which rais'd so much Contention between the Britains and Saxons for the Scots out of Ireland were invited by the Picts to assist them against the Britains as the Saxons were by the Britains to assist them against the Picts and Scots and these Irish Picts imitating the Saxons soon grew Insolent and being supply'd with new Aids at last obtain'd a Kingdom and then rooted out the very Name of Picts St. Columba though far distant in his Isle of Hy or Iova had a strange prospect of a great Battle then fought between these Scots and Picts for calling his Brethren together to Prayer he Kneeling down said Let us now Pray fervently for this People and their King Aidan for at this very hour the Battle against their Enemies begins A little while after rising up and looking towards Heaven he said Now are the Barbarous Enemies put to flight and the Victory is given to Aidan though dearly purchas'd for of his Army 303. are slain Ecclesiastical Stories are not without Examples of Gods Pleasure in revealing to his Servants things thus happening in parts remote This same year dy'd Cissa King of the South-Saxons and his Kingdom devolv'd to Ceaulin King of the West-Saxons yet so as Edelwalch Son of Cissa enjoy'd the Title of King as Homager to Ceaulin and this year also was chiefly Illustrated by the advancement of St. Gregory to the Popedom who immediately after the death of Pelagius was with wonderful Applause of all Degrees and Orders in Rome placed in St. Peter's Chair to the great benefit of the whole Church and the incomparable Felicity of our For his admirable Gests among which the most Illustrious was the Conversion of our Ancestors he was deservedly call'd St. Gregory the Great and the Apostle of England The year following Britain affords a memorable Example of the