auncent Historian S. Gildas others after him are witnesses that in the time of King Constantine there was a glorious Abbey and holy Abbot there Sancti Abbatis complaining how sacrilegiously this King killed one of the sonnes of Mordred betweene the holy Altars intra ipsa sacrosancta Altaria flying thither for Sanctuary and sauegard and he himselfe hauing three sonnes Constans Aurelius Ambrose and Vtherpendragon perhaps for remorse and in satisfaction for that impietie deliuered his eldest sonne Constans to be a Monke in that Abbey Constantem Primogenitum tradidit in Ecclesiam Amphibali intra Guintoniam vt Monachalem ordinem susciperet and there he was a Monke Vbi Monachalem ordinem suscepit And so continued vntill Vortigerne tooke him by force out of his Cloister and made him King without the peoples consent because he was a Monke Vortigernus perexit Wintoniam Constantem Monachum Constantini filium de Claustro extractum duxit Lundonias eum vix annuente populo eo quòd Monachus esset erexit in Regem 4. There were then diuers Monasteries in London and Constantine mutthered an other youÌ„g Prince in one of theÌ„ Vnum Wintoniae in Ecclesia S. Amphibali ante altare trucidauit Alterum Londoniae in quorundam fratruÌ„ Caenobio absconditum Matth. Westm an 543. Stowe Howes Histor Brit. Sax. in Constan Vortiger crudeli morte daÌ„nauit Which our ProtestaÌ„ts thus acknowledge ConstaÌ„tine followed and one of the younge men he found in an Abbey at London slew him neare the Altar cruelly And how in Kent at the comming of Hengist the Pagan Saxon thither soone after this there were many Religious houses both of men and women and many of them were glorious Martyrs by the Saxon Persecutors Hengist slew the good Archbishop Vodine and many other Preists and Religious men All the Churches in Kent were polluted with blood the Nunnes with other Religious parsons were by force put from their houses and goods 5. These Religious houses must needs be builded and so furnished with goods and consecrated parsons before the Saxons entred and so in or before this Age these men being then when they were Pagans no Founders but destroyers of such MonumeÌ„ts not onely in Kent but in all places where they preuayled by all Histories Among these the sumptuous and stately Church Bed l. 1. c. 6. Mat. Westm an 313. 586. and Monastery of S. Alban builded within 10. yeares of his Martyrdome was one for the Monastery there was not as Matthew of Westminster proueth founded first by King Offa but being destroyed by the Saxons was reedified by him Hac tempestate Ecclesia beati Martyris Albani quae post Passionem suam miro tabulatu lapideo atque eius Martyrio condigna legitur fabricata deiecta penitus cum alijs creditur deleta donec per ministerium Offae Regis Angelo sibi reuelante corpus gloriosi Confessoris ac Martyris inuentum est Monasterium eis denuo fabricatum Therefore being by King Offa restored and builded againe denuo it was builded before and consequently before the Saxous time Ouertrowers and not Erectors of Monasteries 6. There was also now a noble Monastery at Amsbury in Wilshire neare Salisburie in which as an old French Manuscript and others say there were Manuscr Gallic Anâ—iq cap. 24. Galfr. Monum Hist Brit. l. 8. c. 9. at this time and after 300. En cel licu d' Ambri estoit à cel temps vne Abbaye de 300. Moignes This was founded olim long before by one named Ambrius neare Kaercaradoe Salisbury quae nunc Salesberia dicitur Erat ibi Caenobium trecentorum fratrum in Monte Ambrij qui vt fertur fundator eius olim extiterat Our old English Chronicle entreating of the desolation which the Pagan Old Engl. Chronic part 5. f. 43. SaxoÌ„s wrought in this kingdome in destroying Religious houses Churches and how Aurelius Ambrosius restored and builded them againe thus deliuereth that in generall and particularly of this Monastery King Aurilambros went through out the Lond and put away the name of Engyst Londe that Engyst after his name had called it before Then he let call it againe greate Britaine and let make againe Churches and houses of ReligioÌ„ Castles Cities and Borowes and Townes that the Saxons had destroyed The Britons ladd him to the mouÌ„t of Ambrian where some time was an house of Religion which then was destroyed through the Paynyms whereof a knight that was called Ambry that some time was founder of that house and therefore the hill was called the mount of Ambrian and after it was called Ambesbury The King Aurilambros let amend and redresse the house of Ambesbury and put therein Monkes but now there be Nonnes By this it is euident that this Religious house destroyed by these Pagans florished in this Age. 7. That there was a Monastery of greate renowne at Abingdon in Barkeshire Chron. Abingd apud Harpesfeld Hist Eccl. 10. saecul p. 203. in this time before the comming of the Saxons into Britaine the old Chronicle of that house is witnesse testifying that then there were 500. Monkes and more belonging to that Abbey lyuing in the Woods Deserts getting their liuing by their labours and vpon the holy dayes and sondaies comming together in their Monastery all excepting 60. which continually aboad in the Abbey seruing God there And that before King Cissa was a Christian he put these Monkes either to death or forced them from their Monastery and cruelly persecuted all Christians And allthough our Antiquities by Pagans Persecutions and Protestants are so perished that we haue a small part of our Ecclesiasticall memorable things preserued yet we may make coniecture of these matters with sufficient probabilitie that seeing Monasticall life came hither in the Apostles time and still increased except in the 9. yeares of Dioclesian his Persecution that the Religeous houses in Britaine were now come to a greate number especially when we finde the greatest Enemies they haue our Protestants and among them the best Antiquaries they haue thus to testifie In auncient time euen the greatest parsonadges held Monkes Friars William Lamb. perambulation of Kent p. 330. and NuÌ„nes in such veneratioÌ„ and liking that they thought not Citie in case to florish no house likely to haue longe continuance no Castles sufficiently defensed where was not an Abbey Pryory or Nunnery either placed within the walles or planted at hand and neare adioyning And that such was the deuotion of this time we may gather by our old Writers testifing that after the Pagan Saxons had destroyed the Churches and Abbeyes in Britaine yet many still remained and their Abbots were honored numbred among our Nobles and as spirituall Lords before the temporall So it was in that greate Solemnitie when Aurelius Ambrose kept the Feast of Pentecost at Ambesbury he had there many Bishops Matth. Westm an 490. Matth. Westm An. 498. Galfr. Monum Hist Briton l. 7. c. 16.
he addeth of him Cum non diu mansisset apud Romanos sancto baptismate multos regenerasset Ecclesiam constituisset Linum Episcopum ordinasset when he had stayed not long with the Romans and baptized many and founded the Church and ordained Linus a Bishop he went into Spaine then into Egipt and so to Hierusalem by reuelation for the Transmigration of the mother of God then returned into Egipt and through Africk returned to Rome from whence he came to Millan and Photice and so into Britaine Which time being truely calculated will teach vs that he came hither in or about the 54. yeare of Christ when in the way hither he made so many Bishops in Fraunce long before S. Paule came although as a prisoner first to Rome or any other Apostle thither or to any westerne Nation For as I haue proued before S. Peter going vp to Hierusalem by Reuelation at the death of the blessed virgin did staye but a short time there and in the Easterne parts in that Iorney but the chardge of the westerne world being more peculiarly committed vnto him before he returned vnto it to dischardge this dutie heare and allthough S. Simon Metaphrastes bringeth him back againe by Rome yet he speaketh of no stay he made there at this time but presently bringeth him into Britaine THE XVII CHAPTER WHEREIN IS PROVED BY THE BEST ENglish Protestant writers their Bishops and others that S. Peter founding the Church of Britaine ordained in it an Archbishop Bishops and Preists 1. THat we may without contradiction of any Catholik or Protestant except willfully erring in their owne proceedings be assured that S. Peter performed heare all Pastorall duties in foūding vnto our predecessors in this our Britaine the true vndoubted Church of Christ and so left it to posteritie because I stand assured my pen shall still in all things carry with it an vndoubted Assent of Catholiks seeing this matter of the true Church founding thereof professing the doctrine which it teacheth to all her childrē and they ought to followe concerneth vs all so much that the Protestants of this Nation agree there is no saluatiō to be had or expected out of this holy societie I will set downe by their warrant both what this Church is and how it was first in all things essentiall and by them needfull to saluation founded heare by Saint Peter the Apostle 2. Concerning the first the Canon or decree of the Protestant Religion in their Synodicall and Parlament Articles to which all Protestant Bishops and Ministers of England haue sworne and subscribed is this The visible Church Articl of Religion an 1562. ar 19. of Christ is a Congregation of faithfull men in the which the puer word of God is preached and the Sacraments be duely ministred according to Christs ordinance in all those things that of necessitie are requisite to the same Hitherto this publik Protestant Article of Religion Therefore seeing it is allowed and proued before by these men that S. Peter first founded the Church of Christ in this kingdome to insist still in their owne allowances I must shew by them how he performed these things which by these Protestants must needs be in euery true Church to wit true and lawfull Ministers to preach the word of God and duely minister the Sacraments So there be three things essentiall true Ministers the puer word of God preached and Sacraments duely ministred among which the two last depend vpon the first true and lawfull Ministers For where true and Orthodoxall Ministers are and accordingly preach the word and Minister the Sacraments there the puer word must needs be preached and Sacraments duely ministred And contrariewise where such Ministers are not there these things cannot be possibly by such performed Which this Protestant Rule of Religiō confirmeth in an other Article in these words It is not lawfull for any man to take vpon him the office of publick preaching Articul 23. or ministring of the Sacraments in the Congregation before he be lawfully called and sent to execute the same And those we ought to Iudge lawfully called and sent which be chosen and called to this worke by men who haue publick authoritie giuen vnto them in the Congregation to call and send Ministers into the Lords vyneyard And in their Article intituled of Consecratiō of Bishops and Ministers they set downe these orders degrees in such men Archbishops Bishops Preists and Deacons and haue set forth a booke both by the Regall Authoritie of King Edward the Sixt Q. Elizabeth and King Iames our present Soueraigne and their Parlaments for the particular consecration of all those degrees and in that so highly authorized Booke assuer vs that all these degrees and Orders haue euer bene in the Church of Christ from the dayes of him and his Apostles And all particular writers among these Protestants as they are bound by subscription to these Articles so they plainely testifie in their writings among whom the publick and approued Protestant comment vpon these Articles Intituled The Catholick doctrine of the Church of England With greate priuiledge Rogers in Artic. 36. setteth downe in this manner It is ageeable to the word of God and practise of the primatiue Church that there should be Archbishops Bishops and such like differences and inequalities of Ecclesiasticall Ministers and addeth The proofe from the word of God Albeit the termes and Titles of Archbishops we finde not yet the superioritie which they haue and authoritie which Bishops and Archbishops doe exercise in ordering and consecrating Bishops and Ecclesiasticall Ministers is grownded vpon the word And againe from the Apostles dayes hitherto there neuer wāted a Succession of Bishops neither in the Easte nor westerne Churches This is the generall and common opinion of all the English Protestant Bishops against their Puritans Thus their Archbishops whitgitf Bancroft their Bishops Bilson Barlow Bridges Doctors Fild Hooker Couell Downame Barlow Serm. before King Iames 21. Septembr an 1604. and others Whereof one writeth Episcopall function is an ordinance Apostolicall Christ hath acted it for succeeding posteritie and so it is thesis Pneumatichi a Canon or constitution of the whole Trinitie Thus a Protestant Bishop before our King with both his and the allowance of the Protestant Bishops as the Puritans themselues thus acknowledge The callings of Prelates be of diuine ordinance Offer of Conference as Bishop Barlowe auoucheth in his last Sermon The Bishop of Rochester with the consent and by the direction no doubt of some of the cheifest Prelates hath now lately published his Sermon preached in September before the King at Hampton Court the maine drift whereof is to proue that the office and calling of a Diocesan Bishop is a diuine and Apostolicall ordinance The same besides so many their Bishops and doctors before is remembred in their publick Apology intituled of the Consecration of the Bishops in the Church of England masked vnder the name of
greate authoritie doth warrant vs that he preached in extremis vltimis not onely in one prouince but the very laste and vttermost in respect of that place which must needes comprehend this Iland of Britayne we may not now exclude him from hence where he hath bene honored with a Church dedicated to him as an holy Bishop so many hundreds of yeares aboue 1400. since in a Nation so peculiarly honoring the memories of the renowned Apostles and Saints thereof with such testimonies of loue and duitie And this the rather because we are told by forrain writers that he was not onelie Apostolorum discipulus a disciple of the Apostles Arnold Mitm Theatr. Conu gent. and sent to these western parts whether as before it is hard to finde any to haue bene sent from any Apostle but S. Peter And this Church being aunciently a Bishops See as the Kentish Protestant Antiquary hath told vs before and yet without the City of Canterbury it giueth more strenght to this opinion for all Antiquities agree that through out the whole kingdome in the time of King Lucius all the Cathedrall and Episcopall Churches were in cyties Which argueth this See to haue had a more auncient originall then from that time for further proofe whereof the auncient Manuscript History Histor Roffen M. S. of Rochester saith Extra Ciuitatem in parte Orientali est Ecclesia Beati Martini vbi Sedes Episcopalis erat without the city of Canterbury one the East side is the Church of S. Martine where there was a Bishops See And Bishop Godwin was the last Bishop there in the time of Archbishop Lanfranke who would not permit any successor therein saying that two Bishops might not be in one city Godwino vltimo illius Sedis Episcopo successorem Lanfrancus subrogare noluit dicens quod in vna ciuitate duo Episcopi minime esse deberent Standing vpon the Canons of the Church as his reason argueth which further confirmeth this custome to haue bene long more auncient then the Canons in that behalfe And seeing Cathedrall Churches ordinarily take their denomination of the first Saincts that were Bishops there except some other extraordinary merits of Saints and deuotion vnto them giue them this priuiledge this may be some warrant vnto vs in this case to incline to thinke this S. Martine eyther preached heare or so well deserued of this Nation that we may not easily depriue him of this honour 8. To this I may probably ioyne S. Nathanael spoken of in the Ghospel Not vmprobable but S. Nathaniel was and preached in Britaine and termed of our Sauiour a true Israelite for as our French Historians tell vs he was both consecrated Bishop by S. Peter the Apostle and was successour to S. Aphrodisius in the See of Bituriges in Fraunce about the time of S. Peters coming hither and at his direction at those times and by the Greeks in their Menologe called Symon Therefore seeing some haue so contended before Guliel Eisengr centen 1. f. 54. an 54. Anton. part-1 tit Anton. De. moch l. 2. c. 24. Graeci in Menolog Baron in Annot. in Martyrol 28. Octob. Sim. Chan. to bring one S. Symon into Britayne and demonstration is also made that it could not be S. Symon Zelotes the Apostle to leaue a place of due credit to their Authoritie I may credibly ascribe it to S. Nathanael called S. Symon and by some the brother of S. Philip the Apostle and generally after the Ascension of Christ at the dispositioÌ„ of S. Peter principally in these Western parts where although cheifely he bore the title of the Bishops of Biturigum Burages in Berry in Fraunce yet he trauailed in diuers other parts as appeareth in Histories as others likewise did who tooke their names of being Bishops of certayne places Which is most euident in S. Peter himselfe who although he neuer tooke name of Residency but at Anthioch and Rome yet he trauay led and preached in so many Nations as I haue and shall set downe hereafter 9. And if we will follow the Antiquities of Glastenbury vpon whose authoritie Antiq. Glast M. S. in tabul lignea perantiqua Io. Capgrau in Catalog in S. Ioseph ab Aramathia the Protestant Antiquaries of England haue builded much in many things we are told in them that S. Iosephe sonne of S. Ioseph of Aramathia that buryed Christ came hither liued dyed heare came hither with his Father and that holy company and also lyued and dyed a Bishop heare That he was not a Bishop at his coming hither it seemeth euident by many arguments first because no History maketh mention of any Episcopall function S. Iosephe sonne of S. Ioseph of Aramathia by diuers Antiquities was a Bishop heare and probably consecrated heare by S. Peter or his Disciples performed then by him or any of that happy society secondly by all Antiquities they liued and dyed in the Eremiticall state of life Which much differeth from Episcopall which conuerseth with and ruleth others and the Churches committed vnto his chardge Thirdly in all Antiquities and Monuments of these holy men remembred eyther by Catholiks or Protestants S. Ioseph of Aramathia is called the cheife and principall ex quibus Ioseph ab Aramathia primus erat Intrat Aualoniam duodena caterua vivorum Inscriptio antiqua in aere in Caenob Glaston Tabul antiq ib. Ioh. Capgr in S. Ioseph ab Aramath Godwin CoÌ„u of Britaine p. 11. Theater of Brit. l. 6. Camd. in Glastenbury Capgr in S. Patricio Flos Aramathiae Ioseph est primus â—orum Iosephes ex Ioseph genitus patrem comitatur Where S. Ioseph that was no Bishop is euery were stiled their cheife and Ruler Therefore his sonne Iosephe could be no Bishop at that time for so a Bishop whose office is to rule and in all languadges by all interpretation is an Ouerseer Cheife commaunder and Ruler of others his subiects should haue bene inferiour subiect commaunded and caled to and by his inferiour and subiect Therefore to iustifie the prediction of our Sauiour after his Ascension that Iosephe should be a Bishop which the Antiquitie of Glastenbury setteth downe as a thing then done saying of him Iosephe quem Dominus Iesus priùs in ciuitate Sarath in Episcopum consecrauit Iosephe whom our Lord Iesus had consecrated for a Bishop before in the city Sarath We must needes say that he was afterward according to the designment and Prophesie of Christ consecrated Antiquit. Glaston apud Cap. grau in S. Ioseph ab Aramath a Bishop in this kingdome for Prophesies that be true are so certayne they shall come to passe that often times they are expressed as presently done and acted as is vsuall in holy Scripturs and other wtiters when they are not to be performed long after because they are as assuredly to be after in due time as if they were presently acted and fulfilled as we must needes interprete this For the reasons before demonstrate that
S. Iosephe was not then consecrated a Bishop by Christ Neyther doth the Antiquitie so say but in Episcopum consecrauit Christ consecrated him to be a Bishop afterward And we doe not reade that Christ after his Ascension did actually consecrate any Bishop hauing committed those Functions to his Apostles In so much that S. Paule himselfe that was so extraordinarily and aboue all others that euer were called by Christ chosen and designed by him to be a Bishop and Apostle that he often and confidently and as it were singularly speaketh of himselfe Paule Ephes 1. v. 1. Colossen 1. v. 1. Galat. 1 v. 1. an Apostle of Iesus Christ by the will of God Paulan Apostle not of men neyther by man but by Iesus Christ and God the Father who raysed him from the dead Yet when he speketh of his Episcopall Consecration and the exercise of that holy Function in the first Chapter of his Epistle to the RomaÌ„s saying Paula seruant Rom. 1. v. 1. Protest CoÌ„cord ibidem of Iesus Christ called to be an Apostle separated vnto the Ghospell of God He referreth this as our Protestants in there CoÌ„cordance of Scripturs in that place expouÌ„d him to his CoÌ„secration in the 13. Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles by fasting prayer and imposition of hands And before that time he neuer exercised Act. 13. v. 1. 2. 3. any Function meerly Episcopall The like I may say of S. Barnabas by Act. 11. 12. 13. the same warrant who though a Companion of S. Paul and Preacher vnto the people yet vntill he had at the same time with S. Paul externally receaued ordinary Consecration he entermedled not with those peculiar offices 10. The like examples to omit others we haue of this Nation We reade of S. Sampson Archbishop of Yorke that S. Peter S. Iames and S. Ibon Apostles Io. Capgrau in Caâ—alog in S. Samplone Episcop Et M. S. antiquit â—bâ—d appeared vnto him before his Consecration and one of them being demaunded by him who they were he said Ego sum Petrus Christi Discipulus hic Frater Domini Iacobus Euangelista Ioannes Dominus Iesus Christus te sibi in Praesulem elegit tâ— consecrare nos misit Quem cum benedictione consecrassent abeius oculis elapsi sunt I am Peter the Disciple of Christ and this Iames the Brother of our Lord and Ihon the Euangelist Our Lord Iesus hath chosen thee for a Bishop and sent vs to conserate the. Whome when they had consecrated with benediction they disappeared out of his sight Where nothing can be more playne then that this should be a true Consecration and thereby S. Sampson and Vndoubted consecrated Bishop if true consecration could be so obtayned for all things required vnto it are here expressed that our Lord Iesus had chosen him in Praesulem for a Bishop as the other Antiquitie was of S. Ioseph in Episcopum for a Bishop Here is Christs warrant to consecrate him and the three greatest Bishops and Apostles to performe it and the words are plaine that in that manner they effected it quem cum benedictione consecrassent Yet it was adiudged both by heauen and earth God and man that this was no Consecration nor S. Sampson yet to be accompted a Bishop but to expect the ordinary Consecration by Bishops for it followeth in the same History nec multo post Angelus Domini beato Dubritio apparens Sampsonem ordinari Episcopum praecepit not long after an Angel of God appearing to S. Dubritius then Archbishop heare commaunded that Sampson should be consecrated a Bishop which he performed by the externall Rites of consecrating Bishops and this his externall Consecration by that holy Archbishop then the Popes Legate heare was so miraculously confirmed that as it followeth in the same Antiquitie They which were present at his Consecration did see a Doue sent from heauen immouably to stand ouer him In cuius consecratione qui aderant columbam caelitùs emissam immobiliter super eam stare videbant 11. And we haue heard from these Protestants others before that S. Peter Godwin Catal. Wâ—nchester 31. in Brithâ—ald Capgr in S. Edward Conf. M. S. Antiq. in eod Alred Rieuall in Vit. S. Edwardi Stowe histor in Edward Confesan 1043. Holins hist of Engl. l. 8. cap. 1. did crowne King Edward the Confessour being an Exile in Normandy Yet he was not King or so accepted vntill many yeares after and then ordinarily crowned by the common Order of Coronation belonging to our Kings at Winchester as our Protestant historians thus assuer vs Edward was crowned at winchester by Edsinus then Archbishop of Canterbury on Easter day in the yeare of our Lord 1043. When the Propheticall Coronation of him by S. Peter was many yeares before To these I may add the Dedication of the Church of our blessed Lady at Glastenbury builded by S. Ioseph of Aramathia and his holy company which Christ himselfe is written to haue dedicated And that of Westminster by an apparition of S. Peter the Apostle onely with this difference that the figuratiue Dedication of this last by S. Peter did declare what he had there done before as I haue partly shewed allready and more hereafter the other foresignified what should by some Bishop be effected after no Bishop being of that company then to performe it which I make an other Argument to shew that S. Ioseph was no Bishop at that time but if at all consecrated by S. Peter or his Disciples And if we may giue so much credit to a late writer that S. Aristobulus our first Archbishop suffered Martyrdome at Glastenbury the place of S. Ioseph and his sonne their onely or cheifest aboade in this Nation It will make it more vndoubted that if S. Ioseph was Martyr Angl. die 15. Martij in S. Aristobulo a Bishop he was consecrated eyther immediately by S. Peter or by this his renowned Disciple our Archbishop then S. Aristobulus whose daughter S. Peter had marryed Cepit vxorem Petrus filiam Aristobuli fratris beati Barnaâ—ae Apostoli ex qua suscepit filium filiam and sent him hyther as he sent S. Sophronius Hierosolym Episc Libell de labor S. Petri Pauli Simon Metaphrast die 29. Iun. HartmaÌ„ Schedel in Chronic Chron. f. 205 his Brother S. Barnabas to Millan in Italy as Hartmanus Schedel with diuers other Authours witnesseth THE XIX CHAPTER OF DIVERS CHRISTIAN CHVRCHES OR Oratories such as the state of things then allowed erected and founded in Britaine in the time of S. Peters preaching heare 1. WE haue heard before how among other holy labours of S. Peter in this kingdome Ecclesias constituit be constituted some Churches how many in number or which they or any of them in particular were it is not so easy to set downe from Antiquities all being in a manner silent of those proceedings and we may not expect to finde any such Churches in that time to carry that glory and honour
with them to continue to succeeding Generations How poore the ChristiaÌ„ Churches were in thâ—se times when the Church of Glastenbury builded by the Licence of King Aruiragus and at the entreatie of the Roman Lieutenant as Harding from others writeth by the holy company of S. Ioseph was made but of writhen wands and so desolate within one hindred and three yeares onely after the first building Harding Chroic c. 47. f. 7â— Antiq. Glascon apud Capgrau in S. Patricio Et M. S. antiq ib. Bed Hist Angl. Capgrau in Catal. in S. Niniano Bed hist Angl. l. 2. cap. 14. of it that caepit locus esse ferarum latibulum qui prius fuerat habitatio Sanctorum The place which had bene an habitation of Saints began to be a Dene of wylde beasts And diuers hundreds of yeares after this the first Church of stone to remayne durable that is remembred to haue bene in Britaine was builded by S. Ninian at witherne as S. Bede and others write and King Edwine of Northumberland long after S. Augustins coming hither was christened at Yorke in the Church of S. Peter the Apostle which he had builded of wood in Ecclesia S. Petri Apostoli quam ipse de ligno construxit And the dayes euen heare in Britayne were then such for Christians that we must rather seeke their places of abode and poore Oratories among the Desarts and obscure corners in Cells and Cotages then in populous cities and costly buildings As our auncient Christian Poet writing of such times in Britayne thus expresseth Sic vt erat celebris cultu numeroque Deorum Nochamus apud Bal. alios Cum Iouis Imperium staret Britannia tellus Sic vbi terrestres caelo descendit ad oras Expectata salus patribus fuit inclyta Sanctis Qui Neptunicolum campos Cambrica rura Corineasque casas loca desolata colebant Which our Protestants haue thus translated for vs. Tâ—â—aâ—eâ— of gâ—â—â—t Bâ—â—tainel 5. c. 4. As were the Britans famous for their zeale To gentile Gods whiles such they did adore So when the heauens to earth did truth reueale Blessed was that Land with truth and learning store Whence Brittish plaines and Cambreas desart ground â—o Bal. l. 1. dâ— vit Pontif. Roman Bap. Mantuan l. 1. de Fast And Cornewals â—rags with glorious Saints abound To which purpose a ProtestaÌ„t Bishop doth alledge an other Christian Poet in this maner Nam cum Caesarei gens sanguinolenta tyranni Praedacentur oues Christi nullasque liceret Christigenis habitare vrbes impune ferarum Consortes facti fines tenuere supremos Orbis When the persecution of Nero the Tirant grew so bloody and destroyed the sheepe of Christ and no Christians might without punishement liue in cites They became companions of wild beasts and inhabited the vttermost ends of the world Therefore if out of the priuate houses of Christians in those times we would finde any places to beare the names of publike Churches or Oratories for the Christians then conuerted though neuer so meane and obscure we must seeke them out of frequent and inhabited places in the Deserts and wildernesses whether the rage of persecution did not so easily penetrate 2. And to finde any such after so many huÌ„dreds of yeares and changes of things in this kingdome we must be content with probable Arguments and Probahle that S. Peters Church at westminster had some Originall at this time testimonyes as is vsuall in such cases not expect demonstrations which caÌ„not be giuen in such affaires AmoÌ„g such Deserts of that time diuers ProtestaÌ„t and other Antiquaries will tell vs the place of S. Peters Church at Westminster was Thus they write Thorney now Westminster was called Thorney-Iland for that is was ouergrowne with Briers and Thornes which Thorney place was in the Ihon Norden in Specul Britan. pag. 4. 2. Polidor Virgil. Angl. hist l. 2. pag 41. Holnish Hist of Engl. l. 4. c. 10. pag. 25. Harris descript of Brit. cap. 2. pag. 140. Richard Vit. Hist l. 5. Io. Selden Anaclet cap. 6. Sulcardus apud Vit. Seld. Stowe hist in K. Lucius Holinsh. hist supr Harrison sup Ihon Norden Specul Brit. part 1. in Middelsex pag. 42. time of King Lucius clensed about the yeare 186. which Lucius is said to lay the first foundation of the greate Temple of S. Peters Which clensing of that place by this religious King building a Church there and dedicating it to S. Peter giueth no swall argument vnto vs to thinke it had a more auntient founding with some Relation from the beginning to that holy Apostle otherwise there were many farre more fit and conuenient places in or about the City of London to build so stately a Church then a desolate briery and thorney Iland And the Church of S. Peter in Cornhill being dedicated to him and the Cathedrall Church by all Antiquities we cannot be of any other minde but S. Peter had some former title vnto that denomination Which is rather strengthned in that these Protestants from Antiquities testifie that Theonus Archbishop of London in King Lucius time who had his See at S. Peters in Cornhil and helped to the building thereof preached read and ministred the Sacraments there to such as made resort vnto him in this IlaÌ„d Church A Protestant Antiquary writeth I haue heard that there are or haue bene Records in the same Abbey of Westminster which declare it was a Church before the Britans receaued the faith of Christ He meaneth the time of King Lucius Then if he speaketh properly it proueth it was a Christian Church before that time For the word Church in English Kyrke in the Scottish languadge of the Greeke Chiriache the house of God our Lord cannot by Christians be applyed or giuen to the Idols or pagan Gods of the Infidels but onely to Christ our true Lord and God And this is confirmed by the knowne vision and words of S. Peter the Apostle in that place in the time of S. Ethelbert King of Kent and S. Mellitus Bishop of London which I haue alledged before from many allowed Antiquities where S. Peter said of this place and Church By some a Christian Church at Aldâ—lyhit Quem locum proprijs manibus consecraui which place I consecrated long agoe with my owne hands Which must needes as I before haue proued be vnderstood of his parsonall presence and consecration of that Church when he liued and Harisin Theatr. l. 1. preached heare for then onely and neuer since he had proprias manus his owne proper and naturall hands to execute either that or any function with 3. A late writer in his Manuscript History inclineth to thinke there was a Church founded by S. Peter the Apostle in the North parts of this Land aunciently called Aldclihit in the old languadge of that place Peters Clihit as though S. Peter founded it and it tooke the denomination from him and citeth Henr. Hunting hist l. 1. Matth. Parker
chaunce or of purpose siue casâ— siue consilio in Britanniam venit and named the deuiser of this Gildas the moste impudent knaue that euer liued Sane is nebulo longè post homines natos impudentissimus Wherevpon the best Protestant Antiquaries Bale Camden Parker Stowe Godwine and others quite forsake that pretended authority neuer vouchsafing to alledge it and the citers of it by the contradictions there haue sufficiently reproued it diuers of them rather inclining to thinke as I shall entreate hereafter that S. Philip the Apostle was neuer in this next France to send S. Ioseph from thence into Britayne And no man of any indifferent Iudgment will thinke but if the true Gildas had written any such thing the most diligent Collectours of the Antiquities of Glastenbury who gathered so many and of farre meanner credit and Antiquitie then the true Gildas was would for the honour of that house in one place or other haue remembred it which none of them nor any other old or new credible writer hath done 3. Therefore seeing their hope from Gildas hath thus fayled theÌ„ let vs consider what other Authoritie they finde to relye vpon A Protestant Bishop writeth thus of S. Ioseph Hunc Philippus Apostolus cum non paruo comitatu a Bal. l. de Script cent 1. in Ioseph Aram. f. 14. Gallijs in Britanniam misit nostrae salutis anno 63. vt post Capgrauium Scropum aliosque Scriptores Anglicos testis est locuples Polydorus Virgilius Anglicae Historiae libro secundo Philip the Apostle sent Ioseph with no small company out of France into Britayne in the yeare of Christ 63. as after Capgraue and Scroope and other English writers Polydor Virgil is a sufficient witnes in the second booke of his English history Where we see onely three particularly named Capgraue the cheifest whome Scroope seemeth to followe and Polydor Virgil. This laste as I Polyd. Vir. hist l. 2. p. 37. 41. 89. haue cited before hath no such thing in any place where he speaketh of S. Ioseph neuer so much as naming S. Philip the Apostle in this matter Capgraue reciteth such an opinion in the life of S. Ioseph out of Freculphus who as hereafter hath no such thing at all and in the life of S. Patrike written after that of S. Ioseph maketh the like narration of some which thinke that S. Io. Capgrau in Catal. in S. Ioseph in S. Patricio Io. Bal. de Script cent 5. f. 201. 202. in Io. Capgrau Godwin Conu Philip sent S. Ioseph hither but he brandeth it with this blemish si Veritatem sapiat lectoris arbitrio relinquo Which whether it tasteth of truth I leeue to the Iudgment of the Reader Which is farre from approuing it for a true History AnÌ„d by our Protestant Bishops who though they acknowledge Capgraue for a very learned Authour make him credulous enough in such things it vtterly discrediteth that report for when he had written all which he thought credible of the matter he then handled he immediately addeth Quae inferiùs digesta sunt si veritatem sapiant lectoris arbitrio relinquo The things which followe I leaue to the Reader to Iudge of their taste of truth And among these the first and cheifest of all is this of S. Philip the Apostle his coming into France and from thence sending S. Ioseph hither into Britayne So that we euidently see all authorities â—itherto alledged by these Protestants are rather against then for them in this busines 4. Their laste and principall whereupon they now relye herein is a pretended testimony of Freculphus the auncient learned Bishop of Lexouium The first Protestant Arch bishop of Canterbury citing for his onely Authour Freculphus l. 2. cap. 4. saith Philippus Apostolus qui in Galliam venit Euangelij Matth. Parker Antiq. Brit. p. 3. praedicatione plures ad fidem vertit cum de Britannia modico freto separata Insula accepisset a qua Druidum superstitio manabat in Galliam delegit ex suorum sociorum numero duodecim quibus Iosephum Aramathiensem qui dominum ChristuÌ„ sepulchro condidit praefecit Philip the Apostle which came into France or Gallia and by preaching the Ghospell conuerted many to the faith when he vnderstood of Britaine an Iland seperated from thence by a narrow sea from which the superstition of the Druids did flowe into France he did chuse twelue out of the number of his fellowes among whome he ordained for Ruler Ioseph of Aramathia that buried Christ Another writeth in this maÌ„ner William of Malmesbury in his booke of the Antiquities Stowe History Romans p. 37. of Glastenbury alledgeth Freculphus to write in his second booke and fourth Chapter as followeth Philip the Apostle preaching the word of God in Gaule now called France chose out twelue amongst his Disciples whome he sent into Britaine to preach the word of life and vpon euery one of them he most deuoutely stretched out his right hand ouer these he appointed for cheife his deare freind Ioseph of Aramathia that buried our Lord. An other Protestant Bishop plainely saith the occasion Godwin Conu of Brit. p. 9. c. 2. Chronicil c. 4. of Iosephs coming hither Freculphus Bishop of Lexouia that florished an 840. reporteth to be this That when Philip the Apostle or as some thinke rather the Euangelist for their Actions are much confounded in Historyes preaching Christ in France had much to Doe with the Druydes who had their beginning and cheife Doctors in Britaine and vnderstanding that this our Iland was seperated from France by a small cut of a few howers saile he thought good to send ouer hither 12. Preachers the cheife where of was Ioseph aforesaid Thus perhaps other Protestants doe write and might be cited in the same sence but these be too many except their allegations were more free from falshood for first allthough William of Malmesbury in his Manuscript of the Antiquities of Glastenbury seemeth to alledge Freculphus for S. Philips sending S. Ioseph hither out of France or Gallia yet of the rest which these Protestants father vpon him about the Druides and all other circumstances set downe before he writeth not one worde neuer mentioning any such thing at all his words be these Freculphus testatur libro 2. cap. 4. quod Philippus praedicans Euangelium in Gallia duodecim Guliel Malm. l. de antiq Glast M. S. ex suis Discipulis elegit quos misit in Britanniam ad praedicandum verbum vitae super singulos manum dexteram deuotissimè extendit hi autem praefecit amicum suum Ioseph ab Aramathia qui dominum sepeliuit Venerunt his in Britanniam anno Dominicae Incarnationis 65. Assumptionis beatae Mariae 15 Freculphus in his secoÌ„d booke and fourth Chapter doth witnes that Philip preaching the Ghospell in Gaule did chuse twelue of his Disciples which he sent into Britaine to preach the word of life and vpon euery of them did most deuoutely stretch forth his
and being before the Diuision of Prouinces was fully made into Archiepiscopall Sees ruled diuers cheife Churches and farre distant as Collen Tungers and Treuers as also his Successour S. Maternus did and both of them were probably heare in Britaine and conuerted many heare for Marianus ioyneth these with other S. Valerius and S. Maternus Disciples os S. Peter were by probabilitie in Britaine sometime holy Preachers and Bishops of those dayes which preached not onely in their owne Prouinces but in these vttermost and extreme parts Qui non solum propria Prouincia sed in extremis vltimis industrij illustres existentes regna Tyrannorum vicerunt And this greate encrease and multiplication of Christians continued all this age in these Countries as these forreyne Antiquaries tell vs and vntill the death of S. Maternus which was in the yeare of Christ Marian. Scot. aetat 6. in Nerua 133. as they witnes all which time and longer our renowned Bishop and Countriman still liued and often visited this his natiue Country preaching heare And yet before the end of this age we had a new supply of Apostolike men sent hither from the See of Rome and Authoritie thereof as I shall further declare in the next Chapter THE XXXVI CHAPTER OF THE STATE OF ECCLESIASTICALL affaires in Britaine in the Papacy of S. Clement Empire of Traian and Reigne of King Coillus vnto the end of this first hundred of yeares of Christ 1. S Cletus hauing happily ended his life by Martyrdome S. Clement tooke vpon him the gouernement of the Apostolike Roman See and the tyrannicall time of Domitian being now by his death expired and his Acts for their crueltie generally recalled by Nerua though Emperour Marian. Scotus l. 2. aetat 6. Method apud eund col 255. Martin Pol. Supput in Clem. Traiano Matth. West an 102. 98. 117. 124. alij litle aboue one yeare Traian succeeded him holding the Empire vntill or about the yeare of Christ 117. being for diuers yeares a Persecutor of Christians especially about Rome the Easterne and other parts remote from this Nation where King Coillus agreat friend and fauouror of Christians reigned 2. Before I proceede further in S. Clements dayes my promise before and vrgent reasons to be remēbred hereafter doe call vpon mee to cleare the doubt whether S. Clement was ordained by S. Peter his Successor immediate or noe S. Clement himselfe thus writeth in these words S. Peter himselfe Clemens Rom. Epist 1. for his greate charitie towards all men when he perceaued his death at hand in the Assembly of our Brethren the whole Church hearing him taking mee by the hand vttered these words heare mee my brethren and fellowe Seruants because as I am taught of him my Lord and Maister Iesus Christ that sent mee that the day of my death is at hand I ordayne this Clement your Bishop to whome onely I commit the Chaire of my preaching and doctrine To him I deliuer the power of binding and loosing deliuered to mee by our Lord that of all things whatsoeuer he shall decree on earth the same be decreed in heauen For he shall binde that which ought to be bounde and shall loose that which ought to be loosed as he which perfectly knoweth the Rule of the Church Ipse Petrus pro immensa charitate quam erga omnes homines gerebat in ipsis diebus quibus vitae finem sihi imminere praesensit in conuentu fratrum positus apprehensa manu mea in auribus totius Ecclesiae haec protulit verba audite me fratres conserui mei quoniam vt doctus sum ab eo qui misit me Domino magistro meo Iesu Christo dies mortis meae instat Clementem hunc Episcopum vobis ordino cui soli meae praedicationis doctrinae Cathedram trado Ipsi trado à Domino mihi traditam potestatem ligandi soluendi vt de omnibus quibuscunque decreuerit in terris hoc decretum sit in caelis Ligabit enim quod oportet ligari soluet quod expedit solui tanquam qui ad liquidum Ecclesiae regulam nouerit This Act so concerning and so publikly effected and concerning the whole Church registred by so worthie a present witnesse and partie in that busines leaueth no place of exception vnto it especially when we see allmost all that followed cōfirming it S. Anacletus the next successor to S. Clemēt whom our greatest Anaclet epist 1. 3. to 1. Concil Matt. Parker Antiq. Brit. p. 24. Io. Pris defens hist Brit. p. 73. Rob. Barnes l. de vit Pontif. in Anacleto Alexādro Alexand. Pap. 1. epist 1. S. Leo 2. apud Marian. Scot. l. 2. aetat 6. col 238. Florent Wigor an 50. 75. Bed Martyr 9. cal Decembr Hier. l. de Scriptor in Clem. Epiph. haeres 27. Ioa. Pap. 3. Epist decretal Tom. 2. Concil Egbert Ser. 3. de incremento manifestatione Catholicae fidei Protestāts approue approueth both that Epistle this very part thereof containing this Act of S. Peter in diuers places S. Alexander likewise carrying with him Protestant approbation twyce in one Epistle citeth and alloweth the same Act for S. Peters Ipse Apostolorum Princeps in ordinatione beati Clementis populum instruens And againe beatus Princeps Apōstolorum Petrus qui in ordinatione sancti praedecessoris nostri Clementis instruens clerum populum So doth S. Leo the second as S. Marianus Florentius Wigorniensis and others testifie S. Bede saith the same of S. Clement Hic ex praecepto beati Petri Ecclesiae suscepit pontificatum S. Hierome saith most of the Latines held so plerique Latinorum secundum post Petrum Apostolum putant fuisse Clementem S. Epiphanius a Grecian is of the sameopinion Pope Ihon the third aboue 1000. yeares since expressely setteth downe this History from that Epistle of S. Clement And Egbertus cōuincibly thus proueth this Epistle nec vnquā defecit in Ecclesia Romana fides quam habuerat quam praedicauerat Petrus sicut ei promiserat Dominus quando imminente passione sua dixit ad eum Ego rogaui pro te vt non deficiat fides tua hoc est fides Ecclesiae quam tibi commisit Beatus autem Petrus cum sciret appropinquare sibi passionem suam sanctum Clementem quem ad fidem conuerterat baptizauerat ordinauit in Episcopum eiusque gubernationi sedem suam Ecclesiam quam ipse rexerat commisit ita successor beati Petri factus estin Sede illa Nam quod Linus Cletus successores Petri fuisse leguntur ita intelligendum est quod adhuc ipso viuente Coadiutores eius extiterunt in gubernando populum Dei Romae ad hoc abipso erant in Episcopos ordinati vt scribit quidam Apostolicorum Patrum Episcopis Germaniae Galliae The faith which Peter had and preached did neuer faile in the Roman Church as our Lord promised him when a
would S. Clemens primum à beato Petro vt dicitur ordinatus fuit sibi Successor Sed propter periculum voluit ante se beatum Linum Cletum Pontificari ne videlicet hoc exemplo Praelati substituerent sibi quos vellent And the words themselues which S. Clement vsed when he yelded this Papall dignitie to S. Linus as S. Epiphanius doth alledge them from his owne workes will well beare such construction of his Religeous meaning in that matter Secedo abeo erigatur populus Dei I giue place I Clemens Rom. apud Epiph. haer 27. goe away lett the people of God be prouided for For so he saith in an Epistle saith S. Epiphanius and this we finde in certaine Commentaries Dicit enim in vna Epistola sua Hoc enim in quibusdam Commentarijs reperimus 5. So it appeareth by that is said that S. Clement was twice Pope and at S. Clement twice Pope both those times for some space executed that highest function and dignitie first when it was imposed vpon him by S. Peter and he wrote his Epistles with that Title Clemens Romanae Ecclesiae Praesul Clemens vrbis Romae Episcopus Clemens Rom. epistol 2. 3. 4. Const Apost 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Ignat. Epist ad Mariam Cassobol Iren. l. 3. c. 3. Tertul. l. 3. carm Optat. l. 2. Aug. Epist 161. Martyr Rom. in Lin. Clet Clem. M. S. antiq Brit. Martin Polon supput col 35. in Clemente Bishop of the Roman Church and doth in them iuridically sett downe things to be obserued of the whole Church So likewise in his other Books where he deliuereth the Doctrine Tradition of the Apostles concerning the holy Sacrifice and other matters generally to be kept of all And not long after yeelding it vp to S. Linus whome S. Ignatius Irenaeus S. Augustine Optatus an old Brittish Manuscript which I haue seene others make the next to S. Peter for some yeares by that Title of S. Clements Resignation And secondly after the death of Cletus when it was imposed vpon him againe the second time and died in that dignitie as Martinus Polonus and others write Clemens quamuis à beato Petro esset electus tamen coegit Linum Cletum ante se pontificari Et ita est ipse primus post Petrum per electionem tertius verò per gradum This I haue written more at lardge not to labour to putt those two glorious Bishops Saints and Martyrs S. Linus and Cletus out of the Catalogue of the renowned Roman Popes but to giue due to S. Clement one of our Apostles S. Clement was heare in Britaine with S. Peter some time heare in Britaine except good arguments deceaue vs according to his worth and merite in this part of the world and redeeme that his most learned Epistle or Booke to S. Iames S. Simon or Simeon Bishop of Hierusalem much concerning his honour and this Nation For although we haue good witnesse of S. Paul S. Irenaeus and others of his conuersation and familiarity with S. Peter and him yet therein we learne from S. Peter and S. Clement themselues that he was with S. Peter in all his Iorneys greate in these parts neuer forsaking him one reason why he principally made choyse of him for his Successour as being so best acquainted with his Apostolike course Qui mihi ab initio vsque in finem comes in omnibus fuit per hoc veritatem totius Paul Epist ad Philipp cap. 4. Irenaeus l. 3. haer Euseb Hist Eccl. l. 5. c. 5. 6. Clem. Rom. Epist 1. meae praedicationis agnouit Qui in omnibus tentationibus meis socius extitit fideliter perseuerans Quem prae caeteris expertus sum Deum colentem homines diligentem castum discendi studijs deditum sobrium benignum iustum patientem scientem ferre nonnullorum etiam ex his qui in verbo Dei instituuntur iniurias Propter quod ipsi trado à Domino mihi traditam potestatem ligandi soluendi O my brethren heare mee for as I am instructed of our Lord which sent me Iesus Christ the daye of my death is at hand I ordaine this Clemēt taking mee by the hand your Bishop to him alone I delyuer the Chayre of my preaching and doctrine Who from the beginning to the end hath bene a companyon vnto mee in all things or places and by this hath knowne the truth of all my preaching Who hath bene my fellowe faithfully perseuering in all my temptations whom aboue the rest I haue proued to worship God loue men to be chast giuen to the studies of learning sober gentle iust patient and knowing to beare the iniuries of some euen from them that be instructed in the word of God For which respects I deliuer vnto him the power of binding and loosing which was deliuered to mee by our Lord. Where we see it plainely testified both by S. Peter and S. Clement his Secretary aswell as Successour that he was with S. Peter in all his trauails and places euen to the end that we may be assured he was with him heare in Britaine which was his last place of stay before this at Rome and this was a cheife cause why S. Peter thought S. Clement most fitt for this dignitie for he whom he calleth homines diligentem so louing and kinde to all men must needs be more kinde and carefull of them with whom he had conuersed and whose necessities he best knew 6. And yet besides this loue of S. Clement to these parts of the worlde which he had so trauailed with S. Peter the same holy Apostle as he himselfe witnesseth gaue him expresse chardge to send learned Bishops vnto all Cities in those parts where S. Peter had not ordayned such before Episcopos S. Petrus Apost apud Clem. Rom Epist 1. per singulas ciuitates quibus ille non miserat perdoctos prudentes sicut serpentes simplicesque sicut columbas iuxta Domini praeceptionem nobis mittere praecepit And to make it manifest that among other Countries he sent also into this our Britaine S. Clement sent Bishops into Britaine and by S. Peters direction according to S. Peters direction he saith plainely that he desired and intended to send such Bishops and preachers into Italy Spaine France Germany and to include Britaine to all other Nations in these parts of this westerne world wishing the Bishop of Hierusalem to whom he wrote to doe so in the Easte Vos per vestras Dioeceses Episcopos sacrate mittite quia nos ad alias partes quod idem inssit agere curabimus Aliquos verò ad Gallias Hispaniasque mittemus quosdam ad Germaniam Italiam atque ad reliquas gentes dirigere cupimus Where we see S. Clement by this power committed to him by S. Peter and Prerogatiue of the See of Rome thought it is dutie and tooke vpon him not onely to send Bishops and Preachears into all this westerne
Ponticus Virunnius Brit. Hist l. 4. in fine and gests of them which came with Damianus and Faganus are found in the Booke which the other Gildas did Intitle of the victorie of Aurelius Ambrose Where the distinction alter Gildas the other Gildas hauing spoken of no other before but onely the Authour whome he did epitomate must needs make one Gildas Authour of that Brittish Historie and so both the one and other Gildas to approue this narration of Archflamens in Britaine Which he further confirmeth in the later end of his Bookes citing for Authours of all which he had said both the Translation of Geffery of Monmouth whome he nameth an excellent Historian and Cardinall and Gildas the renouned Poet writing more then he did epitomate which were things most concerning the Romans he being an Italian Haec autem multa alia describit idem Gaufridus Monumetensis Historicus egregius Cardinalis 〈◊〉 Gildas Poeta insignis Sed ego Ponticus Virunnius excepi quae ad rem Romanam attinerent plurimum And he speaketh of many things which Galfridus Translation hath not which he must needs by his owne confession haue from Gildas And for this History of our Brittish Archflamens comprehendâ—d in the gests of the Brit. Hist l. 4. c. 20. Roman Legats the Translation of Galfridus citeth Gildas as Virunnius did onely omitting the distinction alter the other of that name and mentioneth that Gildas did write more plainely or copiously of this mâ—tter then he doth eorum nomina actus in libro reperiuntur quem Gildâ—â— de victoria Aurelij Ambrosij inscripsit Quod autemtam lucido Tractatu parauerâ—â— nullatenus opusfuit vt inferiori stylo renouaretur 5. To this changing of Archflamens three in number in Britaine to so many Archbishops naming their places as before and that Gildas in his Booke of the victory of Aurelius Ambrose wrote of this matter of King Lucius so conuerted then is coÌ„sented vnto by many forreine writers as in France the Authour of the Historie Intituled Mere des Histories Chroniques de France Alan Bouchard Mere des Histoires l. 1. p. 91. Alan Bauchard Annales de Bretaigne l. 1. f. 19. p. 2. Ponticus Virun Hist Brit. l. 4. and others And to manifest that these Authours which cite and follow Gildas in this Relation as they haue witnessed before doe speake as plainely of this matter as the Brittish Historie Virunnius deliuereth it in these the same words fuerant enim in Britannia octo viginti Flamines necnon tres Archiflamines quorum potestati caeteri Iudices morum atque phanatici submittebantur Hos etiam ex praecepto Apostolico Idololatriae eripuerunt vbi erant Flamines Episcopos vbi autem Archiflamines Archiepiscopos posuerunt mira sanctitate incredibili deuotione Sedis autem Archiflaminum in tribus nobilioribus ciuitatibus fuerant Londonijs videlicet atque Eboraci in vrbe Legionum quam super Oscam fluuium in Glamorgantia veteres muri aedificia sitam fuisse testantur And to leaue it without exception that Gildas or whatsoeuer other old Brittish Authour he followed herein went further in this matter of Archflamens theÌ„ Galfridus his Translation doth he there addeth froÌ„ this old Brittish Antiquitie that the Religion of the Archflamens was the most auncient Religion Archiflaminum quae fuit antiquissima Religio And Giraldus Cambrensis a most Noble Cosmographer Cosmographus nobilissimus as a Protestant Bishop stileth him himselfe a Britan maketh this calling of Archflamen so auncient Bal. l. descript Brit. centur 2. in Syluestro Giraldo Cambren Galfrid Cambr. descript Cambr. â— 16. that he constantly affirmeth Helenus sonne of Priamus was Archflamen among the Troians before the destruction of Troy Helenus Priami filius Archflamen eorum erat But I shall speake hereafter of the Antiquitie of this state from the Pagans themselues heare I was onely to Iustifie that such men were heare in Britaine in King Lucius time and their Residences changed into the Sees of Christian Archbishops which I haue performed by the best and most receaued Antiquities we haue left vnto vs. Which is confirmed by those that haue written after namely among strangers writing of Brittish affaires Martinus Polonus Philippus Bergomensis Platina Hartmannus Schedel Martin Pol. supput in Eleuther Philip. Bergom Hist in Eleuth Platina in Eleut Hartm Scedel Chron. chronic f. 115. p. 2. Ptolomeus Lucens in Vit. Pontif. in Eleuth Leland assertione Arthuâ—ij f. 36. with others onely this difference I finde betweene these and most of our Brittish writers that these of our Nation are commonly interpreted to affirme we had 28. Flamens besides 3. Archflamens when those strangers I recited doe write but of 25. Flamens besides the 3. Archflamens which opinion will appeare the more probable when I shall hereafter shew from our most auncient and approued Authours that this our Britaine as it contayned onely Loegria and Cambria now England and Wales neither King Lucius nor the Romans then Lords of more had but 28. Cities in all to feate these 3. Archflamens and the other Flamens in and 3. Archbishops and Bishops after them 6. For English Historians whether Catholiks or Protestants I may passe The greate nuÌ„ber of Bishops placed â—eaâ—e them ouer in this busines seeing this Protestant Bishop hath before acknowledged that he and one other onely haue opposed therein Therefore very vnaduisedly hath this Protestant Bishop before spoken as he hath done of this Godwin supr p. â—â— thing and with no lesse boldnes further thus addeth no man I dare affirme is able to shew out of any auncient writer or other autheÌ„ticall Monument that euer there was any such office amongst the Gentils as Archflamen or Protoflamen Looke who list in that volume of auncient Incriptions published of late by Gruterus Scaliger and others he may there finde oftentimes mentioned Flamen for a man and Flaminica for a woman Preist but of Archflamen Protoflamen or any other like altum Silentium there is no mention For I haue proued by auncient and the most auncient writers we haue that there was such an office among the Gentils euen heare in Britaine And if there were no memory of such in auncient Inscriptions as there is not of many which most confessedly were this is not able to discredit the truth hereof And his Authour Gruterus is so farre from discrediting this that the Gentils had Archflamens as well as Flamens that vpon the first Epistle of S. Clement where Archiflamines be iustified both by his owne and S. Peters testimony and that they were to be changed among Christians into Primats or Patriarkes he plainely writeth it is the true Epistle of S. Clement Lambert Grut. Verenad in Argumento 1. Epist Clement omnino statuo hanc Clementis veram esse Epistolam And vpon the very word Archiflamines as in his opinion Rufinus liuing in S. Hierome his time translateth S. Clement he noteth in the Margin that
yeares after this in the time of Dioclesian his Persecution when S. Alban a cheife man there was martyred for the Christian faith the Citie of Verolamium was by all Histories so ignorant thereof as if there neuer had bene any Christian there before much lesse a Bishop which should haue very ill intended to his greate office to suffer himselfe and his cheife chardge to haue so presently apostated from Christ 7. But I must rather hold that the rest of the Bishops Sees were where we finde Christians professing constantly euen to death their holy faith in that most tempestuous time of persecution where we finde any Bishop to haue bene then or where the first Bishops were seated when the Saxons were conuerted then where not any of these but a manifest priuation or destitution of these is found And we haue the old English Historie and others for witnes Old English hist part 4. in K. Lucius that many Bishopriks of the time of King Lucius were still in this Land in those dayes So we may probably add to these Bishopricks by these Titles the Citie of Lichfeild not vnprobably that which Nennius nameth Caerligalid Io. Ross Warwicen l. de Episcop Wigorn. Theater of great Brit. lib. 6. Stowe Hist Romans in Coill Holinsh. Hist of Engl. l. 4. c. 26. so constant in Christian Religion in the Persecution of Dioclesian that at one time it brought forth a thousand Martyrs and thereuppō tooke in the Saxon tongue the name Lichfeild a feild of blood and in the Conuersion of the Saxons was at the first a Bishops See by the old Scottish or Brittish Bishops The like I say of Dorchester now a Villadge neare Oxford but aunciently a Citie Caer Dor as before Dorcestria and Ciuitas Dorchestriae and in the Primatiue Church of the Saxōs a Bishops or the rather onely Bishops See of the kingdom of the Mercians or Middle English diuers hundreds of yeares vntill time of King William the first when Remigius Bishop thereof remoued his See to Lincoln That there was a Bishops See in Huntington shire eyther at the decayed Citie Caer dorm before named or at Godmanchester we haue diuers testimonies both of late and auncient time a late writer speaking of the Bishops ordayned by these Legats of Pope Eleutherius absolutely affirmeth They founded a Bishopricke in the Citie of Gumicastrum now called Godmanchester in Huntinghton shire where S. Machutus was sometime Bishop about the yeare of Harris Theatr. Brit. Tom. 2. in Manuscr Hist Vit. S. Machuti Theater of great Brit. in descr of Hunting shire Manuscr Antiq. Harding Chron. f. 26. 27. c. 30. our Lord. 550. So hath the old written life of S. Machutus as our Theater writers testifie and diuers others and among these an old Manuscript History Among these I may number besides the Archflamens and Arcbishops See in London an other inferiour place of a Flamen and Bishop after first founded as Harding with others witnesseth by Dunwallo S. Paules Church the Bishops See now is seated there He made sixe Temples say Authours in Logres Cambre and Albanie and as many Flamens to rule them of states as Bishops now doen. A Temple also in Troynouant sothely Of peace and concorde he made verely In which when there fell any discorde Emong his Lords there were they made accorde And thus noteth This Temple was S. Paules Church in London How the Pagans dedicated it to Apollo and there sacrificed to him I haue said before And this neuer being either the Arcflamens or Arcbbishops See and yet presently vpon the Conuersiō of the Saxōs made a Bishops seate giueth strength to this opinion and we finde in our Histories more Arcbishops of London in the time of the Britans then of Yorke and Caerlegion both Ioyned together yet was the Citie of London more subiect to tumults and alterations then eyther of these was some Argumēt that to make so greate a number both Archbishops and Bishops there be accompted together 8. But though we leaue London onely to an Archbishops See we shall otherwise make vp our common reckoning of 28. Bishops in that time A Protestant Bishop writeth that Chichester was a Bishops See in the Britans time and had a Bishop at the comming of S. Augustine hither and citeth Roger Houeden for his Authour which I doe not finde in him but that Chester Godwin Catal. in S. Dauids 1. Roger. Houedē Part. 2. Annal. in Rege was then a Bishops See he affirmeth in the life of King Ihon the place I take it which this Protestant meaneth Where he also plainely affirmeth the same of Worchester The old Citie of Lincolne also to haue bene then a Bishops See we haue the conueniencie of place Antiquitie of the Citie both with the Britans and Romans Cair Lud Coit Cair Loichoit Lindum Lindocollinum and that in the Conuersion of the Saxons next vnto Yorke it was made the first Bishops See in those parts 9. Now if we stay heare before we proceed further we haue probably found all the first Bishops Sees that were vnder the Iurisdiction of London both in Loegria and Cornewayle besides some others For Harding holding Hardin Chron. f. 29. c. 23. Sigebert Gemb Chron. ann 445. Matth. Parker Antiq. Brit. p. 9. there were 13. Flamens vnder the Archflamen of London and others that there were 14. we haue Antiquities to direct vs that there were but 7. Bishops vnder Yorke and no more vnder Caerlegion so allowing 28. with the common opinion 14. of these must needs be vnder the Iurisdiction of the Archbishop of London to witt the Bishop of Cornwayle of Exceter Bathe Glocester Worchester Silcester Shastesbury Winchester Canterbury Dunwich or some other Bishops Sees vnder the Archbishop of London in King Lucius or the Brittans time place among the Easte Angles afterward Godmanchester Leychester Leichfeild The other 4. Carleyle Chester Lincoln or Leichfeild if we subiect Lincoln to London and Alchlud were vnder Yorke this Citie of Alchlud was very auncient and renowned in the North parts and by Harding and others stood at Harding supr f. 20. c. 21. Bed Hist l. 1. c. 12. Galfrid Monum Histor Brit. l. 9. c. 5. 6. the West end of the Picts wall and by our Brittish History and S. Bede not farre from thence and as is euident before was both vnder the Spirituall Iurisdiction of Yorke and the temporall Gouernment also of our Kings in this part of Britaine distinct from Scotland long after this time And to speake as our Brittish History doth it was not in Scotland Albania but neare or towards it Constituit Ebrancus vrbem Alclud versus Albaniam And if it had Hist Brit. l. 2. c. 7. bene in that part which now is called Scotland yet when this Citie was builded Bishops Sees vnder Yorke and when it was also made a Bishops See the Scots had nothing to doe there abouts except as Theeues and Pirats then liuing in the out Ilands as both
miseries and afflictions for his holy faith with S. Stephen and others of his Cleargie imposed vpon them by Valerianus as may plainely be gathered out of the Acts and life of S. Stephen And whereas S. Damasus or whosoeuer the aūcient Writer of the liues of the Popes commonly asscribed to him doth testifie that S. Stephen did Consecrate three Bishops onely speaking of no more Episcopos per diuersa loca tres Baronius doth and well conclude that our holy Britan S. Melanius was one of them and renowned for sanctitie Ex ijs vnus fuit Melanius Episcopus Rhotomagensis sanctitate celebris Citing for that the old Roman Martyrologe Manuscr antiq de Vita S. Mellonis Iacob Genuensis in Catal. de eodem Capg in S. Mellone Petrus de Natalibus l. 9. cap. 93. Tabulae Episcoporum Rhotomagen Vincent l. 11. c. 74. which saith of this holy Bishop that he was Consecrated by Pope Stephen and by him sent to preach the faith about Rhoan where he was Bishop in France Rhotomagi S. Melanij Episcopi qui a sancto Stephano Papa ordinatus illuc ad praedicandum Euangelium missus est Vsuardus also hath the same vpon the same 22. day of October 3. The manner of his Miraculous Mission and sending to be Archbishop of Rhoan in Normandy is thus registred in the old Manuscript of his life the auncient Learned Bishop Iacobus Genuensis Capgraue Petrus de Natalibus and others Cumque Ieiunijs vigilijs instaret quadam Die Missam co celebrante viderunt ipse Papa Angelum Dei stantem ad dexteram altaris Qui peracta missa dedit ei virgam Pastoralem quam manu tenebat dicens accipe virgam sub quâ reges populum Rhotomagensis Ciuitatis in sinibus Neustriae Tibi enim illic praeparatus est a Deo locus licet labor incognitae vitae sit tibi onerosus nequaquam tamen tibi timendum quoniam sub vmbrà alarum suarum proteget te Dominus Iesus Christus Tunc acceptâ benedictione a Papa Iter arripuit As he continued in fastings and watchings when he said Masse on a certaine day both he and the Pope did see an Angell of God standing at the right hand of the Altar Who when Masse was ended gaue vnto him a Pastor all staffe which he held in his hand saying take the rodd with which thow shall Rule the people of the Citie of Rhoan in the borders of Neustria For there a place is prepared for thee by God and allthough the Labour of the vnknowne life be burdensome vnto thee yet be not a fraide because our Lord Iesus Christ will defend thee vnder the shadowe of his wings So receauing benediction from the Pope he tooke his Iorney In which comming to Antisiodorum he Miraculousely cured S. Mello cured alame man he died and was buried at Rhoan a man there most greuously wounded Comming to Rhoan he there faithfully performed his sacred office renowned for vertue and Miracles he ended his life there about the yeare of our Lord 280. his body is there still kept with greate reuerence in the Cathedrall Church of that Citie neare to the body of S. Nicasius first Bishop there sent by S. Clement Pope Successor to S. Peter Tab. Eccl. Rhotomagon apud Anton. Democharez contra Caluin Io. Molan in addition ad Vsuardum 22. Octobr. Martyr Rom. die 11. Octobris Bed Martyrol Prid. Idus Nouembr and this the second as the Annals of that Church giue testimony Molanus saith he was Archbishop of Rhoan and was there most honorably buried In Gallijs ciuitate Rothomagi notalis Sancti Meloni qui eiusdem vrbis primus Ecclesiā Archiepiscop us rexit ibidemque sepultus gloriosissimè quieuit But the Roman old Martyrologe saith plainly that S. Nicasius was Bishop there Nicasij Episcopi Rhotomagensis S. Bede in his Martyrologe setteth downe the Festiuitie of this holy Saint on the 12. day of Nouember pridie Idus Nouembris Sancti Melani Rodouicae ciuitatis Episcopi All others place it vpon the 22. of October What spirituall benefite the rare example of this holy Brittish Bishop by his strange conuersion in neglecting the seruice of the Emperour and honour thereof to be the poore seruant of Christ in persecution his Miraculous calling and Mission in Episcopall dignitie his life renowned for vertue and Miracles multis virtutibus Miraculis clarus and so long continuing so glorious and Archbishop so neare to this our Nation his Country we may in prudence apprehend though Iniquitie of times hath depriued vs of their memory so farre that for this his short History we are forced to appeale to forreine Antiquities 4. And yet we haue sufficient warrant left vnto vs by our owne Histories not onely in generall assuring vs that our Britans continued their first faith quietly and inuiolably vntill Dioclesians bloody Persecution but particular testimonie that euen in this time by arguments we had such a florishing Church heare in Britaine that we had not onely Bishops and Preists in greate numbers but which few other Nations can so soone for themselues giue instance in both publike Councells of Bishops and diuers Religious houses both of men and women We reade in the old Manuscript Historie of the life of S. Melorus liuing in the beginning of the Britans Christianitie cum in exordio Manuscr Antiq. de Vita S. Melor Io. Capgr Catal. in eod Harris Hist of Brit. to 3. Christianae fidei conuersa est Britanniae gentilitas that there was a Councell of Brittish Bishops kept in Cornewayle but a corner of this kingdome In Cornubia Concilium Episcoporum congregatū And this holy Saint was there brought vp and instructed in a Monastery nutritus in quodam Monasterio Cornubiae A Councell of Bishops in Cornwaile in this time where the distinctiue word quodam one certaine Monastery of Cornewayle doth sufficiently notifie that besides all others in other parts of Britaine there were then more Monasteryes in that Prouince of Cornewayle Which is further proued by that which followeth in the same Authours what an especiall care the Abbot of that place had of this Noble glorious Saint yet a child Abbas illius loci sufficiently prouing there were then other Abbots of other Abbayes in that Country There also mention is made of the Church Nunnery Altar and Abbesse of Anbesbury whether the Reliks of that holy Saint were brought after they had bene honorably buryed by the Bishops and Preists sepulto ab Episcopis Clericis capite cum Sacro corpore That these Bishops Preists Monasteryes and Religious men and women of Britaine were in this time I am vrged to thinke because these Historians haue told vs before that these things were in the beginning of Christianitie heare and add that then many beleeued and following the Apostles Precepts were famous for Miracles and that S. Melorus was one of that number Multi Domino credentes Apostolica praecepta sequentes varijs virtutum Miraculis fulserunt de
Emperor he recalled and restored all the Catholike Bishops which Constantius the Arrian had bannished as Theodoret and others testifie Iulianus Episcopos qui fuerunt in exilium à Constantio in vltima terrarum loca missi ad suam quemque Ecclesiam capessendam renocauit And declared Emperor in France and the West in ConstaÌ„tius his time when he and his Complices raged most against the Catholike Bishops soone after the dissoluing of the Councell of Ariminum as Sozomen Sozom. Socrat. Niceph. supr Socrates Nicephorus and others proue was so farre from concurring with him or his Agents either in this or any other designe by his Authoritie or Commission that in all places in the West and as he went towards Constantius in the East he discharged his Officers Commissioners in all Prouinces disgracing him in euery Citie so that all people reuolted from Constantius and submitted themselues vnto Iulianus His rebus prosperè faeliciter gestis Imperator à militibus declaratur Iulianus ad hunc modum regnare caepit Neque Legatos ad Constantium mittere neque vt patronum beneficum colere sed omnia pro suo ipsius arbitrio agere in animum induxit Magistratus in singulis Prouincijs commutare Constantium in quaque Ciuitate infamia notare conatur Quocircailli omnes se dedere à Constantio deficere caeperunt 6. S. Hilarius the best Calculator of those times Tragedies wherein he suffered so much by the Arrians for the Catholike doctrine can giue the most certaine euidence in this busines he in his Booke of Synods written to the Bishops of Britaine Germany and France after the summons of the Councell of Hila. l. de Synod contra Arrianos Ariminum cum comperissem Synodos in Ancira atque in Arimino congregandas saith that he had bene exiled three whole yeares toto iam triennio In his Booke offered to Constantius after the Councell of Ariminum when he was by him Hilar. l. ad Constantium Augustum Hilar. l. contra Constantium defunctum sent home free into France he iustifieth he remayned then in communion with all the Churches and Bishops of France with which our Britans then also communicated by all Antiquites Episcopus ego sum in omnium Gallicarum Ecclesiarum atque Episcoporum communione licet in exilio permanens Ecclesiae adhuc per presbyteros meos communionem distribuens And in his Booke against CoÌ„stantius being then dead he writeth that after the Bannishment of the Catholike Bishops Paulinus Eusebius Vercellensis Luciferus and Dionisius fiue yeares before he with the Bishops of France had seperated himselfe from the Communion of the Arrians Saturninus Vrsatius and Valens which two last were Constantius choasen cheife InstrumeÌ„ts publikly to persecute the Catholiks after the Ariminum Councell ended Post Sanctorum virorum exilia Paulini Eusebij Lucifiri Diosij quinto ab hinc anno a Saturnini vrsatij valentis Communione me cum Gallicanis Episcopis seperaui And particularly for our Bishops of Britaine in his Epistle or Booke to them with others directed to the Hilar. l. de Synodis prope Iâ—itium Lords his most blessed Brethren and fellowe Bishops of the Prouinces of Britaine Dominis beatissimis fratribus Coepiscopis Prouinciarum Britanniarum Episcopis he testifieth from their owne letters of their sincere faith sent vnto him in Exile beatae fidei vestrae literis sumptis that they continued vnspotted and free from all contagion of Heresie were partakers of his Exile and would not communicate with wicked Saturninus which had procured his BaÌ„nishment and denied Saturninus communion all that while three whole yeares Gratulatus sum in Domino incontaminatos vos illaesos ab omni contagio detestandae Haereseos perstitisse vosque comparticipes exilij mei in quod me Saturninus ipsam conscentiam suam veritus circumuento Imperatore detruserat negata ipsi vsque hoc tempus toto iam triennio Communione fide mihi ac spiritu coherere And that they had actually reiected and condeÌ„ned the Hereticall Decrees of Syrmium missam proxime vobis ex Syrmiensi Oppido infidelis fidei impietatem non modo non suscepisse sed nuntiatam etiam significatamque damnasse 7. And both after the Ariminum Councell and death of Constantius and Iulian his short Rule in the shorter Empire of Iouian commonly named Iouinian when that Persecution ended we haue an other the best witnesse of those dayes S. Athanasius confidently vpon his owne certaine experience and knowledge auouching to that Emperour that among many other Countries which he there recounteth all the Church of Britaine did inuiolably hold the faith of the Nicen Councell Cognosce Religiosissime Auguste hanc esse fidem quae Athanas epist ad Iouinian Aug. à condito aeuo praedicanda fuit quam Niceae Patres congregati agnouerunt eiusque Suffragatrices esse omnes omnibus in locis Ecclesias siue in Hispania siue Britanuia Omnium enim istoruÌ„ animos experimentis cognouimus scripta habemus Thus it is made euident that our Churches and Bishops of Britaine both before at and after the Councell of Ariminum were free from this infection of the Arrian Heresie euen at that time when S. Hierome saith of the whole world besides that the flame of this Heresie had destroyed it totum orbem eius flamma populata est And ingemuit totus orbis Artianum se esse miratus est The whole world groaned and maruailed to see itselfe an Arrian Which was soone after the Councell of Ariminum when ValeÌ„s Vrsacius by the Arrian Emperours Authoritie and Power vsed such cunning strategems and violence towards the Catholike Bishops especially in Italy and the Easterne Countryes where S. Hier. l. 3. in Epist ad Galat. Hier. aduers Luciferian Hierome liued and wrote 8. Yet neither dare I or doe I affirme that Britaine was absolutely and perfectly free in all the members thereof Ecclesiasticall temporall or all such as were directed hither by the Arrian Emperour or had ciuill command vnder him heare were vnspotted with this Heresie and that it did not at all inuade this Kingdome in some parsons and places it is a sufficient glory and singular prerogatiue vnto vs in so generall an Inundation to haue proued our Bishops and their Churches Innocent for besides diuers testimonies before of a common infection in all the world with this Pestilence we haue our owne best and most auncient Writers S. Gildas and S. Bede who as they doe confesse that from the time of Dioclesian his Persecution ended the Church of Britaine was in peace and quiet vntill the Arrian Heresie So they bewaile and complaine that this infecting all the world sailed ouer the Ocean in this Kingdome and other Heresies followed it afterward Mansit haec in Ecclesijs Christi Bed Hist Eccles Gent. Angl. l. 1. c. 8. quae erant in Britannia pax vsque ad tempora Arrianae vesaniae quae
other Bishops were subiecte 283. 4. Diuers Archbishops of London numbered 591. 3. Archflamens antiquity 275. 5. Archflamens were called Priests amongst the Gentils 276. 6. Archflamens were the same that PoÌ„tifices Maximi ib. Archflamens and Flamens in Britaine ruled not onely in spirituall but also in temporall affaires 217. 7. All Archflamens and Flamens in Britaine conuerted together with their Cities 270. 5. Archflamens and Flamens for the most part made Bishops after theiâ— Conuersion 217. 7. S. Aristobulus ordained Bishop 92. 1. S. Aristobulus consecrated by diuers Authors before S. Paul 94. 3. S. Aristobulus his death in Britaine by Martyrdome 171. 3. King Arthur descended from Heluius nephew to S. Ioseph of Arimathia 124. 1. Aruiragus King of Britaine 2. 2. 23. 7 Aruiragus put away his wife Voada Sister of Cataracus King of the Scots 132. 3. Aruiragus married Genuesse Claudius his supposed daughter 2. 2. 132. 3. Aruiragus leaues his kingdome to his sonne Marius 2. 2. 132. 3. Aruiragus write a booke in defence of plurality of wiues 132. 2. Aruiragus worshipped the Emperor Claudius as God 132. 2. Aruiragus dedicated a Temple vnto Claudius ib. Aruiragus granted Priuiledges to S. Ioseph of Arimathia 108. 1. 128. 2 Aruiragus was not a Christian conuerted by S. Ioseph 131. 1. c. Aruiragus small beneuolence towardes Christians 132. 2. Aruiragus liberality towards the Pagan Gods ib. Aruiragus in some sense may largely be termed a Christian 134. 7. Aruiragus buried in the Church he builded to Claudius 132. 3. Asclepiodotus Duke of Cornewayle King of Britaine 373. 2. Asclepiodotus slew the RomaÌ„s Captaine Lucius Gallus 375. 4. Asclepiodotus deposed Alectus sent hether against Carausius 373. 2. Asclepiodotus excused by some from any furthering of the Persecution of Dioclesian 451. 2. Asclepiodotus slaine by Coel. 451. 2. Asclepiodotus a Perturber of the Romans 452. 4. Asclepiodotus his death gratefull to the Romans 452. 4. The lenght of Asclepiodotus reigne 376. 5. or 373. 5. S. Athanasius recalled from exile 548. 1. S. Athanasius proued innocent by the Councell of Sardice ib. S. Attila Abbot next to S. Columban in his Monastery of Luxouium 332. 9. Aualonia so called from Aualla in the Brittish toÌ„gue signifying fruits 329. 4. S. Augulus Archbishop of London 94. 4. S. Augulus probably the first Archbishop of London 179. 7. S. Augulus probably sent into Britaine by S. Clement Pope 180. 8. S. Augulus Martyred though not in the Persecution of DioclesiaÌ„ 179. 7. S. Augustine our Apostle of EnglaÌ„d with his Associats was of no other but the old Apostolike Order and Rule that was vsed in S. Gregories Monastery 331. 7. S. Augustins Disciples ioyned in our auncient Brittish Order 332. 9. S. Augustine placed himselfe at Canterbury 210. 4. S. Augustine ordaâ—ned onely tow Bishops ib. S. Augustine did not preuaile so farre as to conuert halfe the Brittish Nation 210. 4. Augustus the Emperour established peace through the whole world 1. 1. Augustus consulteth with Sibilla Tiburtina about being made a God 3. 1. Sibyllas answere 4. 1. Augustus his strange Vision ib. Augustus erected an Altar with this inscription Haec Ara est primogeniti Dei 4. 2. Augustus great esteeme of the Sibils bookes 4. 3. Augustus would not be called Lord and why 5. 3. Augustus answere which he receaued from Pithius Apollo 6. 6. Auitus the second Bishop of Tungers 198. 5. Aulus Plancius the Emperor Claudius his Lieutenante in Britaine conuerted 88. 2. Aurelian the Emperour raiseth the 9. Persecution 391 1. Aurelius Ambrosius renewed the decaied Monasteries of Britaine 601. 6. Aurelius Ambrosius celebrateth the Feast of Pentecost with great solemnitie 601. 7. Aurelius Ambrosius buried in a regall manner ib. Aurelius vid. Marcus Auxentius Bishop of Millan an Arrian 559. 5. B. BAngor a famous Monastery 620. 8. Bangor Monasteries great number of Monkes ib. Bangor Monasteries Monkes deuided into 7. companies vnder 7. Priors 603. 8. The miraculous Banner of Constantine hauing the signe of the Crosse in it 487. 3. S. Barnabas S. Aristobulus brother preached in Italy only by directioÌ„ of S. Peter 63. 1. S. Barnabas sent from the East to Rome to diuulge the comming of Christ 19. 1. Bassianus Seuerus his sonne chosen both King of Britaine and Emperour 370. 2. Bassianus slew his halfe brother Geta chosen by some Romans for Emperour 370. 2. Bassianus brought vp by a Christian Nurse ib. Bassianus accustomed either to weep or turne his face when any Christians were put to death ib. Bassianus innocent of Christian bloude 371. 2. Bassianus causeth innumerable Roman Pagans to be killed ib. Bassianus slaine where and by whome 372. 3. Bassianus married the Sister of the holy Christian Lady Mummea 372. 3. Bassianus left a sonne named Heliogabalus 372. 3. S. Beatus a Britan Apostle of the Heluetians 63. 1. S. Beatus consecrated Preist by Pope Linus ib. S. Benedicte Biscop the first Abbot at Canterbury after those of S. Augustins Mission 333. 9. S. Benedicte went hence to the Monastery of Lirinum thence to Rome and liued among the Roman Monkes ib. S. Benedicte was a Monke of our auncient Brittish Order ib. S. Bernac a holy Abbot 604. 10. S. Bernac renowned at Rome for killing a pestiferous serpent ib. S. Bernac flead from Rome to auoid human applause ib. A Bishop imports as much as an ouerseere or cheife Commander 98. 9. Bishops consecrated with annointing with holy oyle 103. 2. The same Vnction a Sacrament 105. 5. Vsed by the Apostles ib. In this externall ceremony the grace of the Sacrament giuen 104. 3. This Vnction the generall vse both of the Greeke and Latin Church in the first vnspotted dayes of Christianity 105. 4. 190. 5. Bishops function acknowleged by Protestants to be a diuine ordinance 91. 1. Bishops superiority and authority exercised in ordering of Bishops and Ecclesiasticall Ministers by Protestants confession grounded in the word of God 93. 1. No trew Bishops or Preists among Protestants 106. 5. One Bishop in the primitiue Church vsed to preach in diuers Countries 178. 7. All Bishops may appeale to the See Apostolike 344. 2. Bishops not to be iudged 383. 11. or 393. 11. The Bishops of Scotland alwayes trewly consecrated as the Roman vse was 358. 4. Bishops Sees founded in France by S. Peter which are for the most part Archbishops Sees at this time 67. 5. The places and names of diuers auncient Bishoprikes 288. 5. Bishops Sees vnder the Archbishop of London in King Lucius time 292. 9. Bishops Sees vnder Yorke 292. 9. Bishops Sees vnder the Archbishop of Cambria 293. 11. or 263 11. Bishops of Britaine present at the first Nicen Councell 545. 7. Diuers Bishops of Britaine fiue at the lest present at the generall Councell of Sardice 548. 2. The Bishops gathered at the CouÌ„cell of Ariminum refused to be maintained by the Emperor Constantius 551. 1. Bishops of Britaine present at the Councell of Ariminum 551. 1. The Bishops of Britaine sincere faith testified by S. Hilarius 555. 6. The same
Abbots and other Noble parsons Venit cum Episcopis Abbatibus alijs Magnatibus in montem Ambri vbi die Pentecostes coronam portauit And after Britaine was more decayed by these Pagans yet there were still both Bishops and Abbots heare and they buried the body of their King Aurelius Ambrosius in Regall manner Ipsum ab Episcopis Abbatibus regni more regio Sepultum And thus it was in all places and Prouinces of this Kingdome where these Pagans raiged most London Winchester Lincolne Yorke and others Prouinces quasque Prouincias Where they destroyed Churches and all holy Monuments Matth. Westm an 462. Martyred the Preists at the Altars burned holy Scripturs and defaced and obscured Martyrs Tombes They founde euery where Religious parsons which flying their Persecution hid themselues in Caues wooddy places and desart craggs of hiles and Mountains carring with them Saints Relicks Ecclesias Ecclesiastica omnia ad solum vsque destruebant sacerdotes iuxta altaria trucidabant sacras scripturas igne concremabant super Sanctorum Martyrum sepulturas cumulos terrae congerebant viri Religiosi qui ab hac clade euadere potuerunt speluncas nemorosa loca atque deserta montium collium praerupta Sanctorum secum Reliquias portantes petierunt And yet this raige of the Saxons Infidels was not so generall that it destroyed all such holy places for we finde in the Antiquities of Glastenbury that this house then remayned in some sorte and had both Monks and Abbot before and at S. Augustines comming hither and that in the yeare 601. with in three yeares of S. Augustine his comming into England and before either he or any of his Mission came into those parts Morgret was Abbot there and a Noble man called a King of Danmonia Deuonshire gaue to that Abbot and Abbey the land called Inswitrin to the old Church and one named Manuto was then Bishop there wrote and signed the Charter thus Guliel Malmes I. de Antiq. Caenobij Glaston writeth William of Malmesbury in his booke of the Antiquities of that Religeous house and for his Authoritie citeth an other so auncient Monument thereof that the name of the King or Noble man could not be expounded Capgr in Vit. S. Petroci Harpesfeld Hist Eccl. in fine 6. saecul Harpesfel Hist Eccl. saecul 10. Annal. Abingd apud euÌ„d Matth. Westm an 590. Stowe Howes Hist in South-Saxons an 514. Polidor Virgil. Hist l. 4. M. S. Antiq. Capgr in Vita S. Kebij Harris descript of Brit. c. 10. Quis iste Rex fuit scedulae vetustas negat scire S. Petrocke also was an Abbot in his Monastery by the Riuer of Seuerne with diuers Monkes when the Inhabitants were Pagans So likewise S. Sampson an Abbot or Eremite liued then in those parts as also an holy Bishop not named well knowne to S. Petrocke And both Catholike and Protestant Writers make King Cissa a Saxon the first Founder or Renewer of the Monastery of Abingdon and yet he died diuers yeares before the comming of S. Augustine hither and Iteanus was then Abbot there ouer diuers hundreds of Monkes by the Annals of that place S. Kebius also in this Age had many Monkes vnder his Rule liuing with them at diuers times in diuers places and among the rest at holy head or Cairkiby names giuen from him and his Religeous men as our Protestant Antiquaries themselues thus acknowledge à Promontory or Byland called holy heade which hath in time past bene named Cairkyby of Kyby à Monke that dwelled there 8. We may haue some apprehension of the greate deuotion of our Britans both men and women in this Age to chast and Monasticall life by the Example of S. Vrsula so many thousands of holy virgins with her by so many Authors before deuoted to that profession Which we may further confirme vnto vs by the example of the Britans which were then in that part of Britaine now called Walles more free from the Saxons Persecution whose Antiquities although not well preserued not naming many Archbishops of Carlegion before those I named and very fewe Bishops in that Prouince hauing many from their first receauing the faith of Christ yet they doe record and propose vnto vs many Monasteries and of greate name and honor as that of Bangor stiling it famatum collegium where Pelagius before his Heresies liued and by some was Abbot Praepositus there hauing 2100. Monkes in it and diuided as it were into 7. Monasteries euery of them hauing 300. Monkes Which Monastery as S. Bernard our Protestant Antiquaries and others write was the heade or cheife of Principall Monasteries and brought forth many thowsands of Monkes In vita Malachiae Hiberniensis Episcopi Bernardus Clareuallensis hunc Io. Bal. cent 1. in Pelag. Calpâ—ur Agric. CoÌ„gello Bed Hist Eccl. l. 2. c. 2. Galfrid Monum Histor Brit. l. 11. cap. 12. Matth. Westm an 603. Bed l. 2. c. 2. Galfrid Matth. Westm supr Galfr. Monum Hist Brit. l. 9. c. 12. l. 11. c. 1. Matth. Westm an 541. Galfr. Mon. Hist Brit. l. 11. c. 3. Manuscr antiq Capgr in vit S. Dauid Bal. ceÌ„t 1. in Dauid MeneuieÌ„ Pits aetat 6. in eod locum tradit primorum extitisse Monasteriorum caput multa generauisse Monachorum millia This was the most Noble Monastery of this Country nobilissimum Monasterium as S. Bede and others terme it and so iustly did hauing so many Monkes that being diuided into 7. coÌ„panies vnder 7. Priors vnder their cheife Abbate euery one had 300. or more MoÌ„kes and among them most learned men Viri doctissimi plures de nobilissimo Monasterio BaÌ„cornaburg lingua Anglorum Inter caeteras erat in ciuitate Bangor quaedam nobilissima Ecclesia in qua tantus fertur fuisse numerus MonachoruÌ„ vt cum in septem portionâ—s esset cum Praepositis sibi Prioribus Monasterium diuisum nulla harum portio minus quam trecentos Monachos haberet 9. There were in this time 2. famous Monasteries one of Monkes the other of Nunnes in Caerlegion in that of Nunnes dedicated to S. Iulius our Martir Queen Guenhumar wife to King Arthur did after receaue the habit of Religion Guenhumara Regina in Monasterio Iulij Martyris inter Moniales habitum Religionis suscepit There was an other in Meneuia called afterward S. Dauids fouÌ„ded by S. Patrike as it seemeth in this Age. For as our Brittish Writers say S. Patrike prophesying of S. Dauid before he was borne founded this Monastery in that place to beare his name By which S. Dauid liuing 146. yeares by all accompts and dying in the yeare 540. this Monastery was founded in this Age. There was also an other Monastery in these parts then called Mancani Monasterium or Depositi Monasterium 30. yeares and more before S. Dauids birth So there was a Monastery of Nunnes in North Wales the name of the place I doe not finde but Nonnita or Nominta was a Nunne there