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.
things which starre when the wise men of the Chaldeans did behold in the night time they said It signified the new birth of God The like doe Philo. l. 3. Chronogr an 3. Herodis Macrobius l. 2. Saturnal Dion Cass in vita Augusti Suidas in Augusto Nicephor l. 1. hist Ecclesiast c. 17. Euseb de praepar Euangel Philo the Iew Macrobius Dion and Cassian Pagans besides the Scriptures and Christian writers testifie of the martyrdome of so many thousand Innocents by Herode and the relation of that as of such other euents made presently to Augustus the Emperour at Rome Who also about this time offering to his Pagan God Apollo Pithius their Hechatombe greate sacrifice of an hundred Oxon could receaue noe other Answere but this that an Hebrewe child that ruled the Gods was borne and their Oracles put to silence wherevpon the Emperour builded in the Capitoll a greate Altar with this Latine Inscription Ara primogeniti Dei The altar of the onely begotten sonne of God Then all these things thus happening at and about the Natiuity of Christ were thus truely and faithfully deliuered at Rome and so came to the knowledge of our Britans there and from them and the Romans also both to the Romans and Britans in this kingdome So did other mysteries concerning Christ especially of his flyeing into Egypte then subiect vnto Caesar Augustus and the Presidents there keeping the same lawe and custome of giuing intelligence vnto him 7. Among which one so admirable publike generall and beyond example Epiphanius l. de ProphetaruÌ„ vita interitu in Ieremia Dorotheus in Synopsi in Hieremia propheta Fascicâ—l tempor Palladius in vita Apollinis there testified by the auncient Fathers Sainct Epiphanius Dorotheus and diuers others could not might not be concealed Ieremias signum dedit sacerdotibus Aegyptiacis quod oporteret simulachra corum concuti decidere per Seruatorem puerum ex virgine nasciturum in praecepi iaciturum Propterea etiam nunc virginem in lecto infantem in praesepio collocant adorant Et cum causam olim Ptolomaeus Rex percontaretur responderunt mysterium esse ipsis à maioribus traditum quod illi à sancto Propheta acceperunt Ieremy the Prophet gaue a signe to the Preists of Egypt that their Idols should be broken in peeces and fall downe by the Sauiour of the world a child to be borne of a virgin and to be layed in a stall Therefore euen still they worship a virgin in a bedd and a child in a Cribbe And wheÌ„ longe agoe their King Ptolomy demaunded the cause They Answered it was a mystery deliuered to them from their Auncestours which they receaued from the holy Prophet And according Origen in Exod. Pallad Hist Pan. in vit Apol. Sozom l. 5. hist Eccle c. 20. Cassio l. 6. c. 42. Nicephor l. 10. c. 31. Guliel Eiseng cent part 1. dist 3. volaterâ—â—n coÌ„ment l. 13. Petr. de Natal l. 3. c. 218. If. cap. 19. v. 1. Pallad hist sup to this so soone as our Sauiour was brought into Egypt a contry as Origen and others write most full of Idols they all fell downe and were broken in peeces Diuers write that S. Aphrodisius sent Bishop into France by Sainct Peter was prefect of Egypt then and moued by that miracle S. Aphorodisius genere Aegypti praefectus eo tempore quo puero Iesu in Aegyptum fugato in templa deorum illato Idola omnia corruerunt B. Petri Apostolorum Coryphaei discipulus Buturicensis Ecclesiae consecratus est antistes Anno Christi 48. This was also foretolde by the Prophet Esay who by our Protestants translation writeth of this time The Lord shall come into Aegypt and the Idols of Egypt shall be moued at his presence Wherevpon Palladius in the life of Apollo saith he had scene a Temple neare vnto Hermopolis in which when Christ with the blessed Virgin Mary his mother and Ioseph came into Egypt at his entrance into the city all the Idols fell downe prostrate vpon their faces on the earth according to the prophesie of Esay And S. Epiphanius in his booke of the liues and deaths of the Epiphanius l. de vita interitu Prophetarum Prophets shewing how besides those things which be contained of them in holy scripture many or most of them did also further prophesie to the people where they liued of the coming of Christ and the miraculous signes and tokens of that time as namely Ieremy Azarias Helisaeus Ezechiel Osee Ionas Abacuc He writeth of the Prophet Osee signum dedit prodigium Dominum Epiphan supr in vita Osee scilicet venturum caelitus caeterum hoc fore indi cium aduentus eius si quercus illa in Selom findatur è seipsa in portiones bis senas fierent totidem quercus accidit ita He gaue for a signe and wonder that our Lord should come from heauen and this to be a signe of his coming if an oke tree which was in Selom should cleeue a sunder from it selfe into twelue parts and be made so many oke trees and so it came to passe These and so many other most straunge and miraculous things of that time remembred in histories most euident signes and demonstrations of the miraculous birth of Christ being according to the custome and Imperiall decree exactly certified by the presidents of all prouinces where they hapened to Augustus the Emperour at Rome where so many Britans were of this nation Galfrid monum lib. 4. hist cap. 11. Theater of great Britaine l. 5. c. 6. Guido de ColuÌ„na apud Fabian in hist in Cunob Fabian ib. of greatest dignity learning and wisedome as King Kimbeline himselfe at or about that time many both his noble attendants and hostages and Druids that ruled in matters of religion and were our most learned men to instruct them there were present or resident and for their singular straungnes being noted and obserued by all as concerning all in the greatest question of their soules could not be singularly or carelessely passed ouer by so many worthy wisest Britans alone They alone could not be straungers and vnacquainted with the preachings and prophesies so publike and manifest to all as they were for if we may beleeue Pagans or Christians Catholike or Protestant writers For thus it is related This Sybilla indued with the spirit Matth. Westm aetat 4. cap. 14. Protest annot ib. in Merg Iudic. Sebastian Munster Cosmograph lib. 2. Hertman Schedel chronic aetat 3. fol. 35. August serm contra Iudaeos Lactant. Euseb of prophesie preached in Macedonia Herostaia Agalguldea Cilicia and Galatia Then she went into Ethiopia Gabaon Babylon Africke Lybia Pentapolis and Palestina Audientes igitur Romani famam eius nuntiaucrunt haec omnia Imperatori Mittens ergo Imperator decernente Senatu ad eam legatos cum magno honore vocatam fecit eam adduci Romam Therefore the Romans hearing her fame told all these things to
Iewes were scourged and intrapped for their vniust refusing by the same way which thy did preferre For as they preferred the Emperour reiected Christ so the iust permission of God did styrre vp their owne Emperours against them in such sorte that both the Senatours themselues were almost all deuoured and the whole citie most horribly afflicted for the space almost of 300. yeares together After the Passion and Resurrection of Christ this foresaied Tyberius Nero liued 6. yeares during which time no persecution was stirring in Rome against the Christians through the commaundement of the Emperour 7. And to come home into our owne Contry of Britaine we shall not onely finde all those preparing dispositions to Christian Religion rememored before in the time of Augustus the worshipping of one onely true God the birth of Christ to be borne of a Virgin with Churches founded to that honour still obserued by many and those the wisest best learned and of most integrity of life and conuersation But the time of these figures being now accomplished those professours came nearer to Christianity S. Martiall writeth S. Martial epist ad Burdegalen cap. 2. that he found in his time Temples and altars dedicated by the Druides Ignoto Deo to the vnknowne God Which he in the Apostles time interpreteth of Christ There were also so many in this kingdome then liuing in perpetuall chastity in honour of Christ a virgin borne of the blessed Virgin that as Opimerus Opimerus chronograph in Tyrio Caesare writeth in one Iland of this our British Sea in Insula in Britannico mari belonging to this kingdome there were seuen cheife Rulers in Religion which he calleth by Bishops names Antistites that liued in perpetua virginitate in perpetuall virginity Likely to be the same British Iland whereof Plutarch the Pagan Philosopher and after him Eusebius writeth all whose Plutarchus lib. de Oracul Eus l. â— praeparat Euang cap. inhabitans by the Britans were accompted holy Saints vbi incolae omnes sacrosancti à Britannis habentur We may adde vnto these and from the same approued Authours and others that as in diuers other nations and places drowned in the damnable errours of the Pagan Idolatries in worshipping hellish deuills in the place of God these wicked spirits being now conquered by the death and passion of Christ thereby seing their kingdome to be at an end and desolate did manifestly testifie the same by their silence and forsaking the Idols and Oracles when before they gaue answeares and were honoured Plutarch supr Sueton. Et alij as the Pagan writers themselues euen in whole bookes of that subiect are witnesses so here in our British Iland though so farre distant from the locall passion of Christ the deuils which were adored here for Gods both felt the power and vertue thereof and inforcedly confessed it in as manifest termes and signes as they which were honoured nearer to Hierusalem or rather more expressely and plainely then they did For in other Regions not so remote from Iury they did ordinarily onely confesse it by their silence and ceasing to be worshipped But in Britaine they made manifest so much as they could that the death of Christ had not onely depriued them of that morall life and beeing which they possessed by the idolatrie and false honour yeelded vnto them by their worshippers but that the Passion and death of Christ was a kinde of death euen to their naturall essence and liuing making therevpon a shew to their simple worshippers that they did altogether cease to be and liue valuing a dishonorable life to be worse then death 8. Plutarch Eusebius and others from the testimony of Dimetrius an eye witnesse himselfe with hundreds or rather thousands of Britans here with him seing obseruing and witnessing the same matter thus relate this history in the name person and words of the same Dimetrius a gretian trauayling and present here in Britaine at that time in these termes nauigaui ipse auxilio Plutarch lib. de Oraculis Euseb l. 5. praeparat Euan c. 9. Regis videndi gratia ad proximam Britanniae Insulam Cumque ibi essem magna tempestas in aere commota nimbis fulminibus omnes exterruit Quam rem accidisse Insulares dicebant quia ex daemonibus aliquis deficeret Sicut enim lucerna dum ardeat â—emini noceat extincta vero multis sic magnas animas aiebant propitias esse dum viuant dum verò extinguantur aut corrumpantur aut cum nimbis grandine vt modò pestifero cuncta replent veneno I sayled to the next Iland to Britaine and when I was there a greate tempest being raised in the ayre terrified all men with showers and lightnings which thing the Ilanders said did chaunce because one of the deuils did dye For as a candell so longe as it burneth hurteth no man but being extinguished offendeth many so said they greate soules are fauourable while they liue but when they are extinguished they either are corrupted or fill all places with stormes hayle as they doe now with pestiferous poyson Thus farre Plutarch which Eusebius â—iting addeth thus immediately from himselfe haec Plutarchus animaduerendum Eusebius l. 5. praeparat Euang. c. 9. autem arbitror diligenter quo tempore daemonis mortem fuisse dicit quippe Tyherij tempore Saluator Dominus nester cum hominibus conuersatus omne daemonum genus ab humana depulit vita Habes igitur a summis apud GeÌ„tiles viris non alio tempore vnquam quam temporibus Saluatoris nostri daemones extinctos fuisse Thus Plutarch and it is diligently to be considered at what time he saith the death of the deuill chaunged For in the time of Tyberius our Sauiour and Lord conuersing with men driue all kinde of deuils from mans life Therefore you haue it from the cheifest men among the Gentils that the deuils were not extinguished at any other time then in the times of our Sauiour 9. By which it is made euident in naturall knowledge That the learned Druides and other Philosophers here in Britaine acquainted with all these things at home and vnderstanding by frequent and certaine relation from Rome the mentioned miracles and proceedings concerning Christ and his holy Religion as these Protestants haue before declared and knowing by naturall science in Philosophy that deuils and intellectuall spirits are immortall and cannot dye which they confessed after their pithagoricall manner of the soules of men this imagined death of deuils neuer was heard of vntill the time and passion of Christ They could not but conclude that he had triumphed ouer them and put them to silence and was that sonne of the virgin vnknowne God sonne of God God of heauen and earth the liuing God maker and creatour of all things whom they had so longe expected to be reuealed to the world and many of them in such manner as is related before so longe time had worshipped prayed and sacrificed vnto
Mordraius to be the then Harris M. S. Hist l. 1. c. 25. Hector Boeth Hist Scot. in Crathlint Bal. l. de Script cen tr in Amphibalus Theater of great Britaine l. 6. c. 9. §. 4. S. Iosephs Sister Married to a Britan Nicholaus Vignier Bibliothee Hist an 63. King or Ruler of the Iland Mona and that the place where he was conuerted named the city Saract was Soder in the I le of Man which was the first Bishops See we reade of in those parts in the time and persecution of Dioclesian And our Protestant writers of the Theater of greate Britaine tell vs of some others of this company of S. Ioseph that liued in the world and were not of the Religeous number that settled at GlasteÌ„bury with S. Ioseph and among them name a Sister of S. Ioseph called Eurgaine who to speake in their words afterwards marryed a Britan named Siarklos and they cite Georg Owen Harry for the same opinion And Nicholas Vignier a French writer in his Bibliotheke Historiall in the yeare of Christ 63. plainely affirmeth Ioseph of Aramathia arriued this yeare in great Britaine auec vne trouppe with a troupe or great number of his companions To these I may add the testimonie of Tertullian before of the timely receauing of the faith of Christ by our Northren Britans commonly confounded in Histories with the Scottish Nation by reason of their dwelling long together and how Petrus Cluniacensis writing to S. Bernard as our Theater Protestants cite and followe him Theater of great Brit. l. 6. c. 9. §. 9. therein supposeth the Scottish men the more auncient Christians as not being in the like subiection to the Romans as the other then were Which cannot more probably In what respect the Scots may be termed the more auncient ChristiaÌ„s be affirmed of any then these that came by those Antiquities with S. Ioseph into those outward Ilands where the Scots then inhabited and with whome they vnited themselues as also with our Northren Britans Neither can we thinke but among so many euen hundreds as before which came hither at that time some of them left a Posteritie of children as is exemplified in two before one the Nephew the other kinsman of S. Ioseph and we may take notice from the names themselues of some of these that be recited as Iosue Aminadab and Loth that they were Christians no others in these parts in those times taking names from Scripture but they onely and for Loth one of them that is named certaine it is by our Brittish and other Histories that he was a Christian so of Ygerna and King Arthur which likewise by these Antiquities did discend from those of the company of S. Ioseph And allthough these three last were late in respect of that first age of Christ and liued when Britaine generally professed Christian Religion yet Helaius Nephew or Grandsonne to S. Ioseph placed for the first of that Genealogiein this Land at the time of S. Iosephs comig hither and his sonne Iosue must needs be liuing in the daies of S. Ioseph and Aminadab the sonne of Iosue being by his name a Christian did probably liue vnto the dayes of Kings Lucius and Donâ—lâ—us to be of those which continued a succession of Christiantie heare vntill the generall Conuersion of Britaine at that time So we may reasonably affirme of the posteritie of Peter kinsman to S. Ioseph in some part before remembred out of those Antiquities and after the same proportion Iudge of the children of Eurgayne S. Iosephs sister her Brittish husband Siarklos if they left any behind them in the world For no man will once coniecture that either sonne Sister Nephewe kinsman or kindred of S. Ioseph would vndertake so long and tedious a Iorney with him from Iury into Britaine to liue poore Exils heare but for the loue of Christ and his holy Religion so extreamely persecuted by the Iewes in S. Ioseph for his honorable burying of our Sauiour and his friends and kindred as we are taught in approued Histories that the mallice hatred of the Iewes was not more enraged against any Disciple of Christ then towards S. Ioseph and his frends And as Gregorius Turonenfis and others testifie maiorem in eum habentes saeuitiam quam Antiquit. Glast apud Capgr in S. Ioseph Drogo Episc Hostien Hist de morte Resurrectione Saluatoris Greg. Turon l. 1. Hist Franc. §. 21. p. 18. Vincent in spec Hist l. 5. c. 56. 57. 58. Act. Pilati apud Capgrau Turon supr Nicodem in EuaÌ„g Eremita Anon. author l. 5. Graa Manuscr antiq Glaston Monasterij tabulis affixum in membranis in ipsum Dominum vt cum ille a militibus hic ab ipsis Sacerdotibus custodiretur The Iewes had more hatred against Ioseph then against our Lord himself for whereas Christ being buried was kept and watched by souldiers Ioseph being imprisoned in a close place without any light was garded and watched by the Preists themselues Yet he was Miraculously from thence and them deliuered and preserued to honour this kingdome with the holy life and death of himselfe and many his Religeous companions and friends 3. The auncient Brittish Eremite of whom I haue spoken before testifieth that S. Ioseph his wife came in this company with her husband and that it was appointed and promised of God to them and their posteritie Ioseph ab Aramathia qui Christum sepeliuit cum vxore filio Iosephe nomine in maiorem Britanniam sibi semini eius promissam venerunt And the Collectours of the Antiquities of Glastenbury who as it seemeth by their oâ—ne testimony were most diligent and carefull to deliuer nothing to posteritie but what they found to be approued by auncient Historiographers as the first words of their History deliuer affirme the same Quoniam dubia legentem fallunt certa dubijs ablatis atque ex antiquis Historiographorum dictis probata de antiquitate Glastoniensis Ecclesiae quaedam inseremus It is also testified in this Antiquitie recommended to containe so certaine and vndoubted verities that the Pagan King that had imprisoned S. Ioseph his companions in the Country now named Nothwales Mordraius a Christian set vp a Christian King in his place named Celidonius sonne of Natianus his wife the daughter of Lalel or Label a noble Persian was also a Christian And citeth the auncient Brittish Eremite for the Authour hereof But this was rather to be esteemed some noble Gouernour or Ruler called by the name Rex King or Ruler of some few people in which sence all Rulers though meane may be truely termed Reges Rulers and not such potent parsons as the name is now allmost appropriated vnto of which Ranke and Order King Lucius was the first Christian King and Donaldus next to him THE XXVI CHAPTER OF THE COMING AND SETTLING OF S. Ioseph and his company where Glastenbury now is then a wildernes rather to professe the penitentiall contemplatiuâ— Eremiticall
vaspasian prayed the King The Queene also to him to be good Lorde And good lady which they graunted in all thing And then setteth downe the liberties and priuiledges giuen by King Aruiragus to S. Ioseph and his Religeous companions as other Historians doe 3. Neither was this Donation made vnto them but after experience of their modestie of life which could not be sodainely knowne to the King and then in respect of that and their long Iorney as William of Malmesbury in his Manuscript History of the Antiquitie of the Monastery of Glastenbury Guliel Malm. M. S. de Antiq. Glast Capgrau in Iosepho ab Aramathia with others writeth The barbarous King did graunt vnto them to inhabite a certaine Iland named Inswitrin in the Borders of his Countrye compassed about with woods Bushes and fennes Rex Barbarus quia de longinquo venerant vitaeque eorum exigebat modestas quandam Insulam filuis rubis atque paludibus circundatam ab Incolis Inswetrin nuncupatam in lateribus suae Regionis ad habitandum concessit The Antiquities of Glastenbury which Capgraue and others followe say Capgrau in S. Ioseph ab Aramathia Matth. Parker Antiq. Brit. pag. 3. plainely visa vitae eorum modestia Thus before the King did grante them that fauour he did see and had experience of the modestie of their liues Neither did these holy men presently after this their enfranchisement by King Aruiragus to liue peaceably in that Iland build this Church which was finished in their first yeare of Landing heare but expected some time and liuing as poore Eremits in that wildernes as the Antiquities of that place and other Antiq. Glaston in tabulis apud Capgrau in S. Ioseph Theat of great Brit. l. 6. Io. Leland in assert Arthur Antiquaries thus proue vnto vs praedicti sancti in eodem Deserto cōuersantes post pusillum temporis per Gabrielem Archangelū in visione admoniti sunt Ecclesiam in honorem sanctae Dei Genetricis perpetuae virginis Mariae construere The aforsaid holy men liuing in that Desart after a litle time were admonished by Gabriel the Archangell in a vision to build a Church in honor of the holy mother of God and perpetuall virgin Mary And allthough there is no doubt but these holy men were as these Antiquities testifie obedient to the heauenly admonition diuinis admonitionibus obedientes and made all haste they could to perfect that holy worke yet in that their greate penurye and want of things necessary to bring to effect though it was neuer so poore or meane a building yet some time must needs passe before it was ended And all these things were done the Chappell perfected in the first yeare of their coming hither Capellam consummauerunt eodem anno quo in Britanniam missi sunt Where we see litle or no time or leasure for them to preach if they had come or bene sent hither for that purpose Neither was this Oratory being so litle as Histories mention and the Guliel Malm. M. S. de Antiq. Coenob Glast Antiq. Glast apud Capgrau supr M. S. de Antiq. Glast in Tab. M. S. Chronic apud Haris The atrum l. 1. Io. Leland in Assert Arthurij Matth. Parker Antiquitat Brit. pag. 3. 4. Godwin Conuers of Britaine cap. 2. pag. 9. Antiquit. Historici supr lamentable ruynes of it still extant witnes a place conuenient to preach vnto multitudes and greate numbers but onely answereable to the small company of these holy Eremits Which is also manifestly proued by the poore building thereof being framed onely of writhen wands virgis torquatis and was neuer amended in any respect vntill the coming of the holy Legats of Pope Eleutherius hither aboue an hundred yeares after but so rude and desolate after the death of these Saints which builded it that it was onely an harbour for wilde beasts and not for men caepit idem locus esse ferarum latibulum qui prius fuerat habitatio Sanctorum Therefore if these Eremits had conuerted any to the faith of Christ in that place either very small was their number and habilitie or lesse their deuotion that neither during the life of these holy men they sought more to enlardge or beutifie that building nor after their death had more reuerence vnto it but let it be an abyding for Beasts and not for men 4. Neither will any man of Iudgment esteeme that Chappell builded in such a Desart by fenns wods bushes almost inaccessible vnto inhabitable a preaching place to conuert wanton and libertine pagans to the lawe of Christ yet this was the manner of life and proceeding of S. Ioseph and his company as so manye Antiquities haue proued vnto vs and the auncient Poet recordeth in this order Intrat Aualoniam duodena caterua virorum M. S. in Tabul de Antiq. Glast Capgrau in S. Ioseph Theater of great Brit. l. 6. Bal. ibid. Caradorus M. S. de vita S. Gildae Godwin Conuers of Brit. pag. 9. cap. 2. Flos Aramathiae Ioseph est primus eorum Iosephes ex Ioseph genitus patrem comitatur Where we see they willingely and of set purpose and by entreatyes and petitions sequestred themselues from the world to liue a solitary Religeous life mured and intrēched about with woods and waters as walles and Rampiers in a little rude wildernes where no other people then did or would liue Which a Protestant Bishop thus confirmeth the place where they principally setled themselues was euen there where Glastenbury now standeth neere Welles which being at that time and long after an Island all compassed about with Lakes and standing water was giuē vnto them by the King of those parts Where we see themselues with their priuiledges and Immunities confined onely within a litle rude and vnpeopled willdernes Where no others inhabited whether none could or morally would haue accesse to be instructed in the faith by them nor they easily might or by their libertie being onely parsonall and locall for themselues in that place could goe forth from thence to preach vnto others abroade or if that had bene permitted being all Iewes or of Countries of a strange S. Ioseph and his companions brought eremiticall Monasticall life and profession into Britaine languadge both to Britans and Romans then the onely or cheife dwellers and Inhabitants heare and wanting all Interpreters nor hauing the Miraculous gifts of tongues for any thing we reade in Antiquitie I cannot see how they did or possebly could profit much by preaching in this kingdome neither can it be reasonably thought that these men came hither of purpose to preach but to giue a beginning and introduction to the praying Penitentiall and contemplatiue Religeous life otherwise they would not haue seated themselues and make such sutes to obtaine their setling in a place so inconuenient by all descriptions before and in lateribus suae regionis in the Guliel Malm. M. S. de Antiq. Coenob Glast Antiq. Glast apud Capgrau in
cheife men for Iudgment in such things and ordayned to be their Doctours and Teachers had now not without some temporall losses and Indignities vtterly and publikely renownced and forsaken and how holy and honorable that Christian Religion was which with many labours and difficulties they had embraced Which seemeth to haue bene a singular help and furtherance to so easie timely and generall a Conuersion of this kingdome to Christ litle or no impediment now remayning but temporall disgrace and losses in departing from their so long receaued and prosessed Rites and Ceremonies which had bene lately qualified euen by the commanding letters and Edicts of some Emperours themselues in such respects THE V. CHAPTER OF THE GREATE ENCREASE OF CHRIstians in Britaine in the Papacie of S. Telesphorus and S. Higinius and how King Lucius himselfe did now either actually receaue and priuately professe the Christian Religion or made promise thereof 1. ANTONINVS Pius still possessing the Empire and King Lucius the Crowne of Britaine as diuers holde S. Sixtus gloriously ending his life by Martyrdome in the beginning of this Emperours time sub Antonino Pio vt sibi Christum Lucri faceret libenter mortem sustinuit temporalem S. Telesphorus Martyrol Rom. 6. die Aprilis Damas Pontif. in Telesphoro Matth. Westm an 139. Martin Polon in Telesphor Onuphr in cod Rob. Barns in Vit. Pontif. Rom. in Telesphoro Io. Bal. l. 1. de Act. Rom. Pontif. in Telesphoro Rob. Barns in Vit. Telesphori succeeded him in the Apostolike Roman See Which he continued aboue 11. yeares in all opinions Onely one English Protestant much forgetting himselfe or mistakeÌ„ by his Printer giueth him but 2. yeares 3. monethes 22. dayes This Pope was as our English Protestants informe vs eruditione ac pietate vir insignis tam ore quam sanguine fidelis Iesu Christi Testis fuit A man renowned for learning and pietie a faithfull witnes of Iesus Christ as well with word as bloud His doctrine they deliuer vnto vs in this manner Septem septimanas ante Pascha Ieiunium obseruanduÌ„ à Clericis instituit Tres Missas celebrandas in die Natalitio Christi sanciuit alijs diebus ante horam diei tertiam Missam celebrari prohibuit Gloria in excelsis Deo c. in Missa canendum praecepit he Instituted seuen weeks fast Lent before Easter to be obserued of Cleargie men He decreed that Preists should celebrate three Masses on the day of the Natiuitie of Christ vpon other dayes he forbad Masse to be celebrated before the third hower of the day He commanded that Gloria in excelsis Deo glorie to God one high the song of the Angels at the birth of Christ should be song at Masse The pietie of Pope Telesphorus and his Religion by Protestant witnesses in matters now controuersed by them 2. And heare I will ioyne S. Higinius immediate Successor to S. Telesphorus both in respect he continued but a short time in that highest spirituall dignitie litle aboue 4. yeares but he was exalted to a more permanent eternall and farre greater honor in heauen by Martyrdome For his holy life and conuersation thus our Protestants recommend him officia boni Pastoris Ecclesiastici Operatoris in Messe Domini persecit ac morte non incruenta sub mundi Tirannis Bal. lib. 1. de Vit. Rom. Pontif. in Higinio Rob. Barns alij Protestant supr in Vit. PoÌ„t Rom. in Higinio vitae finem accepit he performed the offices of a good Pastor and Ecclesiasticall workeman in the haruest of our Lord for which he ended his life by shedding his blood vnder the Tirants of the world That which they breifely set downe for his Religion and practise therein is this he commanded to dedicate Churches with solemne Ceremonie and Sacrifice That Churches should neither be diminished nor encreased without the consent of the Metropolitane He forbad the timber Tiles The Religion of Pope Higinius by English ProtestaÌ„ts testimony in Articles nâ—w questioned by them and other matter of Churches to be conuerted to prophane vses He appointed that in Baptisme a Godfather or Godmother should be had And that the Metropolitane should not conuict or condemne any man without the consent of the Bishops of his Prouince and if he did otherwise he pronounced the sentence to be voide Templa dedicare cum solemni ceremonia Sacrificio iussit Item Templa nec minuenda nec augenda esse sine Metropolitani consensu Trabes tegulas aliamue templorum materiam in prophanos vsus vertere vetuit Vnum vt vocant Compatrem vel virum vel faeminam in Baptismo adhiberi voluit Ne Metropolitanis aliquem vel reum ageret vel damnaret sine suae Prouinciae Episcoporum suffragio quod si fecerit secus latam sententiam irritam pronuntiauit Clerum in ordinem redegit gradus distribuit he brought the Clergie into order and distributed degrees Thus we are acquainted by these Protestants what the life and doctrine was of these Popes and cannot doubt but they which were so holy men by these witnesses and taught and professed the true Religion and suffered Martyrdome for professing and teaching thereof were farre from professing or teaching error otherwise they could not haue bene good Pastors and worke men in the haruest of our Lord and faithfull witnesses of Iesus Christ but the contrary 3. What was the encrease of Christs Church and Seruants heare in Britaine The great encrease of Christians in Britaine in the time of these Popes in their time we may easily coniecture by that which hath bene sayde before of so many learned men conuerted heare to the faith in the very later end of their immediate Predecessor which in all Iudgments must needs be much more verified of the dayes of these Popes for the cheife learned men and of their principall Schoole for learning being thus conuerted to Christ as we haue bene told before became Preachers of the Ghospell heare in Britaine Will. Harris sup in Descri of Brit. we cannot but assuer our selues of greate and plentifull fruite of their labours being manifest by the generall Conuersion of the whole Kingdome all Degrees and Estates now at hand a greate disposion thereof was made and diuers of the Druyds Nobles and others were now conuerted or els the generall Conuersion of all with so greate a change in all persons and places heare as our Histories mention and will hereafter appeare could not haue so soone ensued And this was made so euident then that one of these holy Pope Higinius carefull of the generall CoÌ„uersion of Britaine and manner thereof Popes Higinius or Eugenius as some call him began to take order how to settle and perfect our generall Conuersion at hand Which Ihon Harding in his auncient Chronicle doth manifestly declare though not citing his Authours when recounting how the Archflaming Seats were turned to Archbishopriks and those of Flamins 28. in number into so many Bishopriks he presently thus
his next and immediate Successor S. Metropolus saying that he was Archbishop there in the second yeare of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Catal. Treuer Arch. supr Metropolus caepit tempore M. Aurelij Antonini anno secundo Marcus Aurelius Antoninus beginning his Empire by accompts betweene the yeares of Christ 158. and 163. though S. Metropolus did presently succeede to S. Marcellus Matth. Westm an 159. Marian. Scot. an 163. Bar. Tom. 2. Annal. an eod in the Archbishops See of Treuers S. Marcellus left that greate chardge to come hither to returne thither againe and be Martyred before the second yeare of Marcus Aurelius King Lucius must needs be a Baptized Christian before the 165. yeare of Christ long before Pope Eleutherius Papacy And if we followe the Annals of Tungers telling vs that when he was Bishop there King Lucius a ChristiaÌ„ Baptized by S. Marcellus a Britaine longe before the Papacy of S. Eleutherius assisting S. Timothie long before he came to Treuers he performed this holy office in Britaine we are enforced to say that he stayed heare very short time which will not serue to conuert a King and Country Lucium cum tota gente conuertit And presently posted bake with as greate celeritie to Treuers and without stay or ceremony was admitted Archbishop and as presently was Martyred very vnprobable things or els we most say he preached heare at the same time S. Tymotheus did and assisted in the conuersion of King Lucius which the Annals Catal. Archiep. Treuer supr of Treuers themselues sufficiently proue when they say that S. Marcellus after his rerturne from the Conuersion of King Lucius Sancte prudentissime praefuit he ruled the Archiepiscopall See there holily and most prudently Catal. Archiepis Tâ—euer in S. MaÌ„sueto Which to be truely and so certainely affirmed of the gouerment of so greate and lardge a Prouince as Treuers then was and still is requireth no short experience and space of time 7. I may reckon in this number our first Preist and Bishop I finde of this Nation S. Mansuetus consecrated by S. Peter the Apostle first Bishop of Tullum in Lorraine and after Archbishop of Treuers before S. Marcellus often coming into Britaine as I haue proued before liuing very long euen to S. Eleutherius time as many then did and among others S. Maternus his Predecessor Disciple also of S. Peter gouerned the Sees of Treuers Cullen and Catal. Archiep. Treuer in S. Materno Tungers vntill the yeare 133. and so may not be depriued of all the glory of the Conuersion of King Lucius and his people The like I may probably affirme of S. Thean after Archbishop of London S. Sampson or Theodosius or S. Mansuetus Thean Sampson and others probably preached here in this time both Archbishops after at Yorke and others For if S. Eluan one of King Lucius his Ambassadors to Rome about the Conuersion of Britaine and there consecrated Bishop by the Pope did giue place to Sainct Thean to be Archbishop of London before him and he was his Successor we must needs conceaue that S. Thean had bene long time Bishop before as many others heare were otherwise Sainct Eluan in so greate honor for his Ambassadge and consecration at Rome and that praise is giuen him in Histories for his vertue and learning would before the death of S. Thean in the Vacancy of 3. Archbishopricks and 28. Bishops Sees then in Britaine haue had a greate honor before that time and his Companion S. Meduuinus so prime and excellent a man should haue returned a Bishop from Rome and not onely a Doctor but that there were many worthie and learned Bishops heare then in Britaine deseruing or actually hauing that Prerogatiue before him And were or could so many Archflamens Flamens be conuerted in the generall Conuersion and embraced Christian Religion if none of them had resigned their places before Or who can imagine that King Lucius entered into such a Dispute of Learning without consultation with his learned Flamens and Archflamens which then ruled not onely in spirituall but temporall affaires Or how could he and his temporall Nobles be conuerted except the others were first conuicted to be in error How can it with credibilitie be conceaued that so many of those cheife Gentile Preists should willingly relinquish their professions and most of them be made and consecrated Christian Preists and Bishops by the common opinion except many of them had professed Christianitie before New Conuerties might not by the lawe of Christ be admitted to that charge and dignitie in his Church 8. And of this opinion are or ought to be our Cambridge Antiquaries in expresse termes testifiing that King Lucius sent Eluanus and Meduuinus Io. Caius histor Cantabrig p. 22. to Rome about his Conuersion in the yeare of Christ 156. and it was in the yeare 178. before they returned hither againe to exercise their Preistly function which they had receaued at Rome id egit anno Domini 156. regni sui 18. King Lucius sent these Ambassadors to Rome in the 156. yeare of Christ and 18. of his Reigne Regem Baptizarunt anno Domini 178. and either they or Damianus and Fugatianus Baptized the King and his Subiects in the yeare of our Lord 178. which was 22. yeares after the first sending of Eluanus and Meduuinus to Rome by these men The olde Manuscript of the life of S. Helen our contry Manuscr Antiq. de Vita S. Helenae Capgrau in Catal. in eadem woman and holy Empresse with Capgraue and others follwing it testifie the same when they say that King Lucius soone after his Fathers death being but young in yeares in inuenili aetate did send Epistles to the Pope of Rome humbly entreating to be made a Christian by his direction Lucius ex Patre Coillo optimae indolis puer in Inuenili aetate senilem animo canitiem moribus praeferebat Qui cum defuncto Patre Regni diademate insignitus fuisset exitum suum praeferri volens principio à Spiritu Sancto edoctus Epistolas Papae humiliter direxit petens vt ab eo fidem Christianam recipere mereretur The like hath the Authour of the Brittish Historie Galfrid Monum Hist Reg. Brit. l. 4. c. 19. Pontic Virun l. 4. Brit. Hist and Virunnius who seemeth to alledge Gildas in the same sence when he saith he writeth many things in many places of King Lucius de quo Gildas multa tradit multis in locis And allthough it is now in the Copies of these Authours or most of them that this messadge was sent to Eleutherius it cannot be but that name is in them mistaken Eleutherius being neither Pope nor probably Preist when by these Authours these men and messadge was sent to Rome by King Lucius a young man and newly crowned for Matthew of Matth. Westm an gratiae 124. Manuscrip Antiquit in the Church of S. Peter in Cornhill in London Matth. Westm
Christoque fideliter commendatas tandem de terris ad Christum migranit quarto decimo Calendas Augusti iuxta Patrem sanctum Pudentem sepulta About the yeare of Christ 160. Baronius Baron Tom. 2. Annal. an 162. seemeth to hold it was in the next yeare 161. And by all accompts it must needs be in a little before or after this time for all writers of her life affirme she died in the dayes of the Papacie of S. Pius and Empire of Antoninus Pius who by all recknings of his Imperiall Gouernment died a litle before or soone after this yeare 3. Very soone after the death of S. Pudentiana died also her brother S. Nouatus S. Pastor Epist ad S. Timoth. supr as among other testimonies we reade in that Epistle which S. Pastor or Hermes sent to their Brother S. Timothie then farre out of Rome and probably by the circumstances of time and others heare in Britaine where he S. Nouatus Preist a Brittan by his Brittish Mother S. Claudia thus writeth that S. Praxedes being afflicted much for the death of S. Pudentiana Pope Pius many Noble Christians and her Brother S. Nouatus came to comfort her and within a moneth and 28. dayes after his returne from her S. Nouatus fell sicke and about 13. dayes after died of that sicknes Post mensem dies viginti octo aegritudine detentus est Nouatus postquam abcesserat à conspectu Virginis Praxedis And tertio decimo die transiuit ad Dominum It seemeth by S. Pastor in this his Epistle to S. Timothie of his happy death and disposing his temporall Riches that he was a Preist a Sacrificing Massing Preist as it is euident before S. Pius then Pope was for S. Pastor there plainely testifieth that both Pope Pius and Nouatus did often remember S. Timothie at the Altar of our Lord. Idemque Nouatus vos frequenter cum Beatissimo Pio Episcopo ad altare Domini commemorabat The cheife cause of this so often their remembring S. Timothie our Brittish Preist preaching heare in Britaine is often remembred in the Masses of S. Pius Pope and S. Nouatus S. Timothie in the holy Sacrifice of Masse especially by S. Pius the Pope I cannot ascribe but to the greate care that holy Pope had of the greate chardge he with his Predecessour had committed to S. Timothie about his preaching and labours in Britaine so much concerning the Apostolike See and Church of Christ that an holy Pope and Pastor could not but often remember and commend it in his best office of Sacrifice to God And S. Nouatus so holy a man as all Antiquities of him giue euidence so louing a Brother and carefull of his Countries Conuersion and good of the Christians then distressed that he left all his worldly wealth to be disposed by this his Brother S. Timothie diligently labouring in the Haruest of Christ in Britaine and S. Praxedes his Sister the cheifest Nurse and Releeuer of Gods seruāts in Rome to be imployed to such holy ends and vses could not be vnmindefull in his prayers and Sacrifice of such a Brother and his Countries most important busines which he had in hand This holy Saint was as also his Father Mother Brother and Sisters instructed in the faith by the holy Apostles S. Peter and S. Paule Romae Depositio Sancti Nouati filij Beati Pudentis Senatoris fratris Martyrol Rom. 20. die Iunij Bed Vsuard Ado eod die sancti Timothei Presbyteri Sanctarum Christi Virginum Pudentianae Praxedis qui ab Apostolis eruditi sunt in fide That he was a Preist the Martyrologe is silent but that which I haue before cited from his renowned acquaintance and friend S. Pastor giueth vs sufficient warrant to be of that opinion How The house of S. Nouatus an other Harbour for the Popes and Saints in Rome he in herited his parents vertues in exercising all works of pietie harbouring and releyuing the persecuted and distressed Seruants of God that his house which had bene the first lodging of S. Peter and harbour to diuers his Successours and a Receptacle fosterer of all Christiās resorting thither both for spirituall and temporall comforts was so continued all his time Se suaque Act. S. Nouati c. in Antiq. cod Baron tom 2. Annal. an 159. Christianorum obsequio mancipasse cōstat And his most Noble house was open to all Christians Nobilissima Christianis patens apud quam Thermae Nouati This was a distinct house and place from that where his holy Sisters formerly liued as both the two auncient Cardinals Titles in Rome S. Pudentiana and S. Praxedes still continued from that time as I haue shewed before and the visitation which saint Nouatus going from his owne house to his Sister saint Praxedes after saint Pudentiana her death registred by saint Pastor then present in an other distinct house where she then continued in Harbouring and releyuing the Saints of Christ aboundantly testifie S. Pastor to the greate honour of saint Nouatus and Praxedes also thus relateth it 4. That saint Nouatus accompanyed with S. Pius the Pope and many Noble Christians went to saint Praxedes her house to comfort her about her Sisters death Multi nobiles Christiani ad eam veniebant consolabantur eam vna cum Episcopo Pio ventique ad eam Germanus vester Nouatus And saint Pius together with saint Praxedes and saint Pastor went from saint Praxedes her house to the house of saint Nouatus when and where he was sick and staied with him there 8. dayes eamus ad eum fuimus in domo eius diebus ac noctibus octo And vntill after the death of saint Nouatus who gaue all his substance to saint Timothie and saint Praxedes she had no Interest in that house How charitable and munificent saint Nouatus was to the poore Christians may some what appeare by saint Pastor his Relation of him when he went to comfort his Sister where he saith of him to saint Timothie Germanus vester Nouatus qui est frater noster in Domino multos Christianos pauperes donis suis resecit ministrauit omnibus de facultatibus suis Your naturall Brother Nouatus who is our Brother in our Lord did releeue many poore Christians with his guifts S. Nouatus dying leaueth all to S. Timothie and S. Praxedes to be employed for releife of Christians and ministred to them all out of his substance And as in his life he had euer an especiall care of the spirituall good of this kingdome his Country so at his death he was not vnmindefull of it but gaue all be had to his Brother saint Timothie then labouring and preaching heare and to his Sister saint Praxedes as mindefull of it though she was at Rome Hoc placuit ei vt vobis vna cum beata Praxede omnem substantiam suam relinqueret And made as it were Superuisours of this his last Will
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
the present Roman Church and Catholiks now professe and Protestants deny and persecute 1. AFter the Martyrdome of S. Calixtus S. Vrbanus the first of The Religion of the Popes then the same that is now by their aduersaries that name was Pope of Rome This man as Protestant Antiquaries English and others write liued in the time of that licentious Emperour Heliogabalus and by the sanctitie of his life and singular learning did bring many in all places to Io. Bal. l. 1. de Act. Rom. Pontif. in Vrban Pap. 16. Rob. Barnes in Vit. Pont. Rom. in Vâ—bano 1. Magdeb. cent 3. c. 10. c. 277. true Religion for which he was often bannished but secretly recalled by the faithfull Christians and at he last receaued the Croâ—ne of Martyrdome in the yeare of our Lord 233. Vrbanus Romanus sub libidinosa bestià Heliogabalo Caesare vixit vitaeque sanctitate doctrinà singulari multos vnâ—iquaque mortales ad Euangelium traxit Hic saepenumerò pro fide Christiana ab vrbe proscribebatur sed à fidelibus iterum claÌ„ reuocatus Martyrij coronam anno Domini 233. tandem accepit His Decretall Epistle is extant written to all Bishops S. Vrbanus Pope Martyred in the yeare of our Lord 233. of the common life and offering of the faithfull He plainely maketh mention of such a common life as was vnder the Apostles defeÌ„deth by his Decrees the goods â—â— the Church that no man should inuade them by force or fraude And he speaketh â—â— the voâ—â—e of them which promise to possesse nothing proper to themselues he instituted that Confirmation should be ministred after Baptisme He saith that by Imposition of the Bishops hands therein the holy Ghost is receaued Extat vna eius Epistola Decretalis scripta ad omnes Episcopos de communi vita oblatione fidelium Planè enim eiusmodi vitae communis meminit qualis sub Apostolis fuit Munit deinde Edictis bona Ecclesiae ne quis ea vi aut fraude inuadat aliqua dicit de voto promittentium se nihil rerum propriarum possessuros Instituit in fine Confirmationem post Baptismum dicit per manus Impositionem Episcoporum accipi Spiritum sanctum 2. Next vnto S. Vrbanus succeeded Pope Pontianus who as these Protestants Io. Bal. lib. 1. de Rom. Pont. Act. in Pontiano tell vs was Christi minister ac dispensator Mysteriorum Dei exilium supplicia pro Euangelio proque Ecclesia passus est post multas calamitates grauia tormenta Anno Domini 239. pro Christi fide martyrij paena subijt The Minister S. Pontianus Pope suffered Martyrdum an D. 239. of Christ and dispenser of the mysteries of God suffered exilements and punishments for the Ghospell and the Church and after many calamities and greuious Torments suffered the payne of Martyrdome for the faith of Christ in the yeare of our Lord 239. He taught that God would haue Preists so familiar with him that he Magdeburgen centur 3. col 278 in Pontian would accept of other mens Sacrifices by theÌ„ and by them forgiue their sinns and reconcile them to him And that Preists doe make with their owne mouth the body of our Lord and giue it to the people Sacerdotum dignitati multa tribuit Eos inquit Deus familiares in tantum sibi esse voluit vt etiam aliorum hostias per eos acceptaret atque eorum peccata donaret sibique reconciliaret Ipsi quoque proprio ore Corpus Domini conficiunt populis tradunt 3. After S. Pontianus succeeded S. Anterus who as our Protertants saye attributed S. Antherus Pope and Martyr succeeded S. Pontinus such supreame Priuiledge to his holy See that he ordained that Bishops might not goe from one Bishopricke to an other without the Authoritie of the Pope of Rome Episcopos ab vno Episcopatu ad aliam transferre si id Ecclesiae necessitas vel vtilitas exigat licere sed ne id sine summi Pontificis authoritate Robert Barnes l. de Vit. Pont. Rom. in Antero Io. Bal. l. 1. de Act. Pontif. Rom. in eod fiat cauit and beatified the Church with his blood in Martyrdome in the yeare of our Lord 243. decorauit hic Antherm anno Domini 243. Ecclesiam suo sanguine quam antea pauerat verbo which he had before fedd with the word of God 4. S. Fabian as these men say was Miraculously chosen Pope the forme of a Doue sitting vpon his heade when he was sought for to be Pope Cum ad S. Fabianus miraeulously chosen Pope PoÌ„tificatum designatus quaereretur Columba super eius caput sedere visa est He buil ded a Church-yard for the honour of Martyrs He decreed that euery yeare vpon Maunday Thursday new Chrisme should be consecrated and the old Barnes Bal. sup in Fabiano Magdeb. Cent. 3 c. 10. col 279. 280 c. 5. col 144. burnt That Preists should not be accused or punished in the teÌ„porall but Ecclesiasticall Court He forbad marriadge within the first degree of coÌ„sanguinitie That euery Christian should communicate at the least thrise euery yeare He decreede about satisfaction the Rite of penance Excommunication of the Age of such as were to be made Preists or admitted to holy Orders of oblations or Masses euery day Caemiterium pro Martyrum dignitate extruxit Singulis annis in caena Domini Chrisma vt renouaretur vetere combusto statuit Sacerdotes causam dicere mulctari in Sacro non prophano foro debere edixit Ne vxorem quis ducat intra quintum consanguinitatis gradum statuit Quisque Christianus vt singulis annis ter Eucharistiam sumeret praecepit Quaedam de satisfactionibus de ritu paenitentiae de excommunicatione statuit de aetate presbyterorum ordinatorum de oblationibus per singulos dies They add further how he coÌ„demned the Heresies S. Fabianus condemned the Heresies of the Nouatians and Helchites of the Nouatians and Helchites And that he both baptized Philip the Emperour and after put him to publike penance among the ordinarie penitents Whereas these men say that S. Fabian appointed that euery yeare vpoÌ„ Maunday-Thursday new Chrisme should be hallowed and the old burnt no man may thereby phantasie that he was the first Authour either of consecrating or yearely renewing of Chrisme for in the very place from whence these Protestants deriue this Constitution which is the secoÌ„d Decretall Epistle of this holy Pope he playnely saith that vpon that day when Christ supped with his Disciples and washed their feete Christ himselfe taught this consecrating of Chrisme and that the Popes of Rome thus receaued it from the Apostles And for the yearely renewing of it vpon that day he saith also that it discended from the Apostles by all his Predecessors Popes of Rome and so from the Apostles both the Church of Rome Antioch Hierusalem and Ephesus where the Apostles liued did euer obserue In illa Die Dominus
haÌ„ds were bouÌ„d with cordes his body worne with whips and greuiously torne His body haÌ„ged vpon a crosse his hands stretched crosse vpon it The man which was thus tortured was naked and had no shoes vpoÌ„ his feete His haÌ„ds and feete were peirced with nailes his side thrust through with a speare and as it seemed to me blood and water did flowe out of the wound of his side they set reed on his right hand and putt a crowne of thorne vpon his head And hauing done all things which mans crueltie could worke against him they began to mocke him with words saying vnto him Haile King of the Iewes if thou art the sonne of God now come downe from thy Crosse and we beleeue thee and when they vsed many reuilings against him that younge man answeared not one word vnto them At the last when they had said what they would against him crying out with a greate voice he said ô Father into they hands I commend my spirit and hauing so said gaue vp the ghost his dead body was taken downe from the Crosse the blood still lardgely issuing out of his wounds they shutt it n a Tombe of stone and couered it with a stone scaled appointing watch men to keepe it And a wonder to see his body thus being dead came to life againe and receauing strenght did goe forth of the Sepulchre it still remaining shutt How he arose from death I did behold with mâ— owne eyes Men clothed with garments as whyte as snowe did come from heauen and taking that man with them returned from wheÌ„ce they came and an Infinite Army of men cloathed all in white doth followe him which ceased not in all that Iorney to sing prayses and coÌ„tinually blessed a Father I know not whome and his sonne saying blessed be God the Father his onely begotteÌ„ sonne Greate Ioy and vnspeakeable gladnes was among them so that none might worthely be compared vnto it These and many other things which I neyther will nor is lawfull for any mortall man to tell haue bene shewed to mee in vision this night what they doe signify I beseech thee not to conceale from mee be not afrayde S. Amphibalus hearing these things perceauing that his heart was visited by God exceedingly reioyced in our Lord and forthwith pulling out a Crosse of our Lord which he had about him he saith behold in this signe thow mayest manifestly see what thy vision this night meaneth what it signifieth For this man comming from heauen is my Lord Iesus Christ who did not refuse to vndergoe the punishment of the Crosse that he might deliuer vs by his blood from the guilt wherewith we were held bound by the preuarication of our first parent Adam And so prosecuting the manner of Christs Incarnation life and passion for mans Redemption and the mystery of the holy Trinitie which I need not particularly to relate writing for Christian Readers to speake in this old Brittish Authours words againe Alban greately meruayling vpon the speach of Amphibalus brake out into these words The things which thow relatest of Christ are true and cannot in any respect he reproued as false for I this night haue euidently knowne how Christ ouercame the deuill bounde him and thrust him downe to the botome of Hell I haue seene with my eyes how that Horrible one lyeth bewrapped in the knots of chaines hereby knowing that all things thow hast spoken are true I beleeue anâ— from this time this is my faith that there is no God but my Lord Iesus Christ who for the saluation of men vouhsafing to take humanitie vpon him sustained the Passion of the Crosse He with the Father and the holy Ghost is one God and there is no other And hauing thus said he falleth downe postrate before the Crosse and as if he had seene our Lord Iesus hanging vpon the Crosse the blessed penitent craueth pardon for his sins So reuerently he vseth with continuall kissing of them the feete and places of places of the wounds as though he had bene layde at the feete of our Redeemer himselfe whome he had in his vision seene to be crucified Teares mingled with blood run rownde about his face and in greate quantitie fall downe vpon the venerable wood of the Crosse I saith he renownce the deuill and detest all the Enemyes of Christ S. Alban his Conuersion and greate dâ—uotion beleeuing in him and commending myselfe to him who as thou affirmest arose the third day from death Amphibalus saith vnto him be of courage our Lod is with thee and his grace will neuer be wanting vnto thee That faith which other mortall men haue deserued to receaue by the tradition of man thow hast not learned it eyther of man or by man but by the Reuelation of Iesus Christ Therefore being now secure of thee I determine to goe further to preach vnto the GeÌ„tiles but Alban entreating him to stay at the least one weeke longer that he might in that time be more perfectly instructed in the faith of Christ he did so 4. Thus writeth this old Brittish Authour of S. Alban his Conuersion which both S. Gildas S. Bede and others doe in effect and substance also deliuer allthough not in so ample manner During the time of their abode together Gildas l. de excid Brit. cap. 8. Bed Martyr die 22. Iunij in S. Albano Bed l. 1. Hist Eccl. c. 7. Matth. Westm an 303. afterward they spent the time as S. Amphibalus by S. Beds relation did before S. Alban his Conuersion in continuall Watchings and Prayers day and night orationibus continuis ac vigilijâ— diu noctuque a greate motiue to S. Alban to receaue the faith of Christ For euery day towards euening they withdrew themselues from the Citie and company of men going to an house which S. Alban had without the Citie where they spent the whole night in seruing God Singulis diebus cum iam in vesperam hora declinaret Magister Discipulus hominum frequentiam deuitantes ad domum remotiorem quae tugurium vulgo solet appellari seproripiunt noctem totam ibidem in Dei laudibus transigentes Et haec faciebant ne secretum suum palam fieret Infidelibus qui cultores Christianae Religionis non in fide sequi sed persequi fideles contendebant And allthough they obserued this cautelous diligence to keepe themselues secret from the Persecutours yet it was by a wicked Pagan there reuealed and told to the persecuting Iudge and Ruler there which comming to the knowledge of S. AlbaÌ„ before the Pagan Prince and Persecutour could execute his designement as at his first receauing of S. Amphibalus when he was yet a Pagan as our most auncient Histories say he hidd him in his house being pursued by Gild. l. de excid c. 8. Bed l. 1. Hist c. 7. Galfr. Mon. Hist Reg. Brit. l. 5. cap. 5. Matth. Westm an 303. his Persecutours and presently had not S. Alban so preuented it to be apprehended
so now being a Christian exposed himselfe vnto danger of death for him imitating Christ that gaue his owne life for his sheepe Albanus charitatis gratia feruens Confessorem suum Amphibalum à Persecutoribus insectatum iam iamque comprehendendum primum in domo sua occuluit deinde se discrimini mortis obtulit imitans in hoc Christum animam suam pro ouibus ponentem For when these Enemies of Christ had raysed their Troopes euen an army magna manu as our Antiquities terme them to apprehend S. Amphibalus S. Scriptor Vitae S. Albani Manusc Antiq. Capgr in vita eius Alban in the night before conducteth him forth of his house and past danger and shifting garments with him to saue him from all perill caused S. Amphibalus to were his garment of dignitie and priuiledge in that time free from all trouble and molestation dans ei clamidem auro textam quo tutior ab hostibus redderetur vestis enim huiusmodi tantae tanc temporis apud omnes dignitatis tantaeque reuerentiae fuit vt illa indutus hostium cuneos penetraret illaesus And the garment of S. Amphibalus wherein the danger was being a Caracalla a Preists vesture as they say hauing bene discried he put it vpon himselfe together with the danger and so returned to his owne house alone hauing thus freed his holy Master and Tutor in Christ from that perill THE XX. CHAPTER OF THE HOLY AND MOST CONSTANT faith deuotion charitie sufferings miracles and Martyrdome of S. Alban 1. S Amphibalus being thus at this time deliuered by S. Alban the King Prince or Iudge for S. Bede Matthew Bed l. 1. Hist c. 7. Matth. Westm an 303. Iacob Genuen in Vit. S. Albani S. Alphib Capgr in S. Albano of Westminster and others giue all those Titles to that persecuting Magistrate sent his Souldiars to conuent these two holy Saints the old Brittish Writer of S. Albans life saith there were horsemen with an Army greate multitude or Power of footemen which were thus sent about this busines Equites cum magna manu peditum à Iudice missi The rage of the persecuting Iudge and PagaÌ„s against S. Alban And S. Alban being so renowned a man in this kingdome then and S. Amphibalus so famous a Prelate as before appeareth and so knowne to the Persecutours that they pursued him to the furthest parts of the Roman Iurisdiction in the parts now called Wales and from thence forcibly brought him by Authority to Verolamium againe there to be Iudged and Martyred Manuscr Antiq. in Vita S. Amphibali Capgr in eodem Matth. Westm an 303. alij which none but the highest Roman Power heare could doe make it an opinion sufficiently warrantable both that such forces were leuied for this exploite and the prime Magistrate himselfe supplyed the place of Iudge Sentencer in this cause of so Noble parsonadges the one spirituall the other temporall the greatest that are remembred in our Histories to haue suffered Martyrdome in Britaine in that raging Persecution The troopes of Souldiers nephandi Principis of the wicked Prince cateruatim irruentes rushing into the house of S. Alban by troopes like madd men efferatis animis and searching euery place and corner at the last founde him in his Country house where he vsed to watch and pray with S. Amphibalus Ipsum tandem in tugurio reperiunt The greate deuotion of S. Alban and his reuerence to the Crucifixe nudis pedibus ante crucem Domini quam sibi Magister suus reliquerat precibus incumbentem bare footed praying before the Crosse of our Lord which his Master had left with him wearing his Caracalla or coate vpon him and so representing S. Amphibalus who before was conueyed from them by Saint Alban which they vnderstanding manus ei iniecerunt rapitur trahitur dirisque nexibus cathenarum constrictus ab alijs vestibus ab alijs Bed lib. 1. cap. 7. Matth. Westm An. 303. Script Antiq. Vitae S. Albani Capgr in eod trahitur capillis They lay violent hands vpon S. Alban fetter him with locks and Chaines some of them hayling him by his Coates others by the haire of his head And being thus contumeliously vsed he continually carryed in his hands the Crosse which S. Amphibalus gaue him openly to pronounce and professe himselfe a Christian Vt se seruum crucis palam cunctis ostenderet signum dominicum iugiter in manibus praeferebat And being thus despitefully brought before the Iudge who laboured by all meanes he could to persuade and induce S. Alban to forsake his Christian Religion and Sacrifice to their Pagan Gods But this was all in vaine for to speake in the old Brittish Authour his words S. Alban answeared the iudge that his words were vaine and superfluous he did not repent him for receauing the faith of Christ for the miracles wrought in it in restoring the weake and sick to health doe teach it by their testimonie to be the way of Saluation He would not Sacrifice to their Gods and being supported by the help of God The torturs and longe ImprisonmeÌ„t S. Alban suffered and the miraculous punishment vpon his persecutors feared not their threats nor torments Vpon which words the company gathering together whipped him greuiously Who being thus beaten saied with a chearefull countenance O Lord Iesus Chtist I beseech thee keepe my minde ftom wauering from that state which thow hast giuen mee O Lord I desire to offer my life an Holocaust and with effusion of my blood to be thy witnesse And when the Tormentours hands were weary the holy maÌ„ was thrust into the bottome of prison and there kept sixe moneths whereupon the Elements themselues did testifie the Iniury done to the Martyr For from the time of his apprehension vnto his death neyther rayne nor dew did fâ—ll vpon the earth the windes did not blowe But euery day continuall the Land was parched vp with most feruent heate of the sunne and in the nights also was exceeding and vntollerable heate Neyther feilds nor trees bore any fruite the whole world did fight for the iuste one against the wicked The Citizens not able to endure this affliction said it was Christ whome Alban doth worship worketh this that no grasse nor corne doth growe vnto vs and taking pity vpon the Iniuries done to the holy man by the Iudgment of them all he is deliuered from his bonds of chaynes For which S. Alban was very sory and greately fearing least his Martyrdome might thereby be hindred looking vp towards heauen with groaning said O Lord Iesus Christ suffer not the malice of the deuill so much to preuaile that by his crafty deuises and assent of this people he may hinder my passion And turning himselfe to the people said vnto them Why doe you stay If you know not to giue sentence take Counsaile of your Lawes examine the statuts of your Citie they will insinuate vnto you what you ought
Martyre vel pro Martyre quem percutere iubebatur ipse potius mereretur percuti And so of a persecutour he became a companion in Truth and Faith Ex persecutore factus collega viritatis fidei Thus writeth Matthew of Westminster and others allthough with suppressing the name of this holy Martyr which the old Brittish Writer of S. Alban his life Capgraue and others call Heraclius and I am now to name him by it for allthough it was not giuen him in Baptisme Brit. Script Vitae S. Albani Manuscr Antiq. Capgr in eodem in water which he wanted yet his surest Baptisme in his owne blood for Christ his holy and most courageously and constantly sustained Martyrdome happily made him renowned and honorable thereby 2. This S. Heraclius hauing resolutely denyed his Paganisme craued pardon for his error and confessed Christ openly before so many persecutours and in the highest of their Malice and rage against S. Alban fell thereby into the same degree of Hatred with them for presently therevpon to speake in our old Authours words Inimici veritatis hominem arripiunt dentes excutiunt os eius sacrum dilacerant omnia eius ossa confringunt si nihil in corpore remansit illaesum fides tamen quae feruebat in pectore laedi non potuit The enemyes of truth apprehend him beate out his teeth rend his holy mouthe and breake all his boues and allthough nothing remayned in his body without hurt yet his feruent faith remayned without harme And being thus left so maymed lame and half dead with all the power and strength he could with his hands crept vp to the hill where S. Alban was Martyred whome when the Iudge espyed he said vnto him obsecra Albanum tuum pray to they Alban to sett thy bones in order and lay his head heare stricken off to thy body and thou shall receaue perfect health from him Bury him and lett him cure thee Heraclius answeared I most firmely beleeue that S. Alban by his merits is able to heale mee and easely performe that you mock vs with Tunc caput Martyris reuerenter assumens illudque corpori deuotus apponens desperatum corporis robur recuperare caepit sanus effectus Then reuerently taking the head of S. Alban and deuoutely laying it to his body he began to recouer the former strenght of the same despayred before And being thus miraculouslie recouered and made hole ceased not in the hearing of all the people to preach vnto them the meritt of S. Alban and Power of Christ and digging the earth buryed the body of S. Alban before them there Which the Pagans seeing said among themselues what shall we doe This man cannot be putt to death with sword we haue allready broken his body and he hath now receaued his former strength againe And apprehending him with horrible Torment they teare his holy body in peeces and lastely cutt of his head And so this happy souldiar perseuering in the faith of Christ together with most blessed Alban deserued to be honoured with the Crowne of Martyrdome 3. Hitherto the Relation of those our renowned auncient Historians whereby we doe not onely finde an example of Heroicall Christian fortitude in generall but learne euen in particular the holy and approued doctrine and custome of the Primatiue Christians of this kingdome aswell as of others to praye vnto holy Saints glorified in their Soules in heauen and reuerencing their sacred Relicks on earth thus miraculously allowed and approued of God before and for the euerlasting shame and confusion of so many his Persecutours and Enemies then present and all after commers that would oppose against those most Catholike doctrines and practises of the Church of Christ so publickly and inuincibly confirmed and warranted by his omnipotent and highest diuine Power before such a multitude both of Christians and Pagans so testifying the first by that meanes strengthned in the true faith the others in greate numbers as I shall presently declare conuerted to Christian Religion And the Iudge himselfe was hereby so moued and conuinced that he presently commanded the Persecution to cease Iudex tanta miraculorum Bed l. 1. Hist c. 7. caelestium nouitate perculsus cessari mox à Persecutione praecepit Iacobus Genuensis Bishop of Genua and his old English Translatour say this souldiar called Iacob Genuen Episc in Vita S. Albani S. Amphibal Anglic. Translat ib. by some before Herculius was a knight And they yeeld a reason besides their Assertion which was the noble renowne of S. Alban who as they say was Lord of the Citie of Verolame and Prince of the knights and Steward of the Land and the Iudge dred de for to slee him because of the greate loue that Emperour had to him and for reuerence of his dignitie and Power of his kindred vnto the time that he had informed Dioclesian And therefore when Iudgment was pronounced against him the which was deferred 6. Weeks vntill Maximian his comming into Britaine to see such wicked executions thus they deliuer it Than Maximian and Askepodot gaue finall sentence on him saying In the the time of the Emperour Dioclesian Albon Lord of Verolomie Prince of knights and Steward of Britaine during his life hath despised Iupiter and Appollyn gooddes and to them hath done derogation and disworship wherefore by the Lawe he is iudged to be deed by the hand of some knight And the body to be buryed in the same place where his heade shall be smitten of and his sepulchre to be made worshipfully for the honour of knighthood whereof he was Prince and also the Crosse that he bare And sklauin that he ware should be buryed with him And his body to be closed in a chest of Ledd and so layd in his Sepulchre This sentence hath the Lawe ordeyned because he hath renyed our principall Gods These Authours say Maximian and King Asclepiodote gaue this sentence THE XXII CHAPTER OF VERY MANY CONVERTED TO CHRIST by the miraculous death of S. Alban and after going to S. Amphibalus to be fully instructed by him suffered Martyrdome and being a thousand in number were diuers from the 1000. Martyrs at Lichfeild and those neare Verolamium 1. THAT we may take some notice of the greate numbers multitudes of people conuerted by the death and miracles of these two holy Martyrs we haue heard from approued Antiquities that euen many thousands had bene present eye witnesses of the miraculous diuiding of the water to giue free and dry passadge to S. Alban and those that were with him at his prayers when many drowned and lying in the bottome of the deepe Riuer were eyther miraculously preserued from death or so restored to life againe by his intercession the waters standing one both sides of their passadge like walls after their going ouer presently ioyned together againe and returned to their naturall current and flowing downeward as the propensitie of such liquid and heauy things requireth the fountayne one the topp of
of Christ 326. he boldly affirmeth she liued some yeares after that time Haud tamen affirmare dubitamus adhuc aliquot post haec vixisse annos And that she liued vntill the 335. of Christ or after it is euident by Eusebius Sozomen and others affirming that she left her three Nephewes sonnes of Constantine Caesars when she dyed And yet it is manifest by Eusebius and others that Constans his youngest sonne was not Caesar vntill the 30. yeare of Constantine when his Tricennall Feast was kept in the 335. yeare of Christ the eldest CoÌ„staÌ„tine being created Caesar in the 10. yeare of his Empire at the decennall festiuitie and Constantius the second in the 20. yeare when the vicennall Feast thereof was celebrated Cum triginta ipse annos in Imperio compleuisset filij eius numero tres Caesares diuersis creabantur temporibus Primus qui Patris erat cognominis decimo paterni Imperij anno honorem hunc adeptus est Secundus Aui nomine appellatus Constantius vicesimo ferè Imperij paterni anno quando publicus solennisque omnium hominum conuentus agebatur renuntiatus est Tertius Constants suit qui tricesimo paterni regni anno ad honorem euectus est The Age of S. Helen by Eusebius and others about fourescore yeares old octogesimum ferè aetatis suae annum confecisset doth proue as much for as is proued before she was a young Virgin when she was marryed to Constantius about the yeare of Christs Natiuitie 272. And the Age of Constantine her sonne being aboue 30. yeares of Age before he was Emperour and reigning Emperor no lesse time giueth good allowance vnto it suruiuing after her death by all accompts To which the reckening of Onuphrius and Onuphr in Roman Principib pag. 57. others that Constantine the Greate was borne in greate Britaine in the yeare of our Lord 272. according to my accompt before giueth more confirmation THE XVI CHAPTER OF THE HOLY DEVOVTE LIFE OF Constantine his Religion in many particulars His death glorious and not so soone as some relate it 1. SOME late Writers grounding vpon the Relation and Authorie Socrat. l. 1. Hist cap. vlt. 26. of Socrates doe seeme to hold that Constantine dyed the same yeare 337. Felicianus and Titianus being then Consuls Anno Christi trecentesimo trigesimo septimo Feliciano Baron Spond Annal. an 337. Titiano CoÌ„ss Constantinus Imperator ex hac vita migrauit vt disertè Socrates testatur addens diem nempe vndecimum Kalendas Iunij But I cannot assent either vnto Socrates so to thinke nor this Constantinâ— the Greate died not so soone as some recompt Interpretation of him for the reason for which Baronius and Spondanus assent vnto him for that after this yeare Lawes were rather founde inscribed in the name of his Sonnes then of Constantine their Father Vt Socratis Chronographiae de die CoÌ„ss consentiamus illud imprimis maximè persuadet quod leges posthac datae nominibus filiorum reperiantur inscriptae potiùs quaÌ„ ipsius Constantini Patris For Eusebius then liuing doth witnesse that Constantine did giue this Power and Authoritie whilst he liued Liberum eis fecit vt per se aliquid Euseb l. 4. de vit Const c. 52. l. 10. Hist cap. vlt. ad Reipublicae vtilitatem gererent And this is euident by the example and instance it selfe which these Authours obiect that Lawes were made in the Moneth of December in the yeare of these two named Consuls Felicianus and Titianus in the name of his Sonne Constantius Leges extant in Cod. Theodor. datae à Constantio ijsdem huius anni CoÌ„ss mense Decembri For Socrates their holds that these Consuls were in the next yeare to the Tricennall Feast as they affirme when Eusebius a present liuing witnesse and acquaintance to Constantine the Greate and others affirme that Constantine was Emperor allmost 32. yeares much more then a yeare after his Tricennall Feast Duos triginta annos extra paucos menses dies cum Imperio fuit Euseb l. 4. de vit Const supr Theodoret. Hist lib. 2. cap. 31. And these Authours themselues which pretend to follow Socrates doe much differ from him in their Accompt in this matter for they plainely teach that the Tricennalia of Constantine wherein his youngest Sonne Constans was created Caesar were kept in the 335. yeare of Christ Anno Christi trecentesimo Baron Spond Annal. an 335. trigesimo quinto celebrata sunt Tricennalia eiusdem Constantini Constans tertius eius filius ab ipso creatus est Caesar And then bring in the named two Consuls Felicianus and Tiatianus as also the death of Constantine to haue bene in the yeare 337. when Socrates saith plainely that in the immediate next yeare to the Tricennall anno post both those men were Consuls and Constantine Socrat. Hist lib. 1. cap. 25. 26. dyed Anno post Constantinus mortem obijt Feliciano Tatiano CoÌ„ss ad vndecimum Calendas Iunij Which cannot possibly agree together 2. Besides the opinion of those two to be Consuls in either of these yeares is very doubtfull and not to be followed for certaine for both Marianus Scotus Florentius Wigorniensis others confidently write that their yeare of Consulship was before the Tricennall yeare of Constantine in the 29. yeare of Constantine and 334. of Christ Anno Christi 334. 29. Constantini CoÌ„ss Faelicianus Titianus And that Vrsus and Polemius were Consuls in the next following Tricennall yeare and in the yeare 336. wherein as Socrates saith Felicianus and Titianus were Consuls and Constantine dyed not they or any one of them but Constantius and Constans were Consuls And the yeare 337. in which by Baronius and Spondanus Constantine deceased in the Consulhips of Felicianus and Tatianus neyther of them but Acindinus or Aridinus Marian. Scotus aetat 6. an 334. 335. 336. Florent Wigorn. Chron. in eiâ—d Consulib and Proculus were Consuls 3. Therefore diuers English Historians doe confidently hold both Catholiks and Protestants that Constantine lyued vntill the 339. or 340. yeare of Christ And both Eusebius Theodoret and others deliuer vnto vs so many Edicts Acts and worthie labors of this renowned Emperor after his Tricennall yeare and the time of his death by Socrates that we must needs hold he lyued longer after that time then he prescribeth This is manifest in the Historie Matth. Westm an 340. Stowe and Howes Hist Rom. in Const Pits l. de Illustr Brit. Script in Const Magno Bal. centur 1. in Flauio Constant of that most glorious man S. Athanasius Patriarke of Alexandria his vniust Banishment vnto Treuers in Germany and honorable restoring againe after two yeares and foure moneths Exile at Treuers as Theodoret and others testifie Diuus quidem Athanasius post annos duos quatuor menses Treuerensis exilij Alexandriam redijt Yet Baronius and Spondanus freely grant that he was bannished in the 336. yeare
annorum multorum curriculis ob infestationem Barbarorum Paganorum gens Britannica magnâ ex parte hinc inde dispersa relictis sedibus per orbem diffusa est Hinc fratres assuÌ„pto corpore sancto mare transeuntes Franciam adeunt apud Clarum montem in Monasterio Blandinion locum perpetuae reliquiarum sanctarum quietis eligunt It is agreed by all that he died on the sixt day of Iune sexto Idus Iunij A Engl. Martyr 6. Iunij late writer saith in one place he finally reposed in our Lord about the yeare of Christ foure hundred and three Through forgetting himselfe or mistaken by his printer in an other place he writeth full of venerable olde Age in greate sanctitie and Febr. 22. holines of life he rested in our Lord about the yeare of Christ three hundred and fourtie and was one of the first of our Iland that preached the Christian faith in Flanders But by all this Age is the time of his holy life 12. We finde also in the authenticall life of S. Dauid vsed in his Ecclesiasticall Breuiar Eccles Sarisb in Festo S. Dauidis lect 6. Office in the Brittish and English Church that Eluueus was Bishop of Meneuia after called S. Dauids before S. Dauid was borne and had the honor to baptise that renowned man when he was new borne and for his performing Elueus Bishop of Meneuia in this Age. that holy office a most cleare Well neuer appearing before sprang vp to baptise him in ad ipsius baptizandi ministerium fons limpidissimae aquae emanauit qui nunquam antea visus fuit And this Bishop at that time was newly returned out of Ireland cum baptizaretur ab Eluueo Meneuensi Episcopo redeunte de Hibernia And so had gone thither as it seemeth about some Episcopall busines belonging Menâ—uia probably an Episcopall See before S. Dauids time vnto his chardge and office there Which approued testimony sufficiently proueth vnto vs that Meneuia was an Episcopall See longe before S. Dauid his setling the Archiepiscopall See there And if this Bishop S. Eluueus had then charge in Ireland that it was euen then the See Episcopall the Archbishop some time resideÌ„t there some time at Caerlegion I shall speake more of more both of this our other Archiepiscopall Sees of other Bishops heareafter And heare now also may I probably place S. Liephard a Brittish Bishop S. Liephard a Bishop of Britaine a Martyr in this Age. Saint and Martyr glorious euen in forreine Countries For it is reade of him that being borne heare in Britaine and consecrated Bishop in our Primatiue Church and going on Pilgrimage to Rome in his returne from thence in the Territory of Cambray in Hennalt at a place called HuÌ„court foure miles from the named Citie was put to death by Pagan theeues and his Feast is celebrated in the Church of Cambray on the fourth day of February That he was a Molan addit ad vsuardum Index SS Belgij Hereb in fastis SS Engl. Martyrolog 4. Febr. Bishop in our Primatiue Church of Britaine and put to death by Pagans in that Prouince where Pagans will not easily be founde in later times will giue some warrant to place him in this Age. THE XXVI CHAPTER OF THE HONORABLE TRANSLATION OF the Relicks of S. Andrew Apostle from Achaia to Britaine by S. Regulus The greate reuerence both Princes and others heare gaue vnto them and such and professed in other matters the Religion which Catholiks now doe 1. AS this our Britaine was made happy in the time of the Apostles with the presence and preaching of the cheife Apostles S. Peter and S. Paule So now in this Age and time so longe after their deaths and the rest of those chosen disciples of Christ to teach vs that they which be happily deceesed out of this mortall and entered into the heauenly life and triumphant Church may and doe by many meanes help assist and comforte his militant Seruants and Souldiars in this worlde it pleased his diuine Maiestie Miraculously as our Antiquaries and Arguments vndeniable proue vnto vs to honor this Nation and greate Iland with Epiphan Haeres 51. the sacred Relicks of that glorious Martyr and Apostle S. Andrew by naturall birth elder brother to S. Peter 2. And to testifie how greate a Iewell they and such are he caused theÌ„ to be transported so farre and longe a space and distance as betweene the place of Euseb l. 4. vitae Constant Socr. l. 1. cap. vlt. Hier. de Script Eccles in Luc. aduers Vigil in Chron. Chrysost Or. quod Christus sit Deus Veremun Hect. Boeth Scot. Hist l. 6. Hollin Hist of Scotl. in Fethelmacus his Martyrdome in Achaia to the remote parts of this Kingdome and in this order Constantine the greate Emperour fouÌ„ding at ConstaÌ„tinople the Church of the 12. Apostles with their Images and memoryes and his owne place of buriall betweene them as Eusebius Socrates S. Hierome and others are worthie witnesses and prouiding to translate many of their holy Relicks thither hoping thereby to procure greate profit to his soule quamplurimum vtilitatis illorum memoriam animae suae conciliaturam existimans Neque voâ—a eius expectationemque fefellit Deus AmoÌ„g others employed in this Religious worke S. Regulus an holy Abbot and Father of many vertuous Monkes at Patras in Achaia where S. Andrew was Martyred multorum verae pietati addictoruÌ„ in Patris ciuitate Pater atque Praeceptor and his sacred Relicks kept with greate reuerence who watching and praying at S. Andrewes Shrine thâ—re being the cheifest man which by the Edict of the Emperour were sent to worship those Relikâ— Relicks of Saints reuerenced of the Apostle which the Emperour himselfe meruailously reuerenced ex illâ—â— praecipâ—us qui Imperatoris Edicto diui Andreae Apostoli Reliquâ—â—s venerationiâ—â—â—â— sain quos ipse mira dâ—cebatur pietate assisterent fuerant destinati was â—dmonished from heauen to take parte of those holy Reliks a bone of the arme three fingers and three Toes of that Apostle bring them decently into the Iland of Albion in the remote parte of the world that the people there deuotely reuerencing saint Andrew might by the goodnes of God by his Ietercession obtaine both earthly and heauenly blessings Cum sacras ad Scriniolum ageret vigilias superne monitus est vt accepto sacrati brachij ossâ— tribus digitis totidemque alterius pedis articulis ac in vasculum decenter repositis Albionem Insulam in extremo orbis recessu sitam peteret futurum enim vt illie aliquando populus pia veneratione in diuum Andream ductus Dei beneuolentiâ terrena caelestia eius suffragio assequeretur charismata 3. By which direction S. Regulus taking the holy Reliks with diuers other very holy men for his Associats tooke this long Iorney in hand and after many dangers landed with these holy Relicks and his companions in that part of this
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