latter end of Trajan's Reign some of the Britains attempted to shake off the Roman yoak but were neglected by the Emperour engag'd in other Affairs of more concern It is not certain which of the Britains made this attempt Coelus is then said to be King of the Britains not perhaps the sole King but most considerable for Power and Wealth to whom the rest yielded Honour and some kind of Subjection as some of the Brittish Princes in former Ages are said to have done to Cassibelan and as after in the time of the Heptarchy to him who was stil'd Rex Anglorum This King Coelus is describ'd in History to be a Prince of a Benign and Peaceable Nature and well affected to the Romans as having been train'd and brought up amongst them from his tender years and consequently not likely to joyn in any Rebellion against them Now though Trajan had not leasure to reduce these Tumultuous Britains yet his Successor Adrian neglected them not as may appear by several Coins where on are Imprinted the Brittish Army with three Roman Souldiers importing the three Legions in Britain viz. the second called Augusta the fourteenth called Victrix and the twentyth called Victrix Britanica And this it seems was done to admonish the Britains that this new Emperour was mindful of their Disorders which about three years after he came himself in person to chastise Julius Severus was now Pretor under Adrian but did little as to the suppressing the Tumults here especially in the Southern parts where Coelus was King. Howbeit Adrian in his third year began his Progress for the rectifying Disorders composing Seditions and restoring Discipline to his Armies every where He began with Germany from thence took a view of France and the following year pass'd over into Britain where his first Exploit was to separate such as Peaceably liv'd in subjection to the Roman Empire from such as refus'd to submit to its yoak Now whereas the Northern Britains since they were overthrown by Agricola had broken through the Fortifications he had made in the narrow Isthmus between the Friths of Edenborough and Dunbritton yet Adrian thought not fit to hazard his Army in repelling them within those former bounds but contented himself to raise a Wall or Rampire more Southerly which he continu'd the space of 80 Miles between Solway-Frith on the West and Tinmouth on the East side of the Isle it was made of Turf and strengthen'd with Timber and in after Ages was call'd The Picts Wall when that Northern Nation became to be term'd Picts as aforesaid The next year Adrian was call'd out of Britain to compose Sedition rais'd in Alexandria in Egypt When Adrian was near thereabouts the Jews and Gentiles were loud in their Complaints against the Christians in Palestine from whence that Holy Religion sprang the number of them was then great in that Country by reason of the continual resort of Believers to that Sacred place from every quarter of the World to celebrate the memory both of our Saviours Actions and Passions there Upon these Complaints he renews the Persecution began by his Predecessor and imagining that he could destroy Christian Religion by a Malicious Defacing the Place where it began he erected Idols of Devils in the most Sacred place of our Lords Passion Jupiter in Mount Calvary Venus where the Cross had been fix'd Adonis at Bethlehem conceiving the memory of the Christian Religion would be soon blotted out by the Worship of these Idols And indeed this Holy Place lay in this desolation until Helena the Mother of Constantine thought it worth her Pains to search out the Cross as is hereafter more fully related The Learning Patience and Constancy of the Christians through the intercession of Noble and Considerable Persons on their behalf caus'd Adrian at last to publish an Edict that none should be punish'd for their Belief if free from other Crimes About the beginning of this Emperour's Reign dy'd our King Coelus leaving for his Successor his Son Lucius a Child of Ten years old resembling his Father in Virtue and consequently belov'd of his Subjects his Fathers affection to the Romans procur'd him a Roman Name deriv'd from Light the Britains upon the same account call'd him Lever Maur or a great Brightness for the Joy he brought to the whole Kingdom especially to his Father being born to him in his Old Age and 37th year of his Reign perhaps this Name foreshew'd a greater Light of Divine Truth which in this Princes time and by his care and procurement was communicated to the whole Kingdom This Blessing arriv'd not all at once he did not presently quit the Superstition of his Fore fathers though he continu'd his Father's Kindness to the Christians his heart was to be prepar'd and cultivated by little and little for the Heavenly Seed by many Dispensations of Providence hereafter occurring Gildas and Nennius mention a Message sent to the Britains by Pope Evaristus in the latter end of Trajan's Reign exhorting them to the embracing of the Christian Faith the advantage or occasion of this Message might be from mitigating that persecution of the Christians therefore that Holy Bishop might lay hold of that opportunity to recommend a Religion the Innocency whereof was approv'd by its greatest Persecutors Nay a late German Author affirms that our King Lucius obtain'd from Pope Alexander the Successor of Evaristus that the Christian Faith should be Preach'd in this Isle which no doubt the Pope would easily grant as may appear by the coming of S. Timotheus and S. Marcellus with others into Britain about this time of whom more hereafter Moreover in the most Antient Monuments of Burton-Abbey we may find That in the year of our Lord 149. nine Doctors and Schollars were Baptiz'd at Granta or Cambridge and it is confidently affirm'd by Gildas That the Christian Faith did from the beginning entirely remain in Britain until Dioclesian 's time which was by him well observ'd least any should think the Religion brought in by the Apostles and their Disciples had been utterly extinguish'd To Adrian succeeded Antoninus Pius who sent Lollius Vrbicus to repel the Incroaching Britains who soon drove them back within their former bounds yet found work enough to compose the Differences and Dissentions which broke out afresh in the formerly subdu'd Provinces between the Brigantes and Ordovices these Tumults were of such danger and hazard that the happy quieting them gave the addition of Britanicus to Antoninus In the 19th year of this Emperour Pope Pius the first establish'd by Decree the observation of Easter or the Feast of our Lords Resurrection upon a Sunday in opposition to such Judaizing Christians who pretending a Tradition from St. John the Evangelist kept it precisely on the 14th day of the first Moon in March. Our Antient Ecclesiastical Monuments make mention about this time of one Marcellus a Britain born and a Zealous Preacher of the Faith in Britain of whom our English Martyrology testifies That
exprest by him in their proper Names are one only God. I believe saith St. Albanus and my firm Faith is that there is no other God besides my Lord Jesus Christ who for the Salvation of Mankind took our Nature upon him and suffer'd death upon the Cross He together with the Father and the Holy Spirit is one only God and besides him there is no other And having said this he often cast himself Prostrate before the Crucifix as if he had seen our Lord Jesus himself hanging on the Cross carnestly begging Pardon for his sins He often affectionately kiss'd his Saviours feet and places of his Wounds as if he had seen him Crucify'd Tears with Blood flow'd abundantly from his Eyes upon the venerable Cross and these words from his mouth I renounce the Divel and detest all the Enemies of our Lord to whom I wholly resign myself Amphibalus then bad him be of good Courage saying Our Lord is with thee whose Grace will never be wanting to thee The saving Faith which others attain by the Ministry of men thou hast learn'd by the Revelation of Christ himself And therefore being assur'd of thy constancy my purpose is to leave thee and Travel further that I may shew the way of Truth to other Gentiles also But Albanus prevail'd with him to stay a week longer that he might be more perfectly instructed in the Faith by him This Narration of St. Alban's Conversion is attested by a very Antient and Credible Author We shall now proceed to the History of his glorious Martyrdom He having been thus Instructed Baptiz'd and Confirm'd in the Faith by Amphibalus was at last contented with his departure but exhorted him to take care of his safety and in order thereunto disguis'd him in his own Military Vestment woven with Gold that he might the more safely pass through the Soldiers Early in the morning Amphibalus takes his slight Northward conducted part of the way by Albanus at last they parted with Tears Amphibalus hastens into Wales Albanus returns into the City cloath'd with the Caracalla or long Ecclesiastical Robe of Amphibalus and now left alone made great hast in his journey to Immortality All the enticements of the World became odious to him he found no pleasure but in Prayers and Tears at the foot of our Lords Cross he burn'd with a desire to requite the Love of Christ by dying for him His Domesticks and Neighbours observing the wonderful change in his manner of Life began to suspect and quickly found out the true cause of it so that in a short time he is publickly known for a Deserter of Heathenish Superstition and therefore complain'd of unto and conven'd before the Roman Magistrate to whom a certain Gentile had discover'd what ever pass'd between St. Albanus and St. Amphibalus This Magistrate thus Incens'd commanded they should both be brought before him St. Amphibalus being departed the Soldiers found only St. Albanus in his strange Habit at his Prayers with naked feet before the Cross of our Lord and ask'd him where the Clark was whom he had entertain'd He answered That the Holy man was under the Protection of God and fear'd not the Threats of Men When they heard this they laid hands on him bound him with Chains and violently drew him away some pulling at his Garments some at his Hair He had still upon him the Vestment of his Master knowing the sight of it was enough to make him odious he carried also in his hand the Image of our Lord that he might only appear a Servant of the Cross Being come before the Judge he was examin'd in many particulars but all his Answer was That he was Albanus and a Christian which he profess'd with great liberty of Speech The Judge enquir'd of him What became of the Clark who was sent by one call'd Christ to delude and seduce the People of this City Had he not saith the Judge had a guilty Conscience and been distrustful of his own Cause this worthy Master of yours would have freely presented himself before us to defend both Himself and his Disciples But by his own Carriage he makes known the falseness and Fraudulence of his Doctrine since he deserts thee and is Cowardly run away from thee whom if his Cause had been good he ought to have justify'd though with hazard of his Life So as I suppose thou now perceiv'st how silly a Fellow he was who seduc'd thee into Errours and brought thee by his idle suggestions into such a Frenzy as not only to renounce all worldly Advantages but to contemn the immortal Gods the injury against whom since we ought not to leave unpunish'd my purpose was to have reveng'd it by the death of the prophane Delinquent But seeing humane frailty is such that there is none but are obnoxious to Errour thou mayest yet by Repentance escape the indignation of the Gods and make them propitious to thee if thou wilt now renounce this abominable Sect. Hereto Albanus Answer'd It were a very easie matter to declare how vain and impertinent this long discourse of yours is for if it had seem'd good or agreeable to either of us That Holy Clark would not have fail'd to have been here But I confess his stay here could not be pleasing to me who well know how prone to mischief this People hath ever been The Doctrine taught by that good man I have heartily embrac'd neither can I repent me of it for the Faith which I profess will be prov'd to be Holy and Divine by the Testimony of Sick and Infirm People who by virtue thereof shall receive Health I will no longer Sacrifice to your Gods nor fear your Threats or Torments being secure under the protection of my good Lord. This being said at the command of the Judge he was Cruelly Scourg'd by the Officers for refusing to Sacrifice during which Torment he lifted up his Eyes to our Lord and with a chearful countenance said O Lord Jesus Christ I beseech thee keep this mind and good resolution which thou hast given me firm and stable My desire is O my God to offer up my Soul a whole Burnt Sacrifice to thy Glory and with my Blood to Seal thy Truth But when the Officers were weary with tormenting him the Holy man was thrust into a deep Dungeon where he continu'd six Months All the Elements soon bare witness of the injury done unto him and from the time of his Apprehension to his Death neither Rain nor Dew refresh'd the Earth the Winds were whist and the Region thereabout parch'd with excessive Heat of the Sun even in the night-time the stifing heat was intollerable neither Fields nor Trees produced any Fruit so that the whole World fought in the quarrel of this just man against his Impious Enemies insomuch as this excessive Heat and Drought Heathens themselves took notice of though they apply'd it to other purposes The Infidel Judge expected that the Constancy of the Holy Martyr would have
over-against Jerusalem to the East And St. Jerom testifies That the same footsteps of our Lord imprinted on the ground were shewn in his time so as though the Earth were continually taken away by the Devotion of Christians yet these Holy footsteps did receive and retain their former state Sulpitius Severus relates a strange story namely That the place where our Lords feet at his Ascention stood could not be continu'd to the rest of the Pavement about it for whensoever Marble was laid on it the Earth refus'd to receive it casting the Stones oft times upwards in the Faces of those which apply'd them and the footsteps of our Lord there seen are a lasting Monument that the Dust there had been trod on by our Saviour To this Beda adds That whereas the Temple built over this place consisted of three Stories the uppermost whereof were Vaulted with Arches that which was the lowest and most inward could by no Art or Labour be clos'd with a Vault The Holy Empress was now in earnest quest of the Holy Cross on which our Lord perfected the Redemption of Mankind by the Apparition of which her Son had been lately drawn to Faith and Baptism A Rumour there was that it was still extant and hid up in some of those Holy places but where to find it was the difficulty several places thereabout were dig'd but all in vain at last the Religious Lady was by a Coelestial Admonition inform'd where it lay Whereupon causing all the Rubbish to be remov'd she found under ground three Crosses in a confus'd order whereby her joy was diminish'd by the uncertainty which was the true one there was also found with them the Title which had been written by Pilate in Greek Latin and Hebrew Letters but being separated gave no token to discern which was our Lords Cross In this doubtfulness the only remedy was by Prayer to beg a Divine Testimony At the same time there was in the City a Woman of quality who lay Sick of a Grievous Disease ready to Expire Macarius Bishop of Jerusalem seeing the Empress so sollicitous to discover the true Cross commanded that all-three should be brought not doubting but that God would discover the true one and being enter'd with the Empress into the Sick Womans Chamber Pray'd That God would be pleas'd to shew unto them which of those three Crosses was imploy'd to glorisie our Lord and which for the punishments of the Malefactors and that this discovery might be made by the restoring of the Woman half dead upon the touches of the True Cross The first and second were apply'd without any avail or effect but as soon as the third was apply'd unto her she open'd her Eyes and rose up in perfect Health and went about her House with great alacrity Praising and Glorifying the Power of God. And thus was the Empress satisfy'd in her longing desire by the Attestation of many Ecclesiastical Writers so as in memory of this saving sign she Dedicated a peculiar Church and for the Cross it self thus found she sent part of it to the Emperour to be Honourably bestow'd in his Palace the remainder she enclos'd in a Box of Silver and gave it to the Bishop of Jerusalem to be reserv'd as a Monument of our Salvation and for many years after upon the day of our Lords Resurrection it was produc'd with Veneration by the Bishop and expos'd also to the People to be by them likewise Venerated That part which was sent to Constantine he enclos'd in a Statue of his own which was plac'd on a mighty Pillar of Porphyry in the Market-place of Constantinople and was by him esteem'd as a mighty Bulwark of his Empire The Nails which pierc'd our Saviours Sacred flesh were artificially enclos'd in the Emperour's Helmet as a Guard for his Head. One of them indeed in a great Tempest the Empress threw into the Adriatick Sea and by that means as is presum'd sav'd her self and Company from Shipwrack Our Helena being a British Princess drawing near the end of her Life increas'd in her Zeal and Piety her Humility and Devout respect to Holy Virgins Consecrated to the Service of God appear'd by this example That she invited some of them to Dinner and thought it not enough that her Maids should attend upon them but girding her self after the manner of a waiting Maid set Meat upon the Table gave them Drink and pour'd Water on their Hands Thus though an Empress she esteem'd her self no better than a a Servant and Handmaid of Christ and his Virgins In all her Progress through the Eastern Provinces she largely express'd her wonderful Munificence giving innumerable Gifts not only to particular Persons but to whole Cities she largely reliev'd the Poor such as were condemn'd to work in Mines or perpetual Imprisonment she set at liberty the Oppress'd she deliver'd from fraud and injury and the Banish'd she restor'd to their own Country In her return out of Palestine into Greece she pass'd by Drepanum in Bithynia where repos'd the Body of the Glorious Martyr Lucianus as soon as she saw his Relicks neglected without any mark of Honour or Reverence she caus'd a Sumptuous Church to be Built over them and enlarg'd the place into a City with Walls and Bulwarks call'd by her Son after her Name Helenopolis Moreover this Holy Empress in her Progress through the East having been inform'd where the Bodies of the three Wise men who came to Bethlehem to Adore our new-born Saviour repos'd brought them with her to her Son Constantine who Reverently laid them in the chief Church of his new City from whence they were translated to Milan and from thence to Colen where they now are Celebrated with great Veneration In such Pious Works did this Holy Empress conclude her Worldly Pilgrimage It is most probable she Deceas'd at Rome Aged above 80 years and was there Honourably Interr'd her occasion of returning thither was after the laudable custom of Christians in those days to visit the Sepulchres of the two chief Apostles She brought with her to Rome a part of the Holy Cross which with great Veneration she plac'd in a Church there Built at her Request by her Son call'd by the Title of the Holy Cross It is reported She spent her last days in great Devotion and approaching to her Death after her receiving the Sacraments of the Church she was comforted with a Vision of our Lord Jesus encompass'd with a multitude of Angels and holding his Cross shining with inexpressible Brightness Eusebius testisies That her Son Constantine with all humble respect attended her in her Sickness and was present at her Death having receiv'd many Devout Exhortations and the Benediction of a Parent from her Such was the Emperour's Piety and Respect to his Mother that she is said To have reign'd as Empress with him to be stil'd Augusta to be transfer'd into the Flavian Family so that many Golden Coins were made and stamp'd with her Image After her Death her
care of his flock But if we consider consequents we shall find that the Catholick Church thereby receiv'd a great increase both in the number of Professors and the Zeal of their Profession for though those Barbarous Nations for a while Persecuted the Church yet e're long our Lord subdued their Minds and those strong Natural Passions of theirs were imploy'd in advancing Gods Church insomuch as the Apostles time and Primitive Age could scarce afford such Heroical Examples of Christian Zeal Magnanimity and Contempt of the World as those Barbarous People once Converted did So Healthful is the Severity of God towards his People Many Historians accuse the Cowardly Sloth of King Vortigern as if he weary of the Troubles of War chose rather with his Money to Hire Stipendiary Strangers than to train up his own Subjects to resist his Enemies and therefore invited the Saxons to Fight for the Britains But as Beda saith This was done by the common advice of the Nation For a meeting was assembled wherein it was thought best by all as well as by the King to demand Aide of the Saxons Which resolution doubtless was order'd by Divine Providence to punish the Impious Britains as the event declares for Gildas reflecting on the madness of this Consultation thus exclaims O the profound Blindness of the Britains minds O the Stupidity of their Senses These Saxons at whose Names they trembled when they were absent are now by the foolish Princes invited to live in their own Houses so senseless was their Councel How senseless soever it was Ambassadors were sent into Germany men of the highest repute and such as might most worthyly represent their Country Witchindus thus describes the order of this Embassage Fame saith he loudly proclaiming the Prosperous Victories of the Saxons the Britains sent Messengers to them to beg their assistance who did it in these words viz. O Noble Saxons our miserable Country-men the Britains wearied and even consum'd with the frequent Incursions of their Enemies having heard of your glorious Victories have sent us humbly to implore your Aide in recompense whereof they offer to you a Province Spacious and Abounding with all things We have hither to liv'd Happily under the Protection of the Romans after them we know no Nation better than your selves to whom we may have recourse we therefore desire to shelter our selves under the Wings of your Courage c. It may be doubted whether this Oration were deliver'd in so submiss a stile for they were sent to hire the Saxons with a large Stipend not to yield up the Country to them However sure it is the Saxons in their Answer assur'd the Britains They would be Faithful Friends to them ready always to assist them in their Necessities and to do them all Offices of Kindness With which Answer the Ambassadors return'd home well satisfied and were joyfully receiv'd by their Country-men This satisfactory Message was return'd in the year of our Lord 448. and the year following an Army of Saxons under their chief Conductors Hengist and Horsa landed in Britain whose coming Gildas in his Angry stile thus describes mingling with it a Prophecy among the Saxons relating to it Then saith he a drove of Whelpes rushing out of the Barbarous Lyonesses came hither in three Ships with full sails and an ominous Course encourag'd by a Prophecy certainly believed among them that for the space of 300 years they should Possess the Country toward which they directed the Prow of their Ships and that in half of that time they should often lay it waste They first fast'ned their terrible Nails by order of the unhappy Tyrant Vortigern on the Eastern part of the Island with a pretence to defend but with an intent to subdue the Country There may be some shadow of Truth in this Prophecy for the Saxons for 300 years may be said to be Possessors of the Island under the Title of Saxony beyond the Sea. After the Angli gave their own Name to it Besides after 150 years by the coming of St. Augustine they became Christians and of Wasters of the Country became more Gentle and Civil Inhabitants thereof They first possess'd themselves of the Ille of Thanet in Kent and there first landed at a place call'd Wipped-fleet from Wipped a Saxon Commander there after slain They being thus landed about the year of our Lord 450. the Scots and Picts invaded Britain with a mighty Army wasting the Provinces as they came along Vortigern gathers his Soldiers and Auxiliary Saxons together and march'd beyond the River Humber when they came to a Battle the Britains had little need to Fight for the Saxons Combated with such Courage that the Enemies formerly accustom'd to Victory soon turn'd their backs and fled Vortigern therefore having by their Valour obtain'd the Victory increas'd his Liberality to them and gave to Hengist their Captain great Possessions in Lyndsey part of Lincolnshire sufficient to maintain him and his Soldiers Huntingdon will needs have this Battle at Stanford in the Southern parts of the same Shire adding That the Picts and Scots had march'd so far without opposition and that they were only Arm'd and Fought with Darts and Lances but the Saxons with Battle-Axes and long Swords whose force and weight their Enemies not being able to sustain were soon put to flight Now as touching the Land thus given to Hengist Cambden gives us this Relation out of our Annals Hengist having subdu'd the Picts besides large Possessions conferr'd on him in other places requested Vortigern to bestow upon him in that Province so much ground as he could encompass with an Oxes-Hide which being obtain'd he cut it into Thongs extreamly Thinn and with it encompass'd a great Territory in the midst of which he built a Castle which by the Name perpetuates the memory thereof for it is call'd Thong-Castle As Carthage for many Ages remain'd a witness of Dido's Fraud for by thesame slight she obtain'd the Seat where she built that City so does this Castle still offer to our memories the Simplicity of the Britains and Craft of the Saxons such a gift could not satisfie the Ambition of Hengist whose aim was to be Master of the whole Island The subtile man therefore presuming of the Kings Friendship and easiness thus address'd to him My Lord the King you see how your Enemies disquiet you on all sides if you please therefore we will send into our Country for the increase of our numbers with new Recruits The King commanded him to do so withour delay that he might be freed from the fear of his Enemies Hengist sends Messengers accordingly who quickly return'd with 18 Ships laden with Soldiers and not with Soldiers only but with a fair Lady the Daughter of Hengist whose Beauty and Flatteries so bewitch'd the King that to please her he betray'd both his Faith and Kingdom Malmsburiensis reports this Rowena the Daughter of Hengist To be for Beauty the Miracle of Nature admir'd by all that look'd
or Dishonour insomuch as when Symmachus being Consul at Rome had prepar'd great numbers of them to Fight as Gladiators for the Entertainment of the People the night before they were to be brought upon the Theater 24 of them without any Ropes strangled themselves Their principal Exercise and Skill was in Pyracy in small Flat-bottom'd Boats so nimble and manageable that with them they vex'd the Coasts of Gaul Spain and Britain so as the Romans were oblig'd all along the Coasts to appoint Souldiers and Officers for their Guards who were call'd Counts of the Saxon Coasts Their Religion is thus describ'd viz. That in a Temple of theirs call'd in their Language Vbsola adorn'd with Gold throughout the People Adore the Statues of three Gods the most Powerful they call Thor who is placed in the midst and on each side are set the Statues of Woden and Fricca Thor they conceiv'd to preside in the Air to send Thunders Lightnings Showers and Serene Seasons and to govern the Fruits of the Earth Woden signifies Valiant he disposes of Wars and administers Courage to them against their Enemies Fricca bestows Peace and Pleasure on men to her Statue is adjoyn'd a huge Priapus Woden they Carv'd in Arms as the Romans did Mars and Thor with a Scepter answering Jupiter From these three Deities they nam'd three days of the Week from Woden whom some interpret to be Mercury Wednesday took its Appellation from Thor Thursday from Fricca or Frea suppos'd to be the Wife of Woden Friday Tuesday had its Name from Tuisco Founder of the German Nation who thence are Nam'd Tuitsch or Dutch The Month of April they usually call'd Easter Month the Solemnity of our Lords Resurrection usually falling on that Month To Woden they usually offer'd Humane Sacrifices chosen from their Captives Yet among all these Abominations those Antient Saxons had some qualities very commendable especially their Chastity Tacitus hath observ'd That their Marriages were severe and such Christ exactly observ'd amongst them that they were almost the only Barbarians who contented themselves with single Wives their Wives are confin'd to their Houses kept from the sight of impure Spectacles and provocations of Intemperate Feasts Salvian also hath Honour'd the Saxons for their Chastity though he blames them for their Cruelty And after that time St. Boniface writes thus of them That in old Saxony where was no knowledge of Christ if either a Maid or Wife be guilty of Adultery they force her to strangle her self and then burn her Body or else after they have cut off her Garment to the Waste the Chaste Matrons whip her out of their Confines and there fresh Women meet her with Whips or prick her with Knives and thus they use her till they have kill'd her Upon this Foundation of Chastity the Saxon Churches amongst us continu'd stable for many Ages Hence were deriv'd so many numberless swarms of Virgins and Religious men despising all Carnal Temptations and Pleasures In no Nation or Church such frequent Examples have been afforded of Princes willingly and by Vow abstaining from Lawful and Matrimonial Pleasures of Virgins willingly exposing their Lives to preserve their Purity yea Disfiguring themselves for their appearing Odious to those who otherwise would have violated their Chastities But now alas Chastity is not so much esteem'd It will not here be amiss to take a view of the Britains of that Age that we may see God did not forsake them till they had fill'd up the measure of their sins by all manner of Impieties A more convincing witness whereof cannot be found then their own British Historian Gildas who seems to have his Pen directed by God on purpose to write like another Jeremias the heavy Judgments inflicted on his Country and the more heavy Crimes from Heaven exacting those Judgements The whole Nation generally is by him acknowledg'd guilty of all manner of Vices joyn'd with extream Ingratitude to God for whereas after the Incursions of the Picts and Scots there ensued such wonderful Plenty of all things as no former Age coul parallel the Britains turn'd this into wantonness abounding more then ever in all manner of Uncleanness and Luxury which Filthiness was accompanied with hatred of the Truth so that if any one in Conversation shew'd any sign of a Christian Life the general hatred of the Britains soon pursu'd him From this contempt of Divine Benignity God sought reclaim them by his scourges of Pestilence and Famine by which such multitudes perish'd that the Living were not able to bury the Dead Princes saith Gildas were Anointed but not by our Lord for those were made choice of to reign who were most Eminent for their Cruelty and presently after Murder'd by their Anointers and others more Feirce and Savage were Elected By the way we may hence perceive that in those Antient times the Solemne Ceremony of Anointing Kings was in use This is also confirm'd by St. Gregory who declares That in his time what Prince soever was rais'd to the heighth of Royal Dignity receiv'd the Sacrament of Vnction The manner how this Unction was administred is still extant in the Book call'd Ordo Romanus Selden indeed will needs have this passage in Gildas to be taken Metaphorically contrary to the constant succeeding Practice among the Saxons To shew what little hopes our Historian had of any amendment amongst the Britains he further chargeth the Ecclesiasticks of those times who should have been Correctors of others to have been yet more corrupt than the Laity For saith he those Enormous sins were not only committed by Secular men but by Gods own flock and the Pastors thereof Those who ought to have been Examples of Piety to the People were most of them dissolv'd with Wine and all manner of Excess Animosities Contentions Envy against one another tore them into Factions Insomuch as Gildas Compil'd a particular Treatise call'd The Correction of the Clergy which he begins thus Britain has Priests but many of them Impudent It has Clergy-men but great numbers of them Covetous Oppressors Deceitful Pastors or rather Wolves to destroy the Souls of their flock having no regard to the Spiritual good of their People but only seeking to fill their own Bellies They possess the Houses of the Church for Lucres sake only If they teach the People they render that Instruction fruitless by their ill Example They seldom Sacrifice and more seldom approach the Altars with Pure Hearts c. He further chargeth the Clergy with Simony Purchasing Livings and Bishopricks with Money of the then Ruling Tyrants c. Hence we may plainly perceive why the Nation was deliver'd over to the Sword and the Barbarous Nations which came for its Punishment were for their reward call'd to embrace the Christian Faith Neither was Britain alone thus punish'd but all the Provinces of Europe were made Desolate by innumerable Armies of Barbarous People from the North and the Church of God so afflicted as if our Lord had cast off all