the Reign of the Emperour Titus After the Death of Nero Cruel to himself his own Mother the poor Christians and indeed to all Mankind and the barbarous extinguisher of those two most Glorious Lights then shining in the World St. Peter and St. Paul the Family of the Caesars failing four Emperours were set up and pulled down within the space of two years Vespasian only excepted who becoming Conquerour at last settled the Empire and restored Peace The Romans in Britain were unconcern'd in these Broils and were well affected to Vespasian who by his Deputy Frontinus placed a Legion in Caerleon St. Joseph after a Solitary Life led at Glastonbury where he seems to Institute a Monastical Profession with his said Companions and such other Holy Persons as his and their Labours had Converted to the Faith Died their about the said 82 year of our Lords Incarnation and was Buried at Glastonbury as his Companions also were in or near the Church Built by him where since innumerable Converts and Christians have been Interred It is thought the Body of this Renowned Saint was deposited in a Cave over which a Chappel was after Built to his Honour as this Epitaph there found imports Ad Britones veni post quam Christum Sepelivi Dorni requievi His Reliques not having been discover'd some Devout persons in the days of Edward the III. obtain'd leave to search for them The Patent for that purpose is yet extant to this effect That a supplication having been made by John Blome of London wherein he affirms that he had received a command from Heaven diligently to seek till he could find the Body of the Noble Councellor Joseph of Arimathaea which reposes in Christ within the limits of Glastonbury Monastery and which for the Saints Honour was to be discover'd in those times And for that it appear'd by Antient Records that his Body was there buried The said King if so desirous to bestow due Honours to the Monument and Venerable Reliques of him who exprest so great Piety and Charity to our dying Redeemer that he took his Body from the Cross and plac'd it ina New Monument which he had built for himself and hoping that by the revealing of his Holy Reliques greater Grace and Favour should be shew'd by God to him and his Kingdom did give and grant permission as much as in him lay to the said John Blome to dig where he should find it expedient within the precincts of the said Monastery in order to the searching out of the said precious Reliques according to the Injunction and Revelation made unto him provided he did it with the consent of the Abbot and without prejudice to the Monastery What was found upon this search doth not appear but the Piety and Devotion of the King may be easily collected The same Monuments which inform us of the Life Death and Burial of St. Joseph at Glastonbury as an unquestionable Tradition in all Ages agreed unto by Britains Saxons Danes and Normans do likewise testifie That he brought with him into Britain two Silver Vessels fill'd with the Blood of our Saviour Christ which were buried with him in his Tomb Several Proofs hereof were extant even to the days of Queen Elizabeth amongst others the Narration of William Good a Jesuit who was born in the Reign of Henry the 8th and bred up in his Childhood at Glastonbury and affirms That in his time certain Brass-plates were Engraven to perpetuate the memory of these things as also Chappels Grots Crosses Arms and the observation of the Festival of St. Joseph on the sixth of the Calends of August which remain'd as long as the Monks enjoy'd the Charters of their Munificent and Royal Benefactors but are now buried in the ruines of the place He confesseth never any Monk knew the certain place of this Saints Sepulcher The common report was it was extreamly deep under ground somewhere in or about Hambdenhill but when ever the Saints Body shall be found multitudes would resort to it invited with the great and innumerable Miracles which should be there wrought He remembers to have seen upon a Stone-Cross which was demolish'd in Queen Elizabeth's days a Plate of Brass on which was written That in the 30th year after the Passion of our Lord Joseph of Arimathaea with 11 or 12 Companions came into Britain and were permitted by King Arvitagus to abide at Glaston then called Avallonia like Solitary men and that he brought with him two small Silver Vessels of the Sacred Blood and Water which flow'd out of Christ's side after his death And that a Cross was there Erected many years before to shew the length of the Chappel which St. Joseph built of wailed Roddes of the most Holy Virgin on the out-side of the Wall of which Chappel were Engraven in Antient Characters JESUS MARIA There were then other Remarks and Footsteps of these Truths to be there found Now that St. Joseph and Nicodemus also with due veneration gather'd the Blood of our Lord which for many Ages was Piously Worshiped by Devout Christians both in the East and West is testified by divers Antient Histories and Martyrologies and to this purpose it is remarkable what Matthew Paris hath related in the year of our Lord God 1247. Namely That then the Master of the Temple and Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem sent a certain portion of the Blood of our Lord shed upon the Cross in a most Beautiful Christal Glass by a Brother of the Temple which Present was confirm'd by the then Patriarch of Jerusalem by Archbishops Bishops Abbots and other Prelates and Noblemen then dwelling in the Holy-Land The said Historian further declaring at large With what Honour and Reverence this Holy Treasure was entertain'd by King Henry the III. and his whole Clergy and Nobility And at the same time to give satisfaction to doubting Minds Robert Grosthead Bishop of Lincoln the Glory of that Age for Piety and Learning affords us a large Narration of the Fact to the effect following That Joseph of Arimathaea a Noble Councellour and one of the Hearers of Jesus or his Disciple rather out of tender compassion was very sollicitous how his venerable Body might be preserv'd from the rage of the Jews Howbeit both He and Nicodemus and other rich men though most cordial Lovers of Jesus yet conceal'd their Affection for fear of their Estates Nevertheless when Jesus was Crucify'd Joseph went boldly to Pilate and beg'd the Body of Jesus and by Pilat 's permission notwithstanding the murmuring of the Jews with all due Honour and Reverence took down the most Holy Body from the Cross all mangled and bloody and with a fine Linnen-cloath Devoutly and carefully wip'd the Sacred Wounds as yet moist and distilling and having drawn the Nails out of the Wounds he wip'd and cleans'd them at the Cross and then carrying the Body from Golgotha he laid it in a new Tomb where never any body had been laid and which was decently cut out of
be found again soon after the Sacred Body was translated to the Church of St. Alban and many Miracles were there continually wrought through the intercession of the Blessed Amphibalus who suffer'd in the year of our Lord 287. Although the place of this Saints Burial was long obscur'd yet as appears by Gildas his memory was precious for within ten years after he suffer'd a Church was erected to his Honour and in the year of our Lord 309. another Church was Consecrated to this Saint at Winchester which being after Re-built by the Saxons was Dedicated to St. Peter When the Body of this Holy Man was discover'd other Bodies were found lying by it conjectur'd to be those who suffer'd with him Much about this time two famous Martyrs Julius and Aaron before-mention'd Citizens of Caerleon and Disciples of St. Amphibalus are recorded to have suffer'd for the Faith of Christ These two had a long time addicted themselves to the Holy Faith and were also diligent in the study of Arts and Humane Learning both at Rome and else-where They suffer'd saith St. Bede with many others of both Sexes intoller able Torture their Members being torn asunder with unheard of Cruelty at last consummating a Glorious Martyrdom their Souls were receiv'd into the joys of the Heavenly City Their Memories were preserv'd and Honour'd by Erecting Altars and Churches in their Names each of them had a famous Church Erected to their Honour in Caerleon for three Magnificent Churches are said to have been Built of Old time in that City one of the Martyrs St. Julius adorn'd with a Choir and Convent of Religious Virgins a second Dedicated to the Honour of his Companion St. Aaron and Graced with a Noble Choir of Canons the third was the Metropolitan Church of all Cambria and was after Translated by the Holy Bishop St. David with the concurrence of the Pope's Legate and all this long before the coming of the Saxons Besides these the memory is Celebrated of two Noble Britains Disciples of St. Amphibalus who suffer'd Martyrdom in the same Persecution of Dioclesian their Names were Stephanus and Socrates to whose Honour two Churches were built in the Province of the Silures To this time also is refer'd the Murdering of all the Monks in the Monastery of Winchester built by King Lucius During the rage of this Persecution in Britain many Christians withdrew themselves from the fury of it as Gildas reports which considering the frailty of Mankind was not imprudently done for it was thought fit that such as had not the courage to sustain the weight of Martyrdom might at least hold fast the Grace of Confession This flight of Christians in Britain gave occasion to the Persecutors to extend their rage upon Churches and Monasteries all which by such their rage were so utterly destroy'd that in this Island few marks remain'd of Christian Religion This Desolation continu'd untill the Happy return of Constantius by whose Clemency the Christian Faith and Worship flourish'd again in Britain sooner than in other places Which Mercy of God as Bede saith was the rather extended towards the Britains because they only preserv'd among them their Primitive Faith receiv'd in the days of King Lucius entire and inviolate untill the reign of Dioclesian The Tyranny of the Roman Empire against Christians God was pleas'd to revenge by permitting another Tyrant to rise against them in Britain namely Carausius a man Vigilant and Active both in Councel and Execution Imploy'd by the Emperour to scowre the Seas of Pyrats This Imployment Carausius made use of rather to Enrich himself than Benefit the Empire and thereby became so suspected that the Emperour Maximianus commanded him to be put to Death for the avoiding whereof he assum'd the Imperial Purple and possess'd himself of Britain Maximianus prepar'd to oppose him but his attempts proving vain he was forc'd to make a Peace with Carausius who after subdu'd the Caledonian Britains and rais'd a new Rampire to enclose them more Northward than any had been before with a Triumphal Arch in memory of his Victory He govern'd here quietly untill the year 293. when Constantius made his Expedition against him Now though in the time of Carausius Persecution against Christians abated yet by the Rapine of his Soldiers most of the Churches and Monasteries were destroy'd or Spoil'd among the rest those of Winchester and Westminster the latter Converted into a Temple of Apollo In those days the Roman Empire on all sides was greatly shaken both by open Invasions and Civil Dissentions to appease which two new Caesars were chosen Constantius by Maximianus and Galerius by Dioclesian in whom notwithstanding the Supreme Authority and Majesty of the Empire resided the better to strengthen this Association Dioclesian gave his Daughter Valeria to Galerius Maximianus his Daughter Theodora to Constantius who thereupon was compell'd to a Divorce from his former Wife Helena so as she was after esteem'd his Concubine or at least his Wife in the second or inferior place However this pretended Divorce did not it seems prejudice their Son Constantine who born before in Marriage enjoy'd his right of Primogeniture and succeeded his Father in the Empire although he had other Sons by Theodora How Helena was dispos'd of after this Divorce is controverted The best Opinion is that she was plac'd at Triers where Constantius built her a Magnificent Palace and where she was Honour'd with the Title of Augusta In the mean time her Son Constantine was receiv'd into the Family of Dioclesian and there remain'd Uninfected with the Vices of the Court in great Favour with Dioclesian highly Graced by him and acceptable to all that saw him for his Beauty Gracefullness and Modesty especially to the best sort of Men for his Virtue and Piety Constantius being Created Caesar made an Expedition into Gaul with intent to pass over into Britain against the Tyrant Carausius In Gaul he took the Sea-Town Gessoriacum or Buloign which the Tyrant had strongly Fortify'd In the mean time Carausius was Murder'd in Britain by a new Tyrant Alectus General of the Forces of Carausius Alectus to secure himself assum'd the Title of Emperour Against him Constantius the year following sail'd into Britain and landed without opposition though he was way-laid by a strong Fleet plac'd in the Isle of Wight by Alectus When he was landed he set his Ships on Fire and divided his Army one part he led himself the other he committed to the Conduct of Asclepiodorus Prefect of the Praetorian Band Alectus avoiding Constantius chose to try his Fortune with Asclepiodorus by whom he was easily defeated and slain Howbeit a great part of his Army consisting of Strangers Franks and Battavians seeing their Prince Dead fled towards London hoping to Enrich themselves by the Spoils of that City But Constantius coming on them unawares preserv'd the City and cut those Rovers in pieces if any escap'd they became Captive to the Londoners By this return of Constantius the poor
which God Graciously call'd him out of this Mortal Life So as being perfect in Grace and Piety and mature in Age he Happily mounted to Heaven his Body was buried in the Church Dedicated to St. Martin built by himself from the Foundation The Centuriatours add this to his Story That he was a Venedocian Teacher of Christian Verities of a desert more than ordinary To his Old Age he largely communicated the Talent wherewith God had entrusted him among the Britains Scots and Southern Picts He was a man Assiduous in Reading the Holy Scripture Merciful to Orphans Widdows and the Poor Illustrious in Miracles and Sanctity By his Pious Industry the Nation of the Picts first of all relinquishing their Idolatry embrac'd the true Faith of Christ He was the first Bishop of Candida Casa and dy'd among the Picts in the Province of Galloway I may further observe that he was very Devout in giving Respect and Veneration to Gods Saints in whose Honour he built Churches and in particular to the Honour of S. Martin who dy'd about 30 years before him The example of St. Ninian was imitated by the British Church near the same Age for when St. Augustine the Monk came into Britain to Convert the Saxons He found saith St. Bede in the City of Canterbury a Church Dedicated to the Honour of St. Martin which had been built in the times of the Romans St. Ninian before he dy'd divided the Provinces of the Picts into Parishes he Ordain'd Priests there and Consecrated Bishops by the Authority of the Roman Bishop from whom he receiv'd his Mission He being famous for Miracles it may not be amiss to reckon up one In the Region of the Picts there was a Prince named Tudwal a man of a proud and high Spirit he contemning the Admonitions of this man of God and derogating from his Doctrine and Life resisted him openly Being one day more then ordinarily troublesome and rude God the supreme Judge would not any longer suffer the injuries offer'd to his Holy Servant to pass unreveng'd but struck this proud man with an intollerable pain in his Head by the violence whereof those lofty Eyes of his became utterly Blind so that he who had before impugn'd the Light of Divine Truth deservedly lost this Worlds Light. But upon better consideration he sent a Message to the Holy Bishop humbly beseeching him in imitation of our Lords Benignity to return to him good for evil and love for hatred The Venerable Bishop hereupon first sharply reprov'd the Prince and then touching him imprinted on his Eyes the Sign of the Cross when immediately his pains ceas'd and his Blindness was dissipated Afterwards this Prince highly Honour'd the Holy Bishop and readily granted whatsoever he ask'd of him Our Country-man Alcuinus in an Epistle not Printed but now extant in Bishop Vshers Antiquities Testifies the great Fame which this Holy Bishop had for Sanctity and Miracles This Epistle is directed to the Religious Priest then living at Candida Casa While Alcuinus liv'd this following Miracle happ'ned to a Devout Priest Celebrating Mass at this Saints Monument nam'd Plegils he frequently Solemniz'd Mass at the Body of St. Ninian and living a Holy and Virtuous Life began frequently to beseech our Lord That he would please to shew visibly to him the Nature and Verity of the Body and Blood of Christ in the most Blessed Sacrament This Prayer he made not for want of Faith in the Truth of the Mystery but out of an Affection of Devotion and Piety For the Author saith That to his great Consolation our Lord appear'd to him in the Sacrament in the form of a young Child Three years after the death of St. Ninianus St. Germanus was once more invited into Britain to perfect the good Work which he had formerly began in rooting out of the Pelagian Heresie there spreading it self again the Relation whereof we must borrow from the Learn'd Priest Constantius a Writer of those times and of most perfect Integrity and Sincerity By a Message from Britain address'd to St. German he was advertis'd that that Pestilent Heresie began to enlarge it self there and intreated him once more to come over and maintain the Cause of Divine Grace The Holy Bishop readily comply'd with this Petition being delighted to spend his strength in the Service of Christ There was joyn'd to him for his Companion Severus Bishop of Triers a person of Consummate Sanctity In the mean time three Infernal Spirits flying through the whole Island foretold the return of St. Germanus being forc'd so to do against their Will Insomuch as one Elaphius a Principal person of the Country without any other notice hast'ned to meet the Holy Bishops His Son went with him upon whom from the flower of his Youth a lamentable Infirmity had seiz'd for all his Members were wither'd and the Hamm of his Leg was so drawn together that by reason of the dryness of his Thigh he could not set his Foot upon the ground Elaphius was attended by almost the whole Province As soon as they were met together an Episcopal Benediction was conferr'd on the People and the Words of Truth Preach'd to them St. Germanus perceiv'd that the generality of the People persever'd constant in the Doctrine which he left among them and that the fault lay upon a few buisie persons who were presently condemn'd As for Elaphius he humbly kneeling kiss'd the Bishops Hands presenting to him his Lame Son so miserable a Spectacle that he mov'd compassion in all especially in the Holy Bishops mind St. German therefore presently commanded the young man to sit down then handled his contracted Ham and with his right Hand stroak'd all the infirm Members immediately perfect Health and Strength attended that wholesome Touch the wither'd Members recover'd their natural Moisture and his Sinews their Office and Agility Thus in the sight of all the young man was restor'd to his Father as if he had been new made the People are astonish'd at this Miracle and the Catholick Faith is perfectly confirm'd in their minds The Holy Bishop spent his time in Preaching up and down and the Hearers were every where Converted or Confirm'd So that by a Universal Consent the Authors of the Perverse Doctrine were brought before the Holy Bishops and then banish'd out of the Island and the Orthodox Faith remain'd uncorrupted and all things being thus well compos'd the Holy Bishops return'd with a Prosperous Voyage Howbeit during his stay here St. German is recorded to have call'd a Synod and taking notice that many Churches wanted Pastors by which means the People became wavering in their Faith by common advice he selected Learn'd and Pious men whom he ordain'd Bishops and placed in several Churches In particular over all the Britains toward the Southern parts he promoted the Blessed man Dubricius an Eminent Doctor to be Arch-bishop who was made choice of by King Mouricus and the whole Diocess They constituted his Arch-Episcopal See at Landaff with the
cut after the Roman manner or shall permit his Wife to go abroad Vnvail'd he should be separated from the Communion That a Monk and Consecrated Virgin shall not abide in the same Lodging nor Travel in the same Chariot That if a Monk shall neglect the Divine Office or wear long Hair he shall be Excommunicate That the Almes of Excommunicate Persons or Pagans shall not be receiv'd That if any Christian shall be guilty of Man-slaughter Fornication or consulting Southsayers he shall perform Pennance for each Crime the space of a year And he that is guilty of Stealing half a year of which 20 days he shall eat Bread only and be withall oblig'd to Restitution That if any Christian shall believe Spirits may be presented in a Glass he shall be Anathematiz'd c. That if any Consecrated Virginshall Marry she shall be Excommunicated 'till she be Converted and forsake her Adulteries which having done she is to perform due Pennance after which they are not to live in the same House or Town That if any Priest shall build a Church he must not offer Sacrifice in it before it be Consecrated by the Bishop That if a Clergy-man be Excommunicated he must say his Prayers alone and not in the same House with his Brethren neither must he presume to Offer or Consecrate 'till he be Absolv'd That a Bishop may not Ordain in another Bishops Diocess without his Consent only upon Sundays he may offer Sacrifice That a Clark coming from Britain into Ireland without a Testimonial be not suffer'd to Minister There is no mention made of this or any other Irish Synod in any Author except only the Authors of St. Patrick's Life where this general Passage may be found The most Holy Bishop St. Patrick together with three other Bishops and many Clarks came to a Fountain call'd Debach which flowes from the side of Crochon toward the East there to Celebrate a Synod touching Ecclesiastical Affairs and they sate near the Fountain when behold two Daughters of King Legaren came early in the morning to wash in the same Fountain as Women there usually did and there found the Holy Synod with St. Patrick near the Fountain The Inscription of this Synod runs thus Thanks be given to God the Father Son and Holy Ghost Patricius Auxilius and Isserninus to the Priests Deacons and whole Clergy Health It is better we should premonish those who are negligent then blame things just for Solomon saith It isbetter to Reprove then to be Angry The Tenor of our Definition begins thus If any Captive c. Another Holy Bishop and Disciple of St. Patrick is once more to be Commemorated St. Albeus who when he heard that St. Patrick had Converted to our Lord Engus King of Munster Momonensium and was with him in the Royal City Cassel came to Salute them Now the King and St. Patrick joyfully receiv'd him And the Holy man Reverently Entertain'd his Master St. Patrick for he was very Humble After which this King Engus and St. Patrick ordain'd that the Arch-Episcopal See of all Munster should be for ever placed in the City and Chair of St. Albeus The Conversion of King Engus was after this manner When St. Patrick had Sown the Faith of Christ in Lemster he Prosecuted his way to the limits of Munster where the King with great Joy met him having an earnest desire to Believe and be Baptiz'd and with much Reverence conducted him to his Royal City Cassel and having been instructed Believ'd and receiv'd Baptism Three years after this St. Patrick Consecrated St. Benignus Arch-Bishop of Armagh and there quitting his Sollicitude for others return'd into Britain to his much desir'd Solitude of Glastonbury where he ended his days His Successor St. Benignus after seven years spent in Care of his Province Thirsting after Solitude and willing to see his Beloved Master and desirous also to receive from him a most perfect Rule of Monastical Discipline by the Admonition of an Angel came to Glastonbury and there demanded of St. Patrick What place he should make choice of to live in Vnion with God alone divided from Humane Society St. Patrick's answer was That he should pursue Happily his well begun purpose saying Go my beloved Brother and take only your Staff with you and when you shall be arriv'd at the place appointed by God for your Repose wheresoever it be having fix'd your Staff in the ground you shall see it slourish and grow Green there know you must make your abode Both of them being thus comforted with mutual Discourses St. Benignus accompanied only with a Youth named Pincius began his Journey through Woody and Moorish places but as soon as he was arriv'd at an Island where he saw a Solitary place and which he judg'd sit for his Habitation he presently fix'd his Staff in the ground which without delay wonderfully grew Green and brought forth Leaves There therefore St. Benignus resolv'd to abide until Death in the Service of God alone And for many years after the same Tree as a witness and sign of the Blessed man's Sanctity remain'd flourishing with Green Boughs over his Oratory Now though that Solitary place separated from Worldly Conversation was very proper for the attending God in Divine concerns yet one Incommodity it had that no Water was near so that young Pincius was compell'd every day to fetch Water almost three Miles off Whence it came to pass that partly through Weariness but principally through suggestions of wicked Spirits he grew dis-heartned which the Holy man perceiving oft-times endeavour'd to Comfort and Encourage him At last taking compassion of his Labours he Prostrating himself on the ground Humbly and Heartily besought our Lord to open for his Servant a Spring of Water which might sufficiently supply his Necessities After which admonish'd by an Angelick Vision he gave his Staff to young Pincius commanding him to go to a certain place full of Reeds and their striking the ground with his Staff he should without doubt find water so earnestly desir'd by them The Child obey'd went to the place and in the Name of the Blessed Trinity struck the ground three times making three Holes in it with the end of the Staff which he had no sooner done but immediately a Fountain gush'd forth from whence to this day a Brook and that no small one is supply'd being not only productive of Fish but Sanative also of many Infirmities This Island is said to have the Name of Ferramere Bishop Vsher seems to agree that this Holy Bishop four years before his Death came into Britain and relinquish'd his Arch Episcopal See for his retirement as aforesaid He is suppos'd to have ended his Life about the year of Christ 455. And 630 years after His Sacred Body was translated to Glastonbury by the direction and care of Thurston then Abbot The Example of St. Patrick and St. Benignus was imitated by many other Irish Saints who to enjoy perfect vacancy from Worldly Affairs retir'd
Writings of Theodoret against St. Cyril since St. Cyril himself and the Councel of Chalcedon had requir'd no other satisfaction from him but only to pronounce Anathema against Nestorius which he did And as for the Epistle of Ibas no discussion should be made of it after the Council of Chalcedon This Constitutum the Emperor contrary to his Promise reserv'd to himself but withall acquainted the Synod with Vigilius his mind concerning the Tria Capitula which he had often-times both by words and writing express'd the Synod proceeded to a condemnation of them complaining withal That the Pope would not afford his presence to them After this definition of the Bishops in the Council the Pope being in extream Anguish because he saw how the Western Bishops would be offended and that the Scandal would be the greater because the Emperor had not sent his Constitutum to the Council utterly refus'd his Consent or Approbation of their Definition for which refusal he was by the Emperour sent into Banishment with other Bishops His Banishment continu'd not long for six months after the Synods Definition Vigilius sent a Decretal Epistle to Entychius Successor to Menas in which he condemn'd the Tria Capitula and profess'd Communion with all those who embracing the four Councils of the Church had condemn'd the same meaning thereby the last Council which he would not Name This Decree of Vigilius was by the Graecians referr'd among the Acts of the Council by virtue whereof it became a Lawful Oecumenical Council This end being given to this unnecessary Controversy all the Western Churches excepting only the Bishops of Istria Venice and Liguria consented to it But these Churches being under the Dominion of the Longobardi broke into an open Schism which continu'd till the time of St. Gregory the Great Besides them we find no other Church unsatisfy'd except Ireland only To the Bishop whereof St. Gregory a year before St. Kentigern's Journey to Rome wrote an Epistle in Answer to one of theirs who had charg'd the Roman See with injuring the Councel of Chalcedon by condemning the Tria Capitula But St. Gregory inform'd them That this Controversy did not at all touch the Faith of the Church but the Persons only of two or three Bishops That the Authority of the Council of Chalcedon was entire both with those who oppugned and those who defended the Tria Capitula and therefore none could have just cause to make a rent in the Church upon so trifling a quarrel This answer of the Pope's seems to give satisfaction to the Irish for several Epistles afterwards past from him to them as unanimous Brethren instructing them touching the Rites in Baptism and whether it were to be administred to those who return'd from the Nestorian Heresie c. This Controversy was hotly agitated when St. Kentigern went to Rome and perhaps it might be a considerable motive of his Journey especially in regard an Irish Bishop call'd Albanus went thither at the same time And although the British Churches are no where taxed for partaking with those who were divided from the Roman See yet it might well become the Zeal of so Holy a Bishop as St. Kentigern to inform himself truly of the state of such a Controversy as hath been therefore the more at large set down The man of God St. Kentigern after his return from Rome being worn away with Age for he was 85 years old had his Nerves so dissolv'd that he was forc'd to sustain his Jaws by tying a linnen Ribbon about his Head which came under his Chin that with the less trouble he might pronounce his Words This dissolution of his Nerves was promis'd him a little before his Death to the end that since his whole Life had been a continual Martyrdom by the good pleasure of our Lord his Death might be milder and easier then that of other men ordinarily At length calling together his Disciples he earnestly exhorted them To continue their observance of the Duties of their Holy Religion their mutual Charity Peace Hospitality their diligence in Reading and Prayer He bequeath'd to them earnest and efficacious Precepts firmly to obey the Decrees of the Holy Fathers and constitutions of the Holy Roman Church After which exhortation he departed to our Lord. The Fame of his Sanctity soon after his Death was every where spread by a World of Miracles as many Authors relate Constantine before-mention'd being dead or remov'd Aurelius Conanus his Nephew a Young man of extraordinary worth and well deserving the Crown as some report succeeded him His only fault was that he was given to Civil Contentions He cast into Prison his Uncle to whom the Crown of Right belong'd and Murder'd two of his Sons who stood in his way to the Kingdom which Ambition and Cruelty perhaps occasion'd some of our Historians to charge him with the Murder of Constantine his Predecessor Gildas also accuses him of many horrid Crimes for which he denounces to him a short reign and endless miseries Matthew of Westminster allows him 30 years rule but true Chronology not above four in the third whereof while the British Provinces consum'd themselves in Civil Contentions a new and Powerful Kingdom of the Saxons was establish'd in the Northern parts call'd the Kingdom of Northumbers in this manner Hengist in the beginning of his reign in Kent sent his Brother Otha into those Northern parts with his Son Ebusa men of great Courage Experience and Nobility as deriving their Descent from Woden who had three Sons Weldege Withlege and Beldege from the Eldest descended the Kings of Kent from the Second the Kings of the Mercians and from the Third the Kings of the West-Saxons and Northumbers whose first King Ida reckon'd himself the Tenth from Woden Now Otha and Ebussa the first Saxons which brought an Army into those Northern parts fought many Battles with the Inhabitants and having Conquer'd those which resisted them took the rest into their Protection notwithstanding they and their Successors for many years contented themselves with the Titles of Governours or Dukes acknowledging a Submission unto and Dependance upon the Kings of Kent but in the 99th year after their first arrival they assum'd the Title and Dignity of Kings the first of which was call'd Ida others affirm that the Region of Northumbers was divided into two parts That which was more Northern extending it self from the Bay of Edinburgh to the Picts Wall inhabited by the Bernicians the other reaching from the Picts Wall to the River Humber was held by the Deiri so that the whole Kingdom of the Northumbers Antiently contain'd the Provinces of the Picts Laudon Northumberland Cumberland Westmorland Durham York and Lancaster This may appear by the Lives of several Saints said to have liv'd in the Kingdom of the Northumbrians This Division is said to have been made by Ida who leaving his Son to govern the Deiri fix'd his own habitation among the Bernicians Aurelius Conanus dying in the fourth year of his
Fought at the Mountain call'd Badonicus between the Britains and Saxons in the time of Aurelius Ambrosius to which Mountains the Saxons retiring were Besieged by the Britains and after in a Battle discomfited this happen'd in the year of Grace 493. forty years after the first entrance of the Saxons into Britain This Gildas is affirm'd by the Author of his Life To be the Disciple of Iltutus and leaving him to have gone into Ireland He remain'd four years under the Discipline and Instruction of St. Iltutus and having pass'd through the Schools of many Learned Teachers in Ireland and like a diligent Bee collected the Juice of divers Flowers he laid it up carefully in the Hive of our Mother the Church to the end he might in opportune season pour forth the Mellifluous Doctrine of the Gospel to his own Country-men and thereby draw them out of Misery to Eternal Joyes and like a good Servant restore unto his Lord the Talent entrusted with him In this Island saith Bishop Vsher there flourish'd in this Age the Schools of Armagh wherein the Elder Gildas presided when he Piously labour'd in Cultivating the minds of the Irish in which imployment probably this our Younger Gildas succeeded him and here not only collected sweet Juice but got a sharp sting also which he after darted forth against the Vices of his own Country However in Ireland he restor'd Discipline to the Ecclesiastical Order he gather'd many Congregations of Monks and mercifully deliver'd many Captives from the slavery of Pagans After his return into Britain it seems he found small comfort or encouragement to pour forth the Honey which he had gather'd in Ireland for he found in this Island such Calamities and Confusions their reigning such a Contention of wickedness and misery which should exceed the other that almost his whole imployment was to bewail the approaching destruction of his Country and by publishing the Crimes especially of the Rulers as well in Church as State to justifie the Severity of God being in truth beneath their demerits and provocations Howbeit he was by a double invitation from Ireland interrupted in his sad Thoughts and withdrawn from beholding such mournful Spectacles as every where in Britain offer'd themselves to his Eyes The first Message about the year of our Lord 562. came from persons of quality in Ireland who sent an Epistle to him at the same time he received an Epistle also from St. Columba whom he very much esteem'd for his Sanctity The second Message or invitation was directed to him from a King in Ireland named Ammeric who requested this our Gildas To come to him promising that if he would undertake the Journey and restore to good Order the Ecclesiasticks of his Kingdom wherein generally the Catholick Faith was decay'd both himself and his Subjects would in all things be Obedient to him St. Gildas hearing this like a Valiant Soldier throughly furnish'd with Caelestial Arms presently went into Ireland there to Preach the Gospel of Christ Being come thither he was presented to the King by some Noble persons who were acquainted with him The King gave him many gifts and intreated him to stay some time and restore Order to that Region because the Inhabitants had in a manner lost the Christian Faith St. Gildas as thereupon Travelling through all the Provinces of Ireland restor'd Churches instructed the Clergy in the true Faith and Worship of the Holy Trinity Cured those who had been Poison'd with Heresy and expell'd all Teachers of Errour So that by his zeal and diligence Truth became again to flourish in the Country After this the Holy man built many Monasteries in the Country and instructed the Children of the Nobility in Learning and Piety and to win the greater number to the service of God he himself became a Monk and brought to the same Profession very many as well of the Nobility as others and also he compassionately freed many poor Christians from the slavery of Infidels and so became a second Apostle to Ireland repairing the ruines of that Faith which St. Patrick first Preach'd amongst them Now whereas it is said that the first Epistle to St. Gildas was brought by Faithful men it is very probable that the Holy Abbot Komgall was one of those Faithful men How long St. Gildas abode in Ireland is uncertain but it is certain that the great work he there perform'd could not be compleated in a short time and yet that he return'd into Britain where he dy'd in a good Old Age in the Monastery of Banchor after he had liv'd ninety years What Bishop Vsher refers to the former St. Gildas may reasonably be apply'd to this latter namely that St. Brendan the Son of Finloga in the year of our Lord 562. came into Britain to visit the Holy old man Gildas famous for his Wisdom this our latter Gildas at that time being above 70. years old In the year of Grace 561. Irmeric King of Kent dy'd after he had raign'd 30. years leaving behind him a Son and Daughter his Son and Successors Name was Ethelbert his Daughters Ricula This is that famous Ethelbert who according to his Name was the Glory and Splendor of this Nation who had the first Prerogative among the Saxons of receiving and propagating the Christian Faith. Some disposition thereunto began it seems in his Fathers time who permitted at least a private exercise of Christian Religion Thirty years of Ethelbert's reign were never the less spent before it was openly profess'd during which time he was frequently exercis'd in War wherein at first he sustain'd great losses which after he repair'd by many Victories with which he much enlarg'd the limits of his Dominions In the third year of his reign St. Columba by occasion of Civil Wars was compell'd to quit Ireland and come into Britain as Adelmannus who wrote his Life relates in this manner Some time after the Civil War at Culedrebene when Dermitius Son of Kerbail was Monarch of Ireland and all business was determin'd before the Kings Tribunal it happen'd so that St. Columba was oblig'd to appear before him to challenge a certain Free-man who had been made Captive and when the Cause being pleaded before the King an unjust Sentence had been pronounc'd by him the man of God rose up with great indignation and before all there present told the unrighteous King That from that moment he should never see his face more 'till God the just judge shall have diminish'd his Kingdom for his Injustice for saith he as thou hast despis'd me here before thy Nobles by an unjust Judgment so shall the Eternal God despise thee before thine enemies in the day of War. And having said thus he presently took Horse smiting him with his Whip so as the Blood issu'd from him This being observ'd by the Kings Councellors present they wonder'd at it and humbly entreated the King to comply with the Holy mans request least God should dissipate his Kingdom according to the man of