veighing sharply against the dissolutnes of the Brittish Clergy in his time sayth that many of them did usurp the Chaire of S. Peter with defiled feet thereby shewing that the whole Ecclesiasticall Order here did receive their Originall and Preist hood with a right of succession from S. Peter the Ordinary Supreme Pastour in a speciall regard of the Western parts of the world and who likewise prevented S. Pauls coming hither severall years 4. Particular Witnesses in Antiquity of S. Pauls preaching the Gospell in this Island are Theodoret S. Hierome and others The former of these Writing on the hundred and sixteenth Psalm saith Blessed S. Paul breifly teaches us to what Nations he had preached saving Truth saying From Ierusalem round about unto Illyricum he fill'd all nations with the Gospell of Christ. And after this he came into Italy and continued his iourney even to Spaine Moreover he brought salvation to the Islands also lying in the Sea S. Hierom likewise mentioning the travells of S. Paul saith He went out of the East as far as Spain and from the Red sea that is the Southern Ocean to the Western Ocean But more expressly Venantius Fortunatus in his Poem of the life of S. Martin speaking of S. Paul saith He pass'd the Ocean and through all Regions and accessible Islands those which are inhabited by the Brittains and the utmost Thule his Trumpet proclaimed the Gospell 5. For this reason our English Martyrologe doth deservedly reckon S. Paul among the Apostles of Brittany in that regard professing a particular acknowledgment and veneration to him VIII CHAP. 1.2 c. Testimonies of the Acts of S. Aristobulus a Disciple of S. Peter and an Apostle to the Brittains 1. THere is moreover still extant in Ecclesiasticall Records the Memory of an illustrious Disciple of S. Peter or S. Paul who probably accompanied one of them into Brittany who after many years labour in our Lords vineyard was consummated here and that is the Blessed Apostolicall Saint Aristobulus Concerning whom we read this passage in the Greek Menology Aristobulus was one of the Seaventy Disciples who was a follower of S. Paul preaching the Gospell and ministring to him in all places where he travelled By whom likewise he was ordaind a Bishop for the Region of the Brittains But in another Edition of the same Menology translated formerly by one William a Cardinal and inserted by Canisius in his second Volume of Antiquities we read that this S. Aristobulus was ordained not by S. Paul but S. Barnabas for this is the tenour of that Passage The commemoration of S. Aristobulus a Bishop of Brittany and Brother of the Blessed Apostle S. Barnabas by whom being ordained a Bishop he was sent into Brittany and there preaching the Faith of Christ and constituting a Church he attaind the glory of Martyrdome 2. Moreover a Fragment published lately by B. Vsher under the name of Haleca B. of Caesar Augusta Sarragoçe S. Aristobulus is declared to be the Disciple of S. Peter These are the words Among the Brittains is celebrated the Memory of many Martyrs and principally of S. Aristobulus one of the seaventy Disciples who was also call'd Zebedaeus the Father of Iames and Iohn Husband of Maria Salome who together with S. Peter went to Rome And there leaving his family he was sent a Bishop into England where he dyed a Martyr in the second yeare of the raign of the most cruell Emperour Nero. 3. Now wheras S. Aristobulus is every where named Bishop of the Brittains without any particular Citty assigned for his Seaâ— this doth argue that in those times of zeale and simplicity Apostolicall men did not confine theÌ„selves to any determinate place but like clouds hoverd up and down being in a sort present to all and dispensing showres seasonably every where Thus S. Augustin our Apostle at first was ordaind Bishop of the English Nation as Bede calls him till more Provinces being converted he confind himselfe to a particular Seat 4. Arnoldus Mirmannus with other Authours likewise extend the life of this Brittish Apostle to the ninety ninth yeare of our Lord affirming that he dyed in Brittany And wheras both in the Greek Menology and the Fragment of Haleca as likewise in the Roman Martyrologe he is sayd after performing the course of his preaching to have been consummated by Martyrdome this is to be interpreted according to the expression of the Primitive times in which those were called Martyrs who for the propagation of the Gospell went into forraign parts there expâ—â—â—ng themselves to all dangers and dying in such an Employment though their death was not violent 5. And such was the condition of S. Aristobulus concerning whom this is further added in the Greek Menology Aristobulus having been ordained Bishop by S. Paul was sent into Brittany a region of most cruell and savage men By whom he was sometimes tormented with stripes and sometimes also dragg'd up and down the common Market-place He perswaded many to adioyn themselves to Christ. And having constituted Churches and ordaind Preists and Deacons there he happily ended his life 6. In the English Martyrologe this is added That he dyed at Glastonbury a place far enough removed from the Trinobantes where the Romans exercised their power Probable it is that having spent so many years in the laborious exercise of his Apostolick Office he in his old age retired himself into that place of solitude and Recollection there quietly disposing himself for his leaving the world This was indeed a practise very familiar to like Saints For thus in the following Age Fugatius and Damianus sent hither by Pope Eleutherius to convert King Lucius and his subjects retired at last to the same place And afterward the like was done by S. Patrick who being a Native of Brittany after having spent many years in propagating the Gospell in Ireland at last returned back and took up his finall rest at Glastenbury 7. This is that Aristobulus mention'd by S. Paul in his Epistle to the Romans saying Salute those which are of the household of Aristobulus And the reason why he did not salute him by name doubtles was the same for which he omitted the saluting of S. Peter because he was at this time departed from Rome into or towards Brittany 8. Thus far did the Gospell make a progresse in Brittany in the very infancy of Christianity before the death of S. Peter and S. Paul as may be gathered out of the few Relicks of Ecclesiasticall Records not wholly extinguish'd A great accesse to which felicity of this Island accrew'd by the coming hither of S. Ioseph of Arimathea and his companions which though hapning toward the end of Nero's raign yet because most of the occurents pertaining to their Gests belong to the times of severall Emperours succeeding we will refer them to the following Book And for the present it will suffise that we have
consonantly to Saint Beda writes Florilegus In the year of Grace six hundred twenty eight the Arch-bishop Paulinus converted to the Faith of Christ the Province of Lindissa which lyes on the South-coast of the River Humber And the first baptised by him was Blecca governour of the Prime Citty thereof Lindocollina with all his family In which Citty he likewise built a Church Which Church saith Saint Beda was of stone of exquisite work the Roof whereof either by negligence or hostile violence is cast down but the walls are yet standing and every year in that place miraculous cures are wrought to the great benefit of those who in devotion visit it 2. The same Saint Beda also testifies that the Pious King Edwin accompanied Saint Paulinus in this devout labour and was present when he baptised a very great multitude in the River Trent Concerning the Faith of the inhabitants of this Province belonging to the kingdom of the Mercians saith he I was told by a certain Abbot and Preist calld Deda of the Monastery of Peurtanei a man of great integrity that an ancient man had assured him that he himself was one of those who had been baptised by Saint Paulinus at Mid-day King Edwin being present and that a great multitude were also baptised with him in the River Trent neer a Citty calld in the English tongue Tiovulsingacestir The same man was likewise wâ—nt to describe the shape of the said Holy Bishop that he was a man of a tall stature but some what bowing that he had black hayre a lean face a nose somewhat rising that he was very slender and with his aspect begetting both veneration and terrour in the beholders He had likâ—Wise attending him a Deacon calld Iames Who was a man very illustrious in Christ and his Church who lived to our very times 3. We read likewise in Camden that in the Province of Nottingham at the same time a Church was built and consecrated to the Blessed Virgin at a town calld Southwell the which Church as the fame goes Was erected by Paulinus first Arch-bishop of York when he baptised the inhabitants of this countrey in the River Trent He coniectures likewise very probably that this Southwel was the same Citty of the Mercians which Saint Beda calls Tiovulfingacestir 4. The same year dyed S. Iustus Archbishop of Canterbury after he had administred that See three entire years He was a Bishop saith Harps-feild of such integrity that the Name of Iustus may seem to have been given him rather to honour his vertues then as belonging to his family Which vertues were acknowledged to be in him and wonderfully cherished by Pope Boniface the fourth rather fifth who likewise by his Letters exhorted him to consummate to the end his so excellent course of piety He ended this mortall life the fourth day before the Ides of November and was buried in the Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul near to Saint Augustin 5. His Successour in the Archbishoprick was Honorius who indeed deserved all Honour for his piety and zeale in preaching the Gospell When he was to be ordaind he came to Saint Paulinus who mett him in the Citty of Lincoln where he was consecrated the fifth Prelat of that See after Saint Augustin saith Saint Beda Hereby it appears that Saint Paulinus either had before this received his Pall or at least a power of ordaining the Prime Arch-bishop in case of vacancy without the assistance of any other Bishops Which Priviledge considering the penury of Bishops at this time was by Pope Honorius shortly after conferred on each of those two Sees in these terms That when either of the Arch-bishops should leave this world and return to his Creator the surviver might ordain another in his place This appears in the Letters of the said Pope to King Edwin and Saint Paulinus written five years after this Notwithstanding this Ordination of Honorius to the Arch-bishoprick seems to have been conferred on him not the same year that Saint Iustus dyed but the year following during which time probably such Faculties were sent from Rome XVII CHAP. 1.2 c. Of Penda the cruell King of the Mercians His war against the West-Saxons 1. AFter such hopefull beginnings of the Gospell in the kingdom of the Mercians the progresse therof was interrupted by the violence of Penda King of those Provinces a Prince of an ambitious turbulent and cruel nature and one who professedly bore an irreconcileable enmity to Christian Religion He is by some Authours esteemd the first King of the Mercians For Cridae descended in the tenth degree from Woden the Idol-deity of the Saxons about the year of Grace five hundred eighty five invading the midland Provinces of this Island layd the first foundations of that Kingdom To him succedeed his Son Wibba who by fire and sword enlarged the bounds thereof After him raigned Ceorl whose daughter Quenburga was the first wife of King Edwin and he dying Penda a Son likewise of Wibba inherited the Crown and more then all his Predecessours rendred the Name and power of the Mercians formidable to all their Neighbours The former Princes are said to have contented themselves whith the Title of Dukes and Penda to have assumed that of King 2. He was according to William of Malmsbury fifty years old when he ascended the Throne which was in the year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred twenty six a Prince illustrious for his descent active and vigilant in war and who by frequent excursions into his Neighbours Provinces had nourished and much encreased his boldnes But withal he was even fanatically zealous in his Pagan superstition and impiety Therefore as soon as he was possessed of the Kingdom being impatient of rest and not regarding how great a crime an uniust war was he infested the neighbouring Citties disturbed the bounds of his confining Saxon Princes and filld all the Provinces about him with tumult and terrour 3. In the third year of his raign in which hapned the Conversion of Blecca Governour of Lincoln he broke into open war against Kinegils and Quicelm Kings of the West-Saxons and beleaguerd the Citty of Cirencester belonging to them To raise which siege they gathred a great army and came to battell Which was fought a whole day together with extreme fury each army having abjured flight so that only want of light sever'd them The next morning both sides being much weakned by the intercession of persons of more moderation they entred into conditions of peace and retired 4. Cirencester where this battel was fought is the same ancient Citty which Ptolomy calls Corinium Antoninus Cornovium and the Brittains Caâ—r-Cori It is seated in the Province of the Dobuni Glocestershire at the River Corin now call'd Churn The ruines of the ancient walls containing a circuit of two miles shew it to have been a large Citty It belonged to the West-Saxons for we read how Penda King of
generally all the Romans gave praise to God for this wonderfull deliverance of his Servant But the Conspiratours not being able to execute their malice any further against the Pope went to vomite their rage upon the house of Albin which they lacked and utterly demolished 4. The fame of this prodigious Miracle was in a short time spread through all Christendom And Winegise Duke of Spoleto accompanied by the Embassadours of King Charles came to Rome and from thence conveyed the Pope to Spoleto From whence afterward he went into France to King Charles by whom he was with all honour and kindnes received and during all his voyage the high wayes were filled with devout people which with great ioy and devotion congratulated with him for the goodnes which God had so wonderfully shewed to him and to the whole Church in his regard 5 King Charles assoon as he was informed of this barbarous cruelty executed on this good Pope wrote a Letter to Saint Alcuin demanding his advice what became him to doe in such a coniuncture To whom Saint Alcuin answerd that it was his duty as being supreme Governour of Gods people an avenger of crimes a comforter of the afflicted and an exalter of such as are good to punish severely those examples of extreme impiety committed at Rome where formerly piety did most flourish but where of late wicked men through the blindnes of their hearts pluck out the eyes of their own head c. And accordingly King Charles shortly after conducted Pope Leo to Rome where the crimes falsly imputed to him by his enemies were cleared but what became of the two forementioned Assassins we doe not read 6. Another Epistle likewise King Charles wrote to the same Saint Alcuin in which he declared to him the miraculous recovery of the same Pope to whom God by his Divine operation had restored his sight and speech To which Saint Alcuin answerd that it was the duty and obligation of all good Christians to reioyce in such Clemency of the Divine Protection and to praise the name of our God who never forsakes such as putt their trust sincerely in him And whereas the said King had invited him to quitt for some time the smoaky lodgings of his Monastery at Tours to accompany him in his voyage to the golden palaces at Rome Saint Alcuin excused himself saying that the sight of swords and armour would doe more harm to his eyes then the smoaky chambers at Tours and that he should more serve his Maiesty by dayly praying for him in his Monastery then attending him in his â—edious iourney too burdensom to his weak infirm body 1.2 Succession of Bishops 3.4 c. Edilbert Pren King of Kent subdued by Kenulf the Mercian King 6. The Monastery of Winchelcomb 1 A Thelard returning from Rome seems to have brought with him the Archiepiscopall Pall for Eanbald Arch-bishop of York who this year received it and thereby was instated in the plenitude of his Pontificall power The first exercise whereof was expressed in the Ordination and consecration of Eadred to the See of Hagustald who succeeded to Ethelbert In which ordination he was assisted by Higbald Bishop of Lindesfarn and the solemnity was performed at a place called Wodford Dudda likewise the Bishop of Winchester dying in his place was substituted Kinebert 2. The year following Eathored Bishop of Worcester in the Kingdom of the Mercians dying in his room succeeded Denebert And about the same time the Church of Shirborn also being deprived of its Pastour Denefrid received Wibert for his Successour 3. At the same time Edilbert sirnamed Pren after he had raigned two years in Kent taking the boldnes to provoke the Mercians much exceeding him in power was taken prisoner by them and was for some time held captive in chains But afterwards being sett free by his enemies his own Subiects refused to admitt him so that it is uncertain how and where he ended his life 4. But Hoveden recounts this calamity of King Edilbert Pren more tragically At this time saith he Kenulf King of the Mercians with all his forces united invaded the Province of Kent which he wasted most terribly almost to the destruction of the inhabitants During which invasion Edilbert King of Kent was taken prisoner whose eyes the Mercian King commanded to be plucked out and his hands cutt off for his former pride and treachery Then he adioyned that Kingdom to his own putting the crown thereof upon his head and the Scepter in his hands 5. Such inhumanity as this seems much disagreeing from the mercifull nature of this good King Therefore the Narration of Mathew of Westminster is far more credible In the year of Grace seaven hundred ninety eight says he Kinulf King of the Mercians in a hostile manner wasted the Province of Kent and took prisoner Edilbert sirnamed Pren who was much inferiour to him in power whom he caried in a triumphant manner bound in chains to his own kingdom But not long after when he caused a Church lately founded by him at Winchelcomb to be dedicated on the day of the Consecration he took the chains from off the captive King before the Altar and dismissed him free There was then present Cuthred whom in the place of Edilbert he had made Governour of Kent The Church sounded with acclamations and the streets with the Kings praises and because in a meeting of thirteen Bishops and ten Dukes assembled for that Solemnity he refused to none the marks of his liberality so that all went home much richer then they came For besides Presents of inestimable valew in rich garments choice horses and other furniture which he gave to his Nobles to every particular man then present he gave a pound of silver to every Preist a Mark of gold to every Monk a peice of money So that not one person there present fayled to partake of his bounty And he enriched the Monastery with so large possessions that in this age it seems incredible 6. In the Annals of this Monastery of Winchelcomb is recorded the Charter of this King confirmed in a Synod at which were present two other Kings his Tributaries Cuthred King of Kent and Sired King of the East-Saxons in which he signifies that his intention was that his body should be buried in the same Church But this Charter was of a later date because it is subscribed by Wulfred Arch-bishop of Canterbury who succeeded six years after this to Athelard In the same Annals likewise is declared that at the first building of this Monastery three hundred Monks were placed in it What particular Maunors the King gave to them is unknown by reason all the ancient Records were burnt in the time of King Steven XVIII CHAP. 1.2 A Synod at Bacanceld against Vsurpers of Church revenews and for restitution of the Rights of the See of Canterbury 3. Another Synod of the Archâ—bishoprick York 1. A Little after Athelard was returned
was not by the zeale of unarmed Preachers that the Professours of Calvinism in France Scotland and Holland and of Lutheranism in Germany and the Northern Regions became possessours of Churches not built by their own Ancestours for they had no Ancestours at all Truly if for the space of above a thousand years which the following History comprehends I could have discovered any Province or Citty by such unchristian arts made Christian and Catholick or but one Catholick Writer pretending to such a Method of propagating his Religion I should not have passed it over with a desingenuous silence For the generall substance therefore of this History YOVR MAIESTY already knowes it before you cast your eyes on the Book Yet I may take leave to say That one Advantage this History may boast of beyond that of any other Catholick Nation For which therefore it may invite even YOVR MAIESTIES curiosity As it embraces a greater variety of Revolutions hapning in our Island the Scene of it then any other countrey So in all those Revolutions it affords many great and extraordinary Rarities Never any Nation was so plentifull and over-flowing in Benedictions to other Countreyes by sending forth an incredible number of Apostolick Bishops and Preists which converted to the FAITH almost all our confining Nations Never any Nation was blessed with so many glorious Saints adorned with Crownes and Purple Yea it may be affirmed that the Annalls of the whole CATHOLICK CHVRCH doe scarce record in all other Countreyes so many Kings and Princes who have relinquished their Thrones to change their Scepters for Crosses their Treasures for Poverty their magnificent numerous Courts for bare solitary Cells and their awefull Power for Subjection This was a change which none could work but onely the right hand of THE MOST HIGH And yet the like Change wrought by the same ALMIGHTY HAND in the soules of a far greater number of our Queens and Princesses was more admirable in as much as their imbecillity delicacy of education and naturall timidity were greater For the space of severall Ages the Daughters of our Monarks seemed as if they thought themselves born in a countrey none of their own a Countrey of Strangers or rather Enemies the destruction of whose race they sought to procure by refusing their concurrence to continue it And therefore as if they had been ashamed to acknowledge their Native countrey and afraid to converse with the inhabitants of it they made hast to hide themselves from them that they might freely entertain their far more Noble and aspiring thoughts and desires of A BRIDEGROOM worthy of their Love and a Crown answerable to their holy ambition Or if such Retreats were denyed them they were taught by A HEAVENLY INSTRVCTOVR to erect solitary Monasteries or Bride-chambers for their CELESTIALL SPOVSE in their own hearts Where they could live undisturbed even among Crowds of Visitants or Flatterers they could macerate themselves with Fastings at the most luxurious Feasts and with painfull Hayrcloathes under their softest and most gorgeous Vestments They knew no use of worldly Riches but to supply the necessities of the poore or to adorn the Altars of their CELESTIALL SPOVSE from a continuall entertainment of whom nothing could distract them even in sleep their hearts waked to him A great well-orderd Army of such glorious Saints of your own Sexe will the following History discover to YOVR MAIESTY and this of all states Wives Widdowes and Virgins and which was wonderfull some of them all these both Wives Widows and yet Virgins So that here YOV may sett before your eyes a numerous Variety of Heavenly Patterns of YOVR own rank by conversing with whom YOV may yet more richly adorne YOVR soule Each of them will present YOVR MAIESTY with a Gemme sparkling with a peculiar different luster all of them both like and unlike in beauty and glory Now may a Heavenly Crown besett with such more then Starlike Iewells attend YOVR MAIESTY whensoever Death shall ease YOV of that YOV now wear This is the argument of the dayly Prayers of YOVR SACRED MAIESTIES Most humbly devoted Subject and Servant in our LORD Br. S. CRESSY Permissio A. R. P. Praesidis Generalis EGO Fr. Augustinus Hungate Congregationis Anglo-Benedictinae Praeses Generalis Librum cui Titulus The Church-History of Brittany à R. P. Sereno Cressy nostrae Congregationis Monacho compositum à S. Theologiae Doctoribus ad id deputatis approbatum typis mandari lubens permitro Datum 2â— Maij stilo Vet. 1668. Fr. AVGVSTINVS qui suprà Approbationes Doctorum LIBER hic cui Titulus Historia Ecclesiae c. nihil continet sanae Doctrinae aut bonis moribus dissonum Antiquorum acta doctrinam mores clarè succinctè tradit dum Historiae veritatem felici essequitur indagine Fidem veram contra quoâ—cunque Novatores mirificè confirmat quare reipublicae Christianae hunc Librum vtilissimum fore iudico Datum Londini Maij 12. stilo Veteri 1668. Fr. BENEDICTVS STAPYLTON Ord. S. Ben. Sac. Theol. Doctor EGO subsignatus Doctor Facultatis Theologiae Cadomensis legi librum Anglico idiomate scriptum cui Titulus The Church-History of Brittany sive Historia Ecclesiastica Brittanniae à R. P. Sereno de Cressy Religioso Anglo Ordinis S. Benedicti compositum in quo plurima scitu digna omnia Fidei Catholicae consona bonis moribus nihil absonum deprehendi Quare ad Catholicorum utilitatem Hereticorum convictionem praelo debere mandari censui Actum Rothomagi die 20. Augusti annoque Domini 1667. THOMAS DE SIMON EGO infrà scriptus in Alma Facultate Parisiensi Sacrae Theologicae Doctor fidem facio me accuratè perlegisse librum Anglicano idiomate conscâ—iptum cui Titulus The Church-History of Brittany composed by the R. Father F. Serenus Cressy Religious of the holy Order of S. Bennet In quo quidem nihil deprehendi quod Catholicae Apostolicae Romanae fidei aut bonis moribus adversetur Quin imo hanc ipsam fidem quam hodie Romano-Catholici in Anglia profitentur validissimis argumentis demonstrat omnino consonam esse illi quam primitùs viri Apostolici in Britannia propagarunt quam Christus Dominus Apostolos docuit quamque Ecclesia Catholica suggerente Spiritu Sancto perpetuò retinuit Datum Parisiis Kal. Aprilis 1668. FRANCISCVS GAGE EGO infrà scriptus Sacrae Facultatis Parisiensis Doctor Theologus testor me legisse Librum Anglicè conscriptum cui Titulus The Church-History of Brittany composed by the R Father F. Serenus Cressy Religious of the holy Order of S. Bennet Et nihil in eo invenisse quod Fidei Orthodoxae aut bonis moribus repugnet Datum Parisijs prima die mensis Aprilis Ann. Dom. 1668. GVILIELMVS PHELAN VPON THE ENGLISH ECclesiasticall History written by his honourd freind F. SERENVS CRESSY STILL lovely in thy beautie 's ruines look ENGLAND thy face in this reflecting Book Start not at Scarrs or wrinckles this smooth glasse Shews
absolute Reprobation predestination to sin impossibility of loosing grace c. as opposed to the Roman faith have thereby given the Presbyterians advantage to brand all moderate Protestants with the unpardonnable crime of Popery These are who though they will not or dare not themselves undervalue the Challenge made by the Church of England of a legitimate succession of Ordinations yet have rendred such succession uselesse to them and indeed ridiculous by giving the right hands of fellowship to Calvinisticall Congregations abroad In which those who call themselves Ministers of Gods word and dispensers of his Sacraments have no more right to such titles than their wives or daughters have Lastly these Prelats have been the persons who not onely favouring but by their own writings promoting the Fanatick position That the Pope is Antichrist have hereby put a sword into the hands of Presbyterian Gladiators by which they can cutt mangle destroy every way whom soever they please as easily as they think they can Catholicks themselves Bishops they can destroy with it as being proud Prelats who by their own confession have received their character and Iurisdiction from Anti-christ And kings they can with a safe conscience destroy in case they will not deliver up unto them Anti-christian Bishops Anti-christian Litanies sober prayers or Ceremonies yea and Anti-christian Lord-ships or mannners too Indeed so advantageous has this Engin of Popish Anti-christianisme been to every Sect which would destroy another that we have seen even the Presbyterians themselves wounded almost to death with it by the Independents Anabaptists c. who confidently charged their Classes and Synods with Anti-christian tyranny 7. Ecclesiasticall matters being reduced to these termes in England can any one esteeme it a wonder if malicious and unquiet Sectaries being shadowed under such Rochets are so securely busy both to encrease their esteeme and credit amonst the ignorant multitudes by their zeale against Popery and withall at the same time closely pursue their old designs upon Church livings and for that end make use of such credit to pluck down that Church which now they would seeme to support Whilst they snarle and grin against Catholicks they bite and hope shortly to devoure Prelatical Protestants and whatsoever Power shal maintain them 8. Such being the present state of Controversie-writings To what purpose should any Catholick interesse himselfe in confuting bookes in which if there be any thing material it is the undermining of that Church which in the frontis-peice is pretended to be asserted for generally it is agreed on by the late Authours that the English Church has no authoritie to oblige any one in conscience to beleive doctrines proposed by her From whence followes necessarily that no man can be obliged to be a member of it and therefore that she can not iustly excommunicate or otherwise punish any one for not yeilding obedience to her or for deserting her and choosing another communion And yet lesse are we concerned in what is written by them directly against us and the faith which we professe since not a word of sober reasoning can be found but what the last age had heard a hundred times obiected and refuted If there may be any thing new it is a Texture of new invented calumnies phrases of foule language And what a folly and pitty likewise is it by contesting to open yet wider such noysom Flood-Gates 9. Yet notwithstanding all this the Cause of Gods Church must not be deserted Therefore far be it from mee in so miserable a distraction of Iudgments and affections to entertain any resolution of surceasing endeavours to promote Catholick vnity and Peace And our Lord be blessed it seemes to mee that this desireable and never more than at this time seasonable duty may be performed without any quarrelling controversie at all And one healthfull meane for this purpose I have here made use of which is a sincere simple relation uncontested by any of the state of our Brittishs Churches since from the Primitive times both as to the Doctrines of faith received by them and externall practises in use among them For I suppose that any sober and rational Christian will not unwillingly grant That that Church which in these times shall appear most conformable to those Primitive Apostolical doctrines and practises ought unquestionably to be esteemed most safe and Orthodoxe Now for a Triall of this there will be no use of sylloziging or disputing The simplest Readers eyes will resolve him that those very points of faith and discipline for which the Roman Catholick Church is so cruelly assaulted on all sides by Sectaries are the very same which Apostolick Doctours at first taught our forefathers and which by their Successours have been so carefully transmitted to us that during the space of more than a thousand yeares comprehended in this History not any congregation at all nor any persons except a few dispersed known Hereticks did ever appear to contradict what we still beleive and practise nor did ever teach any of those opinions which now constitute any of our later English Sects 10. Now this way and Method of arguing implicitely without disputing seems to me of force inexpugnable as being not obnoxious to the peevish Cavils of quarrelsom spirits and efficacious to extort the assent of such as are truly desirous to find the truth For though among all our Sectaries as antiently among professed Hereticks the pretence of each one be to admitt no other Rule of faith but onely his own sence of Scripture the chime whereof seems to every one of them to accord to the tune framed by himselfe though each of them has a tune utterly discordant from all the rest Yet surely that man must renounce his reason forgett his Creed yea he must covertly blaspheme Christ himselfe who shall continue to impute most horrible superstitions and Idolatries to the Catholick Church after that he shal have discovered plainly that she teaches the very same Doctrines and Observances which were at first delivered by Apostolick Preachers For since there never was anciently any other Church in Brittany and the like may be said of other Countries but that which taught the same doctrines such blasphemers of Gods Church must consequently affirm That so many Holy Apostolical Doctours have taught so many glorious Martyrs have shed their blood and so many Blessed Saints have wrought most stupendious Miracles for confirming most damnable superstitions and Idolatries 11. Now what other consequence can flow from hence but this most execrable yet by them unavoydable one that Iesus Christ was not the true Messias for how can they esteeme him the Messias who it seems failed in the principal End for which the Messias was sent which was by shedding his blood to redeem and by the effusion of his spirit to sanctifie a Church and such an one as is prophetically described to be a spiritual kingdom which should never be destroyed a Church in which God would place Pastours till
of his Mother as likewise that three Pagan Kings to wit Arviragus Marius and Coellus bestow'd upon them twelve portions of Land I found also in other Writings of a later date that the holy Saints Phaganus and Diruvianus obtain'd of Eleutherius who sent them into Brittany thirty years of Indulgence As I my selfe likewise obtain'd from Pope Celestin of pious memory twelve years 6. A long time after this being accompanied with my Brother Wellias we with great difficulty ascended to the top of a Mountain situated in the sayd Island And being come thither we found an Oratory very ancient and almost wholly ruin'd which yet seem'd to me very commodious and chosen of God for the exercise of Christian devetion Into which being entred we were refresh'd with so wonderfully sweet a savour that we thought our selves in Paradice After this we went out and returned again into the Oratory searching with great diligence all places and at last we found a Volume of a Book in which were written the Acts of the Apostles together with the Gests of Saint Phaganus and S. Diruvianus which volume was much perish'd Notwithstanding at the end thereof we found a Writing which imported how the foresayd S. Phaganus and Diruvianus being thereto moved by a revelation of our Lord Iesus Christ had built the sayd Oratory to the honour of S. Michael the Archangel to the end that he in that place should receive honour from men who by Gods command was to lead men into everlasting and heavenly honours Being much delighted with this writing we endeavoured to read it to the very conclusion and there we found that those venerable Saints Phaganus and Diruvianus had remained in the sayd place the space of nine years and had obtained thirty years of Indulgence for all faithfull Christians who with a pious affection should visit that place in honour of Saint Michael 7. Having found so rich a Treasure of the Divine goodnes I and my Brother Wellias spent three months in fasting prayers and watching and obtain'd a power over Devils and wild beast Aâ—d on a certain night being asleep there appear'd to me our Lord Iesus in a vision saying to me My servant Patrick know that I have chosen this place for the Honour of my Name and that men here may reverently invoke the assistance of my Archangel Michael And this shall be a sign to thee and thy Brethren to the end they may yeild beleife to what I have told thee Thy lefâ— arme shall be wither'd till thou hast declareâ— the Vision to thy Brethren which dwell in the Cells below and shalt return hither again And so it came to passe 8. From that time forward we appointeâ— that two Brethren should reside in that place for ever except succeeding Prelats in future time should for some iust reason ordain otherwise 9. This present Writing I committed to thâ— custody of my two Brethren Arnalph and Ogmaâ— who were Irishmen and came with me out of that Countrey This I did because upon my exâ—hortation they were content humbly to remain in the sayd Oratory Another Copy of it I layd up in the Chest of the Blessed Virgin Mary for a monument to posterity I Brother Patrick also with the advice of my Brethren doe grant a hundred days of Indulgence to all those who out of a pious intention shall with Axes and other inâ—struments cleare the passages of the foresayd Mountain on all sides from bushes and trees that devout Christians may have a freer entrance piously to visit the Church of the most Blessed and ever Virgin Mary and the foresayd Oratory 10. This is the Epistle or Writing left by S. Patrick as a Monument of the goodnes of God towards this our Nation so early in the very beginning of Christianity Some part of which Epistle is quoted almost three hundred years since by Capgravius in the life of S. Patrick And it is entirely extant iâ— the famous Library of Sir Iohn Cotton in two severall Manuscripts one of the Antiquities of William of Malmsbury and another of a Monk call'd Iohn who made extrait out of the same William and a certain Writer call'd Adam Domerham And concerning this Epistle thus writes Gerardus Vossiuâ— This Epistle of the Legation of S. Patrick we found some years since amongst the Manuscript Collections of Marianus Victorius Bishop of Reate of pious memory who faithfully transcrib'd 〈◊〉 out of a very ancient Manuscript belonging to Glastonbury many years before when he attenâ—ded Cardinal Pole sent Legat into England In which Epistle some passages are very agreable to Protestant Writers and others very offensive 11. It pleases them much to read that S. Ioseph and his companions were Disciples of the Apostles S. Philip and Iacob because that may quit them of any special obligation to S. Peter But they may consider that though these Saints were indeed Disciples of those holy Apostles adhering to them in their peregrinations yet it will not follow thence that they received a Mission from them to plant the Gospell in Brittany Since it is apparent by an unquestion'd Tradition of both the Eastern and Western Churches that those two Apostles suffred Martyrdom severall years before their coming into this Island so that if they were sent by any Apostles hither it could be done only by S. Peter or S. Paul to whom the Western Empire owes the blessing of Christian Doctrin as S. Innocent before mention'd testifies 12. But whereas in this Epistle mention is made of a power of conferring Indulgences for a certain number of years granted by S. Eleutherius Pope to S. Phaganus and Diruvianus and by S. Celestin Pope to S. Patrick this much offends some of our Modern-Protestant Controvertists Notwithstanding it is certain that the Church has a power to dispence and relaxe the severity of Ecclesiasticall Censures Which Power though in some inferiour degree residing in every Bishop yet by a tacite consent seems by a more extended Priviledge to be devolved on the Supreme Pastour who may communicate that Power on others in whose Piety and prudence he may place some confidence 13. A late Prâ—testant Historian imagins he has an objection unanswerable against this Epistle and the authenticknes of it taken from the Names of such solitary Monks as Saint Patrick affirms that he found there severall of which saith he seem to be German or Saxon and not Brittish names and consequently improperly assign'd to times so ancient and so many ages anticipating the arrivall of the Saxons here 14. But in case it be granted that any of these Names be properly German it is well known that severall Belgick Gaules of a German extraction peopled a great part of our Island and since they gave the Names and Titles to many of our Provinces it needs not to be esteem'd a wonder if they left to posterity some Names likewise oâ— their persons VI. CHAP. 1.2.3 Saint Iosephs building a Church at Glastonbury confirmed by S. David and a
year of his raign sent him a Successour Clodius Albinus upon whom likewise he confer'd the Title of Caesar. Whose abode in Brittany was but short for presently after Iunius Severus was sent Generall thither and Commodus us'd all his endeavours to kill Albinus But dying shortly after Pertinax who succeeded him sent back once more Albinus into Brittany THE FIFTH BOOK OF THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY I. CHAP. 1. The Conversion of Brittany celebrated by Origen 2. The Picts and Caledonian Brittains follow their Example 3. Their King Donaldus c. brought to the Faith by Fulgenius a Brittain 4.5 c. Dempsters fabulous narration 1. THE Conversion of Brittany was so famous in the Church of God that Origen who flourished in Egypt not long after these times in his commentary on Ezechiel thus celebrates it When did the Countrey of Brittany before the coming of Christ consent in the Worship of the only true God But now the whole Earth doth with ioy glorify our Lord for the Churches there erected in the utmost bounds of the world so that in all its limits it doth aspire to celestiall happines And in another place The power of the Divine Grace of our Lord and Saviour is present likewise both to those Nations in Brittany which are divided from our world and likewise those in Mauritania yea with all People under the Sun which have beleived in his name 2. And as the fame therof was largely spread among Churches far remote from Brittany so the Example also had a happy influence on the neighbouring Nations For in the Northern regions of Brittany divided from the civilis'd part by the Emperour Hadrians wall and which always liv'd in hostility with the Romans the Faith of Christ within two years after the death oâ— King Lucius was not only preach'd but effectually subdued the minds both of the Princes and generally of their subjects which gave occasion to Tertullian who liv'd in these times to say that those Provinces of Brittains to which the Roman Armies could not gain accesse were yet conquered by our Saviour submitting themselves to his Faith 3 Concerning this Conversion thus writes Hector Boethius The like mind did Christ our Lord the Prince and Authour of peace give to King Donaldus insomuch as rejecting the worship of Devills he addicted himselfe to solide Piety For when Severus was Emperour of the Romans the sayd King obtained of Pope Victor the fifteenth after S. Peter to whom he sent his Embassadours that severall men illustrious for learning and Religion should be sent into Scotland to baptise himselfe together with his wife and children who profess'd the name of Christ. The Scottish Nobility following their Kings example renounced their former impiety and embracing the Religion of Christ were likewise purified by Baptism The year wherin the Scots by the mercy of Almighty God were call'd and receiv'd the light of true Piety was the two hundred and third after the incarnation of our Lord. To same purpose write Duraeus Gordonus and generally all the Scottish Authours 4. As touching the manner of this Conversion Dempster citing an Ancient Scottish Historian Fordonus saith That is was effected by Paschasius a Sicilian sent into Scotland by Pope Victor who instructed the Nation in the rudiments of Christianity And the same saith he he proves out of an ancient Book of the Church of Lismore which is the most ancient among the Scottish Records The same Authour adds that never any people was with lesse trouble converted to Christ for so great a concourse there was unto those Holy Teachers that there were not Preists enow to baptise them Moreover the sayd Fordonus delivers that this Paschasius leaving behind him his Companions to instruct that rude people more diligently in the Mysteries of Christianity return'd back to Rome to give thanks to that most holy Pope in King Donaldus his name for so singular a blessing confer'd on his Nation But before he arriv'd there Victor was departed this life whose Successour was Zephirinus Whence it manifestly appears â—hat Scotland was converted to the Faith in the last year of Pope Victor Notwithstanding in the Scottish Menology publish'd by the same Dempster this Paschasius is sayd not to have been sent into Scotland by Pope Victor but to have been Donaldus his Messenger to the Pope as Elvanus and Medwinus were sent by King Lucius to Pope Eleutherius for there it is thus written At Dorn in Southerland on the twelfth of December is celebrated the memory of Paschasius who was sent a Messenger to the Holy Pope Victor by King Donald and obtain'd of him Christian Teachers to instruct the Nation 5. This is the account given by Dempster as he pretends out of Fordonus But so little to the satisfaction of the learned Bishop Vsher that he professes In those Copies of Iohn Fordon which I have perused not any of these things related by Dempster are extant so that I begin to suspect the truth of them aswell as of the rest which he quotes out of a namelesse Book of Lismore and I know not what other Manuscripts 6. The person to whom Dempster ascrib's the glory of having first inclin'd the mind of King Donaldus to embrace Christianity was one called Fulgentius or Fulgenius whom he will have to be the Authour of a Book entitled of the Faith of Christ which Book says he if it were now extant Scotland would be furnish'd with a Monument to declare the Antiquity and fervour of its Primitive Faith wherin it would yeild the preeminence to few Kingdoms in Europe and would be superiour to many This Fulgentius saith he was sirnamed the Bold and in the raign of Septimius Seâ—erus dyed at York in England He it was whose faithfull assistance King Donaldus made use of being the first King who stamp'd his Coyn in brasse gold and silver with the sign of the Crosse. II. CHAP. 1.2.3 Confutation of Dempster 4. Who Fulgenius was 5. A Message sent by King Donaldus to Pope Victor 6. More concerning Fulgenius 1. THIS relation made by Dempster though for the substance of it it be agreable to ancient Records yet to embellish it he employs so much of his own inveÌ„tion moved therto by a partiall affection to his own countrey that to a Reader not altogether ignorant he rather disgraces the whole story and renders Truth it selfe suspected then gains beleif to his own impudent additions 2. And first wheras he makes Donaldus to be a King of the Scotts and Fulgentius to be of the same Nation he cannot alledge for this the least ground in any ancient Authours who wrote of these times The Name of Scots was not yet heard of any where much lesse in Brittany The Roman Historians acknowledge no other inhabitants in this Island but only Brittains That is the Common name though in the severall Provinces they be distinguished by severall Titles And particularly touching those Northern Brittains by Hadrians
whom succeeds Carus and after him his Sons Carinus and Numerianus To whom being slain Diocletian succeds in the Empire 1. THE mariage of the Senatour Constantius with a pious Christian Lady and the birth of Constantin though they were the seeds of infinit blessings to Gods Church yet they were seeds as yet hid in the earth for Christian Religion and the Professours of it were never more cruelly persecuted then during the time between Constantins birth and the beginning of his raign 2. The Emperour Aurelianus who sent Constantius into Brittany was one of the most inhuman adversaries of Gods truth as the Churches Martyrologe in a world of places does witnes And this Constantin when he had obtain'd the Empire exprobrated to his Memory in an Oration which he made to an Assembly of Bishops Thou likewise O Aurelianus saies he wert the incentive of all mischeif But when thou with horrible fury marched'st through Thrace thou wast slain in the midst of thy iourney and filled'st the tracts of the high way with thy impious blood He was the Authour of the Ninth Persecution and both the Eastern and Western Church groaned under his cruelty Only Brittany was free from violence enioying great tranquillity by the moderate government of Constantius now become not averse from Christianity 3. But after seaven years raign God revenged his own cause upon Aurelian who was slain by his own soldiers between Byzantium and Heracléa In whose place the Roman Senat chose Tacitus famous for nothing more then his moderation and refusing to continue the Empire hereditary in his family 4. Tacitus after six months concluded both his Empire and life to whom succeeded Probus a person of so great renown for his military vertues saith Vopiscus that the Senat wish'd him the Army chose him and the people with acclamations approv'd the Election 5. In the third year of Probus his raign after an admirable Victory gain'd by him in Gaule where he slew four hundred thousand of his Enemies by his own testimony in a letter to the Senat a certain man call'd Bonosus by originall a Brittain whom the Emperour had left Admirall of the Roman fleet upon the Rhene fearing his anger because most of the ships by some casualty had been set on fire in his absence took on him the Purple and Title of Emperour and continued his dominion over Brittany Spain and a part of Gaule a longer time then he deserved saith Vopiscus But in the end his army with great difficulty being defeated by the Emperour he was forced to hang himselfe 6. This mans rebellion no doubt caused great disquiet in Brittany from the government of which Constantius had been removed and returning to Rome had been made Prefect of Dalmatia 7. After Bonosus his death troubles were renew'd in Brittany by him who administred that Province suppos'd by M. Camden to be Cl. Cornelius Laelianus recommended to that Government by a frein'd of the Emperours call'd Victorinus of Mauritania For Laelianus invaded the Tyranny upon which Victorinus fearing the Emperours indignation went presently into Brittany and by subtilty procured the death of the Vsurper which restored peace to the Province The security of which saith Zosimus was much confirmed by the sending thither great numbers Franks then of taken prisoners in a battell by Probus which in following seditions were proffitable to the Emperour 8. After five years raign Probus was also slain by his own army and in his place Carus Manlius Aurelius was chosen Emperour who created his two sons Carinus and Numerianus Caesars But Carus the next year being kill'd by lightning and Numerianus by the treason of his father in law Aper and Carinus by one of his Tribuns whose Wife he had abused Diocletian was by the generall acclamation of the Army pronounced Emperour Diocletian the Authour of the last most dire and most prolonged persecution that ever the Church of God suffred VII CHAP. 1. Diocletian stiled Britannicus 2. He makes Maximianus his partner in the Empire 3 4 5. A most furious Persecution rais'd by them against the Christian Church Brittish Martyrs 1. THere is extant an ancient Inscription recited by Baronius and dated the second year of Diocletians raign wherin among other Titles he is stiled Britannicus which imports some victory gained by him or his Lieutenant in the Island Certain it is that though Carinus was not slain till the year following yet at this time Brittany and the Western regions of the Empire following the example of Rome had submitted to Diocletian deserting Carinus 2. Who being slain the year following at Murgum Diocletian assum'd as Companion to himself in the Empire M. Valerius Maximianus committing to him the government of Gaule Brittany c. These two Emperours of which Diocletian from Iupiter took the Sirname of Ioviuâ— as Maximianus from Hercules did that of Herculius at the beginning of their raign conspired in a resolution to be the Defendeâ—s of their Pagan Gods and profes'd enemies of Christ whose Religion they intended wholly to extirpate out of the World 3. Certainly there was never given a stronger proof that Gods Church is built upon a Rock impossible to be shaken by human force then the unsuccesfullnes of the rage of these two Emperours against it They had the whole power of the world in their hands they were Princes of eminent valour wisedom and policy above twenty years they governed the Empire and employed all that time without any relaxation in executing their rage against Christ and his truth they omitted no manner of tentations by favours and terrours to withdraw his servants from their Worship of him all mens witts were exercised in devising the most exquisite torments against them not only magistrates but private persons were arm'd to destroy them they were not only executed and tortur'd singly one by one but whole armies of them were butcher'd together and the most effectuall means to obtain the Emperours favour or pardon for the greatest crimes was the heaping of all disgraces and unjust violences upon poor Christians Yet with all this Christian Religion was so far from being destroyed that the Emperours cruelty and injustice gain'd more soules to Christ then the Sermons and exhortations of devout Preachers could doe in time of peace insomuch as these two Princes though vainglorious and ambitious beyond any of their predecessours seeing all their endeavours against Christ to prove fruitles out of rage and despair voluntarily depos'd themselves from the government of the world which they had undertaken principally in design against Christ. 5. One notable proof of the supereminent cruelty of these two Emperours against the Professours of the name of Christ was this that the Isle of Brittany divided from the Roman world which in former persecuting Emperours times had been exempted from participating with the suffrings of other Nations was now made a scene of blood Yea it may truly be affirmed that Brittany was the first Province dignified
Menapia a Belgick Province in Gaule confining on the Rhine He is describ'd by the Roman Historians to have been a man vigilant and active both in counsell and execution and was employ'd by the Emperour at Boloign in Gaule to have care of the Navy appointed to free the Seas on the coasts of Gaule and Brittany from the infestation of the Franks and Saxons who most violently exercised Piracy in those quarters 2. This Employment Carausius discharged more to the destruction then advancemeÌ„t of the Roman Commonwealth For though he often vanquish'd and took prisoners many of those barbarous Pirates yet all the spoyle he kep'd to himself neither restoring it to its former owners nor consigning it the Emperours treasure 3. Such behaviour rendred Carausius suspected of some ill design against the Empire as if he had on purpose permitted the said Pirates to range freely to the end he might either partake or intercept them returning with their spoyles with which he had rais'd to himself an immense wealth Hereupon the Emperour Maximianus gave command that he should be put to death Which to avoyd he assum'd the Emperiall purple and possess'd himself of Brittany A great encouragement and help to which design was afforded by a sedition and rebellion at the same time rais'd in Gaule by Amandus and Aelianus two Roman Generalls Who notwithstanding were quickly subdued by Maximianus but after their defeat he was called by Diocletian into Italy because another rebellion was then â—egan in Africk 4. But Maximianus was presently after recalled into the West to oppose Carausius For which purpose he made great preparation especially of Shipping to pursue the Tyrant into Brittany Which gave occasion to the foremention'd Oratâ—ur Mamertinuâ— to procounce before him his Panegyrick wherein whith many flowers of Rhetorick he magnifies both the greatnes of the preparation and the wonderfull favour of their heathenish Gods in affording the Emperour so miraculous a calmnes and warmth of weather unusuall in so Northern a climat 5. And though the Oratours flattery promis'd a happy successe to that expedition yet it seems it fell out otherwise For Eutropius expressly declares that severall attempts by war had been in vain undertaken against Carausius a man very skillfull in military affaires so that in the end they were forced to make a peace leaving him the possession of Brittany A proof wherof is afforded us by Camden who produces a Coyn in the one side wherof was this Inscription C. Carausius Emperour and on the other The peace of Augustus 6. It seems Carausius being left in quiet possession of the Island employ'd well the power allow'd him for he drove the Northern Caledonian Brittains beyond the wall rais'd by the Emperours Hadrianus and Severus and rais'd a new rampire to enclose them more Northward then any had been before For thus writes Nennius the Disciple of Elvodugus Carausius saith he built a wall between the mouthes of the two rivers Cladus and Carunus and fortified it with seaven Castles adding withall a round house built of polish'd stones upon the bank of the River Carun he likewise erected an Arch triumphall on which he impos'd his own Name in memory of his Victory This building remaines to this day vulgarly call'd Iulius Hof as if Iulius Agricola had been the Authour of it XXI CHAP. 1. Carausius his Tyranny lasted seaven years 2. Persecution ceases in Brittany 3. Yet Monasteries and Churches are demolish'd particularly Winchester 4 The Church of Westminster converted into a Temple of Apollo 5. Helena not in Brittany at this time 1. THE Tyranny of Carausius continued the space of seven years for he began his piracy in the year of Christ two hundred eighty six and about two years after assum'd the Title of Emperour invading and possessing Brittany which he quietly governed till the year two hundred ninety three when Constantius made his expedition against him So that during the said two first years Brittany was under the government of Diocletian and Maximianus to whom must be attributed the Martyrdom of S. Albanus Amphibalus c. 2. Now though by Carausius his invasion of the Government the persecution ceased at least so far as that no Edicts were published against them nor any search after them ordained nor Tribunalls erected Notwithstanding the soldiers of Carausius having been bred up in rapines spoyled and destroyed all Churches and Monasteries remaining 3. Among other places the ruins of the Monasteries of Winchester and Westminster are by Historians celebrated both which had just a hundred years before been built by King Lucius Concerning the former thus we read in an ancieÌ„t Manuscript of the Church of Winchester Christian Religion remained the space of a hundred years from the first year of King Lucius the first Christian King of the Brittains And so long did the Monks quietly serve God in that ancient Monastery But they were all slain in the Church of Winchester which was also destroyd by the Ministers of the persecuting Emperour Diocletian in the second year of his raign To which year also we before refer'd the killing of the Monks as we doe the ruining of the Monastery to this present year two hundred eighty nine 4. As for the Church of Westminster how it was at this time profan'd and converted to a Temple of Apollo thus Iohn Fleet an ancient Historian declares Whilst the most greivous persecution rais'd by the Emperour Diocletian raged in Brittany among other Churches this of Westminster was destroy'd and afterward by the sacrilegious power of Magistrates chang'd into a profane temple of Apollo in which were exercis'd the superstitious Rites of the Gentiles By which it came to passe that in the same place where God had been devoutly worshipped in his own Church there Idolatrous abominations were afterward perform'd That place loosing the memory of its former Christian inhabitants became the Head and principall seat where Pagans exercised their execrable Superstitions 5. During all these cruelties against Christians and devastation of Churches there is no mention of S. Helena the Wife of Constantius Most probable it is therfore that she was before this time departed out of Brittany with her husband who now governed Dalmatia or Illyricum and with them both lived likewise their Son Constantin now fifteen years old who from his child hood saith Victor shewd an aspiring mind inflam'd with a desire of rule XXII CHAP. 1.2 By reason of distractions in the Empire two new Caesars elected Galerius and Constantius 3. Constantius marries Theodora daughter in law to Maximianus 4 5. Helena divorced and seated at Triers Of which many proofs 6 Constantin left in Diocletians Court as a pledge 1. IN these days there was a great concussion of the Roman Empire on all sides both by open invasions and civill dissentions For the Persians in the East and the Sarmatians in the North made furious irruptions into the Provinces adioyning likewise besides Brittany possess'd by Carausius Achilleas vexed
ruine Those who escaped the slaughter he gave for captives to the Brittains who affectionatly ioynd with him But afterwards he thought it more secure to remove those barbarous strangers into Gaule where he dispers'd them into severall Provinces as Amiens Beauvais Troyes and Langres 7. After this Victory it is incredible with what universall ioy Constantius was receiv'd by the Brittains who for the space of almost nine years had been oppress'd by Tyrants suffring all manner of indignities in the violation of their wives and daughters the slavery of their sons and losse of all their subsistence and at last by this Victory were restored to the Roman Government now most acceptable to them under Constantius not only a Prince of great moderation and Clemency but allied to them by his mariage with Helena and affording them a Prince of their own blood 8. Which young Prince Constantin at this time accompanied Diocletian into Egypt where he gave egregious proofs of his excellent disposition For thus writes Paulus Diaconus of him There was with Diocletian in Egypt Constantin the Son of Constantius who being then a very young man shewd illustrious marks of his courage in battells and in his heart also favoured the Christians Whose progresse in all endowments of mind and body Diocletian with envy observed and foreseeing that he would prove the ruine of his Tyranny and a destroyer of his Pagan Errours he had a design by subtilty to take away his life But Almighty God beyond all expectation saved him from the others cruelty and restored him to his Father The Tyrant no doubt knew that he had been from his infancy nourish'd with Christian milk and could not but observe that he lookd on his cruelties against poore Christians with unwilling eyes therfore he detain'd him under strict guards intending probably greater mischief to him 9. It is not here to be omitted that this young Constantin at this time took to wife Minervina of whom he begott his eldest Son Crispus who was twelve years old when his Father married his second wife Fausta Zosimus according to his costum slanderously calls Minervina Constantius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 strumpet or concubine whereas both Eusebius and the Authour of the Panegyrick pronounc'd at his second mariage highly commend him for his chastity in that saith he imitating the continence of his Father he would not admitt into his unstained breast any wandring lusts nor so much as those pleasures which custom allows to youth but was a new miracle a young man uxorious Which encomium could not without extreme and most ridiculous impudence have been spoken at such a time in such an assembly if either Helena had been his Fathers Concubine or Minervina his own XXIV CHAP. 1.2 Persecution ceases in Brittany by Constantius his clemency contrary to the the assertion of Lesley and Hector Boethius 3. S. Nicholas a Brittish Bishop and Martyr 4. No Scots yet in Brittany 1. WHat a happy change the oppress'd Christians in Brittany found in their condition after this Victory of Constantius over the Tyrant Allectus is further declared from the testimony of our ancient Brittish Historian Gildas who says that nine years of persecution being ended they began to repair Churches demolish'd and to build new ones to the honour of Martyrs that they publickly celebrated divine Mysteries and solemne Festivities c. The which is confirmed by Eusebius who says That wheras there were fower persons ioynd in the government of the Roman world Constantius only having entred as it were into a covenant of freindship with God the supreme Governour was utterly averse from the practises of the other three For wheras they wasted the Churches of God and defil'd their Provinces with the blood of innocent Christians shed with utmost cruelty Constantius on the contrary was Authour of most perfect tranquillity to his subjects like an indulgent father allowing them a free pover of exercising the duties of the true Christian Religion without any molestation 2. Which Testimonies so ancient and authentick doe manifestly disprove the assertion of Lesley the Scottish Historian and Hector Boethius who uniustly impute cruelty against Christians to Constantius For thus Hector writes concerning him The fame of Constantius though otherwise a worthy Prince was much tainted with posterity because he imitating Diocletian endeavoured the ruine of Christian Religion Vpon which occasion great numbers of pious Brittish Christians flying the rage of persecutours came to the Scots and Picts The King Crathlintus receiv'd them with great kindnes permitting them to reside in the Isle of Man where having overthrown the Temples of Pagans and exterminated the profane Rites of the Druids which till this time had continued there he built for the reâ—ug'd Christians at his own cost a Church called by the name of our Saviour c. 3. The Scottish Writers likewise about this time to wit in the year of Grace two hundred ninety sixe doe place the Martyrdom of a famous Brittish Bishop call'd S. Nicholas and for his piety stil'd Culdeus or a worshipper of God Of whom Dempster thus writes S. Nicholas Culdeus one of the first Bishops of the Scottish Church during the rage of persecution rais'd by Maximianus in Brittany was crown'd with Martyrdom The holy Relicks of his Body cutt in peices were put into an Vrn of Stone and together with a venerable Crosse were buried in the earth Afterwards being digg'd up they were found with this Inscription Of S. Nicolas Bishop To whose honour in succeeding time King Alexander the third at the request of the Bishop of Glasco built a sumptuous Church at Pebles which whilst Catholick Religion flourished among us became illustrious for the grace of Miracles and was frequeÌ„ted with great concourse of devout Christians He suffred Martyrdom in the year two hundred ninety six and his Sacred body was found known by the inscription and together with the Crosse exalted on the seaventh of the Ides of May in the year of our Lord one thousand two hundred sixty two 4. These three Writers doe confidently mention the Scotts as inhabitants of those Nothern Provinces Where as not any ancient Authours doe as yet take Notice of their name Indeed Eumenius the forecited Panegyrist says that the Brittains in those times were molested with two people their Enemies the Picts and the Irish and he is the first Writer who calls the Caledonian Brittains by the name of Picts because their arms and leggs which were naked were usually painted with the figures of beasts by which may be collected that that Name was given them about the time of Constantius And as for the Irish who also were termed Scots though probably at this time many of them came over to assist the Picts or Caledonian Brittains yet that they took possession of any part of the Countrey or however that the Name of Scotts was given thus early to the whole countrey cannot out of any approved Authours be
a Coppy of the Processe 6. Now the Emperour Theodosius solicited by Valentiniam whose Sister Galla he had maried came with an Army into the West To which warr he prepared himself by earnest prayer and fasting And having understood saith S. Augustin that in the Desart of Egypt there was a certain Monk a great servant of God who had the Spirit of prophecy Theodosius sent to him and receiv'd a most certain message of Victory 7. Thus arm'd he readily and quickly obtain'd a Victory against Maximus who only wanted a good cause After the discomfiture of his Army Maximus being taken prisoner was brought before Theodosius who was inclin'd to take pitty of him At which his soldiers conceiving great indignation remov'd him from his presence and kill'd him Our Historian Gildas mentions both his death and the place of it saying At Aquileia a Citty of Italy that abominable head was cutt off Which had almost cast out of the throne the most illustrious heads of the world And thus was the blood of the innocent Emperour Gratian expiated After his death followd likewise that of his Son Victor who saith Zosimus had been made Caesar or rather Emperour as Paulus Diaconus and some ancient coynes declare XVIII CHAP. 1.2 c. The Relicks of S. Gervasius c. miraculously discover'd to S. Ambrose The miracles wrought by them The Veneration of them attested 1. IT will not be amisse though it pertain not to our History of Brittany yet because it will afford us a prospect of the iudgment and practise of the ancient Church to declare the almost visible assistance which Almighty God afforded to his servant S. Ambrose at the time when the Arian Empresse Iustina used her son Valentinians power to persecute him For then it was to use the words of S. Augustin directed to God in a prayer that by a vision thou O God didst discover to thy Bishop Ambrose the place wherin the Bodies of thy Martyrs Protasius and Gervasius reposed which thou for so many years hadst preserved incorrupt in thy secret treasure from whence thy intention was to bring them forth for the restraining the rage of a woman yet no ordinary woman being an Empresse For when being discovered and digg'd up they were translated with due honour to the Ambrosian Church not only those who were vexed with unclean Spirits the same Devills confessing were healed but a certain Cittizen of Milan who had been blind many years well known in the town when he had enquir'd and was inform'd of the occasion of so great a noyse and assembly of the people he leap'd up and desir'd one present to guide him to the said Church Whither being come he obtain'd leave with his hand kercheif to touch the Coffin of those Martyrs whose death was pretious in thy sight Which having done and applying it to his eyes they were immediatly opened so that he saw clearly The fame hereof presently was spread abroad and praises given to thee with great fervour insomuch as the mind of thy Enemy the Empresse Iustina though it was not heald of her Spirituall blindnes yet it was repress'd from the fury of persecuting the Holy Bishop 2. The same holy Father repeats the substance of the same narration in severall other places in one wherof he professes himself to have been an eye-witnes of these Miracles saying my self was a witnes of the great glory of these Martyrs for being then at Milan I had certain knowledge of the miracles wrought c. This hapned two years before S. Augustin having been converted and baptis'd by S. Ambrose return'd from thence towards his own countrey Africk and by the way at Ostia lost his Blessed Mother Monica concerning whom in his Confessions he thus Writes When the day of her dissolution was at hand she did not busy her thoughts about a Sumptuous buriall c. but made this her only request that a commemoration of her should be made at thy Altar at which every day she had not failed to attend and from whence she knew that holy Sacrifice and Victime was dispensed by which the Handwriting which was contrary to uâ— was blotted out by which our Enemy the Devill was triumphed over c. 3. So authentick a Testimony of the Veneration of the Relicks of holy Martyrs performed by the ancient Church of God approv'd by unquestion'd divine Miracles as likewise of Prayers for the Dead at the most holy Sacrifice needs not be further confirm'd Therefore we will omitt the transcribing a large Narration of the foresaid Miracles compos'd by S. Ambrose himself and sent in an Epistle to his devout sister wherin he repeats the miracle of the blind man restor'd to sight and how very many had been dispossess'd of Devills and by only touching with their hands the Vestment of the Saints many others were healed of diverse infirmities How many hand kercheifs saith he were cast how many garments sent to be layd on the most holy Relicks to the end that by touching of them they might receive a medicinall vertue 4. There were notwithstanding in those times some who denyed that those were bodies of Martyrs that they could torment the Devill or free any one possess'd by him But these saith S. Ambrose were the blasphemies of Arian Hereticks refuted by the confessions of the Devills themselves who with loud clamours acknowledg'd their torments and the great benefitts proceeding from the Martyrs intercession were publickly testified by the blind and other sick people cured of their infirmities The blind mans name was Severus by trade a butcher well known to all the Citty who was forc'd to give over his profession assoon as that incommodity of blindnes befell him This man saies he calls for witnesses of the miracle all his former customers by whom he had been maintain'd in his trade He is desirous those should now testify the recovery of his sight who formerly had seen that he was blind XIX CHAP. 1. Valentinian the second Emperour 2.3 c. The Heresy of Iovinian against Virginity c. Condemn'd by Pope Siricius and the H. Fathers 1. AFter Maximus his death Theodosius left Valentinian Emperour of the West adding to his Government Gaule Brittany and Spain possess'd by the Tyrant But before he was entrusted with this great charge the pious Emperour Theodosius instructed him in the Orthodox Faith earnestly exhorting him to persevere in it These Instructions wanted not a good effect the rather because his Mother Iustina the great Patronesse of Artanism was lately dead 2. The year following broke forth a Heresy which in our last age taught Luther to renounce his Monasticall Profession to allow scope to his carnall appetites and to draw out of her Cloyster a Consecrated Nunne to his incestuous embraces The Authour of it was Iovinianus formerly a Monk but weary of his vowd austerities who this year was publickly declared a Heretick by Pope Siricius Whereupon most of
Superstitions and quite changed from that which Saint Germanus profess'd as Protestants affirm who therefore magnify Saint Germanus for the purity of his Faith and as much derogate from S. Augustin 3. Touching therefore Saint Germanus his Religion particularly in the Points now most controverted and wherein Saint Augustin is charged to have been faulty we cannot more certainly nor more ingenuously determine it then by seeking information from a person of eminent learning in Antiquity a Protestant or however without question no Roman Catholick to witt M. Selden Who in a Treatise by him call'd Analecta Anglo-Britannica has inserted one Chapter exactly pertinent to our present purpose The Title of which Chapter is Touching the practises of Ecclesiasticall Discipline wherewith Germanus and Lâ—pus Bishops imbued the Brittains Which Enquiry he consequently satisfies in the following Chapter in the manner following 4. Germanus Bishop of Auxerre and Lupus Bishop of Troyes in Gaule came into Brittany to restore Christian Religion deprav'd by the Heresy of Pelagius and Errours of Pagans Their doctrines and documents taught by them as the fame is which also Giraldus Cambrensis testifies to have continued to his dayes were as followeth 1. Of every loaf of Bread set before them one corner they gave to the poore 3. They sate three together at dinner in memory of the Blessed Trinity 4. If any one mett in the way a Religious Monk or Clergy-man or any one in a Religious habit he would presently lay aside his weapons and with a low inclination of his head demand his Benediction 5. Generally all the people doe earnestly demand Episcopall Confirmation and Inunction with Holy Chrism by which the Holy Ghost is conferr'd 6. They some times bestow the Tithe of all their Substance cattle and Sheep namely either when they marry or undertake some long Pilgrimage or by the Churches Order submitt to some extraordinary Pennance for their sins This they call the great Tithe and two parts of it they bestow on the Church where they received Baptisme the third they give to the Bishop of the Diocese 7. Beyond all other externall labours of Mortification they are most devoted to Pilgrimages undertaken to Rome to visit the Monuments of the Apostles 8 Beyond any other Nation they expresse a devout reverence to Churches and Church-men likewise to Relicks of Saints to portable Bells Sacred Books and the Holy Crosse. And this devotion hath been rewarded with greater peace they any other Churches enjoyd 9. For entire security is observed in regard of Beasts feeding not only in Church yards but much beyond them through all bounds inclosed with ditches which Bishops design for observation of peace and indemnity And greater Churches to which antiquity always afforded greater reverence have power to grant and enjoyn the observation of such peace and security for cattle whilst at morn they goe and at Even return from their pastures This peace and security is observ'd so inviolably that if any one should incurr the mortall indignation of his Prince and afterward seeke refuge in a Church he may enjoy the fruit of this Peace both for his person and goods And indeed from such large immunities far beyond the ancient Canons which in such cases allow safety only to a mans life and body occasion of great abuses have been taken for by reason of such impunity many doe audaciously practise hostility and from such plâ—ces of Reâ—uge doe horribly infest the whole countrey about and even the Prince himself 5. There is scarce any one of these Christian practises but was taught by S. Augustin also and yet Protestant Writers condemne S Augustin for them and absolve S. Germanus yea magnify him and glory in an opinion that they are conformable to his Doctrin and Discipline They allow to Saint Germanus the glorious Title of Apostle of the Brittains who taught them no new Doctrins of Christianity but only confirmed them in what they had beleived before And the same Title they with contempt refuse to S. Augustin who withdrew the barbarous Pagan Saxons from their Idolatry and Infidelity and instilled first into their minds the true knowledge and worship of God Faith in the Redeemer of the world and Veneration to the Holy Crosse the Sign of our Redemtion Such partiality the Spirit of Schism does naturally produce 6. Our Ancestours in testimony of their gratitude to the Veneraâ—le Bishop S. Germanus and the high esteem of his Sanctity approved by many Miracles not long after his death built Chappell 's and Churches to his honour Particularly concerning one of these Camden thus writes In Cornwall neer the River Liver there is a village named from Saint German to which during the Danish tumults the Episcopall see of that Province was transferr'd out of feare it being a place more remote and secure There a Church had been erected and consecrated to the honour of S. Germanus Bishop of Auxerre who extirpated the Pelagian Heresy that began to rise anew among the Brittains In Yorkshire likewise a famous Monastery was consecrated to him as the same Authour thus testifies The River Ouse does water Selby a town well peopled there King William the First founded a Church in memory of S. Germanus who happily wounded to death the many-headed Hydra of Pelagianism which was oft quelld and oft revived again The Abbot of this Monastery and of S. Marâ—es at York were the only two Northern Abbots which had Seats in Parliament 7. Among the Silures in Northwales the Memory of S. Germanus is much celebrated for from him a part of Radnorshire is called Guarthenion For as our ancient Historian Nennius relates Vortimer the Son of Vortigern in satisfaction for injuries done by his Father to Saint Germanus dedicated that part of the countrey to him where he had been wrongd In memory of which it took the name of Guartheny which in the Brittish language signifies a calumny justly retorted Besides these many other Monuments testifying the like veneration to the same Apostolick Bishop might be produced but these are sufficient And this last Example proves this Devotion of the Brittains to him to have begun presently after his death XIII CHAP. 1.2 c. Vortigern chosen King of all Brittany His Character c. 1. HItherto since the time that the Romans had relinquish'd all care and protection of Brittany the severall Provinces of the Island had been governed by petty Princes independent on one another But in the year four hundred thirty and eight by reason of the frequent inroads of their cruell Enemies the Picts and Scotts by a common agreement of the severall Provinces a Generall Captain of the whole Nation was chosen after the example of their Ancestors in the days of Iulius Cesar and the Kingdom established in his line 2. Which choice unhappily fell on Vortigern a man born for the destruction of his countrey for he it is that by his slouthfull vices first weakned it and afterward calling in to
out of her hiding place and last of them all receiv'd the crown of Martyrdom 11. Such a Sacrifice as this had never before nor hath been since offred to Almighty God by his Church We read of a S. Agnes a S. Catherine a S. Lucia and a few other miraculous Examples of courage and chastity in tender Virgins but they were single persons neither is it unusuall with God to shew the power of his Grace in some particular favourits of his to exalt the Faith and confound Vnbeleivers There have likewise been recorded illustrious Examples of multitudes of men which have freely without resistance suffred Martyrdom as the Thebaean Legion c. But such courage in men especially soldiers who dayly look death in the face is not to be esteemed very extraordinary Whereas here we find a far more numerous Army consisting of young timerous tender Virgins to whom ordinarily the sight of an Enemies look is insupportable offring themselves freely to innumerable swords Among them all not one single soule is found which yeilds to their flatteries or fury and but one which delays her suffring the space onely of a single night after which she as it were animated with the united Spirits of all her Companions next day solicites the united fury of innumerable Enemies against her self alone and gloriously triumphing over the rage of men and Hell too is ioyfully receiv'd among her blessed CoÌ„panions XXIII CHAP. 1 2.3 c. The Names of these Holy Virgins Their Sacred Relicks dispersed all the world over Names of Churches where they are Venerated 1. THE fame of this Tragedy in which was display'd the extremity of savage cruelty in men and miraculous courage in Virgins was no sooner spread abroad in the world but that all countreys and Churches became suitours to be enrich'd with a portion of their sacred Relicks which have been spread through Germany Gaule Italy Brittany yea Asia Africk and of late India it self So exactly was fullfill'd the Canticle of S. Vrsula and her Associats mention'd by Gildas Thou O God hast given us as sheep to be devoured and hast disperst us among the Nations 2. Not above ten years after this glorious Martyrdom that is about the year of Grace four hundred sixty three saith Hermannus Fleien one of the Canons of Colen Solinus nam'd by others Aquilinus Arch-Bishop of that Citty as we find in our ancient Records out of reverence to the Memory of these holy Virgins enclosed with walls the sacred place of their Martyrdom in which was erected a Church consecrated to their cheif Captain S. Vrsula which remains to this day by the accesse of which place the Citty of Colen was so much enlarg'd He also took out of the ground as carefully as he could their sacred bones which he reverently again buried in chests hewn out of stone 3. Neither did Brittany long delay to testify her veneration to these her blessed countrey-women A witnes whereof is a well known Town call'd Maidenhead For thus writes Camden The Thames saith he winds back to a little town formerly call'd Southlington but afterward Maidenhead from the Superstitious reverence there given to the head of I know not what holy Virgin one of the eleaven thousand Brittish Martyrs which under the conduct of S. Vrsula returning from Rome into their countrey were martyrd by Attila call'd the Scourge of God near Colen in Germany Thus he censures the piety of a world of devout Emperours Kings Princes Bishops and Doctours of Gods Church in all ages 4. A volume might be written if we should â—eap up all testimonies which a world of Churches have given of their veneration to these Holy Martyrs Therefore we will only here sett down a Catalogue of such of their Names as have escaped oblivion And thereto adjoyn the Churches where many of them are venerated in regard their Holy Relicks repose there 5. S. Vrsula for orders sake divided that innocent Army into certain Squadrons First then she gave a generall authority over all under her to these Virgins S. Cordula S. Eleutheria S. Florentia and S. Pinnosa Next she assign'd the care inspection of a thousand to each of these following S. Benedicta S. Benigna S. Carpophora S. Celindes S. Clementia S. Columba S. Lata S. Lucia S. Odilia S. Sapientia and S. Sybylla After which these particular Virgins names are recorded Saint Agnes S. Antonina S. Areaphila S. Babcaria S. Baldina S. Candida S. Caraduméa S. Christina S. Columbina S. Corona S Cunera Saint Deodata S. Flora S. Florina S. Florentina S. Grata S. Honorata S. Honoria S. Hostia S. Languida S. Margarita S. Margaria S. Oliva S. Panpheta S. Panefrides S. Pavia S. Paulina S. Pharanina S. Pisona S. Sambaria S. Sancta S. Semibaria S. Terentia S. Valeria 6. The Body of S. Vrsula her self is still preserv'd at Colen but her Head was translated to Paris where the illustrious Colledge of Sorbon acknowledges her their Patronesse At S. Denys in France there is a commemoration of Panefredis Secunda Semibaria Florina and Valeria companions of S. Vrsula whose relicks repose there At Huy in Germany is celebrated the Translation of S. Odilia famous for frequent miâ—acles In Flanders the Monastery of Marcian possesses some part of the Body of S. Cordula The Monastery of Good Hope belonging to the Premonstratenses enjoy the Relicks of S. Terentia S. Marguarita S. Baldina S. Samburia and S. Margaria translated thither when Reinaldus was Arch-Bishop of Colen The Monastery of S. Martin in Tornâ—y glories in the Bodies of S. Honorata Florina and some part of the Relicks of S. Vrsula The Monastery of S. Amand in Pabula preserves the Bodies of three of these Virgins whose names are unknown At Andain in Arduenna repose the Bodies of S. Grata S. Hostia and S. Areaphila A Hospital in Tornay possesses S. Languida At Arras the Bodyes of S. Beata and S. Sancta are said to repose in the Cathedrall Church Four of these Holy Virgins are celebrated at the Monastery of S. Bertin in S. Aumar At the Church of S. Salvius the Relicks of S. Pavia and S. Caradumea are venerated The Norbertins at Vicoine possesse the Bodies of S. Corona S. Pharanina S. Babcaria S. Margarita another S. Margarita S. Benedicta S. Cordula S. Sambaria S. Deodata S. Panpheta and S. Christina The Canons of Tungres venerate the Heads of S. Pinnosa and S. Oliva The Nunnes of Mays venerate the Relicks of S. Paulina S. Florentina and eight other Holy Virgins companions of S. Vrsula In the town of Rhenen in the Diocese of Vtrecht is celebrated the memory of S. Cunera which holy Virgin in our Martyrologe is said to have been withdrawn from the slaughter by a certain noble Matron in whose house she was awhile conceal'd but being discover'd had her neck broken But the Belgick Writers say that she in compassion was by a certain Noble man privately taken from the rest and conveyed to his house Where his
calld Genorium 7. But the three Provinces with which Vortigern redeem'd his life are thus better sett down by Mamlsburiensis Of old time saith he the Eastern and Southern Saxons and the Eastern Angli were subjects to the King of Kent For those Provinces Hengist who first raign'd in Kent obtain'd of Vortigern King of the Brittains not by open warr but treachery These Provinces contain Essex Sussex Surrey Norfolk and Suffâ—lk inhabited by the people which in the Romans time were calld Trinobantes Regni and Iceni VIII CHAP. 1.2 c. The Birth of the glorious Saint David His Child-hood c Prophecies of his Sanctity by S. Patrick and Gildas Badonicus 1. THE same year in which Brittany was thus dismembred God recompenced that losse to the Brittish Church by the Birth of Saint David afterward Bishop of Menevia one of the greatest lights that ever that Church enjoyed both in regard of the Sanctity of his life the vigour of his authority and zeale in repressing Heresy and exalting Ecclesiasticall Discipline 2. His nativity was attended and prevented by severall wonders denoting the eminency of his future Sanctity For Saint Patrick a little before his going into Ireland being in the Province of the Dimetae or North-West wales in a valley calld Rosina meditating on his Mission thither had a revelation by an Angell that after thirty yers a child should be born in that countrey which should give a great luster thereto To which Prophecy regard was had in this Collect of the ancient Church of Sarum repeated anniversarily on S. Davids Feast O God who by an Angell didst foretell the Nativity of thy Blessed Confessour Saint David thirty years before he was born Grant unto us wee beseech thee that celebrating his Memory we may by his intercession attain to ioyes everlasting 3. The manner of his Birth is thus consequently related by the Authour of his Life in Capgrave Thirty years being finish'd after the foresaid prediction saith he the King of the region call'd Ceretica travelling to Demetia mett by the way a Religious Virgin nam'd Nonnita of great beauty which he lusting after by violence deflour'd her Hereby she conceiv'd a Son and neither before nor after ever had knowledge of any man but persevering in chastity both of mind and body and sustaining her self only with bread and water from the time of her Conception she lead a most holy life The King who was father to S. David is by our ancient Writers call'd Xanthus and his Mother Nonnita is by some named Melaria 4. The eminent sanctity of this holy Child the fruit of his holy Mothers fasting chastity and prayer was by a new divine Oracle a little before his birth foretold For when Gildas Albanius was from the pulpit teaching a great congregation on a sudden he became dumb and unable to speak But afterward broke forth into these words related by Caradoc of Lancarvan A holy woman call'd Nonnita now present in this Church is great with Child and shall shortly be brought in bed of a Son full replenish'd with Grace It was with regard to him that I was hindred from speaking by a divine Power restraining my tongue This child shall be of so eminent sanctity that name in these our parts shall be comparable to him I will surrender this Region to him who will from his infancy by degrees encrease in Sanctity and Grace An Angell Gods messager hath reveald this to mee 5. He was baptis'd saith Pits from Giraldus Cambrensis by Relveus Bishop of Menevia in a place calld â—ortcleis Which Bishop by Divine Providence arriv'd there the same hower And during his childhood he was educated in a place calld the Old Bush by the Cambrians Henmenen and by the Latins Menevia He grew every day more replenish'd with Grace and being of a perspicacious witt he made progresse in the study of learning far beyond all other children of his age This is that S. David afterwards the most Holy Bishop of Menevia calld from him S. Davids for his learning Sanctity and miracles so celebrated in all future ages by the Brittish Churches His admirable Gests shall in their due place be declared hereafter 6. But wheras in this forecited passage out of Giraldus Cambrensis he is sayd to have been baptised by an Irish Bishop calld Relveus Bishop of Menevia it is certain there is an errour in the Copy For S. David himself was the first Bishop of Menevia to which place he translated the Bishoprick of Caërleon Therfore instead of Relveus Menevensium Episcopus it is not to be doubted but the Authour wrote Albeus Mumonensium Episcopus and this is that S. Albeus Bishop of Munster or Cassel in Ireland of whose Gests wee treated in the foregoing Book of this History concerning whom we related from Bishop Vsher that he went to Rome and there was instructed in the knowledge of Holy Scriptures by S. Hilary the famous Bishop of Poictiers 7. As touching Gildas Albanius mentioned in this Chapter who in a Sermon foretold the Sanctity of S. David a little before his birth and who was a holy person distinct from the well known Historian Gildas sirnamed Badonicus who liv'd likewise in this same age though younger then the other Of both these we shall hereafter treat in their due Season IX CHAP. 1.2 Vortigern fortifies himself in Wales 3.4 c. Aur. Ambrosius sent for to be Generall 7. His terrible battell against Hengist 1. WHilst Vortigern lurk'd ingloriouslly among the steep innaccessible Mountains of the countrey now calld Cambria and Walliae busy in building a Castle for his greater security the middle Provinces of Brittany being left without any Defender were expos'd to the fury of the Saxons 2. The Castle built by Vortigern was call'd Genorium and afterward Caer-Guortigern It is plac'd saith Camden in a Vast solitude fearfull for the horrour of mountains and narrow turnings of the passages to it To that place Vortigern the plague of his countrey withdrew himself to seek a refuge for his own person And there saith Richard White he spent his time in consulting Sooth-sayers and especially the Magician Merlin 3. Hereupon the Brittains being deserted by their King were compell'd to seek one abroad And therefore saith Mathew of Westminster they directed messengers into lesser Britanny beyond sea to Aurelius Ambrosius and his Brother Vter-pendragon who for feare of Vortigern were retir'd thither beseeching them with all speed to quitt that countrey and repair into their own to the end that expelling both the Saxons and their hated King Vortigern they might receive the crown of Brittany They therefore being now of ripe age prosecuted their journey attended with ships and armed soldiers 4. Concerning this Ambrosius sometimes call'd Aurelius sometimes Aurelianus and his extraction Gildaâ— and from him S. Beda speak breifly and in generall terms that he was a modest prince and who alone of the Roman race had remained alive
and will for a good space furnish us with most plentifull matter proper to our History Yet considering that ere long the West-Saxon Kingdom will both grow in power and be very fruitfull in affording rïchly materialls relating to Religion but especially considering that in time the same Kingdom will swallow all the rest and reduce the whole Kingdome into a Monarchy we will therefore hereafter prefixe successively the Names of the West-Saxons Kings beginning with Celric in whose dayes the Holy Christian Missionners arrived in Brittany bringing with them the happy tidings of the Gospell ioyfully hearkened to in Kent but either not made known or unwelcome to the said Celric as likewise to his Successour Ceolulf and their Subjects the West-Saxons THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY UNDER THE ENGLISH-SAXON HEPTARCHY III. PART THE THIRTEENTH BOOK I. CHAPTER 1.2 S. Gregory himself undertook the Mission into England but was recalled 3. c. The Conversion of England falsely and maliciously ascribed to the Brittains and French 10. Queen Aldiberga a promoter of it 11. Other Queens in this age did the like 1 THOSE bowels of Compassion which eight years agoe the sight of a few well featur'd English slaves had moved in S. Gregory then only a private person and those charitable designs which on that occasion God had inspired into his heart to procure the eternall felicity of our Nation seemd all this while to have been little better then ineffectuall wishes arguments of a good Nature or a mercifull Christian disposition onely for which he might expect and obtain a reward and blessing to himself but with little advantage to us 2. Yet if a Tradition verified by Authours of no mean esteem may be beleived even then also S. Gregory proceeded further then to wishes for he is sayd not only to have solicited Pope Pelagius to employ able Ministers for reducing into Christs fold a Nation both in name and beauty resembling Angels but when the difficulty of the journey the uncertain event of it the savagenes of the Nations manners and roughnes of their language had terrifyed all men from the attempt he himself petitiond for and obtain'd so dangerous art employment and had proceeded three days in the iourney towards Brittany when the Pope was forced to recall him by reason the Citty of Rome loudly murmured to be deprived of so excellent and so necessary a person who was only fit to succeed in the Chair of S. Peter and to watch over the whole Church 3. S. Gregories holy intentions therefore seemd to sleep till himself was invested with power to promote so heroically Christian an affaire and sixe years were spent in his Pontificat before he could find persons capable of the courage to undertake it It may be wondred that among the Brittish Clergy their temporall losses should work so deeply on their minds that they should envy heaven to their Conquerours and that not any should be found among them willing to preach Christ among a blind people to whom he was unknown 4. But such uncharitablenes and unchristian aversenes from the spirituall good of their enemies is observ'd avd condemn'd in the Brittains by our Ancient Writers Gildas and S. Beda as is fully testified by this expression of the latter of these two pious Historians Among other unexpressibly heynous crimes of his countreymen which the Brittish Historian Gildas describes and deplores in his mournfull stile he adds this also That they would never be brought to preach the Word of Christian Faith to the Nations of the Saxons and Angli inhabiting Brittany with them 5. Indeed if the Brittains had undertaken a commission of such a Nature small successe could have been expected For as hath been sayd heretofore the whole Nation both Ecclesiasticks and Laicks were so coverd withall sorts of vices that such Teachers would have disgraced that Holy Truth which they profess'd in words but renounced by their actions Therefore the Divine piety saith same Saint Beda did not desert his people whom he foresaw but destin'd far more worthy Preachers to the Saxon Nation by whom they should be effectually induced to beleive 6. Notwithstanding in despight of such evident Testimonies a Modern Protestant Historian of the highest rank without any ground from Antiquity or any Motive but a hatred to the Apostolick See of Saint Peter will needs entitle the Brittish Preachers to the Conversion of severall of our Saxon Princes before Saint Augustins arrivall from Rome He had rather acknowledge for the founders and Apostles of the Christian Churches in this kingdome men by their own Writers describ'd to be enormously cruel haters of Truth and lovers of lyes men wholly polluted with luxury drunkennes animosities strifes contentions envy and all other vices in a word such men as provoked God to destroy their own Nation and therefore very improper instruments of the salvation of strangers then professe any obligation to Saint Gregory for his vertues and piety onely sirnam'd Great by the whole Church a man eminent for his learning exemplary for his piety illustrious for his Miracles and by constant Tradition acknowledged the Apostle of England 7. Another Protestant Controvertist on the same motive of envy will shamelesly ascribe to the French Clergy the greatest share in the Conversion of the Saxons Whereas how slow they were in teaching the true Faith to their neighbours even when some of them desirous of information implor'd their help we find testified bz Saint Gregories complaint in letters to the French Kings Theodoric and Theodebert themselves and their Queen Brunichildis Where he acquaints them that he was credibly inform'd that the English Nation through Gods mercy were in a willing disposition to receive the Christian Faith but that the French Clergy and Bishops their neighbours were negligent and voyd of all Pastorall solicitude towards them And therefore least the soules of that Nation should perish in eternall damnation he had undertaken the care to send the bearer of those Letters Augustin c. 8. But let it be suppos'd that the Apostles of the Saxons had been Brittish or French Preachers certain it is they would have been far enough from teaching them such doctrines as these men have publish'd in their Writings They would neither by their words nor example have taught the Clergy the conveniency of wives or independency on the Governours of Gods Church Nor the Layty to deny due veneration to Gods Saints to tread under feet their sacred ashes to demolish Monasteries to detest vows of Chastity to renounce Roman Rites to abominate the Holy Sacrifice and Altars to abiure all care and charity to the dead c. So that whosoever were the Planters of the Christian Faith among the Saxons such Preachers as Parker and Sutcliff are not their Successours but supplanters of the same Faith 9. Now whereas Saint Gregory signifies that the Nation of the Angli were willing to embrace the Christian Faith we cannot ascribe this good disposition in
thy fury from this Citty and this thy Holy house Alleluia Thus the Holy Crosse once more took possession of the place from which it had been banished and thus the oraculous speech pronounced by S. Gregory began to be accomplished that Alleluia should be sung in that Pagan countrey 11. Let us now observe how these Holy Missioners employed their time Of this the same S. Beda will inform us That assoon as they were entred into the Mansion which the King had given them they began to imitate the Apostolick life of the Primitive Church by attending to assiduous prayers watching and fasting by preaching the word of life to all they could by despising all worldly things as if they belonged not to them by receiving from their Disciples only such things as were meerly necessary for their subsistence by practising themselves according to the preceps which they taught others and lastly by having minds prepar'd to suffer any adversities even death it self for that Truth which they preached Insomuch as not a few beholding the simplicity of their innocent lives and admiring the sweetnes of their celestiall doctrine beleived and were baptis'd 12. The same Authour further declares that the Church of S. Martin deputed for the Queens devotions as hath been said was the first publick place where they met together sung prayd celebrated Masses preach'd and baptis'd till after the Kings conversion they received a great liberty to preach and build Churches every where 13. Here we may see what manner of entring these our Apostles had among us and how they turn'd our Ancestours from Idols to serve the living and true God Neither was their Gospell in speech only but in power and in the Holy Ghost and a plenitude of his Gifts and miracles as shall be shewd The Preachers are Monks they are sent by the authority of the Bishop of Rome they carry the banner of the Holy Crosse and the Image of our Saviour before them they celebrate Masses they work miracles For all which they are honour'd their memory is precious through all Gods Church almost a thousand years together But now one Apostat Monk can perswade a great part of Christians that it was not Christ which these men preach'd One Calvinisticall Bishop dares call these men Apostles to the English not of the Christian Faith or Word of God but of Roman ceremonies and Rites who taught them to become not Christians but Romanists and Papists To such blasphemous accusations as these no answer ought to be given Quia meliùs eas committo fidelium gemitibus quà m sermonibus meis V. CHAP. 1.2 Many Converted 3.4 S. Augustin goes to Arles to be ordained Bishop and why 1. BY the life and preaching of these Holy men no small number of Converts were gathered to the Church which were baptis'd on the day of Pentecost in the forementioned Church of S. Martin But shortly after far greater multitudes follow'd their Example Whether King Ethelbert was one of those then baptis'd does not expressly appear in any of our ancient Records 2. That which S. Beda relates touching him in particular is thus express'd Among others King Ethelbert was much delighted with the purity of these Saints lives and with the comfortable sweetnes of their promises the truth and certainty whereof they confirmed with many evident miracles So that in the end he also beleived and was baptised After which very many others dayly began to flock together that they might heare the word of God by which they were perswaded to relinquish their Gentile Superstitions and to unite themselves to the holy Church of Christ. Which the King perceiving he much congratulated their Faith and Conversion and embraced them with more ardent Charity as being fellow cittizens with him of the Kingdom of Heaven but yet he compelled none to the profession of Christianity For he had learnt from the Teachers and Authours of his salvation that the service of Christ must be voluntary and not by compulsion 3 Saint Augustin seeing a Harvest so plentifull and ripe according to the instructions formerly given him by Saint Gregory went back into France there to be ordained Bishop because besides the power of administring Baptisme the other Sacrament of Confirmation was requisite by which these tender plants might be strengthned in the Faith Which Sacrament could not be administred but by the hand and power of a Bishop This is testified by the same Saint Beda saying In the mean while the man of God Augustin went to Arles in France where by the Arch-bishop of that Citty Etherius or rather Virgilius he was Consecrated Arch-bishop of the Nation of the Angli according as he had received commands from Saint Gregory This was performed the sixteenth day before the Calends of December saith Sir H. Spelman 4. It may be demanded why Saint Augustin should receive his Episcopal consecration from the Bishop of Arles the furthest distant from him in France and not rather from the Prelat of Lyons or some other nearer to Brittany The reason hereof doubtles was because such a Prerogative belonged to the Church of Arles which Saint Gregory who was most observant of Ecclesiasticall rights would by no means infringe This prerogative that See challenged and enjoyed because that was the first Church in those parts which had received a Bishop S. Trophimus ordained by the Apostle S. Peter himself as appears by an Epistle of the Bishops of that Province to S. Leo in which they iustify their rights and priviledges of Ordination against the pretentions of their neighbour Church of Vienna 5. It was a great prejudice to the New Saxon Church that the year before S. Augustins coming into Brittany the Holy Bishop Saint Asaph Successour to S. Kentigern in the Bishoprick of Elwy in wales should dye as likewise S. Columba the same year that Saint Augustin arrived For doubtles the authority and piety of two such eminent Saints would have prevented the contestations petulancy of the Brittish Bishop which followed VI. CHAP. 1.2 c. Saint Augustin consecrates an Idol-Temple near Canterbury into a Church dedicated to S. Pancraece 6. A prodigy caused by the Devill there against S. Augustin 7.8 He builds a Church and Monastery to Saint Peter and Saint Paul near the Citty 9. And another in the Citty to our Saviour 10. He places a Suffragan Bishop in the Church of S. Martin 1. SAint Augustin having been consecrated by Virgilius Arch-bishop of Arles returned into Brittany in the year of Grace five hundred ninety eight where he was received by King Ethelbert with greater reverence then before who assigned to him an Episcopal See in the same Citty which he afterward enriched with great possessions as S. Beda testifies 2. This New Episcopall Church was not that of S. Martin where the Queen was formerly wont to pray But it was a Temple anciently frequented by the King whilst he was a Pagan and was situated in the
midway between the Church of Saint Martin and the walls of the Citty In this Temple after it had been purified from its former Superstitions and the Idol cast out S. Augustin consecrated to the honour of S. Pancratiâ—â— 3. Concerning which Church Sir H. Spelman in his Councils furnishes us with this Extrait out of an ancient Manuscript of the foundation of S. Augustins Monastery in Canterbury Augustin being ordaind Bishop returned into England and was received by the King and peoâ—ple with all becoming solemnity and by the same Kings grant obtaind an Episcopall See in the Citty of Canterbury which was the Primatial Church of the English Nation The pious King himself undertaking the Patronage of that Church did triumph through ioy constituting him the President of his Metropolis whom before he had received as a poore stranger Neither did he onely make him a Spirituall Watchman over his Citty but his whole Dominions also translating the throne of his Kingdom into a Pontificall Seat and his Royal Court into a Church of Christ. 4. Yea moreover to shew that he had putt off the old man with his acts and putt on the New by the wholesom advice of the blessed Bishop he caused that Idol-temple seated Eastward from the Citty between the Church of S. Martin and the walls in which he had oft according to the rite of his Superstition sacrifised to Devills and not to God to be purged from the pollutions of Paganism and having broken in peices the Idol which was in it he changed it into an Ecclesiasticall Synagogue and caused it to be consecrated by the name of S. Pancratius Martyr And this was the first Church dedicated by our Patriark and prime Prelat S. Augustin 5. Now it was very convenient and suitable to reason that the blessed child Pancratius who at Rome the Mistresse of the world was honoured as a famous Martyr should especially be venerated by the English since that certain English Children exposed to sale in Rome by their beauty and brightnes had moved Saint Gregory then an Abbot in the Monastery of S. Andrew built by himself to associate those English children with Angels 6. After this narration there follows in the same Manuscript a relation of a prodigy caused by the Devill enraged against Saint Augustin for eiecting him out of his possession Whilst the blessed Bishop S Augustin saith that Authour was celebrating Masse the first time in the same Church the Enemy of mankind envying the purity of the English Nation likely to be much encreased by the child Saint Pancratius and out of rage to see himself expelled from a place possessed by him so long a time he endeavoured all he could to destroy that Church to the ground A rent in the Eastern wall of it plainly seen to this day which he made with his nayles is a sufficient witnes of his rage By which is evident that the Masse is not hated by Calvinists alone 7. King Ethelberts liberality ended not here for as the same Authour writes Saint Augustin obtained of him after this a certain portion of land adjoyning in which the King built a Church to the honour of the Apostles S Peter and S. Paul to be as it were a perpetuall munition and Safe-guard for himself and his whole kingdom and instituted therin a Convent of Monks to serve God for ever over whom was canonically chosen and placed Abbot a Monk called Peter one of S. Augustins companions sent thither from the See Apostolick But between the foundation and endowment of this Monastery there intervened six years saith Sir H. Spelman as appears by the Charters of that Foundation 8. In this Church saith S. Beda the Bodies of S. Augustin and his Successours the Arch-bishops of Canterbury as likewise of the Kings of Kent were designed to be buried Notwithstanding this Church was not consecrated by S. Augustin but by his Successour S. Laurentius And the first Abbot of the Monastery was Peter a Preist 9. S. Augustin also by the liberality and assistance of the King obtaind another Church in the same Citty which as he was informed had been built by the ancient Christians in the time of the Romans This Church he consecrated to the glory of our Lord and Saviour and adioyning thereto he fixed an habitation for himself Successours where he lived with such Clerks as he had brought with him out of France who performed all the Ecclesiasticall Offices in the Church For a Monastery was not instituted in that Church till the age following And though these Latter Monks contended with the other for antiquity yet they lost their cause For as the Authour of the forementioned Manuscript observes in all the authenticall Priviledges granted by Popes to the Monastery of S. Peter and S. Paul we find this clause inserted As in the infancy of Christianity in England this was the first wherein Monasticall Instituts were observed So we decree that it with all belonging to it remain for ever free from all service undisturbed by all secular noyse and tumults and exempted from all Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction and burdens 10. Moreover the Church of S. Martin without the walls of the Citty eastward in which the Queen before had performed her Devotions he made an Episcopall See in which he placed a Suffragan Bishop Corepiscopum who was alwayes to remain at home or at the Archiepiscopall Palace within the Citty and supplied the place of the Arch-bishop when he was to attend the King or to be absent upon occasion of Visitations or other affaires At such times he celebrated Solemnities in the Metropolitan Church after which he returned home He being a Monk had power to call Monks to his assistance He performed the Office of Arch-deacon and summoned ordered and corrected such Clergy-men as pertained to the Arch-bishop but those Clergy-men which lived in the Mannâ—rs pertaining to the Monks were corrected by the Priour of the Church otherwise called the Dean The same Suffragan Bishop likewise conferred the Minour Orders in the Arch-bishops absence Yet we doe not find that ever he was summoned to Councills or subscribed in them This custom continued till the beginning of King William the Conquerours raign At which time the last of such Suffragan Bishops was Godwin who dying in the fourth year of his raign S. Lanfranc then Arch-bishop refused to substitute another in his place alledging that two Bishops must not be in one Citty whereas his See was out of the Citty Therefore instead of a Suffragan Bishop he constituted one of his Clarks Arch-deacon For which he was by many condemned Though in that age generally through the Church those Corepiscopi were suffred to expire because it was found that they took too much upon themselves so as to consecrate Holy Oyles to ordain Preists c. insomuch as for humbling them many Decrees had been made in Councills c. VII CHAP. 1.2 c. Ten thousand baptized by S. Augustin by the
their own confines and attempted nothing either openly or privily against the English Nation But from the Scotts we will passe to the Brittains and their contentions with the now Christian-Saxons about the Church and Ecclesiasticall Rites XVI CHAP. i. 2 c The death of S. Gregory the Great his admirable Sanctity c. 1. THE year of Grace six hundred and four is memorable to the whole Church but especially to Brittany for the death of S. Gregory the Supreme Pastor and the glorious Apostle of our Nation as likewise for the Generall Synod of Brittany convoked by S. Augustin in which there was a convention not only of Saxon and Brittish Bishops but likewise of severall from among the Picts and Scotts 2. As touching S. Gregory we read thus in S. Beda The blessed Pope Gregory after he had most gloriously governed the Roman and Apostolick Church thirteen years six months and ten days departed this life and was translated to an eternall Throne in the Kingdom of Heaven Whose memory we are obliged to celebrate in our History as being truly the Apostle of our Nation which by his industry was converted from the power of Satan to the Faith of Christ. For being elevated to the Pontificat over the whole world and made a Prelat of Churches already embracing the true Faith he made our Nation till his days enslaved to Idols a Church of Christ so that to him we may apply that of the Apostle For the seale of his Apostleship are we in our Lord. 3. His Memory is celebrated through the whole Chuch of God both Eastern and Western on the twelfth of March On which day we thus read in the Roman Martyrologe At Rome the commemoration of S. Gregory Pope and eminent Doctour of the Church who for many illustrious acts and converting the English Nation to the Faith of Christ hath the Title of Great and is called the Apostle of the English 4. The many glorious Gests of this Holy Pope not pertaining to our present subject I willingly omitt because either generally well known or easily to be found in Ecclesiasticall Historians and I will content my self with adioyning here a double Character given of him by two learned and Holy Bishops of Spain S. Isidor of Sevill and S. Ildefonsus of Toledo The former of which thus writes of him Pope Gregory Prelat of the Roman and Apostolick See was a Man full of compunction and fear of our Lord eminent in humility and endued with so great light of Divine knowledge by the grace of Gods Spirit that none was ever equall to him either in the times he lived in or any before him In the next place S. Ildefonsus gives this parallel description of the Pope He shone so bright saith he with the perfection of all vertues and merits that excluding all comparisons of any other illustrious persons Antiquity never shewed the world any one like to him He excelled S. Antony in Sanctity S. Cyprian in eloquence S. Augustin in wisedom c. 5. I ought to have bespoken the Protestant readers patience and now demand his pardon for representing this our Apostle reiected and disgraced by severall of them in the features and colours drawn by two such eminent Bishops who liv'd either in or near the same age with him and whose iudgment approv'd by the whole Christian world till this last age in reason deserves rather to be relyed upon then that of a few Apostats who liv'd almost a thousand years after him But I leave it to their consciences to determine whether this holy Pope deserv'd in England especially that such severe Laws should be enacted and such cruelties executed against him as have been against those who preach Christ as he did by the confession of Protestant Writers themselves And they must of necessity answer Yes for certainly if his Successours and disciples deserve these rigorous scourges he who seduced them deserved to be tormented with Scorpions XVII CHAP. 1. 2. c. A great Synod of Saxons Brittains c. assembled by S. Augustin 5.6 c. The place is uncertain 7.8 The Names of the Bishops 1. SAint Beda after recounting the death of this our Apostle S. Gregory proceeds to relate the actions of S. Augustin the same year in these words In the mean time Augustin by the assistance of King Ethelbert convoked to a Synod the Bishops or Doctours of the greatest and next Province of the Brittains who mett together in a place to this day in the English tongue calld Augustins-ac or Oake seated in the confines of the Wiccij or inhabitants of Worcester shire and the West-Saxons 2. Now this Synod having been a matter of great importance we will endeavour to frame with some diligence a Narration concerning it that is touching the place where it was celebrated the persons assembled in it and the speciall matters debated amongst them 3. The place though named with some Circumstances by S. Beda yet after such a vicissitude and chāge both of men and language is not at this day obvious or easy to be found It is doubtfull whether Augustins-Oke in S. Beda signifies simply a Tree only or a village among such trees that is Whether the Synod was held abroad in the open aire or in some house The former seems more probable to Sir H. Spelman for saith he It was an ancient custome in Brittany to hold their assemblies abroad for under a roof the Brittains apprehended danger by witch-craft or fascination as hath been formerly mentiond out of Beda at the meeting of King Ethelbert with this same S. Augustin Notwithstanding though by S. Beda's relation such was the Superstition of the Infidel Saxons no ground appears why it should be imputed to the Christian Brittains much lesse to S. Augustin and his companions who were Romans 4. It is therfore more likely that this Synod was celebrated within-dores in a place or village which had its appellation from an Oake and from this meeting obtaind the addition of S. Augustins name And herein it resembled an ancient Synod assembled by Theophilus against S. Iohn Chrysostom in the suburbs of the Citty of Chalcedon which was calld Ad quercum The Synod at the oak from some notable Oak which had stood near the Palace where the Bishops sate 5. But where to find this village is yet uncertain Camden with all his diligence and perspicacity leaves it in the dark For in his perambulation of the Province of the Wiccij mentiond by S. Beda he gives onely this account of it About this territory there is a place but the position of it is uncertain calld Augustins-ake or Oak at which Augustin the Apostle of England and the Brittish Bishops mett and after many hott disputes about celebrating Easter preaching the word of God to the Saxons and celebrating Baptism after the Roman rite they parted from one another with disagreeing minds 6. Notwithstanding if leave may be allowd to coniecture why
may we not suppose that a place in the outward limits of Worcestershire calld Ausric contractedly from Austinsric may not have that appellation from S. Augustin and this Synod There is another village likewise in the confines of Warwickshire calld Haustake which has some resemblance to the name in S. Beda And each of these lay commodiously enough for the meeting of the Brittains For Speed's opinon that this Synod was held in Hampshire wants probability both because that disagrees from the limits of the place describ'd by S. Beda and that province was not at all opportune for the Brittains 7. Next touching the persons meeting in this Synod our Ecclesiasticall Writers speak very indistinctly Sir H. Spelman affirms that wee may truly call this Synod Panbritannicam an Vniversall Synod of the whole Isle of Brittany since therin were assembled not only the Saxons under Augustin and his Roman companions but a multitude of Brittains likewise there were moreover some Scotts and Picts quarelling about Easter The names of those who mett at the first Session are unknown David Powel writes thus To this Synod were calld seaven Bishops of the Brittains For in those dayes that number of principall Churches after the Asiatick manner had their Ordinations under the Metropolitan of Menevia or Saint Davids Thus he from the Apostat Bale but most unskillfully 8. For neither can it be shewd that in Asia every Metropolitan had under him the determinat number of seaven Suffragans On the contrary it appears from the Synod of Ephesus that the Metropolitan of Pamphilia a Province of Asia by ancient custom had under him only two Bishops which custom was ratified by that Synod Neither is there any shew of probability that the Brittains in their Ordinations and Rites followd the Asiatick customs On the contrary we have demonstrated before that Saint David Saint Kentigern and other Holy Bishops in Brittany receiv'd their exemplar and Rule from the See Apastolick And particularly S. Kentigern at his death gave and left to his Disciples forcible precepts concerning the observation of the duties of holy Religion c. and a firm unshaken adherence to the Decrees of the Ancient Fathers and Instituts of the Holy Roman Church 9. Therfore it we consult Saint Beda and Henry of Huntingdom who writes conformably to him we shall find that in this Synod there were two Sessions and that to the first there came with Saint Augustin onely Mellitus and Iustus who were then probably designed but not yet consecrated Bishops And of the Brittains neither is the number of them defind nor the name of one of them recorded At the Second Session indeed Giraldus Camâ—â—ensis acknowledges the presence of seaven Brittish Bishops but seeks not out of Asia a reason of that Number for he writes thus The reason why at that time there were seaven Bishops in Brittany wheras at this day there are only four may be because in those dayes there were more Cathedrall Churches in Wales then now and perhaps Wales it self was further extended then at this day XVIII CHAP. 1 The Gests of that Synod 2.3 c. Calumnies of Protestant Writers against S. Augustin for pride and Ambition disprov'd 6.7 c. Saint Beda's true Narration of the Gests of the Synod And Saint Augustins doctrine confirmed by a Miracle 10.11 Wherein consisted the Errour of the Brittains about the Paschall Solemnity 1. ENough hath been sayd concerning circumstantiall matters of place and persons regarding this Synod in neither of which we can find any full satisfaction That which most imports us to know is the busines it self for which the Synod was assembled Which if we consult our ancient Historians will appear manifestly enough Wheras some Modern Writers since the Change of Religion incited by passion doe from their own invention and without any testimony of Antiquity tell us of ambitious designs of S. Augustin to establish his Tyranny over both the Saxons and Brittains and to introduce Roman ceremonies and superstitions unknown to the Brittains and prudently reiected by them 2. Thus writes David Powel Augustin saith he celebrated a Synod with this design to subdue to himself the Clergy of all Brittany and render them obsequious to the Roman Church Thus likewise the Centuriators of Magdeburg Augustin a Roman a Benedictin Monk was in the year 582. sent by Pope Gregory into England to gain it to the Roman Bishop and to subdue it to his gainfull and Superstitious Iurisdiction c. And again The same Augustin Bishop of the Angli mett in a Synod with the Bishops of the Brittains and Scotts and required of them to submitt themselves to him and to undergoe the common labour of preaching the Gospell to the Saxons They adde further He in a Synod obtruded on the Brittish Churches the Roman Rites and customs to wit Altars Vestments Images Masses Chalices Crosses Candlesticks Incense Banners Sacred Vessels Holy Water Books of Roman Ceremonies Oblations Processions Pomps Tithes and such like things hitherto unknown to the Brittains who were content with the Asiatick and Greek Ceremonies He requir'd moreover that they should celebrate Easter at the same time with him administer Baptism with the Roman Rites preach the Gospel to the Saxons together with him and acknowledge him for their Arch-bishop As if these Ceremonies and solemnities in Administring the Sacraments were unknown either to the Grecian or Brittish Churches When as S. Chrysostom severall ages before this time who was an Asiatick Preist and Grecian Bishop testifies of the ancestours of these Brittains that they had experience of the power of the Gospel For Churches were founded among them and Altars erected c. And hundreds of Examples have already been related in this History of the like 3. Such Impudent calumnies may be expected from Writers who had no other designs in their labours But they are not not pardonable in Sir H. Spelman a man versed in antiquity and who ordinarily is ingenuous in his Writings yet he likewise imputes to S. Augustin a design of subduing the Brittish Churches For the first thing demanded by Augustin in this Synod saith he was Obedience to the Roman Church And to that purpose he annexes to the sayd Synod a Writing translated out of Welsh and compiled by an unknown Authour in an unknown age as himself confesses but suppos'd to be the Answer of an Abbot of Bangor to Saint Augustin wherin he tells him Other obedience besides that of Charity I doe not acknowledge due to the man whom you call Pope c. Besides this We are already under the government of the Bishop of Caer-leon upon Vsk who under God is to have inspection over us to make us observe the spirituall rule and way 4. This New found Schedule though by him earnestly endeavourd to be iustified has been by many Catholick Writers sufficiently disprov'd and there needs no more to make it appear a Forgery then that passage wherin the
into a formed Schism as Baronius suspects and others who make mention of an Interdict imposed by S. Gregory on the publick Schooles in Brittany of which no ground can be found in our ancient Writers But why this Letter should be written to the Brittish Preists and not their Bishops it does not appear 7. The same Saint Beda discoursing of the pious industry of our Holy Bishop in promoting Vnity thus concludes How much good he wrought by these his endeavours and labours the present times declare By which expression he implies that the ceasing of those Controversies which in S. Beda's time were quite silenced was much to be imputed to the care and industry of S. Laurence For we shall see him shortly not contenting himself with writing letters but undertaking a voyage into Ireland c. to promote Ecclesiasticall Vnity and that with good successe II. CHAP. i. 2 c. S. Mellitus his iourney to Rome touching Monks that they might have a power of Elections And to know whether they might be employed in Pastorall Functions c. 1. THere is extant in Sir Henry Spelman the Copy of a third Charter of King Ethelbert by which he gave to the Monastery of S. Peter and S. Paul a village named Sturigaâ— otherwise Cistelet together with many other precious Gifts all which he offred for the redemption of his soule and out of hope of eternall retribution Adding that in the same Church he provided a place of buriall for himself and Successours hoping that he should be loosed from the chains of his sins and conducted into the gate of eternall happines by the Prince of the Apostles to whom our Lord delivered the Keyes of heaven giving him the power of binding and loosing c. Which Charter is dated the year six hundred and ten which was the fiftieth year of the same Kings raign 2. At the same time saith S. Beda Mellitus Bishop of London went to Rome there to treat with Pope Boniface about affairs nearly concerning the English Church Being arrived the Pope assembled a Synod of the Bishops of Italy with an intention to make ordinances concerning the life and secure quietnes of Monks In which Synod Mellitus sate among the Italian Bishops and by his authority subscribed and confirmed the Decrees regularly ordained which at his return into Brittany he caried with him that they might be observed there The same Pope likewise wrote Epistles to the Holy Arch-bishop Laurence and to the Clergy as also to King Ethelbert and the English Nation This Synod was celebrated in the eighth year of the Empire of Phâ—cas and the thirteenth Indiction 3. In this Narration we find insinuated the principall Motive of Mellitus his iourney to Rome which was to provide for the life and quiet of Monks Which will more manifestly appear by Pope Bonifacius his Letters to the King and Arch-bishop but especially by a Decree of the said Pope 4. There were two speciall Points concerning Monasticall Institution the clearing of which did much concern the present State of the English Church the first was a care to make them immortall by a succession by permitting the present Monks to chuse and assume into the same Profession such among the Brittains as they found well disposed thereto This permission and power King Ethelbert by Mellitus desired to be confirmed by the Pope which he easily obtained as appears by Bonifacius his answer extant in a Letter of Pope Alexander many ages after written to S. Lanfranc Arch-bishop of Canterbury in which we read this passage extracted out of it That which thou O glorious Son hast desired of the Apostolick See by our Fellow-bishop Mellitus we willingly grant and by our Apostolick authority decree namely that your Royal benignity may appoint an habitation of Monks living regularly and that the present Monks who were the Preachers of Salvation to you may associate to themselves a congregation of Monks and adorn them with holy Instituts in the Monastery which your Holy Doctour Augustin the Disciple of Gregory of Blessed Memory did consecrate in the Citty of Canterbury to the Name of our Holy Saviour in which at present our beloved Brother Laurence is Prelat This our present Decree if any of your Successours Kings or Bishops c. shall attempt to make voyd let him be subject to Anathema c. This part of Pope Bonifacius his Letter is recited out of Pope Alexanders by Eadmer the Monk and the entire Letter is extant in the Annals of Peterborough 5. The other Point seems to have been touching the employing of Monks in the Office of preaching administring Sacraments and other Pastorall Dutyes which some thought improper for Monks who are obliged to Solitude But this Controversy had been before decided by S. Gregory in his employing onely Monks in the English Mission and was confirmed by Pope Boniface the fourth in a Solemne Decree by which he declares from the Examples of S Martin S. Gregory and the late S. Augustin that the power of binding and loosing may worthily be administred by Monks Neither saith he did S. Benedict the glorious Institutour of Monkes in his Rule forbid this but only commanded them to abstain from secular affairs Which last Clause strongly proves against Baronius that S. Augustin Saint Laurence S. Mellitus S. Iustus and the rest yea S. Gregory also were Disciples of S. Benedict and subject to his Rule The Summe of this Decree is referr'd into the Canon Law by Gratian Cap. Sunt nonnulli 16. q. 1. And other authorities added froÌ„ whence he concludes thus By all these authorities it is clearly demonstrated that Monks may lawfully give Pennance baptise and administer other Preistly Offices 6. If the Acts of this Roman Synod had not been lost we should no doubt have read their judgment touching the Consecration of the Church of Westminster performed as hath been declared by S. Peter himself But the result of it appears by what William of Malmsbury writes It is believed saith he that the Mystery of its Consecration was never repeated which was shewd to have been perfected by so many Candles lighted in the Church Crosses made Holy Water sprinckled and marks of Sacred Oyle in the due places Human diligence therefore gave place to an Office divinely administred prophetically declaring how illustrious that Church and Monastery would prove in which the Apostle himself exercised the Pontificall Office III. CHAP. 1. Of Saint Golven a Bishop in Lesser Brittany 2. Of S. Baldred or S. Balter 3. S. Mellitus his return from Rome 4 Ceolulf King of the West-Saxons dying Kinegils succeeds 1. THE same year dyed S. Golvin Bishop of Leon in Lesser Brittany who in our Martyrologe is sayd to have been an Englishman But whether thereby be meant a Brittain I cannot define In the Gallican Martyrologe his Commemoration is thus expressed On the first of Iuly at Leon in Armorica under the Arch-bishoprick of Tours is celebrated the Memory of
down to rest and was falln asleep there appeared to him the most Blessed Prince of the Apostles who after many sharp stripes inflicted on him askd him with an Apostolick Severity Why he would forsake the flock with which he had entrusted him And to what Pastours care he would committ the sheep of Christ now encompassed with so many wolves Hast thou forgott said he the example I have given thee who for the good of those Lambs which our Lord in testimony of his love recommended to mee suffred from Infidels and enemies of Christ bonds stripes prisons torments and in conclusion death it self even the death of the Crosse for which I am now crownd with him 9. The servant of Christ Laurence being encouraged with these stripes and exhortations of the Blessed Apostle as soon as morning appeared went to the King and laying aside his vestment shewd him how greivously his body had been torn with whipps The King wondring at it demanded who durst be so presumptuous to treat so worthy a person so cruelly But when he was informed that the Bishop had for his Salvation and eternall happines suffred so sharp torments he was struck with great feare 10. We will awhile interrupt the prosecution of S. Beda's Narration of the happy effect of this Miracle in the Kings conversion to attend the iudgment given hereof by some Modern Protestants especially the Centuriators of Magdebury whose censure is this These things were prettily feigned by Laurence to astonish a Pagan King for none but superstitious fooles will beleive that he was in earnest scourged by Peter Saint Beda then it seems was misinformed S. Laurence was a cheating lyar and all posterity superstitiously credulous yea God himself who prospered this invention with the Kings Conversion and the restitution of the Christian Faith in these mens iudgment stood in need of a lye to perfect his own work Certain it is that above eight hundred years since Alcuinus a man of admirable learning made use of this argument of S. Laurence his being chastised by S. Peter to encourage a then Arch-bishop of Canterbury chased from his See And the same example was afterward applied by Osbern a Monk and Precentor of Canterbury to S. Anselm declining the burden of the same Church But what proofs have those Censurers to disprove Saint Beda's Narration None at all but their bare assertion That these lying Miracles were contrived to support an Opinion that Saints have power to hurt those with whom they are displeased So that it seems in their opinion the reall scourging of a man is an act exceeding Gods Omnipotence VIII CHAP. 1.2 c. Edwin Prince of the Northumbers banished His dangers 7.8 He is comforted by an Angell 9 10. His Enemy Ethelfrid slain 1. WE must a little longer delay the relation of the happy effects which the visible marks of S. Laurence his stripes wrought in the mind of the Pagan King Eadbalous which effects began to be publickly seen the year following to insert another illustrious Example of Gods Goodnes to our Nation in exalting to the Throne of the Northumbers a Prince called Edwin by the destruction of that cruel King Etheâ—frâ—d the murderer of so many hundred innocent Monks of Bangor Which Edwin not long after embracing the Christian Faith raised up a glorious Church in those rude and barbarous Provinces which were indeed the first towards whom S. Gregory intended to expresse his Charity upon the sight of a few beautiâ—ull young slaves from hence exposed to sale in the Market at Rome 2. This Edwin was the Son of Alla King of the Deiri or Northumbers to whose name S. Gregory alluded saying that Alleluia's should ere long be sung in his Kingdom Now Alla dying in the year of Grace five hundred eighty nine and leaving his only Son Edwin but three years old the throne due to him was usurped by Ethelfrid sirnamed the Cruel or Savage 3. Edwin living in this Tyrants Court grew up an example of all vertues and endowments which rendred him agreable to all but formidable to Ethelfrid Who yet though he haâ—ed him as one who both had right to the Kingdom and deserved it yet he durst not lay snares for his life fearing in case such designs should want successe least considering the generall compassion and love born to Edwin a party should declare in his behalf and endanger his Crown Therefore imputing to him some feign'd crimes he sent him into Exile hoping that by poverty want of freinds and discontent he would quickly shorten his own life 4. Before his banishment he had maried Quenburga the daughter of Ceorl King of the Mercians who accompanied him in his exile and brought him two sons Offrid and Edfrid after which she dyed before his restitution And Edwin fearing the Tyrants trains was forced to disguise himself and shift from place to place in the habit of a peasant Till at last going into the Kingdom of the East-Angles he committed himself to the faith of Redwald King there in whose Court he lived with great splendour being acceptable both to the King and all others for his rare endowments for he divided his time between reading and Martiall Exercises and in both he so far advanced himself that his fame was spread through the whole Island 5. In the mean time Ethelfrid sought his destruction by all the ways he could imagine sending spyes every where to discover him and assassins to murder him But at last hearing that he was so kindly entertained among the East-angles he resolved either with treasure to buy or with an army to procure his death He sent therefore an Embassadour to Redwald by whom at first he offred great summs of money to purchase the delivering up of Edwin But those offers being rejected he next threatned open war upon refusall This threatning terrified Redwald in somuch as chusing rather to expose the single life of a stranger then hazzard the destruction of his kingdom he yeilded to the solicitations of Ethelfrid promising either to deliver him up or to take order for the shortning his life 6. These Treaties between the two Kings were not caried so secretly but Edwin had notice of them and by the change of King Redwalds countenance and gestures began to suspect his own danger Which suspicion was changed into assurance by an advice given him by a freind of Redwalds resolution Which freind advised him to secure himself by flight offring himself his companion and guide therin But Edwins answer was That having had so many years experience of Redwalds fidelity and generosity he would not be the first to shâ—w a suspicion of so base a crime in a King and that if he must perish he would chuse to doe it rather by the hand of a freind then of a declared Enemy With this resolution he dismissed his freind This discourse betwen them for the greater privacy passed in a solitary place and in the evening when it began to
place calld Hethfeild in which King Edwin was slain on the fourth day before the Ides of October and the year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred thirty three in the forty eighth year of his age and his whole army was either slain or dispersed 5. In the same battell was also slain King Edwins son Offrid a little before his Father And because this war was managed by him in defence of Gods Church and Christian Faith against its barbarous enemies our Ancestors have allways esteemd Kind Edwin a Saint and Martyr so that his name deservedly enioys a place in our Martyrologe on the fourth of December Where likewise it is sayd that a Church was anciently consecrated to him in London and another in Somersetshire at a Town calld Brewe His head saith S. Beda was brought to York and buried in the Church of S. Peter the Apostle begun by himself but finished by his Successour Oswald It was layd in the Porch of S Gregory Pope by the preaching of whose Disciples he had received the Word of life 6. What followd the death of this Blessed King is thus further related by the same Authour At that time there was made a most greivous slaughter in the Church and Nation of the Northumbers inasmuch as one of the Leaders was a Pagan and the other because in his nature barbarous more cruel then a Pagan For Penda with his whole Nation was devoted wholly to Idols and ignorant of Christianity But Carduella or Cedwalla though in name and outward profession he was a Christian notwithstanding in his mind and manners he was so very barbarous that be spared neither sex nor age but like a raging wild beast with cruel torments killd all he could meet with A long time he ranged through the countrey every where exercising his savage cruelty determining to root out of the land the whole Saxon race Neither had he any regard to Christian Religion newly planted among them For such was and to this day continues the malice of the Brittains that they sett at nought the Christianity of the English with whom they will no more communicate then with Pagans 7. To this horrible slaughter may be added the most iniust murder of King Edwins second son Edfrid born to him by his former Queen Quenburga and baptised by S. Paulinus Which Edfrid saith S. Beda being thereto compelld by necessity fled to Penda King of the Mercians by whom he was afterward slain contrary to his promise confirmd by an Oath during the raign of Oswald 8. What became of the pious Queen Ethelburga the same S. Beda thus declares The affairs of the Northumbers being brought to this miserable state saith he immediatly after this slaughter S. Paulinus seing there was no security but in flight took with him the Queen Ethelburga whom he had at first conducted thither and fled with her into Kent where he was honourably received by the Arch-bishop Honorius and King Eadbald He came thither under the guard of Bassus a most valiant soldier of King Edwins and with the Queen there was her daughter Heanfled and her son Vulcfrea together with Iffi the son of Offrid both whom the afterward sent into France recommending them to the protection of King Dagobert out of the fear she had of Edbold and Oswald Kings of the Northumbers And there both those infants dying were buried with such honour as became their Royal birth and such innocent lambs of Christ. The Queen likewise caried with her great store of King Edwins most precious jewells and Vessells and among the rest a great Crosse of gold and a golden Chalice consecrated for the ministery of the Altar Both which have to this day been kept in the Church of Canterbury XXII CHAP. 1.2 S. Paulin administers the Church of Rochester 3. He repaires the Old Church of Glastonbury 4 5 His Death and Translation 6 7. c. Queen Ethelburga retires into a Monastery Her happy death 1. SAint Paulinus having been thus in duty obliged to conduct his special charge the Queen in safety to her own Countrey left not for all that his flock deprived of a good Pastor For according to S. Beda's narration he recommended the care of the Church of York to Iames his Deacon of whom we have already made mention a holy man and very observant of Ecclesiastical Order He remaind in the said Church a long time and by teaching and baptising recoverd from the Devills power very many soules There is a village neer Cataract where he most usually made his abode that beares his name to this day He was very skilfull in Church Musick and therfore when peace was afterward restord and the number of Christians augmented he became the Master of Ecclesiasticall Singing according to the custom of Rome and Canterbury and in the end full of days and merits he followd the way of his fathers 2. In the mean time S. Paulinus was not without employment in Kent The Church of Rochester saith S. Beda being vacant because Romanus who had been Prelat therof had been drownd in passing the Sea towards Rome whither he was sent by S. Iustus Arch-bishop to consult with Pope Honorius about Ecclesiasticall affairs S. Paulinus therefore at the invitation of the Arch-bishop Honorius and King Badbald undertook the charge of it till in his due time he went to heaven there to reap the fruits of his glorious labours And at his death he left in the said Church the Pall which he had received from the Pope 3. We read in the Antiquities of Glastonbury That S. Paulinus who had been Arch-bishop of York but then was Bishop of Rochester the third from S. Iustus who had been consecrated by S. Augustin came to Glastonbury where he abode a long time and made the walls of the old Church to be built from the top to the bottom of timber wheras anciently they were made of wattles and to be coverd with lead And thus that Holy Oratory remaind in the same plight till the time that the Church was burnt in the days of King Henry the first Such care had that holy Bishop that without preiudicing the Sanctity of that place an addition should be made to its beauty We find mention of this Church thus repaird by S. Paulinus in the Charters granted to it by King Inas in the year of Grace seaven hundred and four and of King Canuâ—us above three hundred years after Inas both which Charters are said to have been confirmd and signd in the same woodden Church 4. Concerning S. Paulinus nothing occurrs in our Ecclesiasticall Records till his death which hapned in the year of Grace six hundred forty four the sixth day before the Ides of October saith S. Beda after he had held the Bishoprick of Rochester nineteen years and one and twenty days He was buried in the Secretary of S. Andrew the Apostle which King Ethelbert built from the foundations in the Citty of Rochester 5.
Monastery But afterwards when a Church more magnificent was there built it was translated thither and deposed at the right hand of the Altar with veneration due to so holy a Prelat 3. How great the merit of this Blessed Bishop was saith the same S. Beda God was pleased to shew by severall Miracles It will suffise to relate onely two of them in this place A certain Preist named Vtta a man highly esteemed even by Princes for his gravity and integrity was sent into Kent to conduct from thence Eanfleda the daughter of King Edwin to be wife to King Osâ—in This Preist went thither by land but intended to return by Sea with the Virgin Before hâ—â— iourney he went to the Holy Bishop Aidan desiring his prayers for a safe iourney to himself and company The Bishop gave him his benediction and withall delivered to him some Oyle which had been sanctified saying I know that when you shall be at Sea a contrary wind and tempest will come on you but remember that when you are in danger you cast this Oyle into the Sea aend thâ— tempest will pâ—esently cease and your return will be prosperous All which particulars succeeded in order exactly as the Holy Bishop had foretold Thus the Man of God both foretold the Tempest by the Spirit of Prophecy and by the power of the same spirit though corporally absent he calmed the Tempest when it was risen The account of this Miracle I received not from a relatour of doubtfull credit but a Preist of our Church of great integrity called Cynimund who protested that it was told him by Vtta himself the Preist to whom and by whom it befell 4. The Second Miracle was that when King Penda entred with an Army into those parts and was determined to sett on fire the Royal Citty which took its name from Queen Ebba for which purpose he encompassed it with heaps of wood and other combustible matter to which fire was applied S. Aidan being then retired into his Isle of Farne about two miles distant from that Citty and seeing the fire smoke ascending up-wards he lifted up his eyes full of tears to heaven and said Behold o Lord how great mischeif Penda does to thy people Assoon as he had said those words the wind immediatly turned the flames upon those who had kindled them So that the enemies forbore to impugn the Citty which they saw was defended from heaven 5. Now though S Aidan and his White Monks did erroneously swerve from the generall practise of the Church in the Observation of Easter yet saith Baronius far be it from us to reckon among the Quartodeciman Hereticks such a man who by an Apostolick Spirit and power converted that Nation to the Faith How their practise differed from that of those Hereticks we have already declared out of S. Beda His Memory is celebrated in the Roman Martyrologe on the one and thirtieth of August where this elogium is given of him In England on the said day is the commemoration of S. Aidan Bishop of Lindesfarn whose soule S. Cuthbert then a keeper of sheep seing caried up to heaven he left his sheep and became a Monk XVI CHAP. 1.2 c. Saint Cuthbert a child sees Saint Aidans soule caried into heaven whereupon he quitts the world and retires into the Monastery of Mailros 1. THAT which the Roman Martyrologe wraps up in a few words touching the occasion of S. Cuthberts undertaking a Monasticall Profession S. Beda more at large sets down in his Book of the Life of that Saint which for the reverence due both to him and S. Aidan we will hâ—â—e transcribe And shall hereafter have â—â—equent occasion to write more of his Sanctity the rudiments whereof now began 2. When the Divine Grace which governs the lives of Gods servants was pleased that the devout young man Cuthbert by undergoing a more austere Profession should obtain a higher reward of Glory he was then employed in the guard of sheep committed to his care in the remote mountains One night it hapned that whilst he was watching in prayer his companions then being asleep he saw on a sudden a light from heaven so bright that it dispelled all the darknes and therein he saw great multitudes of Angels descending to the earth and presently after return to heaven carying with them a soule of a marvellous brightnes This sight caused great compunction in the devout youth and an earnest desire to undertake a spiritual Life that thereby he might be partaker of eternall felicity among Gods Saints And presently giving thanks and praises to God for this favour he also wakened his companions inciting them with brotherly exhortations to ioyn with him in praising God Alas poor wretches said he we are wholly given up to sleep and idlenes and are unworthy to see the light of Christs ServaÌ„ts who are always watchfull in his Praises Behold I whilst I was even now praying saw the great wonders of God the Gate of Heaven was opened and the soule of some holy person was conducted by Angels into the glory of heavenly Mansions where it will for ever blessedly behold our Lord whilst we remain negligent in this darknes below Surely this was either a Holy Bishop or some other perfect Christian whom I saw with such resplendent brightnes and such Quires of Angels caried up to heaven These words of S. Cuthbert did not a little inflame the hearts of the other Shephards to praise God 3. The next day he was informed that S. Aidan Bishop of the Church of Lindesfarn a man of admirable piety dyed that very houre in which he had seen his soule mounting to heaven Whereupon he presently resigned up the sheep which he had fed to their owner and resolved without delay to goe to a Monastery 4. S. Cuthbert now meditating seriously on his entrance into a new and more stricks life the Divine Grace was present to him confirming his mind in that good purpose and moreover by manifest signs shewed that to those who seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousnes all things necessary for bodily subsistence shall be administred For on a certain day as he was iourneying alone about the third hower he turned aside into a certain village which he saw a good distance from him and entred into the house of a certain Matron being desirous to repose there awhile and to gett food not for himself but his horse The woman received him kindly and earnestly desired that she might make some thing ready for his refection But the devout young man refused telling her that he could not eat because it was a day of Fast. For it was indeed Friday on which most faithfull Christians out of reverence to our Lords Passion doe prolong their fasting till three of the clock after noon She notwithstanding being devoutly addicted to hospitality persisted in her desire and told him that all the rest of his iourney he would find neither village nor
that the building was interrupted Insomuch as seaven years after they resolved by reason of the excessive charges to give over that structure and to translate the Body of the Abbesse into another Church already finished and dedicated Therefore opening the Sepulcher they found the Body of the Holy Virgin as free from all corruption as it had been during her life free from carnall affections Therefore the Religious Virgins having again washed and cloathed it with fresh vestments they translated it into the Church of S. Steven the Martyr The solemnity of her Deposition is there with great glory celebrated on the Nones of Iuly On which day likewise her name is recited among the Saints in our English Martyrologe VIII CHAP. 1.2 The Gests of S. Beuno and S. Elerius Brittish Saints and Masters to Saint Winefrida 4.3 c. The Gests of the glorious Martyr S. Winefrida 1. AT the same time Virginity and chastity triumphed likewise in the Brittish Church for excepting the difference about the celebration of Easter there was a perfect agreement in all points of Faith between the Brittains and Saxons The person whose Victorious Chastity illustrated this age was the glorious S. Winefride who willingly offred her self a Sacrifice to preserve her Virginity consecrated by vow to her Celestiall Bridegroom Which voluntary Oblation was so acceptable to Almighty God that he recompenced it with so stupendious a Miracle as neither the precedent nor following ages of the Church could afford one to equall it 2. This love and valew sett upon holy Virginity was instilld into her by her Spirituall Teachers two Brittish Saints Saint Beuno and Saint Elerius of both which the Memory is celebrated in our Martyrologe Of the former on the fourteenth of Ianuary where he is sayd to have been famous for Sanctity and Miracles and of the latter on the thirteenth of Iune and the year of both their deaths is assigned this six hundred and sixtieth in which also the Authour of Saint Winefrides life in Surius says that she flourished Now the Gests of these three Saints we will here deliver together from the credit of Robert Abbot of Shrewsbury who above five hundred years since wrote the life of Saint Winefride out of ancient Brittish Records which he begins thus 3. There was a certain holy man of great perfection who dwelt in the Western part of Brittany He was descended of Princely parents but despising his hereditary glory he fled away poore and became a Monk eminent in all vertues And having built severall Churches in many places in which he placed Monks for the service of God he was divinely admonished to seek out an habitation provided for him by God At last he came to the territory of a certain man of great power named Thewith or as some call him Trebwith to whom he said I beseech you to grant me out of your hereditary possessions a small portion which may serve partly for mine own use and partly for the service of God that I may there build a Church in which I may attend on Gods worship and dayly pray for your salvation The Noble man readily granted his request and withall committed to him his onely daughter named Wenefred to be instructed by him in piety Whensoever therefore the holy man taught the people preaching to them the doctrines of salvation he sett the said young maid at his feet admonishing her to attend diligently and affectuously to his admonitions By this means the Virgin through Gods Grace and mercy encreased every day in piety and spirituall Wisedom and entertained a purpose of renouncing mariage yet durst not make known to her parents such her resolution But coming to the man of God she freely declared her most secret thoughts to him telling him That the seed of the Divine Word which he had sowd had wrought such effect in her that she determind to renounce all the pleasures of the world and for the honour of God to preserve her Virginity entire and undefiled Now that I may perform this my purpose said she I must desire your intercession with my parents 4. The Holy man having heard the Virgins request promised her his utmost endeavour to obtain her parents consent And presently after having proposed the matter to them they with teares blessed God for their childs piety and willingly granted her desire From that time the devout maid assiduously sate at the Holy mans feet and with an ardent affection attended to the praises of her heavenly Spouse proceeding from his mouth She suffred no earthly cares to enter into her mind she frequently watched whole nights at her prayers in the Church She would oft importunely sollicite the Holy man to discourse to her of the life graces and perfections of her Lord which when he delivered the comfort and pleasure which she received from thence exceeded all worldly or sensuall concentment Thus though she was of tender years yet in vertues and piety she was very aged and as it were dead to all concupiscence 5. Now it hapned on a certain Sunday when her parents were gone to Church some necessary occasion detaind her at home At which time a certain young man named Caradoc the Son of Alan Prince of that countrey entred the house where he found the Virgin alone sitting near the fire She knowing the Prince hastily rose up and humbly desird to know his pleasure His answer was You are not ignorant who I am and how I abound in riches and honour all these riches and honours you shall partake if you will yeild to my will The modest Virgin perceiving his foule intent held down her dead and blushed extremely At first she seemd as if she was much troubled that he should find her unready and unadorned and she told him Sir you being a Prince there is no doubt but you are able to heap upon mee all worldly happines in abundance if I were your wife However be pleased to expect here awhile till my Fathers return in the mean time I have some busines in my chamber and will come back presently This she said to gain a little time for she saw the unhappy young man burning and almost enraged with lust With much adoe he permitted her to goe to her chamber having some hope that she would return assoon as she was dressed and adorned She therefore entred hastily her chamber and as hastily went out of the dore on the other side and with all her force ran toward the Church 6. Assoon as the young man perceived this he became all in a fury and drawing out his sword he ran swiftly after her soon owertaking her and with a stern look told her I have a long time loved thee and desired to enioy thee and darest thou scorn mee Be now assured that if thou refusest my embraces I will presently cutt of thy head She hearing and nothing affrighted with these threats answered him saying I am by Vow espoused to the heavenly King
so tedious and bitter torments And within a short time her prayers were heard for the twelfth day after she was delivered from her corruptible body and made an exchange of her temporall afflictions for eternall happines and rest 6. We will hereto from the same Authour add another Testimonial of the same Holy Virgins Sanctity hapning three years after in her Monastery of Barking When the forementioned Hand-mayd of our Lord Thorithgâ—d had continued yet three years in the body after the decease of her Mistresse she was so wholly consumed with her foresaid infirmity that there remaind scarce any flesh to cover her bones And at last when the time of her dissolution approached she lost all use and motion not only of her limbs but her tongue also In this state after she had continued three days and as many nights she was on a sudden revived with a spiritual vision insomuch as she opened both her eyes and lipps also and looking up stedfastly to heaven she began thus to speak to a person who it seems appeared to her Your presence is most wellcom to mee Having said this she held her peace a little while as expecting the answer of the said person And again with some shew of passion she added If this may not be yet I beseech you let not the space in the mean time be long Then remaining silent awhile she concluded If this decree can by no means be altered yet I pray you let the delay not be beyond this following night Having spoken this she was askd by her companions assisting her who it was with whom she talkd With my most dear Mother Edilburga said she From whence they understood that the Saint was come to signify to her that the â—ower of her departure was at hand For according to her request after one day and night had passed she was freed from the chain both of her infirmity and body and was rewarded with eternal ioyes No wonder therefore that this devout Virgin Thorithgitha is placed among the Saints in our Martyrologe on the three and twentieth of February in the year of Grace six hundred seaventy eight 7. There succeeded her in the government of the Monastery of Barking saith Saint Beda the devout servant of our Lord Saint Hildelida who continued many years Abbesse thereof no lesse then four and twenty and shewed great diligence and zeale in maintaining Regular observance and providing all things necessary for her Community This is the same Saint Hildelida to whom Saint Aldelm fourteen years after this inscribed his Book entitled of Virginity and between whom passed severall Letters yet extant Of whom we shall treat further hereafter XXI CAAP. 1. The death of Escuin King of the West-Saxons 2. Of Hedda Bishop of the West-Saxons Successour to S. Leutherius 3. 4. c. The Rule of S Benedict introduced into Glastonbury when into other Monasteries c. 1. EScuin King of the West-Saxons after a short raign of two years dying Kentuin remained sole King of those Provinces He is by Alcuin named Entuin 2. In the beginning of his raign Leutherius Bishop of the West-Saxons dying the said King called out of his Monastery a Religious man named Hedda who according to Saint Beda's testimony was a good and iust man and worthily exercised the Episcopal charge in directing and teaching his flock being enabled thereto rather by the love of piety engrafted in his heart then by study or learning Which Character seeming to import that he was but meanly furnished with litterature does not satisfy William of Malmsbury who professes that he had seen severall Epistles of his which argued the Writer not to have been destitute of learning as likewise severall Treatises of S. Aldelm directed to him abounding with eloqâ—nce and profound knowledge He having been a Monk and Abbot administred the said Bishoprick the space of thirty years and more and his Sanctity was testified by many Miracles c. He was consecrated Bishop in the Citty of London saith S. Beda by Theodore Arch-bishop of Canterbury 3. Concerning this Holy Bishop and particularly his solicitude to advance Religious Observance we read this passage qouted out of the great Table of Glastonbury by B. Vsher Bishop Hedda his body to this day reposes under a stone-Pyramid heretofore curiously engraven in the upper Church-yard of the Monks He obtained of King Cantwin to the Old Church a liberty royal in the Isle of Glastonbury as likewise a free power to the Monks there serving God of electing and constituting over themselves an Abbot according to the Rule of S. Benedict 4. Inas King of the West-Saxons in his great Charter of Priviledges granted to the same Monastery in the year of Grace seaven hundred twenty five makes mention of this Indult confirming all former Donations given by his Predecessours or others to that Monastery particularly that of King Kenwalch who by the intercession of Theodore Archbishop of Canterbury bestowed on it these lands Ferlingmere Beokeri Godney Martinesey Edresey likewise of King Kentwin who gave Glastingie and was wont to call the said Monastery the Mother of Saints ordaining that it should enjoy an immunity from all both Secular and Ecclesiasticall duties and added withall this Priviledge That the Monks living there should have the power to elect and constitute to themselves a Superiour according to the Rule of S. Benedict Also of Bishop Hedda who with the allowance and approbation of Cedwalla though a Pagan under his own hand gave Lantocai of Baldred who gave Pennard containing six hydes of land of Athelard who gaue Pohelt containing sixty hydes all whose Donations I doe approve and confirm c. 5. Here is the first mention of S. Benedicts Rule received in the Monastery of Glastonbury How long before this time it had been there embraced or whether it now entred by the procuring of Bishop Hedda does not appear But certain it is that those Writers are mistaken who affirm that before S Dunstan's government of that Monastery the Monks thereof were not professed Disciples of S. Benedict After this time the said Rule and Profession by little and little took place in most other Monasteries as in the Norin-parts by the diligence of S. Wilfrid and of S. Benedict sirnamed Biscop Yea the Brittains also and Scotts who had received their Religious Instituts from the Irish began to disuse their ancient Rites and esteemed it piety to conform themselves to the Rule of S. Benedict But as for the Monasteries of Canterbury and the whole Province of Kent there is not the least mark afforded in ancient Story that the Institut of S. Benedict was introduced among them after their coming into Brittany on the contrary they were Kentish Monks who were employd in settling the said Institut among the Northumbers So that it is demonstrably evident that the Prime Apostles of the Christian Faith among the Saxons professed and brought in the same Rule 6. Now this Priviledge at
whence doth proceed the regulation according to Sacred Canons to all the Churches of Christ and therefore I doe assure my self that your Venerable Paternities both by my suggestion in writing and likewise by the discourse which at my first coming I made to your Holines have been sufficiently informed that certain persons have violently and unjustly invaded my Bishoprick without convicting mee of any fault and in an Assembly in which were present Theodore the most Holy Archbishop of Canterbury and other Bishops they have endeavoured to usurpe my See which I had administred the space of more then ten years and in my Diocese three Bishops have been promoted though their promotion be contrary to the Canons Now upon what Motive or provocation the most holy Arch-bishop Theodore by his authority without my consent should ordain three Bishops in my See out of reverence to his person who was sent thither from this Apostolick Chair I am unwilling to examine Notwithstanding if it shall appear that against the Rule of Ecclesiasticall Canons being driven from my ancient See without any offence committed which is so severely punishable by the saâ—d Canons I have for all that been free from all factious tumultuousnes and quietly departed away after I had protested my innocence and the illegall proceedings against mee before the Bishops of the said Province I doe here submitt my self to your Apostolicall iudgment If your Sentence shall be that I remain deprived I doe with all willingnes and humble devotion embrace it But if you shall think fitt that I be restored to my Bishoprick this one thing I shall only begg of this Apostolick See that the foresaid invaders may be expelled from the Dioceses which I though unworthy have so many years governed Yet if you shall iudge expedient that more Prelats be ordained in the said Province of which I have been the sole Bishop I beseech you to take order that such may be promoted there as may be persons with whom I may quietly and peaceably ioyn in the administration of it 9. This Petition being read Agathon the most holy and blessed Bishop of the Holy Catholick Church and Apostolick Citty of Rome said It is no small satisfaction to this Assembly that in this Petition the Holy Bishop Wilfrid hath manifested to us that though he hath been unduly cast out of his See yet he never made any obstinate resistance by Secular power but with all humility begged the assistance of Blessed Saint Peter Prince of the Apostles withall professing his readines to submit to what soever Sentence the same Blessed Apostle from whom we receive our authority shall pronounce by my mouth 10. The Sacred Synod there residing among other decrees unanimously consented to this Wee doe ordain and Decree that the Holy Bishop Wilfrid be restored to the Bishoprick which he lately possessed And that the Arch-bishop shall ordain for his Coadjutours such persons as himself shall with the consent of a Synod to be assembled there make choice of and as for those persons who in his absence have illegally intruded into his Bishoprick let them be utterly expelled from thence And who soever shall refuse to receive this our Decree let them be interdicted 11. Saint Wilfrid being thus absolved and reestablished by Apostolick authority with the unanimous consent of the Roman Synod did not presently return but made his abode at Rome till the year following in which another more frequent Synod was assembled in the cause of the Monothelites of which Synod he appeared a principall member sitting there not as an Appellant but as sustaining the place of the Clergy of Brittany and Ireland 12. During the time of this his absence hapned the blessed death of his most beloved Disciple the glorious Virgin Saint Ethelreda or Ediltrudis twice a wife and always a Virgin Of whom wee have already by anticipation largely enough treated in the foregoing Narration of the Story of her Gests death buriall and incorruption to which wee referre the Reader We will onely adde the Prayer which the ancient English Church recited on the ninth of the Calends of Iuly being the day of her Deposition O God who doest encrease our ioy by the yearly Solemnity of thy Virgin S. Ethelreda Grant in mercy that wee may be assisted by her merits with the examples of whose Chastity wee are enlightned through our Lord c. Another Prayer to the same effect was in the Church Office on the day of her Translation on the three and twentieth of Iune V. CHAP. 1. S. Wilfrid declares the Faith of the Saxon Church in a Roman Synod 2. He obtains a Confirmation of the Priviledges of the Monastery of Medeshamsted or Peterborow 1. THE year following the same Pope Agathon saith Saint Beda having assembled a Synod at Rome of one hundred twenty five Bishops all whose names are found subscribed to the Synodall Letters in the fourth Action of the Sixth Councill against the Monothelites who taught that there was onely one Will and operation in our Saviour commanded Saint Wilfrid to be called to the same Synod and there to declare openly his own Faith as likewise the Faith of the Province and Island from whence he came Which he having done and thereby approved himself and his countrey-men to be Orthodox Catholicks it seemed good to the Council that among other things that also should be inserted in the Synodall Gests which was performed in this form Wilfrid the devout Bishop of York having appealed to the See Apostolick in a particular cause of his own by whose authority he was absolved from all accusations both certain and uncertain and afterwards called and admitted to this Synod of one hundred twenty five Bishops Where in the name of all the Churches in the Northern parts of Brittany and in the Isles of Ireland inhabited by English Brittains as likewise the Nations of Scotts and Picts he made open profession of the true Catholick Faith confirming it moreover by his subscription 2. The other Acts of this Synod not pertaining to our present History we will omitt After this Saint Wilfrid according to the Commission given him by Ethelred King of the Mercians obtaind from the See Apostolick and Roman Synod a Confirmation of the Priviledges and Exemptions granted by the said King to the Monastery of Medeshamsted or Peterborow which he had lately finished There is extant in Sir H. Spelmans Brittish Councils a Copy of a Breif of Pope Agathon to the same effect which he translated out of the Saxon language into Latin In which notwithstanding there is one passage whereby the said Pope constituts the Abbots successively of the said Monastery Legats of the Apostolick See in Brittany which seems repugnant to the custom and practise of that and following ages which always acknowledged that Title to be the ornament and honour of the See of Canterbury VI. CHAP. 1.2 c. A Synod at Hatfeild in Brittany touching the Faith against Eutyches S Theodore's
Apostles and by the ten books of S. Clement 7. But as for us we are able according to the authority of Holy Scriptures to give a true and sufficient testimony of our Tonsure and doe affirm that S. Peter ordained this Rite of Tonsure for severall causes First that thereby he might on his head bear a representation of our Lord who ascending the Crosse for our Redemption was Crownd by the execrable Iews in a cruell manner with sharp peircing thorns Next that the Preists of the Old and New Testament might be distinguished by their habit and Tonsure And lastly that the same Apostle and his followers might carry the ridiculous expression of scorn used by the Romans who when they sold their slaves taken in war they were wont to crown them But in the Old Testament this Signe of Tonsure took its Originall if I be not mistaken from the Nazarites who were persons consecrated to God for it is a mark of a Royall and Sacerdotall descent For a Tiara was anciently sett on the heads of the Preists which being enwrapped in fine linnen was round like the Middle Sphere and this is represented by that part of the head which is shorn Now a Crown or Diademe was a golden circle of some breadth which encompassed the heads of Kings And both these signs are expressed on the heads of Clergy-men concerning whom S. Peter saith You are an elect nation a Royal Preist-hood And moreover by this Rite of shaving and polling is signified our duty to cutt off all our vices and that we should devest our selves of our sins as we doe of our haires 8. But there is among you another practise far more pernicious to soules which is that in the observation of the Solemnity of Easter you neglect to follow the Rule of the three hundred and eighteen Fathers who in the Nicene Councill with great sagacity established the Circle of Nineteen years to last to the end of the world by the numbers of Eight and Eleaven and also ordained the Paschall supputation from the fourteenth day of the Moon to the one and twentieth making these the terms of the Paschall Circle which it is unlawfull for any one to transgresse Whereas the Preists among you according to the Account and Circle of Anatolius or rather according to the Rule of Sulpitius Severinus who described a Course of eighty four years doe some-times observe the Paschall Solemnity on the fourteenth Moon with the Iews whereas the Bishops of the Roman Church doe observe neither of these ways of calculation Neither have they decreed that posterity should follow the Paschall Table of Victorius which contains a course of five hundred thirty two years For there was a sort of Heretiks in the East called Tessera-decatitae because they celebrated the Paschall Solemnity on the fourteenth Moon with the Iews who blaspemed our Lord and trode under foot the pearles of the Gospell And for this they were excluded from the Communion of the Church and ranked among the unhappy conventicles of Schismatiks Of these as I remember S. Augustin makes mention in his Treatise of Ninety Heresies 9. But besides these enormities there is another thing wherein they doe notoriously swerve from the Catholick Faith and Evangelical Tradition which is that the Preists of the Demetae or South-west Wales inhabiting beyond the bay of Severn puffed up with a conceit of their own purity doe exceedingly abhorâ— communion with us insomuch as they will neither ioyn in prayers with us in the Church nor enter into society with us at the Table yea moreover the fragments which we leave after refection they will not touch but cast them to be devoured by doggs and unclean Swine The Cupps also in which we have drunk they will not make use of till they have rubbed and cleansed them with sand or ashes They refuse all civil salutations or to give us the kisse of pious fraternity contrary to the Apostles precept Salute one another with a holy kisse They will not afford us water and a towel for our hands nor a vessell to wash our feet Whereas our Saviour having girt himself with a towell washed his Disciples feet and left us a pattern to imitate saying As I have done to you so doe you to others Moreover if any of us who are Catholicks doe goe amongst them to make an abode they will not vouchsafe to admitt us to their fellowship till we be compelled to spend forty dayes in Pennance And herein they unhappily imitate those Hereticks who will needs be called Cathars or Puritans 10. Such enormous errours and malignities as these are to be mournfully bewayld with sighes and teares since such their behaviour is contrary to the precepts of the Gospell and suiting with the Traditions of Iewish Pharisees concerning whom our Saviour saith Woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees who cleanse the outsides of Cupps and dishes On the contrary our Lord disdaind not to be present at feasts with Publicans and sinners thereby shewing himself a good Physician who was carefull to provide wholesom cataplasms and medecines to heale the corrupt wounds of those that conversed with him Therefore he did not like the Pharisees despise the conversation of sinners but on the contrary according to his accustomed clemency he mercifully comforted the poor sinfull woman who bewayld the former pollutions of her life and casting herself at our Lords feet washed them with showres of teares and wiped them with the curled locks of her haire concerning whom he said Her many sins are forgiven her because she hath loved much 11. Since therefore the truth of these things cannot be denyed we doe with earnest humble prayers and bended knees beseech and adiure you as you hope to attain to the fellowship of Angels in Gods heavenly kingdom that you will no longer with pride and stubbornes abhorr the doctrines and Decrees of the Blessed Apostle S. Peter nor pertinaciously and arrogantly despise the Tradition of the Roman Church preferring before it the Decrees and ancient Rites of your Predecessours For it was S. Peter who having devoutly confessed the Son of God was honoured by him with these Words Thou art Peter and upon this Rock will I build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevayle against it And to thee will I give the keyes of the kingdom of heaven and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shal be loosed in heaven If therefore the Keyes of the kingdom of heaven were given to S. Peter who is he who having despised the principall Statuts and ordinances of his Church can presumingly expect to enter with ioy through the gate of the heavenly Paradise And if he by a peculiar Priviledge and happines received the power of binding and the Monarchy of loosing in heaven and earth who is he who having reiected the Rule of the Paschall Solemnity and the Rite of the Roman Tonsure will not rather
distauce of about a mile and a half from the Church of Hagustald from which it is separated by the River Tine To which mansion there is adioyning a Church-yard consecrated to the honour of Saint Michael the Archangel Thither the Holy Bishop attended by a few of his Disciples was wont when opportunity was afforded to retire himself especially in Lent that he might without interruption attend to Prayer and Spirituall Reading On a certain time therefore in the beginning of Lent going thither he commanded that there should be conducted thither some poor begger who withall was afflicted with some extraordinary infirmity that he might there have a fitt object for his charity and Almes And the same course he usually held in his retirements 7. Now there was then in a village not far distant a certain youth not unknown to the Bishop who was altogether dumb and withall had his head wholly covered with a thick scurf which entirely hindred the grouth of haires except a few which like bristles stood in a thinn circle about the lower part of his head This young man was brought therefore to him and a small cottage was built for him to which the Holy Bishop dayly went with his Almes Now on the second Sunday of Lent he commanded this poor child to enter into his Cell and being there to putt forth his tongue which the holy man took hold of and made the sign of the Crosse upon it And having done this he bid him speak Pronounce said he to him gea gea that is yea yea This the child pronounced distinctly and presently after other words of more syllables and in conclusion whole Sentences So that before night by frequent practise in which he took great delight he was able to expresse his thoughts freely 8. This recovery of the poor dumb child did much reioyce the Holy Bishop who presently after commanded a surgeon to use his skill for curing the scurse of his head and in a short time by such care but principally by the prayers and benedictions of the good Prelat his head was perfectly healed and the child who formerly had been deformed and dumb became of a lovely chearfull countenance adorned with beautifully curled haire and ready in speech Being thus cured the Holy Bishop offred to entertain him in his family but he chose rather to return to his freinds 9. This Miracle was wrought in his first Diocese oâ— Hagustald Whereto we will add another performed in that of York related by the same devout Abbot Brithun to Saint Beda There was said he a certain village belonging to a Count named Puch distant about two miles from our Monastery of Deirirode or Beverley This Counts wife had for the space of forty dayes been greivously tormented with a sicknes so that for three weeks she could not be removed out of her chamber Now it hapned at the same time that the Man of God was desired by the said Count to dedicate a Church in the same place Which having done the Count earnestly requested him to dine with him But the Bishop refused saying He must needs return to his Monastery near adioyning The Count told him that if he would vouchsafe to honour his house with his presence he would give considerable Alms to the poore I likewise ioynd with him in the same request promising the like Charity to the poor upon condition he would dine in his house and give his benediction to it 10. With much adoe at last we obtained this favour from him and so went to dinner Now the Holy Bishop had by one of my Monks attending us sent to the Counts wife some part of the Holy water which he had consecrated and used among the Ceremonies of the Dedication commanding him to give her some part of it to drink and that with the rest she should wash that part where she felt the sharpest pain Which she having accordingly performed immediatly rose up perfectly sound and was not only freed from her pains but had her former strength entirely restored so that she imitating Saint Peters wives Mother in the Gospell came down and during the whole dinner presented drink to the Bishop and to all the rest of the company 11. The Centuriators of Magdeburg write with a very uncertain stile concerning this famous Bishop sometimes highly commending him and again as sharply censuring him He dyed say they with great constancy of an Evangelicall Spirit And again He was illustrious for his piety and miracles as Saint Beda relates But withall they adde Notwithstanding such great wonders he did not perform without Superstition For he did not relye alone upon his Prayers but moreover made use of holy water aquâ lustrals Vnhappy man they little understand the efficacy of the Prayers and benedictions of Gods Church by vertue of which for at least fifteen ages together the power of Devills has been so oft rendred of no force by the use of Holy Water and sign of the Crosse terrible to infernall Spirits and odious to such Ministers 12. I will onely adde what William of Malmsbury relates as a thing usually performed and generally acknowledged by the inhabitants of Beverley in testimony of the sanctity of their glorious Patron which is that the feircest Bulls being haled with many strong ropes by the force and sweat of severall lusty men assoon as they are brought into his â—hurch yarâ— immediatly loose all their fury and feircenes and become gentle as lambes so that they are there left to their freedom to sport themselves whereas before with their feet and horns they endangered all that came near them Moreover how by the intercession and patronage of this Holy Prelate above a hundred years after his death King Ethelstan obtained a signall victory against the Scotts shall be declared in its proper place His Memory is celebrated in our Martyrologe on the seaventh of May the day of his death and his Translation made in the year of Grace one thousand sixty three is solemnly commemorated on the twenty fifth of October To conclude his Feast always solemnly observed in the Province of York was by a Decree of a Synod assembled in the year fourteen hundred and sixteen ordained to be kept Holiday through all England upon occasion of a great Victory which then King Henry the fifth obtained in France the same day XI CHAP. 1.2 Of S Brithun Abbot 3. The Pilgrimage of S. Daniel Bishop of winchester to Rome 1. IN this Narration of the Gests of the holy Bishops S. Iohn of Beverley often mention was made of his Deacon S. Brithun or as in a Manuscript Copy of S. Beda he is called S. Berctun whose Name is commemorated among the Saints in our Martyrologe on the fifteenth of May. Now though our Ecclesiasticall Monuments doe not place his death till almost twenty years after that of S. Iohn Yet in consecrating his Memory to posterity in this our History it seemed expedient not to divide them 2.
own countrey these two Saints The Irish contend that Saint Pecthelm was Bishop of Tuam and S. Wiro of Dublin and consequently that their Saint Pecthelm was different from the present Bishop of Candida Casa As for S. Wiro their pretentions seem to be well grounded For though he be in the printed Copies of S. Marcellin and other our Historians named Bishop of the Deiri that is Yorkshire yet since in none oâ— our ancient Catalogues we find any such Bishop their suspicion of a mistake in the writing seems reasonable that instead oâ— Deiri we ought to read De Iren that is oâ— Ireland But as for Saint Pecthelm who accomâ—panied S. Wiro first to Rome and after to the countrey of the Frisons a second time it is evident in S. Marcellin that he was Bishop of Candida casa 7. As for the Modern now only called Scotts they have no shew of right in their plea. For it is manifest by the consent of all our Historians that the Diocese of Casa Candida though now included in Scotland yet anciently belonged to the English-Saxon Kingdom of the Bernicians and so continued to the times of King Edgar So that the impudent rashnes of Dempster affirming That this doth evidently appear that the Bishoprick of Candida Casa was always in the dominion of Scotland and never was subiect to the iurisdiction of the English is unanswerably refuted by the learned B. Vsher in his Brittish Antiquities who demonstrates that the Diocese of Casa Candida or as it was afterward named of Glasgo was a part of the Cumbrian Kingdom And Malmsbury expressely affirms that the Kings of the Northumbers in these times extended their Dominion to all the Regions beyond Humber as far as Scotland and that within their confines were contained these Dioceses The Arch-bishoprick of York the Bishoprick of Hagustald and Rippon that of Lindesfarn and lastly the See of Candida casa And this is ingenuously acknowledged by Ioannes Maior a Scottish Writer 8. Of these two Bishops S. Pecthelm and S. Wiro wee shall treat further hereafter when we shall find them with great zeale and fruit exercâ—sing the Apostolick Office with our other Saxon Missioners in Germany To which countrey the memorable Gests of S. Boniface at thâ—s time doe call us XIII CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Boniface being summoned repaires to Rome gives an account of his Faith and is consâ—crated Bishop by Pope Gregory 9. The Form of his Obedience to the See Apostolick 6.7 c. He returns with many recommendations 1. THE labours of S. Boniface were so great in dispersing the precious seed of the Gospell in Germany and so wonderfull a Benediction had Almighty God showrd on them in those few years which passed since his leaving Rome that the report thereof coming to Pope Gregory he thought fitt to recall him thither that he might hear from his own mouth an account of his Apostleship and thereby enable him to proceed with more vigour and authority 2. S. Boniface having received letters to this effect deferred not at all his Obedience to the Holy Popes summons but attended by a troop of his brethren and Disciples immediatly took his iourney towards Italy and being come within the sight of Rome he gave God thanks for his prosperous voyage and commended himself to the patronage of the holy Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul Assoon as the Pope was informed of his arrivall he presently sent for him and after kind salutations he appointed him a convenient and honourable place for his entertainment And afterward taking an opportune season he sent for him to come to a conference at the Church of the Blessed Apostle S. Peter And after long discourses with mutuall satisfaction the Pope required of him an account of his Faith The Holy man answered him in these terms It will not be easy for mee to give a reasonable satisfaction to your Holines by a sudden speech or reply to a demand of so great importance My request therefore is that you would afford mee some time to answer by writing To this the Pope yeilded Whereupon accordingly shortly after he presented to him in Writing a full account of his Faith 3. When the Pope had per sed the said Writing he commanded him in a familiar manner to sitt by him and exhorted him to retain constantly and with greâ—t caâ—e to teach that Faith which he there professed And afterwards entring into long discourses touching spirituall matters in which they spent the greatest part of the day at last he asked him in how many regions he had plâ—nted the Faith Whereto he having succinctly answered the Pope then plainly discovered his iâ—tention to him that he would câ—nsecrate him Bishop to the end that being promoted to a higher Apostelick dignity he might with greater confidence and authority correct such as were in errour adding withall that his sermons and exhortations would be more acceptable and effectuall when it should appear that he was empowred to that office by the Supreme Bishop of Gods Church 4. Then the Holy man seriously considering this proposall and apprehending least if he should refuse it that saying of the Prophet might be applied to him He reiected benediction and it shall be removed far from him submitted himself to his Holines will The day therefore of his Ordination being come which was the Feast of S. Andrew the Pope consecrated him Bishop and withall would have him thence forward to be called Boniface whereas before his name was Winfrid Moreover to the end he might more strictly oblige him to exhibite Obedience to himself and his Successours and to observe the Tradition of holy Faith he required and received an Oath from him in the Form following as is to be read in the most ancient Records 5. In the Name of our Lord God and Saviour Iesus Christ I Boniface by the Grace of God now ordained Bishop doe promise to thee O Blessed Peter Prince of the Apostles and to thy Vicar-Bishop Pope Gregory by the Father son and Holy Ghost the inseparable Trinity and by this thy most sacred Body that I will constantly maintain the Vniversality and purity of Holy Faith in the Vnity of which Faith I will through Gods assistaÌ„ce ever persevere since therein the salvation of every Christian does consist I doe promise likewise that I will never be induced by the perswasions of any to dissent from the Vnity of the Catholick Church but as hath been sayd I will in all things maintain this Faith and the purity thereof and exhibite my endeavours and concurrence to advance the proffits of thy Church since to thee our Lord God has given the power of â—inding and loosing and to thy foresaid Vicar and his Successours And in case I shall know any Bishops transgressours of the ancient Decrees of the holy Fathers I will have no communion or participation with them but on the contrary to the utmost of my power I will resist them and however I will faithfully
place to manifest the sincere veracity of so learned and pious an Authour wee will from his penn declare upon how well grounded an authority he built the whole frame of his History as likewise what diligent search he made for true information in all things as well such as hapned in former ages as during his own age in the other regions and kingdoms of Brittany and forrain countreyes And lastly wee will conclude with a particular Narration of Saint Beda's own life and happy death 2. As touching the first thus he writes At this present time to witt in the year of Grace seaven hundred thirty one the Bishops governing the severall Episcopall Sees of Brittany are these following The Province of Kent is administred by Tatwine Arch-bishop oâ— Canterbury and Aldulf Bishop of Rochester That of the East-Saxons by Inguald Bishop of London The East Angles by Eadbert or Aldbert Bishop of Dumwich and Hadulac Bishop of Helmham The Province of the West-Saxons by Daniel Bishop of Winchester and Forthere Bishop of Shirborn In the kingdom of the Mercians Alduin is Bishop of Lichfeild Walstod Bishop of Hereford and the region beyond the Severn Wilfrid Bishop of Worcester and Cymbert or Kinebert Bishop of the Lindisfari or Lincoln as for the Isle of Wight it was annexed to the See of Winchester The Province of the South-Saxons of late has been vacant and therefore has recourse to the Bishop of the West-Saxons that is Winchester for such necessities as require Episcopall Ministery And all these together with other Southern Provinces though governed immediatly by particular Kings yet both they and their Kings also from the South Sea as far as the Humber Northwards are subject to Edilbald King of the Mercians Lastly the large Province of the Northumbers of which Ceolulf is now King is administred by four Bishops the Church of York by Wilfrid the younger that of Lindeâ—â—arn by Edilwald Hagustald or Hexham by Acca and Candida Casa or Witehern by Pectheâ—m This last Episcopall See has been lately erected by reason that the number of Christians there has been greatly multiplied and Pecthelm was consecrated the first Bishop thereof Thus are the severall Episcopall Churches of Brittany administred 3. As touching the severall Nations inhabiting it that of the Picts is ioynd in league with the English and to their great ioy with the Vniversall Church in the Orthodox Faith Communion and peace The Scotts inhabiting the Northern parts of Brittany are quiet and make no attempts or fraudulent designs against the English The Brittains although for the most part out of a Nationall hatred they have an iâ—â—econcileable aversion from the English and likewise doe erroneously and impiously oppose the Catholick Church in the Paschall Observance yet in neither of these regards can they attain their purpose and prevaile both divine and human power resisting their designs For though a great part of that Nation be independent on any other yet in some places they are subject to the Empire of the English And again the times at present being peaceable very many of them in the Northern parts called Cumbers both Nobles and of inferiour condition doe more frequently receive the Monasticall Tonsure in English Monasteries and consecrate their children to the same Profession then exercise themselves in arms and warlike exploits And what good issue may come from hence the succeeding age will see 4. Such at present is the state of all Brittany in this year which is the two hundred eighty fifth since the coming of the English into this Island and the seaven hundred and one and thirtieth after our Lords Incarnation I will conclude with this prayer That the earth may all ways reioyce in the kingdom of our God and many Islands with ioy confesse to the memory of his Holines the constancy of Brittany in his Faith Thus does S. Beda conclude his History XXIII CHAP. i 2. c. The names and qualities of such persons from whom S. Beda received information in his History 1. IN the next place for a proof of his veracity in his History wee will produce his Epistle to the illustrious and learned King Ceolulf then raigning over the Northumbers to whom S. Beda presented the same desiring not so much his protection as iudgment and censure of it In which Epistle to the end he might approve his care and diligence to inform himself in the truth he produces the names and characters of the principall persons from whom he received information and assistance persons of such abilities piety and esteem that no man can reasonably suspect in them either want of knowledge or of sincerity Thus therefore he writes 2. The principall Authour and assistant in this work saith he was Albinus the most reverend Abbot of Canterbury a man of eminent learning in all kinds of litterature having been educated therein by those two most venerable and learned men Theodore Arch-bishop of the said Church of happy memory and Hadrian Abbot This worthy Abbot Albinus was pleased to communicate to mee partly in writing and partly by the Religious Preist of the Church of London Nothelm whom he sent to acquaint mee with all particular occurrents worthy memory which had after diligent enquiry come to his knowledge either in the Province of Kent or adiacent Regions concerning the Gests of the Disciples of the Blessed Pope S. Gregory or whatsoever he could find in ancient Record or receive from the Tradition of Ancestours The said Nothelm likewise afterward going to Rome by permission of Pope Gregory searching the Archives of that Church found and copied out certain Letters both of the said Pope and some of his Predecessours touching the affaires of Brittany which at his return by the advice of the most Reverend Abbot Albin he brought to mee to be inserted in this History 3. In the which those things which are related from the beginning thereof to the times in which the English Nation receiued the Christian Faith wee collected principally out of such Writings as we could here and there meet with Then from that time to the present age all the Gests performed in the Province of Kent by the Disciples of S. Gregory and their Successours and under what Kings they were performed all these came to my knowledge by the industry of the foresaid Abbot Albin and the relation of Nothelm sent by him The same persons likewise informed mee in severall things touching the Conversion of the West and East-Saxons the East-Angles and Northumbers by the preaching of what Bishops and in the raign of what Kings those Provinces received the Christian Faith In a word it was principally by the advice and perswasion of the same Albinus that I had the courage to sett upon this work 4. Besides these the most Reverend Bishop of the West Saxons Daniel who is yet alive gave mee an account in writing of many things regarding the Ecclesiasticall History of that Province and that of the South-Saxons confining
sirnamed the Great Huntingdon and Hoveden doe thus write oâ— it In the said year which was the fifteenth of the Raign of Kenulf King of the West-Saxons began a great change of the right hand of the most High For then did Charles the Greaâ— King of France upon the death of his Father King Pipin begâ—n his raign to whom thirty years after the Roman Empire which had been glorious so many ages became subject and continues so to his Successours to these times 2. We declared before how a great league of freindship and Royall presents interven'd between the two late Kings Pipin and Egbert King of the Northumbers The like freindship and society did Alâ—ed now King of the Northumbers demand of Charles the glorious Successour of King Pipin This we collect from a Letter written by him and his Queen Ogâ—â—fu to S. Lullus Arch-bisop of Mentz In which he desires him to assist with his counsell and favour the Embassadours which he had sent to his Lord and Patron the most glorious King Carl that peace and freindship many be established between them 3. In the same Epistle likewise which is an answer to one sent him from S. Lullus in behalf of the disquietted Churches in his dominion the same King and Queen not only humbly begg the Holy Bishops prayers for themselves but likewise send him a Catalogue of the Names of their speciall kinred freindâ— lately dead of whom they desire him to be mindfull at the Holy Altar assuring him that the same Charity shall be extended to all his relations in their Churches Indeed we can scarce meet with any Epistleâ— written in theâ—e times but this is generally onâ— clause and part of the busines 4. About this time saith Harpsfeild there flourished in Brittany two Religious Virgins famous for their piety and learning calld Rictrudis and Gisla Disciples of the famously learned Alcuin who taught very many aâ— this time in Brittany He was not unmindfull of the advice given him by his Master Archbishop Egbert of going to Rome and thence returning into France But seeing how usefull and even necessary his abode was in Brittany he delayd the said iourney till a fitt opportunity was presented him as we shall declare And as touching the foresaid Illustrious Virgins we shall in due time mention the kind and learned Letters which passed between them and their Master when he lived in France XII CHAP. 1. Succession of Bishops 2. Of Pope Adrian to whom the King of the Northumbers sends Embassadours 5. The Church of S Boniface miraculously preserved from fire 6 7 c Offa King of the Mercians invades and subdues severall Principalities Fictions of Mathew Paris 1. IN the year of our Lords Incarnation seaven hundred seaventy one the two Bishops of the East-Angles luckily again dyâ— together and to Aldebert Bishop of Dumwich is substituted Eglafe to Lanfeâ—t Bishop Oâ— Helmham Athelwolf In the next following age these two Sees were united into one which first remaind at Helmham thence waâ— translated to Thetford and lastly to Norwich 2. The year following to Pope Steven succeeded the worthy and learned Pope Hadrian first of that name to whom Alfred King of the Northumbers sent an Embassadour to congratulate his assuÌ„ption and for other Ecclesiasticall affairs not recorded To this Embassadour Alcuin gave an Epistle direâ—ted to the same Pope full of humble respect to him and congratulation to the Church for enioying the happines of so worthy a Pastour The Embasadours name was Angilbert whom Alcuâ—â— calls his most beloved Son to wâ—om he câ—â—mitted certain requests to be presented by word of mouth 3. The same year Kenulf King of the West-Saxons added to his former liberality towards the Ancient Monastery of Glastonbury the Mannor of Compton This he gave to the Abbot thereof called Waldun who newly succeeded to Guban 4. Afterward the See of London being vacant by the death of Eadgar in his place succeeded Kenwalck Nothing remains of the Gefts of either Neither can any account be given more of the names of Cuthrid Bishop of Lichfeild who dyed at the same time to whom was substituted Bertâ—â—n Hoveden calls them by other names as likewise the Episcopall See too It is a difficulty not worth the penetrating 5. It will not be impertinent in this place to relate how miraculously God gave testimony to the Gests Doctrine Sanctity of S. Boniface of late happy memory by defending his Church of Fritzlar froÌ„ the fury of the Saxons They making an invasion into the confines of the French dominions besieged a certain Strong Castle called Barimburg During which siege they wasted with sword and â—â—e the countrey circumjacent Their principall rage was directed against the Church of Fritzlare built by S. Boniface and concerning which he had prophecied that it should never be consumed by fire Whilst the furious Pagans were exeâ—cising their utmost diligence to make this a false Prophecy and were heaping wood and casting firebrands to sett it on fire there appeard to severall Christians in the foresaid Castle and to some Pagans likewise two men in white shining raiments who protected the Church from fire so that by no diligence or pains taken within or without the Church could the Pagans effect their desire On the contrary a terrour from heaven seising on them they fled away none pursuing them When they were gone there was found one Saxon Soldier stark dead upon his knees with fire and wood in his hands bowing down in the posture of one blowing the fire with an intention to burn the said Church Thus did God shew his power and favour to his faithfull servant And though shortly after he permitted the Church of S. Swibert at Werda to be consumed by fire yet so terrible a punishment he inflicted on the Authours that it became evident that the said Blessed Bishop preached the true Orthodoxe Faith 6. In the year of Grace seaven hundred seaventy four Offa King of the Mercians a Prince of high Spirits began troubles which in successe of time endangerd the ruine of severall petty kingdoms of Brittany For having three years before this subdued the Nation of the Hestings in the Southern parts of the Island or Sussex he extended his ambition to add also the kingdom of Kent to his conquests And because Lambert or as some Copies write Lambert then Archbishop of Canterbury endeavoured to defeat his ambition he turned his indignatioÌ„ against that Church also the dignity and revenews of which â—e sought to diminish For he took from it severall Mannors as Cherring Seleberts Chert and severall others which were afterward restored 7. This wart between Offa and Alric is thus breifly described by Huntingdon In the twentieth year of Kenulf King of the West-Saxons saith he Offa King of the Mercians fought against the Kentish men at place called Ottanford where the slaughter was most horrible especially on the Kentish partâ— So that King
with a loud distincâ— voyce moreover explaind both in Latin and English that all might understand Whereupon all who were present unanimously gave thanks to the Legats promising their obedience to the Popes admonitions and that they would faithfully observe the said Decrees And consequently both the King Archbishop Bishops Aâ—bots and Nobles confirmed them by their Subscriptions 3. Besides this King Offa had a desire to promote one of the Episcopall Sees of his own kingdom to a Metropoliticall Dignity partly out of a consideration of the coÌ„mmodity redounding therby to his own subiects and partly out of displeasure conceived against the Archbishop of Canterbury who being desirous to preserve the ancient Priviledges of his own See opposed earnestly this design of King Offa producing the frequent Edicts both old and new of the See Apostolick in confirmation of the Supereminent Dignity of his Church This resistance did so displease King Offa that he deprived him of all the lands seated in his kingdom which belonged to the See of Canterbury 4 A certain Monk of S. Albans in a Writing published under the name of Mathew Paris touching thâ— Life of King Offa affirms that the said Iambert Archbishop of Canterbury was accused before the King of conspiring against him and that by reason of the vicinity of his See to France he had promised to Charles the Great that in case he would invade Brittany he would give him free entrance into his Archbishoprick and all assistance likewise 5. This Controversy being earnestly prosecuted on both sides at last the King sent wise Messengers to Rome and partly by reasons partly by gifts so wrought in that Court that Pope Adrian condescended to his request and exalted the Episcopall See of Lichfeild to an Archbishoprick to which were subiect all the Bishops of the Mercian Kingdom namely Denebert Bishop of Worcester Werenbert Bishop of Leicester Edulf Bishop of Sidnacester Wolpheard Bishop of Hereford as likewise the Bishops of the East-Angles Alheard Bishop of Elmham and Tidfrid Bishop of Dumwich Now the name of the Bishop of Lichfeild who was made Archbishop was Adulf So that there remained to the Archbishop of Canterbury onely fower Bishops subiect to wit of London Winchester Rochester and Selesey or as others write Shirborn From whence appears that though King Offa this year laboured to effect this design yet it was not effected till some years after because Aldulf was not at this time consecrated Bishop the Bishop of that See now being Hygbert 6. This same year King Offa thought fitt to assume his Son Egfrid to a participation of his kingly dignity for which purpose he caused him to be solemnly crowned probably whilst the Synod was sitting This is insinuated in an Epistle of Alcuin to him in which he stiles him King and gives him good instructions for the discharge of that high Office though he say withall that his admonitions were not necessary since he might sufficiently at home learn authority from his Father and piety from his Mother 7. This Mother of Egfrid and wife of King Offa was called Quendrida and as Mathew Paris affirms was kinswoman to Charles the Great and before she came into Brittany was named Drida She was banished out of France for some unknown fault and being arrived in Brittany so wrought upon the affections of King Offa perhaps by a shew of Piety for which Alcuin commends her that he made her his Queen But that her Piety was only in shew appeard by her impious murdring of the most pious Prince Kenelm Of which hereafter XXIV CHAP. i. 2.3 Iambert Archbishop of Canterbury being wrongfully oppressed by King Offa would quitt his See but is disswaded by Alcuin His death 1. IAmbert Archbishop of Canterbury took very heavily this uniust deminution of his See He omitted nothing he spared neither cost nor labour to assert the dignity of his Church and to represse the greedy covetousnes of his adversaries Severall Appeals to Rome he interposed and when he saw that King Offa's power and gifts prevayled he determind to desert his See Notwithstanding leâ—st men should iudge that he took such a resolution out of passion and a sudden discontent he consulted with his freinds about it 2. There is among Alcuins Epistles extant one directed to a nameles person containing an Answer to the same person which doubtlesse was this Archbishop who signified to him the Moâ—ives inducing him to a purpose of forsaking his Episcopall charge Which Answer was sent by a Disciple of Alcuin called Candidus And therein Alcuin utterly disswaded him telling him that he could not have a more iustifiable motive then his Predecessour S. Laurence had which was the return of Idolatry and the danger of death and torments in case he opposed himself therto Yet he after he had been chastised by the Apostle S. Peter himself repented of his purpose It seems that when this Letter was written Iambert was already retired into France because Alcuin exalts the happines of the Church in which Iambert then lived under the protection of so glorious and so orthodoxe a King as Charles the Great was whom he there and else where calls David 3. Iambert hearkned to Alcuins advice and returned to his See where two years after he dyed on the twelfth of August and was buried after the ancient manner of his Predecessours in the Church of S. Peter and S. Paul For thus we read in the Antiquities of Brittany Iambert after he had the space of many years maintained the Dignity of his Prelacy with great constancy and no lesse labour when he foresaw that his death approached desiring to abolish the laâ—e decrees of his Predecessours touching the buriall place of the Archbishops and to reduce it to the ancient primitive custom commanded that when he was dead his body should be caried to be buried in the Church of S. Peter and S. Paul in the Monastery of S. Augustin Which command was accordingly without any opposition performed and he was honourably buried in the Chapter-house of S. Augustin Concerning his Successour we shall treat in due place XXV CHAP. 1. Brithric maries the daughter of King Offa. 2.3 The Danes begin to invade Brittany c. 4 5. Lands given to the Monastery of S. Denys in France 1. IN the year after the fore-mentioned Synods Brithric King of the West-Saxons saith Huntingdon demanded and received for his Wife Eadburga daughter of Offa King of Mercians By which alliance he was so much strengthned in his kingdom that he became haughty and proud 2. At the same time began the Prologue of all those inexpressible miseries which our Island in following times suffred from the rapines and cruelty of the Danes of which we shall oftentimes have but too just occasion to treat and recount most horrible tragedies acted by those barbarous in humane Pagans For the â—ame Authour immediatly aâ—ter mention oâ— that Mariage thus proceeds In those dayes saith he
was principally interessed in the busines that he willingly made the message unsuccessefull 5. This Second Letter sent by Byrne a Preist and by Fildas and Ceolberth servants to the King is recorded by Baronius and is indeed a Letter well beseeming the piety of this good King In which after the expression of his ioy that so worthy a person had succeeded to the Venerable Hope Hadrian he with great submission begged his Fatherly Benediction and that he would accept him for his Son promising all duty and Obedience to him In the next place he represented to him how his Predecessour King Offa out of an enmity which he bore to the late Arch-bishop of Canterbury Iambert and to the Kingdom of Kent had divided that Archiepiscopall Province into two Provinces so making a Schism in the Churches of Brittany contrary to the expresse Ordonnance of the most Blessed Father Pope Gregory the Great who had decreed that to the See of Canterbury twelve Episcopall Sees should be subiect Now though he would not condemne either King Offa for procuring this change or Pope Hadrian for condescending to it since he did not know all the Motives which might induce them thereto Yet since it seemed to him and the Synod most iust that that Mother Church in which reposed the Sacred Body of Saint Augustin who brought Christianity into the Kingâ—dom should enioy the honour of Metropolitan he desired his Holines to advise with wise men about this matter and to search the Archives of the See Apostolick where the ancient Ordonnances touching the establishment of the Churches of Brittany were preserved and to give his iudgment and Sentence in the cause accordingly He besought him withall seriously to peruse a Letter sent by the same Messengers from Aethelard Arch-bishop of Canterbury touching severall other causes and necessities of the Churches of Brittaâ—y and to make known to them his will concerning them With this Letter the King sent likewise certain presents to wit a hundred and twenty Mancusas markes 6. Now though in this Letter the Names of the Messengers by whom it was sent be expressed Yet certain it is that Aethelard Arch-bishop of Conterbury whose cause was discussed either himself went with them or at least immediatly followed them Saint Alcuin indeed endeavoured to disswade him from that iourney but the good Arch-bishop esteeming it his duty to omitt nothing that might be advantageous for so iust a cause Saint Alcuin in a short Letter sent from his Monastery at Tours wished him a prosperous iurney And moreover knowing that the said Arch-bishop was desirous to salute King Charles by the way he wrote another to the same King whom he calls King David and himself Flaccus Matricularius in which he earnestly recommended to his favourable reception the same Arch-bishop as likewise other persons of quality which it seems attended him to witt Ceilmund who had been a servant to Offa late King of the Mercians and Torchmund a faithfull Officer to Edilred formerly King of the Northumbers a man of approved zeale for the Faith and of stout courage who had valiantly avenged the death of his Master 7. Now what successe this iourney had is thus breifly declared by Mathew of Westminster Kenulf King of the Mercians in his own Name and in the Names of all the English Bishops sent Messengers and Leters to Leo Successour to Pope Adrian the Arch-bishop of Canterbury himself undertaking the Charge of generall Embassadour and obtaind of him what he requested But this appears more expressly and fully by the Letter of Answer written by Pope Leo himself in which after many high commendations both of the Kings piety and the Arch-bishops excellent vertues he signified that after diligent search into the Sacred Roman Archives he found that his Predecessour Saint Gregory had to the Archiepiscopall See of Canterbury and to Saint Augustin Arch-bishop thereof subiected twelve Bishopricks granting to him only the power of Consecrating the said Bishops Therefore by Apostolick authority he decreed a restitution of the same Ordinations Consecrations to Athelard and his Successours A confirmation of which Priviledge he had given to the said Arch-bishop which he required should be observed under the penalty prescribed by the Sacred Canons XVI CHAP. 1.2 c. Pope Leo the third inhumanely tormented by two Assassins who pluckd out his eyes and tongue c. 3 4. His sight and speech miraculously restored 5.6 c. Charles the Great testifies this in Letters to S. Alcuin 1. THERE is one Clause in the foresaid Letter of Pope Leo to Kenulf which argues that the said Kings Letter was written two years after this time as implying a knowledge of a great calamity which befell this good Pope though some of our ancient Historians refer it to this year The said clause is conceived in these words In one of your Epistles said the Pope we doe find a proâ—estation of your Maiesty that such is your respect to our Apostolick function that if you had been present with mee at Rome you would willingly and affectionatly have layd down your own life for us 2. Now the calamity hapning to the Pope was this Though for his vertues and piety he was by the unanimous consent of the Roman Clergy and people chosen Pope the same day in which his Predecessour dyed yet some there were which bore excessive malice and envy towards him the principall of which were two Nephews of the former Pope named Paschal and Campulus It does not appear upon what provocation these two wicked persons should conceive displeasure against the Pope but their rancour and fury was so implacable that on a certain day when the Pope was publickly celebrating the great Litany they delivered him to certain troops of soldiers layd in ambush near the Monastery of Saint Steven who barbarously seising on him cast him on the ground and there inhumanly plucked out his eyes cutt out his tongue and so left him blind and dumb upon the pavement Yea moreover those two inhuman wretches not content with this drew him from that place into the Church it self before the Altar of Saint Steven where they again tore out whatsoever remaind of his eyes and tongue and tearing all his flesh with whipps they left him there wallowing in his own blood But afterwards fearing least some good men should take him from thence they sent some of their party who caried him to the Monastery of Saint Gerasime where they shutt him up in close prison 3. But God who patiently suffred the malice of these barbarous men thus far in a moment destroyed all their wicked designs For Pope Leo presently after he was conveyed to the said Monastery perfectly recovered both his sight and speech Which miraculous mercy being made known to his freinds and particularly to Albin his Chamberlain they came by night and by force took him out of the Cloyster and transported him to the Church of Saint Peter where
from Rome a Synod was assembled by the Kings command in which himself and Athelard presided The place where the Synod was held was called Bacanceld In which the Aâ—ch-bishop in the name of Pope Leo by the consent of the whole Synod published this Prohibition adiuring all men by the most dreadfull iudgment of God from that day forward not to infringe the liberties nor usurp the revenews of Gods Churches and Monasteries denouncing against all transgressours excommunication in this world and damnation in the next 2. At the same time likewise the dignity of late empaired was restored to the Metropolitan Church of Canterbury And Aldulf formerly stiling himself Arch-bishop of Lichfeild submitted himself to the Popes command and to the iurisdiction of Athelard in this Synod subscribing himself by the simple Title of Bishop Yet all matters were not so cleared in that Controversy but that upon new emergent difficulties Athelard was obliged once more to have recourse to the See Apostolick 3. In the Kingdom of the Northumbers likewise a Synod was called at Finchal now Finkley in which Eanbald Arch-bishop of York presided and at which were present many persons of high rank both Ecclesiasticall and Secular In this Synod many Ordonnances were made proffitable to the Church of God and the whole nation touching the Observation of the Paschall solemnity the regulating of Iudicatories both Ecclesiasticall and Secular the introducing of good order among Clarks and Religious persons and many other like Ordonnances by which the generall state of that Province was excellently composed Eanbald likewise the Arch-bishop commanded that the Faith of Gods Church explained by the five Generall Councils should be publickly recited whereto all unanimously consented The same as we have before declared had been practised in the Synod of Hatfeild under Theodore Arch-bishop of Canterbury XIX CHAP. 1.2 c. Pope Leo conducted to Rome by King Charles the Great 1. THE year following King Charles with great pomp conducted Pope Leo back to Rome Among other expressions of ioy at his reception testified by Anastasius this was one That all the Schooles of Strangers in that Citty to witt of the Franks Frisons Saxons and Lombards ioyning together in one body with Crosses and flaggs singing likewise spirituall Canticles received the Pope leading him to the Church of Saint Peter where he solemnly celebrated Masse Now by the Schoole of the Saxons he certainly means that of the English instituted by King Ina and amplified in revenews by King Offa. For the Name of Brittany began now to grow out of use Shortly we shall have it by Regall authority changed into England In the mean time it was most usually called Saxony beyond the Sea to distinguish it from the Old Saxony in the Continent Hence in the last Letter written by Pope Leo to Kenulf King of the Mercians he stiles him King of the Province of Saxony 2. It is probable that Athelard Arch-bishop of Canterbury and Kinebert Bishop of Winchester accompanied their countreymen in this Procession For at this time those two Bishops were at Rome as Florentius testifies The occasion of Athelards second iourney thither was to clear some difficulties arising from the change made lately in the Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction in Brittany Which difficulties were so many and of such consideration that all opposition could not be quieted nor all impediments removed till four years more were passed 3. And as for Kinebert the Motive of his going to Rome was either devotion or to offer in the name of Brithric King of the West-Saxons the yearly contribution called Romescot which was collected our of his Dominions XX. CHAP. 1.2 c. Charles the Great solemnly crowned Emperour of Rome by Pope Leo the third 6. Saint Alcuin's congratulation to him 1. THE last year of this Century was rendred illustrious by the New erection of the Western Empire The Emperours of Constantinoplâ— besides that for severall ages they had been the Protectours of Heresy they were become unable to defend the Western Regions from the assaults which the Saracâ—nâ— made in severall parts especially the Islands and Rome particularly was exposed to many oppressions from the Lombards and other petty Princes tyrannising in Italy yea from the Nobility of the Citty it self and of the Territory adioyning who oft compelled the Popes to flye into France and Germany So that it was necessary to seek out a common Protectour abroad Now not any Christian Prince could enter into competition with the Kings of France either for power or inclination to defend the Apostolick See or to secure Italy it self from the Saracens abroad and Tyrants within the bowells of it The obligations which Rome and especially the See Apostolick had already to the Predecessours of King Charles not only for quelling the Tyrants who oppressed it but for raising it from poverty and weaknes to wealth and power to be envyed even by Princes were so fresh and so excessive that to seek a Protectour from any other Kingdom had been folly And among the Kings and Princes governing in France none hitherto approached to King Charles the Great either for power or for affection to the Church a proof whereof he at this time gave to the present Pope in his care to secure him from his malicious enemies by retiring into France his tender affectionate and respectfull entertainment of him there and his restoring him with far greater splendour then ever to his See with power to execute iustice and if he pleased any revenge upon his barbarous enemies 2. These things considered both gratitude and interest strongly moved Pope Leo to resent the inestimable benefitts which he had so lately received from King Charles And since his abilities could stretch no further then to exalt so great a King by Words and Titles and no Title was either more easy for him to bestow or more becoming King Charles to receive then that of Emperour of the West or of Rome For these reasons the sayd Pope at this time made choice of that way of expressing his gratitude 3. Now that this new Honour might be conferred as it were in a Legall manner and due Form according to the ancient custom he caused the Nobility and cheif among the Clergy at Rome and neighbouring places to assemble together as constituting a resemblance of the ancient Roman Senat And by their unanimous Votes and suffrages was this illustrious King nominated and chosen Emperour of Rome Which election was presently signified to the Common people of Rome and other Regions of Italy assembled in infinite multitudes from all parts by whom it was with loud acclamations ratified and confirmed Which being done Pope Leo as Prince of the Senat did in all their names with the greatest solemnity and glory imaginable ioyning in the ceremony both Civill and Spirituall authority sett the Imperiall Crown upon his head on the day of the great Solemnity of our Lords Nativity 4. The fame of this being spread