for entertaining and releeuing persecuted Preists and Christians his house there being dedicated a cheife Church most Christians resorting to it And other Apostolike men sent from Rome into Britaine in this time 227 Chap. X. Of the last holy labours of S. Timothie in Britaine his honour with S. Denis the Areopagite his returne from hence to Rome and Martyrdome there and Martyrdome of S. Pius Pope in the same place 231 Chap. XI Of the holy Popes next succeeding Sainct Pius and their Religion The fauorable Edict of Marcus Aurelius Emperour for defence and protection of Christians and the Christian Lieutenants Trebellius and Pertinax with the forhidding the Druids Religion occasions of the publike receauing and profession of Christianitie in Britaine by King Lucius and his subiects 234 Chap. XII How the Religion of the Druides in Britaine made some binderance for the generall receauing of the lawe of Christ But conuicted to be abominable Idolatrie and Superstition the Professors of it generally embraced the faith of Christ detesting their former Infidelities and Impieties 240 Chap. XIII Of Pope S. Eleutherius and how in his Papacie and by his Papall order and power Britaine had the honour to be the first Christian kingdome in the worlde and eldest daughter of the mother Church of Christ King Lucius by his Embassadors and petition to the Pope of Rome so obtaining 247 Chap. xvj Wherein is related how King Lucius did not onely sue vnto the Pope of Rome by his Embassadges for the generall settling of Christian Religion in Britaine but for ciuill and temporall lawes also to be allowed by him to rule heare in Temporall affaires 252 Chap. xv The mission of the holy Legats saincts Damianus Fugatianus Bishops and diuers others from sainct Eleutherius Pope of Rome at the request of sainct Lucius King heare in Britaine by Authoritie to plant and setle heare the true Christian Religion 260 Chap. xvi How these holy Roman Legats by Power and Commission from the Pope and Apostolike See of Rome conuerted and confirmed vnto and in the faith of Christ all manner of Parsons in all places of Britaine whether the Nobilitie Flamens Archflamens or of what Order or degree soeuer 266 Chp. xvij How in Britaine these holy Legats placed Archbishops Bishops in our Cities Archbishops in the places of Archflamens and Bishops for Flamens And how by all writers such dignities were among the auncient Pagans both in Britaine and other Nations 272 Chapt. xviij In what Places of Britaine these cheifest coÌ„manding Archflamens were to witt at London Yorke and Caerlegion and how these Roman Legats placed for them Archbishops with their seuerall commands and Iurisdictions some of them by the Apostoliâ—e power extending and coÌ„manding ouer Prouinces and Countries not temporally subiect to King Lucius of Britaine or the Romans but rather enemyes vnto them in ciuill affaires 279 Chap. xix Of the Episcopall Sees and Cities of the Inferiour Bishops subordinate to the Archbishops which where and how many they were ordained by these Roman Legats and continued Bishops Sees in the Romans and Britans time 285 Chap. xx How S. Eleutherius Pope did not onely by his Papall Authoritie establish and settle Religion Ecclesiasticall thiÌ„gs heare but directed what temporall Lawes were to be vsed appointed the bounds and limits of this kingdome sending and allowed Crowne to our King and such Lawes Order continued heare in many Ages after 295 Chapt. xxj Of many Archiepiscopall Episcopall and other Churches and Monasteries both of men and women founded and ritcly endowed and priuiledged in this time 304 Chap. xxij How after these Roman Legats had fully settled the affaires and estate of our Church heare they went againe to Rome to procure the Pope there to ratifie and confirme what they had done which he did and they returned hither againe with that his Confirmation and many other Preachers then sent hither from Rome 311 Chap. xxiij Of the Archbishops of London Yorke and Caerlegion in this time in particular many other inferiour Bishops and the Roman Church Discipline heare also setled by Papall Authoritie 316 Chap. xxiv Of the comming of these holy Legats to Glastenbury their holy labours deeds and long aboade there their renewing there the old Religeous Order of S. Ioseph of Aramathia and his brethren greate priuiledges and indulgeÌ„ces by theÌ„ procured to that holy place the glory honour and renowne thereof in the whole Christian world 322 Chap. xxv Of the greate honour and Renowne of our old Brittish Apostolike Order of Religion from the comming of sainct Ioseph of Aramathia in the yeare of Christs Natiuitie 63. without any discontinuance or Interruption by some and very short time after his death by all many hundreds of yeares in greate perfection without any change or alteration to be named a Mutation of Monasticall Rule being the Mother or Nurse of Monasticall holy life to many Nations and Religious Orders in them by which also many CouÌ„tryes to Christ were conuerted 328 Chap. xxvj That diuers of the Britans which liued in that part of Britaine then called Albania now Scotland were conuerted by the same meanes and manner by these Roman Legats as the other Britans of Loegria and Cambria were at that time 333 Chap. xxvij Of diuers bookes or writings of sainct Phaganus Damianus Eluanus Meduuinus and others Charters and Immunities of Pope Eleutherius and King Lucius the Scripturs heare receaued in the old Latine Translation and the same Canon of them which Catholicks now obserue and followe 337 THE THIRD AGE THE I. CHAPTER VVHerein is deliuered that sainct Victor being now Pope Seuerus Emperour and sainct Luciuâ— yet King of Britaine but shortly dying sainct Victor was Supreame in gouernment of the whole Church of Christ in Asia Afrike and Europe and particularly in Britaine which so acknowledged and receaued from him the true obseruation of Easter as it had done with other Catholike customes from sainct Eleutherius before 343 Chap. ij Of the time and place of King Lucius his death That he did not die or was martyred in Germanie Neither had he any Sister called Emerita martyred there It was an other Prince of Britaine after this time This our first Christian King Lucius died at Gloucester in Britaine 346 Chapt. iij. How notwithstanding the death of King Lucius without Heire to succeede in the gouernment of the kingdome the Brittans perseuered constantly in the Christian faith and the Scots by Preachers sent from sainct Victor Pope of Rome at the entreatie of their King Donalde receaued the faith and as the Brittans continued in it vntill the Protestants time euen by their owne confessions 350. Chap. iv That allthough the being of the Scots in Britaine in the time of sainct Victor is vncertaine and not proued but rather otherwise yet the Inhabitants of the part now called Scotland Britans or whosoeuer were conuerted in King Lucius and this time The Bishops of the conuerted Scots were euer true Bishops and they euer
must bewayle the vnspeakeable want and losse which this kingdome long time by many miseries and afflictions suffered by the death of so holy iust and prudent a Prince and Ruler hapning by the most diligent Calculatours of time we haue in the beginning and first yeare of this Age. Anno gratiae 201. Inclitus Britannorum Rex Lucius in bonis actibus assumptus ab hac vita migrauit ad Christum THE II. CHAPTER OF THE TIME AND PLACE OF KING LVCIVS his death That he did not die or was martyred in Germanie Neither had he any Sister called Emerita martyred there It was an other Prince of Britaine after this time This our first Christian King Lucius died at Gloucester in Britaine 1. BEING come to celebrate the day of the death of our glorious King Lucius for the Ioy that he enioyed thereby and bewayle The time of King Lucius death it for the vnspeakeable losse this Nation receaued thereby we are to fall into the like difficulties both of the time and place Matth. Westm an gratiae 201. Manuscript Antiq Eccles S. Petri in Cornhill Londin Matth. Paris in Hist maiori apud Io. Caium l. 1. Ant. Cantab. Acad. pag. 109. Martin Polon Supputat an 188. in Eleutherio thereof which we passed for the beginning of his Reigne and Conuersion to Christ before handled and dissolued yet for the time of his death the auncient Manuscript of S. Peters Church in Cornehill in London and Matthew the Monke of Westminster haue giuen vs particular intelligence that it was in the first yeare of this third hundred of yeares Matthew Paris writeth the same And Martinus Polonus that testifieth King Lucius wrote to Pope Eleutherius concerning his Conuersion in the yeare 188. must needs giue euidence to that opinion for certaine it is by all Antiquities that King Lucius liued many yeares after that to see his kingdome conuerted to Christ And our Protestant Antiquaries with the best Authours as they say which confesse this first writing of King Lucius to Pope Eleutherius was not before the 178. yeare of Christ Haec contigerunt anno à Christi aduentu in carnem 178. vt potiores commemorant Annales For William of Malmesbury Io. Bal. l. de script Britan. cent 1. in Lucio Pio. Caius supr pag. 111. in his Manuscript History of Glastenbury and other old Antiquities thereof doe proue that after S. Damianus and Faganus had conuerted this kingdome by the Papall Commission of S. Eleutherius they did continue 9. yeares at the least at Glastenbury King Lucius still liuing and reigning heare Guliel Malm. l. de Ant. Coen Glaston Antiq. Manuscrip tab fixae Glast Polid. Virgil. Hist in Lucio Lilius Hist alij Hollinshed Hist of Engl. l. 4. c. 19. Stowe Hist an 179. in Lucius Io. Bal. l. de Scriptor Britan. centur 1. in Lucio Pio. Author of the Engl. Martyrol 3. day of December Martyrol Rom. die 3. Decemb. alij Polidor Lilly Hollinshed Stowe and other Protestants leane to this opinion 2. About the day of his death there is better Agreement for both those which say he died in Britaine both Catholiks and Protestants as also they which deny it affirming he died in Germany agree that this was vpon the third day of December Lucius Pius Claudiocestriae tertia die Decembris vitae suae finem accepit So writeth a Protestant Bishop of England with others And the Roman Martyrologe with others which otherwise write of the place of his death consent Tertio Nonas Decembris Lucij Britannorum Regis qui primus ex ijs Regibus Christi fidem suscepit tempore Eleutherij Papae 3. The place and manner of his death is more questioned diuers forreyne writers contend that he forsooke his kingdome and being made a Preist and afterward Bishop preached to the Rhetians in Germany was Bishop there of Curre and died by Martyrdome The Roman Martyrologe inclineth to this opinion making his death to haue bene Curiae in Germania At Curre in Germanie saying plainely as I haue cited before that this Lucius which died there was the first of the Kings of the Britans which receaued the faith of Christ in the time of Pope Eleutherius This is the greatest Authoritie I finde for this opinion yet this Authour doth not take vpon him to say that he was eyther Bishop or Martyr which he would not neyther by his Order and rule of writing which might not omit such things could haue omitted if he had knowne or probably thought eyther of them to haue bene true And whereas this Authour confidently saith of King Lucius that he was primus ex ijs King Lucius did not preach in Germanie neyther was he martyred or died there Regibus qui Christi fidem suscepit the first of the Brittish Kings which receaued the faith of Christ it doth formerly appeare that diuers Authours euen of this Nation which might better learne the truth hereof then a stranger could haue written otherwise both of Aruiragus Marius and Coillus Brittish Kings And I haue giuen sufficient warrant before that for the faith and Religion of King Lucius in particular it was Christian before the Papacy of S. Eleutherius and the generall Conuersion of the kingdome of Britaine and not of King Lucius was wrought in the time of Pope Eleutherius And yet this Authour absolutely affirmeth that King Lucius himselfe did receaue the faith of Christ in the time of Pope Eleutherius fidem Christi suscepit tempore Eleutherij Papae Neither doth he in that or any other place make any memory of S. Author of the Engl. Martyrol ex Eisengren cent 2. d. 1. Breuia Curiensi 4. Decemb. Caspar Bruch Catal. Episcop Curien Io. Stumpff in Rhetia Magdeburg cent Guliel Eisengr centenar 2. Io. Naucler gener 6. volum 8. Petr. de Natal l. 1. cap. 24. Emerita supposed by some others to be Sister to our King Lucius and departing forth of Britaine with him to haue bene martyred in Germany in or neare Curre in Rhetia to which in some Iudgments the Ecclesiasticall Office of that Church seemeth to giue allowance at the least for one Lucius regio stemate apud Britannos ortus borne of the Brittish Kingly Race and his Sister S. Emerita but this proueth rather that it was not S. Lucius our King but an other of the Kingly Line which I shall proue hereafter to haue bene a Sonne of Constantius and S. Helena Empresse that honour of Britaine an elder brother to Constantine the Greate Emperour who became an holy Clergie man and preached in those parts of Germany Which together with the likenes or Identitie of name Regall Race and nearnes in blood gaue occasion to some to thinke it was the renowned first Brittish Christian King of that name which vndertooke that course of life and so ended it there 4. That our first Christian King Lucius could not be Bishop there is euident before when I haue kept him so long in Britaine that for
pretiously adorning it with all things belonging to Christian Religion all this was longe time before S. Niniā came hither that the King people of the Picts were thus zealous in Christian Religion which could not probably proceede from any later or other Originall thē this sending of preachers hither by Pope Victor which a Protestant Antiquarie confesseth plainely by this his calculation of time whilest these things were thus in hand the Mates Picts and Caledoniens receaued the faith This Conuersion of the North parts fell out in the sixt yeare before the warres that Seuerus had in those quarters and 170. after the death of our Sauiour Iesus Christ Which was the 203. of his Incarnation the very yeare before assigned by all Histories of Pope Victor his sending Preachers into those parts Which is further confirmed by the firme assistance and ioyning of the Picts and Scots then with the Christian Britans against the Romans testified by all Antiquities Which we cannot better impute to any other motiue then their new vnion in Christian Religion being enemies and at variance before Arnoldus Mermannius in his Treatise Of the Conuersion of Nations to Christ confirmeth the same for speaking of the Britans Conuersion in the time of King Lucius and Eleutherius saith that the Scots Picts Irish and other Ilanders of this Climate did at or about that time receaue the Christian faith though they then had no Bishop Scoti Picti Hiberni caeterique eius climatis Insulares videnter eodem tempore fidem accepisse sed Episcopum Arnold Merm Theatro conu Gent. p. 123. non ita si venerabili Bedae credendum est And this with that is saide before is sufficient for the Conuersion of the Scots about Britaine wheresoeuer they were seated 7. But to allowe them eyther habitation then in this greate Iland or to haue had that time any Bishops I dare not for the reasons and Authorities I haue alledged before And yet might write more plainely and not singularly of this matter if I should speake onely in the words of Protestant Antiquaries among whome two principall men haue with greate applause with many men of their Religion thus published to the world Neyther was there Humfry Lhoyd Breuiar Brit. Thom. Twyne f. 35. 36. any Writer of name that made mention eyther of Scots or Readshanks before Vespasians time about the yeare of our Lords Incarnation threescore and twelue at what time Maurigus or Maus or Aruiragus reigned in Britaine For our Chronicles doe reporte of a Nation which liued by Piracie and Rouing one the Sea comming forth of Sueuia or Norway hauing one Rhythercus to their Captaine and landed in Albania wasting all the Countrie with robbing and spoyling so farre as Caerleil where he was discomfited and slayne by Meurigus and a greate many of his men also and those which escaped fledd to their ships and so conueyed themselues into the Orchades and the Iles of Scotland where they quietly abode a greate while These after they had taken hart of grace and were growen to some power out of these Ilands in their litle leathern boates such as our fishermen doe vse now a dayes a long Scotland were wont to robbe and spoyle shephards and husbandmen Vntill that about the yeare of our Lord 290. when the Romans and Britans were both at ciuile warres for the purple Robe which Carausius woare and after him Allectus they entered generally into Cathenesia and Caledonia and driuing thence the Brittish Shephards and Heardsmen Fol. 37. and calling vnto them the Gatheli out of Ireland which are now called the Scots were so bold as to prouoke the Britans in open warre Dion a man which had bene Consul and familiar with Seuerus the Emperour and vnto him dearely beloued Fol. 40. whilst he declareth his expedition into Britaine at lardge not once speaketh of the Scots or Readshankes being very well knowne to all men that he conueyed all his force and Power into Albania or Scotland For quoth Dion the Meati and Caledonij Dion Cassius in Seuero two diuers kinds of Britans reuolted from the Romans and Seuerus calling together his souldiers commanded them to inuade their Country and kill all that euer they mett If the Scots had bene in Britaine at that time the Reporter hereof being a friend neyther after him Herodian who in sufficient long discourse hath sett forth that voiage would haue defrauded an Emperour so ambitious and thirsty of honour as Seuerus was of his due prayse Wherefore it is as euident as Noone dayes that at this time which was about two hundred and two yeares after the Incarnation of our Lord the Scots had no seate in Britaine Ouer and besides all this neyther Eutropius neyther Spartianus neither Capitolinus neyther Lampridius neyther Vopiscus nor Aurelius Victor who haue all written the expeditions and warres of the Roman Emperours in Britaine haue in any place made mention of the Scottish or Readshanks name And they conclude in this manner it appeareth manifestly that at this time that is to witt in the yeare of our Saluation 410. The Scots possessed no certaine Fol. 47. place in Britaine but many times vsed to make Irruptions out of Ireland and by litle and litle subdued the North parts of the Iland and at lenght hauing driuen thence the Inhabitants established their kingdome there vnder Valētinian the yoūger in the yeare of God Incarnate 444. when as now the Romans had left off the chardge and Holinsh. Hist of Engl. l. 3. cap. 10. Galfr. Monum Hist Reg. Brit. l. 5. c. 3. Hard. Cron. c. 54. Matth. Westm an 292. care of Britaine An other Protestant Antiquarie saith confidently sure it is that no speciall mention of the Scots is made till about 300. yeares after the birth of our Sauiour And the old Brittish History inclineth to hold that Carausius gaue the Picts their first place in Albania to inhabite and they matching with the Britans which dwelled there continued to after Ages Victoria cessit Carausio Qui vt triumphum habuit dedit Pictis locum mansionis in Albania vbi cum Britonibus mixti per sequens aeuum manserunt And Matthew of Westminster with some others maketh it the yeare of Christ 202. before Carausius entered into this busines 8. And the Scottish Historians themselues doe acknowledge that 48. of their first Kings as they call those their Leaders were buried in a litle Out-Ilād called Iona or Columkill And also 4. petty Irish and 8. such Noruegian Princes and to this day there is euidence thereof Eminent inter caeteros Tumuli Georg. Buchan Rerum Scotic l. 1. William Harrison descript of Brit. p. 40. in Iona tres in Occidente cuiusque parte lapis inscriptus quorum Tumuli sint indicat Qui medius est Titulum habet Tumulus Regum Scotiae ferunt enim quadraginta octo Reges Scotorum ibi fuisse humatos an Argument sufficient what litle interest they had in Britaine when
to the kingdome of Britaine and the Roman Empire abandoning all that and such terreane honours preferred the poore Religeous life founded Monasteries and conuersed in them with greate deuotion suffered so many miseries and disgraces for preaching Christ stoned and cast into a pitt at Ausburge by the Infidels liuing some time in a Cliffe by Chur ingreate austeritie still called Lucius Cliffe cliuo illi ad tempora nostra nomen Aegid Schudus Clarouen in descript Rhaetiae Alpinae cap. 15. mansit Sancti Lucij Cliuus 5. Allthough his memory hath bene allmost omitted in Antiquities on earth yet he hath enioyed his deserued honour in heauen and the very foundations of his Monasteries the one at S. Lucius in Aquitaine the other S. Lucius in Rhaetia and the hard stones of his S. Lucius Cliffe doe call vpon vs to honour and not bury in obliuion so noble and worthie a Saint of our Nation the first among the Kings and Princes of Britaine that for loue of the heauenly kingdome left his Title to so great a Temporall Throne and scepter to beare the Crosse of Christ and preache his Lawe to his Enemies Which wonderfull zeale and deuotion in this most holy Saint being of the same name Country and kindred with King Lucius and vndoubted Heire to the same kingdome he enioyed and liued to see it conuerted vnto Christ and thereby renowned in all the world and this S. Lucius for the most part muring vp himselfe in Cloisters and Clifts and concealing his Regall Right and discent gaue occasion to some to asscribe that to S. Lucius King in Act which belonged to S. Lucius King and Emperour by Hereditarie Right and Title Wherevpon I boldly say for the glory of Britaine our Lucius the first was the first King in the world which for himselfe and his subiects publickly receaued the Lawe of Christ Our S. Lucius the second was the first owner or Heire of a kingdome and Empire in the world which forsooke them to preach and purchase the heauenly kingdome and Empire and S. Emerita his Sister the first daughter of so greate Parents which publickly professed and practised such holy conuersation And allthough we doe not finde in Histories so exact Eutrop. l. 10. Euseb l. 1. Vit. ConstaÌ„t c. 14. Victor in Constantino Zonaras in Dioclesiano Pomponius Laetê° Roman Hist comp in Constantino Max. Io. Baptista Egnat in CoÌ„stantino Magno Anton. Sabellic Ennead li. 8. Ennead 7. Niceph. l. 7. c. 49 50. Nich. Har. pesfeld Hist Eccl. in 6. primis scaecul c. 12. p. 19. accompt and memory of the cheifest procurers and prosecutours of the Martyrdome of these two glorious Brittish Saints Brother and Sister S. Lucius and S. Emerita nor the certaine time of their death yet if we call to minde that which is common in Writers of those dayes that Maximianus Herculeus their mortall Enemy was then Emperour in the West and raised most greuous Persecutions there and hauing forced Constantius before to putt his true lawfull wife their holy Mother S. Helen away to take Theodora his daughter in Lawe and what hate he bore to the children of S. Helen seeking to depriue them of their Regall and Imperiall Right and Title as well appeareth in his plotts and proceedings against Constantine still liuing and happily escaping them iniuriously to aduance his owne titlesse and vnworthie creaturs it will be voide of presumption to thinke that he countriued the death of these holy Saints about that time when he sought to murther their Brother Constantine a litle before the death of Constantiustheir Father knowne to be sickly and vnlikely long to liue and so they receaued a double Crowne of Martyrdome one for the kingdome of heauen which they diligently preached an other for their Title to a kingdome and Empire one earth of which they were thus vniustly depriued And we finde that among other Churches which the Emperour Constantine the Greate their Brother founded in honour of Saints he founded one to S. Lucius not vnprobable to this his renowned Brother then Martyred A late Authour setteth downe S. Emerita Sister of S. Lucius to haue bene dead before the Empire of Constantine the Greate citing some though not naming them that she was burnt to death for the faith of Christ Ante haec tempora quidam Emeritam Lucij sororem pro Christi fide exustam tradunt But that which he alledgeth others without name to thinke she was not putt to death for Religion but in the time of Tumults heare after King Lucius death alijid adscismata factiones potiùs quae hoc regnum totos post Lucium quindecim annos miserè distrahebant quam ad vllam Christianae fidei causam referunt Besides that wanteth Authoritie is confuted before THE XIII CHAPTER THAT S. HELEN WAS ALL HER LIFE AN holy and vertuous Christian neuer infected with Iudaisme or any error in Religion And that Constantius her Husband long liued and dyed a Christian and protected both Britaine and other Countries vnder him from Persecution 1. BY this we doe not onely see the greate and wonderfull Sanctitie of these most holy children of Constantius Helena with a new confirmation of their true lawfull marriadge but the extraordinary greate loue and affection of these greate PareÌ„ts themselues towards Christian Religion For these blessed children receauing their Education as birth and being from them and by them both allowed and furthered in so sacred and holy course of life in their young yeares if we had no other Arguments but this and that S. Helen was Grandaughter to S. Lucius our first Christian King for his most singular pietie a spectacle to all after Princes and Constantius her Husband euen against the liking of many of the Roman Nobilitie and by diuers before against their Lawes so farre enamoured with the rare vertues of that vnmatchable Lady that aboue all others he chose her to wife to liue with her in so remote and strange Country especially professing Christianitie which the Romans then persecuted we must needs at the least conclude from hence that this our King and Queene were very farre from being Persecutours of that Religion if they were left to their owne Iudgments and disposition and not incited or inforced by others against their consciences and propensions 2. Of Queene Helen there can be no question for being borne in a Christian kingdome discended from such Parents her selfe Mother of such children and by all Antiquities brought vp in Britaine in extraordinary learning and knowledge where after the Druides and their Rites extinct by King Lucius and their maintenance and reuenewes bestowed vpon Ecclesiasticall learned Christians and our Vniuersities and Schooles replenished with such we shall hardly with good congruence thinke otherwise but Queene Helen was in that her prime and florishing Age rather an holy professed actuall Christian then in minde and affection onely If any man will hold and affirme that for the sumptuous Pallace Queene Helen had in Treuers in Germany
after this time So I may say of Guitelinus and S. Vodinus glorious Archbishops of that See famous in our Histories But of these as also of S. Patrike I shall speake more in the next hundred of yeares We finde memory of an other renowned Bishop in this Age Aluueus spoken of before that baptized S. Dauid and at his Baptisme Vit. S. Dauid Episcopi and in the place thereof a Miraculous Well sprang sodainely vp at that time curing diseases Whether this Bishop peculiarly assigned to baptise this Infant so prophetically and Miraculously longe before foretold was one of the Archbishops of Caerlegion whose names are not remēbred as I haue said before and the rest I leaue to others to decide Our Historians relating the life and History of S. Patrike say he was consecrated Bishop in these parts by one Antiq. Script in vit S. Patricij Capgrau in eod Nennius Hist Manuscrip Matth. West An. 491. the principall among his Consecrators named by some Amatus but by Nennius Matthew of Westminster and others Matheus or Amatheus Nennius calleth him Amatheus mirabilis summus Episcopus Rex an admirable highe Bishop and King or Prince The Monke of Westminster termeth him Matthaeus and saith he was an Archbishop relateth S. Patrike his Mission from Pope Celestine how he preached both to Britans and Scots by that Commission and that he was made Bishop by this Matthaeus or Amatheus in these parts afterward Patricius Theodosio Valentiniano Imperantibus à Papa Celestino ad partes Occiduas missus est vt vexillum sanctae crucis gentibus praedicaret Cumque ad Britanniam peruenisset praedicauit ibi verbum Dei à gentibus Incolis gratanter est susceptust deinde ad Scotos se conferens praedicauit verbum Dei. Tandem à Matthaeo Archiepiscapo ad Episcopalem gradum permotus Wherefore seeing we finde that he was consecrated Bishop in these parts by such an Archbishop and finde that Archbishop named for no other Nation and being assured by Antiquities that Caerlegion had diuers Archbishops whose names are not remēbred in Histories I may name this Amatus Matthaeus or Amathaeus a cōfessed Arch bishop to haue bene one of them a renowned mā if not Archbishop in this Age. And this the rather because whereas this Archbishop is called Rex a King we had heare diuers Kings or Heires to such litle Kings which forsooke their temporall states and honors to be Religeous and Clergy men and were Manuscript Ant. in vit S. Dauid Capgrau in eod S. Carantoco renowned in Ecclesiasticall Order at and before the time when S. Patrike was consecrated Bishop Such as I haue proued before were the worthies of this Nation S. Cadocus S. Canochus and Carantocus To whome I add King Keredick Father to S. Carantocus and S. Dauid voluntarily leauing and renowncing their earthly Kingdomes for the loue of Christ and to be crowned in heauen THE XXVIII CHAPTER OF VERY MANY AND RENOWNED MOnasteries and holy Monasticall parsons in Britaine in this Age. 1. IN this Age also we had heare in Britaine very many Monasteries and Religious houses both of men and women euen as the Protestant Antiquaries of this Nation professed enemies of such holy Monuments and profession with others doe freely confesse Monachorum Io. Goscel Hist Eccl. Matt. Parker Antiq. Britannic p. 8. Antiq. Glast Capgr in Vit. S. Patricij Guliel Malmefb lib. de Antiquit. Caenobij Glaston Abbatū Caenobiorum Sediūque nomina permulta extiterūt no Catholike Historian calleth it into Question but all such are witnesses that as in other Christian Natiōs so heare in Britaine there were many Religious houses in this time Our old Religious house of Glastenbury continued in this Age as in the former hauing twelue Religious men Eremites belonging vnto it dwelling in the places and Cells of the first 12. in the time of S. Ioseph of Arimathia and very often dayly resorting to the old Church to performe their publike seruice and deuotions This is testified by the old Manuscripts of that place William of Malmesbury in his Booke of the Antiquitie thereof witnessing that these holy men in the number of twelue successiuely thus liued and serued God there vutill S. Patrike his comming thither Sic multi alijs succedentes semper tamen in numero duodenario per multa annorum curricula vsque ad aduentum Sancti Patricij Hibernensium Apostoli in memorata Insula permanserunt Which some before haue placed in this Age. These Religious men were of so greate Sanctitie in this time as the Epistle asscribed to S. Patrike testifieth that he such a wonder in the world for pietie confessed he was not worthie to vntie the Latchets of their Shoes Non dignus eram soluere corrigias calceamentorum eorum The names of the 12. then liuing there in this holy Order are thus Registred Brunbam Dyregaan Viwal Wenreth Bamtonneweng Adeloobred Loyor Wellias Breden Swellwes Hinloermus and Alius All of them discended of Noble Families rather preferred this poore penitentiall Eremiticall life then worldly honor Hij cum essent Nobilibus orti natalibus nobilitatem suam fidei opibus ornare cupientes Heremiticam vitam ducere elegerunt 2. The Antiquities of Glastenbury further witnesse that about this time there was new founded or renewed an other litle Religious house in honor of S. Michael the Archangel and particularly to honor and pray to him Vt honorantes inuocent adiutorium Archangeli Michaelis And that Arnulphus and Ogmar two Religious holy men were the first which supplied that office and dutie there 3. I haue spoaken of the auncient famous Monastery of Wincester in the beginning of this Age how it was destroyed in the Persecution of Diocletiā and with greate deuotion State and Magnificence reedified when that Tēpest ceased in the space of one yeare and thirtie dayes and dedicated to S. Amphibalus lately martyred before This Monastery now florished and long after this time vntill the time of Cerdic the Saxon and first Pagan King of that Nation ouer the West Saxons as the old Manuscript Antiquitie of that place Antiquitat Eccl. Wintonien proueth being 210. yeares from the death of Dioclesian Monachi sic introducti inhabitāt Ecclesiam Wintoniae in quieta pace à morte Dioclesiani vsque aduentum Cerdicij Saxonici Pagani ac Westsaxonum Regis primi hoc est 210. annis So Matth. Westm in Chron. Florēt Wigorn. in geneolog Reg. Westsax Fast Reg. Episcop Angl. Gildas l. de Excid Brit. Stowe Histor Matth. Westm an 433. Matth. Westm an 445. Galfr. Monum Hist Brit. l. 6. c. 5. Holinsh. Hist of Engl. l. 5. Hardin Chron. c. 65. 66. that Cerdic not being King there by the common opinion vntill about the yeare 519 this Monastery florished in quiet all this and the next Age also it being the yeare of Christ 495. when Cerdic first landed heare and so long after before he was King And our most
Holinsh Hist of Scotl. in Maximus Britaine they had very many Monkes Religeous men of their owne Scottish people which by the common generall Edict of Maximus to bannish all Scots whatsoeuer Ecclesiasticall or temporall without exception or limitatioÌ„ were exiled with the rest they erected new Monasteries in the out Ilands Among which one aboue the rest in the Hebrides Ilands in the I le of Iona was most renowned both for holy Monkes and Nunnes where the common funerall place was of the Scottish Kings There was an other such Monastery in the I le of Mona where S. Briget euen by our Protestant Antiquaries Io. Bal. cent 1. in Brigida Lagmési Hector Boeth Scotor Hist l. 9. Capgr in S. Brigida with three other Virgins at one time became Nunnes being professed by Machillas then Bishop of Soder or Soter this was when she was but 14. yeares olde Brigida sanctissima virgo decimo quarto anno vix superato ad Sodorensem Episcopum in Monam Iusulam paternis fortunis quae amplissimae erant contemptis aufugit precibus non sine lachrimis petens vt perpetuae virginitati Pontificia authoritate addiceretur Which time being compared with that of her life being very old at her death and that she had bene first buried in Mona and her body translated to Dune in Ireland in the yeare 518. must needs proue vnto vs that there was a Religeous house in Mona in this Age. 12. And not onely in Mona Iona and the Hebrides Ilands but in other out Ilands and places these Scotish Monkes made aboad and had Cels or Monasteries in this time For our Scotish Historians deliuering vnto vs how they were all by Maximus bannished with the other Scots out of the Country now called Scotland confesse also that there came but a part allthough a greate part for the nearnes and conuenieÌ„cy of those Ilands into the Hebrides Veremund Hect. Boeth l. 6. Scot. Hist Georg. Buchan Rer. Scoticar l. 4. in Rege 39. Quorum magna pars in Hebrides delata The others then must needs haue other resting places which the Antiquaries of Scotland euen Protestants confesse saying that the Scottish Preists and Monkes then held in greate honor reuerence were dispersed into all Countries rounde about and many of them came into Iona Neâ— Ã Sacerdotibus Monachis qui tum in summo erant honore Picti si publicè Christianis institutis imbuti Iniuriam abstinuerunt Illi vero profugi cum in omnes circumcirca Regiones dispergerentur multi in Ionam Aebudarum vnam deuenerunt atque ibi in Caenobium collecti magâ—am suae sanctitatis eruditionis â—amam ad Posteros transmiserunt Some of these Scots went into Ireland in Hiberniam from whome came the Irish Monkes so famous afterward and some of our Brittish Monkes also preached there in this time as I haue proued of S. Carantocus called by the Irish Cernath before And when in the beginning of the next Age the Scots came into this Iland againe the Monkes of Iona and Mona continuing there still there came so many Scottish Monkes inâ—o the part called Scotland in the time of Fergusius their King the second of that name from their places of Bannishment in so greate a number Veremund Hect. Boeth Scotor Hist l. 7. by the Scottish Writers that their King Fergusius founded and endowed for them being a vertuous Prince many Cels or Monasteries Restituit Fergusius templa dirutâ—â—â—ut populi defectu neglecta sacris ministris ad Dei cultum sacerdâ—tijâ— donatis Qui â—â—ularant Monachos reduâ—es mira charitate amplexus vt popuâ—um vera imâ—uâ—râ—nt â—ietate structis ad id patrio ritu Cellulis quibusdam ad vitae neâ—â—ssariâ— praeâ—â—â—s donâ—uit Where besides the Preists and their Churches we see many Religeous houses founded and endowed for the exiled Monkes returning in the begining of the next Age. Not vnprobable but diuers of these Boeth supr Georg. Buchan l. 4. 5. Hollinsh Hist of Scotl. in Fergusio 2. Monkes came with him from Scandia and Denmarke where he was borne and whether the Scotish Monkes with others fledd in the time of Maximus and other adiacent Contries and Ilands they then being dispersed into all parts about this Kingdome in omnes circumcirca Regiones And yet at the time of this dispersion of the Scotish Monkes the Brittish Monkes with their Cells and Monasteries were in quiet in the Country now termed Scotland as I haue proued before and were many 13. The same is euident of the Religeous people of the Pictish Nation now being Christians the exilement by Maximus onely extending to the Scots Among these some about saint Andrewes were famous One had bene the Palace of the Kings of Picts and at the comming of saint Regulus thither with the Reliks of saint Andrew the Apostle Heirgustus their King conuerted it to a Church or Monastery Heirgustus Regium Palatium amplis structuris vti ea patiebatur aetas ornataÌ„ diuo Andreae Regulo ac Sacerdotibus ibidem deinceps optimo Maximo Deo famulaturis liberè erogauit An other Monastery was that which the same King founded neare to the same place Struxit haud procul à palatio sacram aedem diuo Apostolo dicatam And furnished them both with pretious Ornaments and holy Vessels of gold and syluer Ornauit id templum donarijs amplissimis Pateris Cyphis Calicibus Peluibus Lauacris ex argeÌ„to auroque ac alia pretiosa supellectili in sacrorum vsum quaesita Sacerdotibus ad diuina perpetuò exequenda ibidem constitutis A third Monastery was founded there or very neare the same place either in this Age or the beginning of the next by our renowned Brittish Abbot saint Manuscr Antiq. in vit S. Cadoci Capgr in eod Cadocus after Bishop and Martyr who going one Pilgrimage to the Reliks of saint Andrew in Scotland stayed preaching there 7. yeares and founded a Monastery I haue spoken of saint Gudwal and his 180. Monks before who founded diuers Monasteries heare in this Age. THE XXIX CHAPTER OF CERTAINE HERETICKS AND HERESIES the Trimothian and Pelagian Britaine in this time 1. BVT as Britaine had many glorious Saints and Martyrs in this Age so it wanted not some Heretiks to disturbe the peace and quietnes of Christs Church both in this and other Nations Timotheus the name giuen to the Timotheani Heretiks was as Sigebert with others writeth of this kingdome held that the Diuine Nature in Christ was changed into his Human Nature and by a shew of Continency and Religion deluded many In Britannia Timotheus quidam Continentiae Religionis imagine multis illudeÌ„s eos in errorem suae Haeresis induxit dicens Christum verum quidem Deum verum hominem de Virgine Maria natum fuisse sed mentiens dicendo quod Diuina Natura conuersa sit in HumanaÌ„ Naturam The Collectors of our auncient Writers affirme that our Country man Leporius Agricola did write a
in our Monastery of Glastenbury ib. Pelagius the Heretike a Britan. 607. 2. Pelagius according to some a Scot. 609. 5. Pelagius once a Monke of Bangor 607. 2. Pelagius a good Scholler and first a Catholike Writer ib. Pelagius his Heresies 608. 3. or 605. 3. Pelagius banished out of Britaine 608. 2. or 605. 2. Pelagius Heresies condemned by Diuers Councells and Fathers 607. 2. Penance a Sacrament 382. 10. or 392. 10. Penance looseth sinnes ib. Perch now S. Ihones towne in Scotland 336. 6. A tēple builded at Perch vnto Mars ib. Perch a Flamens seat ib. Pertinax a Roman Lieutenant in Britaine a Christian 237. 3. Pertinax a cheife commander in the Roman army when it was Miraculously preserued by Christians ib. S. Peter Prince of the Apostles 54. 1. Peter a name rather of signification then vsuall denomination 122. 10. First giuen by Christ himselfe to Simon Bariona ib. S. Peter the cheife spirituall Pillar of the Church of Christ ib. The Church committed to S. Peter 143. 5. S. Peter conuerted 3000. at one sermon 20. 3. S. Peter the first preacher to the Gentils 28. 5. S. Peter first entertained at Rome by Britans 55. 2. S. Peter founded diuers Churches and consecrated diuers Bishops for the West before he was resident at Rome 31. 3. S. Peter came to Rome before he came into Britaine 50. 2. S. Peters seating himselfe at Rome foretold by holy Scripturs Rabbins and Sibills 50. 2. S. Peters great labours in Britaine 52. 6. S. Peters personall preaching in Britaine proued by all human Authority 68. 1. S. Peters apparition to a holy man 75. 10. S. Peters Prophecie of King Edward 78. 13. S. Peter testifies in a vision his being in Britaine 80. 14. Protestants obiection against S. Peters being in Britaine answered 80. 1. S. Peter preached in Britaine in the time of Claudius and Nero Emperours 86. 2. Probable that he came into Britaine the second time and when 89. 5. S. Peter in a vision commanded to returne to Rome 161. 1. S. Peter his Pastorall care of Britaine founding Christs Church in it 162. 2. 163. 2. S. Peter at his returne to Rome receaued in our Britans house 162. 2. S. Petrocke an Abbot and where 602. 7. Petrus one of S. Ioseph of Aramathias kinesmen 122. 10. He receaued that name in Baptisme by S. Peter ib. Petrus came into Britaine ib. Petrus of such note that he is called King ib. Petrus father to Kinges and Princes of Britaine ib. S. Philip the Apostle neuer came into France or neere vnto it 48. 7. 116. 1. c. In what Gallia he preached 118. 3. In what sense he may be called the Apostle of the French men of Sicambria 120. 6. S. Philip could not send saint Ioseph into Britaine from Sicambria or any other place 120. 7. S. Philip a Christian depriued of the prefectship of Egipte 365. 1. Philippus v. Iulius The Philippin Islands vnder the King of Spaine 141. 3. The Picts conuerted by whome and when 581. 6. Pictures honored 138. 5. c. Pilgrimages to holy relikes 509. 5. Pilgrimage vnto Saints 324. 3. 448. 2. S. Pius the first succeeded saint Higinius in the See Apostolike 223. 1. The time he ruled thar See ib. S. Pius pietie and Religion ib. S. Pius Decrees in matters of Religion according to Protestants 223. 1. S. Pius often remembred saint Timothy in the sacrifice of Masse 225. 3. The reason of his speciall care of S. Timothy ib. S. Pius sent a new supply of Clergy men into Britaine 227. 1. S. Pius had his death reuealed vnto him 233. 3. S. Pius Martyred 223. 1. 233. 3. Plancius v. Aulus Plinie the 2. Traians Lieutenant in Bithinia 192. 1. Plinie certifieth Traian of the number Constancy and piety of Christians 192. 1. Pomponia Gracina wife to the Emperour Claudius his Lieutenant in Britaine conuerted 88. 2. S. Pontianus Pope 378. 2. S. Pontianus doctrine ib. S. Pontianus Martyred ib. Pontius Pilate writes vnto Tiberius of the passion of Christ 12. 2. The tenor of his letter ib. Pontius Pilate reproched at Rome for our Sauiours death 14. 3. Pontius Pilate as some write became a Christian 5. 5. The Popes supremany 186. 2. 344. 2. 353. 4. The Pope his Supremacie acknowleged by S. Cyprian 383. 11. or 393. 11. The Popes supremacy not giuen by Constantine 541. 5. The Pope to be iudged by none 385. 18. The Pope hath no autority ouer Infidels 334. 1. The Popes authority ordeined by Christ as a rule to all other members of the Church 312. 1. The Popes great power prerogatiues and iurisdiction ouer Britaine 300. 5. The same acknowledged by all our Christian kinges vntill these daies 300. 5. Potentiana v. Sauinian Praiers and reuerence to our B. Lady 136. 2. Praiers vnto Saintes 136. 2. 324. 3. 448. 2. c. Praiers vnto Saintes allowed by S. Cyprian 381. 9. or 391. 9. Praiers to Angels and their protection of vs. 596. 6. Praiers for the dead 324. 3. Praiers for the dead allowed by saint Cyprian 381. 9. or 391. 9. S. Praxedes S. Claudias daughter 160. 10. S. Praxedes charitie towards Christians ib. S. Praxedes house ransaked in the time of M. Aurelius 220. 2. 229. 3. S. Praxedes death 230. 3. S. Praxedes buriall ib. The Prefect of Egipts great authority 365. 1. Preists are to offer the body and bloude of Christ 380. 8. Preists prohibited to sweare except in matters of faith 384. 12. or 394. 12. Preists are to vse holy vestiments at Masse ib. Preists ordained to say Masse in the Apostles time 190. 4. Preists then consecratad as the Roman Church now consecrateth ib. Preists are not to marry 382. 11. or 392. 11. 484. 4. Preists commanded to leaue their wiues by the Councell of Arles 484. 4. Preists in Britaine neuer kept companie with their wiues 484. 5. Preistly order neuer interrupted since saint Peters time continueth still in England 41. 1. Diuers orders of Pagan Preists amongst the Romans 277. 7. Their diuision and subordination ib. S. Priscillas Brittish parents conuerted 20. 3. S. Piscilla foundresse of the Churchyarde of her name in Rome probably Mother of saint Claudia 60. 8. S. Priscillas Church-yards admirable Architecture 62. 6. Priscillianus an Heretike condemned to death by Maximus the Emperour 574. 6. Priscus Prince of Charters placed amongst the Statues of the Gods the image of a virgin holding a child in her armes and why 10. 2. The Protestants vpstart Religion 353. 4. Protestants haue no true Church and why 191. 6. Protestants haue no true and lawfull Bishops and why ib. Protestants haue none but lay men in their Congregation 383. 11. or 393. 11. The Protestants 32. article proued to be false 485. 5. Protestants idle denying of Tradition 538. 2. Protestants can assigne no other but such as were sent by saint Peter who preached in Britaine in Tiberius time 22. 6. Protestant Antiquaries Historicall groundes to know what Apostle first preached in Britaine 36. 1. Protestants grant Britaine to haue
Eisengr cent 1. 1. part 7. dist 8. by Simon Metaphrastes out of the greeke Antiquities and Gulielmus Eisengrenius in the first of his Centuries Where we see both Greekes and Latines to agree in this by our Protestants censure Which other Protestant Antiquaries namely amonge others Syr William Camden their absolutely best historian who maketh it a thing so certaine that S. Peter the Apostle both preached heare and performed such holy Apostolik offices for this kingdome as are partly remembred before that he maketh it a wonder that any man should oppose Camd. in Brit. against it and not beleeue it to be so Quid ni crederemus why should we not beleeue it and them that write it to be so And besides the Authors before alledged and to be cited hereafter both this Prince of Protestant Antiquaries and Andredu Chesne in his French generall history of England Scotland and Iland and diuers other English writers and allowed historians doe playnely André du Chesne histoire general d'Angleterre Escosse d'Irland l. 3. pag. 152. in Indice Harris in Theatro in S. Peter l. 1. c. 22. Nic. Fa. antiq Cath. p. 12. Camd. supr Edit an 1594. 1588. Andre Chesne supr affirme that Nicephorus is of the same opinion Camden confidently in diuers Editions telleth vs Nicephorus de Petro prodit Nicephorus doth declare of sainct Peter that he brought the faith of Christ to the Iles of Britaine The French historian saith Nicephorus teacheth in moste expresse terms that sainct Peter brought the doctrine of Christ to the occidentall Ocean and the Iles of Britaine 6. And if those men should ground vpon no other place then that of Nicephorus which some would expound for S. Simon Zelotes being heare which is in his second booke and 40. chapter It cannot be vnderstood of any other Apostle in any probable opinion but S. Simon Peter the cheife of the Apostles for none other of that most holy company being named Simon but Simon Peter and the other by some Zelotes and Chananaeus I haue made demonstration both by Catholikes and Protestants that S. Simon Zelotes was neuer heare in this Britaine Therefore Nicephorus to iustifie the coming of S. Simon an Apostle to preach the ghospell in this kingdome to make his assertion true must needs vnderstand it of S. Simon Peter And his very words will easely suffer that construction These they are as they be translated by our Protestant historians Nicephorus a Greeke Authour in his second booke 40. Stowe Howes hist in Agricola chapter hath as followeth Simon borne in Chana Galilei who for his feruent affection to his Master and greate zeale he tooke by all meanes to the Ghospell was surnamed Zelotes he hauing receaued the holy Ghost from aboue trauailed through Egypt and Afrike then through Mauritania and all Lybia preaching the Ghospell And the same doctrine he brought to the occidentall Sea and the Iles called Britannicae What is here in this narration but may truely and literally be applied to sainct Simon Peter who by name was Simon by Country of Galilie where he was first called by Christ to be an Apostle as first the scripture witnesseth Matth. c. 4. v. 15. March c. 1. v. 16. Ioan. c. 21. v. 15. 16. 1◠and for zeale and loue to his master the most zelous and louing among all the Apostles by his owne and Christs testimony recorded by the beloued Apostle of Christ That S. Peter the Apostle trauayled those Coūtries or taugth the faith in them is both proued before and Nicephorus himselfe shall further testifie Therefore to keepe Nicephorus or whosoeuer from whom he citeth that allegation from contradiction seeing it cannot truely be interpreted of S. Simon Zelotes we must for the credit of the Authour expound it of S. Simon Peter and this the rather because those Protestants themselues which cite these words of Nicephorus doe not affirme that they are true of Stowe Howes supr in Agricola Godwyn Conu of Britaine pa. 2. the other saint Simon or that he euer was in this Iland therefore to iustifie their truth in any respect we must by consent both of Catholiks and Protestants say they are onely verifiable of saint Peter Which the same Authour Nicephorus doth more plainely proue in other places First in the first chapter of his third booke he doth plainely distinguish that Apostle called by him before saint Simon that preached in Britaine from that Apostle called also commonly saint Simon Cananaeus or Zelotes which preached in Egypt Afrike and Mauritania making them two seuerall and diuers Apostles for speaking there of the sortition or diuision of the world betweene the 12. Apostles to preach the Ghospell in he vseth these words Aegyptū Lybiā alius alius item Nicephorus lib. 3. cap. 1. Stowe and Ed. Howe 's hist Romans p. 37. extremas Oceanū Regiones Insulas Britānicas sortitus est Which our Protestāts thus translate An other chose Egypt and Lybia an other the vttermost coosts of the Ocean with the Iles of Britaine Where we euidently See that whereas it is commōly taught that S. Simō Zelotes did preach in Egypt and Afrike which also Nicephorus alloweth yet euen by him it was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 alius an other Apostle yet by him before called Simō that preached in Britaine Therefore by him as the Protestant Antiquaries before haue truely deduced it must needs be S. Simon Camden supr Andre Chesne supr Nicephor l. 2. c. 35. Peter Prince of the Apostles which preached in this kingdome Which he further cōfirmeth of S. Peter in an other place speaking thus of him Petrus per orbem habitabilem passim vadens Ecclesias vbique constituit Romanam successoribus commisit Lino videlicet Anacleto Clementi Peter going euery where through the habitable world appointed Churches in euery place and left the Roman See to his Successours Linus Anacletus and Clement Therefore speaking of this voyadge of S. Peter after he came to Rome and leauing it to S. Linus and his Successours he must needs principally vnderstand his Iorney and labours into this west world through all which as he saith he trauayled and founded Churches in euery place For to that purpose by the common consent of Antiquaries he committed the chardge at Rome to S. Linus and Cletus vt ipse instaret praedicationi verbi orationi that he might intend to preach the word of God Niceph. l. 3. c. 1. in this westerne world and to pray And that he constituted Bishops in Ilands and cities in totius Europae oris in all the coasts of Europe Therefore except England the greatest of Ilands is not to be called an Iland and so renowned a Monarchie of Europe is no part thereof we must needs graunt by Nicephorus that S. Peter preached the faith of Christ consecrated Preists and Bishops and founded Churches in this Nation of great Britaine 7. And because our Theater Protestants
Religeous life then employ their time in preaching 1. LET vs now prosecute the History of S. Ioseph his Religeous Associats that came to the place where Glastenbury in Sommerset shire now standeth where they liued died and were buried The Antiquities of Glastenbury tell vs that the first landing of S. Ioseph in this Iland was in or neare vnto that part we now call Northwales Antiquit. Glast apud Capgrau in S. Ioseph M. S. in tabulis latis where he and his Companions preaching the faith of Christ were not onely denyed all necessarie things for their releife and sustenance but their doctrine reiected and themselues committed to Prison by the King or Prince of that Prouince a Pagan Infidell perfidus Rex Northwalliae Ioseph seruum Dei in partihus suis praedicantem cum socijs suis carceri mancipauit inhumaniter negaâ—s eis victui necessaria Of which Imprisonment of S. Ioseph although other Antiquaries are sparing in relating it yet they are so farre from denying it that they rather shew vnto vs how credible it is for they generally teach Guliel Camd. in Brit. Godw. coÌ„u of Brit. c. 2. p. 9. 22. Tacitus Ann. in Agric. Iul. Caesar comment l. 1. with Iulius Caesar Tacitus and others how this Iland was at that time subiect to diuers petie kings or Rulers So that although Aruiragus which by marriage had entered into alliance and amitie with Claudius the Emperour a publike and professed enemy to the Druides the greatest Aduersaries and hinderers of Christian Religion Yet such Princes or Rulers as liued in Mona Anglesey and the partsof wales where S. Ioseph is said to haue bene imprisoned were friends and followers of the Druids and professed Enemies Camd. in Brit. in Oâ—douic Hect. Boet. Hist Scot. in Crathlint to the Romans and such as they fauoured either in matters of Religion or others But S. Ioseph and his Associats being freed of their imprisonment by the greate mercy and prouidence of God vnto them allthough with the contradiction and resistance of their Persecutors as those Antiquities make more particular Relation and seeing how fruitlesse a busines it was like to be to stay any longer among that then so obstinate and obdurate people came into this part of this Iland Loegria now England and diuiding themselues into diuers Trad. of GlastoÌ„ in Sommers Shire companies being in all 12. 13. or 14. such is the diuersitie of opinions in number three of them as the continued Tradition of the still inhabitants of Glastenbury in Sommerset shire testifieth came tyred and wearie neare vnto the situation of that Towne to an Hill allmost a mile distant from thence called thereupon in our common English languadge as the generall opinion there is Weary-all hill where the miraculous and there named euen by Protestants at this day holy thorne groweth of which more hereafter And after their prayers made to be directed where to make their stay and aboade interpreted the will of God to be they should set vp their rest in the adioyning place where the late renowned and now ruinated Monastery of Glastenbury stood being at that time a solitary desart and wildernes compassed about with fennish Lakes and Marishes and most fit for the Contemplatiue Eremiticall Religeous life which they professed 2. And it neither was nor could be long after when the rest of that Religeous company assembled and ioyned themselues againe together with these three For all Antiquities agree in this that in the first yeare of their coming into Britaine whereof they had spent part before their imprisonment part in prison and part in trauaile after to this place of their vnion and dwelling together they builded their little Church or Oratory and yet this not without the notice and allowance of the King obtayned in that behalfe Thus testify all our Antiquaries Catholiks and Protestants with our Antiquities Manuscripts Io. Capgr in Catal M. S. Ioseph Antiq. Glast tabulis fixae M. S. Inscriptio aeris in Custod Tâ— Hughes apud Godwin conu of Brit. p. 11. Capgr in S. Patric Bal. l. de Script cent 1. in Ioseph ab Aramath Matt. Parker antiquit Brit. p. 3. Guliel Malm. l. de antiquit Caenob Glaston M. S. or printed Eodem anno quo in Britanniam missi sunt the very same yeare wherein they came into Britaine being warned by diuine admonition so to doe they builded a Church in the honour of the holy Mother of God and perpetuall Virgin Mary in the place shewed vnto them from heauen per Archangelum Gabrielem in visione admoniti sint Ecclesiam in honoreÌ„ sanctae Dei Genitricis perpetuae Virginis Mariae in loco eis caelitus demonstraâ—o construere At the building whereof as these Antiquities tell vs they were all present and there afterward euen vnto the times of their deaths continued together By which we see it made cleare vnto vs that if S. Ioseph and his companions had bene the most learned men that euer were there is left litle or no time allmost at all for them to haue preached vnto the Britans of this kingdome for the time of their trauaile before they were imprisoned the space of their imprisonment trauaile after into the parts of their aboade their suite to King Aruiragus for the place of their dwelling his graunt and confirmation thereof and their building their Church being all finished and effected in the first yeare of their coming hither by so many Antiquities eodem anno leaueth litle space or leasure for S. Ioseph and his associates did but litle prâ—uaile in preaching or rather preached litle any other busines And therefore a Protestant Bishop and Antiquary might iustly write It seemeth that Ioseph and his fellowes preuayled litle by their preaching and therefore gaue themselues at last vnto a Monasticall and solitary life in the Island of Aualon Where he might well haue omitted the words at last Godw. Conu of Brit. p. 16. c. 3. for if they thus imployed themselues to Monasticall and solitary Eremiticall life as this Protestant Bishop and all acknowledge in the very first yeare of their coming hither it was at the first and not at last but with such expedition and celeritie that it is rather to be maruailed how in a strang Nation among Pagan Infidels they could quietly enioy that freedome and libertie so soone For to passe ouer other letts and hinderances before remembred no man of Iudgment will thinke but that indulgence and priuiledge for their quietly and peacebly seruing of God which King Aruiragus granted vnto them came by long and earnest suites and supplications both of themselues and others Intercessours for them in that behalfe whereupon Ihon Harding writing vpon this immunitie allowed vnto S. Ioseph and his companions whome he affirmeth to haue bene fourteene saith it was by the intreatie and intercession of Vespasian who was afterward Emperour vnto King Aruiragus and his Queene thus he writeth of him For whome so then
Lucius sonne to S. Helen this world and now greate Saints in heauen by forsaking terreane and temporall dignities to purchase spirituall and eternall We finde she had foure children heare in Britaine by her husband Constantius three sonnes whereof Annal. Eccl. Cathedralis Lucion in Aquitania Ion. Bouchet de Poictiers Annales Aquitan l. 1. c. 5. will Harrison description of Brit. c. 9. p. 25. col 2. Constantine after surnamed the Greate was the youngest S. Lucius the second the name of the eldest slayne or dying when he was but Younge is not so readily preserued in Antiquities and one daughter S. Emerita This S. Lucius is he that was Apostle to diuers peoples and places in Germany mistaken by some through I dentitie of name and Nation Regall discent and nearenes in time for King Lucius our first Christian King Grandfather to this Prince Lucius as the Annals of Aquitayne where he long time liued a most penitentiall and holy life in a Monastery which he there founded called after his name hath testified before and he also tooke his name Lucius from him de son Bisageal Roy d' Angleterre And this Lineal discent of Queene Helen from King Lucius proximitie in blood to him and thereby true Titler to the crowne of Britaine may seeme to haue bene a stronge motiue for the Romans so easely and desirously to consent vnto and procure the vniting Mariadge betweene her and Constantius The Historie of this S. Lucius S. Helen her sonne is thus recorded in those Antiquities as the Antiquarie of Aquitane relateth it from thence I fynde by the foundation of the Church of Lucon Bouchet l. 1. c. 5. supr Annal. Eccl. Cathed Luc. al. or Lucius in Poycters contayned in an Hymne beginning gaude LucionuÌ„ the said Lucius killed his elder brother son frere aisné and for that cause was bannished the Country and to liue in perpetuall Religion à tenir ReligioÌ„ perpetuell and embarked on the sea in a ship with greate riches and Relicks with many Preists and deuoute parsons Who all landed at Lucon which is vpon the sea and there Lucius founded a faire Abbey and Church to the honour of our Lady which he called by his name Where he lyued with his Preists Religiously And it was after erected into à Bishops See An English Protestant Historian thus relateth the occasion of Will. Harrrison description of Britaine p. 25. c. 9 Prince Lucius his forsaking Britaine his natiue Country It hapned that Lucius by meanes of a quarell growne betweene him his elder brother either by a fray or by some other meanes did kill his said brother whereupon his Father exiled him out of Britaine and appointed him from thenceforth to remayne in Aqnitayne in France He became a Bishop in the Church of Christ He erected a place of prayer wherein to serue the liuing God and is still called euen to this our time after Lucion or Lucius the first Founder thereof and the originall beginner of any such house in those parts In this also he and diuers others of his friends continued their times in greate contemplation and prayer and from hence were Translated as occasion serued vnto sondry Ecclesiasticall promotions in the time of Constantine his brother So that euen by this short Narration it is now easie to see that Lucius the King and Lucius the sonne of Chlorus were distinct parsons He had expressely said before in his merginall notation Chlorus had three sonnes and a daughter by Helena And thus more at Lardge in his Relation hereof Constantius Chlorus being at the first matched with Helena and before she was put from him by the Royall power of Dioclesian he had by her three sonnes besides one daughter called Emerita of which the name of the first is perished the second was called Lucius and the third Constantine S. Luâ—ius conuerted the Curienses and there was Martyred that after was Emperour And he after addeth Hereunto Hermannus Schedelius addeth also how he went into Rhetia with Emerita his Sister and neare vnto the Citie Augusta conuerted the Curienses vnto the faith of Christ and there likewise being put to death in Castro Martis lieth buried in the same Towne where his Feast is holden vpon the third day of December as may readily be confirmed whereas the bones of our Lucius were to be seene at Glocester That Schedelius erreth not herin also the auncient monuments of the said Abbay whereof he was the originall beginner as I said doe yeeld sufficient testimony beside an Hime made in his commendation intituled gaude LucionuÌ„ c. The said Schedelius furthermore setteth downe that his sister was martyred in Trinecastle neare vnto the place where the said Lucion S. Emerita S. Lucius his Sister Martyred dwelled whereby it appeareth in like sorte that she was not sister to Lucius King of Britaine Hitherto this Protestant Antiquarie But whereas he would make Hartmannus Schedel a witnesse that this was S. Lucius sonne of Constantius and S. Helena he is deceaued therein for that Authour saith expressly it was S. Lucius our King that was coÌ„uerted by Pope Eleutherius meanes Lucius Anglorum Rex Coilli Regis filius but supposing as it hath bene allready Hartman Schedel Châ—onic Chronic. f. 115. p. 2. proued that it was S. Lucius sonne of Constantius and S. Helena he goeth further and saith he conuerted all Bauaria and Rhetia betweene the Alpes Totam Bauariam Rhetiam inter Alpes Christo acquisiuit 2. But there be many german Authours which this Protestant might haue better cited for this purpose as Gaspar Bruchius Sebastian Munster with others who with diuers other Writers they alledge asscribe as much to S. Lucius that preached to the Rhetians as Schedel doth and more and yet plainely proue this could not be S. Lucius our King of Britaine who as Munster truely saith neuer went out of Britaine but liued dyed and was buried heare Britanniae ille Rex qui circiter annum Domini 190. floruit patriam nequaquam exiens piè apud suos obdormiuit And to demonstrate it could be no other Sebastian MuÌ„st Cosmogr l. 3. c. 344. p. 735. S. Lucius a Britan but this sonne of Constantius and S. Helena he bringeth from the German Antiquities that the Lucius which preached there continued his preaching vntill the most bloody Persecution of Dioclesian Ad vsque Dioclesionam illam cruentissimam persecutionem Which this onely S. Lucius did and could doe the other King Lucius being dead before Dioclesian was borne by all Antiquities And to cleare it further he writeth that diuers affirme he was of the kingely Race of the Britans borne among them neuer mentioning that he was a King Lucium hunc aliqui regio stemmate apud Britannos Cap. 214. ortum natum esse affirmant Gaspar Bruchius also hath the very same words for the opinion of diuers writers That S. Lucius which preached to the Gaspar Bruch l. de Episcopâ—â—b Geâ—maniae Catal
the Christian Cleargie there should be free from Tributs and Vectigals and all this was done as he setteth downe before the ouerthrowe Constantine gaue to Licinius or Licinius opposed against him Which Baronius affirmeth was in the 316. yeare of Christ And in the very next yeare 314. of Christ the same Authour Baron Annal. An. 314. Matth. Westm An. 321. Ado in Chronic. Baronius setteth downe the first Councell of Arles where as he from Ado and others writeth there were 600. Bishops assembled together with Claudius Vitus Eugenius and Cyriacus the Popes Legats and addeth further from Eusebius that Constantine himselfe was there present with the Bishop Sed ipsum Imperatorem Constantinum cuÌ„ Episcopis interfuisse Eusebius declarat Which presence and sitting of ConstaÌ„tine with the Bishops in Councell Euseb l. 1. de Vita Constant cap. 37. Eusebius plainely confesseth Tanquam communis Episcopus a Deo constitutus ministrorum Dei coegit Conâ—â—lium in media istorum frequentia ac congressu adesse vna considere non dedignatus in medio consessu quasi vnus e multis assedit And yet affirmeth that diuers other Councels were called and kept in Baron An. 315. this yeare as at Ancyra in Galacia Neocaesarea in Pontus and Laodicea in Phrigia In the next yeare 315. he affirmeth Constantine published a Decree in preuenting murthering of children like a good Christian Prince Constantinus Imperator dignam planè Christiano Principe edidit sanctionem And an other against the Iewes which persecuted such of their Profession as became Christians commanding therein all such Iewes with their partakers to be burned And subiected all Christians which should forsake their Religion and professe Iudaisme to the same punishment So we might proceede to the other yeares betweene this and the 324. yeare wherein Baronius would haue him to be baptized needles to be related in this place these being more then sufficient to proue he was baptized longe before that time Which Ensebius doth giue plaine testimony vnto euen by Baronius his owne calculation for Baronius setting downe the warre betweene Constantine and Licinius to haue bene in the yeare 316. Eusebius saith that Licinius did then oppose against Euseb Hist l. 10 cap. 8. 9. God Allmightie whome he knew Constantine did worship Licinius vbi belelum Constantino inferre decreuit etiam ipsum omnium Deum quem a Constantino colisciebat impugnare aggreditur Eusebius thus writeth immediately after those Letters written to Anilinus Caecilianus and others before about the seuenth yeare of Constantinus as Baronius before hath witnessed Eusebius there also calleth Constantine a man renowned for all kinde of pietie omnis pietatis virtute clarus 7. And to put vs out of all doubt in this busines Euseb doth manifestly proue Euseb l. 1. vit Constant c. 34. 35. 36. 37. 41. that Constantine had giuen such freedome and donations to the Church of Christ as be remembred honored Bishops builded Churches caused Councels to be called and was present in them with the Bishops and many things of like nature before the tenth yeare of his Empire Heremias Sozomen before Sozom. l. 1. Hist cap. 8. hath witnessed that he receaued the Sacraments in the Church in this time Sacra mysteria percipere Which none but actually and really Baptized Christians might doe or did at any time If any man shall obiect that S. Melchiades Pope was a Maryr and so not likely to receaue such fauours from Constantine Baronius well answeareth he was accompted as many others were for the greate Persecution he endured vnder Maximian and not because he Baron An. 313. was violently put to death for Religion but dyed in a peaceable time Which the old Roman Martyrologe confirmeth Romae S. Melchiadis Papae qui in persecutione Martyrolog Roman die 10. Decembr Maximiani multa passus reddita Ecclesiae pace quieuit in Domino Which proueth that CoÌ„stantine had giuen Libertie to ChristiaÌ„s before S. Melchiades death which was within a yeare and litle more of Constantine his Victory against Maxentius After which time there is a silence in Histories of any Persecution where Constantine reigned And therefore S. Syluester being fled to the Mountaine Soractes in Persecution when he was sought for to christen Constantine by Diuine Vision argueth for them that hould before that the was baptized in the seuenth yeare of his Empire and by S. Syluester not then Pope but soone after and so said to be baptized by S. Syluester Pope because a litter after by the death of S. Melchiades he was choseÌ„ to that dignitie 8. The opinion of Constantine his Leprosie and miraculous curing thereof at his Baptisme can be no argument for the deferring thereof to a later time for we find that his daugter S. Constantia or Constantina was also infected with that desease as most probable from her Father and as miraculously cured thereof at S. Agnes her Tombe by her prayers as her Father was by S. Syluester his baptizing him So that we may rather say of them both so miraculously cured to the greate glory of God Conuersion of many as Christ said of the man borne blinde whome he gaue sight vnto that neither he nor his Parents in that respect had sinned but that the workes of God might be manifest in him Then with Pagans impute such punishment to the demerits Io. cap. 9. of Constantine which Euagrius ernestly contendeth to cleare him off And the greatest matter that is obiected being the death of Crispus his sonne this Euagr Hist l. 3. cap. 40. 41. could be no cause to deserue that Leprous punishment Crispus death being longe after Constantine his Baptisme wherein he was cleansed from that infirmitie Which both Baronius and Spondanus confesse and affirme Sozomen Baron SpoÌ„d An. 324. proueth by many Arguments that Crispus liued many yeares after his Father Constantine was a Christian Costantini ad Christum conuersionem plurimis arguâ—entis demonstrat longè ante Crispi obitum contigisse ipsumque Câ—â—spum plures vixisse annos postquam Pater Christo nomen dedisset 9. Therefore I meruaile how they could write before that Constantine was not baptized vntill the 324. yeare of Christ in which they say Crispus his death was and now thus confidently teach that which I onely contend that Constantine was a Christian longe many yeares before that time And Nicephorus Platina and others teach that this Crispus was baptized by S. Nicephorus lib. 7. cap. 33. in fine Platina in Marco Syluester together with his Father Constantine when Maxentius was ouerthrowne in the seuenth yeare of Constantine Vna cum ipso Crispus eius filius diuinum participauit lauacrum ambo candidam vestem induerant pulsis vrbe Tyrannis And Sozomen plainely affirmeth that Crispus died in the 20. yeare of the reigne of Constantine and before in his life being Caesar ioyned with Sozomen Hist Eccles l. 1. c. 5. his Father in many Lawes for
appearing vnto her and incouraging her according Ambros serm 90. de passione beatae Aguetis Virg. to her name to be Constant in the faith and loue of Christ spe recuperandae salutis venit ad Tumulum Martyris nocte preces fideliter fundebat Quod dum faceret repentina sommi suauitate corripitur videt per vifum beatissimam Agnetem talia sibi monita praeferentem constanter Age Constantia crede Dominum Iesum Christum filium Dei esse Saluatorem tuum per quem modo consequeris omnium vulnerum quae in corpore tuo pateris sanitatem Wherevpon as S. Ambrose lyuing in that Age and others witnesse Constantine at the request of his cured daughter S. Constantia there erected a Church and Tombe to S. Agnes and Constantia perseuered in virginitie by her many virgins both meane and Noble and renowned receaued the holy veales Perseuerauit autem Constantia Augusti filia in virginitate per quam multae virgines mediocres nobiles illustres Sacra velamina susceperunt Our holy and auncient learned Countryman S. Aldelmus with most honorable Titles remembreth her among the most Aldelm l. de laudib virginitat cap. 25. Ado. Vienn in Chron. Fascicul Temp. an 294. Harris Hist Tom. 4. Libell de munificent Constant Tom. 1. Concil Baron Spond Annal. an 330. sacred virgins saying that by her persuasion and example allmost all the daughters of the Roman Pretors and allmost all Noble and beutifull virgins professed virginitie and among these Attica and Arthemia daughters of Gallibanus by others Gallicanus most potent in the Empire Quarum genitore Gallihano nullus in Romana Monarchia praestantior extitit And citeth the life of S. Constantie written long before Quod plenius de conuersatione illius scripta opuscula produnt She erected a Monastery of Nunnes neare the place where she was cured and there shutting vp her selfe with many other Nunnes serued God with greate deuotion and sanctity of life in the same place all her life after her death her body was buried by S. Agnes Therefore I may boldly say The honour of Britayne by the greate Emperour Constantine with our Monke of Bury in his olde verse of this most glorius Emperour Reioyce ye folkes that borne be in Britaine Called otherwise Beutus Albion that had a Prince so notably soueraine Brought forth and fostered in your Region Ihon Lydgaâ—e lib. 8. cap. 12. That whilom had the domination As cheife Monarch Prince and President Ouer all the world from East to Occident THE XVII CHAPTER THAT THE POPES AND CHVRCH OF ROME in this time were of the same Religion they now are and all Christian Catholiks then professed the same with them the Supremacy of that See Apostolike 1. SOME euen of our owne Historians write and namely the Monke of Westminster that S. Siluester continued Pope vntill the yeare wherein Constantine deceased and both of them died in the same yeare 340. That as they had both laboured together in their liues for aduancing the honor and Church of Christ so they died together Matth. Westm Anno gratiae 340. to receaue the merited reward of their labors Anno gratiae 340. magnificus Imperator Constantinus vitam laudabilem glorioso fine terminauit Quo etiam Anno Sanctus Syluester viam vniuersae carnis ingressus migrauit ad Dominum Dignum plane omnino conueniens vt qui simul circa incrementum Ecclesiae perseueranter laborauerant simul reciperent promeritam pro labore retributionem And if we should approue the opinion of Baronius and Spondanus so expounding Baron Spond Annal. an 314. S. Damasus in S. Syluestro to 1. Concil the old Roman Pontificall in this point that S. Syluester entered the Papacie in the yeare of Christ 314. Anno Christi trecentesimo decimo quarto Calendis Februarij Syluester Romanus subrogatus in locum Melchiadis sedere caepit and allowe vnto S. Syluester so long possessing thereof as the same Pontificall doth three and twenty yeares ten moneths and 11. dayes Syluester sedit annis viginti tribus Mensibus decem we should conclude in Baronius opinion of the death of Constantine that S. Syluester and ConstaÌ„tine died in one and the same yeare Baron Spond supr Anno. 337. as Matthew of Westminster affirmeth although not the same 340. in number which he hath deliuered But to followe the other opinion which seemeth more common and better pleaseth Baronius Binius and our Protestants also Baron Annal. an 336. 337. Binius annotat in Marc. Iul. lib. 1. Hier. in Chron. Marian. aetat 6. an 333. Sozom. Hist Eccl. lib. 2. cap. 19. that after the death of S. Syluester before Constantine dyed there were two othr Popes Marcus and Iulius the first being Pope a very short time but 8. Moneths by S. Hierome and Marianus by Sozomen a litle space Cum Marcus post Syluestrum ad exiguum tempus Episcopatum Romanum gessisset Iulius in illam Sedem successit And Iulius was Pope but in the last yeare of Constantine being as these Authors hold the first yeare of his Papacy By which accompt the reckening of our Monke before that S. Syluester and Constantine dyed in the same yeare is rather coÌ„firmed then infringed So if as these men say Marcus was Pope within 15. dayes of the death of S. Syluester continued the Papacie Baron Binn supr but 8. Moneths and Iulius immediatly succeeded him but a litle before tâ—e death of Constantine it is apparant that S. Syluester and Constantine might or did dye in the same yeare 2. And to our present purpose which is to be perfectly satisfied and instructed of what Religion these Popes were which liued in this time when the true Christian Religion was not onely permitted but publikely and with authoritie both spirituall and temporall Papall and Imperiall generally professed in all Nations whether the same which we haue heard of Constantine before the publike graunt and warrant of the Popes Supremacy Roman Religion of the Sacrifice of Masse prayer and erecting Churches to Saints prayer for the dead Purgatorie Pilgrimage honor to holy Reliks Images and such other cheife points as Protestants now call into Question or the new doctrins of these men And it can be no Question but the Maisters and Schollers Teachers and Learners Catechizers and Catechised Baptizers Both Popes Emperour and all but Heretiks were then of the present Roman Religion euen by enemies vnto it so testifying Io. Bal. l. 1. 2. de Rom. Pont. in Syluestr Mar. co Iul. Bal. sup l. 1. in Syluest Robert Barnes in vit Pontif Roman in â—od and Baptised as their condition was must needs be of one and the sance minde and iudgment in such things they were all Holy men and Confessors as our Protestant Writers are witnesses and to make them also to giue both euideÌ„ce and iudgment that they were of the Catholike Roman Religion now professed
Constantine laboured all he could euen till his dying day to haue the holy faith of Nice continue stable and permanent for euer and to innouate any thing therein should be to conteme so many holy Confessors and Martyrs which had professed it and the old Institution and obseruation of the Catholike Church continuing vntill his Empire Cum intelligamus Constantinum Principem omnium Posterorum memoria Epist Concil Arimin ad Constant Imperat. apud Socrat. l. 2. Hist cap. 29. post mortem celebrandum diligenter elaborasse vt fides illa Nicaae literis prodita accuratissimè perquisita explorataque esset absurdum plane videretur eo iam post acceptum Baptismum vita functo ad tanquilâ—itatem sibi debitam profecto aliquid in ea nouare tot sancâ—os Confessores Martyres qui huius doctrinae Authores inuentoresque fuerunt quique vt vetus Ecclesiae Catholicae institutum poscebat omnino senserunt inque eo perstiterunt perpetuo prorsus contemnere Quorum fidem ad tui Imperij tempora Deus per Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum perduxit And there earnestly exhort him that no Innouation be made but suffer them to perseuer quietly in the faith of their Predecessors directed by the holy ghost and neither to adde nor detract any thing to those auncient Decrees which by his Fathers pietie had bene obserued and kept so long vnuiolate Tuam clementiam obtestamur vt non permittas quicquam nouari ad eorum contumeliam qui vita excesserint sed nobis facias potestatem in his quae sunt à Maioribus quos quidem ingenuosè prudenter spiritu sancto illis opem ferente omnia transegisse constat Decreta sancitaque firmè perseuerandi Flagitamus ne quid veteribus Decretis vel detrahatur vel adijciatur omnino sed omnia quae patris tui pietate vsque ad hoc tempus obseruata fuerunt rata firmaque permaneant neque de caetero nobis quicquam de ijs rebus facessus molestiae aut a nostris ipsorum Ecclesijs nos abesse sinas By this greate euidence of 400. witnesses both our renowned Constantine both lyuing and dying and this Kingdome of Britaine is hitherto free from all suspition of Heresie Of the continued Innocency of Britaine from that fowle and allmost generall Infection I shall speake more heareafter that which I haue said before sufficiently excuseth Constantine And both Theodoret SozomeÌ„ doe most plainely cleare him The first affirmeth that he was so earnest a Professor and Patrone of the Nicen faith all his life that so long as he liued no man durst openly deny it dum vixit Constantinus nemo â—am apertè reijcere ausus est The other doth euidently proue that he was so grounded in the true Catholike faith established Sozom. Hist Eccl. lib. 3. c. 1. at Nice that the Arrian Preist which seduced his Sister Constantia and his sonne Constantius afterward being by his Sisters meanes present with him at his death and trusted to deliuer his last Will to his sonne Constantius neuer durst bewray himselfe to Constantine that he was an Arrian much lesse persuade that holy Emperour to that Heresie peâ—ceauing how firme and constant he was in the true Catholike faith non fuit ausus palam facere Theodoret. Hist Eccl. l. 2. c. 3. malum suum cum videret quanta esset regiae mentis in re diuina firmitas But he reserued the vomiting of that his poison to Constantius whome he infected after his Fathers death THE XIX CHAPTER HOW BRITAINE HAD MANY BISHOPS at the true greate Sardican Councell they and the other Bishops Preists and Christians heare professed the true Catholike faith and were free from Heresie 1. NEITHER was Constatius soone after his Fathers death infected with the Arrian Heresie either to endanger Britaine or any other Nation vnder his Dominion but consented to the recalling of S. Athanasius from Exile Epist Constantij ad S. Athanas apud Socr. l. 2. Histor c. 18. Athan Apolog. 2. Socrat. l. 2. c. 16. Sozo l. 3. c. 10. 11. Nicephorus Histor Eccl. l. 9. c. 12 Sozom. supr c. 11. Conc. Sardic ep to 1. Conc. Athanas epist ad Antioch Tom. 1. oper S. Athan. apud al. and some time to his continuing his dignitie at Alexandria And whether it was for loue of S. Athanasius or feare of his Brother Constans writing earnestly vnto him in fauour of S. Athanasius he wrote diuers frendly letters vnto him after this of which Socrates setteth downe three and consented to the calling of the greate generall Councell of Sardyce 10. or 11. yeares after the death of Constantine the Greate his Father as Socrates and Sozomen affirme wherein S. Athanasius was proued innocent and as he then present with many others proueth the Nicen faith was confirmed and vtterly forbidden to be questioned Sancta Synodus quae Sardis conuenit Decreto sanciuit ne quid vlterius de fide scriberetur sese contentos esse Nicaena fide declarauerunt vt cui nihil deesset in qua integra solida pietas contineretur neque edendam esse aliam professionem fidei ne illa quae Nicaae scripta est suos numeros non habere videretur neue illis quibus libido est semper noua statuere occasio huiusmodi suppeditaretur vt iterum atque iterum de fide definiant Athanas Apol. 2. contra Arrianos 2. And at the calling of this Councell the same renowned Catholike Doctor calleth this Constantius as also his Brother a knowne Catholike Emperor Diuers Bishops of Britaine 5. at the least present at the generall Councell of Sardice But probably diuers more a most Religeous Prince in Magno Concilio Sardico ad EdictuÌ„ Religiosissimorum Principum Constantij Constantis And we are sure that at this time our Kingdome of Britaine retayned the former glorious estate and glory of Religion it had before in the dayes of Constantine and was still free from the Arrian Heresie For the same glorious Confessor S. Athanasius present in that Councell saith that among more then 300. Bishops assembled there which Sex Ruf. Breuia Rer. gest po Ro. ad Valentiniani Aug. Sigonius l. 4. de Occid Imperio p. 89. 90. Arnold Mylius in Antiq. nomin Region Insular c. Sepher Bin. Annot. in Conc. Sardic to 1. CoÌ„c Baron Spond An. 347. Athanas Apol. 2. freed him and professed the Nicen faith the Bishops from the Prouinces of Britaine ex Prouincijs Britanniarum were there And as the RomaÌ„ Writers testifie there were from the diuision of the Empire by Constantine and as many suppose before fiue Prouinces heare in Britaine Britanniae quinque Maxima Caesarieâ—â—â—s Valentia Britannia prima Britannia secunda Flauia Caesariensis So that if we should allowe but one Bishop out of euery of these Prouinces to haue bene at the Sardyce Councell and there to haue subscribed for the rest of their Prouinces or Diocesses we must grant fiue Brittish
testified by S. Athanasius 555. 7. The Bishops of Britaine before S. Augustins time learned and truely Catholike and holy men 592. 3. Bishops of Britaine renowned in the Eastern Nations teaching there true Religion and condemning of Heresies 592. 3. Vide. Archbishop Braghan a noble Britan stiled King 585. 10. Braghan had 12. sonnes and 12. daughters all happy Saints ib. S. Brendon found in an Iland of America a Monastery of disciples of sainct Patrike and sainct Albeus 328. 3. Brennus commonly supposed to be a Britan and brother to our King Beline 119. 4. S. Briget became a Nunne in the I le of Mona 605. 11. or 608. 11. Britaine the Queene of Ilandes 32. 4. Britaine called by some an other world 141. 3. Three Britains of old 48. 6. Britaine deuided into Cambria Loegria Albania by Brutus 280. 1. Britaine deuided also into 5. Prouinces 35. 8. 187. 2. Britaine deuided into 3. Prouinces by the Romans their names and Metropolis 314. 3. Britaine had aunciently 28. Cities 285. 1. Their names 285. 1. c. The number of Britan Ilands 141. 3. Britaine subiect to diuers pettie Kings 127. 1. Britaine made Tributary to the Romans by Iulius Caesar â—1 1. Britaine kept vnder the Romans with a small garrison 1. 1. Britaine neuer so seruil to the RomaÌ„s as other kingdomes 232. 2. Britaine neuer subiects to the RomaÌ„s Iure belli 238. 4. All Britaine belonged to the RomaÌ„s in the time of Maximus 575. 6. Britaine had alwaies its owne Kings both by inheritance and descent froÌ„ their auncient Brittish Regall Race 232. 2. The old right and Title of Britaine to the Ilands neere Norway and Denmarke 334. 1. Britains Conuersion foretold by the Prophets of the old TestameÌ„t 31. 3. Britaine began to be enlightned with the sunne of the Gospell euen in the daies of Tiberius 21. 4. Britaine enioyed diuers Bishops and Preists after sainct Aristobulus death 171. 3. Manifold lets of the generall Conuersion of Britaine 232. 1. c. Britaine generally conuerted vnder S. Eleutherius 255. 3. 270. 6. Britaine receaued in king Lucius time the old Decrees of the primitiue Popes 338. 4. Britaine the first kingdome in the world that generally and publikly receaued the faith of Christ 250. 5. Britains generall Conuersion neither lawfully might or could be established without the help and Power of the Roman Apostolike See 248. 3. Britaine receaued Church discipline from Rome and when 320. 7. Great encrease of Christians in Britaine in Pope Higinius time 209. 3. Britaine a Paterne to deuide other Prouinces into Diocesses and Parishes 338. 1. Britaine at variance by reason of King Lucius death without a successor 250. 1. Britaine distempered in ciuill affaires by the longe absence of Constantine 542. 2. Britaine at ciuill warres 542. 3. Litle Britaine probably the place giuen by Constantine to the Brittish Souldiars which had serued him in his warres 542. 2. Britaine as free as any Nation from the Arrian Heresie 544. 7. Britaine receaued and obserued the Nicen faith 546. 9. All Britaine not perfectly free from the Arrian contagion 555. 8. Britaine in S. Ninians time did agree in Religion with the present Roman Church 589. 4. All Britaine subiect vnto the Pope in spirituall busines vntill Caluins time 353. 4. Britans carried as Prisoners and Hostages to Rome 1. 1. The Britans temporall dependance on the Roman Empire occasion of their greatest spirituall good 2. 3. The Britans beleife of Christ to come did not diminish in the inhabitants after the death of Iosinas and Finnanus 11. 6. Many Britans liued in perpetuall chastity before the Natiuity of Christ and why 16. 7. Some Britans came to more knowledge of Christ in Tiberius daies 12. 1. Many Britans conuerted at Rome 19. 2. A reason out of S. Ambrose of the Roman Britans so quicke Conuersion 20. 3. Britans of the Northren parts CoÌ„uersion before those of the South 34. 6. The Britans first Apostle necessary to be knowne 40. 1. With what Nations the Britans had commerce at Rome 21. 4. The Britans well affected to the Româ—ns vnder Tiberius 23. 4. Diuerse Britans probably conuerted with S. Mansuetus by S. Peter 32. 5. Diuers BritaÌ„s probably accompaned S. Peter from hence to Rome 162. 2. The first Christian Britans honor loue towards S. Peter 164. 3. Our Britan Christians probably buried S. Peter ib. Britans both at home and else where enioyed quietly vnder the RomaÌ„s the free vse of Christian Religion vntill the Persecution of Dioclesian 164. 3. 20000. Britans serued vnder Vespasian at the sacking of Hierusalem 166. 2. Credible that many of these Britans were Christians ib. Many Britans receaued the faith in the time of Antoninus Pius 203. 4. Britans euer loued learning 206. 8. Many Britans went to Rome to inable themselues in learning Religion for the generall Conuersion of Britaine 222. 4. Britans the first Christian people in the world 335. 3. Britans and Scots receaued not their first faith from any Church of Asia 353. 4. Many Britans fall againe into Paganisme 367. 3. Britans sent to Rome to pay Tribute accustomed to sacrifice in the TeÌ„ple of Mars 367. 3. Britans knighted at Rome with Pagan rites and ceremonies 367. 3. The Britan Christians manifold miseries in Dioclesians Persecution 423. 2. c. Britans fly to the Scots and Picts to auoide Persecution 429. 1. The Britan Christians care in restoring Religion after the Persecution of Dioclesian 180. 8. The Britans deuotion to S. Simeon Stellita 589. 5. The Britans detested the Pelagian Heresie 610. 6. S. Brithwald a Monke of Glastenbury 333. 9. Saint Brithwald chosen Abbot in the Monastery of Reculuer in Kent ib. S. Brithwalds Vision of S. Peter 76. 12. Brutus a Troian landed heare in the time of Hely and Samuel 280. 1. Brutus called this Country before named Albion Britannia ib. Brutus deuided at his death the Iland to his sonnes ib. C. S. Cadocus Bishop and Martyr a Prince by birth his Monanastery where builded 603. 9. S. Cadocus large almes 604. 9. Caelius Sedulius a Scot a man of great learning and by some a Bishop 593. 3. Caelius Sedulius preached in the East ib. Caelius Sedulius professed the same faith with the present Roman Church 593. 3. Caelius Sedulius his workes approued by sainct Gelasius Pope ib. Caelius Sedulius stiled by S. Gelasius Venerabilis ib. Some of his writings vsed in the Church publike seruice ib. Caerlegion first builded by Belinus 281. 3. Caerlegions diuers names ib. Caerlegion not so called from any Roman Legion 181. 10. Caerlegion an Archflamens Seat 281. 3. Caerlegions Archbishops 319. 4. The glory of Caerlegion 428. 3. or 425. 3. Caerlegion Schoole brought forth many glorious Martyrs during the Persecution of Diocletian 427. 2. S. Caffo sainct Kebius Disciple 567. 4. A strange wounder performed by him ib. Sainct Caius Pope and Martyr 385. 17. S. Caius Kindsman to the Emperour Dioclesian ib. S. Caius his Decrees ib. Caius Caligula the Emperor a freind to Christians 30.