was next to St. David Now the Church of Menevia enjoying all the Priviledges of the Church of Caerleon must needs be Metropolitan and consequently the Archbishop thereof wore a Pall which he probably carried over with him to Dole in Little Britain in the year of Grace 566. when the whole Province of Menevia was almost depopulated by a raging Pestilential Disease to avoid which by the importunity of his Friends he undertook that Voyage Being arriv'd there he was admitted into great Favour by Childebert King of France and with his License and Contribution Founded a Monastery there where he led a Holy Life imploy'd in Divine Meditation and by his Pious Example and Admonitions directed many Disciples in the same way St. Sampson in this Voyage took with him a Companion of suitable Holiness call'd St. Conaid by the French vulgarly St. Mein said to be the Son of a Noble Britain living near Caer Guent and recommended to the care of St. Sampson One special Miracle is recorded to have been wrought by St. Mein viz. That by his Prayers a Fountain sprang forth in a dry Soyl very effectual for Curing several Diseases Especially the Scurvy there call'd the Disease of St. Mein After St. Sampson had spent some years in the Monastery of Dole the Bishop of that City dying he was Elected in his place and made use of his Pall there from whence his Successor in Dole assum'd the Honour of wearing a Pall and consequently challenging Arch-Episcopal Jurisdiction and an exemption from the Metropolitan of Tours This continu'd 'till the days of Innocent the III. and all that time the See of St. David's though own'd the Prime Church of Wales yet abstain'd from the Pall for which cause Eugenius the III. under King Henry the I. subjected it to the See of Canterbury in the year of our Lord 1148. 33 years St. Sampsom with admirable Sanctity administred that Bishoprick and in the year 599. receiv'd his Eternal Reward His Body by reason of the frequent Incursions of the Danes and Normans was remov'd from Dole to Orleans where it was receiv'd with such Reverence that a Church was built on purpose to keep it which to this day is Dedicated to his Honour although destitute of that Sacred Pledge which among many other Bodies of Saints was Impiously burn'd by those profess'd Enemies of Sacred things the Huguenots in the last Age who seiz'd on that City Some part of his Relicks was with great Veneration repos'd in the Abbey of Middleton in Dorsetshire which was built by King Ethelstan in expiation of being at least accessary to the Murder of his Brother Edwin in the year 934. His Successor in the See of Dole was his Kinsman and Companion in his Voyage St. Magbore another Kinsman of St. Sampson call'd St. Maclovius or St. Malo otherwise St. Mainutus was famous at that time He during the Tempest in Britain by the reason of Mordred pass'd likewise into Little Britain the common refuge of Devout men in those times He was born in Britain his Fathers Name was Went. His Mother was call'd Derwella or Darwalla being 60 years of Age when she was deliver'd of him in the Valley of Elan Carvan in Glamorganshire In the same place then liv'd a Holy man call'd St Brenden Abbot of the Monastery of Elan Carvan by whom this Infant thus wonderfully born was Baptiz'd and after Educated in all Virtue and Piety From his Childhood he is reported to have shin'd Gloriously by innumerable Miracles which accompanied him all his Life-time Our Learned Cambden affirms That the constant Tradition was that he was after made a Bishop of a City in the Province of the Iceni now Huntingdonshire call'd Durosipons after Gormoncester from Gormon or Guthrum the Dane to whom becoming a Christian King Alfred gave those Provinces St. Malo upon occasion of the troubles at that time went into Little Britain also where he liv'd in great Sanctity and contemning his own Glory retir'd privily into a Bodering Island where in his Eremetical manner of living he express'd an Angelical Purity But the brightness of the Divine Splendour discover'd this Light which endeavour'd to conceal it self For when the Inhabitants of the Island understood that a stranger excelling in the Gift of Preaching and Power of Divine Miracles hid himself there from the Conversation of men they in common Assembly came and drawing him by force out of his Solitude chose him for their Pastor and inviting the neighbouring Bishops placed him in the Pontifical Chair of Aleth and partly by entreaties and partly by force compell'd him to be their Bishop The Saint being thus exalted shed forth abundantly the Beams of that Divine Grace wherewith he was replenish'd illustrating mens Souls with the true knowledge of God inflaming them with his love and affording both Admonitions and Examples of all Virtues to which he added a great efficacy by wonderful Operations and Miracles Insomuch as since the Apostles times we read not of any one who wrought greater wonders than he For with his word he calm'd Tempests he restor'd three dead persons to Life to the Blind he gave Sight by the sprinkling of Holy Water he expell'd Devils and quench'd the Poison of Serpents Neither did he resemble those Princes of our Faith in working of Miracles only but in Patience also to the tryal whereof he was often put for he was Assaulted by certain Impious persons and suffer'd many Calamities for Religion and Justice so as at last he was violently thrust out of his Episcopal Throne and Diocess with seven other Devout persons his most especial Companions who imitated him in Purity of living Yet did he bear this heavy Cross after our Lord with a Courageous mind Attended with these Holy men St. Mahutus fled into Aquitain and in the City of Xaintes was most kindly entertain'd and Fatherly assisted by St. Leontius Archbishop of Bourdeaux and Metropolitan of Xaintes who there accomodated him with a convenient Habitation for serving God St. Leontius bare a tender affection to him Admiring and Reverencing the Divine Grace which he observ'd in him esteeming him as sent from Heaven to assist him in his Pastoral Charge for which reason in all his Visitations he took him for his Companion entreating his Councels and Prayers Howbeit the man of God though he were so despitefully and unjustly exil'd was not unmindful of his Flock but forgetting all Injuries daily invok'd our Lords Clemency for the Conversion of that stubborn People The Divine Majesty condescended to his Prayers and by an Angel did acquaint him That his Flock was Penitent and desir'd his return that he should repair to them and restore to Health that Region which was grievously afflicted with the Scourges of Divine Severity that he should restore plenty to the barren Earth bestow his Benediction on the Inhabitants And lastly Returning to Xaintes that there he should be divested of corruptible Flesh and his Soul ascend to Eternal Felicity As soon as he was come
be found again soon after the Sacred Body was translated to the Church of St. Alban and many Miracles were there continually wrought through the intercession of the Blessed Amphibalus who suffer'd in the year of our Lord 287. Although the place of this Saints Burial was long obscur'd yet as appears by Gildas his memory was precious for within ten years after he suffer'd a Church was erected to his Honour and in the year of our Lord 309. another Church was Consecrated to this Saint at Winchester which being after Re-built by the Saxons was Dedicated to St. Peter When the Body of this Holy Man was discover'd other Bodies were found lying by it conjectur'd to be those who suffer'd with him Much about this time two famous Martyrs Julius and Aaron before-mention'd Citizens of Caerleon and Disciples of St. Amphibalus are recorded to have suffer'd for the Faith of Christ These two had a long time addicted themselves to the Holy Faith and were also diligent in the study of Arts and Humane Learning both at Rome and else-where They suffer'd saith St. Bede with many others of both Sexes intoller able Torture their Members being torn asunder with unheard of Cruelty at last consummating a Glorious Martyrdom their Souls were receiv'd into the joys of the Heavenly City Their Memories were preserv'd and Honour'd by Erecting Altars and Churches in their Names each of them had a famous Church Erected to their Honour in Caerleon for three Magnificent Churches are said to have been Built of Old time in that City one of the Martyrs St. Julius adorn'd with a Choir and Convent of Religious Virgins a second Dedicated to the Honour of his Companion St. Aaron and Graced with a Noble Choir of Canons the third was the Metropolitan Church of all Cambria and was after Translated by the Holy Bishop St. David with the concurrence of the Pope's Legate and all this long before the coming of the Saxons Besides these the memory is Celebrated of two Noble Britains Disciples of St. Amphibalus who suffer'd Martyrdom in the same Persecution of Dioclesian their Names were Stephanus and Socrates to whose Honour two Churches were built in the Province of the Silures To this time also is refer'd the Murdering of all the Monks in the Monastery of Winchester built by King Lucius During the rage of this Persecution in Britain many Christians withdrew themselves from the fury of it as Gildas reports which considering the frailty of Mankind was not imprudently done for it was thought fit that such as had not the courage to sustain the weight of Martyrdom might at least hold fast the Grace of Confession This flight of Christians in Britain gave occasion to the Persecutors to extend their rage upon Churches and Monasteries all which by such their rage were so utterly destroy'd that in this Island few marks remain'd of Christian Religion This Desolation continu'd untill the Happy return of Constantius by whose Clemency the Christian Faith and Worship flourish'd again in Britain sooner than in other places Which Mercy of God as Bede saith was the rather extended towards the Britains because they only preserv'd among them their Primitive Faith receiv'd in the days of King Lucius entire and inviolate untill the reign of Dioclesian The Tyranny of the Roman Empire against Christians God was pleas'd to revenge by permitting another Tyrant to rise against them in Britain namely Carausius a man Vigilant and Active both in Councel and Execution Imploy'd by the Emperour to scowre the Seas of Pyrats This Imployment Carausius made use of rather to Enrich himself than Benefit the Empire and thereby became so suspected that the Emperour Maximianus commanded him to be put to Death for the avoiding whereof he assum'd the Imperial Purple and possess'd himself of Britain Maximianus prepar'd to oppose him but his attempts proving vain he was forc'd to make a Peace with Carausius who after subdu'd the Caledonian Britains and rais'd a new Rampire to enclose them more Northward than any had been before with a Triumphal Arch in memory of his Victory He govern'd here quietly untill the year 293. when Constantius made his Expedition against him Now though in the time of Carausius Persecution against Christians abated yet by the Rapine of his Soldiers most of the Churches and Monasteries were destroy'd or Spoil'd among the rest those of Winchester and Westminster the latter Converted into a Temple of Apollo In those days the Roman Empire on all sides was greatly shaken both by open Invasions and Civil Dissentions to appease which two new Caesars were chosen Constantius by Maximianus and Galerius by Dioclesian in whom notwithstanding the Supreme Authority and Majesty of the Empire resided the better to strengthen this Association Dioclesian gave his Daughter Valeria to Galerius Maximianus his Daughter Theodora to Constantius who thereupon was compell'd to a Divorce from his former Wife Helena so as she was after esteem'd his Concubine or at least his Wife in the second or inferior place However this pretended Divorce did not it seems prejudice their Son Constantine who born before in Marriage enjoy'd his right of Primogeniture and succeeded his Father in the Empire although he had other Sons by Theodora How Helena was dispos'd of after this Divorce is controverted The best Opinion is that she was plac'd at Triers where Constantius built her a Magnificent Palace and where she was Honour'd with the Title of Augusta In the mean time her Son Constantine was receiv'd into the Family of Dioclesian and there remain'd Uninfected with the Vices of the Court in great Favour with Dioclesian highly Graced by him and acceptable to all that saw him for his Beauty Gracefullness and Modesty especially to the best sort of Men for his Virtue and Piety Constantius being Created Caesar made an Expedition into Gaul with intent to pass over into Britain against the Tyrant Carausius In Gaul he took the Sea-Town Gessoriacum or Buloign which the Tyrant had strongly Fortify'd In the mean time Carausius was Murder'd in Britain by a new Tyrant Alectus General of the Forces of Carausius Alectus to secure himself assum'd the Title of Emperour Against him Constantius the year following sail'd into Britain and landed without opposition though he was way-laid by a strong Fleet plac'd in the Isle of Wight by Alectus When he was landed he set his Ships on Fire and divided his Army one part he led himself the other he committed to the Conduct of Asclepiodorus Prefect of the Praetorian Band Alectus avoiding Constantius chose to try his Fortune with Asclepiodorus by whom he was easily defeated and slain Howbeit a great part of his Army consisting of Strangers Franks and Battavians seeing their Prince Dead fled towards London hoping to Enrich themselves by the Spoils of that City But Constantius coming on them unawares preserv'd the City and cut those Rovers in pieces if any escap'd they became Captive to the Londoners By this return of Constantius the poor
into Britain to Consecrate themselves unto God in a Life of Austerity and Contemplation Cornwall was the Province to which they most frequently betook themselves In so much as Cambden had just ground to say That the People of Cornwall have always born such Veneration to the Irish Saints that retir'd thither that almost all the Towns in that Province have been Consecrated to their Memory There is St. Buriens Dedicated to an Irish Religious Woman of that Name to the Church whereof King Ethelstan in the year 936. gave priviledge of Sanctuary There is the Town of St. Jies so call'd from St. Jia a Woman of singular Sanctity who came thither from Ireland There is St. Colomb so nam'd from an Irish Saint Columba There is St. Merven St. Erben St. Eval St. Wenn St. Enedor and many other places all which took their Names from Irish Saints But one special Irish Saint is there Venerated call'd St. Piran by the Irish St. Kiacan concerning whom Bishop Vsher writes That he hearing that in Rome Christian Religion was most purely taught and Faithfully practis'd forsook Ireland and Travell'd thither where being arriv'd he was instructed in the Christian Faith and Baptiz'd and there he remain'd 20 years reading Divine Scriptures and learning Ecclesiastical Rules with all diligence He adds further That at Rome he was ordain'd Bishop and sent into Ireland 30 years before St. Patrick So that by some Irish Writers he is call'd the first born of their Saints Howbeit in the Roman Martyrology St. Patrick is said to be the first who Preach'd Christ in Ireland probable it is that this Saint was one of the first 12 Bishops Consecrated by St. Patrick to propagate the Faith first Preach'd in Ireland by him and was by his Example as many others were so inflam'd with Divine Love that they forsook all Worldly things and led an Hermetical Life for it is Reported that St. Piran calling his Disciples together and other People told them It was the Divine Will that he should forsake Ireland and go into Cornwall there to expect the end of his days And having thus dismiss'd them he sail'd into Cornwall where he built a Mansion for himself and after many Miracles which God had there wrought by him an Infirmity of Body seiz'd upon him of which Languishing he call'd his Brethren together whom he Copiously instructed in the concerns of Gods Kingdom and commanded his Grave to be made ready which done he went down into it and there render'd up his Soul to God which with great Glory was receiv'd into Heaven His Sacred Body Reposes in Cornwall towards the Northern Sea 15 Miles from Padstow or Petrockstow and 25 Miles from Mousehole Cambden mentions a Chappel Dedicated to St. Piran seated in a Sandy place He was saith he a Holy man which came from Ireland and if we may believe the Legend fed ten Irish Kings and their Armies with his three Cowes rais'd to Life dead Men and dead Pigs and in that place divested himself of his Mortality During the Reign of the Infamous King Vortigern when the Britains were so Effeminated with Vice that being unable to resist the Tyranny of their Neighbours they call'd in from a remote Country more Cruel Tyrants God to blot out the shame and Cowardice of the former Armies rais'd another British Army of Virgins conducted by a Royal and Saintly Virgin St. Vrsula Some assign this story to former times but for many very considerable reasons it will suit with no other times then we are now upon viz. When Attila King of the Huns truly Sir-nam'd Gods scourge wasted Italy and the Western Regions with Germany and Gaul burning the City of Metz Massacring Priests before the Holy Altars insomuch as we read That the Holy Bishop St. Lupus was led Captive by Attila from Troyes to the Rhine Now whereas in the Gests of these Holy Virgins mention is made of the Tyrant Maximus it cannot be intended of that Maximus who slew the Emperour Gratian but of a younger Maximus descended perhaps from the stock of the former and who also invaded the Empire after the death of Valentinian And indeed if we consider the then present state of Britain the Martyrdom of these Virgins cannot so properly be ascrib'd to any other times then to this when the poor Britains were distress'd on every side as well by their Revolted Friends the Saxons as by their Enemies the Scots and Picts It was then but lately that Vortigern had call'd in the former against the latter and Hengist with his Brother Horsa at first Fought successfully against them But soon after those Valiant Captains despising their Friends for their Vices and Cowardice they wrought upon the Luxury of Vortigern seeking to entrap him with the Beautiful Rowena Daughter of the Deceitful Hengist Vortigern thus ensnar'd bought Rowena at no less price than the whole Province of Kent Then the Saxons begin to pick a quarrel with their Benefactors and making Peace with the Picts and Scots turn their Arms against the poor Britains threatning to lay the whole Island waste which Threats they soon Executed with all Inhumanity and in a dismall manner took revenge of all the Crimes committed by the Britains against God and his Religion by them profess'd During these Miseries and Troubles a world of Britains of both Sexes forsook their Country forsaken by God and fled into strange Regions whilst others submitted to perpetual slavery under the Saxons Gildas expresseth this Calamity thus saying That very many passed over Sea with grievous Howling and Lamentation and in their Voyage joyntly with Mournful Voices repeated these Words of the Psalmist Thou hast O Lord given us up as Sheep to be devour'd and hast dispers'd us among the Nations This Complaint suits best with the weaker Sex especially those Virgin Martyrs whose Relicks were dispers'd among all the Nations of Christendom Having thus settled the time of their Martyrdom Without all Controversy they were all Britains though some Writers would have them to be Irish without any solid reason The constant opinion is that they were no less in number then 11000. This appears by the Hymn used in the Church of Colen for the Celebration of their memory The cause why so many Virgins departed into Foreign parts is thus related by Trihemius though he erre in point of time The number of Soldiers saith he which under their Captain Conanus went out of Britain into Armorica was 30000 Fighting-men and 100000 Plebeibians to Till the ground of these many were unmarry'd Now Conanus and his Company being Christians would not take Wives of the Idolatrous Pagans At that time there was a Prince in that part of Britain which is opposite to Armorica nam'd Dionatus a prudent man who succeeded his Brother Caradoc in that Principality He had a Daughter nam'd Vrsula the most Beautiful amongst all the Virgins of Britain and withall very Devout to our Lord. Conanus the ninth Prince of Armorica sent Letters to this Dionatus
Holy Abbot Son of Gunleus Prince of the Southern Britains and Gladus Daughter of Braghan The Father of St. Cadoc Gunleus by Divine Vocation growing weary of the World built a Church where he began to live in great Abstinence and Purity of Conversation His Cloathing was Sack-cloath his Diet Barley-Bread mingled with Ashes and his Drink Water he usually rose at mid-night and to abate Carnal Desires cast himself into Cold-water He received nothing from any but sustain'd himself with the Labour of his Hands This retirement of St. Cadoc's Father began while he was a Child who when he came to years of Discretion chose rather to imitate his Fathers Devotion then to be expos'd to the Temptations and Vicissitudes of the World in the enjoyment of his Principality He had for his Master and Director in the way of Piety a Learn'd and Holy man famous in that Age call'd Tathai who liv'd a Solitary Life in all Austerity among the mountains of South-wales 'till he was invited by Caradoc Prince of that Province to live Coenobitically and to institute young-men in Learning and Piety at a City call'd Venta Silurum in the Province of Monmouth which Region from that City was by the Britains call'd Guent the City being then an Academy Dedicated to the Studies of Literature over which St. Tathai was President and exercising that Office with great commendation built there a Church Under so worthy a Master St. Cadoc made wonderful Progress in Virtue and Piety and himself became a Guide in Spiritual Life and a Father of the Monks For that purpose he built a Monastery which was call'd Lancarvan from an admirable accident in the building of it wherein this Holy Father imploy'd wilde Harts which became familiar obedient and serviceable to him Thus both the Father and the Son contemning the World liv'd in it to God only and dy'd Happily As for Gunleus the Father when the end of his days approach'd he sent to St. Dubricius who had been Bishop of Landaff and to his Son Cadoc desiring the Charity of a Visit from them who came and comforted him and after he had receiv'd the Holy Communion for a Viaticum and defence of his Soul he departed to our Lord He was Honourably bury'd and at his Sepulchre Angels have been often seen and Sick persons of all Infirmities resorting thither and imploring his Intercession have been Heal'd Glorifying God in his Saint The day of his Consummation in our Martyrology is Celebrated yearly the 29th of March concerning his Son Cadoc it is related That he daily sustain'd 100 Ecclesiastical persons as many Widows and as many other poor People beside Strangers which frequently visited him For though he was an Abbot and had many Monks under his Government yet he reserv'd a Portion of his Fathers Principality to be Charitably distributed to such as had need Neither was this Charity of his any transgression of his Monastical Profession which forbids Propriety in Temporal goods because he only exercis'd a Pious Procuration as he did in other Goods of his Monastery He dy'd in the Province of the Ordovices and was there held in high Veneration For Harpsfield testifies That a Church was Erected to his Honour among the Danmonii at a place call'd Corinia which to this day conserves his memory In the Antient Martyrology he is Commemorated on the 24th of February In that Martyrology also the Names of other British Saints are recorded who dy'd about the year of Grace 500. Among the rest St. Dogmael or as the Britains call him St. Tegivel Illustrious for his great Virtues Sanctity and Miracles A famous Abbey in Pembrokshire took its Name from him The memory is there also preserv'd of St. Bernach Abbot a man of admirable Sanctity who in Devotion made a Journey to Rome and from thence returning into Britain fill'd all places with the fame of his Piety and Miracles The same year a famous Irish Saint and Martyr call'd Finguar is recorded to have dy'd He was the Son of Cliton a Prince in Ireland who for Contemplation's sake is said to have retir'd into Cornwall where with many others he was slain by Theoderick a Prince of that Country His Life is found written by St. Anselm Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Aesca the Son of Hengist who had been taken Prisoner by Vter and confin'd in London made his escape out of Prison and return'd to his Kingdom of Kent where he after remain'd quietly As for Cerdic being not able to establish a Kingdom in the Western parts he sent into Germany for new Supplies whereupon the year following Port a German Captain with his two Sons Bleda and Magla in two great Ships furnish'd with Soldiers landed at a Haven from him call'd Portsmouth Upon his landing the British Governour with a great multitude boldly set upon the Saxons but without Order and so were soon defeated This same year while the Saxons made a Progress in the Southern and more Fertile parts of Britain the Scots in the North laid a Foundation of their new Kingdom at the foot of the Mountain Grampius which was call'd the Kingdom of Albany Fergus the Son of Eric of the Seed of Chonare with a Nation call'd the Dalreudins from Reuda who first conducted them out of Ireland and first also took upon him to be King of Albany from Brun Albain to the Irish Sea where the following Kings of the Seed of Fergus to Alpin the Son of Eochal reign'd As from Ireland many Holy men sought a retreat for their Devotion in Britain so in these tumultuous times upon the same motive some were induc'd to retire out of Britain into Ireland Bishop Vsher exemplifies St. Petroc who born in Britain liv'd in Ireland to whose Care and Instruction a Youth of seven years of Age call'd Coemgen or Kegnius was there committed Saint Petroc was by Nation a Cambrian not a Cimbrian as in the Gallican Martyrology is mistaken born of Princely Parents in Wales and in his Infancy did so well imitate the Faith and Virtues of St. Peter Prince of the Apostles that his Name may seem to have been given him by Divine Inspiration as if God had destin'd him to be a Rock on which the Church of Britain should be built When the Prince his Father was dead the Nobles of the Country with the consent of the whole People were desirous he should succeed in the Royalty But he neglecting worldly Pomp assum'd with him 60 Companions and with them enter'd into a Monastery and there undertook a Monastical Profession After some time there spent he went into Ireland where for the space of 20 years he addicted himself to the Study of good Learning and the Holy Scriptures great part of which time St. Coemegen was under his Tuition Now having in this space of time heap'd up a great Treasure of Learning under the most perfect Teachers of that Island he return'd into Britain and in the Province of Corinia or Cornwall intended to imploy all that Treasure
and Tomb of Saints because it had been Built by the immediate Disciples of our Lord and to him Dedicated as Venerable Antiquity doth testifie All which consider'd to deny so great a Blessing confer'd on our Nation must savour of Passion and un-excusable Partiality The time and occasion of St. Joseph's Arrival here and the particular Acts of him and his Companions after so many years of change and alteration cannot befully accountable The time in all likelihood was when Suetonius Paulinus was Pretor here and when Policletus Favourite to Nero came hither with his Retinue the occasion of his coming is less certain Some write that St. Joseph was sent hither by St. Philip the Apostle or Evangelist grounding their opinion from Procalphius who speaks little to that purpose Tradition informs us that St. Joseph at his first coming Address'd himself to Arviragus then King of the Britains and said to be the Founder of the University of Oxford by the help of an Augur or Prophet named Olenus Calenus from whom it was first called Calena And although Arviragus did not submit to the Doctrine of St. Joseph yet he gave him leave to publish it in Peace so well was he prepar'd to the Entertainment of Divine Truth by humane Education Nay he was also pleas'd to afford Joseph and his Companions a place of Retreat not only commodious for their Devotions but sufficient for their Sustenance call'd by the Britains the Glassey-Island or Avallonia in which certain Lands were alloted both by Arviragus and his Son Marius containing about 12 Hydes for the Nourishment of those Godly persons being the first of ground in this Island Dedicated to the Service of God and after called Godney The first thing these new Inhabitants undertook was to build and Consecrate a Church for the Worship of God which they Dedicated to the Honour of the most Blessed Virgin Mary And as is affirm'd amongst other things relating to Glastonbury Monastery in an Epistle of St. Patrick who died there was Consecrated Miraculously by our Blessed Lord himself to the Honour of his Mother This wonderful Consecration is more fully declar'd by the Testimony of the Illustrious Bishop of St. David the Extirpator of Pelagianisme out of Britain as hath been Collected out of the Antiquities of Glastonbury by Willià m of Malmsbury to this effect following That St. David with other Bishops coming to Glastonbury invited by the Sanctity of the place resolv'd to Consecrate the Church there formerly erected to the Honour of the Mother of God and having provided all things necessary for that purpose the night before his intended Ceremony our Blessed Lord appear'd to St. David in his sleep and demanded the cause of his coming thither which St. David forthwith declar'd whereupon our Lord taking him by the Hand told him That he himself many years before had Dedicated the said Church to the Honour of his Mother and that That Holy Ceremony was not to be Profain'd by any mans repeating And having said this with his Finger pierc'd through the Bishops Hand telling him this should be a sign that what himself had formerly Anticipated ought not again to be Renew'd and withall promis'd him that when the said Bishop the next day at the Canon of the Mass should pronounce the words Per ipsum cum ipso in ipsoâ—â— His Hand should be restor'd sound to him The Bishop awaking found his Hand pierc'd and others saw and touch'd the Wound with great Admiration and the Preparation for the Consecration was laid aside and during the Celebration of Mass the Bishops Hand became Sound The sum of what hath hitherto been here related is repeated by St. Augustine the Convertor of our Nation in an Epistle of his to St. Gregory the Great and by Copgrave in the Life of St. Joseph and is further testify'd by an Antient Inscription cut in Brass fasten'd to a Pillar in the same Church declaring in effect what hath been said already This Inscription is recorded by Sir Henry Spelman in his Collection of Councels and yet by him pretended to be Fabulous First He doubts whether any Christian Churches were Erected so early Which doubt is certainly groundless unless he mean such Magnificent Structures as have been built since Christianity hath been publickly cherish'd and countenanc'd but that even under the Harrows of Persecution the Christians made shift to Erect or Assign places to meet in and perform the Rites and Duties of Religion is Attested by all Ecclesiastical Histories Secondly If Churches were Built yet they were not Encompass'd with ground for Burial before St. Cuthbert 's time Burial within Cities being forbidden by the Roman Laws Sure this is a false conceit for King Ethelbert and his Bishop St. Augustine before St. Cuthbert's days were Buried in the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul at Canterbury Constantine the first Christian Emperour was buried amongst the Relicks and Bones of the Apostles and Martyrs And as for the Roman Law forbidding Burials in Cities it was antiquated long before this however Glastonbury was no City scarce a Village rather a Desart far from Rome and under the Dominion of Brittish Princes well-wishers to Christianity and the simplicity thereof in those days Thirdly Dedication of Churches was not then in use Doubtless many Ceremonies and Solemnities have been added by the Church but as certainly the Houses or Places which the most Primitive Christians assigned for the Worship of God were by some Ceremonies Dedicated to that use as by erecting a Title fixing a Cross c. as the most antient Records testifie But lastly That which most displeases Sir Hen. is the Dedication of this Church to the Blessed Virgin for he thinks such a kind of Devotion was not thought of until many Ages after but then he must forget the Tradition of Spain attested in all their Liturgies and many of their Councils that from the first entrance of Christianity into that Kingdom several Churches have been erected to the Honour of that Blessed Virgin witness that most Famous Temple at Saragosa called Dell Pilar Celebrated above 1000 years since by St. Maximus Bishop of that City in several Hymns by him composed in Honour of that Venerable House called Angelical because the Pillar on which the Virgins Statue was fixed is thought to be brought thither by the Ministery of Angels After the Death of Arviragus Marius his Son succeeds him in the Brittish Throne resembling his Father as in Courage and other Prince-like Virtues so also in his kindness to these holy Strangers This Marius is reported to have had a great Victory over the Picts who were doubtlesly no other than the Northern Britains then unconquered and consequently unciviliz'd by the Romans but who remaining in their Barbarous custom of painting their Bodies got a new name of Picts After the Death of this Marius in the Reign of Coilus his Son our St. Joseph is said to end his Labours and Mortality in the 82 of our Lord and second year of
the Reign of the Emperour Titus After the Death of Nero Cruel to himself his own Mother the poor Christians and indeed to all Mankind and the barbarous extinguisher of those two most Glorious Lights then shining in the World St. Peter and St. Paul the Family of the Caesars failing four Emperours were set up and pulled down within the space of two years Vespasian only excepted who becoming Conquerour at last settled the Empire and restored Peace The Romans in Britain were unconcern'd in these Broils and were well affected to Vespasian who by his Deputy Frontinus placed a Legion in Caerleon St. Joseph after a Solitary Life led at Glastonbury where he seems to Institute a Monastical Profession with his said Companions and such other Holy Persons as his and their Labours had Converted to the Faith Died their about the said 82 year of our Lords Incarnation and was Buried at Glastonbury as his Companions also were in or near the Church Built by him where since innumerable Converts and Christians have been Interred It is thought the Body of this Renowned Saint was deposited in a Cave over which a Chappel was after Built to his Honour as this Epitaph there found imports Ad Britones veni post quam Christum Sepelivi Dorni requievi His Reliques not having been discover'd some Devout persons in the days of Edward the III. obtain'd leave to search for them The Patent for that purpose is yet extant to this effect That a supplication having been made by John Blome of London wherein he affirms that he had received a command from Heaven diligently to seek till he could find the Body of the Noble Councellor Joseph of Arimathaea which reposes in Christ within the limits of Glastonbury Monastery and which for the Saints Honour was to be discover'd in those times And for that it appear'd by Antient Records that his Body was there buried The said King if so desirous to bestow due Honours to the Monument and Venerable Reliques of him who exprest so great Piety and Charity to our dying Redeemer that he took his Body from the Cross and plac'd it ina New Monument which he had built for himself and hoping that by the revealing of his Holy Reliques greater Grace and Favour should be shew'd by God to him and his Kingdom did give and grant permission as much as in him lay to the said John Blome to dig where he should find it expedient within the precincts of the said Monastery in order to the searching out of the said precious Reliques according to the Injunction and Revelation made unto him provided he did it with the consent of the Abbot and without prejudice to the Monastery What was found upon this search doth not appear but the Piety and Devotion of the King may be easily collected The same Monuments which inform us of the Life Death and Burial of St. Joseph at Glastonbury as an unquestionable Tradition in all Ages agreed unto by Britains Saxons Danes and Normans do likewise testifie That he brought with him into Britain two Silver Vessels fill'd with the Blood of our Saviour Christ which were buried with him in his Tomb Several Proofs hereof were extant even to the days of Queen Elizabeth amongst others the Narration of William Good a Jesuit who was born in the Reign of Henry the 8th and bred up in his Childhood at Glastonbury and affirms That in his time certain Brass-plates were Engraven to perpetuate the memory of these things as also Chappels Grots Crosses Arms and the observation of the Festival of St. Joseph on the sixth of the Calends of August which remain'd as long as the Monks enjoy'd the Charters of their Munificent and Royal Benefactors but are now buried in the ruines of the place He confesseth never any Monk knew the certain place of this Saints Sepulcher The common report was it was extreamly deep under ground somewhere in or about Hambdenhill but when ever the Saints Body shall be found multitudes would resort to it invited with the great and innumerable Miracles which should be there wrought He remembers to have seen upon a Stone-Cross which was demolish'd in Queen Elizabeth's days a Plate of Brass on which was written That in the 30th year after the Passion of our Lord Joseph of Arimathaea with 11 or 12 Companions came into Britain and were permitted by King Arvitagus to abide at Glaston then called Avallonia like Solitary men and that he brought with him two small Silver Vessels of the Sacred Blood and Water which flow'd out of Christ's side after his death And that a Cross was there Erected many years before to shew the length of the Chappel which St. Joseph built of wailed Roddes of the most Holy Virgin on the out-side of the Wall of which Chappel were Engraven in Antient Characters JESUS MARIA There were then other Remarks and Footsteps of these Truths to be there found Now that St. Joseph and Nicodemus also with due veneration gather'd the Blood of our Lord which for many Ages was Piously Worshiped by Devout Christians both in the East and West is testified by divers Antient Histories and Martyrologies and to this purpose it is remarkable what Matthew Paris hath related in the year of our Lord God 1247. Namely That then the Master of the Temple and Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem sent a certain portion of the Blood of our Lord shed upon the Cross in a most Beautiful Christal Glass by a Brother of the Temple which Present was confirm'd by the then Patriarch of Jerusalem by Archbishops Bishops Abbots and other Prelates and Noblemen then dwelling in the Holy-Land The said Historian further declaring at large With what Honour and Reverence this Holy Treasure was entertain'd by King Henry the III. and his whole Clergy and Nobility And at the same time to give satisfaction to doubting Minds Robert Grosthead Bishop of Lincoln the Glory of that Age for Piety and Learning affords us a large Narration of the Fact to the effect following That Joseph of Arimathaea a Noble Councellour and one of the Hearers of Jesus or his Disciple rather out of tender compassion was very sollicitous how his venerable Body might be preserv'd from the rage of the Jews Howbeit both He and Nicodemus and other rich men though most cordial Lovers of Jesus yet conceal'd their Affection for fear of their Estates Nevertheless when Jesus was Crucify'd Joseph went boldly to Pilate and beg'd the Body of Jesus and by Pilat 's permission notwithstanding the murmuring of the Jews with all due Honour and Reverence took down the most Holy Body from the Cross all mangled and bloody and with a fine Linnen-cloath Devoutly and carefully wip'd the Sacred Wounds as yet moist and distilling and having drawn the Nails out of the Wounds he wip'd and cleans'd them at the Cross and then carrying the Body from Golgotha he laid it in a new Tomb where never any body had been laid and which was decently cut out of
Son Constantine built unto her Honour a Magnificent Sepulchre or Mausoleum where in a Tomb of Porphyry he laid her Blessed Body scituate in the High-way call'd Lavicana between two Lawrel-Trees her Body afterwards if we will believe the Gallican Martyrology was remov'd into a Monastery in France and there continu'd Illustrious by many Miracles In the Church of the Holy Cross at Rome Antiently call'd The Church of St. Helena an Illustrious Monument was Erected in memory of her and the like is to be seen in Naples This Island wherein this Noble Empress was born hath not been ungrateful to her Memory The Monuments of her and all others rais'd by the Britains have been consum'd by Age but even the Saxons when once Converted to Christianity left many Monuments and Expresses of their Devout respect to this British Lady by Consecrating Churches in memory of her witness Hellenstone in Barkshire and several Churches Dedicated in this Saints Name in London and many other places Constantine continues his Zeal against Pagan Idolatry and made severe Laws against Heathenish Sacrifices overthrowing the most Celebrated of the Idol-Temples neither was he wanting to establish the Churches Peace by publishing severe Edicts against all sorts of Hereticks and their Assemblies mingled with such perswasive Exhortations that many of them acknowledging their Errours return'd to the Communion of the Catholick Church Yet this Holy Emperour being seduc'd by the Craft of Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia the Pillar of the Arrian Faction he began to be displeas'd with St. Athanasius then Bishop of Alexandria His Sister Constantia check'd him at her Death with his Severity to the Arrians whom she accounted Innocent persons upon this the Emperour wrote a threatning Letter to Athanasius enjoyning him to receive Arrius but being after inform'd that this Arrius still persisted in his Heresie and without any Repentance oppos'd the Councel of Nice the good Emperour no longer insisted upon his Reception and not only stuck to Athanasius against the Miletians but turn'd his Anger against the said Eusebius his chiefest Enemy whom he banish'd with other Confederate Bishops from their Sees though soon after upon the Inauguration of his new City Constantinople as objects of his Clemency he thought fit to restore them This City is said to be Consecrated to our Lord and his Immaculate Mother with the offering of the unbloody Sacrifice and Prayers and then a Statue was erected for Constantine in a publick place upon a Pillar of Porphyry holding in his right Hand a Golden Apple on which was placed the Holy Cross with this Inscription To thee O Christ our Lord I commend this City Eusebius writes That Constantine adorn'd his new City especially with Magnisicent Churches Consecrated to Holy Martyrs the chief whereof were St. Moscus St. Agathonicus St. Mennas and St. Acatius One Church he built in a place there formerly Dedicated to Vesta and call'd it St. Michael from an Apparition of that Holy Arch-Angel In which by virtue of the Holy Cross there erected many Miracles are said to have been wrought one of which I cannot omit viz. That a Soldier of the Emperour's Guards Probianus by Name afflicted with grievous Torments in his feet not only receiv'd ease in that place but was also honour'd with a wonderful and Divine Vision He was converted to Christianity and thoroughly satisfied with all points of that Religion yet he could never be perswaded that the Holy Cross could be any wise instrumental to the Salvation of mankind Being thus perswaded the Image of the Cross was presented to him in a Vision as it was usually set on the Altar of that Church and in the same Vision it was declar'd to him manifestly that what thing soever had been perform'd either by Angels or Holy men for the publick or private profit of men since Christ was Crucified were not rightly perform'd but by Virtue of the Saving Cross Constantine was not wanting richly to Endow the Churches he had built he caus'd Copies of the Holy Scriptures to be Curiously writ in Parchments richly adorn'd which he dispers'd and plac'd in his said Churches he encourages the Professors of all Arts and Sciences so as Learning flourish'd in his City he endeavour'd to make it equal with old Rome by placing Senators there with the same Honour and Authority and many of them Professors of Christianity In the midst of this Serene Calm a sharp storm sell upon the good Athanasius principal Defender of the Nicene Faith for the restless malice of the Arrians prick'd them on to accuse him falsly Of breaking a Chalice of Murder of Enchantments with his dead Hand of Adultery by Violence c. His Cause was examin'd in a Synod of Bishops assembled at Tyre by whom to the great astonishment of Conslantine the good Athanasius though in all particulars his Innocency was evidently declar'd was yet unjustly condemned and by the importunity of Constantius the Emperour's Son infected with that Poisonous Arrian Heresie banish'd into the West or rather advisd to withdraw himself to avoid the impetuous clamour of the Arrians against him For he retir'd to Triers in France where by the Emperour's order he wanted nothing Now that this was not consented unto by Constantine as in any wise wavering in the Faith may appear by this following Relation Constantine desiring to be satisfi'd what the Opinion of Arrius truly was ask'd him whether he did approve the Decrees of the Nicene Councel He presently with a chearful countenance answered That he approv'd them The Emperour not satisfied with this Affirmation urg'd him to confirm it by an Oath to which likewise he comply'd But all this was impious Craft and subtilty for whilst he made this Profession and Oath he had in his bosom a Paper containing his Heresie and swore from his Heart he believ'd what he had written reserring still to that Paper Constantine never the less warn'd him that if his Faith were true and Orthodox he had sworn well but if otherwise God said he may condemn thee for thy Perjury However Constantine being deluded with this Equivocation sent to the Pishop of Alexandria to receive the Hypocrite into Communion But we shall presently see how God discover'd miraculously the Impiousness of Arrius and true Faith of Constantine For Alexander Bishop of Constantinople not willing to admit the Arch-Heretick but sollicitous for the True Faith more than for his Bishoprick which some threat ned to deprive him of lay prostrate several days and nights before his Altar and pray'd to God that if the Opinion of Arrius were true he might die before the day of Disputation came But in case the Faith which he profess'd were true then that Arrius the Author of all those Calamities might suffer just punishment for his Impiety Which Prayer it seems was soon heard for Arrius in his way to the Church using many vain and boasting Bablings was on a suddain sorc'd to retire to a common Privy to ease himself where as is written of Judas
the Catholick Bishops in the Synod unanimously subscrib'd to this definition wherein it is observable that although it was grounded on the Holy Scriptures yet those Scriptures were interpreted by the successive Tradition of the Church Whereas what the Faction of the Arrians separately Decreed according to the practice of other Hereticks agreed only with the bare words of Scripture by themselves interpreted For as Athanasius writes in a Creed made by them They profess the Son of God to be like the Father who begat him whose Generation according to the Scriptures no man knows but the Father only As for the word Substance it being simply set down by the Fathers not understood by the People and occasioning great Scandal in as much as it is not expresly contain'd in the Scriptures they Decreed that it should be quite abolish'd and that for the future no mention should be made of the Substance of God because the Holy Scriptures never mention the Substance of the Father and the Son but they say That the Son is in all things like the Father as the Scriptures in their judgement teach Now when the Arrian Bishops of whom Valens and Vrsacius were chief saw that they could not impose upon the Western Bishops they separated themselves from the rest of the Councel and were thereupon pronounc'd by the unanimous Suffrages of the Orthodox Bishops to be Hereticks and excluded from the Communion of the Church which done the Councel by common Letter inform'd the Emperour of all these things And whereas the Arrian Bishops to induce the Catholicks to comply with them argued That Peace and Vnity would be restor'd to the Church in case Catholicks should relinquish that one word Substance They therefore in their said Letter inserted That it was not as Valens and Ursacius affirm'd that Peace would follow by the subversion of things just and true but that rather more contention would arise both at Rome and other Cities They therefore Pray'd that the Councel might be dissolv'd considering the Poverty Age and Infirmity of many Bishops in it Constantius thus frustrated in his design of introducing his Arrian misbelief into the Western Churches broke forth into open Tyranny some of the Catholick Bishops he shut up in Prison others he afflicted with Famine and all manner of despightful usuage not suffering any to depart until they had subscrib'd a form of Faith wherein though nothing Heretical was express'd yet the True Faith was at least dissembled consequently the Arrian Faction prevail'd in Power through the whole Empire Constantius creates Gallus his Uncles Son Caesar and three years after Beheads him for his Cruelties and enormous Crimes and the next year assumes into the same Dignity and Succession of the Empire Julian younger Brother to Gallus call'd the Apostate Him he sent into Gaul to repress the Irruptions of the Franks In the fourth year of his Government troubles arising in Britain by the Excursions of the Picts and Scots he sent over Lupicinus to compose them who in the midst of Winter went with his Army to London but could not perform any considerable Exploit against his Enemies for that Julian who was proclaim'd Emperour by his Army was jealous of him least he should hinder his proceedings and therefore re-call'd Lupicinus and sent Gumobarius in his place to be General of the British Army who did little worthy of memory for notwithstanding any thing he could do the Scots a barbarous People first mention'd about this time coming out of Ireland rooted themselves so firmly in the Northern parts of this Isle that they establish'd a Kingdom there to themselves and their Posterity to this day It is written that when Nâ—le obtain'd the Monarchy of Ireland which was in the time of this Constanttus the six Sons of Mured King of Vlster passing over with a considerable Fleet possess'd themselves of the Northern parts of Britain and it is likely that the Eldest of those six Sons was that Reuda mention'd by Beda and his People from him call'd Dalreudini They at first possess'd themselves of a Corner of this Island but after encroaching upon the Picts enlarg'd their Seats until at last about the time when the Kingdom of Northumberland was in a manner ruin'd by Civil Contentions and the Incursions of the Danes they almost wholly consum'd the Picts and destroy'd their name and memory introducing to those Nothern parts the name of Scotland It is not likely that Arrianism ever took any great footing in this Island for when St. Hilary was banish'd into Phrigia by the false suggestions of Saturninus the Arrian Bishop of Arles he wrote Letters to the British Bishops especially to the Aged Restitutus Bishop of London Congratulating and Commending their firmness in the Faith that notwithstanding the attemps of Saturninus to infect them yet their constancy was famous over all the Empire insomuch as some of the Eastern Bishops became thereby asham'd of their Heresie Howbeit about this time this Restitutus being full of years dy'd and is worthily counted amongst the Illustrious British Writers and many Letters to St. Hilary are reckon'd to be of his writing A further proof of the Orthodoxy of the British Church was St. Kebius Sir-nam'd Corinius Son of Solomon Duke of Cornwall who took a Journey into Gaul to St. Hilary after his return from Exile to be by him instructed more perfectly in the Catholick Faith Copgrave in the Life of this Saint says That he abode several years with S. Hillary improving himself in Learning and Sanctity whereunto God gave Testimony by conferring on him the Grace of Miracles so that he gave Sight to the Blind Cleans'd the Leprous Cur'd those which were Dumb Heal'd the sick of the Palsey and those who were possess'd with Divels Afterwards being admonish'd thereunto by an Angel having been Consecrated Bishop by St. Hilary he return'd into his own Country and plac'd his See in the Isle of Anglesey and by his good Example and sound Doctrine instructed the Northern People of Wales It is He who was requested to take the Principality of Cornwall but refus'd to accept of any Worldly Authority and not long after he is said To descend with ten Monks who were his Disciples into a Meadow of King Ethelic pitching his Tents there wherewith when the King was acquainted he went with Company to cast these Monks out of his Country by the way he fell from his Horse which dy'd immediately and both He and his Followers were stricken with blindness Thereupon the King prostrates himself before St. Kebius devoting himself to God and the Saint by whose Prayers they were all presently Healed After this the King gave to the man of God two Churches and he giving the King his Benediction retir'd to Menevia afterwards call'd St. David's from whence he sail'd into Ireland and having built a Church remain'd there four years Very probable it is that this St. Kebius was that British Priest who Baptiz'd the Irish St. Albeus for in his Life written
by Bishop Vsher It is related That Lachanus gave the Holy Child to certain Britains who carefully brought him up and gave him the Name of Albeus because he was found alive under a Rock the Grace of God being with him Not long after this St. Kebius came into those parts sent thither by the See Apostolick many years before St. Patrick to sow the Faith of Christ there but the Irish being Pagans he was receiv'd by few He then went into Munster where he found this Holy Child Albeus Praying in the open Air with his Eyes rais'd up towards Heaven that the true Faith might be reveal'd unto him and saying His desire was to know the Creator of all things and to believe in him who made Heaven and Earth and declaring that the Elements could not be made without a skilful Workmaster nor be produc'd by any man These things being heard by this Holy Priest he not only saluted but instructed this Holy Child Baptizing him and continuing the same Name of Albeus to him Several other Persons were Converted and Baptiz'd by him as Meclarus and Kiaxanus who prov'd eminent for Sanctity and were after exalted to Episcopal Dignity before the arrival of St. Patrick After some years abode in Ireland the Holy Bishop Kebius return'd to his See in Anglesey where he dy'd in the year of Grace 370. The place of his Burial seems to be in Denbighshire for in the Story of St. Winefred we read That she was buried near the Sepulchres of Chebaeus and Senanus call'd Gwethern Which Chebaeus was certainly our Kebius whose memory remains still saith Cambden in Anglesey where the Promontory call'd Holyhead is by the Natives nam'd Caer Gubi from Kebius a Disciple of St. Hilary whose memory is also there preserv'd by another Promontory call'd Hilary-point The same year in which St. Kebius repair'd to St. Hilary then newly return'd from banishment was illustrious for the Birth of the great Apostle of Ireland St. Patrick as most Authentick Authors agree the place of his Birth is agreed to be in Britain by the Irish themselves He is said to be born in Pembrokeshire of Calphurnius and his Wife Conchessa Sister or Sisters Daughter to St. Martin Bishop of Tours After this Birth Calphurnius became a Priest or Deacon and profess'd Continency as many others did Now Constantius dying of a Feavour in Cilicia Julian having been created Caesar succeeded him in the Empire which he polluted by his infamous Apostacy He was from his Infancy bred in the Profession of Christianity and inscrib'd in the Ecclesiastical degree of a Lectorour but being of an inconstant curious disposition and unfortunately becoming acquainted with Pagan Philosophers and Magitians he was by them perverted and though during the Life of Constantius he dissembled his change yet being in possession of the Empire he publickly declar'd his defection from Christianity and an implacable hatred of it with a resolution to imploy all the Power of Earth and Hell for its destruction The first proof hereof he gave in taking away that famous Labarum or Imperial Ensign of the Cross which in his Predecessors times had given them assur'd Victories In place whereof he restor'd the Images of Heathen Gods or Devils with the representation of Eagles Vultures Minotaurs c. which the Soldiers were commanded to Adore All the Monuments of the Holy Cross he endeavour'd to abolish insomuch as he caus'd a Representation of Constantinople to be dig'd up on the top whereof Constantine had fix'd the Cross to denote the Felicity of his new City He usually objected to Christians by way of Ignominy That they left off to Adore and Worship the Ancilia which Jupiter let fall from Heaven as a pledge of his Protection of their City instead of which they Ador'd the Wood of the Cross painting Images thereof in their Forcheads and before their Doors Thus scoffing Julian censures the Rites of the Antient Church and of the Faithful in his time for their Veneration of that Blessed Instrument of our Redemption All other Sacred Images and Statues erected in memory of Divine Benefits together with the Relicks of Saints and Martyrs this Apostate endeavour'd to abolish in particular he caus'd that Miraculous Statue of our Saviour to be thrown down which the devout Woman who had been Cur'd of her Bloody-Issue had rais'd at Caesarea Philippi and in the place thereof erected his own which not long after was divided in the midst and the upper-half thereof thrown all black to the ground where it remain'd so for a long time This Impious Emperour consulting an Oracle at Daphne near Antioch and perceiving the Devil in it to remain mute save only that he was able to declare That the Body of the Holy Martyr Babylas hindred his Speech Caus'd the Sacred Body to be remov'd into the City which was done by the Christians with great Solemnity in Singing Psalms especially such as derided Idolary which so incens'd the Cruel Emperour that he caus'd many of them to be Tormented Howbeit by the intercession of the Holy Martyr their Torments were miraculously Converted and melted into Pleasure A War against the Persians interrupted his rage against the Christians whose Extirpation he threat'ned at his return from that Expedition In the heat of this War Libanius a Heathen Sophister in derision of our Saviour Ask'd a Christian what the Carpenters Son was then doing who answer'd He is preparing a Cossin for Julian The event made the words Prophetical for the wicked Emperour receiv'd from an unknown hand a Wound Mortal to himself but Healthful to all the World besides In his place the Army chose Jovian Emperour which Honour he refus'd professing That being a Christian he neither would nor could govern an Army poison'd with Heathenish Idolatry Whereupon all the Army cry'd out That they also were Christians So that it seems the two years Reign of Julian could not extirpate the good Seed sown in their Roman Hearts Jovian thus chosen restor'd the Christian Faith reducing the Church to its former Splendour He publish'd a Law by which In all Cities a proportion of Wheat was contributed to Sacred Virgins by Vow Consecrated to God Another which inflicted Death on any who should Ravish or but attempt their Chastity There is extant an Epistle of St. Athanasius in answer of one from this Emperour to him wherein He desir'd the Judgement of the Saints who among the divided Sects of Christians retain'd the Orthodox Faith. Several Nations are mention'd in this Epistle as constantly Persevering in the Faith of our Saviours Divinity establish'd in the Councel of Nice and amongst the rest St. Athanasius makes an Honourable mention of the British Churches This Pious Emperour enjoy'd his Soveraignty but one year and Valentinian equally Orthodox was his Successor yet unhappily he made his Brother Valens Partner in his Empire He infected with the Arrian Heresie prov'd Impiously Zealous in the promoting of it In the first year of Valentinian's Reign the barbarous
Kings Consent where a Church was Built and Dedicated to the Honour of the prime Apostle St. Peter That an Arch-Episcopal See was here thus planted may be some mistake for when that See was transplanted to Caerleon an Arch-Episcopal See indeed was Establish'd there so that it may rather seem that only an Episcopal See was Erected at Landaff by Mouricus who is said to be Son of Theodoric Prince of Morgannia or Glamorganshire which Prince as Bishop Godwin relates Resign'd his Principality and embrac'd a Monastical or Hermitical Life But after when the Saxons invaded the Land he was drawn out of his Cell to be Leader of an Army and Courageously rushing among the Enemies receiv'd a Mortal Wound for which Merit he was Enroll'd in the number of Martyrs St. German's next care after Ordaining Bishops was to Visit the Schools the Sources of Learning and he is said to have Studied or rather Taught for sometime in Oxford and Establish'd good Orders there concerning which we may find an Illustrious Testimony of our Learned Country-man Asserius who liv'd about 800. years since and treating of the Controversy between the Students of Oxford and Grimbaldus whom King Alfred had call'd out of France to govern that University affirms That the Scholars prov'd by unquestionable Testimonies of Antient Annals that the Orders and Institutes of that place which Grimbaldus sought to change had been Established by Pious and Learned men As Gildas Melkin Nemri Kentigern and others who all grew Old in their Studies there and Administred all things in Peace and Concord affirm They further shew'd that St. Germanus came to Oxford and abode there half a year approving wonderfully their Orders and Institutions Whether this be not a later Addition to Asserius is suspected by some It will not be amiss a little to enquire what Doctrines were taught by St. Germanus to whom this Country of ours was so much beholding For by this enquiry it may appear whether St. Augustine the Monk sent by St. Gregory the Great in the following Age to Convert the Saxons taught them a Religion differing from that which St. German profess'd we need go no further in this enquiry then to Mr. Selden well known to be Learn'd in Antiquity The sixth Chapter of this Treatise call'd Analecta Anglo-Britanica touching the Practises of Ecclesiastical Discipline wherewith Germanus and Lupus Bishops imbew'd the Britains may easily satisfie us in this particular where he tells us That Germanus Bishop of Auxerre and Lupus Bishop of Troyes in Gaul came into Britain to restore Christian Religion deprav'd by the Heresie of Pelagius and Errours of Pagans The Doctrines saith he taught by them as the Fame is which also Giraldus Cambrensis testifies were as followeth First Of every Loaf of Bread set before them one Corner they gave to the Poor Secondly They sat three together at Dinner in memory of the Trinity Thirdly If any met a Religious Monk or Clergy-man in the way or any one in a Religious Habit he would presently lay aside his Weapons and with a low inclination of his Head demand his Benediction Fourthly Generally all the People earnestly demanded Episcopal Confirmation and Inunction with Holy Chrism by which the Holy Ghost is confer'd Fifthly They somtime bestow'd the Tythe of all their Substance Cattle and Sheep either when they Marry'd or undertooke some long Pilgrimage or by the Churches Order submitted to some extraordinary Pennance for their Sins This they call the great Tythes and two parts thereof they bestow'd on the Church where they were Baptiz'd the third they gave to the Bishop of the Diocess Sixthly Beyond all other External Labours of Mortification they were most Devoted to Pilgrimages undertaken to Rome to Visit the Monuments of the Apostles Seventhly Beyond any other Nation they express'd a Devout Reverence to Churches and Church-men to Relicks of Saints to Portable Bells Sacred Books and the Holy Cross and this Devotion hath been rewarded with greater Peace than any other Churches enjoy'd Eightly Entire security was observ'd in regard of Beasts seeding not only in the Church-yards but beyond them through all Grounds enclos'd with Ditches which Bishops design for observation of Peace and Indempnity And greater Churches to which Antiquity always afforded greater Reverence have power to grant and enjoyn the observation of such Peace and Security for Cattle whilst in the Morning they go and at Evening they Return from their Pastures This Peace is preserv'd so inviolable that if any one should incur the Mortal Indignation of his Prince and seek Refuge in a Church he may enjoy the Fruit of this Peace both for his Person and Goods Though indeed from such large Immunities beyond the Antient Canons which in such cases allow safety of Life to a mans Body occasion of great Abuses have been taken Scarce any one of these Christian practices but was allow'd by St. Augustine Yet is St. Augustine by some in those days condemn'd and St. German Absolv'd Our Ancestors indeed to testifie their high esteem of the Venerable Bishop St. German's Sanctity approv'd by Miracles after his Death built Chapels and Churches to his Honour on one of which Cambden thus writes In Cornwall near the River Liver there is a Village Nam'd from St. German to which during the Danish Tumults the Episcopal See of that Province was transfer'd out of fear as to a place more remote and secure There a Church had been Erected and Consecrated to the Honour of St. Germanus who Extirpated the Pellagian Heresie arising a new among the Britains In Yorkshire likewise a famous Monastery was Consecrated to him The River Owse Waters Selby a Town well Peopled there King William the I. Founded a Church in memory of St. German who is said To have wounded to Death the many Headed Hydra of Pelagianism often quell'd and often reviving again The Abbots of this Monastery and of St. Maries at York were the only Northern Abbots which had Seats in Parliament The memory of St. German is also much Celebrated among the Silures in North-wales for from him a part of Radnor-shire is call'd Guarthenian for as Nennius relates Vortimer the Son of Vortigern to satisfy for injuries done by his Father to St. German Dedicates that part of the Country to him where he had been chiefly wrong'd in memory whereof it took the name of Guartheny which in the British Language signifies A Calumny justly retorted Hitherto since the Romans relinquish'd their care of Britain the Provinces of the Island had been govern'd by Petty-Princes Independent one of another But in the year 438. by reason of the frequent inroads of their Cruel Enemies the Picts and Scots by common agreement of the Provinces a general Captain of the whole Nation was chosen after the manner of their Ancestors in the days of Julius Caesar and the Kingdom establish'd in that Captains Line The choice unhappily fell upon Vortigern born for the destruction of his Country He was a man void both of Courage
These Relicks are said to have been brought from Jerusalem by Eudocia the Wife of Theodosius and laid up in the Church of St. Lawrence the Martyr and there Piously Venerated by Devout Christians St. Patrick is reported after his return from Rome to have Founded many Monasteries which he fill'd with Religious men who willingly fubmitted themselves to the form of a Religious Life then prescrib'd unto them He is said To have fore-told many Vnfortunate and many Prosperous things which should bef all Britain particularly the Sanctity of St. David then inclosed in his Mothers Womb By all which is confirm'd St. Patrick's long abode in Britain after he had Converted the Irish Nation Among the British Disciples of St. Patrick the memory of St. Bachiarus whom some affirm to be the same with Marcaeus or Morthaeus is Celebrated He addicted himself to the Study of good Literature at Caerleon and became an Excellent Poet and Mathematician in the Studies whereof in his younger years he entirely imploy'd himself but afterwards he had the Character of a man excellently vers'd in Christian Philosophy for the preservation of his Integrity and Chastity he is said To have forsaken his Country and undertaken a long Pilgrimage The Britains instructed by Germanus accounting Pilgrimages especially to Rome amongst the works of Piety This Holy man might likewise absent himself from his Country in regard the Enormous Vices then and there reigning could not but afflict his Righteous Soul and give him cause to fear the Miseries soon ensuing and desire a Happy opportunity of imploring the Divine assistance for the relief of his afflicted Country Yet he wanted not Detractours who charg'd him with Levity and Vanity or worse so as he was forc'd to declare by writing That he undertook those Travels for the Love of God his own Soul and his Distressed Country He directed this his Defence especially to St. Leo the first Pope of that Name as the common Father of all Christians There is also extant a Learn'd and Elegant Epistle of his written on this occasion He had heard that a certain Priest by the Devils suggestion had violated a Consecrated Virgin for which he was cast out of the Church without hope of being restor'd The Holy man was deeply afflicted both for the Enormity of the Crime and Severity of the Punishment whereupon he wrote the said Epistle replenish'd as well with Divine Learning as Compassionate Charity This Epistle he gave to a Priest call'd Januarius him he intreats and strongly Evinces for the Restitution of the Offender shewing That in the most fruitful Field of Gods Church there grew Herbs Medicinal to every Wound Then addressing his Speech to the Guilty Priest He powerfully exhorts him to Pennance in an inclosed Monastery there to expiate his Crime by Fasting and Prayer and to beg the Intercession of the Saints on his behalf and fearing least he should accumulate his sin by joyning Marriage to his Incest he terrifies him by shewing The abominable Excess of Marrying one who was Espoused and Consecrated to our Lord when she took the Vail of her Religious Profession By which as in a Mirrour the state of Ecclesiastical Discipline in those times and the inviolableness of Caelebacy and Religious Vows may be seen He liv'd to a very Old Age dying in the year 460. or as some say long after that In these times the Vandals by their Incursions and numerous Armies grievously oppress'd the Roman Empire and upon this opportunity the Scots and Picts broke their limits and wasted the Provinces of Britain which had been subject to the Romans this happ'ned in the 8th year of Vortigern's Reign The next year they continu'd their Invasion with such extream violence that after much Blood-shed the Britains sostn'd with Luxury addrest their humble and Passionate Petition to the Romans In these lamentable Expressions recorded by Gildas To Aetius third time Consul The Groans of the Britains Our Barbarous Enemies drive us to the Sea the Sea beats us back upon our Barbarous Enemies Between these two we are expos'd either to be Slain by the Sword or Drown'd to avoid both we find no remedy These Letters avail'd nothing the Romans had enough to do to secure their own Empire so as the Britains wanting Hearts and Arms became daily a Prey to their Enemies With this Calamity saith St. Bede another more terrible was joyn'd The extremity of Famine forcing many of them to render themselves Slaves to their Enemies for Bread Only a few by these miseries being taught the Wisdom to seek Aid from Heaven retir'd into accessible Mountains and Caves from whence they look Courage often-times with good success to set upon their Enemies buisy in heaping Spoils and drive them back into their own quarters But no sooner were they freed from their Enemies and that the Island began to abound with Provisions but their Luxury also abounded accompany'd with all sorts of Vice especially hatred of Divine Truth and Cruelty one towards another c. The Patience of the all-good God being weary'd by a People to be prevail'd with neither in Prosperity nor Adversity brought upon them Enemies far more Savage and Barbarous than either the Picts or Scots or rather so besotted the Reprobate Britains that they themselves invited new Enemies from a remote Countrey to Consume them the Saxons Angles and Jutes Nations of Germany Terrible for their undaunted Courage and Agility formidable even to the Romans because most suddain and Violent in their Enterprizes esteem'd the most War-like Nations among the Germans for strength of Body Courage of Mind and Patience in suffering Corporal Labours and Incommodities Before we relate these dismal Tragedies some more special occurrences happening about the same time and relating to Ecclesiastical Affairs require first a dispatch St. Patrick though for his particular Consolation he had retir'd himself into the secure repose of a Monastery was yet resolv'd when any Emergent pressing necessity of Gods Church requir'd his Care and Presence he would quit the Office of Mary sitting at our Lords Feet and exchange it for that of Martha 's Ministry in attending and providing supply to his necessities in his Members And indeed some Disorders in his new-Founded Irish Church broke forth which after ten years quiet repose drew him from his Solitude What this Disturbance was is not known particularly yet may it perhaps be pick'd out of some one or more of those Canons or Decrees which in a Synod at his return into Ireland by him Assembled were constituted These Decrees for many Ages lay conceal'd and negligently expos'd to Dust and Mothes but have of late by the Industry of Sir Henry Spelman rescued and restor'd to Light though in several places defac'd Some of them we shall here select for the discovery of the Ecclesiastical Discipline practis'd in those times It was there ordain'd That if any Ecclesiastical person from the Door-keeper to the Priest shall not for Decency wear a Tunick and have his Hair
the Regal Authority Some Writers affirm He dy'd a Natural Death others say He dy'd by Poison administred to him by his Mother-in-Law Rowena into whose mind the Devil suggested to cause a Servant of his to give him Poison which he having drunk and perceiving the approach of Death he divided his Treasures among his Soldiers earnestly exhorting them to Fight Couragiously for their Country Moreover He commanded a Pyramid of Brass to be made and plac'd in the Haven where the Saxons usually landed upon which Pyramid his Body should be laid that the Enemies seeing the Body of so Valorous a Prince might be frighted back into their own Country More probable it is that he intended his Statue should be plac'd on the Pyramid for being a Christian Prince he was Decently and Solemnly Buried after the Christian manner And it is said He was Buried in the City of the Trinobantes now London and with him was Buried the Crown and Glory of the British Nation Beside his Courage he is said to be Eminent in other Virtues especially Piety and some say In his War against the Saxons he bore in his Ensign the Image of our Lord Jesus Christ To which Devotion of his we may impute his Victories or at least to his Pious and Charitable care in restoring the Churches destroy'd by the Saxons The year after Vortimer's death Hengist return'd out of Germany with greater Forces and took a firmer possession of his Kentish Kingdom and for the better Establishment of his Family therein joyn'd his Son Aesca with him in the Regal Power To oppose them the Britains invade his Country with a great Army consisting of four great Bodies Conducted by four Valiant Captains but when the Conflict was begun at Creganford the Britains found themselves too weak for the Saxons which were new Recruited with great numbers of chosen Robustious Soldiers who with their Swords and Battle-Axes cleft asunder the Bodies of the Britains Yet did they not give ground till their four Captains were slain but afterwards were so terrified that they fled as far as London and never after had the Courage to bring an Army into Kent again so that Hengist and his Son quietly enjoy'd that Kingdom fixing their Palace at Canterbury Thus began this new Kingdom of Kent in the eighth year after the Arrival of the Saxons in Britain It is not probable that this exalting of Vortimer was any Deposal of his Father for Vortimer being Dead his Father continu'd King and for a while gave proof of his Courage in repressing the Ambition and Violence of Hengist though after he return'd to his former Licentious Slothfulness Now during these Wars Hengist is recorded to have exercis'd extream Cruelty in all places where his Armies came and especially in Kent against Priests and Holy Virgins great numbers of which he caus'd to be Massacred Demolishing Churches and Profaning Altars Among the Victims of his Barbarous Cruelty the memory of Voadinus Arch-Bishop of London only remains in our English Martyrology who being a man of great Sanctity reprov'd Vortigern for repudiating his Lawful Wife and Marrying an Infidel which so inflam'd Hengist with rage that he commanded the Holy Bishop with many other Priests and Religious men to be slain Gildas declares That great numbers of Bishops and Priests were Massacred by this Saxon King And St. Bede relates more particularly the Rapines Cruelties and Devastations of this Impious King wherewith he miserably fill'd the whole Island The year of Grace 461. is noted with an Act of most Perfidious Cruelty perpetrated by this Barbarous Prince His Ambition was not satisfied with the Kingdom of Kent so as he resolv'd to enlarge his bounds in Britain by any means and finding that by exercise of War the British Courage increas'd he therefore turn'd his Thoughts to invent some Stratagem for the compassing his Designes He insinuates himself into the minds of Vortigern and his Nobility as if he were desirous of Peace and Amity with them which if they would grant he would turn his Arms against the Picts and Scots and drive them out of the Island quickly did he obtain belief from the easy Nature of Vortigern whereupon a meeting is appointed between the Britains and Saxons with this caution that each King should be attended with 300 only and those un-arm'd and at this meeting they were to treat of the Conditions of Peace The place appointed for this Fatal Assembly was a Plain near Sorbiodunum or Old Salisbury a City seated in the Province of the Belgae wherein remains a Monument of a Dire Tragedy for both sides being met a great Feast was prepar'd for the Britains at which the Articles of Agreement were to be ratified by mutual Promises and Oaths Towards the end of this Feast when they were dissolv'd in Wine Hengist on a suddain call'd aloud To Arms which was the Watch-word agreed among the Saxons who immediately drew out short Swords conceal'd under their Cloathes and quickly slew their Un-arm'd Guests the Britains Howbeit which is remarkable Eldol the Valiant Consul or Governour of Glocester snatching up a stake by Chance lying near with it slew seventy of the Treacherous Saxons A Monument of this Barbarous Tragedy not long after rais'd by the Britains continues to this day and is Vulgarly call'd Stone-henge Upon Salisbury-Plain where in a space of ground compass'd with a Ditch are placed as in a three-fold Crown Stones of an incredible vastness some of them 28 foot in hight and 7 in breadth over many of which other great Stones are plac'd a-cross Cambden believes That this Monument was rais'd in memory of this Treachery by Ambrosius Aurelianus or his Brother Vterpendragon by the help and Art of Merlin the famous Magician though others deliver that it was a Magnificent Sepulcher rais'd for Ambrosius himself slain near this place from whom the Town of Ambresbury-not far distant took its Name In this Slaughter the Saxons took Vortigern Prisoner and the year following bound him with Chains threatning Death unless he would deliver up 38 of his Cities and Strong-holds Vortigern to save his Life quickly yielded to their demands which being confirm'd by Oath they gave him his Liberty And first they seiz'd upon the City of London then York and Lincoln and then Winchester All which adjoyning Provinces they wasted killing the Inhabitants They Levell'd with the ground all Churches and Buildings belonging to Ecclesiastical Persons kill'd the Priests near the Altars burn'd all Books of Holy Scripture and heap'd Earth on the Sepulchres of Martyrs Religious men to escape their fury were sain to fly into Desarts Woods and Rocks carrying with them the Relicks of Saints And as for Vortigern seeing this horrible destruction he retir'd into the North part of Wales and there inclos'd himself in a Town call'd Genorium Now the three Provinces with which Vortigern redeem'd his Life are with more probability express'd by Malmsburiensis in this manner Of old saith he the Eastern and Southern Saxons with the
by the Prelate of that place he was sent in Mission to the Scots to instruct that Nation in the Doctrine of Christ where he suffer'd Martyrdom by the hands of some Impious persons Some Ages after he became Venerated as a Saint and by Authority of succeeding Bishops Temples were Dedicated to his Honour which yet remain in that Nation To confirm this we read in the Life of St. David That when St. David 's Holiness was spread abroad several Princes forsaking their Kingdoms retir'd to his Monastery And that Constantine King of the Cornish-men or Danmonii forsaking his Throne became a Monk there and after some time spent in the Service of God at last went into a far distant Country where he built a Monastery Now it will be time to relate the great Affliction and Persecution which befell the famous and Holy Bishop St. Kentigern in the second year of Constantine Certain Sons of Belial Kinsmen to King Mark rose against the Saint conspiring his death whereupon being admonish'd by Divine Revelation he departed directing his Journey to Menevia where the Holy Bishop David flourish'd with all Virtues near Gaerleon he Converted many to the Faith and built a Church Being come to St. David he abode with him some time and receiv'd from the Prince of that Region Cathwallam a place commodious for a Monastery which having Erected at Egla Elwy he fix'd there an Episcopal See Near that place there was a Nobleman which often threatn'd and endeavour'd to expel him from thence whom God therefore smote with Blindness but upon the Holy Bishops Prayers his Sight was restor'd for which he became ever after Helper and Protector to the Bishop There were Assembled in that Monastery no fewer then 945 Brethren who all liv'd under Monastical Discipline serving God with great Abstinence of which number 300. who were Illiterate he appointed to Tilling the Ground and Guard of the Cattle out of the Monastery other 300. he assign'd for preparing Nourishment and performing other necessary Works within the Monastery and 365. who were Learn'd he deputed to the Celebrating Divine Offices daily Not any of which without great necessity would he permit to go out of the Monastery but ordain'd them to attend there continually as in Gods Sanctuary And this part of the Convent he divided so into Troops and Companies that when one had finish'd the Service of God in the Church another presently enter'd and began it again which being ended a third without any delay enter'd By this means Prayers were offer'd in that Church without intermission and the Praises of God were always in their Mouths Among these there was one nam'd Asaph more especially Illustrious for his Descent and Form who from his Childhood shone brightly both by Virtues and Miracles and daily endeavour'd to imitate his Master in all Sanctity and Abstinence To him this man of God bore ever after a particular Affection and committed the care of the Monastery to his Prudence and at last appointed him his Successor in the Bishoprick As touching the fore-mention'd Noble-man who oppos'd this Holy Bishop it is written to this effect That St. Kentigern at first built a Church of Wood and Lime but after he renew'd it of Stone although he was therein much hindred and molested by a Prince nam'd Malgo or Maglocun whose dwelling was six Miles thence at Deganwy but after being asswag'd he permitted him to place there an Episcopal See on which he bestow'd both ample Possessions and Priviledges as he did also upon the Monastery The See is by some call'd Elguy or Llanelwy so nam'd from the River Elwy over which it is seated St. Kentigern being the first Bishop thereof But in succeeding times it was call'd St. Asaph from the next succeeding Bishop Of this Prince Malgo more hereafter St. Kentigern's Life was prolong'd till after St. Augustine the Monks coming into Britain yet because his future Actions do not much relate to the general Affairs of the British Churches we may well in this place sum up the remainder of his Life He remain'd in Cambria seventeen years exercising most perfectly the Functions both of an Abbot and after of a Bishop at Elwy till in the end he was re-call'd to his first Bishoprick at Glasco in this admirable manner After that all his Enemies in Cambria had been consum'd by divers Calamities and Diseases the Inhahitants of that Region from whence he had been so long Exild through his Absence had forsaken the way of the Lord which he had taught them and were return'd to their Idolatry like Dogs to their Vomit which Apostacy of theirs it pleas'd God to puntsh by a grievous Famine the Earth the Sea and all the Elements refusing their accustom'd aid and comfort to them But at length our Lord was pleas'd to raise up a good King in that Region nam'd Rederech who had been Baptiz'd by some of the Disciples of St. Patrick and who was very desirous to restore the Faith of Christ in his Kingdom for which purpose he directed Messengers with Letters to St. Kentigern wherein he acquainted the Saint That the men who sought his Life were dead and besought him that he would no longer be absent from his flock for which he was oblig'd to Sacrifice his Life St. Kentigern having receiv'd the Message prepar'd for his return and having appointed St. Asaph his Successor in the Bishoprick of Elwy he attended with 600 of his Brethren took his Journey to the Region of the Cambrians and was met by the Devout King and great numbers of his People giving Thanks to God for his Presence upon whom the Holy man pronounced a solemn Benediction After this he cry'd with a loud voice In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ I command all those who envy the Salvation of men and resist the Preaching of Gods word to depart presently from hence that they may be no hinderance to those who shall believe Having said thus immediately in the sight of all an innumerable multitude of wicked Spirits horrible to behold both for their Stature and Shapes fled away from the Company which caus'd a wonderful Fear and trembling in them But the Holy man encourag'd and comforted them letting them see visibly who they were in whom they had believ'd and by whom they had been induced to Adore dumb Idols or the Elements which were Creatures appointed by God for their Vse and Service And for Woden whom by the Seduction of the Saxons they esteem'd their principal God And to whose Honour they Consecrated the fourth day of the Week he shew'd that he was no better than a Mortal man who had been King of the Saxons and Ancestor to several Nations that his Body was then dissolv'd into Dust and his Soul tormented in Hell fire for ever When he had said this with other Speeches in explanation of the Christian Faith The ground on which he sate in a plain Field call'd Holdelin swell'd up under him in the sight of them all so
as it grew to a reasonable high Hill and so remains as is said to this day All the People seeing these wonders after they were instructed in the Faith receiv'd Baptism and thus by his Doctrine he freed the Nation of the Picts from Idolatry and Heresie He Converted likewise the Country of Albania therein building many Churches and Founding many Monasteries Whilst St. Kentigern liv'd among the Picts St. Columba by the English call'd Columkill hearing in his Monastery in the Isle of Hy the Fame of this Holy Bishop came with a great Troop of his Disciples to visit him and was met by him with the like multitude which they divided on each side into three Companies The First of Young men The Second such as were of Perfect Age And the Third Venerable Old men All which on the way towards one another Sang Spiritual Songs and when St. Columba came in sight of the Bishop turning himself to his Disciples he said I see a Pillar of Fire as it were a Golden Crown in the third Choire descending upon the Bishop and casting a Caelestial Splendor about him Then the two Holy men approaching to one another with great fervour of Affection gave and receiv'd mutual Kisses and Embraces The King of the Picts is said to be present at the meeting and afterwards St. Columba going to a Monastery joyning to the Castle of Caledonia built by Convallus there instructed the Caledonians in the Faith the Horesti also and other Neighbouring Nations In the same place was afterwards Erected a Church Dedicated to St. Columba and Plentifully endow'd by the following Kings of the Scots which Church being an Episcopal See was vulgarly call'd Dunkeld Yet it may be likely that the Author of this Relation concerning the Church of Dunkeld may be mistaken confounding the Actions of two Saints both Nam'd Columba for it is certain that St. Columba who was first Bishop of Dunkeld flourish'd almost a 100 years after this time and to him it was that St. Cuthbert being then a Child was recommended which mistake is Pardonable because as Bishop Vsher observes There were in Ireland almost 20 several men of the Name Columba In the year of Grace 593. St. Kentigern out of Britain and a Bishop call'd Alban out of Ireland went to Rome to visit Pope Gregory the Great saith Bishop Vsher And as it may be probably guess'd at from a consideration of the state of the Church in those times upon this special occasion The famous Council of Chalcedon having condemn'd Eutyches and his Doctrine which confounded the two Natures in Christ was rejected by a Faction of the Eutychians call'd Acephali because it seem'd to them to favour the contrary Heresie of the Nestorians formerly condemn'd who acknowledg'd not only two Natures but two persons in our Lord. The grounds on which the Acephali charg'd the Council was First Because it seem'd to approve an Epistle of Ibas Bishop of Edessa And Secondly The Writings of Theodorus Bishop of Mopsuestia full of Blasphemous passages savouring of Nestorianism Thirdly Because it had receiv'd into Communion Theodoret Bishop of Cyrrhus who had written sharply against the 12 Capita of St. Cyril Hereupon the Emperor Justinian being desirous to repress the Acephali who had rais'd great Commotions in Aegypt and the East by the Advice of Theodorus Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia a secret Favorite of the Acephali publish'd a large Edict call'd tria Capitula in which he proscrib'd Ibas Theodius and Theodoret procuring likewise a Condemnation of their Writings as Heretical from the Bishops of the East Notwithstanding Menas Bishop of Constantinople in his Subscription to the Emperours Decrees added this Condition If these things were approv'd by the Bishop of Rome So as Justinian perceiving that without the Sentence of the Pope his attempts would be inneffectual call'd Vigilius then Bishop of Rome from thence to Constantinople Who at his departure was seriously admonish'd by the Churches of Rome Africk Sardinia Greece and Illyricum That he should by no means consent to any Novelty nor suffer any prejudice to the Council of Chalcedon In complyance with whom by Letters to Menas He freely reprehended their Condemnation of the three Bishops desiring Justinian to recall his Decree and when he came to Constantinople he suspended from his Communion the Bishops which had subscrib'd the said Condemnation And yet five Months after at the request of the Empress Theodora he restor'd them to his Communion And though he would not subscribe to the Emperors Decree by his consent the whole Cause was discuss'd in a Synod of 70 Bishops at Constantinople and when the Suffrages of the Bishops were brought to him he wrote a Decree which he sent to Menas in which also he confirm'd the tria Capitula Howbeit this Condescention of Vigilius to avoid a rent in the Eastern Churches was ill taken in the West insomuch as the Bishops of Africa Illyricum and Dalmatia withdrew themselves from his Communion and Facundus who defended their Cause call'd him a Prevaricator Upon which Vigilius endeavour'd to perswade the Emperor in the presence of Menas and other Eastern Bishops That whatever had pass'd on either side should be rescinded and that a Synod should be assembled to which particularly the African and Illyrian Bishops who had been scandaliz'd should be call'd But they being unwilling to obey Vigilius was dealt withal That in Case the Western Bishops would not comply he joyning with the Greeks should condemn the three Bishops Which he utterly refusing the Emperor's Decree was notwithstanding publish'd And when Vigilius together with Dacius Bishop of Milan threatn'd the Grecian Bishops with Excommunication in case they consented to the Decree The Emperor was so incensed that Vigilius was forc'd to sly for refuge into St. Peter's Church from which Sanctuary when the Emperor's Officer endeavour'd to draw him he was repell'd by a Tumult of the People But many injuries being still offer'd to Vigilius he fled by night to Chalcedon into the Church of St. Euphremia But the constancy of Vigilius procur'd this effect That laying aside the Imperial Edicts the discussion of the whole Cause should be reserv'd to a Synod which the Pope desired to have Celebrated in Italy but the Graecians refusing it was agreed that an equal number of Western Bishops should be summon'd to Constantinople which agreement notwithstanding the Emperour summon'd all the rest of the Eastern Patriarchs Thus a Council of Eastern Bishops only met at which Vigilius refus'd to be present not esteeming it Canonical in regard the Western Bishops were absent who were most concern'd in the affair However after 20 days respite obtain'd Vigilius sent a writing to the Emperor which he call'd a Constitutum wherein he at large gave his judgment of the Tria Capitula telling him That as to the Blasphemies of Theodorus he did abhor them but in imitation of the Council of Ephesus would spare his Name Again that it would be superfluous to cast any infamy on the
reign Vortipor Prince of the Dimetae succeeded him By Gildas he is Styl'd A Tyrant who in his Old Age ascended the Throne by Civil Discords being a wicked Son of a good Prince defil'd by many Parricides and Adulteries who thinking to rid himself of his Lawful Wife wallow'd in Lust with her Impudent Daughter and thereupon he exhorts him by a timely Repentance to avert Gods Judgements His reign likewise lasting only four years his Throne was Invaded by Malgo Conanus or Maglocunus a Prince no less Vicious than his Predecessor for he is said to have Murder'd his Uncle Prince of Venedocia call'd Catwallain with the greatest part of his Nobility This is the same Maglocunus who afforded to St. Kentigern a place for a Church and Monastery and after being tormented with a remorse for his Parricides he relinquish'd the World and retir'd into a Monastery where he undertook a Monastical Profession But the Sparks of Ambition thus cover'd broke forth again into a flame so that quitting his Solitude he return'd to all his former Crimes and became an Insular Dragon depressing other Tyrants and by strengthning himself with their Power became the greatest Tyrant In the second year of his reign a great Battle was Fought between the Britains and Kenric King of the West-Saxons near Sorbiodunum or Salisbury in which Combat after much Blood-shed the Britains were at last forc'd to fly Four years after the Britains Thirsting to avenge themselves of this Defeat gather'd together all their best Forces against whom Cenric with his Son Ceaulin March'd The Armies met in the Province of the Dobuni or Oxfordshire at Banbury The Britains divided their Armies into nine Bodies three of which they placed in the Front three in the midst and three in the Reer The Saxons though inferior in numbers yet exceeded them in Stature and Length and Fought all in one Body The Combat was Bloody continuing till night doubtful it was which had the better After which many Battles past between them wherein for the most part the Victory fell to the West-Saxons while the Britains and Saxons contended in the West the Picts beyond the Frith of Edinburgh made Bridius their King who was Nephew to Loth their former King. In the ninth year of Bridius St. Columba came out of Ireland into Britain being the year of Grace 565. The year following dy'd the Tyrant Maglocunus after whom Careticus took upon him to sustain the State of Britain every day more and more falling to ruine but with ill success for besides that God had fix'd a Period to that State this Prince prov'd no better than his Predecessors but like them stain'd with all Vices Gildas seems to give a shameful Character to several Princes by his manner of writing most of them seem to have reign'd in several Provinces at the same time For besides this Bridius he directs the point of his sharp Style against one nam'd Lunegasla by interpretation the Yellow Lyon whom he accuses of all sorts of Crimes Impiety against God and Savage Cruelty to his Subjects repudiating his Lawful Wife and violating his Sister who after Widdowhood had vow'd Chastity to God and by many injuries afflicting Holy men and Priests who ceas'd not to offer up their Sighs and Prayers for him Gildas therefore exhorts him To change his Life that he might reap the benefit of their Prayers who had Power to bind in Heaven what they had bound in this World and to loose such as were Penitent Now by the Impieties of these Princes the Reader may observe the Justice of Gods severity against so wicked a Nation from which he took the Spiritual Kingdom of Christ and bestow'd it upon a People which brought forth better fruits Yet out of this Dung-hill of Vices some Pearls were to be gather'd for here we find the Wise Gildas commending a perpetual vow of Chastity made not only by Virgins but by Widdows also the infringing of which Vow he bitterly inveighs against and acknowledgeth in Gods Priests a Power of retaining and absolving Sinners not by way of Declaration only but of Authority and Jurisdiction also In the year 559. dy'd Ida King of the Northumbrians to whom succeeded his Son Alla whose Empire extended both over the Deiri and Bernicians yet were there in some of those Provinces British Princes who call'd themselves Kings though in Dependance on him Such as Morken King of the Cumbrians which Dependant Princes had upon Treaty a promissive Authority in their peculiar Provinces This Age affords an example of the Zeal and Authority of a Holy Bishop exercis'd Synodically and of a Princes Devout submission to this Authority The Bishops name was St. Oudoceus Son of Anaumeda Sister of St. Thelian and Budit a Prince of Little Britain This Saint Oudoceus from his Infancy was addicted to Piety assiduous in Fasting Watching and Prayer for an everlasting reward In Devotion he Visited the Monuments of St. Peter at Rome and at his return he went to the place of St. David and from thence he diverted to the Church of St. Thelian taking with him certain Relicks which during his Pilgrimages he had obtain'd Afterward he succeeded St. Thelian in the Bishoprick of Landaff imitating him in his Doctrine Virtue and Miracles As for the Prince submitting to the Authority of this Holy man his Name was Mouric Son of Theodoric Prince of Glamorganshire who being weary of Worldly Vanities undertook a Monastical Profession and served Almighty God in Solitude having transferr'd his Principality on his Son Mouric into which he was no sooner enter'd but the Saxons broke into his Country and began to waste it Whereupon the Inhabitants repair'd to their former Prince Theoderic whom they even compell'd to quit his Desart and to be their General in the War He full of Divine Courage encounter'd the Infidel Enemies whom he put to flight at Tintern near the River Vaga But having receiv'd a Mortal Wound in the Combat he return'd homeward and gave Charge to his Son Mouric That in what place soever he should end his Life he should there build a Church to God and a Sepulchre for himself And so not having pass'd five Miles at a place where Vaga and Severn met he gave up his Spirit There did his Son Mouric Erect a Church wherein he laid his Fathers Body whom Posterity Venerated as a Saint calling the place from his Name Merther Tendric at this day more contractedly Merthern In the same place is seated saith Bishop Godwin the House and Possessions of the Bishop of Landaff Adding That Mouric first of his own accord gave to that Church a Farm call'd Mochros lying on the Banks of the River Vaga together with the Porthasseg and the Church of Gurvid And after for the expiation of a Murder committed by him on a person call'd Cynetu contrary to a League by Oath contracted between them he added other Possessions He had two Sons Arthruis and Frior and by Arthruis a Grand-child call'd Morcant This is
that Prince Mouric and this the Crime against which Bishop Oudoceus exercis'd his Spiritual Authority as appears by the Acts of a Synod of Landaff lately rescu'd from Darkness and Worms by our diligent Antiquary Sir Henry Spelman where is declar'd by that Synod assembled by St. Oudoceus third Bishop of Landaff That in the year of Grace 560. Mouric King of Glamorgan for his Perfidious Murdering of Cynetu was Excommunicated King Mauric and Cynetu met together at Landaff and in the presence of St. Oudoceus Swore before the Relicks of Saints there before them that they would observe a firm Peace between them some space after this Solemn Oath King Mauric by Treachery slew Cynetu Whereupon Bishop Oudoceus call'd together all Ecclesiasticks from the mouth of Taratyrenguy to Tivy together with three Abbots Cousen Abbot of the Valley of Garben Cargen Abbot of Ildute and Sulgen Abbot of Docquini and in a full Synod did Excommunicate King Mouric for the Murder by him committed and for Perjury in transgressing the Covenant made in his presence and on the Altar of St. Peter the Apostle and of St. Dubritius and St. Thelian moreover inclining the Crosses toward the ground he interdicted the Countries of Mauric and so dismiss'd the King The Christian Communion also Curs'd the King with his Progeny the whole Synod confirming it saying Let his days be few his Children Orphans and his Wife a Widdow The King remaining with his whole Region the space of two years and more thus Excommunicated After being sensible of the Perdition of his own Soul and the damnation of his whole Kingdom he could no longer sustain so dreadful an Excommunication but humbly beg'd Pardon at Landaff of Bishop Oudoceus who therefore in the presence of three Abbots impos'd on him the yoak of Pennance proportionable to the quality and hainousness of his Crimes the King all the while humbly inclining his Head and shedding Tears abundantly His Pennance was to satisfie God By Fasting Prayers and Alms King Mauric undertook the yoak of Pennance and for the Redemption of his own Soul and the Soul of Cynetu he gave to the Church of Landaff and the Bishops thereof four Villages with their entire liberty free from all service forever with Common through his Country for the Inhabitants of those Villages in all Fields Woods Pastures and Waters These four Villages contain 24 Modii of Land The first is call'd Kirgracnauc the second Nantavo the third a Village beyond Kadava where Cynetu was slain the fourth a Village beyond Nadava call'd Gudberdh This was the form of the first Synod of Landaff out of which we may collect much of the Religion and Discipline of that Age The same Bishop Oudoceus for very like causes Assembled two Synods more extant in Sir Henry Spelman the occasions whereof and proceedings wherein here briefly follow King Morcant and his Vncle Frioc in the presence of St. Oudoceus and the three fore-nam'd Abbots at the Poduim or Church of St. Ildutus took their Oaths at the Holy Altar on which were placed the Relicks of Saints That they would observe Peace and Amity together without any guile adding That if either of them should Kill or commit Treachery against the other he should not redeem his Crime by Money or Lands but should be oblig'd to quit his Kingdom and spend his whole Life in Forreign Pilgrimages A good while after which Covenant made Morcant by the instigation of the Devil slew his Vncle but soon after came to the Holy Bishop Oudoceus and humbly crav'd Pardon for his Homicide and Perjury The Bishop thereupon Assembled a Synod at the Monastery of the Vale of Carban to which came all the Clergy and King Morcant also with the principal persons of Glamorganshire The Synod unwilling to be depriv'd of their Natural Lord gave judgement that the King should redeem his Pilgrimage with Alms Prayers and Fasting which Pennance the King laying his Hands on the four Gospels and Relicks of Saints undertook to perform promising withall that ever after he would in all things mercifully execute Justice The Pennance finish'd and the King restor'd to Christian Communion he presently proclaim'd the Churches of Catoc Ildut and Docunni free from all Regal Service Thus was the second Synod The third was Assembled many years after upon this occasion A certain British Prince nam'd Guidnerth in a Contention for the Principality slew his Brother Mercheen for which he was Excommunicated by St. Oudoceus in a full Synod in testimony of which Excommunication the Crosses were taken down and the Cimbals were turn'd thus he remain'd excluded from Christian Communion for the space of three years at the end of which demanding Pardon he was sent into the lesser Britain to St. Sampson Arch-Bishop of Dole from him to receive judgement and suitable Pennance This was done partly because of the great Amity between these Bishops but chiefly because the same Language being spoken in both Countries he would the more freely discover his fault and require Indulgence for the same This Voyage was undertaken by Guidnerth who having obtain'd Absolution he return'd with Letters Seal'd by St. Sampson before the year was ended but because he had not according to his Injunction remain'd a whole year in Exile the Bishop would not take off his Excommunication presently after St. Oudoceus dy'd to whom Berthguin succeeded in the Bishoprick of Landaff To him King Morcant and Guidnerth made an carnest request to take off the said Excommunication and to raise again from the Earth the Crosses and Cimbals with the Holy Relicks Whereupon after a promise made by Guidnerth to make satisfaction for his Crime by Fasting Prayers and Alms he was at last with great Devotion and many Tears shed Absolv'd by the Bishop After which Guidnerth to testifie his Gratitude gave to the Church of Landaff these Lands Lanu Catigual and Tye with all the Woods and Sea-coasts c. Bishop Godwin affirms this third Synod to be Celebrated by another Bishop of Landaff and that Guidnerth the Fratricide gave Lancadwallader now call'd Bishton or Bishopston to the Church of Landaff Which Mannor he saith is the only Mannor that is left to that See. The Author of the Life of St. Oudoceus relates That he quitted his Pastoral Cure and built a Monastery near the River Weye and there Assembling a great multitude of Brethren spent the remainder of his Life which lasted many years in wonderful Abstinence and Sanctity So as it may seem this third Synod was not held in his days We often have had occasion to draw Testimonies from our famous Historian Gildas Sir-named Badonicus and Sapiens call'd also the Younger Gildas to distinguish him from Gildas Albanius before-mention'd Now because we are come beyond the times of those Princes who have been painted out by him in their foul colours it will be necessary to say what may be found of this our Younger Gildas By his own Testimony he was born in the same year when the great Battle was
Gods threatning But the King fill'd with fury would not understand that he might do right but swore he would take revenge of the Kingdred of St. Columba and make them all slaves And in pursuance of his Oath he gather'd a mighty Army 23000 of Horse Foot and Charriots and with it march'd to the Confines of that Country whither St. Columba went with resolution utterly to extirpate the Inhabitants When therefore the People of Conal heard of the Kings coming they likewise assembled the number of 3000. resolving to Fight manfully in defence of their Country being in so great danger and placing all their hope in God alone St. Columba rose very early and being full of Gods Spirit encourag'd them and with a loud voice which sounded terribly through the whole Army he said to them Fear nothing God himself shall Fight for you as he did with Moses against the Egiptians at the red Sea not any of you shall suffer the least harm for our Lords wrath is inflam'd against the proud Kings Army So that if one only person shall in the Name of God give the Assault He alone by the Power of God shall put them to slight Be Courageous therefore not a man of you shall fall in this Combat When he had spoken this which his Army believ'd as an assurance from Heaven a few of his Soldiers the same moment with wonderful Courage rush'd upon their Enemies who expected them not And at the same time an Angel of God arm'd like a Soldier and in the shape of a man of an incredible high Stature appear'd in the Kings Camp His Aspect was so terrible that the Soldiers Hearts utterly fail'd them and instead of resisting their Enemies fell one upon another in hast to fly away and such a confusion there was of Chariots and Horses that they kill'd one another So that a handful of men without any loss defeated a great Army taking many Prisoners After this wonderful victory the man of God address'd his Speech to a young-man nam'd Scandalan with a Prophetick voice saying My Son this day will procure for me a tedious Pilgrimage in a strange Country where I must live from my Friends many years but say nothing of what I tell thee 'till the event shew the truth of my words After this St. Columba went to St. Finian or St. Findbar a Bishop to receive condign Pennance from him because of so much Bloodshed in the said War and it is said an Angel of God went with him shining with wonderful brightness but was visible to none but St. Finian The Pennance enjoyn'd by this Holy Bishop to St. Columba was That by Preaching and Example he should bring as many Souls to Heaven as by occasion of that War were sunk to Hell After which Sentence St. Columba with great joy declar'd That the judgement pronounc'd against him was equal and just Howbeit this Holy mans Troubles did not end thus for he was censur'd in a Synod of Bishops to abstain from the Communion though not without the dissent of many in it insomuch as great contentions and disputes arose among the Clergy for the composing whereof St. Columba himself sent a Letter to St. Gildas St. Columba wearied with these Ecclesiastical contentions resolv'd to quit his Native Country but not permitted to choose his place of Exile he by a Messenger consulted the Holy man St. Brendan Abbot of Birre to whom God had given the Spirit of Councel and Discretion who after he had lifted his Eyes and Heart to Heaven commanded to dig under the feet of the Messenger where was found a stone on which was Engraven only the letter I whereupon he bad the Messenger to tell his Master That he must go to an Island call'd J or Hy where he should find employment for his Zeal and be the cause of bringing many Souls to Heaven But Hector Boetius assignes another cause of his going into that Country saying The fame of the great Devotion and Piety of Conal King of the Picts drew St. Columba out of Ireland into Britain attended with a multitude of his Disciples where he became the Father and Director of many Monasteries This Island falsly nam'd in some Copies was at last call'd Iona In some Copies also this St. Columba is confounded with that St. Columbanus who being also an Irish man founded several Monasteries in France and Italy by the Britains St. Columba is usually call'd St. Columkill for the great number of Cells which he built in Britain The Author of his Life after he had extoll'd him for many Virtues and Austerities relates a Prophecy of him to this effect That a certain Disciple of St. Patrick nam'd Macceus foretold of him that in latter times should be born one call'd Columba who should illustrate the Age wherein he should live and be highly favour'd of God He should descend from Noble Parents and in the 45th year of his Age should pass over out of Ireland into Britain where he should live a Stranger in Exile for Christ S. Bede relates That in the 565. year of our Lord when Justinus the Son of Justinian govern'd the Roman Empire there came out of Ireland a certain Priest and Abbot call'd Columba with an intention to Preach the word of God to the Northern Picts whoare separated from the Southern Region by vast and horrible Mountains For as for the Picts dwelling on the South of those Mountains they had many years before renounced their Idolatry and embrac'd the Christian Faith as their Tradition is by the Preaching of Nynias a most Reverend and Holy Bishop born in Britain who had been Regularly instructed in the Misteries of Divine Truth at Rome The seat of whose Bishoprick dignified with a Church Dedicated to St. Martin where the said Holy Bishop with many other Saints doth rest is now in the possession of the Angli The place pertaining to the Province of the Bernicians is ordinarily call'd Candida Casa or White-House because a Church was there built of Hewn-stone a way of Building not practic'd by the Britains Now Columba came into Britain in the 9th year of the reign of Bridius the Son of Meilochon the most Powerful King of the Picts and by his Preaching and Example Converted that Nation to the Faith of Christ so that for a reward he receiv'd the Island Hy or Iona for the Possession of a Monastery The Isle is but small of about five Families His Successors long held it himself was buried in it being 70 years of Age after he had spent above 32 years in it This Holy man before his coming into Britain had Founded a Monastery of great Note in Ireland nam'd in that Tongue Dearmach or the Field of Oakes for the abundance of them there growing and from these two Monasteries of Hy and Dearmach many others were propagated in Ireland and Britain by his Disciples Among all which notwithstanding the Monastery of Hy in which his Sacred Body resided had the Preheminence and chief
Authority Now the said Island is usually govern'd by an Abbot who is a Priest to whose Jurisdiction the whole Province and even Bishops themselves by a custom no where else practic'd ought to be subject according to the example of their first Teacher S Columba who was only a Priest and Monk and no Bishop Of whose Life and Sayings many strange things are extant compil'd by his Disciples but what manner of man soever he was sure we are he left Successors famous for their great Continency Divine Love and Regular Institution The Companions to St. Columba are said to be twelve who came with him into Albion eminently indu'd with the Doctrine of Christ and adorn'd with great Sanctity their Names were Bathemius and Cominus afterwards Superiours over Monasteries and no mean Ornaments of the Christian Church among the Scots Also Cibthacus and Ethernau Nephews to St. Columba and Priests Moreover Domitius Rutius and Fethuo men Illustrious for their Descent but more for their Piety Lastly Scandalaus Eglodeus Totaueus Moteser and Gallan These men after Travell'd through the Region of the Scots and Pict and by their labour in Teaching Disputing and Writing imbu'd both those Nations with virtuous Manners and true Religion The Scotish Writers add one Companion more to St. Columba namely St. Constantine formerly King of the Britains who repenting his Crimes sharply reprov'd by Gildas became a Monk and went with St. Columba into Scotland where he Preach'd the Faith to the Scots and Picts He built a Monastery in Govane near the River Cluid which he govern'd as Abbot He is said to have Converted to the Faith the whole Province of Kentire where he likewise dy'd a Martyr and was buried in his Monastery in Govan The King who bestow'd the Isle of Hy upon St. Columba and by the eminence of his Piety drew him thither is said to be St. Comgal or Conval King of Dalrieda At the same time not far from St. Columba liv'd St. Kentigern lately return'd to his Bishoprick of Glasco to whom no doubt St. Columba was an Officious assistant in his Apostolick Office. Of the Solemn meeting of these two Saints with their Disciples we have already spoken That there was a perfect agreement between these two Saints and their Disciples is no doubt and between them and St. Augustine also except in one Rite or Ceremony about the time of keeping Easter Upon which inconsiderable difference some would infer that the British Churches received their Faith from the Eastern Churches and not from Rome St. Columba having spent more then 30 years in this Place and Service he impatiently beg'd of God to end his Pilgrimage after his Prayer ended he saw in a Vision certain Angels approaching to him to conduct his Soul to Heaven which sight was so joyful to him that his Disciples took notice of it But this sight was soon turn'd into sorrow for the Angels told him That upon the Prayers of the Pictish Churches God had added four years more to his Life At last in the year of Grace 597. the same year St. Angustine came into Britain this Holy man dy'd and his Holy body was buried in the Monastery of Hy from whence it was after translated or a great part of it into Ireland and repos'd in the Church of Dun-Patrick by an Inscription on his Monument it is signified That in that one Tomb three Saints St. Patrick St. Bridget and St. Columba did repose Hitherto the Saxon Princes had imploy'd their Forces to the destruction of the Britains but now finding little resistance from them turn'd their Arms against one another For three years after the coming of St. Columba into Britain Ceaulin and Cutha mov'd a Civil war against Ethelbert which Ethelbert the rather enter'd into because the Power of Ceaulin so much increas'd that he took upon him the Title of Monarch Hereupon Ethelbert a Valiant Young Prince mindful of the Glory of his Ancestors who had always enjoy'd a Preheminence above other Princes resolv'd to keep it And raising an Army march'd with it into the Province of the Regni or Surry where passing unwarily over a little River call'd Wandalis he was rudely repuls'd by Ceaulin but endeavouring again to march forward the Armies met at a Village call'd Wibbandun now Wimbledon where he was with a great slaughter of his men compell'd to fly back into Kent having lost his two chief Captains Oslaf and Kneban Where this Battle was fought still remains as a Monument of it a Rampire rais'd in a round form as encompassing a Camp call'd Knebensbury Ethelbert after his loss sought to strengthen himself by a Friendship and Confederacy with the Neighbouring Powerful Kingdom of the Franks to make which Confederacy more lasting he desir'd to confirm it by Marriage which he effected This Kingdom heretofore was call'd Gaul but afterwards the Franks a German Nation under their King Pharamond invading it and possessing the greatest part of it chang'd the Name from Gaul to France The Successors of Pharamond for several Generations were Pagans till by St. Remigius Bishop of Rhemes in the year of Grace 499. King Clodoveus was Converted to the Christian Faith and with him the greatest part of his Kingdom which Faith ever after continu'd and encreas'd there This Kingdom of the Franks was at that time govern'd by four Kings Sons of Clotharius a Daughter of one of which Kings Elthelbert Married nam'd Berta Gregory calls her Aldiberga to whom he attributes the Conversion of the the Saxons Her Parents not without some difficulty deliver'd their Christian Daughter to the Bed of a Pagan but had an engagement from Ethelbert to allow Her and her Family an entire freedom in Religion and so the Marriage was concluded The Lady was accompanied into Britain by a Prudent and Devout Bishop call'd Lethardus who is Styl'd The Percursor to St. Augustine and one who open'd the door to Christianity here There were then in Doroberni or Canterbury several Churches which had been built by Christians many Ages before in the times of the Romans and were not utterly demolish'd by the Saxons amongst which the Queen made choice of that which had been Dedicated to the Honour of St. Martin and stood Eastward of the City The Author of Life of this Bishop Lethardus tells us what Devotions this Queen perform'd in this Church viz. That she and her Family frequented the Sacraments of Masses and Prayers in the Celebrating whereof the Blessed Bishop Lethardus was President or chief Priest The saying or singing of Masses were the Solemn Devotion of the Church in those times as appears by the Councels of Orleans and Tours Celebrated in these very times insomuch as St. Columba by Revelation knowing the death of St. Brendan in Ireland Celebrated a Solemn Mass for his Soul. In the year of Grace 571. Cuthulf the Brother of King Ceaulin fought with the Britains at Bedanford now Bedford and having obtain'd the Victory he took from them four Royal Cities Linganburgh a
place now unknown Egelsburgh now Ailesburgh in Buckinghamshire Bensingtun or Benson in Oxfordshire and also Egnesham now unknown After which Victory Cuthulf departed this life In the year 575. the Kingdom of the East-Angles was Erected in Norfolk Suffolk Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely the Name of the first King was Offa from whom his Successors and Subjects were call'd Vffings Some place Kings in this Region before Offa's time if such were they seem to be Dependant and upon Courtesie as after they were again Beneficiarii sometimes of the Kentish Kings sometimes of the Mercians Two years after the beginning of Offa's reign was fought a Battle fatal to the Britains by which they were expell'd almost out of all the fertile Plains of this Island and driven to the Mountains of Wales The Britains had hitherto defended themselves in their Cities of Glocester Cirencester and Bath but this year Ceaulin after an overthrow given in Battle expugn'd those three Cities and forc'd the Britains to retire into mountains and Woods This Battle saith Cambden was fought at a place call'd Deorham after which the City of Bath was given up to the Saxons And in this Battle it is said three Christian Kings of the Britains were slain whose Names were Comagil Candigan and Faringmagil so that Ceaulin became so terrible to the Britains that all places hast'ned to render themselves to their Power Nevertheless the Britains after seven years rest again attempted another Combat with the Saxons at a place call'd Fedhanlea where on both sides they fought with horrible fury Insomuch as Cuthwin the Son of Ceaulin being oppress'd with multitudes was slain But Ceaulin having repair'd his Army the Soldiers whereof bound themselves by Oath not to fly at last in Battle vanquish'd the Conquering Britains and pursuing them too many Provinces and innumerable Spoils In the year of Grace 585. the Kingdom of the Mercians took beginning under their first King Croeda or Crida though its foundation might be laid sooner This Crida reckon'd himself the tenth in Descent from Woden the Idol Diety of the Saxons And whereas the others possess'd themselves of the outward parts of Britain this Crida peirc'd into the Bowels of it by little and little possessing himself of all the Provinces towards the North confin'd with the Rivers Humber and Mersey on the South with the Thames on the East with Severn and Deva on the West with the German Ocean The Britains themselves by a voluntary Cession made Crida's way very easie to his new erected Throne in which he as yet sat contented with the inferiour title of Governour or Duke For the Saxons being now dispers'd through all the parts of Britain and every day gaining more strength became intollerably burdensom to the poor Britains and being Infidels publish'd Laws extreamly prejudicial to Christian Religion Whereupon by agreement between the Clergy and other British Inhabitants hitherto mixt with the Saxons they resolv'd to quit the Country and to retire some to the Mountains of Wales some into Cornwall others to Little Britain and other Christian Regions Then it was to wit in the year of our Lord 586. that the Arch-Prelates Theonus Bishop of London and Thadioc or Theodoc of York seeing all their Churches levell'd with the ground attended with many Ecclesiasticks sled into Wales and carried with them the Sacred Relicks of Saints least by an irruption of the Barbarous Saxons the Sacred Bones of so many and so great Saints should be destroy'd So that the Provinces of Loegria and Northumbria were utterly depriv'd of Christian Congregations Upon the Bodies of some Saints reverently hid in Monuments great heaps of Earth were cast least they should be obnoxious to the contumelious scorn of Insidels for the Kings of the Angli and Saxons as they were very Powerful in Arms so were they malicious Pagans thirsting after nothing more then the disgrace of Christ and the Subversion of his Worship where-ever they subdu'd a Country if any Church were left untouch'd they turn'd it into a Temple of their Profane Idols with their Impious Sacrifices polluting the Altars of the true God. Concerning this Theonus Arch-Bishop of London he was formerly Bishop of Glocester and from thence translated to London in the year 553. and in the year 586. with his whole Clergy fled as is said into his own Country Afterwards the Metropolitical Dignity was transfer'd to Canterbury from London as shall hereafter be declar'd And never after the departure of Theodoc do we read of any other Arch-Bishop of York 'till by the Conversion of Edwin Son of Alla King of the Northumbrians St. Paulinus was there Consecrated Arch-bishop By the Secession and flight of the British Clergy and other Inhabitants there remain'd the miserable Relicks of the Britains in three Provinces only namely in Cornwall stretching forth it self like a Horn into the Sea in South-Wales and North-wales with these narrow limits they were forced to be content nevertheless they never departed from the true Faith of Christ One thing there is indeed for which they are justly to be reprehended the mortal hatred which they long did bear to the English Nation who expell'd them was so as they would less communicate with them then with Dogs So mistaken are they which will needs think that the Saxons were instructed in Christianity by the Britains and not by St. Augustine from Rome The Saxons were no sooner in a secure Possession of this Island but Almighty God so dispos'd the effects of his Divine Providence as to prepare the way of their Conversion to him in order to their eternal Happiness as if an earthly Kingdom had not been a reward answerable to their merits in destroying an ungrateful People abandon'd to all Impiety The instrument of this Felicity now approaching was the Blessed man St. Gregory then a private Priest though soon after a most worthy Successor of St. Peter in the Apostolick Chair at Rome Upon this Happy occasion a number of young English Youths were brought to Rome and there expos'd to the publick Market to be Sold Gregory excited by a zealous Affection to propagate the Name of Christ and mov'd with a tender compassion towards those Children with whose Beautiful Features and amiableness he was affected and understanding that the Nation from whence they came was destitute of the knowledge of Christ took a resolution to sow amongst them the Divine Seed of Christian Faith And being after exalted to the Pontificate in order to the effecting of his design sent St. Augustine the Monk to lay the foundation of a Christian Church in this Island joyning with him other Auxiliaries and Devout Companions of his Labours Bishop Parker seems to doubt this Story because of the improbability that the Saxons should Sell their Children whereas Tacitus recounting the Manners of the Antient Germans affirms They would out of greediness of gaining in Dice playing even set their own liberty at stake And Malmburiensis says It was a familiar and almost a natural
Instability of Worldly Greatness and Power in the person of the hitherto Prosperous King of the West-Saxons Ceaulin who after all his Conquests was at last overcome in Fight and expell'd his Kingdom and Life also for such was the general hatred all men bare to him that they unanimously conspir'd his destruction A Battle was fought between him on the one side and the Saxons and Britains on the other side in Wiltshire at a place call'd Wansdike fabulously reported to have been made by the Devil upon a Wednesday taking its Name from Woden or Mercury the Saxon Idol The cause of raising this Rampire seems to be the separation of the Kingdom of the Mercians from the West-Saxons Near to this is seated a Village call'd Wadensbury and here Ceaulin Fighting this Battle was utterly broken and soon after dy'd After his death Cealric his Brothers Son possess'd the Kingdom of the West-Saxons but being much inferior in Courage to his Predecessors did not inherit that extent of Power which Ceaulin had exercis'd over the other Saxon Princes This opportunity was not omitted by Ethelbert King of Kent and next in Power to Ceaulin who without much hazard obtain'd the Preheminence by means whereof a freer way was open'd to communicate Christian Truths to several Provinces of the Kingdom after they were embrac'd by Ethelbert as they soon were St. Gregory in the third year after he was Pope by his Wisdom and Authority restor'd the Churches of Ireland to Catholick Unity from which they had been separated by a quarrel about the tria Capitula spoken of before His Epistle unto them concerning that subject is extant by which they received full satisfaction For presently after several of their Bishops and other Devout persons undertook Pilgrimages to Rome to express their Duty to the Supreme Bishop There is another Epistle of the same Holy Pope in Answer to certain doubts and questions which the Irish had propos'd to him touching the Rites and manner of Baptism But however the state of the Irish Churches then was the Churches of Britain are declar'd at this time free from any stain either of Schism or Errour in Doctrine In the year of Grace 593. Edelric King of the Northumbrians dy'd whom succeeded Ethelsred the Cruel At first he vigorously defended his own Dominions then unjustly invaded the bounds of others and every where sought occasions of exalting his Glory Many Combats were undertaken by him Prudently and executed Gallantly for neither would he be restrain'd by Sloth nor by his Courage prick'd on to Temerity about the same time Redwald came to the Kingdom of the East-Angles But fatal indeed was this year in the Death of our Saxon Princes for Crida King or Duke of the Mercians now ended his Life to whom succeeded his Son Wibba or Wippa who after also dying left behind him three Illustrious Children Penda Kenwalch and Sexburga About this time also dy'd the Virtuous Queen Ingoberga and received the reward of her Patience she had been the Wife of Childebert King of the Franks and after she had brought him a Daughter was unworthily repudiated by him Her memory challenges a place in this History as mother to Birtha or Aldiberga Queen of Kent whose Piety and Endeavours so dispos'd the Heart of her Husband Ethelbert that it was ready to receive the Christian Faith soon after tender'd unto him by St. Augustine And now behold the Sun of Righteousness began to dawn again upon this Island and dispel the Darkness of Idolatry and Superstition and now a new Seed of Pious Princes Immaculate Virgins Devout Monks and a multitude of all sorts excelling in Christian Virtues and Graces sprung up and flourish'd to the admiration of all Christian Churches so as even from this time our Island began to deserve the Title of the Isle of Saints It will be needful to give you a prospect at one view how the Provinces were divided and what Princes Rul'd in each It is agreed on all hands that this Day-Star of Christianity began to shine among the Saxons in the year of Grace 590. for then the Apostolick Messengers from Rome receiv'd their Mission from the most worthy Successor of St. Peter St. Gregory the Great in the seventh year of his Pontificate and began their Journey toward our Island though they did not arrive here 'till the year following At this time the Saxon Heptarchy was establish'd in Britain and all the Provinces thereof were entirely under the Dominion of the Angli and Saxons except the Northern Kingdom of the Picts and Scots the Western parts in Cambria and Cornwall were not yet wholly subdu'd by the Saxons The Kings governing the Heptarchy their Names and Provinces are as follows Ethelbert was then in the 35th year of his reign He was the Son of Irmeric Son of Otha Son of Eska Son of Hengist this Kingdom contain'd Kent as now bounded Next over the South-Saxons which Kingdom compriz'd Sussex and Surrey reign'd Eldwalch the Son of Cissa the Son of Ella who first establish'd this Kingdom this was the seventh year of Eldwalch his reign Thirdly the King of the West-Saxons under Celric in his first year as Nephew to Ceaulin who founded this Kingdom in the year of Grace 519. within his Dominions were comprehended Hampshire Barkshire Wiltshire Somersetshire Dorsetshire Devonshire and part of Cornwal Next over the East-Saxons Sebert was in the first year of his reign he was the Son of Sledda Son of Erkenwin who in the year of Grace 527. establish'd that Kingdom containing Essex Middlesex and so much of Hartfordshire as is under the Bishop of London's Jurisdiction whose Diocess is Adequate to that Kingdom After this was the Kingdom of the Northumbers to which belongeth whatever lyeth between Humber and Edenburgh It was sometime divided into two Kingdoms of Bernicia and Deiri Bernicia contain'd Northumberland with the South of Scotland to Edenburgh The Deiri consisted of part of Lancashire with the entire Counties of York Durham Westmerland and Cumberland The whole Kingdom at this time was govern'd by Ethelfrid in the fourth year of his reign who was the Son of Alla Son of Ida who founded that Kingdom in the year of Grace 547. After this in the year 575. the Kingdom of the East-Angles was founded containing Norfolk Suffolk Cambridgeshire with the Isle of Ely and some part of Bedfordshire At this time Redwald had been King four year he was the Son of Titillus Son of Vffa esteem'd the first King and Founder of the said Kingdom in the year of our Lord 575. The last though largest was the Kingdom of Mercia so call'd for that it is seated in the middle of the Island It was the Marches or limits on which the other Kingdoms did border It comprehended the the whole Counties of Lincoln Northampton Rutland Huntingdon Buckingham Oxford Worcester Warwick Darby Nottingham Leicester Glocester Stafford Chester part of Lancashire Herefordshire Shropshire and part of Bedfordshire At this time when St. Augustine was sent by Pope Gregory to the Conversion of the Saxons Wibba the Son of Crida was King or chief Governour of Mercia which Crida laid the Foundation of it in the year of our Lord 585. These were the Saxon Kings and these their limits when Almighty God sent his Apostolical Missioners to Convert the Blind Saxons to the Christian Faith Yet were these limits in continual motion as the success of Princes prov'd good or bad And among these Kings commonly one was most Puissant over-ruling the rest who stil'd himself King of the English Nation which Super-eminence Ethelbert King of Kent at this time enjoy'd to whom the Word of Life was first offer'd and by him thankfully accepted Thus stood the state of Christianity in this Island under the Government of the Romans and British Kings In what a different state it now is may easily be discern'd by the Judicious Reader Fiat Voluntas Dei. FINIS Jesus is condemned to die
Epistle to Timothy sent to him from Rome amongst other Salutations joynes Pudens and Claudia And a late Learned Writer hath demonstrated out of Antiquity that this our Claudia Ruffina sprang from the Royal Blood of Britain and was the Wife and Mother of Glorious Saints And our Antient Histories report that Timotheus the Eldest Son of Pudens came into this our Island and Converted many to the Faith and at least dispos'd King Lucius to his succeeding Conversion And the reason of such his coming hither might be the Love and regard he had to his Mother a British Lady It is pretended that Pomponia Graecina the Wife of Plantius General of the Army under Claudius in this Island was a Christian and Devout Saint but this may be doubtful though it be clear by Tacitus that she was Accus'd of a strange Religion forbidden by the Roman Laws which might be the Christian Religion to the knowledge whereof she might attain by her Acquaintance with Claudia Ruffina But we have more unquestionable Records of one Mansuetus Companion of St. Clemens which Mansuetus was a Northern Britain who went to Rome either with Adminius a Prince of Britain or Bericus a Nobleman thereof or as Attendant upon Caractacus where the said Mansuetus might be Converted by St. Peter and be by him constituted Bishop of Toul in Lorrain upon a Miracle by him done in restoring to Life and Health a Son of the Governour of that City whose said Son fell down from a high Tower the effect of which Miracle was the Conversion of the said Governour his whole Family and a great number of his Citizens Insomuch as after the word had a free course not only in that City but in the Country thereabouts Priests were Ordain'd and a Church erected and Consecrated to the Holy Trinity About this time one Beatus of this Island was converted to the Christian Faith and went to Rome for further instruction therein by S. Peter and after became the Apostle of the Helvetians and dy'd amongst them illustrious for his exemplary Piety and great Miracles Thus early did it please God to enlighten this our native Country with his Divine Truth and to transform the Barbarous Inhabitants thereof into Apostles and Messengers of Salvation to other Countries also And as it appears by antient Monuments it pleas'd our good God to send his Prime Apostle S. Peter into this Island to establish and confirm what other Persons though of great Honour and Holiness had begun yet for want of the Episcopal Character could not establish Order and Government in this new planted Church as the Apostles could and did do Unquestionable antient Authors have Recorded that when the World was divided by Lott amongst the Apostles the West became the Portion of S. Peter and that from Rome he came to Britain and made a long abode there constituting Churches and ordaining Priests and Deacons this Truth has been confirm'd by many Holy and Primitive Popes by many of our British and Saxon Kings by the Vision of S. Peter to Edward the Confessor Nay our late King James the First of ever Blessed Memory did not doubt in a publick Audience to affirm that Rome was the Mother of all Churches In what particular year this coming of S. Peter was is not easie to determine whether upon the Emperour Claudius's Edict to Banish all Jews from Rome or in the beginning of Nero's Reign is doubtful But that he was absent from Rome when S. Paul wrote his Epistle to the Romans is more than probable since he omitted S. Peter out of his Salutations Certainly a freer scope was allow'd in this Island at that time for Divine Verities than in other places First Because Nero's Persecution never extended hither Secondly For that the power of the Romans here was a little limited by the British Princes who were at least civil to Christians Thirdly The great distance betwixt Rome and this Island as may appear by the quiet and un-interupted solitude of Glastonbury where was erected the first School of Contemplation and which continu'd the glorious Habitation of a World of Saints even to late years It may be found in a very antient Author who Writes of Church Affairs in the first Century that he mentions the exaltation of the British Church under Nero adding that many Churches were built in this Island by S. Peter and it is agreed of on all hands that the cruelty of Nero towards the Christians drove S. Paul out of Rome even as far Westward as Britain where though he was had in high Veneration yet we never read that the Church here planted was called the Seat of St. Paul but often the Chair of St. Peter Insomuch as Gildas inveighing against some of the British Clergy in his time tells them They usurp'd the Chair of St. Peter with impure feet Thereby intimating that the whole Ecclesiastical Order here receiv'd their Original Priesthood by a right Succession from St. Peter Howbeit our English Martyrology deservedly reckons St. Paul among the Apostles of Britain And so was Aristobulus also one of the 70 Disciples and a Follower of St. Paul Ordain'd a Bishop here and here also dy'd a Martyr in the second year of Nero or at least a Confessor in his very Old Age after he had spent some time in Solitude at Glastonbury the common Retiring place of many Eminent Saints It was certainly meant by St. Paul in his Epistle to the Romans when he Salutes the Houshold of Aristobulus omitting him being then absent in this Country or in his Journey towards it This progress had the Gospel in this Island before the Death of St. Peter or St. Paul and was mightily advanc'd by the coming of Joseph of Arimathea and his Companions about the end of Nero's Reign making up the number of Twelve Persons with himself one of which Twelve is said to be his Son of his own Name The coming and Preaching of Joseph and his Companions hath been publickly alledg'd in several General Councels by the English Orators as an Argument of Precedence in those Councels taken from the early approach of the Gospel to this Nation and further affirm'd by other Antient Records and especially by that Illustrious Charter of King Henry the II. to the Abbey of Glastonbury signifying his intention to Rebuild that Monastery not long before Consum'd by Fire and to renew all the Priviledges confer'd on it by his Predecessors King William the I. and II. and by more Ancient Kings St. Edgar the Father of St. Edward King Edmond and his Father Edward and his Grand-father Alfred by King Brithwald Hentwyn Baldred Ina the famous King Arthur Cantred and many other Christian Kings and even by Kenwalla a Pagan King of Britain And further affirming that he the said Henry the II. caus'd a diligent Inquisition to be made of the said Charters and Priviledges which were presented and Read in his Presence all which he Confirm'd and Renew'd to the same Church antiently stil'd The Mother