hauing no other sonne but him as Historians agree Calphurnius ex Couchessa S. Martini Turonensis sorore vnicum concepit filium S. Patricium but an other whose name I doe not finde particularly neither what his Father was called in any Writter but onely that he was so Noble that he is stiled Rex a King and his sonne saint Ninian regali ex prosapia Ninianus extitit oriundus discended by his Brittish Parents of Regall Race Who when he was very young cum annos pueriles transegisset contemning all worldly things went on Pilgrimage to Rome where the Pope which then was saint Siluester as it will shew by the time hereafter committed him to be instructed in holy learning and Religion to chosen Tutors in such things he continued in these sacred Studies at Rome diuers yeares vntill he was perfectly there indued with the knowledge of Christian Mysteries Erat Romae regulariter fidem mysteria veritatis edoctus Bed Hist l. 3. cap. 4. as saint Bede writeth of him and by the old Writer of his life he continued there many yeares in these sacred Studies and worthie Conuersation and perfect pietie that the Pope hearing there were some people in the West parts of Britaine the Pictish Nation which had not yet receaued the faith of Christ consecrated him Bishop and sent him for their Apostle vnto them pluribus annis in vrbe laudabiliter conuersatus in sacris Scripturis sufficienter eruditus ad virtutum summa prouehitur pennis charitatis subuectus ad caelestia contemplanda sustollitur Audiens deinde Pontifex Romanus quosdam in Occidujs Britanniae partibus necdum fidem Christi suscepisse ad Episcopatus gradū Ninianum consecrauit praemissae genti data benedictione Apostolum destinauit This old Writer of sainct Ninian his life saith that in his returne from Rome towards his Country of Britaine greately desiring to visit saint Martine his Vncle by some before he went to the Citie of Tours and was honorably entertained by him knowing by diuine reuelation the worthinesse of his holy Nephew and how he should happily procure the saluation of many Rediens autem vir Dei ab vrbe actus desiderio videndi sanctum Martinum Episcopum ad Ciuitatem Turonensem iter diuertit Quem sanctus Martinus honorificè suscipiens eum à Deo sanctificatum multorum saluti profuturum Deo reuelante cognouit 5. But whereas this Antiquitie calleth S. Martin thē a Bishop it may be questioned Bed Eccl. Hist l. 3. c. 4. Alred in vit S. Ninian Guliel Malmes l. 3. de gest Pont. Angl. Henric. Hunt Hist l. 3. Capgrau in S. Ninian Hect. Boeth Histor Scot. l. 7. Io. Bal. cent 1. in Nin. Bernic Io. Pits l. de vir Illustrib aetat 5. in S. Nin. Nichol. Fitzherbert l. de Antiq. Cath. Relig. in Anglia whether S. Martin was then at that time a Bishop there or that it so calleth him because not long after he was Bishop for it partly appeareth already and will more hereafter that by our owne Histories S. Niniā was come a Bishop into Britaine before such time as by forreine Authors S. Martin was Bishop of Tours Cōming into Britaine saith this old Author he was entertained with greate applause cōcourse of people as a Prophet cū ad locū Legationis suae venisset magnus populorū fit cōcursus ingens cūctis laetitia mira deuotio laus quoque vbique resonat Christi quoniā sicut Prophetū eum habebāt So the Popes Legates were honoured in Britaine in those dayes that this holy Legate did cōuert those Picts which were thē in Britaine called cōmonly the south Picts the Northrē Picts cōming hither afterward lōg after this cōuerted to the faith of Christ it is the cōmon consent of all our Antiquaries aūcient later after S. Bede Catholiks or Protestāts Australes Picti relicto errore Idololatriae fidē veritatis acceperunt praedicāte eis verbum Nyma Episcopo reuerendissimo sanctissimo Viro de natione Britonū qui erat Romae regulariter fidem mysteria veritatis edoctus Thus sainct Bede diuers more The old Manuscript of saint Ninian his life Capgraue and others doe more particularly deliuer the manner order of conuerting that people by saint Ninian not onely by holy preaching but many and strange miracles he wrought in curing the blinde lame Lepers and uexed with wicked spirits raysing those which were dead to life ordaining consecrating Bishops Preists other Cleargy mē diuiding the Coūtry into Parishes cōmitting thē to their cure charge Sāctus Ninianus Australes Pictos quibus adhuc error Gētilis inhaerēs Idola venerari ac colere cōpellebat aggrediēs Euāgelij veritatē sequentibus signis praedicabat Caeci vident claudi ambulant leprosi mundantur surdi audiūt mortui resurgūt oppressi à daemonibus liberātur Sicque fides suscipitur error abdicatur destructis tēplis Ecclesiae erigūtur currūt ad salutis lauachrū diuites pauperes gratias Deo agunt in Insulis quae procul sunt habitantes ordinauit Presbyteros Episcopos consecrauit totam terram per certas Parochias diuisit confirmatis in fide omnibus By which testimony that euen the Inhabitants in the Ilands out of greate Britaine were conuerted and all confirmed in the faith we take notice that not onely Picts which were their in this Britaine but such also as liued in the out Ilands thereof were by saint Ninian and his holy Assistants then conuerted And his commission before from the Pope of Rome to preach vnto all in those parts without limitation which had not receaued then the saith of Christ will giue proofe vnto it for so it extended vnto all Pagan◠in our West Countries whether Picts Scots Britans or of what Nation soeuer in those places Wherevpon diuers and among them some Protestant Antiquaries are bold to write that not onely the Picts were instructed and first conuerted by him but diuers others both Scots Britans did by him receaue the Christian Roman Religion or confirmation therein Ninianus Bernicius Io. Bal. l. de Script Britancent 1. in Niniano Bernicio Hect. Boeth Scotor Hist lib. 7. fol. 119. ex Regio Britannorum sanguine procreatus Italiam adhuc adolescens literarum studio petijt Romae apud diuini verbi ministros mysteria verit atis edoctus ad plenum celer in patriam remigrabat Vbi Magister Paedonomus non vulgaris concreditum à Deo talentum per Britannorū Scotorum Australiūque Pictorum terras latissimè profudit Huius pia industria Picti primum relicto Idololatriae cultu veram Christi fidem percepere And for those holy labors was in Catholike times as our Histories testifie by all through out all Britaine reuerenced by the Title of the Doctor and Instructor of the Scots Picts and Britans Scotorum Pictorum Britonumque Doctor Paedonomus non vulgaris eo nomine omnibus qui Albionem incolunt vel hac nostra
reigned among them Which our English Protestant Bishops in their Theater coÌ„firme in this maÌ„ner It is certaine that the Britans were with the first Conuerts And Tertullian who liued within 200. yeares of Christs Natiuitie sheweth no lesse who the more to prouoke the Iewes against whom he wrote calleth to witnesse the fruitefull increase of the Ghospell Tertullian contr Iudaeos cap. 7. Petr. Cluniacen ad Bernard of saluation through many Contries and Nations and among them nameth the Britans to haue receaued the word of life The power whereof saith he hath peirced into those parts whether the Romans could not come Whence Petrus Cluniacensis supposeth the Scottish men the more auncient Christians 7. The like haue other Protestants and those their cited Authours which The NorthreÌ„ Brittans receaued the faith â—yther by S. Mansuetus or some other disciples of S. Pâ—tâ—r about this tyme. cannot be otherwise verified but applying this preaching of the faith of Christ vnto those NorthreÌ„ Britans either by this their holy Contriman saint Mansuetus the first Bishop we can finde of this kingdome or some other Associete of his sent hither at or about that time by the same holy Apostle S. Peter For in all other respects whether we speake of the Brittish Christians here in the time of Claudius or Nero of which these Protestants will tell vs Hector Boeth hist Scot. Georg. Buch. rer Scoticar l. 4. Rege 27. Holinsh hâ—stor of Scotland in Donaldus Hâ—ris descript of Britans Stowe Howes hist Theater of Brit. l. 6. Matth. west an 209. 198. and others more hereafter or the cominge of sainct Ioseph of Aramathia and his Religious Companions into this kingdome in the dayes of Nero or the generall Conuersion of the kingdome of Britaine vnto the Trenches of Seuerus in the time of King Lucius by Pope Eleutherius all these were longe before the Conuersion of the Scots in the time of their King Donaldus either by Pope Victor or Zepherinus as Harison rather supposeth the first time which is assined by any being in the 203. yeare of Christ and if it was vnder Pope Zepherine it was after that time for he was not chosen Pope vntill the yeare 209. before which time or the beginning it selfe of the Papacy of saint Victor which was in the yeare 198. this our Britaine on this side the remembred diuision had generally and publikly receaued the faith of Christ And the very words of Tertullian liuing and dying before this Conuersion of Scotland within the first two hundred yeares by these Protestants before and writing that his booke aduersus Iudaeos longe before and yet saying that the places of Britaine which the Romans could neuer conquere or come vnto Britannorum Romanis inaccessa loca did acknowledge Christ and his name did reigne in them before he wrote doe manifestly conuince it to be so For Tertullian liuing and writing in Afrike could not possibly take notice of things done here in an Iland so farre of presently after they were first effected and by no meanes could either he or any other writer speake of things done so longe after truely to repart them done so longe before If he had bene the greatest Prophet that euer was Therefore both the Testimony of him and Peter Cluniacensis also must needs to be true haue relation to these dayes of sainct Mansuetus and his Associats or others liuing in those times and sent hither by sainct Peter Or els how can we allowe and commend the spirituall loue and charitie of sainct Peter that most glorious Apostle whom we may not controle or of this holy sainct our Contryman made Preist and Bishop by him to this his most beloued contry if he had continually stayed at Tullum so farre hence or there abouts neuer coming hither to releeue the extreame spirituall needs distresses and miseries of this his natiue contry except others were then assigned by the same Apostle to supply and performe that charge In such a case the Order of Christian charitie had otherwise sent him hither and so required both of sainct Peter and this his disciple to preferre this Nation in their heauenly loue That spirit which moued holy Moyses to say to Exod. c. 32. v. 32. God Aut miserere populo huic aut dele me de libro quem scripsisti Either take mercy vpon this people my contry men or blot me out of the booke which thou hast written Rom. c. 9. v. 3. That which inforced and inflamed sainct Paul to write I could wish so our Protestants translate that my selfe were accursed from Christ for my brethren my kinsmen according to the flesh Yea the order and lawe of holy loue bound and tied with the chaines thereof the whole Colledge of the blessed Apostles to stay so longe in Iury among their brethren there before they preached vnto the Gentiles And Christ himselfe said he was sent ad oues quae perierunt domus Israel to the lost sheppe of the house of Israel and preached most to the Iewes of whose nation he had receaued his Incarnation Matth. 15. Camden in Belgae edit an 1586. Selden in Analect Girald Cambr. l. de sedis menou dignitate Ioh. Pris defens hist Britannic p. 73. 74. Parker antiq Britanni Anton Sabell lib. de occid Imper. alij 8. Therefore besides all the ProtestaÌ„ts of EnglaÌ„d before recited their cheifest Antiquary coÌ„cludeth that it is a thing certaine not to be questioned or doubted of but the Britans did receaue Christian Religion euen in the very infancy begining of the Church of Christ certum est Britannos in ipsa Ecclesiae Infantia ChristianaÌ„ Religionem imbibisse So M. Selden and others before alledged And though S. Mansuetus be called natione Scotus yet this nothing preiudiceth the preaching of the faith to the BritaÌ„s in the North part of this IlaÌ„d by him or others of his holy coÌ„panions For long after this time all or the greatest part of the inhabitaÌ„ts of that Northren CoÌ„try of Britaine were knowne BritaÌ„s not Scots as is euideÌ„t by all antiquities of this natioÌ„ the preuayling of the Scottish nation there first gaue the denominatioÌ„ of Scotland to it loÌ„ge after being then euen by the Romans called Britaine For as both auncient and late forreine and domesticall antiquaries agree this Iland was longe time after the dayes of sainct Mansuetus diuided into fiue distinct Prouinces and yet euery Sainct Mansuetus made Preist and Bishop by S. Peter prâ—ached in Britaine one called Britannia Britannia prima Britannia secunda Britannia Flauia Britannia Maximia Britannia Valentia Which last was that which was aunciently Albania and after abusiuely because the Scots possessed it Scotland Quinta Valentia Albania scilicet quae nunc abusiuè Scotia dicitur And although this holy Bishop of Britaine is ordinarily called in histories the Bishop of Toul in Lorraine where and where about he seemeth much to haue conuersed and preached after he was promoted to Episcopall order
by sainct Peter yet this hindereth not but that as before he spent much time labour in that kinde as nature and charitie bound him in this his natiue contry which is testified in plaine termes both by Methodius that most auncient writer and sainct Marianus Scotus his owne contriman of this Iland who speaking of diuers Apostolike Marian. Scot. l. 2. aetat 6. in Nerua col 254. Method apud eund supr men of that time whom they call Insignes sanctitate gratia pollentes renowned men excelling in sanctitie and grace among whome they name both this our holy Bishop and sainct Clement his associate they say of them non solùm propria prouincia sed in extremis al. externis vltimis industrij illustres regna Tyrannorum vicerunt They were not onely industrious renowned for preaching in their owne contries but also in extreme or externe and vttermost nations ouercame the kingdomes of Tyrants Where it is euident by these two greate witnesses that this most blessed Bishop of Britaine preached here in his owne contry propria prouincia at that time And thus I end the Empire of Caligula Guiderius reigning in Britaine THE VIII CHAPTER OF THE TIME OF CLAVDIVS AND HOW by our Protestants testimony one of the twelue Apostles then preached in Britaine 1. NOw we are come to the time of Claudius when both Catholiks and Protestants assure vs both that the Apostles formally preached vnto the Gentiles and there were many Christians in this our Britaine But before we proceed further to auoide all ambiguitie or errour that might chaunce in these matters in the iudgment of Protestants let vs first craue their best assistance and direction by some certaine grounds and maximes in history as infallible rules truely and plainely to square our narration by least we be deceaued They Certaine historicall grounds and Maximes giuen by our ProtesiaÌ„t Antiquaries to knâ—we what Apâ—stles first preached in Britaniâ— propose some fewe for most certaine and vndoubted generall verities which will easily leade vs to many vndoubted particular conclusions First they say which in some sort is remembred before that this kingdome of Britaine receaued the faith of Christ soone after his Ascension Secondly that this holy Religion was preached here by some one at the least of the Apostles Thirdly who they are in particular of that most holy number and order of whom mention is made in histeries to haue preached in this nation Fourthly that in the time of Claudius of which we now intreate diuers Christians came hither from Rome when he persecuted them there Fiftly that sainct Paul came not to Rome or to any of these west parts vntill longe after the death of Claudius in the reigne of Nero Sixtly that sainct Simon Zelotes whom some write to haue preached and bene martyred in Britaine was put to death in Persia with sainct Iude. Seuenthly that it was the 63. yeare of Christ before sainct Ioseph of Aramathia that buried our Sauiour came hither with his religious companions Lastely that sainct Peter that great Apostle was one of those three Apostles sainct Paul and sainct Simon Zelotes the other two which are reported in histories to haue preached heare All which assertions Theater of great Britanie lib. 6. Camden in Britan. Stowe And howe 's hist Holinsh. hist of Engl. Godwyn Conu of Brit. Catal. of Bishop Protest Comm. Booke Parker antiquit Britan. Mason Booke of Ordin with others are taught by the cheifest Protestant antiquaries and historians of England in their common booke of their religion their Theater and other writings of most credit with them for vndoubted historiall verities By which it euidently will be concluded by their owne graunts and directions that sainct Peter was the onely Apostle that first brought or sent Christianitie into this kingdome Which is particularly also proued before in the case of S. Mansuetus the first Preist and Bishop which was borne in this Iland which any histories I reade make mention of yet consecrated by S. Peter sent and directed by him with others of his disciples into these parts 2. But to make all these things so euidently true euen by these Protestants that no man with any pretence of probabilitie shall be able to make contradiction vnto them They shall all and euery of them be particularly and Inuincibly proued true by these meÌ„ themselues The first of the faith of Christ receaued heare soone after his Ascension and in the time of Tyberius is verified before from these Protestant Authours To which I add this their Testimony againe The Apostle himselfe saith the sound of the ghospell went through the earth and was heard vnto the ends of the world Which his sayings cannot more Theater of great Britaine l. 6. c. 9. Rom. 10. v. 18. fitly be applied to any other Nation then to vs of Britaine whose land by the almightie is so placed in the terrestriall Globe that thereby it is termed of the auncient the the ends and deemed to be situated in an other world And againe Immediately after Christs death doth Gildas fasten our conuersion where he writeth that the glorious Ghospell of Iesus Christ which first appeared to the world in the later time of Tyberius Caesar did euen then spread his bright beames vpon this frosen Iland of Britaine The Gildas de excid Brit. like testimony they reiterate in an other place Which I will cite hereafter and according vnto this runneth the whole current of their writers of antiquitie from the highest and greatest to the louest and meanest among them 3. Their first Protestant Archbishop Matthew Parker in his Intituled Antiquitates Britannicae The Antiquities of Britaine proueth it from Antiquities in Matth. Parker antiquit Brit. p. 1 these words primam Christianae Ecclesiae originem institutionem in Insula Britannica ex antiquissimis patrum scriptorumque testimonijs repertemus nor modo peruetustam eam fuisse sed etiam ab ipso primum per Apostolos propagato per orbem Euangelio initia duxisse accepisse incrementa we shall finde out of the most auncient testimonies of the Fathers and writers That the first beginning and institution of the Christian Church in the Iland of Britaine was not onely very auncient but to haue had beginning and receaued increases euen from the time when the Ghosppell was first propagated in the world by the Apostles And he yeeldeth his reason immediatly in this maÌ„ner Gildas enim Antiquisâ—imus inter eos qui fide digni sunt Britannicaruâ— râ—rum scriptor tradit Britannos iam inde ab ortu Euangelij Christianam 〈◊〉 fidâ—m for Gildas the most auncient writer of Brittish matters among those that 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—edit doth deliuer that the Britons receaued the Christian faith euen from Engliâ—h ProtestaÌ„ts mistake the testimonie of Gildas about the time of the faith of Christ receaued heare the rising vp of the ghospell The Protestant Bishops and others Authors of their greate Theater of
giue the first entertainement to the blessed Apostle sainct Peter at his first coming thither as that Roman tradition of that their howse after by marriage with the holy Brittish Lady Claudia their daughter and heire with Pudens the Senator and so long after this coming of sainct Peter to Rome named the howse of Pudens the Senator assureth vs. Which I proue by an other vndoubted tradition of the Romans That S. Peter was 15. yeares in Rome before S. Paul came thither Romani autem dicunt Petrum annis 15. in Roma fuisse antequam Paulus ad Romam venit So writeth our Florentius Wigorniensis with the common consent of Antiquitie and writers both Catholiks and Protestants And the Roman Martyrologe itselfe telleth vs of this Pudens the Senator that he was baptized by the Apostles Qui ab Apostolis Coristo in baptismo vestitus Innocentem tunicam vsque ad vitae coronam immaculate cusiodiuit Martyrolog Rom. antiq die 19. Maij. And there calleth him plainely S. Pudens the Senator Father of S. Pudentiana the virgin S. Pudentis Senatoris patris supradictae virginis Pudentianae So that being baptized by the Apostles sainct Peter and sainct Paul for no others were then in Rome ab Apostlis this could not be by true accompt vntill at the soonest fifteene yeares after sainct Peter was first receaued in that howse And if the Martyrologe could carry that interpretation to vnderstand by Apostolis the Apostles in the plurall number one Apostle no propper constructioÌ„ yet by this frieÌ„dly more then lawfull interpretation he must needs be baptized by S. Peter so also a most vnprobable thing that diuers ChristiaÌ„s then being as before in Rome S. Peter could first coÌ„mit himselfe to a Pagan or Catecumene and he and the Christians of Rome make such an house their cheifest Church place of assembly for diuine things And to put all out of doubt this S. Pudens as I shall demonstrate hereafter in the proper place of him and saint Claudia his wife was either an infant or not borne when S. Peter came to Rome and was first lodged and receaued in that howse which after many yeares by title of marriage with our Lady the Lady Claudia came to be his howse not before but it still remayned in the hands of our Christian Britanes the Parents of that Lady there in Rome For more pregnant Martial Pocta Epigram proofe whereof we are told by him that liued in the dayes of this Pudens by the most common consent of writers both Catholiks and Protestants was well acquainted with him his state and Countrie that this PudeÌ„s was by birth and Countrie a Sabinite farre distant from Rome his howse at Sabinum the cheifest Towne there and no mention of any howse at all which of their owne eyther he or his parents had in Rome when by all testimonies of writers we are told the parents of Lady Claudia being Britanes were dwelling in Rome as hostages among others for this Nation there and without question had an howse there sutable and answerable to their honorable degree and that their daughter S. Claudia was borne there not in Britaine for no Auihour that I reade doth affirme she was borne in this Iland but onely of Brittish parents lyuing in Rome Claudia caerulcis cum sit progmata Martial l. 11. Epigr 54. de Claudâ—a Ruff. Godw. Conuers of Brit. p. 16. Theat of greate Britainel 6. Matt. Parker antiq Brit. p. 2. Io. Pits l. de vir Illustrib p. 72. Authour of conuers part 1. 2. Timoth. 4. Britannis Claudia borne of Britans But not in Britaine onely she is called of the Poet Martial peregrina a straunger as the children of straungers vsually are termed both with vs and other people And the time of her birth and age so conuince as I shall declare hereafter and may be plainely proued from S. Paul himselfe a litle before his death 4. And whereas we finde noe memory at all of any naturall parents of S. Pudens dwelling in Rome we haue sufficient testimony not onely of the permanent dwelling both of the Father and Mother of S. Claudia there before remembred but that by diuers probable Arguments they dwelled in that very howse where Pudens continued with them after his marriage with their daughter and were holy and renowned Christians although their natiue Countrie of Britaine hath hitherto bene almost wholy depriued of their honour and so must needs be by the Roman Tradition the first entertainers God win conu of Britaine p. 17. c. 3 â— Tim. 4. v. 21. of sainct Peter in Rome for as a Protestant Bishop in their common opinion writeth Pudens and Claudia were two young persons but faithfull Christians at that time vnmarried when Paul writ the second epistle vnto Timothie which was in the last yeare of Nero aâ— all men suppose that I haue reade except Baronius and that they were married in the later end of Vespasian or about the beginning of Domitian Therefore Pudens being so young in the end of Nero his Empire Although we graunt him then newly married yet this was by all computations at the least 24. yeares after the coming of sainct Peter to Rome And so it could not possibly be Pudens but the parents of Claudia our Britans that entertained first S. Peter in their house at Rome Who for certaintie being Britans of noble order degree lyuing in Rome as Hostages by all IudgmeÌ„t they enioyed more freedome and libertie in matters of Religion then the Romans did at that time The Emperours of Rome theÌ„ nor long after intermedling with the Britans for matters of Religion but leauing it voluntarie and free vnto them as other Tributaries to vse the Religion of their Contries or as they were best and most disposed priuately at the least euen in Rome itselfe without controlement So by the great mercy prouidence of God the subiection temporall captiuitie or restraint of diuers these our worthie Contrimen proued to be the most happy spirituall freedome in Christ both of those our Hostages there this whole kingdome afterward conuerted to the true faith from thence by this originall so renowned and glorious for euer to this Nation to haue in Rome it selfe the first Harbourers Receauers of that most Blessed highest Apostle S. Peter And thus I haue proued directly both against the Protestant Bishop of England denying it the truth of that Roman Tradition that sainct Peter was first with his holy Disciples receiued in Rome in the house which the Romans truely called the house of Pudens after he was God wyn supr Conuers of Brit. p. 17. c. 3. married to Lady Claudia of this Nation confuting his idle obiection of the young age of Pudens As also the Romans therefore calling it the house of Pudens because so it was in such sence as I haue declared and not truely inducing from thence that therefore Pudens the Roman Senator first entertained
with them to continue to succeeding Generations How poore the ChristiaÌ„ Churches were in thâ—se times when the Church of Glastenbury builded by the Licence of King Aruiragus and at the entreatie of the Roman Lieutenant as Harding from others writeth by the holy company of S. Ioseph was made but of writhen wands and so desolate within one hindred and three yeares onely after the first building Harding Chroic c. 47. f. 7â— Antiq. Glascon apud Capgrau in S. Patricio Et M. S. antiq ib. Bed Hist Angl. Capgrau in Catal. in S. Niniano Bed hist Angl. l. 2. cap. 14. of it that caepit locus esse ferarum latibulum qui prius fuerat habitatio Sanctorum The place which had bene an habitation of Saints began to be a Dene of wylde beasts And diuers hundreds of yeares after this the first Church of stone to remayne durable that is remembred to haue bene in Britaine was builded by S. Ninian at witherne as S. Bede and others write and King Edwine of Northumberland long after S. Augustins coming hither was christened at Yorke in the Church of S. Peter the Apostle which he had builded of wood in Ecclesia S. Petri Apostoli quam ipse de ligno construxit And the dayes euen heare in Britayne were then such for Christians that we must rather seeke their places of abode and poore Oratories among the Desarts and obscure corners in Cells and Cotages then in populous cities and costly buildings As our auncient Christian Poet writing of such times in Britayne thus expresseth Sic vt erat celebris cultu numeroque Deorum Nochamus apud Bal. alios Cum Iouis Imperium staret Britannia tellus Sic vbi terrestres caelo descendit ad oras Expectata salus patribus fuit inclyta Sanctis Qui Neptunicolum campos Cambrica rura Corineasque casas loca desolata colebant Which our Protestants haue thus translated for vs. Tâ—â—aâ—eâ— of gâ—â—â—t Bâ—â—tainel 5. c. 4. As were the Britans famous for their zeale To gentile Gods whiles such they did adore So when the heauens to earth did truth reueale Blessed was that Land with truth and learning store Whence Brittish plaines and Cambreas desart ground â—o Bal. l. 1. dâ— vit Pontif. Roman Bap. Mantuan l. 1. de Fast And Cornewals â—rags with glorious Saints abound To which purpose a ProtestaÌ„t Bishop doth alledge an other Christian Poet in this maner Nam cum Caesarei gens sanguinolenta tyranni Praedacentur oues Christi nullasque liceret Christigenis habitare vrbes impune ferarum Consortes facti fines tenuere supremos Orbis When the persecution of Nero the Tirant grew so bloody and destroyed the sheepe of Christ and no Christians might without punishement liue in cites They became companions of wild beasts and inhabited the vttermost ends of the world Therefore if out of the priuate houses of Christians in those times we would finde any places to beare the names of publike Churches or Oratories for the Christians then conuerted though neuer so meane and obscure we must seeke them out of frequent and inhabited places in the Deserts and wildernesses whether the rage of persecution did not so easily penetrate 2. And to finde any such after so many huÌ„dreds of yeares and changes of things in this kingdome we must be content with probable Arguments and Probahle that S. Peters Church at westminster had some Originall at this time testimonyes as is vsuall in such cases not expect demonstrations which caÌ„not be giuen in such affaires AmoÌ„g such Deserts of that time diuers ProtestaÌ„t and other Antiquaries will tell vs the place of S. Peters Church at Westminster was Thus they write Thorney now Westminster was called Thorney-Iland for that is was ouergrowne with Briers and Thornes which Thorney place was in the Ihon Norden in Specul Britan. pag. 4. 2. Polidor Virgil. Angl. hist l. 2. pag 41. Holnish Hist of Engl. l. 4. c. 10. pag. 25. Harris descript of Brit. cap. 2. pag. 140. Richard Vit. Hist l. 5. Io. Selden Anaclet cap. 6. Sulcardus apud Vit. Seld. Stowe hist in K. Lucius Holinsh. hist supr Harrison sup Ihon Norden Specul Brit. part 1. in Middelsex pag. 42. time of King Lucius clensed about the yeare 186. which Lucius is said to lay the first foundation of the greate Temple of S. Peters Which clensing of that place by this religious King building a Church there and dedicating it to S. Peter giueth no swall argument vnto vs to thinke it had a more auntient founding with some Relation from the beginning to that holy Apostle otherwise there were many farre more fit and conuenient places in or about the City of London to build so stately a Church then a desolate briery and thorney Iland And the Church of S. Peter in Cornhill being dedicated to him and the Cathedrall Church by all Antiquities we cannot be of any other minde but S. Peter had some former title vnto that denomination Which is rather strengthned in that these Protestants from Antiquities testifie that Theonus Archbishop of London in King Lucius time who had his See at S. Peters in Cornhil and helped to the building thereof preached read and ministred the Sacraments there to such as made resort vnto him in this IlaÌ„d Church A Protestant Antiquary writeth I haue heard that there are or haue bene Records in the same Abbey of Westminster which declare it was a Church before the Britans receaued the faith of Christ He meaneth the time of King Lucius Then if he speaketh properly it proueth it was a Christian Church before that time For the word Church in English Kyrke in the Scottish languadge of the Greeke Chiriache the house of God our Lord cannot by Christians be applyed or giuen to the Idols or pagan Gods of the Infidels but onely to Christ our true Lord and God And this is confirmed by the knowne vision and words of S. Peter the Apostle in that place in the time of S. Ethelbert King of Kent and S. Mellitus Bishop of London which I haue alledged before from many allowed Antiquities where S. Peter said of this place and Church By some a Christian Church at Aldâ—lyhit Quem locum proprijs manibus consecraui which place I consecrated long agoe with my owne hands Which must needes as I before haue proued be vnderstood of his parsonall presence and consecration of that Church when he liued and Harisin Theatr. l. 1. preached heare for then onely and neuer since he had proprias manus his owne proper and naturall hands to execute either that or any function with 3. A late writer in his Manuscript History inclineth to thinke there was a Church founded by S. Peter the Apostle in the North parts of this Land aunciently called Aldclihit in the old languadge of that place Peters Clihit as though S. Peter founded it and it tooke the denomination from him and citeth Henr. Hunting hist l. 1. Matth. Parker
also the fowlest and dishonestest which we may not thinke that so modest and holy a Saint would doe which is of these Protestants sufficiently before acknowledged when they expressely say Martials verses generally are no lessons be fitting Ladyes Therefore if generally they were so vnbeseeming Theater of great Brit. supr l. 6. we may not make so holy renowned a Lady either a generall or particular Approuer of such stuffe to send it so loÌ„g a Iorney to her beloued FrieÌ„ds in this her Natiue CouÌ„try of Britaine for toakeÌ„s much les for Newyeares gifts neither was that name nor ceremony knowne in Britaine loÌ„g after that time 7. And the first Protestant English Archbishop which before obserued that absurditie and yet willing to insist in the same erroneous steps of his brethren in this point and therefore hath written that it is likely Claudia sent these strange Poems hither from Rome before she was a Christian verisimile est Claudiam ante acceptam fidem Epigrammata Martialis ad Britannos misisse suos speaketh farre more absurdly for it is euident by all Accompts both of Christians and Pagans Catholiks and Protestants that Claudia was a Christian and renowned by Saint Pauls pen in the time of Nero 26. yeares before Martial wrote or came to Rome Therefore it was greate ignorance or willfulnes in that Protestant Archbishop to write it was verisimile a very likely thing that Claudia sent that Poets Epigrams into Britan before she was a Christian she being a renowned Christian so long before he was a Poet. Godwin Conu of Britaine p. 17. 18. But Martial had other meanes to vent his Poems hither he was acquainted with Quintus Ouidius and his company that came hither he and wrote an Epigram vnto him cited before such was also one Stella as he writeth Martial l. 10. Epigram 40. ad Quintum Ouidium Lib. 12. Epigram 3. ad librum suuÌ„ Ille dabit populo Patribusque Equitique legendum And it was his glory thus by idle headed parsons to send his bables about both to Rome and from thence to other parts as appeareth in the beginning of the same Epigram Ad populos mitti qui nuper ab vrbe solebas Ibis tu Romam nunc peregrine liber And he plainely declareth euen in his first Epigram to his Reader this was his humour to make him selfe knowne in the world for such Poeticall and vaine scriblings Hic est quem legis ille quem requiris Toto notus in Orbe Martialis Argutis Epigrammaton libellis And to make speedy vtterance of such wares to all parsons places the very Martial l. 1. Epigram 1. ad Lectorem Lib. 1. Epigr. 2. next Epigram which is also to the Reader is to tell where his bookes were to be bought and besides he sent them vp and downe to particular parsons as their Titles testifie And allthough we had diuers holy Christians then in Rome of this Nation which reiected Martial his Poems as S. Claudia and her Father did yet there were also at that time many Pagan Britans and some of them also Poets as Gildas Cambrius a most noble Britan Poet as Ponticus Pontic Virun Hist Brit. l. 1. Girald Ferrar. hist Poet. Dialog 5. Io. Bal. Script Brit. cent 1. in Gilda Cambrio Virunnius calleth him Gildas Poeta Britannicus nobilissimus and others by whose meanes besides such as I haue related before it is not vnlikely but Martials verses aswell as others came into this Countrie and he might take notice there of and therevpon write it was reported that his verses were sunge in Britaine 8. And hereby it appeareth how weake a propp they haue to support S. Claudia did not translate or send S. Pauls Epistles into Britaine them therein that would probably and by comparison conclude that S. Claudia did send S. Pauls Epistles into Britaine because she sent Martials Poems hither for first there is so greate difference and repugnancy betweene the holy writings of S. Paul and the idle Epigrams of that Poet if we chuse their best that rather the contrary is to be gathered that whosoeuer did affect the libels of Martial could not be a louer of S. Pauls doctrine so opposite vnto such vanities and so she knowne to be so renowned a Christian when Martial wrote and so highely commended by S. Paul could be no recommender of Martials vanities vnto this or any other parts or parsons And it is euident before she allowed them not And allthough I willingely allowe what a Protestant Bishop writeth of her placing her among our Brittish writers and affirming that she was renowned all through out Italy and other Nations for her style in the Latine Greeke tongue Claudia Rufina Britannici generis nobilissima Io. Bal. l. de Scrip. Brit. cent 1. in Claudia Rufina mulier nominis claritatem ex ingenti vtriusque linguae Latinae Graecae notitia per Italiam alias commeruit mundi Regiones yet this is no warrant for others to say that therefore she translated S. Pauls Epistles and sent them into Britaine For euery one that hath knowledge in Latine and Greeke allthough in a more excellent manner then a Lady a stranger to them both and young in yeares as by these men she was is not a fit Translator of holy Scripturs and we doe not finde that honor then giuen to any of her sexe nor did that or such office belong to her or any such her Father before confessed to be a learned Christian was a fitter man to performe such things to this his Nation if any such was done at that time But amoÌ„g all the Epistles which S. Paul wrote we doe not finde any one of them written or sent by him to any parson or place but such as had receaued the faith of Christ before neither S. Pauls Epistles nor any part of Scripture will make an Infidell a good Christian without a Preacher or Interpreter And I suppose he would be thought a strange Poet surpassing Martiall in that kind in the iudgment of Antiquaries who should say he had euer seene or credibly heard of any part of Scripture then translated much more by any woman into the Welch or Brittish languadge 9. And no lesse paradoxe it is which a Protestant Bishop and Antiquarie Godwin Conu of Brit. p. 18. c. â— proposeth to the world concerning S. Pudens husband to this our holy Country woman S. Claudia laboring to perswade his Readers that he came into S. Pudens Hust ad to S. Claudia did 〈…〉 Bâ—itainâ— nâ—r neaâ—â—â—â— Nâ—â—ther preached â—e any wheâ—â— Brâ—taine and heare preached the faith of Christ First he maketh this his Marginall Note of that which followeth Britaine a Refuge for Christians And then addeth of this time it was not counted vnlawfull for those to be Christians that dwelt beyonde Italy and France as in Britaine or neare the PirenaeaÌ„ Mountains and so to the westerne Ocean Whereby vndoubtedly it came to passe that
our generall Conuersion to be compassed at this time so many principall Agents therein violently putt to death and the Emperours without whose permission or conniuencie it could not probably be brought to passe so enraged and cruell against vs for such things Yet cannot this stay and adiourning of this greatest publike good of this Nation be imputed to pusillanimitie of minde or want of Heroicall Christian fortitude and magnanimitie in our Christian King and diuers of his people and Nobles among them who as before had receaued the Christian faith and priuately professed it but to the Iniquitie of the violent and ouerswaying times and Pagan Emperours with their Lieutenants Imperiales or Proimperatours Proconsuls Propretours hindering that holy worke For allthough the state of Britaine was not so seruile to the Romans as the condition of many kingdomes was but we euer had our owne Kings both by inheritance and discent of our former auncient Brittish regall Race and with the desired allowance and agreement of the Roman Emperours after the marriadge of King Aruiragus with Genuissa daughter of Claudius and the greatest dutie they could demande was their Tribute yet because in a publike and authoritatiue change of Religion in a whole kingdome there must also be a change of such lawes and customes as were contradicting and repugnant vnto the Religion to be receaued this could not be done in such persecuting dayes without greate ielousie in the Persecutours Emperours of an vtter reuolt from them in all respects And therefore our old Manuscripts both of Nennius and S. Gildas also as they are commonly reputed doe tell vs that when our generall and publike Conuersion was there was also an Imperiall allowance permission or tolleration for it from the Roman Emperours or their Lieutenants heare Missa Nennius in M. S. Hist Gildas in Hist M. S. in publica Biblioth Cantabr in Colleg. S. Benedicti legatio ne ab Imperatore Romanorum saith Nennius Missa legatione ab Imperatoribus Romanorum writeth Gildas in two Seuerall Manuscripts one in the publike Library of Cambridge the other in saint Benets Colledge there The reasons hereof I shall deliuer in due place hereafter 3. That which is wanting yet and to be added to the honour of our Apostle and Countryman saint Timothie is his glorious Martyrdome so honoured of saint Pius the Pope then and soone after also martyred that writing to the renowned Bishop of Vienna not long vnmartyred and exhorting him to constancy and perseuerance in afflictions and Persecution in Christ proposeth onely vnto him for the most worthie examples this saint Timothie and his holy companion at Martyrdome and probably of his labours in Britaine saint Marke saying they were Preists brought vp by the Apostles continuing vntill this time with whome he had imparted the word of faith men called of God and now liuing in euerlasting Ioyes in heauen S. Timothie and Marke haue ended their course by a good Combatt O Brother remember thow imitatest them S. Pius Epist ad Iustum Vienn Episcop Tom. 1. Biblioth Sanct. apud Baron Tom. 2. Annal. an 166. in following them and be not bound with the bands of the world presbyteri illi qui ab Apostolis educati vsque ad nos peruenerunt cum quibus simul verbum fidei partiti sumus à Domino vocati in cubilibus aeternis clausi tenentur Sanctus Timotheus Marcus per bonum certamen transierunt Vide frater vt illos imiteris sequendo ne vinculis mundi illigeris This is that greate honour of Britaine and Gods Church whome saint Dionisius the Areopagite that wonderfull Diuine and His honor with S. Denis the Areopagite glory of saint Paules Schollers honored so much as euery Reader may see in his diuine Bookes de diuinis nominibus Ecclesiastica Hierarchia of diuine names the Ecclesiasticall Hierarchie calling him most holy sanctissime and the like and dedicated them to him as the auncient Title Compresbytero Timotheo Dionisius Presbyter Denys Preist to his fellow Preist Timothie and in his Baron Tom. 2. Annal. an 109. booke de diuinis nominibus citiâ—g an Epistle of saint Ignatius written after the other saint Timothie Bishop of Ephesus his death doe witnes Baronius and others so acknowledging How before his death he disposed his wordly Pius Pap. Epist ad S. Iust tom 1. Bibliot Sanct. Baron an 166. wealth to the glory of Gods Church and recommended the care of his Country Britaine to the most glorious lights then of Christs Church saint Pius Pope and his worthie friends and familiars saint Soter and saint Eleutherus or Eleutherius after Popes we may gather by his former loue and labours for this Nation The Martyrdome of S. Timothy and S. Pius Pope And so after so many yeares of most holy life trauailes for the Church of Christ after his releeuing and maintenance of so many Saints lodged Manuâ—cr Antiq. in Monast S. Cirian Martyrol Rom. die 24. Martij Tabul Ant. apud Baron Tom. 2. ann 162. Pius Pap. 1. Epist ad S. Iustum supr 1. Epist 2. ad eund fedd clothed and fostered both with temporall and spirituall sustenance his chardges and prouision in his holy house many of them also martyred there he was also martyred with his worthie Associate and fellow Preist saint Marke at Rome the 24. day of March an 165. And saint Pius the Pope of Rome was martyred also soone after vnder the same persecuting Emperours his death at hand being reuealed vnto him as he writeth in an other Epistle to saint Iustus of Vienna in France and Bishop there Reuelatum mihi esse scias collega beatissime citius me finem huius vitae esse facturum THE XI CHAPTER OF THE HOLY POPES NEXT SVCCEEDING S. Pius and their Religion The fauorable Edict of Marcus Aurelius Emperour for defence and protection of Christians and the Christian Lieutenants Trebellius and Pertinax with the forbidding the Druids Religion occasions of the publike receauing and profession of Christianitie in Britayne by King Lucius and his subiects 1. S Pius hauing thus gloriously ended his holy life and Papacie saint Anicetus by the more common opinion after many Auncients Iraeneus Tertullian Hegesippus Eusebius Epiphanius with others teacheth that saint Anicetus succeeded him in this hihest chardge Yet there be very auncient Hieron l. de Scr. in Hegesippo Optat. Mileu l. contra Parmen August Epist 161. Rober Barnes l. de Vit. Pontif. Ro. in Aniceto and worthie Authours as saint Hierome Optatus saint Augustine with others which hold that saint Anicetus was Pope betweene saint Higinius and saint Pius And an English Protestant writer though he followeth the first and more common opinion for the Order of his Succession next after saint Pius yet saying of him that he was Pope in Antoninus Pius his Empire sub Antonino Pio vixit he must fall to the second opinion by that I haue spoken before of the time of Antoninus
had ended his prayers after this he slept vppon a bare stone and layed an other vnder his heade and he had about his loines a leather coate dipped in water And if we should question S. Patrike his long liuing being and dying Abbot at Glastenbury and so leauing such austeritie to the Monks as he exercised in himselfe yet we may not haue any doubt but he being Nephew to S. Martine that greate Apostolike man taught by him and he himselfe being the Apostle of Ireland where the Religeous men were of the same Order they were in Britaine but this strict manner of life was common to all Monkes in these parts in his and from this time we haue in hands no memory of change being found in Histories And we reade that S. Brendon found in an Iland of America a Monastery wherein were 24. very holy Monkes Disciples of S. Patrike and S. Albeus which had liued there 80. yeares with breade rootes and water and had no Manuscr Antiq. Capgr in S. Brendan other foode to entertaine their worthie guest S. Brendan and his holy company withall aâ—â— yet their bread Miraculously prouided for them Parata mensa appositisâ—â—â— panibus miri candoris quibusdam radicibus incredibilis saporis comedebant sedebant mixti fratres cum hospitibus per ordinem inter duos fratres sempér panis integer ponebatur Ex fonte facite charitatem cum Iucunditate timore Domini And we finde that in an other Monastery in these parts where there were many Monkes Plures monachi there was no other foode or sustenance for them but appels nutts rootes and herbes Nihil aliud cibi monstrabatur nisi poma nuces atque radices herbae And to come to the holy roote itselfe of this sacred Profession at Glastenbury which had so soone so farre extended and spreed the branches thereof with such seueritie and sanctitie of life what other thing can we hope to finde in such a Desart and wildernes as then it was in the woodly wildernes corne did not growe the Bishops or Archbishops themselues did not then nor many hundreds of yeares after eate flesh 4. The first Archbishop of Caerlegion or S. Dauids which did eate flesh was as both Catholike and Protestant Antiquaries write called Morgeneu the 33. in number after S. Dauid allmost 1000. yeares after Christs Natiuitie A Protestant Bishop thus relateth the Historie Morgeneu this man saith Giraldus of all the Bishops of S. Dauids presumed first to eate flesh which none of them Godwin Catal. in S. Dauids in Morgeneu had euer done before him For punishment of which hainous offence he supposeth it fell out that afterwards he was murthered of Pirats reporting withall how that after his death he appeared to a Bishop of Ireland vsing these words Quia carnes comedi caro factus sum for eating of flesh I am noâ— become nothing but flesh The Art and skill of fishing was allmost vtterly vnknowne in these partes of Britaine Bed l. 5. Histor Gent. Angl. Capgrau Catal. in S. Wâ—lfâ—id Godwin Catal. of Bish. Chichester in Wilfride Antiquit. Glast Manus Capgr Catal. in S. Patricio vntil when in the seuenth hundredth yeare it was taught there by S. Wilfride These holy men planted fruite trees there in greate number to bring them meate wherevpon that Desart was called Aualonia or the Iland Aualonia the Isle of fruites because in the old Brittish toÌ„gue Aualla signifieth fruites Insula Aualoniae id est Insula pomorum vocabatur Aualla Britannice poma Latine And the InhabitaÌ„ts of those parts to this day doe call greate Nutts growing in that Country by the name of Aualons Therefore our Antiquaries knowing how strict and penitentiall life they sedd and in carnall censure exceeding ordinary humane habilitie without heauenly help and assistance doe deliuer Their foodefruites Herbes and bread vnto vs that S. Ioseph and his companions the first Religious Inhabitants of this place before Orchard or gardeine was planted there for fruites rootes or herbs to feede vpon offerring and performing there their deuoute duties to God and the blessed Virgin in watchings fastings and prayers were reliued Antiq. Glaston Manuscr Tabulis affix Capgr Catalog in S. Ioseph ab Aramat S. Patric Epist alij in all their necessities by the help of the same blessed Virgin Mother of God Duodecim sancti praedicti in eodem loco Deo beatae virgini deuota exhibentes obsequia vigilijs Ieiunijs orationibus vacantes eiusdem virginis Dei Genetricis auxilio in necessitatibus suis refocillabantur 5. And this so strict Monasticall conuersation though likely in some places and times afterward some what mitigated from the first rigour was the generall obseruation of our old Brittish Scottish and Irish Monkes all of them The Monks there drunke then no wyne or such drinke but water drinking onely water or milke and neuer any wine Ale or such manner of drinke for we reade in approued and Auncient Historians that when King Ceolnulfus left his terreane kingdome to be a Monke in the Monastery of Lindisfarne about the yeare of Christ 764. the Monkes there according to the old Tradition and custome did drinke nothing but water or milke and then they had dispensation at this Kings procuring to drinke wine or Ale hoc Rege iam Monacho facto efficiente data est LindiffarneÌ„sis Ecclesiâ— Monachis licentia Roger HouedeÌ„ Annal. par Prâ—o an 764. an 882. bibendi vinum vel ceruisiam ante enim non nisi lac vel 〈…〉 solebant secundum antiquam traditionem Sancti Aidani primi eiusdem Ecclesiae Antistitis Monachorum qui cum illo de Scotia venientes ibidem donante Rege Oswaldo mansionem acceperant cum magna districtione Deo seruire gaudebant Where we see this to haue bene the old receaued vse and custome of those Brittish and Scottish Monkes 6. What their Masse and other publike Church seruice was I finde in an Their auncient Church seruice that asscribed to S. Marke the EuaÌ„gelist or of Saint Peter old Brittish Manuscript Antiquitie written allmost 1000. yeares since and Intituled the first Institution and varietie of the Church seruice prima Institutio varietas Ecclesiastici seruitij that they were the same which S. Marke the Euangelist by S. Peter his approbation composed and practized Cursum qui dicitur praesenti tempore Scotorum Beatus Marcus decantauit This is recorded for the office Ecclesiasticall of Scotland in those times by this old Manuscript but for thee rest of this Iland now England and wales it rather deliuereth that the Roman vse deriued from S. Peter and S. â—lement his Successour which it calleth cursum Romanum was practized heare and setteth downe how it was continued and deriued to the Britans from S. Peter and S. Clement Yet with some alteration addition of Antiphones Responsories and Alleluias but these taken out of holy Scripturs or the workes of the old
Scotia Scots land which could Iosephus orat ad Iudaeos apud Egesipp l. 5. c. 15. yet be very small when Iosephus in the Age before had testified that it had no land at all Scotia terris nihil debet of which and their place of habitation at land I shall speake more when I come to their Conuersion in the time and by the meanes and help of Pope Victor in the beginning of the next Age And for this present and my purpose now concerning the Conuersion of the Brittans in Albania this which I haue saide sufficeth to let vs be assured it was effected in the same time and manner as the other of our other Brittans in Loegria and Cambria and by the same meanes Mission and Apostolike men sent and directed hither and heare their sacred Actions and labours were confirmed by the highest Papall power of holy Pope Eleutherius THE XXVII CHAPTER OF DIVERS BOOKES OR WRITINGS OF S. Phaganus Damianus Eluanus Meduuinus and others Charters and Immunities of Pope Eleutherius and King Lucius the Scripturs heare receaued in the old Latine Translation and the same Canon of them which Catholiks now obserue and followe WHEN our holy Ecclesiasticall state was thus setled in Britaine that the memory and obseruation thereof might be more firmely fixed and impressed in the vnderstandings and wills of men to haue duely in minde and performe those duties which particularly belonged vnto them in this Kinde these holy Legats as both Catholike and Protestant Antiquaries deliuer committed these their Acts to writing by which meanes they came and not onely by Tradition to the knowledge of Posteritie and the Popes of Rome to write in a Protestant Bishops phrase tooke these their proceedings heare in Britaine of all kingdomes their first begotten child in Christ as a Patterne to diuide other Prouinces in to Parishes and Diocesses Io. Bal. l. de Script Brit. cent 1. in Eluan as they had done heare Quum in fine essent omnia ordinatione quadam per Fugatium Damianum in rem Christianam permutata vt apud Posteros clariora perdurarent membranis Eluanus Meduinus dederunt Acta per Legatos l 1. 1. Inde ad nos non alio medio peruenerunt Ex hoc similibus fundamentis caepere postea Romanorum Pontifices occasionem Prouincias diuidendi in Paraecias Dioeceses A late Catholike Collector of holy Writers of this Nation saith that Eluanus did write one Booke of the Originall of the Brittish Church Eluanus Io. Pitseus l. de Illustr Britan. Script aetate 2. in Eluan Meduino Antiq. Glast Manuscript S. Patri Epistol Capgrau in S. Patricio Leland in Arthur assert scripsisse perhibetur de origine Ecclesiae Britannicae librum vnum And that Meduinus wrote a Booke of the Acts of Fugatius and Damianus in Britaine Meduinus Posteris tradidit Fugatij Damiani gesta in Britannia librum vnum The old Manuscript Antiquities of Glastenbury make mention of three Bookes founde there all which or parts of euery of them were writen in this time The first is called Scripta Sanctorum Phagani Deruiani The writings of the Saints Phaganus and Deruianus The second had among other things how these holy Legats procured 10. yeares Indulgence to that holy place The third was Volumen a Volume wherein were writen the Acts of the Apostles and the Acts and gests of S. Phaganus and Deruianus Volumen vnum in quo scripti erant actus Apostolorum pariter cum Actibus gestis Sanctorum Phagani Deruiani 2. I haue mentioned before how King Lucius wrote diuers Epistles to the Pope or Popes of Rome in his time about the setling of Christian Religion in this kingdome And as S. Eleutherius Pope of Rome directed him by the Counsaile and aduise of his Clergie and Nobles he caused a collection and correction of Lawes temporall to be compiled and published to gouerne The Christian munifiâ—â—nce and bouÌ„tic of King Lucius in this time his Christian kingdome by which continued long after in writing among many both Brittish and other Kings of this Nation allthough with some change or addition as the times and other circumstances required in such cases This holy King also granted made and signed many writings Charters and Donations for the defence maintenance and preseruation of Religion and the cheife Teachers and Professours thereof as to the Vniuersitie of Cambridge the Schoole of Bangor Monastery of Shaftesbury and such others and to euery Archiepiscopall and Episcopall See in Britaine both for the assuring the old Reuenewes and Priuiledges of the Archflamens and Flamens as others new and more ample which he conferred vnto them and such as should sitt and succeede in them for euer Pope Eleutherius granted many priuiledges immunities and Indulgences heare 3. In this time also the Rule of the holy Religeous men I haue spoken of before was written and obserued by them And besides the generall confirmation of Pope Eleutherius which I haue formerly spoken of for the ratifying and approuing the proceedings of his Legats he granted very many other particular Ratifications and Immunities to certaine Parsons and Places heare such was his Bull of Confirmation which the Cambridge Antiquaries contend he granted to that Vniuersitie such his grant of 10. yeares of Indulgence at the request of his Legats to the pilgrims that deuoutely visited the old Church of Glastenbury as likewise that of 30. yeares pardon to all Bishops that should with deuotion come one Pilgrimadge to the Chappell of S. Michaell The old Decrees of the primatiue Popes receaued heare in this time there as the Antiquities of that place giue testimony 4. The Order of the holy Sacrifice of Masse and other publike seruice of the Church deliuered and established heare at that time was the Roman Order which the holy Legats our Apostles brought from Rome who also published heare the Decrees of the holy Popes from S. Peter to their time many of which so farre as our Protestant writers would giue mee leaue and allowance vnto I haue remembred before This time and Age also is the Eleuther Epist ad Regem LuciuÌ„ Leg. S. Edw. Lambert de leg Antiq. Godwin Conuers of Brit. first wherein eyther the Scripturs of the Old or New Testament were by any auncient Authour receaued and published in Britaine For S. Eleutherius Pope in his Epistle to King Lucius maketh it but a nuper late thing to haue the holy Scripturs in this kingdome By which also as by the knowne ignorance of the Britans in those dayes eyther in Greeke or Hebrew language it is euident they were receaued heare in the Latine tongue vnderstood The holy Scriptures receaued heare then in the Latine toÌ„gue with the same Canon of Bookes which the Roman Church now vseth by all the learned of this kingdome of Britaine Likewise we learne by the same part of Pope Eleutherius his Epistle to King Lucius that the Primitiue Church both at
but was among other his singular gifts and graces in that time endowed with the spirit of Prophesie and thereby foretold vnto the Emperor Maximus heare in Britaine before his going from hence the vnhappy end he should come vnto Martinus Turanensis Antistes vir pietatis eximae Maximo praedixisse fertur quum in Britannia adhuc esset infelicissimum eius vitae exitum So Sabellic l. 9. Ennead 7. Polydor. Virgil. Angl. Hist l. 3. pag. 5. writeth Sabellicus and Polidor Virgil in the very same words and diuers others before them as the word fertur vsed by them both sufficiently proueth for which we may be bold to vse Seuerus Sulpitius who wrote saint Martins life liuing in that time and familiarly acquainted with him for witnesse for he speaking of the comming of saint Martine to Maximus at Treuers before his attempting any thing against Valentinian in Italy that he should at the first preuaile but shortly after be ouerthrowne and perish he addeth that saint Sulpitius Seuer l. de vit S. Martini cap. 23. Martine Prophesied this vnto Maximus longe before S. Martinus eidem Maximo longe ante praedixit futurum vt si ad Italiam pergeret bellum Valentini ano Imperatori inferens sciret se primo quidem impetu futurum esse Victorem sed paruo post tempore esse periturum quod quidem ita vidimus Which Prophesie vttered by saint Martine to Maximus longe before must needs be heare in Britaine for after such time as saint Martine was thus renowned Maximus was not longe time before this longe ante any where but in this our Britaine And were it not that the Historie of saint Martine vsually read in the Church on his Feast saith he was borne in Pannonia now called Austria we might giue no feeble reasons that he was borne in Pomonia one of our Ilands for heare we are sure he was heare was his Sister or Sisters heare many of his kindred heare many Churches and Monuments of honor founded in his name his name and memory farre more celebrated heare then in Pannonia now Austria or any other Nation whatsoeuer excepting France where he was longe time a most glorious and worthie Bishop Our Iland Pomonia neare those places in Britaine where saint Patrike the sonne of his Sister Couche and saint Ninian sonne of an other his Sister by the Scottish Antiquities was borne often entercourse being betweene our Britaine France at that time of our learned holy men with saint Hilary Tutor to saint Martine which we cannot by any warrant of Antiquitie affirme of Pannonia or Austria especially Sabaria now Lazius Abrah Ortelius de Ant. Regionib oppid alij in descrip Austriae named Stain or Stein in the furthest part thereof set downe for the place of his birth by Sulpitius Seuerus not allwayes holding the soundest opinion in all things and others afterward from him from his Authoritie 3. And except we should vtterly and very rashly deny the Authoritie of S. Bede William of Malmesbury the old Manuscript History of the life of saint Ninian and others whose Authoritie we may not neglect or alltogether condemne the best Scottish Antiquaries in relation of their owne auncient and Religious affaires and proceedings which would bring all our Antiquities into question we must needs say that saint Martine and his Sisters were in Veremund Hist Scot. Willelm ab Elphinscun Hect. Boeth Hist Scot. l. 7. Britaine heare longe before his seating himselfe in France for these Scottish Antiquaries tell vs that S. Martine was Vnkle to saint Ninian Ninianus Episcopus sanctitate Miraculis clarissimus ac Casae Candidae pontificalis in Galdia sedis primus Institutor aedem condidit diuo Martino suo Auunculo sacram And saint Ninian wonderfully allways honored saint Martine Sanctum Martinum miro M. S. Antiq. in vit S. Ninian Capgrau in eod Bed Hist Eccl. l. 3. c. 3. Henric. Hunting Hist l. 3. Gul. Malmes l. 3. de gest Pont. Angl. vit S. Nin. Capgrau in eod Pits Bal. cum alijs in Ninian Hect. Boeth Hist Scot. l. 6. f. 108. 109. Hollinsh Histor of Scotl. semper venerabatur affectu The Historians both of Scotland and England haue warranted vs sufficiently before that the Picts whose first Apostle was saint Ninian as saint Bede Henry of Huntington William of Malmesbury and others write Nima Natione Brito primus ibidem Christi praedicationem Euangelizauit did receaue the faith of Christ at the least in the time of their King Heirgustus when he and his people about the yeare of Christ 369. or 370. were conuerted Christians By which accompt if it be true that saint Ninian was borne of a Sister of saint Martine marryed to saint Ninian his Father heare a Noble and holy Christian Britaine this Sister of saint Martine must needs be marryed heare in Britaine before such time as S. Martine came first into France by Sulpitius Seuerus and other forreine Historians And it further inuincibly proueth that saint Ninian was in this Age many yeares brought vp at Rome made Bishop there and by the Pope sent Apostle vnto the Picts longe time sooner then the common opinion of Antiquaries assigneth to his comming hither And euident it is by all Histories that saint Martine dying as before S. Ninian Apostle of the Picts a Britan sonne of S. Martins Sister renowned in this time about the 400. yeare of Christ was liuing at Tours in France many yeares after saint Ninian the Apostle of the Picts was sent vnto them by the Pope from Rome and had conuerted them also Therefore I may boldly with the Scottish Histories accompt him among the holy and learned Fathers of this Age whereof he spent a greate parte in most holy and austeare conuersation of life preaching the Ghospell of Christ and conuerting Infidels to his true Religion allthough lyuing longe as the Secretaryes of this greate Saint say he suruiued vntill the next Age where I shall more remember him In this place I shall onely entreate of him and his proceedings as they belong vnto and were done in this fourth hundred of yeares 4. This holy man borne heare in Britaine in the Westerne part thereof where the Sea diuideth England and Scotland so now called his Father was Manuscr Ant. in vit S. Ninian Io. Capgrau in eodem a noble Christian and so great that the old Writer of his life writing presently after the Saxons setling there as his words of Brittish Kings there ruling within the memory of some then liuing quorundam memoria comprobatur doe sufficiētly proue calleth him a King Pater eius Rex fuit Religione Christianus His Mother as his Neighbouring Antiquaries of Scotland haue told vs was Sister to saint Martine not Couche the Mother of saint Patrike being greate difference M. S. Antiq. Laurent Surius Zachar. Lippol die 17. Martij in S. Patricio alij euen in time betweene their births and saint Patriks Mother
Sedis primus Institutor vbi aedem condidit diuo Martino suo Auunculo sacram Where we see that saint Ninian was the first Founder of that Episcopall See most renowned for sanctitie and miracles and dedicated his new Church vnto the honor of saint Martine his Vncle as they write 9. There was also an aâ—ncient Church in the same place dedicated to saint Ninian of which besides others both old and late Writers saint Alcuinus or Io. Pits aetat 5. in S. Nin. Gul. Malmes l. 3. de gest Pont. Angl. Alcuin Epistol ad fratres Candidae Casae Albinus in an Epistle to the Religeous men inhabiting there maketh this memory of the sanctity of that place and worthines of the miraculous man there buried as William of Malmesbury citeth him Scribit Alicuinus in Epistola ad Fratres eiusdem loci Candidae Casae dicens deprecor vestrae pietatis vnanimitatem vt nostri nominis habeatis memoriam in Ecclesia sanctitissimi patris vestri Nimae Episcopi qui multis claruit virtutibus sicut mihi nuper delatum est per carmina metricae artis quae nobis per fideles nostros discipulos Eboracensis Ecclesiae scholasticos directa sunt in quibus facientis cognoui eruditionem facientis miracula sanctitatem Where we haue the most learned Authour of this Land and his Age an ample witnesse of the learning holines miracles of this renowned Bishop Apostle and first Conuerter of the Picts by some of the Southerne Scots also Io. Pits supr to Christ Omnium primus Pictos Australes Scotos ab Idolorum cultu ad fidem Christi perduxit 10. We finde in this Age also many others renowned men and Saints of this Manny Brothers and Sisters children of Prince Bragbam Saints in this time Kingdome Braghan stiled King of Brecknocke a Noble BritaÌ„ who had 12. soÌ„nes and so many daughters all of them holy Seruants of Christ and happy Saints Rex Breghenocensium Fuerunt Regi illi filij duodecim filiae totidem omnes Deo placentes vitae sanctae Among these saint Canoch his eldest sonne and Manuscr Ant. in vit S. Keinae Virg. Capgrau in eadem Manuscript Gapgrau supr in S. Cadoco in S. Gundleo Heire forsaking his wordly honor and glory gaue himselfe wholly to the contemplatiue and Religeous life and estate therein long liuing and dying a glorious Saint His eldest daughter S. Gladus or Gladusa was married to King Gundleus also a Saint and they were the happy Parents of that our Illustrious Eremite Monke Bishop and Martyr saint Cadocus The second daughter named Melari or Melaria was Mother to saint Dauid our greate and renowned Archbishop his Father An other of the holy daughters was saint Keina who liuing a sacred virgin in a most strickt and austeare course of life was Miraculous at her birth in her whole life at and after her death The rest of these holy children are not so well remembred in our Histories but so in generall as I haue related King and Saint Gundleus husband of the eldest daughter and Father of saint Cadocus leauing his Rule and dignitie to his sonne saint Cadocus S. Gundleus how holy Religeous who shortly after also resigned it for the loue of the heauenly Kingdome builded a Church and there liued in greate austeritie and penance all his life many yeares his foode was bread of Barley the third part of Ashes and water his inward cloathing sackcloth he hauing forsaken all so much as the State of such a King neuer receaued any thing from others but liued by his labour euer at midnight rissing and diuing himselfe in the cold water Regale Palatium deseruit regno Cadoco filio suo commendato ad monticulum sibi ab Angelo nuntiatum peruenit Ecclesiam construxit ibi in magna abstinentia vitae sanctimonia viuere caepit Vtebatur autem cilicio pane hordeaceo cinere in tertia parte admixto aquamque potare consueuit nocte vero media surgens in aquam frigidam se immersit nihil de alieno sumens proprio labore vitam duxit And thus M. S. Antiq. Capgr in S. Cadoco Caradoc in vit S. Gildae Capgr in eod S. Dauide M. S. Capgrau in S. Carautoco perseuered to his death being very old in the next Age where I shall speake more of him and his holy sonne S. Cadocus who in this Age also began to be famous 11. So was S. Gildas Albanius both a renowned Preacher and Miraculous man in this time S. Carautocus also Sonne and Heire to king Kederic hearing that his Father being very old intended to resigne his Rule and gouernment vnto him fledd secretly a way in poore attyâ—e and embraced the Religâ—ous life and proued so excellent a man euen in this time that he preached in Ireland 30. yeares before S. Dauid was borne whose birth was in this time Tâ—â—ginta S. Gildas and S. Caratocus were now renowned annis ante natiuitateÌ„ sanct Dauid Episcopi in Hibernia coâ—uersari â—â—pit Multos populos in Hibernia ad fidem coÌ„uertit And it seemeth by the old Writer of S. Cadoc his life that he was euen in this Age a renowned man hauing besides S. Cadocus now renowned his holy conuersation and preaching in Britaine both in the part now named EnglaÌ„d as that called Scotland 7. yeares He went on Pilgrimage three times to Hierusalem seuen times to Rome and once to the holy Relicks of S. Andrew newly brought hither in this Age by S. Regulus as I shall set downe So S. Goudwall an holy Bishop or Archbishop heareafter where he was admonished by an Angell to stay and preach 7. yeares S. Gudwall also was renowned in this Age both in Britaine and other place Gudwà lus BritaÌ„niae finibus ortus ex nobili prosapia of Noble pareÌ„tage he was Manuscr Ant. de vit S. Gudwal Capgrau in eod Sur. Tom. 3. Molan add ad Vsuard Franc. Haraeus 6. Iun. Auth. of Engl. Martyr die 22. Febr. 6. Iunij brought vp in learning was consecrated Preist and after Bishop and by some an Archbishop in this Kingdome And that he might more quietly giue himselfe ouer to the contemplatiue life placing a worthie Bishop and Successor in his Pastorall charge and place went into a Monastery within his Diocesse hard by the Sea and there with an hunded and fourscore Monkes liued a most holy and Miraculous life He and his holy company in seuen ships went ouer into Flamders and preached there where by some he died and was first buryed at BlaÌ„dine neare GaÌ„t but Capgraue with the Antiquities which he followeth affirmeth his body was buryed heare in Britaine in an I le called then Plecit where it rested with greate honour vntill the Christian Britans bannished out of their Country by persecuting Pagans carried his holy Relicks with them and buryed them in that Monastery of Blandine Peractis
preached in in this kingdome 80 Chap. xvj Wherein is set downe both by Protestants and others when S. Peter prâ—â—ched in Britaine if not before his comming to Rome yet afterâ—aâ—d both in the dayes of Claudiâ—s and Nâ—ro 85 Chap. xvij Wherein is proued by the best â—ngliâ—h Protestant writâ—rs their Bâ—â—hâ—â—s and others that S. Peter founding the Church of Britaine ordained in it Archbishops Bishops and Preists 90 Chap. xviij Wherein are set downe by warrant of Protestants and other Aâ—thorities the names in particular of the first Archbishop and diuers Bishops of or in Britaine in this time by S. Peters Ordination 92 Chap. xix Of diuers ChristiaÌ„ Churches or Oraâ—oâ—ies such as the state of things then allowed erected and founded in Britaine in the time of sainct Peters preaching here 100 Chap. xx Wherein for the better decerning of truely consecrated Bishops so many Ecclesiasticall matters depending there upon is shewed by the Antiquities how these Bishops were here consecrated in the Apostles time and succeeding Ages 103 Chap. xxj Of the comming of S. Ioseph of Aramathia who buried Christ into this our Britaine And how it is made doubtfull or denied by many writers but without either reason or Authoritie 106 Chap. xxij Wherein is proued by all Kinde of testimonies and authorities that for certaine S. Ioseph of Aramathia with diuers holy Associates came into preached liued died and was buried in Britaine at the place now called Glastenbury in Summerset shire 108 Chap. xxiij Examining who sent S. Ioseph hither and euidently prouing that he was not sent into Britaine by S. Philipp the Apostle from our neighbouring Gallia or France confuting all pretended arguments and authorities to that purpose 111 Chapt. xxiv Further prouing that S. Philipp the Apostle was not in that Gallia France next to Britaine neither were S. Ioseph and his associates tâ—â—râ— or came from thence into Britaine 116 Chap. xxv That many other Christians came â—ither especially into the Nâ—rthren parts and Ilands with S. Ioseph of Aramathia besides them which continued with him at Glastenbury and many of them married with Britans continuing Christianitie heare in their children and posteritie vntill the generall Conuersion of Britaine vnder the first Christian Kings Lucius and Donaldus 124 Chapt. xxvj Of the comming and settling of sainct Ioseph and his company where Glastenbury now is then a wildernes rather to professe the penitentiall contemplatiue Eremiticall Religious life then employ their time in preaching 127 Chap. xxvij That sainct Ioseph did not actually conuert to the Christian Religion eyther King Aruiragus Coillus or Marius 131 Chap. xxviij In what reuerend sense S. Ioseph of Aramathia is termed Apostle by some holy Fathers the renowned sanctity of him and his companions together with some particular points of their holy Religion now denied by some but euen from their time to this Miraculously approued 135 Chap. xxix Wherein is shewed how our Protestant Antiquaries and others of England vehemently contending to proue that sainct Paule the Apostle preached heare in Britaine doe proue no such thing by any Authorities they alledge for his being heare 139 Chap. xxx How it is very probable that sainct Paule preached heare in Britayne although not vntill long after that sainct Peter and his Disciples had first heare founded the Church of Christ 144 Chap. xxxj Concerning the time of S. Pouls comming into and preaching in Britaine That it could not be vntill the later end of the Empire of Nero a litle before the Martyrdome of sainct Poule and was heare but a very short time 147 Chap. xxxij Of our holy Christian Britans in Rome at this time and cheifely of Lady Claudia and her holy family 153 Chap. xxxiij Of S. Peter his returne from Britaine to Rome and fettling the Apostolike Papall power there His greate care of Britaine and our Christian Britans dutifull loue and honor to him 161 Chap. xxxiv Entreating of the time of Pope Linus Vespasian Emperor and Marius King of Britaine and of our Christians in those dayes both at Rome in Britaine and other places 165 Chap. xxxv Of the state of Christian Religion in Britaine in the time of Pope Cletus King Marius or Coillus and how we had heare in Britaine a continued Succession both of Preists and Bishops all this first hundred of yeares 169 Chap. xxxvj Of the state of Ecclesiasticall affaires in Britaine in the Papacy of S. Clement Empire of Traian and Reigne of King Coillus vnto the end of this first hundred of yeares of Christ 173 THE SECOND AGE THE I. CHAPTER VVHerein is related by all Testimonies of Protestants and others how in the Papacie of S. Anacletus this kingdome was diuided into Prouinces for Christian Primats and Bishops and that these Bishops and holy Preists were Massing sacrificing Preists and consecrated by such forme and manner of Consecration as the present Roman Church now vseth as likewise all our Primatiue Brittish Bishops and Preists were and diuers such sent into these parts by this holy Pope as sainct Peter and Clement had giuen charge before 185 Chap. II. How in the Papacie of saint Euaristus and Empire of Traiane the same holy Pope sent a Legate to our King in Britaine to exhort him to Christian Religion and the benefite thereof Traian commanding that Christians should not be persecuted 192 Chap. III. Of the state of Britaine in Ecclesiasticall Affaires in the time of sainct Alexander Pope Adrianus Emperour and Coillus or Lucius his sonne King heare Their affections to Christian Religion and of diuers Apostolike men sent from the See of Rome preaching heare 195 Chap. IV. Of the Ecclesiasticall estate of Britaine in the Popedome of Saint Sixtus the rest of the Empire of Adrianus and beginning of Antoninus Pius How many learned Britains were conuerted and conuerted others to the faith of Christ in this time 200 Chap. V. Of the greate encrease of Christians in Britaine in the Papacie of sainct Telesphorus and sainct Higinius and how King Lucius himselfe did now either actually receaue and priuately professe the Christian Religion or made promise thereof 208 Chap. VI. Wherein is entreated what learned and Apostolike men they were which preached in this time in Britaine and conuerted King Lucius and very many of his people Such were sainct Timothie sainct Marcellus Mansuetus Theanus with others 212 Chap. VII Declaring many Human lets and Impediments hindering King Lucius and his Noble Britans some yeares from publikely professing Christian Religion which secretly they embraced and the occasions of diuers mistakings eyther of Historians or their Scribes in the Date times Titles of letters written about the Conuersion of Britaine to the faith of Christ 219 Chap. VIII Of the Holy Pope S. Pius and our renowned Christian Britans by their Mother S. Claudia S. Pudendentia sainct Nouatus sainct Timotheus and sainct Praxedes with their holy families and friends in Rome 223 Chap. IX Of S. Timothie still preaching in Britaine his disposing his teÌ„porall goods in Rome
for entertaining and releeuing persecuted Preists and Christians his house there being dedicated a cheife Church most Christians resorting to it And other Apostolike men sent from Rome into Britaine in this time 227 Chap. X. Of the last holy labours of S. Timothie in Britaine his honour with S. Denis the Areopagite his returne from hence to Rome and Martyrdome there and Martyrdome of S. Pius Pope in the same place 231 Chap. XI Of the holy Popes next succeeding Sainct Pius and their Religion The fauorable Edict of Marcus Aurelius Emperour for defence and protection of Christians and the Christian Lieutenants Trebellius and Pertinax with the forhidding the Druids Religion occasions of the publike receauing and profession of Christianitie in Britaine by King Lucius and his subiects 234 Chap. XII How the Religion of the Druides in Britaine made some binderance for the generall receauing of the lawe of Christ But conuicted to be abominable Idolatrie and Superstition the Professors of it generally embraced the faith of Christ detesting their former Infidelities and Impieties 240 Chap. XIII Of Pope S. Eleutherius and how in his Papacie and by his Papall order and power Britaine had the honour to be the first Christian kingdome in the worlde and eldest daughter of the mother Church of Christ King Lucius by his Embassadors and petition to the Pope of Rome so obtaining 247 Chap. xvj Wherein is related how King Lucius did not onely sue vnto the Pope of Rome by his Embassadges for the generall settling of Christian Religion in Britaine but for ciuill and temporall lawes also to be allowed by him to rule heare in Temporall affaires 252 Chap. xv The mission of the holy Legats saincts Damianus Fugatianus Bishops and diuers others from sainct Eleutherius Pope of Rome at the request of sainct Lucius King heare in Britaine by Authoritie to plant and setle heare the true Christian Religion 260 Chap. xvi How these holy Roman Legats by Power and Commission from the Pope and Apostolike See of Rome conuerted and confirmed vnto and in the faith of Christ all manner of Parsons in all places of Britaine whether the Nobilitie Flamens Archflamens or of what Order or degree soeuer 266 Chp. xvij How in Britaine these holy Legats placed Archbishops Bishops in our Cities Archbishops in the places of Archflamens and Bishops for Flamens And how by all writers such dignities were among the auncient Pagans both in Britaine and other Nations 272 Chapt. xviij In what Places of Britaine these cheifest coÌ„manding Archflamens were to witt at London Yorke and Caerlegion and how these Roman Legats placed for them Archbishops with their seuerall commands and Iurisdictions some of them by the Apostoliâ—e power extending and coÌ„manding ouer Prouinces and Countries not temporally subiect to King Lucius of Britaine or the Romans but rather enemyes vnto them in ciuill affaires 279 Chap. xix Of the Episcopall Sees and Cities of the Inferiour Bishops subordinate to the Archbishops which where and how many they were ordained by these Roman Legats and continued Bishops Sees in the Romans and Britans time 285 Chap. xx How S. Eleutherius Pope did not onely by his Papall Authoritie establish and settle Religion Ecclesiasticall thiÌ„gs heare but directed what temporall Lawes were to be vsed appointed the bounds and limits of this kingdome sending and allowed Crowne to our King and such Lawes Order continued heare in many Ages after 295 Chapt. xxj Of many Archiepiscopall Episcopall and other Churches and Monasteries both of men and women founded and ritcly endowed and priuiledged in this time 304 Chap. xxij How after these Roman Legats had fully settled the affaires and estate of our Church heare they went againe to Rome to procure the Pope there to ratifie and confirme what they had done which he did and they returned hither againe with that his Confirmation and many other Preachers then sent hither from Rome 311 Chap. xxiij Of the Archbishops of London Yorke and Caerlegion in this time in particular many other inferiour Bishops and the Roman Church Discipline heare also setled by Papall Authoritie 316 Chap. xxiv Of the comming of these holy Legats to Glastenbury their holy labours deeds and long aboade there their renewing there the old Religeous Order of S. Ioseph of Aramathia and his brethren greate priuiledges and indulgeÌ„ces by theÌ„ procured to that holy place the glory honour and renowne thereof in the whole Christian world 322 Chap. xxv Of the greate honour and Renowne of our old Brittish Apostolike Order of Religion from the comming of sainct Ioseph of Aramathia in the yeare of Christs Natiuitie 63. without any discontinuance or Interruption by some and very short time after his death by all many hundreds of yeares in greate perfection without any change or alteration to be named a Mutation of Monasticall Rule being the Mother or Nurse of Monasticall holy life to many Nations and Religious Orders in them by which also many CouÌ„tryes to Christ were conuerted 328 Chap. xxvj That diuers of the Britans which liued in that part of Britaine then called Albania now Scotland were conuerted by the same meanes and manner by these Roman Legats as the other Britans of Loegria and Cambria were at that time 333 Chap. xxvij Of diuers bookes or writings of sainct Phaganus Damianus Eluanus Meduuinus and others Charters and Immunities of Pope Eleutherius and King Lucius the Scripturs heare receaued in the old Latine Translation and the same Canon of them which Catholicks now obserue and followe 337 THE THIRD AGE THE I. CHAPTER VVHerein is deliuered that sainct Victor being now Pope Seuerus Emperour and sainct Luciuâ— yet King of Britaine but shortly dying sainct Victor was Supreame in gouernment of the whole Church of Christ in Asia Afrike and Europe and particularly in Britaine which so acknowledged and receaued from him the true obseruation of Easter as it had done with other Catholike customes from sainct Eleutherius before 343 Chap. ij Of the time and place of King Lucius his death That he did not die or was martyred in Germanie Neither had he any Sister called Emerita martyred there It was an other Prince of Britaine after this time This our first Christian King Lucius died at Gloucester in Britaine 346 Chapt. iij. How notwithstanding the death of King Lucius without Heire to succeede in the gouernment of the kingdome the Brittans perseuered constantly in the Christian faith and the Scots by Preachers sent from sainct Victor Pope of Rome at the entreatie of their King Donalde receaued the faith and as the Brittans continued in it vntill the Protestants time euen by their owne confessions 350. Chap. iv That allthough the being of the Scots in Britaine in the time of sainct Victor is vncertaine and not proued but rather otherwise yet the Inhabitants of the part now called Scotland Britans or whosoeuer were conuerted in King Lucius and this time The Bishops of the conuerted Scots were euer true Bishops and they euer
if the Apostles S. Peter and Paul and their Successors vntill in the time of Pope Pius the first it was conuerted to be a Church we must needs accompt S. Linus the Bishop the third which is here named to be also of that familie for the most part Then how to single forth onely S. Eubulus which here is first eyther for pietie nobilitie or that he was the cheife paterfamilias owner and Master of that house or all and make him a stranger there I cannot finde it by S. Paul onely repeating them of one family or any other warrant For it is plaine here by the Apostle that he was a cheife and principall Christian in Rome and first named among these worthies and before S. Linus a Bishop then Pudens a Senatour and absolutely there set downe as their cheifest receauer friend or patron which cannot agree to any other better then to the Father of S. Claudia this father in lawe to her husband Pudens and first entertainer of S. Peter the Apostle in Rome by the Romans tradition For neyther Dorotheus the continuator of Florentius Wigorniensis nor any other that write of the Disciples there place him among Clergie men and S. Paul which giueth him that honour in that place clearely proueth he was none of his Disciples then in Rome for he writeth in the same place Lucas est mecum solus onely 2. Tim. 4. vers 11. Luke is with me No Martyrologe speaketh of him neyther any Historian or Interpreter of Scripture to my reading setteth downe of what Nation he was but leaue him for a stranger as likewise many doe S. Claudia Therefore except better authoritie can be brought against me seing he is by the Apostle himselfe so dignified and placed the first in that family and salutation Eubulus greeteth thee and Pudens and Linus and Claudia There is no cause yet I finde to 2. Tim. 4. deny him to be the owner Master of that house that first entertayned S. Peter in Rome he himselfe the first happy maÌ„ that gaue that glorious Apostle entertaymeÌ„t there that he was our most renowned CoÌ„trymaÌ„ of Britaine Father of Lady Claudia For there is no other who by any probable coniecture was likely to performe this dutie in that house PudeÌ„s as before was either then vnborne or an Infant of his owne parents father and mother there is no meÌ„tion in antiquities that either they were Christians or that they dwelled at all in Rome much lesse in that house being Inhabitants of Sabinum and by CoÌ„try Sabinites farre distant froÌ„ Rome And so there is none left vnto vs to be a Christian and entertaine that heauenly Messenger and Gheast S. Peter in that time and place but the renowned Brittish parents of Lady Claudia then dwelling in Rome and there confined to a certaine house and place of permanency by commaund of Roman power to whome with many other noble Britans they were hostages and pledges for the fidelitie and obedience of this kingdome to the Roman Emperours at that time 7. To strengthen this opinion we may add that S. Paul sendeth to S. Timothie his Disciple the salutations of Eubulus before all others of which sending the greetings of so few by name It will be no easy search to finde out a better or more probable reason then this that S. Timothy so neare and beloued a scholler of S. Paul lodged vsually in this house he also was there with his Master entertained by Eubulus the owner thereof and by that title of his holy hospitality deserued the first place in that salutation otherwise no man will doubt but S. Linus Bishop by calling so honorable in the Church of Christ ought and should haue bene named before him And that this familiar acquaintance betweene S. Timothie and these our holy Christian Britans receaued originall from their auncient entertainement of S. Timothie in their house in Rome manie yeares before this their salutation in S. Pauls Epistle it is euident for S. Paul being now lately come to Rome when he wrote this epistle and neyther he nor sainct Timothie there after S. Pauls first dismission from prison there so longe before it is manifest that these though the lady in yong yeares were auncient Christians at that time And we haue vncontroleable warrant from S. Paul himselfe in his epistle to the Hebrewes that S. Timothie was at Rome when he was first prisoner there in the beginning of Nero his Empire for thus he writeth knowe you Hebr. c. 13. vers 23. that our Brother Timothie is set at libertie Thus S. Paul writeth from Rome in the time of his first imprisonnement there And so maketh these our Contry Christians the acquaintance of S. Timothie then to be more auncient in the sâ—hoole of Christ then either S. Timothie or S. Paul his coming first to Rome wheÌ„ there were none to instructe eyther theÌ„ or others in ChristiaÌ„ ReligioÌ„ at Rome but S. Peter and his Disciples I add to this the charge and warning which Martiall the Poet gaue before to Pudens that his father in law should not see his Poems commendare meas camaenas parce precor Socero An euident testimony Martial supâ— l. 7. Epâ—gr 67. that they then liued in one house together and so the Poems sent to Pudens might easely come to his father in law his hands and reading except Pudens had bene so forewarned to keepe and conceale them from him Whereof there had bene no daunger or need of that admonition if they had then liued in distinct places and not in one house And thus much of the father of lady Claudia 8. Concerning her holy mother also so good a Noorse and Tutrix to so happy a childe we are not altogether left desolate without all hope but we may probably finde her forth for the honour of this kingdome her Contry And except the Roman Historians can finde vnto vs a Christian Father to S. S. Pâ—iscâ—lla foundrâ—sse of the Church-yard of her name in Rome mother of S. Claudia very probable Pudens and dwelling with his wife in the same house as I haue found vnto them a father to Claudia and father in lawe to Pudens an holy Christian dwelling in that house before Pudens his time by Nation of this kingdome which by that is said before they caÌ„not doe seeing that noble Matrone which is acknowledged by the Roman writers euen Baronius to haue dwelled in that house Grandmother to S. Claudia her children must needs be her Mother her fathers wife mother in lawe to S. PudeÌ„s I am bolde to assigne that glorious renowned Saint S. Priscilla foundresse of that wonderfull and religious Churchyard to be the same blessed Brittish Christian Lady Baâ—onius though staggering sometimes in his opinioÌ„ herein saith plainely froÌ„ Antiquitie fuit Romae nobilissima Matrona Priscilla nomine Auia Pudentianae Praxedis Baronius â—â— Annot in Martyrolog Rom. Iuâ— 8. S. Pastor seu Hermes in act S. Pudentianae
Martyrolog Roman 21. Iulij Act. S. Praxedis in Breuiar die 21. Iulij S. Pudentianae die 19. Maij. interred there Cuius S. Praxedis corpus à Pastore presbytero in patris sororis Pudcntianae sepulchrum illatum est quod erat in caemiterio Priscillae via Salaria And yet besides this memorable foundation for the publike good of the Church of Christ these Romans themselues doe tell vs and the lately continued buildings themselues testifie that there was an other such secret Church yard at her owne house to hide protect and bury holy Martyrs in In ipso Titulo Pastoris vbi erant thermae Nouati quae Timothinae dictae ipsae balnei inferiores Caesar Baron Annot. in Martyrol Rom. die 16. Ianuarij cellae instar porticuum sibi concameratione coniuctae quae vsque in hanc diem cernuntur poene integrae caemiterij loco ad sepeliendos sublatos occulte martyres inseruisse creduntur And thus we haue found out now at the last the house of our noble Christian Britans at Rome to haue bene the first lodging of the great Apostle S. Peter there his first Church and Seate the Harbour of S. Paul and many of their Disciples and Successors Popes of Rome after them the first Seminary colledge or mother of Christian learning there or in the westerne world the common and ordinary place of holy Christian assemblies and exercises from whence as from the originall well and fountaine the water of life did take course and current to diffuse it selfe vnto all parts and Nations of the Occidentall world We may make some estimate and apprehension of the wonderfull charitable helpe and assistance this most happy house of our noble Brittish Christians parents of S. Claudia yeelded to the holy worke of conuerting this and all other westerne Countries if besides their extraordinary loue to their owne Nation we doe reflect vpon that the old Roman Martyrologe hath told vs before of this Priscilla Employing herselfe and her substance to serue the Saints and Seruants of Christ se suaque Martyrol Rom. dic 16. Ianuarij in S. Priscilla martyrum obsequio mancipauit That she and her husband were two of the cheifest of the nobilitie of Britaine kept hostages at Rome for this kingdome and yet after so many yeares spent and their honorable reuenewes much exhausted in these pious workes in maintaining and releeuing distressed Christians by rhemselues substance and greate numbers of Attendants and seruants attending also to those holy ends they left so much to posteritie that in the Family of their grand child S. Pudentiana in the same house there Vita S. Pudent in Breuiar Rom. die 19. Maij. Bar. Tom. 2. Annal. in S. Praxede were nonaginta sex homines 96. Christian men ordinarie Attendants and S. Praxedes her Sister liuing there 19. holy Christians were martyred in that house at one time THE XIII CHAPTER MAKING MANIFEST VNTO VS HOW and whome in particular S. Peter the Apostle sent from Rome into these parts of the world next vnto vs and so consequently into this kingdome of Britaine also so knowne and renowned then among the Nations of the westerne world 1. NOw let vs examine more particularly who they were whom S. Peter thus receaued in Rome by our Brittish Countrymen sent into these parts of the world next adiacent vnto this Iland That if we finde the first preachers of the faith of Christ in all these Countries next vnto vs were sent by sainct Peter so well acquainted with our Roman Britans we may boldely conclude that this kingdome alone was not left vnremembred in those holy Ambassages Our Protestant Antiquaries from S. Innocentius twelue hundred yeares since and other Antiquities acknowledge it for so certaine and vndoubted a truth Quis nesciat cum sit manifestum that no man can be ignorant of it being manifest But S. Peter founded the first Churches of Africke Italy Godwyn Conu of Britaine p. 3. Innoc. 1. epist ad Decent dist 11. Simon Metaphr 29. dic Iunij Bar. Annal. an 44. Fraunce Spaine Sicily and the Ilands that lye betwixt them Sardinia or Corcica Maiorca Minorca And for Sicily and those Ilands we neede not expect S. Peters coming to Rome for while he was in the East so farre of he sent S. Martianus and Paccatius thither landed there himselfe in Sicily the cheifest Iland when he came to Rome Of Italy there is no question among writers Protestants or others but it fell to the diuision of sainct Peter for though Act. Apost c. 12. 13. 14. 15. Sophron. tom 7. Biblioth Patr. Hartmann Schedel Chronic. chronicor f. 205. many bring sainct Barnabas into Italy yet it is euidēt by the holy Scriptures themselues that it must needs be longe after sainct Peters coming to Rome And when sainct Barnabas Brother to S. Aristobulus by some father in lawe to sainct Peter preached in Italy it was as antiquaries say by the direction of sainct Peter Barnabasè 72. Discipulis fuit natione Cyprius is in Italiam veniens ex praecepto Petri omnem Longobardiam praedicando docendo circuiuit apud Mediolanum primus Cathedralem locum tenuit Barnabas one of the 72. Disciples was by Nation a Cyprian he coming into Italy by the commaundement of Peter went about all Lombardy preaching and teaching and was the first that held the Cathedrall place at Millane The next Nation to this in the way to this Iland of Britaine is that of the Heluetians or Switcers whose Theater of great Britaine lib. 6. Pantal. de vir Illustrib Germ. Apostle as our Protestants assure vs was that our renowned Countriman S. Beatus sent Apostle thither by his Master sainct Peters authoritie of which matter I am to speake more hereafter For the parts betweene Heluetia and vs Sebastian Munster the Magdeburgian Protestants in the first of their Sebastian Munst Cosmograp l. 3. Magdebur cent 1. Henricus Pāt de vir Illustrib Germ. part 1. pag. 100. Henricus de Erford hist Germ. Catal Episc Tungr Catal. Epis Met. Catal. Episcop Tullen Guhel Eisengr Centen 1. Henric. de Erford apud Munster Pant. sup beat Rhenan l. 2 rerum Germ. p. 88. Francis Burgoing Eccl. hist l. 2. c. 1. Theater of great Brit. l. 6. Bal. l. de Scriptor in Kentegern Io. Capgrau cat in S. Kentegern Guliel Lomb. l. de leg Regum Britan. in Ewardo Confessore Richard Kackluyt in Reg. Arthu Edga Arnold Mirman in Theatro Conu gent. Acta S. Ioan. in Breuiar Rom. die 25. Iulij Martyrol Rom. 25. Maij. Bed Mart. ib. Vsuard ib. Ado. Breuiar Eccles Toletan Greg. 7. Epist ad Alphōsum Reg. Vincent in spec hist lib. 6. cap. 6. Francis Mas l. 2. of Consecrat cap. 2. Loyes de Mayerne Turquet historie general d'Espagne li. 4. p. 179. Beuter ib. Vincent supr Centuryes Henticus Pantaleon Iodocus Willichius Arnoldus Mermannius Henry of Erford and other historians of Germany both Catholiks and Protestants are witnesses with the
auncient Catalogues of their Churches that sainct Peter about the yeare of Christ 55. or before longe before S. Paul or any other Apostle came to Rome or to any of these parts sent S. Maternus Eucherius and Valerius who conuerted Alsatia Treuers Argentine Mentz Colin and those Contryes Of his directing and sending sainct Clement our renowned Countryman sainct Mansuetus with others into or neare the same parts I haue related before And to the parts of Germany nearer to Dēmarke the same glorious Apostle sainct Peter sent sainct Aegistus one of the 72. Disciples and sainct Marianus into the Coūtryes of Germany next to Holst and Denmarke who was Martyred there Flanders and the lowe Countryes receaued the faith from this our Nation by the preaching of such as were sent and authorized by the Church of Rome as our Protestant Authours of the Theater of greate Britaine tell vs. For Denmarke Norway Island and those parts we haue proofe from our Protestants of England the auncient lawes of sainct Edward and other Antiquities that they receaued the faith of Christ from such also of this Nation as were licenced warranted thereunto from the Popes of Rome The French and German writers both Catholiks and Protestants testifie Britannos Normannos Picardos omnemque maris Oceani tractum instruxit formanitque side sanctus Nicasius à sancto Clemente Apostolus illuc delegatus Imperante Nerone sainct Nicasius being sent thither Apostle in the tyme of Nero by sainct Clement did instruct and forme in the faith the Britans Normans Picards and all the coaste of the Ocean Sea 2. And to cōpasse all the next parts of the continent and make sure worke that no preachers of the faith of Christ did or could come hither but from S. Peter and his Apostolike See of Rome If we circuite France and Spayne and returne that way into Italy againe we shall finde it so For although we reade that S. Iames the Apostle was in Spayne yet it was before the Gentils were preached vnto and profited not there in that kinde but left the labour and glory thereof to sainct Peter The publike Acts of sainct Iames his life beare record Hispaniam adijsse ibi aliquos ad fidem conuertisse Ecclesiarum illius prouincia traditio est ex quorum numero septem postea episcopi a beato Petro ordinati in Hispaniam primi directi sunt It is the tradition of the Churches of that prouince that sainct Iames the Apostle went into Spayne and there conuerted some to the faith of which number seuen were after made Bishops by sainct Peter and were the first were sent thither The Romane Martyrologe Vsuardes sainct Beda Ado Pope Gregory the seuenth in his epistle to kinge Alphonsus or Adelphonsus Vincentius and others haue the like and name those seuen Bishops ordeynad by S. Peter and by him sent into Spayne to be these Torquatus Cresiphontes Secundus Indaletius Caecilius Hesichius and Euphasius Amonge whome Pope Gregory writeth of these Bishops sent into Spayne by sainct Peter Destructa Idololatria Christianitatem fundauere Religionem plantuere ordinem officium ostendere hauing destroyed Idolatrie they fownded Christianitie and planted Religion and shewed order and dutie The generall Spannish historye of Spayne Beuter and others write that sainct Iames conuerted there onely 9. parsons and speaking of the time of Claudius longe before sainct Paule came to Rome affirme Sainct Saturnine S. Peters disciple was sent into Spayne he which was the first Bishop of Tholose who preached at Pampelone and there conuerted in seuen dayes fourtie thousand parsons So that we see the kingdome of Spayne receaued the faith by sainct Peter his Disciples and direction 3. Now let vs wynde nearer to Italy and goe to Marseils where we finde that renowned history of S. Lazarus and Maximinus coming thither with sainct Mary Magdalen and her Sister sainct Martha That these two holy Bishops were also directed by sainct Peter we cannot doubt when we finde it proued by many Authours that sainct Maximinus was vnus ex Gulile Eisengr centenar 1. part 5. 72. Discipulis Christi cui à diuo Petro Apostolorum Principe Maria Magdalena commendata fuerat one of the 72. Disciples of Christ to whome Mary Magdalene was committed by sainct Peter Prince of the Apostles And as we reade in the acts of sainct Martha this Disciple of sainct Peter sainct Maximinus baptized Maistre Puiel hist in vita S. Mariae Magdal 22. Iulij Volater Petr. de Natal b. Antonin Vuern Bed Hamular Fortunat. Episcopus Treuer apud Eisengr Centen 1. part 1. dist 3. an D. 46. all that family And after their coming vnto Marseils their dependance of sainct Peter then being come to Rome was no lesse then before for the French Antiquities tell vs That after the Ascension of our Lord an 14. the Iewes raised so horrible a persecution against the Christians that the most part fled whether they could S. Maximinus accōpanied with S. Lazarus taketh Mary Magdalen Martha Marcella her hand-mayde and S. Cedoyne borne blynde whome our Lord made to see and committed themselues to the Sea to auoyde the fury of the Iewes they arriue at Marseils after by the persuasion of sainct Mary Magdalen the Prince of Marseils was Christened and went to Rome and was there directed by sainct Peter And this Iorney of King or Duke Stephē of Fraunce to sainct Peter at Rome to excuse himselfe of the Martyrdome of sainct Valeria his wife when he was a Pagan is the common opinion of French Historians treating of that time Therefore we cannot Question but those holy Bishops sainct Maximinus and Lazarus who thus directed others so greate a Iorney to Rome to be instructed and receaue directions from S. Peter there were in the same case of dependancie from him themselues 4. Thus wee haue compassed all the Sea coasts of Italy Spayne Fraunce round about and finde all places furnished with holy preachers from sainct Peter and the See Apostolik of Rome For the other Countryes of Germany Denmarke Norwey and the rest I haue related how their conuersion was longe after from this Nation And Origen writeth that those Countries in his time had not yet heard the word of the Ghospell Circa Oceanum Daci Origen tract 28. in Matth. Sarmati Scythae nondum audierunt Euangelij verbum Concerning the inward parts of Fraunce being a Country nearest vnto vs we finde all the Bishops thereof being many to be the Disciples of sainct Peter and sent from him And to begin with the cheifest and Primate there to whom the others were subordinate Eisengrenius from many Authors proueth that S. Guliel Eisengr Centen 1. part 1. dist 3. f. 56. an D. 54. He citeth Bed Martyrol prid cal Ianuar. Petr. de Natal l. 2. c. 25. Antonin part 1. tit 6. c. 25. §. 3. Martin in Chron. Vicel in Hagialog Vuern Carthusian in Fasic tempor Sauinianus or Sabinus one of the 72. Disciples of Christ was by sainct
Peter the Apostle Consecrated Primate of all Fraunce and Archbishop of Sens in the 54. yeare of Christ when Tybertus Claudius was Emperor and to him succeeded in the yeare 74. sainct Potentianus Martyr also one of the 72. Disciples and Scholler of sainct Peter cheife of the Apostles and Companion of sainct Sauinian sanctus Sauinianus siue Sabinus vnus ex 72. Christi Discipulis a sancto Petro Apostolo Primas totius Galliae Senonensis Archiepiscopus consecratus est anno Christi 54. Tyberio Claudio Caesare Augustoâ—cui successit anno d. 74. sanctus Potentianus Martyr â—â—â—e ex 72. Petri Apostolorum Corypha discipulus beati Sauiniani in Itinere comes peregrinationis Therefore If the two first Primates of all Fraunce were the Disciples of sainct Peter and by him placed in that Dignitie ouer all the Bishops of Fraunce the rest must needs be at his Dispotion and substitution and the first of them being so placed in the yeare of Christ 54. in the Empire of Claudius when sainct Paul was a strunger in this part of the world this prerogatiue and honour must needs be yeelded to sainct Peter who was the first did send the first preachers and Bishops into Fraunce in the time of Claudius by all testimonies longe before sainct Paul came into any westerne parte or Nation his first coming thither being in the time of Nero and yet as a Prisoner to Rome and so continuing there two yeares as both Scripture and Historyes giue ample Testimony The Authorities for this sending and mission by sainct Peter are too many to be alledged Therefore I will onely set downe diuers of these first Bishops and the yeares wherein they were first consecrated and directed thither as they are gathered and collected out of many Authors by Eisengrenius and Democharez that It may be euidently knowne by the time it selfe that onely sainct Peter by his Disciples founded the Church of Fraunce 5. I haue spoaken of sainct Maximinus and sainct Lazarus the first Bishop Guliel Eisengr Centenar 1. in S. Maximin Lazaro Iuliano of Aquens the second of Massilia consecrated and deputed to those places by sainct Peter no other Apostle being in these parts to accomplish that holy worke these being ordeined Bishops there as these Authors tell vs in the yeare of Christ 46. in which yeare also sainct Simon Leprosus whom our Sauiour cured of that infirmitie was consecrated Bishop of Cenomanenses This Anton. Democ. l. 2. de MissacoÌ„tra Caluin Gul. Eisengren Cent. 1. part 1. dist 3. also was called sainct Iulianus In the yeare following 47. sainct Martial Disciple and Godchila to sainct Peter D. Petri Apostolorum Principis in Baptismate filius was with diuers others sent by the same holy Apostle and was father in Christ to so many Prouinces and people in Fraunce as the Annals thereof doe mention In the same yeare sainct Trophimus out of whose spirituall Magdeb. Centu. 1. in Trophim mart Rom. in S. Troph Tom. 1. coÌ„cil Gul. Eisengr CenteÌ„ 1. Matth. Westm Arnold Mirm. in Theatr. conuers gent. alij Gul. Eisengr centen 1. in S. Aphrodisio fountaine as Pope Zosimus writeth all the Ryuers and brookes of Fraunce were filled was ordeyned Bishop of Arles which must needs be by sainct Peter being twelue yeares at the least before that time some thinke he was left there by sainct Paul In the yeare following being 48. sainct Aphordisius by birth an Egiptian and Prefect of all Egpyt at the time when our Sauiour being driuen into Egypt the Idols of the temples there fell doune being the Disciple of S. Peter Prince of the Apostles at Antioch was consecrated Bishop of the Church of Buturigum in Fraunce sanctus Aphrodisius genere Aegyptius totius Aegypti praefectus eo tempore quo puero Iesu in Aegyptum fugato in templa Deorum illato Idola omnia corruerunt B. Petro Apostolorum Coryphaei apud Antiochiam Discipulus Buturicensis Ecclesiae consecratus est Antistes anno Christi 48. sedit annis VolaterraÌ„ comment l. 13. Petrus de Natalib l. 3. c. 218. Gul. Eiseng Centenar 1. part 1. dist 3. Franc. Belleforest to 1. Eisengr Centen 1. fol. 56. sex moritur 11. calâ—ndas Aprilis anno Saluatoris 54. he was Bishop there sixe yeares and dyed the eleuenth of the calends of April and sanctus Vrsinus à beato Petro consecratus consecrated by sainct Peter whom some call Nathaniel succeeded hym in his Bishoprick in the yeare of Christ 54. And the same yeare 48 except Eisengrenius and others cited by him deceaue vs Paulus Sergius was consecrated Bishop of Narbon eight or more yeares before sainct Paul came to Rome and so by no other Apostle but sainct Peter The next yeare after the 49. of Christ by the last accompt sainct Clement surnamed Flauius with Caelestus Faelix and our contryman sainct Mansuetus first Bishop of Tullum were directed in Gallias the parts of Fraunce by sainct Peter In the yeare 54. thes Authors testifie That sainct Amator Potentianus Sauinianus Fronto with others were sent Bishops by sainct Peter into Fraunce all longe before sainct Paules coming to Rome And for a Religious memory and due honour of sainct Peter and the See of Rome in that respect Those Sees of Bishops which were first founded by sainct Peter and his Successour sainct Clement of whom Annal. Gall. Booke of Estat in Fraunce Edw. Grymston p. 97. I shall speake hereafter in his proper place are for the most part the cheifest Archbishops Sees there at this time As the Archbishops of Reims Sens Lyon Soissons Amiens Noyon Paris Charters Orleans Anger 's Mans Beuuis Burges Bishops sees founded in Fraunce by S. Peter in honor thereof are for the most part Archbishops Sees at this time Tours Chalon Auxerre Troys Meaux Angolesme Baion Narbon Rouen Burdeaux Aix Vienna and others all first founded by sainct Peter the Apostle and his Successor sainct Clement as before sainct Peter and in sainct Clement hereafter is and shall be related 6. And because some Question hath bene by whom sainct Trophimus so renowned in Fraunce was first sent to Arles there to passe ouer other testimonies the epistle of the Bishops of that Prouince to sainct Leo the greate S. Trophimus sent to Arles in FrauÌ„ce by S. Peter Pope of Rome cleareth this for to be sainct Peters doing Omnibus Regionibus Gallicanis notum est sed non sacrosanctae Ecclesiae Romanae habetur incognitum quod prima inter Gallias Arelatensis ciuitas missum à beatissimo Petro Apostolo Epistola coÌ„prouincialium Episcoporum Metropolis Arelaten ad S. LeoneÌ„ Papam inter epist S. Leonis epist 108. in Tom. 1. concil sanctum Trophimum habere meruit sacerdotem exinde alijs paulatim regionibus GalliaruÌ„ donum fidei Religionis infusum It is knowne to all Countries of Fraunce neyther is it vnknowne to the holy Romane Church that Arles the cheife citie of Fraunce deserued to haue for
before haue a relation of this to be proued from the Greeke Antiquities I will asceÌ„d much higher then the dayes of Nicephorus euen to the time of our greate Emperour King and Cuontryman Constantine in whose age and Empire about thirteene hundred yeares since that greate glory of learned men in Greece Eusebius as an auncient learned sainct of that Nation testifieth hath written that S. Peter preached Euseb Pamphili apud S. Sim. Metaphrast die 29. Iunij and longe time as it appeareth by him in this our Britaine and the neare adioyning westerne Nations Eusebius Pamphili dicit Petrum duodecim annos esse versatum in Oriente vigint autem tres annos transegisse Romae in Britannia in ciuitatibus quae sunt in Occidente adeo vt sit totum tempus praedicationis Petri triginta quinque anni Eusebius Pamphylus saith that Peter conuersed in the East twelue yeares and spent three and twenty at Rome and in Britaine and in the cities which be in the west So that the whole time of the preaching of Peter is thirtie and fiue yeares Where he speaketh of the compleate yeares of S. Peters preaching in the west omitting the parts of yeares or taking S. Peters going to Hierusalem againe at the death of our blessed Lady out of the 25. yeares of his abode in the west Which accompt our English Protestants in their Fasti of the Kings and Bishops of England confirme Let no man obiect that his testimony is not sufficient he being an holy learned saint liuing in Constantinople the cheife Citie of Greece where Eusebius works were then most famous knowne to all men of learning and hauing so constantly auouched it when all Greece could argue him of vntruth if it had â—ene otherwise Who but extraordinarily wicked will once imagine that so worthy an Authour would to his owne eternall shame and confusion haue once inuented such a forgery what Grecian since that time or before by some numbers of yeares hath so much fauoured the Church of Rome as to honour it with vntruthes when they haue rather endeuoured the contrary as many haue written Neyther Fasti Regum Episcoporum Angliae vsque ad Gul. seniorem doe those workes of Eusebius which be now commonly extant contradict but rather confirme that which is cited from him before of S. Peter his spending much time in preaching in Britaine For although Eusebius both in his History and Cronicle saith with the generall opinion of historians that S. Peter was Bishop of Rome 24. or 25. yeares yet this is so farre from keeping him from Britaine that it maketh it a matter almost incredible but in some part of that time he was in Britaine And first all those renowned Authours Greeke and Latine which affirme that S. Peter preached heare in Britaine affirme also that he was so longe Bishop of Rome And seeing the world was euen by Christ and the Apostles themselues so diuided among them to preach the ghospell in and conuerte it to the faith what other Apostle did make any Residence so neare vnto vs by many huÌ„dreds of miles as Rome the See of S. Peter all histories of their liues and deaths be constant in this And I haue proued before that no other of the 12. Apostles amoÌ„g whom this diuision was made except S. Peter preached either in or neare to this kingdome 8. And all those Authors before haue proued that S. Peter preached in all these westerne Nations during that time when he is saide to haue had his cheife Residencie at Rome as the same Eusebius with the holy Scriptures and all historians affirmeth that during his first named Residency of Antioch in ponto Galatia Bithinia Cappadiocia Asia praedicauit he preached in Pontus Galatia Bithynia Cappadocia and Asia Some of those places fully Euseb in Chron. Euseb hist Eccl. l. 3. c. 1. Godwyn Conu of Brit. c. 1. pag. 5. Act. Apost c. 15. v. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. or allmoste as remote from Antioch as Britaine is from Rome And our Protestants themselues with the Scriptures and many historians testifie that after S. Peter his settling at Rome he went againe from thence to Hierusalem and Antioch also farre more distant from Rome then Britaine is And if S. Peter had not preached heare it is euident before that none of the twelue Apostles to whose preaching the world was first by Christ committed had performed it And so we should perhaps haue in that respect bene the most vnhappie kingdome in the knowne world at that time not any on of so greate extension greatnes and honour being to be reckoned but probably as appeareth by former Relations one Apostle or other preached the ghospell in it 9. An other also a GreciaÌ„ an holy Sainct as is set downe in the Menologe Menol. Graecor in S. Sim. Metaphr Sur. Et Lippom die 27. Nou. in festo eius Ioh. Molan in addit ad Vsuard 27. Nou. Conrad Gesner in Bibl. in Io. Psell of the Grecians and dyuers Latine Martyrologes as Surius Lippomannus and Molanus and his holy life written by Ioannes Psellus much commended by the Protestants CoÌ„radus Gesnerus Iosius Simlerus IoaÌ„nes Iacobus Frisius and others setteth downe all the circumstances of S. Peters coming hither by what contries the time of his staying heare what he performed in this kingdome how he was heare admonished by an Angell from heauen to returne againe to Rome to suffer Martyrdome and other matters of such consequence in so greate a busines that there is not more certaine and particular Relation left in any Antiquitie we haue for any historicall truth and veritie concerning this Nation which any Antiquarie Catholik or Protestant giueth the most vndoubted credit and assent vnto then for this preacing of S. Peter and his plaÌ„ting the Church of Christ in this Iland Thus this holy Saint liuing 800. yeares past setteth downe the holy Iorney of that blessed Apostle our first father in Christ S. Peter Cum non diu mansisset apud Romanos sancto Sim. Metaphrast die 29. Iunij baptismate multos regenerasset Ecclesiam constituisset Linum Episcopum ordinasset venit Tarracinam in qua cum Epaphroditum ordinasset Episcopum venit Sirmium ciuitateÌ„ Hispaniae Quo in loco cum Epinaetum coÌ„stituisset Episcopum venit in Aegiptum cum Thebis quae septem habet portas Rufum Alexandriae auteÌ„ Marcum Euangelistam eorum qui se in disciplinam tradiderunt Episcopatui praefecisset rursus venit Hierosolymam ex reuelatione propter Deiparae Mariae migrationem Deinde reuersus est in Aegiptum per Africam rursus Romam redijt Ex qua venit Mediolanum Photicen quae sunt ciuitates in continente in quibus cuÌ„ constituisset Episcopos presbyteros venit in Britanniam quo in loco cum longo tempore fuisset moratus multas gentes non nominatas attraxisset ad fidem Christi angelicam aspexit visionem quae
should reigne so many certainely appointed 24. yeares that a married man especially a king should liue and die a virgine And the rest before remembred hauing no causes in nature to know them by should thus miraculously and infallibly be foretolde so long before there was no leaste hope expectation or in morall Iudgmentany probabilitie or rather possibilitie at all of many or most of these extraordinary future euents But rather a doubted Alred Rieual in vit S. Edward Guliel Malmes sup Stow. hist in K. Edward Confess Holinsh. l. 8. hist of Engl. c. 7. Theater of great Britaine in K. Edward Conf. with others Godwyn Catal. in Winchester 3. Brith wold Holinsh hist of England l. 8. cap. 1. Stowe hist in K. Edward Confess will Malmesb l. de gest Reg. Anglorum c. 13. feare or certainety of the contrary And yet all these things were published to the world diuers yeares before they tooke effect and in the life of sainct Brithwold proposer of them who by the same reuelation was dormire cum patribus to be dead before they began Which is apparantly true euen by our Protestants themselues to giue them their choise whether sainct Brithwold Bishop of winchester or wilton it was that had this vision For these Protestants assure vs that sainct Brithwold of winchester was dead allmost 30. yeares before the returne of sainct Edward from exile And it is the common opinion the reuelation was made to him And if it was Brithwold Bishop of wilton he was also dead by these mens accompts 22. yeares at the leaste before these things were accomplished Therefore I must infallibly conclude that sainct Peter or whosoeuer it was which so prophetically and miraculously foretold so many things of this holy King and this kingdome to be effected so long after was not and possibly could not be an vntrue or doubtfull Relator of sainct Peters first preaching in this Nation conteined and as constantly auouched as the rest of those reuealed mysteries foretold in that vision And the Inhabitants of Britaine are so much more bounde to glorifie God and Honor this most blessed Apostle as both his extraordinary first labours in instructing this kingdome in the true Religion of Christ and this his extraordinary care and Pastorall loue in so many wayes making it knowne vnto vs to lett vs vnderstand how much we are bounde vnto him for such inestimable benefices deserue it Which we reade in our historyâ—s both Catholik and Protestant to be confirmed by an other example of like nature but of more auncient memory a thowsand yeares since in the time of king Ethelbert our first christian king of the Saxons Race When sainct Peter miraculously testified concerning the Church of Westminster in London in these M. S. antiq in S. Edward Confes Guliel Malmes l. 2. de gest Pontif c. de Episcopis Londin Alred Rieuall in vit S. Edward Ioan. Capgrau Catal. eodem Franc. Mason Consecr of Bish. pag. 47. Nichol. Pap. 2. in epist ad Edward Reg. Angl. apud Capgrau in S. Edward M. S. antiq in eod Alred Rieuall in vit S. Edwardi words as a Protestant writer translateth them Est mihi locus I haue quoth S. Peter a place in the west part of London chosen to my self and deare vnto me which sometimes I did dedicate with my owne hands Quem locum quondam proprijs manibus consecraui renowne with my presence and Illustrate with diuine miracles the name where of is Thorneia Westminster Which cannot litterally truely be vnderstood of any spirituall vision wherin sainct Peter in his onely glorified soule should appeare as in the time of King Ethelbert we reade he did but of his personall presence there before his death when and neuer after nor vntill the day of Iudgment and the generall Resurrection sainct Peter had or at any time shall haue proprias manus his owne hands or any parte of his body vnited to his soule yet he speaketh plainely here proprijs manibus consecrauithe consecrated that place with his owne hands which is not true either in a spirituall vision or where an assumpted body is vsed for an aslumpted bodie hand foote or any other member caÌ„not be called the proper and owne body Hande foote or other member of any parson Therefore Pope Nicholas the second speaking of this matter in his Epistle to sainct Edward the Confessor saith this place was consecrated by S. Peter whose vicar he was primam autiquitus consecrationem à heato Petro accepit cuius licet Indigni Vicarij sumus Therefore except Pope Nicholas may be said to be Vicar to sainct Peters Soule and not to him as he was Bishop of Rome in body and soule we most by him and this antiquarie referre this matter to sainct Peters first preaching in this land when he liued and not to any apparition in soule onely as that was wherein he appeared at Westminster in the time of King Ethelbert and S. Mellitus Bishop of London of which more hereafter Now I will answeare to some vaine and weake obiections of a few Protestant writers and also shew by such men in what time or times once or oftner S. Peter preached personally in this Iland so neare as probably may be concluded in such a case as also what holy offices he performed heare in founding the Church of Christ in Britaine THE XV. CHAPTER WHEREIN IS BOTH ANSWEARE MADE to Protestant obiections againct S. Peters preaching in Britaine by the Protestants themselues and their owne Authors and by the same confirmed that S. Peter preached in this kingdome A Protestant Bishop challengeth S. Symeon metaphrastes for writing so confidently of S. Peters preaching heare hauing not Godwyn Conu of Britaine p. 3. cap. 1. any thing to except against him first vpbraydeth him with his CouÌ„tries of Greece Graecus fuit haec natio est fuitque semper ad mentiendum promptula he was a Grecian and that Nation is and euer was a litle promt to lie But by such libertie we may condemne the greatest lights of the Chuch of God S. Athanasius Chrysostome SS Gregories Naziancen and Nissen the seeuen first generall Councels kept in Greece and cheifely of Greeke fathers and so leaue nothing certaine in the Church of God But how free from all suspition of lying that holy Saint was in this poinct I haue shewed to the shame of all such accusers before demonstratiuely prouing by all kind of Testimonyes that his testimonye herein was true And whereas this Protestant Bishop vrgeth against that holy Saint that Caesar Baronius should write of him in his esse hallucinatuÌ„ constat Baron annal Eccl Christi an 44. pag. 371. it is euident he was deceaued in these things It is most euident this Protestant Bishop was either deceaued in himself or went about to deceaue others his readers in this point for Cardinall Baronius is so farre from going about to take the least exception against S. Simeon Metaphrastes for testifiing S. Peters
his Epistle to the Romans was made Bishop of Britaine Dorothaeus agreeth wholy with this Protestant not in his booke of the Apostles but of the 72. Disciples where he plainely saith Aristobulus ipse ab Apostolo ad Romanos commemoratus Episcopus Britanniae factus est Aristobulus named by the Apostle to the Romans was made Doroth. in Syno 72. Discip in Aristobulo Bishop of Britaine Where by the words Bishop of Britaine and not in Britaine or any particular place of Britaine it is euident that he was made the cheife commanding Bishop or Archbishop of Britaine the whole kingdome of Britaine being subiected vnto him in spirituall proceedings and it is cleare in all such Examples in Antiquitie not one instance to be giuen to the contrary as appeareth in the same auntient Father S. Dorothaeus in that place and others entreating of the same subiect And the words The Bishop of Britaine will allowe no other interpretation And if there were no other motiue to induce vs to be of this opinion but the consent of writers both Catholiks and Protestants that this holy Bishop of Britaine was one of the 72. Diciples of Christ as both the same S. Dorothaeus our contriman Florenâ—â—us Wigorniensis Doroth. supr in Titul Florent Wigorn. in Catal 72. Discipul Arnold Mirm. in Theatr. Gul. Eiseng cent 1. Magdeb cent 1. and later Authours agree it would be a warrant sufficient in this cause when we doe not finde in Antiquities but probably all the 72. that suruiued were constituted Archbishops in their diuisions in those that concerne vs most which were settled in our neighbouring Nations Fraunce and Germany I haue exemplified before Alnoldus Mirmannius in his Theater of the Conuersion of Nations and the Authorities which he followeth will make this a matter out of question for he deriueth the whole Hierarchicall order of the Church of Christ in this kingdome from this holy man in Arnold Mirm. in Theatr. conu gent. in Britann this manner Britannia Straboni a Britone Regenun cuipata primum Aristobulum vnum certe ex classe 72. Discipulorum Apostolum est nacta Deinde nacta est Britannia Fugatium Damianum qui ordinem Hierarchicum Ecclesiae istic fundatae ab illo inchoatum constituerunt sanxeruntque more nimirum Apostolico Britaine so named by Strabo from King Brito or Brutus had first for the Apostle of it Aristobulus one doubtlesse of the order of the 72. Disciples After that it had Fugatius Guliel Eisengren centenar 1. in S. Aristobulo Actor cap. 13. and Damianus who constituted and confirmed after the Apostolik manner the Hierarchicall order of the Church there founded begun by him Where he ascribeth to S. Aristobulus this our holy Archbishop of this our Britaine named of Brutus three Attributes all commonly properties allmost quarto modo belonging to S. Aristobulus Archbishop of Britayne consecrated by diuers Authours an dom 39. and before S. Paule Archbishops to be our Apostle to haue founded our Church and begun our Ecclesiasticall Hierarchicall order Which cannot belong to any other then an Archbishop especially in so greate a kingdome 3. And if we will followe Eisengrenius and his Authours he will tell vs that this holy Saint and Archbishop of Britaine was made Bishop in the 39. yeare of Christ within fiue or sixe yeares of his Ascension and before S. Paule the Apostle himself did receaue imposition of hands or S. Mansuetus Other Bishops or some other Bishop then in Britayne besides S. Aristobulus by any accompt or any other that is remembred in Antiquities to haue bene a Bishop in or of this Nation except the most glorious Apostle our first Father in Christ S. Peter was made a Bishop Therefore it doth euidently followe that next vnto S. Peter that renowned Saint and Disciple of Christ S. Aristobulus was by S. Peters meanes the first Archbishop of this kingdome Who were these Bishops in particular in or of Britayne by this accompt Which maketh it also an vndoubted truth warranted both by holy Scriptures Apostolike Tradition and all cheifest Authorities as these Protestants haue proued vnto vs that we also had some Bishops whosoeuer they were subordinate to this cheife ouerseeing commaunding and Arch-Bishop S. Mansuetus Beatus his Anonymus companion and S. Augulus probably Bishops heare in Britayne and by the same Authoritie of S. Peter for all this is necessarily induced and depending of the name nature office and dignitie of an Archbishop instituted and ordayned heare by that greatest Apostles power and Authoritie For it is an implicancy of contradiction and in naturall euidence impossible that there should be an Archbishop aboue all other Bishops where Engl. Martyrol 7. Febr. in Augulus Drek in alm an 1620. 7. Febr. Io. King serm at Pauls Crosse 26. Mart. an 1620. pag. 45. Martyrolog Rom. 7. Febr. Bed Martyrol ib. vsuard hac die Petr. de Natal in Catal. l. 3. cap. 105. Ado Vuandelbert apud Baron in annot in Martyrol 7. Febâ— Calendar Eccles Sarisb Engl. Martyrol 7. Febr. Rabanus hac die there is no Bishop for him to be the cheifest or vnder him And that such we had by S. Peters ordination it is in plaine termes acknowledged before both by Catholike and Protestant Antiquaries testifiing and prouing that this highest Apostle when he instituted this most sacred subordination did ordaine both Bishops Preists Deacons in and for this kingdome Who these our Primatiue Bishops were in particular or any of them the Iniurie of time and so many Enemies of holy Religion vnder whose heauy burthens and persecutions this kingdome hath often groaned doe make it a greater labour Yet it is euident by that I haue already proued that S. Mansuetus S. Beatus and his holy companion though to vs now Anonimus of which two I shall speake more hereafter may be recompted in this number 4. To which we may probably add S. Augulus Bishop of Augusta London in England as both Catholiks and Protestants expound it and among them one in a Sermon before King Iames speaking to the Londiners saith your citty hath bene aunciently stiled Augusta For we reade both in the auntient Roman Martyrologe that also of S. Bede Vsuardus Ado Vandelbertus Petrus de Natalibus and others that this S. Augulus was Bishop of Augusta in Britannia Augusta or London in Britaine and was a martyr Augustae in Britannia Natalis beati Auguli Episcopi qui aetatis cursum per Martyrium explens aeterna praemia susâ—ipere meruit Baronius saith he cannot tell when he suffered Quo tempore passus sit hactenus mihi obscurum But if we compare the name of London at that time it was called Augusta with other circumstances and with the Catalogue of the Bishops of London after the time of King Lucius we shall very probably finde that this worthy Saint our Bishop of London is to be reckoned one of the first Bishops that were consecrated in this kingdome long
March and Philip of Bergon saith cum ob eximias eius virtutes Sanctus habitus sit eius Festum 13. calendas Augusti celebratur when for his excellent vertues he is accompted a Saint his Feast is celebrated the 13. of the Calends of August the twenteth day of Iuly And whereas it is most certaine S. Antiquit. Glaston alij Ioseph was present at the Transmigration of the blessed virgin Mary and liued many yeares after Bergomensis setteth downe his death in the 34. of Christ soone after his Ascension And the writer of the Martyrologe taking no other notice of him then from the Ghospell setteth downe no time of his death or other Act of his life at all not hauing reade any History entreating of him after his coming from Iury nor after the buryall of our Sauiour and so no maruayle if he was ignorant of the obscure and Eremiticall life and death of a Saint though otherwise so glorious thus lyuing and dying in so remote an Iland formerly accompted an other world For to omit hundreds or thowsands rather of holy Saints of other Nations which the Authour of that Martyrologe remembreth not things memorable confused and concealed with vtter obliuion by the Persecutions then he speaketh not one word of any one Saint of this kingdome in that first age and hundred yeares though some of them are honored in holy Scripture by S. Paule as S. Eubulus and Claudia and others renowned Bishops made publike mirrors and spectacles of the then Christian world as S. Mansuetus Beatus he whome some call Achates and others So many and credible auntient Antiquities of this Nation which besides the certaine Tradition of that veritie I shall presently bring for the true History of S. Iosephs lyuing and dying heare will euidenrly declare how litle or vnfortunate their serches had bene in our Antiquities that could find no very certaine or auntient writer to affirme it for I doe not doubt but I shall produce as many such for this matter as we haue for many most certaine Relations of so greate Antiquitie concerning this kingdome and for such acknowledged generally both by Catholike and Protestant writers THE XXII CHAPTER WHEREIN IS PROVED BY ALL KINDE of testimonies and authorities that for certaine S. Ioseph of Aramathia with diuers other holy Associates came into preached lyued dyed and was buryed in Britayne at the place now called Glastenhury in Summerset shire 1. THE most credible faithfull and vndoubted human testimonies which we can haue or desire in such things of Antiquity to try their truthe were euer accompted those which be giuen and warranted by the publike Charters and Instruments of our Kings to which commonly all subiects of vnderstanding and qualitie giue some assent or approbation and in matters concerning Antiq. Glast M. S. Et Capgrau in S. Ioseph Park Antiq. Brit. p. 3. Godwin Conu of Brit. p. 9. Stow hist in Aruiragus Camden in Belg. Io. Leland in asser Arthur Bal. l. de Script cent in Ioseph ab Aram. Antiquit. Glast M. S. tabulis affixae vetust Guliel Malm. l. de antiq Glastoniae M. S. Io. Bal. l. de Script cent 2. f. 81. in Gâ—â—elu Malmesburien Ioh. Leland l. de assert Arthur f. 12. Stowe and Howes histor in Romans Agric. Godwin Conu of Brit. Theater of Brit. l. 6. the communitie such as freedome priuiledge and exemption in matters of a different Religion and conuersation from other subiects are must needes take notice and knowledge of them the priuiledged exempted parsons or their cheifest and places their names nature and condition And yet the best and most auncient Antiquities we haue of that and which Catholiks receaue and allow for true in this point doe assuer vs that the Pagan which then lyued and reigned heare did expressely testifie and approue this History of S. Ioseph by his publike InstrumeÌ„t of Immunitie in such manner diuers of these Antiquities name that King saying it was Aruiragus and affirme the same of the two next succeeding Kings Marius and Coillus others as the most auncient Manuscript Antiquitie written in greate leaues of parchment fixed vpon broade bords and formerly belonging to the Monastery of Glastenbury and William the Monke of Malmesbury who as a Protestant Bishop writeth was an old man in the yeare of Christ 1130. in his Manuscript History de antiquitate Glastoniae of the antiquitie of Glastenbury both which I haue seene punctually set downe the same History but doe not expresse the names of the Pagan King and Kings which gaue this publike libertie and protection to S. Ioseph of Aramathia whose name they plainely set downe but onely say it was the Pagan King which then reigned and two other Pagan Kings after him 2. The same irreprouable certainty of this verity was continually afterward warranted by other Kings in the same Order by their publike Charters and Testimonialls of the same truth among whome King Henry the second in his letters Patents is witnes that his Antecessours Kings heare william and william Henry Edgar Edmund Elfred Bringwalthius Henthwine Baldred Inas Arthure Cynred Christians and Kennewalla a Pagan had in the same manner by their publike Charters giuen testimony vnto it all which he there protesteth he had caused diligently to be sought forthe presented and read before him Quorum priuilegia Chartas feci diligenter inquiri coram me presentarâ— legi and that the venerable authoritie of the Auncients did proue the Church so priuiledged was so builded by them which were the very Disciples themselues of Christ our Lord ab ipsis Discipulis Domini aedificatam fuisse venerabilis habet antiquorum authoritas Of which holy company all Antiquities bring Euidence that S. Ioseph of Aramathia was the cheife and principall To which the name of the place called by the first cheifest builder as is vsuall in such things beareth the name now euen in the Ruyns thereof as it euer did when it florished most S. Iosephs Chappell Because principally builded by him and not for that is was dedicated to him for all Antiquities plainely acknowledge it was from the first building dedicated to the blessed Virgin Mary To this the holy body of S. Ioseph buryed there with the an auncieÌ„t Inscription in Brasse vpon his Tombe testifying that Saint Iosephs body was interred there was a William HarisoÌ„ descript of Brit. p. 23. witnesse without exception so long vntill the new Religion defaced it with so many holy and memorable Antiquities And as I haue bene credibly informed it was after presented and giuen to Iudge wamslowe when he was Iudge of that circuite The stiled holy most miraculous tree still growing in the place of his or some of his companions first resting there doth euery Christmasse time preach euen to this day the truth of this and Christian Religion in so wonderfull and supernaturall manner that no Iewe Mahumetan or Pagan can denye them The Charter of King Henry the second which testifieth that so many Kings
had taken publike notice of this matter is or lately was extant for Ihon Leland writing of this History saith ipsa Henricianae donationis verba ex Archetypo subscribam I will set downe the words of King Henry his graunt Ioh. Leland assert Arthurij fol. 12. out of his originall writing it self Therefore he had seene it And Maister Stowe making relation from this Charter of King Henry the second how all those Kings before remembred and many other Christian Kings besides had publikly confirmed this truth he addeth all which so to be the foresaid King Henry Stowe history the Romans in Agricola Theater of great Brit. lib. 6. cap. 9. Godwin Conu of Brit. p. 10. Theater sup l. 6. Ihon Harding Chronicle fol. 60. c. 47. Act. SS Damia Fugat apud Capgr in Catal. Leland in Asser Arthur Theat of Brit. l. 6. Epist S. Patric apud Capgr sup alios Godwin Conu of Brit. p. 10. Gaufrid Abbas Burton M. S. hist de vit S. Moduenae Virg. c. 2. 4. c. Nenius apud Harding Chron. fol. 41. c. 48. Melkin apud Capg in S. Ioseph in Antiq. Glaston Baleus l. de Scri. cent 1. in Melkino Matth. Parker in antiq Brit. sup Godwin Conu p. 10. Io. Anglic. Foxe to 1. Mon. Theater of great Brit. l. 6. c. 9. §. 2. Dauid Powel in Annot. in hist Cambr. p. 12. 13. Godwin Conu of Brit. p. 11. Ioh. Capgrau in Catalog in S. Patri the Auncient inscriptioÌ„ in Brasse Apud Capgrau in S. Ioseph M. S. Vatican apud Baron to 1. Theat of Brit. l. 6. Godw. Conu of Brit. Philip. Pantal. Chron. ad an 70. 75. Andre Chesne hist d'Angletere Escosse Hiber Matth. Parker Antiq. Brit. Bal. cent 1. in Ioseph Godwin Conu Mont. Infra Camden in Belg. Stowe Howes Hist Powell annot in hist Brit. Drayton in Poly olb Seld. Illustr established by his Charter which Charter myself haue seene and read 3. The Protestant Theater writers write in like manner and a Protestant Bishop writing in the yeare 1615. of this matter plainely writeth The Charters are extant of King Henry the second And the same Protestants late Theater telleth vs the like of the Charter of King Edward the third to the same effect one exemplified vnder the seale of King Edward the third is to be seene at this day wherein Relation is made of all those Charters and Testimonyes I haue before remembred Ihon Harding writing of the coming of S. Ioseph hither and the extraordinary fauour which King Aruiragus publikly shewed vnto him and his Associats saith it was at the entreaty of Vespasian the Roman Lieutenant vnto Aruiragus and his Queene We haue further witnesses heare of the Acts of the Legats of Pope and Saint Eleutherius in the second hundred yeare alledged by S. Patricke whether the first sent by S. Celestine Pope then of Rome as his Epistle testifieth or the second as a Protestant Bishop rather supposeth I doe not heare contend for this second also was a glorious Saint as Gaufride Abbot of Burton in his Manuscript History writeth â— sent by Pope Leo into Ireland the tenth in number from the first S. Patrike we haue or had also Nenius in his History in the Brittish tongue testifing the same except Ihon Harding doth deceaue vs. We haue the Epistle of that S. Patrike which lyued long and died at Glastenburye where S. Ioseph also lyued and died and was buryed to the same purpose We haue Melkinus who wrote aboue a thowsand yeares since witnessing the same and that he was buried vnder a marble stone at Glastenbury In Aualonia Ioseph ab Aramathia dictus somnum sub marmore caepit diuturnum And except two Protestant Bishops Parker and Godwyne and as they say Ioannes Anglicus long since deceaue vs S. Augustine our Apostle in an Epistle which he wrote to S. Gregory giueth like testimony Ihon Foxe the Theater writers Dauid Powell with sume others alledge the same from Gildas in his booke of the victory of Aurelus Ambrosius There is as a Protestant Bishop writeth and Ihon Capgraue citeth the same History an auncient Inscription in Brasse formerly fixed vpon a piller in S. Iosephs Chappell at Glastenbury and now or lately in the custody of M. Thomas Hewes Esquier in Wells but three miles distant thence expressely prouing that S. Ioseph of Aramathia with eleuen other holy men he being the cheifest came hither in the thirtith yeare after the PassioÌ„ of Christ Anno post passionem domini 30. duodecim sancti ex quibus Ioseph ab Aramathia primus erat huc venerunt And it is contained in the same Antiquitâ—â— that Saint Dauid in his time offered a Saphire of inestimable value vpon the Altar there cuius altare inaestimabili Sapphiro insigniuit And set a piller for a during marke betweene the Chappell which S. Ioseph had builded and other later additions vnto it perpetually to knowe it by with the perfect bredth and length thereof 4. We haue the auncient Poet to assuer vs that S. Ioseph was the principall of the twelue holy men coming to Aualonia Intrat Aualoniam duodena caterua virorum Flos Aramathiae Ioseph est primus eorum We haue forreyne testimonies hereof both Catholiks and Protestants the Manuscript history in the Vaticane Library at Rome cited by Baronius our Theater writers and others Philip Pantaleon a German Protestant telling vs that Ioseph of Aramathia with his fellowes preached the Ghospell in Britayne Iosephus de Aramathia in Britannia cum socijs suis Euangelium praedicauit So for France hath Andrew Chesne in his French History of England Scotland and Irelend with others at home we haue a generall consent of Historians Catholiks or Protestants in this matter namely among Protestants their Protestant Bishops Parker their Archbishop Bale Godwine and Montague of others Camden Stowe Howes Powell Selden Drayton and others Among these Doctour Montague Protestant Bishop of Welles with in three miles of the place where S. Ioseph dyed and was buryed and so taking the best knowledge thereof he could to present a Queene withall in his Panegiricall entertainement of the late Queene Anne producing foure parsons to represent S. Peter S. Paul S. Andrew Apostles and S. Ioseph of Aramathia bringeth forth the Representor of S. Ioseph thus to speake vnto her I am the Herald of these Saincts Peter Paul and Andrew sent hyther by them full fifteene hundred and fortie yeares agoe to bring the waters of life into this Isle of Britayne In this Isle I made choise of an Isle the Island of Aualon neare adioyning to this place where after I had planted and watered and God had giuen an happy encrease I rested from my labours and my body lay buried in a graue of honour hoping verely that since I had that honour to intombe that blessed body no body would haue done themselues that dishonour as to haue violated my sepulchre But God wot ruinated it is and with it the goodlyest Monastery that euer
Pius his Empire and contradict himselfe as also he is singular when he saith of saint Anicetus that he was Pope but two yeares foure moneths three dayes Annos 2. menses 4. dies 3. others commonly tripling that time in his Papacie Therefore to auoide all the least inconuenience and exception I will ioyne also in this place saint Soter in all opinions vndoubtedlie Pope immediately before saint Eleutherus or Eleutherius and next to saint Anicetus by the more receaued Damasus Pont. in Sotere Martin Polon Suppu in Soter and to saint Pius by the other opinion The space of his Papacie is not agreed vpon the liues of Popes ascribed to Damasus ascribeth to him nine yeares seuen moneths and 21. dayes Martinus alloweth him so many yeares and dayes but detracteth foure moneths Sedit annis nouem mensibus tribus Matth. Westm an gratiae 175. diebus viginti vno The verie same hath Matthew of Westminster Sedit in Cathedra Romana annis 9. mensibus 3. diebus 21. Baronius and Binnius doe not afford him halfe so much time saying he was not Pope fully and compleately foure yeares but wanted twelue dayes of that terme defunctus habetur Baron Tom. 2. Annal. ann 179. Seuerin Binnius Tom. 1. Concil in Sotere Soter die 22. mensis Aprilis cum sedisset annos quatuor minus diebus duodecim And assigne the yeare of his death 199. from the Natiuitie of Christ and 17. of the Empire of Marcus Aurelius spoken of before continuing Emperour vntill the third yeare of the next Pope saint Eleutherius All which time and longer Lucius was still King in Britaine These two Popes as our Protestant writers of their liues are witnesses were holy men and Martyrs Saint Anicetus painefully gouerned the Roman Church in the holy ministery of the word and in greate constancie in the Christian faith shedd his blood for Gods truth Anicetus Romanae Ecclesiae in verbi ministerio sacro laboriosè praefuit in magna Christianae fidei constantia pro Dei veritate sanguinem postremò fudit Io. Bal. l. 1. de Act. Pontif. Rom. in Aniceto The like they testifie of saint Soter In armis Spiritualibus Christo fideliter militauit hoc vnum agens praecipuè vt animas per Baptismum Christo dicatas doctrina exemplo illi suo sponso saluandas adduceret mortemque sui corporis pro Christi ipsius testimonio pertulit Thus we are secured that both their example and conuersation of life as also their doctrine and Religion which they taught and professed was holy 2. What this was some what in particular these men thus deliuer vnto vs. Robert Barns l. de Vit. Pontif. Rom. in Anicet Anicetus decreed that if an Archbishop were accused by a Bishop it should be done eyther before the Primate or Pope of Rome He appointed that Archbishops should not be called Primats but Metropolitans except this prerogatiue of name was granted The Doctrine and Religion of S. Auicetus and Soter to any by the Pope of Rome He commanded that the crowne of Preists heads should be shaued round Anicetus Archiepiscopum à suo Episcopo aut coram Primate aut Romano Pontifice accusandum esse statuit Archiepiscopos non Primates sed Metropolitanos appellandos esse dixit nisi ista praerogatiua Nomenclaturae ei à Romano Pontifice concederetur Capitis verticem spherulae instar radendum sacerdotibus praecepit Soter appointed against that errour of the Gnostiks that a Robert Barns supr in Sotere Nunne should not handle the Pall nor put incense into the Censor and ordained that a Preist Should not say Masse except two at the least were present Ne Monacha Pallam contrectaret neue Thus in Acerram poneret statuit N◠sacerdos celebraret nisi vt minimum duo adessent ordinauit In these times the persecuting Emperours still reigning and Persecution raging not onely in the Easterne parts but in Italy France and Countryes in the continent neare vnto vs. This our Iland as an other world was allmost quite free thereof both now before and Gildas l. de Excid conq Brit. c. 7. after vntill the generall Persecution of Dioclesian as saint Gildas and others after him doe witnes vsque ad persecutionem Diocletiani Tyranni nouennem both in respect of the scituation remote distance and separation from the cheife Brittish Kings euer fauourers friends of Christians drewe many persecuted Christians hither commanding place of the Empire and that it euer had Kings not so depending of the persecuting Emperours and so farre from the name and nature of Persecutours that they euer were friends and fauourers of Christians and now the King and many both of his Nobilitie and other subiects had receaued Christian Religion This as our Protestant Antiquaries and others haue told vs of like former times drewe many worthie and learned Christians among others hither where for themselues they might more quietly enioy the libertie of their conscience and Religion and for others desirous to be instructed in the truth thereof and not kept back with such terrours of Persecution as in other Countryes they might with more confidence and boldnes and with greate hope of fruite and increase preach and teach it vnto them And so this Persecution in other Nations not sayling ouer itselfe but sending Apostolike men vnto vs eyther to conuert or by their holy doctrine conuersation and miracles which they wrought at the least so to dispose the minds and wills of many men in all degrees that it made our generall Conuersion now at hand more easie to be so speedely and vniuersally performed 3. That such was the state of Britaine for spirituall affaires in this Idolatry and superstition daily diminishing and decaying and Christiā Religion in all places and persons encreasing and multiplying both Authoritie and the knowne certaine effect it selfe the surest testimonie in such cases shall witnes heareafter And this was the condition thereof vntill about the beginning of the Papacie of S. Soter or the end of the first yeare thereof about the yeare of our Redemption 175. when as it appeareth by the Edict of Marcus Aurelius Emperour before the strange deliuery of him and his Army by the Christians Literae Marci Aurelij Anton. ad Senatum in fine operum S. Iustini Baron To. 2. Annal. an 176. Mat. West an gratiae 174. Tertull. Apol. c. 5. Euseb l. 5. c. 5. Oros l. 7. c. 15. Florent Wigor Chronic. an 161. vel 184. miraculous prayers he suffered many Christians to liue in quiet and had a great number of them about him inuenique magnam eorum multitudinem And seeing himselfe and his Army in distresse sent for them and entreated them to pray for his deliuery eos qui apud nos Christiani dicuntur accersiui ac rogaui Which he would not haue done being a wise and learned Emperour but that either by the Apologie of Athenagoras the vertues and Miracles of many Christians or
S. Gildas S. Bede and others are ample witnesses duabus gentibus transmarinis Gild. l. de excid Brit. Bed Eccles Hist l. 1. c. 1. saith S. Gildas of the Scots and Picts the like hath S. Bede long after this time of those people Therefore they were Britans for the most part though not so subiect eyther to King Lucius or the Romans which there inhabited of which Tertullian also is an Ample witnesse so testifying Britannorum loca Romanis in accessa as our Protestant Theather writers tranflate him and truely Tertullian say they who liued within 200. yeares of Christs Natiuitie affirmed the Britans had receaued the word of life the power whereof hath peirced into those parts Theate◠of great Brit. l. 6. Tertul. contra Iudaeos c. 7. whether the Romans could not come This Testimonie of Tertullian is more auncient then the Scots receauing the faith in the third Age in the Time of Pope Victor And by this we may be bold to seeke and setle a Bishops See euen in those parts which were after termed Scotland hauing allowance from Antiquitie so to doe For our Histories tell vs that there was a Flamen setled at Perche now S. Ihons in Scotland by our Brittish Kings diuers hūdreds of yeares before any Scot sett footing there Condage made a Flamyne a Temple also Harding Chron. f. 24. c. 30. Stowe Histor Britan. in Morgan and Cunedagius in honour of Mars at Perche that now is S. Ihons Towne in Albany that now is Scotland Region When Cunedagius was King of Britaine saith an other about 800. yeares before Christ he builded a Temple of Mars at Perche that now is S. Ihons Towne in Scotland and placed there a Flamen Therefore by the common consent of Antiquitie before remembred we must needs place a Bishop there vnder the Archbishop of Yorke 10. And yet I grante what Hector Boethius writeth from the Scottish Antiquities Hector Boeth Scot. Hist l. 6. f. 102. that S. Amphibalus our holy Brittish Bishop and Martyr in Dioclesian his time was the first Bishop the Scots had mentioned in their Annals fuit id Templum omnium primum Christiano ritu vbi Pontifex sacerque Magistratus sedem haberet Primariam inter Scotos cuius nostri meminere Scriptores dedicatum for this was in the out Iland where the Scots then liued not yet Possessed in Britaine where this Bishop of Perche or S. Ihons Towne was seated And allthough that further part of Britaine where the Scots now Inhabite was not so fully conuerted at this time as that vnder King Lucius and the Romans was yet being subiected by Pope Eleutherius to the Archbishop of Yorke it must needs haue one Bishop at the least to maintaine the name and calling of a Bishop Suffragan or inferiour Bishop subordinate to the Archbishop or higher Bishop otherwise we shall not say easily properly and congruously that so greate a Country was vnder the Iurisdiction of a See so remote and in an other kingdome and Kings Dominion The other two Bishopricks subordinate to Yorke I cannot more probably suppose to haue bene in other Capgrau Catal. in S. Niniano places then those or neare vnto them where I finde the first Bishops in those parts which be witerna were S. Ninian was Bishop being Apostle of the Picts and Lindisfarne or holy Iland where S. Aidan and diuers others were Beda Eccl. Hist l. 3. c. 5. Bishops in the Primatiue Church of the Saxons comming out of Scotland where a succession of Bishops had long continued and like best knewn and sought to honour those places where their Brittish predecessors Bishops had Bishops Sees vnder the Archbishop of Cambria bene before them 11. Concerning the Bishops of Cambria wales which were vnder their Archbishop of Caerlegion vpon vske many haue written affirming there were seuen at the coming of S. Augustine and diuers though some what diuersly haue set downe the names of their Sees most of them seeming to haue bene such from the beginning Roger Houeden thus recompteth them Landauensem de S. Paterno in Kardican Bangorensem de S. Asaf Cestrensem Roger. Houedē Annal. part Posterior in Ioan. Rege Manuscr antiq apud Godwine Catal. in S. Dauids 1. Herefordensem Wigornensem Landaff S. Patern in Cardiganshire Bangor S. Asaph Chester Hereford and Worcester but granteth these three last especially Chester and Worcester did not belong to Wales A Protestant Bishop from an old Antiquitie thus relateth them Exeter Bathe Hereford Landaffe Bangor S. Asaph and Furnes in Ireland Of Exeter and Bathe I haue spoken before being subiect to London But likely it is this old Authour remembred them heare because in the desolation of Bishops and Religion heare vnder the Saxons these two neare vnto Wales kept their Bishops longer as also Worcester and Chester did by the same reason and thereby are remembred by Houeden For Furnes in Ireland as it neuer did by old right belong to Wales so it now as litle belongeth to our purpose to speake further of it The first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury speaking of this first Institution of Bishops heare in King Lucius time and how Loegria had 14. vnder the Archbishop Yorke 7. and Cambria so many setteth downe their names from that time in this order Diocaeses Cambriae hae Fucrunt Herefordensis Tauensis Paternensis Banchorensis Eluinesis Wiccensis ac Morganensis The Dioceses of Cambria besides the Archbishoprick were these Hereford Taffe Lanpatern in Cardiganshire Bangor Elwy Wicce and Morgan Harpesfeild Dauid Dauid Pouel annot in l. 2. c. 1. Giraldi Cambren Cambr. Itinerar Harpesfeld saecul 7. Matth. Westm 712. Bed l. 4 c. 23. Hist Eccl. Angl. Godwin Catal. in Worcester 1. Powell a Welch Protestant Antiquarie and others doe also so recite them Tauensis was that we call Landaffe Eluiensis named of the Ryuer Elwy the same with Asaph Wicciensis as S. Bede calleth it Prouincia Victiorum in the kingdome of Mertia in which Worcestershire or part of it was So we see that Hereford Landaffe Bangor S. Patern Glamorgan S. Asaph and Wiccia did aunciently and in the time of the Britans belong to the Archbishop of Cambria and most of them euen from the beginning For Hereford I haue credibly heard reported that there is or lately was an old Antiquitie there testifying the Church thereof to haue bene builded in King Lucius his time For Landaffe the Protestant Bishop thereof thus writeth The Cathedrall Church of Fran. Godwin Prot. Bishop of Landaffe Catal. of Bish. in Land 1. Landaffe is reported to haue bene first built in the time of Lucius about the yeare of Christ 180. The holy Bishops of Patern and Bangor S. Patern of the first changing and giuing name to the place for his Sanctitie and S. Daniel of the other are renowned among our auncient Brittish Saints and Bishops And as our Antiquaries witnesse Bangor was a Flamens seate diuers hundreds of yeares Harding Cron. f. 24.
Sancti Patricij in commemorata Insula permanserunt So we see the ouerraging Persecution of Dioclesian did not disperse or hurt them And in the generall spoile of the Pagan Saxons in this kingdome when an other abomination of desolation was heare in Britaine this holy house still enioyed both Monkes and an Abbot called Morgret and was so fare from destruction or ruine thereby that it then receaued more libertie and a new endowment the King of Domnonia giuing Gulielm Malm. l. de Antiq. Glast vnto it the land called Inswitrin in the 601. yeare of Christs Incarnation Anno Dominicae Incarnationis 601. Rex Domnoniae terram quae appellatur Inswitrin ad Ecclesiam vetustam concessit ad petitionem Morgret eiusdem loci Abbatis And it appeareth by this Authour that he had seene the originall Charter itselfe thereof for besides his setting downe the very names of the Abbots to whome it was granted and the Bishop Manuto who wrote the Charter and signed it with others Ego Manuto Episcopus hanc Chartam scripsi he addeth of the King that granted it that the scedule was so old whereon his name was writen that it could not be knowne Quis iste Rex fuit scedulae vetustas negat scire In the Danish Inuasion and Persecution some of those Infidels did attempt to spoyle it but being Miraculously stricken blinde and therevpon penitent for their wickednes and receauing their sight by the meanes of the blessed Virgin Mary they caused a pretious Crosse of curious work of gold siluer and pretious stones to be made and offered it in the old Church in memory thereof multi eorum audientes sanctitatem huius loci ne matrem misericordiae alios quorum inibi corpora pausant ad Iracundiam prouocarent recesserunt Sed tamen intrauerunt nonnulli nec impunè Nam Virgo faecunda arma Iustitiae concutiens omnes caecitate mulctauit quos postea paenitentes quod iniquè gesserant detestantes misericorditer illuminauit Denique facta collatione Crucem eleganti satis opere ex auro argento pretiosis lapidibus fabricauerunt Ecclesiae veteri ad huiusce miraculi monumenta obtulerunt And this holy place was made as a common Sanctuary to Religeous persons in such stormes and tempests to preserue themselues the holy Relicks of Saints and such sacred things there from Pagan Persecution THE XXV CHAPTER OF THE GREATE HONOVR AND REnowne of our old Brittish Apostolike Order of Religion from the comming of S. Ioseph of Aramathia in the yeare of Christs Natiuitie 63. without any discontinuance or Interruption by some and very short time after his death by all many hundreds of yeares in greate perfection without any change or alteration to be named a Mutation of Monasticall Rule being the Mother or Nurse of Monasticall holy life to many Nations and Religious Orders in them by which also many Countryes to Christ were conuerted 1. IF after so long a Circuite of time and inuolued with so many difficulties to hinder vs from certaine knowledge of such The most holy and auncient Apostolike Order of Glastenbury there setled by S. Ioseph of Arimathia Chastitie obedience pouertie things we are desirous to make some estimate what was the Rule of this holy Order it somewhat appeareth by that is said and is resembled in our Histories and diuers obseruances thereof kept in such strict Orders as afterward borrowed them from hence The three Vowes or states of perfection of chastitie pouertie and obedience necessary in all such conditions of life were diligently and exactly performed in this Order Cōcerning obedience at and before the first comming of S. Ioseph of Aramathia with the rest hither S. Ioseph was ordained their Superior by the Apostle which directed them hither his praefecit amicum suum Ioseph ab Aramathia qui Dominum sepeliuit Flos Aramathiae Ioseph est primus eorum So writeth William of Malmesbury the Antiquities of Glastenburye Capgraue and others who keepe a successiue continuance of most of their Guliel Malmes l. de Antiq. Caen. Glast Io. Capgr Catal. in S. Ioseph ab Aramat Antiq. Glaston Abbots after both in the Britans and Saxons time who Ruled them and to whome they were obedient Iure Abbatis rexit The pouertie which these men with the contempt of Riches professed is sufficiently declared in forsaking all they had of their owne and liuing by their labour and such things as at the first were giuen vnto them by Infidels in a strange Country And after King Lucius was conuerted they had nothing but the Almes of Christians and their owne paines and Industrie to sustaine them and yet these not at their owne but Abbots disposition The holy place wherein they liued being left so long and strangely desolate without man woman or childe after the death of S. Ioseph and his companions the substitution of Monkes in the same number of 12. by S. Damianus and Phaganus and the continued succession in that number their names registred their so often assembling and meeting euery day in the holy Church The greate chastitie is remembred of them which be most mentioned by Historians no marryed or vnchaste woman euer inhabiting there by any Antiquitie giueth a warrant boldly to say they liued in perpetuall sacred chastitie 2. If we will follow the more common opinion of Antiquaries that the Miraculous man S. Patricke the Apostle of Ireland was Abbot there and giue allowance to the old Manuscript Epistle asscribed vnto him we must Their holynesse and austeritie of life say their austeritie of life and deuotion were wonderfull For he saith of the twelue which were there in his time and whose names for their honour he setteth downe that he was not worthie to vntye the buckles of their shewes non dignus eram soluere corrigias calceamentorum eorum And yet we reade of him in approued Authours that he was one of the most holy vertuous and Miraculous men that euer liued omni namque Die Psalterium cum canticis himnis ducentis orationibus cantauit offerebat corpus Christi docebat Discipulos turbis praedecabat in omni hora signo crucis Christi centies signabat se In prima vero noctis parte centum Psalmos canebat ducentis vicibus genua curuabat a pullorum cantu in aquis stabat donec adimpleret orationes suas post haec dormiebat super lapidem nudum alterumque sub capite eius posuit tunicam pelliceam habebat circa lumbos suos in aqua tinctam he did euery day singe the Psalter with canticles and himnes and two hundred prayers he offered the sacrifice of Christs body taught his Disciples preached to the people and in euery hower signed himselfe an hundred times with the signe of the crosse of Christ In the first part of the night he sunge an hundred psalmes and bowed his knees two hundred times and from the crowing of the cocke he stood in the water vntill he
Rome and Britaine then receaued that Canon of holy Scripturs and those Bookes to be Canonicall which the present Roman Church embraceth for such and not that maymed and mangled new Canon which our English Protestants with some others of their Schoole would onely haue receaued for that peece of his Epistle which is left vnto vs being very short and very few citations of Scripturs vsed in it onely one out of the New Testament and not aboue 4. or 5. out of the Old yet among these so few he citeth for Canonicall Scripture such as these men disallow for such namely these words by their Protestants Translation according to King Salomon wisedome will not enter into a spitefull soule nor inhabite in a bodie subiect to sinne This is found onely in the second Chapter of the Booke of Wisedome which with Sap. 2. diuers others the sixt Article of our Parlament Protestant Religion disalloweth to be holy And S. Gildas the most auncient Writer left vnto vs citeth Articul 6. of Prot. Relig. Gild. l. de excid conq Britan. as parts of holy Scripturs receaued by our Primatiue Christian Brittans diuers Bookes of holy Scripturs which the new Religion doth not admite The old Antiquities of Glastenbury which more plainely and fully set downe the Apostolike Labours and Trauailes of these holy Legats then any other Monument we haue and of many glorious Saints both of the Disciples of S. Ioseph and the Apostles and of these Legats buried at Glastenbury and the long liuing of S. Damianus and Faganus there 9. yeares and their greate deuotion to that holy place and how theire Disciples there liuing Religious Eremits by Succession 267. yeares vntill S. Patrike his comming thither died and were buryed there but whether the Legats themselues there were interred or returned thence they doe not deliuer but leaue it doubtfull hij vero duo sancti regionem istam in principio ad fidem Christianam conuerterunt sed vtrum ibi requiescunt vel indè redierunt non inuenimus scriptum Ibi multi ex Discipulis Sanctorum Phagani Deruiani requiescunt qui per ducentos sexaginta septem annos quidem alij post alios vsque Aduentum sancti Patricij in praefata Insula sicut Anachoritae habitauerunt And so I end this second Age. The end of this Second Age. THE ECCLESIASTICALL HISTORIE OF GREAT BRITAINE THE THIRD AGE THE ECCLESIASTICALL HISTORIE OF GREAT BRITAINE THE THIRD AGE THE I. CHAPTER WHEREIN IS DELIVERED THAT S. VICTOR being now Pope Seuerus Emperour and S. Lucius yet King of Britaine but shortly dying S. Victor was Supreame in gouernment of the whole Church of Christ in Asia Afrike and Europe and particularly in Britaine which so acknowledged and receaued from him the true obseruation of Easter as it had done with other Catholike customes from S. Eleutherius before AS I closed vp the second Age with the Renowned Pope S. Victor Seuerus Emperour of Rome and that our most Illustrious relucent Lucius King of Britaine So I must open my way and passadge to the Third and next Centurye by the continuance Marian. Scot. l. 2. aetat 6. An. 194. Baron Tom. 2. An. 194. Seuer Binius Tom. 1. Concil in Vict. Iacob Gordon An. 194. Matth. Westm An. 198. Florent Wigornien An. 199. of the same Rulers in the worlde S. Victor began his Papacie in or about the yeare of Christ 194. as Marianus and diuers others write But our Monks and Contrimen Matthew of Westminster and Florentius Wigorniensis giue him a later entrance to the See Apostolike The former saith it was in the yeare of Grace 198. Anno gratiae 198. Victor Romanae Sedis Pontifex effectus The other saith that Pope Eleutherius liued vntill the yeare after this 199 when Victor was chosen Martinus Polonus maketh him not Pope before the beginning of this Age in the yeare of Christ 203. And therefore finding no memorable thing of this Pope belonging to the Ecclesiasticall History of Britaine vntill this time I doe heare first remember him 2. This holy Pope in his Epistle to Theopâ—ilus Patriarke of Alexandria Victor Epist ad Theoph. Alexand Tom. 1. Concil Damasus in Victor Papa Florent Wigor in Chronic. An. 200. Marian. Scot. aetate 6. An. 192. stileth himselfe Archbishop of the Roman and Vniuersall Church Victor Romanae ac vniuersalis Ecclesiae Archiepiscopus This Epistle with this stile of Archbishop of the Vniuersall Church as our auncient and learned Historian Florentius Wigorniensis witnesseth was written in the yeare of Christ 200 the 13. of the Calends of August Victor Romanae ac vniuersalis Ecclesiae Archiepiscopus Theophilo Fratribus Alexandrae Christo famulantibus salutem in Domino haec Epistola data est 13. Calendas Augusti Our learned and renowned Countryman also S. Marianus hath the same words concerning this Supreame Spirituall stile power of Pope Victor ouer the Vniuersall Church onely differing in the yeare from Florentius Victor Romae ac vniuersalis Ecclesiae Archiepiscopus To this dignitie of Supreamacy both claymed exercised Matthias Flacius Illyric Io. WigaÌ„dus Mat. Iudex Basil Faber cent 2. c. 8. col 155. cent 3. col 168. Barn in Vit. Pontif. Rom. in Victore Io. Bal. l. 1. de Act. Pontif. Roman in eod Robert Barnes supr Damasus seu Anastasius in Victore Rob. Barn l. de Vit. Rom. Pont. in Pio 1. Florent Wigor in Chron. Ann. 202. Marian. Scot. l. 2. aetat 6. An. 194. Robert Barnes supr in Victore S. Victor Epist 1. Decret ad Theophilum Alexandriae Episcopum apud Sur. Seuerin Bin. to 1. Conc. Magdeb. cent 2. Marian. Scot. aetat 6. an 194. Mart. PoloÌ„ Supput in Vict. Florent Wigor An. 200. Robert Barnes l. de Vit. Pont. in Victore by this holy Pope S. Victor both forreine and English Protestants giue full allowance when they plainely confesse that he excommunicated the Churches of Asia for their obstinate error in the Paschall obseruation Victor missis literis fratres omnes Asiaticos Ecclesias vicinas à se excommunicatione Ecclesiae exclusos reiectos palam denuntiat The same Title and preeminent power he both claymed and executed by these men when as they testifie he excommunicated Theodorus for affirming Christ was onely man Victor Theodorum dicentem Christum purum hominem sine Deo esse Ecclesia eiecit And Interdicted all them which vpon an Iniury done would not be reconciled to him that had hurt them Sacris Interdixit illis qui ob illatam Iniuriam reconciliari nollent ei qui laesit And yet as both the Protestants and all Catholiks acknowledge he did not make any new ordinance in this but as S. Pius had done before Pius Pascha die Dominica esse celebranda instituit And his Immediate Predecessor Eleutherius our Apostle had done the same Victor Papa dâ—tis latè libellis constituit vt Pascha Die Dominico sicut Praecessor eius Eleutherius à 14. luna
were baptised and clerely forsooke their former errors and Idolatrie This was in the yeare after the birth of Will. Harrison descript of Brit. cap. of Relig. Edw. Grymston Booke of Estat in Scotland pag. 20. Christ our Sauiour 203. The like haue other English Protestants of this matter of whome one saith Scotland receaued the faith in the time of Pope Victor the first in the yeare 203. and Idolatrie did quite cease vnder King Crakinte who died in the yeare 313. Celestine the first sent Palladius thither to roote out the PelagiaÌ„ Heresie which began to encrease there vnder Eugenius the second who died in the yeare 460. since this time the Realme continued longe in profession of the Romish Church vntill these later dayes the Reigne of King Iames who now liueth 4. Thus we see how ignorantly or rather impudently some Protestants haue written in affirming that because some of the Britans and Scots of this Iland at the comming of S. Augustine hither were fallen into old and exploded error of some Churches of Greece that therefore without any warrant or Writer so affirming they receaued their first faith from the Churches of Asia when it is euident by all Antiquities and these Protestants themselues that the Britans did receaue Christian Religion from the Pope of Rome S. Eleutherius and the Scots from Pope S. Victor the two greatest Promulgers and Defenders of the true Paschall obseruation and greatest Enemies to the other erroneous custome and abuse that euer were And being so plainely All Britaine both Britans Scots and others Christians euer subiect to the Pope in Spirituall busines vntill Caluins time confessed by these Protestants before that the Scots which agreed in Religion with the old Christian Britans of this kingdome as all Protestants and others agree did continue in the Profession of the Romish Church from their first Conuersion vntill the crowning of King Iames the sixt a Child in his Cradell what a childish new vpstart Profession of Protestants must that needs be by their owne confession which beginning with not contradiction of a yet speachlesse Infant to build one such a grounde hath reiected the Authoritie of all Popes Councels Churches holy learned Fathers Saints holy Kings and Christian Rulers in so many hundreds of yeares Or how can any man Scot or other apprehend that except King Donald his Nobles and Counsailers therein had bene assured that the cheife disposition of spirituall affaires belonged to the See of Rome and Pope thereof that he a Christian in Iudgment at the least before as so auncient and approued Antiquities proue and in peace and amitie with King Lucius of Britaine where so many renowned Bishops and Clergie men then liued and to whome by the Testimonie and Decree of Pope Eleutherius before remembred all Scots â—nd Picts about this kingdome of Britaine were Feudatories and Subiects and that in France and all other Nations betweene our Scots and Rome there were many holy and learned Christian Bishops and Clergie men that he in prudence would or could haue sent so solemne Ambassadge and supplication to effect this suite to the Pope of Rome whose Emperour then or presently after and before this holy worke was wholly effected was the greatest enemy in the world to the Scottish Nation with all force malice and Power he could inuadinge it Therefore we must needs conclude euen by Protestant warrant and allowance that this whole kingdome of Britaine from the first Conuersion thereof to Christ did euer and continually vntill these dayes of Ihon Caluine that Father of the English Protestant Religion in all dutie and obedience perseuere in the vnitie and doctrine of the Popes and Church of Rome by whome it was first conuerted to Christianitie THE IV. CHAPTER THAT ALLTHOVGH THE BEING OF THE Scots in Britaine in the time of S. Victor is vncertaine and not proued but rather otherwise yet the Inhabitants of the part now called Scotland Britans or whosoeuer were conuerted in King Lucius and this time The Bishops of the conuerted Scots were euer true Bishops and they euer obedient to the See of Rome 1. BVT before we enter into any further particulars of the Conuersion of the Scottish Nation by S. Victor Pope and his Apostolike Disciples imployed therein which is very sparingly remembred in any Antiquities left vnto vs to deliuer our selues so farre as we can from Ambiguities and vncertainties it is requisite to say some what at least in generall of what parte place When the Scots now supposed to be conuerted to the faith came first into Britaine and where they now liued Country or Iland in or about this great Iland of Albion or Britaine these Scots were which are recorded to be conuerted at this time For whatsoeuer the Scots pleade that this hapned to their Nation long after their entrance into this greate Iland which they contend to haue bene in the yeare of the worlds Creation 4617. Annum quo Albionem Scoti ingressi fe runtur ab orbe condito tradunt supra quater millesimum sexcentesimum decimum septimum This Hect. Boeth descript Scot. Reg. fol. 4. Nicephor l. 1. Hist cap. 10. Alphonsus Rex Euseb in Chron. Isid l. 5. Origin Cyprianus lib. Exhort Martyr Hieron in Epist ad Tit. August lib. 12. ciuit cap. 10. Martyrolog Rom. Marian. aetate 6. an 1. Math. West an 1. Protest Angl. marginal Annotat in illum locum Holâ—insh Hist of Engl. l. 3. cap. 18. Iacob Gordonus in Apparatu cap. 2. seemeth to be a strange calculation and not firme enough to be builded vpon for how could the Scots liuing in darke ignorance of God and heauenly things and knowing nothing of the Creation of the world or such things but by all writers a very vnlearned rude and barbarous people exiled bannished and wandering men possibly haue any such certaine Tradition of their arriuall in Albion in such a yeare of the worlds Creation of which they were long time after vtterly ignorant And Hector Boethius the Scottish Historian which with other writers setteth downe this Conuersion in the 203. of Christ and yet maketh that to be in 5399. yeare of the worlds Creation differeth from all other Computations eyther of Nicephorus recompting the birth of Christ in the 5500. yeare of the world K. Alphonsus in the 6984. Euseb 5199. S. Isid 5220. S. Cyp. to his time 6000. and S. Hier. S. Aug. in their dayes 6000. long after S. Cyp. By the Roman Martyrologe 5199. betweene the Creation Christ By Marianus 4163. Matthew of Westminster maketh an other accompt some English Protestant Antiquaries make the distance betwene the Creation 3066. others 3807. Others of them reckon otherwise And by some writers it cometh to about 4000. yeares Such and so manifold variances being among learned Christians in this accompt we may not easely admitt for certaine what any man will therein propose from a Scottish PagaÌ„ surmised Tradition Especially when we haue many Antiquities both Brittish English and
Iesus postquam caenauit cum S. Fabian Epist 2. ad omnes Orient Episc Discipulis suis lauit eorum pedes sicut a sanctis Apostolis praedecessores nostri acceperunt nobisque reliquerunt Chrisma consicere docuit Sicut ipsius diei solemnitas per singulos annos est celebranda ita ipsius sancti Chrismatis confectio per singulos annos est agenda de anno in annum renouanda fidelibus tradenda quia nouum Sacramentum est per singulos annos iam dicto Die innouandum vetus in sanctis Ecclesijs cremandum Ista a sanctis Apostolis successoribus eorum accepimus vobisque tenenda mandomus Haec sancta Romana Ecclesia Antiochena a temporibus Apostolorum custodit haec Hierosolymorum Ephisinorum tenet In quibus Apostoli praesidentes haec docuerunt vetus Chrisma incendi non amplius quà m vno anno vti permiserunt atque dinceps nouo frui non veteri iubentes docuerunt And this holy Pope so Miracously chosen and teaching and practising these Doctrins was as glorious in his death as these Protestants S. Fabianus put to death an D. 250. confesse ending his life with a glorious death of Martyrdome in the yeare of our Lord 250. Sub Decio saeuiente in fratres capitis obtruncatione anno Domini 250. vitam gloriosa morte consummauit 5. Of the doctrine or Decrees of the three next Popes S. Cornelius S. Lucius and S. Stephen our protestaÌ„ts are very sparinge in relating them being repugnant to their proceedings onely they say of the last S. Stephen That diuers Authors testifie that he was celebrating of Masse when he was apprehended by the Pagans and carried to be martyred Stephanum in celebratione Io. Bal. l. 1. de Act. Rom. Pont. in Stephano Missae ad martyrium raptum Yet for all this they freely confesse that both he and the others were renowned Saints Martyrs Of Cornelius they witnesse that he was a man of God and though banished in exile he was neuer wanting to Christs kingdome his Church but as his most worthie champion suffered S. Cornelius Pope Martyred an D. 253. death for preaching the truth in the yeare of our Lord 253. Homo Dei Cornelius licet in exilium deportatus regno tamen Christi minimè vnquam defuit Quin optimus eius Athleta in veritatis assertione Anno Domini 253. Decij mucro ni Io. Bal. supr in Cornel. Rob. Barn l. de Vit. Pont. in eod Magdeb. cent 3. c. 10. col 282. Bal. ijdem alij supr in Lucio Stephano ceruicem vt ouis mansueta praebuit 6. Of Pope Lucius they say that he did enrich the Church with holsome Doctrine and made white in the blood of the Lambe penetrated the heauenly Paradise in the yeare of our Lord 255. Ecclesiam salubri Doctrina locupletauit ac Paradisum caelestem anno Domini 255. sub Valeriano occidi iussus in sanguine agni dealbatus penetrauit 7. S. Stephen as they write hauing conuerted many Pagans to the faith of Christ became a sacrifice to God and thereby receaued a crowne of Iustice S. Lucius Pope Martyr an D. 255. Saint Steuen Pope crowned with Martyrdom an D. 257. in the yeare of our Lord 257. Stephanus anno Domini 257. cum multos Gentilium ad Christi fidem conuertisset capite mulctatus cum plerisque alijs fit victima Deo accepta iustitiae Corona 8. And allthough these Protestants doe not nor dare for betraying their cause particularly set downe the Doctrine of these Popes yet confessing of them all that they were of the same Religion and opinion therein with S. Magdeb. cent 3. c. 7. col 164. alibi saepe ca. 3. Bergomen l. 8. alij apud Magd. ceÌ„t 3. c. 8. col 191. Cyprian except in his error of Rebaptization which they and truely say he recanted many Epistles passing betweene them they doe sufficiently proue that they did plainely hold with S. Cyprian all those points of Catholike Doctrine which they to omit others doe asscribe vnto him Some of them be these as these Protestants confesse and thus recompt them Cyprian is euery where a vehement affirmer of Freewill liberi Arbitrij vehemens est vbique assertor Magdeb. cent 3. col 247. c. 10. alibi They assure vs also that S. Cyprian held that Christ Iesus in his last Supper being our high Preist did offer sacrifice and commanded Preists should doe the same Cyprianus de caena Domini sic inquit libro secundo Epistola tertia nam Iesus Christus Dominus noster ipse est summus Sacerdos Dei Patris sacrificium Deo Patri ipse primus obtulit hoc fieri in sui commemorationem praecepit Vtque ille Sacâ—rdos vice Christi verè fungitur qui id quod Christus fecit imitatur sacrificium verum plenum tunc offâ—rt in Ecclesia Deo Patri si sic incipiat offerre secundum quod ipsum Christum viâ—eat offerre and that both the true body and blood of Christ is there present and by Transsubstantiation or changing of bread into his body and wine into his blood sentit in caena corpus Christi verum Sanguinem in sermone de caena Domini Cyprianus inquit imitari non effagie sed naturâ S. Cyprian Magdeb. supr Parkis Proble p. 153. 154. his words in this place they cite are these panis iste communis in carnem sanguinem mutatus panis iste quem Dominus Disâ—ipuliâ— porrigebat non effigie sed naturà mutatus omnipotentia Verbi factus est câ—ro Noua est huius Sacramenti Doctrina scholae Euangelicae hoc primum magisterium protulerunt Doctore Cyprian lib. de caena Domini Christo primum haec mundo innotuit Disciplina vt biberent sanguinem Christiani cuius esum lâ—gis antiquae Authoritas districtissimè interdicit lex quippe esum Sanguinis prohibet Euangelium praecipit vt hibatur Vniuersa Ecclesia ad has epulas inuitatur aequa omnibus portio datur integer erogatur distributus non demembratur Incorporatur non iniuratur recipitur non includitur Dominus vsque hodie hoc veracissimum sanctisâ—imum corpus suum creat sanctificat benedicit pie sumentibus diâ—uâ—iâ—it Bread is changed into Christs body The bread which our Lord did giue to is Disciples being changed not in shape but nature was made flesh by the omnipotency of tâ—e word The Doctrine of this Sacrament is new and the schooles of the Ghospell first brought forth this Maisters office or instruction and Christ first taught this Doctrine to the worlde that Christians should drinke blood whose eating the Authoritie of the old Lawe did most strictly forbid The whole Church is inuited to this banquet equall portion is giuen to all Christ is giuen whole distributed he is not dismembred he is incorporated not iniured he is receaued not included Our Lord euen to this
Martyr end of this Age seeing they bring him to the greate Councell of Sinuessa of 300. Bishops besides many other greate Clergie men They haue this greate Barnes supr in Marcello Magdeburg cent 4. c. 9. To. 1. Conc. in Marcellino Conc. Sinuessano in 3. exāplar antiq generall Councell the first that euer was in the worlde in all Copies plainely pronouncing no man euer Iudged the Pope of Rome The first See is indged by none Nemo vnquam iudicauit Pontificem Prima Sedes non iudicatur à quoquam Now I will returne againe to the time of Pope Stephen where I left THE X. CHAPTER OF S. MELLO OR MELLON A BRITAN SENT Archbishop by Pope Stephen from Rome to Rhoan in Normandy Of S. Mellorus a Noble Brittish Martyr and a Prouinciall Councell of Brittish Bishops heare in Cornewalle in this time 1. THE Historie of out renowned Britan S. Mello or Mellon by most Authours fell our in the time of S. Stephens being Pope And it should seeme by out Histories which speake of many and long defections of the Britans in these dayes and their withdrawing their Tribute and obedience from them except when Quintus Bassianus Alectus or such men were sent hither with power from the Romans to keepe Britaine in their subiection that S. Mello S. Mello went to Rome his going from hence to Rome with others of this kingdome to pay the Brittans Tribute there was in the time of that Bassianus or some such Roman our Antiquities being sparing to giue vs warrant to say that the Britans did so carefully pay their Tribute vnder their other Rulers which loued not the Romans but laboured to free themselues and this Kingdome rather from that subiection And this the rather because as I haue proued before it is probable the other Britan Rulers heare were Christians and so would not easely imploy Pagans in such a busines and seruice For it is the constant agreement of the Writers of this Relation that this Mello with his Associats was at his S. Mello was first a Pagan going to Rome and being there also at the first a Pagan at the performing of his temporall dutie there did after the manner of the then Infidell Romans Manuscr antiq in Vita S. Mellonis Capgtau in codem Anual Eccl. Rothomagen Dionys Alexandrin Euseb l. Eccl. Hist cap. 9. Matth. Westm an 25◠Trebellius Aurelius Victor Eutropius alij in Galeriano Euseb in Vita Constantini l. 4. Cōstan orat ad Sāctorum caetum c. 24. Florent Wigor an 250. 272. Euseb Hist Eccl. l. 7. c. 12. sacrifice in the Temple of Mars being a souldiar by profession and this was in the time of Valerian the Emperour Tempore Valeriani Imperatoris Mello quidā de Maiori Britannia oriundus Romam venit vt patriae suae Tributum solueret Imperatori seruiret ibique sicut mos erat cum socijs suis ad Templum Martis ductus est vt sacrificaret And by the History of this renowned man it seemeth to haue bene in the beginning of this Emperours reigne about the yeare of Christ 256. when by the testimony of Dionysius and Eusebius he was more friendly to Christiās then any of his Predecessors euen those that were Christians as the two Philips the Father and sonne and all his Court was full of Christians and as a Church of God Valerianus prae Antecessoribus suis sic comparatus fuit initio vt erga homines Dei placidus esset animo amico praeditus Neque enim quisquam Imperatorum ante eum tam clementer ac placidè erga eos affectus fuit ne illi quidem qui palam facti Christiani dicebantur sic initio ille familiarissimè amantissimè idque palam nostros complectebatur tota illius aula referta erat pijs Ecclesia Dei facta For Valerian after seduced by the Magicians became a most greuious Persecutor of Christians vntill being takē Prisoner by the Persians was detained there Prisoner vntill his death made a Footestoole for their King when he tooke his horse who caused this cruell Emperour to haue his skin to be pulled of and his body powdred with salt By which miserable life and death of Valerianus being Father to Gallienus who was also a persecuting Emperour the sonne recalled all Edicts against Christians and gaue them free vse and exercise of their Religion publicis Edictis Persecutionem contra nos motam remisit vt doctrinae nostrae Praesides cuncta liberè pro Consuetudine sua obirent So there was not such freedome after in the time of Galerianus for S. Mello or others to be present at the Sermons either of S. Stephen then Pope or any Christian Preacher as the life of S. Mello witnesseth he was an hearer of Pope Stephen and by him conuerted Neither can it well appeare how this Brittish Saint being a Souldiar and a Pagan at his comming to Rome in the time of Valerian not 8. yeares enioying the Fmpire and both conuerted to Christ and baptized by S. Stephen and by him promoted to Preesthood by all Ecclesiasticall Orders and degrees Quem Stephanus Papasibi adhaerentem per omnes Ecclesiae gradus vsque ad Sacerdotium promouit and after made him Bishop could come to such perfection in the Papacy of S. Stephen who suffered Martyrdome about the 257. yeare of Christ by common conputation longe before the death of Valerian except he had bene conuerted in the beginning of his Empire 2. This Mello Mellon or Mellanius cōming to Rome with others of this kingdome to pay the Tribute thereof to the Romans as I haue sayed before and to serue the Emperor and resorting to the Assemblyes and meetings of S. Mello conuerted by S. Stephē Pope the Christians not yet forbidden in the beginning of Valerianus his Empire hearing S. Stephē Pope preaching was cōuerted by him to the faith of Christ and baptized being thus instructed he sold all that he had eu the Armour which he wore in the warrs and distributing the money which he receaued Sainct Mellomade Priest and Bishop Act. Vit. S. Steph. Pap. apud Baron Tom. 2. Annal. Ann. 259. Damasus in Pōt in Stephano 1. Baron Tom. 2. Annal. An. 260. Martyr Rom. 22 die Octobris Vsuard Martyr 22. die Octobris S. Mello miraculously sent to be Archbishop of Rohan in Normandie to the poore following his Conuerter S. Stephen and giuing himselfe wholly to Christian deuotion and study of Diuinty profited therin so much not being ignorant in human Learning which he had obtained in Britaine euer renowned for studies and Learned men was by S. Stephen by all inferior Orders which I haue before remēbred promoted to holy Preisthood after Miraculously chosen of God therevnto was by the same holy Pope Cōsecrated Bishop and both extraordinarily by God and ordinarily by Pope Stephen sent to gouerne the Church of Rhoan in Neustria now called Normandy in France after he had suffered many
quorum numero beatum Melorum fidenter credimus extitisse Which is further confirmed in the same Antiquities testifying that after many yeares the Reliks of this holy Saint were with greate reuerence translated to the Church of Amsbury and there in their shryne layed vpon the Altar Post multorum annorum curricula Praedicatores Alienigenae scrinium cum Reliquijs sancti Melori circumquaque deferentes peragratis terrarum tractibus iniunctum sibi officium exercentes Ambrisburiam tandem deuenerunt super altare Reliquias sanctas posuerunt The remouing of these Reliks to the Church and Nunnery of Amsbury must needs be before the preuayling of the Pagan Saxons and Hengist his murthering our Noble Britans and taking King Vortiger Prisoner hard by that place at Stonehendge by Treachery For at that time both that and all other Religious houses and Churches those Pagans could enter to were destroyed Yet the Historyes haue told vs before that many yeares were passed ouer betweene the buriall and remouing these holy Reliks thither Neither dare I affirme that this History is more auncient then this time For excepting the Religious house of Glastenbury all others had their Foundation after the Cōuersion of King Lucius who dyed in the beginning of this Age. And probably we may coniecture this Translation of these sacred Reliks was in the time of S. Germanus and Lupus the Legats of Pope Celestine being and preaching heare for they were praedicatores Alienigenae Strange Preachers and the most renowned strange Preachers we can thinke these to be much deuoted to the reuerēce of our holy Brittish Reliks by all Historyes making solemne Pilgrimadges vnto thē And if we affirme these holy Reliks were first interred in these dayes the circuite of many yeares post multorum annorum curricula after which they were remoued by strange Preachers will well agree with the comming of those strangers the Popes Legats hither about the yeare of Christ 432. which was before the Nunnery of Amsbury was destroyed 5. The Historie of this holy Saint is thus sett downe by the auncient writers S. Meliorus his Martyrdome thereof Melorus or Meliorus was the onely Sonne and Heire of Melianus Duke of Cornwayle Who in the seuenth yeare of his Gouernment calling an Assembly of the Nobles to consult about the affayres of his Country was in the same assembly murthered by his owne Brother named Rinoldus his Sonne Melorus being but 7. yeares old at that time This Rinoldus hauing thus killed the Father knowing his Sonne to be the onely true Heire and fearing if he should liue to mās estate he might take the Dukedome from him being his iust inheritance sought to murther him also and bringing him into Cornewayle where there was a Councell of Bishops and others gathered together whose consent he laboured to haue for the putting of Melorus to death to make himselfe secure in his so wickedly procured dignitie But when the holy Bishops assembled detested so barbarous impietie and cruelty and would in no wise assent vnto it This wicked vsurping Vncle to make this child loathsome and so vncapable or vnfitt for Gouernment caused his right hand and left foote to be cutt of After which he had an hand of siluer and a foote of brasse and was brought vp in a Monastery in Cornewayle vntill he was 14. yeares old daily profiting and encreasing in vertue and holy learning aswell as in yeares And this his siluer hand did miraculously bend too and froe and stretch out itselfe to doe the office of a naturall hand as if it naturally consisted of bones sinewes veines blood and flesh Mirumque in modum manus illa argentea quasi reflexus carneos habere manum extendere recludere caepit quasi natiuam ossibus neruis venis sanguine atque pelle Wherevpon the wicked Tirant his Vncle taking him from the Abbot and Religeous men committed him to one named Cerialtanus to be brought vp bribing him with promises of many possessions and rewards to putt Melorus to death which he most wickedly and barbarously effected cutting of his head Which done the Sonne of Cerialtanus with the consent of his Father bearing the head of the holy Martyr vpon the wall of the Castle fell downe from the wall broke his neck and died Cerialtanus then tooke vp the head of the Saint and brought it to the Tirant his Vncle. Who with ioy receauing it badd the wicked Murtherer goe to the topp of an hill adioyning and whatsoeuer he could there see he would giue him to possesse Cerialtanus going to the hill thinking to see round about sodenly was struken blinde one both his eyes and presently died And the wicked Vncle touching the sacred head brought vnto him within three dayes after ended his wretched life with a miserable death The Bishops and Clergie buried his holy body and head with great honour together Where they which faithfully prayed vnto him did obtayne their desire Sepulto ab Episcopis Clericis capite cum sacro Bishops Preists others pray to S. Meliorus Martyred corpore Corpus sanctum cum honore sepelierunt vbi opem eius cum fide implorantes optatum remedium gaudentes consequi solebant THE XI CHAPTER CONTAYNING AN ABREVIATE OF SOME ROman Emperours and inuincibly prouing that the most holy Queene and Empresse S. Helen was a Britan of Regall Race the onely true and lawfull wife of Constantius Emperour and Constantine the Greate their true lawfull Sonne and Heire borne in Britaine 1. I Haue spoken before how the Roman Emperours after the death of Heliogabalus vntill Constantius marryed first or after receaued againe Helen daughter of Coel had litle command in this kingdome and so not so necessarie to be much remembred in the Ecclesiasticall Historie thereof none of them except the two Philips the Father and Sonne dignified in Histories with name of Christianitie therefore it will suffice to sett downe breefely their names and continuance of their Empiers which our Protestant Antiquaries doe thus propose vnto vs After Seuerus Bassianus Surnamed Antonius Carracalla succeeded How 's Stowe Hist Titul the Romans in Seuerus in the Empire he was murthered by Martialis when he had gouerned sixe yeares Macrinus one yeare Antonius Heliogabalus three yeares Alexander Seuerus 13. yeares Iulius Maximus 3. yeares M. Antonius Gordianus one yeare Iulius Philippus they omitt Philip the second his Sonne the first Christian Emperour 5. An Epitomie of the Roman Emperours yeares Decius 2. yeares Trebonianus Gallus and Vibius Hostilianus two yeares Iu lius Aemilianus foure moneths Licinius Valerianus sixe Lacinius Gallicinus fifteene At this time there arouse in diuers Countries thirtie Vsurpers which are called the thirtie Tirants of the which Lollianus Posthumus Victorianus Tetricius as it is supposed kept Britaine from Gallicinus Flauius Claudius two Aurelianus fiue Tacitus sixe moneths Florianus three moneths This yeare 276. Aurelian the Dane was chosen Emperour he hated Christians and in the fourth yeare of his Reigne he
Hebrides descript Scotiae f. 4. Harris descr of Scotl. c. 10. Hect. Boeth descrip Scotiae f. 14. Haâ—r descrip Brit. c. 10. Boeth Hist Scot. l. 10. be 43. in number as a Protestant Antiquarie thus testifieth thereof There hath some time bene and yet is a Bishop of this I le who at the first was called Episcopus Sodorensis when the Iurisdiction of the Hebrides belonged vnto him Whereas now he that is Bishop there is but a Bishops shadowe And this most probable allthough this man citeth no Authour this Iland Mona or Man being esteemed one of the cheifest nearest to greate Britaine and the auncient Seate of the principall Druids which ruled those Ilands in their Religion 4. And the auncient and miraculous Altars and Churches of S. Peter and S. Clement in the I le of Lewyes the greatest of them whose first foundations for their Antiquitie are not remembred in the Scottish Histories and diuers of them yet bearing the names of auncient Saints So I may say of the I le of May renowned for holy men there inhabiting So of Iona honoured both for the holy Saints there liuing and Christian Kings there buryed vpon that deuotion Iona tum viris sanctissimis tam Regum communi sepultura insignis Fergusius the second King of the Scots of that name was buryed there with Christian Rites Christiano Ritu about the yeare of Christ 430. all their Kings long time after He restored the bannished Monks builded a Monastery there and Cels such as the Culdeis vsed endowing them Structis patrio ritu Hector Boeth l. 7. f. 123. 126. Cellulis ad vitae necessaria praedijs donauit And to come to the Orchades Ilands they were so full of Christians when S. Palladius was sent into this Iland by S. Celestine Pope that he ordayned and sent thither for their Bishop S. Seruanus Hect. Boeth sup l. 7. f. 133. Bal. ceÌ„t 1. in Palladio Boeth descript Scot. in Nominib Reg. Oppidorum c. v. Orchades Harris descript of of Britaine p. 42. So he sent S. Teruanus to be Bishop or Archbishop as some call him to the Picts Which were also seated in those Ilands as our Scots themselues confesse The Bishops See was there at Kirkual in Pomonia the greatest of those Iles Harum maxima Pomonia dicitur in ea Kirkual Ciuitas vbi Episcopalis Sedes So we may conclude of Holy Iland Hoy or Hij so fâ—mous for Religeous Monks of this old Brittish Order by whome most part of the Saxons were afterward conuerted about the time S. Augustine was sent hither For we are assured by Antiquities both that this Iland then belonged to the Picts and they were then conuerted by these our Brittish Culdeis and gaue that The Successors of them which our Britans then conuerted did afterward conuert most of the SaxoÌ„s heare I le vnto them from whence and that their holy Order there so many renowned Saincts did after proceede Est Insula quae vocatur Hij quae ad ius Britanniae pertinet non magno ab ea freto discreta sed donatione Pictorum qui illas Britanniae plagas incolunt iam dudum Monachis Scotorum tradita eo quod illis praedicantibus fidem Christi perceperunt Which by that is said before of the Picts Bâ—d Hist Eccleâ— Angl. l. 3. c. 3. Manuscr Antiq. Capgr in Vit. S. Aidani William Harrison descr of Britaine c. 10. Conuersion by these our Brittish Culdeis and Religeous Preists preaching vnto them in this Persecution maketh it euident that they conuerted that People and those Scottish Monks being of the same Order came from them there liuing preaching and dying as is before remembred For the Scots being also instructed then in the faith by these Monks the first of that profession and Institution there could haue no Monks of that Order but from them And S. Bede speaking of S. Oswald his time saith this I le was giuen by the Picts to these Monks iam dudum long before and yet before that dudum long Bed supr l. 3. c. 3. time that Iland receaued the faith by those Monks illis praedicantibus fidem Christi perceperunt THE XIX CHAPTER THE RETVRNE OF S. AMPHIBALVS FROM the Scots to the Britans his comming to the house of S. Alban at Verolamium and preaching vnto him the miraculous vision and Conuersion of S. Alban their exceeding zeale and deuotion and deliuery of S. Amphibalus at that time 1. SAmphibalus and our other holy Preists and Religeous men hauing thus happily begun their preaching to the Scots and Picts and obtayned happy successe therein allthough this renowned Bishop was so well safely and honorably prouided for by that most worthie King Crathlint and S. Amphibalus his returne into Britaine from the Scots knew by so certaine experience before both the miseries which all Christians in this our Britaine endured vnder the persecuting Tyrant and the extreame hatred they bore vnto him aboue others endeuouring by all meanes they could to putt him to cruell death yet neyther could these certaine dangers feare or hinder him nor any honour quiet or securitie perswade and moue him so to continue but as Moses whose life being sought in Egipt and his friends and Countrymen there persecuted would rather goe to be persecuted with them then liue in peace and honour with Iethro his Father in Lawe saying he would returne thither vadam reuertar ad fratres Exod. c. 4. meos in Aegiptum So S. Amphibalus allthough God did not saye vnto him as to Moyses that all they which sought his life were dead Mortui sunt omnes qui quaerebant animam tuam But he knew the contrary they were all still liuing and still raging in their madd fury against him and all the Seruants of Christ in this his Country and Egipt He tooke the best Order he could with that greate and high chardge and honour he had among the Scots instructing and directing his holy Preists and brethren there in their sacred labours returned hither againe to comfort the distressed Christians help to lift them vp againe which were fallen and conuert the misbeleeuers and himselfe to suffer all afflictions and death how cruell soeuer in that most glorious cause Long and painfull was his Iorney from the I le of Man by Sea and Land to many places which he visited in that his preaching and Pilgrimadge passing for the most part by and lodging in the Woods Deserts and Dens where the persecuted Christians then liued sustayned with such food as they liued by seldome and then not without exceeding danger otherwise fedd and harboured For his comfort and company in this his preaching and professing of Christ crucified and imitating our blessed Sauiour in his trobles torments he carryed still with him a Crucifixe Imadge of Christ crucified and fixed to his holy Crosse crucem Domini secum habebat 2. Matthew the Monke of Westminster saith the Roman Histories are silent euen
of the name of this glorious man which the Brittish Antiquities notwithstanding doe expressely set downe Istius Clerici nomen licet Romanae Matth Westm An. gratiae 303. taceant Historiae in Historia Britonum tamen expressè continetur Which were Title enough to claime him to be of this kingdome But this Authour is deceaued herein for allthough in the Roman Martyrologe there is no more memory of his name and calling but onely this that he was Clericus a Clergie man yet Iacobus Bishop of Genua and so to be termed of that Citie in Italy a Roman Writer and writing fourescore yeares or thereabouts before Matthew our Monke testifieth that his name was Amphibalus a Britan of Iacob Genuen in Vita S. Amphibali Harris Manuscr Hist of Brit l. 3. c. 35. this kingdome and sonne to a Prince thereof relating his History and life at lardge But our Monke might without blame be ignorant of that Authour And this forreyne Bishop addeth that he went from hence to Rome with Bassianus in the time of Seuerus and was there knighted amongst that Noble A Monastory now at Caermerden and S. Amphibalus a Monk◠there and probably Bishop there company most of this Nation recompted in number 1540. of which S. Alban was also one And that S. Amphibalus was there made Preist by the Pope of Rome and sent home into this his Country Giraldus Cambrensis saith he was borne at Caerlegion the renowned Citie and Schoole in Wales Fuit Amphibalus hinc Caerlegion oriundus So haue diuers others The old Manuscript Antiquitie of the Church of Winchester saith he was an holy Monke Girald Cambr. Itiner Camb. l. 1. c. 5. Dauid Powell Annot. ib. in c. 4. descr Cambriae Annal Manuscr Eccl. Wintonien and Doctour in the Church of Caermerdin in Wales Amphibalus sanctus Monachus Doctor in Ecclesia Caermerdin alias nominata Ciuitas Merlini in Wallia And this is the last certaine place of his Residency which that Antiquitie giueth vnto him before his Persecution and going to the Scots and so it seemeth not vnprobable but he was also Bishop of that Citie Caermerdin or without question of some other Citie heare For otherwise how he could be consecrated Bishop among the Scots by whose Annals he is before accompted the first Bishop they had resident among them is not so easie to be resolued except we should coniecture that he was consecrated among the Scots by other Brittish Bishops then flying vnto them for which we doe not finde any warrant in Histories to vphold vs in that opinion And there is a silence in all Martyrologes and Authours of that time of any S. Amphibalus but this our renowned Britan and both the Scottish and our owne Historians haue proued vnto vs that he was a Bishop and of this our Britaine How reuerend a man he was now for yeares aswell as for vertue and learning we may know if we reflect vpon that which is said before that he was knighted with Bassianus and consecrated Preist by Saint Zepherine Pope who was Martyred in or about the 218. yeare of Christ by all accompts so that allowing S. Amphibalus then the youngest yeares wherein preisthood may be giuen and this his and others Persecution heare in Britaine to haue bene in such time as I haue set downe before we must needs graunt S. Amphibalus now to haue bene allmost 100. yeares of Age and much more if we should with some deferre his Martyrdome to the begining of the fourth next following Age. 3. But this most worthie Bishop thus in all respects so reuerend and now loaden with the burden of many yeares feeble in body fainted not in his holy profession in preaching Christ and being now come so long a Iorney as betweene the I le of Man and Verulamium where S. Albans now standeth and by all writers being pursued by his persecutours was driuen thither being then a Municipall place all professing Roman Paganisme and then there vpon named Caermunicip and not without the greate mercy of God and harbowred by his old acquaintance and fellowe in Chiualrie Alban a man eminent in that Citie and descended from Noble Romans erat Albanus ciuis verolamius vir eminens in ciuitate ex illustri Romanorum Prosapia originem ducēs he boldly preached Christ vnto him though a man in that eminency vnder the Roman Pagan persecutors that some though not perhaps with greatest warrant haue termed him high Steward of the Britans And allthough this Engl. Martyrol die 22. Iunij Noble Alban did for old acquaintance or Hospitalitie sake courteously entertaine and releeue him hic sanctum Virum hospitio benignè suscipiens vitae necessaria S. Amphibalus preacheth at Verolamium to be Alban ministrauit yet when S. Amphibalus began to speake of Iesus Christ the sonne of God and Incarnate for mans Redemption he was so farre off from being a Christian that he had scarcely heard of Christ before but said this testimony of Christ was strange vnto him Quis est inquit iste filius Dei quid est quod Deus natus esse asseritur noua sunt haec mihi hactenus inaudita And S. Amphibalus more particularly declaring the mysteries of Christ his Natiuitie Passion Resurrection and Ascension Alban was yet so farre from beleeuing that he told S. Amphibalus he was madd to preach such things that vnderstanding did not apprehend nor reason allowe and if the Citizēs of that place did know what he speake concerning Christ they would most cruelly putt him to death and feared much that he would fall into troble before he could goe forth of his house Albanus ait quid est quod loqueris Insanis nescio quid dicis Assertionem tuam non capit intellectus ratio non admittit Si noscent viri huius ciuitatis te talia locutum fuisse de Christo sine mora pessima morte te occiderent Ego vero pro te omnino sollicitus ne quid tibi contingat aduersi priusquam de domo mea recesseris vehementer pertimesco But what the preaching of Saint Amphibalus S. Alban his holy vision to persuade him to be a Christian preuailed not in his earnest prayer and watching obtained of God for Alban For as the old Brittish Writer of his life liuing in that time relateth this History S. Amphibalus watching in prayers all the night following a strange and admirable vision appeared to Alban with which he being exceedingly terrified and perplexed he presently arose and went to S. Amphibalus thus declaring his vision and desiring the exposition thereof in this order and these words in English O my Friend if the things which thou preachest of Christ are true I beseech the be not afrayde to tell vnto me the true meaning of my dreame or vision I did attēd and behold a man came frō heauē whome a greate or vnnumerable multitude of men apprehended and layed diuers kinds of Tormēts vpon him His
So these were not one and the same but two distinct Martyrdomes for time place parsons and other circumstances different onely in number agreeing So I must likewise say of a third Martyrdome of so many Christians neare to Verolamium of which I shall speake when I bring S. Amphibalus thither againe Who at this bloody Massacre being compassed round about with the bodies of his Christian hearers thus martyred commended their blessed soules to God Sanctus Amphibalus vallatus corporibus occisorum beatas animas Domino commendabat THE XXIII CHAPTER THE MARTYRDOME OF S. AMPHIBALVS and many others with him or at that time and place and wonderfull numbers conuerted then to Christ by the Miracles then there shewed 1. THese bloody persecutors hauing thus barbarously and without Matth. Westm an 303. Manuscr Antiq. in Vita S. Amphibali Iac. Genuen Cap. grau in eod all compassion of Lynage kyndred friendship Country or whatsoeuer relation of loue or mercy put these holy Saints to death they now powre out the bottome of their malice vppon S. Amphibalus neyther regarding his Noble descent before remembred venerable and old yeares learning or whasoeuer but binde his armes with thonges and driue him barefooted before their horses so longe a Iorney from the Borders of Britaine where they apprehended him vnto the Citie of Verolam where the Prefect and Lieutenant then was resident Brachia loris dirissimis cōstringentes ante equos suos versus Ciuitatem Verolamium nudis incedere pedibus compulerunt And as they thus contemptibly carried him barefooted and bound a sicke man lyeing in the way in the sight and hearing of them all cried out vnto him ô Thou seruant of God almightie help mee that I which lye oppressed by my owne infirmitie may be releeued by thy intercession For I doe beleeue that by thy calling vppon the name of Christ thou art able presently to restore my health vnto mee And forthwith the man which lay thus sicke before the eyes of them all arose vp ioyfull and perfectly well 2. When these wicked Pagan persecutors had thus barbarously brought him within the sight of the Walles of the Cytie as though this holy Saint had bene vnworthie to enter into it and their troopes so greate by that is said before that they could not conueniently be receaued therein they stay themselues as it were pitching their Tents in a place then desart now called Redburne three miles from S. Albans throwing downe their sheelds and sticking their speares in the ground scuta reclinant hastas telluri defigunt And thus resting themselues onely S. Amphibalus rested not but preached continually the doctrine of Saluation to his enemies Who in the meanetime gaue notice to the Prince and those of the Citie of their returne and bringing with thē the Instructor of S. Alban and that they had put all those Christians before spoken off to death in the vttermost parts of the kingdome after their long Iorney thither Which when the Gouernour heard he called the people together and thus exhorted them Let vs all goe forth and meete our enemy that he which offended may receaue reuenge of vs all And so hasting forth striuing as it were who should goe first went by the way leading of the North tendentes per viam quae de Ciuitate vertit ad Aquilonem as our Antiquities say the better to set downe the old place and situation of that aūcient Citie which they then left almost vacant vrbem ferè vacuam reliquerunt And comming in this raging madnes and multitude to torment and Martyr this S. Amphibalus Martyred holy Saint they finde him all wrapped in chaines or bonds vinculis irretitum and presently stripped him naked slitt his belly and pull out his Intrals tying them to a stake which thy had fastned in the ground enforcing him to be ledd round about it And the holy Saint of God shewing no signe of greife at all among such and so many afflictions the wicked persecutors more thereby enraged sett him for a marke as it were and with their kniues and speares pearced and brake the rest of his body After all which this holy Martyr stood with as chearefull a countenance as if he had suffered no hurt at all and more constant though he now bore the signes of his Martyrdome in all his body Giuing a miraculous spectacle of himselfe that he could still liue after so great Torments and so many kindes of death Whereupon very many beholding and more and more wondering at the constancie of the blessed Martyr renouncing their Idols submitted themselues to Christian faith and prayed Many conuerted to Christ at S. Amphibalus martyrdome And prayer to martyrs with a loude voyce to God that by the merits and intercession of the blessed Martyr they might be worthie to be partakers of euerlasting life Which when the Prince perceaued and knew he presently called for the Tormentors and commanded all that had reiected and forsaken the worship of Iacob Genuens in Vita S. Amphibali Manuscriptum Antiq. Capgr in eod their Gods and embraced the doctrine of Amphibalus to be put to death 3. Which sauage Edict the Pagā souldiars effected killed a thousand such S. Amphibalus beholding it and commending their soules to God and persuading his persecutors to renounce their errors and be conuerted to Christ without whom no saluation can be had nothing but Hell and eternall damnation A thousand of the conuerted now to Christ are martyred with S. Amphibalus to be expected But the Persecutors did still perseuer in their impietie not ceasing so to torment this holy Saint with cruell stoning him besides so many torturs before remembred that when his body was afterward miraculously found there was not one whole bone to be found in it Nullum ex ossibus eius integrum appárebat Allthough it seemeth by the History of his life that many of his bones were broken with stones by these his so enraged Persecutors that after his blessed soule was separated from his body thus lying still bound and tyed they ceased not to breake it more with their casting greate stones vpon it Pagani Corpus exanime in vinculis constitutum lapidibus adhuc obruere con cessabant But so long as he liued in such extremitie of Torments as I haue related allthough the stones were cast at him as thick as hayle saxorum grandine as some write he still preserued in prayer neuer mouing himselfe on one side or other nec in partem alteram declinauit And being now come to the Periode of his punishments and to yeeld his soule to God looking towards heauen as an other S. Stephen saw Iesus standing on the right hand of his Father and heard a consorte of Angels in heauen and among them knew S. Alban whome he inuocated to assist him Saying ô holy Alban pray vnto our God that he will send a good Angell to meete mee that the dreadfull Robber lett mee not nor the wicked
Engl. l. 4. c. 27. Stowe Howes Hist Titul Romans in Coil Galfr. Mon. lib. 5. c. 6. Hist Reg. Bâ—â—t and pleased them in vexing and tormenting Christians heare in Britaine yet otherwise he was very vnpleasing to them per omnia Romanam potestatem turhauerat He troubled the Roman Power in all things and therefore they were glad of his death Ponticus Virunnius himselfe a Roman saith they did esteeme him their greate enemy and as for such an one reioyced of his death Romani gauisi sunt tanto hoste interfecto And this Ioy was not onely of particular Roman Persecutours but of the whole Senate which ruled cheifely in matters of Estate Cumque id Senatui nuntiatum est gauisi sunt propter Regis mortem quia per omnia Romanam potestatem turbauerat Therefore when our Antiquities assure vs that Coel obtinuit Regnum obtayned the kingdome Regni diademate se insigniuit And Regni diademate potitus was Crowned and as an old French Manuscript speaketh reigned ouer Britaine regna sur Bretaigne and was thus enabled and made powerable to redresse what he found offensiue and wicked being absolute King and ioyfully so receaued of the Britans as our Historian said before Wherefore Britains were all full glad and fain Of King Coilus that succoured all their pain And he himselfe taking exceptioÌ„ to Asclepiodotus next to his chardging him with vsurping the Crowne for being too barkward in resisting the RomaÌ„ persecutors would not now fall into the like error with him but as is proued already succoured all their paine vtterly ceased the PersecutioÌ„ against the ChristiaÌ„s of Britaine which were thus Ioyfull of his CoronatioÌ„ thereby releiued redeemed theÌ„ froÌ„ their afflictioÌ„s all his time Which both by our owne forreine HistoriaÌ„s Catholikes ProtestaÌ„ts coÌ„tinued to the end of this third huÌ„dred of yeares the RomaÌ„s hauing no power heare either to persecute ChristiaÌ„s or to any other purpose But as our Brittish other Histories testifie wholy lost their gouernmeÌ„t heare vntill after the death of King Coel or the coÌ„ming of CoÌ„staÌ„tius his sonne in Law hither the second time very litle before King Coel his death Recolentes damnum quod de amisso regno habuerant Our Scottish Historians say that King Coel vtterly destroyed both the Romans and all the Britans also which were their Fauourers and set forth a seuere Edict to search forth all Romans and Britans which had followed them heare and caused them to be punished and put to death and so with most ioyfull and generall applause of the people Nobles and others that the crowne of Britaine was thus restored to the true Heyre of their Regall blood was crowned King and Hector Boeth Scot. Hist l. 6. f. 101. he established the kingdome in the Brittish gouernmeÌ„t againe Coel Victor factus Asclepiodotum Romanum Legatum cum Romanis Praesidijs quibusdam Britanis Nobilibus Romanorum fautoribus interemit Confectoque praelio Britonibus caeteris in fidem receptis vt summa potestas ad regiam progeniem cui impie fuerat adempta aliquando rediret populus omnis laetis acclamationibus Patribus authoribus ipsum Coelem regnare iubet Ille Primoribus regni ac populo quod regnum sibi detulissent gratijs actis vt regnum sibi stabiliret atroci iubet Edicto Romanos qui eorum sequebantur partes quoscunque Britannici sanguinis viros perquiri inuentos varijs extingui supplicijs So that now so seuere a Lawe being made and executed both against the persecuting Romans and all such Britans as had ioyned with them against the Christian Inhabitants of this Nation and all this done by the Authoritie of our King and with the consent both of the Nobilitie and people Primoribus regni populo we must needs end the persecution of Christians heare with the beginning of King Coel his Reigne 5. And it could not be singular in this point if we should hold that King Coel was actually a Christian and not onely a friend to such for first all they which affirme him to haue bene Kinsman or Heyre to our first Christian King S. Lucius easily proue him a Christian for such a man would not leade either child or any Kinsman which by him had that Title to haue any other theÌ„ Christian education Secondly by the time of his age whether he was to King Lucius so neare or no we must needs confesse he liued most part of his life when Christianitie florished in this kingdome being an aged man before Dioclesian his PersecutioÌ„ began Thirdly our Historians say that his daughter S. Helen which had her education by his direction was instructed taught in the Christian faith in fide Catholica instructa at que edoÌ„cta A late writer thus speaketh of this with his older Author Helena was first instructed in the faith of Manuscript antiq in Vit. S. Helenae Capgr in ead Harris Hist l. 4. c. 4. Petr. de Natal l. 7. c. 73. Christ by Coil her father as Petrus de Natalibus saith And yet if we encline to this opinion we may easely answeare them that will obiect the publike vniuersall restitution of Christian Religion as building Churches Monasteries and such holy Foundations was not in his time For by the common opinion his reigne was short litle or not aboue foure yeares A great part whereof was spent in extirpating the Persecutors and the rest in preparation Matth. Westm an 302. Galfrid Mon. l. 5. Hist c. 6. Virun l. 5. Harding Chron. c. 60. f. 48. to resist a new Inuasion of the Romans not reigning in quiet and securitie from these troubles and feares the space of two moneths by any Writers And so after so great and terrible tempest of Persecution it was a wonderfull comfort and happines for the Brittish Christians to enter into such a calme and quiet to liue in securitie and rest freed from their former miseries vnder so renowned a King which was all he could doe or they expect in such times and circumstances THE ECCLESIASTICALL HISTORIE OF GREAT BRITAINE THE FOVRTH AGE THE ECCLESIASTICALL HISTORIE OF GREAT BRITAINE THE FOVRTH AGE THE FIRST CHAPTER OF THE GREATE PEACE AND QVIET THE Church of Britaine enioyed during the whole life and Reigne of Constantius Emperor and King heare in Britaine and Constantine his sonne by Sainct Helen was heare brought vp in Christian Religion 1. BEING now to enter into the History of the fourth hundreth of yeares we finde the estate of the world and Church of Christ as we left theÌ„ in the last Age S. Marcellinus Pope of Rome cheife Ruler in the house of God on earth the holy Cleargy and other Christians liuing in Persecution and Dioclesian MaximiniaÌ„ the persecuting Emperors in all places where they did or could ouersway afflicting them with most cruell miseries in Britaine lately redeemed from their bloody tyranny by King Coel still reigning heare we liued still in rest and quietnesse free both from
publikly acted with so many circumstances which could Constantine without all doubt baptized by S. Siluester Pope at Rome not be concealed in the greate commanding Citie of the world by the sole Emperour thereof and S. Syluester the highest Ruler in the Church of Christ testified by almost all Ecclesiasticall Historians too many to be remembred being recompted to be aboue 40. Classicall Christian Writers for this matter Iodoc. Cocc in the saur Cathol Tom. 1. l. 7. art 9. omitting many of greate name Antiquitie and Authoritie The Pagans themselues euen of the same Age as Ammianus Marcellinus Zosimus and others giue plaine Testimony vnto it the first expressely speaketh of Constantins Fonte Constantinianum Lauacrum in Rome The other setteth downe Ammian Marc. lib. 27. cap. 2. the whole History at lardge after his ethick manner Zosomen also testifieth that this History was common among the Pagan Writers in his time memoratum Zosom lib. 2. de Constantino Zosom Hist Eccles l. 1. c. 5. R. Abrah leuit in Chron. Iudaic. R. Abrah Esra in c. 11. Daniel Michael Glycas part 4. Annal. à gentilibus And the Iewes also euen their most malitious against Christians as R. Abraham Leuita and R. Abraham Aben Esra doe confesse and proue the same So doe the best Greeke Historians Theophanes Metaphrastes Zonaras Cedrenus Glycas Nicephorus and others Some of these as Michael Glycas calling them Arian Heretiks who say he was baptized at Nicomedia by the Arian Bishop thereof Ariani quidam constanter asserunt eum ab Epicopo Nicomediae baptizatum esse and saith it is out of doubt that he was baptized at Rome his Baptistery there still continuing to proue it inuincibly true Non dubium est quin magni Imperatoris huius Baptisterium quod adhuc Romae conspicitur illustri ratione veritatem commonstret So haue the rest And Theop. Ceram supr in Chrono Theophanes plainely saith this was one of the Arian Heretiks fictions and lyes against Constantine to staine his glory vntruely with And their Authenticall publikly receaued Menologion of the Greeke Church doth not onely say that S. Syluester baptized Constantine at Rome clensing him both from his Leprosy of Soule and body Syluester propter summum virtutis gradum Menol. Graecor Kalend. Ianuar. defunsto Melchiade antiquiori Romae creatus est Episcopus Hic multorum patrator Miraculorum Constantinum Magnum ad fidem conuertit cum animae corporis Constantine a Saint with the Greeks in their Menologie morbos diuino Baptismate ab eo expulisset but it receaueth and enrolleth this Glorious Emperour in the Catalogue of holy Saints and so he is generally honoured among them and in the Latine Church his name was euer enrolled in the Ecclesiasticall Tables called Dyptica and publikly recited at Masse Nichol. Papa Epis ad Michael Imperatorem which was not allowed to any but Orthodoxe and holy Christians 6. Therefore he must needs be free from all such suspition wherewith those suspected Gretians haue charged him the cheifest of them Eusebius as I haue proued before contradicting himself herein and making Constantine a professed Christian receauing Sacraments many yeares before this pretended Baptisme at his death Therefore I may worthely say of this renowned Emperour with our learned and auncient Historian That he was the flower of Henric. Hunt Hist l. 1. in Constantino Harding Chro. c. 63. f. 50. Britaine a Britan by blood a Britan by Country before whome and after whome neuer any the like went out of Britaine Constantinus flos Britanniae hic Britannicus genere patria ante quem nec post similis est egressus de Britannia And an other in his olde Poeme of the same our renowned King and Emperour first testifing he was baptized at Rome by Pope Syluester and there cured of his Leprosie addeth He died after that at Nichomeid In Cataloge among the Saintes noumbred Of May the twentie and one day indede Vnder shryne buryed and subumbred Among all Christen Kings worthy to be remembred Whose day and feast the Greekes haue eche yeare Solâ—mply as for a Saint full clere Our old English Chronicle also testifieth of this Emperour This Constantine Old Engl. Hist part 4. f. 38. was a glorious maÌ„ and a Victorious in Battayle In gouerning of the comyn people he was very wise and in the necessitie of byleue he was without comparison deuoute his piete and his holynes be so written in the bookes of holy Doctors that without doubte he is to he nobred amoÌ„g Saintes And the Greekes say that in the end of his life he was made a Monke S. Aldem saith greate Constantine was corporally and spiritually S. Aldelm lib. de Laudib Virgin c. 12. cured in Baptisme at Rome by S. Syluester Imperatoris Constantini diuturna valetudo Elephantiosa corporis incommoditas accepto baptismatis Sacramento a S. Syluestro citius curata est And as Niphorus a Gretian writerh this is Niceph. Hist l. 7. c. 35. l. 8. c. 5. 4. the consent of the whole Church that he was baptized at Rome by S. Syluester Ecclesia a Syluestro eum Romae baptizatum esse certo praedicat And againe nos Ecclesiae vinuersali consentientes Romae eum sacro Lauacro tinctum esse Siluestro administram ei imponente manum diximus THE VI. CHAPTER THAT S. HELEN EVER PROFESSED HERself a Christian neuer ioyned with but against the Iewes Was in Britaine when Constantine was baptized in Rome and after going from Britaine to Rome was there with Constantine present at the Roman Councell consenting to the Decrees thereof 1. THIS our Triumphant Emperor and glory of Britaine hauing thus victoriously conquered his spirituall as well as corporall Enemies and by Baptisme thus happily made so glorious and profitable a member of the Church of Christ the ioyfull newes and tydings thereof was soone diffused and knowne to the holy Christians though farr distant from Rome as that thing they most desired to be effected and as much reioyced to heare it was so religiously performed And among the rest his blessed mother S. Helen then lyuing heare in Britaine her natif Contry after the death of her husband Constantius dying heare who as before had in the best manner she could instructed her sonne Constantine in the true Christian Religion and desired nothing more then to vnderstand he publikly and with so greate zeale now openly professed that which she had so often and earnestly exhorted him vnto was not a litle ioyed with the certaine notice hereof And with all hast she could prepared herself for so long a Iorney by her corporall presence to be both a more effectuall partaker and encreaser of such Christian comforts And to giue argument of her Ioyes by message in the meane time writing vnto him from Britaine as our Antiquaties affirme and among other things to expresse her greate zeale in Christian Religion and to exhort her sonne to the like vnderstanding of
yeare of Christ Constantine baptized before the calling thereof he must needs be baptized long sooner then the 324. yeare of Christ 4. I add further that it is euident both by Eusebius Socrates Sozomen and others auncient and by Baronius and Spondanus themselues that the yeare of dissoluing and ending the Nicen Councell did occurre with the 20. yeare Eusebius l. 3. de Vita Constant cap. 14. 15. l. 4. c. 40. 47. Socrates l. 1. c. 12. Sozomen Histor l. 1. ca. 24. of the Empire of Constātine wherein his greate Feast of vicenalia kept euery tenth yeare of an Emperour was celebrated after the Councell was ended his rebus a Concilio ad hunc modum decretis accidit vt dies festus iam anno vigesimo Imperij Constantini vertente ageretur erat enim Romanis in more positum vt decimo quoque anno Imperij cuiusque Imperatoris diem festum celeberrimo hominum conuentu agitarent Thus hath Sozomen and Socrates is plaine that this great Festiuitie of the twenteth yeares Reigne of Constantine which Baronius Spondanus with others affirme to be the 325. yeare of Christ was begun and celebrated after the Nicen Councell was ended Imperator post confectum Concilium Socrat. lib. 1. Sup. festum solemne ad vigesimum annum Imperij sui vt assolet celebrauerat Therefore if this great Feast and solemnitie continuing all that yeare was not begun vntill the Councell was ended and yet celebrated in that 325. yeare of Christ wherein they say this generall Councell was onely kept and ended we haue neither a whole yeare nor any greate parte of it for celebrating the Nicen Councell in the same yet if a whole yeare could be assigned hearevnto Baron Spond Annal. an 325. §. 3 I should not be bold to say with Baronius and Spondanus that this Councell was begun and ended in one yeare and that no Antiquitie alloweth more vnto it then a yeare Affirmanda est vno eodem que anno inchoata ac pariter consummata nec apud Antiquiores vllum est reperire exemplū quod vltra annum Synodus perdurauit For besides the reasons before made Baronius and Spondanus §. 2. supr An. 325. Euseb in Chron. Niceph. lib. 8. ca. 26. Metaphrast apud Lipom. confesse that both Eusebius Nicephorus and others write otherwise Eusebius saith it began the 15. yeare of Constantine By the others it held about three yeares Synodus Niceae annis tribus paulo longius est acta 5. To these I add of our owne Antiquaries Florentius Wigorniensis Matthew of Westminster and others The Monke of Westminster saith that Constantine was baptized by S. Syluester at Rome in the yeare of Christ 318. Matth. Westm an gratiae 318. 320. Florent Wigorn Chron. an 306. 315. 319. anno gratiae 318. and the Councell of Nice was called in the yeare 320. anno gratiae 320. Florentius writeth that Constantine was baptized Christian and by S. Syluester Pope 8. yeares before the Nicen Councell was called and that this Councell was called fiue yeares before the vicenalia feast yeare of that Emperour when as before it ended Marianus Scotus writeth in the yeare of Marian. Scot. aetat 6. l. 2. An. 321. 322. Christ 321. that then the baptizing of Constantine by S. Syluester Pope was knowne in Britaine as no late thing and citing Sainct Bede for the same setteth downe the calling of the Nicen Councell to haue bene in the yeare 322. three yeares before the agreed time of the ending thereof One of our old Manuscript Histories saith that Constantine releeued the Church of Manuscript antiq An. 312. Christ in the 312. yeare of his Natiuitie Anno Domini 312. Constantinus Magnus Ecclesiam Christi releuauit Anastasius Bibliothecarius saith Constantine was baptized in the 18 yeare of his Empire Constantinus Anno 18. Imperij sui est baptizatus Cedrenus saith it was done by S. Syluester in the seuenth yeare of Anastas Biblioth Chron. Georg. Cedren in Constantino Flor. Wigorn. sup his Reigne Septimo Imperij sui anno Magnus Constantinus a Syluestro sanctissimo Romae Papa baptizatus Lepraque hoc pacto liberatus est Our Contry man Florentius Wigorniensis maketh him a baptized Christian and by S. Syluester in the same seuenth yeare of his Empire when as before all Persecution ceased in the West Empire Berengosius also is of the same minde writing that Constantine presently vpon his vision of the Crosse and Victory against Maxentius being the same seuenth yeare of his Reigne presently sent for S. Syluester and was baptized by him Constantinus autem ad placandum totius operis Berengos de Inuent Crucis l. 2. cap. 3. Damasus in vita S. Syluestri To. 1. Concil Martyrolog Roman die 31. Decemb. Menolog Graec. eod die Baron Annal. An. Christi 312. An. Constantin 7. Euseb Histor l. 10. cap. 1. 6. 7. Binnius Annot. in Concil Rom. Tom. 1. Concil Baron An. D. 313 Constant 8. Augustin Epist 152. collat cap. 3. Epistol Constātini apud Euseb l. 10. Histor cap. 5 Euseb supr c. 5. cap. 6. opificem continuo ad se Romanum fecit accersiri Pontificem a quo confirmatus baptizatus And S. Damasus or whosoeuer the auncient Writer of the Popes liues asscribing many yeares and Acts to S. Syluester setteth downe this of his baptizing Constantine for the first of all So doth the old Roman Marty raloge and Menologion of the Greekes also And Baronius himselfe confesseth that in this his very seuenth yeare Constantine set forth many Edicts both for the restoring the goods of Christians Priuiledges and Immunities of their Cleargie as also to releeue the Christians that had bene persecuted out of his owne Treasure And the next yeare after he gaue to Pope Melchiades immediate Predecessor to S. Syluester his Palace Lateran in Rome to be his See and allowed Appeales vnto him euen of the Bishops of Africke as namely in the cause of Caecilianus Bishop of Carthage with aboue 20. other Bishops with him wrote his letters to Pope Melchiades to that purpose to heare iudge and decide the cause His particular Epistle vnto him about that busines is extant in Eusebius so is his Decree and order giuen to Anilinus Proconsul of Africke to commande him presently vpon the receite of those his letters he should cause all goods that had bene taken away in any Citie or other place from Christians and their Churches to be restored to them againe whosoeuer vsurped them and giueth him strickt charge and command herein 6. There also be other commands of his one to Cecilianus Bishop of Carthage signifing vnto him that he had giuen commandement to Vrsus Prefect of Africke that greate summes of money should be giuen to the Christians of Africke Numidia and Mauritania and he should see it distributed according as he had giuen him direction sent vnto him by Osius before The cap. 7. other is to Anilinus before named commanding him that all
monumentum id esset Insulam totam Romano Imperatori aliquando paruisse And plainely confesse that in Britaine diuers yeares he behaued himselfe and in all mens Iudgment gouerned vertuously corageously and as a good Emperor ought to doe Maximus probè strenuè Augustoque omnium sententia dignum Magistratum in Albione aliquot annos gessisset And that both the Christian Britans Harris Histor Eccl. Tom. 4. Baron Spond Annal. in Maximo and Picts the onely then Inhabitants heare did meruailously well loue him Britones ac Picti mirificè Maximum Imperatorem diligere His Brittish wife Queene and Empresse daughter of Octauius is commended in Histories to haue bene a very vertuous Lady 7. Maximus being dead Theodosius the Elder as he was Emperor so Theodosius Emperor commendad King and Ruler in Britaine this man is most renowned in Histories for his honoring the Church especially of Rome and hate of Heresies his prayses be too many among Catholike Writers therefore I will onely and breifely vse Protestants testimonies in his behalfe in their owne words Theodosius the Elder the most Christian Emperor Theodosius did open pennance in Millan and Stowe Howes Hist Tit. Rom. in Theodosio Magdebur cent 4. c. 7. col 568. fasted and prayed eight Moneths together according as Saint Ambrose had enioyned him because in the first yeare of his Empire he had commanded fiue thousand Citizens of Thessalonica to be slayne and for executing the Innocent with the wicked in forme of ciuill iustice therefore the Archbishop would not permit him to enter into the Church nor to receaue the Sacrament vntill he had performed his pennance What Sacrament this was which he might not receaue and good Christians Magdebur cent 4. c. 10. Theod. Hist l. 6. cap. 8. Sozom. l. 7. cap. 24. Ambros apud eosd supr then receaued the Protestants of Germany doe tell vs from Theodoret Sozomen and S. Ambrose himselfe that it was the most sacred Body of our Lord and his pretius Blood Sacratissimum Domini corpus pretiosus Domini sanguis And that S. Ambrose did not admitte him to Sacraments vâ—â—ill after long pennance in the place of penitents he prostrated himselfe on the pauement The B. Sacrament of the Altare Christs most holy boby and pretious blood in the Church Portch and with teares desired absolution Nec post tantum temporis receptus prius est nisi ab Ambrosio iterum duriter reprehensus doloris sui in templi vestibulo in pauimentum se deijciens plorans certa fecit indicia ac in loco paenitentium subsistere non recusit And yet they more plainely and pathetically thus deliuer from many renowned Authors the greate and austeere Magdebur cent 4. cap. 7. cap. 3. Theodor. l. 5. c. 17. Sozom l. 7. c. 24. Paul Diac. lib. 13. Aug. l. 5. de ciuitate Dei c. 26. humble pennance of this Emperor before he was reconciled by S. Ambrose peccatum suum agnoscens octo luxit mensibus quo paenitentiae curriculo completo ad Templum postea cum lachrymis redijt Domino supplicans non stans nec genu flectens sed in terram pronum se prosternens ac sic cum Dauide orans adhaesit pauimento anima mea viuifica me Domine secundum verbum tuum Surgens verò manibus barbam capillos euellit frontem caecidit pauimentum lachrymis suis conspersit ac veniam tandem petens receptus ab Ambrosio est populo pro eo deprecante And yet this most Christian Catholike and Religious Emperor as these Protestants stile him was so farre from sicking to exempt himselfe from the censure of S. Ambrose neither Pope nor Patriarke but onely Bishop of Millan hauing no iurisdiction at Thessalonica in Greece where the offencâ— was committed but for Millan where the Emperor then was resident oâ— disobey S. Ambrose reiect or persecute him as diuers late meaner Princes of the new Sect haue vsed higher Prelates and Popes that he most humbly submitted himselfe to his Censure religiously performed his enioyned pennance And as these Protestant Historians from Antiquitie confesse S. Ambrose was of all others the most worthie Bishop in Theodosius iudgment and Magdebur cent 4. cap. 10. col 1169. beloued of all the Emperors in his time euen Honorius sonne to this Theodosius Quà m charus fuerit quinque laudatissimis Imperatoribus Valentiniano maiori Gratiano Valentiniano Iuniori Theodosio Honorio cum quibus omnibus familiarissimè vixit non est opus commemorare Theodosium de eo dixisse Sozomenus Sozom. l. 5. cap. 18. retulit nosse scilicet se solum Ambrosium dignum Episcopi nomine And yet neither Theodosius the Emperor nor any of the others remembred for S. Ambrose his acquaintance in his time nor he himselfe did either in the iudgment of any learned Protestants or others deny or doubt of but plainely and religiously confessed and practized the doctrine of the Supremacy of the Popes of Rome in spirituall affaires Three of those Emperors Gratianus Valentinianus Edict Gratiani Valentiniani Theodos Impp. l. 1. C. de summa Trinitate fide Catholica and this Theodosius ioyned together in this Lawe for all vnder the Roman Empire among which the Britans heare were contained to exercise and professe that holy Christian Religion which S. Peter deliuered to the RomaÌ„s the Popes there had there published and S. Damasus then Pope did followe CuÌ„ctos populos quos clemeÌ„tiae nostrae regit ImperiuÌ„ in tali volumus religione versari quam D. Petrum ApostoluÌ„ tradidisse Romanis Religio vsque adhuc ab ipso insinuata Honorius the last Emperor that reigned in Britaine declarat quamque PontificeÌ„ Damasum sequi claret Honorius soÌ„ne of Theodosius being the last Emperor in this Age the last of all which reigned in Britaine was of his Fathers minde in this dutie towards the Roman See as is manifest Honour Imper. Epist ad Bonif. Pap. Tom. 1. Concil Ambros ad cap. 3. 1. ad Timoth. both by his Epistle to Pope Bonifacius the first and S. Ambrose so beloued of him who testifieth that the Church is the house of God and the Pope of Rome then Damasus the Gouernor thereof Ecclesia est domus Dei cuius hodie Rector est Damasus Such is the doctrine of all the renowned Fathers both Greeke and Latine in this learned Age S. Gregories Nazianzen Nicen S. Basile S. Chrysostome The Popes of Rome then as thâ— Emperors of the same Religion with the presaÌ„t Roman Church S. Ierome S. Augustin Optatus Prudentius and others 8. The holy Popes which succeeded to S. Liberius and Felix before remembred in this Age were sainct Damasus and sainct Siricius knowne to haue bene famous Professors and aduancers as our Protestant Antiquaries acknowledge of that Religion which with them is termed Papistry Damasus say these men was an holy Confessor a diligent Supputator of times and he set Io. Bal. l. 1. de Act.
Romanor Pontif. in Damaso Robert Barns l. de vit Pontif. Roman in Damaso Magdeburgen cent 4. cap. 7. Manuscr Ant. in Biblioth public Cantabrig Iames l. 1. de Manuscr Bâ—d Martyrolog in mulâ— Pontif. Roman downe in order the lyues Decrees of his Predecessors Popes of Rome and hauing written this worke sent it to sainct Ierome to be perused Damasus diligens temporum Supputator vitas statuta suorum praedecessorum Romanorum Pontificum succinctè digessit Et scriptum opus misit Hieronymo cognoscendum Obijt sanctus Confessor A greate credit to that booke by Protestant Antiquaries where their Religion by their owne confession is so generally condemned the Roman Catholike doctrine as vniuersally approued and confirmed to haue two so holy learned and glorious auncient Saints and Doctors of Christs Primatiue Church and Approuers thereof Yet so it is further asscribed to this so renowned Pope in our old Antiquities termed Gesta Pontificum Romanorum Authore Damaso both by our English Catholike and Protestant Historians And saint Bede which liued aboue an hundred yeares before Anastasius Bibliothecarius to whom some attribute this History followeth it in diuers places They also confesse that the holy Scripturs on which they so much or onely rely especially in the Hebrewe and Greeke tongue being Bal. Barns supr in Damas translated into Latine by saint Hierome were generally approued and preferred by this holy Pope Hieronymi Translationem approbauit Hieronymi Biblia tum caepta est primum legi antea septuaginta Interpretum scripta authoritatem habebant He also as these men acknowledge vsed and celebrated the sacrifice of Masse and generally appointed the Confiteor to be vsed by all Preists in the beginning thereof in which there is most plaine and vndeniable inuocation and prayer to Saints and Angels and their prayer and intercession for people liuing heare on earth Precor batam Mariam semper Virginem beatum Michaelem ArchaÌ„gelum beatum Ioannem BaptistaÌ„ sanctos Apostolos Petrum Paulum omnes Sanctos orare pro me ad Dominum Deum nostrum They testifie Magdebur Bal. Barns in Siric Papa as much of sainct Syricius Pope and how the vnmarried and chast life of Cleargie men was generally commanded by him to be obserued THE XXV CHAPTER OF MANY RENOWNED HOLY AND LEARNED Bishops Apostolike men and other greate Saints heare in Britaine in this time 1. IN this Age this Kingdome of Britaine had also many wrothie men Bishops and others renowned both for pietie and learning I haue written of our two greate lights of the worlde the happy Mother and sonne S. Helen and Constantine Empresse and Emperour before who besides their other endles and vnmatchable cares and labous for the Church of Christ allready remembred are honored in the Cataloges of renowned Writers for their holy and learned paines in that kinde S. Athanasius also and S. Hilary those two greatest Sigebert Gemb Chron. an 432. Polychronic lib. 4. cap. 29. Nichol Harpesfel Hist Eccl. cap. 21. pag. 33. M. S. Antiq. in vit S. Patricij Capgrau in eod Flor. Wigorn. Chron. an 371. 394. Probus in vita S. Patricij inter opera S. Bedae Richard Stanihurst Sur. Lippol die 17. Martij Walrer Rolwinck Fascicul tempor an 423. glories of the Church of Christ in that time one in the Greeke the other in the Latine Church how much they honored this Nation is allready remembred To whome I may next add that greate S. Martine Bishop of Tours it France compared for his worthines by worthie Antiquaries to the most glorious Apostles themselues who honored this Kingdome with his presence and aboad heare and no short time as we are sufficiently warranted by diuers Arguments first his Sister named Couche was married in this Kingdome and was the happy Mother of that glorious man S. Patrike Sanctus Patricius genere Brito filius Couches sororis Sancti Martini Turonensis So with others writeth Sigebert an old French Historian where S. Martine was and dyed an holy Bishop The old Manuscript of the life of saint Patrike and Capgraue confesse as much when they say that Couche was his Mother mater Couche or Couhos dicta est Florentius Wigorniensis is most cleare that S. Martins Sister Couche was Mother to S. Patrike in Britaine Sanctus Patricius nascitur in Britannia ex patre Calphurno nomine mater autem erat Patricij Couches soror Sancti Martini de Gallia The same is iustified by those Authours which Surius and Zacharias Lippolous followe and themselues also Calphurnius ducta in matrimonium Couchessa S. Martini Turonensis Episcopi sorore vnicum ex ea suscepit filium in maritimo Britanniae Territorio Patricium So hath Baronius Spondanus from Antiquitie Patricius vt tradunt Scotus genere natus ex sancti Martini Baron Spond Annal. an 431. Turonensis Episcopi sorore ab eo Clericus ordinatus So haue our late English Writers both Catholiks and Protestants 2. Hearevpon if we will calculate the time of saint Patricius and saint Martins Io. Pits de Illustr Brit. Script aetat 5. in S. Patricio Io. Bal. cent 2. in eodem Prosper in ChroÌ„ Sigebert an 402. 399. Baron alij Girald Cambr. Topograph Hib. c. 17. life and death we must needs gather that saint Martine was heare in Britaine his Sister following him It is the common opinion that saint Martine died about the 400. yeare of Christ as also that saint Patricke liued 122. yeares and yet by Giraldus Cambrensis died in the yeare 458. obijt beatus Patricius anno ab Incarnatione Domini 458. But to followe the most receaued opinion that he liued longer vntill or neare the yeare 490. and so be aboue 30. yeares of Age at the death of saint Martine his Vncle he was by all accoÌ„pts borne heare in Britaine of saint Martins Sister diuers yeares before his Vncle saint Martine was Bishop of Tours that gift being in the yeare of Christ 375. as saint Gregorius Turonensis Bishop there after Baronius and others proue And a farre longer time before Maximus the Emperour went from hence into France Gregor Turon Hist Francor l. 2. cap. 14. Baron Spond an 375. Veremund Hector Boeth Scot. Hist lib. 7. fol. 119. and gaue the name to litle Britaine The Scottish Historians write that saint Martine was also Vncle to our renowned Britan saint Ninian and so by that is said borne of an other Sister of saint Martine heare which may be confirmed by the extraordinary honour and reuerence he as also S. Patricke euer yelded to S. Martine Which if it be true will proue S. Martine with his Sisters was heare longe before For I shall demonstrate that saint Ninian was an holy Bishop in this Britaine in this Age. And therefore many Historians S. Martine Bishop of Tours Vncle to S. Patrike and S. Ninian lyued heare some time in Britaine haue expressely deliuered that saint Martine did not onely liue some time in Britaine
must needs make him no lesse auncient then I haue before remeÌ„bred him to haue bene borne in Britaine brought vp at Rome in the dayes of saint Syluester Pope and greate CoÌ„stantine Emperor Which the time of his death by all accouÌ„pts will also confirme if we consider the long liues of our holy men as saint Patrik Dauid Kentigerne and others in those neare succeeding dayes this worthie man is remembred particularly in Histories to haue liued vntill he was very old ad senium vsque plenus dierum aetate maturus and yet some place Io. Bal. cent 1. in Ninian Pits aetat 5. in eodem S. Alred Capgrau in vit eius him for his death with S. Ambrose and others in this Age others to haue dyed in the yeare 422. and they which make his death latest say it was in the yeare of Christ 431. or 432. which is farre from making him an extraordinary old maÌ„ for those dayes from that time I suppose his birth to haue bene in And by all reckenings in Historians saint Palladius and saint Patrike were sent hither from Rome in those yeares 431. 432. when the longest accoumpt setteth Hect. Boeth l. 7. Anton. Fitzharbert l. Ant. Rel. Cath. in Ang. pag. 17. Bal. cent 1. in Nin. Pits in eodem downe the death of saint Ninian And yet no Historian writing of their comming hither either maketh saint Ninian then liuing or lately dead which could not haue bene omitted in so singular and rare a man as S. Ninian was sent from the same place and authoritie of Rome and preaching in the same Countries and parts whether they came and where they preached by Commission from the same Apostolike Roman See if he had not bene dead some time before neither had their sending thither bene so needfull as it is made in Histories if his death had not bene knowne at Rome before their coÌ„ming sending from thence to performe the same Apostolike office and dutie in the same Prouinces which and where saint Ninian in his life time so nobly and gloriously supplied and executed by the same Legatine Power and authorite from Rome 7. Therefore I must needs set downe this renowned Britan Apostle of the Picts and most of his holy labors with the Conuersion of that people to Christ to haue bene in this Age and before the Empire of Maximus And yet it appeareth S. Ninian preached also to his Country Britans hy the old Writer of saint Ninian his life that although he was principally sent by the Pope to be their Apostle he preached vnto others in Britaine before he conuerted the Picts for at his first comming as I haue insinuated from that Author before S. Ninian was receaued heare as a Prophet sicut Prophetam eum habebant Greate coÌ„curse of people came vnto him greate ioy with all meruaylous deuotion and prayse of Christ euery where Magnus populorum fit concursus ingens cunctis laetitia mira deuotio laus quoque vbique resonat Christi all of these are sufficient Arguments that these first eâ—tertainers of S. Ninian heare were our Christian Britans and not the PagaÌ„ Picts Which is made more manifest by that which immediatly followeth capit mox malè plantata enellere male collecta dispergere malè aedificaâ—a destruere Purgatis ab omni errore fidelium mentibus omnia quae fidelibus agenda verbo docuit operibus exemplo monstrauit multis miraculis confirmauit He began to pâ—ll vp things ill planted scatter things ill gathered and destroye things ill builded and purging the mindes of the faithfull from all error whatsoeuer he taught by word the beleeuers to doe he shewed it in deeds and example and confirmed it with many miracles Where it is euident that they were beleeuing Christians although by neare cohabitation or conuerse with Pagans defiled with some Heresies or errors to whom he thus first preached and people different and distinguished from the vnbeleeuing Picts as they are expressely thus set downe and his preaching to these was afterward as thus it is remembred diuers from the other in the same History Interea Sanctus Ninianus Australes Pictos quibus adhuc error Gentilis inhaerens Idola venerari ac colere compellebat aggrediens Euangelij veritatem sequentibus signis praedicabat caeci vident claudi ambulant leprosi mundantur surdi audiunt mortui resurgunt oppressi à daemonibus liberantur Sicque fides suscipitur error abdicatur distructis templis Ecclesiae eriguntur currunt ad salutis lauachrum diuites pauperes gratias Deo agunt in Insulis quae procul sunt habitantes Ordinauit Presbyteros Episcopos consecrauit totam terram per certaâ— Parochias diuisit In the meane time S. NiniaÌ„ going to the Picts which yet were PagaÌ„s and worshipped Idols preached the truth of the Ghospell vnto theÌ„ with these signes following The blynde seâ— the lame walke lepers are cleÌ„nsed the dead are raysed and they which were oppressed with deuils are deliuered And so the faith is receaued error abandoned Pagan temples are destroyed Christian Churches erected Ritch and poore are baptized those that inhabited the Ilands a farre off giue thanks to God He ordayned Preists consecrated Bishops and diuided the whole land by certaine Parishes 8. And hauing thus conuerted and confirmed this people vnto and in the faith of Christ being the cheifest end of his Mission and comming hither he returned to his Church confirmatis in fide omnibus ad Ecclesiam suam est regressus This house Episcopall Church which he now returned vnto was the same which he had builded before of stone called for the rarenes of such building in Britaine that being the first as our Histories say thereby named Candida Bed Hist lib. 3. cap. 4. Capgrau in S. Niniano Guliel Malmes lib. 4. de gest Pont. Angl. Casa the White House or Church at a place called Witerne betweene Scotland and England as they are now termed vpon the Sea coast allmost quite enuironed with the Sea excepting the passadge on the North side thereof Candida Casa vocatur locus in extremis Angliae iuxta Scotiam finibus vbi beatus Confessor Nima requiescit Natione Brito qui primus ibidem Christi praedicationem Euangelizauit Nomen loco ex opere inditum quod Ecclesiam ibi ex lapide polito Britâ—nibus miraculum fecerit This Church saint Ninian dedicated to S. Martine of Tours so soone as he vnderstood he was dead which was in the end of this or beginning of the next Age by all accompts this Church being quite finished before that time Quoniam iam Sanctum Martinum quem miro semper venerabatur affectu à terriâ— ad caelos migrasse didicerat ipsam Ecclesiam in eius honore dedicauit By the Scottish Histories thus related Inter nostros Ninianus Episcopus sanctitate Hector Boeth Hist l. 7. Bal. cent 1. in Nin. Bernic miraculis clarissimus ac Casae Candidae Pontificalis in Galdia
with the Church of Rome now liued Britaine France venit in Franciam Italy Rome where he was so famous and the Easterne Churches agreed in such holy doctrine as he preached and committed to writing being the very same as Protestants themselues confesse which the Church of Rome now professeth condemning the opinions of Protestants as he had any cause to speake of such points beginning with the first and cheife Article of their Religion Iustification by faith as they confesse solam fidem ad salutem sufficere negat So of others And yet they say he had most diligently read and agreed with the Fathers of this Age the most learned Patres diligentissimè legit Originem Augustinum Hieronymum Ambrosium Eusebium Gennadium Nam ex horum interpretationibus suarum ipse in Paulum explicationum collectanea congessit ex alijs proculdubio And agreed with them in matters of Religion 4. Therefore this our renowned Doctor agreeing in all this with the best learned Magdebur cent 5. cap. 10. col 1284. Sedul in cap. 5. ad Ephes 5. ad Phil. 3. 4. ad Rom. Magdebur cent 5. c. 4. col 505. in that Age both of the Latine and Greeke Church with the Pope and Church of Rome where he was of so greate fame mirabili doctrina clarus as also in the other both Easterne and Westerne Christians where he had trauailed and preached and so glorious that the Protestants themselues acknowledge he was most rare for gifts of learning his works approued by Pope Gelasius some of theÌ„ receaued still vsed in the publike Church seruice and he stiled by that learned Pope as S. Bede after was for the like worthines venerabilis venerable Vir erat faeliâ—i ingenio praeditus acri iudicio facuÌ„dia indicibili Breuiar Roman Hym. ad Laud. in Natiuitate Domini Epiph. ad Vesper Epiphan Sedul Hymn de Christ l. 1. cap. peperisse Christum Neque minus ei cognita extitere diuina quam humana Adeo vt in Decretis Distinct 15. Gelasius Pontifex venerabilem Sedulium eum vocauerit eiusque non mediocri laude commendauerit scripta The Hymnes which the Catholike Church still vseth in the publike Seruice thereof at the Laudes in the greate Festiuitie of Christs birth and vigil of the Epiphany beginning A solis ortus cardine ad vsque terrae limitem Christum canamus principem natum Maria virgine and that of both the EueÌ„songs of the Epiphany which beginneth hostes Herodes impie Christum venire quid times non eripit mortalia qui regna dat caelestia were composed by him part of his workes and from him thus generally honored in the Church of Christ as that in honor of the blessed Virgin Salue sancta pareÌ„s enixa puerpera Regem Qui caelum terramque tenet per saecula cum virginitatis honore nec primam similem visa es nec habere sequenteÌ„ sola sine exemplo placuisti femina Christo Besides his greate trauailes and paines in preaching he wrote much Our Protestant Historians and others asscribe aboue 40. bookes to him Aldus Manutius who published diuers of his works aboue 100. yeares fince in the yeare of Christ 1501. or 1502. giueth many reasons that he lyued aboue 1100. yeares before that time Sedulium ab hinc mille centum annos ac plus eo fuisse colligimus Ald. Manut. Epist ante opera Iuuenci Sedulij c. Sedul Epist ad Macedonium Presbyterum and to haue liued in the same time with S. Hierome puto Hieronimum Sedâ—lium eisdem fuisse temporibus Which Sedulius himselfe in his Epistle to Macedonius seemeth sufficiently to proue speaking therein of S. Hierome as then liuing and writing as also of some holy parsons then in life to whome he wrote Therefore I place him in this Age yet not denying but he might liue to the beginning of that which followeth This our Sedulius much esteemeth in that Epistle Vrsinus a Bishop Vrsicinus Laurentius Gallicanus Preists and Faelix whome according to his name he nameth a truely happy man vere Faelicem for his contempt of this world cui mundus crucifixus est And others doe say they were his familiar friends and worthie men as he and they likewise doe Magdeburgen centur 1. of this Macedonius to whome he wrote Therefore not finding any Historian clayming these or any of them for any other Nation and hauing heard before that many Britans then went into those parts that they were entreated thereto and besides our owne forreine Antiquaries write that in those dayes our Arnold Merm Theatr. conuers gent. Britans did often goe on Pilgrimage to the holy Land and Rome and preach euery where as they went Britanni olim dum terram sanctam aut Apostolorum Limina visitarunt passim Euangelio praedicando seruiebant we may not vnprobably presume that these or some of them were also of this Kingdome And some write that saint Fridolin a Princes sonne of this Country some say a Scot S. Patrike very renowned in this Age. did in this Age wheÌ„ saint Hilary was Bishop of Poicters apud Pictauos Hilario Episcopo preach in Belgia Argentine Chur Rhetia Burgundy Basile Sigebert Chron. an 394. Fascicul tempor ad An. 384. Nen. Hist M. S. Floren. Wigorn. an 490. Probus in vit S. Patricij Capgrau in eod Genebr Chron. Sigebert Chron. an 491. Fascicul tempor an 423. Marian. Scot. aetat 6. an 491. Sur. Lippol 17. Mart. Baron not Mart. eod die Io. Bal. cent 1. in Patric Io. Pits in eodem Matth. Westm an 491. FloreÌ„c Wigorn. Chronic. an 372. and other places and founded many Monasteries by the Ryuer Rhine I may also ioyne saint Patrike borne in Britaine heare in this Century wherein he was not onely borne but liued in most holy conuersation many yeares both in this his natiue Country Ireland whether he was by Pagan Scottish Irish Pirats with his Christian Sisters and others violently carried hence there sold to serue Sigebert saith this was in the yeare of Christ 394 Sanctus Patricius in Hibernia cum suis sororibus veÌ„ditur vbi cum esset Regis Porcarius Angeli saepe alloquio fruitur The Author of Fasciculus Temporum saith he was sold thither with his Sisters ten yeares sooner and they were reuerenced there An. 384. Patricius magnus pater Hibernorum Apostolus circa haec tempora in Hibernia veneratur cum suis sororibus Angeli saepe colloquio fruitur 5. But if we calculate and compare the yeares of his life and death we shall certainely finde that he was solde into Iereland from hence longe before either of these times and was aboue 30. yeares old in this Age. All Historians agree that as he liued 122. yeares so he died in the yeare 491. by which accompt he must needs be borne in the yeare of Christ 368. or 369. and be aboue 30. yeares old in this Age. Marianus Scotus Probus Capgraue and others
write he was 16. yeares old when he was carried into Ireland and was kept there in seruitude 6. yeares Cum esset annorum 16. venditus est sex annis vixit in seruitute So he returned into Britaine being 22. yeares old about the yeare of Christ 390. Florentius Wigorniensis agreeth in the yeares of his Age 122. that he died in the yeare 491. and was borne in the yeare 372. and that he was carried Prisoner into Ireland in the 16. yeare of his Age as others doe saith An. 410. that his two Sisters stolen away with him were named the one Lupuit and the other Tigris He was sold to Miluc called a King in the North of Ireland his Sisters into an other part but he placing his death in the 491. yeare sayin An. 491. the was theÌ„ compleate 122. yeares old Anno 491. Sanctus Patricius Hiberniae Archiepiscopus annorum 122. beatissimo fine obijt doth misse his calculation and must say as I haue written before that he was borne in the 369. or 368. yeare of Christ 6. There where diuers other Christian Prisoners carried hence at that time with him into Ireland by those Pagan Pirats Cum esset annorum sexdecim cum caeteris in captiuitate ducitur Whose vertuous behauiour there made such way and disposition to that wilde Pagan Nation that theit Conuersion after by saint Patrike was made more easie For to speake cheifely of this holy YouÌ„ge man allthough he was borne of a Noble Linage Caphurnius vir morum honestate conspicuus diuitijs ac honoribus inclitus being his Father his Mother Sister to the renowned saint Martine Bishop yet now sold among Pagans and put Probus in S. Patric M. S. in vit eius Capgrau in eod Surius Lippom. die 17. Martij to the seruile office of keeping Swine though he began thereby to forget his Noble carnall birth yet of his spirituall Natiuitie in Christ he was so mindefull that euery day and night he prayed an hundred times Centies in Die centies in nocte Deum exorabat By which greate and extraordinary deuotion we may gather though not otherwise expressely remembred in what piety and Religeous conuersation he had bene brought vp heare by his holy Parents Nennius Histor Briton in S. Patricio Matth. Westm an 491. he exercised in Britaine before he was carried Prisoner heÌ„ce NeÌ„nius our old Brittish Writer Matthew of Westminster and diuers others compare him vnto Moises especially in foure respects first for the Angell appearing vnto Moses secondly for his fasting 40. dayes and 40. nights Thirdly for the yeares of his Age 120 fourthly for his graue and sepulchre vnknowne The first of these of the holy Angell often times appearing vnto and comforting saint Patrike keeping his cattaile as vnto Moses was perfectly and in an excellent manner performed not once or seldome but often times declaring his name Victor Conqueror conuersing with him victor Angelus saepe loquebatur cum eo And FloreÌ„t Wigorn. Chronic. supr Manuscr Antiq. Capgrau in S. Patricio testifying vnto him how acceptable his prayers and fastings were in heauen and he should shortly be deliuered from his Captiuitie Apparuit ei Angelus Domini Victor nomine qui frequenter eum Visitans dixit bene ieiunas cito exiturus ad patriam tuam And brought him money for his Ransome The Writer of S. Patricks life testifing that in his time the prints on the earth where the Angell stood were still coÌ„tinuing Stetit Angelus super terraÌ„ vsque hodie manent vestigia eius And allthough I dare not set downe his fast of 40. dayes and 40. nights which Nennius relateth to haue bene on the topp of the hill Eile Quadraginta diebus totidemque noctibus in cacumine montis Eile ieiunauit Wherein he secondly compareth him to Moises to haue bene at this time yet we haue heard his fasting now was such that the Angell commended it bene ieiunas Yet the old M. S. Antiq. de vit S. Patricij Io. Capgrau in eod Writer of his History Capgraue and others are witnesses that he fasted together in this time 30. dayes neither eating nor drinking and yet was well and merry Mansit Patricius diebus triginta non manducans neque bibens hilaris tamen perseuerabat The other two things wherein they compare him to Moises for his Age of 120. yeares and his place of buirall vnknowne must be reserued to their time at and after his death when they chaÌ„ced Onely this heare I add that whereas Nennius giueth vnto him onely with Moises 120. yeares others 122. or 123. the old Manuscript of his life Probus with others say he liued 130. or 132. yeares completis à Natauitate sua annis centum triginta migrauit ad Dominum Which giueth me more warrant to place a greate part of his life in this Age. M. S. Capgr supr Probus in vit S. Patricij Baron Spond an 491. For these Authours are so farre from making his Natiuitie later then I haue done that they say in the yeare of Christ 425. he was 64. yeares old Anno Domini quadringeÌ„tesimo vicesimo quinto hic erat annus aetatis suae sexagesimus quartus and so 39. yeares old in the end of this Age. Neither did S. Patrike in those his often and continuall prayers day and night centies in Die centies in nocte Prayer to Angels and Saints and their protection of lyuers one earth die nocteque precibus intentus pray onely to God omitting his Angels and Saints but vnto these also to his Angels by their often visiting and assisting and to his Saints as namely to Elias to help and deliuer him against the deuill tempting and afflicting him who heard his prayers and so freed him that the deuill confessed he should neuer haue any power ouer him Patricius vocauit Heliam bina voce in adiutorium venitque Helias liberauit eum ait ad eum diabolus ab hac die non habeo Potestatem in te vsque ad diem mortis tuae 7. The old Irish Writer of saint Patrike his life called Probus whomesome Probus in vita S. Patricij Tom. 3. oper Venerab Bedae doe vntruely take to be saint Bede the Booke being placed amoÌ„g his Workes the Authour disclosing therein both his name Probus and Country Ireland affirmeth that saint Patricke was three times taken Prisoner and ledd Captiue and the second time also Miraculously deliuered and restored to his Country Britaine Where he was diligently instructed in learning by the best Professors thereof optimus vsus praeceptoribus among whome saint Martine his Vncle Probus supr Sur. Lippom. die 17. Martij Bar. Spond in S. Paâ—ric Bal. cent 1. in Patricio Pits in eod Hollinsh Hist of Ireland was one staying with him foure yeares vntill his death as it seemeth by the time thereof before related A late Writer then bringeth him to Glastenbury and to haue
liued there many yeares aboue thirtie saith this Authour in Religious habite in patriaÌ„ redieÌ„s ad GlasconieÌ„se MonasteriuÌ„ secessit ibi in vita habitu Religioso caelestia conteÌ„plans plusquam annis triginta vixit Hauing bene some time with saint German and after this went to Rome to S. Celestine Pope But this belongeth to the next Age where it shall be more fully entreated Onely heare I say that his liuing at Glastenbury before his going to Rome Guliel Malm. l. 2. de gest Pont. is no incredible thing in History euen by the best Writer of the Antiquities of Glastenbury William of Malmesbury For after he had written that booke he discrediteth saint Patricks liuing and dying at Glastenbury after his CoÌ„uersion Gul. Malm. l. de Antiq. caenob Glast Manuscr Antiq. Glaston in Tab. ligneis M. S. Gallic Antiq. cap. 39. of Ireland making it vnworthie of credit si credere dignum And in his Manuscript of Glastenbury citing others for the same and the Antiquities of Glastenbury say he was borne of Couche Sister to saint Martine Archbishop of Tours in the yeare of Christ 361. by that accompt leauing him time sufficient to haue liued 30. yeares at Glastenbury before his going to Rome Which if it may be admitted for good will salue very many difficulties which are in the other opinion 8. An old French Manus Hist thus setteth downe S. Patricke loÌ„ge before he was Bishop in they eare 427. amoÌ„g the worthies of the ChristiaÌ„ world In this Histor Gallic Manuscr Antiq. an 427. time S. Patricke à BritoÌ„ by NatioÌ„ sonne to Conches Sister to S. Martine of Tours was renowned for holines miracles learning Our ProtestaÌ„t Historians theÌ„selues confesse as much saying that before he went to Rome he was renowned through the Latine Church for his wisedome vertue and skill He was borne in the Marches betwixt Hollinsh Hist of Irel. pag. 53. Pits aetat 5. in S. Patric EnglaÌ„d ScotlaÌ„d in a towne by the Sea side called Eiburne in Pembroke shire by some his Mother named Conches was Sister to S. Martine that famous Bishop of Towers in France Patrike of a child was brought vp in learning and well instructed in the faith and much giuen to deuotion And relating his captiuitie and deliuerance from it as I haue done they add as affliction commonly maketh men Religeous the regard of his former education printed in him such remorse and humilitie that being thenceforth weaned from the world he betooke himselfe to Contemplation euer lamenting the lacke of grace and truth in that Land and hearewith not despayring but that in continuance some good might be wrought vpon them he learned their tongue perfectly And alluring one of that Nation to beare him company for exercise sake he gott him into France euer hauing in his minde a desire to see the Conuersion of the Irish people whose babes yet vnborne seemed to him in his dreames from out of their Mothers wombs to call for christeÌ„dome In this purpose he sought his vncle Martine by whose meanes he was placed with Germanus the Bishop of Auxerre coÌ„tinuing with him as scholler or Disciple for the space of 40. yeares All which time he bestowed in like study of holy Scriptures prayers such godly exercise At the Age of 62. yeares being renowned through the Latine Church for his wisedome vertue and skill he came to Rome bringing letters with him in his commendation from the French Bishops vnto Pope Celestine to whome he vttered his full minde and secret voâ—e which longe since he had conceiued touching Ireland Celestine inuested him Archbishop and Primate of the whole Iland These men in this Narration approue and followe much Giraldus Cambrensis in his Topographie of Ireland by many much commended and if his opinion is as much to be allowed about the time and dayes of S. Patrike we shall finde that he was come to this renowne and spent the most part of his life in this Age. For he maketh him with others 120. yeares old at his death and to haue dyed happily in the yeare of Christ 458. obijt beatus Girald Cambr. Topograph Hibern c. 17. lib. ad Reg. Henric. 2. dist 2. Tit. de mirac Hibern Harpesfel Hist Eccl. p. 32. Theater of great Brit. l. 6. c. 9. §. 9. Patricius in Domino quieuit anno aetatis suae 120. ab Incarnatione Domini 458. ab aduentu HibernensiuÌ„ 1800. Our English ProtestaÌ„t Writers of the greate Theater of Britaine whome I dare not allowe make him farre more auncient then this time That which our Protestants haue before set downe of S. Patrike that the babes yet vnborne seemed to him in his dreames from out of their Mothers wombes to call for Christendome is testified more plainely and credibly by olde and better Authours that it was a true vision and calling of S. Patrike to be the Apostle of that Nation In a vision an Epistle was represented vnto him and the beginning of it was this is the voice of the people of Ireland haec est vox Hibernensium And reading this beginning of that letter at the same instant and moment of time the voice of Infants from their Mothers wombs in diuers Contries of Irelande crying as it were with one mouth ô holy Father we beseech thee that thou wilt come and walke amonge vs. By which extraordinary vocation S. Patrike was most certainely assured that God had called him thereby to be the Apostle of that Nation to conuert it to Christ gratias egit Deo certissimè sciens quod Dominus vocasset eum ad saluandos illos qui ipsum inuocabant The old Writer of Script vitae S. Dauid is apud Capgrau in eod Manuscr Antiq. Britannic the life of S. Dauid speaketh of this or the like vision to haue bene made to Saint Patrike when the birth of that glorious man S. Dauid to be so renowned in the Country now called wales was reuealed vnto him which was as those Antiquities say 30. yeares before S. Dauid was borne filio nondum nato nec nisi peractis annis 30. nascituro Yet S. Dauid as I shall proue hereafter was bornâ— in this Age. Therefore an old Brittish Antiquitie saith S. Patrike liued 153. yeares Vixit annis centum quinquaginta tres 9. Our old English Historie which the Continuator of Florentius Wigorniensis Continuatio Flor. Wigorn. in Geneologia Reg. West-Saxonum aboue 400. yeares since doth seeme to cite by the Title Chronica Anglica doth tell vs oâ— an Archbishop of London called Ternekin which is not found in any Cataâ—oge oâ— the Archbishops there neither haue I before made memory of him he liued Archbishop as that Authour testifieth in the beginning of the Reigne of Aurelius Ambrosius by which Accompt although it is not probable that he was Archbishop there in this Age yet not vnlikeâ—y but Old English Hist fol. 44. he was a worthie man of renowne in or not longe
Holinsh Hist of Scotl. in Maximus Britaine they had very many Monkes Religeous men of their owne Scottish people which by the common generall Edict of Maximus to bannish all Scots whatsoeuer Ecclesiasticall or temporall without exception or limitatioÌ„ were exiled with the rest they erected new Monasteries in the out Ilands Among which one aboue the rest in the Hebrides Ilands in the I le of Iona was most renowned both for holy Monkes and Nunnes where the common funerall place was of the Scottish Kings There was an other such Monastery in the I le of Mona where S. Briget euen by our Protestant Antiquaries Io. Bal. cent 1. in Brigida Lagmési Hector Boeth Scotor Hist l. 9. Capgr in S. Brigida with three other Virgins at one time became Nunnes being professed by Machillas then Bishop of Soder or Soter this was when she was but 14. yeares olde Brigida sanctissima virgo decimo quarto anno vix superato ad Sodorensem Episcopum in Monam Iusulam paternis fortunis quae amplissimae erant contemptis aufugit precibus non sine lachrimis petens vt perpetuae virginitati Pontificia authoritate addiceretur Which time being compared with that of her life being very old at her death and that she had bene first buried in Mona and her body translated to Dune in Ireland in the yeare 518. must needs proue vnto vs that there was a Religeous house in Mona in this Age. 12. And not onely in Mona Iona and the Hebrides Ilands but in other out Ilands and places these Scotish Monkes made aboad and had Cels or Monasteries in this time For our Scotish Historians deliuering vnto vs how they were all by Maximus bannished with the other Scots out of the Country now called Scotland confesse also that there came but a part allthough a greate part for the nearnes and conuenieÌ„cy of those Ilands into the Hebrides Veremund Hect. Boeth l. 6. Scot. Hist Georg. Buchan Rer. Scoticar l. 4. in Rege 39. Quorum magna pars in Hebrides delata The others then must needs haue other resting places which the Antiquaries of Scotland euen Protestants confesse saying that the Scottish Preists and Monkes then held in greate honor reuerence were dispersed into all Countries rounde about and many of them came into Iona Neâ— Ã Sacerdotibus Monachis qui tum in summo erant honore Picti si publicè Christianis institutis imbuti Iniuriam abstinuerunt Illi vero profugi cum in omnes circumcirca Regiones dispergerentur multi in Ionam Aebudarum vnam deuenerunt atque ibi in Caenobium collecti magâ—am suae sanctitatis eruditionis â—amam ad Posteros transmiserunt Some of these Scots went into Ireland in Hiberniam from whome came the Irish Monkes so famous afterward and some of our Brittish Monkes also preached there in this time as I haue proued of S. Carantocus called by the Irish Cernath before And when in the beginning of the next Age the Scots came into this Iland againe the Monkes of Iona and Mona continuing there still there came so many Scottish Monkes inâ—o the part called Scotland in the time of Fergusius their King the second of that name from their places of Bannishment in so greate a number Veremund Hect. Boeth Scotor Hist l. 7. by the Scottish Writers that their King Fergusius founded and endowed for them being a vertuous Prince many Cels or Monasteries Restituit Fergusius templa dirutâ—â—â—ut populi defectu neglecta sacris ministris ad Dei cultum sacerdâ—tijâ— donatis Qui â—â—ularant Monachos reduâ—es mira charitate amplexus vt popuâ—um vera imâ—uâ—râ—nt â—ietate structis ad id patrio ritu Cellulis quibusdam ad vitae neâ—â—ssariâ— praeâ—â—â—s donâ—uit Where besides the Preists and their Churches we see many Religeous houses founded and endowed for the exiled Monkes returning in the begining of the next Age. Not vnprobable but diuers of these Boeth supr Georg. Buchan l. 4. 5. Hollinsh Hist of Scotl. in Fergusio 2. Monkes came with him from Scandia and Denmarke where he was borne and whether the Scotish Monkes with others fledd in the time of Maximus and other adiacent Contries and Ilands they then being dispersed into all parts about this Kingdome in omnes circumcirca Regiones And yet at the time of this dispersion of the Scotish Monkes the Brittish Monkes with their Cells and Monasteries were in quiet in the Country now termed Scotland as I haue proued before and were many 13. The same is euident of the Religeous people of the Pictish Nation now being Christians the exilement by Maximus onely extending to the Scots Among these some about saint Andrewes were famous One had bene the Palace of the Kings of Picts and at the comming of saint Regulus thither with the Reliks of saint Andrew the Apostle Heirgustus their King conuerted it to a Church or Monastery Heirgustus Regium Palatium amplis structuris vti ea patiebatur aetas ornataÌ„ diuo Andreae Regulo ac Sacerdotibus ibidem deinceps optimo Maximo Deo famulaturis liberè erogauit An other Monastery was that which the same King founded neare to the same place Struxit haud procul à palatio sacram aedem diuo Apostolo dicatam And furnished them both with pretious Ornaments and holy Vessels of gold and syluer Ornauit id templum donarijs amplissimis Pateris Cyphis Calicibus Peluibus Lauacris ex argeÌ„to auroque ac alia pretiosa supellectili in sacrorum vsum quaesita Sacerdotibus ad diuina perpetuò exequenda ibidem constitutis A third Monastery was founded there or very neare the same place either in this Age or the beginning of the next by our renowned Brittish Abbot saint Manuscr Antiq. in vit S. Cadoci Capgr in eod Cadocus after Bishop and Martyr who going one Pilgrimage to the Reliks of saint Andrew in Scotland stayed preaching there 7. yeares and founded a Monastery I haue spoken of saint Gudwal and his 180. Monks before who founded diuers Monasteries heare in this Age. THE XXIX CHAPTER OF CERTAINE HERETICKS AND HERESIES the Trimothian and Pelagian Britaine in this time 1. BVT as Britaine had many glorious Saints and Martyrs in this Age so it wanted not some Heretiks to disturbe the peace and quietnes of Christs Church both in this and other Nations Timotheus the name giuen to the Timotheani Heretiks was as Sigebert with others writeth of this kingdome held that the Diuine Nature in Christ was changed into his Human Nature and by a shew of Continency and Religion deluded many In Britannia Timotheus quidam Continentiae Religionis imagine multis illudeÌ„s eos in errorem suae Haeresis induxit dicens Christum verum quidem Deum verum hominem de Virgine Maria natum fuisse sed mentiens dicendo quod Diuina Natura conuersa sit in HumanaÌ„ Naturam The Collectors of our auncient Writers affirme that our Country man Leporius Agricola did write a
Booke against him still extant and confuted Aug. in l. de Haeresibus in fine Haer. 89. in exēplari Gembl Sigeber Gembl Chron. an 428. Harpesfeld Hist Eccl. in 6. primis saecul c. 18. Ioan. Bal. cent 1. in Leporio Agricola Io. Pits de Vi◠Illustrib in Lepor Agricola his Heresie In some Copies of saint Augustin his Booke of Heresies this Heresie called the Timotheans is set downe in the end thereof and there affirmed that one Timotheus was Author of it and he then liued an exile in Bithinia at Biza there Timotheani dicunt filium Dei verum quidem hominem ex Virgine Maria natum sed non ita vnam reddidisse personam vt non in vnam sit redactus naturam conflatorium quoddam volentes fuisse interiora Virginis per quod duae naturae id est Deus homo in vnam resolutae compactae Massam vnam Dei hominis exhibuerint formam Et ad confirmanda huiusmodi impietatem quae Deum asserit à sua versum natura cogunt Euangelistae testimonium dicentis Et verbum caro factum est quod ita interpretantur diuina natura in humanam versa est Huius impietatis initium Timotheus apud Bizam Bithiniae modo exulans ciuitatem His confuting heare and bannishing hence seeme to make him so litle remembred in our Antiquities if he was a Britan. Veremund Hist Scotor Hector Boeth Hist l. 9. f. 179. p. 1. Georg. Buchan Rerum Scot. l. 5. Reg. 52. p. 160. Holinsh. Hist of Scotl. in Frequahard pag. 112. Aug. Epist 106. Bed Hist l. 1. c. 10. Henr. Hunting Hist lib. 1. Matth. Westm Chron. an 404. Floren. Wigorn. Chron. an 413. ali 435. Marian. Scot. aetat 8. l. 2. An. 414. Prosper in Chron. Sigeb Gembl an 404. Regin Chron. an 350. Hacluyt p. 3. 4. in Pelagi Bal. de Script Brit. cent 1. Io. Pits in S. Keb. in not M. S. antiq de Vit. S. Dauid Capgrau Catal. in eod Girald Cambr. Itinerar Camb. l. 2. c. 4. Dauid Powell annot ib. Gennad Honor de Scriptor Eccl. in Pelag. Ioan. Bal. centur ◠in Pelag. 2. The Heresie of Pelagius and he the first Author and Name-giuer vnto it haue giuen the greatest stayne and blemish in that kinde to this Nation and in this time For as his Heresies were most pestilent dangerous and infectious so they tooke first roote and afterward fixed themselues so deepely in this Britaine that they were not rooted out vntill after the comming of saint Augustine hither aboue 200. yeares after notwithstanding we had so many and worthie men heare both of our owne Nation and others diuers of them sent hither by the Apostolike Roman See Power and Authoritie thereof to oppose and suppresse it as both our Scottish and English Writers Catholiks and Protestants doe testifie It is the common consent of the Historians both of this and forreyne Countries that this Pelagius was a Britan of this kingdome Diuers of our Antiquaries not onely Catholiks but Protestants hold that he was a Monke and Abbot after in our old renowned Monastery of Bangot Which is made more probable both in respect that Leporius Agricola his Scholler and follower in his errors a long time though after recanting them was a Preist and Monke of the same Monastery Factus est Sacerdos Monachus in celebri Banchorensi Caenobio And of all places in Britaine the parts thereabouts were most infected with that Heresie raigning there long after the time of saint Germanus and Lupus sent hither by Pope Celestine to suppresse it was in a Sinod of all the Bishops Abbots cheife Clergy men of Cambria there confuted and confounded by saint Dauid And as I haue mentioned before diuers Clergy men in that Country were longe after saint Dauids death in the time of King Frequahard of Scotland still infected therewith All Authors agree this Pelagius was very learned and the Title Archereticke Heresiarches which is commonly giuen vnto him doth so testifie So doth his dispersing his Heresies into so many learned Nations venena suae perfidiae longe lateque dispersit So doe the greate number of Councels assembled in diuers places to condēne him So doe the particular best learned men in those dayes saint Augustine saint Hierome saint Innocentius Orosius Gennadius and others which wrote against him So doe they which write of learned Writers both auncient and later Catholiks and Protestants witnessing that he wrote many and learned Catholike Bookes before he fell into Heresie By which we may gather that this Nation in such troblesome and tempesteous times had Schooles to breede vp learned men by whome so soone as Pelagius was fallen into Heresie and noted thereof he was bannished from hence into forreine Countries neuer returning hither againe His Heresies are set downe by saint Augustine in diuers places of his Works especially in his Booke of Heresies among which this of Pelagius Aug. l. de Haeres Haer. 88. l. 2. de pecc origin c. 11. Epist 106. l. 2. de pecc orig c. 8. 9. 14. l. 2. Retract c. 47. Hier. Epist 79. ad Alip Dial. Contr. Pelag Prosper de Ingrat is commonly set there downe for the last heintreated of by saint Hierome Prosper and other auncient approued Authors by diuers holy Councels assembled against him his Errors especially the Diospolitan Councell where many of them wherewith he was chardged are recorded and condemned and by himselfe renownced and anathematized haec omnia Pelagius anathematizauit as also by the best Historians of this Nation before cited and in those places cited besides many others Manuscripts and printed Catholike and Protestant Antiquaries all agreeing in the substance of his Heresies allthough some doe more breifely others more largelie deliuer them in the Diospolitan Councell where he was charged presently to renownce his errors or to be excommunicated and condemned quae nisi remota omni tergiuersatione anathematizaret ipse anathema sit factus 3. These following are the Articles obiected against him to hold and which he was compelled to renownce Primo obiectum est cum diceret Adam mortalem Pelagius his Heresies and renounced by him factum qui siue peccasset siue non mortuus esset First hew as charged to hold that Adam was made mortall and should haue died whether he had sinned or no. Secondly that his sin did onely hurt himselfe and not human kinde 3. That Infants new borne are in the same state wherein Adam was before his fall 4. That by the death and preuarication of Adam all mankinde doth not die nor all man kinde rise againe by the Resurrection of Christ 5. Children may haue eternall life though they be not baptized 6. Ritch men that be baptized except they renownce all their goods if they are thought to doe any good thing it shall not be reputed to them neither can they haue the Kingdome of God 7. That the grace and helpe of God is not giuen to euery act but
longè latéque dispersit and yet vsed no coadiutors that were Britans for anything we finde in Antiquities but onâ—ly strangers of remote Nations an Argument that his owne Country had condemned and exiled him otherwise that famous Monastery of Bangor where he had his education so much florishing with learned men and Monkes as all Authors that write thereof agree and he being Abbot and Commander among them and Britaine so abounding with learning at that time as our very women as saint Helen saint Vrsula are thereby glorious in the world some would haue followed him in those errors preached and published them as he did Which is confirmed by their carriage afterward when Leporius Agricola reuiued those errors heare when by reason of warrs and tumults learning was much dacayed by the Infidell Saxons yet our Britans would not theÌ„ admit of Pelagius his Heresie but by all meanes they could resisted it Britanni suscipere dogma peruersum gratiam Christi blasphemando nullatenus vellent And the Reuiuer of that Heresie heare Leporius Agricola did in Bed l. 1. Hist c. 17 Matth. Westm Chron. an 442. Pits aetat 4. p. 85. Bal. l. de Script cent 1. in Pelag. a Booke written and published thereof vtterly recant and condemne it emendaâ—us correctionis suae librum vera fide Catholica composuit A greate honour to this Nation that it had such learned men that euen one of them falling into error did so much preuayle and dilate it both in Europe Afrike and Asia and yet in his owne Country could nothing preuayle but was at the first conuinced reiected and exiled and did onely endeuour to infect Britaine his Natiue Country but could not effect his desire therein In Britannia Pelagius execrabili Sigebert Gemb Chron. an 404. doctrina Ecclesiam Christi maculari nititur And therefore as Historians testifie he tooke others of other Nations as Celestius and Iulianus to vent his errors Hac tempestate Pelagius Brito dogma nominis sui contragratiam Christi Marian. Scot. l. 2. aetat 6. an 414. Bed supr l. 1. c. 10 Celestio Iuliano adiutoribus exerit Therefore as sainct Chrysostome noteth of all in generall which withstood him that they deserued greate Crownes of honour seeing many holy and godly men were deceaued by him Quot quantisque coronis dignisint qui forti animo in acie steterint cum viri tam piè ac Chrysost Ep. 4. Baron Spond Annal. an 405. sanctè tantaque cum tolerantia viuentes abripi at que in fraudem impelli cernerentur So we must needs giue the greatest glory to our Britaine which from the beginning so contemned his errors and kept itselfe free and vnspotted from that so violent and common infection neuer defiled with it vntill Leporius Agricola long after reuiued it and soone recanted it Which our old Historians writing of this Heresie thus further and plainely confirme Ab hac ab alijs pestibus Haereticis immunis semper extitit Anglia cum in alijs mundi partibus tot pullularint Haereses Et quidem haec Insula cum propter Guliel Neubrig Rer. Angl. l. 2. c. 13. incolentes Britones Britannia diceretur Pelagium in Oriente Haeresiarcham futurum ex se misit eiusque in se processu temporis errorem admisit Ad cuius peremptionem Gallicanae Ecclesiae pia prouisio semel iterum beatissimum direxit Germanum And saint Prosper himselfe setteth downe the first rising of the Pelagian Heresie in Britaine to haue bene in this time in the yeare 432. Prosp in Chron. an 432. Bed l. 1. Hist c. 17 Stowe Hist in Theodosius Io. Bal. l. de Script Britan. cent 1. in in Leporio Agri. when it had reigned diuers yeares in other Countries And saint Bede is plaine it was brought hither by Agricola Haeresis Pelagiana per Agricolam illata And our English Protestant Antiquaries doe plainely thus acknowledge The Pelagian Heresie was brought into Britaine by Agricola about this time the yeare of Christ 446. as they plainely calculate and expresse in their commonly receaued Histories And the old Manuscript of Landaffe plainely teacheth that the Britans kept their holy faith which they receaued Manuscr Antiq. de primo statu Landau Eccl. in the time of King Lucius inuiolable without any spotâ— of wicked doctrine sine aliqua praui dogmatis macula vntill the Pelagian Heresie began to rise heare and that was not vntill a litle before saint Germanus and Lupus came hither out of France to suppresse it and the Britans did not then Parker Antiq. Brit. p. 6. 45. 46. Bal. l. 2. de act Pontif. in Greg. 1. l. de Script Brit. cent 1. in Aug. Dionotho Godwyn Conuers of Britan. Powel annot in 2. l. Girald CaÌ„b Itiner Cambr. c. 1. Foxe Act. Monum p. 463. edit an 1576. Holins Hist of Engl. c. 21. consent vnto this wicked Heresie prauae doctrinae Haereticorum non adquiescebant Our English Protestant Antiquaries in greate number affirme our Britans to haue bene free not onely from the Heresies of Pelagius in his time but both from that all other Heresies and Errors in Religion during all the first sixe hundred yeares of Christ two hundred yeares or there abouts after the rising vp of the Pelagian Heresie FINIS AN INDEX OF THE MEMORABLE THINGS contained in these fovver hundred AGES OF THE ECCLESIASTICALL HISTORIE OF GREAT BRITAINE Note gentle Reader that the first number in the Index directs thee to the Page the second to the Paragraph And because some Pages by the Printers negligence are false ciphered I haue for thy greater facilitie sett downe in this Index both the true and false Number of the Pages cited in this sorte 444. 3. or 445. 3. the first number whereof is true the second false A AAron vid. Iulius Abbots nuÌ„bered amoÌ„gst our Nobility 601. 7. Abingdon Monastery when destroied and when renewed 469. 3. Abingdon Monkes manner of life and number 469. 3. 601. 7. Adminus banished by his Father Cunobeline out of Britaine 23. 7. Adminus receaued into protection by Caius Caligula ib. Adoniram King Salomons seruant died in Spaine being sent thither for Tribute 10. 4. Adrianus succeeded Traian in the Empire 195. 1. Adrianus ruled the Empire 21. yeares ibid. Adrianus came into Britaine about the beginning of his Empire 196. 2. Adrianus caused the Picts Wall to be made and why 196. 2. Adrianus erected statues of deuills in the place of our Lords Passion ib. Adrianus raised a persecution against Christians ib. Adrianus his motiues to leaue of persecution ib. Adrianus leaueth of persecution ib. Adrianus intended to receaue Christ for God ib. Adrianus builded Temples without Pagan Idols which he intended to the honour of Christ ib. Adrianus hindred from performing his intention either by feare or flattery of the Idolaters ib. Affrica a fearefull enemie to the Romans 365. 2. Agricola conquered the Britans vnder Domitian 171. 3. Agricola v. Leporius vel Calphurnius Agritius Patriarke
1. Caius Caligula profains the Temple of the Iewes ib. Caius Caligula bannished Pilate and deposed Herod ib. Caius Caligula makes onely a shew of warre against the Britans 30. 2. Calixtus succeeded fainct Zepherine in the Apostolike See 372. 1. Calphurnius Agricola sent by M. Aurelius to keepe Britaine in subiection 220. 2. Cambridge once Granta or Grantha 205. 6. Cambridge builded and founded by Cantaber a Spaniarde 206. 7. Cambridge Walled by Grantinus 206. 7. Cambridge a renowned auncient vniuersity 205. 7. c. Cambridge men instruct King Lucius and other Kings of Britaine in the Christian faith 205. 7. Charters of priuiledges and immunities of King Arthur to CaÌ„bridge 205. 7. The Charter of Cadwalladar to Almericus Rector of the Schollers of Cambridge 205. 7. Cambridge burned in the Persecution of Dioclesian 425. 3. or 428. 3. Cambridge Schollers generally conuerted 269. 4. Cambridge priuiledges granted by the Popes Honorius and Eleutherius ib. Cambridge priuiledged by King Lucius 308. 6. Canobeline or Kymbeline King of Britaine 1. 1. S. Canoch the eldest sonne of BraghaÌ„ a noble Britan. 585. 10. S. Canoch gaue himselfe wholely to the contemplatiue life ib. Canterbury first a FlameÌ„s seat 289. 5. Canterbury a Primats See 178. 6. CaÌ„terburys old Church of S. Martin built in King Lucius time 289. 5. The same Church a Bishops seaâ— ib. S. Carantocus sonne and heire to King Kederic 585. 11. 603. 9. S. Carantocus embraced a Religious life 586. 1. S. Carantocus preached in Ireland and when 586. 11. 603. 9. S. Carantocus diuers Pilgrimages ib. Carausius succeeded Bassianus in the the kingdome of Britaine 373. 2. The time of Carausius reigne 373. 2. Carausius ioyned with the Picts which Fulgentius had gathered together against Seuerus ib. Carausius slew Q. Bassianus a Legat of the Romans 374. 2. Carausius but a young man in the time of Bassianus 374. 3. Carausius procured at Rome to be Admirall of the Brittish seas ib. Carausius according to some of a kingly according to others of a base linage ib. Carausius probably a Christian and defender of Christians 375. 3. Carinus created Cesar 391. 1. Carinus slaine by lightning ib. Cathecumens not admitted to Apostolicall function 24. 9. King Ceolnulfus became a Monke in the Monastery of Lindisfarme 329. 5. Ceolnulfus procured a dipensation for the Monkes to drinke wine or ale ib. Cerialtanus murderer of S. Melorus 390. 5. Cerialtanus sonnes vnhappy death 390. 5. Cerialtanus falls blind and dies ib. Tow miraculous Chappels in the I le of Lewys 102. 3. The Charters of our Kings the most credible testimony in things oâ— Antiquity 108. 1. The Charters of diuers Kings doe testifie and approue the History of S. Ioseph of Arimathia ib. Chrestus a wicked Pagan by some translated Christus 83. 4. Chrisme according vnto Protestants appointed by Sainct Fabian to be hal owed on Maunday Thuâ—sday 378. 4. He not the first Author of consecrating thereof 379. 4. Consecrating of Chrisme taught by Christ and receaued by the Popes from the Apostles ib. Christ borne in the 42. yeare of Augustus the Emperour 1. 1. Christ in his last supper offered himselfe in sacrifice and commanded Preists to doe the same 380. 8. Christ his comming publikly preached in Rome before his Passion 19. 1. Christ after his Ascension actually consecrated no Bishops 98. 9 Christ committed that function to his Apostles ib. Christ appeared to S. Peter neere to the gate of Rome 163. 2. The Christian faith promulgated without any hinderance vnder Tiberius 15. 5. Christians accused as enemies of the Roman Empire 365. 2. Many Christians in the Persecution of Dioclesian fled into Britaine 170. 2. 17000. Christians martyred by Dioclesian in 30. daies 416. 4. Churches builded in Britaine in honor of the Natiuity of our Sauiour and when 9. 2. The most auncient Churches of Britaine dedicated to Sainct Peter 45. 3. A Church in Cornhill at London dedicated to S. Peter 101. 1. The antiquity of the same 284. 5. The same a Metropolitan See 305. 3 The Church of fainct Peter at Westminster probably an Archiepiscopall Seat in King Lucius time 306. 3 A Church dedicated to our Lady at Glastenbury 99. 11. Other Churches dedicated to the honour of our Blessed Lady 128. 2. 136. 2 Churches dedicated vnto Saints 128. 2. 136. 2. 304. 1. 524. 15. c. Churches hallowed 288. 5. Diuers Churches yet remaining in Walles dedicated to saint Socrates and saint Stephen 180. 9. Churches founded by King Lucius 305. 1. The number of our Brittish Churches in King Lucius time 306. 4. c. The Church called Michaelium in Constantinople 502. 3. The Church of Michaelium adorned with Altars and Crosses 503. 4. The Church builded by saint Helena at our Sauiouâ—s Sepulchre exceeded in beauty the Temple of Salomon 521. 2. A short description of the same 521. 3. The Dedication of it 522. 4. In the Church built on mount Oliuet the print of our Sauiours feet could no waies be continued to the rest of the pauement 523. 10. In the same Church that place of the Roofe where our Sauiour asceÌ„ded could not be couered 524. 12. Churches destroied in Britaine by Maximian 419. 3. or 410. 3. The ProtestaÌ„ts description of Christs visible Church 90. 2. Three things according to ProtestaÌ„ts essentiall to a Church and what they are ib. The Church founded vpon S. Peter 383. 11. or 393. 11. The cheife care of the Church committed to saint Peter and his Successors 161. 1. Out of the Church no saluation to be expected 90. 1. Churches neuer ruled by Monkes without Bishops 357. 4. King Cissa persecuted the Monkes of Abingdon 601. 7. Cissa the first Renewer of the same Monasterie 602. 7. Many Cities called Augusta in respect of the nobility of the place 181. 10. These Cities not so named from the Roman Legion Augusta ib. S. Claudia with her Britan Parents a Christian 33. 5. S. Claudias Britan Parents the first entertainers of saint Peter at Rome and their house the first Church for Christians there 33. 5. 55. 2. 56. 4. S. Claudia a Christian before sainct Paules first comming to Rome 143. 5. S. Claudia yet but young deserued the stile of one of the 4. principall Christians 58. 5. All obiections to proue Claudia honoured by S. Paul for a renowned Christian not to be our Brittish Lady Claudia disproued 154. 2. c. S. Claudia called Sabinella and why 155. 4. Sainct Claudia neuer sent sainct Pauls Epistles or Martials Epigrams into Britaine 156. 6. c. Sainct Claudia condemned Martials Epigrams for their scurrility 156. 6. S. Claudia renowned for her learning and skill both in Latin and Greeke 158. 8. 160. 9. S. Claudia did not translate S. Pauls Epistles 158. 8. Sainct Claudia her house in Rome brought great profit to Christian Religion 159. 9. The same as a Christian Schooll to teach the Christian faith in Britaine and the Westerne Nations 160. 10. Sainct Claudia had a second place at Rome for burying of Martyrs 182.