ascribe this munificent work to King Ethelbert whose Tributary King Sebert his Nephew was Yea Polydor Virgil addes that the Citty it self a little before this was become part of King Ethelberts own Dominion And Camden to the like effect writes thus Ethelbert King of Kent under whom Sebert raigned as by courtesy in this Tract built a Church at London to the honour of Saint Paul the Apostle which in after times being enlarged and beautified grew to that vastnes and magnificence as we now see it as likewise to such rich endowments by which are plentifully maintained besides the Bishop a Dean Precentour Chancellour Treasurer fower Arch-deacons nine and twenty Prebends besides many others of inferiour rank 2. As Saint Peters Church in Westminster was erected upon the ruines of the Pagan Temple of Apollo So was this dedicated to Saint Paul upon those of a Temple to Diana Some marks whereof to this day remain saith the same Authour for ancient adjacent Lodgings in the Archives of the Church are called Diana's Chamber and in King Edward the firsts time an incredible number of beeves heads was digged up in the Church-yard the ancient Sacrifices Tauropolia solemnised to Diana c. 3. In this Church by the Kings appointment the Bishop and his Successours had their fixed seat The Church service being sung not by Monks but other Church-men who lived Canonically in community 4. To the Bishops of this Church saith Saint Beda King Ethelbert offred many rich gifts and for the maintenance of those who lived with the Bishops he added many territories and possessions Particularly the Lordship of Tillingham is named in the Formule of Donation supposed by Stow and Speed to have been written by Ethelbert in this manner King Ethelbert by Divine Inspiration hath given to Miletus rather Mellitus for the remedy of his soule the land called Tillingham for the use of the Community Monasterium of Saint Paul Which Donation in after ages King William the Conquerour confirmed in these words Know ye that I grant to God and Saint Paul and his Ministers the four and twenty Hydes of land which King Ethelbert gave near the Citty of London to the Church of Saint Paul at the first foundation to be free and quitt of all Gilds and of all expedition worke c. Where we find what quantity of ground that territory of Tillingham contained to witt four and twenty Hydes of land each hyde being as much as could be cultivated yearly by one Plough And therefore in a Donation made by Saint Dunstan we read it expounded thus I grant a portion of seaven Ploughs of land which in English is called seaven Hides A Hyde by Saint Beda is called a family or Manse XXII CHAP. 1. 2. An Episcopall See erected at Rochester 3.4 c. The Bishop of Landaff consecrated by the Arch-bishop of Canterbury 1. THE same year another Episcopall See was erected in the Province of Kent in a Citty by the Romans called Durobrum by Saint Beda Durobrevis in after times Roffa or Rochester from the name of a principall Saxon to whom it belonged Where King Ethelbert built a Church to the honour of Saint Andrew the Apostle the Episcopall See of S. Iustus the first Bishop who lately came from Rome with S. Mellitus Of whose Consecration S. Beda thus writes 2. S. Augustin ordained Iustus a Bishop in Kent it self in the Citty of Durobrevis which the English Nation from a prime Noble person inhabiting there called Rotchester There did King Ethelbert build a Church to the honour of S. Andrew the Apostle and bestowed on that B. as he had done on the Church of S. Paul many Gifts adding withall possessions and lands for the maintenance of those who attended on the Bishop and Church Thus in a few years the Province of Kent obtained two Episcopall Sees 3. The two Sees of London and Rochester acknowledged subiection to that of Canterbury And which is strange the like was at this very time done by the Brittish See of Landaff notwithstanding the late dissension of the Brittish Bishops in the Synod of Worcester For we read that S. Oudoceus the Successour of S. Theliau sirnamed Helios or The Sun for his learning and Sanctity came for Ordination to Saint Augustin 4. The same moreover appears by a Protestation made in the Synod of Rhemes by Vrban Bishop of Landaff to Pope Calixtus the Second of that Name in the year of Grace eleaven hundred and nineteen extant in B. Vsher. Which Protestation was by him thus conceived From the ancient time of our Fathers Holy Father as the Hand-Writing of our Holy Father Saint Theliau testifies this Church of Landaff first founded to the honour of Saint Peter the Apostle was in dignity and Priviledges the Mistresse of all the Churches in Wales till by seditions and warrs in the time of my Predecessour Herwold it was weakned almost deprived of a Pastour and annihilated by the cruelty of the inhabitants and invasion of the Norman Nation Yet there always remaind in it Religious men serving God both by reason of the neighbourhood of the English by whom they were instructed though differing from them in the Ecclesiasticall Ministery as likewise because from very ancient times that is from the days of Saint Eleutherius Pope and after the coming of Saint Augustin into Brittany the Bishop of this place hath always been subiect and obedient in every thing to the Arch-bishop of the Metropolitan Church of Canterbury and to the King of England 5. For what concerns the present year the same learned B. Vsher in his Chronologicall Index writes how Saint Theliau Bishop of Landaff and Caer-leon being dead Saint Oudoceus his Sisters Son succeeded him whom at his return from the Citty of Canterbury where he had been consecrated by Saint Augustin the Arch-bishop Mouric Prince of Glamorgan honourably received and by his authority confirmed the Priviledges of the Church of Landaff 6. The same Authour further declares the grounds upon which the Church of Landaff became subiect to that of Canterbury For sayes he The Bishops of Landaff as heyrs of those of Caer-leon disdaind to be subiect to the Bishops of Menevia to whom the Metropoliticall Iurisdiction had been transferd from Caer-leon And therfore from this time they rather chose to receive their Consecration from the Arch-bishop of Canterbury And the Church of Caer-leon was so annexed to the neighbouring Church of Landaff that the Dioceses were not only ioynd but the Territory likewise belonging to the Churches of Saint Iulius and Saint Aaron was given to Nuddus the one and twentieth Bishop of Landaff and his Successours as we find express'd in the Register of that Church 7. Now if there be any truth in these Records it will follow that those Protestant Writers are much mistaken who affirm that all the Brittish Bishops oppos'd S. Augustin On the countrary the most illustrious among them S. Theliaus and his Successour
whom succeeds Carus and after him his Sons Carinus and Numerianus To whom being slain Diocletian succeds in the Empire 1. THE mariage of the Senatour Constantius with a pious Christian Lady and the birth of Constantin though they were the seeds of infinit blessings to Gods Church yet they were seeds as yet hid in the earth for Christian Religion and the Professours of it were never more cruelly persecuted then during the time between Constantins birth and the beginning of his raign 2. The Emperour Aurelianus who sent Constantius into Brittany was one of the most inhuman adversaries of Gods truth as the Churches Martyrologe in a world of places does witnes And this Constantin when he had obtain'd the Empire exprobrated to his Memory in an Oration which he made to an Assembly of Bishops Thou likewise O Aurelianus saies he wert the incentive of all mischeif But when thou with horrible fury marched'st through Thrace thou wast slain in the midst of thy iourney and filled'st the tracts of the high way with thy impious blood He was the Authour of the Ninth Persecution and both the Eastern and Western Church groaned under his cruelty Only Brittany was free from violence enioying great tranquillity by the moderate government of Constantius now become not averse from Christianity 3. But after seaven years raign God revenged his own cause upon Aurelian who was slain by his own soldiers between Byzantium and Heracléa In whose place the Roman Senat chose Tacitus famous for nothing more then his moderation and refusing to continue the Empire hereditary in his family 4. Tacitus after six months concluded both his Empire and life to whom succeeded Probus a person of so great renown for his military vertues saith Vopiscus that the Senat wish'd him the Army chose him and the people with acclamations approv'd the Election 5. In the third year of Probus his raign after an admirable Victory gain'd by him in Gaule where he slew four hundred thousand of his Enemies by his own testimony in a letter to the Senat a certain man call'd Bonosus by originall a Brittain whom the Emperour had left Admirall of the Roman fleet upon the Rhene fearing his anger because most of the ships by some casualty had been set on fire in his absence took on him the Purple and Title of Emperour and continued his dominion over Brittany Spain and a part of Gaule a longer time then he deserved saith Vopiscus But in the end his army with great difficulty being defeated by the Emperour he was forced to hang himselfe 6. This mans rebellion no doubt caused great disquiet in Brittany from the government of which Constantius had been removed and returning to Rome had been made Prefect of Dalmatia 7. After Bonosus his death troubles were renew'd in Brittany by him who administred that Province suppos'd by M. Camden to be Cl. Cornelius Laelianus recommended to that Government by a frein'd of the Emperours call'd Victorinus of Mauritania For Laelianus invaded the Tyranny upon which Victorinus fearing the Emperours indignation went presently into Brittany and by subtilty procured the death of the Vsurper which restored peace to the Province The security of which saith Zosimus was much confirmed by the sending thither great numbers Franks then of taken prisoners in a battell by Probus which in following seditions were proffitable to the Emperour 8. After five years raign Probus was also slain by his own army and in his place Carus Manlius Aurelius was chosen Emperour who created his two sons Carinus and Numerianus Caesars But Carus the next year being kill'd by lightning and Numerianus by the treason of his father in law Aper and Carinus by one of his Tribuns whose Wife he had abused Diocletian was by the generall acclamation of the Army pronounced Emperour Diocletian the Authour of the last most dire and most prolonged persecution that ever the Church of God suffred VII CHAP. 1. Diocletian stiled Britannicus 2. He makes Maximianus his partner in the Empire 3 4 5. A most furious Persecution rais'd by them against the Christian Church Brittish Martyrs 1. THere is extant an ancient Inscription recited by Baronius and dated the second year of Diocletians raign wherin among other Titles he is stiled Britannicus which imports some victory gained by him or his Lieutenant in the Island Certain it is that though Carinus was not slain till the year following yet at this time Brittany and the Western regions of the Empire following the example of Rome had submitted to Diocletian deserting Carinus 2. Who being slain the year following at Murgum Diocletian assum'd as Companion to himself in the Empire M. Valerius Maximianus committing to him the government of Gaule Brittany c. These two Emperours of which Diocletian from Iupiter took the Sirname of Ioviuâ— as Maximianus from Hercules did that of Herculius at the beginning of their raign conspired in a resolution to be the Defendeâ—s of their Pagan Gods and profes'd enemies of Christ whose Religion they intended wholly to extirpate out of the World 3. Certainly there was never given a stronger proof that Gods Church is built upon a Rock impossible to be shaken by human force then the unsuccesfullnes of the rage of these two Emperours against it They had the whole power of the world in their hands they were Princes of eminent valour wisedom and policy above twenty years they governed the Empire and employed all that time without any relaxation in executing their rage against Christ and his truth they omitted no manner of tentations by favours and terrours to withdraw his servants from their Worship of him all mens witts were exercised in devising the most exquisite torments against them not only magistrates but private persons were arm'd to destroy them they were not only executed and tortur'd singly one by one but whole armies of them were butcher'd together and the most effectuall means to obtain the Emperours favour or pardon for the greatest crimes was the heaping of all disgraces and unjust violences upon poor Christians Yet with all this Christian Religion was so far from being destroyed that the Emperours cruelty and injustice gain'd more soules to Christ then the Sermons and exhortations of devout Preachers could doe in time of peace insomuch as these two Princes though vainglorious and ambitious beyond any of their predecessours seeing all their endeavours against Christ to prove fruitles out of rage and despair voluntarily depos'd themselves from the government of the world which they had undertaken principally in design against Christ. 5. One notable proof of the supereminent cruelty of these two Emperours against the Professours of the name of Christ was this that the Isle of Brittany divided from the Roman world which in former persecuting Emperours times had been exempted from participating with the suffrings of other Nations was now made a scene of blood Yea it may truly be affirmed that Brittany was the first Province dignified
One William Basing likewise is sayd to have built a Church consecrated to S. Helena at London XVII CHAP. 1.2 Constantins zeale against Paganism and Heresy 3. c. He is seduced by his Sister to favour Arius c. but repents 5.6 He adorns his New Citty Constantinople 7.8 Miracles by the Holy Crosse. 9. Other acts of Constantins piety 1. AFter S. Helena's death Constantin returned into the East where he express'd his zeale against Pagan Idolatry For Eunapius a Pagan writer complains Through the whole world the most celebrated Temples were overthrown by Constantin He made severe Lawes against Heathenish Sacrifices mention'd in Theodosius his Code 2. Neither was he wanting to establish the Churches Peace and Vnity by publishing rigorous Edicts against Hereticks Novatians Valentinians Marcionists Paulians Montanists c. forbidding all Assemblies among them both publick and private and withall exhorting them to return to the Communion of the Catholick Church that so they might be rendred partakers of its Sanctity and so attain to Truth Thus writes Eusebius adding that hereupon many of them did acknowledge their errours and at last joyn'd themselfves to the Churches Communion 3. Notwithstanding being seduced by the Craft of Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia the Pillar of the Arian faction he began a persecution against S. Athanasius then Bishop of Alexandria This Eusebius had cunningly insinuated himself into the affections of Constantiae the Emperours Sister by whom at her death he was recommended to Constantin in whose mind a scruple likewise was injected by certain speeches of hers threatning a severe punishment to him after death for his severity against so many innocents so she called the Arians Wherupon he commanded that Arius himself should return and be received at Alexandria For which purpose he wrote threatning letters to S. Athanasius that he should be deposed in case he refused him Notwithstanding being inform'd by Athanasius that Arius did not repent of his Heresy but was still a profess'd Enemy of the Councill of Nicaea Constātin desisted from urging his reception 4. Afterward the Meletians accused Saint Athanasius of many crimes but Constantin upon examination finding his innocence quickly absolved and dimiss'd him Yea moreover the pious Emperour turn'd his anger against him who was the cheif Architect of all machinations against S. Athanasius to witt Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia as appears by his letters written to the people of that Citty and recited by Theodoret in which he complains how himself had been deluded by his forgeries and lyes And on that occasion he proceeds to pronounce Sentence against the whole faction of the Arians banishing Eusebius and severall other Bishops from their Sees 5. But the year following by occasion of the inauguration of his New Citty Constantinople among other Examples of his Clemency he restored them Nicephorus writes that the Citty was consecrated to our Lord and his immaculate Mother with offring the unbloody Sacrifice and prayers Adding that Constantins Statue was erected in a publick place upon a pillar of Porphyry having in his right hand a golden Apple on which was placed the Holy Crosse with this Inscription To thee O Christ our God I commend this Citty 6. Eusebius describing the Magnificence of Constantin in adorning this Citty with many Churches consecrated to the Holy Martyrs saith The Emperour intending to illustrate after an extraordinary manner the Citty called by his own name adorn'd it with many magnificent Churches partly in the Suburbs and partly in the Citty it self by which he both celebrated the Memories of the Holy Martyrs and consecrated the Citty it self to the God of Martyrs The principall of those Martyrs are recorded to have been S. Mocius S. Agathonicus S. Mennas and S. Acacius 7. Sozomen likewise an eye witnes especially celebrats a Church built in a place formerly dedicated to Vesta which was afterward named Michaelium from an apparition of that Holy Archangell In which many Miracles had been wrought by vertue of the Holy Crosse there erected of which vertue the Authour acknowledges that himself had been partaker Among which one speciall Miracle must not be omitted which he relates after this manner 8. I have been informed saith he that a Soldier of the Emperours Guards called Probianus being afflicted with greivous torments in his feet not only received ease in that place but was also honoured with a wonderfull divine vision For he having been formerly a Pagan and converted to Christianity though he were satisfied of the truth of all other instituts of our Religion yet he would never be perswaded that the Holy Crosse could be the cause of mankinds salvation Being thus affected there was offred to him a Divine Vision which set before his eyes the Image of the Crosse which usually was sett on the Altar of that Church and the same Vision declared to him manifestly that whatsoever thngs had been performed either by Angells or Holy men for the publick or privat proffit of men since the time that Christ was crucified were not rightly performed but by the vertue of the saving Crosse. 9. Besides these sacred Ornaments Constantin added much wealth to endow the holy Churches built by him He likewise caused a world of Copies of the Holy Scriptures to be curiously written in parchments richly adorned which he dispersed through severall Churches in the Citty He gave likewise great priviledges to Physicions Grammarians and Professours of other Arts by which means learning much flourish'd there In a word he endeavour'd to make it equall in all respects to Old Rome placing there a Senat with the same honours and authority into which many Christians were elected as Baronius declareth XVIII CHAP. 1.2 S. Athanasius persecuted by Arians 3.4.5 He is banish'd into the west for his safety 6.7 Arius conven'd before Constantin 8.9 c. His fearfull death 10. Pope Iulius 1. BVT the restlesse malice of the Arians against S. Athanasius the principall defender of the Faith declared by the Nicene Councill urged them to invent and forge new accusations against him of breaking a Chalice of murdering a man and using enchantments with his dead hand of committing adultery by violence c. With these crimes they charged him before the Emperour importuning him that he might be condemned and deposed 2. Hereupon a Synod of Bishops being assembled at Tyre Athanasius his cause was there examined and though in all particulars his innocence was evidently declared ye◠he was condemned by them Which manifest injustice astonish'd Constantin as appears by a Letter of his recorded by Saint Athanasius in his Apology 3. Notwithstanding these impious Bishps after they had consecrated at Ierusalem a magnificent Church built by Constantin repairing to Constantinople there renew'd their accusations and probably by the favour of the Emperours Son Constantius infected with their Heresy did so beseige Constantins eares that S. Athanasius could scarce gett accesse to prove his
one onely person among you shall in his Name give an assault he alone by Gods power shall putt them to flight Be courageous therfore Not a man of you shall fall in this combat 4. Assoon as he had spoken this which his army hearing beleiv'd as an assurance given them from God himself a few of his soldiers the same moment with wonderfull courage rush'd upon their Enemies not at all expecting them for the Holy mans words had utterly taken from their minds all apprehension of death And at the same time an Angel of God armd like a soldier and in the shape of a man of an incredibly high stature appeard in the Kings Camp His aspect was so terrible that the soldiers hearts utterly faild them and instead of resisting their enemies they rush'd one upon another in their hast to fly away and such a confusion there was of horses and charrets that for hast they killd one another Thus a handfull of men without the losse of any one defeated a great army taking many prisoners 5. This wonderfull victory being obtain'd they return'd to the Man of God who addressing his speech to a youth named Scandalan then attending on him with a propheticall voyce thus said to him My son this day will procure for mee a tedious pilgrimage in a strange countrey where I must live absent from my kinred and freinds many years But say nothing of what I tell thee till the event shew the truth of my words 6. After this S. Columba went to S. Finian a Bishop to receive condign Pennance from him because of so much blood shed in the foresaid war and with him there went an Angel of God who shone with wonderfull brightnes but was visible to none except the Holy man Finian calld also Find barr When therfore Saint Columba demanded Pennance of the Holy Bishop his answer was Thou must be obliged by thy preaching and example to bring as many soules to heaven as by occasion of this war have sunk into Hell After which sentence S. Columba with great ioy said Thou hast pronounced a iust and equall iudgment upon mee 7. But the Holy mans troubles did not end thus for by occasion of this war and bloodshed Saint Columba in a Synod of Bishops was censur'd to abstain from the Communion though many among them dissented from this sentence upon whiâ—h great contentions and disputes arose among the Clergy which occasiond Saint Columba his letter to Saint Gildas requesting him to endeavour the composing those differences XII CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Columba's coming into Brittany He fixes his habitation in the Isle called Hye 6.7 c. He Converts the Picts Monasteries built by him 9. c. His twelve companions One of them was Constantin late King of Brittany 11. c. His agreement with Saint Kentigern c. 14.15 His death and place of buriall 1. SAint Columba wearied with these Ecclesiasticall contentions resolved to quitt his Native countrey but not permitting himself to be a chuser of his place of Exile he consulted by a messenger the Holy man Brendan Abbot of Birre to whom God had given the Spirit of Counsel and Discretion Who after he had lifted up his eyes and heart to heaven commanded to digg under the feet of the Messenger where was found a stone on which was engraven only the letter I whereupon he bade the Messenger to tell his Master that he must goe to an Island called I or Hy where he should find employment for his zeale and be the cause of bringing many soules to heaven Thus writes Adamannus in his life quoted by B. Vsher. 2. But Hector Boëtius assigns another more probable reason of his going into that Countrey saying The fame of the great devotion and piety of Conal King of the Picts draw the Holy man Columba out of Ireland into Brittany attended with a multitude of his disciples where he became the Father and directour of many Monasteries 3. As for the Island called Hy it is erroneously written by Dempster Hydestinatus and from him by Baronius likewise The ground of which mistake was the wrong reading of this passage in S. Beda Monachus erat Episcopus Aidan uâ—pote de Insula quae vocatur Hy destinatus where the two last words which ought to be severed are by him read as conjoynd into one This Island was afterward called Iona falsly by some Exscribers of Adamannus written Iova 4. In the ordinary Copies of S. Beda in stead of S. Columba we find written S. Columbanus Whence many Writers being deceived doe confound this Saint with that S. Columbanus who founded the Monasteries of Luxueil Luxoviense in France and Gobio in Italy who was likewise an Irishman and a Father of many Monks Whereas they are indeed distinguished both by their names gests and ages wherein they lived As for the present S. Columba the Brittains usually called him S. Columkill for the great number of Monasteries or Cells of Monks which he built in Brittany 5. The Authour of his Life in Capgrave besides a large Character of his vertues piety austerities c. solemnly repeated allmost in all Modern Stories of Saints further relates how he was many years before prophecied of for saith he A certain Disciple of S. Patrick a Brittain named Maccaeus foretold of him saying In latter times shall be born one called Columba who shall illustrate the age wherein he shall live and his name shall be spread through all the Provinces of the Isles of the Ocean for he shal be acceptable to God and highly favoured by him He shall descend from Noble parents and in the forty fifth year of his age shall passe out of Ireland Scotiâ into Brittany where he will live a stranger and exiled person for Christ. 6. As touching his coming into Brittany and his Gests here we receive this account from S. Beda In the five hundred sixty fifth year of our Lords Incarnation when Iustinus the Successour of Iustinian governed the Roman Empire there came out of Ireland a certain Preist and Abbot in habit and profession a Monk called Columba with an intention to preach the Word of God to the Northern Picts who are separated from the Southern Regions by vast and horrible Mountains For as for the Picts dwelling on the South of those Mountains they had many years before renounced their Idolatry and embraced the Christian Faith as their Tradition is by the preaching of Nynias a most Reverend and holy Bishop born in Brittany who had been regularly instructed in the Mysteries of Divine Truth at Rome The Seat of whose Bishoprick dignified with a Church dedicated to S. Martin where the said holy Bishop with many other Saints doth rest is now in the possession of the Angli The said place pertaining to the Province of the Bernicians is ordinarily called Candida casa White House because he built there a Church of hewn stone a way of building not practised by the Brittains 7. Now
at London in which Church he was Preist not Bishop as Parker mistakingly affirms Some thing hath already been spoken of him when wee related how S. Beda made use of his industry and assistance in composing his History 6. To this New Arch-bishop Nothelm presently after his consecration S. Boniface directed an Epistle in which after he had desired from him the same Christian affection Vnion of minds which heretofore he had with S. Brithwald his Predecessour he proposed to him a difficulty and scrupule which had much and long tormented him a resolution whereof he desired from him as he did from diverse others and particularly from Pecthelm Bishop of Candida Casa and also from an English Abbot called Duddo who had formerly been S. Boniface his own Schollar yet such was his humility that he disdaind not to consult him Now the Doubt or difficulty I will sett down in S. Boniface's own expression 7. I desire saith he to hear your counsell touching a sin committed by mee through ignorance in permitting mariage between two parties the Case stood thus A certain Man with my leave maried a woman a widdow to whose sâ—n he had formerly been God-father This the Romans say is so unlawfull that they ought to be divorced Yea moreover they affirm that anciently under the Christian Emperours â—uch a crime was punished with death or at least perpetuall banishment Now I beseech you to inform mee whether you can find either in the Decrees of the Ancient Catholick Fathers or Holy Scriptures that this is so great a sin For mine own part I can by no means comprehend how a carnall conjunction between persons in a Spirituall prâ—pinquity should be a heynous sin since in Sacred Baptism wee are all of us sons and daughters of Christ and his Church and Brothers and Sâ—sters to one another 8. The Resolution of this Doubt wee can not find since their Answers hereto are lost But Serrarius a learned Iesuit who published Saint Boniface's Epistles with Annotations after he had produced severall Decrees of Ancient Popes strictly forbidding such Mariages shews the Answer to this Doubt to be now very easy Adding withall That if in S. Boniface's time the Ancient Caâ—ins had been in the same number and order as now he would never have doubted of the Question However his diligence in seeking satisfaction is highly to be praised and his humility of mind to be imitated since he not only proposes his doubts to Bishops but even his own Disciples desiring to be taught by them now in his old age yea since he professes that he will not pertinaciously adhere to his own iudgment but obediently acquiesee in the Decrees of the Church and Holy Fathers How far now are our modern Sectaries from such a disposition of mind For Luther and Beza grounding themselves upon their private iudgment and proudly contemning and opposing all Antiquity and authority doe sett as nought all regard of Spirituall Alliance Such difference there is between the Spirits of a modest humble Catholick and an arrogant Heretick IV. CHAP. 1.2 c The Gests of S. Pecthelm 6.7.8 Of S. Wiro 9. And of S. Otger 1. AS touching S. Pecthelm Bishop of Candida Casa to whom S. Boniface directed one of his Epistles demanding his iudgment touching the forementiond doubt it is not easy to determin in what place that Epistle might find him Wee signified his Ordination to that See in the year seaven hundred twenty three and S. Beda in the eighth year after concluding his History affirms that he continued at that time Bishop there Yet the Writers of the Gallican and Belgick Antiquities consonantly aâ—â—â—rm that he left Britâ—tany and after the example of S. Boniface propagated the Christian Faith in those Countreys Of which there is an absolute silence among our English Historians Let us therefore enquire concerning his Gests of forrain Authours 2. In the Gallican Martyrologe upon the fifteenth day of Iuly wee read thus In the Mount of S. Peter otherwise called the Monastery of S. Odila neer Ruremâ—nd in Belgium â—s that day celebrated the deposition of S. Pecthelm Bishop of Candida Casa in Scotland that 〈◊〉 now for anciently it was within the Doâ—â—nioâ— of the English-Saxons and Confessour who being inflamed with a zeale to root out Heathenish Superstition to that time springing â—p in some parts of Belgium undertook a voyage into those countreys in the company of S. Wiro Bâ—â—hop and S. Otger a Deacon Where he was kindly entertaind by King Pipin and encouraged â—o so pious a work He brought very many to the Light of Evangelicall Truth and cast down severall profane Temples of fâ—lse Gods building many Churches to the honouâ— of the only true God The like testimony wee find in Miraeus his Belgick Calendar 5 Now the death of this Holy Bishop our Historian Florentius referrs to this present year Concerning which the sayd Martyrologe thus treats In the same Monastery S Pecthelm full of dayes and merits peaceably dyed And many Divine Miracles shining at his Sepulcher declared him a glorified Saint in heaven Whereupon veneration and honour due to Saints was attributed to him and his Holy Companions For â—heir Sacred Relicks were taken up and reposed under the Altar of the Cathedrall Church of Ruâ—emond and moreover an annuall Feast and Office celebrated in their honour not only through that whole Diocese but also at Oldensale in the Bishoprick of Daventer where his Head is preserved and with great veneration of the people honoured Hereunto Miraeus adds That this anâ—ient Inscription is found upon their Shrines Parts of the Relicks of S. Wiro S. Pecthelm and Saint Otger In the year of Grace one thousand five hundred seaventy one in which the rebellious Gueuses or Calvinists having overthrown the Table of the Altar but leaving the base untouched they were by a singular Providence of God defended from the fury of those Hereticks and twenty three years after when the same Altar was repaired they were there found and afterward honourably taken up as wee read in the Office of the Church of Ruremond 4 In this Narration there occurr difficulties of some weight For whereas it is sayd that Saint Pecthelm was kindly received by King Papin it will not be easy to determin among three Princes in this age all of the same name which was he who received our Saints Whether the first Pipin son to the elder Carloman or his Grandchild by his daughter Begga or the last who was Son to Charles Martel and was the only Pipin who was King But he not beginning his raign till the year seaven hundred fifty two he could not be King at S. Pecthelm's arrivall in France Therefore most probable it is that he was at this time only a young Duke but is stiled King because he became so afterward Notwithstanding after all this the Irish Historians confidently apply all this Story to their Pecthelm Bishop of Tuam and indeed their
saith Alcuin I found greater blasphemies then in any of his former Writings for he affirmed plainly That Christ Iesus was not the true son of God nor true God but titular 5. To combat this Heresy Alcuin desired of the King that others might be adioynd to him And accordingly upon the first sounding of the trumpett to battell there appeard severall Champions of the Orthodox Faith among whom the principall were Paulinus Patriark of Aquileia Ethereus a Bishop of Osma in Spain Vxâ—mensis and a certain Abbot called Beatus Paulinus the most learned of these wrote three Books to confute this Felician Heresy which he presented to King Charles humbly desiring they might be sent and delivered into the hands of the most reverend man most skilfull in divine knowledge Albin or Alcuin which was accordingly done And Alcuin writing back to Paulinus highly commended both the sweetnes and elegancy of his stile and vigour of his reasoning encouraging him withall to be constant in defence of Gods house 6. But none fought more prosperously in Gods cause then Alcuin himself For he utterly strangled the Felician Heresy in the beginning and converted the Arch-heretick himself to the Catholick Faith This is not taken notice of by any of our Historians as having passed in a forrain countrey But Quercetan from Felix his own Confession relates How the said Heretick being presented before King Charles at Aquisgran by Laidrad Archbishop of Lyons obtained leave to sett down in writing the Sentences of former Saints to prove that Christ was only an adoptive Son of God to be presented to such Bishops and Abbots as the King should cause to be assembled Which was accordingly granted him And in answer to those Alcuin produced many Sentences of Holy Fathers S. Cyrill S. Gregory S. Leo and other Authours formerly unknown to Felix and to these was added the authority of a late Synod at Rome which condemned not by violence but strength of reason the errours contained in Felix his Reply to Alcuins Epistle So great an authority of truth and so unanimous a consent of the Church did so convince the iudgment of Felix that as he writes in his own Confession I professed in the presence of many Bishops and Monks that I did heartily repent of my former errour and that I would from thenceforth never beleive nor teach the adoption of the flesh in the son of God Or that he had only the name and title of God given him in his Humanity But according to the Doctrine of the Holy Fathers That the same our Lord Iesus Christ was the proper and true son of God in his two Natures That he was the only begotten son of the Father without preiudice to the respective Propriety of each Nature 7. This Conversion of Felix did so enrage his former companion Elipandus that he wrote a Book against Alcuin in a most bitter furious stile calling him a Filthy rotten false Prophet a son of Hell a New Arius an Arch-heretick foule pitchy Albinus and moreover he charged Alcuinus that by torments he had made Felix a Martyr so forcing him to renounce his former Opinions To whom Alcuin thus answer Neither did I nor Ruffinus make Felix a Martyr But through Gods mercy I made Felix formerly a partner in your errour to become a good Catholick I persecuted indeed not his person but that impious Doubt of him who tempting our Lord said If thou beest the son of God command that these stones be made bread 8. After this Victory Alcuin returned to his Monastery at Tours For as a Monk of Sangall testifies King Charles gave to Alcuin the Abbey of Saint Martin near Tours to the end that when he was absent abroad with his Army he might rest there and instruct such as should repair to him And such plentifull fruits did his teaching produce that the modern French-men may deserve to be compared with the ancient Romans or Athenians Thus as Almighty God in the beginning of this age sent out of our Island seated in the extremities of the world such Apostolick men as Saint Swibert Saint Boniface c. to settle the Christian Faith in Germany So he thought good at the end of it to send the learned Alcuin to restore the same Orthodoxe Faith in France and Spain But of Saint Alcuin for so hereafter he deserves to be called more shall be said in this and the following Book We must now attend to the affaires of Brittany XV. CHAP. 1.2 Kenulf King of the Mercians 3.4 c. He solicites and obtains from Pope Leo a restitution of the Primacy of the See of Canterbury c. 1. EGFRID the son of Offa King of the Mercians after a short raign of scarce five entire months dying he named for Successour Kenulf having regard rather to his vertues and merits then title or proximity of blood Yet he was descended from a Brother of King Penda called Chenalch father to Kentwin who begot Cuthbert the Father of this Kenulf 2. The excellency of this Prince is well described by William of Malmsbury who affords him this Character Kenulf was a magnanimous person whose vertues over-went his fame He never did any thing that envy could carpe At home he was Religious in war Victorious He was a Prince whose praises will never be silenced as long as there lives in England a person ingenuous and sincere He is to be exalted for the sublimity of his State and Humility of his mind Which vertue did then shine most bright when he restored the iniured dignity of the Archiepiscopall See of Canterbury For this good King did little valew the worldly haughtines of his own Province when it could not be established without transgressing the ancient Ordonnance of Ecclesiasticall Canons 3. In this first year of his raign therefore Athelard Arch bishop of Canterbury encouraged by the iustice and piety of this King represented to him the iniurious oppression which by King Offa had been brought upon the Prime See of Brittany desiring him that the order instituted by Holy Progenitours might not be depraved by the ambition of particular persons In which request Embald Arch-bishop of York likewise ioynd Whereupon the King being satisfied in the iustice of his demand to the end the matter might be more maturely pondred commanded a Synod to be assembled at Cloveshâ— or Cliff where by the votes of the Bishops and Nobility Messengers with Letters were sent to Rome to Pope Leo desiring him to employ his spirituall authority also to rectify the disorders introduced lately into the Churches of Brittany 4. But this Embassage had not the good successe expected and the fault seems to have been in the Messenger which was an Abbot called Wada who as we read in a second Letter to the same Pope from the same King Bishops and Nobles behaved himself in thate Legation slouthfully negligently and imprudently Perhaps it might be by the suggestions of the Archbishop of Lichfeild who
VII Caâ—r Custeint This Citty was formerly called Seiont near Caernarvont being the same which Antoninus calls Seguntium But it chang'd its name into Caïr Custeinâ— because Constantius the Father of Constantin was buried there Whose body saith Mathew of Westminster was found at Caernarvon near Snowdon in the time of King Edward the first after the Conquest and by his command honourably buried in the Church VIII Caïr Caratauc or Caïr Caradoc in the borders of Shropshire between the Rivers Temdus and Colunus Where King Caractacus rais'd against the Roman Generall Ostorius a great Rampire but was there defeated by him There a Citty being afterwards rais'd was from his Name called Caïr Caradoc So that Geffrey of Monmouth and Huntingdon are much mistaken who interpret this Citty to be Salisbury IX Caïr Grant or Granteceaster or Grantbridge now Cambridge taking its name from the River Grant or Gront X. Cair Maunguid or Manchguid suppos'd to be the same Which by Antoninus is called Mancunium or Manchester in Lancashire others conceive it to be Manduessedum or Manchester in Warwickshire XI Caïr Lundein by others Caïr Lud now London XII Caïr Guorthigirn a Citty situated in Radnorshire and called from King Vortigern who conceild himself there being afraid of punishment for his horrible crimes but was found out by Divine Iustice and by Lightning burnt together with his Citty What the prime name of this Citty was in King Lucius his dayes does not appeare XIII Caïr Ceint or Kent now called Canterbury formerly Dorobernia XIV Caïr Guiragon or Guorangon that is Wigornia The Welsh call it Caër Wrangon the English Worcester Antoninus calls it Branonium and Ptolomy Branogenium XV. Caïr Perâ—s otherwise Portcester from the commodiousnes of the Haven It is now called Portsmouth XVI Caïr Daun named by Antoninus Danus now Doncaster in Yorkshire XVII Caïr-Legioâ— taking its name from the the twentieth Legion by Iulius Agricola's appointment quartering there It is at this day called Chester or Westchester XVIII Caïr Guricon or Guoricon or as Cambden writes it Caïr Guaruinc now warwick so called because it was a Garrison of the Romans which in the Brittish Language is called Guarth XIX Caïr Segeint or the Citty of the Segontiaci which were the people who first surrendred themselves to Caesar It is now called Silcester in Hampshire XX. Caïr Leon or Vsk so call'd because the second Brittish Legion brought over by Vespasian was quartered here It was seated in Monmouthshire but is now quite demolished XXI Caïr Guent called by the Romans Venta Belgarum to distinguish it from severall other places called Ventae being in the Province of the Belgae a people which came out of lower Germany and seated themselves in Hampshire it is now called Winchester XXII Caïr Brito a Citty placed between the Rivers Avon and Fome it is now called Bristol XXIII Caïr Lerion by the Saxons afterward called Legecestria now Leicester XXIV Caïr Draiton the situation whereof is now uncertain there being many places of that name Bishop Vsher thinks it is the same now call'd Dragton in Shropshire XXV Caïr Pentavelcoit seated on the River Ivel in Somershire now called Ivelcester or Ilchester The same learned Bishop writes it Caïr Pensavelcoit supposing it to be Pentsey in Sussex where William the Conquerour first landed XXVI Caïr Vrvac called by Antoninus Vriconium and by the Saxons Wrekenceaster at this day Wroxcester in Shropshire XXVII Caïr Calemion or as Mr. Cambden reads it Caïr Calion which he thinks to be Camelet in Somersetshire where remains the footsteps of an ancient Roman Camp and where many Roman Coyns are frequently found XXVIII Caïr Luitcoit or rather Lindcoit by Antoninus and Ptolomy call'd Lindum by the Saxons Lindecollinum at this day Lincoln 5. These are the twenty eight Citties of Brittany all which cannot yet be asserted to have been extant at least under those names in the dayes of King Lucius since among them there are severall which took their Title from persons living in after-ages as Caïr Vortigern Caïr Casteint c. And Caïr Draiton seems to have been a Saxon building 6. Henry of Huntington in the account of them varies somewhat from this and in the place of some of these omitted by him substitutes others as Caïr Glou that is Glocester Caïr Cei or Chichester Caïr Ceri that is Cirencester Caïr Dorm call'd by Antoninus Durobrivae at this day Dornford in Huntingdonshire Caïr Dauri or Caïr Dorin now Dorcester And Caïr Merdin still remaining with the same name from whence a Province in Wales takes its title These are the Cittie 's design'd to be the Residences of Arch-bishops and Bishops when the number of Pastors should be so encreased as to supply them 7. Now whereas here is mention'd the Title of Arch-bishops we are to take notice that that Title was not in use as yet in the Church in the dayes of King Luciâ—s but yet the same latitude of Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction was from the beginning under the name of Metropolitan Bishops For the Policy of the Church being squared according to the Civill as the Governours of Citties which were Metropoles exercised an Authority over other Citties also depending on them so did the Bishops likewise of those Citties over the whole Provinces IX CHAP. 1.2.3 Of Saint Theanus first Bishop of London 4.5 Elvanus his Successour 1. HOw many of those twenty eight Citties were in those dayes supplied with Bishops is uncertain Besides Elvanus consecrated Bishop at Rome our Ecclesiasticall Records mention only one Brittish Bishop more called Theanus the first Metropolitan Bishop of London where our devout King Lucius built a Church consecrated to S. Peter and seated in the place called Cornhill 2. The truth of this is testified by an ancient Table belonging to the same Church wherein was this Inscription In the year of our Lord one hundred seaventy nine Lucius the first Christian King of this Land founded the first Church at London namely the Church of Saint Peter in Cornhill He established likewise there an Archiepiscopall See and the prime Church of the Kingdom and so it continued for the space of four hundred years till the coming of S. Augustin the Apostle of England c. Thus the Inscription 3. But Iocelinus a Monk of Furnes testifying this holy Prelat Theanus to have been the first Archbishop of this new erected See of London makes him to be the Founder of this Church for thus he writes Thean or Theanus is sayd in the time of King Lucius to have built the Church of S. Peter on Cornhill in London being assisted therein by Ciranus the Kings Cheif Cupp-bearer 4. After Theanus his decease the time of whose government in that See is uncertain there succeeded him therein S. Elvanus who generally is acknowledged the second Metroâ—politan of London But whether in those times there was in Brittany any Iurisdiction properly Metropoliticall which must presuppose an erection of severall subordinate Dioceses cannot by any of our
only propagated the Faith but likewise illustrated it by building many Churches This is affirm'd by S. Gregory Nyssen who says that in those days many Churches and Altars were erected every where And particularly the holy Pope Fabianus commanded Churches to be built over the vaults where the bodies of the holy Martyrs had been buried which Churches were much frequented by the devotion of Christians No wonder then if in Brittany as yet free from all persecution there be so many testimonies of Churches Altars and Sacrifices Neither can it be doubted but that among others Obinus Bishop of London as likewise Conanus his next Successour about these times were carefull to imitate the zeale of other Bishops 4. We will not here omitt the taking notice of a Monument or Inscription found among the Brigantes being a Votive Table For the safety of M. Antonius Gordianus the Son of Publius the invincible Emperour and of Sabina Furia Tranquilla his Wife and their whole sacred Family Which Table was erected by the Emperours Wing of horse for their courage call'd Gordia the Prefect wherof was Aemilius Crispinus a Gentleman of Rome born at Tuidrus or Thisdrus in the Province of Africa under the command of Nonnius Philippus the Emperours Lieutenant Propretor of Brittany Atticus and Pratextatus being Consuls 5. In which Table we learn two particulars no where else to be found The first is That Nonnius Philippus was at this time Governour of Brittany And the other That the Daughter of Misitheus whom the Emperour married was called Sabinâ— Furia Tranquilla though Paulus Diaconus calls her Tranquillina XI CHAP. 1. The Emperour Gordianus slain by Philippus who succeeded 2.3 The Emperour Philippus and his Son become Christians The occasion of their Conversion 4. After seaven years raign they are slain by their soldiers and Decius succeeded in the Empire 1. IN the sixth year of his raign was the Emperour Gordianus slain by the treason of M. Iulius Philippus who succeeded him and within a few years gave a proof how instable Kingdoms are which are unlawfully purchased for by the like though lesse uniust treason he was depriv'd both of his Empire and life by his own Guards Yet thiâ— advantage did Philip enioy above any of his Predecessors that Almighty God gave him the Grace to wash away his sins by Baptisme and Pennance 2. The occasion of whose conversion to Christianity is thus declared in the Acts of S. Pontius the Martyr Pontius a person advanced to a high dignity was known and a particular freind of the two Philips the Father and the son who were Emperours Now in the year one thousand after the foundation of Rome they sayd to Pontius Let us goe and begg the favour of the Gods which have brought us to this thousandth year of the Roman City But Pontius used many excuses to avoyd this however they in a freeidly manner endeavoured to compell him to the Sacrifice Whereupon he conceiving this to be a good opportunity given him by God to advance his truth sayd to them O most pious Emperours since it is the only true God which has bestowed on you the Supreme dominion over men why doe you not rather adore Him by whom such power and majesty has been conser'd on you The Emperour Philip answered him For that cause it is that I desire to sacrifice to the great God Iupiter But Pontius smiling Be not deceiv'd O Emperour said he It is that Omnipotent God whose throne is in heaven who created all things by his Word and by his Spirit gave life to them which made you Emperour In a word by these and other like speeches and perswasions the Emperours received the Faith of Christ and were baptis'd by the holy Pope Fabianus 3. The two Emperour being thus perswaded of the Truth of Christianity gave a worthy example of Christian modesty and humility when they came to be baptis'd as Eusebius relates it The report is saith he that Philip who was then converted to the Christian Faith on the last Vigils before Easter coming to the Church with a desire to be partaker of the Prayer together with the Congregation was not permitted by the Bishop then presiding over the Church to enter till he had confess'd his sins and placed himselfe among those who were yet unabsolved and therefore were separated from the rest in a rank appointed for Penitents For the Bishop told him plainly that considering the many crimes publickly known to have been committed by him he could not upon any other condition receive him into the Church Whereupon the Emperour with a willing and chearfull mind submitted himselfe to the Bishops injunction thereby declaring an ingenuous modesty together with a Religious and pious affection proceeding from a reverent fear of God 4. These two Emperours raigned full seaven years and at the end were slain by their own soldiers The time and manner of their death is signified by an ancient Inscription and Monument at Verona where the Elder Philip was kill'd The Words of the Inscription are these In the two hundred fifty and third year of Christ the Emperour Philip the Elder was slain at Verona and the Younger at Rome by their own Guards incited thereto by Decius who succeeded in the Empire XII CHAP. 1. The birth of Helena Mother of Constantin 2.3 A Controversy about the Place of her birth c. 1. THE Raign of the two Philips is rendred to us more illustrious by the Mother of Constantin the Great She was the daughter of a Brittish Prince called Coëllus or Coelus who exercised a Dominion among the Trinobantes the Regni and the Iceni that is Essex Middlesex Surrey Sussex Norfolk c. For though after the death of King Lucius not any Brittain was allow'd the name of King yet certain it is there were severall Princes of the Brittish blood which under an inferiour Title exercised a kingly Iurisdiction in their respective Provinces 2. There is a controversy among Writers in which of these Provinces S. Helena was born The more common opinion is that it was among the Trinobantes in Essex and particularly in Colchester which saith M. Camden was in those days the prime Citty of that Province as a world of ancient Coyns there dayly digg'd up doe testify And that she was indeed born there the same Authour prooves by an argument of some weight for says he The inhabitants of Colchester doe confidently affirm that Flavia Iulia Helena the Mother of Constantin the Great and daughter of King Coâ—llus was born in their Citty And therefore in memory of the Holy Crosse found by her they bear for their Arms in a Scutcheon a knotty Crosse placed between four Crowns 3. Notwithstanding severall Historians of the Greek Church doe challenge S. Helena to themselves affirming that she was born in Bithynia in a town rais'd by her son Constantin to the dignity of a Citty and from her called Helenopolis Moreover
greater alacrity then ever before she went up and down her house glorifying the Power of God Thus was the Empresse satisfied in that which she so earnestly desired 6. The substance of this relation given by Ruffinus is attested by the consent of severall other ancient Ecclesiasticall writers so that to doubt of it or impudently to deny the truth of it as the Lutheran Centuriators doe can be no other but an undeniable effect of malice against the Truth testified hereby to their confusion 7. The Pious Lady to declare her thankfullnes to God for so signall a favour was not content to build a magnificent Church to the Memory of our Saviours Passion but added another which was dedicated to the saving sign of the Crosse as Eusebius writes 8. And as touching the Crosse it self she took care that part of it should be sent to the Emperour and honourably layd up in his Palace the remainder she enclosed in a Boxe of silver and gave it to the Bishop of Ierusalem exhorting him that it might be there reserved as a Monument of our Salvation Thus Theodoret To which S. Paulinus adds That every year on the day of our Lords Resurrection it is produced by the Bishop and exposed to the peoples veneration the Bishop himself first performing that honour to it 9. Socrates further relates that Constantin assoon as he had received part of the Crosse beleiving that the Citty in which it was kept should be preserved in safety from all danger inclos'd it in a statue of his own which was placed in the Market place of Constantinople on a mighty Pillar of Porphyry This saith Eusebius seem'd to the most holy Emperour a firm bulwark of his Kingdom 10. Besides the Crosse there were found other Ensigns of our Saviours Passion which were not neglected by Helena to witt the Nailes which had not only touched our Lords Body as the Crosse did but peirced into his sacred flesh and sinews being bathed in his blood Part of which nayles saith Theodoret and S. Ambrose she took care should be artificially enclos'd within the Emperours helmet that therby his head might be preserved safe from his enemies weapons and part she mingled with the Iron of his horses bitt therby both to give a safe protection to him and likewise to fullfill an ancient Prophecy of Zacharias saying That which is on the horses bitt shall be holy to the Lord Omnipotent And a third nayle she cast into the Adriatick Sea during a horrible tempest by which meanes she saved her self and company from shipwrack Thus writes Gregory Bishop of Tours XVI CHAP. 1.2 Of S. Helenas piety to Religious Virgins 3. c. To Martyrs S. Lucianus the Magi c. 7.8 c. Place of her death Rome where a Church is built to the H. Crosse. 12.13 c. Constantins piety to his Mother Augusta 15.16 c. Her Memory celebrated in severall places Churches built to her honour in England 1. WITH such Acts of Piety devotion and liberality did Helena adorn her latter dayes a particular account of which belongs to the design of this History she being a Brittish Princesse For which reason we will prosecute the course of her life which seems to have ended the same year or in the beginning of the following 2. An example of her humility and devout respect to Virgins consecrated to Gods service by a profession of Chastity is related by Ruffinus in this manner The holy Virgins saith he which she found at Ierusalem she invited to dinner and entertain'd them with so great devotion and respect that she thought it a misbecoming thing that her Maids should attend on theÌ„ Therfore she herself being girt after the manner of a wayting maid sett meat on the Table gave them cupps to drink and powred water on their hands Thus she who was Empresse of the world and Mother of the Emperour esteem'd her self no better then a servant of the hand maids of Christ. 3. Eusebius likewise celebrates her wonderfull manificence shew'd through all her progresse in the Eastern Provinces For whither so ever she came she gave innumerable gifts both to whole citties and particular persons of all professions The poor she munificently supplied with all necessaries those who were condemn'd to working in mines or perpetuall imprisonment she sett at liberty the oppress'd she delivered from fraud and iniury and those which were banish'd she restored to their own countrey 4. At her return out of Palestina into Greece she passed by Drepanum a Town of Bithynia where reposed the Body of the glorious Martyr S. Lucianus Assoon as shee saw these holy Relicks lying so neglected without any mark of honour or reverence she in zeale to the honour of God and his Martyr caused a sumptuous Church to be built over them moreover enlarged the same place into a Citty which she compass'd with walls and bullwarks Which Citty her Son afterward call'd by his Mothers name Helenopolis and to make her name yet more celebrated by posterity the Sea there adioyning was called Helenopontus not because she was born there but because by her care and liberality the region there about formerly obscure became illustrious 5. We read moreover in severall ancient Monuments how this holy Empresse in her progresse through the East having been informed of the place where the Bodies of the three Magi or Wisemen which came to Bethlehem to adore our Saviour new born reposed brought them with her to her Son Constantin who reverently layd them in a Church of his new Citty from whence they were â—ranslated to Milan and afterward to Colen where now they are with great veneration celebrated 6. A more particular relation hereof we read in the Supplement of the Gallican Martyrologe made by Andrew de Saussay in these words At Colonia Agrippina in the Gallick Soyle is celebrated the Memory of the three holy Kings who on this day the Sixth of Ianuary adored our Lord in his cradle at Bethlehem The Bodies of these Saints were by the care and devotion of the Holy Empresse Helena brought out of the East to Constantinople where in the Temple of S. Sophia afterward more magnificently repaired by Iustinian they remained to the times of the Emperour Emanuël who bearing a great affection to Eustorgius Bishop of Milan by birth a Grecian at his earnest prayers bestowd on him those Sacred pledges Eustorgius presently conveyed them to Milan placing them in a Church of Religious Virgins But in the yeare eleaven hundred Sixty and fâ—wer the Emperour Frederick having by force reduced Milan to his obedience granted to his Chancellour Reynaldus Archbishop of Colen at his most earnest suit the same three Sacred Bodies which he transfer'd to Colen were he reposed them in the principall Church in which place they are to this day celebrated with great veneration 7. In such pious works did the Holy Empresse conclude her worldly pilgrimage The place of her death
and putt him in fetters with the rest Martinus in his own defence sett upon Paul with his sword and wounded him yet with so remisse a blow that the wound did not prove mortall whereupon he turn'd his sword upon his own breast and thus dyed this most just and mercifull Pretor for endavouring to divert the calamities of a multitude of miserable innocent persons VI. CHAP. 1.2.3.4 Councill of Ariminum Wherin were Brittish Bishops poor but generous 5 6 c. The Councill at first constant and Orthodox 10. It is tyrannised over 1. THE year of our Lord three hundred fifty nine was blackned with a publick scandall the greatest that ever exposed the Church both to danger and infamy and that was the great Councill of Ariminum assembled by the authority of the Arian Emperour Constantius with design to abolish the Faith of the Consubstantiality of the Son of God Concerning which Councill Sulpitius Severus gives this relation 2. Constantius saith he commanded a Councill to be assembled at Ariminum a Citty of Italy and withall layd this injunction on the Prefect Taurus that when the Bishops were mett together he should not permitt them to depart till they had all consented in one Faith promising him the Consulship if he effected this Sending therfore his Officers through Illyricum Italy Africk Spain and the Gaules under which was comprehended Brittany as being governed by the same Prefect they summoned and drew together out of the Western Empire to Ariminum more then four hundred Bishops 3. To all these the Emperour commanded that allowance for provisions and lodging should be given But that seem'd an unseemly thing to our Bishops of Aquitain Gaule and Brittany and therfore refusing the publick allowance they chose rather to maintain themselves at their own costs Onely three Bishops which came out of Brittany being destitute of subsistence from their own Sees were content to make use of the Emperours liberality for they refused the contribution which the rest of the Bishops offred to them esteeming it more becoming their dignity and Sanctity to be a charge to the publick Treasure then to particular persons 4. This passage saith the Authour I my self heard related by our Bishop Gavidius and he told it by way of reprehension and diminution of them But I am quite of another opinion and esteem those British Bishops to deserve great commendation first for that they had devested themselves of all propriety and next that they chose rather to be obliged to the Emperours Exchequour then their Brethren for their maintenance In both which regards they left an example worthy to be praised and imitated 5. When the Bishops were assembled the Emperours letters were in the first place publickly read by which he took on him to prescribe Laws unto the Synod what they should doe and what they should forbeare For saith Saint Hilary he severely enjoyn'd them to determin nothing which might touch the Eastern Bishops but only themselves And in case they should transgresse this his order he declared a Nullility in their proceedings He commanded them withall that having finished their Decrees they should send them to Court by ten Bishops châ—sen by common consent In the Inscription of which Letter it is observable that he writes himself by the Name of Constantin not Constantius 6. But notwithstanding these threats the Holy Bishops courageously performed their Duty For as the same Holy Father relates they confirmed the Nicene Creed forbidding any addition or diminution thereof Protesting that they would never depart from the Faith which they had received from God the Father by the Prophets and our Lord Iesus Christ which the Holy Spirit taught in the Gospells and writings of the Apostles according as was delivered by Tradition of the Fathers succeeding the Apostles to the times wherin the Controversy was debated at Nicea against a Heresy which then arose To this Definition all the Catholick â—ishops in the Synod unanimously agreed 7. In which Definition it is observable that though it was grounded on the Holy Scriptures yet those Scriptures are interpreted by the successive Tradition of the Church Whereas on the contrary the faction of a few Arian Bishops separatedly framed a Decree which according to the almost vniform practise of Hereticks was pretended to agree with the simple words of Scripture interpreted by themselves For thus writes Saint Athanasius In a Creed made by them they professed the Son of God to be like to the Father who begott him whose generation according to the Scriptures no man knows but the Father only As for the word Substance it being simply sett down by the Fathers not understood by the people and occasioning great scandall in a much as it is not expressly contained in Scriptures they decreed that it should be quit abolished and that for the future no mention should be made of the Substance of God because the Holy Scriptures have never mention'd the Substance of the Father and the Son But we say that the Son is in all things like to the Father as the Holy Scriptures doe say and teach 8. The same Father adds that when these Arian Bishops of which Valens and Vrsacius were cheif saw that they could not impose upon the Western Bishops they then said We came to this Meeting not because we stand in need of a Faith For we have a faith sound and orthodox but that we might confound those who contradict the Truth and would introduce Novelties into the Church And thereupon they seperated themselves from the rest of the Council which with unanimous suffrages pronounced Valens Vrsacius Germinius Auxentius Caius and Demophilus to be Hereticks and excluded from the Communion of the Church 9. Which done the Council by a common Letter informed the Emperour of all these things In which Letter there is this memorable passage that whereas the Arian Bishops to induce the Catholicks to comply with them used this argument That Vnity and peace would be restored to the Church in case they would relinquish that one word Substance the Catholick Bishops there wrote It is not as Vrsacius and Valens affirm that peace will â—ollow by the Subversion of things which are just and true For how can those men behave themselves peaceably who quite take away peace On the contrary more contentions and disturbances will spring up both in other Citties and particularly at Rome And in conclusion they begg'd leave of the Emperour that the Council might be dissolved considering the poverty age and infirmity of many of the Bishops in it 10. Constantius perceiving how unsuccess'full his Design was of introducing his Arian Misbeleif into the Western Churches broke forth into open tyranny some of the Catholick Bishops he caused to be shut up in prison others he afflicted with famin and all manner of opprobrious usage not suffring any to depart till he had compell'd them to subscribe to a Form of Belief wherin though nothing Hereticall was
Book call'd Ordo Romanus True it is that our learned Selden will scarce allow this custom in Brittany to have been of so great antiquity and therefore interprets that passage in Gildas not literally but metaphorically However certain it is that the succeeding Saxon Kings were annointed with Holy Oyle as all Writers testify of the famous King Alfred But to return to Gildas 6. To shew the universall depravednes of the Brittish Nation and an utter despaire of amendment he further charges the Ecclesiasticks of those times which should have been the correctours of others to have been yet more corrupted then the Laity For thus he writes These enormous sins were not only committed by secular men but Gods own flock and the Pastors therof Those who ought to have been examples of piety to the people were most of them dissolved with wine and all manner of excesse animosities contentions envy against one another tore them into factions and partialities neither did they in their iudgments discern between good and evill So that according to the expression of the Psalmist Contention was powred forth on the Princes of the Clergy who made the people to wander out of the way 7. So desperate were the disorders of the Ecclesiasticks of that age that besides the sharp invectives which Gildas makes against them in his historicall Discourse of the Destruction of Brittany which he especially imputes to their crimes he compil'd another Treatise purposely to reprove them call'd The Correction of the Clergy which begins thus Brittany has Preists but many of them impudent It has Clergy-men but great numbers of them ravenous oppressours deceitfull Pastors call'd indeed Pastors but who are rather wolves watchfull to destroy the soules of their flock having no regard to the Spirituall good of the people but seeking only to fill their own bellies They possesse the houses of the Church but they come to them only for lucres sake If they teach the people yet by the ill example of their vicious lives they render their teaching fruitles They seldome Sacrifise and more rarely approach to the Altars with pure hearts They have not the confidence to reprove the people for their sins being more guilty themselves c. 8. Such a Character Gildas gives of the Clergy in his times which he enlarges by an addition in his Rhetoricall way of allmost all kinds of vices with which he charges them particularly most horrible and open Simony publickly purchasing with money Ecclesiasticall Cures and Bishopricks of the then ruling Tyrants Which having done they were notwithstanding ordain'd by other Bishops by which means Traytours like Iudas were placed in S. Peters chaire and impure persons like Nicholas were Successours of the Holy Martyr Steven c. 9. Thus doth Gildas expose to his own age and to posterity likewise the depraved condition of those times Which Baronius having recited elegantly and iustly adds these words Hence we may perceive and even with our hands feele the iust and equall iudgment of God upon the nation why the inhabitants thereof for their crimes were deliver'd over to the sword and the barbarous nations which punish'd them were for a reward call'd to embracing of the Christian Faith 10. Neither was Brittany alone thus punish'd But almost all the Provinces of Europe were overrun and desolated by innumerable Armies of Barbarous people from the Northern parts By which means though the Church of God was then miserably afflicted so that our Lord may seem to have cast off all care of his flock yet if we reflect on the future effects and consequents of this divine iudgment wee shall find that the Catholick Church did indeed receive thereby a great increase both in numbers of Professours and zeale of Christian Profession For though those barbarous Nations for a while persecuted the Truth yet ere long our Lord subdued their minds thereto and then those strong naturall passions of theirs were employ'd in advancing Gods Church Insomuch as the Apostles time and Primitive age could scarce afford such Heroicall examples of Christian zeale magnanimity and contempt of the earth as these barbarous people once converted manifested to the world So healthfull is the severity of God toward his people III. CHAP. 1.2 c. The Saxons invited by publick consent as Auxiliaries against the Scotts c. 6. c. They land in Kent encouraged by a Saxon-Prophecy 9.10 They sight prosperously against the Picts c. 11. Of Thong-Castle 1. HAving shewd how unworthy the Brittains had rendred themselves of the Divine protection and how fitt scourges the Saxons Angli and Iutes were to punish such impieties wee will consequently declare breifly the occasion order and manner how those barbarous Nations first entred this Island invited by the Brittains themselves as Auxiliaries but shortly became the Tyrants and invaders 2. Many Historians accuse the cowardly slouth of King Vortigern as if he weary of the exercises of war against the Picts and Scotts chose rather with his money to hire stipendiary strangers then to train up his own subiects to resist them and therefore invited the Saxons to fight for the Brittains But S. Beda shews that this was done by the common advice of the Nation saying A Meeting was assembled in which it was consulted from whence they should seek assistance and defence for the avoyding and repelling those so frequent and cruell incursions of the Northern nations into Brittany And it was thought best by all as well as by King Vortigern to demand ayd of the Saxons a nation seated beyond the Sea Which resolution of theirs was doubtles ordered by the Divine Providence to the end that mischeif should come against the impious Brittains as the succeeding event of things did more evidently declare 3. Gildas therfore reflecting on the madnes of this consultation thus exclames O the profound blindnes of the Brittains minds O the desperate stupidity of their senses Those Saxons at whose names they trembled even when they were absent are now by the foolish Princes of Zoan invited to live as it were in their own houses so senceles a counsel they gave to their King Pharao But how senceles soever this counsel was it was approved by the Brittains saith Malmsburiensis and thereupon Embassadours were sent into Germany men of the highest repute and such as might most worthily represent their countrey 4. Witichindus an ancient Saxon Writer doth thus describe the order of this Embassage Fame loudly proclaming the prosperous victories of the Saxons the Brittains sent an humble Embassy to begg their assistance and the Messengers being publickly admitted thus spoke O Noble Saxons our miserable countreymen the frequent incursions of their enemies having heard of the glorious victories gained by you have sent us to you humbly to implore your aid in recompence of which they are ready to offer to you a Province spatious and abounding with all things We have hitherto liv'd happily under the protection of the
read this passage Vther-Pendragon the Brother of Ambrosius dying by poyson in the tenth year after the coming of Cerdic the West-Saxon his Son Arthur a youth of fifteen years began to rule over the Brittains His Mothers name was Igerna and he was born in a Castle of Cornwall call'd Tintagel In which Narration we find no aspersion cast on his Birth Though it be not very credibile which follows in the same Antiquities that by his Mother he was descended from a Nephew of Saint Ioseph of Arimathea call'd Heâ—anis And whereas he is savd to be no more then fifteen years of age when his Father dyed that suits not with what was before related from Malmsburiensis That Ambrosius repress'd the insolence of the Saxons by the courageous exploits of Warlick Prince Arthur So that he could be no lesse then twenty years old at the year of Grace four hundred ninety three By which account since generally our Writers assign twenty six years to his Raign and agree that he dyed in the year five hundred forty two his death will happen when he was seaventy years old II. CHAP. 1.2.3 Prince Arthur fights against the Picts and kills Huel 1. ARthur was not present in the Army when his Father Vther was slain For at the same time he had employment enough to oppose the irruptions of the Picts in the Northern parts of Brittany And for this reason probably it is that in the Annals of the Saxons there is no mention of him the design of which Annals being to relate the encounters between them and the Brittains and their own almost uninterrupted conquests they neglected the affaires intervening betwen the Brittains and Picts 2. Now at that time liv'd a King of the Picts by some writers call'd Navuâ— by others Can happy in a fruitfull offspring for he had four and twenty children Of which the Eldest was call'd Howel or Huel a Prince of invincible courage who would by no means acknowledge any subjection to Brittany into which faction he drew all the rest of his Brethren excepting only S. Gildas sirnam'd Albanius who was one of them and bore a particular affection to Prince Arthur 3. The sayd Huel being of a restles spirit made frequent inroads into Brittany as we read in the life of S. Gildas written by Caradoc a considerable Brittish Historian And so cruelly did he wast the Countrey that the Brittish King sent Prince Arthur with a numerous Army who began a most furious war against the bold young man And after many defeats given him he never left pursuing him till at last compelling him to fight in a certain Island call'd Mynau he slew him III. CHAP. 1.2 c. Of S. Gildas Albanius and his Gests 7.6 Melvas a Brittish Prince steales away K. Arthurs wife 1. HAving upon occasion of King Arthurs war against the Picts made mention of S. Gildas Albanius it will be seasonable in this place to relate breifly his Gests as we find them sprinckled in severall ancient Monuments We have already signified that he is to be distinguish'd from another of that name call'd Gildas Sapiens and Gildas Historicus who was younger then he though contemporary to him of whom we shall treat hereafter Yet their agreement in the same name and in severall good qualities hath been the cause that in some Writers they are confounded together and the titles of Sapiens and Historicus have been attributed also to this elder Saint Gildas who likewise by the testimony of Pits did write the life and Gests of S. German and S. Lupus and also a History of the Brittish Kings and other Treatises besides which are now lost 2. This Elder S. Gildas as we read in his life conserved by Capgrave was the Son of Can King of Albania In his childhood being of an excellent disposition he was carefully instructed in litterature wherein he proffited wonderfully Afterward he was sent into Gaule that there having greater advantages for encreasing in knowledge he might attain to higher perfection There he aboad seaven years after which he returned into Brittany furnish'd not only with â—earning but abundance of Books also a â—â—re treasure in his rude countrey And the report of his eminent learning being spread abroad many flock'd to him from all quarters to be instructed by him 3. But he was more diligent to enrich himself with vertue and piety then knowledge So that none could be found in all those regions comparable to him in assiduous prayers mortifications fasting and wearing sack-cloath He wholly abstaind from flesh contenting himself with barley bread and herbes with which he mix'd ashes to abate the pleasure which his tast might take in his food and his drink was pure water from the fountain He would ordinarily at midnight plunge himself in the river for mortification and spend the rest of the night in Prayer By these austerities he became so lean that he look'd as if he had been in a feaver Whatsoever was bestowed on him by rich men he presently distributed to the poore 4. Being thus qualified his Charity drew him out of his own countrey into Ireland where the Gospel of Christ was not so well settled There he spent many years in instructing that Nation But being informed that in the more Northern parts of his own countrey Gentilism was generally profess'd and those few Christians which lived there were poyson'd with many Heresies he return'd thither And being throughly furnish'd with the Spirituall Armour of God he demonstrated to the Pagans that the supposed Deities worship'd by them were nothing but the inventions of impious men and to the Hereticks that what they beleived was contrary to Divine Truth revealed to Gods Church By these means he brought the Pagans to destroy their Idols and prophane Temples to receive Baptism and erect Churches to the Honour of the true God and the Hereticks he reduced into the bosom of the Catholick Church Now to make his preaching more effectuall our Lord gave him a plentifull Grace to heale the sick to give light to the blind to cure the deaf to cleanse the leaprous and such as were possess'd by the Devill and to make the lame to walk c. Thus by his preaching confirmed with frequent miracles the true Faith was spread through all those Provinces to the unexpressible ioy of S. Gildas who ceased not to give thanks to our Lord for his infinite mercies to those poor people 5. The Authour of his life in Capgrave relates how after this he travelled to Rome But such a iourney not suiting with his old age it is more probable that it was undertaken in his younger years when he lived in Gaule Others write more reasonably that after this employment he was invited by the Holy Abbot Saint Cadocus to take care and preside over the Studies of many young Schollars in the Academy of Lancar-van where he continued only one year leaving there saith Bishop Vsher a Book of the four
THE year following Brittany afforded a memorable example of the instability of worldly greatnes and power in the person of the hitherto prosperous King of the West-Saxons Ceaulin who after all his conquests was at last overcome in fight and expell'd his kingdom and life also Which is in this manner related by Malmsburiensis Ceaulin saith he in his last days was banish'd from his kingdom exhibiting to his Enemies a miserable spectacle of himself For such was the generall hatred born to him both by the Brittains and Saxons that they all unanimously conspir'd to destroy him Armies therefore being gathred on both sides a battle was fought at Wodensdike in the one and thirtieth year of his raign where his forces were utterly defeated after which he was compell'd to forsake his kingdom and a little after he dyed 2. The place where this battle was fought is in Wiltshire where a great fosse divides the Province in the middle saith Camden from East to West call'd by the inhabitants Wansdike and fabulously reported to have been made by the Devil upon a Wednesday for it takes its name from Woden or Mercury the Saxon Idol which gave the appellation to Wednesday The cause of the raising of that rampire seems to have been for a separation of the Kingdoms of the Mercians and West-Saxons And neer thereto is seated a Village call'd Wodensbury where Ceaulin fighting against the Brittains and Saxons was utterly broken 3. After the death of Ceaulin his Brothers son Cealric possess'd the Kingdom of the West-Saxons but being much inferiour in courage to his Predecessour he did not inherit that extent of power which Ceaulin had exercised over the other Saxon Princes Which opportunity was not omitted by Ethelbert King of Kent next in power to Ceaulin who without much hazard obtained that preeminence By which meanes a freer way was opened to communicate Christian Truthes to severall Provinces of the Kingdom after they had been once entertained by Ethelbert which hapned little above three years after the death of Ceaulin XX. CHAP. i. 2 c. The Irish Churches reduced from Schism by S. Gregory 1. SAint Gregory in the third year after he was Pope by his authority and wisedom restored the Churches of Ireland to Catholick Vnity from which they had been separated upon occasion of the quarrell about the Tria Capitula of which we treated before His Epistle to them concerning that subject is extant which that it had its full effect to their satisfaction may be proved by many arguments For presently after this time there is mention of severall of their Bishops and devout persons which undertook Pilgrimages to Rome to visit the Holy places and to expresse their duty to the supreme Bishop 2. Moreover another Epistle of the same Holy Pope is extant also in answer to certain doubts and questions which they had proposed to him touching the Rites and manner of Baptism what Form of Profession was to be administred to such as returned to the Church from the Nestorian Heresy c. But since those matters doe not concern the Ecclesiasticall affaires of Brittany the Reader if he be inquisitive may inform himself concerning S. Gregories resolutions in those cases from S. Gregory himselfe in his Works every where to be mett with 3. Onely we shall in this place observe that the Churches of Brittany were at this time free from any stain of Schism or Errours in Doctrines Yea probable it is that by them the Churches of Ireland were denounced to the See Apostolick as culpable It was about the year five hundred sixty six saith Baronius that they engaged themselves in the said Schism and now after twenty six years through Gods goodnes and by the endeavours of his servant S. Gregory they were restored XXI CHAP. 1.2 c. The death of severall Saxon Princes 4.5 The Death of the devout Queen Ingoberga Mother to Queen Bertha 1. IN the year of Grace five hundred ninety three Edelric King of the Northumbers dyed and his Son Ethelfrid succeeded him sirnamed the Cruel concerning whom Malmsburiensis gives this Character Thus being possessed of his Kingdom he began first vigorously to defend his own dominions then unjustly to invade the bounds of others and every where to seek occasions of exalting his glory Many combats were undertaken by him providently and executed gallantly for neither was he restraind by slouth when war was necessary neither in the exercising it did his courage impell him to temerity 2. About the same time Titillus King of the Eastangles being dead his Son Redwald possessed his throne who by some Writers is accounted the first founder of that Kingdom By the perswasion of the Holy King and Martyr S. Edwyn he was induced to give his name to Christ in Baptism But these and many other things concerning him which fill the Saxon Annalls hapned severall years after this time and shall in their due place be declared 3. This year was fruitfull in the deaths of our Saxon Princes for Crida King or Duke of the Mercians now likewise ended his life to whom succeeded his Son Wibba or Wippa not memorable in story for any thing so much as leaving behind him his illustrious children Penda Kenwalch and Sexburga of whom hereafter 4. About the year five hundred ninety four the pious and vertuous Queen Ingoberga received the reward of her patience by a holy and happy death She had been the wife of Charibert one of the Kings of the Franks and after she had born him a daughter was unworthily repudiated by him to make way for a Concubine called Meroflenda Her memory challenges a place in our History in as much as most probably she was Mother to Bertha or Aldiberga the Christian Lady above twenty years since maried to Ethelbert King of Kent whose piety and endeavours had a great influence in disposing her Husbands mind to embrace the Christian Faith very shortly to be proposed to him by S. Augustin the Monk 5. As touching the said Queen Ingoberga we receive a character of her vertues and an account of her happy death from a worthy French Bishop an eyewitnes of both to wit Gregory Bishop of Tours whose relation is as followeth In the fourteenth year of King Childebert Ingoberga Widow of Charibert departed this life A Lady she was of great sincerity and devotion diligent in watching prayers and Alms-giving She I suppose by direction of the Divine Providence sent messengers to mee desiring my counsel and assistance about her Last Will and disposing of matters which she intended for the good and remedy of her soule For which purpose she requested my personall presence that after advice between us her intentions might be committed to writing I could not refuse to come to her and at my entrance I mett with a Religious man who received mee courteously and presently called for a Notary Then we advised together after which she bequeathed some legacies and
thy fury from this Citty and this thy Holy house Alleluia Thus the Holy Crosse once more took possession of the place from which it had been banished and thus the oraculous speech pronounced by S. Gregory began to be accomplished that Alleluia should be sung in that Pagan countrey 11. Let us now observe how these Holy Missioners employed their time Of this the same S. Beda will inform us That assoon as they were entred into the Mansion which the King had given them they began to imitate the Apostolick life of the Primitive Church by attending to assiduous prayers watching and fasting by preaching the word of life to all they could by despising all worldly things as if they belonged not to them by receiving from their Disciples only such things as were meerly necessary for their subsistence by practising themselves according to the preceps which they taught others and lastly by having minds prepar'd to suffer any adversities even death it self for that Truth which they preached Insomuch as not a few beholding the simplicity of their innocent lives and admiring the sweetnes of their celestiall doctrine beleived and were baptis'd 12. The same Authour further declares that the Church of S. Martin deputed for the Queens devotions as hath been said was the first publick place where they met together sung prayd celebrated Masses preach'd and baptis'd till after the Kings conversion they received a great liberty to preach and build Churches every where 13. Here we may see what manner of entring these our Apostles had among us and how they turn'd our Ancestours from Idols to serve the living and true God Neither was their Gospell in speech only but in power and in the Holy Ghost and a plenitude of his Gifts and miracles as shall be shewd The Preachers are Monks they are sent by the authority of the Bishop of Rome they carry the banner of the Holy Crosse and the Image of our Saviour before them they celebrate Masses they work miracles For all which they are honour'd their memory is precious through all Gods Church almost a thousand years together But now one Apostat Monk can perswade a great part of Christians that it was not Christ which these men preach'd One Calvinisticall Bishop dares call these men Apostles to the English not of the Christian Faith or Word of God but of Roman ceremonies and Rites who taught them to become not Christians but Romanists and Papists To such blasphemous accusations as these no answer ought to be given Quia meliùs eas committo fidelium gemitibus quà m sermonibus meis V. CHAP. 1.2 Many Converted 3.4 S. Augustin goes to Arles to be ordained Bishop and why 1. BY the life and preaching of these Holy men no small number of Converts were gathered to the Church which were baptis'd on the day of Pentecost in the forementioned Church of S. Martin But shortly after far greater multitudes follow'd their Example Whether King Ethelbert was one of those then baptis'd does not expressly appear in any of our ancient Records 2. That which S. Beda relates touching him in particular is thus express'd Among others King Ethelbert was much delighted with the purity of these Saints lives and with the comfortable sweetnes of their promises the truth and certainty whereof they confirmed with many evident miracles So that in the end he also beleived and was baptised After which very many others dayly began to flock together that they might heare the word of God by which they were perswaded to relinquish their Gentile Superstitions and to unite themselves to the holy Church of Christ. Which the King perceiving he much congratulated their Faith and Conversion and embraced them with more ardent Charity as being fellow cittizens with him of the Kingdom of Heaven but yet he compelled none to the profession of Christianity For he had learnt from the Teachers and Authours of his salvation that the service of Christ must be voluntary and not by compulsion 3 Saint Augustin seeing a Harvest so plentifull and ripe according to the instructions formerly given him by Saint Gregory went back into France there to be ordained Bishop because besides the power of administring Baptisme the other Sacrament of Confirmation was requisite by which these tender plants might be strengthned in the Faith Which Sacrament could not be administred but by the hand and power of a Bishop This is testified by the same Saint Beda saying In the mean while the man of God Augustin went to Arles in France where by the Arch-bishop of that Citty Etherius or rather Virgilius he was Consecrated Arch-bishop of the Nation of the Angli according as he had received commands from Saint Gregory This was performed the sixteenth day before the Calends of December saith Sir H. Spelman 4. It may be demanded why Saint Augustin should receive his Episcopal consecration from the Bishop of Arles the furthest distant from him in France and not rather from the Prelat of Lyons or some other nearer to Brittany The reason hereof doubtles was because such a Prerogative belonged to the Church of Arles which Saint Gregory who was most observant of Ecclesiasticall rights would by no means infringe This prerogative that See challenged and enjoyed because that was the first Church in those parts which had received a Bishop S. Trophimus ordained by the Apostle S. Peter himself as appears by an Epistle of the Bishops of that Province to S. Leo in which they iustify their rights and priviledges of Ordination against the pretentions of their neighbour Church of Vienna 5. It was a great prejudice to the New Saxon Church that the year before S. Augustins coming into Brittany the Holy Bishop Saint Asaph Successour to S. Kentigern in the Bishoprick of Elwy in wales should dye as likewise S. Columba the same year that Saint Augustin arrived For doubtles the authority and piety of two such eminent Saints would have prevented the contestations petulancy of the Brittish Bishop which followed VI. CHAP. 1.2 c. Saint Augustin consecrates an Idol-Temple near Canterbury into a Church dedicated to S. Pancraece 6. A prodigy caused by the Devill there against S. Augustin 7.8 He builds a Church and Monastery to Saint Peter and Saint Paul near the Citty 9. And another in the Citty to our Saviour 10. He places a Suffragan Bishop in the Church of S. Martin 1. SAint Augustin having been consecrated by Virgilius Arch-bishop of Arles returned into Brittany in the year of Grace five hundred ninety eight where he was received by King Ethelbert with greater reverence then before who assigned to him an Episcopal See in the same Citty which he afterward enriched with great possessions as S. Beda testifies 2. This New Episcopall Church was not that of S. Martin where the Queen was formerly wont to pray But it was a Temple anciently frequented by the King whilst he was a Pagan and was situated in the
celebration of Easter consisted But we doe not find their particular defect in administring the Sacrament of Baptism Certain it is notwithstanding that they did not celebrate it so nakedly destitute of solemne Rites as it is of late in the Churches which call themselves Reform'd For besides the sign of the Crosse without which no Sacrament is administred saith S. Augustin they used Holy Chrism the benediction of Water and salt c. Most probable therfore it is that the like defects were in practise among them which are complaind of by S. Leo in his Decretal Epistle to wit the celebrating of it without necessity out of the solemn times prescrib'd by the Church Easter Whitsontide c. or without sufficient previous instructions for want of which the Exorcisms and imposition of hands on persons of age converted would want their due effect But concerning this matter for want of light from Antiquity we can onely give coniectures 8. These most equall conditions of brotherly affection and Vnity were reiected by the Brittains For saith S. Beda Their answer was that they would not doe any one of these things Neither would they receive him for their Arch-bishop This latter clause of their Answer proceeded meerly from the spirit of faction in them since the receiving him for Arch-bishop was not included in the conditions of Vnion nor so much as proposed by Saint Augustin Which ill spirit is denoted by the following words of the same Authour For conferring among themselves they said If he would not vouchsafe euen now to rise out of his seat in civility to us how much more will he contemne us in case we begin to yeild subiection to him 9. The Brittains therefore obstinatly refusing compliance in every thing the Treaty between them necessarily ended But before the dissolution of the Assembly Saint Augustin by inspiration from God prophecied a heavy iudgement shortly to befall them for their uncharitablenes The man of God Augustin saith S. Beda is reported to have foretold the Brittains by way of threatning That since they would not accept of peace with their brethren they should receive war from their Enemies And since they refused to preach the way of life to the English Nation they should by the hands of the same Nation suffer no lesse a revenge then death Which Prophecy of his in all the circumstances of it was through the just iudgement of God fulfilled upon them The manner how this came to passe shall in its due place be related where likewise we will clear S. Augustin from a most horrible calumny imputed to him as if by his impulsion many thousands of Religious Monks were murdred XX. CHAP. 1.2 c. Sebert King of the East Saxons converted 4 5. c. The Church and Monastery of Westminster built 7.8 c. The wonderfull consecration of it by S. Peter attested by Authours of eminent credit 1. THIS Synod of Worcester as some call it being thus ended without producing any good effect the minds of both parties being rather far more exulcerated S. Augustin returned into Kent where he laboured diligently in propagating the Gospell Neither were his endeavours in vain on the contrary Almighty God to shew that the uncharitablenes of the Brittains could not prejudice his designs of good to the Saxons so wonderfully exalted his Divine Truth among those Pagans and so depressed the Brittains that the words of our Saviour may seem to have been fullfilled in them The Kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a Nation bringing forth the fruits thereof For from the Brittish Churches which hitherto had with so much devotion and gratitude honoured the Apostolick See but now rejected it scarce any thing memorable is afforded to furnish our Ecclesiasticall Story Whereas every year almost will suggest new matter to glorify God in the heroically Christian actions of Saxon Princes the sanctity of Bishops and the wonders which God wrought for the testifying of both 2. In the next confining Kingdom to Kent divided from it by the River Thames raigned a Prince called Sigibert or Sebert or Saberet King of the East-Saxons whose Father had married Ricula the only Sister of King Ethelbert This Prince moved either by the authority of his Vncle or the admiration of the Sanctity of Saint Augustin and his comâ—panions signified his desire to be instructed in Christian Religion Whereupon Saint Augustin readily sent him Preachers who found little difficulty in perswading him to relinquish his Idolatry and embrace the Faith of Christ. 3. Presently after Saint Augustin himself repaired to him and administred the first Sacrament of Baptism to King Sebert and his Queen Ethelgoda And many of his Subject following his example gave up their names to Christ insomuch as Saint Augustin for the government of this New Church consecrated Mellitus the Roman Abbot sent him by Saint Gregory Bishop of London That these things hapned this year presently after the Synod of Worcester Saint Beda is witnes as likewise an ancient Historian named Iohn Fleet whose words are these King Sebert having been baptised by Saint Augustin in the Western part of London demolished a certain Idoll-Temple dedicated to Apollo in a place called Thorney and in the room thereof built a Church to the honour of God and Saint Peter which he recommended to Saint Mellitus to be by him consecrated 4. Others refer the foundation of this Church to King Ethelbert whose Tributary not only King Sebert was but all other Saxon Kings as far as the River of Humber by the testimony of Saint Beda But in the Charter of King Edgar afterwards granted to this Church of Westminster it is more properly said to have been built by Sebert a very rich Prince on the perswasion of Ethelbert the first English Christian King And in the same Charter the place where it was built called Thorney is said to have been a terrible place probably not so much for the Savage rudenes of it as because wicked Spirits formerly worshipped in Apollo's Temple had possession of it 5. To this Church of Saint Peter the Holy Bishop Saint Mellitus adioyned a Monasterâ— being admonished to doe so as the fame is by S. Peter himself saith William of Malmsbury Indeed in these ancient times scarce any illustrious Churches were built without a Congregation of Monks to attend Divine Service there A mark whereof remains to this day for our Cathedrall Churches are vulgarly called Ministers or Monasteries And this was according to the advice given to Saint Augustin by Pope Gregory to institute in his Churches a conversation of religious persons like that in the primitive Church of Ierusalem in which none accounted those things which he possessed his own but all things were common among them as hath been declared already from S. Beda 6. How this Church was consecrated immediatly and miraculously by S. Peter himself though my intention is to be modest in recounting such wonders I
the eighth Indiction ✚ I Ethelbert King of the English Nation have confirmed this Donation with the sign of the Holy Crosse with mine own hand ✚ I Augustin by the Grace of God Arch-bishop have willingly subscribed ✚ I Eadbald Son of the King have favoured this †I Hamegisilus Duke have commended it †I Hocca Count have consented †I Augemund Referendary have approved it †I Graphio Count have blessed it †I Tangisilus one of the Kings Nobles have confirmed it †I Pinca have consented ✚ I Geddi have corroborated it 6. Such were the Forms of these two Prime Charters conferred on this Prime Saxon Monastery founded three years before And whereas Sir H. Spelman seems to suspect the second by reason that in it Ethelbert calls himself King of the English Nation whereas properly he was not so much King of the Angli as of the Iutes and Saxons inhabiting Kent for which reason in his first Charter he stiles himself only King of Kent Notwithstrnding if we consider that in those times among the severall Saxon Princes in Brittany he who had as King Etelbert at this time an Empire over the rest was wont to entitle himself King of the Angli which Title also S. Gregory in his letter to him gave him we shall not much be moved with this suspicion So King Lucius was called King of the Brittains though beside him there were many other lesser Princes raigning there his own peculiar Dominion being the Province of the Iceni containing Norfolk Suffolf c. 9. This Monastery thus endowed and priviledged remaind flourishing for the space of above nine hundred years much enlarged in the Buildings and Revenews by the piety of succeeding Princes Nobles and Abbots and peculiarly cherish'd by Popes as immediatly subject to them who bestowd many more liberties and Indults upon it extant in our Records And though at first it had the Name from S. Peter and S. Paul yet after the death of S. Augustin it passed into an appellation from his Name XXIV CHAP. 1.2 Peter the first Abbot of Canterbury drowned 3. A Church built at Ely 4 The Inhabitants of Cernel converted by Saint Augustin The Saxon Idol Heyl demolished 1. TWO years after the date of the forementioned Charters the Abbot of the said Monastery was drownd in passing the Sea toward France Concerning whom S. Beda thus Writes The first Abbot of the Monastery of the Blessed Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul was called Peter a Roman Preist who having been sent upon a message into France was drownd in a bay of the Sea called Ampleat and by the inhabitants of those coasts ignobly buried That bay of the Sea saith Malbranque is now called Ambletea and touching this Holy Abbot he adds That Almighty God to publish the great merits of the man caused a heavenly light to appear every night over his sepulcher till the neighbours observing it judged the person there buried to have been a Holy man and making inquisition whence he came and who he was they took the Body thence and committed it to an honourable sepulture in the principall Church of the Citty of Bouloign This was done by a Count of that place called Fumertius 2. His Memory is celebrated in the Gallican Martyrologe on the thirtieth day of December But in ours on the sixth of Ianuary To him succeeded in the Office and dignity of Abbot Iohn who in the first Mission of S. Augustin was sent one of his companions 3. The same year were layd the first foundations of the Famous Abbey of the Isle of Ely in Cambridgshire by the perswasion of S. Augustin and the assistance of King Ethelbert Yet Harpsfeild writes doubt fully of its antiquity saying That Monastery was in the beginning founded by S. Augustin Arch-bishop at the costs of Ethelbert King of Kent as some report and dedicated to the honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary where was placed a Congregation of Monks of the Order of S. Benedict But I am not satisfied of the truth of this Tradition It may be this is the place intended in a passage out of the Book of Ely quoted by Camden where he saith The Book of Ely relates how our S. Augustin built a Church at Cradiden which Penda King of Mercia subverted Probable therefore it is that out of the ruines of this Church was afterward raised that so famous Monastery 4. William of Malmsbury reports likewise another example of the labour and industry of S. Augustin in propagating the Gospell How passing through all the Provinces of Brittany as far as the Empire of Ethelbert extended it self he came to a certain village in Dorsetshire where preaching the word of God he gained many soules to Christ from the Devills Tyranny There likewise saith Camden he brok in peices a certain Idol called Heil answering to Aesculapius to which was attributed a power of healing diseases Hereat the Devill being enraged inflamed with fury the minds of the Pagans against him who sett upon him and his companions and after many indignities forced him to retire three miles from thence Where whilst he was quietly attending to Prayer he with the eye of his mind perceiv'd the Divine presence and presently with a chearfull countenance sayd to his companions Cerno Deum c. I See God who will shortly recompence our endeavours and will inspire into those raging people a more moderate and repenting mind Assoon as he had said this those Pagans came in great hall to him and demanding pardon of their fault promised to submitt themselves to his teaching Whom after he had instructed he intended to baptise them but wanting water at the Holy Bishops command a founâ—tain broke forth of secret passages which to this day for the merits of S. Augustin is held in great esteem by the people And from the word Cerno I See spoken by him with the addition of the Hebrew word El signifying God the said village was afterward called Cernel but vulgarly Cern In that place saith the same Authour Edwald after a life spent in great piety was buried with a high esteem of Sanctity which in after times gave occasion to a certain very rich man call'd Egilwald to build a Monastery there dedicated to S. Peter XXV CHAP. 1.2 c. King Ethelberts Ecclesiasticall Lawes 1. BEFORE we finish the course of the present story of Saint Augustins Gests it is expedient that we first relate how by his advice King Ethelbert administred his kingdom with great Piety and justice For saith Saint Beda among other eminent benefits by his prudence conferred on his kingdoms he with the counsel of his wise men instituted Orders and Decrees of Iudgments according to the Examples of the Roman Laws and policy Which Decrees were written in the English tongue and are to this day extant and in practise Among which he in the first place set down what satisfaction should be made by those who
The lest arm likewise he layd there in a place separate from the other as also the Body And the whole Body sayth William of Malmsbury according to the course of Nature was turnd into dust But the arms and hands by divine power doe remain incorrupt as an Historian of great veracity affirms 3. How long those Sacred Relicks remaind there was to the said Authour in certain A report there is that a certain Monk of Peterborough perceiving great negligence in keeping that Treasure stole away the right arm and Silver boxe and deposed them in his own Monastery Ingulphus a grave Writer confirms this Suspicion for relating the cruel depopulations made by the Infidell Danes in that countrey he declares how the Abbot and Convent there were forced to fly who carried with him the Sacred Relicks of the Holy Virgins Kineburga and Kineswitha and the Priour says he accompanied with some of his Brethren taking the arm of S. Oswald King fled with it to the Isle of Ely 4. The benediction of S. Aidan saying Let this hand never be corrupted was fullfilld saith Beda for when it was severed from the rest of the Body after the battell it remains to this day incorrupt Now what this learned and devout Historians relates of his own time which was almost a hundred years after the death of S. Oswald the succeeding Writers in following ages testify also with regard to their times For William of Malmsbury who wrote four hundred years after S. Beda hath this Expression I beleive that the Truth of that Divine Oracle He dispersed he gave to the poor his iustice remains for ever was fullfilld in King Oswald For that royal right hand which had bestowd so many Almâ— together with the arm skin and sinâ—ws remains to this day fresh and incorrupt but the rest of the Body beside the bones did not escape the common condition of mortality but was dissolved into dust This may seem strange to the Reader but none has the impudence to dare to deny the Truth of this 5. In the next age after lived Roger Hoveden who was no Monk this is added because Protestant Writers impute such stories to the fiction of Monks who writes thus In the Citty Bebba seated on the top of a Mountain is a beautifull Church in which there is a precious boxe containing the right hand of the holy King Oswald which remains uncorrupted After him lived Mathew of Westminster who gives this testimony In the fight where King Oswald was slain his right hand and arm was cutt of which to this day remains free from corruption In the following age Iohn Capgrave thus writes When King Osâ—ald was slain his Arme was cutt from his body which hitherto remains incorrupt 6. Polydor Virgil a secular Preist in the next age recites the Propheticall speech of S. Aidan to King Oswald May this hand never perish This saith he we may beleive proceedeâ— from Divine Inspiration For the same hand always remaind entire though the body was consumed which is still preserved in a decent boxe and with great veneration deposed in the Church of S. Peter in the Royal Citty Lastly Nicholas Harpsfeild a secular Preist likewise who wrote not long after says yet more expressly S. Aidan who then sate at Table admiring this munificence of the King prayd that a hand so liberal might never wither Which Prayer to this our times did never want effect c. That munificent hand indeed did never wither For what S. Beda and our following Historians affirmd to be true each one in respect of his own age our present age likewise hath confirmed There are at this day alive Witnesses of great worth and veracity beyond all exception who have testified to mee that themselves saw the same hand 7. Now let the Reader iudge whether such a chain of Tradition deserves not rather our assent then the impudent charge of lying layd on all our Ancestours by the Centuriators of Magdeburg who without any ground or suspicion from Antiquity impute forgery Superstition or what other crime they please to Writers whose learning and piety has been approved and coÌ„mended by the whole Church 8. As for the other Relicks of this holy King his Sacred Head was deposed in the Monastery of Lindesfarn which himself had lately founded for his Bishop S. Aidan It was afterward removed from thence and more decently buried with the Body of S. Cuthbert And when the See of Lindesfarn was translated to Durham about the year of Grace one thousand and twenty together with the Body of S. Cuthbert the same Head was removed by Edmand Bishop of that See for William of Malmsbury a hundred years after testifies that the Head of S. Oswald together with his arms was found there 9. His other bones together with the trunk of his body saith S. Beda were by the industry and devotion of Offrida wise to King Ethelred son of Oswi at this time King of the Northumbers removed to the Monastery of Bardeney in Lincolnshire Who likewise recounts how when the Monks refused to receive these Sacred relicks out of an ancient hatred to his person as a stranger and Enemy to the Mercians by a Pillar of Light which all the night before stood over the Charriot in which these Holy Relicks were exposed to the aire they earnestly begged that their Church might be honourd with them And many other wonderfull Miracles recounted by him by William of Malmsbury and others which God was pleased to work in severall ages by the intercession of this holy King all these may be read in those Authours for I have no inclination to transcribe them Onely I will add that upon the incursion of the Danes these Relicks were from the Monastery of Bardeney translated to Glocester Yea so illustrious was the Memory of his Sanctity that severall other forrain Churches in Ireland Flander c. were ambitious to be partakers of them 10. Yea not only the bones of this Blessed King were held in veneration and operative in miracles But according to the testimony of S. Beda in the place where fighting for his countrey and Religion he was slain by Pagans frequent cures were wrought both on men and cattell Whence it came to passe that many took of the dust it self where his body fell and putting it into water thereby restord health to the sick Which custom was so much frequented that by the continuall deminution of earth a trench was made the heighth of a man in depth c. 11. So great was the veneration born among us to this Holy King that severall Churches and Monasteries were built and dedicated to him As in Cumberland neer the River Itun there is Kirk-Oswald another in Northumberland at Silecester neer the Picts wall a third in Lincolnshire at Bardeney a fourth at Glocester when his Relicks were translated thither And in Yorkshire the Monastery of Nosthil was consecrated to him saith Camden
in devotion and partly with an intention of gaining instruction in Ecclesiasticall matters Moreover we are certainly informed that in Africk Asia Egypt Greece and all other â—â—rts of the world through which the Church is spread how different soever the inhabitants be in language and manners yet they all universally celebrate Easter at the same time with us So that these Scotts and their complices the Picts and Brittains inhabitants of two remote Islands and not all of them neither are the only persons which with a foolish obstinacy contend against the whole world 9. Whilst Wilfred was thus speaking Colman interrupted him saying I wonder you will call our practise foolish since no man can deny but that therein we follow the example of so great an Apostle as S. Iohn dignified by our Lord to be permitted to lye in his bosom and who certainly can not be charged with folly 10. Hereto Wilfrid replied God forbid that any of us should impute folly to S. Iohn for observing litterally the Rites of Moyses his Law at a time when the Christian Church did as yet Iudaize because it was not possible for the Apostles on a sudden to cast off all the Legall observances The Iewish Church therefore at first being the only true Church of God the Gentiles who were converted when they were admitted into it were obliged not only to cast away all their Idols invented by the Devill but likewise in many countreys where the Iews abounded to conform to many of their Rites for fear of giving scandall to them Hence it was that S. Paul circumcised Timothy that he offred Sacrifices in the Temple and together with Aquila and Priscilla at Corinth cutt off his haire in sign that he had made a vow all which Ceremonies were in themselves of no proffit at all but were done by him because he would not offend the Iewes And upon this ground it was that the Apostle S. Iames said to the same S. Paul Thou seest Brother how many thousands among the Iews there are who beleive and are withall extremely zealous for Legall Observances c. But notwithstanding these practises of the Apostles in the beginning yet now that the Gospell is clearly preach'd and beleived through the world there is no necessity yea it would be unlawfull either to be circumcised or to offer carnall sacrifices to God Therefore it was that S. Iohn in a charitable complyance with the Iews according to their custom celebrated the Paschall Solemnity on the fourteenth day of the first Month at even not regarding whether that day hapned to be a Sabbath or any other day of the Week 11. But as for S. Peter he preached at Rome and considering that it was on the first day of the Week that our Lord rose from the dead therby giving the world hope likewise of a resurrection he understood that Easter was so to be celebrated that according to the precept of the Law the fourteenth day of the Moon of the first Month was first to be expected as S. Iohn did also in the East And that day being come if it hapned that the next following was Sunday call'd in Scripture our Lords day or first of the Week then at even of the Sabbath day he began to celebrate the Paschall Solemnity But if the next day after the fourteenth Moon was not Sunday but the Sixteenth Seaventeenth or so following to the one and twentieth he expected till Sunday came and the Saturday-even before he began the Paschal Feast Thus Easter-day being a Sunday was observed from the fifteenth Moon till the one and twentieth Neither does this Evangelicall and Apostolick Tradition dissolve but fullfill the Law by which the Paschal Feast is to be observed from the even of the fourteenth Moon of the first Month untill the even of the one and twentieth Moon of the same Month. Which Observance is imitated by all S. Iohns Successours after his death and by the Vniversall Church through the world And that this is indeed the true Easter and only to be observed by all Christians hath been not newly ordained but confirmed as an ancient practise by the first General Nicene Council as Ecclesiasticall History informs us 12. Hence it is manifest O Colman that you Scotts neither follow the example of S. Iohn what ever you pretend and you directly contradict the Tradition of S. Peter so that in Observing Easter you neither conform to the Law nor Gospell For S. Iohn observing the Paschal time according to the Letter of the Law had no regard whether it was our Lords day or no Wheras you keep it only on our Lords day And S. Peter observed it from the fifteenth to the one and twentieth Moon but you from the fourteenth to the twentieth insomuch as you oft begin that Solemnity on the thirteenth Moon at even for which the Law it self gives no warrant Neither did our Lord himself the Authour of the Gospell either eat the ancient Pasch on that day but on the fourteenth Moon at even or deliver the Sacraments of the New Law to be observed by the Church Moreover by your disorderly observance you sometimes exclude the one and twentieth Moon from your Solemnity which yet the Law commands to be celebrated most solemnly Thus as I said in your Rite you neither agree with S. Iohn nor S. Peter you are neither conformable to the Law nor Gospel 13. Against this discourse of Wilfrid Colman thus obiected Will you presume to say that Anatholius a Holy man and highly commended in Ecclesiasticall Story did in his iudgment contradict both the Law and Gospell who yet wrote that the Feast of Easter was to be observed from the fourteenth Moon to the twentieth Or is it credible that our most Reverend Father Columba and his Successours did teach contrary to Divine Scriptures when as their Sanctity has been attested by many celestiall Miracles For my part being assured that they are Saints I will never desist following their practises and Discipline 14. Here to Wilfrid reioynd It is not to be doubted said he but that Anatholius was a man of admirable Sanctity and learning But why doe you alledge him since you doe not somuch as observe his Decrees For he in his Paschall Computation observing the Rule of Truth placed the Cycle of Nineteen years or Golden Number Which Cycle either you are ignorant of or if you understand it you impudently despise it though in use through the whole Church He did so compute the fourteenth Moon in the Sunday on which he perform'd the Paschal Feast that on the same day at even he according to the Egyptian custom confessed that it was the fifteenth Moon In like manner he did so reckon the twentieth Moon in his account on the Easter Sunday that the declining part of that day he attributed to the one and twentieth Moon Now it is manifest that you are ignorant of his distinction since some times you celebrate your Paschal Solemnity before full-Moon that is when
was miraculously forbidden and hindred as we shall shew more at large when we come to the season of that Mission For Almighty God designed him for another employment which was the reducing of the Scottish Monks and Clergy to a conformity with the Catholick Church in the Celebration of Easter in Canonicall Tonsure and other Rites How this was effected S. Beda thus relates 10. Not long after saith he those Monks also which inhabited the Island of Hy of the Scottish nation together with all the Monasteries subiect to them were by Gods Providence brought to the Catholick Observance of Easter and Canonicall Tonsure For in the year after our Lords Incarnation seaven hundred and sixteen in which after that Osred King of the Northumbers was slain Coeâ—red governed there there came to them out of Ireland the holy and Venerable Preist Egbert of whom we spoke before and was with great reverence and ioy received by them He being a very winning Teacher and moreover one who devoutly practised what he taught was willingly hearkned to by them all and by his diligent and pious exhortations changed the inveterate Tradition of their Ancestours to whom we may apply that saying of the Apostle That they had a zeale of God but not according to knowledge and taught them to celebrate the Prime Christian Solemnity and to receive the Canonicall Tonsure after the Catholick and Apostolick manner And herein we may admire the mercifull dispensation of Divine Providence that the same Nation which formerly had with great willingnes communicated to our Ancestours the Light of Divine knowledge should afterward by our English Nation be brought to a perfect form of living in things whereof they were formerly ignorant As on the other side the Brittains who refused to communicate to the English the knowledge of the Christian Faith now that the same English were perfectly instructed in the Rule of Christianity yet they remaind in their inveterate Errours and celebrated Christian Solemnities and Rites in a manner different and opposite to the Vniversal Church 11. Now the said Monks of Hy by the teaching of Egbert received the Catholick Rites when Dunchad the tenth from S. Columba was Abbot of that Monastery and about fourscore years after they had sent Aidan to preach the Gospell to the English Nation The man of God Egbert remaind thirteen years in the said Island which he had consecrated as it were anew to our Lord by bringing among them the Spirit of Christian communion and peace 12. At length in the year of our Lords Incarnation seven hundred twenty nine in which the Paschall Solemnity fell on the eighth before the Calendâ— of May when he had solemnly celebrated Masse in Memory of the said Resurrection of our Lord the same day he likewise went to heaven and there in the Society of our Lord and his Apostles finished the ioy of that highest Festivity which he had begun on earth with his Brethren whom he had converted to Vnity Yea now he never ceases to celebrate it without end 13. And truly it was a wonderfull dispensation of the Divine Providence that this Venerable man not only passed out of this world to the Eternal Father upon the Paschal Feast but when that Feast was celebrated aright on such a day as it never had been before in those places This was great ioy to the Monks that they were arrived to the certain Catholick time of that Feast and that they were assured to enioy the Protection of the same Venerable Father by whom they were rectified And it was a ioy to him that he was preserved alive till he might see his Disciples solemnise that day together with him which formerly they had always avoyded Thus being assured of their amendment the most Reverend Father exulted to see that day of our Lord he saw it and was glad Thus happily he dyed and both in the Roman and other Martyrologes his name is recited among the Saint on the four and twentieth of April THE SEAVETEENTH BOOK OF THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY I. CHAPTER 1.2 c. Pope Vitalians Letter to King Oswi concerning the election of an Arch-bishop of Canterbury in the place of Wigard who dyed at Rome 1. BY reason of the distractions caused by the late raging Pestilence the two principall Sees of Brittany were some years vacant But in the year of Grace six hundred sixty five by the care of two pious Kings Oswi King of the Northumbers and Egbert King of Kent order was taken for supplying them Thus writes Saint Beda King Oswi saith he though he had received his education and instruction from the Scotts yet now came to understand of a truth that the Roman was the Catholick Apostolick Church therefore ioyning in counsell with Egbert King of Kent they with the election and consent of the English Clergy sent to Rome to be ordained Arch-bishop of Canterbury a certain vertuous Preist and fittly qualified for that dignity named Wigard one of the Clergy of the late Arch-bishop Deus-dedit to the intent that he being invested with Archiepiscopall authority might ordain Catholick Bishops over all the Churches in Brittany 2. Moreover in token of their respect to the See Apostolick together with Wigard they sent Letters and presents to Pope Vitalâ—an who then sate in S. Peters Chaire with vessels of gold and silver in no small number saith the same Authour 3. Wigard being arrived at Rome and having acquainted the foresaid Pope with the cause of his iourney presently after both himself and almost all those of his attendance were swepd away by a pestilence which suddenly seised on them 4. Pope Vitaliam by his Letters to King Oswi dated the year following and which are extant in S. Beda gave him an account of these things In which Letters he first congratulates the Kings Orthodoxe faith and zeale for propagating the same Faith among his subjects Exhorting him earnestly in all things to follow the pious Rule and Tradition of S. Peter and S. Paul who were the two great Lights of the Vniversall Church Particularly he instructs him how the Catholick way of observing the Paschall Solemnity came from their teaching and practise 5. Consequently he informs him how he could not so soon find a man in all points adorned with such qualities as they required in a Prelate considering that the great distance of their countrey deterred men from accepting the Episcopall charge there But assoon as a fitt person could be found he would not fayle to direct him thither to pluck up all the tares which the Enemy had sown in their Churches 6. Then he adioyns his gratefull acknowledgment for the Gifts which he had sent in honour to the Blessed Prince of the Apostles assuring him that both himself and his whole Clergy would dayly pray to Almighty God for his health But as for the design'd Arch-bishop Wigard who brought those gifts he with great greife recounts his sudden taking out of
apprehend to be indissolubly bound them mercifully absolved from his sins 12. But it may be some nice Disputer presuming on his skill in Scripture and other learning will fancy that he can excuse and defend himself under the sheild of such an Apology as this saying I doe sincerely venerate the Precepts of both the Old and New Testament and with my heart and tongue I doe confesse in God an Vnity of Essence and Trinity of Persons I doe freely preach to the people the Mystery of our Lords Incarnation the Crosse of his Passion and the Victorious Trophey of his Resurrection I doe diligently denounce to my hearers the last Iudgment of the living and dead in which with a most equall ballance every one according to their different merits shall receive a different retribution of happines or misery This I beleive and professe and by the priviledge of this Faith I doe not doubt but I shall be reckoned and rewarded with the lott of true Orthodox Catholicks 13. But alas this seeming Fortresse under which they hope to lurk securely I will endeavour to batter to the ground with the Engin of the Apostles reproof For S. Iames who is called the Brother of our Lord saith Thou beleivest that there is one God and immediatly he adioyns directing his speech by an Irony to the twelve Tribes in the dispersion Thou doest well But take notice of this The Devills likewise beleive this and tremble For Faith without Works is dead His meaning is that Catholick and Brotherly Charity must inseparably walk together in the same path as that glorious Preacher and Vessell of Election S. Paul testifies saying If I knew all Prophecy and all Mysteries if I had Faith so that I could remove mountains and if I should give my body to be burnt and had not Charity all this would proffit mee nothing at all I will summ up all in one short sentence That man does in vain boast of the Catholick Faith who does not follow the Dogme and Rule of S. Peter For the foundation of the Church and stability of Faith which can be shaken by no winds or tempests rests principally on Christ and after him consequently on S. Peter Hence the Apostle saith Other foundation can no man lay besides that which is layd which is Iesus Christ. And Divine Truth it self hath thus established the Priviledge of the Church to S. Peter Thou art Peter and on this Rock I will build my Church 14. This is the tenour of Saint Aldelm's Epistle to Geruntius King of Cornwall and to the Brittish Preists his Subjects in which may be observed what extreme bitternes and malice still possessed their minds against the Saxons insomuch as they chose rather to be separated from the Communion of the Catholick Church then to conform to them by relinquishing any of their old irregular Rites And here likewise may be observed how vainly our Protestant Writers endeavour to fly to the Brittains for defence of their deserting Catholick Doctrines Hence the Centuriators of Magdeburg and others imitating them taking advantage from an errour in the printed Copy of S Beda's history where Castitatem is read for Caritatem doe affirm That there was a sharp debate between Aldelm and the Brittains against whom he earnestly inveighs because they would not approve Celibacy of Preists and other new invented Rites as Beda testifies in the fifth Book of his History and nineteenth Chapter The same likewise is manifest out of Aldelms Epistle to Geruntius King of the English Whereas it is manifest that not a word is spoken in this Epistle touching Celibacy 15. This Epistle was not written in vain for as S. Beda testifies By the reading of it many Brittains subject to the West-Saxons were brought to the Catholick Rite of celebrating our Lords Paschall solemnity Whence we may likewise observe that these Brittains though they were immediatly governed by a King of their own nation yet both he and they were subordinatly dependent on Inas King of the West-Saxons Notwithstanding which dependence and subjection the Saxons did not seek by violence and terrour to force their consciences but with all meeknes and tendernes to invite them to Catholick Vnity XVIII CHAP. 1.2 Withred after six years interregnum is made King of Kent 3.4 He redeems with money an invasion of his Countrey by King Inas And builds S. Martins Church in Dover 1. IN the year of Grace six hundred ninety three the Kingdom of Kent began to take breath after six years agitation both by civill and extern commotions For after Edrick had deposed his usurping Vncle Lothere and obtained the throne by right of blood due to him by his Tyranny and injustice he incurred the hatred of his Subjects and after two years raign lost both his government and life His death notwithstanding rather encreased then ended the troubles of that Province for whether it was that many pretending to the succession factions and civill debates divided the nation or whatsoever was the cause for Historians afford us little Light to discover those affairs distinctly during the space of six years there was not any King there 2. To these civill broyles was added an invasion of that Kingdom by Cedwalla King of the West-Saxons as hath been declared Which invasion notwithstanding for the time united their dissentions so that after much hurt received the inhabitants of Kent repulsed Cedwella and driving his Brother Mul or Mollo into a Cottage sett it on fire and consumed him in it Cedwalla after this being converted to Christianity and relinquishing his kingdom to perform a pilgrimage to Rome where he desired to receive Baptism recommended the revenge of the death of his Brother Mul to his Successour Inas Who having prudently employed the five first years of his raign in settling his own kingdom the Churches in it by wholesom Lawes and constitutions at last this year he made a terrible impression into Kent 3. At this time the principall Pretender to that Kingdom was Withred the Son of Egbert who by his courage and industry had repressed the envy of his opponents and gained the generall affection of the people so that he was unanimously chosen and acknowledged King When King Inaâ— therefore in revenge of the death of Mul brought a formidable army into Kent for a while a vigorous resistance was made But King Inas having great advantage by his martiall skill and courage assisted with a far greater power King Withred was at last forced to redeem the safety and peace of his countrey with money So that a Treaty was begun and King Inas being mollified with the summ of thirty thousand marks of gold pardoned them the death of Mul and drew back his army into his own countrey 4. Bishop Parker from S. Beda gives to Withred an associate in the throne his Brother Swinfard who ioyntly administred the kingdom with great justice and piety They built saith he the Church of S.
the Holy Fathers And lastly how during the space of forty five years in which he exercised the Episcopall charge he having been exposed to many dangers both at home and abroad at last attained to his eternall happy rest in our Lord. His Memory is celebrated among the Saints by the Church on the twelfth of October the day on which he dyed How his Sacred Relicks were translated from Rippon to Canterbury two hundred and thirty years after his death we shall in due place declare 8. His Successour in the See of Hagulstad or Hexham saith Saint Beda was Acca formerly one of his Preists a man of admirable magnificence for having founded a Church to the honour of Saint Andrew the Apostle he richly adorned it and having gathered many Relicks of the Apostles and Martyrs he raised therein severall Altars in which he placed the said Relicks Moreover he built in the same a most Noble Library furnished with a vast number of volumes He provided also for his Church all manner of holy vessels Lamps and other ornaments And for a more solemne performance of the Divine Office he sent for out of Kent a famous Cantour named Maban who had learnt Ecclesiasticall modulation of the Successours of Saint Gregory there Him he detained the space of twelve years to instruct his Monks both in such Song as they either had never learnt or by disuse had forgotten 9. The devout Bishop Acca also himself was very skilfull in Church-song and moreover learned in Holy Scriptures untainted in his Confession of the Catholick Faith and perfectly versed in Ecclesiasticall Discipline For from his infancy he had been brought up among the Clergy of the Holy Bishop Bosa Bishop of York And afterward aspiring to Religious Perfection he adioynd himself to Saint Wilfrid in whose attendance he continued to his death Whith him also he went to Rome where he learnt many things pertaining to Ecclesiasticall institution which he could not have learnt at home 10. Wee find in Saint Beda that Saint Acca before his exaltation to the Episcopall degree had been an Abbot for under that title there is an Epistle directed to him declaring how by his instinct and order Saint Beda had written his Treatise called Hexameron touching the Creation of the world And how after he was made Bishop he wrote oftimes to the same Saint Beda and exhorted him to write his Commentaries on Saint Luke c. shall be declared hereafter VIII CHAP. 1.2 c. Death of S. Aldelm Bishop of Shirborn 5.6 c. Elogies given to him even by Protestants 8.9 c. Forther succeeds him To whom an Epistle from Arch-bishop Brithwald 1 THE same year in which Saint Wilfrid dyed our Island lost another Star likewise of the first magnitude the Holy and most learned Bishop Saint Aldelm Bishop of Shirborn concerning whom frequent mention hath been already made 2. As touching his death thus writes the Auâ—hour of his life in Capgrave S. Aldelm in a good old age full of vertues and Sanctity departed to our Lord on the eighth day before the Calends of Iune in the seaven hundred and ninth year after our Lords Incarnation and the fifth year after he had been promoted to the Episcopall charge and the thirty fourth after his being instituted Abbot He was buried in his Monastery of Meldun or Malmsbury with great honour 3. His death was by divine revelation foreknown to Saint Egwin who in a certain Treatise thus writes Two years after the foundation of the Monastery of Evesham the Holy Bishop Aldelm departed to our Lord whith being made known to mee by revelation I called together she Religious Brethren to whom I declared the decease of that Venerable Father and presently after with great speed I took my iourney to the place where his Sacred Body reposed above fifty miles distant from his Monastery of Malmsbury Whither I conducted the same and there buried it very honourably Moreover I gave command that in every place in which the said Body dayly rested during the Procession there should be erected Sacred Crosses All which Crosses doe remain to this day neither hath any one of them felt any injury by time One of the said Crosses is yet to be seen in the Cloister of that Monastery 4. Two hundred and forty years after his death to witt in the year of Grace nine hundred forty nine saith the foresaid Authour his Sacred Body was taken up out of his Tomb and placed with great honour in a Shrine His Memory is yeaâ—ly celebrated by the Church on the Anniversary day of his death which was the twenty fifth of May. 5. This glorious Bishop is never mentioned by any of our ancient Historians without high praises Yea even our late Protestant Writers are very large in his commendations Bale though ordinarily rude and uncivill towards Catholicks yet of S. Aldelm he testifies that he was so diligently studious in all learning Divine and Humane that he far exceeded all the Ecclesiasticall Writers of his time And that both in verse and prose he was wonderfully learned both for Latin and Greek for his witt sharp and for his stile elegant He happily departed to our Lord in the year of his Incarnation seaven hundred and nine Camden likewise thus writes of him He is truly worthy that his Memory should for ever flourish not only in regard of his Sanctity but learning also He was the first of the English Nation who wrote in the purity of the Latin tongue and the first who taught the English to compose both verse and prose as well in the Greek as Latin stile This Aldelm after he was dead was reclamed by the Great King Athelstan as his Tutelar Saint The like Elogies doe Bishop Godwin D. Iames and the Centuriators of Magdeburg make of him 6. Yet after all this there is scarce one Point in which they condemne the Roman Church as an Errour iustifying their Separation from it but was held by him And particularly touching the Supreme Vniversall authority of the Pope in the heretofore mentioned Epistle of his to Gerontius King of Cornwall he in the name of the whole English Synod writes That S. Peter merited by a happy and peculiar Priviledge to receive from our Lord the Monarchicall Power of loosing sins both in heaven and Earth Moreover That the foundation of the Church and bullwark of Faith was placed principally on Christ consequently on Peâ—eâ— c. And that Christ who is Truth it self did thus establish on Peter the Priviledge over the Church Thou art Peter and on this Rock I will build my Church Yea Flacius Illyricus writes that S. Aldelm maintained That the Confession of the true Faith wholesome Doctrine and a life otherwise unreprocheable would nothing proffit him who lived in separation from the Vnity of the Catholick Roman Church This is the Faith taught then in the English Church and the Teachers of this Faith the Protestants now
to it together with the Isle of Wight Again how by the ministery of the Holy Preists Ceddand Ceadda the Province of the Mercians came to embrace the Faith of Christ before unknown to them and that of the East-Saxons to recover that Faith which once received was afterward reiected by them And likewise how those two Holy Fathers spent their lives in all Sanctity and how happily they dyed all these things wee learnt from the Religious Brethren of the Monastery of Lestingen built by them Moreover in the Province of the East-Angles the Ecclesiasticall Gests wee understood partly by writings and Tradition of their Ancestours and partly by the relation of the most Reverend Abbot Esius 5. But as touching the Province of Lindissi or Lincoln how the Faith of Christ 〈◊〉 spread there together with the Succession of Bishops we were informed in some part by Letters of the most Revered Bishop Cymbert or Kinebert or by discoursing with severall men of good credit To conclude the occurrents hapning in the Kingdom of the Northumbers and severall regions of it these I came to the knowledge of by the constant report not of a few but of allmost innumerable Witnesses who might well know or remember them besides many things to which I my self can give testimony Among which those things which I have written concerning our most holy Father and Bishop Saint Cuthbert either in this History or in a particular Book of his Gests those I received and transcribed out of certain writings compiled by the Religious Monks of the Church of Lindesfarn the sincerity of which I had no reason to suspect and to those I added with great care many other things which I my self learnt from the most sure attestation of severall faithfull and sincere persons 6. To conclude I humbly entreat the Reader that in case he find in those my Writings any particular passage swerving from Truth he would not impute that to mee as my fault since my only care has been simply and sincerely to commit by writing to posterity for their instruction such things as either from vulgar fame or writings of former ages I have collected Now it is against the generall Law of History that the Writer should be answerable for the mistakes of other men Thus much touching the Truth and sincerity of S. Beda's History XXIV CHAP. 1.2 c. The birth life and Gests of the Venerable Doctour of the Church S. Beda 1. WE will in the last place adde a Narration of the Life and blessed Death of this great Ornament of his age and glory of our Island S. Beda a man so admirably eminent in all kinds of learning so excellent a Poet an Oratour an Historian an Astronomer an Ariâ—hmetician a Chronographer a Cosmographer a Philosopher and a Divine that it was a common saying among the learned of his age That a man born in the utmost corner of the earth had dazeled the whole world with the luster of his Witt and learning And such use he made of all these great Talents in his life that according to his own testimony between the observances of Regular Disciplin and dayly singing the Divine Office in the Church he always found a great sweetnes in learning or teaching or writing some thing For which in his life time he was first by Pope Sergius and for that reason perhaps generally by all stiled Venerable and in that regard that Title since his death has by the whole Church been in a sort appropriated to him For though in all Histories and Martyrologes his Sanctity is celebrated yet he is seldom found written or named Saint but Venerable Beda so that perhaps I may incurr the censure of some Readers for not observing the same in this present History 2. How long he lived cannot certainly be determined Some as hath been said assign his death to this year in which he concluded his History But this is sufficiently disproved in that Saint Boniface fourteen years afther this writing to Egbert Arch-bishop of York and desiring some Books of Venerable Beda to be sent to him speaks of him as then newly dead for he entitles him a man as he had heard who of late had been much enriched with divine Grace and spirituall knowledge and shined gloriously in that Province c. And the like passage we find in an Epistle of the same Holy Bishop to Cuthbert Abbot and Disciple of S. Beda 3. Again others prolong his age beyond the year of Grace seaven hundred seaventy six grounding their opinion on an Epistle written as by him that year to a Preist called Withreda Vpon which account he should many years over-live Saint Boniface contrary to what was even now produced Moreover severall of our ancient Historians place his death four years after this But neither will S. Bonifaces expression well suit with that position 4. In this uncertainty without interposing mine own iudgment it seemd most expedient since we can no longer make use of the testimony and light of this so holy and faithfull an Historian to adioyn his own story to that which he wrote of his countrey especially considering that wee find no Gests of his hereafter inter-woven with the generall Ecclesiasticall affairs so that without any preiudice to order wee may treat of his end in this place conveniently enough 5. He was born in the year of Grace six hundred seaventy one as evidently appears in that himself affirms that he was this year in which he concluded his History fifty nine years old The place of his Birth was a little village not far from Durham called Girwy now Iarrow where the River Tine is ready to fall into the Sea A village then of no consideration though since ennobled not only by his birth but by its neighbourhood to the famous Monastery of Saint Peter founded by S. Benedict Biscop three years after S. Beda was born and it self being the Seat of another Monastery about eight years after built by the same Holy Abbot and dedicated to S. Paul 6. Who or of what condition his parents were hath not been recorded but in a poor village then so obscure we may expect to find inhabitants as obscure What ever condition they were of he was in his infancy deprived of them both and left to the care of his kinred who probably for want of subsistence recommended him being but seaven years old to the care and discipline of the foresaid S. Benedict by which means he in his tender years was imbibed in the rudiments of a Monasticall Life according to the Rule of the Great Patriark of Monasticall Instition S. BENEDICT which Rule as hath been declared was not long before this time introduced into the Province of the Northumbers by the famous Bishops S. Wilfrid 7. In this Monastery of S. Peter seated at Wiremouth S. Beda under so carefull and pious a Master spent his time in all innocence and devotion till he came to an age capable of Professing that Disciplin under
Beda saith he was esteemed by many even above Gregory the Great for his exact skill both in the Latin and Greek tongues There is scarce any thing worthy the reading in all Antiquity which is not found in his Writings If he had lived in the times of Hierom Augustin and Chrysostom I doe not doubt but he might have come in competition with them for esteem He published very many works full of all kinds of learning and in a decrepit age he dyed at last among his Disciples and obtained a most happy end 15. Now since evident Truth extorted such praises from the penns of the desertours of that Religion which so pious and so learned a Doctour of Gods Church who both lived and dyed in eminent Sanctity always taught our dear Countreymen will doe wisely to attend to the affrighting admonition of the learned Cardinal Baronius saying The Holy English Church hath always gloried and with great reason in so holy Doctour whom since her Apostate children doe now reject and instead of him doe follow deceived and deceiving Apostles of Satan they have reason to apprehend least in the last Iudgment so great and powerfull an accuser standing against them before the Tribunal of our Lord they shall receive a sentence of damnation THE THREE AND TWENTIETH BOOK OF THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY I. CHAPTER 1.2 S. Boniface receives from the Pope a resolution of certain doubts 3 4. Likewise an Archiepiscopall Pall. 5 6. Of another Saint Wigbert his companion c. 1. HAVING with due honour buried S. Beda who hath hitherto been our principall and most secure Guide and with whom in the judgment of William of Malmsbury all knowledge in a manner of the Gests of former ages hath been buried We will pursue this History making use of the best Light can be found and beginning with an account of the proceedings the same year of the glorious English Apostle of Germany S. Boniface as we are informed by the Authour of his Life from the Writings of his Holy Disciple and companion Saint Willebald 2. S. Boniface saith he having by himself or his companions converted to the Faith of Christ many thousands whom he purified with the Water of saving Baptism heard news of the death of the Holy Pope Gregory second of that name whose Successour was a third Gregory Whereupon he sent Messengers with Letters to Rome to renew with the New Pope the league of amity which he had enioyd with his Predecessour to make profession of all duty and obedience to the See Apostolick and to give him an account of the great number of German Idolaters converted to the Faith Moreover he proposed certain difficulties occurring in the exercise of his Apostolick charge a resolution whereof he desired 3. Though S. Boniface's Epistle be not extant yet all these particulars may be collected from Pope Gregorye's Answer to him In which 1. He testifies his ioy for the great Benediction given by God to his preaching 2. He signifies to him that to give him more authority in those parts he has sent him an Archiepiscopall Pall which yet he was only to wear when he celebrated Masse or ordained Bishops Which power he now gives him 3. Whereas S. Boniface had given him notice of a certain Preist who went to Rome and at his return boasted that he had obtained Absolution of the Pope from his many scandalous and enormous crimes He tells him that such a Preist came to him signifying only that he was a Preist and desiring Letters of recommendation to Charles Martel but that he made no Confession to him nor by consequence received any Absolution Therfore he advises S. Boniface to avoyd Communion with him and such like as he 4 He advises him severely to pennance such as fed upon horse-flesh 5. He enioyns him to rebapâ—ize such as had been unduly baptized by Pagans and by a Christian Preist revolted from the Faith and who had sacrifised to Iupiter 6. That Oblations should be received and commemoration made by the Preist at the Altar not indifferently for all that were dead but only such as were true Catholick Christians 7. He disswades from Mariage to the seaventh degree of affinity or consanguinity 8. And counsells him to exhort men after the death of their wives not to marry more then once 9 As touching such as had murdred their Father Mother Brother or sister that they should be denyed Communion all their life except only at the point of death and be oblâ—ged to fast every Munday Wednesday and Friday 10. And whereas there was an impious custom among even the converted Germans to sell their slaves to Pagans to be sacâ—ifised by them he requires him absolutely to forbid it and to impose the same Pennance on transgressours which the Canons inflict on Homicides 11 Lastly that he should never consecrate any Bishop but in the presence and with the assistance of at least two Bishops 4. The Messengers returning with these Letters and Presents brought great ioy to S. Boniface who presently after erected two new Churches one at Fritzlare to the honour of S. Peter Prince of the Apostles and the other at Amanbury to the honour of S Michael the Archangel And to those two Churches he adioynd two Monasteries in which he placed a good number of Monks to serve and praise Almighty God 5. Over one of these Monasteries he seems to have appointed Abbot a certain Preist named Wigbert whom he sent for out of Brittany from out of the Monastery of Glastonbury Which devout Preist being arrived wrote an Epistle yet extant to his Fathers and Brethren at Glastonbury to give them notice of his prosperous iourney desiring their prayers to God that he would give good successe to his labours in this Mission which exposed him to great incommodities and dangers He requests them to give notice of all these things to his Mother Tetta and the Congregation with her 6. This S. Wigbert is evidently different from that Saint Wigbert a Martyr which wee mentioned six years before this time And he is doubtlesse the same concerning whom Miraeus thus writes in his Calender on the thirteenth of August In Germany the commemoration of S. Wigbert Preist and Confessour He was I suppose designed first Abbot of Fritzlare by S. Boniface the Apostle of the Germans His Relicks were afterward translated to the Monastery of Hirsfeld in Hassia by Lullus Successour of S. Boniface in his Arch-bishoprick To his name and honour Rabanus Maurus who was Arch-bishop in the year of our Lords Incarnation eight hundred and fifty built a Church in Hirsfeild And severall ages afterward Mathildis the most pious Empresse Mother of Otho the first did the like 7. This S. Wigbert was present at a Synod celebrated at Mentz in the year of Grace seaven hundred forty five and consequently outlived S. Beda Therefore whereas his name is found in S. Beda's Martyrologe and a Homily pretended as made by S. Beda on
the year of Grace seaven hundred and seaventeen and dyed in the year seaven hundred forty three XIV CHAP. 1.2 S Boniface falsely calumniated to Duke Pipin 3.4 c. His Letter to the Pope and Ansâ—er 6. Aâ—stedius his malicious mistake 1. IN the mean time Saint Boniface his patience is exercised for his good for he found adversaryes not only in the Court of Duke Pipin a proper seat for envy and malignity but at home also among his companions in the work of the Gospell As for the former sort he easily made voyd all their designs against him with a Letter written to the Duke and his domesticall accusers he overcame by his meeknes 2. Who these were what they layd to his charge we find in a Letter written to him by the Pope the tenour whereof is this Virgilius and Sidonius Religious men living in the Province of the Bavarians have lately visitted us with their Letters in which they have intimated that your Revered Fraternity enioynd them to rebaptize certain Christians At the reading of this we were much troubled and should extremely wonder if it should be true Among other examples they produced this of a certain Preist in the same Province who being ignorant of the Latin tongue he pronounced it wrong in baptizing saying Baptizo â—e in nomine Patria Filia Spiritua Sancta And for this it iâ— sayd your Reverend Fraternity thought fit that Baptisme should be reiterated But holy Brother if he who baptizes introduces no errour oâ— heresy but through ignorance only failes in pronunciation we can by no means allow that sucâ— Baptism should be repeated For as your Holy Fraâ—ternity well knows who soever is baptized even by Hereticks in the name of the Father of the son and of the Holy Ghost must by no means be rebaptized but only be purified by imposition of hands If the matter therefore stand as hatâ— been related to us Holy Brother abstain hereafter from such iniunctions and be carefull to observe what the Holy Fathers teach 3. Vpon the receit of this Letter S. Boniface presently without reply acquiesced Anâ— the same year dispatched to Rome his Preist Eoban with Letters to the Pope in which hâ— suggested many things very necessary for the Churches of France contained in twenty seaven heads of great advantage to Ecclesiasticall Discâ—pline 4. Hereto Pope Zacharias immediatly answerd adioyning to every one of the said Points his own iudgment Withall he inâ—formed him that the most excellent Prince Pâ—pin had sent likewise to him a Religious Preist named Audobaâ— with other Points of the like nature concernâ—ng the Rights of Bishops Preists c. also touching unlawfull Mariages inquiring what was to be observed therein according the Rites of the Church the Dâ—ctrine of Holy Fathers and Canons of Councils And many other things he had proposed relating to the good of soules To all which likewise he had returned an Answer Consequently he enioyned S Boniface to assemble a Synod and therein to discover to the Bishops his said Determinatiâ—ns 5. He gave him moreover order that the forementioned contumacious and Sacrilegious Hereticks Aldebert Godelâ—ace and Clement should be made to appear before the said Synod that their cause might again be accurately examined And in case they were found wholly to swerve from the way oâ— Truth and iustice and being convinced would not retract their errours and amend their faults that then the Princes assistance being desired they should be proceeded against with all severity according to the Canons of the Church But if they should persist in Pride and protest that they were innocent then his will was that they should be sent to Rome and with them two or three Preists approved for their piety and prudence to be their accusers and there the cause should be with all care examined by the See Apostolick and judgment given on them according to their merits 6. Before we declare how S. Boniface observed what was enioynd him by the Pope in calling a Councill and therein convincing again the said Hereticks and doing other matters for the Churches good all which was done the year following it will be expedient in the mean time to admonish the Reader of a mistake made by Alstedius a Calvinisticall Chronologist who affirms that this year a Synod was assembled in Brittany against the Sodomiticall impurity of the English Clergy Whereas no Synod was called there this year and in that which was assembled two years after though many disorders are censured in it yet this is not named among them XV. CHAP. 1.2 A third Synod assembled by S. Boniface at Mâ—nts 3 4 c In which Geâ—vilio Bishop of Mentz is deposed â—oâ— Homicide c. 6 S Boniâ—ace Aâ—ch bishop of Mentz and Primat of Germany 1. IN the year of Grace seaven hundred â—orty five S Boniface according to the admonition given him by Pope Zacharias and the command of Duke Caroloman assembled his third Councill at Mentz in Germany at which were present according to the account given by himself to Herefrâ—d an English Prelat eight Bishops all of the English Nation But of them those only Names remain which Miraeus hath recorded saying At the Synod of Ments convoked by S. Boniface were present Abel Burchard Willebald Werbet and Wera perhaps Wetta or Wittan 2. The Decrees of this Synod touching Ecclesiasticall Disciplin containd in the forementioned thirty seaven Heads sent by Saint Boniface to Pope Zacharias and by him with some correctiâ—ns approved are not now extant But other affairs of great coÌ„sequence agitated and determined are mentioned in the Life of S. Boniface in Surius Where we read that in the said Synod not only many Ecclesiasticks infected with Heresy were excommunicated but severall Bishops also infamous for horrible crimes were depofed The prime Authours of all Errours in Germany were the two Arch-hereticks Aldebert and Clement Whose cause was remitted to Rome and there with all circumspection iudged as shall be largely declared 3. Of Bishops sayd to be deposed in this Synod the name and speciall demerit of one only is now recorded and that was Gervilio Bishop of Menâ—z where the Councill was held The cause of his Deposition according to the said Authour was this At that time the Thuringians implored the â—ssiâ—â—ance of â—aroloman against the Saxons which wasted their countrey He presently sent an Army and with it Gerold Bishop of Mentz who was Father of Gervilio Gerold in the combat among many others was slain And his son who at that time was a Lay man attending at Court to asswage his greif for his Fathers death was taken into the Clergy and made Bishop of Mentz in his Fathers place 4 Not long after Caroloman gathered another Army which himself lead into Germany and took Gervilio with him Whilst this Army lay encamped on both the sides of the River Visurgis Weser Gervilio commanded his servant to goe privatly into the enemies
himself became a Guide in a spirituall life and Father of Monks For which purpose he also built a Monastery which was calld Lancarvan from an admirable accident in the building of it in which saith Harpsfeild he employ'd will Harts which became familiar obedient and serviceable to him 6. Thus both the Father and Son contemning the world liv'd in it to God only and dyed happily And as touching the death of S. Gunlaeus the Father wee read thus in Capgrave When the end of his dayes approch'd he sent to S. Dubricius who had been Bishop of Landaff but now had translated the Bishoprick to another place and to his Son Cadoc desiring the charity of a visit from them Who came and comforted him and after he had receiv'd the Holy Communion for a Viaticum and defence of his soule he departed to our Lord the fourth day before the Calends of April He was honourably buried and at his sepulcher Angels were often seen Sick persons of all infirmities coming thither and imploring his intercession were healed and glorified God in his Saint The day of his consummation is celebrated in our Martyrologe on the twenty ninth of March. 7. Concerning his Son S. Cadocus it is further related there That he dayly sustain'd a hundred Ecclesiasticall persons as many Widows and as many other poor people besides strangers which frequently visited him For though he was an Abbot and had many Monks under his Government yet he reserved a portion of his Fathers Principality to be charitably distributed to such as had need Now we are not to iudge that hereby this Holy Abbot did trangresse a Monasticall Profession which forbids Propriety in temporall goods for in the distribution of them he only exercised a pious Procuration as he did in other Goods of his Monastery 8. He dyed with a great opinion of Sanctity in the Province of the Ordovices and there was held in high veneration among the Brittains For Harpsâ—eild testifies that a Church was erected to his honour among the Danmonij at a place call'd Corinia which to this day conserves his memory The year wherin he dyed is uncertain But since S. Dubritius is recorded to have been present at it it could not happen so late as Harpsfeild places it In â—he ancient English Martyrologe he is commemorated on the four and twentieth of February 9. In the same Martyrologe are recorded the names of other Brittish Saints who dyed about the year of Grace five hundred Among the rest is named S. Dogmael called also by the Brittains S. Tegwel illustrious for his great vertues his Sanctity and Miracles A famous Abbey in Penbrockshire took its name â—rom him His memory is celebrated on the four-teenth of Iune There likewise on the seaventh of the Ides of April is a commemoration of S. Bernach Abbot a man of admirable Sanâ—â—ity Who in devotion made a journey to Rome and from thence returning into Brittany fill'd all places with the fame of his piety and miracles 10. The same year likewise a famous Irish Saint and Martyr call'd S. Finguar is recorded to have dyed He was the Son of Cliâ—on a Prince in Ireland Who to enjoy a commodious vacancy for contemplation is said to have retir'd into Cornwall where together with many others he was slain by Theodorick a Prince of that Countrey His life is found written by S. Anselm Arch-bishop of Canterbury XXIII CHAP. 1. Aesca King of Kent escapes out of prison 2. New forces arrive from Germany to Cerdic at Portsmouth 3. The Scottish Kingdom of Albania erected 1. Aesca the Son of Hengist who had been taken prisoner by Vther-pendragon was confind at London Who yet shortly after escap'd out of prison and return'd to his kingdom of Kent Where being not like his Father of a stirring spirit he contented himself with what his Father had conquered enjoying quietly the fruits of his labours 2. As for Cerdicius who landed in Northfolk after some years stay in those parts he in the year five hundred sought a more commodious Seat in the Western parts of Brittany And being with his present forces unable to establish a kingdom there he sent into Germany for new supplies so the year following there arrived a German captain call'd Port with his two sons Bleda and Magla in two great ships furnish'd with souldiers who landed at a haven from him call'd Portsmouth though Ptolomy affirms that the ancient Name of it was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Great haven or port Thus writes Mathew of Westminster And Henry of Huntingdon adds that this hapned in the seaventh year after Cerdicius his first coming Moreover that upon his landing a great clamour fill'd the whole Province Insomuch as the Brittish Governour and the whole multitude with great boldnes but without order set upon the Saxons and were presently dispers'd by them 3. This year likewise whilst the Saxons dayly made a progresse in the Southern and more fertile Provinces of Brittany the Scotts in the North layd a foundation of their New kingdom at the foot of the Mountain Grampius which was call'd the Kingdom of Albany For so we read in the Annals of Tigernac anâ— is Writer cited by Bishop Vsher where it is sayd that Fergus the Son of Eric with a Nation call'd Dalraids or Dalreudins possess'd themselves of a part of Brittany And Camden likewise writes That Fergus the Son of Eric of the seed of Chonare was the first who took on him the Title of King of Albany from Brun Albain to the Irish Sea And the following Kings of the Seed of Fergus to Alpin the Son of Eochal raign'â— in Brun Albain This Nation saith S. Beda were call'd Dalreudini from Reuda under whose conduct they first came out of Ireland XXIV CHAP. 1 2. c Of S. Petroc His Gests And of S Coemgen 8.9 Translation of the Relicks of S. Petroc of S. Meven 1. AS from Ireland many Holy men sought a retreat for their devotions in Brittany so there were not wanting some who from the same motives were induced especially in these tumultuous times to retire out of Brittany into Ireland Among which Bishop Vsher exemplifies in S. Petroc who being a stranger born in Brittany lived in Ireland where there was recommended to his care and instruction a youth of seaven years old call'd Coâ—mgen or Kegnius to be by him educated in learning and piety Which Coëmgen was afterward Abbot of Glindelac 2. S Petroc was by Nation a Cambrian not a Cimbrian as by mistake is set down in the Gallican Martyrologe He was born of Princely parentage in Wales and saith the authour of his life in Capgrave from his infancy he did so well imitate the Faith and vertues of Saint Peter the Prince of the Apostles that his name may seem to have been given him by Divine inspiration as if God had destin'd him also to be a Rock Petra upon which Truth would
build the Church of Brittany When the Prince his Father was dead the Nobles of the Countrey with the consent of the whole people were desirous he should succeed in the Royalty But he neglecting worldly pomp assum'd with him sixty companions and with them entred into a Monastery there undertaking a Monasticall Profession After some years spent there he went into Ireland where for the space of twenty years he addicted himself to the studies of litterature and the holy Scriptures There and then it was that the foresaid S. Coemgen was recommended by his parents to be instructed by him 3. Having in this space saith Leland heap'd a great treasure of learning under the most perfect Teachers of that Island he return'd into Brittany and in the Province of Corinia or Cornwall intended to employ for the benefit of others also that treasure And to shew that he had not all this while forgotten much lesse deserted his Râ—ligious profession he built there a Monastery not many miles distant from the Severn shore neer a town in those days call'd Loderic and Laffenac and afterwards from his name Petrocstow at this day more contractedly Padstow 4. At this time the Saxons under Cerdic had possess'd themselves of that Province And hence it is that the Narration of his gests follows thus in Capgrave Assoon as S. Petroc with his Disciplis had left their ship and were landed there certain Reapers then at work spoke rudely and bitterly to them and among other contumelious speeches requir'd them that their conductour S. Petroc should for the asswaging of their thirst cause a spring of fresh water to issue out of a rock there adjoyning This they said either in derision of them being strangers or for a tryall whether their sanctity was answerable to their Profession Hereupon S. Petroc who never refused those that ask'd any thing in his power address'd his prayers to our Mercifull Lord and with his staffe smiting the rock immediatly there gush'd forth a spring of clear sweet water which flows there to this day 5. Those barbarous Pagans utterly ignorant of Christian Religion were astonish'd at this Miracle And when the Holy servant of God ask'd them whether there were in that Province any one who profess'd the Christian Faith they directed him to a certain Holy man call'd Samson concerning whom they acquainted him that he lead a solitary life and exercis'd himself in corporall labours fasting watching and Prayers and that he sustain'd life with no other thing but a small portion dayly of barley bread This it that Samson who first succeeded S. David in the See of Mersevia and afterward was Bishop of Dole in Lesser Brittany concerning whom we shall treat in due place 6. After thirty years aboad in this solitude in which he is sayd to have instructed Credan Medan and Dachant three of his principal Disciples illustrious for their learning and piety he left his Monastery of Lodoric and undertook a forrain pilgrimage visiting Rome and after that Hierusalem From whence he is said to have proceeded as far as India and to have spent seaven years in the exercises of a contemplative life in a certain unknown Island of the Eastern Ocean From which tedious voyage he at last return'd home and with twelve companions retir'd himself into a dry and barren solitude The Prince of that part of Cornwal was called Tendur a man of a feirce and savage nature 7. His death in our Ecclesiasticall monuments is referr'd to the year of Grace five hundred sixty four And he was buried in the place now call'd Petrocstow or Padstow In which town anciently was placed an Episcopall See which was afterward translated to another town calld Bodmin The reason wherof seems to have been because the Body of S. Petroc which had first been simply and meanly buried at Padstow was afterward transfer'd and honourably repos'd at Bodnun To which purpose we find this passage in Mathew of Westminster The Bishops of Cornwal had their See at S. Petroc's of Bodmin apud Sanctum Petrocum de Bodmini for so the words are to be corrected saith Bishop Vâ—her And the same place was meant by Harpsfeild thus writing The Monument of S. Petroc is in the Citty Bosuenna the most noted town of Merchandise Emporium of Cornwal 8. But the Relicks of S. Petroc did not always rest at Bodmin for from thence they wâ—re stolln conveyd over sea into Lesser Brittany and reverently plac'd in the Monastery of S. Meven but in the time of King Henry the second restor'd Thus writes Roger Hoveden Martin a Canon Regular of the Church of Bodmin by stealth took away the Body of S. Petroc and fled with it into Brittany to the Abbey of S. Meven Which theft having been discovered Roger Priour of that Cathedrall Church with the more ancient Canons of the Chapter address'd themselves to King Henry the Father for at that time he had made his son likewise King And from him they obtained a strict command to the Abbot and Convent of Saint Meven that without delay they should restore to Roger Priour of Bodmin the said Body of S. Petroc Which if they refus'd the King gave order to Roland of Dinant the Governour of Brittany to take away the sacred Body by force and give it to the said Roger. Assoon as the Abbot and Monks of S. Meven heard of these things to prevent any dammage to their Church they restor'd the said Body entire and without any diminution to the foresaid Priour swearing withall upon the Holy Gospels and upon the Relicks of certain Saints there that it was the very same Body unchanged and unempair'd 9. The reason why the Convent of S. Meven in lesser Brittany were so desirous of the Relicks of S. Petroc was because S. Meven himself the Patron of that Monastery was born in our Brittany as many other Saints besides from hence had fled thither and were with great veneration honour'd in the territory of S. Malo Where likewise Iudicael Prince of the Armorici or Lesser Brittany who was descended from our Brittany built the said Monastery XXV CHAP. 1.2 c. The battell between the Saxons and Brittains and death of King Vther-pendragon or Natanleod 1. THE five hundred and eighth year of our Lord was fatall to the Brittains by the death of their valiant King slain in a battell against the West-Saxons For thus writes the Noble Historian Ethelwerd In the seaventh year afteir their arrivall Cerdic and his son Cenric slew Natan-leod King of the Brittains and with him five thousand of his soldiers 2. Mathew of Westminster relates the same somewhat more expresly and withall signifies who this Natan-leod was for thus he writer In the year of Grace five hundred and eight Cerdic and Kenric provok'd the Brittains to a battell At that time Vther King of the Brittains was sick in such extremity that he could not turn himself from one side to another in his bed Wherfore he