Epistle to Timothy sent to him from Rome amongst other Salutations joynes Pudens and Claudia And a late Learned Writer hath demonstrated out of Antiquity that this our Claudia Ruffina sprang from the Royal Blood of Britain and was the Wife and Mother of Glorious Saints And our Antient Histories report that Timotheus the Eldest Son of Pudens came into this our Island and Converted many to the Faith and at least dispos'd King Lucius to his succeeding Conversion And the reason of such his coming hither might be the Love and regard he had to his Mother a British Lady It is pretended that Pomponia Graecina the Wife of Plantius General of the Army under Claudius in this Island was a Christian and Devout Saint but this may be doubtful though it be clear by Tacitus that she was Accus'd of a strange Religion forbidden by the Roman Laws which might be the Christian Religion to the knowledge whereof she might attain by her Acquaintance with Claudia Ruffina But we have more unquestionable Records of one Mansuetus Companion of St. Clemens which Mansuetus was a Northern Britain who went to Rome either with Adminius a Prince of Britain or Bericus a Nobleman thereof or as Attendant upon Caractacus where the said Mansuetus might be Converted by St. Peter and be by him constituted Bishop of Toul in Lorrain upon a Miracle by him done in restoring to Life and Health a Son of the Governour of that City whose said Son fell down from a high Tower the effect of which Miracle was the Conversion of the said Governour his whole Family and a great number of his Citizens Insomuch as after the word had a free course not only in that City but in the Country thereabouts Priests were Ordain'd and a Church erected and Consecrated to the Holy Trinity About this time one Beatus of this Island was converted to the Christian Faith and went to Rome for further instruction therein by S. Peter and after became the Apostle of the Helvetians and dy'd amongst them illustrious for his exemplary Piety and great Miracles Thus early did it please God to enlighten this our native Country with his Divine Truth and to transform the Barbarous Inhabitants thereof into Apostles and Messengers of Salvation to other Countries also And as it appears by antient Monuments it pleas'd our good God to send his Prime Apostle S. Peter into this Island to establish and confirm what other Persons though of great Honour and Holiness had begun yet for want of the Episcopal Character could not establish Order and Government in this new planted Church as the Apostles could and did do Unquestionable antient Authors have Recorded that when the World was divided by Lott amongst the Apostles the West became the Portion of S. Peter and that from Rome he came to Britain and made a long abode there constituting Churches and ordaining Priests and Deacons this Truth has been confirm'd by many Holy and Primitive Popes by many of our British and Saxon Kings by the Vision of S. Peter to Edward the Confessor Nay our late King James the First of ever Blessed Memory did not doubt in a publick Audience to affirm that Rome was the Mother of all Churches In what particular year this coming of S. Peter was is not easie to determine whether upon the Emperour Claudius's Edict to Banish all Jews from Rome or in the beginning of Nero's Reign is doubtful But that he was absent from Rome when S. Paul wrote his Epistle to the Romans is more than probable since he omitted S. Peter out of his Salutations Certainly a freer scope was allow'd in this Island at that time for Divine Verities than in other places First Because Nero's Persecution never extended hither Secondly For that the power of the Romans here was a little limited by the British Princes who were at least civil to Christians Thirdly The great distance betwixt Rome and this Island as may appear by the quiet and un-interupted solitude of Glastonbury where was erected the first School of Contemplation and which continu'd the glorious Habitation of a World of Saints even to late years It may be found in a very antient Author who Writes of Church Affairs in the first Century that he mentions the exaltation of the British Church under Nero adding that many Churches were built in this Island by S. Peter and it is agreed of on all hands that the cruelty of Nero towards the Christians drove S. Paul out of Rome even as far Westward as Britain where though he was had in high Veneration yet we never read that the Church here planted was called the Seat of St. Paul but often the Chair of St. Peter Insomuch as Gildas inveighing against some of the British Clergy in his time tells them They usurp'd the Chair of St. Peter with impure feet Thereby intimating that the whole Ecclesiastical Order here receiv'd their Original Priesthood by a right Succession from St. Peter Howbeit our English Martyrology deservedly reckons St. Paul among the Apostles of Britain And so was Aristobulus also one of the 70 Disciples and a Follower of St. Paul Ordain'd a Bishop here and here also dy'd a Martyr in the second year of Nero or at least a Confessor in his very Old Age after he had spent some time in Solitude at Glastonbury the common Retiring place of many Eminent Saints It was certainly meant by St. Paul in his Epistle to the Romans when he Salutes the Houshold of Aristobulus omitting him being then absent in this Country or in his Journey towards it This progress had the Gospel in this Island before the Death of St. Peter or St. Paul and was mightily advanc'd by the coming of Joseph of Arimathea and his Companions about the end of Nero's Reign making up the number of Twelve Persons with himself one of which Twelve is said to be his Son of his own Name The coming and Preaching of Joseph and his Companions hath been publickly alledg'd in several General Councels by the English Orators as an Argument of Precedence in those Councels taken from the early approach of the Gospel to this Nation and further affirm'd by other Antient Records and especially by that Illustrious Charter of King Henry the II. to the Abbey of Glastonbury signifying his intention to Rebuild that Monastery not long before Consum'd by Fire and to renew all the Priviledges confer'd on it by his Predecessors King William the I. and II. and by more Ancient Kings St. Edgar the Father of St. Edward King Edmond and his Father Edward and his Grand-father Alfred by King Brithwald Hentwyn Baldred Ina the famous King Arthur Cantred and many other Christian Kings and even by Kenwalla a Pagan King of Britain And further affirming that he the said Henry the II. caus'd a diligent Inquisition to be made of the said Charters and Priviledges which were presented and Read in his Presence all which he Confirm'd and Renew'd to the same Church antiently stil'd The Mother
the Reign of the Emperour Titus After the Death of Nero Cruel to himself his own Mother the poor Christians and indeed to all Mankind and the barbarous extinguisher of those two most Glorious Lights then shining in the World St. Peter and St. Paul the Family of the Caesars failing four Emperours were set up and pulled down within the space of two years Vespasian only excepted who becoming Conquerour at last settled the Empire and restored Peace The Romans in Britain were unconcern'd in these Broils and were well affected to Vespasian who by his Deputy Frontinus placed a Legion in Caerleon St. Joseph after a Solitary Life led at Glastonbury where he seems to Institute a Monastical Profession with his said Companions and such other Holy Persons as his and their Labours had Converted to the Faith Died their about the said 82 year of our Lords Incarnation and was Buried at Glastonbury as his Companions also were in or near the Church Built by him where since innumerable Converts and Christians have been Interred It is thought the Body of this Renowned Saint was deposited in a Cave over which a Chappel was after Built to his Honour as this Epitaph there found imports Ad Britones veni post quam Christum Sepelivi Dorni requievi His Reliques not having been discover'd some Devout persons in the days of Edward the III. obtain'd leave to search for them The Patent for that purpose is yet extant to this effect That a supplication having been made by John Blome of London wherein he affirms that he had received a command from Heaven diligently to seek till he could find the Body of the Noble Councellor Joseph of Arimathaea which reposes in Christ within the limits of Glastonbury Monastery and which for the Saints Honour was to be discover'd in those times And for that it appear'd by Antient Records that his Body was there buried The said King if so desirous to bestow due Honours to the Monument and Venerable Reliques of him who exprest so great Piety and Charity to our dying Redeemer that he took his Body from the Cross and plac'd it ina New Monument which he had built for himself and hoping that by the revealing of his Holy Reliques greater Grace and Favour should be shew'd by God to him and his Kingdom did give and grant permission as much as in him lay to the said John Blome to dig where he should find it expedient within the precincts of the said Monastery in order to the searching out of the said precious Reliques according to the Injunction and Revelation made unto him provided he did it with the consent of the Abbot and without prejudice to the Monastery What was found upon this search doth not appear but the Piety and Devotion of the King may be easily collected The same Monuments which inform us of the Life Death and Burial of St. Joseph at Glastonbury as an unquestionable Tradition in all Ages agreed unto by Britains Saxons Danes and Normans do likewise testifie That he brought with him into Britain two Silver Vessels fill'd with the Blood of our Saviour Christ which were buried with him in his Tomb Several Proofs hereof were extant even to the days of Queen Elizabeth amongst others the Narration of William Good a Jesuit who was born in the Reign of Henry the 8th and bred up in his Childhood at Glastonbury and affirms That in his time certain Brass-plates were Engraven to perpetuate the memory of these things as also Chappels Grots Crosses Arms and the observation of the Festival of St. Joseph on the sixth of the Calends of August which remain'd as long as the Monks enjoy'd the Charters of their Munificent and Royal Benefactors but are now buried in the ruines of the place He confesseth never any Monk knew the certain place of this Saints Sepulcher The common report was it was extreamly deep under ground somewhere in or about Hambdenhill but when ever the Saints Body shall be found multitudes would resort to it invited with the great and innumerable Miracles which should be there wrought He remembers to have seen upon a Stone-Cross which was demolish'd in Queen Elizabeth's days a Plate of Brass on which was written That in the 30th year after the Passion of our Lord Joseph of Arimathaea with 11 or 12 Companions came into Britain and were permitted by King Arvitagus to abide at Glaston then called Avallonia like Solitary men and that he brought with him two small Silver Vessels of the Sacred Blood and Water which flow'd out of Christ's side after his death And that a Cross was there Erected many years before to shew the length of the Chappel which St. Joseph built of wailed Roddes of the most Holy Virgin on the out-side of the Wall of which Chappel were Engraven in Antient Characters JESUS MARIA There were then other Remarks and Footsteps of these Truths to be there found Now that St. Joseph and Nicodemus also with due veneration gather'd the Blood of our Lord which for many Ages was Piously Worshiped by Devout Christians both in the East and West is testified by divers Antient Histories and Martyrologies and to this purpose it is remarkable what Matthew Paris hath related in the year of our Lord God 1247. Namely That then the Master of the Temple and Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem sent a certain portion of the Blood of our Lord shed upon the Cross in a most Beautiful Christal Glass by a Brother of the Temple which Present was confirm'd by the then Patriarch of Jerusalem by Archbishops Bishops Abbots and other Prelates and Noblemen then dwelling in the Holy-Land The said Historian further declaring at large With what Honour and Reverence this Holy Treasure was entertain'd by King Henry the III. and his whole Clergy and Nobility And at the same time to give satisfaction to doubting Minds Robert Grosthead Bishop of Lincoln the Glory of that Age for Piety and Learning affords us a large Narration of the Fact to the effect following That Joseph of Arimathaea a Noble Councellour and one of the Hearers of Jesus or his Disciple rather out of tender compassion was very sollicitous how his venerable Body might be preserv'd from the rage of the Jews Howbeit both He and Nicodemus and other rich men though most cordial Lovers of Jesus yet conceal'd their Affection for fear of their Estates Nevertheless when Jesus was Crucify'd Joseph went boldly to Pilate and beg'd the Body of Jesus and by Pilat 's permission notwithstanding the murmuring of the Jews with all due Honour and Reverence took down the most Holy Body from the Cross all mangled and bloody and with a fine Linnen-cloath Devoutly and carefully wip'd the Sacred Wounds as yet moist and distilling and having drawn the Nails out of the Wounds he wip'd and cleans'd them at the Cross and then carrying the Body from Golgotha he laid it in a new Tomb where never any body had been laid and which was decently cut out of
Gentiles The question was pertinent and thus answer'd by Amphibalus Our Lord Jesus Christ Son of the living God saith he preserv'd me safe from all dangers and sent me into this Province for the Salvation of many that by Preaching his Faith I might prepare a People acceptable to him Who is this Son of God reply'd Albanus Can God be said to be born these are strange Speeches which I never heard of before I desire to know your Opinion of these matters The Holy man answer'd Our Faith teacheth us to acknowledge the Father to be God and the Son also to be God who in Infinite Mercy vouchsafed to take our slesh upon him for the Salvation of Mankind that he might redeem us by suffering Death And then discours'd at large of the Birth Passion Resurrection and Ascention of Christ Concluding If you O Albanus will believe these things to be true you will receive Power by calling on the Name of Christ to Cure any Infirm or Sick person And the Truth is I am come to this City on purpose to Preach to you the healthful Doctrine of our Lords Passion because our merciful God will reward your kind Offices of Humanity and Hospitality to which you frequently addict your self which is the inestimable recompense of Eternal Happiness Then Albanus ask'd him What Honour and Worship must I exhibit to Christ in case I embrace the Faith The other answer'd Believe this that our Lord Jesus together with the Father and the Holy Ghost is one God and thou wilt have perform'd a work of high esteem in his sight Then Albanus reply'd What is all this sure thou art mad thou know'st not what thou say'st no Humane understanding or Reason can apprehend these things But be sure of this that if the Inhabitants of this City come to know thou makâ—st such discourse of Christ without delay they will put thee to a cruel death For my own part I am very sollicitous on thy behalf for fear some mischief befall thee before thou departest from hence Having said this he went away much disturb'd As for St. Amphibalus he spent the night alone in watching and Prayer The same night a wonderful Vision from Heaven was presented to Albanus sleeping with which being awak'd he went to his Guest and said to him Friend if those things which thou told'st me lately concerning Christ be true I pray thee to tell me freely the meaning of my Dream Me thought I saw a certain man come down from Heaven and presently an innumerable multitude of men laid hold of him and tormented him all the ways they could devise they bound his Hands with Chains they tore his Flesh most grievously with Whips they hung him on a Tree stretching his Hands across he was quite naked not having Shooes on his Feet his Hands and Feet were fastned to the Wood with Nails his side was pierc'd through with a Spear and from his Wound as it seem'd to me there flow'd both Blood and Water in his right Hand they put a Reed and on his Head they put a Crown of Thorns And after this barbarous Cruelty they insult over him with despiteful Speeches saying to him Hail King of the Jews if thou art the Son of God come down from the Cross and we will believe in thee And although they continu'd a long while thus reviling him the young man answer'd never a word but at last cryed out with a loud voice and said Father into thy Hands I commend my Spirit And so Expir'd His lifeless Body was afterwards taken down from the Cross the Blood issuing abundantly out of it They then laid him in a Sepulchre of stone sealing the Monument and setting Guards to watch it But then follow'd a wonderful thing for the Bloodless Carcass return'd to Life and re-suming former strength came out of the Sepulchre Seal'd as aforesaid I my self with my own Eyes saw him how he rose again Then came from Heaven certain men cloath'd with Vestments white as Snow and taking the Man with them return'd from whence they came attended by an infinite number of others in like Garments which all the way ceas'd not to sing Praises Blessing the Father I not knowing who he was with his Son saying Blessed be God the Father with his only begotten Son. They express'd such wonderful joy as nothing could be compar'd to it These things I saw with many others which I neither will or ought to declare I beseech thee tell me what is signify'd by these things thus represented to me fear not any danger to your self but speak freely The Holy man Amphibalus having heard this sensibly felt his Heart visited by our Lord with all joy and presently taking out a Crucifix which he had about him secretly said to Albanus Behold in this Figure and Image thou may'st manifestly perceive the meaning and importance of thy last nights Vision for the Man which came from Heaven is this Jesus my Lord who refus'd not to undergo the punishment of the Cross that by his Blood he might free us from the guilt which we had contracted by the Transgression of our first Father Adam Now these men which laid violent hands upon him and so afflicted him were his own People the Jews For though they had a promise from God that he would send unto them from Heaven his own Son yet when He whom they so much and so long expected was come they would not acknowledge him to be the Author of their Salvation but contradicted him in every thing return'd to him Evil for Good and Hatred for his Love. And at last stir'd up with extream envy and malice against him they broke out into such horrible Impiety that they laid hold on him Crucify'd and Murder'd him Thus it was that our Lord redeem'd us with the price of his own Blood Thus by Dying he became victorious over death For being rais'd upon the Cross he drew all to him for descending voluntarily to the enclosures of Hell he freed from captivity his own Servants detain'd there and binding the Divel in everlasting Chains he cast him into utter darkness Then Albanus fill'd with wonder broke out in these words All that thou hast said of Christ is most true for the last night I evidently perceiv'd and with mine own eyes saw how Christ overcame the Divel how he bound him and thrust him down into the bottom of Hell where the damnable wretch lyes fast bound with Chains So that knowing what hath been told by thee is true from this moment I profess I will be thy most obedient Disciple Tell me therefore for I know thou art Ignorant of nothing how I must behave my self to the Father and Holy Ghost now that I profess my self a servant of the Son Amphibalus at this question gave thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ for that Albanus of himself had the knowledge to pronounce those three Adorable Names and bid him believe firmly and profess faithfully that those three persons so
which God Graciously call'd him out of this Mortal Life So as being perfect in Grace and Piety and mature in Age he Happily mounted to Heaven his Body was buried in the Church Dedicated to St. Martin built by himself from the Foundation The Centuriatours add this to his Story That he was a Venedocian Teacher of Christian Verities of a desert more than ordinary To his Old Age he largely communicated the Talent wherewith God had entrusted him among the Britains Scots and Southern Picts He was a man Assiduous in Reading the Holy Scripture Merciful to Orphans Widdows and the Poor Illustrious in Miracles and Sanctity By his Pious Industry the Nation of the Picts first of all relinquishing their Idolatry embrac'd the true Faith of Christ He was the first Bishop of Candida Casa and dy'd among the Picts in the Province of Galloway I may further observe that he was very Devout in giving Respect and Veneration to Gods Saints in whose Honour he built Churches and in particular to the Honour of S. Martin who dy'd about 30 years before him The example of St. Ninian was imitated by the British Church near the same Age for when St. Augustine the Monk came into Britain to Convert the Saxons He found saith St. Bede in the City of Canterbury a Church Dedicated to the Honour of St. Martin which had been built in the times of the Romans St. Ninian before he dy'd divided the Provinces of the Picts into Parishes he Ordain'd Priests there and Consecrated Bishops by the Authority of the Roman Bishop from whom he receiv'd his Mission He being famous for Miracles it may not be amiss to reckon up one In the Region of the Picts there was a Prince named Tudwal a man of a proud and high Spirit he contemning the Admonitions of this man of God and derogating from his Doctrine and Life resisted him openly Being one day more then ordinarily troublesome and rude God the supreme Judge would not any longer suffer the injuries offer'd to his Holy Servant to pass unreveng'd but struck this proud man with an intollerable pain in his Head by the violence whereof those lofty Eyes of his became utterly Blind so that he who had before impugn'd the Light of Divine Truth deservedly lost this Worlds Light. But upon better consideration he sent a Message to the Holy Bishop humbly beseeching him in imitation of our Lords Benignity to return to him good for evil and love for hatred The Venerable Bishop hereupon first sharply reprov'd the Prince and then touching him imprinted on his Eyes the Sign of the Cross when immediately his pains ceas'd and his Blindness was dissipated Afterwards this Prince highly Honour'd the Holy Bishop and readily granted whatsoever he ask'd of him Our Country-man Alcuinus in an Epistle not Printed but now extant in Bishop Vshers Antiquities Testifies the great Fame which this Holy Bishop had for Sanctity and Miracles This Epistle is directed to the Religious Priest then living at Candida Casa While Alcuinus liv'd this following Miracle happ'ned to a Devout Priest Celebrating Mass at this Saints Monument nam'd Plegils he frequently Solemniz'd Mass at the Body of St. Ninian and living a Holy and Virtuous Life began frequently to beseech our Lord That he would please to shew visibly to him the Nature and Verity of the Body and Blood of Christ in the most Blessed Sacrament This Prayer he made not for want of Faith in the Truth of the Mystery but out of an Affection of Devotion and Piety For the Author saith That to his great Consolation our Lord appear'd to him in the Sacrament in the form of a young Child Three years after the death of St. Ninianus St. Germanus was once more invited into Britain to perfect the good Work which he had formerly began in rooting out of the Pelagian Heresie there spreading it self again the Relation whereof we must borrow from the Learn'd Priest Constantius a Writer of those times and of most perfect Integrity and Sincerity By a Message from Britain address'd to St. German he was advertis'd that that Pestilent Heresie began to enlarge it self there and intreated him once more to come over and maintain the Cause of Divine Grace The Holy Bishop readily comply'd with this Petition being delighted to spend his strength in the Service of Christ There was joyn'd to him for his Companion Severus Bishop of Triers a person of Consummate Sanctity In the mean time three Infernal Spirits flying through the whole Island foretold the return of St. Germanus being forc'd so to do against their Will Insomuch as one Elaphius a Principal person of the Country without any other notice hast'ned to meet the Holy Bishops His Son went with him upon whom from the flower of his Youth a lamentable Infirmity had seiz'd for all his Members were wither'd and the Hamm of his Leg was so drawn together that by reason of the dryness of his Thigh he could not set his Foot upon the ground Elaphius was attended by almost the whole Province As soon as they were met together an Episcopal Benediction was conferr'd on the People and the Words of Truth Preach'd to them St. Germanus perceiv'd that the generality of the People persever'd constant in the Doctrine which he left among them and that the fault lay upon a few buisie persons who were presently condemn'd As for Elaphius he humbly kneeling kiss'd the Bishops Hands presenting to him his Lame Son so miserable a Spectacle that he mov'd compassion in all especially in the Holy Bishops mind St. German therefore presently commanded the young man to sit down then handled his contracted Ham and with his right Hand stroak'd all the infirm Members immediately perfect Health and Strength attended that wholesome Touch the wither'd Members recover'd their natural Moisture and his Sinews their Office and Agility Thus in the sight of all the young man was restor'd to his Father as if he had been new made the People are astonish'd at this Miracle and the Catholick Faith is perfectly confirm'd in their minds The Holy Bishop spent his time in Preaching up and down and the Hearers were every where Converted or Confirm'd So that by a Universal Consent the Authors of the Perverse Doctrine were brought before the Holy Bishops and then banish'd out of the Island and the Orthodox Faith remain'd uncorrupted and all things being thus well compos'd the Holy Bishops return'd with a Prosperous Voyage Howbeit during his stay here St. German is recorded to have call'd a Synod and taking notice that many Churches wanted Pastors by which means the People became wavering in their Faith by common advice he selected Learn'd and Pious men whom he ordain'd Bishops and placed in several Churches In particular over all the Britains toward the Southern parts he promoted the Blessed man Dubricius an Eminent Doctor to be Arch-bishop who was made choice of by King Mouricus and the whole Diocess They constituted his Arch-Episcopal See at Landaff with the
Abbot of Glastonbury attended by St. Gildas and all the Clergy came between the two Armies and by perswasion induc'd Melvas to restore the Queen to her Husband which being perform'd Peace ensu'd and both the Kings bestow'd great Possessions and Immunities on the Monastery After which St. Gildas with the Abbots permission retir'd again to an Hermetical Solitude on the bank of the River Axus near Glastonbury where he built a Church Consecrating it to the Blessed Trinity and there spent his time in Prayer Fasting and other Austerities His Sanctity was so exemplary that many came from the farthest part of Britain to visit him and take Spiritual Councel from him He then fell into a Sickness and knowing that his Death approach'd he call'd to him the Abbot of Glastonbury and requested of him That his Body might be buried in the Church of that Monastery which was readily granted So the Holy man dying the 4th day before the Calends of February many saw an Angelical Splendour about his Sacred Body which yielded a most Pleasant Odour And after a solemn Recommendation of his Soul with many Tears of the Religious his Sacred Body was carry'd with great Honour to the Church and there bury'd in the midst of the Pavement of the Antient Church in the year of Grace 512. What hath been here related agrees with the Antient Monuments of Glastonbury where this Holy man is stil'd Historicus neque Insulsus neque Infacetus and most particulars of his Life are with a large Character of him confirm'd in the Gallican Martyrology where is also added That he being during his Childhood sent into France was recommended to the Instructions of Iltutus a Disciple of St. German and that his Voyage into Ireland was to root out many Heresies sprung up amongst the late Converted Christians and to reform many Vices and unlawful Customs and that the Heresie most oppos'd by him in the Northern parts of Britain was Pelagianism What is there said of his going over to Little Britain in his old Age and his being buried in the Church of Vannes contradicts our British Authors but it is probable that when the Saxons infested our Western Provinces his Sacred Relicks might be translated and repos'd in the great Church of Vannes where he is to this day Venerated as Patron of that City Many mistakes have fallen out by consounding this St. Gildas with two others one Confessor and Abbot of Bangor and another the Historian Sirnam'd Badonicus Howbeit the precise Territory where this Gildas Albanius was born may be collected out of Antient Manuscripts quoted by Bishop Vsher which relate That the Blessed St. Gildas was born in the most fruitful Region call'd Arecluta His Fathers name was Caun a most Noble and Catholick person This Region Arecluta a part of Britain took its Name from the River Clut by which the greatest part thereof is Water'd and is now call'd Argyle Argathelia And Clut before that Glotea and Cluida was Northward the bounds of the British Provinces under the Roman jurisdiction beyond which liv'd the Caledonians c. In the sixth year after the Battle where Vther was slain new Supplies came out of Germany to the Saxons For Stuff and Whitgar Nephews of Cerdic landed with three Ships at Certic-shore The Britains early in the morning in very good order rang'd their Armies against them The Sun then arising cast its beams upon the British Armour and reflecting thence partly from the Mountains and partly from the Valleys below struck a great Terrour into the Saxons But when they came to Fight the Britains were quickly defeated because God despis'd them By this Victory the Saxons gain'd a great extent of Land and Cerdic became so Terrible that he march'd whither he pleas'd without controll The year following Ella King of the South-Saxons dying his Son Cissa succeeded whilst Ella liv'd though his Territories were narrow yet was he for his Courage esteem'd the most potent of all the Saxon Princes insomuch as the Princes Nobles and Military Officers of the Angli had a great dependance on him But this lasted not long for it was shortly after transferr'd on Cerdic the West-Saxon whose Kingdom though not yet begun yet had its foundation from this Victory Cissa being of a milder Spirit contented himself with his own little Kingdom without extending his Power further He imploy'd his time in exercises of Peace especially Building and Fortifying of Cities In two of which he left the memory of his own Name Chichester and Cisbury as our Cambden relates adding That this Cissa with his Father Ella and Brother Cimen landed in a Port of that Province call'd therefore Cimenshore The year wherein Cerdic obtain'd the last mention'd Victory is famous for the Birth of the renown'd British Bishop St. Kontigern the strangeness of which since it is Celebrated by many Antient Writers is not here to be omitted His Mother is said to be Thenis the Daughter of Loth King of Pictland and Anna the Daughter of Vterpendragon and consequently he was the Nephew of King Arthur Who was the Father of St. Kentigern is not certainly known some suppose him to be Eugenius the Third King of the Scots John of Tinmouth an Antient Historian thus relates his Original A certain King in the Northern parts of Britain who was a Pagan begot of his Wife a very Beautiful Daughter she having been a frequent hearer of Sermons preach'd by the Servants of God obtain'd the Grace to believe his Truth and renounce the Worshiping of Idols and though she had not yet been Purified with the Sacrament of Baptism yet she was diligent in observing Gods Commandments with an Humble and Devout mind being much given to Prayer and Alms-giving and other Duties of Ecclesiastical Discipline as much as the fear of offending her Father would permit She bore so great a Devotion to the fruitful Virginity and Integrity of the Blessed Virgin Mary that mov'd with a Womanish presumption she beg'd of our Lord that she might in some measure imitate her in her Conception and Birth At length as she thought she obtain'd her desire for she found her self with Child Now it is not to be conceiv'd that this happ'ned without the Embraces of a man notwithstanding who this man was or in what manner and when this was done she oft Protested and with Oaths confirm'd it that she was utterly ignorant Her Father perceiving this and not being able either by fair Speeches or Threatnings to wrest from her who was the Father of the Child for she seriously Protested that she had never suffer'd the unlawful Embraces of any man Hereupon in a great rage determin'd to execute upon her the Law of the Country which was That whatsoever young Maid should be found with Child by Fornication in her Fathers House should be thrown Head-long from the top of a high Mountain and the person who corrupted her should loose his Head In conformity to this Law the young Woman was placed on the highest