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
Martyrologe on the twenty fourth of March as likewise an Epistle written by the Holy Pope Pius to Iustus Bishop of Vienna in France 3. The Copy of which Epistle is as followeth Pius Bishop of Rome to his Brother Iustus Bishop Before thou didst depart from Rome our Sister Euprepia if thou doest well remember assign'd the Title of her house for maintaining the poore where we abiding with our poore brethren doe celebrate Masses Now we are desirous to be informed concerning thy affairs most happy Brother since thou tookst thy iourney to that Senatoriall Citty of Vienna as likewise with what successe thou hast spread abroad the seed of the Gospell Those Priests which had their first education from the Apostles and have continued to our dayes with whom also we divided the care of preaching the word of Faith having been call'd by our Lord doe now repose in their eternall mansions Saint Timotheus and Marcus have ended their dayes by a happy conflict Take care dear Brother that thou follow them by imitating their zeale and freeing thy selfe from the chains of this world Make hast to obtain with the Holy Apostles the everlasting palm of victory that palm which S. Paul attain'd by a world of suffring and S. Peter also from whom the Crosse it selfe could not take the love of Christ. Soter and Eleutherius worthy Priests salute thee Salute the Brethren who live with thee in our Lord. Cherinthus Satans prime Minister seduces many from the Faith May the Grace of Christ dwell for ever in thy heart 4. In this Epistle we see what a generall care this holy Bishop expresses and how his solicitude for the salvation of soules is not confin'd to Rome or Italy only As likewise how he professes that he divided the care of propagating the Gospell to Priests subordinate to him So that it cannot be doubted but that S. Timotheus his employment in our Lords Vineyard in Brittany proceeded from his care and was accompanied with his benediction A further proof whereof is afforded us in another letter of his to the same Iustus Bishop of Vienna which we here set down 5. Pius Bishop of Rome to his Brother Iustus Bishop health Attalus is arrived here bringing with him the Epistles of the Martyrs there whereby he has fill'd our hearts with inestimable ioy for their triumphs He acquainted uâ— that our holy Collegue Verus has victoriously triumphed also over the Prince of this world and that thou art seated in his place in the Senatoriall Citty of Vienna being cloathed with Episcopall Vestments Be carefull therefore faithfully to discharge in our Lord the Ministery which thou hast received Let not thy diligence be wanting decently and reverently to bury the bodies of the Martyrs as the members of Christ for the Apostles treated S. Steven Visit the prisons of the Saints and take care that none of them loose the fervour of their Faith Approve holy Martyrdoms by the light of the Holy Spirit in thee Encourage and encite them to continue constant in the Faith Let the Priests and Deacons observe thee not as a Master but as a Minister of Christ. Let thy piety and holines be a protection to the whole congregation under thee Our brethren whose names Attalus will acquaint thee with are freed from the Tyrants cruelty and now rest in our Lord. Pastor the Preist hath built a Title or Church and is happily dead in our Lord. Know O most blessed Brother that it has been revealed to me that the end of my life approaches shortly One thing I earnestly begg of thee that in the holy Communion thou wilt not be unmindfull of me This poor Senat of Christ at Rome salutes thee I salute the whole assembly of Brethren with thee in our Lord. 6. That which this holy Pope mentions of his approaching death was by the event prov'd to have been a Divine revelation for the year following he was crown'd with Martyrdom after he had sate ten years And Anicetus a Syrian succeeded him 7. As touching that advice concerning the Bodies of Martyrs severall examples of those Primitive times demonstrate that what he there advises was no superstitious invention of his own as our Modern Separatists doe call it but a duty received from the Apostles Such reverence did the Church of Smyrna expresse to the Relicks of S. Polycarpus who was martyrd two years after S. Pius as appears in their Epistle relating the circumstances of his blessed death The malicious Iews would have perswaded the Roman President to have refused the holy Martyrs body to the Christians of Smyrna least sayd they they should forsake their crucifica God and worship Polycarpus for a God for these miscreants could not distinguish a sacred Veneration due to holy Relicks from that Supreme adoration which belongs only to God But those holy Primitive Christians were better instructed for thus they write We say they have reposed the bones of Polycarpus more valuable to us then precious stones and purer then gold in such a place as is decent and becoming Where being all of us assembled God will give us the grace to celebrate with all possible joy and exaltation the day of his Martyrdom as being indeed the day of his more happy Nativity XVI CHAP. 1. Commotions in Brittany pacified by Calphurnius Agricola 2.3 Long and dangerous war in Germany A victory miraculously obtain'd by the Prayers of Christians 4. Successions of Popes Touching King Lucius 1. IN the eighth yeare of the raign of M. Aurelius and L. Verus the Northern part of the Empire especially in Germany and Brittany was cruelly agitated with tempests of seditions and wars In Brittany the Northern Province of the Ottadini about Berwick broke out into open rebellion for reducing of whom Calphurnius Agricola was sent into the Island upon whose approach the rebels quickly submitted And all that remains besides to keep alive his Memory is an Inscription upon a Pillar rais'd by A. Licinius wherein Calphurnius Agricola's name is engraved Which Pillar is dedicated to the Syrian Goddesse Dea Syria worship'd it seems by the Romans in that place Concerning which Goddesse the reader may consult our learned Mr. Selden in his Treatise of that argument 2. But the German war was more lasting and doubtfull which not belonging to our present design the relation of it must be sought for in the Roman Historians of this age Yet one circumstance in it conducing much to the glory of Christian Religion must not be omitted Which was the saving of the Emperour and the whole Roman Army not only from a certain destruction by the German Nations the Marcomanni Catti c. by whom they were inclosed but from a more irresistible enemy extremity of thirst All this obtain'd by the Prayers of Christian souldiers not only interrupted all persecution of them but obliged the Emperour by his publick Letters sent into all Provinces to professe his gratitude for so eminent a
there is not express'd by the Writers of his life Yet our Martyrologe relates on the sixth of Iune that he rested in our Lord with great Sanctity about the year of Christ four hundred and three and the visions and wonders preceding his death are thus related by those who have written his life 8. An Angel of our Lord from heaven appear'd to him with a pleasant countenance saying O worthy soldier of God may the joy of our Lord always encrease in thee and his peace continually remain with thee Be ready prepar'd for e're long God will call thee out of this world and thou shalt meet thy heavenly King with a palm of Victory This celestiall Messenger of God stay'd with him a good space and fill'd his soule with a spirituall sweetnes known only to God A second time another Angell appear'd unto him and sayd I am Michael the Archangel sent to thee from our Lord by whose command I am to acquaint thee with what shall shortly befall Behold I declare unto thee the hour of thy departure for after ten dayes thou shalt ioyfully issue out of thy prison of flesh and escape out of the dungeon of this world With inestimable gladnes thou shalt meet thy heavenly King into whose presence we will beare thee and he will receive thee with glory enrolling thee among the Cittizens and Courtiers of his kingdom 9. It is said that his Mother and sisters were present and assisting at his death being invited thither by the fame of his miracles And after his departure it seems they caried his body back with them into Brittany But afterward when the Pagan Saxons demolish'd the Christian Sepulchers in our Island it was transported again into Flanders for thus we read in his life 10. The Holy man dyed the eighth day before the Ides of Iune and his Body was buried in the Isle of Plet or Plecit where it remained many years illustrious by many miracles But barbarous people afterwards invading the Countrey forced the Brittains to fly into forrain regions at which time the Brethren of the foresaid Monastery took up the sacred Body and carried it with them over the Sea which divides Brittany from Gaule And travelling with this sacred pledge at last they arrived at his own Monastery where they repos'd it Where because it was not entertained with due honour a certain Noble Marques call'd Arnulphus appointed by God to be the instrument of the safety of many men removed it to the Monastery of Blandinium in Gaunt together with the precious Relicks of the famous Confessour Bertulpus Which Translation was made on the third day before the Nones of December when Clotharius raigned in France On which day yearly to this time the sacred Body is caried in a solemne Procession And what miracles were wrought severall times during such Processions Cap-grave relates III. CHAP. 1. Constans quiets Gaule and comes into Brittany 2 3. A Synod at Sardica where Brittish Bishops come 4. Gests of the Synod 5.6 c. Of Appeales to Rome c. 12.13 c. S. Athanasius restor'd and again banish'd 15.16 Constans his death 1. IN the yeare three hundred forty two as Paulus Diaconus writes great commotions began in the Roman Empire For the Nation of the Franks setling themselves in Gaule used all hostility against the Romans But this trouble was quickly appeas'd by the Emperour Constans who coming out of Illyricum â—ought with and subdued them After which he pass'd over into Brittany which usually follow'd the motions of Gaule This appears from Iulius Firmicus who in a Book dedicated to the same Emperour recounts this journey performed during the tempestuous season of Winter telling him that the Brittains at the unlook'd for sight of him were affrighted into obedience 2. Four yearts after this upon occasion of great combustions especially in the Eastern Empire the two Emperours ioyn'd to call a Council intended to be Oecumenicall For the Eastern Bishops of the faction of Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia Cheif-Pillar of the Arians had condemned S. Athanasius in two Synods at Tyre and Antioch On the contrary Iulius Bishop of Rome in a Synod of Italian Bishops received him into his Communion notwithstanding the intercession of the Orientals who sent to Rome their Decree of the condemnation of S. Athanasius Wherupon a Schism between the Eastern and Western Churches being likely to break forth to prevent it the Orthodox Emperour Constans earnestly solicited his brother Constantius ro joyn with him in calling a Generall Councill therby to preserve inviolate the heritage of their Fathers piety by which he had establish'd the Empire destroyed Tyrants and reduced to his obedience many barbarous Nations 3. Hereupon a Synod was assembled the year following at Sardica in Illyrium to which there came out of the Western Empire about three hundred Bishops and out of the East onely seaventy sixe Now among the Western Bishops some there were who came out of Brittany as S. Athanasius in whose cause especially the Synod met expressly affirms naming one of them to wit Restitutus Bishop of London who twenty years before had been at the Councill of Nicea to establish the Faith of the Consubstantiality of the Son of God In which regard to treat more particularly of this Synods affairs appertains to our present History for therby will appeare the conformity of the Brittish Churches in those dayes to the Faith and Discipline of the Catholick Church 4. For as much therfore as concerns the Acts of this Synod the principall was a confirmation of Faith establish'd in the Council of Nicéa Next the declaring the innocence of S. Athanasius Marcellus Asclepas and other Orthodox Bishops persecuted and chased from their Sees by the Arian faction together with the deposition and excommunication of their adversaries Then succeeded a condemnation of those Eastern Bishops which deserted the Synod and made a Schismaticall Assembly at Philippopolis neer Sardica where they likewise publish'd Decrees and Canons in contradiction to the lawfull Synod 5. Then touching matters of Disciplin establish'd in this holy Synod the most considerable was the confirming by an expresse Canon the lawfullnes of Appeales that is Petitions for Revisions of Episcopall causes From all other Churches both Eastern and Western to the See Apostolick of Rome The form of which Canon is as followeth 6. Osius Bishop said This must likewise necessarily be added That it may not be lawfull for Bishops to passe out of their own Province into another Province in which there are Bishops unlesse peradventure they be invited by their Brethren least they should seem to shut the dore of Charity But if it happen that in any Province a Bishop have a contention against his Brother Bishop one of the two may call out of another Province a Bishop to judge the cause But if any Bishop shall be judged and condemned in any cause yet thinks his cause to be good In this case to
the mis-intelligence between the severall petty Princes raigning here he forced them to yeild and submit themselves to Tribute Those who opposed him were only a few severall states in the Southern parts of the Island who made choice of Cassibelin King of a few Provinces about London to be Generall in the warre For as for the Northern and Midland Countreyes of Brittany they were not at all engaged nor suffred any prejudice by his conquest Notwithstanding that small purchase which he made and which he paints forth much to his own advantage was so highly esteemed by himselfe and the Roman Senate that they ordained no lesse then twenty days of publick thanksgiving to their Gods for so great a victory as beleiving that they had discovered a new world whose bounds were unknown to them For till the next Age it was not known to be an Island 4. Caesar in his description of this Attempt omits severall passages which were not for his advantage but other Roman Historians of those times take notice of them and particularly Lucan affirms that his affrighted soldiers turn'd their backs to the Brittains in search of whom they made so many voyages And all the fruit of his victory accrewing either to himselfe or the Citty of Rome was very inconsiderable besides the glory of having been an invader saith Dio. Insomuch as Tacitus confesses that though by one prosperous combat he terrified the inhabitants and got some possession of the Sea coasts yet he might be sayd rather to have discovered the Countrey to posterity then to have given them the possession 5. The Motives of his passing the Ocean thither in that warlike manner besides his naturall ambition and thirst of Glory which was boundles was a desire of revenge against the Brittains who sent succours to the Gaules against him and thereby gave some stop and delay to his victories over them Suctonius adds another Motive of Covetousnes for says he Caesar had a great hope of enriching himself with Brittish Pearles the largenes of which he did much admire 6. This first conquest in Brittany such an one as it was hapned about five and fifty yeares before the Birth of our Saviour And the effect of it was only obtaining a verball dependance of some few Southern Princes of the Island on Rome testified by an inconsiderable Tribute The Countrey in the mean time being altogether governed as before for there were as yet no Garrisons left there to keep them in awe the petty Kings raigning still enjoy'd their former dominion over their subjects which by acquaintance with the Romans became more Civil and in that regard were indeed gainers by being conquered III. CHAP. 1.2 The Birth of Christ in the three and fortieth yeare of Augustus when Cynobelin was King in Brittany 3 4 His three children 5. Adminius the eldest is banish'd and Togodumnus succeeds in the Kingdome who denies Tribute 6. The affairs of Brittany neglected by Augustus and Tiberius 7.8 Caligula's fanaticall attempt against it 9. c. Claudius his invasion and conquest continued by his Generall Plautius who after Togodumnus his death overcomes Caractacus and sends him prisoner to Rome 16. His Successours victories 17.18 Of Cartismandua Queen of the Brigantes 19. Suetonius Paulinus subdues the Isle of Mona 20. c. The Iceni under Queen Boudicea rebell and destroy eighty thousand Romans but are defeated by Paulinus 24. Peace succeds 1. CAesar relates as one occasion or pretence for his invasion of Brittany that Mandubratius a son of Immanuentius late King of the Trinobantes that is Middlesex and Essex who had been slain by Cassibelin fled over into France and there demanded Caesars Protection who brought him with him into Brittany and restored him to his Principality This Mandubratius seems to have been the same that Beda Eutropius c. call'd Androgeus a title probably given him by the Brittains for betraying the liberty of his Countrey for in that name according to the ancient Brittish lāguage is imported one that is a criminall facinorous person This Androgeus or Mandubratius seems afterward to have been again expell'd For in Augustus his days Caesars adopted son we find Cynobelin a son of Cassibelin to have raigned in Brittany and continued the payment of the Tribute imposed by Caesar as appears by ancient Coyns which were the Numismata Census 2. It was in the time of this Cynobelin usually by Brittish Historians called Kimbelin and in the forty third yeare of Augustus his raign that the Sun of righteousnes arose a light unto the Gentiles and the glory of his people Israel for then our Lord Iesus Christ the only eternal Son of God was born of a pure Virgin in Bethlem the Citty of David 3. The Seat of this King as likewise of his Predecessours was Camulodunum now called Maldon in Essex as Dio witnesses Which Town received its name from Camulus in an ancient inscription called the Holy and most powerfull God answering to the Roman and Grecian God Mars 4. According to the ancient Brittish Chronicles this Cynobelin had two sons Guiderius and Arviragus who raigned successively after him But in the Roman Histories we find that Cynobelin had three sons of quite different names to wit Adminius Togodumnus and Catarecus or Caractacus It is hard to devine whence this so great diversity of relations should proceed whether the same persons had severall names or whether these were severall persons and Princes of severall dominions in Brittany Neither indeed is it much important in it self and much lesse for our present design that this ambiguity should be cleared 5. It may suffise us to be informed from the Roman Story that in the raign of the Emperour Tiberius who succeeded Augustus the eldest son of Cynobelin called Adminius was for some great crime banish'd by his Father who dying presently after his second son called by the Brittains Guiderius and by the Romans Togodumnus succeeded in the Kingdome and had the confidence to be the first who denyed to pay the Tribute to the Romans imposed on his Ancestours 6. That which gave him this confidence may seem to have been the neglect which Augustus had of preserving his interest in this Island For though toward the middle of his raign upon some provocations he had had an intention to transport an Army hither which was diverted by other occurrents of greater importance yet growing old he changed his mind being so far from an ambition to extend his Empire that he straitned the bounds of it confining it with the River Euphrates on the East and the Ocean on the West and North by which this our Island was in a sort excluded from the Roman Empire And this design which was an effect of Augustus his wisedome was through sluggishnes and an attendance to sensuall pleasures continued by Tiberius who for the space of the first two years never went out of his Palace and during the succeeding twenty years of his his
S. Peter and his successours did constitute any Churches in the West may seem to receive an attaint from that which S. Paul says his intention was to preach the Gospell in Spain which that he did effectually execute the ancient Tradition of that countrey together with the assertions of severall Authours doe testify And most certain it is that he taught many years in Rome yea there are not wanting ancient Monuments witnessing that he came into Brittany likewise teaching ordaining here 6. Notwithstanding if wee consider the extraordinary condition of S. Paul's Apostleship wee will see that nothing here alledged will prejudice the forecited testimony of S. Innocentius For S. Paul being a Supernumerary Apostle adjoyned to the twelve had no speciall Province assignd to him but was at liberty to exercise his office through all Provinces yet so as that he left not any particular Church denominated from him for though he was in a particular manner Bishop of Rome yet the Chaire of Rome was always called by Posterity the Chaire of S. Peter only and all the Churches constituted in the West even where S. Paul preached yet regarded S. Peter as their Head and cheif Patriark 7. Therfore though Nicephorus relates that Brittany was the lot of Simon Zelotes and the Greek Menology adds that he was here crucified by Infidells yet saich Baronius this they affirm without any testimony of the Ancients who witnes that this Simon the Cananite preach'd the Gospell in Mesopotamia and from thence went into Persia where he receiv'd Martyrdome So that the Greek Menology and Nicephorus seeme to have transcribed that passage out of an Apocryphall Authour Dorotheus 8. S. Innocentius his testimony therefore remains untouched That the whole Western part of the world was S. Peters peculiar Province This he says is manifest and the same is confirmed by the consent of many Provinces and kingdoms Severall Roman Bishops his Successours likewise doe expressly attest the same and particularly as touching our Brittain Churches To this purpose Pope Iohn the fifth almost a thousand years since writing to Ethelred and Alfred Saxon Princes here sayth Wee doe reioyce hearing of the encrease of your Religion through the cooperation of Divine Grace and perceiving the fervour of your Faith Which Faith you first received by the preaching of the Prince of the Apostles God graciously illuminating your minds and the same Faith you still effectually hold fast The same hath generally been acknowledged by our Brittish and Saxon Kings Hence Kenulphus King of the Mercians in the yeare of Grace seaven hundred ninety Six writing to Pope Leo the third saith From the same root that the Apostolick dignity was derived to thee the truth of Christian Faith came likewise to us Therfore wee think it expedient humbly to incline our eare and obedience to thy holy commands and with our utmost endeavour to execute what soever thy Piety shall think fit to enioyn us Yea King Iames himselfe did not doubt in a publick Audience to affirm that Rome was the Mother of all Churches And again That if a contestation were once more renewed between the East and West about the Prerogative of place and Seat he would stand for Rome and the West Lastly hereto we may adde S. Peters own testimony in a Vision hapning in the dayes of S. Edward the Confessour wherin himselfe professed that he had preached the Gospell in Brittany 9. Now in what particular yeare it was that S. Peter left Rome and passing through severall Provinces came at last into Brittany it is not easy positively to affirm Whether he left Rome upon the Emperour Claudius his Edict banishing all Iews from thence or afterwards in the beginning of Nero's raign as Baronius inclines to beleive is doubtfull But that he was absent thence when S. Paul wrote his Epistle to the Romans seems unquestionable since S. Peter is omitted in the Catalogue of his salutations 10. The particular Acts of S. Peter during his long abode in Brittany though in those dayes illustrious are now swallow'd up in the darknes of oblivion all ancient Monuments of this Nation by so many revolutions having been consumed Certain it is that a far freer scope was allowd for the publishing of Divine Verities in Brittany then almost any other part of the Western World because Nero's persecution of Christianity did not extend hither so that this Island was a Sanctuary for all those who either to avoyd the cruelty of Magistrats or to find an opportunity of a quiet solitude for Contemplation would repaire hither And this may be attributed partly to the limited power of the Romans here likewise to the Clemency and Civility of the Brittish Princes then living particularly taken notice of by historians and lastly to the great distance of this Countrey from the other parts of the Empire Such advantages had Truth and Piety to settle themselves here in Brittany more then in any other place and a proofe most remarkable hereof we have in the quiet uninterrupted Solitude of Glastonbury where within a few years after this was erected the first Schoole of Contemplation which continued the glorious habitation of a world of Saints in all Ages from the beginning of Christianity till almost our unhappy times VII CHAP. 1. c. Further Testimonies of S Peter and S. Pauls preaching in Brittany from Isengrenius and some ancient Fathers 1. ISengrenius a learned Chronologist mentioning the affairs of Brittany in his first Century and in the yeare of our Lord Sixty five fitly expressed them thus the exaltation of the Brittish Church under Nero adding withall that many Churches were built through this Island by S. Peter the prime of the Apostles 2. Indeed Gods good Providence so disposed for our good that Nero the most abominable Emperour yea person that ever lived though he was a plague and malediction to Rome Italy Greece and most other Provinces yet was an occasion of wonderfull blessings to Brittany For a tedious impatience to see his horrible actions almost forced S. Paul also to quit Rome and disperse the precious seed of the Gospell among other Western nations even as far as Brittany This is attested by witnesses of great antiquity and authority and seems agreeable to the design of the Holy Ghost when by his command S. Paul and Barnabas were separated unto him for the work unto which he had called them Which was to carry the light of the Gospell to the utmost ends of the earth 3. Now that S. Paul the Doctour of the Gentiles made good that title even to the Brittains we find acknowledged by Protestant Writers also with an intention therby to exclude S. Peter But how inconsequently they argue hath been already declared and the Brittains themselves though anciently they gave to both these prime Apostles a most high veneration yet they never calld their Church the seat of S. Paul but only S. Peter Hence our ancient Historian and Satyrist Gildas in
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
that she was a person of no good fame and that from a Pagan she became a Iew c. But all these fictions we shall in due place disprove and demonstrate that she was from her infancy a perfectly vertuous Christian bred up in that Religion by her Father who was a Christian too that she was maried to Constantius at his first coming into Brittany whom though perhaps she did not perswade to be a Christian yet she induced him to be a favourer of them c. But of these things hereafter XIII CHAP. 1. A persecution rais'd against the Church by the Emperour Decius 2. Libellatici who 3. The Novatian Heresy and occasion of it 1. DEcius after the death of the two Philips extended his rage to the Religion profess'd by them and as S. Gregory Nyssen saith thinking with his cruelty to resist the divine omnipotence by repressing the preaching of Gods word sent his Edicts to the Presidents of Provinces threatning them with terrible punishments unlesse they heaped all manner of disgraces injuries and torments upon all those who adored the Name of Christ. By which terrours threatned by the Emperour and executed by inferiour Magistrats those who were firm in the Faith approved themselves to be pure wheat of Gods floore such were S. Fabianus Bishop of Rome S. Alexander Bishop of Hierusalem and S. Babylas of Antioch which made a glorious Confession of Christ before many Witnesses and sealed it with their blood 2. But on the other side the same Tempest scattered the chaffe out of Gods barn for then began the name of the Libellatici in the Church A title given to those tepide worldly-minded Christians which by money redeem'd themselves from the obligation to be assistant at the Pagan Sacrifices and privatly obtain'd from the Roman Magistrats Libells or Testimonies in writing falsely declaring that they had sacrifised Which Hypocrisy was severely condemn'd by all Christian Churches but principally that of Rome where S. Cornelius succeeded S. Fabianus and of Carthage in which the glorious Martyr S. Cyprian sate For no better title did these Saints afford such dissembling Christians then that of Lapsi or Apostats 3. Whilst S. Cornelius possess'd S. Peters chaire there arose in Gods Church a great scandall which was the Novatian Heresy For Novatus having for his turbulency been driven out of Africk came to Rome where finding Novatianus swelling with envy and rage at the Election of S. Cornelius he easily drew him to be a favourer of his Schism and Heresy by which he excluded from all hope of pardon and reconciliation those which were called Libellatici or which had been guilty of any great crime although they had submitted themselves to due Pennance This Novatus is by our Gildas call'd a black â—wine who trodd under foot our Lords pearle and cast violent hands on the Church more worthy to be consumed by the fearfull flames of hell then to be made a Sacrifice on Gods altar And concerning his followers thus writes Saint Augustin Let us take heed of hearkning to those who deny that the Church of God has authority to forgive all sins whatsoever Those wretches whilst they will not understand how in S. Peter God has established a Rock and will not beleive that the Keyes of the kingdome of heaven have been given to the Church they let the same keyes fall out of their own hands These are they which boast themselves to be Cathari more pure then the Apostles doctrine requires c. XIV CHAP. 1. Decius betrayd by Gallus and slain He succeding is slain by his solders together with his Son Volusianus and the Empire comes to Valerianus and Gallienus 2. Of S. Stephanus Pope who baptises many 3.4 c. Among others S. Mello a Brittish Saint 1. THE Persecution rais'd by Decius though extremely violent was yet short for himself having raign'd little more then two years he was by the treachery of Trebonianus Gallus deserted in a battell fought against the Scythians where he lost his life being swallowed in a fenn In whose place the same Gallus together with his Son Volusianus succeeded by whose cruelty S. Lucius who follow'd S. Cornelius in the Roman See was crown'd with Martyrdom Immediatly after which they themselves were slain by their soldiers who cast the Imperiall Purple on Aemilianus which having worn but one months space he also was killd by them and Valerianus formerly chosen by another Army succeeded in the Empire who assum'd as his Collegue therin his son Gallienus 2. In the beginning of whose raign Stephanus the Successour of S. Lucius in the Apostolick See instructed baptis'd and ordain'd among others a glorious ornament of our Brittish Nation S. Mello otherwhere call'd S. Mallo S. Melanius and S. Meloninus sending him to govern the Church of Roüen in France This Mello being yet a Pagan was sent out of Brittany to Rome to pay the Tribut to the Emperour Valerian where according to the custome he with his companions was lead to the Temple of Mars to sacrifice 4. But presently after by divine Providence being admitted to the acquaintance of the Holy Pope Stephanus he became one among his hearers whilst he expounded to a few Christians the doctrines of the Gospell of Christ and being very attentive to his words he beleived and at his own earnest request received Baptism 5. In the ancient Acts of this holy Bishop S. Stephanus approved by Baronius to be Authentick we read of great numbers baptised by him to gether with the order and Form of the administration of that Mystery when Nemesius and his daughter together with many other Gentiles were baptised by him among whom probably this our S. Mello might have been one The words of the Acts are as followeth 6. S. Stephanus gave order that Nemesius should be conducted to the Church or Title of S. Pastor Where after he had catechiz'd him and his daughter according to the Christian custom and appointed a Fast to be observed till the evening when even was come he blessed the Font in the same Title and causing Nemesius to descend into the water he sayd I baptize thee in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Which having done turning himselfe to the daughter of Nemesius he sayd Doest thou beleive in God the Father Almighty She answered I beleive He added And doest thou beleive in Iesus Christ our Lord She answered I beleive Doest thou beleive the Remission of all sins I beleive Doest thou beleive the Resurrection of the Flesh She answered I beleive c. Then began many others to cast themselves at S. Stephanus his feet with tears beseeching him to baptise them So that in that day he baptised of both sexes to the number of sixty two And after this many other Gentiles of good rank in the world came to S. Stephanus desiring to be baptized by him Moreover tâ—is blessed Bishop being replenish'd With
necessary or expedient for humane life Now this one particular is worthy of eternall memory that immediatly before his last day he recited a funerall Oration in the place accustomed wherin by a continued discourse he spoke of the immortality of soules of the rewards which God had prepared for those who lived piously in this world and on the contrary of the miserable end of those who lead ungodly lives Which discourses pronounced with gravity and constancy aâ—d so affect some of his domesticall servants that one of them a Pagan Idolater who pretended to wisedom being ask'd What his opinion was of the Emperours Oration answered though with some unwillingnes that the things spoken by him seem'd to him to be true and particularly that he could not but highly commend his discourse against a multitude of Gods Such entertainments as those the pious Emperour had among his familiar freinds a little before his death by which he seem'd to make the way to a better life more easy and eaven 5. Eutropius relates that there appeared in heaven at that time a Comet of an unusuall biggnes portending his death After which he fell into some distemper which encreasing forced him to make use of hott bathes in the Citty From whence saith Eusebius he was removed to his Mothers Citty Helenopolis in Bithynia where for a long time continuing in the Church consecrated to the Holy Martyr S. Lucianus he offred his Prayers and publick vowes to God 6. The same Authour in another place pretends that Constantin was at this time baptis'd by the Arian Bishop of Nicomedia neer that Citty But the generall Tradition of the Western Church refutes him as hath been shew'd Therfore what was done by Constantin was not receiving Baptism but Pennance which the same Eusebius relating it calls an imitation of saving Baptism For thus he writes when the consideration of his last day came into Constantins mind he iudging this an opportune time for him to be cleansed of his sins which as a mortall man he had committed and beleiving that by the efficacy of Divine Mysteries and an imitation of the saving laver of Baptism his soule would be purged he I say considering these things fell humbly on his knees in the Church of Martyrs at Helenopolis and there confessing his sins he offred himself a suppliant to God for the pardon of them And then it was that he first became worthy to receive absolution by imposition of hands and prayer 7. In the last place touching his death the same Authour thus prosecutes his Narration Assoon as all holy Mysteries were perform'd he was cloathed with Kingly robes shining brighter then light and was layd in a bed of a most pure whitenesse for his Imperiall Purple he rejected and would never make use of it afterward Then with a clear distinct voyce he prayd and gave thanks to God adding words to this purpose Now I am assured of happines and immortall life now I am made partaker of Divine light Withall he with detestation bewayld the state of miserable Pagans whom be affirm'd most unhappy in that they were deprived of such divine blessings 8. And when the Centurions and other Superiour Officers were admitted and deplored with mournfull voyces their unhappines in the losse of such an Emperour wishing him a longer life To these he answered that now he had attain'd true life indeed and that himself only understood his own happines for which reason his desire was to hasten his departure to God After this he disposed his will in which he gave honourable pensions to such Romans as inhabited the Royall Citty new built by him As for his Empire he left it as a Patrimony to his children Thus dyed Constantin during the solemnity of Pentecost 9. As for the Vniversall mourning the clamours of the people the tearing of garments and prostration of bodies on the ground practised by the Soldiers to testify their inconsolable sorrow for so great a losse together with the glorious solemnization of his funeralls at which was only of all his Sons Constantius present all these things may be read at large in the same Authour This one passage in him must not be omitted where he writes thus Great multitudes of people together with the Preists did not cease with teares and much groaning to powre forth Prayers unto God for the soule of the Emperour wherin they performed an Office very acceptable and desired by the pious Prince himself And likewise God therby shew'd his singular goodnes to his servant both in that after his death his Empire descended to his own dear children and that himself obtain'd repose in the place so affected by him wherin the Memory of the Apostles was ioyâ—tly celebrated 10. That the Church did not doubt of the happines and glory of this pious Emperour after his death the Martyrologes of the Greek the Gallican and Brittish Churches are assured testimonies in which on the one and twentieth of May his Memory is anniversarily solemnised And particularly in Brittany Temples were built and dedicated to his honour One of which still remaines in the Province of the Ordovices or Northwales call'd at this day by his name which was erected by the Brittains when they Were driven by the Saxons into those quarters THE EIGHTH BOOK OF THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY I. CHAP. 1.2 Constantin divides the Empire among his three Sons 3. Brittany under Constantin the younger 4. His kindnes to S. Athanasius 5. He is slain by his Brothers soldiers 1. THE Emperour Constantin at his death divided the Roman Empire among his three Sons so as that his eldest Son Constantin enioy'd for his portion the Provinces of Gaule Spain Brittany and all other conquer'd countreyes on this side the Alpes Constantius the Second Son being only present at his Fathers death took possession of the Eastern Regions together with Egypt and the youngest son Constans had the government of Italy and Africk 2. Now the Gests of these and severall succeeding Emperours we will leave to such Historians as have written of the generall affaires of the Church and Empire For having confin'd our selves to matters which concern the Ecclesiasticall state of Brittany our purpose is to treat no further of such Emperours then as they are necessary for Chronology or shall concern our own countrey 3. As touching therfore the Second Constantin within whose Iurisdiction Brittany was comprised his Raign was short not lasting entirely four years And all that we can record of him is that he was constant in the Profession of the Catholick Faith establish'd in the Great Council of Nicaea wherin he was imitated likewise by his Youngest Brother Constans So that by these two Emperours means all the Western Churches were secured from the infection of Heresy which miserably defaced the Eastern parts by reason that Constantius raigning there suffred himself to be perverted by Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia and other Arian Hereticks 4. Now an illustrious proof
which the younger Constantin gave of his zeale to the Orthodox Faith was his restoring S. Athanasius to his See of Alexandria after his two years and four months banishment during which time he abode at Triers in Germany where he was entertain'd with all honour liberality by Constantin This restitution of S. Athanasius was perform'd in coÌ„sequence to the last Will of his Father the late Emperour Constantin as appears by his Sons letter to the Church of Alexandria recited by S. Athanasius in his second Apology Wherin he further writes that it was not out of disaffection but rather a tendernes of S. Athanasius his safety that Constantin sent him into the West to his son that so he might elude the treacherous malice of his Enemies the Arian Bishops who left no means unattempted to destroy him 5. It does not appear that this younger Constantin ever came into Brittany which he governed by a Deputy himself making his residence in Gaule But in the fourth year of his raign he passed over into Italy with what design it is uncertain whether out of ambition to invade the portion of his Brother Constans or for some other intention However he was there traiterously slain at Aquileia by his Brothers soldiers and as Zosimus sayes by his order By his death the whole Western Empire became the Dominion of Constans Who placed in Brittany as his Lievâ—tenant Vetranio one who a few years after usurped the Title of Emperour II. CHAP. 1 2.3 Of S. Gudwal His Gests 4 The place where he lived 5.6 c. Of Mevorus a Prince and his Son S. Simeon 1. ABout this time in Brittany there flourished a famous holy Bishop call'd S. Gudwal commemorated by severall Martyrologes and Ecclesiasticall Writers the summe of whose Gests is as followeth 2. He was born in Brittany of Noble parents and assoon as his age rendred him capable he was made Deacon and afterwards a Preist At which time he largely communicated to others those treasures of spirituall Wisdom which he had been gathering from his youth Insomuch as by his instructions many were so enlightned that they were enabled to inflame others with divine Love After this beeing exalted to the Supreme degree of Episcopacy he so much the more dilated the odour of his holy conversation Gods Spirit declaring in him the operations of divine Grace to the great ioy of all both Clergy and people He received by Succession from his Parents a very ample patrimony but despising worldly riches and having lost the tast of fading pleasures he freely gave all his possessions to the Church 3. Moreover seing that his Pastorall Office obliged him to worldly cares and solicitudes he used his utmost diligence to disburden and unchain himselfe from it Therfore recommending his Church to a worthy Successour he retired himself into a certain Monastery in his own Diocese where he led a perfect Monasticall or rather Angelicall life Now this Monastery was placed neer the Sea in a bay wherof the holy man observing a certain vast rock or Promontory shooting forth he retir'd himself thither to the end he might without interruption attend to God only in which place he gathered to him the number of one hundred and eighty disciples But the place being too strait for so great a multitude the blessed man having recourse to God alone in whose Power and goodnes he placed his only confidence when the Sea at low Ebbe had left dry a great space of the shore he with a râ—d which he carried in his hands made impressions in severall places of the Sand and commanded the waves in the Name of Christ that they should not passe those bounds At which command pronounced by the holy man one might observe the Sea naturally raging to restrain its violence and swelling and effectually to this very day it never presum'd to transgresse the limits prescrib'd unto it Thus this holy man bid adieu to the world to to all his freinds in it all things which it could deprive him of to all which vanities he was crucified perfectly hating his own soule and sensuall desires And yet contented not himself with this but continually meditated how to aspire to more sublime perfection In order wherto having communicated his resolution to his Disciples he determined utterly to quitt his native countrey and to passe over into forrain parts For which purpose having provided seaven ships he accompanied with his Brethren entred into them and began his voyage and with a prosperous gale this little army of Saints took land in a strange countrey 4. Now though in the ancient Monuments relating his life and Gests the land where he aborded be not named notwithstanding there being mention made in them of a certain Prince called Mevorus who enioy'd possessions in that place anciently belonging to his Ancestors Which Mevorus professing Christianity and for that cause receiving great vexations from the inhabitants who were Infidels he transfer'd his dwelling to a place call'd Corminia and at this day Cormon neer a town in Gaule called Monstrueil we may upon the authority of Malbranc a learned French Antiquary conclude that S. Gudwal took land in the Province of Belgick Gaule inhabited by a People called Morini among whom he preach'd the Christian Faith and instructed many in the perfection of a more holy life For thus we read in the ancient narration of his life 5. Mevorus as soon as he had notice that the Holy Father S. Gudwal was entred into his confines gave great thanks to God for it and out of his Treasury richly endowed a Church which this famous Bishop devout Hermit and worthy Superiour of Monks founded in a strange countrey where he gave illustrious examples of all Christian vertues to the present age and left a fragrant odour of his fame to posterity 6. But before the said Church and Monastery were perfectly endowed we find a relation of a wonderfull fact of S. Gudwal For Mevorus together with his wife being much stricken in years had no children at all When behold about midnight S. Gudwal appeared in a dream to the Matron promising her that she should have a Son which himself as another parent to him in regard of education would call by the name of Simeon And Mevorus being inform'd of this made a promise that the said son who was to be born should both in his own person and with all his hereditary possessions be transcrib'd to the Monastery The event succeeded answerably to all their desires for a son is born to Mevorus he is called Simeon brought up in learning and made a Monk And then it was that the Princes possessions were confered on the Monastery It is very probable that this Monastery was seated in a confining part of Flanders neer Ipre where his memory to this day is with great devotion celebrated and where a village called Ghelwelt seems to afford marks of S. Gudwal's name 7. How long the Holy man liv'd
be found in the Martyrologes of Canisius and of England as likewise in the Offices of a world of particular Churches which celebrate their memory as shall be shew'd hereafter And it must be ascrib'd to a miraculous Providence or Revelation that they have not utterly perished And thus having premis'd these generall observations touching this blessed Army of Saints we will now prosecute their Voyage XXII CHAP. 1.2 c. The story of the Martyrdom of S. Vrsula and the eleaven thousand Virgins 10.11 S. Cordula out of fear hides herself but next day returns and is Martyred 1. THE History of the Martyrdom of these glorious Virgins though for the substance of it attested by a world of particular Churches through all the Regions of Christendom yet has been so corrupted by the prodigious fictions of vain Writers even in more ancient times that some doe question whether ever there were any such persons at all and doubt not but the Legend of their Martyrdom is false The rather because the Writers of that age of the age immediatly following Gildas and S. Beda doe not in their Histories make any expresse mention of them 2. But as for Gildas his design to bewayle the generall destruction of the Brittish state and to declare the horrible crimes overspreading the Nation which provok'd Almighty God to give them up to the fury of a barbarous people which though ignorant of Gods Law yet was lesse stain'd with vices against the Law of Nature and reason then the other This considered no wonder if tying himself to his present subject he did not in so short yet comprehensive a narration involve occurrents hapning abroad Yet as hath been declared he has expressions which seem intended to describe in a generall way this particular matter deserving to be the sole argument of the Penn of a ready Writer 3. And as for S. Beda it is no wonder if his History intended only to relate the affaires of the Saxons does not recount such particular occurrents of the Brittains Notwithstanding in other Treatises he twice expressly mentions the celebration of the Memory of eleaven thousand Virgin Martyrs suffring for their Faith and Chastity at Colen to wit in his Martyrologe and in his Ephemeris So that his authority and testimony alone living so neer these times and being so wel vers'd in Ecclesiasticall Antiquities does render the truth of their story in grosse unquestionable 4. The particular Narration of which shall here be nakedly set down according to the consent of most of our Writers For as for the pretended Revelations of S. Elizabeth wherin we are told of an unheard of Pope Cyriacus of Iames a Patriark of Antioch of Seaven Bishops and eleaven Kings all these Brittains and accompanying S. Vrsula in her voyage as likewise of their wandring and sporting three years upon the Sea c. These things though formerly thrust into the Lessons of the Roman Breviary yet upon serious examination and correction of it by three Popes are now cast out as impertinent and uncertain Tales we following so great an authority will likewise neglect them 5. The plain and simple Narration of their Gests therefore is this S. Vrsula and her eleaven thousand chast companions chosen out of all the Provinces of Brittany together with a great but uncertain number of attendants partly to avoy'd the fury of Barbarous Saxons wasting their countrey and partly to goe to their design'd Husbands expecting them in Armorica in the year of our Lord four hundred fifty three saild out of their port in Brittany and pursuing their voyage Westward and toward the South by contrary winds and Tempests were not only stopp'd in their course but driven backward and forced to shelter themselves at the entrance of the Rhene into the Sea 6. At this time infinit numbers of Hunns Gepids Russians and other barbarous Nations of the North both by land and Sea vexed Germany and Gaule as the Writers of that age unanimously testify And by Gods speciall Providence who intended to match these Holy Virgins to a Spouse incomparably better then their parents had design'd them to in the same station where they took harbour a great Navy of those savage Pirats lay floating so that there was no possibility for them to escape 7. They are therefore seis'd upon by these Pirats among whom were mingled great numbers of the old Enemies of Brittany the Picts for the cheif Captains of this fleet are said to have been Gaunus a Hunn and Melga a Pict Being thus become Captives they are in boats conveyed up the Rhene as far as Colen where their generall forces were encamped and as some Writers affirm had beseig'd that Citty 8. When they were arriv'd thither and encompass'd with innumerable multitudes of Savages hating Christian Religion and brutish in their sensuall lusts both their Faith and chastity are at once assaulted and no means either by allurements or threatnings are left unattempted to expugnate their chast breasts In this extremity S. Vrsula with flaming words exhorts her companions to contemn death to sacrifice their chast soules and bodies to their celestiall Bridegrome and willingly to follow him who now calls them to receive eternall crowns of glory She tells them that in this conflict though their enemies be never so many strong and cruell yet that themselves were unconquerable unlesse they would willingly yeild up the victory c. 9. With this Exhortation the minds of these holy Virgins become so full of courage that they think their Executioners delay their death too long Insomuch as among so vast a multitude of tender maids not one single person was found which either out of hope or fear yeilded to the wills of the barbarous soldiers They all willingly offer their necks and breasts to the enemies swords which with unheard of cruelty are employ'd to exterminate from the earth so many immaculate soules not one of which by a miraculous care of Almighty God suffred any violation in their bodies 10. Onely one there was among them which though she did not yeild to the barbarous Enemies yet out of a naturall fear of death sought by hiding her self to delay it Her name was Cordula Yet she the next morning came to the place where her companions bodies lay massacred and condemning her former cowardlines willingly offred her self to her persecutours professing publickly her Faith and chastity And thus though she came late to receive her Crown with her companions yet her courage seem'd now greater in that she expos'd her self single to the fury of an innumerable multitude of savage enemies Her memory is thus particularly celebrated in the Roman Martyrologe on the day following the Martyrdom of S. Vrsula and the rest At Colen on the tenth of the Calends of November is solemniâ—'d the memory of S. Cordula who being one of the companions of S. Vrsula after she had in a fright to see their cruell massacre hid her self afterwards repenting she voluntarily came forth
out of her hiding place and last of them all receiv'd the crown of Martyrdom 11. Such a Sacrifice as this had never before nor hath been since offred to Almighty God by his Church We read of a S. Agnes a S. Catherine a S. Lucia and a few other miraculous Examples of courage and chastity in tender Virgins but they were single persons neither is it unusuall with God to shew the power of his Grace in some particular favourits of his to exalt the Faith and confound Vnbeleivers There have likewise been recorded illustrious Examples of multitudes of men which have freely without resistance suffred Martyrdom as the Thebaean Legion c. But such courage in men especially soldiers who dayly look death in the face is not to be esteemed very extraordinary Whereas here we find a far more numerous Army consisting of young timerous tender Virgins to whom ordinarily the sight of an Enemies look is insupportable offring themselves freely to innumerable swords Among them all not one single soule is found which yeilds to their flatteries or fury and but one which delays her suffring the space onely of a single night after which she as it were animated with the united Spirits of all her Companions next day solicites the united fury of innumerable Enemies against her self alone and gloriously triumphing over the rage of men and Hell too is ioyfully receiv'd among her blessed CoÌ„panions XXIII CHAP. 1 2.3 c. The Names of these Holy Virgins Their Sacred Relicks dispersed all the world over Names of Churches where they are Venerated 1. THE fame of this Tragedy in which was display'd the extremity of savage cruelty in men and miraculous courage in Virgins was no sooner spread abroad in the world but that all countreys and Churches became suitours to be enrich'd with a portion of their sacred Relicks which have been spread through Germany Gaule Italy Brittany yea Asia Africk and of late India it self So exactly was fullfill'd the Canticle of S. Vrsula and her Associats mention'd by Gildas Thou O God hast given us as sheep to be devoured and hast disperst us among the Nations 2. Not above ten years after this glorious Martyrdom that is about the year of Grace four hundred sixty three saith Hermannus Fleien one of the Canons of Colen Solinus nam'd by others Aquilinus Arch-Bishop of that Citty as we find in our ancient Records out of reverence to the Memory of these holy Virgins enclosed with walls the sacred place of their Martyrdom in which was erected a Church consecrated to their cheif Captain S. Vrsula which remains to this day by the accesse of which place the Citty of Colen was so much enlarg'd He also took out of the ground as carefully as he could their sacred bones which he reverently again buried in chests hewn out of stone 3. Neither did Brittany long delay to testify her veneration to these her blessed countrey-women A witnes whereof is a well known Town call'd Maidenhead For thus writes Camden The Thames saith he winds back to a little town formerly call'd Southlington but afterward Maidenhead from the Superstitious reverence there given to the head of I know not what holy Virgin one of the eleaven thousand Brittish Martyrs which under the conduct of S. Vrsula returning from Rome into their countrey were martyrd by Attila call'd the Scourge of God near Colen in Germany Thus he censures the piety of a world of devout Emperours Kings Princes Bishops and Doctours of Gods Church in all ages 4. A volume might be written if we should â—eap up all testimonies which a world of Churches have given of their veneration to these Holy Martyrs Therefore we will only here sett down a Catalogue of such of their Names as have escaped oblivion And thereto adjoyn the Churches where many of them are venerated in regard their Holy Relicks repose there 5. S. Vrsula for orders sake divided that innocent Army into certain Squadrons First then she gave a generall authority over all under her to these Virgins S. Cordula S. Eleutheria S. Florentia and S. Pinnosa Next she assign'd the care inspection of a thousand to each of these following S. Benedicta S. Benigna S. Carpophora S. Celindes S. Clementia S. Columba S. Lata S. Lucia S. Odilia S. Sapientia and S. Sybylla After which these particular Virgins names are recorded Saint Agnes S. Antonina S. Areaphila S. Babcaria S. Baldina S. Candida S. Caraduméa S. Christina S. Columbina S. Corona S Cunera Saint Deodata S. Flora S. Florina S. Florentina S. Grata S. Honorata S. Honoria S. Hostia S. Languida S. Margarita S. Margaria S. Oliva S. Panpheta S. Panefrides S. Pavia S. Paulina S. Pharanina S. Pisona S. Sambaria S. Sancta S. Semibaria S. Terentia S. Valeria 6. The Body of S. Vrsula her self is still preserv'd at Colen but her Head was translated to Paris where the illustrious Colledge of Sorbon acknowledges her their Patronesse At S. Denys in France there is a commemoration of Panefredis Secunda Semibaria Florina and Valeria companions of S. Vrsula whose relicks repose there At Huy in Germany is celebrated the Translation of S. Odilia famous for frequent miâ—acles In Flanders the Monastery of Marcian possesses some part of the Body of S. Cordula The Monastery of Good Hope belonging to the Premonstratenses enjoy the Relicks of S. Terentia S. Marguarita S. Baldina S. Samburia and S. Margaria translated thither when Reinaldus was Arch-Bishop of Colen The Monastery of S. Martin in Tornâ—y glories in the Bodies of S. Honorata Florina and some part of the Relicks of S. Vrsula The Monastery of S. Amand in Pabula preserves the Bodies of three of these Virgins whose names are unknown At Andain in Arduenna repose the Bodies of S. Grata S. Hostia and S. Areaphila A Hospital in Tornay possesses S. Languida At Arras the Bodyes of S. Beata and S. Sancta are said to repose in the Cathedrall Church Four of these Holy Virgins are celebrated at the Monastery of S. Bertin in S. Aumar At the Church of S. Salvius the Relicks of S. Pavia and S. Caradumea are venerated The Norbertins at Vicoine possesse the Bodies of S. Corona S. Pharanina S. Babcaria S. Margarita another S. Margarita S. Benedicta S. Cordula S. Sambaria S. Deodata S. Panpheta and S. Christina The Canons of Tungres venerate the Heads of S. Pinnosa and S. Oliva The Nunnes of Mays venerate the Relicks of S. Paulina S. Florentina and eight other Holy Virgins companions of S. Vrsula In the town of Rhenen in the Diocese of Vtrecht is celebrated the memory of S. Cunera which holy Virgin in our Martyrologe is said to have been withdrawn from the slaughter by a certain noble Matron in whose house she was awhile conceal'd but being discover'd had her neck broken But the Belgick Writers say that she in compassion was by a certain Noble man privately taken from the rest and conveyed to his house Where his
a feirce battell was begun and much blood shed on both sides But at last Hengist perceiving his army to give ground and that the Brittains began to prevayle he presently fled to a town call'd Caêr-conan now Cuningbury But considering the weaknes of the town to resist he knew his only safety consisted in the swords and spears of his followers Ambrosius pursued him and by the way putt to the sword all the Saxons he found Thus having obtaind the Victory he with great zeale and devotion gave praise to the God of heaven 8. As for Hengist he fortified his camp as well as he could neer the said town But after a few days saith Camden he was forc'd to come to a battell before his camp which was fatall to him and his for the greatest part of his army was cutt in peices and himself being taken prisoner was beheaded by the Brittains 9. This battell saith Florilegus was fought on the banks of the River Don. And the manner how Hengist was taken prisoner was this The valiant Eldot Duke or Consul of Glocester Claudiocestriae had an earnest desire to cope with Hengist Therefore with the forces under his command furiously peircing through the Enemies squadrons he at last found him and laying hold on the fore part of his helmet with main force he drew him in among his own troops saying God at last hath fullfilld my desire It is he who hath given us the Victory Presently after this the Saxons fled every one his own way whom Ambrosius pursuing manfully slew Octa the Son of Hengist with the greatest numbers fled to York But Esca and not a few with him betook themselves to another Citty call'd Aclud After this Victory Ambrosius took the Citty Caër-conan which he entred triumphantly staying there onely three days 10. The same Author consequently relates the manner how Hengist was sentenced and executed after the fight After the saith he Ambrosius calling his Captains together commanded them to decreet what should becom of Hengist Whereupon Eldad Bishop of Glocester who was also Brother of Eldot impos'd silence on them all and gnashing his teeth for rage he thus said Though all here present had a desire to set him free I my self would cutt him in peices Why doe you delay O effeminat Brittains Did not Samuêl a Prophet having taken the King of Amalec prisoner in a battell cutt him in peices one limme after another saying As thou hast made many Mothers childles so will I make thy mother childles this day Doe you therefore deale in the same manner with this barbarous King who is another Agag and has depriv'd a world of Brittish Mothers of their children When he had thus sayd Eldad drew his sword and leading him out of the Citty cutt off his head sending his soule into hell 11. If this relation be true Eldad shew'd himself an unmercifull man and one who forgott the duty of a Christian Bishop who ought rather to have mitigated the rigour of other mens sentences then to pronounce so cruell a iudgment whilst others who were soldiers too held their peace He therefore little deserves the commendation given him by Pits for his piety and prudence which he â—ill express'd when gnashing his teeth for rage he extorted a Captive Kings death from an Assembly of soldiers The Book of Invective Orations for which the same Authour likewise reckons him among the ancient Brittish Writers probably proceeding from the same spirit deserved rather to be forgotten then recorded as in honour of our Ancestors 12. After this so signall a Victory Ambrosius mindfull of his Vow call'd together workmen Masons and Carpenters and took care to repaire the Houses of God which had been destroyed and placing in them Preists and other Clergy-men he reduc'd the Divine service to the pristine order And wheresoever he found any Idols or Temples of false Gods he defac'd them utterly out of the memory of men He was studious to observe iustice and peace especially to Ecclesiasticall persons and confer'd on them liberall revenews enjoyning them all to pray for the Kingdom and state of Gods Church 13. Hengist being thus dead his Son Aesca succeeded him in the Kingdom of Kent He is call'd Oisc by S. Beda who addes that from him the succeeding Kings of Kent were call'd Oiskings As for his other Son Otta in the former narration of Florilegus said to have fled to York nothing can be found of him among the Ancient Writers So that small credit is to be given to what Modern Historians relate concerning him that King Ambrosius bestow'd on him the Province of Galloway in Scotland since in those days that Province was not in the disposall of the Brittains XII CHAP. 1.2 S. Brigit comes out of Ireland into Brittany for Relicks and returns 1. THE same year in which Hengist was slain the Holy Virgin S. Brigit came out of Ireland into Brittany as we find recorded in the Antiquities of Glastonbury and her busines was to obtain some Relicks of her most dear and honour'd Patron S. Patrick for she had been his Disciple and a great admirer of his sanctity which she zealously imitated Being in Brittany she pass'd some years in a certain small Island near Glastonbury where there was an Oratory consecrated to the honour of S. Mary Magdalen The Island was called Bekery or the Little Island Afterward having left behind her scripp chain bell and other vestments of her own weaving which for the memory of her Sanctity are there expos'd she return'd into Ireland where not long after she rested in our Lord and was buried in the Citty of Down 2. This is that famous Virgin for her Sanctity and miracles venerated by Gods Church on the first day of February On which day we read in the Martyrologes of Rome S. Beda and Ado these words This day is celebrated the Memory of S. Brigid a Virgin who in testimony of her virginity having touch'd the Wood of an Altar it became presently green Her death is frequently assign'd by writers to the eighteenth year of the following Century But truër Chronology saith Bishop Vsher makes her to out live S. Patrick only thirty years XIII CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Sophias a Brittish Martyr and Bishop of Beneventum 1. IN our English Martyrologe on the four and twentieth of Ianuary there is a commemoration of a Brittish Saint and Martyr call'd S. Sophias whose death is assigned to the four hundred and ninetieth year of our Lord. 2. This S. Sophias was the Son of Guilleicus Prince of the Ordovices or Northwales He undertook a Monasticall Profession in a Monastery built by himself in the same Province It is written of him that he had such devotion to our Lords Passion that he made three pilgrimages to Ierusalem to visit the marks and footsteps of it He had likewise a great Veneration to Rome and those places which had been consecrated by the
Cornubia or Cornwall so calld because it stretcheth it self like a horn into the Sea in Demetia which is Southwales and in Venedotia which is calld Northwales With these narrow limits they were forc'd to be contented nevertheles they never departed from the true Faith of Christ. One thing indeed there is for which they are iustly to be reprehended which is the mortall hatred which even to this day they bear to the English Nation by whom they were expelld their ancient Territories which hatred is so irreconcileable that they will lesse willingly communicate with them then with dogs 7. By what hath here been transcrib'd out of our ancient Historians the discreet Reader may iudge how vainly and groundlesly our Modern Protestant Writers doe boast of their conformity with the Religion of the ancient Brittains in opposition to Writers doe boast of their conformity with the Religion of the ancient Brittains in opposition to that which S. Augustin the Monk shortly after taught the Saxons and how impudently some of them affirm that the Saxons were instructed in Christianity by the Brittains and not from Rome XVI CHAP. 1.2.3 A preparation for the Conversion of England erroneously denyed by B. Parker 4 5. c. How S. Gregory seing pretty English slaves was moved to seek the Conversion of our countrey 1. THE Saxons were no sooner in a secure possession of this Island but Almighty God began so to dispose the effects of his Divine Providence as to prepare the way for their conversion to him in order to their eternall Happines as if an Earthly kingdom had not been a reward answerable to their merits in destroying an ungratefull people abandond to all filthines and impiety 2. The instrument of this felicity shortly to approach was the Blessed man S. Gregory as yet a privat Preist and Monk but presently after a most worthy Successour of S. Peter in the Chair Apostolick at Rome And the occasion moving him to interesse himself in so pious and glorious a design is thus breifly declared by our learned Selden There having been brought to Rome saith he a number of young English children to be expos'd to sale in the publick market Gregory then a Monk excited by a Zealous affection to propagate the name of Christ and moved to a tender compassion by seeing the amiablenes and beautifull features of those youths and being inform'd that the Nation from whence they came was destitute of the knowledge of Christ he took a resolution to sow amongst them the Divine seeds of Christian Faith And being afterward exalted to the Pontificate in order to the effecting his pious design he sent a certain Monk calld Augustin to lay the foundations of a Christian Church in the Island adioyning to him other auxiliaries devout companions of his labours 3. Notwithstanding B. Parker the generally supposed Authour of the Brittish Antiquities out of envy and indignation to acknowledge any obligation to Rome pronounces this to be a mere Fable His argument is for that in his iudgment there was no probability that the Saxons for gain should sell their children Whereas Tacitus recounting the manners of the ancient Germans sayes that they would out of greedines of gaining by dice-playing even sett their own liberty to stake and Malmsburiensis affirms that it was a familiar and almost naturally inbred custome among the Saxons to sell their Children Which custom continued many ages in our Nation insomuch as in the days of our King Henry the second by the testimony of Giraldus Cambrensis a Synod at Armagh in Ireland was obliged to make a Decree for the redeeming of such English youths as had been sold for slaves in that Island And before that time among the Laws of Inas King of the West-Saxons there is more then one which under great penalties forbid this horrible and unnaturall commerce Lastly with regard to Saint Gregories own time he himself is a witnes beyond all exception that the Angli were accustomed to sell their children for in an Epistle to Candidus a Preist his Procurator in France he gives him order to redeem such English children as he mett with sold for slaves in that Kingdom and having bought them to send them to Rome to be there instructed in the Christian Faith 4. This difficulty therefore being sufficiently cleared we will here more particularly and circumstantially set down that passage of Story which gave occasion to S. Gregory to extend his charitable care towards our Nation Wee find it related by almost all our ancient Historians and by forrainers too when they treat of the Gests of S. Gregory Yet in some of them and particularly in Malmsburiensis and Ioannes Diaconus one Errour is to be observed touching Chronology For they referr this passage of Story to the times of Pope Benedict wheras most certain it is that it hapned toward the latter end of Saint Gregories immediate Predecessour Pope Pelagius For a good while pass'd after Pope Benedicts death before Saint Gregory was Prefect of the Citty after which he undertook a Monasticall Profession in a Monastery built by himself Ad clivum Scauri from whence he was shortly after calld and created Archdeacon of the Roman Church then sent Apocrisarius or Nuncio to Constantinople at his return from whence he saw these English youths with so much kindnes and compassion 5. The exact Narration of which passage is in this manner deliver'd by Saint Beda We must not passe in silence says he a relation which by Tradition from our Ancestours is brought down to us to wit upon what motive it was that Saint Gregory express'd so much care of the salvation of our Nation For they tell us how on a certain day when great variety of Merchandise was brought into the Market-place by forrain Merchants lately arrived and a world of people were mett to buy S. Gregory among the rest came and took notice cheifly of three young children of a pure complexion beautifull looks and hayre gracefully ordred Assoon as he saw them he enquir'd from what countrey they came and was told that they came from the Isle of Brittany where the inhabitants generally are so comely He demanded further whether those Islanders were Christians or Pagans and was told that they were Pagans Hereupon he deeply sighed saying Alas what pitty is it that the Prince of Darknes should possesse men of such lovely bright countenances and that persons so amiable in their looks should cary soules utterly voyd of inward Grace Again he askd what was the name of their particular Nation to whom it was replyed that they were called Angli Well may they be call'd so sayd he for they have Angelicall faces suitable to such as shall be coheyrs with Angells He enquired further how the Province was call'd from whence they were brought The answer was that the inhabitants of it were call'd Deiri They are well call'd Deiri said he importing by their Name that they shall be
The opinion of his Sanctity was great after his death and the memory of it remaind in that Church many ages for thus writes the Authour of his Life When Gundulph was Bishop of Rochester Lanfranc the Arch-bishop pluck'd quite down the Church of S. Andrew and built a new one at which time he took out of the ground the bones of S. Paulinus and putt them honourably in a boxe Now among others then present there was a certain Matron greivously afflicted with an infirmity of body but much more burdned with a certain crime She coming to the Sepulcher of S. Paulinus there with great devotion offred her vow to God That if by the merits of S. Paulinus she might be freed from her disease she would never more committ that sin in which she then lived and presently she was restord to health This Translation was on the fourth day before the Ides of Ianuary on which day his Anniversary solemnity was observ'd in the Church of Rochester His Memory is celebrated both in the English and Roman Martyrologes on the tenth of October In his place Honorius the Arch-bishop of Canterbury ordaind Ithamar descended from a family which was native of Kent but in learning and piety equal to his Predecessours 6. As for the Widdow-Queen Ethelburga after she had dispos'd of her Children the love to whom was the only worldly affection remaining in her heart she determind to shutt it entirely to temporall things and to employ in a Religious solitude all her thoughts and desires upon heaven and God alone Which intention of hers being known to her Brother King Eadbald he piously assiâ—ted her vow and assign'd her a place remov'd from the noise of the Court where she might with much commodity execute her Religious design and moreover bestowd on her a village calld Liming where she built a Monastery and for ought appears was the first Widow among the Saxons which with a Religious veyle receiv'd from S. Paulinus consecrated her self to serve our Lord. B. Parker most unskilfully calls her a veyld Virgin thinking perhaps that none but Virgins might take a Religious Veyle Whereas S. Hierome expressly says that both Virgins and Widows who in scorn of the world had vowd themselves to God did offer their hayr to be cutt off by the Mothers of the Monasteries and afterward went not in contradiction to the Apostles ordinance with their heads uncoverd but bound and veyld 7. Which Sacred veyl was not such an one as woemen ordinarily wear of a light transparent stuff but made of a course weal and â—o thick that mens sights could not peirce it True entire and pure Virginal Chastity saith Tertullian fears nothing so much as its own self It will not suffer the eyes even of women It flyes to the veyl on the head as to a helmet yea as to a sheild to protect its onely good from the darts of Teâ—tations and scandals against suspicions and whispers And concerning this Veyl S. Ambrose has this expression Let men lift up the eyes of their minds and bodyes and consider this congregation of modesty this assembly of integrity this Council of Virginity here are no curious ribbons to adorn the head but an ignoble veyl yet ennâ—bled with the exercise of chastity here all arts to set forth beauty are abandoned 8. This excursion may be pardond being occasiond by this first example in our Saxon Story But this was an example which presently after was imitated by thousands Almost every year we shall read of Virgins hastning out of the world to live with Christ of Monasteries erected enclosures establish'd and God most purely and devoutly served All which continued almost a thousand years in the esteem and gratulation of all Christians till an Apostate Friar solicited a Professed Virgin for his lust to break her vow of chastity and by that example the habitations of Piety became exposed to the rapines and lusts of a Sacrilegious generation 9. This Religious Widow after that by Poverty chastity and subiection of her Will she had ascended to the Perfection of Divine Love ended at last her Mortality Her Memory is celebrated in our Martyrologe on the tenth of September where she is stiled a Mother of Many Virgins and Widows because many such by her example undertook the Sacred Institut of a Religious Profession XXIII CHAP. 1.2 c. The Gests and Martyrdom of S. Livinus 1. ABout this time hapned the Martyrdom of S. Livinus who though not born in Brittany may yet challenge a place in this History The Summary of his Life is thus described by Aubert Miraeus Livinus was born of a noble race in Scotland he means Ireland His Teachers were first a worthy Preist called Benignus afterward the Great S. Augustin first Bishop of England by whom also he was baptised The same Holy Bishop exalted him likewise to the Order of Preisthood in the discharge of which Office he behaved himself so worthily that not long after the Scotts or Irish chose him for their Arch-bishop But he after a while leaving his Vicar in Scotland a man of eminent Sanctity called Silvanus who was his Arch-deacon being moved with the zeale of propagating the Gospell in other Countreys took with him three of his Disciples Folian Helias and Kilian sailed into Flanders and entring into a Monastery at Gant lately built by the Holy Bishop S. Amand he was there kindly entertained by the Abbot Floribert and his Brethren Three years before that S. Bavo had been there buried at whose monument great miracles were wrought And for this reason S. Livinus stayd there thirty days celebrating Masse continually upon his Sepulcher 2. After this departing from thence to execute the Office of preaching he by his instructions example and Miracles converted a world of Infidels to the Faith of Christ. But certain impious persons who hated our Lord and all piety perceiving such great multitudes brought by the Holy Bishop to a Religious life and a contempt of their former Vices and Errours persecuted him wonderfully Neither did they desist from their malice till having seised upon him they cut out his tongue which they cast to be devoured by doggs Which notwithstanding was miraculously restored to him Yet not mollified with this they at last having wounded him greivously in severall places murdred him at Escha a village in Flanders in the year of Grace six hundred thirty three or as some reckon the year following 3. This S. Livinus is to be distinguished from another almost of the same name called Levinus or Lebvinus a companion of S. Willebrord and S. Suibert who likewise finished his Life by Martyrdom neer Gant and is stiled the Apostle of Daventre But he was a Saxon as we shall declare toward the end of this Century Whereas S. Livinus of whom we now treat was an Irishman His Memory is celebrated in the English and Gallican Martyrologes on the twelfth of December THE FIFTEENTH
19. Now in that Island there had anciently been a Church built by King Ethelbert at Saint Augustins request which not long before this time had been destroyed by the cruell Tyrant Penda who had also slain or chased away the Preists attending it This Church the Holy Virgin restored in a more ample form and consecrated it as it had been formerly to the Honour of the most blessed Virgin Mother of our Lord. Thereto likewise she by the assistance of her Brother King Adulf adioyned a Monastery of devout Virgins which with great fervour flocked to her over whom she was constituted Abbesse And concerning her manner of life there wee thus read in S. Beda It is reported saith he that from her first entrance into the Monastery she never used any linnen vestments and very seldom any warm bathes except before the solemne Feasts of Easter Pentecost and Epiphany and then she would be the last to wash her self after she had ministred to all the other Virgins She rarely eat any thing more then once a day unlesse on the great Solemnities or when any infirmity forced her to doe otherwise From the time of Midnight Mattins till break of day she remaind in the Church intent on her Prayers Some affirm that by the Spirit of Prophecy she foretold both the Pestilence of which she her self dyed and likewise in the presence of her whole Convent she signified the number of those who were to be taken out of the world 21. The sweet odour of her piety and vertues drew many Virgins and Widows some of Royall descent to follow her For her Sister Sexburga Queen of Kent after the death of her husband Ercombert to whom she bore two sons Egbert and Lothair who succeeded in the Kingdom became a Nunne under the Government of S. Etheldred to whom likewise she succeeded in the care of the Monastery Moreover the daughter of the same Sexburga calld Erminilda Queen of the Mercians when her husband Wulfer was dead retired to the same Convent bringing with her her only daughter S. Wereburga of whom more hereafter 22. Besides the Monastery of Religious Virgins S. Ethelreda built likewise or rather restord in a place neer adioyning a Convent for Monks over whom she as Abbesse retaind Iurisdiction In both which Cloysters there were no fewer then a hundred devout persons continually attending on the service of God V. CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Ethelreds Body found incorrupt 7 Taudrey-lace 8.9 c. Apparitions and Miracles wrought by the Holy Virgin 1. SEaven years the Blessed Virgin Ethelreda governd her Monastery of Ely exhibiting her self a glorious example of Piety and all vertues after which in the year of Grace six hundred seaventy nine our Lord calld her out of this world to receive her reward on the eighth day before the Calends of Iuly and according to her own command she was buried among her own Religious Virgins in the same coffin of wood wherin she lay when she gave up her Spirit and her Sister Sexburga who had been the Wife of Earcombert King of Kent succeeded her in the Office of Abbesse 2. The wonderfull testimonies which God was pleased to afford in approbation of the Sanctity and purity of this Holy Widow twice a wife and always a Virgin are commemorated by S. Beda who himself might have been a witnes of them He was three and twenty years old when those things hapned and wrote them forty years after The relation by him given thus follows 3. Sixteen years after the Blessed Virgin Saint Ethelreda was buried her Sister Sexburga Abbesse thought fitt to take up her bones and putting them into a New Coffin to translate them into a Church dedicated to her honour She commanded therefore certain of the Monks to search out a Stone commodious for that purpose Now the region of Ely being all encompassed with rivers and marishes afforded no such stones of a convenient largenes They therefore taking boat went to a certain Citty not far distant which lay desolate calld in the English tongue Grandacister where presently neer the walls of the Citty they found a Coffin of white Marble elegantly made and fittly coverd with a stone of the same Perceiving hereby that God had prospered their iourney they with great ioy and thankfullnes brought the Coffin to the Monastery 4. Now when her Sepulcher was opened and the sacred body of this Holy Virgin and Spouse of our Lord discovered it was found â—s free from any corruption as if she had been buried the same day This the foresaid Bishop Wilfrid and many other eye-witnesses have testified But a more certain Witnes hereof was her Physician calld Cinfrid who assisted her at her death and was likewise present when her body was taken up He frequently made relation how in her sicknes she had a great swelling under the hollow of her arme Whereupon he was advised to make an incision in the said swelling that the noxious humour might flow out Which I having done saith he for two days after she found her self at more ease insomuch as many thought she would recover But the third day after her paines returning she was suddenly taken out of the world and made a happy exchange of paines and death for life and perpetuall health 5. And many years after when her bones were taken out of her Sepulcher a Pavilion was sett up about which the whole congregation of Religious men and Virgins stood singing Psalmes In the mean time the Abbesse attended with a few of the Nunnes where busy within the Pavilion taking up the body and on a sudden we heard the Abbesse from within cry out with a distinct voyce Glory be to the name of our Lord And presently after they opened the dore of the Pavilion and calld mee in where I saw the Sacred Body of the Holy Virgin taken out of her Sepulcher and placed in the Coffin where it lay as if she had been asleep After which taking the cover from her face they shewd mee the wound of the incision which I had made perfectly cured insomuch as instead of a wide gaping wound which was in her body when she was buried now only some small signs of a scarr appeared and those likewise were so fresh that they seemd as if they had been closed that very day 6. The Religious Virgins also reported that when by reason of the foresaid swelling she was tormenâ—ed with extreme pains in her neck and side of her face she took great contentment in her infirmity and was want to say I know of a certainty that I am iustly paind in my neck because when I was a young maid I wore about my neck weighty chains of iewells Therefore God in his mercy has thus punished mee that the fiery heat and rednes of the swelling in my neck may satisfy â—or my former pride and levity 7. Harpsfeild from this passage in S. Beda well collects that the custom in England for women
proceeded out of the same family S. Edilburga the naturall daughter of King Anna Saint Sedrido daughter to King Anna's wife Hereswida by another husband and Saint Eartongatha neice to them both being daughter to Earcombert King of Kent and his wife Saint Sexburga These three Holy Virgins though they dyed in severall years yet since Saint Beda ioyns them together we will here follow his example placing their Gests this year of Grace six hundred and sixty in which S. Sedrido according to our Martyrologe dyed 3. They all out of a desire of a more strict and perfect life went over into France by reason that as yet there were not in Brittany many Monasteries for Religious Virgins and there betook themselves to the Monastery of Saint Phara whom formerly Saint Columban had instructed in Piety and a love of Christian Perfection The relation which Saint Beda gives of them is as followeth 4. Eartongatha the daughter of King Earcombert and S. Sexburga was a Virgin of eminent vertues as became the offspring of such parents She spent her life in our Lords service in a Monastery of France built by the most illustrious Abbesse S. Phara in a place called Brige or Brye For at that time by reason there were not many Monasteries erected in Brittany it was the custome for many parents in this Island to send over their daughters into French Monasteries there to be instructed in piety and consecrated to our Lord especially in the Monasteries of Brige Cale or Chelles and Andilegum In the number of such noble Virgins so sent into France was Sedrido daughter of the wife of Anna King of the East-angles and likewise Edilburga a naturall daughter of the same King Both these Virgins for the merit of their vertues though strangers were constituted Abbesses of the Monastery of Brye now called Pharmonstier And hence may those Writers be corrected who place Saint Sedrido in the Monastery of Chelles which as yet was not built by the Holy Queen S. Bathildis 5. Therefore Andrew Saussay in his Martyrologe on the seaventh of December truly writes concerning Saint Phara and these Virgins after this manner The Father of Saint Phara being at last better advised built for her a Monastery in the forest of Brye in a place then called Eboriacum but afterwards it took the name of Pharmonstier from the said Holy Abbesse She being settled there by the odour of her Sanctity drew many other devout Virgins thither over whom she becoming a Mother excelled them more in Grace and vertue then in her preeminence and dignity And indeed so great was the some of her Sanctity that great numbers of Noble Virgins yea and Princesses out of all the Provinces of France yea Germany England and Ireland contended to be there received and to those being inflamed with Divine love she communicated her own vertues and Graces Among those devout Virgins the most renowned for Piety was Edilburga naturall daughter of Anna King of the East-angles who after the death of Saint Phara supplied her Office in the government of the Monastery and by the divine progresse of her life deserved to be inscribed in the number of Saints after her death Where succeeded her in the same Office her neece Saint Earthongatha daughter of Earcombert King of Kent a worthy branch and well beseeming so noble a Stock for she flourishing with eminent piety and vertue served our Lord there till her death in wonderfull purity both of body and Spirit 6. Our Martyrologe seems to make Saint Sedrido the immediate Abbesse of Pharmonstier after S Edilburga and after her S. Earthongatha is supposed to have succeeded though her name which is strange be there omitted And as touching S. Sedrido her commemoration in the French Martyrologe is on the tenth of Ianuary in these words On that day is celebrated the memory of S. Sethrida Virgin in the Monastery of S. Phara in the territory of Brye Who being an English Lady out of zâ—ale to Perfection came to the same Monastery where she professed a Religious state and having consummated the course of an Angelicall life upon earth departed to the heavenly society of Holy Virgins Her praises are written by venerable Beda 7. We must not here omitt what the same Saint Beda writes concerning S. Earthongata Many things are related very miraculous by the inhabitants of that territory concerning this Holy Virgin But we will onely mention breifly her death and the wonders succeeding it When the day approached in which she was to be called out of this world to eternall happines she went about the Monastery visiting the Celles of the Religious Virgins especially such as were more ancient and eminent for piety to whose prayers she humbly recommended her self not concealing from them that she was taught by revelation that her departure was at hand The manner of which revelation was sayd to be this She saw a great troop of men in white garments enter the Monastery and asking them what they sought for there their answer was That they were sent thither to receive and carry back with them a precious Medall of gold which came thither out of Kent Now on the same night toward the end whereof near break of day she passed from the darknes of this world to the heavenly Light many of the Monks whose lodgings were adioyning to the Monastery report that they heard distinctly a Melody of Angells singing and a noyse as it were of a great multitude entring the Monastery Whereupon going forth to see what the matter was they saw a wonderfull great Light from heaven in which that holy soule when delivered from the prison of her body was conducted to eternall ioyes They add many other wonders hapning the same night which we pursuing other matters leave to their relation 8. The Sacred body of the Virgin and Spouse of our Lord was buried in the Church of the Protomartyr S. Steven Three days after they having a mind to take up the Stone which covered her Sepulcher and raise it higher as they were busy about this a sweet odour of so wonderfull fragrancy evaporated from beneath that it seemd to the Religious men and Sisters there assisting as if a cellar full of precious bauâ—m was then opened Thus writes S. Beda touching S. Earthongata 9. And concerning S. Edilburga he addes Likewise S. Edilburga formerly mentioned the Aunt of S Earthongata by her Mother she likewise preserved the glory of perpetuall Virginity with great purity and perfection and of how eminent merits she was appeared yet more after her death In the time whilst she was Abbesse she began the building of a Church in the Monastery to the honour of all the Apostles where her desire was to be buried But death snatched her away before half the building was finished notwithstanding she was buried in the same place where she had desired After her death the Monks who had care of the Monastery employd their minds in other matters so
and besides him as long as I live I will never admitt another Lover Therefore use thy sword if thou pleasest for be assured that neither thy flatteries nor threats shall have power to draw mee from him to whom I â—an by vow obliged The lustfull young man enraged to see himself so contemned and the maid so inflexible beleiving he could never enioy rest as long as she lived so resolved mad with lust and rage presently strook of her head and immediatly in the place where it fell to the earth a most pure and plentifull Spring gushed forth which flowes to this day and by the Holy Virgins merits gives health to a world of diseased persons 7. It being in the steep descent of a hill where the Virgins head was cutt of it lightly rouling down to the bottom slidd into the Church whereas the body remaind in the place where it first fell The whole congregation there attending to Divine Mysteries were wonderfully astonished to see the Head tumbling among their feet detesting the crime of the murderer and impreâ—ating Divine vengeance on him But the parents of the Virgin broke forth iâ— to tears and sad complaints They all went out and found the murderer near the liveles body wiping his sword on the grasse For being the Princes Son he apprehended no danger and as for the crime committed against God he was unsensible of the heynousnes of it The man of God therefore seing his pride and obstinacy and having in his hands the Virgins head looked earnestly upon him and sayd Impious Villain hast thou no shame of the slain wherewith thou hast defiled thy high birth and shewst thou no repentance of this horrible crime Thou hast disturbed the peace thou hast polluted the Church with thy sacrilegious murder thou hast highly provoked Almighty God and doest thou shew no sorrow for all this Since therefore it is so that thou hast not spared Gods Church nor reverenced his solemn day I beseech him without delay to inflict on thee a iust punishment for this thy unworthy and detestable crime Assoon as the Holy man had ended these words the young man immediatly fell to the ground and gave up the ghost and which was more wonderfull his body presently disappeared from the eyes of the by-standers and many say that it was swallowed up by the earth and with the wicked soule sunk into Hell 8 But the man of God often kissing the head which he held in his hands could not refrain to weep bitterly Afterwards ioyning it to the body and covering it with his mantle he returned to the Altar where he celebrated Masse Which being ended he returned to the Virgins body and there began a devout sermon to the people in which among other passages he said That the Holy Virgin had made a vow of Religious Profession but being thus intercepted by death had not opportunity to perform it Therefore he exhorted them ro prostrate themselves on the ground and earnestly beseech Almighty God to restore her to life The Congregation readily obeyd him and after they had so continued a good while in prayer the man of God rose from the earth and stretching forth his hands to heaven sayed O Lord Iesus Christ for whose love this Virgin despised all earthly things and desired only heavenly we most ardently beseech thee in mercy to hear our prayers and grant the request we make to thee And although we doubt not but that this thy Virgin who suffred onely for thy love shall be received by thee into thy ioy and therefore little regards our society and conversation yet vouchsafe to grant the humble requests of thy servants and command this Virgins soule to return to her body and thereby shew that thou hast an entire power and rule both over our soules and bodies and likewise that she being by thy mercy restored to life may for ever magnify thy Name and encreasing in the fervour of a holy conversation may after many years return more pure to thee her Spouse who art the onely Son of the Eternall Father with whom and the Holy Ghost thou livest and raignest one God world without end This Prayer being ended to which all the people cryed aloud Amen the Virgin presently rose up as from sleep cleansing her face from the dust and sweat and filled the Congregation with wonder and ioy 9 Now in the place where the Head was reioynd to the body there appeard a white Circle compassing the neck small as a white thread which continued so all her life shewing the place where the Section had been made And the report in that countrey is that from that white circle she had the name of Winefrid given her whereas at first she had been called Breuna For in the Brittish language Win signifies White And moreover the Tradition is that after her death whensoever she appeared to any that White mark was always visible The place where her blood was first shed was not much distant from a Monastery in North-Wales calld Basingwerk The Name of it formerly was The dry vale but after her death to this day it is called Saint Winefrids Well The Stones likewise both where the spring gushes forth and beneath in the Current having been sprinkled with her blood retain the rednes to these times which colour neither the length of so many ages nor the continuall sliding of the water over them have been able to wash away and moreover a certain Masse which sticks to the said stones renders a fragrant odour like Incense 10. The Holy Virgin being thus miraculously revived did dayly attend the man of God and devoutly hearkned to his exhortations and at last received from him the Holy vayle of Religious Profession Whereupon assembling severall Maids of Noble families the instilld into their minds a Love of Purity and contempt of all flattering delights of the world so that they willingly submitted their neâ—ks to the easy Yoke of Christ and by a Regular vow consecrated themselves to his service 11 Not long after the Holy Man Beuno dyed and by Divine admonition Saint Winefrid had recourse to another devout Man named Deifer who was of so great Sanctity and so highly favoured by God that he made a fountiain break out of the earth and conferred health on many infirm persons When Saint Winefrid therefore came to this Holy man a voyce from heaven signified to him whilst he watched that night in prayer Saying Tell my most deare daughter Winefride that she repair unto a man named Saturn from whom she shall be informed in what place she is to spend the remainder of her life Assoon therefore as the Holy Virgin came to him he said to her There is a certain place calld Witheriac it is vulgarly named Guitherine in the Province of Denbigh which is held in great reverence by all the people This place it is Gods will that thou visit and remain there whilst thou livest by thy good example informing others in the way of
possession of fifty families for building a Monastery in a place called Etbearn that is At the wood in the Province of Lindissi or Linconshire where to this day the Observances of a Regular life instituted by him doe still remain The Authour of Saint Ceadda's life in Capgrave calls this place Brawe the situation whereof is now unknown 7. But his Episcopall See was at Lichfeild concerning which the same Authour thus writes He had the See of his Bishoprick at a place called Licidfeld where he also dyed and was buried and where his Successours have still remaind Moreover he built for himself a mansion not far from the Church whither he was wont to retire with seaven or eight Monkes that he might in solitude attend to prayer and reading as oft as the solicitudes of his Episcopall Office would permitt 8. The same King Wulfere finished likewise the Monastery begun by his Brother in the year of Grace six hundred fifty six which he consecrated to S. Peter commanding it to be called Peterborough and enriched it with great possessions appointing the first Abbot of the same in the year six hundrod sixty nine a very pious man saith Camden called Sexwulf by whose perswasion principally it was built And he addes That the said Monastery flourished with great opinion of Sanctity the space of two hundred and fourteen years till the most calamitous times when the Danes layd all places especially Sacred wast For then the Monks were murdred and the Monastery lay buried in its own rubbish a hundred and nine years This Sexwulf had formerly lived an Eremiticall life in the Island called Thorney where he built an Oratory which by the liberality of King Edgar became a Noble Monastery in the year of Grace nine hundred sixty nine as we shall then declare 9. As touching the said Bishop Ceadda he was industrious in preaching assiduous in prayer unwearied in labours and always conversant with God And whereas saith Saint Beda it was the usuall custom of that most Reverend Bishop in preaching the Gospell through his Diocese for the most part to goe on foot from place to place the Arch-bishop Theodore enioyned him that when he was to goe to any place a good way distant he should ride the good Bishop was very unwilling so great was his aversion from ease in the work of God Yet in the end the Arch-bishop even compelled him thereto and with his own hands lifted him on horse back For he saw that he was a very holy man c. IX CHAP. 1.2 c. The Holy and most happy death of S. Ceadda 1. BEcause we will not interrupt the Narration touching this Holy Bishop Ceadda we will here adioyn the relation of his happy death shortly ensuing suitable to his pious life which is thus at large recorded by S. Beda 2. After he had governed the Church of the Mercians most gloriously the space of two years and a half the time by divine dispensation approached concerning which Ecelesiastes writeth There is a time to scatter and a time to gather stones For a destroying sicknes was sent from heaven by which many living stones of Gods Church were translated from earth to the heavenly building And hereby not a few belonging to the Church of this most Reverend Prelate having been taken out of the world the hour of his passage likewise to our Lord drew near It hapned then on a certain day that himself accompanied only with one Monk named Owin abode in the forementioned Mansion all the rest upon some occasion being returned to the Church The said Owin was a Monk of great merit who out of a pure intention for a heavenly reward had forsaken the world and indeed he was in all respects a person esteemed by our Lord worthy to receive Divine revelations and worthy also of beleife when he discovered them to any He had formerly come into that Province from the Region of the East-Angles with Queen Edildride being the cheif Officer of her family Not long after his arrivall the fervour of his Faith encreasing he resolved to leave the world which resolution he exeâ—uted diligently insomuch as relinquishing all his possessions and contenting himself with a simple habit and taking in his hands onely an axe to cutt wood he went to the Monastery of the same most Venerable Prelat called Lestinghen For he did not as some have done retire to a Monastery to live idlely there but to labour diligently as he gave good proof by his conversation for the lesse proper he was to spend much time in Meditation the more did he addict himself to manuall labour 3. This man therefore having for his zeale and devotion been selected to abide with the Bishop in the said Mansion commonly when the rest were busied within-dores in reading he was abroad busy about some externall work for the common benefit Now on a certain day as he was thus employed while the rest of the Monks as hath been said were returned to the Church and the Bishop in his Oratory reading or praying he said that on a sudden he heard most melodious voyces of many persons singing and reioycing which descended from heaven to the earth These voyces he heard at first as from the South-east quarter which by little and little approached to him till they came to the roof of the mansion where the Bishop was into which they entred and filled it all about He therefore attending solicitously to this Musick about an hour after he heard the same voyces songs of Ioy with unexpressible sweetnes ascending from the top of the house by the same way to heaven again After which remaining astonished a good space and wondring what this should be the Bishop opened the window of his Oratory and according to his custom made a noyse with his hand which was to give notice that if any were without they should come to him Hereupon the Monk hastily entred to whom the Bishop said Goe presently to the Church and bidd those seaven brethren to come immediatly hither and come thou with them When they were all come he first admonished them to observe Charity and peace both among themselves and with all others and likewise diligently to follow the Instituts of Regular Discipline which they had learnt both from his tongue and practise or had found in the instructions and actions of their precedent Fathers Hereto he added that the day of his death was near at hand For said he that blessed and amiable Guest who was wont to visit our Brethren did mee the grace to come this day to mee and summoned mee to depart out of this world to our Lord. Therefore goe to the Church and desire the rest of our Brethren to commend my departure to our Lord and let them be mindfull to prevent also their own deaths the hour of which is uncertain with watchongs prayers and good works 4. After he had spoken these and other words to the
mutuall charity and Humility After which she happily departed to our Lord on the third day before the Ideâ— of Iuly and was both durâ—ng her life and after her death powerfull in Miracles 5. Her Body was with great honour enterred in the said Monastery of Menstrey where it reposed near four hundred years illustrious by the Veneration of pious Christians and the glory of frequent Miracles From thence about the year of Grace one thousand and thirty it was translated to Canterbury Alstan being Abbot there as shall be declared Concerning which Translation William of Malmsbury thus writes In following time the Sacred Body of Saint Mildred was translated to the Monastery of Saint Augustin in Canterbury where it is with great devotion venerated by the Monks and for the fame of her piety and sweetnes answerable to her Name honoured by all And although all the corners of the said Monastery are full of Saint Bodies eminent for their Sanctity and Merits insomuch as any one of them might suffise to give a luster to the whole Kingdom yet the Relicks of none are with more affectionate honour venerated then hers She is present to all that love her and ready to hear and fullfill the requests of every one c. At London likewise there remains to this day a Church dedicated to her honour 6. Moreover her Memory is celebrated in the Belgick Provinces For as Aubert Miraeus testifies part of her Relicks was transported to Daventry and reposed there in the Cathedral Church Mention is also made of the same Relicks in the Gallican Martyrologe on the thirteenth of Iuly in these words At Daventry in Belgium is the Veneration of the Relicks of S. Mildreda an English Virgin consecrated to God in the Monastery of Chelles in the Territory of Paris which are reposed in the Cathedral Church of S. Lebuin together with the Bodies of the same Saint Lebuin and also of S. Marcellinus Her departure out of the world have given luster to this day Saint Mildreda was conveniently associated to these two Saints Lebuin and Marcellinus for her agreement with them both in her faith and countrey For they were English-Saxons likewise who together with Saint Willebrord preached the Faith to the inhabitants of Friseland and Geldres of whom we shal treat hereafter 7. The determinate year of the death of these two Holy Virgins Saint Milburga and Saint Mildreda is uncertain Certain only it is that it is wrongfully ascribed by some Writers to the year of Grace six hundred sixty four For since the same Authours affirm that they were consecrated by Saint Theodore Arch-bishop of Canterbury who came not into Brittany till after that year it is evident that in their computation there is an Antichronism 8. We may therefore more commodiously ascribe it to this year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred seaventy six In which year on the six and twentieth of February our Martyrologe commemorates the Deposition of their youngest Sister Saint Milgitha or Saint Milwida Concerning whom a very shhort account is given by our ancient Authours For of her wee read only that she entred into the Monastery of Estrey built by the Penitent King Egbert in Kent where she so well imitated the Sanctity of her Sisters that she likewise deserved a place in the Catalogue of our Saints 6. From these we must not separate a young Brother of theirs called Mereâ—in Concerning whom Mathew of Westminster and Florentius testify this only that he was a child of eminent Sanctity XX. CHAP. 1. 2. c. The death and Miracles of Saint Ethelburga daughter of Anna King of the East angles 5. 6 Of S. Thoritgitha 7. Of S. Hildelida 1. TO the same year is referred likewise the death of Saint Ethelburga daughter to Anna the pious King of the East-angles and Sister to Saint Erconwald She was as hath been said Abbesse of the Monastery of Berking founded by her Brother 2. Concerning her death hapning the fifth day before the Ides of October thus writes Saint Beda When Edilburga the proâ—â— Mother of that devoâ—â— Congregation was to be taken out of the world a wonderfull vision appeared to one of the Religious Sisters named Theorethid who had lived many years in the Monastery serving our â—ord with all humility and sincerity and had been an assistant to the Holy Abbesse in promoting the observance of Regular Disciplin her charge being to instruct and correct the younger Sisters Moreover to the end that her spirituall strength might be perfected by infirmity as the Apostle saith she was suddenly assaulted by a most sharp disease and for the space of nine years greivously tormented with it This hapned to her by the mercifull Providence of her Saviour to the end that by this furnace of divine tribulation whatsoever defects or impurities through ignorance or negligence had insinuated themselves into her soule might be cleansed away and consumed 3. Now on a certain night towards the dawn of the morning this Religious Virgin upon some occasion going out of her chamber saw manifestly as it were a human body more bright then the Sun enwrapped in linnen which being transported out of the Dormitory of the Religious Virgins was caried up to heaven And whilst she observed diligently by what force the said body should be raised upwards she saw that it was so lifted up by certain ropes more resplendent then gold by which it was drawn higher and higher till at last the heavens opening it was received in after which she could see it no longer 4. Considering this Vision she did not at all doubt but that it imported that some one of that devout Congregation should shortly dye whose soule by good works formerly done should as by certains cords be raised up to heaven And indeed so it fell out For a few days after Saint Edilburga the devout Mother of the said Congregation was freed from the prison of her body who had lead her life in such perfection that none who knew her could doubt but when she left this world the entrance into her heavenly countrey would be opened to her 5. S. Ethelburga was buried in the same Monastery and after her death likewise was not wanting to procure comforts and blessings to her Religious Sisters For as the same S. Beda relates There was in the same Monastery a Devout Virgin of Noble descent but more ennobled by her Piety called Thorithgida who for many years had been so utterly deprived of the use of her limbs that she could not stirr any one of them She being informed that the Body of the Venerable Abbesse was caried to the Church where it was exposed some time before the buriall desired she might be transported thither and placed leaning toward it in the posture of one that prayes This being done she addressed her petition to her as if she had been alive beseeching her to obtain from her mercifull Creatour that she might at length be freed from her
return Again at this time Saint Erconwald and not Waldhere was Bishop of London to whom Waldhere succeeded four years after this and then might probably subscribe Lastly Putta here named Bishop of Rochester had resigned his See severall years before this and at this time lived under Sexulf Bishop among the Mercians So that either we must affirm that he conserved the Prerogative of his Title notwithstanding his Resignation or that it was another Bishop of the same name and perhaps the same who is said by Bishop Godwin to have been the first Bishop of Hereford 8. Besides the Bishops of Brittany there was present in the said Synod of Hatfeild the forementioned Iohn Arch-chantour of B. Peters and Abbot of the Monastery of S. Martin saith S. Beda and he likewise confirmed the Decrees of Catholick Faith When he came into Brittany he brought with him the Synodicall Acts of a Council not long before this celebrated at Rome by Pope Martin and one hundred and five Bishops against those who taught that there was only one Will and operation in Christ A Copy of which Synodicall Acts he caused to be transcribed and left in the Monastery of the Venerable Abbot Benedict Biscop and caried back with him towards Rome a Transcript of the Decrees of the Synod of Hatfeild 9. Among other benefits which the Churches in Brittany received from this Venerable Roman Abbot Iohn this is reckoned by the same Authour that he taught the Monks of the foresaid Monastery of Giruy governed by S. Benedict the Roman Order and Rite of singing leaving them likewise Rules for the same He also committed to writing the Order of celebrating all Feasts through the year all which were till S. Bedes compiling his History observed in that Monastery and transcribed by many other adiacent Convents And very many Religious men from almost all the Monasteries of the Province who had any skill in singing flocked to him to better their skill 10. The same Holy Abbot returning towards Rome a little while after he had passed the Sea was surprised by an infirmity of which he dyed And his body was by his freinds caried to Tours and there honourably buried This was done out of love and respect to S. Martin in as much as he had been Abbot of a Monastery dedicated to the same Saint at Rome And in his way from Rome to Brittany passing by Tours he had been with great kindnes entertained in the Church of S. Martin there and earnestly requested by the Monks to take the same place in his way at his return Moreover he had from thence received assistants in his iourney and labours Now though he dyed in his return notwithstanding the Exemplar of the Catholick Orthodox Faith of the English Church was caried to Rome and ioyfully read by the Pope and all others there VII CHAP. 1.2 c. King Egfrid despises the Popes Decrees for the restitution of Saint Wilfrid 4.5 c. S Wilfrid emprisoned and miraculously defended by God 9.10 c. Queen Ermenburga punished by Divine power 1. SAint Wilfrid having been thus absolved at Rome returned the year following into Brittany where he found greater tempests attending him then he had left at Sea for the Letters from Rome testiâ—ying his innocence were so far from qualifying the fury of King Egfrid against him that they rather more incensed it The progresse of his succeeding suffrings is thus related by William of Malmsbury 2. S. Wilfrid saith he in his return having by Gods protection escaped all dangers by the way came safe to his own countrey Where with much difficulty having obtained accesse to the presence of King Egfrid he presented to him Pope Agathons Letters Sealed These Letters the King attended by the Bishops of his own faction enemies to S Wilfrid commanded to be read After which he was so far from shewing any Reverence to the See Apostolick that he delivered him up to a certain Officer of his a man of well known cruelty to be cast into an obscure Prison having first despoyled him of all things and dispersed his attendants into severall places For he gave credit lightly to those who affirmed that those Decrees were obtained by bribes at Rome where they said money could procure any thing 3. Hence wee may collect that King Egfrid did not move any controversy or doubt of the Popes Lawfull authority to determine this controversy which was sufficiently acknowledged by the Bishops Adversary S. Theodore who made no protestation against his Appeale but sent a Religious man to charge S. Wilfrid at Rome But this pretence King Egfrid gave of his disobedience to the Pope's and Roman Synods Sentence that it was unduly procured or that the true state of the CoÌ„troversy had not been aright represented at Rome or some other like excuse which is never wanting to those who are resolved not to submitt to justice and authority 4. The same Authour thus further proceeds in his Narration The Holy Prelat saith he with a spirit unmoved and an unaltered countenance suffred this violence and with holy admonitions exhorted his freinds whose suffrings he compassionâ—ted to expect a happy end of these calamities from the Divine goodnes As for the Officer to whom he had been committed though he was to all others of a barbarous and savage comportment yet to him he shewd himself gentle and mild neither did he afflict him with any torment or other vexation but only this that he shutt him up in darknes for he durst no. altogether neglect or resist the Kings orders But Divine Iustice would not permitt this holy Prelat who was the Light of Brittany to be unworthily oppressed with darknes For a Light from heaven darted into the obscurity of the prison supplied the Suns absence creating a bright day there from whence the worlds light had been excluded and the beames of this heavenly light shining through the chinks of the prison terrified the Keepers and compelled them to fly and acquaint their Master with the wonder He was much astonished at the hearing of it but such was his fear of King Egfrid that he durst not expresse any further kindnes to his prisoner 5. But a terrible disease suddenly hapning to his wife forced him to overcome his fear for a most greivous impostume after terrible torments at last burst in her body the wound wherof was so wide and gaping that the sight thereof horribly affrighted her husband and presently after shâ— was tormented by the Devill possessing her by which she became bloodles dumb and a cold stiffnes seised on all her members as if she had been dying Vpon which the husband in great hast running to the Holy Bishop and casting himself at his feet with earnest prayers obtained pardon from him In so much as without any delay he went and making his prayers over her and casting Holy Water into her gaping throat her disease and torments presently ceased and perfect health returned 6. King Egfrid was
has mercifully granted our desires 7. The truth of this Propheticall promise was really confirmed by the event for after they were parted they never saw one the other corporally and in the same moment of time their Spirits were delivered from their mortall bodies and by the ministery of Angells translated to the beatificall vision of God But the devout Hermite before his death was purified by a tedious and painfull infirmity which probably hapned to him by a mercifull divine dispensation to the end that the torments of a long sicknes might instrumentally supply the defect in which he came short of the holy Bishops merits that so being made equall in Grace with his pious Intercessour he might not only in the â—â—me moment of time but with an equall participation enioy eternall Glory together with him 8. Among the many miraculous proofes of his Sanctity and favour with God we will here recount onely one which he performed during his last Visitation of his Diocese which is recorded by the same Writer as followeth On a certain day when in Visiting his Province he preached the word of life to the poore countrey-people and likewise by imposition of hands conferred the Grace of Confirmation on such as had been baptized he came to the Village of a certain Count whose wife at that time lay sick at the point of death The Count himself mett him in the way and with bended knees gave thanks to our Lord for his coming and so conducted him into his house And when the Venerable Bishop after he had according to the use of strangers washed his hands and feet and was sett down the Count began to acquaint him with the desperate state of his wife beseeching him that he would give his benediction to water for sprinckling her For said he I firmly beleive that either she will thereby by Gods blessing presently recover or if she dye she will passe from her miserable and tedious paines to eternall rest The Holy Bishop assented to the mans request and water being brought he blessed it and gave it to a Preist commanding him to sprinckle the sick Lady with it Who thereupon entred into her chamber where she lay like one deprived of sence life and both sprinckled her face and her bed yea withall opening her mouth distilled a few dropps into it The holy Water had no sooner touched her but o Wonderfull though she was utterly ignorant of what had been done she preseÌ„tly recovered a perfect health of body and mind and devoutly blessed our Lord who had sent such holy guests to visit and restore her to health And without delay rising up she herself like the Mother of S. Peters wife came to doe service to the Bishop being the first of the whole family which presented to him a Cup of refection VIII CHAP. 1.2 c. Saint Cuthberts preparation to death 4.5 c. The admirable occurrents at his death 1. THIS was the last time that S. Cuthbert visited his Diocese after which he again retired himself into his solitude of Lindesfarn there to prepare himself without distraction for his last account which he was shortly to make as Gods holy Spirit had signified to him Onely three months space was allowed him for this preparation for as Saint Beda declares he retired himself when the Feast of our Lords Nativity was ended in the year six hundred eighty six and dyed on the twentieth of March following 2. What his employment was during this his last retirement S. Beda who either was or might have been present will inform us Having passed saith he two years in performing his Episcopall charge the Holy man of God knew in spirit that the day of his departure out of this world approached whereupon he discharged himself of his Episcopall solicitude and made hast to return to his beloved exercises of an Eremiticall conversation to the end that by the flame of his accustomed compunction he might purge away and consume all the drosse of worldly affections In which time he oftimes would goe out of his solitary mansion to exhort and comfort his Religious brethren who came to visit him 3. The same Authour a little after declares the particular occurrents hapning to the Holy Bishop a little before his death which he relates in the words of a devout Monk whose abode was near to the place and also was scrupulously inquisitive into all matters concerning the Holy Bishop The account given by him is as followeth 4. The holy man of God S. Cuthbert returned into his Mansion in the Island as soon as the Solemnity of our Lords Nativity was ended He was attended to the boat by a troop of his Religious Brethren and being ready to enter into it one of the ancient Monks venerable for his piety strong in Faith but weak in body by reason of a Dyssentery which afflicted him sayd thus to him Tell us my Lord Bishop when wee may expect your return To this simple and plain question the holy Bishop answered as plainly for he certainly knew what should befall him My return shall be when you shall bring back my dead body 5. Thus he passed into the Island where for two months space he spent the time in great ioy for the recovering his beloved tranquillity and solitude yet not admitting any sensuall refreshment but on the contrary mortifying himself both externally in body and internally in mind according to his ancient accustomed rigour After which he was suddenly assaulted with a sharp sicknes by the bitter pains whereof he was purified and prepared for eternall rest and ioy 6. As for the manner of his death I will relate it saith Saint Beda in the very words of him from whose mouth I received it which was a Preist venerable for his Piety named Herefrid who at that time was Abbot of the Monastery of Lindesfarn viz. Three whole weekes was he continually tormented and purified with his disease of which he dyed for upon a Wednesday he began to be sick and upon a Wednesday death ended his sicknes and sent him to our Lord. 7. Now the first day in which his last infirmity had seised on him I went early in the morning to him for three days before I arrived in the Island attended by severall of my Brethren for I had a desire to partake the comfort of his benediction and pious exhortation Assoon as I had given the accustomed sign of my being there he came to the window of his Mansion and when I had saluted him all the answer he gave mee was a sigh My Lord Bishop said I how doe you Perhaps your usuall languishing infirmity has this last night grown upon you It is true said he I have been very weak this night Now I thought he had meant it of his old infirmity which seldom left him and not of a new unusuall sicknes Therefore I questioned him no further but sayd Give us your benediction for it is time for us to return
he apprehended that some freinds would present him with gifts which he should not be able to require on a sudden For this had been always his custom that whensoever any presents were made him he would not fayle either presently or in a competent time to return some thing as valuable 7. On the day therefore before the Nones of Iune being thursday Masse being solemnly sung very early in tâ—e Church of the most Blessed Virgin and S. Peter at which all who were present communicated he immediatly prepared himself foâ— his voyage All the Monks therefore being assembled in the Church of S. Peter he having incenced the Altar and made his Prayer before it standing upon the steps with the Censer in his hand gave his benediction to them all whilst they were singing Litaries which they interrupted with their sighs and tears Then from thence they went into the Oratory of the Holy Martyr S. Laurence which is in the Dormitory there giving them his last farewell he admonished them all to preserve mutuall Charity and peace and not to omitt on occasion brotherly Correption as the Gospell enioyns after which he imparted to all who had any way offended him his pardon and love desiring all to pray for him and to pardon him if he had shewd too much severity in reprehending any 8. This being done they went to the Sea shoare where once again kneeling he recited a Prayer and having given them all the kisse of peace who wept all the while he took ship with his attendants The Deacons of the Church likewise lighting their Tapers and carying their golden Crosse he passed over the River adores the Crosse mounts on horse-back and so departed leaving in his Monasteries allmost six hundred Religious Brethren 9. When he was gone the Brethren went to the Church where with weeping they commended themselves and all their affairs to our Lord. And awhile after having recited Tierce they assembled againe and consulted what was to be done and resolved that by Prayer Psalmody and fasting they should without delay demand a Superiour and Father of God and wâ—thall by sending some of their brethren they declare to the Religious Monks or Saint Paul what they had determined â—o doâ— who willingly give their assent theâ—eto So that â—ll became of one mind all their hearts and tongues were lifted up to God 10. At length on the third day after being Whitsunday they mett tâ—gether again and to them came not a few of the elder Monks of Saint Paul Then with an unanimous consent they elected for their Abbot Whetbert wâ—o from his childhood had been brought up in the Monastery and well instructed not only in Regular Observance but in the skill of writing singing reading and teaching He likewise in the dayes of Pope Sergius of happy memory had been at Rome where continuing a good space he learnt wrote and brought back with him whatsoever things he iudged necessary 11. This man then being by the generall consent of the Monks of both the Monasteries chosen Abbot took with him some of his Brethren and with hast went to the Holy Abbot Ceolfrid who expected a wind proper for his voyage and to him he signifyed the Election which the Monks had made whose answer was God be thanked and presently confirmed the Election Then he received of the new Abbot Letters commendatory to Pope Gregory in which with great tendernes they besought his Holines to extend all requisite Charity to their most beloved and most carefull Father whose corporall presence though they were deprived of yet they were assured that whether he were alive or dead they should ever find him an intercessour with God and Patron to them 12. Now when Abbot Whetbert was returned home Bishop Acca was desired to come to the Monastery who with the accustomed form of Benediction confirmed the Abbot in his Office And he among innumerable actions performed to the common aduantage of the Monastery added this which was very acceptable to all that he took up the bones of Abbot Easterwin which had been buried in the porch entring into the Churâ—h of Saint Peter as likewise the bones of Abbot Sigfrid who had formerly been his Master which had been reposed without the Sacristie and putting them into one Coffin yet so that there was a partition between them they buried them within the Oratory of the Blessed Father Saint Benedict This solemnity was performed on the eleaventh day before the Calends of September being the Anniversary day of Abbot Sigfrid on which very day also by a strange Providence of God the Venerable servant of Christ Withmer mentioned before departed this world and was buried in the same place with the sayd Abbots the example of whose vertues he had carefully imitated 13. But to return to the servant of God Ceolfrid he pursuing his iourney towards the Monuments of the Apostles at Rome before he could approach thither he was seised on by a sicknes of which he dyeâ— For being come as far as Langres in France about nine of the clock before noon at four in the after noon he departed to our Lord and the day following was honourably buried in the Church of the three Twin-brethren and glorious Martyrs Speusippus Eleusippus and Meleusippus who as they were born at the same birth by one Mother so they were regenerated together in the same faith of their Mother the Church and on the same day together with their Grand-Mother Leonilla they left to that place a worthy Memory of their Martyrdom 14. At the buriall of the Holy Abbot Ceolfrid there was vehement weeping not only by those of the English Nation attending him in his iourney who were no fewer then fourscore but likewise the inhabitants of that Citty who much bewayld the retarding and fayling of the desire of the Reverend Old man Neither could any one without difficulty contain his teares seeing the dispersion of this good Abbots Disciples and followers for some of them notwithstanding the losse of their Father continued their devout iourney to Rome and others thought fitt rather to return home and give notice of his death Lastly some there were who out of an unquencheable affection to their beloved Father would continue at his Tombe amongst a people whose language they understood not at all 15. He was when he dyed seaventy four years of age he had been a Preist forty seaven and had executed the Office of Abbot thirty five or rather three for from the time that Saint Benedict began to build his Monastery to the Honour of the Prince of the Apostles he was his inseparable companion and assisted him not only in that labour but also in the care of Monasticall Institution In the practise of which he was so sedulous that notwithstanding any occasion of age infirmity or iourney from the day that he left his Monastery till his death that is from the day before the Ides of Iune to the seaventh before the Calends of October which was one
made in the Archives at Rome for the writing and Commission given by Pope Sergius to Saint Willebrord by which might appear the insufficiency of the pretentions of the Bishop of Colen 8. The Answer hereto from Rome is not now extant but by the proceedings of S. Boniface it appears that the cause went on his side For he administred the affairs of the See of Vtrecht without any dependency on the Bishop of Colen 9. Being ready to begin his iourney he sent for the Religious Virgin S. Lioba one of those which he had invited out of England to establish Regular Discipline in Germany and exhorted her earnestly not to desert this countrey in which she was a stranger nor to faint in a vigorous pursuit of her holy employment but to perfect the good work begun by her He told her that bodily weaknes and infirmities were not considerable neither was an age esteemed by us long to be regarded if compared with eternall Rewards which shall crown all our good endeavours Having said this he commended her earnestly to Bishop Lullus and the Seniour Monks of the said Monastery admonishing them to shew all care and respect to her Telling them with all that it was his resolution that after both their deaths her bones should be layd near to his in the same grave that they may expect the day of Resurrâ—ction together since they had served our Lord with the same desire and affection When he had said this he bestowd on her his Monasticall Cowle once more admonishing her not to forsake that Land of her pilgrimage Thus all things being prepared for his iourney he went into Friseland These things are extracted out of the Life of S. Lioba written by Rodolphus at the request of Rabanus Maurus XXIX CHAP. 1.2 c. The last Gests and Martyrdom of S. Boniface and his Companions 11.12 c His Body translated from Vtrecht to Mentz and thence to Fulda 15.16 That S Boniface was an Englishman not a Scott 1. WEE are now come to the last and best passage of this glorious Saints life which was his willing offring of it to our Lord as a Sacrifice of sweet smelling Savour The manner of it wee will here sett down as wee find it extracted out of the Gests of S. Boniface by the illustrious Cardinall Baronius 2. After the holy Bishop had sett all things in order in Germany he attended by such persons as he had made choice of entred the boat and descending by the Channel of the Râ—ene arrived safe into the region of the Frisons Where from place to place he preached the word of God with great fervour and carefully built Churches And so great successe did God give to his labours that within a short time he assisted by Saint Eoban converted and baptized many thousands of men and women Now the said Eoban he ordained Bishop of Vtrecht to the end that in his old age he might have one to ease him by sustaining a great part of his burden There were present likewise and assistants to him severall Preists and Deacons Among the Preists the principall were Wintruge Walter and Aâ—alher and among the Deacons Strichald Hamunt and Boso Moreover there were certain Monks also Waccar Gunderhar Williker and Adolf which attended him All these unanimously laboured with him in preaching the Gospell and with him also attained the crown of Martyrdom 3. Now all these after they had passed through severall parts of that countrey and were come to the River Bortna in the confines of East Friseland S. Boniface having none with him but his own companions commanded their Tents should be pitched because there he intended to expect the coming of those who after Baptism were to receive Confirmation For the day appointed thereto was at hand 4. But when it was come and the Sun was mounted to its height all those which were expected by him with the same tendernes of attention that children are expected by their fathers were become utterly unworthy to receive the Grace of Gods Holy Spirit which that day was to have been conferred on them by the Sacrament of Confirmation For of freinds they were turned into enemies and of Neophytes into Sergeants and Executioners They came running then with great rustling of armour to the Tents of these defenceles Saints Which when the Servants saw they betook themselves likewise to their weapons endeavouring to defend the holy men against the rage of that furious multitude 5. But Saint Boniface when he heard the noise of this tumult in the first place he had recourse to his Spirituall Sanctuary and fortresse for he took the Sacred Relicks which in all his iourneys he caried with him and then calling to him all his Ecclesiasticks he went with theÌ„ out of the Tent and restraind the servants who were ready to resist saying to them My children abstain from fighting dâ—e not combat with your adversaries but rather render them good for evill Now the long wishd for day is come in which wee are from this miserable world invited to eternall ioys Why would you then debarre your selves from so great a grace and happines On the contrary be courageously chearfull in our Lord and with thankfull minds receive the inestimable gifts of Divine Grace now offred to you Put your trust in our Lord and he will deliver us out of all danger With such speeches as these he with-held his servants from setting upon their enemies 6. Then addressing himself in a fatherly manner to the Ecclesiasticks of each degree My most dear Brethren said he if the memory of my former admonitions be not utterly defaced out of your minds shew now that you have not forgotteÌ„ them Call to mind those words of our Saviour Fear not those who kill the body but can not hurt the soule Fixe the anchor of your Hope in God onely who after this momentany life will give you an eternall Crown among his heavenly Saints Doe not I beseech you in this point of time loose the everlasting rewards of Victorious soules Be not therefore either corrupted with the flatteries of these Pagans or terrified with their threatnings but courageously and manfully suffer this present danger of death for his love who for us suffred infinitly more that you may for ever reioyce with him in heaven 7. The holy Bishop had scarce ended this exhortation when the furious multitude armed with swords and all kinds of weapons rushed upon them and with bloody hands in a barbarous manner murdred them all Having done this they hastily ran into their Tents and took with them all their Books and coffers in which were enclosed the Sacred Relicks thinking they should find in them great treasures of Gold and silver Thence with hast they went to their Boats loaden with all the provisions of meat and wine of which they dranke with great ioy After this they fell into debate about dividing the treasure which they vainly hoped they had found And when after long and
from Rome a Synod was assembled by the Kings command in which himself and Athelard presided The place where the Synod was held was called Bacanceld In which the Aâ—ch-bishop in the name of Pope Leo by the consent of the whole Synod published this Prohibition adiuring all men by the most dreadfull iudgment of God from that day forward not to infringe the liberties nor usurp the revenews of Gods Churches and Monasteries denouncing against all transgressours excommunication in this world and damnation in the next 2. At the same time likewise the dignity of late empaired was restored to the Metropolitan Church of Canterbury And Aldulf formerly stiling himself Arch-bishop of Lichfeild submitted himself to the Popes command and to the iurisdiction of Athelard in this Synod subscribing himself by the simple Title of Bishop Yet all matters were not so cleared in that Controversy but that upon new emergent difficulties Athelard was obliged once more to have recourse to the See Apostolick 3. In the Kingdom of the Northumbers likewise a Synod was called at Finchal now Finkley in which Eanbald Arch-bishop of York presided and at which were present many persons of high rank both Ecclesiasticall and Secular In this Synod many Ordonnances were made proffitable to the Church of God and the whole nation touching the Observation of the Paschall solemnity the regulating of Iudicatories both Ecclesiasticall and Secular the introducing of good order among Clarks and Religious persons and many other like Ordonnances by which the generall state of that Province was excellently composed Eanbald likewise the Arch-bishop commanded that the Faith of Gods Church explained by the five Generall Councils should be publickly recited whereto all unanimously consented The same as we have before declared had been practised in the Synod of Hatfeild under Theodore Arch-bishop of Canterbury XIX CHAP. 1.2 c. Pope Leo conducted to Rome by King Charles the Great 1. THE year following King Charles with great pomp conducted Pope Leo back to Rome Among other expressions of ioy at his reception testified by Anastasius this was one That all the Schooles of Strangers in that Citty to witt of the Franks Frisons Saxons and Lombards ioyning together in one body with Crosses and flaggs singing likewise spirituall Canticles received the Pope leading him to the Church of Saint Peter where he solemnly celebrated Masse Now by the Schoole of the Saxons he certainly means that of the English instituted by King Ina and amplified in revenews by King Offa. For the Name of Brittany began now to grow out of use Shortly we shall have it by Regall authority changed into England In the mean time it was most usually called Saxony beyond the Sea to distinguish it from the Old Saxony in the Continent Hence in the last Letter written by Pope Leo to Kenulf King of the Mercians he stiles him King of the Province of Saxony 2. It is probable that Athelard Arch-bishop of Canterbury and Kinebert Bishop of Winchester accompanied their countreymen in this Procession For at this time those two Bishops were at Rome as Florentius testifies The occasion of Athelards second iourney thither was to clear some difficulties arising from the change made lately in the Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction in Brittany Which difficulties were so many and of such consideration that all opposition could not be quieted nor all impediments removed till four years more were passed 3. And as for Kinebert the Motive of his going to Rome was either devotion or to offer in the name of Brithric King of the West-Saxons the yearly contribution called Romescot which was collected our of his Dominions XX. CHAP. 1.2 c. Charles the Great solemnly crowned Emperour of Rome by Pope Leo the third 6. Saint Alcuin's congratulation to him 1. THE last year of this Century was rendred illustrious by the New erection of the Western Empire The Emperours of Constantinoplâ— besides that for severall ages they had been the Protectours of Heresy they were become unable to defend the Western Regions from the assaults which the Saracâ—nâ— made in severall parts especially the Islands and Rome particularly was exposed to many oppressions from the Lombards and other petty Princes tyrannising in Italy yea from the Nobility of the Citty it self and of the Territory adioyning who oft compelled the Popes to flye into France and Germany So that it was necessary to seek out a common Protectour abroad Now not any Christian Prince could enter into competition with the Kings of France either for power or inclination to defend the Apostolick See or to secure Italy it self from the Saracens abroad and Tyrants within the bowells of it The obligations which Rome and especially the See Apostolick had already to the Predecessours of King Charles not only for quelling the Tyrants who oppressed it but for raising it from poverty and weaknes to wealth and power to be envyed even by Princes were so fresh and so excessive that to seek a Protectour from any other Kingdom had been folly And among the Kings and Princes governing in France none hitherto approached to King Charles the Great either for power or for affection to the Church a proof whereof he at this time gave to the present Pope in his care to secure him from his malicious enemies by retiring into France his tender affectionate and respectfull entertainment of him there and his restoring him with far greater splendour then ever to his See with power to execute iustice and if he pleased any revenge upon his barbarous enemies 2. These things considered both gratitude and interest strongly moved Pope Leo to resent the inestimable benefitts which he had so lately received from King Charles And since his abilities could stretch no further then to exalt so great a King by Words and Titles and no Title was either more easy for him to bestow or more becoming King Charles to receive then that of Emperour of the West or of Rome For these reasons the sayd Pope at this time made choice of that way of expressing his gratitude 3. Now that this new Honour might be conferred as it were in a Legall manner and due Form according to the ancient custom he caused the Nobility and cheif among the Clergy at Rome and neighbouring places to assemble together as constituting a resemblance of the ancient Roman Senat And by their unanimous Votes and suffrages was this illustrious King nominated and chosen Emperour of Rome Which election was presently signified to the Common people of Rome and other Regions of Italy assembled in infinite multitudes from all parts by whom it was with loud acclamations ratified and confirmed Which being done Pope Leo as Prince of the Senat did in all their names with the greatest solemnity and glory imaginable ioyning in the ceremony both Civill and Spirituall authority sett the Imperiall Crown upon his head on the day of the great Solemnity of our Lords Nativity 4. The fame of this being spread
Martha didst restore to life Lazarus having been four days dead vouchsafe for shewing the power of thy Divinity to raise to life this dead person 12. Then taking the hand of him who had been drownd he said In the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ who was crucified God omnipotent I command thee to rise live and confesse thy Creatour Immediatly after this he who was dead opened his eyes and sighing arose as from a deep sleep and embracing the feet of the holy Bishop he cryed out with many groanings There is no God in heaven and earth but the Lord Iesus Christ who was crucified and whom this his holy servant Swibert preaches who by his mercifull goodnes at his prayers has raised mee from death and Hell O how glorious is this mans life who by his Prayers has driven away death from anothers body and by the trust he has in Christ ha's robbed hell of its prey Surely death can have no power where the holy man Swibert interposes his prayer 13. Immediatly upon this all that were present and had heard these words and seen the wonderfull and strange Miracle exalted with condigne praises the goodnes of God through Iesus Christ our Lord who had vouchsafed to make his holy Servant Swibert illustrious by so glorious a Miracle Whereupon casting themselves at the feet of the H. Bishop they professed their readines to beleive in Christ and desire to be baptized in his name And amoÌ„g these some were Pagan Preists who despised and renounced the vain worship of their Idols 14 Lastly the parents kinred of the Young man with infinite ioy gave thanks to God and his Saint embracing him with great devotion and affectionatly kissing him and his Disciples Saint Swibert also himself with the other Christians prostrated themselves on the ground blessing God who had done great things among his people There was moreover in the street so great a clamour or Pagans who had a desire to see the young man who had been restored to life that S. Swibert was compelled after he was cloathed to lead him forth by the hand with great devotion to the glory of God that he might be seen by all Whom assoon as they saw alive and walking they cryed out Of a truth the God of the Christians is a great God who by his servant has wrought such admirable things There was therefore an universall ioy among them all who saw these wonders and the name of our Lord Iesus Christ was glorified 15. At the same time Splinter who had been restored to life was baptized together with his parents kinred and others to the number of one hundred twenty six besides many children of both sexes 16 The day following when an infinite multitude of Pagans were assembled together Saint Swibert after he had premised a Prayer to the Holy Ghost that he would open their hearts to despise Idols and embrace the Faith in which Prayer his Disciples ioynd with him he preached to them at large declaring to them the Transgression of our First Parent Adam the Incarnation of the Son of God and how all those shall be eternally damned who contemning the true God worship Idols and boast in graven Images And the efficacy of his Preaching was such that a great part of the Citty was converted to the Faith of Christ. 17. Now that Citty though by Profession Pagan was subject to the Dominion of the Christian Princes the King of France and his Generall Duke Pipin and the Regions confining Brabant Flanders and Part of Holland had already embraced the Faith So that the Pagans of Duerstat freely conversing with Christians had frequently heard mention made of Christ. 18. S. Swibert remained many dayes in the same Citty with great vigilance and assurance preaching Christ to the Pagans and confirming the Neophytes Insomuch as not only the ordinary Sort of Pagans but likewise many Idoll-Preists seeing the wonderfull Miracle and heavenly Grace shining in the Holy Bishop cast off their Infidelity and Idolatrous Profession and with great devotion received Baptism of him Thus does Marcellin relate the Gests of his Master S. Swibert till the return of Saint Willebrord Of which Gests himself had been an eye-witnes X. CHAP. 1.2 c The Wonderfull story in S Beda of a man revived and recounting his Visions 1. IT will be pertinent and I conceive not unpleasing to the devout Catholick Reader that here should be adioyned another Story related at large by S. Beda in which we shall read how about the same time in Brittany another dead person for the instruction of the living was restored to life Which Story though by some Protestant Writer it be derided because the Churches Doctrin touching Purgatory is confirmed by it Yet since no arguments can be produced by them to disproove it besides their voluntary ungrounded asseveration that they will not beleive it I will not be sparing of the labour to sett it down as it is found in S. Beda's History 2. In these times saith he a Miracle very memorable which might be compared to the Wonders of old hapned in Brittany For to the end that negligent Christians then alive might be raised up from the death of their soules a certain man who had been a good while dead was restored to the life of his Body and related many Notable things which he had seen This man was an honest House-keeper who with his family lived a religious life in a Region of the Northumbers caâ—led Incuningum Who having been struck with a disease the same growing more and more violent upon him it brought him to extremity so that on a certain day towards evening he dyed But the day following early he came to life again and suddenly raising himself up in his bed all those who mourn fully watched the Body were terribly affâ—ighted and ran away Only his Wife whose love to him was excessive though she trembled at the sight stayd still by him 3. The man seing his Wiâ—e bid her be oâ— comfort Fear not said he for I am truly restored to life from death which had seised on mee and permission is give mee to live awhile longer among men But my conversation hereafter must he quite otherwise then formerly it has been Having said this he presently rose and went to an Oratory of that Village where he remained a good while in Prayer Afterward having divided his whole substance into three portions one portion he gave to his Wâ—fe a second to his children and the third he distributed to the poor 4. Not long after having thus freed himself from all worldly cares he went to the Monastery of Mailros which for the greatest part is encompassed with the River Tweed There having received Tonsure he entred into a secret mansion assigned him by the Abbot where he continued to the day of his death in such contrition and mortification both of mind and body that though his tongue were silent the manner of his life did sufficiently tell the
world that he had seen many things some extremely horrible and others wonderfully pleasant and ravishing which are concealed from the rest of mankind 5. Now the account which he gave of his Visions was on this manner A certain person brightly shining in his face and vestments conducted mee and wee walked together silent as it seemed to mee towards the place where the Sun rises in high Summer Thus walking together wee came to a place where there was on our left hand a valley of a vast depth and breadth and the length of it seemed infinite One side of this valley was terrible with its burning flames and the other no lesse intolerable for the bitternes of the cold blasts hayle and snow driving through it And both these places were full of mens soules which seemed to be â—orcibly tossed from one side to the other For those which were in the fire not being able to endure its scorching leaped into the horrible cold and not â—inding ease there they leaped back into the unquencheable flames Having observed an infinite number of deformed soules thus tormented with an interchangeable viâ—â—issitude of tortures without any respite of ease I began to think that this place surely was Hell of whose intolerable torments I had oft heard Preachers speak But my â—onductour who went before mee answered these my thoughts saying Doe not entertain such an imagination for this is not Hell as thou thinkest 6 But when he saw mee affrighted with so â—orrible a spectacle he conduâ—â—ed mee leasurely somewhat further where I saw all places round about mee become obscure and at length filled with utter darknes Into which when wee were entred the darknes was so thick that I could see nothing but the shape and vestment of my Conductour And as wee went on further in this shady darknes on a sudden there appeared before us frequent globes of hideous flames ascending out of a deep pitt and again falling down into it 7. When I was come thither presently my Guide vanished out of sight leaving mee done in the midst of this darknes and horrid spectacle But when the said globes of fire without any intermission mounted up and again fell down I perceived that they were full of human soules which like sparks of fire caried up by the smoke were sometimes cast upward and then drawn back by the vapours of fire Moreover an unexpressibly noysom stink belched out by those vapours filled all the dark spaces round about As I was thus standing still in a terrible fright being uncertain what to doe whither to goe and what would be the end of all this I heard behind my back a most horrible noyse as of persons wailing in unutterable misery and also at the same time I heard others loudly and scornfully laughing as the rude vulgar people are wont to doe when they insult over their captive enemies When this Noise came nearer to mee I perceived a troop of wicked Spirits haling into the midst of that darknes the soules of men which wofully cryed out whilst the others burst forth into laughters And among these soules I could distinctly see that one was shaved like an Ecclesiasticall person another was a lay-man and a third was a woman These unhappy soules thus haled along by those spitefully malicious Spirits at length were plunged into the midst of that burning pitt Into which after they were descended a good way I could no longer distinctly hear the wayling of men and laughing of Devills but only had in mine eares remaining a confused promiscuous sound 8. In the mean time certain obscure Spirits ascended out of that fire-vomiting pitt which approached mee on all sides and with flaming eyes and stinking fire issuing out of their mouths and nostrills vexed mee greivously Moreover with fierie pincers which they held in their hands they threatned to catch mee but for all that though they frighted mee they had not the boldnes to touch mee Being thus on all sides encompassed with darknes and enemies I turned mine eyes every way to see if there were any one to deliver mee At last there appeared by the way which I had passed some thing that shone like a stars which encreasing and approaching nearer and nearer assoon as it came to mee all those hatefull Spirits which had endeavoured with their fiery pincers to lay hold on mee were dispersed and fled 9. Now he whose coming drove away these Spirits was the same who at first had been my Conductour Who presently after turning his steps more southerly toward the East ledd mee out of that darknes into a clear and lightsome aire In which after we had walked awhile I saw before us a mighty wall of the length and height whereof every way I could see no end I began then to marwell to what purpose we should goe to that wall in which I could discover neither dore window nor any other passage But being come to it presently I know not by what means we found our selves on the top of it And there appeared to mee a most large pleasant feild so replenished with all sorts of odoriferous flowers that the sweet fragrancy of them immediatly took away all the former stench of the dark fiery furnace And so great was the light there on all sides that it far exceeded the brightnes of midday Moreover there were in that feild innumerable assemblies of men in pure white garments all reioycing and singing Now as he ledd mee among these happy Quires I began to think that this might be the Kingdom of Heaven which I had oft heard preached of But he again answered to any thought No this is not Heaven as thou supposest 10. And as wee passed on in our progresse I saw before mine eyes a far greater and more pleasant Light then wee had seen before and in that Light I heard a most sweet Melody of persons ioyfully singing and so wonderfull a fragrancy of a most sweet odour issued from thence that the former sweetnes which before seemed excessive to mee now I very meanly esteemed As likewise the former light compared with this appeared almost obscure Now when I was in a hopefull expectation that wee should enter into this Blessed place my Guide made a stopp and presently turning his steps he lead mee back again the way that wee had come 11. And when in our return wee were come to the ioyfull mansions of those inhabitants cloathed in white garments he said to mee Duest thou know what all these things are which thou hast seen I answered No. He replied That valley which thou sawest so terrible by the scorching flames and horrible frosts is the place in which those soules are to be tryed and afflicted which having delayed to confesse and amend their sins at the very point of death retire for safety to Repentance and so depart out of the body These because even in the last moment of their lives they confessed and were contrite for their sins they shall all at least