seems to have been Ordain'd Bishop by St. Patrick and to have fix'd his seat in a small Island which according to St. Bede is scituated at some distance from the Western Coasts of Ireland and is call'd the Isle of Whitecalfe where St. Coleman afterwards built a Monastery and is promiscuously Inhabited by English and Scots St. Dererca had many other Sons famous for their Sanctity but we shall now take notice only of two more Illustrious then the rest the first Sechnallus in Latin Secundinus who wrote the Alphabetical Hymn in Praise of St. Patrick The others name was Auxilius who was by St. Patrick ordain'd Bishop of Leimster Laginensium and after many Miracles wrought by him ended his Holy Life in Cealusalli his own City seated in the Plaines of Leimster In the year of Grace 519. a British Synod was assembled upon this occasion The detestable Heresie of the Pelagians extinguish'd by St. Germanus and St. Lupus began to Spring again to the hazard of the Catholick Faith. The Bishops and Abbots of Cambria met in Cardiganshire divers Noble-men and other Lay-persons were present out of the whole Country many Sermons and Exhortations were made in the publick Audience to confute the said Heresie Howbeit the People were generally so infected therewith that no reasons or perswasions could prevail with them to return into the Path of Right Faith At length therefore Paulin a Bishop with whom St. David in his youth had been Educated earnestly perswaded the Fathers to send for St. David in the Name of the Synod who was lately Consecrated Bishop by the Patriarch and was a Discreet and Eloquent man to afford his assistance to Gods Church now in great danger but could not prevail with him to forsake his Contemplations until at last two Holy men Daniel and Dubritius by their Authority brought him with them to the Synod And then all the Fathers there Assembled enjoyn'd St. David to Preach He commanded a Child which had lately been restor'd to Life by him to spread a Napkin under his feet and standing upon it he began to expound the Gospel and the Law to the Auditory All the while he continued his Oration a Snow-white Dove descending from Heaven sate upon his Shoulders and the Earth on which he stood rais'd it self under him 'till it became a Hill from whence his Voice like a Trumpet was clearly heard and understood by all both far and near On the top of which Hill a Church was afterwards built which remains to this day When the Sermon was finish'd so Powerfully did Divine Grace Cooperate that the Heresie soon vanish'd and was extinguish'd And the Holy Bishop St. David by the general Election and Acclamation both of Clergy and People was exalted to be the Arch-bishop of all Cambria By the Confusions of those times the Decrees of this and other Synods are unhappily lost by which we might have been inform'd of the State of the then British Church yet something of it may be collected out of the Author of St. David's Life who tells us That Heresie being thus expell'd all the Churches of Britain receiv'd their Order and Rule from the Authority of the Roman Church By which we may see the mistake of some Modern Writers who will needs affirm that the British Church before the Conversion of the Saxons in their Faith and Discipline were squar'd after the Model of the Eastern Church This Synod Spelman calls Panbritanicum and soon after it Monasteries were built in several places and this Holy Bishop St. David became the chief Protector of them and withall a Preacher of such esteem that all men receiv'd a Rule and Form of Holy living from him This expedient the Holy Spirit suggested to the Antient Fathers namely the Building of Monasteries thereby to promote and fortifie the Catholick Faith for out of them still proceeded some to instruct Believers in Faith and Holiness of Life But another Spirit suggested Dioclesian the Infidel Saxons and some Zealots of late days to destroy Monasteries as a sure means to destroy Faith and Holiness also It may not here be unprofitable to describe the form of a Monastick Life instituted by St. David who having built a Monastery near Menevia in a place call'd Rosma or the Rosey Valley gave this strict Rule of Monastical Profession That every Monk should labour daily with his Hands for the common good of the Monastery For Idleness corrupts the Thoughts and Minds of men The Monks there were not to take Gifts or Possessions from unjust persons and detested Riches they had no care to ease their Labours by use of Oxen or Cattle for every one to himself and his Brethren was instead of Riches and Oxen. They never convers'd together by talking but when necessity requir'd but each one perform'd the labour enjoyn'd him joyning thereto Prayer or Holy Meditations on Divine things And having finish'd their Country work they return'd to the Monastery where they spent the remainder of the day till Even in Reading or Writing At Even upon the sounding of a Bell they all left their work and repair'd to Church where they remain'd 'till the Stars appear'd and then went all together to their Refection eating sparingly and not to satiety their Food was Bread with Roots or Herbs season'd with Salt and they quench'd their Thirst mith a mixture of Water and Milk Supper being ended they continued three hours in Watching Prayers and Genu-flexions As long as they were in the Church it was not permitted to any to Slumber Sneeze or Spit After this they went to their Rest and at Cock-crowing they rose and continu'd at Prayers 'till day appear'd All their inward temptations and thoughts they discover'd to their Superior and from him they demanded permission in all things even when they were urg'd to the necessities of Nature Their Cloathing was of the Skins of Beasts Whosoever desir'd to joyn himself in their Holy Conversation he was oblig'd to remain 10 days at the door of the Monastery as a Reprobate unworthy to be admitted into their Society and there be expos'd to Opprobious scorns But if all that time he Patiently suffer'd all Mortifications he was receiv'd by the Religious Senior who had care of the Gate whom he serv'd and by whom he was instructed in which condition he remain'd a long time exercis'd in painful Labours and grievous Mortifications and so at last was admitted to the Fellowship of the Brethren Cambden makes mention of this Synod saying Llandevibrevi or the Church of St. David near the River Brevi was built in memory of St. David Bishop of Menevia in the place where He during the sitting of a full Synod confuted and repress'd the Pelagian Heresie reviving in Britain by the Holy Scriptures and Miracles For as the Fame is the Earth on which he Preach'd swell'd up under his feet till it became a Hill. This Synod it seems was celebrated not in House or Town but in the open Fields as afterwards St. Augustine the
he gather'd into a Flock the remainder of those who had been Converted by St. Joseph of Arimathaea and his Companions consirming them in the same Faith. This St. Marcellus was afterwards ordain'd Bishop of Tongres and Triers these two Cities being govern'd at that time by one Bishop In the Annals of which Church we read That Lucius King of Britain was made a Christian and Baptiz'd by this Marcellus a Teacher of the Inhabitants of Triers Yet there are more Authentick Testimonies demonstrating That he was Baptiz'd by Fugatius and Damianus sent by Pope Eleutherius This Holy Bishop Marcellus was the first Britain who suffer'd Martyrdom out of this Island as St. Alban was the first who suffer'd within it his Sufferings were in a great Persecution rais'd by Marcus Aurelius the Successor of Antoninus Together with Marcellus there came from Rome another Illustrious Saint of Noble Birth and Plentiful Fortunes which yet he relinquish'd that with the more freedom he might Preach Christ Crucify'd This Timotheus was the Son of Pudens a Roman Senator and of his Wife suppos'd to be the famous Claudia the British Lady forespoken of He was also Brother of Novatus as also of S. Pudentiana and Praxedes whose memories are Anniversarily celebrated by the Catholick Church His coming hither is a considerable proof that his Mother was a Britain It may be collected out of the Ecclesiastical Offices that Pudentiana a Virgin with her Sister Praxedes the Daughters of Pudens practising the Duties of Christian Religion with admirable Piety Sold her Patrimony and distributed to the Poor the Money thence arising giving her self wholly to Fasting and Prayer by her Zeal and endeavours her whole Family consisting of 96. persons was Converted to the Faith and Baptiz'd by Pope Pius And the publick Sacrifices being forbidden by Antoninus the Holy Pope Celebrated the Divine Mysteries with other Christians in the House of Pudentiana who afforded those Holy Persons all necessary Sustenance and being thus imploy'd in such Offices of Piety she dy'd the 14th of the Calends of June in the year of our Lord 161. and was bury'd in the Coemetery of Priscilla in the Salarian way Her Brother Novatus dy'd the year following concerning whose Death there is a Letter yet extant from Pastor a Holy Priest from Rome to Timotheus then imploy'd in his Apostolick Office in Britain signifying unto him That the venerable Virgin Praxedes was in great affliction for the death of her Sister Pudentiana Pope Pius and many Honourable Christians came to comfort her and amongst the rest her Brother Novatus who about two months after he departed from his Sister Praxedes fell sick and was forthwith visited by the Holy Pope and Praxedes as also by other godly persons to his great Comfort That Novatus in the presence of those persons declar'd his Will and bequeath'd all his Estate to Timotheus and Praxedes and shortly after departed in the Lord. And by this Letter Pastor desir'd To know of Timotheus how he would have the Estate of his Brother Novatus dispos'd to the end that what the said Timotheus directed might be observ'd therein To which Letter Timotheus is said to give this Pious Answer Persum'd with Christian Charity wherein after a Salutation savouring of the Holy simplicity of that Age and desire to be recommended to the Memory and Intercession of the Holy Apostles the Prelate of the Apostolick See and all Saints he signifies his desire That what ever share was given to him by his Brother Novatus should be at the dispose of his Holy Sister Praxedes and the Holy Priest Pastor to whom he return'd his Answer Which was after shown to Pope Pius who gave thanks to the Father Almighty and after at the request of Praxedes Dedicated a Church in the Baths of Novatus at Rome in the Bricklayers-street where the Holy Pope also constituted a Roman Title and consecrated a Font for Baptism Those Titles were for the most part signify'd by Crosses and were first in the nature of particular Parishes by Pope Evaristus assign'd to the cure of particular Priests The Bathes which are here nam'd from Novatus have elsewere their denomination from Timotheus and were scituated upon the mountain called Viminal And in Truth the Christians privately resorted to this place for the celebration of their Divine Mysteries before any Church was Solemnly Consecrated there as may be found in the Acts of Justin the Philosopher who calls it the Timothean Bath The same year that Novatus dy'd the Emperour Antoninus ended his Life after him succeeded Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus joyntly governing the Empire with equal Authority In the second year of these Emperours dy'd the Holy Virgin Praxedes the particulars of whose death are recorded by Pastor in this manner Two years and 18 days after this Church was Dedicated there was a great Persecution rais'd against Christians to enforce them to Worship Idols and many were Crown'd with Martyrdom Now the Holy Virgin Praxedes fervent in the Holy Ghost secretly conceal'd many good Christians in the said Title or Church whose bodies she strengthen'd with Food and their minds with Exhortations proceeding from Gods spirit Insomuch as notice was given to Aurelius that Christian Assemblies were made in her House he then sent his Officers thither who laid hold on Symitrius a Priest and 22 persons more all which the Cruel Emperour commanded to be put to Death in the same Title without any Examination their Bodies Praxedes took by night and bury'd in the Coemetery of Priscilla but soon after afflicted for the suffering of the Saints with many Groans she Pray'd that she might pass out of this Life her Prayers found access unto our Lord Jesus for in the 44th day after the Martyrdom of the fore-mention'd Saints she went unto the Lord and Pastor the Priest bury'd her Body in her Fathers Coemetery of Priscilla upon the Salarian-way This Persecution was begun at the Instigation of Heathen Philosophers especially of the beastly Cynicks particularly of Crescence that infamous Wretch mention'd with indignation by Justin Martyr Thus much is deliver'd concerning the Holy Children of Pudens the Roman Senator in the Acts of whom our Nation had an Interest partly in regard their Mother was a British Lady and that Timotheus was their Brother who exercis'd his Apostolick Office in this Island and no doubt had a great influence in disposing the mind of King Lucius towards the Christian Faith of Timotheus little more is written saving that after the Death of his Sister Praxedes he return'd to Rome where he became a Prey to those Sensual Philosophers and ended his Life by Martyrdom with his worthy Companion Marcus as appears by an Epistle of Pope Pius wherein amongst other things he declares S. Timotheus and Marcus to have ended their Lives by a Happy Conflict And he concludes his Letter to the Bishop unto whom it was directed thus Take care dear Brother that thou follow these Saints in imitating their zeal and freeing thy self from the Chains
oppress'd Britains to their great joy were freed from Slavery and shameful Indignities and restor'd to the Roman Government under a Prince of great Clemency and Allied to them by his Marriage with Helena from whom they expected a Prince of their own Blood young Constantine then in Egypt with Dioclesian where he gave Illustrious Marks of his Courage in Battels being a very young man and inclin'd to the Christian Faith insomuch as Dioclesian began to envy him fearing least he should prove a destroyer of the Pagan Errours and thereupon by subtilty design'd his Death but almighty God preserv'd him the Tyrant no doubt knew the young man had been nourish'd from his Infancy with Christian Milk and with evil Eyes beheld what Cruelties were inflicted on the Christians He was therefore watch'd and detain'd under strict Guards and probably in danger of further mischief About this time he took to Wise Minervina by whom he had his Eldest Son Crispus The clemency and countenance of Constantius encourag'd the Christians to repair and new build Churches to the Honour of the Martyrs and publickly to Celebrate the Divine Misteries and Solemn Festivals contrary to the Report of some Scottish Authors For as Eusebius affirms Of the four persons conjoyn'd in the Government of the Roman World Constantius only clave to the living God and was displeas'd with the practices of the other three For whereas they wasted the Churches of God and defil'd their Provinces with the Innocent Blood of Christians He on the contrary procur'd Tranquility to his Subjects and as an Indulgent Father allow'd them the free exercise of the Christian Religion Constantius after three years abode in Britain was oblig'd to pass over into Gaul to oppose a German Nation which infested that Country he was accompany'd with a great number of Britains and with their help obtain'd a signal Victory In the year 300. Stephanus the VII Bishop of London is said to have ended his Life by Martyrdom not that he was put to death for the Christian Religion but for that the former Persecution he had suffer'd during the rage of Dioclesian which made his Life miserable and might perhaps hasten his Death In the year 302. Constantius seems to have return'd into Britain upon the Death of Asclepiodorus whom he left his President here Still he establishes Peace in the Church here whilst in all other Provinces Rivers of Christian Blood were pour'd out with great inhumanity The Bounty Clemency and Piety of this Prince render'd him Admir'd and Belov'd throughout the whole Empire the moderation of his Government and Liberality the mutual Affection between him and his Subjects is declar'd by this illustrious Example The Emperour Dioclesian having been inform'd that Constantius by his negligence and profuse Liberality had wasted his publick Treasure by Messengers sent on purpose sharply reprov'd him for it Constantius promis'd the Messengers in a few days to give them his Answer and in the mean time gave notice throughout his Dominions especially to the most wealthy of his Subjects that he stood in great need of Money and that they could never have a fitter opportunity to testifie their Affection and Duty to him Hereupon without any delay and with great chearfulness each contended with other who should send most so that in short time his Treasure was fill'd with innumerable sums of Money This being done Constantius invites the Messengers to be Spectators of his Wealth desiring them to tell the Emperour what they had seen And when they were gone the bountiful Emperour return'd all that Mass of Treasure to the respective Owners with an Affectionate resentment of their Duty and good Will to him It is further related of him That finding his Court and Family distracted into Faction by various Sects and Religions he publish'd an Edict That whoever would continue in his Service should conform himself to the Worship of the Roman Gods for no other should stay in his Court however they might enjoy their Liberty and Possessions but they must avoid his presence This Ordinance much troubled the Christians especially those who ambitiously affected worldly Honour for they preferring Mammon before God relinquish'd their Profession to conform themselves to Caesars Religion But several others sincere and genuine Disciples of Christ shew'd themselves willing rather to forsake their Princes service than Gods which being observ'd by Constantius he chased from his Court all those faint-hearted Hypocritical Dissemblers saying They would never preserve their Fidelity to him who had so basely betray'd their Faith to God So that he prefer'd to Dignities and committed the care of his safety to them whom he found constant From hence it came that the Britains who were generally Christians became Guards both to Him and other Emperours whom they usually encompass'd with long Halberts The Faithfulness of Christians probably mov'd Constantius to forsake Idolatry and willingly to acknowledge the only true God Governour of all the World and firmly to establish his Authority by the Prayers and assistance of Holy men and so he pass'd the remainder of his Life with great Glory and Tranquility To this happy change no doubt but St. Helena his Wife much contributed so that his Court seem'd little to differ from the form of a Church in which the Ministers and Servants of God offer'd daily Prayers and Sacrifice for him In the year of Grace 304. the Emperours Dioclesian and Maximianus after 20 years Reign weary of their fruitless Cruelty depos'd themselves from the Empire Galerius succeeded in the Government of the Eastern and Constantius of the Western Empire especially in France and Britain not affecting to heap up Treasure for himself but to Enrich his Subjects In the year 305. his young Son Constantine accompany'd Galerius in his War against the Sarmatians where he undertook a single Combat by the Emperour's Consent with their chief Leader whom by Divine assistance he overcame and led Prisoner to the Emperour and so obtain'd Glory by that which perhaps was intended for his Destruction This year as is Credibly reported St. Augulus Bishop of London receiv'd the reward of his constant Confession having been long persecuted for the Cause of Christ to him succeeded Iltutus or rather perhaps Restitutus who assisted at the first Councel and subscrib'd his Name thereunto The next year Constantius after he had quieted the Picts or Northern Britains return'd to York and there being Old was assaulted by his last Sickness The absence of his Son Constantine who was detain'd in manner of a Pledge by Galerius much afflicted him though he had other Sons with him by Theodora which gave him little satisfaction considering their want of Spirit and Courage Constantine observ'd how much he was both fear'd and envy'd and in danger of mischief whilst he remain'd in the Emperours hands and endeavour'd to secure himself by flight to contrive which with the more security he gave command that all the publick Post-horses should be Kill'd and by that means arriv'd in
thither that he might attend on God without interruption into which place he gather'd to him about the number of 180. Disciples It is reported That the place being too strait for so many the Blessed man having recourse to God in whose Power and Goodness he plac'd his confidence when the Sea at low ebb had left the shoar for a great space with a Rod which he had in his Hands made impressions in several places of the Sands and commanded the waters in the Name of Christ not to pass those bounds upon which the Sea was observ'd to restrain its own violence and swelling insomuch as to this day it hath never presum'd to pass those prescrib'd limits Thus the Holy man is said to bid adieu to all his Friends to the Vanities of this World and to all obstacles to Perfection Mortifying all his Sensual Desires and yet not contented resolv'd to leave his Native Country and accompanied with his Brethren landed in a Province of Belgick Gaul inhabited by a People call'd the Morini to whom he Preach'd the Christian Faith instructing many in the Perfection of a Holy Life About those parts there then liv'd a Prince call'd Mevorus at or near a place call'd at this day Cormon This Prince profess'd Christianity and having notice of the arrival of St. Gudwall within his Consines kindly receiv'd him Mevorus and his Wife were much stricken in years and had no Children St. Gudwall in a Dream appear'd to the Matron and promis'd her she should have a Son which should be call'd Simeon Mevorus being inform'd by his Wife of this her Dream promis'd that this Son when born with all his Hereditary Possessions should be assign'd to the Church and Monastery which this Holy Bishop and Hermite with the Treasure of Mevorus was then building probably near Ipre where a Village call'd Ghelwelt seems to afford some Marks of St. Gudwall's Name The Son thus Promis'd soon after was born and call'd Simeon brought up in Learning by St. Gudwall made a Monk and his Possessions confer'd on the Monastery It is said this Holy Bishop after all his Labours rested in our Lord about the year of Christ 403. It is written that before his death an Angel of our Lord 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 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 Coelestial Messenger stay'd a good space filling his Soul with Spiritual Sweetness known only to God. After this another Angel appear'd to him and said I am Michael the Arch-Angel sent to thee from our Lord to acquaint thee That the hour of thy departure is at hand for after ten days thou shalt joyfully issue out of thy fleshly Prison and escape out of the Dungeon of this World and with unspeakable gladness thou shalt meet thy Heavenly King into whose presence we will bear thee he will receive thee with Glory and enroll thee among the Courtiers and Citizens of his Kingdom Some say the Mother and Sisters of this Holy man were present and assisting at his Death invited thither by the Fame of his Miracles and after his departure carried his Body back with them into Brittain But when the Pagan Saxons demolish'd Christian Sepulchres here it was transported again into Flanders The place of his Burial here is said to be the Isle of Plet or Plecit where it remain'd many years Illustrious by many Miracles until it was transported to the place aforesaid where not being entertain'd with due Honour it was by a Noble Marquess nam'd Arnulphus after by Gods appointment remov'd to the Monastery of â—landinium in Gaunt together with the precious Relicks of the famous Confessor Bertulphus when Clotharius reign'd in France his Body is yet carried in Procession yearly and each Procession renown'd by Miracles In the year of our Lord 342. great Commotions arose in Gaul by the coming in of the Franks which were soon suppress'd but Britain following the motions of Gaul and being in disorder Constans was enforc'd to pass over thither in the Winter Season and by his unlook'd for presence there soon frighted the Rebellious Islanders into Obedience Four years after this an unhappy Schism was like to break forth between the Eastern and Western Churches for the Eastern Bishops of the Faction of Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia chief Pillar of the Arrians had condemn'd St. Athanasius in two Synods at Tyre and Antioch On the contrary Julius Bishop of Rome in a Synod of Italian Bishops receiv'd him into his Communion notwithstanding the intercession of the Orientals who sent their Decree of Condemnation to Rome To prevent this Schism Constans being Orthodox sollicited his Brother Constantius to joyn with him in caling a General Councel thereby to preserve entirely the Heritage of their Fathers Piety by which he had subdu'd many barbarous Nations destroy'd Tyrants and establish'd the Empire Hereupon a Synod was Assembled at Sardica in Illyrium to which came out of the Western Empire about 300. Bishops and out of the East 76. only Some of the Western Bishops came out of Britain Restitutus Bishop of London was certainly one who before at the Councel of Nice consented to the Faith of the Consubstantiality of the Son of God. It will not be therefore impertinent to say something of this great Councel that the Conformity of the British Churches in those days to the Faith and Discipline of the Catholick Church may the better appear This Synod first establish'd the Faith of the Nicene Councel next declar'd the Innocence of Athanasius and other Orthodox Bishops persecuted by the Arrian Faction and the Condemnation of their Adversaries and other Eastern Bishops who deserted the Synod and made a Schismatical Assembly at Philopolis and in it publish'd contradictory Decrees This Synod as to matters of Discipline Decreed this especially That Appeals be made in Case of Contention to St. Peter 's Chair ultimately to be determin'd by the Pope or such as he should appoint in that behalf Now it is certain that the Donatists not long after in Envy to the See of Rome endeavour'd to suppress the Acts of this famous Synod as much as they could as St. Augustine testifies The Decrees of this Synod were after confirm'd by the Councel in Trullo Another Decree was made To restrain the Appeals of Deacons sent by their Bishops to the Emperour's Court appointing them to present their Petitions to the Bishop of the Roman Church to be by him examin'd whether just or not This Synod being dissolv'd the Emperour Constans us'd his utmost diligence and Authority for the Execution of these Decrees his chiefest care was about the Restitution of St. Athanasius whose return the Factious Bishops of the East oppos'd Constans wrote to his Brother for his Restitution mingling Threats if he were not comply'd with
fury of a whole Legion of Devils envying their design for the Salvation of Souls is said to have assail'd them dangers appear on every side Storms are rais'd Darkness covers the Heavens and that Darkness becomes more terrible by the fearful swelling of the Sea and rage of the Air no longer are the Sails able to sustain the fury of the Winds nor the Boat able to resist the Mountains of Waters dashing against it so that the Ship was carried forward rather by their Prayers than the skill or force of the Mariners The prime Pilot St. Germanus was then securely compos'd in sleep and the Ship ready to sink so that St. Lupus and the Company were fain to awake the Old man who was only able to withstand the fury of the enrag'd Elements He not at all astonish'd at the danger Addresses his Prayers to our Lord and his Threats to the unruly Ocean To the raging storm he opposes the cause of Religion which invited them to that Voyage and presently with a little quantity of Oyl which he Blessed in the Name of the Holy Trinity and then sprinkled upon the Waves he overcame their fury His Collegue he admonish'd the rest he encourag'd so that with one breath and clamour Prayers were pour'd forth to our Lord and immediately the Divine Virtue shew'd it self present the Infernal Enemies were dissipated a calm tranquillity ensu'd the Windes and Waves became serviceable to the Voyage and all things concurr'd to their safe Arrival in a quiet and secure Haven Several examples of the like effects wrought by common Oyl Blessed in this manner may be found in several Authors These two Holy men being Landed great multitudes from several quarters met to receive them having as is said been inform'd of their coming by the Predictions of Wicked Spirits who were afrighted thereat and declar'd openly their tampering by Tempests and otherwise to hinder the Passage of these Holy Men and that by their Power and Sanctity they had at last been vanquish'd and disappointed These Venerable Bishops soon fill'd the whole Island with their Fame Preaching and Miracles they were so over-press'd with multitudes resorting to them that they Preach'd Gods Word not only in Churches but in Lanes and High-ways whereby Catholicks were confirm'd in the Faith and those who had been deprav'd reduc'd to the Church The Authority of their Holyness the Eminence of their Learning the wonder of their Miracles gave them the esteem and Honour of Apostles and reduc'd the whole Island to the acknowledgement of their Doctrine The promoters of the contrary perswasion crept into dark Holes vex'd as the wicked Spirits were to see the People freed from their Snares Yet at last after long study and meditation they presum'd to enter into a Dispute with these Apostolick men The Pelagians are said to come Pompously attended by their flattering Disciples and rather chose to run the hazard of a conflict than by their Silence confess they had an ill Cause Infinite numbers were assembled with their Wives and Children to hear this Dispute The Disputants stood on each side of much different condition on the one side was placed Divine Authority on the other Humane presumption here Orthodox Faith there Perfidious Errour here Christ was Author there Pelagius The Holy Bishops gave free scope of disputing to the Pelagians who vainly spent the time and tyr'd the Auditory with empty Verbal Discourses But after them the Venerable Bishops poured forth the torrent of their Eloquence accompanied with Evangelical thunder with their own Discourses Texts of Divine Scripture the word of God giving witness to their Assertions And thus vanity became convinc'd and Perfidiousness confuted so as the Hereticks by their inability to reply acknowledg'd their guilt and the People standing by as Judges could scarce contain their Hands from violence towards them and with Clamours resounded the Victory Immediately a Tribune of the Army with his Wife leading in their hands their young Daughter about ten years Old being Blind came into the midst of the Assembly and presented their blind Child to the Bishops desiring their help for her Cure They had formerly offer'd her in vain to the adverse Party who likewise stricken with a guilty Conscience joyn with the Parents in their entreaties to the Holy Prelates in behalf of the Child They perceiving the expectation of the People and the Conviction of their Adversaries address themselves to God by short Prayer Then St. Germanus full of the Holy Ghost invok'd the Blessed Trinity and taking from his Neck a little Box full of Holy Relicks in the sight of the whole Multitude he apply'd it to the Eyes of the young Maid which immediately loosing their former Darkness were fill'd with a new Light from Heaven At this so apparent Miracle the Parents rejoyce and the People tremble After this day all mens minds were so clearly purg'd from this impious Heresie that with thirsting desire they receiv'd the Doctrine of these Holy Bishops Perverse Heresie thus repell'd and the Authors of it confuted the Holy Bishops repair'd to the Sepulchre of St. Albanus intending to give Thanks to God by his intercession and having with them Relicks of all the Apostles and divers Martyrs after Prayer made commanded the Sepulchre to be open'd and there with great Reverence laid up those precious Gifts thinking it convenient that the same Repository should contain the Members of many Saints out of divers Regions whom Heaven had receiv'd and Crown'd for the equality of their Merits St. German then caus'd to be dig'd up from the place where the Blessed Martyr St. Alban had shed his Blood a Masse of dry'd Earth which he intended to take with him in which were then extant Marks of the Martyrs death and the Paleness of his Persecutors These things being thus perform'd an innumerable multitude is said to be that day Converted to our Lord The little Box of Sacred Relicks it is reported after St. Germans death came to the Hands of the Empress Galla Placidia as Heir only of his Benediction The malicious Enemy of mankind busie to entrap the Holy Bishop St. German in some mischief found out the means by a casual Fall to put his Foot out of Joynt Now while by reason of this Infirmity he was constrain'd to abide in a certain Lodging a Fire happen'd to break out in some Houses not far from it which being cover'd with Thatch were quickly devour'd and the Fire driven forward by Wind soon approach'd to his Lodging whereupon a great concourse of People came to the Venerable Bishop in a great fright intending to take him in their Arms and carry him out of danger but he reprehended them and refus'd to remove having a firm Faith that no evil should happen to him The multitude then despairing of his Safety endeavour to stop the Progress of the flames Howbeit Almighty God to exalt his own Power and his Servants Faith so order'd that whatever the People endeavour'd to preserve was consum'd only
which God Graciously call'd him out of this Mortal Life So as being perfect in Grace and Piety and mature in Age he Happily mounted to Heaven his Body was buried in the Church Dedicated to St. Martin built by himself from the Foundation The Centuriatours add this to his Story That he was a Venedocian Teacher of Christian Verities of a desert more than ordinary To his Old Age he largely communicated the Talent wherewith God had entrusted him among the Britains Scots and Southern Picts He was a man Assiduous in Reading the Holy Scripture Merciful to Orphans Widdows and the Poor Illustrious in Miracles and Sanctity By his Pious Industry the Nation of the Picts first of all relinquishing their Idolatry embrac'd the true Faith of Christ He was the first Bishop of Candida Casa and dy'd among the Picts in the Province of Galloway I may further observe that he was very Devout in giving Respect and Veneration to Gods Saints in whose Honour he built Churches and in particular to the Honour of S. Martin who dy'd about 30 years before him The example of St. Ninian was imitated by the British Church near the same Age for when St. Augustine the Monk came into Britain to Convert the Saxons He found saith St. Bede in the City of Canterbury a Church Dedicated to the Honour of St. Martin which had been built in the times of the Romans St. Ninian before he dy'd divided the Provinces of the Picts into Parishes he Ordain'd Priests there and Consecrated Bishops by the Authority of the Roman Bishop from whom he receiv'd his Mission He being famous for Miracles it may not be amiss to reckon up one In the Region of the Picts there was a Prince named Tudwal a man of a proud and high Spirit he contemning the Admonitions of this man of God and derogating from his Doctrine and Life resisted him openly Being one day more then ordinarily troublesome and rude God the supreme Judge would not any longer suffer the injuries offer'd to his Holy Servant to pass unreveng'd but struck this proud man with an intollerable pain in his Head by the violence whereof those lofty Eyes of his became utterly Blind so that he who had before impugn'd the Light of Divine Truth deservedly lost this Worlds Light. But upon better consideration he sent a Message to the Holy Bishop humbly beseeching him in imitation of our Lords Benignity to return to him good for evil and love for hatred The Venerable Bishop hereupon first sharply reprov'd the Prince and then touching him imprinted on his Eyes the Sign of the Cross when immediately his pains ceas'd and his Blindness was dissipated Afterwards this Prince highly Honour'd the Holy Bishop and readily granted whatsoever he ask'd of him Our Country-man Alcuinus in an Epistle not Printed but now extant in Bishop Vshers Antiquities Testifies the great Fame which this Holy Bishop had for Sanctity and Miracles This Epistle is directed to the Religious Priest then living at Candida Casa While Alcuinus liv'd this following Miracle happ'ned to a Devout Priest Celebrating Mass at this Saints Monument nam'd Plegils he frequently Solemniz'd Mass at the Body of St. Ninian and living a Holy and Virtuous Life began frequently to beseech our Lord That he would please to shew visibly to him the Nature and Verity of the Body and Blood of Christ in the most Blessed Sacrament This Prayer he made not for want of Faith in the Truth of the Mystery but out of an Affection of Devotion and Piety For the Author saith That to his great Consolation our Lord appear'd to him in the Sacrament in the form of a young Child Three years after the death of St. Ninianus St. Germanus was once more invited into Britain to perfect the good Work which he had formerly began in rooting out of the Pelagian Heresie there spreading it self again the Relation whereof we must borrow from the Learn'd Priest Constantius a Writer of those times and of most perfect Integrity and Sincerity By a Message from Britain address'd to St. German he was advertis'd that that Pestilent Heresie began to enlarge it self there and intreated him once more to come over and maintain the Cause of Divine Grace The Holy Bishop readily comply'd with this Petition being delighted to spend his strength in the Service of Christ There was joyn'd to him for his Companion Severus Bishop of Triers a person of Consummate Sanctity In the mean time three Infernal Spirits flying through the whole Island foretold the return of St. Germanus being forc'd so to do against their Will Insomuch as one Elaphius a Principal person of the Country without any other notice hast'ned to meet the Holy Bishops His Son went with him upon whom from the flower of his Youth a lamentable Infirmity had seiz'd for all his Members were wither'd and the Hamm of his Leg was so drawn together that by reason of the dryness of his Thigh he could not set his Foot upon the ground Elaphius was attended by almost the whole Province As soon as they were met together an Episcopal Benediction was conferr'd on the People and the Words of Truth Preach'd to them St. Germanus perceiv'd that the generality of the People persever'd constant in the Doctrine which he left among them and that the fault lay upon a few buisie persons who were presently condemn'd As for Elaphius he humbly kneeling kiss'd the Bishops Hands presenting to him his Lame Son so miserable a Spectacle that he mov'd compassion in all especially in the Holy Bishops mind St. German therefore presently commanded the young man to sit down then handled his contracted Ham and with his right Hand stroak'd all the infirm Members immediately perfect Health and Strength attended that wholesome Touch the wither'd Members recover'd their natural Moisture and his Sinews their Office and Agility Thus in the sight of all the young man was restor'd to his Father as if he had been new made the People are astonish'd at this Miracle and the Catholick Faith is perfectly confirm'd in their minds The Holy Bishop spent his time in Preaching up and down and the Hearers were every where Converted or Confirm'd So that by a Universal Consent the Authors of the Perverse Doctrine were brought before the Holy Bishops and then banish'd out of the Island and the Orthodox Faith remain'd uncorrupted and all things being thus well compos'd the Holy Bishops return'd with a Prosperous Voyage Howbeit during his stay here St. German is recorded to have call'd a Synod and taking notice that many Churches wanted Pastors by which means the People became wavering in their Faith by common advice he selected Learn'd and Pious men whom he ordain'd Bishops and placed in several Churches In particular over all the Britains toward the Southern parts he promoted the Blessed man Dubricius an Eminent Doctor to be Arch-bishop who was made choice of by King Mouricus and the whole Diocess They constituted his Arch-Episcopal See at Landaff with the
numbers of Devout men to embrace a Caenobitical Life Of this Bishop Nennion we read in the Life of St. Finanus That he having been in his Childhood instructed by St. Coleman was afterward recommended to the care of Nennion when he came into Ireland and return'd with Nennion into Scotland and there Learn'd of him the Rules of a Monastical Life at his See call'd the great Monastery Finanus there also studied the Holy Scriptures and by invoking the Name of Christ is said to have wrought many Miracles And having been thus instructed by Nennion he took a Journey to the See Apostolick there to supply his defects in saving knowledge seven years he continu'd at Rome daily advancing in Sacred Science and then ascended to the degree of Priesthood This Nennion in probability was one of those who interceded with King Arthur and about the same time that St. Finanus liv'd under his Discipline I shall pass by the Death of Guenevera King Arthur's Wife and his second Marriage with great Solemnities at the sametime with the Prodigious Victories ascrib'd to him by some of our Writers in Forreign parts and proceed to other transactions more probable occurring in his time In the year 527. two new Kingdoms were Erected in Britain without any disturbance from King Arthur in the Eastern Provinces of Norfolk Suffolk and Cambridgeshire the Kingdom of the East-Angles was Establish'd and in Midlesex and Essex the Kingdom of the East-Saxons Which of these Kingdoms were first Erected is uncertain but both without doubt much about the same time The first King of the East-Saxons is believ'd to be Erkenwin the Son of Offa and the Kingdom of the East-Angles is thought to begin under Vffa from whom the succeeding Kings were Antiently call'd Vffings The year following the Isle of Wight by the Britains call'd Guith which signifies a divorce or renting asunder and by the Saxons Witland was Conquer'd by King Cerdic and given to his Nephews Stuffa and Whitgar But while Cerdic busied himself about the Invasion of the Isle of Wight St. David Bishop of Menevia Assembled a Provincial Synod call'd the Synod of Victory wherein all the Clergy of Wales or Cambria met together and confirm'd the former Decrees of the Synod of Brevy and added new ones for the Churches benefit from which two Synods all the Churches of Cambria receiv'd their Ecclesiastical Orders which also were confirm'd by the Authority of the Roman Church These Decrees were committed to Writing with his own hand and reserv'd in his own Church the Copies thereof being communicated to other Churches in that Province all which with many other Treasures of that Noble Library furnish'd by him have been lost partly by Age and Negligence but principally by the Incursions of Pirats who from the Isles of Orkney every Summer us'd to waste the Sea-Coasts of Cambria This loss indeed is to be deplor'd since by those Records we might have perfectly understood the state of the British Churches However we are assur'd that those Churches were regulated according to the Roman and practic'd the same both in Doctrine and Discipline and consequently that St. Augustine sent after to Convert the Saxons brought no Novelties with him since St. Gregory who sent him was exalted to St. Peter's Chair not above 60 years after this Synod It is written in the Life of St. Kined That when St. David had publish'd his Edicts for assembling this Vniversal Councel of Cambria he humbly invited St. Kined to it who excus'd his not coming in regard that for his sins he was become distorted and crooked in his Body and was besides unable to undertake such a Journey Whereupon it is said that St. Kined by the Prayers of St. David was restor'd to Heath and straightness and by his own Prayers reduc'd again to his Infirmity and Crookedness Whether this were so or no certain it is that this St. Kined fill'd Britain with the fame of his Sanctity He liv'd a Solitary Anachoretical Life in the Province now call'd Glamorganshire probably in the same place where yet remains a Chappel call'd St. Keneth's Chappel left as a Monument of his Sanctity as Cambden witnesses The Celebrating this Synod is the last publick Action we find recorded of St. David He would not accept of Metropolitical Jurisdiction but upon condition that he might transfer the See from Caerleon to Menevia a place of Remoteness and Solitude and in the Neighbourhood of many Saints and Religious Persons in the Islands and Territory adjoyning and therefore most acceptable to him Which Translation was approv'd by King Arthur and the Synod not then dissolv'd This Menevia is seated in the Province of the Dimetae now Pembrokeshire adjoyning to the most remote Province of Britain where the Soyl is Stony and Barren neither Cloathed with Wood nor interlac'd with Rivers nor adorn'd with Meadows but expos'd to the Sun and Windes yet with this Penury the Antient Saints and Bishops were best contented accounting the remoteness from Worldly Tumults and noise to recompense sufficiently all such Incommodities This Menevia or as the Britains call'd it Menew was in memory of this Holy Bishop nam'd by the Converted Saxons David Minster and by the Britains Twy Davy that is David's House and at this day St. Davids The Bishop whereof was for many Ages the Metropolitan of Cambria but at length became subject to Canterbury Notwithstanding the Inhabitants of Wales since the Norman Conquest commenc'd a Suit against the Arch-bishop of Canterbury for their former Right and Independance but the Cause was judg'd against them The Pastoral care and Zeal of St. David in maintaining the Catholick Faith against Heresies especially against Pelagianism and Ecclesiastical Discipline against Vices and Disorders was signally approv'd and manifested in the Synod of Victory Assembled by him ten years after his Consecration Neither was this his Pastoral care confin'd to his own Province but extended it self abroad also even to Ireland from whence he was often visited and consulted by Devout men In those days it was a frequent custom amongst the Irish-men to go in Pilgrimage and their Devotion was to visit the Monuments of the Apostles in Rome Amongst the rest one Barro an Abbot in the Province of Cork went thither and in his return pass'd by Menevia where he staid for the accommodation of a Ship and Wind. And indeed it was the practice of Devout Irish-men either in their going or returning to seek the Conversation of the Holy Bishop David whose Name like a precious fragrant Oyntment was spread all abroad It appears by Bishop Vsher's Catalogue that Irish Saints were to be sorted into several Orders according to the times wherein they liv'd The first Order Was of such as liv'd either Contemporaries with St. Patrick or presently after him The second Order Contain'd such Saints as liv'd about this Age such as were St. Finanus call'd by the Irish Fin and by the Britains Gain or Win St. Brendon c. It is said the Saints of
Writings of Theodoret against St. Cyril since St. Cyril himself and the Councel of Chalcedon had requir'd no other satisfaction from him but only to pronounce Anathema against Nestorius which he did And as for the Epistle of Ibas no discussion should be made of it after the Council of Chalcedon This Constitutum the Emperor contrary to his Promise reserv'd to himself but withall acquainted the Synod with Vigilius his mind concerning the Tria Capitula which he had often-times both by words and writing express'd the Synod proceeded to a condemnation of them complaining withal That the Pope would not afford his presence to them After this definition of the Bishops in the Council the Pope being in extream Anguish because he saw how the Western Bishops would be offended and that the Scandal would be the greater because the Emperor had not sent his Constitutum to the Council utterly refus'd his Consent or Approbation of their Definition for which refusal he was by the Emperour sent into Banishment with other Bishops His Banishment continu'd not long for six months after the Synods Definition Vigilius sent a Decretal Epistle to Entychius Successor to Menas in which he condemn'd the Tria Capitula and profess'd Communion with all those who embracing the four Councils of the Church had condemn'd the same meaning thereby the last Council which he would not Name This Decree of Vigilius was by the Graecians referr'd among the Acts of the Council by virtue whereof it became a Lawful Oecumenical Council This end being given to this unnecessary Controversy all the Western Churches excepting only the Bishops of Istria Venice and Liguria consented to it But these Churches being under the Dominion of the Longobardi broke into an open Schism which continu'd till the time of St. Gregory the Great Besides them we find no other Church unsatisfy'd except Ireland only To the Bishop whereof St. Gregory a year before St. Kentigern's Journey to Rome wrote an Epistle in Answer to one of theirs who had charg'd the Roman See with injuring the Councel of Chalcedon by condemning the Tria Capitula But St. Gregory inform'd them That this Controversy did not at all touch the Faith of the Church but the Persons only of two or three Bishops That the Authority of the Council of Chalcedon was entire both with those who oppugned and those who defended the Tria Capitula and therefore none could have just cause to make a rent in the Church upon so trifling a quarrel This answer of the Pope's seems to give satisfaction to the Irish for several Epistles afterwards past from him to them as unanimous Brethren instructing them touching the Rites in Baptism and whether it were to be administred to those who return'd from the Nestorian Heresie c. This Controversy was hotly agitated when St. Kentigern went to Rome and perhaps it might be a considerable motive of his Journey especially in regard an Irish Bishop call'd Albanus went thither at the same time And although the British Churches are no where taxed for partaking with those who were divided from the Roman See yet it might well become the Zeal of so Holy a Bishop as St. Kentigern to inform himself truly of the state of such a Controversy as hath been therefore the more at large set down The man of God St. Kentigern after his return from Rome being worn away with Age for he was 85 years old had his Nerves so dissolv'd that he was forc'd to sustain his Jaws by tying a linnen Ribbon about his Head which came under his Chin that with the less trouble he might pronounce his Words This dissolution of his Nerves was promis'd him a little before his Death to the end that since his whole Life had been a continual Martyrdom by the good pleasure of our Lord his Death might be milder and easier then that of other men ordinarily At length calling together his Disciples he earnestly exhorted them To continue their observance of the Duties of their Holy Religion their mutual Charity Peace Hospitality their diligence in Reading and Prayer He bequeath'd to them earnest and efficacious Precepts firmly to obey the Decrees of the Holy Fathers and constitutions of the Holy Roman Church After which exhortation he departed to our Lord. The Fame of his Sanctity soon after his Death was every where spread by a World of Miracles as many Authors relate Constantine before-mention'd being dead or remov'd Aurelius Conanus his Nephew a Young man of extraordinary worth and well deserving the Crown as some report succeeded him His only fault was that he was given to Civil Contentions He cast into Prison his Uncle to whom the Crown of Right belong'd and Murder'd two of his Sons who stood in his way to the Kingdom which Ambition and Cruelty perhaps occasion'd some of our Historians to charge him with the Murder of Constantine his Predecessor Gildas also accuses him of many horrid Crimes for which he denounces to him a short reign and endless miseries Matthew of Westminster allows him 30 years rule but true Chronology not above four in the third whereof while the British Provinces consum'd themselves in Civil Contentions a new and Powerful Kingdom of the Saxons was establish'd in the Northern parts call'd the Kingdom of Northumbers in this manner Hengist in the beginning of his reign in Kent sent his Brother Otha into those Northern parts with his Son Ebusa men of great Courage Experience and Nobility as deriving their Descent from Woden who had three Sons Weldege Withlege and Beldege from the Eldest descended the Kings of Kent from the Second the Kings of the Mercians and from the Third the Kings of the West-Saxons and Northumbers whose first King Ida reckon'd himself the Tenth from Woden Now Otha and Ebussa the first Saxons which brought an Army into those Northern parts fought many Battles with the Inhabitants and having Conquer'd those which resisted them took the rest into their Protection notwithstanding they and their Successors for many years contented themselves with the Titles of Governours or Dukes acknowledging a Submission unto and Dependance upon the Kings of Kent but in the 99th year after their first arrival they assum'd the Title and Dignity of Kings the first of which was call'd Ida others affirm that the Region of Northumbers was divided into two parts That which was more Northern extending it self from the Bay of Edinburgh to the Picts Wall inhabited by the Bernicians the other reaching from the Picts Wall to the River Humber was held by the Deiri so that the whole Kingdom of the Northumbers Antiently contain'd the Provinces of the Picts Laudon Northumberland Cumberland Westmorland Durham York and Lancaster This may appear by the Lives of several Saints said to have liv'd in the Kingdom of the Northumbrians This Division is said to have been made by Ida who leaving his Son to govern the Deiri fix'd his own habitation among the Bernicians Aurelius Conanus dying in the fourth year of his
little more of moment is mention'd concerning the British Affairs save that in his time Vlpius Marcellus drove back the Caledonian Britains who had made Irruptions into the Roman Territories in Britain The Conversion of Britain was so famous in the Church of God that Origen takes notice of it and the Faith of Christ spread it self even unto the Northern parts of this Island within two years after the Death of Lucius insomuch as Tertullian who liv'd about these times cryes out That those Provinces of Britain into which the Roman Armies were not able to pierce yet willingly submitted to the Faith of our Blessed Saviour Donaldus then King of those Northern quarters rejected the Worship of Divels embrac'd the Faith of Christ and obtain'd of Pope Victor the 15th after St. Peter several Learn'd and Illustrious men to be sent into those Northern parts to Baptize himself his Wife and Family with many of his Nobility Fulgentius a Kinsman of Lucius was certainly the first who instill'd the love of Christian Verities into the mind of Donaldus and advis'd him to send to Victor for more perfect Instructions By the conduct and Courage of this Fulgentius Donaldus obtain'd a great Victory over the Romans Severus himself was sain to engage his own Presence and Authority to repair this loss by a formidable Army this great exploit of the Emperour obtain'd him and his Sons the Title of Britanicus Fulgentius not long after ended his Life at York then the Imperial City Severus after this Victory built a new Wall with frequent Towers and a vast deep Trench and then retir'd with his Army to York but by the way was met and daunted with an Ethiopian Souldier Cole-black and Crown'd with Cypress who told him He had been all and overcame all and bid him now be a God This was an ill Omen which with others of like sort are said to presage his Death and indeed it follow'd soon after in that City where he was with exquisite Ceremonies made a God but his Ashes with Costly Odours were gather'd into a precious Box and with great veneration carry'd to Rome It is observ'd that these Caledonian Britains us'd no Garments but mark'd their Bodies with Pictures and Figures of Beasts as their chief bravery and from thence no doubt came to be call'd Picts or a Painted People In the fourth year of Antoninus Bassianus dy'd Donaldus who Coin'd Silver and Gold marking it on the one side with the Figure of the Saving-Cross on the other side with his own Face thereby to propagate the memory of the Christian Faith first embrac'd by him among all the Kings of that Nation he was bury'd in a field with Christian Ceremonies and Solemnities the same field having been Consecrated with accustom'd Prayers for the Burial of Christians By this the present Inhabitants of Scotland may discern the difference between the Christianity of this their first Christen'd King and that which they have lately chosen instead of it He would not rest after Death but in a place Consecrated by the Devotions of Holy Priests who celebrated his Obsequies according to the Primitive Christian Usage by making Oblations for him and offering the most Holy Sacrifice for the Refreshment of his Soul as St. Cyprian who liv'd not long after describes the manner or Antient Christian Burial and justly chargeth Bishop Martialis With Burying the Children of this Donaldus in the prophane Sepulchres of the Heathen Among other Ceremonies of Christian Burials this was one That a Cross was erected upon their Monuments Young Amphibalus born at Caerleon upon Vsk was from his tender years bred up in good Literature and about this time instructed in the Christian Religion afterwards he travell'd to Rome where he spent his time principally in Reading and Understanding Holy Scriptures and the Doctrine of Christian Religion till the beginning of the Cruel Persecution rais'd by Dioclesian This young man was ordain'd a Priest at Rome and sent back by the Pope into Britain and there became as some say Bishop of the Isle of Man. In the year of Grace 221. Pope Zephyrin dy'd and was succeeded by Calistus in whose time one Cadorus is said to be Bishop of London The Emperour Alexander Severus a Virtuous Prince no Enemy to Christianity which some conceive to have been profess'd by his Mother Mammaea was in the 14th year of his reign slain by the Treason of Julius Maximinus who succeeded in his place When Maximinus began his reign Christian Religion flourish'd not only in the Southern parts of Britain but among the Caledonians also where reign'd Chrathilintus a Christian Prince Successor of Donaldus he was instructed by Amphibalus returning about this time from Rome as some say At this time St. Pontianus Bishop of Rome govern'd the Church of God. Now the Tyrant Maximinus raising the sixth Persecution sharpen'd it especially against Bishops and Teachers of the Christian Faith by his command St. Pontianus suffer'd Martyrdom being beaten to death with Clubs To him succeeded St. Antherus a Graecian born who the year following was likewise put to Death by the same Tyrant Maximinus who was slain in his fourth year and the Holy Pope Fabianus sate in the Chair of St. Peter and about this time while Gordianus the younger reign'd the Christian Church enjoy'd great Tranquility in which calm the Bishops propagated the Faith many Churches and Altars were erected and no doubt in this Island also Obinus Bishop of London and Conanus his Successor were careful to imitate the Zeal of other Bishops Nonnius Philippus being Governour of Britain about this time Gordianus being in his 6th year was slain by the Treason of Julius Philippus who succeeded him Julius himself was also slain by his own Guards Howbeit before his death by the Grace of God he wash'd away his Sins by Baptisin and Pennance he was perswaded to embrace Christianity by St. Pontianus a man of high Dignity yet because Philip was known to be guilty of many Crimes he was not presently permitted to enter the Church until he had modestly condeseended to place himself among the Penitent and confess'd his sins with Reverent fear and Pious affection Now though after the death of Lucius no Britain generally was allow'd the Name of King yet several Princes of the British Blood exercis'd a Kingly jurisdiction amongst the rest Coelus had that Title over the Trinobantes Iceni and others and was the Father of Helena the Mother of Constantine the Great She is said to be born in Colchester the prime City of that Province which in memory of the Holy Cross found by her bears in its Arms A Cross between four Crowns Decius after the death of the two Philips extended his rage to the Religion by them Profess'd in whose time many Glorious Martyrs amongst the rest St. Fabianus Bishop of Rome who seal'd the firmness of their Religion with their Blood although some redeem'd themselves from Sacrificing to Idols obtain'd Libels falsely declaring they had Sacrific'd and
Britain with so Prosperous a Voyage as if he had been brought thither not by Post-horses but mounted and flying in a Heavenly Chariot Upon his approach to his Father he was receiv'd by him with great joy and devout Thanksgiving to God. The dying Emperour was now willing to embrace death and bequeath'd the Inheritance of the Empire to his belov'd and first born Son Constantine and so with comfort departed this Life He was bury'd in the City of York with Prince-like Solemnity and by the Heathenish Romans Deify'd with the Title of Divine Cambden reports That when the Houses of Monks there were in our Fathers memory demolish'd a Lamp was found burning in a little Vaulted Chappel in which by Tradition Constantius is thought to have been bury'd The Antients had doubtlesly an Art to maintain a flame for many Ages by Gold dissolved into a kind of Oyl Then certainly Matthew of Westminster must be mistaken who writes that the Body of Constantius was found in another place and from thence by the then Kings command translated to Caernarvon which must be understood of some other Constantius Now notwithstanding Constantius had Sons by Theodora yet passing them all by he left the Empire to his Eldest Son Constantine only and his disposal therein was Ratified by the Suffrages and Acclamations of the Army Howbeit such was the moderation and prudent caution of Constantine that he contented himself with the Title of Caesar refusing that of Augustus or Emperour Insomuch as when the Soldiers with great Affection would have cast on him the Imperial Purple he set Spurs to his Horse and fled from them In truth he had reason for this Caution for though Dioclesian and Maximianus had relinquish'd the administration of the Empire yet had they by Councels and Authority a great influence upon the State for by them Galerius Maximinus and Severus were chosen Caesars and Successors who had possession of Italy and the Eastern Empire so as Constantine being young and at so great distance might well think it dangerous without their consent to assume the Supreme Authority His first attempt therefore was to gain the Affection and Consent of Maximianus from whom his Father had receiv'd the Purple Robe and who had then a Daughter Marriageable call'd Fausta Her Constantine demands in Marriage presuming the Empire should be her Dowry In the mean time he finish'd his Fathers Victories in Britain and was therein assisted by King Erocas by whose Councels he was much guided afterward he pass'd over with a great Army into France and there suppress'd two Barbarous Princes who fill'd the Country with Faction inciting the Gauls to Rebellion Then he began to treat with Maxentius who a year before hearing of the death of Constantius possess'd himself of Rome and usurp'd the Title of Emperour by the help of the Pretorian Soldiers and upon the hopes that Maximianus whose Daughter he had Marry'd would favour him in his Ambition the conceit whereof made him slight all motions of Concord with Constantine Howbeit Maximinian having heard of the Noble Victories and Exploits of Constantine bestow'd his Daughter Fausta upon him and with Her the Imperial Purple But soon after this Marriage Maximinianus discovers his Treacherous intention to re-possess himself of the Empire which he had voluntarily resign'd and bound himself by Solemn Oath in the Capital never to resume This intention he first made known to his Daughter Fausta before the Marriage in pursuance whereof he Sollicits the Armies with Promises of great Rewards to stick to him All these Designs Fausta reveals to Constantine and withall informs him That the intended Marriage was but to make him secure that her Father might the sooner deprive him of the Empire and perhaps of his Life also This intention of Maximinian soon appears for he forthwith publickly assumes the Name and Authority of Emperour at Arles from whence retiring to Marseilles he was there Besieg'd by Constantine and soon made his Prisoner and afterward Executed upon himself the just vengeance of Perjury and Treason for he strangl'd himself with a Halter such a deserv'd and ignominious end had this Tyrant who defil'd the Western Empire with the Blood of so many Christians Constantine thus Victorious prosecuted his Victories in Germany where he built a Bridge over the Rhine and subdu'd several Rebellious Nations He had as is said several Noble Britains in his Army with him amongst which three Unckles of his Mother Helena are Nam'd Johelin Traer and Marius At this time although Constantine were not a Christian yet he afforded the Christians the like Peace which they enjoy'd under his Father Monasteries were Replenish'd and Built those of Abingdon and Winchester being the principal the first whereof was speedily Finish'd and Consecrated to the memory of St. Amphibalus and for the space of 200 years prosper'd till the time of Cerdicus the West Saxon who then destroying the Monks turn'd it into a Temple of Idolatry As for that in Abingdon if the Chronicle of that place may be Credited Constantine himself in his younger days had his Education there To this Monastery belong'd 500. Monks who got their living by their Labour abroad but every Sunday resorted to their Monastery to perform their Devotions sixty more were constantly Resident attending in the Recital of Psalms and Christian Sacrifices It was now that Almighty God in revenge of the Innocent Blood of the Christians shed by the Tyrant Galerius visited him with an inward and Incurable Rottenness whereof he dy'd having for a long time consum'd him by piece-meal with great Stench and Torment neither could he appease the wrath of God although but too late he acknowledg'd the Justice of God and sent out Edicts in favour of the Christians Thus ended the furious Persecution first rais'd by Dioclesian There yet remain'd four persons who Supremely and Independently govern'd their several Provinces Constantine in Gaul and Britain Maxentius in Italy and Africk Maximinus in the East and Licinius in the Pannonia Greece Illyrium and Thrace all which Provinces in a short time became united under the Monarchy of Constantine The 112th year of Christ was now come Prosperous to the Church of God Happy was it for Christians that Maxentius refus'd agreement with Constantine such were the manifold Vices Oppressions Murders Adulteries and great Enormities of Maxentius that Constantine was in a manner enforc'd not only for his own safety but the general good of Mankind to free the World of such a Monster odious not only to Christians but to Pagans also to conclude a War against the Tyrant though stronger then himself Constantine therefore had recourse to Divine assistance but such a multitude of Gods were Worship'd in the World that he was uncertain to which of them he should Address himself After serious consideration calling to mind how former Emperours had been abus'd to their own ruine by false Oracles Incantations and Inhumane Sacrifices offer'd to their Heathen Gods he resolves to put his Confidence
in that only true God which his Mother Helena Worship'd all her Life and his Father Constantius towards his end To that God he offer'd Zealous and Devout Prayers That he would discover to him who he was and how he would be Worship'd and would protect him in his present condition of danger His Devotion was not in vain for by a stupendious Miracle in the sight of the whole Army God declar'd his acceptance of his Supplicants Prayers for he saw over the Sun then begining to decline the Sign of the Cross in Heaven figur'd by a resplendent light together with these words inscrib'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 By this be Victorious Which Spectacle caus'd great admiration both to himself and his Army Artemius one of the Spectators afterwards relates this Miracle to Julian the Apostate and Vouches many of his then present Soldiers for Spectators and further Witnesses thereof some writers add That many Angels were seen with this Apparition who encourag'd constantine and promis'd him Victory by that Sign and that he himself saw an Arm'd Horseman who bore in his Hands the sign of the Cross as an Ensign The Christians in Constantine's Army were Encourag'd by this Coelestial Vision but the Pagans look'd upon it as a Fatal and Ominous Sign until the succeeding Victory prov'd it otherwise Nay at first the good Emperour himself was in great doubt what this strange Vision should Portend until at night our Lord appear'd to him in his Sleep bearing the same Sign with him and commanded Constantine To cause a Draught or Copy thereof to be fram'd and to be made use of by him as a Guard and Protection in all his Battels Accordingly Constantine instructed his most cunning Workmen to make a Banner in imitation thereof Adorn'd with Gold and Precious Stones which he perpetually had carry'd before him in his Army He caus'd likewise innumerable representations of the Cross to be fix'd in several publick and Private places especially in several parts of his own Palace where it was for the most part fram'd of Gold Jewels and Precious Stones No wonder then if the veneration of the Holy Cross every day more and more increas'd amongst Christians a practice us'd from the most Primitive times and now Authoriz'd by our Lord himself from Heaven as it hath been sure confirm'd by innumerable Miracles wrought in several Ages by it Constantine encourag'd by this Promise of Divine assistance and Arm'd with this Glorious Sign of the Cross makes towards Italy Conquers several Nations reduces several Cities and overcomes all Resistance and having clear'd all the Provinces behind him marches Couragiously to Rome it self where the Tyrant for more than six years had exercis'd all manner of Wickedness He had not Courage to Issue out of the City or oppose Constantine's Progress stupify'd with his Lusts and afrighted with Prodigies and the Divination of his South-sayers But when Constantine approach'd the City Maxentius was enforc'd to draw out his Army consisting of 17000 Foot and 1800. Horse these numerous Forces he rang'd beyond the Milvian Bridge so that they were shut out of the City by the River The Tyrant us'd this Stratagem also he caus'd the Bridge to be so fram'd that at his pleasure he might dissolve it Constantine having rang'd his Army on the other side himself with great Courage gave the on-set by which he immediately broke his Enemies Ranks so as little resistance was made except by the Praetorian Soldiers who having Created Maxentius Emperour expected no Pardon and cover'd the ground with the dead Bodies Those who endeavour'd flight found it unsuccessful being hindred by the straitness of the Bridge the slaughter was exceeding great there being no other way to avoid the Sword but plunging into the River wherein great multitudes were swallow'd The Tyrant himself casting off the marks of Authority adventur'd into Tyber and being hurry'd down the Stream was drown'd his Body being cast upon the shore the People found and cut off his Head which with great Joy and Triumph they carry'd up and down the City fastn'd to a Pole. It is affirm'd that since Rome was built never was a day Celebrated with greater or more universal Joy than the day whereon Constantine Triumph'd for this Victory His Triumphant Chariot was attended not with Conquer'd Princes or Generals but with the Nobility of Rome freed from Dungeons and Chains Rome did not indeed Inrich her self with Spoils of Enemies but ceas'd to be the Spoil of an Inhumane Tyrant However this Pious Emperour would have this common Joy and Applause ascrib'd not to himself but to God only by virtue of the Holy Cross to whom only he gave the Praise and Honour of this Victory At his Triumphal entrance into the City he caus'd the Cross to be carried before his Army that Rome might see by what Arms she had been freed from Slavery he also enjoyn'd the People and Senate to Prostrate themselves before that Triumphant Sign and to Adore the Name of Christ who had Enobl'd the same It is therefore a narrow conceit of some who will not acknowledge that the Cross was ever Honour'd or Venerated by this Emperour or his Command when it is most manifest by undenyable Testimony for it is well known that Constantine Dedicated a Church to the Honour of the Holy Cross This Honour of the Cross Prudentius thus sounds forth Vex illum Crucis summus Dominator Adorat And not only so but the said Emperour signifies his will that all the World should also do so This Prince also further to Honour this Sign of our Salvation causeth his Statue to be set up in Rome holding a Cross in the right Hand with this Inscription By this saving Sign the Emblem of Fortitude I deliver'd your City from the yoak of Tyranny and having given perfect Liberty to the Senate and People of Rome I restor'd them to their Antient Greatness and Splendour There was another Inscription Engraven in Stone by the Decree of the Senate of like purport with the former wherein the Victory is ascrib'd contrary to the Roman custom to one True God and not to the many Gods there Ador'd After this signal Victory Constantine sent for Licinius the Emperour to Millain and there gave him to Wife his Sister Constantia and procur'd an Edict from him for free Liberty to profess the Christian Religion what belong'd to Churches was restor'd unto them Both Constantine and Lacinius joyn in their request to Maximinus the Eastern Emperour to grant the like freedom within his Dominions to which request Maximinus with much unwillingness yielded Matthew of Westminster affirms That about this time Constantine chose into the Senate his three Vncles before-mention'd which might perhaps give occasion to Julian the Apostate afterwards to darken the memory of this Glorious Emperour as a perverter of the Antient Roman Laws in being the first who Adorn'd Barbarous Strangers with Consular Robes In the year of Grace 314. Silvester succeeded Melchiades in the Popedom It
was this Melchiades who ordain'd that of the Oblations offer'd by the People in the Church the Bishop or Priest should Consecrate Loaves of Bread cut into small parcels and kept in a pure Vessel that after the Solemnity of Mass such as had not Communicated should partake of them on all Sundays and Feasts These Morsels of Bread thus Bless'd were called Eulogia and intended to be Symbols of unity in Faith and Charity and were made of common Bread. This year whilst Constantine fought prosperously against the Germans a certain King of the Gevissi in the Western part of Britain call'd Octavius made an Insurrection against the Pro-Consul whom Constantine had intrusted with the Government of the Country against whom the Emperour sent his Uncle Traer who landing about Portsmouth soon took it Octavius having notice thereof comes against Traer with strong Forces and put him to flight but in a second Battle in Westmorland Octavius is totally vanquish'd and put to flight into Albania to King Humbert for Succour The alteration of Government in Britain might well occasion this Rebellion of Octavius in regard the Britains were now govern'd by a Vicar of the Prefect of Gaul where Constantine made his usual abode and was disquieted more by the Faction of Schismaticks than any other Commotions so as Constantine was enforc'd to procure a General Assembly or Synod at Arles for composing the Sedition rais'd by the Donatists to which Synod the British Bishops were call'd and the proceedings thereof are as follows Although Persecution was somewhat abated yet the Enemies of Christians to give them still disturbance endeavour'd to divide them into Factions The first publick Infamous Scene of which scandal was Carthage in Africk the occasion this Caecilianus Arch-Deacon of the place had reprehended Lucilla a Spanish woman living in that City for that before receiving the Holy Sacrament she had with Veneration kiss'd the Head of a certain person esteem'd by her a Martyr but not acknowledg'd for such by the Bishop The Woman being Wealthy and Powerful studied revenge against Caecilianus who was newly chosen Bishop and requir'd restitution of certain Vessels of Silver and Gold belonging to the Church which in the late Persecution had by his Predecessor been recommended to the Fidelity of some Elders of that City They to avoid restoring of these Vessels joyn'd themselves to the Faction of Botrus and Celesius who had ambitiously sought after the said Bishoprick but were rejected This repulse incited them to question the Election of Caecilianus Lucilla betook her self to this Faction who withdrew themselves from the Communion of their Bishop and by means whereof a most horrible Schism was rais'd in Africk the slame whereof could not be extinguish'd in many Ages These Factious persons invited to Carthage several African Bishops who were convicted to be Traditors such as for fear of Persecution had deliver'd up to Heathen Magistrates the Books and Vessels belonging to the Church of which Bishops the principal was Secundus Primate of Numidia they were in all 17. and kept their Assemblies at Carthage separate from Caecilianus and presum'd Sacrilegiously to ordain another Bishop of Carthage one Majorinus who had been Lectorer formerly to Caecilianus and was now a Domestick of Lucilla These Bishops though they were themselves manifest Traditors yet question'd the Ordination of Caecilianus because he receiv'd it from Felix and others whom they falsly accus'd of their own Crime They further wrongfully charge Caecilianus with denying necessary Provision to several Martyrs in Prison Notwithstanding all which Calumnies he was acknowledg'd Lawful Bishop by the Bishop of Rome and all other Catholick Bishops Now though this Schism was chiefly forg'd by Botrus and Celesius with the said Elders and Lucilla and increas'd by Secundus and other Traditor Bishops yet it took its Name from Donatus who succeeded Majorinus in the Schism and not from that Donatus who being Bishop of Casae nigrae by the instigation of Lucilla withdrew himself from the Communion of Caecilianus and was condemn'd by Pope Melchiades This unhappy Schism gain'd such strength in a short space that in three years joyning themselves unto other Traditor Bishops and drawing into their Communion most of the Numidians they assembled a Councel of no fewer than 270. Bishops who continu'd together 75 days and repeating their former Constitutions made a Decree in favour of the Traditors When Constantine had overcome Maxentius the Donatists obtain'd Letters from Anulinus Governour of Africk to write Letters to the Emperour in Gaul full of Calumnious Accusation against Caecilianus and some of these Schismatical Bishops made a Voyage to the Emperour whom they requested to appoint some Judges of their Cause He gave them this Answer with indignation You require a Secular Judgement from me who my self expect the Judgement of Christ Yet at last with extream importunity they wrested from him for their Judges Materinus Bishop of Colonia Aggrippina Rhetitius Bishop of Austim and Marius Bishop of Arles Howbeit soon after considering the Authority of the Roman Bishop he commanded both Parties to attend the said Judges at Rome that the difference might be debated and concluded before Melchiades to whom the Emperour wrote to the end that the Contestants might receive their Judgement from Him and the other Judges As you know saith he the Holy Law of God requires a Synod Therefore being Assembled at Rome the result of it was that Donatus Bishop of Casaenigrae was condemned and Caecilianus acquitted From this Judgement they impudently appeal'd to the Emperour who cryed out O the rabid impudence of these mens fury they have presum'd to interpose an Appeal as the custom is among Heathens in Secular Causes Yet after all this the Donatists were so shameless as to boast that Constantine had given Judgement for them and to deprave the Judgement of Pope Melchiades they traduce him for a Traditor Still they continue their Tumults in Africa and principally direct their malice against Felix who ordain'd Caecilianus and whom they accus'd of being a Traditor Constantine left the determination of this difference to Aelianus Pro-Consul of Africa who detecting many Lyes and Frauds of the Donatists legally pronounc'd the Innocence of Felix Yet once more they Appeal'd to the Emperour to whose Court many of their Bishops repair'd complaining that many of their most weighty Allegations had not been taken into consideration by Aelianus Whereupon as St. Augustine saith not daring to become a Judge of a Judgement given by the Bishop of Rome he refer'd the matter to a Synod of all the Western Bishops appointed to meet at the City of Arles whose Charges were defray'd by the Emperour's order In this Councel 200. Bishops met who in the first place re-examin'd the Cause of Felix and declar'd him guiltless of the Crime of Traditor And this Cause being determin'd they thought fit to frame several Canons touching Ecclesiastical Discipline to be observ'd throughout the whole Church First they Ordain'd That the Feast of Easter
invented by Fausta maliciously because the young man would not yield to her Lust she was by Constantine's order stifled in a Hot Bath After which Crimes and Calamities as appears by the second General Councel of Nice Almighty God struck Constantine with a Leprosie anxious to find a remedy the Soothsayers told him The only way to be restor'd was by a Bath of Infants Blood This detestable Medicine being abhorr'd by Constantine God was pleas'd to instruct him by a Vision of St. Peter and St. Paul in his sleep That it would be a certain remedy for him to receive Baptism at the hands of the Pope Which he did accordingly with great Solemnity In the place where he was Baptiz'd he Erected a Magnificent Chappel wherein was a Font of Porphyrie cover'd with Silver and over it hung a Phiale of Pure Gold wherein yearly 200 l. of Balsom was Burn'd on the brink of the Font was plac'd a Lamb of pure Gold weighing 30 l. and pouring forth water into the Font At the right side of the Lamb stood the Statue of our Saviour all of pure Silver weighing 170 l. On the left side was plac'd St. John Baptist holding a Scroul whereon was written Behold the Lamb of God Behold him who takes away the sins of the World c. The Emperour according to the Churches custom being for seven days cloath'd in White Consecrated each of the said days with some Signal act of Piety On the first day he publish'd a Law That Christ is the true Lord who cleans'd him from his Leprosie and whom he commanded to be Ador'd through the whole Empire On the second day he Decreed Severe Punishments on those who by Word or Deed should Dishonour him On the third day he Decreed Like Penalties against those who should Persecute or Molest any Christians On the fourth day He confer'd on the Roman Churches Imperial Priviledges On the fifth day He granted Immunities to all other Churches On the sixth and seventh he added many other Gists to Ecclesiastical Persons And the day after he appear'd in publick perfectly cleans'd from his Sins and Leprosie and coming to the Confession of St. Peter He took his Diadem from his Head and putting off his Impertal Robes with a Spade open'd the Earth for a Foundation of a new Church and in Honour of the 12 Apostles carry'd on his Shoulders 12 Baskets of Earth and with great joy receiving the Bishop into his Chariot he return'd to his Palace After all this he extended his Munificence to Gods Church all the Empire over and sent Letters to the Eastern Bishops encouraging them to Build Churches supplying them out of his publick Treasure which Churches he caus'd to be Consecrated to the Honour of the Apostles and Martyrs whose solemn Feasts he commanded to be observ'd even by the Pagans with Honour and Veneration And as for the Christians they repair'd thither with great Zeal and as Supplicants there demanded the intercession of those Martyrs a practice then us'd not only by the meaner sort but by persons of the highest rank also As St. Chrysostom witnesses He who wears the Imperial Robe saith he comes hither he embraces the Sepulchers of the Martyrs and laying aside all haughtiness and pride stands before them in the Posture of a Supplicant beseeching them to intercede on his behalf This so publick and zealous Profession of a new Religion render'd Constantine displeasing to some of the Senate who could not with Patience endure the decay of their Antient Superstition For this cause he grew weary of Rome and made a Progress into the Eastern Provinces where he establish'd a new seat of the Empire at Bizantium after from his Name call'd Constantinople and this he did the rather to compose the Tumults rais'd by the Blasphemous Heresie of Arius who deny'd the Divinity of the Son of God affirming That time was when he was not though he was first of all Creatures In which Heresie not a few Bishops joyn'd with him to the great disturbance and scandal of the Christian Church Alexander Bishop of Alexandria first admonish'd then Excommunicated Arius Constantine by Exhortations and Letters treated with both of them for the composing of their differences but finding no means available caus'd a Councel of the whole Church to be assembled at Nicaea in Bythinia consisting of 318 Bishops who desided the Controversy from Scripture and Tradition determining That the Son was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Consubstantial with the Father It is observable with what Meekness Charity and Respectfulness the Pious Emperour behav'd himself towards the Bishops how he refus'd to judge of their Recriminations how he fortify'd the Determinations of the Synod by his Authority commanding submission thereunto and how he banish'd the Arch-Heretick Arius In this Councel was further Order made For the universal Observation of Easter upon the first Sunday following the 14th day of the first Moon after the Vernal Equinox for the better finding out of which it was recommended to the care of the Patriarch of Alexandria every year to give notice to the Bishop of Rome upon what day Easter was to be observ'd and this was to be communicated unto all remoter Churches and during Mass on the Epiphany a Deacon with a loud voice declar'd the following Easter whereby Lent and all other moveable Feasts were regulated And accordingly the British Churches also were guided until recourse from Rome was interrupted by Domestick Broils and the invasion of the Saxons and when by such interruption the Britains varied from the Western Churches they kept not Easter as the quarto decimani precisely upon the 14th day of the Moon after the Jewish mode But if that 14th day hapen'd upon a Sunday they did not defer the Observation until the Sunday following as other Catholick Christian Churches us'd to do Soon after this Councel of Nice Helena the Mother of Constantine being near 80. years old had the Courage to undertake a Pilgrimage to Jerusalem to visit the Holy places sanctify'd by our Lords Actions and Sufferings and to Adore his Footsteps to which tedious Journey she is said to be incited by Divine Admonition The Sepulchre of our Lord she most ardently desir'd to see which the flagitious Impiety of the Pagans had endeavour'd to hide from the World so that it cost incredible Labour to remove that vast heap of Earth wherewith it had been cover'd on the top whereof a Temple to Venus was Erected But the place being cleans'd Constantine caus'd a most Magnificent Temple to be Erected upon it Besides which his Mother began the building of two other Sumptuous Churches one at Bethlehem where our Lord was born another on Mount Olivet where he ascended into Heaven both which after her Death were finish'd by her Son. In the Mount was yet extant the Impression of our Lords Feet which this Devout Empress Honour'd with due Veneration The Prophet Zacharias long before Prophesied saying And in that day his feet shall stand upon the Mount Olivet
restore many to Health The better to attend his Divine love he avoided the sight of men confining himself to a little Cell or Oratory over against the Church of Caion where in a little Orchard cultivated by himself he had planted a few Lawrel Trees which now are so increas'd that the Boughs of them being drawn together Arch-wise do afford a very pleasing shade under those Lawrels his custom was to sit Reading or Writing After his Death among the said Trees there was one which through Age was quite Wither'd He who had the care of these Trees digg'd up the root of the dry Tree and of the Body of it hew'd out a Bench upon which he us'd to sit After he had made such use of this seat above two years thought of remorse came into his Heart I believe saith the Holy Bishop by Divine Inspiration which forc'd the man to say Alas Sinner that I am why do I for my Convenience make use of a seat fram'd of the Tree which so Holy a Priest Planted with his own Hand Whereupon he presently digs a hole and puts the seat into it having cut off the Feet which supported it and then cover'd it with Earth The very next Spring this dry Bench sprouted forth into Green Branches and prosper'd so well that at this day there are proceeded from it several young Trees of great heighth and which every year by our Lords Blessing sprout forth more and more About this time dy'd St. Morchus or St. Mocchaeus a British Priest In the beginning of the Saxon Troubles he forsook his Country and pass'd over to Lugh or Louth in Ireland a pleasant place St. Patrick had formerly had a resolution to build a Church there but was commanded by an Angel to consign that place to this Morchus shortly to come thither and end his days there in great Sanctity as he did accordingly He was often times visited by St. Patrick whose Disciple he became and took the care of 12 Leapers recommended to him by St. Patrick He Prophesied of the Holy man Columba and was after Consecrated Bishop of Louth by St. Patrick As for the relation of his living 300 years as a punishment inflicted on him by St. Patrick it is justly rejected so also of his succeeding St. Patrick in the See of Armagh for good Records put it out of doubt that St. Benignus was by him design'd for that succession In the year 539. St. Kentigern being no more then 25 years of Age was Consecrated Bishop of Glascow As for his wonderful Birth it hath already been related and how his Mother was preserv'd by Servanus He so much prosited under the instruction of Servanus that he became his dearly beloved Disciple afterwards he went to Glasco where he liv'd alone in great Abstinence until the King and Clergy of the Region now call'd Gallway with other Christians there which were but few chose him for their Pastor and Bishop notwithstanding the utmost resistance he could make They sent for one single Bishop out of Ireland whom they caus'd to Consecrate St. Kentigern after the then usual custom among the Britains and Scots for at that time a practice had got footing to use no other Ceremony in the Consecration of a Bishop but only the infusion of Sacred Chrism on their Heads with Invocation of the Holy Spirit Benediction and Imposition of Hands For these Islanders remov'd as it were out of the World by the continual Invasion of Pagans were become ignorant in the Ecclesiastical Canons For which cause the Law of the Church condescended to them and admitted an excuse in this regard so as Ecclesiastical Censure did not touch them notwithstanding as is hereafter mention'd St. Kentigern made ample satisfaction for this defect His Diocess extended it self according to the limits of the Kingdom of Cumbria from the famous Wall formerly built to secure the Britains reaching from Sea to Sea as far as the River Ford or Scotish-Sea The defects in this Consecration were First His Age for at a Councel held then not long before a Decree was made That no Metropolitan should presume to Ordain any one Bishop before he arriv'd to 30 years the Age of a perfect man least he should through Youth incurr some Errour Secondly The first Nicene Councel order'd That if any one were made a Bishop without the Judgement and Consent of the Metropolitan he was forbidden to exercise his Episcopal Function And in this Ordination of St. Kentigern there was no consent of the Metropolitan nor so much as concurrence of any Neighbouring Bishop Thirdly The first Canon of the Apostles confirm'd by many Councels enjoyns That every Bishop should be Ordain'd by at least two or three Bishops Whereas St. Kentigern was Consecrated by one single Bishop who was a Stranger of a Forreign Nation Fourthly In the Consecration of Bishops the Antient Fathers for the Dignity of that Degree ordain'd many Rites to be observ'd beside such as belong to the Essence of that Sacrament As Anointing the Head with Chrism with Invocation of the Holy Spirit Signing the Person with the Sign of the Cross Impositionof Hands Together with several other Rites adjoyned for the Adorning the House of God the defect whereof did not vitiate the Sacrament but the Person only Now in all these Points some Defects there were in the Ordination of St. Kentigern which when he afterwards call'd to mind caus'd great unquietness and remorse in him a Custom introduc'd among Britains to ordain thus imperfectly crept in since the Disturbances made by the Saxons so as the Ecclesiastical Canons were either forgotten or render'd unpracticable for that there were no Metropolitans or at such distance that they could not be had most places wanting not only Bishops but Inhabitants and it is probable in the present case the very Chrisme was furnish'd out of Ireland It therefore is manifest that these Disorders were excuseable because unavoidable But in Peaceable times the practice was otherwise and the Canons were duly observ'd and the British Faith unblemish'd And by this we may see that the Britains in their Ordinations before St. Gregory's time conform'd themselves to the Roman Church and not to the Eastern as some would collect for in truth no Eastern Church can be found which neglected any of these Ceremonies However to be sure the Britains in their Discipline establish'd by Councels demanded a Confirmation from the See Apostolick And this appears by the Demeanor of St. Kentigern himself for being after afflicted in mind for those Defects in his Ordination he sought not Council from any Metropolitan but from the Supreme Bishop in Rome to whom the custody of Ecclesiastical Canons was committed and who had Authority to enjoyn the observation of them and punish and regulate the neglect Therefore St. Kentigern as we find recorded went several times to Rome where he candidly laid open his Life his Election Consecration and all the circumstances of it to St. Gregory the special Apostle of the
reign Vortipor Prince of the Dimetae succeeded him By Gildas he is Styl'd A Tyrant who in his Old Age ascended the Throne by Civil Discords being a wicked Son of a good Prince defil'd by many Parricides and Adulteries who thinking to rid himself of his Lawful Wife wallow'd in Lust with her Impudent Daughter and thereupon he exhorts him by a timely Repentance to avert Gods Judgements His reign likewise lasting only four years his Throne was Invaded by Malgo Conanus or Maglocunus a Prince no less Vicious than his Predecessor for he is said to have Murder'd his Uncle Prince of Venedocia call'd Catwallain with the greatest part of his Nobility This is the same Maglocunus who afforded to St. Kentigern a place for a Church and Monastery and after being tormented with a remorse for his Parricides he relinquish'd the World and retir'd into a Monastery where he undertook a Monastical Profession But the Sparks of Ambition thus cover'd broke forth again into a flame so that quitting his Solitude he return'd to all his former Crimes and became an Insular Dragon depressing other Tyrants and by strengthning himself with their Power became the greatest Tyrant In the second year of his reign a great Battle was Fought between the Britains and Kenric King of the West-Saxons near Sorbiodunum or Salisbury in which Combat after much Blood-shed the Britains were at last forc'd to fly Four years after the Britains Thirsting to avenge themselves of this Defeat gather'd together all their best Forces against whom Cenric with his Son Ceaulin March'd The Armies met in the Province of the Dobuni or Oxfordshire at Banbury The Britains divided their Armies into nine Bodies three of which they placed in the Front three in the midst and three in the Reer The Saxons though inferior in numbers yet exceeded them in Stature and Length and Fought all in one Body The Combat was Bloody continuing till night doubtful it was which had the better After which many Battles past between them wherein for the most part the Victory fell to the West-Saxons while the Britains and Saxons contended in the West the Picts beyond the Frith of Edinburgh made Bridius their King who was Nephew to Loth their former King. In the ninth year of Bridius St. Columba came out of Ireland into Britain being the year of Grace 565. The year following dy'd the Tyrant Maglocunus after whom Careticus took upon him to sustain the State of Britain every day more and more falling to ruine but with ill success for besides that God had fix'd a Period to that State this Prince prov'd no better than his Predecessors but like them stain'd with all Vices Gildas seems to give a shameful Character to several Princes by his manner of writing most of them seem to have reign'd in several Provinces at the same time For besides this Bridius he directs the point of his sharp Style against one nam'd Lunegasla by interpretation the Yellow Lyon whom he accuses of all sorts of Crimes Impiety against God and Savage Cruelty to his Subjects repudiating his Lawful Wife and violating his Sister who after Widdowhood had vow'd Chastity to God and by many injuries afflicting Holy men and Priests who ceas'd not to offer up their Sighs and Prayers for him Gildas therefore exhorts him To change his Life that he might reap the benefit of their Prayers who had Power to bind in Heaven what they had bound in this World and to loose such as were Penitent Now by the Impieties of these Princes the Reader may observe the Justice of Gods severity against so wicked a Nation from which he took the Spiritual Kingdom of Christ and bestow'd it upon a People which brought forth better fruits Yet out of this Dung-hill of Vices some Pearls were to be gather'd for here we find the Wise Gildas commending a perpetual vow of Chastity made not only by Virgins but by Widdows also the infringing of which Vow he bitterly inveighs against and acknowledgeth in Gods Priests a Power of retaining and absolving Sinners not by way of Declaration only but of Authority and Jurisdiction also In the year 559. dy'd Ida King of the Northumbrians to whom succeeded his Son Alla whose Empire extended both over the Deiri and Bernicians yet were there in some of those Provinces British Princes who call'd themselves Kings though in Dependance on him Such as Morken King of the Cumbrians which Dependant Princes had upon Treaty a promissive Authority in their peculiar Provinces This Age affords an example of the Zeal and Authority of a Holy Bishop exercis'd Synodically and of a Princes Devout submission to this Authority The Bishops name was St. Oudoceus Son of Anaumeda Sister of St. Thelian and Budit a Prince of Little Britain This Saint Oudoceus from his Infancy was addicted to Piety assiduous in Fasting Watching and Prayer for an everlasting reward In Devotion he Visited the Monuments of St. Peter at Rome and at his return he went to the place of St. David and from thence he diverted to the Church of St. Thelian taking with him certain Relicks which during his Pilgrimages he had obtain'd Afterward he succeeded St. Thelian in the Bishoprick of Landaff imitating him in his Doctrine Virtue and Miracles As for the Prince submitting to the Authority of this Holy man his Name was Mouric Son of Theodoric Prince of Glamorganshire who being weary of Worldly Vanities undertook a Monastical Profession and served Almighty God in Solitude having transferr'd his Principality on his Son Mouric into which he was no sooner enter'd but the Saxons broke into his Country and began to waste it Whereupon the Inhabitants repair'd to their former Prince Theoderic whom they even compell'd to quit his Desart and to be their General in the War He full of Divine Courage encounter'd the Infidel Enemies whom he put to flight at Tintern near the River Vaga But having receiv'd a Mortal Wound in the Combat he return'd homeward and gave Charge to his Son Mouric That in what place soever he should end his Life he should there build a Church to God and a Sepulchre for himself And so not having pass'd five Miles at a place where Vaga and Severn met he gave up his Spirit There did his Son Mouric Erect a Church wherein he laid his Fathers Body whom Posterity Venerated as a Saint calling the place from his Name Merther Tendric at this day more contractedly Merthern In the same place is seated saith Bishop Godwin the House and Possessions of the Bishop of Landaff Adding That Mouric first of his own accord gave to that Church a Farm call'd Mochros lying on the Banks of the River Vaga together with the Porthasseg and the Church of Gurvid And after for the expiation of a Murder committed by him on a person call'd Cynetu contrary to a League by Oath contracted between them he added other Possessions He had two Sons Arthruis and Frior and by Arthruis a Grand-child call'd Morcant This is
that Prince Mouric and this the Crime against which Bishop Oudoceus exercis'd his Spiritual Authority as appears by the Acts of a Synod of Landaff lately rescu'd from Darkness and Worms by our diligent Antiquary Sir Henry Spelman where is declar'd by that Synod assembled by St. Oudoceus third Bishop of Landaff That in the year of Grace 560. Mouric King of Glamorgan for his Perfidious Murdering of Cynetu was Excommunicated King Mauric and Cynetu met together at Landaff and in the presence of St. Oudoceus Swore before the Relicks of Saints there before them that they would observe a firm Peace between them some space after this Solemn Oath King Mauric by Treachery slew Cynetu Whereupon Bishop Oudoceus call'd together all Ecclesiasticks from the mouth of Taratyrenguy to Tivy together with three Abbots Cousen Abbot of the Valley of Garben Cargen Abbot of Ildute and Sulgen Abbot of Docquini and in a full Synod did Excommunicate King Mouric for the Murder by him committed and for Perjury in transgressing the Covenant made in his presence and on the Altar of St. Peter the Apostle and of St. Dubritius and St. Thelian moreover inclining the Crosses toward the ground he interdicted the Countries of Mauric and so dismiss'd the King The Christian Communion also Curs'd the King with his Progeny the whole Synod confirming it saying Let his days be few his Children Orphans and his Wife a Widdow The King remaining with his whole Region the space of two years and more thus Excommunicated After being sensible of the Perdition of his own Soul and the damnation of his whole Kingdom he could no longer sustain so dreadful an Excommunication but humbly beg'd Pardon at Landaff of Bishop Oudoceus who therefore in the presence of three Abbots impos'd on him the yoak of Pennance proportionable to the quality and hainousness of his Crimes the King all the while humbly inclining his Head and shedding Tears abundantly His Pennance was to satisfie God By Fasting Prayers and Alms King Mauric undertook the yoak of Pennance and for the Redemption of his own Soul and the Soul of Cynetu he gave to the Church of Landaff and the Bishops thereof four Villages with their entire liberty free from all service forever with Common through his Country for the Inhabitants of those Villages in all Fields Woods Pastures and Waters These four Villages contain 24 Modii of Land The first is call'd Kirgracnauc the second Nantavo the third a Village beyond Kadava where Cynetu was slain the fourth a Village beyond Nadava call'd Gudberdh This was the form of the first Synod of Landaff out of which we may collect much of the Religion and Discipline of that Age The same Bishop Oudoceus for very like causes Assembled two Synods more extant in Sir Henry Spelman the occasions whereof and proceedings wherein here briefly follow King Morcant and his Vncle Frioc in the presence of St. Oudoceus and the three fore-nam'd Abbots at the Poduim or Church of St. Ildutus took their Oaths at the Holy Altar on which were placed the Relicks of Saints That they would observe Peace and Amity together without any guile adding That if either of them should Kill or commit Treachery against the other he should not redeem his Crime by Money or Lands but should be oblig'd to quit his Kingdom and spend his whole Life in Forreign Pilgrimages A good while after which Covenant made Morcant by the instigation of the Devil slew his Vncle but soon after came to the Holy Bishop Oudoceus and humbly crav'd Pardon for his Homicide and Perjury The Bishop thereupon Assembled a Synod at the Monastery of the Vale of Carban to which came all the Clergy and King Morcant also with the principal persons of Glamorganshire The Synod unwilling to be depriv'd of their Natural Lord gave judgement that the King should redeem his Pilgrimage with Alms Prayers and Fasting which Pennance the King laying his Hands on the four Gospels and Relicks of Saints undertook to perform promising withall that ever after he would in all things mercifully execute Justice The Pennance finish'd and the King restor'd to Christian Communion he presently proclaim'd the Churches of Catoc Ildut and Docunni free from all Regal Service Thus was the second Synod The third was Assembled many years after upon this occasion A certain British Prince nam'd Guidnerth in a Contention for the Principality slew his Brother Mercheen for which he was Excommunicated by St. Oudoceus in a full Synod in testimony of which Excommunication the Crosses were taken down and the Cimbals were turn'd thus he remain'd excluded from Christian Communion for the space of three years at the end of which demanding Pardon he was sent into the lesser Britain to St. Sampson Arch-Bishop of Dole from him to receive judgement and suitable Pennance This was done partly because of the great Amity between these Bishops but chiefly because the same Language being spoken in both Countries he would the more freely discover his fault and require Indulgence for the same This Voyage was undertaken by Guidnerth who having obtain'd Absolution he return'd with Letters Seal'd by St. Sampson before the year was ended but because he had not according to his Injunction remain'd a whole year in Exile the Bishop would not take off his Excommunication presently after St. Oudoceus dy'd to whom Berthguin succeeded in the Bishoprick of Landaff To him King Morcant and Guidnerth made an carnest request to take off the said Excommunication and to raise again from the Earth the Crosses and Cimbals with the Holy Relicks Whereupon after a promise made by Guidnerth to make satisfaction for his Crime by Fasting Prayers and Alms he was at last with great Devotion and many Tears shed Absolv'd by the Bishop After which Guidnerth to testifie his Gratitude gave to the Church of Landaff these Lands Lanu Catigual and Tye with all the Woods and Sea-coasts c. Bishop Godwin affirms this third Synod to be Celebrated by another Bishop of Landaff and that Guidnerth the Fratricide gave Lancadwallader now call'd Bishton or Bishopston to the Church of Landaff Which Mannor he saith is the only Mannor that is left to that See. The Author of the Life of St. Oudoceus relates That he quitted his Pastoral Cure and built a Monastery near the River Weye and there Assembling a great multitude of Brethren spent the remainder of his Life which lasted many years in wonderful Abstinence and Sanctity So as it may seem this third Synod was not held in his days We often have had occasion to draw Testimonies from our famous Historian Gildas Sir-named Badonicus and Sapiens call'd also the Younger Gildas to distinguish him from Gildas Albanius before-mention'd Now because we are come beyond the times of those Princes who have been painted out by him in their foul colours it will be necessary to say what may be found of this our Younger Gildas By his own Testimony he was born in the same year when the great Battle was