from one of the 12. Apostles by Protestants and portion of one of the cheife Masters in this sacred worke one of the Apostles of Christ himselfe Which the holy Prophet seemeth longe before to foreshew of this Iland one of the greatest and most remote longe from Hierusalem when speaking of the Apostles in the person of God he saith as Protestants Isai c. 66. v. 19. translate him And I will set a signe among them and I will send those that escape of them to the Nations to the Iles a farre of that haue not hard my fame neither haue seene my glory and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles Which diuers Protestants and not vnworthily apply to this Iland one of the Theater of Brit. l. 6. Godwyn supr Magdeburgen Centur. 1. l. 2. c. 7. col 518. Euseb l. 3. hist c. 1. Musculus ib. Prochorus hist c. 1. in tom 7. Biblioth patr S. Leo serm 1. de Apost Petro Paul Isidor l. de vita obitu Sanctorum c. 83. 71. Freculph Lexou To. 2. Chronic. l. 2. c. 4. Antiquit. Glast apud Capgrau in S. Patricio al. Hartman Schedel Chronic. Chron. f. 202. p. 1. Nicephorus hist Eccl. l. 3. c. 1. greatest in the world and furthest distant from Iury where this Prophesie was vttered 5. And this diuision a portition of the world among the Apostles to preach and publish the ghospell in is as these Protestants before doe warrant vs as also that Britaine as needs it must being one of the greatest Ilands of the world fell in this diuision among the Apostles Is plainely deliuered by soundry auncient writers The Magdeburgian Protestants tell vs that Eusebius saith it was a Tradition that the Apostles diuided the Prouinces of the world by lott amongst thē Quod Apostoli inter se sortiti sunt orbis terrarum prouincias And Musculus in his translation of Eusebius is witnes from Eusebius that it was the Tradition of the Church sicut traditio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 continet Which is confirmed by S. Prochorus one of the seuen Deacons made by the Apostles as we haue his works S. Leo saith That the Apostles vndertooke to preach the Ghospell to the world diuiding it into parts among them diuisis sibi terrarum partibus S. Isidor or whosoeuer that auncient Authour of the booke de vita obitu Sanctorum among his works Freculphus Lexouiensis writeth so also and excludeth S. Paul from any part in this ordinary partition being after called an extraordinary Apostle Paulo cum caeteris Apostolis nulla sors propria traditur So we reade in the auncient Antiquities of Glastenbury Abbey Hartmanus Schedel saith of the Apostles totum orbem per Prouincias inter se partiti sunt The twelue Apostles parted the whole world among them by Prouinces So Nicephorus in many places Apostoli sicut diximus per omnem dispersi terram Prouincias orbis ad Euangelium praedicandum sorte partiti sunt The holy Apostles diuided among them by lot the Prouinces of the world to preach the ghospell Thus our English Protestants Godwyn Stowe Howes and others Godwin Conu of Britaine Stowe Howes hist in Agricola and others Breuiar Roman in vit S. Philipp Apost 1. Maij S. Matt. 21. Sept. Ioa. Whitgift Answer to the Ad. and def Bilson against the Purit Barl. Ser. of Bish. Bridg. def of the Eccl. gouern Covel def of Hooker Downam l. 4. c. 4. of Bishops 6. And to make all sure the Church of God in the publike offices of the holy Apostles S. Philip on the first day of may and S. Matthew the 21. of September propoundeth the same for a certaine truth vnto vs. Neyther doth the rule of our Protestants Religion their communion Booke impugne it and so none doe contradict it And our Parlament Protestants of England such as stand for the dignities and functions of Bishops against the Presbyterian Puritans such as their Bishops Whitgift Bilson Barlow Bridges and others make a reason of this diuision not onely the better to deriue true doctrine but Iurisdiction also vnto Bishops succeeding them both in doctrine and Episcopall power It is manifest say these men that the Bishops haue receaued and deriued their authoritie from the Apostles whose successors they are not onely in respect of doctrine but also in the gouernment of the seuerall Churches not onely Diocesian Bishops but Archbishops such as Metropolitans are were from the Apostles time And they exemplifie who these were in many places where the Apostles preached And yet this nothing hindereth any thing I haue written before of diuers Britans of this Nation conuerted to the faith of Christ before the time of Claudius for I shewed that to haue bene the great extraordinary grace and fauour of Christ to those persons now I entreate of the ordinary calling and Conuersion of this Country among others by the publike consent and agreement of the Apostles which although it was before the calling of S. Paul to be an Apostle yet I do not thereby goe about to exclude him from this holy worke wherein being extraordinarily called he laboured as extraordinary and probably also honored this Nation with his presence although after it had receaued the faith of Christ The diuision of the world being among the 12. Apostles before S. Paul his Consecration THE IX CHAPTER WHEREIN IS PROVED BY PROTESTANT Antiquaries that among the three Apostles S. Peter S. Paul and S. Symon Zelotes which are thought by any Antiquaries to haue preached heare in Britaine it was not S. Paul which first preached heare but S. Peter 1. NOw therefore being thus warranted by so generall a consent and harmony of cheife Protestants that the Faith of Christ was so soone preached in this Iland by some or other of the holy Apostles there is no difference cōcerning the vndoubted truth of that sacred Religiō whether it was by S. Peter Paul Andrew Iames Ihon or any of the rest all of them after the coming of the holy Ghost being as infallibly confirmed in grace and truth as S. Peter or whosoeuer in any opinion was cheifest among them yet in other respects it is not vnworthie a short inquiry by these men Needfull to knowe who was our first Apostles who in particular it was First because in the end of this first hundred of yeares I shall deliuer in particular so farre as these Protestants my Directours will giue me leaue what Religion it was which euery of our Apostles and Masters in Christ taught and deliuered to this Nation for knowledge whereof the knowledge who they were is first to be required Secondly in that respect we shall be tied with a more strict and binding obligation of dutie and debt to render our most obedient and respectiue filiall obseruance of religious children to that our worthie father in Christ who trauailed so farre and paynefull a iorney from Hierusalem to this Nation to make vs his regenerate children with so many and
Cornhill in King Lucius time are witnes So we euer kept vnuiolably with honor the memories of S. Ioseph of Aramathia S. Amphibalus sainct Alban S. Aaron Iulius and others Martyrol Rom. 28. die Octobr. Ado. Et Vsuard eodem die Engl. Martyrologe 28. Octobr. Beda Martyrol 28. Octob. all auncient CaleÌ„d Breuia Rom. in festo S. Simonis Chan. 28. die Octobr Protestant CoÌ„m booke die 28. Octobr in the seru of S. Simon and in Calendar 28. Octobr. Menolog Graec. 6. Id. Maij. Baron annot in Martyrol Rom. 28. Octobr. Venantius Fortunat l. 8. c. 4. Magdeburgen Centur. 1. col 586. l. 2. Crato in vita S. Simonis Iudae Abdias certain Apost lib. 6. Ant. part 1. tit 6. cap. 14. Pert. de Nat. l. 9. c. 115. Eutropius Persa l. de vit S. Simonis Iudae Anton. part 1. titul 6. ca. 28. §. 3. Petr. de Natal l. 4. c. 105. Guliel Eisengr Centen 1. part 6. dist 6. Vincent in specul Sabellic En. 7. lib. 4. Magdeburg Cenrur 1. supr l. 2. c. 10. col 584. Isidor lib. de vita morte Sanctorum Hartin Sâ—hedel Chron. fol. 107. S. Dorothaeus l. de 12. Apostolis 4. But all our historians of Antiquitie printed Manuscripts which I haue seene many both of our Brittans and Saxons agree with the whole Latine Church with all Martyrologes that be auncient as that of the Romans Ado Vsuardus and others that Natalis Beatorum Apostolorum Simonis Chananaei Thadaei qui Iudas dicitur Quorum Simon in Aegypto Thadaeüs in Mesopotamia Euangelium praedicauit deinde in Presidem simul ingressi cum innumeram gentis illius multitudinem Christi subdidissent martyrium consummarunt The natiuitie so the Church nameth the happy Martyrdome and death of Saints of the blessed Apostles Simon of Chananee and Thadaeus who is called Iudas the 28. day of October of the which Simon preached the ghospell in Egypt Thadaeus in Mesopotamia then entering together into Persia when they had made an innumerable multitude of that Nation subiect to Christ they consummated martyrdome So hath S. Bede in his Martyrologe so haue all auncient Calenders of Britans and Saxons So hath the whole Latine Church in the festiuitie of this holy Apostle to bind all English Christians as well Catholiks by the Rules before as Protestants by the commaunding squares of their Religion the Parlament and their CoÌ„munion Booke they all celebrate with the Latine Church the festiuitie of this glorious Apostle vpon the 28. of October when he suffered martyrdome as before with S. Iudas in Persia When they which hold he came into Britaine keepe his day vpon the sixt of the Ides of May the tenth day of that moneth 5. And this is the auncient opinion of the fathers concerning this holy Apostle that he with S. Iude was martyred in Persia among whom Venantius Fortunatus so renowned among our Protestants for S. Pauls preaching heare hath made it publike to the world thus testifying that he was martyred in Persia with S. Iudas neuer bringing him neare vnto this Nation Hinc Simonem ac Iudam lumen Persida gemellum Laeta relaxato mittit ad astra sinu And to ioyne forraing Protestants with these of EnglaÌ„d in this busines The Mardeburgians say plainely that if Nicephorus doth say that S. Simon preached the ghospell to the OccideÌ„tall Ocean Brittish Ilands he doth it without any certaine testimony Narrat sed sine certo testimonio Nicephorus EuangeliuÌ„ Simonem propagasse per regiones ad Occidentalem OceanuÌ„ sitas Insulas Britannicas Where they be so farre from allowing his coming to these Ilands that they accompt his preaching in the Contryes neare the west Ocean vnprobable and make him to be liuing in the East Countries and preaching there ending his life 50. yeares after this Iland had receaued the faith of Christ by these Protestants before And Crato the Disciple of these two Apostles S. Simon and Iudas followed them throughout 12. Prouinces of Persia writing all they did and suffered there by the space of 13. yeares the like hath Abdias The like hath Antoninus Petrus de Natalibus Eisengrenius and others Their liues also in the same manner were writteÌ„ by Eutropius a Persian sonne of Adimundus Xerxes King of Babylon both in the Chaldy and Greeke tonges To these I add Vincentius Sabellicus the Magdeburgian Protestants of Germany in their Centuries S. Isidor or whosoeuer the auncient author of the booke of the life and death of the Apostles who saith besides iacet in Bosphoro that he is buried in Bosphorus And died many yeares after his supposed death in Britaine The like hath also Hartmannus Schedel teaching that he both preached and suffered martyrdome in Persia also Dorotheus that auncieÌ„t Greeke father himselfe that is alledged to say that S. Simon the Apostle was crucified killed and buried in Britaine in Britannia crucifixus occisus ac sepultus est the greatest authoritie for his being heare is coÌ„trary to himselfe if so he should meane of this our Britaine for in the same place he maketh S. SimoÌ„ the Apostle to haue bene crucified in the East CouÌ„try in or neare Egypt cruci alligatus occisus est in Ostracina ciuitate Aegypti maketh S. Simon the Apostle Bishop of Hierusalem so neuer to come neare vnto Britaine So small is his Authoritie in the matter The Authour of Fasciculus temporum saith he was martyred in Persia Fasciculus temp an 74. with S. Iude. Simon Iudas martyrisati sunt in regionibus Persidis The auncient Anonymus that writeth the liues of the Apostles published by Frediricus Nausea Bishop of Vienna saith that S. Simon Iudas were sent by reuelation into Anonymus in vit passione SS Apostolorum Apostolorum Simonis Iude. Persia to confouÌ„d the wicked Sorcerers Zaroes and Arfaxard which had fled thither from S. Matthew the Apostle in Ethiopia and the Prince of Persia was then named Baradach that they had many Disciples there of which they ordeyned Preists DeacoÌ„s and other Clergy men that in one yeare they baptized aboue fourty thousands besides children and the King himselfe that they ordeined Abdias Bishop of Babilon that came with them from iury That Craton their Disciple wrote their liues which Iulius Africanus translated into Latine and after many miracles there wrought they were there martyred togeather with S. Sennes by whome they were harboured So that if we will beleeue either auncient or later Greeke or Latine or the Persians themselues Catholiks or Protestants or any thinge that can be preteÌ„ded for authoritie worthie to be followed in this matter S. Simon the Apostle was neither crucified killed buried or preached in or neare vnto this Nation 6. Wherefore I cannot in any wise giue allowance vnto him who not onely placeth him among the saints and Apostles of Britaine but citeth diuers auncient writers as he saith for this his relation In Persia the Passion of the gloroius Apostle S. Simon surnamed
also the fowlest and dishonestest which we may not thinke that so modest and holy a Saint would doe which is of these Protestants sufficiently before acknowledged when they expressely say Martials verses generally are no lessons be fitting Ladyes Therefore if generally they were so vnbeseeming Theater of great Brit. supr l. 6. we may not make so holy renowned a Lady either a generall or particular Approuer of such stuffe to send it so loÌ„g a Iorney to her beloued FrieÌ„ds in this her Natiue CouÌ„try of Britaine for toakeÌ„s much les for Newyeares gifts neither was that name nor ceremony knowne in Britaine loÌ„g after that time 7. And the first Protestant English Archbishop which before obserued that absurditie and yet willing to insist in the same erroneous steps of his brethren in this point and therefore hath written that it is likely Claudia sent these strange Poems hither from Rome before she was a Christian verisimile est Claudiam ante acceptam fidem Epigrammata Martialis ad Britannos misisse suos speaketh farre more absurdly for it is euident by all Accompts both of Christians and Pagans Catholiks and Protestants that Claudia was a Christian and renowned by Saint Pauls pen in the time of Nero 26. yeares before Martial wrote or came to Rome Therefore it was greate ignorance or willfulnes in that Protestant Archbishop to write it was verisimile a very likely thing that Claudia sent that Poets Epigrams into Britan before she was a Christian she being a renowned Christian so long before he was a Poet. Godwin Conu of Britaine p. 17. 18. But Martial had other meanes to vent his Poems hither he was acquainted with Quintus Ouidius and his company that came hither he and wrote an Epigram vnto him cited before such was also one Stella as he writeth Martial l. 10. Epigram 40. ad Quintum Ouidium Lib. 12. Epigram 3. ad librum suuÌ„ Ille dabit populo Patribusque Equitique legendum And it was his glory thus by idle headed parsons to send his bables about both to Rome and from thence to other parts as appeareth in the beginning of the same Epigram Ad populos mitti qui nuper ab vrbe solebas Ibis tu Romam nunc peregrine liber And he plainely declareth euen in his first Epigram to his Reader this was his humour to make him selfe knowne in the world for such Poeticall and vaine scriblings Hic est quem legis ille quem requiris Toto notus in Orbe Martialis Argutis Epigrammaton libellis And to make speedy vtterance of such wares to all parsons places the very Martial l. 1. Epigram 1. ad Lectorem Lib. 1. Epigr. 2. next Epigram which is also to the Reader is to tell where his bookes were to be bought and besides he sent them vp and downe to particular parsons as their Titles testifie And allthough we had diuers holy Christians then in Rome of this Nation which reiected Martial his Poems as S. Claudia and her Father did yet there were also at that time many Pagan Britans and some of them also Poets as Gildas Cambrius a most noble Britan Poet as Ponticus Pontic Virun Hist Brit. l. 1. Girald Ferrar. hist Poet. Dialog 5. Io. Bal. Script Brit. cent 1. in Gilda Cambrio Virunnius calleth him Gildas Poeta Britannicus nobilissimus and others by whose meanes besides such as I haue related before it is not vnlikely but Martials verses aswell as others came into this Countrie and he might take notice there of and therevpon write it was reported that his verses were sunge in Britaine 8. And hereby it appeareth how weake a propp they haue to support S. Claudia did not translate or send S. Pauls Epistles into Britaine them therein that would probably and by comparison conclude that S. Claudia did send S. Pauls Epistles into Britaine because she sent Martials Poems hither for first there is so greate difference and repugnancy betweene the holy writings of S. Paul and the idle Epigrams of that Poet if we chuse their best that rather the contrary is to be gathered that whosoeuer did affect the libels of Martial could not be a louer of S. Pauls doctrine so opposite vnto such vanities and so she knowne to be so renowned a Christian when Martial wrote and so highely commended by S. Paul could be no recommender of Martials vanities vnto this or any other parts or parsons And it is euident before she allowed them not And allthough I willingely allowe what a Protestant Bishop writeth of her placing her among our Brittish writers and affirming that she was renowned all through out Italy and other Nations for her style in the Latine Greeke tongue Claudia Rufina Britannici generis nobilissima Io. Bal. l. de Scrip. Brit. cent 1. in Claudia Rufina mulier nominis claritatem ex ingenti vtriusque linguae Latinae Graecae notitia per Italiam alias commeruit mundi Regiones yet this is no warrant for others to say that therefore she translated S. Pauls Epistles and sent them into Britaine For euery one that hath knowledge in Latine and Greeke allthough in a more excellent manner then a Lady a stranger to them both and young in yeares as by these men she was is not a fit Translator of holy Scripturs and we doe not finde that honor then giuen to any of her sexe nor did that or such office belong to her or any such her Father before confessed to be a learned Christian was a fitter man to performe such things to this his Nation if any such was done at that time But amoÌ„g all the Epistles which S. Paul wrote we doe not finde any one of them written or sent by him to any parson or place but such as had receaued the faith of Christ before neither S. Pauls Epistles nor any part of Scripture will make an Infidell a good Christian without a Preacher or Interpreter And I suppose he would be thought a strange Poet surpassing Martiall in that kind in the iudgment of Antiquaries who should say he had euer seene or credibly heard of any part of Scripture then translated much more by any woman into the Welch or Brittish languadge 9. And no lesse paradoxe it is which a Protestant Bishop and Antiquarie Godwin Conu of Brit. p. 18. c. â— proposeth to the world concerning S. Pudens husband to this our holy Country woman S. Claudia laboring to perswade his Readers that he came into S. Pudens Hust ad to S. Claudia did 〈…〉 Bâ—itainâ— nâ—r neaâ—â—â—â— Nâ—â—ther preached â—e any wheâ—â— Brâ—taine and heare preached the faith of Christ First he maketh this his Marginall Note of that which followeth Britaine a Refuge for Christians And then addeth of this time it was not counted vnlawfull for those to be Christians that dwelt beyonde Italy and France as in Britaine or neare the PirenaeaÌ„ Mountains and so to the westerne Ocean Whereby vndoubtedly it came to passe that
it is that hauing first deliuered it as his owne opinion in one Godwin supr p. 27. place afterwards he citeth for the same Clement a Pope wherein either he abuseth vs in citing that which neuer was written or himselfe is abused by some couÌ„terfeit Clement Therefore whether this Clement be counterfeit or no this Protestant must needs be a counterfeit for if this ClemeÌ„t were a counterfeit he was couÌ„terfeited long before Gratians time being cited by him as auncient and so the auncient counterfeiter of Clement must needs broach this opinion before Gratian. But except the auncient Popes Anacletus Anicetus Stephen the first Lucius S. Leo the second S. Marianus Scotus and Florentius Wigorniensis Cap. 1. supr our learned Countrimen all before Gratian were deceaued are counterfeitors this was the true Clement Disciple of S. Peter and so they cite and approue him euen in this matter they confirme that not onely S. Clement but S. Peter the Apostle thus both practized and ordained and how in the time of the Pagans there were Archflamens and they were cheife ouer the other Flamens as Patriarks and Primats be ouer Bishops in the Lawe of Christ 3. And if this man had trauailed no further into Antiquities then those of this Nation he might haue found both Archflamens in the Pagans time heare in Britaine and that the Legats of Pope Eleutherius did constitute and ordaiâ—e Archbishops in their places and this affirmed by Authoritie more Abbas Spanheymens l. de Script in Sigeberto Gembl Bal. l. de Script cent 2. in Henric. HuÌ„tingt Henric. Huntin Histor lib. 1. in Prologo Hist auncient then Gratian was For both Sigebertus GeÌ„blacensis Henricus Huntingtoniensis and others which wrote before Gratian doe take often and expresse notice of our Brittish Historie in which we reade of this matter in these words fuerunt tunc in Britannia octo viginti Flamines nec non tres Archiflamines quorum potestati caeteri Iudices morum atque phanatici submittebantur Hos etiam ex praecepto Apostolici Idololatriae eripuerunt vhi erant Flamines Episcopos vbi erant Archiflamines Archiepiscopos posuerunt Sedes autem Archiflaminum in tribus nobilioribus ciuitatibus fuerant Londonijs videlicet atque Eboraci in vrbe Legionum quam super Oscam fluuium in Glamorgantia veteres muri aedificia sitam fuisse testantur There were then in the time of King Three Archbishops placed heare for the â— ArchflameÌ„s in London Yorke and Caerlegion Lucius 28. Flamens and 3. Archflamens to whose power other Iudges were subiect These by the commande of the Pope his Legats deliuered from Idolatrie and where there were Flamens they placed Bishops and where there were Archflamens they placed Archbishops The Seates of the Archflamens were in the three most Noble Cyties London Yorke and the Cytie of Legions which the old walles and buldings doe witnesse to haue bene vpon the Ryuer Oske in Glamorgantia Hitherto this old Brittish Historie which is older then Gratian by so many yeares as were betweene the end and writing thereof at the death of Gadwallader the last King of the Btitans where it endeth about the yeare of Christs Natiuitie 689. or 690. by Sigebertus and others computation when the Brittish Authour thereof composed it and the writing of Gratian aboue 400. yeares after And Sigebertus who endeth his Chronicle in the yeare 1112. and then dyed as his Continuator there noteth Sigebertus Gemblacensis Monachus Descriptor praecedentium Continuatâ—r Sigebertiin Chron. an 1112. Sigebertus GeÌ„blacens initio Chronici c. de Regno Britannorum in hoc libro temporum obijt cui nos illa quae sequuntur fideli narratione subiecimus is a sufficient witnes euen in the beginning of his History that this Brittish History then was an old History narrat antiqua Britannorum Historia and vsually and cheifely citeth and followeth it for the Brittish affaires And Henry of Huntington who by Baleus and others dyed before Gratian had written was well acquainted with this Historye and wrote a Booke of the Kings of the Britans yet extant in the publike Library of Cambridge and so conformable to the Brittish History that our Protestants which published his workes thereby excuse themselues for not publishing that his worke because there is nothing in it but what is written by S. Bede and Geffery of Monmouth more at lardge quia nihil noui affert quod non in Beda Monemuthensi plenius Protestantium Annotatio inter librum 7. 8. Histor Henrici Huntingtoniensis Ponticus Virun Hist Brit. l. 6. in fine Ciacon 〈◊〉 Rossus BostoÌ„ apud Godwin in Assaph Bal. l. de Script cent 2. in Galfrid Ar. Notatio in Manusc exempl Cantab. Io. Bal. l. de Scrip. Brit. cent 2. in Waltero Caleno reperiatur And Geffery Archdeacon of Monmouth when he translated this Booke out of the Brittish into the Latine tongue and after Bishop of Assaph and Cardinall of the Church of Rome as Virunnius Ciaconius Leland Rosseus Bostonus the Protestant Bishop Bale and others say was an excellent Historian Historicus egregius and as the note vpon the olde Manuscript Copie thereof in Cambridge witnesseth translated it most truely simplicissime transtulit And this Booke was brought out of litle Britaine by Walter Calenus Archdeacon of Oxford a Britaine by birth a man most famous for learning as our Authours say and the Booke was then he dying in the yeare of Christ 1120. anno Incarnati filij Dei 1120. a most old Booke vetustissimum Britannici sermonis Codicem written aboue 400. yeares before per quadringentos eo amplius annos From which date vnto his time the same Archdeacon of Oxoford continued the Brittish History cloquently non incleganti sermone protraxit Britannorum Annales 4. So we euidently perceaue that we can hardly finde either more auncient or credible Authoritie for any Historicall truth in our Brittish Antiquities then for this For the Authour both was a Britan and wrote in that Languadge and the last passadges thereof written allmost a thowsand yeares since The Agents and Instruments of the translation thereof both Britans and the best learned and greatest Historians of that time this Bookew preserued by the Britans of Armorica or litle Britaine in France driuen thither by the Infidell Saxons with their Antiquities and other Ritches most pretious vnto them And so the former parts of this Booke wherein the Historie of these Archflamens is contained carrieth sufficient Argument of a farre more auncient date Which the Authour himselfe both in the Copie which is printed and that which Virunnius did epitomate and was neuer printed as the note vpon it testifieth doth witnesse for he expressely citeth Gildas for this Historie And Ponticus Virunnius seemeth to make Gildâ—s Authour of that part of this Booke For thus he writeth â—orum noâ—â—na Aâ—â—us in libro reperiuntur quem alter Gildas de victoria Aurelij Ambrosij inscripsit The names
Rome and Britaine then receaued that Canon of holy Scripturs and those Bookes to be Canonicall which the present Roman Church embraceth for such and not that maymed and mangled new Canon which our English Protestants with some others of their Schoole would onely haue receaued for that peece of his Epistle which is left vnto vs being very short and very few citations of Scripturs vsed in it onely one out of the New Testament and not aboue 4. or 5. out of the Old yet among these so few he citeth for Canonicall Scripture such as these men disallow for such namely these words by their Protestants Translation according to King Salomon wisedome will not enter into a spitefull soule nor inhabite in a bodie subiect to sinne This is found onely in the second Chapter of the Booke of Wisedome which with Sap. 2. diuers others the sixt Article of our Parlament Protestant Religion disalloweth to be holy And S. Gildas the most auncient Writer left vnto vs citeth Articul 6. of Prot. Relig. Gild. l. de excid conq Britan. as parts of holy Scripturs receaued by our Primatiue Christian Brittans diuers Bookes of holy Scripturs which the new Religion doth not admite The old Antiquities of Glastenbury which more plainely and fully set downe the Apostolike Labours and Trauailes of these holy Legats then any other Monument we haue and of many glorious Saints both of the Disciples of S. Ioseph and the Apostles and of these Legats buried at Glastenbury and the long liuing of S. Damianus and Faganus there 9. yeares and their greate deuotion to that holy place and how theire Disciples there liuing Religious Eremits by Succession 267. yeares vntill S. Patrike his comming thither died and were buryed there but whether the Legats themselues there were interred or returned thence they doe not deliuer but leaue it doubtfull hij vero duo sancti regionem istam in principio ad fidem Christianam conuerterunt sed vtrum ibi requiescunt vel indè redierunt non inuenimus scriptum Ibi multi ex Discipulis Sanctorum Phagani Deruiani requiescunt qui per ducentos sexaginta septem annos quidem alij post alios vsque Aduentum sancti Patricij in praefata Insula sicut Anachoritae habitauerunt And so I end this second Age. The end of this Second Age. THE ECCLESIASTICALL HISTORIE OF GREAT BRITAINE THE THIRD AGE THE ECCLESIASTICALL HISTORIE OF GREAT BRITAINE THE THIRD AGE THE I. CHAPTER WHEREIN IS DELIVERED THAT S. VICTOR being now Pope Seuerus Emperour and S. Lucius yet King of Britaine but shortly dying S. Victor was Supreame in gouernment of the whole Church of Christ in Asia Afrike and Europe and particularly in Britaine which so acknowledged and receaued from him the true obseruation of Easter as it had done with other Catholike customes from S. Eleutherius before AS I closed vp the second Age with the Renowned Pope S. Victor Seuerus Emperour of Rome and that our most Illustrious relucent Lucius King of Britaine So I must open my way and passadge to the Third and next Centurye by the continuance Marian. Scot. l. 2. aetat 6. An. 194. Baron Tom. 2. An. 194. Seuer Binius Tom. 1. Concil in Vict. Iacob Gordon An. 194. Matth. Westm An. 198. Florent Wigornien An. 199. of the same Rulers in the worlde S. Victor began his Papacie in or about the yeare of Christ 194. as Marianus and diuers others write But our Monks and Contrimen Matthew of Westminster and Florentius Wigorniensis giue him a later entrance to the See Apostolike The former saith it was in the yeare of Grace 198. Anno gratiae 198. Victor Romanae Sedis Pontifex effectus The other saith that Pope Eleutherius liued vntill the yeare after this 199 when Victor was chosen Martinus Polonus maketh him not Pope before the beginning of this Age in the yeare of Christ 203. And therefore finding no memorable thing of this Pope belonging to the Ecclesiasticall History of Britaine vntill this time I doe heare first remember him 2. This holy Pope in his Epistle to Theopâ—ilus Patriarke of Alexandria Victor Epist ad Theoph. Alexand Tom. 1. Concil Damasus in Victor Papa Florent Wigor in Chronic. An. 200. Marian. Scot. aetate 6. An. 192. stileth himselfe Archbishop of the Roman and Vniuersall Church Victor Romanae ac vniuersalis Ecclesiae Archiepiscopus This Epistle with this stile of Archbishop of the Vniuersall Church as our auncient and learned Historian Florentius Wigorniensis witnesseth was written in the yeare of Christ 200 the 13. of the Calends of August Victor Romanae ac vniuersalis Ecclesiae Archiepiscopus Theophilo Fratribus Alexandrae Christo famulantibus salutem in Domino haec Epistola data est 13. Calendas Augusti Our learned and renowned Countryman also S. Marianus hath the same words concerning this Supreame Spirituall stile power of Pope Victor ouer the Vniuersall Church onely differing in the yeare from Florentius Victor Romae ac vniuersalis Ecclesiae Archiepiscopus To this dignitie of Supreamacy both claymed exercised Matthias Flacius Illyric Io. WigaÌ„dus Mat. Iudex Basil Faber cent 2. c. 8. col 155. cent 3. col 168. Barn in Vit. Pontif. Rom. in Victore Io. Bal. l. 1. de Act. Pontif. Roman in eod Robert Barnes supr Damasus seu Anastasius in Victore Rob. Barn l. de Vit. Rom. Pont. in Pio 1. Florent Wigor in Chron. Ann. 202. Marian. Scot. l. 2. aetat 6. An. 194. Robert Barnes supr in Victore S. Victor Epist 1. Decret ad Theophilum Alexandriae Episcopum apud Sur. Seuerin Bin. to 1. Conc. Magdeb. cent 2. Marian. Scot. aetat 6. an 194. Mart. PoloÌ„ Supput in Vict. Florent Wigor An. 200. Robert Barnes l. de Vit. Pont. in Victore by this holy Pope S. Victor both forreine and English Protestants giue full allowance when they plainely confesse that he excommunicated the Churches of Asia for their obstinate error in the Paschall obseruation Victor missis literis fratres omnes Asiaticos Ecclesias vicinas à se excommunicatione Ecclesiae exclusos reiectos palam denuntiat The same Title and preeminent power he both claymed and executed by these men when as they testifie he excommunicated Theodorus for affirming Christ was onely man Victor Theodorum dicentem Christum purum hominem sine Deo esse Ecclesia eiecit And Interdicted all them which vpon an Iniury done would not be reconciled to him that had hurt them Sacris Interdixit illis qui ob illatam Iniuriam reconciliari nollent ei qui laesit And yet as both the Protestants and all Catholiks acknowledge he did not make any new ordinance in this but as S. Pius had done before Pius Pascha die Dominica esse celebranda instituit And his Immediate Predecessor Eleutherius our Apostle had done the same Victor Papa dâ—tis latè libellis constituit vt Pascha Die Dominico sicut Praecessor eius Eleutherius à 14. luna
day doth create this his most true and holy body blesseth it and diuideth it to the godly receauers And the words of S. Cyptiā cited by the Magdeburgeā Cyprian Epist 63. ad Caecilium Protestants before out of his 63. Epistle which is to Caecilius are grossely corrupted by them for S. Cyprian doth not say as they cite him before sacrificium Deo patri ipse primus obtulit hoc fieri in sui commemorationem praecepit Christ was the first that offered sacrifice to God the Father and commanded it to be done in commemoration of him For in so saying S. Cypian should haue euidently written vntruely for many before Christ both in the Lawe of nature and Moyses offered sacrifice to God before Christ was Incarnate But S. Cyprian most truely saith that Christ in his last supper was the first that offered himselfe his blessed body and blood to God in sacrifice and commanded the same to be done after him Iesus Christus ipse est summus Sacerdos Dei patris sacrificum patri seipsum primus obtulit hoc fieri in sui commemorationem praecepit And then followeth immediately that which they haue cited from thence that Preists supply the place of Christ in the offering of this Sacrifice and must offer it secundum quod ipsum Christum videat obtulisse as they see Christ offered it in his last supper by the omnipotencie of the word of Christ changing the bread into his blessed body and wine into his pretious blood as S. Cyprian hath told vs before and this most holy Catholike Doctrine he teacheth in diuers Cypr. l. de Orat. Dominicâ Epist 34. Epist 11. 54. l. delapsis Epistol 56. Magdeb. cent 3. c. 4. col 83. other places And among the rest in his 54. Epistle which he and the Councell of Carthage wrote vnto Pope Cornelius to assure vs these holy Popes and he agreed in these Mysteries they plainely affirme Christs body and blood to be present and receaued there by the mouthes of commuricants He taught also by these men that the Eucharist is sanctified on the Altar The Preists sanctifie the Chalice supply the place of Christ and offer Sacrifice to God Cyprianus ait Eucharistia in altari sanctificatur Rursus ait sacerdotes sanctificare calicem Item sacerdotem inquit vice Christi fungi Deo patri sacrificium offerre They also acknowledg S. Cyprian giueth diuers examples of communion onely in one kinde and how both in and before the time of Pope Cornelius it was vsuall with the Bishops of Rome or Italy at the least and others to minister this Sacramēt to communicants onely vnder the forme of bread and to giue them no other liquid thing at that time but water which all men know could be no part of that Sacrament potest ex Cypriani libro 2. Epistola 3. Magdeb. cent 3. c. 5. col 149. tit de ritibus circa caenam ad Cornelium apertè colligi cum tempore Cornelij tum ante eum Romanos aut etiam Italicos alios Episcopos in administratione caenae Dominicae plebiin calice tantum aquam porrexisse non vinum seu sanguinem Domini 9. It is also euident by S. Cyprian that not onely in his time but euen from the Apostles the Sacrifice of Masse was vsually offered for the faithfull departed Magd. supr col 82. Cypr. Ep. 66. ad Plebem Clerum Furnitanorum Epist 57. lib. de mortalitate tractat de disciplinâ habitâ Virg. de Stella Magis Innocent Mart. Magdeb. cent 1. c. 4. col 84. col 82. Magdeb. cent 3. c. 4. col 86. tit de castitate virginitate and they therein prayed for The like he teacheth of Intercession to Saints in heauen and their prayers for them that liue which these Protestants confesse to haue bene S. Cyprian his doctrine Cyprianus libro tertio Epistola 15. lapsos dixit auxilio Martyrum apud Deum adinuari And thy confesse that S. Cyprian plainely holdeth that the Martyrs and Saints deceased pray for them that liue Certè in fine prioris Epistolae libri primi non obscurè sentit Cyprianus Martyres Sanctos defunctos pro viuentibus orore These Protestants further confesse that S. Cyprian aequaled or rather preferred the true Virginall life to that of Angels and calleth the chaste and single life of Clergie men a state of Angelike condition And allthough Marriadge is good and instituted by God yet continency is better and Virginitie more excellent Cyprianus Virginitas inquit aequat se Angelis si verè exquiramus excedit dum in carne luctata victoriam contra naturam refert quam non habent Angeli In libro de dono pudicitiae Liber de singularitate Clericorum eodem modo castitatem statum vocat qualitatis Angelicae Et sermone de Natiuitate Christi etsi bona sunt instituta à Deo coniugia melior tamen est continentia virginitas excellentior They tell vs further that he teacheth the doctrine of meritt and good works to take away sinne and iustifie Cyprianus l. 3. Epistolarum Epistola 25. sentit meritorum praecedentium defensione obuelari peccata Et in sermone de eleemosinis ex professo sentit peccata commissa post Baptismum eleemosynâ bonis operibus extingui And both to proue this doctrine and iustifie those Bookes of Tobias Ecclesiasticus and others which our Protestants deny to be Canonicall Scripture he teacheth the contrary and citeth them as holy Scriptures with others for these opinions Id probare conatur dictis Scripturae vt Tobiae quarto sicut aqua extinguit ignem sic eleemosyna peccatum And all the other Bookes and parts of them which the present Roman Church admitteth for holy Scripture and our English Protestants disallowe for such S. Cyprian doth receaue them as Catholiks now doe as appeareth in these Marginall citations where besides Tobias and Ecclesiasticus before granted he approueth in expresse termes the Booke of Wisedome a the Booke of Baruch the Prophet (b) l. 2. aduers Iud. c. 6. de orat Domin the song of the 3. children Cyprian Ep. 62. 52. exhort Mart. c. 12. ad Quirin l. 3. c. 59. l. de mortalitate (c) de orat Dom. Serm. de lapsis the History of Susanna (d) Epist 40. l. de bono pudicitiae of Bel and the Dragon in the Booke of Daniel (e) Epist 56. l. de Orat. Dominica Ser. de eleemosina and Bookes of the Machabees (f) Epistol 55. 56. exhort Mart. cap. 11. And yet that he did not ascribe all to Scripturs and reiect Traditions as our Protestants doe they haue sufficiently confessed before when they acknowledge S. Cyprian taught so many points of doctrine which as they say are not contayned in Scripturs 10. To which they adde many more of greate moment as of the validitie number ministration and true Ministers of the Sacraments the principall essentiall
of God with eternall felicitie in heauen but had such honour and renowne also heare on earth that greater she could not haue she was Empresse the Coine stamped with her Image she had power ouer the Imperiall Treasure to vse it at her pleasure and being gloriously to dye about fourescore yeares old left her sonne Emperour and grandsonnes Caesars and the better to perpetuate her memory on earth two Cyties were founded of her name one in Bithinia the other in Palestina Pro quibus rebus videtur dignè a Deo remunerata esse Nam vita quam hic degebat eius generis fuit vt neque splendidior neque illustrior esse potuerit Augustaitem fuit appellata eiusque Imagine nummi signati Thesauri quoque Imperatorij potestatem a filio adepta eo pro arbitratu vsa est Mortem gloriasam obijt tum cum annos circiter octoginta confecisset filium simul cum nepotibus Caesaribus totum Imperium Romanum gubernantem post se relinqueret Denique nomen eius iam mortuae obliuione minime obrutum est sed sunt duae vrbes altera in Bythinia in Palestina altera vtraque eius nomine nsuncupata velut pignus ad illius memoriam perpetuandam aetati posterae relictâ— 24. At her death her sonne so greate an Emperour diligently wayted on her and held her hands and so most blessed woman she seemed vnto wisemen not to dye but leaue a worse for a better life Suo filio tanto tamque eximio Imperatore ipsi praesto assistente sedulo inseruiente manus ipsius tenente finem ita viuendi fecit vt beatissima quidem iure optimo non mori prudentibus videretur sed vitam caducam fragilem cum caelesti aeterna reuera commutare Her body Euseb lib. 3. de vit Const c. 46. Martyrol Rom. 18. Aug. Socrat. Hist l. 2. cap. 13. Niceph. l. 8. c. 31. honored with renowned obsequies attended with a wonderfull company of wayters on it was so conueyed from Rome vnto Constantinople and there layed in an Imperiall Sepulchre Eius autem Tabernaculum splendidis exequijs decoratum nam maxima satellitum turba ad ciuitatem quae principem locum tenet Imperij deportatum fuit ibique regali Sepulchro conditum 25. As she is glorious in heauen so on earth her Feast in the Latine Church is Martyrol Rom. supr Vsuard Ado. eod die Menolog Graec. 12. Cal. Iul. Inscript Antiq. ante valuas Eccles S. Gereonis Colon. Petr. Merssaeus Catal. Elect. Eccl. in Archiep. Colon. Io. Pitseus de Illustr Brit. Scrâ—pt aetate 4. in sancta Helen Io. Bal. l. Script Brit. centur 1. in Helen Fláuia celebrated the 18. day of August in the Greeke the 20. of Iune and in old Monuments proposed for and most honorably and singularly named a Paterne and Example for greate Kings and Princes and an Empresse full of grace as in the old Church of S. Gereon in Collen one of her Noble foundations Regibus Exemplum Sacroque Chrismate Plena Condidit hoc templum Sancti Gereonis Helena ConstaÌ„tinus Manasses calleth her faeminam beatissimaÌ„ A late English Writer writeth that from Christ to her time there scarcely was to be found a woman more adorned with all vertues and learned in all sciences A Christo nato vsque ad illud tempus vix viderat sol faeminam omnibus virtutibus ornatiorem in omnibus scientijs doctiorem And to giue vnto her Protestants praises not too lauish in commending such holy Saints they are enforced to confesse Helena Augusta Seremissimi Coeli Regis haeres vnica filia Magni Constantini Caesaris mater incomparabili decore fide Religione bonitate pia magnificentia Eusebio etiam teste per totum resplenduit orbem Inter omnes aetatis suae faeminas nulla inueniebatur eâ in liberalibus artibus doctior nulla in instrumentis musicis peritior aut in linguis Nationum copiosior Innatam habebat ingenij claritudinem oris facundiam ac morum ornatissimam compositioneÌ„ hebricè graecè Latinè erudita Marito Constantio Chloro Caesare Eboraci defuncto cum Anna illa Euangelica in sancta viduitate perdurauit ad vltimum vitae diem tota Christianae Religioni dedita Sunt enim Authores qui narrent peristam cessante persecutione pacem Ecclesijs datam ad tantam Philosopbiae cognitioneÌ„ eam ferunt peruenisse vt ediderit de Prouidentia Dei Librum vnum De immortalitate animae librum 1. c. The Empresse Helena Mother of Constantine the Emperour for her incomparable beauty faith ReligioÌ„ goodnes and pious magnificence as Eusebius himselfe witnesseth was renowned throughout all the world Among all woman of that Age none was found more learned in Liberall Arts none more skillfull in musicall InstrumeÌ„ts none more copious in the languages of Nations She had a naturall promptnes of wit eloquence of speach and most commendable conuersation in life Excellenlly learned in Hebrue Greeke and Latine Her husband Constantius Chlorus Emperour dying at Yorke with holy Anne spokeÌ„ of in the Ghospell she perseuered in holy wydowe hood vntill her death wholly deuoted to Christian Religion And Authours say that by her peace was giuen to Churches She is reported to haue come to so greate knowledge in learning that she wrote a Booke of the Prouidence of God one of the Immortalitie of the soule one the Rule of well lyuing One of Epistles to her sonne Constantin one of her Reuelations one to S. Anthony the Abbot one of Greeke Pontic Virun Hist Brit. l. 5. verses extant in Ponticus Virunnius his time as he writeth extant adhuc Carmina quae dam graeca quae illius fuisse perhibentur Thus this glorious Saint and Empresse ended her life so holy vertuous as Sozomen writeth that none could Sozomen Hist Eccl. lib. â— cap. 1. be more honorable renowned then it was vita quam hic degebat eius generis fuit vt neque splendidior neque illustrior esse potuerit 26. Baronius and the Roman Writers dare not for certaine deliuer or in Baron Spond Annal. an 326. particular set downe the yeare of her death but say it is not knowne quoto anno Domini defuncta fuerit incompertum habetur But our English Historians both Catholicks Protestants are more confident say she dyed in the 337. yeare of Christ being then as others also testifie 80. yeares old Octogenaria Io. Pitseus aetat 4. in S. Helena Ioh. Bal. l. de Script Britan. in Helena Flauia Baron Spond supr Sozomen l. 2. Hist cap. 1. Eus l. 3. vit Const cap. 45. Euseb l. 4. vit Const Baron SpoÌ„d Annal. an 335. Marian. Scot. aetat 6. an 385. Euseb supr cap. 40. Socrat. Hist Eccl. l. 1. cap. obdormiuit in Domino quinto Calendas Septembris anno Redemptionis humanae 337. And Baronius doth not write to the contrary but rather inclineth to confirme it when writing of the yeare
in that our Mother Church thus they testifie and first of S. Syluester that Pedagoge ad Tutor of Constantine in these words There be very many Decrees of Pope Syluester of consecrating Chrisme confirming children adorning Churches couering Altars ordaining Massing Preistâ— annointing vesting them of worshiping adoring and reseruing the consecrated Hostes also of Deacons vesturs Albes Miters Palls Sacrifices Ceremonies Asiles Extreame vnctions other Rites Huius Syluestri permulta feruntur Instituta de Chrismate consecraÌ„do Ordinibus dandis pueris confirmandis templis ornandis Altaribus tegendis Missatoribus constituendis vngendis vestiendis Hostijsque vt vocant deificandis adornandis seruandis Item de Dalmaticis Cappis Corporalibus Albis Mitris Pallijs Pannis Peplis Sindonibus Sacrificijs Ceremonijs Asilis Extremis vnctionibus alijsque ritibus How a Preist should be vested when he sayd Masse that no lay man might empleade any of the Clergie That no Clergy man should be conuented before Magdeburgen centur 4. cap. 6. cap. 7. cap. 9. cap. 10. a secular Iudge If the Reliks of Saints or Martyrs were to be translated from other places they should be brought into Cities and Villages religiously in singing per Psalmodias Religiosè acciperentur ac deducerentur He approued and exercised the Primacy of the Pope of Rome as all other Popes then did The chast and Religious conuersation of Monkes and Nunnes were then vsed and liuers Monasteries of men and women then in Rome In the Clergie were these Degrees Bishops Preists Deacons Subdeacons Acoluthists Exorcists Lectors Ostiarij The Bishops Preists Deacons and Subâ—eacons were vnmarried and liued in chastitie Episcopi Presbyteri Diaconi aut virgines eliguntur aut certè post Sacerdotium in aeternum pudici That the sacrifice of Masse might not be celebrated but in places consecrated by a Bishop Missae celebrationem in nullis praeterquam ab Episcopo sacratis locis faciendam Concilium Româ—num sub Syluestro constituit And in the same Councell to which both S. Syluester and Constantine subscribed it is defined as I haue Concil Roman can 20. before cited that the Roman See is the cheifest See Iudge of all and to be Iudged of none Emperor Clergie Kings or people nemo iudicabit primam Sedem quoniam omnes Sedes à prima Sede iustitiam desiderant temperari Neque ab Augusto neque ab omni Clero neque à Regibus neque à populo Iudex iudicabitur These Protestants Magdeburgen c. 6. â—upr cent 4. also deluer for the doctrine and vse of this time for penitents to make sacramentall Confession of their sinnes and Preists to enioyne pennances and giue absolution vnto such Penitents Concerning holy Scripturs the third Councell of Carthage in the beginning of the next Age apprehending the same Canon of holy Scripturs which the present Roman Church now receaueth Concil Carth. â— can 47. faith plainely that it receaued it from the Fathers which were before them Pro confirmando isto Canone innotescat quia à Patribus ista accepimus in Ecclesia August l. 2. doctrin Christian cap. 7. legenda And S. Augustine liuing in this Age is witnesse that the Apostolâ—ke Sees Rome the cheife receaued it so How vaine and Idle our Protestants and their Article of Religion in reiecting Traditions and onely admitting Scripturs in matters of Religion is euident in so many recited Articles which these men haue granted and yet deny them to be contained in or to be deduced from Scripturs as also their Article and doctrine against Communion onely in one kinde contending as though it could not be practized or permitted when these Protestants themselues confesse that in this time euen in the Roman Church Communion onely vnder one kinde was vsed Ambros orat Funebri de morte Satyri and by the greatest Doctors then in the Church of God namely S. Ambrose who so writeth and at his death practized it in himselfe onely receauing vnder the forme of bread as Catholiks now vse and his brother Satyrus others often so accustomed euen when they were in health Which these Paulin. in vita S. Ambrosij Protestants thus confesse Peregrinantes ac Nauigantes EucharistiaÌ„ secum circumtulisse Christianos ex Ambrosio apparet ex oratione Ambrosij in funere fratris Satyrij Magdeburgen cent 4. cap. 6. col 429. 430. Ab honorato Ecclesiae Vercellensis Sacerdote Ambrosio morituro oblatum esse corpus Domini quo accepto expiraret Paulinus tradidit in vita Ambrosij These men also teach that the doctrine of the See of Rome and the Fathers at this time concerning freewill and originall sinne was the same with that of the Magdeburgen cent 4. cap. 4. cap. 10. Roman Church in these dayes So that if any man will compare but these points of doctrine which S. Syluester and Constantine then held and practized with the English Protestant Religion as it is set downe in the priuiledge Booke of the Articles thereof warranted by Parlament Kings Authoritie Conuocation of their Protestant Bishops Oath and Subscription of them and their whole Ministery he shall not finde any one true Article then amoÌ„g them all which are opposite to the Church of Rome and Religion thereof at this time But whether we are Catholiks placing spirituall Primacie in the See of Rome then in S. Syluester or Protestants asscribing it vnto their Christian Kings Constantine then both King and Emperour heare we must be of this holy Religion wherein these two greate Rulers were so vnited together in all points especially seeing these Protestants haue warranted these two Princes were holy and of themselues worthie paterns to be imitated now as the whole Catholike Christian world then ioyned with them in doctrine S. Syluester Magdeburgen cent l. 4. cap. 10. being Pope say our Protestants did faithfully performe his office in teaching and amended many things in the Clergie was renowned for working Miracles and by them conuerted many to the faith at seuen Ordinations he consecrated 65. Bishops all ioyning with him in Religion Syluester factus Episcopus docendi munere fideliter functus est vitiosa in ordine Ecclesiastico multa emendauit miraculis claruit etiam quibus multos ad fidem conuertit Ordinationibus sacris septem perfectis creauit Episcopos sexaginta quinque So likewise did all other knowne Catholike Bishops in the whole world either actually assembled in or consenting vnto the renowned Councels of so many hundreds of Bishops of Nice Rome Arles and other places in his time agreeing and consenting together for theÌ„selues and the whole Christian world committed to their charge in Religion Like was the case of Constantine so farre as temporall Prince had to deale in these affaires Of all Emperors that euer were he was he greatest in Power and Dominions and the greatest Reuerencer we finde in Histories of the See Apostolike and Popes of Rome in his time and all other Godly Bishops and assisted all he could the assembling
with the Church of Rome now liued Britaine France venit in Franciam Italy Rome where he was so famous and the Easterne Churches agreed in such holy doctrine as he preached and committed to writing being the very same as Protestants themselues confesse which the Church of Rome now professeth condemning the opinions of Protestants as he had any cause to speake of such points beginning with the first and cheife Article of their Religion Iustification by faith as they confesse solam fidem ad salutem sufficere negat So of others And yet they say he had most diligently read and agreed with the Fathers of this Age the most learned Patres diligentissimè legit Originem Augustinum Hieronymum Ambrosium Eusebium Gennadium Nam ex horum interpretationibus suarum ipse in Paulum explicationum collectanea congessit ex alijs proculdubio And agreed with them in matters of Religion 4. Therefore this our renowned Doctor agreeing in all this with the best learned Magdebur cent 5. cap. 10. col 1284. Sedul in cap. 5. ad Ephes 5. ad Phil. 3. 4. ad Rom. Magdebur cent 5. c. 4. col 505. in that Age both of the Latine and Greeke Church with the Pope and Church of Rome where he was of so greate fame mirabili doctrina clarus as also in the other both Easterne and Westerne Christians where he had trauailed and preached and so glorious that the Protestants themselues acknowledge he was most rare for gifts of learning his works approued by Pope Gelasius some of theÌ„ receaued still vsed in the publike Church seruice and he stiled by that learned Pope as S. Bede after was for the like worthines venerabilis venerable Vir erat faeliâ—i ingenio praeditus acri iudicio facuÌ„dia indicibili Breuiar Roman Hym. ad Laud. in Natiuitate Domini Epiph. ad Vesper Epiphan Sedul Hymn de Christ l. 1. cap. peperisse Christum Neque minus ei cognita extitere diuina quam humana Adeo vt in Decretis Distinct 15. Gelasius Pontifex venerabilem Sedulium eum vocauerit eiusque non mediocri laude commendauerit scripta The Hymnes which the Catholike Church still vseth in the publike Seruice thereof at the Laudes in the greate Festiuitie of Christs birth and vigil of the Epiphany beginning A solis ortus cardine ad vsque terrae limitem Christum canamus principem natum Maria virgine and that of both the EueÌ„songs of the Epiphany which beginneth hostes Herodes impie Christum venire quid times non eripit mortalia qui regna dat caelestia were composed by him part of his workes and from him thus generally honored in the Church of Christ as that in honor of the blessed Virgin Salue sancta pareÌ„s enixa puerpera Regem Qui caelum terramque tenet per saecula cum virginitatis honore nec primam similem visa es nec habere sequenteÌ„ sola sine exemplo placuisti femina Christo Besides his greate trauailes and paines in preaching he wrote much Our Protestant Historians and others asscribe aboue 40. bookes to him Aldus Manutius who published diuers of his works aboue 100. yeares fince in the yeare of Christ 1501. or 1502. giueth many reasons that he lyued aboue 1100. yeares before that time Sedulium ab hinc mille centum annos ac plus eo fuisse colligimus Ald. Manut. Epist ante opera Iuuenci Sedulij c. Sedul Epist ad Macedonium Presbyterum and to haue liued in the same time with S. Hierome puto Hieronimum Sedâ—lium eisdem fuisse temporibus Which Sedulius himselfe in his Epistle to Macedonius seemeth sufficiently to proue speaking therein of S. Hierome as then liuing and writing as also of some holy parsons then in life to whome he wrote Therefore I place him in this Age yet not denying but he might liue to the beginning of that which followeth This our Sedulius much esteemeth in that Epistle Vrsinus a Bishop Vrsicinus Laurentius Gallicanus Preists and Faelix whome according to his name he nameth a truely happy man vere Faelicem for his contempt of this world cui mundus crucifixus est And others doe say they were his familiar friends and worthie men as he and they likewise doe Magdeburgen centur 1. of this Macedonius to whome he wrote Therefore not finding any Historian clayming these or any of them for any other Nation and hauing heard before that many Britans then went into those parts that they were entreated thereto and besides our owne forreine Antiquaries write that in those dayes our Arnold Merm Theatr. conuers gent. Britans did often goe on Pilgrimage to the holy Land and Rome and preach euery where as they went Britanni olim dum terram sanctam aut Apostolorum Limina visitarunt passim Euangelio praedicando seruiebant we may not vnprobably presume that these or some of them were also of this Kingdome And some write that saint Fridolin a Princes sonne of this Country some say a Scot S. Patrike very renowned in this Age. did in this Age wheÌ„ saint Hilary was Bishop of Poicters apud Pictauos Hilario Episcopo preach in Belgia Argentine Chur Rhetia Burgundy Basile Sigebert Chron. an 394. Fascicul tempor ad An. 384. Nen. Hist M. S. Floren. Wigorn. an 490. Probus in vit S. Patricij Capgrau in eod Genebr Chron. Sigebert Chron. an 491. Fascicul tempor an 423. Marian. Scot. aetat 6. an 491. Sur. Lippol 17. Mart. Baron not Mart. eod die Io. Bal. cent 1. in Patric Io. Pits in eodem Matth. Westm an 491. FloreÌ„c Wigorn. Chronic. an 372. and other places and founded many Monasteries by the Ryuer Rhine I may also ioyne saint Patrike borne in Britaine heare in this Century wherein he was not onely borne but liued in most holy conuersation many yeares both in this his natiue Country Ireland whether he was by Pagan Scottish Irish Pirats with his Christian Sisters and others violently carried hence there sold to serue Sigebert saith this was in the yeare of Christ 394 Sanctus Patricius in Hibernia cum suis sororibus veÌ„ditur vbi cum esset Regis Porcarius Angeli saepe alloquio fruitur The Author of Fasciculus Temporum saith he was sold thither with his Sisters ten yeares sooner and they were reuerenced there An. 384. Patricius magnus pater Hibernorum Apostolus circa haec tempora in Hibernia veneratur cum suis sororibus Angeli saepe colloquio fruitur 5. But if we calculate and compare the yeares of his life and death we shall certainely finde that he was solde into Iereland from hence longe before either of these times and was aboue 30. yeares old in this Age. All Historians agree that as he liued 122. yeares so he died in the yeare 491. by which accompt he must needs be borne in the yeare of Christ 368. or 369. and be aboue 30. yeares old in this Age. Marianus Scotus Probus Capgraue and others
made By heauens faire Orbes What ere Obliuion's shade Had ruined and in the doing lost Thou hast repayred at thy deare Memorye's cost Yea the whole SVMME OF BRITTISH MOTION Renew'd reduc d to present Notion Philosophers that hold NO ACTE THE SAME CAN TWICE BE DONE must needes adore thy NAME Thy so diuining so presageing NAME Whose euery lettre is a TRVMP of fame To sound Gods Church Thou haist BROVGHT back whole Ages The same to act ON oures and future stages Thou hast enforc'd great Rome with much a doe To know that wee haue OVR BARONIVS too Liue till thy bOOKE die laugh at Enuys dart And glory in thy AGE-REVIVING ART H. T. IN EVNDEM DOcta SOROR Latium magnis licet inuidet AVSIS Et dolet Angliacos tanta referre modos In laudes Broughtone tuas tamen ire superbit Miraturque Tuum quod cupit esse Suum Ne dubites en Romano te more salutat Atque NOVENA INGENS FRONDE coronat OPVS H. T. AN ANAGRAME ON THE SAME RICHARD BROVGHTON RIâ—H HARD BROVGHT ON RICH is thy worke in times best iewels RICH. Pure gold in euery Stitch. HARDE too What wonder all faire things are HARDE Faire same bee thy rewarde BROVGHT backe from death Who ere the like hath BROVGHT This past our Ages thought ON then least wanting thee times goe not ON THEE times relies vpon H. T. I can not speake thy WOORTH yet I desire To be amongst thy PRAYSERS and ADMIRE F. H. APPROBATIO HAEC Historia Ecclesiastica magnae Britanniae à viro docto elaborata multa continet ex vetustissimis monumentis eruta quae fidem Catholicam â primis saeculis in illa florentem demonstrant nec habet aliquid fidei aut moribus aduersum vt fide digno testimonio ab eo percepi qui opus totum perlegit Quapropter dignum visum est quod lucem aspiciat Actum Duaci 12. Octobris 1633. GEORGIVS COLVENERIVS S. Theol. Doctor Regius ordinariusque Professor Duacensis Academiae Cancellarius librorum Censor THE ECCLESIASTICALL HISTORIE OF GREAT BRITAINE THE FIRST AGE THE I. CHAPTER TREATING GENERALLY OF THE NATIuitie of Christ in the time of Augustus Emperour of Rome and Kymbelnie King of Brittayne And how it came to the knowledge of the Brittans 1. AFTER Iulius Cesar the first Emperour of Rome who had made this kingdome of Brittayne tributary to the Romans and carried many Hostages and Prisoners from hence to Rome was slayne and his next Successour Augustus the second Emperour say our Antiquaries auncient and late Catholiks and others by the will of God had established most sure peace through the world our Redeemer The blessed birth of Christ Iesus Redeemer of the world Ranulph Higeden hist l. 4. c. 6. Stow. Et howe 's hist tit the Romans in Cesar Augustus an 1. Christ Matth. Westminst chron an gratiae 5. Galfrid monum hist Britt l. 4. c. 11. Virun l. 4. Io. Harding f. 30. Stow. howe 's supra Matth. Westm aetat 5. an 9. 10. Theater of Brit. l. 6. Raph. holin hist of Engl. l. 3. p. 32. Hector Boeth Scotor hist l. 3. veremund hist Scot. Grim stoÌ„ in Scot. in Metellan Stow. hist in Cassibelan and Octau Augustus Io. Bal. l. de Script centur 1. in Gilda Cambr. Claudia Mat. Paâ—ker antiquit Brit. p. 2. Theater of Brit. pag. 202. Mat. Westm an 44. Golfrid hist Brit. l. 4. c. 9. Bal. supr in Androgeo Fabian hist in Kimbeline Guido de columna Holinsh. hist of Engl. l. 3. p. 32. Dion l. 59. Stow. hist in Guider Galfrid hist Brit. l. 5. c. 18. Holinsh. hist of Engl. l. 4. p. 51. Stow. hist in Coil Hector Boeth Scotor hist l. 3. f. 36. p. 2. Strabo l. de Situ orbis Hect. Boeth suprà fol. 37. Iesus Christ true God and man was borne in the 42. yeare of his Empire in the fift yeare of the Reigne of Canobelyne or Kymbeline in this Kingdome of Brittayne and as our scottish historiaÌ„s say Metallanus ruled then among the people called Scots A litle before which time by the greate prouidence of God to make this our Brittayne more timely and particularly partaker of such heauenly Tideings before other nations Augustus intending an expedition against this kingdome Ambassadours came from Brittayne to Rome entreating for peace swearing fealtie in the Temple of Mars offering guifts in the Capitole to the Gods of the Romans and submitted parte of the I le to Augustus They gaue him for securitie so many and greate Nobles of this Nation for pledges and hostages that all here were so quiet that one bande of Souldiars and a fewe horesemen were sufficient to keepe the I le in the Roman possession 2. And by such meanes the Romans did euer here secure themselues of the Brittans from their first Inuasion by Iulius Caesar carrying away from hence and keeping them at Rome for their glory honour and quiet not onely many of our cheife Nobilitie men women and children but of the regall race and blood and Kings themselues Among which we finde that Androgius sonne and heyre to King Ludd liued and died there Cassibilane his vnkle who was subdued by Caesar giue hostages and made this kingdome Tributary to the Roman Empire Theomantius his Nephew and Successour in the Kingdome payed tribute to the Romans which Cassibilane had graunted and reigned quietly And his Sonne Cunobeline King after him his Father was one of his Fathers hostages in Rome in his time and was kinghted there Adaminus sonne of King Cunobeline was kept at Rome by Caius Caligula Emperour His Brother Guiderius if he was King here at all reigned but a verie shorte time Aruitragus next King of Brittayne Married the daughter or neare kinswoman of Claudius the Emperour and had by her his sonne and heire Marius Successour in this kingdome Coillus his sonne heire and next King here after him was ab Infantia Romae enutritus brought vp at Rome from his Infancie King Lucius his sonne and heire and our first Christian in Britaine had the like dependances from thence and by that happy meanes and occasion together with his kingdome receaued publikely the faith of Christ from blessed Eleutherius Pope and Bishop there 3. Neither was this greate league of amitie onely betweene Rome such parts of Britaine which English inhabite now and longe haue done but with the whole Iland of Britaine and other parts about it also as the Scottish historians doe plainely write contending That the Emperour Augustus and Senate of Rome did not onely send Ambassadours to King Kymbeline to congratulate his being King of Britaine but also as These writers say to Metellanus King of the Scots to signifie their loue to him and the greate peace the Emperour had then established in all the world whereupon Metellanus to make this loue of the Romans more sure vnto him sent vnto Augustus Caesar and the Capitall of Rome guifts in his owne name and the Scottish nation by which
history Among whom Louys de Mayerne in his historie generale d'Espagne writing from the Spanyards themselues affirmeth that the doctrine of Christ was knowne in the time of Tyberius but obscure who was their Apostle And after proueth how the Spaniards which say S. Iames was there say also that he conuerted but nine persons and returned into Iury and liued all his life after in Hierusalem and the places adioyning And so no time is left for his Irish Iorney supposed as before being beheaded by Herode in the third yeare of Claudius the Emperour And S. Isidor himselfe a Spaniard if Authour Isidor Hispal l. de vit mort Sanctorum c. 73. Philipp Bergom ad An. 43. Breu. Rom. in fest S. Iacobi 25. Iulij of that booke of the life death of Saints carrieth him no further theÌ„ Spaine so Philippus Bergomensis with others and the whole Latine Church in the publike office of his festiuitie Is so farre from allowing any further limits to his preaching then Spaine in these westerne parts that it doth not warrant vnto vs that he was in Spaine but onely saith that the Tradition of the contrie of Spaine is so Iacobus post Iesu Christi Ascensum in coelum in Iudaea Samarta praedicans plurimos ad Christi fidem perduxit Mox Hispaniam adijsse Magdeburgen Cenâ—ur 1. l. 2. c. 2. col 22. 23. Francis Burgoin hist l. 2. c. 1. ibi aliquot ad fidem conuertisse illius prouinciae traditio est 3. And that Hiberia Spaine should be gathered onely from Vincentius and not Hibernia Ireland it is made cleare by the like mistaking of the Magedurgian Protestants who setting downe who they thinke preached in this part of the world in bringing Vincentius to say S. Iames preached in Ireland quite thrust him out of Spaine it selfe leauing it to S. Paule and yet that doubt fully In Hispaniam Paulus se permittit Iturum esse Rom. 15. verum an eo perueneâ—t incertum est In Hibernia Iacobum vnà cum alijs quibusdam docuisse Vincentius scribit lib. 8. c. 7. Paul promiseth that he would goe into Spaine in his epistle to the Romans But whether he came thither or no it is vncertaine Vincentius writeth that Iames with some others taught in Ireland So that the errour of these men in this matter doth so much as it can against the tradition of the Spanyards depriue them of that holy Apostle and yet for his being in Ireland proueth nothing at all for as all men know Hiberia and Hibernia be quite different Contries and Hiberia Vincentius his word is neuer taken for Ireland but for Spayne Therefore whosoeuer would with the Magdeburgian Protestants chaunge Vincentius his Hiberia into their owne in this case Imagined Hibernia which Vincentius doth not name must needs by his authoritie the onely or cheife ground they haue depriue both Ireland and Spaine of the presence of S. Iames. For Vincentius onely nameth Hiberia to be the place where this Apostle preached which by no possible construction can comprehend both those Contries so diuided And the Disciples which he had being very fewe Guliel Eisengr cent 1. in Hispa Antonin part 1. tit 6. c. 7. Petrus de Natal lib. 6. c. 133. Loys Maycrne hist gener sup Vincent in specul historial l. 9. c. 7. cap. 6. Breu. Rom. 25. Iulij Martyrol Rom. 25. Iulij were onely Spaniards there borne not any one of any other Nation Scotland Ireland or whatsoeuer as is euident in all writers of his life and death euen by Vincentius himselfe whom these Protestants haue cited before who neuer nameth Mansuetus or any sent into these parts of Ireland Scotland or Britaine So the publike Church Seruice in the feast of that Apostle with the rest The old Roman Martyrologe speaketh of his body carried to Spaine not of his preaching there That place which these men cite from VinceÌ„tius in the 7. chapter of his 8. booke hath not one word either of Hiberia or Hibernia or S. Iames but speaketh of S. Ihon Baptiste his preaching and life 4. Therefore the whole current of our late English Protestant Antiquaries whoÌ„ I am still to be directed by perceauing perhaps how vnaduisedly their Brethren of Magdeburge Francis Burgoinge and Holinshed haue carried themselues in this busines hath quite forsaken them running in an other channell and neuer remembring S. Iames among those Apostles from whom this kingdome by any meanes receaued the holy Religion of Christ For Vincentius writeth no such thing but quite oterwise that he onely preached in Hiberia Spaine and from thence returned to Hierusalem againe His words in the old Manuscript Copy are these Quandles Apostres se separirent en diuers Vincent specul historial manuscrip Gallic antiq l. 7. c. 7. parties contrâ—es Iacques Apostre de Dieu prescha la parolle de Dieu sans poeur és parties de Hyberie la où il esleut 7. Disciples Torele Second Inladette Cilefont Eufrase Celee Ysichoe annonça leur erreur sema en eux la parolle de Dieu qui longuement auoit esté fans fruict quand le dernier iour approcha il les mena auec luy en Ierusalem la reccut le martyr Which translated into English is thus When the Apostles did disperse themselues into seuerall partes and Contries Iames an Apostle of Christ did preach the word of God without feare in the Contries of Hiberia Spaine where he did chuse 7. Disciples Torquel Second Inladette Cilefont Eufrase Celee Ysichoe and did announce their errours and sow in them the word of God which longe time remained without fruit And when the last day did approach he Hymn Eccl. Tolet de S. Iacobo apud Baron annot in Martyrolog Rom. die 25. Iulâ—j Baron annotat supr in Iacobo Arnoldus Mirm. Theat Conuers Gent. in S. Iacobo fratre Ioa. Act. c. 8. 9. 10. c. Theater of greate Brit. l. 6. pag. 202. c. 9. Act. 15. v. 7. ledde them with him to Hierusalem and there receaued martyrdome Hitherto the very words of Vincentius whereby is onely expressed that he preached in Spaine and from thence returned to Hierusalem againe 5. The same is testified also by the auncient publike hymne of him vsed in the Church of Toletum in Spaine made by S. Isidore Though many thinke he neuer preached at all in Spaine And if he did as Baronius well proueth it was onely to the Iewes which were there and not in Hibernia Ireland his contrimen for the time of the Decree of the Apostles for preaching to the Gentiles was not yet made this being as the Spaniards say in the 37. yeare of Christ within 4. yeares of his Ascension at which time and after they only preached vnto the Gentiles as the holy Scriptures themselues are witnesse in diuers places And the Protestant Authours of the Theater say that Goâ— had chosen S. Peter that from his mouth the Gentils might
the Edict of Claudius if it had concerned him but was ready to die rather as he did in the time of Nero then to forsake the sheepe of Christ so carefully cōmitted vnto him yet to make all sure in this kind that which these Protestants would make their ground to keepe S. Peter from Rome these parts in that time doth ouerthrowe thē in their owne deuising for it is as the Magdeburg cēt 1. l. 2. col 26. Oros l. 7. c. 6. Suein vit Claudij Magdeburgian Protestants acknowledge frō their constructiō of the saying of Orosius in his seuenth booke and Suetonius in the life of Claudius Claudium Iudaeos impulsore Christo assiduè tumultiuantes Roma expulisse That Claudius did expell from Rome the Iewes dayly making tumults Christ so they reade being the mouer Therefore seeing the Iewes were expelled for tumults they made and we are assured that the Christians were in no wise Agents in these tumults Claudius could not expell them vnder that pretence And where they reade Christo impulsore Christ being the impeller if we apply it to Christ our Sauiour either it must be vnderstood that Christ moued to the tumults which is blasphemous or that he moued Claudius to expell the Iewes and so the Christians were not expelled for Christ neither did would or could moue to expell the Christans his holy Seruants 4. And Orosius himself hauing with Gregorius Turonensis and others Orosius l. 7. c. 6. Greg. Turon l. 1. hist cap. 25. ascribed the conuersion of the first Christians in Rome in the beginning of the Reigne of Claudius vnto S. Peter he addeth Anno eiusdem nono expulsos per Claudium vrbe Iudaeos Iosephus resert Sed me magis Suetonius mouet qui ait hoc modo Claudius Iudaeos Impulsore Christo assiduè tumultuantes Roma expulit Quod vtrum contra Christum tumultuantes Iudaeos coerceri comprimi iusserit an etiam Christianos simul velut cognatae religionis homines voluerit expelli nequaquam discernitur Iosephus relateth that Claudius expelled the Iewes out of the citie in the ninth yeare of his Reigne But Suetonius moueth me more who saith in this manner Claudius expelled forth of Rome the Iewes dayly making tumults Christ mouing Which is not decerned whether he commanded the Iewes that made tumults against Christ to be corrected and suppressed or would also haue the Christians men in Religion some what like the Iewes to be also expelled This is all he saith and which others ground vpon and this later construction as I haue proued before most needs giue place to the former which keepeth the Christians in fauour with Claudius and free from Banishment which is confirmed by Suidas and others he writeth in Claudius in this manner Cum sub eo Iudaei seditionem contra Suidas in Claudio Christianos mouissent Claudius Faelicem eis praefecit cosque punire iussit When vnder Claudius the Iewes did raise sedition against the Christians Claudius oppointed Felix Gouernour ouer them and caused him to punish them Whereby it is manifest that Claudius was then rather a friend then enemy to Christians And they which reade Christo impulsore Christ being the mouer are mistaken for it was Chresto impulsore Chrestus being the mouer hereof Which Chrestus was a wicked Pagan then liuing in Rome as many Pagans themselues are witnesses Zosimus a Pagan together with Xiphilinus Dio Sextus Aurelius victor and others witnesse that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrestus was then a Consul in great credit in Zosim Com. hist Graec. l. 1. in Alexand. Seuer Ioh. Xiphilin in Epitom Dionis in eodem Sext. Aurel. Victor hist Aug. Oros supr Ado in Chronic. aetat 6. Suetonius in Claudio Sueton. in Nerone Aelius Lamprid. in Alexand. Seu. Rome and being by Latine translators translated Christus after the māner of many Grecians pronoūcing ◠or ita as ◠in Latine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being the Greeke to Christus and written with ◠iota and not ◠eta or ita was the occasion of this mistaking to write Christo Impulsore for Chresto impulsore as Orosius and Ado and perhaps some others did citing Suetonius for their Authour which is euidēt by Suetonius himself who in the place cited from him readeth Chresto and not Christo. His words be these Iudaeos Impulsore Chresto assiduè tumultuantes Roma expulit Claudius expelled the Iewes out of Rome because they dayly made tumults Chrestus being the mouer thereof And the same Suetonius calleth Christians by their name Christians and not Chrestians so doth Flauius Vopiscus in his epistle to Adrian the Emperor call Christ our Sauiour and Christians beleuing in him Christum and Christianos Christ and Christians so doth Aelius Lampridius and other Pagan Authours And that Chrestus which was Impulsor a mouer in those affaires and occasion of the Edict of Claudius being a Pagan was so wicked a man that I may not describe him being so impious that Martial the Poet liuing in those dayes and stayned also with the tinctures of greate sinns yet speaking of him and his behauiour concludeth pudet fari Martial Epigr. l. 7. Epigram 54. lib. 9. Epigr. 28 he is ashamed to speake it Therefore to followe this so warranted opinion that S. Peter was no bannished man from Rome by that Edict of Claudius but voluntarily ex reuelatione by reuelation as the other Apostles dispersed also did at that time went to Hierusalem to celebrate the Assumption of the blessed virgin and to be present at the Councell of the Apostles we shall leaue time enough for S. Peter to returne againe to Rome and visit also this kingdome and these westerne parts in the time of Claudius For our Protestants agree that Councell to haue bene kept about the fourteenth yeare of the Ascension of Christ building vpon S. Paul who saith fourteene yeares Sutcliffe Subu pag. 3. Godwyn Conuers p. 5. c. 1. Gal. 2. v. 1. Protest Fasti Reg. Episcop Angl. after I went vp againe to Hierusalē with Barnabas and tooke Titus with mee Which was the time of this Councell of the Apostles the last Act of note at which these Protestants say S. Peter was present at Hierusalem from which vnto the death of S. Peter they tell vs in their Chronologie of Kings Bishops of this Nation there were twenty yeares time enough to haue preached heare in the time of Claudius if he were not heare before his going from Rome to Hierusalem 5. If we should harken to their opinion that would haue S. Peter bannished from Rome by that Edict of Claudius and so to haue therevpon gone to Hierusalem seeing they tell vs before he staied not there longer then the 14. or 15. yeare after Christs Ascension but by all men returned then againe into the west parts where he had his Residency 24. yeares if in the life of Claudius he did not returne to Rome what Nation in the westerne world shall we finde more
Francis Mason So that there can be no question with any Protestant in England both their Archbishops Bishops and Doctors of the English Protestant Church thus consenting but S. Peter as the rest of the Apostles directed so by the lawe and word of Christ and their owne Tradition Sutcliff Subu p. 3. Ihon Whitg Answ to the admonit p. 65. sect 1. and def of the Answ pag. 318. Clem. l. CompeÌ„diar Christ relig apud Pol. Virg. l. 4. de Inuent c. 12. Whitg supr in Indic p. 372. 373. 427. 470. 471. Clem. Roepist 1. to 1. Concil did ordain and consecrate such holy Rulers in those Churches which they founded and so consequently in this our Britaine according to that I haue allready written of his preaching heare Which diuers of these Protestant writers teache in plaine termes of him in particular one of them writeth thus Peter preached in no place but he there ordeined Bishops and teachers and founded Churches An other an Archbishop with them citing diuers authorities for his Assertion saith I proue that the names of Metroprolitane and Archbishop be most auncient yea that they were in the Church long before the ghospell was publickly embraced by any Prince or in any kingdome Polidor Virgil lib. 4. de Inuentoribus rerum cap. 12. saith that Clement in his booke intituled Compendiarium Christianae Religionis testifieth that the Apostle Peter did in euery prouince appoint one Archbishop whome all other Bishops of the same prouince should obey he saith also that the same Archbishop was called Primas Patriarcha Metropolitanus Which is also set downe at lardge from the mouth of S. Peter by the same S. Clement his Disciple and successor in his first epistle And so these Protestants iustifie both the precept and practice of S. Peter in this point which they must needs doe except by their owne warrant before they would make him a most wicked transgressor of the word of God the Apostles Tradition and his owne commandement 3. Therefore with the licence of these men we may boldly say with S. Simon Metaphrastes of S. Peters holy labors of this kind in Britaine verbo Metaph. 29. Iun. gratiae multos illuminauit Ecclesias constituit Episcoposque Presbyteros Diaconos ordinauit he illuminated many with the word of grace constituted Churches and ordained Bishops and Preists and Deacons And this the rather because not Arnold Mirm. Theatr. conuers gent. Sur. Lippom 29. Iun. Gul. Eisengr ceÌ„tenar 1. part 7. dist 8. Baron to 1. Annal. Harris hist to 1. Theater of greate Brit. l. 6. Camden in Brit. Andre Chesne hist of Eng. Scot. and Ireland lib. 3. onely Arnoldus Mirmannius Surius Lippomannus Gulielmus Eisengrenius Baronius M. Harris in his Manuscript history and other Catholike writers haue thus deliuered But our Protestant Theater writers speaking of these matters proue the Relator of them lyued 800. yeares since and for his Authoritie produced them out of the Greeke Antiquities And the cheife Protestant Antiquary of EnglaÌ„d affirmeth it to be so certaine that it should not he doubted of so doth Andrew Chesne in his French history of this Iland and Ireland And so must all the Parlement Protestants of England who allowe the booke of Articles where it is decreed that a true Church cannot be without such cleargie Rulers Therefore being graunted by them before that S. Peter founded the Church of Christ in this kingdome they consequently haue graunted he ordained Bishops and others to exercise holy functions in that Church THE XVIII CHAPTER WHEREIN ARE SET DOWNE BY WARrant of Protestants and other Authorities the names in particular of the first Archbishop and diuers Bishops of or in Britaine in this time by S. Peters Ordination 1. ANd to discend to some particulars in this kinde our Protestants S. Aristobulus ordained Archbishop of Britaine by S. Peter as our Protestants assent will giue me warrant to set downe the very names of our first Archbishop and some Bishops ordayned by that greate Apostle S. Peter And concerning the Archbishop except we should turne disciplinary Puritans be singular against all English Protestants Catholiks and all Antiquities and deny that S. Peter himself S. Ihon the Euangelist and others of the Apostles were Archbishops we most needs by the publike warrant of our English Protestants affirme that S. Aristobulus was by S. Peter ordayned Archbishop of this our Britaine For supposing which is proued and graunted before that he was made Bishop by S. Peter in their common publike and allowed Commentary vpon the Articles of their Religion thus Thom. Rogers in Articul Relig. in Artic. 36. they place him among the confessed Archbishops of the Church of Christ and proue him to be Archbishop of this our Britaine in these termes In the Apostles dayes how themselues both were in dignitie aboue the Euangelists and the 72. Disciples and for authoritie both in and ouer the Church as twelue Patriarches Beza in act Apo. 1. 2. saith Beza and also established an Ecclesiasticall Hierarchie Hence came it that Bishop was of Hierusalem Iames of Antioch Peter of the Asian Churches Ihon of Alexandria Marke of Ephesus yea and all Asia Timothie of all Crete Titus of Philippos Epaphroditus of Corinth and Achaia Apollos of Athens Dionisius of Fraunce Crescens of Britaine Aristobulus Where we see it so manifestly acknowledged by these Protestants that S. Aristobulus was Archbishop of this our Britaine that except we would deny that dignitie to the Apostles and other knowne Archbishops there remembred we may not deny it to S. Aristobulus for our Britaine And so these Protestants in their words immediately going before doe name all these I haue recited for telling vs how the Superioritie Rogers supr and Authoritie which Archbishops doe exercise in ordering and consecrating of Bishops and Ecclesiasticall Ministers is grounded vpon the word of God they immediately exemplify in those men and words as I haue related making S. Aristobulus that cheife or Archbishop of Britaine from whome the consecraâ—â—â—n of Bishops and cleargy men was deryued to posteritie in this kingdome as it was from S. Iames at Hierusalem from S. Peter at Antioch S. Ihon in Asia S. Marke at Alexandria and the others remembred in those kingdomes and Prouinces of which they are named Archbishops by Whitg ag Cattw Bilson true differ Bridges l. of the Church of Engl. Downam def of the Serm. Gul. Camden in Britan. in Belg. Andre Chesne hist gen p. 132. these Protestants not onely in this but many other places 2. And S. Dorothaeus Bishop of Tyrus euen as our best Protestant Antiquaries alledge and expounde him doth sufficiently testifie Thus they write Dorothaeus Tyri Episcopus in sua Apostolorum Sinopsi tradit Aristobulum cuius meminit Paulus in Epistola ad Romanos Britanniae Episcopum factum fuisse Dorothaeus Bishop of Tyrus in his booke intituled Synopsis of the Apostles doth deliuer that Aristobulus of whom S. Paul maketh mention in
Antiq. Brit. p. 3. God wyn conu of Brit. c. 2. p. 10. S. Aug. in quad Ep. apud Auth. supr Henry of Huntington for his opinion as is allready declared The first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury and an other also named such a Bishop will help vs to finde an other in the I le of Glastenburye more auncient then that which was builded there by S. Ioseph of Aramathia and his companions in the yeare of Christ 63. this being then fully and perfectly framed and finished before their coming thither and so found by them absolutely perfected And they cite for their Authour S. Augustine the Apostle of England in a certaine Epistle written by him wherein he saith these holy men A Church at Glastenbury before that builded by S. Ioseph of Aramaâ—hia found at their coming thither a Church builded by no art of man but prepared by God for mans saluation Ecclesiam nulla hominum arte instructam immo humanae saluti adeo paratam repererunt Which is also recorded in the old Antiquities of Glastenbury written vpon parchiment fixed vpon broade bords which cite for the same historiam apud S. Edmundum Augustinum the history at S. Antiq. Gaston M. S. â—abulis fixae ex â—ist apud S. Edmundum S. Augustinum Edmunds and S. Augustines Which we must needes referre to the time of S. Peters preaching heare among other miracles to proue his doctrine by God so miraculously prouided a Church to preach the ghospell and Minister Sacraments in and perhaps a motiue to the Pagan King to graunt licence to S. Ioseph to builde their poore Chappell at Glastenbury and to endowe it with possessions Neither can we thinke this Church so priuiledged by that King to haue bene finished without allowance of S. Peter then present in this kingdome no Bishop being then heare but by his Authoritie or Consecration to dedicate and hallow it And when our Protestant Theater writers with others haue told vs that in diuers places of this kingdome euen in the Court of the Roman Lieurenant and among them his Lady and wife Pomponia Graecia there were many Christians before S. Iosephs coming hither which must needes be the spirituall children of S. Peter we may not make him so carelesse a Father that staÌ„ding in no worse terms with the then king of Britaine and Roman Lieutenant then by circunstances before it appeared he did but he prouided some Oratories or poore Churches either by those Princes permission or not contradiction for them to exercise their sacred Christian Religion in though the iniurie of so manie changes and alterations of gouernements in this kingdome with persecutions and Innouations in Religion haue buried their memories in obliuion and left the certaine knowledge and remembrance of so few vnto vs. And both Catholike Tâ—â—e Christian old Churches in the Ilâ— of â—â—wyâ— and Protestant Historians tell vs of two Miraculous auncient Chappels in the Isle of Iewis Boethius calleth it Leuisa the one dedicated to S. Peter the Apostle the other to his Disciple and Successor S. Clement where if the fire or Holinsh. hist of Scotland l. 4. c. 15 â—ector Boetius descript Scot. f. 14. light by mischance goth forth it is or was wont to be in Catholike times miraculously restored at the Altare No man to my reading writeth of their first founding but their names and dedication together with the Miracle giue no small argument they had some originall in or neare those times when S. Peter and S. Clement preached in this kingdome THE XX. CHAPTER WHEREIN FOR THE BETTER DECERNING of truely consecrated Bishops so many Ecclesiasticall matters depending therevpon is shewed by the Antiquities how these Bishops were heare consecrated in the Apostles time and succeeding Ages 1. HAVING thus set downe some holy Bishops consecrated by S. Peter with Preists and others subordinate vnto them and places wherein they preached practised and professed the first Apostolike Christian doctrine and Religion in this kingdome Order and Methode in Historie call vpon mee next to deliuer in particular so fare as our penury of Antiquities will giue mee leaue what Religion it was especially in points now controuersed which that glorious Apostle by himselfe and those his worthie Disciples taught the Christians of this our Britaine and professed in those and other Churches and places of Christian Assemblies But intending to reserue that labour to the end of euery hundred of yeares or to some other booke a parte to shewe the ReligioÌ„ of our Christian BritaÌ„s in that age in such I will heare onely speake of the Order maÌ„ner of coÌ„secrating Bishops heare in that happy time both because I haue made so late lardge mention of such holy Rulers and our Protestants of England still without exaÌ„ple of any others of these new Religions retayne their names and offices as they suppose as euer to haue bene from the Apostles time most necessary to rule direct and gouerne in the Church of Christ 2. It is the common opinioÌ„ of their Antiquaries that the Britans heare from their first receauing of the faith of Christ in the time of the Apostles neuer altered or chaunged it in any one essentiall thing at the least vntill the coming of S. Augustine hither in the later end of the sixt hundred yeare of Christ Then much more must we affirme by these men that the essentiall things in the consecration of true and lawfull Bishops vpon which all other depended were neuer chaunged otherwise the chaunge and alteration in these vnchangeable and vnalterable affaires had bene contrary to these mens assertions too greate and intollerable Then we reade in a very old Manuscript Capgraue to follow two Protestant Bishops with many others that Io. Bal. l. de Scrip. Cent. 1. in Asaph Godwin Catal. of Bishops in cod Asaph Pits l. de vir Illustr in eod S. Asaph in vit S. Kenteg M. S. Antiq. in eodem Io. Capgrau in S. Kentegerno Episcop Confess S. Asaph did write the life of S. Kentegern and dyed aboue a thowsand yeares since that when S. Kentegern vas consecrated Bishop allmost by these Authours 1200. yeares agoe Mos in Britannia inoluerat in consecratione Pontificum tantummodo capita eorum Sacri Chrismatis infusione perungere cum inuocatione Sancti Spiritus benedictione manus impositione Insulani enim quasi extra orbem positi emergentibus Paganorum infestationibus Canonum erant ignari Ecclesiastica ideo censura ipsis condescendens excusationem illorum admittit in hac parte A custome was growne of long time in Britaine in the consecration of Bishops to annoint their heads with infusion of holy Chrisme with inuocation of the holy ghost and benediction and imposition of hands For the Ilanders being as it were placed out of the world by often Infestations of Pagans were ignorant of the Canons And therefore the Ecclesiasticall Censure condesceÌ„ding vnto them admitteth their excuse in this point And immediately before this maÌ„ner
testifie and if he sent S. Ioseph hither out of Francia it was that and no other Francia from whence he sent him The Antiquities of Glastenbury from the testimony of an auncient Monke of S. Denis in France to one Godfridus a Monke of Glastenbury relateth that the Church of Glastenbury was consecrated by the highest greate Bishop meaning as it seemeth S. Peter the Apostle the highest greate Bishop in that time and that it was called the second Rome for the multitude of Epist Godefrid Monachi Glast Antiquitates Glaston Manus tab Affix Saints buried there of the which S. Ioseph was the first Haec gloriosissimi Martyris Dionisij Ecclesia illa Glastoniensis de qua te asseris eandem priuilegij dignitatem habent Ista in Gallia illa in Britannia vno eodem tempore exortae à summo magno Pontifice consecratae Vno tamen gradu illa supereminet Roma etenim secunda vocatur hoc propter multitudinem Sanctorum inibi requiescentium quorum primus fuit Ioseph ab Aramathia ille nobilis Decurio qui Dominum sepeliuit pro cuius sepultura Dominus locum illum elegit atque benedixit THE XXIV CHAPTER FVRTHER PROVING THAT S. PHILIP the Apostle was not in that Gallia France next to Britayne neyther were S. Ioseph and his Associates there or came from thence into Britayne 1. BESIDES the recited Authorities of S. Isidor or the Authour of the booke of the life and death of Saints among his workes and the learned Bishop Freculpbus of which I haue spoken before for their opinion that held S. Philip the Apostle preached Ordo officij Muzarabici in festo S. Iacobi Apostoli fratris S. Ioannâ—s Apostoli Euangelistae in hymno in the next France or Gallia I finde the like mention in the auncient Muzaraban publike Church office receaued in the fourth Toletan Councell at wbich S. Isidor Archbishop of Hispalis for all Spaine was President In this Councell mention being made where the Apostles preached it is said Philippus Gallias That S. Philip preached in the Countries called Galliae Which although I doe not finde alledged by any Protestant to confirme this opinion of S. Philips being in this next France yet because I seeke the truth and am vnwilling to conceale any thing that may either help or hinder the finding fourth thereof I heare produce it and the rather because it giueth more countenance to that booke de vita morte Sanctorum to haue bene written by S. Isidor President in that Councell and taking as it seemeth that Muzaraban Office as warrant for his writing that S. Philip the Apostle was in Gallia as also Freculphus followed the steps of S. Isidor in the same Assertion for better deciding whereof because the Muzaraban Office is so breife as I haue related in this matter and I haue set downe the words of Freculphus before I will and what S. Isidor or other Authour of that booke hath written of this busines which is as followeth Philippus à Bethsaida ciuitate Isidor Hispal Episcopus l. de vita morte Sanctorum cap. 75. vnde Petrus Gallis praedicat Christum Barbarasque gentes vicinasque tenebris tumenti Oceano coniunctas ad scientiae lumen fideique portum deducit Deinde in Hierapoli Phrygiae Prouinciae Vrbe crucifixus lapidatusque obijt Philip of the citie Bethsaida from whence also Peter was preacheth Christ to the Gaules and bringeth Barbarous Nations and neare to darknes and ioyned to the swelling Ocean to the light of knowledge and tbe heauen of faith and after dyed crucifixed and stoned in Hierapolis a citie of the Prouince of Phrygia The very words of Freculphus before so that it is euident the one of these receaued them from the other and after these Hartmanus Schedel vseth the same phrase Philippus Hartm Sched Chronic. chron f. 202. p. 1. Gallias accepit that S. Philip had the Countryes Galliae Yet neither he nor any of the others make him the Apostle of this next Gallia or France neyther doe any of the Historians of France or Antiquities thereof best to be credited in such causes make mention of S. Philip or any other Apostle besides S. Peter and S. Paule to haue preached in that kingdome neyther any others but such as were Disciples vnto them and not to S. Philip or any other of the Apostles to haue taught the faith of Christ in that Nation 2. Neyther doth any of our French Historians once alledge or interpret M. Pniel I Tigeon M. Clem. Merch. M. I. le Frere de Leual in hist Andre Chesne hist general d'Angleterre d'Escosse d'Irland pag. 152. Bed Martyrol cal Maij. Martyr Rom. 1. die Maij. Vsuard Martyrol cod die Dorotheus in Synopsi in S. Phil. Magdeb. cent 1. in S. Philip Apost Prot. comm Booke in F. S. Philippi Calend. 1. Maij. eyther S. Isidor or Freculphus to vnderstand this next France by any Gallia or place where they write S. Philip preached But expound them both as they onely ment he preached in Scythia and CouÌ„tries farre remote from this France And so they expounde Freculphus himselfe in the place alledged Vincentius Abdias Nicephorus Sabellicus Eusebius Simeon Metaphrastes Clement of Alexandria and Policrates are of that minde So likewise teacheth S. Bede the Roman Martyrologe Vsuardus Dorotheus the Magdeburgian Protestants and the Protestants of England in their most authorised publike Church seruice booke Calenders and others And this is sufficiently testified and expressed in the words of S. Isidor and Freculphus before both of them plainely auouching that the Gaules and people to whome S. Philip preached were Barbarae gentes vicinae tenebris tumenti Oceano coniunctae Barbarous Nations neare Inhabitants vnto Countries of darkenes and conioyned to the swelling Ocean which haue no resemblance at all to this our Gallia but quite contrary or different For this Gallia is farre remote from either of the Poles Artike or Antartike and so by many degrees remoued from all Nations liuing in darknes Neither is the sea which is next to this Gallia tumens Oceanus that Ocean which is termed the swelling but Oceanus Scythicus the Ocean of Scythia where S. Philip by all Antiquities preached Neither was this Gallia at that time or any other euer esteemed a Barbarous Nation by any credible writer late or auncient Christian or Pagan Catholike Protestant or other but as a Protestant Cosmographer with others testifieth Fuit Gallia ab antiquis temporibus semper culta tam in vrbibus Sebastian MuÌ„st Cosmograph l. 2 cap. 38. quam in oppidis quam in agris hortis pratis Et vt strabo scribit qui tempore Incarnationis Christi vixit nullus tunc fuit angulus in Gallia incultus praeter lacus nemora quae culturam non admittunt Gallia was euer from auncient times repleniâ—â—â—d as well with cities as with Townes as with Feilds Orchards and Medowes and as Strabo writeth who liued in
many professing Christ not daring to abyde neare vnto the hart of the Empire as in Italy France or some other of the neerest Prouinces made choyse of our Britaine and some other remote places where to leade their liuâ—s in such sorte as they might enioy libertie of conscience In the number of these I may well suppose Aulus Rufus Pudens before mentioned to be one who after the time of his marriadge trauailed to these Northren parts of the world as it is plaine by these verses following Cernere Parrhasios dum te iuuat Aule Triones Martial ad Aul. Pudentem l. 6. Epigr. 39. Comminus Scythici sidera ferre poli And after Si mihi lanificae ducunt non pulla sorores Stamina nec surdos vox habet ista Deos Sospite me sospes Latias reueheris ad vrbes Et referes pili praemia clarus eques By meanes of these kinde of men adding their helps vnto the successours of Ioseph Io. Pits l. de Illustr Brit. Script aetate 2. in Claudia Rufina Io. Bal. l. de Script cent 1. in eadem Matt. Parker ant Brit. Stephanus v. Archadia Parrhasia Calep. in Parrhasia Tho. Tho. in eod Abrah Hortel Phnius l. 4. c. 6. Ptol. l. 3. annot in eund Sebast Munster alij Bed Martyr 14. cal Iunij Ioan. Pits in Cat. aetat 2. in Claud. Ruf. Martyrol Rom. die 19. Maij. Vit. S. Pudentianae in Breuiar 19. die Maij. Tradit Rom. apud Baron ann in Rom. Martyr die 19. Maij. Et Tom. 1. 2. Annal 3. conu part 1. p. 17. and his Disciples I suppose it came to passe that Lucius a King of this Countrie was drawne to a liking of Christian Religion Where we plainely see this Protestant Bishop and Antiquarie would make this PudeÌ„s to haue preached heare in Britaine and to haue bene one of them which gaue continuance to the faith formerly preached heare euen to the time of King Lucius when it is euident not onely by all other Histories which tell vs he liued and died in Cappadocia but by their Protestant Archbishop and Antiquary and this Protestant Bishop himselfe and his owne Authour Martial liuing in that time and acquainted both with the man and his Iorney that he was a corporall and bodily souldiar and warryer for the Romans Eques Romanus Tribunus militum which the laste verse cited from Martial plainely proueth and neuer came neare vnto this kingdome the nearest when he was in Italy for Parrhasia where Martiall saith he was and this Protestant Bishop absurdlie citeth against himselfe is Archadia and all Archadia called often by that name farther hence then Rome is and what Scythia soeuer Asiatica or Europaea S. Pudens was in or neare vnto suer we are that Britaine is farre remote from any part of any Scythia and as I haue shewed before his body was brought from Cappadocia to Rome and there interred And by some auncient Authorities that probably he was returned aliue from the warrs of Cappadocia vnto Rome died and was buried there Romae Sancti Pudentis Senatoris Patris S. Pudentianae Virginis qui ab Apostolis Christo in baptismo vestitus innocentem tunicam vsque ad vitae coronam immaculate custodiuit Which testimonie also confirmeth their opinion which write that this Brittish house was according to the Roman Tradition primum Principis Apostolorum Romae hospitium illicque primum Christianos conuenisse ad Synaxim coactam Ecclesiam The first lodging of S. Peter at Rome being there fifteene yeares before S. Paule and the first Church of Christians in Rome where they assembled to serue God from the first preaching of Christ there by S. Peter for although S. Paul maketh that speciall memory of S. Pudens and Claudia yet here we are told by vndeniable Authoritie S. Claudia her house in Rome what profit it brought to Christian Râ—ligion besides the Roman Tradition that they were also S. Peters disciples signified in the worde Apostolis Apostles in the plurall number when no Apostles but S. Peter and S. Paule came thither in those times And so this house of our holy Christian Britans being the then principall Church for S. Peter S. Paul the Popes which succeeded among whome S. Linus is reckoned by 2. Tim. 4. S. Paul together with the owners of that holy house as commonly resident S. Claudia her knowne learning and other vertues therein we may easely gather how greate spirituall good flowed to this Nation from that onely fountaine and well of life in this westerne world where the Christian Parents of S. Claudia before her she and her Husband Iacob Bergom l. de Poetissis Harris Theater l. 1. c. 21. S. Pudens after and after them their holy children gaue the greatest entertaynement and releife to the holy Apostles their Disciples and Successours and others the seruants of Christ in those dangerous dayes of Persecution Of this our renowned Country woman it is written by strangers Claudia Rufina mulier Britannica vtraque lingua erudita Claudia Rufina a Briton borne was learned and skillfull in both tongues both Greeke and Latine Which our English Protestant Antiquaries and others confirme affirming the same of her Haec Io. Bal. l. de Scriptor cent 1. Io. Pits l. de Illust Brit. Script aetat 2. in Claudia Ruffina magno praedita ingenio mulier tam Latinè quam Grecè and register her among the learned writers of this Nation deliuering vnto vs the names of diuers bookes penned by her 10. What her worthines was I haue somewhat related from S. Chrysostome and Theodoret before And besides the testimonie of S. Paule making her one of the foure most renowned in Rome the onelie Worthie both of Britaine and these western Nations except S. Eubulus was her Father and our Countriman which is remembred in holy Scripturs What a meanes and help she was to propagate the faith of Christ both to her Countrymen and others at Rome Italy especially in Vmbria where she liued after her going from Rome and in this our Britaine we may be assured both by that is said before that her house was the cheifest and vsuall assembling place in that time for such Religeous designements as also by the receaued and approued Histories of her holy children as namely S. Pudentiana and S. Praxedes which she had brought vp in so greate sanctitie both by her instructions and example that together with their two Brethren S. Nouatus and S. Timotheus they are honoured in the Catalogue of holy Saints Of one we reade that in Acta S. Praxedis in Breuiar Rom. 21. Iulij Martyr Rom. eod die Sic Bed Vsuard Ado Sur. Lipp eod die the Persecution vnder Marcus Antonius the Emperour her Parents being now deade Christianos facultatibus opera consolatione omni charitatis officio prosequebatur nam alios domi occultabat alios ad fidei constantiam hortabatur aliorum corpora sepeliebat ijs qui in carcere inclusi erant qui in ergastulis nulla
would S. Clemens primum à beato Petro vt dicitur ordinatus fuit sibi Successor Sed propter periculum voluit ante se beatum Linum Cletum Pontificari ne videlicet hoc exemplo Praelati substituerent sibi quos vellent And the words themselues which S. Clement vsed when he yelded this Papall dignitie to S. Linus as S. Epiphanius doth alledge them from his owne workes will well beare such construction of his Religeous meaning in that matter Secedo abeo erigatur populus Dei I giue place I Clemens Rom. apud Epiph. haer 27. goe away lett the people of God be prouided for For so he saith in an Epistle saith S. Epiphanius and this we finde in certaine Commentaries Dicit enim in vna Epistola sua Hoc enim in quibusdam Commentarijs reperimus 5. So it appeareth by that is said that S. Clement was twice Pope and at S. Clement twice Pope both those times for some space executed that highest function and dignitie first when it was imposed vpon him by S. Peter and he wrote his Epistles with that Title Clemens Romanae Ecclesiae Praesul Clemens vrbis Romae Episcopus Clemens Rom. epistol 2. 3. 4. Const Apost 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Ignat. Epist ad Mariam Cassobol Iren. l. 3. c. 3. Tertul. l. 3. carm Optat. l. 2. Aug. Epist 161. Martyr Rom. in Lin. Clet Clem. M. S. antiq Brit. Martin Polon supput col 35. in Clemente Bishop of the Roman Church and doth in them iuridically sett downe things to be obserued of the whole Church So likewise in his other Books where he deliuereth the Doctrine Tradition of the Apostles concerning the holy Sacrifice and other matters generally to be kept of all And not long after yeelding it vp to S. Linus whome S. Ignatius Irenaeus S. Augustine Optatus an old Brittish Manuscript which I haue seene others make the next to S. Peter for some yeares by that Title of S. Clements Resignation And secondly after the death of Cletus when it was imposed vpon him againe the second time and died in that dignitie as Martinus Polonus and others write Clemens quamuis à beato Petro esset electus tamen coegit Linum Cletum ante se pontificari Et ita est ipse primus post Petrum per electionem tertius verò per gradum This I haue written more at lardge not to labour to putt those two glorious Bishops Saints and Martyrs S. Linus and Cletus out of the Catalogue of the renowned Roman Popes but to giue due to S. Clement one of our Apostles S. Clement was heare in Britaine with S. Peter some time heare in Britaine except good arguments deceaue vs according to his worth and merite in this part of the world and redeeme that his most learned Epistle or Booke to S. Iames S. Simon or Simeon Bishop of Hierusalem much concerning his honour and this Nation For although we haue good witnesse of S. Paul S. Irenaeus and others of his conuersation and familiarity with S. Peter and him yet therein we learne from S. Peter and S. Clement themselues that he was with S. Peter in all his Iorneys greate in these parts neuer forsaking him one reason why he principally made choyse of him for his Successour as being so best acquainted with his Apostolike course Qui mihi ab initio vsque in finem comes in omnibus fuit per hoc veritatem totius Paul Epist ad Philipp cap. 4. Irenaeus l. 3. haer Euseb Hist Eccl. l. 5. c. 5. 6. Clem. Rom. Epist 1. meae praedicationis agnouit Qui in omnibus tentationibus meis socius extitit fideliter perseuerans Quem prae caeteris expertus sum Deum colentem homines diligentem castum discendi studijs deditum sobrium benignum iustum patientem scientem ferre nonnullorum etiam ex his qui in verbo Dei instituuntur iniurias Propter quod ipsi trado à Domino mihi traditam potestatem ligandi soluendi O my brethren heare mee for as I am instructed of our Lord which sent me Iesus Christ the daye of my death is at hand I ordaine this Clemēt taking mee by the hand your Bishop to him alone I delyuer the Chayre of my preaching and doctrine Who from the beginning to the end hath bene a companyon vnto mee in all things or places and by this hath knowne the truth of all my preaching Who hath bene my fellowe faithfully perseuering in all my temptations whom aboue the rest I haue proued to worship God loue men to be chast giuen to the studies of learning sober gentle iust patient and knowing to beare the iniuries of some euen from them that be instructed in the word of God For which respects I deliuer vnto him the power of binding and loosing which was deliuered to mee by our Lord. Where we see it plainely testified both by S. Peter and S. Clement his Secretary aswell as Successour that he was with S. Peter in all his trauails and places euen to the end that we may be assured he was with him heare in Britaine which was his last place of stay before this at Rome and this was a cheife cause why S. Peter thought S. Clement most fitt for this dignitie for he whom he calleth homines diligentem so louing and kinde to all men must needs be more kinde and carefull of them with whom he had conuersed and whose necessities he best knew 6. And yet besides this loue of S. Clement to these parts of the worlde which he had so trauailed with S. Peter the same holy Apostle as he himselfe witnesseth gaue him expresse chardge to send learned Bishops vnto all Cities in those parts where S. Peter had not ordayned such before Episcopos S. Petrus Apost apud Clem. Rom Epist 1. per singulas ciuitates quibus ille non miserat perdoctos prudentes sicut serpentes simplicesque sicut columbas iuxta Domini praeceptionem nobis mittere praecepit And to make it manifest that among other Countries he sent also into this our Britaine S. Clement sent Bishops into Britaine and by S. Peters direction according to S. Peters direction he saith plainely that he desired and intended to send such Bishops and preachers into Italy Spaine France Germany and to include Britaine to all other Nations in these parts of this westerne world wishing the Bishop of Hierusalem to whom he wrote to doe so in the Easte Vos per vestras Dioeceses Episcopos sacrate mittite quia nos ad alias partes quod idem inssit agere curabimus Aliquos verò ad Gallias Hispaniasque mittemus quosdam ad Germaniam Italiam atque ad reliquas gentes dirigere cupimus Where we see S. Clement by this power committed to him by S. Peter and Prerogatiue of the See of Rome thought it is dutie and tooke vpon him not onely to send Bishops and Preachears into all this westerne
our generall Conuersion to be compassed at this time so many principall Agents therein violently putt to death and the Emperours without whose permission or conniuencie it could not probably be brought to passe so enraged and cruell against vs for such things Yet cannot this stay and adiourning of this greatest publike good of this Nation be imputed to pusillanimitie of minde or want of Heroicall Christian fortitude and magnanimitie in our Christian King and diuers of his people and Nobles among them who as before had receaued the Christian faith and priuately professed it but to the Iniquitie of the violent and ouerswaying times and Pagan Emperours with their Lieutenants Imperiales or Proimperatours Proconsuls Propretours hindering that holy worke For allthough the state of Britaine was not so seruile to the Romans as the condition of many kingdomes was but we euer had our owne Kings both by inheritance and discent of our former auncient Brittish regall Race and with the desired allowance and agreement of the Roman Emperours after the marriadge of King Aruiragus with Genuissa daughter of Claudius and the greatest dutie they could demande was their Tribute yet because in a publike and authoritatiue change of Religion in a whole kingdome there must also be a change of such lawes and customes as were contradicting and repugnant vnto the Religion to be receaued this could not be done in such persecuting dayes without greate ielousie in the Persecutours Emperours of an vtter reuolt from them in all respects And therefore our old Manuscripts both of Nennius and S. Gildas also as they are commonly reputed doe tell vs that when our generall and publike Conuersion was there was also an Imperiall allowance permission or tolleration for it from the Roman Emperours or their Lieutenants heare Missa Nennius in M. S. Hist Gildas in Hist M. S. in publica Biblioth Cantabr in Colleg. S. Benedicti legatio ne ab Imperatore Romanorum saith Nennius Missa legatione ab Imperatoribus Romanorum writeth Gildas in two Seuerall Manuscripts one in the publike Library of Cambridge the other in saint Benets Colledge there The reasons hereof I shall deliuer in due place hereafter 3. That which is wanting yet and to be added to the honour of our Apostle and Countryman saint Timothie is his glorious Martyrdome so honoured of saint Pius the Pope then and soone after also martyred that writing to the renowned Bishop of Vienna not long vnmartyred and exhorting him to constancy and perseuerance in afflictions and Persecution in Christ proposeth onely vnto him for the most worthie examples this saint Timothie and his holy companion at Martyrdome and probably of his labours in Britaine saint Marke saying they were Preists brought vp by the Apostles continuing vntill this time with whome he had imparted the word of faith men called of God and now liuing in euerlasting Ioyes in heauen S. Timothie and Marke haue ended their course by a good Combatt O Brother remember thow imitatest them S. Pius Epist ad Iustum Vienn Episcop Tom. 1. Biblioth Sanct. apud Baron Tom. 2. Annal. an 166. in following them and be not bound with the bands of the world presbyteri illi qui ab Apostolis educati vsque ad nos peruenerunt cum quibus simul verbum fidei partiti sumus à Domino vocati in cubilibus aeternis clausi tenentur Sanctus Timotheus Marcus per bonum certamen transierunt Vide frater vt illos imiteris sequendo ne vinculis mundi illigeris This is that greate honour of Britaine and Gods Church whome saint Dionisius the Areopagite that wonderfull Diuine and His honor with S. Denis the Areopagite glory of saint Paules Schollers honored so much as euery Reader may see in his diuine Bookes de diuinis nominibus Ecclesiastica Hierarchia of diuine names the Ecclesiasticall Hierarchie calling him most holy sanctissime and the like and dedicated them to him as the auncient Title Compresbytero Timotheo Dionisius Presbyter Denys Preist to his fellow Preist Timothie and in his Baron Tom. 2. Annal. an 109. booke de diuinis nominibus citiâ—g an Epistle of saint Ignatius written after the other saint Timothie Bishop of Ephesus his death doe witnes Baronius and others so acknowledging How before his death he disposed his wordly Pius Pap. Epist ad S. Iust tom 1. Bibliot Sanct. Baron an 166. wealth to the glory of Gods Church and recommended the care of his Country Britaine to the most glorious lights then of Christs Church saint Pius Pope and his worthie friends and familiars saint Soter and saint Eleutherus or Eleutherius after Popes we may gather by his former loue and labours for this Nation The Martyrdome of S. Timothy and S. Pius Pope And so after so many yeares of most holy life trauailes for the Church of Christ after his releeuing and maintenance of so many Saints lodged Manuâ—cr Antiq. in Monast S. Cirian Martyrol Rom. die 24. Martij Tabul Ant. apud Baron Tom. 2. ann 162. Pius Pap. 1. Epist ad S. Iustum supr 1. Epist 2. ad eund fedd clothed and fostered both with temporall and spirituall sustenance his chardges and prouision in his holy house many of them also martyred there he was also martyred with his worthie Associate and fellow Preist saint Marke at Rome the 24. day of March an 165. And saint Pius the Pope of Rome was martyred also soone after vnder the same persecuting Emperours his death at hand being reuealed vnto him as he writeth in an other Epistle to saint Iustus of Vienna in France and Bishop there Reuelatum mihi esse scias collega beatissime citius me finem huius vitae esse facturum THE XI CHAPTER OF THE HOLY POPES NEXT SVCCEEDING S. Pius and their Religion The fauorable Edict of Marcus Aurelius Emperour for defence and protection of Christians and the Christian Lieutenants Trebellius and Pertinax with the forbidding the Druids Religion occasions of the publike receauing and profession of Christianitie in Britayne by King Lucius and his subiects 1. S Pius hauing thus gloriously ended his holy life and Papacie saint Anicetus by the more common opinion after many Auncients Iraeneus Tertullian Hegesippus Eusebius Epiphanius with others teacheth that saint Anicetus succeeded him in this hihest chardge Yet there be very auncient Hieron l. de Scr. in Hegesippo Optat. Mileu l. contra Parmen August Epist 161. Rober Barnes l. de Vit. Pontif. Ro. in Aniceto and worthie Authours as saint Hierome Optatus saint Augustine with others which hold that saint Anicetus was Pope betweene saint Higinius and saint Pius And an English Protestant writer though he followeth the first and more common opinion for the Order of his Succession next after saint Pius yet saying of him that he was Pope in Antoninus Pius his Empire sub Antonino Pio vixit he must fall to the second opinion by that I haue spoken before of the time of Antoninus
these Ambassadors of King Lucius to be a Bishop but speake generally of the Roman Legats Damianus and Fugatianus presentlâ— sent hither from Pope Eleutherius with others to be Instruments in performing this greate designment S. Gildas Nennius S. Bede Marianus Florentius wigorniensis Ethelwerdus Matthew Westminster WilliaÌ„ Malmesburie HeÌ„ry of HuntingtoÌ„ Radulphus de Diceto Martinus Harding Ado Platina with others writing of this Ambassadge of King Lucius and S. Eleutherius sending his Legats hither about the effecting our Kings request are silent of this consecrating and sending Eluanus Meduuinus hither againe at this time or after in such manner as the others write And the Roman Antiquities of this matter which Baronius termeth the auncientest of King Lucius Acts vetustiora de Lucio monumenta Monum Vet. apud Baron To. 2. Annal. an 183. though they say King Lucius sent these two Ambassadors Eluanus and Meduuinus to Pope Eleutherius about the CoÌ„uersion of Britaine yet they onely testifie that King Lucius his suite was to haue it effected by Pope Eleutherius and such as he should thinke fittest to vndertake that labour how he therevpon sent Fugatius and Donatianus otherwise called Damianus to effect it as they did neuer naming further Eluanus or Meduuinus Agent herein Lucius Legationem misit per Eluanum MeduuinuÌ„ Britannos rogans per eos Eleutherum vt per se suosque ministros ad Christianam Religionem suscipiendam aditum patefaceret quod obtinuit Nam Idem pontifex Fugatium Donatianum aliter Damianum in Britanniam misit And diuers of our Protestants which relate Magdeb. cent 2. col 8. Io. Funccius l. 6. commeÌ„tar in Chronol ad An. 178. Ioan. Bal. li. de Scritp Brit. ceÌ„t 1. in Lucio Eluano Meduuino Idem l. de vitis Pontif. Rom. in Eleuth Rob. Barns l. de Pontif. Rom. in Eleutherio Godwin Conu of Britaine p. 21. this Historie make no memory therein of Pope Eleutherius his consecrating and sending Eluanus and Meduuinus hither such be the Magdeburgian writers Funccius Barns and their Bishop Bale allthough in his booke of writers dedicated to King Edward the sixt he expressely handleth this matter both in King Lucius Eluanus and Meduuinus and there speaketh of these men sent to Eleutherius at Rome yet he is silent of their consecration there seeming to thinke they were consecratd in Britaine before their going to Rome per Apostolicos viros in Christo renati in dispensandis Dei ministerijs inter primos haberentur And in his Booke of the liues of Popes writen after he speaketh not of them at all when he handleth this matter in Pope Eleutherius And an other 4. Protestant Bishop and Antiquary though he holdeth with them that say Pope Eleutherius made Eluanus a Bishop and sent both him and Meduuinus hither yet he addeth by most it is affirmed how that Eleutherius sent with these two before named S. EluaÌ„ and Medwin two other to order the state of the Church who had the honour of performing that office The one of them is called by some Damianus by others Duuanus and by others againe Deruianus Dimianus Diuianus and Donatianus the other is sometimes termed Faganus and sometimes Fugatius And the other last cited Protestant Bishop confirmeth Bal. sup in Lucio Eluan Meduuino Matth. Parker Antiq. Brit. p. 5. Stowe Hist Howes An. 179. in Lucius Io. Goscelin Hist Manuscr de Archiep. CaÌ„t. in Lucio Holinsh. Hist of England l. 4. c. 19. this telling vs all things were ordered by those two Legats of Pope Eleutherius 3. This is sufficiently yeelded vnto by their first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury and by most as the other hath before acknowledgde And Goscelin in his Manuscript History of the Archbishops of Canterbury relating this History of King Lucius sending Eluanus and Meduuinus is silent of any consecration or mission they receaued at Rome but asscribeth the ordering of all Ecclesiasticall matters heare to the Legats of Pope Eleutherius Fugatius vna cum Damiano â—uc remissus Christianam Religionem in Regno instaurant tota Ethnicismo abolito solidè constituunt Holinshed in his History of England is also silent in this consecration of our Ambassadors onely saying of them King Lucius sent vnto Eleutherius Bishop of Rome two learned men of the Brittish Nation â—â—â—an and Medwine requiring him to send some such Ministers as might instruct him and his people in the true faith more plentifully and to Baptize them according to the Rules of Christian Religion Heareupon were sent from the said Eleutherius two godly learned men the one named Fugatius and the other Damianus How they performed this chardge committed vnto them by Pope Eleutherius in the opinion of this ProtestaÌ„t he shall with others testifie when I come to entreate of their proceedings heare Our Protestant Authours of the Theater of greate Britaine relying much vpon the Authoritie of the Manuscript History of Radulphus de Diceto sometime Deane of S. Pauls Church Theater of great Brit. l. 6. in London in the Kings library as they cite him must be of the same minde that the chardge of this greate busines was committed by Pope Eleutherius to his Legats Faganus and Damianus for he writeth so and that all things heare Radulph de Diceto in Manuscr Hist inter ann 170. 180. Io. Leland in assert Arthurij Priseus defens Hist Brit. p. 73. 74. Selden Analect c. 6. Whitg defens of the Answere p. 323. Foxe To. 1. f. 146. Mason l. 2. c. 3. p. 52. 55. Godwin Catal. of Bishops of Yorke â—n Panlinus 1. Winchester 1. were setled by their Legatine Authoritie Leland in his Defence of King Authour and Sir Ihon Prise of the Brittish History affirmeth the like citing diuers others for warrant M. Selden relateth this matter as the others haue done before that King Lucius craued the direction assistance of Pope Eleutherius herein Pontificem Romanum qui tunc fuit Eleutherium vt cum suis Christiano nomine obsignaretur mandatis literis consuluit And he sent Fugatius and Damianus very learned and holy men to conuert this Country Fugatium Damianum imprimis doctos insignisque pietatis viros misit So write their two Archbishops white gift and Abbots M. Foxe Francis Mason And that ProtestaÌ„t Bishop himselfe who before would not haue this so vndoubted a truth as these his fellowes in Religion haue made it when afterwards he came to sounder Iudgment and better reflected vpon this History and grounds thereof maketh it a veritie vndeniable in this manner It cannot be denyed but Eleutherius Bishop of Rome at the request of Lucius then King of Britaine sent Damianus Faganus and other learned Preachers to sowe the seed of the Ghospell heare And in other places proueth from Antiquities that these Legats of Pope Eleutherius exercised Apostolike Legatine Power by Commission from that holy Pope in this kingdome 4. And of this their Power Commission from
that Antiquitie testifieth that he found this Legatine power of S. Faganus and Damianus with effects thereof in other writings of the Britans betweene their time and his Iâ—â—â—riptis recentioribus inueni quod sanctus Phaganus Deruuianus ab Eleutheâ—â—o Papa qui eos miserat decem annos Indulgentiae impetrarunt Nennius writeth as the extant Copies of Nennius Hist Manuscr Bed Hist Eccl. l. 1. c. 4. in Martyrol 8. cal Iunij Ethelwerd chronic in Eleuther Marian. Scot. l. 2. â—tat 6. an 177. Florent Wigor in Chronic. ann 162. vel 184. Martin Pol. supput an 188. in Eleut S. Gildas before that Christian Religion was setled heare by the Legats of the Pope of Rome Missa Legatione a Papa Romano S. Bede in diuers places affirmeth that Christianitie was planted heare by Pope Eleutherius commande or Authoritie and this was King Lucius suite vt per eius mandatum Christianus fieret effectum piae postulationis consecutus est Ethelwerdus saith it was done by the Legats and letters of Pope Eleutherius to King Lucius Eleutherius beatissimus Christi famulus per Nuncium literas Lucium adijt Insulae Regem Marianus saith King Lucius obtained it of Pope Eleutherius Lucius Britanniae Rex ab Eleutherio Papa per Epistolam Christianum se fieri impetrat Florentius Wigorniensis hath the same words Martinus relateth it by Fuganus and Damianus hauing Mission or Commission from Pope Eleutherius Papa misit duos religiosos viros videlicet Fuganum Damianum qui Regem populum Baptizarent Radulphus de Diceto in his Manuscript Historie reporteth King Lucius petitioninge to Pope Eleutherius about this busines the Pope sent Faganus and Diuuanus hither and they affected it Ad Eleutherium Lucius Rex Radulphus de Diceto in Manuscr Hist abbreu Chronic. inter an 170. 180. Henricus Huntingt Hist l. 1. in Marco Antonino Vero. Manuscrip Hist de Romesey Princ. Insula isâ—a qâ—â— nunc Anglia Gulielm Malm. l. de Antiquit. caeâ—obij Glaston Caxton Hâ—st part 4. in King Lucius Galfr. Monum Hist l. 4. c. 19. 20. Matth. Westm an 185 186 Huâ—ting Chronic. c. 31. f. 4â— Britanniae missa Epistola se sieri Christianum impetrat Eleuther ergo misit Faganum Diuuanum qui Regem Lucium baptizauerunt Henrie of Huntington his phrase is that it was done by Pope Eleutherius commandement Per Eleutherij Papae mandatum The old Manuscript History of Romesey saith King Lucius did humbly entreate Pope Eleutherius by an Epistle that he would send him faithfull Doctors to Baptise him and his Nation and he obtained his suite Rex Britannorum Lucius sanctum Eleutherium tunc temporis Papam per Epistolam suppliciter expetiuit gratanter obtinuit quatenus fideles Doctores destinaret qui se ac gentem suam in Christo regenerarent William of Malmesbury in his Manuscript Antiquities of Glastenbury relateth that these Legats Phaganus and Deruianus came into Britaine to preach the Ghospell haue preached Baptized through all the Iland Phaganus Deruianus venerunt in Britanniam ad praedicandum EuangeliuÌ„ Baptizantes praedicantes vniuersam Insulam peragrantes The old English Chronicle published by Caxton asscribeth the whole managing of these affaires to the Legats of Pope Eleutherius The Brittish History also the Monke of Westminster and Harding are most manifest for these Legats and Commissioners of Pope Eleutherius to haue directed all these affaires by that Popes Authoritie 7. Thus we haue proued by Authorities the high Apostolike Legatine Power which the holy Pope Eleutherius communicated to these his learned and renowned Legats and Commissioners Faganus and Damianus for the Conuersion of this kingdome this Power being thus granted and so many Episcopall Acts in consecrating Bishops Preists and other Clergie men and These Legats of Pope Eleutherius were Bishops others proper to that highest function being to be exercised heare as in all other Nations in such a state and condition and which none but Bishops could performe and these worthie Founders of our Church performed heare by all Antiquities we must needs conclude they were consecrated Bishops by such Apostolike Catholike manner as I haue before related Therefore I can but maruayle how the present Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury Directour of M. Francis Mason and his scribe were no better directed then to Franc. Mason Pref. to his Books of Consecr l. 2. c. 3. p. 55. 56. write from Rome there came two Fugatius and Damianus but we cannot learne that eyther of them was a Bishop Which is too weake a saying of an Archbishop or any writer directed by such a man For so many Episcopall Acts which by all writers they effected were lessons plaine enough to learne that they were endowed with Episcopall Order and power to doe such things and so must needs be Bishops And if we must seeke them Maisters expressely to call them so the old Brittish History calleth them expressely Antistites Bishops Galfr. Monum Hist Brit. l. 4. c. 20. Pont. Virun Hist l. 4. in fine Matth. Westm Anno gratiae 186 Godwin Cat. of Bishops in Wincester pag. 207. edit an 1615. so doth Virunnius And Matthew of Westminster naming them the blessed Bishops Faganus and Deruuianus bâ—ati Antistites Faganus Deruuianus And to omitt others that Protestant Bishop which before was most backward in these things produceth an old Manuscript testifying they were Bishops and exercised the holy offices of that Function The Cathedrall Church of Winchester saith he as the same Authour of an old Manuscript saith wash allowed and dedicated vnto the honour of our Sauiour October 29. 189. by Faganus and Damianus Bishops And diuers forrayne Historians especially of France witnesse that the cheife suite of King Lucius was for such hauing otherwise of his owne Nation many Preists and Preachers of the Christian Religion Mere des Histoires Chroniques de France l. 1. pag. 91. an 182. Alan Bouchard in Annales de Bretaigne l. 1. fol. 19. p. 2. Many Christians say these Authours being baptised and preaching the faith in Britaine King Lucius sendeth to Pope Eleutherius vn Ambassadeur an Ambassadour to make suit to him to send Prelats of his Church to instruct and baptize him And assure vs the cheife of these were Damianus and Faganus exercising Episcopall Function heare And so according to their high calling and dignitie and as the holy Popes before euen from S. Peter had practised and ordayned these holy Bishops before had their sacred Preists Deacons and other Many other Bishops employed by the Popes authoritie in this holy works Clergie men to assist them And the case and condition of so lardge Dominions as Britaine comprehended to be conuerted required diuers other both Preists and Bishops were sent by Pope Eleutherius with them to be workemen in this happy haruest And their names were diligently preserued and left to Posteritie in our Primatiue Church and among
Praeterea triginta millia Syluestrium ferarum cuiuscunque generis collectarum They sacrificed there at Trinouantum Lōdon forty thousand kyne a hundred thousand sheepe and foules of all sortes which could hardly be numbred and thirtie thousād wilde beasts of euery kinde which they had gathered together And Pōticus Virunnius hath the very same words in all things except in the first Ponticus Virun Hist l. 4. number which he much abateth vndecim millia vaccarum This for thankes to their pretended Gods for the repulse the Britans had then giuen to Iulius Caesar Of the Ritches reuenewes state and Pompe of the Pagan cheife Druids Flamens and Archflamens I haue spoken somewhat before therefore all this welth and substance and with so ample addition now conuerted by King Lucius to the vse of the Christian Clergie as we must needs yeeld him the remembred Titles so he employing them and so lardge immunities to Manuscr Gallic antiq ann 180. Antiq. Glascon Manuscr Capgr in S. Ioseph S. Patricio such a Clergie as builded and dedicated Churches and prayed vnto Saints and for the deade said Masse and gaue such Supreamacie to Pope Eleutherius we may not say he was of the Protestant Profession which hath taken all from that holy Religion and left nothing but Persecution and Oppression vnto it 3. How in this time all the cheife Temples in all the Cities of Britaine together with their Reuencwes were turned into the Sees of Archbishops and Bishops is before related and in diuers of those Cities new Cathedrall Churches founded and erected as I haue exemplified before in Winchester Landaffe S. Martins Church in Canterburie and S. Peters in Cornhill in London Manuscript in S. Peters Church in Cornhill in London for which the auncient Manuscript there still or lately hanging with diuers other Antiquities thus pleadeth Lucius the first Christian King of this Land then called Britaine founded the first Church in London that is to say S. Peters S. Peter◠Church in Cornhill in Lōdon a Metropolitan See Church vpon Cornhill and he founded there an Archbishops See and made that Church the Metropolitan and cheife Church of this kingdome and so endured the space of 400. yeares and more vnto the comming of S. Augustine the Apostle of England the which was sent to this Land by S. Gregory the Doctour then was the Arbishops See and Pall remoued from the foresaid Church of S. Peter vpon Cornhill vnto Dereberman that now is called Canterbury and there it remayneth to this day Hollinsh Hist of Engl. l. 4. cap. 19. Hollinshed writeth that there were in his time Tables hanging in the Reuestry of S. Paules Church in London which affirme the same An other Protestant citing the first cited Table in S. Peters Church vpon Cornhill and inclining to that opinion and addeth Iocelyn of Furnes in his booke of Brittish Stowe Histor Romans in K. Lucius Bishops saith Thean was the first Archbishop of London in the time of Lucius who builded the said Church of S. Peter in a place called Cornhill in London by the ayde of Cyran cheife Butlar to King Lucius Godwin a Protestant Godwin Catal. of Bish. in London 1. Polid. Virgil. Angl. Histor l. 2. p. 41. Richard Vitus in Hist l. 5. Holins Hist of Engl. l. 4. cap. 19. Will. Harrison descr of Brit. p. 24. c. 9. Sulcar apud Vit. supr Selden Annal c. 6. Bishop hath allmost the same words though not citing any Authour in particular Others both Catholiks and Protestants affirme that the Church of S. Peter at westminster by London was then founded and vsed for the Cathedrall Church as some write There be that affirme saith a Protestant Historian how this Lucius should build the Church of S. Peter at Westminster They add further that Thomas likely Theonus mistaken Archbishop of London preached read and ministred the Sacraments there to such as made resort vnto him And of this opinion that this Church was then made or reedified for that I haue written before is Sulcardus a learned Monke of Westminster most likely to write the truth of that Church liuing in the time of S. Edward the Confessour and that it was the Cathedrall Church to London Both which may be true if we make the old Church of Westminster the Cathedrall Church vntill the other was builded not finished in the first Arbishops How it is probable that both S. Peters Church Westminster and in Cornhill were Archiepiscopall Churches in this time time but by his Successour Eluanus who builded the Library likely some part of S. Peters Church vpon Cornhill William Harrison a Protestant Antiquarie borne as he saith in London and so chalendging knowledge of the Antiquities there proueth this by sondry reasons and citeth William of Malmesbury for the same opinion And Polidor Virgil with many others saith the Cathedrall Church in London was then Templum ornatu opere magnificum a Church magnificent both for ornament and worke Which Stowe supr frō others Will. Harrison supr c. ◠Gildas l. de Excid conq Brit. we doe not finde of S. Peters Church vpon Cornhill 4. And the same Authour witnesseth that the like magnificent Churches were then founded at Yorke and Car-legion Londini Eboraci in vrbe Legionum templa ornatu opere magnifica condita sunt And much like vnto this we must speake of all Churches in Cities that were Episcopall and Cathedrall whether they were new founded or of Temples of Flamens conuerted to be such as also of all other Pagan Temples which then were changed into Christian Churches For allthough all those temples were not destroyed and vtterly ruinated but newly dedicated to Christ and his Saints as our Antiquaries haue proued before yet the superstitious and Idolatrous Altars where vpon their prophane and adhominable sacrifices were offered in them to their false Gods were vtterly ouerthrowne and left desolate and as S. Gildas the most auncient Brittish Historian with others testifie Christian Altars which were the place of Christian Sacrifice of the holy Masse wherein Christs holy body and blood were offered and therefore termed by him the Polidor Virgil. l. 2. Hist p. 41. seate of the heauenly sacrifice sedes caelestis sacrificij and the Altars whereon their first Primatiue Preists offered that most diuine Sacrifice which we commonly call Masse Sacerdotes inter altaria Sacrificantes and in respect thereof Galfr. Mon. Hist Brit. lib. 11. cap. 4. Gildas supr Stowe Hist an 542. Holinsh. Hist of Engl. l. 5. c. 15. Mat. West an 543. the cheifest of the immunities before remembred were granted to those sacred Altars in all Churches in this kingdome of Britaine from King Lucius time And the ordinary Churches which were vnder the Iurisdiction of so many Bishops in so lardge a kingdome could not be few especially if we consider the multitude of Gods the Britans worshipped when they were Pagans and the greate number of Temples
Scotia Scots land which could Iosephus orat ad Iudaeos apud Egesipp l. 5. c. 15. yet be very small when Iosephus in the Age before had testified that it had no land at all Scotia terris nihil debet of which and their place of habitation at land I shall speake more when I come to their Conuersion in the time and by the meanes and help of Pope Victor in the beginning of the next Age And for this present and my purpose now concerning the Conuersion of the Brittans in Albania this which I haue saide sufficeth to let vs be assured it was effected in the same time and manner as the other of our other Brittans in Loegria and Cambria and by the same meanes Mission and Apostolike men sent and directed hither and heare their sacred Actions and labours were confirmed by the highest Papall power of holy Pope Eleutherius THE XXVII CHAPTER OF DIVERS BOOKES OR WRITINGS OF S. Phaganus Damianus Eluanus Meduuinus and others Charters and Immunities of Pope Eleutherius and King Lucius the Scripturs heare receaued in the old Latine Translation and the same Canon of them which Catholiks now obserue and followe WHEN our holy Ecclesiasticall state was thus setled in Britaine that the memory and obseruation thereof might be more firmely fixed and impressed in the vnderstandings and wills of men to haue duely in minde and performe those duties which particularly belonged vnto them in this Kinde these holy Legats as both Catholike and Protestant Antiquaries deliuer committed these their Acts to writing by which meanes they came and not onely by Tradition to the knowledge of Posteritie and the Popes of Rome to write in a Protestant Bishops phrase tooke these their proceedings heare in Britaine of all kingdomes their first begotten child in Christ as a Patterne to diuide other Prouinces in to Parishes and Diocesses Io. Bal. l. de Script Brit. cent 1. in Eluan as they had done heare Quum in fine essent omnia ordinatione quadam per Fugatium Damianum in rem Christianam permutata vt apud Posteros clariora perdurarent membranis Eluanus Meduinus dederunt Acta per Legatos l 1. 1. Inde ad nos non alio medio peruenerunt Ex hoc similibus fundamentis caepere postea Romanorum Pontifices occasionem Prouincias diuidendi in Paraecias Dioeceses A late Catholike Collector of holy Writers of this Nation saith that Eluanus did write one Booke of the Originall of the Brittish Church Eluanus Io. Pitseus l. de Illustr Britan. Script aetate 2. in Eluan Meduino Antiq. Glast Manuscript S. Patri Epistol Capgrau in S. Patricio Leland in Arthur assert scripsisse perhibetur de origine Ecclesiae Britannicae librum vnum And that Meduinus wrote a Booke of the Acts of Fugatius and Damianus in Britaine Meduinus Posteris tradidit Fugatij Damiani gesta in Britannia librum vnum The old Manuscript Antiquities of Glastenbury make mention of three Bookes founde there all which or parts of euery of them were writen in this time The first is called Scripta Sanctorum Phagani Deruiani The writings of the Saints Phaganus and Deruianus The second had among other things how these holy Legats procured 10. yeares Indulgence to that holy place The third was Volumen a Volume wherein were writen the Acts of the Apostles and the Acts and gests of S. Phaganus and Deruianus Volumen vnum in quo scripti erant actus Apostolorum pariter cum Actibus gestis Sanctorum Phagani Deruiani 2. I haue mentioned before how King Lucius wrote diuers Epistles to the Pope or Popes of Rome in his time about the setling of Christian Religion in this kingdome And as S. Eleutherius Pope of Rome directed him by the Counsaile and aduise of his Clergie and Nobles he caused a collection and correction of Lawes temporall to be compiled and published to gouerne The Christian munifiâ—â—nce and bouÌ„tic of King Lucius in this time his Christian kingdome by which continued long after in writing among many both Brittish and other Kings of this Nation allthough with some change or addition as the times and other circumstances required in such cases This holy King also granted made and signed many writings Charters and Donations for the defence maintenance and preseruation of Religion and the cheife Teachers and Professours thereof as to the Vniuersitie of Cambridge the Schoole of Bangor Monastery of Shaftesbury and such others and to euery Archiepiscopall and Episcopall See in Britaine both for the assuring the old Reuenewes and Priuiledges of the Archflamens and Flamens as others new and more ample which he conferred vnto them and such as should sitt and succeede in them for euer Pope Eleutherius granted many priuiledges immunities and Indulgences heare 3. In this time also the Rule of the holy Religeous men I haue spoken of before was written and obserued by them And besides the generall confirmation of Pope Eleutherius which I haue formerly spoken of for the ratifying and approuing the proceedings of his Legats he granted very many other particular Ratifications and Immunities to certaine Parsons and Places heare such was his Bull of Confirmation which the Cambridge Antiquaries contend he granted to that Vniuersitie such his grant of 10. yeares of Indulgence at the request of his Legats to the pilgrims that deuoutely visited the old Church of Glastenbury as likewise that of 30. yeares pardon to all Bishops that should with deuotion come one Pilgrimadge to the Chappell of S. Michaell The old Decrees of the primatiue Popes receaued heare in this time there as the Antiquities of that place giue testimony 4. The Order of the holy Sacrifice of Masse and other publike seruice of the Church deliuered and established heare at that time was the Roman Order which the holy Legats our Apostles brought from Rome who also published heare the Decrees of the holy Popes from S. Peter to their time many of which so farre as our Protestant writers would giue mee leaue and allowance vnto I haue remembred before This time and Age also is the Eleuther Epist ad Regem LuciuÌ„ Leg. S. Edw. Lambert de leg Antiq. Godwin Conuers of Brit. first wherein eyther the Scripturs of the Old or New Testament were by any auncient Authour receaued and published in Britaine For S. Eleutherius Pope in his Epistle to King Lucius maketh it but a nuper late thing to haue the holy Scripturs in this kingdome By which also as by the knowne ignorance of the Britans in those dayes eyther in Greeke or Hebrew language it is euident they were receaued heare in the Latine tongue vnderstood The holy Scriptures receaued heare then in the Latine toÌ„gue with the same Canon of Bookes which the Roman Church now vseth by all the learned of this kingdome of Britaine Likewise we learne by the same part of Pope Eleutherius his Epistle to King Lucius that the Primitiue Church both at
things belonging to the true Church of Christ by our Protestants confessions in all which and diuers other questions by their owne Testimonie S. Cyprian those Popes of Rome and the Church of Christ then differed from them and agreed in them all with the present Roman Church First for the validitie of Sacraments these men confesse that by the doctrine of S. Cyprian and the Church then the worthie receauers of them were vnited to Christ armed against the world the deuill and human concupiscence grace was giuen and sinnes forgiuen in them This was also the receaued old doctrine of the Church and Popes of Rome namely of Pope Cornelius as both he Eusebius the Magdeburgian Protestants and others witnesse by whose agreeing testimonie also both Pope Cornelius S. Cyprian and the Church of Rome and Affrike with all others differed from our Protestants and consented with the present Roman Church about the number of Sacraments First they say that both Cornelius and S. Cyprian taught that Confirmation was a Sacrament and by the Bishops Vnction with Chrisme the Magdeb. in Indice cent 3. v. Sacramenta cēt 3. c. 10. col 246. 247. 248. Cornelius Epist 2. Tom. 1. Conc. Euseb l. 6. c. 42. Magde cent 3. in Cornel. c. 10. col 240. Cypria Epist 72. Cyprian Ep. 52. ad Antonianum l. 1. Ep. 2. ep 54 Cyprian de Ablutione pedum Cornel. Epist apud Eusebium Magdeb. alios supr Magdeb. in Indice cē◠3. in Lucio Papa cēt 6. col 148. col 149. tit de caelibatu Vita monastica holy Ghost and Grace were giuen S. Cyprian also maketh Penance a Sacrament and plainely affirmeth that sinnes are loosed and forgiuen in it And both he and S. Cornelius then Pope giue as much to Preisthood and holy Orders S. Cyprian maketh it and others Sacraments equally as Baptisme Docemur quae sit Baptismi aliorum Sacramentorum stabilitas Nam Baptismum repeti Ecclesiasticae prohibent regulae semel sanctificatis nulla deinceps manus iterum consecrans praesumit accedere nemo sacros Ordines semel datos iterum renouat nemo sacro oleo lita iterum linit aut consecrat nemo Impositioni manuum vel ministerio derogat Sacerdotum Where he setteth this downe for a generall Ecclesiasticall Rule which no man was ignorant off or did disobay 11. And S. Cornelius then Pope by all the witnesses before Protestants and others setteth downe the honour and dignitie of this Sacrament in the Church of Rome when he affirmeth that in those dayes of Persecution there were in it besides the Bishop 46. Preists 7. Deacons 7. Subdeacons 42. Acoluthists Exorchists Lectours and Ianitours 521. And to make all sure that all these Orders then were Ecclesiasticall he setteth downe some of their Offices and how these Exorcists did dispossesse Nouatus by these Protestants being possessed by Sathan These Protestants also testifie the same of S. Cyprian his doctrine in this point and these Deacons Subdeacons did liue vnmarryed of this Pope Lucius as they confesse made a Decree Lucij Decretum de caelibatu Sacerdotum So they acknowledge of Pope Stephen that no Preist Deacon or Subdeacon might marry nullus Sacerdotum à Subdiacono vsque ad Episcopum licentiam habet coniugium sauciendi Likewise they doe sufficiently proue that S. Cyprian and these Popes agreed in the Supreamacie Magdeb. cent 3. c. 4. col 84. 85. Tit. de Eccles Primatu Romano of the Pope of Rome First for S. Cyprian in that very Treatise which they intitle de Ecclesiâ Primatu Romano of the Church and Roman Primacy they acknowledge he expressely writeth that the Roman Church is to be acknowledged of all for the Mother and Roote of the Catholike Church he calleth the Chaire of Peter the principall Church from which Preistly vnitie is risen And saith in diuers places that the Church was founded vpon Peter Cyprianus libro quarto Epistolâ 8. nominatim ait Romanam Ecclesiam ab omnibus alijs pro matrice radice Catholicae Ecclesiae agnoscendam esse Quemadmodum libro primo Epistolâ tertiâ in tractatu de simplicitate Praelatorum principalem vocat Ecclesiam Petri Cathedram à quâ vnitas sacerdotalis exorta sit Alibi passim dicit super Petrum Ecclesiam fundatam esse vt libro primo Epistolâ tertiâ libro quarto Epistolâ nonâ Tractatu secundo de habitu Virginum sermone tertio de bono patientiae in Epistolâ ad Quirinum And they adde further vtterly to ouerthrow their owne new found Ministeriall calling and Church and Princes proceedings against Clergie men that S. Cyprian taught an Ordinary Succession in Pastorall dignitie and that Bishops and Rulers of the Church were not to be iudged by others Habet Cyprianus alias opiniones periculosas vt quod Pastoratum ad ordinariam successionem libro 1. Epistolâ 6. allegat Item quod negat Episcopos Praepositos Ecclesiae iudicandos libro 4. Epistolâ 9. in Concilio These they call dangerous opinions and so they are for their new Religion which hath no Ordinary Succession but in all places hath ouerthrowne it and so farre proceeded to adiudge and condemne Bishops and Prelates of the Church that in the whole world there is not any one of that most sacred or Preistly calling or any inferiour holy Order none but meere Lay men which by their owne definitiue Article cannot make a true visible Artic. of Englis Protest Religiō art 19. Church to be founde in all their Congregations And yet this doctrine of S. Cyprian so periculous with these men is so farre from being really and truely dangerous that not onely by all Catholike Authours but by our English Protestants also both their particular Writers and publike Articles with their Art sup Art 36. Prot. publ glosse ther. Prot. Booke of Consecration in Pref. allowed glosse and authorized Booke of Consecration it is iustified to be vnquestionably true and most necessary And this allready proued by all Authoritie as also the doctrine of exemption of Bishops and Clergie men from being conuented before Lay Iudges and Tribunals The same is euident before of the Popes of Rome Spirituall Supreamacie And diuers of these testimonies of S. Cyprian therein are in his seuerall Epistles to Pope Cornelius That place where he calleth the Roman Church the Roote and Mother of the Catholike Church is in his 45. Epistle which is to Cornelius Pope where he plainely saith he exhorted all to follow that Church Vt Ecclesiae Catholicae radicem matricem agnoscerent ac tenerent Likewise his testimony that Rome is the Chaire of S. Peter the principall Church from which Preistly vnitie is risen is in his 55. Epistle which is to the same Pope Cornelius In which he affirmeth further that it is the Church of Rome whose faith the Apostle commended and to which false doctrine cannot haue accesse Eos esse Romanos quorum fides Apostolo
afterward Emperour Hostage at their commande and placed heare in Britaine none to be Magistrates to beare office but such as were Pagans most ready to execute the cruell and sauadge Resolutions of that bloody persecuting Tyrant against the holy Christians heare These things thus complotted the State of Britaine by such meanes was now brought into the same condition for Persecution Euseb in chron An. 292. Maâ—th Westm Chron. alij Spartian in Aelio Vero. Spondan An. Chrâ—sti 139. Maâ—th Westm an 296. 302. Florent Wigorn. Chronic. Marian. Scot. l. 2. an 292. 293. 295. 304 305. Cassiodor Flor. Wigorn in Chron. an 292. 295. 297. Baron Annal. Tom. 2 An. 298. Iaco. SpondaÌ„ ib. Annal. Winton Eccl. antiq Manuscr Manuscr Antiq. de Vita S. Albani Io. Capg in eod Bal. lib. de Script cent 1. in Amphib Pitzeus l. de Vir. Illustr aetate 4. in eod Stowe Howes Hist Tit. RomaÌ„s in Coill Hollins Hist of Scotl. in Crathlint Hollinsh Histor of Engl. l. 4. c. 26. 27. Annal. Winton Manuscr with other NatioÌ„s or rather worse the number of Christians heare then being farre greater both in respect it was a Christian kingdome and so had both more Christian Inhabitants then other Nations and by the Immunities and Priuiledges it should haue enioyed many Christians of other Regions fledd and resorted hither in hope of quietnes and securitie from Persecution 3. And allthough the Persecution in Britaine by our Histories began about that time Constantius was compelled to putt away S. Helen and take Theodora and was therevpon made a Caesar Yet he did not thereby receaue any Emperiall Power or Authoritie more then he had before for the name Caesar in such sence died with Nero and was not renewed vntill the time of Adrian who adopted Antoninus Pius for Caesar onely a name of honour and Titular to be Emperour and not of present Power and Authoritie as it was in and before the time of Nero. And Constantius was not at this time in Britaine but came hither the second time diuers yeares after by our Historians and after the beginning of Dioclesian and Maximian their Persecution heare And was one of the Consuls at Rome after that taking of Theodora and Persecution begun in Britaine For as these Authours say he was Consul in the yeare of Christ 297. All which yeare he must needs be at Rome when the Roman Histories themselues confesse the Persecution of Dioclesian began long before And in the next immediate yeare 298. before Constantius could be transported into Britaine they confesse that Persecution was dilated into all the Roman Empire Anno Christi ducentissimo nonagesimo octauo Persecutiâ— in Christianos milites saepè grassari caepta totum inuasit Romanum orbem And many of our Antiquaries both in Manuscripts and other writings doe constantly affirme that S. Alban was Martyred heare long before this time in that Persecution So testifie both auncient and late Catholike and Protestant Historians And of this minde must that Protestant Historian Raphael Hollinshed be which in his History of Scotland inclineth to thinke that Constantius had bene a Persecutour in Britaine except he will contradict himselfe for in his History of England he holdeth and proueth with others that S. Alban and many others were Martyred heare long before the second comming of Constantius hither placing diuers yeares betweene them The old Manuscript Annales of Winchester say S. Alban was Martyred in the eight yeare of Dioclesian and Maximian Passio Sancti Albani iuxta ciuitatem Verolamium quae alias Warlamchester siue Watlingchester à Saxonibus vocatur Anno Dioclesiani Maximiani octauo And yet the same Antiquitie telleth vs that the Monks of Winchester were Martyred by the Officers of Dioclesian sixe yeares before that in the second yeare of his Empire Interfecti sunt Monachi in Wentanâ Ecclesiâ destructà à Ministris Dioclesiani Persecutoris anno Imperij sui secundo And their Church then destroyed A Protestant Bishop as he citeth from some Antiquities of that Church saith this happened in the yeare of Christ 289. and addeth that at this time Dioclesian endeauouring to roote out Godwin Catal. of Bishops in Wincester in Praef. Christian Religion in Britaine not onely killed the Professours of the same but also pulled downe all Churches any where consecrated vnto the exercise thereof And it is euident by our Scottish Histories also and others both that Dioclesian persecuted heare in this time and that not Constantius but Quintus Bassianus Hircius Alectus and Gallus were his Instruments therein as the most Hâ—ctor Boeth Scot. Hist lib. 6. Hollinsh Hist of Scotl. Harris Hist Manuscr l. 3. cap. 35. Galfrid Mon. Hist Brit. l. 5. c. 3. 4. Caxton Hist part 4. f. 33. Manuscript antiq Mamertin Paneg sup Hollins Hist of Engl. l. 4. Ioa. Lydgat l. 8. Harding Chron. c. 57. f. 47. principall with others of inferiour Degree all being Pagans by Profession 4. And Mamertinus the Panegyrist hath auouched to Maximian the Persecutour before that he was heare in Britaine in his owne parson which is confirmed by our owne Antiquaries adding further that he petsecuted in these Occidentall parts by commission and warrant from Dioclesian so testifieth Ihon Lidgate the Monke of Burie with others Harding in his Chronicle saith plainely The Emperour Dioclesian Into Britaine sent Maximian This Maximian to surname Hercelius A Tirante false that christenty annoyed Through all Britaine of werke malitious The Christned folke felly and sore destroyed And thus the people with him foule accloyed Religeous men the Preists and Clerkes all Women with child and bedred folkes all Children souking vpon the Mothers happis The Mothers also withouten any pitee And children all in their Mothers lappis The Crepiles eke and all the Christentee He killed and flewe with full greate crueltee The Churches brente all Bookes or ornaments Belles Relikes that to the Church appendes And setteth downe S. Alban Amphibalus Iulius and Aaron to haue suffered Martyrdome vnder this Tyrant Maximian at his being heare in Britaine so doth our Brittish History Ponticus Virunnius and others setting downe this Historie before the second comming of Constantius hither And our Protestant Historians say that Dicetus Deane of S. Paules in London doth set downe this Persecution in Britaine in the yeare of Christ 287. and interprete Galfr. Monum Hist Reg. Brit. l. 5. c. 5. Pont. ViruÌ„ Hist l. 5. Manus Antâ—q Prot. Theater of great Brit. l. 6. 9. §. 18. Bed Hist Eccl. l. 1. c. 6. 7. Abbreu Chron. M. S. ad An. 280. S. Bede William of Malmesbury and Ranulphus that S. Alban was Martyred soone after this time their words be these about the yeare 293. as we reade in Bede Malmesbury Ranulphus and others Alban with his Teacher Amphibalus were both of them Martyred And S. Bede seemeth plainely to be of that opinion So likewise doth the Authour of the old Manuscript intituled Abbreuiatio Chronicorum And most certaine it is out
Cap. 66. supr in terris vllum a condito mundo sub sole visum est All the Nobles of his Army which worshipped him when he lyued kept their old manner custome at certaine times entring in and prostrating themselues one the groond saluted the Emperour after his death lying in his Coffen as if he had still bene Greate reuerence giuen by the Christians to the de ad body of Constantine lyuing The Senate and all other Magistrats worshipped his body with like reuerence All kind of people euen women and children in infinite number came to see this Solemnitie these things were thus performed many dayes This blessed Emperour was he alone which reigned when he was dead and to him alone God himselfe being Authour thereof all honours which were wonte to be giuen him when he lyued were giuen after his death For he being the onely Emperour which in all the Actions of his life piously and Religiously worshiped God the King of all his sonne Christ Iesus he alone by right obtained this honour by the will of God to haue that which was buryed in death to reigne among men Totius exercitus Duces Comites omniumque Principum caetus quibus antea in more fuit Imperatorem venerari pristinum morem consuetudinem conseruaÌ„tes statis temporibus introeuntes Imperatorem in capsula iacentem tanquam viuum etiam post mortem humi procumbentes salutabant Horum reuerentiam eodem pietatis officio subsequutus est Senatus omnes reliqui Magistratus Tum vero cuiusuis ordinis hominuÌ„ etiam muliercularum puerorum infinita turba ad idem spectaculum confluebat Haec per multos dies factitata Solus vero iste beatus Imperator etiam mortuus regnauit cum ei soli post hominum memoriam vel ipso Deo Authore omnes qui solebant honores tanquam superstiti tribuerentur Num cum is solus ex omnibus Imperatoribus Regem omnium Deum Christum eius omnibus vitae actionibus pie sancteque coluerit iure sane etiam hunc honorem solus adeptus est vt Dei voluntate quod in eo morte sepultum erat tamen apud homines regnaret 9. They also made his Picturs and in them worshiped him as though he Cap. 69. were still lyuing And painted him as reigning in heauen Neque haec voce tantum clamoribus significabant verumetiam re ipsa declarabant cum ea vita functum pictis tabellis tanquam viuum colerent Nam cum caeli effigiem in tabella proprijs Constantine worshipped in his pictures after his death coloribus expressissent depinguÌ„t eum super caelestes orbes in ethaereeo caelo requiescentem Thus his body was honorably kept vnburyed vntill his sonne Constantius came none of them being preseÌ„t at his death Then being with greate solemnitie brought to the Apostles Church where the Preists and people The Preists and others pray for the soule of their Emperor Constantine deceased with teares and mourning prayed vnto God for the soule of the Emperour Populus frequens vna cum Sacerdotibus non sine lachrymis sane magno cum geÌ„mitu preces pro animo Imperatoris Deo fundebant And so with sacred ceremonies and the sacrifice of Masse and holy prayers he was ioyned to the people Cap. 70. 71. of God in heauen Licet contemplari ter beatae animae tumulum Apostolici nominis Masse said for him deceased appellaâ—ione decorari Dei populum aggregari diuinisque ceremonijs mystico sacrificio sanctarumque precationum societate perfrui 10. Nicephorus writeth that the holynes and pietie of this renowned Emperour The Relicks of Constantino worke many miracles so his Image were so Miraculously approued after his death that God gaue such an infallible gift of healing and Miracles both to his graue and Image that all diseases whatsoeuer were certainely cured by the onely touching of them Magna gloria bonorum conciliator Deus virum eum veluti fidelem ministrum accumulauit Niceph. Hist Eccl. l. 8. cap. 55. sanationum Miraculorum gratia vrnae statuae ipsius quae in porpheretici marmoris columna posita est immissa vt deinceps nulla aegri tudo contrectatis eis non cederet fides verbi illius Christi adimpleretur dicentis ego glorificantes me glorifiâ—â—bo The memorable workes and foundations of Christian pietie Arguments of Constantine his Religion the most honored Emperor that euer was Churches most sumptuous Altars Chalices Patens Candelsticks and other vessels of gold and siluer which he founded Priuiledges Immunities and aimes which he bestowed vpon Religion are innumerable Eusebius hath writen his life in 4. Bookes and many others haue entreated of them able in themselues to minister subiect of a whole History therefore I must passe them ouer onely saying in generall with that Authour of this Noble Emperour Solus ex omnibus Romanis Imperatoribus Deum omnium Regem incredibili Euseb l. 4. vit Const cap. 75. pietatis studio honorauit solus omni cum libertate vocis linguae Christi verbum personuit solus vt ita dicam Ecclesiam eius praeter caeteras ab omni aeuo honoribus effecit Solus Impium multoruÌ„ deorum ficticium cultum sustulit omnesque vias Idololatriae refutauit Igitur dum viueret postque est mortuus his honoribus cumulatus est quales neminem aliquando nec apud Graecos nec Barbaros sed ne antiquissimis quidem Romanorum temporibus cum neminem cum isto conferendum vlla vnquaÌ„ seculorum memoria nobis profuderit adeptum esse quisquam commemorare potest Among all the Roman Emperours Constantine onely did with incredible feruour of pietie honour God the King of all he alone with all libertie of voice and tongue sounded forth the word of Christ he alone that I may so say more then all the rest in all Ages endewed his Church with honours He alone tooke away the feigned worship of many Gods and refuted all the wayes of Idolatry Therefore he alone both when he lyued and after he was dead had such honors heaped vpon him that no man can make relation that any man at any time eyther among the Greekes or Barbarians or in the most auncient time of the Romans obtayned the like It is not found in the memory of all Ages that any man was to be compared vnto him He left his three sonnes before remembred to serue and reigne Emperours after him in the S. Constantia dâ—uâ—hter to Consâ—anâ—ine an holy Nunneâ— example to many Noble Nuâ—â—â— worlde but his holy daughter S. Constantia some call her Constantina he left to serue God in perpetuall virginitie among sacred Nunnes who as I haue insinuated before being infected with Leprosie and going on Pilgrimage to the graue of S. Agnes Martyred in the Persecution before Constantins time and there continuing in prayer all night was Miraculously cured of her infirmitie S. Agnes
very probably be gathered by his extraordinary fauour and loue towards that greate light of Christs Church in that time S. Hilary most famously knowne to be the greatest Propugner and Defendor of the Nicen faith which was theÌ„ in the world and had written much against the Arrians and among the rest twelue Bookes of the blessed Trinitie and openly still professed himselfe a Catholike and the Arrians damnable Heretiks and both dedicated and deliuered this his Profession and Apologie in a Booke euen to the hands of Constantius and was by him with greate libertie freedome and honour restored and sent to his Bishoprike in France And in that his Apologie proueth that Constantius of himselfe but that he was much abused and violented by the Arrians had long desired to knowe the true Catholike faith in that Controuersie Recognosce fidem quam olim optime ac religiosissime Imperator ab Episcopis optas audire non audis Hilar. l. ad Constantium Augustum Dum enim a quibus ea requiritur sua scribunt non quae Dei sunt praedicant orbem aeternum erroris redeuntis in se semper certaminis circumtulerunt 8. And allthough being sodainely taken with sicknes and death no Catholike Bishop in any probable iudgment being present he was in extremitie baptized by Enzoius an Arrian as S. Athanasius writeth yet this proueth not but as S. Gregory saith he might be saued allthough he had repented before that Baptisme For the same S. Athanasius granteth in the same Epistle that those Arrians or Seminarrians which Constantius ioyned with did then keepe and vse the Catholike forme of Baptisme in the name of the Father and the sonne and the holy Ghost Qui in Ecclesia credunt baptizantur in nomine patris filij Spiritus sanctiâ—â— â—nd not that condemned forme in nomine patris maioris filij minoris c. Aâ—â— besides S. Gregory Nazianzen cited before Theodoret and others testifice that allthough Constantius being deceaued by them which could leade him as they listed did not admit the worde of Coessentialitie yet he manifestly confessed the sence Christ to be the naturall sonne of God begotten of the Father from eternitie and to be God vtterly reiecting and condemning them which durst call him a Creature which were they which vsed that inualide forme of Baptisme Etsi Constantius non admittebat vocem Theodor. Hist Eccl. l. 3. c. 3. Coessentialitatis circumuentus ab ijs qui quouis ducere eum poterant significationem tamen manifeste coÌ„fitebatur quod diceret filium germanum ante secula ex patre genitum Deum verbum prorsus abdicatis ijs qui auderent condituram dicere filium Thus hath Theodoret. And S. Gregorie Nazianzen and Nicephorus the same Greg. Nazian supr Niceph. l. 10. Hist c. 1. before saying that he professed the true and sinceere meaning of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 consubstantiall sinceram dictionis eius sententiam est professus And declared himselfe an open knowne Enemy of them who durst call Christ a Creature Tum certus manifestusque eorum qui creaturam illum vocare ausi fuissent hostis extitit And add that in all things he was a paterne of his holy Father but cheifely in pietie and worship of God and in abolishing Idols error and superstition Is fuit patris sui exemplar in omnibus rebus maxime vero in pietate Dei cultu atque in simulachrorum erroris superstitionis abolitione 9. This ConstaÌ„tius was at the time of his death by Sozomen about 45. yeares old annos natus circiter quadraginta quinque full 45. saith Socrates vixit Constantius Sozom. Hist Eccles l. 5. c. 1. Socrat l. 2. c. 37. vlt. Socr. Sozom. supr Nicephor Hist Eccl. l. 9. c. 50. Baron SpoÌ„d Annal. Tom. 4. annos 45. besides the time he reigned with his Father after his death say Socrates Sozomen and Nicephorus he was Emperour 25. yeares viginti Annos praeterea quinque post patris mortem imperauit he died on the third day the Nones of Nouember tertio Nonas NoueÌ„bris by Nicephorus his accompt in the 367. yeare of Christ Quum à Christo nato trecentesimus sexagesimus septimus ageretur Some set downe his death somewhat sooner as they haue done his Fathers before aboue 25. years soonerthen this Accompt of Nicephorus of the yeare of Christ 367. for Constantius his death yet grant he was Emperour 25. yeares after his Father died THE XXII CHAPTER IVLIAN THE APOSTATA NEVER PERSECVTED the Christians of Britaine But they during the whole tyme he was Caesar or Emperor were heare in peace and quiet both from Persecution Paganisme or Heresie 1. CONSTANTIVS the last ouerlyuing sonne of Constantine being dead Iulianus Brother to Gallus and sonne of Constantius Chlorus by Theodora a man by no Title of discent Heire or King of Britaine was acknowledged for Emperour for allthough this Constantius last Emperour by the instigation and persuasion of Eusebia Empresse made him a Caesar in the Empire he himselfe not able to discharge the whole charge for manyfold trobles and Inuasions of the Barbarous as the Romans termed strangers into 〈◊〉 places of the Empire especially in Gallia now France where as Zosimus saith they tooke 40. Cities neare the Riuer of Rhene Francos Alamanos Saxones quadraginta sitas ad Rhenum vrbes coepisse prorsus easdem deuastasse Ciues Incolas infinitae multitudinis cum innumerabili spoliorum copia secum abduxisse and gaue vnto him in Zosimus Hist l. 3 Socrat. Hist Eccl. l. 3. c. 1. Cassiodor Tripart Hist l. 6. c. 1. Niceph. l. 10. c. 1. Ammianus l. 21. Baron SpoÌ„dan Annal. ann 360. Marriage his Sister Helena And sent him to gouerne the part of the Empire on this side the Alpes postquam Iulianus in Italiam accersitus aduenisset Caesarem Constantius declarat Helenam ei sororem in MatrimoniuÌ„ tradit ad Nationes Transalpinas eum dimittit yet it is euident by Ammianus and others that he had no child by her which liued but she herselfe died before her brother Constantius Emperour Neuertheles the Ecclesiasticall State of Britaine rather gained then lost by his being Caesar in these Westerne parts and Emperour afterward For allthough Constantius had married his Sister Helena vnto him and in that respect so longe as she liued might seeme to haue a care rather to preserue then destroy him yet she dying as before during her brothers life that imagined loue of Constantius could not loÌ„ger endure in that respect and both Socrates Cassiodorus and others testifie it was thought that when Constantius sent him into the dangerous Warrs of Gallia he did it to haue him slaine by the cruell and potent Enemies Dicitur à nonnullis Constantium illum Socrat. l. 3. cap. 1. Cassiodor Tripartit Hist l. 6. c. 1. Niceph. Hist l. 10. c. 1. Socrat. supr alij Ammian lib. 21. Baron an 361.
egregius vita quoque conuersatione illustris sermone Fastidius not improbably Archbishop of London ingenio clarus scripsit nonnulla deuota opuscula some of our owne Writers say he was Archbishop of London which the recited Authors rather approue then impugne when they stile him Bishop of the Britans meaning Io. Bal. l. de Script Brit. cent 1. in Fastid Prisc Io. Pits aetat 5. in eod by that phrase properly spoaken that he was cheife or Archbishop of them Fastidius Episcopus Londinensis Metropolis ad Archiepiscopatum Londonensem euectus Aluueus spoaken of before that baptized S. Dauid Tremaunus vrbis Legionum Archiepiscopus and Amaloers are thought to be Archbishops Galfr. Mon. Hist Brit. l. 8. c. 10. of Caerlegion Very litle memory besides their names of those of London is left except those I haue spoaken of before Yet by good Arguments though Archbishops of Caerlegion in this time more generall both from auncient forreine and domesticall Writers we are assured they were learned and holy Catholike Archbishops gouerning the people vnder them in vertue and true beleife This is confessed by Protestant Antiquaries before making the Britans both Cleargie and others orthodoxe true beleeuers and good people longe after this Age by our Brittish Histories in the greatest sway of libertie and wickednesse heare by the Saxons entry the Archbishops Bishops and others of the Cleargie Heare were holy and truely Religious and so continued so longe as their temporall gouernment continued in so much that when sainct Augustin came hither The Bishops of Britayne now learned truely Catholike and holy men and there was then but one Archbishopricke and seuen Bishopricks left by the Pagan Saxons they were all furnished with most Religious Prelats In parte Britonum vigebat Christianitas quae à tempore Eleutherij Papae habita nunquam inter eos defecerat Augustinus inuenit in eorum Prouincia septem Episcopatus Archiepiscopatum religiosissimis Prâ—sulibus muniâ—os Abbatias complures Galfrid Mon. Hist Brit. l. 11. cap. 12. Bed Hist l. 2. cap. 2. Io. Goscelin Hist Eccl. Parker l. antiq Brit. p. 8. in quibus Grex Domini rectum ordinem tenebat And S. Bede also testifieth these Bishops and others of the Brittish Cleargie were most learned men Septem Britonum Episcopi plures viri doctissimi And other our Historians euen Protestants doe proue that not onely in that Age and this we haue now in haÌ„d but in euery other in quouis saculo Britaine had such learned Prelats And for forreine Writers euen those which were most renowned in the world in their dayes euen in this very time they witnesse as much of our Brittish Bishops I Britaine now an holy and Religious kingdome haue cited S. Hilary for the Latine and S. Athanasius for the Greeke Church before to such proofe and purpose S. Chrysostome often speaketh of the Chrysost Tom. 4. Hom. 28. coÌ„m in c. 18. Epist 2. ad Corinth apud Speede Theat of Brit. l. 6. Serm. de Pentec Tom. 3. greate deuotion and Religion of our Britans how firme they were in the true faith of Christ builded Churches and Altars offered the holy Sacrifice on them and not onely our Prelats and Preists were thus Religious but our Kings themselues did lay downe their Crownes at the Church dore and made the signe of the Crosse on their forehoods Reges ingredientes Limen Ecclesiae deponunt coronam Crucem Christi depingunt in suis frontibus And name our two Kings and Emperors Theodosius the Father and sonne for Paterns of Basilius Epist ad Occidentales Episcopos in fine Tom. 3. edit Basil 1565. such Religion Theodosius pater filius Theodosij religione ac pietate insignes The Epistle of S. Basile to the Westerne Bishops OccideÌ„talibus translated by Wolefangus Masculus the Protestant in which our Brittish Bishops were comprehended proueth that our Bishops then were knowne vnto all the world to be men instructed and endued with the grace of God vnspotted in matters of faith and keeping the Apostles Tradition Vos cunctis mortalibus praedicamini viri gratia Dei instructi quòd in fide illibati permaneatis Apostolorum depositum Our Brittish Bishops not onely renowned heare and in these Westerne Nations but in the Easterne also there teaching true Râ—ligion and condeÌ„ning Herâ—siâ— illaesum seruetis And therefore most earnestly entreateth them as he did in other Epistles to come into the East Countries afflicted with Heresie to confound the Heretiks and comfort others Obsecramus vt nunc tandem manum Orientalibus porrigatis Ecclesijs quae iam velut in genua depressae inclinant ac viros aliquos mittatis qui illas de praemijs admoneant quae patientiae ac passionibus pro Christo toleratis reseruantur Vos ò dilecti ac desiderati fratres sitis vulneratorum medici eorum qui adhuc sani existant Praedotribae quod morbidum est curantes quod sanum ad pietatem instruentes Therefore hauing proued by most worthie witnesses before that not onely among the Westerne Nations but all others in the then Christian world this Kingdome of Britaine was most free from Heresie and by S. Basils iudgment aswell in that respect as that our Bishops were learned and trauayled into remote Countries euen to Councels and as Theodoret hath testified multi Britanni many holy and learned Britans went in that time to the Easterne Countries whether S. Basile so exhorted them to come and where so greate necessitie was then of their helpe and assistance in so greate and important affaires we may not doe that wrong to our Noble Nation but acknowledge that diuers of our learned Britans tooke in hand and performed those worthie offices as S. Basil so vrgently desired And among these we may boldly name and place Coelus Sedulius a very Sigebert Bostius apud Bal. cent 1. in Coelo Sedul Io. Trith l. de Scrip. Eccles in eod Conr. Gesner Bibliot in Caelio Sedul Magdeb. cent 5. c. 10. Henric. de Erford hist Sedul in Princ. lib. Epistol learned man and by Sigebert Bostius Trithemius and others a Bishop for one He being brought vp vnder our Archbishop Hildebertus heare in our Britaine though he himselfe as he and others write Scotigena come of the Scottish Nation proued a man of greate and extraordinarie knowledge in all kind of learning especially diuine and trauayled into those Easterne Countries Italiam perlustrauit Asiam postremo Achaiae finibus excedens in vrbe Roma mirabili doctrina clarus effulsit And did not onely by his words and preaching confirme the Catholiks confounding Heretiks but by his many learned Writings refuted all Heresies of those times and places as is plainly extant in them leauing vnto Posteritie an vndeniable testimony in his owne Parson of his labours and written Bookes that all Countries then where he These our Bishops of Britaine agreeing with all Catholike Churches professed the same faith
after this time So I may say of Guitelinus and S. Vodinus glorious Archbishops of that See famous in our Histories But of these as also of S. Patrike I shall speake more in the next hundred of yeares We finde memory of an other renowned Bishop in this Age Aluueus spoken of before that baptized S. Dauid and at his Baptisme Vit. S. Dauid Episcopi and in the place thereof a Miraculous Well sprang sodainely vp at that time curing diseases Whether this Bishop peculiarly assigned to baptise this Infant so prophetically and Miraculously longe before foretold was one of the Archbishops of Caerlegion whose names are not remēbred as I haue said before and the rest I leaue to others to decide Our Historians relating the life and History of S. Patrike say he was consecrated Bishop in these parts by one Antiq. Script in vit S. Patricij Capgrau in eod Nennius Hist Manuscrip Matth. West An. 491. the principall among his Consecrators named by some Amatus but by Nennius Matthew of Westminster and others Matheus or Amatheus Nennius calleth him Amatheus mirabilis summus Episcopus Rex an admirable highe Bishop and King or Prince The Monke of Westminster termeth him Matthaeus and saith he was an Archbishop relateth S. Patrike his Mission from Pope Celestine how he preached both to Britans and Scots by that Commission and that he was made Bishop by this Matthaeus or Amatheus in these parts afterward Patricius Theodosio Valentiniano Imperantibus à Papa Celestino ad partes Occiduas missus est vt vexillum sanctae crucis gentibus praedicaret Cumque ad Britanniam peruenisset praedicauit ibi verbum Dei à gentibus Incolis gratanter est susceptust deinde ad Scotos se conferens praedicauit verbum Dei. Tandem à Matthaeo Archiepiscapo ad Episcopalem gradum permotus Wherefore seeing we finde that he was consecrated Bishop in these parts by such an Archbishop and finde that Archbishop named for no other Nation and being assured by Antiquities that Caerlegion had diuers Archbishops whose names are not remēbred in Histories I may name this Amatus Matthaeus or Amathaeus a cōfessed Arch bishop to haue bene one of them a renowned mā if not Archbishop in this Age. And this the rather because whereas this Archbishop is called Rex a King we had heare diuers Kings or Heires to such litle Kings which forsooke their temporall states and honors to be Religeous and Clergy men and were Manuscript Ant. in vit S. Dauid Capgrau in eod S. Carantoco renowned in Ecclesiasticall Order at and before the time when S. Patrike was consecrated Bishop Such as I haue proued before were the worthies of this Nation S. Cadocus S. Canochus and Carantocus To whome I add King Keredick Father to S. Carantocus and S. Dauid voluntarily leauing and renowncing their earthly Kingdomes for the loue of Christ and to be crowned in heauen THE XXVIII CHAPTER OF VERY MANY AND RENOWNED MOnasteries and holy Monasticall parsons in Britaine in this Age. 1. IN this Age also we had heare in Britaine very many Monasteries and Religious houses both of men and women euen as the Protestant Antiquaries of this Nation professed enemies of such holy Monuments and profession with others doe freely confesse Monachorum Io. Goscel Hist Eccl. Matt. Parker Antiq. Britannic p. 8. Antiq. Glast Capgr in Vit. S. Patricij Guliel Malmefb lib. de Antiquit. Caenobij Glaston Abbatū Caenobiorum Sediūque nomina permulta extiterūt no Catholike Historian calleth it into Question but all such are witnesses that as in other Christian Natiōs so heare in Britaine there were many Religious houses in this time Our old Religious house of Glastenbury continued in this Age as in the former hauing twelue Religious men Eremites belonging vnto it dwelling in the places and Cells of the first 12. in the time of S. Ioseph of Arimathia and very often dayly resorting to the old Church to performe their publike seruice and deuotions This is testified by the old Manuscripts of that place William of Malmesbury in his Booke of the Antiquitie thereof witnessing that these holy men in the number of twelue successiuely thus liued and serued God there vutill S. Patrike his comming thither Sic multi alijs succedentes semper tamen in numero duodenario per multa annorum curricula vsque ad aduentum Sancti Patricij Hibernensium Apostoli in memorata Insula permanserunt Which some before haue placed in this Age. These Religious men were of so greate Sanctitie in this time as the Epistle asscribed to S. Patrike testifieth that he such a wonder in the world for pietie confessed he was not worthie to vntie the Latchets of their Shoes Non dignus eram soluere corrigias calceamentorum eorum The names of the 12. then liuing there in this holy Order are thus Registred Brunbam Dyregaan Viwal Wenreth Bamtonneweng Adeloobred Loyor Wellias Breden Swellwes Hinloermus and Alius All of them discended of Noble Families rather preferred this poore penitentiall Eremiticall life then worldly honor Hij cum essent Nobilibus orti natalibus nobilitatem suam fidei opibus ornare cupientes Heremiticam vitam ducere elegerunt 2. The Antiquities of Glastenbury further witnesse that about this time there was new founded or renewed an other litle Religious house in honor of S. Michael the Archangel and particularly to honor and pray to him Vt honorantes inuocent adiutorium Archangeli Michaelis And that Arnulphus and Ogmar two Religious holy men were the first which supplied that office and dutie there 3. I haue spoaken of the auncient famous Monastery of Wincester in the beginning of this Age how it was destroyed in the Persecution of Diocletiā and with greate deuotion State and Magnificence reedified when that Tēpest ceased in the space of one yeare and thirtie dayes and dedicated to S. Amphibalus lately martyred before This Monastery now florished and long after this time vntill the time of Cerdic the Saxon and first Pagan King of that Nation ouer the West Saxons as the old Manuscript Antiquitie of that place Antiquitat Eccl. Wintonien proueth being 210. yeares from the death of Dioclesian Monachi sic introducti inhabitāt Ecclesiam Wintoniae in quieta pace à morte Dioclesiani vsque aduentum Cerdicij Saxonici Pagani ac Westsaxonum Regis primi hoc est 210. annis So Matth. Westm in Chron. Florēt Wigorn. in geneolog Reg. Westsax Fast Reg. Episcop Angl. Gildas l. de Excid Brit. Stowe Histor Matth. Westm an 433. Matth. Westm an 445. Galfr. Monum Hist Brit. l. 6. c. 5. Holinsh. Hist of Engl. l. 5. Hardin Chron. c. 65. 66. that Cerdic not being King there by the common opinion vntill about the yeare 519 this Monastery florished in quiet all this and the next Age also it being the yeare of Christ 495. when Cerdic first landed heare and so long after before he was King And our most
Abbots and other Noble parsons Venit cum Episcopis Abbatibus alijs Magnatibus in montem Ambri vbi die Pentecostes coronam portauit And after Britaine was more decayed by these Pagans yet there were still both Bishops and Abbots heare and they buried the body of their King Aurelius Ambrosius in Regall manner Ipsum ab Episcopis Abbatibus regni more regio Sepultum And thus it was in all places and Prouinces of this Kingdome where these Pagans raiged most London Winchester Lincolne Yorke and others Prouinces quasque Prouincias Where they destroyed Churches and all holy Monuments Matth. Westm an 462. Martyred the Preists at the Altars burned holy Scripturs and defaced and obscured Martyrs Tombes They founde euery where Religious parsons which flying their Persecution hid themselues in Caues wooddy places and desart craggs of hiles and Mountains carring with them Saints Relicks Ecclesias Ecclesiastica omnia ad solum vsque destruebant sacerdotes iuxta altaria trucidabant sacras scripturas igne concremabant super Sanctorum Martyrum sepulturas cumulos terrae congerebant viri Religiosi qui ab hac clade euadere potuerunt speluncas nemorosa loca atque deserta montium collium praerupta Sanctorum secum Reliquias portantes petierunt And yet this raige of the Saxons Infidels was not so generall that it destroyed all such holy places for we finde in the Antiquities of Glastenbury that this house then remayned in some sorte and had both Monks and Abbot before and at S. Augustines comming hither and that in the yeare 601. with in three yeares of S. Augustine his comming into England and before either he or any of his Mission came into those parts Morgret was Abbot there and a Noble man called a King of Danmonia Deuonshire gaue to that Abbot and Abbey the land called Inswitrin to the old Church and one named Manuto was then Bishop there wrote and signed the Charter thus Guliel Malmes I. de Antiq. Caenobij Glaston writeth William of Malmesbury in his booke of the Antiquities of that Religeous house and for his Authoritie citeth an other so auncient Monument thereof that the name of the King or Noble man could not be expounded Capgr in Vit. S. Petroci Harpesfeld Hist Eccl. in fine 6. saecul Harpesfel Hist Eccl. saecul 10. Annal. Abingd apud euÌ„d Matth. Westm an 590. Stowe Howes Hist in South-Saxons an 514. Polidor Virgil. Hist l. 4. M. S. Antiq. Capgr in Vita S. Kebij Harris descript of Brit. c. 10. Quis iste Rex fuit scedulae vetustas negat scire S. Petrocke also was an Abbot in his Monastery by the Riuer of Seuerne with diuers Monkes when the Inhabitants were Pagans So likewise S. Sampson an Abbot or Eremite liued then in those parts as also an holy Bishop not named well knowne to S. Petrocke And both Catholike and Protestant Writers make King Cissa a Saxon the first Founder or Renewer of the Monastery of Abingdon and yet he died diuers yeares before the comming of S. Augustine hither and Iteanus was then Abbot there ouer diuers hundreds of Monkes by the Annals of that place S. Kebius also in this Age had many Monkes vnder his Rule liuing with them at diuers times in diuers places and among the rest at holy head or Cairkiby names giuen from him and his Religeous men as our Protestant Antiquaries themselues thus acknowledge à Promontory or Byland called holy heade which hath in time past bene named Cairkyby of Kyby à Monke that dwelled there 8. We may haue some apprehension of the greate deuotion of our Britans both men and women in this Age to chast and Monasticall life by the Example of S. Vrsula so many thousands of holy virgins with her by so many Authors before deuoted to that profession Which we may further confirme vnto vs by the example of the Britans which were then in that part of Britaine now called Walles more free from the Saxons Persecution whose Antiquities although not well preserued not naming many Archbishops of Carlegion before those I named and very fewe Bishops in that Prouince hauing many from their first receauing the faith of Christ yet they doe record and propose vnto vs many Monasteries and of greate name and honor as that of Bangor stiling it famatum collegium where Pelagius before his Heresies liued and by some was Abbot Praepositus there hauing 2100. Monkes in it and diuided as it were into 7. Monasteries euery of them hauing 300. Monkes Which Monastery as S. Bernard our Protestant Antiquaries and others write was the heade or cheife of Principall Monasteries and brought forth many thowsands of Monkes In vita Malachiae Hiberniensis Episcopi Bernardus Clareuallensis hunc Io. Bal. cent 1. in Pelag. Calpâ—ur Agric. CoÌ„gello Bed Hist Eccl. l. 2. c. 2. Galfrid Monum Histor Brit. l. 11. cap. 12. Matth. Westm an 603. Bed l. 2. c. 2. Galfrid Matth. Westm supr Galfr. Monum Hist Brit. l. 9. c. 12. l. 11. c. 1. Matth. Westm an 541. Galfr. Mon. Hist Brit. l. 11. c. 3. Manuscr antiq Capgr in vit S. Dauid Bal. ceÌ„t 1. in Dauid MeneuieÌ„ Pits aetat 6. in eod locum tradit primorum extitisse Monasteriorum caput multa generauisse Monachorum millia This was the most Noble Monastery of this Country nobilissimum Monasterium as S. Bede and others terme it and so iustly did hauing so many Monkes that being diuided into 7. coÌ„panies vnder 7. Priors vnder their cheife Abbate euery one had 300. or more MoÌ„kes and among them most learned men Viri doctissimi plures de nobilissimo Monasterio BaÌ„cornaburg lingua Anglorum Inter caeteras erat in ciuitate Bangor quaedam nobilissima Ecclesia in qua tantus fertur fuisse numerus MonachoruÌ„ vt cum in septem portionâ—s esset cum Praepositis sibi Prioribus Monasterium diuisum nulla harum portio minus quam trecentos Monachos haberet 9. There were in this time 2. famous Monasteries one of Monkes the other of Nunnes in Caerlegion in that of Nunnes dedicated to S. Iulius our Martir Queen Guenhumar wife to King Arthur did after receaue the habit of Religion Guenhumara Regina in Monasterio Iulij Martyris inter Moniales habitum Religionis suscepit There was an other in Meneuia called afterward S. Dauids fouÌ„ded by S. Patrike as it seemeth in this Age. For as our Brittish Writers say S. Patrike prophesying of S. Dauid before he was borne founded this Monastery in that place to beare his name By which S. Dauid liuing 146. yeares by all accompts and dying in the yeare 540. this Monastery was founded in this Age. There was also an other Monastery in these parts then called Mancani Monasterium or Depositi Monasterium 30. yeares and more before S. Dauids birth So there was a Monastery of Nunnes in North Wales the name of the place I doe not finde but Nonnita or Nominta was a Nunne there