extinguish'd his memory and render'd him to Posterity a meer Romantick Phantasm That there was such a Prince as Arthur and that he was Illustrious by many Victories over the Saxons in defence of his Country cannot reasonably be question'd But as to his Exploits abroad his Round-Table and feigned Knights we may well leave them to be justify'd by the Dreaming Bards of that Age True it is that Malbranc a Learned French Antiquary misled by a wrong transcrib'd passage out of Gildas will needs confound Arthur with Aurelius Ambrosius as if Vter had been the Father and not the Brother of Aurelius Whereas our Antient and most Prudent Historians agree that without doubt Arthur was the Son of Vter and Nephew of Ambrosius and succeeded his Father slain by the Saxons in the Throne of Britain Some say he was begotten of Igerna Wife of Gorlois Duke of Cornwall whose affection Vter obtain'd being transform'd by the skill of Merlin into the shape of her Husband But the Virtues Piety and Courage of this renown'd Prince recompenc'd by God himself with wonderful success seem not to suit with a Birth so infamous A more sober account is given of him in the Antiquities of Glastonbury where we may find That Uterpendragon the Brother of Aurelius Ambrosius dying by Poison after the coming of Cerdic the West Saxon his Son Arthur a Youth of 15 years began to reign over the Britains his Mothers Name was Igerna born he was in a Castle of Cornwall call'd Tintagel In this Narration no aspersion is cast upon his Birth but rather an Embelishment of it for it seems to affirm him descended from a Nephew of St. Joseph of Arimathaea call'd Hellanis Whether he were no more then 15 years of Age when his Father dy'd may be a question in regard mention is made of his Noble Exploits in the time of Ambrosius Arthur was not present in the Army when his Father Vther was slain being then imploy'd to oppose the Irruption of the Picts For which reason perhaps no mention is made of him in the Saxon Annals the design of which was only to relate the encounters between them and the Britains Neglecting in the mean time what interven'd between the Britains and Picts Now at this time liv'd a King of the Picts by some Writers call'd Navus by others Can Happy in a Fruitful Off-spring for he had 24. Children the Eldest nam'd Howel or Huel a Prince of Invincible Courage who would by no means acknowledge subjection to the Britains into which Faction he drew all the rest of his Brethren except only St. Gildas Sir-nam'd Albanius who bare a particular Affection to Prince Arthur This Huel being of a restless Spirit made frequent inroads into Britain as may be found in the Life of St. Gildas and so Cruelly wasted the Country that the British King sent Prince Arthur with a numerous Army who began a furious War with the young Pict and after divers Defeats and Pursuits slew him in the Island Minau This War of Arthur's with the Picts giving occasion to mention this St. Gildas it will not be unseasonable to relate his Gests and the rather that in course of Story he be distinguish'd from another Gildas his Contemporary stil'd Sapiens or Historicus and the younger of the two of whom more hereafter These two are not seldom confounded together by Antient Writers by reason they agreed in Name and many good Qualities Howbeit this Elder Gildas as we read in his Life Was the Son of Con King of Albania and being in his Childhood of an excellent Disposition was carefully instructed and did wonderfully profit in good Literature After he was sent into Gaul for the increase of his knowledge where having abode seven years he return'd into Britain furnish'd not with Learning only but abundance of Books also The report of his Eminent Learning drew many to him from all quarters to suck instruction from him But he took more care to enrich himself with Virtue and Piety then Knowledge and indeed none was to be found in all those Regions comparable to him in Assiduous Prayers Fasting Sack-cloath and Mortifications He wholly abstain'd from Flesh contenting himself with Barly-bread and Herbs with which he mix'd Ashes to abate the Pleasure he might take in the taste of his Food His Drink was pure Water from the Fountain He would ordinarily at midnight plunge himself in the River for Mortification and spend the rest of the night in Prayer by which Austerities he became so lean as if he had been in a Consumption Whatever was bestow'd on him by richmen he presently distributed amongst the poor His Charity drew him into Ireland where the Gospel of Christ was not so well settled and there he spent many years in instructing that Nation but being inform'd that in the more Northern parts of his own Country Gentilism was generally profess'd and that those few Christians who liv'd there were Poison'd with many Heresies he return'd thither and being thorough furnish'd with the Armour of God he demonstrated to the Pagans that the suppos'd Deities Worship'd by them were nothing but the Inventions of Impious men And to the Hereticks that what they held was contrary to Divine Truth reveal'd to Gods Church by which means he is said to have brought the Pagans to destroy their Idols and Prophane Temples to receive Baptisme and erect Churches The Hereticks also he reduc'd into the bosome of the Catholick Church Now to make his Preaching more effectual our Lord was pleas'd to give him a Plentiful Grace in Healing the Sick giving Sight to the Blind Curing the Deaf Cleansing the Leprous c. So that his Preaching confirm'd by frequent Miracles spread the true Faith through all those Provinces to the glory of God and the inexpressible joy of St. Gildas After this imployment some say he took a Journey to Rome others more probably that being invited by the Holy Abbot St. Cadocus he presided over the Studies of many young Scholars in the Academy of Lancarvan where he continu'd only one year leaving there a Book of the four Evangelists transcrib'd by himself St. Gildas having ended the year of his Presidentship and his Scholars retiring from their Studies withdrew himself into a certain Island as St. Cadocus did into another the Islands were Ronech and Echni while St. Gildas continu'd there in Prayer and Mortification certain Pyrats from the Isles of Orkney rob'd him of his Utensils and carry'd Captive away some of those which attended him for which cause in great affliction he pass'd over to Glastonbury At this time Melvas a British Prince reign'd in the Province of Somerset call'd by the Britains Gladarhaf This Melvas had stollen away Guinivera wife to King Arthur concealing her in the Isle of Glastonbury esteem'd most secure both for the Fenny Scituation and Religion of the place Hereupon King Arthur assembled a mighty Army out of Cornwall and Devonshire and encompass'd the Island The two Kings being ready to joyn Battle the
Fought at the Mountain call'd Badonicus between the Britains and Saxons in the time of Aurelius Ambrosius to which Mountains the Saxons retiring were Besieged by the Britains and after in a Battle discomfited this happen'd in the year of Grace 493. forty years after the first entrance of the Saxons into Britain This Gildas is affirm'd by the Author of his Life To be the Disciple of Iltutus and leaving him to have gone into Ireland He remain'd four years under the Discipline and Instruction of St. Iltutus and having pass'd through the Schools of many Learned Teachers in Ireland and like a diligent Bee collected the Juice of divers Flowers he laid it up carefully in the Hive of our Mother the Church to the end he might in opportune season pour forth the Mellifluous Doctrine of the Gospel to his own Country-men and thereby draw them out of Misery to Eternal Joyes and like a good Servant restore unto his Lord the Talent entrusted with him In this Island saith Bishop Vsher there flourish'd in this Age the Schools of Armagh wherein the Elder Gildas presided when he Piously labour'd in Cultivating the minds of the Irish in which imployment probably this our Younger Gildas succeeded him and here not only collected sweet Juice but got a sharp sting also which he after darted forth against the Vices of his own Country However in Ireland he restor'd Discipline to the Ecclesiastical Order he gather'd many Congregations of Monks and mercifully deliver'd many Captives from the slavery of Pagans After his return into Britain it seems he found small comfort or encouragement to pour forth the Honey which he had gather'd in Ireland for he found in this Island such Calamities and Confusions their reigning such a Contention of wickedness and misery which should exceed the other that almost his whole imployment was to bewail the approaching destruction of his Country and by publishing the Crimes especially of the Rulers as well in Church as State to justifie the Severity of God being in truth beneath their demerits and provocations Howbeit he was by a double invitation from Ireland interrupted in his sad Thoughts and withdrawn from beholding such mournful Spectacles as every where in Britain offer'd themselves to his Eyes The first Message about the year of our Lord 562. came from persons of quality in Ireland who sent an Epistle to him at the same time he received an Epistle also from St. Columba whom he very much esteem'd for his Sanctity The second Message or invitation was directed to him from a King in Ireland named Ammeric who requested this our Gildas To come to him promising that if he would undertake the Journey and restore to good Order the Ecclesiasticks of his Kingdom wherein generally the Catholick Faith was decay'd both himself and his Subjects would in all things be Obedient to him St. Gildas hearing this like a Valiant Soldier throughly furnish'd with Caelestial Arms presently went into Ireland there to Preach the Gospel of Christ Being come thither he was presented to the King by some Noble persons who were acquainted with him The King gave him many gifts and intreated him to stay some time and restore Order to that Region because the Inhabitants had in a manner lost the Christian Faith St. Gildas as thereupon Travelling through all the Provinces of Ireland restor'd Churches instructed the Clergy in the true Faith and Worship of the Holy Trinity Cured those who had been Poison'd with Heresy and expell'd all Teachers of Errour So that by his zeal and diligence Truth became again to flourish in the Country After this the Holy man built many Monasteries in the Country and instructed the Children of the Nobility in Learning and Piety and to win the greater number to the service of God he himself became a Monk and brought to the same Profession very many as well of the Nobility as others and also he compassionately freed many poor Christians from the slavery of Infidels and so became a second Apostle to Ireland repairing the ruines of that Faith which St. Patrick first Preach'd amongst them Now whereas it is said that the first Epistle to St. Gildas was brought by Faithful men it is very probable that the Holy Abbot Komgall was one of those Faithful men How long St. Gildas abode in Ireland is uncertain but it is certain that the great work he there perform'd could not be compleated in a short time and yet that he return'd into Britain where he dy'd in a good Old Age in the Monastery of Banchor after he had liv'd ninety years What Bishop Vsher refers to the former St. Gildas may reasonably be apply'd to this latter namely that St. Brendan the Son of Finloga in the year of our Lord 562. came into Britain to visit the Holy old man Gildas famous for his Wisdom this our latter Gildas at that time being above 70. years old In the year of Grace 561. Irmeric King of Kent dy'd after he had raign'd 30. years leaving behind him a Son and Daughter his Son and Successors Name was Ethelbert his Daughters Ricula This is that famous Ethelbert who according to his Name was the Glory and Splendor of this Nation who had the first Prerogative among the Saxons of receiving and propagating the Christian Faith. Some disposition thereunto began it seems in his Fathers time who permitted at least a private exercise of Christian Religion Thirty years of Ethelbert's reign were never the less spent before it was openly profess'd during which time he was frequently exercis'd in War wherein at first he sustain'd great losses which after he repair'd by many Victories with which he much enlarg'd the limits of his Dominions In the third year of his reign St. Columba by occasion of Civil Wars was compell'd to quit Ireland and come into Britain as Adelmannus who wrote his Life relates in this manner Some time after the Civil War at Culedrebene when Dermitius Son of Kerbail was Monarch of Ireland and all business was determin'd before the Kings Tribunal it happen'd so that St. Columba was oblig'd to appear before him to challenge a certain Free-man who had been made Captive and when the Cause being pleaded before the King an unjust Sentence had been pronounc'd by him the man of God rose up with great indignation and before all there present told the unrighteous King That from that moment he should never see his face more 'till God the just judge shall have diminish'd his Kingdom for his Injustice for saith he as thou hast despis'd me here before thy Nobles by an unjust Judgment so shall the Eternal God despise thee before thine enemies in the day of War. And having said thus he presently took Horse smiting him with his Whip so as the Blood issu'd from him This being observ'd by the Kings Councellors present they wonder'd at it and humbly entreated the King to comply with the Holy mans request least God should dissipate his Kingdom according to the man of
Gods threatning But the King fill'd with fury would not understand that he might do right but swore he would take revenge of the Kingdred of St. Columba and make them all slaves And in pursuance of his Oath he gather'd a mighty Army 23000 of Horse Foot and Charriots and with it march'd to the Confines of that Country whither St. Columba went with resolution utterly to extirpate the Inhabitants When therefore the People of Conal heard of the Kings coming they likewise assembled the number of 3000. resolving to Fight manfully in defence of their Country being in so great danger and placing all their hope in God alone St. Columba rose very early and being full of Gods Spirit encourag'd them and with a loud voice which sounded terribly through the whole Army he said to them Fear nothing God himself shall Fight for you as he did with Moses against the Egiptians at the red Sea not any of you shall suffer the least harm for our Lords wrath is inflam'd against the proud Kings Army So that if one only person shall in the Name of God give the Assault He alone by the Power of God shall put them to slight Be Courageous therefore not a man of you shall fall in this Combat When he had spoken this which his Army believ'd as an assurance from Heaven a few of his Soldiers the same moment with wonderful Courage rush'd upon their Enemies who expected them not And at the same time an Angel of God arm'd like a Soldier and in the shape of a man of an incredible high Stature appear'd in the Kings Camp His Aspect was so terrible that the Soldiers Hearts utterly fail'd them and instead of resisting their Enemies fell one upon another in hast to fly away and such a confusion there was of Chariots and Horses that they kill'd one another So that a handful of men without any loss defeated a great Army taking many Prisoners After this wonderful victory the man of God address'd his Speech to a young-man nam'd Scandalan with a Prophetick voice saying My Son this day will procure for me a tedious Pilgrimage in a strange Country where I must live from my Friends many years but say nothing of what I tell thee 'till the event shew the truth of my words After this St. Columba went to St. Finian or St. Findbar a Bishop to receive condign Pennance from him because of so much Bloodshed in the said War and it is said an Angel of God went with him shining with wonderful brightness but was visible to none but St. Finian The Pennance enjoyn'd by this Holy Bishop to St. Columba was That by Preaching and Example he should bring as many Souls to Heaven as by occasion of that War were sunk to Hell After which Sentence St. Columba with great joy declar'd That the judgement pronounc'd against him was equal and just Howbeit this Holy mans Troubles did not end thus for he was censur'd in a Synod of Bishops to abstain from the Communion though not without the dissent of many in it insomuch as great contentions and disputes arose among the Clergy for the composing whereof St. Columba himself sent a Letter to St. Gildas St. Columba wearied with these Ecclesiastical contentions resolv'd to quit his Native Country but not permitted to choose his place of Exile he by a Messenger consulted the Holy man St. Brendan Abbot of Birre to whom God had given the Spirit of Councel and Discretion who after he had lifted his Eyes and Heart to Heaven commanded to dig under the feet of the Messenger where was found a stone on which was Engraven only the letter I whereupon he bad the Messenger to tell his Master That he must go to an Island call'd J or Hy where he should find employment for his Zeal and be the cause of bringing many Souls to Heaven But Hector Boetius assignes another cause of his going into that Country saying The fame of the great Devotion and Piety of Conal King of the Picts drew St. Columba out of Ireland into Britain attended with a multitude of his Disciples where he became the Father and Director of many Monasteries This Island falsly nam'd in some Copies was at last call'd Iona In some Copies also this St. Columba is confounded with that St. Columbanus who being also an Irish man founded several Monasteries in France and Italy by the Britains St. Columba is usually call'd St. Columkill for the great number of Cells which he built in Britain The Author of his Life after he had extoll'd him for many Virtues and Austerities relates a Prophecy of him to this effect That a certain Disciple of St. Patrick nam'd Macceus foretold of him that in latter times should be born one call'd Columba who should illustrate the Age wherein he should live and be highly favour'd of God He should descend from Noble Parents and in the 45th year of his Age should pass over out of Ireland into Britain where he should live a Stranger in Exile for Christ S. Bede relates That in the 565. year of our Lord when Justinus the Son of Justinian govern'd the Roman Empire there came out of Ireland a certain Priest and Abbot call'd Columba with an intention to Preach the word of God to the Northern Picts whoare separated from the Southern Region by vast and horrible Mountains For as for the Picts dwelling on the South of those Mountains they had many years before renounced their Idolatry and embrac'd the Christian Faith as their Tradition is by the Preaching of Nynias a most Reverend and Holy Bishop born in Britain who had been Regularly instructed in the Misteries of Divine Truth at Rome The seat of whose Bishoprick dignified with a Church Dedicated to St. Martin where the said Holy Bishop with many other Saints doth rest is now in the possession of the Angli The place pertaining to the Province of the Bernicians is ordinarily call'd Candida Casa or White-House because a Church was there built of Hewn-stone a way of Building not practic'd by the Britains Now Columba came into Britain in the 9th year of the reign of Bridius the Son of Meilochon the most Powerful King of the Picts and by his Preaching and Example Converted that Nation to the Faith of Christ so that for a reward he receiv'd the Island Hy or Iona for the Possession of a Monastery The Isle is but small of about five Families His Successors long held it himself was buried in it being 70 years of Age after he had spent above 32 years in it This Holy man before his coming into Britain had Founded a Monastery of great Note in Ireland nam'd in that Tongue Dearmach or the Field of Oakes for the abundance of them there growing and from these two Monasteries of Hy and Dearmach many others were propagated in Ireland and Britain by his Disciples Among all which notwithstanding the Monastery of Hy in which his Sacred Body resided had the Preheminence and chief
Idolatrous Nation The Patience and Virtues of this Young man mov'd the goodness of God to free him from this Captivity for after six years Patrick by notice from an Angel found under a Turf a sum of Gold by which he redeem'd himself from his Slavery and return'd to his Parents and Country which he gloriously Illustrated with the admirable Sanctity of his Life About this time Valens the Arrian Emperour suffer'd a severe Punishment for his Persecution of the Orthodox Faith for the Goths and Hunns fierce Northern Nations entring into Thrace put the Eastern Empire in great danger Valens thereupon requir'd Aid of Gratian who came on with the Holy Sign of the Cross in the Name of the true God to his Assistance but Valens not staying his coming out of envy least he should partake any glory in the Victory would needs hazard Battle alone with the Barbarians by whom his Army was discomfited and himself wounded with a Dart and flying with his chief Officers into a House his pursuing Enemies set it on fire which consum'd him and his Company In his place the Emperour Gratian and Valentinian unwilling to leave the West assum'd Theodosius the worthy Son of that famous Theodosius who settled Britain and repress'd its Enemies into a part of the Empire and committed to him the care of defending the Eastern Regions against the insulting Goths At this time Flavius Clemens Maximus descended probably of the Imperial Family of Constantine challeng'd part in the Empire or at least made himself King instead of Governour of Britain and indeed exercis'd Tyranny against the Empire some say he was born in Britain for Gildas calls him A sprig of the British Plantation however surely he was a Prince of admirable Valour and Conduct The Scottish Writers confess him successful against the Scots and that he slew their King Eugenius and drove their chiefest Nobles into Norway and Ireland over which he had a kind of Dominion although in Truth it is believ'd Ireland was hardly ever attempted by Roman Armies Thus Maximus having subdu'd both Scots and Picts and thereby atchiev'd great Glory being vex'd at the promotion of the younger Theodosius to the Empire began to incense the Soldiers against the Emperour and receiv'd from them the Imperial Purple Had he not attain'd this Title against his Oath and Fidelity he was a Prince so Just and Couragious he might have been thought worthy to have been Emperour Being thus advanc'd he pass'd over into Gaul which passage prov'd fatal to this Island from whence he transported not only the Roman Armies but the flower also of the British youth which never return'd so as Britain thus dispoil'd of Military Forces became expos'd to the miserable and cruel Incursions of their Northern Enemies the Scots and Picts Maximus attended with so great a force quickly subdu'd both Gaul and Spain and by a Treasonable Stratagem slew the Emperour Gratian at Lyons and march'd straight into Italy against Valentinian It seems now was the time when Britain became infected with Herefie and greedy of Novelties the occasion might be the severe dealing of Maximus in Gaul against the Arch-Heretick Priscillian and his Companions Justantius and Tiberianus These Hereticks reviv'd a new Heresie out of the dregs of the Antient Gnosticks and Manichees which at first infected Spain then attempted Italy and being there rejected by Pope Damasus at Rome and by St. Ambrose at Milan The Infection began to spread in Gaul Complaint being made to Maximus by the Gallican Bishops a Synod was Assembled at Burdeaux by which Justantius was Depos'd Priscilian Appeal'd to the Emperour who at the instigation of some Bishops became severe against the Hereticks but by the intercession of St. Martin grew more mild abstaining from shedding of Blood yet afterward Priscilian Convicted of Magick and many filthy Doctrines and Practices As Praying Naked in a meeting of Women at night c. was Condemned with other his Associates to loose his Head only Justantius is said to be banish'd to the Isle of Silly with Tiberianus The Teachers of this Impure Heresie being placed so near the Confines of Britain no wonder if Doctrines favouring the Inclinations of corrupt Nature did quickly insinuate into unwary Minds affected with Novelties And indeed this Scandalously severe judgement hitherto unpractic'd in the Church was so far from cutting off the Heresie that it rather gave strength for his followers Honour'd him as a Holy man and Worship'd him as a Martyr The Emperour Maximus for that Title Theodosius allow'd him after the Death of Gratian was so zealous in defence of the Catholick Faith that he wrote an efficacious Letter in the behalf of St. Ambrose to the Emperour Valentinian who by the instigation of his Mother Justina persecuted the Holy Bishop and denounc'd War against him unless he would desist from his unjust persecution Maximus with his Wife also had a great respect for the Blessed Bishop of Tours St. Martin some have thought this Lady who so much Honour'd St. Martin was of British Extract and the rather therefore is she here mention'd After this Maximus not content with so large a Portion of Empire in Gaul Spain and Britain march'd with his Army into Italy at whose approach Valentinian fled into Illyricum and then learn'd by experience how unhappy he was in following his Mothers advice against the Holy Bishop St. Ambrose There is a Letter extant written by Maximus to Siricius who succeeded Damasus wherein he professeth the Orthodox Faith wherein he was Baptiz'd and soon after Proclaim'd Emperour and in this Letter he inveighs against the Priscillianites whom he calls Manichces Whose abominable Doctrines and Crimes were so Enormous even by their own Confession in judgement that Modesty forbids the further relation of them Theodosius sollicited by Valentinian whose Sister Galla he had Married came with an Army into the West preparing himself for the War by Earnest Prayerand Fasting and having heard of a certain Monk in the Deserts of Aegypt a Servant of God who had the Spirit of Prophecy sent to him and receiv'd from him an assurance of Victory which he soon obtain'd against Maximus who only wanted a good Cause thus Conquer'd he was brought before Theodosius who had a mind to pitty him to prevent which the Soldiers remov'd him from the Emperour's Presence and slew him and so expiated the death of the Innocent Gratian whom his Son Victor soon follow'd to the Grave after he had been made Caesar It will afford us a clear prospect of the judgement and practice of the Antient Church if somewhat be shortly related from the Mouth and Pen of St. Augustine which happen'd about two years before he was Converted and Baptiz'd by St. Ambrose Who being under the severe Persecution of Justina the Arrian Empress it pleas'd God in a Vision then to discover to that Holy Bishop the place wherein the Bodies of the Martyrs Protasius and Gervasius repos'd and had been there preserv'd incorrupt for many years by
was next to St. David Now the Church of Menevia enjoying all the Priviledges of the Church of Caerleon must needs be Metropolitan and consequently the Archbishop thereof wore a Pall which he probably carried over with him to Dole in Little Britain in the year of Grace 566. when the whole Province of Menevia was almost depopulated by a raging Pestilential Disease to avoid which by the importunity of his Friends he undertook that Voyage Being arriv'd there he was admitted into great Favour by Childebert King of France and with his License and Contribution Founded a Monastery there where he led a Holy Life imploy'd in Divine Meditation and by his Pious Example and Admonitions directed many Disciples in the same way St. Sampson in this Voyage took with him a Companion of suitable Holiness call'd St. Conaid by the French vulgarly St. Mein said to be the Son of a Noble Britain living near Caer Guent and recommended to the care of St. Sampson One special Miracle is recorded to have been wrought by St. Mein viz. That by his Prayers a Fountain sprang forth in a dry Soyl very effectual for Curing several Diseases Especially the Scurvy there call'd the Disease of St. Mein After St. Sampson had spent some years in the Monastery of Dole the Bishop of that City dying he was Elected in his place and made use of his Pall there from whence his Successor in Dole assum'd the Honour of wearing a Pall and consequently challenging Arch-Episcopal Jurisdiction and an exemption from the Metropolitan of Tours This continu'd 'till the days of Innocent the III. and all that time the See of St. David's though own'd the Prime Church of Wales yet abstain'd from the Pall for which cause Eugenius the III. under King Henry the I. subjected it to the See of Canterbury in the year of our Lord 1148. 33 years St. Sampsom with admirable Sanctity administred that Bishoprick and in the year 599. receiv'd his Eternal Reward His Body by reason of the frequent Incursions of the Danes and Normans was remov'd from Dole to Orleans where it was receiv'd with such Reverence that a Church was built on purpose to keep it which to this day is Dedicated to his Honour although destitute of that Sacred Pledge which among many other Bodies of Saints was Impiously burn'd by those profess'd Enemies of Sacred things the Huguenots in the last Age who seiz'd on that City Some part of his Relicks was with great Veneration repos'd in the Abbey of Middleton in Dorsetshire which was built by King Ethelstan in expiation of being at least accessary to the Murder of his Brother Edwin in the year 934. His Successor in the See of Dole was his Kinsman and Companion in his Voyage St. Magbore another Kinsman of St. Sampson call'd St. Maclovius or St. Malo otherwise St. Mainutus was famous at that time He during the Tempest in Britain by the reason of Mordred pass'd likewise into Little Britain the common refuge of Devout men in those times He was born in Britain his Fathers Name was Went. His Mother was call'd Derwella or Darwalla being 60 years of Age when she was deliver'd of him in the Valley of Elan Carvan in Glamorganshire In the same place then liv'd a Holy man call'd St Brenden Abbot of the Monastery of Elan Carvan by whom this Infant thus wonderfully born was Baptiz'd and after Educated in all Virtue and Piety From his Childhood he is reported to have shin'd Gloriously by innumerable Miracles which accompanied him all his Life-time Our Learned Cambden affirms That the constant Tradition was that he was after made a Bishop of a City in the Province of the Iceni now Huntingdonshire call'd Durosipons after Gormoncester from Gormon or Guthrum the Dane to whom becoming a Christian King Alfred gave those Provinces St. Malo upon occasion of the troubles at that time went into Little Britain also where he liv'd in great Sanctity and contemning his own Glory retir'd privily into a Bodering Island where in his Eremetical manner of living he express'd an Angelical Purity But the brightness of the Divine Splendour discover'd this Light which endeavour'd to conceal it self For when the Inhabitants of the Island understood that a stranger excelling in the Gift of Preaching and Power of Divine Miracles hid himself there from the Conversation of men they in common Assembly came and drawing him by force out of his Solitude chose him for their Pastor and inviting the neighbouring Bishops placed him in the Pontifical Chair of Aleth and partly by entreaties and partly by force compell'd him to be their Bishop The Saint being thus exalted shed forth abundantly the Beams of that Divine Grace wherewith he was replenish'd illustrating mens Souls with the true knowledge of God inflaming them with his love and affording both Admonitions and Examples of all Virtues to which he added a great efficacy by wonderful Operations and Miracles Insomuch as since the Apostles times we read not of any one who wrought greater wonders than he For with his word he calm'd Tempests he restor'd three dead persons to Life to the Blind he gave Sight by the sprinkling of Holy Water he expell'd Devils and quench'd the Poison of Serpents Neither did he resemble those Princes of our Faith in working of Miracles only but in Patience also to the tryal whereof he was often put for he was Assaulted by certain Impious persons and suffer'd many Calamities for Religion and Justice so as at last he was violently thrust out of his Episcopal Throne and Diocess with seven other Devout persons his most especial Companions who imitated him in Purity of living Yet did he bear this heavy Cross after our Lord with a Courageous mind Attended with these Holy men St. Mahutus fled into Aquitain and in the City of Xaintes was most kindly entertain'd and Fatherly assisted by St. Leontius Archbishop of Bourdeaux and Metropolitan of Xaintes who there accomodated him with a convenient Habitation for serving God St. Leontius bare a tender affection to him Admiring and Reverencing the Divine Grace which he observ'd in him esteeming him as sent from Heaven to assist him in his Pastoral Charge for which reason in all his Visitations he took him for his Companion entreating his Councels and Prayers Howbeit the man of God though he were so despitefully and unjustly exil'd was not unmindful of his Flock but forgetting all Injuries daily invok'd our Lords Clemency for the Conversion of that stubborn People The Divine Majesty condescended to his Prayers and by an Angel did acquaint him That his Flock was Penitent and desir'd his return that he should repair to them and restore to Health that Region which was grievously afflicted with the Scourges of Divine Severity that he should restore plenty to the barren Earth bestow his Benediction on the Inhabitants And lastly Returning to Xaintes that there he should be divested of corruptible Flesh and his Soul ascend to Eternal Felicity As soon as he was come
that Prince Mouric and this the Crime against which Bishop Oudoceus exercis'd his Spiritual Authority as appears by the Acts of a Synod of Landaff lately rescu'd from Darkness and Worms by our diligent Antiquary Sir Henry Spelman where is declar'd by that Synod assembled by St. Oudoceus third Bishop of Landaff That in the year of Grace 560. Mouric King of Glamorgan for his Perfidious Murdering of Cynetu was Excommunicated King Mauric and Cynetu met together at Landaff and in the presence of St. Oudoceus Swore before the Relicks of Saints there before them that they would observe a firm Peace between them some space after this Solemn Oath King Mauric by Treachery slew Cynetu Whereupon Bishop Oudoceus call'd together all Ecclesiasticks from the mouth of Taratyrenguy to Tivy together with three Abbots Cousen Abbot of the Valley of Garben Cargen Abbot of Ildute and Sulgen Abbot of Docquini and in a full Synod did Excommunicate King Mouric for the Murder by him committed and for Perjury in transgressing the Covenant made in his presence and on the Altar of St. Peter the Apostle and of St. Dubritius and St. Thelian moreover inclining the Crosses toward the ground he interdicted the Countries of Mauric and so dismiss'd the King The Christian Communion also Curs'd the King with his Progeny the whole Synod confirming it saying Let his days be few his Children Orphans and his Wife a Widdow The King remaining with his whole Region the space of two years and more thus Excommunicated After being sensible of the Perdition of his own Soul and the damnation of his whole Kingdom he could no longer sustain so dreadful an Excommunication but humbly beg'd Pardon at Landaff of Bishop Oudoceus who therefore in the presence of three Abbots impos'd on him the yoak of Pennance proportionable to the quality and hainousness of his Crimes the King all the while humbly inclining his Head and shedding Tears abundantly His Pennance was to satisfie God By Fasting Prayers and Alms King Mauric undertook the yoak of Pennance and for the Redemption of his own Soul and the Soul of Cynetu he gave to the Church of Landaff and the Bishops thereof four Villages with their entire liberty free from all service forever with Common through his Country for the Inhabitants of those Villages in all Fields Woods Pastures and Waters These four Villages contain 24 Modii of Land The first is call'd Kirgracnauc the second Nantavo the third a Village beyond Kadava where Cynetu was slain the fourth a Village beyond Nadava call'd Gudberdh This was the form of the first Synod of Landaff out of which we may collect much of the Religion and Discipline of that Age The same Bishop Oudoceus for very like causes Assembled two Synods more extant in Sir Henry Spelman the occasions whereof and proceedings wherein here briefly follow King Morcant and his Vncle Frioc in the presence of St. Oudoceus and the three fore-nam'd Abbots at the Poduim or Church of St. Ildutus took their Oaths at the Holy Altar on which were placed the Relicks of Saints That they would observe Peace and Amity together without any guile adding That if either of them should Kill or commit Treachery against the other he should not redeem his Crime by Money or Lands but should be oblig'd to quit his Kingdom and spend his whole Life in Forreign Pilgrimages A good while after which Covenant made Morcant by the instigation of the Devil slew his Vncle but soon after came to the Holy Bishop Oudoceus and humbly crav'd Pardon for his Homicide and Perjury The Bishop thereupon Assembled a Synod at the Monastery of the Vale of Carban to which came all the Clergy and King Morcant also with the principal persons of Glamorganshire The Synod unwilling to be depriv'd of their Natural Lord gave judgement that the King should redeem his Pilgrimage with Alms Prayers and Fasting which Pennance the King laying his Hands on the four Gospels and Relicks of Saints undertook to perform promising withall that ever after he would in all things mercifully execute Justice The Pennance finish'd and the King restor'd to Christian Communion he presently proclaim'd the Churches of Catoc Ildut and Docunni free from all Regal Service Thus was the second Synod The third was Assembled many years after upon this occasion A certain British Prince nam'd Guidnerth in a Contention for the Principality slew his Brother Mercheen for which he was Excommunicated by St. Oudoceus in a full Synod in testimony of which Excommunication the Crosses were taken down and the Cimbals were turn'd thus he remain'd excluded from Christian Communion for the space of three years at the end of which demanding Pardon he was sent into the lesser Britain to St. Sampson Arch-Bishop of Dole from him to receive judgement and suitable Pennance This was done partly because of the great Amity between these Bishops but chiefly because the same Language being spoken in both Countries he would the more freely discover his fault and require Indulgence for the same This Voyage was undertaken by Guidnerth who having obtain'd Absolution he return'd with Letters Seal'd by St. Sampson before the year was ended but because he had not according to his Injunction remain'd a whole year in Exile the Bishop would not take off his Excommunication presently after St. Oudoceus dy'd to whom Berthguin succeeded in the Bishoprick of Landaff To him King Morcant and Guidnerth made an carnest request to take off the said Excommunication and to raise again from the Earth the Crosses and Cimbals with the Holy Relicks Whereupon after a promise made by Guidnerth to make satisfaction for his Crime by Fasting Prayers and Alms he was at last with great Devotion and many Tears shed Absolv'd by the Bishop After which Guidnerth to testifie his Gratitude gave to the Church of Landaff these Lands Lanu Catigual and Tye with all the Woods and Sea-coasts c. Bishop Godwin affirms this third Synod to be Celebrated by another Bishop of Landaff and that Guidnerth the Fratricide gave Lancadwallader now call'd Bishton or Bishopston to the Church of Landaff Which Mannor he saith is the only Mannor that is left to that See. The Author of the Life of St. Oudoceus relates That he quitted his Pastoral Cure and built a Monastery near the River Weye and there Assembling a great multitude of Brethren spent the remainder of his Life which lasted many years in wonderful Abstinence and Sanctity So as it may seem this third Synod was not held in his days We often have had occasion to draw Testimonies from our famous Historian Gildas Sir-named Badonicus and Sapiens call'd also the Younger Gildas to distinguish him from Gildas Albanius before-mention'd Now because we are come beyond the times of those Princes who have been painted out by him in their foul colours it will be necessary to say what may be found of this our Younger Gildas By his own Testimony he was born in the same year when the great Battle was