sowne in our minds and either enforce vs to returne vnto our former wickednes with deeper securitie then before or els to become meere Atheists which is a greate deale worse for this cause therefore did Lucius send to Rome the second time for a Copie of such politick orders as were then vsed there in their Regiment of the Church Thus farre this Protestant Antiquarie And then he bringeth the holy Pope S. Eleutherius so to vnderstand King Lucius petition to be both for the Ecclesiasticall Lawes of the Church of Rome to Rule heare in spirituall affaires and the Lawes of the Emperous for temporall gouernment and saith he findeth it so in sondry verie auncient Copies of Pope Eleutherius Answeare to King Lucius thus beginning by his Translation you require of vs the Roman ordinances and thereto the Statuts of the Emperours to be sent ouer vnto you and which you desire to practise put in vre within your Realme and kingdome Then seeing the Decrees of the Popes of Rome for Church Discipline were generally generall for the whole Church as many of them cited before by Protestants allowance doe testifie and this our Britaine was vtterly ignorant in such things but as it had receaued them from Rome Our Apostles Preachers and Conuerters came from thence and diuers of them still remained heare in cheife spirituall cammande and many other Christian Romans were mixed with our Britans heare and our Brittans absolutely and wholly directed by the Pope of Rome and his Legats in such busines this considered no man of Iudgment will apprehend how any other but the Roman Papall Church Discipline was then receaued or admitted it this kingdome THE XXIV CHAPTER OF THE COMMING OF THESE HOLY LEgats to Glastenbury their holy labours deeds and long aboade there their renewing there the old Religeous Order of S. Ioseph of Aramathia and his brethren greate priuiledges and Indulgences by them procured to that holy place the glory honour and renowne thereof in the whole Christian world 1. I Haue made mention before of diuers Monasteries and Religeous houses in Britaine in this time now to take some notice in what honour and Reuerence such holy places the parsons resident in them and the Monasticall Religeous life which they there liued and professed were we cannot better come eyther to the certaine knowledge or not to be denied opinion thereof then to take direction herein from these our Apostles Founders and Fathers in Christ by that litle memory which is left in our Histories of the Religeous paines and labour they tooke in finding and founding them the greate zeale and deuotion they exercised there the Immunities Indulgences and priuiledges they procured vnto them from holy Popes and Princes what spirituall comfort and pleasure they had in themselues and what example of pietie they left to posteritie by their heauenly Conuersation in them and what Pastorall care and Prouidence they had to make this perpetuall had not the Impietie of late times and parsons like wolues as it was aunciently prophesied destroyed that which the pietie of our first Auncestours in Religion had so long and firmely founded Has aedes sacras pietas construxit Auorum Antiq. Monast Croyâ—andiae Quas Successores vastabunt more luporum I will principally and cheifly for all exemplifie in the holy house of Glastenbury the first Mother of that contemplatiue holy profession both in this and other Nations from which we may drawe a proportion to others the sacred children thereof How diligently these holy Legats sought to finde out this Religeous place I haue some what insinuated before for they had heard of the greate Renowne and Sanctitie of S. Ioseph and his companions first in habiting there and the Venerable Sanctitie of the place especially the miraculously sacred Church there builded by heauenly admonition in honour of the most blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God for the memory of it was allmost quite forgotten the first Religeous men inhabitants there being all dead before this time and the holy Church so desolate that it began to be a Denn of wild beasts to lodge in which was before an habitation of Saints Sancti memorati in eadem Eremo sic degentes affluentibus multis annorum curriculis carnis Antiq. Glast tabulis fixae Gul. Malmes l. de Antiq Caenob clast Io. Capgrau in S. Ioseph S. Patricio erg astulo sunt educti idemque locus caepit esse ferarum latibulum qui priùs fuerat habitatio Sanctorum This is the testimonie and relation of the old Antiquities of Glastenbury William of Malmesbury in his Manuscript Historie of the Antiquitie of that Monastery Capgraue and others 2. But it was the will of God and the will of the blessed Virgin to haue her sacred Oratory come to the knowledge of their faithfull Seruants donec placuit beatae Virgini suum Oratorium redire ad memoriam fidelium Which was in this manner these holy Legats trauailing throughout Britaine teaching preaching and baptizing and receauing from the Brittish people Information where abouts this sacred Habitacle was as Moses they entered into this Desart to finde it and at the last finding the old Church builded by the hands of Christs Disciples and a Crosse the signe of our Redemption and other Christian figures or Images they were assured thereby that this was the place where those Disciples of Christ inhabited Praedicando baptizando Britanniae partes peragrantes in Insulam Aualloniae more Moysis Legislatoris interiora Deserti penetrantes sunt ingressi Vbi antiquam Deo duce Britanniae repererunt Ecclesiam manibus Discipulorum Christ constructam humanae saluti à Deo paratam Figuram nostrae redemptionis aliasque figuras manifestas repererunt quibus cognouerunt quod Christiani priùs locum inhabitauerant This so diligent searching and seeking for this holy place by S. Phaganus and Damianus and their assured knowledge by the remembred Can. 6. signes and badges there left and remayning that they had founde it seemeth by that which followeth in this Narration to haue bene before their returne to Rome to procure the confirmation of their proceedings heare After this they founde the Antiquitie of the comming of S. Ioseph and his Brethren thither as also the Acts and liues of them there how religeously they liued and how three Pagan Kings ministred necessaries by a certaine portion of Land for their sustenation the miraculous building and consecrating that holy place as I haue shewed in the first Age wherevpon filled with vnspeacable ioy they continued there long time nyne yeares in praysing God oratorio illo sic reperto ineffabili sunt referti gaudio ibidem in Dei laudibus moram protrahentes diuturnam per nouem videlicet annos And in memory of the first twelue in the time of S. Ioseph they did chuse 12. of their owne company to dwell there in that Iland King Lucius consenting thereto Which remayned there as Anchorits in diuers places or Groaues locis
Confirmation of what they had done 312. 2. S. Damianus came backe againe with the same 316. 1. c. We finde nothing of their finall departure 319. 4. S Damianus and Fugatianus â—ad places of honor here according to their worth ib. S. Damianus and Fugatianus search after the Monastery of Glastenbury 323. 2. or 321. 2. S. Damianus and Fugatianus contitinued long at Glastenbury ib. S. Damianus and Fugatianus appointed 12. to dwell at Glastenbury in honour of the first 12. inhabitants ib. S. Damianus and Fugatianus submitted themselues to the Rule of S. Ioseph 332. 8. S. Damianus and Fugatianus preached likewise to the Scots 334. 1. c. S. Damianus and Fugatianus Actes committed to writing 337. 1. S. Dauid the Popes Legat in Britaine 332. 8. S. Dauid founded Monasteries of our auncient Brittish Order ib. Deacons not to marrie 382. 11. or 392 11. Deacons to assist at the Altar 384. 13. or 394. 13. S. Decumanus Parents and birth place 567. 6. S. Decumanus flieth the world 368. 6. S. Decumenus miraculous beginning of an Eremiticall life ib. S. Decumenus manner of life ib. S. Decumanus Martyred ib. S. Decumanus carried his head after it was cut of to a fountaine 569. 8. The same euer since called by his name ib. The same healthsome for the Inhabitants ib. S. Decumanus buried and a Church dedicated to him in the same place 569. 8. S. Decumanus had a Church dedicated to him in the Towne of Welles 569. 9. What happened to one Demetrius a Grecian trauailing in Britaine 17. 8. Denotus made Bishop of Wincester and when 320. 6. Denotus his great possessions ib. Diadumenus v. Macrinus Dioclesian chosen Emperour 391. 1. Dioclesian adioyned Maximianus vnto him in gouernment ib. Diocleans and Maximians wicked plots wherewith they began their Persecution in Britaine 413. 1. Dioclesian forebad any to buy or sell without offering sacrifice 416. 4. Dioclesians Persecution lasted but 9. yeares in Britaine 416. 4. Dioclesians Persecution when first raised in Britaine 420. 3. Dioclesians Persecution exceeding cruell 422. 1. c. S. Dionisius Pope and Martyr 384. 14. or 395. 14. S. Dionysius a Monke and Eremit before he was Pope ib. S. Dionysius conuerted the wife and daughter of Decius ib. Domitian created Emperour 169. 2. Domitian commanded himselfe to be worshipped as a God 170. 2. Domitian raiseth a cruell Persecution against Christians 160. 2. Domitians Persecution did not extend inselfe into Britaine 170. 2. Donaldus the first Christian King of the Scots 334. 2. Douer Castle builded by Aruiragus 287. 3. The Druids prophecied of a virgins Conception 9. 1. The Druids cheife Schooles Doctors were in Britaine ib. The Druids auncient residence in the I le of Man by whom and when giuen vnto them 10. 3. The Druids dedicated temples Ignoto Deo 16. 7. The Druids acknowledged after their Pythagoricall manner that mens soules were immortall 17. 9. 242. 2. The Druids great learning 206. 8. The Druids Religion not prohibited by Marcus Aurelius 238. 4. The Druids Religion prohibited to Citizens by Augustus 238. 5. The Druids Religion opprest in France by diuers Emperours 238. 5. The Druids accustomed to sacrifice Romans Prisoners 239. 5. or 234. 5. By the Druids direction Bunduica slew 80000. Romans ib. The Druids Religion odious to the Romans 239. 6. or 234. 6. Druids the greatest hinderers of Christian Religion 1â—â— 1. The Druids for temporall respects iustly troubled for feare of the Conuersion of Britaine 240. 1. Diuers disputations in Britaine betwixt the Druids and Christian Apostolike men 241. 1. The Druids reason for defence of their Religion ib. What Nations ioyned with the Druids in Religion ib. The Druids worshipped the Gentils Gods Iupiter Apollo c. ib. The Druids florished from the time of Druins that great King and high Preist ib. The Druids from whence so called ib. The Druids pretious attire 242. 2. The Druids statly houses ib. The Druids sometimes resorted into woods ib. The Druids exempted from all exactions ib. The Druids cheefe iudges in temporall and spirituall affaires 242. 2. The Druids had one chiefe ouer the rest 278. 8. The Druids great witt 242. 2. The Druids vsed as Ministers by all that would offer sacrifice ib. The Druids depriued the trew God of all worshipe 243. 3. The Druids neither taught nor worshipped the trew God 244. 3. The Druids absurde opinion of the transmigration of soules 244. 4. The Druids Chymericall fiction of soules informing bodies in an other world ib. The Druids tooke away all thinges which are required vnto a trew Religion ib. The Druids Idols were not inferiour in number to those of Egipte 244. 5. The Druids immolated men in their execrable sacrifices 245. 5. The Druids diabolicall practice of Magicke ib. The Druids wiues and children coÌ„mon 246. 6. The Brittans of the Druids Religion fedd on mans fleash ib. The Druids abolishing made an alteration in politike maters 256. 4. S. Dubritius the Popes Legat in Britaine 332. c. E. EAster to be obserued on the Sunday 244. 2. Easter to be celebrated the same day with the Church of Rome 482. 2. Easters erroneous obseruation not receaued by our Britans from their first instructors in Religion 345. 3. Edenburge in Scotland a Flamens Seat 336. 5. Edenburge founded by King Ebrancus ib. The Egyptians adored a childe and a virgin and why 6. 7. S. Edwine King of Morthunberland Christened at Yorke 100. 1. S. Eleutherius was not Pope or probably Preist when King Lucius sent Ambassadors to Rome 219. 8. S. Eleutherius in great estimation for his learning 221. 3. S. Eleutherius renowned in Britaine longe before his Popedome ib. S. Eleutherius probably a Cardinall of one of our Brittish Churches in Rome 222. 4. S. Eleutherius probably personally in Britaine ib. S. Eleutherius succeeded S. Soter in the See Apostolike 247. 1. S. Eleutherius established the true obseruation of Easter 247. 2. S. Eleutherius a Professor of that Religion which Protestants call Papistty 248. 2. S. Eleutherius claymed the Popes spirituall supremacy ib. S. Eleutherius ordained that in the Bishops causes nothing should be determined but by the Pope of Rome ib. S. Eleutherius by letters exhorted King Lucius vnto Christian Religion 252. 1. S. Eleutherius emploied diuers Britans in the Conuersion of Britaine 265. 7. S. Eleutherius sent to King Lucius a hallowed Crowne with the title of King of Britaine 299. 4. S. Eleutherius prescribed King Lucius the precincts of his kingdome ib. S. Eleutherius granted many priuiledges and Indulgences in Britaine 338. 3. S. Eluanus a Catechumen when he was sent to Rome by King Lucius 213. 2. S. Eluanus consecrated Bishop and that sent backe into Britaine ib. S. Eluanus praised for vertue and learning 217. 7 S. Eluanus was not brought vp in the Schoole of S. Ioseph of Arimathia 258. 7. S. Eluanus gaue place to S. Thean to be Archbishop of London before him 217. 7. S. Eluanus and S. Medwin were not the
regno sacerdotio clero iurare antequam ab Archiepiscopis Episcopis regni coronaretur Tres enim Rex habere debet seruos scilicet luxuriam auaritiam cupiditatem quos si habuerit seruos bene illustrè regnabit Regno omnia debet praemeditari hoc Regis est Quia malè cuncta ministrant impetus iuxta Euangelium omne regnum in se diuisum desolabitur Truly a King ought of right to obserue and defend all the Lands and honours all the dignities and rights and liberties of the Crowne of this kingdome wholly with all integritie and without diminution and with all his power recall to the auncient state and due all the rights of the kingdome which were dispersed dilapidated and lost And all and the whole Land and all the Ilands vnto Norwey and vnto Denmarke doe belong to the Crowne of his kingdome and they are of the Appendences and dignities of the King and it is one Monarchie and one kingdome and aunciently was called the kingdome of Britaine but now is â—alled the kingdome of the English men For our Lord Eleutherius Pope who first by inspiration of God did send an hallowed crowne to Britaine and Christianitie to Lucius King of the Britons did ordayne and impose to the Crowne of the kingdome such boundes and limits as are spoken before by his Decree in the yeare one hundred sixtie seuen after the Passion of Christ A King also ought to doe all things in the kingdome truely and by the Iudgment of the Peeres of the kingdome For Right and iustice ought to Reigne more in a kingdome then wicked will That is Lawe which allwayes doth right but will violence and force is not right A King ought to feare God and loue him aboue all things and keepe his Commandements throughout the kingdome He ought also to preserue foster maintaine gouerne and defend against Enemies the holy Church of his kingdome with all integritie and libertie according to the Constitutions of the Fathers and Predecessours so that God may before all things be honoured and euer had before his eyes He ought also to erect good Lawes and customes allowed and blott them out which be wicked and bannish them all from the kingdome He ought to doe right iudgment in the kingdome and keepe Iustice by the Counsaile of the Nobles of his kingdome All these things a King must sweare in his owne parson looking vpon and touching the holy Ghospels and vpon holy and sacred Reliks before the Realme and Preisthood and Clergie before he be crowned by the Archbishops and Bishops of the kingdome For a King must haue three things slaues vnto him to wit luxury aâ—arice and concupiscence which if he maketh sâ—aâ—es he shall reigne well and renownedly he must premeditate all things for the kingdome and this is the office of a King Because violences doe minister all things ill according to the Ghospell euery kindome diuided in itselfe will be desolate 5. Hitherto this our holy and auncient Lawe of the office and dutie of our Kings vsed and practized euen from the beginning of Christianitie publikly receaued heare both in the Britans and Saxons gouernment founded warranted and grounded vppon the Authoritie and direction of the holy Pope S. Eleutherius as appeareth by that part of his Epistle which I first recited immediately without any one sentence worde or sillable interposed betweene them annexed and ioyned to this Lawe as the originall cause motiue allowance and confirmation thereof Whereby we may cleartly see the greate power prerogatiue and Iurisdiction the Popes of Rome euen from the beginning and first founding Christian Religion heare claimed had and exercised in this kingdome and from the first Christian King we enioyed a Saint and blessed man all our Kings Britans Saxons or whatsoeuer Christians to these dayes did with this whole kingdome allowe to the Apostolike See of Rome as much as it claimeth now at our hands and as any good and learned Catholiks doe yeeld vnto it From that holy and eminent See we had by these greatest Testimonies Christian Religion planted and Iuridically setled heare Our Episcopall and Archiepiscopall Sees assigned our first Bishops and Archbishops to enioy them appointed and consecrated Direction giuen euen in temporall and ciuill affaires what Lawes we should take our King Possessor but of a part of this kingdome declared to be King of all Britaine and so many adiacent Ilands enioyed by his enemyes and an hallowed Crowne sent him to weare as Monarch and King of them all A Protestant Lawyer Bracton l. 1. de acquir rer Dom. c. 8. Io. Selden Analect p. 46. and Antiquarie saith that from this Popes donation our Kings had the Title viracius Dei vicar or vicegerent of God and citeth Bracton for his Authour who rather denyeth then affirmeth it onely he saith against the sence of Protestants that it is euident a King ought to be vnder the Lawe being but Gods vicegerent Quod sub lege Rex esse debeat cum â—it Dei vicarius And Roger Houeden who reciteth this verie Lawe verbatim hath not that Title Vicarius noâ— the woâ—de Regert to Rule which our Protestants apply to the Church the Title is Regis Officium the Kings dutie and is this Rex atque Vicarius eius ad hoc Roger. HouedeÌ„ Annal. part poster in Henric. â— c. de legib Angl. est constitutus vt regnum terrenum populum Dei super omnia sanctam Ecclesiam reuereatur ab Iniuriatoribus defendat maleficos ab ea euellat destruat penitus disperdat where aboue all things he must reuerence the holy Church and be ruled by it and not Rule it And this all our Christian Kings to King Edward the sixt a child did publikly professe before their Coronation as the old Order thereof is witnes And these Titles to be Vicarius Cbristi in his Pontificale Roman in Benedictione Coronatione Regis holy Church is as fully before giuen to Pope Eleutherius by King Lucius and his Christians and Regere to rule it vnder Christ made by them the Popes peculiar as they were euer after to these Times 6. And to speake more particularly of the ciuill and temporall Lawes which King Lucius requested Pope Eleutherius to giue direction in and he accordingly established in this kingdome this holy King now a Christian did not and could not by his Religion demand the Roman Pagan Lawes without alteration or correction of S. Eleutherius but according to such moderation change or alteration he should vse in them to speake in a Protestant Bishops words Lucius made request vnto Eleutherius to send him some Kinde of Abstract of the Roman Lawes whereby he might establish a setled order of Gouernment Godwin Conu of Britaine p. 29. in his Dominions And when Pope Eleutherius directed him to take his Lawe conformable to the Lawe of God by the aduise of his kingdome ex illis Dei gratia per consilium Regni
and giuen you Power also to Iudge of vs and therefore we are rightly Iudged by you But you can be Iudged by none for God hath giuen you as Gods vnto vs and it is not conuenient that a man should Iudge Gods but he alone of whome it is written God stood in the Sinagoge of Gods and in the midst iudged Gods Ait ad Episcopos Deus vos constituit Sacerdotes potestatem vobis dedit de nobis quoque iudicandi ideo nos a vobis rectè iudicamur Vos autem non potestis ab omnibus iudicari Vos etenim nobis a Deo dati estis Dij cōueniens non est vt homo iudicet Deos sed ille solus de quo scriptū est Deus stetit in Synagog a Deorū in medio autē Deos discernit 8. And yet such Assemblyes of Bishops so dignified could not either in this or any other Councell without the consent and sentence of the Pope of Rome decree and impose vpon the Church any Canons and this was a receaued Lawe and Canon before this time as Pope Iulius Socrates and others then liuing witnesse Canon Ecclesiasticus vetat ne Decreta absque sentētia Episcopi Romani Ecclesijs sanciantur And in that time and before this Church of Iulius Papa Socrat. Hist Ecc. l. 2. c. 13. c. 11. Rome had Primacie before and aboue all other Churches Ecclesia Romana Priuilegium praeter caeteras obtinebat And this was acknowledged by those Bishops of the East themselues in their Publike Epistle to Pope Iulius which were the greatest Enemies to S. Athanasius and the Roman See protesting the Roman Church was cheife and principall aboue all others euen from the beginning being the Schoole of the Apostles and Metropolis of pietie Literis Sozom. Hist Eccles l. 2. c. 7. suis fatebantur Romanam Primas apud omnes ferre vtpote quae Apostolorum schola pietatis Metropolis iam ab initio fuisset Thus Protestants themselues translate these Greeke Writers and therevpon are forced to make this their Iacob Grynaeus in Interpret Socratis Sozom. supr Athan. Apol. 2. contra Arian epist ad Marc. Pap. Athan. Episcop Aegypt Theb. l. epist ad Foelic 2. Pap. Tom. 1. Concil owne note and glosse from them Ecclesiae Romanae Primatus The Supremacy of the Church of Rome 9. And not onely Sainct Athanasius which was present at this Nicen Councell doth in diuers places giue this Supremacy to the Roman See but he and all the Bishops of Egypt Thebaida and Lybia doe acknowledge that both they and their Predecessors did then and euer depend of the Roman See and this according to the Decrees of the Canons Pater beatissime quia semper Antecessores nostri nos à vestra Apostolica sansta Sede auxilium hausimus nostri vos curam habere agnouimus praefatam Apostolicam summam expetimus iuxta Canonum Decreta Sedem vt inde auxilium capiamus vnde Praedecessores nostri Ordinationes dogmata atque subleuationes ceperunt And there call the Church of Rome their Mother to giue them suke and plainely say that the Canons commande no greate cause may be Decreed without the Bishop of Rome Canonibus iubentibus absque Romano nos de maioribus causis nihil debere decernere Pontifice 10. And the same Bishops of Egypt in their Epistle to Pope Foelix the 2. in this time writt that it was Decreed in this Nicen Councell by generall consent of all that no Councell might be called without the consent of the Pope of Rome and speake this of their owne knowledge as some of thē then present there scimus in Nicaena magna Synodo 318. Episcoporū ab omnibus cōcorditer esse roboratū non debere absque Romani Pontificis sententia Concilia celebrari nor Bishops Episc Aegypt ep ad Foelic 2. to be condemned nec Episcopos damnari And complaine that the Heretiks then within 25. yeares of that Councell had burned the Canons thereof Synodica Capitula incensa nobisque sublata 11. They testifie also that in the same Nicen Councell was Decreed that from all Bishops and Metropolitans appeals were to be vsed to the Bishop of Rome and that from Christ our Lord himselfe power of binding and loosing by especiall priuiledge aboue all others was giuen vnto that See Similiter à praedictis Patribus Nicaenis est definitum consonanter vt si quisquam Episcoporū aut Metropolitanorum Comprouinciales vel Iudices suspectos habuerit vestram sanctam Romanam interpellet Sedem cui ab ipso Domino Potestas ligandi soluendi speciali est priuilegio super alios concessa 12. This doctrine and practice also is allowed and confirmed in the greate Conc. Sardicen Can. 7. Councell of Sardice held within 22. yeares of that of Nice wherein both Osius Athanasius and others which were then present were also present consented and subscribed granting not onely Supremacie to the Pope of Rome and Appeals to him but that by any Preist his Legate he might inualidate disannull the Acts of Councels in all places To which Decrees the Bishops of this kingdome of Britaine consented being present there And this is euident Epist S. Athanasij Episc Aegypti ad S. Marcum Papam Epist eiusdem ad eosdem Tom. 4. oper S. Athanasij by the proceedings of the Nicen Coūcell itselfe not thinking that the Authoritie of so many Bishops there assembled together with the Popes Legats were of sufficient credit to make Decrees vnquestionable except they were confirmed by the Pope of Rome himselfe And therefore as is manifest by the Epistle of S. Athanasius Patriarke of Alexandria and the Bishops of Egypt to S. Marke Pope of Rome and his Answeare vnto them the very authenticall Copy of the Nicen Councell containing 70. Canons with the very Subscriptions of all the Bishops therein assembled was sent to S. Syluester then Pope of Rome Which can carry no other glosse or interpretation then which the Epistle it selfe of the same Nicen Councell to S. Syluester dated Paulino Iuliano Cōsulibus doth giue entreating him to cōfirme their Decrees Quicquid Epistol Synod Nic. ad Syluest Pap. Syluestri Rescript Tom. 1. Conc. apud Sur. Bin. M. S. Ant. Colonien constituimus in Concilio Nicaeno precamur vestri oris consortio confirmetur And his confirmatorie Rescript confirmo giueth the same dated in the seuēth Consulship of Constantine Which Authoritie of the See of Rome the same Epistle of S. Achanasius the greate Patriarke of Alexandria and all the Bishops of Egipt doth sufficiently proue calling the Church of Rome the Mother and Heade of all Churches quae est mater caput omnium Ecclesiarum 13. And add further that allthough one of them was Patriarke of Alexandria in a distinct part of the world from Europe wherein Rome is in the Councell of Nice itselfe set downe for one of the cheifest Sees yet they were all of
if the Apostles S. Peter and Paul and their Successors vntill in the time of Pope Pius the first it was conuerted to be a Church we must needs accompt S. Linus the Bishop the third which is here named to be also of that familie for the most part Then how to single forth onely S. Eubulus which here is first eyther for pietie nobilitie or that he was the cheife paterfamilias owner and Master of that house or all and make him a stranger there I cannot finde it by S. Paul onely repeating them of one family or any other warrant For it is plaine here by the Apostle that he was a cheife and principall Christian in Rome and first named among these worthies and before S. Linus a Bishop then Pudens a Senatour and absolutely there set downe as their cheifest receauer friend or patron which cannot agree to any other better then to the Father of S. Claudia this father in lawe to her husband Pudens and first entertainer of S. Peter the Apostle in Rome by the Romans tradition For neyther Dorotheus the continuator of Florentius Wigorniensis nor any other that write of the Disciples there place him among Clergie men and S. Paul which giueth him that honour in that place clearely proueth he was none of his Disciples then in Rome for he writeth in the same place Lucas est mecum solus onely 2. Tim. 4. vers 11. Luke is with me No Martyrologe speaketh of him neyther any Historian or Interpreter of Scripture to my reading setteth downe of what Nation he was but leaue him for a stranger as likewise many doe S. Claudia Therefore except better authoritie can be brought against me seing he is by the Apostle himselfe so dignified and placed the first in that family and salutation Eubulus greeteth thee and Pudens and Linus and Claudia There is no cause yet I finde to 2. Tim. 4. deny him to be the owner Master of that house that first entertayned S. Peter in Rome he himselfe the first happy maÌ„ that gaue that glorious Apostle entertaymeÌ„t there that he was our most renowned CoÌ„trymaÌ„ of Britaine Father of Lady Claudia For there is no other who by any probable coniecture was likely to performe this dutie in that house PudeÌ„s as before was either then vnborne or an Infant of his owne parents father and mother there is no meÌ„tion in antiquities that either they were Christians or that they dwelled at all in Rome much lesse in that house being Inhabitants of Sabinum and by CoÌ„try Sabinites farre distant froÌ„ Rome And so there is none left vnto vs to be a Christian and entertaine that heauenly Messenger and Gheast S. Peter in that time and place but the renowned Brittish parents of Lady Claudia then dwelling in Rome and there confined to a certaine house and place of permanency by commaund of Roman power to whome with many other noble Britans they were hostages and pledges for the fidelitie and obedience of this kingdome to the Roman Emperours at that time 7. To strengthen this opinion we may add that S. Paul sendeth to S. Timothie his Disciple the salutations of Eubulus before all others of which sending the greetings of so few by name It will be no easy search to finde out a better or more probable reason then this that S. Timothy so neare and beloued a scholler of S. Paul lodged vsually in this house he also was there with his Master entertained by Eubulus the owner thereof and by that title of his holy hospitality deserued the first place in that salutation otherwise no man will doubt but S. Linus Bishop by calling so honorable in the Church of Christ ought and should haue bene named before him And that this familiar acquaintance betweene S. Timothie and these our holy Christian Britans receaued originall from their auncient entertainement of S. Timothie in their house in Rome manie yeares before this their salutation in S. Pauls Epistle it is euident for S. Paul being now lately come to Rome when he wrote this epistle and neyther he nor sainct Timothie there after S. Pauls first dismission from prison there so longe before it is manifest that these though the lady in yong yeares were auncient Christians at that time And we haue vncontroleable warrant from S. Paul himselfe in his epistle to the Hebrewes that S. Timothie was at Rome when he was first prisoner there in the beginning of Nero his Empire for thus he writeth knowe you Hebr. c. 13. vers 23. that our Brother Timothie is set at libertie Thus S. Paul writeth from Rome in the time of his first imprisonnement there And so maketh these our Contry Christians the acquaintance of S. Timothie then to be more auncient in the sâ—hoole of Christ then either S. Timothie or S. Paul his coming first to Rome wheÌ„ there were none to instructe eyther theÌ„ or others in ChristiaÌ„ ReligioÌ„ at Rome but S. Peter and his Disciples I add to this the charge and warning which Martiall the Poet gaue before to Pudens that his father in law should not see his Poems commendare meas camaenas parce precor Socero An euident testimony Martial supâ— l. 7. Epâ—gr 67. that they then liued in one house together and so the Poems sent to Pudens might easely come to his father in law his hands and reading except Pudens had bene so forewarned to keepe and conceale them from him Whereof there had bene no daunger or need of that admonition if they had then liued in distinct places and not in one house And thus much of the father of lady Claudia 8. Concerning her holy mother also so good a Noorse and Tutrix to so happy a childe we are not altogether left desolate without all hope but we may probably finde her forth for the honour of this kingdome her Contry And except the Roman Historians can finde vnto vs a Christian Father to S. S. Pâ—iscâ—lla foundrâ—sse of the Church-yard of her name in Rome mother of S. Claudia very probable Pudens and dwelling with his wife in the same house as I haue found vnto them a father to Claudia and father in lawe to Pudens an holy Christian dwelling in that house before Pudens his time by Nation of this kingdome which by that is said before they caÌ„not doe seeing that noble Matrone which is acknowledged by the Roman writers euen Baronius to haue dwelled in that house Grandmother to S. Claudia her children must needs be her Mother her fathers wife mother in lawe to S. PudeÌ„s I am bolde to assigne that glorious renowned Saint S. Priscilla foundresse of that wonderfull and religious Churchyard to be the same blessed Brittish Christian Lady Baâ—onius though staggering sometimes in his opinioÌ„ herein saith plainely froÌ„ Antiquitie fuit Romae nobilissima Matrona Priscilla nomine Auia Pudentianae Praxedis Baronius â—â— Annot in Martyrolog Rom. Iuâ— 8. S. Pastor seu Hermes in act S. Pudentianae
litle before his Passiō he said vnto him I haue asked for thee that thy faith faile not That is the faith of the Church which I haue commited to thee And Peter when he knew his passion to be at hand tooke S. Clement whome he had conuerted and baptized and ordained him Bishop and committed to his gouernment his See and Church which he had gouerned and so he was made the successor of S. Peter in that See For where we reade that Linus and Cletus were the successors of S. Peter we must so vndestand it that while he liued they were his Coadiutors in gouerning the people of God at Rome and for that end they were ordained Bishops as an auntient Pope writeth to the Bishops of Germanie and France which must needs be this Epistle of Pope Ihon the third before mentioned both the subiect being the same this auncient Authour related and written to the Bishops of Germany and France as the beginning of that verie Epistle is thus an able testimonie Ioannes Episcopus vniuersis Germaniae Galliae prouincias constitutis in Domino salutē So we haue besids a world of other witnesses the Decretall Epistles of two aunciēt Popes Io. Pap. 3. in fine Epist Marian. Scot. Florent Wigor supr Bed in Martyr Manuscript an t in Bibliotheca publ Cantabrigiae volum 28. tract 9. Sabellicus l. 9. Ennead 7. Henticus Hunting hist l. 3. this of Pope Ihon aboue a thowsād yeares since who in the end of this Epistle calleth it his Decree and the other of S. Leo so named by S. Marianus Florentius Wigorniensis and others Leo secundus in sua decretali Epistola To these I may add S. Damasus Pope commonly esteemed Authour of the Pontificall cited by S. Bede before Anastasius time to whom Bellarmin asscribeth it and directly said in an old Manuscript in Cambridge to be written by Damasus Gesta Romanorum Pontificium Authore Damaso 3. So writeth Sabellicus saying S. Damasus was authour of it and gaue it to S. Ierome to peruse Damasus omnium qui antese fuerant Pontificum vitas monumentis tradidit deditque id opus Hyeronimo cognoscendū and it is euery where approued by our best Historians Florentius Wigorniensis William of Malmesbury Henry of Huntington and others among which this last saith plainely for this matter that S. Augustine did ordayne S. Laurence his Successour at Canterbury in his life time as S. Peter did S. Clement at Rome Laurentium vero adhuc viuens ordinauerat Augustinus in Archiepiscopum exemplo S. Petri qui Clementē similiter ordinauerat I haue cited Florentius Wigorniensis sor the same opinion before S. Damasus saith plainely that S. Peter consecrated S. Clement Bishop and committed his See and the Church to his chardge leauing vnto him that highest spirituall Pontificall power which Christ committed vnto him Petrus beatum Clementem Episcopum consecrauit cui Cathedram vel Ecclesiam omnino disponendam commisit dicens sicut mihi gubernandi tradita est à Domino meo Iesu Christo potestas ligandi soluendique ita ego tibi committo And if I should grant vnto Bellarmin which truth of History will not permit mee that Anastasius who liued 800. yeares since was Authour of this worke his allowance is that I haue him a publikely approued witnes for this matter so many hundred yeares auncient Which he confirmeth also in the life of S. Clement as also this Epistle to 8. Iames testifying from the same Epistle that S. Peter committed the Papall dignitie and chardge of the Church to him and that Linus and Cletus are numbred before him onely because S. Peter made them Bishops before that time Clemens ex praecepto beati Petri suscepit Damasus in S. Clemente Ecclesiae Pontificatum gubernandum sicut ei fuerat à Domino Iesu Christo Cathedra tradita vel commissa Tamen in Epistola quae ad Iacobum scripta est qualiter ei commissa est à beato Petro Ecclesia reperies Ideo Linus Cletus ante cum scribuntur quia ab ipso Principe Apostolorum ad ministerium Sacerdotale exhibendum sunt Episcopi ordinati The like is testified by S. Clement in his third Epistle not subiect to that censure some taxe this with in that it is written to S. Iames Bishop of Hierusalem thought to be dead at this time where he plainely calleth S. Peter his Ordinator beatus Petrus Instructor Ordinator noster The Clemens Rom. Epist 3. l. Recognit Gelasius Catal. Illustr Vir. in Rufino like he doth in those bookes which with Gelasius and Rufinus who translated them out of Greeke allmost 1300. yeares since by common agreemcnt all acknowledge to be S. Clements vndoubted works And the mayne obiection against this Epistle of S. Iames the Apostle his death before S. Peter is not worthie recitall For Nichephorus Marianus Florentius Wigorniensis Martinus Polonus and others which acknowledge that yet approue this Epistle and S. Clement to haue bene chosen Successour to S. Peter by that testimony And S. Dorotheus that auncient Father and many others are witnesses S. Dorothaeus li. de 72. Discip l. de 12. Apostolis that the next Successour to the first S. Iames first Bishop of Hierusalem was besides his other name Simon or Simeon called also Iames and by the Hebrew phrase of speaking calling neare kinsmen Brothers named the Brother of our Lord as the first Iames his Brother was by that custome 4. Therefore I may now boldly say with our holy and learned auncient Marian. Scotus l. 2. aetate 6. in Adriano S. Aldelmus l. de laudib Virginitatis c. 12. Bishop Saint Aldelmus conuerted by S. Gregory the greate as he himselfe writeth à quo rudimenta fidci baptismi Sacramenta suscepimus that S. Clement was the first Successour of S. Peter and the second Gouernour of the Roman Church allthough some in vaine and without cause preferre Linus and Cletus before him Clemens caelestis Clauicularij primus Successor secundus Romanae Ecclesiae dispensator quanquam nonnulli Linum Anacletum in Pontificatus Regimine nequaquam S. Clement yeelded the Papacy to S. Linus soone after S. Peters death sine causa praeferant Yet I doe freely and willingly yeeld to saue the honour and manner of speaking of the Roman Martyrologe and some auncient Fathers for the Canon of the Masse naming S. Linus and Cletus before S. Clement hath onely meaning of prioritie in time that as Baronius interpreteth S. Epiphanius and Rufinus and might haue added many more S. Clement gaue place to these to execute the Apostolike dignitie before him and vpon Baron Annal. Tom. 1. an Christi 69. Henric. Spondan p. 124. Epiph. haer 27. Rufin Praefat. in Clem. Wern Rolwink Fascic temp an 94. this motiue as some haue written least by accepting the chardge imposed one him by S. Peter in his life he might leaue an example of daunger to other Prelates to substitute Successours whome they
primi Mensis vsque in 21. celebraretur And the first generall Councell of Nice a our Protestants confesse did approue this Decree of S. Victor In Niceno Concilio Victoris Decretum approbatum est Et cautum est vt Pascha die Dominico celebraretur and was heare receaued in our Britaine And this is manifest in that Decretall Epistle of Pope Victor receaued by Protestants before where he plainely saith that his Predecessors had commanded before him that which he did for keeping Easter Celebritatem sancti Paschae Die Dominico agi debere Praedecessores nostri iam statuerunt nos illud vobis eadem Die celebrari solemniter mandamus quia non decet vt membra à capite discrepent nec contraria gerant Where we see he calleth himselfe the head of the Patriarke and Clergie of Alexandria and them his members And giuing other Rules in that Epistle both about solemne Baptisme in the time of Easter and not soleÌ„ne in time of necessitie and not intermedling in Bishops causes without the allowance of the See Apostolike of Rome prouing it was so from the Apostles time confirming his Decree both by the words of Christ to S. Peter and the first Epistle of S. Clement which some haue questioned he vtterly forbiddeth any man to alter or gainesay these Decrees Haec vero statuta nulla debent improbitate conuelli nulla nouitate mutari quia alia est ratio causarum saecularium alia diuinarum Ea vos iudicare ad Apostolicam delatum est sedem quae praeter nostram vobis dâ—finire non licet Authoritatem id est Episcoporum causas Vnde ita constitutum liquet a tempore Apostolorum deinceps placuit vt accusatus vel iudicatus a Comprouincialibus in aliqua causa Episcópus licenter appellet adeat Apostolicae Sedis Pontificem qui aut per se out per Vicarios suos eius retractari negotium procuret Et dum iterato Iudicio Pontifex causam suam agit nullus alius in eius loco ponatur aut ordinetur Episcopus Quoniam quanquam a Comprouincialibus Episcopis accusati caâ—sam Pontificis scrutari liceat non tamen definiri incoâ—sâ—lto Romano Pontifice permissum est cum B. Petro Apostolo non ab alio quam ab ipso Mattâ— 16. dictum sit Domino Quaecunque ligaueris super terram erunt ligata in caelo quaecumque solueris super terram erunt soluta in caelo Et alibi in Institutis legitur Epist 1. ClemeÌ„t Apostolicis Si quis putauerit se a proprio Metropolitano grauari apud Patriarcham vel Primatem Diaeceseos aut penes vniuersalis Apostolicae Ecclesiae iudicetur sedem Nihil aliud est fratres talis praesumptio nisi Apostolorum suorumque successorum terminos trangredi eoruÌ„que Decreta violare Culpantur enim vt scriptum est fratres qui aliter circa Episcopos iudicare praesumunt quam Apostolicae Sedis Papae fieri placuerit Et quis est qui iudicat eum quem Dominus sibi huic sanctae Sedi reseruari voluit iudicandum And as this holy and learned Pope and Saint claymed and exercised that highest spirituall power and Iurisdiction ouer the Churches of Europe where he liued and Asia he tooke also vpon him the same supereminent superioritie ouer the Clergie and Churches of Afrike the other part of the world commanding them to peace and concorde and vnitie in Religion and either actually excommunicating or threatning excommunication Victor Epist ad Vniuersos Episcopos Africae Tom. 1. con apud Magdebur cent 2. vnto those that should disobey him in those commands perlatum est ad Sedem Apostolicam aliquos vestrum nocere fratres velle vt cadant decertare Similiter in Sacramentis discrepare ob id contentiones aemulationes inter vos fieri a quibus dissensionibus vos auertere in his concordare opem ferre vicissim mandamus nam si hoc agere citò neglexeritis vicissim reconciliari non studueritis ab Apostolicae Sedis totius Ecclesiae communione vos pelli non dubitetis where he expressely declareth his Authoritie as Pope of Rome to excommunicate the Bishops and Churches of Afrike as he had done to those of Asia both from the Apostolike Roman and Catholike Church of the whole worlde 3. Now for his Power ouer the Churches of Europe wherein his Apostolike Roman See was by all Antiquaries Catholiks and Protestants euer the onely cheife Apostolike Metropolitan Church it cannot be questioned when we shall finde how euen by Ambassadge and entreaty he sent Apostolike men into the furthest parts of this Iland to conuert it to Christ And Holinsh. Histor of Scotland p. 68. in K. Donaldus our Protestant Historians confesse of this holy Pope that being glad to encrease the faith of Christ through all parts of the world sent into Scotland such well disposed parsons as he thought most fitt for that purpose The Scottish Historians say he sent his Preachers to the vttermost parts of this Westerne and Europian parts Veremundus apud Hector Boeth idem l. 5. Scotor Hist prope finem of the world and the Barbarous Inhabitans learned Diuinitie of those Apostolike Preachers which he sent Incaepere nostri tum primum sacras colere litteras sacerdotibus praeceptoribus quos Victor Pontifex Maximus ad Christ dogma propalandam in extremam miserat Albionem This will sufficiently declare that the Primatiue Christian Britans and Scots which were conuerted to Christian Religion by these two renowned Popes and Saints S. Eleutherius and S. Victor which so clearely and earnestly declared and commanded the true Apostolicall obseruation of Easter and had receaued also the first generall Councell of Nice where the same was defined and published to the whole Christian world did not receaue their erroneous Paschall obseruance from their first Maisters and Instructers in Religion but by long later accidents and ignorant Misinformations Of Seuerus the Emperour whether he was discended of our Britans Race or other I shall more particular entreate when I shall bring him to continue long time and to die in Britaine Onely Method apud Mar Scot. l. 2. aetat 6. Marian. ib. an 203. in Seûero Martin Polon Supputat col 51. florent Wigorn. Chronic. an 189. vel 211. Matth. Westm an 195. Manuscript of S. Peters Church in Cornhill Matth. Westm an gratiae 201. heare I say that by common coÌ„sent he was a greate Persecutour of Christians as both our owne writers and others testifie and therevpon stiled the fift persecuting Emperour after Nero. Post Neronem Seuerus quintam Persecutionem in Christianos exicitaâ—it plurimique Sanctorum per diuersas Prouincias Martyrio coronantur Concerning our most Noble Protochristian King Lucius as we are come to Ioye of his Immortall glory and honour in heauen by his happy Translation from a transitory terrestriall to an eternall celestiall and neuer ceasing kingdome so we
stirrid vp the ninth Persecution vpon the Church of God he reigned fiue yeares and sixe dayes And after Tacitus succeeded him in the Empire being a very fitt and worthie Gouernour and after Tacitus Probus Equirius Sonne to Delinacius a Clowne and Gardiner by profession this Probus Equirius was a most valiant man at armes and as good a Iusticiar as any that had the publike Gouernment he began his Reigne in the yeare of Christ 282. and reigned sixe yeares and foure moneths Aurelius Probus fiue yeares In which time Bonesus a Britan borne vsurped the Empire with Proculus at Cullen and would haue exempted from the Romans Britaine Spayne and part of France but being vanquished by Probus he strangled himselfe This Probus after he had reigned fiue yeares was slayne of the souldiers Carus was created Augustus he made Carinus and Numerianus his Sonnes Caesars To Carinus he assigned Britaine Gaule Illiricum Italy and Spaine but Carinus was slaine by lightning and the other two within three yeares space lost their liues Dioclesian was then chosen Emperour who adioyned Maximianus vnto him in like Gouernment The two Emperours elected two Caesars Valerius Maximus and Constantius Chlorus to which Constantius they committed the recouery of Britaine Hitherto these Protestants Epitome of the Roman Emperours from Antiquitie And so being come to this Constantius by whome Britaine and the Romans were vnited againe in so happy an vnion that thereby this our Noble Nation assisted more then any kingdome before had done or after did for the vnion of the world with Christ I must heare more enlardge my stile for our Countries honour 2. Some there be whether to detract so great a glory from this Nation or to giue it to an other or of Ignorance in Histories doe both say that one Theodora was the first lawfull wife of Constantius and the blessed S. Helen Mother of that happy Emperour the Greate Constantine was not onely a stranger to this Nation but of meane estate and which is vnworthie to be Marian. Scot. l. 2. aetat 6. col 304. in Constantio Flor. Wigorn. Chron. an 321. 299. written not the wife but Concubine of Constantius Which name and attribute Concubina this most Noble Empresse and Saint Helen is stiled by not onely among diuers forreyne Writers but of this Nation also as Marianus Scotus and Florentius Wigorniensis as they be published by our Protestants many of which doe not to the dishonour of that most holy Lady and this her S. Helen borne of noble Parents in Britaine Country abstayne from the same phrase of speach This errour being ouerthrowen ouerthroweth the others that she was a stranger and basely borne For excepting those that wander in that Tract all agree she was the sole Capgrau Catalog Praefat. in Vit. S. Helenae Marian. Scot. l. 2. aetate 6. in Auteliano Baron Tom. 2. Annal. an 306. Iacob Gordon An. 273. in Aureliano Harris Hist Eccles Brit. Tom. 4. c. 2. Zosim l. 2. Suid. in Constant Matt. Westm ann 273. Marian. Scot. l. 2. aetat 6. in Aureliano Martin Polon Caxton f. 38. Hollinsh Hist of Engl. l. 4. Capgr in S. Helena Niceph. lib. 7. Cap. 18. Andre Chesne l. 4. Hist daughter and Heire of the Noble Brittish King Coel farre from being eyther an Alien or of base Parentage and discent and the more easely to ouerthrowe them it first fighteth with and so ouerthroweth itselfe Some which incline to this errour say that she did secretly fly out of her Country and went to Rome and there was so familiar with Constantius the Emperour Multi eam clam patriam fugisse affirmant ac raptam apud Romam ab Imperatore But it is euideÌ„t by all Histories that Constantius at his first acquaintaince with Helena was not Emperour nor long after neither was he at Rome but in Britaine in this time sent hither by Aurelianus the Emperour in the yeare of Christ 273. and as both Zosimus and Suidas say liued most part heare In Britannia plerumque viuebat And being sent hither by Aurelianus Emperour as so many agree to haue long imployment and great cause of stay heare he must needs come hither about that time for by all Antiquities Aurelianus died soone after and was Emperour but a short time So that neither Constantius nor Queene Helen could be either at Rome or in any place but in Britaine at this time 3. Nicephorus and some later after him would haue her to be borne in Bithinia at Drepanum and the daughter of an Inkeeper there with whome Constantius passing that way to the Persians fell in loue But this is made vnpossible by that is said before of the being both of Constantius and Helena in Britaine so remote from any part of Bithinia at that time And neither of them comming to or neare Drepanum or any part of Bithinia at or after this S. Helen was not burne in Bythinia time but when she an holy widowe many yeares after Constantius his death passed by Greece in her Pilgrimadge to Hierusalem as is euident in all Marian. l. 2. aetat 6. in Constanâ—io Flor. Wigorn. Câ—ron Regino An. 243. Martin Polon in Supputat An. 30â— Otto Frigen l. 3. c. 45. Bed l. 1. Hist c. 8. kinde of Antiquaries and will most manifestly appeare when I shall entreate thereof Others there be which doe terme this renowned Empresse by the name of Concubina as Marianus and Florentius Wigorniensis as our Protestants haue published them and Regino without speaking any thing of her parentage or Country and Martinus Polonus who confesseth she was daughter to the King of Britaine Constantius filiam Regis Britanniae nomine Helenam accepit in concubinam de quâ genuit Constaâ—inâ—m Magnum But it is euident that either Martinus or his Protestant Publisher hath with grosse Ignorance abused the Readers for he saith as I haue cited that Constantine not Constantius begott Constantine the greate in the yeare of Christ 307. when by common opinion Constantius was dead before And not content Martin Polon supr An. 309. col 66. with this they bring in Constantine the Greate to be Emperour in the yeare 309. when by their accompt he could not be two yeares old The other three if their Protestant Publishers haue not abused them speake in the phrase of the Pagan Romans who in those times called all wiues of their Lieutenants taken from strangers though neuer so lawfully ioyned in true Mariadge by Papinian l. Praefectur ff de ritu nuptiarum that rude terme of Concubine as their old Pagan Decree is still witnesse against them When I shall make it as cleare as the Sunne that S. Helena was from the beginning the onely true lawfull wife to Constantius This I haue S. Helen the true lawfull wife to Constantius and no Concubine written heare to answeare these friuolous Cauills against that blessed woman and with Ihon Capgraue call their allegations no better then dreames talia somnijs similia And
stones in thy right hand let the bridle of thy horse loose and goe as the Angell of God shall leade thee And drawe the point of thy Labarum so on the ground that it may drawe and leaue a line behinde it by which trace and circuite shalt tho cause walles to be builded this old Citie almost dead thou shalt rayse to be new and thou shalt call it by thy name and make it the Queene of all Cities The name of Lord Iesus Christ shall be magnified in it and in it Churches of God shall be builded to the honor of all Saints and thy sonnes after thee and the sonnes of thy sonnes shall reigne in it Tu fixam cuspidem Labari in terra sic trahe vt semitam faciat transitus sui per quam semitam extrui facias muros hanc veteranam ciuitateni pene mortuam in iuuenculam suscitabis tui nominis vocabulum suscitabis ita vt Reginam illam facias o mnium vrbium Erit enim in ea nomen Domini Iesu Christi magnificum erant in Gul. Malmesb. l. 4. sup ea templa Dei ad honorem omnium Sanctorum constructa filij tui postâ—te filij filiorum tuorum regnabunt in ea William the Monke of Malmesbury saith that the answere was that an Imperiall Posteritie should reigne in that Citie for euer Et regnabit in ea perpetuo imperatoria progenies as we haue seene many hundreds of yeares performed And he addeth that Constantine by fasting and almes deeds procured the solution of this vision from heauen Huius somnij solutionem Augustus ieiunijs eleemosynis extrahebat è coelo And among other reasons did greately ioy also for this because he borne heare in Britaine a colder Nation could not so well endure the heate of the sonne he was by Gods commandement to build his cheife permanent Citie there where both the fruitefulnesse of the soyle and temper of the ayre were agreable vnto health Gratumque admodum fuisse ferunt Imperiali animo vt illic vrbem diuino iussu fundaret vbi soli vhertas coeli temperies mortalium saluti conueniret Quia enim in Britannia natus fuerat ardores solis exosus est 2. But the cheifest cause of his Ioy in this designment vnto Constantine was this to see his owne will so to haue concurred with the will of God and to be thus Miraculously confirmed that the greate Liberties Dononations which he had conferred vpon the Apostolike See of Rome and his leauing that his Imperiall Citie to S. Syluester then Pope and his Successors in honour of S. Peter and S. Paul ruling and Martyred there and to founde an other for himselfe and his Imperiall Posteritie plainely expressed aswell by this our English as other Authours paruit Augustus visioni procliue ciuitatemae quam Guliel Malmes supr Romae constituit professus non debere Imperatorem Romae principari vbi a Christo principabantur coronati Apostoli And as S. Aldelme addeth this worthie Emperour S. Aldelm l. de laudib Virgin cap. 12. supra presently vpon this heauenly vision direction went to the Church and acquainted the Bishop of that place an holy man named Sisaminus therewith and offering there gifts vnto God and receauing the holy Sacrament of Christs body tooke his horse and Labarum as he was directed and went as the Angell of God did leade him and caused the foundation to be laide as the marke of the Labarum prescribed And the Citie was called the Citie of Constantine Constantinople in the Greeke languadge to this day Euigilans Constantinus statim ad Ecclesiam perrexit indicansque Episcopo ciuitatis viro sancto nomine Sisamino somnium quod prius viderat offerens Deo munera communicans Sacramentum Dominicum ascendit equum perrexit quo eum duxit Angelus Domini atque per semitas Labari fundamenta creuerunt Appellata est autem ciuitas Constantini quod Graeco sermone interpretatur Constantinopolis vsque in hodiernum diem 3. Greate was the honour and glory both temporall and spirituall of this Citie William of Malmesbury saith the Wall was twenty miles in circuite Viginti millia passuum muro complexa And thereupon termed by the Turkes as Gul. Malm. supr Sebastian Munster Cosmogr l. 4. in Graecia Constantinopol Sozomen Hist Eccl. l. 2. c. 2. Cosmographers haue writen Stampolei or Stampolda id est ampla ciuitas the greate Citie Sozomen witnesseth that in all mens Iudgments in his time it farre excelled Rome both for number of people aboundance of money and Ritches Tum frequentia hominum tum pecuniae diuitiarum abundantia Romam omnium consensu longè superaret And for spirituall Dignitie the same Authour writeth of this Citie the faith of Christ so increased there that very many Iewes and allmost all the Gentils there were conuerted to Christian Religion And this Citie being made the cheifest of the Empire at that time when the Religion of Christ was so generally dilated it did not afterward defilc itselfe either with the Altars or Temples of the Gentils except onely while Iulian did reigne a short time the error of the Gentils was renewed but preseÌ„tly after extinguished againe Constantine placed a Court called a Senate in it and assigned to the Senators the same honours and Priuiledges which were giuen to the old Romans and laboured to make this Citie called by his name equall to Rome which is in Italy He adorned it with many and most greate Churches to whose labour herein God himselfe gaue assistance and by certaine visions confirmed that the Churches founded in that Citie were holy and bringing saluation cuius propenso studio Deus ipse opem tulit visionibus quibusdam confirmauit Ecclesias in ea vrbe aedisicatas sanctas salutares esse He setteth downe one of these Churches principally to haue bene then in greate reuerence euen with Pilgrims resorting vnto it in pilgrimadge and deuotion called Michaelium because S. Michael the Archangell appeared there and in this Church Sozomen himselfe receaued greate help And diuers others fallen into ineuitable mischances and dangers into diseases and vnknowne greifes of body so soone as they prayed in that place were prefectly deliuered from the calamities where with they were oppressed Which would be too long to mention particularly being so many Eam quae in loco qui vestae sacer obim dicebatur in maximo honore tum a peregrinis tum a ciuibus ex illo tempore habitam fuisse constat Idem locus iam Michaelium nominatur Loco verò istud nomen eò impositum est quod pro certo creditur diuum Michaelem Archangelum ibi apparuisse Quod etiam ipse equidem non paruum in eodem loco beneficium adeptus verissimum esse confiteor Atque idica se habere argumento praeterea esse possunt multae aliae res quas compertum est ibidem gestas esse Nam nonnulli in graues
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