Britain with so Prosperous a Voyage as if he had been brought thither not by Post-horses but mounted and flying in a Heavenly Chariot Upon his approach to his Father he was receiv'd by him with great joy and devout Thanksgiving to God. The dying Emperour was now willing to embrace death and bequeath'd the Inheritance of the Empire to his belov'd and first born Son Constantine and so with comfort departed this Life He was bury'd in the City of York with Prince-like Solemnity and by the Heathenish Romans Deify'd with the Title of Divine Cambden reports That when the Houses of Monks there were in our Fathers memory demolish'd a Lamp was found burning in a little Vaulted Chappel in which by Tradition Constantius is thought to have been bury'd The Antients had doubtlesly an Art to maintain a flame for many Ages by Gold dissolved into a kind of Oyl Then certainly Matthew of Westminster must be mistaken who writes that the Body of Constantius was found in another place and from thence by the then Kings command translated to Caernarvon which must be understood of some other Constantius Now notwithstanding Constantius had Sons by Theodora yet passing them all by he left the Empire to his Eldest Son Constantine only and his disposal therein was Ratified by the Suffrages and Acclamations of the Army Howbeit such was the moderation and prudent caution of Constantine that he contented himself with the Title of Caesar refusing that of Augustus or Emperour Insomuch as when the Soldiers with great Affection would have cast on him the Imperial Purple he set Spurs to his Horse and fled from them In truth he had reason for this Caution for though Dioclesian and Maximianus had relinquish'd the administration of the Empire yet had they by Councels and Authority a great influence upon the State for by them Galerius Maximinus and Severus were chosen Caesars and Successors who had possession of Italy and the Eastern Empire so as Constantine being young and at so great distance might well think it dangerous without their consent to assume the Supreme Authority His first attempt therefore was to gain the Affection and Consent of Maximianus from whom his Father had receiv'd the Purple Robe and who had then a Daughter Marriageable call'd Fausta Her Constantine demands in Marriage presuming the Empire should be her Dowry In the mean time he finish'd his Fathers Victories in Britain and was therein assisted by King Erocas by whose Councels he was much guided afterward he pass'd over with a great Army into France and there suppress'd two Barbarous Princes who fill'd the Country with Faction inciting the Gauls to Rebellion Then he began to treat with Maxentius who a year before hearing of the death of Constantius possess'd himself of Rome and usurp'd the Title of Emperour by the help of the Pretorian Soldiers and upon the hopes that Maximianus whose Daughter he had Marry'd would favour him in his Ambition the conceit whereof made him slight all motions of Concord with Constantine Howbeit Maximinian having heard of the Noble Victories and Exploits of Constantine bestow'd his Daughter Fausta upon him and with Her the Imperial Purple But soon after this Marriage Maximinianus discovers his Treacherous intention to re-possess himself of the Empire which he had voluntarily resign'd and bound himself by Solemn Oath in the Capital never to resume This intention he first made known to his Daughter Fausta before the Marriage in pursuance whereof he Sollicits the Armies with Promises of great Rewards to stick to him All these Designs Fausta reveals to Constantine and withall informs him That the intended Marriage was but to make him secure that her Father might the sooner deprive him of the Empire and perhaps of his Life also This intention of Maximinian soon appears for he forthwith publickly assumes the Name and Authority of Emperour at Arles from whence retiring to Marseilles he was there Besieg'd by Constantine and soon made his Prisoner and afterward Executed upon himself the just vengeance of Perjury and Treason for he strangl'd himself with a Halter such a deserv'd and ignominious end had this Tyrant who defil'd the Western Empire with the Blood of so many Christians Constantine thus Victorious prosecuted his Victories in Germany where he built a Bridge over the Rhine and subdu'd several Rebellious Nations He had as is said several Noble Britains in his Army with him amongst which three Unckles of his Mother Helena are Nam'd Johelin Traer and Marius At this time although Constantine were not a Christian yet he afforded the Christians the like Peace which they enjoy'd under his Father Monasteries were Replenish'd and Built those of Abingdon and Winchester being the principal the first whereof was speedily Finish'd and Consecrated to the memory of St. Amphibalus and for the space of 200 years prosper'd till the time of Cerdicus the West Saxon who then destroying the Monks turn'd it into a Temple of Idolatry As for that in Abingdon if the Chronicle of that place may be Credited Constantine himself in his younger days had his Education there To this Monastery belong'd 500. Monks who got their living by their Labour abroad but every Sunday resorted to their Monastery to perform their Devotions sixty more were constantly Resident attending in the Recital of Psalms and Christian Sacrifices It was now that Almighty God in revenge of the Innocent Blood of the Christians shed by the Tyrant Galerius visited him with an inward and Incurable Rottenness whereof he dy'd having for a long time consum'd him by piece-meal with great Stench and Torment neither could he appease the wrath of God although but too late he acknowledg'd the Justice of God and sent out Edicts in favour of the Christians Thus ended the furious Persecution first rais'd by Dioclesian There yet remain'd four persons who Supremely and Independently govern'd their several Provinces Constantine in Gaul and Britain Maxentius in Italy and Africk Maximinus in the East and Licinius in the Pannonia Greece Illyrium and Thrace all which Provinces in a short time became united under the Monarchy of Constantine The 112th year of Christ was now come Prosperous to the Church of God Happy was it for Christians that Maxentius refus'd agreement with Constantine such were the manifold Vices Oppressions Murders Adulteries and great Enormities of Maxentius that Constantine was in a manner enforc'd not only for his own safety but the general good of Mankind to free the World of such a Monster odious not only to Christians but to Pagans also to conclude a War against the Tyrant though stronger then himself Constantine therefore had recourse to Divine assistance but such a multitude of Gods were Worship'd in the World that he was uncertain to which of them he should Address himself After serious consideration calling to mind how former Emperours had been abus'd to their own ruine by false Oracles Incantations and Inhumane Sacrifices offer'd to their Heathen Gods he resolves to put his Confidence
Epistle to Timothy sent to him from Rome amongst other Salutations joynes Pudens and Claudia And a late Learned Writer hath demonstrated out of Antiquity that this our Claudia Ruffina sprang from the Royal Blood of Britain and was the Wife and Mother of Glorious Saints And our Antient Histories report that Timotheus the Eldest Son of Pudens came into this our Island and Converted many to the Faith and at least dispos'd King Lucius to his succeeding Conversion And the reason of such his coming hither might be the Love and regard he had to his Mother a British Lady It is pretended that Pomponia Graecina the Wife of Plantius General of the Army under Claudius in this Island was a Christian and Devout Saint but this may be doubtful though it be clear by Tacitus that she was Accus'd of a strange Religion forbidden by the Roman Laws which might be the Christian Religion to the knowledge whereof she might attain by her Acquaintance with Claudia Ruffina But we have more unquestionable Records of one Mansuetus Companion of St. Clemens which Mansuetus was a Northern Britain who went to Rome either with Adminius a Prince of Britain or Bericus a Nobleman thereof or as Attendant upon Caractacus where the said Mansuetus might be Converted by St. Peter and be by him constituted Bishop of Toul in Lorrain upon a Miracle by him done in restoring to Life and Health a Son of the Governour of that City whose said Son fell down from a high Tower the effect of which Miracle was the Conversion of the said Governour his whole Family and a great number of his Citizens Insomuch as after the word had a free course not only in that City but in the Country thereabouts Priests were Ordain'd and a Church erected and Consecrated to the Holy Trinity About this time one Beatus of this Island was converted to the Christian Faith and went to Rome for further instruction therein by S. Peter and after became the Apostle of the Helvetians and dy'd amongst them illustrious for his exemplary Piety and great Miracles Thus early did it please God to enlighten this our native Country with his Divine Truth and to transform the Barbarous Inhabitants thereof into Apostles and Messengers of Salvation to other Countries also And as it appears by antient Monuments it pleas'd our good God to send his Prime Apostle S. Peter into this Island to establish and confirm what other Persons though of great Honour and Holiness had begun yet for want of the Episcopal Character could not establish Order and Government in this new planted Church as the Apostles could and did do Unquestionable antient Authors have Recorded that when the World was divided by Lott amongst the Apostles the West became the Portion of S. Peter and that from Rome he came to Britain and made a long abode there constituting Churches and ordaining Priests and Deacons this Truth has been confirm'd by many Holy and Primitive Popes by many of our British and Saxon Kings by the Vision of S. Peter to Edward the Confessor Nay our late King James the First of ever Blessed Memory did not doubt in a publick Audience to affirm that Rome was the Mother of all Churches In what particular year this coming of S. Peter was is not easie to determine whether upon the Emperour Claudius's Edict to Banish all Jews from Rome or in the beginning of Nero's Reign is doubtful But that he was absent from Rome when S. Paul wrote his Epistle to the Romans is more than probable since he omitted S. Peter out of his Salutations Certainly a freer scope was allow'd in this Island at that time for Divine Verities than in other places First Because Nero's Persecution never extended hither Secondly For that the power of the Romans here was a little limited by the British Princes who were at least civil to Christians Thirdly The great distance betwixt Rome and this Island as may appear by the quiet and un-interupted solitude of Glastonbury where was erected the first School of Contemplation and which continu'd the glorious Habitation of a World of Saints even to late years It may be found in a very antient Author who Writes of Church Affairs in the first Century that he mentions the exaltation of the British Church under Nero adding that many Churches were built in this Island by S. Peter and it is agreed of on all hands that the cruelty of Nero towards the Christians drove S. Paul out of Rome even as far Westward as Britain where though he was had in high Veneration yet we never read that the Church here planted was called the Seat of St. Paul but often the Chair of St. Peter Insomuch as Gildas inveighing against some of the British Clergy in his time tells them They usurp'd the Chair of St. Peter with impure feet Thereby intimating that the whole Ecclesiastical Order here receiv'd their Original Priesthood by a right Succession from St. Peter Howbeit our English Martyrology deservedly reckons St. Paul among the Apostles of Britain And so was Aristobulus also one of the 70 Disciples and a Follower of St. Paul Ordain'd a Bishop here and here also dy'd a Martyr in the second year of Nero or at least a Confessor in his very Old Age after he had spent some time in Solitude at Glastonbury the common Retiring place of many Eminent Saints It was certainly meant by St. Paul in his Epistle to the Romans when he Salutes the Houshold of Aristobulus omitting him being then absent in this Country or in his Journey towards it This progress had the Gospel in this Island before the Death of St. Peter or St. Paul and was mightily advanc'd by the coming of Joseph of Arimathea and his Companions about the end of Nero's Reign making up the number of Twelve Persons with himself one of which Twelve is said to be his Son of his own Name The coming and Preaching of Joseph and his Companions hath been publickly alledg'd in several General Councels by the English Orators as an Argument of Precedence in those Councels taken from the early approach of the Gospel to this Nation and further affirm'd by other Antient Records and especially by that Illustrious Charter of King Henry the II. to the Abbey of Glastonbury signifying his intention to Rebuild that Monastery not long before Consum'd by Fire and to renew all the Priviledges confer'd on it by his Predecessors King William the I. and II. and by more Ancient Kings St. Edgar the Father of St. Edward King Edmond and his Father Edward and his Grand-father Alfred by King Brithwald Hentwyn Baldred Ina the famous King Arthur Cantred and many other Christian Kings and even by Kenwalla a Pagan King of Britain And further affirming that he the said Henry the II. caus'd a diligent Inquisition to be made of the said Charters and Priviledges which were presented and Read in his Presence all which he Confirm'd and Renew'd to the same Church antiently stil'd The Mother
latter end of Trajan's Reign some of the Britains attempted to shake off the Roman yoak but were neglected by the Emperour engag'd in other Affairs of more concern It is not certain which of the Britains made this attempt Coelus is then said to be King of the Britains not perhaps the sole King but most considerable for Power and Wealth to whom the rest yielded Honour and some kind of Subjection as some of the Brittish Princes in former Ages are said to have done to Cassibelan and as after in the time of the Heptarchy to him who was stil'd Rex Anglorum This King Coelus is describ'd in History to be a Prince of a Benign and Peaceable Nature and well affected to the Romans as having been train'd and brought up amongst them from his tender years and consequently not likely to joyn in any Rebellion against them Now though Trajan had not leasure to reduce these Tumultuous Britains yet his Successor Adrian neglected them not as may appear by several Coins where on are Imprinted the Brittish Army with three Roman Souldiers importing the three Legions in Britain viz. the second called Augusta the fourteenth called Victrix and the twentyth called Victrix Britanica And this it seems was done to admonish the Britains that this new Emperour was mindful of their Disorders which about three years after he came himself in person to chastise Julius Severus was now Pretor under Adrian but did little as to the suppressing the Tumults here especially in the Southern parts where Coelus was King. Howbeit Adrian in his third year began his Progress for the rectifying Disorders composing Seditions and restoring Discipline to his Armies every where He began with Germany from thence took a view of France and the following year pass'd over into Britain where his first Exploit was to separate such as Peaceably liv'd in subjection to the Roman Empire from such as refus'd to submit to its yoak Now whereas the Northern Britains since they were overthrown by Agricola had broken through the Fortifications he had made in the narrow Isthmus between the Friths of Edenborough and Dunbritton yet Adrian thought not fit to hazard his Army in repelling them within those former bounds but contented himself to raise a Wall or Rampire more Southerly which he continu'd the space of 80 Miles between Solway-Frith on the West and Tinmouth on the East side of the Isle it was made of Turf and strengthen'd with Timber and in after Ages was call'd The Picts Wall when that Northern Nation became to be term'd Picts as aforesaid The next year Adrian was call'd out of Britain to compose Sedition rais'd in Alexandria in Egypt When Adrian was near thereabouts the Jews and Gentiles were loud in their Complaints against the Christians in Palestine from whence that Holy Religion sprang the number of them was then great in that Country by reason of the continual resort of Believers to that Sacred place from every quarter of the World to celebrate the memory both of our Saviours Actions and Passions there Upon these Complaints he renews the Persecution began by his Predecessor and imagining that he could destroy Christian Religion by a Malicious Defacing the Place where it began he erected Idols of Devils in the most Sacred place of our Lords Passion Jupiter in Mount Calvary Venus where the Cross had been fix'd Adonis at Bethlehem conceiving the memory of the Christian Religion would be soon blotted out by the Worship of these Idols And indeed this Holy Place lay in this desolation until Helena the Mother of Constantine thought it worth her Pains to search out the Cross as is hereafter more fully related The Learning Patience and Constancy of the Christians through the intercession of Noble and Considerable Persons on their behalf caus'd Adrian at last to publish an Edict that none should be punish'd for their Belief if free from other Crimes About the beginning of this Emperour's Reign dy'd our King Coelus leaving for his Successor his Son Lucius a Child of Ten years old resembling his Father in Virtue and consequently belov'd of his Subjects his Fathers affection to the Romans procur'd him a Roman Name deriv'd from Light the Britains upon the same account call'd him Lever Maur or a great Brightness for the Joy he brought to the whole Kingdom especially to his Father being born to him in his Old Age and 37th year of his Reign perhaps this Name foreshew'd a greater Light of Divine Truth which in this Princes time and by his care and procurement was communicated to the whole Kingdom This Blessing arriv'd not all at once he did not presently quit the Superstition of his Fore fathers though he continu'd his Father's Kindness to the Christians his heart was to be prepar'd and cultivated by little and little for the Heavenly Seed by many Dispensations of Providence hereafter occurring Gildas and Nennius mention a Message sent to the Britains by Pope Evaristus in the latter end of Trajan's Reign exhorting them to the embracing of the Christian Faith the advantage or occasion of this Message might be from mitigating that persecution of the Christians therefore that Holy Bishop might lay hold of that opportunity to recommend a Religion the Innocency whereof was approv'd by its greatest Persecutors Nay a late German Author affirms that our King Lucius obtain'd from Pope Alexander the Successor of Evaristus that the Christian Faith should be Preach'd in this Isle which no doubt the Pope would easily grant as may appear by the coming of S. Timotheus and S. Marcellus with others into Britain about this time of whom more hereafter Moreover in the most Antient Monuments of Burton-Abbey we may find That in the year of our Lord 149. nine Doctors and Schollars were Baptiz'd at Granta or Cambridge and it is confidently affirm'd by Gildas That the Christian Faith did from the beginning entirely remain in Britain until Dioclesian 's time which was by him well observ'd least any should think the Religion brought in by the Apostles and their Disciples had been utterly extinguish'd To Adrian succeeded Antoninus Pius who sent Lollius Vrbicus to repel the Incroaching Britains who soon drove them back within their former bounds yet found work enough to compose the Differences and Dissentions which broke out afresh in the formerly subdu'd Provinces between the Brigantes and Ordovices these Tumults were of such danger and hazard that the happy quieting them gave the addition of Britanicus to Antoninus In the 19th year of this Emperour Pope Pius the first establish'd by Decree the observation of Easter or the Feast of our Lords Resurrection upon a Sunday in opposition to such Judaizing Christians who pretending a Tradition from St. John the Evangelist kept it precisely on the 14th day of the first Moon in March. Our Antient Ecclesiastical Monuments make mention about this time of one Marcellus a Britain born and a Zealous Preacher of the Faith in Britain of whom our English Martyrology testifies That
the place where the sick Saint lay was preserv'd for the flames as if afraid to touch him flew quite over his lodging though on each side of it they rag'd with violence but left it untouch'd The multitude seeing this rejoyc'd and were well pleas'd that their Labours and Endeavours had been over-master'd by Divine Power Whilst this Holy man lay there he was watch'd and attended by a numberless multitude some seeking Health for their Souls some for there Bodies The wonderful Miracles which our Lord wrought by his Servant were so many they can scarce be re-counted he being infirm himself gave Health and Strength to others neither would he suffer any remedy to be apply'd to his Infirmity but on a certain night he saw a person standing before him in White Garments who stretching forth his Hand seem'd to raise him up from his Couch commanding him to stand firmly after which his pain pass'd away and his strength was so restor'd that the day following he confidently undertook to pursue his journey At this time the Picts and Saxons with joynt Forces made War upon the Britains who were therefore drawn together in a Body but being distrustful of their Ability to resist such Powerful Enemies they humbly implore the assistance of these Godly Bishops which they chearfully promis'd and hastening into the British Army so encreas'd the Courage and Resolution of the Britains as if a new Army had been joyn'd unto them so as our Lord himself by the Ministery of these his Captains seem'd to be General of the Army It was now the Holy time of Lent which the presence of these Holy Bishops caus'd to be observ'd with the greater Devotion and their daily Preaching invited many to partake of the Sacrament of Baptism A Church was thereupon prepar'd against the Solemnity of Easter and though the place was no other then open Fields yet it was ordered as if it had been in a City The Army went in Procession moisten'd with the waters of Baptism and being inslam'd with the fervour of Holy Faith they contemn'd the Guard of outward Weapons and expected a more sure Protection from Heaven This Posture of the British Army came to the Enemies knowledge who not doubting of Victory against Unarm'd People with great chearfulness hast'ned to set upon them The Britains had notice of their march and as soon as the Solemn Feast of our Lords Resurrection was past the greater part of the Army being newly Baptiz'd betook themselves to theirs Arms and prepar'd for Battle St. German being their General he made choice of a Band of Light Arm'd men and takes a view of the Country round about observing also a Valley compass'd with Mountains directly in the Enemies way he leads part of the Army into that Valley The fierce Enemies approaching and being discover'd by those who lay in Ambush St. German their Leader gave order to all his Soldiers That with loud clamour they should repeat the words by him pronounc'd And immediately while the Enemies thought to fall on presuming they had not been discover'd the Holy Bishop three times cry'd out aloud Allelujah whereupon the rest of the Army with one voice Thundred out likewise Allelujah the noise whereof was Terrible multiply'd and increas'd by the Eccho from the Mountains round about The sound alone of this Sacred Word suffic'd to terrify the Enemies Army which fell a trembling as if not the Rocks only but Heaven it self had fallen on their Heads insomuch as they all betook themselves to a general flight in all haste casting away their Weapons and glad to escape with their Naked Bodies Great numbers of them in their Head-long flight were swallow'd up by a River through which a little before they had march'd with confidence and leasure enough The main body of the British Army without striking one stroak was a chearful Spectator of the Vengeance of Almighty God to whom only they gave the Glory of the Victory The Holy Bishops indeed Triumph'd to see the Enemies defeated without Blood-shed they Triumph'd for a Victory obtain'd not by Arms but Faith only And having thus every way settled this Rich Island in Security both from the Pelagians and Saxons they prepar'd themselves for their return to the great Grief of the whole Nation The place of this unbloody Battle is said to be a Town call'd Mold in Flintshire where is a Field call'd from St. German in the British Tongue Maesgarmon there is also the little River Alen which runs hard by wherein probably the Picts and Saxons were drown'd besides the place being near the Sea it lay fit to set on board the Saxon Armies St. Gregory the great in expounding the words of Job makes mention of this Allelujah resounded thus by the Britains The Blessings conferr'd on this Island were in some degree recompens'd by their safe and prosperous return which they are said to have ascrib'd to the Intercession of our Tutelar Saint and Protomartyr Alban Their absence from home and residence here in Britain was little more than the space of a year in which time many wonderful things were wrought by them during the time that St. Germanus remain'd in Britain St. Patrick then 68 years of Age inseparably adher'd to him having learn'd from him many instructions in Christian Doctrine and Discipline and receiv'd many examples of Virtue and Piety for imitation By him likewise he was encourag'd to undertake the Conversion of the Irish Nation but with all admonish'd To expect a Commission from the See of Rome to execute that Apostolick Office. For which purpose he accompanied St. Germanus to Gaul from whence the next year he went to Rome being desirous to have his Journey into Ireland confirm'd by Authority from Pope Caelestinus St. Patrick took with him a Priest nam'd Sergetius a Devout Servant of our Lord as a Companion in his Travels when he came to Rome he committed himself to the Praebends of the Roman Church to be the more perfectly instructed in their Institutes He repair'd also to the Holy Pope Caelestinus and humbly casting himself at his feet besought him To employ his care for the Conversion of the Pagan Irish Nation The Petition was very acceptable to the Pope who chang'd this Holy mans Name from Magonius to Patricius as Prophecying That he should be the Father of many Souls His Name thus chang'd he was promoted to Episcopal Dignity and then directed to his Voyage into Ireland St. Patrick himself in one of his Epistles transcrib'd out of a Copy in the Abby of Glastonbury which Epistle is mention'd here before makes all this clear Together with the Episcopal degree the Pope bestow'd on St. Patrick 12 years Indulgence He was accompanied in his Legation with 20 Eminent Persons for his assistance one of which was Sergetius before mention'd He diverted in his return to his Instructor St. Germanus from whose Liberality he receiv'd Chalices Priestly Vestments and store of Books with many other things proper for his Ministery
the weight and troubles of Government would have resign'd the Province to Carantac but he loving the Caelestial King more than an Earthly Kingdom fled away and having bought a Wallet and Staff of a poor man by Gods Conduct was brought to a Pleasant place where he reposing himself built an Oratory and spent his time in the Praises of God At last he pass'd over into Ireland invited by his Affection to St. Patrick when he came thither it was agreed between them that one of them should travel Preaching the Gospel toward the Right Hand and the other towards the Left In their company many Ecclesiastical persons attended them and they all agreed to meet once a year at an appointed place Where ever this Holy man Carantac went an Angel of our Lord in the likeness of a Dove accompanied him and chang'd his Name into Cernach being an Irish Appellation All along his Voyage he wrought great Miracles for the Confirmation of the Faith he Preach'd Healing many thousand of their Diseases The grace at first given to the Apostles is said to have been plentifully bestow'd on him He was counted an admirable Soldier and Champion of Christ a Spiritual and Devout Abbot refusing to Preach Saving Truth unto none He spent many years in that Island where he brought an incredible number to wash away their sins by Pennance by day and night offering innumerable Prayers to God and having Converted many People to our Lord who wrought many Miracles by him He at last return'd to his Native Country where he retir'd to his former Cave accompanied with many Disciples There having built a Church he determin'd to abide but not long after being admonish'd by a Voice from Heaven he return'd into Ireland where in a good Old Age and full of good Works he rested in Peace and was buried in his own City from him call'd Cherach I shall here add the Gests of another British Saint and Companion of St. Patrick into Ireland call'd Luman Son of Gollitus a Brittain and Nephew to St. Patrick by his Sister Tigridia He was the Founder of the Church of Trim in Ireland the occasion and manner whereof is thus related by Bishop Vsher St. Luman came to the Ford of Truim which runs before the Castle of Fiedilmed Son of Loiguor And early in the morning Froitchern Son of Fiedilmed found him Preaching the Gospel of Christ who wondering at the Doctrine taught by him presently believ'd and was Baptiz'd in Christ by Luman at a Fountain arising in the same place and stay'd with him until his Mother who sought after him came to the same place She was over-joy'd at the sight of the Holy man because she also came out of Britain and being instructed by him likewise believ'd and returning Home told her Husband what had hapned to her self and her Son Fiedelmed was much joy'd at the arrival of Luman because his Mother call'd Schotnoesa had been the Daughter of a British Prince Fiedilmed therefore went to him and Saluted him in the British Language questioning him in particular touching his Descent and Doctrine who answer'd That his Name was Luman a Brittain a Christian and Disciple of the Holy Bishop S. Patrick sent as he said by God to Convert the Inhabitants of that Country to the Faith of Christ and Baptize them Fiedilmed immediately believ'd with his whole Family and offer'd him and St. Patrick his whole Territory with his Son. Fiedilmed remov'd his Habitation beyond the River Boindeo but Luman with Froitchern stay'd at the Ford of Truim 'till St. Patrick came thither where they joyntly erected a Church about 12 years before the Church of Armagh Attimachae was founded the beginning of which Arch-Episcopal Church the Annals of Ulster ascribe to the year of Grace 444. We may now not unfitly treat of St. Benignus as his Story may be found in the Antiquities of Glastonbury The Venerable Bishop St. Patrick Preaching the Gospel through the Provinces of Ireland came to a plain call'd Brey or Breg very Spacious and Beautiful with which being delighted he determin'd there to Celebrate the Feast of Easter then at hand His first Acquaintance and Familiarity in that Province was with a man whom he had newly Converted to the Faith with him St. Patrick Lodg'd This man had a Young Child call'd Beonna who bore a tender Affection to the Saint he would often play with him and Kiss his Foot the Child would not sleep but when he lay with the Holy Bishop He therefore Prophetically perceiving the great Grace which the Divine Bounty would confer upon the Child vouchsafed to take him to his Bed and gave him the Name of Benignus When the Holy Bishop was ready to proceed in his Journey the Child with Pittiful cries beg'd to go along with him so as the Bishop was forc'd to receive him into his Waggon and Prophecy'd that he should be his Successor in the Bishoprick which accordingly came to pass This was the first Solemnity of Easter which the Holy Bishop Celebrated in Ireland and he did it by imitating the Son of God who at his last Supper with his Disciples Consecrated his Body and Blood for the Redemption of Mankind The day before this great Feast of our Lords Resurrection St. Patrick according to an Ecclesiastical Rite as Probus observes then in use Kindled the Holy fire the Flame whereof shone brightly about the place According to the custom of that Country it was it seems Vnlawful for any to Light a Fire before it was kindled in the Kings Palace The King whose Name was Logorius perceiving the brightness of the Flame in great indignation threatn'd Death to him who had infring'd that custom in his Kingdom His Magicians about him to incense him further told the King That the Fire which had so been kindled against Law unless presently extinguish'd would never cease to the Worlds end but obscure all the Fires which they kindled according to their custom and that the man who lighted it would be the destruction of his Kingdom While St. Patrick with great success thus labour'd in the Gospel Britain was Illustrated with the Memory of another great St. Winwaloc the Son of a Noble Person call'd Fracan Cousin-German of a British Prince Nam'd Coton This St. Winwaloc is said to have been from his Childhood inflam'd with an earnest desire of Heavenly things to despise Worldly Allurements and to live to God only wherefore he besought his Parents that he might be commended to the care of a certain Religious man to be by him imbew'd in the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and Documents of Piety his request being obtain'd he made wonderful progress in Virtue and Holiness under that Religious mans Discipline insomuch that when he was but seven years Old he became an example of all Piety and Goodness In process of time having undertaken a Monastical Profession Divine Graces shone more brightly in him so as he became withall enrich'd with the Gift of Prophecy Many Miracles God
and Councel addicted wholly to Carnal Pleasures the Slave of most Vices especially of Avarice Pride and Luxury He sollicited and with the hopes of making her a Queen Deflowr'd his own Daughter and of her got a Son who by Miracle notwithstanding his Incestuous Birth through Divine Grace became a Saint and was nam'd St. Sanctus The Wife of Vortigern was equal to him in Birth but unlike in Disposition by her he had three Sons Vortimer Catigern and Pascentius While she liv'd he govern'd with Moderation but after her Death he loos'd the Reins to all wickedness For which being reprov'd by St. German and in a Synod Excommunicated he Reveng'd himself by inflicting the fore-mention'd Injuries and Calumnies upon the Holy Bishop Before his Election to the Universal Government of Britain he was Prince of the Danmonii or as others write Consul of the Gevissei Inhabitants of the South-Western parts about Cornwall or South-Wales which Principality it seems he had govern'd well enough to be preferr'd before his fellow Princes Though indeed the men of that Age which Gildas terms Atramentum aetatis afforded so little choice that a Prince not Profligately Vicious might deserve some Reputation However this unworthy King is recorded a Restorer of the City of Oxford To leave him a while we may take notice that among the Benefactions confer'd by St. German on Britain the Election and Consecration of St. Dubritius to the Bishoprick of Landaff was not the least This Dubritius was by Nation a Britain born in the Province of the Dunetae or West-Wales He was Sir-nam'd Gainius from a River which runs by the place where he was born His Mothers Name was Evedila famous for her Virtues and being a Child had his mind imbew'd with good Literature so as in few years he made such proficiency in Learning that not the Ignorant only but such as had acquir'd a good degree in Knowledge repair'd to him to increase their Skill among whom were St. Theliaus St. Sampson and St. Aidanus In the Soyl of his Nativity near the River Vaga he chose a fit Seat for his own and his Disciples Studies and there he spent many years in the Charitable Communication of his Learning to others Afterwards having by the command of an Angel built a Church there he Preached and Taught the people wholesom Christian Doctrine and by imposing his Hands he often Cur'd many Infirmities and being thus qualified he was advanc'd by St. German to the degree of a Bishop He liv'd to a very Old Age for many years after this he was Translated by Aurelius Ambrosius to the Archbishoprick of Caerleon in the Province of Monmouth so as he will once more occur in our History in the mean time we must not omit to say something of another Disciple of St. German nam'd St. Briocus a Britain afterwards a Bishop in Armorica so famous that the See of his Bishoprick Suffragan to Tours is to this day from his Name called St. Brieu He was descended of a Noble Stock and brought by St. German out of Britain into Gaul and by him there instructed in the Discipline of Piety being enrich'd with such saving Doctrine he return'd into his own Country and there inform'd his Parents in the true Faith which he likewise Preach'd with great success in the Country about After desirous to employ our Lords Talents more Copiously he came over into Armorica where having shed the Beams of Evangelical Light into the mind of his Kinsman Cenanus Count of Triguier he afterwards cleans'd him in the Laver of Baptism then assembling several devout persons aspiring to the Perfection of a Religious Life he built a Monastery and there by the Liberality of the said Count he laid the Foundation of an Episcopal See And being Consecrated Bishop by the Arch-Bishop of Tours He with an admirable Splendour of Virtue and Piety govern'd the said Diocess the space of 30 years Not long after being in a Journey he breath'd forth his spotless Soul his Body was carried back to the Church which himself had built and there with great Honour Interr'd and frequent Miracles are said to be wrought at his Relicks Thus as he gave his Name to the Monastery Town and Mother-Church of that Diocess so he also afforded continual Protection to them In the year of Grace 439. St. Patrick had spent 8 years in Ireland and then return'd into Britain having fix'd his Episcopal Chair at Armagh after that he is said to repair to the Apostolick See to ratifie his Proceedings as he was advis'd by an Angel of our Lord After his return from thence he retir'd to the Monastery of Glastonbury and there ended his days as St. Fugatius and Damianus before him had done What were his special Exercises after such his Retirement is recorded in History viz. Attendance upon Prayer Fasting and Purity of Life instituting Rules for a Monastical Profession in Glastonbury amongst such Religious men as were there Successors of St. Joseph of Arimathaea These St. Patrick reduced from an Eremetical to a Caenobitical course of Life giving them Institutes which he had receiv'd from his Vncle St. Martin of Tours who long since had cloathed him with the Monastical Habit which was a White Cowle of the natural colour of the Wool over his other Garments by which Purity and Innocence were denoted This fashion was instituted by the British and Irish Monks before the coming of St. Augustine who to distinguish himself from them assum'd a Black Cowle so as his Successors were stil'd Black Monks In Glastonbury it was where St. Patrick wrote his Famous Chart before-mention'd wherein he particularly describes the Isle then call'd Ynswitrin where was an Antient Chappel Consecrated to the Honour of the most Blessed Virgin where he found 12 Hermits Successors of the Disciples of St. Phaganus and Diruvianus in which Chart was contain'd That they had receiv'd from Pope Eleutherius ten years Indulgence and that by a Revelation from our Lord they had built a Church to the Honour of St. Michael the Arch-Angel How likewise it was signified to St. Patrick by a Vision That he was to Honour the Blessed Arch-Angel in that place for the certainty of which Vision his Left-hand Wither'd and was not restor'd 'till he had acquainted his Brethren with what he had seen This Chart St. Patrick left with two Devout Irish Monks Arnulphus and Ogmar his Companions who resolv'd to attend on that Chappel The Holy Bishop further relates That he conferr'd an Indulgence of 100. days on those who by cutting down Wood clear'd a Passage for the Devout Visitants of the Chapel Consecrated by our Lord himself to the Honour of his most Blessed Mother At his return from Rome St. Patrick brought with him some Relicks of the Holy Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul and of St. Stephen the Blessed Deacon and Martyr with a Linnen-Cloath sprinkled with the Blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ which Holy Relicks were reserv'd there behind the Altar of St. Patrick
care of his flock But if we consider consequents we shall find that the Catholick Church thereby receiv'd a great increase both in the number of Professors and the Zeal of their Profession for though those Barbarous Nations for a while Persecuted the Church yet e're long our Lord subdued their Minds and those strong Natural Passions of theirs were imploy'd in advancing Gods Church insomuch as the Apostles time and Primitive Age could scarce afford such Heroical Examples of Christian Zeal Magnanimity and Contempt of the World as those Barbarous People once Converted did So Healthful is the Severity of God towards his People Many Historians accuse the Cowardly Sloth of King Vortigern as if he weary of the Troubles of War chose rather with his Money to Hire Stipendiary Strangers than to train up his own Subjects to resist his Enemies and therefore invited the Saxons to Fight for the Britains But as Beda saith This was done by the common advice of the Nation For a meeting was assembled wherein it was thought best by all as well as by the King to demand Aide of the Saxons Which resolution doubtless was order'd by Divine Providence to punish the Impious Britains as the event declares for Gildas reflecting on the madness of this Consultation thus exclaims O the profound Blindness of the Britains minds O the Stupidity of their Senses These Saxons at whose Names they trembled when they were absent are now by the foolish Princes invited to live in their own Houses so senseless was their Councel How senseless soever it was Ambassadors were sent into Germany men of the highest repute and such as might most worthyly represent their Country Witchindus thus describes the order of this Embassage Fame saith he loudly proclaiming the Prosperous Victories of the Saxons the Britains sent Messengers to them to beg their assistance who did it in these words viz. O Noble Saxons our miserable Country-men the Britains wearied and even consum'd with the frequent Incursions of their Enemies having heard of your glorious Victories have sent us humbly to implore your Aide in recompense whereof they offer to you a Province Spacious and Abounding with all things We have hither to liv'd Happily under the Protection of the Romans after them we know no Nation better than your selves to whom we may have recourse we therefore desire to shelter our selves under the Wings of your Courage c. It may be doubted whether this Oration were deliver'd in so submiss a stile for they were sent to hire the Saxons with a large Stipend not to yield up the Country to them However sure it is the Saxons in their Answer assur'd the Britains They would be Faithful Friends to them ready always to assist them in their Necessities and to do them all Offices of Kindness With which Answer the Ambassadors return'd home well satisfied and were joyfully receiv'd by their Country-men This satisfactory Message was return'd in the year of our Lord 448. and the year following an Army of Saxons under their chief Conductors Hengist and Horsa landed in Britain whose coming Gildas in his Angry stile thus describes mingling with it a Prophecy among the Saxons relating to it Then saith he a drove of Whelpes rushing out of the Barbarous Lyonesses came hither in three Ships with full sails and an ominous Course encourag'd by a Prophecy certainly believed among them that for the space of 300 years they should Possess the Country toward which they directed the Prow of their Ships and that in half of that time they should often lay it waste They first fast'ned their terrible Nails by order of the unhappy Tyrant Vortigern on the Eastern part of the Island with a pretence to defend but with an intent to subdue the Country There may be some shadow of Truth in this Prophecy for the Saxons for 300 years may be said to be Possessors of the Island under the Title of Saxony beyond the Sea. After the Angli gave their own Name to it Besides after 150 years by the coming of St. Augustine they became Christians and of Wasters of the Country became more Gentle and Civil Inhabitants thereof They first possess'd themselves of the Ille of Thanet in Kent and there first landed at a place call'd Wipped-fleet from Wipped a Saxon Commander there after slain They being thus landed about the year of our Lord 450. the Scots and Picts invaded Britain with a mighty Army wasting the Provinces as they came along Vortigern gathers his Soldiers and Auxiliary Saxons together and march'd beyond the River Humber when they came to a Battle the Britains had little need to Fight for the Saxons Combated with such Courage that the Enemies formerly accustom'd to Victory soon turn'd their backs and fled Vortigern therefore having by their Valour obtain'd the Victory increas'd his Liberality to them and gave to Hengist their Captain great Possessions in Lyndsey part of Lincolnshire sufficient to maintain him and his Soldiers Huntingdon will needs have this Battle at Stanford in the Southern parts of the same Shire adding That the Picts and Scots had march'd so far without opposition and that they were only Arm'd and Fought with Darts and Lances but the Saxons with Battle-Axes and long Swords whose force and weight their Enemies not being able to sustain were soon put to flight Now as touching the Land thus given to Hengist Cambden gives us this Relation out of our Annals Hengist having subdu'd the Picts besides large Possessions conferr'd on him in other places requested Vortigern to bestow upon him in that Province so much ground as he could encompass with an Oxes-Hide which being obtain'd he cut it into Thongs extreamly Thinn and with it encompass'd a great Territory in the midst of which he built a Castle which by the Name perpetuates the memory thereof for it is call'd Thong-Castle As Carthage for many Ages remain'd a witness of Dido's Fraud for by thesame slight she obtain'd the Seat where she built that City so does this Castle still offer to our memories the Simplicity of the Britains and Craft of the Saxons such a gift could not satisfie the Ambition of Hengist whose aim was to be Master of the whole Island The subtile man therefore presuming of the Kings Friendship and easiness thus address'd to him My Lord the King you see how your Enemies disquiet you on all sides if you please therefore we will send into our Country for the increase of our numbers with new Recruits The King commanded him to do so withour delay that he might be freed from the fear of his Enemies Hengist sends Messengers accordingly who quickly return'd with 18 Ships laden with Soldiers and not with Soldiers only but with a fair Lady the Daughter of Hengist whose Beauty and Flatteries so bewitch'd the King that to please her he betray'd both his Faith and Kingdom Malmsburiensis reports this Rowena the Daughter of Hengist To be for Beauty the Miracle of Nature admir'd by all that look'd
the Regal Authority Some Writers affirm He dy'd a Natural Death others say He dy'd by Poison administred to him by his Mother-in-Law Rowena into whose mind the Devil suggested to cause a Servant of his to give him Poison which he having drunk and perceiving the approach of Death he divided his Treasures among his Soldiers earnestly exhorting them to Fight Couragiously for their Country Moreover He commanded a Pyramid of Brass to be made and plac'd in the Haven where the Saxons usually landed upon which Pyramid his Body should be laid that the Enemies seeing the Body of so Valorous a Prince might be frighted back into their own Country More probable it is that he intended his Statue should be plac'd on the Pyramid for being a Christian Prince he was Decently and Solemnly Buried after the Christian manner And it is said He was Buried in the City of the Trinobantes now London and with him was Buried the Crown and Glory of the British Nation Beside his Courage he is said to be Eminent in other Virtues especially Piety and some say In his War against the Saxons he bore in his Ensign the Image of our Lord Jesus Christ To which Devotion of his we may impute his Victories or at least to his Pious and Charitable care in restoring the Churches destroy'd by the Saxons The year after Vortimer's death Hengist return'd out of Germany with greater Forces and took a firmer possession of his Kentish Kingdom and for the better Establishment of his Family therein joyn'd his Son Aesca with him in the Regal Power To oppose them the Britains invade his Country with a great Army consisting of four great Bodies Conducted by four Valiant Captains but when the Conflict was begun at Creganford the Britains found themselves too weak for the Saxons which were new Recruited with great numbers of chosen Robustious Soldiers who with their Swords and Battle-Axes cleft asunder the Bodies of the Britains Yet did they not give ground till their four Captains were slain but afterwards were so terrified that they fled as far as London and never after had the Courage to bring an Army into Kent again so that Hengist and his Son quietly enjoy'd that Kingdom fixing their Palace at Canterbury Thus began this new Kingdom of Kent in the eighth year after the Arrival of the Saxons in Britain It is not probable that this exalting of Vortimer was any Deposal of his Father for Vortimer being Dead his Father continu'd King and for a while gave proof of his Courage in repressing the Ambition and Violence of Hengist though after he return'd to his former Licentious Slothfulness Now during these Wars Hengist is recorded to have exercis'd extream Cruelty in all places where his Armies came and especially in Kent against Priests and Holy Virgins great numbers of which he caus'd to be Massacred Demolishing Churches and Profaning Altars Among the Victims of his Barbarous Cruelty the memory of Voadinus Arch-Bishop of London only remains in our English Martyrology who being a man of great Sanctity reprov'd Vortigern for repudiating his Lawful Wife and Marrying an Infidel which so inflam'd Hengist with rage that he commanded the Holy Bishop with many other Priests and Religious men to be slain Gildas declares That great numbers of Bishops and Priests were Massacred by this Saxon King And St. Bede relates more particularly the Rapines Cruelties and Devastations of this Impious King wherewith he miserably fill'd the whole Island The year of Grace 461. is noted with an Act of most Perfidious Cruelty perpetrated by this Barbarous Prince His Ambition was not satisfied with the Kingdom of Kent so as he resolv'd to enlarge his bounds in Britain by any means and finding that by exercise of War the British Courage increas'd he therefore turn'd his Thoughts to invent some Stratagem for the compassing his Designes He insinuates himself into the minds of Vortigern and his Nobility as if he were desirous of Peace and Amity with them which if they would grant he would turn his Arms against the Picts and Scots and drive them out of the Island quickly did he obtain belief from the easy Nature of Vortigern whereupon a meeting is appointed between the Britains and Saxons with this caution that each King should be attended with 300 only and those un-arm'd and at this meeting they were to treat of the Conditions of Peace The place appointed for this Fatal Assembly was a Plain near Sorbiodunum or Old Salisbury a City seated in the Province of the Belgae wherein remains a Monument of a Dire Tragedy for both sides being met a great Feast was prepar'd for the Britains at which the Articles of Agreement were to be ratified by mutual Promises and Oaths Towards the end of this Feast when they were dissolv'd in Wine Hengist on a suddain call'd aloud To Arms which was the Watch-word agreed among the Saxons who immediately drew out short Swords conceal'd under their Cloathes and quickly slew their Un-arm'd Guests the Britains Howbeit which is remarkable Eldol the Valiant Consul or Governour of Glocester snatching up a stake by Chance lying near with it slew seventy of the Treacherous Saxons A Monument of this Barbarous Tragedy not long after rais'd by the Britains continues to this day and is Vulgarly call'd Stone-henge Upon Salisbury-Plain where in a space of ground compass'd with a Ditch are placed as in a three-fold Crown Stones of an incredible vastness some of them 28 foot in hight and 7 in breadth over many of which other great Stones are plac'd a-cross Cambden believes That this Monument was rais'd in memory of this Treachery by Ambrosius Aurelianus or his Brother Vterpendragon by the help and Art of Merlin the famous Magician though others deliver that it was a Magnificent Sepulcher rais'd for Ambrosius himself slain near this place from whom the Town of Ambresbury-not far distant took its Name In this Slaughter the Saxons took Vortigern Prisoner and the year following bound him with Chains threatning Death unless he would deliver up 38 of his Cities and Strong-holds Vortigern to save his Life quickly yielded to their demands which being confirm'd by Oath they gave him his Liberty And first they seiz'd upon the City of London then York and Lincoln and then Winchester All which adjoyning Provinces they wasted killing the Inhabitants They Levell'd with the ground all Churches and Buildings belonging to Ecclesiastical Persons kill'd the Priests near the Altars burn'd all Books of Holy Scripture and heap'd Earth on the Sepulchres of Martyrs Religious men to escape their fury were sain to fly into Desarts Woods and Rocks carrying with them the Relicks of Saints And as for Vortigern seeing this horrible destruction he retir'd into the North part of Wales and there inclos'd himself in a Town call'd Genorium Now the three Provinces with which Vortigern redeem'd his Life are with more probability express'd by Malmsburiensis in this manner Of old saith he the Eastern and Southern Saxons with the
Eastern Angli were Subjects to the King of Kent for those Provinces Hengist the first King of Kent obtain'd of Vortigern not by open War but Treachery And in truth those People before-mention'd did at last obtain for their Habitation five Counties Essex Sussex Surrey Norfolk and Suffolk the Inhabitants whereof in the Romans time were the Trinobantes Regni Ireni The same year wherein Britain became thus dismembred God recompensed that loss to the British Church by the Birth of St. David one of the greatest Lights that ever the Church enjoy'd as well for his Sanctity of Life as Vigour of Authority and Zeal in suppressing Heresie with the Exaltation of Ecclesiastical Discipline His Birth was attended with several Wonders denoting his Eminency For St. Patrick before his going into Ireland being in the Valley of Rosma in the Province of Dimetae Northwest-Wales meditating on his Mission into that Island had a Revelation by an Angel That after 30 years a Child should be born in that Province which should give a great Lustre to that Country To this Prophecy regard was had in this Collect repeated Anniversarily in the Antient Church of Sarum on St. David's Feast O God Who by an Angel didst foretell the Nativity of thy Blessed Confessor St. David 30 years before he was born Grant unto us we beseech thee that Celebrating his memory we may by his intercession attain to joyes everlasting Thirty years being finish'd after the said prediction the King of the Region call'd Ceretica travelling to Dunetia met by the way a Religious Virgin Nam'd Nonnita of great Beauty which he Lusting after by Violence Deflour'd she hereby Conceiv'd a Son but neither before nor after had ever knowledge of any man but persevering in Chastity both of Mind and Body and sustaining her self only with Bread and Water from the time of her Conception led a most Holy Life The King thus Father of St. David is call'd Xanthus and his Mother by some Nam'd Melaria The eminent Sanctity of this Child the Fruit of his Holy Mothers Fasting Chastity and Prayer was by another Divine Oracle fore-told a little before his Birth For when Gildas Albanius was from the Pulpit teaching a great Congregation on the suddain he became dumb and un-able to speak but afterwards broke forth into these words A Holy Woman call'd Nonnita now present in this Church is great with Child and shall shortly be brought to Bed of a Son full replenish'd with Grace It was in regard to him that I was hindred from speaking by a Divine Power restraining my Tongue This Child shall be of so Eminent Sanctity that none in these our parts are comparable to him I will surrender this Region to him who will from his Infancy by degrees increase in Grace and Sanctity An Angel Gods Messenger hath reveal'd this unto me This Holy Child not long after born was Baptiz'd by Albeus Bishop of Munster who at that time by Divine Providence arriv'd there at a place call'd Portcleu During his Childhood he was Educated at a place nam'd the Old Bush by the Cambrians Henmenen and by the Latines Menevia he grew every day replenish'd with Grace and being of a perspicacious wit proceeded in the Study of Learning far beyond all other Children of his Age This Child after became the first Bishop of Menevia to which place he translated the Bishoprick of caerleon and which from him was call'd St. Davids for his Learning Sanctity and Miracles worthily Celebrated by the British Church Whilst Vortigern lurk'd Ingloriously in the Mountains of Wales busie in building a Castle for his Security the middle Provinces of Britain lest un-guarded were expos'd to the fury of the Saxons This Castle had the Name of Genorium afterward of Caer Vortigern It is plac'd saith Cambden in a vast Solitude fearful for the Horrour of Mountains and narrow turnings of the passage to it To this place Vortigern the Plague of his Country withdrew himself to seek refuge for his own person and there spent his time in consulting South-sayers especially his Magician Merlin Hereupon the Britains thus deserted by their King were compell'd to seek one abroad and therefore send Messengers into the lesser Britain beyond Sea to Aurelius Ambrosius and his Brother Vterpendragon who for fear of Vortigern were retir'd thither Them they beseech to return into their own Country that having expell'd the Saxons and their hated King Vortigern they might receive the Crown of Britain These Brothers now of ripe Age prosecute their Journey accordingly attended with Ships and Arm'd Souldiers All Authors speak of Ambrosius as a Modest Prince who alone of the Roman race had remain'd alive after so great a Tempest of Wars and Changes in which his Parents who had worn the Royal Purple were slain It may be presum'd that he was the Son of Constantine who about 50 years before pretended to the Roman Empire and in that attempt was slain in Gaul for that Constantine had other Children besides Constans who is said to be his Eldest Son when Vortigern was chosen this Ambrosius was a Competitor with him for the Crown and failing therein was compell'd to quit his Right and Country and to retire himself into little Britain from whence notwithstanding in the Generous Vortimer's time he return'd and Fought for him Valiantly against the Saxons as is before-mention'd but after his Death it seems retir'd to his former refuge The return of these Princes wrought a greater dread in Vortigern then the Saxons I shall omit the Fable of the two Dragons coming out of the Lake and how the Red Dragon was destroy'd by the White and proceed to the Gests of our Aurelius quickly set upon by the Saxons after his Landing For King Hengist and his Son Esca in the 17th year after the first coming of the Saxons and in the year of Grace 465. gather'd an Invincible Army On the other side the Britains uniting all their Forces oppos'd them with an Army gallantly rang'd into twelve Bodies The Battle was fought near the famous Port of Rochborow the Fight continu'd long and with little advantage untill at last Hengist having slain the twelve Leaders forc'd the Britains to fly but himself lost great numbers of his Soldiers and Principal Officers amongst the rest a great Prince of his Nation call'd Whipped in memory of whom the place of the Battle took the Name of Whippedstede So that the Saxons themselves bewail'd this Victory neither did they after that time take the confidence to enter into the Britains Border nor the Britains to Invade Kent The year following produc'd no Wars from the Saxons so as Aurelius Ambrosius had leasure to convert his Arms against the Author of all those present miseries the unhappy King Vortigern He marches therefore to the Castle Genorium and Besieges it but found the King so strongly Fortified there that by no force or cunning he could expugn it At last by Fire whether coming from Heaven or cast in by Ambrosius is uncertain
having been spent by this Holy Virgin in this Solitary place and the fame of her Sanctity every where divulg'd many Oratories also built by her her Nephew St. Cadoc performing a Pilgrimage to the Mount of St. Michael met there with his Blessed Aunt St. Keyna to his great joy and would have had her back to her own Country but the Inhabitants of that Region would not permit it Howbeit afterwards by the Admonition of an Angel the Holy Maid return'd to the place of her Nativity where on the Top of a Hillock seated at the foot of a high Mountain she made a little Habitation for her self and by her Prayers to God obtain'd a Spring there out of the Earth which by the Merits of the Holy Virgin afforded help in divers Infirmities One night when the time of her Consummation approach'd by the Revelation of the Holy Ghost she saw in a Vision as it were a Fiery Pillar the Base whereof was fix'd in her Bed which was no other then a Pavement strew'd over with a few Branches of Trees In this Vision two Angels appear'd to her one of which approaching respectfully to her seem'd to take off the Sack-cloath wherewith she was cover'd and instead thereof to put on her a Smock of Fine-linnen over that a Tunick of Purple and last of all a Mantle all woven with Gold and then bid her prepare her self to come with them that they might lead her into her Heavenly Fathers Kingdom Hereupon she wept with excessive joy and endeavouring to follow the Angels awak'd and found her Body inflam'd with a Feaver by which she perceiv'd her end was near Sending therefore for her Nephew St. Cadoc she said thus to him This is the place above all others belov'd by me here my memory shall be perpetuated This place I will often visit in Spirit if it may be and I am sure it shall be permitted for our Lord hath granted me this place as an Inheritance The time will come when this place shall be inhabited by a sinful People which notwithstanding I will violently root out of this seat My Tomb shall lye a long time unknown 'till the coming of other People whom by my Prayers I shall bring hither them will I protect and defend and the Name of our Lord shall in this place be Blessed for ever After this her Soul being ready to depart out of her Body she saw standing before her a Troop of Heavenly Angels ready with joy to receive her Soul and to transport it safe from her Spiritual Enemies She had no sooner related this Comfortable Vision to the standers by but her Blessed Soul was freed from the Prison of her Body In this her Dissolution her face smil'd and was all of a Rosy colour and from her Sacred Virgin Body so sweet a Fragrancy proceeded that those who were present thought themselves in the joys of Paradice St. Cadocus Buried her in her own Country where for many years she had led a most Holy Mortified Life very acceptable to God. To the Gests of this Holy Virgin St. Keyna we may here adjoyn what is reported of her Sister Almedha and her Brother St. Cadocus Many Churches are dispers'd through several Provinces of Cambria Illustrated by the Names of the Children of Braganus of these one is seated in the top of a certain Hill in the Region of Brecknock not far distant from the principal Castle of Aberhoden which is call'd the Church of St. Almedha who rejecting the Marriage of an Earthly Prince and Espousing her self to the Eternal King Consummated her Life by a Triumphant Martyrdom The place of her Solemnity is yearly Celebrated the first of August whereto great numbers of Devout People from far distant parts us'd to Assemble and by the Merits of that Holy Virgin receive their desir'd Health from divers Infirmities One special thing hap'ning usually in the Solemnity of this Blessed Virgin seems very remarkable For you may there often-times see Young-men and Maids sometimes in the Church sometimes in the Church-yard and sometimes while they are Dancing in an even ground encompassing it to fall down on a suddain to the ground at first they lye quiet as if they were wrap'd in an Extasie but presently they will leap up as if possess'd with a Frenzy and with both their Hands and Feet before the People they will represent whatsoever Servile work they unlawfully perform'd upon Feast days of the Church one will walk as if holding the Plow another as if driving Oxen with a Goad and both of them in the mean time Singing some rude Tune as if to ease their Toyl one will act the Trade of a Shooe-maker another of a Tanner a third of one which were Spinning Here you may see a Maid busily Weaving and expressing all the Postures usual in that work After all which being brought with Offerings to the Altar you would be astonish'd to see how suddenly they will return to their Senses again Hereby through Gods Mercy who rejoyceth rather in the Conversion then Destruction of sinners it is certain that very many have been corrected and induc'd to observe the Holy Feasts with great Devotion Touching their Brother Cadoc the Fame of his Sanctity was most eminent among the Silures his Name is consign'd in our English Martyrology on the 11th of February and that he flourish'd in all Virtues in the year of Christ 492. To him in all probability is to be refer'd that which is reported of the Wreath Torquis of St. Canauc The Inhabitants of that Country esteem this Wreath to be a precious Relick and of wonderful Virtue insomuch As when any one is to give a Testimony by Oath if that Wreath be placed in sight he dares not presume to commit Perjury In the same year mention is made of the Martyrdom of a King of Brecknock call'd Clitanc or Clintanc a Prince very observant of Peace and Justice among his Subjects who became a Martyr adorn'd with a Caelestial Crown for his Virtues and Merits especially his Chastity and Purity from Carnal Delectations In the year 491. is most aptly placed the beginning of the Kingdom of the South-Saxons which as it began more early than most of the rest so did it soonest fail and was the last that embrac'd the Christian Faith Ella had a long time held the Kingdom of Sussex in great Power He receiv'd great Recruits out of Germany so that being consident of his Forces in the third year after the death of Hengist he laid Siege to the City of Andredecester the Britains gather'd infinite numbers to raise this Siege and both day and night vex'd the Besiegers with Ambushes and Incursions but they nothing discourag'd gave continual Assaults on the City and in every Assault the Britains set on their backs throwing Arrows and Darts upon them so as they were forc'd to give over the Assault and turn their Forces against the Britains who being more nimble quickly run into the Woods and when the Saxons return
Abbot of Glastonbury attended by St. Gildas and all the Clergy came between the two Armies and by perswasion induc'd Melvas to restore the Queen to her Husband which being perform'd Peace ensu'd and both the Kings bestow'd great Possessions and Immunities on the Monastery After which St. Gildas with the Abbots permission retir'd again to an Hermetical Solitude on the bank of the River Axus near Glastonbury where he built a Church Consecrating it to the Blessed Trinity and there spent his time in Prayer Fasting and other Austerities His Sanctity was so exemplary that many came from the farthest part of Britain to visit him and take Spiritual Councel from him He then fell into a Sickness and knowing that his Death approach'd he call'd to him the Abbot of Glastonbury and requested of him That his Body might be buried in the Church of that Monastery which was readily granted So the Holy man dying the 4th day before the Calends of February many saw an Angelical Splendour about his Sacred Body which yielded a most Pleasant Odour And after a solemn Recommendation of his Soul with many Tears of the Religious his Sacred Body was carry'd with great Honour to the Church and there bury'd in the midst of the Pavement of the Antient Church in the year of Grace 512. What hath been here related agrees with the Antient Monuments of Glastonbury where this Holy man is stil'd Historicus neque Insulsus neque Infacetus and most particulars of his Life are with a large Character of him confirm'd in the Gallican Martyrology where is also added That he being during his Childhood sent into France was recommended to the Instructions of Iltutus a Disciple of St. German and that his Voyage into Ireland was to root out many Heresies sprung up amongst the late Converted Christians and to reform many Vices and unlawful Customs and that the Heresie most oppos'd by him in the Northern parts of Britain was Pelagianism What is there said of his going over to Little Britain in his old Age and his being buried in the Church of Vannes contradicts our British Authors but it is probable that when the Saxons infested our Western Provinces his Sacred Relicks might be translated and repos'd in the great Church of Vannes where he is to this day Venerated as Patron of that City Many mistakes have fallen out by consounding this St. Gildas with two others one Confessor and Abbot of Bangor and another the Historian Sirnam'd Badonicus Howbeit the precise Territory where this Gildas Albanius was born may be collected out of Antient Manuscripts quoted by Bishop Vsher which relate That the Blessed St. Gildas was born in the most fruitful Region call'd Arecluta His Fathers name was Caun a most Noble and Catholick person This Region Arecluta a part of Britain took its Name from the River Clut by which the greatest part thereof is Water'd and is now call'd Argyle Argathelia And Clut before that Glotea and Cluida was Northward the bounds of the British Provinces under the Roman jurisdiction beyond which liv'd the Caledonians c. In the sixth year after the Battle where Vther was slain new Supplies came out of Germany to the Saxons For Stuff and Whitgar Nephews of Cerdic landed with three Ships at Certic-shore The Britains early in the morning in very good order rang'd their Armies against them The Sun then arising cast its beams upon the British Armour and reflecting thence partly from the Mountains and partly from the Valleys below struck a great Terrour into the Saxons But when they came to Fight the Britains were quickly defeated because God despis'd them By this Victory the Saxons gain'd a great extent of Land and Cerdic became so Terrible that he march'd whither he pleas'd without controll The year following Ella King of the South-Saxons dying his Son Cissa succeeded whilst Ella liv'd though his Territories were narrow yet was he for his Courage esteem'd the most potent of all the Saxon Princes insomuch as the Princes Nobles and Military Officers of the Angli had a great dependance on him But this lasted not long for it was shortly after transferr'd on Cerdic the West-Saxon whose Kingdom though not yet begun yet had its foundation from this Victory Cissa being of a milder Spirit contented himself with his own little Kingdom without extending his Power further He imploy'd his time in exercises of Peace especially Building and Fortifying of Cities In two of which he left the memory of his own Name Chichester and Cisbury as our Cambden relates adding That this Cissa with his Father Ella and Brother Cimen landed in a Port of that Province call'd therefore Cimenshore The year wherein Cerdic obtain'd the last mention'd Victory is famous for the Birth of the renown'd British Bishop St. Kontigern the strangeness of which since it is Celebrated by many Antient Writers is not here to be omitted His Mother is said to be Thenis the Daughter of Loth King of Pictland and Anna the Daughter of Vterpendragon and consequently he was the Nephew of King Arthur Who was the Father of St. Kentigern is not certainly known some suppose him to be Eugenius the Third King of the Scots John of Tinmouth an Antient Historian thus relates his Original A certain King in the Northern parts of Britain who was a Pagan begot of his Wife a very Beautiful Daughter she having been a frequent hearer of Sermons preach'd by the Servants of God obtain'd the Grace to believe his Truth and renounce the Worshiping of Idols and though she had not yet been Purified with the Sacrament of Baptism yet she was diligent in observing Gods Commandments with an Humble and Devout mind being much given to Prayer and Alms-giving and other Duties of Ecclesiastical Discipline as much as the fear of offending her Father would permit She bore so great a Devotion to the fruitful Virginity and Integrity of the Blessed Virgin Mary that mov'd with a Womanish presumption she beg'd of our Lord that she might in some measure imitate her in her Conception and Birth At length as she thought she obtain'd her desire for she found her self with Child Now it is not to be conceiv'd that this happ'ned without the Embraces of a man notwithstanding who this man was or in what manner and when this was done she oft Protested and with Oaths confirm'd it that she was utterly ignorant Her Father perceiving this and not being able either by fair Speeches or Threatnings to wrest from her who was the Father of the Child for she seriously Protested that she had never suffer'd the unlawful Embraces of any man Hereupon in a great rage determin'd to execute upon her the Law of the Country which was That whatsoever young Maid should be found with Child by Fornication in her Fathers House should be thrown Head-long from the top of a high Mountain and the person who corrupted her should loose his Head In conformity to this Law the young Woman was placed on the highest
Monk held a Councel in a place from thence call'd Augustine's Oak and as Antiently Theophilus Assembled a Synod in the Cause of Athanasius in a place call'd Ad Quercum at the Oak Now whereas in this Synod were Assembled many great Saints and Holy Bishops the Lights of the British Churches as St. Dubritius St. Daniel St. David St. Telian and St. Paulin of whom some mention hath been made already it will not be amiss here to subjoyn a summary of their respective Gests least if they should be set down particularly there would be such intermixture as might perhaps confound the Readers memory especially considering the wonderful length of time which most of them liv'd Concerning St. Daniel enough hath been said We shall here begin with St. Dubritius who was born in the Province of the Demetae or West-wales Sir-nam'd he was Guainius from the River Guain near which he was born his Fathers Name is not mention'd but his Mother was call'd Euedyla a Woman of wonderful Virtue and Piety during his Childhood he was committed to the care of Teachers to be instructed in Learning suitable to that Age In his riper years he made such Progress in Science that very many not only among the Ignorant but the more skilful also repair'd to him for Instructions Amongst which were St. Thelian St Sampson St. Aidan and others He made choice of a place near the River Vaga proper to receive the great number of Scholars which came to him and there directed their Studies In the same place having built a Church by the direction of an Angel he there taught the People and by imposing his Hands Cur'd frequently the Sick of divers Infirmities so that they which came to him Feeble and full of Anguish return'd Joyful and in Perfect Health He was taken from his Imployment of Teaching by St. German in his second Voyage to Britain and with the consent of King Mauricus and all the Clergy Consecrated Bishop of Llandaff as hath been said in the year of Grace 436. by which account since he out-liv'd the said Synod of Brevi it is plain the length of his Life was wonderful for at that time he had been a Bishop more then 80 years In the year 492. Aurelius Ambrosius coming to the Mountains of Ambri near to Caer Carec now Salisbury where the British Princes Trayterously Murder'd by Hengist lay appointed Pastors to two Metropolitan Churches granting York to the Illustrious St. Sampson and Caerleon to Dubritius the latter vacant by the Death of Threminius Geoffry of Monmouth adds That he was Primate of Britain and Legate of the Apostolick See Which Dignity it seems was annexed to that Church by St. German from the Authority which in his Mission hither he receiv'd from Rome In the year 516 He Solemnly Crown'd King Arthur after which being very Aged as hath been said he relinquish'd his See and retir'd into the Isle of Berdsey to prepare for his Death from which repose notwithstanding his Zeal to the Catholick Faith drew him to the Synod of Brevy St. David being his Successor as aforesaid Three years after full of Sanctity and Age he gave up his Soul into the Hands of his Creatour in the said Isle of Berdsey where among a multitude of Saints he chose his place of Burial and there his Sacred Body repos'd until the year of Grace 1120. at which time it was translated from thence with great Honour by Vrbanus Bishop of Landaff and bury'd in the Cathedral Church on the North-side of the Altar of our Blessed Lady At which time the whole Country of Glamorgan was afflicted with a great Drougth no Rain having there fallen for many Weeks but when these Holy Relicks were translated great store of Rain sell to the comfort of the Inhabitants One of the most Illustrious Disciples of St. Dubritius was St. Thelian descended of a Noble British Family what-ever the Centuriatours of Magdeburg have malignantly wrote of him From his Infancy he was addicted to Devotion Prayer and contempt of Secular Pleasures and being come to his riper Age he was for his Wisdom and Piety Sir-nam'd Helias because with his Doctrine he Enlightn'd the Hearts of the Faithful as the Sun doth the World. He was instructed in the Holy Scriptures by St. Dubritius 'till he was enabled to clear the most difficult places therein Then having heard the fame of a certain wise man call'd Paulinus he went to him to confer with him of the most abstruse Misteries of Gods Word by this means he contracted Friendship with St. David a man of great Perfection in Sanctity insomuch as their Hearts were so firmly knit together by Charity and the Grace of Gods Holy Spirit that in all things they had but one Will When St. Dubritius was translated from Landaff to the Metropolitan Church of Caerleon St. Thalian succeeded him in Landaff wherein he sate many years For it is said he dy'd not until the coming of St. Augustine into Britain by whom his Successor St. Oudoceus was Consecrated When a certain Infection call'd the Yellow Plague infested Britain raging against Men and Beasts by Divine Admonition he departed into a far Country accompany'd with many Disciples where he abode 'till by the same Authority he was re-call'd Neither did he cease day or night by daily Prayer and Fasting to Pacifie Gods Wrath and then gathering together all his Devout Companions return'd and all his Life after exercis'd Supreme Jurisdiction over all the Churches in the Western Britain He dy'd at last being replenish'd with all Virtues in a good Old Age. Many Miracles are recorded to be done by him both before and after his Death One of them only which Bishop Godwin thought not fit to pass over is this After he was dead the Inhabitants of three several places contended earnestly which of them should enjoy his Body Those of Penualum where his Ancestors had been Buried those of Lantelio vaur where he dy'd and those of Landaff among whom he had been Bishop When therefore no agreement could be made amongst them there appear'd presently three Bodies so like to one another that three Eggs resemble not more perfectly Whereupon each of those People took one of them and so ended the Controversy But by frequent Miracles at his Tomb in Landaff it appear'd that the Inhabitants thereof possess'd the true Body Now whereas mention is made of Paulinus said to be Instructer to Thelian and who sent for St. David to the Synod of Brevi His true Name seems to be Paulens of whom we find it thus written That St. David as soon as he was promoted to Priesthood went to Paulens a Disciple of St. German and that in a certain Island he led a Holy Life acceptable to God and that St. David liv'd with him many years and follow'd his Instructions Paulens at last by extream pains in his Eyes lost the use of them Whereupon calling his Disciples together he desir'd that one after another they would look upon
the second Order receiv'd the right Order of Celebrating Mass out of Britain from Holy men there living as St. David St. Gildas and St. Doc Moreover St. David sent over some of his Disciples into Ireland who grew famous for their Learning and Sanctity of whom the most Illustrious was St. Aedan call'd by the Irish St. Madoc After he grew renown'd for his Piety and Miracles he built at length a Monastery near the City of Fernes where having collected a great number of Devout Brethren he Consecrated himself to the Service of God living according to the form and rule which he had receiv'd from his Pious Father St. David the same which was observ'd by the Monks in Aegypt This St. Aedan was afterwards Bishop of Fernes and Metropolitan of Leinster while St. David liv'd whom he us'd to consult in Affairs of difficulty After many years spent by the Holy Bishop David in the exercise of all Christian Virtues it pleas'd Almighty God in love to him and just anger to the Ungrateful Britains to translate this burning and shining Light from Earth to Heaven there to shine in Glory to all Eternity According to the best account He dy'd in the year of Grace 544. having liv'd 82 years though some writers affirm him to have liv'd much longer It is said That when the hour of his Dissolution approach'd the Angel of the Lord appear'd to him saying The day so much desir'd by thee is now at hand prepare thy self for on the Calends of March our Lord Jesus Christ attended with a multitude of Angels will come to meet thee Whereupon the Holy man of God said O Lord dismiss now thy Servant in Peace The Brethren who assisted him having heard the sound of these words but not well understanding the sense fell Prostrate to the ground in great fear Then the Holy Bishop cry'd with a loud voice Lord Jesus Christ receive my Spirit Vpon this the Brethren pour'd forth loud Complaints but he asswag'd their sorrow with mild and comfortable words exhorting them to be constant in their good profession and unanimously to bear to the end that yoak which they had undergone and to observe and fulfill whatever they had seen or heard from him and from that hour to the day of his death he remain'd in the Church exhorting and encouraging them But when the hour of his departure was come our Lord Jesus Christ vouchsafed his presence as he had promis'd by his Angel to the infinite Consolation of the Holy Father who at the Heavenly sight exalted in Spirit cry'd out O my Lord take me after thee With which words in our Lords company he gave up his Spirit to God upon the Calends fore-mention'd and being associated to a troop of Angels mounted up to Heaven with them The Death of this Holy Bishop is said to have been divulg'd by an Angel and in an Instant spread through all Britain and Ireland That this was so seems to be confirm'd by a passage in the Life of St. Kentigern of whom it is said That having one day continu'd his Prayers with more then ordinary Devotion his face seem'd as on fire the sight whereof fill'd the by-standers with great amazement when Prayers were ended the Saint began to lament bitterly and when his Disciples demanded a reason of his sorrow he sate a while silent and at last said My dear Children know for certain that the Holy Bishop David the Glory of Britain the Father of his Country is this day dead he has escap'd out of the Prison of his Body and is flown to Heaven Believe me I my self have seen a multitude of Angels conducting him into the Joy of our Lord and our Lord himself at the Entrance of Paradice hath Crown'd him with Glory and Honour Know also that Britain which is depriv'd of so great a Light will a long time mourn for the Absence of such a Patron who oppos'd himself to the Sword of our Lord when it was half drawn out for the destruction of that Nation in revenge of their Sins and Impenitence Now will God deliver up Britain to a strange Nation which know him not and Pagans shall enjoy the land of its Inhabitants Christian Religion shall be utterly dissipated in it 'till the time prefix'd by God be ended But after that it shall through the Mercies of our Lord be restor'd to its former state yea to a far better and more Happy St. David was Buried in his own Church of Menevia which he had lov'd above all Monasteries of his Diocess because St. Patrick who had Prophesied of his Nativity had been Founder of it And also indeed he was bury'd there by the command of Malgo King of the Venedatae But after 500 years he was Solemnly Canoniz'd by Pope Calixtus the second This Church at first was Dedicated to St. Andrew but after took St. David for its Patron and the whole Diocess was thence call'd St. David's The memory of his Sanctity was so precious that within a few years after his Death the visiting of his Church prov'd a great Devotion of those times St. Oudoceus Successor of St. Thelian in the Bishoprick of Landaff after a Pilgrimage to visit the Monuments of the Holy Apostles at Rome made another to this Church of St. David and after when any one had a desire to go in Devotion to Rome and was hindred by dangers or difficulties he might equal the merit of such a Pilgrimage by twice visiting this Church of St. David perhaps as a compensation allow'd by the Pope St. Kinoc or Cenac was St. David's Successor translated thither from the See of St. Patern of whom and other Successors in the See of St. David little is found To keep the story of this worthy Bishop entire some interruption may be observ'd to have been made in the order of Time. It is therefore requisite to return to its due course In the year of Grace 532. Otta King of Kent dy'd leaving his Son Irmeric Successor in his Kingdom who was Illustrious for nothing more than that he was the Father of Ethelbert the first Christian King among the Saxons Two years after dy'd also Cerdic King of the West-Saxons in the 16th year of his Reign to whom succeeded his Son Kenric in all his Dominions except the Isle of Wight which he left to his Sisters Son Whitgar whom he lov'd especially for his Military Skill The great Commotions in Britain and Cruelty of the Saxons compell'd many to seek the means of serving God abroad amongst whom was a Holy Priest call'd John who retir'd to Tours in France there to live in Prayers and Solitude but after his Death his Sanctity by the good pleasure of God was made known by a Miracle thus related by that famous Bishop St. Gregory of Tours Not far from the Church of Caion saith he rests the Body of a Priest Nam'd John by Nation a Britain who living here with great Devotion and Sanctity Our Lord was pleas'd by him Miraculously to
restore many to Health The better to attend his Divine love he avoided the sight of men confining himself to a little Cell or Oratory over against the Church of Caion where in a little Orchard cultivated by himself he had planted a few Lawrel Trees which now are so increas'd that the Boughs of them being drawn together Arch-wise do afford a very pleasing shade under those Lawrels his custom was to sit Reading or Writing After his Death among the said Trees there was one which through Age was quite Wither'd He who had the care of these Trees digg'd up the root of the dry Tree and of the Body of it hew'd out a Bench upon which he us'd to sit After he had made such use of this seat above two years thought of remorse came into his Heart I believe saith the Holy Bishop by Divine Inspiration which forc'd the man to say Alas Sinner that I am why do I for my Convenience make use of a seat fram'd of the Tree which so Holy a Priest Planted with his own Hand Whereupon he presently digs a hole and puts the seat into it having cut off the Feet which supported it and then cover'd it with Earth The very next Spring this dry Bench sprouted forth into Green Branches and prosper'd so well that at this day there are proceeded from it several young Trees of great heighth and which every year by our Lords Blessing sprout forth more and more About this time dy'd St. Morchus or St. Mocchaeus a British Priest In the beginning of the Saxon Troubles he forsook his Country and pass'd over to Lugh or Louth in Ireland a pleasant place St. Patrick had formerly had a resolution to build a Church there but was commanded by an Angel to consign that place to this Morchus shortly to come thither and end his days there in great Sanctity as he did accordingly He was often times visited by St. Patrick whose Disciple he became and took the care of 12 Leapers recommended to him by St. Patrick He Prophesied of the Holy man Columba and was after Consecrated Bishop of Louth by St. Patrick As for the relation of his living 300 years as a punishment inflicted on him by St. Patrick it is justly rejected so also of his succeeding St. Patrick in the See of Armagh for good Records put it out of doubt that St. Benignus was by him design'd for that succession In the year 539. St. Kentigern being no more then 25 years of Age was Consecrated Bishop of Glascow As for his wonderful Birth it hath already been related and how his Mother was preserv'd by Servanus He so much prosited under the instruction of Servanus that he became his dearly beloved Disciple afterwards he went to Glasco where he liv'd alone in great Abstinence until the King and Clergy of the Region now call'd Gallway with other Christians there which were but few chose him for their Pastor and Bishop notwithstanding the utmost resistance he could make They sent for one single Bishop out of Ireland whom they caus'd to Consecrate St. Kentigern after the then usual custom among the Britains and Scots for at that time a practice had got footing to use no other Ceremony in the Consecration of a Bishop but only the infusion of Sacred Chrism on their Heads with Invocation of the Holy Spirit Benediction and Imposition of Hands For these Islanders remov'd as it were out of the World by the continual Invasion of Pagans were become ignorant in the Ecclesiastical Canons For which cause the Law of the Church condescended to them and admitted an excuse in this regard so as Ecclesiastical Censure did not touch them notwithstanding as is hereafter mention'd St. Kentigern made ample satisfaction for this defect His Diocess extended it self according to the limits of the Kingdom of Cumbria from the famous Wall formerly built to secure the Britains reaching from Sea to Sea as far as the River Ford or Scotish-Sea The defects in this Consecration were First His Age for at a Councel held then not long before a Decree was made That no Metropolitan should presume to Ordain any one Bishop before he arriv'd to 30 years the Age of a perfect man least he should through Youth incurr some Errour Secondly The first Nicene Councel order'd That if any one were made a Bishop without the Judgement and Consent of the Metropolitan he was forbidden to exercise his Episcopal Function And in this Ordination of St. Kentigern there was no consent of the Metropolitan nor so much as concurrence of any Neighbouring Bishop Thirdly The first Canon of the Apostles confirm'd by many Councels enjoyns That every Bishop should be Ordain'd by at least two or three Bishops Whereas St. Kentigern was Consecrated by one single Bishop who was a Stranger of a Forreign Nation Fourthly In the Consecration of Bishops the Antient Fathers for the Dignity of that Degree ordain'd many Rites to be observ'd beside such as belong to the Essence of that Sacrament As Anointing the Head with Chrism with Invocation of the Holy Spirit Signing the Person with the Sign of the Cross Impositionof Hands Together with several other Rites adjoyned for the Adorning the House of God the defect whereof did not vitiate the Sacrament but the Person only Now in all these Points some Defects there were in the Ordination of St. Kentigern which when he afterwards call'd to mind caus'd great unquietness and remorse in him a Custom introduc'd among Britains to ordain thus imperfectly crept in since the Disturbances made by the Saxons so as the Ecclesiastical Canons were either forgotten or render'd unpracticable for that there were no Metropolitans or at such distance that they could not be had most places wanting not only Bishops but Inhabitants and it is probable in the present case the very Chrisme was furnish'd out of Ireland It therefore is manifest that these Disorders were excuseable because unavoidable But in Peaceable times the practice was otherwise and the Canons were duly observ'd and the British Faith unblemish'd And by this we may see that the Britains in their Ordinations before St. Gregory's time conform'd themselves to the Roman Church and not to the Eastern as some would collect for in truth no Eastern Church can be found which neglected any of these Ceremonies However to be sure the Britains in their Discipline establish'd by Councels demanded a Confirmation from the See Apostolick And this appears by the Demeanor of St. Kentigern himself for being after afflicted in mind for those Defects in his Ordination he sought not Council from any Metropolitan but from the Supreme Bishop in Rome to whom the custody of Ecclesiastical Canons was committed and who had Authority to enjoyn the observation of them and punish and regulate the neglect Therefore St. Kentigern as we find recorded went several times to Rome where he candidly laid open his Life his Election Consecration and all the circumstances of it to St. Gregory the special Apostle of the
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
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
inbred custom among them to sell their Children which unhappy custom continu'd many Ages in our Nation Insomuch as in the days of our King Henry the Second by the Testimony of Giraldus Cambrensis A Synod at Armagh in Ireland was fain to make a Decree for redeeming of such English Youths as had been sold for slaves in that Island And before that time among the Laws of Inas King of the West-Saxons there is more then one Decree which under great Penalties forbid this unnatural Traffique Lastly St. Gregory himself in his Epistle to Candidus his Procurator in France gives him order To redeem such English Children as he met with sold for Slaves in that Kingdom and to send them to Rome to be there instructed in the Christian Faith In truth almost all Antient Writers agree in the story though some differ about the time some ascribing it to the time of Pope Benedict but most and that most truly to the latter end of Pope Pelagius St. Gregory's immediate Predecessor St. Beda thus delivers the true Circumstances of this Story and tells us That by Tradition from their Ancestors it was brought to them that St. Gregory took so much care for the Salvation of our Nation that on a day when great variety of Merchandize was brought into the Market at Rome by Foreign Merchants St. Gregory especially took notice of three young Children of a pure Complexion Beautiful looks and Hairs Gracefully order'd and enquir'd out of what Country they came and being told they came from the Island of Britain where the Inhabitants generally are so Comely ask'd whether they were Christians or Pagans and being told they were Pagans Sigh'd saying Alas what pitty is it that the Prince of Darkness should possess men of such bright Countenances and that persons so amiable in their Looks should have Souls devoid of inward Grace Then he ask'd what was the Name of their particular Nation to whom was answered That they were call'd Angli Well may they be so call'd said he for they have Angelick Countenances suitable to such who shall be Co-heirs with Angels He further ask'd how the Province is call'd from whence they came the Answer was that they were Inhabitants of the Province call'd Deiri said he importing they should be deliver'd from the Ire of God de ira dei eruti and call'd to partake of his Mercy His last question was How the King of that Nation was call'd and being told Alle in allusion to that name he presently reply'd Allelujah must be Sung in those parts to the Praise of God who created all things After which Discourse he went to Pelagius then Bishop of the Roman and Apostolick See himself not being then Pope and humbly intreated him to send into Britain some Ministers of Gods word to Convert that Nation to Christ adding That he himself was ready to be employ'd with Gods assistance in such a work if his Holiness thought fit But his offer could not be taken for the Romans would not permit his Absence so far from the City Notwithstanding a while after when hewas exalted to the Popedom he brought to perfection what was so long and so earnestly desir'd by him sending indeed other persons to Preach the Gospel there but making their Preaching much more effectual by his Councels Exhortations and Prayers By which relation it is confirm'd that this did not happen in the time of Benedict for a good while pass'd after Pope Benedict's death before St. Gregory was Prefect of the City after which it was that he undertook a Monastical Profession in a Monastery built by himself Ad clivum scauri from whence he was call'd to be Arch-Deacon of the Roman Church then sent Nuncio to Constantinople At his return from thence he afforded our English Youths so much Grace and Favour But though Alla King of the Deiri by the Selling of the said Children gave occasion of bringing of Christianity to the Angli yet was not he so happy to hear any thing of it himself for the Divine Election regarded his Son Edwin who succeeded him not immediately but after the death of Edelric whose Reign was short and inconsiderable save only that in his first year St. Columban after he had spent many years in the Monastry of Banchor in Ireland came over into Britain with twelve Companions and from thence went into France He was not above 20 years of Age when he undertook this Journey and yet was so Courteously receiv'd in France by Childebert that he gave him choice of any place for his abode Whereupon He and his Companions entring into a Desart place found a ruinous piece of ground encompass'd with old Walls but water'd with warm Springs and of old call'd Luxovium and there fix'd their abode While St. Columban liv'd thereabout he was Instructor to the Holy Virgin Phara said to be a British Nun and Neece to the Saint himself but of this Nun more perhaps hereafter In the year 590. a War broke out between the Picts and Scots Aidan or Edan Crown'd King by St. Columba at Hy then enjoy'd the Principality over the Scots the cause of this War was the same which rais'd so much Contention between the Britains and Saxons for the Scots out of Ireland were invited by the Picts to assist them against the Britains as the Saxons were by the Britains to assist them against the Picts and Scots and these Irish Picts imitating the Saxons soon grew Insolent and being supply'd with new Aids at last obtain'd a Kingdom and then rooted out the very Name of Picts St. Columba though far distant in his Isle of Hy or Iova had a strange prospect of a great Battle then fought between these Scots and Picts for calling his Brethren together to Prayer he Kneeling down said Let us now Pray fervently for this People and their King Aidan for at this very hour the Battle against their Enemies begins A little while after rising up and looking towards Heaven he said Now are the Barbarous Enemies put to flight and the Victory is given to Aidan though dearly purchas'd for of his Army 303. are slain Ecclesiastical Stories are not without Examples of Gods Pleasure in revealing to his Servants things thus happening in parts remote This same year dy'd Cissa King of the South-Saxons and his Kingdom devolv'd to Ceaulin King of the West-Saxons yet so as Edelwalch Son of Cissa enjoy'd the Title of King as Homager to Ceaulin and this year also was chiefly Illustrated by the advancement of St. Gregory to the Popedom who immediately after the death of Pelagius was with wonderful Applause of all Degrees and Orders in Rome placed in St. Peter's Chair to the great benefit of the whole Church and the incomparable Felicity of our For his admirable Gests among which the most Illustrious was the Conversion of our Ancestors he was deservedly call'd St. Gregory the Great and the Apostle of England The year following Britain affords a memorable Example of the