his Epistle to the Romans was made Bishop of Britaine Dorothaeus agreeth wholy with this Protestant not in his booke of the Apostles but of the 72. Disciples where he plainely saith Aristobulus ipse ab Apostolo ad Romanos commemoratus Episcopus Britanniae factus est Aristobulus named by the Apostle to the Romans was made Doroth. in Syno 72. Discip in Aristobulo Bishop of Britaine Where by the words Bishop of Britaine and not in Britaine or any particular place of Britaine it is euident that he was made the cheife commanding Bishop or Archbishop of Britaine the whole kingdome of Britaine being subiected vnto him in spirituall proceedings and it is cleare in all such Examples in Antiquitie not one instance to be giuen to the contrary as appeareth in the same auntient Father S. Dorothaeus in that place and others entreating of the same subiect And the words The Bishop of Britaine will allowe no other interpretation And if there were no other motiue to induce vs to be of this opinion but the consent of writers both Catholiks and Protestants that this holy Bishop of Britaine was one of the 72. Diciples of Christ as both the same S. Dorothaeus our contriman Florenâ—â—us Wigorniensis Doroth. supr in Titul Florent Wigorn. in Catal 72. Discipul Arnold Mirm. in Theatr. Gul. Eiseng cent 1. Magdeb cent 1. and later Authours agree it would be a warrant sufficient in this cause when we doe not finde in Antiquities but probably all the 72. that suruiued were constituted Archbishops in their diuisions in those that concerne vs most which were settled in our neighbouring Nations Fraunce and Germany I haue exemplified before Alnoldus Mirmannius in his Theater of the Conuersion of Nations and the Authorities which he followeth will make this a matter out of question for he deriueth the whole Hierarchicall order of the Church of Christ in this kingdome from this holy man in Arnold Mirm. in Theatr. conu gent. in Britann this manner Britannia Straboni a Britone Regenun cuipata primum Aristobulum vnum certe ex classe 72. Discipulorum Apostolum est nacta Deinde nacta est Britannia Fugatium Damianum qui ordinem Hierarchicum Ecclesiae istic fundatae ab illo inchoatum constituerunt sanxeruntque more nimirum Apostolico Britaine so named by Strabo from King Brito or Brutus had first for the Apostle of it Aristobulus one doubtlesse of the order of the 72. Disciples After that it had Fugatius Guliel Eisengren centenar 1. in S. Aristobulo Actor cap. 13. and Damianus who constituted and confirmed after the Apostolik manner the Hierarchicall order of the Church there founded begun by him Where he ascribeth to S. Aristobulus this our holy Archbishop of this our Britaine named of Brutus three Attributes all commonly properties allmost quarto modo belonging to S. Aristobulus Archbishop of Britayne consecrated by diuers Authours an dom 39. and before S. Paule Archbishops to be our Apostle to haue founded our Church and begun our Ecclesiasticall Hierarchicall order Which cannot belong to any other then an Archbishop especially in so greate a kingdome 3. And if we will followe Eisengrenius and his Authours he will tell vs that this holy Saint and Archbishop of Britaine was made Bishop in the 39. yeare of Christ within fiue or sixe yeares of his Ascension and before S. Paule the Apostle himself did receaue imposition of hands or S. Mansuetus Other Bishops or some other Bishop then in Britayne besides S. Aristobulus by any accompt or any other that is remembred in Antiquities to haue bene a Bishop in or of this Nation except the most glorious Apostle our first Father in Christ S. Peter was made a Bishop Therefore it doth euidently followe that next vnto S. Peter that renowned Saint and Disciple of Christ S. Aristobulus was by S. Peters meanes the first Archbishop of this kingdome Who were these Bishops in particular in or of Britayne by this accompt Which maketh it also an vndoubted truth warranted both by holy Scriptures Apostolike Tradition and all cheifest Authorities as these Protestants haue proued vnto vs that we also had some Bishops whosoeuer they were subordinate to this cheife ouerseeing commaunding and Arch-Bishop S. Mansuetus Beatus his Anonymus companion and S. Augulus probably Bishops heare in Britayne and by the same Authoritie of S. Peter for all this is necessarily induced and depending of the name nature office and dignitie of an Archbishop instituted and ordayned heare by that greatest Apostles power and Authoritie For it is an implicancy of contradiction and in naturall euidence impossible that there should be an Archbishop aboue all other Bishops where Engl. Martyrol 7. Febr. in Augulus Drek in alm an 1620. 7. Febr. Io. King serm at Pauls Crosse 26. Mart. an 1620. pag. 45. Martyrolog Rom. 7. Febr. Bed Martyrol ib. vsuard hac die Petr. de Natal in Catal. l. 3. cap. 105. Ado Vuandelbert apud Baron in annot in Martyrol 7. Febâ— Calendar Eccles Sarisb Engl. Martyrol 7. Febr. Rabanus hac die there is no Bishop for him to be the cheifest or vnder him And that such we had by S. Peters ordination it is in plaine termes acknowledged before both by Catholike and Protestant Antiquaries testifiing and prouing that this highest Apostle when he instituted this most sacred subordination did ordaine both Bishops Preists Deacons in and for this kingdome Who these our Primatiue Bishops were in particular or any of them the Iniurie of time and so many Enemies of holy Religion vnder whose heauy burthens and persecutions this kingdome hath often groaned doe make it a greater labour Yet it is euident by that I haue already proued that S. Mansuetus S. Beatus and his holy companion though to vs now Anonimus of which two I shall speake more hereafter may be recompted in this number 4. To which we may probably add S. Augulus Bishop of Augusta London in England as both Catholiks and Protestants expound it and among them one in a Sermon before King Iames speaking to the Londiners saith your citty hath bene aunciently stiled Augusta For we reade both in the auntient Roman Martyrologe that also of S. Bede Vsuardus Ado Vandelbertus Petrus de Natalibus and others that this S. Augulus was Bishop of Augusta in Britannia Augusta or London in Britaine and was a martyr Augustae in Britannia Natalis beati Auguli Episcopi qui aetatis cursum per Martyrium explens aeterna praemia susâ—ipere meruit Baronius saith he cannot tell when he suffered Quo tempore passus sit hactenus mihi obscurum But if we compare the name of London at that time it was called Augusta with other circumstances and with the Catalogue of the Bishops of London after the time of King Lucius we shall very probably finde that this worthy Saint our Bishop of London is to be reckoned one of the first Bishops that were consecrated in this kingdome long
King of the Britans there were in Britaine three Archbishops Sees To witt at London Yorke and Caer-hursc the Citie of Legions in Glamorgan shire to whom there were subiect 28. Bishops then called Flamens that is to the Metropolitan of London were subiect Cornewall and all Loegria to the Riuer Humber To him of Yorke all Northumberland from Humber with all Albania To the Citie of Legions was subiect all Cambria then adorned with seuen Bishops now with fower Suffragans Sedes Archiepiscoporum in Britannia tres fuerunt tempore Lucij Regis Britannorum primi Christiani videlicet apud London apud Eboracum apud Caer-hursc vrbem Legionum in Glamorgancia Quibus tunc subiecti fuerunt 28. Episcopi Flamines tunc vocati Videlicet Londoniensi Metropolitano Cornubia tota Loegria vsque ad flumen Humbrum Eboracensi verò tota terra Northimbrina ab arcu Humbri fluminis cum tota Albania Vrbi Legionum subiacuit tota Cambria 7. tunc Episcopis nunc verò 4. Suffraganeis insignita Quam flumen Sabrinae tunc secernebat à Loegria I haue perused an old French Manuscript Historie whose manner of writing and Characters may well giue it a greater Age then any copy of Galfridus Translation though it be continued vntill within 400. yeares perhaps by some other but whether so or otherwise this differeth in very many things euen in this Historie from that Translation of the Brittish History whether we will follow that which our Protestants haue published or that which Ponticus Virunnius did epitimate and so he cannot ground what he deliuereth vppon Galfridus First they differ in the number of the Flamens Galfride and Ponticus number 28. in Britaine besides the Archflamens this History saith there were but 27. they say that King Lucius was buried at Glocester dying by Galfridus in the yeare 156. and by Virunnius an 159. the French History deliuereth he died in the yeare 196. So long after and though he died at Glocester yet he was buried at Caerlegion Galfride calleth this Citie Kaer-ose and Virunnius Caer-usc whereas the French Authour nameth it the Citie of Legions which iâ— vppon the Ryuer of Vsks not as others terme it And he nameth Yorke Euerwicks as the Saxons did and not as Geffry Ponticus and the Britans did of Ebranke Therefore this auncient Authour whether before or after Galfridus cannot be saide to take his directions from that Translation Manusc French Hâ—st very old pr. or que nous sommes c. 9. an 18â— with which he crosseth so often both in these and other matters Yet for this busines we haue now in hand he deliuereth it in these words At that time there were in Britaine now called England 27. Flamins and three Archflamins according to the manner of their Paganismâ— but the aforenamed Doctours Fagan and Damian cast them out and where were Flamyns they made Bishops and where there were Archflamyns they made Archbishops The Sees to these three Archflamins To what Archbishop what Bishops and Prouinces were subiect The Orchades Iles and Scotland subiect to the Archbishop of Yorkâ— M. S. Françoise supr an 180. Galfr. Monum Hist Brit. l. 5. c. 1. being in the three most Noble Cities of Britaine which were London Euerwicks and the Citie of Legions vppon the Ryuer vsks in the Country of Glamorgan in Wales not farre from Seuerne which is in a place delitious and passing in Ritches all other Cities To these three were subiect 27. Bishops To the Archbishop of Euerwicks were subiect Deira and Northumberland Scotland and Albania diuided by Dieceses beyond Humber which parteth them from Loegres which now is called England To the Archbishop of London were subiect Loegres and Cornwayle And he setteth downe with the truth and common opinion that these things were acted about the yeare of Christ 180. both in Pope Eleutherius and King Lucius time which the published Translation of Galfridus must needs mistake affirming King Lucius died in the yeare 156. when Eleutherius was not Pope while long after So this Authour must needs follow others and not Galfridus in this narration And the Manuscript History named Abbreuiatio Chronicorum in that copy which I follow beginning at Adam and ending in the yeare of Christ 1063. argueth the Authour farre more auncient then Geffry of Monmouth and placing this History of planting Religion heare by Faganus and Diuuanus Pope Eleutherius Legats betweene the yeare 170. and 180. writeth more truely of this matter then our published Galfridus Translation and could not imitate that herein Yet this Authour plainely testifieth that these two Legats finding heare in Britaine three Archflamens besides 28. Flamens one of them at London a second at Yorke and the third at Caerlegion constituted Archbishops in their places conformably limiting their Circuits and Iurisdictions Erant tunc in Britannia 28. Flamines tres Archiflamines vbi erant Flamines Episcopos vbi autem Archiflamines Archiepiscopos posuerunt Manuscr Hist Abbreuiatio Chronicorum inter ann 170. an 180. Io. Bal. l. de Scrip. Brit. cent 2. in Radulph de Rizeto Londonensi Archiepiscopo subiacuit Loegria Cornubia Eboracensi Deira Albania Vrbi autem Legionum Cambria 5. Vnto these I may ioyne Dicetus Deane of London or as a Protestant Bishop calleth him Radulphus de Rizeto who though he wrote a litle after Galfridus dying about the yeare of Christ 1200. yet he did not follow Galfridus Translation but assigneth this labour of the Popes Legats in placing Bishops and Archbishops for Flamens and Archflamens to the yeare of Christ 178. aboue twenty yeares after King Lucius death by Geffery his Translation Theater of great Britaine l. 6. Dicetus Deane of London a Manuscript in the Kings Library ad an 178. Yet by our Protestant writers of the Theater of greate Britaine in his Manuscript in the Kings Library at the yeare remembred 178. this matter is thus registrid There were in Britaine eight and twenty Flamyns and three Archflamins in stead of which so many Bishops and Archbishops were appointed vnder the Archbishop of London were the Prouinces of Loegria and Cornubia vnder Yorke Deira and Albania vnder vrbs Legionum Cambria And Harding differing aboue thirtie yeares in his computation from the Bishop of Asaph his Translation and so in no manner to be thought his follower in this matter yet thus he agreeth herein Harding Chron. f. 4â— c. 51. Of 3. Archflamens they made Archbishopricks One at London Troynouant that hight For all Logres with Lawes full autentikes To rule the Church and Christentee in right An other at Carlion a Towne of might For all Cambre at Ebranke the third From Trent North for Albany is kvde I haue cited Martinus Polonus Bergomensis Ptolomeus Lucensis Platina Hartmannus Schedel and diuers French Historians before all of them so farre differing from the Brittish Historie in their calculation and other circumstances that they caÌ„not be called followers thereof yet they all agree that the Flamens and Archflamens
this Institution and Confirmation many hundreds of yeares by all Antiquities The exception which some may make by finding Britaine diuided into fiue Prouinces I haue fully answeared before and our cheife Protestants namely Doctour George Abbots Archbishop of Canterbury and such others as directed and assisted Maister Francis Mason in the Booke intituled Crosses and Christian Images then certaine tokens of Christians Of the Consecration of the Bishops of the Church of England he their Scribe will thus secondemee therein The Romans before this time of King Lucius his receauing the faith had diuided Britaine into three Prouinces one of theÌ„ was called Maxima Caesariensis the Metropolis whereof was Yorke An other Britannia prima the Metropolis whereof was London the third Britannia secunda the Metropolis whereof was CaerlegioÌ„ And prouing besides so many Authorities before cited by Asserius Meneuensis Schoolmester to King Alfred Ptolomaeus LuceÌ„sis William Reade Ihon LelaÌ„d that the Archbishops of this IlaÌ„d were onely seated in those three MetropolitaÌ„ Cities LondoÌ„ Yorke Caerlogion according to that diuisioÌ„ of Prouinces heare to cleare the obiectioÌ„ thus they had further in this busines Although Britaine was after the Nicen Councell diuided into fiue Prouinces Valentia and Flauia CaesarieÌ„sis being added to the former yet there were no new Archbishops erected The reason whereof was because those two new Prouinces were taken out of the former and consequently could not haue Bishopriks without the diminishing of the Authoritie of the former in whose Iurisdiction originally they were which was not sufferable because it was against the Canon of the Nicen Councell decreeing that in Antioch and in other Prouinces the dignitie prerogatiues and Authorities of Churches should be mainetained Hitherto these Protestant writers 4. And to leaue it without question that this placing both of Archbishops and Bishops also at this time in Britaine was both warranted and confirmed by this highest spirituall Papall Power and Prerogatiue in Pope Eleutherius among so many hundreds of Archbishops and Bishops as haue bene in Britaine as it conprehendeth England Wales and Scotland no Historie mentioneth no Antiquarie can proue that from this time of King Lucius vntill the Reuolt of King Henry 8. from the Church of Rome any one Archbishoprik or Bishoprik was eyther founded translated vnited diminished or any wise changed but it was eyther first done or afterward confirmed or made frustrate by this greate Apostolike and Papall Power of the Roman See I neede not the Assistance of Catholike Antiquities herein our Protestant Bishops and Antiquaries which haue written of this subiect of Bishops and their Sees Gul. Malmesb l. de Ant. Caenob Glaston doe leaue and cleare it for an euident truth And because such an including proposition without confession in particular would cost my Readers some labour to examine it let them take for pregnant witnesses hereof the two greate Flatterers of King Henry 8 Matthew Parker the first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury a man of all Religions with that King his sonne King Edward The Popes Legats con inue diuers at Glastenbury renew and setle reâ—igious meÌ„ there in place of the first of S. Ioseph his company and Queene Elizabeth and Polidor Virgill a time Pleaser and Seruant thereof The first speaking of King Henry 8. his Lawes against the Popes Authoritie and the time of the Saxons saith that by them then made the Popes Power which had euer vntill then continued in England and was thought vnsuperable was ouerthrowne his legibus potentia Papalis quae nongentis amplius annis in Anglia durauit insuperabilis visa est concidit The other writeth then a liuing witnes that the supreamacie taken from the Pope and giuen to the King was a thing neuer heard of in any time before Habetur Concilium Londini in quo Ecclesia Anglicana formam potestatis nullis ante temporibus visum induit Henricus enim Rex Caput ipsius Ecclesiae constituitur By which also as in a glasse by a truely representing species we may behold that it neyther was nor could be any other then the Pope of Rome onely clayming and exercising such spirituall Power heare in those times which did or could giue a full and finall confirmation to those Vniuersities or Schooles and Religeous houses of Britaine with the Rule and Order they followed and professed in these daies 5. Yet we are not alltogether destitute of Instances in particular of such Honorius Papa 1. in Bulla Vniuersitati Canta-Cantabr coÌ„cess ann 624. 20. die Februarij apud Io. Caium l. 1. de antiq Cantabr Academ p. 75. 76 77. confirmation For Schooles or Vniuersities the Antiquaries of Cambridge produce the auncient Bull of Pope Honorius the first 1000. yeares since coÌ„firming that Vniuersitie and priuiledges thereof and in the same affirming that his Predecessours Pope Eleutherius in whose time we are Fabianus Leo Simplicius Foelix and Bonifacius gaue the like confirmation and exemption vnto it Praedecessorum nostrorum Romanae Ecclesiae Pontificum Eleutherij Fabiani Leonis Simplicij Faelicis Bonifacij vestigijs debitè inhaerentes authoritate omnipotentis Dei districtiùs inhibemus sub paena excommunicationis ne quis Archiepiscopus aut eorum officiales c. Where it is said that these Popes gaue these priuiledges against all parsoÌ„s by the Authoritie of God For the Schoole of GlamorgaÌ„ we haue the like testimonie that the Pope gaue the cheife charge thereof to S. Iltutus renowned both for his learning and piety as also his most worthie Schollers and their greate number in which were both Gaules and Britans in whome S. Sampson S. Paulinus S. Dauid S. Gildas Magistralis Charta MerchiaÌ„ni Regis l. Sanct. Wall Caius sup p. 147. Capgr Catal. in S. Ilâ—uâ—o Abbate Confessore Io. Bal. l. de Script Britan. cent 1. in Elchuto Morgan Manuscr Antiq. Mona sterij S. Aug. Cantuariae tibi cura concessa est à Pontisice as King Merchiannus testifieth in his Charter of priuiledge vnto him and that his Schoole or Vniuersitie For our Monasteries and Religeous houses then that they were confirmed and priuiledged by this holy Pope I shall more fully shew when I come to these Legats returne and visiting Glastenbury bringing with them a confirmation Immunities and Indulgences from S. Eleutherius to that most auncient and Religious Monastery with an approbation of the holy Rule and Order which there and in all Britaine after many hundreds of yeares was kept and followed In the meane time he that will but behold if he may the old Manuscript of S. Augustins in Canterbury shall there see aboue 100. particular Bulls of Popes confirming the liberties and Immunities of that house He may reade in the first Protestantically made Archbishop there that as I haue proued and shall proue of our Britans how all their Archbishops had their ordination Power and Authoritie from the Popes of Rome so amoÌ„g the Saxons Matth. Parker Antiq. Brit. vntill he first
before haue a relation of this to be proued from the Greeke Antiquities I will asceÌ„d much higher then the dayes of Nicephorus euen to the time of our greate Emperour King and Cuontryman Constantine in whose age and Empire about thirteene hundred yeares since that greate glory of learned men in Greece Eusebius as an auncient learned sainct of that Nation testifieth hath written that S. Peter preached Euseb Pamphili apud S. Sim. Metaphrast die 29. Iunij and longe time as it appeareth by him in this our Britaine and the neare adioyning westerne Nations Eusebius Pamphili dicit Petrum duodecim annos esse versatum in Oriente vigint autem tres annos transegisse Romae in Britannia in ciuitatibus quae sunt in Occidente adeo vt sit totum tempus praedicationis Petri triginta quinque anni Eusebius Pamphylus saith that Peter conuersed in the East twelue yeares and spent three and twenty at Rome and in Britaine and in the cities which be in the west So that the whole time of the preaching of Peter is thirtie and fiue yeares Where he speaketh of the compleate yeares of S. Peters preaching in the west omitting the parts of yeares or taking S. Peters going to Hierusalem againe at the death of our blessed Lady out of the 25. yeares of his abode in the west Which accompt our English Protestants in their Fasti of the Kings and Bishops of England confirme Let no man obiect that his testimony is not sufficient he being an holy learned saint liuing in Constantinople the cheife Citie of Greece where Eusebius works were then most famous knowne to all men of learning and hauing so constantly auouched it when all Greece could argue him of vntruth if it had â—ene otherwise Who but extraordinarily wicked will once imagine that so worthy an Authour would to his owne eternall shame and confusion haue once inuented such a forgery what Grecian since that time or before by some numbers of yeares hath so much fauoured the Church of Rome as to honour it with vntruthes when they haue rather endeuoured the contrary as many haue written Neyther Fasti Regum Episcoporum Angliae vsque ad Gul. seniorem doe those workes of Eusebius which be now commonly extant contradict but rather confirme that which is cited from him before of S. Peter his spending much time in preaching in Britaine For although Eusebius both in his History and Cronicle saith with the generall opinion of historians that S. Peter was Bishop of Rome 24. or 25. yeares yet this is so farre from keeping him from Britaine that it maketh it a matter almost incredible but in some part of that time he was in Britaine And first all those renowned Authours Greeke and Latine which affirme that S. Peter preached heare in Britaine affirme also that he was so longe Bishop of Rome And seeing the world was euen by Christ and the Apostles themselues so diuided among them to preach the ghospell in and conuerte it to the faith what other Apostle did make any Residence so neare vnto vs by many huÌ„dreds of miles as Rome the See of S. Peter all histories of their liues and deaths be constant in this And I haue proued before that no other of the 12. Apostles amoÌ„g whom this diuision was made except S. Peter preached either in or neare to this kingdome 8. And all those Authors before haue proued that S. Peter preached in all these westerne Nations during that time when he is saide to haue had his cheife Residencie at Rome as the same Eusebius with the holy Scriptures and all historians affirmeth that during his first named Residency of Antioch in ponto Galatia Bithinia Cappadiocia Asia praedicauit he preached in Pontus Galatia Bithynia Cappadocia and Asia Some of those places fully Euseb in Chron. Euseb hist Eccl. l. 3. c. 1. Godwyn Conu of Brit. c. 1. pag. 5. Act. Apost c. 15. v. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. or allmoste as remote from Antioch as Britaine is from Rome And our Protestants themselues with the Scriptures and many historians testifie that after S. Peter his settling at Rome he went againe from thence to Hierusalem and Antioch also farre more distant from Rome then Britaine is And if S. Peter had not preached heare it is euident before that none of the twelue Apostles to whose preaching the world was first by Christ committed had performed it And so we should perhaps haue in that respect bene the most vnhappie kingdome in the knowne world at that time not any on of so greate extension greatnes and honour being to be reckoned but probably as appeareth by former Relations one Apostle or other preached the ghospell in it 9. An other also a GreciaÌ„ an holy Sainct as is set downe in the Menologe Menol. Graecor in S. Sim. Metaphr Sur. Et Lippom die 27. Nou. in festo eius Ioh. Molan in addit ad Vsuard 27. Nou. Conrad Gesner in Bibl. in Io. Psell of the Grecians and dyuers Latine Martyrologes as Surius Lippomannus and Molanus and his holy life written by Ioannes Psellus much commended by the Protestants CoÌ„radus Gesnerus Iosius Simlerus IoaÌ„nes Iacobus Frisius and others setteth downe all the circumstances of S. Peters coming hither by what contries the time of his staying heare what he performed in this kingdome how he was heare admonished by an Angell from heauen to returne againe to Rome to suffer Martyrdome and other matters of such consequence in so greate a busines that there is not more certaine and particular Relation left in any Antiquitie we haue for any historicall truth and veritie concerning this Nation which any Antiquarie Catholik or Protestant giueth the most vndoubted credit and assent vnto then for this preacing of S. Peter and his plaÌ„ting the Church of Christ in this Iland Thus this holy Saint liuing 800. yeares past setteth downe the holy Iorney of that blessed Apostle our first father in Christ S. Peter Cum non diu mansisset apud Romanos sancto Sim. Metaphrast die 29. Iunij baptismate multos regenerasset Ecclesiam constituisset Linum Episcopum ordinasset venit Tarracinam in qua cum Epaphroditum ordinasset Episcopum venit Sirmium ciuitateÌ„ Hispaniae Quo in loco cum Epinaetum coÌ„stituisset Episcopum venit in Aegiptum cum Thebis quae septem habet portas Rufum Alexandriae auteÌ„ Marcum Euangelistam eorum qui se in disciplinam tradiderunt Episcopatui praefecisset rursus venit Hierosolymam ex reuelatione propter Deiparae Mariae migrationem Deinde reuersus est in Aegiptum per Africam rursus Romam redijt Ex qua venit Mediolanum Photicen quae sunt ciuitates in continente in quibus cuÌ„ constituisset Episcopos presbyteros venit in Britanniam quo in loco cum longo tempore fuisset moratus multas gentes non nominatas attraxisset ad fidem Christi angelicam aspexit visionem quae
was the same Registerer of this heauenly vision set downe by him in S. Edwards life for speaking of the memorable works writings of this renowned Saint he saith composuit inter caetera Bal. sup centur 2. in Alred Rieual vitam Edwardi Anglorum Regis among other things he wrote the life of King Edward of England conteining aboue 28. chapters which was presented to King Henry the second So that there cannot be the least exception taken eyther to the Authour so learned worthie a Saint neither to the keeping or preseruation of that worke being presented to the King of England that then reigned and preserued in the Librarie of our kings from whence other copies Exemplars were taken Therefore now to make all sure let vs come to that learned holy man to whome this reuelation was made and to the subsequent effects which demonstratiuely proue it to haue bene a most certaine and vndoubted diuine testimonie and vision Continuator histor S. Bedae in S. Edwardo l. 2. Guliel Malmesbur de gest Reg. Angliae l. 2. Alred Rieual in vit S. Edward Reg. Capgrau Catal. in eod M. S. Antiq de Sanct. in S. Edward Confess Harpesfeld sec-11 c. 3. Godwyn Catalog in wynchester 31. in Brithwold in Salisbury or Wilton 8. in Brithwold Protest Index in Guliel Malmes in Brithwold 10. Herold epist dedic ante Marian. Sâ—â—t Godwyn in Cat. in Winchester in Brithwold â—1 Godwyn supr Balaeus de Script Brit. cent 2. in Gulielmo Malm. 12. All Authors that write of this matter agree whether Catholiks or Protestants that it was S. Brithwold an holy Bishop of England a most deuoute religious and miraculous man to whome this vision and Relation was made Onely there is some question whether it was S. Brithwold Bishop of winchester wintoniensis or sainct Brithwold Bishop of wilton or Salisbury wiltonensis the likenes of names Wilton Winton perhaps causing that doubt But because they were both so holy and renowned men that they haue gotten their worthie praise and commendation with all writers euen Protestants themselues and sainct Alredus liued in both their times to receaue the certaintie and vndoubted truth of these things from them or eyther of them It is not the difference of Vuintonensis or vuiltonensis can make any materiall difference in this point all vniformerly agreeing it was S. Brithwold an holy English Bishop and sainct of that time who had this Illumination and apparition from heauen A Protestant Bishop thus speaketh of this holy Bishop It is written of him that one night being late at his prayers he chaunced to thinke of the lowe ebb of the blood royall of England which now was all most quite consumed and brought to nothing In the midest of this cogitation falling a sleepe It seemed vnto him he saw S. Peter crowning younge prince Edward that liued in exile at tâ—at time in Normandie and furthermore to shew how he should reigne foure and twenty yeares and die at last without Issue And he citeth William of Malmesbury in his second booke of the kings of England for Author who because he is cited and approued by this Protestant Bishop and by an other most highly recommended in these words suo seculo in omni genere bonarum literarum plane eruditissimus in erueÌ„dis antiquitatibus ingenio diligentia curaque singularis Anglicae nationiâ— studio sissimus illustrator absolutely the most learned in his age in all kind of Learning and in searching out Antiquities singular for witt diligence and care the most studious ennabler of the English Nation I will cite him also thus he writeth entreating of the happy times of this Nation vnder that our holy king sainct Edward the confessor viderat quondaÌ„ sommij Gulielm Malm. l. 2. de gest Reg. Anglorum c. 13. reuelatione seculi illius faelicitatem Brithwoldus Vuiltunensis alias Vuintoniensis Episcopus viderat annuntiauerat Nam dum tempore Cnutonis caelestibus apud Glastoniam lucubraret excubijs subijssetque illum cogitatio quae frequenter angebat de regia stirpe pene deleta haec meditanti sopor irrepsit ecce in superna raptus videt ApostoloruÌ„ principem Petrum ipsism Edwardum qui tuÌ„c in Normannia exulabat in Regem consecrare caelibe designata vita certo viginti quatuor annoruÌ„ numero râ—gni computato Brithwold Bishop of wilton or winton had some time by reuelation of a dreame seene the felicitie of that age and declared it For when in the time of King Knut he was in the night attending to heauenly watchings and had à cogition which often trobled him of the regall race all most blotted out while he meditated these things sleep fell vppon him and behold beeing rapt on high he saw the prince of the Apostles Peter to coÌ„secrate for King Edward himself who then was bannished in Normandy designeing vnto him the chaste life and accompting the yeares of his reigne twenty and foure This same history the same commended Author more plainely remembreth in another place as also the CoÌ„tinuator of the history of sainct Bede in these terms Brithwoldus ex monacho Glastoniensis qui multis annis Gulielm Malm. de gest Pontif. Angl. l. 2. Continuator hist S. Bedae l. 2. in S. Edwardo a tempore Regis Ethelredi vsque ad Edwardum vltimum administrauit Episcopatum Is tempore Regis Cnutonis quadam vice caelestibus apud Glastoniam vt saepe faciebat intentus excubijs diuinam visionem expertus est Cum enim subijsset eum cogitatio quae frequenter eum angebat de Anglorum regia stirpe pene deleta hoc mâ—ditanti sopor irrepsit ecce in supernaraptus vidit Apostolorum principem Petrum manu tenentem Edwardum filium Ethelredi qui tunc in Normannia exulabat in Regem consecrare caelebe designata vita certo 24. annoruÌ„ numero coÌ„putato quo regni metam terminaret Brithwold first a monke of Glastenbury and now many yeares from the time of King Ethelred vnto the last Edward hauing bene a Bishop he in the time of King Knut vppon a certaine time as he often did attending to heavenly watches at Glastenbury had à diuine vision For hauinge à cogitation which often troubled him of the race of the Kings almost extinguished while he thus meditated sleepe came vppon him and being in an Extasis he saw Peter prince of the Apostles holding Edward the sonne of Ethelred then an exile in Normandy by the hand and consecrating him King and Assining to him the chast life and accompting a certaine number of 24. yeares in which he should end the time of his Reigne Hitherto this so renowned Antiquarie so much commended by our Protestants and as he is published and allowed by them so manifestly approuing this vision and Reuelation of sainct Peter to sainct Brithwold as is declared and so conuincingly that our Protestant publishers of his workes haue thus noted vppon those places Brithwoldi Episcopi visio
he addeth of him Cum non diu mansisset apud Romanos sancto baptismate multos regenerasset Ecclesiam constituisset Linum Episcopum ordinasset when he had stayed not long with the Romans and baptized many and founded the Church and ordained Linus a Bishop he went into Spaine then into Egipt and so to Hierusalem by reuelation for the Transmigration of the mother of God then returned into Egipt and through Africk returned to Rome from whence he came to Millan and Photice and so into Britaine Which time being truely calculated will teach vs that he came hither in or about the 54. yeare of Christ when in the way hither he made so many Bishops in Fraunce long before S. Paule came although as a prisoner first to Rome or any other Apostle thither or to any westerne Nation For as I haue proued before S. Peter going vp to Hierusalem by Reuelation at the death of the blessed virgin did staye but a short time there and in the Easterne parts in that Iorney but the chardge of the westerne world being more peculiarly committed vnto him before he returned vnto it to dischardge this dutie heare and allthough S. Simon Metaphrastes bringeth him back againe by Rome yet he speaketh of no stay he made there at this time but presently bringeth him into Britaine THE XVII CHAPTER WHEREIN IS PROVED BY THE BEST ENglish Protestant writers their Bishops and others that S. Peter founding the Church of Britaine ordained in it an Archbishop Bishops and Preists 1. THat we may without contradiction of any Catholik or Protestant except willfully erring in their owne proceedings be assured that S. Peter performed heare all Pastorall duties in foūding vnto our predecessors in this our Britaine the true vndoubted Church of Christ and so left it to posteritie because I stand assured my pen shall still in all things carry with it an vndoubted Assent of Catholiks seeing this matter of the true Church founding thereof professing the doctrine which it teacheth to all her childrē and they ought to followe concerneth vs all so much that the Protestants of this Nation agree there is no saluatiō to be had or expected out of this holy societie I will set downe by their warrant both what this Church is and how it was first in all things essentiall and by them needfull to saluation founded heare by Saint Peter the Apostle 2. Concerning the first the Canon or decree of the Protestant Religion in their Synodicall and Parlament Articles to which all Protestant Bishops and Ministers of England haue sworne and subscribed is this The visible Church Articl of Religion an 1562. ar 19. of Christ is a Congregation of faithfull men in the which the puer word of God is preached and the Sacraments be duely ministred according to Christs ordinance in all those things that of necessitie are requisite to the same Hitherto this publik Protestant Article of Religion Therefore seeing it is allowed and proued before by these men that S. Peter first founded the Church of Christ in this kingdome to insist still in their owne allowances I must shew by them how he performed these things which by these Protestants must needs be in euery true Church to wit true and lawfull Ministers to preach the word of God and duely minister the Sacraments So there be three things essentiall true Ministers the puer word of God preached and Sacraments duely ministred among which the two last depend vpon the first true and lawfull Ministers For where true and Orthodoxall Ministers are and accordingly preach the word and Minister the Sacraments there the puer word must needs be preached and Sacraments duely ministred And contrariewise where such Ministers are not there these things cannot be possibly by such performed Which this Protestant Rule of Religiō confirmeth in an other Article in these words It is not lawfull for any man to take vpon him the office of publick preaching Articul 23. or ministring of the Sacraments in the Congregation before he be lawfully called and sent to execute the same And those we ought to Iudge lawfully called and sent which be chosen and called to this worke by men who haue publick authoritie giuen vnto them in the Congregation to call and send Ministers into the Lords vyneyard And in their Article intituled of Consecratiō of Bishops and Ministers they set downe these orders degrees in such men Archbishops Bishops Preists and Deacons and haue set forth a booke both by the Regall Authoritie of King Edward the Sixt Q. Elizabeth and King Iames our present Soueraigne and their Parlaments for the particular consecration of all those degrees and in that so highly authorized Booke assuer vs that all these degrees and Orders haue euer bene in the Church of Christ from the dayes of him and his Apostles And all particular writers among these Protestants as they are bound by subscription to these Articles so they plainely testifie in their writings among whom the publick and approued Protestant comment vpon these Articles Intituled The Catholick doctrine of the Church of England With greate priuiledge Rogers in Artic. 36. setteth downe in this manner It is ageeable to the word of God and practise of the primatiue Church that there should be Archbishops Bishops and such like differences and inequalities of Ecclesiasticall Ministers and addeth The proofe from the word of God Albeit the termes and Titles of Archbishops we finde not yet the superioritie which they haue and authoritie which Bishops and Archbishops doe exercise in ordering and consecrating Bishops and Ecclesiasticall Ministers is grownded vpon the word And againe from the Apostles dayes hitherto there neuer wāted a Succession of Bishops neither in the Easte nor westerne Churches This is the generall and common opinion of all the English Protestant Bishops against their Puritans Thus their Archbishops whitgitf Bancroft their Bishops Bilson Barlow Bridges Doctors Fild Hooker Couell Downame Barlow Serm. before King Iames 21. Septembr an 1604. and others Whereof one writeth Episcopall function is an ordinance Apostolicall Christ hath acted it for succeeding posteritie and so it is thesis Pneumatichi a Canon or constitution of the whole Trinitie Thus a Protestant Bishop before our King with both his and the allowance of the Protestant Bishops as the Puritans themselues thus acknowledge The callings of Prelates be of diuine ordinance Offer of Conference as Bishop Barlowe auoucheth in his last Sermon The Bishop of Rochester with the consent and by the direction no doubt of some of the cheifest Prelates hath now lately published his Sermon preached in September before the King at Hampton Court the maine drift whereof is to proue that the office and calling of a Diocesan Bishop is a diuine and Apostolicall ordinance The same besides so many their Bishops and doctors before is remembred in their publick Apology intituled of the Consecration of the Bishops in the Church of England masked vnder the name of
hauing three sonnes Locrinus Albanact and Camber did at his death diuide the IlaÌ„d into three parts or Prouinces Loegria now England to Locrinus his eldest sonne Albania Scotland to Albanact the second and Cambria Wales to Camber the youngest Locrino primoginito dedit illam partem quae quondam Loegria nunc vero Anglia nominatur Albanacto filio natu secundo dedit Albaniam quae nunc Scotia vocitatur Cambro vero tertio filio dedit Cambriam quae modo wallia nominatur reseruata Locrino Regia dignitate This might suffice for this busines for being testified with so many domesticall and forreine priuate and publike witnesses that this Tripartited diuision was heare from the beginning and first name of Britaine we must needs for euery seuerall part and Prouince assigne a seuerall gouernment and order therein as their Rulers and Gouernours were diuers and distinct 2. But our Antiquities carry vs further and informe not onely that London Yorke and Caerlegion were the seuerall cheife Cities in this diuision but the Kings which founded them for such ordayned them likewise to be the Seats and Residences of three seuerall Archiflamens or Protoflamens For the glory and Noblenes of London therevpon named Augusta I haue spokeÌ„ before and as it is the common opinion in Antiquities that it is the most auncient Citie of this Iland builded by Brutus as not onely the Brittish Historie Galfridus Virunnius and our English Antiquaries after them but Gildas Sigebertus and others sufficiently witnes and except M. Stowe is deceaued in his Authours Aethicus an old Pagan Philosopher testifieth no lesse affirming that Brutus named this kingdome Brutannia And Ihon Harding in his plaine verse with others recordeth how he there from the very beginning instituted an Archflamens Seate And Troynouant he made full especially An Archflaume his Sâ—e Cathedrall certayne A temple thereof Apolyne to optaine By Troian Lawe This is commonly written to haue bene 1100. yeares before Christ And it is a coÌ„mon receaved opinion among our Antiquaries that EbraÌ„cus sonne to Mempricius about 100. yeares after builded the Citie of Yorke calling it after his name Kairbranke as both Brittans and Saxons Catholiks and Protestants consent Whereas Harding and Stowe with others affirme he seated an Archflamen Harding saith Hee made a Temple in Ebranke Citie Harding Chron. c. 21. f. 22. Stowe Hist in Ebranke Of Diane where an Archflamen he sett To rule Temples as that time was his dett In the tweÌ„tith yeare of his Reigne writeth Stowe he builded Kayrbranke since by the Saxons called Euorwike now corruptly Yorke wherein he builded a Temple to Diana and sett there an Archflamen and was there buryed when he had reigned 60. yeares Thus auncient these our Historians make Archflamens in Britaine and I haue related their very words not that I thinke the name and worde Archflamen but onely their office and calling among the Gentils to be so auncient as the time assigned to our Brutus but of youÌ„ger continuance and age by diuers hundreds of yeares the word Flamen not knowne vntill the time of Numa Pompilius and taken from a kinde of attyre worne vppon their heads on Festiuall dayes yet the office of Flamen Ranulp Higed l. 1. c. 24. and Pontifex and Archflamen and summus Pontifex was allwayes the same among the Pagans 3. The Institution of the third Archflamen at Caerlegion vppon vske was of later time as also the Foundation of that Citie first builded by Belinus as the Brittish Historie Galfridus Virunnius Matthew Westm Ranulph Higeden Caxton Harding Stowe Hollinshed and to write in his words most parte of Holinshed Hist Engl. lâ—b 3. cap. 4. Galfr. Mon. l. 3. Hâ—st c. 10. Vâ—run l. 3. Matth. West aetat 5. Ranulpâ— Higeden l. 1. c. 48 all our writers haue deliuered Galfridus calleth this Citie Kaerose Virunnius nameth it Caerusc the Monke of Westm Kaerusc Higeden termeth it Caerhuth And such nake it kept vntill the comming of the Romans hither when of their Legions wintring there it was named Caerlegion as also Chester was as the same Ranulphus which liued and wrote his Historie there with others witnesseth And this Caerusc was the Metropolis of those parts And as diuers of the Authours testifie Belinus seated an Archflamen there as he also confirmed the Archflamens of London and Yorke Thus among Harding Cron. f. 29. c. 33. others Harding relateth Three Archflamens he made through all Britaine As Archbishops now in our Lawes bene There Temples all to gouerne and domaine At Troynouant one Logres to ouersene Her fals Gods to serue and to queme At Ebranke an other for Albany And at Caerleon for Cambre one soueranly So hath Stowe with others And their generall agreement is that these Stowe Hist in Belâ—n were the cheife most renowned and Metropolitan Cities in Britaine which being so amply proued and so many consenting that there were Archflamens in them all so long before the coÌ„ming of Christ lesse Authoritie then we haue for this matter might serue vs to coÌ„fesse that seeing at the abolishing of these Pagan Rulers and Rites they ought to be and were changed into so many Archbishops or Metropolitans in Christian Religion And this is so euident a truth in Histories that the Protestant Bishop himselfe which before with one onely opposed against Archflamens freely confesseth that at this time Archbishops were placed in those three Cities in Britaine and in them onely where so many haue testified and shall testifie further hereafter these Archflamens were resident Thus he writeth At what time Christian Godwin Cat. of Bishops in London 1. p. 181. edit an 1615. Râ—â—â—gion 〈◊〉 first publiâ—ly receaued in this Island there were established in the same 28. Sees or Cathearâ—â—i Churches whereof three were Archbishopricks Yorke whose Prouince was Scotland and the North of England Caerlegion now called Carlcon vpon vsk to which the Churches of Wales where subiect and lastly London that had Iurisdiction ouer the rest of England 4. Therefore this which is the cheifest matter in this busines being thus granted by all and the other so sufficiently proued I will onely add to the former for the more euidency hereof the testimonie of some few others such as eyther were before the time of Geffery of MoÌ„mouth the Translatour of the Brittish History or tooke their notice from other Authours then that History Ranulphus Higeden in his Manuscript History citeh Alfridus Beuerlacensis who by a Protestant Bishop wrote an excellent History from the beginning of the Britans and coming of Brute hither to his owne time in the Reigne of King William the Bastard allmost 100. yeares before Geffery of Monmouth could write Ab origine Britannorum ad suam aetatem vsque contexuit Historiam Io. Bal. l. de Scrip. cent 2. in Alfrid Beueâ—lacen Alfâ—idus Beuerl apud Ranulph â—â—geden l. 1. c. 52 de Episcopâ—tâ—b in lâ—bro Manusc perpulchram And writeth as Ranulphus citeth him that in the time of Lucius the first Christian
l. 3. in Gul. 1. Contin Flor. Wigorn. in Praesul Cridiat Godwin Catal. in Exeter 1. Ann. Eccl. Meneuen apud eund supra in S. Dauids Galfr. Monum Hist Brit. l. 5. c. 1. Matth. Westm an gratiae 201. Hist Manuscr apud Harris Hist Tom. 2. c. 21. M. Lambert the Pâ—otestant Antiquarie of Kent saith from Antiquities S. Martins Church built by the Romans in Canterbury was a Bishops See vntill the Normans came in and so two in one Citie this substitute to the Archbishop Likewise we may so say of Shastesbury Bathe Leicester and Carleil by the same reason all of these as before hauing Flamens and being old auncient Brittish Cities the first named Cair Paladour Septonia The second Cair Badon Aquae Solis and Thermae by Ptolomaeus Leircester before by Henry of Huntington Cair Legion or Cair Lirion Leicestria Carlile Cair Lueill Cair Leill Lugubalia Cair Doill Which proue they were auncient Cities both to the Britans and Romans as Harding saith In Britaine tongue plainely Cair is to say a Citie in their language As yett in Wales is their common vsage As in the time of the Pagans there was a Flamen in Cornwaile So in exordio Christianae fidei in the beginning of Christianitie heare as Capgraue and others before him write there was a Bishop and a Synode of Bishops there Diuers of their names be preserued Kebius Manditus Columbanus Iwanus Dotharius with others in Succession and the See some time at S. Manus S. Petroks Crediton or S. Germans vppon diuers changes remembred by Antiquaries And a Protestant Bishop hath produced an old Manuscript belonging to S. Dauids that in these times of the Britans there was a Bishops See and Bishop at Exceter in Deuonshire And that an other of these our first Primatiue Bishops was seated at Glocester Cair Glowy or Glou we haue diuers Authorities for most of our Antiquities that entreate of the death of King Lucius say he was buried there in the Episcopall and Cathedrall Church In vrbe Claudiocestriae ab hac vita migrauit in Ecclesia primae Sedis honorificè sepultus est And M Harris in his Manuscript Historie saith he had an old written Chronicle which spake of this Church The Table of King Lucius hanging in S. Peters Church in Cornhill in London is witnes this Church stood where the Order of S. Francis was placed in Glocester And no Authour speaking either of change of Sees or new founding any there after in the Britans time our Histories are witnesses that one Theonus Bishop of Glocester was made Archbishop of London in the Britans time So was Eldad long before Bishop of Glocester in the Reigne of Aurelius Ambrosius That Caer Segent Segen or Silcester now onely there being a Farme house was a Bishops See in those Matth. Westm an gratiae 489. Galfr. Mon. Hist Brit. l. 8. c. 7. Manuscript Gallic antiq an 477. c. 47. Galfr. Mon. Hist Brit. l. 9. c. 15. Manuscr antiq apud Stowe Hist Britans and Sax. in Arthur Galfr. Monum l. 9. c. 1. Hist Brit. l. 6. c. 5. Harding Chron. c. 76. f. 67. dayes besides the name and place for a Flamen we are assured from the Brittish History that in the time of S. Dubritius Archbishop and King Arthur when diuers old Bishops Sees were voide this was one among the rest and that Bishoprick was giuen to one named Mauganius Episcopatus verò Silcestriae Mauganio decernitur This Citie was so renowned in the Britans time that as an old Manuscript witnesseth Constantius sonne of Constantine was honorably buried there and Constantine and Arthur there crowned with such Pompe and solemnitie as our Histories declare This place is 6. miles or there abouts from Reading in Barkshire the remnants of the wall with 4. places where the 4. gates were were two myles in compasse much Roman Money there was found in digging 6. Ihon Harding saith that Chichester was a Bishops See in the time of King Arthur and S. Dubritius and that Mangauero was Bishop there in those dayes And among these I would take Dunwich to haue also bene an Episcopall See about that Age the place in Suffolke no other Towne assigned for a Bishops See in that part of England giueth way vnto it our English Antiquaries confesse it was an auncient Citie and in probable coniecture that which our old Nennius expresseth among the most renowned Brittish Cities by the name of Caer Daun or Dunn after by the Saxons Danmocke or Dunwick no oâ—her auncient knowne Citie more answeareable to that Brittish Appellation And to giue more life to this opinion when the Saxons became Christians and had Bishops it was the care of the Popes and spirituall Rulers then to place both Arcbishops and Bishops where such had bene in the Britans time The two Archbishops Sees of London and Yorke which were voide were by S. Gregory appointed for such againe and by this Title diuers decayed Cities as I shall more expresse hereafter had also Bishops being Episcopall Sees when the Britans and Romans heare ruled And so S. Faelix by Stowe sup liber Elu Records Dun. this Title was first Bishop among the East Angles and of that Citie so renowned that it hath had as a Protestant Historian writeth from the Tradition and Records of that Citie two and fyftie diuine houses and very many of them Parish Churches Heare I haue rather sought to setle a Bishop then at Colchester as one doth where besides the old name Caer common to very Will. Harrison descr of Brit. c. 13 Nenn. Histor Henr. Hunt Hist l. 1. many that neuer were Episcopall Cities besides what I haue said before I finde no motiue at all to say it was at any time much lesse then a Bishops See it is in a corner of that Country an vnwalled thing vntill S. Helen her time much to late to make it a Bishops Citie in King Lucius dayes I can neither finde a Flamen there before nor any Bishop since either when the Britans Romans Saxons or any others ruled heare And yet to giue all to Colchester which the aduauncers thereof require that it was the Towne called Camulodunum as also Colonia of the Colonie planted by the Romans which is more then I dare to doe to giue two so seuerall and distinct names to one singular place by one people at one time yet allowing it so and a Municipium enioying the Romans priuiledges yet all this doth not sufficiently able it for being a Bishops See for we doe not finde that the Romans were then such friends to Christian Religion in those times as with publike allowance to place such spirituall Rulers in their priuiledged Townes as were contrary to the priuiledges Immunities of them so that of all Cities heare those which were Municipia to the Romans as Verolamium S. Albons others were they were the furthest from hauing Christian Bishops in them And we see by experience in Verolamium their Municipium that within one hundred
those to gouerne in Britaine who were descended of a Brittish Line 362. 2. Seuerus borne in the Prouince of Tripolis in Affrica 363. 2. Seuerus descended of the regall Brittish race ib. Seuerus true Heire to the kingdome of Britaine ib. Seuerus Married a Brittish Lady 363. 3. Seuerus had by her a sonne named Bassianus ib. Seuerus came into Britaine to represse their discords 350. 1. 362. 1. Why he tooke this expedition to his one persone 364. 4. Seuerus causeth the wall of Separation to be made 336. 6. 368. 4. The time of his aboade in Britaine 363. 3. Seuerus ambitious of honour 362. 1. Seuerus the first persecutor after Nero. 346. 3. 365. 1. Seuerus cōmaunded none to be either Iew or Christian 365. 1. How moued thereunto ib. Seuerus otherwise a louer of Christians 366. 2. Seuerus protected the Christians in Britaine ib. Seuerus honoured Proculus a Christian in his pallace ib. Seuerus renowned both for warlike affaires and Learning 368. 4. Seuerus a seuear punisher of Adultery ib. Seuerus slaine in a Battaile ib. Seuerus left 32. legions to defend his Empire ib. The length of his reigne 368. 5. Sybilla Tiburtina brought with great solemnitie vnto Rome 7. 8. S. Simitrius a Priest Martyred 220. 2. 229. 3. S. Simon Zelotes neuer preached in or neare Britaine 42. 3. S. Simon had Egipt and Lybia in his diuision 44. 2. S. Simon Mattyred in Persia 46. 4. S. Sircicius Pope a great aduauncer of that Religion which Protestants call papistry 576. 8. S. Sixtus the 1. succeeded Pope Alexander in the Papall Dignitie 200. 1. The length of his Papacy ib. S. Sixtus renowned for sanctitie learning and well gouerning of the Church 201. 2. S. Sixtus Decrees euen according to Protestants ib. S. Socrates probably Martyred in Britaine and when 180. 9. Soder once Saract a Citty in the I le of Man 125. 2. Soder the first Bishops See in those partes ib. S. Soter Pope 234. 1. The space of his Papacy ib. S. Soter Martyred 235. 1. 247. 1. S. Soters Doctrine an Religion 235. 20. S. Soter sends diuers Bishops into Britaine 240. 6. Stamford and Vniuersity founded by King Bladud 206. 8. Stamford furnished with Philosophers from Athens ib. Stamford continued a place of Learning vntill the comming of sainct Augustine ib. Stamford interdicted by the Pope for Heresie ib. Sainct Stephen Pope consecrated but three Bishops 387. 2. or 397. 2. S. Stephens Decrees about receauing penitent Heretikes 384. 12. or 395. 12. S. Stephen apprehended at Masse 379. 5. S. Stephen martyred 379. 7. S. Stephen the eight Arch-bishop of London 391. 3. A Stone brought out of Egipt by Scota 11. 51. The Scottish Kings accustomed to be Crowned on the same ib. The same stone brought into Englād by King Edward ib. The same stone whersoeuer it be is a toaken that the Scots must reigne there ib. Subdeacons office 228. 2. Subdeacons can not entermedle in reconciling people to Christ or in administring Sacraments ib. Subdeacons not to marry 382. 11. or 392. 11. Suetonius v. Publius S. Syluester disputeth with the Iewes and confutes them 480. 4. The time of his death 537. 1. S. Sylnester of the present Roman Religion 538. 2. T. S. Tauriuus thought by some to be the first Archbishop of Yorke 178. 7. S. Taurinus renowned for Miracles ib. S. Taurinus did raise one from death and who she was 179. 7. S. Tephredaucus Disciple to S. Kebius 567. 5. S. Taphredaucus his Church in the I le of Man ib. S. Telesphorus succeeded S. Sixtus in the Papacy 208. 1. S. Telesphorus pietie and Religion ib. S. Telesphorus Martyred ib. The Temples of the Idols exceeding rich 305. 1. S. Thean the first Arch-bishop of London 217. 7. 307. 3. S. Thean founded S. Peters Church in Corne-hill in London 318. 3. S. Theodosius the first Arch-bishop of Yorke 318. 3. Theodosius the Emperour commended 575. 7. Theodosius austere pennance and why ib. Theodora Constantius his Concubine 392. 2. A white Thorne called Holy thorne growing on a hilby Glastenbury 127. 1. 136. 2. The same buddeth forth leaues and flowers on Christmas daye 136. 2. c. The branches thereof carried into forraine Countries 137. 2. The wounderfulnes of the Miracle 137. 3. It hath no cause in nature 137. 4. Part of the same Thorne florisheth cut of from the body 138. 4. A Protestant punished for endeuoring to cut it doune ib. The Thornes wherewith our Sauiour was crowned flourished 500. yeares after 420. 3. Thule the end of the once commonly knowne world 141. 3. Tiberianus Prefect of Palestina writeth vnto Traian concerning Christians 192. 1. Tiberianus an Heretike banished 574. 5. Tiberius informed of the preaching of Christ 192. 1. Tiberius his opinion of Christs heauenly power ib. Tiberius sent to Hierusalem for Christ to come to Rome to cure him of his disease ib. Tiberius cured of his disease by the Handkerchife in the which our Sauiour left the print of his face 13. 3. Tiberius request the Senatours that Christ might be accompted a God 14. 3. Tiberius threameth death to the Accusers of Christians 15. 5. Tiberius seuerly punisheth the Senators and why 15. 5. Tiberius neither maintained Garrison or attempted alleration in Britaine 23. 7. S. Ticca Abbot 333. 9. S. Ticca Abbot at Galstenbury ib. Tigris S. Patrikes Sister stolen by Pirats 595. 5. Timotheus an Heretike a Britan. 606. 1. Timotheus his Heresies ib. S. Timothy S. Pauls Disciple and Bishop of Ephesus neuer in Britaine 152. 7. S. Timothy Martyred 214. 2. S. Timothy sonne to our Brittish Lady Claudia 214. 3. S. Timothy one of the Baptysers of S. Lucius ib. S. Timothies last labours in Britaine 231. 1. S. Timothy probably baptised by S. Paule ib. S. Timothy Martyred 198. 4. 220. 2. 233. 3. S. Timothie leaues all his riches to Ecclesiasticall vses 229. 3. S. Titus ordained Bishop by S. Paule in Crete 143. 4. Titus the Emperour reigned 2. yeares and a few monthes 169. 2. Titus his mercy towards those who conspired against him ib. Traian succeeded Nerua in the Empire 171. 4. Traian kept the Empire allmost 20. yeares ib. Traian a persecutor of Christians ib. Traians Persecution cause of the nicrease of Brittish Christians 181. 11. Traian leaueth of all persecution and why 192. 1. Traian gaue free leaue for the Britans to be Christians 193. 1. Traians death 195. 3. Transsubstantiation allowed by saint Cyprian 380. 8. Trebellius a Roman Lieutenant in Britaine a Christian 237. 3. The whole Citty of Treuers Martyred 497. 2. S. Trophimus sent to Arles by saint Peter 67. 6. V. VAlens chosen for an assistant in the Empire 571. 3. Valens leaued the warre for his Religion ib. Valens fell afterwardes into Heresie ib. Valentinian declared Emperour 571. 2. Valentinian a constant Catholike ib. Valentinian depriued of his honours by Iulian the Apostata ib. Valentinian reigned diuers yeares in Britaine 571. 3. Valentinian the younger seduced by his Mother Iustina 573. 4. Valentinians Hereticall proceedings against saint Ambrose ib.
by sainct Peter yet this hindereth not but that as before he spent much time labour in that kinde as nature and charitie bound him in this his natiue contry which is testified in plaine termes both by Methodius that most auncient writer and sainct Marianus Scotus his owne contriman of this Iland who speaking of diuers Apostolike Marian. Scot. l. 2. aetat 6. in Nerua col 254. Method apud eund supr men of that time whom they call Insignes sanctitate gratia pollentes renowned men excelling in sanctitie and grace among whome they name both this our holy Bishop and sainct Clement his associate they say of them non solùm propria prouincia sed in extremis al. externis vltimis industrij illustres regna Tyrannorum vicerunt They were not onely industrious renowned for preaching in their owne contries but also in extreme or externe and vttermost nations ouercame the kingdomes of Tyrants Where it is euident by these two greate witnesses that this most blessed Bishop of Britaine preached here in his owne contry propria prouincia at that time And thus I end the Empire of Caligula Guiderius reigning in Britaine THE VIII CHAPTER OF THE TIME OF CLAVDIVS AND HOW by our Protestants testimony one of the twelue Apostles then preached in Britaine 1. NOw we are come to the time of Claudius when both Catholiks and Protestants assure vs both that the Apostles formally preached vnto the Gentiles and there were many Christians in this our Britaine But before we proceed further to auoide all ambiguitie or errour that might chaunce in these matters in the iudgment of Protestants let vs first craue their best assistance and direction by some certaine grounds and maximes in history as infallible rules truely and plainely to square our narration by least we be deceaued They Certaine historicall grounds and Maximes giuen by our ProtesiaÌ„t Antiquaries to knâ—we what Apâ—stles first preached in Britaniâ— propose some fewe for most certaine and vndoubted generall verities which will easily leade vs to many vndoubted particular conclusions First they say which in some sort is remembred before that this kingdome of Britaine receaued the faith of Christ soone after his Ascension Secondly that this holy Religion was preached here by some one at the least of the Apostles Thirdly who they are in particular of that most holy number and order of whom mention is made in histeries to haue preached in this nation Fourthly that in the time of Claudius of which we now intreate diuers Christians came hither from Rome when he persecuted them there Fiftly that sainct Paul came not to Rome or to any of these west parts vntill longe after the death of Claudius in the reigne of Nero Sixtly that sainct Simon Zelotes whom some write to haue preached and bene martyred in Britaine was put to death in Persia with sainct Iude. Seuenthly that it was the 63. yeare of Christ before sainct Ioseph of Aramathia that buried our Sauiour came hither with his religious companions Lastely that sainct Peter that great Apostle was one of those three Apostles sainct Paul and sainct Simon Zelotes the other two which are reported in histories to haue preached heare All which assertions Theater of great Britanie lib. 6. Camden in Britan. Stowe And howe 's hist Holinsh. hist of Engl. Godwyn Conu of Brit. Catal. of Bishop Protest Comm. Booke Parker antiquit Britan. Mason Booke of Ordin with others are taught by the cheifest Protestant antiquaries and historians of England in their common booke of their religion their Theater and other writings of most credit with them for vndoubted historiall verities By which it euidently will be concluded by their owne graunts and directions that sainct Peter was the onely Apostle that first brought or sent Christianitie into this kingdome Which is particularly also proued before in the case of S. Mansuetus the first Preist and Bishop which was borne in this Iland which any histories I reade make mention of yet consecrated by S. Peter sent and directed by him with others of his disciples into these parts 2. But to make all these things so euidently true euen by these Protestants that no man with any pretence of probabilitie shall be able to make contradiction vnto them They shall all and euery of them be particularly and Inuincibly proued true by these meÌ„ themselues The first of the faith of Christ receaued heare soone after his Ascension and in the time of Tyberius is verified before from these Protestant Authours To which I add this their Testimony againe The Apostle himselfe saith the sound of the ghospell went through the earth and was heard vnto the ends of the world Which his sayings cannot more Theater of great Britaine l. 6. c. 9. Rom. 10. v. 18. fitly be applied to any other Nation then to vs of Britaine whose land by the almightie is so placed in the terrestriall Globe that thereby it is termed of the auncient the the ends and deemed to be situated in an other world And againe Immediately after Christs death doth Gildas fasten our conuersion where he writeth that the glorious Ghospell of Iesus Christ which first appeared to the world in the later time of Tyberius Caesar did euen then spread his bright beames vpon this frosen Iland of Britaine The Gildas de excid Brit. like testimony they reiterate in an other place Which I will cite hereafter and according vnto this runneth the whole current of their writers of antiquitie from the highest and greatest to the louest and meanest among them 3. Their first Protestant Archbishop Matthew Parker in his Intituled Antiquitates Britannicae The Antiquities of Britaine proueth it from Antiquities in Matth. Parker antiquit Brit. p. 1 these words primam Christianae Ecclesiae originem institutionem in Insula Britannica ex antiquissimis patrum scriptorumque testimonijs repertemus nor modo peruetustam eam fuisse sed etiam ab ipso primum per Apostolos propagato per orbem Euangelio initia duxisse accepisse incrementa we shall finde out of the most auncient testimonies of the Fathers and writers That the first beginning and institution of the Christian Church in the Iland of Britaine was not onely very auncient but to haue had beginning and receaued increases euen from the time when the Ghosppell was first propagated in the world by the Apostles And he yeeldeth his reason immediatly in this maÌ„ner Gildas enim Antiquisâ—imus inter eos qui fide digni sunt Britannicaruâ— râ—rum scriptor tradit Britannos iam inde ab ortu Euangelij Christianam 〈◊〉 fidâ—m for Gildas the most auncient writer of Brittish matters among those that 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—edit doth deliuer that the Britons receaued the Christian faith euen from Engliâ—h ProtestaÌ„ts mistake the testimonie of Gildas about the time of the faith of Christ receaued heare the rising vp of the ghospell The Protestant Bishops and others Authors of their greate Theater of
giue the first entertainement to the blessed Apostle sainct Peter at his first coming thither as that Roman tradition of that their howse after by marriage with the holy Brittish Lady Claudia their daughter and heire with Pudens the Senator and so long after this coming of sainct Peter to Rome named the howse of Pudens the Senator assureth vs. Which I proue by an other vndoubted tradition of the Romans That S. Peter was 15. yeares in Rome before S. Paul came thither Romani autem dicunt Petrum annis 15. in Roma fuisse antequam Paulus ad Romam venit So writeth our Florentius Wigorniensis with the common consent of Antiquitie and writers both Catholiks and Protestants And the Roman Martyrologe itselfe telleth vs of this Pudens the Senator that he was baptized by the Apostles Qui ab Apostolis Coristo in baptismo vestitus Innocentem tunicam vsque ad vitae coronam immaculate cusiodiuit Martyrolog Rom. antiq die 19. Maij. And there calleth him plainely S. Pudens the Senator Father of S. Pudentiana the virgin S. Pudentis Senatoris patris supradictae virginis Pudentianae So that being baptized by the Apostles sainct Peter and sainct Paul for no others were then in Rome ab Apostlis this could not be by true accompt vntill at the soonest fifteene yeares after sainct Peter was first receaued in that howse And if the Martyrologe could carry that interpretation to vnderstand by Apostolis the Apostles in the plurall number one Apostle no propper constructioÌ„ yet by this frieÌ„dly more then lawfull interpretation he must needs be baptized by S. Peter so also a most vnprobable thing that diuers ChristiaÌ„s then being as before in Rome S. Peter could first coÌ„mit himselfe to a Pagan or Catecumene and he and the Christians of Rome make such an house their cheifest Church place of assembly for diuine things And to put all out of doubt this S. Pudens as I shall demonstrate hereafter in the proper place of him and saint Claudia his wife was either an infant or not borne when S. Peter came to Rome and was first lodged and receaued in that howse which after many yeares by title of marriage with our Lady the Lady Claudia came to be his howse not before but it still remayned in the hands of our Christian Britanes the Parents of that Lady there in Rome For more pregnant Martial Pocta Epigram proofe whereof we are told by him that liued in the dayes of this Pudens by the most common consent of writers both Catholiks and Protestants was well acquainted with him his state and Countrie that this PudeÌ„s was by birth and Countrie a Sabinite farre distant from Rome his howse at Sabinum the cheifest Towne there and no mention of any howse at all which of their owne eyther he or his parents had in Rome when by all testimonies of writers we are told the parents of Lady Claudia being Britanes were dwelling in Rome as hostages among others for this Nation there and without question had an howse there sutable and answerable to their honorable degree and that their daughter S. Claudia was borne there not in Britaine for no Auihour that I reade doth affirme she was borne in this Iland but onely of Brittish parents lyuing in Rome Claudia caerulcis cum sit progmata Martial l. 11. Epigr 54. de Claudâ—a Ruff. Godw. Conuers of Brit. p. 16. Theat of greate Britainel 6. Matt. Parker antiq Brit. p. 2. Io. Pits l. de vir Illustrib p. 72. Authour of conuers part 1. 2. Timoth. 4. Britannis Claudia borne of Britans But not in Britaine onely she is called of the Poet Martial peregrina a straunger as the children of straungers vsually are termed both with vs and other people And the time of her birth and age so conuince as I shall declare hereafter and may be plainely proued from S. Paul himselfe a litle before his death 4. And whereas we finde noe memory at all of any naturall parents of S. Pudens dwelling in Rome we haue sufficient testimony not onely of the permanent dwelling both of the Father and Mother of S. Claudia there before remembred but that by diuers probable Arguments they dwelled in that very howse where Pudens continued with them after his marriage with their daughter and were holy and renowned Christians although their natiue Countrie of Britaine hath hitherto bene almost wholy depriued of their honour and so must needs be by the Roman Tradition the first entertainers God win conu of Britaine p. 17. c. 3 â— Tim. 4. v. 21. of sainct Peter in Rome for as a Protestant Bishop in their common opinion writeth Pudens and Claudia were two young persons but faithfull Christians at that time vnmarried when Paul writ the second epistle vnto Timothie which was in the last yeare of Nero aâ— all men suppose that I haue reade except Baronius and that they were married in the later end of Vespasian or about the beginning of Domitian Therefore Pudens being so young in the end of Nero his Empire Although we graunt him then newly married yet this was by all computations at the least 24. yeares after the coming of sainct Peter to Rome And so it could not possibly be Pudens but the parents of Claudia our Britans that entertained first S. Peter in their house at Rome Who for certaintie being Britans of noble order degree lyuing in Rome as Hostages by all IudgmeÌ„t they enioyed more freedome and libertie in matters of Religion then the Romans did at that time The Emperours of Rome theÌ„ nor long after intermedling with the Britans for matters of Religion but leauing it voluntarie and free vnto them as other Tributaries to vse the Religion of their Contries or as they were best and most disposed priuately at the least euen in Rome itselfe without controlement So by the great mercy prouidence of God the subiection temporall captiuitie or restraint of diuers these our worthie Contrimen proued to be the most happy spirituall freedome in Christ both of those our Hostages there this whole kingdome afterward conuerted to the true faith from thence by this originall so renowned and glorious for euer to this Nation to haue in Rome it selfe the first Harbourers Receauers of that most Blessed highest Apostle S. Peter And thus I haue proued directly both against the Protestant Bishop of England denying it the truth of that Roman Tradition that sainct Peter was first with his holy Disciples receiued in Rome in the house which the Romans truely called the house of Pudens after he was God wyn supr Conuers of Brit. p. 17. c. 3. married to Lady Claudia of this Nation confuting his idle obiection of the young age of Pudens As also the Romans therefore calling it the house of Pudens because so it was in such sence as I haue declared and not truely inducing from thence that therefore Pudens the Roman Senator first entertained
Eisengr cent 1. 1. part 7. dist 8. by Simon Metaphrastes out of the greeke Antiquities and Gulielmus Eisengrenius in the first of his Centuries Where we see both Greekes and Latines to agree in this by our Protestants censure Which other Protestant Antiquaries namely amonge others Syr William Camden their absolutely best historian who maketh it a thing so certaine that S. Peter the Apostle both preached heare and performed such holy Apostolik offices for this kingdome as are partly remembred before that he maketh it a wonder that any man should oppose Camd. in Brit. against it and not beleeue it to be so Quid ni crederemus why should we not beleeue it and them that write it to be so And besides the Authors before alledged and to be cited hereafter both this Prince of Protestant Antiquaries and Andredu Chesne in his French generall history of England Scotland and Iland and diuers other English writers and allowed historians doe playnely André du Chesne histoire general d'Angleterre Escosse d'Irland l. 3. pag. 152. in Indice Harris in Theatro in S. Peter l. 1. c. 22. Nic. Fa. antiq Cath. p. 12. Camd. supr Edit an 1594. 1588. Andre Chesne supr affirme that Nicephorus is of the same opinion Camden confidently in diuers Editions telleth vs Nicephorus de Petro prodit Nicephorus doth declare of sainct Peter that he brought the faith of Christ to the Iles of Britaine The French historian saith Nicephorus teacheth in moste expresse terms that sainct Peter brought the doctrine of Christ to the occidentall Ocean and the Iles of Britaine 6. And if those men should ground vpon no other place then that of Nicephorus which some would expound for S. Simon Zelotes being heare which is in his second booke and 40. chapter It cannot be vnderstood of any other Apostle in any probable opinion but S. Simon Peter the cheife of the Apostles for none other of that most holy company being named Simon but Simon Peter and the other by some Zelotes and Chananaeus I haue made demonstration both by Catholikes and Protestants that S. Simon Zelotes was neuer heare in this Britaine Therefore Nicephorus to iustifie the coming of S. Simon an Apostle to preach the ghospell in this kingdome to make his assertion true must needs vnderstand it of S. Simon Peter And his very words will easely suffer that construction These they are as they be translated by our Protestant historians Nicephorus a Greeke Authour in his second booke 40. Stowe Howes hist in Agricola chapter hath as followeth Simon borne in Chana Galilei who for his feruent affection to his Master and greate zeale he tooke by all meanes to the Ghospell was surnamed Zelotes he hauing receaued the holy Ghost from aboue trauailed through Egypt and Afrike then through Mauritania and all Lybia preaching the Ghospell And the same doctrine he brought to the occidentall Sea and the Iles called Britannicae What is here in this narration but may truely and literally be applied to sainct Simon Peter who by name was Simon by Country of Galilie where he was first called by Christ to be an Apostle as first the scripture witnesseth Matth. c. 4. v. 15. March c. 1. v. 16. Ioan. c. 21. v. 15. 16. 1◠and for zeale and loue to his master the most zelous and louing among all the Apostles by his owne and Christs testimony recorded by the beloued Apostle of Christ That S. Peter the Apostle trauayled those Coūtries or taugth the faith in them is both proued before and Nicephorus himselfe shall further testifie Therefore to keepe Nicephorus or whosoeuer from whom he citeth that allegation from contradiction seeing it cannot truely be interpreted of S. Simon Zelotes we must for the credit of the Authour expound it of S. Simon Peter and this the rather because those Protestants themselues which cite these words of Nicephorus doe not affirme that they are true of Stowe Howes supr in Agricola Godwyn Conu of Britaine pa. 2. the other saint Simon or that he euer was in this Iland therefore to iustifie their truth in any respect we must by consent both of Catholiks and Protestants say they are onely verifiable of saint Peter Which the same Authour Nicephorus doth more plainely proue in other places First in the first chapter of his third booke he doth plainely distinguish that Apostle called by him before saint Simon that preached in Britaine from that Apostle called also commonly saint Simon Cananaeus or Zelotes which preached in Egypt Afrike and Mauritania making them two seuerall and diuers Apostles for speaking there of the sortition or diuision of the world betweene the 12. Apostles to preach the Ghospell in he vseth these words Aegyptū Lybiā alius alius item Nicephorus lib. 3. cap. 1. Stowe and Ed. Howe 's hist Romans p. 37. extremas Oceanū Regiones Insulas Britānicas sortitus est Which our Protestāts thus translate An other chose Egypt and Lybia an other the vttermost coosts of the Ocean with the Iles of Britaine Where we euidently See that whereas it is commōly taught that S. Simō Zelotes did preach in Egypt and Afrike which also Nicephorus alloweth yet euen by him it was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 alius an other Apostle yet by him before called Simō that preached in Britaine Therefore by him as the Protestant Antiquaries before haue truely deduced it must needs be S. Simon Camden supr Andre Chesne supr Nicephor l. 2. c. 35. Peter Prince of the Apostles which preached in this kingdome Which he further cōfirmeth of S. Peter in an other place speaking thus of him Petrus per orbem habitabilem passim vadens Ecclesias vbique constituit Romanam successoribus commisit Lino videlicet Anacleto Clementi Peter going euery where through the habitable world appointed Churches in euery place and left the Roman See to his Successours Linus Anacletus and Clement Therefore speaking of this voyadge of S. Peter after he came to Rome and leauing it to S. Linus and his Successours he must needs principally vnderstand his Iorney and labours into this west world through all which as he saith he trauayled and founded Churches in euery place For to that purpose by the common consent of Antiquaries he committed the chardge at Rome to S. Linus and Cletus vt ipse instaret praedicationi verbi orationi that he might intend to preach the word of God Niceph. l. 3. c. 1. in this westerne world and to pray And that he constituted Bishops in Ilands and cities in totius Europae oris in all the coasts of Europe Therefore except England the greatest of Ilands is not to be called an Iland and so renowned a Monarchie of Europe is no part thereof we must needs graunt by Nicephorus that S. Peter preached the faith of Christ consecrated Preists and Bishops and founded Churches in this Nation of great Britaine 7. And because our Theater Protestants
Antiq. Brit. p. 3. God wyn conu of Brit. c. 2. p. 10. S. Aug. in quad Ep. apud Auth. supr Henry of Huntington for his opinion as is allready declared The first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury and an other also named such a Bishop will help vs to finde an other in the I le of Glastenburye more auncient then that which was builded there by S. Ioseph of Aramathia and his companions in the yeare of Christ 63. this being then fully and perfectly framed and finished before their coming thither and so found by them absolutely perfected And they cite for their Authour S. Augustine the Apostle of England in a certaine Epistle written by him wherein he saith these holy men A Church at Glastenbury before that builded by S. Ioseph of Aramaâ—hia found at their coming thither a Church builded by no art of man but prepared by God for mans saluation Ecclesiam nulla hominum arte instructam immo humanae saluti adeo paratam repererunt Which is also recorded in the old Antiquities of Glastenbury written vpon parchiment fixed vpon broade bords which cite for the same historiam apud S. Edmundum Augustinum the history at S. Antiq. Gaston M. S. â—abulis fixae ex â—ist apud S. Edmundum S. Augustinum Edmunds and S. Augustines Which we must needes referre to the time of S. Peters preaching heare among other miracles to proue his doctrine by God so miraculously prouided a Church to preach the ghospell and Minister Sacraments in and perhaps a motiue to the Pagan King to graunt licence to S. Ioseph to builde their poore Chappell at Glastenbury and to endowe it with possessions Neither can we thinke this Church so priuiledged by that King to haue bene finished without allowance of S. Peter then present in this kingdome no Bishop being then heare but by his Authoritie or Consecration to dedicate and hallow it And when our Protestant Theater writers with others haue told vs that in diuers places of this kingdome euen in the Court of the Roman Lieurenant and among them his Lady and wife Pomponia Graecia there were many Christians before S. Iosephs coming hither which must needes be the spirituall children of S. Peter we may not make him so carelesse a Father that staÌ„ding in no worse terms with the then king of Britaine and Roman Lieutenant then by circunstances before it appeared he did but he prouided some Oratories or poore Churches either by those Princes permission or not contradiction for them to exercise their sacred Christian Religion in though the iniurie of so manie changes and alterations of gouernements in this kingdome with persecutions and Innouations in Religion haue buried their memories in obliuion and left the certaine knowledge and remembrance of so few vnto vs. And both Catholike Tâ—â—e Christian old Churches in the Ilâ— of â—â—wyâ— and Protestant Historians tell vs of two Miraculous auncient Chappels in the Isle of Iewis Boethius calleth it Leuisa the one dedicated to S. Peter the Apostle the other to his Disciple and Successor S. Clement where if the fire or Holinsh. hist of Scotland l. 4. c. 15 â—ector Boetius descript Scot. f. 14. light by mischance goth forth it is or was wont to be in Catholike times miraculously restored at the Altare No man to my reading writeth of their first founding but their names and dedication together with the Miracle giue no small argument they had some originall in or neare those times when S. Peter and S. Clement preached in this kingdome THE XX. CHAPTER WHEREIN FOR THE BETTER DECERNING of truely consecrated Bishops so many Ecclesiasticall matters depending therevpon is shewed by the Antiquities how these Bishops were heare consecrated in the Apostles time and succeeding Ages 1. HAVING thus set downe some holy Bishops consecrated by S. Peter with Preists and others subordinate vnto them and places wherein they preached practised and professed the first Apostolike Christian doctrine and Religion in this kingdome Order and Methode in Historie call vpon mee next to deliuer in particular so fare as our penury of Antiquities will giue mee leaue what Religion it was especially in points now controuersed which that glorious Apostle by himselfe and those his worthie Disciples taught the Christians of this our Britaine and professed in those and other Churches and places of Christian Assemblies But intending to reserue that labour to the end of euery hundred of yeares or to some other booke a parte to shewe the ReligioÌ„ of our Christian BritaÌ„s in that age in such I will heare onely speake of the Order maÌ„ner of coÌ„secrating Bishops heare in that happy time both because I haue made so late lardge mention of such holy Rulers and our Protestants of England still without exaÌ„ple of any others of these new Religions retayne their names and offices as they suppose as euer to haue bene from the Apostles time most necessary to rule direct and gouerne in the Church of Christ 2. It is the common opinioÌ„ of their Antiquaries that the Britans heare from their first receauing of the faith of Christ in the time of the Apostles neuer altered or chaunged it in any one essentiall thing at the least vntill the coming of S. Augustine hither in the later end of the sixt hundred yeare of Christ Then much more must we affirme by these men that the essentiall things in the consecration of true and lawfull Bishops vpon which all other depended were neuer chaunged otherwise the chaunge and alteration in these vnchangeable and vnalterable affaires had bene contrary to these mens assertions too greate and intollerable Then we reade in a very old Manuscript Capgraue to follow two Protestant Bishops with many others that Io. Bal. l. de Scrip. Cent. 1. in Asaph Godwin Catal. of Bishops in cod Asaph Pits l. de vir Illustr in eod S. Asaph in vit S. Kenteg M. S. Antiq. in eodem Io. Capgrau in S. Kentegerno Episcop Confess S. Asaph did write the life of S. Kentegern and dyed aboue a thowsand yeares since that when S. Kentegern vas consecrated Bishop allmost by these Authours 1200. yeares agoe Mos in Britannia inoluerat in consecratione Pontificum tantummodo capita eorum Sacri Chrismatis infusione perungere cum inuocatione Sancti Spiritus benedictione manus impositione Insulani enim quasi extra orbem positi emergentibus Paganorum infestationibus Canonum erant ignari Ecclesiastica ideo censura ipsis condescendens excusationem illorum admittit in hac parte A custome was growne of long time in Britaine in the consecration of Bishops to annoint their heads with infusion of holy Chrisme with inuocation of the holy ghost and benediction and imposition of hands For the Ilanders being as it were placed out of the world by often Infestations of Pagans were ignorant of the Canons And therefore the Ecclesiasticall Censure condesceÌ„ding vnto them admitteth their excuse in this point And immediately before this maÌ„ner
of coÌ„secrating Bishops is called Mos Britannorum Scotorum The custome or manner of the Britans and Scots in consecrating Bishops and the same is there pâ—oued of the Christians in Ireland in those times For the same Antiquities testifie that there was a Bishop sent for out of Ireland to be present and a Consecratour of S. Kentegern after that manner accito de Hibernia vno Episcopo more Britonum Scotorum in Episcopum ipsum consecrari fecerunt 3. We are also taught by a Protestant Bishop that S. Asaph who write the Io. Capgrau M. S. S. Asaph supr in S. Kentegerno life of S. Kentegern and succeeded him in his Episcopall See in Wales and by his sanctitie gaue that denomination vnto it was consecrated Bishop by holy vnction vnctionem recepit And there speaketh as though it was the essentiall ceremony of that holy Order ascribing there no other thing essentiall vnto it but authoritatem vnctionem authoritie and inunction so that Authoritie Ioh. Bal. lib. de Scriptor cent 1. in Asaph fol. 34. being the same with Iurisdiction he maketh the Sacrament onely or cheifely to consist in Anointing with holy Chrisme And though these testimonies that this Order or manner of consecrating Bishops was a generall custome with the Britans Scots and Irish people when S. Kentegern was made Bishop which was long before the death of S. Patrike the Popes Legate in these Countries and before any notice taken of the Canons of holy Councels in this matter doe sufficiently proue this ordering of Bishops with holy Chrisme was essentiall and from the time of the Apostles yet if we will followe the opinion of the Protestant Archbishop Whitgift M. Foxe M. Barnes and Ioh. Witg. Answere to the Admonit p. 65. sect 4. p. 66. sect 1. Foxeto 1. pag. 12. Rob. Barnes in vit Pontif. in Anacleto S. Anacletus Epi. ad Galliae Episc tom 1. Concil other English ProtestaÌ„t writers testifying S. Anacletus that was made Preist by S. Peter the Apostle and after succeeded in the See of Rome to be Authour of the Epistles extant in his name it maketh this matter out of Question For answearing the petition of the Bishops of Fraunce desirous to be instructed by him in this matter thus he writeth Vt a beato Petro Principe Apostolorum sumus instructi a quo Presbyter sum ordinatus scribere vobis sicut petistis non denegabimus Ordinationes Episcoporum authoritate Apostolica ab omnibus qui in eadeÌ„ fuerint Prouincia Episcopis sunt celebrandae Qui simul conuenientes scrutinium diligenter agant ieiuniumque in omnibus celebrent precibus manus cum sanct is Euangelys quae praedicaturi sunt imponentes Dominica die bora tertia orantes sacraque vnctione exemplo Prophetarum Regum capita eorum more Apostolorum Moysis vngentes quia omnis sanctificatio constat in Spiritu sancto cuius virtus inuisibilis Sancto Chrismate est permixta hoc ritu solemnem celebrent ordinationem As we were instructed by S. Peter Prince of the Apostles by whome also I was made Preist we will not deny to write vnto you as you haue requested Ordinations of Bishops by Apostolike authoritie are to be celebrated by all the Bishops that are in the same Prouince Who assembling together let them diligently make scrutiny and let them celebrate fasting with all prayers and imposing their hands â—ith the holy ghospels which they are to preach praying vpon our Lords daye at the third hower and with holy vnctio by example of Prophets and Kings anointing their heads according to the manner of the Apostles and Moyses because all sanctification consisteth in the holy ghost whose inuisible vertue is mixed in holy Chrisme and by this Rite let them celebrate solemne ordination Where we learne of an eye witnesse and Anditor and Disciple of S. Peter so authentically witnessing it that the other Apostles and S. Peter did not onely vse his holy anointing of those Bishops they consecrated but in this externall ceremony the vertue and grace of that Sacrament was giuen 4. To giue further confirmation to this Antiquitie and inuincibly proue that this manner of consecrating Bishops with holy vnction must needes descend from the Apostles it was the generall custome in all parts of the world Asia Afrike and Europe both in the Greeke and Latin Church in the first vnspotted dayes of Christianitie For Asia and the Greeke Church Marcus Marc. Anton. de Dom. l. 2. c. 2. p. 187. Antonius de Dominis when he was a writer for Protestants and by their warrant in England writeth plainely Areopagitae Dyonisio tributum opusculum vnctionem ponit expressè the worke ascribed to Dionisius the Areopagite doth expresly put vnction in consecrating a Bishop And proueth directly out of S. Gregory Nazianz. orat 20. de laudib S. Basilij orat 5. ad Pat. Basil Naziancen that both S. Basile and he also were consecrated Bishops with this holy Ceremonie me Pontificem vngis For Afrike he citeth diuers Councels And for Europe and the Latin Church he alledgeth the Epistle of S. Anacletus before cited addit vnctionem capitis Anacletus quae est antiquissima I rather cite these Protestants for these then the auncient Catholike Authours themselues knowne to all learned men that no Protestant may stand in doubt of the veritie of the Antiquities 5. And to speake a litle more of the Latin Church in which England is S. Gregory saith playnely that the annointing of Bishops is a Sacrament and so cannot be omitted Qui cum in culmine ponitur Sacramenta suscipit vnctionis Gregor in c. 4. 1. Reg. Quia vero ipsa vnctio Sacramentum est is qui promouetur bene foris vngitur si intus virtute Sacramenti roboretur he a Bishop that is placed in the top receaueth the Sacrament of vnction Because that vnction is the Sacrament he which is promoted is well anointed out wardly if inwardly he is strenghtned by the vertue of the Sacrament The learned Fathers S. Isidor Amalarius Fortunatus at Treuers S. Isidor lib. 2. de Eccles offic c. 25. Stephan aduers tractat de Sacrament Altar S. Iuo serm de reb Eccl. de signific Indumentorum Bed l. 3. detabernaculo vasis eius Et apud Amalar supr Protest Booke of Articles of Religion art 25. in Germany Stephanus Adnensis a Bishop and S. Iuo in Fraunce testify the same that a Bishop is consecrated cheifly with this holy ceremony of vnction So doth S. Bede in England saying Indutus sacris vestibus Pontifex mox oleo vnctionis perfunditur vt per gratiam Spiritus Sancti consecratio perficiatur The Bishop attyred with sacred vestiments is presently perfused with oyle of vnction that consecration may be perfected by grace of the holy Ghoste Where we see all which the Religion of English Protestants in their publike Articles thereof requireth to a Sacrament an externall signe instituted by Christ
Clement for the same as S. Anacletus doth and he liued in the yeare 255. The like hath Pelagius the second and others And to write from the first generall and greate Councells the first Nicen Councell both in the fourth sixr and seuenth Canon both in Greeke and Latine and in all Copies maketh mention of such Primats and Metropolitans and their priuiledges calling it antiqua consuetudo the old custome so doth the second Councell at Arles in France where our Archbishop of London was present and subscribed for the Cleargie of this Nation about the same time And the first generall Councell of Antioche setteth downe how in euery Prouince there should be a Metropolitan ouer the other Bishops and that other Bishops might doe nothing without his allowance And saith the old Rule and Canon of the Fathers was so and from the beginning secundum antiquam à Patribus nostris Regulam constitutam vt vult qui ab initio obtinuit Patrum Canon as an other translation readeth Therefore this so certaine and auncient a Rule and Canon so generall so binding and from the beginning thus testified by these first generall Councells must needs be the same which is before deliuered from S. Clement and S. Anacletus in this matter 4. And to make all sure by our English Protestants Religion to passe Booke of Consecratiō of Archbishops c. in Praefat. Articl of Relig. 36. Tho. Roger. Annalis Artic. 36. ouer their priuate writers in this case the generall Rule of their Religion for making vnto them such Primats and Archbishops as they haue assureth vs this was the practise of the Church euer since the Apostles time So doth their publik Glosse vpon the Articles of Religion to which all their Protestant Bishops and Ministers haue sworne to maintaine the doctrine thereof as they write Perrused and by the lawfull Authoritie of the Church of England allowed to be publike And thus Intituled on euery leafe as vpon this in particular The Catholike doctrine of the Church of England In which they expressely write of their Protestant Archbishops which they call Primats as their Catholike Predecessors were It is agreable to the word of God and Practise of the Primatiue Church that there should be Archbishops The superioritie which Archbishops enioye and exercise is groūded vpon the word of God And for a summe of their reasons Couell Examinat c. 9. pag. 105. 106. herein thus they print with publike priuiledge Apostolicall ordination reason the custome of all Churches auncient and well gouerned and nature it selfe doth ordaine Archbishops in their Prouinces to Rule the Church Which is asmuch in so few words containing the heads of all cheife Arguments for this matter as either S. Anacletus or any Catholike writer at this day doth or can vse in this busines And giue this greatest warrant they are able to those holy writings of S. Clement and Anacletus and in mysteries besides whether of the Popes Supremacy ouer all Christian people and Churches or any other deliuered in them being the first witnesses hereof we haue after Apostles whome they their immediate Schollers and successors alledge both for teaching and practising the same And for these present questions of cheifest importance as for others hereafter they doe in expresse termes thus both alledge and allowe these so auncient Testimonies of this holy Apostolike mā Anacletus Episcopos officio pares ordine duplici distinxit eos Primates siue Patriarchas appellari voluit qui in illis ciuitatibus praeessent in quibus olim primarij Flamines Robertus Barnes l. de vit Pontif Rom. in Anaclet excuss Lugduni Batauorum 1615. cum gratia priuileg illustrium DD. ordinum generalium sederunt in alijs Metropolitanis vrbibus Episcopos Metropolitanos vel Archiepiscopos nominandos esse censuit Ab ipso Domino Primatum Romanae Ecclesiae super omnes Ecclesias vniuersumque Christiani nomine populum concessum esse asseruit Pope Anacletus did distinguish Bishops equall in calling into two orders he would haue them called Primats or Patriarks which ruled in those Cities in which in olde times the primary Flamins did sitt in other Metropolitan Cities he did holde that the Bishops should be named Metropolitans or Archbishops He affirmed that Primacie was graunted by our Lord himselfe to the Roman Church ouer all Churches and all Christian people Therefore seeing it is so amply confessed that what S. Anacletus hath deliuered vnto vs was by the warrant instruction and example of S. Peter and S. Clement his Predecessor and diuers times among other holy directions sufficiently declareth that in his time it principally appertained vnto him to send Bishops and Preists into this as to other parts of the world that they which would be accompted Sheepe and belonging to the Folde of Christ may knowe whether those Sheephards and Pastors which they followe are true and lawfull Pastors or no we cannot better learne this distinction to knowe them by then of this holy man made Preist and tought by S. Peter himselfe and after succeeding him in that highest Chardge and dignitie especially seeing he hath more particularly then any others of that Age to my reading deliuered this cognizance to Posteritie cheifely to know their cheife Pastors Bishops by and of others so plainely that no man except willfully can be deceaued therein First he setteth downe the Inferior Orders Inferior Ecclesiasticall Orders to assist at the Masse in the Apostles time vnder holy Preisthood as Deacons Subdeacons and other Ministers to assist the Bishop in the holy sacrifice of Masse making that their principall office and dutie as of a Preist to offer the sacrifice of Masse Episcopus Deo sacrificans testes secum habeat plures quam alius Sacerdos Sicut enim maioris honoris gradu fruitur sic matoris testimonij incremento Indiget In solēnioribus diebus aut Septem aut quinque aut Anacletus epist 1. tres Diaconos Subdiaconos atque reliquos Ministros secum habeat qui sacris induti vestimentis in fronte a tergo Presbyteri è regione dextra laeuaque contrito corde humiliato spiritu ac prono stent vultu custodientes eum a maleuolis hominibus consensum eius praebeant sacrificio Where expressely naming Bishops and Preists to offer sacrifice and Deacons Subdeacons and other Cleargie men besides them Diaconos Subdiaconos atque reliquos Ministros and appointing their places and manner of ministring in the holy sacrifice in sacred vestements must needs make that their cheifest office and imploiment And allthough he doth not name in particular those Orders that were inferior to Subdeacons but onely in a generall name atque reliquos Ministros yet thereby expressing they were diuers and their cheife chardge and attendance was to assiste Bishops and Preists at Masse he must needs meane those auncient Inferior Orders which still and euer were in the Catholike Church and which that blessed Father S. Ignatius liuing then
and in the first Age rembreth in his Salutation naming after Preists Deacons and Subdeacons Readers Exorcists Singers Ianitors Labourers Saluto sanctum Presbyterorum Collegium saluto S. Ignat. Epist ad Antiochenos sacros Diaconos Saluto Hypodiaconos Lectores Cantores Ianitores Laborantes Exorcistas Where allthough he doth not set downe the verie forme and manner All Priests and Bishops were ordained to say Masse in the Apostles time and Preists then consecrated by a sacrificing forme and manner as the Roman Church now vseth of consecrating Preists yet calling them sacrificing or massing Preists Sacerdos Episcopus Deo sacrificans peracta consecratione and as our Protestants cite from him sacerdotem Sacrificatorum The forme of their consecration must needs consist of those sacrificing words the Catholike Church now vseth in consecrating Preists or others equiualent vnto them otherwise they could not possibly haue had such sacrificing and Massing power in them as he testifieth they had 5. Concerning Bishops he relateth and prescribeth their manner of Consecration more at large and plainely teacing that by the Apostles order all the Bishops shall assemble or giue consent when a Bishop is to be consecrated Rob. Barn supr in Anacleto and being assembled make diligent examination about the Bishops to be consecrated fast and pray and lay their hands with the booke of the Ghospels vpon them Bishops consecrated in the Apostles time as they are now in the Roman Church and annoint their heads as the Apostles vsed with holy vnction because all sanctification cometh from the holy Ghost whose inuisible power is giuen by holy Chrisme and so they must celebrate Episcopall Ordination And thus he was instructed of S. Peter vt a beato Petro Principe Apostolorum simus instructi scribere vobis sicut petistis non denegauimus Ordinationes Episcoporum authoritate Apostolica ab Anaclet Epist 2. omnibus qui in eadem fuerunt Prouincia Episcopis sunt celebrandae Qui simul conuenientes scrutinium diligenter agant Ieiuniumque cum omnibus celebrent precibus manus cum sanctis Euangelijs quae praedicaturi sunt imponentes sacraque vnctione capita eorum more Apostolorum vngentes quia omnis sanctificatio constat in spiritu sancto cuius virtus Inuisibilis sancto Chrismati est permixta hoc ritu solemnem celebrent Ordinationem And after sheweth how by the example of S. Peter S. Iames and S. Ihon thus ordering S. Iames first Archbishop of Hierusalem they left thereby example to Successors that three Bishops should thus consecrate euery one that was to be admitted to that holy Order And this was the forme and manner of consecrating Bishops heare in Britaine from the beginning and before the Canons were made or knowne heare in this busines as we reade in our auncient and approued Antiquities Mos in Britannia inoleuerat in consecratione Pontificum tantummodo capita eorum S. Asaph in Vita S. Kentegerni Et M. S. antiq Câ—pgr in vita câ—â—â— sacri Chrismatis infusione perungere cum Inuocatione sancti spiritus benedictione manus Impositione and this was the auncient vse both of the Britans and Scots more Britonum Scotorum the old custome inoleuerat 1200. yeares since about which time in the consecrating of S. Kentegerne it is so termed and testified 6. Therefore we haue sufficient warrant to thinke that both Britans and Scots from their first receauing the faith of Christ obserued this holy Rite and manner in consecrating Bishops And without these by the testimony of S. Anacletus warranted therein by S. Peter as he hath told vs the grace and power of the holy Ghost was not giuen in that Sacrament And so where it is wanting as in our Protestants of England and all other Heretikes there can be no true and lawfull Bishops no Preists made by such as be not so consecrated no Sacraments duely ministred no word of God truely and orderly preached euen by the Articles of the English Protestant Religion disabling in Articles of Engl. Protest Religion Articul 19. 23. 36. such things euery one but lawfully and rightely consecrated called Cleargie men saying it is no true Church where these things are wanting And that S. Anacletus did send such Bishops euen Metropolitans and Sacrificing Massing Preists Consecrators and Offerers Sacri corporis Domini tractatores as he nameth Preists of the sacred body of our Lord into diuers Countryes euen Anaclet Epist 2. these parts it is euident where he writeth that S. Peter S. Clement and he himselfe sent such from the See Apostolike Illi qui in Metropoli à beato Petro Anaclet Epist 3. Apostolo ordinante Domino à praedecessore nostro Sancto Clemente seu à nobis S. Anacletus sent diuers Archbishops Bishops and Preists consecrated as before in these parts constituti sunt non omnes Primates vel Patriarchae esse possunt sed illae vrbes quae priscis temporibus Primatum tenuere PatriarcharuÌ„ aut Primatum nomine fruantur And to make it manifest that he aswell as S. Peter and S. Clement did send Metropolitans also as well as Patriarckes and gaue direction where such should be resident he addeth aliae autem primae ciuitates quas vobis conscriptas in quodam Tomo mittimus a sanctis Apostolis a beato Clemente siue à nobis Primates Praedicatores acceperunt Among which were heare our Metropolitan Cities in Britaine Therefore we thus learne of S. Anacletus that either our Metropolitans which S. Peter S. ClemeÌ„t sent hither or ordained heare were now liuing or else their places some at the least were supplied by his Mission of others to succeede them for so he witnesseth And we finde in some our neighboring Countryes which haue better preserued their Antiquities then Britaine hath done that he performed this in particular to them Diuers French Historians among which Richard de Wasseburg Archdeacon AntiquiteÌ„s de la Gaule Belgique per Rich. de Wasseburg f. 28. 29. Bouchard Annal de Bretaigne Antiquit. Ecclesiae Verdunen in S. Sanctino of the Church of Verdune in Lorraine where our worthie Countriman S. Manfuetus was Bishop or Archbishop at Tullum yet and long after liuing and therefore I first name this place as hauing correpondeÌ„ce with our Country is witnes out of the same Church that in this time S. Sanctin which before had bene Bishop of Meux and S. Antonine preached there S. Sanctin was by Pope S. Anacletus constituted Bishop of that place and liued and died there in the yeare of Christ 118. And S. Saluin his next Successor but one the third Bishop there was heare in Britaine as I shall shew heareafter in King Lucius time Which is not vnprobable also of S. Sanctin there so neare vs so many yeares and so neare to S. Mansuetus of this our kingdome visiting it as I haue before mentioned THE II. CHAPTER HOW IN THE PAPACIE OF S. EVARISTVS and Empire of Traiane the same
consented therto The old Manuscript Manuscr Peruetustum de primo statu Landauen Ecclesiae Brittish Antiquitie of the first State of the Church of LaÌ„daffe thus recordeth it Lucius Britannorum Rex ad Eleutherium Apostolicae Sedis Papam Legatos suos scilicet Eluanum Meduinum misit implorans vt iuxta eius Ammonitionem Christianus fieret Lucius King of the Britans sent his Ambassadors Eluan and Medwne to Eleutherius Pope of the Apostolike See beseeching him that Galfrid Monum Hist Reg. Brit. l. 4. c. 19. Antiquit. Glast Tabulis affixae Capgr in S. Patric according to his admoniton he might be made a Christian The Authour of the old Brittish History saith Lucius Epistolas suas Eleutherio Papae direxit petens vt ab eo Christianismum reciperet King Lucius directed his Epistles to Pope Eleutherius desiring to receaue Christianitie from him The old Antiquities of Glastenbury citing other Brittish Authours doe tell vs that very cridible Antiquities deliuer that Lucius King of the Britans did send to Pope Eleutherius to pray him that he would illuminate the darknes of Britaine with the light of Christian preaching Tradunt bonae credulitatis Annales quod Lucius Rex Britannorum ad Eleutherium Papam miserit oratum vt Britanniae tenebras luce Christianae Praedicationis illustraret S. Bede saith King Lucius did entreate Pope Eleutherius Bed l. 1. Eccles Hist c. 4. Theat of Brit. l. 6. Radulphus de Diceto Hist in Eleutherio an 188 Abbreuiat teÌ„p inter an 170. 180. by his letters that by his commandement he might be made a Christian obsecrans vt per eius mandatum Christianus efficeretur Dicetus in his auncient Manuscript History writeth King Lucius of Britaine obtained of Pope Eleutherius by his Epistle written vnto him to be made a Christian Ad Eleutherium Papam Lucius Rex Britanniae missa Epistola se fieri Christianum impetrat The old Authour of the Manuscript History termed Abbreuiatio Temporum if it was not the same Radulphus de Diceto hath the same words though not precisely at the same yeare wherein the copie of Dicetus in the Kings Library as our Theater Protestants cite him but as I haue alledged him Marianus Marian. Scot. l. 2. aetat 6. an 177. Florent Wigor Chron. an 162. 184. Sigebert GeÌ„bl Chronogr in Regno Britan. Matth. Westm an gratiae 185. saith the very same also Lucius Britanniae Rex ab Eleutherio Papa per Epistolam Christianum se fieri impetrat Florentius wigorniensis writeth in the same words Sigibertus saith King Lucius request was the cause that the Britans receaued the Mysteries of Christian Religion by the Legats of Pope Eleutherius Britanni instantia Lucij Britanniarum Regis per Legatos Eleutherij Papae Mysteria Christianitatis perceperuÌ„t Matthew of Westminster giueth the like testimony to this petition of King Lucius to Pope Eleutherius Lucius Britannorum Rex ad Papam Eleutherium Epistolas direxit petens ab eo vt Christianus efficeretur Henry Archdeacon of Huntington saith When Eleutherius was Pope of Rome Lucius King of the Britains sent an Epistle vnto him beseeching him that by his commandement Henricus Huntingt Hist l. 1. in Marco Antonino Vero Aurelio Lucio CoÌ„modo Harding Cronicle in King Lucius c. 51. f. 43. Manuscr Antiq. de Vita S. Dubtitij Io. Capgrauius Catal. in eod he might be made à Christian Cum Eleutherius Pontificatui Romanae Ecclesiae praeesset misit ad eum Lucius Britanniarum Rex Epistolam obsecrans vt per eius maÌ„datum Christianus efficeretur Harding saith this was done at the supplication of Lucius The old Manuscript of the life of S. Dubritius which Capgraue and others followe witnesseth that King Lucius sent two Ambassadors Eluan and Medwine to Pope Eleutherius that he might be made a Christian according to his direction Lucius Britannorum Rex ad Eleutherium Papam Legatos misit stilicet Eluanum Meduinum vt iuxta eius ammonitionem Christianus fieret And in the life of S. Helen the Empresse our Country woman Lucius Epistolas Eleutherio Papae humiliter direxit petens vt ab eo fidem Christianam recicipere mereretur King Lucius did humbly direct Epistles to Pope Eleutherius desiring that he might be thought worthie to receaue the Christian faith from him The like hath Ado Lucius Britannorum Rex missa ad Eleutherium Romae Episcopum Epistolà vt Christianus efficeretur petijt Many others and they auncient Catholike writers of greate credet there be both of this and other M. S. in Vita S. Helenae Et Capgrau in ead Nations which thus confidently for most certaine deliuer this History vnto vs which for auoiding tediousnes I omit as I might haue ouerpassed many of these but to shew to my Readers that the mistakings of some Scribes before remembred and reconciled about times and Titles doe nothing hinder Ado in Chron. inter an 163. 181. the vndoubted and vnquestionable truth of the Relation hereof That the generall Conuersion of this kingdome to Christ was happily brought to passe in the time of Pope Eleutherius by his direction warrant and Papall Authoritie 3. For confirmation whereof by all manner of Antiquaries euen our Protestants most aduerse to the prerogatiues of the holy Apostolike Roman See they generally consent vnto it in this Order Matthias Flaccus Illiricus Ioannes Vuigandus Matthaeus Index and Basilius Faber the Magdeburgian Protestant Historians haue thus of this matter Lucius ad Eleutherium Romanae Ecclesiae Centur. 2. cap. 2. col 8. Episcopum Eluanum Meduuinum Britannos doctrina praestantes mittit rogat vt inde Doctores quosdam accipiat qui Christianam Religionem in suo Regno abolito toto Ethnichismo instaurent King Lucius of Britaine sent two excellently learned Britans Eluanus and Meduuinus to Eleutherius Bishop of the Church of Rome and desired him that he might receaue some Doctours from thence that might establish Christian Religion in his kingdome and abolish Heathen superstition out of it And they alledge Gildas Albanius that this King was addicted to Christian Religion euen from the beginnig of his Reigne Non erat omnino iniquus Lucius Christianorum Religioni statim initio sui Imperijmouebatur enim nonnihil miraculis illustribus quae à Christianis in testimonium ornamentum suae doctrinae passim edebantur vt Gildas Albanius in libro de victoria Aurelij Ambrosij refert A Protestant Bishop of England whome these Magdeburgians cite and follow writeth in like manner cum Io. Bal. l. de Scriptor Brit. cent 1. in Lucio Eluano Meduuino audisset per â—â—esaris Legatos Trebellium Pertinacem Romanorum illustres aliquot quiescente Persecutione Christianam Religionem admisisse statim per eruditos Britannos Eluanum Meduuinum ad Eleutherium Romanorum Pontisicem misit ac scripsit pro suscipiendo Baptismo Epistolam When King Lucius vnderstood by the Emperours
these Ambassadors of King Lucius to be a Bishop but speake generally of the Roman Legats Damianus and Fugatianus presentlâ— sent hither from Pope Eleutherius with others to be Instruments in performing this greate designment S. Gildas Nennius S. Bede Marianus Florentius wigorniensis Ethelwerdus Matthew Westminster WilliaÌ„ Malmesburie HeÌ„ry of HuntingtoÌ„ Radulphus de Diceto Martinus Harding Ado Platina with others writing of this Ambassadge of King Lucius and S. Eleutherius sending his Legats hither about the effecting our Kings request are silent of this consecrating and sending Eluanus Meduuinus hither againe at this time or after in such manner as the others write And the Roman Antiquities of this matter which Baronius termeth the auncientest of King Lucius Acts vetustiora de Lucio monumenta Monum Vet. apud Baron To. 2. Annal. an 183. though they say King Lucius sent these two Ambassadors Eluanus and Meduuinus to Pope Eleutherius about the CoÌ„uersion of Britaine yet they onely testifie that King Lucius his suite was to haue it effected by Pope Eleutherius and such as he should thinke fittest to vndertake that labour how he therevpon sent Fugatius and Donatianus otherwise called Damianus to effect it as they did neuer naming further Eluanus or Meduuinus Agent herein Lucius Legationem misit per Eluanum MeduuinuÌ„ Britannos rogans per eos Eleutherum vt per se suosque ministros ad Christianam Religionem suscipiendam aditum patefaceret quod obtinuit Nam Idem pontifex Fugatium Donatianum aliter Damianum in Britanniam misit And diuers of our Protestants which relate Magdeb. cent 2. col 8. Io. Funccius l. 6. commeÌ„tar in Chronol ad An. 178. Ioan. Bal. li. de Scritp Brit. ceÌ„t 1. in Lucio Eluano Meduuino Idem l. de vitis Pontif. Rom. in Eleuth Rob. Barns l. de Pontif. Rom. in Eleutherio Godwin Conu of Britaine p. 21. this Historie make no memory therein of Pope Eleutherius his consecrating and sending Eluanus and Meduuinus hither such be the Magdeburgian writers Funccius Barns and their Bishop Bale allthough in his booke of writers dedicated to King Edward the sixt he expressely handleth this matter both in King Lucius Eluanus and Meduuinus and there speaketh of these men sent to Eleutherius at Rome yet he is silent of their consecration there seeming to thinke they were consecratd in Britaine before their going to Rome per Apostolicos viros in Christo renati in dispensandis Dei ministerijs inter primos haberentur And in his Booke of the liues of Popes writen after he speaketh not of them at all when he handleth this matter in Pope Eleutherius And an other 4. Protestant Bishop and Antiquary though he holdeth with them that say Pope Eleutherius made Eluanus a Bishop and sent both him and Meduuinus hither yet he addeth by most it is affirmed how that Eleutherius sent with these two before named S. EluaÌ„ and Medwin two other to order the state of the Church who had the honour of performing that office The one of them is called by some Damianus by others Duuanus and by others againe Deruianus Dimianus Diuianus and Donatianus the other is sometimes termed Faganus and sometimes Fugatius And the other last cited Protestant Bishop confirmeth Bal. sup in Lucio Eluan Meduuino Matth. Parker Antiq. Brit. p. 5. Stowe Hist Howes An. 179. in Lucius Io. Goscelin Hist Manuscr de Archiep. CaÌ„t. in Lucio Holinsh. Hist of England l. 4. c. 19. this telling vs all things were ordered by those two Legats of Pope Eleutherius 3. This is sufficiently yeelded vnto by their first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury and by most as the other hath before acknowledgde And Goscelin in his Manuscript History of the Archbishops of Canterbury relating this History of King Lucius sending Eluanus and Meduuinus is silent of any consecration or mission they receaued at Rome but asscribeth the ordering of all Ecclesiasticall matters heare to the Legats of Pope Eleutherius Fugatius vna cum Damiano â—uc remissus Christianam Religionem in Regno instaurant tota Ethnicismo abolito solidè constituunt Holinshed in his History of England is also silent in this consecration of our Ambassadors onely saying of them King Lucius sent vnto Eleutherius Bishop of Rome two learned men of the Brittish Nation â—â—â—an and Medwine requiring him to send some such Ministers as might instruct him and his people in the true faith more plentifully and to Baptize them according to the Rules of Christian Religion Heareupon were sent from the said Eleutherius two godly learned men the one named Fugatius and the other Damianus How they performed this chardge committed vnto them by Pope Eleutherius in the opinion of this ProtestaÌ„t he shall with others testifie when I come to entreate of their proceedings heare Our Protestant Authours of the Theater of greate Britaine relying much vpon the Authoritie of the Manuscript History of Radulphus de Diceto sometime Deane of S. Pauls Church Theater of great Brit. l. 6. in London in the Kings library as they cite him must be of the same minde that the chardge of this greate busines was committed by Pope Eleutherius to his Legats Faganus and Damianus for he writeth so and that all things heare Radulph de Diceto in Manuscr Hist inter ann 170. 180. Io. Leland in assert Arthurij Priseus defens Hist Brit. p. 73. 74. Selden Analect c. 6. Whitg defens of the Answere p. 323. Foxe To. 1. f. 146. Mason l. 2. c. 3. p. 52. 55. Godwin Catal. of Bishops of Yorke â—n Panlinus 1. Winchester 1. were setled by their Legatine Authoritie Leland in his Defence of King Authour and Sir Ihon Prise of the Brittish History affirmeth the like citing diuers others for warrant M. Selden relateth this matter as the others haue done before that King Lucius craued the direction assistance of Pope Eleutherius herein Pontificem Romanum qui tunc fuit Eleutherium vt cum suis Christiano nomine obsignaretur mandatis literis consuluit And he sent Fugatius and Damianus very learned and holy men to conuert this Country Fugatium Damianum imprimis doctos insignisque pietatis viros misit So write their two Archbishops white gift and Abbots M. Foxe Francis Mason And that ProtestaÌ„t Bishop himselfe who before would not haue this so vndoubted a truth as these his fellowes in Religion haue made it when afterwards he came to sounder Iudgment and better reflected vpon this History and grounds thereof maketh it a veritie vndeniable in this manner It cannot be denyed but Eleutherius Bishop of Rome at the request of Lucius then King of Britaine sent Damianus Faganus and other learned Preachers to sowe the seed of the Ghospell heare And in other places proueth from Antiquities that these Legats of Pope Eleutherius exercised Apostolike Legatine Power by Commission from that holy Pope in this kingdome 4. And of this their Power Commission from
Simenorum Venta Icenorum and Verolamium where S. Albons standeth was famous euen with the Pagan writer Cornelius Tacitus and Ptolomaeus So was Barwicke which Ptolomy nameth Tuesis of the Ryuer thereby passing diuiding England and Scotland Hector Boethius saith that Corinimum which now we call Shrewsbury was in auncient time a most famous Towne oppidum olim celebratissimum And at the comming of S. Augustine hither besides their Archbishop there were seuen other Bishops of seuerall Sees and Cities in that Iurisdiction of which scarcely any one in probable Iudgment is before recited 4. Therefore to trauaile no further in this enquiry we haue found more then a sufficient number of old Brittish Cities to setle 3. Archbishops and 28. Bishops in and yet not carry any of them into Scotland but onely where King Lucius and the Romans ruled Now I will endeuour particularly to The Episcopall Sees and Cities in particular in that Age. finde out the seuerall Cities and Sees of all many or most of them A late writer in a Manuscript Historie neuer yet printed thus recounteth them Winchester Glocester Cilicester Worcester Chechester Bangor Hereford Cardiffe Landaffe Morgan Alclud Canterbury Godmanchester in Huntington Haâ—â—is Manusc Tom. 2. in Lucius shiere where S. Machutus was Bishop about the yeare of our Lord 550. for the rest except the three Archbishop Sees London Yorke and Caerlegion he confesseth ignorance where they were A Protestant Historian William Harrison in his Description of England hath vsed some more diligence in this busines And thus proceedeth herein in old time we reade that there were eight William Harrison description of England c. 13. of Cities and Townes and twenty Flamins and Archflamins in the South part of this Isle and so many greate Cyties vnder their Iurisdiction Then to shew where they were and where Archbishops and Bishops succeeded them he addeth If any man be desirous to knowe the names of those auncient Cyties that stood in the time of the Romans he shall haue them heare at hand in such wise as I haue gathered them out of our writers obseruing euen their manner of writing of them so neare as to mee is possible without alteration of any corruption crept vp into the same Then he setteth downe the names of these auncient Cyties in this order Lundon Yorke Canterbury Colchester Lincoln warwicke aunciently called Cair Guttelin Cair Line or Cair Leon Cair Gwair Cair vmber Cair Gwaerton Chester or Cair Legion vpon Vsk Carleill S. Albons aunciently named Cair Maricipit Cair Municip verolamium Verlamcester and Cair watteling of the street whereon it stood Winchester Cisceter Silcester Bath Shastesbury worcester Chichester Bristow Rochester Portchester Cair Marden Glocester Leircester Cambridge formerly stiled Grantabric Cair Graunt After these 23. he addeth Cair vrnach peraduenture Burgh castle Cair Cucurat Cair Draiton now a slender villidge Cair Celemon Cair Megnaid pleading Ignorance of the fiue last places as likewise Cair Dorman of which I haue spoken before and Alcluid of which more hereafter But seeing both Britans and Saxons Catholiks and Protestants before haue agreed vpon these Cities and the diuision of this Iland into Loegria Albania and Cambria wales and that in England or Loegria alone there were so many Cities in the Britans time as are remembred onely two of them Cair Leon vpon vsc and Cair Merthen to be found in wales except we will place Cair Guorchigirn there we may not depriue the Archbishop there of his Suffragan Bishops nor that auncient Countrye of the old Cities but say these fiue not to be found in any part of Loegria by any Authour were Cities of wales howsoeuer their names vpon many accidents be changed since Nennius time and diuers of them were Episcopall Sees allthough Cair Draiton bewraieth itselfe to be no older then the Saxons Languadge heare and so could not be a Bishops See in the Reigne of King Lucius For most of the rest the onely Argument of this Protestant Authour finding them called by diuers old Brittish names if we had no other giueth them probable title to that Honour 5. But I shall help him with more both reasons and Authoritie herein Harding c. 25. 26. 27. Harding Cron. c. 23. 24. Stowe and Howes Hist in Bladud Leir Harris Hist Galfr. l. 2. Virun l 2. Annal. Wintomen Manuscr Godwin Catal. of Bishops Winchester 1. For the auncient Cities of Canterbury winchester Shastesbury Leircester Bathe Carlile and Alcliud We haue both Brittish and Saxon Catholike and Protestant Antiquaries affirming they were the auncient Residences of Flamens and so must by that is said before needs be Bishops Sees in this time And to exemplifie in some of them the old Manuscript Antiquitie of Winchester saith King Lucius builded there a Cathedrall Church Lucius Rex fundauit Ecclesiam Wintoniensem dedicating it to our Sauiour which a Protestant Bishop thus also writeth from the same or like Antiquitie The Cathedrall Church of Winchester according to a report that I finde in an old Manuscript was first build and erected by King Lucius Seeing then a Cathedrall Church and a Bishop are knit together we must needs acknowledg there was then a Bishop there And to speake in this mans and his Authours words This Church was hallowed and dedicated October 29. 189. by Faganus and Damianus Bishops And he proueth from the same Antiquitie that in the yeare 309. one Constans was Bishop there And in S. Dubricius time by the Brittish History Diuuanius was Hist Brit. l. 9. c. 15 l. 8. c. 17. Harding Chron. c. 76. f. 67. the Bishop of that place Episcopatus Guintoniae Diâ—uanio decernitur And concerning the Bishoprike of Alcliud it was then giuen to one named Eledanius Pontificalis Infula Alclud Eledanio decernitâ—r Elednore by Harding was Bishop there Which proueth it was a Bishiprock froÌ„ the beginning no change Harding Chro. c. 24. f. 21. Abbreuiatio Chron. inter an 170. 180. in Lucio of Sees being before this time For Canterbury it was first a Flamens seate And the old Manuscript History Abbreuiatio Chronicorum saith in this time and setling Bishops in King Lucius Reigne that the old Church of S. Martin which liued in the Apostles time was builded Tunc constructa est extra Cantuariam Ecclesia sancti Martini and to notifie that he ment thereby a Cathedral and Episcopall Church he addeth this when he speaketh of changing Historia RoffeÌ„n Manuscr Lambert PeraÌ„b of Kent p. 113. Flamens into Bishops And all Histories testifie that the holy Bishop Lethardus which came hither with Queene Bertha before S. Augustins time vsed it as his Episcopall See And Canterbury besides the Archbishop had an other Bishop in that Church of S. Martin diuers hundreds of yeares and Harding Chro. c. 23. Harding sup c. 30. f. 24. Stowe Hist Britan. in Morg. and Cunedag Lel. com Brit. antiq v. Manditi Castr Cap. in Catal. in S. Kebio Meloro Vrsula Gul. Malm. l. 1. de Regib c. 6.
c. 30. Stowe Hist in Cunedagius Harding Chron. p. 24. c. 29. Stowe Histor supr Io. Caius Hist Cantabr accad p. 20. before Christ and much honored by King Lucius as more hereafter Of the glory and Antiquitie of Glamorgan taking the name of a King so called Morgan there slayne aboue 2000. yeares since and a Schoole among the PagaÌ„s of no lesse continuance as diuers writers teach there can be litle question in this case For the other two though perhaps there is not so greate testimony for their Antiquitie in this kinde yet these being ioyned with the rest in the same degree in generall by so many Authours we cannot be of other minde but Bishops were also there or not farre from them of the like continuance otherwise we shall hardly iustifie the common agreed vpon opinion of seuen Bishops placed in that Prouince in King Lucius time but wander vp and downe among meere coniecturs For allthough we reade in the life of S. Kentegern Predecessor to S. Asaph that in the time of S. Dauid Archbishop in Wales and by his consent he built a Monastary in this place of Elgn for 960. Monkes and there remayned Bishop yet this doth not improue but rather confirme there was Bishops See there or not farre from thence before For it is recorded in the same Authour supposed to be S. Asaph his scholler and Successor that this Bishoprick being voide the King and Cleargie of Wales desired him for their Bishop there Rex Clerus Regionis Cambrensis cum caeteris Christianis ipsum in Pastorem Episcopum eligerent To which S. Dauid their Archbishop his greate friend consented So his erecting that Colledge did honour and beutifie and not alter or disgrace that Bishoprick and it is euident before that with this Bishops See there were but 7. besids the Archbishoprike so many there were long before as the Antiquities of Glastenbury and others proue so many at the beginning as I haue shewed before therefore no addition of number by the foundation of S. Kentegern THE XX. CHAPTER HOW S. ELEVTHERIVS POPE DID NOT onely by his Papall Authoritie establish and setle Religion and Ecclesiasticall things heare but directed what temporall Lawes were to be vsed appointed the bounds and limits of this kingdome sending an hallowed Crowne to our King and such Lawes and Order continued heare inmany Ages after 1. WHEN these things had so farre and prosperously proceeded in Britaine King Lucius intending a perfect Reformation in this kingdome and knowing that Religion being thus happily changed there must also be a change or greate alteration in the old Pagan Lawes and as it seemeth obseruing that in the Municipall Townes and Places of Britaine which in some sort had receaued the Roman Lawes and among the Romans which conuersed heare there was much more ciuill behauiour and conuersation then in many Britans wrote vnto Pope Eleutherius among other things to haue the Roman Lawes sent hither vnto him to be receaued heare These letters of King Lucius are not extant neyther the answeare of Pope Eleutherius vnto him and his Nobilitie but in such a lame halting and deformed manner as it hath pleased our Protestants hauing possession of that old Antiquitie to publish it to the world without head foote or perfect body wanting both beginning end and midle in many things in such order as they thought it would any wise helpe and least hinder Matth. Parker Ant. Britan. p. 5. Bridges in K. Lucius Godwin Conu of Brit. p. 30. 31. 32. Willam Lamb. in Legib. S. Eduardi Foxe To. 1. Act. and Mon. Theater of great Brit. lib. 6. lewell against Hard. f. 119. Godw. sup p. 30. Roger. Houeden Annal. part Posterior in Henr. 2. Leg. S. Eduardi cap. 1. apud Gul. Lamb. Stowe Hist an 179. in King Lucius and blemish their new Religion when it came to vewe And according to the diuersitie of their owne humors they haue as diuersly put it in print some more some lesse some one way some an other as hath best fitted their phantasies as you may reade in there first Archbishop of Canterbury their Bishops Iewell Bridges Godwin M. Lambert the Antiquarie Foxe the Theater writers and others differing herein one from an other of which one of them a Protestant Bishop as mannerly as he might thus complayneth The Epistle is as heare ensueth allthough I must acknowledge that I finde greate varietye in the diuersitie of Copies some containing much more then others And yet he himselfe doth there further alter chopp and change it both in his relation and translation of it as euery Reader may there easily obserue if he vnderstandeth but a litle the Latine tongue 2. The Copies which beare most credit be those which Stowe publisheth in English and M. William Lambert in Latine the first out of a Booke of Constitutions belonging to the Guildhall of London the second as extant among and part of King Edward the Confessor his Lawes so called not because he made them as Houeden and others proue but being the old Lawes of this kingdome and euacuated where the Danes had ruled he reuiued them and were most Authentically proued in the tiâ—e of King William the first by the solemne Oathes of Twelue Iurors out of euery County in EnglaÌ„d and so not likely to deceaue vs in this point The first Protestant Authour thus writeth of them I onely finde the same entered in a Booke Intituled Constitutions pertaining to the Guildhall of London misdated in the Latine as the English following sheweth The yeare after Christs birth 169. Pope Eleutherius did write to Lucius King of Britaine for the amendement of the Kings and the Nobilitie of L. Const Lond. Britaine as followeth You required that we should send you the Roman and Imperiall Lawes that you might vse them in your kingdome of Britaine But those Lawes we may disproue and not the Lawes of God You haue receaued lately through Gods goodnes in your kingdome both Testaments out of them by Gods grace and the aduise of your Realme take a Lawe and thereby patiently gouerne the kingdome You are the Vicar of God in your kingdome according to the kingly Prophet The earth is the Psalm 45. Lords and his fullnes is the whole worlde and all that dwell therein And againe Thow hast loued Righteousnes and hated Iniquitie wherefore God euen thy God hath annointed thee with the oyle of gladnes aboue thy fellowes They are the Kings children Christian Nations and people of your kingdome that liue and consist vnder your protection peace and kingdome according to the Scripture as an Hen gathereth her Chikens vnder her wings the people and Nations of the kingdome of Britaine is yours such as are diuided you should gather them together to the Lawe of Christ his holy Church to peace and coneorde and cherishe maintaine protect gouern and defend them from the iniurious malitious and their enemyes Woe be to that kingdome the King whereof is a
vestri sume Legem he ment as an other Protestant Bridges defence l. 16. p. 1355. Bishop expoundeth him that this should be done principally by the Aduise of the clergie of his DominioÌ„ the Bishops and Preists which he had ordained heare best Learned and conuersant in the holy Scripturs and Lawe of God That the Lawes which they receaued and established heare were the old Britan Lawes ascribed for their greatest part to Mulmutius Dunwallo corrected and Galf. Mon. l. 2. c. 17. Brittsh Hist l. 3. c. 5. Pontic Virun l. 23. Hist Stowe Hist in Mulmut Dunwall Holinsh. Hist Matth. Westm aetat 5. c. 2. Galfr. Mon. l. 2. Hist c. vlt. Pontic Vir. l. 2. Hist in fine Stowe Hist in Mulm Dunwallo Holinsh Hist of Engl. 3. c. 1. Fortescue l. de laudib legum Angl. c. 13. made conformable to holy Christian Religion we haue all Kinde of Antiquities Brittish Saxon French Italians Catholiks and Protestants for witnesses These Lawes were translated out of Brittish into Latine long before this time by the auncient Gildas that liued about the time of the birth of Christ as many both auncient and late writers agree and continued heare vntill late time and in diuers respects at this present So the Authour of the Brittish History Virunnius and Matthew of Westminster write of their times Dunwallo Mulmutius Leges Mulmutinas statuit quae vsque â—odie inter Anglos celebrantur Thus he wrote within these 300. yeares that Mulmutius Lawes were those which were then vsed in England Galfridus and Ponticus write the same Quae vsque ad hoc teÌ„pus celebraÌ„tur inter Anglos The like haue our Protestants Stowe Hollinshed and others And the best witnesse we can vse in such a case of Lawes Iudge Fortescue most Learned in them and Antiquities concerning such affaires he speaking in commendation of Lawes and our auncient Lawes in particular first writeth how from the time of Brutus this kindome was Ruled by Lawes sic per leges Regnum Angliae quod ex Bruto comitiua Troianorum quam ex Italiae Graecorum finibus produxit in Dominium politicum Regale prorupit By Lawes the kingdome of England from the company of Troians which Brutus brought from the Costs of Italy and the Grecians came to be a Politicall and Regall Dominion And after thus proueth a continuance of these Lawes by all people which heare inhabited Regnum Angliae primo per Britannos inhabitatum est deinde per Romanos regulatum Fortescue supr cap. 17. iterumque per Britannos ac deinde per Saxones possessum tunc per Danos Iterum per Saxones sed finaliter per Normannos in omnibus Nationum harum Regum earum temporibus Regnum illud eisdem quibus iam regitur consuetudinibus continuè regulatum est quae si optimae non extitissent aliqui Regum illorum Iustitia ratione vel affectione concitati eas mutassent aut omnino deleuissent maximè Romani qui legibus suis quasi totum orbis reliquum iudicabant The kingdome of England was first inhabited by the Britans after that ruled by the Romans and againe by the Britans and after possessed by the Saxons and then by the Danes againe by the Saxons but finally by the Normans and in all the times of these Nations and their Kings that kingdome was ruled continually by the same Customes by which it is now gouerned which if they had not bene the best could be made some of those Kings incited by Iustice reason or affection would haue changed them or vtterly blotted them forth and especially the Romans who Iudged as it were all the rest of the worlde by their Lawes Ranulphus Higeden in his Manuscript History saith sancciuit primum Leges Dunwallo Mulmutius cuius Leges Mulmutnae dicebantur vsque ad tempora Willielmi Conquestoris satis celebres Inter quae statuit Ranulph Higeden in Manuscr Polychr l. 1. c. 50. de legib vt Ciuitates Templa Deorum viaeque ad villas ducentes ac Aratrum colonum immunitate confugij gauderent Deinde Marcia Regina Britonum vxor Guithelmi Regis à qua Prouincia Merciorum putatur denominata legem edidit discretione Iustitia plenam quae lex Martia vocabatur Has duas leges Gildas Historicus transtulit de Britannico in Latinum Rex Aluredus postmoduÌ„ de Latino is Saxonicum quae Marchenelaga dicebatur Dunwallo Mulmutius did first ordaine Lawes which from him were called Mulmutius his Lawes and renowned vntill the time of william the Conqueror Among which he decreed that Cyties and the Temples of their Gods and the wayes that ledd to Townes and the Plough of husbandimen should haue freedome Afterward Martia Queene of the Britans wife of King Gwitheline of whome the Prouince of the Martians is thought to be so named made a Lawe full of discretioÌ„ and Iustice which was called Martia Lawe These two Lawes Gildas the Historian did Translate out of Brittish language into Latine and King Alfred did translate them out of Latine into the Saxon tongue which was called Marchenlage 6. The like haue the Brittish History Virunnius Matthew of Westminster with others and diuers Protestant Historians among whome one for Holinsh. Hist of Engl. l. 3. c. 1. the rest thus writeth Mulmutius made many good Lawes which were longe after vsed called Mulmutius Lawes turned out of the Brittish speach into the Latine by Gildas Priscus and longe time after translated out of Latine into English by Alfred King of England and mingled in his statuts And this is sufficiently proued by the Lawes themselues of King Aluredus wherein after he had set downe the Iudiciall Lawes of the old Testament applyed for the gouernment of this kingdome as Pope Eleutherius had giuen directioÌ„ to King Lucius he maketh this mention thereof haec ea sunt Iura quae rerum omnium praepotens Deus ipse Moysi custodienda proposuit These be those Lawes which the Allmightie Leges Regis Aluredi in praefatioÌ„e apud Gul. Lambert l. de priscis legib God of all things himselfe did propose to Moyses to be kept Then he cometh to the New Testament and Lawes which after the preaching of the Ghospell the Assemblyes of Bishops and renowned wise men decreed heare in Britaine then England In Anglia Episcoporum aliorumque clarissimorum sapientum Conuentus agebantur atque hi diuina edocti miseratione cuique iam primum peccanti paenam imperabant And addeth that he hath gathered them all together Rex Aluredus supra in praef and approueth a greate part of those auncient Lawes to be still obserued and ioyneth vnto them some others which he enacted Has Ego Aluredus Rex sanctionesin vnum collegi atque easdem literis mandaui quarum bonâ—m câ—rtè partem Maiores nostri Religiose coluerunt multa etiam mihi digna videntur quae a nobis hac etiam aetate pari Religione obseruentur nonnulla tamen quae nobis minus commoda videbantur
must bewayle the vnspeakeable want and losse which this kingdome long time by many miseries and afflictions suffered by the death of so holy iust and prudent a Prince and Ruler hapning by the most diligent Calculatours of time we haue in the beginning and first yeare of this Age. Anno gratiae 201. Inclitus Britannorum Rex Lucius in bonis actibus assumptus ab hac vita migrauit ad Christum THE II. CHAPTER OF THE TIME AND PLACE OF KING LVCIVS his death That he did not die or was martyred in Germanie Neither had he any Sister called Emerita martyred there It was an other Prince of Britaine after this time This our first Christian King Lucius died at Gloucester in Britaine 1. BEING come to celebrate the day of the death of our glorious King Lucius for the Ioy that he enioyed thereby and bewayle The time of King Lucius death it for the vnspeakeable losse this Nation receaued thereby we are to fall into the like difficulties both of the time and place Matth. Westm an gratiae 201. Manuscript Antiq Eccles S. Petri in Cornhill Londin Matth. Paris in Hist maiori apud Io. Caium l. 1. Ant. Cantab. Acad. pag. 109. Martin Polon Supputat an 188. in Eleutherio thereof which we passed for the beginning of his Reigne and Conuersion to Christ before handled and dissolued yet for the time of his death the auncient Manuscript of S. Peters Church in Cornehill in London and Matthew the Monke of Westminster haue giuen vs particular intelligence that it was in the first yeare of this third hundred of yeares Matthew Paris writeth the same And Martinus Polonus that testifieth King Lucius wrote to Pope Eleutherius concerning his Conuersion in the yeare 188. must needs giue euidence to that opinion for certaine it is by all Antiquities that King Lucius liued many yeares after that to see his kingdome conuerted to Christ And our Protestant Antiquaries with the best Authours as they say which confesse this first writing of King Lucius to Pope Eleutherius was not before the 178. yeare of Christ Haec contigerunt anno à Christi aduentu in carnem 178. vt potiores commemorant Annales For William of Malmesbury Io. Bal. l. de script Britan. cent 1. in Lucio Pio. Caius supr pag. 111. in his Manuscript History of Glastenbury and other old Antiquities thereof doe proue that after S. Damianus and Faganus had conuerted this kingdome by the Papall Commission of S. Eleutherius they did continue 9. yeares at the least at Glastenbury King Lucius still liuing and reigning heare Guliel Malm. l. de Ant. Coen Glaston Antiq. Manuscrip tab fixae Glast Polid. Virgil. Hist in Lucio Lilius Hist alij Hollinshed Hist of Engl. l. 4. c. 19. Stowe Hist an 179. in Lucius Io. Bal. l. de Scriptor Britan. centur 1. in Lucio Pio. Author of the Engl. Martyrol 3. day of December Martyrol Rom. die 3. Decemb. alij Polidor Lilly Hollinshed Stowe and other Protestants leane to this opinion 2. About the day of his death there is better Agreement for both those which say he died in Britaine both Catholiks and Protestants as also they which deny it affirming he died in Germany agree that this was vpon the third day of December Lucius Pius Claudiocestriae tertia die Decembris vitae suae finem accepit So writeth a Protestant Bishop of England with others And the Roman Martyrologe with others which otherwise write of the place of his death consent Tertio Nonas Decembris Lucij Britannorum Regis qui primus ex ijs Regibus Christi fidem suscepit tempore Eleutherij Papae 3. The place and manner of his death is more questioned diuers forreyne writers contend that he forsooke his kingdome and being made a Preist and afterward Bishop preached to the Rhetians in Germany was Bishop there of Curre and died by Martyrdome The Roman Martyrologe inclineth to this opinion making his death to haue bene Curiae in Germania At Curre in Germanie saying plainely as I haue cited before that this Lucius which died there was the first of the Kings of the Britans which receaued the faith of Christ in the time of Pope Eleutherius This is the greatest Authoritie I finde for this opinion yet this Authour doth not take vpon him to say that he was eyther Bishop or Martyr which he would not neyther by his Order and rule of writing which might not omit such things could haue omitted if he had knowne or probably thought eyther of them to haue bene true And whereas this Authour confidently saith of King Lucius that he was primus ex ijs King Lucius did not preach in Germanie neyther was he martyred or died there Regibus qui Christi fidem suscepit the first of the Brittish Kings which receaued the faith of Christ it doth formerly appeare that diuers Authours euen of this Nation which might better learne the truth hereof then a stranger could haue written otherwise both of Aruiragus Marius and Coillus Brittish Kings And I haue giuen sufficient warrant before that for the faith and Religion of King Lucius in particular it was Christian before the Papacy of S. Eleutherius and the generall Conuersion of the kingdome of Britaine and not of King Lucius was wrought in the time of Pope Eleutherius And yet this Authour absolutely affirmeth that King Lucius himselfe did receaue the faith of Christ in the time of Pope Eleutherius fidem Christi suscepit tempore Eleutherij Papae Neither doth he in that or any other place make any memory of S. Author of the Engl. Martyrol ex Eisengren cent 2. d. 1. Breuia Curiensi 4. Decemb. Caspar Bruch Catal. Episcop Curien Io. Stumpff in Rhetia Magdeburg cent Guliel Eisengr centenar 2. Io. Naucler gener 6. volum 8. Petr. de Natal l. 1. cap. 24. Emerita supposed by some others to be Sister to our King Lucius and departing forth of Britaine with him to haue bene martyred in Germany in or neare Curre in Rhetia to which in some Iudgments the Ecclesiasticall Office of that Church seemeth to giue allowance at the least for one Lucius regio stemate apud Britannos ortus borne of the Brittish Kingly Race and his Sister S. Emerita but this proueth rather that it was not S. Lucius our King but an other of the Kingly Line which I shall proue hereafter to haue bene a Sonne of Constantius and S. Helena Empresse that honour of Britaine an elder brother to Constantine the Greate Emperour who became an holy Clergie man and preached in those parts of Germany Which together with the likenes or Identitie of name Regall Race and nearnes in blood gaue occasion to some to thinke it was the renowned first Brittish Christian King of that name which vndertooke that course of life and so ended it there 4. That our first Christian King Lucius could not be Bishop there is euident before when I haue kept him so long in Britaine that for
Pope or Protestants vnto the temporall king and Prince both being present in and giuing allowence to the Decrees of this Councell so famous in all Contries both in respect of it self as the confusion of the best learned Iewes therein which as S. Aldelme writeth was knowne in all parts of the world celeberrimum spectaculi genus per totos mundi Cardines vulgatum THE VII CHAPTER OF THE PRESENCE AT ALLOWANCE AND receauing of generall Councels by our Emperor Constantine our Archbishop and other Bishops of Britaine togeather with the doctrine then professed in those Councells and after practised in Britaine 1. ABOVT this time and among such holy Christian workes Matth. Westm an 321. Baron Spond Annal. an 314. Seuerin Binnius Annot. in Concil Arelat 1. Tom. 1. Concil of Constantine or effected by his help and assistance the first greate Councell of Arles in France consisting as Nicephorus Ado and others say of 600. Bishops was celebrated as Baronius Spondanus and others from Antiquitie doe gather in the 314. yeare of Christ the 9. of the Empire of Constantine and second of the Papacie of S. Syluester In this Councell was present and subscribed Restitutus Archbishop of London and in all probable iudgment diuers others of this our Britaine for in that subscription vnto that Councell which is left vnto vs and Restitutus is subscribed Ex prouincia Britanniae ciuitate Londinensi Restitutus Episcopus there be not the names of 30. of those 600. Bishops there assembled registred and preserued And so Britaine being so neare vnto the place of this Councell and replenished with Bishops at this time as I haue before remembred may well make claime for a greater number of the Bishops thereof to haue bene present there A Protestant Antiquary of England would by this subscription of Restitutus inferr or haue it to be doubtfully thought he was no Archbishop nor that Title then vsed he writeth not himself saith this Protestant Historian Archbishop and therefore maketh that matter of Archbishops doubtfull or rather ouerthroweth that opinion Stowe Histor Tit. Romans in Lucius But I haue proued this Ecclesiasticall high dignitie before to haue euer bene in the Church of Christ and heare in Britaine from the Apostles time 2. And concerning the subscription to this Councell where it is most certaine many Archbishops were present not any one so subscribeth In this Councell as I haue related allready were present for the Pope of Rome S. Syluester Claudius and Vitus Preists Eugenius and Cyriacus Deacons and Constantine the Emperor And allthough it was cheifely assembled for the cause of Caecilianus Archbishop of Carthage yet it Decreed diuers other Canons some of which concerned euen this kingdome touching things Concil Arelat 1. can 1. Tom. 1. Concil questioned by some of our Protestant Writers as namely in the first Canon directed to S. Syluester Pope it hath that all Churches should keepe the day of Easter vppon one day with the Church of Rome and that the Pope of Rome by his letters should giue Order herein De obseruatione â—aschae Domini vt vno die tempore per omnem orbem obseruetur iuxta consuetudinem literas ad omnes tu dirigas Where we euidently see that the Church of Britaine then kept the true obseruation of Easter with the Church of Rome and not with some Churches of Asia erroneously as some of our Britans after did at the coÌ„ming of S. Augustine hither and that the Church of Rome then by old custome iuxta consuetudinem directed both our Brittish and other Churches in such things In the 8. Canon Imposition of hands vsually called Confirmation is proued to be a Sacrament and to giue grace to those that are baptized Si peruiderint Can. 8. Cau. 15. 20. in Patre Filio Spiritu sancto eos baptizatos manus eis tantum imponatur vt accipiant spiritum Sanctum It disableth all but Priests to say Masse and appointeth that euery Bishop a stranger so many then there present should haue a conuenient place to offer Sacrifice in vt peregrino Episcopo locus sacrificandi detur 3. Some haue thought this CouÌ„cell was kept about the the same time wherein the Nicen was celebrated But Baronius Spondanus Sepherinus Binnius Baron Spondan Annal. ann 314. Seuer Bin. Annot. in Conc. Arel 1. Tom. 1. Concil and others doe directly proue it was kept in the 314. yeare of Christ and first yeare of S. Syluester Pope presently after the death of Melchiades Which is also euident by the Epistle of Constantin himself extant in Eusebius written to Chrestus Bishop of Siracusas warning him to be present at that Councell and giueth him power to take of Latronianus his Prefect of Sicile a publik wagan for him and his company sayeing that against the first day of August following he had giuen direction for very many Bishops from diuers and innumerable places to assemble at the Citie of Arles in France Quamplurimos Episcopos Epistol Constant Magni ad Chrest Episcop apud Euseb l. 10. Histor c. 5. ex varijs innumeris locis ad Ciuitatem Arelatensem Calendis Augusti conuenire iussimus etiam tibi scribendum esse iudicauimus vt accepto ab Illustrissimo Latroniano Siciliae Praefecto publico vehiculo ac vna cum duobus quibusdam ex ijs qui secundi ordinis sunt quos tu ipse seligendos putaueris quin cum tribus seruis qui vobis in itinere seruire valeant intra eundem diem ad locum iam dictum accurras This Epistle of Constantine to SuÌ„man this Councell must needs be written in the later end of the yeare of Christ 313. or in the begining of the yeare 314. for Pope Melchiades died in the Moneth of December the yeare 313. And S. Damas in Melchiad Syluest Seuer Bin. Tom. 1. Concil in eisdeÌ„ Baron Spond an 313. 114. In appendic ad Optat. Baron an 314. Eusebius l. 4. de Vit. Constantini cap. 27. Syluester in whose first yeare this Councell was kept was chosen Pope the first day of February in the yeare following 314. The like letters and liberties to assemble other Bishops to this Councell were written and granted at this time by Constantine as appeareth in his Epistle to Ablauius Proconsul of Africke This Councell as others of the holy Bishops of this time and the whole Age of Constantine was approued and priuiledged by his Imperiall authoritie as Eusebius witnesseth that no other Prince or Potentate might abrogate and make them inualiditate Quae ab Episcopis in publicis Conuentibus editae erant regulae sua consignabat confirmabat authoritate ne reliquarum Gentium Principibus liceret quae ab eis decreta essent abrogare cuiusuis enim Iudicis sententiae Sacerdotum Dei Iudicium antâ—ponendum est Where it is euident that the Decrees decreed in Councels were the Decrees of the Bishops assembled in them and not the Decrees of Constantine the
dicebat Petre instat tempus tuae resolutionis oportet teire Romam in qua cum mortem per crucem sustinueris accipies mercedem Iustitiae Cum ergo propterea deum glorificasset egisset gratias apud Britannos mansisset dies aliquot verbo gratiae multos illuminasset Ecclesias constituisset Episcoposque Presbyteros Diaconos ordinasset duodecimo anno Caesaris Neronis rursus Romam reuertitur when S. Peter had stayed but a short time with the Romans and had baptized many and fownded the Church and ordeyned Linus Bishop he came to Tarracina in which when he had ordeyned Epaphroditus Bishop he came to Sirmium a citie of Spaine in which place when he had constituted Epinaetus Bishop he came into Egipt whē he had made Rufus Bishop of Thebes which hath seuē gates and Marke the Euangelist Bishop of Alexandria he came againe to Hierusalē by reuelatiō for the migratiō or passing out of life of Mary the mother of God After this returning into Egipt through Africk the returned againe to Rome From which he came to Milane and Photice which are cities in the cōtinent in which after he had appointed Bishops and Preists he came into Britaine in which place whē he had stayed a longe time and had drawne many natiōs not named to the faith of Christ he had an Angelicall visiō which said O Peter the time of thy Resolution is at hand And thou must goe to Rome in which when thou hast suffered death by the crosse thou shalt receaue the reward of Iustice Therefore whē he had glorified God for it and giuen thākes stayed after with the Britans some dayes and illuminated many with the word of grace and constituted Churches and ordeined both Bishops and Preists and Deacons in the twelfth yeare of the Emperour Nero he returneth to Rome Hitherto the Relation of this holy learned and auncient Sainct writer Where the labours and trauailes of S. Peter are so orderly and punctually set downe after his first coming to Rome that except so worthie a man had sounde certaine and vndoubted Authoritie for such a Relation no man can be so malicious as to thinke he would so confidently and particularly haue written of that matter 10. And it appeareth plainely by that I haue written before that both by Catholiks Protestants all the rest of S. Alredus his narration of S. Peters Iorneyes are most true certaine except this last of his coming hither and so longe remayning in this our Britaine these parts which I matuaile that any man of this kingdome will call in question being deliuered by so many Authorities before and aboue all other parts of that his Relation fortified by so manie vndeniable circumstances and Arguments as the time when the way by which he came a longe continuance of his aboude heare his passage by this Iland to drawe many vnnamed nations to the faith of Christ what he did heare his making of Bishops Preists and Deacons founding of Churches his loue to this kingdome so greate that vntill he was admonished from Heaven by an Angell to returne againe to Rome to receaue his crowne of Martyrdome he had so happily placed his Apostolicall Cathedrall See in this Imperiall and commanding Iland of this Northren and westerne world and by his blessed presence and heauenly labours left it Illustrious to succeeding generations not onely to be stiled Romana Insula the Roman Iland as I haue written before but as the same Apostle himself did testifie to S. Brithworld S. Peters preaching in Britaine proued by infallibly diuine authoritie Bishop of Winton or Wilton as our Protestant Historians doe plainely testifie together prouing that S. Peter first preached in this kingdome of greate Britaine The Protestant Theater writers haue these words It is reported by Aluredus Riuallensis the writer of King Edward the Confessors life that a holy man Theater of great Britaine l. 6. c. 9. studious and carefull for a gouernour to succeede was in his sleepe told by S. Peter that the kingdome of England was his wherein himself had first preached and would also prouide him successors Which other Protestants thus further confirme Alredus Francis Mason of Consecrat of Bishop l. 2. c. 2. p. 47. Sutcliffe subuers Godwyn conu of Britaine p. 4. Riuallensis an English Abbot left written aboue 500. yeares agone a certaine Reuelation or apparition of S. Peter to an holy man in the time of King Edward the Confessor shewing how he had preached himself in England and consequently the particular care he had of that Church and Nation Thus farre these Protestants So that if this was a true Reuelation there needeth no more testimony in this matter for the wittnes of Angels glorified Saints cannot by any possibilitie be vntrue and the vision testifiing that S. Peter himself had first preached heare in this kingdome is an euident demonstration both that he preached heare and was the first either immediately by himself or mediately by his disciples and Substituts which preached the faith of Christ in this kingdome Therefore all the difficultie will be in the proposers of this holy Reuelation he to whome it was made and they which haue commended it to writing And because supernaturall things such as this was cannot be proued by naturall Argument a priore by their cause to giue some certaine and vndoubted proofe thereof a Posteriore by some effect necessarily conuincing some supernaturall power to haue had Influence thereto for the more credite of this sacred truthe proue by these Protestants themselues 11. And first concerning the writer and recorder of this holy history they haue told vs it was Alredus Riuallensis a man of that worth learning and Ioh. Balaeus de Scriptor Cētur 2. fol. 88. p. 1. in Alred Riual pietie that to speake in a Protestant Bishops words he was Cistertiensiū Monachorum Abbas natione Anglus gencre doctrina inculpatae vitae moribus praeclarus enituit Episcopatum ac alios honores mundanos omnino recusabat vt ad virtutum exercitia maximè ad Euangelij praedicationem expeditior haberetur Vir erat vt alter Bernardus ingenio pius consilio modestissimus Abbot of the Cistersian monkes by Country an English man he was eminently renowned by birth learning and holy life and conuersation he refused a Bishoprike and other worldly honors vtterly that he might be more ready to the exercises of vertues chefely for preaching the ghospell he was a man as an other S. Bernard Godly in wit and most modest in counsaile He that desireth more of this holy witnes may finde in our auncient M. S. antiq de vit Sanct. Ioh. Capgr in Cata. l. in S. Alred Abb. Manuscripts our learned Countriman Ihon Capgraue and others how he is registred among the most glorious and miraculous Saints of this Natiō to which our Protestant Bishop before hath giuen allowance where he giueth vs assured knowledge that this