Preist sainct Trophimus sent from sainct Peter the Apostle and from thence by little and little the gift of faith was infused to the other Regions of Fraunce Where we see it proued by the publike letters and testimonie of all the Bishops of that Prouince That it was a certaine and confessed truth among all the Churches of Fraunce and knowne also at Rome that sainct Trophimus who was so renowned in Fraunce was sent thither by sainct Peter which yet doth not condemne their opinion which say sainct Paul in his Iorney from Rome to Spayne left him by the way at Arles whether he was formerly sent by sainct Peter and sainct Paul finding him at Arles went on his Iorney leauing sainct Trophimus where he found him Which confirmeth that I haue deliuered before of this matter and thus I haue compassed and circuited all CouÌ„tries round about vs find that they all first receaued the faith of Christ in these times by sainct Peter the Apostle and his disciples and no other meanes but this was left or to be fownde in histories to bring the first knowledge of saluation to this Kingdome And hauing this farre entreated of sainct Peters Disciples let vs now speake of that most glorious Apostle himselfe his preacing heare THE XIIII CHAPTER WHEREIN IS PROVED BY MANY ARGVments Authorities and Antiquaries both Catholiks and Protestants that sainct Peter the Apostle parsonally preached and founded Christian Religion in this kingdome 1. NOW I am come to giue that glory to this kingdome whereof a Protestant thus speaketh we should accompt it Godwyn Conu of Britâ—ine p. 6. a greate glory to our Nation to deriue the peti-degree of our spituall linadge from so noble and excellent a father as sainct Peter And diuers others of that profession will seeme to giue that Preeminencie vnto him To satisfie therefore these men and giue that due honour to this kingdome this is sufficieÌ„tly proued before by those that haue told vs he preached in all kingdomes and Ilands of the west therefore this Cuontry so greate and ample a portion of the westerne world and the most florishing Iland thereof cannot be excluded from this prerogatiue This moued our first Christian King Lucius and the S. Peter his personall preaching and founding our Church in Britain proued by all human authoritie cheifest of the cleargie heare in that time in the first publik and generall conuersion of this kingdome to dedicate the first and principall Churches of this Land to this glorious Apostle as our first father and founder in Christ as namely two in one cittie of London the one of them the Metropolitane cheife See diuers hundreds of yeares scituated in Cornhill and still keeping the name of sainct Peters Church The other at westminster also to this day Stowe hist in K. Lucius an D. 179 Holinsh. ib. hist of Engl. The Table of S. Peters Church there Ihon Norden Specul Britan. part 1. p. 42. Camden in Brit. Belgae Sommersetshâ—re Francis Mason Consecrat l. 2. c. cap. 2. pag. â—0 retayning the name sainct Peters Church and diuers others in this kingdome when except that of Glastenbury dedicated to our blessed lady sainct Mary we cannot finde the like of dedicating so auncient and many Churches to any other sainct sainct Paul sainct Ioseph or whom soeuer supposed to haue preached heare 2. The next argument shall be from the testimonie of our holy King Inas and the Clergie of England then Who in the place of the olde Church of Glastenbury building a very magnificent new Church dedicated it to Christ sainct Peter and sainct Paul and in the high forefront thereof engraued certaine verses in the honour of sainct Peter and sainct Paul among which these three are founde Surgit in his templum quod placet ara Deo Anglia plaude lubens mittit tilâ— Roma salutem Fulgor Apostolicus Glasconiam irradiat The first which our Protestants omitt to translate is thus in Thâ—se to wit sainct Peter and sainct Paul a Church and an Altar pleasing vnto God is raised The other two are thus tranâ—lated by our Protestants Be glad England Rome sâ—â—deth health to thee and Apostolicall Brightnes doth lighten Glastenbury And they say that this is ment either of doctrine or protection But the words mittit â—â—bi Roma salutem That Rome sâ—nt saluation vnto Britaine and the Apostolicall brightnes of sainct Peter and Paule did illuminate Glastenbury doe include onely doctrine and Saluation and no mention there at all is had of protection which is contrary to protestant Religion and in Catholik Religion for so worthie a King as sainct Inas was to ascribe the patronadge of Glasten burie to sainct Peter and sainct Paul if neither of them had giuen Influence to the first settling of Religion there and exclude sainct Ioseph who both liued and died in that place is an harsh vnworthie construction And to giue further testimonie that the words of that Inscription are altogether to be vnderstood of our first conuersion and receauing the faith from sainct Peter and Rome all those verses excepting the words Anglia and Glastonia England and Glastenbury are taken word by word from Venantius Fortunatus Bishop of Venant Fortun. l. 3. c. 7. Poyctires in Fraunce who testifieth in those verses as I haue by others proued before that Gallia Fraunce and the Allobroge people of Sanoye and the Dolphinists were conuerted by S. Peter and his disciples and S. Paul also preached there as I shall shew hereafter And therefore among the rest of the encomiasticall verses of those two glorious Apostles hath these Gallia plaude Lubens mittit tibi Roma salutem Fulgor Apostolicus visitat Allobrogas Which King Inas applyed to Britanie and Glastenbury in the same maÌ„ner onely changing Gallia into Anglia and Allobrogas into Glastoniam and to make a true verse visitat into Irradiat in the maner before related Anglia plaude lubens mittit tibi Roma salutem Fulgor Apostolicus Glastoniam irradiat Which he neither would nor truly could haue done except as venantius Fortunatus truely found by vndeniable Authorities that Fraunce and the people of Sauoy and Delphinate did first receaue the doctrine of Saluation from Rome S. Peter and S. Paul So King Inas had sufficient warrant to apply the very same and in the same sence to Britaine or England and Glastenbury to haue receaued the first light of faith from the same Rome and holy Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul 3. I may add to these the testimony of Kenulphus King of the Mercians with vs to Pope Leo the third where in his epistle vnto him thus he writeth vnde Tibi Apostolica dignitas inde nobis fidei veritas Innotuit from whence Apostolicall dignitie was deriued vnto thee which by all consent was from S. Peter Kenulphus Rex Mercior epist ad Leonem Pap. 3. the Apostle from thence the truthe of faith appeared or was made knowne vnto vs Which by the reason
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
aetate in multa veneratione habitus 6. If we will informe our selues when and about what time he first preached and what was the doctrine in particular which he learned and was so soundly and perfectly instructed in at Rome brought from thence and preached heare we cannot better be secured in them but to finde out so neare as we can by Antiquities when the Picts heare were first conuerted to Christ because we haue bene assuredly warranted before that he was the first which preached Christ vnto them conuerted them to him and thereby is honored by the name of their Apostle His Religion which he professed and preached heare must needs be the same which by all Authors he learned at Rome and had his commission from the Pope there to publish it heare in The Picts heare conuerted in this Age and how soone Britaine the same which I haue before proued to be the knowne Christian Religion of the Popes and Church of Rome in those dayes Which did not in any point agree with that Protestant new learning which is now practised in England or any so termed Protestant Country which will more plainely appeare hereafter by the publikly professed Religion of all of this kingdome Britans Scots or Picts in those dayes I haue insinuated before that both Heirgustus King of the Picts and his Pictish people and subiects were Christians and publikly professed that Religion This is plainely and inuincibly proued both by our Scottish and English Historians as also that in the yeare of Christ Veremund Hist Scot. Hector Boeth Scot. Hist l. 6. Hollinsh Hist of Scotl. 369. fuit annus virginei partus nonus supra trecentesimum sexagesimum at what time Heirgistus King of the Picts was obseruantissimus a perfect most obseruant Christian Prince a sufficient signe and Argument that he was no young Scholler in the Schoole of Christ but had made greate progresse and much profited therein so likewise had all the Inhabitants of those Northren parts whether Picts Scots or Britans for the Historians of those places and others also assure vs that not onely Britans but Scots and Picts had many Monkes And first for Scots when Maximus had both conquered and quite bannished them from this Iland both Scottish and English Catholike and Protestant Historians thus speake of them The same time the Scottish Bishops and Preists Boeth supr Hollinsh Histor of Scotl. in Eugen. Bucan Histor Scot. l. 4. in Reg. 39. being bannished as well as the other sort of the Scottish people a number of their Mōks got them into the I le of Iona now called Colmkill where they erected a Monasterie for their owne habitation the worthinesse whereof hath bene right famous euen to these our dayes as that which was afterward endowed with many faire reuenewes by diuers of the Scottish Kings who had their burials there after the returne of the Scots into Albanie This was in the time of Maximus his being King heare and before he assumed the Empire by all Antiquaries This was in the yeare of Christ 379. Annus à Christi aduentu in carnem trecentesimus septuagesimus nonus Hect. Boeth l. 6. Histor Georg. Buchan Rer. Scot. l. 4. in Reg 39. And at that time as their Historians proue the Picts were generally and publikely instructed and professed Christians nec à Sacerdotibus Monachis qui tum in summo erant honore Picti etsi publicè Christianis institutis imbuti Iniuriam abstinuerunt And tenne yeares before this time both the Picts and their King were professed Christians as is shewed before and professed the same Religion in the most strict Order of Monkes and otherwise as the Roman Catholiks now doe Among those that were famous then in this Profession diuers of their names be these with honour preserued Inter nostros Damianus Presbyter Gelasius Thebaculus Merinatus Damiani Germanus Diaconi Nerius Hect. Boeth l. 6. Hist fol. 108. Boeth supr Buchan l. 4. in Reg. 35. Holinsh. Hist of Irel. Elusenius Merinus Machabaeus Syluerius Monachi And yet long before this time also in the dayes of King Fincomarke of Scotlād who reigned 47. yeares died multis virtutibus nobilis noble for many vertues in the yeare of Christ 358 Salutis humanae āno trecētesimo quinquagesimo octauo the Picts had receaued the faith of Christ before that time for whilst King Fincomarke reigned Fincomarco Rege Scotis adhuc Imperante by diuers Writers diuers of the Irish Annal. Scotic Hect. Boeth sup l. 6. fol. 104. Hollinsh Hist of Ireland people receaued the Lawe of Christ by meanes of a worthie Christian womā of the Picts as the Scottish other Histories testifie Per id tempus mulier Christianae pietatis cultrix Pictici eam fuisse sanguinis Scotici asseuerant Annales Regina insinuata Christi nomen illi mirifice praedicauit reuerendumque effecit This or the like memorable History I haue placed before in the dayes of Constantine the Greate for other parts by auncient Writers of greate authoritie But our Scottish and English Historians applying it to these parts and in the time of King Fincomarke must needs hold their Picts Conuersion very auncient in the time of King Fincomarke as I haue related making his Reigne 47. yeares Hect. Boeth l. 6. Scotor Hist fo 101. Hollinsh Histor of Scotl. in Finkomarke and yet affirming that he began to Reigne in the first yeare of the Empire of Constantine the Greate and was immediate Successor to King Crathlint which so religiously entertained our Brittish Christians flying to the Scots for succour and releife in the greate Persecution of Dioclesian before mentioned and this King Crathlint reigning but 24. yeares decessit Crathlintus postquam rei Scotieae praefuisset annos viginti quatuor Some say he Georg. Buchan l. 4. rer Scot. in Reg. 34. Hector Boeth Histor Scot. l. 6. f. 102. reigned not compleate 24. yeares but died in that last yeare nor compleate and Fincomarke was not onely by him choasen his Successor but by publike applause and acclamation presently accepted and crowned King Crathlinthus vicesimo quarto sui principatus anno fato concessit Quo anno Fincomarcus eius Patruelis Cormacho Crathlinti Patruo prognatus regno per manus morientis accepto cunctis conclamantibus vt faustum faelixque foret fatali Marmori progenitorum more insidens Rex ab omnibus est salutatus Therefore ioyning these receaued opinions of Historians together that the Picts were so timely and perfectly conuerted to the faith that in King Fincomarke his Reigne they had euen their women so learned and excellent in Christian Religion that they were so singularly powerable and honorable therein that the like instance is not founde in Histories and that S. Ninian by so many S. Ninian Apostle of the Picts brought vp at Rome in the times of S. Siluester Pope and Constantine the Greate Emperor Authorities was the first Apostle and Conuerter of that Nation we
Glast M. S. tabulis ligneis affix in meÌ„branis Holy Reliks brought hither reuerenced by S. Ioseph M. S. antiq de vit S. Iosephi Capgrau in eodem Melkin in S. Ioseph Antiq. Glast tabul Fix Antiquit. quondaÌ„ in Monaster S. Edmundi in Suffolc S. Augustini Cantuar. Theater of great Brit. Cat. of Rerelig Houses Richard Gibbonus Catalog Religioas aedium in Comit. Somersetten L. vlt. de Pagan C. Theod. l. Decernimus C. de Episc Cler. nouel 117. c. 7. ex Iulian. Const 1. c. 1. Auth. coll 5 tit 17. Ord. Rom. de diuin offic c. deaedif Eccl. pag. 107. Prudent â—ym 5. de S. Vincent 12. de passionib Apost al. apud Bar. To. 2. Annal. die 26. Iulij Thorne as the Protestants themselues there name it had within the memory of diuers there lyuing so testifing vnto me two Trunkes or Bodyes the other of a greater bignesse and a prophane Protestant endeuouring to cut downe the greatest and likely both if God had not miraculously preuented his wicked designement was extraordinarily punished by cutting his legge and one of the chips which he hewed of flying vp to his head put out one of his eyes was enforced to desist yet hauing cut downe the greater Trunke onely except a litle of the barke on the one side this body of the tree so seperated from the roote and lying vpon the grounde 30. yeares together still continued the miraculous florishing as the other did and still doth and being after taken quite away and cast into a ditch farre of from the place it likewise florished and budded as it vsed before And after that yeare it was quite stollen away not knowne by whome or whether as the old people there affirmed There is also the remnant of a miraculous wallnut Tree neare S. Iosephs Chappell the stocke remayning still alyue with a few small bowes the rest cut away which neuer buddeth forth vntill the Feast of S. Barnabas the Apostle commonly esteemed the longest day and then it sodaynely florisheth as much as others of that kinde of which I haue spoaken before from the Protestant Bishop of that place Doctor Montague That which is left of this Tree keepeth the same miraculous course euery yeare in florishing and bringing forth of leaues but no other frute of nutts the braunches being when I sawe it of late yeares too small younge and tender to bring them forth or sustaine their weight 5. These holy men among other memoryes of their holy Christian profession made vsed and left there the Picture of the Crucifixe and other holy Images to testifie to posteritie they were Christians by Religion which there inhabited Figuram nostrae Redemptionis aliasque figuras manifestas repererunt quibus bene cognouerunt quod Christiani prius locum inhabitarunt which remained there vntill the coming of those Apostolike men which Saint Eleutherius Pope sent hither in King Lucius his time There they kept with greate reuerence which with like deuotion they brought so farre with them two small siluer vessels filled with the blood and sweate of our blessed Sauiour Duo vascula alba argentea cruore prophetae Iesu perimpleta There they left a Succession of the first and most holy Religeous men continuing except in one part of the second Age by some vntill S. Dunstan his time by all many hundreds of yeares after the Saxons coming hither and were renowned in all NatioÌ„s in the time of the Romans the Britans and diuers Ages of the Pagan Saxons as also after they were Christians in and after S. Augustine his dayes as I shall deliuer at large when I come to that Age. These two Religeous memories the vessels of sweaty blood of Christ and the signe of the Crosse found in that holy place gaue inuincible testimony it was the Residency and habitation of blessed S. Ioseph and his holy company none but good Christians reuerent preseruers of such Relicks and ensignes and as appeareth by the auncient lawes and monuments heare cited no Church founded by Christians but with a Crosse or Crosses erected there euen in those first happye times as a Title and memory THE XXIX CHAPTER WHEREIN IS SHEWED HOW OVR PROtestant Antiquaries and others of England vehemently contending to proue that S. Paule the Apostle preached heare in Britaine doe proue no such thing by any Authorities they alledge for his being heare 1. IT is a common opinion of our English Protestant Antiquaries and others of that Religion that S. Paule preached heare in Britaine but the testimonies and Authorities vpon which Protestants Arguments and authorities for S. Paules preaching in Britaine examined they ordinaly build doe not in my Iugment proue any such thing of him in particular more then of the other Apostles Their first Archbishop of Canterbury thus pleadeth for S. Paul Paulum ipsum gentium Doctorem cum alijs gentibus tum nominatim Britannis Euangelium nuntiasse post priorem suam Romae incarcerationem Theodoretus Sophronius Patriacha Matth. Parker Antiq. Brit. p. 2. Lib. de curandis GraecoruÌ„ affect Hierosolymitanus affirmant both Theodoret and Sophronius patriarke of Hierusalem doe affirme that Paule himself Doctor of the gentils did preach the Ghospell to other Nations and namely to the Britans after his first imprisonment at Rome The Protestant Authours of their greate Theater of greate Theat of greate Brit. l. 6. c. 9. Britaine thus write of S. Paules being heare who doubtlesse after his first releasement from Rome confirmed the doctrine to these westerne parts of the world and among them as may appeare to this Iland of Britaine as both Sophronius Patriarke of Hierusalem and Theodoret an anncient Doctor of the Church doe affirme and proue saying that Fishers Publicans and the Tentmaker meaning S. Paule which brough the Euangelicall light vnto all Nations reuealed the same vnto the Britans Sir william Camden a principall Antiquarie speaking of S. Peters preaching heare ioyneth also S. Peter with him in these words Petrus etiam Camden Brit. in Sommersetshire ipse huc penetrauit diuini verbi lumen diffudit vti etiam Paulus teste Sophronio Theodoreto post secundam Romae Incarcerationem Also Peter himself came hither and diffused the light of the diuine worde as also Paule as Sophronius and Theodoret testifie after his second Imprisonment at Rome Also Andre du Chesne in his Andre de Chesne hist d'Anglet Escosse Hiberne p. 152. Stowe hist Romans Holinsh. hist of Eng. Harris descript of Britaine Author of 3. CoÌ„uers part 1. p. 21. 22. §. 22. Engl. Martyrol die 25. Ianuar. French Historie of England Scotland and Ireland saith S. Paule came hither apres se second prison a Rome after his second Imprisonment at Rome And citeth for this his opinion Theodoret and Sophronius as the alledged English Protestants haue done before of which opinion and vpon the same Authoritie are other English Protestant Historians as Stowe Holinshed and Harrison 2. To
that Christians were farre moore dutifull and faithfull to God then their Persecutors were Longe illi sunt quam vos erga Deum liberiores atque fidentiores Vos cultum Dei non tenetis Quocirca illum colentibus aemulatione inuidetis ad mortem vsque persequimini De rebus eiusmodi alij quidam prouinciarum Rectores diuinissimo patri meo scripserunt Quibus ille rescripsit nihil molestiae faciendum esse talibus viris nisi quid aduersus Imporium Romanum moliti esse deprehenderentur Quin ad me multi de eis literas dederâ—â—t quibus de patris mei quem imitandum mihi esse duxi sententia respondi Si quis actionem aduersus quempiam eiusmodi habens deferat illum duntaxat vt huiusmodi hominem Delatus quidem à crimine absoluatur etiamsi talis esse appareat Ipse autem Delator Iudicio paenas pendat And allthough diuers yeares of this Emperour his Reigne had passed before he established such publike Order for the quiet of Christians and much Persecution was in the beginning of his time yet it cannot be thought to haue had warrant and Originall from him And it was allmost in the beginning of his Empire the third yeare thereof as some write that S. Iustine wrote Matth. Westm an gratiae 141. an Anton. Pij 3. and deliuered vnto him his Apologie for Christians and made him friendly vnto them Anno gratiae 141. Iustinus Philosophus librum de Christiana Religione compositum Antonino tradidit eumque benignum erga Christianos fecit And he was surnamed Pius Godly by some iudgments for his pietie towards Christians aswell as for other respects Antoninus Pius gener Adriani erat erga Mart. Polon in Antonino Pio. Christianos Pius And he himselfe before is witnes that he proposed his adopting or Father in lawe Adrian so friendly to Christians to be imitated by him herein Quem imitandum mihi esse duxi And he therefore being so fully Antoninus Pius Epist supr persuaded that Christians did worship God truely and better then any Pagans their Persecutours these must needs be motiues to our King of Britaine Motiues to the King of Britaine to be a Christian euer a fauourer of Christians now much more to defend and maintayne that Religion when in so doing he might also maintayne his honour with God with the Emperour and thereby obtayne rest and quietnes to his conscience on earth and eternall peace and happines to his soule in heauen 4. And both for the continuance and encrease of Christians heare in Britaine all this time from Pope Alexander of whom the King of Britaine procured Godwin Conu of Brit. pag. 18. Caius l. 1. ant q. Cantab. Will. Harris descr of Brit. Holinsh. Hist of England Preachers to be sent hither we are assured not onely by Catholiks but diuers Protestant writers And sure if there had not bene Christians heare to exhort our King to Christian Religion and by him to be fauoured therein he could neyther haue bene persuaded by them to Christianitie or bene a friend to them for their quiet and libertie in professing thereof And yet besides the Court and Residence of our King we see euen by that litle light of Many Britans receaued the faith of Christ in this time our Antiquities that in sondry and farre separate places there were many which both preached the faith to others and which at such mens preaching embraced it Among others we reade in peruetustis Annalibus Burtonensibus sic lego Anno Domini 141. hic baptizati sunt nouem ex Doctoribus scholaribus Io. Caius l. 1. ant CaÌ„tab Accad p. 95. Cantabrigiae I reade in the very old Annals of Burton thus in the yeare of our Lord an hundred fortie one heare were baptized nine of the Doctours or Teachers and Schollers of Cambridge What great distance and separation of space Many Schollers of Cambridge now conuerted and conuerting others there is betweene Burton in Stafford-shire where these Annals were written and kept which testifie so many Schollers of Cambridge the cheife Towne of that Shire were baptized there at Burton hic baptizati sunt and the Vniuersitie of Cambridge is not vnknowne to English Readers And yet we are sure if they came so farre to be baptized they had bene catechized and instructed in the faith of Christ there before and so the faith of Christ had then bene taught at Cambridge and not by vnlearned Preachers to conuince so many learned men to be so deuoute to trauaile so farre to receaue holy Baptisme Neyther can any man imagin but the Brittish inhabitaÌ„ts betweene these two so distant places were also preached vnto by those holy men which preached in them both and passed from the one to the other Many others there be Stowe Histor Theater of great Brit l. 6. Willam Harris descript of Britaine Harris Theatr. l. 2. Annalâ—â— Burton in Coâ—â—â— S. Benedict in Bibliot ib. vol. 38. tract 2. Catholiks and Protestants which Iustifie this Antiquitie and the Antiquitie itselfe is yet extant in the Colledge of S. Benet in Cambridge where the very same words be without any difference at all Anno 141. hic baptizati sunt nouem ex Doctoribus Scholaribus Cantabrigiae And there written that the Booke belonged to the Abbey of Burton Qui fuit de Communitate Burtoniae 5. The Protestant Authours of the Theater of greate Britaine with others doe sufficiently approue what I haue written eyther of the continuance of the faith of Christ in Britaine in this time in generall as also of this Antiquity in particular although they adde some exceptions which rather are their owne mistakings then worthie the name ef exceptions First they truely testifie in this manner As we haue searched the first foundation of our faith so neyther Theater of great Brit. l. 6. c. 9. want we testimonies concerning the continuance of the same in this Lande vnto following Posterities allthough the iniurie of time and warre haue consumed many Records For the Britans that were dayly strengthned in their receaued faith by the doctrine of many learned and Godly men left not their first loue with the Church of Apoc. 2. 4. Zachar. 8. 23. Radulph Niger Euseb l. 4. c. 9. c. 13. l. 5. c. 5. Bal. Vit. l. 1. Ephesus but rather tooke hold of the skirts As the Prophet speaketh vntill the Tortures of Martyrdome cutt them of by death and those Fathers euen from the Disciples themselues held a Succession in doctrine not withstanding some repugnance was made by the Pagans and preached the Ghospell with good successe euen till the same at lenght went forth with a bolder countenance by the fauourable Edicts of The English Protestant Theater writers much ouer seeme in diuers things in this time Adrian Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius Emperours of Rome as Eusebius hath noted and in Britaine was established by the Authoritie of Lucius their King Of
truth but in such sort did it as thereby he hath purchased vnto the same the Title of Primogenita Ecclesiae the most auncient and first begotten of all the Churches in the world for that as Sabellicus hath well noted allthough Christ was preached elswhere priuately Britaine the first Kingdome in the world which publikely and generally receaued the saith of Christ in many other Nations long before yet omnium Prouinciarum prima publicitus Christi nomen recepit Of all Nations it was the first that with publike approbation of Prince and State receaued the Profession of Christian Religion Thus farre he commendeth King Lucius for the carriadge of this busines afterward insinuating first to his Readers that there were Christian Preists and Preachers heare in Britaine when King Lucius sent to Pope Eleutherius about the generall Conuersion of this kingdome and to vse his words there is no doubt to be made that at their hāds if he were not he might haue bene baptised that were the Instrumēts of his Conuersion And then he immediately thus addeth to dishonour this Noble King for this his most honorable Ambassadge But what shall I say humanitūs aliquid passus est he thought happily it would be some litle glory vnto him and a countenance also to the action to fetch them that might seeme to be the Authours of this designe from Rome the Seate of the Empire the Mistresse of the world yea and also happily the vpholders of his Crowne and Authoritie regall Thus farre this Protestant Bishop and Antiquarie all which I haue answeared before and now breifely repeate if King Lucius was or might haue bene baptised by any heare all they as I haue proued before of S. Timothie Marcellus Mansuetus and others sent hither or conuerted being cōsecrated Preists or Bishops heare by Authoritie from the Apostolike Roman See he must needs also be baptised by power from thence if he had not sent this solemne Ambassadge thither So likewise if he stayed the returne of his Ambassadours Eluan and Medwin if the Pope had sent no others hither seeing by all Antiquities these were but Cathecumens and not baptised when they were sent to Rome but there perfectly instructed baptised and cōsecrated the one a Priest the other a Preist and Bishop if these or eyther of them baptised him and his people if they alone had bene able to performe so generall and greate a worke it had bene done by the power of the Pope of Rome who consecrated them and by Authoritie sent them hither to that end 6. So if King Lucius had appealed in this busines to the Bishops of France or any Country betweene Rome and vs and if they had harkened vnto him herein without consulting with the Pope of Rome yet all they being consecrated and directed thither by his Authoritie as we haue seene before King Lucius and his subiects resolued to be Christians must become such by the labour power and warrant of the Pope of Rome And by that which is saide before by the warrant of our Protestants of the both claymed and practised supreame spirituall power of all Popes from S. Peter to this time of S. Eleutherius and of him also it is euident that this kingdome nor any other could be in such solemne and publike manner conuerted and all Ecclesiasticall matters with change of Temporall lawes be established without the warrant and approbation of the Apostolike See of Rome and Church thereof in which respect and noe other Sabellicus and others which truely call this our Britaine the eldest daughter of the Church primogemita Ecclesiae so terme it in respect of the Church of Rome our holy Mother which brought forth this Country generally and publikly to Christ before any other in the world by sending holy Preachers and Apostolike men hither which so brought it to passe to the greate honour of this Nation Eleutherius Graecia oriundus sed Neapoli Anton. Sabellicus l. 5. Ennead 7 in Italia ortus successit Soteri Cum hoc nuper dignitatem adepto Lucius Britanniae Rex per litteras egit vt se suos vellet Christianorum numero addicere Missi sunt eo Fugatius Damianus viri pietate insigni hi Regem cum tota domo populoque vniuerso Baptismi Sacramento insignauerunt sublatoque malorum daemonum cultu vera in gente pietas constituta est Sic Britannia omnium Prouinciarum prima publicitus Christi nomen recepit Where it is euident that Sabellicus this Protestant Bishops Authour giueth this dignitie to Britaine to be the eldest and first borne daughter of the Church because the Roman Church first and before all other Nations did bringe it wholy forth to Christ wholy conuerting it in which sence the King of France accompteth and stileth himselfe primogenitus Annal. Galliae in Claudio Ecclesiae the first begotten child of the Church among Kings because Stephen a King in France rather a Duke was in their opinion in the time of Claudius the Emperour conuerted to the faith of Christ by Apostolike men sent from the See of Rome And our King Iames whome our Protestants would haue to be the fourth such supreame heade of their Church in England after King Henry the eight the yoūge child King Edward the sixt and Elizabeth a woman and Queene plainely and publikly in open parlament hath thus confessed I acknowledge the Roman Church to be our Mother Church Therefore except Mother and Daughter be not correlatiues and vnseperable Britaine King Iames speach in his 1. Parlament was the Daughter hauing no elder Sister Daughter of that Church was the first borne Daughter of the Church by this prerogatiue primogenita Ecclesiae 7. And the Arguments which this Protestant Bishop would haue to accuse or condemne King Lucius of vaine glory for sending to Rome to establish Godwin Conu of Brit. supr p. 35. the Conuersion of Britaine because Rome was then the Seate of the Empire Mistresse of the world and happily vpholder of his crowne and regall Authoritie doe aduance the honour of King Lucius his zeale in Religion and Dutie to the Roman Church For if the Conuersion of Britaine in so vinuersall established order could haue bene compassed without allowance of the Pope of Rome it had bene more secure for him to haue abstayned from that Ambassadge sent vnto the Pope liuing in state of Persecution for his Christian Religion and cheife office therein by the temporall and Imperiall Rome temporall Seate of persecuting Emperours their times of conniuency onely excepted temporall Mistresse of the world temporall Vpholder or friend to the Regall crowne of Britaine so farre as it did nothing which tasted of alienation from the Roman Pagan Imperours will and dignitie with which King Lucius his professing a Religion persecuted by them and suing for establishing and confirmation thereof by the Authoritie of the Pope of Rome which aboue all other things was most distastfull to the Roman Empire and had for
and many most or allmost all our Kings in the meane time being Pagans the Christians heare were quiet for Religion by Antiquities The auncient Manuscript of Winchester saith that from the first planting of the faith in Britaine in the Antiquitat Manuscr Ecclesiae Wintonien time of King Lucius to the first yeare of Dioclesian an hundred yeares together ChristiaÌ„ ReligioÌ„ was quiet in peace the Religious men all that while liued quietly in their Monasteries Durauit Christianitas in Britannia a tempore Bed Eccl. Hist l. 1. c. 4. Fâ—orent Wigor Chron. An. 162. 184. Henr. Hunting Hist l. 1. in Marcus Anton. Verus Peruetus Antiq. Manuscr de primo statu Landau Eccles Matth. Parker l. de Antiq. Britan. Goscelin Hist Io. Bal. cent 1. de Script Brit. Godwin Conuers of Brit. Theater of great Brit. alij Gildas l. de Excid Conquest Brit. c. 7. vide licet a primo Anno Lucij Regis primi Britannorum Cristiani vsque ad primum Annum Dioclesiani Principis quieta in pace centum annis tamdiu Monachi Deo seruientes praedictum vetus Caenobium Wintoniense quiete inhabitabant S. Bede absolutely affirmeth of the Brittans that from the planting of the faith of Christ among them in the dayes of King Lucius they kept it vnuiolate and whole in quiet peace vntill the times of Dioclesian Susceptam fidem Britanni vsque in tempora Dioclesiani Principis inuiolatam integramque quieta in pace scruabant Florentius Wigorniensis hath the verie same words so hath Henry of Huntington The old Manuscript History of the first state of the Church of Landaffe iustifieth that the Brittans kept this their first faith sincere without any stayne of error vntill the Pelagian Herisie Quam Christianae Religionis fidem sine aliqua praui dogmatis macula sinceram conseruauerunt vsqueduÌ„ Pelagiana Haeresis orta est This is also the generall opinio of our Protestant Antiquaries Yet we must not make this so vniuersall a truth to thinke that all which receaued the Christian faith in those dayes of King Lucius did Religiously obserue the same and that all the Brittans without exception were Christians for we reade in S. Gildas whose Authoritie we may not easily reiect praecepta Christi licet ab Incolis tepidè suscepta sunt apud quo sdam tamen integrè alios minus vsque ad Persecutionem Dioclesiani Tyrani nouennem permansere Allthough the Precepts of Christ which the Britans receaued in the time of King Lucius were coldly entertained of the Inhabitants heare yet among some they remayned whole and with others not in such integritie vntill the Persecution of Dioclesian the Tirant 3. We shall finde hereafter many continuing heare in Britaine in Paganisime both of the Princes and people before Dioclesian his Persecution began in this or any other Nation Yet it will be remembred for euer to the eternall honour of those our Primatiue Christian Brittans that notwithstanding the vniuersall Inundation of licentious Paganisme which had reigned heare before the hazard of the disfriendship of the Idolatrous Roman Emperours and Senate then swaying allmost the knowne world and diuers Persecutions of Christians raging in that time and ciuill dissentions now further by the death of King Lucius falling out among our Brittans yet in all these tempests of calamities and afflictions they still without any interruption or corruption continued in their holy Christian Religion not onely secretly but with externall glory and splendor of Bishops Preists Religious men and women Churches Altars and their Ornaments as I haue before remembred And at this present when in morall and wordly vsuall proceedings nothing could haue bene more feared then a relapse to Idolatry by the death of so worthie and holy a gouernour as King Lucius a new zeale and deuotion was kindled in the harts of the Northren Brittanes and Scots in imitating the example of The Scots with their King Donaldus receaue the faith of Christ froÌ„ S. Victor Pope him and his happy Subiects in this kinde For at or presently after his death King Donald then reigning ouer the Scots receauing from Pope Victor as King Lucius before had done from Pope Eleutherius holy Preachers and Instructors receaued and publikly with his wife Nobles and Hector Boeth Scotor Hist l. 6. f. 89. other subiects professed the faith of Christ Talem dederat Regi Donaldo animum pacis Princeps Authour Christus Dominus quod verae pietati aspernato malorum Daemonum cultu sese Paulo ante addixerat Nam Seuero imperante Romanis apud Victorem Pontificem Maximum qui quintusdecimus post Petrum Ecclesiae praefuit per Legatos obtinuit vt viri Doctrina Religione insignes in Scotiam ab eo missi se cum liberis coniuge Christi nomen profitentes baptismate insignirent Regis exemplum Scotica Nobilitas sequuta auersata impietatem Christi Religionem complexa Sacro fonte est abluta Fuit annus ille quo Scoti adlumen verae pietatis Dei optimi maximi benignitate vocati sunt recepti ab eo qui primus fuit humanae salutis tertius supra ducentesimum Christ our Lord Prince and Authour of peace gaue such a minde to King Donald that contemninge the worship of wicked Deuills he addicted himselfe to true pietie For when Seuerus was Emperour of the Romans by his Ambassadors he obtained of Pope Victor the fifteenth after S. Peter Which ruled the Church that men renowned for Learning and Religion to be sent from him into Scotland that might baptize him with his children and wife professing Christ The Scottish Nobilitie following the example of their King forsaking impietie and embrasing the Religion of Christ was baptized This yeare wherin the Scots by the mercy of God allmightie were called and receaued to the light of true pietie was the third aboue two hundred from the first of mans Saluation Thus farre this Scottish Georg. Buchan Rer. Scoticar l. 4. c. Rege 27. Holinsh. Hist of Scotl. in K. Donald Historian from the Antiquities of that Nation to which their Protestant Writers doe also in substance consent as also the Protestant Antiquaries of England Among which one writeth in this manner King Donald in the dayes of the Emperour Seuerus sent a Messenger with letters vnto Pope Victor being the 15. in number as they say after S. Peter declaring vnto him that he was fully minded to receaue the Christian Religion and vtterly to forsake the superstitious seruice of the Heathnish Gods and therefore instantly required him to send some godly learned men to instruct him in the right beleife The Pope hearing this and being glad to encrease the faith of Christ through all parts of the world sent with all speed into Scotland such well disposed parsons as he thought most meete for that purpose who at their arriuall there did their endeuour in such diligent sort that not onely the King but also through his exaÌ„ple a greate number of the Nobilitie
Sebastianus Munsterus Scriptor vitae S. Albani Scriptor vitae S. Diuidis Scriptor vitae S. Helenae Scriptor vitae S. Liuini Archiep. Scroope Sculcardus Sedulius v. Caelius Seuerinus Binnius Seuerus Sulpitius Sextus Aurelius Sextus Rufus Sigebertus Gemblacensis Sigonius v. Carolus Simeon Metaphrastes Sixtus Senensis Socrates Sophronius Hierosolimitanus Sozomenus Spartianus Speede. v. Ioannes Stanishurst v. Richardus Stephanus Aduensis Stowe v. Ioannes Strabo Suetonius Tranquillus Suidas Surius v. Laurentius Suteliffe v. Matthaeus Sybilla Erithraea T. TAbula antiqua in Caenobio Glaston Tabula Ecclesiae Rhotomagensis Tacitus v. Cornelius Tertullianus Theatrum conuersionis Gentium Theatrum magnae Britanniae Thelesinus Theodoretus Theophanes Cerannius Theophilactus Thomas Eboracensis Thomas Iames. Thomas Rogers Thomas Rudburne Thomas Thomasius Thomas Twyne Thomas Walsingam Titus Liuius Traditiones Romanae apud Baron Traianus ad Plinium Trebellius Trithemius v. Ioannes Trogus Pompeius N. VAlerius Maximus Velleius Paterculus Venantius Fortunatus Veremundus Vicelius v. Georgius Victor Vticensis Vincentius Lirinensis Virgilius Viterbiense Chronicon Virunnius v. Ponticus Volateranus Vsuardus W. WAlterus Rollewinke Wandelbertus Prumiensis Warwicensis Wellis v. Ioannes Whitguifte v. Ioannes Wolfangus Lazius X. Xephilinus v. Ioannes Z. ZAcharias Lippolous Zonaras v. Ioannes Zosimus IN LAVDEM AVTHORIS per Amicum HIstoricam Braughtone Fidem risere Prophani Inque Sacris Propriam Substituere Fidem Sic prorevera verisub imagine ponant Somnia quae Heracliti risibus apta crepant Temporis Annales Lucem Monumentaque Patrum Tollere vesana sic nouitate student Expungunt vetera fingunt noua Saecula Quare Nam vetera ipsorum de nouitate Silent Perge istos Braughtone tuis configere Scriptis Quos praesens tanta luce refellit opus R. I. TO MAISTER RICHARD BROVGHTON whome Venerable Age Equall learning and Tryed Vertue rancke amongst the Worthies of our time Vpon his Ecclesiasticall Historie of Great Britaine AMongst the VERTVES which a STORY crowne TRVTH stand's at HELME whole Ages done It makes men like an other Sunne See what they were in THEIRS Noe Smile no Frowne Noe fawning hopes noe base vnmanly feare Noe selfe sought glory noe applawse Ought to diuert vs from the LAWES Of this forsaken GODDESSE Hence forebeare Profaners of such good See heare a SIRE Of th' old frame who dares not write Thinges false noe if he might Omitt what 's true Blest be such holy FIRE See see and blush Truth-killers view this Booke In which a Miracle appeares Times past reuiu'd to freshest yeares And so a licke to what they were they looke That should their Owners liue and reed they 'd sweare THESE DEEDES WERE OVRES THESâ— TIMES Then pray Their Issue read them through and say NOE FORGD VNTRVTH NOE FALSITIE IS Hâ—Râ— F. S. DE EODEM GArrula nunc sileat VETERVM malesana FVRORVM Lingua REPRODVCI quae canit orbe NIHIL Nunc ANTIQVORVM taceat lis alta SOPHORVM Quae malê PRAETERITVM posse redire negat Ecce REPRODVCIS VETERVM NOVA SAECVLA quaeque Tempora BRVTIGENIS praeteriêre manent Reddita nostra sibi est nunc ANGLIA Teque BRITANNI Praeside quem cultum deseruêre tenent Saecula SATVRNI per te Rediuiua priorem Iactando vultum quem tenuêre ferunt F. S. DE EODEM If what PYTHAGORAS held of Soules were true I 'de sweare BARONIVS Soule had place in you F. S. IN PRAYSE OF THE AVTHORE PIts hadst thow been so curteous to haue sayd See the worthy prayses of M. Broughton in D. Iohn Pits de illustribus Angliae Scriptoribus aetat 16. ann D. 1612. num 1071. Lesse of this Authors former woorkes th' hadst made Me happy with thy self wher now the prayse Thahs ' giuen to Brougkton bringes to the the Bayse Who hast already soom'd vp all that can Prayse-worthy be in him or any man Shall thy this glorious woorke for feare of theaft from they fore-stawling prayse of prayse be reaft Noe nor will I bee houlding be to thee For aught I say but thow shalt enuey mee Whoe liue to See a woorke that now affoords More then thy Art could haue exprest in woords Then heere to Broughtons Glory Pits ' be don Our strise thow sawst his STARRS but I his SOONNE G. G. ILLVSTRI PEREXIMIO AC ERVDITISSIMO DOMINO D. RICHARDO BROVGTON IN ANNALES ECCLESIASTICOS MAGNAE BRITANNIAE PEr te ROMA viget per te colit ANGLIA ROMAM Britoni nomen Pontificate subest Condidit in Latio Romanam Romulus vrbem Per te est ANGLIACIS condita ROMA plagis R. T. EIVSDEM IN EVNDEM WHere STARRS doe shine we loue the night of AGE Embrace mens years when TIME is VERTVES PAGE GREY HEADS are CROWNES 't is honour to be old A SILVER haire becomes a WORKE of gold What glory then to thee whose Nestors face Beares GREENE with GREY an ag'd and youthfull grace The serpents skin is slipt then young againe Since able now to strike to high a straine But rest and sleepe and let thy prayses fly I need not bid him liue who cannot dy Or if they state be mortall 't is a lott That Nature gaue and therefore feare it not DEATH will be LIFE to thee when FAME shall cry Who liu'd an Eagle did a Phenix dy R. T. TO MAISTER RICHARD BROVGHTON vpon his learned Historie of the Church of ENGLAND THou speak'st of Ages Broughton and thy Lines Measures past times with new reuiuing signes Of better dayes for in thy aged glasse Our yeares are taught as did the old to passe So each Age by the writ desires to be The subiect of thy pen that we may See How each with hast succeeds the other's pace Striuing with gratefull force to haue it's case By the decided and thou best iudge sit st And each to each in this faire tome reknit st And wer 't not to loose thee Broughton the day Wherein thou liu'st would straight in hast decay To be made famous by th' expression Of thy most faithfull pen's relation But may the Ago liue and thy Ages bee Of Ages all the best Epitomie R. B. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 IN LAVDEM HISTORIAE ECCLESIASTICAE AB Eruditissimo viro RICH. BROVGHTONIO Eruditissimè conscriptae LOnga retro series cessit quamplurimus annus Sponsaque florentes luxit anilis opes Quà m benè sponsa Dei calamo Broughtone superbit Scripta tuo veterum quà m bene gesta doces Te pingente vetus viget ecce Ecclesia crimen Per tâ— gens videat lugeat vigeat R. B. To his Renerend Worthie and most learned Countriman Maister RICHARD BROVGHTON vpon his Ecclesiasticall Annall's GReat BROWGHTON all thy workes haue made the GREAT But this last Peece claimes yet a higher Seat In doing this thou hast out done thy selfe Restor'd our sicke Church to her former health Reuel'd a world of Reuolution's
reigned among them Which our English Protestant Bishops in their Theater coÌ„firme in this maÌ„ner It is certaine that the Britans were with the first Conuerts And Tertullian who liued within 200. yeares of Christs Natiuitie sheweth no lesse who the more to prouoke the Iewes against whom he wrote calleth to witnesse the fruitefull increase of the Ghospell Tertullian contr Iudaeos cap. 7. Petr. Cluniacen ad Bernard of saluation through many Contries and Nations and among them nameth the Britans to haue receaued the word of life The power whereof saith he hath peirced into those parts whether the Romans could not come Whence Petrus Cluniacensis supposeth the Scottish men the more auncient Christians 7. The like haue other Protestants and those their cited Authours which The NorthreÌ„ Brittans receaued the faith â—yther by S. Mansuetus or some other disciples of S. Pâ—tâ—r about this tyme. cannot be otherwise verified but applying this preaching of the faith of Christ vnto those NorthreÌ„ Britans either by this their holy Contriman saint Mansuetus the first Bishop we can finde of this kingdome or some other Associete of his sent hither at or about that time by the same holy Apostle S. Peter For in all other respects whether we speake of the Brittish Christians here in the time of Claudius or Nero of which these Protestants will tell vs Hector Boeth hist Scot. Georg. Buch. rer Scoticar l. 4. Rege 27. Holinsh hâ—stor of Scotland in Donaldus Hâ—ris descript of Britans Stowe Howes hist Theater of Brit. l. 6. Matth. west an 209. 198. and others more hereafter or the cominge of sainct Ioseph of Aramathia and his Religious Companions into this kingdome in the dayes of Nero or the generall Conuersion of the kingdome of Britaine vnto the Trenches of Seuerus in the time of King Lucius by Pope Eleutherius all these were longe before the Conuersion of the Scots in the time of their King Donaldus either by Pope Victor or Zepherinus as Harison rather supposeth the first time which is assined by any being in the 203. yeare of Christ and if it was vnder Pope Zepherine it was after that time for he was not chosen Pope vntill the yeare 209. before which time or the beginning it selfe of the Papacy of saint Victor which was in the yeare 198. this our Britaine on this side the remembred diuision had generally and publikly receaued the faith of Christ And the very words of Tertullian liuing and dying before this Conuersion of Scotland within the first two hundred yeares by these Protestants before and writing that his booke aduersus Iudaeos longe before and yet saying that the places of Britaine which the Romans could neuer conquere or come vnto Britannorum Romanis inaccessa loca did acknowledge Christ and his name did reigne in them before he wrote doe manifestly conuince it to be so For Tertullian liuing and writing in Afrike could not possibly take notice of things done here in an Iland so farre of presently after they were first effected and by no meanes could either he or any other writer speake of things done so longe after truely to repart them done so longe before If he had bene the greatest Prophet that euer was Therefore both the Testimony of him and Peter Cluniacensis also must needs to be true haue relation to these dayes of sainct Mansuetus and his Associats or others liuing in those times and sent hither by sainct Peter Or els how can we allowe and commend the spirituall loue and charitie of sainct Peter that most glorious Apostle whom we may not controle or of this holy sainct our Contryman made Preist and Bishop by him to this his most beloued contry if he had continually stayed at Tullum so farre hence or there abouts neuer coming hither to releeue the extreame spirituall needs distresses and miseries of this his natiue contry except others were then assigned by the same Apostle to supply and performe that charge In such a case the Order of Christian charitie had otherwise sent him hither and so required both of sainct Peter and this his disciple to preferre this Nation in their heauenly loue That spirit which moued holy Moyses to say to Exod. c. 32. v. 32. God Aut miserere populo huic aut dele me de libro quem scripsisti Either take mercy vpon this people my contry men or blot me out of the booke which thou hast written Rom. c. 9. v. 3. That which inforced and inflamed sainct Paul to write I could wish so our Protestants translate that my selfe were accursed from Christ for my brethren my kinsmen according to the flesh Yea the order and lawe of holy loue bound and tied with the chaines thereof the whole Colledge of the blessed Apostles to stay so longe in Iury among their brethren there before they preached vnto the Gentiles And Christ himselfe said he was sent ad oues quae perierunt domus Israel to the lost sheppe of the house of Israel and preached most to the Iewes of whose nation he had receaued his Incarnation Matth. 15. Camden in Belgae edit an 1586. Selden in Analect Girald Cambr. l. de sedis menou dignitate Ioh. Pris defens hist Britannic p. 73. 74. Parker antiq Britanni Anton Sabell lib. de occid Imper. alij 8. Therefore besides all the ProtestaÌ„ts of EnglaÌ„d before recited their cheifest Antiquary coÌ„cludeth that it is a thing certaine not to be questioned or doubted of but the Britans did receaue Christian Religion euen in the very infancy begining of the Church of Christ certum est Britannos in ipsa Ecclesiae Infantia ChristianaÌ„ Religionem imbibisse So M. Selden and others before alledged And though S. Mansuetus be called natione Scotus yet this nothing preiudiceth the preaching of the faith to the BritaÌ„s in the North part of this IlaÌ„d by him or others of his holy coÌ„panions For long after this time all or the greatest part of the inhabitaÌ„ts of that Northren CoÌ„try of Britaine were knowne BritaÌ„s not Scots as is euideÌ„t by all antiquities of this natioÌ„ the preuayling of the Scottish nation there first gaue the denominatioÌ„ of Scotland to it loÌ„ge after being then euen by the Romans called Britaine For as both auncient and late forreine and domesticall antiquaries agree this Iland was longe time after the dayes of sainct Mansuetus diuided into fiue distinct Prouinces and yet euery Sainct Mansuetus made Preist and Bishop by S. Peter prâ—ached in Britaine one called Britannia Britannia prima Britannia secunda Britannia Flauia Britannia Maximia Britannia Valentia Which last was that which was aunciently Albania and after abusiuely because the Scots possessed it Scotland Quinta Valentia Albania scilicet quae nunc abusiuè Scotia dicitur And although this holy Bishop of Britaine is ordinarily called in histories the Bishop of Toul in Lorraine where and where about he seemeth much to haue conuersed and preached after he was promoted to Episcopall order
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
auncient Catalogues of their Churches that sainct Peter about the yeare of Christ 55. or before longe before S. Paul or any other Apostle came to Rome or to any of these parts sent S. Maternus Eucherius and Valerius who conuerted Alsatia Treuers Argentine Mentz Colin and those Contryes Of his directing and sending sainct Clement our renowned Countryman sainct Mansuetus with others into or neare the same parts I haue related before And to the parts of Germany nearer to Dēmarke the same glorious Apostle sainct Peter sent sainct Aegistus one of the 72. Disciples and sainct Marianus into the Coūtryes of Germany next to Holst and Denmarke who was Martyred there Flanders and the lowe Countryes receaued the faith from this our Nation by the preaching of such as were sent and authorized by the Church of Rome as our Protestant Authours of the Theater of greate Britaine tell vs. For Denmarke Norway Island and those parts we haue proofe from our Protestants of England the auncient lawes of sainct Edward and other Antiquities that they receaued the faith of Christ from such also of this Nation as were licenced warranted thereunto from the Popes of Rome The French and German writers both Catholiks and Protestants testifie Britannos Normannos Picardos omnemque maris Oceani tractum instruxit formanitque side sanctus Nicasius à sancto Clemente Apostolus illuc delegatus Imperante Nerone sainct Nicasius being sent thither Apostle in the tyme of Nero by sainct Clement did instruct and forme in the faith the Britans Normans Picards and all the coaste of the Ocean Sea 2. And to cōpasse all the next parts of the continent and make sure worke that no preachers of the faith of Christ did or could come hither but from S. Peter and his Apostolike See of Rome If we circuite France and Spayne and returne that way into Italy againe we shall finde it so For although we reade that S. Iames the Apostle was in Spayne yet it was before the Gentils were preached vnto and profited not there in that kinde but left the labour and glory thereof to sainct Peter The publike Acts of sainct Iames his life beare record Hispaniam adijsse ibi aliquos ad fidem conuertisse Ecclesiarum illius prouincia traditio est ex quorum numero septem postea episcopi a beato Petro ordinati in Hispaniam primi directi sunt It is the tradition of the Churches of that prouince that sainct Iames the Apostle went into Spayne and there conuerted some to the faith of which number seuen were after made Bishops by sainct Peter and were the first were sent thither The Romane Martyrologe Vsuardes sainct Beda Ado Pope Gregory the seuenth in his epistle to kinge Alphonsus or Adelphonsus Vincentius and others haue the like and name those seuen Bishops ordeynad by S. Peter and by him sent into Spayne to be these Torquatus Cresiphontes Secundus Indaletius Caecilius Hesichius and Euphasius Amonge whome Pope Gregory writeth of these Bishops sent into Spayne by sainct Peter Destructa Idololatria Christianitatem fundauere Religionem plantuere ordinem officium ostendere hauing destroyed Idolatrie they fownded Christianitie and planted Religion and shewed order and dutie The generall Spannish historye of Spayne Beuter and others write that sainct Iames conuerted there onely 9. parsons and speaking of the time of Claudius longe before sainct Paule came to Rome affirme Sainct Saturnine S. Peters disciple was sent into Spayne he which was the first Bishop of Tholose who preached at Pampelone and there conuerted in seuen dayes fourtie thousand parsons So that we see the kingdome of Spayne receaued the faith by sainct Peter his Disciples and direction 3. Now let vs wynde nearer to Italy and goe to Marseils where we finde that renowned history of S. Lazarus and Maximinus coming thither with sainct Mary Magdalen and her Sister sainct Martha That these two holy Bishops were also directed by sainct Peter we cannot doubt when we finde it proued by many Authours that sainct Maximinus was vnus ex Gulile Eisengr centenar 1. part 5. 72. Discipulis Christi cui à diuo Petro Apostolorum Principe Maria Magdalena commendata fuerat one of the 72. Disciples of Christ to whome Mary Magdalene was committed by sainct Peter Prince of the Apostles And as we reade in the acts of sainct Martha this Disciple of sainct Peter sainct Maximinus baptized Maistre Puiel hist in vita S. Mariae Magdal 22. Iulij Volater Petr. de Natal b. Antonin Vuern Bed Hamular Fortunat. Episcopus Treuer apud Eisengr Centen 1. part 1. dist 3. an D. 46. all that family And after their coming vnto Marseils their dependance of sainct Peter then being come to Rome was no lesse then before for the French Antiquities tell vs That after the Ascension of our Lord an 14. the Iewes raised so horrible a persecution against the Christians that the most part fled whether they could S. Maximinus accōpanied with S. Lazarus taketh Mary Magdalen Martha Marcella her hand-mayde and S. Cedoyne borne blynde whome our Lord made to see and committed themselues to the Sea to auoyde the fury of the Iewes they arriue at Marseils after by the persuasion of sainct Mary Magdalen the Prince of Marseils was Christened and went to Rome and was there directed by sainct Peter And this Iorney of King or Duke Stephē of Fraunce to sainct Peter at Rome to excuse himselfe of the Martyrdome of sainct Valeria his wife when he was a Pagan is the common opinion of French Historians treating of that time Therefore we cannot Question but those holy Bishops sainct Maximinus and Lazarus who thus directed others so greate a Iorney to Rome to be instructed and receaue directions from S. Peter there were in the same case of dependancie from him themselues 4. Thus wee haue compassed all the Sea coasts of Italy Spayne Fraunce round about and finde all places furnished with holy preachers from sainct Peter and the See Apostolik of Rome For the other Countryes of Germany Denmarke Norwey and the rest I haue related how their conuersion was longe after from this Nation And Origen writeth that those Countries in his time had not yet heard the word of the Ghospell Circa Oceanum Daci Origen tract 28. in Matth. Sarmati Scythae nondum audierunt Euangelij verbum Concerning the inward parts of Fraunce being a Country nearest vnto vs we finde all the Bishops thereof being many to be the Disciples of sainct Peter and sent from him And to begin with the cheifest and Primate there to whom the others were subordinate Eisengrenius from many Authors proueth that S. Guliel Eisengr Centen 1. part 1. dist 3. f. 56. an D. 54. He citeth Bed Martyrol prid cal Ianuar. Petr. de Natal l. 2. c. 25. Antonin part 1. tit 6. c. 25. §. 3. Martin in Chron. Vicel in Hagialog Vuern Carthusian in Fasic tempor Sauinianus or Sabinus one of the 72. Disciples of Christ was by sainct
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
and hauing cheife care and chardge of such things to acquaintaine him how willing he was to giue way to such proceedings and desire his highest Pastorall help and assistance therein Who hauing bene so diligent as before in such holy works that he had conuerted a greate part of the Roman Nobilitie would most willingly giue his best furtherance vnto this so laudable and honorable busines For the Martyr Rom. Bed Ado. Vsuard 24. Martij 20. Iunij 21. Iulij better and more easie and honorable effecting whereof all the paynes and chardges the happy children of our glorious Countrywoman S. Claudia would vndertake herein were accompted nothing vnto them hoping to see their Mothers Country conuerted to Christ The eldest sonne S. Nouatus still continued in Rome with his noble Patrimonie and Religeous offices assisting those which were imployed in this busines solliciting the holy Popes to prosecute with all endeauour so worthie a worke S. Timothie one of our Apostolike men his Brother came and parsonally preached heare and gayned the honour to be the Conuerter of King Lucius and one of the Apostles of this Nation Their holy Sisters S. Pudentiana and Praxedes made their houses and Patrymonie Seminaries and Instruments to harbour and entertaine Clergie men to be directed hither among other Acts of eternall memory and left to the honour of this their Mothers Country that among the few auncient Tituli titles or Churches all is one in Rome by which the Cardinals haue their honour stile two of the most auncient S. Pudentiana and S. Praxedes Onuphrius Panuin Veronen l. de Episc tit Diaconijs Cardinalium Baron in annot Martyr Rom. die 19. Maij in S. Pudente Act. Nouat Pudent Praxedis came by donation of our holy Britans And of all in Rome Baronius himselfe confessing it that of S. Pudentiana to be the most old auncient Vetustissimumque omnium Titulum Pudentis nomine appellatum qui item Pastoris nomine dictus reperitur hodie vulgo Ecclesia S. Pudentianae nuncupatur But of such things I shall speake more hereafter when I come to those blessed Sisters who to encrease their glory in heauen by their sufferings for Christ and Charitie in Harboring releeuing and burying his both liuing and martyred Seruants and Saints in earth liued longer time then their happie Brothers did Of some fruites effects among others whose memory is perished I will entreate hereafter in the next Pope in whose time and not or not much before it seemeth these Apostolike men designed by S. Alexander Pope for Britaine entered their chardge there their happie Sender hastening to his glorious end by Martyrdome 7. Onely in this place because they were appointed by S. Alexander the What Religion concerning matters now questioned these Apostolike men did teach in Britaine by Protestants ConfessioÌ„ better and more surely to be informed with our Protestants consent what Religion in matters now questioned they receaued of that holy Pope and brought hither I will call these Protestants themselues to be witnesses and Relatours thereof They haue with publike allowance and Authoritie of their cheife men in such matters both of England and their Flemmish Confederats in Religion the one penning and approuing the others approuing and publishing it to the world giuen vs their best assurance first that he was a man renowned for preaching the Ghospell and working miracles and suffering most greuious punishments for the holy doctrine he taught he was Robert Barn in Vit. Pont. Rom. in Alexandro 1. Io. Bal. in Rom. Pont. Act. l. 1. in eod Alex. Ioan. Martin Lydius Minist pâ—â—uileg Illustr DD. Ordâ—num general putt to death by Martyrdome studio Euangelizandi Miraculis celebris interfectus Martyr obijt Supplicia grauissima ad mortem vsque passus est This ableth him for a glorious Saint and so disableth him to deceaue vs in his doctrine which these men confesse was this He added in the Sacrifice of Masse all thâ—t is from the words Pridie quam pateretur The day before Christ suffered vnto these words Hoc est corpus meum This is my body Where the Consecrationis In this Sacrifice of the Eucharist he caused wine to be mingled with water For the Sacrifice of the Eucharist he commanded to take vnleuened bread He commanded water with salt mixed with it to be hallowed and kept both in the Church and in houses to driue away Deuils And in the end of Masse the people to be sprinkled with holy water He excommunicated those which resisted the Popes Legats he decreed that one sacrificing Preist should say but one Masse in one day Speaking of the Eucharist he saith that sins are blotted out by Sacrifice Therefore he instituted that the Passion should be recited in Masse He added the reason of such effect of this Sacrifice saying Because in Sacrifices nothing or none is greater then the bodie and blood of Christ In Missa pridie quam pateretur vsque ad haec verba hoc est Corpus meum addidit ad memoriam Passionis Christi inculcandam In Eucharistiae Sacrificio aquam vino admisceri voluit Ad Eucharistiae oblationem azinium panem non fermentatum sumendum esse praecepit Aquam admixto sale precibus benedicendam eamque in Templo domi ad Sathanam propellendum ad peccata tollenda seruari iussit Aqua consecrata populum finitis sacris aspergendum esse iussit vt inquit sanctificarentur purificeÌ„tur Legatis Apostolicis obsistentes Decreto excommunicauit Vno die vnam tantum Missam à singulis sacrificis fieri debere Decreto sanciuit Peccata Sacrificio de Eucharistia loquens deleri ait Ideo Passionem in Missa recitandam instituit Rationem effectus huius Sacrificij hoc est quod peccata expiet adiecit dicens Quia Corpore Sanguine Christi in Sacrificijs nihil maius est He also forbad that any Cleargie man should be called to a Lay Tribunall Clericum ad Plebenum Tribunal pertrahere prohibuit THE IV. CHAPTER OF THE ECCLESIASTICALL ESTATE OF Britaine in the Popedome of S. Sixtus the rest of the Empire of Adrianus and beginning of Antoninus Pius How many learned Britains were conuerted and conuerted others to the faith of Christ in this time 1. NEXT after Pope Alexander succeeded S. Sixtus the first of that name in the Papali dignitie Which he enioyed by the Damas Pontif. in Sixto 1. Martin Polon Supput in Sixto 1. Matth. Westm an 128. Marian. Scot. aetat 6. in Adriano an 131. Onup Pano l. de PoÌ„tif part 1. in Sixto 1. liues of Popes asscribed to S. Damasus 10. yeares three moneths and 21. dayes Sedit annos decem menses tres dies 21. the same word by word writeth Martinus Matthew of Westminster detracteth one onely day from that accompt sedit in Cathedra Romana annis decem Mensibus 3. diebus 20. Marianus assigneth him twelue yeares Sixto 12. annis Romanae Ecclesiae gubernaculis functo Onuphrius
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
Praeterea triginta millia Syluestrium ferarum cuiuscunque generis collectarum They sacrificed there at Trinouantum Lōdon forty thousand kyne a hundred thousand sheepe and foules of all sortes which could hardly be numbred and thirtie thousād wilde beasts of euery kinde which they had gathered together And Pōticus Virunnius hath the very same words in all things except in the first Ponticus Virun Hist l. 4. number which he much abateth vndecim millia vaccarum This for thankes to their pretended Gods for the repulse the Britans had then giuen to Iulius Caesar Of the Ritches reuenewes state and Pompe of the Pagan cheife Druids Flamens and Archflamens I haue spoken somewhat before therefore all this welth and substance and with so ample addition now conuerted by King Lucius to the vse of the Christian Clergie as we must needs yeeld him the remembred Titles so he employing them and so lardge immunities to Manuscr Gallic antiq ann 180. Antiq. Glascon Manuscr Capgr in S. Ioseph S. Patricio such a Clergie as builded and dedicated Churches and prayed vnto Saints and for the deade said Masse and gaue such Supreamacie to Pope Eleutherius we may not say he was of the Protestant Profession which hath taken all from that holy Religion and left nothing but Persecution and Oppression vnto it 3. How in this time all the cheife Temples in all the Cities of Britaine together with their Reuencwes were turned into the Sees of Archbishops and Bishops is before related and in diuers of those Cities new Cathedrall Churches founded and erected as I haue exemplified before in Winchester Landaffe S. Martins Church in Canterburie and S. Peters in Cornhill in London Manuscript in S. Peters Church in Cornhill in London for which the auncient Manuscript there still or lately hanging with diuers other Antiquities thus pleadeth Lucius the first Christian King of this Land then called Britaine founded the first Church in London that is to say S. Peters S. Peter◠Church in Cornhill in Lōdon a Metropolitan See Church vpon Cornhill and he founded there an Archbishops See and made that Church the Metropolitan and cheife Church of this kingdome and so endured the space of 400. yeares and more vnto the comming of S. Augustine the Apostle of England the which was sent to this Land by S. Gregory the Doctour then was the Arbishops See and Pall remoued from the foresaid Church of S. Peter vpon Cornhill vnto Dereberman that now is called Canterbury and there it remayneth to this day Hollinsh Hist of Engl. l. 4. cap. 19. Hollinshed writeth that there were in his time Tables hanging in the Reuestry of S. Paules Church in London which affirme the same An other Protestant citing the first cited Table in S. Peters Church vpon Cornhill and inclining to that opinion and addeth Iocelyn of Furnes in his booke of Brittish Stowe Histor Romans in K. Lucius Bishops saith Thean was the first Archbishop of London in the time of Lucius who builded the said Church of S. Peter in a place called Cornhill in London by the ayde of Cyran cheife Butlar to King Lucius Godwin a Protestant Godwin Catal. of Bish. in London 1. Polid. Virgil. Angl. Histor l. 2. p. 41. Richard Vitus in Hist l. 5. Holins Hist of Engl. l. 4. cap. 19. Will. Harrison descr of Brit. p. 24. c. 9. Sulcar apud Vit. supr Selden Annal c. 6. Bishop hath allmost the same words though not citing any Authour in particular Others both Catholiks and Protestants affirme that the Church of S. Peter at westminster by London was then founded and vsed for the Cathedrall Church as some write There be that affirme saith a Protestant Historian how this Lucius should build the Church of S. Peter at Westminster They add further that Thomas likely Theonus mistaken Archbishop of London preached read and ministred the Sacraments there to such as made resort vnto him And of this opinion that this Church was then made or reedified for that I haue written before is Sulcardus a learned Monke of Westminster most likely to write the truth of that Church liuing in the time of S. Edward the Confessour and that it was the Cathedrall Church to London Both which may be true if we make the old Church of Westminster the Cathedrall Church vntill the other was builded not finished in the first Arbishops How it is probable that both S. Peters Church Westminster and in Cornhill were Archiepiscopall Churches in this time time but by his Successour Eluanus who builded the Library likely some part of S. Peters Church vpon Cornhill William Harrison a Protestant Antiquarie borne as he saith in London and so chalendging knowledge of the Antiquities there proueth this by sondry reasons and citeth William of Malmesbury for the same opinion And Polidor Virgil with many others saith the Cathedrall Church in London was then Templum ornatu opere magnificum a Church magnificent both for ornament and worke Which Stowe supr frō others Will. Harrison supr c. ◠Gildas l. de Excid conq Brit. we doe not finde of S. Peters Church vpon Cornhill 4. And the same Authour witnesseth that the like magnificent Churches were then founded at Yorke and Car-legion Londini Eboraci in vrbe Legionum templa ornatu opere magnifica condita sunt And much like vnto this we must speake of all Churches in Cities that were Episcopall and Cathedrall whether they were new founded or of Temples of Flamens conuerted to be such as also of all other Pagan Temples which then were changed into Christian Churches For allthough all those temples were not destroyed and vtterly ruinated but newly dedicated to Christ and his Saints as our Antiquaries haue proued before yet the superstitious and Idolatrous Altars where vpon their prophane and adhominable sacrifices were offered in them to their false Gods were vtterly ouerthrowne and left desolate and as S. Gildas the most auncient Brittish Historian with others testifie Christian Altars which were the place of Christian Sacrifice of the holy Masse wherein Christs holy body and blood were offered and therefore termed by him the Polidor Virgil. l. 2. Hist p. 41. seate of the heauenly sacrifice sedes caelestis sacrificij and the Altars whereon their first Primatiue Preists offered that most diuine Sacrifice which we commonly call Masse Sacerdotes inter altaria Sacrificantes and in respect thereof Galfr. Mon. Hist Brit. lib. 11. cap. 4. Gildas supr Stowe Hist an 542. Holinsh. Hist of Engl. l. 5. c. 15. Mat. West an 543. the cheifest of the immunities before remembred were granted to those sacred Altars in all Churches in this kingdome of Britaine from King Lucius time And the ordinary Churches which were vnder the Iurisdiction of so many Bishops in so lardge a kingdome could not be few especially if we consider the multitude of Gods the Britans worshipped when they were Pagans and the greate number of Temples
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
40. 41. 44. 61. Epist 10. 52. 55 l. 1. Ep. 72. 2. 68. 70. 23. 62. l. 5. Epi. 12. Bed de 6. aetatib in Tiberio 2. Paul Diacon de gest Longobard l. 6. Bed sup in Anastasio Paul Diac. l. 6. sup Otto Frigens Chron. l. 4. cap. 3. We finde in the life of S. Gregory the Greate such munificent chargeable almes by him that argueth the exceeding Ritches of the Church of Rome at that time euen when the Longobard had vfurped vpon great part of the Patrimony of S. Peter And this notwithstanding S. Gregory himselfe in his seuerall Epistles giueth vndeniable testimonie that the Church of Rome then had ample reuenewes in Afrike Naples Campania Dalmatia France Sicily Italâ— Sardinia and other Countries 5. I haue related before how the Cottian Alpes did of auÌ„cient time belonge to the RomaÌ„ Church and being wrested from it by the Longobards their King Herebrechtus or by others Aribertus restored them againe and as both S. Bede Paulus Diaconus and others write sent the release thereof to Rome written in golden letters Donationem aureis scriptam literis Romam misit And Luitprandus did the like Otto Frigensis neare in kindred to the Emperors well acquainted with their affaires saith that from the time of Constantine his leauing Rome to S. Syluester as the RomaÌ„s Historie testifieth and going to Constantinople the RomaÌ„ Church affirmeth that the most parts were giuen vnto it as a Right by Constantine and in Argument thereof claimed Tribute of them vnto his time excepting of the French which had assisted it in that demand Vt Romanorum habet historia Imperator Constantinus in tantum Romanam exaltauit Ecclesiam vt beato Syluestro eiusdem vrbis Pontifici insignibus Regni traditis ipse se Bizantium transferret ibique Sedem Regni constitueret Exhinc Romana Ecciesia Occidentalia regna tanquam sui Iuris à Constantino sibi tradita affirmat in Argumentumque Tributum exceptis duobus Francorum Regnis vsque hodiè exigere non dubitat Many Arguments and vnanswearable also there be of this Donation The freedome of the French Nation from that Tribute for assisting Regin in Cronic Sigebert Chron. Baron Annal. in Constant Binn Tom. 1. Concil not in Edict Const the RomaÌ„ See to recouer greate parts of the Patrimony thereof proueth such a Donation The Palace of Constantine called S. Ihon Laterans a Noble Church euer in the Popes power froÌ„ that time proueth it No Emperor since then hauing either Palace or Residency in Rome when before this Donation it was in all Historyes the knowne cheife Imperiall Citie in the world maketh it manifest The especiall Reuerence and honour which Constantine euer performed towards the Roman Church aboue all others compared with his bountie and magnificence to all beareth no small testimony in this kind So doe the Examples of other newly conuerted Kings especially of this Nation as King Lucius King Ethelbert and others all most reuerently honoring that See Apostolike Therefore our Protestant Writers themselues though disliking all Princes and others Donations and bouÌ„ties to the Church of Christ the Ritches and honor thereof doe confesse this greate gift of Constantine vnto S. Syluester One a late Poet writeth for their common opinion From Constantius and Helen proceeded Constantine The most vndoubted heire Will. Warner Albions EnglaÌ„d cap. 18. Both to the Roman Monarchie and this his Parents Reame He turned the Empires ebbing pompe into her flloâ—ing streame And was a Prince Religious yet with reuerence be it said If lesse Religious then not he the Empire had decaid By largesse to aâ—ponpous Preist and seazed him of Rome THE XI CHAPTER OF THE SETLING OF THE IMPERIALL Seat at Bizantium or Constantinople and Conuersion of or setling the Christian faith in many Nations by the helpe of our Brittish Emperor Constantine But Ireland not then conuerted 1. CONSTANTINE hauing thus disposed of his Imperiall Palace in Rome and bestowed so magnificent gifts and reuenewes vpon that holy Apostolike Church departed from thence towards the Easterne Countries hauing a resolution to setle his Seate of Empire at or neare the place of old Troye Ilium not farre Sozom. l. 2. Hist Eccles cap. 2. Baron Spond Annal. an 324. in Indice Sebast Munster Cosmogr l. 4. in Graecia pag. 937. 938. froÌ„ HellespoÌ„tus And as Sozomen with others deliuereth layde the platforme there of his cheifest Citie building the Gates vpon an high hill which remained in the dayes of Sozomen and were seene to such as sayled vpon that Sea à mari illac nauigantibus cernuntur But was admonished by an heauenly vision to desist from that designe build his commanding Citie at Bizantium in Thracia which he according to the direction giuen him by God performed Ei ista molienti Deus noctu visus alium locum quaerere iubet atque cum Bizantium oppidum Thraciae vltra Calcedonem vrbem Bithyniae situm in memoriam ei redigisset eam vt habitatoribus complendam quippe quae nomen Constantini mereretur curaret admonuit Itaque verbis Dei obsecutus oppidum quod Bizantium vocabatur dilatare maximis amplissimisque moenibus cingere coepit This diuine vision and direction was as Sozomen hath plainely testified before Constantine went to Bizantium and after he came thither and before he layed the foundation of his Imperiall Citie there he had an other heauenly apparition and admonition about the same matter in the Citie of Bizantium as our owne auncient and approued Antiquaries Sainct Aldelmus a renowned Bishop and William Malmesbury with others deliuer vnto vs Imperator in Ciuitate quae Bizantium S. Aldelm lib. de laudib Virg. cap. 12. Guliel Malmesburiens lib. 4 de Regib in Gulielmo 2. alij apud eund vocabatur cum membra sopori dedisset debitum naturae solueret Which vision was in this manner A very old woman decrepite and almost dead appeared vnto him whom Sainct Syluester coÌ„manded to raise her vp by prayer And Constantine praying the old woman arose and became a most beutifull youÌ„g woman who by her chaste looke pleasing his Princely sight he cast his cloake vpon her and put a Diademe adorned with gold and pretious stones vpon her head And Helena his mother said vnto him she shall be thyne and shall not dye vntill in the end of the world Constantine awaking and troubled with the vision ignoraÌ„t of the meaning thereof gaue himselfe to fasting and in the seuenth day of his fast in his sleepe sainct Syluester appeared vnto him and said The old decrepite woman is this Citie named Bizantium in which thou now remainest whose walles are consumed with Age and are almost fallen downe Ride vpon that thy horse whereon thou didst ride in thy white vestures when thou wert baptized in the Citie of Rome visiting rounde about the Tombes of the Apostles and Martyrs and carry thy Labaru or Ensigne that is embrodered with the signe of Christ of gold and pretious
must needs make him no lesse auncient then I haue before remeÌ„bred him to haue bene borne in Britaine brought vp at Rome in the dayes of saint Syluester Pope and greate CoÌ„stantine Emperor Which the time of his death by all accouÌ„pts will also confirme if we consider the long liues of our holy men as saint Patrik Dauid Kentigerne and others in those neare succeeding dayes this worthie man is remembred particularly in Histories to haue liued vntill he was very old ad senium vsque plenus dierum aetate maturus and yet some place Io. Bal. cent 1. in Ninian Pits aetat 5. in eodem S. Alred Capgrau in vit eius him for his death with S. Ambrose and others in this Age others to haue dyed in the yeare 422. and they which make his death latest say it was in the yeare of Christ 431. or 432. which is farre from making him an extraordinary old maÌ„ for those dayes from that time I suppose his birth to haue bene in And by all reckenings in Historians saint Palladius and saint Patrike were sent hither from Rome in those yeares 431. 432. when the longest accoumpt setteth Hect. Boeth l. 7. Anton. Fitzharbert l. Ant. Rel. Cath. in Ang. pag. 17. Bal. cent 1. in Nin. Pits in eodem downe the death of saint Ninian And yet no Historian writing of their comming hither either maketh saint Ninian then liuing or lately dead which could not haue bene omitted in so singular and rare a man as S. Ninian was sent from the same place and authoritie of Rome and preaching in the same Countries and parts whether they came and where they preached by Commission from the same Apostolike Roman See if he had not bene dead some time before neither had their sending thither bene so needfull as it is made in Histories if his death had not bene knowne at Rome before their coÌ„ming sending from thence to performe the same Apostolike office and dutie in the same Prouinces which and where saint Ninian in his life time so nobly and gloriously supplied and executed by the same Legatine Power and authorite from Rome 7. Therefore I must needs set downe this renowned Britan Apostle of the Picts and most of his holy labors with the Conuersion of that people to Christ to haue bene in this Age and before the Empire of Maximus And yet it appeareth S. Ninian preached also to his Country Britans hy the old Writer of saint Ninian his life that although he was principally sent by the Pope to be their Apostle he preached vnto others in Britaine before he conuerted the Picts for at his first comming as I haue insinuated from that Author before S. Ninian was receaued heare as a Prophet sicut Prophetam eum habebant Greate coÌ„curse of people came vnto him greate ioy with all meruaylous deuotion and prayse of Christ euery where Magnus populorum fit concursus ingens cunctis laetitia mira deuotio laus quoque vbique resonat Christi all of these are sufficient Arguments that these first eâ—tertainers of S. Ninian heare were our Christian Britans and not the PagaÌ„ Picts Which is made more manifest by that which immediatly followeth capit mox malè plantata enellere male collecta dispergere malè aedificaâ—a destruere Purgatis ab omni errore fidelium mentibus omnia quae fidelibus agenda verbo docuit operibus exemplo monstrauit multis miraculis confirmauit He began to pâ—ll vp things ill planted scatter things ill gathered and destroye things ill builded and purging the mindes of the faithfull from all error whatsoeuer he taught by word the beleeuers to doe he shewed it in deeds and example and confirmed it with many miracles Where it is euident that they were beleeuing Christians although by neare cohabitation or conuerse with Pagans defiled with some Heresies or errors to whom he thus first preached and people different and distinguished from the vnbeleeuing Picts as they are expressely thus set downe and his preaching to these was afterward as thus it is remembred diuers from the other in the same History Interea Sanctus Ninianus Australes Pictos quibus adhuc error Gentilis inhaerens Idola venerari ac colere compellebat aggrediens Euangelij veritatem sequentibus signis praedicabat caeci vident claudi ambulant leprosi mundantur surdi audiunt mortui resurgunt oppressi à daemonibus liberantur Sicque fides suscipitur error abdicatur distructis templis Ecclesiae eriguntur currunt ad salutis lauachrum diuites pauperes gratias Deo agunt in Insulis quae procul sunt habitantes Ordinauit Presbyteros Episcopos consecrauit totam terram per certaâ— Parochias diuisit In the meane time S. NiniaÌ„ going to the Picts which yet were PagaÌ„s and worshipped Idols preached the truth of the Ghospell vnto theÌ„ with these signes following The blynde seâ— the lame walke lepers are cleÌ„nsed the dead are raysed and they which were oppressed with deuils are deliuered And so the faith is receaued error abandoned Pagan temples are destroyed Christian Churches erected Ritch and poore are baptized those that inhabited the Ilands a farre off giue thanks to God He ordayned Preists consecrated Bishops and diuided the whole land by certaine Parishes 8. And hauing thus conuerted and confirmed this people vnto and in the faith of Christ being the cheifest end of his Mission and comming hither he returned to his Church confirmatis in fide omnibus ad Ecclesiam suam est regressus This house Episcopall Church which he now returned vnto was the same which he had builded before of stone called for the rarenes of such building in Britaine that being the first as our Histories say thereby named Candida Bed Hist lib. 3. cap. 4. Capgrau in S. Niniano Guliel Malmes lib. 4. de gest Pont. Angl. Casa the White House or Church at a place called Witerne betweene Scotland and England as they are now termed vpon the Sea coast allmost quite enuironed with the Sea excepting the passadge on the North side thereof Candida Casa vocatur locus in extremis Angliae iuxta Scotiam finibus vbi beatus Confessor Nima requiescit Natione Brito qui primus ibidem Christi praedicationem Euangelizauit Nomen loco ex opere inditum quod Ecclesiam ibi ex lapide polito Britâ—nibus miraculum fecerit This Church saint Ninian dedicated to S. Martine of Tours so soone as he vnderstood he was dead which was in the end of this or beginning of the next Age by all accompts this Church being quite finished before that time Quoniam iam Sanctum Martinum quem miro semper venerabatur affectu à terriâ— ad caelos migrasse didicerat ipsam Ecclesiam in eius honore dedicauit By the Scottish Histories thus related Inter nostros Ninianus Episcopus sanctitate Hector Boeth Hist l. 7. Bal. cent 1. in Nin. Bernic miraculis clarissimus ac Casae Candidae Pontificalis in Galdia
liued there many yeares aboue thirtie saith this Authour in Religious habite in patriaÌ„ redieÌ„s ad GlasconieÌ„se MonasteriuÌ„ secessit ibi in vita habitu Religioso caelestia conteÌ„plans plusquam annis triginta vixit Hauing bene some time with saint German and after this went to Rome to S. Celestine Pope But this belongeth to the next Age where it shall be more fully entreated Onely heare I say that his liuing at Glastenbury before his going to Rome Guliel Malm. l. 2. de gest Pont. is no incredible thing in History euen by the best Writer of the Antiquities of Glastenbury William of Malmesbury For after he had written that booke he discrediteth saint Patricks liuing and dying at Glastenbury after his CoÌ„uersion Gul. Malm. l. de Antiq. caenob Glast Manuscr Antiq. Glaston in Tab. ligneis M. S. Gallic Antiq. cap. 39. of Ireland making it vnworthie of credit si credere dignum And in his Manuscript of Glastenbury citing others for the same and the Antiquities of Glastenbury say he was borne of Couche Sister to saint Martine Archbishop of Tours in the yeare of Christ 361. by that accompt leauing him time sufficient to haue liued 30. yeares at Glastenbury before his going to Rome Which if it may be admitted for good will salue very many difficulties which are in the other opinion 8. An old French Manus Hist thus setteth downe S. Patricke loÌ„ge before he was Bishop in they eare 427. amoÌ„g the worthies of the ChristiaÌ„ world In this Histor Gallic Manuscr Antiq. an 427. time S. Patricke à BritoÌ„ by NatioÌ„ sonne to Conches Sister to S. Martine of Tours was renowned for holines miracles learning Our ProtestaÌ„t Historians theÌ„selues confesse as much saying that before he went to Rome he was renowned through the Latine Church for his wisedome vertue and skill He was borne in the Marches betwixt Hollinsh Hist of Irel. pag. 53. Pits aetat 5. in S. Patric EnglaÌ„d ScotlaÌ„d in a towne by the Sea side called Eiburne in Pembroke shire by some his Mother named Conches was Sister to S. Martine that famous Bishop of Towers in France Patrike of a child was brought vp in learning and well instructed in the faith and much giuen to deuotion And relating his captiuitie and deliuerance from it as I haue done they add as affliction commonly maketh men Religeous the regard of his former education printed in him such remorse and humilitie that being thenceforth weaned from the world he betooke himselfe to Contemplation euer lamenting the lacke of grace and truth in that Land and hearewith not despayring but that in continuance some good might be wrought vpon them he learned their tongue perfectly And alluring one of that Nation to beare him company for exercise sake he gott him into France euer hauing in his minde a desire to see the Conuersion of the Irish people whose babes yet vnborne seemed to him in his dreames from out of their Mothers wombs to call for christeÌ„dome In this purpose he sought his vncle Martine by whose meanes he was placed with Germanus the Bishop of Auxerre coÌ„tinuing with him as scholler or Disciple for the space of 40. yeares All which time he bestowed in like study of holy Scriptures prayers such godly exercise At the Age of 62. yeares being renowned through the Latine Church for his wisedome vertue and skill he came to Rome bringing letters with him in his commendation from the French Bishops vnto Pope Celestine to whome he vttered his full minde and secret voâ—e which longe since he had conceiued touching Ireland Celestine inuested him Archbishop and Primate of the whole Iland These men in this Narration approue and followe much Giraldus Cambrensis in his Topographie of Ireland by many much commended and if his opinion is as much to be allowed about the time and dayes of S. Patrike we shall finde that he was come to this renowne and spent the most part of his life in this Age. For he maketh him with others 120. yeares old at his death and to haue dyed happily in the yeare of Christ 458. obijt beatus Girald Cambr. Topograph Hibern c. 17. lib. ad Reg. Henric. 2. dist 2. Tit. de mirac Hibern Harpesfel Hist Eccl. p. 32. Theater of great Brit. l. 6. c. 9. §. 9. Patricius in Domino quieuit anno aetatis suae 120. ab Incarnatione Domini 458. ab aduentu HibernensiuÌ„ 1800. Our English ProtestaÌ„t Writers of the greate Theater of Britaine whome I dare not allowe make him farre more auncient then this time That which our Protestants haue before set downe of S. Patrike that the babes yet vnborne seemed to him in his dreames from out of their Mothers wombes to call for Christendome is testified more plainely and credibly by olde and better Authours that it was a true vision and calling of S. Patrike to be the Apostle of that Nation In a vision an Epistle was represented vnto him and the beginning of it was this is the voice of the people of Ireland haec est vox Hibernensium And reading this beginning of that letter at the same instant and moment of time the voice of Infants from their Mothers wombs in diuers Contries of Irelande crying as it were with one mouth ô holy Father we beseech thee that thou wilt come and walke amonge vs. By which extraordinary vocation S. Patrike was most certainely assured that God had called him thereby to be the Apostle of that Nation to conuert it to Christ gratias egit Deo certissimè sciens quod Dominus vocasset eum ad saluandos illos qui ipsum inuocabant The old Writer of Script vitae S. Dauid is apud Capgrau in eod Manuscr Antiq. Britannic the life of S. Dauid speaketh of this or the like vision to haue bene made to Saint Patrike when the birth of that glorious man S. Dauid to be so renowned in the Country now called wales was reuealed vnto him which was as those Antiquities say 30. yeares before S. Dauid was borne filio nondum nato nec nisi peractis annis 30. nascituro Yet S. Dauid as I shall proue hereafter was bornâ— in this Age. Therefore an old Brittish Antiquitie saith S. Patrike liued 153. yeares Vixit annis centum quinquaginta tres 9. Our old English Historie which the Continuator of Florentius Wigorniensis Continuatio Flor. Wigorn. in Geneologia Reg. West-Saxonum aboue 400. yeares since doth seeme to cite by the Title Chronica Anglica doth tell vs oâ— an Archbishop of London called Ternekin which is not found in any Cataâ—oge oâ— the Archbishops there neither haue I before made memory of him he liued Archbishop as that Authour testifieth in the beginning of the Reigne of Aurelius Ambrosius by which Accompt although it is not probable that he was Archbishop there in this Age yet not vnlikeâ—y but Old English Hist fol. 44. he was a worthie man of renowne in or not longe