latter end of Trajan's Reign some of the Britains attempted to shake off the Roman yoak but were neglected by the Emperour engag'd in other Affairs of more concern It is not certain which of the Britains made this attempt Coelus is then said to be King of the Britains not perhaps the sole King but most considerable for Power and Wealth to whom the rest yielded Honour and some kind of Subjection as some of the Brittish Princes in former Ages are said to have done to Cassibelan and as after in the time of the Heptarchy to him who was stil'd Rex Anglorum This King Coelus is describ'd in History to be a Prince of a Benign and Peaceable Nature and well affected to the Romans as having been train'd and brought up amongst them from his tender years and consequently not likely to joyn in any Rebellion against them Now though Trajan had not leasure to reduce these Tumultuous Britains yet his Successor Adrian neglected them not as may appear by several Coins where on are Imprinted the Brittish Army with three Roman Souldiers importing the three Legions in Britain viz. the second called Augusta the fourteenth called Victrix and the twentyth called Victrix Britanica And this it seems was done to admonish the Britains that this new Emperour was mindful of their Disorders which about three years after he came himself in person to chastise Julius Severus was now Pretor under Adrian but did little as to the suppressing the Tumults here especially in the Southern parts where Coelus was King. Howbeit Adrian in his third year began his Progress for the rectifying Disorders composing Seditions and restoring Discipline to his Armies every where He began with Germany from thence took a view of France and the following year pass'd over into Britain where his first Exploit was to separate such as Peaceably liv'd in subjection to the Roman Empire from such as refus'd to submit to its yoak Now whereas the Northern Britains since they were overthrown by Agricola had broken through the Fortifications he had made in the narrow Isthmus between the Friths of Edenborough and Dunbritton yet Adrian thought not fit to hazard his Army in repelling them within those former bounds but contented himself to raise a Wall or Rampire more Southerly which he continu'd the space of 80 Miles between Solway-Frith on the West and Tinmouth on the East side of the Isle it was made of Turf and strengthen'd with Timber and in after Ages was call'd The Picts Wall when that Northern Nation became to be term'd Picts as aforesaid The next year Adrian was call'd out of Britain to compose Sedition rais'd in Alexandria in Egypt When Adrian was near thereabouts the Jews and Gentiles were loud in their Complaints against the Christians in Palestine from whence that Holy Religion sprang the number of them was then great in that Country by reason of the continual resort of Believers to that Sacred place from every quarter of the World to celebrate the memory both of our Saviours Actions and Passions there Upon these Complaints he renews the Persecution began by his Predecessor and imagining that he could destroy Christian Religion by a Malicious Defacing the Place where it began he erected Idols of Devils in the most Sacred place of our Lords Passion Jupiter in Mount Calvary Venus where the Cross had been fix'd Adonis at Bethlehem conceiving the memory of the Christian Religion would be soon blotted out by the Worship of these Idols And indeed this Holy Place lay in this desolation until Helena the Mother of Constantine thought it worth her Pains to search out the Cross as is hereafter more fully related The Learning Patience and Constancy of the Christians through the intercession of Noble and Considerable Persons on their behalf caus'd Adrian at last to publish an Edict that none should be punish'd for their Belief if free from other Crimes About the beginning of this Emperour's Reign dy'd our King Coelus leaving for his Successor his Son Lucius a Child of Ten years old resembling his Father in Virtue and consequently belov'd of his Subjects his Fathers affection to the Romans procur'd him a Roman Name deriv'd from Light the Britains upon the same account call'd him Lever Maur or a great Brightness for the Joy he brought to the whole Kingdom especially to his Father being born to him in his Old Age and 37th year of his Reign perhaps this Name foreshew'd a greater Light of Divine Truth which in this Princes time and by his care and procurement was communicated to the whole Kingdom This Blessing arriv'd not all at once he did not presently quit the Superstition of his Fore fathers though he continu'd his Father's Kindness to the Christians his heart was to be prepar'd and cultivated by little and little for the Heavenly Seed by many Dispensations of Providence hereafter occurring Gildas and Nennius mention a Message sent to the Britains by Pope Evaristus in the latter end of Trajan's Reign exhorting them to the embracing of the Christian Faith the advantage or occasion of this Message might be from mitigating that persecution of the Christians therefore that Holy Bishop might lay hold of that opportunity to recommend a Religion the Innocency whereof was approv'd by its greatest Persecutors Nay a late German Author affirms that our King Lucius obtain'd from Pope Alexander the Successor of Evaristus that the Christian Faith should be Preach'd in this Isle which no doubt the Pope would easily grant as may appear by the coming of S. Timotheus and S. Marcellus with others into Britain about this time of whom more hereafter Moreover in the most Antient Monuments of Burton-Abbey we may find That in the year of our Lord 149. nine Doctors and Schollars were Baptiz'd at Granta or Cambridge and it is confidently affirm'd by Gildas That the Christian Faith did from the beginning entirely remain in Britain until Dioclesian 's time which was by him well observ'd least any should think the Religion brought in by the Apostles and their Disciples had been utterly extinguish'd To Adrian succeeded Antoninus Pius who sent Lollius Vrbicus to repel the Incroaching Britains who soon drove them back within their former bounds yet found work enough to compose the Differences and Dissentions which broke out afresh in the formerly subdu'd Provinces between the Brigantes and Ordovices these Tumults were of such danger and hazard that the happy quieting them gave the addition of Britanicus to Antoninus In the 19th year of this Emperour Pope Pius the first establish'd by Decree the observation of Easter or the Feast of our Lords Resurrection upon a Sunday in opposition to such Judaizing Christians who pretending a Tradition from St. John the Evangelist kept it precisely on the 14th day of the first Moon in March. Our Antient Ecclesiastical Monuments make mention about this time of one Marcellus a Britain born and a Zealous Preacher of the Faith in Britain of whom our English Martyrology testifies That
the Catholick Bishops in the Synod unanimously subscrib'd to this definition wherein it is observable that although it was grounded on the Holy Scriptures yet those Scriptures were interpreted by the successive Tradition of the Church Whereas what the Faction of the Arrians separately Decreed according to the practice of other Hereticks agreed only with the bare words of Scripture by themselves interpreted For as Athanasius writes in a Creed made by them They profess the Son of God to be like the Father who begat him whose Generation according to the Scriptures no man knows but the Father only As for the word Substance it being simply set down by the Fathers not understood by the People and occasioning great Scandal in as much as it is not expresly contain'd in the Scriptures they Decreed that it should be quite abolish'd and that for the future no mention should be made of the Substance of God because the Holy Scriptures never mention the Substance of the Father and the Son but they say That the Son is in all things like the Father as the Scriptures in their judgement teach Now when the Arrian Bishops of whom Valens and Vrsacius were chief saw that they could not impose upon the Western Bishops they separated themselves from the rest of the Councel and were thereupon pronounc'd by the unanimous Suffrages of the Orthodox Bishops to be Hereticks and excluded from the Communion of the Church which done the Councel by common Letter inform'd the Emperour of all these things And whereas the Arrian Bishops to induce the Catholicks to comply with them argued That Peace and Vnity would be restor'd to the Church in case Catholicks should relinquish that one word Substance They therefore in their said Letter inserted That it was not as Valens and Ursacius affirm'd that Peace would follow by the subversion of things just and true but that rather more contention would arise both at Rome and other Cities They therefore Pray'd that the Councel might be dissolv'd considering the Poverty Age and Infirmity of many Bishops in it Constantius thus frustrated in his design of introducing his Arrian misbelief into the Western Churches broke forth into open Tyranny some of the Catholick Bishops he shut up in Prison others he afflicted with Famine and all manner of despightful usuage not suffering any to depart until they had subscrib'd a form of Faith wherein though nothing Heretical was express'd yet the True Faith was at least dissembled consequently the Arrian Faction prevail'd in Power through the whole Empire Constantius creates Gallus his Uncles Son Caesar and three years after Beheads him for his Cruelties and enormous Crimes and the next year assumes into the same Dignity and Succession of the Empire Julian younger Brother to Gallus call'd the Apostate Him he sent into Gaul to repress the Irruptions of the Franks In the fourth year of his Government troubles arising in Britain by the Excursions of the Picts and Scots he sent over Lupicinus to compose them who in the midst of Winter went with his Army to London but could not perform any considerable Exploit against his Enemies for that Julian who was proclaim'd Emperour by his Army was jealous of him least he should hinder his proceedings and therefore re-call'd Lupicinus and sent Gumobarius in his place to be General of the British Army who did little worthy of memory for notwithstanding any thing he could do the Scots a barbarous People first mention'd about this time coming out of Ireland rooted themselves so firmly in the Northern parts of this Isle that they establish'd a Kingdom there to themselves and their Posterity to this day It is written that when Nâ—le obtain'd the Monarchy of Ireland which was in the time of this Constanttus the six Sons of Mured King of Vlster passing over with a considerable Fleet possess'd themselves of the Northern parts of Britain and it is likely that the Eldest of those six Sons was that Reuda mention'd by Beda and his People from him call'd Dalreudini They at first possess'd themselves of a Corner of this Island but after encroaching upon the Picts enlarg'd their Seats until at last about the time when the Kingdom of Northumberland was in a manner ruin'd by Civil Contentions and the Incursions of the Danes they almost wholly consum'd the Picts and destroy'd their name and memory introducing to those Nothern parts the name of Scotland It is not likely that Arrianism ever took any great footing in this Island for when St. Hilary was banish'd into Phrigia by the false suggestions of Saturninus the Arrian Bishop of Arles he wrote Letters to the British Bishops especially to the Aged Restitutus Bishop of London Congratulating and Commending their firmness in the Faith that notwithstanding the attemps of Saturninus to infect them yet their constancy was famous over all the Empire insomuch as some of the Eastern Bishops became thereby asham'd of their Heresie Howbeit about this time this Restitutus being full of years dy'd and is worthily counted amongst the Illustrious British Writers and many Letters to St. Hilary are reckon'd to be of his writing A further proof of the Orthodoxy of the British Church was St. Kebius Sir-nam'd Corinius Son of Solomon Duke of Cornwall who took a Journey into Gaul to St. Hilary after his return from Exile to be by him instructed more perfectly in the Catholick Faith Copgrave in the Life of this Saint says That he abode several years with S. Hillary improving himself in Learning and Sanctity whereunto God gave Testimony by conferring on him the Grace of Miracles so that he gave Sight to the Blind Cleans'd the Leprous Cur'd those which were Dumb Heal'd the sick of the Palsey and those who were possess'd with Divels Afterwards being admonish'd thereunto by an Angel having been Consecrated Bishop by St. Hilary he return'd into his own Country and plac'd his See in the Isle of Anglesey and by his good Example and sound Doctrine instructed the Northern People of Wales It is He who was requested to take the Principality of Cornwall but refus'd to accept of any Worldly Authority and not long after he is said To descend with ten Monks who were his Disciples into a Meadow of King Ethelic pitching his Tents there wherewith when the King was acquainted he went with Company to cast these Monks out of his Country by the way he fell from his Horse which dy'd immediately and both He and his Followers were stricken with blindness Thereupon the King prostrates himself before St. Kebius devoting himself to God and the Saint by whose Prayers they were all presently Healed After this the King gave to the man of God two Churches and he giving the King his Benediction retir'd to Menevia afterwards call'd St. David's from whence he sail'd into Ireland and having built a Church remain'd there four years Very probable it is that this St. Kebius was that British Priest who Baptiz'd the Irish St. Albeus for in his Life written
means be mov'd and therefore giving Thanks to God buried the Sacred Body with great Solemnity in that place And thither many Devout people repairing and imploring the Martyrs help and intercession in their Afflictions and Infirmities have frequently with Joy obtain'd their desir'd remedy The Head of the Martyr was carried as aforesaid to Rinaldus who handled the same but died miserably three days after he being thus dead the Bishops and Clergy carried the Head and Buried it with the Body The Coffer wherein these Sacred Relicks lay some time after were carried through several places to Ambrosbury and their laid upon an Altar where the Saint and his Relicks were in a special manner Venerated as Bishop Vsher affirms This Ambrosbury is scituate in Wiltshire not far from Winchester Britain not forsaking its obedience to the Roman Empire was now govern'd by Victorinus a man grateful to the Britains but formidable to the Picts and Scots but he being too soon recall'd and the Roman Legion with him the poor Britains became immediately expos'd to the Cruelty of their Barbarous Enemies Bonifacius succeeded Zosimus in the Apostolick Chair who is said by Prosper To make use not only of Apostolick but of Imperial Edicts also for the suppressing the Pelagians the Affronters of Divine Grace In the time of this Boniface this Island was poison'd with their Presumptuous Doctrines especially by Agricola the Son of a Bishop Yet were there then several Bishops full of Piety and Learning who oppos'd this Heresie the most Famous whereof was Fastidius Priscus Archbishop of London a man skilful in Holy Scriptures and a zealous Preacher of Divine Truth Illustrious in Holy Conversation and Famous for his Sharpness of Judgement and Elocution it is not certain when he dy'd or when it was that Voadinus succeeded him in that Bishoprick As Britain was now infected with the Suggestions of Hereticks so was it infested with the Incursions of the Scots Picts and Norwegians In which necessity saith Gildas The poor Britains sent humble Petitions to Rome for assistance vowing their Eternal subjection to the Roman Empire so as their Cruel Enemies might be repell'd In complyance with which Request a Legion well Supply'd was sent which soon drove the Barbarous Nations out of the Borders and freed the Britains from vexation and slavery Who the Roman General was under whom this Victory was gain'd is not mention'd probably it was Chrysanthus the Son of Marcianus afterwards Bishop of Constantinople as Socrates seems to intimate Whoever was General both he and the Legion were soon recall'd But before their departure saith Gildas they gave order to the Britains to raise a Wall between the two Seas Glotta and Bodotria to restrain the Enemies and defend Themselves It began toward the West about two Miles from a Monastery call'd Aebercurnig in a place nam'd in British Penvahel or Penvelton and going Eastward it endeth near the City of Aciluth from this word Penvahel Cambden infers that the Picts were a British Nation for in Welch at this day Pengual signifies The Head of a Rampire But so useless was this ill built Wall most part of Turfe that before it was finish'd the Scots and Picts broke in again as Gildas observes Like ravenous Woolves enrag'd with hunger on all sides encompassing the Sheep-fold in the absence of the Shepherd so they with Oares and Full-blown Sails invaded the Island broke into the Borders and laid all waste in their way mowing down and treading underfoot the wretched Britains like ripe Corn. They therefore again send Messengers in a deplorable manner with rent Garment and Ashes on their Heads to implore Aide from the Romans endeavouring like fearful Chickens to shrowd themselves under their Mothers Wings They earnestly beg the rescue of their miserable Country and the freeing the Roman Name from the contempt of Foraign Nations This woeful Petition was address'd to the Famous Roman General Aetius Praefect of Gaul under whom Britain was also subject He mov'd with Pity sent Forces under the Conduct of Gallio a Citizen in Ravenna who once more Conquer'd the Enemies but having done this declares the Emperours pleasure to the Britains That for the future they must rely upon their own strength and expect no more assistance from Rome which at so great a distance and amidst so many Distractions could not attend to so remote a Province He advis'd them to exercise themselves in Military Affairs to Build Fortifications in Convenient places especially towards the Sea and to strengthen their Cities with Walls This was the last Farewel of the Romans to the discourag'd Britains however before they went they joyn'd with the Britains in Repairing the Wall which they made stronger than formerly both by publick and Private Expences THE Church History Under the BRITISH KINGS THe Romans having thus forsaken this Island two Kingdoms seem to have gain'd a firm establishment in the Northern parts thereof those I mean of the Picts and Scots for though other Kings and Princes are mention'd in other parts yet were they subject to the Romans and in a manner under their Allegiance The Picts being indeed no other then the remainder of the Unconquer'd Britains were so disturb'd by the Romans that they could not before this time come to any Settlement As for the Scots they were at the best but Auxiliaries to the Picts mingled with them in all their Invasions and often by the Romans driven back into Ireland from whence they came Now being rid of the Romans these Scots fix'd their Habitations and Erected a Kingdom in the Northern Coasts of Britain under Fergusius their King Of these two Nations and Kingdoms the principal in this Age was that of the Picts who possess'd the Provinces about Edinburgh confining to the Wall Antiently call'd the Picts Wall the Scots inhabiting the Provinces next to Ireland but after turning their Arms against the Picts they utterly destroy'd their Kingdom and Name and gave to the whole Country the Appellation of Scotland In the year of Grace 423. the Emperour Honorius dy'd in whose place succeeded Valentinian the III. and in the Eastern Empire Reign'd the younger Theodosius The same year dy'd Pope Bonifacius and after him was chosen Pope Caelestinus to whom our Islands of Britain and Ireland have an Eternal Obligation for by him they were preserv'd from Errour and effectually Converted to or Confirm'd in the Christian Faith By him St. Palladius was sent to the Scots whom he freed from their Barbarous Idolatry By him St. Patrick was directed an Apostolick Teacher into Ireland where he wrought the like effect and by him St. Germanus and St. Lupus two Holy and Learned Bishops of Gaul were imploy'd to Cure Britain of the Pestilent Infection of Pelagianism there spread by Agricola Now since Patricius the great Apostle of Ireland did both begin and end his days in Britain it will be little or no Excursion here to insert some of his Principal Gests He Convers'd here in Brittain by his Holy example
part of a mountain in that Country call'd Dunpelder from thence to be thrown down and torn in pieces She therefore with deep Sighs looking up to Heaven implor'd the Mercy and Help of her Redeemer with many Tears after this she was cast down but by the fall was neither bruis'd nor receiv'd the least harm but sliding down easily and slowly came safe to the bottom The Pagans there present ascrib'd this deliverance to the Magical Inchantments of the Christians and therefore with the Kings Consent they carried her several Miles into the Sea and there left her in a small Boat made of Leather without any Oares and destitute of all Humane help But it seems he who commands the Winds and the Seas was her Protector for by his Power the Boat was carried straight to a far distant Haven with greater swiftness then either Oares or Sails could have driven her Being there arriv'd the young Lady soon after at a place call'd Collenros was deliver'd without the assistance of a Midwife of a Son This Collenros probably is the same which St. Bede calls Coludi and Ptolomy Colania in the Province of Louden The next morning St. Servanus came to the place and seeing the desolate Mother with her Infant said My Beloved Child Blessed art thou who art come in the Name of the Lord He took them into his care nourish'd and Baptiz'd them calling the Mother Thanen and the Child Kentigern that is Cheif-Lord The Child being of a towardly Disposition profited much in Learning and Virtue and was Belov'd of St. Servanus beyond all his Companions and call'd Munhu as he is still nam'd among the Scots So as they who affirm his Birth to have been at St. Asaph in Flintshire are much mistaken which mistake perhaps ariseth from his being afterwards Bishop there However after 25 years we shall find him Consecrated Bishop of Glasco and then more is to be said of him The continual Troubles rais'd by the Saxons would not permit King Arthur to Solemnize his Coronation 'till eight years after his Fathers death But in the year of Grace 516. the Ceremony was Magnificently perform'd in a General Assembly of Bishops and Nobles at Caerleon St. Dubritius Bishop of that City setting the Crown on his Head. After which the Holy Bishop retir'd into a certain Island in Northwales call'd by the Britains Enhly and by the English Berdsey which Island saith Cambden Was inhabited by so many Saints that beside Dubritius and Merlin the Caledonian no fewer then 20000 Holy men were Buried there as Records inform us Concerning this Island saith Bishop Vsher It was call'd by the Britains The Rome of Britain for the distance of it the difficulty of Passage the Sanctity and Security of it since 20000 Saints are there Venerated as Martyrs and since it is on all sides encompass'd with the Sea. By which may be collected what esteem the Britains then had of Rome and what agreement in Religion there was between them At this time the Saxons invited more of their Country-men out of Germany And under the conduct of Colgrin they subdu'd all that part of Britain which lyes from Humber to the Sea of Cathanes whereof when King Arthur was inform'd he march'd with an Army towards York which was then held by the Saxons Colgrin met him with a great multitude near the River Duglas in Lancashire but coming to a Battle Colgrin was put to flight and pursu'd by King Arthur to York Baldulph the Brother of Colgrin at that time lay with some Forces toward the Sea expecting the coming of the Saxons He intended to make an Irruption by night into King Arthur's Army but the King being admonish'd thereof by Spies sent Cador Duke of Cornwall with 600 Horse and 3000 Foot to intercept the Saxons which Forces setting on the Saxons unexpectedly kill'd a great number of them and put the rest to flight King Arthur closely Besieg'd York during which Siege a famous German Captain call'd Cheldric arriv'd in Albania with 700 Boats. These great succours frighted the Britains from their Siege so as the King retir'd with his Army to London from whence he sent Messengers to his Nephew Hoel King of Little-Britain to inform him of the Calamity of this Island Hoel to succour his Uncle landed shortly after with 15000 men at the Haven of Hamon where he was with great Joy and Honour receiv'd by King Arthur Encourag'd with these new Forces he obtain'd the next year two famous Victories against the Saxons the former near the River Bassas the latter in the Wood Chelidon both in Lincolnshire near Lincoln the chief City No fewer then 6000 of the Saxons were slain the rest fled into the Wood or Forrest of Caledon and were pursu'd by King Arthur and there Immur'd by great Trees cut down and laid athwart so as they were thereby reduc'd to such extream Famine that they beg'd leave to depart the Realm leaving all their Spoils behind them By this Exploit the Saxons were driven out of the middle part of Britain Howbeit in the Western part they so prevail'd that Cerdicus there establish'd a Kingdom Another Victory this Heroick King is said to have obtain'd though the time be not mention'd against these Barbarous Enemies near the Castle call'd Guinnion In which Battle the King carried upon his Shoulders the Image of the Blessed Virgin-mother of God and all that day by the Virtue and Power of our Lord Jesus Christ and St. Mary his Mother compell'd the Saxons to fly after many had perish'd with a great slaughter the succeeding Exploits of this King follow after Whilst most of the Provinces of that part of Britain which is since call'd England were thus miserably disquieted the parts thereof since call'd Wales enjoy'd good repose and were made Illustrious by great numbers of Saints who flourish'd there as St. Dubritius St. Sampson St. David St. Thelian St. Kined St. Paternus St. Daniel St. Justinian and others some of these have been already mention'd and more of their Gests will follow As for St. Daniel he is reported by Bishop Vsher to have built a Colledge or Monastery of the Apostolick Order for the Sacred Exercises of Learned and Pious men in Arvonia the Country of the Venedati not far from the streight where men pass into the Isle of Anglesey out of Wales Which Colledge was by the Founder call'd the Port or Haven It was built in the year of our Lord 516. In the same place not long after Malgo Conan built a City which for the Beautiful Scituation of it he call'd Bancor or Bangor after it was the seat of a Bishop wherein this St. Daniel was the first who sate So that Bishop Goodwin is mistaken in affirming that no Bishop had been there before the Norman Conquest This City of Bangor was a place distinct from the famous Monastery of that Name There was indeed a Monastery in both places but this was seated in Arvonia now Caernarvan upon the River Menai dividing
his Eyes and say a Prayer or Benediction on them But receiving no benefit thereby David said to him Father command me not to look you in the face for ten years are past since I studied the Scriptures with you and in all that time I never had the boldness to look you in the face Paulens admiring his Humility said Since it is so it will suffice if by touching mine Eyes thou pronounce a Benediction on them Presently therefore as soon as he had touch'd them Sight was restor'd to them The same year wherein the Synod of Brevi was Celebrated Cerdic began the Kingdom of the West-Saxons That is saith Huntingdon in the seventy first year after the first coming of the Saxons in the reign of the Emperour Justin the Elder This Cerdic is said to be Crown'd with Pagan Ceremonies at Winchester in a place which once had been the Church of the true God but which these Barbarous Heathens had chang'd into a Temple of Dagon after they had slain all the Monks who serv'd God there The raising of this new Kingdom disproves the Fictions of Geffrey of Monmouth concerning the great and frequent Victories of King Arthur in these days It is likely to be more true which Huntingdon expresly declares namely That this year a terrible Battle was fought between Cerdic and the Britains and that on both sides the Captains Fought Magnanimously till Even but then the Saxons got the Victory which would have been more Bloody to the Britains had not the darkness hind'red the Pursuit After this the Fame of Cerdic and his Son Kenric was largely spread through the whole land and from that day began the Kingdom of the West-Saxons which having swallow'd all the other Principalities remains to our times Many Battles are said to have been Fought between King Arthur and this Cerdic wherein sometimes one sometimes the other had the better But at last King Arthur grew weary and contenting himself with an Oath of Fidelity from Cerdic gave him the Provinces of Hampshire and Somerset Some Authors affirm a League to have been made between them wherein a special Priviledge was provided for Cornwall to be permitted upon an Annual Tribute the free exercise of Christian Religion Which Indulgence seems to be prov'd by the great number of Saints which in those and the following times flourish'd in that Province whereas scarce any can be found in other parts of Britain subject to the Saxons And in truth it is very like that great multitudes of Britains flying from the fury of the Saxons betook themselves to Cornwal and Wales as places most distant and more defenceable and where they might expect better Conditions and more advantage of resisting their new Masters then in other parts for no doubt this Kingdom of the West-Saxons was made up of more Provinces than Hampshire or Somerset so that Cerdic had good footing in Devonshire Dorsetshire Barkshire and Wiltshire to which shortly after was added the Isle of Wight bestow'd by Cerdic on his late arriv'd Kinsmen Stuffa and Whitgar who destroy'd the British Inhabitants there at Whitgarburg so call'd from Whitgar but now contractedly Caresburg While Cerdic was busie in establishing his new Kingdom in the year 520. Colgrin Baldulf and Cheldric whom King Arthur had lately subdu'd at York and forc'd to abjure the land returning landed at Totness from whence passing through Cerdic's Dominions they came to the City of Bath and Besieg'd it King Arthur hearing thereof caus'd the Hostages which they had left to be Hang'd and gathering a mighty Army came to raise the Seige where the Armies being joyn'd he calling on the Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary whose Image he wore over his Armour slew great numbers of his Enemies and amongst the rest Colgrin and his Brother Baldulf which Cheldric perceiving fled and was pursu'd by Cador the Duke of Cornwall to the Isle of Thanet and there slain by him the rest being forc'd to yield King Arthur as may be remembred obtain'd a Battle before he was King near Bath at the Mountain Badonicus now this is likely to be another defeat given by King Arthur to the Saxons and the City of Bath being in the utmost extremity West-ward of Cerdic's Kingdom it might at this time have been in the possession of the Britains As for King Arthur's invoking the assistance of our Blessed Lady in the Fight it was a Devotion generally practic'd by the Church in this Age. For two years before there having been Assembled two Councels in the East one at Jerusalem and the other at Constantinople the Synod at Jerusalem wrote to the Bishops of the other Councel thus We beseech you most Holy Bishops to Pray with us to our Lord for these things for the Necessities of Gods Priests ought to be common make your Supplications likewise with us to the most Holy and Glorious Virgin Mary Mother of God that she would intercede for the Peace of the Catholick Church and for the Victory and long Life of our most Excellent and Pious Emperour The like practice we find else-where of which many Examples may be given The next year King Arthur was call'd into the Northern parts to assist Prince Howel who three years before was come out of Little Britain to his Aid and was now Besieg'd by the Picts and Scots in the City call'd Acluid wherein he lay Sick. Upon King Arthur's approach the Enemies retir'd to a place call'd Mureif whither he pursu'd them but they escaping by night fled to a Lake call'd Lumoney Whereupon King Arthur gathering many Ships together encompass'd the Island and in 15 days brought them to such extreme Famine that many thousands of them Perish'd In which utmost danger the Bishops of that Region came Barefoot to the King with Tears beseeching him To take pitty of that miserable People and to give them some small portion of that Country to inhabit under the yoak of perpetual Servitude The King thus mollify'd with the Tears of the Bishops pardon'd his Enemies and granted their request Hence it is that some Writers ground the subjection of Scotland to the Crown of Brittain and particularly Walsingham but certainly better grounds may be found of it than this Whereas it is said that certain Pictish and Scotish Bishops were Supplicants to this King for their Distress'd Countrymen it hath been already demonstrated that the Province of the Picts where the City of Acluid is seated had many years before receiv'd the Christian Faith by the Preaching of St. Ninianus but who were his Successors is hard to conjecture In the Annals of Ireland mention is made of a certain Bishop call'd Nennion who is said to have flourish'd in Britain about the year 520. and to have had his seat in a place call'd the great Monastery This man probably was the Successor of St. Ninianus and that great Monastery the same with Candida Casa where the Monument of that Apostolick Bishop was which by reason of frequent Miracles wrought there invited great
numbers of Devout men to embrace a Caenobitical Life Of this Bishop Nennion we read in the Life of St. Finanus That he having been in his Childhood instructed by St. Coleman was afterward recommended to the care of Nennion when he came into Ireland and return'd with Nennion into Scotland and there Learn'd of him the Rules of a Monastical Life at his See call'd the great Monastery Finanus there also studied the Holy Scriptures and by invoking the Name of Christ is said to have wrought many Miracles And having been thus instructed by Nennion he took a Journey to the See Apostolick there to supply his defects in saving knowledge seven years he continu'd at Rome daily advancing in Sacred Science and then ascended to the degree of Priesthood This Nennion in probability was one of those who interceded with King Arthur and about the same time that St. Finanus liv'd under his Discipline I shall pass by the Death of Guenevera King Arthur's Wife and his second Marriage with great Solemnities at the sametime with the Prodigious Victories ascrib'd to him by some of our Writers in Forreign parts and proceed to other transactions more probable occurring in his time In the year 527. two new Kingdoms were Erected in Britain without any disturbance from King Arthur in the Eastern Provinces of Norfolk Suffolk and Cambridgeshire the Kingdom of the East-Angles was Establish'd and in Midlesex and Essex the Kingdom of the East-Saxons Which of these Kingdoms were first Erected is uncertain but both without doubt much about the same time The first King of the East-Saxons is believ'd to be Erkenwin the Son of Offa and the Kingdom of the East-Angles is thought to begin under Vffa from whom the succeeding Kings were Antiently call'd Vffings The year following the Isle of Wight by the Britains call'd Guith which signifies a divorce or renting asunder and by the Saxons Witland was Conquer'd by King Cerdic and given to his Nephews Stuffa and Whitgar But while Cerdic busied himself about the Invasion of the Isle of Wight St. David Bishop of Menevia Assembled a Provincial Synod call'd the Synod of Victory wherein all the Clergy of Wales or Cambria met together and confirm'd the former Decrees of the Synod of Brevy and added new ones for the Churches benefit from which two Synods all the Churches of Cambria receiv'd their Ecclesiastical Orders which also were confirm'd by the Authority of the Roman Church These Decrees were committed to Writing with his own hand and reserv'd in his own Church the Copies thereof being communicated to other Churches in that Province all which with many other Treasures of that Noble Library furnish'd by him have been lost partly by Age and Negligence but principally by the Incursions of Pirats who from the Isles of Orkney every Summer us'd to waste the Sea-Coasts of Cambria This loss indeed is to be deplor'd since by those Records we might have perfectly understood the state of the British Churches However we are assur'd that those Churches were regulated according to the Roman and practic'd the same both in Doctrine and Discipline and consequently that St. Augustine sent after to Convert the Saxons brought no Novelties with him since St. Gregory who sent him was exalted to St. Peter's Chair not above 60 years after this Synod It is written in the Life of St. Kined That when St. David had publish'd his Edicts for assembling this Vniversal Councel of Cambria he humbly invited St. Kined to it who excus'd his not coming in regard that for his sins he was become distorted and crooked in his Body and was besides unable to undertake such a Journey Whereupon it is said that St. Kined by the Prayers of St. David was restor'd to Heath and straightness and by his own Prayers reduc'd again to his Infirmity and Crookedness Whether this were so or no certain it is that this St. Kined fill'd Britain with the fame of his Sanctity He liv'd a Solitary Anachoretical Life in the Province now call'd Glamorganshire probably in the same place where yet remains a Chappel call'd St. Keneth's Chappel left as a Monument of his Sanctity as Cambden witnesses The Celebrating this Synod is the last publick Action we find recorded of St. David He would not accept of Metropolitical Jurisdiction but upon condition that he might transfer the See from Caerleon to Menevia a place of Remoteness and Solitude and in the Neighbourhood of many Saints and Religious Persons in the Islands and Territory adjoyning and therefore most acceptable to him Which Translation was approv'd by King Arthur and the Synod not then dissolv'd This Menevia is seated in the Province of the Dimetae now Pembrokeshire adjoyning to the most remote Province of Britain where the Soyl is Stony and Barren neither Cloathed with Wood nor interlac'd with Rivers nor adorn'd with Meadows but expos'd to the Sun and Windes yet with this Penury the Antient Saints and Bishops were best contented accounting the remoteness from Worldly Tumults and noise to recompense sufficiently all such Incommodities This Menevia or as the Britains call'd it Menew was in memory of this Holy Bishop nam'd by the Converted Saxons David Minster and by the Britains Twy Davy that is David's House and at this day St. Davids The Bishop whereof was for many Ages the Metropolitan of Cambria but at length became subject to Canterbury Notwithstanding the Inhabitants of Wales since the Norman Conquest commenc'd a Suit against the Arch-bishop of Canterbury for their former Right and Independance but the Cause was judg'd against them The Pastoral care and Zeal of St. David in maintaining the Catholick Faith against Heresies especially against Pelagianism and Ecclesiastical Discipline against Vices and Disorders was signally approv'd and manifested in the Synod of Victory Assembled by him ten years after his Consecration Neither was this his Pastoral care confin'd to his own Province but extended it self abroad also even to Ireland from whence he was often visited and consulted by Devout men In those days it was a frequent custom amongst the Irish-men to go in Pilgrimage and their Devotion was to visit the Monuments of the Apostles in Rome Amongst the rest one Barro an Abbot in the Province of Cork went thither and in his return pass'd by Menevia where he staid for the accommodation of a Ship and Wind. And indeed it was the practice of Devout Irish-men either in their going or returning to seek the Conversation of the Holy Bishop David whose Name like a precious fragrant Oyntment was spread all abroad It appears by Bishop Vsher's Catalogue that Irish Saints were to be sorted into several Orders according to the times wherein they liv'd The first Order Was of such as liv'd either Contemporaries with St. Patrick or presently after him The second Order Contain'd such Saints as liv'd about this Age such as were St. Finanus call'd by the Irish Fin and by the Britains Gain or Win St. Brendon c. It is said the Saints of
Authority Now the said Island is usually govern'd by an Abbot who is a Priest to whose Jurisdiction the whole Province and even Bishops themselves by a custom no where else practic'd ought to be subject according to the example of their first Teacher S Columba who was only a Priest and Monk and no Bishop Of whose Life and Sayings many strange things are extant compil'd by his Disciples but what manner of man soever he was sure we are he left Successors famous for their great Continency Divine Love and Regular Institution The Companions to St. Columba are said to be twelve who came with him into Albion eminently indu'd with the Doctrine of Christ and adorn'd with great Sanctity their Names were Bathemius and Cominus afterwards Superiours over Monasteries and no mean Ornaments of the Christian Church among the Scots Also Cibthacus and Ethernau Nephews to St. Columba and Priests Moreover Domitius Rutius and Fethuo men Illustrious for their Descent but more for their Piety Lastly Scandalaus Eglodeus Totaueus Moteser and Gallan These men after Travell'd through the Region of the Scots and Pict and by their labour in Teaching Disputing and Writing imbu'd both those Nations with virtuous Manners and true Religion The Scotish Writers add one Companion more to St. Columba namely St. Constantine formerly King of the Britains who repenting his Crimes sharply reprov'd by Gildas became a Monk and went with St. Columba into Scotland where he Preach'd the Faith to the Scots and Picts He built a Monastery in Govane near the River Cluid which he govern'd as Abbot He is said to have Converted to the Faith the whole Province of Kentire where he likewise dy'd a Martyr and was buried in his Monastery in Govan The King who bestow'd the Isle of Hy upon St. Columba and by the eminence of his Piety drew him thither is said to be St. Comgal or Conval King of Dalrieda At the same time not far from St. Columba liv'd St. Kentigern lately return'd to his Bishoprick of Glasco to whom no doubt St. Columba was an Officious assistant in his Apostolick Office. Of the Solemn meeting of these two Saints with their Disciples we have already spoken That there was a perfect agreement between these two Saints and their Disciples is no doubt and between them and St. Augustine also except in one Rite or Ceremony about the time of keeping Easter Upon which inconsiderable difference some would infer that the British Churches received their Faith from the Eastern Churches and not from Rome St. Columba having spent more then 30 years in this Place and Service he impatiently beg'd of God to end his Pilgrimage after his Prayer ended he saw in a Vision certain Angels approaching to him to conduct his Soul to Heaven which sight was so joyful to him that his Disciples took notice of it But this sight was soon turn'd into sorrow for the Angels told him That upon the Prayers of the Pictish Churches God had added four years more to his Life At last in the year of Grace 597. the same year St. Angustine came into Britain this Holy man dy'd and his Holy body was buried in the Monastery of Hy from whence it was after translated or a great part of it into Ireland and repos'd in the Church of Dun-Patrick by an Inscription on his Monument it is signified That in that one Tomb three Saints St. Patrick St. Bridget and St. Columba did repose Hitherto the Saxon Princes had imploy'd their Forces to the destruction of the Britains but now finding little resistance from them turn'd their Arms against one another For three years after the coming of St. Columba into Britain Ceaulin and Cutha mov'd a Civil war against Ethelbert which Ethelbert the rather enter'd into because the Power of Ceaulin so much increas'd that he took upon him the Title of Monarch Hereupon Ethelbert a Valiant Young Prince mindful of the Glory of his Ancestors who had always enjoy'd a Preheminence above other Princes resolv'd to keep it And raising an Army march'd with it into the Province of the Regni or Surry where passing unwarily over a little River call'd Wandalis he was rudely repuls'd by Ceaulin but endeavouring again to march forward the Armies met at a Village call'd Wibbandun now Wimbledon where he was with a great slaughter of his men compell'd to fly back into Kent having lost his two chief Captains Oslaf and Kneban Where this Battle was fought still remains as a Monument of it a Rampire rais'd in a round form as encompassing a Camp call'd Knebensbury Ethelbert after his loss sought to strengthen himself by a Friendship and Confederacy with the Neighbouring Powerful Kingdom of the Franks to make which Confederacy more lasting he desir'd to confirm it by Marriage which he effected This Kingdom heretofore was call'd Gaul but afterwards the Franks a German Nation under their King Pharamond invading it and possessing the greatest part of it chang'd the Name from Gaul to France The Successors of Pharamond for several Generations were Pagans till by St. Remigius Bishop of Rhemes in the year of Grace 499. King Clodoveus was Converted to the Christian Faith and with him the greatest part of his Kingdom which Faith ever after continu'd and encreas'd there This Kingdom of the Franks was at that time govern'd by four Kings Sons of Clotharius a Daughter of one of which Kings Elthelbert Married nam'd Berta Gregory calls her Aldiberga to whom he attributes the Conversion of the the Saxons Her Parents not without some difficulty deliver'd their Christian Daughter to the Bed of a Pagan but had an engagement from Ethelbert to allow Her and her Family an entire freedom in Religion and so the Marriage was concluded The Lady was accompanied into Britain by a Prudent and Devout Bishop call'd Lethardus who is Styl'd The Percursor to St. Augustine and one who open'd the door to Christianity here There were then in Doroberni or Canterbury several Churches which had been built by Christians many Ages before in the times of the Romans and were not utterly demolish'd by the Saxons amongst which the Queen made choice of that which had been Dedicated to the Honour of St. Martin and stood Eastward of the City The Author of Life of this Bishop Lethardus tells us what Devotions this Queen perform'd in this Church viz. That she and her Family frequented the Sacraments of Masses and Prayers in the Celebrating whereof the Blessed Bishop Lethardus was President or chief Priest The saying or singing of Masses were the Solemn Devotion of the Church in those times as appears by the Councels of Orleans and Tours Celebrated in these very times insomuch as St. Columba by Revelation knowing the death of St. Brendan in Ireland Celebrated a Solemn Mass for his Soul. In the year of Grace 571. Cuthulf the Brother of King Ceaulin fought with the Britains at Bedanford now Bedford and having obtain'd the Victory he took from them four Royal Cities Linganburgh a
place now unknown Egelsburgh now Ailesburgh in Buckinghamshire Bensingtun or Benson in Oxfordshire and also Egnesham now unknown After which Victory Cuthulf departed this life In the year 575. the Kingdom of the East-Angles was Erected in Norfolk Suffolk Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely the Name of the first King was Offa from whom his Successors and Subjects were call'd Vffings Some place Kings in this Region before Offa's time if such were they seem to be Dependant and upon Courtesie as after they were again Beneficiarii sometimes of the Kentish Kings sometimes of the Mercians Two years after the beginning of Offa's reign was fought a Battle fatal to the Britains by which they were expell'd almost out of all the fertile Plains of this Island and driven to the Mountains of Wales The Britains had hitherto defended themselves in their Cities of Glocester Cirencester and Bath but this year Ceaulin after an overthrow given in Battle expugn'd those three Cities and forc'd the Britains to retire into mountains and Woods This Battle saith Cambden was fought at a place call'd Deorham after which the City of Bath was given up to the Saxons And in this Battle it is said three Christian Kings of the Britains were slain whose Names were Comagil Candigan and Faringmagil so that Ceaulin became so terrible to the Britains that all places hast'ned to render themselves to their Power Nevertheless the Britains after seven years rest again attempted another Combat with the Saxons at a place call'd Fedhanlea where on both sides they fought with horrible fury Insomuch as Cuthwin the Son of Ceaulin being oppress'd with multitudes was slain But Ceaulin having repair'd his Army the Soldiers whereof bound themselves by Oath not to fly at last in Battle vanquish'd the Conquering Britains and pursuing them too many Provinces and innumerable Spoils In the year of Grace 585. the Kingdom of the Mercians took beginning under their first King Croeda or Crida though its foundation might be laid sooner This Crida reckon'd himself the tenth in Descent from Woden the Idol Diety of the Saxons And whereas the others possess'd themselves of the outward parts of Britain this Crida peirc'd into the Bowels of it by little and little possessing himself of all the Provinces towards the North confin'd with the Rivers Humber and Mersey on the South with the Thames on the East with Severn and Deva on the West with the German Ocean The Britains themselves by a voluntary Cession made Crida's way very easie to his new erected Throne in which he as yet sat contented with the inferiour title of Governour or Duke For the Saxons being now dispers'd through all the parts of Britain and every day gaining more strength became intollerably burdensom to the poor Britains and being Infidels publish'd Laws extreamly prejudicial to Christian Religion Whereupon by agreement between the Clergy and other British Inhabitants hitherto mixt with the Saxons they resolv'd to quit the Country and to retire some to the Mountains of Wales some into Cornwall others to Little Britain and other Christian Regions Then it was to wit in the year of our Lord 586. that the Arch-Prelates Theonus Bishop of London and Thadioc or Theodoc of York seeing all their Churches levell'd with the ground attended with many Ecclesiasticks sled into Wales and carried with them the Sacred Relicks of Saints least by an irruption of the Barbarous Saxons the Sacred Bones of so many and so great Saints should be destroy'd So that the Provinces of Loegria and Northumbria were utterly depriv'd of Christian Congregations Upon the Bodies of some Saints reverently hid in Monuments great heaps of Earth were cast least they should be obnoxious to the contumelious scorn of Insidels for the Kings of the Angli and Saxons as they were very Powerful in Arms so were they malicious Pagans thirsting after nothing more then the disgrace of Christ and the Subversion of his Worship where-ever they subdu'd a Country if any Church were left untouch'd they turn'd it into a Temple of their Profane Idols with their Impious Sacrifices polluting the Altars of the true God. Concerning this Theonus Arch-Bishop of London he was formerly Bishop of Glocester and from thence translated to London in the year 553. and in the year 586. with his whole Clergy fled as is said into his own Country Afterwards the Metropolitical Dignity was transfer'd to Canterbury from London as shall hereafter be declar'd And never after the departure of Theodoc do we read of any other Arch-Bishop of York 'till by the Conversion of Edwin Son of Alla King of the Northumbrians St. Paulinus was there Consecrated Arch-bishop By the Secession and flight of the British Clergy and other Inhabitants there remain'd the miserable Relicks of the Britains in three Provinces only namely in Cornwall stretching forth it self like a Horn into the Sea in South-Wales and North-wales with these narrow limits they were forced to be content nevertheless they never departed from the true Faith of Christ One thing there is indeed for which they are justly to be reprehended the mortal hatred which they long did bear to the English Nation who expell'd them was so as they would less communicate with them then with Dogs So mistaken are they which will needs think that the Saxons were instructed in Christianity by the Britains and not by St. Augustine from Rome The Saxons were no sooner in a secure Possession of this Island but Almighty God so dispos'd the effects of his Divine Providence as to prepare the way of their Conversion to him in order to their eternal Happiness as if an earthly Kingdom had not been a reward answerable to their merits in destroying an ungrateful People abandon'd to all Impiety The instrument of this Felicity now approaching was the Blessed man St. Gregory then a private Priest though soon after a most worthy Successor of St. Peter in the Apostolick Chair at Rome Upon this Happy occasion a number of young English Youths were brought to Rome and there expos'd to the publick Market to be Sold Gregory excited by a zealous Affection to propagate the Name of Christ and mov'd with a tender compassion towards those Children with whose Beautiful Features and amiableness he was affected and understanding that the Nation from whence they came was destitute of the knowledge of Christ took a resolution to sow amongst them the Divine Seed of Christian Faith And being after exalted to the Pontificate in order to the effecting of his design sent St. Augustine the Monk to lay the foundation of a Christian Church in this Island joyning with him other Auxiliaries and Devout Companions of his Labours Bishop Parker seems to doubt this Story because of the improbability that the Saxons should Sell their Children whereas Tacitus recounting the Manners of the Antient Germans affirms They would out of greediness of gaining in Dice playing even set their own liberty at stake And Malmburiensis says It was a familiar and almost a natural
Instability of Worldly Greatness and Power in the person of the hitherto Prosperous King of the West-Saxons Ceaulin who after all his Conquests was at last overcome in Fight and expell'd his Kingdom and Life also for such was the general hatred all men bare to him that they unanimously conspir'd his destruction A Battle was fought between him on the one side and the Saxons and Britains on the other side in Wiltshire at a place call'd Wansdike fabulously reported to have been made by the Devil upon a Wednesday taking its Name from Woden or Mercury the Saxon Idol The cause of raising this Rampire seems to be the separation of the Kingdom of the Mercians from the West-Saxons Near to this is seated a Village call'd Wadensbury and here Ceaulin Fighting this Battle was utterly broken and soon after dy'd After his death Cealric his Brothers Son possess'd the Kingdom of the West-Saxons but being much inferior in Courage to his Predecessors did not inherit that extent of Power which Ceaulin had exercis'd over the other Saxon Princes This opportunity was not omitted by Ethelbert King of Kent and next in Power to Ceaulin who without much hazard obtain'd the Preheminence by means whereof a freer way was open'd to communicate Christian Truths to several Provinces of the Kingdom after they were embrac'd by Ethelbert as they soon were St. Gregory in the third year after he was Pope by his Wisdom and Authority restor'd the Churches of Ireland to Catholick Unity from which they had been separated by a quarrel about the tria Capitula spoken of before His Epistle unto them concerning that subject is extant by which they received full satisfaction For presently after several of their Bishops and other Devout persons undertook Pilgrimages to Rome to express their Duty to the Supreme Bishop There is another Epistle of the same Holy Pope in Answer to certain doubts and questions which the Irish had propos'd to him touching the Rites and manner of Baptism But however the state of the Irish Churches then was the Churches of Britain are declar'd at this time free from any stain either of Schism or Errour in Doctrine In the year of Grace 593. Edelric King of the Northumbrians dy'd whom succeeded Ethelsred the Cruel At first he vigorously defended his own Dominions then unjustly invaded the bounds of others and every where sought occasions of exalting his Glory Many Combats were undertaken by him Prudently and executed Gallantly for neither would he be restrain'd by Sloth nor by his Courage prick'd on to Temerity about the same time Redwald came to the Kingdom of the East-Angles But fatal indeed was this year in the Death of our Saxon Princes for Crida King or Duke of the Mercians now ended his Life to whom succeeded his Son Wibba or Wippa who after also dying left behind him three Illustrious Children Penda Kenwalch and Sexburga About this time also dy'd the Virtuous Queen Ingoberga and received the reward of her Patience she had been the Wife of Childebert King of the Franks and after she had brought him a Daughter was unworthily repudiated by him Her memory challenges a place in this History as mother to Birtha or Aldiberga Queen of Kent whose Piety and Endeavours so dispos'd the Heart of her Husband Ethelbert that it was ready to receive the Christian Faith soon after tender'd unto him by St. Augustine And now behold the Sun of Righteousness began to dawn again upon this Island and dispel the Darkness of Idolatry and Superstition and now a new Seed of Pious Princes Immaculate Virgins Devout Monks and a multitude of all sorts excelling in Christian Virtues and Graces sprung up and flourish'd to the admiration of all Christian Churches so as even from this time our Island began to deserve the Title of the Isle of Saints It will be needful to give you a prospect at one view how the Provinces were divided and what Princes Rul'd in each It is agreed on all hands that this Day-Star of Christianity began to shine among the Saxons in the year of Grace 590. for then the Apostolick Messengers from Rome receiv'd their Mission from the most worthy Successor of St. Peter St. Gregory the Great in the seventh year of his Pontificate and began their Journey toward our Island though they did not arrive here 'till the year following At this time the Saxon Heptarchy was establish'd in Britain and all the Provinces thereof were entirely under the Dominion of the Angli and Saxons except the Northern Kingdom of the Picts and Scots the Western parts in Cambria and Cornwall were not yet wholly subdu'd by the Saxons The Kings governing the Heptarchy their Names and Provinces are as follows Ethelbert was then in the 35th year of his reign He was the Son of Irmeric Son of Otha Son of Eska Son of Hengist this Kingdom contain'd Kent as now bounded Next over the South-Saxons which Kingdom compriz'd Sussex and Surrey reign'd Eldwalch the Son of Cissa the Son of Ella who first establish'd this Kingdom this was the seventh year of Eldwalch his reign Thirdly the King of the West-Saxons under Celric in his first year as Nephew to Ceaulin who founded this Kingdom in the year of Grace 519. within his Dominions were comprehended Hampshire Barkshire Wiltshire Somersetshire Dorsetshire Devonshire and part of Cornwal Next over the East-Saxons Sebert was in the first year of his reign he was the Son of Sledda Son of Erkenwin who in the year of Grace 527. establish'd that Kingdom containing Essex Middlesex and so much of Hartfordshire as is under the Bishop of London's Jurisdiction whose Diocess is Adequate to that Kingdom After this was the Kingdom of the Northumbers to which belongeth whatever lyeth between Humber and Edenburgh It was sometime divided into two Kingdoms of Bernicia and Deiri Bernicia contain'd Northumberland with the South of Scotland to Edenburgh The Deiri consisted of part of Lancashire with the entire Counties of York Durham Westmerland and Cumberland The whole Kingdom at this time was govern'd by Ethelfrid in the fourth year of his reign who was the Son of Alla Son of Ida who founded that Kingdom in the year of Grace 547. After this in the year 575. the Kingdom of the East-Angles was founded containing Norfolk Suffolk Cambridgeshire with the Isle of Ely and some part of Bedfordshire At this time Redwald had been King four year he was the Son of Titillus Son of Vffa esteem'd the first King and Founder of the said Kingdom in the year of our Lord 575. The last though largest was the Kingdom of Mercia so call'd for that it is seated in the middle of the Island It was the Marches or limits on which the other Kingdoms did border It comprehended the the whole Counties of Lincoln Northampton Rutland Huntingdon Buckingham Oxford Worcester Warwick Darby Nottingham Leicester Glocester Stafford Chester part of Lancashire Herefordshire Shropshire and part of Bedfordshire At this time when St. Augustine was sent by Pope Gregory to the Conversion of the Saxons Wibba the Son of Crida was King or chief Governour of Mercia which Crida laid the Foundation of it in the year of our Lord 585. These were the Saxon Kings and these their limits when Almighty God sent his Apostolical Missioners to Convert the Blind Saxons to the Christian Faith Yet were these limits in continual motion as the success of Princes prov'd good or bad And among these Kings commonly one was most Puissant over-ruling the rest who stil'd himself King of the English Nation which Super-eminence Ethelbert King of Kent at this time enjoy'd to whom the Word of Life was first offer'd and by him thankfully accepted Thus stood the state of Christianity in this Island under the Government of the Romans and British Kings In what a different state it now is may easily be discern'd by the Judicious Reader Fiat Voluntas Dei. FINIS Jesus is condemned to die
by the most Wise Learn'd and Virtuous Emperour of the Romans must needs have a strange influence on the minds of many men throughout the whole Empire to incline them to conform themselves to his Judgement though his Practise were otherwise for Worldly respects and indeed it produc'd a number of Christians not only out of the Vulgar Rank but of Honourable and Noted Persons Insomuch as Tertullian a Christian Writer of the next Age declares to the Romans That though they counted Christians as Externs yet saith he we fill all your places your Cities Isles Castles Free-Towns Camps Tribes Corporations Palaces Senates c. No wonder then if our British King Lucius prepar'd as aforesaid and inform'd by Trebellius and Pertinax principal Officers sent into Britain not only of the said Miraculous Deliverance but what numbers of the Roman Nobility and Senators had thereupon given up their Names to Christ No wonder if Lucius thus convinc'd in Judgement and not deter'd by the Roman Civil Power at last submitted his neck to the same easy yoak As for our Bale's conceit that Trebellius and Pertinax were both Christians and wrought upon Lucius there is no ground in History for it And as to the manner and order of this Kings Conversion it might have been more clearly publish'd to the World had not the Antient History of Elevanus who liv'd in the time of Pope Eleutherius been lost Nevertheless what may be glean'd out of Primitive Records as Relicks of Antient Tradition shall not be omitted especially if approv'd by modern Authors Amongst the rest thus writes Bale Lucius as he conjectures was scandaliz'd at the meanness and poverty of Christ as the Jews were For though Christian Religion had for the space of more than 100. years been propagated in Britain yet it seem'd to be depriv'd of its due splendour because hitherto Administred by simple poor and contemptible persons and wanted the Authority of the Empire to support it Therefore as soon as the said King was inform'd by the Emperour's Lieutenants that upon the ceasing of Persecution many Illustrious Romans had embrac'd the Christian Faith he then began to entertain a more worthy conceit of it and now seriously comparing this Holy Faith with what he had learn'd from his Druids the Simplicity and Sanctity of the one with the foul and barbarous Superstitions of the other and considering the inestimable Promises of Eternal Glory and Happiness propos'd and assur'd in and by the Gospel to any share whereof his own Priests never pretended the least claim he grew weary of his former Errours and was willing to be further instructed in those Verities with a few Beams whereof he had been formerly Enlightned And therefore though there wanted not such as had skill enough to satisfie this King in the Truth of Christian Religion especially Elvanus before mention'd and Medwinus among the Belgae yet the prudent King by their advice no doubt thought himself oblig'd to implore a greater Authority for the Establishing a new Church and settling the common Affairs of Religion amongst his Subjects However though in his neighbouring Kingdom of Gaule many renown'd and learn'd Bishops were then living especially St. Iraeneus Bishop of Lyons yet to none of these had Lucius particular recourse but sent two Messengers through that Nation directing them to St. Eleutherius a worthy Successor of St. Peter in the Apostolick Chair which He with the whole Christian World took to be the Fountain of all Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction This he might well learn from St. Iraeneus against Heresies who declares That every Church and all Christians where-ever dspers'd should have recourse to the Roman Church by reason of its more Powersul Principality Tertullian also then an Eminent Priest would have given the same advice for thus he bespeaks his Readers Who ever thou art saith he who would'st better imploy thy Curiosity in the business of thy Salvation take a view of the Principal Churches founded by the Apostles If Italy be nearest to thee thou mayest repair to Rome from whence our Authority in Africk is likewise deriv'd a Church it is happy in its constitution To which the chief Apostles together with their Blood shed forth the whole Doctrine of Christianity And as for St. Iraeneus he gives a Catalogue of all the Bishops of Rome to the time of Eleatherius with whom he was Contemporary and with his Catalogue this Assertion By making known the Faith of that chiefest and most Antient Church of Rome renown'd throughout the whole World founded and constituted by the most glorious Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul and by an un-interrupted Succession of Bishops deriv'd to our times we confound all those who any way either by an unlawful self-love vain glory blindness or perversity of Opinion make separated congregations professing other Doctrine Therefore to Elutherius Pastor of this Church King Lucius address'd himself to obtain Laws and Ordinances necessary for the constitution of a well order'd Church in this Kingdom what his Message was our Bishop Vsher hath declar'd out of an Antient Book belonging to the Monastery of Abingdon namely That King Lucius having heard the Fame of the Sanctity of Preachers at that time in Rome sent his Messengers with publick Letters in great Expedition most devoutly and earnestly beseeching the venerable Pope Eleutherius that by his Order and Will he might be made a Christian It is true the Bishop will by no means attribute this to the Primacy of the Roman Bishop but to the Commerce and strict Alliance between the Conquer'd Britains and that Imperial City contrary to the plain Judgements of Irenaeus and Tertullian before-mention'd and the Traditionary practice of all Ages In the Protestant Author of the British Antiquities we may find who were this Kings Messengers namely Elvanus and Medwinus before-mention'd and what their Message was more particularly viz. To request the Roman Bishop that he would be pleas'd to direct his Legates with order to Baptize him being already indued with Christian Doctrine and that they might bring the Roman Laws with them according to which he might Order and Establish both the Ecclesiastical and Civil State of his Kingdom The Pious Bishop Eleutherius much more zealous to propagate the Divine Doctrine than to Illustrate his own Fame signify'd to the King his inexpressible joy for the gaining of so great a King to the Obedience of Christ but for the Civil ordering of his Kingdom thought his interessing himself therein would be to little purpose for those Laws were not necessary for the constitution of a Christian Commonwealth and that by them many things were establish'd which ought not to be observ'd by those who profess the Christian Faith c. St. Bede mentioning these requests of the King to Pope Eleutherius adds presently That he obtain'd the effect of his Pious Petition as to so much thereof as concern'd his further instruction in Christian Religion As may appear by the Pope's Answer preserv'd to this day by Matthew of
Westminster as followeth Your request to Us is that we would transmit to you a Copy of the Roman and Imperial Laws which it seems you desire to make use of in your Kingdom of Britain But you must be inform'd that the Roman Laws and such as are Enacted by the Emperour are not of such obligation but they may be at any time rejected which the Law of God in no Case must be Now by the Divine Mercy you have of late submitted your self in your Kingdom of Britain to the Law and Faith of Christ so that you have already with you both the Old and New Testament out of Them therefore by Gods Inspiration and with the common Councel of your Kingdom collect and frame a Law and by it through the Divine assistance govern your Kingdom of Britain You are Gods Deputy in your Kingdom according as the Kingly Prophet says The Earth is our Lords and the fulness of it the round World and all that dwell in it And again the same Kingly Prophet saith Thou hast lov'd Righteousness and hated Iniquity Therefore thy God hath Anointed thee with the Oyl of Gladness above thy Fellows And again Give thy Judgements to the King and thy Justice c. He saith thy Judgement not the Judgement and Justice of Caesar for the Christian Nations and People of your Kingdom who live under your peaceable Protection are the Children of God under his care who according to the Gospel Protect them as a Hen gathering her Chickens under her Wings c. The Nations therefore of your Kingdom are your People which being hitherto divided you ought to gather into one unanimous Congregation to the Obedience of the Faith and Law of Christ constituting of them one Church which you must Cherish Maintain Protect and Govern that so you may Reign with Christ for ever whose Deputy you are in the said Kingdom Some modern Writers add indeed some other passages incoherent and impertinent to it most likely to be Fictitious as perhaps the whole Epistle may be thought to be did not the credit of Matthew of Mestminster somewhat support it Be the Objections against it or the Additions to it what they will sure it is the Conversion of St. Lucius doth not much depend upon it Doubtless this or some such like Answer was brought back by Elvanus and Medwinus and with them came two other Holy men Commission'd by Eleutherius not only to Instruct and Baptize the King and those who by his imitation embrac'd the Christian Faith but to order and establish all Ecclesiastical Affairs in the Kingdom the Names of those two Commissioners were Fugatius and Damianus accounted well qualify'd for their Mission and of the degree of Bishops or Preiates that they might be able to Consecrate Churches Erect Bishopricks Dispense Orders and the like Concerning Elvanus and Medwinus good Authors write that the first was Consecrated Bishop at Rome and the other Preacher or Doctor of the Christian Faith Though there be others who upon little or no ground suppose them only Cathecumens when they went thither and consequently uncapable of such Preferment Whereas it is very probable that they were eminent Preachers of the Christian Faith to King Lucius and others and as appears by Antient Monuments they were Disciples of Joseph of Arimathaea bred up at Glastonbury full of Zeal to Gods Glory according to knowledge and accustom'd to a Contemplative Life in Prayer and Mortification Fugatius and Damianus admitted to the Presence of King Lucius and acquainting him from whom they were sent and upon what Errand forthwith the King and his whole Family with many others receiv'd Baptism according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Roman Church The name of the Queen to King Lucius is not recorded but his Sister Baptiz'd with him in Antient Records is Nam'd Emerita of whose Holiness and Constancy in Martyrdom more is to be said hereafter As for the particular form this King was Baptiz'd in it was certainly done according to the Roman Church conformable no doubt to the Ordinances of the Apostles as St. Justin Martyr Irenaeus and Tertullian living all in or about that Age do confidently Affirm Now though to the Essence of Baptism nothing is more requir'd than due matter which is Water a due form of Words and a right intention of him who confers it Yet even in these Primitive times other Sacred and Ceremonious Rites were subjoyn'd the more effectually to apply and imprint the force and virtue of that Sacrament in the minds of the Receivers as is most evident from Tradition and the Writings of those times and this by the prescription even of the Apostles themselves and their immediate Successors But if not so who can deny the Authority of the Church as to the creating such Ceremonies as may make the Celebration of the Holy Sacraments more Solemn and August especially considering what our Lord hath pronounc'd concerning his Church He that heareth or obeyeth you heareth me Of these Additional Rites the principal are these First The Arming the Baptiz'd person with the Sign of the Cross Secondly The Anointing his Head with Holy Oyl and Chrism Thirdly The Blessing of the Water design'd for Baptism Fourthly The using of Exorcisms and Holy Prayers to drive away the Enemy of Mankind All these Rites were practic'd in the Primitive times as may be prov'd by a cloud of Faithful Witnesses in several Ages by constant Tradition as St. Basil fully demonstrates After the administration of Baptism to the King those Holy men Fugatius and Damianus together with Elvanus and Medwinus wholly imploy'd themselves in Preaching the Gospel of Christ through all the Provinces of the Kingdom in disputing against the Superstition of the Druids and demonstrating the vanity of their Idols and the abominableness of their Horrible Sacrifices And being attended with the Kings Authority and Zeal they broke in pieces those Idols and easily perswaded the Britains to renounce their Antient Superstitions So that in a short space the Christian Faith and Worship of the only true God came generally to be had in Honour and Admiration Matthew of Westminster adds That these Blessed Teachers having in a great measure defac'd Idolatry through all Britain they Dedicated to the Honour of one God and his Saints those Temples which had been founded to the Worship of many false Gods filling them with Assemblies of Lawfull Pastors Saying further That in divers Cities of the Kingdom they constituted or at least design'd 28 Bishops subject to three Archbishops or Metropolitan Sees the prime whereof was London to which Cornwall and all the Provinces on the South of Severn and Wales were actually subjected or design'd so to be The Second was York to which was laid Deira and Albania divided from Loegria or the former part by the River Humber The third the City of Legions which had Dominion over Cambria or Wales sever'd from Loegria by the River Severn This City was call'd Caerleon and scituate upon the River Osca
or Vsk as by the ruines there may appear At the first indeed Bishops did not confine themselves to one place but exercis'd their Pastoral Duties from one place to another as they had occasion but after their Flocks incrcasing each Bishop was limited to his peculiar Flock and seated themselves in the eminent Cities then in number about 28. and consequently so many Bishops were ordain'd We find in the Antient Book belonging to the Monastery of Abingdon to this effect That Eleutherius sent his Missioners Faganus and Divianus Learn'd and Holy men to King Lucius who Baptiz'd the King and his People embraceing the Christian Faith destroy'd Idols and built Churches and decreed that in those Cities where formerly resided Arch-flamens according to the Pagan Superstition there Arch-bishops should be establish'd and where ordinary Flamens were there Bishops should succeed the chief Cities then were London York and Caerleon which became the Seats of three Arch-bishops Possibly the Title of Flamens and Arch-flamens was given to these Druid Priests by the Romans who might be distinguish'd amongst themselves by some other Name The Names of these 28 Cities have been collected out of History I. Cair Gumeguir which perhaps is Norwich by the Britains call'd Cair Guntius or perhaps rather Winwick in Lancashire some say Winchester II. Mincip or Municip which is Verulam near St. Albans III. Cair Lualid Luguballia now Caerleil IV. Mediolanum at this day Meivod in Montgomery-shire V. Cair Colon or Colonia now Colchester VI. Cair Ebranc now York VII Cair Custeint near Carnarvan by Antonine call'd Seguntium and Cair Custeint because Constantius the Father of Constantine was there buried and his Body there found in the time of Edward the First after the Conquest and by him Honourably Interr'd VIII Cair Caratauc or Caradoc in the borders of Shropshire between the Rivers Teindus and Colunus where Caractacus was Defeated by Ostorius IX Cair Grant now Cambridge upon the River Grant. X. Maucguid Mancunium in Lancashire as some think Manduessedum or Manchester in Warwickshire as others XI Cair Londein or Cair Lud now London XII Cair Guorthigirn in Radnorshire where King Vortigern hid himself from Divine Justice but could not escape it but was Burnt by Lightning in and with that City XIII Cair Ceint now Canterbury formerly Dorbernia XIV Cair Guorangon Branonium now Worcester XV. Cair Peris or Portcester now Portsmouth XVI Cair Daun or Danus now Doncaster in Yorkshire XVII Cair Legio of the 20th Legion there quarter'd now Chester XVIII Cair Guaricon or Guarvinc of Guarth a Garrison in the British Tongue now Warwick XIX Cair Segesut or the City of the Segontiaci the first People of this Island who yielded to Caesar since call'd Silchester in Hampshire XX. Cair Leon from the second Legion or Vsk from the River it was seated in Monmouthshire and is now ruin'd XXI Cair Guent or Venta Belgarum now Winchester XXII Cair Brito now call'd Bristol XXIII Cair Lerion by the Saxons Legecestria now Leicester XXIV Cair Draiton which Bishop Vsher thinks to be that which is now call'd Draiton in Shropshire XXV Cair Pentavelcoit seated upon the River Ivel in Somersetshire now Ilchester yet the said Learn'd Bishop thinks it should be written Pensavelcoit supposing it to be Pentsey in Sussex where William the Conqueror first landed XXVI Cair Vervac or Vriconium now Wroxcester in Shropshire XXVII Calemion or Calion which Cambden takes to be Comelet in Somersetshire where Roman Coins are frequently found and where are the footsteps of a Camp. XXVIII Cair Luitcoit or Lindcoit or Lindum now Lincoln These were the 28 Cities perhaps not all extant in the days of King Lucius at least under those Names which were design'd then for the Seats of Arch-bishops and Bishops though perhaps some other might be design'd for that purpose And it may be the Name of Arch-bishops was not then us'd yet the jurisdiction was alike under the Name of Metropolitans from the Metropolis or most Eminent Cities How many of these Cities were supply'd with Bishops is not certain Records only mention besides Elvanus Consecrated at Rome Theanus only a Britain and first Metropolitan Bishop of London where our Devout King Lucius built a Church in Cornhill Consecrated to St. Peter the Truth whereof is manifested by an Inscription on an Antient Table not long since hanging in the said Church to this effect following In the year of our Lord 179. Lucius the first Christian King of this Land founded the first Church at London namely the Church of St. Peter in Cornhill He establish'd there an Arch-Episcopal See it was the prime Church of the Kingdom and so continu'd for 400. years until the coming of St. Augustine the Apostle of England Some make Theanus Founder of this Church assisted therein by Ciranus the Kings Cup-bearer How long Theanus govern'd in this See is uncertain however he was succeeded by St. Elvanus though Malmsburiensis makes it doubtful in what place the Arch-Episcopal jurisdiction was fix'd during the time of the Britains Fugatius and Damianus after their three years successful Labours in this new Vineyard of our Lord as Historians witness return'd to Rome to give an account to St. Eleutherius how affairs stood in Britain As to this Matthew of Westminster expresses himself most fully affirming That in the year of Grace 186. the Blessed Prelates Fugatius and Damianus return'd to Rome and obtain'd from the Holy Pope Eleutherius a confirmation of all they had done in Britain and then came back again accompany'd with many others By whose Instructions the British Nation being confirm'd in the Faith of Christ became Illustrious the Names and Acts of these Holy men may be found in the History of our Gildas concerning the Victory of Aurelius Ambrosius It was the practice of Christian Churches to have frequent recourse to the Chair of St. Peter and about this very time the Church of Lions in France sent Irenaeus to St. Eleutherius for the resolving of questions about Ecclesiastical Affairs as St. Jerom witnesseth and of the same Errand before this time went St. Beatus to Rome as is before-mention'd This hath been frequently done in a due Subordination to the Supream Tribunal of the Church and for the preservation of Unity the Center whereof the Chair of St. Peter was ever accounted When Fugatius and Damianus came back into Britain they presented the King with a Crown Bless'd by that Holy Pope with many Divine Admonitions more acceptable than the Crown relating to the Government of his Civil State and his Defence of Holy Church It is said the Pope also prescrib'd the limits of his Kingdom so far Northerly that some conjecture that from thence it is that so many of those Northern Provinces became subject to the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Church of York Other Churches were afterwards built as first at Westminster in the place of an Idol Temple consecrated to Apollo which in the Reign of Antoninus Pius was by an Earthquake cast to
the weight and troubles of Government would have resign'd the Province to Carantac but he loving the Caelestial King more than an Earthly Kingdom fled away and having bought a Wallet and Staff of a poor man by Gods Conduct was brought to a Pleasant place where he reposing himself built an Oratory and spent his time in the Praises of God At last he pass'd over into Ireland invited by his Affection to St. Patrick when he came thither it was agreed between them that one of them should travel Preaching the Gospel toward the Right Hand and the other towards the Left In their company many Ecclesiastical persons attended them and they all agreed to meet once a year at an appointed place Where ever this Holy man Carantac went an Angel of our Lord in the likeness of a Dove accompanied him and chang'd his Name into Cernach being an Irish Appellation All along his Voyage he wrought great Miracles for the Confirmation of the Faith he Preach'd Healing many thousand of their Diseases The grace at first given to the Apostles is said to have been plentifully bestow'd on him He was counted an admirable Soldier and Champion of Christ a Spiritual and Devout Abbot refusing to Preach Saving Truth unto none He spent many years in that Island where he brought an incredible number to wash away their sins by Pennance by day and night offering innumerable Prayers to God and having Converted many People to our Lord who wrought many Miracles by him He at last return'd to his Native Country where he retir'd to his former Cave accompanied with many Disciples There having built a Church he determin'd to abide but not long after being admonish'd by a Voice from Heaven he return'd into Ireland where in a good Old Age and full of good Works he rested in Peace and was buried in his own City from him call'd Cherach I shall here add the Gests of another British Saint and Companion of St. Patrick into Ireland call'd Luman Son of Gollitus a Brittain and Nephew to St. Patrick by his Sister Tigridia He was the Founder of the Church of Trim in Ireland the occasion and manner whereof is thus related by Bishop Vsher St. Luman came to the Ford of Truim which runs before the Castle of Fiedilmed Son of Loiguor And early in the morning Froitchern Son of Fiedilmed found him Preaching the Gospel of Christ who wondering at the Doctrine taught by him presently believ'd and was Baptiz'd in Christ by Luman at a Fountain arising in the same place and stay'd with him until his Mother who sought after him came to the same place She was over-joy'd at the sight of the Holy man because she also came out of Britain and being instructed by him likewise believ'd and returning Home told her Husband what had hapned to her self and her Son Fiedelmed was much joy'd at the arrival of Luman because his Mother call'd Schotnoesa had been the Daughter of a British Prince Fiedilmed therefore went to him and Saluted him in the British Language questioning him in particular touching his Descent and Doctrine who answer'd That his Name was Luman a Brittain a Christian and Disciple of the Holy Bishop S. Patrick sent as he said by God to Convert the Inhabitants of that Country to the Faith of Christ and Baptize them Fiedilmed immediately believ'd with his whole Family and offer'd him and St. Patrick his whole Territory with his Son. Fiedilmed remov'd his Habitation beyond the River Boindeo but Luman with Froitchern stay'd at the Ford of Truim 'till St. Patrick came thither where they joyntly erected a Church about 12 years before the Church of Armagh Attimachae was founded the beginning of which Arch-Episcopal Church the Annals of Ulster ascribe to the year of Grace 444. We may now not unfitly treat of St. Benignus as his Story may be found in the Antiquities of Glastonbury The Venerable Bishop St. Patrick Preaching the Gospel through the Provinces of Ireland came to a plain call'd Brey or Breg very Spacious and Beautiful with which being delighted he determin'd there to Celebrate the Feast of Easter then at hand His first Acquaintance and Familiarity in that Province was with a man whom he had newly Converted to the Faith with him St. Patrick Lodg'd This man had a Young Child call'd Beonna who bore a tender Affection to the Saint he would often play with him and Kiss his Foot the Child would not sleep but when he lay with the Holy Bishop He therefore Prophetically perceiving the great Grace which the Divine Bounty would confer upon the Child vouchsafed to take him to his Bed and gave him the Name of Benignus When the Holy Bishop was ready to proceed in his Journey the Child with Pittiful cries beg'd to go along with him so as the Bishop was forc'd to receive him into his Waggon and Prophecy'd that he should be his Successor in the Bishoprick which accordingly came to pass This was the first Solemnity of Easter which the Holy Bishop Celebrated in Ireland and he did it by imitating the Son of God who at his last Supper with his Disciples Consecrated his Body and Blood for the Redemption of Mankind The day before this great Feast of our Lords Resurrection St. Patrick according to an Ecclesiastical Rite as Probus observes then in use Kindled the Holy fire the Flame whereof shone brightly about the place According to the custom of that Country it was it seems Vnlawful for any to Light a Fire before it was kindled in the Kings Palace The King whose Name was Logorius perceiving the brightness of the Flame in great indignation threatn'd Death to him who had infring'd that custom in his Kingdom His Magicians about him to incense him further told the King That the Fire which had so been kindled against Law unless presently extinguish'd would never cease to the Worlds end but obscure all the Fires which they kindled according to their custom and that the man who lighted it would be the destruction of his Kingdom While St. Patrick with great success thus labour'd in the Gospel Britain was Illustrated with the Memory of another great St. Winwaloc the Son of a Noble Person call'd Fracan Cousin-German of a British Prince Nam'd Coton This St. Winwaloc is said to have been from his Childhood inflam'd with an earnest desire of Heavenly things to despise Worldly Allurements and to live to God only wherefore he besought his Parents that he might be commended to the care of a certain Religious man to be by him imbew'd in the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and Documents of Piety his request being obtain'd he made wonderful progress in Virtue and Holiness under that Religious mans Discipline insomuch that when he was but seven years Old he became an example of all Piety and Goodness In process of time having undertaken a Monastical Profession Divine Graces shone more brightly in him so as he became withall enrich'd with the Gift of Prophecy Many Miracles God
on her Hengist commands a Magnificent Feast to be provided for the Entertainment of his newly arriv'd Soldiers to which the King is Invited He appoints his Daughter to perform the Office of Cup-bearer to the King that he might surfeit his Eyes with her Beauty The design took effect for the King being a Slave to Beauty was presently wounded with the Gracefulness of the Maids looks and the Elegancy of her Gestures nourishing in his mind a hope to enjoy her Without delay he demands her for his Wife The Crafty Father pretends such a Marriage would be too mean for so great a Prince but with great importunity yields his unwilling willing consent to reward which and for a Dowry to his Daughter the King gives him the whole Province of Kent some writers say This Feast and Marriage were Celebrated at Thong-Castle where Rowena was instructed by her Father to Drink a Health to Vortigern after the German manner However certain it is that besides the infinite Damage to the Kingdom by Alienating so considerable a Member as Kent so convenient for the harbouring of new Forces this Marriage was in a high degree Pernicious because the King had another Wife and for that being a Christian he had joyn'd himself to a Pagan Idolatress Presently after this unhappy Marriage the Voyage and Martyrdom of St. Vrsula and her Companions happ'ned whose Heroical Constancy might help to wipe out that stain which the Lust of this King had cast upon the Nation Hengist having thus Prostituted his Daughter to the King who Prostituted his Country to Hengist the Saxons began to swell with ambitious Thoughts and knowing the Nation generaily dis-approv'd the Kings Marriage and cooled in Affection and Duty to him began to pick quarrels with him and contemn'd him for his Vices They therefore sought occasions of War against the Britains whom God had ordain'd to be punish'd for their Crimes so that Hengist boldly requir'd of his Son-in-Law the King a more Plentiful supply of Provisions otherwise he would renounce the League between them and lay waste the whole Island which Threats were presently attended with dismall Effects For the Saxons entring a League with the Picts gather'd an innumerable Army which without resistance spoil'd the whole Country Thus a flame kindled by the hands of these Pagans prov'd a just revenge of the Crimes of this Nation which Crimes were the less Pardonable because committed by those who profess'd themselves the People of the True God No wonder was it that the Saxons met with so little resistance seeing the Kings Marriage with an Infidel Lady his Divorce from his Lawful Queen and the delivering up so considerable a part of his Kingdom to Strangers had rais'd high Discontents against him among his Subjects However by common consent they besought him to take Pity on his Country ready to Perish at least not to neglect his Faith and the Church of God in danger to be destroy'd by Heathen Miscreants which if it should happen by his default and that the Diabolical Worship of Idols should prevail against Gods true Religion it would be punish'd by his own and his Peoples Eternal Misery The Bishops and Clergy repeated these Admonitions to him but all in vain wherefore Vortigern became deserted of all his Subjects and the Nobility by unanimous consent rais'd into his Throne his Son Vortimer No writers affirm that Vortigern was Depos'd but Deserted by his Subjects as a Prince given up to his Pleasures and therefore incapable to resist the Ambitious Designs of Hengist against whom the whole Nation was resolv'd to joyn all their Forces to expel him out of the Kingdom Vortimer was an earnest Incendiary of the War against these Saxons being resolv'd to endure their Boldness and Ambition no longer And for this reason most of the Britains follow'd him not that the Nobles depriv'd Vortigern of his Royal Authority or Created Vortimer King as a late Calvinistical Writer insinuates However this Change could not but work Divisions in the Kingdom for Vortigern for the space of sixteen years having had possession of the Kingdom could not want some Adherents to take his part so as those Divisions could not but give too great advantage to the Progress of the Ambitious Saxons Vortimer being thus exalted either as Associate with his Father in the Throne or as General of the British Forces hasten'd to give proof of his Country-mens good advice in their Election of him and taking notice of the Craft and Ambition of the Saxons study'd how to drive them out of the Nation vehemently urging his Father to attempt it so that an Army was soon rais'd this happ'ned the seventh year after their first entrance Great preparations were made on both sides at last they came to a Battle which was fought in the Fields of Eglestirpe now call'd Alesford a Town in Kent wash'd by the River Medway On the Britains side were three chief Captains who led each a third part of the Army Ambrosius Aurelianus led the first Division Vortimer the second and Catigern a younger Brother of Vortimer led the third The Saxon Army was Conducted by Hengist and Horsa In the beginning of the Battle Horsa set upon the Army of Catigern with such Vigour that it was disperss'd like Dust before the Wind and Catigern the Kings Son was slain but his Brother Vortimer a Prince of admirable Courage falling side-ways into Horsa's Squadrons routed them and kill'd Horsa the most Valorous of the Saxons the remainder of his Forces fled to Hengist who then was Fighting with Invincible Courage against Ambrosius so as the whole weight of the Combate lay upon Hengist who being Assaulted and brought into great straits by the Accession of Vortimer's Forces after he had a good while sustain'd the impression of the whole British Army was at last overcome and compell'd to fly which he had never done before Yet this Victory cost the Britains dear for great numbers of them were slain nay some Authors affirm That Hengist obtain'd the Victory The Body of Horsa was Buried at a place not far from the Battle in memory of him call'd Horstead Catigern's Body is suppos'd to have been Buried at Aylsford by the Saxons call'd Eglesford by the Britains Saisseneag-Haibail because the Saxons were there overcome To testifie which Victory there still remain four great Stones standing upright after the manner of Stonehenge in Wiltshire which from Catigern are vulgarly and imperfectly call'd Keith-cotyhouse Horsa thus dead the Saxons exalted Hengist to the Title of the King of Kent The same year he is reported to have Fought three Battles against the Britains but being unable to resist the Valour of Vortimer he was forc'd to retire into the Isle of Thanet where he was daily Assaulted with British Ships At last the Saxons leaving their Wives and Children in Thanet return'd to Germany to call in greater Forces The year after dy'd the Glorious King Vortimer the fourth year after he was assum'd to the Participation of
by the Prelate of that place he was sent in Mission to the Scots to instruct that Nation in the Doctrine of Christ where he suffer'd Martyrdom by the hands of some Impious persons Some Ages after he became Venerated as a Saint and by Authority of succeeding Bishops Temples were Dedicated to his Honour which yet remain in that Nation To confirm this we read in the Life of St. David That when St. David 's Holiness was spread abroad several Princes forsaking their Kingdoms retir'd to his Monastery And that Constantine King of the Cornish-men or Danmonii forsaking his Throne became a Monk there and after some time spent in the Service of God at last went into a far distant Country where he built a Monastery Now it will be time to relate the great Affliction and Persecution which befell the famous and Holy Bishop St. Kentigern in the second year of Constantine Certain Sons of Belial Kinsmen to King Mark rose against the Saint conspiring his death whereupon being admonish'd by Divine Revelation he departed directing his Journey to Menevia where the Holy Bishop David flourish'd with all Virtues near Gaerleon he Converted many to the Faith and built a Church Being come to St. David he abode with him some time and receiv'd from the Prince of that Region Cathwallam a place commodious for a Monastery which having Erected at Egla Elwy he fix'd there an Episcopal See Near that place there was a Nobleman which often threatn'd and endeavour'd to expel him from thence whom God therefore smote with Blindness but upon the Holy Bishops Prayers his Sight was restor'd for which he became ever after Helper and Protector to the Bishop There were Assembled in that Monastery no fewer then 945 Brethren who all liv'd under Monastical Discipline serving God with great Abstinence of which number 300. who were Illiterate he appointed to Tilling the Ground and Guard of the Cattle out of the Monastery other 300. he assign'd for preparing Nourishment and performing other necessary Works within the Monastery and 365. who were Learn'd he deputed to the Celebrating Divine Offices daily Not any of which without great necessity would he permit to go out of the Monastery but ordain'd them to attend there continually as in Gods Sanctuary And this part of the Convent he divided so into Troops and Companies that when one had finish'd the Service of God in the Church another presently enter'd and began it again which being ended a third without any delay enter'd By this means Prayers were offer'd in that Church without intermission and the Praises of God were always in their Mouths Among these there was one nam'd Asaph more especially Illustrious for his Descent and Form who from his Childhood shone brightly both by Virtues and Miracles and daily endeavour'd to imitate his Master in all Sanctity and Abstinence To him this man of God bore ever after a particular Affection and committed the care of the Monastery to his Prudence and at last appointed him his Successor in the Bishoprick As touching the fore-mention'd Noble-man who oppos'd this Holy Bishop it is written to this effect That St. Kentigern at first built a Church of Wood and Lime but after he renew'd it of Stone although he was therein much hindred and molested by a Prince nam'd Malgo or Maglocun whose dwelling was six Miles thence at Deganwy but after being asswag'd he permitted him to place there an Episcopal See on which he bestow'd both ample Possessions and Priviledges as he did also upon the Monastery The See is by some call'd Elguy or Llanelwy so nam'd from the River Elwy over which it is seated St. Kentigern being the first Bishop thereof But in succeeding times it was call'd St. Asaph from the next succeeding Bishop Of this Prince Malgo more hereafter St. Kentigern's Life was prolong'd till after St. Augustine the Monks coming into Britain yet because his future Actions do not much relate to the general Affairs of the British Churches we may well in this place sum up the remainder of his Life He remain'd in Cambria seventeen years exercising most perfectly the Functions both of an Abbot and after of a Bishop at Elwy till in the end he was re-call'd to his first Bishoprick at Glasco in this admirable manner After that all his Enemies in Cambria had been consum'd by divers Calamities and Diseases the Inhahitants of that Region from whence he had been so long Exild through his Absence had forsaken the way of the Lord which he had taught them and were return'd to their Idolatry like Dogs to their Vomit which Apostacy of theirs it pleas'd God to puntsh by a grievous Famine the Earth the Sea and all the Elements refusing their accustom'd aid and comfort to them But at length our Lord was pleas'd to raise up a good King in that Region nam'd Rederech who had been Baptiz'd by some of the Disciples of St. Patrick and who was very desirous to restore the Faith of Christ in his Kingdom for which purpose he directed Messengers with Letters to St. Kentigern wherein he acquainted the Saint That the men who sought his Life were dead and besought him that he would no longer be absent from his flock for which he was oblig'd to Sacrifice his Life St. Kentigern having receiv'd the Message prepar'd for his return and having appointed St. Asaph his Successor in the Bishoprick of Elwy he attended with 600 of his Brethren took his Journey to the Region of the Cambrians and was met by the Devout King and great numbers of his People giving Thanks to God for his Presence upon whom the Holy man pronounced a solemn Benediction After this he cry'd with a loud voice In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ I command all those who envy the Salvation of men and resist the Preaching of Gods word to depart presently from hence that they may be no hinderance to those who shall believe Having said thus immediately in the sight of all an innumerable multitude of wicked Spirits horrible to behold both for their Stature and Shapes fled away from the Company which caus'd a wonderful Fear and trembling in them But the Holy man encourag'd and comforted them letting them see visibly who they were in whom they had believ'd and by whom they had been induced to Adore dumb Idols or the Elements which were Creatures appointed by God for their Vse and Service And for Woden whom by the Seduction of the Saxons they esteem'd their principal God And to whose Honour they Consecrated the fourth day of the Week he shew'd that he was no better than a Mortal man who had been King of the Saxons and Ancestor to several Nations that his Body was then dissolv'd into Dust and his Soul tormented in Hell fire for ever When he had said this with other Speeches in explanation of the Christian Faith The ground on which he sate in a plain Field call'd Holdelin swell'd up under him in the sight of them all so
inbred custom among them to sell their Children which unhappy custom continu'd many Ages in our Nation Insomuch as in the days of our King Henry the Second by the Testimony of Giraldus Cambrensis A Synod at Armagh in Ireland was fain to make a Decree for redeeming of such English Youths as had been sold for slaves in that Island And before that time among the Laws of Inas King of the West-Saxons there is more then one Decree which under great Penalties forbid this unnatural Traffique Lastly St. Gregory himself in his Epistle to Candidus his Procurator in France gives him order To redeem such English Children as he met with sold for Slaves in that Kingdom and to send them to Rome to be there instructed in the Christian Faith In truth almost all Antient Writers agree in the story though some differ about the time some ascribing it to the time of Pope Benedict but most and that most truly to the latter end of Pope Pelagius St. Gregory's immediate Predecessor St. Beda thus delivers the true Circumstances of this Story and tells us That by Tradition from their Ancestors it was brought to them that St. Gregory took so much care for the Salvation of our Nation that on a day when great variety of Merchandize was brought into the Market at Rome by Foreign Merchants St. Gregory especially took notice of three young Children of a pure Complexion Beautiful looks and Hairs Gracefully order'd and enquir'd out of what Country they came and being told they came from the Island of Britain where the Inhabitants generally are so Comely ask'd whether they were Christians or Pagans and being told they were Pagans Sigh'd saying Alas what pitty is it that the Prince of Darkness should possess men of such bright Countenances and that persons so amiable in their Looks should have Souls devoid of inward Grace Then he ask'd what was the Name of their particular Nation to whom was answered That they were call'd Angli Well may they be so call'd said he for they have Angelick Countenances suitable to such who shall be Co-heirs with Angels He further ask'd how the Province is call'd from whence they came the Answer was that they were Inhabitants of the Province call'd Deiri said he importing they should be deliver'd from the Ire of God de ira dei eruti and call'd to partake of his Mercy His last question was How the King of that Nation was call'd and being told Alle in allusion to that name he presently reply'd Allelujah must be Sung in those parts to the Praise of God who created all things After which Discourse he went to Pelagius then Bishop of the Roman and Apostolick See himself not being then Pope and humbly intreated him to send into Britain some Ministers of Gods word to Convert that Nation to Christ adding That he himself was ready to be employ'd with Gods assistance in such a work if his Holiness thought fit But his offer could not be taken for the Romans would not permit his Absence so far from the City Notwithstanding a while after when hewas exalted to the Popedom he brought to perfection what was so long and so earnestly desir'd by him sending indeed other persons to Preach the Gospel there but making their Preaching much more effectual by his Councels Exhortations and Prayers By which relation it is confirm'd that this did not happen in the time of Benedict for a good while pass'd after Pope Benedict's death before St. Gregory was Prefect of the City after which it was that he undertook a Monastical Profession in a Monastery built by himself Ad clivum scauri from whence he was call'd to be Arch-Deacon of the Roman Church then sent Nuncio to Constantinople At his return from thence he afforded our English Youths so much Grace and Favour But though Alla King of the Deiri by the Selling of the said Children gave occasion of bringing of Christianity to the Angli yet was not he so happy to hear any thing of it himself for the Divine Election regarded his Son Edwin who succeeded him not immediately but after the death of Edelric whose Reign was short and inconsiderable save only that in his first year St. Columban after he had spent many years in the Monastry of Banchor in Ireland came over into Britain with twelve Companions and from thence went into France He was not above 20 years of Age when he undertook this Journey and yet was so Courteously receiv'd in France by Childebert that he gave him choice of any place for his abode Whereupon He and his Companions entring into a Desart place found a ruinous piece of ground encompass'd with old Walls but water'd with warm Springs and of old call'd Luxovium and there fix'd their abode While St. Columban liv'd thereabout he was Instructor to the Holy Virgin Phara said to be a British Nun and Neece to the Saint himself but of this Nun more perhaps hereafter In the year 590. a War broke out between the Picts and Scots Aidan or Edan Crown'd King by St. Columba at Hy then enjoy'd the Principality over the Scots the cause of this War was the same which rais'd so much Contention between the Britains and Saxons for the Scots out of Ireland were invited by the Picts to assist them against the Britains as the Saxons were by the Britains to assist them against the Picts and Scots and these Irish Picts imitating the Saxons soon grew Insolent and being supply'd with new Aids at last obtain'd a Kingdom and then rooted out the very Name of Picts St. Columba though far distant in his Isle of Hy or Iova had a strange prospect of a great Battle then fought between these Scots and Picts for calling his Brethren together to Prayer he Kneeling down said Let us now Pray fervently for this People and their King Aidan for at this very hour the Battle against their Enemies begins A little while after rising up and looking towards Heaven he said Now are the Barbarous Enemies put to flight and the Victory is given to Aidan though dearly purchas'd for of his Army 303. are slain Ecclesiastical Stories are not without Examples of Gods Pleasure in revealing to his Servants things thus happening in parts remote This same year dy'd Cissa King of the South-Saxons and his Kingdom devolv'd to Ceaulin King of the West-Saxons yet so as Edelwalch Son of Cissa enjoy'd the Title of King as Homager to Ceaulin and this year also was chiefly Illustrated by the advancement of St. Gregory to the Popedom who immediately after the death of Pelagius was with wonderful Applause of all Degrees and Orders in Rome placed in St. Peter's Chair to the great benefit of the whole Church and the incomparable Felicity of our For his admirable Gests among which the most Illustrious was the Conversion of our Ancestors he was deservedly call'd St. Gregory the Great and the Apostle of England The year following Britain affords a memorable Example of the
Rome into their Country were Martyr'd by Attila called the scourge of God near Colen in Germany I shall only here set down the Names of such of these Virgins as have escap'd Oblivion and adjoyn the Churches where many of them are Venerated in regard their Holy Relicks there repose St. Vrsula divided her Innocent Army into several Squadrons first she gave a general Authority over all under her to these Virgins St. Cordula St. Eleutheria St. Florentia and St. Pinnosa next she assign'd the Care and Inspection to each of these viz. St. Benedicta St. Benigna St. Carpophora St. Celindes St. Clementia St. Columba St. Laeta St. Lucia St. Odilia St. Sapientia and St. Sybilla other particular Virgins Names are recorded St. Agnes St. Antonina St. Areaphila St. Babraria St. Baldina St. Candida St. Caradumea St. Christina St. Columbina St. Corona St. Cunera St. Deodata St. Flora St. Florina St. Florentina St. Gratia St. Honorata St. Honoria St. Hostia St. Languida St. Margarita St. Margaria St. Oliva St. Pampheta St. Pamefrides St. Pavia St. Paulina St. Pharanina St. Pisona St. Sambaria St. Sancta St. Semibaria St. Terentia and St. Valeria The Body of St. Vrsula is still preserv'd at Colen but her Head was translated to Paris where the Illustrious Colledge of Sorbon acknowledge her their Patroness At St. Denis in France there is a Commemoration of Panefredis Secunda Gemibaria Florina and Valeria whose Relicks Repose there At Huy in Germany is Celebrated the Translation of St Odilia famous for frequent Miracles The Monastery of Marcian in Flanders possesses some part of the Body of St. Cordula The Monastery of Good-hope belonging to the Premonstratenses enjoys the Relicks of St. Terentia St. Marguarita St. Baldina St. Sambaria and St. Margaria Translated thither when Reinaldus was Arch-Bishop of Colen The Monastery of St. Martin in Tourney Glories in the Bodies of St. Honor at a and Florina and some part of the Relicks of St. Vrsula The Monastery of St. Amand in Pabula preserves the Bodies of three of those Virgins whose Names are unknown At Andain in Arduenna repose the Bodies of St. Grata St. Hostia and St. Areaphila An Hospital in Tourney possesses St. Languida at Arras the Bodies of St. Beata and St. Sancta are said to repose in the Cathedral Church four of these Holy Virgins are Celebrated in the Monastery of St. Bertini in St. Aumar At the Church of St. Salvius the Relicks of St. Pavia and St. Caradumea are Venerated The Norbertines at Vicorne possess the Bodies of St. Corona St. Pharanina St. Babcaria St. Margarita and another of the same Name St. Benedicta St. Cordula St. Sambaria St. Deodata St. Pampheta St. Christiana The Canons of Tongres Venerate the Heads of St. Pannosa and St. Oliva The Nunns of Mays Venerate the Relicks of St. Paulina St. Florentina and Eight other of the said Holy Virgins In the Town of Rheune in the Diocess of Vtrecht is Celebrated the memory of St. Cunera who it is said was a while conceal'd by a certain Noble Matron but being discover'd had her neck broken But the Belgick Writers say She was by a Noble-man in Compassion taken from the rest and convey'd to his House where his Lady stir'd up with Jealousy Murdered her and hid her Body in the Stable into which the Lords Horses at his return would by no means enter by reason whereof the Murder was discover'd The Nuns of St. Belian Honour the Body of St. Honoria Translated thither long since At Pobletum in Catalonia rests the Body of St. Columbina And at Dertosa are Venerated the Relicks of St. Candida In all the Religious Houses of the Jesuits throughout all Portugal some part of the Bodies of these Virgin Martyrs are Reverently repos'd and the Feast of St. Vrsula after a particular manner Solemniz'd over all that Kingdom Lastly A Father of the same Society nam'd F. Gomez carried with him into the East-Indies the Head of one of those Virgins by whose Intercession the Ship and Passengers escap'd from otherwise unavoidable dangers To conclude this Story with the observation of a Learned Writer upon it How great a measure of Christian Fortitude saith he hath been implanted in the Hearts of the Women of that Northern Island since the time that St. Eleutherius Bishop of Rome sent into Britain St. Fugatius and St. Damianus may be evidently seen by this one Example For from all Antiquity of the Church through the whole World cannot be produced an example equalling the Virtue and Courage of these Holy Kirgin-Martyrs The purpose of Almighty God began now to appear to root out the Incorrigible Britains and in their room plant the Saxons who were at first more numerous than their Companions either the Jutes or the Angli and from them having prevail'd this Country was call'd Saxonia transmarina though after it took its denomination from the Angli who became numerous and Powerful The Saxons were a Nation deriv'd from the Sacae a Powerful People of Asia who disburthening themselves by sending Colonies abroad settled in the Coasts of Germany toward the Northern Sea from the Rhene as far as Denmark so as their Teritories were Antiently much larger than the Dutchy of Saxony The Angli came out of a Region call'd Anglia scituate between the Saxons and the Jutes their Capital City in the Saxon Tongue is call'd Sleswick and by the Danes Haitby from these the greatest part of Britain is call'd England From these also came their prime Captains Hengist and Horsa and in truth the precise Seat of our Progentiors the Angli is a small Province in Denmark at this time call'd Angel The Jutes or Goots were Antiently seated on the Northern Coast of the Cimbrian Chersonesus call'd by the Danes to this day Jutland They were probably deriv'd from the Gutti placed by Ptolomy in Scandia and their seat is still call'd Gothland yet are they not the same Goths or Getes who with their Victories heretofore measur'd all Europe for their Habitation was near the Euxine Sea In what particular Provinces of Britain these Jutes seated themselves it doth not appear nor is there any mention of any Principality they had in this Island as the Saxons and Angli had to whom the Jutes were rather to be accounted Accessaries in mingled Companies though some think they possess'd themselves of the Kingdom of the South Saxons and the Isle of Wight They are all generally comprehended under the Title of Saxons and are describ'd to be of the most Robustious Bodies and most Agile of all the Germans Witchindus the Monk treating of them saith The Franks wonder'd to see such men of Tall Stature Invincible Courage of unwonted Habits wearing their long Hair spread over their Shoulders and Arms but especially they admir'd their undaunted Courage They wore short Coats and were Arm'd with long Lances and their Posture was to lean upon their Shields having great Daggers behind upon their Reins Impatient were they of any Scorn
the Regal Authority Some Writers affirm He dy'd a Natural Death others say He dy'd by Poison administred to him by his Mother-in-Law Rowena into whose mind the Devil suggested to cause a Servant of his to give him Poison which he having drunk and perceiving the approach of Death he divided his Treasures among his Soldiers earnestly exhorting them to Fight Couragiously for their Country Moreover He commanded a Pyramid of Brass to be made and plac'd in the Haven where the Saxons usually landed upon which Pyramid his Body should be laid that the Enemies seeing the Body of so Valorous a Prince might be frighted back into their own Country More probable it is that he intended his Statue should be plac'd on the Pyramid for being a Christian Prince he was Decently and Solemnly Buried after the Christian manner And it is said He was Buried in the City of the Trinobantes now London and with him was Buried the Crown and Glory of the British Nation Beside his Courage he is said to be Eminent in other Virtues especially Piety and some say In his War against the Saxons he bore in his Ensign the Image of our Lord Jesus Christ To which Devotion of his we may impute his Victories or at least to his Pious and Charitable care in restoring the Churches destroy'd by the Saxons The year after Vortimer's death Hengist return'd out of Germany with greater Forces and took a firmer possession of his Kentish Kingdom and for the better Establishment of his Family therein joyn'd his Son Aesca with him in the Regal Power To oppose them the Britains invade his Country with a great Army consisting of four great Bodies Conducted by four Valiant Captains but when the Conflict was begun at Creganford the Britains found themselves too weak for the Saxons which were new Recruited with great numbers of chosen Robustious Soldiers who with their Swords and Battle-Axes cleft asunder the Bodies of the Britains Yet did they not give ground till their four Captains were slain but afterwards were so terrified that they fled as far as London and never after had the Courage to bring an Army into Kent again so that Hengist and his Son quietly enjoy'd that Kingdom fixing their Palace at Canterbury Thus began this new Kingdom of Kent in the eighth year after the Arrival of the Saxons in Britain It is not probable that this exalting of Vortimer was any Deposal of his Father for Vortimer being Dead his Father continu'd King and for a while gave proof of his Courage in repressing the Ambition and Violence of Hengist though after he return'd to his former Licentious Slothfulness Now during these Wars Hengist is recorded to have exercis'd extream Cruelty in all places where his Armies came and especially in Kent against Priests and Holy Virgins great numbers of which he caus'd to be Massacred Demolishing Churches and Profaning Altars Among the Victims of his Barbarous Cruelty the memory of Voadinus Arch-Bishop of London only remains in our English Martyrology who being a man of great Sanctity reprov'd Vortigern for repudiating his Lawful Wife and Marrying an Infidel which so inflam'd Hengist with rage that he commanded the Holy Bishop with many other Priests and Religious men to be slain Gildas declares That great numbers of Bishops and Priests were Massacred by this Saxon King And St. Bede relates more particularly the Rapines Cruelties and Devastations of this Impious King wherewith he miserably fill'd the whole Island The year of Grace 461. is noted with an Act of most Perfidious Cruelty perpetrated by this Barbarous Prince His Ambition was not satisfied with the Kingdom of Kent so as he resolv'd to enlarge his bounds in Britain by any means and finding that by exercise of War the British Courage increas'd he therefore turn'd his Thoughts to invent some Stratagem for the compassing his Designes He insinuates himself into the minds of Vortigern and his Nobility as if he were desirous of Peace and Amity with them which if they would grant he would turn his Arms against the Picts and Scots and drive them out of the Island quickly did he obtain belief from the easy Nature of Vortigern whereupon a meeting is appointed between the Britains and Saxons with this caution that each King should be attended with 300 only and those un-arm'd and at this meeting they were to treat of the Conditions of Peace The place appointed for this Fatal Assembly was a Plain near Sorbiodunum or Old Salisbury a City seated in the Province of the Belgae wherein remains a Monument of a Dire Tragedy for both sides being met a great Feast was prepar'd for the Britains at which the Articles of Agreement were to be ratified by mutual Promises and Oaths Towards the end of this Feast when they were dissolv'd in Wine Hengist on a suddain call'd aloud To Arms which was the Watch-word agreed among the Saxons who immediately drew out short Swords conceal'd under their Cloathes and quickly slew their Un-arm'd Guests the Britains Howbeit which is remarkable Eldol the Valiant Consul or Governour of Glocester snatching up a stake by Chance lying near with it slew seventy of the Treacherous Saxons A Monument of this Barbarous Tragedy not long after rais'd by the Britains continues to this day and is Vulgarly call'd Stone-henge Upon Salisbury-Plain where in a space of ground compass'd with a Ditch are placed as in a three-fold Crown Stones of an incredible vastness some of them 28 foot in hight and 7 in breadth over many of which other great Stones are plac'd a-cross Cambden believes That this Monument was rais'd in memory of this Treachery by Ambrosius Aurelianus or his Brother Vterpendragon by the help and Art of Merlin the famous Magician though others deliver that it was a Magnificent Sepulcher rais'd for Ambrosius himself slain near this place from whom the Town of Ambresbury-not far distant took its Name In this Slaughter the Saxons took Vortigern Prisoner and the year following bound him with Chains threatning Death unless he would deliver up 38 of his Cities and Strong-holds Vortigern to save his Life quickly yielded to their demands which being confirm'd by Oath they gave him his Liberty And first they seiz'd upon the City of London then York and Lincoln and then Winchester All which adjoyning Provinces they wasted killing the Inhabitants They Levell'd with the ground all Churches and Buildings belonging to Ecclesiastical Persons kill'd the Priests near the Altars burn'd all Books of Holy Scripture and heap'd Earth on the Sepulchres of Martyrs Religious men to escape their fury were sain to fly into Desarts Woods and Rocks carrying with them the Relicks of Saints And as for Vortigern seeing this horrible destruction he retir'd into the North part of Wales and there inclos'd himself in a Town call'd Genorium Now the three Provinces with which Vortigern redeem'd his Life are with more probability express'd by Malmsburiensis in this manner Of old saith he the Eastern and Southern Saxons with the
having been spent by this Holy Virgin in this Solitary place and the fame of her Sanctity every where divulg'd many Oratories also built by her her Nephew St. Cadoc performing a Pilgrimage to the Mount of St. Michael met there with his Blessed Aunt St. Keyna to his great joy and would have had her back to her own Country but the Inhabitants of that Region would not permit it Howbeit afterwards by the Admonition of an Angel the Holy Maid return'd to the place of her Nativity where on the Top of a Hillock seated at the foot of a high Mountain she made a little Habitation for her self and by her Prayers to God obtain'd a Spring there out of the Earth which by the Merits of the Holy Virgin afforded help in divers Infirmities One night when the time of her Consummation approach'd by the Revelation of the Holy Ghost she saw in a Vision as it were a Fiery Pillar the Base whereof was fix'd in her Bed which was no other then a Pavement strew'd over with a few Branches of Trees In this Vision two Angels appear'd to her one of which approaching respectfully to her seem'd to take off the Sack-cloath wherewith she was cover'd and instead thereof to put on her a Smock of Fine-linnen over that a Tunick of Purple and last of all a Mantle all woven with Gold and then bid her prepare her self to come with them that they might lead her into her Heavenly Fathers Kingdom Hereupon she wept with excessive joy and endeavouring to follow the Angels awak'd and found her Body inflam'd with a Feaver by which she perceiv'd her end was near Sending therefore for her Nephew St. Cadoc she said thus to him This is the place above all others belov'd by me here my memory shall be perpetuated This place I will often visit in Spirit if it may be and I am sure it shall be permitted for our Lord hath granted me this place as an Inheritance The time will come when this place shall be inhabited by a sinful People which notwithstanding I will violently root out of this seat My Tomb shall lye a long time unknown 'till the coming of other People whom by my Prayers I shall bring hither them will I protect and defend and the Name of our Lord shall in this place be Blessed for ever After this her Soul being ready to depart out of her Body she saw standing before her a Troop of Heavenly Angels ready with joy to receive her Soul and to transport it safe from her Spiritual Enemies She had no sooner related this Comfortable Vision to the standers by but her Blessed Soul was freed from the Prison of her Body In this her Dissolution her face smil'd and was all of a Rosy colour and from her Sacred Virgin Body so sweet a Fragrancy proceeded that those who were present thought themselves in the joys of Paradice St. Cadocus Buried her in her own Country where for many years she had led a most Holy Mortified Life very acceptable to God. To the Gests of this Holy Virgin St. Keyna we may here adjoyn what is reported of her Sister Almedha and her Brother St. Cadocus Many Churches are dispers'd through several Provinces of Cambria Illustrated by the Names of the Children of Braganus of these one is seated in the top of a certain Hill in the Region of Brecknock not far distant from the principal Castle of Aberhoden which is call'd the Church of St. Almedha who rejecting the Marriage of an Earthly Prince and Espousing her self to the Eternal King Consummated her Life by a Triumphant Martyrdom The place of her Solemnity is yearly Celebrated the first of August whereto great numbers of Devout People from far distant parts us'd to Assemble and by the Merits of that Holy Virgin receive their desir'd Health from divers Infirmities One special thing hap'ning usually in the Solemnity of this Blessed Virgin seems very remarkable For you may there often-times see Young-men and Maids sometimes in the Church sometimes in the Church-yard and sometimes while they are Dancing in an even ground encompassing it to fall down on a suddain to the ground at first they lye quiet as if they were wrap'd in an Extasie but presently they will leap up as if possess'd with a Frenzy and with both their Hands and Feet before the People they will represent whatsoever Servile work they unlawfully perform'd upon Feast days of the Church one will walk as if holding the Plow another as if driving Oxen with a Goad and both of them in the mean time Singing some rude Tune as if to ease their Toyl one will act the Trade of a Shooe-maker another of a Tanner a third of one which were Spinning Here you may see a Maid busily Weaving and expressing all the Postures usual in that work After all which being brought with Offerings to the Altar you would be astonish'd to see how suddenly they will return to their Senses again Hereby through Gods Mercy who rejoyceth rather in the Conversion then Destruction of sinners it is certain that very many have been corrected and induc'd to observe the Holy Feasts with great Devotion Touching their Brother Cadoc the Fame of his Sanctity was most eminent among the Silures his Name is consign'd in our English Martyrology on the 11th of February and that he flourish'd in all Virtues in the year of Christ 492. To him in all probability is to be refer'd that which is reported of the Wreath Torquis of St. Canauc The Inhabitants of that Country esteem this Wreath to be a precious Relick and of wonderful Virtue insomuch As when any one is to give a Testimony by Oath if that Wreath be placed in sight he dares not presume to commit Perjury In the same year mention is made of the Martyrdom of a King of Brecknock call'd Clitanc or Clintanc a Prince very observant of Peace and Justice among his Subjects who became a Martyr adorn'd with a Caelestial Crown for his Virtues and Merits especially his Chastity and Purity from Carnal Delectations In the year 491. is most aptly placed the beginning of the Kingdom of the South-Saxons which as it began more early than most of the rest so did it soonest fail and was the last that embrac'd the Christian Faith Ella had a long time held the Kingdom of Sussex in great Power He receiv'd great Recruits out of Germany so that being consident of his Forces in the third year after the death of Hengist he laid Siege to the City of Andredecester the Britains gather'd infinite numbers to raise this Siege and both day and night vex'd the Besiegers with Ambushes and Incursions but they nothing discourag'd gave continual Assaults on the City and in every Assault the Britains set on their backs throwing Arrows and Darts upon them so as they were forc'd to give over the Assault and turn their Forces against the Britains who being more nimble quickly run into the Woods and when the Saxons return
sight The Blind man answer'd I believe in Jesus Christ whom thou Preachest and beg that I may be Baptiz'd Whereupon the Holy man with his Hands making the Sign of the Cross upon the Blind-man's Eyes he immediately receiv'd his Sight And casting away the Staves which had help'd him in walking he gave Thanks to God and St. Richard by whom he had been Enlightned As for the Woman when she saw the Miracle she likewise was Cnoverted so as St. Richard perceiving her Faith took her by the Hand whereupon she rose up streight and walking cry'd out with a loud voice There is only one most high God who by his good Servant hath made me whole At these Acclamations of the Woman the greatest part of the City met together and attending to the Holy Bishops Preaching were in short time Converted God by him working many Miracles so as the said Converts having broken down all their Idols were Baptiz'd by him Not long after which follow'd the Apparition of St. Michael to the People of Siponto who commanded them to Erect a Chappel there to his Name This they signified to their Bishop Laurentius and He to Pope Gelasius desiring his advice what was to be done His Answer was That being will'd by the Blessed Arch-Angel a Church should forthwith be built and that it should be perform'd by the Holy Bishops Laurentius of Siponto Sabinus of Cannusium Pelagius of Salapia Roger of Caunae and Richard of Andria Upon this the two Holy Bishops last mention'd took their Journey to Siponto on foot with daily Fasting toylsom Labours and incommodity from the burning heat of the Sun which incommodity upon their Prayers was miraculously remedied by the flying of a mighty Eagle over their Heads which shadow'd them during their whole Journey At their Arrival they perform'd what they came for as we may read in the publick Office of that Church The Death of this Holy Bishop is Commemorated in the Martyrology yearly on the 9th of April In the year of Grace 494. A third Noble German came into Britain Nam'd Cerdic a man of a High Spirit and Noble Descent as proceeding from the Stock of Woden Hearing of two Kingdoms already Erected in Britain he resolv'd to venture for a share in his Country-mens Atchievements For that purpose with his Son Cenric and five Ships he landed at a place after call'd Cerdic-shore and the same day was met by multitudes of Britains who Fought with him The Saxons having rang'd their Forces in order stood immoveable before their Ships The Britains boldly set upon them and then retir'd but were not pursu'd by the Enemy for they were resolv'd not to quit their place The Fight continu'd the Britains sometimes Charging then retiring 'till night sever'd them and after the Britains perceiving the fierceness of those new come Strangers departed yet so that neither side could boast of Victory only this advantage the Saxons had that they took possession of their Enemies Shore and by little and little enlarg'd their Conquests along the Sea Coasts Their landing was in the Province of the Iceni comprehending Suffolk and Norfolk but there they settled not for marching through the Island they came into the Western parts where in time they Erected the new and Powerful Kingdom of the West Saxons The Island thus dismembred by Barbarous Enemies yet sustain'd greater Damage by Civil Dissentions rais'd by Pascentius a Son of the late King Vortigern who after the Death of his Father perceiving the Minds of the Britains inclin'd to Ambrosius fled into Germany where he remain'd several years endeavouring to gather Forces sufficient to restore him to the Throne of his Ancestors at length about the year 496. he came with a Powerful and well furnish'd Army and landed in the Northern parts of the Island with intent to revenge his own and his Fathers injuries upon Ambrosius Upon news hereof Ambrosius marches speedily to meet him they came to a Battle wherein Pascentius was overcome and forc'd to fly into the Country of the Scots where he recruited his Army and return'd once more to try his Fortune against the Britains But hearing that Ambrosius lay sick at Winchester he thought it better to work his revenge by Treason then open force Therefore by Gifts and Promises he hir'd a certain Saxon call'd Eopa to fain himself a Physitian and a Britain who under this feign'd shew and with a pretence of great Piety and Affection to the King being admitted mingled Poison in a Potion administred to him of which Ambrosius presently dy'd in the 31th year of his Reign But Pascentius did not long enjoy the fruits of his Treason For Vterpendragon Brother to the dead Ambrosius and General of his Armies marching against Pascentius obtain'd a Signal Victory against him and in a Battle slew him and his Captains that came with him The year following Vter came to Winchester and calling an Assembly of the Clergy and People of the Kingdom took upon him the Crown of Britain which is said to have been set upon his Head by the Holy Bishop Dubritius Vter then calling to mind a great Comet which had appear'd the year before darting sorth only one Beam at the end whereof was seen a Globe of Fire shap'd like a Dragon out of whose Mouth proceeded two Beams one reaching to Gaul and the other shooting towards Ireland which ended in seven less Beams For this reason he commanded two Dragons to be made of Gold like to that which had appear'd one of them he gave in Oblation to the Church in Winchester the other he carried with him placing it in every Combat in his Ensign and from that time he was call'd in the British Language Vtherpendragon And hence it is that to this day our Kings in their War-like Expeditions carry the like Ensign Vter had no sooner put on his Crown but he was forc'd to exchange it for a Head-piece for Esca the Successor of Hengist and his Son Octa attended with a mighty Army of Saxons Invaded the Northern Provinces of Britain and destroy'd all the Munitions between Albany and York At last when they attempted the Siege of the City of Alcluid Vterpendragon came upon them with all the strength of the Country and enter'd Battle against them The Saxons manfully resisted and in the end compell'd the Britains to fly as far as a Mountain call'd Danet which they seiz'd upon as a place of refuge being so dismay'd that they scarce knew what they did but at last they resolv'd upon a prudent Exploit which was Courageously to set upon the Enemies by night This Design they executed Prosperously for the Saxons being thus unexpectedly invaded scarce endur'd any Combat at all but were utterly routed and Esca and Octa were taken Prisoners whom the King carried with him to London where he caus'd them to be kept safe About this time Arthur became of ripe Age. The year of Grace 500. in our Ecclesiastical Monuments is remarkable for the Death of St. Cadoc the
Holy Abbot Son of Gunleus Prince of the Southern Britains and Gladus Daughter of Braghan The Father of St. Cadoc Gunleus by Divine Vocation growing weary of the World built a Church where he began to live in great Abstinence and Purity of Conversation His Cloathing was Sack-cloath his Diet Barley-Bread mingled with Ashes and his Drink Water he usually rose at mid-night and to abate Carnal Desires cast himself into Cold-water He received nothing from any but sustain'd himself with the Labour of his Hands This retirement of St. Cadoc's Father began while he was a Child who when he came to years of Discretion chose rather to imitate his Fathers Devotion then to be expos'd to the Temptations and Vicissitudes of the World in the enjoyment of his Principality He had for his Master and Director in the way of Piety a Learn'd and Holy man famous in that Age call'd Tathai who liv'd a Solitary Life in all Austerity among the mountains of South-wales 'till he was invited by Caradoc Prince of that Province to live Coenobitically and to institute young-men in Learning and Piety at a City call'd Venta Silurum in the Province of Monmouth which Region from that City was by the Britains call'd Guent the City being then an Academy Dedicated to the Studies of Literature over which St. Tathai was President and exercising that Office with great commendation built there a Church Under so worthy a Master St. Cadoc made wonderful Progress in Virtue and Piety and himself became a Guide in Spiritual Life and a Father of the Monks For that purpose he built a Monastery which was call'd Lancarvan from an admirable accident in the building of it wherein this Holy Father imploy'd wilde Harts which became familiar obedient and serviceable to him Thus both the Father and the Son contemning the World liv'd in it to God only and dy'd Happily As for Gunleus the Father when the end of his days approach'd he sent to St. Dubricius who had been Bishop of Landaff and to his Son Cadoc desiring the Charity of a Visit from them who came and comforted him and after he had receiv'd the Holy Communion for a Viaticum and defence of his Soul he departed to our Lord He was Honourably bury'd and at his Sepulchre Angels have been often seen and Sick persons of all Infirmities resorting thither and imploring his Intercession have been Heal'd Glorifying God in his Saint The day of his Consummation in our Martyrology is Celebrated yearly the 29th of March concerning his Son Cadoc it is related That he daily sustain'd 100 Ecclesiastical persons as many Widows and as many other poor People beside Strangers which frequently visited him For though he was an Abbot and had many Monks under his Government yet he reserv'd a Portion of his Fathers Principality to be Charitably distributed to such as had need Neither was this Charity of his any transgression of his Monastical Profession which forbids Propriety in Temporal goods because he only exercis'd a Pious Procuration as he did in other Goods of his Monastery He dy'd in the Province of the Ordovices and was there held in high Veneration For Harpsfield testifies That a Church was Erected to his Honour among the Danmonii at a place call'd Corinia which to this day conserves his memory In the Antient Martyrology he is Commemorated on the 24th of February In that Martyrology also the Names of other British Saints are recorded who dy'd about the year of Grace 500. Among the rest St. Dogmael or as the Britains call him St. Tegivel Illustrious for his great Virtues Sanctity and Miracles A famous Abbey in Pembrokshire took its Name from him The memory is there also preserv'd of St. Bernach Abbot a man of admirable Sanctity who in Devotion made a Journey to Rome and from thence returning into Britain fill'd all places with the fame of his Piety and Miracles The same year a famous Irish Saint and Martyr call'd Finguar is recorded to have dy'd He was the Son of Cliton a Prince in Ireland who for Contemplation's sake is said to have retir'd into Cornwall where with many others he was slain by Theoderick a Prince of that Country His Life is found written by St. Anselm Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Aesca the Son of Hengist who had been taken Prisoner by Vter and confin'd in London made his escape out of Prison and return'd to his Kingdom of Kent where he after remain'd quietly As for Cerdic being not able to establish a Kingdom in the Western parts he sent into Germany for new Supplies whereupon the year following Port a German Captain with his two Sons Bleda and Magla in two great Ships furnish'd with Soldiers landed at a Haven from him call'd Portsmouth Upon his landing the British Governour with a great multitude boldly set upon the Saxons but without Order and so were soon defeated This same year while the Saxons made a Progress in the Southern and more Fertile parts of Britain the Scots in the North laid a Foundation of their new Kingdom at the foot of the Mountain Grampius which was call'd the Kingdom of Albany Fergus the Son of Eric of the Seed of Chonare with a Nation call'd the Dalreudins from Reuda who first conducted them out of Ireland and first also took upon him to be King of Albany from Brun Albain to the Irish Sea where the following Kings of the Seed of Fergus to Alpin the Son of Eochal reign'd As from Ireland many Holy men sought a retreat for their Devotion in Britain so in these tumultuous times upon the same motive some were induc'd to retire out of Britain into Ireland Bishop Vsher exemplifies St. Petroc who born in Britain liv'd in Ireland to whose Care and Instruction a Youth of seven years of Age call'd Coemgen or Kegnius was there committed Saint Petroc was by Nation a Cambrian not a Cimbrian as in the Gallican Martyrology is mistaken born of Princely Parents in Wales and in his Infancy did so well imitate the Faith and Virtues of St. Peter Prince of the Apostles that his Name may seem to have been given him by Divine Inspiration as if God had destin'd him to be a Rock on which the Church of Britain should be built When the Prince his Father was dead the Nobles of the Country with the consent of the whole People were desirous he should succeed in the Royalty But he neglecting worldly Pomp assum'd with him 60 Companions and with them enter'd into a Monastery and there undertook a Monastical Profession After some time there spent he went into Ireland where for the space of 20 years he addicted himself to the Study of good Learning and the Holy Scriptures great part of which time St. Coemegen was under his Tuition Now having in this space of time heap'd up a great Treasure of Learning under the most perfect Teachers of that Island he return'd into Britain and in the Province of Corinia or Cornwall intended to imploy all that Treasure
Abbot of Glastonbury attended by St. Gildas and all the Clergy came between the two Armies and by perswasion induc'd Melvas to restore the Queen to her Husband which being perform'd Peace ensu'd and both the Kings bestow'd great Possessions and Immunities on the Monastery After which St. Gildas with the Abbots permission retir'd again to an Hermetical Solitude on the bank of the River Axus near Glastonbury where he built a Church Consecrating it to the Blessed Trinity and there spent his time in Prayer Fasting and other Austerities His Sanctity was so exemplary that many came from the farthest part of Britain to visit him and take Spiritual Councel from him He then fell into a Sickness and knowing that his Death approach'd he call'd to him the Abbot of Glastonbury and requested of him That his Body might be buried in the Church of that Monastery which was readily granted So the Holy man dying the 4th day before the Calends of February many saw an Angelical Splendour about his Sacred Body which yielded a most Pleasant Odour And after a solemn Recommendation of his Soul with many Tears of the Religious his Sacred Body was carry'd with great Honour to the Church and there bury'd in the midst of the Pavement of the Antient Church in the year of Grace 512. What hath been here related agrees with the Antient Monuments of Glastonbury where this Holy man is stil'd Historicus neque Insulsus neque Infacetus and most particulars of his Life are with a large Character of him confirm'd in the Gallican Martyrology where is also added That he being during his Childhood sent into France was recommended to the Instructions of Iltutus a Disciple of St. German and that his Voyage into Ireland was to root out many Heresies sprung up amongst the late Converted Christians and to reform many Vices and unlawful Customs and that the Heresie most oppos'd by him in the Northern parts of Britain was Pelagianism What is there said of his going over to Little Britain in his old Age and his being buried in the Church of Vannes contradicts our British Authors but it is probable that when the Saxons infested our Western Provinces his Sacred Relicks might be translated and repos'd in the great Church of Vannes where he is to this day Venerated as Patron of that City Many mistakes have fallen out by consounding this St. Gildas with two others one Confessor and Abbot of Bangor and another the Historian Sirnam'd Badonicus Howbeit the precise Territory where this Gildas Albanius was born may be collected out of Antient Manuscripts quoted by Bishop Vsher which relate That the Blessed St. Gildas was born in the most fruitful Region call'd Arecluta His Fathers name was Caun a most Noble and Catholick person This Region Arecluta a part of Britain took its Name from the River Clut by which the greatest part thereof is Water'd and is now call'd Argyle Argathelia And Clut before that Glotea and Cluida was Northward the bounds of the British Provinces under the Roman jurisdiction beyond which liv'd the Caledonians c. In the sixth year after the Battle where Vther was slain new Supplies came out of Germany to the Saxons For Stuff and Whitgar Nephews of Cerdic landed with three Ships at Certic-shore The Britains early in the morning in very good order rang'd their Armies against them The Sun then arising cast its beams upon the British Armour and reflecting thence partly from the Mountains and partly from the Valleys below struck a great Terrour into the Saxons But when they came to Fight the Britains were quickly defeated because God despis'd them By this Victory the Saxons gain'd a great extent of Land and Cerdic became so Terrible that he march'd whither he pleas'd without controll The year following Ella King of the South-Saxons dying his Son Cissa succeeded whilst Ella liv'd though his Territories were narrow yet was he for his Courage esteem'd the most potent of all the Saxon Princes insomuch as the Princes Nobles and Military Officers of the Angli had a great dependance on him But this lasted not long for it was shortly after transferr'd on Cerdic the West-Saxon whose Kingdom though not yet begun yet had its foundation from this Victory Cissa being of a milder Spirit contented himself with his own little Kingdom without extending his Power further He imploy'd his time in exercises of Peace especially Building and Fortifying of Cities In two of which he left the memory of his own Name Chichester and Cisbury as our Cambden relates adding That this Cissa with his Father Ella and Brother Cimen landed in a Port of that Province call'd therefore Cimenshore The year wherein Cerdic obtain'd the last mention'd Victory is famous for the Birth of the renown'd British Bishop St. Kontigern the strangeness of which since it is Celebrated by many Antient Writers is not here to be omitted His Mother is said to be Thenis the Daughter of Loth King of Pictland and Anna the Daughter of Vterpendragon and consequently he was the Nephew of King Arthur Who was the Father of St. Kentigern is not certainly known some suppose him to be Eugenius the Third King of the Scots John of Tinmouth an Antient Historian thus relates his Original A certain King in the Northern parts of Britain who was a Pagan begot of his Wife a very Beautiful Daughter she having been a frequent hearer of Sermons preach'd by the Servants of God obtain'd the Grace to believe his Truth and renounce the Worshiping of Idols and though she had not yet been Purified with the Sacrament of Baptism yet she was diligent in observing Gods Commandments with an Humble and Devout mind being much given to Prayer and Alms-giving and other Duties of Ecclesiastical Discipline as much as the fear of offending her Father would permit She bore so great a Devotion to the fruitful Virginity and Integrity of the Blessed Virgin Mary that mov'd with a Womanish presumption she beg'd of our Lord that she might in some measure imitate her in her Conception and Birth At length as she thought she obtain'd her desire for she found her self with Child Now it is not to be conceiv'd that this happ'ned without the Embraces of a man notwithstanding who this man was or in what manner and when this was done she oft Protested and with Oaths confirm'd it that she was utterly ignorant Her Father perceiving this and not being able either by fair Speeches or Threatnings to wrest from her who was the Father of the Child for she seriously Protested that she had never suffer'd the unlawful Embraces of any man Hereupon in a great rage determin'd to execute upon her the Law of the Country which was That whatsoever young Maid should be found with Child by Fornication in her Fathers House should be thrown Head-long from the top of a high Mountain and the person who corrupted her should loose his Head In conformity to this Law the young Woman was placed on the highest
back he was receiv'd with more then ordinary respect but presently after dy'd full of Days and Sanctity and was bury'd by Leontius in Aquitain Now though the Inhabitants of Aleth were depriv'd of the Sacred Relicks of their prime Prelate whom they had treated so injuriously yet the name of Blessed Maclovius remains never to be blotted out adorning and defending that City to this day with his Coelestial Benefits and Glorious Perfection Howbeit the Episcopal See does not now remain at Aleth but is remov'd to an Island two Miles distant from thence Antiently call'd Aaron where a City new built is in memory of their Holy Prelate and Patron call'd St. Malo and Vrbs Macloviensis It is said that St. Mahutus with his seven Disciples in Devotion visited Rome where he redeem'd many Infidel Captives and having instructed them in the true Faith Baptiz'd them Saint Brendan his Spiritual Father and Instructor though no Britain by Birth is not to be deny'd some place in this History He came out of Ireland to visit the Holy man St. Gildas Albanius in Britain He was also Superiour in the Monastery of Lancarvan where he Baptiz'd St. Maclovius and returning into Ireland where he was made an Abbot there dy'd Happily in the year of Grace 571. The death of this Blessed man is said to be reveal'd to St. Columba who declar'd That he saw the Heavens on a suddain open'd and a Choire of Angels descending to meet St. Brendan 's Soul by whose incomparable Splendour the whole World was that night Enlightn'd St. Brendan thus call'd to Heaven enjoy'd on Earth also an Eternal Monument of his Name and Sanctity For in the Isle of Orkney a Town and Church were built and call'd from his Name the reason was because his Sacred Body was thither translated In this Age flourish'd a Holy British Abbot call'd St. Doc of whom is written That when St. Canic of whom the Province of Kilkenny took its Name was grown to an Age of capable knowledge being desirous of instruction he pass'd over into Britain to a Religious man call'd Doc and under him studied diligently and was taught both Learning and Piety This St. Doc was one of the three Holy Britains from whom the Irish learn'd the form and Rites of Celebrating Mass The other two were St. David and St. Gildas After the death of King Arthur Constantine according to his designation succeeded him in the Government of Britain He was the Son of Cador Duke of Cornwall and Kinsman to the King His sufficiency to discharge that employment for the Benefit of his Country was enough approv'd by the choice of his glorious Predecessor But Almighty God having fix'd a period to the British Monarchy permitted many Factions to arise and many Pretendants to the Principality the opposing of whom hindred Constantine from advancing the common profit and safety of the Kingdom Moreover Ambition and Revenge had such a Power over him that they invited him to commit Crimes which hast'ned the ruine of his Country Hence it is that Gildas calls him the Tyrant of Danmonia Tyrant in regard of his Cruelty and Tyrant of that Province because at that time several others had invaded each one their several Principalities and for the maintaining of their unjust Usurpations fill'd the whole Nation with all manner of Impieties which gave occasion to the same Gildas to publish a Passionate Invective against the Vices of the whole British Nation which had universally depriv'd the Inhabitants of all states and conditions an exceeding few excepted who forseeing the unavoidable destruction of the Nation withdrew themselves from publick Affairs and in solitude deplor'd the sins of others by great Pennances and Austerities procuring Indulgence to their own Souls In former times saith Gildas our Kings publick Officers private Persons Bishops and other Ecclesiasticks every one kept their Order and perform'd the Duties belonging to them But when they were dead there succeeded a Generation utterly ignorant of the former Virtues among whom all the Rules of Truth and Justice were so shaken and subverted that no footsteps nor so much as the least Monument of those Virtues appear'd in any of the said Orders Constantine at his first Ascension into his Throne bound himself by a Solemn Oath to govern Justly and to use his utmost endeavours to defend his Subjects from Injuries and Oppressions and the Commonwealth from the violence of its Enemies And yet the year following we find him charg'd with Perjury and the violation of his Faith by his Barbarous Cruelty and Sacrilegious Prophanation of Gods House For the two Sons of Mordred rising up in Arms against him to revenge their Fathers death joyn'd in Confederacy with the Saxons and fought many Battles with him but at last being compell'd to fly Constantine pursu'd them and one of them he slew before the Altar of St. Amphibalus his Church in Winchester the other who had hid himself in a Convent of Monks he Condemned to a Cruel death in London For this Sacrilegious Inhumanity Gildas in his too free stile calls Constantine The Tyrannical Whelp of the Lioness of Danmonia an infringer of the dreadful Sacrament of an Oath by which he bound himself before God and all his Saints to abstain from all Injustice and Treachery to his Subjects notwithstanding which in the very bosom both of their Carnal Mother and Spiritual Mother the Church near the most Holy Altar he had torn the Bowels of two Royal Youths though cover'd with the Vestments of a Holy Abbot whilst they stretch'd forth their Hands not armed with Swords to resist but to implore help from God and his Altar and yet he most Barbarously shed their Blood which with a Purple dye stain'd the seat of the Ecclesiastical Sacrifice and the Sacred Palls which cover'd it To this Invective the same Author adjoyns most pressing Exhortations to Constantine That he would do suitable Pennance for these horrible Crimes that if possible he might avoid the dark inextricable Torrents of Eternal fire in which otherwise he must for ever be roll'd and roasted By these Expressions it should seem these two Sons of Mordred were not so much to be blam'd for their rising all Circumstances consider'd Probable it is that these or such like Exhortations wrought a good effect upon Constantine for though some write that he was slain by Conan who succeeded in the Kingdom yet others tell another Story viz. That after a short reign having been depriv'd of his Wife and Children be grew weary of his Kingdom and privily stealing from his Friends went into Ireland and there for the love of Christ labour'd unknown like a poor Servant in a Mill but afterward by perswasion of a Monk to whom he discover'd his condition he was induc'd to shave his Head and Consecrate himself to a Religious Life in a Monastery where he is said to live with such Piety and Devotion that he became a pattern of all Virtues to the rest of the Monks That at last
Long before St. Patrick came into Ireland by the Magicians and Pagan Prophets there intimation was given of his coming their Prophcy was to this effect That a man would come thither with his Wood whose Table should be placed in the Eastern side of his House and some persons standing behind together with others from the Table will Sing and the Congregation will Answer them saying AMEN When this man comes he will destroy our Gods subvert our Temples destroy Princes which resist him and his Doctrine shall remain and prevail here for ever With such words these blind Prophets incens'd both the Prince and People against St. Patricius They compos'd a certain Rhyme importing That a Head of Art and Skill with his Crooked Staff would come from that hour every House shall be bor'd through the Top He will chant an abomination from his Table at the forepart of the House and his whole Family will answer So be it So be it The meaning of this dark Rhyme is That the Master of Wisdom would come with the Sign of the Cross by which the hearts of all men would feel Compunction and from the Altar of the Holy Mysteries he would Convert Souls unto Christ so as all Christian People should Answer Amen And then our Pagan Kingdom shall fall as in truth it afterwards did This piece of Wood is by most taken for the Cross others affirm it to signifie A certain wonderful Staff which St. Patrick before his Journey receiv'd from a Holy Hermit and was call'd the Staff of Jesus The Author of St. Patrick's Life relates the Story of the Staff to this effect That St. Patrick by Divine Revelation pass'd over to a certain Solitary Hermit living in an Island of the Tyrrhen Sea whose Name was Justus a man of a Holy Life and great Fame this man of God gave to St. Patrick the foremention'd Staff affirming seriously That he had receiv'd it immediately from the Hand of our Lord Jesus Christ who had appear'd to him There were other men in the same Island at some aistance who also led Solitary Lives Some of these St. Patrick observ'd to be very Fresh and Youthfull others very Decrepid and Old were the Children of them who appear'd so Youthful at which the Saint being astonish'd and enquiring the occasion of so great a Miracle was thus Answer'd We from our Childhood by Divine Grace have been much addicted to Works of Mercy our doors stood ever open to Travellers demanding Meat or Lodging On a certain night it happen'd that a Stranger with a Staff in his Hand was Entertain'd by us and us'd with all the Courtesie we could the morning he gave us his Benediction telling us he was Jesus Christ and saying to us You have oft hitherto ministred unto my Members and this night Entertain'd me in my own Person this said He gave the Staff in his Hand to a man of God our Father both Spiritually and Carnally commanding him to keep it Till in succeeding times a stranger Nam'd Patrick should come to visit him and then to give it to that Stranger and having said this he ascended up into Heaven From that day those Hermits told St. Patrick They had remain'd in the same state of Youthful Comliness and Vigour whereas their Children who were then little Infants were as he saw become decrepid Old men This Story of St. Patrick and his Staff is reported by Jocelinus Author of his Life Now what Credit soever this Story may find in the minds of the Readers certain it is that a Staff believ'd to have belong'd to St. Patrick and nam'd the Staff of Jesus was for many Ages in great Veneration among the Irish And St. Bernard in the Life of St. Malachias an Irish Bishop mentions and describes this Staff and the great esteem it had in that Nation and if we will believe Giraldus Cambrensis It was the Vulgar Opinion that with this Staff St. Patrick cast out of the Island all Venomous Beasts He seems to have enter'd into Ireland in the year 432. as Bishop Vsher computes The Inhabitants of the Country having advice of his Landing flock'd to him from all Parts especially the common People came joyfully to him as if he had been of their own Nation He had indeed many Qualities which invited their good Will towards him He was of a Comely Personage very Civil in Conversation and though extreamly Grave yet without Morosity Besides this he spoke Irish perfectly and from his Youth had inform'd himself of their Natural Dispositions so as he presently became one of them But God was the principal cause of conciliating their Affections to him and by his special Grace great multitudes in a short time yielded their Assent and Obedience to his Christian Doctrine For St. Patrick like a good Shepherd carefully watch'd over his new flock informing them daily in all Duties of Piety convincing the Pagans of their Errors and confounding the Magicians which oppos'd him The Conversion of one Irish-man is specially taken notice of whose Name was Dicon whom St. Patrick gain'd as he was passing through his Land to submit to the Doctrine of our Lord and of a Wolf in a wonderful manner chang'd him into a Lamb For Dicon coming suddainly with Weapons intended to have kill'd St. Patrick and his Companions but as soon as he saw his face he was prick'd in his Heart our Lord immediately turning his Thoughts so as he meekly led him to his House where the Holy Bishop resided sometime Preaching to him the Faith of Christ so effectually that he became the first of all the Island who believ'd with all his Family Nevertheless another Antient Author cited by Bishop Vsher mentions the Conversion of one Sinel as the first of all his words are St. Patrick sent by Pope Caelestinus landed at the mouth of the River Dee but an impious Count call'd Nathi who formerly had resisted St. Palladius contradicted St. Patrick and his Doctrine However Sinel the Son of Finchado by the Preaching of St. Patrick believ'd in Almighty God and was the first among the Irish Scots who was Baptiz'd by the Holy Bishop upon whom and his Seed St. Patrick bestow'd his Benediction By which it appears that St. Patrick first landed in the Province of Leinster and from thence went to Vlster where having Converted Dicon he obtain'd a Field call'd Sabbul two Miles distant from the City of Doun His particular Journeys Laborious Preaching Pious Actions and Admirable Miracles are Copiously related by the Ecclesiastical Writers of Ireland It is said that Carantacus or Cernac thirty years before the Birth of St. David began to Preach the Gospel in Ireland He was a Britain born Son of Keredec Prince of the Province of Cardigan Cereticae Regionis Amongst many other Children Keredic had this Carantac a Child of good Disposition beginning early to do those things which he thought pleasing to God. In those days the Scots grievously vex'd Britain so that his Father unable to sustain