oppress'd Britains to their great joy were freed from Slavery and shameful Indignities and restor'd to the Roman Government under a Prince of great Clemency and Allied to them by his Marriage with Helena from whom they expected a Prince of their own Blood young Constantine then in Egypt with Dioclesian where he gave Illustrious Marks of his Courage in Battels being a very young man and inclin'd to the Christian Faith insomuch as Dioclesian began to envy him fearing least he should prove a destroyer of the Pagan Errours and thereupon by subtilty design'd his Death but almighty God preserv'd him the Tyrant no doubt knew the young man had been nourish'd from his Infancy with Christian Milk and with evil Eyes beheld what Cruelties were inflicted on the Christians He was therefore watch'd and detain'd under strict Guards and probably in danger of further mischief About this time he took to Wise Minervina by whom he had his Eldest Son Crispus The clemency and countenance of Constantius encourag'd the Christians to repair and new build Churches to the Honour of the Martyrs and publickly to Celebrate the Divine Misteries and Solemn Festivals contrary to the Report of some Scottish Authors For as Eusebius affirms Of the four persons conjoyn'd in the Government of the Roman World Constantius only clave to the living God and was displeas'd with the practices of the other three For whereas they wasted the Churches of God and defil'd their Provinces with the Innocent Blood of Christians He on the contrary procur'd Tranquility to his Subjects and as an Indulgent Father allow'd them the free exercise of the Christian Religion Constantius after three years abode in Britain was oblig'd to pass over into Gaul to oppose a German Nation which infested that Country he was accompany'd with a great number of Britains and with their help obtain'd a signal Victory In the year 300. Stephanus the VII Bishop of London is said to have ended his Life by Martyrdom not that he was put to death for the Christian Religion but for that the former Persecution he had suffer'd during the rage of Dioclesian which made his Life miserable and might perhaps hasten his Death In the year 302. Constantius seems to have return'd into Britain upon the Death of Asclepiodorus whom he left his President here Still he establishes Peace in the Church here whilst in all other Provinces Rivers of Christian Blood were pour'd out with great inhumanity The Bounty Clemency and Piety of this Prince render'd him Admir'd and Belov'd throughout the whole Empire the moderation of his Government and Liberality the mutual Affection between him and his Subjects is declar'd by this illustrious Example The Emperour Dioclesian having been inform'd that Constantius by his negligence and profuse Liberality had wasted his publick Treasure by Messengers sent on purpose sharply reprov'd him for it Constantius promis'd the Messengers in a few days to give them his Answer and in the mean time gave notice throughout his Dominions especially to the most wealthy of his Subjects that he stood in great need of Money and that they could never have a fitter opportunity to testifie their Affection and Duty to him Hereupon without any delay and with great chearfulness each contended with other who should send most so that in short time his Treasure was fill'd with innumerable sums of Money This being done Constantius invites the Messengers to be Spectators of his Wealth desiring them to tell the Emperour what they had seen And when they were gone the bountiful Emperour return'd all that Mass of Treasure to the respective Owners with an Affectionate resentment of their Duty and good Will to him It is further related of him That finding his Court and Family distracted into Faction by various Sects and Religions he publish'd an Edict That whoever would continue in his Service should conform himself to the Worship of the Roman Gods for no other should stay in his Court however they might enjoy their Liberty and Possessions but they must avoid his presence This Ordinance much troubled the Christians especially those who ambitiously affected worldly Honour for they preferring Mammon before God relinquish'd their Profession to conform themselves to Caesars Religion But several others sincere and genuine Disciples of Christ shew'd themselves willing rather to forsake their Princes service than Gods which being observ'd by Constantius he chased from his Court all those faint-hearted Hypocritical Dissemblers saying They would never preserve their Fidelity to him who had so basely betray'd their Faith to God So that he prefer'd to Dignities and committed the care of his safety to them whom he found constant From hence it came that the Britains who were generally Christians became Guards both to Him and other Emperours whom they usually encompass'd with long Halberts The Faithfulness of Christians probably mov'd Constantius to forsake Idolatry and willingly to acknowledge the only true God Governour of all the World and firmly to establish his Authority by the Prayers and assistance of Holy men and so he pass'd the remainder of his Life with great Glory and Tranquility To this happy change no doubt but St. Helena his Wife much contributed so that his Court seem'd little to differ from the form of a Church in which the Ministers and Servants of God offer'd daily Prayers and Sacrifice for him In the year of Grace 304. the Emperours Dioclesian and Maximianus after 20 years Reign weary of their fruitless Cruelty depos'd themselves from the Empire Galerius succeeded in the Government of the Eastern and Constantius of the Western Empire especially in France and Britain not affecting to heap up Treasure for himself but to Enrich his Subjects In the year 305. his young Son Constantine accompany'd Galerius in his War against the Sarmatians where he undertook a single Combat by the Emperour's Consent with their chief Leader whom by Divine assistance he overcame and led Prisoner to the Emperour and so obtain'd Glory by that which perhaps was intended for his Destruction This year as is Credibly reported St. Augulus Bishop of London receiv'd the reward of his constant Confession having been long persecuted for the Cause of Christ to him succeeded Iltutus or rather perhaps Restitutus who assisted at the first Councel and subscrib'd his Name thereunto The next year Constantius after he had quieted the Picts or Northern Britains return'd to York and there being Old was assaulted by his last Sickness The absence of his Son Constantine who was detain'd in manner of a Pledge by Galerius much afflicted him though he had other Sons with him by Theodora which gave him little satisfaction considering their want of Spirit and Courage Constantine observ'd how much he was both fear'd and envy'd and in danger of mischief whilst he remain'd in the Emperours hands and endeavour'd to secure himself by flight to contrive which with the more security he gave command that all the publick Post-horses should be Kill'd and by that means arriv'd in
should in all Churches be Celebrated upon the same day in opposition to the Quarto decimani who observ'd it according to the Jewish custom upon the 14th day of the first Moon in March which practice began to prevail more and more in the East To this Canon the British Bishops then of this Councel subscrib'd Another Canon of this Councel is worthy consideration namely That all such should be remov'd from the Order of the Clergy who in time of Persecution had deliver'd up to the Pagans the Holy Scriptures or the Lords Vessels deputed for the Christian Sacrifice as by the 20th Canon of this Councel appears which commands That a place to offer Sacrifice should be afforded to a Stranger Bishop with Vessels for that purpose And thereupon Restitutus a British Bishop who subscrib'd to that Councel did there offer Sacrifice accordingly Some pretend a Canon in this Councel That Deacons in their Ordination protesting their resolution to Marry might lawfully do it If any such Canon be foysted into late Copies giving Deacons any such priviledge yet seeing Priests were not therein mention'd it is strongly imply'd that they were forbidden Marriage At the conclusion of this Synod a Letter was written in the Name of the whole Assembly to Pope Silvester Desiring his Care and Diligence in the Observation of their Decrees in all Churches The British Subscribers to this Councel were these that follow Eborius Bishop of York Restitutus before-nam'd Bishop of London famous in the year of Grace 350. the third Adelfus Bishop of Camolodunum or Maldon About this time a publick Disputation was held before the Emperour and his Mother Helena between some Christian Bishops whereof Pope Silvester was chief and twelve Scribes and Pharisees principal Masters amongst the Jews in which conflict the Holy Pope by Scriptures and Miracles so confirm'd the Faith that he obtain'd a Noble Victory insomuch as the Jews fell into a slat Rebellion against the Emperour But being suppress'd were carried up and down with their Ears cut off as stigmatiz'd Slaves that all men might be Witnesses of their Crime and deterr'd from the like presumption Some impute the said Disputation to Helena as if she were a favourer of the Jews and no Christian before her Sons Conversion and so only by his Example contrary to the Truth of all Authentick Story It may indeed be true that her Piety was much increas'd by the Apparition of the Holy Cross to her Son Howbeit there is no doubt but she was a sincere Christian long before whatever Aspersions may be cast upon her by ill-willers In the year 317. Licinius forgetful of his Covenant with Constantine began a Persecution against the Christians and a War against Constantine who after two Battels obtain'd a compleat Victory accompanied with the Death of Licinius This success Constantine himself under God attributed to his Sacred Ensign of the Cross whereof Licinius was so afraid that he commanded his Soldiers not so much as to look toward it for it was observ'd that whoever bore that Ensign could never be Wounded the Darts cast by the Enemy still remaining six'd to the Staff supporting the Cross And now Constantine betook himself to Enrich and Adorn the Church and confer Immunities upon Church-men he publish'd a Law that all Clerks and Clergy-men should be excus'd from all Civil Offices and Duties that by the ill-will or malice of any they might not be withdrawn from the Service of God. Nay saith Sozomen by this Emperour's Decree if any Clergy-man were called into Judgement by Civil Magistrates they might Appeal to the Judgement of Bishops whose Sentence was to be Ratified as if pronounc'd by the Emperour himself Moreover whereas the Roman Laws were severe against Celibacy so as Unmarry'd persons were incapable of Inheritances Constantine considering how prejudicial this was to Christian Religion wherein many profess'd Virginity and Single lives preferring the Love of Christian Philosophy and Perfection before the Sensual Pleasures of Matrimony and Consecrating themselves both Soul and Body to the Service of God in a Poor and Chaste Life for that reason utterly abolish'd those Antient Laws shewing withall great Honour and Admiration to the Convents of Consecrated Virgins And if we will believe Sozomen He so far priviledg'd all persons Male or Female who Consecrated themselves to Virginity that though they were under Age yet they should have Power to dispose of their Estates by Will contrary to the custom of the Romans He further also ordain'd That a measure of Wheat should yearly be given to Widows and those who observ'd a Virgin Life two thirds whereof Julian the Apostate not long after took from them He commanded publick rest on the Lords day and prescrib'd a form of Prayer on that day for all persons especially his Souldiers Part whereof was in these words We acknowledge thee the only God we prefess thee our Soveraign King we invoke thee our Helper by thee we obtain Victories and vanquish our Enemies we acknowledge that from Thee we have obtain'd present Felicity and hope to obtain future We bescech thee many years to preserve safe and victorious Constantine our Emperour with his Pious Children He likewise in memory of our Saviours Cross and Passion ordain'd That upon Fridays some time should be spent in Prayers to God. Lastly He not only Enrich'd the Church by his own Bounty but by a Law open'd the Purses of others to Endow it by giving License to all persons to bequeath what they thought sit to the Church By one Action indeed he stain'd the Purity of his Faith for being at Sardis and having notice that his Palace at Rome was struck with Lightning an Ominous Sign to the Pagan Romans and by their Antient Laws to be averted by many Superstitious Lustrations he condescended to the importunity of the Magistrates to Consult the Sooth-sayers what the meaning of it might be but commanded them to abstain from Domestical Sacrifices This unlawful complyance of the Emperour turn'd to the prejudice of the Christians for by colour thereof at the instigation of the Sooth-sayers the Heathen Magistrates would compell the Christians to joyn in the publick Expiatory Sacrifices so as many chose rather to leave the City and amongst the rest the Holy Pope Silvester Constantine inform'd hereof publishes an Edict That if any should go about to compel any Christian to Celebrate Heathenish Lustrations he should if a mean person be publickly beaten with Clubs if otherwise he should be grievously Fin'd In the year 324. after our Saviours Incarnation according to the Tradition of the Western Church confirm'd by many Proofs Constantine receiv'd Baptism at Rome by the Hands of Pope Silvester upon this occasion Constantine had rashly put to death Licinius his Sisters Son falsly accus'd of a design to Rebel and Crispus his own Son adorn'd with many Virtues and famous for many Victories yet accus'd by Fausta his Mother-in-Law to have attemptod her Chastity which accusation appearing after to be false and
Fought at the Mountain call'd Badonicus between the Britains and Saxons in the time of Aurelius Ambrosius to which Mountains the Saxons retiring were Besieged by the Britains and after in a Battle discomfited this happen'd in the year of Grace 493. forty years after the first entrance of the Saxons into Britain This Gildas is affirm'd by the Author of his Life To be the Disciple of Iltutus and leaving him to have gone into Ireland He remain'd four years under the Discipline and Instruction of St. Iltutus and having pass'd through the Schools of many Learned Teachers in Ireland and like a diligent Bee collected the Juice of divers Flowers he laid it up carefully in the Hive of our Mother the Church to the end he might in opportune season pour forth the Mellifluous Doctrine of the Gospel to his own Country-men and thereby draw them out of Misery to Eternal Joyes and like a good Servant restore unto his Lord the Talent entrusted with him In this Island saith Bishop Vsher there flourish'd in this Age the Schools of Armagh wherein the Elder Gildas presided when he Piously labour'd in Cultivating the minds of the Irish in which imployment probably this our Younger Gildas succeeded him and here not only collected sweet Juice but got a sharp sting also which he after darted forth against the Vices of his own Country However in Ireland he restor'd Discipline to the Ecclesiastical Order he gather'd many Congregations of Monks and mercifully deliver'd many Captives from the slavery of Pagans After his return into Britain it seems he found small comfort or encouragement to pour forth the Honey which he had gather'd in Ireland for he found in this Island such Calamities and Confusions their reigning such a Contention of wickedness and misery which should exceed the other that almost his whole imployment was to bewail the approaching destruction of his Country and by publishing the Crimes especially of the Rulers as well in Church as State to justifie the Severity of God being in truth beneath their demerits and provocations Howbeit he was by a double invitation from Ireland interrupted in his sad Thoughts and withdrawn from beholding such mournful Spectacles as every where in Britain offer'd themselves to his Eyes The first Message about the year of our Lord 562. came from persons of quality in Ireland who sent an Epistle to him at the same time he received an Epistle also from St. Columba whom he very much esteem'd for his Sanctity The second Message or invitation was directed to him from a King in Ireland named Ammeric who requested this our Gildas To come to him promising that if he would undertake the Journey and restore to good Order the Ecclesiasticks of his Kingdom wherein generally the Catholick Faith was decay'd both himself and his Subjects would in all things be Obedient to him St. Gildas hearing this like a Valiant Soldier throughly furnish'd with Caelestial Arms presently went into Ireland there to Preach the Gospel of Christ Being come thither he was presented to the King by some Noble persons who were acquainted with him The King gave him many gifts and intreated him to stay some time and restore Order to that Region because the Inhabitants had in a manner lost the Christian Faith St. Gildas as thereupon Travelling through all the Provinces of Ireland restor'd Churches instructed the Clergy in the true Faith and Worship of the Holy Trinity Cured those who had been Poison'd with Heresy and expell'd all Teachers of Errour So that by his zeal and diligence Truth became again to flourish in the Country After this the Holy man built many Monasteries in the Country and instructed the Children of the Nobility in Learning and Piety and to win the greater number to the service of God he himself became a Monk and brought to the same Profession very many as well of the Nobility as others and also he compassionately freed many poor Christians from the slavery of Infidels and so became a second Apostle to Ireland repairing the ruines of that Faith which St. Patrick first Preach'd amongst them Now whereas it is said that the first Epistle to St. Gildas was brought by Faithful men it is very probable that the Holy Abbot Komgall was one of those Faithful men How long St. Gildas abode in Ireland is uncertain but it is certain that the great work he there perform'd could not be compleated in a short time and yet that he return'd into Britain where he dy'd in a good Old Age in the Monastery of Banchor after he had liv'd ninety years What Bishop Vsher refers to the former St. Gildas may reasonably be apply'd to this latter namely that St. Brendan the Son of Finloga in the year of our Lord 562. came into Britain to visit the Holy old man Gildas famous for his Wisdom this our latter Gildas at that time being above 70. years old In the year of Grace 561. Irmeric King of Kent dy'd after he had raign'd 30. years leaving behind him a Son and Daughter his Son and Successors Name was Ethelbert his Daughters Ricula This is that famous Ethelbert who according to his Name was the Glory and Splendor of this Nation who had the first Prerogative among the Saxons of receiving and propagating the Christian Faith. Some disposition thereunto began it seems in his Fathers time who permitted at least a private exercise of Christian Religion Thirty years of Ethelbert's reign were never the less spent before it was openly profess'd during which time he was frequently exercis'd in War wherein at first he sustain'd great losses which after he repair'd by many Victories with which he much enlarg'd the limits of his Dominions In the third year of his reign St. Columba by occasion of Civil Wars was compell'd to quit Ireland and come into Britain as Adelmannus who wrote his Life relates in this manner Some time after the Civil War at Culedrebene when Dermitius Son of Kerbail was Monarch of Ireland and all business was determin'd before the Kings Tribunal it happen'd so that St. Columba was oblig'd to appear before him to challenge a certain Free-man who had been made Captive and when the Cause being pleaded before the King an unjust Sentence had been pronounc'd by him the man of God rose up with great indignation and before all there present told the unrighteous King That from that moment he should never see his face more 'till God the just judge shall have diminish'd his Kingdom for his Injustice for saith he as thou hast despis'd me here before thy Nobles by an unjust Judgment so shall the Eternal God despise thee before thine enemies in the day of War. And having said thus he presently took Horse smiting him with his Whip so as the Blood issu'd from him This being observ'd by the Kings Councellors present they wonder'd at it and humbly entreated the King to comply with the Holy mans request least God should dissipate his Kingdom according to the man of
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
of this World Make hast to obtain with the Holy Apostles the everlasting Palm of Victory that Palm which St. Paul attain'd by a world of Sufferings and St. Peter also from whom the Cross it self could not take the love of Christ Soter and Eleutherius Salute thee Salute the Brethren who live with thee in our Lord Cerinthus Satans prime Minister seduces many from the Faith may the Grace of Christ dwell for ever in thy heart We may see by this Epistle the Solicitude and Care of this Holy Pope for the Salvation of Souls not in Rome only but elsewere as also in another Epistle of his to Justus wherein he recommends The Decent Interring of the Bodies of Martyrs and a due Veneration of their Reliques In the 18th year of Marcus Aurelius and L. Verus the Northern Province of the Ottadini about Berwick broke out into Rebellion for reducing of whom Calphurnius Agricola was sent into this Island upon whose approach the Rebels quickly submitted A little before this time Pius the first departed this Life about the year of our Lord 166. and was succeeded by St. Annicetus and him after 9 years succeeded St. Soter who having for the space of five years fill'd the Chair of St. Peter had for his Successor St. Eleutherius in the year of our Lord 180. In whose third year our King Lucius then an old man after he had reign'd 58 years by Gods Grace had his Youth renew'd as an Eagle and was born again by Baptism and made an Heir of an everlasting Kingdom It may seem strange perhaps he should hold out so long against the Power of Truth But if we consider the tenaciousness of Humane Nature to inveterate Customs so agreeable to Flesh and Blood and the horrible Scandals and Prejudices then cast upon Christian Religion it can appear no less then Miraculous that a great King in his old Age should have the courage to submit his Crown and Scepter to the Spiritual Scepter of Christ's Kingdom The Motives which might induce him hereunto besides his long experience of the Innocence Patience and Peaceable Dispositions of his Christian Subjects May be First The Powerful Preaching and Perswasion of many Apostolick Preachers such as were St. Aristobulus St. Marcellus St. Timotheus c. Secondly The Testimony of the Emperours themselves to the Christian Faith and the Professors of it though otherwise Enemies to it Thirdly The Testimony of God himself in his miraculous rescue of the then reigning Emperour from unavoidable Ruine by the Prayers of his Christian Souldiers As to the Testimony of the Emperours not such as Nero Vitellius and Domitian whose favour to Christians would have been disgraceful but of Princes Venerable in the World for Prudence and Courage yet zealous for their own Superstition such as Nerva Trajan Hadrian Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius and what their Testimony of the Christians was may be collected out of the Edict of Antoninus as followeth The Emperour Caesar Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Pius Angustus highest Priest this 15th time possess'd of the Tribunitial Power and this third time Consul Father of his Country To the People of Asia Health I am assur'd that the Gods will not permit those men to lye hid in obscurity who refuse to pay due Honour and Worship to them for they themselves will far more severely punish such then you can And you do not consider that by Molesting and Tormenting those men whom you call Impious and charge as Enemies to the Gods you do thereby the more confirm and increase their Religion for to them it is a thing more desirable to be accus'd as Criminal to lay down their Lives for their God then to enjoy the present Life with worldly Contentment Hence it is that by exposing their Lives in this manner they obtain over you a more Glorious victory then if they should perform whatever you require Now as concerning the Earthquakes which both in late times and at this present also do happen I judge very reasonable to give you some Admonition Whensoever such Calamities befall you ye are presently disheartned and in despair you impute it straight to their Religion as if it alone were the cause of all misfortunes happening to you On the other side whensoever any such Accident befalls them they are thereby incited to a more constant and firm Trust in God Whereas all that while you either loose all knowledge of God and utterly despise all Sacred Duties not only refusing to pay the Worship and Service due to the Deity but grievously vexing and to death pursuing those who do observe and reverence him Now several Magistrates and Governours of our Provinces have heretofore written Letters to our most Holy and Deify'd Father Hadrian to whom his Answer and Rescript was That no further trouble should be given to those men except they should be otherwise guilty of any Crime or had a design prejudicial to the Roman Empire Many also have written to me in their favour to whom my Answer was That I assented to the Ordinance and Will of my late Father And my pleasure is that if any shall hereafter offer any Injury or Vexation to any Christian as a Christian the person so persecuted though found indeed to be a Christian shall be presently Acquitted and his Accuser undergo just and due punishment This Edict though directed particularly to Asia yet had influence over the whole Roman World and what could more advantageously recommend the Christian Religion than what this Heathen Emperour here publish'd of it and certainly the Testimony of such an Enemy who was of so great Authority could not but impress mightily upon the Hearts of moderate Heathens much more upon King Lucius who from his Parents inherited a Spirit of kindness and liberality towards the Christians But as for the Powerful Testimonies which Almighty God himself at this time signally gave to all Mankind by delivering not only the Roman Emperour but the Empire it self from inevitable Destruction by the Prayers of his Christian Servants Let Dio a Roman Historian living in those times and a bitter Enemy to the Christians proclaim in his own words The Emperour Marcus saith he after many Battles fought and dangers undergone in Germany in subduing the Marcomanni and Jaziges was enforc'd to a new and sharp War against the Quadi from which ensu'd a Victory happy to the Romans beyond their hope obtain'd indeed by the miraculous favour of God for the Romans in the midst of the Battle being brought in extream danger were sav'd after a wonderful manner and meerly a special Divine assistance They were narrowly inclos'd on all sides by the Quadi yet in places commodious fought valiantly but the barbarous enemy craftily forbore to come to a general Engagement hoping without that hazard to see the Romans destroy'd before their faces with extremity of Heat and Thirst whom by their Multitudes they had shut so in that they could come by no Water Now the Romans brought to
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
the ground This Church from the days of King Lucius was design'd for a Burying place of our Kings as at this day and after it was Re-edify'd by St. Edward the Confessor A second Metropolitan Church was about this time erected in the City of York esteem'd in that Age the prime City and Church of Britain The third Metropolitan Church was then also built at Landaff or Caerleon upon Vsk in which City now ruin'd were three Noble Churches one bearing the Title of the Holy Martyr Julius Beautifi'd with a Monastery of Virgins Consecrated to God. A second founded by the Name of his Companion St. Aaron And a third famous for being the Metropolitan See of all Cambria although Dubritius is mention'd in History to be the first Arch-bishop of the Welsh Britains concerning the Church of Landaff and the Superiority of it something may be gather'd out of the Protestation of Vrbanus before Calixtus the second in the Councel of Rhemes However sure it is that after the coming of St. Augustine the Monk the Bishop of Landaff hath always been subject to the See of Canterbury This King Lucius built another Church also at Dover in Honour of our Blessed Saviour and his Glorious Mother and some other Churches elsewhere As this King shew'd himself Munificent in Building of Churches so also was he Liberal in his Endowments and Priviledges bestow'd upon them by transferring the Possessions of Idol-Temples to Christian Churches and further Enriching them with more Lands and greater Immunities so that some Malefactors might have refuge within their Precincts which benefit of Sanctuary hath been continu'd and increas'd by most succeeding Princes neither were the Revenues belonging to Pagan Temples inconsiderable for that Religion was very costly for it is certain that the Pagan Flamens in London Sacrific'd yearly 40000. Cows 100000. Sheep innumerable sorts of all Fowl besides 30000. Savage Beasts as Staggs and other Beasts of the Forrest Besides all this King Lucius in the 6th year after his Conversion Founded a Church and Monastery at Winchester which he plentifully Endow'd it is said to be a Church of vast Dimensions and Adorn'd with an Episcopal Palace the Possessions of it extended 12. Miles round about the City This Church was Dedicated to the Honour of our Saviour by Fugatius and Damianus and Devotus a Monk by them Constituted the first Abbot from this time until the time of Dioclesian the Monks here quietly serv'd God after the Rule and Order prescrib'd by St. Mark the Evangelist and first Bishop of Alexandria which Rule is thus describ'd by Cassianus saying These Monks did not content themselves to retain the order of living practis'd by the Primitive Christians whereof we read in the Acts of the Apostles That they had all things in common accounted nothing their own sold their Possessions and laid the price at the Apostles feet to be divided amongst such as had need But these Monks aspir'd to practices more sublime for retiring them to the most secret places they led a Life of unparallel'd Abstinence and Austerity in Reading of Holy Scripture day and night in fervent Prayer and continual Labour of their Hands without regard of Food or Sustenance save only that every second or third day they would receive some slender Sustenance for necessity not for the satisfaction of their Apetite and not then until after Sun-set The Light they spent in Labour or Holy Exercises Darkness suffic'd for the care of their Bodies Under the Persecution of Dioclesian this Holy Fraternity was dissipated but not long after again restor'd and their Church Consecrated by Constantius Bishop of Winchester in the year of Grace 309. taking a new Name from St. Amphibolus who with St. Alban was Crown'd with Martyrdom and by this Name Gildas calls it in his relation of the Sons of Mordred Murder'd by Constantine in this place It suffer'd a second Eclipse when the Infidel Saxons laid waste all Holy places in this Island Howbeit no sooner did the Saxons embrace the Faith of Christ but they repair'd this Church and Monastery after call'd de Hida and restor'd it to greater Splendor and Magnificence then it had before in which Splendor and Beauty it continu'd fortify'd by Charters of Kings and Bulls of Popes untill all Religious Houses were swallow'd up by the sury and Avarice of Henry the VIII So as St. Edward the Confessor in his Charter to the Monastery of Westminster prov'd a Prophet who declar'd The same Charter should continue in force so long as the love of Christianity should remain in this Nation Our Devout and Wise King Lucius did not only endow Churches and Monasteries for the present Worship of God but provided Seminaries of Learning and Piety for the future increase thereof the most Famous of which was the School and Monastery of Bangor in North-Wales It is said to be the first Colledge of Christian Philosophers but is in some Authors mistaken for another of that Name in Vlster from whence proceeded the famous Bishop St. Malachias whose Life is elegantly written by St. Bernard However this famous Monastery it seems prosper'd so well for a long time that at the coming of St. Augustine into England more than 2000. Monks were found in it This King was not only careful to plant and settle the Christian Faith within his own Kingdom but as many Antient and Credible Records testifie personally sow'd the Seeds of Christianity in Germany and other Forreign parts and as some say there ended his days as his Virgin Sister and Martyr also did Fugatius or Phaganus and Damianus being inform'd of St. Joseph and his Companion 's retirement to Glastonbury and their deaths there visited the place which they found reduc'd to little better then a Covert of Wild-Beasts so little encouragement or countenance had the Christian Faith receiv'd yet by Divine conduct they discover'd an Antient Church built by St. Joseph and his Companions and Consecrated as afore-said by God himself they also found the Holy-Cross with several Writings and other Tokens declaring the place to have been formerly an Habitation of Christians and receptable of those prime Disciples They therefore added another Oratory built of Stone Dedicated to the Honour of St. Peter and St. Paul and on the Top of the Tor or Mountain rais'd a Chappel to the Honour of St. Michael the Arch-Angel And lastly to continue the Service of God which had been interrupted they establish'd a succession of 12 Devout persons in memory of St. Joseph and the first 12. which Succession continu'd till the coming of St. Patrick the Apostle of Ireland unto this place These two Holy men made this place their Retirement for the space of nine years and there dy'd and were bury'd as is believ'd about the year of our Lord 199. After the Death of Lucius which happen'd in the 7th year of Severus none of the British Race were permitted to reign but Legats from the Emperour commanding the Roman Army In the time of Commodus
the shining Lamps of his Holy Martyrs the places of whose Sufferings and the Sepulchres of whose Bodies might enflame us with Divine Love were not an access to those places deny'd us by our Barbarous Enemies the place I mean where repose the Bodies of St. Alban at Verulam St. Aaron and Julian at Caerleon and many others in several Quarters who have stood up Courageously in our Lords Army of which the first St. Alban after he had with much Charity entertain'd in his House and secur'd from danger the Holy Confessor St. Amphibalus offer'd himself to persecution with wonderful Miracles was in his Confession glorified by God walk'd with thousands after him dry-foot over the River while the waters stood as a Rock on both sides of them by which wonder his design'd Executioner from a Woolf became a Lamb and valiantly receiv'd the Triumphant Palm of Martyrdom It will not be amiss to shew here with what Piety and Reverence Christians in all Ages behav'd themselves to ward the Ashes and Sacred Reliques of our Holy Martyrs The Persecuting Infidels knowing this well us'd all manner of despight to these Holy Reliques endeavouring all they could to hide or consume them with Fire and cast the Ashes before the wind The Body of Sebastiane who suffer'd soon after St. Alban they cast into a common Sink least the Christians should make him their Martyr And again three years after the President threatn'd St. Tharacus That he would not dispatch him at once but would make an end of him by piece-meal and that the remainder of his Carcass should be devour'd by Beasts Tharacus bid him Do what he did quickly To whom the President reply'd Thou thinkest Villain that after thy death silly Women shall Embalm thy Body with Rich Vnguents and Spices but I will destroy thee and thy Relicks least foolish Women should Honour thee so And concerning the Martyr Andronicus that President who condemned him Decreed He should be consum'd to Ashes least some of his Consorts or foolish Women should gather up any of them and preserve them as if they were some precious or holy Thing Yet for all this when some Devout Christians endeavoured to find their Ashes by night mingled and confounded with other Malefactors three bright Torches like Stars appeared over their Bodies and conducted those Devout Christians to discover those Ashes and Reliques and decently to inter them This was the practice of Christians in those days but condemn'd by the Manicheans as Superstitious St. Augustine confutes their Errour by distinguishing the Veneration due to Saints which he calls Doulia from the supream Degree of Adoration due only to God which he terms Latria Our Gildas having thus related the Martyrdom of our Proto-Martyr St. Alban shews what a change happen'd in Britain nine years after when the fury of this Persecution ceas'd For then saith he all the devout Soldiers of Christ with joyful Eyes beheld and receiv'd the Calm and Lightsomness following so tedious a Winters-night Then they began to restore demolish'd Churches they new founded Sacred Temples Consecrated to the Honour of Holy Martyrs these they Adorn and in them Celebrate publick Festivities and Pure Sacrifices as manifest Trophies after their Victory This Happy change began soon after the Tyrants Carausius and Alectus were vanquish'd by Constantius who in the year of Grace 292. was Created Caesar and receiv'd the Government of Britain Gregory the Great was not then the first who brought into Britain the Custom of Dedicating Churches to the Honour of Martyrs for Germanus and Lupus before the Entrance of the Saxons came into this Island there to root out the Pelagian Heresy and found here Erected to the Honour of St. Alban in the place where by shedding his Blood he so Triumph'd a Famous Church which with great Devotion he Visited and there pay'd his Thanks to God for his Victory over the Pelagian Heresy He open'd the Holy Martyr's Sepulchre and as an Honour to him Repos'd in it several Reliques of Apostles and Martyrs which he brought over out of France with him and because he would not depart without the Holy Martyr's protection he took a lump of Earth from the place where the Martyr's Blood was shed and at his return into France carry'd it to his own See from whence the Veneration of St. Alban spread it self over all France and after into Germany also By a contest between the Monks of St. Alban and Ely in Edward the II's time it is put out of doubt that the Body of this Holy Martyr was Bury'd at St. Albans for the Monks of Ely contending before that King that the said Martyrs Body lay among them the King commanded his pretended Tomb there should be open'd which being done nothing was found in it but a course Hair-garment sprinkled with Blood in the upper part of it as fresh as if it had been lately shed which Garment questionless was the Caracalla before-mention'd It is no wonder this poor Garment should with Veneration be preserv'd by these Monks of Ely for God hath declar'd this to be acceptable to him by many Miracles witness St. Gregory Nazianzen who hath thus written That a little portion of Dust a particle of Bones a little Hair part of the Vestment the sprinkl'd marks of a Martyr's Blood ought to have as much Veneration as the whole Body He adds further That he had known where only the Name of a Martyr attributed to a place had produc'd the same Virtue that his whole Body would have done and then he cryes out O wonful the Memory alone of a Martyr is sufficient in my Opinion to confer Health The first that here follow'd St. Alban in his rough way of Martyrdom was St. Amphibalus who first shew'd him the way to Heaven The constancy of St. Alban the Miracles before and after his Death stir'd up divers of those who were Spectators of his Death or amaz'd with the wonders which accompany'd it to abandon their Idols and seek out St. Amphibalus that from his Lips the Doctriue of Christ might be instill'd into their Hearts To that purpose they undertook a journey into Wales where they found him Preaching the Word of Life to the people of that Region to him they presented the Cross which he had given to his Disciple St. Alban and which was sprinkled with his fresh Blood and so was a manifest token of his late Martyrdom and upon which St. Amphibalus after he had given Thanks to God made a Sermon of Christian Religion to his Auditors in number about 1000. who having heard the Sermon embrac'd his Doctrine and chearfully receiv'd from his Sacred Hands as a Seal of their Faith the Holy Baptism The departure of so great a Multitude from Verulam rais'd so great an Animosity against those Deserters of their Religion and City in the Hearts of the Infidels that they resolv'd to pursue them with Arm'd Forces hoping to find Amphibalus in their Company which they soon did and took him in
for the Benefit of others And to shew that he had not deserted his Religious Profession he built a Monastery in a Town toward the Severnshore in those days call'd Loderic and Laffenac afterwards from him Petrocstow now more contractedly Padstow At this time the Saxons under Cerdic had possess'd themselves of that Province and when the Saint with his Disciples had landed and left their Ship certain Reapers then at work spoke rudely and bitterly to them and among other taunting Speeches requir'd them That their Conductor St. Petroc should for the asswaging of their Thirst cause a Spring of fresh Water to issue out of a Rock there adjoyning This was said either in Derision of them being Strangers or for a Tryal whether their Sanctity was answerable to their Profession Hereupon St. Petroc who never refus'd what was in his Power address'd his Prayers to our Merciful Lord and with his Staff smiting the Rock immediatly there gush'd forth a Spring of clear sweet water which is said to flow there at this day The Barbarous Pagans utterly ignorant of Christian Religion were astonish'd at this Miracle And when the Holy Servant of God ask'd them Whether there were any in that Province who Profess'd the Christian Faith They directed him to a Holy man call'd Sampson Who they told him led a Solitary Life and exercis'd himself in Corporal Labours Fasting Watching and Prayers sustaining himself daily with a small Portion of Barly Bread This is that Samson who succeeded St. David in the See of Menevia and after was Bishop of Dole in lesser Britain of whom more hereafter After 30 years abode in this Solitude wherein he is said to have instructed Credan Medan and Dathan three of his Principal Disciples Illustrious for their Learning and Piety he left his Monastery of Loderic and undertook a Foraign Pilgrimage to Rome and so to Jerusalem from whence he is said to have proceeded as far as India and to have spent seven years in the exercises of a Contemplative Life in a certain unknown Island of the Eastern Ocean from which tedious Voyage he at last return'd home and with 12 Companions retir'd himself into a dry and barren Solitude His death in our Ecclesiastical Monuments is referr'd to the year of Grace 564. and he was bury'd at Padstow in which Town was Antiently placed an Episcopal See which was after translated to Bodmin in regard the Body of the Saint was at first meanly Bury'd at Padstow and afterward transferr'd and Honourably repos'd at Bodmin But his Relicks did not always rest at Bodmin for as Roger Hoveden saith Martin a Canon Regular of the Church of Bodmin by stealth took away the Body of St. Petroc and fled with it to the Abbey of St. Meven in Britain the less Which Theft being discover'd Roger Pryor of that Cathedral Church with the Antient Canons of the Chapter address'd themselves to King Henry the Father for his Son was then likewise King and from him they obtain'd a strict command to the Abbot and Convent of St. Meven without delay to restore St. Petroc 's Body to the Pryour of Bodmin which if they refus'd the King gave order to Roland of Dinant the Governour of little Britain to take away the Sacred Body by force As soon as the Abbot of Meven heard hereof he restor'd the Body entire Swearing withall upon the Holy Gospels and the Relicks of certain Saints that it was the very same Body unchang'd and unimpair'd The reason why the Covent of Meven were so desirous of the Relicks of St. Petroc was because St. Meven the Patron of that Monastery was born in Great Britain and as many other Saints did fled into the less Britain and with great Veneration was Honour'd in the Territory of St. Malo where Judicael a Prince of that less Britain descended from this of ours built the said Monastery All Authors agree that the year 508. was fatal to the Britains for the loss of a great Battle wherein either their Valiant King or General of his Army was slain The Name of the Party mention'd to be slain makes the confusion The Noble Historian Ethelward expresly affirms That Cerdic and his Son Cenric slew Natanleod King of the Britains Mat. Paris indeed affirms That Uther was then sick and Natanleod his General Bishop Usher may decide this Controversy who affirms That Uther in the British Language was call'd Natanleod but after for his Valiant Acts obtain'd the Sir-name of Uter which in British signifies Terrible or Admirable Therefore his Son and Successor Arthur was call'd Mab Uther which signifies the Son of a terrible Prince because from his Childhood he was Fierce and Cruel Arthur being out of the British Language interpreted a Terrible Bear or an Iron-wall which breaks the Lyons Jaws Henry of Huntingdon thus describes this Battle Nazaleod saith he so he calls Natanleod was a Prince of great Fame and withall of great Pride of whom the Province was call'd Nazaleoli which after had the Name of Certicks-ford He gather'd an Army out of all Britain and Certic with his Son to enable themselves to encounter him had in so great danger obtain'd Aid from Aesca King of Kent and Ella the Potent King of the South-Saxons as likewise from Port and his Son lately arriv'd which Forces were divided into two main Bodies one led by Certic the other by his Son Cenric When the Battle was joyn'd King Nazaleod perceiving the right Wing of the Enemies conducted by Certic was much stronger than the other he turn'd all his Forces against it willing to destroy that which was Strongest He set upon it therefore with such Violence that he brake quite through them threw down their Ensign forc'd Certic to fly and made a great Slaughter of his Army in a short time But Cenric who conducted the left Wing seeing his Fathers Army routed rush'd vehemently on the backs of the Britains whilst they pursu'd their Enemies flying by this means the Combat became furious insomuch as King Nazaleod was slain and the Britains forc'd to fly of whom there fell 5000. and the rest sav'd themselves by their swiftness Thus the Saxons obtain'd a great Victory so that for some years they were not disturb'd by the Britains and the rather for that great multitudes of Valiant Soldiers came out of Germany to joyn with them This famous Battle fought in Hampshire the Province of the Belgae between the entire Forces of all the Saxons and Britains as it were for the Mastery had utterly ruin'd the British State had Vter left behind him a Successor of a Courage less Heroical then his Son Arthur that renown'd Prince whose glorious Exploits are now to be related The Gests of this Son and Successor of Vter are clouded by such mists of Fables that the Truth of his Story can hardly be related not for want but the excess of matter recorded of him and that by Writers who out of a desire to magnifie his Fame by their impudent Lies have almost
Epistle to Timothy sent to him from Rome amongst other Salutations joynes Pudens and Claudia And a late Learned Writer hath demonstrated out of Antiquity that this our Claudia Ruffina sprang from the Royal Blood of Britain and was the Wife and Mother of Glorious Saints And our Antient Histories report that Timotheus the Eldest Son of Pudens came into this our Island and Converted many to the Faith and at least dispos'd King Lucius to his succeeding Conversion And the reason of such his coming hither might be the Love and regard he had to his Mother a British Lady It is pretended that Pomponia Graecina the Wife of Plantius General of the Army under Claudius in this Island was a Christian and Devout Saint but this may be doubtful though it be clear by Tacitus that she was Accus'd of a strange Religion forbidden by the Roman Laws which might be the Christian Religion to the knowledge whereof she might attain by her Acquaintance with Claudia Ruffina But we have more unquestionable Records of one Mansuetus Companion of St. Clemens which Mansuetus was a Northern Britain who went to Rome either with Adminius a Prince of Britain or Bericus a Nobleman thereof or as Attendant upon Caractacus where the said Mansuetus might be Converted by St. Peter and be by him constituted Bishop of Toul in Lorrain upon a Miracle by him done in restoring to Life and Health a Son of the Governour of that City whose said Son fell down from a high Tower the effect of which Miracle was the Conversion of the said Governour his whole Family and a great number of his Citizens Insomuch as after the word had a free course not only in that City but in the Country thereabouts Priests were Ordain'd and a Church erected and Consecrated to the Holy Trinity About this time one Beatus of this Island was converted to the Christian Faith and went to Rome for further instruction therein by S. Peter and after became the Apostle of the Helvetians and dy'd amongst them illustrious for his exemplary Piety and great Miracles Thus early did it please God to enlighten this our native Country with his Divine Truth and to transform the Barbarous Inhabitants thereof into Apostles and Messengers of Salvation to other Countries also And as it appears by antient Monuments it pleas'd our good God to send his Prime Apostle S. Peter into this Island to establish and confirm what other Persons though of great Honour and Holiness had begun yet for want of the Episcopal Character could not establish Order and Government in this new planted Church as the Apostles could and did do Unquestionable antient Authors have Recorded that when the World was divided by Lott amongst the Apostles the West became the Portion of S. Peter and that from Rome he came to Britain and made a long abode there constituting Churches and ordaining Priests and Deacons this Truth has been confirm'd by many Holy and Primitive Popes by many of our British and Saxon Kings by the Vision of S. Peter to Edward the Confessor Nay our late King James the First of ever Blessed Memory did not doubt in a publick Audience to affirm that Rome was the Mother of all Churches In what particular year this coming of S. Peter was is not easie to determine whether upon the Emperour Claudius's Edict to Banish all Jews from Rome or in the beginning of Nero's Reign is doubtful But that he was absent from Rome when S. Paul wrote his Epistle to the Romans is more than probable since he omitted S. Peter out of his Salutations Certainly a freer scope was allow'd in this Island at that time for Divine Verities than in other places First Because Nero's Persecution never extended hither Secondly For that the power of the Romans here was a little limited by the British Princes who were at least civil to Christians Thirdly The great distance betwixt Rome and this Island as may appear by the quiet and un-interupted solitude of Glastonbury where was erected the first School of Contemplation and which continu'd the glorious Habitation of a World of Saints even to late years It may be found in a very antient Author who Writes of Church Affairs in the first Century that he mentions the exaltation of the British Church under Nero adding that many Churches were built in this Island by S. Peter and it is agreed of on all hands that the cruelty of Nero towards the Christians drove S. Paul out of Rome even as far Westward as Britain where though he was had in high Veneration yet we never read that the Church here planted was called the Seat of St. Paul but often the Chair of St. Peter Insomuch as Gildas inveighing against some of the British Clergy in his time tells them They usurp'd the Chair of St. Peter with impure feet Thereby intimating that the whole Ecclesiastical Order here receiv'd their Original Priesthood by a right Succession from St. Peter Howbeit our English Martyrology deservedly reckons St. Paul among the Apostles of Britain And so was Aristobulus also one of the 70 Disciples and a Follower of St. Paul Ordain'd a Bishop here and here also dy'd a Martyr in the second year of Nero or at least a Confessor in his very Old Age after he had spent some time in Solitude at Glastonbury the common Retiring place of many Eminent Saints It was certainly meant by St. Paul in his Epistle to the Romans when he Salutes the Houshold of Aristobulus omitting him being then absent in this Country or in his Journey towards it This progress had the Gospel in this Island before the Death of St. Peter or St. Paul and was mightily advanc'd by the coming of Joseph of Arimathea and his Companions about the end of Nero's Reign making up the number of Twelve Persons with himself one of which Twelve is said to be his Son of his own Name The coming and Preaching of Joseph and his Companions hath been publickly alledg'd in several General Councels by the English Orators as an Argument of Precedence in those Councels taken from the early approach of the Gospel to this Nation and further affirm'd by other Antient Records and especially by that Illustrious Charter of King Henry the II. to the Abbey of Glastonbury signifying his intention to Rebuild that Monastery not long before Consum'd by Fire and to renew all the Priviledges confer'd on it by his Predecessors King William the I. and II. and by more Ancient Kings St. Edgar the Father of St. Edward King Edmond and his Father Edward and his Grand-father Alfred by King Brithwald Hentwyn Baldred Ina the famous King Arthur Cantred and many other Christian Kings and even by Kenwalla a Pagan King of Britain And further affirming that he the said Henry the II. caus'd a diligent Inquisition to be made of the said Charters and Priviledges which were presented and Read in his Presence all which he Confirm'd and Renew'd to the same Church antiently stil'd The Mother
a Rock as provided and intended for Joseph himself But before our Saint would bury the Body he wash'd it for it was cover'd with Blood. First in regard of his late Bloody-Sweat Secondly by reason of his Cruel Scourging Thirdly The pressing of a Crown of Thorns upon his Head. Fourthly The Nails in his Hands and Feet Lastly The Souldiers Spear which did not only Wound but open a wide passage into his side Joseph also wash'd this Sacred Body in order to the Embalming of it He wash'd it saith Grosthead with an intention and Religions design to appropriate the same Blood to his own devout use as a most precious Treasure and Medicine for his Soul The Water tinctur'd with the Blood he would not cast away but kept it in a clean Vessel and the pure Blood distilling from the Wounds of his Hands and Feet he reserv'd with more Reverence But above all with more then ordinary Devotion and Holy Fear he receiv'd into a most precious Vessel the Blood mix'd with Water which he carefully press'd out of his Right side and which he judg'd to issue from his Heart This he esteem'd a Treasure invaluable to be reserv'd for himself and his Successours This was the Discourse and these the Sentiments of that Venerable Prelate upon the fore-mention'd occasion It may seem strange that Joseph accounting this Blood so inestimable a Treasure should yet ordain it to be put into the Grave with him as it is said he did He may be thought to do it least in such a time when Paganism prevail'd the Holy Relick might be Profan'd and if Christianity ever came to be uppermost Devout Christians might know whither to resort for it or perhaps he might have the same design with the Emperour Constantine who carefully collected the Relicks of the Apostles and after they were richly adorn'd commanded they should be laid up in his Tomb To the end as Eusebius tells us that being dead he might be made partaker of the Prayers which there in Honour of the Apostles should be offer'd unto God. After the death of S. Joseph S. Phagan succeeded in the Prefecture of this Holy Place and continu'd in it about 30 years and under him and other his Successors who enjoy'd the Possessions bestow'd upon them by the British Kings a Monastical Conversation was upheld until the Reign of King Lucius at which time the publick Preaching of the Gospel was not only permitted but encourag'd So as these Holy men in all likelihood were invited and by Charity compell'd to leave God for God to forsake their Solitude and imploy their Devotion and Labours in Converting and Saving the Souls of others by reason whereof it is reported that this place became Desolate Howbeit not long after the memory of St. Joseph stir'd up Devout Christians to visit and enlarge the Church here Dedicated to the Blessed Virgin as the Fountain and Original of Christian Religion in this Island A little before the death of St Joseph Julius Agricola was sent Pretor into Britain in the last year of Vespasian and was entertain'd with Opposition in Wales which with extraordinary diligence he resisted and made his Victory compleat at the Isle of Anglesey from whence Paulinus had lately been re-call'd by the Dreadful Rebellion of the foremention'd unhappy Queen of the Trinobantes Boadicea Agricola after took care to govern the Province in Peace to restrain the Avarice of the Roman Souldiers to defend the Natives from injuries and by his Courtesie and Civility invited them to delight in Peace Thereupon he encouragâ—d them to conform to the Roman Fashion of Life by building Houses Temples and Market-Places He caus'd their Children to be instructed in Arts and good Literature Applauding their Wits and Natural Endowments so as thereby the Roman Tongue became Familiar to the Britains and the Roman Eloquence in request amongst them In the third year of his Pretorship he March'd Northward and wasted the Country as far as Tweed and the Summer following he extended his Conquests as far as Bodotria now Edinborough Frith Eastward and Glotta now the Frith of Dunbritton Westward and strengthen'd the narrow space between them with Forts and Garrisons So as the only Enemies remaining unconquer'd were the Caledonian Britains at a Town thereabouts now called Abercurven an Antient Structure is at this day extant all of square Stones which the inhabitants call Julius's Hoft and fancy to have been built by Julius Caesar but more probably was rais'd by this Julius Agricola as a Monument of his Conquests In the fifth year of his Expedition he pierc'd into the Northwest Provinces toward Ireland as if he had an intent to pass over thither and indeed he is said to be invited over by a Petty Prince of that Island who compell'd by his Rebellious Subjects thereunto made some Addresses unto him The following year he spent in a March from Edinborough Northward to sind out the limits of the Country the Romans as yet not knowing whether Britain were an Island or not in which march of his he caus'd his Navy to keep pace with his Land-Army both for his Security and Supply but to the great Terrour of the poor Britains who to free themselves from this danger attempted the ninth Legion separated from the rest of the common Army yet were defeated but after under the Conduct of Galgacus eminent both for Nobility and Courage resolv'd to put all to the hazard of a Battle and assembling all their Forces upon the mountain Grampus after a Cruel and Bloody Fight were entirely Defeated This Battle was Fought in the last year of Agricola's Government For in the beginning of the year following which was the 5th of Domitians Reign he return'd to Rome where after some shew of Honour he became the object of that Tyrants Envy and not long after the Sacrifice of his Cruelty After the departure of Agricola it doth not clearly appear who succeeded some say Cneus Trebellius others Salustius Lucullus whom Domitian put to Death because he fram'd new fashion'd Lances and call'd them after his own Name this is all is mention'd in the Roman Histories during the remainder of Domitians Reign and his two Successors Nerva and Trajan little more is written concerning the state of Christianity in these times here in Britain save only that the Church of Britain in the year of Grace 100. sent a Legation to St. Clement Bishop of Rome desiring him to communicate unto them the Order and Rites of Celebrating Divine Service and it is deliver'd by Tradition that St. Clement set down the Order of offering Sacrifice instituted by St. Peter which was after us'd with some Addition throughout the whole Western Church In Trajan's time Britain was divided only into two Provinces call'd the first and second greater and less or the upper and lower Britain the former contain'd the Southern part as far as the River-Thames first possessed by the Romans the latter the Western Provinces as Cornwal Wales c. Toward the
he gather'd into a Flock the remainder of those who had been Converted by St. Joseph of Arimathaea and his Companions consirming them in the same Faith. This St. Marcellus was afterwards ordain'd Bishop of Tongres and Triers these two Cities being govern'd at that time by one Bishop In the Annals of which Church we read That Lucius King of Britain was made a Christian and Baptiz'd by this Marcellus a Teacher of the Inhabitants of Triers Yet there are more Authentick Testimonies demonstrating That he was Baptiz'd by Fugatius and Damianus sent by Pope Eleutherius This Holy Bishop Marcellus was the first Britain who suffer'd Martyrdom out of this Island as St. Alban was the first who suffer'd within it his Sufferings were in a great Persecution rais'd by Marcus Aurelius the Successor of Antoninus Together with Marcellus there came from Rome another Illustrious Saint of Noble Birth and Plentiful Fortunes which yet he relinquish'd that with the more freedom he might Preach Christ Crucify'd This Timotheus was the Son of Pudens a Roman Senator and of his Wife suppos'd to be the famous Claudia the British Lady forespoken of He was also Brother of Novatus as also of S. Pudentiana and Praxedes whose memories are Anniversarily celebrated by the Catholick Church His coming hither is a considerable proof that his Mother was a Britain It may be collected out of the Ecclesiastical Offices that Pudentiana a Virgin with her Sister Praxedes the Daughters of Pudens practising the Duties of Christian Religion with admirable Piety Sold her Patrimony and distributed to the Poor the Money thence arising giving her self wholly to Fasting and Prayer by her Zeal and endeavours her whole Family consisting of 96. persons was Converted to the Faith and Baptiz'd by Pope Pius And the publick Sacrifices being forbidden by Antoninus the Holy Pope Celebrated the Divine Mysteries with other Christians in the House of Pudentiana who afforded those Holy Persons all necessary Sustenance and being thus imploy'd in such Offices of Piety she dy'd the 14th of the Calends of June in the year of our Lord 161. and was bury'd in the Coemetery of Priscilla in the Salarian way Her Brother Novatus dy'd the year following concerning whose Death there is a Letter yet extant from Pastor a Holy Priest from Rome to Timotheus then imploy'd in his Apostolick Office in Britain signifying unto him That the venerable Virgin Praxedes was in great affliction for the death of her Sister Pudentiana Pope Pius and many Honourable Christians came to comfort her and amongst the rest her Brother Novatus who about two months after he departed from his Sister Praxedes fell sick and was forthwith visited by the Holy Pope and Praxedes as also by other godly persons to his great Comfort That Novatus in the presence of those persons declar'd his Will and bequeath'd all his Estate to Timotheus and Praxedes and shortly after departed in the Lord. And by this Letter Pastor desir'd To know of Timotheus how he would have the Estate of his Brother Novatus dispos'd to the end that what the said Timotheus directed might be observ'd therein To which Letter Timotheus is said to give this Pious Answer Persum'd with Christian Charity wherein after a Salutation savouring of the Holy simplicity of that Age and desire to be recommended to the Memory and Intercession of the Holy Apostles the Prelate of the Apostolick See and all Saints he signifies his desire That what ever share was given to him by his Brother Novatus should be at the dispose of his Holy Sister Praxedes and the Holy Priest Pastor to whom he return'd his Answer Which was after shown to Pope Pius who gave thanks to the Father Almighty and after at the request of Praxedes Dedicated a Church in the Baths of Novatus at Rome in the Bricklayers-street where the Holy Pope also constituted a Roman Title and consecrated a Font for Baptism Those Titles were for the most part signify'd by Crosses and were first in the nature of particular Parishes by Pope Evaristus assign'd to the cure of particular Priests The Bathes which are here nam'd from Novatus have elsewere their denomination from Timotheus and were scituated upon the mountain called Viminal And in Truth the Christians privately resorted to this place for the celebration of their Divine Mysteries before any Church was Solemnly Consecrated there as may be found in the Acts of Justin the Philosopher who calls it the Timothean Bath The same year that Novatus dy'd the Emperour Antoninus ended his Life after him succeeded Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus joyntly governing the Empire with equal Authority In the second year of these Emperours dy'd the Holy Virgin Praxedes the particulars of whose death are recorded by Pastor in this manner Two years and 18 days after this Church was Dedicated there was a great Persecution rais'd against Christians to enforce them to Worship Idols and many were Crown'd with Martyrdom Now the Holy Virgin Praxedes fervent in the Holy Ghost secretly conceal'd many good Christians in the said Title or Church whose bodies she strengthen'd with Food and their minds with Exhortations proceeding from Gods spirit Insomuch as notice was given to Aurelius that Christian Assemblies were made in her House he then sent his Officers thither who laid hold on Symitrius a Priest and 22 persons more all which the Cruel Emperour commanded to be put to Death in the same Title without any Examination their Bodies Praxedes took by night and bury'd in the Coemetery of Priscilla but soon after afflicted for the suffering of the Saints with many Groans she Pray'd that she might pass out of this Life her Prayers found access unto our Lord Jesus for in the 44th day after the Martyrdom of the fore-mention'd Saints she went unto the Lord and Pastor the Priest bury'd her Body in her Fathers Coemetery of Priscilla upon the Salarian-way This Persecution was begun at the Instigation of Heathen Philosophers especially of the beastly Cynicks particularly of Crescence that infamous Wretch mention'd with indignation by Justin Martyr Thus much is deliver'd concerning the Holy Children of Pudens the Roman Senator in the Acts of whom our Nation had an Interest partly in regard their Mother was a British Lady and that Timotheus was their Brother who exercis'd his Apostolick Office in this Island and no doubt had a great influence in disposing the mind of King Lucius towards the Christian Faith of Timotheus little more is written saving that after the Death of his Sister Praxedes he return'd to Rome where he became a Prey to those Sensual Philosophers and ended his Life by Martyrdom with his worthy Companion Marcus as appears by an Epistle of Pope Pius wherein amongst other things he declares S. Timotheus and Marcus to have ended their Lives by a Happy Conflict And he concludes his Letter to the Bishop unto whom it was directed thus Take care dear Brother that thou follow these Saints in imitating their zeal and freeing thy self from the Chains
little more of moment is mention'd concerning the British Affairs save that in his time Vlpius Marcellus drove back the Caledonian Britains who had made Irruptions into the Roman Territories in Britain The Conversion of Britain was so famous in the Church of God that Origen takes notice of it and the Faith of Christ spread it self even unto the Northern parts of this Island within two years after the Death of Lucius insomuch as Tertullian who liv'd about these times cryes out That those Provinces of Britain into which the Roman Armies were not able to pierce yet willingly submitted to the Faith of our Blessed Saviour Donaldus then King of those Northern quarters rejected the Worship of Divels embrac'd the Faith of Christ and obtain'd of Pope Victor the 15th after St. Peter several Learn'd and Illustrious men to be sent into those Northern parts to Baptize himself his Wife and Family with many of his Nobility Fulgentius a Kinsman of Lucius was certainly the first who instill'd the love of Christian Verities into the mind of Donaldus and advis'd him to send to Victor for more perfect Instructions By the conduct and Courage of this Fulgentius Donaldus obtain'd a great Victory over the Romans Severus himself was sain to engage his own Presence and Authority to repair this loss by a formidable Army this great exploit of the Emperour obtain'd him and his Sons the Title of Britanicus Fulgentius not long after ended his Life at York then the Imperial City Severus after this Victory built a new Wall with frequent Towers and a vast deep Trench and then retir'd with his Army to York but by the way was met and daunted with an Ethiopian Souldier Cole-black and Crown'd with Cypress who told him He had been all and overcame all and bid him now be a God This was an ill Omen which with others of like sort are said to presage his Death and indeed it follow'd soon after in that City where he was with exquisite Ceremonies made a God but his Ashes with Costly Odours were gather'd into a precious Box and with great veneration carry'd to Rome It is observ'd that these Caledonian Britains us'd no Garments but mark'd their Bodies with Pictures and Figures of Beasts as their chief bravery and from thence no doubt came to be call'd Picts or a Painted People In the fourth year of Antoninus Bassianus dy'd Donaldus who Coin'd Silver and Gold marking it on the one side with the Figure of the Saving-Cross on the other side with his own Face thereby to propagate the memory of the Christian Faith first embrac'd by him among all the Kings of that Nation he was bury'd in a field with Christian Ceremonies and Solemnities the same field having been Consecrated with accustom'd Prayers for the Burial of Christians By this the present Inhabitants of Scotland may discern the difference between the Christianity of this their first Christen'd King and that which they have lately chosen instead of it He would not rest after Death but in a place Consecrated by the Devotions of Holy Priests who celebrated his Obsequies according to the Primitive Christian Usage by making Oblations for him and offering the most Holy Sacrifice for the Refreshment of his Soul as St. Cyprian who liv'd not long after describes the manner or Antient Christian Burial and justly chargeth Bishop Martialis With Burying the Children of this Donaldus in the prophane Sepulchres of the Heathen Among other Ceremonies of Christian Burials this was one That a Cross was erected upon their Monuments Young Amphibalus born at Caerleon upon Vsk was from his tender years bred up in good Literature and about this time instructed in the Christian Religion afterwards he travell'd to Rome where he spent his time principally in Reading and Understanding Holy Scriptures and the Doctrine of Christian Religion till the beginning of the Cruel Persecution rais'd by Dioclesian This young man was ordain'd a Priest at Rome and sent back by the Pope into Britain and there became as some say Bishop of the Isle of Man. In the year of Grace 221. Pope Zephyrin dy'd and was succeeded by Calistus in whose time one Cadorus is said to be Bishop of London The Emperour Alexander Severus a Virtuous Prince no Enemy to Christianity which some conceive to have been profess'd by his Mother Mammaea was in the 14th year of his reign slain by the Treason of Julius Maximinus who succeeded in his place When Maximinus began his reign Christian Religion flourish'd not only in the Southern parts of Britain but among the Caledonians also where reign'd Chrathilintus a Christian Prince Successor of Donaldus he was instructed by Amphibalus returning about this time from Rome as some say At this time St. Pontianus Bishop of Rome govern'd the Church of God. Now the Tyrant Maximinus raising the sixth Persecution sharpen'd it especially against Bishops and Teachers of the Christian Faith by his command St. Pontianus suffer'd Martyrdom being beaten to death with Clubs To him succeeded St. Antherus a Graecian born who the year following was likewise put to Death by the same Tyrant Maximinus who was slain in his fourth year and the Holy Pope Fabianus sate in the Chair of St. Peter and about this time while Gordianus the younger reign'd the Christian Church enjoy'd great Tranquility in which calm the Bishops propagated the Faith many Churches and Altars were erected and no doubt in this Island also Obinus Bishop of London and Conanus his Successor were careful to imitate the Zeal of other Bishops Nonnius Philippus being Governour of Britain about this time Gordianus being in his 6th year was slain by the Treason of Julius Philippus who succeeded him Julius himself was also slain by his own Guards Howbeit before his death by the Grace of God he wash'd away his Sins by Baptisin and Pennance he was perswaded to embrace Christianity by St. Pontianus a man of high Dignity yet because Philip was known to be guilty of many Crimes he was not presently permitted to enter the Church until he had modestly condeseended to place himself among the Penitent and confess'd his sins with Reverent fear and Pious affection Now though after the death of Lucius no Britain generally was allow'd the Name of King yet several Princes of the British Blood exercis'd a Kingly jurisdiction amongst the rest Coelus had that Title over the Trinobantes Iceni and others and was the Father of Helena the Mother of Constantine the Great She is said to be born in Colchester the prime City of that Province which in memory of the Holy Cross found by her bears in its Arms A Cross between four Crowns Decius after the death of the two Philips extended his rage to the Religion by them Profess'd in whose time many Glorious Martyrs amongst the rest St. Fabianus Bishop of Rome who seal'd the firmness of their Religion with their Blood although some redeem'd themselves from Sacrificing to Idols obtain'd Libels falsely declaring they had Sacrific'd and
Depos'd from his Bishoprick of Antioch This Arch-Heretick refusing to relinquish his See the Bishops gave an account of his Obstinacy to Dionysius Bishop of Rome The Emperour Aurelianus was desir'd to pronounce Sentence therein who in a manner like a Christian Decreed That the possession of the said Bishoprick should be given to such to whom the Bishop of Rome and other Western Bishops should assign it And so Paulus was utterly expell'd from his Church Two Voyages of Constantius Chlorus are mention'd in Story The first in the fourth year of Aurelian's reign he was then only a Senator or Patrician but sent with an Army to reclaim the Britains who were too apt to adhere to such Tyrants who Usurp'd the Empire yet was with all quietness receiv'd as the Emperour's Lieutenant his Voyage into Britain was prosperous Victory rather expected him there then accompany'd him thither he made himself welcom by his Mercy and Clemency in forbearing to Insult over his Conquer'd Enemies by his Justice in awarding restitution to such as were Pillag'd by his Providence in gaining the Affections of the Inhabitants by giving liberty to the Captives and forbearing to punish Offenders and winning them to Repentance He apply'd himself more particularly to Coelus before-nam'd and entring into a firm League with him Espous'd his Daughter Helena not long after which Marriage Coelus dy'd and Constantius in the right of his Wife became possess'd of her Fathers Principality The year after this happy Marriage and as a Blessed effect thereof was born Constantine the Great Great not only in subduing the Enemies of Rome and reducing the Empire to a Peaceable and flourishing Estate but also in destroying the Power of Satan and advancing the Kingdom of God over prevailing Idolatry That this great Emperour was born in this Island is acknowledg'd and prov'd by the most credible Authors the particular place of his Birth is more question'd some say it was York some London but most think Colchester where Helena and her Father usually resided that Town being girt with a Wall at the Costs of Helena Some Greek Authors will have Constantine to be born elsewhere but their fancy therein hath been prov'd by the most Learn'd and Impartial Authors fond and improbable especially by the Testimony of our Glorious Bishop St. Adelm who liv'd not above 300. years after Constantine and in his excellent Treatise of Virginity expresly affirms That St. Helena was a British Lady And his Treatise having been highly extoll'd by St. Bede gives great advantage to our Assertion However St. Helena hath been disgracefully spoken of by some Authors as the Concubine and not the Wife of Constantine yet it may be easily prov'd that they constantly Co-habited as Man and Wife in a Lawful and Chaste Marriage by the uncontested Succession of Constantine their Son in the Empire and by other undenyable Testimonies And Barronius concludes We are of necessity compell'd to agree that Helena was the Lawful Wife of Constantius Insomuch as the Emperour Justinian made a Decree in her Honour wherein he sets forth How much she was Honour'd by her Pious Son Constantine and how much the Church of God hath been beholding to her for finding our Blessed Saviours Cross True it is that as some have cast imputations upon this Holy Woman as to her Birth and the Lawfulness of her Marriage so some also have question'd the Integrity of her Religion All which notwithstanding her Birth her Marriage her Devotion her Zeal and Piety in seasoning her Son in Christian Principles are clearly attested by the sincerest and gravest Authors Aurelianus whilst he liv'd was an Inhumane adversary of Gods Truth and rais'd the ninth Persecution Britain only remain'd free from Violence under the moderate Government of Constantius not averse from Christianity After seven years reign Aurelianus was slain by his own Souldiers him Tacitus succeeded who dying after six months Probus renown'd for Military Virtues was chosen It is said the Senate wish'd him and the Army chose him and the People with Acclamations approv'd his Election During his Reign by the re-calling of Constantius many Troubles arose in Britain especially from Bonosus of British extract Probus after five years reign was slain by his own Army and Carus Manlius Aurelius chosen in his stead who created his two Sons Carinus and Numerianus Caesarus Carus was kill'd by Lightning Numerianus and Carinus by Treachery Doclesian after the Death of Carus was pronounc'd Emperour by the Army and prov'd the Author of the last but longest and most dreadful Persecution that ever the Church of God suffer'd Carinus being slain Dioclesian assum'd Maximianus as his Companion in the Empire they conspir'd in a resolution to extirpate Christianity and defend the Adoration of their Pagan Gods There never was given a stronger proof of the Churches being founded upon a Rock then the unsuccessfulness of the rage of these two Emperours against it They had the whole Power of the World in their Hands they were eminent for Valour Wisdom and Policy they govern'd the Empire above 20 years imploy'd all their time without relaxation in suppressing the Truth of Christ They omitted no Temptations by Favours or Terrours to withdraw the Servants of Jesus from Worshipping him no Torments were wanting publick and private persons were Arm'd to destroy the poor Christians not only singly one by one but whole Armies of them were Butcher'd together to Disgrace the Christians and to oppress them was the ready way to Preferment yet with all this the Christian Religion was so far from being destroy'd that it gain'd more Souls to Christ than the Sermons of the Devoutest Preachers could do in times of Peace Insomuch as these two vain-glorious and malicious Princes seeing all their endeavours against Christ to become fruitless through Despair depos'd themselves from the Government of the World which they had undertaken principally in design to destroy the Truth of Christ This Island of Britain divided from the World and so exempted from Persecutions yet smarted under the Cruelty of these Bloody Emperours and by the Martyrdom of St. Albanus St. Amphibalus St. Julius St. Aaron and their Associats afforded a Glorious Example of Conquering the World and Hell it self by Faith and Patience By all circumstances these Holy Martyrs suffer'd about the beginning of Dioclesians reign in the year of our Lord 286. as St. Bede expresly testifies Edicts for the persecution of the Christians were about this time first sent into Britain which might perhaps occasion Amphibalus to return a second time into his Native Country to Convert men in the Faith of Christ He is said first to six at Verulam in the House of Albanus an eminent Citizen there and descended of an Illustrious Roman Family and the Emperour's Questor or Treasurer He received St. Amphibalus though a stranger to him with great Kindness and Liberality but understanding he was a Christian privately question'd him How he could pass safely to that City through so many Regions of
be found again soon after the Sacred Body was translated to the Church of St. Alban and many Miracles were there continually wrought through the intercession of the Blessed Amphibalus who suffer'd in the year of our Lord 287. Although the place of this Saints Burial was long obscur'd yet as appears by Gildas his memory was precious for within ten years after he suffer'd a Church was erected to his Honour and in the year of our Lord 309. another Church was Consecrated to this Saint at Winchester which being after Re-built by the Saxons was Dedicated to St. Peter When the Body of this Holy Man was discover'd other Bodies were found lying by it conjectur'd to be those who suffer'd with him Much about this time two famous Martyrs Julius and Aaron before-mention'd Citizens of Caerleon and Disciples of St. Amphibalus are recorded to have suffer'd for the Faith of Christ These two had a long time addicted themselves to the Holy Faith and were also diligent in the study of Arts and Humane Learning both at Rome and else-where They suffer'd saith St. Bede with many others of both Sexes intoller able Torture their Members being torn asunder with unheard of Cruelty at last consummating a Glorious Martyrdom their Souls were receiv'd into the joys of the Heavenly City Their Memories were preserv'd and Honour'd by Erecting Altars and Churches in their Names each of them had a famous Church Erected to their Honour in Caerleon for three Magnificent Churches are said to have been Built of Old time in that City one of the Martyrs St. Julius adorn'd with a Choir and Convent of Religious Virgins a second Dedicated to the Honour of his Companion St. Aaron and Graced with a Noble Choir of Canons the third was the Metropolitan Church of all Cambria and was after Translated by the Holy Bishop St. David with the concurrence of the Pope's Legate and all this long before the coming of the Saxons Besides these the memory is Celebrated of two Noble Britains Disciples of St. Amphibalus who suffer'd Martyrdom in the same Persecution of Dioclesian their Names were Stephanus and Socrates to whose Honour two Churches were built in the Province of the Silures To this time also is refer'd the Murdering of all the Monks in the Monastery of Winchester built by King Lucius During the rage of this Persecution in Britain many Christians withdrew themselves from the fury of it as Gildas reports which considering the frailty of Mankind was not imprudently done for it was thought fit that such as had not the courage to sustain the weight of Martyrdom might at least hold fast the Grace of Confession This flight of Christians in Britain gave occasion to the Persecutors to extend their rage upon Churches and Monasteries all which by such their rage were so utterly destroy'd that in this Island few marks remain'd of Christian Religion This Desolation continu'd untill the Happy return of Constantius by whose Clemency the Christian Faith and Worship flourish'd again in Britain sooner than in other places Which Mercy of God as Bede saith was the rather extended towards the Britains because they only preserv'd among them their Primitive Faith receiv'd in the days of King Lucius entire and inviolate untill the reign of Dioclesian The Tyranny of the Roman Empire against Christians God was pleas'd to revenge by permitting another Tyrant to rise against them in Britain namely Carausius a man Vigilant and Active both in Councel and Execution Imploy'd by the Emperour to scowre the Seas of Pyrats This Imployment Carausius made use of rather to Enrich himself than Benefit the Empire and thereby became so suspected that the Emperour Maximianus commanded him to be put to Death for the avoiding whereof he assum'd the Imperial Purple and possess'd himself of Britain Maximianus prepar'd to oppose him but his attempts proving vain he was forc'd to make a Peace with Carausius who after subdu'd the Caledonian Britains and rais'd a new Rampire to enclose them more Northward than any had been before with a Triumphal Arch in memory of his Victory He govern'd here quietly untill the year 293. when Constantius made his Expedition against him Now though in the time of Carausius Persecution against Christians abated yet by the Rapine of his Soldiers most of the Churches and Monasteries were destroy'd or Spoil'd among the rest those of Winchester and Westminster the latter Converted into a Temple of Apollo In those days the Roman Empire on all sides was greatly shaken both by open Invasions and Civil Dissentions to appease which two new Caesars were chosen Constantius by Maximianus and Galerius by Dioclesian in whom notwithstanding the Supreme Authority and Majesty of the Empire resided the better to strengthen this Association Dioclesian gave his Daughter Valeria to Galerius Maximianus his Daughter Theodora to Constantius who thereupon was compell'd to a Divorce from his former Wife Helena so as she was after esteem'd his Concubine or at least his Wife in the second or inferior place However this pretended Divorce did not it seems prejudice their Son Constantine who born before in Marriage enjoy'd his right of Primogeniture and succeeded his Father in the Empire although he had other Sons by Theodora How Helena was dispos'd of after this Divorce is controverted The best Opinion is that she was plac'd at Triers where Constantius built her a Magnificent Palace and where she was Honour'd with the Title of Augusta In the mean time her Son Constantine was receiv'd into the Family of Dioclesian and there remain'd Uninfected with the Vices of the Court in great Favour with Dioclesian highly Graced by him and acceptable to all that saw him for his Beauty Gracefullness and Modesty especially to the best sort of Men for his Virtue and Piety Constantius being Created Caesar made an Expedition into Gaul with intent to pass over into Britain against the Tyrant Carausius In Gaul he took the Sea-Town Gessoriacum or Buloign which the Tyrant had strongly Fortify'd In the mean time Carausius was Murder'd in Britain by a new Tyrant Alectus General of the Forces of Carausius Alectus to secure himself assum'd the Title of Emperour Against him Constantius the year following sail'd into Britain and landed without opposition though he was way-laid by a strong Fleet plac'd in the Isle of Wight by Alectus When he was landed he set his Ships on Fire and divided his Army one part he led himself the other he committed to the Conduct of Asclepiodorus Prefect of the Praetorian Band Alectus avoiding Constantius chose to try his Fortune with Asclepiodorus by whom he was easily defeated and slain Howbeit a great part of his Army consisting of Strangers Franks and Battavians seeing their Prince Dead fled towards London hoping to Enrich themselves by the Spoils of that City But Constantius coming on them unawares preserv'd the City and cut those Rovers in pieces if any escap'd they became Captive to the Londoners By this return of Constantius the poor
in that only true God which his Mother Helena Worship'd all her Life and his Father Constantius towards his end To that God he offer'd Zealous and Devout Prayers That he would discover to him who he was and how he would be Worship'd and would protect him in his present condition of danger His Devotion was not in vain for by a stupendious Miracle in the sight of the whole Army God declar'd his acceptance of his Supplicants Prayers for he saw over the Sun then begining to decline the Sign of the Cross in Heaven figur'd by a resplendent light together with these words inscrib'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 By this be Victorious Which Spectacle caus'd great admiration both to himself and his Army Artemius one of the Spectators afterwards relates this Miracle to Julian the Apostate and Vouches many of his then present Soldiers for Spectators and further Witnesses thereof some writers add That many Angels were seen with this Apparition who encourag'd constantine and promis'd him Victory by that Sign and that he himself saw an Arm'd Horseman who bore in his Hands the sign of the Cross as an Ensign The Christians in Constantine's Army were Encourag'd by this Coelestial Vision but the Pagans look'd upon it as a Fatal and Ominous Sign until the succeeding Victory prov'd it otherwise Nay at first the good Emperour himself was in great doubt what this strange Vision should Portend until at night our Lord appear'd to him in his Sleep bearing the same Sign with him and commanded Constantine To cause a Draught or Copy thereof to be fram'd and to be made use of by him as a Guard and Protection in all his Battels Accordingly Constantine instructed his most cunning Workmen to make a Banner in imitation thereof Adorn'd with Gold and Precious Stones which he perpetually had carry'd before him in his Army He caus'd likewise innumerable representations of the Cross to be fix'd in several publick and Private places especially in several parts of his own Palace where it was for the most part fram'd of Gold Jewels and Precious Stones No wonder then if the veneration of the Holy Cross every day more and more increas'd amongst Christians a practice us'd from the most Primitive times and now Authoriz'd by our Lord himself from Heaven as it hath been sure confirm'd by innumerable Miracles wrought in several Ages by it Constantine encourag'd by this Promise of Divine assistance and Arm'd with this Glorious Sign of the Cross makes towards Italy Conquers several Nations reduces several Cities and overcomes all Resistance and having clear'd all the Provinces behind him marches Couragiously to Rome it self where the Tyrant for more than six years had exercis'd all manner of Wickedness He had not Courage to Issue out of the City or oppose Constantine's Progress stupify'd with his Lusts and afrighted with Prodigies and the Divination of his South-sayers But when Constantine approach'd the City Maxentius was enforc'd to draw out his Army consisting of 17000 Foot and 1800. Horse these numerous Forces he rang'd beyond the Milvian Bridge so that they were shut out of the City by the River The Tyrant us'd this Stratagem also he caus'd the Bridge to be so fram'd that at his pleasure he might dissolve it Constantine having rang'd his Army on the other side himself with great Courage gave the on-set by which he immediately broke his Enemies Ranks so as little resistance was made except by the Praetorian Soldiers who having Created Maxentius Emperour expected no Pardon and cover'd the ground with the dead Bodies Those who endeavour'd flight found it unsuccessful being hindred by the straitness of the Bridge the slaughter was exceeding great there being no other way to avoid the Sword but plunging into the River wherein great multitudes were swallow'd The Tyrant himself casting off the marks of Authority adventur'd into Tyber and being hurry'd down the Stream was drown'd his Body being cast upon the shore the People found and cut off his Head which with great Joy and Triumph they carry'd up and down the City fastn'd to a Pole. It is affirm'd that since Rome was built never was a day Celebrated with greater or more universal Joy than the day whereon Constantine Triumph'd for this Victory His Triumphant Chariot was attended not with Conquer'd Princes or Generals but with the Nobility of Rome freed from Dungeons and Chains Rome did not indeed Inrich her self with Spoils of Enemies but ceas'd to be the Spoil of an Inhumane Tyrant However this Pious Emperour would have this common Joy and Applause ascrib'd not to himself but to God only by virtue of the Holy Cross to whom only he gave the Praise and Honour of this Victory At his Triumphal entrance into the City he caus'd the Cross to be carried before his Army that Rome might see by what Arms she had been freed from Slavery he also enjoyn'd the People and Senate to Prostrate themselves before that Triumphant Sign and to Adore the Name of Christ who had Enobl'd the same It is therefore a narrow conceit of some who will not acknowledge that the Cross was ever Honour'd or Venerated by this Emperour or his Command when it is most manifest by undenyable Testimony for it is well known that Constantine Dedicated a Church to the Honour of the Holy Cross This Honour of the Cross Prudentius thus sounds forth Vex illum Crucis summus Dominator Adorat And not only so but the said Emperour signifies his will that all the World should also do so This Prince also further to Honour this Sign of our Salvation causeth his Statue to be set up in Rome holding a Cross in the right Hand with this Inscription By this saving Sign the Emblem of Fortitude I deliver'd your City from the yoak of Tyranny and having given perfect Liberty to the Senate and People of Rome I restor'd them to their Antient Greatness and Splendour There was another Inscription Engraven in Stone by the Decree of the Senate of like purport with the former wherein the Victory is ascrib'd contrary to the Roman custom to one True God and not to the many Gods there Ador'd After this signal Victory Constantine sent for Licinius the Emperour to Millain and there gave him to Wife his Sister Constantia and procur'd an Edict from him for free Liberty to profess the Christian Religion what belong'd to Churches was restor'd unto them Both Constantine and Lacinius joyn in their request to Maximinus the Eastern Emperour to grant the like freedom within his Dominions to which request Maximinus with much unwillingness yielded Matthew of Westminster affirms That about this time Constantine chose into the Senate his three Vncles before-mention'd which might perhaps give occasion to Julian the Apostate afterwards to darken the memory of this Glorious Emperour as a perverter of the Antient Roman Laws in being the first who Adorn'd Barbarous Strangers with Consular Robes In the year of Grace 314. Silvester succeeded Melchiades in the Popedom It
Kings Consent where a Church was Built and Dedicated to the Honour of the prime Apostle St. Peter That an Arch-Episcopal See was here thus planted may be some mistake for when that See was transplanted to Caerleon an Arch-Episcopal See indeed was Establish'd there so that it may rather seem that only an Episcopal See was Erected at Landaff by Mouricus who is said to be Son of Theodoric Prince of Morgannia or Glamorganshire which Prince as Bishop Godwin relates Resign'd his Principality and embrac'd a Monastical or Hermitical Life But after when the Saxons invaded the Land he was drawn out of his Cell to be Leader of an Army and Courageously rushing among the Enemies receiv'd a Mortal Wound for which Merit he was Enroll'd in the number of Martyrs St. German's next care after Ordaining Bishops was to Visit the Schools the Sources of Learning and he is said to have Studied or rather Taught for sometime in Oxford and Establish'd good Orders there concerning which we may find an Illustrious Testimony of our Learned Country-man Asserius who liv'd about 800. years since and treating of the Controversy between the Students of Oxford and Grimbaldus whom King Alfred had call'd out of France to govern that University affirms That the Scholars prov'd by unquestionable Testimonies of Antient Annals that the Orders and Institutes of that place which Grimbaldus sought to change had been Established by Pious and Learned men As Gildas Melkin Nemri Kentigern and others who all grew Old in their Studies there and Administred all things in Peace and Concord affirm They further shew'd that St. Germanus came to Oxford and abode there half a year approving wonderfully their Orders and Institutions Whether this be not a later Addition to Asserius is suspected by some It will not be amiss a little to enquire what Doctrines were taught by St. Germanus to whom this Country of ours was so much beholding For by this enquiry it may appear whether St. Augustine the Monk sent by St. Gregory the Great in the following Age to Convert the Saxons taught them a Religion differing from that which St. German profess'd we need go no further in this enquiry then to Mr. Selden well known to be Learn'd in Antiquity The sixth Chapter of this Treatise call'd Analecta Anglo-Britanica touching the Practises of Ecclesiastical Discipline wherewith Germanus and Lupus Bishops imbew'd the Britains may easily satisfie us in this particular where he tells us That Germanus Bishop of Auxerre and Lupus Bishop of Troyes in Gaul came into Britain to restore Christian Religion deprav'd by the Heresie of Pelagius and Errours of Pagans The Doctrines saith he taught by them as the Fame is which also Giraldus Cambrensis testifies were as followeth First Of every Loaf of Bread set before them one Corner they gave to the Poor Secondly They sat three together at Dinner in memory of the Trinity Thirdly If any met a Religious Monk or Clergy-man in the way or any one in a Religious Habit he would presently lay aside his Weapons and with a low inclination of his Head demand his Benediction Fourthly Generally all the People earnestly demanded Episcopal Confirmation and Inunction with Holy Chrism by which the Holy Ghost is confer'd Fifthly They somtime bestow'd the Tythe of all their Substance Cattle and Sheep either when they Marry'd or undertooke some long Pilgrimage or by the Churches Order submitted to some extraordinary Pennance for their Sins This they call the great Tythes and two parts thereof they bestow'd on the Church where they were Baptiz'd the third they gave to the Bishop of the Diocess Sixthly Beyond all other External Labours of Mortification they were most Devoted to Pilgrimages undertaken to Rome to Visit the Monuments of the Apostles Seventhly Beyond any other Nation they express'd a Devout Reverence to Churches and Church-men to Relicks of Saints to Portable Bells Sacred Books and the Holy Cross and this Devotion hath been rewarded with greater Peace than any other Churches enjoy'd Eightly Entire security was observ'd in regard of Beasts seeding not only in the Church-yards but beyond them through all Grounds enclos'd with Ditches which Bishops design for observation of Peace and Indempnity And greater Churches to which Antiquity always afforded greater Reverence have power to grant and enjoyn the observation of such Peace and Security for Cattle whilst in the Morning they go and at Evening they Return from their Pastures This Peace is preserv'd so inviolable that if any one should incur the Mortal Indignation of his Prince and seek Refuge in a Church he may enjoy the Fruit of this Peace both for his Person and Goods Though indeed from such large Immunities beyond the Antient Canons which in such cases allow safety of Life to a mans Body occasion of great Abuses have been taken Scarce any one of these Christian practices but was allow'd by St. Augustine Yet is St. Augustine by some in those days condemn'd and St. German Absolv'd Our Ancestors indeed to testifie their high esteem of the Venerable Bishop St. German's Sanctity approv'd by Miracles after his Death built Chapels and Churches to his Honour on one of which Cambden thus writes In Cornwall near the River Liver there is a Village Nam'd from St. German to which during the Danish Tumults the Episcopal See of that Province was transfer'd out of fear as to a place more remote and secure There a Church had been Erected and Consecrated to the Honour of St. Germanus who Extirpated the Pellagian Heresie arising a new among the Britains In Yorkshire likewise a famous Monastery was Consecrated to him The River Owse Waters Selby a Town well Peopled there King William the I. Founded a Church in memory of St. German who is said To have wounded to Death the many Headed Hydra of Pelagianism often quell'd and often reviving again The Abbots of this Monastery and of St. Maries at York were the only Northern Abbots which had Seats in Parliament The memory of St. German is also much Celebrated among the Silures in North-wales for from him a part of Radnor-shire is call'd Guarthenian for as Nennius relates Vortimer the Son of Vortigern to satisfy for injuries done by his Father to St. German Dedicates that part of the Country to him where he had been chiefly wrong'd in memory whereof it took the name of Guartheny which in the British Language signifies A Calumny justly retorted Hitherto since the Romans relinquish'd their care of Britain the Provinces of the Island had been govern'd by Petty-Princes Independent one of another But in the year 438. by reason of the frequent inroads of their Cruel Enemies the Picts and Scots by common agreement of the Provinces a general Captain of the whole Nation was chosen after the manner of their Ancestors in the days of Julius Caesar and the Kingdom establish'd in that Captains Line The choice unhappily fell upon Vortigern born for the destruction of his Country He was a man void both of Courage
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
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