Anton. Philos 13 years 19 Ælius Pertinax 6 months 20 Didius Julianus 7 months 21 Septimius Severus Britt 18 years Pessenius Niger Usurpers Clodius Albinus Usurpers 22 Anton. Bassianus Caracalla Britt the eldest son of Severus six years Geta Caesar Britt the younger son of Sept. Severus 23 Opilius Macrinus 1 year 2 months 24 Varius Heliogabulus the base son of Caracalla 4 years 25 Alexander Severus a kinsman of Heliogab 13 years 26 Julius Maximinus 3 years Balbinus Caesars Elect. Pupienus Caesars Elect. 27 Gordianus the father with his two sons and his Nephew 6 years C. Valens Hostilianus Caesar 28 Philippus the Arabian 5 years 29 Decius Trajanus 2 years 30 Vibius Pallus Hostilian with his son Volusianus 2 years 31 Æmilius of Mauritania 3 months 32 Licinius Velerianus 15 years 33 Gallienus the son of Valerianus 9 years Valerianus Brother of Gallienus Caesar Cassius Labienus Posthumus Caesar 34 Flavius Claudius 2 years 35 Aurelius Quintillus the brother of Claudius 17 dayes 36 Valerius Aurelianus 5 years and 6 months 37 Tacitus 6 months 38 Annius Florianus brother to Tacitus 60 years 39 Valerius Probus 6 years 4 months 40 Carus Narbonensis 2 years Numerianus Caesars Carinus Caesars Dioclesianus 20 years Maximianus Herculeius Caesar Constantius Chlorus 4 years Galerius Maximus 11 years Severus Caesars Maximianus Caesar Maxentius son of Maximian 6 years Licinius 14 years Constantinus Magnus 30 years Magnentius Usurper Constantinus the 3 sons of Constantine the Great Constans the 3 sons of Constantine the Great 47 Constantius the 3 sons of Constantine the Great 48 Julianus Apostata 1 year 6 months 49 Jovinianus 8 months 50 Valentinianus 12 years Valens his Brother Caesar 51 Gratianus 6 years Valentinians Caesar Theodosius Caesar 52 Theodosius 3 years 53 Arcadius 13 years 54 Honorius 28 years Lieutenants in Brittain from Nerva Cocceius his Entrance into the Government of the Empire until the Reign of Honorius the Emperor Lieutenants under Nerva and Trajanus There is no mention of any Lieutenants in Brittain during the time of their Government Lieutenants under Adrian Britt Julius Severus Priscus Licinius Lieutenants under Antoninus Pius Lollius Vrbicus Britt Lieutenants under Antonin Philos Calphulnius Agricola Lieutenants under Commodus Vlpius Marcellus Helvius Pertinax Clodius Albinus Junius Severus Lieutenants under Pertinax Clodius Albinus Lieutenants under Did. Julianus Clodius Albinus Lieutenants under Sept. Severus Britt Heraclianus Virius Lupus For the time of Basianus Caracalla the Successor of Severus unto Constantine the Great there is no mention in approved Histories of any Lieutenants in Brittain Deputies under Constantine the Great Pacatianus Deputies under Constantius the youngest son of Constantine the Great Martinus Alipius Deputies under Honorius Chrysanthus Victorinus Princes and secular Men of special Note among the Brittains In the time of Calphurnius Agricola's Government under Mar. Aurel. Antonin Philos Lucius sirnamed Lever-Maur the first Christian Prince in Brittany In the Reign of Aurelianus Bonosus an Usurper of the Empire in Brittain In the Reign of Constantius the youngest son of Constantine the Great Magnentius Toporus Usurper of the Empire of Brittany Archbishops of London from the time of King Lucius untill the coming of the Saxons 1 Thean 2 Clavus 3 Cador. 4 Obinus 5 Conanus 6 Paladius 7 Stephanus 8 Jetut 9 Dedwinus 10 Thedredus 11 Hillarius 12 Guidilinus 13 Vodinus who lived when the Saxons first entred the Land HItherto hath been declared the successe of times and affairs in Brittain under the first twelve Emperours of Rome the same being recorded by such Writers as had best means to understand the truth thereof and were principal Registers of things done by the Romans in those times as for the occurrents ensuing the death of Domitian until the Reign of Honorius in whose time the Roman Government ceased they are imperfectly reported or a great part of them meerly omitted so that I am forced of many things only to make a bare and brief relation as unwilling by adding or diminishing to aâ—ter in substance what Antiquity hath left us or fill up blancks with conjectures or projects of mine invention saith the Author of the a Lib. 3. f 104. Brittish History and therefore howsoever this book following which comprehendeth the Acts of many more years then the former may seem to carry with it a kind of disproportion from the other two and likewise in respect of the style and composition to be somewhat different from them yet the cause thereof ought to be imputed to the very matters themselves being for the most part Fragments and naked memorials the loose ends of time without observation of circumstance or congruity in substance which will hardly admit any method befitting a continued History and I owe so much love and reverence to truth as I would rather expose her in the meanest and worst habit that time hath left her then by disguising her to abuse the world and make her seem a Counterfeit After the death of Titus Domitian his younger Brother taking the Empire upon him as you have heard before differed so much from his Brother and Vespasian his father before him that he fell into such great pride and impiety that he caused and commanded himself to be called and worshipped as a god and was the second after Nero who setting forth his cruel Edicts to that end persecuted the Christians and the Church of Christ which cruelty of his although it did not extend to our Christian Brittains in Rome still by the Roman Laws enjoying there their priviledges and immunities from compulsion to square themselves in matter of Religion to the Emperial Laws and Edicts at which time many of those banished and persecuted Christians as in the persecution of Nero before as good Antiquaries tells us fled into this our Brittain whether that persecution did not nor could extend it self for refuge and succour Domitian being now dead Nerva revoked all his cruel edicts against Christians and recalled such as were banished Nerva primo edicto suo cunctos exules Mr. B f. 170. quos Domitianus relegavit revocari precepit Nerva was a Prince much honoured for his Vertues but in what estate the Affairs of Brittain then stood the Histories of those times make no mention either for that the Emperour being a man stricken in years and disposed to ease and quietnesse employed himself rather in reforming abuses at home then in maintaining War abroad or else for that the short continuance of his Government did not suffer him to enter into any great actions in places so remote for having held the Empire little above a year The first election of a stranger to be Emperour he left the same by death to Vlpius Trajanus a Spaniard whom he had adopted for his valour and wisedome being then even the first president for electing strangers In his time some of the Brittains desirous to free themselves from the Roman tyranny entred into Rebellion but wanting means to effect what they had begun they soon gave
a Parish Church bearing the name of Saint Dervian as a Church either by him Founded or to him Dedicated so likewise is there another in Glamorganshire called Saint Fagans where every year is a very great Fair continuing many dayes where also my honoured Patron the Right Noble William Lewes of the Van Esq Son to Sir Edward Lewes and the Right Honourable Lady Beauchamp Daughter of the Earl of Dorset hath a stately Habitation and if I mistake not is Lord of the Mannor Betwixt this Elutherius and King Lucius many Letters passed and the said Bishop granted many priviledges to Universities and places of learning in Brittain as to Cambridge Stanford Cricklade or Greeklade and in Glamorganshire I suppose this place was either Caerwent or Caerleon for all which is now called Monmouthshire was then called Glamorgan where they say learning flourished as well as at Cambridge before the coming of Julius Caesar Mr. Bro. f. 270. and the Schoole of Glamorgan being so near Caerleon upon Vsk in that Countrey where one of the three great Idolatrous Temples of Brittain and seat of the Archflamen of those Western provinces was and thereby a Nursery of Paganisme which those holy men laboured by all means to root out and for that cause where Archflamens were Archbishops were placed and where Flamens Bishops The Brittish Histories Ponticus Virunnius and others say of these Prelates that they delivered the Brittains from Idolatry and converted them to Christ Radulphus de Diceto in his manuscript History proveth as much that they converted all the Cities of Brittain as well as their Flamens and Archflamens by whom they were directed in their Idolatrous worship as others And the principal states and members of this Kingdome King Lucius his Nobles Universities Philosophers Flamens and chiefe Priests and Teachers of the Pagan Subjects and their chief places of commorancy and command being thus converted the conquest over the Vulgar sort was easie and soon effected The Author of the Brittish History testifyeth Mr. Br. f. 271. that so soon as the people of Brittain knew that their King was a Christian they gathered themselves together to be Catechised and received Baptisme and that those holy Legates did blot out Paganisme almost through all the Island and Ponticus Virunnius saith that they baptized all the people of Brittany all this may easily be confirmed by divers Authors but I will conclude with Harding Eluthery the first at supplication Of Lucius sent him two holy Men That called were Fagan and Dungen That Baptized him and all his Realm throughout With hearts glad and labour devout There were then twenty eight Flamens and three Arch-flamens to whose power other Judges were subject and these by the command of the Pope his Legates delivered from Idolatry and where there were Flamens they placed Bishops where Arch-flamens Arch-bishops The Seats of the Arch-flamens were in the three most noble Cities London York and the City of Legions which the old Walls and Buildings do witnesse to have been upon the River of Vsk in Glamorgan King Lucius sent to Elutherius not only for his assistance in spiritual matters but also in his temporal Mr. Br. f. 301. 6. Bridges defence l. 16. p. 1355. Galf. Mon. l. 2. c. 17. Bro. Virunnius Stow Hollinshed as the governing his people and making wholsome Lawes The Lawes which were established here were the old Brittains Lawes ascribed for their greatest part to Mulmutius Dunwallo corrected and made conformable to holy Christian Religion We have all kind of Antiquities Brittish Saxon French Italians Ancient and Modern for Witnesses These Lawes were translated out of Brittish into Latine long before this time by the ancient Gildas that lived about the time of the Birth of CHRIST as many both ancient and late Writers agree and continued here till late time and in divers respects at this present King Lucius being thus informed and secured in conscience by Saint Elutherius his Letters and by his Declaration that the whole Kingdome of Brittain with the Ilands belonged to his temporal charge and government and that so much as he could he was to win his Subjects to the Faith and Law of Christ and his holy Church and provide for the peace and quiet of the same and the Members thereof he did first in receiving and admitting these new corrected Lawes by the advice of the Clergy and Nobles of his Kingdome see them so qualified that they were for the defence and propagation of Christian Religion and further Founded many godly costly and memorable Monuments as Churches Universities or Schools Monasteries and other such comforts helps and furtherances of that holy end So that as he was the first King that publickly with his Kingdome professed Christ so he won the honour to be the first Nursing Father among Kings of his holy Church as the Prophet had foretold Kings shall be thy Nursing Fathers He was also first among Kings called properly the Vicegerent of God being the first King which so religiously performed his will And that Title which the Pope gave to King Henry the 8. when he was better then he proved after Defender of the Faith was among Kings the first due and right of King Lucius for his so heroical and Religious fortitude and magnanimity in defending the Faith and Church of Christ Being now come to celebrate the day of the death of our glorious King Lucius for the joy that he enjoyed thereby Mr. Br. f. 346. 1. and bewail it for the unspeakable losse this Nation received thereby we are to fall into some difficulties both of the time and place thereof William of Malmesbury in his Manuscript-History of Glasten and other old Antiquities do prove that St. Damianus and Faganus after they had converted this Kingdome continued nine years at Glastenbury at the least King Lucius still living and reigning here Polidor Lilly Hollinshed Stow and others cleave to this Opinion A great Controversie ariseth where this King died many Forreign Authors say That he forsook his Crown and Kingdome and became a Clergyman went into Germany to convert that Nation was Bishop of Curre and there was Martyred the day of his death is agreed upon by all to have been on the third day of December but if those Authors who transport this our blessed King into Germany look but upon what hath been said before they shall find that it was not Lucius who was actually King of Brittain and converted by the means of St. Elutherius but another Lucius who was indeed Son of a King of Brittain and might have been King himself had he not been banished for the reason before related and this was that St. Lucius who with his sister St. Emerita were both Crowned with the glorious Crown of Martyrdome in Germany That our first Christian K. Lucius could not be Bishop of Curre is evident for having been so long King here he was so disabled for Age that he was nor capable of such a journey Further they which
they would send Letters and Ambassadors unto those barbarous people in their behalf They sent unto them three of the best and most honourable persons of the City all three of the house of the Fabians The Gauls received them very courteously because of the name of Rome and leaving to assault the City Brennus a Brittain King of the Gauls they gave them audience The Roman Ambassadors did ask them what injury the Clusians had done unto them that they came to make Wars with them Brennus King of the Gauls hearing this question smiled and answered them thus The Clusians do us wrong in this they being but few people together and not able to occupy much Land do notwithstanding possess much and will let us have no part with them that are strangers and out of our Country and stand in need of seat and habitation the like wrong was offered unto you Romans in old time by those of Alba by the Fidenates and Ardeates and the Volsci against whom ye have taken and do take Arms at all times and as oft as they will let you have no part of their goods ye imprison their persons rob and spoil their goods and destroy their Cities and in doing this you do them no wrong at all but follow the oldest Law that is in the world which ever leaveth unto the stronger that which the weaker cannot keep nor enjoy beginning with the gods and ending with beasts the which have this property in nature that the bigger and stronger have ever the advantage of the weaker and lesser therefore leave your pitty to see these Clusians besieged lest you teach us Gauls to take compassion also of those you have oppressed By this answer the Romans knew very well there was no way to make peace with King Brennus wherefore they entered into the City of Clusium and incouraged the Inhabitants to sally out with them upon these barbarous people either because they had a desire to prove the valiantness of the Gauls or else to shew their own manhood and valour so the Citizens went out and skirmished with them hard by the wals in which one of the Fabians called Quintus Fabius Ambustus being excellently well horsed and putting spurs to him did set upon a goodly big personage of the Gauls that had advanced himself far before all the Troop of his Companions he was not known at the first encounter as well for the sudden meeting and skirmishing together as for that his glistering armour dimmed the eyes of the enemies But after he had slain the Gaul and came to strip him Brennus then knew him and protested against him Brennus reproacheth Fabius for breaking the Law of Armes calling the Gods to witness how he had broken the Law of Arms that coming as an Ambassador he had taken upon him the form of an Enemy Hereupon Brennus forthwith left skirmishing and raising the Siege from Clusium marched with his Army to Rome gates And to the end that the Romans might know that the Gauls were not well pleased for the injury they had received to have an honest colour to begin war with the Romans he sent an Herald before to Rome to demand livery of the man that had offended him that he might punish him accordingly In the mean while he himself came marching after by small journeys to receive their answer The Senate hereupon assembled and many of the Senators blamed the rashness of the Fabians but most of all the Priests called the * Heralds very ancient Faeciales for they followed it very closely as a matter that concerned Religion and the honour of the Gods declaring how the Senate in discharge of all the residue of the City for the offence committed should lay the whole weight and burden of it upon him alone that only had done the Fact Numa Pompilius the wisest and most peaceable of all the Kings of Rome that had been was he that erected the Colledge of those * Heralds Faeciales and did ordain that they should be Keepers of Peace and Judges to hear and allow all the causes for the which they should justly begin any War Nevertheless the Senate in the end turned over the ordering of the whole matter to the Will and Judgement of the people before whom also the Faeciales or Heralds did accuse Fabius Ambustus The people made so little account of their propounded Religion and honour of the Gods in that case that instead of delivering this Fabius to the enemy they did choose him for one of the Tribunes of the Souldiers with his brothers The Gauls understanding this were so furious and angry thereat that they would no longer linger their journeys but marched with all speed to Rome The people that dwelt by the High-wayes where they should passe by were marvellously afraid to see the multitude of them and their brave and gallant Furniture beginning to doubt the fury of their rage they imagined that first of all they would destroy the Champion Countrey before them and afterwards would take the strong Cities They contrariwise did take nothing at all out of the Fields neither did any hurt or displeasure unto any body but passing by their Cities cryed out They went to Rome and would have no Wars but with the Romans and how otherwise they desired to be friends with all the world These barbarous people march on in this wise towards Rome the Tribunes of the Souldiers brought their Army to the Field to encounter them they were no lesse in number then the Gauls for they were 40000 Foot men howbeit most part of them were raw souldiers that had never served in the Wars before They were very carelesse of their Gods and dissolute in matters of Religion for they passed neither for good signes in their Sacrifices neither to ask councel of their Soothsayers which the Romans were religiously wont to doe before they gave any battel To make the matter worse the number of the Captains having Power and Authority alike did as much or more then the rest disorder and confound their doings for oft-times before in far lesse Matters and Dangers then these One Supreme better then Many they did use to choose special Officers that had sole and soveraign Authority which they called Dictators knowing very well of how great importance it is in dangerous times to have but one Head and General to command all to have supreme Authority of justice in his hands Monarchy and not to be bound to deliver account of his doings to any The injury also which they had too ungratefully done to Camillus brought great mischief then and inconvenience upon them for the Captains after him durst no more command the people roughly but ever after did flatter them much When their Armies were now brought into the Field they Encamped themselves by a little River called Allia about the eleventh stone from Rome and not far from the place where the same River falleth into Tiber thither came Brennus with his
them their denomination about the year of the worlds Creation 2900. Druius ille apud Germanorum Celtas vir magnae authoritatis Gentilitiam religionem in ordinem redegit atque Druidorum Collegium religionis ergo constituit à quo etiam Druides apud Gallos Germanos dicti And the Town in Normandy Dreux also was named from him as their Histories say and the River Druentia running thereby what was the exact time of their beginning is not certain Pantalion saith it was in the year of the world 2900. Joannes Frisius saith in the year thereof 2070 and 1892 before Christ Bernard Giunti will have it in the 420 year after the Flood of Noe. Nicholas Vignier ascribeth the Reign of King Dryus or Cruius unto the year of the World 2200. Therefore I cannot be of the mind of those late Writers which say they were called Druides of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Oak in Greek because they used to be sometimes under Oaks in woods for so we might call all old Idolators Druids for the Scriptures witnesse they sacrificed in woods and groves so doth Pliny Lud. Caelius and others Lucos memora consecrant And the Greek Writers as Eutropius Herodian Dio Zosimus and the rest are silent of this sect as the Latines also but when they speak of Brittain France and Germany where onely and no where else this Religion remained And Julius Casar is plain there were no Druids in Germany but they differed much from the Gauls in Religion Germani multum à Gallorum consuetudine differunt Nam neque Druides habent qui rebus divinis praesunt And the Scottish Historians say the ancient Name of those men in the Language here was Durcergliis and they were Romans who spake not Greek who gave them the first Name Druides à Druius to make the strange Name to take Latine Declension Hos Romani scriptores Druides ut peregrinum vocabulum inflectionem caperet Latinam appellant And here were no Greeks in these parts to give them a Greek Name neither did their Sect come nere any part of Greece at any time or howsoever we will pronounce the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Oak Drys or Drus we should by the deriving them from thence call them Dryssets or Drussets as of Chus and Huss we call Cussits and Hussits and not Druides or Druids But for their Antiquity truly they might make it of so great continuance Neither was their honour and glory in Brittain or where else they lived of a low degree Vestitus eorum valde preciosus atque ornatus insignis nam collo torques manibus annuli lacertis armillae addebantur vestes erant tinctae auro pictae Their apparrell was very precious and attire singular for they wore Chains of gold about their necks Rings on their hands and Bracelets on their arms their Garments were dyed and embroidered with Gold And their Habitations and Dwellings were no lesse stately the chiefest of them seated in the best Cities of Brittain and their Mansions converted after to be Archbishops and Bishops Pallaces sometimes they resorted to woods as all ancient Witches Magicians and Idolaters did to exercise their Sorceries and offer their Sacrifices especially to such Oaks as bore Misseltoe naturally medicinable for divers infirmities and therefore to the rude people they ascribe a certain Divinity to such Trees Mr. Br. f. 242. Their Houses as themselves also had exemptions from all Services Exactions and Troubles They were chief Judges in all matters both Temporal and Spiritual having all men obedient to their Order Sentence and Determination under the greatest penalty of abandoning and exilement from the society of Men and such like and death it self at their pleasures designing whom they listed to be cruelly sacrificed to their Divels and Idols whom they termed Gods the chiefest of them had for a singular sign of honour Fire born before him ' Ante quem ignis dignitatis honorisque insigne deferretur Ammianus Marcellinus speaking of these men giveth this praise unto them That they were of great Wits and lived in Companies or Colledges according as Pythagoras ordained they were lifted up with questions of hidden and high things and despising humane matters pronounced that mens souls were immortal Druidae ingeniis celsiores ut Autoritas Pythagorae decrevit sodalitiis astricti consortiis questionibus occultarum rerum altarumque erecti sunt despectantes humana pronunciarunt animas immortales Which opinion of theirs of the souls immortality Julius Caesar with divers others also confirmeth but in a leud sense of Transmigâ—ation or going from one body to another Hic volunt persuadere non interire animas sed ab aliis post mortem transire ad alios And if any man was dangerously sick in war or peril and would offer sacrifice or vow they used the Druids as Ministers to offer it Qui sunt afflicti gravioribus morbis quique in praeliis periculisque versantur aut pro victimus homines immolant aut se immolaturos vovent administrisque ad ea sacrificia Druidibus utuntur Diodorus Siculus who lived in the same time with Julius Cesar giveth this reason that the Druids were thus used for Priests in all sacrifices of the Brittains and Gauls much to their honour in their opinion who were ruled by the Druids because they hold that sacrifices should be offered by them which be acquainted with the divine nature and are skilful of the language of the gods and they think that by these mens intercession good things should be asked of the gods by whose Counsel they enjoy peace and war Est apud eos moris nullum absque Philosopho sacrificium facere existimant enim per divinae naturae conscios sacra fieri oportere tanquam linguae deorum peritos atque horum intercessione bona à deis censent petenda quorum consilio pace bello fruuntur The Authors of the Theatre of Great Brittain make Cesar and ancient Writers to speak in this manner The Druids Office was imployed about holy things for they had the managing of publick and private sacrifices and to interpret and discuss matters of Religion unto them do resort great numbers of young men to learn at their hands and they be had in great reverence for they determine almost all Controversies and matters in variance as well publick as private and if there happen any thing to be done amiss or if there be any murther committed if there arise any controversie concerning inheritance or bounds of Lands they take the matter into their power and award either recompence or penalties in the Case and if there be any be it private person or be it Corporation Theat of Great Britt lib. 6. that will not stand to their judgement they interdict him with punishment among them it is held most grievous They that are so excommunicated are accounted in the number of the wicked and ungracious All men shun them all men fly their company and communication
Prince commending therein his former zealous disposition in embraceing the truth then exhorting him to read with humility and reverence the holy Scripture the divine Law which he had lately received in his Dominions and out of that by Gods grace and advice of faithful Counsellors to collect meet observations for the framing of Laws necessary for the preservation of his estate which observations so collected and Lawes so framed he did affirm to be much better then the Imperial constitutions of the Romans or any other whatsoever that to make Lawes and execute Justice was the proper office of a Prince who was upon earth the Vicar of God himself and received from him that Title and Authority to the end he should use the same to the good of the Catholick Church and of the people living under his obedience hereupon Lucius began first of all to provide for establishment of that Religion whereof he was become at the self same time both a professour and practiser Then was the worshipping of Idols forbidden the seats of the Arch-flamens at London York and Caerlegion or Caerleon upon Vsk were changed into Sees of three Arch-bishops in the same places and those of the Flamens into so many Bishopricks whereby the Temples vowed by Idolatrous Priests to prophane gods were consecrated to the service of the only true God the temporal estate he also adorned with good profitable Laws conformable to the rule of Christian Religion whereupon ensued the blessings of plenty and peace in his dayes It is reported that he was Foundet of a Church at Cornhill in London which he dedicated to St. Peter placeing therein one Thean an Archbishop to have the superintendence over other Bishops within his principality and the Metropolitan seat continued there in the succession of thirteen Archbishops about the space of 400 years until the coming of St. Aug. who translated it to Canterbury And now Christianity being thus Generally received amongst the Brittains kept on her course untainted and without opposition till the time of Dioclesian the Emperour who kindled the fire of that raging persecution the last and longest in the Primitive Church which consumed the lives of many Christian Martyrs as well in Brittain as other places but returning to the Reign of Lucius and considering the state of Brittain under his Government we may justly admire the Felicity of those times ascribing to the Brittains for their greatest glory that among all other Nations they had the happinesse to see and enjoy the first Christian Prince Thus far compendiously and succinctly the Brittish History but let us peruse a while to the great renown of the Brittish Nation the writings of that late but rare light of Antiquity the day star of his Countrey Mr. Broughton and consider what he expresseth concerning the passages and conversion of King Lucius thus he begins They who write of King Lucius his Nobles and Countries conversion do write also how he wrote for and entreated it by supplyant letters to Pope Elutherius not to Evaristus as some have imagined Gildas saith that King Lucius was baptized with all his Nobles of Brittain 164 years after the coming of Christ and Nennius saith it was three year after so that whither we will take the account of Gildas or Nennius for King Lucius his time of conversion though others make a greater difference by 20 years and more we see that King was converted 44 years after the death of Evaristus whom some will have the Instrument of his conversion and 54 from his first entrance into the Papacy seven Popes St. Alexander Sextus Telesphorus Higinus Pius Anicetus and Soter being between him and St. Elutherius in whose time by all account St Lucius was converted of which two such renowned Writers could not be ignorant much lesse may we judge without great injury and dishonour unto them and bold rashnesse in our selves that they would or could erre in so high a degree the one of them Nennius the meanest stiled by our Catalogists of such men both ancient and modern The most excellent Doctor of the Brittains Principal or Arch-abbot of the renowned Monastery of Bangor famous both for Wisdom and Religion The other St. Gildas by common consent of all Writers is stiled Gildas the Wise or sirnamed the Wise The first and principal means of the Conversion of K. Lucius is ascribed to certain learned Scholars of Cambridge Theater of Brit. l. 6. c. 9. Sect. 9. Hollins disc Brit. The Theatre of Great Brittain tells us That there were Christians at these times though some exceptions may be taken against the Monk of Burton the Reporter thereof who saith in the year 141 and Reign of Hadrian nine Masters of Grantcester were baptized themselves and preached to others the Gospel in Brittain The ancient Charter which the Antiquities of Cambridge ascribed to K. Arthur do give this honour or a great part thereof to the learned Scholars of Cambridge K. Lucius perswaded to be a Christian by the Christians of Cambridge which being converted to the Faith of Christ and divers of them now become Clergymen and Preachers moved K. Lucius by their preaching to be a Christian which is more confirmed by the ancient Bull of Pope Honorius the first of that Name to confirm the Priviledges of the University of Cambridge 1000 years since and other Testimonies there are that say that both K. Lucius did confer and confirm by his publick Charter great Priviledges and Immunities to that School and Pope Elutherius likewise Chart. Reg. Arturi 7. Apr. an 531. Bulla Honorii Acad. Cantab. concess 20. die Seb. an Dom. 624. Caius Antiq. Cant. l 1. p. 75. 76. which he did not so for any thing we find in Histories to any other School or University in the World nor any of his Successors many years after The chiefest motive of these exemtions and prerogatives to that place we cannot interpret in any better sense then that King Lucius had received much spiritual Benefit from thence which he requited with temporal honour and dignity and the holy Pope Elutherius bestowed such singular grace and favour to that School for the holy labours and fruitful effects it had wrought in the Church of Christ by their Conversion and Preaching moving King Lucius and so many men of sundry degrees in Brittain to forsake superstitious Idolatry and embrace the Christian Faith and Religion We find some Apostolick Men in this very time to have preached the faith in Brittain to King Lucius himself as well as to his Subjects and these to have been of this Nation Pet. Marsaeus Catal. Epis Tungren Archiepis Treve Among those two are chiefly commended unto us in this businesse Saint Timothy and Saint Marcellinus or Marcellus And to begin with St. Timothy We find that he so far prevailed with King Lucius that by his Learning our King was induced to the Religion of Christ and to make this Opinion clear Henricus Pantaâ—eon writeth Math. West an 159.
he after addeth thereunto Hermanius Sehedelius addeth also how he went into Rhetia with Emerita his Sister and near unto the City Augusta converted the Curienses unto the Faith of Christ and there likewise being put to death in Castro Martis lyeth buried in the same Town where his feast is held upon the third day of December The Curienses converted to the faith by a Brittain That Schedelius erreth not herein also the ancient monuments of the said Abbey whereof he was the original beginner do yield sufficient testimony beside an Hymne made in the commendation intituled Gaude Lucionum c. The said Schedelius setteth down likewise that his sister Emerita was martyred in Trine castle neer unto the place where the said Lucius dwelled and the same Authour saith further that he converted all Bavaria and Rhetia between the Alps and this narration is confirmed by Gaspar Bruchius thus Bavaria and Rhetia converted to Christianity by a Brittain St. Lucius which preached to the Germans was born of the regal race among the Brittains and propogating the faith of Christ came out of Brittainy into Germany and preached first at Salisbury then at Austburg from whence he was cast out by the Infidels there and then went with his sister St. Emerita to the City of Chur where preaching again both he and his sister Emerita were martyred by the Pagans St. Lucius at Chur in the castle of Mars and St. Emerita at Trine Castle Lucius and Emerita being thus by means of the Roman Emperours Dioclesian and Maximian both banished and martyred to make all sure in their proceedings they detained Constantine the other child as Hostage at their command and placed here in Brittain none to bear office but such as were Pagans ready to execute the cruel and savage resolutions of that bloody persecuting Tyrant against the holy christians here These things thus compleated the state of Brittain by such means was now brought into the same condition for persecution with other nations or rather worse the number of christians being here then far greater both in respect it was a christian Kingdom and so had both more christian inhabitants then other nations and by the immunities and priviledges it should have enjoyed many christians of other regions fled and resorted hither in hope of quiet and security from persecution This violent storme of persecution raging through the whole Roman Empire acted many tragical Scaenes in this Isle Harding in his Chronicle saith Hard. c. 57. f. 41 The Emperour Dioclesian Into Brittaon sent Maximian This Maximian to sirname Hercelius A Tyrant false that Christenty annoyd Through all Brittain a work malicious The Christen folk felly and sore destroyed And thus the people with him foul accloyed Religious men the Priests and Clerks all Women with child and bedrid folk all Children sucking upon their their Mothers pappis The mothers also without any pitty And children all in their mothers lappis The Creples eke and all the Christentee He killed and slew with full great cruelty The Churches brent all books and ornaments Bells Relicks that to the Church appends Dioclesian came to the Empire in the year of Christ 282 and did within two years after begin his most cruel persecution the first that felt the heavy but yet most blessed stroak here in Brittain was St. Allan Dicetus Dean of St. Pauls London doth set down this persecution in Brittain in the year of Christ 287. The old manuscript Annals of Winchester say that S. Allan in the eight year of Dioclesian Maximian was put to death and the same antiquities tell us that the Monks of Winchester were martyred by the Officers of Dioclesian in the second year of his reign and their Church then destroyed Godwin a late Bishop as he citeth from some Antiquities of that Church saith this happened in the year of Christ 289. and addeth that at this time Dioclesian endeavouring to root out Christian Religion in Brittain not only killed the professours of the same Mr Br. f. 415. Hollen Hist of Engl. l. 4. but also pulled down all churches anywhere consecrated to the exercise thereof The instruments of Dioclesian herein were Quintus Bassianus Hircius Alectus Gallus as the most principal with others of inferior degrees and Mamertinus the Panegyrist hath avouched to Maximian the persecutor before that he was here in Brittain in his own person which is confirmed by our own Antiquaries Adding further that he persecuted in the Occidental parts by commission from Dioclesian John Lydgat l. 8. so testifieth John Lydgate the Monck of Bury with others Ant. Brit. Antiq. in tit S. Alb. Cadgrave in eodem St. Alban our first Martyr was rather descended of Noble Roman then Brittish blood but probably both of Roman and Brittish blood his abode and dwelling was at Caermunip or Verulam where all professed Roman Paganisme and there he entertained either for old acquaintance for they were both Knighted at the same time in Rome or hospitality sake as being a man eminent and by some stiled High Steward of the Brittains St. Amphibalus but when he began to speak of Jesus Christ the son of God and incarnate for mans redemption he was so farr off from being a christian that he had scarce heard of Christ before but said this testimony of Christ was strange unto him and St. Amphibalus more particularly declaring the mysteries of Christs Nativity Passion Resurrection and Ascension Alban was yet so far from believing that he told St. Amphibalus he was mad to preach such things that understanding did not apprehend nor reason allow and if the Citizens of that place did know what he spake concerning Christ they would most cruelly put him to death and feared much that he would fall into trouble before he could go forth of his house But what the preaching of St. Amphibalus prevailed not in his earnest prayer and watching obtained of God for Alban For as the old Brittish writer of his life living in that time relateth this History St. Amphibalus watching in prayers all the night following a strange and admirable vision appeared to Alban wherewith he being exceedingly terrified and perplexed presently rose and went to St. Amphibalus thus declaring his vision and desiring the exposition thereof in this order and these words O my friend if these things which thou preachest of Christ are true I beseech thee be not afraid to tell unto me the true meaning of my dream or vision I did attend and behold a Man came from Heaven whom a great and innumerable multitude of Men apprehended and laid divers kinds of Torments upon him his hands were bound with cords his body worne with whips and grievously torne his body hanged upon a cross and his hands stretched cross upon it The Man which was thus tortured was naked and had no shoes upon his feet His hands and feet were pierced with nails his side thrust through with a spear and as it seemed to me
his being so friendly alwayes to Christians as Baronius often confesseth must needs much more procure ease and freedom to our Christians where there was no man of power to contradict or resist it Constantius being both King and Emperor here and the Kingdom of Brittain a Christian Kingdom Bede l. Hist c. 8. Galf. Mon. Hist Reg. Brit. l. 5. c. 5. Manusc Gali. Antiq. c. 28. 29. Virun l. 5. Hist 1. Harding Chron. c. 57 58 59 60. Hen. Hunt Hist l. 1. Socrates Eccl. Hist 1. c. 1. Eusebius l. 1. vit Const c. 9. Theodoret Hist Eccle. l. 1. c. 24. Therefore howsoever his reasons make doubt of some other places whose Estate and condition was not like unto ours of Brittain they do not move any question of the quiet thereof in case of Religion but establish and confirme it And therefore our best allowed and ancient Authors St. Bede Galfrid Hen. Hunting and old French Manuscript Virunnius Harding and others settle Constantius here in Brittain after all our persecution ended and nothing but all favour here to Christians in his time and not only a tolleration granted but publick profession of Christianity generally allowed and by Regal and Imperial warrant of Constantius used and exercised as shall appear And if we had rather hearken to forraign Writers in or neer that time we have sufficient warrant not only that he recalled himself from the worship of the Pagan Gods as divers are witnesses but as Eusebius and others testifie of him he gave free power and licence to all under him to exercise Christian Religion without any molestation And this as he writes when the greatest persecution was in other places and had care to instruct his son Constantine the great whom he left his heir in the same Faith as we may easily conclude from the words of Constantine himself Registered by Theodoret that even from the ends of the Ocean meaning Brittain he was assisted by God and Sozomen saith it is evidently known unto all men Sozom. Eccles Hist l. 1. c. 5. Chron. Mon. Abington apud Ncieph Harsp Hist Eccle. saecul p. 203. c. 9. that great Constantine was first instructed in the Christian faith among the Brittains And the Chronicle of Abington neer Oxford testifieth he was brought up in that old Abbey which we must needs ascribe to his Parents Constantius and Helen and we find not any other but Constantius except we will apply it to King Coel and then it was received and approved by him who here in Brittain caused the persecutors to be put to death and the persecution thereupon ceased as Gildas writeth For this must needs be applyed to persecution in Brittain and not to the Tyrants Dioclesian and Maximian Gild. l. de con Brit. c. 8. the persecution here ended long before their death and neither of them nor any other Emperor but Constantius having power and command here at this time and hereupon our late authors themselves thus testify of him Stow Howe 's Hist tit Rom. in Constant Constantin Constantius abolished the Superstition of the Gentiles in his Dominions so that afterward Brittain felt no persecutions Constantius renounced the Idolatry of the Gentiles I have shewed formerly that Dioclesians persecution continued in this Kingdome not ten Years for Gildas in one place saith The nine years persecution of Dioclesian the Tyrant and in the next Chapter not wholly ten years long as also that it wholly ended in the time of King Coel. Those persecutors then having no power or authority here and so together with their other over-ruling and commanding Decrees the bloody Edicts of persecuting Christians here were utterly extinct and made void and never renewed but altogether omitted by Constantius this great friend of Christians such of this Nation were fully and undoubtedly restored to their antient Liberties Priviledges and immunities in matter of Religion it Constantius and Helen our Emperour and Empresse King and Queen had then given no further and expresse approbation unto them which we may not reasonably call in question when we remember their absolute and independing Regal right and possession without contradiction they had in this Kingdom the natural love and affection they bore unto it and that to them with their religious care and desire they had to defend and advance Christian Religion even in times and places when and where they were not so enabled nor drawn thereto with so many and strong bands of duty and affection we have heard that the other Churches under his Empire were endowed by his benefits and munificence whereby they lived in great joy and encreased The choycest Christians were his dearest friends and made his Councellours Mr. Bro. fol. 463. 1. And divers even of this Nation have delivered that this our new King and Emperour particularly place St. Taurinus Archbishop in York wherein although they be mistaken if they understand Taurinus Bishop of Eureux neither the time or place allowing yet we cannot safely say but he might or did place some other of that name there and if both these should fail yet so many more authorities concur that Constantius gave consent and assistance to the publick restitution of Religion here in his time For this we have the warrant of the most and approved Antiquaries St. Gildas and St. Bede after them Matthew of Westminster and others St. Gildas writeth That before the persecution had been here ten years the wicked decrees against Christians were annulled and frustrate and all the Servants of Christ after a long winter night with joyful eyes receive the clear light of the heavenly air Bede Hist Ec. l 1. c. 8. they renew their Churches which were thrown down to the ground they found Matth West an 313. S. Albans Church built Manusc Antiq Eccl. Winton Marian Sco. an 306. Martin Polo 307. Antiq. Gal. an 306. St. Julians Lantarnam Church built in Constantius time about 309. after Christ Matth. West an 305. 307. Baron Spond an 306 Gordon an 306 Jacob Grinaeus an in c. 15. l. 1 Euseb de vita Constantini an 308. Hen. Hunt l. 1. Hist Diocl. Constantin Regit o Chro. l. 1. in Const an 253. build and perfect others in honour of their holy Martyrs and as it were set forth every where their victorious Ensignes celebrate festival dayes offer sacrifice with a pure heart and mouth all of them rejoyce as children cherished in the lap of their mother the Church St. Bede saith that so soon as the persecution ceased the Christians which had hid themselves in Woods and Desarts and secret Dens presently came forth and shewed themselves in publick doing those publick works of Christian Religion which St. Gildas before remembred And writeth plainly that this was done in the time of Constantius and that he dyed here whilst these things were thus in acting The Monck of Westminster hath the same words with St. Bede of this publick profession of Christian Religion here presently upon the ending
so testifie So did the great number of Councels gathered to condemn him so did also the particular best learned men in those daies St. Aug. Jerom Innocentius Orosius Genadius and others which wrote against him all the Errors wherewith he was charged he at length renounced though dissembled for fear as appears by him after I think it not convenient to set down his errors the world being so apt to broach new doctrines lest any giddy brain-sick new molded Saint make use of them both to the destruction of his own Soul and of many other the ordinary sort of people being so prone to follow after new Preachers Yet to free our Kingdom of Brittain Wales also of giving life to such a man St. Hier. saith he was by nation a Scot as Isidore Pelusiota noteth and also a voluptuous Monk both which may be reconciled if we say he was born among the Scots and bred in our great Monastery of Bangor and there long time a holy Monk but after falling both into heresie and lewdnesse of life he was often condemned in divers Councels in Asia Africa and Europe whether he had spread his heresies but not perfectly untill the time of Pope Zosimus about the year of Christ 418 being by him finally condemned both he and his followers were driven into exile by Honorius the Emperor and that heresie condemned in all the World This Pelagius though he had many followers yet were they all strangers for the great honour to this Nation that it had such learned men that even one of them falling into error did so much prevail and dilate it both in Europe Africa and Asia and yet in his own Country could nothing prevail but was at the first convinced rejected and exiled and did only indeavour to infect Brittain his native Country but could not effect his desire therein Now the Romans about four hundred and seventy yeares after their first enterance into this Isle waxed weary of the Government of Brittain and Brittains that had been many times assailed by their uncivil neighbours consorted with strangers of divers Nations perceived themselves unable to make resistance as in the former times whereupon they sent Embassadors to Rome requiring aid and promising fealty if the Romans would rescue them from the oppression of their enemies Then was there a Legion sent over into the Island to expulse the barbarous people out of the province which being with good successe effected the Romans counselled the Brittaines for their better defence to make a stone wall betwixt * The firth of Dunbretton in Scotland Glota and ‖ Edenbur Firth Bedatria the two armes of the Sea that ran into the Island and so departed thence but this Wall was only afterwards made of Turves and not of stone as they were directed the Baittains then not having any skill in such kind of buildings by which means it served to little purpose for the Scotshmen and Picts understanding that the Romans were gone passed over the water in boats at both ends of the Wall invaded the borders of the province and with main force bare down all before them whereupon the Embassadors were sent again out of Brittain to declare the miserable state of the Province which without speedy succour was likely to be lost Upon the complaint and earnest sollicitation of the Brittains there was another Legion sent over by Aetius the President of Gallia under the Conduct of Gallio of Ravenna to aid the distressed Brittains and the Romans having reduced the Povince into her former state did tell the Brittains that it was not for their ease to take any more such long Journies being costly and paineful considering that the Empire it self was assailed and in a manner overrunne by Strangers and therefore that from thenceforth they should provide for their own safety that they should learn to use Armour and Weapons and trust to their own valour Howbeit the Romans in regard of the good service done by the Brittish Nation in former times began to build a Wall of Stone from East to West in the self same place where Severiâ—s the Emperor had cast his Trench the labour and charges of the work being born partly by the Romans and partly by the Brittains themselves This Wall contained eight foot in bredth and twelve in hight some Reliques thereof saith the Brittish History remaine to this day upon the Sea-coast towards the South they raised Bulwarks one somewhat distant from another to empeach the Enemies landing in those parts and this done they took their last farewell transporting their Legions into Gallia as men resolved to return hither no more As soon as they were gone the barbarous people having intelligence thereof presumed confidently that without any great assistance they might now enter the Province and thereupon accounting as their own whatsoever was without the Wall they gave an assault to the Wall it self and with Graples and such like Engines pulled down to the ground a great part thereof while the Brittains inhabiting the borders being awaked with the suddenness of the Enterprise gave warning to the rest of their Countreymen within the Land to arm themselves with speed and to make resistance About this time also which was about the year of our Redemption 430 the state of the Church in Brittain was much incumbred by the Heresie of Pelagius of which a little before yet I here again repeat it in another Authors Language for fuller satisfaction of my Reader which being by birth a Brittain by profession a Monk and as some think trained up in the Monastery of Bangor travelled first into Italy Brittish Hist fol. 152. l. 3. then into Sicilia Egypt and other East parts of the World to learn and study as he professed whereby he wound himself into the good opinion of many men of great fame in those daies for learning and piety as namely of Paulinus Bishop of Nola and by his means of S. Augustine till the Heretical assertions which himself and his Disciple Celestinus a Scotch-man secretly taught being by St. Hierom discovered were afterwards condemned by the Bishop of Rome Innocentius the first whereupon they returned again into Brittain being obstinately bent to maintain their former Heresie which Agricola the Son of Severianus a Bishop of that Sect had not long before brought thither whereby the same in short time was received and approved among the Christians in divers parts of the Isle so that betwixt Heresie among the Brittains themselves and Paganism professed by their Enemies the light of Christian Religion seemed for a time to be eclipsed Howbeit some of the Brittains disliking those heretical Opinions which as yet they were unable by knowledge in the Scriptures to confute and perceiving withal what dangerous inconveniences to the State arose oft times by reason of their disagreement one from another in matters of Religion earnestly required the Bishops of France to send over some godly wise and learned men that might defend the
with all those Meteors which are engendered in the middle Region of the Air From whence the name Thursday first derived consecrating to him the fifth day of the week which was afterwards called Thursday The name of Woden they attributed to Mercury or as some write to Mars whom they reverenced as a Protector in war and a giver of strength and courage against their Enemies To him they usually sacrificed with mans blood and dedicated the fourth day of the week naming it Wodensday as yet retaining the first denomination with very little difference Wednesday from whence Under the name of Freâ— they sacrificed to Venus as the giver of peace and pleasure whom they adored sometimes under the figure of Priapus committing to her the Patronage of the sixth day called Frea-day Of these three Thor was placed upon a three footed stool in the midst Friday from whence and Woden and Frea on each side To the Goddess Eoster they alwayes offered Sacrifice in the moneth of April which thereupon was called Eoster-moneth In their consultations of any weighty matter they observed south-saying and casting of lots Their custom of casting of lots was first to cut a branch from a fruit-bearing tree into many pieces which being distinguished with several marks they did cast upon a white garment at a venture then if the matter concerned the Common-Wealth in general the Priest The manner of casting lots among the Saxons if a private person only the Master of the house having prayed the Gods and looked towards heaven did take up every one of the said pieces three times and interpreted the future success according to the form and similitude of the marks if the lots fell out contrary to their minds they consulted no more that day if otherwayes yet they would make further tryal by observing the flying and singing of birds They had another practise also to search out the event of great and weighty battails with their Enemies For they would get some one of that Nation with which the war should be made and then take another choice man of their own arming them both after their Country guise Horses much honoured by the Saxons and so make trial of their valour conjecturing by the success of that fight on whose side the victory should afterwards fall but of all other passages the neying of horses was of greatest credit both with the Preists and People who fondly supposed that those beasts understood and were privy to their secrets Why a horse for the Saxons Armes And hereupon as some suppose the Dukes of Saxony in times past gave a horse for their Ensign The names also of Hengist and Horsa the first men of note of the Saxon Nation that arrived in Brittain do signifie in their own language a horse Brit. Hist part 2. fol. 195. Mr. Bro. fol. 199. Jo. Gosc Hist Eccle. Mat. Parker Antiq. Brit. p. 8. Antiq. Glast Capgrave in vita St. Patricii Gul. Malm. l. de Antiq. Caenob Glast which denominations whether they were given in respect of their strength and courage qualities by nature proper to that beast or whether they received them upon any other occasion or accident I cannot certainly affirm sayes my Authour In this age we had here in Brittain many Monasteries and Religious houses both of Men and Women Our old Religious house in Glastenbury continued in this age as in the former having twelve religious Eremites belonging unto it dwelling in the places and Cells of the first twelve in the time of St. Joseph of Aramathea This is testified by the old Manuscripts of that place and Will of Malms in his book of the antiquity thereof witnesseth that those holy men in the number of twelve thus successively lived and served God untill St. Patricks coming The names of the twelve then living were Brunbam Dyregaan The great sanctity of the Brittish Nobility Viwall Wentreth Bantonnewing Adeloobre Loyor Wellyas Breden Swellwis Hinloirmus and Alius all of them descended of noble families rather preferred this poor penitential eremitical life then worldly honour The antiquities of Glestenbury further witness that about this time there was new founded or renewed an other little Religious house in honour of St. Michael the Archangel and particularly to honour and pray to him And that Arnulphus and Ogmar two religious holy men were the first that supplyed that office and duty there Math. West an 543. That there were divers Monasteries in Brittain as well in London Winchester Kent and other places appeareth evidently by divers Authors For say they Hengist the Pagan Saxon at his coming into Kent Stow. Howes Brit. Sax. in Const Vortiger found many religious houses both of Men and Women and many of them were glorious Martyrs by the Saxon persecutors Hengist slew the good Archbishop Vodine and many other Priests and Religious Men. All the Churches in Kent were polluted with blood the Nunns with other Religious persons were by force put from their houses and goods These religious houses must needs be builded and so furnished with goods and consecrated persons before the Saxons entred and so in or before this age these men being then Pagans were no founders but destroyers of such monuments Bed 1. c. 6. not only in Kent but all places where they prevailed by all histories Among these these sumptuous and stately Church Math. West an 313. 586. and Monastery of St. Alban builded within ten years after his Martyrdome was one for the Monastery there was not as Math. West proveth founded first by King Offa Kaer Carodoc Salisbury Manuscript Gallic Antiq. c. 24. Galf. Mon. Hist Brit. l. 8. c. 9 but being destroyed by the Saxons was re-edified by him There was also a noble monastery at Amsbury in Wiltshire near Salisbury in which as an old French Manuscript and others say there were at this time three hundred This was founded long before the Saxons came by one Ambrius near Kaer Carodoc Salisbury Our old English Chronicle treating of the desolation which the Pagan Saxons wrought in this Kingdom in destroying religious Houses and Churches and how Aurelius Ambrosius restored and builded them again thus delivereth that in general and particularly of this Monastery King Aurelambros went throughout the Land Mr. Breugron fol. 610. and put away the name of Hengist Land that Hengist after his name had called it before Then he let call it again great Brittain and let make again Churches and Houses of Religion Castles and Cities and Boroughs Old English Chronicle part 5. fol. 43. and Townes that the Saxons had destroyed The Brittains led him to the Mount of Ambrian where sometime was an house of Religion which then was destroyed through the Paynims whereof a Knight that was called Ambross that sometime was founder of that house and therefore the hill was called the holy Mount of Ambrian and after it was called Ambesbury The King Aurclambros let amend and
redress the house of Ambesbury and put therein Monks but now there be Nuns There was a Monastery of great renown at Abington in Berkshire before the coming of the Saxons into Brittain the old Chronicle of that house is witness testifying that then there were five hundred Monks and more belonging to that Monastery living in woods and desarts getting their living by their labour King Cissa a Saxon a cruel persecuter of the Monks at Abington and all Christian Brittains and upon the holy dayes and Sundayes coming together in their Abbey all excepting threescore which continually abode in the Abbey serving God there And that before King Cissa was a Christian he put those Monks either to death or forced them from their Monastery and cruelly persecuted all Christians In the mean time the Brittains coming together from the places of their retreat and combining their dispersed forces the better to defend themselves against the power of the Enemies were freshly assailed by the Scottishmen and Picts Brit. Hist part 2. fol. 196. a great number of the Saxons also being newly entred into association with them whereupon Germanus the Bishop who came over into Brittain a little before the Saxons arrival Picts Scots and Saxons enter into association against the Brittains and had remained there with Lupus to the end they might instruct and confirm the Brittains in the true faith against the Pelagians confident of the goodness of this cause and to give encouragement to his new converts offered himself to be the leader of the Brittish Army which consisted for the most part of such Christians as himself had lately baptized the place wherein they pitched was a fair valley enclosed on both sides with high Mountains over which their Enemies were to march the Bishop himself and certain Priests that attended him standing in the midst of the Army exhorted the Brittains to fight couragiously as the Soldiers of Christ under the banner of the Crosse which badge they had received in their baptisme and commanded them all upon the enemies approach to answer him aloud with one consent in such manner as himself began Thereupon the Saxons and Scottishmen ascending the further side of the hill supposed to have charged the Brittains on a suddain which when Germanus and his Priests who were about him perceived they cryed out three several times Alleluja all the Brittains seconding the cry and the Eccho rebounding from the hills redoubled the sound A miraculous victory obtained by the Brittains against the Picts Scots and Saxons the word being Alleluja by reason whereof the Pagans imagining the number of the Christians much greater then it was indeed cast away their weapons and fled the Britains killing many of them in pursuit and such as escaped the sword being drowned in the River which impeached them in their flying After this memorable victory Germanus perswading the Brittains to unity and constancy in profession of Christian Religion as a means to make their attempts against their enemies prosperous departed out of Brittain whether as some writers report he soon after returned and by the assistance of Severus the Bishop of Trevers suppressed the Palagian heresie Which after his departure sprung up again and increased among the Brittains In remembrance of whose zeal Brit. Hist part 2. fol. 197. and travail in that behalf sustained the Christians of Brittain afterwards dedicated unto him as a protecting Saint certain Churches and Houses of Religion in divers paces of the Land Aurelianus or Aurelius Ambrosius The Saxons presently after perceiving that the Brittains were scattered in several troops disarmed and unfurnished of all things necessary for support of the War prepared themselves to follow them and to empeach them from joyning their forces togeather any more to which end they divided themselves into several companies with a full resolution either utterly to destroy and expell them out of the Isle which they had almost brought to passe when Aurelianus Ambrosius coming out of France into Brittain brought hither some of the Brittains that had seated themselves there who pittying their distressed Country men in the Island determined either to relieve them or to perish in the enterprize This Ambrosius was a Roman by birth honourably descended and as hath been conjectured Brit. Hist sup of the race of that Constantine who for the hope of his name only which was reputed ominous had been elected Emperour by the Roman Army in Brittain And being now the chief leader of the Brittains he oft times encountered the Saxons and by the assistance of Arthur a valiant Captain gave them many overthrowes Howe 's Brit. Saxons fol. 52. Aurelius Ambrose saith Howes was ordained King of Brittain in whose time the Brittains by little and little began to take courage to them and coming out of their caves in which they lurked before and with one consent calling for heavenly help thet they might not for ever be utterly destroyed They having for their Captain and leader the foresaid Aurelius assemble themselves together and provoked the Victors to fight and through Gods assistance atchieved the victory and from that day forward were the men of the countrey The enemy had the victory till that year in which Bath was besieged where they gave their Enemies a great overthrow which was about the fourty fourth yeer of their comming into the Land Of this Aurelius William of Malms writeth thus Surely even then saith he the Brittains had gone to wrack if Ambrosius who only and alone of all the Romans remained in Brittain and was Monarch of the Realm after Vortiger had not kept under the proud Barbarians Stone-hedge built by Aureius Ambrosius with the notable travel of the warriour Arthur Geffry of Mon. tells us that this Ambrosius caused Churches to be repaired which had been spoyled by the Saxons He caused also the great stones to be set on the plain of Salisbury which is called Stone-hedge in remembrance of the Brittains that were slain and buryed there in the raign of Vortiger This ancient monument is yet to be seen and is a number of stones rough and of a grey colour twenty five foot in length and about ten foot in breadth they are conjoyned by two and two together Howes Vt sulpâ—a and every couple sustained a third stone lying overthwart gatewise which is fastened by the means of tenons that enter into mortases of those stones not closed by any cement It appeareth that there hath been three rancks going round as circles one within another whereof the utmost and largest containeth in compasse 300 foot but the other rancks are decayed and therefore hard to reckon how many stones there be Gâ—ffr Mon. Garal Cam. Gerva Doro. The Chronicles of the Brittains do testifie that whereas the Saxons about the year of our Lord 450. had slain 48. of the Brittains Nobility by treason and under colour of treaty Aurelius Ambrosius now King of the Brittains desirous to continue
themselves together they so moved David the Lord of Denbigh to be at unity with prince Lhewelin and to take pitty upon their affliction and misery that he being agreed with his brother became their Captain year 1281 This reconciliation consisted chiefly in this that David should never after serve the King of England as he had done before but become his utter enemy who laid siege to the castle of Hawarden and took Roger Clifford a noble Knight slaying all that resisted The Welsh impatient of servitude and after spoyling all the country he with his brother the prince laid siege to the Castle of Ruthlan the King hearing of this hasted thither with a great army to raise the siege whereupon the prince retreated with his army Seek to recover their liberty Aberystwyth castle built by the King taken Godwin in Canterbury fol. 77. Also the same time Rees the son of Maelgon and Gruffith ap Meredith ap Owen which other noble men of Southwales tooâ— the castle of Aberystwyth and divers other castles in the Country spoyling and plundering all the Kings people that inhabited thereabouts Therefore the King sent the Archbishop of Canterbury to confer with the prince and his brethren but he returned without doing any good so that he denounced an excommunication this Archbishops name was Jehn Beckham who as B. Godwin saith took great pains in labouring a peace between K. Edw. l. and prince Lhewelin of Wales unto whom he went in person and travailed long with him but all in vain Articles sent from the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury to be intimated to Lhewelin Prince of Wales and to the People of the same Country 1 Because we came to those parts for the spiritual and temporal health of them whom we have ever loved well as divers of them have known 2. That we came contrary to the will of the Lord our King whom our said coming as is said doth much offend 3 That we desire beseech them for the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ that they would come to an unity with the English people and to the peace of our Lord the King which we intend to procure them as well as we can 4. We will them to understand that we cannot long tarry in those quarters 5. We would that they considered that after our parting out of the Country they shall not perhaps find any that will so tender the preferring of their cause as we would do if it pleased God with our mortal life we might procure them an honest stable and firm peace 6. That if they do contemn our petition and labour we do intend forthwith to signifie their stubbournesse to the high Bishop and the Court of Rome for the enormity that many wayes happeneth by occasion of this discord this day 7. Let them know that unlesse they do quickly agree to a peace that war shall be aggravated against them which they shall not be able to sustain for the Kings power encreaseth daily 8. Let them understand that the realm of England is under the special protection of the See Apostolick and the See of Rome loveth it better then any other kingdom 9. That the said See of Rome will not in any wise see the state of the Realm of England quaile being under a special protection 10. That we much lament to hear that the Welshmen be more cruel then Saracens for the Saracens when they take christians they keep them to be redeemed for money but they say that the Welshmen by and by do kill all they take and are only delighted with blood and some time cause to be killed them whose ransom they have received 11. That whereas they were ever wont to be esteemed and to reverence God and Ecclesiastical persons they seem much to revolt from that devotion moving sedition and war and committing slaughter and burning in the holy time which is a great injury to God wherein no man can excuse them 12. We desire That as true Christians they would repent for they cannot long continue their begun discord if they had sworn it 13. We will That they signifie unto us how they will or can amend the trouble of the Kings peace and the hurt of the Common-wealth 14. That they signifie unto us How peace and concord may be established for in vain were it to form peace to be daily violated 15. If they say That their Laws or Covenants be not observed that they do signifie unto us what those be 16. That granting it That they were injured as they say which we in no wayes do know they which were Judges in the cause might so have signified to the Kings Majesty 17. That unless they will now come to peace they shall be resisted by decree and censure of the Church The Answer of Prince Lhewelyn to the above-written Articles To the most Reverend Father in Christ the Lord John by Gods grace Archbishop of Canterbury Primate of all England his humble and devote son Lhewelyn Prince of Wales and Lord of Snowdon sendeth Greeting With all Reverend Submission and Honour we yield our most humble and hearty thanks unto your Fatherhood for the great and grievous pains which at this present for the love of us and our Nation you have sustained and so much the more we are beholden unto you for that besides the Kings pleasure you would venture to come to us In that you request us to come to the Kings peace we would have your Holiness to know That we are most ready and willing to the same so that our Lord the King will duely and truely observe and keep towards us and ours Moreover although we would be glad of your continuance in Wales yet we hope there shall not be any delay in us but that peace which of all things we most desire and wish for may be forthwith established and rather by your travel and procurement than by any other mens so that it shall not be needful to complain unto the Pope of our wilfulness neither do we despise your Fatherhoods requests and painful travel but with all hearty reverence according to our duty do accept the the same neither yet shall it be needful for the Lord the King to use any force against us seeing we are ready to obey him in all things our Rights and Laws as aforesaid reserved And although the Kingdom of England be under the special protection of the See of Rome and with special love regarded by the same yet when the Lord the Pope with the Court of Rome shall understand of the great dammages which are done unto us by the Englishmen to wit The Articles of the peace concluded and sworn unto violated and broken the robbing and burning of Churches the murthering of Ecclesiastical persons as well religious as secular the slaughter of women great with child the children sucking at their mothers breasts the destroying of Hospitals and Houses of Religion killing the men and women professed in the Holy Places and even before
aliquo metu adducti Deos placandos esse arbitrâ—â—tur humanis hostiis eorum aras ac Templa funestant ut ne Religionem quidem colere possint nisi eam ipsam scelere violarint Quis enim ignorat eos usq ad hunc diem retinere illam immanem barbaram consuetudinem hominum immolandorum Quamobrem quali fide Cicero in Orai pro Marc. Fonteio quali pietate existimatis eos esse qui etiam Deos immortales arbitrentur hominum scelere sanguine facilè posse placari Can any thing be accounted holy and religious with those men who when they are afraid of any thing and would have their Gods pacified do prophane their Altars and Temples with sacrificed men so that they cannot exercise their Religion except they first violate it with wickednesse For who is ignorant that even to this day they retain that savage and barbarous custome of sacrificing Men Therefore can you think those men to have any Religion or Piety who think the immortal Gods may be easily appeased with the wickedness and blood of Men The like hath Dio Cassius Amianus Marcellinus and others among the Gentils all crying out against those most barbarous proceedings and yet termed with them Religion and to fill up the measure of this their most inhumane irreligion as Julius Caesar with others testifieth These men had Idols of huge greatnesse whose members being made of wands they filled full of men alive and so setting them on fire burned them Immani magnitudine simulachra habent quorum contexta viminibus membra vivis hominibus complent quibus succensis circumventi flamma exanimantur homines And Pliny with others is witnesse that they were so far from doing any homage or duty unto God that they bestowed all such upon the Divels his enemies and were so far and so long time in his dayes practised in Magick and Invocation and worshipping Divels that he supposeth the Persians so far distant and given over then to that most horrible dishonouring of God had learned it and received it from hence where the chief Masters and Practisers thereof remained These Druids permitted many wives to one man for Caesar saith Caesar bell Gall. li. 6. Vxores habent deni duodeni inter se communes maxime fratres cum fratribus parentes cum liberis the like hath Zonoras and in this Country the people went naked nudi degunt mulieribus promiscuè utuntur and this was accounted a vertue and an honour amongst them as Queen Bunduice did publickty professe in her prayer to her Goddesse Audraste or Audaste qui cum caeter ae omnia tum liberes uxores communes inter se putant they think wives and children and all things Common Thus much of the Druids their Antiquity and Institution with their abominable sacrifices and superstitions of whom as occasion shall serve we shall speak more hereafter Grantham built by Gorbomannus Gorbomanuus is reported to have Founded Grantham in Lincolnshire of which place Mr. Cambden maketh onely this mention post Paunton visitur Grantham oppidum non infrequens Schola à Richardo Foxo Wintoniensi Episcopo Templo specioso exornatum cujus sacrae Pyramis admirandam in altitudinem surgit fabulis est famigerata Grantham a Town well peopled and adorned with a free School built by Bishop Fox and a very fair Church whose Broach or Steeple is of such height that it is spoken of far and near The same Gorbomannus builded as the English Chronicle seems to affirm Cambridge anciently called Granta Cambridge supposed by some to have been built by Gorbomannus Caer Grant and Grantchester yet Mr. Broughton out of other Authors saith that Cambridge was Founded by Cantaber a Spaniard many hundred years before Christ and walled about by Grantinus Sintque Doctores Scholares illius celeberrimae matris Philosophiae civitatis Cantabrigiae â Cantabro aedificatae nec non à Grantino Comite honorabiliter muratae ab omni calumnia inquietatione scandalo liberi Let the Masters and Scholars of that famous Mother of Philosophy the City of Cambridge built by Cantaber and walled about by Count Grantinus be free from all Calumny molestation and disturbance whatsoever which divers Oxford Men and Antiquaries though no Friends to the glory of Cambridge yield unto But of this place more hereafter in the Lives of Lucius Morpen-dragon Arthur and Cadwalader ARCHIGALLO ARCHIGALLO the Son of Morindus after his Brother had Reigned by consent of most Writers the space of eleven years ascended the Throne of Brittain in the year of the worlds Creation four thousand nine hundred and ten This Prince in the English Chronicle is called Artogail who utterly forsaking the model of exact Government which his Brother had left behind him for him to follow he lent too facile an ear to flatterers and sycophants and where no just cause could be found faults were contrived and invented whereby to entrap the Nobles and new Plots discovered which never were thought upon but by the Contrivers whose Machiavillian brains hatch'd them for the destruction of the valiant and wealthy were they never so innocent a point of policy so palpably manifest in these latter dayes that the weakest judgement may see it but the greatest dare not gain-say it These state tricks pleased Archigallo the ancient Nobility are thrust out of all command and power in the Commonwealth Delinquency laid to their charge or at least a disaffection to the present Government and upon these pretences many are secured and more utterly ruined either being put to such an intolerable Composition for their Estates that they never after recâ—er the losse or else are utterly thrust out of them and new Upstarts put in whose Predecessor never knew how to write himself Gentleman nor ever bore Coat unlesse a thred-bare one in which peradventure he held an other mans Plough or used some poor and sordid mechanick Trade but by these sinister means Archigallo cram'd his Coffers and raised to dignities such as best suted with his disposition so that Beggars ride on horse back and Nobles go on foot And set a Beggar on horse-back and ride to the divel but too much of one thing is good for nothing and the poorest Worm trod upon will turn again The Nobles and Commons begin to grow sensible of their just sad Condition and heavy Taxes and Impositions after which followeth a general grudging and murmuring when presently dispair sends fury amongst them and furor arma ministrat the intolerable yoak will be no longer endured all joyn in an association to take revenge upon the common Enemy Archigallo whom they suddenly set upon and before he could provide means to defend himself he is unking'd and quite difrobed of all princely Command after he had worn the purple by consent of most Writers five years It concerns Princes and great Commanders to make choice of Counsellors who not only have the reputation of vertue and Religion but also that
be indeed truly vertuous religious For two Causes The first thereby to obtain the assistance of God's grace which how necessary it is for the illumination of mans understanding in all matters of Counsel is most evident to all good Men. The second Cause why it behoveth a Counsellor to be truly religious and vertuous is for that such is the force of vertue that it giveth credit to the Possessors thereof and maketh them the more easily believed and their Counsel better accepted And therefore we see that all men of discretion and judgement do demand Counsel rather of those who are reputed wise and vertuous then of wicked men who have onely the reputation of wisdom For as St. Ambrose saith Amb. li. de offi 2. c. 10. Where wisdom and vertue are conjoyned Magna erit Consiliorum salubritas there is all good and wholsome counsel to be had and all men are willing to hear the wise and vertuous man as well for the admiration of his wisdome as for the love of his vertue In which respect he also saith that men addresse themselves commonly for Counsel to those who are more vertuous then themselves for no man hath reason to think him who is inferior to himself in manners to be his superior in Wisdom and Counsel Furthermore such is the dignity and authority of vertue that evil men bear a reverend respect thereto and stand as it were in awe of good men whereof we have an Example in Herod who although he held St. John Baptist in prison and would not follow his counsel in the matter of his divorce yet for the reverence he bore to his vertue he consulted many other things with him and followed his advice therein and as the Scripture also saith metuebat eum be feared him and no doubt but wise and vertuous Princes much more esteem and respect the Counsel of wise men that are vertuous then of others of equal wit and judgement that are vicious and wicked knowing that as Solomon saith Consilia impiorum fraudulenta the counsels of wicked men are fraudulent Pro. c. 12. and that he who hath no care of his Conscience will have no care of his Duty towards Men. Basilius the Emperor advised his Son to choose those for his Counsellors who had given Proof and Experience of their Wisdome in the good Conduct and Direction of their own private Affairs and it is very necessary that Counsellors in Conference with their Prince use all sincerity truth and plainnesse without flattery for although the common Proverb say Obsequium amicos Veritas odium parit Flattery gaineth Friends and Truth hatred Yet as there is nothing more pernicious to Princes then flattery so by consequence there is nothing more unfit to be used of Counsellors whose Office is and special care should be to undeceive their Prince in all things wherein they are any way deceived and to labour therein so much the more by how much less other men do it seeing one of the greatest infelicities of Princes is that all or most men flatter and sooth them in all things in which respect Seneca saith Quid omnia possidentibus deest ille qui verum dicat What wants he who hath all marry one to tell the truth And Quintus Curtius saith Regum opes The States of Princes are oftener overthrown by Flattery then by Force But this must be done with great moderation and discretion for commonly those do offend in this kind I mean of being forward and rigorous in admonishing who presume over much either of their own wits and power or of their Princes weaknesse or of his over great favour and familiarity or of the need he hath of them or else perhaps are of nature severe insolent or passionate for such sometimes do forget themselves yea and take a pride in contradicting or admonishing their Princes with less duty respect then were convenient and such an one was Callisthenes of whom Arrianus writeth that he made himself odious to Alexander the Great Tum ob intempestivam libertatem tum ob superbam stultitiam both for his unseasonable liberty of speech and also for his proud folly But Haephestion Counsellor to the same Alexander avoided that error for he alwayes admonished him discreetly and freely as occasion served yet he ever did it in such sort that it seemed rather to be Alexander's Will and Pleasure that he should so doe then that he challenged any right to himself yea a Councellor though he should fear to incur displeasure for his plainness Plutarch in Themist yet he ought to discharge his Conscience and to say as Themistocles said to Euribiades who took up a staffe to strike him for his free speech strike me so you hear me after Seneca most excellently saith Sunt duo contraria Consilio festinatio ira Two things are contrary to Counsell haste and anger And again saith he Deliberandum est diu quod statuendum est femel The thing that is once to be determined is to be deliberated by leisure And Aristotle tells us That a wise Man ought to counsel slowily and execute speedily Had Archigallo followed with his Councellors these Rules and Principles he had not been thrust out of his Throne ELIDVRVS ELIDVRVS third Son to Morindus and Brother to Archigallo was by common consent and applause of all the States of the Brittains chosen and crowned King in the year of the World four thousand nine hundred and fifteen This Prince in the English Chronicle is called Hesider or Esodir he was of such a temperate and mild disposition that his Subjects called him Elidure the Meek but I suppose this Appellation of Meek in Latine Pius came upon another occasion for the Count Palatine thus delivers unto us the Kings life Elidurum tertio natum Morindi statuunt Regem qui totidem annos Rempublicam sed diversa ratione humanitatis benevolentiae fratri sc per omnia dissimilem tenebat Archigallo jam privatus imperio à provincialibus Regnis ad quae proficiscitur auxiliares copias petit Nusquam auditus pro animi disiderio redit donium militibusque decem tantum modo comitatus visit eos quos nuper habebat amicos transit nemus Calaterium in quo Rex venebatur qui forte temerè casit Fratrem non speratum intuens pietate motus amplectitur eum secum ad Arcluidam perducit Ibi concilium cum proceribus capit de fratre restituendo in Regnum quam ejus cogitationem graviter iniquo animo omnes tulerunt quod nihil pro sano ab Archigallione sperarent usus igitur arte quad am fingendi morbum vocat ad se singulos secreto ingredientibus persuadet ac minatur etiam nisi Archigallioni ut tanquam Regi suo fidem spondeant deinde per alia Cubicula educi singillatim custodiri quibus ita concitatis fratri per terrorem suaque oratione confirmatis de morum ejus commutatione ducit Elidrus
seem to say Petrus Cluniacensis and I may add Tertullian tells us that the people of Brittain in the North where the Scots now be were the first Christians Petrus Cluniacensis calleth the Scots the more ancient Christians and hereto we may add the testimony of Tertullian who saith the places of the Brittains which were unaccessible to the Romans were subject to Christ and addeth of the Brittains the name of Christ reigned among them which our English late Authors in their Theatre confirm in this manner It is certain that the Brittains were with the first Converts and Tertullian who lived within 200 years of Christs Nativity sheweth no lesse who the more to provoke the Jewes against whom we wrote calleth to witnesse the fruitful encrease of the Gospel of salvation through many countries and nations and among them nameth the Brittains to have received the word of life The power whereof saith he hath pierced into those places whither the Romans could not come Whence Petrus Cluniacensis supposeth the Scottish men the more ancient Christians The like have other late Writers and those their cited Authors which cannot be otherwise verified but by applying this preaching of the faith of Christ unto those Northern Brittains either by this their holy Countryman St. Mansuetus the first Bishop we â—â—n find of this Kingdome or some other associate of his sent hither at or about that time 〈◊〉 the same holy Apostle St. Peter for in all other respects whether we speak of the Brittish Christians here in the time of Claudius or Nero of which these modern Antiquaries will tell us more hereafter or the coming of St. Joseph of Arimathea in his Religious companions into this Kingdome in the days of Nero or the general conversion of the Kingdome of Brittain unto the trenches of Severus in the time of King Lucius by Elutherius all these were long before the conversion of the Scots in the time of K. Donaldus either by Pope Victor or Zepherinus as Harrison rather supposeth the first time which is assigned by any being in the 203 year of Christ and if it was under Pope Zepherine it was after that time for he was not chosen Pope until the year 209. before which time or the beginning it self of the papacy of St. Victor which was in the year 198. this our Brittain on this side the division had generally and publickly received the faith of Christ And the very words of Tertullian living and dying before the conversion of Scotland within the first two hundred years writing in his book against the Jews that the places of Brittain which the Romans could never conquer or come to did acknowledge Christ and his name did reign in them do manifestly convince it to be so For Tertullian living and writing in Affrica could not possibly take notice of things done here in an Island so far off presently after they were first effected and by no means could either he or any other Writer speak of things done so long after truly to report them done so long before he had been the greatest prophet that ever was St. Claudia of whom mention is formerly made was the daughter of Brittish parents which then lived as Hostages at Rome to the Emperor for this land and Kingdome of Brittain and by that means it was their happiness and honour to give the first entertainment to that blessed Apostle St. Peter at his first coming thither as that Roman tradition of that their house after by marriage with the holy Brittish Lady Claudia Mr. Bro. f. 53.3 their daughter and heir with Pudens the Senator Floren. Wigor Hist an 38. and 60. Stow and Howes and so long after this coming of St. Peter to Rome named the house of Pudens the Senator assures us which I prove by another undoubted tradition of the Romans That St. Peter was 15 years in Rome before St. Paul came thither so writeth Florentius Wigorn with the common consent of Antiquity and Writers both ancient and modern And the Roman Martyrology tells us of this Pudens the Senator Mr. Bro. f. 56. that he was baptized by the Apostles And there calleth him plainly Pudens the Senator Father of St. Pudentiana the Virgin so that being baptized by the Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul for no others were then in Rome this could not be by true account untill at the soonest fiveteen years after St. Peter was first received in that house And if the Martyrology could carry that interpretation to understand by the Apostles in the plural number one Apostle one proper constructoin yet by this Friendly and more then lawful interpretation he must needs be baptized by St. Peter and so also a most unprobable thing that divers Christians then being in Rome St. Peter would first commit himself to a Pagan or Catechumen and he and the Christians of Rome make such an house their chiefest Church and place of Assembly for Divine things Martial 11. Epig. 54. de Clau. Ruff. This Lady Claudia though born of Brittish parents yet was not born in this Isle Martiall saith Claudia caeruleis cum sit prognata Brittannis but not in Brittain only she is called of the same Poet peregrina a stranger as the children of strangers usually are termed both with us and other people And the time of her birth and age so convince And whereas we find no memory at all of any natural parents of St. Pudens dwelling at Rome we have sufficient testimony not only of the permanent dwelling both of the Father and Mother of St. Claudia there but that by divers probable Arguments they dwelled in that very House where Pudens continued with them after his marriage with their Daughter and were holy and renowned Christians although their native Country of Brittain hath hitherto been almost wholly deprived of their honour and so must needs be by the Roman Tradition the first entertainers of St. Peter in Rome for as a late Author writeth Pudens and Claudia were two young persons but faithful Christians Godwin com of Brittain p 17. c. 3. 2 Tim. 4.21 at that time unmarried when Paul writ the second Epistle unto Timothy which was in the last year of Nero as all men suppose that I have read except Baronius and that they were married in the later end of Vespasian or about the beginning of Domitian Therefore Pudens being so young in the end of Nero his Empire although we grant him then newly married yet this was by all Computations at the least 24 years after the coming of St. Peter to Rome and so it could not possibly be Pudens but the parents of Claudia our Brittains that entertained first St. Peter in their House at Rome who for certain being Brittains of Noble Order and Degree and living in Rome as Hostages by all judgement they enjoyed more freedome and liberty in matters of Religion then the Romans did at that time The Emperors of Rome then nor long after intermedling with the
Brittains for matters of Religion but leaving it voluntary and free unto them as other Tributaries to use the Religion of their Countries or as they were best and most disposed privately at the least even in Rome it self without controlment So by the great mercy and providence of God the subjection and temporal captivity or restraint of divers of these our worthy Countrymen proved to be the most happy spiritual freedom in Christ both of those our Hostages there and this whole Kingdome afterward converted to the true Faith from thence by this original so renowned and glorious for ever to this Nation to have in Rome it self the first Harborours and Receivers of that most blessed and highest Apostle St. Peter that the House where St. Peter was first received was called the House of Pudens the Senator may be because he long after was owner of it as it was also called the House of St. Novatus the House of St. Timothy the House of St. Pudentiana the blessed children of St. Pudens and St. Claudia our Countrywoman who all successively possessed it termed by their Name for the time as usually houses and places be by the owners Names untill the time of Pope Pius the first it was by the Donation of St. Pudentiana as the Roman Antiquities themselves and their continual kept tradition do declare absolutely converted to a Church and ever since after her death called the Church of St. Pudentiana which before was called the house of them as they possessed it in order or the house of them all sometimes as the old Roman Martyrology calleth it the house of all the four children of St. Fudens and St. Claudia for speaking of them all by name St. Novatus Timotheus Pudentiana and Praxedet it addeth The House of these being changed into a Church is called the Title of Pastor And it is evident by all probability that the Father of the Lady Claudia owner of this House where all his children long after lived was yet living possessor thereof both now and when St. Peter was first entertained there For Martial the Poet which lived in this time and wrote in the dayes of Domitian and Nerva long after maketh an honourable Memory of the Father of the Lady Claudia then living calling him Socer of Pudens Martial l. Epigr. saepe Joan Bale li. de script Cent. 1. in Claudio Ruff. To. Pit li. de vir illust in eadem Godwin Com. Britt alii The Brittish parents of St. Claudia were Christians Chrys in Epist 2 ad Tim. Theodoret in Epist 2 ad Tim. the Father of his wife St. Claudia our Countrywoman by parents for the word Socer hath no other meaning then a Father in law father to the wife whose Father in law he is or Father to the husband of that wife to whom he is sirnamed Socer Evident it is also that Pudens had no other wife but Claudia and she long overlived her husband Pudens And that this his Father in law was as noble for his Faith and Religion in Christ as by descent and birth we may easily inform our selves if from no other ground yet from the most holy and vertuous education of his Daughter in that profession who by the examples and documents of her pious parents the best Tutors of children their greatest charge was by their instruction come to that perfection in the law of Christ that being yet but young in all opinions when St. Paul writ his second Epistle to Timothy a little before his death she deserved the stile of one of four principal Christians in the judgement of that great Apostle as two great Doctors S. Chrysostome and Theodoret that part of his Epistle Eubulus saluteth thee Pudens and Linus and Claudia all the brethren He remembreth them by Name whom he knew to be more fervent in Faith And again Theodoret upon that place saith Paul put in the Names of them which were the best and most loving of vertue by which we may sufficienty see the great piety not onely of St. Claudia but her holy parents also the then honours of this Kingdome that had caused her then under their charge to be taught and instructed in so excellent a manner in true Religion And if I may have the like licence to write for the Religion of this Father in law which a late Author taketh to prove Pudens the son in law a Christian I may do it with much more reason for thus he writeth That the same Pudens was a Christian Godwin Com. Brit. p. 17. we have a great presumption in the Epigram of Martial where for his vertuous carriage he calleth him S. Maritus but a greater in another of the same Martial wherein he yieldeth him thanks for perswading him to amend his Writings that for obscenity and lasciviousness are indeed not to be endured by Christian oars And this it is Martial l. 7. Epigram 11. Cogis me calamo manuque nostra Emendare meos Pudens libellos Pudens thou wilt that I the errors mend Which in my wanton Verses I have pen'd That by this kind of Argument the Father of Claudia our noble Countrywoman was in all degrees as good or rather a better Christian then his son in law Pudens was is most evident Martial l. 7. Epig. 57. ad Ruffin for these Verses which Pudens did well like and allow yet by the testimony of Martial himself might not be imparted to the Father in law of Pudens but would seem light unto him occupied in more serious things For he writeth unto Pudens St. Eubulus named with honour by St. Paul probably was the Father of St. Claudia a Brittain Commendare meas instanti Rufe Camoenas Parce precor socero seria forsan amat Rufus my lines from thy wives Father keep His thoughts are rap't with things more grave more deep Where we see that the gravity of the Father in law of Pudens was greater then his 3. therefore much more may we presume from hence that he was a better Christian then the other by that argument Martyr Rom. 20. Jan. in St. Novato And yet we have a better Author both for his Christianity and Name also for the other three named by St. Paul to send salutations to Timothy from Rome at that time for certain except Eubulus the first were continuing in one House Pudens and Claudia were then married as is evident in the ancient Roman Martyrology and others and seeing by the Romans tradition and other testimonies the house wherein they dwelt was the chief lodging of the Apostles St. Peter and Paul and their successors until the time of Pope Pius the first it was converted to be a Church we must needs account St. Linus the Bishop the third which is here named to be also of the same family for the most part then how to single forth St. Eubulus which here is first either for Piety or Nobility or that he was the chief Pater-familias or Master of