57. Magdeb. cent 1. in S. Paul â—râ—nc Burg. hist l. 3. Godwin CoÌ„uers p. 7. Protest comm in Matth. Westm an 57. Rom. c. 15. v. 24. 28. 25. his freedome from Prison at Rome S. Paul went through France into Spaine And except we should offer so greate violence and iniury to the honour of S. Paul as to make him a willfull breaker of his holy resolution and promise he himselfe in holy Scripture is best witnes that after his libertie at Rome he immediately went into Spaine for writing to the Romans he saith Whensoeuer I take my Iorney into Spayne I will come to you for I trust to see you in my Iorney and to be brought one my way thitherward by you And againe in the same Chapter when I haue performed this his Iorney to Hierusalem to minister vnto the Saints I will come by you into Spaine Where he maketh a full resolution and promise to goe by Rome into Spaine the Greeke is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Per vos proficiscar in Hispaniam I will come by you into Spaine as our Protestants translate it All Texts agreeing as though he principally intended his Iorney to Spayne Wherefore being an vndoubted truth both by Scriptures and Antiquities that he was at freedome and libertie at Rome so farre one his promised Iorney to Spayne from the Easte and by which he said he would come to goe and by them be accompanied thither and certaine that after two yeares so soone as he had libertie he went from S. Paul after his first imprisonment at Rome went into the East Countries spending diuers yeares there before he could come to Britaine Rome and as so many Authours before affirme immediately through some parts of Gallia into Spayne I cannot see how this his course and Order of trauaile can be questioned 3. That S. Paule did after this his preaching in Spayne presently returne againe into the East Countries where he had preached before and consequently not into Britaine at this time we haue as greate allowance by the holy Scriptures as they are expounded euen by Protestant writers and by their testimonies aswell as other Catholike Authours and other Antiquities First the Magdeburgian Protestants speaking of that time of S. Paules libertie after his imprisonment first at Rome and libertie which they thinke to be ten yeares they say S. Paul spent is first in Syria Asia and Greece and then returned Magdeb. cent 1. l. 2. c. 20. col 595. againe into the west before or in the last yeare of Nero Annis illis decem vsque ad vltimum Neronis inuisit Ecclesias Syriae Asiae Graeciae Quod omnino sibi proposuerat ante liberationem vt patet ex Epistola ad Philippenses 1. certo scio inquit quod mansurus sim cum omnibus vobis permansurus sim in vestrum profectum gaudium fidei vt gloriatio vestra exuberet per Iesum Christum per meum ad vos reditum Et ad Philemonem praepara mihi hospitium spero enim quod auxilio precum vestrarum donabor vobis And they cite Eusebius and Athanasius and Dracontium for the same opinion The Protestant Minister and Historian of Geneua Francis Burgoing in his French Historie is of the same minde and vpon the same grounds of Scripture onely he differeth in saying this preaching of S. Paule was but sixe yeares thus he writeth during these Franc. Burgoing Hist Eccl. l. 3. c. 2. sixe yeares vntill the last of Nero he visited the Churches of Syria of Asia and Greece Which he had concluded with himselfe before he was deliuered as appeareth by that he saith hauing this confidence I know that I shall abide and continue with Philipp 1. vers 25 26. you all for your furtherance and Ioy of faith that your reioycing may be more aboundanâ— in Iesus Christ for mee by my coming to you againe In his Epistle to Philemon prepare mee a lodging for I trust that by your prayers I shall be giuen vnto you Epist ad Philem. v. 22. Where we see that S. Paul then a Prisoner in Rome was so certaine and confident that he should be deliuered and come to them in the Easte againe that he saith he knoweth it and that it was to be so soone after his deliuery that though he was first to goe into Spaine yet his aboade there should be so shorte and his returne into the Easte so soone that he writeth to haue a lodging prouided for him against his coming thither which he would not haue done if he had determined to haue made any long stay either in Spaine or any other place by the way 4. I haue shewed from Arnoldus Mirmannius before that he confidently Arnold Mirm. Theatr. Conu gent. with his Authorities affirmeth that S. Paul vpon his libertie at Rome went into Syria Pamphilia Licaonia Phoenice Misia Phrygia Galatia Bithinia Achaia Macedonia the rest of Greece and Asia Gulielmus Eisengrenius citing Gulielm Eiseng cent 1. f. 137. part 5. distinct 1. many auncient Authours for the same affirmeth the like and so of others Therefore it is euident that S. Paule neither did nor could come into Britaine vntill after his last coming from the Eastern Countries very litle before his Death For what accompt soeuer we will followe of the time and number of yeares of this trauaile of S. Paul after he was dismissed from Prison at Rome to goe from thence through France into Spaine and from thence againe into the Eastern Countries and visite so many Nations there as I haue remembred and after to come againe into Spaine from thence into France and then into Britaine and yet to goe with such speed from hence that passing through Germany and Italy he had bene a Prisoner at Rome no short time as appeareth by his second Epistle to S. Timothie when he was there martyred by Nero in the later end of his Empire Our Countriman Matthew of Westminster saith S. Paul had then bene a long time Prisoner there when he was pute to death the same day S. Peter was Paulus qui Matth. Weâ—â—m an 66. 2. Timoth. v. 6. Chrysost Praefat in Epist 2. ad Timoth. Athanasius in Synopsidiu Script Theophilact in Argum. Epist ad Haebr 2. Tim. ver 9. 13. vers 21. Martyrol Rom. die 29. Beda Vsward Ado alij Haebr c. 13. v. 23. dudum vinctus tenebatur in vrbe eadem die capite truncatus est And it is manifest in his second Epistle to S. Timothie written at that time as is plaine both in the same Epistle of his Martyrdome at hand and other circumstances there as both S. Chrysostome S. Athanasius Theophilact and others proue that he was a Prisoner then no small time at Rome for he writeth to S. Timothie at Ephesus so farre of to come vnto him and to bring certaine things with him which S. Paule had left behinde him in that his Easterne Iorney And exhorteth him thus doe thy diligence to
WHEREIN DIVERS PROTESTANTS INclyne to thinke S. Peter preached heare in Britaine before his coming to Rome and what probabilitie that opinion hath 1. DIVERS English Protestant writers whether for loue to S. Peter or dissick to Rome knowing what great warrant ther is for sainct Peters preaching heare incline to affirme it to haue bene before he came to Rome Amonge whome the THEATER WRITERS producing diuers testimonies Theater of great Britaine l. 9. c. 9. §. 5. for his being in Britaine they add If Peter were heare at all It was before he went to Rome and that the Ghospell was preached heare before it was in Rome if Peter were the first as some hold that preached there both Diuers English Protestants incline to thinke S. Peter preached in Britaine before he came to Rome and how probably which may be more probable if we consider the huge multitudes of Christians fifteen thousand saith Baronius which dispersed themselues into all parts of the worlde Vpon the martyring of S. Stephen at Hierusalem Where we see that they make the coming of S. Peter into this our Nation to haue beene so soone after the Ascension of Christ that they seeme to suppose it to haue beene before his coming to Rome and make it the more probable opinion their owne phrase that it was soone after the Martyrdome of S. Stephen which was to speake in their owne words presently vpon the death of Christ which was diuers Theater supr yeares before any Authoritie teacheth he came to Rome And their opinion before that Britaine receaued the faith in the time of Tyberius will make theÌ„ of that minde being before proued that S. Peter was the first Apostle that preached heare For which they bring his owne testimony to S. Brithwald and other testimonies And that which is written before of S. Mansuetus a Bishop of this Nation sent to Toul in Lorraine by S. Peter in the time of Caius Caligula giueth some allowance to this opinion if we will followe those Historians which write he was sent thither at that time in the yeare of Christ 40. making it not vnprobable but he was sent from S. Peter being in or neare this Iland 2. The like I may say of S. Aristobulus made Bishop as William Eisengrenius saith in the yeare of Christ 39. who as commonly Protestants will tell vs hereafter was our Bishop heare in Britaine and this the rather because we Guliel Eisengr Centenar 1. part 1. dist 7. fo 67. 66 dist 8. Sophron. Patria Hierosol l. delabor S. Petr. Paul finde that about the same time and in the same yeare if we may beleeue this Author the same holy Apostle S. Peter placed S. Pancratius Bishop of Tauronienium and sainct Marcianus Bishop of Syrocufa in the Iland of Sicilia neare vnto Italie and diuers others farre distant from Hierusalem Antioch or any Easterne place of the aboade of that greate Apostle as S. Clement with diuers others into the hither parts of Germany as the antiquities of those places are witnesse And if we call to memory the vnspakeable labours and expedition vsed by this Apostle in such sacred a busines before remembred how in that time he is said to remaine at Antioch he visited as the Scripture is euidence Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia and Bithynia the hither partes Petr. 1. v. 1. of Asia from whence we shall not finde it a more difficult iorney for that renowned Apostle to vouch safe to visite this Iland of Britaine if we consult with Cosmographers in these affaires then to come from Antioch in Syria the cheife place of his residency at that time to visit all those Contries related in which he preached as the Scriptures assure vs. But these be but coniectures vpon which I may not found an Historiall Narration especially when we haue a whole world of witnesses to the contrary that Rome was the first place in the west whether S. Peter came and was cheifly directed vnto And S. Peter came to Rome before he came into Britaine the cheifest reason of the dispersion of the Disciples at the martyrdome of S. Stephan is before answered how they preached onely to the Iewes And the Scripture is manifest that the Apostles were then at Hierusalem except the Apostles and not dispersed And the history of the Acts of the Apostles keepeth Act. c. 8. v. 1. S. Peter preaching in the East Ionge after this to the Iewes and Gentiles vntill such time in the dayes of Claudius Emperour it pleased Christ our blessed Sauiour as many and greate Authorities doe warrant vs to send and direct this his cheifest Apostle to make a great parte of his Residencie at Rome the greate and commaunding Imperiall Citte at that time in the world that he might the better by that meanes preach the Ghospell both by himselfe S. Peters seating himselfe at Rome foretold by holy scripture â—â—bbins and Sibils before Christ. and his Disciples to these Westerne Nations and Contries of the world 3. Of this mission of S. Peter to Rome Esay the Prophet though in more generall termes had longe before admonished saying as I haue alledged before that God would send of his Apostles into Italy Of this the auncient Rabbins before Christ were witnesses as a Iewe himselfe hath proued against the Iewes that Rome should be the cheife place of the Lawe and Religion of the Messias Sybilla Erythraea longe time before preached this Hieronymus à sanct fide l. contra Iudaeos Sybill Erithaer in l. Nasalographi 1. Imperial Scrip. Venetijs an 1516 per Patriarch Venet. approbat Pontif. Rom. to the Gentiles when Prophesying of Christ and his twelue Apostles thus she foretolde in vltima aetate humiliabitur Deus humiliabitur proles diuina Iungetur humanitati deitas iacebit in faeno agnus puellari officio educabitur Deus homo Eliget sibi ex piscatoribus deiectis numerum duodenarium vnumque diabolum non in gladio bellouè Eneadem vrbem Regesque subijciet sed in hamo piscantis in deiectione pauperie superabit diuitias superbiam conculcabit morte propria nocturno suscitabit commutabitur viuet regnabit consummabuntur haec omnia fietque regeneratio Vltimo bonos iudicabit malos Surget stella mirabilis Danaos illuminabit orbem illustrabit In Eneadem latus piscatoris nomen agni vsque ad fines seculi virtute perducet Inde in Eneade iuncta vinctos à diabolo liberabiâ— In the laste age God will be humbled and the sonne of God will be humbled the lambe shall lye in Hay God and man shall be brought vp by a virgin seruice he shall chuse vnto him out of fishers and meane persons a number of twelue one of them a deuill He shall make subiect vnto him the citie of Aeneas Rome Kings not by sworde warre but by the hooke of a fisher in deiection pouertie he shall ouercome Riches he shall treade downe pryde with
or giuen any other note or distinction to knowe what Timothie it was which vndertoocke so greate labours and had so happie successe in this kingdome we must needs expressing it with great Ioy conclude it was S. Timothie Sonne of our renowned Brittish Lady Claudia which shewed so greate loue and atcheiued so worthie things in his and our Country Britaine And to leaue it without question it could be no other 4. The other S. Timothie Bishop of Ephesus was martyred and buryed there in the time of Domitian and many yeares by all accompts before King Lucius was borne And S. Onesimus mentioned by S. Paul was his Successour Vi◠S. Timothei Ephes in Breu. die 24. Ianuar. Martyrol Rom. eod die Bed Ado Lipp Ignat Epist ad Ephes Epist ad Antioch Nicep l. 3. c. H. Magdeb. cent 2. Breuiar Rom. die 22. August Martyrol Rom. 23. Aug. Bed Vsuard alij Martyrol Rom. 3. Maij. Menol Martyrol Rom. Bed Vsuard 21. Maij. Petr. Catal. l. 5. c. 28. Martyr Ro. Bed Vsuard 23. Aug. Greg. Tur. l. de glor Mart. c. 54. Martyrol Rom. alij 19. Decembr Martyrol Rom. Menol. 10. Iunij 2. Tim. 4. S. Pius Pap. 1. Ep. ad Iustum Viēn Epist sup apud Baron To. 2. Annal. an 166. and Bishop there in S. Ignatius dayes as he himselfe witnesseth both which were also martyred 50. yeares before this time I now entreate of by all witnesses Catholiks and Protestants There haue bene diuers other holy Saints of that name but none of that time and Episcopall or Preistly Function to whome we can possibly ascribe this honour S. Timothie of Antioch preached at Rome but long after this in the time of Pope Melchiades martyred there There was an other martyred in Macedonia but no Preist nor about this time An other martyred at Thebais but a married man Husband to S. Maura martyred with him in the time of the Arrians An other of that name was martyred in Mauritania with Polius and Eutichius Deacons he himselfe also onely a Deacon An other in Rhemes in France with S. Apollinaris but not noted to haue bene any Clergie man An other a Deacon onely in Mauritania An other with Tecla and Agapius but no Preist and in the time of Diocletian now vnborne as also S. Timotheus Bishop of Prusiadis in the time of Iulian the Apostata in Bithinia I can finde no more of that name for holy Saints neyther any eyther probabilitie or possibilitie that any of them conuerted or euer perswaded King Lucius to be a Christian 5. Therefore I leaue it as due to our glorious Countryman S. Tymothie sonne of S. Claudia and brother to S. Nouatus S. Pudentiana and S. Praxedes sufficiently insinuated by S. Paul himselfe when he so honorably enrolled his Parents for such his most beloued in holy Scripturs when that holy Pope which ordinarily liued in his house dedicated it for a Church was present in Rome to see his happy death by Martyrdome and next succeeded S. Higinius of whose Papacie we now write doth expressely witnes that he was brought vp by two most glorious Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul and was their Disciple Sanctus Timotheus qui ab Apostolis educatis Presbiter vsque ad nos peruenit Greate honor it was for the first Christian King of Britaine the first Christian kingdome of the world to be instructed in the faith by so noble and renowned Apostle of his owne Nation with the assistance and concurrance of the Pope himselfe S. Pius as he testifieth when he saith concerning S. Timothie and S. Marke that was Martyred with him that he dispensed the word of faith with them cum quibus simul verbum fidei partiti sumus What were the Impediments in temporall respects which hindered King Lucius from publike Profession of Christian Religion wherein he was thus instructed vntill or neare the Papacie of S. Eleutherius I shall declare hereafter and speake more of S. Tymotheus our Countriman and Apostle as also of S. Nouatus his blessed brother and the holy virgins his Sisters S. Pudentiana and S. Praxedes Onely I say now of him that he was a most worthie man to be Legate to the Pope of Rome of whome Ethelwerdus hath told vs before which in the yeare of grace 156. sent a Legate hither with letters to King Lucius exhorting him to the Christian Religion Beatissimus Christi famulus per Nuntium literas Lucium adijt Insulae Regem ammonens eum de fide Baptismo Catholico which he so honorably performed Yet in giuing this so greate deserued honor to S. Tymothie I doe not exclude others frō their due praise glory for their labours in this busines but as I haue proued before so heare I acknowledg againe in our Protestant Historians words Euen from the dayes of Ioseph of Arimathia and his fellowes or what other godly men first taught the Holinshed Hist of Engl. l. 4. c. 19. Britans the Ghospell of our Sauiour there remayned among the same Britans some Christians which ceased not to teache and preache the worde of God most sincerely vnto them But yet no King amongst them openly professed that Religion till Lucius S. Marcellus a Brittan conuerted King Lucius 6. Among these was S. Marcellus or Marcellinus afterward Bishop of Tungers and then Archbishop of Treuers where he ended his dayes with Martyrdome for the truth of Christ about the yeare 180. as diuers write and Petr. Merssaeus Catal. Episcop Tungren Archiep Treuer in S. Marcell Engl. Martyr 4. Sept. Anton. Democh. l. 2. Missae contra Caluin Guliel Eisengr cent 2. Part. 4. yet was Bishop of Tungers 29. yeares before he was translated to Treuers where he was Archbishop some time Therefore seeing we reade that he preached heare in Britaine his Country and to King Lucius aswell before his going into those forreine parts as after he must needs haue preached heare in or before the 150. yeare and so might well be one of those Cambridge Doctors before remembred The Annals of the Arcbishops of Treuers say of this man that Lucius King of Britaine now England was Baptized by his preaching huius praedicatione Rex Angliae id est Lucius Baptizatus est The Historie of Tungers speaketh more plainely that this S. Marcellus did by his preaching conuert Lucius Prince of Britaine with all his Nation to Christ S. Catal. Archiep. Treu. in S. Marcello al. Marcel lino Marcellus Lucium Britanniae Principem cum tota gente sua praedicatione ad Christum conuertit And the same Catalogue of Treuers saith that King Lucius was made a Christian and Baptized by this our renowned Countryman S. Marcellus S. Lucius Britanniae Rex factus Christianus atque ab hoc Marcello Petr. Merssaeus Catal. Episcop Tungren in S. Marcello Treuirorum Doctore Baptizatus And to giue vs notice that S. Marcellus must needs performe these holy offices heare at or about this time the same Annals of Treuers in
of those Councels honoring and consenting vnto their Decrees as the Lawe Decrees of God himselfe as appeareth by Eusebius Socrates Sozomen Theodoret and his owne Imperiall Letters and publike Edicts before cited And was occasion of preaching the word of life and the holy Ghospell of Christ ouerthrowing Idolatry in all Nations from one end of the knowne world to the other erecting Christian Churches endowing theÌ„ in all places as our Protestants themselues acknowledge Ab Oceani finibus nempe Britannis incipions diuinae Religionis curam Magdeburgen centur 4. cap. 3. Bal. l. de Script centur 1. in Flauio Constantino in medijs superstitionuÌ„ tenebris caepit ab Occiduis ad Indos innumeras ad aeternae speâ—â— vitae erigeÌ„s geÌ„tes egregius disciplinae Christianae praeco falsoruÌ„ DeoruÌ„ euersor per GraeciaÌ„ AegyptaÌ„ Persidem Asiam vniuersam ditionem Romanam repetitis abrogabat legibus iubens per Edicta Christum coli Euangelium praedicari sacrum ministris honores alimenta dari atque Idolorum vbique destrui templa Ecclesijs infinita praestitit agros annonam stipem egenis aegris viduis ac Orphanis pro quibusque solicitus Which generall destruction of Idolatry and planting the true Religion of Christ the Messias so often and manifestly foretold by the holy Prophets neuer any other comparable vnto this in any degree except the late Conuersion of America and other Nations vnto the knowne present Catholike Religion Io. Bal. lib. 1. de Act. Pont. Rom. in Syluestr And in the late Persecution before Constantine expressely and plainely foretold to S. Blasius the glorious Bishop and Martyr as both Protestants and others confesse that this Constantine should be the happy man and meanes by whome and in whose dayes and Empire this greate alteration of Religion in planting the true Religion of Christ Iesus the Messias and confusion of the Pagans superstitions so often and clearely foretold in holy Scripturs should be so generally effected Nunc bonus expulsis Romana in Regna Tyrannis Baptista Mantuan l. 2. de vit S. Blas Adueniet Princeps sub quo pacabitur orbis Et finem accipiet veterum cultura Deorum Constantinus 4. S. Marke was Pope but a shorte time yet he continued as our Protestants Robert Barn l. de vit Pont. Rom. in Marc. Iulio Io. Bal. l. 2. de Act. Pontific Rom. in Marc. Iul. confesse in S. Syluester his Religion gaue the Pale to the Bishop of Hostia a Consecrator of the Popes of Rome caused the Nicen Creede to be read in the Church after the Ghospell he builded Churches adorned them 5. Pope Iulius did exempt Preists from being conuented before any but Ecclesiasticall Iudges Maintained the priuiledge of the Roman See that no Councell might be called without allowance thereof Hic Iulius acriter reprehendit Orientales Episcopos quod sine sua authoritate Concilium indixerant Cassiod in Eccl. Hist Tripart l. 4. cap. 19. cap. 9. But the Greeke Writers of that Age make this matter most euident that it was not onely the clayme of Pope Iulius but the old Law and Apostolicall Rule and custome that no Councell might be called nothing decreed without the authoritie of the Pope of Rome Canonibus iubentibus praeter Romanum Sozom. l. 2. c. 9. nihil decerni PontificeÌ„ And againe CuÌ„ Regula Ecclesiastica iubeat non oportere praeter sententiaÌ„ Romani PoÌ„tificis CoÌ„cilia celebrari And more manifestly in SozomeÌ„ That the old Canon of the Church pronownced all such Acts to be voyde which were decreed without the Authoritie of the Bishop of Rome Legem esse ad sacerdotij dignitatem spectantem quae pronuntiat acta illa irritaesse quae Sozom. supr l. 2. cap. 7. praeter sententiam Episcopi Romani constituuntur And this is plainely confessed by those Arrian Bishops themselues thus reprehended for such attempts For writing to Pope Iulius they freely coÌ„fesse the Primacie of the Pope of Rome and See thereof being the Schoole of the Apostles and Metropolitan Citie of Theodor. Hist Eccles l. 2. cap. 4. Cassiod Hist Tripart lib. 4. cap. 6. pietie euen from the beginning Literis suis fatebantur Ecclesiam Romanam Primas apud omnes ferre vtpote quae Apostolorum schola pietatis Metropolis iam ab initio fuisset And both Theodoret and Cassiodorus testifie that the Arrians themselues sent their accusations against S. Athanasius to this Pope of Rome Iulius to be iudged by him as highest Iudge and Pope Iulius according to the Ecclesiasticall Lawe commanded both them and S. Athanasius one a certaine day to appeare before him at Rome to receaue sentence Iulius Ecclesiasticam secutus Legem ipsos Romae adesse iussit diem dixit diuo Athanasio And by Cassiodorus venerabilem Athanasium and Iudicium regulariter euocauit So that it is euident this Supreamacy of the Pope of Rome was not giuen to that holy See by Constantine or any late Pope his claime or challeng but from the begining And Constantine though a most worthie Christian King and Emperour did neither call nor confirme any Councell as a supreame Iudge and Sentencer but as an Assistant Temporall such as good Kings are and should be in prouiding securitie quiet protection and bodily necessaries for the Bishops assembled as I haue before remembred he did The calling of the Councells was as that greate generall of Nyce by the Bishops order and direction Ruffinus Eusebius and others testifie Constantinus ex Sacerdotum Ruffin l. 1. Hist Ecclesiast cap. 1. Euseb l. 10. Hist cap. 1. Cap. 5. supra sententia apud vrbem Nicaeam Episcopale Concilium conuocat Where we see both the calling and Assembly to the Episcopall as all others were and the sentence and Iudgment by them onely post diutinum multumque tractatum placet omnibus ac velut vno cunctorum ore corde decernitur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 scribi debere id est eiusdem cum patre substantiae filium confiteri idque firmissima omniuÌ„ sententia pronuntiatur Defertur ad Constantinum sacerdotalis concilij sententia Ille tanquam a Deo prolatam veneratur Cui si quis tentasset obniti velut contra diuina statuta venientem in exilium se protestatur acturum Where we see this greatest temporall Commander that euer was in the worlde was so farre from vsurping or clayming any spirituall Power to decide and iudge of Questions in Religion that he was not present when they were determined by the Bishops but leauing all such decisions vnto them as their seruant conseruus as Sozom. l. 1. Hist Eccl. c. 18. he calleth himselfe most reuerently embraced and with his temporall Power executed what they concluded THE XVIII CHAPTER THE CONSTANCIE OF BRITAINE IN THE true Catholike Religion before and after the Nicen Councell it had Bishops there consented vnto receaued and kept inuiolable the Decrees thereof not admitting Heresie heare 1. WE haue thus
not vpon him the charge of Tullum vntill the yeare 49. in the meane time being otherwise and els where imploied in preaching the ghospell of Christ Neither will it auaile or proue any thing to the contrary for any man to obiect that S. Peter was not yet come to Rome nor after vntill the beginning Diuers Churches founded Preists and Bishops consecrated for the west by S. Peter before hâ— was resident at Rome of the Empire of Claudius for although he came not thither to make any residence there vntill about that time yet this nothing hindered many of these westerne nations moued with the loue of Christ and fame of S. Peter to resort vnto him in the parts of the East where he remained to be instructed by him And he both by himselfe and his disciples sent from him had founded many Churches in diuers parts of the westerne world before this time as namely at TauremoniuÌ„ the 39. yeare And at Siracusas the same yeare And in Guliel Eisengr centen 1. part 4. dist 8. Metaphr in vit Petr. Niceph l. 2. c. 35. Eisengren supr Volaterr lib. 11. Add. cert Apol. l. 1. Eisengr cent 1. part 1. distinct 7. Metaphrast in v l. Petri Pauli Nicephor l. 2. c. 35. Is c. 66. v. 19. 21. Sicilia Ecclesiam Christi instituisse to haue founded the Church of Christ in Sicily the same time And at Antaradum before that in the yeare 37. and at Tauromenium in Sicily where he as before had then preached he ordaineth S. Pancratius Bishop in the yeare 39. and S. Marcianus his disciple Bishop of Siracusas And as before sent S. Barnabas with others into other parts of Italy And this is no more then God had longe time before foretold by his Prophet Isay speaking of these times and the Apostles preaching after the Ascension of Christ I will set a signe among them and I will send of them vnto the nations to Tarsis to Greece into Italy to the Isles a farre of and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles And I will take of them for Preists and leuites saith the Lord. Where we see not onely Italy but this very Iland to be remembred by the Prophet of God to haue the ghospell preached vnto it euen in the very first beginning of Christianity For the words of the Prophet cannot be more properly applied vnto or verified of any Iland then of this our Britaine both an Iland a farre of from Hierusalem and one of the greatest in the world and The Proâ—hets of the old tâ—stament fâ—retolde the conuersion of Britaine in this time that which before all others did generally and publikely afterward embracâ— the ghospell of Christ And at that time as all writers agree this Iland did acknowledge Christ as likewise that other greate Iland Taprobana or S. Laurence Iland the greatest with this or greater and also farre from Hierusalem did by the preaching of S. Thomas the Apostle And the scripture is so cleare for the conuersion of the greate Ilands vnto Christ euen in the beginning of the ghospell that no natioÌ„ allmost in the world may be more plainely said to be called to the faith of Christ in that time theÌ„ this Iland the most renowned in this westerne or northren world Our Lord hath reigned let the Ps 96. v. 1. Is 24. v. 15. 16. Is 42. v. 4. Is 49. 1. earth reioyce and many Ilands Ioy. The name of the Lord of Israel in the Ilands of the Sea From the ends of the earth we haue heard prayses the glory of the iust one The Ilands shall expect his lawe Harken you Ilands and people a farre of attend The Ilands shall expect mee These and more places haue the holy Prophets of this our happy vocation and calling vnto Christ in that time 4. Neither may we be so iniurious to the honour of this our IlaÌ„d of Britaine the Lady and Queene as it were of Ilands to deny that honour vnto it which we doe and must giue to others to haue receaued the faith of Christ in these times I haue spoken of Taprobama before as likewise of Sicily Sainct Titus preached in Creta and was Bishop there S. Paul the Apostle in Melita as he Act. Apost Paul epist ad Tit. Act. 28. Petr. de natalib l. 2. c. 62. Guliel Eisengr centen 1. part 4. dist 8. Nicephor l. 2. c. 40. was brought to Rome S. Nicanor one of the seuen Deacons in Cyprus and diuers other Ilands both in the mediterranean and other Seas are proued both by holy scripture and allowed authours to haue receaued the faith about this time Neither are they wanting that affirme one S. Simon an Apostle whether S. Simon Peter or S. Simon Zelotes I will entreate hereafter preached also in this Iland not longe after these And many lying in our Northen Ocean as Island esteemed to be the Aunciently named Thyle Groneland and other prophesied to receaue then the faith of Christ this IlaÌ„d of Britaine the gate way passage vnto them was not passed by in that happy worke Especially when if it shall not be thought to interrupt my history of Britaine The faith of Christ preached in America by such as preached in Britaine I haue clearely proued to be added in due place That the ghospell was preached in America by such as preached here And that it was knowne many hundred yeares since to those of this kingdome of Britaine and not vnprobably in the Apostles time and was the harbour and succour of some of them or their disciples first preaching here and from hence happely transported and passing thither to deliuer there their heauenly message 5. But howsoeuer these things be proued hereafter manifest it is by that which is said before that our contryman S. MaÌ„suetus was either in the reigne of Caius Caligula or Claudius Bishop of Tullum and founded the first Episcopall succession there S. Mansuetum Petri Apostolorum Coryphaei discipulum Guliel Eisengr centen 1. part 7. dist 1. Petr. de natalibus l. 11. c. vlt. Demochar l. 2. c. 33. Arnold Mirm. theaâ—â—o conuers Maâ—tirolog Rom. 3. Septemb. Ado eod die Episcopatum in Leacorum vrbe Tullo fundasse And no man will thinke that he alone of his nation was either consecrated Bishop or Preist or became a Christian It is a thinge scarcely heard of in histories that any one man should onely be called to that highest dignity and calling in the Church of God and to leaue his contry to preach to straungers except his owne nation was otherwise furnished both of cleargy men and other Christians and except some storme or violence of persecutioÌ„ should seperate him from his naturall frends and contry which neither is nor can be pretended in this case For neither at that time nor all the life of S. Mansuetus being as here after very longe Diuers other Britans probably converted with S. Mansuetus by S. Peter yet he not returning into Britaine was there any persecution
difficult labours for as S. Paul writeth to his Children the Corinthians in like case though you haue ten thousand Instructors in Christ yet yee haue not many fathers for in Christ Iesus I haue begotten 1. Cor. c. 4. v. 15. 16. you through the ghospell Wherefore I beseech you be followers of mee Thirdly and lastely to be breife the more honorable that Apostle was by so much the honour of this Nation is more increased and our dutie to him the greater For to speake with a Protestant Bishops tonge we should accompt it a greate glory to our Nation to deriue the pedigree of our spirituall linage from so noble and excellent Godwyn Conu of Britaine p. 6. a Father as S. Peter For the more easier finding forth whereof this very man with many others his brethren in Religion giueth vs direction in these English ProtestaÌ„ts confesse there is no mention in histories but of 3. Apostles S. Peter S. Paul and S. Simon to haue preached heare words I finde mention of three onely of the Apostles to haue bene in our Britaine to wit Peter and Paul and Simon Chananaeus called also Zelotes Like is the testimonie of their Bishops in their Theater their first Archbishop in his Antiquities their Bishop in his Catalogue of writers their cheife Antiquaries Camden Harrison Holinshed Stowe Howes Powel and others neyther doth any historie or Antiquitie to my reading and memory make mention of any other Therefore if we ioyne this to that which these Protestant Masters Godwyn supr pag. 2. Theater of great Brit. l. 6. c. 9. Bal. praef in l. de scrip Parker antiquit Britan. pag. 2. Camden in Britan Harrison descript of Britan. Holinsh. hist of Engl. Stowe and Howes histor Powel annot in Girald Cambr. haue taught vs in the precedent Chapter That this Nation receaued the faith by an Apostle either in the time of Tiberius or Claudius this question is soone decided for it will euidently appeare vnto all men not wilfully blinded with malice or vnexcusable ignorance that by these Protestants owne Rules and directions in this matter it could onely be S. Peter who first taught the faith of Christ in this kingdome and heare instituted vnto vs our Hierarchicall Order and Succession of holy Bishops and Preists in these later neuer yet interrupted and for sacred Bishops neuer vntill the late vnhappy times of Queene Elizabeth 2. Concerning S. Paul one of the onely three supposed to haue preached he could not possibly be the first Apostle that came or sent preachers hither For no Protestant or other bringeth him neare vnto these westerne Nations vntill diuers yeares within the Reigne of Nero. The Theater writers S. Peter preached heare first Our Episcopall Hierarchie instituted by him did â—ontinuâ— without interruption vntill Queene Elizabeth her Protestant persecution and his Preistly order neuer interrupted still continueth say it was the tenth yeare of Nero which was the 64. yeare of Christ before S. Paul came to the west But though these Protestants to take no aduantage of their errour are deceaued in some few yeares of that his trauayles yet the holy scriptures with all writers Protestants and others are ample witnesses that diuers yeares of Nero his Empire were past before he came to Rome the first westerne place he rested in and then a Prisonner two yeares togeather So he could not possibly be that first Apostle by whose holy meanes and labours we had many Christians of this Nation longe before in the time of Claudius at the least as these Protestants before haue proued diuers yeares before the beginning of Nero his gouernment Besides these Protestants doe assure vs that Britaine fell in the diuision of the world among the twelue Apostles S. Paul could not be the first that preached in Britaine following the auncient Fathers in that matter of which number S. Paul was not but extraordinary called to be an Apostle as S. Barnabas also was and in that sence left no successours eyther in this Nation or els where to whom we may or can adheare eyther for a Hierarchicall Succession or Epist ad Rom. Act. Apostol other matters in Religion And S. Paul himselfe putteth vs out of all doubt that he was not present with the rest of the holy Apostles when this diuision of the world was made among them For longe after that time writing to the Galathians he saith Neyther went I vp to Hierusalem to them which were Apostles Galat. cap. 1. v. 17. 18. 19. before me but I went into Arabia and returned againe vnto Damasus Then after three yeares I went vp to Hierusalem to see Peter and abode with him fifteene dayes But other ef the Apostles sawe I none saue Iames the Lords Brother Thus S. Paul as our Protestants by our Kings allowance translate him Therefore most certaine it is he was no partie in this diuision of which these ProtestaÌ„ts haue thus informed vs wherein this kingdome of Britaine fell out within the diuision of one of the twelue Apostles And except all men of learning Protetestants and others be deceaued in teaching that S. Peter first conuerted the Romans to the faith of Christ S. Paul giueth to him the honour of that Christianitie which the Britans had for writing to the Romans he saith I Rom. 1. v. 8. thanke my God through Iesus Christ for you all that your faith is spoaken of throughout the whole world Therefore except the Romans did not receaue the faith from S. Peter which no man will or with any probabilitie can affirme or Britaine then was no part of the knowne world a thing euidently vntrue being then both knowne and in a great part subiect to the Roman Empire It was neyther S. Paul nor S. Simon Zelotes but S. Simon Peter that eyther by himself or his holy Disciples first preached heare And this might suffice in this QuestioÌ„ but inteÌ„ding to make all things coÌ„trouersed in these matters vndeniably manifest I will reserue those later labours of S. Paul which a litle before his death not before he bestowed in this kingdome to their proper place 3. I will now resolue the doubts of S. Simon Zelotes his pretended preaching in this Iland and proue euen by these Protestants that he neither preached in this our Britaine nor neare vnto it But this was peculiar to S. Peter his Disciples sent by him For as the greate Protestant Antiquary freely confesseth If S. Paul was heare It was after his imprisonment the second time at Rome Camden Brit. in Belgae vnder Nero post secundam Romae incarcerationem And it could not possibly be before the Scriptures themselues giuing warrant thereof So the Magdeburgian Magdeburg CeÌ„tur 1. l. 2. c. 2. Protestants with others Paulum a priore captiuitate Roma dimissum Britannijs Euangelium praedicasse that S. Paul preached the Ghospell in Britaine after he was dimissed from his first captiuitie in Rome Which our English Antiquarie before calleth
if the Apostles S. Peter and Paul and their Successors vntill in the time of Pope Pius the first it was conuerted to be a Church we must needs accompt S. Linus the Bishop the third which is here named to be also of that familie for the most part Then how to single forth onely S. Eubulus which here is first eyther for pietie nobilitie or that he was the cheife paterfamilias owner and Master of that house or all and make him a stranger there I cannot finde it by S. Paul onely repeating them of one family or any other warrant For it is plaine here by the Apostle that he was a cheife and principall Christian in Rome and first named among these worthies and before S. Linus a Bishop then Pudens a Senatour and absolutely there set downe as their cheifest receauer friend or patron which cannot agree to any other better then to the Father of S. Claudia this father in lawe to her husband Pudens and first entertainer of S. Peter the Apostle in Rome by the Romans tradition For neyther Dorotheus the continuator of Florentius Wigorniensis nor any other that write of the Disciples there place him among Clergie men and S. Paul which giueth him that honour in that place clearely proueth he was none of his Disciples then in Rome for he writeth in the same place Lucas est mecum solus onely 2. Tim. 4. vers 11. Luke is with me No Martyrologe speaketh of him neyther any Historian or Interpreter of Scripture to my reading setteth downe of what Nation he was but leaue him for a stranger as likewise many doe S. Claudia Therefore except better authoritie can be brought against me seing he is by the Apostle himselfe so dignified and placed the first in that family and salutation Eubulus greeteth thee and Pudens and Linus and Claudia There is no cause yet I finde to 2. Tim. 4. deny him to be the owner Master of that house that first entertayned S. Peter in Rome he himselfe the first happy maÌ„ that gaue that glorious Apostle entertaymeÌ„t there that he was our most renowned CoÌ„trymaÌ„ of Britaine Father of Lady Claudia For there is no other who by any probable coniecture was likely to performe this dutie in that house PudeÌ„s as before was either then vnborne or an Infant of his owne parents father and mother there is no meÌ„tion in antiquities that either they were Christians or that they dwelled at all in Rome much lesse in that house being Inhabitants of Sabinum and by CoÌ„try Sabinites farre distant froÌ„ Rome And so there is none left vnto vs to be a Christian and entertaine that heauenly Messenger and Gheast S. Peter in that time and place but the renowned Brittish parents of Lady Claudia then dwelling in Rome and there confined to a certaine house and place of permanency by commaund of Roman power to whome with many other noble Britans they were hostages and pledges for the fidelitie and obedience of this kingdome to the Roman Emperours at that time 7. To strengthen this opinion we may add that S. Paul sendeth to S. Timothie his Disciple the salutations of Eubulus before all others of which sending the greetings of so few by name It will be no easy search to finde out a better or more probable reason then this that S. Timothy so neare and beloued a scholler of S. Paul lodged vsually in this house he also was there with his Master entertained by Eubulus the owner thereof and by that title of his holy hospitality deserued the first place in that salutation otherwise no man will doubt but S. Linus Bishop by calling so honorable in the Church of Christ ought and should haue bene named before him And that this familiar acquaintance betweene S. Timothie and these our holy Christian Britans receaued originall from their auncient entertainement of S. Timothie in their house in Rome manie yeares before this their salutation in S. Pauls Epistle it is euident for S. Paul being now lately come to Rome when he wrote this epistle and neyther he nor sainct Timothie there after S. Pauls first dismission from prison there so longe before it is manifest that these though the lady in yong yeares were auncient Christians at that time And we haue vncontroleable warrant from S. Paul himselfe in his epistle to the Hebrewes that S. Timothie was at Rome when he was first prisoner there in the beginning of Nero his Empire for thus he writeth knowe you Hebr. c. 13. vers 23. that our Brother Timothie is set at libertie Thus S. Paul writeth from Rome in the time of his first imprisonnement there And so maketh these our Contry Christians the acquaintance of S. Timothie then to be more auncient in the sâ—hoole of Christ then either S. Timothie or S. Paul his coming first to Rome wheÌ„ there were none to instructe eyther theÌ„ or others in ChristiaÌ„ ReligioÌ„ at Rome but S. Peter and his Disciples I add to this the charge and warning which Martiall the Poet gaue before to Pudens that his father in law should not see his Poems commendare meas camaenas parce precor Socero An euident testimony Martial supâ— l. 7. Epâ—gr 67. that they then liued in one house together and so the Poems sent to Pudens might easely come to his father in law his hands and reading except Pudens had bene so forewarned to keepe and conceale them from him Whereof there had bene no daunger or need of that admonition if they had then liued in distinct places and not in one house And thus much of the father of lady Claudia 8. Concerning her holy mother also so good a Noorse and Tutrix to so happy a childe we are not altogether left desolate without all hope but we may probably finde her forth for the honour of this kingdome her Contry And except the Roman Historians can finde vnto vs a Christian Father to S. S. Pâ—iscâ—lla foundrâ—sse of the Church-yard of her name in Rome mother of S. Claudia very probable Pudens and dwelling with his wife in the same house as I haue found vnto them a father to Claudia and father in lawe to Pudens an holy Christian dwelling in that house before Pudens his time by Nation of this kingdome which by that is said before they caÌ„not doe seeing that noble Matrone which is acknowledged by the Roman writers euen Baronius to haue dwelled in that house Grandmother to S. Claudia her children must needs be her Mother her fathers wife mother in lawe to S. PudeÌ„s I am bolde to assigne that glorious renowned Saint S. Priscilla foundresse of that wonderfull and religious Churchyard to be the same blessed Brittish Christian Lady Baâ—onius though staggering sometimes in his opinioÌ„ herein saith plainely froÌ„ Antiquitie fuit Romae nobilissima Matrona Priscilla nomine Auia Pudentianae Praxedis Baronius â—â— Annot in Martyrolog Rom. Iuâ— 8. S. Pastor seu Hermes in act S. Pudentianae
Baron Annotat. in Martyrolog Rom. die 16. Ian. Baron Tom. 2. Annal. Ann. 159. an 166. virginum de qua mentio habetur in Actis S. Pudentianae à Pastore conscriptis There was a most noble Matrone in Rome called Priscilla GraÌ„dmother of the virgins PudeÌ„tiana and Praxedes of whoÌ„ there is mention in the Acts of Pudentiana written by S. Pastour The like he writeth in other places where as she is there called by him the mother of PudeÌ„s Mater Pudentâ—s he must needs be vnderstood to speake in their Phrase which ordinarily all Mothers in lawe by the absolute name of Mothers as the coÌ„mon custome is Sometimes in other places Baronius faith S. Priscilla was wife to S. Pudens and mother to S. Nouatus Pudentiana and Praxedes so likewise doth Zepherinus Binius when it is euident before that S. Claudia our Brittish Lady was the onely wife of S. Pudens and Mother to those Saints Therefore to excuse the one from errour and the other from contradiction they must holde that both the Mother of S. Claudia and she herselfe also was sometimes called Priscilla as she was in Vmbria termed Sabinella of her husbands house at Sabinum there And this may sufficiently be gathered from those Antiquities Baronius citeth in which one S. Priscilla is called Priscilla Seniour the elder or old Priscilla to make which iustifiable we must haue also Priscilla Iunior the youÌ„ger or youÌ„g Priscilla this is vsuall for distinction sake where the mother and daughter Father sonne be of one and the same name to call the Father and Mother by their name with the addition old or elder and the sonne and daughter with the distinction younge or younger added vnto them And there be other distinctions betweene these two The eldest grandmother to those holy children as the Roman Martyrologe with others testifieth who died at Rome hauing employed Martyrol Rom. die 16. Februarij hereselfe and her goods to the seruice of Martyrs die 16. Pebruarij Romae Sanctae Priscillae quae se suaque Martyrum obsequio mancipauit Where we see her festiuitie kept vpon the 16. day of February and that she dyed at Rome Of the other the younger if by any called Priscilla we finde no such obseruation nor that she died at Rome but quite otherwise that after her husband S. Pudens death she liued so longe at his house at Sabinum in Vmbria that she thereupon tooke her name Sabellina and by all writers dyed there farre from Rome Secondly S. Pastor who liued in the Apostles time familiarly in that our Brittish house as I shall shewe in due place is witnesse euen Baronius acknowledging it That the elder S. Priscilla Grandmother to S. Nouatus Tymotheus Pudentiana and Praxedes which were S. Claudia her children was foundresse of that renowned Church-yard in via Salaria S. Pastor in actis S. Praxedis apud Baron in Annot. Martyr Rom. die 16. Ian. at Rome which boare her name caemiterium Sanctae Priscillae via salaria and was founded longe before S. Claudia was of yeares to be Authour thereof Caemiterium via Salaria nomine sanctae Priscillae Priscillae seniori Pastor tribuit in act is S. Praxedis And it must needs be this and noe other which prepared that most charitable Christian costly worke for we finde no other saints of that name especially in that time but onely her and S. Priscilla wife of S. Aquila diuers times mentioned by S. Paul being a Iewe who could not be authour of that foundation at Rome First because probably it was founded before she came to Rome being at Corinth there saluted by S. Paul in his 1. Cor. c. 16. first epistle to the CorinthiaÌ„s was with her husband coadiutresse to S. Paul with her husbaÌ„d in those parts before they came to Rome as the same Apostle testifieth Salutate PriscaÌ„ AquilaÌ„ Adiutores meos in Christo Iesu qui pro anima Rom. 16. mea suas ceruices supposuerunt Neyther did she with her husband stay so longe at Rome to effect such a busines for as S. Luke proueth they came from Act. 18. Rome vpon the bannishment of the Iewes from thence by Claudius which was soone after their coming thither And they were at or neare Ephesus a litle before S. Pauls death as he proueth writing his second epistle then to S. Timothie Saluta Priscillam Aquilam And the old Roman Martyrologe 2. Tim. 4. with others giue euidence they ended their liues in Asia the lesse vpon the 8. day of Iuly when the other S. Priscilla died as before at Rome farre from thence the 16. of Ianuary â—ctaua Idus Iulij In Asia minori Sanctorum Martyrol Rom. 8. Iulij Aquilae Priscillae vxoris eius de quihus in Actibus Apostolorum scribitur 9. And Baronius who was an eye wetnesse of the chargeable worke of that foundation found in his time shall proue all the wealth both of this S. Priscilla and her husband S. Aquila being but Tentmaâ—ers erant autem scenofactoriae Act. c. 18. artis as the scripture testifieth was not able to effect such a worke Baronius which had seene and often visited it compareth it to a citie for Baron Annal. Tom. 2. an 130. lardgnesse and streets vnder the earth relating that the whole citie of Rome was amazed to see it Mirabile dictu vidimus saepiusque lustrauimus Priscillae caemitcrium haud pridem inuentuÌ„ atque refossum via salaria tertio ab vrbe lapide quod nullo magis proprio vocabulo dixerimus prae cius amplitudine multisque atque diuersis eiusdem vijs quà m subterraneam ciuitatem quippe quòd ipsius ingressu primaria via caeteris amplior pateat quae hinc inde vias diuersas habeat easdem frequentes quae rursum in diuersos viculos diuidantur Angiportus rursus vt in ciuitatibus statis locis velutfora quaedam ampliora sint spatia ad conuentus sacros agendos eadâ—mque Sanctorum Imaginibus exornata nec desint licet nunc obstructa ad lumen recipiendum desuper excisa foramina Obstupuit vrbs cùm in suis suburbijs abditas se nouit habere ciuitates So wonderfull and chargeable a worke with such streets turnings Churches altars for holy Masse Images of Saints and the other things of price as they argue the ritch and noble degree of the blessed foundresse so for a lady of Britaine a straunger there to be at so excessiue chardg and expences to prouide such a Sanctuary for the honour of Christ safety releife and coÌ„forte both temporall and spirituall of his Seruants in a forreine Countrie must be a perpetuall glory of this Nation And to giue further testimonie that this our renowned Country woman was foundresse thereof we finde expressely that diuers of her family and posteritie namely S. Pudens her sonne in lawe her grandechildren his daughters S. Pudentiana and S. Praxedes as likely S. Nouatus and Timotheus were honorably
also the fowlest and dishonestest which we may not thinke that so modest and holy a Saint would doe which is of these Protestants sufficiently before acknowledged when they expressely say Martials verses generally are no lessons be fitting Ladyes Therefore if generally they were so vnbeseeming Theater of great Brit. supr l. 6. we may not make so holy renowned a Lady either a generall or particular Approuer of such stuffe to send it so loÌ„g a Iorney to her beloued FrieÌ„ds in this her Natiue CouÌ„try of Britaine for toakeÌ„s much les for Newyeares gifts neither was that name nor ceremony knowne in Britaine loÌ„g after that time 7. And the first Protestant English Archbishop which before obserued that absurditie and yet willing to insist in the same erroneous steps of his brethren in this point and therefore hath written that it is likely Claudia sent these strange Poems hither from Rome before she was a Christian verisimile est Claudiam ante acceptam fidem Epigrammata Martialis ad Britannos misisse suos speaketh farre more absurdly for it is euident by all Accompts both of Christians and Pagans Catholiks and Protestants that Claudia was a Christian and renowned by Saint Pauls pen in the time of Nero 26. yeares before Martial wrote or came to Rome Therefore it was greate ignorance or willfulnes in that Protestant Archbishop to write it was verisimile a very likely thing that Claudia sent that Poets Epigrams into Britan before she was a Christian she being a renowned Christian so long before he was a Poet. Godwin Conu of Britaine p. 17. 18. But Martial had other meanes to vent his Poems hither he was acquainted with Quintus Ouidius and his company that came hither he and wrote an Epigram vnto him cited before such was also one Stella as he writeth Martial l. 10. Epigram 40. ad Quintum Ouidium Lib. 12. Epigram 3. ad librum suuÌ„ Ille dabit populo Patribusque Equitique legendum And it was his glory thus by idle headed parsons to send his bables about both to Rome and from thence to other parts as appeareth in the beginning of the same Epigram Ad populos mitti qui nuper ab vrbe solebas Ibis tu Romam nunc peregrine liber And he plainely declareth euen in his first Epigram to his Reader this was his humour to make him selfe knowne in the world for such Poeticall and vaine scriblings Hic est quem legis ille quem requiris Toto notus in Orbe Martialis Argutis Epigrammaton libellis And to make speedy vtterance of such wares to all parsons places the very Martial l. 1. Epigram 1. ad Lectorem Lib. 1. Epigr. 2. next Epigram which is also to the Reader is to tell where his bookes were to be bought and besides he sent them vp and downe to particular parsons as their Titles testifie And allthough we had diuers holy Christians then in Rome of this Nation which reiected Martial his Poems as S. Claudia and her Father did yet there were also at that time many Pagan Britans and some of them also Poets as Gildas Cambrius a most noble Britan Poet as Ponticus Pontic Virun Hist Brit. l. 1. Girald Ferrar. hist Poet. Dialog 5. Io. Bal. Script Brit. cent 1. in Gilda Cambrio Virunnius calleth him Gildas Poeta Britannicus nobilissimus and others by whose meanes besides such as I haue related before it is not vnlikely but Martials verses aswell as others came into this Countrie and he might take notice there of and therevpon write it was reported that his verses were sunge in Britaine 8. And hereby it appeareth how weake a propp they haue to support S. Claudia did not translate or send S. Pauls Epistles into Britaine them therein that would probably and by comparison conclude that S. Claudia did send S. Pauls Epistles into Britaine because she sent Martials Poems hither for first there is so greate difference and repugnancy betweene the holy writings of S. Paul and the idle Epigrams of that Poet if we chuse their best that rather the contrary is to be gathered that whosoeuer did affect the libels of Martial could not be a louer of S. Pauls doctrine so opposite vnto such vanities and so she knowne to be so renowned a Christian when Martial wrote and so highely commended by S. Paul could be no recommender of Martials vanities vnto this or any other parts or parsons And it is euident before she allowed them not And allthough I willingely allowe what a Protestant Bishop writeth of her placing her among our Brittish writers and affirming that she was renowned all through out Italy and other Nations for her style in the Latine Greeke tongue Claudia Rufina Britannici generis nobilissima Io. Bal. l. de Scrip. Brit. cent 1. in Claudia Rufina mulier nominis claritatem ex ingenti vtriusque linguae Latinae Graecae notitia per Italiam alias commeruit mundi Regiones yet this is no warrant for others to say that therefore she translated S. Pauls Epistles and sent them into Britaine For euery one that hath knowledge in Latine and Greeke allthough in a more excellent manner then a Lady a stranger to them both and young in yeares as by these men she was is not a fit Translator of holy Scripturs and we doe not finde that honor then giuen to any of her sexe nor did that or such office belong to her or any such her Father before confessed to be a learned Christian was a fitter man to performe such things to this his Nation if any such was done at that time But amoÌ„g all the Epistles which S. Paul wrote we doe not finde any one of them written or sent by him to any parson or place but such as had receaued the faith of Christ before neither S. Pauls Epistles nor any part of Scripture will make an Infidell a good Christian without a Preacher or Interpreter And I suppose he would be thought a strange Poet surpassing Martiall in that kind in the iudgment of Antiquaries who should say he had euer seene or credibly heard of any part of Scripture then translated much more by any woman into the Welch or Brittish languadge 9. And no lesse paradoxe it is which a Protestant Bishop and Antiquarie Godwin Conu of Brit. p. 18. c. â— proposeth to the world concerning S. Pudens husband to this our holy Country woman S. Claudia laboring to perswade his Readers that he came into S. Pudens Hust ad to S. Claudia did 〈…〉 Bâ—itainâ— nâ—r neaâ—â—â—â— Nâ—â—ther preached â—e any wheâ—â— Brâ—taine and heare preached the faith of Christ First he maketh this his Marginall Note of that which followeth Britaine a Refuge for Christians And then addeth of this time it was not counted vnlawfull for those to be Christians that dwelt beyonde Italy and France as in Britaine or neare the PirenaeaÌ„ Mountains and so to the westerne Ocean Whereby vndoubtedly it came to passe that
Ambassadours Trebellius and Pertinax that Persecution against Christians was ceased and some of the renowned of the Romans had embraced Christian Religion he presently sent and wrote an Epistle to Eleutherius Pope of Rome by learned BritaÌ„s Eluanus Meduuinus to haue Baptisme receaued heare And he sufficiently insinuateth there as the Magdeburgians before haue done that he would haue done this sooner but for feare of the Roman Emperours by whose permission and Authoritie as this man Bal. supr saith he was King in Britaine making him litle better then a King by courtesie onely Lucius Pius Coilli Regis filius vnicus Romanorum fautor Caesaris Marci Matth. Parker Antiq. Brit. p. 4. Antonini Veri beneuolentia authoritate Britannis post patrem imperabat The first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury setting downe the same motiue and how by the Romans example the Christian faith was now receaued in all Prouinces addeth for King Lucius Ad Eleutherium Romanum Pontificem illustres facundos viros Eluanum Aualonium Meduinum Belgam cum literis mandatis legauit In quibus petijt vt ad se iam doctrina Christiana imbutum Nuncios ac Legatos à quibus Baptismate lauaretur mitteret King Lucius sent renowned Iewell against Harding 119. Godwin conu of Britan. Catal. of Bishop Theater of great Britaine l. 6. Selden Analect Rob. Barn l. de vit Pontif. Rom. in Eleutherio Stow Hist in Lucius men Eluan of Aualonia and Medwin a Belgian to Eleutherius Pope of Rome with letters and commandements in which he requested that he would send Messengers and Legats to baptise him allready instructed in Christian doctrine His Protestant Successours Whitegift against the Puretans and George Abbot directour of Francis Mason in their Booke of Consecration as they followed him in place so in this opinion So their Protestant Bishops Iewell and Godwine So teacheth the whole company of Protestant Antiquaries in their Theater of Britaine So their particular Historians and writers Barnes Selden Stowe with others Lucius Britanniae Rex Christiano coetui cum suis subditis adiungi petijt â—er litteras An other saith King Lucius sent his two Ambassadours Eluanus and Meduuinus two learned meÌ„ in the Scripturs with his louing letters to Eleutherius Bishop of Rome desiring him to send some deuoute and learned men by whose InstructioÌ„ both he and his people might be taught the faith and Religion of Christ And these Protestants doe not stay their pens heare in giuing this supreame prerogatiue King Lucius did not onely send to the Pope to obtaine the setling of Religion heare but to establish the temporall state and Lawes of this kingdome as our Protestant Antiquaries with others acknowledge and preemineÌ„cie to the See of Rome for the ordering setling of spirituall affayres but goe further enforming vs that this holy King of Britaine Lucius so renowned in all Antiquities did appeale to the same Pope of Rome to haue the temporall and Ciuile Lawes of this Nation to be framed and enacted and so setled by his Authoritie And diuers of them are so earnest herein that they say King Lucius sent at this time and by these Ambassadours for obtayning thereof Their first Protestant Archbishop is playne in this opinion for hauing as before sett downe the Ambassadge our King sent to Pope Eleutherius desiring to haue Instructours sent hither to setle Christian Religion he immediately addeth with a connectiue phrase of speach entreating that those Legats this Pope should send hither for establishing Religion should also Matth. Parker Antiq. Brit. p. 4. bring with them the Roman Lawes by which he might describe and establish the state of Religion and common wealth in his kingdome Quique vnà deferrent Romanas leges quibus Religionis Reipublicae statum in Regno suo describeret atque stabiliret This mans opinion together with diuers others of the Protestant profession concerning this matter is related by a Protâ—stant Bishop and Antiquarie in this manner Lucius some time after his Conuersâ—on but whether Godwin Conu of Brit. p. 29. 30. before or after his Baptisme appeareth not made request vnto Eleutherius to send him some kind â—â—â—bstract of the Roman Lawes whereby he might establish a setled Order of Gouernment in his Dominions 4. Now whereas the Druids were the Iudges of all matters both in Caesar com l. 6. spirituall and temporall gouernment ferè de omnibus controuersijs publicis priuatisque constituunt si quod est admissum facinus si caedes facta si de haereditate de finibus controuersia est ijdem decernunt praemia poenasque constituunt The abolishing of these Druids made an alteration in politick matters aswell as Ecclesiasticall or concerning Religion so that the cause of reformation in both kindes being one and the selfe same I see no reason why we should not thinke that the remedie of both was likewise sought at once And true it is that the Authour of the booke called Antiquitates Britannicae Matthew Parker their Protestant first Archbishop last cited affirmeth how that Eluan and Medwin made the foresaid motion for the Roman Lawes at their being with Eleutherius before the Baptisme of Lucius and then receaued answeare So doth Foxe Iewell contra Hard. p. 119. M. Foxe and the Reuerend Father of happy memory Bishop Iewell thus one brother commendeth an other seemeth to be of the same opinion Yet because the Authours of our greate Chronicle Holinshead and the rest deliuer that this motion was made after the Baptisme of Lucius but also setting downe precisely the particular time doe say it was in the third yeare of his Conuersion I will not take vpon mee to pronounce eyther the one way or other but leaue it vnto the Readers Iudgment and discretion to determine of hitherto this Protestant Bishop for himselfe and his adherents in Religion concerning this matter This motion and request of King Lucius to the Pope about the temporall â—awes was after his first Ambassagâ— and receauing Christian ReligioÌ„ 5. But bccause he leaueth the determination hereof to his Readers Iudgment discretion I being one of his Readers will take vpoÌ„ me thus to determine against him his Brethren the Protestant Bishops and the rest by their owne testimonie citation for all these which he named as himselfe also cite at lardge the letter of Pope Eleutherius to King Lucius about this busines and it is all the light of this relation which is left vnto vs in Histories And therein Pope Eleutherius telleth vs plainely that this motion and answeare vnto it were after the publike Conuersion of this Country and after it had receaued also the holy Scripturs suscepistis nuper miseratione diuina in Regno Britanniae legem fidem Christi habetis penes vos in Regno vtramque paginam And seeing they were the Apostolike men which were sent hither by Pope Eleutherius to conuert the kingdome to Christ Which were principally to
holy Fathers succeeding the Apostles and not out of the Inuention of those though wise men which made such alteration or addition Inde per diuersorum prudentium virorum consilium non de proprijs sed de serie scripturarum noui veteris testamenti diuersorum prudentium virorum Paginis sed de sacris scripturis receperunt Antiphonas Responsoria seu sonos alleluias composuerunt That they continually Manuscr Hist Brit. antiquiss without intermission day night perseuered in praying and seruing God one company therein succeeding an other especially where their number Gulielm Malm. l. de Antiq. Caen. Glaston Antiq. Glaston Tabulis fixae was greate I haue declared before by the example of the Monasteries of Abington and S. Kentegerne so I may say of the Monasterie of S. Vuandilocus and S. Gomogillus wherein there were about 3000. Monkes Beatus Vuandilocus beatus Gomigillus habuerunt in eorum Monasterio Monachos circiter tria millia So of the Monastery of S. Brendan that of Bangor and Capgr Catal. in S. Brendano Io. Bal. l. de Script cent 1. in BreÌ„dan Capgr supr Bal. centur 5. in Io. Capgr Girald Cambr. Itinerar CaÌ„br l. 2. c. 6. Capgr in S. Brendan Hector Boeth Scot. hâ—st others And in the least of them all there was litle lesse deuotion vsed For in this first of Glastenbury when there were but twelue Religious men there we haue heard before that they ofteÌ„ times in the day came alltogether to tho old Church to performe diuine office in vetustam Ecclesiam ad diuina obsequia deuotius complenda crebro conuenerunt quotidie Many comitted this holy Rule though with some difference to writing to be obserued and kept of holy Monkes among whome were S. Brendan directed by an Angel as both old and late Catholike and Protestant Antiquaries deliuer S. Dauid S. Kentigern S. ColuÌ„banus which Rule of S. ColuÌ„ban Pope Honorius coÌ„firmed And this Rule with the Regulars professing it continued heare in greate sanctitie in the time of Giraldus CaÌ„brensis in the time of Capgrauius vsque hodie The Apostolike Order and Monastery of GlasteÌ„bury the most auncient manet who lyued in the yeare of Christ 1464. and after in Hector Boethius his time in the dayes of Luther as they plainely proue witnesse eueÌ„to these new Heresies Whereby appeareth it was the most auncient holy and generall S. Asaphus in Vit. S. Kentegerni Caâ—gr in eod Io. Bal. l. de Scriptor cent 1. in Kentegern Order of Religion or euer was in the world And from which very many Religious orders especially in the west part of the world haue proceeded as childreÌ„ of so blessed a mother not onely in Italy Germany FraÌ„ce others in that Continent but as both Catholike and Protestant Antiquaries haue deliuered in all Regions neare to Britaine Orchades Norway Denmarke Iseland Script Vitae S. BreÌ„da capg in eod LaÌ„b in Leg. S. Edwardi Hackluit booke of Engl. trauail in Arthur and the Ilands of America itselfe the New found world as it is termed by some but knowne vnto preached and inhabited in by these ouâ— Monkes 1100. or 1200. yeares since No order of Religion in the world hath or had so many glorious Saints 7. Many Infidell Nations were by these conuerted to the faith of Christ and among others both by our owne and forreyne Histories they the holy Bishops and Clergie of Britaine haue wonne and iustly deserued the honour to be the blessed Instruments of conuerting the farre greater parte of the Saxons in this kingdome before at and after S. Augustine and his holy Associats preaching heare And not onely of the Saxons and Germans heare but in the Higher and Lower Germany and other peoples there those which were of England Monks and Preachers in those parts being trayned vp in Monasticall Order in our Monasteries in our North England of our old Order before any other but our old Brittish Rules was setled heare Neyther shall I easily be persuaded by any thing I finde in Antiquitie that S. Augustine Greg. in Dialog Epist ad Reg. Ethelbert Resp ad Interrogat S. August Honor. Pap. Epistol ad Honor. CaÌ„tuar Bed Hist lib. 2. Capgr in S. Honorio Cantuar. with his Associats was of any other but the old Apostolike Order and Rule that was vsed in S. Gregories Monastery as S. Gregory himselfe Pope Honorius his Successour S. Bede Capgraue and other renowned Authours doe plainely affirme and witnesse which easily ioyned and vnited the Professours of it with all other Apostolike Rules of S. Martine S. Augustine of Glastenbury Bangor S. Columba S. Brendan S. Kentegern and others renowned heare in Britaine which allthough they haue not bene well knowne to remote and forreyne writers among whome Britaine was so vnkowne to some that they were ignorant whether it was an other world or no yet we the Inhabitants indigenae thereof which may not pleade ignorance nor be excused in being ill affected to so worthie Auncestours and Parents in Christ may not ignorantly or wittingely defraude them of their most worthilie due and deserued glory or giue it from them to others 8. No Regular Abbot in the Schoole of Christ was more auncient then our Founder S. Ioseph of Aramathia so renowned by holy witnesse of God All Apostolike men and Orders that came after into Britaine ioyned with that of Glastenbury himselfe in sacred Scripturs none more louing of Christ or forsaking more for him then he that seeing Christ forsaken as it were of all forsooke him not but boldly begged his blessed bodie shrowded and honorably buried it in his owne Sepulchre suffered so much of the wicked Iewes as Histores recompt for that cause and forsaking for Christ loue the loue of himselfe his Country Ritches Lands reuenewes and friends because he would be a stranger to the world and wordly things so to liue and die came so farre a Iorney as from Arimathia and Hierusalem to liue and die so strict a contemplatiue and heauenly life in the Desart I le of Aualon in our Britaine heare and founde for this Nation the first Monastery and be thereof the first Abbot in the world such as their Abbots such were the Religeous vnder him as I haue remembred And they continued there so long as many hold there was no interruption betweene them and these in King Lucius time if there was it must needs be very short All agree that Christ immediately himselfe S. Peter or S. Philip Apostles sent them as Apostles hither and certaine it is before S. Peter heare approued them And when these our Legats S. Damanus and Faganus were sent Bishops hither from S. Eleutherius Pope the Antiquities of Winchester S. Gildas as he was publikly cited in Parlament by Abbot Fecknam of Westminster and others holde were Monkes and yet as before and as the Antiquaries and Antiquities of Gâ—astenbâ—â—y prone Annales Winâ—on Gildas apud Abbot Feckn oâ—at in 1. Parliament Elizabeth