exprest by him in their proper Names are one only God. I believe saith St. Albanus and my firm Faith is that there is no other God besides my Lord Jesus Christ who for the Salvation of Mankind took our Nature upon him and suffer'd death upon the Cross He together with the Father and the Holy Spirit is one only God and besides him there is no other And having said this he often cast himself Prostrate before the Crucifix as if he had seen our Lord Jesus himself hanging on the Cross carnestly begging Pardon for his sins He often affectionately kiss'd his Saviours feet and places of his Wounds as if he had seen him Crucify'd Tears with Blood flow'd abundantly from his Eyes upon the venerable Cross and these words from his mouth I renounce the Divel and detest all the Enemies of our Lord to whom I wholly resign myself Amphibalus then bad him be of good Courage saying Our Lord is with thee whose Grace will never be wanting to thee The saving Faith which others attain by the Ministry of men thou hast learn'd by the Revelation of Christ himself And therefore being assur'd of thy constancy my purpose is to leave thee and Travel further that I may shew the way of Truth to other Gentiles also But Albanus prevail'd with him to stay a week longer that he might be more perfectly instructed in the Faith by him This Narration of St. Alban's Conversion is attested by a very Antient and Credible Author We shall now proceed to the History of his glorious Martyrdom He having been thus Instructed Baptiz'd and Confirm'd in the Faith by Amphibalus was at last contented with his departure but exhorted him to take care of his safety and in order thereunto disguis'd him in his own Military Vestment woven with Gold that he might the more safely pass through the Soldiers Early in the morning Amphibalus takes his slight Northward conducted part of the way by Albanus at last they parted with Tears Amphibalus hastens into Wales Albanus returns into the City cloath'd with the Caracalla or long Ecclesiastical Robe of Amphibalus and now left alone made great hast in his journey to Immortality All the enticements of the World became odious to him he found no pleasure but in Prayers and Tears at the foot of our Lords Cross he burn'd with a desire to requite the Love of Christ by dying for him His Domesticks and Neighbours observing the wonderful change in his manner of Life began to suspect and quickly found out the true cause of it so that in a short time he is publickly known for a Deserter of Heathenish Superstition and therefore complain'd of unto and conven'd before the Roman Magistrate to whom a certain Gentile had discover'd what ever pass'd between St. Albanus and St. Amphibalus This Magistrate thus Incens'd commanded they should both be brought before him St. Amphibalus being departed the Soldiers found only St. Albanus in his strange Habit at his Prayers with naked feet before the Cross of our Lord and ask'd him where the Clark was whom he had entertain'd He answered That the Holy man was under the Protection of God and fear'd not the Threats of Men When they heard this they laid hands on him bound him with Chains and violently drew him away some pulling at his Garments some at his Hair He had still upon him the Vestment of his Master knowing the sight of it was enough to make him odious he carried also in his hand the Image of our Lord that he might only appear a Servant of the Cross Being come before the Judge he was examin'd in many particulars but all his Answer was That he was Albanus and a Christian which he profess'd with great liberty of Speech The Judge enquir'd of him What became of the Clark who was sent by one call'd Christ to delude and seduce the People of this City Had he not saith the Judge had a guilty Conscience and been distrustful of his own Cause this worthy Master of yours would have freely presented himself before us to defend both Himself and his Disciples But by his own Carriage he makes known the falseness and Fraudulence of his Doctrine since he deserts thee and is Cowardly run away from thee whom if his Cause had been good he ought to have justify'd though with hazard of his Life So as I suppose thou now perceiv'st how silly a Fellow he was who seduc'd thee into Errours and brought thee by his idle suggestions into such a Frenzy as not only to renounce all worldly Advantages but to contemn the immortal Gods the injury against whom since we ought not to leave unpunish'd my purpose was to have reveng'd it by the death of the prophane Delinquent But seeing humane frailty is such that there is none but are obnoxious to Errour thou mayest yet by Repentance escape the indignation of the Gods and make them propitious to thee if thou wilt now renounce this abominable Sect. Hereto Albanus Answer'd It were a very easie matter to declare how vain and impertinent this long discourse of yours is for if it had seem'd good or agreeable to either of us That Holy Clark would not have fail'd to have been here But I confess his stay here could not be pleasing to me who well know how prone to mischief this People hath ever been The Doctrine taught by that good man I have heartily embrac'd neither can I repent me of it for the Faith which I profess will be prov'd to be Holy and Divine by the Testimony of Sick and Infirm People who by virtue thereof shall receive Health I will no longer Sacrifice to your Gods nor fear your Threats or Torments being secure under the protection of my good Lord. This being said at the command of the Judge he was Cruelly Scourg'd by the Officers for refusing to Sacrifice during which Torment he lifted up his Eyes to our Lord and with a chearful countenance said O Lord Jesus Christ I beseech thee keep this mind and good resolution which thou hast given me firm and stable My desire is O my God to offer up my Soul a whole Burnt Sacrifice to thy Glory and with my Blood to Seal thy Truth But when the Officers were weary with tormenting him the Holy man was thrust into a deep Dungeon where he continu'd six Months All the Elements soon bare witness of the injury done unto him and from the time of his Apprehension to his Death neither Rain nor Dew refresh'd the Earth the Winds were whist and the Region thereabout parch'd with excessive Heat of the Sun even in the night-time the stifing heat was intollerable neither Fields nor Trees produced any Fruit so that the whole World fought in the quarrel of this just man against his Impious Enemies insomuch as this excessive Heat and Drought Heathens themselves took notice of though they apply'd it to other purposes The Infidel Judge expected that the Constancy of the Holy Martyr would have
insomuch as that Constantius advis'd with many Eastern Bishops about it Who resolv'd him It was better to allow of Athanasius then hazard a Civil War. The year following Athanasius return'd into the East and was at first receiv'd by Constantius with some Kindness and permitted to return to his See at Alexandria But the year following the Arrian Bishops becoming boundless in their Power and Malice by the death of the Orthodox Emperour Constans who by the Conspiracy of Magnentius Chrestius and Marcellinus was Traytorously slain at Helena a Town in France It is said he had a Prediction That he should die in his Grand-Mothers Lap. His death was greatly bewail'd by St. Athanasius who foresaw the danger was like to ensue unto the Catholick Faith by the loss of Constans and the evil of the sole remaining Emperour who was yet at present very much incumber'd by two Tyrants the one was Vetranio who had once govern'd in Britain and was after Proclaim'd Emperour in Illyricum but was soon depos'd by Constantius who yet not only spar'd his Life but suffer'd him to spend the remainder of his Life in Retirement full of Pleasure and Abundance The other Tyrant was Magnentius who took the Title of Emperour at Augustodunum in France and held it three years and then after the loss of a Battel was forc'd to kill himself After this Victory Constantius would be call'd the Emperour of the whole World and assum'd the Impious Title of his Eternity and then extended all his Pride and Power to oppress the Catholick Faith and establish the Arrian Heresie even in the Western Churches also commanding a Councel to be Assembled at Arles in France where he extorted the Suffrages of the Bishops in favour of his Heresie and condemnation of St. Athanasius drawing in the Legate of Pope Liberius who had newly succeeded Julius Howbeit Liberius more than once sollicited the Emperour by Legates and Epistles on the behalf of St. Athanasius complaining That the Suffrages of Bishops were mercenarily sold according to the Princes inclination Whereupon Constantius perceiving the endeavours of Liberius render'd the Sentences of his pack'd Synods invalid sought to win him by Promises and Favours to his Party that proving ineffectual he sent for him when Liberius was come to him he stoutly protested He would suffer any thing rather than being a Christian to become an Arrian At which the Emperour being offended sent him into Banishment to Beraea a City of Thrace whereto he chearfully submitted rejecting 500 Crowns which the Emperour sent for his Maintenance In his place was substituted a certain Roman Priest call'd Felix one who though in judgement a Catholick yet comply'd with the Arrians Liberius wanting constancy and weary of his Banishment after two years return'd from it with as much Infamy as he had submitted to it with glory yielding at last to the condemnation of St. Athanasius and subscribing to a Confession of Faith fram'd in a Synod at Sirmium wherein though there was nothing Haeretical yet the word Consubstantiality being left out his subscription to it was scandalous and argu'd an unlawful complyance with the Arrians After all this returning again to Rome he breaks off all Communion with the Arrians and joyns himself in Communion with Athanasius to whom he thus writes Our Confession belov'd Athanasius is that the Word is the Son of God being according to his Nature begotten of God his Father not created he is God his Fathers Colleague in his Empire and obtains an endless Kingdom for infinite Ages Amen Whilst Constantius in the West thus afflicted the Catholick Church and Faith Gratian Father of Valentinian afterwards Emperour was Pro-Praetor of Britain He was rais'd from a vile Original to this high degree for his Courage and Virtue in his younger Age he is said to have been a Seller of Ropes such was his strength that five Soldiers were not able to wrest a Rope out of his Hands for his favouring Magnentius he was depriv'd both of Office and Estate Martinus succeeded him in his Pro-Praetorship of Britain who govern'd this Island with great Justice and Kindness to the Britains his Government was shortned upon this unhappy occasion Constantius being a Prince very Suspitious imploy'd Officers to search out such as were practising against him One Paul a Notary was very much esteem'd of him for his Malicious Sagacity in such matters and therefore sent by him into Britain to bring over in Chains such Soldiers as had intermedled in the Conspiracy of Magnentius Paul executed this Authority with such Cruelty and Injustice that the Pro-Praetor to prevent the Miseries of so many Innocents first intercedes by way of Intreaty and being therein unsuccessful protested he would leave the Province rather than behold such Oppression This Paul for his Subtilty call'd Catena being thus thwarted in his Cruelty Craftily involves the Pro-praetor himself in a Suspition of the same Guilt and Treason so as he presumes to seize upon him and put him in Fetters with the rest Martinus betakes himself to his Sword in defence of himself and therewith wounds Paul but not Mortally and thereupon turns his Sword upon his own Breast and so dy'd lamented of all men In the year of our Lord 359. the Church of God was expos'd to great danger and infamy by the Councel of Ariminum then Assembled by the Authority of the Arrian Emperour Constantius with design to abolish the Faith of the Consubstantiality of the Son of God. He commanded his Praefect Taurus That when the Bishops were met together he should not permit them to depart till they had all consented in one Faith It is said that out of Illyricum Italy Africk Spain and Gaul and out of Britain also under the notion of Gaul he gather'd together more than 400 Bishops The Emperour commanded allowance of Necessaries to these Bishops but those of Gaul and Britain refus'd it as an unseemly thing and chose rather at their own Costs to maintain themselves Three only out of Britain excepted who being destitute of Subsistence out of their own Sees made some use of the Emperour's Liberality and perhaps were not to be disprais'd for it These Bishops being assembled were prescrib'd what they should do by the Emperours Letters and severely enjoyn'd to determine nothing which might touch the Eastern Bishops and when they had finish'd their Decrees they were to send them to Court by two Bishops In these Letters it is observ'd that he Subscribes himself Constantine not Constantius Notwithstanding all which the Holy Bishops Couragiously perform'd their Duties for they confirm'd the Nicene Creed sorbidding any addition or diminution thereof and protesting They would never depart from the Faith which they had receiv'd from God the Father by the Prophets and our Lord Jesus Christ which the Holy Spirit taught in the Gospels according as was deliver'd by Tradition of the Fathers succeeding the Apostles to the times when this Controversie was debated at Nicaea against an Heresie which then arose All
seems to have been Ordain'd Bishop by St. Patrick and to have fix'd his seat in a small Island which according to St. Bede is scituated at some distance from the Western Coasts of Ireland and is call'd the Isle of Whitecalfe where St. Coleman afterwards built a Monastery and is promiscuously Inhabited by English and Scots St. Dererca had many other Sons famous for their Sanctity but we shall now take notice only of two more Illustrious then the rest the first Sechnallus in Latin Secundinus who wrote the Alphabetical Hymn in Praise of St. Patrick The others name was Auxilius who was by St. Patrick ordain'd Bishop of Leimster Laginensium and after many Miracles wrought by him ended his Holy Life in Cealusalli his own City seated in the Plaines of Leimster In the year of Grace 519. a British Synod was assembled upon this occasion The detestable Heresie of the Pelagians extinguish'd by St. Germanus and St. Lupus began to Spring again to the hazard of the Catholick Faith. The Bishops and Abbots of Cambria met in Cardiganshire divers Noble-men and other Lay-persons were present out of the whole Country many Sermons and Exhortations were made in the publick Audience to confute the said Heresie Howbeit the People were generally so infected therewith that no reasons or perswasions could prevail with them to return into the Path of Right Faith At length therefore Paulin a Bishop with whom St. David in his youth had been Educated earnestly perswaded the Fathers to send for St. David in the Name of the Synod who was lately Consecrated Bishop by the Patriarch and was a Discreet and Eloquent man to afford his assistance to Gods Church now in great danger but could not prevail with him to forsake his Contemplations until at last two Holy men Daniel and Dubritius by their Authority brought him with them to the Synod And then all the Fathers there Assembled enjoyn'd St. David to Preach He commanded a Child which had lately been restor'd to Life by him to spread a Napkin under his feet and standing upon it he began to expound the Gospel and the Law to the Auditory All the while he continued his Oration a Snow-white Dove descending from Heaven sate upon his Shoulders and the Earth on which he stood rais'd it self under him 'till it became a Hill from whence his Voice like a Trumpet was clearly heard and understood by all both far and near On the top of which Hill a Church was afterwards built which remains to this day When the Sermon was finish'd so Powerfully did Divine Grace Cooperate that the Heresie soon vanish'd and was extinguish'd And the Holy Bishop St. David by the general Election and Acclamation both of Clergy and People was exalted to be the Arch-bishop of all Cambria By the Confusions of those times the Decrees of this and other Synods are unhappily lost by which we might have been inform'd of the State of the then British Church yet something of it may be collected out of the Author of St. David's Life who tells us That Heresie being thus expell'd all the Churches of Britain receiv'd their Order and Rule from the Authority of the Roman Church By which we may see the mistake of some Modern Writers who will needs affirm that the British Church before the Conversion of the Saxons in their Faith and Discipline were squar'd after the Model of the Eastern Church This Synod Spelman calls Panbritanicum and soon after it Monasteries were built in several places and this Holy Bishop St. David became the chief Protector of them and withall a Preacher of such esteem that all men receiv'd a Rule and Form of Holy living from him This expedient the Holy Spirit suggested to the Antient Fathers namely the Building of Monasteries thereby to promote and fortifie the Catholick Faith for out of them still proceeded some to instruct Believers in Faith and Holiness of Life But another Spirit suggested Dioclesian the Infidel Saxons and some Zealots of late days to destroy Monasteries as a sure means to destroy Faith and Holiness also It may not here be unprofitable to describe the form of a Monastick Life instituted by St. David who having built a Monastery near Menevia in a place call'd Rosma or the Rosey Valley gave this strict Rule of Monastical Profession That every Monk should labour daily with his Hands for the common good of the Monastery For Idleness corrupts the Thoughts and Minds of men The Monks there were not to take Gifts or Possessions from unjust persons and detested Riches they had no care to ease their Labours by use of Oxen or Cattle for every one to himself and his Brethren was instead of Riches and Oxen. They never convers'd together by talking but when necessity requir'd but each one perform'd the labour enjoyn'd him joyning thereto Prayer or Holy Meditations on Divine things And having finish'd their Country work they return'd to the Monastery where they spent the remainder of the day till Even in Reading or Writing At Even upon the sounding of a Bell they all left their work and repair'd to Church where they remain'd 'till the Stars appear'd and then went all together to their Refection eating sparingly and not to satiety their Food was Bread with Roots or Herbs season'd with Salt and they quench'd their Thirst mith a mixture of Water and Milk Supper being ended they continued three hours in Watching Prayers and Genu-flexions As long as they were in the Church it was not permitted to any to Slumber Sneeze or Spit After this they went to their Rest and at Cock-crowing they rose and continu'd at Prayers 'till day appear'd All their inward temptations and thoughts they discover'd to their Superior and from him they demanded permission in all things even when they were urg'd to the necessities of Nature Their Cloathing was of the Skins of Beasts Whosoever desir'd to joyn himself in their Holy Conversation he was oblig'd to remain 10 days at the door of the Monastery as a Reprobate unworthy to be admitted into their Society and there be expos'd to Opprobious scorns But if all that time he Patiently suffer'd all Mortifications he was receiv'd by the Religious Senior who had care of the Gate whom he serv'd and by whom he was instructed in which condition he remain'd a long time exercis'd in painful Labours and grievous Mortifications and so at last was admitted to the Fellowship of the Brethren Cambden makes mention of this Synod saying Llandevibrevi or the Church of St. David near the River Brevi was built in memory of St. David Bishop of Menevia in the place where He during the sitting of a full Synod confuted and repress'd the Pelagian Heresie reviving in Britain by the Holy Scriptures and Miracles For as the Fame is the Earth on which he Preach'd swell'd up under his feet till it became a Hill. This Synod it seems was celebrated not in House or Town but in the open Fields as afterwards St. Augustine the
the second Order receiv'd the right Order of Celebrating Mass out of Britain from Holy men there living as St. David St. Gildas and St. Doc Moreover St. David sent over some of his Disciples into Ireland who grew famous for their Learning and Sanctity of whom the most Illustrious was St. Aedan call'd by the Irish St. Madoc After he grew renown'd for his Piety and Miracles he built at length a Monastery near the City of Fernes where having collected a great number of Devout Brethren he Consecrated himself to the Service of God living according to the form and rule which he had receiv'd from his Pious Father St. David the same which was observ'd by the Monks in Aegypt This St. Aedan was afterwards Bishop of Fernes and Metropolitan of Leinster while St. David liv'd whom he us'd to consult in Affairs of difficulty After many years spent by the Holy Bishop David in the exercise of all Christian Virtues it pleas'd Almighty God in love to him and just anger to the Ungrateful Britains to translate this burning and shining Light from Earth to Heaven there to shine in Glory to all Eternity According to the best account He dy'd in the year of Grace 544. having liv'd 82 years though some writers affirm him to have liv'd much longer It is said That when the hour of his Dissolution approach'd the Angel of the Lord appear'd to him saying The day so much desir'd by thee is now at hand prepare thy self for on the Calends of March our Lord Jesus Christ attended with a multitude of Angels will come to meet thee Whereupon the Holy man of God said O Lord dismiss now thy Servant in Peace The Brethren who assisted him having heard the sound of these words but not well understanding the sense fell Prostrate to the ground in great fear Then the Holy Bishop cry'd with a loud voice Lord Jesus Christ receive my Spirit Vpon this the Brethren pour'd forth loud Complaints but he asswag'd their sorrow with mild and comfortable words exhorting them to be constant in their good profession and unanimously to bear to the end that yoak which they had undergone and to observe and fulfill whatever they had seen or heard from him and from that hour to the day of his death he remain'd in the Church exhorting and encouraging them But when the hour of his departure was come our Lord Jesus Christ vouchsafed his presence as he had promis'd by his Angel to the infinite Consolation of the Holy Father who at the Heavenly sight exalted in Spirit cry'd out O my Lord take me after thee With which words in our Lords company he gave up his Spirit to God upon the Calends fore-mention'd and being associated to a troop of Angels mounted up to Heaven with them The Death of this Holy Bishop is said to have been divulg'd by an Angel and in an Instant spread through all Britain and Ireland That this was so seems to be confirm'd by a passage in the Life of St. Kentigern of whom it is said That having one day continu'd his Prayers with more then ordinary Devotion his face seem'd as on fire the sight whereof fill'd the by-standers with great amazement when Prayers were ended the Saint began to lament bitterly and when his Disciples demanded a reason of his sorrow he sate a while silent and at last said My dear Children know for certain that the Holy Bishop David the Glory of Britain the Father of his Country is this day dead he has escap'd out of the Prison of his Body and is flown to Heaven Believe me I my self have seen a multitude of Angels conducting him into the Joy of our Lord and our Lord himself at the Entrance of Paradice hath Crown'd him with Glory and Honour Know also that Britain which is depriv'd of so great a Light will a long time mourn for the Absence of such a Patron who oppos'd himself to the Sword of our Lord when it was half drawn out for the destruction of that Nation in revenge of their Sins and Impenitence Now will God deliver up Britain to a strange Nation which know him not and Pagans shall enjoy the land of its Inhabitants Christian Religion shall be utterly dissipated in it 'till the time prefix'd by God be ended But after that it shall through the Mercies of our Lord be restor'd to its former state yea to a far better and more Happy St. David was Buried in his own Church of Menevia which he had lov'd above all Monasteries of his Diocess because St. Patrick who had Prophesied of his Nativity had been Founder of it And also indeed he was bury'd there by the command of Malgo King of the Venedatae But after 500 years he was Solemnly Canoniz'd by Pope Calixtus the second This Church at first was Dedicated to St. Andrew but after took St. David for its Patron and the whole Diocess was thence call'd St. David's The memory of his Sanctity was so precious that within a few years after his Death the visiting of his Church prov'd a great Devotion of those times St. Oudoceus Successor of St. Thelian in the Bishoprick of Landaff after a Pilgrimage to visit the Monuments of the Holy Apostles at Rome made another to this Church of St. David and after when any one had a desire to go in Devotion to Rome and was hindred by dangers or difficulties he might equal the merit of such a Pilgrimage by twice visiting this Church of St. David perhaps as a compensation allow'd by the Pope St. Kinoc or Cenac was St. David's Successor translated thither from the See of St. Patern of whom and other Successors in the See of St. David little is found To keep the story of this worthy Bishop entire some interruption may be observ'd to have been made in the order of Time. It is therefore requisite to return to its due course In the year of Grace 532. Otta King of Kent dy'd leaving his Son Irmeric Successor in his Kingdom who was Illustrious for nothing more than that he was the Father of Ethelbert the first Christian King among the Saxons Two years after dy'd also Cerdic King of the West-Saxons in the 16th year of his Reign to whom succeeded his Son Kenric in all his Dominions except the Isle of Wight which he left to his Sisters Son Whitgar whom he lov'd especially for his Military Skill The great Commotions in Britain and Cruelty of the Saxons compell'd many to seek the means of serving God abroad amongst whom was a Holy Priest call'd John who retir'd to Tours in France there to live in Prayers and Solitude but after his Death his Sanctity by the good pleasure of God was made known by a Miracle thus related by that famous Bishop St. Gregory of Tours Not far from the Church of Caion saith he rests the Body of a Priest Nam'd John by Nation a Britain who living here with great Devotion and Sanctity Our Lord was pleas'd by him Miraculously to
restore many to Health The better to attend his Divine love he avoided the sight of men confining himself to a little Cell or Oratory over against the Church of Caion where in a little Orchard cultivated by himself he had planted a few Lawrel Trees which now are so increas'd that the Boughs of them being drawn together Arch-wise do afford a very pleasing shade under those Lawrels his custom was to sit Reading or Writing After his Death among the said Trees there was one which through Age was quite Wither'd He who had the care of these Trees digg'd up the root of the dry Tree and of the Body of it hew'd out a Bench upon which he us'd to sit After he had made such use of this seat above two years thought of remorse came into his Heart I believe saith the Holy Bishop by Divine Inspiration which forc'd the man to say Alas Sinner that I am why do I for my Convenience make use of a seat fram'd of the Tree which so Holy a Priest Planted with his own Hand Whereupon he presently digs a hole and puts the seat into it having cut off the Feet which supported it and then cover'd it with Earth The very next Spring this dry Bench sprouted forth into Green Branches and prosper'd so well that at this day there are proceeded from it several young Trees of great heighth and which every year by our Lords Blessing sprout forth more and more About this time dy'd St. Morchus or St. Mocchaeus a British Priest In the beginning of the Saxon Troubles he forsook his Country and pass'd over to Lugh or Louth in Ireland a pleasant place St. Patrick had formerly had a resolution to build a Church there but was commanded by an Angel to consign that place to this Morchus shortly to come thither and end his days there in great Sanctity as he did accordingly He was often times visited by St. Patrick whose Disciple he became and took the care of 12 Leapers recommended to him by St. Patrick He Prophesied of the Holy man Columba and was after Consecrated Bishop of Louth by St. Patrick As for the relation of his living 300 years as a punishment inflicted on him by St. Patrick it is justly rejected so also of his succeeding St. Patrick in the See of Armagh for good Records put it out of doubt that St. Benignus was by him design'd for that succession In the year 539. St. Kentigern being no more then 25 years of Age was Consecrated Bishop of Glascow As for his wonderful Birth it hath already been related and how his Mother was preserv'd by Servanus He so much prosited under the instruction of Servanus that he became his dearly beloved Disciple afterwards he went to Glasco where he liv'd alone in great Abstinence until the King and Clergy of the Region now call'd Gallway with other Christians there which were but few chose him for their Pastor and Bishop notwithstanding the utmost resistance he could make They sent for one single Bishop out of Ireland whom they caus'd to Consecrate St. Kentigern after the then usual custom among the Britains and Scots for at that time a practice had got footing to use no other Ceremony in the Consecration of a Bishop but only the infusion of Sacred Chrism on their Heads with Invocation of the Holy Spirit Benediction and Imposition of Hands For these Islanders remov'd as it were out of the World by the continual Invasion of Pagans were become ignorant in the Ecclesiastical Canons For which cause the Law of the Church condescended to them and admitted an excuse in this regard so as Ecclesiastical Censure did not touch them notwithstanding as is hereafter mention'd St. Kentigern made ample satisfaction for this defect His Diocess extended it self according to the limits of the Kingdom of Cumbria from the famous Wall formerly built to secure the Britains reaching from Sea to Sea as far as the River Ford or Scotish-Sea The defects in this Consecration were First His Age for at a Councel held then not long before a Decree was made That no Metropolitan should presume to Ordain any one Bishop before he arriv'd to 30 years the Age of a perfect man least he should through Youth incurr some Errour Secondly The first Nicene Councel order'd That if any one were made a Bishop without the Judgement and Consent of the Metropolitan he was forbidden to exercise his Episcopal Function And in this Ordination of St. Kentigern there was no consent of the Metropolitan nor so much as concurrence of any Neighbouring Bishop Thirdly The first Canon of the Apostles confirm'd by many Councels enjoyns That every Bishop should be Ordain'd by at least two or three Bishops Whereas St. Kentigern was Consecrated by one single Bishop who was a Stranger of a Forreign Nation Fourthly In the Consecration of Bishops the Antient Fathers for the Dignity of that Degree ordain'd many Rites to be observ'd beside such as belong to the Essence of that Sacrament As Anointing the Head with Chrism with Invocation of the Holy Spirit Signing the Person with the Sign of the Cross Impositionof Hands Together with several other Rites adjoyned for the Adorning the House of God the defect whereof did not vitiate the Sacrament but the Person only Now in all these Points some Defects there were in the Ordination of St. Kentigern which when he afterwards call'd to mind caus'd great unquietness and remorse in him a Custom introduc'd among Britains to ordain thus imperfectly crept in since the Disturbances made by the Saxons so as the Ecclesiastical Canons were either forgotten or render'd unpracticable for that there were no Metropolitans or at such distance that they could not be had most places wanting not only Bishops but Inhabitants and it is probable in the present case the very Chrisme was furnish'd out of Ireland It therefore is manifest that these Disorders were excuseable because unavoidable But in Peaceable times the practice was otherwise and the Canons were duly observ'd and the British Faith unblemish'd And by this we may see that the Britains in their Ordinations before St. Gregory's time conform'd themselves to the Roman Church and not to the Eastern as some would collect for in truth no Eastern Church can be found which neglected any of these Ceremonies However to be sure the Britains in their Discipline establish'd by Councels demanded a Confirmation from the See Apostolick And this appears by the Demeanor of St. Kentigern himself for being after afflicted in mind for those Defects in his Ordination he sought not Council from any Metropolitan but from the Supreme Bishop in Rome to whom the custody of Ecclesiastical Canons was committed and who had Authority to enjoyn the observation of them and punish and regulate the neglect Therefore St. Kentigern as we find recorded went several times to Rome where he candidly laid open his Life his Election Consecration and all the circumstances of it to St. Gregory the special Apostle of the
Gentiles The question was pertinent and thus answer'd by Amphibalus Our Lord Jesus Christ Son of the living God saith he preserv'd me safe from all dangers and sent me into this Province for the Salvation of many that by Preaching his Faith I might prepare a People acceptable to him Who is this Son of God reply'd Albanus Can God be said to be born these are strange Speeches which I never heard of before I desire to know your Opinion of these matters The Holy man answer'd Our Faith teacheth us to acknowledge the Father to be God and the Son also to be God who in Infinite Mercy vouchsafed to take our slesh upon him for the Salvation of Mankind that he might redeem us by suffering Death And then discours'd at large of the Birth Passion Resurrection and Ascention of Christ Concluding If you O Albanus will believe these things to be true you will receive Power by calling on the Name of Christ to Cure any Infirm or Sick person And the Truth is I am come to this City on purpose to Preach to you the healthful Doctrine of our Lords Passion because our merciful God will reward your kind Offices of Humanity and Hospitality to which you frequently addict your self which is the inestimable recompense of Eternal Happiness Then Albanus ask'd him What Honour and Worship must I exhibit to Christ in case I embrace the Faith The other answer'd Believe this that our Lord Jesus together with the Father and the Holy Ghost is one God and thou wilt have perform'd a work of high esteem in his sight Then Albanus reply'd What is all this sure thou art mad thou know'st not what thou say'st no Humane understanding or Reason can apprehend these things But be sure of this that if the Inhabitants of this City come to know thou makâ—st such discourse of Christ without delay they will put thee to a cruel death For my own part I am very sollicitous on thy behalf for fear some mischief befall thee before thou departest from hence Having said this he went away much disturb'd As for St. Amphibalus he spent the night alone in watching and Prayer The same night a wonderful Vision from Heaven was presented to Albanus sleeping with which being awak'd he went to his Guest and said to him Friend if those things which thou told'st me lately concerning Christ be true I pray thee to tell me freely the meaning of my Dream Me thought I saw a certain man come down from Heaven and presently an innumerable multitude of men laid hold of him and tormented him all the ways they could devise they bound his Hands with Chains they tore his Flesh most grievously with Whips they hung him on a Tree stretching his Hands across he was quite naked not having Shooes on his Feet his Hands and Feet were fastned to the Wood with Nails his side was pierc'd through with a Spear and from his Wound as it seem'd to me there flow'd both Blood and Water in his right Hand they put a Reed and on his Head they put a Crown of Thorns And after this barbarous Cruelty they insult over him with despiteful Speeches saying to him Hail King of the Jews if thou art the Son of God come down from the Cross and we will believe in thee And although they continu'd a long while thus reviling him the young man answer'd never a word but at last cryed out with a loud voice and said Father into thy Hands I commend my Spirit And so Expir'd His lifeless Body was afterwards taken down from the Cross the Blood issuing abundantly out of it They then laid him in a Sepulchre of stone sealing the Monument and setting Guards to watch it But then follow'd a wonderful thing for the Bloodless Carcass return'd to Life and re-suming former strength came out of the Sepulchre Seal'd as aforesaid I my self with my own Eyes saw him how he rose again Then came from Heaven certain men cloath'd with Vestments white as Snow and taking the Man with them return'd from whence they came attended by an infinite number of others in like Garments which all the way ceas'd not to sing Praises Blessing the Father I not knowing who he was with his Son saying Blessed be God the Father with his only begotten Son. They express'd such wonderful joy as nothing could be compar'd to it These things I saw with many others which I neither will or ought to declare I beseech thee tell me what is signify'd by these things thus represented to me fear not any danger to your self but speak freely The Holy man Amphibalus having heard this sensibly felt his Heart visited by our Lord with all joy and presently taking out a Crucifix which he had about him secretly said to Albanus Behold in this Figure and Image thou may'st manifestly perceive the meaning and importance of thy last nights Vision for the Man which came from Heaven is this Jesus my Lord who refus'd not to undergo the punishment of the Cross that by his Blood he might free us from the guilt which we had contracted by the Transgression of our first Father Adam Now these men which laid violent hands upon him and so afflicted him were his own People the Jews For though they had a promise from God that he would send unto them from Heaven his own Son yet when He whom they so much and so long expected was come they would not acknowledge him to be the Author of their Salvation but contradicted him in every thing return'd to him Evil for Good and Hatred for his Love. And at last stir'd up with extream envy and malice against him they broke out into such horrible Impiety that they laid hold on him Crucify'd and Murder'd him Thus it was that our Lord redeem'd us with the price of his own Blood Thus by Dying he became victorious over death For being rais'd upon the Cross he drew all to him for descending voluntarily to the enclosures of Hell he freed from captivity his own Servants detain'd there and binding the Divel in everlasting Chains he cast him into utter darkness Then Albanus fill'd with wonder broke out in these words All that thou hast said of Christ is most true for the last night I evidently perceiv'd and with mine own eyes saw how Christ overcame the Divel how he bound him and thrust him down into the bottom of Hell where the damnable wretch lyes fast bound with Chains So that knowing what hath been told by thee is true from this moment I profess I will be thy most obedient Disciple Tell me therefore for I know thou art Ignorant of nothing how I must behave my self to the Father and Holy Ghost now that I profess my self a servant of the Son Amphibalus at this question gave thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ for that Albanus of himself had the knowledge to pronounce those three Adorable Names and bid him believe firmly and profess faithfully that those three persons so
Nations on all sides of the Roman Empire as if universally excited by a Trumpet broke their limits amongst the rest the Picts Saxons Scots and Attacotti vex'd the Brittains with incessant Calamities Who the Picts and Scots were hath been before-declar'd the Saxons as yet infested the Sea-shores but who the Attacotti were St. Jerom tells us They were saith he a Savage People upon the Northern Mountains of Scotland who neglecting Beeves and other Cattle fed themselves with Humane Flesh as their principal Delicacies living without Law or Government and who had promiscuous Wives and hildren in common These were easily induc'd to joyn with the Scots and Picts against the Civil Britains The Emperour Valentinian to suppress these Incursions leaving his Brother Valens to govern in the East made an Expedition into Gaul where having compos'd great Troubles he met with very ill News from Britain so as he sent one of his Principal Officers to remedy those Disorders there at last more horrible Rumours increasing he made choice of Theodosius to go General thither a Man Famous for many Martial Exploits who attended with Courageous Legions prosecuted the Expedition with a Noble Confidence The Saxons not only Infested the British Coasts but made an impression even to London To remedy which injuries the vigilant General Theodosius being landed near Sandwich in Kent with his Co-horts march'd streight to London and dividing his Army into several Squadrons set upon the stragling Enemies loaden with Spoils and dispersing them Rescu'd the Prisoners with the Cattle and other Prey which he restor'd to the miserable Natives except some small part of it that was bestow'd upon his wearied Soldiers He then enter'd the City in Triumph and was joyfully receiv'd by the People recover'd from their Misery by his Valour while he stay'd there having intimation that so many fierce Nations could not be better suppress'd than by subtilty to divide them therefore he published Edicts promising Pardon to such as would submit Those which came in he dispers'd into Quarters severally well providing for them which encourag'd many more to submit He sent to the Emperour that Civilis might be sent over as his Deputy-Governour in Britain and Dulcitius as his Lieutenant in Martial Affairs and well skill'd therein And two years after he march'd Northward and put to flight several Nations who invaded the Roman Provinces and restor'd Peace to many Cities which had been vex'd with many troubles There was then in Britain one Valentinus a Pannonian banish'd into Britain for great Crimes who had like to have circumvented Theodosius by Treason after all his Conquests for this Valentinus being of an ambitious and turbulent Spirit sollicited many of the Soldiers to Conspire against him But this design being discover'd the good General contented himself with the Death of Valentinus and his nearest Associates least by searching too far into the Conspiracy he might stir up a Mutiny in his Army This danger escap'd he so successfully prosecuted the War that he recover'd all the Provinces from the Enemies and secur'd them by strong Garrisons and a particular Governour So that now so much of Britain as was under the Roman Dominion became divided into five Provinces The first call'd Britania prima containing all the Southern parts from the Sea and Thames to the Severn the second Britania secunda comprehending all Wales the third call'd Flavia Caesariensis probably from the Son of this Theodosius afterwards Emperour of the Flavian Family embracing all the Regions to the River Humber the fourth call'd Maxima Caesariensis reaching from Humber to the River Tine Lastly Theodosius having repell'd the Picts and Scots out of all the Provinces beyond Tine as far as Dunbritton and Edenburgh call'd the fifth Province Valentia wherein a Roman Legion Winter'd to repress the Incursions of the Scots Theodosius having thus Happily settled Britain was two years after recall'd by the Emperour to Rome and made General of the Horse as also Honour'd with a Statue of Brass by the Senate and at last by his eminent Exploits recommended his Son to the Empire The year after the departure of Theodosius from this Island our Ecclesiastical Monuments Commemorate St. Ninias his Journey to Rome there to be instructed in the Orthodox Faith and whither it is probable he attended Theodosius Which Faith afterwards with great efficacy he communicated to his Country-men This Ninias was born in Britain of a Princely Stock in Cumberland who then had its peculiar King his Father was a Christian In Childhood he was Sober sparing of his Tongue diligent in Reading Grave in Conversation careful to subject the Flesh to the Spirit He also shew'd great Devotion to Churches At the last by a forcible instinct of Gods Spirit despising the World and Carnal Affections he Travell'd into Italy and so to Rome and there address'd himself to Pope Damasus and declar'd the Cause of his Journey whereupon the Holy Bishop appointed him Teachers in the wholesom sense of Scriptures by whom he was instructed in true Wisdom to the Comfort and Profit of others To this time is refer'd the memory of St. Augulus born in London Bishop and Martyr as also of St. Moyses said also to be born in Britain Famous for many Miracles who after a Solitary Life in the Desart was made Bishop of the Saracens and after he had Converted many of that Nation to the Orthodox Faith he there dy'd in Peace To Valentinian succeeded his Son Gratian who nine years before had been nam'd Augustus by his Father and about six days after his younger Brother Valentinian was saluted Emperour by the Soldiers with the Consent of Gratian. And now the Picts and Scots began to make Incursions into Britain again in one of which they led Captive with them the Child of Calphurnius Socher call'd afterwards Patrick in the 16th year of his Age whom they Sold to a Nobleman in the Northern parts of Ireland call'd Milchu he Imploy'd the Holy Youth in keeping his Swine to be try'd betimes in the Furnace of Affliction for six years the Devout Youth spent in this Slavery in which time nevertheless God wrought great Miracles by him St. Patrick's Imployment withdrawing him from Conversation of men afforded him the more space to attend upon God He is said to address his Prayers to God a hundred times a day and as often by night to his Prayers he added Fasting for the Mortification of his Senses with these two wings he mounted to such Perfection that he enjoy'd a frequent Conversation of Angels insomuch as an Angel call'd Victor frequently visited him and told him He did well to Fast and that e're long he should return into his Country Let no man wonder at this unusual Name of an Angel for as St. Gregory observes Angels are design'd by particular Names to signifie their particular Virtucs and Operations And this of Victor might intimate to St. Patrick that first he should Conquer his own Tribulations and then the Power of the Devil in that
the Catholick Bishops in the Synod unanimously subscrib'd to this definition wherein it is observable that although it was grounded on the Holy Scriptures yet those Scriptures were interpreted by the successive Tradition of the Church Whereas what the Faction of the Arrians separately Decreed according to the practice of other Hereticks agreed only with the bare words of Scripture by themselves interpreted For as Athanasius writes in a Creed made by them They profess the Son of God to be like the Father who begat him whose Generation according to the Scriptures no man knows but the Father only As for the word Substance it being simply set down by the Fathers not understood by the People and occasioning great Scandal in as much as it is not expresly contain'd in the Scriptures they Decreed that it should be quite abolish'd and that for the future no mention should be made of the Substance of God because the Holy Scriptures never mention the Substance of the Father and the Son but they say That the Son is in all things like the Father as the Scriptures in their judgement teach Now when the Arrian Bishops of whom Valens and Vrsacius were chief saw that they could not impose upon the Western Bishops they separated themselves from the rest of the Councel and were thereupon pronounc'd by the unanimous Suffrages of the Orthodox Bishops to be Hereticks and excluded from the Communion of the Church which done the Councel by common Letter inform'd the Emperour of all these things And whereas the Arrian Bishops to induce the Catholicks to comply with them argued That Peace and Vnity would be restor'd to the Church in case Catholicks should relinquish that one word Substance They therefore in their said Letter inserted That it was not as Valens and Ursacius affirm'd that Peace would follow by the subversion of things just and true but that rather more contention would arise both at Rome and other Cities They therefore Pray'd that the Councel might be dissolv'd considering the Poverty Age and Infirmity of many Bishops in it Constantius thus frustrated in his design of introducing his Arrian misbelief into the Western Churches broke forth into open Tyranny some of the Catholick Bishops he shut up in Prison others he afflicted with Famine and all manner of despightful usuage not suffering any to depart until they had subscrib'd a form of Faith wherein though nothing Heretical was express'd yet the True Faith was at least dissembled consequently the Arrian Faction prevail'd in Power through the whole Empire Constantius creates Gallus his Uncles Son Caesar and three years after Beheads him for his Cruelties and enormous Crimes and the next year assumes into the same Dignity and Succession of the Empire Julian younger Brother to Gallus call'd the Apostate Him he sent into Gaul to repress the Irruptions of the Franks In the fourth year of his Government troubles arising in Britain by the Excursions of the Picts and Scots he sent over Lupicinus to compose them who in the midst of Winter went with his Army to London but could not perform any considerable Exploit against his Enemies for that Julian who was proclaim'd Emperour by his Army was jealous of him least he should hinder his proceedings and therefore re-call'd Lupicinus and sent Gumobarius in his place to be General of the British Army who did little worthy of memory for notwithstanding any thing he could do the Scots a barbarous People first mention'd about this time coming out of Ireland rooted themselves so firmly in the Northern parts of this Isle that they establish'd a Kingdom there to themselves and their Posterity to this day It is written that when Nâ—le obtain'd the Monarchy of Ireland which was in the time of this Constanttus the six Sons of Mured King of Vlster passing over with a considerable Fleet possess'd themselves of the Northern parts of Britain and it is likely that the Eldest of those six Sons was that Reuda mention'd by Beda and his People from him call'd Dalreudini They at first possess'd themselves of a Corner of this Island but after encroaching upon the Picts enlarg'd their Seats until at last about the time when the Kingdom of Northumberland was in a manner ruin'd by Civil Contentions and the Incursions of the Danes they almost wholly consum'd the Picts and destroy'd their name and memory introducing to those Nothern parts the name of Scotland It is not likely that Arrianism ever took any great footing in this Island for when St. Hilary was banish'd into Phrigia by the false suggestions of Saturninus the Arrian Bishop of Arles he wrote Letters to the British Bishops especially to the Aged Restitutus Bishop of London Congratulating and Commending their firmness in the Faith that notwithstanding the attemps of Saturninus to infect them yet their constancy was famous over all the Empire insomuch as some of the Eastern Bishops became thereby asham'd of their Heresie Howbeit about this time this Restitutus being full of years dy'd and is worthily counted amongst the Illustrious British Writers and many Letters to St. Hilary are reckon'd to be of his writing A further proof of the Orthodoxy of the British Church was St. Kebius Sir-nam'd Corinius Son of Solomon Duke of Cornwall who took a Journey into Gaul to St. Hilary after his return from Exile to be by him instructed more perfectly in the Catholick Faith Copgrave in the Life of this Saint says That he abode several years with S. Hillary improving himself in Learning and Sanctity whereunto God gave Testimony by conferring on him the Grace of Miracles so that he gave Sight to the Blind Cleans'd the Leprous Cur'd those which were Dumb Heal'd the sick of the Palsey and those who were possess'd with Divels Afterwards being admonish'd thereunto by an Angel having been Consecrated Bishop by St. Hilary he return'd into his own Country and plac'd his See in the Isle of Anglesey and by his good Example and sound Doctrine instructed the Northern People of Wales It is He who was requested to take the Principality of Cornwall but refus'd to accept of any Worldly Authority and not long after he is said To descend with ten Monks who were his Disciples into a Meadow of King Ethelic pitching his Tents there wherewith when the King was acquainted he went with Company to cast these Monks out of his Country by the way he fell from his Horse which dy'd immediately and both He and his Followers were stricken with blindness Thereupon the King prostrates himself before St. Kebius devoting himself to God and the Saint by whose Prayers they were all presently Healed After this the King gave to the man of God two Churches and he giving the King his Benediction retir'd to Menevia afterwards call'd St. David's from whence he sail'd into Ireland and having built a Church remain'd there four years Very probable it is that this St. Kebius was that British Priest who Baptiz'd the Irish St. Albeus for in his Life written