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
the Reign of the Emperour Titus After the Death of Nero Cruel to himself his own Mother the poor Christians and indeed to all Mankind and the barbarous extinguisher of those two most Glorious Lights then shining in the World St. Peter and St. Paul the Family of the Caesars failing four Emperours were set up and pulled down within the space of two years Vespasian only excepted who becoming Conquerour at last settled the Empire and restored Peace The Romans in Britain were unconcern'd in these Broils and were well affected to Vespasian who by his Deputy Frontinus placed a Legion in Caerleon St. Joseph after a Solitary Life led at Glastonbury where he seems to Institute a Monastical Profession with his said Companions and such other Holy Persons as his and their Labours had Converted to the Faith Died their about the said 82 year of our Lords Incarnation and was Buried at Glastonbury as his Companions also were in or near the Church Built by him where since innumerable Converts and Christians have been Interred It is thought the Body of this Renowned Saint was deposited in a Cave over which a Chappel was after Built to his Honour as this Epitaph there found imports Ad Britones veni post quam Christum Sepelivi Dorni requievi His Reliques not having been discover'd some Devout persons in the days of Edward the III. obtain'd leave to search for them The Patent for that purpose is yet extant to this effect That a supplication having been made by John Blome of London wherein he affirms that he had received a command from Heaven diligently to seek till he could find the Body of the Noble Councellor Joseph of Arimathaea which reposes in Christ within the limits of Glastonbury Monastery and which for the Saints Honour was to be discover'd in those times And for that it appear'd by Antient Records that his Body was there buried The said King if so desirous to bestow due Honours to the Monument and Venerable Reliques of him who exprest so great Piety and Charity to our dying Redeemer that he took his Body from the Cross and plac'd it ina New Monument which he had built for himself and hoping that by the revealing of his Holy Reliques greater Grace and Favour should be shew'd by God to him and his Kingdom did give and grant permission as much as in him lay to the said John Blome to dig where he should find it expedient within the precincts of the said Monastery in order to the searching out of the said precious Reliques according to the Injunction and Revelation made unto him provided he did it with the consent of the Abbot and without prejudice to the Monastery What was found upon this search doth not appear but the Piety and Devotion of the King may be easily collected The same Monuments which inform us of the Life Death and Burial of St. Joseph at Glastonbury as an unquestionable Tradition in all Ages agreed unto by Britains Saxons Danes and Normans do likewise testifie That he brought with him into Britain two Silver Vessels fill'd with the Blood of our Saviour Christ which were buried with him in his Tomb Several Proofs hereof were extant even to the days of Queen Elizabeth amongst others the Narration of William Good a Jesuit who was born in the Reign of Henry the 8th and bred up in his Childhood at Glastonbury and affirms That in his time certain Brass-plates were Engraven to perpetuate the memory of these things as also Chappels Grots Crosses Arms and the observation of the Festival of St. Joseph on the sixth of the Calends of August which remain'd as long as the Monks enjoy'd the Charters of their Munificent and Royal Benefactors but are now buried in the ruines of the place He confesseth never any Monk knew the certain place of this Saints Sepulcher The common report was it was extreamly deep under ground somewhere in or about Hambdenhill but when ever the Saints Body shall be found multitudes would resort to it invited with the great and innumerable Miracles which should be there wrought He remembers to have seen upon a Stone-Cross which was demolish'd in Queen Elizabeth's days a Plate of Brass on which was written That in the 30th year after the Passion of our Lord Joseph of Arimathaea with 11 or 12 Companions came into Britain and were permitted by King Arvitagus to abide at Glaston then called Avallonia like Solitary men and that he brought with him two small Silver Vessels of the Sacred Blood and Water which flow'd out of Christ's side after his death And that a Cross was there Erected many years before to shew the length of the Chappel which St. Joseph built of wailed Roddes of the most Holy Virgin on the out-side of the Wall of which Chappel were Engraven in Antient Characters JESUS MARIA There were then other Remarks and Footsteps of these Truths to be there found Now that St. Joseph and Nicodemus also with due veneration gather'd the Blood of our Lord which for many Ages was Piously Worshiped by Devout Christians both in the East and West is testified by divers Antient Histories and Martyrologies and to this purpose it is remarkable what Matthew Paris hath related in the year of our Lord God 1247. Namely That then the Master of the Temple and Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem sent a certain portion of the Blood of our Lord shed upon the Cross in a most Beautiful Christal Glass by a Brother of the Temple which Present was confirm'd by the then Patriarch of Jerusalem by Archbishops Bishops Abbots and other Prelates and Noblemen then dwelling in the Holy-Land The said Historian further declaring at large With what Honour and Reverence this Holy Treasure was entertain'd by King Henry the III. and his whole Clergy and Nobility And at the same time to give satisfaction to doubting Minds Robert Grosthead Bishop of Lincoln the Glory of that Age for Piety and Learning affords us a large Narration of the Fact to the effect following That Joseph of Arimathaea a Noble Councellour and one of the Hearers of Jesus or his Disciple rather out of tender compassion was very sollicitous how his venerable Body might be preserv'd from the rage of the Jews Howbeit both He and Nicodemus and other rich men though most cordial Lovers of Jesus yet conceal'd their Affection for fear of their Estates Nevertheless when Jesus was Crucify'd Joseph went boldly to Pilate and beg'd the Body of Jesus and by Pilat 's permission notwithstanding the murmuring of the Jews with all due Honour and Reverence took down the most Holy Body from the Cross all mangled and bloody and with a fine Linnen-cloath Devoutly and carefully wip'd the Sacred Wounds as yet moist and distilling and having drawn the Nails out of the Wounds he wip'd and cleans'd them at the Cross and then carrying the Body from Golgotha he laid it in a new Tomb where never any body had been laid and which was decently cut out of
or Vsk as by the ruines there may appear At the first indeed Bishops did not confine themselves to one place but exercis'd their Pastoral Duties from one place to another as they had occasion but after their Flocks incrcasing each Bishop was limited to his peculiar Flock and seated themselves in the eminent Cities then in number about 28. and consequently so many Bishops were ordain'd We find in the Antient Book belonging to the Monastery of Abingdon to this effect That Eleutherius sent his Missioners Faganus and Divianus Learn'd and Holy men to King Lucius who Baptiz'd the King and his People embraceing the Christian Faith destroy'd Idols and built Churches and decreed that in those Cities where formerly resided Arch-flamens according to the Pagan Superstition there Arch-bishops should be establish'd and where ordinary Flamens were there Bishops should succeed the chief Cities then were London York and Caerleon which became the Seats of three Arch-bishops Possibly the Title of Flamens and Arch-flamens was given to these Druid Priests by the Romans who might be distinguish'd amongst themselves by some other Name The Names of these 28 Cities have been collected out of History I. Cair Gumeguir which perhaps is Norwich by the Britains call'd Cair Guntius or perhaps rather Winwick in Lancashire some say Winchester II. Mincip or Municip which is Verulam near St. Albans III. Cair Lualid Luguballia now Caerleil IV. Mediolanum at this day Meivod in Montgomery-shire V. Cair Colon or Colonia now Colchester VI. Cair Ebranc now York VII Cair Custeint near Carnarvan by Antonine call'd Seguntium and Cair Custeint because Constantius the Father of Constantine was there buried and his Body there found in the time of Edward the First after the Conquest and by him Honourably Interr'd VIII Cair Caratauc or Caradoc in the borders of Shropshire between the Rivers Teindus and Colunus where Caractacus was Defeated by Ostorius IX Cair Grant now Cambridge upon the River Grant. X. Maucguid Mancunium in Lancashire as some think Manduessedum or Manchester in Warwickshire as others XI Cair Londein or Cair Lud now London XII Cair Guorthigirn in Radnorshire where King Vortigern hid himself from Divine Justice but could not escape it but was Burnt by Lightning in and with that City XIII Cair Ceint now Canterbury formerly Dorbernia XIV Cair Guorangon Branonium now Worcester XV. Cair Peris or Portcester now Portsmouth XVI Cair Daun or Danus now Doncaster in Yorkshire XVII Cair Legio of the 20th Legion there quarter'd now Chester XVIII Cair Guaricon or Guarvinc of Guarth a Garrison in the British Tongue now Warwick XIX Cair Segesut or the City of the Segontiaci the first People of this Island who yielded to Caesar since call'd Silchester in Hampshire XX. Cair Leon from the second Legion or Vsk from the River it was seated in Monmouthshire and is now ruin'd XXI Cair Guent or Venta Belgarum now Winchester XXII Cair Brito now call'd Bristol XXIII Cair Lerion by the Saxons Legecestria now Leicester XXIV Cair Draiton which Bishop Vsher thinks to be that which is now call'd Draiton in Shropshire XXV Cair Pentavelcoit seated upon the River Ivel in Somersetshire now Ilchester yet the said Learn'd Bishop thinks it should be written Pensavelcoit supposing it to be Pentsey in Sussex where William the Conqueror first landed XXVI Cair Vervac or Vriconium now Wroxcester in Shropshire XXVII Calemion or Calion which Cambden takes to be Comelet in Somersetshire where Roman Coins are frequently found and where are the footsteps of a Camp. XXVIII Cair Luitcoit or Lindcoit or Lindum now Lincoln These were the 28 Cities perhaps not all extant in the days of King Lucius at least under those Names which were design'd then for the Seats of Arch-bishops and Bishops though perhaps some other might be design'd for that purpose And it may be the Name of Arch-bishops was not then us'd yet the jurisdiction was alike under the Name of Metropolitans from the Metropolis or most Eminent Cities How many of these Cities were supply'd with Bishops is not certain Records only mention besides Elvanus Consecrated at Rome Theanus only a Britain and first Metropolitan Bishop of London where our Devout King Lucius built a Church in Cornhill Consecrated to St. Peter the Truth whereof is manifested by an Inscription on an Antient Table not long since hanging in the said Church to this effect following In the year of our Lord 179. Lucius the first Christian King of this Land founded the first Church at London namely the Church of St. Peter in Cornhill He establish'd there an Arch-Episcopal See it was the prime Church of the Kingdom and so continu'd for 400. years until the coming of St. Augustine the Apostle of England Some make Theanus Founder of this Church assisted therein by Ciranus the Kings Cup-bearer How long Theanus govern'd in this See is uncertain however he was succeeded by St. Elvanus though Malmsburiensis makes it doubtful in what place the Arch-Episcopal jurisdiction was fix'd during the time of the Britains Fugatius and Damianus after their three years successful Labours in this new Vineyard of our Lord as Historians witness return'd to Rome to give an account to St. Eleutherius how affairs stood in Britain As to this Matthew of Westminster expresses himself most fully affirming That in the year of Grace 186. the Blessed Prelates Fugatius and Damianus return'd to Rome and obtain'd from the Holy Pope Eleutherius a confirmation of all they had done in Britain and then came back again accompany'd with many others By whose Instructions the British Nation being confirm'd in the Faith of Christ became Illustrious the Names and Acts of these Holy men may be found in the History of our Gildas concerning the Victory of Aurelius Ambrosius It was the practice of Christian Churches to have frequent recourse to the Chair of St. Peter and about this very time the Church of Lions in France sent Irenaeus to St. Eleutherius for the resolving of questions about Ecclesiastical Affairs as St. Jerom witnesseth and of the same Errand before this time went St. Beatus to Rome as is before-mention'd This hath been frequently done in a due Subordination to the Supream Tribunal of the Church and for the preservation of Unity the Center whereof the Chair of St. Peter was ever accounted When Fugatius and Damianus came back into Britain they presented the King with a Crown Bless'd by that Holy Pope with many Divine Admonitions more acceptable than the Crown relating to the Government of his Civil State and his Defence of Holy Church It is said the Pope also prescrib'd the limits of his Kingdom so far Northerly that some conjecture that from thence it is that so many of those Northern Provinces became subject to the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Church of York Other Churches were afterwards built as first at Westminster in the place of an Idol Temple consecrated to Apollo which in the Reign of Antoninus Pius was by an Earthquake cast to
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
the weight and troubles of Government would have resign'd the Province to Carantac but he loving the Caelestial King more than an Earthly Kingdom fled away and having bought a Wallet and Staff of a poor man by Gods Conduct was brought to a Pleasant place where he reposing himself built an Oratory and spent his time in the Praises of God At last he pass'd over into Ireland invited by his Affection to St. Patrick when he came thither it was agreed between them that one of them should travel Preaching the Gospel toward the Right Hand and the other towards the Left In their company many Ecclesiastical persons attended them and they all agreed to meet once a year at an appointed place Where ever this Holy man Carantac went an Angel of our Lord in the likeness of a Dove accompanied him and chang'd his Name into Cernach being an Irish Appellation All along his Voyage he wrought great Miracles for the Confirmation of the Faith he Preach'd Healing many thousand of their Diseases The grace at first given to the Apostles is said to have been plentifully bestow'd on him He was counted an admirable Soldier and Champion of Christ a Spiritual and Devout Abbot refusing to Preach Saving Truth unto none He spent many years in that Island where he brought an incredible number to wash away their sins by Pennance by day and night offering innumerable Prayers to God and having Converted many People to our Lord who wrought many Miracles by him He at last return'd to his Native Country where he retir'd to his former Cave accompanied with many Disciples There having built a Church he determin'd to abide but not long after being admonish'd by a Voice from Heaven he return'd into Ireland where in a good Old Age and full of good Works he rested in Peace and was buried in his own City from him call'd Cherach I shall here add the Gests of another British Saint and Companion of St. Patrick into Ireland call'd Luman Son of Gollitus a Brittain and Nephew to St. Patrick by his Sister Tigridia He was the Founder of the Church of Trim in Ireland the occasion and manner whereof is thus related by Bishop Vsher St. Luman came to the Ford of Truim which runs before the Castle of Fiedilmed Son of Loiguor And early in the morning Froitchern Son of Fiedilmed found him Preaching the Gospel of Christ who wondering at the Doctrine taught by him presently believ'd and was Baptiz'd in Christ by Luman at a Fountain arising in the same place and stay'd with him until his Mother who sought after him came to the same place She was over-joy'd at the sight of the Holy man because she also came out of Britain and being instructed by him likewise believ'd and returning Home told her Husband what had hapned to her self and her Son Fiedelmed was much joy'd at the arrival of Luman because his Mother call'd Schotnoesa had been the Daughter of a British Prince Fiedilmed therefore went to him and Saluted him in the British Language questioning him in particular touching his Descent and Doctrine who answer'd That his Name was Luman a Brittain a Christian and Disciple of the Holy Bishop S. Patrick sent as he said by God to Convert the Inhabitants of that Country to the Faith of Christ and Baptize them Fiedilmed immediately believ'd with his whole Family and offer'd him and St. Patrick his whole Territory with his Son. Fiedilmed remov'd his Habitation beyond the River Boindeo but Luman with Froitchern stay'd at the Ford of Truim 'till St. Patrick came thither where they joyntly erected a Church about 12 years before the Church of Armagh Attimachae was founded the beginning of which Arch-Episcopal Church the Annals of Ulster ascribe to the year of Grace 444. We may now not unfitly treat of St. Benignus as his Story may be found in the Antiquities of Glastonbury The Venerable Bishop St. Patrick Preaching the Gospel through the Provinces of Ireland came to a plain call'd Brey or Breg very Spacious and Beautiful with which being delighted he determin'd there to Celebrate the Feast of Easter then at hand His first Acquaintance and Familiarity in that Province was with a man whom he had newly Converted to the Faith with him St. Patrick Lodg'd This man had a Young Child call'd Beonna who bore a tender Affection to the Saint he would often play with him and Kiss his Foot the Child would not sleep but when he lay with the Holy Bishop He therefore Prophetically perceiving the great Grace which the Divine Bounty would confer upon the Child vouchsafed to take him to his Bed and gave him the Name of Benignus When the Holy Bishop was ready to proceed in his Journey the Child with Pittiful cries beg'd to go along with him so as the Bishop was forc'd to receive him into his Waggon and Prophecy'd that he should be his Successor in the Bishoprick which accordingly came to pass This was the first Solemnity of Easter which the Holy Bishop Celebrated in Ireland and he did it by imitating the Son of God who at his last Supper with his Disciples Consecrated his Body and Blood for the Redemption of Mankind The day before this great Feast of our Lords Resurrection St. Patrick according to an Ecclesiastical Rite as Probus observes then in use Kindled the Holy fire the Flame whereof shone brightly about the place According to the custom of that Country it was it seems Vnlawful for any to Light a Fire before it was kindled in the Kings Palace The King whose Name was Logorius perceiving the brightness of the Flame in great indignation threatn'd Death to him who had infring'd that custom in his Kingdom His Magicians about him to incense him further told the King That the Fire which had so been kindled against Law unless presently extinguish'd would never cease to the Worlds end but obscure all the Fires which they kindled according to their custom and that the man who lighted it would be the destruction of his Kingdom While St. Patrick with great success thus labour'd in the Gospel Britain was Illustrated with the Memory of another great St. Winwaloc the Son of a Noble Person call'd Fracan Cousin-German of a British Prince Nam'd Coton This St. Winwaloc is said to have been from his Childhood inflam'd with an earnest desire of Heavenly things to despise Worldly Allurements and to live to God only wherefore he besought his Parents that he might be commended to the care of a certain Religious man to be by him imbew'd in the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and Documents of Piety his request being obtain'd he made wonderful progress in Virtue and Holiness under that Religious mans Discipline insomuch that when he was but seven years Old he became an example of all Piety and Goodness In process of time having undertaken a Monastical Profession Divine Graces shone more brightly in him so as he became withall enrich'd with the Gift of Prophecy Many Miracles God
which God Graciously call'd him out of this Mortal Life So as being perfect in Grace and Piety and mature in Age he Happily mounted to Heaven his Body was buried in the Church Dedicated to St. Martin built by himself from the Foundation The Centuriatours add this to his Story That he was a Venedocian Teacher of Christian Verities of a desert more than ordinary To his Old Age he largely communicated the Talent wherewith God had entrusted him among the Britains Scots and Southern Picts He was a man Assiduous in Reading the Holy Scripture Merciful to Orphans Widdows and the Poor Illustrious in Miracles and Sanctity By his Pious Industry the Nation of the Picts first of all relinquishing their Idolatry embrac'd the true Faith of Christ He was the first Bishop of Candida Casa and dy'd among the Picts in the Province of Galloway I may further observe that he was very Devout in giving Respect and Veneration to Gods Saints in whose Honour he built Churches and in particular to the Honour of S. Martin who dy'd about 30 years before him The example of St. Ninian was imitated by the British Church near the same Age for when St. Augustine the Monk came into Britain to Convert the Saxons He found saith St. Bede in the City of Canterbury a Church Dedicated to the Honour of St. Martin which had been built in the times of the Romans St. Ninian before he dy'd divided the Provinces of the Picts into Parishes he Ordain'd Priests there and Consecrated Bishops by the Authority of the Roman Bishop from whom he receiv'd his Mission He being famous for Miracles it may not be amiss to reckon up one In the Region of the Picts there was a Prince named Tudwal a man of a proud and high Spirit he contemning the Admonitions of this man of God and derogating from his Doctrine and Life resisted him openly Being one day more then ordinarily troublesome and rude God the supreme Judge would not any longer suffer the injuries offer'd to his Holy Servant to pass unreveng'd but struck this proud man with an intollerable pain in his Head by the violence whereof those lofty Eyes of his became utterly Blind so that he who had before impugn'd the Light of Divine Truth deservedly lost this Worlds Light. But upon better consideration he sent a Message to the Holy Bishop humbly beseeching him in imitation of our Lords Benignity to return to him good for evil and love for hatred The Venerable Bishop hereupon first sharply reprov'd the Prince and then touching him imprinted on his Eyes the Sign of the Cross when immediately his pains ceas'd and his Blindness was dissipated Afterwards this Prince highly Honour'd the Holy Bishop and readily granted whatsoever he ask'd of him Our Country-man Alcuinus in an Epistle not Printed but now extant in Bishop Vshers Antiquities Testifies the great Fame which this Holy Bishop had for Sanctity and Miracles This Epistle is directed to the Religious Priest then living at Candida Casa While Alcuinus liv'd this following Miracle happ'ned to a Devout Priest Celebrating Mass at this Saints Monument nam'd Plegils he frequently Solemniz'd Mass at the Body of St. Ninian and living a Holy and Virtuous Life began frequently to beseech our Lord That he would please to shew visibly to him the Nature and Verity of the Body and Blood of Christ in the most Blessed Sacrament This Prayer he made not for want of Faith in the Truth of the Mystery but out of an Affection of Devotion and Piety For the Author saith That to his great Consolation our Lord appear'd to him in the Sacrament in the form of a young Child Three years after the death of St. Ninianus St. Germanus was once more invited into Britain to perfect the good Work which he had formerly began in rooting out of the Pelagian Heresie there spreading it self again the Relation whereof we must borrow from the Learn'd Priest Constantius a Writer of those times and of most perfect Integrity and Sincerity By a Message from Britain address'd to St. German he was advertis'd that that Pestilent Heresie began to enlarge it self there and intreated him once more to come over and maintain the Cause of Divine Grace The Holy Bishop readily comply'd with this Petition being delighted to spend his strength in the Service of Christ There was joyn'd to him for his Companion Severus Bishop of Triers a person of Consummate Sanctity In the mean time three Infernal Spirits flying through the whole Island foretold the return of St. Germanus being forc'd so to do against their Will Insomuch as one Elaphius a Principal person of the Country without any other notice hast'ned to meet the Holy Bishops His Son went with him upon whom from the flower of his Youth a lamentable Infirmity had seiz'd for all his Members were wither'd and the Hamm of his Leg was so drawn together that by reason of the dryness of his Thigh he could not set his Foot upon the ground Elaphius was attended by almost the whole Province As soon as they were met together an Episcopal Benediction was conferr'd on the People and the Words of Truth Preach'd to them St. Germanus perceiv'd that the generality of the People persever'd constant in the Doctrine which he left among them and that the fault lay upon a few buisie persons who were presently condemn'd As for Elaphius he humbly kneeling kiss'd the Bishops Hands presenting to him his Lame Son so miserable a Spectacle that he mov'd compassion in all especially in the Holy Bishops mind St. German therefore presently commanded the young man to sit down then handled his contracted Ham and with his right Hand stroak'd all the infirm Members immediately perfect Health and Strength attended that wholesome Touch the wither'd Members recover'd their natural Moisture and his Sinews their Office and Agility Thus in the sight of all the young man was restor'd to his Father as if he had been new made the People are astonish'd at this Miracle and the Catholick Faith is perfectly confirm'd in their minds The Holy Bishop spent his time in Preaching up and down and the Hearers were every where Converted or Confirm'd So that by a Universal Consent the Authors of the Perverse Doctrine were brought before the Holy Bishops and then banish'd out of the Island and the Orthodox Faith remain'd uncorrupted and all things being thus well compos'd the Holy Bishops return'd with a Prosperous Voyage Howbeit during his stay here St. German is recorded to have call'd a Synod and taking notice that many Churches wanted Pastors by which means the People became wavering in their Faith by common advice he selected Learn'd and Pious men whom he ordain'd Bishops and placed in several Churches In particular over all the Britains toward the Southern parts he promoted the Blessed man Dubricius an Eminent Doctor to be Arch-bishop who was made choice of by King Mouricus and the whole Diocess They constituted his Arch-Episcopal See at Landaff with the
extinguish'd his memory and render'd him to Posterity a meer Romantick Phantasm That there was such a Prince as Arthur and that he was Illustrious by many Victories over the Saxons in defence of his Country cannot reasonably be question'd But as to his Exploits abroad his Round-Table and feigned Knights we may well leave them to be justify'd by the Dreaming Bards of that Age True it is that Malbranc a Learned French Antiquary misled by a wrong transcrib'd passage out of Gildas will needs confound Arthur with Aurelius Ambrosius as if Vter had been the Father and not the Brother of Aurelius Whereas our Antient and most Prudent Historians agree that without doubt Arthur was the Son of Vter and Nephew of Ambrosius and succeeded his Father slain by the Saxons in the Throne of Britain Some say he was begotten of Igerna Wife of Gorlois Duke of Cornwall whose affection Vter obtain'd being transform'd by the skill of Merlin into the shape of her Husband But the Virtues Piety and Courage of this renown'd Prince recompenc'd by God himself with wonderful success seem not to suit with a Birth so infamous A more sober account is given of him in the Antiquities of Glastonbury where we may find That Uterpendragon the Brother of Aurelius Ambrosius dying by Poison after the coming of Cerdic the West Saxon his Son Arthur a Youth of 15 years began to reign over the Britains his Mothers Name was Igerna born he was in a Castle of Cornwall call'd Tintagel In this Narration no aspersion is cast upon his Birth but rather an Embelishment of it for it seems to affirm him descended from a Nephew of St. Joseph of Arimathaea call'd Hellanis Whether he were no more then 15 years of Age when his Father dy'd may be a question in regard mention is made of his Noble Exploits in the time of Ambrosius Arthur was not present in the Army when his Father Vther was slain being then imploy'd to oppose the Irruption of the Picts For which reason perhaps no mention is made of him in the Saxon Annals the design of which was only to relate the encounters between them and the Britains Neglecting in the mean time what interven'd between the Britains and Picts Now at this time liv'd a King of the Picts by some Writers call'd Navus by others Can Happy in a Fruitful Off-spring for he had 24. Children the Eldest nam'd Howel or Huel a Prince of Invincible Courage who would by no means acknowledge subjection to the Britains into which Faction he drew all the rest of his Brethren except only St. Gildas Sir-nam'd Albanius who bare a particular Affection to Prince Arthur This Huel being of a restless Spirit made frequent inroads into Britain as may be found in the Life of St. Gildas and so Cruelly wasted the Country that the British King sent Prince Arthur with a numerous Army who began a furious War with the young Pict and after divers Defeats and Pursuits slew him in the Island Minau This War of Arthur's with the Picts giving occasion to mention this St. Gildas it will not be unseasonable to relate his Gests and the rather that in course of Story he be distinguish'd from another Gildas his Contemporary stil'd Sapiens or Historicus and the younger of the two of whom more hereafter These two are not seldom confounded together by Antient Writers by reason they agreed in Name and many good Qualities Howbeit this Elder Gildas as we read in his Life Was the Son of Con King of Albania and being in his Childhood of an excellent Disposition was carefully instructed and did wonderfully profit in good Literature After he was sent into Gaul for the increase of his knowledge where having abode seven years he return'd into Britain furnish'd not with Learning only but abundance of Books also The report of his Eminent Learning drew many to him from all quarters to suck instruction from him But he took more care to enrich himself with Virtue and Piety then Knowledge and indeed none was to be found in all those Regions comparable to him in Assiduous Prayers Fasting Sack-cloath and Mortifications He wholly abstain'd from Flesh contenting himself with Barly-bread and Herbs with which he mix'd Ashes to abate the Pleasure he might take in the taste of his Food His Drink was pure Water from the Fountain He would ordinarily at midnight plunge himself in the River for Mortification and spend the rest of the night in Prayer by which Austerities he became so lean as if he had been in a Consumption Whatever was bestow'd on him by richmen he presently distributed amongst the poor His Charity drew him into Ireland where the Gospel of Christ was not so well settled and there he spent many years in instructing that Nation but being inform'd that in the more Northern parts of his own Country Gentilism was generally profess'd and that those few Christians who liv'd there were Poison'd with many Heresies he return'd thither and being thorough furnish'd with the Armour of God he demonstrated to the Pagans that the suppos'd Deities Worship'd by them were nothing but the Inventions of Impious men And to the Hereticks that what they held was contrary to Divine Truth reveal'd to Gods Church by which means he is said to have brought the Pagans to destroy their Idols and Prophane Temples to receive Baptisme and erect Churches The Hereticks also he reduc'd into the bosome of the Catholick Church Now to make his Preaching more effectual our Lord was pleas'd to give him a Plentiful Grace in Healing the Sick giving Sight to the Blind Curing the Deaf Cleansing the Leprous c. So that his Preaching confirm'd by frequent Miracles spread the true Faith through all those Provinces to the glory of God and the inexpressible joy of St. Gildas After this imployment some say he took a Journey to Rome others more probably that being invited by the Holy Abbot St. Cadocus he presided over the Studies of many young Scholars in the Academy of Lancarvan where he continu'd only one year leaving there a Book of the four Evangelists transcrib'd by himself St. Gildas having ended the year of his Presidentship and his Scholars retiring from their Studies withdrew himself into a certain Island as St. Cadocus did into another the Islands were Ronech and Echni while St. Gildas continu'd there in Prayer and Mortification certain Pyrats from the Isles of Orkney rob'd him of his Utensils and carry'd Captive away some of those which attended him for which cause in great affliction he pass'd over to Glastonbury At this time Melvas a British Prince reign'd in the Province of Somerset call'd by the Britains Gladarhaf This Melvas had stollen away Guinivera wife to King Arthur concealing her in the Isle of Glastonbury esteem'd most secure both for the Fenny Scituation and Religion of the place Hereupon King Arthur assembled a mighty Army out of Cornwall and Devonshire and encompass'd the Island The two Kings being ready to joyn Battle the
Fought at the Mountain call'd Badonicus between the Britains and Saxons in the time of Aurelius Ambrosius to which Mountains the Saxons retiring were Besieged by the Britains and after in a Battle discomfited this happen'd in the year of Grace 493. forty years after the first entrance of the Saxons into Britain This Gildas is affirm'd by the Author of his Life To be the Disciple of Iltutus and leaving him to have gone into Ireland He remain'd four years under the Discipline and Instruction of St. Iltutus and having pass'd through the Schools of many Learned Teachers in Ireland and like a diligent Bee collected the Juice of divers Flowers he laid it up carefully in the Hive of our Mother the Church to the end he might in opportune season pour forth the Mellifluous Doctrine of the Gospel to his own Country-men and thereby draw them out of Misery to Eternal Joyes and like a good Servant restore unto his Lord the Talent entrusted with him In this Island saith Bishop Vsher there flourish'd in this Age the Schools of Armagh wherein the Elder Gildas presided when he Piously labour'd in Cultivating the minds of the Irish in which imployment probably this our Younger Gildas succeeded him and here not only collected sweet Juice but got a sharp sting also which he after darted forth against the Vices of his own Country However in Ireland he restor'd Discipline to the Ecclesiastical Order he gather'd many Congregations of Monks and mercifully deliver'd many Captives from the slavery of Pagans After his return into Britain it seems he found small comfort or encouragement to pour forth the Honey which he had gather'd in Ireland for he found in this Island such Calamities and Confusions their reigning such a Contention of wickedness and misery which should exceed the other that almost his whole imployment was to bewail the approaching destruction of his Country and by publishing the Crimes especially of the Rulers as well in Church as State to justifie the Severity of God being in truth beneath their demerits and provocations Howbeit he was by a double invitation from Ireland interrupted in his sad Thoughts and withdrawn from beholding such mournful Spectacles as every where in Britain offer'd themselves to his Eyes The first Message about the year of our Lord 562. came from persons of quality in Ireland who sent an Epistle to him at the same time he received an Epistle also from St. Columba whom he very much esteem'd for his Sanctity The second Message or invitation was directed to him from a King in Ireland named Ammeric who requested this our Gildas To come to him promising that if he would undertake the Journey and restore to good Order the Ecclesiasticks of his Kingdom wherein generally the Catholick Faith was decay'd both himself and his Subjects would in all things be Obedient to him St. Gildas hearing this like a Valiant Soldier throughly furnish'd with Caelestial Arms presently went into Ireland there to Preach the Gospel of Christ Being come thither he was presented to the King by some Noble persons who were acquainted with him The King gave him many gifts and intreated him to stay some time and restore Order to that Region because the Inhabitants had in a manner lost the Christian Faith St. Gildas as thereupon Travelling through all the Provinces of Ireland restor'd Churches instructed the Clergy in the true Faith and Worship of the Holy Trinity Cured those who had been Poison'd with Heresy and expell'd all Teachers of Errour So that by his zeal and diligence Truth became again to flourish in the Country After this the Holy man built many Monasteries in the Country and instructed the Children of the Nobility in Learning and Piety and to win the greater number to the service of God he himself became a Monk and brought to the same Profession very many as well of the Nobility as others and also he compassionately freed many poor Christians from the slavery of Infidels and so became a second Apostle to Ireland repairing the ruines of that Faith which St. Patrick first Preach'd amongst them Now whereas it is said that the first Epistle to St. Gildas was brought by Faithful men it is very probable that the Holy Abbot Komgall was one of those Faithful men How long St. Gildas abode in Ireland is uncertain but it is certain that the great work he there perform'd could not be compleated in a short time and yet that he return'd into Britain where he dy'd in a good Old Age in the Monastery of Banchor after he had liv'd ninety years What Bishop Vsher refers to the former St. Gildas may reasonably be apply'd to this latter namely that St. Brendan the Son of Finloga in the year of our Lord 562. came into Britain to visit the Holy old man Gildas famous for his Wisdom this our latter Gildas at that time being above 70. years old In the year of Grace 561. Irmeric King of Kent dy'd after he had raign'd 30. years leaving behind him a Son and Daughter his Son and Successors Name was Ethelbert his Daughters Ricula This is that famous Ethelbert who according to his Name was the Glory and Splendor of this Nation who had the first Prerogative among the Saxons of receiving and propagating the Christian Faith. Some disposition thereunto began it seems in his Fathers time who permitted at least a private exercise of Christian Religion Thirty years of Ethelbert's reign were never the less spent before it was openly profess'd during which time he was frequently exercis'd in War wherein at first he sustain'd great losses which after he repair'd by many Victories with which he much enlarg'd the limits of his Dominions In the third year of his reign St. Columba by occasion of Civil Wars was compell'd to quit Ireland and come into Britain as Adelmannus who wrote his Life relates in this manner Some time after the Civil War at Culedrebene when Dermitius Son of Kerbail was Monarch of Ireland and all business was determin'd before the Kings Tribunal it happen'd so that St. Columba was oblig'd to appear before him to challenge a certain Free-man who had been made Captive and when the Cause being pleaded before the King an unjust Sentence had been pronounc'd by him the man of God rose up with great indignation and before all there present told the unrighteous King That from that moment he should never see his face more 'till God the just judge shall have diminish'd his Kingdom for his Injustice for saith he as thou hast despis'd me here before thy Nobles by an unjust Judgment so shall the Eternal God despise thee before thine enemies in the day of War. And having said thus he presently took Horse smiting him with his Whip so as the Blood issu'd from him This being observ'd by the Kings Councellors present they wonder'd at it and humbly entreated the King to comply with the Holy mans request least God should dissipate his Kingdom according to the man of