and vertue and instructed by his wholesome Exhortations forsaking Idolatry became a Christian It came to the ears of the Prince that this holy Confessour of Christ whose time was not come that God had assigned for him to suffer lay hid in Alban's house Whereupon Souldiers were sent to apprehend him but St. Alban apparrelled in his guests and Masters garments presented himself unto them When they brought Alban it hapned that the Judge was doing sacrifice unto the Devils who beholding him and incensed with anger for that he feared not to offer himself unto death for his guest he commanded him to be brought before the Idols For as much quoth he as thou hadst rather convey away the Rebell and Traitour to our gods than to deliver him up to deserved punishment what pains he should have suffered if he had been taken the same shalt thou undergo if thou refusest to practise the rites of our Religion But St. Alban who had voluntarily declared himself a Christian little heeded the menaces of the Prince but being throughly guarded with the spiritual armour of Grace plainly told him he would not obey his command I am a Christian saith he and I apply my self to Christian duties and exercises I honour and worship the true and living God These sacrifices which thou offerest to the Devils help not the offerer but purchase them eternal pains The Judge hereupon commanded the holy Confessor of God to be beaten by the Tormentors but Alban in his sufferings was patient and couragious Then the Judge sentenced him to be beheaded As he was led to execution he came to a floud which swiftly ran betwixt him and the place where he was to suffer The company was great and the bridge narrow so that it was likely to be Evening before they could all pass Alban desirous of death coming to the river side made his Prayer and saw forth with the bottom dry the water giving place to him and to the people to pass over Which the Executioner seeing not without the holy inspiration of God fell down at his feet and casting from him his sword ready drawn desired rather to suffer himself than do the Execution Then came they to a very pleasant hill worthy to be dedicated by the bloud of the blessed Martyr At the top whereof Alban begg'd of God to give him water and strait there arose a Spring at his Feet whereby all perceiv'd that as the River before in obedience to him was dryed up so water was now given at his entreaty Here this most valiant Martyr being beheaded received the Crown of life which God promiseth to those that love him But he who did the Execution had short joy for his eys fell upon the ground with the Head of the holy Martyr There also was beheaded the Souldier who being called of God refused to strike the holy Confessor of whom t is manifest though he was not Christned in the Font yet was he baptized in his own blood and so made worthy to enter heaven The Judge seeing so many strange and heavenly miracles wrought by this holy martyr cōmanded the persecution should cease beginning to honor in the Saints of God their constant and patient suffering death whereby he thought at first to draw them from the devotion of their Faith St. Alban suffered Martyrdome the 20th day of June neer the City Verulam now call'd St. Albans in Hartfordshire where after the Christian Church was calm'd a Church was built of exceeding rich work and worthy of such a Martyrdom In which place eve◠to this day are sick persons cured and many Miracles wrought Many more suffered in sundry places who by perfect victory yeelded their Souls to Heaven CHAP. 8. After the storm of this persecution was blown over the Christians who in time of danger lay hid in dens and deserts came forth and shewed themselves abroad renew'd Churches which were overthrown founded built and drest up new in honour of the holy Martyrs celebrated holy dayes consecrated the divine Mysteries and every where display'd their Ensignes in signe of Victory This peace continued in the Church of Christ in Britany untill the Arian Heresie running through the world corrupted also with venemous Errours this Island When by this means Heresie had found an open vent to press over the Ocean into the said Island soon after all manner of Heresies flowed in and were received by the Inhabitants they being men delighting ever to hear novelties and stedfastly retaining nothing as certain This Heresie of the Arians being discovered and condemned in the Councel of Nice did neverthelesse infect not onely other parts of the world but even the very Churches of the Islands with poisonous Infidelity In the 9. Chap. nothing but civill Affairs CHAP. 10. The year of our Lord 394. Arcadius raigning Pelagius a Britan disperst the Venom of his faithless Doctrine holding that a man might live well without the help of Gods grace In the 11. and 12. Chapters nothing but civil Affairs Chap. 13. In the year 423. the 8th of the Emperour Theodosius the yonger Palladius was sent by Celestine Bishop of the Roman Church to the Scots who had receiv'd the Faith of Christ to be their Bishop In the 14. Chapter nothing Chap. 15. The English then Heathens sent for out of Germany over run Britany The Priests are every where slain at the Altars The Bishops with their flock were murdered with fire and sword without regard unto their dignity In the 16. Chapter nothing but civill affairs Chap. 17. A few years before the arrival of the Saxons English the Pelagian Heresie brought in by Agricola greatly corrupted the Faith of the Britans But they being unwilling to receive this lewd doctrine blasphemous against the grace of God and yet unable to resist the crafty and wicked perswasions of their Adversaries took this wholesome Counsel to seek for ayde from the Bishops of France A Councel being call'd the French consulted among themselves whom they should send By the judgment of all the Apostolical Bishops Germanus and Lupus were chosen to pass over into Britany Who with great alacrity receiving the Orders and Commands of the holy Church put to Sea Whilst they were under sail the Devill envying such men should go to the recovery of that People raised a dangerous tempest Germanus Bishop feeble of body through weariness fell a sleep then Lupus and the rest call'd upon him Germanus more constant in the greatness of the danger invoketh Christ and taking in the name of the holy Trinity a few sprinkles of water casteth i◠into the Sea Forth with the rage of the storm breaketh God being called upon defered not his help the enemy is chased away and they set on land where they desited A multitude of People assembling received the Priests of God of whose coming the wicked spirits gave notice and afterward being expell'd out of the obsess't bodies at the
interpreter to his Nobles whilest the Bishop preacht to them Possessions were given by the King towards the founding of Religious Houses The little Children and Ancienter sort were by the Scots train'd up in observance of Regular Discipline for they were for the most part Monks as Aidan was whose House was for no smal time the head of all the Monasteries of the Northern parts and of the Abbeyes of the Redshanks which was bestow'd upon the Monks in consideration of their Sermons and preaching Chap. 4. In the year 565. A Priest and Abbot venerable both in Habit and Religious life call'd Columban came from Ireland into Britany to preach the word of God in the North The Southern Redshanks had long before receiv'd the Faith the word of God being preacht unto them by the reverend and blessed Bishop Ninia who was at Rome perfectly taught Martin the Faith whose See the English hold to this day famous for the name and Church of St. Martin where his and many other Saints bodies are An Island was given Columban by the King towards erecting of a Monastery Moreover he had a renowned Monastery in Ireland out of both which very many Monasteries were after founded by means of his Schollers These in observing the high Feast of Easter trusted to uncertain computes and no marvel since none sent them the Decrees made in general Councels for the keeping thereof yet they diligently observed all such works of devotion and chaste demeanour as they could learn in the Prophets Gospels and the Apostles writings This erronious observance of Easter lasted 150 years At last the reverend Father and Priest Ecbert reform'd them causing them to keep the same in due time Chap. 5. From this Convent of Monks founded by St. Columban Aidan was sent and consecrated Bishop to instruct England in the Faith His life so far surmounted the lukewarmnesse of our times that all his companions as well shaven Monks as Laicks gave themselves to continual Meditation Every devout person except between Easter and Whitsontide took up a custom to continue Fasting every Wednesday and Fryday until three of the clock in the afternoone See many excellent things of Aidan in Bede Chap. 6. Relates Oswalds rare Piety for which God gave him all the Dominions of four several languages the Britans Picts Scots and English It is also related how King Oswald bestowed a Silver dish with dainties on the poor who begg'd at dinner time The Bishop delighted with such a work of mercy took him by the right hand saying I pray God this hand may never be consum'd Which came to pass for being slain and his hands cut off that hand to this day remains uncorrupt and is reserved in a silver Shrine in St. Peters Church where with due honour it is worshipt by all Chap. 7. Relates How the tumultuous with their King receiv'd the Faith by Bishop Birinus his preaching who came into Britany by Pope Honorius his appointment promising to sow the seeds of the holy Faith in the remotest parts of England By the same Popes command the Bishop of Genua consecrated him Chap. 8. In the year 640. Erconbert was King of Kent and the first of the Kings of England who by Princely Authority commanded the Idols throughout his Realm should be destroyed and that the Fast of forty dayes should be kept appointing due punishment for the transgressours thereof Eartongarth this Kings daughter was a Virgin of rare virtue serving God in a Monastery in France all the dayes of her life For in those days when many Monasteries were not yet built in England divers for the love to Religious life were wont to go to the Religious Houses of France sending also their daughters thither to be brought up and espoused to the heavenly Bridegrome The Inhabitants thereabout even at this day relate many vertuous deeds and miraculous signes wrought by this Virgin dedicated to God The time of her departure being at hand she began to visite the Celâ— of the sick in the Monastery unto whose Prayers commending herself she signified her approaching houre as she had understood it by revelation Many brethren of the Monastery in the other house reported how at the same time they heard the melody of Angels singing and a noise as it were of a great multitude coming into the Monastery and going forth they beheld an exceeding bright light sent down from Heaven Which conducted her soule to the joyes of Heaven They report other miracles shew'd by the Hand of God in the same Monastery The honourable body of Christs Virgin and Spouse was buried in the Church of St. Stephen Three dayes after they remov'd it rearing the grave-stone higher at the doing whereof so sweet a smell came from the Earth that to all the Brethren and Sisters there seem'd to be opened Cellars of natural balm â—delburge also Aunt to Eartongath preserv'd the glory of perpetual Virginity which is so dear to God in great chastity of body How great her virtue was appear'd more fully after death for seven years after her body was found as uncorrupt as it had been free from stain of carnal concupiscence and was translated into the Church of St. Stephen Chap. 9. Relates How Oswald the most Christian King was slain at a place called Maserfield How great the Faith of this King was and how servent his devotion appear'd after his death by sundry Miracles for to this day Cures both of men and beasts are daily wrought in the place where he was slain Many carried away the dust where his body fell and casting it into water cured thereby many infirmities This was so often done that by taking away the Earth so deep a pit is now made that a man may stand upright in it And no marvel that sick persons are recovered in the place where he died who all his life time bestow'd his time in giving Alms and comforting the Needy Very many miracles are reported to be done by the dust of that place The Horse of a passenger hard by this place falling down became so ill that he gave him for lost The horse tumbling himself about at last lighted on the the place where Oswald fell and suddenly starting up was whole The Passenger quickly understood what it meant and marking the place came to his Inn where he found a young maid who had been a long time molested with the Palsie He told them what had hapned whereupon they carried her in a Cart to the place where being laid down she slept awhile and soon after waking she found her self cured and return'd on foot home with those that had brought her thither Chap. 10. Relates How a little linnen bag full of the earth where King Oswald fell dead being casually hung upon a post in a house that was quite burnt down this onely post remain'd untoucht by the fire upon which occasion many
received of the Saints in heaven Which practise in those dayes many English both of Nobles and Commons Spirituall and temporall Men and Women were wont to performe with exceeding emulation Chap. 8. Relates How Theodore Arch-Bishop of Canterbury departed this life very aged and how the number of years he lived were signified unto him by revelation He was buried in St. Peters Church A man worthy of perpetuall remembrance for his singular vertues of whom with his companions it may be said That their names shall live in glory from generation to generation Then the Church of England received such comfort and encrease in spirituall matters that it never received the like before nor after Chap. 9. Berechwald succeedeth Theodore in Canterbury who was Abbot of Rashwulfe now called Reculver in Kent a man well knowing in the holy Scripture skilfull in Ecclesiasticall and Monasticall orders and discipline He consecrated Toby Bishop of Rochester one expert in the Latine and Greek Tongue Chap. 10. Relates How Egbert a Reverend Priest and servant of God to obtaine Heaven led a Pilgrims life in Ireland He took upon him the office of an Apostle desirous to preach the word of God to the German provinces which had not yet received it or if this could not be to travell to Rome to see and worship the Tombes of the blessed Apostles and Martyrs But by revelation from Heaven neither of these was effected For Boisell once Abbot of Mailrose appearing after Mattins to a Religious Man bad him go tell Egbert that he must not perform that Journey but that it was Gods will that he should go and instruct Columbe's Monastery This Columbe was the first Preacher of the Faith to the Picts and the first Founder of a Monastery in the Isle of Hu which was had in great estimation Egbert neglecting for awhile to go to the Monastery as he was commanded of God Boisell appeared again to that Religious man telling him that he should say to Egbert that whether he would or no he should go to Columb's Monastery Which so fell out For by tempest he was drive thither yet one of his companions Wigbert by name excelling in contempt of the world and profound knowledge for he had led an Anacorrites life in great perfection many years arrived in Frizland but without successe So he returned to his former solitary life Chap. 11. Egbert By Revelation from God not being suffered to preach in Germany he sent other holy and vertuous men of whom that notable and excellent man Willibrord Priest was chief They converted Frizeland from Idolatry to the Faith of Christ two other English Priests who had voluntarily liv'd in banishment in Ireland for hope of eternal life whose names were Henwald came into Saxony to win souls to Christ The barbarous observing them to be of another Religion for they sung Hymns Psalms and devoute Prayers and daily offered the sacrifice of the holy Host having with them holy Vessels a little Table hollowed instead of an Altar suspecting they came to withdraw their Land from worshipping their gods murthered them and to witness their Martyrdome there appeared Miracles from Heaven For their bodies being cast into the river of Rhene were carried almost forty mile against the main stream to their companions and a great bright beam of light reaching up to heaven shin'd every night over the place where their bodies were One of them appeared in the night to a companion of his nam'd Tilmon who of a Souldier was become a Monk telling him that he should find their bodies where he should see a light shine from heaven which happened accordingly The day of their Martyrdome or Invention is in those places celebrated with due veneration King Pipin with great glory entombed them at Collen T is reported that in the place in which they were killed a Spring bubbled up which to this day affordeth plenty of water Chap. 12. Willebrord with these Holy men his companions having license of the Prince to preach in Frizland went first to Rome where Sergius sate in the See Apostolike that by his approbation and benediction he might settle to the Apostolike office of preaching to the Heathens hoping withall to receive of him some Reliques of Christs holy Apostles and Martyrs that when casting out Idols he erected Churches he might have in readiness some holy Saints Reliques to bring in their place and to dedicate them in their honour whose Reliques he had received All things succeeding to his desire Swibert is chosen their Bishop and consecrated in England by Wilfred and returning converteth a great number At last building a Monastery in an Isle of the Rhene leading there a very austere and continent life he died His successors possesse the same to this day Pepin sent that vertuous and worthy Prelate Wilbrord to Rome by consent of all that he might be made Archbishop of Frizland upon Saint Cicilyes day Anno 690. and in her Church he was consecrated and named Clement by the Pope and sent to his Bishopriâ—k of Vtreckt in Holland He erected many Churches and Monasteries through the Countrey This Willebrord otherwise Clement liveth yet a Reverend Father Chap. 13. At the same time was wrought in Britany a Miracle worthy of perpetuall rememberance and not unlike to the ancient Miracles of times past A certaine man in Northumberland dead for a time rose againe to life and told many things worthy the relating of which we touch some few I am saith he truly risen again from the death but henceforth my conversation must be far unlike my former life Rising up he went to Church and continued there in prayer untill day Then he divided all his goods into three parts one he gave to his wife another to his children the third he gave in almes to the poor Then he entred into the Monastery of Maitrose and being shaven he made his abode in a secret habitation assigned him by the Abbot where he lived untill his dying day in such austerity of body that though his tongue had said nothing yet his life spake that he had seen many terrible things He related what he hath seen in this manner The Countenance apparel of my guide was ful of light we came to one great broad valley of infinite length all full of terrible fire there was also another valley intolerable with hail and snow Both places were full of souls tossed as with a whirlewind out of one into the other I began to think that this was Hell but my guide said Think not so Then having mentioned all the rest of the visions he relates how his guide told him That this valley so full of horrible flames and so bitterly cold was the place where their souls remain to be tried who deferring the Confession of their sins and amendment had recourse to Pennance at the point of death yet because they made
humble confession of their sins and repented they shall all come to Heaven at the day of Judgment Many quoth he shall come to Heaven before the day of judgement for the good Prayers Alms and Fasting of the living and especially by the holy Sacrifice of the Mass Onely they which are perfect in all their thoughts words and deeds are carried streight to Heaven The effect of this vision was the change of his life into strange Austerity When any one said unto him brother Dirthelm for that was his name It is a wonder you can endure so much cold He would answer I have seen more cold endured than this And when they said T is a wonder you can endure such austerity He answered I have seen more rigorous sufferings than this This Chapter intermingleth in this Relation how that hard by this mans Cell there lived a Monk called Genigids who was living at the very time that Bede did write this leading a solitary life in Ireland sustaining his aged body with brown bread and cold water who often entring into the foresaid Monks Cell heard him many times repeat this whole relation and from him I came to the knowledge of it saith Bede Chap. 14. There was a Lay-man in great favour with King Coenred but negligent concerning the state of his soul The King warn'd him often to confesse and forsake his former life whilest it was time But he slighting the Kings admonition said He would doe Pennance hereafter It chanced he fell sick the King coming to him exhorted him that now at least he would do Pennance nay quoth he I will not now confesse my sins but when I am recovered I will least my companions think I did it for fear of death The King after a while returning again this Courtier told him now it was too late and that he had seen all that ever he had committed written in two Books and that he should strait wayes die and be carried into Hell The first book said he shewed me by an Angel contained all the good works which ever I had done but the book was very little Then the wicked spirits brought before me a book of a mighty bigness in which I read all the sins I had committed in thought word and deed Then he related how he heard his Condemnation Thus in despair he died This I thought fit to relate as I receiv'd it from the reverend Bishop Pechtelm Chap. 15. I my self knew a Brother whom I would I had not known who being admonisht by his Brethern to amend his life brought unto desperation by a vision he had of his place in Hell said There is no time for me to amend my former life Thus he died without receiving the Sacrament None of all the Convent durst say Mass sing psalms say the least Prayer for his soul This stirred up many to do Pennance for their sins which effect God grant it may work in those who shall read this Chap. 16. About this time many of the Scots in Ireland as also of the Britans admitted of the manner of celebrating Easter taught by the Catholike Church For Adamon a vertuous Priest Abbot of the Monks and Religious in the Isle of Hue seeing the canonicall Rites and Ceremonies of England and admonisht by the learned not to live contrary to the Universal Church neither in Easter nor any other decrees chang'd his mind and preferr'd what he saw in the English before his own He wrot a â—ook of holy places as he had been inform'd by Arculfe Bishop who 〈◊〉 travelled to see them Some â—ede relates in the next Chapter Chap. 17. Relates Out of the foresaid book of holy â—laces how over the place where Christ was born there is built a Church of the blessed Virgin and how the in ward grot in which our Saviour was born is covered with precious marble Câ—nstantine built a Church where the Crosse of Christ was found by Helena A Church also was built in Golgotha where the rock is seen which bore Christs Crosse and his blessed body Now in that place there is a mighty Cross of silver with a brazen wheele over it full of Lamps An Altar is cut out where the Crosse stood where Sacrifice is wont to be offered for honourable men that die There is also a round Chappel of Christs Resurrection which hath three Altars In the middle of this Chappel is the Tombe of our Saviour where day and night twelve Lamps burn The top of the Chappel is guilt bearing a great golden Crosse upon it Part of Christs Gravestone standeth at the doore of the Sepulcher Altarwise the other part also makes another Altar Chap. 18. The same Author relates how in the place of our Saviours Ascension on the top of Mount Olive there standeth a great round Church The inner Chappel having an Altar towards the East could not be vaulted nor covered over by reason that it was the place by which Christs body passed to Heaven In the middle of which Church the last print of Christs feet are to be seen and although the earth be fetcht away daily by the Christians yet it remaineth and keepeth the print of his holy feet A great Lampe burneth there day and night In the West-side be eight windows and as many Lamps shining through the glasse to Jerusalem and their lights stir up the Hearts of all that behold them Upon Christs Ascension-day every year when Masse is done there cometh from Heaven a gale of winde which maketh all in the Church prostrate themselves Chap. 19. In the year of our Lord 705. Hedda Bishop of the West-Saxons dyed of whom the Reverend Prelate Pechthelm then a Monk was wont to tell us that in the place where be dyed many great Miracles and cures were done and that they used commonly to carry away dust from thence and mingle it with water for such to drink as were sick and that the sprinkling drinking thereof did cure many sick so that a great pit was made by the often carrying away the dust Chap. 20. Coenred King of the Mercians having Reigned most Nobly at last forsook his Kingdome and went to Rome where at the Tombe of the Apostles receiving the Tonsure he became a Monk continuing in Prayer Fasting and Almes untill his death There went with him Offa the Son of Sigher King of the East-Saxons a most gallant youth whose whole Kingdome much desired that he would sway the Scepter but he moved with like devotion forsooke Wife Lands Kindred and Countrey that he might receive a hundred fold in this world and life everlasting in the next coming to the Holy places at Rome he took the Tonsure and Habit of a Monk the same year Wilfrid that excellent and worthy Prelate dyed and was buried in St. Peters Church at Rippon in Yorkshire He being but fourteen years old he esteemed more