Christs Victory over Satans Tyranny, Book 2

Christs Victory over Satans Tyranny · Book 2

p. 19THE SECOND BOOKE Containing the next 300. yeares.

BY these Persecutions hitherto, we may vnderstand that what the fury of Sathan and rage of men could deuise to do by death or torments, all was to the vtmost attempted to extinguish the Name and Religion of Christ, yet notwithstanding the wisedome of the world and the strength of men, Christ hath the vpper hand as thou seest.

Now because the tying vp of Sathan giueth the Church rest▪ we will leaue the affaires of the Uniuersall Church, and prosecute the Histories of our Country of England and Scotland, beginning with King Lucius, with whom the Faith began first in this Realme.

The Papists doe earnestly contend, that the Faith of Christ was first brought and receiued into England from Rome, both in the time of Eleutherius their Byshop, in the yeare 180. and also in the time of Augustine, whom Gregory sent hither in the yeare 600. but it is proued otherwise by these seauen Arguments.

1 Gildas affirmeth,Lib. de victoria. that Brittain receiued the Gospel in the time of Tyberius the Emperor, vnderunder whom Christ suffered, & saith farther, that Ioseph of Arimathia, was sent of Philip the Apostle from France to Brittaine, in the yeare 63. and remained héere all his time, and founded the Faith amongst the Brittaines.

2 Tertullian, Ex T…rtul. cōtra Iudeosliuing about the time of Elutherius, testifieth how the Gospell was dispersed by the Apostles, reckoneth Brittany amongst the Countries conuerted by them.

3 Origen, Ex Origen hom. 4. in Ezech.before the daies of Elutherius, said the Brittaines consented to Christianity.

4 Bede affirmeth, that 1000. yeares after Christ, Easter was kept in Brittaine after the manner of the East Church, on the fouretéenth day after the full Moone, what day soeuer it was, and not on sunday as we doe, whereby is gathered, the first Preacher came from the East, rather then from Rome.

5 Nicephorus Lib. 2. Cap. 4. saith, Simon Zelotes spread the Gospell in Brittany.

6 Petrus Cluniensis saith, that the Scots in his time celebrated Easter after the p. 20manner of the Gréekes and as the Brittaines, were not vnderunder the Romain order, nor vnderunder their Legate in the time of Gregory, nor would admit any primasie of the Byshop of Rome aboue them.

7 By the Epistle of Elutherius to Lucius, it appeareth that Lucius had receiued the Faith before he wrote to Elutherius, for the Romaine Lawes.

Elutherius might help some-thing to conuert the King, and to increase the Faith, but was not the first that planted it, but if it were so, it maketh nothing for them, for he challenged no such Supremacy as they doe, and was farre from their errours and superstitions.

The Chroniles write, that about the yeare 180.180 King Lucius, Sonne of Coylus, which builded Colchester, hearing of the myracles of Christians in his time, writ to Elutherius Bishop of Rome to receiue the Faith; the good Bishop sent him certaine Preachers, which conuerted the King of the Brittaines, and baptized them, there were the twenty eight Priests called Flamines, which they turned to twentie eight Bishoppes, and thrée Arch-Flamins, to thrée Arch-bishops, to wit; London, Yorke, and Glamargan by Wales. Thus all the Realme setled in good order, Lucius sent againe to Elutherius for the Romaine Lawes, thereby likewise to gouerne the Realme.

Unto whom Elutherius wrote againe: we may reprooue the Law of the Romaines, but the Law of GOD wee cannot reprooue: you hauehave with you both partes of the Scriptures, out of them, by Gods grace, with the councell of your Realme, take yea Law and rule your kingdome of Brittaine, for you are Gods Uicar in your kingdome.

The Faith thus receiued of the Brittaines, continued and flourished 216 yeares, vntill the comming of the Saxons, who then were Pagans: whilst Brittaine had thus receiued the Faith, the Emperors of Rome were Infidels, wherefore much trouble wos sought against them, as it was against all parts of Christendome.

Lucius, after he had raigned about 77. yeares, died without issue: whereupon followed great misery and ruine to the Realme, for sometime the idolatrous Romaines, and sometimes the Brittaines raigned, as violence and victory would serue; one King murdering another, vntill at length the Saxons depriued them both.

Some write▪ but falsely, that King Lucius, after he was baptized, forsooke his kingly Honor and the Land, and became a Preacher in France and Germany, and other places, and was made Doctor and Rector of the Church of Cureac, where hee was martyred, but this fansie is contrary to all our English Stories, which doe agrée that he hauing founded many Churches, and giuen great liberalities to the same, deceased in great tranquility in his owne Land, and was buried at Glocester.

Betwéene the time of King Lucius, and the entring of the Saxons, there raigned after Lucius Seuerus a Romaine: after him Bassianus, a Romaine; after him Cerausius, a Brittaine; after him Alectus, a Romaine; after him Asclepiodotus, a Brittaine; after him Coilus, a Brittaine; after him Constantius, a Romain; after him Constantinus, a Brittain, by Helena his Mother, the Daughter of King Coilus, and Wife of Constantius. Constantine first made the wals of London and Colchester: when the Romaines ruled it, it was ruled by Infidels, and when the Brittains ruled, by Christians; yet no persecution was raised in it, vntill the tenth persecution, which was so cruell, that all our English Chronicles report, that all Christianity almost in the whole land was destroyed, Churches subuerted, and the Scriptures burned, as before is shewed.

It is worthy to be noted, that Constantine, that worthy Emperor, was not onelyonly a Brittaine borne, but his Mother Helena, Daughter of King Coilus a Brittaine, but also by the helpe of the Brittaines Army, which Constantine tooke with him, with great victories he obtained the peace of the Uniuersall Church, hauing thrée legions with him out of this Realme, of chosen Souldiers.

After, Maximinian tooke all the power that was left of fighting Men, to subdue France, and after sent for 100000. Souldiours more at once, at which time Conanus his Partner sent for 11000. Uirgines out of Brittaine, which were drowned p. 21and spoyled by the way by Infidels, because they would not pollute themselues with them.

Thus Brittaine being destitute of strength, had béene oppressed by Guanus and Melga, had not Guethl…us Arch-bishop of London, and Constantinus, Brother to Aldranus, defended the Realme and State of Religion.

Then came Vortigerne, who murdred Constance his Prince, and inua…ed the Crowne, and fearing Constance his two brothers, he sent for ayde of the Saxons, and married with the Daughter of Hengist, but not long after he was dispossessed of his kingdome by the said Hengist, and the Saxons beeing all Infidels, and the Brittaines were driuen out of the Country. Two hundred seuenty one of their Nobles at one méeting at Almesbury, being subtilly slain by the Saxons, or at a place cald Stonehenge, by the Monument of which Stones, there hanging, it séemeth the Noble Brittaines were there buried. I passe ouer the fabulous Story of the Welchmen, of bringing these Stones from Ireland by Merlin. Some Stories record, they were slaine, being bid to a banket: Thus came the Angles and Saxons fi…st into this Realme, being yet Infidels, about the yeare 469. they were diuers times driuen out by Aurelius Ambrosius, and his Brother Vter, but they returned againe, and at length possessed all, and droue the Brittains into Wales. Hengistus raigned 43. years and dyed in Kent, Galfridus saith he was taken in the warre of Aurelius Ambrosius, and beheaded in the 39. yeare of his raigne.

His Sonne Offa succeeded him twenty foure yeares, Octa and Imericus his sons succéeded him, 53. yeares, and were slaine by Vter Pendragon.

The Saxons deuided the Realme into s…auen Kingdomes: to the first Kent; to the second Sussex and Surrey; the third West-sex, the fourth East…sex; the fifth Cambridgeshire, Norffolke, and Suffolke: the sixt, the Countries of Lincolne, Leicester, Huntingdon, Northampton, Oxford, Darby, Warwicke: the seauenth was King of Northumberland: they continued so a while with great Warres amongst themselues, at length all came to the possession of the West-Saxons. This …ingdome began in the yeare 522. and continued vntill about the comming of William the Conqueror, which was 554. yeares.

Saint Paules Church in London was builded by Ethelbert, King of Kent, and Sigebert King of Essex, when Ethelbert turned vntounto the Faith. Malmsburie writeth, that Mauricius the Kinges Chancellour, then Byshoppe of London, did first begin this famous building of Paules, and after Richard his Successour, bestowed all the rents of his Byshoppricke vponupon the same, and it may be the first Church was ouerthrowne by the Danes, and re-edified by these Byshops.

These Kings of the Brittaines raigned in Wales and Cornewall, Vortiger, Vortimer, Vortiger againe, Aurelius Ambrosius, Vter Pendragon, Arthur, Constantius 3. Aurelius Conanus, Vortiperius, Malgo, Carecius.

The sinnes of the Brittaines was the cause of the iust iudgement of God against them, as out of an old Authour, and partly out of Gildas doth appeare: These bee the words of the Authour: There following Constantinus, and others aboue named, out of the Realme all the Nobility, when the rascall sort had gotten their places, and through aboundance of riches were surprised with pride, they fell into so great Fornication as neuer was heard of, and vntounto all manner of wickednesse, that mans Nature is inclined vntounto; hating the truth, louing lyes, regarding euill in stead of goodnesse, receiuing the Deuill in stead of an Angell of light, choose such for their Kings as were most cruell, and if any seemed to bee humble and fauour the truth, they hated and backbited him as a destroyer of Brittaine, and not onelyonly the seculer men did thus, but also the Byshoppes and Teachers, therefore it was no maruell that such a people should loose their Country which they had so defiled.

As there were many wicked Kinges among the Saxons, so there were some very good, but none almost frō the first to the last, which was not either slain in war or murdred in peace, or constrained to make himselfe a Monk, whether it were the iust iudgment of God, because they had violently dispossessed the Brittains, they were not only p. 22vexed of the Danes, conquered of the Normans, but more cruelly deuoured themselues.

Ethelbert King of Cambridgeshire, Norffolke, and Suffolke, came peaceably to King Offa, for dispousage of Athilrid his Daughter, and by the Councel of King Offa, his Wife was secretly beheaded. Wherevpon Offa, through repentance, made the first peter-pence to be giuen to S. Peters Church at Rome.

One Lothbrooke a Dane of the Kings blood,The first comming of the Danes. being a hauking by the Sea-side in a little Boat, was cast by weather vponupon the Coast of Norffolke, and being brought to King Edmund, he retained him in great fauour, at length he was priuily murdered by one Bericke, which being knowne, Bericke was sent away in Lothbrookes Boate without tackling, and was driuen into Denmarke, and being séene in Lothbrookes Boate, and examined of Lothbrooke, he falsely said the King had killed him. Wherevpon Iugner and Hubba, Lothbrookes Sonnes, gathering an Army of Danes inuauaded first Northumberland, then Norffolke, and sent to King Edmund to deuide his Treasures to him, and be subiect to him, else he would dispossesse him of his …ingdome, he answered he would not be subiect to a Pagan Duke, vnlesse before hee become a Christian, then the Danes besiedged his house, but he fled and pitched a fielde with them, but the Danes preuailing, he fled to the Castle of Halesdon, where they tooke him and bound him to a stake, and shot him to death.

Seauen or eight Kings are highly commended in the Histories for leauing there Kingdomes, and becomming Moonkes, but they are more to be discommended for leauing their calling, wherein they might so much benefite the Church.

There were foure Persecutions in England, before Austen came into England: the first vnderunder Dioclesian; the second, by the inuading of Gnarius and Melga, one captaine of the Hunnes, the other of the Picts, after they had slaughtered 11000. Uirgines, as before made a rode into Brittaine, hearing it wanted strength, and murdered Christians and spoiled Churches without mercy: the third by the Saxons, who destroyed Christs Saints and the Churches, vntill Aurelius Ambrosius restored again the Churches: the fourth, Gurmundus King of the Affricans ioyned with the Saxons, and wrought much grieuance to the Christians of the Land, which persecution remained to the time of Ethelbert the fift King of Kent.

In the t…me of Ethelbert, the faith was receiued of the Saxons; by this meanes Gregory Bishop of Rome, seeing Brittaine Children to be sould in Rome, very beautifull, vnderstanding what Country they were of, pittied that the Country which was so beautifull, and angellicall, so to be subiect to the prince of darkenes: Wherefore he sent thither Austen with about forty Preachers with him, and when they were apaled and would hauehave turned backe again▪ Gregory emboldned and comforted them with his Letter, so they came to the Ile of …henet in Kent, Ethelbert as before was King of Kent, he had married one Berda, a French Woman, vponupon condition shee should vse the Christian Religion with one Lebardus her Byshop, Austen sent to the King, signifying hee was come from Rome, bringing with him glad tydings to him and all his people of life and saluation, if he would so willingly hearken vntounto it, as he was gladly come to preach it vntounto him. The King hauing heard of this Religion by his Wife, came to the place where Austen was, Austen against his comming erected a Banner of the Crucifire (such then was the grosenesse of the time) and preached to him the word of God, the King promised they should hauehave all things necessary, and none should molest them▪ and gaue them frée leaue to preach to his subiects, and conuert whom they might to the Faith.

When they had this comfort of the King, they went with procession to Canterbury, singing Alleluia, with the Letany that was vsed at Rome in the great plague, We beséech thée O Lord in all thy mercies, that thy fury and anger may cease from this Citty, and from thy holy house, for we hauehave sinned, Alleluia, they continued in the same Citty preaching and baptizing, in the old Church of S. Martine, where the Quéene was wont to resort, vntill the King was conuerted, at length the King séeing their myracles, and their godly conuersation, he heard them gladly, and was conuerted in the thirty sixe yeare of his raigne, Anno 586. After him innumerable daily p. 23were adioyned vntounto the Church, whom the King did specially imbrase, but compelled none, then the King gaue Austen a place for his Byshops Sea, at Christs Church in Canterbury, and builded the Abbey there, where after Austen and all the Kings of Kent were buried, which now is called S. Austine.

Then Austen by the commandement of Gregory, went into France to the Bishop of Arelatensis, to be consecrated Arch-byshop, and so was then Austen sent to Gregory, so declare how they had sped, and to be resolued of diuers questions, how Bishops should behaue themselues towards their Clarke, of offerings and Ceremonies, and what punishment for stealing Church goods, and such like, to no great purpose; therefore if thou béest disposed to sée them, I referre thee to the Booke at large.

Gregory, after he had sent resolutions to these questions, sendeth moreouer more Coadiutors, as Melitus, Iustus, Paulinus, and Ruffianus, with Books and implements necessary for the English Church, and in reward of Austines paines, he sent him a Pal onelyonly to be vsed at the solemnity of the Masse, and granteth two Metropolitane Seas, London and Yorke, but granted to Austen during his life, to be cheefe Arch-bishop of all the Land, and that they should not destroy the idolatrous Temples, but conuert them to Christian vses, and that Austine should not be proud of the myracles that God wrought by him, & that he should remember they were not done for him, but for their conuersion, whose saluation God sought thereby.

Then he wrote to King Ethelbert▪ first hee praysed GOD, then the King, by whom it pleased God to worke such goodnesse of the people, then exhorted him to perseuer in his profession, and to be zealous therein, to conuert the multitude, and destroy Idolatry, and to gouerne them in holinesse of conuersation, according to the Emperor Constantinus the Great, comforting him with the promises of life, and reward to come.

Austine receiuing his Pall, as aboue said, and of a Monke being made an Arch-Byshop, hee made two Metropolitanes, as Gregorie commaunded; then Austine assembled the Byshops and Doctors of Brittaine, in this assembly, hee charged the Byshoppes that they should preach the Word of GOD with him: also, that they should reforme certaine rites and vsages in the Church, especially for keeping of Easter, and baptizing after the manner of Rome, the Scots and Brittaines would not agree thereto, refusing to leaue the custome which they so long time had continued. Beda, Fabianus, & others, write of a myracle wrought vponupon a Blinde Englishman, when the Brittaines could not helpe him. Austine kneeling downe and praying, restored him to sight before them all, for a confirmation (as these Authours say) of keeping of Easter, I leaue the credite of the myracle to the Authors of whom I had it.

Austine gathered another Sinode, to the which seauen Byshoppes, and the wisest Men of the famous Cittie of Bangor came, they tooke councell of a holy man whether they should be obedient to Austine, he had them agree to him if hee bee the Seruant of GOD, and you shall know it by his humblenesse and meekenesse, you are the greater number, if he at your comming into the Sinode arise vp and courteously receiue you, perceiue him to be an humble and meeke man: but if he shall contemne and despise you, despise you him againe; thus the Brittaine Byshoppes entring into the Councell, Austine after the Romish manner keeping his Chaire, would not remooue, wherefore they being very much offended thereat, after some heate of words, departed in great displeasure, to whom Austine said: If they would not receiue peace with their Brethren, they should receiue war with their Enemies.

There was in Bangor in Wales an exceeding great Monastery, wherein was two thousand and one hundred Monkes, the Monkes came out of this Monasterie to Chester, to pray for Brocmayle, fighting for them against the Saxons, Ethelbert King of Northumberland seeing them intenti…e to their prayers, and perceiuing it was to pray for their Consull; he said, although they beare no Weapon, yet with their praiers and preaching they persecute vsus, he commaunded his men to kill them, p. 24who killed, or rather martyred 1100. of them. The Authors that wrote this, say that the forespeaking of Austine was verified on them, but Galfridus Monumetensis, saith, that Ethelbert the King of Kent being conuerted by Austine to Christs Faith, seeing the Brittaines deny their subiection to Austine, therefore stirred vp the said Ethelfrid to warre against the Brittaines.

After Austine had baptized 10000. in a Riuer called Swale by Yorke, on a Christmas day, perceiuing his end to draw neere, ordained Laurencius his Successor: by his Baptizing in Riuers it followeth there was then no vse of Fonts, and the Rites of baptizing in Rome was not then so ceremoniall, nor had so many trinkets as it hath since: and not long after Austine died,604 after he had sitten Arch-bishop 15. or 16. yeares. About this time also Gregory died, who was called the basest of all the Byshops before him, and the best of all that came after him.

Ranulphus Cestrensis writeth,Poli: li. 5. ca. 10. that Iohn the Patriarch of Alexandria, as he was at prayer, there appeared vntounto him a comely Uirgine▪ hauing on her head a Garland of Oliue Leaues, which named her selfe Mercy, promising him if he would take her to Wife, hee should prosper well: After that day this Patriarch was so mercifull to the poore, that he counted them his Maisters, and himselfe as Steward vntounto them.

Gregory withstood the pride of Iohn, Patriarke of Constantinople, which would be the Uniuersall and Cheefe Bishop of all others, calling him the fore-runner of Antichrist, he brought in the Title of the Pope, Seruus seruorum Dei.

Sabinianus succeeded him two yeares, a malicious Detractor of his workes, after him succeeded Bonifacius the third, one yeare.

After Phocas had murdered his owne Maister Mauricius the Emperor and his Children, thinking to establish the Empire to himselfe by friendship of his people, and especially with the Pope, he granted Boniface all his Petitions, and to bee Uniuersall head Byshop ouer all Churches. Hiraclius the Emperour that succeeded Phocas, cut of his hands and feete, and threw him into the Sea, but Rome would not so soone loose the supremacy once giuen, as the giuer lost his life: for euer since they hauehave maintained the same with all force and pollicy, by the word of Gregorie. Boniface may well be called the fore-runner of Antichrist, as Gregory brought in the Stile of Seruus seruorum Dei; so he brought in Volumus & mandamus, Statuimus & praecipimus.

Besides the building of Pauls, as aforesaid, by Ethelbert King of Kent, and Sigebert King of Essex: Ethelbert also founded the Church of S. Andrew in Rochester. Moreouer, he caused a Cittizen to make Westminster Abbey, which was inlarged and new builded by Edward the Confessor, and new re-edified by Henry the third, and when he had raigned 56. yeares he died, Anno 616.616.

The foresaid Ethelfrid King of Northumberland, after the cruell murder of the Monkes at Bangor, was not long after slaine in the Fielde of Edwine, who succeeded him in his Kingdome. First this Ethelfride enuying this Edwine, persecuted him, who hauing fled from him, as he sat in his Study a Stranger appeared vntounto him and said; I know thy thought and heauinesse, what wouldst thou giuegive him that should deliuer thee out of this feare, and make thee a mightier King then any of thy Predecessors, and shew thee a better way of life then euer was sh…wed to any of thy Ancestors? wilt thou obey him and doe after his councell? yea, said Edwine, promising with all his heart so to do, and the stranger laying his hand on his head, he said; when this is come to passe remember thy tribulation, and the promise which thou hast made, and with that hee vanished away. Presently a Friend of his came to him, and said, the heart of King Redwaldus is with thee. This Redwaldus suddainely assembled an Hoast, wherewith he suddainely gaue Ethelfride battell, and slew him, whereby Edwine was quietly King of Northumberland. He marryed the Daughter of Ethelbert King of Kent, Edwine yet remained a Pagan, albeit his Queene a Christian, and Paulinus the Byshoppe ceased not to perswade him to the Christian Faith. When Paulinus saw the King so hard to bee conuerted, p. 25he prayed to God for his conuersion, who reuealer vntounto him the Uision before mentioned; whereupon Paulinus comming to the King, he laie his hand… on the Kings head, and aked if he knew that token; the King be…ring the Uision, and remembring the token, would hauehave fal…en at his f…ete, but suffe…ed him not, saying; O King, you hauehave vaquished your enemies and obtained your Kingdom, now receiue the Faith of Christ, as you promised, whereupon the King was baptized of Paulinus at Yorke▪ with many of his seruants, and his Idolatrous Priests, which by their old Law mustride but vponupon Mar…s, ga…e vponupon Horses, and rode and destroyed all the Altars of their Idols, and their Idols Temple. After this conuersion, was so great peace in the Kingdome o… Edwin, that a woman, laden with gold, might goe safe from the one side of the Sea vntounto the other, and by all his high waies he chained a Bowle of brasse at eueryevery Fountaine, for passengers to refresh themselues with, and no man tooke them away during his life.

King Oswald, a Christian, by prayer vntounto God, with a little company ouerc…me Cadwallo, and Penda the Britain… King, which with a mightie Host came against him. There is much commendation in writing of this Oswalds zeale in religion, and piety towards the poore; he sent into Scotland for a Bishop called Aydanus, a famous Preacher, as he preached to the Saxons in the Scottish tongue, the King vnderstanding the Scotish tongue, he disdained not to preach and expound the same to his Nobles in the English tongue.

King Oswald being at Dinner on Easterday, one brought him word there was a great company of p…re people in the streets which asked almes of him, be commaunded the meate prepared for his owne Table to be caried vntounto them, and brake a si…er Platter in pieces and sen… it amongst them: by his meanes Kinigillus King of the West Saxons was conuerted to Christs Faith, and after he had raigned 9. yeares, he was slaine by the said Penda, who was after slaine by Osway brother to Oswald, and succeeded him in his Kingdome,643. together with his Cosin Oswine.

This Oswine gaue Aydanus, the Scotish Bishop aforesaid, a principall Horse, with the trappers and appurtenances, and as he w…s riding vponupon this kingly horse, a poore man craued his charity, who hauing nothing else to giuegive him, gaue him his hor…e garnished as he was; wherefore, as he came to Dinner, he King chi…e him, he answere…; O King, set you more prise by a horse, then by Chr…st? Then the King prayed him to forgiue him, and he would not hencefoorth finde fault with him for giuing away any of his Treasure: then Aydanus wept, and being asked wherefore he wept, he answered, for that this King cannot liue long, this people is nto worthy to be …uled by such a Prince, which shortly came to passe, for Osway caused him traterously to be slaine.

One Benedict, a great man with Osway, that brought vp Bede from his youth▪ …orsooke Oswayes house,65…. and all his kindred, to serue Christ; he was the first that brought vp the Arte of glazing in windowes.

About this time there was a Counsell bolden at Ste…ne-halt, for the right obseruing of Easterday.664. King Osway began with an Oration, that it was necessary …or such as serued one God, to liue in an vniforme order, and such as looked for one kingdom in Heauen, should not differ in celebration of heauenly Sacraments: then, by his commandement, Colman Bishop, said he receiued the order of keeping Easter the 14. day of the first MonethMonth, from his Auncesters, Forefathers, and from Iohn Euangelist: to which▪ at the Kings commandement, Wilfride answered, Easter is kept alwaies on the Sunday, as we keepe it in Rome, where Peter and Paul taught, in Italy, France. Affrick, Egypt, Greece▪ and in all the world. I will not reproue Saint Iohn which kept the rights of Moses Law according to the letter, the Church being yet Iewish in many points, they could not reiect Images inuented of the Diuell, which all beleeuers ought of necessitie to detest, least they should offend the Iewes; therefore Saint Paul circumcized Tymothy, therefore he shaued his head, and Sacrificed in the Temple: all this was done onelyonly to eschew the offence of the Iewes. Therefore …ames said to Paul; Thou …éest brother how many thousand Iewes doe beleeue yet all are zealous of the old Law; yet, since the Gospell was preached, it is not lawfull for the faithfull to be circumcized, nor to offer Sacrifices of carnal things to God: but Peter remembring that the Lord did rise from death the first day after the Sabbath, instituted Easter on that day, and not p. 26according to the Law, and though your forefathers were holy men, what is their fewnesse, being but a corner of an Iland, to be preferred before the vniuersall Church of Christ? Then said the King; Did the Lord giuegive the kingdome of Heauen vntounto Peter? And they both answer…d, yea; then the King concluded: being Saint Peter is the Doore-keeper of Heauen, I will obey his Orders in eueryevery point, least when I come to the gates of Heauen hee shut them against mee, and with this simple reason they consented.

Ethelwood preached vntounto the people in Southsax, and conuerted them to Christ in the time of whose baptizing, the raine, which before they lacked three yeares, was giuen them plenteously, whereby there great famine slacked.

About this time, the detestable sect of Mahomet began to take place, which well agrées with the number of that beast signified in the Reuelation 666.666. Of Mahomet came the Kingdome of the Haarines, now called Saracens, to whom he gaue many Lawes: they must pray Southward, Friday is their Sunday, called the day of Venus, he permitted them to hauehave as many Wiues as they were able to maintaine, and as many Concubines as they list: they must abstaine from wine, excep… on solemne daies: …hey were to worship one onelyonly God Omnipotent. Moses and the Prophets were great▪ but Christ was greatest, being borne without mans seede, and taken vp into the Heauen, with many such Lawes; at length the Sarasins were wholly conquered by the Turkes.

Theodorus was sent into England by Vitellianus Pope, and diuerse other Monks with him, to set vp Latine Seruice in England and Mas…es, Cerimonies, Letanies, and other Romish ware, he was made Archbishop of Canterbury, and began to play the Rex in placing and displacing Bishops at his pleasure. He held a Prouinciall Counsell at Therford, the contents thereof were the vniformitie of keeping Easter, that no Bishop should intermeddle in anothers Di…cesse, that Monasteries should be free from Iurisdiction o… Bishops, that Monks should keepe the obedience they first promised, and not goe from one Monastery vntounto another without leaue of the Abbot, that none of the Clergy should be receiued in another Diocesse without Letters Commendatory of his Bishop, that foraine Bishops and Clergy men should be content with the hospitality offered them, and not meddle in any Bishops Iurisdiction without his permission, that once a yeare a Prouinciall Sinod should be kept, that no Bishop should preferre himselfe before another, but according to his time of consecration, that as the people increased, so the number of Bishops should be augmented.

The next yeare was the sixt generall Counsell of Constance, 705.where this Theodore was present, vnderunder Pope Agatho; Mariage there was permitted to the Greeke Priests, and forbidden to the Latine: in this Counsell the Latine Masse was first openly said by Iohn Portuensis the Popes Legate.

Colfride, Abbot of Shirwin in Northumberland, writ to Naitonus King of Picts, that shauen Crownes was necessarie for all Priests, and Monks, for restraint of their lusts; and that Peter was shauen, in remembrance of the Passion of Christ, so we must weare the signe of his Passion on the toppe of our head, as eueryevery Church beareth the holy Crosse in the front thereof, that by the defence of that banner it be kept from euill Spirits; and exhorted him to imitate the Apostolike Churches, and, when he died, the Prince of the Apostles would open Heauen gate to him; whereat the King reioyced, and knéeling downe, thanked God that hee was worthy to receiue such a present from England, and made Proclamation for the performance.

When Iue, King of the West Saxons, had ruled them 37. yeares, he was perswaded by his wife Etheburge, 724.to goe to Rome to be made a Munke, when the king an… she had rested in a faire Palace, richly adorned, she commanded all the roomes in the Palace to be strewed with Dung of vile beasts, and hogs and beasts to be laid therein▪ and a Sowe and pigs in her chamber, then she brought the King to visit the Palace, and said, My Lord, where are now the rich▪ clothes of gold and siluer▪ that we le…t héere? where are the pleasant Seruitors, delicacies, and costly dishes that we lately were serued with? We shall vanish away as sodainly as these worldly things be passed, our bodies that are now delicatly kept, shall turne vntounto the filth of the earth: therfore busie you to purchase p. 27the Palace that euer shall indure, by meanes of these, and other words, the King resigned his Kingdome vntounto Etheraldus his Nephew, and for the louelove of Christ, in the habit of a poore man, accompanied with poore men▪ went to Rome; and his wife went into the Nunnery of Barkin, seauen miles from London, where, after she had beene Abbesse a certaine time, she died. This …ue was the first King of the Saxons, that made Lawes for his Country.

In this time was Beda, a man of worthy memory, he was a Priest of the Monastery of Peter and Paul, at Wire; at 7. yeares old, he was committed to the education of Benedict▪ as before; at 19. yeares old …e was made Deacon, and at 30, Priest. He wrote 37. Uolumes; in his Treatise vponupon Samuel, he said; If my exposition bring no vtilitie to the readers,735. yet it conduceth not a little to my selfe, that whilst my cogitation was vponupon them, I had little minde of the slippery intisements of the world: hee continued in diligent study, vntill the age of 62. yeares, and in his latter end, whilst he was sicke seauen weekes, he translated the Gospell of Saint Iohn into English.

Celulphus, king of Northumberland, when hee had raigned 8. yeares was made a M…ke in the Abey of Farne▪ where, by his meanes, Licence was giuen to the Monks of that house to drinke wine, or Ale, which before, by the institution of the aforesaid Aydanus, drunke nothing but milke and water.

Cutbert, 747.Archbishop of Canterbury, collected a great Sinod, where these decrées were enacted, that Bishops should be more diligent in seeing to their Office, then in admonishing the people, and liue in peace one with another, and once a yeare goe about all the Parishes of their Diocesse. That they should admonish Abbots, and Monks, to liue Regul…rly, and Prelats not to oppresse their infertours, but louelove them▪ that none should be admitted to Orders, before his life was examined: that the reading of holy Scrip…ures shou…d be more frequented in Monasteries: that Priests should not dispose seculer businesses: that they should take no money for baptizing: that they should teach the Lords prayer and Créed in the English tongue: that they should ioyne in their Ministery after one vniforme manner: that they should sing in the Church with a modest voice: that the Saboth be reuerently obserued: that the 7. Canonicall Powers be obserued eueryevery day: that the Rogation daies should not be omitted: that a Festiual day for all Saints should be celebrated, and a Feast of S. Gregory an… S. Austin, our Patron, should be obserued▪ that the fasts of the 4. times should be kept: that Churchmen should not giuegive themselues to drunkennesse: that the Communion should not be neglected of the Clergy, nor …: that Laymen should be examined, and well tried, before they become Monkes: that Monkes should not liue amongst Lay-men: that publike prayer should bee made for Kings, and Princes.

Boniface, Archbishop of Mentz, a Martyre, an English man, wrot a Letter to King Ethelbert, and rebuked him for abstaining from Mariage, that he might liue in luxuriousnesse with Nunnes, and that, he heard the chiefe of hi… Kingdom, by his example, forsooke their wiues, and liued in adultery with Nunnes; whereby appeareth the great disorder of life that alwaies hath beene in these Religious houses of Nunnes, whose vowe of coacted chastitie hath neuer beene good to Church or Common-wealth; and this Boniface, and others were most to blame, for that they g…u… occasion thereof, by maintaining such superstitious orders of lasciuious Nunnes, and other religious, restraining them from lawfull Mariage. For we finde of him in Stories, that, he being the Popes Legate, builded Monasteries, Canonized Saints▪ commanded Reliques to be worshipped, permitted religious Fathers to carry about Nunnes with them a preaching; and he founded the great Monastery of F…loa in Germany▪ of English Monkes, in which, no woman might enter, but only Leba and Sec…a two English Nuns, and by him Childericus, king of France was deposed, and Pipinus▪ the betrayer of his master, made king. From this Boniface proceeded that detestable doctrine; that in case the Pope liued most filthily, and neglected himselfe, and all Christianitie, and led inumerable Soules with him to Hell▪ yet ought no man to rebuke him, because he hath power to iudge all men, and ought to be iudged of no man.

Pope Gregory the 2. Pope Gregory the 3. Pope Zachary, and Pope Constantine the 1. wrought great masteries against the Gréeke Emperours, Philipicus and Leo, and p. 28others, for the maintaining of Images in Churches, of whom Philipicus lost both his Empire, and his eyes: and Leo was excommunicated for the same cause. This Gregory then brought into the Masse Canon, the clause for Reliques, and the Sacrifice for the dead. And Zachary brought in the Prieste Uesture, and Ornaments; and Constantinus was the first that gaue his feet to be kissed of the Emperours.

The aforesaid Pipinus, which was the betrayer of his said master Childericus king of France, and by the Pope made king in his steed, to gratifie the Sea of Rome for this benefit to him, gaue vntounto the said sea, the Princedome of Rauenna, and the Kingdome of Lombards, and many other great possessions of Italy, with all the cities thereunto adioyning vntounto the borders of Uenice; and this no doubt, is the same which falsly hath beene thought to ha…e beene the Donation of Constantine.

To this Pipinus was sent first into France the inuention of the Orgaines out of Grecia, by Constantinus Emperour of Constantinople, in the yeare 757.757.

Pope Stephanus succeeded pope Constan…inus, and Paul the 1. succeeded him; hee thundred great Excommunications against Constantinus Emperour of Constantinople, for plucking downe Images, set vp in the Temples, notwithstanding he neglecting his cur…es, destroyed Idolatry to the end of his life.

Then Constantinus the 2. came to be Pope, a Layman, & brother to Deside…ius, king of Lumbardy, but he was shortly deposed, thrust into a Monastery, & his eyes put out.

Stephanus the 3. succéeded Paul, he cōdemned the seauenth Councel of Constantinople for Hereticall, because the worshipping of Images was condemned there: he aduanced the veneration of Images, commanding them, most Ethnically, to be incenced. In this time Charles the great raigned▪ by whom the Pope caused D…siderius, the Lumbard, King to be deposed.

Pope Adrianus the 1. succéeded him, he added more then all the other to the veneration of Images, writing a Booke for the adoration and vtilitie of them▪ commanding them to be taken for Lay-mens Calenders. As Pope Paul before him, made much of Petronel, Peters daughter, so this Adrian clothed the body of Peter all in siluer, and couered the Altar of S. Paul, with a pall of golde. He confirmed, by reuelation, the Order of S. Gregories Masse, before the order of S. Ambrose his Masse: in this manner, both the Masse bookes were said vponupon the Altar of S. Peter, and the Church doore shut and sealed by many Bishops, who continued in praiers all night, that the Lord would shew by some euident signe which of these Seruices he would hauehave vsed; and in the morning they found Gregories Masse booke plucked in pieces, and scattered about the Church, and Ambrose his booke lay open in the same place where it was layde; Pop… Adrian expounded it, that as the leaues of Gregories booke were sattered all ouer the Church, so should Gregories booke be vsed throughout the world, and that Ambrose his Seruice should onelyonly be vsed in his owne Church, where he was Bishop, so Gregories Masse had onelyonly the place, and hath to this day.

Charles, the sonne of the aforesaid Pipinus, confirmed the gift of his Father vntounto the Pope, and added thereunto the citie and Dominion of Uenice, Histria, the Dukedomes of Foroinliense, Spoletanum, Be…e…entanum, and other more possessions to the patrimony of Peter, making him the Prince of Rome and Italy, wherefore the Pope intituled him, most Christian King, and ordained him onelyonly to be taken for Emperour, and made him Patricium Romanum; and Caroloman, Carolus his eldest brother, being …ead, Bertha his wife, with her two children, came to Pope Adrian, to hauehave them confirmed into his fathers Kingdome: the Pope, to shew a pleasure to Carolus, would not agrée, but gaue her, and her two children, and Desiderius the Lumbard king, with his whole Kingdome, wife and Children, into the hands of Carolus, who led them into France, and kept them in seruitude during their liues.

By this Adrian, and Pope Leo his successor, was Carolus Magnus proclamed Emperour, and the Empire translated from the Grecians to the Frenchmen, in the year 801.801. where it continued about 102. yeares, vntil the comming of Conradus and his Nephew Otho, which were Germaines, and so hath continued amongst the Almains vntill this time. This Charles builded as many Monasteries, as there be letters in the A. B. C. he was beneficiall to the poore, but cheefly to Churchmen; he held a Councell at Frankford, p. 29where was cōdemned the Councel of Nice…e Irene, for setting vp & worshiping Images.

Egbert succeeded Ceolulphus, and when he had raigned 20. years in Northumberland, was likewise shorne Monk, about the time of the death of Ceolulphus, in his monastery. In the year 754. the cities of Weire, London, York, Doncaster, with others▪ were burnt.

In the yeare 780. it rained blood it the citie of Yorke, it fell from the top of S. Peters Church, the Element being cléere▪ out of the North part of the Temple, & some expounded it to be a token of the comming of the Danes, which entred thi… land about 7. years after.

In the yeare 784. Irene Empresse of the Greekes, by the meanes of Pope Adrian, tooke vp the body of Constantinus Emperour of Constantinople, her husbands father, and burned it, and caused the ashes to be cast into the sea, because he disanulled Images, as afore is said; afterwards raigning with her son Constantine the sixt being at disscen…ion with him▪ she caused him to be cast into prison, and his eyes to be put out, so cruelly, that within short time he dyed: after, she held a Councell at Nice…, where it was decréed that Images should againe be restored to the Church, which Councell also was repealed by another Councell holden at Frankeford, by Charles the great▪ wherin he did greatly lament, that no… so few as 300. Bishops of the East did decree that Images should be worshipped, which the Church of God hath alwaies abhorred; at length she was deposed by Nicephorus, who raigned after her, and after, according to the iust Iudgement of God, ended her life in much penury and misery.

The first Crosse and Altar that was set vp in this Realme, was in Heuenfield in the North, vponupon the occasion of Oswald king of Northumberland, fighting against Cadwalla, where he in the same place set vp the signe of the Erosse, kneeling, and praying there for victory.

The Church of Winchester was founded by Kingilsus, king of the Mercians, and finished by his sonne. Anno 636.

The Church of Lincolne founded by Paulinus Bishop 629.

The Abbey of Westminster begun by a citizen of London, by the instigation of Ethelbert King of …ent. 614.

The Schooles of Cambridge erected by Sigebert king of East Angles, 636.

The Monastery of Malmesbury, by Meldulphus a Scot, 640. after inlarged by Agilbet Bishop of Winchester.

The Monastery of Gloster, builded by Opricus king of Mercia, 679.

The Monastery of Maybrose by Aydanus the Scottish Bishop.

The Nunnery of He…renton, by He…y, which was the first Nun in Northumberland.

The Monastery of Hetesey, by Osway king of Northumberland, who with his Daughter Elfred, gaue possessions for twelue Monasteries, 657.

The Monastery of S. Martine in Douer, builded by Whitred king of Kent.

The Abbey of Lestingie, by Cedda, whom we call Saint Ced, 651.

The Monastery of Whithy, by Hilda, daughter to the Nephew of king Edwine▪ 657. she builded also another Monastery, called Hacanus, not farre …hence.

The Abbey of Abbington, builded by Sissa, king of Southsaxons, 666.

Saint Botulph builded an Abbey on the East side of Lincolne, called Ioann…, 654.

The monastery in Ely, foūded by Etheldred, daughter of Anna K. of east Angles, 674.

The Monastery of Chertsey in Southery, founded by Erkinwald, Bishoy of London 674. he founded also the Nunnery of Barkin.

The Abbey of Peterborough founded by King Ethelwald, 675.

Bardnere Abbey, by King Etheldredus, 700.

Glastenbury, by Iue King of West Saxons, 701.

Ramsey, by one Aylewinus a Nobleman, 973.

King Edgar builded, in his time, forty Monasteries, he raigned, Anno 678.

The Monastery of Wincombe, builded by king Kenulphus, 737.

Saint Albons, builded by Offa, king of Mercians, 755.

The Abbey of Eusham by Egwinus Bishop, 691.

The Abbey of Ripon in the North, by Wilfridus Bishop, 709.

The Abby of Echlingheie by king Aluredus 891.

The Nunnery of Shaftsbury, by the said Aluredus, the same yeare; so you see that p. 30Monasteries began to be founded by the Saxon kings, within 200. yeares after they were conuerted; these had a zeale, but they lacked the true Doctrine of Christ, especially that Article of free Iustification by Faith▪ of Iesus Christ: for lacke whereof▪ as well the builders, as they that were possessed in the same, hauehave both runne the wrong way, and béene deceiued: for so much as they did these things seeking thereby merits with God, remedy for …heir soules, and remission of sinnes, as doth appeare, testified in their owne Records, besides the 7. or 8. Kings that forsooke their Kingdomes to be Monkes; there were many Quéenes and Kings daughters entred into Nunneries at that time, as thou maist sée them in the booke at large, named.