* 1.1X. CHAP.
1.2. S. Fugatius and Damianus return to Rome to obtain a Confirmation of their Acts.
3.4. Recourse to the See Apostolick, ancient.
5 6. At their return they bring a bles∣sed Crown, and a Letter to King Lu∣cius.
7. The extent of King Lucius his Dominions
8. Of Archflamens and Flamens.
1. AFter three years succesfull labours in this new Vineyard of our Lord,* 1.2 these two Holy Apostolick Preachers Fuga∣tius and Dam••anus returned to Rome to give an account to S. Eleutherius of the affairs of Brittany. This is testified by our ancient Historians, Geffrey of Monmouth, Roger Wendo∣ver, the compiler of the History of Rochester, as likewise a Brittish ancient Poet, taking the name of Gildas, and quoted by Bishop Vsher.
2. But most expresly by Matthew of West∣minster, whose words are these:* 1.3 In the year of Grace one hundred eighty six, the Blessed Pre∣lats Fugatius and Damianus returned to Rome, and obtained from the holy Pope Eleutherius a Confirmation of all they had done in Brittany. And having perform'd this, the foresayd Do∣ctours came back into Brittany, accompanied with many others; By whose inctructions the Na∣tion of the Brittains being confirm'd in tho Faith of Christ became illustrious. The names and Acts of these men are found in the Book which our Historian Gildas wrote of the Victory of Au∣relius Ambrosius.
3. That it was the practise of Christian Churches, especially in the West, upon seve∣rall occasions to have recourse to the Chair of S. Peter, many examples occurre in the Ec∣clesiasticall History, and this even from the beginning of Christianity. We mention'd formerly a Message sent from the Christians of Brittany by S. Beatus to Rome for a more per∣fect instruction in the Christian Faith.* 1.4 And about this time of King Lucius,* 1.5 the Church of Lyons in France sent S. Irenaeus to this Holy Pope Eleutherius for resolving certain Que∣stions about Ecclesiasticall affairs, saith S. Ie∣rome.
4. This they did partly to shew their de∣pendance and subordination to the supreme Tribunal of the Church, as likewise for the preservation of Vnity, of which the Chair of S. Peter was always acknowledged the Center. But the present Church of Brittany having been constituted a Church by the zeale and authority of this blessed Pope Eleu∣therius, there was a greater necessity and ob∣ligation of recourse to him for the confir∣mation of those Ordinances which had been made by his Delegats.
5. Among other memorable passages touching the Answer sent by Pope Eleutherius to this Message of King Lucius, this is one, That Fugatius and Damianus presented the King from him with a Crown blessed by him. This is asserted by a late learned Protestant Lawyer, William Lambard,* 1.6 who professes that in his search among the Ancient Lawes of England, for many ages hid in darknes, he produced this: adding withall that besides a Crown bless'd by this Holy Pope, he like∣wise ordain'd the limits of the Brittish King∣dom, and withall prescrib'd the Duty and Right of a Christian King, saying thus, A King being the Minister and Delegat of the Su∣preme King, is appointed by God for this end that he might govern this earthly Kingdom and people of our Lord, and above all that he should vene∣rate and govern his Church, defending it from all who would injure it: that he should root out of it and utterly destroy all evill doers.
6. Roger Hoveden four hundred years be∣fore M. Lambard, transcribing the same pas∣sage out of the Ancient Laws of King Edward, onely differs from him in this, That where mention is made of a Kings Office toward the Church, he leaves out the word, Re∣gat.
7. As touching the limits of King Lucius his Kingdom, which this Authour saith was prescribed by Pope Eleutherius, whether from thence it came that all the Northern Provin∣ces of the Island (afterwards called Scotland, & governed by a King of their own Nation) were subiect to the Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction of the Metropolitan Church of York, cannot