The church-history of Brittany from the beginning of Christianity to the Norman conquest under Roman governours, Brittish kings, the English-Saxon heptarchy, the English-Saxon (and Danish) monarchy ... : from all which is evidently demonstrated that the present Roman Catholick religion hath from the beginning, without interruption or change been professed in this our island, &c. / by R.F., S. Cressy of the Holy Order of S. Benedict.

* 1.1III. CHAP.

1. A History of the Conversion of Brit∣tany anciently written by Elvanus A∣vallonius, lost.

2. The Relation of Bale and the Magdeburgenses concerning it.

3.4.5. &c. King Lucius being un∣satisfied in his old Religion, demands instruction of Pope Eleutherius: And why he has recourse to him.

* 1.21. IF the Ancient History of Elvanus call'd Avallonius (that is, of Glastonbury) mention'd by Radulphus Niger in his Chroni∣cle, and ••ale, who is sayd to have lived in these very times of Antoninus the Philoso∣pher, Commodus his son, and Pope Eleuthe∣rius, and to have written a Book of the Ori∣ginal of the Brittish Church, if this History, I say, were still extant, we might with more assurance proceed in the relation of the particulars touching this most happy conversion of our Countrey: Wheras now we must content our selves with gleaning out of lesse ancient Writers such parcell's as they will afford us to make up the following Narration. Notwithstanding since we can∣not charge them with delivering to poste∣rity their own inventions, we ought to re∣ceive their scattred Records as the Relicks of ancient Tradition, extracted out of Primitive Histories, now swallowd in the gulfe of time.

2. Now in our Narration, that we may approve our sincerity, we will not neglect the iudgment and testimonies of such Mo∣dern Writers as have searched into Antiquity,* 1.3 though otherwise averse from Catholick Re∣ligion. Among which thus writs Bale, King Lucius, says he, was it seems, scandalis'd at the meannesse and Poverty of Christ, as the Iews formerly were. For though Christian Religion had for the space of more then a hundred years been propagated through Brittany, yet it seem'd to him deprived of its due splendour, because it had hitherto been administred by simple, poore and contemptible persons: and however, it wanted the Emperiall Authority of Rome to support it. Ther∣fore as soon as he was informed by Trebellius and Pertinax, the Emperours Lievtenants, that upon the ceasing of persecution, severall illustrious Romans had embraced it, he then began to en∣tertain a more worthy conceit of it. And to the same effect write the Centuriators of Magde∣burg,* 1.4 though with some mistake, as hath been observed.

3. This stone of offence, to wit, Po∣verty and want of worldly splendour and advantages being thus removed, King Lucius now seriously comparing the Chri∣stian Faith with what he had been taught by his Druids, the simplicity and sanctity of the one, with the unclean and inhuman Superstitions of the other, but especially considering the inestimable Promises of eternall Glory and Happines not only proposed, but by evident demonstra∣tions establish'd, in the Gospell, to which his own Preists never pretended any claim at all; No wonder if he grew unsatisfied and weary of his former Errours, and willing to admit a further illustration of those verities, with a few beams wherof he had formerly been enlightned.

4. Now, it seems, there not being then in Brittany, or not known to the King, any Ecclesiasticall persons of authority sufficient to establish a new Church, though there wanted not such as had skill enough to per∣swade & satisfy him in the Truth of Christian Religion, the principall of which were the foremention'd Elvanus of Avallonia, and Medwinus of the Province inhabited by the Belgae: Hence it came to passe that King Lu∣cius, no doubt, by the advice of these holy persons, was oblig'd to seek for a more perfect instruction, and to implore a grea∣ter authority for setling the common affairs of Christianity, from abroad.

5. For which purpose though in the neigh∣bouring Kingdom of Gaule there were at that time living and famous many holy Bishops, eminent for Piety and learning, the most illustrious among which was S. Irenaeus Bi∣shop of Lyons, and shortly after a most glo∣rious Martyr: Yet to none of these had King Lucius recourse either for counsell or assi∣stance: But ordring his Messengers, to passe through that Nation, he directed them beyond it to Rome, the fountain of all Eccle∣siasticall Iurisdiction, and to S. Eleutherius

a worthy Successor of S. Peter in the Aposto∣lick Chair.

6. Indeed if he had at that time consul∣ted S. Irenaeus,* 1.5 he would have told him what himselfe had taught the world in his Book against Heresies, That to this Roman Church by reason of its more powerfull principality it is ne∣cessary that every other Church should have re∣course, that is, all faithfull Christians where∣soever dispers'd: Because in that Church the Tra∣dition derived from the Apostles was safely con∣serv'd. Tertullian likewise an Eminent Preist then alive would have given him the same advice,* 1.6 Whosoever thou art, saith he, that would'st better employ thy curiosity in the busi∣nes of thy salvation, take a view of the princi∣pall Churches founded by the Apostles, &c. If Italy be nearest thee, thou maist repaire to Rome, from whence our authority (in Africk) is like∣wise derived: A Church it is happy in its consti∣tution, to which the (cheif) Apostles together with their blood shed forth the whole doctrine of Christianity. Lastly the security of making that Church the Rule both of doctrin and disciplin would have been excellently de∣clared by the foresaid glorious Saint Ire∣naeus,* 1.7 saying, By making known the Faith of that cheifest, most ancient and through all the world most renouned Church of Rome, founded and constituted by the most glorious Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul, and by an uninterrupted succession of Bishops derived to our times, we confound all those who any way, either by an unlawfull self-love, vain-glory, blindnes, or or perversenes of opinion doe make separated con∣gregation•• professing other Doctrines. And in consequence,* 1.8 the same holy Father adioyns a Catalogue of the Names of all the Bishops of Rome from S. Peters dayes, the twelfth and last wherof living in his time was this S. Eleutherius, to whom King Lucius ad∣dress'd himselfe for a more perfect infor∣mation in Christian verities, and to obtain Ordinances and lawes necessary for the con∣stitution of a well ordred Church in his Kingdome.

Notes

• * 1.1

  III. CHAP.
• * 1.2

  A. D. 182. Rad. N••ger in Chronic. A. D. 179. §. 17. Bal••.
• * 1.3

  Bale. cent. 1. cap. 19.
• * 1.4

  Centur. Mag¦deb••rg.
• * 1.5

  ••ren. l. 3. c. 3.
• * 1.6

  Tertull. in Praescript. cap. 36.
• * 1.7

  Iren. ••bi sup.
• * 1.8

  d. ibid.