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.

X. CHAP.* 1.1

1.2. Councill of Arles: condemns the Dona∣tists.

3 4.5. Severall Canons there of.

6. The names of Brittish Bishops in it.

1. IN the Councill of Arles there met•• above two hundred Bishops, from all parts of the Western Provinces as far as Britta∣ny: who in the first place examining again the cause of Felix Bishop of Aptungis the Or∣dainer of Caecilianus, declared him innocent of the crime of Tradition impos'd on him by the Donatists, so confirming the iudgment formerly given in Africa.

2. This cause being concluded, it seem'd good to the Fathers to frame certain Canons touching Ecclesiasticall Discipline to be uni∣formly observed through the whole Church. And first they ordained that the solemn Feast of Easter should be celebrated the same day through all Churches: This they did in opposition to the Quartadecimani, who ob∣served it according to the Iewish custom on the fourteenth day of the first Moon in March, which practise began now more and more to prevayl in the East. To this Canon the Brit∣tish Bishops in this Councill subscribed, so that the controversy afterward arising about its observation in Brittany, was not whether the Eastern practise should be kept here, but only whether in case the fourteenth day of the first Moon should fall on a Sunday, Easter should then be observed, or no: The Scottish Prelats affirming, and the others denying.

3. Another Canon of this Councill, which is the thirteenth, deserves our particular con∣sideration, in which it is ordain'd, that all those should be removed from the Order of the Clergy who in time of persecution had delivered up to Pagans the holy Scriptures, or (Vasa Domi∣nica) our Lords Vessells: which Vessells that they were deputed for the Christian Sacrifice ap∣pears in the twentieth Canon, which com∣mands that a place to offer Sacrifice should be afforded to a stranger Bishop. Restitutus ther∣fore our then Brittish Bishop subscribing to this Councill, did offer Sacrifice, and could not be denyed that priviledge in a strange countrey, which now would be refused him in his own, with death if he perform'd it.

4. Some Protestants doe much boast of a pretended Canon in this Councill prescribing, that if Deacons at their Ordination shall pro∣test their resolution to marry, it might be lawfull for them to doe so, and yet remain in the Ministery. But Sir Henry Spelman ingenuously observes that in ancient Copies he could not find this Canon among the rest. And however if such a Priviledge had then been allowed to Dea∣cons, since Preists are not mention'd, it argues that they were forbidden mariage.

5. At the conclusion of the Synod, Mari∣nus Bishop of Arles in the name of the whole Assembly wrote a letter, yet extant, to Pope Silvester, wherto he annexed a Copy of the Canons ordain'd there, desiring that by his care and diligence the said Decrees should be observed in all Churches. Here wee find likewise among the rest our Brittish Bishop Restitutus professing the Vnity of our Holy Mother the Catholik Church with the most Reli∣gion Pope Silvester, whom with due reverence they all salute: They iudge likewise all those who reiect Tradition, to be persons of an unbrideled mind, burdensom and pernici••us to our Christian Law. Lastly they professe their acknowledg∣ment that the Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul n••t only sate Bishops at Rome, but likewise doe with∣out intermission still glorify God by their blood shed there. Such Professions as these made by our Primitive Brittish Bishops doe much vary from the modern stile. Let the Readers conscience iudge to whether party it is most safe to adioyn himselfe.

6. It is observed by persons learned in Ecclesiasticall Antiquities that through the negligence or mistake of Transcribers, the Names of the Bishops present and subscri∣bing to this Council are wrongfully transfer'd to the End of the Second Synod assembled some years after at the same Citty of Arles. Among whom those Bishops which came from Brittany, and for whose sake it was our obligation to insist on this Synod, were according to the most corrected Copies these which follow,* 1.2 and according to this Order:

The first among the Brittish Subscribers was Eborius, Bishop of the Citty of York in the Province of Brittany. The Second was Restitutus Bishop of the Citty of London in the same Province. Concerning whom the Protestant Centurists of Magdeburg give this testimony,* 1.3 that he was a man, considering the age wherin he liv'd, many wayes learned, and most modest in his con∣versation: who among other things wrote one Book to his own Countreymen touching this Council of Arles, and severall Epistles to Hilary Bishop of Poi••tiers. He was famous in the year of Grace three hundred and fifty. The third Brittish Bishop was Adelfius stiled Bishop of the Citty call'd, The Colony of the Londoners: Which no doubt is an Errour, arising from the mistake of ignorant transcribers, who instead of Colon. Camalodun (that is Maldon in Essex, anciently a famous Citty) wrote Colon. Lon∣dinens: the Citty of London being better known to them then that of Camalodunum.* 1.4

8. Now though the Donatists were utterly condemn'd by this so great a Councill, yet they rested not: but most impudently interiected a third Appeale from the Councill to the Emperour. The successe wherof does not concern our present design to inquire into. Therfore wee remitt the Reader to other Historians who purposely write of such matters.

Notes

• * 1.1

  X. CHAP.
• * 1.2

  Vid. Sirmond in Concil. Gllai••••
• * 1.3

  Magdeb. C••nt. 4. c. 10.
• * 1.4

  A. D. 315.