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.

XVI. CHAP.* 1.1

1.2. Of S. Helenas piety to Religious Virgins.

3. &c. To Martyrs, S. Lucianus, the Magi, &c.

7.8. &c. Place of her death, Rome: where a Church is built to the H. Crosse.

12.13. &c. Constantins piety to his Mother, Augusta.

15.16. &c. Her Memory celebrated in se∣verall places. Churches built to her honour in England.

1. WITH such Acts of Piety, devotion and liberality did Helena adorn her latter dayes: a particular account of which belongs to the design of this History, she being a Brittish Princesse. For which reason we will prosecute the course of her life which seems to have ended the same year, or in the beginning of the following.

2. An example of her humility and devout respect to Virgins consecrated to Gods service by a profession of Chastity,* 1.2 is related by Ruf∣finus in this manner. The holy Virgins, saith he, which she found at Ierusalem, she invited to dinner and entertain'd them with so great devo∣tion and respect, that she thought it a misbeco∣ming thing that her Maids should attend on thē. Therfore she herself, being girt after the manner of a wayting maid, sett meat on the Table, gave them cupps to drink, and powred water on their hands. Thus she who was Empresse of the world, and Mother of the Emperour esteem'd her self no better then a servant of the hand maids of Christ.

3. Eusebius likewise celebrates her wonder∣full manificence shew'd through all her progresse in the Eastern Provinces: For whither so ever she came she gave innumerable gifts both to whole citties and particular persons of all pro∣fessions. The poor she munificently supplied with all necessaries: those who were condemn'd to wor∣king in mines, or perpetuall imprisonment she sett at liberty; the oppress'd she delivered from fraud and iniury; and those which were banish'd she restored to their own countrey.

4. At her return out of Palestina into Greece,* 1.3 she passed by Drepanum a Town of Bithynia, where reposed the Body of the glorious Mar∣tyr S. Lucianus: Assoon as shee saw these holy Relicks lying so neglected, without any mark of honour or reverence, she in zeale to the honour of God and his Martyr caused a sumptuous Church to be built over them, & moreover enlarged the same place into a Citty, which she compass'd with walls and bullwarks. Which Citty her Son afterward call'd by his Mothers name Helenopolis: and to make her name yet more celebrated by posterity, the Sea there adioyning was called Helenopontus: not because she was born there,

but because by her care and liberality the region there about formerly obscure, became illustrious.

5. We read moreover in severall ancient, Monuments how this holy Empresse in her progresse through the East having been in∣formed of the place where the Bodies of the three Magi or Wisemen which came to Beth∣lehem to adore our Saviour new born, repo∣sed, brought them with her to her Son Con∣stantin, who reverently layd them in a Church of his new Citty, from whence they were ••ranslated to Milan, and afterward to Colen, where now they are with great veneration celebrated.

6. A more particular relation hereof we read in the Supplement of the Gallican Marty∣rologe made by Andrew de Saussay, in these words,* 1.4 At Colonia Agrippina in the Gallick Soyle is celebrated the Memory of the three holy Kings, who on this day (the Sixth of Ianuary) adored our Lord in his cradle at Bethlehem. The Bodies of these Saints were by the care and devo∣tion of the Holy Empresse Helena brought out of the East to Constantinople, where in the Temple of S. Sophia (afterward more magnificently repaired by Iustinian) they remained to the times of the Emperour Emanuël: who bearing a great affection to Eustorgius Bishop of Milan, by birth a Grecian, at his earnest prayers bestowd on him those Sacred pledges. Eustorgius presently conveyed them to Milan, placing them in a Church of Religious Virgins. But in the yeare eleaven hundred Sixty and f••wer the Emperour Frederick having by force reduced Milan to his obedience, granted to his Chancellour Reynaldus Archbishop of Colen, at his most earnest suit, the same three Sacred Bodies, which he transfer'd to Colen, were he reposed them in the principall Church: in which place they are to this day celebrated with great veneration.

7. In such pious works did the Holy Empresse conclude her worldly pilgrimage The place of her death is thus obscurely described by Eusebius:* 1.5 The Tabernacle of her Body, saith he, was honourd with splendid funeralls: For it was conducted with a great train of Guards to the principall place of the Empire: and there buried in a Royall Sepulcher. From which expression some collect that she was entomb'd at Con∣stantinople.* 1.6 Thus writes Socrates. But Nicepho∣rus better understood the sence of Eusebius, writing thus, when the end of Helenas life approached, she deceased at Rome, being fourscore years old, wanting one: where her Memory is most celebrious.

8. Most probable therfore it is that after her Eastern pilgrimage she stayd not in Greece, but with her Son, or before him, took her iourney to Rome, to visit the Sepulchers of the two Cheif Apostles: a devout practise fre∣quented by former Christians, but much more afterward, and particularly by many of our Princes, as will hereafter appeare.

9. In which last voyage of hers, that seems to have hapned which was related out of Gregory of Tours concerning her casting away into the Sea one of the Sacred Nayles belonging to the Holy Crosse, by which means she was delivered from imminent danger of Shipwrack by a Tempest.

10. We read in her life anciently written and conserved by Capgrave,* 1.7 that she brought with her to Rome a part of the Holy Crosse, which with great honour and veneration was placed in a Church, at her request built by her Son, and dedicated to the honour, and called by the Title of the Holy Crosse.

11. There likewise is related with what fer∣vour and devotion she spent her last dayes:* 1.8 and how approaching to her death, after receiving the Sacraments of the Church, she was comforted with a vision of our Lord Iesus encompassed with a multitude of Angells, and holding his Crosse, shining with inexpressible brightnes.

12. Eusebius moreover testifies how her Son Constantin was present at her death,* 1.9 and with a diligent and humble respect attended and ministred to her in her sicknes: in whose presence accompanied with his Sons and Grandchildren she declared her last will.* 1.10 And Theodoret adds, That she gave him many exhortations to Piety, and bestowing on him such Benedictions as Pa∣rents usually at their death give to their children, she departed this world to eternall Happines.

13. The same Eusebius worthily extolls Constantin for his wonderfull piety and res∣pect to his Holy Mother: which was so great that he made her partner of the Empire, giving her the Title of Empresse or Augusta, and causing golden Coyns to be made and stamped with her Image: An Example of one such is afforded by Baronius, and another by Camden, in one side of which is written Fl. Helena Augusta: and on the other Securitas Provinciae. S.T.R. Whereby it appears that she was transferred by Adoption into the Flavian family. And hence we find that Sulpitius Se∣verus wrote with truth, that Helena Mother of the Emperour Constantin raign'd as Empresse together with her Son.

14. After her death Constantin, as Anastasius relates, built unto her honour a magnificent Sepulcher (Mausolaeum,) where in a Tomb of Porphyry he layd the Body of the most bles∣sed Empresse his Mother. Which Mausolaeum was situated in the High Way called Lavi∣cana between the two Laurell trees. Nicephorus affirms that after two years he caried her Body to Constantinople: But constant Tradition assures us that, at least the greatest part of it, remai∣ned in the west: Concerning the translation and venera••ion of which, together with a breif recapitulation of her whole story we read thus in the Gallican Martyrologe.

15. At Rhemes and Orleans this day the eighteenth of August is celebrated the Memory of Saint Helena Empresse,* 1.11 Mother of Constantin, who having been confirm'd in the Faith by the Holy Pope Silvester, enioyed so great a happines, that by a singular Grace of God she saw her Son

enlightned with true Piety to become the first Emperour who openly profess'd and courageously maintain'd our most Holy Religion.* 1.12 By his assistance and wonderfull munificence she per∣formed illustrious works to promote the Wor∣ship of Christ. For incited by piety she took a journey to Ierusalem, where miraculously she found the Crosse of our Lord together with the nayles: She cleansed the sacred places from the filth of Heathenish and Iewish superstitions, and adorn'd them with splendid buildings and Gifts. Moreover out of a zeale to emulate the vertue of Humility so acceptable to Christ, she would needs her self attend, serve and minister to the Sacred Virgins whom she intertain'd at a Feast. After∣wards at Rome she built the Church of the Holy Crosse, which she enrich'd with a portion of the said saving Crosse. And out of the same religious propension to adorn Gaule also, she built at Orleans the principall Church, in ve∣neration of Christ crucified. Whose seamlesse Garment likewise, together with many other mo∣numents of our Redemption she sent to Triers, there to be devoutly venerated. At last after so many illustrious works of Piety perform'd all the world over, she quietly slep'd in Christ whose glory she had with such fervent zeale exalted, and was buried in a sepulcher of Porphyry at Rome, under the patronage of S. Peter and S. Marcellinus. In after times being illustrious by many Miracles, and some of which she had per∣formed in her life time, her Sacred Body was translated into France by Theogisus a Monk and placed in the Monastery call'd Hauteville, where it has been illustrated by great numbers of Mira∣cles: and there it still continues in great vene∣ration: Excepting some particles therof which were sent to the principall Church at Orleans, a great ornament and safeguard thereto: where they are kep'd with becoming honour.

16. There is extant at Rome, in the Church of the Holy Crosse which was anciently call'd also the Church of S. Helena,* 1.13 an illustrious Memoriall of her: For at the Basis of her statue there is this Inscription: To our Lady Flavia Iulia Helena, the most pious Empresse, Mother of our Lord Constantin the Great, most clement Victor and always Augustus, and Grand-mother of Constantin and Constans most blessed and flourishing Caesars: Iulius Maximia∣nus Count and Senatour always most devoted to her Piety, hath made this monument. And another Inscription almost paralell is to be seen at Naples, erected anciently by the Se∣nate and people there.

17. It is not to be doubted but that our Island of Brittany was at least as much devoted to her honour and memory as any other coun∣treys. But all Monuments rais'd in the times of the ancient Brittains have been consumed by age, and miserable vicissitudes succee∣ding. However in following ages the Sa∣xons, assoon as they became Converts to Christianity, in severall places express'd their devotion to this most Pious Empresse. For both among the Trinobantes and in the North, and likewise in Berkshire there is a Town call'd Helenstow from a Church there dedica∣ted to her Memory.* 1.14 And at Bedford an illu∣strious Lady call'd Iudith built a Monastery for Religious Virgins, which she consecrated to S. Helena. One William Basing likewise is sayd to have built a Church consecrated to S. Helena at London.

Notes

• * 1.1

  XVI. CH.
• * 1.2

  Ruffin. hist. l. 10. c. 8.
• * 1.3

  Vid. Act. S. Luciani ap. Surium 7. Ian.
• * 1.4

  Vid. Sup∣plem. Marty∣rol. Gallican. 6. Ian.
• * 1.5

  Euseb. l. 3. c. 46.
• * 1.6

  Socret. l. 1. c. 13. Niceph. l. 8. c. 13.
• * 1.7

  Capgrav. in Helenâ.
• * 1.8

  Ibid.
• * 1.9

  Euseb. l. 3. c. 45.
• * 1.10

  Theodoret. l. 1. c. 18.
• * 1.11

  Martyrolog. Gallican. 18. August.
• * 1.12

  A. D. 321.
• * 1.13

  Inscriptions.
• * 1.14

  A. D. 324.