* 1.1VII. CHAP.
1.2. Brittish Bishops Orthodox: S. Hilaries Epistle to them.
3.4. Of Restitutus Bishop of London.
* 1.21. THough our ancient Historian Gildas, and after him S. Beda doe relate that Catholik peace and Vnity remained in the Brit∣tish Churches from the time of Diocletians per∣secution till the age in which the Arian impiety raged, wherby it may seem that they began to be infected not long after the Councill of Ariminum: Yet that this infection did not spread much in this Isle in those dayes, appears by a Letter of S. Hilary about the year of Christ three hundred sixty one to the German,* 1.3 Gallick and Brittish Bishops in answer to one sent from them to him during his tedious Exile caused by the Arian Bishop of Arles, Saturninus, who circumvented the Emperour Constantius by false suggestions against this holy Bishop, and induced him to banish him out of Gaule into Phrigia and other Eastern countreys.
2. In which letter he congratulats with this Island for its freedom from the poyson of Arianism,* 1.4 for their refusing to accept an Hereticall Profession sent from the Council of Sirmium, which they moreover coura∣geously condemn'd, notwithstanding all the practises and threatnings of their neighbour Saturninus to intimidate them. Which constancy of theirs was so famous almost all the Empire over, that their example induced some even of the Eastern Bishops to be ashamed of their Heresy. Moreover in the same letter he satisfies their enquiry touching the opposition of the Arians against the Catholick Faith, de∣claring the principall grounds and argu∣ments on which they built their impiety: and testifies his great ioy for that they profess'd their Communion with him though a banish'd man, which they refused to the Arian Bishops of Gaule.
3. Among these Orthodox Brittish Bishops to whom S. Hilary wrote, severall Authours mention the name of the old Bishop Resti∣tutus, Bishop of London, who about forty six years before had been present at the first Council of Arles. Neither is it at all incredi∣ble that he should be alive at this time: Since we find Osius of Corduba who presided in the Council of Nic••a, Sardica, and Sirmium, to have liv'd above a hundred years, though Spain his countrey generally produces not so long-liv'd persons as Brittany. To this Re∣stitutus the Centuriators of Magdeburg from Bale attribute the Writing of Severall Epistles to S. Hilary: and Pitsaeus reckons him among the Illustriou•• Brittish Writers, affirming that he left behind him one Book of Epistles to the same Father.
4. It was about this time that the said Re∣stitutus dyed:* 1.5 whose Successour in the Bishop∣rick of London was Theodowin, renound in History by his name onely, and See.