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.

* 1.1XIV. CHAP.

1.2. &c S. Dubricius ordained Bishop of Landaff by S. Germanus: The place of his Birth, &c.

1. AMong the actions beneficiall to Brittany done by Saint Germanus, the election and consecration of Saint Du∣bricius to the Bishoprick of Landaff was de∣servedly reckoned. This Dubricius (say the Centuriatours of Magdeburg) sirnamed Gainius Vagiensis,* 1.2 from the place where he was born; was peradventure the Son of a Monk by Euedila a Noble Virgin, and grew after∣ward famous among t••e English. Thus write they without all authority from antiquity, desirous to faign one Example at least, to be a president for their Master Luthers in∣cest.

* 1.32. But from more authentick Testimo∣nie•• it appears that Saint Dubricius was by nation a Brittain, born in the Province of the Dimeta, or West Wales: he was sirna∣med Gainius from the River which runs by the place where he was born. His Fa∣thers name is not mentioned among Au∣thours, his Mother was Euedila, a woman of a clear fame for her vertues: Thus write Bale, Picts, Powel and the Authour of his life in Capgrave.

* 1.43. It is there moreover related how being a child care was taken to imbue his mind with litterature. And having attained a few years more, he made such proficiency in learning, that not the ignorant only, but such also as had ac∣quired a good degree in knowledge, repaired to him to encrease their skill: among whom were Saint Theliaus, Saint Sampson, Saint Aidanus and others. In the soile of his Na∣tivity neer the River Vaga (from whence he was called Vagiensis) he chose a fitt seat for his own and his Disciples studies, and there he spent many years in the charitable em∣ployment of communicating his learning to others. Afterward having by command of an Angel built a Church there, he preached and taught the people wholesom Christian Doctrin. Moreover by imposing his hands he often cured many infirmities, insomuch as those which came to him sad and unsound, returned joy∣full and in health. And therefore he was qua∣lified fitt to be advanced by S. Germanus to the Degree of a Bishop.

4. The period of his life is uncertain. Yet certain it is that he lived to a very old age: for many years after this he was trans∣ferr'd by Aurelius Ambrosius then raigning to the Arch-Bishoprick of Caër-Leon in the Province of Monmouth. So that he will once more occurre in our History. As for his Disciples Saint Theliaus, Saint I••tutus, &c. eminent Saints and Doctours, which therefore could not likewise escape the calumnious pens of the Lutheran Centu∣riators, we shall treat of them in the follow∣ing age.

5. But here we must not omitt what a learned French writer, Andrew Saussay in his French Martyrologe relates of another famous Disciple of Saint Germanus named Saint Briocus a Brittain, who was afterward Bishop in Armorica or lesser Brittany, so il∣lustrious for his Sanctity, that the See of his Bishoprick is to this day from his name called S. Brieu, a suffragan Bishoprick to Tours.

6. Saint Briocus,* 1.5 saith he, was by coun∣trey an Englishman (he should have said a Brittain) of the Province of Corticia, descen∣ded of a Noble Stock. He was by Saint Germa∣nus of Auxe••••e preaching the Orthodoxe Faith there, brought out of Brittany into Gaule, and here by him instructed happily in the Disci∣pline of Piety. After he had enriched his mind with saving Doctrins, he returned into his Native countrey, and there informed his parents in the true Faith, which he likewise preached with great successe in the countrey about. After this being desirous to employ our Lords Talent yet more copiously, he came over into Armorica: where having shed the beams of Evangelicall Light on the minds of his kinsman Conanus Count of Trigu••er (Trecorensem) he afterward cleansed him with the Laver of Bap∣tism. Then assembling severall devout persons aspiring to the perfection of a Religious life, he built a Monastery, and there by the libe∣rality of the said Count he layd the founda∣tions of an Episcopall See, and being consecra∣ted Bishop by the Archbishop of Tours, Metro∣politan of that countrey, he with an admirable splendour of vertue ad piety governed the said Diocese the space of thirty years. Afterward making a journey to Angiers to furnish him∣self with Ecclesiasticall ornaments, he there

breathed forth his spotlesse soule.* 1.6 From thence his Body was caried back, and with great ho∣nour buried in the Church which himself had built, where frequent miracles were wrought at his Relicks: Thus as he gave his name to the Monastery, Town and Mother-Church of that Diocese, so he likewise afforded continuall pro∣tection to them.

7. Certain Irish Historians would chal∣lenge S. Briocus to their countrey, as having been born in the Territory of Cork. But his having been a Disciple of Saint Germanus, who had nothing to doe with Ireland, proves him a Brittain. And whereas Bishop Vther conjectures that the Master of Saint Briocus might have been another Saint Ger∣manus Bishop of Paris, who lived in the fol∣lowing age: His living with Conanus and relation of kinred to him demonstrate him both a Brittain, and more ancient then the younger S. Germanus.

Notes

• * 1.1

  XIV. CH.
• * 1.2

  Magdes. ••en∣tur. 5. in Du∣brici••••.
• * 1.3

  Put in Du∣bric••, Ba••e ibid. Povvel in annat. in Iti∣••••rat. Cambr. l. ••. c. ••. Cap∣grav.
• * 1.4

  Ibid.
• * 1.5

  Sauss. in Mar∣tyrolog. Galli¦can., ••. April.
• * 1.6

  A. D. 439.