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.

* 1.1XV. CHAP.

1.2. &c. S. Patrick comes out of Ireland into Brittany: thence goes to Rome, &c

4 &c. At his return: he retires to Gla∣stenbury: His Chart: Relicks of Saint Steven, &c.

1. IN the year of Grace four hundred thirty nine, Saint Patrick having with wonderfull advantage laboured in our Lords vineyeard in Ireland the space of eight years, returned into Brittany, where, saith Malmsburiensis, he abode thirty years in the Isle Avallonia, or Glastenbury, leading a most holy life. Notwithstanding whether at that time he visited Glastenbury, is uncertain Probably the motive of his leaving Ireland might be to take a journey to Rome, and there give an account of his Apostleship: ••or this is affirm'd by severall Authours, as Capgrave, Bishop-Vsher, &c.

* 1.22. Iocelinus adds that before his voyage he fixed his Episcopall chair in the Citty of Armagh, resolving in his mind that the same should be the Prime Metropolis and Mistresse of the whole Island. And to the end that this design might have an effect irrevocable, he de∣termin'd to repair to the See Apostolick, and thence obtain authentick Priviledges to ratify this his purpose. An Angel from our Lord approv'd his intention of undertaking that ••our∣ney, &c. Whereupon having ordain'd Bishops Preists, and other Ecclesiasticall Ministers, whom he placed in opportune residences, he gave them his benediction, and took leave of them.

3 That in his way either to, or from Rome, he retir'd into a Monastery, to enjoy for some time the peace of contemplation, is affirm'd by our Historians, and that Gla∣stenbury was the place chosen by him, in which afterward also he repos'd himself, there happily ending his dayes. And herein he imitated the holy practise of former Saints, as Saint Fugatius and Damianus, who after labouring in their Apostolicall Office, retir'd from worldly conversation, and spent their last days in conversation with God alone.

4. What were the speciall exercises of S. Patrick in his retirement, is related by ancient Writers,, viz. attending to Prayer, Fasting and purity of Life: instituting rules for a Monasticall Profession in Glastenbury, where he found Religious men the Succes∣sours of S. Ioseph of Arimathea and S. Fu∣gatius and S. Diruvianus: These S. Patrick reduced from an Eremiticall, to a Coenobiti∣call course of life, gving them instituts which himself had receiv'd from his glo∣rious Vnckle S. Martin of Tours, who long since had cloathed him with the Monasticall habit. Which Habit, saith Iocelin, was a White Cowle of the naturall-colour of the wooll, over his other garments, by which was de∣noted purity and innocence. And this fa∣shion was imitated by the I••ih Monks, as likewise the Monks of Brittany, before Saint Augustins coming, who to distinguish himself from them, assum'd a Black Cowle, whence the New Monks his Successours were usually stiled (Nigri Monachi) Black Monks.

5. In Glastenbury it was where S. Patrick wrote that famous Chart,* 1.3 the whole tenour whereof hath been already produced in the second Book of this History, upon occasion of declaring the foundation of that most famous Monastery.

In which Chart the Holy Bishop particularly describes the Isle then cal∣led Ynswitrin where was an ancient Chappell consecrated to the honour of the most blessed Virgin: And how there he found twelve Hermites, Successours of the Disciples of S. Phaganus and Diruvianus, by whom he was elected their Head. There also he declares his happy invention of a Writing compo∣sed by the foresaid Apostolicall men Phaga∣nus and Diruvianus, in which was contain'd that they had receiv'd from Pope Eleutherius ten years of Indulgence: and that by a reve∣lation from our Lord they had built a Church to the honour of S. Michael the Archangel: How likewise by a Vision it was signified to him that he was to honour the same Blessed Archangell in the same place: for a testimo∣ny of the certainty of which Vision his left arm withered, and was not restored till he had acquainted the rest of his Brethren with what he had seen. This Chart S. Patrick left with two devout Irish Monks, Arnulphus & Ogmar, his companions, which resolved to remain attending on the said Chappell. In conclusion, the Holy Bishop relates how he conferr'd an Indulgence of a hundred dayes on those who by cutting down wood clea∣red

a passage for the devout Visitants, of the Chappell consecrated by our Lord himself to the honour of his most Blessed Mother.

* 1.46. At his return from Rome S. Patrick brought with him some Relicks of the Holy Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul, and likewise of Saint Stephen the Blessed Deacon and Martyr: together with a linnen cloath, on which was sprinkled of the Blood of our Saviour Iesus-Christ, which holy Relicks were reserved there behind the Altar of Saint Patrick. This is the nar∣ration of the Authour of S. Patricks life in Capgrave.

7. That which is here deliver'd particu∣larly concerning the Relicks of S. Stephen the Martyr seems confirmed by what Baro∣nius out of Ancient Writers reports, how this same year Eudocia wife of the Emperour Theodosius brought from Ierusalem the said Relicks, which were layd up in the Church of S. Laurence the Martyr, and there piously venerated by devout Christians.

* 1.58. Iocelinus who expressly affirms that it was in S. Patricks return from Rome that he visited Brittany, further declares that during his abode in this his Native countrey, he foun∣ded many Monasteries, filling them with Reli∣gious men, who willingly submitted themselves to the observation of that form of a Religious life which was prescribed by him: That he foretold with the tongue and Spirit of Prophecy many unfortunate and many prosperous things which in future times should befall Brittany: And more∣over that he foresaw and foretold the Sanctity of S. David then enclos'd in his Mothers womb (who was born in the year of Christ four-hundred sixty two) whereby is confirm'd what in the Antiquities of Glastenbury is as∣serted concerning S. Patricks long abode in Brittany after his converting Ireland.

Notes

• * 1.1

  XV. CH.
• * 1.2

  Ca••grav in Patricio. Vsher. c. 17. f. 810. Iocelin in Pa¦tricio.
• * 1.3

  The Epistle or Chart of S. Patrick.
• * 1.4

  Ap. Capgrav. in S. Patricio.
• * 1.5

  Iocelis. in Pa∣tricio.