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.

* 1.1XIX. CHAP.

1.2. &c. S. David translates the Metro∣politan See to Menevia.

7 He exercises his Pastorall Office in Ire∣land.

8 9.10. Of Irish Saints: Particularly of S. Aedan.

1. THE celebrating of this Synod is the last publick action which we find recorded of S. David. Therefore we will here adioyn what remains of his Gests till his death, which followd fifteen years after, in the year of Grace five hundred forty four.

2. Concerning his Birth and the Prophe∣cies foregoing it, as likewise his Education, & how in the year five hundred and nine∣teen in the Synod of Brevy he was elected and consecrated Bishop, succeeding Saint Du∣bricius Arch-bishop of Caër-leon and Metro∣politan of Cambria: which See S. Dubricius three years before had relinquished, retiring himself into solitude: All this hath been already declared.

3. Notwithstanding his Consecration, he would not accept of a Metropoliticall Iuris∣diction but upon this condition that he might transferre the See from Ca••r-leon to Menevia, a place for the remotenes, solitude and neighbourhood of many Saints and Re∣ligious persons in the Islands and territory adioyning, most acceptable to him. Which Translation was approved both by King Ar∣thur and the Synod then not dissolved.

4. This Menevia is seated in the Province of the Dimetae, now Penbrok-shire, adioyning to the most remote Promontory of Brittany, called by Ptolomy the Promontory of the Octo∣pitae, where,* 1.2 saith Giraldus, the soyle is stony and barren, neither cloathed with wood, nor interlaced with rivers, nor adorned with meadows, but ex∣posed to the Sun and winds: Yet with this penury the ancient Saints and Bishops were best contented, accounting the remotenes from worldly tumults and noyse to recom∣pence sufficiently all such incommodities

5. This Merevia, or, as the Brittains then called it, Menew, was in memory of this holy Bishop named by the converted Saxons Da∣vid-Minster, and by the Brittains Tuy-Dewy, that is, Dav••ds house, and at this day S. Davids. The Bishop whereof was for many ages the Metropolitan of Cambria, but at length be∣came subject to Canterbury. Notwithstan∣ding the Inhabitants of Wales since the Con∣quest of Brittany by the Normans entred into a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Law against the Arch-bishop of Can••terbury challenging their former right and priviledge of independance: but the cause was iudged against them. How the Archie∣piscopall Pall by occasion of a Plague was ca∣ried over Sea into Little Brit••any, and left in the Church of Dole shal be shewd hereafter.

6. The Pastorall care and zeale of S David in maintaining the Catholick Faith against Heresyes, particularly Pelagianism, and Eccle∣siasticall Discipline against vices and disor∣ders is celebrated by all our Writers, and was signally approved by him in the Synod of Victory assembled by him ten years after his Consecration.

7. Neither was his Pastoral solicitude con∣fined to his own Province: it extended it selfe abroad also, and especially into Ireland: From wh••nce he was often visited and con∣sulted with by devout men.* 1.3 Hence Giraldus Cambrensis speaking of this age, saith, It was among the Irishmen in those days a freque••t custom to goe in pilgrimage, and their greatest devotion was to visit the monuments of the Apostles in Rome. Among the rest one Barro an Abbot in the province of Cork went thither, and in his return he pass'd by Menevia, where he stayd till he could find the commodity of a ship and wind. For such was the usuall practise of good de∣vout Irishmen, that either going or returning

they would desire to enioy the conversation of the Holy Bishop David, whose name like a precious fragrant Oyntment was spread all abroad.

* 1.48. B. Vsher has publish'd a Catalogue of Irish Saints, sorted into severall Orders accor∣ding to the times wherin they liv'd. The first Order was of such as liv'd either con∣temporaries to S. Patrick, or presently after him. The Second Order contain'd such Saints 〈…〉〈…〉 about this age, such as were S. Fina∣•••••• ca••••••d by the Irish, Fin, and by the Brit∣tains Gain or Win. S. Brendan, &c. In which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 this observation is express'd, The Saints of the Second Order received the Rite of 〈…〉〈…〉 out of Brittany from holy men 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••ere, such as were S. David, S. Gildas and S. Doc.

9. Moreover S. David sent over some of his Di••ciples into Ireland,* 1.5 who grew famous there for their learning and sanctity. Among which one o•• the most illustrious as was Saint Ae••an: concerning whom Giraldus thus w••ites, S. A••••••n, call'd by the Irish S. Maidoc, f••mous for his vertues and learning in Divine 〈◊〉〈◊〉, having received permission from his 〈◊〉〈◊〉. David and his Brethren, with their be∣n•••••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 say••d into Ireland. Where after he had 〈…〉〈…〉 fame by his piety and miracles, at 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he built a Monastery near the Citty of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, where having collected a good number of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Brethren he consecrated himself to the Service of God, living according to the form and ••ule which he had received from his Pious Father S. David at Menevia. Which Rule was the ••ame that was observed by the Monks in Aegypt, as we read in the Antiquities of Glastonbury.

10. This S. Aedan was afterward Bishop of Fern••, and Metropolitain of Leinster, whilst S. David was yet alive, whom he used to con∣sult in affairs of difficulty, as we read in the Nameles Authour of the life of S. Lugid, call'd also S. Moluca, in these terms, Saint Moedhog, nam'd otherwise S Aedan the most Holy Bishop of Leinster would needs goe b••••ond Sea into Brittany to his Master S. David Bishop there, to demand of h•••• whom he would recom∣mend for his Spirituall Father to heare his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in I••eland The life of this S. Aedan is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in Capgrave: where notwithstanding he is ••tiled only Abbot, and not Bishop.

Notes

• * 1.1

  XIX. CH.
• * 1.2

  Girald in l ••in. l. 2. c. 1.
• * 1.3

  Girald. Cam∣br•••••• ••it. S. David.
• * 1.4

  Vsser. in Fri∣••ora. ••. ••5••.
• * 1.5

  〈…〉〈…〉. ap. Vsser •• 9••••.