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.

XX. CHAP.* 1.1

1.2. &c. Of S. Davids death, and buriall: The Time, and Place: and of his Suc∣cessour.

1. AFter many years spent by the Holy Bishop David at Menevia in the exer∣cise of all Christian vertues, it pleased al∣mighty God in love to him, and just anger to the ungratefull Brittains to translate this burning and shining Light from earth to heaven, where it now shines most glo∣riously to all eternity.

2. As touching the year of his death, con∣sidering the great diversity in Historians about his age, it must needs be involved in great uncertainty. For Giraldus Cambrensis, and Iohn of Tinmouth affirm S. David to have lived one hundred forty seaven years, ha∣ving been bot•• in the year of Grace four hundred sixty two, and dying in the year six hundred and nine, when S. Gregory the Great was Pope.* 1.2 Pits likewise allows one hundred forty six years to his age, and places his death in the year of Grace five hundred forty four: By which account his birth would fall in the year of Christ three hun∣dred ninety eight. But both these assertions seem exorbitant: the former placing his Death much too late: and the latter his Birth as much too early.

3. It is therefore more consonant to the order of Brittish affairs and story,* 1.3 saith learned B. Vsher, and better agrees with the Character of the time assign'd by Giraldus to affirm with Pits, that he dyed in the year of Grace five hundred forty four, and that at his death he was fourscore and two years old and no more: For in that year the Ca∣lends of March fell on the third Feria, as Gi∣raldus says they did when he dyed.

4. Let us now view what things are re∣ported to have occurr'd before his death.* 1.4 When the houre of his dissolution approached, saith the Authour of his life in Capgrave, the Angell of our Lord appear'd to him, and said, The day so much desir'd by thee is now at hand: Prepare thy selfe, for on the Calends of March our Lord Iesus Christ attended with a mul∣titude of Angels will come to meet thee. Where∣upon he answerd, O Lord, dismisse now thy ser∣vant in peace. The Brethren who assisted him, having heard the sound of these words, but not well understanding the sence, fell prostrate to the ground in great feare. Then the Holy Bishop cryed with a loud voyce, Lord Iesus Christ, receive my Spirit. Whereupon when the Brethren made loud complaints, he asswaged their sorrow with mild and comfortable words, saying, My Brethren, be constant in your good Profession, and beare unani∣mously

to the end that yoke which you have undergone: Observe and fulf•••• whatsoever things you have seen and heard from mee. A••d from that houre to the day of his death, the week fol∣lowing, he remained in the Church exhorting and encouraging them.

5. When the houre of his departure was come, our Lord I••sus Christ vouch-safed his presence, as he had promis'd by his Angel, to the infinite consolation of our Holy Father. Who at the sight of him exulted wholly in Spirit, saying to him, O my Lord, Take mee after thee. And with these words in our Lords company he gave up his Spirit to God, on the Calends of March, which being associated to a Troop of Angells, with them mounted up to heaven, in the year of his age one hundred forty seaven.

* 1.56. The same Authour further adds, That this Holy Bishops death, by an Angel divulging it, instantly was spread through all Brittany and Ireland. Suitable whereto is this passage in the life of S. Kentigern: Whilst the servant of God Kentigern one day continued his prayers with more then ordinary attention and devotion, his face seemd as on fire: the sight whereof fill'd the by standers with great amazement. When Prayers were ended, he began bitterly to lament: And when his Disciples humbly ask'd him the reason of his sorrow, he sate a while silent; at last he said, My dear children, know for certain that the Holy Bishop David, the glory of Brittany, the Father of his countrey is this day dead, he has escaped out of the prison of his body, and is flown to heaven. Beleive me, I my self have seen a multitude of Angels conducting him in to the joy of his Lord: and our Lord himself at the en∣trance of Paradice hath crownd him with glory and honour. Know also that Brittany which is depriv'd of so great a light, will a long time mourn the absence of so powerfull a Patron. He it was who oppos'd himself to the sword of our Lord which was half drawn out for the destruction of that nation in revenge of their sins and impeni∣tence. Now will God deliver up Brittany to strange Nations which know him not, and Pagans shall empty the Island of its inhabitants. Christian Re∣ligion shall be utterly dissipated in it, till the time prefix'd by God be ended: But after that, it shall through the mercies of our Lord be restor'd to its former state, yea to a far better and happier. How true this Prophecy of S. Kentigern was the following Story will demonstrate.

7 S. David was buried in his own Church of Menevia, which, saith Geffrey of Monmouth,* 1.6 he had loved above all other Monasteries of his Diocese because S. Patrick who had prophecied of his Nativity, had been the founder of it. He adds, that it was by the command of Malgo King of the Venedotae that he was there buried: And that after five hundred years he was solemnly cano∣niz'd by Pope Calixtus the second of that name. The Church in which he was buried was de∣dicated to S. Andrew, but in succeeding times took S. David for the Patron, by whose name it and the whole Diocese was call'd S. Davids.

8. The Memory of his Sanctity was so pre∣cious, that within a few years after his death the visiting of his Church was a great de∣votion of those times.* 1.7 S. Oudoceus Succes∣sour of S. Theliau in the Bishoprick of Landaff after a Pilgrimage to visit the Monuments of the Holy Apost••es at Rome, made another to the Church of S. David. And afterward when any one had a desire to goe in devotion to Rome and was hindred either by the diffi∣culties or dangers of the iourney, he might equall the merit of such a pilgrimage by twice visiting the Church of S. Davids, as ap∣pears by a D••stick common in those times expressing so much. Such was either the pious credulity of that age, or perhaps that compensation was allow'd by Popes.

9. The Successour of S. David in the Bi∣shoprick of Menevia was called Kinoc or Cenac, who was translated thither from the See of S. Patern. But his and many of his Succes∣sours Gests have been buried in obscurity, for the Name of Saint David did so fill the Church of Menevia for severall ages, that the mention of his successours has been omitted.

Notes

• * 1.1

  XX. CHA.
• * 1.2

  Pits. in S. David.
• * 1.3

  Vsser.
• * 1.4

  Ap. Capgrav. in vita S. Da¦vid.
• * 1.5

  Vit. S. Ken∣••••g••rn.
• * 1.6

  Galfrid. l. 11. cap 3.
• * 1.7

  G••rald. in ••escript. Cambr.