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.

* 1.1I. CHAPTER.

1.2. &c. Constentin succeeds King Arthur. His Cruelly: Pennance, and undertaking a Religious life.

1. IT seems the Brittains at the beginning had no such conceit of King Arthurs returning,* 1.2 for surely they would have expe∣pected awhile and not immediatly have filled his Throne with a succession of strange Princes. The Bards had not yet contrived their fantasticall Stories, which could find none in these times to hearken to them.

2. Therefore after King Arthurs death Con∣stantin, according to his designation, suc∣ceeded him in the Government of Brittany. He was the Son of Cador Duke of Cornwall, and kinsman to King Arthur. His sufficiency to discharge that employment for the be∣nefit of his countrey was enough approv'd by his glorious Predecessours choice. But Al∣mighty God having fix'd a period to the Brittish Monarchy, permitted many factions to arise, and many pretendants to the Prin∣cipality, the opposing of whom hindred Con∣stantin from advancing the common proffit and safety of the Kingdom.

* 1.33. Yea moreover ambition and revenge had such power over him that they invited him to commit crimes, which hastned the ruine of his countrey. Hence it is that Gil∣das calls him the Tyrant of Danmonia: Tyrant by reason of his cruelty, and Tyrant of one onely Province, because severall others at the same time had invaded each one their severall Principalities: and for the maintai∣ning of their unjustly usurp'd power fill'd the whole nation with all manner of crimes and impiety.

4. This gave occasion to the same Gildas to write and publi'sh a passionate Invective against the vices of the whole Brittish Na∣tion,* 1.4 which had universally deprav'd the in∣habitants of all states and conditions excep∣ting a few, exceeding few, who seing destru∣ction unavoydably coming on the Nation, sequestred themselves from publick affaires, and in solitude deplor'd the sins of others, and by great austerities and pennances pro∣cur'd indulgence to their own soules.

5. In former times, saith he, our Kings, pu∣blick Officers,* 1.5 private persons, Bishops and other Ecclesiasticks, every one kept their order and perform'd the duties belonging to them. But when they were dead (Such as Ambrosius, Vther-pendragon, Arthur; and likewise Dubricius, David, &c.) there succeeded a generation utterly ignorant of the former Vertues, among whom all the rules of Truth and Iustice were so shaken and subverted, that no foot-steps, nor so much as the least monument of those vertues appeard in any

of the foresaid orders and conditions,* 1.6 &c.

6. Constantin at his first ascending into his Throne bound himself by a solemn Oath to govern justly, and to use his utmost endea∣vours to defend his subjects from injuries and oppressions, and the common wealth from the violence of its enemies. This ap∣pers, because the year following we find him accused of perjury and violating his Faith given, for his barbarous cruelty, and sacrilegious profanation of Gods house.

* 1.77. For two sons of Mordred, saith Mathew of Westminster, rose in arms against Constantin, being desirous to revenge their Fathers death (slain by King Arthur, as hath been said) These ioyning in a confederacy with the Saxons, fought many battles with him. But at last being compelled to flye, Constantin pursued them: and one he slew before the Altar of S. Amphibalus his Church in Winchester: And the other who had hid himself in a certain Convent of Monks, he condemned to a cruell death at London.* 1.8

8. For this Sacrilegious inhumanity, Gildas in his too free stile calls Constantin the tyran∣nicall whelp of the Lyonnes of Danmonia, an in∣fringer of the dreadfull Sacrament of an Oath by which he bound himself before God and all his Saints to abstain from all injustice and treachery to his subjects; notwithstanding which, in the very bosoms both of their carnall Mother, and the com∣mon Spiritual Mother the Church, and nere unto the most Holy Altars he had torn the bowels of two Royal Youths, though covered with the Vest∣ment of a holy Abbot (Sancti Abbatis amphi∣balo) whilst they stretched forth their hands, not armed with swords to resist, but to implore help from God and his Altar: notwithstanding all which, he most barbarously shed their blood, which with a purple dye stained the Seat of the Eccle∣siasticall Sacrifice and the Sacred palls which co∣vered it. By which expression of Gildas it seems that these two children, Sons of Mor∣dred, had not been guilty of raising war against Constantin: but without any offence done by them had been murdred contrary to his ••ath.

* 1.99. In consequence to which Invective the same Authour adioyns most pressing exhor∣tations to Constantin, that he would doe sui∣table pennance for these horrible crimes, & implore the Divine Mercy, that if possible, he might avoyd the dark inextricable torrents of eternall fires, in which otherwise he must for ever be rolled and roasted.

10. It is probable that this Zealous Writer, who flourished at this time, did personally use the like exhortations to him, which he after recorded in his Book: and that they wrought a good effect on him.* 1.10 For though some of our Historians write that he was slain by Conan who succeeded in the King∣dom:* 1.11 Yet Hector Boëtius relates how Constantin after a short raign having been deprived of his wife and children, grew weary of his Kingdom, and privily stealing from his freinds, went into Ireland: And that there for the love of Christ he laboured unknown like a poore servant in a Mill. But afterward by perswasion of a Monk, to whom he had discovered his condition, he was induced to shave his head and consecrate himself to a Re∣ligious life in a Monastery: where he lived with such piety and devotion that he became a pattern of all vertues to the rest of the Monks. That at last he was by the Prelat of that place sent in Mission to the Scotts to instruct that nation in the doctrin of Christ, where he suffred Martyrdom by the hands of certain impious persons. After some Ages he was venerated as a Saint, and by the authority of succeeding Bishops Temples were dedicated to his honour, which yet remain in that Nation.

11. What is thus related by Boëtius,* 1.12 receives a strong confirmation from the Authour of S. Davids life in Capgrave, where we read, That when the fame of S. Davids holines was spread abroad, severall Princes forsaking their King∣doms, retired to his Monastery. Likewise Constan∣tin King of the Cornishmen (which is the same Title with Rex Danmoniae in Gildas) forsaking his Throne, became a Monk there: and after some time spent in the devout service of God, he at last went into a far distant countrey, where he built a Monastery.

Notes

• * 1.1

  I. CHAP.
• * 1.2

  A. D. 542.
• * 1.3

  Gild. de Ex¦cid.
• * 1.4

  Id. ibid.
• * 1.5

  Id. ib.
• * 1.6

  A. D. 543.
• * 1.7

  Weminist. A. D. 553
• * 1.8

  Gild. de Ex∣cid.
• * 1.9

  Id. ibid.
• * 1.10

  A. D. 545.
• * 1.11

  A. ••oet. hist. l. 9.
• * 1.12

  Ap. Capgr. in vitâ S. Da¦vidis.