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.

VI. CHAP.* 1.1

i.2. &c. The Body of Saint Alban the Proto-martyr of Brittany, miracu∣lously discovered to King Offa: who causes it to be translated: and builds a magnificent Church and Monastery to his honour.

1. THE year following Offa King of the Mercians residing then at the Citty of Bath,* 1.2 was in sleep admonished by a Divine Oracle to take up out of the earth the Sacred Body of Saint Alban, and place it more ho∣nourably in a shrine.

He therefore sending for Humbert Arch-bishop of the Mercians declared unto him his vision. Then the said Arch-bishop attended by Ceo••ulf and Vnwona his two Suffragan Bishops with an innumera∣ble multitude of both sexes mett the King at Verulam upon a day appointed. There did the said King behold a Light from hea∣ven darting its beams over the place where the Holy Martyr had been buried: by which sign seen of them all they became assured of the truth of the former vision. Then were all the people commanded to purify themselves by fasting, almes and prayers, and the Bishops adorned with their Sacerdo∣tall Vestments begged the assistance of the Blessed Martyr. For the place since the co∣ming of S. Germanus and Lupus two French Bishops into Brittany to root out the Pelagian Heresy about three hundred forty four years before this, had been quite defaced by the Pagan Saxons, English and Iutes who conque∣red the countrey, and destroyed all sacred places, and among the rest the Church which after the death of the Holy Martyr had been magnificently built to his honour by the Brittains, as Beda testifieth.

2. The said Bishops therefore after fa∣sting and prayers,* 1.3 opening the ground, found the Blessed Martyrs body in a woodden Coffin, together with the Sacred Relicks of the Apostles and Martyrs which Saint Germa∣nus had placed there. This Invention drew teares of ioy and devotion from the eyes of all the Clergy and people present: and the Bishops with great reverence and fear took out of the ground that precious Treasure which had been a long time hid, and with a solemne Procession, with Hymns and Canticles they transported it to a certain Church which had anciently been built to the honour of the said Holy Martyr without the gates of the Citty Verulam, where in a shrine cu∣riously wrought of gold and silver and ador∣ned with pretious stones they deposed it.

3. In the same place to this day divine

miracles are frequently wrought, for in the sight of many, hearing is restored to the deafe, walking to the lame, sight to the blind, and death both of mind and body to all who with confidence in the Divine mercy through the intercession of his Saint implore it. These things were acted in the five hundred and seaventh year after the suf∣fring of the Holy Martyr, the three hundred forty fourth year after the coming of the En∣glish into Brittany, the first Indiction and the first day of August.

4 King Offa not content with preparing a sumptuous shrine for the honour of this glorious Martyr, added also a most magnifi∣cent Monastery, for obtaining of Priviledges, for which by advice of the Bishops recourse was had to the Pope. Concerning which Mo∣nastery, Mathew of Westminster writes, that as S. Alban was the Prime among the Brittish Martyrs and Saints, so his Monastery excelled both in possessions and liberties all the other Monaste∣ries of the Kingdom.

* 1.4 5. To this day is preserved the Charter which King Offa made to this Monastery: in which he mentions the foresaid miraculous discovery of the holy Martyrs body: adding that since Honour given to God, and pious devo∣tion to his Saints is the stability of an earthly kingdom, the prosperity of long life, and will un∣doubtedly be rewarded with eternall happines, therefore he gave such lands and possessions there named to the said Monastery, freeing it likewise from all tributs and burdens: Ap∣ponting withall over it as Abbot Willigoda a Preist to govern it according to the Rule of S. Benedict for ever: Lastly requiring that dayly prayers should continually be offred there for the soules of himself and his freinds.

* 1.5 6. At the same time the Abbot of Croyland called Patrick successour to the first Abbot thereof Kenulph, seeing the devotion & pie∣ty of King Offa to Gods Saints, and his kind inclination to the Prayers of Religious men, obtained frō him a Charter likewise, by which he took into his Protection the said Monastery, confirming all the possessions and Priviled∣ges formerly given to the same, freeing the Monks thereof from all secular burdens and impositions, as he had newly done his brethren the Monks of S. Alban: (such is his expression.)

Notes

• * 1.1

  VI. CHA.
• * 1.2

  A. D. 793. Westmonast. A. D. 794. Ap. Capgr. in vit. Saint Alban.
• * 1.3

  Bed. l. i. c 18. Westmon. ib.
• * 1.4

  Monast. An∣glic. p. 177.
• * 1.5

  I••gulf. f. 854