* 1.1XIII. CHAP.
1.2. &c. The Gests of Saint Cungar a Hermite.
1. TO this time we must refer what our Historians write concerning S. Cun∣gar a holy Hermit,* 1.2 who (as the Authour of his Life testifies) was Son to the Emperour of Constantinople: whō when his Parents intended to engage in a Matrimonial state, he despi∣sing worldly pomp and glory, and aspiring to an eternall heavenly Crown, withall pur∣posing to preserve his Virginal Chastity in∣violate, stole privatly in a mean habit from the Imperiall Court, without discovering his intentions to any. Neither would the holy and humble young man settle his abode in any place near his parents, for fear, in case he should come to be discovered, they might recall him home. In this regard therefore, as likewise by the encourage∣ment of an Angel he passed the Sea into Italy: from when he travelled over the Alpes into France, and out of France sayled into Brittany. For all his thoughts and en∣deavours were employd in finding out a seat proper for a solitary life: In his iour∣neys therefore he diligently enquired after such a place.
2. Saint Cungar at last being arrived in Brittany, and still earnestly pursuing his good intention inspired by Almighty God, directed his iourney towards a Province thereof, named Somerset: where by the ad∣monition of an Angel he came to a place perfectly agreable to his mind; a place com∣passed about with waters and reeds, and which from his name, was afterward called Cungresbury: (Concerning which place, which to this day keeps its name, thus writes Camden, Vnder the hills of Mendipp towards the North, says he, is seated a small village called Congersbury,* 1.3 so named from a ter∣rain person of great sanctity called Congar, who lived a Hermit there.)
* 1.43. S. Cungar much delighted with the pleasant situation of the place among Wa∣ters and woods, sayd thus to himself, This is the place I have so long sought after, here shall be my abode, here I will spend the rest of my life in serving the Blessed Trinity. Thereupon he presently raised up a little habitation for himself: and afterward measured out a Church yard: Which having done, he built there an Oratory to the honour of the most Holy and undivided Trinity. In this place therefore this devout servant of God conti∣nued, being cloathed with Sack-cloth, and without any distraction leading a most in∣nocent devout life in fasting & prayer. Early every morning he entred into the cold water, where he remained for his mortifi∣cation till he had thrice repeated the Pater noster. This being done, he came shivering with cold into his Oratory, where he spent a great part of the day in devout prayers to God. At three of the clock after noon he did eat a small portion of barley bread, never using other sustenance, nor this to satiety. By this means his body became so very lean, that all that beheld him, iudged that he was sick of an age. This Eremiticall life was most delicious to him, who aspired to the imitation of the actions of Saint Paul the first Hermit and Saint Anthony.
4. To this relation the same Authour annexes an account of severall Miracles wrought by this servant of God,* 1.5 which I willingly omitt. After which he proceeds thus: Such miracles, says he, being published abroad, Ina the magnificent King of the English, liberally bestowd upon the venerable Hermit all the little territory lying about that village, assuring him that the same place should be to him a secure and undisturbed refuge, and that as long as himself raigned, no soldiers or any other should hinder him from his devotions. The same King after he had bestowd this land upon Saint Cungar, abstained ever after from visi∣ting him, because he would not molest the holy man, nor interrupt his prayers.
5. Thus writes the sayd Authour, to which he adds,* 1.6
How Saint Cungar in the same place instituted twelve Canons, who lived a Regular life: and how afterward passing over the River Severn into North∣wales, he there erected another Oratory where he assembled a Congregation of Monks. Lastly how he undertook a pilgrimage to Rome, and from thence to Ierusalem: where he dyed and his Sacred body was brought back to Congersbury. But as touching the year or day of his death, he affirms no∣thing.