Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (4 of 8) eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 171 pages of information about Chronicles (1 of 6).

Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (4 of 8) eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 171 pages of information about Chronicles (1 of 6).

Herevpon were sent from the said Eleutherius two godlie learned men, the one named Fugatius, and the other Damianus, the which baptised the king with all his familie and people, and therewith remoued the [Sidenote:  Britaine receiueth the faith.] worshipping of idols and false gods, and taught the right meane and waie how to worship the true and immortall God.  There were in those daies within the bounds of Britaine 28 Flamines, & three Archflamines, which were as bishops and archbishops, or superintendents of the pagan or heathen religion, in whose place (they being remoued) were instituted 28 bishops & three archbishops of the christian religion.  One of the which archbishops held his see at London, another at Yorke, [Sidenote:  Matth.  West.] and the third at Caerleon Arwiske in Glamorganshire.  Vnto the archbishop of London was subiect Cornewall, and all the middle part of England, euen vnto Humber.  To the archbishop of Yorke all the north parts of Britaine from the riuer of Humber vnto the furthest partes of Scotland.  And to the archbishop of Caerleon was subiect all Wales, within which countrie as then were seuen bishops, where now there are but foure.  The riuer of Seuern in those daies diuided Wales (then called Cambria) from the other parts of Britaine.  Thus Britaine [Sidenote:  Iosephus of Arimathia.] partlie by the meanes of Ioseph of Arimathia (of whome ye haue heard before) & partlie by the wholesome instructions & doctrines of Fugatius and Damianus, was the first of all other regions that openlie receiued the gospell, and continued most stedfast in that profession, till the cruell furie of Dioclesian persecuted the same, in such sort, that as well in Britaine as in all other places of the world, the christian religion was in manner extinguished, and vtterlie destroied.

[Sidenote:  Polydor.  Westminster Church built.] There be that affirme, how this Lucius should build the church of saint Peter at Westminster, though manie attribute that act vnto Sibert king of the east Saxons, and write how the place was then ouergrowne with thornes and bushes, and thereof tooke the name, and was called Thorney.  They ad moreouer that Thomas archbishop of London preached, read, and ministred the sacraments there to such as made resort vnto him.  Howbeit by the tables hanging in the reuestrie of saint Paules at London, and also a table sometime hanging in saint Peters church in Cornehill, it should seeme that the said church of saint Peter in Cornehill was the same that Lucius builded.  But herein (saith Harison anno mundi 4174) dooth lie a scruple.  Sure Cornell might soone be mistaken for Thorney, speciallie in such old records, as time, age, & euill handling haue oftentimes defaced.

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Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (4 of 8) from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.