As for our Augustine of England, for it was not S. Augustine the learned Doctor, neither was he so godly a man, as M. Harding maketh him: for as Galfridus writeth of him, he was cruel, disdainful, proud, and arrogant, and no way meet to be called an Apostle. Neither was he the first planter of the Faith in England. For the Faith was planted here many hundred years before his coming.1 Tertullian saith of his time,2 Britannorum inaccessa Romanis loca subduntur Christo: The countries of Britain, which the Romans could never attain unto, 3are now subject to Christ. Origen saith of his time,4 Terra Britanniae consensit in Religionem Christi: The Lande of Britain hath agreed to Christs Religion. Athanasius of his time saith,5 Episcopi Aphricae universae, Siciliae, Sardiniae, Hispaniarum, Galliarum, Britanniarum sese ad Concilium contulerunt: The Bishops of all Africa, Sicily, Sardinia, Spain, France, and Britain came thither to the Council, (holden at Sardica. )6 Constantinus the Emperor in his time maketh mention of the Christian Churches in Britain.7 S. Hilary in his time entitled his letter in this wise:8 Clericis Tololanis, & Provinciarum Britannicarum Episcopis: To the Clergy of Toulouse, 9and to the Bishops of Britain. Chrysostom of his time saithe, Et Jusulae Britannicae extra hoc mare sitae, & in ipso Oceano positae senserunt virtutem Verbi Dei: The Ilandes of Britain being in the very Ocean, far out of this our Sea, have felt the power of God's Word. 10Theodoretus of the time of the Emperor Jovinian saith thus, Huic Fidei consenserunt omnes Ecclesiae, quaeque in Hispania sunt, quaeque in Britannia: To this Faith have agreed all the Churches, both of Spain, and of Britain. These records may seem sufficient, if it please M. Harding to receive them. And all, and every of these lived sundry hundred years before the arrival of Melitus, and Augustine.
As for our Augustine of Englande, for it was not S. Augustine the learned Doctour, neither was he so godly a man, as M. Hardinge maketh him: for as Galfridus writeth of him, he was cruel, disoaineful, prowde, and arrogant, and no way méete to be called an Apostle. Neither was he the first planter of the Faithe in Englande. For the Faithe was planted here many hundred yeres before his comminge.1 Tertullian saithe of his time,2 Britannorum inaccessa Romanis loca subduntur Christo: The countries of Britannie, whiche the Romaines coulde neuer atteine vnto, 3are now subiecte to Christe. Origen saithe of his time,4 Terra Britanniae consensit in Religionem Christi: The Lande of Britannie hath agreed to Christes Religion. Athanasius of his time saithe,5 Episcopi Aphricae vniuersae, Siciliae, Sardiniae, Hispaniarum, Galliarum, Britanniarum sese ad Concilium contulerunt: The Bishoppes of al Aphrica, Sicilia, Sardinia, Spaine, Fraunce, and Britannie came thither to the Councel, (holden at Sardica. )6 Constantinus the Emperour in his time maketh mention of the Christian Churches in Britannie.7 S. Hilarie in his time intituled his letter in this wise:8 Clericis Tololanis, & Prouinciarum Britannicarum Episcopis: To the Cleregie of Tolouse, 9and to the Bishoppes of Britannie. Chrysostome of his time saithe, Et Iusulae Britannicae extra hoc mare sitae, & in ipso Oceano positae senserūt virtutem Verbi Dei: The Ilandes of Britannie beinge in the very Ocean, far out of this our Sea, haue felt the power of Goddes Woorde. 10Theodoretus of the time of the Emperour Iouinian saithe thus, Huic Fidei consenserunt omnes Ecclesiae, quaeque in Hispania sunt, quaeque in Britannia: To this Faith haue agreed al the Churches, bothe of Spaine, and of Britannie. These recordes may séeme sufficient, if it please M. Hardinge to receiue them. And al, and euery of these liued sundrie hundred yéeres before the arriual of Melitus, and Augustine.
- 1An. Do. 210.
- 2Tertull. contra Judaeos.Tertull. contra Iudaeos.
- 3Anno. 212.
- 4Origen. in Ezekiel. Homi. 4. Athanas. Apologia Secunda.Origen. in Ezechiel. Homi. 4. Athanas. Apologia Secunda.
- 5Anno. 334.
- 6Anno 330.
- 7Theodoret. Hist. Eccl. Li. 1. Ca. 10. Hilarius De Synodis. Chrysost. in Homilia, Quòd Christus sit Deus Theodoret. Hist. Eccl. Li. 4. Ca. 3.
- 8Anno 360.
- 9Anno 400.
- 10Anno 367.
