CHAP. VII.]

ARTHUR. HEPTARCHY

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gress, defeating them in no less than twelve battles, the last and bloodiest of which was fought at Badon-hill, in the year 530. But after his death the Saxons again prevailed, and before the end of the sixth century succeeded in driving the Britons, whom they originally came to assist, out of England into Wales. When their conquest was complete they divided the country into seven kingdoms, called the Heptarchy. They brought with them a form of heathenism altogether distinct from either the British or the Roman; it is less known than either, because, while it subsisted as a living form of belief, the few writers who arose in those ages were not curious respecting it; yet it has left familiar traces in our daily speech, and in many of the popular customs which, in some parts of the country, still partially maintain their ground. They had idols wrought in wood, stone, and metals of different kinds, even in gold.

In other parts of the Roman empire when barbarous tribes prevailed, and took possession of its cities and provinces, they seemed to adopt the manners of the conquered, and gradually became incorporated with them; but it was not so in Britain. When the Saxons prevailed, the Roman manners and language were swept away. And what was far worse, the light of Christianity was

obscured by the darkness of Saxon superstition. As the Saxons founded one after another their petty kingdoms, the faith of Christ was driven from the most important and fruitful provinces, and that under circumstances of the utmost cruelty. Britain was involved in rapine and slaughter, the Saxons turned their hands against every person, and thing, that had a religious character, they destroyed the churches, slew the Christians at the very altars, the Bishops and clergy were hunted down and either perished or went into banishment. Theonas Bishop of London, and Thadioc of York, are mentioned as having stood their ground as long as it was possible, and as being among the last of the British Bishops who, with the remnants of their flocks, retired into Wales. The Britons in general do not appear to have made any attempt to mingle with their conquerors: but to have retired before them, into the remote and mountainous parts of the island.

The light of Christianity had been freely given, but alas! it had been used not as it should have been corruptions both in doctrine and practice had prevailed-the candlestick was therefore to be removed out of its place; and though we have reason to believe that there were some honest hearts that still kept up Christianity in this king

CHAP. VII.] TEMPORARY OVERTHROW.

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dom, so that since the faith of Christ dwelt here, it never entirely departed, "the island never was an apostate, nor by God's blessing ever shall be;" yet that faith was reduced to so low a state, that, for a hundred and fifty years, Christianity as a public establishment, disappeared from the kingdoms of the Heptarchy.

CHAPTER VIII.

EMINENT MEN.

THE names of some of those whose learning and piety adorned our Church in its early age, may here be added, though the number of those who are so mentioned must necessarily be small.

Piranus was born of noble parents in Ossory, Ireland, in the year 352, he lived there about thirty years before he was converted to the Christian faith. After his conversion he visited Rome, and other parts of Europe, to obtain further knowledge, and then returned to his own country. In a solitary place, surrounded by woods and marshes, Piranus built himself a cottage. Here he was visited by many persons, and by God's blessing, became the means of converting many of his countrymen. His whole family became Christians. From thence he removed to Cornwall, and was eminent as a preacher of the Gospel, and likewise as a benefactor to the inhabitants by instruct ing them how to work their mines. The Cornish miners have always regarded with peculiar veneration the name of Piranus. Even to this day his

CHAP. VIII.]

PIRANUS.

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memory is cherished throughout Cornwall, where, on the 5th of March, the tinners keep his feast, and hold a fair on the same day, near his church at Perranzabuloe, of which an account was given in a former chapter. When the church was discovered, there were also found near it, the remains of a small building, which it is conjectured may have been the place of his abode. He died and was interred there; it is said that when his end drew near, he called his disciples together, reminded them what he had taught, and exhorted them to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. The words he used are not extant, but it is said that he earnestly entreated them to search the Scriptures daily, and to consider them the only infallible rule of faith, as being sufficient with the teaching of the Holy Spirit, to make men wise unto salvation.

Germanus has been already mentioned in a previous chapter. His early ministry was spent in the neighbourhood of Verulam. He was afterwards Bishop of Auxerre, from whence he came to assist in refuting the Pelagian errors; after his return he undertook a mission into Italy, for the purpose of allaying a dispute between the Pope and the Emperor, and he died at Rome in the year 448.

Dubricius, who was Bishop of Llandaff, and