but not of Churches for hee allow'd no power or Jurisdiction to the Fmperour over or in the Church Sall you see how Ambrose by this undaunted generous answer denyed to yield to the Emperour one Basilica or Church for the Liturgy of the Arriaens the Empresse being of that Religion and you have joyned in Communion and Religion with those Protestant Bishops and Clergy-men that made and signed the XXXIX Articles and delivered up to Queen Elizabeth all the Churches in England and all Eeclesiasticall Iurisdiction and power over themselves and all the people in Spiritualibus which I am a shamed to write with those I say you have joyned denying to the Pope against all piety and reason over that Kingdome and People all Spirituall Superiority and therin you seperate to your great shame from Saint Ambrose The next conflict Ambross had was with Maximus who had kild the yong Prince Gracianus the holy Bishop goeing to seek the body of the dead Prince behaved himselfe like a noble and stout Prelate hee excomunicated the Tyrant for sheding Innocent blood and commaunded him to doe severe pennance for soe cruell a Murther After this Ambrose had a great encounter with the Emperour Theodosious which fell out in this manner Theodosius after defeating the Tyrant Eugenius who was killed in the fight which victory hee atributed to Saint Ambrosse's prayers and power with God being transported with an implacable anger against the Cittizens of Thessalonica for the death of one of his Courtiers slaine by that People in a tumult to revenge this mans death hee invited the People to the Spectacula or usuall pastymes in those days and gave order to the armed Souldery to inviron and Massacre the innocent multitud without Distinction of Age or sexe there were slaine by this blooddy Edict seaven thousand Soules This butchery being ended the Emperour took his way for Millan and thinking according to his ordinary custome to goe to the Church Saint Ambross with a Godly anger opposed himselfe and denyed him ingress giving him a severe reprehention in this kind Quid inquit tentas Caesar quid moliris tune Domini Templum post tam Crudelem innocentium hominum stragem intrare audes noli Caesar noli Priorem iniquitatem tuam haec te-meritate augâ—re exhorresco hoc tam immane facinus tuum gladium civium Innocentium tam iniqua morte cruentnm videre non possum Glamat Caesar de Terra ad Caelum contra te Sanguis innocentum That is What doe you atempt Caesar what are you about to doe doe yon dare to enter Gods Temâ—le after soe Cruell a Massacre of Innocent People Caesar doe not doe not augment the sinn you have committed with this new Temerity I abhorr thy cruell Act and I cannot indure to see your sword blooddy with the unjust death of soe many innocent Cittizens Caesar the blood of the Innocent Cryes to heauen against you What did the Emperour in this encounter receeving soe sharpe a rebuke hee revered the reprehention and the liberty of the holy Bishop and began to lament bitterly his great sinn and soe retyred to his Pallace not daring to enter the Church I may in this place say O Incomparabilem Pontisicis dignitatem O Imperatoris piâ—tatem insignem Soon after came on the feast of the Nativity when the Emperour much afflicted for his being kept out of the Church sent Rufinus prefect of the Pallace to have the Excomunication taken of this powerfull Courtier made account the Saint would instantly yield but the Bishop would not heare him wherfore the Emperour wholy compunct and penitent came in person to Ambrose humbly demaunding hee would give him Entrance into the Church on that holy Feast that heâ— might partake of the joy the poorest men in the Citty enjoyed but the Bishop said Quid agis Caesar quid poscis num tam immane scelere tuo dignam penitudinem ostendisti tuum est said Caesar remedia dare meum accipere imperâ— quid fieri velis non obsisto hoc solum ambio ut cum Deo meo in Gratiam redire possem That is What doe you Caesar what seek you from mee have you done condigne pennance for soe great a sinn It is said Caesar your part to commaund and praescribe a remedy and myno to receive the same Commaund what you will have done I shall not resist this only I seek that I may be reconciled to my God Then Ambrose seeing and admiring Caesars most Christian example in contrition and obedience received him into the Church with great joy of all the People Was ever under the heavens a more noble and pious contention then this between Tbeodosius and Ambrose I have enlarged my selfe a little longer though I hope not unprofitably upon this rare History and example of the zeale and fortitude of a good Bishopl and of the piety and obedience of a good Emperour Had wee in this age but a few Ambroses they would I dare say make the Church of God and the Monarchy of the world more Godly and happier then now they are And how to Saint Augustin Was there ever from the Creation of the world a more learned and humble man then this Saint What Heresiarch in his tyme lifted up his head that hee did not refute and knock downe doe not all learned men at this day draw from him as from a Spring and Fountaine all Wisdome and Learning Who among men was a greater defender of verity and the Church then hee What quantity of vollumes and books hath hee set forth to this effect noâ— Doctor profounder none more learned nor more penetrating hard questions and difficultyes in Scripture Fathers and Divinity then hee but in nothing more gloriovs then in his humble Books of Confessions Are not you Sall confounded in your soule for parting from this great Catholick and most holy and learned Doctor and adhering to those new unCatholick Bishops of England with theire XXXIX Articles for the most part of them condemned Heresies who have but the titulary name of Bishops and noe holy Order at all and consequently cannot conferre holy Orders on others wherfore as was well observed by a late Author the Church of England is noe Church because it wants Priest and Sacrifice What shall I say now of holy Hierome the great Oracle of the world for expounding Scriptures to him from all Places and Provinces Fathers and learned men did write for clearing and resolving deep difficultyes and obscure sences of the Scripture who a greater Enemy to his body then this Saint Who more mortify'd what an austere life did hee lead in the Wilderness of Syria where hee cry'd out in this Language O quoties ego ipse in eremo constitutus Epist 22. ad Eustochium in illa vasta solitudine quae exusta solis ardoribus horridum Monachis prestat habitaculum putabam me Roman is interesse deliciis Sedebam solus quia amaritudine repletus eram Horrebant sacco membra deformia
Poligamy to be lawfull and published soe much by writing to Henry the eight houlding his divorse from Queen Catharin unlawfull but withall proposed to the King that hee might lawfully at Melan. concilia Theologica printed 1600. p. 134. once with her take another wife Respondeo saith Melankton si vult Rex successioni prospicere quanto satius est id facere sine infamia Prioris conjugii ac potest id fieri sine ullo periculo Conscientiae câ—usquâ—m aut famae per poligamiam c. That is I answer if the King intends a divorse with his Queen Catharin for getting issue hee may doe that farre better and without infamy of the first Marriage and lawfully without danger of Conscience by Poligamy that is to say by taking another wife at once with her Jacobus Andreas otherwise named Smedelinus WAs Chancellor in the University of Tubing Luthers prime Scholler noe less esteemed in Germany then Calvin or Beza in Geneva in the Colloquie at Mompelgar hee encountered an overmatcht Beza yet the Lutherans themselves who magnify his learning say hee had noe God but Bacchus and Mamon Selnecerus his great frind and dayly Companion gave this Testimonie of his Piety that hee neuer pray'd goeing to to bedd nor rysing in the morning Sturmius a learned Calvanist chargeth him with the crimes of Adultery covetousness and robbing of the poor Zanchius saith hee was taken in a publick Zanch. in Epist printed 1609. lib. 2. pa. 240 Adultery Sall what a holy Doctor have you of this man Carolostadius ARch-Deacon of the Cathedrall of Wittembergh aman of a furious nature was the first Sacramentarian It was singular in him that being a Priest hee married in the year 1524. and a peculiare Mass was made and printed for the same which began thus Dixit Dominus Deus non est bonum hominem essâ— solum c. That is God said it is not good for a man to live alone The prayer Englished was O Lord which after soe long blindness of unmaried Priestes hath bestow'd soe great grace upon blessed Carolostadius as contemning the Popes Law hee hath presumed to take a wife bring to pass wee beseech thee that all other Priestes may follow his example The rest of the Mass you may see in Cochlaeus in the yeare 1525. This unhappy Carolostadius was soe persecuted by Luther as hee lived miserably in the Country and laboured like a poor Bore John Knox. A Scotchman and Apostata Maried Priest a Rebell and Boute-feux incendiary of the whole Nation and a Murtherer raised a Rebellion stirring up the nobles and common people agaist Queen Mary of Scotts his Soveraigne and against her vertuous Mother the Queen Regent of the Catholick and most famous house of Guise who dyed of Grief for the coming of Heresie into that Catholick Kingdome This man with a Rabble of Rebells deposed the Queen and laid the Crowne upon her Sons head King Iames the sixt afterwards King of England Grand-father to King Charles the second an Infant Infine the noble Queen sorely afflicted flying into England hopeing to be protected by her Kinswoeman Queen Elizabeth after a long Imprisonment was put to death by that cruell woeman This holy man Knox began his Reformation with the murther of Cardinall Betune Arch-Bishop of Saint Andrews in his owne Bed-Chamber and did afterward many bloody Tragicall things Notwithstanding all his villanys Calvin term'd him an excellent and reverend manâ— valiant Labourer in Christ his Church restorer of the Ghospell in Scotland and in the end of a letter to him writes Vale eximie vir ex animo colende Calvin in Epist responsss printed 1567. Frater And Beza writes thus Ioanni Knox Evangelii Dei apud Scotos instauratori fratri symmistae observando And in another place Magnus ille Ioannes Knox Scotorum in vero Dei cultu instaurandâ— velut Beza in Epist Theologicis printed anno 1573. Epist 74 pag. 333. alter Apostolus Heer mulus malum scabit Impious impure men praise an impure impious man The Protestant Bishop of Rochester in his Sermon at Pauls Cross gave a truer Discription of Knox calling him and Bucanan two fiery Spiritts of the Scotch Nation It is written that this wicked Knox was killd upon his bed by a Devill Sall Iudg you if this end show'd him to com from God Oecolumpadius A Brigittin Monk marryed a Nun was a fierce Sacramentarian the next after Carolostadius and after them Zwinglius who they dying bore the Bell and name of that Sect. This Oecolumpadius was a man of an unclean wicked life was found dead upon his bed kill'd by a Devill as Protestant writers attest and Luther among others Christopher Goodman AN Englishman a seditious ranck Goodman in his book how to Obay pag. 96. Rebell great Companion to Iohn Knox writing of Queen Mary of England speaks thus That wicked woeman Mary whom you would truly make your Queen c. And againe God hath not given an Hypocrit only to raigne over you but an Idolatress alsoe not a man but a woeman which his Law forbiddeth and nature abhorreth whose raigne was never counted lawfull by the Law of God c. Hee says againe This ungodly Serpent Mary hath joyned her selfe with Adulterous Phillip Sall is not this a Godly homily of obedience Goodman teacheth towards Soueraigness And is not Calvin your great Doctor of the English Church a great frind to Soueraignty whilest hee highly praises this scurrill Rebell You may obserue one thing how Goodman after Queen Mary dyed writt against his former opinion and acknowledged Queen Elizabeth to be lawfull Soueraigne of England and that the Law of God was not against her Goverment nor that the Law of Nature abhorr'd it hee call'd her not Idolatress or Serpent by which it is cleare and playne that this Rebellious knave writt only against Queen Mary being a Catholick whose title to the Crowne was clearer and better then that of Queen Elizabeth as all men know Hauing said thus much of the forementioned Hereticks and Reformers let us now examin what kinde of men those were that contrived the XXXIX Articles of the confession of England soe highly valued by Sall and preferred to true theorems of faith though many of them are condemned Heresies after vewing what they have done touching said XXXIX Articles you shall be able to Iudge of theire vices and vertues XIV CHAPTER A Narration of the English Religion and Reformers in King Edward the 6. Raigne THe Earle of Hartford the Kings Uncle newly created Duke of Summerset and Lord Protector of England a man neither fitt to govern nor to be governed his Iudgment being weak and himselfe very willfull and blindly resolute To his infamy and distruction hee made choyce of Dudlay Earle of Warwyck a man of great Iudgment and a deep dissembler to be his chief assistant and director both in Church and in state affaires who was his greatest Enemy which Summersett had not witt
see not why I should not only compare but preferre alsoe one Cranmer before six hundred Becketts of Canterbury This is one Impudency let us heare another Quid in Nicolao Ridlaeo videtur cum quovis Divo Nicolao non conferendum That is What is there in Nicholas Ridley that Impudent rediculous demaunds of Iohn Fox may not be compard with any Saint Nicholas whatsoever To this every man that hath redd the life of Saint Nicholas surnam'd the great that was Bishop of Myra and soe famous in the first councell of Nice and hath either knowne the other Nicholas Ridley intruded into two Bishopricks of England at once together with his Burgundian wife or shall read those things which afterwards I am to set downe of him and Octob. 19 his actions out of Fox himselfe when I come to his festivall day will easily be able to make full answer There followeth Fox his third demaund of the learned reader more impudent and impious then the rest Qua in re saith hee Latimerus Hooperus Marshius Simsonus caeterique Christiani Martyrii candidati inferiores summis maximisque ill is Papistici Calendarii divis imò multis etiam nominibus non prâ—ponendi videantur That is In what one thing may Latimer Hooper Marsh Simson and other renowned Christian Martyrs in this book contained seem to be inferiour to the highest and greatest Saints of the Papisticall Calendar or rather not to be preferred before them all for many respects Here now you see his full sense and these his Martyrs are to be preferred before the highest and chiefest Martyrs of the Popes Calendar But some one of the Protestant Congregation will tell mee it is a flatt lye that Fox hath canonized Malefactors for Saints to wype of this staine I remitt this man to examine his Calendar by years monthes and days and to point out with a fingar som of them for it were toe tedious to pass â—an 7. 8. 9. 10. Febr. 6. Enormityes of divers Foxian Saints over them all In the first place I give you Sr. Iohn Old-Castle and Sr. Roger Acton who with above forty more were hanged in Saint Gylses field for treason and for actuall Rebellion and for conspiring the death of King Henry the fifth and of his Brethern who yet are made solemne Martyrs by Iohn Fox in his Calendar and distributed into divers festivall days for celebrating theire memories behold two capitall rubricated Martyrs of Iohn Fox who dyed for Rebellion and treason Soe write Catholick and Protestant Authors as Walsingham who liu'd at the same tyme with Old-Castle Likwise Stow expresly speaks thus Towards the end of the yeare 1417. Stow anno 5. Henr. 5. pag. 572. Sr. Iohn Old-Castle taken by chance in the Territory of the Lord Powesse was brought up to London in a Litter wounded during the Parlament and there examined Which Stow sets downe thus Assoon as Sr. Iohn Old-Castle was brought into the Parlament before the Kings Brother Duke of Bedford Regent and governour of the Realme his indightment was read before him of his forcible insurrection against the King in Saint Gylses field and other treasons by him commited The question was asked why hee should not be deem'd to Dye c. But the said Old-Castle giving many frivelous answers and speaking nothing to the point the chief Iustice admonished the Regent not to suffer him to spend the tyme soe vainly and being commaunded to answer finally why hee should not suffer death To which hee stoutly answered that This Rich. then in Scoctland was a Mock King a suborned impostore hee had noe Iudg among them soe long as his Leage Lord King Richard was a live and in the Realme of Scotland Which answer when hee had made because there needed noe other wittness hee was condemn'd to be drawne and hang d upon a Gallows and to be burned hanging upon the same Which Iudgment was executed on him the 14. of December in Saint Gylses field Where many honourable persons being present the last words that hee spoke were to Sr. Irpingham adjuring him that if hee saw him rise from death to life againe the third day hee would procure that his sect might be in peace and quiett Thus farre are the words of Stow Old-Castle was of the Sect of Wicklif And who will not say now but that this traytor publickly executed for treason is a worthy Martyr for Fox his Calendar and Martyraloge If Hackett the puritan put to death in Queen Elizabeth's days for saying he would rise againe the third day as Old-Castle did say and went devoutly to the Gallows as the other did crying IEHOVA IEHOVA as Stow setteth it downe and at the Stow anno 33. Eli. Christi Vero 1591. pag. 2289. Gallowes noe less bitterly rail'd against Q. Elizabeth then Old-Castle did against that worthy King Into his Calendar had he gone without further Consultation and in some respect was fitter for it being a Calâ—anist in the purest degree which Old-Castle was not as after shall be made appeare It is alsoe cleare and manifest Of Sir Roger Acton and his cause why hee was hanged that Sir Roger Acton Knight with Sir Iohn Old-Castle and others conspired King Henry the fith his death with his Bretheren and was taken in open Rebellion against him in the field of Saint Gyles in London upon the yeare 1414. And was condemned of treason at Westminster and on the tenth of February was drawn hang'd and buried under the Gallows soe â—elateth Stow. Stow. in Chro. â—n Dom 1414. pa. 551 Holen anno 1414. And Holenshed in effect writeth the same citing for his Authors Titus Livius And Hall in the Margent Stow and Holenshed as aboue was said were both Protestants Iohn Zisca alsoe the famous Bohemian Murtherer who besides the Rebellion against his Prince and Lieg Lord was a common manqueller began his Rebellion by murthering openly the Major of Prage and other Senators and then breaking violently into the court soe afflicted the sick King Vincislaus as hee fell presently into a dead Palsy and therof soon after departed this life Hee continued that most cruell and outrageous Rebellion against the afflicted Widow Queen Sophia his souveraigne Lady and against the Emperour Sigismund Brother to Vincislaus lawfull Successor to that Crowne for divers years And this with such slaughter and opprobrious handling especially of Priests and Religious men as scarse is read in any other Barbarous Historie calling himselfe in his Title Monachomastix the Murtherer of Monks His cruell bloody Soldiers were a company of People called Thaborits from a Castle being on a hill which Zisca cal'd Monthabor which hee had taken by treason and violence from a Catholick noble man killing both him and all his that were with in it who followed him for spoyle and licentious life There were committed more outragious insolencyes Murthers and grievous villanyes in a few years by the Directions of this cruell Zisca then any other Historie doth
relate in many ages The horrible Testament of 1. Ziscae a Bohemian Saint And at length being strucken by Gods Hand with the plague being demaunded of his frinds as Fox himselfe confesseth how hee would be buryed hee bid them to flea him and make a Drum of his skinn therwith to terrify the Papistes in theire fights and Battles as it was done casting his carcass to be devou'rd in the field This Relation of Zisca's life and death is writt by Iohn Dubravius Bishop of Iohn Dubra lib. 24. Histo. Bohem. Olemuz and by Aeneus Sylvius that writt this story more at large and out of whome Fox professeth to gather his Relation who concludeth thus Divinitus Aeneus Sylv. in Histor Bohem. cap. 16. tandem ut par est credere peste tactus expiravit monstrum detestabile crudele horrendum importunum c. And is it not cause of wonder that Fox in his Calendar allowes to this bloody Zisca the place of a holy Confessor on the fifth day of February though his Sect in Religion being a Hussit were farre different from that of the English Protestants at this day Iohn Claydon a Curriour hath the place of a high Martir on the third day of February in the yeare 1413. Fox in another place gives him the yeare 1415. This Claydon who was an old Lollard who upon confidence of his Sect was grown into such a maddness that being a layman and Curriour by A Curriour made himselfe a Bishop and his Sonne a Priest his trade hee presumed to give holy Orders to his Sonne and to make him Priest and to celebrate Mass in his House upon the day of his Mothers rising from Child-bed for which hee being apprehended examined and lawfully convicted of Heresie hee was burn't in London c. soe writeth VVals anno 2. Reg. Henr. 5. pag. 436. learned and famous Walsingham And behold the Curriour made a glorious Martyr William Flower in like manner the famous Apostata Monk took a wife and came by Apostacy to be a Surgion and wounded with his wood knife the Priest Iohn Cheltam administring the Blessed Sacrament to the people with great Devotion in Saint Margaretts Church hee wounded him in his head Arme and Hand wherin hee held the Chalice and said it was by the speciall direction and Inspiration of God hee is set downe in Foxes Calendar the ninth of Aprill for a holy Martyr and hee says of him in the end of his Martyrdom Thus indured this constant wittness and faithfull servant of God William Flower the extremity Fox pag. 1432. of the fyte Eleanor Cobbam Dutches of Glocester and Roger Only condemned plublickly the one for witchcraft and sorcery to Murther King Henry the sixt the other for conjuring to the same effect and purpose are both of them canonized upon the 12. and 13. of February for great Saints the Dutches for a Confessor and the Conjurer for a Rubricated Martyr The Author of this Relation is Stow who says the Dutches was condemn'd to certaine pennance which shee performed and was for all her life confined to the I le of man Of Only the Priest these ware his words That Stow anno Dom. 1441. Roger Only otherwise Bullenbrooke was condemned to be hang'd drawne and quartered at Tyburne upon the 18. of November as hee was and shee left to her pennance It is here to be observed that said Dutches and Only were not charged upon theire araignment and Condemnation for being of any other Religion then of the Catholick yet Fox must by force have them of his Religion Collens a maddman and Coubridgâ— who flatly deny'd Christ himselfe and used most uggly and blasphemous speeches against him yea did put out his name of all books wherin soever hee found the same these are not left out but rather put in for great Saints and holy wittnesses of Christ theire days are the tenth and eleventh of October and yet doth Fox himselfe confess that the one deny'd Christ and that the other was madd when hee held up a dogg instead of the Blessed Sacrament to be adored in the Church And was not Fox a maddman when hee canoniz'd this Bedlam a Saint William King Robert Debnam and Nicholas Marsh all three hang'd in Chains by King Henry the eight in the 24. yeare of his Raigne for theft and sacrilegious robbing of a Church in Kent are proposed in this Calendar for Godly Martyrs and holy People Fox to honour these holy men setteth downe a very goodly printed pageant with this title over it William King Robert Debnam and Nicholas Marsh hanged for taking downe the rood of Dovercourt Mark how Fox confesseth they tooke downe the Rood and saith further they did this to remedy the superstition of worshipping the Rood then us'd by Catholicks and addeth those tender words of these his foure theeving Saints Wherfore saith hee they were moved by the Spiritt of God to trauell out of Dedham in a wonderous goodly night both hard frost and saire Moonshine c. By this hee ascribeth stealing and robbing of Churches to the Spiritt of God and says God gave those Saints a very faire Moonshine night to goe robb this Church But what did King Henry and his Counsell Fox pa. 940. judge therof Fox himselfe tells you in this Language Notwithstanding saith hee these three whome God had blessed with his Spiritt were afterwards indighted of Felonie and hang'd in Chaines within halfe a yeare after or therabout Thus writeth Fox of these three holy Theeves which were hang'd soe solemnly in Chaines for Robbery and Sacriledg which things yet as you see Fox is not ashamed to ascribe to the particular instinct of Gods Spiritt Saint Augustin said of the Donatistes those especially called Circumcelliones who committed Robberies and killed one a nother and after were reputed Martyrs by theire owne faction Vivebant saith S. Aug Epist 68. Augustin ut Latrones honorabantur ut Martires That is They lived as Theeves and were honoured by those of theire owne Sect as Martyrs The same wee say of King Debnam and Marsh Foxes holy Theeves Soe liberall is Fox in canonizing Saints as hee gathers into his Calendar many different sectaries of oppositt opinions that cannot possibly agree or stand together you shall herafter see them quarrelling and putting one another out of the Calendar as Waldensians Albigentians Wicklifists Lollards Hussits Thaâ—â—rits Anabaptists and Lutherans who abhorr and condemne expressly our English Protestant Religion at this day and each one defending yea dying for his sect and in maintenance of his peculiar opinions are heer all cuppled and joyned together in this Calendar as fellow Martyrs Hee Canonizeth Iohn Wicklif from whome came the Sect of Wicklifians And calleth him a chosen man raised up by God for lightning the World and Impugning the Church of Rome and yet Wicklif taught and belieu'd Articles that the Protestants of England at this day doe not as that of the Real-Presenâ— *
doe other Protestants the Miracles of Saint Augustin Holmshed one of these saith King Ethelbert was Holin in dese Britan. persuaded by the good example of Saint Augustin and his company and for many Miracles shew'd to bee baptized And againe hee saith page 602. Augustin to prove his opinion good wrought a Miracle by restoting to sight one of the Saxon nation that was blind And Stow acknowledgeth the same in his Chronick Pag. 66. Protestant Authors doe likewise confess Saint Augustin was sent from the Sea of Rome to convert the Saxons then Pagans Fox doth affirm this in his Acts and monuments lib. 4. Pag. 172. Holinshed saith Augustin was sent Helin in dese Britan. Lib. 11. Cap. 7. by Gregory to preach to English men the word of God who were yet blind in Pagans Superstition And Camd. in dese Britan. pa. 104. Camden writeth that Saint Augustin having rooted out the monsters of heathenish superstition ingrafting Christ in English-mens mindes with most happy success converted them to the Faith Protestant writers doe likewise acknowledge that 69. Catholick Arch-Bishops sate upon the Chaire of Canterbury The first Saint Augustin above mentioned and after him ten Saints more to wit S. Laurence S. Melite S Iustus S. Honorius S. Theodor S. Dunstan S. Anselme S. Thomas S. Edmund S. Elpheg All these were Canonized Saints and theire Memoryes are in the Roman Martyrologe All these Arch-Bishops were of the Roman Catholick Religion and Communion all received theire Pall and Confirmation from Rome all were Legats of the holy Sea One of thâ—m only and the last of all but one Thomas Cranmer turned Heretick of whome wee have said much before in pagina 176. 177. 178. the 169. and last of all was the noble Godly learned Cardinall The great nobility rare Learning of Card. Poole Regmall Poole Consecrated anno 1555. great and departed this Life 1558. the same yeare and day that Queen Mary dyed Hee was Son to Sir Richard Poore Cossin-german to King Henry the 8. and of Margaret Countess of Salsburie Daughter of George Duke of Clarence and Brother of King Edward the 4. Hee was saith Godwin a Protestant of manifold and excellent parts not only very learned which is better knowne then it needeth many words but alsoe of such modesty in behaviour and integrity of Life and Conversation as hee was of all men both loved and reverenced Hee was by the Confession of Ridley in Fox Edit 1596 pag. 1595. A man worthy of all Humility Reverence and Honour and indued with manifold Graces of Learning and Vertue But Bale according his wicked bitter Spirit speaks ill of this noble Cardinall and saith Hee was a Cardinall Soldier of Anti-Christ not to bee Bale Cent. 8. cap. 100 commended for any Vertue by the Servants of God And saith further of this excellent Ornament of the English Nation That hee was a horrible Beast a rooter out of the truth of the Ghospell a most wicked Traytor to his Country and prayeth God to confound him The Protestant writers doe alsoe agree with the Catholick Authors about the number of Kings Roman Catholicks there were of Monarchs of all England 53. Egbert was the first Monarch of all England William the Conquerour was the 33 'th the last Queen Mary and with her Welaway an Eclips came upon the holy Catholick Church in England Besides those absolute Monarchs there were 70. and odd of the smaler Kings Catholicks when England was devided into seaven Kingdoms Behold Sall the happy Continuation of the Catholick Faith in England in the Succession of 53. absolute Monarchs of that Land many of them have beene of the most valiant victorious glorious and holy Kings of Christendome Of the smaler Kings have been ten Saints and 14. that forsaking theire Kindoms became Monks to live in Mortification and solitude for gaining the Kingdome of heaven or that went in Pilgrimage to Rome there were alsoe 13. Queens Nuns You must then Sall confess there was a holy Church and Kingdome in England in those Catholick Tymes wherin the Church of England was called Ecclesia Primogenita Because Lucius King of that Land was the first Christian King Will you dare then tell us as you have preacht in Dublin that Idolatry Impiety and Tyranny dominered in the Church of Rome to whome the English then obey'd with all Veneration in those dayes of Joy and Sanctity What kind of Church is now in England wherof you are a new member and burning zealot I am not willing to write let others tell you who can easily inform you that the number of your Protestant Arch-Bishops were few and noe way famous you had noe Arondells among them nor Pools noe men either of Sanctity or any great Tallents or Learning The Protestant Monarchs are alsoe easily numbered they were but five in all Edward the sixt a child a weak head to govern a Church Queen Elizabeth a monstrous head upon your new English Church noe Historyes or annals will ever tell you of a woeman that in any land or Nation headed a Church in Spiritualibus before this Iesabell the third was King Iames a learned and wise Prince After him Charles the first a just and chast King murthered by perfidious Rebels his head being taken away from â—his Body upon a Scaffold in the View of the World Coram Sole and before his owne Pallace dore by the hand of an infamous Hangman The fift is King Charles the second now Raigning whome God long preserve I am certaine Catholicks will neuer doe him harme undertake you Sall if you can for the Protestants who distroyd his Father God of his goodness grant him the greatest blessing that can befall him to Imbrace the Roman Catholick Faith the Religion of soe many vertuous noble and invincible Kings his Ancesters The fift Advertisment I offer here certaine learned Catholick Authors to bee perused by Sall likely they came not all of them in his way SAll let mee for our ancient Amity intreat you to read Attento Animo the ensuing Books Comede precor Volumina ista you will finde in them I promise you great Learning strong Arguments sound Verity sublime Conceits and great Variety of Matters but prepare your minde well for reading them profitably and begg humbly of God to send you from heaven Light and Fyre Light to disperse the Cloudes of Darkness your Soul 's wrapt in and Fyre to inflame your frozen Affection Cry unto God with holy David Cor mundum crea in me Deus Spiritum rectum innova inviceribus meis The first Author THe prudentiall Ballance of Religion an excellent worke printed anno Dom. 1609. Second Author THe Christian Manna or a Treatice of the most Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist written by a Catholick Devine through Occasion of Monsieur Causabons Epistle to Cardinall Peron printed Anno Dom. 1613. Third Author CAlvinoturcismus composed by that famous man Mr. Reynolds once agreat Preacher of the Protestant Church and sharpe Disputant a
fellow in one of the Oxford Colledges it is one of the rarest and most learned Books ever saw light of that kinde the argument of the worke is by way of Paralel to compare the Religion of a Calvinist and that of a Turke This man Reading the sleights Shufflings Lyes Falsifications and corruptions of Mr. Iewell pretended Bishop of Salsbury one of the falsest men that ever set pen to Paper forsook the Protestant Religion saying it could not bee a sauing and true Religion that used Falsifications and sleights for a support of keeping it up hee went in the yeare of Iubily to Rome and submitted himselfe with his writings and works to the Iudges of th'Inquisition who received with all joy soe pretious a man Father Persons the Iesuit accompanied him came afterward to France there lived a holy life and there dyed a happy Death 4 ' th Author THe Legacy of Doctor King Bishop of London or his Motives for his change of Religion written by himselfe and delivered over to a Frind in his lifetyme A most rationall moving piece printed Anno 1622. 5 ' th Author THree Conversions of England penn'd by the very vertuous Father Persons one of the best works ever was set out in English All in this Book is strong here you will finde Iewell and Fox two pillars of the English Church tottering and cast downe and bruesed like a Dagon Both are evidently convinced to have beene the most infamous Lyers ' Shuflers and Falsificators that ever lived of the English Nation or I think of any other 6 ' th Author A Search made into Matters of Religion by Francis Walsingam Deakon of the Protestant Church before his change to Catholick Religion a Book full of prudent Observations printed Permissu Superiorum Anno 1609. 7 ' th Author REdargutio Scismatis Anglicani ' Authore Alexandro White a Confutation of the XXXIX Articles of the Confession of England See above pag. 13. 14. 15. Printed at Lovain Anno 1661. 8 ' th Author PRotestancy without principles or Sectaryes unhappy fall from infallibility to Fancy layd forth in foure Discourses by E. W. printed at Antwerp by Michael Cnobbaert 1668. This Author shewes playnly to the Eye Protestant Religion sinking downe for want of Principles as a House layd upon a very weak Foundation t is one of the most learned pieces of this kind and convincing that I ever handled There is another Book of the same Author intiteled The Infalibility of the Roman Catholick Church and her Miracles defended against Doctor Stillingfleets Cavills c. printed at Antwerp 1674. An excellent worke the Preface therof is a Pearl Sall I pray you read with Attention these two Books if you are able you have some kind of Obligation to answer the last having denyed Infallibility to the Roman Catholick Church I think you will finde this E. W. hath read as much as you have done if not som-what more and that hee is a subtile School-man I have reason to know what mettle is in the man and partly what in you 9 ' th Author A Book that lately came out stiled a Treatice of Religion and Goverment the Argument which is learnedly handled whether Protestancy bee less dangerous to the soule or more advantagious to the state then the Roman Catholick Religion The conclusion that Piety and Policy are mistaken in Promoting Protestancy and Persecuting Popery by penall and Sanguinary statutes This man gives a perfect Anatomy of the English Church shewes clearly to the eye the Falsifications Iuglings Corruptions Shuflings absurd lyes and artifices of Protestant writers and Doctors Hee expounds briefly and soundly the XXXIX Articles of your English Creed and Confession and declares them to bee Pernitious Finally hee doth as it were demonstrat the Church of England to be without Sacraments Priest and Sacrifice and consequently noe Church and where there is noe Church there is noe true Religion This Book is not Easily had but I am ready to furnish you with one you will finde I assure you the discourse learned and worth your reading Sixt Advertisment 3. Weighty Points offered to be considered by Sall. MOre then twenty years agoe I lighted upon a Book written by a learned Protestant in the days of the Usurper caled the Christian Moderator wherin hee shew'd a great kindness and tenderness of hart toward us Catholicks then much afflicted hee spake much good of us and said wee were a People of a tender Conscience shy in taking oathes but Religious Observers of them once taken hee maintained our Religion was not inconsistent with Obedience to the Prince and Magistrate and that the farr greater part of us were commendable in our manners and Conversation and honest in our dealings hee wyp't away an envious Callumny objected to us to wit that wee held as a constant Doctrin in our Schooles and Practises in our Proceedings Fidem non esse servandam Hereticis which hee shew'd to bee most false out of Catholick Authors especially out of Paulus Layman a Iesuit Hee likewise indeavoured to persuade by good Arguments that Persecution of Religion was not lawfull nor could be warranted by the Law of God Law of Nature nor the ancient Lawes of the Land Among many good things this Author said I took speciall Notice of three remarkable Points which I will express the best I can in my owne words having not his Book at hand Primum Punctum HEe said it was observed that Roman Catholicks who turnd Protestants commonly became worse liuers then before great libertins dissolute in theire manners and careless of Salvation especially Priests and Religious men who breaking theire Vowes took Wives and wenshes and ever after lived in Sensuality and Sinn without all shame and feare of God giving Scandall to all kinde of men and that many of them came to an Obduration of hart and dy'd in Dispaire I will give you here a true and lamentable Narration of two fearfull Examples in this kind of two Apostata's Priests that marryed and had Children whome I knew very well One of them having studyed in the University of Salamaâ—â—a was made Priest in Spaine had a rich Benefice in those parts I liu'd in but was borne in the Province of Sall hee was sufficiently learned and audatious in the highest degree and had sometymes preacht before the State in Dubblin as latly Sall hath done In his Conversation hee was a meer Publican and most vaine lying vapering insolent debaust and Drunkenest Companion that was knowne in those parts As soon as the Rebellion began in England hee bid a Deiu to his Loyalty went to England and stuck to those then in Rebellion thinking therby to make a great Fortune came over with Crumwell and was a meer scourge and plague to the Catholick Clergy bringing Souldiers and wicked men to the Houses of all the Priests hee knew Infine hee dyed of the plague in a Ditch deserted of all of both Religions crying as they say for a Priest but found none The