goodly monastery at Beulieu erected a Nonry at Godstow to pray saith Camb. Brit. p. 329 for his Fathers soule for that perswasion had then possessed the minds of all men And in his Charter to Batel Abbey commandeth all his Iustices to defend the Possessions of that monastery sicut saith he nostra propria as our owne And Regist Buriense saith he gaue a great Saphir and a Ruby to S. Edmunds Shrine Fiftly when Grecians came to dispute against his faith he would not hear them Bale Cent. 3. cap. 37. ex Paris Sixtly Fox Acts. pag. 253. writeth that King Iohn submitted himselfe to the Court of Rome and as Bale saith Cent. 3. cap. 75. Acknowledged the Pope to be head of all Christians And though he disobeyed for a time the Pope yet that he did not for a difference in religion but because the Pope would make an Archb. of Canterb. whome the King misliked And as Cooper saith Anno 1201. For vvhat cause K. Ihon disobeyed the Pope for a time did this not vpō iudgment to set vp true religion saith he but vpon couetousnes and of a forward mind Finally vpon his deathbed saith Fox Acts pag. 256. he much repented his former life and had saith Stow pag. 262. a Confessor at his death and receaued the Sacrament at the hands of the Abbot of Crocston and died with these words VVestmon An. 1216. Deo sancto VVolstano animam meam commendo I commend my soul to God and S. VVolstan Paris pag. 389. Of the manner of his death Fox Acts. pag. 256. writeth thus Some write that he died of sorrow as Polidor K. Ihon dieth in profession of the Cathol saith some of surfeting as Redinger some of a bloodie flux as Houed some of a burning ague some of a colde sweat some of eating apples some of eating peares some plummes c. yet saith he most writers agree that he was poisoned by the Monke Symon of Swinfled But who those were he writeth not nor could name one besides a nameles Author of that Chronicle which because Caxton printed it is cald Caxtons Chronicle And it is as Stow well saith pag. 494. a fabulous booke And therfore Bale Cent. 3. cap. 75. referreth this to report saing Vt serunt as men report But who will not beleeue rather Paris pag. 389. Westmon Anno 1216. and others liuing in that same time or sone after who say he died of surfit sorrow then a Chronicle accounted by Protestants themselues a fabulous booke or writen by a nameles Author long after that time In this Kings time Saints died that glorious Saint Saint Hugh Bishop of Lincolne and Carthusian Monke whome Godwin in his life calleth Saint And saith By his integritie of life and conuersation and the opinion of diuers Miracles wrought by him hath purchased vnto him selfe the honor and reputation of a Saint He addeth also that S. Hugh Grew very famous far and neere for his extraordinarie abstinence and austeritie of life And that king Iohn and king William king of Scotts for great reuerence they bare to his holines helped to carry his Corps from the gate of the Cittie vntill it came to the Church dore King Henrie the III. XL. 9. IN the yeare 1216. succeded king Henrie 3. sonne to king Iohn and reigned 56. yeares dyed Anno. 1273. He was saith Cooper Anno. 1218. of nature gentle VVisdom and pietie of King Henrie 3. of minde sage and wise And so pious as Leolin Prince of Wales saith Fox Acts pag. 280. protested that he feared more his almes than his puissance And Westmon Anno 1272. speaking of this king saith Of how great innocencie of how great patience and of how great deuotion he was in obeying his Sauiour our Lord knoweth and they which faithfully adhered to him and of how great merit he was with God the miracles after his death testifie His Rom. Religion The Roman religion of this vertuous king is manifest First because as Fox saith in his Acts pag. 257. He was crowned by Swall the Popes Legat and Stow addeth pag. 263. Being crowned the gouernment of the King and his Kingdome was committed to the Legat to the Bishop of VVinchester c. Secondly because Continuator of Paris who then liued saith pag. 1349. K. Henrie 3. daily heard 3. sung Masses and Walsingham in Edward 1. pag. 19. Euery day he was accustomed to heare three songe Masses and desirous to heare moe serued daylie Priests celebrating priuatly and when the Priest did eleuat our Lords bodie he vsed to hould the Priests arme Deuotion of King Hen. 3. Bal. Cent. 4 cap. 46. and to kisse it And when that Lewis king of France said vnto him that he should oftner heare sermons he answered I had rather see my freind often than heare an other speake of him though neuer so wel Thirdly his Confessor was a Dominican Frier named Iohn Dorlington A. Quene a Nonne Bale Cent. 4. cap. 56. and Walsing in Edward 1. pag. 7. His Queene also after his death became a Nonne Walsing pag. 14. Fourthly in this Kings time came into England diuers orders of Friers as the Dominicans to whome Diuers kinds of Friers enter into England saith Stow pag. 268. the King assigned a house in Oxford The Gray Friers Cooper Anno 1222. The Croochet Friers Anno. 1244. Bale Centur. 4. cap. 3. The Austins Friers Anno. 1252. Centur. 4. capit 17. to whome cap. 46. he addeth the Paulins the Friers of Armenia the Friers de poenitentia the Friers de Viridi Valle and the Bonhomes Which last order Rodulphus l. 2. de Saincto Francisco saith was instituted by Richard Earle of Cornwall and brother to King Henrie Fiftly when the Pope sent a Legat into England saith Paris pag. 589. the King met the Legat most dutifully at the Sea coast and bowing his head to his knees cōducted him most respectiuely to the inermost parts of his Kingdome when he departed brought him with great honor to the Sea Stow Chron. Anno 1241. Sixtly because as is to be seene in Fox Act. 287. others He wrote to the Pope thus Sanctissimo in Christo Patri c. To his most holy Father Lord in Christ Innocent K. Henrie 3. calleth the P Lord in Christ offereth to kisse his feet by the grace of God cheefe Bishop health and kisses of his blessed feete And in the letter May it please your Fatherhood we beseech yow that our lawes and liberties which yow may righly repute none other but your owne yow will receaue to your tuitiō to be cōserued whole sound Vpon which words Fox maketh this note The K. in too much subiection to the Pope And in a letter in Paris pag. 839 The K. professeth to the Pope that In all the time of our reign we haue submirted ourselues our kingdom in all through all things to the wil of your Father hood And pag. 863. he citeth letters of
vpon it And therfor if it be reiected all our auncient Chronicles may be contemned as fables or vncertayne tales C CAPGRAVI lyued vnder King Henry the fixt He was saith Bale Centuria 8. cap. 1. Doctor of Diuinitie of Oxford and Prouinciall of the Austin fryers the cheife diuine and Philisopher of his tyme of a cleare witt and vtterance he loued the Scriptures singularly and commented the greatest part of the Bible and was Confessour to Humfrey Duke of Glocester E EALRID liued vnder King Henry the second He was saith Bale Cent. 2. cap. 99. famous for birth for learning and for innocent life He in short time excelled all his fellowes in all ornaments of life left no kind of learning vntouched refused a Bispoprike the better to excercise vertue and to preach the Gospell He was an other Bernard mild in disposition pious in action and most modest in Counsell and was a godlie man And in all kind of vvriting most like to Bernard Thus Bale ETHELWERDVS seemeth saith Cambden in descrip Brit. 100. to haue bene great grand child to King Adulph and liued about the yeare 950. His booke was published by Protestants with Malmes buriensis and others Sauill who published him saith he is to be commended for his nobilitie and antiquitie F. FLORENTIVS liued vnder King Henry the first He vvas saith Bale Cent. 2. c. 66. very learned both in diuine and humane literature and gott great fame by his vvriting He had saith Bale a vvit apt for any thinge and an excellent memorie let no day passe vvherin he did not some vvhat for the honour of his Countrie and calleth his Chronicle an excellent comment which also is printed by Protestantes G S. GREGORY the great was the cheefe Author next after God of the conuersion of our English Nation vnto Christianitie and lyued eight yeares after he had sent S. Austin hither and had heard of great fruit of his labours He is one of the famous Doctors of the Church and greatlie reuerenced of Protestantes as you may see infra lib. 1. cap. 5. GILDAS syrnamed the vvise a Britan florished about the yeare 580. which was eighteen yeares before S. Austins comming hither He vvas saith Bale Cent. 1. cap. 66. out of Polidor a most graue Author hauinge vvell learnt liberall sciences gaue himselfe vvholie to studie the Scriptures and ledd a most innocent life This mans writinges also haue bene published by Protestantes and I produce his testimonie cheiflie to shew what was the Religion of the auncient Britons GEFFOREY of Monmonth lyued vnder King Stephen He vvas saith Bale Cent. 2. cap. 86 a Briton and learned both in verse and proofe and he highlie commendeth his diligence and saith he excellentlie deserueth of his Countrie Thus he and other Protestantes account of this Geffrey which maketh me to alleadge his authoritie against them though Catholickes for the most part account him but a fabulous Authour and his bookes be forbidden by the Councell of Trent and Cambden Britan. pag. 8. calleth his historie Ineptias fooleries H HOVEDEN lyued vnder kinge Iohn He vvas saith Bale Cent. 3. cap. 55 of a noble race and a famous Chronographer His historie was published by Savill and dedicated to Queene Elizabeth wher togither with Huntington he is called a very good and diligent Authour and most true guide of the times past HVNTINGTON liued vnder King Stephen He vvas saith Bale cent 2. cap. 82. out of Polidor and Leland an excellent Historiographer and approued Authour and vvrit saith he finely and learnedly He is acounted of Cambden in Britan. pag. 306. an Authour priscae fidei Of Doctor Caius lib. de antiquit Cantabr pag. 64. Summus Historicus And his history was publâ—shed by Savill with the foresaid commendations Fluyd in descript Monae calleth him egâ—egium Historicum I. INGVLPHVS lyued in the time of the Conquest is much desired saith Sauil who published him of very many vvho desire to knovv our Antiquities M MALMESBVRIENSIS lyued vnder Kinge Stephen He vvas saith Sauil who published him in his epistle to Queene Elizabeth amongst the faithfull recorders of thinges done the cheefe both for truth of Historie and for Maturitie of iudgment very learned and hath comprised the historie of Seauen hundred yeares vvith such fidelitie and diligence that he may seeme of all ours to haue bene the onelie Historiographer Camb. in Brit pag. 514. calleth him Optimum Historicum an excellent Historiographer Bale Cent. 2. cap. 73. saith playnelie he was the most learned of his age in all kinde of good learning and of singular vvitt diligence and industrie in searchinge all Antiquites and compiled a fine and most excellent Historie And this man so highlie commended by Protestants is the Authour vpon whom next after S. Bede I relie and the edition which I cite of his historie and of Huntington Houeden and Ingulph is of Franckford Anno. 1601. infol MARIANVS liued at the time of the Conquest He vvas saith Bale Cent. 14. cap. 45. learned both in diuinitie and Humanitie and lyued all most thirtie yeares solitarie vvith admiration of all men and continuallie studied He is accounted an excellent Historiographer a singular Calculator and a graue diuine vvhich titles saith he to this dâ—y all vvriters de giue him Thus Bale Cambd. in Brit. pag. 321. calleth him an Historiographer Antiquae fidei N. NEVBRIGENSIS lyued vnder Kinge Iohn He vvas saith Bale Cent. 3. cap. 53. Doctor of diuinity scarce let any hovver pâ—sse vvithout reading of learned bookes and vvrote a Historie vvith a cleare stile O. OSBERNE liued vnder Kinge William Conqueror He vvas saith Bale Cent. 2. cap. 54 most familiar and invvard vvith Archbishop Lanfrancke vvas the excellentest Musycion of his time and had a florishing and eloquent stile OTTERBVRNE He vvrote saith Bale Cent. 7. cap. 75. out of Leland a historie sincerely though his cheefe studies vvere in Phiâ—osophy and Diuinitie P. PARIS lyued vnder King Henry the third He vvas saith Bale Cent. 4. cap. 26. from his infancie brought vp in learning and continuallie at studie And vvrote a Historie from the conquest vnto the thirtie fift yeare of the said King Henrie vvith most great diligence and fidelitie And for his singular giftes both of bodie and minde vvas deere to that King at vvhose commande he vvrot his Actes This authour is much esteemed by Protestants because some times he inueigheth bitterly against some acts of the Pope of his time and therfor was published by them and greatly commended in the preface by the pretended Archbishop Parker as it is thought W. VVALSINGHAM lyued vnder King Henry the Sixt. He vvas saith Bale Cent. 7. cap. 88. out of Leland studious diligent in Histories He is much commended by the Protestantes who published him in a Preface before his historie who is thought to haue bene pret Archbishop Parker VVESTMONASTERIENSIS lyued vnder King Edward the first He did saith Bale Cent. 6. cap. 31. labour singularlie in vvriting and vvas in all kind of learninge of
founder of their Church and consequently that their religion and Church is a deuise and inuention of man Wherupon what will follow euery one seeth And as Luther was the Author of Protestancy in Germany so also from him it spred into England and other Countries not only by means of his books but also by his and his scholers Melancthon Pomeran others particuler letters written to English men and by the example of the German ProtestaÌ„ts which as Stow saith King Henry 8. followed in reiecting the Pope And finally because Tindal who is termed the Apostle of England went as Fox saith pag. 983. Tindal the Protest Apostle of England taught by Luther into Germany and there had conference with Luther Wherupon the said Fox saith pag. 1013. that from Germany Luthers Gospell began to spread his beames here in England And so wee may iustly account Luther the Author or founder of ProtestaÌ„t religion in our English Nation Protestancie came out of Germanie into Engl. And howsoeuer some will obstinatly deny against all the forsaid profes that Luther was the Author of their religion but it was forsooth before Luther though they know nether where nor in whom nor can produce any witnes yet neither doth any nor can any deny K Henrie â— in Sledan lib. 8. fol. 1â—2 saith Protestant came into England out of Germaniâ— but that this late reuolt of our English Nation from the See of Rome came originally from Luther as the vnion ther of to the said See aboue one thousand years agoe proceded from Saint Austin which sufficeth me to compare the vnion in faith of our English Nation with the See of Rome with the disunion therof VVhat is shevved of luther the like may be prooued of Calvin or anie other Sectmaister of our time Besides our ministers say Luther differeth from theÌ„ in no substantiall point Iuel Apol Feild of Church Reinolds Confer VViclef no Protestant in their two principall Authors S. Austin and Martin Luther And thus hauing shewed that there was no Protestant liuing ether in England or other wher when Luther began let vs see whether ther had bene any in England in times past CHAP. II. That VVicklefe and his followers were no Protestants 1. ALbeit Protestants challeng some few others who liued about Wicklefs time yet because their greatest hope is in him and his followers in so much that Doctor Fulke answere to a Counterf Catholick pag. 24. saith that he weeneth that we will not deny VVicklef to haue bene of their Church I will for breuity sake omit the rest 1 VViclef knevv not so much as the foundatioÌ„ of Protestancie and shew that euen Wicklife and his companie were far from being Protestants First because to hold iustification by only faith is as is before shewed lib. 1. cap. 21. by generall consent of Protestants the head the soule the foundation of their Church and religion And as Luther saith Praefat Epist ad Galat. As many as hold not this doctrine are either Iewes Turkes Popish or Hereticks But Wicklef and his mates held not iustification by only faith VViclef held not iustification by onely faith For as Melancthon cheefest scholler to Luther writeth Epist ad Fred. Micon inter Epist Zuinglij pag. 622. He nether vnderstood nor held the iustice of faith Besides nether Wicklef nor any of his followers were euer accused by any of the Catholick Inquisitors of those times of that point albeit as Fox saith pag. 750. their inquisition was so strait that no article could be mentioned amongst them but it was discouered Moreouer many of Wicklefes bookes are yet extant and neuertheles no Protestant hath yet found this their fundamentall Article of iustification by only faith in any of his bookes How then could Wicklefe be a Protestant who knew not so much as the head soul and foundation of Protestancie 2 VViclef holdeth diuers things condemned by ProtestaÌ„ts 2. Secondly Wicklef held diuers things which Protestantes condemne as that if any Bishop or Priest be in deadly sin he doth neyther order consecrat nor baptize which Fox pag. 400. sayth can hardly be defended See more of his Articles in Concil Constanâ—â—â—n And that so long as a man is in deadly sin he is no Bishop ot Prelat in the Church of God That temporall Lords may according to their ovvne vvill and discretion take avvay the temporall goods from the Church men vvhensoeuer they do offend which articles Fox pag. cit defendeth no otherwise then by saying that preaduenture they vvere not so strictly ment of him as they were gathered Moreouer Fox pag. 414. amongst other articles of Wiclefe citeth these To enrich the Clergie is against the rule of Christ There is no greater Heretick or Antichrist than the Clerke who teacheth that it is lawfull for Priests and Leuits of the lavv of grace to be endued vvith teÌ„porall possessions To which Stow Anno. 1376. addeth this other That neither King nor any seculer person could giue any thing perpetually to any person of the Church Further more as Fox hath pag. 392. he extolled the perfection of pouerty of the begging Friers and as Stow saith l. cit adioyned himselfe to them And the cause why he inueighed against the Church was as there Stow saith because he had bene depriued by the Archbishop of Canterb. of a benefice that he vniustly as was said was incumbent vpon VVhy VViclef impugned the Cath. faith Lastly Fox pag. 410. setteth downe a letter which he wrote to Pope Vrban 6. Anno 1382. which was about three yeares before he died wherin he confesseth the Pope to be Christs Vicar on earth and addeth thus If I haue erred in any of thes points I will submit my selfe to correction euen by death if necessitie so require Diuers other points which Protestants detest are collected out of his books by the Author of the Protestants Apologie for the Roman Church pag. 106. And more of Wicklefs wicked life and doctrine you may see in walsingham histor pag. 188 206. 302 ypadig pag. 139 142. 3. 3 ProtestaÌ„ts refuse VViclef PaÌ„taleon Melancthon Thirdly diuers Protestants refuse VVicklife for one of theirs and account him an Heretik As Pantaleon Chronall pag. 119. placing VViclife amongst Hereticks saith thus of him VViclife vvith the Lollard preacheth his heresie in England And the foresaid Melancthon epist cit I haue looked saith he into VVicklefe vvho maketh a great adoe about this controuersy of the Eucharist but I haue found many other errors in him by vvhich vve may iudge of his spirit Surely he neither vnderstood nor held the iustice of saith He foolishly confoundeth the Gospell and ciuill affairs nor perceaueth that the Gospell giueth vs leaue to vse the pollicie of all nations He laboreth to proue that Priests shold haue no proprietie He vvill haue no tithes paid but to those that teach He sophistically and very seditiously cauilleth of ciuill dominion In like manner he sophistically cauilleth
other to Ministers Iudg then good Reader what kind of orders they haue if they haue any by their owne verdit Ministers vtterly shame their religion to wit impious prophane horrible and sacrilegious Iudg also what is to be thought of them and their religion who hitherto haue and yet doe permit Popish Priests that is as they accouÌ„t slaues and shauelings of Antichrist and enemies to Christ prophane and mere laie men yea impious sacrilegious no way degraded or new ordered of them but but by vertue only as they speak of their greasing of the Romish Antichrist the mortal enemy of Protestancy by power of their prophane impious sacrilegious orders to be sufficieÌ„t Ministers of their word and sacram O impious Antich word which can be sufficieÌ„tly ministred by vertue of impious AntichristiaÌ„ orders Note ministers Can Antich order Christs lawful Ministers Shal his orders become Christs orders shall Antichrists shaueling slaues be sufficient Pastors for Christ Shall Christ be serued by no other officers theÌ„ such as ether mediatly or immediatly were made by Antichrist See Doue of Recusancie Luth. cont Anabapt Is Christ comen to beg orders at Antichrists haÌ„ds to receaue pastors of his making Can Antichrist giue spiritual supernatural authoritie And haue Christs pastors no other then what came from Antichrist o shameful Christian religion if this be christian religion which hath no bible or word of God but what came from Antichrist no sacrament but from Antichrist no preacher but from Antichrist no orders but from Antichrist no spiritual authoritie or iurisdiction but from Antichrist Sâ—e Suruey cap. 8 3. 1â— Dangor Posit lib. 2. cap. 13. what then maie we conclude but the religion is Antichristian And why shold ProtestaÌ„ts maruail to heare their owne brethren call their Bishops and Ministers Bishops and Ministers of the diuel enemies of God pettie Antichrists and such like sith all the orders they pretend they must deriue from the pope whom they all account the true Antichrist No true religion vvithout true calling and right orders God open the eyes of my deere Countrymen that as they partly see that their Ministers haue nether right calling nor lawfull orders so they maie also see that they haue no true religion which without pastors both rightly called lawfully ordered can not stand And thus hauing shewed how vnfit Luther was to be Preacher both for his life learning calling and orders now let vs come to his doctrine to see whether that be any whit better CHAP. XII That Luthers doctrine was contrarie to the vniuersall faith of Christendom in his time 1. THat Luthers doctrine was contrarie to the vniuersall faith of Christendom at that time I proue by many waies First by the condemnation therof by the cheefe heades spirituall teÌ„porall of the ChristiaÌ„ people of that time For Luthers doctrin condemned by P. Leo. 10. as Protestants confesse Leo 10. than Pope spirituall head of Christian people condemned it An. 1520. whose Bull therof is extant in Fox p. 1166. And not longe after Hieremie Patriarch of Constantinople head as he accounteth him self of the Greeke or East Church condemned their doctrin in a booke which is called Censura Orientalis By Heremie Patriarch of Constantinople wherin he saith ther doctrine was altogeather new and directly both against the Gospell of Christ By charles 5 Emper. Sleid. also lib. 1 fol. 3. setteth doune Emper Maxmil letters against Luther Sleid. lib. 3. fol. 30. 33. 50. 51. By K. Henrie 8 Sleid. lib 3. fol. 34. and right reason and calleth them Hereticks And in the yeare 1521. Charles 5. then Eemperor of Germany King of Spain Naples Sicilie and Sardinia and Lord of all the low Countryes first writ a letter to the States of Germany which is set downe in Fox pag. 778. in which he professed to pursue Luther and all his adherents by all meanes that can be deuised for to extinguish his doctrine And sone after directed a solemne writ of outlawrie against Luther and all them that tooke his parte commanding the said Luther to be apprehended and his bookes burnt Likewise the same yeare 1521. King Henrie 8. of England wrote a booke against Luther in which saith Fox pag. 780. By the French King Sleidan lib. 6. fol. 68. lib. 8. fol. 120. First he reproueth Luthers opinion about pardons 2. He defendeth the supremacy of the Bishop of Rome 3. Laboreth to refel Luthers doctrine of the sacraments And againe in the yeare 1523. writ saith Cooper in Chron. to the Princes of Germany against Luther And in the yeare 1525. as the same Cooper writeth he entred league with the French King to suppresse the sect of the Lutherans vvhich they thought to be no lesse dangerous than the Turkes power And Anno 1535. he writeth that six were burnt in Paris for Lutherans before the French King his sight And Anno t543 that the French King made strait proclamation against the Lutherans By Iames 5 King of ScotlaÌ„d And as for Iames 5. King of Scotland and Grand-father to his Maiesty Hamilton Confut. Caluin a Scottish writer testifieth that when King Henry 8. hauing fallen into one point of Lutheranisme promised to make K. Iames his heire if he would do the like he rather refused so great a profer than consent to his desire And behold the different reward from God of the two Kings King Henrie 8. issue is quite extinguished Note and Iames his royall progenie wee behould not only florishing but possessing King Henries crowme and Kingdome So hath God euen in thie life recompensed By the States of Suizerland Sleidan ib. 3 fol. 54 55. By the learned men of all partes of Christendome the religious zeale of that most Catholick King And as for Swizerland Fox p. 792. writeh that Anno 1524. the States of that countrie in their assembly Decreed that no opinion of Luthers should be tought priuatly nor openly and wrote to the men of Zurich and do much lament saith Fox and complaine of this new broached doctrine which hath set all men togeather by the eares through the occasion of certaine rash and nevv fangled heades and vvill bring destruction both to body and soule And as for the learned men of that age in all Christian Countries their detestation of Luthers doctrin is euident By vniuersities For first the Vniuersities of Louain and Colen condemned Luthers bookes as hereticall in the year 1520. And in the next yeare the Vniuersitie of Paris did the like Sleid. Engl. lib. 1. fol. 14. lib. 3 fol. 32. And in all Christian Contries almost the cheefest learned men wrote against him as Eckius Cocleus Gropperus in Germanie Silueuester Caietan Catherin in Italy Petrus a Soto Alfonsus a Castro Canus Turrianus in Spaine Clictoneus and others in France By a general Councel Bishop Fisheâ—and Syr Thomas More in England Driedo Tapper Erasmus in Flanders Hosius in Polonie
cannot stand vnles men do creditt one an other in thinges wherin they haue no cause to distrust them for what should we know of things past before our time or of thinges done out of our sight if we would not beleeue such as were present and knew them and ether by word or writing haue reported them to vs. How should we know such to be our parents but by beleefe How should any matter be tryed in Law but by beleefe of mens wordes or writinges what familiaritie humayne societie or frendship could stand if we admitt not beleefe VVherfor abbeit it be a fault to beleeue vpon light or small testimonie which kind of beleeuers the scripture tearmeth light of hart as it is a fault to assent to any friuolous reason yet contrariwise it is a greater fault not to giue credit to euident sufficient authoritie as it is not to yeild to euident reason For in beleuinge vpon weake authoritie we do but preiudice our selues but in not beleeuinge sufficient authoritie we hinder our selues from knowledge of truth discredit our owne reportes to others do against reason which as well bindeth vs to yeild to euident authoritie as to euident reason discredit our neighbors and cut in sunder the very sinowes of humane frendship and societie lib. de vtil Cred. cap. 16. VVherfor wel said S. Austin that though it be miserable to be deceaued by authority yet most miserable it is not to be moued with authoritie And most vnreasonably do some Ministers Hovv manie things vvhich are not in scripture are yet to be beleued say that they are not bound to beleeue the great vertues or miracles of Saints in times past though neuer so authentically recorded because they be not in scripture Indeed if we vrged them to beleue these thinges with diuine and christian faith they might haue some colourable excuse of such speech because as they say all poyntes of christian faitb are in scripture But sith we vrge them onelie to giue humane beleefe to such matters either they must shew some cause why the authority of such writers is not sufficient to giue humane credite vnto the thinges by them recorded or they must reiect all humane authoritie all mens wordes or writinges and beleeue nothinge but what either God hath written or them selues haue seene for if Scripture must be the onelie square of all our beleife both humane and Dyuine we must beleue nothing but what God haeh written no not that such were our parentes that ther are Turkes Moores ar any such thinge as the Scripture mentioneth not Or if we admitt as we must needes that humane authority by either word or writinge may be sufficient for vs to beleue thinges with humayne faith as vve beleue such to be our parentes and the like vve must not thinke it reason to reiect a thinge because it is not in Scripture Inconueniences of not beleuing mens authoritie but vve must allso shevv some reason vvhy such authoritie as testifieth it is not sufficient for a vvise man to giue credit vnto or els we must confesse our selues to be vvilfull to reiect sufficient authoritie vvithout yea against reason to be in iurious to God and our selues in reiecting a meane vvhich he hath bestovved vpon vs for to knovv truth Iniurious to our neighbours in discreditinge them vvithout cause and finallie pernicious to all good frendshipp and societie vvhich vvithout beleefe of humane authoritie cannot stand And to preuent Ministers that they shall not delude the Reader by sayinge that the authoritie vvhich I alleadge for vvhat I say of Saint Austin and Luther is not sufficient Onely Protestāts alledged for vvhat is said of Luther I beseech him to consider that the Authors vvhich I alleadge for vvhat I say of Luther are onelie Protestantes uch as by other Protestantes are greatlie commended for albeit I might iustlie alleadge the testimonies of Catholiques against Luther as I shew heerafter lib. 2. cap. 1. yet partelie to avoyd all cauills but principallie because Protestantes testifie ynough against him I omitt this aduantage And the vvitnesses vvhich I produce for vvhat I vvrite of S. Austin are partelie the said Protestants partely Catholikes but such Catholiques as some of them are great Saintes some great Clarkes some lyued vvhen the thinges vvere done vvhich they vvritt some vvere domesticall some forrayne and all vvere before this controuersie betvvene Protestants and Catholikes arose and all are greatlie esteemed of Protestants as shall appeare in the Catalogue ensuinge and finallie all are contested and approued in their testimonies of diuers Protestants as shall appeare heerafter VVhich kind of testimonie I hope no indifferent man guided vvith reason vvill account vnsufficient And for other obstinat persons who as S. Hierome saith are wount shutting their eyes to denie what they will not beleue I wrot not this vvorke for as S. Austin aduiseth vs vve should rather pray for these kind of men than reason vvhith them For vvhat Readers this booke is vvritten But novv let vs come to the Catalogue of the Catholike vvriters and after of the Protestantes A CATALOGVE Of the cheife Catholike vvriters Vpon whose testimonies the Authour relieth for what he writeth of Saint Austin A ALCVIN liued in the eight age after Christ which was the second of the conuersion of our Nation to the Christian faith He was scholler to S. Bede and Maister to the famous Emperor Charles the great of whom what high esteeme Protestants make you may see Infra lib. 1. cap. 12. B BEDA liued with in the first hundred yeares after the conuersion of our Nation and therfore might well learne the truth therof How greatlie he is accounted of by Protestantes both for vertue and learninge you may read lib. 1. cap. 12. cit onelie because his testimonie is that vpon which I principallie relie in what I say of S. Austin I would heere add what Godwin in the life of Tatwin Archbishop of Canterburie saith that His historie is the most auncient that England hath worthie of credit And that Cambden in Britan. pag. 12. giueth him this testimonie that he is Inter omnes nostros scriptores veritatis amicus amongst all our writers a frend of truth And what himselfe hath in his Epistle to King Cealwulph to put as he saith all that heare or read it out of doubt of the veritie therof that vvhat he writeth of S. Austin and his fellowes he learned of Albinus a man saith he of great learninge brought vp vnder S. Theodor Archbishop and Adrian both men of great worship and learning which thinges saith he the said Albinus knew partely by writinge partlye by tradition of Elders and sent to me by Nothelmus Bale Cent. 2. cap. 8. calleth this Nothelmus a learned and graue man who after was Archbishop of Canterburie Besides this the said Historie vvas approued by the said King Cealwulph and by all writers since and is the verie fountayne of all our English Chronicles whose credit depend
his time very learned and composed a Chronicle vvith notable paynes which Bale tearmed an excellent and fruitfull vvorke and it hath bene printed by Protestants with great commendations And in the arraignment of F. Garnet he is called by a Protestant noble man a vvitnes of best regard accordinge to the state of those times Thus many thus auncient to omitt the famous Baronius and other later writers also alleadged thus esteemed of Protestants theâ—â— selues are the Authors whose testimonies I produce for what I say of S. Austin and his successors and of our Kings and our forefathers religion VVhose testimonie whether Ministers admitt or refuse they are ouerthrowne For if they admitt them they are clearlie condemned and if they refuse them they are contemned For in matters of Antiquitie to refuse to be tryed by so many so auncient so indifferent writers and so much commended by them selues and to say and that without testimonie of one equall writer to the contrarie that they were all either deceaued or lyed what other is it than vtterlie to condemne them selues and their cause as not able to abide the onelie triall which can be made of auncient matters that is by histories and auncient recordes will they not credit such histories as them selues iudge worthie of credit will they not beleeue such writers as them selues account especiall freinds of truth of singular fidelitie diligence and indifferent and most excellent Historiographers will they not follow them in matters of Antiquitie whom them selues tearme the most true guides of the times past What other thinge were this than obstinatelie to refuse truth it selfe But much more will this appeare when they shall be found not onelie to refuse our writers though neuer so auncient and indifferent and esteemed of them selues but euen their owne best writers or els be condemned Let vs see therfor the Protestant writers whom we produce as witnesses in this triall of Religions A CATHALOGVE Of the cheefe ProtestaÌ„t vvriters On whose testimonies the Authour relieth for what he writeth of S. Austin and Luther A. ABBOTS Doctor and Professour of Diuinitie now an earnest writer both against Cardinall Bellarmin and Doctor Bishop B. BALE Bishop of Ossorie in Ireland in King Edward the Sixt time as him selfe writeth Cent. 8. cap. 100. and one of the first English Preachers of Protestantisme in time of King Henrie for which both vnder him and after vnder Queene Marie he suffered as he saith much As for his skill in Antiquities he writeth of himselfe in his Epistle before his foureteeneth Centurie that he had Antiquitatum penetralia incognitas orbi Historias and in the Epistle before the thirteenth Centurie that he had read the histories and Chronicles allmost of all Antiquities And how earnest a Protestant he was appeareth both by his said sufferinges and allso by his most spitefull kind of writinge against Catholiques which is so great as it seemeth malice did possesse the hart tongue and penn of that man and himselfe is fayne to excuse it in his epistle to the Counte Palatin Of the Authour of the daungerous positions he is reckoned amongst their learned men who in the beginning of Queene Elizabeths raygne Came out of Germanie and of other Protestants often times cited Reinoldes in his Confer Abbots de Antichriso The booke which I alledge of this man is his Centuries of the writeers of Britanie edit Basileae 1559. in fol. BILSON at this present the pretended Bishop of winchester and well knowne for his writinges both against Catholiques and Puritanes C. CAIVS Doctor of Phisicke and halfe founder of Gonell and Caius Colledge in Cambridge So well seene in Englishe Antiquities as by an Oxonian Orator he is tearmed the Antiquarie CALVIN is more famous among Protestants than I need note him and of such account amongst many as Doctor Couel saith his writinges were made allmost the rule of Controuersies CAMBDEN well knowne for his discription of Britanye and tearmed of Protestants an excellent Antiquarie and greatlie commended of diuers in verses before his booke The edition of his booke cited by me is Londini Anno. 1600. in quarto COWPER pretended Bishop first of Lyncolne and after of Winchester well knowne for his Dictionarie and his Chronicle D DAVNGEROVS Positioner So I tearme the vnnamed Authour of a booke called Daungerous Positions by some thought to be the worke of Doctor Bancrofte now pretended Bishop of Canterburie by others of Doctor Sutclife F. FOX most famous amongst Protestants for his Acts monuments of their Martyrs which they haue so credited as they haue set it in diuers of their Churches to be read of all To omitt diuers high praises giuen to him as you may see in the beginning of his booke Ford vpon the Apocalips calleth him most holie father Doctor Abbots in his booke of Antichrist cap. 8. tearmeth him a man of most famous memorie a most graue and most pious man and plainlie a diuine man Bale Cent. 9. cap. 92. saith he was his Achates FVLKE Doctor of diuinitie and a great writer against Catholiques whom I. B. alias Bacster in tayle of two legged foxes cap. 13. thus prayseth profound fulke vvhose truth and great trauell the Church of God hath tryed many a fox hast thou had in chase not able to abide thy hote pursuite Doctor Reynolds in his preface before his Six Conclusions calleth him a stout and faithfull souldier of Christ G GODWIN now Subdeane of Excester sonne to Godwin pret Bishope of Bathe as himselfe saith in his Cathalogue of Bishopes H HOLINSHED notorious for his great Chronicle and most earnest against Catholikes as you may see by what he writeth of S. Austin HVMPHREY Doctor of Deuinitie and the Queenes Reader therof in Oxford whom I. B. loc cit thus comendeth Humphrey of much reading in thy time past vvas then a cheefe hunter of the Romish fox And Bale Cent. 9. cap. 93. highly commendeth him I IEWELL so famous and knowne to Protestantes as I need say nothinge L LVTHER the father of Protestancie and of what high account he is amongst Protestants you may see infra lib. 3. cap. 1. R. REYNOLDS Doctor of Diuinitie who saith I. B. loc cit hath the old fox and his cubbs in the chase S. STOW well knowne for his Chronicle and others his writinges of Antiquitie SVTCLIFE Doctor of Diuinitie and Deane of Excester and a great writer against Catholikes SVRVEYER so I call the vnnamed Authour of the Suruey of the pretended holie Discipline by some taken to be the worke of the said Doctor Sutclife by others the worke of the Lord of Canterburie W. WHITAKER Doctor and Professour of Diuinitie and a great writer against Catholiques whom I. B. loc cit calleth vvorthie VVhitaker of neuer dyinge fame Doctor Willet in his Tetrastylon pag. 9. tearmeth him a vvorthie and learned man pag. 10. a godlie learned man Doctor Bucley in his Apologie of religion pag. 84. An excellent man of blessed memorie These and thus esteemed
men and trauailled to Rome with great deuotion wher as he saith pag. 110 he became a Monke and pag. 125. granted a peny of euery house to be payd to the Court of Rome Beda lib 5 cap. 7. malmsb loc cit Cooper An. 723. Bale Cent. 11. cap. 97. Sleidan lib. 9. Stovv pag. 96. Bal. lib. cit Cambd. in Brit. p. 192. And pag. 136. founded the English Scoole or Seminarie there Fiftly as Cambden testifieth in Brit. pag. 193. he made verses to be engraueÌ„ in the forfront of Glossenburie in which he plainly confesseth S. Peters supremacie saith he that he was in Degree higher than S. Paul had the Keyes of heauen was the Porter and the firm Rock The verses are these Caelorum portae lati duo Lumina mundi Ore tonat Paulus fulgurat Arce Petrus Inter Apostolicas radianti luce coronas Doctior hic monitis celsior ille gradu S. peters supremacie professed by letters engrauen in stone Corda per hunc hominum reserantur astra per illum Quos docet iste stilo suscipit ille Polo Pandit iter Caelo hic dogmate clauibus alter Est via cui Paulus iaenua fida Petrus Behould Christian Reader this ancient and famous King and consequently all England in his time which is 900. yeares agoe beleeuing and not beleeuing onely but professing nor professing but engrauing in stone for testimony to all posteritie that S. Peter was in degree aboue all the Apostles S. Peter in degree aboue all the rest of the Apostles was the peculier Rock of Christians the proper Porter of heauen and espetially had the keyes of the coelestiall Kingdome Which is plain-ly that supremacie which their Posteritie Catholicks doe attribut vnto S. Peter and his successors And of the royall blood of this vndoubted Catholick and reuouneÌ„d King and so deuoted to the Church of Rome as first of all Christian Kings of the wordl His maiestie descendeth of K. Ina. by his brother he made his Kingdom and euery houshould therof tributary therto by payment of yearly pension by his brother Ingles came King Egbert who after reduced England to a monarchie as testifieth Paris Hist pag. 126. and of this King Egbert by lineall succession descendeth our present Souereign Lord King Iames. 11. In this Kings tyme besids him self three other English Kings left their Kingdoms also and became Monks to wit Four Kings leaue their kingdome and became moÌ„ks Ethelred and Coenred Kings one after the other of mercia or middle England and Offa King of Essex The two last went to Rome and there entred into Religion The third remained heere in England after was made Abbot of Bardney neere Lincoln And besides the Queens before mentioned Kineswitha daughter of King Penda and also espouse to the said King Offa became a Nonne hauing before perswaded him to giue ouer both his Kingdom and suite to her And besides these Osrick King of Northumberland as Godwill in the Bishops of Gloster saith Three Queens of mercia Abbesses one after the other but indeede King of the Victians as Beda called him lib. 4. cap 23. about the yeare 700. founded a Nonnery in Gloster in which Kineburg Eadburg and Eua all Queenes of Mercia were successiuly Abbesses The same saith Cambd. in Brit. pag. 316. Such rare and admirable loue of God and contempt both of pleasures and glorie of this world reigned in our Kings ProtestaÌ„ts glorie of the holines of our Cath. Anceistors Queenes and Princes of those dayes that iustly Cambd. in Brit. pag. 345. calleth this age seracissimum Sanctorum saeculum a most fruitfull wordl of Saints Oh when will Protestants breede such an age In this Kings time fell that most dredfull pumishment of God vpon that Captain who in his sicknes would not confesse his sinnes least he should seeme fearfull Which S. Beda recounteth lib. 5. cap. 14. wher he telleth how a little before the mans death Angels appeared and shewed to him a faire booke Dreadful punishment of one that differed his confession but little in quantitie wherin all his good deedes were written and after there came a huge multitude of Diuels who in a great black booke shewed him all his ill deedes and sinnes VVestmon An 921. Godvv in B. of york and one of them strooke him on the head and other on the feete which strokes crept into his body whâ—n they met he dyed in desperation In this Kings time also dyed S. Iohn of Beuerley who made S. Beda Priest Miracles of S. Ihon of Beuerlay whome he recounteth lib. 5. cap. 2. that by making the signe of the Crosse vpon the tongue of a Domb man he restored his speeche and that he helped an Earles wife with holy water and cap. 5. cured an Earles sonne and his Chaplin by his blessing In this time also liued S. Wilbrord an English man who An. 697. was consecrat Bishop by Pope Sergius and sent to preache in Frisland and Germany which also S. Swibert and many English more did Marcellin 1. mort Surio tom 2. Beda lib. 5. cap. 11. In this time also liued S. Boniface the Apostle of Germanie whome Pope Greg. 2. sent thither to preache An. 719. whose oath of fidelitie and plain Papistrie yow may read in Surius Tom. 3. and Baron An. 723. See also Surius de rebus moguntin At that same time also liued that great Eremit and S. Antonie of England S. Guthlac S. Guthlac the S. Antoine of England Of whome because Fox Acts pag. 125. saith that he secth no great cause why he should be Sainted Nether beleeue I saith he his miracles I will in this Saint giue the reader a taste of Fox his impudencie His holines and a full assurance if any can suffice of S. Guthlac his miracles Wherby euery indifferent man may iudg of the like miracles of Saints As for his holines Cambd in Brit. pag. 472. saith thus Guthlacus summa sanct titate c. Guthlac heere at Crowland lead an heremitical life in exceeding great sanctitie in honor of whome King Ethelbald with wonderfull expence founded a Monasterie in a Marish and vnstable grounde for religion and wealth very famous Behould this Protestant acknowledgeth that S. Guthlac led a most holy life and was so esteemed that King Ethelbald who liued at that same time soone after his death His miracles built a goodly Monasterie in his honor And who will read his life in Surius Tom. 2. shall finde that he was an admirable Saint 12. But as for the miracles of S. Guthlac if any humane testimony or euidence can make a thing certain and vndoubted they are so For Ingulph in his Hist printed and published by Protest who liued in the time of the Conquest setteth doune the Charter of King Kenulph a worthie Prince as all our Chronicles testifie dated Anno Christi 806. in which the King saith that he and his Queene were eye witnesses of many miracles done
him Walsingham who then liued Histor pag. 465. and ypodigm pag. 178. Cambden Brit. pag. 442. calleth him Optimum Principem Stow pag. 595. Victorious and renowned King He wonne the great battel of Agincourt and greatest part of France with Paris and was apointed by the French King Regent of France and heir after his death The Roman religion of this Victorious and vertuous Prince is notorious His Rom. Religion First because as Fox saith pag. 569. he made a Statut An. 2. That all and singuler such as were of Wiclefs learning if they would not giue ouer should suffer death in two manner of kinds That is They should be first hanged for treason against the king against whome they rebelled and then burned for heresie against God Secondly this king saith Fox pag. 675 in all his life and all his doings was so seruiceable to the Pope and his Chaplins that he was called the Prince of Priests The valiantest Prince of England called the Prince of Priests These were the Lollards who as Walsing saith Hist pag. 435. were wont to say Now the Prince of the Priâ—sts is gone now our enemy is departed Thirdly he hanged and burnt Syr Iohn Owldcastel called Lord Cobham whome though Fox account a principall martyr of his yet his brother Stow p. 581. calleth him the publick enemy And he was so phantasticall at his death as he talked of his own rising to life the third day pag. 582. He burnt also diuers other Wicleâ—ists ex Bale Centur. 7. cap. 5. And Fox pag. 481. telleth that being yet Prince he was at the burning of the forsaid Iohn Badly and commanded fier to be put to him when he would not recant Fouâ—â—hly he built three Monasteries VValsingham Hist pag. 452. as Beethlem for Carthusians Sion for Brigittings and another for the Caelestins which two last orders came new into England in his time Fiftly his ghostly Father and whom he most trusted and in whose armes he died saith Baâ—e Centur. 7. cap. 84. was the great Clerk and gretest aduersaire of the Wicklefists Thomas VValden Prouinciall of the white Friers ConfessioÌ„ of sinnes befor victorie Sixtly being to giue the battle at Agincourt the night before saith Walsing Hist pag. 438. He and his soldiers spent the night in making their coÌ„fessioÌ„s and prouiding for their soules And in ypodigm pag. 188. telleth how at harflew they had a folemne procession before the blessed Sacrament Of this religion was that English King and English soldiers who won that glorious battell who conquered France and made England renouned Finally This King as Stow faith Anno 1416. England in her most triumphant time accounted it great honor to be esteemed a Nation that ovved deuotion to the Church of Rome sent his Embassadors to the Councel of Constance where Wickleft and his doctrine were condemned and there procured it to be ordained that England saith Stow should obtain the name of a nation and said one of the foure Nations that owe their deuotion to the Church of Rome which vntill that time men of other Nations for enuie had letted Behould Christian Reader how the most victorious that England euer had and England in the most triumphant time that euer she enioyed stroue to be accounted a Nation that owed deuotion to the Church of Rome and accounted that a principall honor And at that time did God blesse our Nation with greatest victories with hapiest successe with largest Empire that euer since or before she obtained And these times were so euidently Roman Catholicke as the Kings Attorny in the araignment of F. Garnet calleth them the verie midnight of Poperie And Fox in Considerat 10. saith Protestants rather died than liued vnder this King In this Kings time liued that great Clerk Thomas Walden Saints who as Bale said Cent 7. cap. 84. conuerted the Duke of Lituania with all his people to popisme and as he reporteth out of Diuers is canonized King Henry 6. XLVII THe 47. Christian King was King Henrie 6. only sonne to King Henry 5. began his reigne Anno 1422. and reigned 38. yeares .. The pietie of K. Henrie 6. He was saith Cambd. in Brit. pag. 345. The best and most pious Prince and pag. 257. A most holy King a patern of Christian pietie and patience King Henry 7. so admired his vertues as he dealt with Pope Iulius to canonize him Fox pag. 716. saith I doubt not but King Henrie 6. was a good and quiet Prince Stow pag. 595. saith he was of nature gentle and meeke suffered all iniuries patiently pag. 624. alwaies naâ—urally inclined vnto good pag. 705. after his death worshiped by the name of holy King Henrie whose red hat of veluet saith he was thought to heale the head ach of such as put it on In both states he was patient and vertuous that he may be a pattern of most perfect vertue He was plaine and vpright onely giuen to praâ—er and reading of scripture and almes deedes Of such integritie of life as the Bishop that had bene his Confessor ten yeares auouched that he had not all that time committed any mortall crime So continent as suspition neuer touched him Polid. l 24. saith manie miracles vvere vvroughtly his bodie Far from couetousnes so religiously affected that on principall holy dayes he would wore sackcloth next his skin He pardoned one who had thrust him into the side with a sword and of his naturall inclination abhored all vices as wel of body as of minde Thus do Protestants commend this holy king His Rom. Religion And his Roman religion is manifest For Pope Eugenius sent to him a goulden rose as to a Catholick Prince Stow pag. 635. And vnder him were diuers Wicklesists burnt An. 1415. 1430. 1431. 1428. And Bishop Pecock made publickly to recant 1457. and had his bookes burnt before his face ex Bale Centur. 7. cap. 75. Godwin in Bishops of Chichester Fox Acts Edit 1596. pag. 605. sequen setteth down the names of diuets VVicklefists wherof some were burnt some whipped some made abiure theâ—r heresie vnder this king And pag. 644. he setteth downe publick letters of the King dated An. 18. Regni where he auoucheth the burning of one VVhite a VVickleâ—â—t calleth him Traitor to God King Edward 4. XLVIII THe 48. Christian Prince was Edward 4. of the house of York who began his reign 1460. and reigned 22. yeares He was saith Stow pag. 689 of noble courage and great wit pag. 722. a goodly personage princely to behould of hart coragious Valour of K. Edvvard 4. politick in counsell in aduersitie nothing abashed in prosperitie rather ioifull than proude in peace iust and mercifull in war sharpe and fierce His Râ—m Religion His Roman religion is manifest For Bale saith Centur. 8. cap. 34. That his Confessor was Iohn Stanborn a Carmelit Qui totus iurauerat in Romani Pontificis authoritatem who wholly swore to the Popes authoritie And Fox Acts Editione 1596. pag. 659.
Thus testified Luther for him self and his German Protestants Calvvin Caluin 4. instit cap. 2 parag 4. for him self and the French Protestants saith thus VVe haue departed from their Popish Church c. 6. para 1. VVe haue left the See of Rome cap. 15. parag 17. VVe confesse we were long time blind and incredulous vnderstood not the matters of baptisme now we accuse our blindnes hardnes of hart Iuel The Apologer of England speaking for him self the English Ministers writeth thus pag. 188. VVe haue indeed gone from the Pope we haue shaken of the yoke of the Bishop of Rome Fox Finally Fox Acts pag. 3. speaking generally of Protestants saith It is true that we are remoued from the Church of Rome And D. Reinolds amongst his Conclusions maketh this one Reinolds That the reformed Churches in England Scotland France Germanie and other Kingdoms and Common wealthes haue seuered them selues lawfully saith he from the Church of Rome And if this be so notorious and confessed of all the cheefe Maisters Churches of Protestants that before Luthers reuolt they were all Roman Catholicks vndoubted it ought to be of al other Protestants of meaner sorte and consequently there was neuer a Protestant before him 8. Fourthly I proue by reason that Luther was the first beginner of Protestancy For as Iuell saith Art 1. diuis 7 Eckius Pighius A question neuer ansvvered by Protestāts Hosius and others who liued in Luthers time haue cried out a maine in their books and pulpits where was your religion before Luther began The like hath Fox Acts pag. 749. and all know to be true And yet could neither Luther then nor any since for him name one man woman or child then liuing who had bene a Protestāt before Luther And howsoeuer it may be thought that before Luthers preaching Protestāts kept secret yet can it not be thought but when they knew him to preach securely they wold haue discried themselues and runne to him if any such had bene Besides that there are men yet liuing who can remember that the first Protestants were Catholicks before Luthers new preaching Fox in his Acts pag. 749. proposing the forsaid question to him selfe nameth a few who rather shew that there were no Protestants in England before Luther For 1. all the persons whom he nameth abiured their faith as him selfe confesseth pag. 750. and died as he writeth shortly after for greef or liued with shame For his Church consisting of abured persons Hovv protested they that abiured 2. these abiurers were as he setteth down in the yeare 1521. foure yeares after Lurhers new preaching and we aske for Protestants before his preaching 3. no one of these abiured persons was accused for holding iustification by only faith which point is the soule head foundation of Protestancie as hath bene shewed before and shall hereafter so that without it they could be no Protestants And if they had held it Fox it wold haue bene discouered For as Fox saith pag. 650. The Catholick Prelats made such diligent inquisition and examination as nether was any word so closely spoken of them no articles mentioned but it was it discouered Wherefore indeed those abiurers were but pore reliques of the Lollards of whome we shall speake hereafter That Luther vvas Author of Protestancie confessed by Protestāts Covel Doue 9. Lastly I proue that Luther was the beginner of Protestancie by the plaine open confession of diuers Protestants and testimony of Luther himselfe For Doct. Couell in his booke of Articles published by authority Art 19. pag. 130. saith thus Some Protestāts make Luther Caluin Authors of the religion among vs. D. Doue of Recusancie p. 32. Luther saith he in his time began a Reformation Harborough And a booke termed the Harborough much esteemed in the beginning of Q. Elizabeth Luther begot truth maketh England to speak thus I am thy countrie England who brought forth that blessed man Iohn VVicklef who begot Hus who begot Luther who begot truth And in the margent hath this note Fox The second birth of Christ Fox also Acts pag. 770 saith Luther pluckt downe the foundatiō of Papistrie by opening one veine long hid before Luther opened the veine of all truth the touch stone of all truth and the onlie principall origen of our saluation which is our free iustification by faith onely And the Author of the booke called Prognostica finis mūdi or Antichristus writeth thus The spirit which telleth things to come vvorketh not but in time of the Gospell which Luther as it is cōfessed note the word tovvards the end of the vvorld did first bring in And p. 13. Prognost Luther first brought in his Gospel Schusselb Impudencie to say ther vvere Gospellers befor Luther Milius Morgerstern Ridiculous to say any had pure doctrin be for Luther The seduction of false prophets is not manifest but vnder the Gospell vvhich before Luther as vve said neuer vvent since the primitiue time of the Apostles And Cōrad Schusselb l. 2. Caluin Theol p. 130. doubteth not to call it impudencie to say that many learned men before Luther did hold the doctrine of the Gospell Georg. Milius in explicat art 7. Confess Aug. If there had bene saith he right beleuers before Luther there had bene no need of a Luther an reformation Benedict Morgenstein tract de Euchar. pag. 145. saith it is ridiculous to think that in time before Luther any note Manifest to the vvhole vvorld that c. had the purity af doctrine and that Luther should receaue it from them considering it is manifest note againe to the whole Christian world that before Luthers time all Churches were ouerwhelmed with more than Cymerian darknes that Luther was diuinely raised to discouer the same and to restore the light of true doctr ne Protestancie began by one man alone Sleid. prefat historia Thus Protestāts but let vs hear also Luther him selfe VVe dare glorie saith he Prefat in Corpus doctrinae lipsiae 1561. that Christ was first published of vs. And de Captiu initio speaking of his impugning indulgences saith I alone did then roole thi◠stone And 1. Galat. fol. 26. we by the grace of God haue gottē here at VVittemberg the forme of a Christian Church Luther first preached his Gospel And 3. Galat. fol. 109. many gaue thanks to God that through the Ghospell which we first note by the grace of God then preached c. fol. 142. we haue receaued the first fruits of the spirit 4 Galat. fol 205. Sectaries at the beginning of the reformatiō of the Gospell were glad to heare vs and read our bookes Luthers Gospel reuealed to the vvorld by him Ibid. The truth of the Gospell God hath now againe in thes latter daies reueiled by vs vnto this vngratefull world 10. Thus you see it euident by many waies that Luther was the first institutor of Protestant religion
beginning he could haue obtained neuer so litle of the Pope he would straight haue bene quiet yet Luther him selfe epistol ad Leon. 10. saith Luther offered to recant vvhat he had vvritten touching pardons I promised silence to Caietan and to make an end of my cause if the same were commanded to my aduersaries And then saith he the matter stood in very good termes but he began to command me recant and then it fell into much worse estate VVherfore what after followed came not by the fault of Luther but of Caietan 2 Sleid. l. 1. fol. 10. saith he submitted him self also An. 1519. Sleid. lib. 1. fol. 17. See Sleidan lib. 1. fol. 1. 5. of Luthers submission to the P. and Church of Rome who suffered me not to be silent when I then most desired And ibidem after this againe he saith I yeelded to your authority and was readie to be silent And fol. 5. an other time he offered silence at request of his Friers Here Christian Reader I appeall to thy coÌ„science whether this man who so often offered to suppresse his new doctrine so he were not bound to recant it intended by preaching it any glorie of God Nay whether by offering to suppresse it he did not condemne both himselfe and his doctrine Was his cause good which he speaketh was at best when it was to be supprest and put to pepertuall sileÌ„ce and became worse when his silence was not accepted and what followed therof he wold not haue imputed to himselfe was it Gods cause which he wold haue buried in silence if he had not bene bound to recant was it Gods cause which was at the best when it was to be suprest became worse wen it was published and wherupon ensueth such euils as Luther wold not haue imputed to him Surely this sheweth that to be time which D. Empser an eare witnes auouched that-he publikly said That this matter was nether begun for God nor shold end for him Luthers protestation that he began not for God was it not his pride which could not brook the shame of recanting or his aduersaries triuÌ„phing ouer him which made him go forward to that which his Cnoscience told him was ill begun 4. VVhat then will you say meaÌ„t Luther by his preaching against Indulgences The end for vvhich Luther began Protestantisme Surely no other thing than for a time to spite the Dominican Friers and to hinder their credit and gaine which hauing hindred by his new doctrine he ment to haue proceded no further therin if he had not bene bouÌ„d to recaÌ„t what vpoÌ„ spite against others he had preached For wheras the Austin Friers had bene wonte to publish the Indulgences which the Pope sent into Germany the Archb. and Prince Elector of Mentz appointed the DominicaÌ„ Friers to publish those which were sent in the yeare 1516. Herupon Luther and diuers of the Austin Friers were sore offended And Luther more impatient than the rest for to spite the Dominicans began first to preach and after to publish conclusions against the valour of indulgences That this was the true cause of Luthers new preaching beside the testimonie of al Catholick writers appeareth partly by what hath bene already said partly also by what shall be rehearsed further out of Protestants Cooper Sleid. lib. 1. fol. 1. For Cooper in Chron. writhus An. 1517. Leo Bishop of Rome according to the manner of his Predecessours sendeth downe general pardons and licence of other things into Germany By occasion wherof Mar. Luther an Austine Frier of VVittemberg first began to preach to the people against Indulgences Note how he confesseth that P. Leo his sending pardons was no new thing or peculiar to him but the custome of his Predecessors yet that Luther tooke occasioÌ„ therof to preach against them which argueth that not the pardons themselues gaue Luther occasion to preach against them before but some thing peculiar to those pardons to wit the publication of them not by Austin Friers as the former pardoÌ„s were published but by the Dominicans For. protestants in their publik letters in Sleidan lib. 8. pag. 110. saie that all this dissentioÌ„ in religion sprung of that some too much extolled indulgences 5. And this cause Fox insinuateth a litle more plainly pag. 771. where he saith Luther was moued vpon the sermons of one Tecelius a Dominican Frier who caused the Popes indulgences to be caried about the couÌ„trie to publish coÌ„clusions against them Loe the Dominicans their sermons or rather their reputation which they got by publishing the indulgeÌ„ces and not the indulgences themselues moued Luther to preach against indulgeÌ„ces And what I pray you should make Luther to impugne indulgences then more then before and to impugne indulgences before any other point of Catholick faith but that the Dominicans had thâ—n not before the publishing of them and they were made peculiar publishers of them of no other point of religioÌ„ And that you may yet more clearly see that no dislike of the indulgeÌ„ces themselues moued Luther to impugne them Fox l. cit confesseth that Luther in the beginning did not vtterly reiect indulgences but required a moderatioÌ„ in them Luther offered to recant vvhat he had vvritten touching pardons Sleid. Eng. lib. 1 fol. 9. Sleid. lib. 1. fol. 2. 5. Luther at first accounted indulgences lavvfull And the Author of Paralip Vspergen addeth that at first he did but lihgtly striue against them only for disputation sake yea Luther himself in one of his Articles set downe by Fox pag. 1167. saith thus Indulgences are in the number of those things which are lawfull And l. de Captiu I did not thinke saith Luther indulgences to be vtterly cast away And Sleidan his scholer addeth histor lib. 13. that he scarce knew what the name of indulgences meant when he first began to preach against them How then could indulgeÌ„ces be the cause of his reuolt from the Cath. faith But as the wise man saith that by the Diuels enuie death entred into the world So may we say that by Luthers enuie against the DominicaÌ„s Protestantisme entred into the world And as enuie of other mens good moued Luther to begin this tragedie so his owne pride which wold not permit him to recant what he had wickedlie taught made him to proceed as appeareth by what hath bene said already And Luther him self confesseth in Sleidan l. 13. that the Popes excommunication of him made him to defend his doings and set forth many books and Fox pag. 771. VVhat made Luther mantaine his doctrin writeth that the rage of Frier Tecelius who called him Heretik made him to mantaine the matter So that not Gods glorie or the goodnes of his cause but euen as him self his best freinds excuse him other mens supposed iniuries moued Luther to mantaine Protestancie The manner of Luthers proceding in ProtestaÌ„tisme His inconstancie 6. As for the maner how he proceded in his
Preacher whence comest thou vvho sent the vvhere are the miracles that vvitnes thy sensending from God Patere legem quam ipse tuleris And to 2. fol. 455. If he say that he vvas sent of God and his spirit as the Apostles let him proue this by signes miracles or suffer him not to preach for vvhensoeuer God vvill change the ordinarie course there he alvvaies vvorketh miracles And 1. Galat. fol. 40. It vvas necessary for S. Paul to haue the outvvard testimony of his calling And shall not we think it necessary for Luther If any saith the Declarat of discipline printed at Geneua 1580. please themselues in this gadding abrode throughout the Churches and vvill contend that they may do so let them shevv vs the signes of their Apostleship as S. Paul did to the Corinthians let theÌ„ proue that they are endued vvith those Apostolicall gifts of tonges healing doing of miracles let theÌ„ proue that they are immediatly called therunto of God Finally I proue that Luther was not extraordinarily sent of God because he was not extraordinarily assisted by him from teaching false doctrine For as our English Protest coÌ„fesse he tought false doctrin in many points But they can produce no other assuredly sent extraordinarily of God who taught false doctrin And in my iudgment English Protestants much condemne their owne doctrine in defending that Luther was sent extraordinarily from God English ProtestaÌ„ts condemne them selues in defending Luthers calling For seing he hath condemned much of their doctrine for heresie they must therby confesse that their doctrine hath bene coÌ„demned of a man especially lightned of God and extraordinarily sent of him to teach his truth Wherfore I wold they took better aduise and followed the counsell of the forsaid Declarator in these words pag. 30. Let enquirie be made into euerie ones calling Good aduise of a Protestant from Geneua let them shew how they were chosen and ordeined as the letters and seall of their calling Let them rehearse their genealogies and the race of their descent Let them bring their rodds and set them before the Arke of God And who can not shew the marks and tokens of their election and Creation they that can not fetch their pedigree from Aaron and whose rodds remaine dead before the Arke let them be by the most iust authoritie of Gods word displaced Thus he whose aduise if it be followed I doubt not but Luther wil be displaced as a false Prophet 8. The forsaid sixt agument touching miracles much trobleth Protestants and therfor they answer it diuersly Some by granting that miracles are necessarie for the attestation of extraordinarie mission and saie as Feild doth lib. 3. of the Church c. 48. and Fox p. 789. that Luther wrought miracles But these we shall disproofe of purpose herafter Wherfor others despairing to make anie probable preteÌ„ce of miracles Bâ—â—â— denie that they are necessarie to assecure vs of extraordnarie missioÌ„ Because Isaies Daniel Zacharias wrought none because S. Paul proued his missioÌ„ rather by the efficacie of his doctrine than by miracles And Caluin l. de scandal saith that howsoeuer miracles were necessarie to the extraordinarie vocation of others yet not of theÌ„ because they teach no new doctrin but the same which befor hath bene confirmed with miracles and because their doctrin is euideÌ„t needeth no miracles to proue it But these their reasons are manifestly false For Isaias miraculously cured K. Ezechias prolonging his life 15. years caused the shadow of his diall to returne back 10. lines Daniel miraculously tould both what the K had dreamed what his dreame signified Dan. 2. 4. which is one of the greatest tokens of Gods assistance that is And in like sorte Zacharias c. 1. 4. fortold diuers things which soone after were fulfilled S. Paul and Barnabas proue their doctrin by miracles Act 15. wher they tell what great signes miracles God had wrought by them among Gentils in testimonie therof And 2. Cor. 11. S. Paul proueth his Apostleship because saith he the signes of my Apostleship were wrought vpon you in miracles prodiges and powers 9. That which Calu. saith besid that euery Sectmaister saith it with as much color as he is euidently falfe Though Luthers doctrin vvere good yet he needed miracles to proue his extraordinarie calling For as for the newnes of his doctrine it partly appeareth by what hath bene said sup c. 1 shall euideÌ„tly be shewed in the 2. parte of this Treatise And how ancieÌ„t euideÌ„t soeuer his Luthers doctrine wete and therfor that it needed no miracles yet if their mission to preach their doctrin be extraordinarie it caÌ„ not be denied but their missioÌ„ is both new vneuideÌ„t they needed miracles at least to approue their mission vnto vs. For God hauing no wher auouched by word that he wold send Luther to preach ProtestaÌ„ts beleue that Luther vvas extraordinarily sent vvithout all profe testimonie or reason All right beleuers haue not authoritie to preach if he auouch not by deeds nether what certaintie haue we ether from God or maÌ„ besides Luthers owne word that Luther came from God nether let anie maÌ„ answer that Luther proueth his doctrine by the word For now the question is not about his doctrine but about his authoritie to preach which a maÌ„ maie waÌ„t yet teach true doct Wherfor absurd is that which Bilson affirmeth l. of obedience p. 300. As long as we teach the faith of the Apostles we haue their authoritie For so euerie right beleuer shold haue Apostlick authoritie to preach al shold be Apostles or doctors contrarie to S. Paul 1. Cor. 12. all shold be Pastors and none sheep all laie men yea woemen and children might administer the word and sacraments None could be prohibited or suspended from preaching Finally this licence of preaching graunted to all that haue true faith is graunted besides Gods word or warrant Wherfore Bilson vpon better aduise perhaps in his booke of gouernment of the Church cap. 9. writeth that they haue no parte of Apostolik Commission that haue no shew of Apostolik succession And that Pastors do receaue by succession power and charge of the vvord and Sacraments from and in the first Apostles And I wold he wold shew to whom Luther succeeded in his new doctrine or els confesse that he had no part in Apostolik Commission Certain therfore it is that though euerie right beleuer may confesse his faith and also teach it priuatly when necessitie requireth yet none but Pastors who are lawfully sent can preach it of authoritie take care of soules and administer the Sacraments And how I pray you shold we be assured that Luther was sent of God to do this rather than anie other right beleuer This I wold gladly know Tell me this o Ministers and euerie one shold know before he commit his soul to his guiding whome he knoweth not to haue anie charge or
commission to direct him 10. But diuers learned Protestants finding no colorable answer to make to this demand Protestāts confesse that their Ministers vvant laufull sending and authoritie do plainly confesse as Sadeel a Minister of Geneua testifieth in a book written against such that their ministers are legitima vocatione destituti destitute of lavvfull calling Others though not so plainly do graunt the same in saying that such as ate fit may teach the word without sending Which Caluin insinuateth in cap. 13. Actor wher he saieth that we need no testimonie from heauen that God sendeth some Because saith he vvhome God hath indued vvith sufficient gift seing they are framed and fashioned by his hand we receaue them giuen to vs of him no otherwise than as the prouerb is from hand to hand VVhom Calvin allovveth to preach vnsent And to this same end tended Bilsons complaint l. of obed pag. 300. that the wicked saith he alwaies asked the godly for their authoritie as the Ievvs asked S Ihon Baptist and Christ Bilson And Ib. So long as we teach saith he the same doctrin vvhich the Apostles did vve haue the same povver vvhich they had And pag. 301. He that defendeth truth is armed vvith authoritie sufficient though all the vvorld vvere against him And that a man may preach without commission he bringeth a similitude that when a cittie is on fire or entred by enemies euerie one may crie Alarme though he be no officer and pag. 310. and 311. he produceth the example of Frumentius and Aedesius who taught infidels the Christian faith hauing no sending to that purpose 11. Here thou seest Gentle Reader that confessed by learned Protestants which I intended in this chapter to wit that Luther his first partners were not sent to preach ether of God or man but seing forsooth the Church al on fire with idolatrie See Bal. Cent. 6. c. 85 Cent. 8. cap. 100. Manie principal Ministers preached vnsent The vvāt of sending in Luther Caluin and such like vvold alone conuince them to be false Prophets entred by enemies and thinking thē selues fit for that purpose came rūning of their own accord crying Alarme which Luther did not stick to bost of saying as Caluin reporteth l. de reformat p. 463. Behold I call my self Preacher and with this title haue I adorned my self And who readeth the liues of our first Protestant preachers ether in Bale or Fox shall see that euerie one of them fel to preach vnsent of anie And the forsaid Declaration of disciplin p. 141. saith plainly that manie of their worthie mē for the loue they had to the Gospel thaught it lawful for thē in these times to take vpō thē this Apostolical office 12. But this alone that Luther Caluin such like did preach and administer sacraments as Pastors being not sent nor hauing authoritie giuen them therto wold suffice to cōuince them to haue bene false prophets vsurpers theeues though no other exceptiō cold be takē against them For to preach that is as Pastor to teach without lauful sending or Commission is flatly against Scripture against the example of Christ his Apostles and all the Pastors of Gods Church against reason and Finally against the doctrin and practise now observed of Protestants It is flat against Scripture For Rom. 10. S. Paul asketh how shall they preach vnles they be sent VVant of sending the verie brand of false prophets In so much as both the Prophets Christ and the Apostles do brād false Prophets with this mark of coming vnsent I sent not saith God Hierem. 23. Prophets they ran As manie saith Christ Ioan. 10. as came of them selues are theeus robers Some going out of vs saie the Apostles Actor 15. haue trobled you with words whom we commanded not Loe how the holie ghost hath branded false Prophets with this note of coming vnsēt It is also against the example of Christ the Apostles For of Christ it is said Hebr. 5. Nether doth anie take honor to him self but who is called of God as Aaron So Christ did not clarifie him self to be made a Bishop And Ioan. 17. and 20. Christ him self auoucheth his sending by his Father And of the Apostles it is manifest that they preached not before they were sent of Christ To preach vnsent is to imitate Core Dathan ande Abiron Nether can Protestants produce anie Pastor of Gods Church since the Apostles time which preached before he was sent And to do the contrarie is not to imitate Christ and his Apostles but that schismaticall crue of Core Dathā Abirō whome the earth therfore swallowed hell deuoured See S. Cipr. lib. de simplic Prelat Tertul. de prascrip It is also against reason For as Pastor to preach and administer Gods Sacraments is an act of spirituall and supernaturall authoritie which none can haue vnles it be giuen vnto him and learning vertue or other talents what soeuer wherwith a man is fit to execute such authoritie are things far different from it as is both euident by it self and appeareth in woemen who may haue as much learning vertue and other habilities as some men yet none of them can as Pastors preach or administer the Sacraments because they are incapable of Pastorall authoritie Moreouer to be a Preacher and Pastor is to be Gods Embassador and steward or dispenser of his spirituall goods and misteries And if none can be Embassador of an earthly Prince vnles he be sent none steward of his house vnles he be apointed none officer ouer his people vnles he be constituted How can any be Embassador to God without sending steward of his goods without apointing gouernor of his people without his authoritie And I maruel how Protestants can call Luther Latimer and such like their Apostles and ether confesse that they were not sent at all but came of their owne good wills or can not shew of whome they were sent seing that the verie name of an Apostle signifieth one sent 13. Finally Protestants them selues condemne such preachers as come vnsent Bilson him self l. cit we detest saith he these that inuade the pastorall function without lavvfull vocation and election It is not lavvfull saith the English Clergie in the 23. Article of their faith for any man to take vpon him the office of publik preaching or administring the Sacraments No man saith their Synod in Haga Art 3. ought to take vpon him to preach or administer the Sacraments vvithout a lavvfull calling although he be a Doctor or a Deacon or an Elder And their Synod at Rochel 1607. Art 32. none must intrude him self into the gouernment of the Church Thus teach all Heretiks after they haue gotten possession But before their owne aptnes and talents the glorie of God and the saluation of soules and truth of their doctrine was warrant and authoritie ynough for them to preach as appeareth by what hath bene cited out of Bilson Caluin and others
maruell it is that more did not run togeather as S. Peter speaketh Epist 1. cap. 4. into the same confusion of leacherie And that we may speak to Luther as S. Hierom lib. 2. did to Iouinian Glorie not that thou hast many disciples that many fauour they opinion that is a signe of pleasure For they fauour not so much thy speach as their owne vice For alwayes false Prophets promis pleasing things and sooth much vertue is bitter and who preach it are replenished with bitternes And that I may not speake of others Did not Airus draw the whole world Thus Saint Hierome And what Iouinian what Epicur what Libertin hath taught more licentious and voluptuous doctrine thā Luther Of which I wil giue the Reader a taste by some points which I haue gathered out of of two litle bookes which he wrote in the beginning of his Protestancy By which the reader may imagin what store he vttered after A taste of Luthers licentious doctrin when he had more abandoned shame It will profit the soul saith he l. de Libert Christiana nothing if the body pray and do what work soeuer can be done in and by the body Yea meditations whatsoeuer can be done by the mind profit nothing It will not hurt the soule if the body eate Epist ad Albert. Mogunt Horrible est si vir sine vxore in morte inueniatur drink commonly pray not omit all things which may be done by hypocrits No works whatsoeuer belong to the inward man By only impiety incredulity of the hart is he made guilty slaue of sinne to be damned not by any external sinne or work All the cōmandements are equally impossible Good works make not a good man nor ill works an ill man No ill work maketh man ill damned but incredulity And l. de captiu There is no hope of remedy vnles recalling the Gospel of liberty all lawes of all men extinguished at once we iudg gouern all things according to it If we haue Gods law and natural wisdome it is superfluous yea hurt full to haue writen lawes no law can be put vpon Christians ether by men or Angels but as much as they us ill them selues By only faith although there vvant other works thou shalt be saued A Christian is so rich that though he would he can not leese saluation with what sinnes so euer vnles he will not beleeue For no sinnes can damne but incredulitie Thus Luther much more in two little bookes By which thou maist see good cause whie diuers did follow him And how temporall interest maketh now diuers to follow the Puritan Ministers in England the Surueier telleth p. 246. And cap. 2. how the like bayte drew the Geneuians to harken to Caluin and his mates And the Dangerous Positioner telleth the like motiue in Scotland to follow Knox and his companions Thus carnall pleasure libertie and profit were the miracles wherwith Luther perswaded his doctrin 3. Wherfore Feild lib. 3. of the Church p. 48. insinuateth other kind of miracles of Luther but referreth vs for them to Illyricus and Fox Luthers miracles out of Fox And in Fox pag. 789. I finde these First that Luther hauing had warning before and the pictur of a Iew who meant to poyson him sent vnto him miraculously skaped poisoning That a stone fell not from the top of a vaute before Luther rose from vnder it 3. That they who stood vnder Luthers window where he stoode praying might see him shed reares Fourthly That by prayers he had obtained that so long as he liued the Bishop of Rome should not preuaile in his Contrie The Fift was that Luther compelled by prayer the Diuel to throw into the Church an obligation wherwith a man had bound him selfe body and soule to the Diuel Sixtly That when he preached they that heard him thought euery one their own tentations to be touched These are the miracles which Fox attributeth to Luther Against which I might except as they do against miracles done these dayes by Catholicks that they are auouched onely by Protestants I might also obiect that Fox nameth no eye witnesse of any of these miracles This also the diuel could do by collusion to grace his scholer But I neede not For besides the fift which Fox him selfe dare not auouch but referreth it to report saying if it be true as it is certainly reported What is there in any of the rest which might not be done naturally Was it a miracle to escape poysoning by a man of whome he was warned before who was pictured vnto him Might not the stone naturally haue stood till that time when Luther rose May not an Hypocrit standing praying in a Window to be seene shed teares May not Luther fain that he obtained that of God which he saw was not lykly to be otherwise And finally might not he who knew the disposition of his scollers and audients hit on that wherwith they were tempted Surely these miracles we liken to those ridiculous miracles which the Fathers report of the Montanists Luthers miracles refuted 4. But against these or whatsoeuer miracles are ascribed to Luther I oppose first that himselfe lib. cit in Esai when it was obiected him that he wrought no miracles neuer mentioned any visible miracles yea he addeth that miracula nostro tempore corporaliter amplius non fiunt Quia Christus saith he ad finem mundi infirmus est That himselfe saith Loc. Com. Clas 4. pag. 39. Nullas appariiiones Angelorum habeo And pag. 40. pactum feci cum Domino meo ne vel visiones vel somnia vel etiam Angelos mihi mittat 3. That Fox himself saith p. 1040. The time of miracles is expired we hauing the scriptures to guide vs. And Caluin 4. Instit pag. 9. Temporale fuit donum miraculorum aliqua ex parte hominum ingratitudine intercidit 4. Doctor Fulke Anot in Ioan. 15. Luther and Caluin work no miracles Protestāts denie that Luther euer vvrought miracle And in Apoc. 13. yow know saith he that Caluin and the rest whom yovv call Archereticks work no miracles Erasmus also said that Luther could not cure a Lame horse CHAP. XV. That Luther hath had no succession and continuance of his doctrine here in England THe last point wherin S. Austin and Luther are to be compared is succession continuance of doctrine In which least of all is to be said For albeit Crāmer were for a while and that secretly in King Henrie 8. time a Lutheran as Fox tearmeth him pag. 1115. tyet shortly after King Edwards entrance he reuolted from that and fell to Zuinglius denying with him the reall presence in the Eucharist and for that cheefly was burnt as yow may see in Fox After whome nether Archbishop nor Bishop was a Lutheran in all England but followed rather Zuinglius or Caluin albeit also they differ from them in diuers points of doctrin as well appeareth