diuinity in S. Andrewes and diuers others cheefe ministers of that Contry flye into England and for this traitrous fact were there receaued and cherished Did nott Robert Pont and walter Baquanquell minister by the instigatiō of Iames Lanson cheefe preachers oppose themselues against his maiesties edict that now is publickly at Edenborough Did not these ministers demaund of his maiestie also to be admitted in parleamēt aboue their bishopps Is it not one of their cheefe articles that it is heresie for any kinge to call himselfe head of the Church within his realme A prosecution of the laste Chapter that heresies are the causes of troubles and disquiettnes CHAPTER V. THe other reason of these reuolutions is the fauor that kinges Princes doe giue vnto heretickes when they doe not in time punish them or at leaste ridde their Countries of them because that kinges or Princes growinge forgettfull of God haue a more respecte to their temporall commoditie then vnto the will of God or the good of his Church thinkinge by their owne industrie and reason of estate themselues and their estate be sure and secure yet God almightie doth often suffer them to fall into great miseries and calamities and their kingdomes to be ouerthrowen and ruynated Tripert hist. lib 8 cap. 13. Theod. l. 4 Valent. an Arrian Emperor did send against the Goathes his great Captayne and a deuout Catholicke who was called Traian and was ouercome by them when he retourned he reprehended him called him Couard he answered it is you and not I that haue lost the victory for that you haue forsakē God he gaue the victory to the Barbarians against thee Also the said Emperor in his iourney against those Goathes was mette by the holy Monk called Isacius who said vnto him whether doe you goe hauing God against you Theod. l. 4 cap. 30. Metas in vita Isacij for against him thou makest this warre c. giue ouer thy warres against God and he will giue ouer his warres against thee 2. Valentinian the younger who being deceaued of his mother Iustine Theod lib. cap. 14. did fauor the Arrians was put to flight by Maximus the Tyrante who made himselfe Emperor and soe Theodosius the great did write vnto him that is was goods iust iudgment Carol. Sig. lib. 9. that he should suffer that infamy for that he forsooke the trewe Christian catholicke religion and fauored the enemyes thereof So Winceslaus the 12. Eneas Syl. hist Bohemia c. 35. kinge of Bohemia by his false reason of estate giuing tolleration vnto the hereticks was both by them depriued of his life and kingdome 3. Boleslaus Prince of Polland In Chron. lib. 6. hist. Polo did suffer the people of Prusia to renounce their Christianitie and liue in Idolatrie for which they sent him a verie riche present but was after ouerthrowen by them with the ruyne of all the kinges and the nobilitie of Polande Sabel Aeneas 8 c. 6 Carol. Sig. de regu Genebr in Chron. An. 607. 4. Nicephorus Cōstant for that he fauored secrettly the Manichees was ouerthrowen slaine by the Bulgares The like example wee haue of Gessulfe Duke of the Lombardes who for fauoringe the Arrians his armie beinge ouerthrowen was slaine himselfe by the Auoros whose wyfe betraied the Cittie wherin shee and her husband liued to the captaine generall of them thinkinge to marry him after but shee first was dishonored in her bodie and then hanged a liue vppon a Gibbett Num. 16. 5. Not without cause did God say vnto Moyses departe from the Tabernacles and tentes of wicked people and touch nothinge that belonges vnto them 4. Reg. 17. God sent liōs amoungst the people of Samaria for hauinge Idolls Geneb in Chron. both to kill and destroy them wherfore the Cittie of Parris hath this for a monumente engrauen vppon her gates one God one kinge one faith one lawe 6. Hence it is written by the holy Ghoste in these woordes All the kinges besides Dauid Ezechias Iosias sinned and that the kings of Iuda forsakinge God and his lawes were with all their kingdomes deliuered vnto others and their glorie to strangers and although Dauid did committ adulterie and soe Ezechias alsoe offended by his ostentation 2. Reg. 11. Isa 39. yet because they forsooke not their faith and religion nor made shippwracke thereof it is not counted that they sinnned for that to forsake our faith is the greatest sinne that is That God doth extende the rodde of his wrath vppon Princes and Common welthes infected with heresies CHAPTER VI. 1. THe sore punishmente and affliction by which almightie God doth prosecute this wickednes many authors doe treate therof esepcially the ecclesiasticall histories Designis Eccl. lib. 5 cap 11. signo 16. and of late Thomas Bozius For none are more prone to wantones riotous misdeameanors which euerie Heresie bringes with it then Princes because commonly they are brought vpp without due chastisment and correction and because each man soothes them to flater and misreporte the truth As also because they are loath to submitt themselues to the ecclesiasticall discipline and censure of the Church or to acknowledge anny spirituall power in the Church of Christe to constraine them as it doth heretickes of whom it is said by the prophet and proued by experience that the nation and people that serueth her not shall perish whosoeuer obeieth her not must be accounted as Ethniques yet to mantaine their absurde heresies they doe labour to deface and infringe her authoritie as wee see in all ages yea onlye the disobeinge the authoritie of the Church and the censure of S. Peter and his successors is the cause of all the heresies that euer were and the Princes that hearken vnto them and forsooke the Church by defendinge them were vtterly destroyed with their states For what punishment doth he deserue that vnder the pretence of Christianitie makes warre against Christ and he that shall call himselfe the childe of the Church destroies and rayses a flame therein all which examples it were to long for me to repeate for I will not alleadge here the dolfull and ruynous example of Constans and Valens Emperors who were enemyes of the Church neither of Hunericus kinge of the Vandals neither of Basiliscus the capitall enemie of the Councell of Chalcedon who was depriued of the Empire by Zenon neither of Zenon himselfe which was buried aliue by the comaundement of Ariadne his wife nether of Heraclius which in the beginning was a catholicke and a valiant Prince but after became an heretick Ionas 1.3 ibi Ion Paulus Diaconus lib. 7. c. 1. Carol. Sig. lib. 7. de occid imp and lost soe many noble Prouinces in the Easte and dyed of a most shamfull disease nor of Anastasius vnto whom a vision did appeare of a terrible and dreadfull man with a booke in his hande who opened the booke in the which the name of the said Anastasius was
THE THEATRE OF CATHOLIQVE AND PROTESTANT RELIGION DIVIDED into Twelue Bookes Wherein The zealous Catholike may plainelie see the manifest truth perspicuitie euident foundations and demonstrations of the Catholique Religion Together with the motiues and causes why he should perseuer therin The Protestant also may easilie see the falsitie and absurditie of his irreligious and negatiue Religion Together with many strong and conuincing reasons why he is bound to embrace the Catholique faith and to returne againe to the true Church from whence he departed WRITTEN By I. C. Student in diuinitie With permission Anno 1620. MAgni periculi res est c. It is a thinge of great danger it after the oracles of the Prophets after the testimonies of the Apostles after the woundes of the Martyrs thou presume to discusse our ould faith as if it were new if after such expert guides thou neuertheles wilt remaine in error if after the combatts of such as did strugle vnto death for the defence thereof thou wilt yet oppugne it with idle disputation let vs therfore reuerneÌ„ce our faith in the glory of the Saintes S. Ambrosius in sermone de SS Nazario Celso TO THE BLESSED and vnspotted Virgin Marie Mother of God and Queene of heauen by whom saluation and redemption came to the worlde 1. BOOKES of greatest estimation and noblest subiect most gratious Virgin ought to be dedicated and offred to the noblest and eminentste personages and that for two causes th' one to be protected and patronized by them against malignant and malitious people to whome the obiect or matter might be offensiue the other to gratifie them for the benefites receaued of theÌ„ the obiecte of this booke which is the theater and true representation both of the Catholique and protestant religion being so eminent that it excelleth and exceedeth all obiects whatsoeuer ought to be dedicated and consecrated vnto thee most sacred Virgin being the worthiest creature amongest all meere Creatures that euer were Contraria se posita magis ilucessit 2. The opposition of two extremities can neuer be better declared or knowen theÌ„ to oppose the one to the other as things positiue and thinges priuatiue light and darknesse thinges contrarie as heate and cold thinges contradictory or thinges affirmatiue and negatiue as a man and noe man nothinge is soe repugnant or hurtfull to the Catholique religion as heresie and especially that of the sectaires of our vnfortunate daies nothinge soe contrary to Christe as Antechriste nothinge soe offensiue to the Catholique Church as the malignant Congregation of Caluinistes Anabaptistes So as the trueth of the one caÌ„not be made more apparant more euident and more cleere then by the falshoode of the other nor the goodnesse of the one be better made knoweÌ„ then by the mischeefe euill of the other 3. Vouchsafe therfore ô gratious virgin and mother of the Sauiour of the worlde that the trueth and goodnesse of the one beinge made knowen and the falshoode and wickednesse of the other being detected with thy most precious intercession to thy Sonne Iesus to lighten and illuminate the hartes vnderstaÌ„dings of such as are ouerwhelmed and ingulfed in the dangerous abisme of darcknesse and are gone astraye in the intricat labernith of heresies Deliuer theÌ„ ô blessed mediatrixe that doe walke awry in the darcknes and shadowe of death Protecte and defend the Catholique Church for the saftie of which Christe Iesus tooke flesh of thee and for the establishing whereof he suffered his bitter passion yealded himselfe to death and triumphed ouer the powers of darcknesse from the malice and dangerous purposes of all such as bend all their plotts and pollices to destroy her 4. By whom should the religion of virgins vowes and votaries be protected and vpholden but by her that made the first solemne vowe and profession thereof To whoÌ„ should the religion of Christ be dedicated but to the mother of Christ Or the law of grace be addressed but vnto her that is ful of grace What better aduocate can the Church haue then shee who is placed betwixt the sunne and the moone as S. Bernard saieth which is mary betwixt Christ his Church What better defense can there be against heretiques then shee as S. Bonauenture saith that destroyeth all heresies and according to S. Bernard omnis haeresunt inâ—eremptrix that killeth all heresies Therfore ô blessed Virgin Dignare me laudare te Virgo c. Vouchsafe me to praise thee ô sacred virgin fortifie me against thine enemies and the enemies of the Church of Iesus Christ which being his only comoÌ„wealth kingdom patrimony vineyarde and mysticall body euery member thereof ought to defend yea is more bound thervnto then to the defense of any earthly comon wealth 5. As for thyne incpmparable and vnspeakeable merittes and benefites towardes me and towards the whole world all true Christian hartes doe acknowledge them with Aristotle I confesse Qui beneficium accipit De coÌ„gruo uon de coÌ„digno libertateÌ„ perdidit He that receueth a benefit loseth his liberty becometh a slaue to his benefactors How then should not I the whole world confesse our selues to be obliged vnto thee for soe generall and soe worthy a benefit as we haue receaued at thy handes Iesus Christ taking that flesh of thee in which he would dye for our offeÌ„ces Therfor ô blessed virgin I offer my self with this my labour as a poore slaue vnto thee I prostrate my selfe like a poore wretched sinfull creature before thee confounded and oppressed with many imperfections and defects voide of merits destitut of grace ouercharged with the dreadfull assaultes machinations of powerfull enemies they to stronge to offend and I to weake without thy helpe to defend my selfe against them We therfore Sub tuum praesidium confugimus sancta Dei genitrix c. flie vnder thy sauegard ô mother of God for none that euer relyed vpon thee was frustrated of his expectation none was euer deceaued of his hope none was euer coÌ„founded or discomforted who hath at any time fled to thy intercession as holy Church in all ages by experience hath proued and all holy sainctes that euer were haue solemnly auouched 6. Thou therfore ô only a Aug. ser 2. de Annunc hope of sinners Thou ô b S. EphreÌ„ de laud. B. Mariae ioy saluation and peace of the worlde Thou ô c Damasc orat 2. de Assump ocean gulfe of grace Thou ô d Damasc orat 2. dormit Virg. liuing arke of the liuing God Thou e Epiph. l. 3. Hier. 78 the mother of all liuing and the cause of life who broughtest forth life vnto the world Thou f Cyril Alex hom 10. the pretious marguerit of the worlde the inextinguible light thereof the crowne of virginitie the scepter of the Catholique faith and the indissoluble temple containing him who can be no where contained Thou ô g Ierem. adu Iouiu East gate euer shut
came within his reache Besides the destruction and desolation he caused in many places of Germanie In Norriberge he burned a hundred villages Townes and Castles and shutt vp in them men and women with children and olde people which the firy flame consumed Surius An. 1553. viz. at Alterfum and Laufum Againe did not Christiernus kinge of Denmarke execute the like crueltie vpon those of Stocholum the cheefe Cittie of Suethlande after that he inuited all the nobilitie with the two Archbishopps viz. Sarcen and Stringeron and then murthered them euerie one and afterwards all the rest of the Cittizens notwithstandinge he had giuen his royall worde to the contrarie in the execution of which murther Surius An. 1517. he continued for many dayes That heresies are the cause of Reuolution of Countries and destruction of state CHAPTER IV. 1. SAincte Gregorie sayeth that the conseruation of the Common wealth doth depende of the peace of the Church and that for two reason for that the lawe of God commaundes vs that wee should obey our kinges and princes in thinges that are not contrarie to the said lawe of God soe that he that obeyes God he muste needes obey his lawfull Soueraigne because God almightie soe commaunded for that obedience wee owe to the kinge is parte of that wee owe to God But when men doth cast away this bridle by heresie or by anny other occasion of their vnbridled and incorrigible humors as they haue no feare of God soe bear they noe dutie to their Prince or Soueraigne Euseb de vit Const lib. 1. c. 11. Zozo lib. 1. cap. 16. Wherfore Constantius Clorus father to Constantyne the greate a most prudente and valiante Prince intendinge to assay and proue the loyaltie of some Christian souldiers he said vnto them that if they would renounce their faith and sacrifice to the Idolls Carol. Sig. lib. 2. de occiden imperio they should abide with him and possesse such honors and promotions as they had receaued of him otherwise such as would refuse soe to doe they should departe from him Some there were who for to gaine the Princes fauor did as he comaunded and renounced their religion others refused soe to doe But Constantius putt awaie such as did sacrifice to the Idolls and kepte with him such as refused soe to doe saying that they were his best subiectes for quoth he he that is a Traytor vnto God will alsoe be a Traytor vnto his Prince 2. Carol Sig. lib. 16. de occid imp Theodor. histor l. 5. cap. 36. The like alsoe did Theodoricke being an Arrian hereticke killing a Courtier of his owne whome he loued intirlie for that from a Catholicke he became an Arrian only to please the kinges humor sayinge that he could neuer keepe touch with man that was not faithfull vnto God Also the most valiant Martyr S. Hornusta said vnto the kinge of Persia who comaunded him to denye his religion and become an infidel that if he should denie Christe that was Lord and Redeemer of the worlde he shoulde more easilie denye him that was a mortall man Through want of faith therefore and good religion rebellions are stirred vpp against their Princes and Soueraignes as alsoe insurrections of subiectes spoyles and garboyles of Traitors combustion and confusion of Common wealthes and all other enormities and trespasses are committed And as Aristotele saith Cuius vsus est optimus eius abusus est pessimus the more excellent and eminent a thing is if it be well vsed soe the more mischeefe it ingenders and the more ruine it bringeth with it if it be abused For as nothinge in this world is comparable in goodnesse to the Christian Catholick faith so when the same is abused by sectes and diuisions nothinge did euer more trouble the Christian Comon wealth for that discordes in matters of faith doe procure and ingender discordes and differences in the hartes and mindes of them that professe the same from which discords and variances proceedes soe manny mischeefes and reuolutions of Countries and kingdomes and kingdomes deuided as our Sauior saith cannot longe endure Therfore Theodosius the yonger beinge at Constinople and seinge his Empire deuided into sectes by the heresie of Nestorius he wrote an Epistle to that most vertuous and holy man Symon Stylites which at that tyme did florish with most rare example of sanctitie Act. Conc. Ephes edi tom 5. Ces Baro. tomo 5. An. 43â— by which epistle he requested him verie earnestly that hee should aske of God peace and vnion for the Church and added these wordes Because that its diuision doth soe afflict vs that it is the roote and fountayne of all our euills and calamities Wherefore whosoeuer will read the Chronicles of kingdomes and the ecclesiasticall histories of the sainctes he shall finde this to be true by the warres that the Catholicks had in the Easte with the Arrians and in Africke with the Donatists and the Gentiles and Iewes against the Christians in all places 3. And neither Iewe nor Gentile are soe infestuous and pernitious againste the Churche and Christian Comon wealth as hereticks and especially those of our vnhappie times and of all sects the Caluinistes which are flames of sedition and destruction of Church and Comon wealthe an infernall fire-brand that burnes wheresoeuer it takes place which consumes to ashes all states and Citties where it is nourished not vnlike the Cancker that eates and gnawes the body that feedes it thus much you shall knowe by readinge a booke called Incerdium Caluinisticum printed 1584. Hollensen hist Angl. Anno 1554. idem in histo Scot. Anno 1567. Also the histories of the troubles of France lib. 1. Anno 1565. The historie of Flanders Anno 1555. in the additions of Surius 1585. Stanislaus Rescius Ambassadors and Treasure for the kinge of Poland in Naples did write a booke 1596. De Atheismis Phallerismis Euangelicorum nostri temporis videl of Atheismes and Phallerismes I meane cruelties of the Euangelistes of our tyme neither onlie doe they destroie kingdomes but alsoe seeke to depriue Princes of theyr liues that oppose themselues againste their doctrine for some of them conspired to kill Queene Marie and one of them confessed the same at his death which was at Tiborn the 18. of May 1554. Norman Lesby Iames Meluine and other Caluinists in Scotland murthered the Cardinall of S. Andrewes in his owne howse and chamber the yeare 1546. Stowe 1554. and this by approbation of Iohn Knockes Buchanan and others of the Geneuian Consistorie Doctor Hancraft in his booke of dangerous positions Lib. 4. c. 14. in historia Ioh. Lesley ep Rosâ—e 4. Buchanan in his most wicked and vngodly declamation made at London against his dread soueraigne the last Queene of Scottes incensed both English and Scottes against her to depriue her of her life and of her kingdome whose wicked desires and desigmentes was putt in execution by the English in the moneth of Ianuarie 1587. which
decreede and the sentence of Anathema was pronounced against all those that should hould the contrarie And whosoeuer will not obey these generall councells assembled together by the vertue of the holie ghoast whose asistance was promised vnto the church in such occasions doth iniurie not onlie to the church but also vnto that holy spirite of these kind of people is said vos durae ceruicis spiritui sancto resistitis you stiffnecked people yow resist the holy ghoaste None ought to prefer his priuat opinion before the generall definition of a generall councell Therfore the Emperor Marcianus after the definition and ordinaunces of the councell of Chalcedon said he is a wicked and sacrilegious person that would oppose his owne priuate opinion against the authoritie of the whole churche in such a generall assemblie and this is the cause that S. Aug. defended S. Cyprian from heresie for that it was not decreede by any generall councell that such as were baptized by heretiques should be rebaptized againe as the said S. Cyprian helde and because the Donatistes did persiste in this doctrine after the definition of the generall councell they were condemned of the churche for heretiques as S. Aug. doth testifie and therfore those dogmatistes of our time because they defende not onlie this doctrine but also many other peruerse and damnable opinions not onlie against the definition of these generall councells but also against godes ordinances ought to be reputed for heretiques 11. S. Thomas doth saie D. Thom. in 6. Iohn lect 7. that it was the custome of the churche for danger of sheddinge that the priest at the alter should receaue vnder both kindes the laytie vnder one kinde for this said he is not against Christs institution for whosoeuer receaues the bodie receaues the blood alsoe because that Christe is vnder both kindes aswell in respecte of his bodie as his bloode Exod. 16. Genes 14. For all sacrifices did appertaine vnto the priestes the Manna the paschall lambe was eaten of the people which were figures of this Sacramente and they were not comaunded to drincke after it And although you vrge that Melchisedec did offer bread and wyne in token of this Sacrament I aunswere that he was a prieste for so the scripture saith Erat enim sacerdos Dei altissimi for he was a priest of the highe God In our Lordes prayer wee aske our dailie bread without wyne Tertul. in orat Dom. Ambr. l. 5 de sacra Hier. c. 6. Matt. homil 9. Aug. l. 50. which petition many holy doctors doe interprete to be mente of the Eucharist and when our Lord had fedd soe many thowsands there is noe mention made either of water or of wine that feedinge beinge a figure or token of the holy bread of the alter by which the faithfull Christians are releeued For our Lord makes mention of the Chalice but thrice of the eatinge of the bread he makes mention fifteene tymes soe as wee may perceaue that the churche may vse both the kindes seuerallie Qui manducat hunc panem viuet in aeternum Theophil in eadem verba Aug. li. de consensu Euangeli c. 25. ser in seria 2. illius diei Beda lib Comment in Lucam Petr. Damianus Card lib. de diuinis officijs 12. Christ also goinge to Emaus sittinge at the table did feede only the twoe disciples with breade alone and being perceaued in the breakinge of the bread did vanish awaye by which fraction or breakinge many holy fathers did vnderstande the Euchariste wherby wee may gather that the Euchariste was giuen vnto the laytie vnder one kinde vppon easter daye that is to say to Cleophas and to Lucke as many saie And although they were the disciples of Christe yet they were not priestes For at his last supper he did not saie to others then to the twelue Apostles these wordes Doe this in remembrance of me and vnto those disciples that went to Emaus he gaue onlie the bread without wine so vanished awaye Epistola Ephesios 13. S. Ignatius made mention but of one kinde to be giuen to the laytie Eruditi à paracleto c. Yow beinge instructed of the holly ghoast remaininge in true obedience to the Bishops priests which breake the bread vnto yow with due respecte and perfect deuotioÌ„ which is the medicine of mortalitie the onelie preseruatiue of life against death by Iesus Christ The blessed Sainte did not speake any thinge of the Chalice when the Pope goeth in any pilgrimadge or iourney he carries with him the blessed Sacramente but vnder one kinde Hier. in Apolog. pro libris contra IouinianuÌ„ S. Hierom doth reporte that it was the custome of the faithfull at Rome to haue our Lordes body at home in their houses because they did not presume to goe to the church beinge letted by coniugall societie which saith he I doe not commend or discommend S. Ambrose also doth reporte Ambr in orat funebrii de obitu fratris sui Satyr that his brother carried with him this dreadfull hoaste to sea and hauing suffred shipwreacke did by vertue of this blessed Sacrament escape drowninge the blood he did not carry beinge not soe conueniente for carriadge The Christians did in tyme past vse to carrie with them the Sacrament vnder one kinde least in their greatest danger of death they should not be releued of their greatest liuely â—oode S. Ambrose in the houre of his death did receaue the blessed Sacramente of the Bishopp of Vercell vnder one kinde Paulinus in vita eius as Paulinus doth reporte The like is also reported of S. Patronilla S. Hierome S. Martyn S. Benedict S. Lucia S. Francis of whome the histories make mention that in the time of their death they did communicate vnder one kinde Amphilogius wrote that when S. Basill did celebrate in the church a Iewe went to gaze and to behoulde the christians as they receaued the blessed hoast In vita S. Basil he ioyning himselfe with them sawe an infante diuidinge the hoast in the handes of S. Basill and soe came to all the communicantes as also to the said Iewe which wheÌ„ he receaued the blessed bread was forthwith tourned into fleash and beinge astonished at this miracle he himselfe with his wife and children were made Christians 14. Euagrius a greeke historiographer and Nichephorus doe deliuer vnto vs that it was the aunciente custome in the church of Constantinople to giue vnto children such as went to schoole the relickes and fragments of the blessed hoaste if any were left after the comunicantes but it were great absurditie to giue the relickes of the chalice vnto them their tender age and weake disposition being not capable thereof soe it should be a great indecencie so keepe the same being in a short time subiect to corruption With these children vpoÌ„ a certaine daie went a boy the sonne of a glass-maker who beinge asked of his father what he did with the
The 3. was of Traian in whose time 3. holly Bishoppes suffred vid. Saint Clement the disciple of saint Peter saint Ignatius disciple to saint Iohn the Euangelist and saint Polycarpe The 4. was of Antoninus Verus The 5. of Seuerus The 6. of Maximinus The 7. of Decius who did put saint Laurence to death The 8. of Valerian The 9. of Aurelian The 10. was the crwelest of Dioclesian of Maximinus These persecutions were before Constantius the great who was a Christian 3. Vnto these saint August added the persecution of Iulian the Apostata which was most pernitious for he depriued the Christians of offices and places in the common wealth as also of all their goodes and studies of learning Another was of Valens all these were Romane Emperors Another was of Sapor king of Persia who caused his people to adore the sunne wherin 16000. thousand suffred amoungest whome were many Bishoppes priests and many holly virgins dedicated to Christ Before all these saint August sets downe the first persecutioÌ„ of all which was of Iudea vnder Herod wherin the Apostle Saint Iames the greater suffred Wee doe nott speake here of the persecutions of the Vandals in Affricke or of other heretiques or infidels but only of the Romane Emperors whose persecution was nott only in one kingdome or prouince but in all places especially at Rome at Alexandria where S. Cathrin suffred at Antioch Nicomedia Cesarea of Capadocia Cesarea of Palestin in Ponto in Helesponto in Africa in Aegipt at Saragosa at Parris where saint Denys of Areopagita with his followers were putt to death at Syracusa where S. Lucia at Catanea where saint Agatha in Bithinia in Achaia at Smirna at Thebes and in all other places subiect to the Romans 4. Were all these persecuting princes lawfull heads of Christes church or some of them If some all should be for the one ought to haue asmuch authoritie in that head-shipp as the other if that stile or dignitie should rightly belong to the Emperiall scepter or should be annexed to the Royall authoritie as a power or iurisdiction comprised and comprehended within the maiestie of a regall dignitie as some protestants do hold Yf this be trew all these blessed martyrs wherof some of them were the blessed Apostles as saint Peter and saint Paule who suffred vnder Nero were damned is arrogant and dissobedient subiects for not conforming themselues to their princes wills and humors in causes ecclesiasticall and consequently none that was put to death by them was a holy martyr but an obstinat and wilfull subiect which is most foolish and absurd If yow say that a king to be head of the church ought to be a Christian as some other English protestants do say I aske of them who was head of the church the space of the first 300 yeers after Christ when all kings were infidels and persecutors thereof as I haue declared For either the church all that while was without a head or els some other that was not a king must be a iudge and haue this authoritie and supreame iurisdiction of the king therin and such ought to haue no les iurisdiction ouer the Christians in causes of their consciences and ecclesiasticall matters now then at that time 5. Nowe the Christians are no les nor no better then they were in that golden age of the primitiue church Epiph. heresi Optat. lib. 2. contra Parmen S. Aug. Epist ad generosum quae est 105. Hiero. Prosper in continuatione chronici Eusebij and consequentlie the same ecclesiasticall iurisdiction ought to continew still in the church of Christ which he builded setled and founded vppon saint Peter and his successors as vppon a firme Rocke whose foundation shall neuer faile against whome the gats of hell with all the plottes and pollicies of Sathan and the cunninge deuises and attempts of Matche-villian protestantes shall not preuaile And so in vaine they striue to build the same vppon any other fundation then that which was alreddy laid downe by Christ himselfe being the Corner and head stone of this foundation vppon saint Peter the Apostles and prophetts and their successors for euer I meane the Bishopps and priests vnto whome he committed the authoritie and regiment ouer his flocke to feed and defend them from the woulues to saue them from the violent excursions of infidels and heretiques vnto whome it is sad in the Actes or the Apostles Attendite vobis vniuerso gregâ— in quo c. Loocke well to your selues Act. 20. Matt. 10. Matt. vlt. Mar. vlt. Iohn 20. Iohn 21. and to the vniuersall flocke in which the holy ghost placed you Bishoppes and pastoures to gouerne and rule the church of God And as this church is the mysticall body of Christ and a spirituall Common wealth so it should be gouerned and managed by spirituall parsons and pastours that should haue spirituall orders and consequentlie ought to haue spirituall authoritie and iurisdiction ouer her rebellious and obstinat children to chastice their rebellions disobedience to correct their offences and to extend the rodd of discipline vppon them when they will nott obey her otherwise it should be a poore distressed common wealth when none hath power or iurisdiction therin to chastice the transgressor of her lawes and so all her subiects may with libertie and impunitie keepe or breake them 6. But no article or inunction of the protestant religion is of greater force amongest the protestants specially of England then that the king is supreame head of the church and that euery one whether he be a catholique or protestant must not only encur the imputation of high treason but also the pennalties and disgrace of traitoures that wilâ— not sweare solemly and publickly that he thinckes in his conscience this to be trew which is nothing els then to enthrall and enforce a catholique perhapps some proâ—estants to a damnable and wilfull preiury against his owne conscience that knoweth or at least thincketh the contrary Was not this new fundation and grownd of the English protestant church newly coyned the 26. yeer of king Henry 8. when the oath of supremacy was inuented by the instigation of his fatall and filthy passion of lust and concupiscence and by the industry and suggestion of certaine cogging mates as Thomas Cromwell and Robert Barnes an apostat frier the one beheaded the other I meane the frier burned rather of malice then of any conscience or honesty without which there can be no good religion not warranted by scripture but deuised in the court not by the best but by the worst quorum Deus venter est quorum finis interitus gloria in confusione c. not perswaded by reason but violentlie constrained not ordained for the edification of the church but for the destruction and confusion of innoceÌ„t christiaÌ„s not resolued of by the schooles and learned diuines but first determined by the king and enforced in the parleament against the definition of all former parleaments
which as it doth exceede all the heresies that euer were in ympietie of Doctrine and wickednes of life so it doth alsoe surpasse all Heretiques Infideles Turcks and Iewes in all bloody feates cruell exploites Babilonian confusion tragicall desigmentes diuelish purposes and plottes yea and strange inuented lawes newer heard of before with their most rigorous execution You see the fruite of heresie the complotters and compassers thereof the cheefe Architects of her detestable practise her effiminacye luxurious wantones her inducementes to all abhominable pleasures and licentious libertie her bloodie imbrumentes and lamentable tragedies in euerie countrie where shee was nourished and inuented which brought a masse of miserie and calamitie with it to those places that receaued her the shipwracke of whose opulente and aboundante fortunes can beare wittnesse thereof obstinate pride presumptuous and turbulent spirittes dislike and disdaininge of good order and sound discipline contempte and despising of authoritie curiositie and affectation of noueltie discontentment and disquietnes of mindes through ympatience of filthie luste and other malignante priuate humors which were neuer inspired by the spirite of God but by the suggestion of the diuill who was the cause thereof Of the miserable death and endes of such as deuised and defended the protestant Religion as also other heresies CHAPTER VII 1. THe first plotter of this heresie was Martine Luther Luthers death whose life as it was most wicked soe his ende was noe lesse miserable He after that he had surfeyted through one nightes gossopinge himselfe beinge fild intemperatlie vpp to the throate was found dead in the morninge with his wife and as it is suspected was choaked by her Henrye Zuthphan which was the first that brought Lutheranisme into Breame was afterwardes burned at Meldorphe in Thretmarsse Anno 1524. Hulderique Zuinglius an Apostate Priest in a furious skirmish beinge leader of the Tigurians whome he brought to that dolefull battle animatinge them to the combatte as surmountinge their aduersaries in multitude of souldiers were all ouerthrowen and he himselfe was found dead amoungest the dead carcases and was cast into the fire Zuinglius death Conrad in Theolog. Fox pag. 444. soe as he suffred a double death by fire and sworde Of whome the Epitaph was made thus Occul uit patrio bellator Zuinglius ense Et gressa est armis gens populosa suis Zuinglius the Warior was slaine in the fielde And the sword of his Countrie did pierce Genebrardus in Chron. 2. fol. 72. His side by many bloody batles fought His Country vnto ruine he brought CoÌ„radus a Lutheran protestant writeth that God manifested his iudgmente vppon Caluine euen in this world whom he visited in the rodde of furie and punished him horribly before the dreadfull hower of his vnhappie death Caluins dreadfull death for saith he God by his powerfull hand did soe stricke this heretique that beinge in desperation blaspheminge and cursinge the name of God and calling vppon the diuills he yelded vpp his wicked ghoaste hauinge an vglye and filthie apostume in his priuie partes out of which there issued such a number of loathsome and stinckinge woormes Carolostadius his death Epistola de morte Carolastadiâ— OecolaÌ„padus death that not any could abide to come nere him this farre the said Author Carolastadius was slaine by the diuill as the ministers of Basill themselues doe witnesse Oecolampadius also a married Mounque of the order of S. Brigget and one of the firste and principalest Architectes of the protestante religion was founde slaine in his bedd by his wyues side and that by her or rather by the diuill himselfe Luth. lib. de Missa priuata as Luther thincketh The Duke of Saxonie and the Lantgraue of Hesse which were the cheefe promotors and Patrons of lutheranisme were in battell vanquished by Charles the fifte depriued of their dominions and kepte in prison by him many yeares The Prince of Condye The prince of Condys death and the admirall of France which were the Patrones of the secte of Caluine or hugnottes in that Countrye were alsoe vanquished and ouerthrowen in the field with their kinge after many other ouerthrowes and slaughter of their adherentes the one I meane Condie was slaine in the battell of Iarnan the other was kild in a triumph at Paris his carcase beinge caste from the topp of a high howse his necke beinge broken and his body torne was drawen by a rope through the streates and hanged not much vnlike to Iezabell where also the Prince Montgomery was beheaded beinge a great defender of Caluinisme 2. The death of such in EnglaÌ„d as were â—atrons of Protestancie The same miserable end they tasted alsoe that were the patrones of this wicked ghospell in England as Queene Anne Bullen Thomas Cromell the Duke of Somersett and Thomas Cranmer Bishopp of Canterburie The first was accused arraigned and conuicted of a filthie incest her supposed Father beinge the iudge thereof and by his sentence putt to death who was so besotted of her filthie loue The next was condemned and putt to death for heresie and high treason by kinge Henry the eighte vnto whom he yealded himselfe both soule and bodâ—e before by the lawe he made himselfe videlicet whosoeuer should be cast into the tower he should be put to death without examination Fox act and monuments 563. whome he called the wall and defense of the protestant Chruch The third which was the Duke of Somersett beinge vncle vnto kinge Edward his vicar generall in all ecclesiasticall causes and protector and as it were kinge of the whole Realme was depriued of all auctoritie and publiquelie beheadded The last which was Cranmer after abiuringe his wicked heresie at Oxford by Queene Marie Robert Barnes Thomas Gerrard William Ierom beinge the first cheefe instruments that Kinge Henry the 8. had to perswade the people touching the kinges supremacie in ecclesiasticall causes were by the said kinge Henrye burned afterwards and the said Barnes beinge there at the stake and the flame readie to lay hould vppon him said these words By our meanes the kinge was made absolute kinge of England whereas before he was but halfe a kinge and for our paynes this is the rewarde wee haue Anno Domini 1540. Prince of Aurengs death 3. The Prince of Aurenge that was the author and enginer thereof in flanders was slaine with a pistole in his newe wyues lappe by Balthazer Gerard. Ludouicus Nalconius brother to the said Prince and the cheefe author of the rebellion of the said lowe Countries in the battle of Mokens which he lost the Spaniardes hauinge gotten the victory was burned in a little cottage aliue whether he fledd for safeguard In that battle also his Brother Henry perished as his brother Adolphus did perishe a little before in FrislaÌ„d William Lumenus the Earle of Mansfil after defilinge his murtheringe hands with the cruell death of many religious persons priests and Catholiques in Holland and Zeland and