great if euery one that is persecuted for Iustice shall haue his reward in heauen what will their honour be which haue suffered so much and so long time for that cause Your Protestant Aduersaries and Persecutours themselues taking the altitude of your miseries and suffrings for this greatest iustice haue found their eleuation to be raised to the hight of all former Persecutours who were Pagans professed enimies to Christ and all Christians They which professe Christ and Christianitie may not be such Great was the persecution of Nero and yet Britonie felt it not but was then a Refuge Aâ—yle and as a Sanctuarie to receiue and defend the persecuted Bitter was Dioclesiaus PersecutioÌ„ here in Britonie but as our Gildas telleth vs it was but Nâ—uâ—nnis of nine yeares onely at which time the Scots â—â—cts Saxons Gormundians Aâ—ricans and Dâ—nes â—ll Pagans persecuted the Christiâ—s here But neuer any bearing the name of Christ before â—hese dayes persecuted the Catholike Chriâ—tians of this Kingdome All those Pagans â—ersecuted Christians as enimies to their old Gods and Religion and for not ioyning â—ith them in Idolatrie deeming Christian â—eligion newe and erroneous Our ProtestaÌ„t Persecutours persecute vs for defending the old Religion of Christ which cannot be vntrue and for not imbracing their newe which in the Schoole of Christ cannot be true 13. All the Pagans that euer persecuted here distroied not â—o many Churches and Chappels as King Henrie the eight and his daughter Elizabeth nor tooke from the Church the halfe of that which they did Halse such a Fine and Ransome as the Catholikes paid to them aboue the third part of England in Religious Church-lands possessed by the Clergie here Sixhundred yeares since besides other for fitures would haue stopped the Pagans Persecution The Saxons greatest Persecution next to Dioclesians soone slacked and releÌ„ted no soon â—r had the Saxons driueÌ„ Theonus and Thadiocus Archbishops of LoÌ„don and Yorke with other Bishops Priests and Religious from â—heir Sees and Residences in the yeare of Christ 586. But King Ethelbert of Kent ruling vnto Húber by meanes of his blessed ChristiaÌ„ Queenâ— Bertha and her holy Bishop S. Lethard gauâ— ease and peace to Christians here before S. Augustines and his Associates comming hither and they were receiued by Ethelberâ— not yet a Christian with honours and noâ— indignities All they were strangers and forrainers to the persecuted Our Persecutourâ— be of the same Nation blood and kinred and stiled Christians with them whom thus they persecute for Christs true Religion If King S. Ethelbert Queene S. Bertha and Bishop S. Lethard were now liuing Catholikes would not be persecuted THE II. CHAPTER That the Religion of our English Catholikes as well from the Saxons as Britons is the same with their first Apostles and deduced from them and first of the Saxons conuerted by S. Augustine and his Roman Mission NOw because our Protestants and Persecutours before haue deliuered it For greate glorie to our Nation to deriue our spirituall degree from so noble a Father as S. Peter We will â—riue and deduce from him a continuall â—d neuer interrupted Succession both of â—iscopall and Priestlie function and doâ—ine also in euery point now questioned by â—r Persecutours froÌ„ that so noble a Father â— these Protestant times And to begge more â—ce and fauour from these our enimies in â—s cause they themselues shall briefly make â—s deduction â— And first concerning Bishops and Massing Priests sent hither or consecrated here by S. Peter's or his Roman Successours Iuâ—â—â—diction such as they now so greuiously dâ—◠〈◊〉 â—hey confesse publickly that they had â—o 〈◊〉 but so consecrated as the Roman Church did from the begining and stilâ— doth consecrate vnâ—ill their neâ—â— booke oâ— pretended Consecration maâ—â— by King Edward thâ— Sâ—â—th â— child hiâ—â—â—thoritie brought in thei◠〈…〉 aâ—d they acknowledge 〈…〉 consecraâ—e◠〈…〉 Priesâ—◠〈…〉 and doe 〈…〉 â—â—stifie 〈…〉 Engl. Proteâ—â— in Rogers Booke of articles Annal. Burton an 140. Caiuâ—â—â—tiq 〈…〉 Annâ—l 〈…〉 â—n Mansâ—◠〈…〉 1. 6. Harrison descript of Brit. waâ— oâ—r Archbishop 〈…〉 moreouer that this our 〈…〉 was seâ—lâ—d by this greaâ—est Aâ—ostâ—â— in â—he 〈◊〉 yâ—are of Nero and 67. 〈…〉 â— Peter returned againe to 〈…〉 dâ—uers of thâ—se our Bishops and 〈…〉 Nation as S. Manâ—uetus S. 〈◊〉 S. Maâ—cellus or Marcellinus the renoâ—ned Priests and Preachers of Cambridge â—n and afteâ— the yeare 140. S. Marcellus being and liuinâ— Bishop after King Lucius and Britonie waâ— conuerted when three Archbisbops anâ—â—â—ventie eight Bishops were here placed anâ— all Ecclesiasticall thinges established anâ— confirmed by Papall power in this Kingdome â— To make this Succession without aâ— question they deliuer vnto vs the names aâ— â—me Episcopall Acts of our Archbishops Hollinâ—h Hist of England Stowâ—s Hist. Godwin conuers of Britan. Cataâ— of Bishops in London Yorke and S. Dauids â—f LondoÌ„ Yorke and Caerlegion In London â—e chiefe Metropolitan See S. Theanus S. luanus Cadar Obinus Conanus Pallaâ—us Stephanus I'tutus Theodwynus or â—edwynus Thedredus Hillarius Guiteliâ—s Restitutus Fastidius Vodinus Theoâ—s Others adde S. Augulus Ternokinus â—d Gormcelinus They confesse that Theoâ—s the last Archbishop of London with full â—risdiction continued in his Archiepiscopall â—e notwithstanding the Pagon Saxons inuaâ—n and persecutioÌ„ vntill the yeare of Christ â—â— which was but 10. yeares before S. Auguâ—â—â— coming hither So they testifie of Thaâ—â—us Matth. West an 586. Archbishop of Yorke the same yeâ—â—e â—auing his See and with the Archbishop of 〈◊〉 and many of their Clergie flying into â—alâ—â— and Cornewall to the Christian Bisâ—ps Priests and people there They reâ—pt in thâ— Archbâ—â—â—op See of Yorke Theoâ—sius Sampsoâ—â—â— Taurinus â—eruanâ—s Sampsonâ—◠〈◊〉 and the â—enamed Thadiocu◠〈…〉 â—egion they â— downe Tremonus S. 〈◊〉 S Daâ—id â—iud Conanc Theliaus Eâ—bâ—dus wholiâ—d in S. Augustins time and after him imâ—ediatly succeeding in Archiepiscopall digâ—tie fourty or more vntill the time of Berâ—rd who in the yeare 1115. lost that honour â—om that See by Papall order as all Antiâ—aries Catholikes and Protestants agree 4. These men also deliuer vnto vs a Catalogue of learned holy writers in euery agâ— and in the age whâ— S. Augustine came hitheâ— they recount vnto vs the most noble Sainâ— and Doctours Dubritius Iltutâ—s Congelluâ— Dauid Gildas Kentigeâ—nâ—s Brendant Asaphus and others whâ—ly â—nd absolutâ— agreeing with the Church of â—ome They â—â— downe our Vniuâ—rsiâ—ies 〈…〉 aâ— among others 〈…〉 from all eâ—ror Our 〈…〉 in the greâ—â—ouncelâ—s 〈…〉 â—he same faiâ— with tâ—e whole 〈…〉 they had mâ— entercourâ—e 〈◊〉 â—â—â—municaâ—â—on next to tâ— Popes of 〈…〉 the moâ—â— Catholike aâ— renowâ—â—d 〈…〉 Churcâ— of Christ â— Athanaâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 S. Martine and maâ— more and bâ—th â—â—â—se Tertulâ—â—an S. Chryâ—stome with 〈◊〉 did highly commeÌ„d thâ— our 〈…〉 true Religion 5. Anâ— becaâ—â—â— some Proâ—estants to mu◠〈…〉 libertie cannot well eâ—dure 〈…〉 â—â—ckes and Religious sâ— king wâ—a◠〈…〉 can â—o disgrace suâ— as oâ—her◠〈◊〉 â—â—nowned Clergie especialâ— the 〈◊〉 of S. Benedicts Order
A DEFENCE OF CATHOLIKES PERSECVTED IN ENGLAND Inuincibly prouing their holy Religion to be that which is the only true Religion of Christ and that they in professing it are become most faithfull dutifull and loyall Subiects to God their King and Country And therefore are rather to be honoured and respected then persecuted or molested Composed by an ould studienâ— in Diuinitie Let none of you suffer as a murderer or a theefe or a railer or a coueter of other mens things But if as a Christian let him not be ashamed but let him glorifie God in this name 1. Pet. 4. Printed at Doway by GERARD PINCHON at the signe of Coleyn 1610. A TABLE OF THE CHAPTERS CONTAINED IN THIS BOOKE Chapter I.  BY way of a Preface to the persecuted Catholikes and by them to their Persecutours of the Innocencie perfection and honour of them and their spirituall Pastours renowned Priests pag. 1. Chap. II.  That the Religion of our English Catholikes as well from the Saxons as Britans is the same with their first Apostles and deduced from them and first of the Saxons conuerted by Saint Augustine and his Roman Mission pag. 15. Chap. III.  The like proued of all other person and parts of England as also the Brâ—tans that their Religion was tâ— same with the Apostles and thâ— which our now Perseâ—uted Catâ—likes Profâ—sse and maintaine pag. 30. Chap. IIII.  The Religion of the Apostles of our primatiue Christian Britans of the first Christiaâ— Sâ—xons and of our now persecuted Catholikes pâ—oueâ— to be one and the same in euâ—ry Article against Protestants anâ—â—eâ—â—eâ—utours pag. 50. Chap. V.  That the Consecration Iurisdiction and mission of our Cathoâ—iâ—e Bishop teaching the same Apostolicall Doctrine in all thingâ— with the Catholike Church is most lawfull â—oliâ— orderlie and honourable in that his sacred calling is most worthie and necessâ—rie and therfore he vnworthily Persecuted pag. 69. Chap. VI.  That our English Priests who teach all things with the Apostolicall Religion are truely consecrated worthie men and are to be honoured and not persecuted pag. 102. Chap. VII  That theÌ„ Catholikes of England taught and directed by such guides in Religion as our Priests be are not to be persecuted but protected defended and imployed as true and faithfull subiects in all things pag. 146. Chap. VIII  That euerie Article of Catholike Religion is more agreable with the best temporall gouernmeÌ„t then those of the Protestants and that a Catholike keeping his Religion as he is bound to God so he cannot be vndutifull to his temporall Prince and Countrie pag. 157. Chap. IX  That true and obedient Catholikes be the truest and most obedient subiects pag. 170. APPROBATIO Viso tâ—stâ—moâ—io câ—iusdam virâ—docti mihique de fide docâ—râ—nâ probè coâ—â—iâ—i quo testatur â—uÌ„c libruâ— cui Tâ—â—ulus est A Defâ—nce of Cathelikes perseâ—utâ—â— in England nihil continere fidei vel bonis moâ—ibus adueâ—sâ—m quin poâ—ius â—ulta quae aâ— Catholicorum Aâ—gâ—oruâ— consolationem â—â—cianâ— â—iâ—num censâ— quem ego 〈◊〉 â—â—eo approâ—â—reâ—â—atâ—m 〈…〉 â—artâ—j Aâ—no 1630. GEOâ—GIVS COâ—Vâ—Nâ—RIVS S Theol. Doctâ— Regius 〈…〉 Pâ—â—fâ—ssor Coâ—legâ—â—ae 〈…〉 poâ—â—tus 〈…〉 Caâ—celâ—aâ—ius libâ—â—um Cenâ—or THE FIRST CHAPTER By way of a Preface to the persecuted Catholikes and by them to their Persecutours of the Innocencie perfection and honour of them and their spirituall Pastours renowned Priests 1. RENOWNED Catholikes of Engâ—and moâ—â— renoâ—ned Catâ—oâ—â—kes 〈◊〉 perseâ—uâ—ed â—or your 〈◊〉 â—eligiâ—â— giue leaue to one yoâ—r old humble â—nd vnworthie seruaâ—t â—n Châ—ist Associate â—nd Partaker now with you and youâ— renowâ—ed Predecessours a long time fâ—oÌ„ his youth â—o old age in prisâ—n peâ—â—â—cution 〈◊〉 â—nd tribulatioÌ„ for the most holy Caâ—â—olike â—aith and Religion to remember hiâ— loue â—nd duâ—ie to you as also the bounâ—en dutie â—nd office of vs all as true seruants to our Master Christ in so noble and iust a cause with the honour reward and recompence which is his ordinarie paie to all his faithfull seruants in such his affaires farre more eminent and excellent thâ— any Potentate Prince or Persecutour on earth can either take away or giue vnto vs or any of them or we in this world inioy 2. Let me beginne with you as Saint Cyprian that glorious Byshop and Martyr did with the constant Martyrs and Confessours of his Countrie and time Quibus ego vos laudibus praedicâ—m fortissimi Martyres c. O most valiant Cyprian â—pisâ—â—l ad 〈◊〉 Confâ—â—sor â—â—â—pist 6. Martyrs with what praises may I blase you forth with what criâ—s of voce may I adorne the fortitude of youâ— heart and perseuerance of faith you haue endured euen to the consuâ—mation of glorie in your examinatioÌ„s most hard torments You haue not giuen place to punishments but they haue rather yealded to you Crownes haue ministred an end to those griefes to which torments gaue no â—nd And presently after he addeth The multitude of those which were present hath seene the heauenlie fight of God the spirituall waâ—re of Christ his seâ—uants to haue stoode with a free voice an vncorrupted minde a diuine force naked truely of wordlie weapons but armed with the shield of faith 3. Let me speake vnto you and of you especially chiefe Prelate and Pastours Priests and persecuted Clergie of England and of your late Predecessours on earth and now happie in heauen as Saint Iohn Chrisostome thus performed to the two most glorious Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paule Quasnam Chrysâ—st seâ—â— de SS Apostolis Petr. â—aul â—p Metaphrâ—st in Breuiadie 6. Iulij vobis referemus gâ—atias qui tantum pro nobis laboraâ—tis memenituâ— Petre obstupesco recordor tui Paule excedens mente lachrymis opprimor c. What â—hankes shall we giue vnto you who haue laboured so much for vs ô Peter I remember thee and am astoniâ—ed O Paule I call the to mind and with excesse tâ—ereâ—f ame oppressed with teares For what shall I speake or what shall I vtter when I behold youâ— afflictions I â—annot tell How many prisons haue you sanctified what chaines haue you adorned what â—orments haue â—ou sustained what curses or reproaches haue you sufâ—ered how haue you borne Christ how with your preaâ—hing haue you ioyed Churches blessed are the instruâ—ents of your tongue your members are sprinckled with â—lood for the Church You haue imitated and followed Christ in all things 4. I doe not I dare not compare my selfe â—o those great lightes Bishops and Rulers in â—he Church of Christ or such as be vnder our â—upreame Paâ—â—our of that highest Order to â—home I owe all dutie and respect yet as an â—ld student in holy â—eâ—â—ing hauing read â—uch and written not a little for the defence â—f you and the cause of God without any â—ust controll neuer adhearing vnto or reaâ—hing suspected or vnsouÌ„d doctrine of sweareâ—ing churchinge châ—pâ—â—â—ge sword â—â—â—â—ing â—r such like stuffe may now more bouldâ—y â—rite and wish I
thâ— Iohn 21. these Saint Peter answered Yea Lord. Theâ— our Sauiour repâ—ied twice Pasce agnos meoâ— Feede my lambes And at S. Peters third answeâ— to the same demand he added pâ—sce oues meâ— feede my sheepe And to his Apostles he said Bonus Pastor animam suam dat pro ouibus suis à goâ— Iohn 10. Pastor giueth his life for his sheepe And Maioreâ— hac dilectionem nemo habet quam vt animaâ— Iohn 15. suam ponat quis pro amicis suis Greater loue thâ— this no man â—ath that a man yeald his life for hâ— friends 9. This Pastorall office and dignitie was euer accompted so perfect and excellent that in all times euen out of danger it was esteemed among the best Religious a perfection and honour for any with them to be preferred to Episcopall or such pastorall charge of soules Therefore the highest Consistorie to wit the Court of Rome hath most iustly and publickly declared the renowned Priests of England to be Ordinis Apostolici Of the most perfect and excellent Apostolicke order And as theire Order is the same with the Apostles so they doe deduce their neuer yet interrupted Frane Godw. Pref. to the Catal. of Bish. conuers of Brit. pa. 6. succâ—sâ—ion therein euen from the highest and chiefest Apostle Saint Peter himselfe from whom so to deriue it to speake in publicke Protestant words VVe should accompt it a great glorie to our Nation to deriue the pedegree of our spirituall linage froÌ„ so noble and excellent a father as S. Peter For both Greeke Latine AuncieÌ„t Later Catholike an Protestant writers assure Sim. Metaphr in SS Petr. Paul Antiquit-Graec ib apud Surin Sanct. Petr. Theater of Brit. l. 6. Camden in Brit. Nicâ—phor apud â—â—â— vs that S. Peter came hither into Britonie Simon Petrus qui fundamenâ—um esse Ecclesâ—ae desinitus est tanquam pâ—obaâ—issimus discipulus c. Simon Peter who like a most approued disciple was declared to be the fâ—undation of the Church as more powerfull then all the rest was commanded to illuminate the obscurer parts of the world in the west and he could entirely fulfull the command He came into Britonie in which place after he had staid long drawne many people to the faith erected Churches and ordained Bishops Priests and Deacons in the twelfth yeare of the Emperour Nero he returned to Rome againe The best Protestant Antiquaries doe hold this for so vnquestionable a truth in Histories that they crie out against any that should doubt thereof Quid ni crederemus why should Cambdâ—n supra we not beleeuâ— 10. Some saie that Saint Philip the Apostle and others would haue it the great Apostle Saint Peter sent S. Ioseph and his Religious companie of Glastenburie hither But S. Peter being alredy proued to be here before their comming and after it might well allowe and approue of their comming and being here but I see not how he did send them hither And as our best Antiquities deliuer they all died without leauing any Successours here vntill Pope Elutherius and King Lucius time But for our Succession of our holy Catholike Clergie Priests it was neuer yet interrupted but continued from S. Peter here vnto this day notwithstanding any howsoeuer outragious tempest of Persecution of whatsoeuer enimies of Christian truth Infidels or Heretikes in great number and constancie by all writers none denying or making doubt thereof And our Protestat Antiquaries themselues doe generally confesse and particularly recompt many Bishops Priests and other Clergie men to haue continued here in euery age both in the Britons and Saxons time without any interruption at all Toâ— tantaque Presbyterorum Monachorum Praesulum Episcoporum Ecclesiarum Caenâ—biorum Math. Parker Antiquit. Brit. pag. 7. 8. Iohn Gosâ—â— hist. â—ccles Iohn Ball de scrip Centur. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Godwin Catal. of Bish. in all Sees Sediumque vetusta nomina quae quouis saeculo extiteruÌ„t So many old names of Priests Monckes Prelats Bishops Churches Monasteries Episcopall Sees which in euery age were extant And vnder the Saxons and English both of Bishops and Priests with their Succession of Bishops vntill the first Parliament of Queene Elizabeth 11. Neither doe our Protestants as latly in publicke Parliament make their Religiâ— to which they would violently enforce you any older then that dare almost 80. years old neither can they except leaping backward ouer Queene Maries Raigne they would patch 4. yeares of youÌ„ge King Edwards youÌ„ger Religion vnto it shewe any Edict Decree Statute Parliament or any publicke proposall or command euen by temporall power for any Religion vse or profession therein to which they would pull and driue you but froÌ„ such younge times and Tutors in Religion That which is true Religion must haue so many hundreds of yeares in age more as then were and now are from Christ and his Apostles daies and other Apostles and Proposers then King Edward and Queene Elizabeth who persecuted and in what they could did suppresse the true old Catholike Apostolike and Christian Religion But in so doing and in whatsoeuer they did or could doe they onely could inuent oâ— giue allowance vnto a newe but not a true Religion Therefore if this onely and nothing else were to be saied vnto you or for you in this cause you are secure you suffer for Iustice you are blessed here and by that title shall so perseuerinâ— be eternally happie in heauen Bishops Priests Monckes Religious and lay Catholikes not so persecuted may perish but perseuering constantly in persecution for Christ's cause they cannot perish Beati qui persecutionem patiuntur propter Matth. 5. Iustitiam Blessed are they that suffer persecution for Iustice As the cause confirmâ—d by Christ himselfe confirmeth Quoniam ipsorum est regnum coelorum Because theirs is the Kingdome of heauen This quoniam because Is more particular vnto you for it is almost proper vnto our Priests and their Predecessours in this holie warre which Christ saied to his Apostles Vos â—estimonâ—um perhibeâ—itis quia ab initio mecum Iohn 15. estis You sâ—all giue testimonie because you are with me from the begining It is theirs and their childrens in Christ Vos autem estis qui permansistis mecum in tentationibus meâ—s You are they that haue Luck 22. remained with me in my temptations It is true of them and all such Catholikes of whom Saint Paul saied to the Romans Fides vestra annuntiatur â—â— Rom. 1. in vniuerso mundo Your faith is renowned in the whole world This of your faith and constancie therin and of your obedience and suffrings Vestra obedientiâ— in omnem locum diuulgata est Your obedience is published into euery place â—d Rom. 16. 12. If Christ will confesse all before his father which is in heauen who doe confesse him before men on eaâ—th this confession of you that haue beene so long Spectaculum Aspectacle 1. Corint 4. to Angels and men will be