King Ethelbert also Pro animae suae remedio c for the good of his soule gaue to Mellit Bishop the land called Tillingham out of Stow Chron. pag. 77. And so of the rest Our first Christian K. gaue land to Churches for help of his soule Again Fox pag. 154. The causes why solemn Monasteries were first founded by Kings Queenes Kings daughters and rich Consuls are these Pro remedio animae meae pro remissione peccatorum meorum pro redemptione peccatorum meorum pro salute Regnorum meorum quique subiacent regimini populorum in honorem gloriosae virginis For the redemption of my soul for the redeeming of my sinnes and for the saftie of my Kingdoms and people subiect to my gouernment to the honor of the glorious Virgin And therfor by D. Abbots his verdict and by euident inference our auncient Princes wanted the sunne of Protestants righteousnes 10 10. And lastly I proue it by the plain confession of Protest For Fox Acts. pag. 132. saith our first Christian Kings were deuout to Church men espetially to the Church of Rome Which was in the opinion of Protestāts Our Kings deuour to the P. vvhen he vvas in opinion of Protestants Antichrist when the Pope was known Antichrist That is in Boniface 3. time and since Bale Cent. 1. cap 73 saith of king Ethelbert our first Christian king that He receaued the doctrin of the Roman Religion with all the imposture therof and died the 21. yeare of his receaued Papistrie Could he speake more plainly And Cent. 13. cap. 5 Felix saith he conuerted the East parte of England to Papistrie A Plaine confessiō of Protestants that our nation vvas first conuerted to papistrie And Ibid cap. 4. he saith that Birin vnder colour of the Gospel taught the VVest saxons Papisticam fidem Papistical faith The same confesse diuers other Protestants as hath bene shewed before when we proued that S. Greg. and S. Austin were by the confession of Protestants plain Rom. Catholicks 4. To all these particuler proofes I ad a general one vz the English names which our ancient Kings and people gaue to their seruice and their Pastors See in Ingulph hovv antient Knights vvere vvont to goe to confession before they vvere knighted also their Churches Tombs and Epitaphes and finally all their ancient Monuments do testifie and proclame their Catholick Roman religion For their seruice of God they called Masse Nether can it be shewed that euer they called it other wise and of it haue they tearmed the cheefe feasts of the yeare as Christmasse Candlemasse Michelmas Name of Masse Martin masse As likwise they haue tearmed Shreuetide of their Shreiuing and confessing them selues before they began their lent Fast Palmesonday of the Palmes which they caried on that day as Catholicks at this day doe Ember dayes of the Catholick fast of Quator tēpora corruptly pronouncing the last word of Priests Their cheefe Doers of their seruice they termed Priestes That is as Protest confesse Sacrificers and therfor their ministers abhor the name Reinold conf pag. 466 467. Their cheefe Churches they built in forme of a Crosse The cheefe Altar therin on high and toward the East Forme of Churches and diuers Altars in little Chappell 's about erected therin a Roodloft with the Roode or Crosse of Christ vppon it adorned their Chappell 's euen the very glasse windowes with Pictures In like sort they buried their dead with Crosses as was seene on the tombe of King Arthur Buriall of dead and their Bishops with Chalices as in the Tombe of S. Birin and vsually on the Epitaphs desire men to pray for the soule of the dead Epitaphs And where I pray yow was the Protestant Communion when our first Christian Ancestors termed their cheefe seruice of God Masse and therof named their principall feasts in the yeare where were their Ministers when they termed their Pastors Priests and sacrificers Wher were their Churches when all the Cathedrall Churches were built in forme of a Crosse with one high Altar and diuers little Altars in the Church about where were they them selues when our Ancestors euen dead did by Crosses wher with they were buried and the Epitaphs of their Tombes professe the Roman Catholick religion CHAP. XXII Certayne obiections of Ministers that our auncient Kings were not Romane Catholiques disproued 1. ALbeit euery one of iudgment will easely see that what can be obiected against this so cleare D. Doue of Recusancie vvil haue Bellarm to be a Protest or no perfect Catholik and by the Aduersaries confessed truth is but cauils which want not against almost the euidenst truth that is yet for satisfaction of all sorts of people we wil propose what D. Abbots in his Answer to D. Bishops epistle pag. 199. lately hath collected for proofe that our ancient Kings were Protestants or at least not perfect obiec ∣ tion 1 Roman Catholicks First he saith that our antient Kings had the supremacie in causes Ecclesiasticall Ansvver This is euidently false by what hath bene said in the 5. 6. and 7. proofe of the former Chapter To which I add that as it shal be shewed herafter King Edward 3. whome Protestants account to make most for them professed it to be a sauor of heresie to deny the Popes supremacie in causes ecclesiasticall 2. Abbots saith that the kings founded Bishopricks and inuested them at their obiec ∣ tion 2 pleasur as did Edward Confessor the Bishoprick of Exester Ansvver That in S. Austins time or long after the King founded Bishopricks and inuested Bishops is apparantly false For it is euident in Beda lib. 1. cap. 29. That S. Greg. at his owne pleasure apointed two Archbishopricks vnder each of them twelue Bishopricks to be erected in England And lib. 2. cap. 4. That S. Austin by his authoritie founded the Archbishoprick of Canterburie and the Bishopricks of London and Rochester Our ancient Kings tooke not vpon them to erect Bishopriks and that the King then did onely build them Churches indow the Bishopricks with lands and giue them saith Beda lib. 1. cap. 28. Possessions necessarie for their maintenance And aboue 800. yeares agoe when King Offa would alter the Bishoprik of Lichfeild in to an Archbishoprick K Ethelbert he took not vpon him to doe it by his owne authoritie or of the Bishops of his realm K. Offa. but procured Pope Adrian to send two legats for that purpose Malmsb. lib. 1. Reg. cap. 4. K Edvvard Sen. And 700. yeares agoe mhen King Edward Senior erected fiue Bishopricks in the West Contrie it was done by the expresse commandement of Pope Formosus Malmsb. 2. Reg. cap. 5. K VVilli◠Conq. And about 500. yeares agoe when King William Conqueror would haue some English Bishops deposed and Bishopricks translated from litle Tounes to greater Citties he procured Pope Alexander 2. to send a Legat hither to doe it Malmsb. 1. Pont. But yet we grāt
crownes Priests haue shauen crovvnes Beda lib. 5. cap. 22. It behoueth them which being either made by vow Monkes or by profession of the Clergie to binde them selues more strictly with the bridle of continencie for Christs sak to bear in their head by clipping the forme of a crovvne Ibid. All Priests and Religious men had their heads shauen round after the true shape of a crowne But as Bale saith Cent. 14. pag. 194. Tonsura est Romanae Bestiae character Ninthly they erected many Altars in one Church with Martyrs reliques Manie altar Sinono Church vsed lights and other ornaments as Catholicks doe Beda lib. 5. cap. 21. Acca imployed his diligence to gather together out of all places the holy Apostles and Martyrs reliques to the end he might in honor of them build certain Altars aparte by them selues in little Chappell 's made for the same purpose within the precinct and walls of the same Church Morouer he prepared holy vessels lights and other necessaries to the better adorning of the Church of God And lib. 3. cap. 6. They worshiped Reliques Tenthly to omit many more certain Markes of Roman Religion S. Peters supremacie beleued They accounted S. Peter Primat and head of the Apostles Beda lib. 5. c. 22. I desire with all my hart to follow the stepps of Blessed S. Peter head of the Apostles Ibid. They were reduced to the order of S. Peter Primat and head of the Apostles and committed as it were to his Patronage and protection The Pope high B. ouer the vvhole vvorld They accounted the Pope high Bishop ouer the whole world So in plaine termes S. Beda calleth S. Greg. Pope l. 2. c. 1. Accounted the Church of Rome the Catholick and Apostolick Church lib. 3. c. 25. And l. 4. cap. 23. Going to Rome counted a thing of great vertue and deuotion And l. 3. c. 25. Held without all controuersie that these vvords vpon this Rock I vvill build my Church vvere principally spoken vnto Peter and that vnto him the keies of the Kingdome of heauen were giuen And the Bishops being depriued of their Bishopricks both by the King and by other Bishops appealed to Rome Beda lib. 5. cap. 20. Appeal◠from the Bishop◠and king to the Pope VVilfrid the vertuous Bishop of York appealing to the See Apostolick for his cause and by that ful authoritie absolued c. Item Fiue yeares after he was accused of King Alfrid and many other Bishops and depriued of his Bishoprick wherin vpon repairing again to Rome and obtayning licence to plead his owne defence before his accusers Pope Iohn and many Bishops sitting in Iugdment It was by their Definitiue Sentence concluded that in some parte his accusers had falsly forged surmises The Pope wrote to the Kings of England requiring them to see him restored Protestāts confesse the Rom. faith of our primitiue Church Fox And thus much out of Catholick writers now let vs see what Protestants write of the faith of our Primitiue church 2. Fox in his protestation before his Acts. After the coming of Austin and his fellowes from Rome Christian faith began to enter and spring among the Saxons after a certain Romish sorte Acts. pag. 154. Good vvorks done for clensing from sin The causes why solenm Monasteries were first founded in England by Kinges Queenes and Kings daughters and rich Consuls are these pro remedio animae meae c. For remedy of my soule for remission of my sinnes Foundation of Protestancie vnknovvne to our primitiue Church for the safty of my Kingdoms and people which are vnder my gouernment In honor of the most glorious Virgin Whervpon afterward pag. 170. he concludeth that the doctrine of Iustification by onely faith which pag. 840. he calleth the foundation of their Church was then vnknown Bale Bale Cent. 1. cap. 72. saith English men after Austin did dedicat their Churches to dead Saints Our first Christian K. a perfect Papist And cap. 73. King Ethelbert receaued the Roman Rites and doctrine with all the imposture and Cent. 14. cap. 54. saith that the two Hewalds who were the first English martyrs passi sunt pro Papismo papistici Martyres Our first Martyrs suffer for Papistrie Bilson Papistical Martyrs suffered for Papistrie Bilson of Obed pag. 321. The Saxons were soone entreated to receaue the Bishop of Rome for their Patriarch Stovv Stow pag. 77. citeth this Charter of King Ethelbert King Ethelbert by inspiration of God gaue to Bishop Mellit for remedie of his soule the Land which is called Tillingham for the Monastery of S. Paul which kind of giuing goods is quite opposit to Protestancie Honor of S. Peter counted signe of Christianitie Reinolds as yow may see more hereafter And pag. 78. saith King Sebert to shew him selfe a Christian built a Church in honor of S. Peter Reinolds Confer pag. 12. This imagination of the key and Porter and opinion of power to shut and open committed to Peter onely ouer all the Church as it includeth also the Apostles King Oswie conceaued Keys giuen onely to Peter and all his Clergie did agree vnto it And of S. Beda the principal Doctor of our Primitiue Church Osiander Osiander Epit. Cent. 7. pag. 331. saith thus He was wrapped in all the Popish errors and articles in which we disagree this day from the Pope S. Beda a perfect Papist Wherby we may see how perfect a Papist S. Austin was Fulk in Hebr. 10. Fulk Beda liued in a superstitious time yet liued he 80. yeares after S. Austin long after Antichrist did shew him self Beda sayd that men vnderstod that the helthful sacrifice of masse auailed to the redemption of the body and soule euerlasting And in 1. Pet. 3. Beda was caryed away with the errors and corruptions of his tyme. And thus I hope I haue sufficiently proued the Roman Catholick faith of our first Apostle S. Austin by the faith of his maister S. Greg. by his owne deedes and doctrine by Confession of Protestants and finally by the doctrine of our Primitiue Church which he founded and how it was that Christian Religion which was first founded in our Nation and our English Ancestors imbraced when they forsooke Paganisme Now it remaineth to shew that the same Religion hath continewed also constantly vnto this late lamentable reuolt to Protestancy in all our Nation both in the Clergie and Laitie which I will declare in all the Archbishops of Canterburie who were the cheefe of the one order and in the Kings who were heads of the other And by the way I will name in euery Kings time some of the notable men who successiuely haue confirmed it by their holy life and miracles CHAP. XVIII That all the Archbishops of Canterburie from S. Austin to our tyme were Roman Catholicks proued by generall reasons 1. FIrst because there is no mention or memorie in any Chronicle of England No record that anie Archb
necessary to the sustenance of their life and liuing in all points according to the doctrine which they set forth Itē King Ethelbert was persuaded by the good example of S. Austin his company and by miracles shewed to be baptized Hereto I might add what diuers Protestants haue written of the great holines of some of S. Austins company who succeeded him in the Archbishoprik of Canterbury But for that we shall haue more conuenient place hereafter Now let vs see what the malice and hatred of some Ministers against Saint Austins doctrine hath caused them to obiect against his person CHAP. VI. Certain slanders imposed vpon Saint Austin disprooued CIcero in his Oration for Roscius saith that as fier falling into water is straight put out so a slander put vpon an innocent man is quickly extinguished Which I doubt not will prooue true in the calumniations obiected against S. Austin The first wherof is cruelty say they in exhorting Ethelfrid a Heathen King of the North against the British Monkes of whome he slew at once aboue 1200. But this is an impudent slander deuised first for any thing that I can finde by Bale who centur 1. capit 70. Bale slandereth S. Austin vpon reports fearfully broached it and therfor referreth it to reports saying Vt ferunt as some reporte But afterward Cent. 13. cap. 1. he confidently auoucheth it After him tooke vp that slander Iuell Defens Apolog. part 5. Abbots in his Answer to Do. Bishop p. 198. Sutclif Subuers c. 3. 7. and others That S. Austin vvas no cause of the death of the British Mōks This false slander is many wayes refuted First because it is auouched without all testimonies of antiquity Bale as I say hauing no one to name before referreth him selfe to vncertain reports if he be not both Author and reporter too Abbots citeth Iuell Sutclif alleageth Thomas Grey a nameles Chronicle which he calleth ould as if they should haue said ask my fellow if I be a theefe Secondly because the Britons albeit enemyes to Saint Austin blamed not him but others for this slaughter as is euident in Galfrid lib. 4. cap. 4. Thirdly because the slanderers of Saint Austin disagree in their tale more than the accusers of Susanna and therfor if Daniel might be iudge these would be condemned as well as they were For some say S. Austin excited King Ethelfrid to this murder others say not Saint Austin but K. Ethelbert his scoller Some say that Ethelfrid made this slaughter others that K. Ethelbert as Grey cited by Sutclif So they agree nether in the Author nor Actor of this matter Fourthly because as Beda testifieth lib. 2. c. 2. Saint Austin was long before that slaughter taken out of this life to the Kingdom of heauen and no way caused it but rather forwarned the Britons therof by prophecie But it came to passe saith Beda by the secret working of Gods iudgement vpon that vnfaithfull and naughty people And the same testifie our best Historiographers both Catholicks and Protestants Namely Malmesbury lib. 3. Reg. pag. 325 Hunting lib. 3. Florent an 603. Westmon an 603. Sigebert an 602. 615. Stow Chron. pag. 66. Godwin in the life of Saint Austin Fox Acts pagina 119. where he writeth that Saint Austin forspoke the destruction and by report of others was dead before it hapned 2. To this Sutclif cap. 7. cit answereth Sutclif feigneth corruption in S. Beda that those words of Saint Beda touching Saint Austins death before the slaughter are added by some forger First because after this war Saint Austin ordained Iustus and Mellitus Bishops as Beda saith he reporteth Secondly because they are not in the Saxon Translation of Beda made by King Alfred Thirdly because the Chronicle of Peterbrough and Flores Histor testifye that Saint Austin dyed three yeares after this execution Confuted But this surmise of forgerie in Saint Beda his Latin History is altogeather incredible both because all Latin copies in which language Saint Beda wrote haue the sayd words and impossible it is that ether one forger should corrupt all the copies in Christendome or that in all Christēdome men would agoe to corrupt Beda in that place and in no other And also because till Sutclif no man suspected any such forgerie Finally because as it shall appeare anon by true Chronologie of tyme Saint Austin was indeed dead befor the slaughter And no little presumption therof it is that the Britons who layd the blame therof on King Ethelbert Saint Austins scoller would soner haue layd the blame therof on Saint Austin himselfe who threatfully saith Saint Beda prophecied it if he had bene aliue as King Ethelbert was when it chauced But little will he maruell to hear Sutclife to suspect Saint Beda as corrupted who considereth how many and how vndoubted bookes of Fathers in his Challeng he had reiected as ether forged or corrupted Vsuall vvith Sutclif to say Authors are forged as Saint Athanas de vita Antonij Saint Hierom de vita Pauli Hilarionis S. Gregories Dialogues Saint Ambrose de Viduis many others Which kinde of shift at it is most vsuall with Sutclif so in the eye of any wise man it is most desperat As for his proofes the first is a manifest vntruth Sutc. belieth S. Beda For Saint Beda reporteth not that S. Austin ordained Bishops after the said slaughter of the British Monkes but onely talketh of the slaughter before he speaketh of the ordination The cause wherof was because hauing tould of Saint Austins prophecie of the Britons destruction which prophecie was before he ordained Bishops to shew that it was a true prophecie addeth that after it hapened as S. Austin had fortould and how long after he soone after declareth to wit long after S. Austins death Sutclifs second proofe I greatly suspect to be a forgerie of his owne But how so euer that be ther is nether reasō that he should vrge nor that we should beleeue one translation before all originalls Originals to be beleeued before trāslations many before one For who would not think that that trāslation were defectiue in that place rather than that all Originalls had more than they should As for the Chronicle of Peterbrough and Flores Histor wee might take iust exception against them as hauing past through the corrupt fingering of diuers Protestants but who are they to oppose against so many cited before to the contrary especially seeing that Flores Histor cleareth Saint Austin from this slaughter and attribueth it to Prophecie And besides his Chronologie as Godwin in the Bishops of York pag. 442. a Protestant confesseth is very vncertain VVhē the British Monks vvere slaine in this point is very false For as Sigebert in Chron. and Bale him self Cent. 1. cap. 74. reporteth out of Masseus the slaughter was done an 615. At what tyme as all writers agree S. Laurence was Archbishop and Saint Austin dead VVhen S. Austin died
ether an 614. as Malmesbury saith in Hist and in Fastis or an 605. as Sigebert saith in Chron. or 608. as Bale hath cent 13. cap. 1. or an 604. as Baron gathereth out of Beda and Florent in Chron. and Stow pag. 62. affirmeth How then could Saint Austin cause this slaughter which was so long after his death and much les goe in the army to the slaughter as Sutclif citeth out of an ould Chronicle if he do not lye himselfe 3. For this Bilson in his Booke of Obedience pag. 114. saith that the King Ethelbert King of Kent whome Saint Austin conuerted mooued King Ethelfrid to commit this massacre and citeth therto Galfrid of Munmouth lib. 8. cap. 4. and so indirectly deriueth the faulte to Saint Austin his teacher That K. Ethelbert caused not the British Mōkes to be slaine But first if this slaughter were done as we haue seene out of Bale in the yeare 615. certain it is that Saint Austin liued not till that tyme but dyed before as is alredy shewed and therfore he could not be the author of this fact Secondly in defence of King Ethelbert I oppose against Bilson what Fox saith p. 119. Fox defēdeth King Ethelbert that it seemeth rather suspicious than true that Ethelbert being a Christian King ether could so much preuaile with a Pagan Idolater or els would attempt so far as to commit such a cruell deede And in truth who so considereth the disposition of that Pagan King in Beda lib. 1. cap. 33. where he is compared to a rauening wolfe will easely see that he needed no stirrer vp to make war against the Britōs And therfor Fox loco cit rightly ascribeth it to the fierse furie of Ethelfrid which was so great as he is sirnamed Ferus Besides that K. Ethelbert was more potent than King Ethelfrid for he had all the South part of England at command as testifyeth Saint Beda lib. 1. cap. 25. and Ethelfrid onely the North. And therfor if he would haue reuenged Saint Austin by war and bloodshed he would rather haue done it him selfe than stirred an other Heathen King against them But this good King was so far from causing the Britons to be murdered because they would not receaue S. Austins doctrine as that as writeth Saint Beda lib. 1. c. 26. he would not force his owne subiects to receaue it As for Galfrid ther is no such thing in the place cited by Bilson which argueth that he cited it out of Iuell without seeing the booke But indeed lib. 11. c. 13. Galfrid saith that Ethelbert excited Ethelfrid to goe to Bangor and destroy Abbot Dimoth other Monkes who had resisted S. Austin But Galfrid is a very fabulous Author the first broacher of Merlins Prophecies Cambd. in Brit. p. 8. calleth his history inepties fooleries and his book is forbidē by the Councell of Trent and of other incredible fables and liued many hundred yeares after Saint Beda who testifyeth lib. 2. cap. 2. that King Ethelfrid came not of purpose to kill the Monkes but to get Chester as he loco cit and Malmesbury lib. 1. Reg. c. 3. do insinuat and being to ioyne battell with the Britons espying the Monkes at prayer and vnderstanding that they came to pray against him set first vpon them and slew them 4. The second fault which Ministers impute to S. Austin That S. Austins not rising to the Britons proceded not of pride is pryde because he sat stil in his chaire when the British Bishops and Deuins came to confer with him True it is that S. Austin did so but that it proceeded not of pryde appeareth because nether S. Beda nor any English or foraine writer vnto our times besides the Britons who were hereticks then consequētly most proude themselues imputed it to pryde Secondly because Saint Austin and his fellowes as them selues write in Beda lib. 2. cap. 4. Honored the Britōs with great reuerēce while they thought they were Catholicks Therfor Saint Austins not rising to them proceeded not of pride but of some other iust cause Thirdly because the British Priests were such then as they deserued no honor yea much dishonor and therfore it could be no pride in S. Austin to giue them none VVhat kind of men they vvere to vvhome S. Austin did not also For besides that they were hereticks S. Beda lib. 2. cap. 2. calleth them vnfaithfull naughty and detestable people And Gildas their owne Contry man saith that they were wolues enemies of truth and friends to lyes enemyes of God and not Priests merchants of mischeef and not Bishops Impugners of Christ and not his Ministers more worthy to be drawn to prison or to the cage than to Priesthood And much more of the like sorte And Fox addeth out of an ould Chronicle Acts lib. 2. pag. 114. that all things whether they pleased or displeased God they regarded alike and not onely seculer men did this but their Bishops teachers without distinction Which being so I appeale to the iudgement of any indifferent man whether these men deserued any honor at S. Austins hands especially he being lawfully apointed their Archbishop and Superior by Saint Gregory Great humilitie in S. Austin to confer vvith those to vvhome he did not rise And whether it were not great humility in him to seeke conference with this kind of people now the second tyme after he had once before confuted them both by disputation and euident miracle which made them to confesse that he taught the truth The cause therefor why he arose not to them vvhy S. Austin arose not to the Britons was ether because he followed the aduise of his Maister Saint Gregory who albeit he were one of the humblest men that euer was yet lib. 4. Epist 36. giueth this counsell to Bishops Let vs kepe humility in minde and yet maintain the dignity of our order in honor Or els perceauing the Britons to be obstinat which well appeared when for so small occasion they would forsake the doctrine which them selues had seene confirmed by miracle and confessed to be truth he followed the aduise of Saint Iohn Epist 2. Protest cōdemne that in S. Austin vvhich they commend in Cranmer If any come to yow and bring not this doctrine receaue him not into your house nor say to him God speede But whether S. Austin would not arise to the Britons for these or other iust causes to him known Protestants can no way cōdemn his fact who commend a far les excusable fact of Cranmer Fox Acts edit 1596. p. 1599. 1699. Latimer and Ridley For Cooper Chron. an 1555. sayth that because the Bishops of Lincoln Gloster Bristow declared themselues to be in the Popes Commission nether Ridley nor Latimer would shew any reuerence to them nor put of their capps The same he writeth of Cranmer pag. 373. And if this behauiour be commēded in protestant Prelats towards their superiors and Iudges why should the like
Prosper lib. De ingratis Bernard epist 237. And in like sort they call it sedes Apostolica as Caluin confesseth and is euident ex Concil Calcedon Act. 16. And Rein. Confer pag. 369. The Fathers in speaking of the Church of Rome mention often the Chair and seat of Peter Hierom honoreth the Bishop of that See with the name of Peters Chaire Fiftly they call the Bishop of Rome successor to S. Peter S. Hier. ep ad Damas Concil Ephes 1. Tom. 2. S. Eulog apud Greg. lib. 6. ep 37. And that they meane of a proper successor appeareth by that they attribute that peculierly to the Pope Sixtly lastly they say that Peter sate in the Bishops Chaire of Rome as they saye his successors did Cathedra saith S. Austin lib. 2. cont Petil. quid tibi fecit Romana in qua Petrus sedit in qua nunc Anastasius sedet VVhat hath the Chair of Rome done to thee in which Peter sate and in which now sitteth Anastasius Therfore either Peter was a proper Bishop or Anastasius was none To conclude Reinolds sayth P. Damas succeded Peter in his chaire Reinolds him self though vnawares confesseth it pag. 376. where he sayth that Damasus succeded Peter as in Chair so in doctrine 10. As for the first of Reinolds cauils It is no more against Peters Apostleship to be Bishop of one Citty than it was to take a particuler care of the Iewes as he did nor more than it is for the Bishop of Winster to be Parson of Eastmean And for the second Irenaeus doth not call Linus first Bishop of Rome but onely saith that Peter and Paul gaue him the Bishoprick to gouern the Church to wit vnder Peter and in his absence Euseb indeed calleth Euodius first Bishop of Antioch but that he meaneth of pure Bishops which were not also Apostles For before he had sayd Petrus Ecclesiam Antiochenam fundauit òbique Cathedram adeptus sedit And Rein. loco cit confesseth and both he and all graunt that Linus was Peters successor And as for Ruffin his words proue no more but that Peter instituted Linus to help him especially in his absence as Valerius did institute S. Aug. in his life tyme who after his death succeeded him and so did Linus to Peter Thus haue I prooued that S. Gregorie was successor to S. Peter in his Episcopall See and that he succeded him also in faith I neede not proue because protestants although they find some fault with Greg. doctrine yet they confesse as is shewed before that he taught as much as is needfull to saluation and consequently he wanted no thing to true succession to S. Peter 11. Fourthly I proue that the Pope was most likely to succede Saint Peter Proued out of Fathers that the P. succedeth peter in his authority by that which the Fathers attribute to him Saint Hierom epist ad Damasum de nomine hypostasis Ego nullum primum nisi Christum sequens beatitudini tuae id est Cathedrae Petri communione consocior super illam Petram aedificatam Ecclesiam scio Quicunque extra hanc domum agnum comederit prophanus est I following none formost but Christ communicate with thy Holines that is with the Chaire of Peter Vpon that Rock do I know the Church was built who soeuer shall eate the lambe out of this house is prophane Note how he saith that he followeth first Christ and next the Pope and that the reason which he giueth herof after was not why he followed Christ first for that were needles to proue amongst Christians And if he would haue giuen any it would haue bene Hierom follovveth the P. next after christ because Christ made the P. the rock of his Church because Christ is God But the reason which he giueth was why he followed the Pope next to Christ to wit because he knew him to be the Rock on which the Church was built Wherby it is euident that by the Rock he meant not Christ as Bilson lib. de Obed. pag 87. and others would but Pope Damasus as Reinolds cōfesseth p. 370. 376. But yet he meant not saith Reinolds the succession of the Popes because Hierom writeth that Pope Liberius had before subscribed to Arianisme But if Hieroms words be well pōdered he will be found to haue said both that Pope Damasus was the Rock and that his succession to Saint Peter in his Chaire of Rome was the cause why he was the Rock For if a subiect writing to the King should say Nullum primum nisi Deum sequens maiestati tuae id est Throno Conquestoris in temporalibus consocior Super illam petram aedificatum Angliae Regnum scio Quicumque extra hanc domum aliquid egerit rebellis est He should confesse that both the King were head of the Realme and with all tell how he came by that authority to witt by succession to the conqueror So Saint Hierome in the forsaid words both sayd that Pope Damasus person which he meant by Beatitudini tuae was the Rock on which in his tyme the Church was built and sayd with all that his person had that authoriry by his succession to Saint Peter in his Roman Chaire and therfore added these words id est Cathedrae Petri as a further explication of the former And consequently he meant that the Church is built vpon all Popes that lawfully succeed in the Chaire of Peter Which is so euident as Doct. Feild lib. 1. de Ecclesia D. Feild cap. 41. confesseth plainly that Saint Hierome loc cit said that Peters Chaire is the Rock the Church is builded vpon As for Reinolds reasons were it truth that S. Hierome wrote as Reinolds saith of Liberius which yet diuers deny and Reinolds must deny if he will speak agreably to him self For pag. 570. he saith that the words of Austin ep cont Donat. and Hierome ep cit do import a sincerity of faith in the Roman Bishops to their tyme which would not be true if Liberius had fallen But admit I say it were true that Liberius had denyed his faith that maketh no more against his Rock ship than the like fault in S. Peter did against his For as S. Peter though he denyed his faith yet taught not infidelitie as he was Apostle and Pastor of the Church so nether Liberius though he committed a personall crime yet taught he no heresie as successor to S. Peter in which sorte onely he is the Rock of the Church 12. Secondly S. Austin ep contra Donat. saith S. Austin Numerate Sacerdotes vel ab ipsa Petri Sede Ipsa est enim Petra quam non vincunt superbae inferorum portae Number the Priests euen from the very Seat of Peter Successiō of Popes by S. Austin the Rock of the Church It is the Rock which the proud gates of hell do not ouercom Behould how the very succession of Popes from Peter is called the Rock of the Church as the Chair of Peter
vvas Protest befor this time in any writer domestical or forrein no record or monument of antiquitie that til Cranmer any of the Archbishops varied from the faith of his Predecessors Therfor to affirme the contrary is ether to professe to know things past by reuelation or to affirm that which nether him self knoweth nor any man euer tould him Secondly because all the Archbishops vnto S. Odo his tyme which was An. 958. had bene Monks as S. Austin was which Odo himselfe testifieth in Malmesb. lib. 1. Pontif. pag. 200. And Fox lib. 3. pag. 151. where he saith All the Archb. of Cant. Monks til S. Odo This Odo was the first from the coming of the Saxons til his tyme which was Archbishop of Canterburie being no Monke all the other before his tyme were of the profession of monkes And therfor he could not be perswaded to accept the Archbishoprick vntil he had professed him selfe a Monke In a maner all monks til An. 1184. And after that vnto Archbishop Baldwin an 1184. in a manner all the Archbishops were Monks as Godwin a Protestant yet liuing which shall suffice to aduertise the Reader of now because herafter I shall often allegd him testifieth in the life of Archbishop Hubert And what kind of Monkes these were and what vndoubted Catholicks hath bene shewed before Thirdly Archb vvere chosen by Monks they were elected by the Monks of Christ-church in Canterburie where were Monks saith Malmsburie lib. 1. Pont. p. 203 euer since the tyme of S. Laurence successor to S. Austin as is euident by the epistle of Pope Boniface to King Ethelbert Ibid. pag. 208. and appeareth both by their liues in Godwin and by the iudgment of Pope Innocent 3. in Paris pag. 287. Who when the Bishops of England challenged right in the election of the Archbishop the Pope hearing both parties gaue sentence that Monachi legittimè probauerunt c. That the Monks had lawfully proued that the â—â—or and Couent of the Church of Canterbury haue for long times past elected Bishops in their Chapter without the Bishops euen vnto this time and haue obtained their election to be confirmed of the See Apostolick And Fox Acts pag. 232. writeth that the practice of the Monks was first to keepe the election in their own hands as much as they could and secondly either to giue the election to some Prior or Monke of their owne house or to some Abbot or Bishop which some tyme had bene of their company And Ibid. he addeth that the Archbishop of Canterburie was commonly set vp by the Pope especially since the Conquest And pag. 349. that it hath bene alwaies the practice of the Church of Rome euer to haue the Archbishops of their owne setting vp or such a one as they might be sure of on their side And this election of Archbishops by Monkes continewed till Cranmers time For as Godwin writeth Archbishop Deane who was the last but one before him was elected by them And the same he intimateth of Bishop Warham who was the very last befor Cranmer Now of what religion they were whome Monkes did chuse euery one knoweth All the Archb. confirmed by the Pope Fourthly they were all confirmed by the Pope this is manifest by Godwin in their liues And no maruel for before S. Austins tyme Pope Pelagius Predecessor to S. Greg. made a law Vt quisquis Metropolitanus vltra tres Menses consecrationis suae ad fidem suam exponendam Pallium suscipiendum ad Apostolicam sedem non miserit commissa sibi careat dignitate Whervpon Reinolds Confer 458. saith that Pelagius lest he should rashly giue consent to the allowing of any Metropolitan that were not sound in faith required them to make profession of their faith and so to send for the Pal that is to say to send for his consent wherof the Pall was a token Yea pag. 543. speaking generally of the Popes of the last 200. yeares after Christ saith they required the confirmation of the Metropolitans by their consent And besides this profession of faith it was after decreed by Pope Alexander 3. saith Fox pag. 229. An. 1179. in the Councel of Lateran that no Archbishop should receaue the Pal vnles he did sweare this oath I. N. Bishop of N. from this houre forward wil be faithful and obedient to blessed S. Peter the holy Apostolick Roman Church and my Lord Pope N. and his successors Canonically entring The oath of Bishops to the Pope I will neuer by Counsel consent or deed be in cause that they loose life member or be wrongfully imprisoned And what so euer they shall commit to me ether by them selues or their messengers I will neuer wittingly reueale to their preiudice to any person VVith due respect to my vocation I will aide them in the houlding and defence of the Roman Papacie and S. Peters regalities against all men I wil giue honorable entertainment to the Legat of the See Apostolick in his going and returne and assist him in his need Being called to a Synod I will come vnles I be stayed by some Canonical let I will yearly visit the Court of Rome if it be on this side the Alpes or euery second yeare when it is beyond the mounts vnles I be dispensed withal by the See Apostolick I wil nether sel giue nor pawn nor farm out a new nor any way alien the Lands and liuings belonging to my Bishoply maintenance without the priuitie of the Pope of Rome So God me help c. And the like Oath did S. Boniface the Apostle of Germanie in his Consecration sweare to Pope Gregorie in the yeare 723. and the Pal was deliuered to him with these wordes Speech at the deliuerie of the Pall. To the honor of Almightie God the blessed Virgin Mary and the blessed Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul and my Lord Pope N. and the holy Church of Rome as also the holy Church of N. committed to yow VVe deliuer a Pal taken from the body of blessed S. Peter that is the fulnes of Pontifical function to the intent yow vse the same on certain dayes expressed in the Priuiledges granted to it by the See Apostolick c. Now that our Archbishops did receaue their Pal from the Pope is manifest and confessed by Godwin almost in euery one of their liues and shal be more plainly shewed hereafter and is acknowledged by Fox lib. 3. pag. 152. and lib. 4. pag. 172. Therfor there can be no more doubt that our Archbishops were perfect Papists than the Popes were Popes Our Archb. vvere the Popes legats Fiftly our Archbishops were euer the Popes Legats in England The Archbishops of Canterbury were saith Camb. Brit. pag. 296. Legats of the Bishop of Rome and as Vrban 2. sayd as it were Popes of an other world And Pope Iohn 12. in his letter to S. Dunstan We fully confirm thy Primacie in which thou oughtest according to the custom of thy Predecessors to be Legat
termed his adoptiue child as is before said instructed of him in maners religiō Moreouer as Caius saith In reparandis ornandis c. In repairing beutifying enriching Monasteries he labored earnestly amongst which he builded two of great renoun But Fox reckoneth three one at Shasburie one at Ethling S. Cutbert encourageth the K. to recouer England the third at Winchester The cause of the building his Monasterie at Ethling was because he being almost quite vāquisht of the Danes and lying there hid for a time S. Cutbert appeared to him badd him be of good corage assuring him both of the present vision and future victorie ouer the Danes by a present miracle Profes of the truth of S. Cutberts vision to K. Alfred This vision was as is said confirmed then by a present miracle and by the perfect conquest of the Danes after following beleeued of this notable prudent King and testifyed as Fox p. 142. cōfesseth by Malmsb. Polichron Houed Iornalasensis others and yet is termed of him without any reason or testimony a dreaming fable onely as we may imagin because it is sayd to come from S. Cutbert For soone after p. 149. he crediteth a Vision of Egwin a Herlot albeit it haue nothing so good testimonie because therin is no mentiō of any Saint Finally this excellēt King in his preface before the Pastorall of Saint Gregory calleth him Christs Vicar sent almes to Rome Westmon An. 889. also to India to performe saith Fox p. 142. His vovv to S. Thomas vvhich he made during the tyme of his distresse against the Danes In this Kings time Burdred King of Merceland forsaking his Kingdom went to Rome A King goeth to Rome and Anno. 889. his Queene Ethelswitha followed him Hollemen in time of K. Alfred In this kings time also liued S. Grimbald whome king Alfred called out of France to teach in Oxford and S. Neotus Scientia saith Bale Cent. 2. cap. 1. In knowledg and manners excelling in counsel good in speeche wise by whose counsel Alfred founded a schoole at Oxford King Edward the elder XIX 8. IN the yeare 901. succeeded King Edward the Elder sonne to king Alfred The vvorthines of K. Edvvard son and reigned saith Malmsb. lib. 2. cap. 3 23. yeares others say 24. He gouerned the land saith Fox lib. 3. pag. 146. right valiantly in Princely gouernment and such like martial prowes he was nothing inferior to his Father but rather exceeded him subdued VVales Scotlād recouered all out of the Danes hāds The same saith Cooper An. 901. Stow p. 107. A great victorie Malmsb. l. cit Florent and Westmon An. 924 Houed p. 122. And Ingulph and Hunting lib. 5. say that in one battel he slew two kinges and 10. Earles of the Danes And Ethelwerd lib. 4. cap. 4. writeth that in all he slew 4. kings of them His Rom. Religion The Roman religion of this valiant and victorious Prince is euident First because as king Edgar his grandchild in an oration which Fox hath lib. 3. pag. 170. testifieth he accounted S. Dustan his Father helper and fellow worker in all things chose him as Bishop and Shepherd of his soule and keeper of his maners obeyed him in all things and preferred his counsel before all treasure Secondly because he obeyed the commandement of the Pope who threatned him excommunication if he procured diuers Bishopricks to be erected ex Malmsb. l. cit Cambden in Brit. p. 198. Thirdly because two of his daughters Edfled and Edburga became nōnes the third Ethelhild vowed virginitie ex Malm. l. cit Houed p. 421. Tvvo daughters of King Edvvard Nonnes and the third vovved virginitie And as Bale saith Cent. 13. c. 77. Gregorie a sonne of his became an hermit in Swiseland Fourthly because he toke awaye his brothers or his brothers sonnes wife from him because she had bene a Nonne Hunt lib. 5. Westmon An. 801. In his time liued the said S. Edburg his daughter Saints and S. Fristan Bishop of Winchester a man saith Godwin in his life highly esteemed of for his learning but much more for his great vertue and holines King Athelstan XX. The VVorthines of K. Ethelstan 9. IN the yeare 924. succeeded king Athelstan sonne to king Edward and held the Crowne 16. yeares ex Malm. lib. 2. cap. 6. He was saith Fox p. 147. Cooper An. 925. and Stow p. 107. a Prince of worthie memorie valiant and wise in all his acts and brought this Lād to one Monarchy For he expelled the Danes subdued the Scotts quieted the VVelchmen The like saith Bale Cent. 2. cap. 22. and also Catholick writers as yow may see in Malmsb. l. cit Hunt lib. 5. Houed pag. 422. His religion His Roman religion is most euidēt For going to the Battel of Brumford against many kings and innumerable enemies Ingulpg Florent An. 938. Hunt lib. 5. pag. 422. he visited saith Ingulph S. Iohn of Beuerley by the waye with great deuotion and God so blessed his deuotiō as in the battel he slew saith Malmsb the king of Scotts fiue kings more A vvonderfull victorie 12. Earles innumerable multitude of his enemies and got one of the greatest victories that euer Englishe wonne And in his return gaue great gifts and priuiledges to S. Iohn of Beutrley and made it a sanctuary for all Debters and Malifactors Ex Ingulph and Cambd. in Brit. pag. 636. Besides he was saith Ingulph and Malmsb greatly delited with a peece of the holy Crosse Hovv K. Ethelstad estemed reliques and Crowne of thorns which Hugh king of France sent vnto him Made S. Aldhelm his Patron Cambd. p. 210. Builded saith Fox pag. 149 the two Monasteries of Midleton and Mithelney for his brothers soule VVhy Kings builded monasteries VVherby saith Fox it may appeare that the espetiall cause of building Monasteries in those dayes was for the releasing sinnes bothe of them departed and of them aliue which cause saith he how it stādeth with Christs Luthers Gospel let the Christian Reader try with him self Thus Fox which confession of his may suffice to shew how all that kings tyme all the Realme was Roman Catholick All Christendom of the same faith vvith K. Ethelston And how all Christendome abroad agreed with him in religiō appeareth by the marriage of his sisters to the Emperor king of Frāce other Christiā Princes In this kings time befel a miracle in Duke Elfred whome the king sent to Rome to purge him selfe of treason by his oath before S. Peters sepulcher Miracle by S Peter But saith the K. in his charter which Fox pag. 148. Malmsb and others haue hauing taken his oath he fel before the Altar and was caried by the hands of his seruants to the English schole and the next night after he ended his life Then also liued Saint Birnstan Bishop of VVinchester Qui c. saith Florēt An. 932. Malm. Polichron
sent for two Cardinals to make peace betwene him and the Scotts pag. 336. Had a tenth of spirituall goods granted him by the Pope pag. 339. Had a Carmelit for his Confessor Bale Cent. 4. cap. 96. And as he saith cap. 82. In this Kings tyme came in the Friers De paenitentia into England to whome the King gaue the Synagogue of the Iewes Item the Friers of the order of Martyrs the Sarabitae the Paulins and the Trinitaries Bale Centur. 5. cap. 13. calleth these times the middle darknes of Roman superstition In this kings time liued that famous subtil doctor Iohannes Scotus The Cath. religion hitherto in EnglaÌ„d vvithout anie opposition And hitherto haue we proued the Catholicke Roman religion through all our Christian Kings not only cleare and manifest but also without any opposition or contradiction sauing of a few who in Saint Odo his time doubted of the reall presence but were soone conuerted Hereafter in our Country the Catholicke religion hath found some opposition though small by reason of VVick life who arose in the next Kings time and his fellowes CHAP. XXVI That the Kings of England from Edvvard 3. to Henry 8. vvere all Roman Catholick proued in particuler King Edward 3. XLIII 1. THe 43. Christian King of England was Edward 3. sonne to Edward 2. VVorthines of K. Edvvard 3. Began his reigne Anno. 1326. reigned 51. yeares He was saith Walsingahm Hist Anno 1376. amongst all the Kings of the world renowned benign gentle Poâ—d l. 19. and magnificent coragious of hart humble milde and very deuout to God This man saith Cooper Anno 1327. And Stow p. 438. Besids all other gifts of nature was indued with passing comly hewty fauor of vvit prouideÌ„t circumspect gentil doing nothing without great wisdome consideratioÌ„ Of excellent modesty temperance and aduanced such persons to high dignity as did most passe others in integrity innocency of life in feats of Armes verie expert Of his liberality clemencie he shewed very many great examples Breefly in all Princely vertue he was so excellent that few noble men before his time can be compared to him The like praise to him giue Fox Acts pag. 374. Bale Cent. 6. cap. 57. others His victories He wonne the great battell at Cressie where he vanquished the King of France with two other Kings tooke Calis and at the same time ouercame the King of Scotts and tooke him prisoner And his sonne Edward sirnamed the black Prince with a very small army got the battell of Poitiers Wherin he tooke the French king and after that entred into Spaine ouercame the king and draue him out of the Contrie So that this king by him selfe and his company tooke two kings slewe one and vanquished three others Of all our English kings to Henrie 8. Fox of most all challengeth this King and saith pag. 428. That aboue all other Kings to Henrie 8. he was the greatest bridler of the Popes vsurped power During all his time Iohn VVicklef was maintained with fauor and ayde sufficient Indeed King Edward 3. Anno 1374. made a lawe to forbid all procurement of English Benefices from the Pope But the cause therof was not that the King thought amisse of rhe Popes Authority but because he thought that the execution thereof in this point was incommodious and inconuenient to his Realme For other wise none of all our Kings haue auouched the Popes supremacie in which Protestants account the essence of a Papist to consist so cleare as he For in his letters to the Pope extant in Walsingham Anno 1336 and others he writeth thus Otterborne in Edvvard 3. Therfore let not the enuious or sinister interpretation of detractors made of your sonne finde place in the bowels of your mercie and sanctitie who will after the ancient custome of our predecessours persist in yours and the See Apostolickes fauour vntouched But if any such sugestion made against your sonne shall fortune to come vnto your holines eares Let not credit be giuen of your holy deuotion by your holines therunto before your sonne be heard who trusteth and euer intendeth to speak the truth and to iustifie euery one of his causes before your holines iudgement King Edvvard 3 accounteth it heresie to denie the Popes supremacie whose authority is aboue all earthly creatures which to deny is to approue an heresy Behould the King confessing first that it was hereditarie to him from his Anceistors to abide firmely in fauour of the See Apostolicke Secondly that he purposed euer to do soe Thirdly that it was heresie to denie the Popes iudgement praesidere omni humanae creaturae To beare rule ouer all human Creatures Oh when would this famous King haue thought that any of his Posteritie should make that treason which him selfe professeth all his Ancestors to haue held and accounteth it heresie to denie The same saith Pope Greg. 11. in VValsing p. 104. Kings of England especiall children of the Rom. Church And Pope Benedict in his answer of this letter in VValsingham pag. 124. saith thus Your Progenitors Kings of England haue excelled in greatnes of faith and deuotion towards God and the holy Roman Church as her peculier foster-children and deuoted sonnes and haue preserued the splendor of their progeny from any darkesome cloud Betwene the state of your Kingdome and also of the Kingdome of France we greatly desire to make a happy successe of peace and concotd And against you my sonne I cannot shut vp the bowels of my Fatherly affection To which the King returned this answer in Walsingham pag. 130. We haue reuerently and humbly accepted the letters of your Holines Also with a cheerfull hart we do beseech your clemency that if it please you you will duely ponder our iustice and intentioÌ„ founded vpon the truth And that we as occasion serued haue fauored the holy Roman Church in all fulnes of deuotion sound loue and gratious fauor K. Edvv. 3 Professeth to haue euer fauored the Pope as you may coniecture of a most deuout sonne For God is the witnesse of our coÌ„science that we haue desired to exalt defend the honors and liberties of the Church And againe the king Anno. 1343 writing to Pope Clement in VValsing pag. 150. saith thus Professeth the P. is Bishop of the vniuersal Church To his most holy Lord Clement by the diuine prouidence cheefe Bishop of the sacred Roman and vniuersall Church Edward by the same grace of God King of France and England and Lord of Ireland deuout kisses of your blessed feete c. And then calleth him successor of the Prince of the Apostles Infra VVe and ours do desire and ought to reuerence your most sacred person and the holy Roman Church And pag. 15. Clement answereth him thus My deerly beloued sonne yow haue knowne how to exhibit your sincere deuotion to our Lord and to your Mother the holy Roman Church as of famous memorie your
our speciall Letters Patents in the zeale of our faith haue giuen authoritie and licence vnto the forsaid Archbishops and all and euery of his Suffragans to arest all and euery one of them that will preach or mantain any such Conclusions repugnant vnto the determination of our holy Mother the Church And in other letâ—ers chargeth all not to hinder the Bishops of hereford in suppressing the Lolards Yea pag. 406. Edit 1596. Fox citeth a lawe made Anno 2. Richard 2. for burning of VVicklefists Thus saith Fox pag. 505. King Richard taking parte with the Pope and the Româ—sh Prelats waxed somwhat strait and hard to the poore Christians of the contrary side of VVicklef and saith that though none were burnt vnder him yet some were condemned diuers abiured and did pennance And pag. 513. saith King Richard those to serue the humor of the Pope K. Richard gathereth a Councel against VViclef VViclef condemned by 10 Bishopâ— 44. deuines 20 lavviers To this Bale Cent. 6. cap. 1. addeth that Wicklef was banisht for â—ome yeares And cap. 77. that Anno 1382. Wicklef was condemned by ten Bishops and fourty four Diuines and twenty Lawyers And cap. 82. saith that King Richard at the commandement of Boniface 9. Cent. 7. cap. 11. gathered a great Councell Anno 1392 against the Wicklefists And Fox pag. 507. K. Richard leaueth all to suppresse vviclefists and Walsingham An. 1395. others write that King Richard being in Ireland left all as sone as he heard increase of Lollards and calling the cheefe of them vnto him threatned them greatly if they followed Lollards any more and making one of them sweare therto the K. swore to him that if he broke his oath he should die a foul death So earnest was that King against those whome Protestants account now their brethren And albeit he consented to the Law made Anno 1391. against those that procured or brought any excoÌ„munication of the Pope against any yet that Law was not made to deny any point of the Popes authority but because as Polidor saith l. 20 many were vexed dayly for causes which they thought could not be known at Rome easely The King and Lords Temporal and Commons for the Lords spirituall recâ—amed as Fox witnesseth pag. 512. thought it expedient that in this point the Pope should not vse his authoritie Besides that when Pope Boniface 9. sent to haue these Lawes recalled the King saith VValsingham in Ypodâ—gmate Anno 1391. Vt silius obediens As an obedient child determined to fulfill the Popes demaundes but the Knights of the Parliament would not abrogate the Statute against Prouisors because they would not haue English Benefices at any time giuen to strangers And the times of King Richard were so manifestly Roman Catholick as the Kings Attorney in the araignment of Garnet calleth theÌ„ the midniâ—ht of Poperie Bale Cent. 6. cap 96. Saints saith that Almost all that were in those darck times did erre through ignorance of Gods lawe In this kings time dyed Saint Iohn of Bridlington whose life is written in Capgraue who saith Bale Centur. 6. c. 63. Caelesti Theologiae assiduus cultor adhaesit And VVilliam Fleet an Austin Frier who was canonized as Bale Cent. 6. c. 41. reporteth out of Sabellicus Henrie 4. XLV IN the yeare 1399. succeded king Henrie 4. granchild to king Edward 3. by Iohn Duke of Lancaster VVorthines of K. Henrie 4. and dyed Anno 1413. hauing reigned 14. yeares He was saith Polider lib. 21. of a great corage after the ende of ciuill warrs entertained all most gently His Rom. Religion The same hath Cooper Anno 1399. and Stow Chron. pag. 424. His Roman Catholick religion is most notorious For as Fox Acts pag. 523. and others write he made the Statute ex officio Where is apointed That who so euer is conuicted of Wicklefs heresie before his Ordinarie or Commissioners that then the Shriefes Maiers and Bay lifs of the Cittie Contrie or Towne shall take the persons after sentence is pronounced cause them openly to be burned in sight of the people And pag. 517. Fox setteth down the Kings Decree in parliament wherin he professeth to be zelous in religion and reuerent louer of the Catholick faith And minding to roote out all heresies out of his Kingdom And ther commandeth one VVilliam Santrey a conuict heretick to be burnt which perhaps is he whome Bale Cent. 6. cap. 75. saith was burnt in Smithfield An. 1401. In this tyme was burnt saith Bale Cent. 8. c. 5. that relaps William Swinderby a smith in London for denying the reall presence a Tayler the same yeare 1410. for the same cause Fox pag. 481. nameth his brother Iohn Badby burnt then who as VValsingham ypodig pag 174 who then liued writeth said that the Eucharist is not the body of Christ but worse than a toade or a spider And perhaps he is that VViclesist of whome that graue Author Thomas VValden who was ther present reporteth Tom. 2. c. 63. That standing befor the Archbishop Bishops in presence of the Duke of yorke many nobles Miracle fâ—â—â— not of the Bâ— sacrament he said that a Spider was more to be worshipped thaÌ„ the Eucharist and sodainly from the top of the Church came a great spider sought to enter into his mouth would scarce be kept out by any mans helpe Moreouer Fox Acts 5. 8. saith that this King was the first of all English Kings that began the burning of Christs VViclef Saints for standing against the Pope That K. Henrie burnt VViclefs Saints is euident But he was not the first which burnt such as stood against the Pope as appeareth by what hath bene sayd of Edward 3. K Henrie 4. vvholie bent to the Pope And finally he concludeth that this king was bent altogether to vphould the Popes Prelacie And therfore in his Considerations Considerat 10. saith Protestants rather dyed than liued in the dayes of King Henrie 4. And when the Lollards or Wicklefists requested him as saith Walsingham An. 1410. either to alter or mitigate the forsaid Statute he answered them that he would rather inforce it And when they proposing to him the same bait VVhat baite the VViclefists Proposed to K. Henrie 4. to ouerthrovv religion The like offer made Protestants vvhich Syr Thom more confuted as Protestants did to King Henrie 8. desired him to take away the Church liuings because with them he might maintain 15. Earles 1550. Knights 6200. Squirs and 100. Hospitals he detesting their malice commanded them to silence King Henrie 5. XLVI IN the yeare 1413. succeded K. Henrie 5. sonne to King Henrie 4. and died An. 1422. hauing reigned 9. yeares The rare vertues of K Henrie 5. He was saith Polidor lib. 22. the onely glorie of that time then whome none borne ether for greatnes of courage or for vertue was more famous or excellent whose loue euen yet remaineth amongst men The like commendations giue to
But to conclude this matter with Luther words He 1. Galat. fol. 11. saith Luther Let the Preacher of the Gospel be sure that his calling is from God and he calleth phantasticall spirits who intrude them selues He that preacheth vnsent cometh to kil And fol 12. It is not saith he ynough to haue the word and pure doctrine but also he must be assured of his calling and he that entreth without this assurance entreth to no other end but to kill and destroie People need be assured of Preachers sending Ibid. the people haue great need to be assured of our calling that they maie know our word to be the word of God And in the same chapter Ther are manie saith Luther who complaine that they haue the talent of the Lord and therfore are vrged by commandment of the Gospel to teach otherwise with a most foolish conscience they beleue that they hide the Lords money and are guiltie of damnation The diuel saith he doth this that he may make them instable in their vocation O good brother let Christ quitt the of this The Gospel saith he gaue his goods to seruants called Notē Expect his calling in the meā time be secure yea if thou wert wiser than Salomon or Daniel yet if thou beest not called flie more thā hell to preach If God need the he will call the. And againe The diuel vseth to stir vp his Ministers that they run vncalled and pretend this most burning zeal that they are sorie that men are so miserably seduced that they wold teach the truth and deliuer the seduced from the snares of the diuel Thus Luther and likwise Beza epist 5. and others which I wold they had followed in their first preaching Protestancie Aptnes to preach far short of authoritie to preach 14. As for Caluins reason before cited I saie that abilitie to preach cometh far more short of that spirituall and supernaturall power to preach and administer sacraments which Gods Pastor hath than abilitie to gouerne mens bodies goods in a kingdom cometh short of temporall power to gouerne such matters And therfore if none how able soeuer he be or think him self may take vpon him to be an officer in the common wealth vnles he be apointed much les may one take vpō him to be a Pastor in the Church and gouerne soules vnles he haue authoritie therto giuen which the Declarer of the disciplin noted p. 32. When he said How fit soeuer a mā semeth to be for anie charge yet nothing is to be taken in hand without the authoritie of God who will vse in his affaires whom him pleaseth VVhy the Ieues did ill to ask Christ for his commission As for the example of the Iews brought by Bilson I graunt they did ill in asking Christ and S. Ihon for their commission because their preaching was both plainly fortold before by God and then confirmed by the daily miracles of Christ others wrought for authorizing of Saint Ihon both in his conception and Natiuitie If Luther were Christ or Caluin S. Ihon and their preaching as plainly fortold by God and confirmed by present miracles we shold do like to Iews in asking them for their Commission But seing they produce nether extraordinarie holines nor miracles VVhy vve do vvell to aske Luther for his nor prophetie not anie thing els to testifie their sēding we shold shew great lightnes of hart yea madnes to beleue them to be Gods messengers without all Commissiō The similitudes which Bilson bringeth make nothing against as may be returned against him self For vs any man or woman too when the house is on fire or the cittie in danger Gteat difference betuen-teahhing of priuat men and ptoaching as Pastors may crie fire alarme if officers do not perceaue the danger So we saie that when a man or womā also perceaueth heresie to be taught which the Pastor doth not he or she ether may giue notice or warning therof But yet as not withstanding this none can in what danger soeuer take vpon him to be Captaine and command others of authoritie but he onely who hath such authoritie giuen him So none in what danger of heresie soeuer can take vpon him to be a Pastor and guider of soules preaching tanquam authoritatem habens but onely he who is lawfully called therto But Bilsons error is in that he distinguisheth not betwene the aduertising or teaching of priuat mē and the preaching of Pastors which is an act of spirituall function and authoritie and therfore must suppose that authoritie From the same procedeth his bringing of the example of Frumentius and Aedesius who as priuat men yea as woemen maie in case of necessitie when no others is to be had being captiues amongst infideles taught them the Christian faith Socrat. lib. 1. c. 19. Raffin lib. 1. cap 9. Theodoret. lib. 1. c. 23. But nether of them tooke vpon him to be Pastor to the Infidels or as such to administer to them the word and Sacraments Theodoret. lib. 1. c. 24. before Frumentius came to S. Athanasius was by him made Bishop and lawfully sent And by as good example might Bilson haue proued that women may preach euen without sending because a woman being in like sorte captiue among infidels taught them the Christian faith and was cause of their conuersion 15. And thus thou seest Gentle Reader euidently proued both by manifest proofs and open confession of Protestants VVhat the Protestāte and their doctrin be if Luther vvere not sent to preach that Luther preached Protestancie without sending and so without all authoritie and consequently that the Protestants Church is a companie without a Pastor their doctrine a message without an Embassador and their Bishops and Ministers without prelacie or pastorall authoritie but such as S. Cipriā describeth l. de vnit Eccles vvho amongst stragling companions of them selues take authoritie vvithout Gods giuing make them selues prelats vvithout anie orderlie course and no bodie giuing them a Bishoprick chaleng the name of Bishops English Ministers condemn◠the calling of the English Clergie And not Catholiks onely thus think but euen the purer sorte of our English Clergie For the dangerous Positioner lib. 3. cap 6. telleth how it was concluded by them in a Synod at Couentrie An. 1588. That the calling of Bishops is vnlavvfull That it is not lawfull by them to be ordeined into the Ministerie That Bishops are not to be acknowledged for Doctors Elders or Deacons as hauing no ordinarie calling And cap. 14. he recounteth how some Ministers renounce the calling which they had of Bishops and account ther orders onely a ciuil thing necessarie for them to keep the ministerie And c. 16. that the English Prelats haue no authoritie to make Ministers And thus much of Luthers want of Mission Now let vs see his orders CHAP. XI That Luther was neuer ordered to preach the Protestants word or administer their sacraments 1.
Luther had testimonie of hâ—s â—â—other Zuinglius that he was imperitus vel nimis rudis Theologus an vnskilfull or too too rude a Diuine S. Austin reiected no part of Gods word Luther reiected diuers S. Austin taught no absurd doctrins Luther by the iudgment of Protestants taught many S. Austin ouercame the Britons amongst whome were plures viri doctissimi Luther as Catholiks write was ouercome in publick disputatioÌ„s of one Eckius S. Austin taught no heresies Luther as Protestants confesse taught diuers Finally S. Austin reuoked none of the doctrin which he once taught Luther reuoked coÌ„fessed his ignorance in many and weightie points Besides all this S. Austin was nearer to Christs time by 900. yeares and more than Luâ—her and therfor more likly to learn what Christ taught thaÌ„ Luther who was so long after Now therfor gentle reader lift vp the Ballance of thy iudgment with an euen hand considering that vpon this choice goeth thie eternall saluation or damnatioÌ„ weigh these two men equally and iudg whether is more full not of words or braggs but of learning Whether is liklier to know what Christ taught or to haue erred of ignoraÌ„ce VVhether were likly to haue bene blind whether to haue seene CHAP. II. S. Austin and Luther weighed according to their vertue or vice 1. THe due consideration of the vertuous life of the first Preacher or founder of Religion in any Country may giue to prudent men great light to descern whether his ReligioÌ„ be good or bad come from God or from the Diuel For albeit vicious men do often times preach and continew the religion which vertuous men first founded as we see that the Scribes and Pharisies in Christs time taught the Doctrin of Moyses WherupoÌ„ he bad the people to do what they taught and in the day of iudgment there wil be reprobats who haue prophesied in Christs name yet notwithstanding if we looke into the scriptures or Ecclesiastical Histories we shall not finde but that those whome God sent to be first founders of his religion in any Nation or Contrie were when he sent them vertuous and godly men Such a one was Moyses by whome he founded his religion amongst the Ieâ—es Mitissimus hominum qui sunt super terram The most mildest man that was on earth Such a one was S. Iohn Baptist whome he chose to first sound out the happy tidings of Christian religion to the world Such were his Apostles who forsooke all and followed him euen Iudas when he chose him for an Apostle as S. Cyril in 6. Ioan. Hierom l. 3. cont Pelag. and others teach S. Hierom proueth it inuincibly out of these words Ioan. 17. Father whome thou hast giuen to me I haue kept and none hath perished but the sonne of perdition For if God the Father gaue Iudas to Christ surely he was then good And it may be prooued out of the 54. Psalme where he is prophetically called a man of one mind said to haue walked in Gods house with conseÌ„t And before Christ would licence the Apostles to preach to Nations he bid them abide in Ierusalem til they were indued with vertue from aboue and made them as S. Paul speaketh Idoneos Ministros Noui Testamenti Fit Ministers of the new Testament Such also were those whome we call the Apostles of certain Nations as to omitt others S. Patrick of Ireland S. Ninian of Pictland S. Palladius the first Bishop of Scotland And the cause of this proceeding of God in chusing vertuous men to be the first promulgators of his lawe in any Contrie is manifould First because it is more honorable for him to chuse for instrumeÌ„ts of so notable a work of his as is the conuersion of a Nation from infidelitie to faith and from seruice of the Diuel to his seruice men that are like to him selfe rather than men that are like to the Diuel his owne children rather than the Diuels children his owne seruants rather than the Diuels slaues Secondlie it is more effectual for the end which God intendeth For albeit God could coÌ„uert a Nation to his faith without vertue or miracles of the Preacher or any other external help Yet because he disponit omnia suauiter disposeth al things sweetly he vseth these outward helps wherwith he knoweth men to be most draune to embrace his religion which are vertue and miracles Of which twoe though miracles be verie potent yet vertue is more poureful as S. Chrisostom sheweth by the comparison of S. Iohn Baptist and Appollonius Tyaneus Of whome the one wrought no miracles as the scriptur saith yet by his vertue stroke the Iewes into such admiration of him as they doubted whether he were not the Messias of the world And the other though he wrought many wonders yet had fewe or no followers And S. Chrisost doutâ—th not to say that if the Apostles had not liued vertuosly notwitstanding their great miracles the world would haue counted them but seducers And in the conuersion of our English Nation albeit the miracles of S. Austin and his fellowes did cooperat therto yet S. Beda l. 1. cap. 26. attributeth it cheefly almost wholly to the vertue holines of their life Thirdly this course is most proportionable agreable to the end for which God sendeth Preachers to any Contry For as the end of his seÌ„ding is vertue to be engrafted in that Nation so the meane most agreaâ—â— and sutable therto is vertue in the first preacher Wherfore howsoeuer the Successors or as S. Paule termeth them the Pedagogs in Christ be yet the first Preachers or Fathers of a Nation who according to Saint Pauls phrase had begotteÌ„ them in Christ ought to be very holy and vertuous men 2. And the contrary course of sending wicked vicious men for first preachers of doctrine is vsuall to the Diuell and wel be seeming him For albeit vertuous men may vpon ignorance fall into some one or more errors yet câ—n they not so longe as they keepe their xertue be enticed by the Diuel to forsake their true faith and worship of God vpon which all vertue is grounded But those who as Saint Paul speaketh of the Hereticks Hymeneus and Philetus haue already made shipwrack of a good conscience and abaÌ„doned vertue those the Diuell puffeth vp with a proude conceit of their owne learning and picketh out for Sectmaisters for teachers of new doctrines And therfore howsoeuer Archereticks may for a time dissemble vertue as S. Austin writeth of Pelagius yet mendacia as S. Cyprian writeth non diu fallunt Their Hypocrisy will not diu proficere sed insipientia eorum manifesta fiet Simon Magus before he became an Archereticke would haue bought Gods grace for mony Arius before he became an Archeretick was noted to be ambitious Berengarius before he broched his heresie was noted of enuie at other mens glorie Wicklef before he began his doctrine was noted of anger as writeth Godwin in the life of Archb. Simon