them They write how Ridley made Preist by Catholike Order but Bishop by their new fashion when he was to be degraded by B. Brooke Bishop of Glocester delegate thereto in Q. Maryes time hee did onely then degrade him concerning preisthood being iudged to be no Bishop Foxe tom 2. pag. 1604. Mason l. 2. pag. 92 Record degrad Rid. as our Protestants and Records thereof testifie in thes his words to Ridley we must proceede according to our commission to degrading taking from you the dignitie of preisthood for we take you for no Bishop So it was also adiudged by the common lawes Brooke Abridg an 1576. tiâ—ul leases num 68. of the land in that time Bishops in the time of King Edward the sixt were not consecrated and therefore a lease for yeares made by such and confirmed by the deane and chapter shall not binde their Successours because such were neuer Bishops Of thes pretended Bishops which were thus by publike Iudgment in lawe disabled to do teÌ„porall offices for want of true ordination and power how much more were they vnable to performe any spirituall function belonging to that highest holie Order yet this is published for law euen in Q. Elizabeth her time longe after thes new Protestant Bishops were so allowed and still remaineth among their receaued and adiudged lawes And so generall and vniuersall a consent was of all in authoritie Pope Prince Prelates and whosoeuer that this new Protestant forme gaue no consecration that their owne Protestant applauded writers thus confesse it Touching Articles of Q. Mary to Bish. Boner Consecrat l. 5. cap. 12. foxe Act. mon. vol. 2. p. 1295. such parsons as were here to fore promoted to any Orders after the new sorte and fashion of Orders they were not ordered in verie deed This was the common and publike sentence of Pope Prince and Prelates in Queene Mary her time of the preteÌ„ded Bishops of King Edward the 6. when there was more pretence for them theÌ„ these diuers Catholikely ordained Bishops then liuing and some helping in their new ordering now and from Q. Elizabeth her time not one at all And it is contained in our old lawes Iudex secularis non potest Bracton fol. 401. degradare clericum magis quà m ad ordines promouere A secular Iudge can no more degrade a Preist or Clearke then he can promote him to orders And it was publikly adiudge in lawe That the parlament Temp. Henrici 7. fol. 27. 28. could not make the Kinge being a lay parson to haue spirituall Iurisdiction Then much lesse could it giue to King Edward the sixt to speake Protestants Stow an 1. Edw. 6. Hist words proclaimed King of England and also of Ireland the supreame heade immediately in earth vnder God being of the age of nyne yeares and to Queene Elizabeth a woman by Sexe disabled in such things both to haue spirituall Iurisdiction and supreame spirituall Iurisdiction and spirituall power Episcopall or Pontificall to conferre and giue both spirituall highest order and Iurisdiction to whom and by what meanes it pleased them contrary to all Christians in the world Catholiks Protestants and whosoeueâ— none out of England so proceeding in such affaires Aâ—d in the time of Queene Elizabeth both particular wrâ—â—â—rs records and her parlament publikely in the 8. yearâ— of her Reigne assure vs that their new Bishops making was by diuers both doubted of and denied to be lawfull The Protestant cheife Iustice of the common plees Lord dyer setteth downe that Bishop â—onner publikely pleaded they were no Bishops and namely Doctour Horne so admitted and it wâ—s adiuged by all the Protestant Iudges that Bishâ—â— Bonner might so pleade And the Protestants would neuer come to tryall with him therein And the next Parlament in her 8. yeare cleared him and all other Catholikes so in iâ—pugning those Bishops offering the oath of supremaâ—y vnto them in these words Be it exacted that no person or persons Statut. in parliament an 8. Elizab. cap. 1. be empeached or molested in body lands or good by occasion are meane of any certificate by any Archbishop or Bishop heretofore made in the first session of this parlament touching or concerning the refusall of the oathe set fourth by act of parlament in the first yeare of Queene Elizabeth And that all tenders of such oath made by any Archbishop or Bishop aforesaid and all refusals of the same oath so entered by any Archbishop or Bishop shall be voyde and of noe effect or validity in the lawe And to helpe afterward what they could thus they enact diuers questions haue lately growne vpon the Statut. in parliam an 8. Eliz supr c. 1. making and consecrating of Archbishops and Bishops within this realme whether the same were and be duely done according to the lawe or not Therefore it is thought conuenient hereby partly to touch such authorities as doth allowc and approue the making of the same Archbishops and Bishops to be duely and orderly dâ—â—e according to the lawes of this Realme her hâ—â—â—nesse in her letters patents vnder the greate Sâ—â—â—e of England directed to any Archbishop Bisâ—â—p or others for the confirming inuesting and coâ—secrating of any parson elected to the office or digâ—â—â—y of an Archbishop or Bishop hath not onely vsâ—â— such words and sentences as King Henry and King Edward did in their letters patents diuers other general words and sentences whereby her highnesse by her suâ—râ—ame power and authority hath dispenced with all â—auses or doubts of any imperfection or diasbility thâ—t can or may in any wise be obiected against the saâ—e These be the onâ—ly authorities the statute doth or could bringe â—eing all carnall and humane not one diuine or â—cclesiasticall vtterly vnable to make a lawfull true Bishop or confirme any for such being bâ—t meere phantasies letters patents the greate Seale of England of a woman such words and sentences as King Henry the eight and King Eduard his child contrary to the vniuersall Church of Christ vsed A womans supreame power authority and dispensation in all causes doubts Imperfections or disabilities in any wise to be obiected and that not onely their pretended Archbishops and Bishops but others neither true nor pretended Archbishops or bishops did as their words be plaine by this most straunge and infirme feminine commission confirme inuest and consecrate Archbishops Bishops which as they haue confessed before with all authorities none but true lawfull Bishops in approued receaued forme and manner can doe And yet this parlament doth thus approue all such as were thus made whether by the Queenes letters patent and men no Bihops true or pretended and without King Edwards forme or any other remembred or by King Edwards forme and fashion to be lawfull Bishops in these words All Statut. an 8. Eliz. supr acts and things made or done by any person or persons in or about any elected to the office of any Archbishop or Bishop by vertue of
THE IVDGEMENT OF THE APOSTLES THE IVDGEMENT OF THE APOSTLES AND OF THOSE OF THE FIRST AGE IN ALL POINTS of doctrine questioned betweene the Catholikes and Protestants of England as they are set downe in the 39. Articles of their Religion By an old student in Diuinitie MORIENS REVIVISCO AT DOWAY By the widdow of MARK WYON at the signe of the golden Phoenix M.DC.XXXII TO HER MOST EXCELLENT MAIESTY MARIE BY THE GRACE OF GOD QVEENE OF GREAT BRITTANY FRANCE AND IRELAND ALL dignities Most Gratious Queene haue assembled themselues in your Maiestie striuing as it were to make you Great and Glorious Whether we respect that great Monarchie of Fraunce whose Iewell darling you are or that great Monarch HENRY the fourth your noble Father surnamed GREAT for his MARTIALL CHIVALRIE or your Most Illustrious Mother descended of the howse of the great Duke of Florence or your most Christian brother King of Fraunce surnamed IVSTE or your noble Sisters the one married to the great and CATHOLIKE King of Spaine the other to the potent and warlike Duke of Sauoye And although your Maiestie may seeme to haue left all these dignities in leauing Fraunce transporting your selfe to InglaÌ„d Yet they follow you as inseparable attendants on your royall vertues yea now there is a new dignitie accrewed vnto your Maiestie greater then all the rest to wit Your mariage with our great King CHARLES his great Crowne and Kingdome because by your former dignities you were only daughter and Sister to Kings and Queenes by this you art a greate Queene and Spouse to the mighty Prince and greate King of the great Brittanie and by him you haue all the greatnesse also which the Royall bloud of him and his Ancestours can adde vnto yours I may adde to all this another thing which doth agrandize your greatnesse more theÌ„ all the rest to wit your Maiesties Constancie in ReligioÌ„ amidst so many diuers sectes of heresie your zeale towards the Catholike cause your compassion of your Catholike Subiectes for whom you are often suppliant to our noble Souueraigne in all their distresses lastlie your manie pretious and rare indowmentes of nature grace for which our noble King loueth you dearely your subiectes admire you and God hath blessed you with a Royall and hopefull issue When I cast mine eyes on the resplendent beames lustre of this your Greatnesse I confesse I was daunted and feared to approach to so Great maiestie especiallie with so litle a present as I had prepared to wit this litle pamphlet rudelie compiled and in respect of it selfe and the Authour nothing beseeming because nothing proportionate to your greatnesse But because great Princes who cannot be Higher or greater in Temporall dignitie disdaine not yea take pleasure to bowe euen to their lowest Subiectes and doe willinglie accept of their loyall duties and respectes be they expressed by neuer so litle presentes I aduentured presuming on your Maiesties great and gratious Goodnesse to dedicate this my booke vnto your Royall Maiestie my selfe and humble seruice with it hoping that although in other respectes it be too litle a present for so great a Queene yet in that it containeth the Iudgement of the great Apostles and Apostolicall Doctours of the first age after Christ concerning the Protestant Religion conteined in the articles authorized by Parlament it will not be slighted nor lightlie esteemed by your most Excellent Maiestie It will rather confirme and comfort your Maiestie in the Catholike faith when by this booke you shall perceaue that you professe the same religion which the Apostles and Apostolicall Doctours preached and deliuered which S. PETER taught in our countrie which S. IOSEPH of Arimathie who buried CHRIST and was at his mothers death and Assumption taught and practised at Glastenburie where he and his companions fixed their aboade and passed their life in fastinges watchinges and prayers as our Annalles doe testifie Which not onelie the noble Kings of France from CLODOVEVS the first Christian King to King LEWIS the IVST who now raigneth imbraced but also our first Christian King LVCIVS receiued from that holy Pope ELEVTHERIVS who sent him not onely preachers to instruct him and his people but also as our Annales recorde vnto vs sent vnto him an hallowed crowne and extended the limits of his Kingdome to Norwaye and Denmarke Which faith all our first Christian Kinges who were also Saintes mantained by sword and Scepter as Sainct LVCIVS our first Christian King S. LVCIVS or LVCIAN Apostle to the BAVARIANS S. CONSTANTINE Emperour amongst the Grecians S. CONSTANTINE King S. THEODRICKE the two SS ETHELBERTES the two SS ETHELDREDS S. GVNDLEVS S. OSWALD S. OSWIN S. SEBBE S. CEADWALL S. INAS S. SIGEBERT S. RICHARD the twoe SS ALFREDS S. CEOLNVLPHE S. FREMVND S. KENELME S. ETHELNVPH SS EDGAR S. EDMVND the two S. EDWARDS and S. MALCOLME and their holie Queenes also imbraced as S. HELEN Queene and Emperesse mother to CONSTANTINE the great S. AVDRIE or ETHELDRED S. CHINNEBVRGE S. EANFLED S. ERMEMBVRGE S. ETHELBVRG S. ERMVILD S. HERESWIDE S. BVTHILDIS S. SEXBVRGE S. WILFRED S. EADGITH S. ALGVIE S. AGATHE S. MARGARET S. MAVDE To which I willinglie adde our holie Queene S. BERTH as whom your Maiestie so much representeth and resembleth She was daughter to a King of France so is your Maiestie She was married to King ETHELBERT who then was of a contrarie religion to her so is your Maiestie despoused to our King CHARLES the GREAT different as yet from your Maiestie in Religion She was allowed a Bishop and others to be about hee who were of her religion so is your Maiestie She by her prayers and good examples together with some religious preachers sent by S. GREGORIE the great procured the conuersion of her HVSBAND and his people vnto the Christian and Catholike faith and religion so we hope that your Maiestie shall by your holie prayers and examples for which our soueraigne loueth you dearely be a cause of his conuersion to the Catholique Faith at least we hope your Maiestie shall worke in him such a liking of the Catholike Faith that he shall neuer permitte that faith to be persecuted for the defence whereof against Luther King HENRY the eight his great vncle was the first who by Pope LEO the Tenthe was Honoured with the glorious title of DEFENDOVR OF THE FAITH which with the crowne and Kingdome is lineâ—llie defcended vnto his Maiestie Certes his morall life free from all note of vice in which he yeeldeth to no Christian Pâ—ince in Europe seemeth to promise noe lesse This our Kingdome most noble Queene is stiled in auncient histories THE DOWRIE OF MARIE the mother of God Which perchauÌ„ce is the cause why it hath beene so fortunate in Queene MARIES as in Queene MARIES as in Queene MARIE who restored the Catholike Religion after the death of her brother King EDWARD the sixt and in Queene MARIE our Souueraignes grand-mother who sanctified our Land with her bloud shed
recognit l. 1. he relateth it in the name of the Apostles a Councell which they kept at a feaste of Easter Cum nos duodecim Apostoliad diem Paschae cum ingenti multitudine conuenissemus ingressi Ecclesiam fratrum quae à nobis per loca singula gesta sint breuiter exponimus So of that their holy Councell wherein they decreed and composed the Creede which the Church euer since professeth and our Protestants before receaue as composed by them the history of it is expressely set downe by Sainct Clement Ruffinus and others Christo resurgente ascendente in coelum Clem. epist 1. Ruffin l. de expos Symb. misso sancto Spiritu collata Apostolis scientia linguarum adhuc in vno positi Symbolum quod fidelis nunc tenet Ecclesia vnusquisque quod sensit dicendo condiderunt vt discedentes ab inuicem hanc regulam per omnes gentes praedicarent And reciting the contents thereof concludeth that the Apostles penned it by instinct of the holy Ghost Hoc praedicti sancti Apostoli inter Clem. Const Apost l. 6. c. 14. 15. 16. 17. c. se per Spiritum sanctum salubriter vt dictum est condiderunt Diuers other such sacred Councels of the Apostles and Disciples of Christ wee might recite from approued writers and yet none of them was by the commauÌ„de or allowance of any temporall Prince or Potentate but otherwise And to make it manifest to all posterity that Princes teÌ„porall were not to haue any commaunde in such affaires as Protestants in this article pretend the same holy Apostles in their Canons by some readings in the 36. by others the 37. and by others 38. do thus decree that Bishops should twise Canon ApoÌ„stol can 36. 37. vel 38. in the yeare keepe councels and among themselues examine the decrees of religion and compose such Ecclesiasticall Controuersies as should arise first in the fourth weeke after Pentâ—cost and the second the 12. day of October Bis in anno fiat Episcoporum Synodus inter se examinent decreta religionis incidentes Ecclesiasticas controuersias componant semel quidem quarta hebdomade Pentecostes iterum autem Hyperbâ—retaei duodecimo And S. Clement from the same Apostles teacheth Clem. Apost constit l 2. c. 30 c. 26 in al. exempl further that Episcopall power and dignity was the greatest on earth Bishops were Mediatours betweene God and men in things belonging to diuine worship The Bishop is the Master of piety and Religion the Father of Christians vnder God their Prince their Leader their King their Ruler After God the earthly God who ought to enioy honour the Bishop must gouerne being adorned with the dignity of God whereby he hath power ouer the Cleargy and ruleth all the people Qui Episcopus est hic est minister verbi scientiae custos Mediator inter Deum homines in ijs quae ad eum colendum pertinent hic est magister pietatis religionis hic est secundum Deum pater vester hic Princeps Dux vester hic vester Rex praefectus hic post Deum terreus Deus qui honore vâ—stro frui debet Episcopus vobis praesideat vt dignitate Dei cohonâ—status qua clerum sub potestate sua tenâ—t toti populo pâ—aeest He tellâ—th vs againe by the same Apostolike warrant Cap. 11. that a Bishop representeth the example of God to men and ruleth all men Preists Kings Magistrats parents children and all subiects Stude Episcope vt mundus purusque sis locum tuum dignitatemque tuam actionibus declara vt pote qui exemplar Dei repraesentas praesidendo omnibus hominibus Sacerdotibus regibus Magistratibus parentibus filijs pariter cunctis Cap. 12. subditis And iudgeth with power as God doth Iudica Episcope potestate fretus tanquam Deus And as Moses by God was called a God so a Bishop Cap. 30. c. 34. 37. 13. is to be honoured as God By how much the soule is more excellent then a Kingdome Wee must loue a Bishop as a Father feare hym as a King honour him as Lord. It is graunted onely to Preists to Iudge in spirituall causes Lay men must obey the Bishop is Steward and dispenser Cap. 40. 39. of Ecclesiasticall things Wee must not aske an accompâ— of him nor obserue how he performeth his dispensation when with whom where well or ill or conueniently He hath God his Iudge who hath committed this dispensation into his hands Without a Bishop wee must do Cap. 31. nothing If any man doth any thing without the Bishop he doth it in vaine A Bishop is the heade and must noâ— Cap. 17. obey the foote a lay man but onely God He must rule hiâ— subiects not obey them The sonne doth not rule the Father nor the Seruant his Lord nor the Scholler his mastor nor the Souldier the King so the lay man must noâ— commaund the Bishop Si de parentibus secundum carnem lex diuina inquit honora patrem tuum matrem tuam quanto magis de spiritualibus parentibus vobâ— praeceptum est vt eos honoretis diligatis tanquam bâ—nâ—ficos ligatosque ad Deum Hos venerabiliter colite varijs honoribus Hos Principes Reges vestros pâ—tatote tributa tanquam Regibus penditote Si aliquid orationi addendum est plura hic Episcopus quam ille Rex olim Ille enim rem militarem tantum administrabat belli pacisque moderator ad tuenda corpora hic verò Dei Sacerdotium administrans corpus animam periculis liberat Quanto igitur corpore est excellentior tanto Sacerdotium Regno praestat Ligat enim id soluit supplicio vel indulgentia dignos Ideo Episcopum diligere debetis vt patrem timeré vt Regem honorare vt Dominum Non est aequum caput cum sis ô Episcope caudae obsequi hoc est laico homini seditioso in alterius perniciâ—m sed soli Deo Imperare enim debes subditis non parere nam neque filius imperat patri secundum originis rationem neque seruus Domino secundum potestatis rationem neque discipulus magistro neque miles Regi ita neque laïcus Episcopo The like he hath in diuers other places and in S. Ignat. epist ad Smyrnen ample manner S. Ignatius is as plaine in this point He telleth vs that all without exception of any must followe the Bishop as Christ his Father And none must doe any thing in matters belonging to the Church without the Bishop Omnes Episcopum siquimini vt Christus patrem Sine Episcopo nemo quicquam faciat eorum quae ad Ecclesiam spectant He manifestly maketh the Authority of Bishops greater then any regall or other on earth in these matters the Princes of Preists representing the Image of God and next to him to be honoured and obeyed and declareth it for a greater treason and disobedience to resist the Bishop then the
the Queenes letters patents shall be by authority of this Parlament be declared good any matter or thing that may be obiected to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding All persons that haue beene or shall be made Archbishops Bishops Preists ministers after the forme and Order prescribed in the order and forme how Archbishops and should be made by authority hereof be declared and shall be Archbishops Bishops Preists Ministers and rightly made any statute lawe canon or other thing to the contrary notwithstanding Hitherto this Protestant Parlament and Queene Elizabeth taking vpon them more then omnipotent and diuine power for God himselfe euer omnipotent cannot make that a thing done is not or was not done nor a thing ill done to haue beene well done or not ill done The light of reason the light of grace all Philosophers Christians and others agree non est potentia ad praeteritum there is no power or possibility to make a thing that is past not to be past nor otherwise passed theÌ„ it passed Therefore when it appeareth by so many testimonies before that men called Bishops by our Protestants were neuer truely and lawfully made Bishops and this Protestant parlament it selfe confesseth not onely that diuers questioÌ„s had beene whether it were duely orderly done according to the law or not but declareth their acts and effects done by them as Bishops to be voyde and of none effect or validitie in the lawe It farre surpassed a womans power or her parlament thereby or any power on earth or higher to make and proue by authoritie of this parlament in her 8. yeare such men by authoritie hereof be declared and shall be Archbishops Bishops Preists Ministers and rightly made any statute lawe canon or other thing to the contrary notwithstanding Producing no other reason but that her highnesse by her supreame power and authoritie hath dispenced with all causes or doubts of any imperfection or disabilitie that can or may in any wise be obiected against the same If Queene Elizabeth and her Protestants would make Episcopall Order and dignity onely an humane inuention she as a temporall greate Prince might haue had place for her dispensation for time to come Though not past in aboue 6. yeares when thousands of such Bishops and ministers were made among them But all Protestants of England King Bishops whosoeuer hauing decreed and deliuered before that it is diuinae ordinationis the ordinance of God an Apostolicall tradition manifest to all the world a canon or constitution of the whole Trinitie enacted for succeeding posteritie it is vtterly vnpossible that any Queens Kings or what dispensation soeuer on earth can or euer could make that which was and is questioned doubtfull imperfect and inualide to be without question doubt perfect and valide either from the beginning any time past or to come hereafter Thus howsoeuer wee examine the making of these Protestant Bishops and ministers by them either by holy scripture witnessing that God placed Bishops in his Church to gouerne it attendite vobis vniuerso gregi in quo vos spiritus sanctus posuit Episcopos regere Act. c. 20. 1. Timoth. 3. 4. Tit. 1. 1. Petr. 5. 2. Timoâ—h 1. Ecclesiam Dei quam acquisiuit sanguine suo And not a woman or child Queene Elizabeth and King Edward the 6. by a new deuised manner or by the Apostolike Fathers of this first age tradition of the Apostles all the old Orders of consecration in Britaine or what place soeuer by all Catholike Fathers or by these Protestants themselues we finde nothing but a desolation and an vndoubted want of all Episcopall and Ecclesiasticall holy orders among them But if we come to the Sacred Bishops of the Catholike and Romane Church the holie preisthood and other Orders we finde by all these testimonies all things in Order subordinate required and necessarie to this highest spirituall dignitie We haue with the Apostles and the Apostolike Can. Apost 43. Clem. const Apost l. 3. c. 11. l. 8. c. 21. c. 22. 28. epist 2. Ignat. epist ad Antioch ad Philadelph Philip. Engl. Protest in Abb. Prot. Archb. of canterb and Franc. Mas Booke of Consecrat l. 5. p. 96. 97. c. 1. p. 207. Fathers of this time S. Clement S. Ignatius and others Subdeacons Acolythists Exorcists Lectours and all We haue founde Deacons ministers to Bishops and Preists in the Sacrifice of Masse we haue founde true massing Sacrificing Preists and Protestants both by writing and practise so confessing as also in these words of them all by generall assent We thinke that no man possibly haue the Order of a Bishop which hath not the right Order of preisthood To the verie being of a Bishop the Order of preisthood is essentially required Thus they exclude themselues from and entitle Catholiks to this greatest Order And plainely confesse the Roman Church not onely to obserue and vse in the consecration of Bishops all things whatsoeuer in any opinion of Catholiks or Protestants essentiall and necessarie but also all ceremonies and ceremonialls therein vsed euer since and before England was conuerted to Christ plainely confessing that their first Protestant Archbishop Abbot and mason consecr in Mat. Park Matthew Parker being the 70. from S. Augustine was the first of all admitted without them and otherwise then they were and their publike continuall practise is so euer since that time The ceremonies of pastorall staffe ringe deliuerie of the booke of Ghospels to the new consecrated Bishop by the Consecratour and his Assistants taken from the sholders of the newly consecrated Miter and gloues we are assured to be ceremoniall onely all and euerie of them performed and done after the new Bishop is declared to be consecrated And yet these were so aunciently vsed by these Protestants that all our Bishops of England were consecrated they being vsed And before S. Augustine S. Asaphus and Capgrauius in vit S. Kentegerni came hither S. Kentegern in the Britans time being consecrated without them going to Rome ipso multoties petente with very often suite and desire the Pope then ministred them vnto him Sanctus Papa quae deerunt consecrationi eius supplens The Order of Consecration by which this S. Kentegern was made Bishop and all the Britans Scots and Irish vsed was more old then the canons of the ceremonies vsed in consecration and their old custome mos in Britannia inoleuerat when S. Kentegern about 1200. yeares past was consecrated was this In consecratione Episcopi tantummodo capita eorum sacri chrismatis infusione perungere cum inuocatione Sancti Spiritus benedictione manus impositione In the consecration of Bishops onely to anoynte their heads with holy Chrisme with inuocation of the holie ghost and benediction and imposition of hands This Order was adiudged by the Popes of Rome to be auayleable And all Protestants graunt the Britans haue true consecration and Bishops Here is neyther the ceremonie of saying take the holie ghost nor
Episâ—opo nemo quicquam faciat eorum quae ad Ecclesiam spectant Sainct Clement testifieth that Sainct Peter the Apostle Clem. Rom. epist 1. commaunded praecipiebat Petrus Apostolus that all Princes of the earth omnes Principes terrae and all men should obey Bishops And proued that all which did contradict them were in state of damnation and imfamy vntill they made satisfaction and commaunded them to be excommunicate except they were conuerted The Bishop Clem const Apost lib. 2. c. 11. 12. 3. 30. 31. ruleth all Lords Preists Kings Princes Regibus Principibus Fathers children Masters and all subiects He Iudgeth as God with power The Bishop is mediatour betweene God and men He is the next after God our Father Prince Ruler King Rex Gouernour A Bishop is adorned with the dignitie of God he ruleth the clergie and commaundeth all the people Omni populo imperat Dion Areop Hier. Eccl. c. 2. par 2. 3. c. 4. 5. Martial ep ad Burdegal cap. 3. The like haue other Apostolike men of this first age And they are so farre from giuing superiority and commaund to ciuill power ouer Bishops in things of Religion that in such affaires and causes they make inferiour all temporall people euen to Preists and Deacons Preisthood is the heade or cheife of all good things in this world saith S. Ignatius Ignat. epist ad Smyrnen Sacerdotium est omnium bonorum quae in hominibus sunt apex He that rageth against it doth not ignominy to man but to God Lay men must be subiect not onely to Preists but to Deacons Laici Diaconis subditi Polycarpus epist ad Philippen sint Subiecti estote Presbyteris Diaconis sicut Deo Christo And our Protestants themselues acknowledge Rob. Barnes l de vit Pont Roman in Anacleto Anaclet epist 1. that the holy Popes of this time iudged them no Christians that called holy Preists to ciuill consistorys Anacletus Christo alienos esse indicabat qui Sacerdotes inius vocarent They which tooke away the riches of the Church were to be adiudged homicidas because the Apostles by our Sauiour his commaunde gaue chardge that the priuiledges of the Church and Preists should be kept inuolate Christ vel Ecclesiae pecunias auferentes homicidas iudicari debere censuit quia inquit priuilegia Ecclesiae Sacerdotum Apostoli Saluatoris iussu inuiolata esse debere iusserunt In Ecclesiasticall busines the the greater causes were to be referred to the primates the lesser to the Metropolitane Bishop and secular causes to secular Iudges In Ecclesiasticis negotijs grauiores causas ad primatem leuiores ad metropolitanum Episcopum referendas secularia negotia ad prophanos iudices agenda esse iussit All that were oppressed might appeale to the Ecclesiasticall Court And that such causes as could not be composed by the cheifest of the cleargie should be ended in their councells Et causas quae apud primarios Ecclesiastici ordinis componi non possent in Concilio finiendas esse To that which followeth in this Article The Bishop of Rome hath no iurisdictioÌ„ in this Realme of England I haue aboundantly answeared and so proued the weakenesse of such assertion in my Examine of their 19. Article and that which is here said most manifestly conuinceth the same For if as is proued here the Bishops in euery Prouince haue the highest and cheifest spirituall power ouer all others therein whether spirituall or temporall he which hath the supreame power and Iurisdiction ouer all and euery such Bishops or Bishop cannot be depriued of that Title and right though a farre greater consistory then these Articlers or their Approuers and applauders should deny it vnto him He that hath iurisdiction and power ouer the greater must needs haue it ouer the lesser and Inferiour in that Kind S. Ignatius calleth the Church of Rome the sanctified and Ruling Church being himselfe Patriarke of Antioch Ignatius Ecclesiae sanctificatae Ignat. epist ad Rom. in inscriptione quae praefidet in loco Regionis Romanorum S. Polycarp lyuing in the same age went from Smyrna in the East to Rome for decision of Questions about the day of Easter Propter quasdam super die paschae Hier l. de vir illustrib in Polycarpo Dion Aerop c 3. de diuin no minib Clem. Rom. epist 1. Rufino Interpret quaestiones Romam venit S. Dionisius saith S. Peter liuing and dying Bishop of Rome was the supreame glory and head of diuines Petrus supremum decus antiquissimum Theologorum columen S. Clement saith S. Peter was by Christ defined the foundation of the Church Simon Petrus fundamentum esse Ecclesiae definitus est And as the most worthy commaunded by Christ to conuert the westerne parts and performed that precept Qui obscuriorem mundi plagam occidentis velut omnium potentior illuminare praeceptus est quique integrè potuit implere praeceptum He liued much and dyed at Rome by martyrdome and committed his supreame Pastorall charge and office to S. Clement which Christ had committed to him full power to binde and loose whatsoeuer he should decree on earth should be decreed in heauen Clementem Episcopum vobis ordino cui soli me ae praedicationis doctrinae cathedram trado Ipsi trado à Domino mihi traditam potestatem ligandi soluendi vt de omnibus quibuscumque decreuerit in terris hoc decretum sit in caelis Among other Pastorall and highest Pontificall duties he gaue him power and chardge to send Bishops into all cyties whether or where S. Peter had not sent or ordained before Episcopos per singulas ciuitates quibus ille non miserat nobis mittere praecepit And S. Clement performed it Quod facere inchoauimus Domino opemferente facturi sumus Aliquos ad Gallias Hispaniasque mittimus quosdam ad Germaniam Italiam atque ad reliquas gentes dirigere cupimus Among these Bishops some were primates or Patriarks and Archbishops and the causes of Bishops and greatest Ecclesiasticall Questions and busines of the Churches were to be tried and decided by the primates and Patriarks and the Apostles so decreed Petrus Episcoporum primates vel Patriarchas ordinauit qui reliquorum Episcoporum iudicia maiora quoties necesse foret negotia in fide agitarent secundum Dei voluntatem sicut constituerunt sancti Apostoli ita vt ne quis iniustè periclitaretur definirent Archiepiscopos institui praecepit qui non tamen primatum sed Archiepiscoporum fruerentur nomine Episcoporum quoque iudicia vt superius memoratum est maiora Ecclesiarum negotia si ipsi reclamauerint aut aliquem timorem aut istos vel alios suspectos habucrint ad iam dictos primates vel Patriarchas transferri perdocuit And this was among the Apostles themselues one S. Peter aboue the rest Quoniam nec inter Apostolos par institutio fuit Sed vnus omnibus praefuit This is