of England and died â— of â—t Abbot Fecknam by Moncks and â— dâ—ed in the yeare 1585. And then by â—â— Monckes and all mens confession there liued here in England of the old English Monkes onely F. Buckley no great Preacher or learned man So this onely such Moncke could not abâ—e that proposition There nâ—â—er hath bene any Interruption of Benedictine Preachers and teaâ—â—eâ—â— in England One no Preacher cannot be such and in the plurall number 23. And that Author made no more menâ—ion in particular of Benedictine Moncks â—hen of other Religious Orders all oâ— them â—ailing in learned Priests except of â—he Clerâ—ie to â—heach and defend true Râ—â—igion He â—id not meane there was not any one either â—earned or vnlearned If any such thing is â—here printed it was the printers and not his â—oing neither can any of equaâ—l Iudgement â—inke otherwise for that authour well kâ—ew â—at Father Sebert Buckley was theÌ„ liuinâ— he â—eing well and very louingly acquainâ—eâ— with â—aister Sadler and maister Mahu Priests â—hich first ioyned with that F. Buckley heaâ—ng from them the manner thereof And he â—ath seene vnder one of their hanâ—s more â—en euer he wrote or held That it was â—oubted whether that father Buckley was a â—rofessed Moncke or no and the reasons of â—ch doubt are thus set downe written with â—ne of their hands Quia hoc neque per scripturam â—e publicum Instrumentum neque per testem quirem â—sam nouerat probatum vidit Because he had noâ—â—ne this prooued by writing or puâ—like Instrument nor witnesse that knew it This is more then my friend needeth in this matter or this case now requireth And he euer thought he was a Monke So doe I and honour the Order of S. Benedict and all other Religious Orders and loue and honour all my worthie frieÌ„ds and acquaintance of them as much as euer I did which some of them know to be very much and as they can wish or desire and euer shall yet veritaâ— vincit THE VII CHAPTER That the Catholikes of England taughâ— and directed by such guides in Religioâ— as our Priests be are not to be persecuted but protected defended and imployed as true and faithfull subiectâ— in all things 1. THe honour dignitie glorie and renowne of consecrated Bishops anâ— Priests being thus great ample excelleÌ„t anâ— necessarie among all true beleuing Christianâ— Instituted and ordained by Christ himselfe aÌ„â— according to his owne most holy Order foâ— all professours of his faith and Religion in aâ— â—nd places vntill this life and world is to end and that the publik Sacrifice they offer and celebrate is so holy and heauenly the Religion generally which they professe preach and â—eache vndoubtedly true and that the highest spirituall power by which their Mission is so certaine so aâ—ntiently honourable and honoured and without manifest and vnexcusable offence both to the greatest authoritie on earth or in heauen so to be receiued and reuereuced of all twyce happie blessed and honourable is then your state cause and condition Most Noble and Renowned Confessours of the Nobilitie Gentrie and other Catholike laietie of England in chosing in such times such guides of your soules professing such Religion and which giueth you a second and greater felicitie to be for such a cause so persecuted in your Natiue Countrie of your owne Countriemen kindred and called Christians 2. To suffer Persecution for Iustice is a blessednesse and bringeth to eternall blisse But to endure it in such measure and manner as you haue done and doe it will eleuate you â—o the highest and neuer fading ioyes your â—osse may be of temporarie but your purâ—hase thereby will be of much better and euer â—uting things Terreane glorie flattering and deceitfull honour is often valued bought and solde at too deare a rate but that which Persecution for the cause you suffer in will for euer endowe you with will farre exceede the worth of any price you can bestowe to possesse it Id enim quod in praesenti saieth â— ad Cor. 4. Saint Paule est momentaneum leue tribulationis nostrae supra modum in sublimitate aeternum gloriae pondus operatur in nobis non contemplantibus nobis quae videntur sed quae non videntur Quae enim videntur temporalia sunt quae autem non videntur aeterna sunt For that our tribulation which presently is momentarie and light worketh aboue measure exceedingly an eternall weight of glorie in vs we not considering the things that are seene but that are not seene For things that be seene are temporall but those that be not seene are eternall And c. 5. in an other place he addeth Scimus enim quoniam si terrestris domus nostra huius habitationis dissoluatur quod aedificationem ex Deo habemus domum â—on manufactam aeternam in caelis For we know that if our earthly house of this habitation be dissolued that we haue a building of God a house nâ—â— made with hand eternall in heauen Your liues your lands your liberties honours and what soeuer in things temporall and to be forsakeÌ„ or spoyled and depriued off deare vnto you were lent giuen and but for a time bestowed vpon you as also his most pretious blood and life was after many other Miserie 's sustained for your Ransome aÌ„d RedeÌ„ption by him for whose right and cause you stand and patiently endure afflictions for the same so often so much and so long time Thus he himselfe founde the way and returned to his owne kingedome and glorie immense and eternall and he said at his departure hence to his heauenly throane vnto his blessed Apostles Disciples to you and all that shall serue and suffer for him to the end of the world In domo Patris mei Io 1â— mansiones multae sunt vado parare vobis locum Et â—â— abiero praeparauero vobis locum iterum venio accipiam vos ad meipsum vt vbi sum eg vos sitis Et quo ego vado scitis viam sâ—â—â—is In my fathers house there be many mansions I goe to prepaâ—e you a place I come againe and will take you to my sâ—lfâ— that where I am you also may be And wither I goe you knowe and the way you knowe Euery Mansion in heauen in the howse of God farre surpasseth all Pallaces and pleasures of this world and to be with Christ in eternall glorie infinitely exceedeth all delights and honours here And the glorie and reward of them that come nearest to Christ in sufferings here â—â—ll be â—he highest and greatest with him there in loyes for euer Ecce Tabernaâ—ulum Dei cum hominibus Apoâ—al â—1 habitabit cum eis ipsi populus â—ius erunt ipse Deus cum eis erâ—t coruÌ„ Deus Eâ— absterget Deus omnem Lachrymam ab oculis eorum mâ—rs vltrà non erit neque luctus neque clamor neque dolor erit vltrà quae prima abierunt Behold the Tabernacle of
had S. Cyprian his learned â—eale and S. Chrysostome his golden mouth or pen to laye downe the worth and due oâ— you all most renowned Teachers Learnes and Sufferers in this cause the cause of Christ For although the most reuerâ—nd Father in God Richard Bishop of Chalcedon and the holy learned reuered Priests of England arâ— not in person those greatest or others among the Apostles yet they all both ouâ— Bishop and Priests in their Episcopall anâ— Priestlie Order Preaching and teaching a they did and deriuing Succession both iâ— doctrine and dignitie fâ—â—m them if we maâ— beleeue the Apostles and Apostolike meâ— Clem. Româ—â— Cost Apost l 2. â—â—5 and witnesses doe supplie theâ—r pâ—ace and aâ—â— so to be obeyed Presbyteri si assiduè in studio decend verbum Dei laborauerint Apostolorum locuâ— tenent Sacerdoâ—es sunt omnes Domini Apostoli qâ— nâ—que agros neque domos haeteaitant hic sed sempeâ— Altarâ— Deo seruiunt If Priests will continually labour in the studie of teaching the word of God the sâ—all inioye the plaâ—e of the Apostles Priests are all tâ—â— Apostles of our Lord who inheriteth here neithâ— feilâ—s nor houses but alwâ—yes they serue God and thâ—â— neighbour Eis qui in Ecclesia sunt Presbyteris obediâ— â—rinaeus l. 4. c. 20. 43. oportet his qui successionem habent ab Apostolis qâ— cum Episcâ—patus successione Charisma certum secunduâ— plaâ—â—tum paâ—ris acceperunt Those Priests which aâ— in the Church ought to be obeyed who haue their Sucession from the Apostles and with the Succession Iustâ—â— Diâ—â— 5. 〈◊〉 Tâ—i 〈◊〉 Bishoprikes haue receaued the certaine gift accordiâ— to the will of the Father Neque vero à quoquam Deâ— hostias accipit nisi à suis Sacerdotibus Neither indeeâ— â—oth God Accept of Sacrifices of any 〈◊〉 of his Priests â—here we see the honour which ought to â—e done to our preaching and Sacrificing â—ishop and Priests â— And the holy Scrâ—â—turs pronounce and â—clare them worâ—â—◠〈…〉 1. 〈◊〉 5. â—nour Qui 〈…〉 habeantur maximè 〈…〉 doâ—â—â The Priests tâ—at 〈◊〉 wâ—ll let them be esteemed â—râ—hie of duble honour â—â—specially they that labour in â— word and doâ—trine â—nd I may auerre that hoâ— conuersatioÌ„ whâ—â—â— you with so many difâ—ulties possesse â—n forsaking all to follow â—rist to teach preach and doe other â—esslie functions to be the Apostolicall life â—d calling Our Protestant persecutours alwhich doe acknowledge you for true and â—full Priests and doe attribute so much to â—aching and most highly dâ—e commend â—r holy Apostolicke predecessours Priests â— Monckes who liued as you doe in the â—e of the Britons before all of the Reliâ—us Protest Thâ—â—tor of great Brit. God Win. Conueâ—s â—f Brit. Orders that came hither in the SaxoÌ„s â—e should not otherwise vse you then â—h honour and respect especially when alâ—es euen from the begining of Christiaâ—e here they finde it so â— In the very first age yea in the Aâ—les time they auoâ—ch that S. Ioseph and Associates our first Religious discontiâ—d their Monasticall life to preach the â—h Abbot Fecknam did alleage out of S. Gildas in the fiâ—st Parliament of Queene Elizabeth that Pope Elutherius in his time sent from their Monasticall life such hither to preach S. German and S. Lupus Religious of Lycinum Monasterie were sent hither into Britonie by S. Celestin before they werâ— Bishops to the same end and purpose Wheâ— our renowned English Apostle S. Gregoriâ— tooke religious Monckes S. Augustine anâ— others out of his owne Monastarie to senâ— them hither to preach to the vnbeleeuinâ— Saxons and hey terrified with the labouâ— and perils of such an Apostolicall life desred rather to returne to their quiet Monastâ—call conuersation he vrged them and seâ— them forward because this Apostolicall liâ— was most perfect and had greatest reward â— heauen Omniinstantia omnique seruore quae iâ— Gregorius Epist ad Monachos in Angl. destinâ—nd Bed hiâ—â—or â—ccle l. 1. c. 23. choastis Deo authore peragite sciences quod laborâ— magnum maior retribution iâ— gloria sequitur With forâ—e and seruour finish that you haue by the moâ—â— of God begun assuring your selues that after your grâ— labour eternall reward shall followe And the Berdictine Monckes in their Trithemius aâ— others doe glorie much and not withoâ— cause of the many Bishops Archbishoâ— Cardinals and Popes of their Order by tâ— title of Apostolicall Mission Our Benectines also of the English Congregation snites Dominicans Franciscans and Carâ—lites with dispenâ—â—tion from his Holines hâ— left the rigour of their Rule and Order â— better to applie themselues here in our countrie for the conuerting of souleâ— as in a vocation of greater merite and higher perfection preferring the Apostolicall preaching life in â—his time and place before the exact and proâ—essed obseruation of their owne particular Orders thereby to notifie vnto vs and all â—hat this Apostolicall priestlie life euer from â—he beginning of Christianitie here or in the â—orld was the most perfect and most excelâ—nt calling and profession pleasing to God â—rofitable to his Church and honourable in â—he professours therof 7. All our old holy Bishops Colledges Monasteries Seminaries or Schooles of learâ—ed Christians such as by our Protestants â—onfession were here extant in euery age â—uouis saeculo extiterunt and longe before Matth. Parker Antiquit. Britun Ion. Iosilin hist Eccles manuscript Gregorie was Pope or that he did or could â—nd any Monckes of what Order soeuer inâ— EnglaÌ„d or any part of Britonie sent most â—oly and learned priests by allowance of the â—e Apostolike to preach in France Gerâ—anie Denmarke Friseland Bauaria Norâ—ay Ireland Greenland and into other â—rts of the world diuers times and in great â—mber as it shall be hereafter more largly â—clared Knowing both by holy Scriptures â—d the testimonie of Christ himselfe that â—is Apostolicall condition a signed by him his dearest Apostles first taught and praâ—ised in himselfe not onely to forsake all externall wordlie thinges as Religious men doe or be bound to doe but â—or a man to denie himselfe the sauing of his health libertie and life daily exposing them to losse and ofteÌ„ loosing them for the loue of Christ truely following him in sauing many soules that were in danger otherwise eternally to perish is the most absolutly perfect calling and profession in the Church of God 8. Monasticall life by abnegation is a State of perfection and a safe way to saue the professers soule but to saue both his owne and many others by a more perfect abnegation must needs be the greatest perfection and following of Christ Si quis vult post me venire abneget Luc. â— semetiâ—sum tollat crucem suam quoâ—idiè sequatur me If any man will come after me let hiâ— denie himselfe and take vp his crosse dayly and follow me And our Sauiour when he demande of Saint Peter his greatest and most louinâ— Apostle Diligis me plus his Loues â—hou me more
great if euery one that is persecuted for Iustice shall haue his reward in heauen what will their honour be which haue suffered so much and so long time for that cause Your Protestant Aduersaries and Persecutours themselues taking the altitude of your miseries and suffrings for this greatest iustice haue found their eleuation to be raised to the hight of all former Persecutours who were Pagans professed enimies to Christ and all Christians They which professe Christ and Christianitie may not be such Great was the persecution of Nero and yet Britonie felt it not but was then a Refuge Aâ—yle and as a Sanctuarie to receiue and defend the persecuted Bitter was Dioclesiaus PersecutioÌ„ here in Britonie but as our Gildas telleth vs it was but Nâ—uâ—nnis of nine yeares onely at which time the Scots â—â—cts Saxons Gormundians Aâ—ricans and Dâ—nes â—ll Pagans persecuted the Christiâ—s here But neuer any bearing the name of Christ before â—hese dayes persecuted the Catholike Chriâ—tians of this Kingdome All those Pagans â—ersecuted Christians as enimies to their old Gods and Religion and for not ioyning â—ith them in Idolatrie deeming Christian â—eligion newe and erroneous Our ProtestaÌ„t Persecutours persecute vs for defending the old Religion of Christ which cannot be vntrue and for not imbracing their newe which in the Schoole of Christ cannot be true 13. All the Pagans that euer persecuted here distroied not â—o many Churches and Chappels as King Henrie the eight and his daughter Elizabeth nor tooke from the Church the halfe of that which they did Halse such a Fine and Ransome as the Catholikes paid to them aboue the third part of England in Religious Church-lands possessed by the Clergie here Sixhundred yeares since besides other for fitures would haue stopped the Pagans Persecution The Saxons greatest Persecution next to Dioclesians soone slacked and releÌ„ted no soon â—r had the Saxons driueÌ„ Theonus and Thadiocus Archbishops of LoÌ„don and Yorke with other Bishops Priests and Religious from â—heir Sees and Residences in the yeare of Christ 586. But King Ethelbert of Kent ruling vnto Húber by meanes of his blessed ChristiaÌ„ Queenâ— Bertha and her holy Bishop S. Lethard gauâ— ease and peace to Christians here before S. Augustines and his Associates comming hither and they were receiued by Ethelberâ— not yet a Christian with honours and noâ— indignities All they were strangers and forrainers to the persecuted Our Persecutourâ— be of the same Nation blood and kinred and stiled Christians with them whom thus they persecute for Christs true Religion If King S. Ethelbert Queene S. Bertha and Bishop S. Lethard were now liuing Catholikes would not be persecuted THE II. CHAPTER That the Religion of our English Catholikes as well from the Saxons as Britons is the same with their first Apostles and deduced from them and first of the Saxons conuerted by S. Augustine and his Roman Mission NOw because our Protestants and Persecutours before haue deliuered it For greate glorie to our Nation to deriue our spirituall degree from so noble a Father as S. Peter We will â—riue and deduce from him a continuall â—d neuer interrupted Succession both of â—iscopall and Priestlie function and doâ—ine also in euery point now questioned by â—r Persecutours froÌ„ that so noble a Father â— these Protestant times And to begge more â—ce and fauour from these our enimies in â—s cause they themselues shall briefly make â—s deduction â— And first concerning Bishops and Massing Priests sent hither or consecrated here by S. Peter's or his Roman Successours Iuâ—â—â—diction such as they now so greuiously dâ—◠〈◊〉 â—hey confesse publickly that they had â—o 〈◊〉 but so consecrated as the Roman Church did from the begining and stilâ— doth consecrate vnâ—ill their neâ—â— booke oâ— pretended Consecration maâ—â— by King Edward thâ— Sâ—â—th â— child hiâ—â—â—thoritie brought in thei◠〈…〉 aâ—d they acknowledge 〈…〉 consecraâ—e◠〈…〉 Priesâ—◠〈…〉 and doe 〈…〉 â—â—stifie 〈…〉 Engl. Proteâ—â— in Rogers Booke of articles Annal. Burton an 140. Caiuâ—â—â—tiq 〈…〉 Annâ—l 〈…〉 â—n Mansâ—◠〈…〉 1. 6. Harrison descript of Brit. waâ— oâ—r Archbishop 〈…〉 moreouer that this our 〈…〉 was seâ—lâ—d by this greaâ—est Aâ—ostâ—â— in â—he 〈◊〉 yâ—are of Nero and 67. 〈…〉 â— Peter returned againe to 〈…〉 dâ—uers of thâ—se our Bishops and 〈…〉 Nation as S. Manâ—uetus S. 〈◊〉 S. Maâ—cellus or Marcellinus the renoâ—ned Priests and Preachers of Cambridge â—n and afteâ— the yeare 140. S. Marcellus being and liuinâ— Bishop after King Lucius and Britonie waâ— conuerted when three Archbisbops anâ—â—â—ventie eight Bishops were here placed anâ— all Ecclesiasticall thinges established anâ— confirmed by Papall power in this Kingdome â— To make this Succession without aâ— question they deliuer vnto vs the names aâ— â—me Episcopall Acts of our Archbishops Hollinâ—h Hist of England Stowâ—s Hist. Godwin conuers of Britan. Cataâ— of Bishops in London Yorke and S. Dauids â—f LondoÌ„ Yorke and Caerlegion In London â—e chiefe Metropolitan See S. Theanus S. luanus Cadar Obinus Conanus Pallaâ—us Stephanus I'tutus Theodwynus or â—edwynus Thedredus Hillarius Guiteliâ—s Restitutus Fastidius Vodinus Theoâ—s Others adde S. Augulus Ternokinus â—d Gormcelinus They confesse that Theoâ—s the last Archbishop of London with full â—risdiction continued in his Archiepiscopall â—e notwithstanding the Pagon Saxons inuaâ—n and persecutioÌ„ vntill the yeare of Christ â—â— which was but 10. yeares before S. Auguâ—â—â— coming hither So they testifie of Thaâ—â—us Matth. West an 586. Archbishop of Yorke the same yeâ—â—e â—auing his See and with the Archbishop of 〈◊〉 and many of their Clergie flying into â—alâ—â— and Cornewall to the Christian Bisâ—ps Priests and people there They reâ—pt in thâ— Archbâ—â—â—op See of Yorke Theoâ—sius Sampsoâ—â—â— Taurinus â—eruanâ—s Sampsonâ—◠〈◊〉 and the â—enamed Thadiocu◠〈…〉 â—egion they â— downe Tremonus S. 〈◊〉 S Daâ—id â—iud Conanc Theliaus Eâ—bâ—dus wholiâ—d in S. Augustins time and after him imâ—ediatly succeeding in Archiepiscopall digâ—tie fourty or more vntill the time of Berâ—rd who in the yeare 1115. lost that honour â—om that See by Papall order as all Antiâ—aries Catholikes and Protestants agree 4. These men also deliuer vnto vs a Catalogue of learned holy writers in euery agâ— and in the age whâ— S. Augustine came hitheâ— they recount vnto vs the most noble Sainâ— and Doctours Dubritius Iltutâ—s Congelluâ— Dauid Gildas Kentigeâ—nâ—s Brendant Asaphus and others whâ—ly â—nd absolutâ— agreeing with the Church of â—ome They â—â— downe our Vniuâ—rsiâ—ies 〈…〉 aâ— among others 〈…〉 from all eâ—ror Our 〈…〉 in the greâ—â—ouncelâ—s 〈…〉 â—he same faiâ— with tâ—e whole 〈…〉 they had mâ— entercourâ—e 〈◊〉 â—â—â—municaâ—â—on next to tâ— Popes of 〈…〉 the moâ—â— Catholike aâ— renowâ—â—d 〈…〉 Churcâ— of Christ â— Athanaâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 S. Martine and maâ— more and bâ—th â—â—â—se Tertulâ—â—an S. Chryâ—stome with 〈◊〉 did highly commeÌ„d thâ— our 〈…〉 true Religion 5. Anâ— becaâ—â—â— some Proâ—estants to mu◠〈…〉 libertie cannot well eâ—dure 〈…〉 â—â—ckes and Religious sâ— king wâ—a◠〈…〉 can â—o disgrace suâ— as oâ—her◠〈◊〉 â—â—nowned Clergie especialâ— the 〈◊〉 of S. Benedicts Order
from Bishops Neque laico permiâ—uâ—ous facere opus aliquod Sacerdotale vt sacrificium aut Baptismum aut impositionem man us aut benedictionem siue paruam siue magnam Nemo enim sibi sumit honorem sed qui vocatur a Domine huiusmodi namque gratia per impositionem manuum Episcopi datur Neque Presbyteris potestatem damus ordinandi Diaconos aut Lectores aut Ministros sed Episcopis tantum Hic enim est Ecclesiasticus ordo Cum à Deo consequenâ—iam rerum didicerimus Episcopis quidem assignauimus aâ—tribuimus quae ad principatum Sacerdotij pertinâ—nt Presbyteris vero quae ad Sacerdotium Deinde Diaconis quae ad ministrandum vtriusque vt puâ—è castè fiant quae ad Religionem pertinent Neque enim sas est Diacono sacrificium offerre aut baptizare aut benedictionem fiue paruam siue magnam facere neque Presbytero ordinationem ClericoruÌ„facere Ostensum est Anâ—istitum Ordinem perficientem esse perfectionis authorem Non licet sine Episcopo baptizâ—â—e neque dothen celebrare Neither doe we permit â—he Laeâ—ie to doe any Priestly functiâ—n as to offer Sacrifice baptize impose hands or to giue any Benediction either litle or great For no man taketh this honour to himselfe but â—e who is called by God Because this grace is giuen by the imposition of the Bishops hands Neither doe we giue vnto Priestes the power of ordaining Deacons or Lectours or Ministers but onely to Bishops This is the order of the Church When we did lerne the sequell of things from God indeede what appertained to the principalitie of Pâ—iestes we assigned and gaue it to Bishops and to Priestes what belonged to Priestehoode afterward to Deacons what appertained to the assistance of both that these things which concerned Religion might be performed chastly and cleanely Neither is it lawfull for a Deacon to offer Sacrifice or to baptize or to make any Benediction either litle or great neither for Priestes to ordaine Clergie-men It is declared the Order of the Bishops is the perfecting Order and authour of perfection It is not lawfull without a Bishop to baptize nor to offer Sacrifice nor to saie Masse 6. Wherevppon the English Protestants in their most publicke and authorised proceedings thus acknowledge It is euident vnto all men diligently reading holy Scripturs and auntient authors that from the Apostles time there hath beene these orders of ministers in Christ Church Bishops Priests and DeacoÌ„s which offices were euermore had in such reuerent estimation that no man might presume to execute any of them except he were first by publike praier and imposition of hands approued and admitted therevnto And these orders should be continued and reuerently vsed and esteemed in this Church of England And in this both their booke intituled Of Consecration of Archbishops Bishops Priests as their Articles of Religion and coÌ„mon practise doe onely allowe and commit such thinges to them whome they call and apprehend to be Bishops saying Allmightie God giuer of all good things by his holy spirit hath appointed them in the Church Episcopall Order is of diuine Ordination and by law diuine Christ acted it by the hands of the Apostles It is an ordinance Apostolicall He hath enacted it for succeding posteritie and so it is a Canon or Constitution of the whole Trinitie Wherevpon the Protestant PuritaÌ„s conclude If prelacie be de Iure diuino by the lawe of God it receiueth both breath and life from the Religion of Rome And this they offer Publikly to defend and the Parlament Protestants so grauÌ„te claiming that Ministrie they haue by ordination from Rome Wherevpon these Puritans with generall assent haue thus concluded They cannot see how possibly by the Rules of Diuinitie the separation of our Chuâ—ches from the Church of Rome and from the Pope head thereof can be iustified They protest to all the worlde that the Pope and the Church of Rome and in theÌ„ God and Christ Iesus himselfe haue had great wronge and Indignitie offered vnto them and that the Protestant Churches are scismaticall in forsaking the vnitie and communion with them If the English Protestant opinion he maintained That Bishops Iurisdiction is de Iure diuino by the lawe of God his Magestie and all the Nobilite ought to be Subâ—ect to Excommunication 7. Which neither king Nobles or vnnoble no meanest Protestants of England can â—oubt feare or pretend against the Bishop of Chalcedon he neither hauing or claiming the â—easte spirituall power or Iurisdiction ouer â—ny one great or little highe or lowest Protestant in EnglaÌ„d His Episcopall both Order â—nd Iurisdiction which as he construeth beâ—ongeth vnto it extending onely to Cathoâ—iks of this kingedome to keepe them in good order and loyall dutie both to God and â—heir king as good Catholik Bishops doe â—nd are bounde to doe Which must needs be an helpe and no hurt or offence to any Common-wealth Bishops learned louing and knowing their dutie and hauing charge whereof they must render a seuere accompt to God attended with watchfull and reuengfull eyes vpon them for loue will not or feare dare not concurre vnto or suffer vnder them disobedieÌ„ce to heauenly or earthly Prince They which cannot endure spirituall dutie are in most daunger of lapse into temporall disobedience hauing reiected spirituall power keeping them in awe and dutie to temporall VVhich perhaps caused Constantine our wise king and Emperour to saie vpon experience as he did of staggerers in Religion and faithfulnesse to God No doubt but both the Pope of Rome and Rich of Chalcedon know their offices sufficiently without any admonishments They are not ignorant who said and how it concerned them Non possumus aliquid aduersus veritatem sed pro veritate VVe cannot any thing against 2. Cor. 13. the truth but for the truth and potestatem quam Dominus dedit mihi in aedificationâ—m non destructionem The power which our Lord hath giuen me vnto edification and not vnto destruction 8. There is great difference in hauing and exercising power from Rome The first should not feare them which would feare without cause of feare neither secret and prudent exercise in necessitie to redesse or preuent euills Greater meetings and assemblies be often made by some in and of as great daunger and to lesse purpose then would serue priuately to examine witnesses or so to giue a sentence where the litigants be and ought to be secret To doe many vsuall and necessarie actâ— of Religion be as daungerous and require as great and greater assemblies A publike setled Consistoâ—ie in any place or â—laces to be set vp could not but with â—onde â—maginations be thought vpon were the Iudg â—ad not vbi reclinet caput suum Probate of puâ—like wills administrations Tithes Conâ—racts Marriages Diuorces Alimonie Basâ—erdie and publike slanders among ProtestaÌ„ts â—aue publike Protestant Courts and all or â—any mixt with our temporall lawes Many â—f the remembred instances as Tithes and â—asterdies concerning inheriting
vntrue by their owne Parlaments testifying that in the very Primatiue Church and allwaies it was often ministred in one kinde onely Then no commandment of Christ contrary ca be brought to condemne all Churches times and places for such practise 8. Their 31. Article of the one oblation of Christ finished vpon the crosse denyâ—ng against the whole Church of Christ in all ages and places and thereby depriuing God of all externall sacrifice contrary to scripture and all authoritie will not by the Rule of proportion giue more or so much honour vnto earthlie kings then Catâ—oliks doe giuing this tribute and Sacrifice to the king of heauen and all that is belonging or was euer giuen to their terrene Princes 9. Their 32. Articâ—e of the Marriage of Priests hath married this kingedome to many miseries it did not feele or know before The posteritie proceeded by such lawe or allowaÌ„ce hath brought vs to number hundreds of thousands more then Britanie or England if it had remained Catholike should haue euer seene Many thousands of these are left vnprouided for and not a few are turned or wrested out of their possessions to furnish these Ministers children many of whom also haue fallen to such extreame wants that many of them haue taken desperate courses which the Catholike practise and Religion would haue preuented 10. Their 33. Article Of excommunicate persons how they are to be auoided Differeth not froÌ„ Cathoâ—ikes but that Protestants commit the businesse of excommunication and absolution to such as Catholikes hold haue no power therein when both Catholikes and Protestants confesse that men assigned to such offices by Catholikes haue true lawfull and vndoubted authoritie 11. Their 34 Article Of Traditions of the Church is wholy Ceremonious by their owne expositioÌ„ and no man caÌ„ be so singular in this or any such matter but to thinke any particular Church or kingedome the more it agreeth with the vniuersall or most florishing Christian kingedomes to be more honourable and secure thereby then such as fall into Nouelties and singularities 12. Their 35. Article of homelies is nothing to this purpose And their 36. Article intituled Of Consecration of Biâ—hops and Ministers To whom they commit spirituall Businesse preaching ministring Sacraments and to excommunicate absolue and whatsoeuer in like kinde they take vpon them to practise is quite ouerthrowne by themselues before in their 22. Article where they saie that Order as they vse it Is no Sacrament or effectuall signe of grace and hath noâ— any visible signe or ceremonie ordained of God Then not receiuing or hauing grace or such spirituall power it cannot coÌ„ferre aÌ„d giue it vnto others or so exercise it especially in so many things as is required from truely and lawfully consecrated persons such as they acknowledg the Bishopâ— and Priests of the Roman Church to be 13. Their 37. Article intituled of the ciuill Magistrate doth giue to teÌ„porall Princes supreamacie euen in spirituall things and denieth all Iurisdiction to the Pope of Rome in thiâ— Realme in such affaires Of this sufficient is said before And euery equall minded man may easily see whether the temporall state of England was not more honourable noble powerfull and secure when the Popes Iurisdiction in spirituall thinges ruled here then now it is and euer since it hath beene and yet the Ritches and wealth which fell to our kings and Princes hands and commauÌ„de at such chang were as infinite and so great that king Henrie 8 to haue licence or assent to suruâ—y them to make vse thereby promised to speake in Protestant witnesses words He would create anâ— maintaine 40. Earles 60. Barons Edw. howe 's historicall pref in Henr. â— three thousand knights and fourtie thousand souldiers with skilfull Captaines and competent maintenance for tâ—em all for euer ouâ— of the auntieÌ„t Church reuenewes Neither should the people be any more charged with loane Subfidies and Fifteenes Since wâ—iâ—h time there â—auâ— bâ—ene more statuts lawes subfidies and Fifteenes then in fiue hundred yeares before Thus in the publicke Protestant Historie in the yeare 1614. dedicated to our king now the Prince Charles Since we haue heard and tasted in EnglaÌ„d more matters of this nature And yet if we should make but Robin-hoods penâ—worthes and estimate of what hath beene taken away from holy constant Catholikes for proâ—â—ssing their true and Apostolike Religâ—â—n in the Reigne oâ— Queene Elizabeth king Iames and king Charles euen since he married a Queene prosessing for herselfe Catholike Religion It will amount to more then would haue deliuered a farâ—e meaner king and kingedome then ours of England haue beenâ— accoÌ„pted from such complaintes of feares wants needs dislikes and variaâ—â—â—â— tâ—erein if God had well approued of such proceedingâ— and such means of proceeding against his Catholike SeruaÌ„ts our kings most faithfull 〈◊〉 14. And the spirituall Supreamacie assumed by oâ—r Princes king Henry 8. king Edward 6 and Queene Elizabeth confirmed againe in this Article had wrought so good effects in so short time within 4. yeares of Q. Elizabeths obtaining the Crowne that Protestants in such order or rather disorder and number denied teÌ„porall power in Princes here to put any Rebell or whatsoeuer most greeuious offender to death and they weÌ„t further affirming that Protestants might not fight in defence of their Countrie though the Prince commaunded it wherevpon they were enforced to declare in this Article in this maner against such Protestant Brethren The lawes of the Realme may punish Christian men with death for heinous and greuious offences Is it lawfull for Christian men at the commaundment oâ— the Magistrate to weare Armes and serue in the warrs And there were among them teaching and holding communitie of goods noâ— theft spoiling or Roberie to be punished no iustice or lawe to be executed or Oath to be taken in Iudgement all Courts and Consistories to cease as is euident by the two last Articles 38. and 39. thus following the former intituled Of Christian mens goods which are not common And thus declaring The Riches and goods of Christians are not common as touching the right Title and possession of the same as certaine Anabâ—ptists Protestants doe beast And the last â—9 Article intituled of a Christian mans Oath And thus enacting and declaring We Iudge thaâ— Christian Religion doth not prohibit but that a man may sweare when the Magistrate requireth in a cause of faith and charitie so it be done according to the Prophets teaching in Iustice Iudgment and truth This suffiâ—â—enâ—â—y witnesseth wâ—at goodly coÌ„mon-wealths-meÌ„ their Protestant Religion euâ—n 〈◊〉 Infancie thereof had brought forth in this kingdome THE IX CHAPTER That true and obedient Catholikes be the truest and most obedient subiects 1. And in conclusion to come to the particulare Sâ—ate and Regalitie oâ— our most honoured King Charles and king Iames before him There neuer were any Protestants in England in their times or before which so truely and ducifully carried themselues towards their Monarchicall true Title Right