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A17014 The second part of the Protestants plea, and petition for preists and papists Being an historie of the holy preisthood, and sacrifice of the true Church of Christ. Inuincibly prouing them to be, the present sacrificing preisthood: prouing also the sacrifice of the Masse, vsed in the Catholike Roman church: and that these were promised, and foretold by the Prophets, instituted by Christ, and exercised by all his Apostles. Morouer that they haue euer from the first plantinge of Christianitie in this our Britanye, in the dayes of the Apostles, in euery age, and hundred of yeares, beene continued and preferued here. All for the most part, warranted by the writinges and testimonies of the best learned Protestant doctors, and antiquaries of England, and others. Broughton, Richard. 1625 (1625) STC 3895.7; ESTC S118746 270,592 733

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haereticis Britannos ad Catholicam fidem dirigat Hee consecrated many massinge preists and Bishops in this kingdome among whom the cheifest was that massing Saint Dubritius Archbishop the cheife Doctor Primate the Popes Legate Prosper in Chronic. An. D. 432. Io. Capgrau in S. Dubritio Matth. Westm. Galfrid Monument hist. Brit. l. 9. cap. 12. Rob. Caenal l. 2. M. S. Gallic antiq M. S. antiq Io. Capgrau in vita S. Dubritij Episcopos in pluribus locis Britanniae consecrarunt dextralis partis Britanniae beatum Dubritium summum Doctorem Archiepiscopum statuerunt a protestant Bishop writeth Dubritius was made Archbishop by Germanus and Lupus and they appointed his see to bee at Landaffe Godwin Catalog in S. Dauide this holy Archbishop by the heauenly direction did consecrate that notorious massinge preist S. Sampson Archbishop of Yorke in whose consecration a miraculous vision appeared to confirme his callinge and Religion and both S. Dubritius and others did see a piller of fier miraculously proceeding from his mouth as hee celebrated the holy Masse and hee himselfe all his life had Angels ministring vnto him in that blessed sacrifice Angelus Domini beato Dubritio apparens Sampsonem ordinari Episcopum praecepit In cuius consecratione qui aderant columbam celitus emissam immobiliter super eum stare videbant Eodem die Sampsone celebrante Dubritius cum Monachis duobus columnam ignis de ore eius procedentem rutilare perspexit Ille vero omni tempore vitae suae Angelos dum celebraret sibi assistere in sacrificio ministrare meruit M. S. antiquit Capgrau in S. Sampsone Episcopo what massinge preistes and Archbishops the immediate successors of these two renowned Archbishops were I shall lay downe herafter more at large 7. And such as these were such also was the Archbishop of London S. Vodinus and all Bishops and preists vnder him and so consequently in all Britanie at that time which aswel appeareth by their owne historian S. Gildas venerable S. Bede as also Matthew of Westminster with others who speaking of the miserable and generall persecutiō of the christian Britans in al places quasque Prouincias amonge other cruelties they tel vs these infidels martyred the Brittish preists as they were standing at the altars where they said Masse Sacerdotes iuxta altaria trucidabāt Gild. de excid conquest Brit. Matth. Westm. an gratiae 462. Bed l. 1. histor Eccles cap. 15. therefore the preistes generally then were altare sacrificinge and massinge preists otherwise they could not haue beene thus cruelly put to death at the altars and places of saying Masse in all all parts of this nation at that time Neither could there possibly at that time bee any other preists but massinge preists except they would turne hereticks which we doe not reade and leaue the doctrine and Religion of their both Archbishops Bishops and Masters in diuinitie which in this time were by all testimonie both of Catholicks and Protestants either the onely or principall S. Dubritius of whome I haue spoken before S. Iltutus and S. Gildas all moste holy and miraculous men and knowne massinge preists For concerninge S. Iltutus he was as a Protestant Bishop with Vicentius and Antoninus confesseth scholler to the renowned Popes Legate and massinge Bishop S. German spoken of before Io. Bal. l. de script Britan. cent 1. in Ilchtuto alias Iltuto And to proue him a massinge preist and all his schollers after him that were preists to haue bene massinge preists Nennius our moste auncient exceptinge Gildas writer which wee haue left testifieth in his Manuscript historie that there was in a church which this massinge Saint Iltutus builded a miraculous Altar susteyned only without any propp or foundation by the power of God altare quod nutu Dei fulcitur Nennius histor M. S. in fine post nomina ciuitatum Britanniae and this miraculous altar so inuisibly susteyned did remayne in Nennius time manet vsque in hodiernam diem altare potestate Dei fulcitum 8. To proue S. Gildas to haue beene of this opinion and practise his historie de excidio Britanniae often cited in this treatise is full of altars massinge and sacrificinge preists and maketh their irreuent sayinge of Masse and often neglect of celebrating that holy sacrifice to haue beene one of the cheife causes of Gods indignation against them and depriuinge them of this kingedome and giuinge it to the Saxons theire professed enemies And hee was one of the renowned schollers of his massing Master S. Iltutus as S. Sampson the great massing Archbishop of Yorke of whome I haue spoken before and S. Dauid that moste holy sacrificinge and miraculous Archbishop of Caerlegion of whome hereafter and S. Paulinus were as both Catholicks and Protestants are witnesses M. S. antiq de vit S. Iltuti Ioh. Capgrau in Iltuto Ioh. Bal. centur 1. de scriptor Brit. in eod what this Paulinus was and whether hee that was sent hither with S. Augustine I dare not affirme yet considering the longe time S. Iltutus liued as many then did and hee beeing liuinge as diuers write Bal. supr in the yeare of Christ 520. hee might haue in his olde age a scholler that might liue longer then S. Paulinus death that came with S. Augustine and was Archbishop of Yorke for many our holy Bishops as S. Kentegern and S. Dauid liued longer and we finde no other renowned Paulinus here in those times And Nennius who saith expressely that hee omitteth of purpose to speake of those that came with S. Augustine and were not of this nation yet maketh a most honorable memory of that Paulinus Archbishop of Yorke saying that hee baptized 12000. at one time and ceased not baptisinge fourtie dayes together Nennius in histor M. S. prope finem 9. So that it is not vnprobable but this holy man S. Paulinus was the scholer of S. Iltutus and leauinge his contry as manie did in that rage of the Saxons wēt to Rome and liued to come hither againe to accomplish so holy labours as hee did with those other massinge preistes sent hither at that time Which hee might well performe if wee allowe him to bee 20. yeares old at the death of his Master S. Iltutus as before in the yeare 520. and as an other Protestant Bishop writeth Godwin Catalog Yorke 1. pag. 558. to haue died in the yeare 644. which accompt maketh him but 124. yeares old two yeares yonger then his fellow scholler S. Dauid by all antiquities makinge him 146. yeares of age at his death Post 146. aetatis annum vt omnes eius fatentur historiae mortuus In the yeare of his age 147. anno aetatis suae centesimo quadragesimo septimo And twenty one yeares yonger then S. Kentegern by all histories dyinge when hee was one hundred eightie and fiue yeares old cum esset centum octaginta quinque annorum Ioh. Bal. centur 1. de scriptorib Britan in Dauid Menenien Ioh. Capgrau· Catal in S. Dauid M. S. antiq in
ioyfull countenance as it were after a winter longe night receaue the temper and cleare light of the heauenly ayre they renew their churches destroied euen to the ground they build churches of the holy martyrs frame and perfect them as it were publicklie sett forth euery where their victorious Ensignes they celebrate holy dayes they perfect their sacrifices or sacred things with a cleane hart and mouth they all doe reioyce as it were children fostered in the lap of their mother the church The very same hath S. Bede whoe addeth Bed histor Eccl. l. 1. cap. 8. Progressi in publicum fideles Christi qui se tempore discriminis siluis ac desertis abditisque speluncis occultauerant The faithfull seruants of Christ shew themselues now in publick whoe in the time of the daunger had hidd themselues in woods and wildernesses and hidden dens And then hee writeth as S. Gildas before By which publick and hierarchicall Acts and offices of Bishops and preists as founding and dedicatinge churches to the honor of holy Martyrs that had late suffered in that persecution in institutinge and celebratinge their festiuities renewing and consecrating other defaced churches which none but Bishops might doe and sayinge Masse which hee expressely by perfecting their sacrifices or sacred rites with a cleane hart and mouth the preistly office and function it is moste euident that diuers both preists and Bishops with other cleargie men escaped in this persecution and soe still continued the hierarchicall succession of Archbishops and Bishops soe vniuersally established here before by the Popes of Rome and with the same dependance which they had before For noe historie maketh mention of any chaunge neyther of our Bishops then putt to death except S. Amphibalus vnlesse wee wil coniecture without warrant that S. Angulus suffered martyrdome in this time And notwithstanding soe many losses and desolations of our Antiquities wee haue testimonie of some Bishops in particular then liuing the persecution being ended For whoe can thinke but some of those which fledd into Scotland whether the persecution extended not with S. Amphibalus remayned there still in the Episcopall See of Mona which kinge Chrathlinte had soe honorably endowed to that purpose and longe after was an Episcopall See I haue named diuers of these renowned men before of whome some one in all probabilitie after the returne of Saint Amphibalus into these parts supplied that place and dignitie there And here in England it is euident by those antiquities wee haue left that wee had preserued from the fury of that persecution many both Bishops and Archbishops To exemplifie in London wee haue the names of Sixteene Archbishops there before the cominge of S. Augustine hither as both Iocelin of Furnes the Protestants Stowe Godwyn and others collect them Iocelin Catalog of British Bish Stowe histor in Lucius Godwyn Catalog in London 1. concil Arelat in Subscript tom 1. concil Stowe Godwyn supr And it is manifest that either Restitutus which was Archbishop of London and was present at the councel of Arles in Fraunce in the yeare 326. soone after this or Thedred or Hillary supposed to bee his immediate predecessors was then Archbishop And soe because euery Archbishop inferreth inferiour Bishops vnder him that wee had Bishops alsoe I will instance onely in Winchester where wee ar informed both by an old Manuscript Author and a new Protestant Bishop Godwyn Catalog of Bish in Winchest 1. old M. S. apud eundem supr That one Constans was Bishop there in this time and in the yeare 309. or 310. did vpon the 15. day of march hallowe and dedicate vnto the honor memory of S. Amphibalus that had suffered death for Christ in the late persecution a church there reedified with such wonderfull forwardnes and zeale as within one yeare and thirtie dayes both it and all the edifices belonginge vnto it were quite finished in very seemely and conuenient māner And that Deodatus was Abbot of this new erected Monastery Thus this Protestant Bishop from an old Manuscript By which and that which is spoken before in this chapter it is euident that England this part of Britanie then had both Bishops and Archbishops continuinge in the same order and maner as they were first instituted here by the See of Rome neither did they now begin to depart or seperate themselues from obedience to that See Apostolicke for soone after this the first general councel of Nice beeinge called these Protestāts haue told vs wee had Bishops there and most euident it is that it was receaued in this kingdome And yet the canon of that councell is soe manifest for the Popes of Rome supreamacy at the least ouer this western world wherein England is both in the time of this holy councell and before that a Protestant Bishop doth thus confesse it Feild l. 3. p. 60.61 In the time of the Nicen councell before as appeareth by the Acts of the councell limitinge their bounds there were three principall Bishops or Patriarkes of the christian church namely the Bishop of Rome Alexandria and Antioch Soe writeth the Protestant Archbishop Whitgift Foxe and others whereof one saith Whitgift def of the Answ. p. 331. Foxe tom 1. pag. 12. Rob. Barns in vit Pont. Rom. in Siluestro Sollicitudinem ecclesiarum pro recepta consuetudine veterum habendam esse statuerunt The fathers of the nicen councell did decree that accordinge to the custome receaued from them of old that the three cheife patriarkes of Rome Antioch and Alexandria should haue chardge of the churches Soe that if wee would seeke noe further then to these great enemies themselues of the Romane See yett they confesse vnto vs that it was not onely decreed in this nicen councell where as our Protestants haue told vs wee had Bishops consentinge and our kinge and contriman Constantine the great Emperor alsoe submittinge himselfe vnto it but that it was the old custome and tradition of the church that the Bishop of Rome was the principall Bishop and commaundinge Patriarke of all westerne churches amonge which this of our Britanie was euer now is and of necessitie must bee one and if wee will bee members of the church of Christ except wee can remoue Britanie from the vttermost part of Europe to lepp to Alexandria in Africke or Antioch in Asia wee must needs by this councel as it is glossed by our Protestants bee subiect to Rome as wee euer were by the old custome before that councell The words of these Protestants Whitgift and Foxe are these Whitgift Def. pag. 331. Foxe tom 1. pag. 12. The councell of Nice which was the yeare of our Lord 340. and in the sixt canon of the said councell wee finde it soe decreed that in euery prouince or precinct some one church or Bishop of the same was appointed and sett vp to haue the Inspection and Regiment of other churches about him secundum morem antiquum that is after the auncient custome as the words of the
a refuge and receptacle of them that were in those times persecuted for Christian Religion Matthew of West Anno gratiae 115. Ioh. Bal. l. de script in Matth. Westm Rob. Bar. sup in Higinio Matth. Westm. an 150. Matth. Westm. an gratiae 124. 15. And to omit forreine examples beyonde number in this case when the Saxons of this nation were conuerted by the disciples of Gregory though S. Augustine was a very miraculous man and his companions many and holy learned men and industrious in that sacred worke found many worthie and renowned Bishops here with their cleargies that assisted them with al their power in the conuersion of this nation as those glorious Bishops S. Molocus that ioyned with S. Bonifacius sent from Italy with many good mē cum piorum caetu S. Iue S. Kentegern S. Asaph S. Lethardus stiled the precursor and vvay maker to S. Augustine praecursor ianitor venturi Augustini with others and had all the furtherance the holy Queene S. Bertha and her husband Kinge Ethelbert the most potent in this Iland reigninge from the vttermost coasts of kent vnto Humber and by the vertues of S. Bertha and S. Lethardus by many arguments a Christian in iudgement and affection before S. Augustines cominge hither Hect. Boeth hist l. 9. fol. 178. Holish hist of Engl. l. 5. c. 29. pag. 112. Capgrau in S. Iuone M. S. in vit eius in S. Asaph Kentegern Godvvin Catal. Bal. centur 1. de script Capgrau in S. Lethard Matth. Parker antiq in S. Augustin Stowe histor in Kinge Ethelb Holinsh. histor of Engl. Theater of great Brit. in K. Ethelbert Bed l. 1. histor l 2. 16. Yett S. Augustine and fine other Archbishops of Canterbury after him S. Laurence S. Mellitus S Iustus S. Honorius and S. Adeodatus were deade and aboue foure score yeares passed after the cominge of S. Augustine into England before this kingdome wholly submitted it self to the true discipline of holy church in the time and by the labours of that our moste learned Archbishop S. Theodor. Godvvin Catal. in Theodor. Matth. Parker in eodem Capgrau M. S. in vit S. Theodori Therfore seeing wee haue so ample warrant in antiquities as the olde chronicle of Landaffe ascribed to S. Telian S. Bede the old English Chronicle named Beatus Cocelin and others that the faith of Christ was preached in Britanie in the time of Kinge Lucius in the 156. yeare of Christ and very many conuerted by preists sent from the Pope of Rome which was not aboue three yeares after the death of this Pope S. Higinius in the papacy of Pope Pius the first we may not with iudgement thinke but these preists or diuers of them that had wonne so many to Christ in that time were sent in the dayes of this massing Pope S. Higinius and his sacrificinge predecessors which besides that is already said in this matter will more appeare in the next Pope S. Pius the first Chronicon Landaf apud Io. Caium l. 1. antiq Cantabrig pag. 107. Beda l. 1. histor cap. 4. Chronicle Brutus an 156. Gocelin in vita S. Augustini cap. 31. Stovve histor in Kinge Lucius Io. Caius supr 17. This holy Pope by all accompts gouerned the church of Christ at Rome whē by so many auncient authorities the preists sent from thence had so increased and propagated the Christian faith in this kingedome who the better to bee mindefull of this nation as his predecessors by that amonge other motiues were liued and conuersed moste and more then with any of any other contrie or nation with our Christian Britans that were then at Rome in so much that we haue allowance both from Catholicks Protestants that a great part of their cheife residency was in the house of S. Claudia our noble Christian contriwoman and with such freedome and libertie to commaund therein that diuers protestants besides all Catholicke antiquities assure vs this holy Pope by the graunt donation of her holy children did cōsecrate it for the first Christian church in Rome Robert Barnes in vita Pontif. Rom. in Pio 1. Thermas nonati templo dedicauit Pope Pius the first dedicated the house of Nouatus sonne of S. Claudia for a church An other thus writeth of him in this matter Hee consecrated the first temple of Rome vvhich vvas dedicated to 5. Pudentiana the Temples of Christians hauing bene in former times in hidden and obscure caues Edvv. Grimston booke of est in the church of Rome pag. 436. the Catholicke antiquities that testifie this are to many too be cited Act. vit S. Pudentianae Breu. Rom. die 19. Maij. Martyrol Rom. 19. Maij. Baron annot in eod Rom. Martyrol die 20. Iunij but they all agree that the Popes of Rome were ordinarily intertayned in this house of our Christian Britans and especiallie this holy Pope Pius said Masse there and vvas there releiued by S. Pudentiana daughter to our Brittish Ladie Claudia and the Christians came thither vsually to heare Masse vvhen Antoninus the Emperor had forbidden Christians to haue Masse publickly Quòd ab Antonino Imperatore sancitum erat ne Christiani publicè sacrificia facerent Pius Pontifex in adibus Pudentianae cum Christianis sacra celebrabat 18. And to manifest farther vnto vs what a massinge Pope this S. Pius was and how in all probable iudgement that holy doctrine amonge others was propagated here in Britanie these antiquities tell vs there was in that Brittish house ninty sixe Christian men nonagiata sex homines Christiani Pius Pap. 1. epist and the like hee writeth of the house of Euprepia where hee also liued and said Masse vbi nunc cum pauperibus commorantes Miss is agimus And hee was so zelous herein and to haue Masse said with all attention deuotion that he decreed as these protestants testifie to write in their owne words Sacerdotibus negligentius Missae sacra facientibus paenas statuit Robert Barnes in vit Pontific Rom. in Pio 1. Grimston in Pius 1. Io. Func commentar in Chronolog l. 5. in Pio 1. an 145. He ordeyned punishments for preists that said Masse negligently That if any by imprudency shoulde shedd any of the blood of Christ vppon the ground hee shoulde doe penance fourtie dayes If vppon the altare 3. dayes That if vpon the linen cloath vnder the chalice 4. dayes If vpon the other linen cloathe 9. dayes That hee should lick vp the blood of Christ that was shedd or if that could not be either pare it or washe it away and so pared or washed either to bee burnt or kept reserued in the sacrarie Vt si quis per imprudentiam de sanguine Christi effunderet in terram paenitentiam ageret dies 40. Si super altare dies 3. Si super linteum substratum calici 4. dies Si super aliud linteum dies 9. Sanguinem Christi effusum lambere vel si id fieri non possit aut radere aut eluere rasum aut lotum
this southern part of Britanie in the time of Constantius fledd to the Picts and Scots for succour and were there religiously entertained by King Crathlint Veremund apud Hect. Boeth l. 6. Scotor histor fol. 102. pag. 1. Constantius Diocletiani more in Britannia Christianae Religioni fuerit insidiatus Vnde magnus piorum numerus persequētium saeuitiam declinare cupiens ad Scotos Pictos cōcessit Hos Crathlintos Rex ad se confugientes beneuolo affectu suscepit And the Romane histories agree with this teachinge that in the beginning of the Empire of Constantine vntill he had the vision of the Crosse and was admonished to seeke and send for S. Siluester then Pope to baptize him the persecution still continued and S. Siluester hid himself in the mountaine Soracte which an English Protestant Bishop with the Italian writers thus relateth Io. Bal. l. 1. de act Rom. Pont. in Siluestro At postquam soboles Helenae sanctissima Caesar Constantinus apud diuos hominesque fauorem nactus in excelso vidit crucis aere formam Tunc redijt tandem Romam Soracte relicto atque sub Augusto magnos sortitus honores 2. Yet notwithstanding this secret profession and practise of Christian Religion in this time wee haue certaine testimonies of the continuance of these holy doctrines of the sacrifice of Masse sacrificing preists and preisthood in this our Britanie in those dayes For our Scottish historians before alleaged giue euidence that those massinge preists which I haue named before did I liue a while after this time and that in the isle Mona there was a sacrificinge Bishop and preists that said Masse with such ritche ornaments and instruments for that time as I haue described and that this massinge Bishops name was Amphibalus Bishop of Soder beeing a Britane liued and died there an old man longe after the death of S. Amphibalus our martir Amphibalus Brito vir insigni pietate primus Antistes ibi creatus Christi dogma per Scotorum Pictorumque Regiones propalando multa contra Gentilium Religionem dicendo scribendoque gloriosum Christiano viro planè dignum multa senectute viuendo fessus faelicemque sortitus est finem Boeth Veremund sup l. 6. histor Scot. where besides the time not agreeing and the old age wherein this S. Amphibalus liued and died a glorious confessor but no Martyr the contry whence hee was a Britan Amphibalus Brito proue it was an other different Saint from the Martyr Amphibalus of whome we doe not reade that hee was a Bishop nor a Britan but coming hither from other places of persecution as the writers of his life are witnesses Vir quidam meritis doctrina clarus nomine Amphibalus transiens in Britanniam verolamina Domino ducente perue●…it M. S. antiq Author vitae S. Albani antiquus in vit S. Albani Ioh. Capgrauius alij in vit S. Albani which he also himselfe doth witnes in this words to S. Alban My Lord Iesus Christ the sonne of the liuinge God hath preserued mee from daungers and for the saluation of many sent mee into this nation Dominus meus Iesus Christus filius Dei viui securum inter discrimina me custodiuit pro multorum salute ad istam me misit prouinciam 3. And we had at this time here in Britanie liuinge after the persecution of Diocletian many others both Bishops and preists that exercised and offered the sacrifice of Masse amonge which S. Taurinus was Archbishop of Yorke ex●… 〈◊〉 protestant antiquaries and others ar deceaued not that Taurinus which was in or before the dayes of Kinge Lucius but another more late and liuinge in this time placed Archbishop there in the time of Constantius Chlorus who came hither as Matthew of Westminster writeth in the yeare of Christ 302. Matth. Westm an gratiae 302. and by the consent of the same Constantius or more as a Protestant Bishop and antiquary from antiquities thus deliuereth Godwin Catal. of Bishops in Yorke 1. pag. 555. it is reported that Constantius Chlorus appointed Taurinus Bishop of Eureux to bee Archbishop there at Yorke Which is almoste or fully 200. yeares after the other Taurinus was sent into Fraunce by S. Clement both by Catholicks and Protestants And by all writers S. Restitutus was at this time or soone after Archbishop of London for in the yeare of Christ 326. hee was of such renowne and honor that he was chosen the onely Bishop of this Britanie to be present at the great councell of Bishops at Arles in Fraunce to which hee thus subscribed for this our Britanie Ex Prouincia Britanniae ciuitate Londinensi Restitus Episcopus Martyrol Rom. die 11. Augusti Vsuard eod die Vincent in spec l. 11. c. 78 79. Petr. in catal l. 4. cap. 50. Matth. Westm an 94. protest annot marg in eund Tom. 1. concil in Arelat conc Io. Bal. l. de scrip cent 1. in Restit Godwin Catal. in London in Restitutus Matth. Parker antiq Brit. 4. And a friuolous exception it is for Stowe with all others so to confesse and after to add Hee writeth not himselfe Archbishop and therefore maketh that matter of Archbishops doubtfull or rather ouerthroweth that opinion Stowe histor in Kinge Lucius For it is euident by the subscriptions of that councell that many of the greatest Archbishops in this part of the world were present and subscribed there yet not anie one of thē subscribed by the name of Archbishop so it was in other councels And as a Protestant Bishop and antiquary assureth vs in these words Godwin supr hee subscribed to the decrees of the same coūcel which hee brought ouer with him In which it is decreed that none but sacrificinge consecrated preistes might offer the sacrifice of Masse Concil Arelat can 15. And among so many Bishops and preists as were present there Claudianus and Auitus the Legats of that renowned massinge preist and Pope S. Siluester by protestants confession were present and subscribed to this councell Therefore this our Archbishop then the primate of all Britanie must needs bee a massinge preist as also all preists and Bishops vnder him Of our third Archiepiscopall see at Caerlegion I doe not finde the name of any Archbishop before Tremounus vrbis legionum Archiepiscopus Archbishop there in the time of Aurelius Ambrosius Galfrid Monum histor l. 8. cap. 10. though wee know that many were there before this time And yet the memories of all our Bishops that escaped aliue from this persecution are not perished For besides those I haue recompted we are assured both by Catholicke and Protestant antiquaries that the Bishop of Winchester called Constance was now liuinge and dedicated there a church newly reedified to the honour of S. Amphibalus the Martyr in the yeare of Christ 310. within 21. yeares after it was destroyed in the persecution Because it is a memorable history and not onely warranted by an old Manuscript but published and approued by a new Protestant Bishop I will
relate it in these his owne words Manuscript antiq Godwin Catal. of Bish. in Winch. pag. 207. This church as the same Author olde Manuscript saith was hallowed and dedicated vnto the honour of our Sauiour October 29.189 by Faganus Damianus Bishops about the space of 100. yeare the church of Christ had then peace in this land viz. vntill the reigne of Dioclesian who endeauouringe to roote out Christian Religion not onely killed the professors of the same but pulled downe all churches and Temples any where consecrated vnto the exercise thereof Amongest the rest this of Winchester at that time went to wracke the buildings thereof beeinge ruinated and made euen with the grounde and the Monkes and all the officers belonginge vnto it either slaine or enforced to flie for the present time and yet afterward to denie Christ This happened anno 289. not longe after the death of this cruell Tyrant to witt the yeare 309. The church aforesaid was againe reedified and that with such wonderful forwardnes and zeale as within one yeare and thirtie dayes both it and all the edifices belonginge vnto it as chambers and other buildings for the Monkes were quite finished in very seemely and conuenient maner The 15. day of Marche following it vvas againe hallovved and dedicated vnto the honor and memory of Amphibalus that had suffered death for Christ in the late persecution by Constance Bishop as my author saith of Winchester at the request of Deodatus Abbot of this nevv erected monastery The like or greater expedition was vsed in buildinge and dedicatinge a church to S. Alban of great coste sumptuousnes where hee suffered Martyrdome and yet as Matthew of Westminster writeth it was finished or builded within ten yeares of his death and martyrdome Fabricata decem scilicet annis post passionem eius elapsis S. Bede saith as soone as the persecution ceased a church of wonderfull worke was builded there vnto his honor Vbi postea redeūte temporum Christianorum serenitate Ecclesia est miri operis atque eius Martyrio condigna extructa So our histories testifie of S. Iulius and Aaron in particular Bed histor Eccl. l. 1. cap. 7. Matth. Westm. an gratiae 313. Io. Capgrau in S. Albano 6. And to make it manifest vnto vs that there were many Bishops left here after this persecution to consecrate and dedicate so many new builded founded and consecrated churches as were presently after the persecution ended erected in this kingedome and to execute other episcopall functions the best and moste auncient histories wee haue as S. Gildas S. Bede with others testifie that bilustro necdum ad integrum expleto before ten yeares of persecution were ended S. G●…ldas words the Christiās eueryvvhere renevv their churches pulled dovvn to the ground found build finish churches of their holy Martyrs and celebrate their festiuities Bilustro supradicti turbinis necdum ad integrum expleto emercescentibusque nece suorum Authorum nefarijs decretis laetis luminibus omnes Christi Tyrones renouant Ecclesias ad solum vsque destructas basilicas Sanctorum Martyrum fundant construunt perficiunt ac velut victricia signa passim propalant dies festos celebrant And that wee may be assured that among these holy Christian exercises the holy sacrifice of Masse was offered by their sacrificinge and massinge preists it immediatly followeth in these renowned antiquities sacra mundo corde oreque confi●iunt They celebrate theire sacrifice with a pure hart and mouth And our antiquaries both Catholicks and Protestants assure vs there were altars for sacrifice in these churches S. Gildas calleth the altars altaria sacrosancta sacred altars whereon the heauenly sacrifice is offered and laied Sacrifieij caelestis sedem And that all the preistes of these Brittish churches were sacrificing or massing preistes at the altars Sacerdotes sacrificantes inter altaria stantes Gild. l. de excid Stovv histor in Constantine 2. Galf. Mon. histor Brit. l. 11. cap. 4. Matth. Westm an gratiae 543. 7. And if we wil appeale to other churches and iudges in this time whether to our Kinge and Emperor now a Christian or to the Popes of Rome yet Saints and holie men by the licence of our protestants or to generall councels the first being celebrated in this time or to the renowned Fathers that liued and wrote in this age wee shall finde these holy doctrines and exercises of the sacrifice of Masse sacrificinge massinge preists and preistho●● 〈◊〉 haue beene in greatest honor as well in all other Christian nations as in this kingdome For Cōstantine our Kinge Emperor and contryman we cannot better learne what minde and Religion hee was of in these matters then from S. Siluester then Pope and his Master and Father in Christian Religion who instructed him therein and from the first generall councell of Nice wherin and wherto hee was present and consented And to make all sure and walke with the passe of protestants in this trauaile wee are told by these men that this massinge Pope declared and decreed in what sacred attire both the preists which offered and the deacons which serued and ministred in the sacrifice of Masse should bee inuested Rob. Barnes l. de vit Pontif. Roman in Siluestro and to speake in a protestant Bishops wordes Huius Siluestri permulta feruntur instituta de chrismate consecrando pueris confirmandis temptis ornandis altaribus tegendis missatoribus constituendis vngendis vestiendis hostijs adorandis seruandis sacrificijs ceremonijs alijsque ritibus Very many institutions are ascribed to this Siluester of consecratinge chrisme confirminge children adorninge churches coueringe altars makinge massinge preists anointinge and vestinge them adoringe and reseruing the consecrated hostes of sacrifices ceremonies and other rites By which no man can doubt but S. Siluester was a massing preist and Pope this renowned Emperor conuerted by him a reuerencer of holy Masse and sacrificinge preisthood 8. which truth and doctrine for this age is more confirmed by the great generall councell of Nice where Constantine present assented and S. Siluester also present by his Legats Victor and Vincentius subscribinge approued in which it is plainely declared that none but consecrated massinge preists haue power to offer that holie sacrifice Concil Nicen. 1. can 14. per al. translat can 18. and to carry our protestants consents with vs herein the present protestant Archbishop of Canterbury director of Master Frauncis Mason together with this his directed secretary warrant vs herin sufficiently in these words The Nicen councell in that canon which Caluine and all other receaue saith plainely that the Lambe of God offered vnbloodily is laide vpon the holy table Fran. Mason in pref of his booke of consecrat pag. 243. therfore this holy councell being by all iudgements generall hauinge besides the consent of the Pope and Emperor the allowance and subscription of 318. Bishops and immediatly in those dayes as our protestants Theater of great Britanie l. 6. with others assure vs