The dolefull Fall OF ANDREW SALL A JESUIT OF THE FOURTH VOW From the Roman Catholick Apostolick faith Lamented by his Constant Frind with an open rebuking of his Imbracing the Confession Contained in the XXXIX Articles of the Church of England Superiorum permissu 1674. THE RECANTATION OF ANDREW SALL A JESUIT OF THE FOURTH VOW Who had taught Divinity Eighteen years in Spain MADE IN S. JOHNS Church in Cashel in IRELAND Before the most reverend Father in GOD THO Lord Arch-Bishop of that Diocess MAY 17th 1674. Attested by the Secretary of the said Arch Bishop WHereas I Andrew Sall have been born and bred in the Communion of the Roman Catholick Church followed a Religious life and compleated my courses of Philosophy and Divinity in Colledges of the Order of Iesus in Spain and was employed in teaching the said Faculties many years I acknowledge that since by occasion of this Function I applyed my self to a stricter Inquiry and Examining of Matters And by frequent reading of the Holy Scripture Fathers Councils and Histories of the Church my Knowledge was furthered and my Judgment ripened I begun to doubt of the Truth of several Articles introduced by the use and authority of the Roman Church repugnant to Human Reason and not warranted by Divine Writ as Transubstantiation Indulgences Purgatory VVorship of Images c. yet smothered my Scruples partly fearing the severity of that Country against Opposers of their Tenets partly amused with a Supposition That the Church and Pope of Rome were infallible in their Decrees touching Faith and so might stand with security to their Declarations But having arrived in this Country Disputed often and closely of Religion with several Persons eminent in Learning and Integrity but principally with the Most Reverend Father in God and mine truly in Christ by the Gospel His Grace Tho Lord Arch-Bishop of Cashell present who mindful of the Duty of a good Pastour did procure to bring into his Fold this Sheep with unspeakable Constancy and indefatigable Charity suffering for Six years of continual battery my obstinate Resistance until at last by means of his solid Doctrine and of the Example of his pious and upright Life to the Glory of GOD be I permitted to say thus much here the LORD was pleased to give me a more clear sight of the Errours I was in yet a full Assent I delayed to give partly fearing that the weaknes I feeled may be of my Capacity rather than of the Cause I maintained partly frighted with the Confusion and Dangers I conceived might wait upon my deserting of the Romish Communion and so betook my self to a most diligent study of the Case leaving no stone unmoved for to quiet the trouble of my Conscience reading with indifferent Eyes the best VVriters on both sides and though I hartily wished to find the Cause I hitherto maintain'd justified for not to run into the terrible inconveniency which Human Considerations represented unto me in a Change yet assisted by Divine Grace and taking for Rule of my Actions the Service and VVill of God and the Interest of Eternity I resolved constantly to adhere unto the Party which with better ground would render me secure of this higher Emolument When being in these Considerations suddenly issued out our Soveraign Lord the King's Proclamation for Banishing the Roman Clergy wherewith I saw my self betwixt two extremities either to continue further in the Country with my Ambiguities in disobedience to my Soveraign's Command or to go into Spain and there be forced to Preach and practice Doctrines my Conscience did not approve of and so for a speedy Resolution after earnest Prayer to God for the assistance of his Divine light in so weighty a Matter I penned down for better Consideration the Reasons I did hear read and conceive against The RomishTenets Controverted I did also carefully peruse and seriously reflect upon the XXXIX Articles Canons and Liturgy of the Church of England and all considered well I did conclude the Way of the Church of England to be safer for my Salvation then that of the Roman Church Wherefore I resolved to declare as I do hereby seriously and in my heart without any Equivocation or mental Reservation in the presence of God and this Congregation Declare that I do give my full and free Assent to the XXXIX Articles of the Church of England for Holy and Wise and grounded upon the infallible Word of God acknowledging the Romish-Tenets against them to be false and superstitious especially that of Transubstantiation as forcing upon Christians a belief of monstrous Miracles repugnant to Human Reason and not grounded upon Divine testimony nor necessary either for verifying Christ's Words in the Institution of this blessed Sacrament or for the effects of it Not for verifying the Words whereas Christ saith in the like tenour that He is a true Vine without real alteration either in his Person or in the Vine nor for the Effects of the Holy Sacrament Christ being able to annex unto the Receiving of Bread and VVine what spiritual Graces he pleaseth without alteration of the Elements as he doth afford the spiritual Grace of Regeneration in the Waters of Baptisme without alteration in the substance of the VVater And least an Imagination of some temporal or sinistrous intention in this my Declaration upon the present Conjuncture may hinder the Spiritual benefit which Souls may reap by it I have grave Testimonies to shew and did already shew them to my renowned Lord the Arch-Bishop's Grace which assureth I did enjoy in Spain and may now enjoy with more advantage going thither upon the Account I was to go such degree of Honour and Commodity as possibly I may not expect elsewhere so as looking upon a Voyage thither continuing my former Profession nothing occurr'd to my mind but Honour Applause and Pleasure and turning my eyes upon my present Resolutions mountains of Crosses and Dangers did fright me But in this perplexity I haue chosen rather to suffer Crosses here with satisfaction of Conscience than to enjoy Honours that other way accompanied with the tortures of a checking Conscience and the unworthiness of a dissembling Life Wherefore I humbly beseech your Grace that I may be admitted into the Communion of this Church and that I may be absolved for my so long continuance in Errour resisting the powerful Calling of God which granted I hope by the Grace of Almighty God assisting me that I shall never withdraw my self For further confirmation of all this I have hereunto subscribed my Name ANDREW SALL Copia vera Examinata eum Original per me Carolum Robinson THE AUTHOR TO THE READER A Hundred to one you 'l be inquiring who is the Author but what need you care for that can not you feed on a dish of partriges unless you know who kild them there were many profitable Books written by Anonimi let it satisfy you that I haue reason to conceal my name The substance of the worke is the
England called Luther a most excellent man sent from God to lighten the whole World in the middle of darkness Mr. Fox likwise esteemed in England for a holy man and a Church Historian said it pleased the Lord to reforme and reedify the desolate Ruins of his Religion by the industry of Martin Luther sent and set up by the mighty spirit of God And Mr. Whittaker agreat Devine of the English Church said of Luther Wee reverence Luther as a Father and the Lutherans and Swinglians our very deare brethrenâ— in VVhit in his Answ to the Tenth reason of Ed. Campian printed 1566. Centur 25. printed 1604. l. 4. c. 1. p. 490. Initio Christ Other Protestant Authors goe much further in his praises Osiander a famous Protestant writer saith thus Natus est hoc anno 1483. Incomparabilis vir Dei piae memoriae D. D. Martinus Lutherus Islebicae in Saxonia per quem Deus noster Germaniae Evangelii Lucem restauravit That is Luther that in comparable man of God of pious memory was borne in the yeare 1483. at Islib in Saxony by whome our Lord hath restored to Germany the light of the Ghospell Others call Luther the Elias conductor and Chariot of Israel to bee reverenced most after Christ and Saint Paul and accordingly hee was honoured with this Vers Christus habet primas habeas tibi Paule secundas At loca post illos proxima Luther habet All of them affirme Luthers calling was extraordinary and immediatly from God but they were neuer able to shew unto the World any Miracles hee had wrought for confirmation of his mission the usuall marke of such as are extraordinary missioners of God I will begin with the Doctrin of this chief Master Elias and trumpet of the Ghospell as they name him VII CHAPTER Of Luthers Doctrin HIs Doctrin which is the foundation of Protestancy tends for the most part to Unchristian liberty and the enervation of Vertue and Christian discipline I le set downe here some poynts therof which are wicked and scandalous Thus then they lye 1. That there is noe sinne but incredulity Lib. de Capti Babilon Cap. D. Bap. t is Neither can a man damne himselfe doe what misschief hee can except hee will refuse to believe This Article alone opens a gate to all Impiety and bids good works a Dieu 2. The Ten Commaundements apertaine Serm. de Moys nothing to us that is to say Christians This is directly against our saviours Words Sivis ad vitam ingredi serva Mandata 3. It is a false opinion and to be abolished In prefat ad novum Testa that there are four Ghospells For the Ghospell of John is only faire true and the principall Ghospell Luther saith this because the other three Ghospells speake much of good works and must wee discard three Ghospells for the word or Authority of this beast 4. If the Wife will not let the Mayd Serm. de Matrimon come Is not this a strange abomination 5. It is as necessary for every man to Lib. de votis conjng in Acert Art 16. have a wife as it is to eat drink or sleep What chast eares can heare this abomination how many thousand and thousands of holy men in Monasteryes and in the deserts and in the world have lived chast and like Angells wherfore it was well said by a certaine Author fortior est castitas hominum sed felicior Angelorum 6. Christ and Saint Paule did not Counsell Lib. de votis Monasticis but dessiâ—ade Virginity unto Christians O Diabolically 7. Matrimony iâ— more excellent then virginity Lib. de votis Evang. Against all the Fathers none would affirme this but a monster of incontinency 8. All Christians are as holy and as just Ser A. de Trin. de B. Maria coment Epist 1. Petr as the Mother of God and as the Apostles were Coms not this Article and such impious words from the mouth of a man possessed by the Deuill Take more of Luthers Theorems 1. That Free Will in Christians is only Of Free VVill. a thing of name and can cooperat nothing at all 2. That the Adultery of David and treason Gods Cooperation to sin Priesthood of Judas was as much wrought by God as the vocation of Paul 3. That all Christians and Priests have equall Authority to absolve sinns 4. That a woeman or a Child or any VVoemen may absolve other Christian receiving authority from men the Community may as well absolve a man from his sinns as any Bishop or the Pope himselfe 5. Fides sine ante Charitatem 2. ad Galat. justificat Et fides nisi fit sine ullis etiam minimis operibus non justifiâ—at imo non est fides That is Faith without and before Charity doth justify And faith unlesse it bee without even the least good worke doth not justify nay it is not faith These dangerous and impious Theorems and Articles you may finde gathered out of Luthers owne works by Doctor Sanders Puteolus Goclaeus Eckius Bishop Fisher Surius Staphilus and other writers I will give you here Luthers opinion that it was not lawfull to fight against the Turks In Epistola contra duo Mandata Imperialia That is In his Epistle against the two emperiall Edicts Hee purposely crosseth the Emperours ayde against the Turk saying Oro cunctos pios Christianos ne ullo modo sequantur vel in militiam ire vel dare aliquid contra Turcas c. That is I beseech all Godly Christians that they follow not by any means the Emperour in the warre nor contribute any thing against the Turcks c And hee says elswhere Vt liberè animum meum aperiam hoc aperte Luth. in determin Doctorum Paris Impres Norimberg 1625. de me praedico quod tam invitus Turcam gladio impeterem quam Christianum fratrem That is That I may freely speak my minde I say openly that I would as unwillingly strike a Turck with my sword as a Christian brother By this favorable opinion to the Turks hee was soe gratfull to them that the Turkish Emperour to the great shame of Luther hearing therof demaunded the Christian Embassador how old Luther See Belforest in cosmog lib 2. c. 7. col 579. was and wished him yonger promising to be his good Lord. Some of the above mention'd points of Luther when the Author of the defence of the Censure had proved at large one by one to be the true Doctrins See this plainly reported by Manlius Luthers owne Scholler in loc commu pag. 639. and verifiable out of Luthers owne Books then hee proceedeth to this sound Conclusion and Consideration theron That if a Christian man can not damne himselfe by any sinn unless hee will refuse to believe If to keep Virginity and resist the pleasures of the flesh be neither much commendable for that marriage is farre better nor profitable nor possible for soe much as a wife
however wee must leave him a Saint to fill up that new Calendar Fox is not ashamed to place in his Calendar Lollards a Sect of Hereticks ancienter then Wicklifians by 50 years who in some things held with the Protestants and Wicklisians against the Roman Church as against the Invocation of Saints Fastings Prayers and the Sacraments of Pennance Matrimonie Extrem-unction and the like they had alsoe particular Opinions of there owne against Baptisme Eucharist and the like They had alsoe theire peculiar fanatick Opinions as Tritemius saith 1. That Lucifer with the rest of The peculiar oponions of the Lollards according to Tritemius his Angells were injuriously thrust out of heaven by Michael and his Angells and consequently to be restored at the day of iudgment And that Michael and his Angells are to be damned for the forsaid Injury and to be delivered over to everlasting punishment from the day of Iudgment forward 2. That our Lady could not beare Christ and remaine a Virgin for that soe hee should have been an Angell and not a man 3. They held that God did only punnish such wickedness as is done upon Earth But if any thing be done underground it is not punishable And therfore in caves and sellers under-ground they were accustomed to exercise all abomination And of this hee relateth a certaine Story happened in Germany which was that one Gisla a young Woeman of theire Sect comming to be burned for Heresie shee was asked whether shee were a Virgin or noe wherunto shee answered that above-ground shee was but under ground not This Heresie the Lollards grounded upon that saying of the Psalme Terram Psal 113. autem dedit Filiis hominum That is God hath given the Earth to the Children of men I will conclude in this place with Fox a Father os lyes the greatest Hypocrit and Falcificator of that age or this for proofe heerof I remitt you to Father Persons a famous man of blessed memory a great Ornament to his Order and all the Church of God in the third part of his treatis in the Addition hee made or the Relation of the tryall made before the King of France in the year 1600. between the Bishop of Euâ—eux and the Lord Plessis Mornay Page 59. 60. 61. I have had Occasion these montheâ— The words of Fr. Persons past to peruse a great part of his last Edition of Acts and Monuments printed the fifth tyme in the yeare 1596. and doe find it soe stuffed with all kind of falshood and deceitfull mannerof telling tales as I could neuer truly have beleeved it if I had not found it by my owne experience And I doe persuade my selfe fully notwithstanding all his Hypocriticall words and protestations which are more and oftener repeated by him then in all the writers together that I have read in my life that there is scarce one whole Story in that huge volume told by himselfe except when hee relateth other mens words out of records and therby is bound to the formality therof but that it is falsified and perverted one way or other either in the beginning middle or end by adding cutting of consealing false translating wrong cyting or cunning jugling and falsification Hee saith further A certaine learned Student of Divinity brought to mee of late 30. places taken out of two only leaves of Fox his booke to witt from the 12. to the 14. which I looking upon found them all most evident by conference of the Catholick Authors aleaged by the said Student and moreover besides these thirty I did discover soe many other plain Falshoods and manifest willfull lyes in those only two leaues as might well double the former number and I doe offer to prove them one by one if any Frind of Iohn Fox will joyne issue with mee upon this poynt Infine Father Person concludes with Fox that if all the Falsifications and lyes in his great volume of Acts and Monuments were well siffted the number and account would swell soe high as it would much surpass Iohn Sleydans Story in this kinde though hee bee the Protestants Protochronicler out of whome noe lesse then an eleven thousands lyes were gathered by the Catholick writers of Germany Let Fox goe along for his Companion if not master in the art of lyeing XVI CHAPTER The fift Quaere what Company hath Sall forsaken and who are they hee now sticks unto TO this Quaere an answer is Soon given that Sall having shamfully deserted the Catholick Faith hath alsoe abandoned theire side and hath passed to those that profess the Religion or rather Heresie hee hath imbraced This is made manifest out of his owne words in his Recantation All considered well saith hee I did conclude the way of the Church of England to be safer for my Salvation wherfore resolved to declare as I Out of Salls Recantion doe hereby seriously and in my hart without any Equivocation and mentall Reservation in the presence of God and this Congregation I declare that I doe give my full and free assent to the XXXIX Articles of the Church of England for holy and wise and grounded upon the infallible word of God acknowledging the Romish Tenets against them to bee false and superstitious especially that of Transubstantiation as forcing upon Christians a beleefe of monstrous Miracles repugnant to human reason and not grounded upon devine Testimony Sall there is an end of you goeing out of the Arck not like the Doue that returned carrying in its mouth a branch of an Olive tree but like the crow that neuer came back againe it may be much feared this may be your dismall end But having now bid adieu to us whither doe you goe you pass indeed from us to a great Congregation of men who all of them put in a just claime to have you of theire Company and Communion All out of the Arck are your Companions of these you have in the Law of Nature in the written Law and the Evangelicall All these wee call them Hereticks were Armyes fighting against the eternall Verity and the goodness of God all are your Companions I remember to have said aboue out of Tertulian that Protestants and other Hereticks being not able to shew the succession of theire Church were forced to grant it was for a tyme invisible which is against the nature of a true Church yet for all this I cannot deny but that Heresie is ancient and had its being before man was created The first Hereticks therfore and before mans creation was Lucifer with some rebellious Legions that with him stirred up sedition in heaven when Lucifer out of Pride would bee esteemed an Anti God with him joyned in the quarrell severall Bands of Angells and fell all with him And there was Apocal. cap. 12. seen saith the Book of Revelations another signe in heaven agreat red Dragon and his taile drew the third part of the starrs of heaven and cast them to the Earth The sedition and Rebellion is
VVicklifs Errors about that Sacrament Accidentia non manent sine subjecto in â—odem Sacramento substantia panis naturalis vini naturalis manent in Sacramento Altaris Errores damnati in Concilio constantiâ—nsi the Doctrin of Purgatory and other Articles will you heare Sir Iohn Oldcastle a prime Wicklifian his Protestation at his death of believing the Real-Presence after confessing Articles about the Blessed Trinity and Christes Diety Sir Iohn Old-Castle cometh to treat of the Sacrament of the Aulter hee protesteth thus as Fox himselfe writeth And for as much as Sir Ioh. Old-C his Protestation at his death I am falsly accused of a misbeliefe in the Sacrament of the Aulter I signify here to all men that this is my faith concerning that I beleeve in that Sacrament to be contained very Christs Body and Bloud under the Similitudes of Wyne and Bread yea the same Body that was conceived of the holy Ghost borne of the Virgin Mary donne on the Crosse dyed and was â—uryedâ— and a rose the third day from death and now is glorify'd in heaven The said Old-Castle shew'd his beleefe about three sorts of men thus The holy Church I beleeve to be devided into three sorts or Companyes wherof the first are now in heaven c. The second sort are in Purgatory Fox pag. 314. abyding the mercy of God and a full deliverance of payne The third upon Earth c. You see that Old-Castle a Wâ—ckclifian doth clearly beleev'd the Doctrin of Purgatory which Fox did not nor doe the Protestants of England now wherfore to this speech of Purgatory Fox thought best least it might disgrace his new Martyr to add this parentesis of his owne if any such place bee in the Scriptures c. which was perfidiously done of Fox It is to be supposed that Wicklif held some things with us and some things with the Protestants and somthings different from both and yet Fox must have him and his Sect to be of his owne Communion and make him a Martyr though hee confesseth and soe doth Iohn Ball alsoe that hee was neuer as much as imprison'd for his faith but his bones were taken up forty years after his buriall and burned by the Commaundement of the Councell of Constance for his Heresies discovered after â—his death and for this Fox made him a Martyr and consequently hee became Martyr without feeling any paine or without the Consent or Concurrence of his owne will Take here some Articles of Wicklifs Doctrin to which I presume the Protestant will not agree One is That it is against Scripture for any Ecclesiasticall Minister to have any temporall possessions at all What think you will the Ministers of England agree to this Another That as long as a man is in deadly sinn hee is neither Bishop nor Prelate Another That Temporall Lords may according to their owne will and discretion take a way the temporall goods from any Church-men when soever they offend Think you that the Protestant Church-men of England agree to this Article Another Tythes are meer Almes and may be detained by the Parishoners and bestow'd where they will at theire pleasure This Article alsoe cannot rellish Protestant Church-men These and many more Articles of Wicklif have been condemned by the Catholick Church as Hereticallâ— and himselfe as an Heretick though hee held divers poynts of the Catholick Religion as holy Orders Consecration Excomunication Purgatory and other like But Fox makes him a Martyr for holding some poynts with the Protestants though differing in other Materiall poynts But this is the Beggery of his new Church that it cannot be made up but by such dunghill cloutes as Wicklefians Lollards Albigensians and the like which are cast of by the Catholicks and rejected for that they have not agreed in every point of the Catholick beleefe according to the creed of Athanasius such is the integrity severity and Majesty of our Church that wee reject as spotted and blemish'd raggs all such as beleeve not all Articles of Faith propos'd by the holy Catholick Church this is according to Saint Augustins Doctrin Ecclesia Vniversaliter perfecta est in nnllo claudicat That is The true Church is Universally perfect and doth hault in noe one poynt of beleefe Now you shall see how Wickless fellow Saints condemn'd him for an Heretick and consequently one that should not be placed in the Calendar of Saints Luther the great Elias and Prophet of Germany as Ioannes Cockleus Ioann Cochl in vita Luteri Surius in hist Anno Dom. 1517. 1518. Melan. Epist ad Fredericum Miconium and Surius doe recount held Wicklif for an Heretick such alsoe was the Iudgment of Phillip Melankton which against Iohn Fox must needs be much avaylable who placed him for a fellow Saint together with Wicklef in his Calendar What then says Melankton of Wicklef hee speaks thus Inspexi Wicklefum qui valde tumultuatur in hac Controversia c. That is I have look't over Wicklef who behau'd himselfe tumultuously in this Controversy of the Lords supper and more then this I have found many Errors in him by which a man may make Iudgment of his Spirit It is certaine hee neither understood nor held the Justice of Faith Hee said in another place Plane furebat Wicklefus Melan. in Apolâ— tit de human tradit qui negabat licere Sacerdotibus tenere proprium That is Wicklef was playnly out of his wits when hee did deny that it was lawfull for Priests to hold in locis com tit de potestat Ecclesi any thing proper Well then Wicklef a furious man that stirred up sedition and was ignorant of the very foundation of the Protestant Ghospell to wit of theire Doctrin of Salvation by only faith as both Melankton and Luther affirmed Wicklif to be with what spirit think you doth your Apostata Fryer Bale call him an Elias a morning starre an Organ of Christ an habitacle of the holy Ghost But if you will listen to Catholick writers who liu'd about the same tyme with Wicklif as Thomas Walsingam and Thomas Waldensis in theire learned writings you shall finde him to have been one of the most pernicious wicked dissembling Hypocriticall impugners of Christ and his Doctrin that ever was in the Church of God Walsingam VVals in hist Ricard Rigis 2 anno Dom. 1382 doth beginn a Narration of Wicklif thus Eodem tempore ipse verus Hypocrita Angelus Sathanae Antichristi prae ambulus non nominandus Ioannes Wicklef vel potius wicked-beleefe Hereticus sua deliramenta concinnavit reassumens damnatas opiniones c. That is At the same tyme the very true Hypocrit the Angell of Satan the forerunner of Antichrist the heretick Iohn Wicklif or rather wicked-beleefe not being worthy the naming continved his madde and new devises renewing againe old damned opinions and heresies c. You see how holy a man Wichlef was by the Testimony of Catholick writers who knew him better then Fox did
the Congregation of the now English Church ergò the Protestant Authors attesting the verity of the Religion taught by Fugatious and the rest and confirm'd by Miracles give Testimony against theire owne Religion I meane the Protestant My last illation from those Protestant Authors and against theire owne Religion and for mine is that Sall hath cause to feare his owne Damnation for having deserted the true Faith those holy men sent from Rome denounced to the Infidels Imbraceing a new Religion opposit to the ancient and orthodox The names of the Protestant Authors Devines and Historians testifying the Conversion of England and Ireland from Idolatry by the aforesaid Saints sent from Rome 1. Abbots pretended Arch-Bishop of Canterbury that writt against Bellarmin 2. Bale pretended Bishop of Ossory in Ireland reckened among theire learned men hee writ Centurys of the writers of Britaine and said of himselfe hee had read the Historys and Chronicles allmost of all Antiquitye 3. Bilson pretended Bishop of Winchester esteemed a learned writer 4. Caius Doctor of Phisick soe well seen in Antiquity as an Oxonian Orator tearmed him the Antiquary 5. Camden well knowne for his Discription of Britany an excellent Antiquary 6. Couper pretended Bishop of Lincolne and after of Winchester well knowne for his Dixionary and his Chronicle 7. Dangerous positioner some say it was D. Banckrofte pretended Arch-Bishop of Canterbury others say it was Doctor Sutclife 8. Fox most famous amongst Protestants for his acts and monuments of theire Martyrs 9. Fulk Doctor of Divinity and a great writer against Catholicks 10. Godwin a devine Sonne to Godwin pretended Bishop of Bath 11. Holinshed notorious for his great Chronicle and mosT earnest against Catholicks 12. Humphery Doctor of Divinity and the Queens Reader therof in Oxford 13. Iewell soe famous and known to Protestants as I need say nothing of him 14. Reynolds Doctor of Divinity famous with Protestants 15. Stow well knowne for his Chronicle and other his writings of Antiquity 16. Sutelife Doctor of Divinity and Dean of Exetor and a great writer against Catholicks 17. Surueyer soe I call the unnamed Author of the Suruey of the pretended holy Discipline 18. Whitaker Doctor and Professor of Divinity and a great writer against Catholicks very famous in the English Church tearmed by some a worthy learned man by others a Godly learned man These and thus esteemed are the Protestant writers that give Testimony of the Conversions of England by Saint Augustin and other Saints It is therfore agreed upon by Catholick and Protestant writers that King Luctus sent to Pope Eleutherius two holy men Elvanus of Avalonia and Medwinus together with these came commissionated from said Pope two other holy men Fugatius and Damianus who baptized the King and Queen and those of theire Family and many more that imbraced the Christian Faith Authors Catholick and Protestant stile these Legats of Pope Eleutherius Prelatos Episcopos for without such Authority and Character they could not erect Bishopricks consecrate Churches dispence Orders and the like this conversion was made and the King and Queen baptized anno Domini 183. to which Conversion agreeth Fox Jewell Godwin Abbots Fulk Whitaker Sutelife Reynolds Couper Stow Holinshed Camden Bale and others Bale one that would write nothing to the Credit of Rome if not convinced Bale Cent. 1. cap. 19. by evident Verity doth attribute this Conversion to Pope Eleutherius and with him joyned in this the Magdeburgenses Of the Conversion of the Irish Idolaters by Saint Patrick Saint Prosper that lived at the same tyme giveth a clear Testimony and after him venerable Bede Marianus Scotus and others who affirme alsoe that Saint Patrick dyed in the yeare of Christ 491. being 122. years Paladius was indeed sent to that work before Saint Patrick but though hee Religiously behaved himselfe in that divine Function the Glory of Converting the whole Nation from Paganisme was reserved for Saint Patrick who is therfore Iure merito stiled Apostle of Ireland Let us now heare Bale I pretermit other Protestant Authors that testify the conversion of the Irish Idolaters confirming the coming of Saint Patrick from the Sea of Rome and how hee gave the light of Faith to the Irish Pagans the testimony taken from an Enemy such as Bale against Catholicks is of the greater weight and force against himself Bale then who usually cal'd the Pope Anti-Christ and the beast and named the Primitive Church of England in the tyme of its greatest purity a Carnall Synagogue as great an enemy to the Pope as hee was speaks of Saint Patrick coming from the Pope thus Patrick saith hee surnamed Bale descrip Britan. Cent. 1. fo 250. Magonius who studied Divinity at Rome sent by Pope Celestinus did preach the Ghospell to the Irish-men with incredible feruour of Spiritt for forty years together and did convert them to the sincere Faith of Christ hee was most excellent in Learning and Holiness and among other Miracles hee did continue in Prayers and Fasting for forty days and forty nights founded many Churches healed many Sick delivered many possessed of Deuills and raysed to life sixty that were Dead Thus far Bale Behold here how Iohn Bale confesseth Saint Patrick was sent by Pope Celistinus and soe sent hee converted the Irishmen to the sincere Faith of Christ what more can any man say or more honourably of the Pope clearly allowing of Authority and power in him to send Doctors and missioners for converting nations to the true Faith In speaking of Saint Patrick hee mentions truly the vertues and duty of Apostles and preachers sent from Rome to enlighten nations as to fast and pray to found Churches heale the sick and worke Miracles Let Bale himselfe tell us if the blouddy Reformers of the Kirk of Scotland or himselfe Peter Martyr Buaer and the rest at the tyme of the Innovation they made in England did any of those holy works done by Saint Patrick and such Missioners as were lawfully sent from the holy Sea into the vineyard of our Lord I dare challenge in this place all the multitudes of those new men repayring as themselves say the house of God to give one Saint Patrick or Saint Augustin that fasted and prayed healed the sick and wrought Miracles I defye Bale to doe this with all his studyed tomes of centuries or Fox esteemed by the Protestants a most holy grave and pious man and plainly a devine man with his great and numerous volume of Acts and Monuments of theire Ridiculous Martyrs soe Credited in England as they have beene set in divers of theire Churches to be read by all or delicat Calvin the great Patriarck of Geneva with his soe adored books of Institutions or wanton Beza Reforming forsooth the Church of France with legions and troopes in set Battailes and beseeging the Kings goodly Cytties Garded by two fierce Giants in steele the Prince of Conué and the Admirall Coligny As Bale hath testifyed Saint Patricks Miracles soe