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
very aâ—ciâ—â—â—â—â—â—â—gland and doe endeuour all tâ— can â—â— diâ—inish the glorie of the Children so noble a Father and so doing for disliâ— rather then loue either of them vs or oâ— first Christian Saxons diuers among the doe very forwardly ascribe much to such hat labour And some of their prime Antiâ—uaries as some lately haue published haue â—et downe vnder their hands that there were â—oâ— aunciently and but Egyptian and Beneâ—ictine Monckes in this Kingdome of Britaâ—ie no great glorie but rather diâ—honour to his moâ—t noble and auncieÌ„t Nation in Chriâ—ian Religion A Nation that may iustly â—aime prioritie in that kinde of honour â—efore Egipt or any other Countrie in the â—orld except they caÌ„ proue their Religious â—ore auncient then S. Ioseph and his holy â—mpanie here in the yeare of Christs Natiâ—tie 63. by their owne confession and what â—oÌ„ckes of Egypt they were that came hither â—ey should if they could haue instanced â— To performe which they will haue great â—fficulâ—ie sith that they themselues confesse â—at diâ—ers denie the Egyptian Rule was eâ—r receiued in the West and consequently â—re Minimè credi volunt nonnulli Mo achorum Iohn Selden not spicileg in Eadmerum pag. 200. Egyptientium Instituta in Occidâ—nte vnquam esse â—epta Some will not haue it beleeued that the Inâ—ute of the Eâ—yptian Monckes was euer receiued in west And yet it is certaine by their owne otestant writers that many Monckes and â—nasterie were here in Britanie or in Enâ—nd Quouis saculo In euery age And before â—yp had any Monasteries or Monâ—kes 6. We can and doe recount vnto them â—nckes from Greece and Syria who came â—o Britanie though longe after our first Conuersion and Religious were â—etâ—ed here So from the most â—amous Monasterie of Lyrinum Veremunâ— Hist. Sâ—â—t Hector Boeth Hist Scot. l. 6. Râ—phael â—olâ—enshed â—ist of Scots our Greeke MoÌ„ckes S. Regulus Albatus and his holy companie who brought the Relickes of Saint Andrewe the Apostâ—e into Scotland and were so nobly entertained by King Heirgâ—stus leauing Successouâ—s therâ— who after were vnited to our old Briâ—isâ— Monckes are â—amouâ— to posteritie S. Palladius who was sent Apostle hither by S. Caelestin the Pope as our Protestants writeâ— was also a Grecian Palla lius Graecus And firsâ— Ioan. Bal. l. de â—cript â—rit â—entuâ— 1. Nicolaus Hâ—rlemâ—n Paâ—â—â—â—io Graeco a disciple to S. Iohn Patriarch of Hâ—erusaleâ— that liued a Religious life in Syria especiallâ— about Mount Carmelus Ioannis Hierosolymoruâ— Patriarcha 44. dum adhuâ— Eremi cultor solitaâ—â— Syriae loca Carmelum praecipuè incoleret Nicolao Haâ—lemio teste Discipuluâ— fuit As witnesseth Nicolaâ— Haâ—lem he was tâ—e Disciple of Iohn the 44. Patriarcâ— of Hierusalem whilst he was as yet a louer of the Heâ—mitâ—ge and inhabited the desert places of Syria bâ— especially the Mount Carmelus This may giâ— antiquitie â—ere to our learned Carmelits tâ—king their name thence and as they saie comming from Syria S. Germanus and S. Lupâ—sent Britan. 〈◊〉 Antiq. in mâ—â—uscâ—ipt hither Apostles by the same holy Popâ— were first Monckes of LyrinuÌ„ Monasterie aâ— brought that Church seruice hither And â— Patriâ—ke borre in this our Iland liuiâ— sometimes with our Glastenburie Monckeâ— and Scholler to S. Gâ—â—man was in the saâ—â—anner sent into Ireland These were tâ— Rulers and Directours vnto all our British Scotish and Irish Monckes so much renowâ—ed through the whole world 7. Both English and Scotiâ—h Antiquiâ—ies Vâ—remund Hect. Boeth supra Man Antiq in vita S. Birini Capgâ—â— in eodem witnesse that soone after S. Augustine of â—ippo his death and long before any Monckes of S. Benedicts Order came hither â—he Augustine Monckes Canon-Regulars â—ere seated and setled here who were most â—oly and learned men Non tam eruâ—itionis â—â—am proâ—atissimarum viriutum veâ—aeque pieâ—atiâ—lâ—â— insignes Not so much famous fâ—â— learning aâ— for â—proued vertues and zeale oâ— deuotion S Dauid â—aint Brendanus Saint Columbanuâ— Conâ—ellus and others here wrote Rules of Monckes 8. To exemplifie but in the worthinesse of Sigibert 〈…〉 vir Illustr in S. Câ—sâ—â—â—o Caesar Arâ—lateÌ„sis Homilia 25. ad Monachos Tom. 2. Bâ—â—liotâ—â—â— Patrum â—e Lyrian Monckes who ioyned with ours â— Britonie as S. Caesarius Archbishop of â—rles neare adioyning thereto and before â—bbot there testifieth that Ab Orienâ—e vsque ad â—ccidentem ab omnibus paene locis in quibus Chriâ—iana Religio â—olitur religiosâ—ssima vestra conuersatio â— Christi gloriaem praedicaâ—ur From the East to the â—st in all places almost where Châ—â—stian Reâ—igion is â—aintained thâ—re to Christ his glorie your most Chriâ—ian conuersation was preached And 〈◊〉 saeâ—â—â—sula Lyrinensis quae cum pâ—ruula plana esse viâ—atur innumerabiles tamen monâ—es ad â—aelum misisse â—gnosciâ—ur Haec est quae eximios nuâ—riâ— Monâ—chos â—astanâ—â—ssimos per oâ—nes Prouâ—â—ciaâ— erogat Saâ—erâ—â—es The blessed and hapâ—ie â—â—and of â—â—rinum though it seeme to be little and plainâ— yet it is knowne to hauâ— sent vnto heauen innumerable mountains This is sâ—e which bring th vp most famous Monckes and through all Prouinces sendeth forth most excellenâ— Priests 9. This testimonie of such a witnesse being giuen a little before S. Gregories timâ— who was so learned a Moncke and Father to many such in Rome argueth that his MoÌ„kes and the Monckes of Lyrinum could noâ— be strangerâ—â—o eaâ—h other S. Gregorie also commanding his Monckes he sent into EnglaÌ„d to goe to the Archbishop of â—râ—eâ— Successour to S. Cesarius so neare Lyrâ—num 〈◊〉 his assistance and they bringing from thencâ— into England Assistants and Interpreter â—nâ— S. Augustine being consecrated after Bishoâ— of EnglaÌ„d by Eâ—heâ—â—us Archbishop of Arles according to S. Gregories directions confirmeth the same the accesse of such hither theiâ— preachingâ— and directions here and our firsâ— English Moncke after S. Augustine comming hither so honouring the Monckes anâ— Monasterie of Lyrinum that they traâ—elleâ— ouer all England and France with them anâ— Saint Benedict Biscope who was brought â—â— with our British Monckes when none other were here being professed in â—yrinum Monâ—sterie showeth how little dâ—ffeâ—ence there waâ— betweene the old Monckes of Britanie thâ— Monckes of Lyrinum and Saint Augustinâ— and his fellow Monckes sent hither bâ— â—ly Saint Gregorie the Pope 10. By all accompts it is most certaine in â—storie that S. Benedict Biscope was proâ—led in Lyrinum went to Rome returned â—o the North part of England where he as Abbot diuers yeares before S. Benedict â— Rule was first giuen or receiued in these â—rtes and was also Abbot at Canterburie â—bey and gaue place to S. Adrian who was â—t hither by the Pope with Saint Theodore â—chbishop there before S. Wilfride the first â—er of S. Benedict's Rule in the North was â—leâ— Archbishop of Yorke to giue it or gaue â—e foresaid Rule to the Monckes as the â—onckes themselues confesse And that he â— not deliuer Saint Benedicts Rule to the â—onckes in the
westminster saith it was in thâ— yeare 753. by which accompt his Abbots iâ— England must needs be professed in the oâ— British Order 7. Marianus Scotus a Scot by Nationâ— and liuing in a strict discipline a Moncke â— Germanie with in 200. yeares of S. Bonifâ—cius his time though he acknowledgeth hiâ— to be an English man Anglus yet very ofteÌ„â— calleth him Sâ—otus a Sâ—ot in no other respeâ— then for his being of the Scotish Order and iâ— that regard calleth these Monasteries Monastria Sanâ—torum Scotorum Sancti Galli Sancti Bonfacij Monasteries of the â—cotish Saints S. Gallus aâ— S. Bonâ—fâ—ce VVhen it is certaine and he wâ— knew that neither of them was a Scot by Nâ—tion but onely in profession He proueâ— further that euen in his timâ— there weâ— Monckes of the Scotish old Order there whâ— â—ad a peculiar Monasterie in Colen where â—e Abbot with others were Scots Helias Scoâ—s abbas Who professed a strict Religion and â—n the opinion of men giuen to more liberâ—e ouer greaâ—e Discipline Religionem diâ—ictam disciplinamque niâ—â—am and God did miâ—culously approue it This was also the conâ—ition of S. Benedict Biscope Master to Saint â—ede beâ—ng a childe this the condition of â—â—eolfrâ—dus and Easterwinus whâ—m S. Boâ—face constituted Abbots in his absence in â—s Monasâ—eries 8. Waâ—es had seuen Bishops with an â—rchbishop others with their Clergie were â—ed thither out of England and yet diuers â—mained still in other parts with many Chriâ—ians euen Vniuersites as that of Cambridge â—ee then as they saie from all errour and neâ—r Manuscript antiq in vit S. Dauidâ—s Capgrau in cod censured by Saint Gregorie as some were â—heir difference from the Church of Rome â—as not in Questions of faith but others tolâ—rable and tollerated and this had not beene â—ng for in S. Dauidâ— time a litle before all â—greed in all things with Rome Omnes Britanâ—ae Matth. wâ—st in chronic an 794. Stows histor in Mercelâ—â— Ecclesiae modum Regulam Romana authoritate â—ceperunt All the Churcheâ— of Britanie toocke their â—anner and Rule by Roman authoritie 9. The greate Kingedome of Northumâ—erland bounded with Trent and Scotland â—ere thus conuerted The greatest kingedome â—f Mercia which then comprehended 23. â—hyres in 20. tribus Prouinâ—ijs quas Angli Shiras 〈◊〉 â—â—s conuerted by the old renowned Clergie men Bishops Priests anâ— Monckes that were of our old British Ordeâ— they in their Auncestors receiuing Conuersion from such our Britans and theÌ„selueâ— also liuing within the limits and boundes oâ— Britanie or England now for their Iland aâ— Saint Bede and others witnesse belonged to our Countrie Insula Hydesti cuius Monasteriâ— â—ed Eccl. hist. l. 3. cap. 3. in 〈◊〉 penè Septentrionalium Scotorum omniuâ— Pictorum Monâ—sterijs non paruâ— tempore Arcem tenebat regendisque eorum populis praeerat Quae videlâ— ceâ— Insula ad ius quidem Britanniae pertinet non magno ab ea sâ—eâ—o discreta Whose Monasterie in the Ileâ— Hydestine was nâ— small â—imâ— the chiefe house of alâ— the Monasteries Allmost of all the Northeren Scoâ— and of the Abbeys of all the Redâ—hankes and had thâ— soueraintie in ruling of then people VVhich I le iâ— very deede belongeth to the right of Britanie beinâ— seuâ—red from it with a narrâ—w sea Sebert King oâ— the East Angles was conuerted in Burgundieâ— and brought ouer with him who was consecrated after Bishop of his Countrie Sainâ— Felix and he so honoured the Priests of ouâ— old British Order that Saint Furseus onâ— thereof comming hither and with his allowance and donation building a Monasteriâ— of that Order King Sebert himself entered into Monasticall life and was professed â— Monâ—ke therein Regni negotijs cognato suo Egriâ— commendatis in Monasterio à sancto Furseo sibi constructo habitum Monachalem suscepit Committing thâ— affaires of his Kingdome to his Kinsman â—greâ—k he betoocke himselfe to Monasticall habit in a Monasterie â—ounded by S. Furseus 11. Concerning the Kingedome of the East Saxons â—igebert their King ioyned herein with the Northumbers and â—as baptized by Bishop Finan of the Scotish Order ad Bishop of his Countrie Câ—d that was of the same order and consecrated by S. Finan he in all his dominions consecrated Priests and Deacons in all places of Essex but especially at â—thancester and Tilberie For although King Seber's sonne of Sledda was a ChristiaÌ„ before â—et he dying the Countrie vnder his sonnes â—erred and Sigbert deadly enemies to Chriâ—tian profession was till then in Infideliâ—ie 12. To come to the west Saxons although â—hey receiued the faith by Saint Birinus sent â—rom Rome yet at the Baptisme of their King Kinegillus S. Oswald King of NorthuÌ„â—erland was Godfather vnto him and he â—arried King Oswald his daughter and Doâ—auerunt ambo Reges both these Kings gaue him â—orchester sixe miles from Oxford to settle â—here his Episcopall See And in the yeare â—35 He instituted there Canonicâ—s seâ—ulares secuâ—r Canons VVe reade in the Manuscript of the â—ntiquities of winchester that he builded â—gaine the old Monasterie of winchester â—ounded in king Lucius time and did restore â—nto or in it againe holy Monckes which were not long if at all before Saint Augustines comming driuen thence for we are assured that in the time of Constantine kinsmaÌ„ to king Arthur killing the sonne of Mordred Gildus l. de excid â—ritan Matth. â—â—estm Chronic. an 586. before the Altar of that Monasterie they were there and without doubt in king Careticus his time in the yeare â—â—6 when and not before Bishops Priests and Moncks fled into wales So the Moncks placed there could be no others but such as had beene Bed hâ—sto Eccles lib. 4. cap. 13 Manuscrâ—pâ— antiq â—â— vit S. VVilfridi Capgrau â—n catal in â—od driuen from thence before who still in themselues or succession of that order continued in those parts as in the Scotish and British Order in the Monasteries of Bosenham wheâ—e Dicul a Scot was Abbot in Redford vnder Abbot Kinebertus at Malmesburie vnder Meildulphus a Scotish Moncke Natione Scoto eruditione phylosopho professione Monacho By nation a Scot in lerning a Pâ—ylosopher in profession a Moncke VVho was so famous there that he gaue the old name Maildulfesburch to that Guliel Malmesb. Lâ—ntherius Saxoniae Episcop in chart â—â— 675. place where and vnder whom in the same discâ—pline S. Aldelme after Abbot there was brought vp A primo aeuo infantiae from his childâ—ood Bishop Eleutherius in his graunt to that house dated 675. proueth there were many Abbots and Abbies in these places in that time 13. VVilliam of Malmesburie with the Antiquities of Glastâ—â—burie assureth vs that in our â—enowned Abbey of Glastenburie after Saint Augustines comming and during his â—eing here in the yeare 601. we had our old Moncks in quiet and peace their Abbot was â—alled Morgret the Bishop vnder whom they â—hen liued Manuto Manuto Episcopus and their King Rex Domnoniae whose name by the
froÌ„ Rome wenâ— into those pâ—â— wâ—eâ—e the Scots now be aÌ„â— whether the Perâ—cutioÌ„ did not cumâ— aÌ„d there they ioyned wâ— those of Pope Victors Mission And in tâ— Persecution among so many Archbishops aâ— Bishops placed here by Papall authoritie â— finde fewe if any at all then put to death â— suruiuing after to haue consecrated Prieâ— dedicated Churches and performed other â—piscopall duties and offices as the Prieâ— and others did theirs also Bilustro supra â— turbinis neâ—dum ad Iâ—â—egrum expleto emarcesâ—â—â— busque nece suorum authorum nesarijs decretis laeâ—â—â—minibus omnes Christs Tyrones quasi post hiemaleâ— prolixâ—m noctem temperiem lâ—cemque serenam â— coeâ—estis excipiâ—nt renouant Ecclesias ad solum vsâ— destructâ—â— Bâ—siâ—itas Sanctorum Martyrum fundâ— construunt perfiâ—â—unt ac veluâ— Victricia signa paâ—â— propalâ—nt dieâ—sâ—stos celebrant sacra mundo corde â— que â—onficiunt omnes exultant filij gremio ac si Mâ— Ecclesiae câ—nsoâ—i Mâ—nsit namque haec Christs caâ— membroâ—uÌ„ consonantia 〈◊〉 donec Ariâ—norum pâ—dia intrauit Tenue yeares of the foresaiâ—d Troubleâ— â—ing as yet altogether compleate and the wicked deâ—es decaying in the dâ—th of their authouâ—s all the folâ—ers of Christ wiâ—h iâ—yâ—ull lâ—ghâ—â—â— as â—f aâ—tâ—r a â—â—ng â— er night they had receiued light aÌ„â—â—pleasant tâ—peâ—ure of heauâ—nâ—â—e aâ—re they â—neweâ— the 〈◊〉 â—â—ich were fallen to the ground they â—oâ—nded builded â— finished Cathedrall Churches of 〈…〉 â—â—â—ly did set forth as it were signes of Victorâ— thâ—y â—eâ—rated feastes thâ—y saied Masses with pure heart and 〈◊〉 All â—â—ildren in their mother 〈…〉 â—hey were begotten of the mother the Church and vâ—â—â— the wickednesse of the Arâ—â—â—â—â—red this swâ—â—te vâ—â—n of the members of Christ the head reâ—aâ—â—ed So Gild as S. Bede and other great witnesses â—d yeâ— when Arianâ—sme was diâ—ated â—aâ—â—t â—han â—sius S. Hâ—lary and other authorities â—e cleare Britanie as much as any nation â—roÌ„â— at insectâ—â— For it remaâ—nâ—â— â—â—me and coÌ„â—nt obedience to the Popes â—â— Roâ—e in that â—werth age both in Princes Bishops and â—hers Great Constantine our Emperour â—ng and borne in Britanie with S. Helenâ—â—â— Mother a Briâ—an and Emâ—â—â—sse hâ—noâ—râ—d â—e See of Rome in the highâ—st maner They â—d no doubt diueâ—s of our British Bishops â— the Councelâ— at Roâ—â— of 284 westeâ—â—â—â—shops were present and assenâ—ed when iâ—â—â— decreed Nâ—â—◠〈◊〉 it primâ—m sedem quoâ—m omnes â—eâ—es a 〈…〉 dâ—sidâ—rant 〈◊〉 Neque aâ— Augusto reâ—ue 〈…〉 Râ—gihus neque à popâ—â—â— Iudex 〈…〉 â— 4. Episâ—opâ— 4. 5. Presbytâ—rs 5. Diaconiâ—â— duo sequentes Augustus Constantinus Mater eiâ— Helena None shall iudge the first See for all Sees doâ— desire that iustice be moderated by the first See neither by Augustus neither by the whole Clergie neither by Kings nor by the people the Iudg shall be Iudged Aâ— heare vnto subscribed 2 4. Bishops 45. Priestes â— Deacons and the two which followeth Constantine â—â— Emperour and Helena his mother 13. VVe had our Bishops present and subscribing with generall assent of Britanie â— the great Councell of Sardie assembled oâ— of 37. Prouinces where the Popes Supreamâ— spirituall power in all places is decreed aâ— confirmed in two seuerall Canons and Aâ—peales to be made to him as highest Iudgâ— The Pope then did not onely rule the conueâ—ted Christians But also sent Apostolike mâ— Saint Ninian a Britan instructed at Româ— with others to conuert the Pagan Picts â— this Nation Audiens Pontifex Romanus quosdâ— in Occiduis Britanniâ— partibus necdum fidem Châ—â— suscepisse ad Episcopatus gradum Ninianum consecâ—uit Concreditum à Deo â—alâ—nâ—um per Britannorâ—â— Scotorum Australium Pictorum terras ad seniâ— vsâ—ue latissimè profudit Ordinauit Presbyteros Epâ—â—opos consecrauit totam terram per certas Paâ—chias diuisit Pontifex Romanus Ninianum praemâ—â—genti datâ bene lictione Apostolum destinauit Tâ— Pope vnderstanding that some in the westerne parteâ— Britanie had not as yet receiued the saith of Christ consecratâ—d Ninianus Bishop which Talent giâ— vnto him from God he powred forth largly vntill wes agâ—d through all Britanie Scotland and the Southerne Picts He made Priests coÌ„secrated Bishops and â—nto certaine Parishes he denide the whole Land The Bishop of Rome sent Ninianus Apostle to the foresaied people giuing him his benediction 14. In the fiâ—â—e age Saint Celestine Pope sent S. Paâ—ladius to the Irish and Scots S. Patrick after him to the Irish S Germanus Lupus and Seuerus to the Britans to roote out Pelagianisme to quiet and settle the Ecclesiasticall state here which they did consecrating Bishops Prâ—ests and what else necessary in these Contries VVhich by their power Legatine they so happily performed that Protestants themselues so testifying among the Scots â—alladius in hodres num diem Scotorum Apostolus appellatur Palladius vnto this day is called Apostle of the Scots Among the Irish Patricius incredibili spiritus feruore EuangeliuÌ„ Hibernis praedicans ad sinceram Christi fidem eos per 60. annos in vineâ Domini laborans conuertit Profanâ— Deorum destruxit templa Ecclesias sundauit verbi ministros ordinauit Patrike preaching the Gospell to the Irish with incredible feruour of spirit laboring in the viniard of our Lord for the space of 60. yeares tenuerted them to the true faith of Christ the prophaine temples of the Gods â—â— dâ—stroied he builded Churches he ordained Ministers of the word Old Nennius liuing soone after saith Ecclesias fundauit 365. Ordinauit Nenniuâ— Episcopos 365. aut amplius in quibus spiritus Deminâ— eâ—at Presbyteros autem vsque ad â—riâ— milliae ordinauit He founded 365. Churches he ordained â—65 Bishops or more in which was the Spirit of ouâ— Lord but Priestes he made 3000. VVhich must needs be done as the Popes Legate for other Countriâ—s also besides Ireland S. Germanus with Saint Lupâ—s at the first and second time wâ—th Saint Seuerus reformed all things amoÌ„g the Britans be made Bihops and Priestes aÌ„d among the rest S. Dubritius Aâ—â—hbishop â—eauing him to be the Popes Legate here after their going hence 15. In the Sixt age Saint Dabritius still liued who resigning his Bâ—â—hoprike S. Dauid succeeded him both as Archbishop and Legate reforming all things and Ownes Briâ—anniae Eâ—clâ—sia modum Râ—gulam Râ—manâ—â—uthoritate acceperunt All the â—hurcheâ— of Britaniâ— by Roman authoritie receiued both then manner and Rule The Pope sent Saint Iuo an Archbishop inâ—o Britanie or then England who liued and died here Saint Kentegern Bishop receiued Power and Approbation from the Pope of Rome going thiter seuen times And Sanctus Papa illuÌ„ virum Dei Spiritus sanctâ— graâ—iaÌ„ plenuÌ„ intelligens in â—pus ministerij à Spirita Sancto illi iniunâ—â—i destinauit The holy Pope vnderstanding him â—o be a man of God â—eplenished with the grace of the holy Ghoste he sent him into the worke of the ministerie â—hâ—ch was enioyned him by the holy Ghoste So renowned was this holy Apostolicall Legate here and in all
Gospells from the shoulders of the â—nsecrated But this maketh not much to the â—rpose it being onely as I haue saied a Ceremonie and not essentiall to the Consecration of a Bishop and that true and vndouted Bishops were made before the Gospells were written Otherwise the wholâ— Church then euer after and now and eueâ— had wanted it and had no Ecclesiastical Order at all Which is the lamentable and desperate condition of such as persecute a truâ— Bishop and Priest for their Order and power thereby confessing their want both of thaâ— which is essentiall in this high office as alsâ— consecratours to performe it consecrat truâ— Priests or confer any Ecclesiasticall Ordeâ— or degree at all not the meanest in that kinâ— to any person 20. All Authors agree euen Protestants iâ— their Catalogues of British and English Biâ—hops that we had continuall succession oâ— such here in great numbers vntill Queen Elizabeth by her supreamacie depriued anâ— deposed them And to keepe it farre from thâ—â—â—me of an Innouation to haue one such Bishop Successour to so many if we haue thaâ— libertie in time of Persecution when Bishop are driuen from their Sees vsuall in histories to remember and honour them in Exiâ— and Persecution we haue still kept a Succesion of Bishops in or of this nation Of thoâ—â— which were depriued of their Bishop pricke we haue Richard Pates Bishop of worcheste who subscribed to the Councell of Trent hâ— being there present by this Title Richardâ— Patus wigornieÌ„sis Episcopus Thomas Goldwell Bishop Godw. Catal. of Bish. in Worcest in Ric. Pates in S. Asaph in Thom. Goldwell of Asaph liued at Rome 20. yeares after that deposing Thomas watson Bishop of Lincolne was committed to prison in the I le of Elie and died about the yeare 1584. Thus the Protestants themselues deliuer and moreouer they deliuer much praise and commendatioÌ„s of theÌ„ and all others our renowned Bishops 14. or more in number who were deposed and persecuted by Queene Elizabeth yea far more and greater theÌ„ they doe of those which were intruded into their places Before or soone after the death of Bishop Waâ—son of Lincolne Owen Lew is of this our Nation was consecrated Bishop of Cassan in whose life-time our most Illustrious Cardinall William Allan was honoured with that dignitie and consecrated Archbishop of Maâ—kâ—en who liued with these honours vntill the 16. day of October in the yeare of Christ 1594. â—n his time William Gifford was by Pope Clement the eight made Deane Ecclesiae Diui Petri Insulensis Of Saint Peters Church at Lile And afterward he was ordained Archbishop of Rhemes in Champaine in France where he lately liued And whilst he liued Archbishop both VVilliam of Chalcedon and Richard also who is now so persecuted were by highest Papall authoritie coÌ„secrated ad sent into England And what man of ordinarie knowledge Iudgement or vnderstanding will aduenture to saie but all these were renowned men as also diuerse of our renowned Priests most worthie of Episcopall honour aÌ„d dignitie in equall times honourably stiled and registred for all posteritie not onely as great glories of their CouÌ„trie England but the whole Church of Christ Therefore to haue one of such worthie men a Bishop in his natiue Countrie bearing for auoyding offence his Title of a place so farre hence which froÌ„ the first Conuersion thereof to Christ had 3. Archbishops aÌ„d many Bishops aboue 1400. yeares past should not in the new English Religion teaching the Church of God neuer wanted Bishops and acknowledging both him and all Catholikely consecrated Bishops and Priests to be true and lawfull Bishops and Priests vndoubtedly by right ordination be offensiue but desired such Order Function and dignitie being by their publike testimonies most needefull excelleÌ„t and honourable with all true Professours of Christian Religion 21. Thus we see a Succession of English Bishops though not all in England but in other CouÌ„tries some of them consecrated and remaining a thing not vnusuall in times of Persecution and bannishment of Bishops as in the great lights in their time of Gods Church S. Hilarius S. Athanasius S. Chrysostome and others loÌ„g time exiled yet thereby did not interrupt a continuall Succession in their Sees What least exception then can be taken against our renowned Bishop of Chalcedon for Order and degree so honourable and eminent by all testimonies for his owne worthines and worthily therefore to be had in high reuerence euen with his Persecutours he bringeth able witnesses with him his knowne loue aÌ„d honour to our king Queene and CouÌ„trie his owne holy life and conuersation his learned works and writings with all at home and abroad he hath euer piously and gratefully conuersed and with honour defended and iustified himselfe against Maleâ—olants Among all English Catholickâ— oâ— Protestants few are to be found which haue more defeÌ„ded the honour of our Soueraigne â—one more acceptable to his Maiesties frieds â—nd Allyes in marriage no maÌ„ among so maâ—y renowned Priests of England worthie of â—reatest honour in equall times adiudged so â—t to supply such place by that highest Paâ—or which hath shewed great care and loue four king Queene and hoped Posteritie â—nd Countrie And since Persecution and â—roclamation against him what could such a â—an in Persecution doe more then he hath â—one in decreeing and Ordering that all â—riests and Catholiks should daily with deâ—otion praie for our king Queene State and Countrie And both since the comming in of â—im and VVilliam of Chalcedon of happie â—emorie his Predecessour as likewise before â—e Catholiks of England haue bene and now â—e knowne to be the most loyall dutifull and liuing Subiects in our dearest Countrie of England THE VI. CHAPTER That our English Priests who teach alâ— things with the Apostolicall Religioâ— are truely coÌ„secrated worthie men anâ— are to be honoured and not persecuted 1. Hauing redeemed Episcopall Ordâ—â— and dignitie conferred by the Sâ— of Rome from all Imputation of wickâ— obloquies and made it knowne to be so higâ— and honourable we might spare all furthâ— labour for exemption and defence of Prieâ—â—lie Function seeing euery Bishop of neceâ—sitie must be a Priest and whatsoeuer of thâ— calling is noble and glorious in a Bishop must needs be such in Priests Episcopal hâ—nour and consecration addeth an higher aâ— greater worthinesse to him that was beforâ— Priest but cannot take away or diminish aâ— excellencie or renowne he had before Tâ— Protestants of Scotland doe confesse whiâ—â— all knowe that after Catholike ReligioÌ„ wâ— ouerthrowne there they had not any preteâ—ded Bishops before King Iames accordiâ—â— to his manner of making such gaue suâ— Titles to them And their Knoxe Buchanan Forbs Bale and others both of England â—nd Scotland are not ashamed to saie that â—efore the sending of Saint Palladius thither â—y Saint Celestine Pope about the yeare 430. â—lonckes who were onely Priests supplied â—he place of that dignitie with that People â—ut malice to Episcopall worthinesse and â—ower their owne