of Protestants are the Protestant writers vpon whose confession or testimonie I cheefly relie in what I write of S. Austin and Luther Against whose verdict no Protestant can iustlie take exception either of ignorance because they are of the cheefest writers they haue or for partialitie for they were all most earnest Protestantes And therfor no Protestant can iustlie reiect their testimonie as insufficient THE BOOKES AND Chapters conteyned in this first parte of the prudentiall Ballance of Religion First Booke or Scale in which the qualities of S. Austin and of his doctrine are set downe 1. VVHat Religion was in this land before the comming of S. Austin Chap. 1. 2. That Saint Austin was the first preacher of the christian saith to our English Nation Chap. 2. 3. That Saint Austin preaching tooke great effect in our Nation Chap. 3. 4. That Saint Austin was a great Clarke and excellent Diuine Chap. 4. 5. That Saint Austin was A great Saint Chap. 5. 6. Certayne slanders against S. Austin disproued Chap 6. 7. That S. Austin was moued by holie motiues to come to preach to our Nation Chap. 7. 8. That S. Austin was lawfully sent to preach to our Nation proued by diuers authorities Chap 8. 9. That S. Austin was lawfully sent hither to preach proued by reason grounded in Scripture Chap. 9. 10. That S. Austin was rightlie ordered to administer the word and sacramentes Chap. 10. 11. That the faith which S. Austin preached was the vniuersall faith of Christendome in his time Chap 11. 12. That faith which S. Austin preached is confessed by the aduersaries to haue bene sufficient to saluation Chap. 12. 13. That the faith which S. Austin preached was confirmed of him by true miracles Chap. 13. 14. That the faith whi h S. Austin preached was the present Romayne Catholique faith proued by his Mayster and sender S Gregory Chap. 14. 15. The same proued by S. Austins and his fellowes deedes and Doctrine Chap. 15. 16. The same proued by the confession of learned Protestantes Chap. 16. 17. The same proued by the faith of the English Church which he founded Chap. 17. 18. That the faith of all the Archbishopes of Canterburie from S. Austin to our time was Romane Catholike proued by general Reasons Chap. 18. 19. That the faith of euery Archbishop of Canterburie from S. Austin to the time of the Conquest was romane Catholique proued in particular Chap. 19. 20. That the faith of euery Archbishop of Canterburie from the Conquest to our time was Romaine Catholike proued in particular Ch. 20. 21. That the faith of all our Christian English Kinges from S. Austins time to King Henrie the eight was Romane Catholique proued by generall reasons Chap. 21. 22. Certayne obiectiōs against the Catholique faith of our Auncient Kings aunswered Chap. 22. 23. That the faith of all our Christian Kinges to the time of the Monarchie of England was Romane Catholique proued in particular Chap. 23. 24. That the faith of all our Christian Kings from the Monarchie to the Conquest of England was Romane Catholike proued in particular Chap. 24. 25. That the faith of all our Kings from the Conquest to King Edward the third was Romane Catholique proued in particular Chap. 25. 26. That the faith of all our Kings from King Edward the third to Kinge Henrie the eight was Romane Catholique proued in particular Chap. 26. Epilogue or Conclusion The second Booke or Scale wherin the qualities of Luther and his doctrine are set downe 1. That Luther was the first Authour of the Protestants Religion Chap. 1. 2. That VVicklef and his followers were no Protestantes Chap. 2. 3. That the old auncient Britons were no Protestants Chap. 3. 4. VVhen wher wherfor and how Luther began Protestancie Chap. 4. 5. How Protestancie spred so farr Chap. 5. 6. VVhen hy whom wherfor and how Protestancie began in England Chap. 6. 7. That Luther was but meanlie learned Ch. 7. 8. That Luther was a vicious and naughtie man Chap. 8. 9. That Luther was moved to preach Protestantisme with humane noughtie motiues Ch. 9. 10. That Luther was neuer sent or called to preach Protestantisme Chap. 10. 11. That Luther was neuer ordered to preach the Protestants word or administer their Sacramentes Chap. 11. 12. That Luthers doctrine was contrarie to the vniuersall faith of Christendome at that time Chap. 12. 13. That Luthers doctrine was neuer confessed by Catholiques to be sufficient to saluation Ch. 13. 14. That Luther neuer confirmed his Doctrine by Miracles Chap. 14. 15. That Luther hath had no succession or continuance of his Doctrine heere in England Chap. 15. The third Booke in vvhich S. Austin and Luther and their Doctrines are weighed together according to the foresaid qualities of them 1. SAint Austin and Luther weighed accordinge to their learninge Chap. 1. 2. S. Austin and Luther weighed accordinge to their vertue or vice Chap. 2. 3. S. Austin and Luther weighed accordinge to their motiues of preachinge Chap. 3 4. S. Austin and Luther weighed according to their Mission or sendinge to preach Chap. 4. 5. S. Austin and Luther weighed accordinge to their orders of preachinge and administring the sacraments Chap. 5. 6. S. Austin and Luther weighed according to the vniuersalitie or singularity of their Doctrine Chap. 6. 7. S. Austin and Luther weighed accordinge to their aduersaries allowance of their Doctrines Chap. 7. 8. S. Austin and Luther weighed according to their Miracles Chap. 8. 9. S. Austin and Luther weighed acccordinge to the succession and continuance of their Doctrines Chap. 9. THE FIRST BOOKE OR SCALE IN VVHICH The qualities of S. Austin and of his Doctrine are set dovvne THE FIRST CHAPTER VVhat Religion was in this Land before the comminge of S. Austin THE ancient Inhabitans of this Iland were the Britons whome wee now call Welch-men Amongst whome the faith of Christ was first planted by the glorious Apostles S. a Metaph. in Sur. Iun. Cambd. descript Brit. pa 52. Baron an 58. p. 597. 401. Peter S. b Theod. l. 9 de Graec. Sophron. Natal Apost Fortunat Bale cent 1. c. 26 Cambd. in Britan. p. 52. Paul S. c Nicep l. 2. c. 40 Doroth in Synop Symon and the Apostolick men S. d D. Caius de antiq Cātabr Capgrau in Ios Bale cent 1. c. 22. vbi citat Fleming Scrop Polid Geo. maiorem Cambd. l. cit Ioseph of Arimathia who buried our Sauiour and S. e Doroth. in Synop. Aristobulus of whome S. Paul maketh mention in his Epistle to the Romans All these Protestants grant to haue preached Christs faith in this Iland except Saint Peter to whome some of them will not haue this Land so much behoulden Which question because it is besides my purpose I wil not stand to discusse Onely I assure the indifferent Reader that S. Peters preaching to the ancient Britons on the one side is affirmed both by Latin and Grecke by ancient and newe by foraine domesticall by
wife to king Egelreld Began his reign An. 1040. ruled two years He shewed faith Malm. l. 2. c. 12. exceeding great pitty of minde towardes his brother S. Edmund the Confessor Rom. religion of K. Hardi Canute His Roman religion appeareth both by his Father because as testifyeth Registrum BurineÌ„se Dedit S. Edmundo libertatem King S. Edward Confessor XXXI Vertues of K. Edvvard CoÌ„fessor 20. IN the yeare 1042. Edward Confessor sonne to the forsaid king Egelred began his reign and reigned 24. yeares He was saith Malmsb. lib. 2. cap. 13. deuout vnto God and therfore directed by him whilst he reigned all thing at home and abroad were quiet and calme He slew by his Captaines Machetat king of Scotts and put another in his place brought wales into the forme of a Prouince vnder England Illud celeberime fertur c. That is most famously reported that he neuer toucht any womans chastitie And Florent An. 1066. calleth him Decus Anglorum The honor of Englishmen But who will see more of his vertues may read his life written by a most ancient and graue Author in Surio Tom. 1. This only I will not omit that to him did God first giue the vertue of curing the kings euil and the crampe from whome all our Princes since haue receaued it Fox lib. 3. pag. 164. and Cooper An. 1043. say that he was a man of gentle and soft spirit The like Cambd. in Brit. p. 330. Bal. Cent. 2. cap. 12. Stovv pag. 121. neuer delt with his wife fleshlie guided the Kingdom with much wisdome and iustice from vvhome issued as out of a fountain much godlinesse pitty liberalitie tovvards the poore gentlenes and iustice tovvards all men and in all honest life he gaue a a vertuous example to his people Bal. supra And pag. 16. calleth him vertuous and blessâ—d King Cooper pag. 1065. addeth That he purged the ould lavves and piked out of them certain vvhich vvere most profitable for the Commons To these high praises Stow Chron. 122. adioyneth that God greatly glorifyed him in his life by wonderfull signes The religion of K. Edvvard Confes. and cured the kings euil Now let vs see what the religion of this great and holy king was First he vowed to God that if he got the crowne he would go to Rome on Pilgrimage Westmon An. 1049. Ealred in vita Edwardi Secondly when his people would not suffer him to leaue the Land for fear of the Danes inuasion he demanded dispensation and obtained it of Pope Nicholas 2. Nichol. in ep ad Edwardum Ealred in vita Thirdly sent two Abbots to a Concell held at Rhemes by Pope Leo Florent and Houed Anno. 1050. Fourthly he built the Monastery of Westminster principally for the loue saith Camb. in Brit. pag. 376. of the cheefe Apostle whome he honored with a speciall peculier affection Fiftly whiles he was at Masse God reuealed vnto him the drowning of the K. of Denmarke which intended to inuade England Houed An. 1066. Ealred in vit Sixtly Pope Nicol. writing to him thanketh God that King Edward had loue to S. Peter and with vs he consented in all the Apostolicall Decrees and therin absolued him from his vow Westminster from all Episcopall iurisdiction and saith that to him and his successors we commit the aduousion and tuition of all the Churches of England that in any place yow may determine by the Counsell of the Bishops and Abbots what things be iust and right Whervpon Bale l. cit saith That sub Nicolao 2. facti sunt Anglorum Reges c. vnder Pope Nicolas 2. the Kings of EnglaÌ„d were made the Popes Vicars SeueÌ„tly writing to the Pope He professeth the Popes supremacie In which as ProtestaÌ„ts say the essence of a Papist coÌ„sisteth in these plain words To the cheefe Father of the vniuersall Church Nicolas Edward by the grace of God K. of England due obedieÌ„ce Ealred in vit And in his lawes in Fox pag. 166. appointed that a King shall sweare vpon the Euangelists and blessed reliques of Saints that he will maintain the holy Church with all integrity And so manifest it is that this K. our Country in his time were Roman Catholicks as Syr Edward Cook the Kings Attorney in F. Garnets Arainment which since is printed openlie called the time of Edward Confessor Henrie 1. Edward 1. Richard 2. Henrie 4 and â— the verie midnight of Poperie That times of England most florishing vvhich Protest confesse to haue bene Papistical which were in truth the most florishing times that euer England saw For what King haue we in vertue comparable to King Edward Confessor in wisdome to King Henrie the first in valour and victories to King Edward the first the Conqueror of Scotland and Henrie 4. of England and Henrie the fift Conqueror of France King Herold XXXII 21. THe 32. and last King of the Saxons was King Herold who tooke the crown An. 1066. and held it not one yeare Valour of K. Herold He was saith Cooper An. 1066. valiant and hardie Florent An. 1066. saith he was left successor by Saint Edward and chosen of all the nobles of England and crowned of Aldred Archb. of yorke began to put down vniust lawes to set vp iust to become a Patron of Monasteries to honor and reuerence Bishops Abbots Monks and Clerkes to shew him selfe pious humble and affable to hate malefactors and to labour by sea and Land for defence of his Countrie he ouerthrew the king of Norway in a great battel but was sone after himselfe slayne and England coÌ„quered in a ruefull battel in Sussex by William Duke of Normandy and after king of England His Rom. Religion His Roman religion is manifest both by what hath bene said of king Edward and because as Cambd. hath in Brit pag. 384. VValtham Monasterie he founded in the honor of the holie Crosse where he made his vowes for victorie against the Normans Westmon An. 1066. saith orauit ante crucem He prayed before the Crosse Thus yow see the Roman Catholicke religion deduced not only fom all our Christian kings for the 200. yeares vnto the Monarchie but also from the monarchie all the Saxons time vnto the conquest therof by the Normans for the space of 266. yeares in which time two of the said Kings haue bene Saints to wit Saint Edward martyr and Saint Edward Confessor Three haue gon on Pilgrimage to Rome namely king Ethelwolph king Alfred the great and king Canut To whome we may ad king Burdred and king Edward Confessor who would haue gon Two kings daughters Saints namely S. Edburga daughter to king Edward and S. Editha daughter to king Edgar And if we will know why God permitted our Contry to be subdued of strangers It was saith Malmsb. lib. 3. in Guilielmo 1. because the studies of learning and religion had decayed Not a fewe yeares before the Normans coming the Clergie could scarce stamer out
see in Malmsb. 1. Pont. pag. 217. 219. it argueth not that he thought he might do so lawfully any more than that he might be as Fox termeth him pag. 1092. a piller and rauiner rather of Church goods or as Godwin in the life of S. Anselme termeth him the most Sacrilegious Simonest that euer reigned in England In so much as Hunting and Paris say An. 1100. when he dyed he had in his hands one Archbishoprick two Bishopricks 12. Abbeies as Stow saith pag. 183. said he would haue all the spirituall liuings in the whole Realme And Malmsb. lib. 4. addeth that he encoraged the Iewes to dispute with the Christians swearing that if they ouercame he would be of their religion Other horrible Villanies of his report Hunt Paris l. cit and others more which declare that he little cared to break Gods or the Churches lawes but conuince no more but that he was an ill Christian and an ill Catholick for life Saints in K. Rufus time In this Kings tyme dyed S. Wulstan Bishop of Worceter whome Godwin calleth Saint and confesseth that men had a great esteeme of him for his streitnes of life and opinion of holines And of other Authors of that tyme he is much commended Marian Cistertian order 〈◊〉 founded by an English man Florent Chron. Malmsb. 1. Pont. And his life is to be seene in Surius Tom. 1. In this Kings time also S. Stephan Harding an Englishman founded the order of Cistertian or white Monks as Bale Cent. 2. cap. 63. Fox Acts pag. 185. Malmsb. lib. 4. Reg. pag. 127. and others write Malmsb. termeth him The cheefe Author of the whole fact and especiall ornament of our dayes In this kings time died also the forsaid Saint Osmund Bishop of Salsburie the Author of that manner of saying masse Breuiarie and administring Sacraments which is called the vse of Sarum King Henrie I. XXXV 4. THe 35. Christian king was Henrie 1. yongest sonne to William Conqueror and borne in England began his Reign An. 1100. and reigned 35. yeares For his knowledg saith Fox lib. 4. p. 191. and science in the 7. liberall sciences he was Sirnamed Beuclerck Valour and qualities of K. Henrie 1. Cooper and Stow An. 1101. say he was a noble valiant Prince mightie of body of comly visage plesant sweete countenance excellent in vvit eloquence had good hap in battel The like write Catholicks of him As for his religion it is euident to be Roman Catholicke His Rom. Religion Fiâ—st because his Archb. was S. Anselm to whose piety he ascribed his conquest of Normandie Ediner in vit Anselm Secondly because he built a Church at Dunstable and by the authority of Eugenius 3. Pope saith Cambd. in Brit. p. 350. placed there Canons regulers Paris p. 98 and VValsing p. 38. name foure Monasteries which hâ— built Thirdly because as Stow saith p 204. Atholph Prior of S. Oswald was his Confessor Fourthly he yeelded vp the Inuestiture of Bishops Fox 194. Malmsb. 5. Reg p. 152. Florent VVestmon An. 1107. Houed 1108. Fiftly saith Paris p. 96. Houed An. 113â— Malmsb. lib. hist nouel lib. 1. Pope Innocent the second was most honorably entertained of him and by his help was admitted through all France Sixtlie Fox p. 192. setteth downe this letter of his to Pope Pascall To the venerable Father Pascall cheefe Bishop Henry by the grace of God K. health I greatly reioice with you at your promotion the See of the Roman Church requesting that the freindship which was betwixt my Father your Predecessors may also continew betwexne vs firme sure And at the same time saith Fox pag. 193. he sent another letter to the said Pope crauing of him his pal for Gerard Archb. of Yorke the forme wherof here followeth K. Henrie 1. Professeth the P. to be vniuersal P. To his reuerend and beloued Father Pascall Vniuersall Pope Henry by the grace of God king of England endeth thus I pray our Lord long preserue your Apostleship Ibid. Fox writeth that this kings Embasador said to the Pope that England of a long continuance had euer bene a prouince peculier to the Church of Rome and paid duely vnto the same yearely tribute Finally in this kings time the Cistertian Monsts entred into England Fox Acts p. 185. Cistertian monks enter into England Bale Centur. 2. c. 63. And in his last sicknes as the Archb. of Roan writeth to Pope Innocent in Malmsb. hist Nouel l. 1. Manner of King Henries death he confessed his sinnes was absolued and receaued the body and blood of our Lord with great deuotion lastly at his own request was aneyled And the Kings Attorney in the arainment of F. Garnet calleth this Kings time the very midnight of Popery S. Cutberts bodie found incorrupt In this Kings time say Florent Houed An. 1104. was the Shrine of S. Cutbert opened by Raph Abbot after Archb. of Canterb. found incorrupt in the presence of Prince AlexaÌ„der after K. of Scotland many more Saints See Saint Anselmes miracles in malb 1. Pont. p 216. 229. In his time died S. Anselm before spokeÌ„ of Thomas Archb. of York who when the phisitians tould him that he must ether vse the company of a woman or die he made choise of death Archb. Thom. vvould rather die than vse the companie of a vvoman For which Godwin in his life accounteth him a martyr though a little before he had said that Saint Oswald in debarring Priests from marriage had set forth the droctrine of Diuels King Stephan XXXVI 5. THe 36. Christian king of England was Stephan grandchild by a daughter vnto the Conqueror Valour of King Stephen He was crowned An. 1135. and reigned 19. yeares He vvas saith Malmsb. lib. 1. Hist Nouel Diligent and stout in war of an immoderat mind prompt to enterprise any hard thing to his enemies inexorable affable to all men Westmon An. 154. A notable souldier and in courage excelling The like hath Hunt l. 8. Cooper Anno 1136. And Stow p. 206. saith he was a noble man and passing hardie of passing comlie fauour and personage in all princelie vertues he excelled as in Martiall policie affabilitie gentlenes and bountifull liberalitie towards all His Rom. Religion His Roman religion is cleare First because his brother Henry Bishop of Winchester was in his time Legat to the Pope Hunting l. 8. Malmsbur hist Nouell Secondly because Stow saith pag. 215. He founded the Abbeis of Coxall in Essex of Furnis in Lankashier of Feuersham in kent Fox pag. 201. Cambd pag 682. 388. a Nonry at Carew an other at Higham Thirdly because being to giue battel on Candlemas day he heard Masse saith Hunting lib. 8. and the candle which he offered broke and the Pix in which the body of Christ was put fell downe vpon the Altar which were taken for aboadments of the losse of the batell Fourthly because in this Kings time
began saith Fox Acts pag. 201. appellations from Councells to the Pope by Henrie Bishopp of Winchester brother to the King In this Kings time Anno 1137. saith Bale Cent. 2. cap. 63. began in England the Monkes called Robertins of Robert their beginner But Capgraue in the life of Robert saith these Monks were Cistertians Monks enter into Englâ—nd In this time saith Bale ibidem entred into England the Moncks called Praemonstratenses Anno 1145. And Anno 1147. began the Gilbertin Monks and Nonnes founded by S. Gilbert Lord of Sempringham Cambd. Brit. p. 475. Neubrig l. 1. c. 16. Capgraue in Gilberto And this time Nicolas Breackspear an English Monke and Cardinall afterward Pope conuerted Norway sayth Bale l. cit ad Papismum to Papistrie And so manifestly were the times vnder King Stephen Papisticall as Bale cent 2. c. 74. speaking of them saith here we vnderstand that there was great want of the pure doctrine of Christ Iesus And cap. 73. saith it was a most corrupt age In this Kings time died also Saint William Archbishop of York Kinsman to King Stephan a man saith Godwin in his life very noble by birth but much more noble in vertue and good maners Saints Miracles many miracles writeth he are said to be vvrought at his Tombe King Henrie II. XXXVII 6. IN the yeare of our Lord 1155. King Henrie second grandchild by the Empresse Maude to Henri 1. succeded and reigned 33. yeares The vvorthines of King Henrie 2. He was saith Fox Acts pag. 234. Eloquent learned manly and bould in chiualrie The like hath Cooper Anno. 1155. and Stow pag. 216. Cambd. pag. 247. hath much of his praise out of Catholick writers of that time Vnder him saith Fox Acts pag. 224. the Dominion of England extended so far as hath not bene seene before VVhom Histories record to haue possessed vnder his rule First Scotland to whome VVilliam King of Scots with his Lords temporall and spirituall did homage both for them and their successors the seale wherof remaineth in the Kings Tresurie as also Ireland England Normandie Guiens Aquitan vnto the mountains of Pirenei He was offered also to be King of Ierusalem by the Patriarch and Maister of the Hospitall Now let vs see what was the religion of this potent King His Rom. Religion and of England when her Dominion was the largest that euer it was First Fox Acts pag. 234. telleth how this King heard Masse Secondly Stow pag. 232. telleth how he built the Nonrie of Font Euerard the Priorie of Stoneley of S. Martin in Douer and of Basing weck To which Cambd. in Brit. pag. 488. addeth Newsted in Nottingham shier and pag. 321. Circester in Glostershier Carthusiian Monks come into England Thirdly he brought Carthusians into England and built them a house at Withan Godwin in vit Hugonis Lincoln Houed saith this was An. 1186. Bale Cent. 2. cap. 63. saith it was 1180. And after Carthusians saith he came in Kinghts of Rhodes and of the Temple And Cambd. Brit. pag. 728. saith the Carmelits were brought in at this time Fourthly saith Stow pag. 216. he was directed cheefely by Thomas Becket in all things Fiftly saith the same Stow pag. 218. He obtained of Pope Adrian 4. both to haue Dominion of the Irish people Bal. Cent. 2 p. 180. and also to instruct them in the â—udiments of faith And the Pope in the letters of the grant calleth him a Catholick Prince Sixtly he Lewis King of France going on foote performing the office of lackeis and houlding the bridel of his horse on the right and lefâ— side Baron tom 12. conducted Pope AlexaÌ„der with great pompe through the Cittie Taciac vnto the riuer of Loir Robert Monten Genebre in Chron. Bale Cent. 2 c. 94. Neubrigen l. 2. c. 14. Thom. Cant. in Ep. ad Henr. 2. Seuenthly Houed p 502. setteth doune the letter of Gilbert Bishop of London to the Pope in which the Bishop writeth that the K. neuer auerted his minde from the Pope nor euer ment it but would loue him as a Father and reuerence the Church of Rome as his mother and had assisted the Pope in all his necessities with all his hart and strength And pag. 550. relateth a letter of Cardinals who writ of the King how obedient he shewed him selfe to the Church of which said they in this our short relation it is not needfull to relate Eightly Fox pag. 227. Cooper An. 1072. and others write that he agreed with the Pope that he should not hinder appeales to Rome and that nether the King nor his sonne should departe from Pope Alexander so long as he should count him or his sonne for Catholicks Bale Cent. 3. cap. 4. saith He permitted Appeals to the Pope and willingly submitted him selfe and his Kingdom to the Popes pleasure And English men came into greater subiection of Antichrist than euer at any tyme before Ninthly he persecuted certain German Hereticks whome Bale Cent. 2. cap 95. calleth Christians and others whome Bale cap. 97. calleth preachers of Gods word And Houed pag. 1573. reporteth that he and the King of France purposed to goe in person against the Albigenses whome Protestants commenly acount brethrem of their Church Finally his death was thus Cùm eger esset saith Houed pag. 654. VVhen he was sick vnto deathe he caused him self to be caried into the Church before the Altar and there he deuoutly receaued the communion of the body blood of our Lord confessing his sinnes And being absolued by the Bishop and Clergie he died And the times of this King were so manifestly Roman Catholick See more of this K. Rom. relig in Baron tom 12. as Fox Acts pag. 224. saith This age was all blinded and corrupted with superstition And yet pag. 225. affordeth it then the name of a Christian Realme that had the word of God And p. 227. noteth the blind and lamentable superstition and ignorance of these dayes Bale Cent. 3. cap. 14. cryeth out that sub Honorio 2. vnder Honorius 2. The life of man was corrupted vpon earth by Antichristian Traditions Saints In this Kings time liued the holy Eremit S. Gudrig Vir saith Cambd. Brit. p. 668. antiqua Christiana simplicitate totus Deo deuotus A man of ancient Christianlie simplicitie wholly deuoted to God Whose holines is described by diuers Capgraue Houed Miracles Anno. 1169. VVestmon Anno. 1171. Neubrigen lib. 2. c. 20. and 28. In his time also liued and died glorious S. Thomas of Canterb. of whose miracles Fox Acts pag. 225. saith he hath seene a booke to the number of 270. of curing all diseases belonging to man or Woman amongst which he nameth one most subiect as he thought by reason of the matter to laughter But who considereth that all the membres of our body were alike created of God may as wel be restored by him again when they are lost and weigheth the testimony which Fox bringeth him self
goodly monastery at Beulieu erected a Nonry at Godstow to pray saith Camb. Brit. p. 329 for his Fathers soule for that perswasion had then possessed the minds of all men And in his Charter to Batel Abbey commandeth all his Iustices to defend the Possessions of that monastery sicut saith he nostra propria as our owne And Regist Buriense saith he gaue a great Saphir and a Ruby to S. Edmunds Shrine Fiftly when Grecians came to dispute against his faith he would not hear them Bale Cent. 3. cap. 37. ex Paris Sixtly Fox Acts. pag. 253. writeth that King Iohn submitted himselfe to the Court of Rome and as Bale saith Cent. 3. cap. 75. Acknowledged the Pope to be head of all Christians And though he disobeyed for a time the Pope yet that he did not for a difference in religion but because the Pope would make an Archb. of Canterb. whome the King misliked And as Cooper saith Anno 1201. For vvhat cause K. Ihon disobeyed the Pope for a time did this not vpō iudgment to set vp true religion saith he but vpon couetousnes and of a forward mind Finally vpon his deathbed saith Fox Acts pag. 256. he much repented his former life and had saith Stow pag. 262. a Confessor at his death and receaued the Sacrament at the hands of the Abbot of Crocston and died with these words VVestmon An. 1216. Deo sancto VVolstano animam meam commendo I commend my soul to God and S. VVolstan Paris pag. 389. Of the manner of his death Fox Acts. pag. 256. writeth thus Some write that he died of sorrow as Polidor K. Ihon dieth in profession of the Cathol saith some of surfeting as Redinger some of a bloodie flux as Houed some of a burning ague some of a colde sweat some of eating apples some of eating peares some plummes c. yet saith he most writers agree that he was poisoned by the Monke Symon of Swinfled But who those were he writeth not nor could name one besides a nameles Author of that Chronicle which because Caxton printed it is cald Caxtons Chronicle And it is as Stow well saith pag. 494. a fabulous booke And therfore Bale Cent. 3. cap. 75. referreth this to report saing Vt serunt as men report But who will not beleeue rather Paris pag. 389. Westmon Anno 1216. and others liuing in that same time or sone after who say he died of surfit sorrow then a Chronicle accounted by Protestants themselues a fabulous booke or writen by a nameles Author long after that time In this Kings time Saints died that glorious Saint Saint Hugh Bishop of Lincolne and Carthusian Monke whome Godwin in his life calleth Saint And saith By his integritie of life and conuersation and the opinion of diuers Miracles wrought by him hath purchased vnto him selfe the honor and reputation of a Saint He addeth also that S. Hugh Grew very famous far and neere for his extraordinarie abstinence and austeritie of life And that king Iohn and king William king of Scotts for great reuerence they bare to his holines helped to carry his Corps from the gate of the Cittie vntill it came to the Church dore King Henrie the III. XL. 9. IN the yeare 1216. succeded king Henrie 3. sonne to king Iohn and reigned 56. yeares dyed Anno. 1273. He was saith Cooper Anno. 1218. of nature gentle VVisdom and pietie of King Henrie 3. of minde sage and wise And so pious as Leolin Prince of Wales saith Fox Acts pag. 280. protested that he feared more his almes than his puissance And Westmon Anno 1272. speaking of this king saith Of how great innocencie of how great patience and of how great deuotion he was in obeying his Sauiour our Lord knoweth and they which faithfully adhered to him and of how great merit he was with God the miracles after his death testifie His Rom. Religion The Roman religion of this vertuous king is manifest First because as Fox saith in his Acts pag. 257. He was crowned by Swall the Popes Legat and Stow addeth pag. 263. Being crowned the gouernment of the King and his Kingdome was committed to the Legat to the Bishop of VVinchester c. Secondly because Continuator of Paris who then liued saith pag. 1349. K. Henrie 3. daily heard 3. sung Masses and Walsingham in Edward 1. pag. 19. Euery day he was accustomed to heare three songe Masses and desirous to heare moe serued daylie Priests celebrating priuatly and when the Priest did eleuat our Lords bodie he vsed to hould the Priests arme Deuotion of King Hen. 3. Bal. Cent. 4 cap. 46. and to kisse it And when that Lewis king of France said vnto him that he should oftner heare sermons he answered I had rather see my freind often than heare an other speake of him though neuer so wel Thirdly his Confessor was a Dominican Frier named Iohn Dorlington A. Quene a Nonne Bale Cent. 4. cap. 56. and Walsing in Edward 1. pag. 7. His Queene also after his death became a Nonne Walsing pag. 14. Fourthly in this Kings time came into England diuers orders of Friers as the Dominicans to whome Diuers kinds of Friers enter into England saith Stow pag. 268. the King assigned a house in Oxford The Gray Friers Cooper Anno 1222. The Croochet Friers Anno. 1244. Bale Centur. 4. cap. 3. The Austins Friers Anno. 1252. Centur. 4. capit 17. to whome cap. 46. he addeth the Paulins the Friers of Armenia the Friers de poenitentia the Friers de Viridi Valle and the Bonhomes Which last order Rodulphus l. 2. de Saincto Francisco saith was instituted by Richard Earle of Cornwall and brother to King Henrie Fiftly when the Pope sent a Legat into England saith Paris pag. 589. the King met the Legat most dutifully at the Sea coast and bowing his head to his knees cōducted him most respectiuely to the inermost parts of his Kingdome when he departed brought him with great honor to the Sea Stow Chron. Anno 1241. Sixtly because as is to be seene in Fox Act. 287. others He wrote to the Pope thus Sanctissimo in Christo Patri c. To his most holy Father Lord in Christ Innocent K. Henrie 3. calleth the P Lord in Christ offereth to kisse his feet by the grace of God cheefe Bishop health and kisses of his blessed feete And in the letter May it please your Fatherhood we beseech yow that our lawes and liberties which yow may righly repute none other but your owne yow will receaue to your tuitiō to be cōserued whole sound Vpon which words Fox maketh this note The K. in too much subiection to the Pope And in a letter in Paris pag. 839 The K. professeth to the Pope that In all the time of our reign we haue submirted ourselues our kingdom in all through all things to the wil of your Father hood And pag. 863. he citeth letters of
c. Your wisedom knoweth that I with a filiall affection deuoutly and dutifully obey the Apostolicall commandements Rob. Grostets profession of subiection to the Pope and at his death he gaue all his books to the graie Friers Godvvin in vita eius vvher you see his Rom. religion restified by a Cardinal of that time And your anciēt writers are to far from accounting him no Catholicke as they esteeme him a Saint and relat his miracles as yow may see in Paris and Westmon Anno. 1250. Only Paris pag. 1174. saith that he had good zeale but perchance not according to true knowledg In this Kings time liued that grear scoole Doctor and Englishman Alexander de Hales King Edward I. XLI 10 IN the yeare of our Lord 1274. succeded Edward 1. sonne to King Henry 3. and reigned 34. yeares He was saith VValsingham in his Ypodigmate pag. 98. Great praises of K. Edvvard 1. In armes strong victorious warlick vvho gained all England from the hands of valiant Symon de Montfort VVales he got from Leolin Aquitan he wrested from the King of Frāce Polid. lib. 17. Scotland he often subdued Camb. Brit. pag. 700. saith He was a Prince far excelling in whose most valiāt mind God chused a most vvorthie lodging that he might match the heigt of royal maiesty not only vvith fortitude vvisedom but with bewtie also and comlynes of bodie whome fortune in the prime flower of his age trained vp in many warrs and most difficult times of the Common welth whilst that she disposed him for Brittish Empire VVhich when he was established in he so gouerned hauing ouercome the VVelch men and triumphed ouer the Scotts that by good right he is esteemed another ornament of Brittanie The like high praises giue him Cooper Anno. 1274. Stow pag. 304. Bale Cent. 4. cap. 58. and others His Rom. Religion As for the Roman religion of this renowned Prince it is most cleare First because as VValsingham saith Histor pag. 16. His wife Queene Eleoner dying with continuall prayers he did pray vnto our Sauiour Iesus for her for euer ordaining and procuring for her the celebrations of Masses in diuers places of his Kingdom In euery place and Vilage where her Corps rested the King commanded a Crosse to be erected in memorie of the Queene that her soule might be prayed for of those that passed by pag. 33. He Translated a stone to VVestminster which the Kings of Scottland at the time of their coronation were wont to vse for a Throne commanding that a Chair should be made therof for Priests to sit in when they solemnised Masse Besides pag. 13. His daughter Marie was a Nonne And in ypodingm p. 88. He commanded that the Crown of gould that was the king of Scots should be offered to S. Thomas the Martyr And p. 71. He built an Abbey of Cistercian Monkes And as Fox saith Acts pag. 339. Went on Pilgrimage to our Ladie of Walsingham to thanck God for his escape of a great danger And of so great account were religious men in his time as Stow pag. 329. reckneth 61. Abbots and 8. Priors of the Parliament in his tyme. Secondly because as Walsingham hath Hist pag 49. he writeth thus to the Pope To the most holy Father in Christ Boniface by the diuine prouidence cheefe Bishop of the holy Roman and Vniuersall Church Edward by the grace of God king of England Lord of Ireland Duke of Aquitan health and deuout kisses of your blessed feete Beneth Wee do humblie beseech your holines for as much as c. And p. 55. He Fox 341. set downe a letter wherin the Nobles and all the Barons assembled together in parliament write thus to the Pope This vvas scalled vvith 200. seales ypodigm pag. 89. We reuerently and humbly beseech your holines that yow would suffer our Lord king of England who among other sheweth him self Catholick and deuout to the Roman Church c. And Westmon Anno. 1302. putteth the beginning of this letter thus To the most holy Father in Christ L. Boniface by the diuine Prouidence cheefe Bishop of the vniuersall Church The profession of subiection to the P. by the vvhole Parlamēt his deuout sonnes Iohn Earle of VVarren Thomas Earl ofe Lancaster c. Deuout kisses of your blessed feete Behould how both the king and nobles professe to kisse the Popes feete call him cheefe Bishop of the Vniuersall Church In like manner Pope Boniface Writing in VVestmon Anno. 1301. to king Edward saith Scimus fili c. VVe know my sonne and now a long time experienc the Mistres of things hath taught vs how towards the Roman mother Church which in her bowels of charitie hath caried yow representing a kingly deuotion your reuerent regard is shewed your zeale strengthned and that in all promptitude yow obeying the true cōstitutions of the seat make your repose finally after the kings death his body lying at VValtham Destinati sunt c. saith VValsing Hist pag. 67. There were apointed of euery great Monasterie neere bordering six Monks Cannons or other religious which should watch about the body and continually solemnize the funerals And the Cardinall Legat graunted Indulgence of one yeare to them which did say our Lords prayer and the Angelicall salutation for the Kings soule And so manifestly were the times of this king Roman Catholick as the Kings Attorney in the arrainment of Garnet calleth them the verie midnight of Poperie And Bale Cent. 4. cap. 46. cryeth out Vnder King Edward the goulden face of the primitiue Church was obscured the cheefest bewtie of the Gospell changed The house of Israel was turned into rubbish the Ministers of the Churches degenerated into Dreggs and excrements the Friers bearing rule In this Kings time liued that great schoole Doctor and English man Richard Middleton Bale Cent. 4. cap. 77. and dyed that glorious Saint Saints S. Thomas of Hereford who in life was admirable for vertue and after death wonderfull for the greatnes and multitude of his miracles Miracles See Sur. tom 5. which were examined with such straightnes and approued with so great authoritie as who will beleeue any human testimonie can not but beleeue them as is to be seene in our ancient Manuscript yet extant King Edward 2. XLII IN the yeare 1307. Edward 2. sonne to Edward 1. succeeded Qualities of K Edvvard 2. Polid. l. 18. His Rom. Religion and reigned 19. years He was saith Cooper Ann 1308. And Stow pag. 337. faire of body but vnstedfast of maners and disposed to lightnes His Roman religion is certain both by what hath bene saide of his Father and because Caius de Antiq. Cantab. pag. 80. and Stow pag. 337. say He sued to Pope Iohn 22. to renew the priuiledges of the Vniuersities which he did Item He builded the Friers Church at Langley Stow pag. 332. Vowed in the battel of Sterling to build a house for the Carmelits in Oxford which he performed Stow pag. 334.
sent for two Cardinals to make peace betwene him and the Scotts pag. 336. Had a tenth of spirituall goods granted him by the Pope pag. 339. Had a Carmelit for his Confessor Bale Cent. 4. cap. 96. And as he saith cap. 82. In this Kings tyme came in the Friers De paenitentia into England to whome the King gaue the Synagogue of the Iewes Item the Friers of the order of Martyrs the Sarabitae the Paulins and the Trinitaries Bale Centur. 5. cap. 13. calleth these times the middle darknes of Roman superstition In this kings time liued that famous subtil doctor Iohannes Scotus The Cath. religion hitherto in EnglaÌ„d vvithout anie opposition And hitherto haue we proued the Catholicke Roman religion through all our Christian Kings not only cleare and manifest but also without any opposition or contradiction sauing of a few who in Saint Odo his time doubted of the reall presence but were soone conuerted Hereafter in our Country the Catholicke religion hath found some opposition though small by reason of VVick life who arose in the next Kings time and his fellowes CHAP. XXVI That the Kings of England from Edvvard 3. to Henry 8. vvere all Roman Catholick proued in particuler King Edward 3. XLIII 1. THe 43. Christian King of England was Edward 3. sonne to Edward 2. VVorthines of K. Edvvard 3. Began his reigne Anno. 1326. reigned 51. yeares He was saith Walsingahm Hist Anno 1376. amongst all the Kings of the world renowned benign gentle Poâ—d l. 19. and magnificent coragious of hart humble milde and very deuout to God This man saith Cooper Anno 1327. And Stow p. 438. Besids all other gifts of nature was indued with passing comly hewty fauor of vvit prouideÌ„t circumspect gentil doing nothing without great wisdome consideratioÌ„ Of excellent modesty temperance and aduanced such persons to high dignity as did most passe others in integrity innocency of life in feats of Armes verie expert Of his liberality clemencie he shewed very many great examples Breefly in all Princely vertue he was so excellent that few noble men before his time can be compared to him The like praise to him giue Fox Acts pag. 374. Bale Cent. 6. cap. 57. others His victories He wonne the great battell at Cressie where he vanquished the King of France with two other Kings tooke Calis and at the same time ouercame the King of Scotts and tooke him prisoner And his sonne Edward sirnamed the black Prince with a very small army got the battell of Poitiers Wherin he tooke the French king and after that entred into Spaine ouercame the king and draue him out of the Contrie So that this king by him selfe and his company tooke two kings slewe one and vanquished three others Of all our English kings to Henrie 8. Fox of most all challengeth this King and saith pag. 428. That aboue all other Kings to Henrie 8. he was the greatest bridler of the Popes vsurped power During all his time Iohn VVicklef was maintained with fauor and ayde sufficient Indeed King Edward 3. Anno 1374. made a lawe to forbid all procurement of English Benefices from the Pope But the cause therof was not that the King thought amisse of rhe Popes Authority but because he thought that the execution thereof in this point was incommodious and inconuenient to his Realme For other wise none of all our Kings haue auouched the Popes supremacie in which Protestants account the essence of a Papist to consist so cleare as he For in his letters to the Pope extant in Walsingham Anno 1336 and others he writeth thus Otterborne in Edvvard 3. Therfore let not the enuious or sinister interpretation of detractors made of your sonne finde place in the bowels of your mercie and sanctitie who will after the ancient custome of our predecessours persist in yours and the See Apostolickes fauour vntouched But if any such sugestion made against your sonne shall fortune to come vnto your holines eares Let not credit be giuen of your holy deuotion by your holines therunto before your sonne be heard who trusteth and euer intendeth to speak the truth and to iustifie euery one of his causes before your holines iudgement King Edvvard 3 accounteth it heresie to denie the Popes supremacie whose authority is aboue all earthly creatures which to deny is to approue an heresy Behould the King confessing first that it was hereditarie to him from his Anceistors to abide firmely in fauour of the See Apostolicke Secondly that he purposed euer to do soe Thirdly that it was heresie to denie the Popes iudgement praesidere omni humanae creaturae To beare rule ouer all human Creatures Oh when would this famous King haue thought that any of his Posteritie should make that treason which him selfe professeth all his Ancestors to haue held and accounteth it heresie to denie The same saith Pope Greg. 11. in VValsing p. 104. Kings of England especiall children of the Rom. Church And Pope Benedict in his answer of this letter in VValsingham pag. 124. saith thus Your Progenitors Kings of England haue excelled in greatnes of faith and deuotion towards God and the holy Roman Church as her peculier foster-children and deuoted sonnes and haue preserued the splendor of their progeny from any darkesome cloud Betwene the state of your Kingdome and also of the Kingdome of France we greatly desire to make a happy successe of peace and concotd And against you my sonne I cannot shut vp the bowels of my Fatherly affection To which the King returned this answer in Walsingham pag. 130. We haue reuerently and humbly accepted the letters of your Holines Also with a cheerfull hart we do beseech your clemency that if it please you you will duely ponder our iustice and intentioÌ„ founded vpon the truth And that we as occasion serued haue fauored the holy Roman Church in all fulnes of deuotion sound loue and gratious fauor K. Edvv. 3 Professeth to haue euer fauored the Pope as you may coniecture of a most deuout sonne For God is the witnesse of our coÌ„science that we haue desired to exalt defend the honors and liberties of the Church And againe the king Anno. 1343 writing to Pope Clement in VValsing pag. 150. saith thus Professeth the P. is Bishop of the vniuersal Church To his most holy Lord Clement by the diuine prouidence cheefe Bishop of the sacred Roman and vniuersall Church Edward by the same grace of God King of France and England and Lord of Ireland deuout kisses of your blessed feete c. And then calleth him successor of the Prince of the Apostles Infra VVe and ours do desire and ought to reuerence your most sacred person and the holy Roman Church And pag. 15. Clement answereth him thus My deerly beloued sonne yow haue knowne how to exhibit your sincere deuotion to our Lord and to your Mother the holy Roman Church as of famous memorie your
Progenitors the Kings of England haue done whilst they liued And Fox himselfe Acts pag. 383. setteth downe a letter of the K. and nobles to Pope Clement Anno 1343. thus To the most holy Father in God Lord Clement by the grace of God of the holy Church of Rome and of the vniuersall Church cheefe and high Bishop his humble and deuout children the Princes Dukes Earles Barons Knights Citizens and Burgesses and all the communalty of England assembled at the Parliament houlden at VVestminster the 15. day of May deuout kissing of his feete with all humble reuerence and humility The vvhole Parlament calleth the Pope head of the vniuersal Church Most holy Father yow being so high and holy a Prelat and head of the holy Church by whome the holy Vniuersall Church and people of God ought to be as by the Son beames illightened c. Behould the whole Parlament calling the Pope head and Bishop of the Vniuersall Church and offering to kisse his feete with all humilitie and reuerence And again Fox pag. 387. setteth downe an other letter of King Edwards to Pope Clement in this sort Most holy Father K. Edvv. 3. plainly professeth the Popes supremacie we desire your holines and in as much as lieth in vs require the same that yow that supplie the place of the sonne of God on earth and haue the gouernment of all Christen men c. What could be more clearly spoken for the spirituall supremacie of the Pope And this same Roman religion of his is euident by many other waies For he founded saith Stow pag. 439. the new Abbey neere to the Tower of London where he placed white Monks to the honor of God and our Ladie according to a vow by him made being on the Sea in great perill And a Nonrie at Detford Cambden addeth pag. 333. a Frierie of Carmelits He instituted also the order of the garter in honor of God and Saint Georg and among other rules apointed that when any of the Knights died the Kinge should make a thousand Masses to be saide for his soule and others many hundreds according to their Degree He offered saith Fox pag. 396. after the blind saith he superstition of those dayes in the Church of VVestminster the Vestments wherin Saint Peter did celebrat Masse His Confessor was Thomas Bradwardin whome Bale Centur. 5. cap. 87. accounteth a Papist Finally as Walsingham An. 1376. writeth he dyed thus The Catholik end of K. Edvvard 3. The King when he could not speake with verie great reuerence taking the Crosse did kisse it most deuoutly somtimes stretching forth his hand in signe of crauing pardon and other times also letting fall from his eyes plenty of teares and kissing most often the feete of the Crucifix And after his death Pope Greg. 11. lit in Walsingham Anno 1378. calleth him Catholicum Principem Pugilem fidei A Catholick Prince and Champion of the faith And so euidently was this King and the Realm in his time Roman Catholick Protest confesse K. Edvv 3. time to haue bene Cathol as Fox Acts pag. 377. vpon a letter of the King to the Nobles of France maketh this note Note the ignorance of the time And pag. 396. The blinde superstition of those daies And pag. 424. This is out of all doubt that at vvhat time all the world was in most vilde and desperat estate and that the lamentable ignorance of Gods truth had ouershadowed all the earth VVicklef stept forth c. Behould here manifest that before Wicklef there was not one Protestant in the whole world And how ill a Protestant he was shall hereafter appeare All the vvorld ignorant of Protestancie And pag. 425. In this so horrible darknes of ignorance saith Fox at what time there seemed in a manner to be no one so little a sparke of pure doctrine left In a maner no one litle spark of Protestancie VViclef first raised forsooth the vvorld VViclef sprong vp through whome the Lord would first raise vp again the world which was drowned in the depth of human traditions In like sort Bale Cent. 5. cap. 85. saith This age was shadovved vvith the darknes of great ignorance and blinded with more than Diabolicall fooleries And Cent. 6. cap. 1. the midnight of errors and a dim vvorld And cap. 8. In these times darknes of great ingnorance possessed the vvorld cap. 23. The common blindnes of the time vvas in aduancing the Idolatrie of the Popish Masse As for the discontentment which some time this king had with the Pope that was not for any matter of religion but because as Cooper saith Anno. 1343. VVhy K. Edvv. 3. some time discontented vvith the Pope The Pope gaue diuers Bishopricks and Benefices in England which the king thought not expedient for his temporall estate And as for the fauour which VVicklef found in his time that proceeded rather from the Duke of Lancaster who gouerned all in the olde age of the King and for a time vpheld VVicklef not vpon any liking of his heresie but to spite therby some of the Bishops whome he hated as Stow Anno. 1376 wtih whome Fox agreeth p. 393. testifieth in these words VVhy the D. of lancaster a vvhile fauored VViclef The Duke of Lancaster laboring as vvel to ouerthrovv the liberties of the Church as of the Cittie of Lōdon called vnto him VVicklef c. And when these contentions betwene the Duke and others were appeased He commanded saith Fox pag. 400. Edit 1596. VVicklef to submit him self to his Ordinarie The Cath. religion of the D. of lancaster Which clearly ynough declareth the Roman religion of that Duke which also other wise were euident by the honor wherwith he was receaued by the Cardinals and Bishops in the Popes Courte Stow pag. 399. And by his Confessor Iohn Kinningham a Carmelit who saith Bale Cent. 6. cap. 4. first impugned Wicklef And Cent. 7. cap. 26. saith that Gualter Disse than who none in Antichristi negotijs actuosior more busie in the rules of Antichrists Confessor to the Duke perswaded him for the loue at least of Papistrie to make war in Spaine which then fauored an Anti-pope to which purpose Pope Vrban sent the Duke a standard and made his Confessor his Legat and gaue him authoritie to preach the Crosse with many Indulgences for all them that would follow the Duke At what time writeth Bale out of Purney a wiclefist thē liuing Inualuit tunc Antichristi furor prae caeteris temporibus Antichrists furie preuailed more than in other times More ouer Polidor lib. 19. saith that two Hereticks were burnt in London in this Kings time whome Bale Cent. 5. cap. 74. calleth seruants of Christ In this Kings time liued the vertuous Ladie Mary Countesse of Saint Paule a woman saith Stow pag. 437 of singuler example for life Saints who builded Pembrooke hall in Cambridge and S. Iohn of Bridlinghton of whome we will speake in the next kings time
now we finde too true Queene Marie LIII AFter K. Henrie the eight succeeded in the yeare 1546. King Edward the sixt his sonne a child of nine yeares olde which childe wanting the vse of perfect reason and vnfit to gouern him self was the first Protestant Prince that euer was in England and turned the Roman religion which his Father had left though maimed in one principall point to open Protestancie Not for the miracles or rare vertues of the Preachers therof or their conuincing their aduersaries in disputation as King Ethelbert changed his Paganisme into the Roman religion as is before shewed but because the Lord Protector and his complices thought it most sutable to their humors and most fit for their aspiring pretences But how vnfortunat this exchange was not onely to the soules of this King and principall Actors therin but also to their liues and bodies yow may reade in Stow The ill end of the kringets in of Probestancie where yow shall see that the very same yeare 1548. that Proclamation was made for receauing in both Kindes the Lord Admirall a cheefe agent in the change of religion though brother to the Protector and Vnkle to the King was beheaded for a Traitor And the next yeare 1549. VVhen Proclamation was made against Masse sone after also was Proclamation made against the Protector him selfe the principall author of the change and he cast into the Tower And in the yeare 1552. when the newe seruice booke of Common prayer begun in Pauls the said Protector was beheaded And the next yeare the King died and the Duke of Northumberland an other principall actor in the change of religion though against his own conscience as he openly declared at his death was beheaded for treason and Cranmer and Ridley and other fauorers of that change were depriued of their Dignities and sone after burnt This was the rufull end of the first setters vp of Protestancie For maintenance wherof albeit a new Queene was proclaimed Nobles sworne and the strength of England gathered yet in short time almightie God ouerthrew it again without any bloodshed by one vertuous woman Q. Marie Protestancie ouerthrone by a vvoman vvithout any bloodshed Vertue of Q. Marie Author of danger positions l 2 cap. 14. Her Rom. Religion In the arraignment of F Garnat D Doue lib. of Recusancie vvil haue Bellarm. to be a Protest or at lest no perfect Papist who all the time of her life liued so chastly and religiously that all her enemies could not to this day fasten the least suspicion of vice vpon her And whome euen Protestants write to haue Bene of nature and disposition verie milde and pittifull VVhich argueth that they wel deserued the seueritie which shee shewed towards them And so earnest a Roman Catholick shee was as the Protestants write of her that there was Not these thousand yeares a more obedient daughter to the Church of Rome than she was VVherby yow may iugde of the impudencie of Doctor Reinolds who in his Confer pag. 583. denieth not onely all the former Princes but euen Queene Marie euer to haue alowed the Popes absolute spirituall supremacie or as he speaketh the Popes Monarchie but onely to haue granted him such a preheminence as the Duke of Venice hath in that state But with her in the yeare 1558. ended all the glorie of Catholick Princes of England Who except King Henrie 8. for a few yeares and King Edward 6. had continewed from the yeare 598. till the forsaid yeare 1558. the space almost of a thousand yeares And after rose a new kind of Protestancie differing from that of King Edward the childs time Not as I said before through any miracles or strange vertue of the Preachers therof or their ouercomming their aduersaries in Disputation but against the will of all the Bishops and a great parte of the Nobilitie by the counsel of meere Lay men and the authoritie of a woman who was induced to make this change not for zeale of religion which shee little regarded but to assure her state the more because shee feared if she acknowledged the authoritie of the Church of Rome her birth might be called in question But of the cause maner and meanes of erecting Protestancie we shall speake more in the second booke Epilogue HItherto gentle Reader thou hast heard 53. Princes of England successiuly beleeuing and professing the Rom. Catholick faith besides 70. and more others who reigned ouer certain partes of England whiles it was deuided into diuers Kingdoms whose names onely I will here set downe Kings of Kent 13. Ethelbert Edbald Ercombert Egbert Lotharius Edricus VVithâ—ed Edbert Edilbert Alriâ—us Edilbert-pren Cuthred and Baldred Kings of the East Saxons 9. Sebert Sigebert Sigher S. Sebba Sighard Senfred Offa Sclred Swithed Kings of Eastengland 13. to wit Redwald Carpwald S. Sigebert Egris Anna Ethelere Ethelwald Adulph Elwald Beorna Ethelred Saint Ethelbright S Edmund kings of middle England 17. Namely Peda Vulpher Ethelred Coenred Ceolred Ethelbald Bernred Offa Egfert Kenulph Saint Kenelm Ceolwulph Bernulph Ludecan VVithlof Bertulph Burdred Kings of the Northpart of England 18. Edwin Saint Oswald Oswin Oswi Egfrid Alfrid Ostred Kenred Ostrie Ceolwulph Egbert Ostwuld Mollo Alred Ethelbert Alswald Ostred Athelred and some kings also of the South Saxons Consider I pray thee now the number of these kings which is aboue 120 far aboue the smallest number of two Protestant Princes Consider their sex and age who almost all were men and of mature yeares VVheras of the Protestant Princes one was a childe the other a woman Consider their wisdome and valour in which they were inferior to no Princes in Christendome Consider their vertue which was so great as there are more Kings of Ingland Saints than of all Christendome besides Consider the end for which they first embraced the faith which was nether to enioy their lust nor to get any Church goods nor to assure their temporall state but to gaine heauen Consider the Counsellors whose aduise they followed herein were not ignorant and laye men but vertuous and learned Diuines Consider the motiues which drew them to the Catholick religion to witt rare vertue great learning admirable miracles of their first preachers Finally consider how long they continewed in their faith to wit almost a thousand yeares and how almost in euery Kings time here liued some notable men who with rare vertue and miracles haue confirmed their faith Consider I say all this and then iudge whither the Catholick religion of so many and so worthie Kings or the Protestant faith of one Child and one woman be more likely to be good and to come from God Can we thinke that so many Princes of mature yeares and iudgment should be blinde rather then one child a woman that these could see that in so few yeares which all they could not perceaue in a thousand That these two should hit vpoÌ„ Gods truth for temporall endes rather thaÌ„ they for spirituall That that should be
founder of their Church and consequently that their religion and Church is a deuise and inuention of man Wherupon what will follow euery one seeth And as Luther was the Author of Protestancy in Germany so also from him it spred into England and other Countries not only by means of his books but also by his and his scholers Melancthon Pomeran others particuler letters written to English men and by the example of the German ProtestaÌ„ts which as Stow saith King Henry 8. followed in reiecting the Pope And finally because Tindal who is termed the Apostle of England went as Fox saith pag. 983. Tindal the Protest Apostle of England taught by Luther into Germany and there had conference with Luther Wherupon the said Fox saith pag. 1013. that from Germany Luthers Gospell began to spread his beames here in England And so wee may iustly account Luther the Author or founder of ProtestaÌ„t religion in our English Nation Protestancie came out of Germanie into Engl. And howsoeuer some will obstinatly deny against all the forsaid profes that Luther was the Author of their religion but it was forsooth before Luther though they know nether where nor in whom nor can produce any witnes yet neither doth any nor can any deny K Henrie â— in Sledan lib. 8. fol. 1â—2 saith Protestant came into England out of Germaniâ— but that this late reuolt of our English Nation from the See of Rome came originally from Luther as the vnion ther of to the said See aboue one thousand years agoe proceded from Saint Austin which sufficeth me to compare the vnion in faith of our English Nation with the See of Rome with the disunion therof VVhat is shevved of luther the like may be prooued of Calvin or anie other Sectmaister of our time Besides our ministers say Luther differeth from theÌ„ in no substantiall point Iuel Apol Feild of Church Reinolds Confer VViclef no Protestant in their two principall Authors S. Austin and Martin Luther And thus hauing shewed that there was no Protestant liuing ether in England or other wher when Luther began let vs see whether ther had bene any in England in times past CHAP. II. That VVicklefe and his followers were no Protestants 1. ALbeit Protestants challeng some few others who liued about Wicklefs time yet because their greatest hope is in him and his followers in so much that Doctor Fulke answere to a Counterf Catholick pag. 24. saith that he weeneth that we will not deny VVicklef to haue bene of their Church I will for breuity sake omit the rest 1 VViclef knevv not so much as the foundatioÌ„ of Protestancie and shew that euen Wicklife and his companie were far from being Protestants First because to hold iustification by only faith is as is before shewed lib. 1. cap. 21. by generall consent of Protestants the head the soule the foundation of their Church and religion And as Luther saith Praefat Epist ad Galat. As many as hold not this doctrine are either Iewes Turkes Popish or Hereticks But Wicklef and his mates held not iustification by only faith VViclef held not iustification by onely faith For as Melancthon cheefest scholler to Luther writeth Epist ad Fred. Micon inter Epist Zuinglij pag. 622. He nether vnderstood nor held the iustice of faith Besides nether Wicklef nor any of his followers were euer accused by any of the Catholick Inquisitors of those times of that point albeit as Fox saith pag. 750. their inquisition was so strait that no article could be mentioned amongst them but it was discouered Moreouer many of Wicklefes bookes are yet extant and neuertheles no Protestant hath yet found this their fundamentall Article of iustification by only faith in any of his bookes How then could Wicklefe be a Protestant who knew not so much as the head soul and foundation of Protestancie 2 VViclef holdeth diuers things condemned by ProtestaÌ„ts 2. Secondly Wicklef held diuers things which Protestantes condemne as that if any Bishop or Priest be in deadly sin he doth neyther order consecrat nor baptize which Fox pag. 400. sayth can hardly be defended See more of his Articles in Concil Constanâ—â—â—n And that so long as a man is in deadly sin he is no Bishop ot Prelat in the Church of God That temporall Lords may according to their ovvne vvill and discretion take avvay the temporall goods from the Church men vvhensoeuer they do offend which articles Fox pag. cit defendeth no otherwise then by saying that preaduenture they vvere not so strictly ment of him as they were gathered Moreouer Fox pag. 414. amongst other articles of Wiclefe citeth these To enrich the Clergie is against the rule of Christ There is no greater Heretick or Antichrist than the Clerke who teacheth that it is lawfull for Priests and Leuits of the lavv of grace to be endued vvith teÌ„porall possessions To which Stow Anno. 1376. addeth this other That neither King nor any seculer person could giue any thing perpetually to any person of the Church Further more as Fox hath pag. 392. he extolled the perfection of pouerty of the begging Friers and as Stow saith l. cit adioyned himselfe to them And the cause why he inueighed against the Church was as there Stow saith because he had bene depriued by the Archbishop of Canterb. of a benefice that he vniustly as was said was incumbent vpon VVhy VViclef impugned the Cath. faith Lastly Fox pag. 410. setteth downe a letter which he wrote to Pope Vrban 6. Anno 1382. which was about three yeares before he died wherin he confesseth the Pope to be Christs Vicar on earth and addeth thus If I haue erred in any of thes points I will submit my selfe to correction euen by death if necessitie so require Diuers other points which Protestants detest are collected out of his books by the Author of the Protestants Apologie for the Roman Church pag. 106. And more of Wicklefs wicked life and doctrine you may see in walsingham histor pag. 188 206. 302 ypadig pag. 139 142. 3. 3 ProtestaÌ„ts refuse VViclef PaÌ„taleon Melancthon Thirdly diuers Protestants refuse VVicklife for one of theirs and account him an Heretik As Pantaleon Chronall pag. 119. placing VViclife amongst Hereticks saith thus of him VViclife vvith the Lollard preacheth his heresie in England And the foresaid Melancthon epist cit I haue looked saith he into VVicklefe vvho maketh a great adoe about this controuersy of the Eucharist but I haue found many other errors in him by vvhich vve may iudge of his spirit Surely he neither vnderstood nor held the iustice of saith He foolishly confoundeth the Gospell and ciuill affairs nor perceaueth that the Gospell giueth vs leaue to vse the pollicie of all nations He laboreth to proue that Priests shold haue no proprietie He vvill haue no tithes paid but to those that teach He sophistically and very seditiously cauilleth of ciuill dominion In like manner he sophistically cauilleth
He fel in loue with M. Anne Bullen daughter to Syr Thomas Bullen who not cōdescending to his lust vnles he made her his wife he made earnest suit to Pope Clement to be diuorced from Queene Catherin daughter to the King of Spaine with whome he had bene maried 20. yeares and had had by her diuers children vpon pretence that she had bene maried before to Prince Arthur his brother But the Pope taking great deliberation and longe time in the matter King Henry in the yeare 1531. not vpon any dislike of the Popes religion but vpon occasion of delay as both Cooper and Stow say in their Chronicles made by the Pope in the matter of his diuorcement displeasure of such reports as he heard had bene made of him to the Court of Rome thirdly pricked forward by some coūsellers to follovv the exāple of Germās caused proclamatiōs to be made in the 29. of Septēber forbidding all subiects to procure any things from the Court of Rome And not content with this to spite the Pope more he compelled the Clergy the same year to giue him 130. thousand poūds with the Title of the headship of England K. Hen. diuorced from his first vvife after he had maried a second so far forth as the word of God did permit And in the year 1533. of his own authority he married Anne Bullē a good wile after made Cranmer diuorce him frō his former wife than liuing For which vnchristiā proceeding being excōmunicated by the Pope he was more enraged And therefore in the year 1534. Protestāts brag of procuring the title of the head of the Church to K. Henrie by Act of Parliamēt made him self head of the Church which title Barnes a Protestāt saith as Fox recordeth that the K. got by his his fellowes labors And Tindal the Apostle as Protestāts cal him of Englād who thē liued writing An. 1533 to Frith of K. Hēries intentiō against the Pope Clergy saith thus in Fox p. 987 I smell a Counsell to be takē litle for the Clergies profit in time to come VVhy K. Henr. reuolted from the P. out of Tindal But yow must vnderstād that it is not of pure hart for loue of the truth but to auēg himself to eate the whores flesh drink the marow of her bones which because it is vrittē somwhat enigmaticaly K. Henr. forsooke the P. not for loue of truth but for spite and couetousnes Beginning of Protestancie in England An. 1530. Counselars therto laie men Motiues spite and Cauetousnes Fox expoundeth in the margēt thus eating the vvhores fleshe is to spoile the Popes Church only for the pray spoile therof Thus yow see it euident euē by the confession of Protestants both the yeare when K. Henry 8 began to reuolt frō the Pope To wit 1530. his Counsellers therin to wit no Bishops nor Diuines but Laymen who hoped as they were to be partakers of the pray And his motiue ther vnto not dislike of the P. religiō or like of a better but malice against his persō couetusnes of the Church goods And out of these two foūtains haue sprōg since all the Protestācie of Engl. which whether they were liker to be foūtains of Gods or the Diuels religiō I leaue to euery one to iudg 2. Protestancie quite altereth K. Henries procedings And as the motiues so his alteratiō were malice couetuosnes so his proceding after was euer cruell couetous blooddy quite differēt frō his procedings in the former time For wheras before in 22. years of his Regn he had bene gētle put none of his nobility to death besides the Duke of Buckingham Fearle of Suffolk for treason In 16. yeares after of six Queenes which he had he put away two wherof one died for sorow other two he beheaded the one for adultery the other for incest also a thing vnheard of befor in Enlgish Q. the fift he caused to be opened for to saue the child in her belly Bloudie proceding of K. Henrie after change of religion first Protest Queene of England executed for adultery incest Queens Cardinals Abbotts Dukes Marques Earles Lords Coūtesse Marquesse Rauin and the sixt he ment to haue executed for heresie Of Cardidals he beheaded one cōdemned an other brought the third to death with greefe and sorow Of Lords Abbots he hanged drawed and quatered six Priors fiue besids a great number of Priests Monks and Friers And of the Nobility he condemned one Duke to perpetual prison beheaded a Marquesse beheaded two Earles one Earles sonne and heire and fiue of his Vnckle 's all in one day beheaded six Lords and one Lords sonne and heire hanged one Lord beheaded one Countesse attainted one Marquesse and of knights gentlemen and others executed great numbers And for his couetousnes of Church goods besides the 130. thousand poundes exacted as before of the Clergy the very same yeare he suppressed the Hospitall of S. Iames nere to Charing Crosse Anno 1532. suppressed the priory of the Trinity in London Anno 1534. suppressed the houses of the Obseruant Friers in Englād and tooke to himselfe all fruits and tenths of all spirituall goods and promotions An. 1534. tooke the reliques and cheefest Iuells out of Monasteries Anno 1536. suppressed all religious houses to the value of 200. poundes and vnder and tooke all their lands and grounds The number of these houses saith Stow were 276. the value of their lands then 32000. pounds and more by the year The moueable goods as they vvere sould at Robinhood penorthes amonted to more thā one hūdred thousand pounds It was a pitifull thing saith he to heare vvhat a lamentation the poore people in the Countrey made for them For there was great hospitality kept among them and as it was thought more than 10. thousand persons Maisters and seruants had lost their liuings by the putting downe of those houses Anno. 1538. All Abbeis and religious houses were suppressed and S. Thomas of Canterbury Shrine pulled downe which was saith Stow built of stone aboue a mans hight The vpper part of timber which was couered with plates of gould damasked with gould wier which groūd of gould was again couered iewels of gould 10. or 12. croouped with gould wier into the said ground of gould Many of these rings hauing stones in them brooches Images Angels pretious stones and great pearles c The spoile of which shrine in gould and pretious stones saith he filled two great Chests the which six or eight strong men could do no more than carie one of them at once out of the Church By which one may gather the inestimable riches which King Henrie got by all Abbeis and Shrines Moreouer Anno 1540 he suppressed the knights of the Rhodes And finally An. 1505. all Chanteries Colledges hospitals were giuē to the K. And yet not content withall these Church goods VVhat mischeef one point of Protesancie brought
to England which were inestimable within two years after to wit An. 1540. imposed a great tax vpon both Clergy Layty as neuer was heard of before in England as yow may read in Stow other And withall coined base mony in great aboundance which was after called downe to halfe valowe Protestancie at first entrance vndid English men soules bodies goods houses Churches monuments Thus yow may see how Protestancie or rather one pointe therof to wit The deniall of the Popes supremacie altered this K. from a liberall and clement Prince to a most cruel couetous maÌ„ how it entred into our CouÌ„try not only with the losse of our Contrymens soules but also of their goods and liues made such hauock of meÌ„ weemeÌ„ of churches houses ancient Monuments stately buildings as if some fury had come out of Hel or somme mortall enemy had gon roging vp down our Contry ProtestaÌ„ts vvish of Geneua and Beza Surly who well considereth this may say of ProtestaÌ„cy as BaÌ„croft in his suruey c. 3. saith of Geneua It had bene better for this IlaÌ„d if neuer English maÌ„ nor Scotish maÌ„ had bene acquainted there And of Luther as he c. 8. saith of Beza those Churches that followe Bezas humor may iustly wish he had neuer ben born And the DaÌ„gerous Positioner l. 1. c. vlt. saith he thincketh the Scottish Ministers wrought more mischeefe in that Country in 30. years thaÌ„ the P. of Rome had done before in 500. 3. Miserable successe after Protesancie Finally the succes which this King reaped by his alteration was most miserable For wheras before he was loued of English-men at home and feared of strangers abroad after this change made he was secure of neither For first Lincolnshyre men rose against him to the number of 20. thousand Commotions streight after Yorkshier men to the nuÌ„ber of 40. thousand And these insurrections being appeased the Yorkshier men twise after attempted an insurrection And from abroad he was accursed of the Pope and stoode in continuall feare that some forreigne Prince would inuade his Land Prophetie of F. Peto And as Frier Peto then tould him to his face openly in the Pulpit at Greenwich that if he proceeded in his course it woule befal to him as it did to Achab. that doogs should lick his blood there should not be one left of his issue to pisse against a wall The first wherof was seene to be fulfilled after his death when the lead wherin his body was wrapt whilst in the carriage therof to Winsor it stood in the ruins of the monastery of Syon broke and his blood ran out which the doggs lick vp as a graue writer reporteth out of their mouth that sawe it and the second we all now see to be accomplished 4. Catholick religion thus maimed in one point by King Henry was after his death heere turned into Protestancy First in K. Edwards time and after in Queene Elizabeth reigne But who considereth by what authority by what meanes whose procurment it was done A child first and after a vvoman authors of Protestancie in England may iustly think that it was not wrought by God For Protestancie was set vp not by the authority of any man but first by the authority of a child of 9. yeares ould scarce come to the vse of reason and not fit to gouern himself and after by the authority of a woman Meane onely vvil and teror The meanes by which it was set vp was nether miracle nor extordinarie vertue of the first preachers of it or their publick confuting by disputation their aduersaries as Catholick religion was set vp by S. Austin Frocurers laie men but meerely the will of the Protector in King Edwards time and of the Qeeene in her time and the terror of lawes Which meanes are more seeming as befitting Turkish than ChristiaÌ„ religioÌ„ And lastly the procurrers of this change were not Bishops or Diuins but ether wholly Laymen ignorant of Scripture diuinity against the will of all the Bishops as it was in Queene Elizabeths time or principally Lay-men against the consent of the best learned of the Pastors as in K. Edwards time And how little these men cared for religion but euen against their conscience sought their owne aduancements appeareth by the Duke of Northumberland a principall Doer in the alteration in K. Edwards time who stuck not to tell euen in that time to M. Anthonie Browne after created Vicount Mountaigue as I haue often heard of his honorable and vertuous Lady lately deceased D of Northumb confesseth that against his conscience he set vp the nevv region that he knew the Roman religion to be the truth but yet said he since we haue begon with this new run God run Diuel we wil go forward And that religion was but a colour of his ambitious pretences is also euident by what Stow writeth of him For fiâ—st he repeateth his Oration to the Lords wherin he saith that Gods cause and the preferment of his new word was the originall grownd of proclaming Queene Iane Sleidan lib 25. An. 1553. and after reciteth his words at his death where he professeth the Rom. Catholick faith and professed that he did not for hope of life but for conscience and acknowledged the euils then hapned to England to haue comen by the new religion By this iudg of the rest and now let vs return to Luther CHAP. VII That Luther was ignorant or meanly learned 1 Luthers yong years 1. THat Luther was but meanly learned wheÌ„ he first begaÌ„ ProtestaÌ„tisme I wil proue many waies First by his yong years for he was but 34. years ould when he began this new doctrine At what yeares men haue rather the ground of learning 2 Studied in no famous vniuers Fox p. 770. than are any way excellently learned Secondly he studied in no famous vniuersity nor vnder any notable Maister For the chefest place wher he studied was Erphord in Germany a place of no name and his Maisters names are so obscure as they are not knowne vnles we reckon his black Maister wherof we shall speack heerafter I might also adde that he was brought vp in a monastery because D. Whitak cont Dur. p. 733. saith what can we expect out of Monasteries but Monkish superstitions vnlearned 3 Corporal impediment of studie Thirdly he had a very great impediment of studie For tom 2. pag. 22. thus he writeth I dare not read two whole leaues togeather nor two or three lines of a psalme nor looke vpon any thing long For streight I haue a noise in my ears that I am faine to lay dovvne my head to the forme 2. Fourthly I proue Luthers ignorance by his doctrine For as Feild lib. 4 of the Church c. 24. graunteth His ignorant doctrin Luther made question of S. Iames epist of others Wittak cont Dur. p. 12. saith he vvrote disgracefully of it p. 20
other to Ministers Iudg then good Reader what kind of orders they haue if they haue any by their owne verdit Ministers vtterly shame their religion to wit impious prophane horrible and sacrilegious Iudg also what is to be thought of them and their religion who hitherto haue and yet doe permit Popish Priests that is as they accouÌ„t slaues and shauelings of Antichrist and enemies to Christ prophane and mere laie men yea impious sacrilegious no way degraded or new ordered of them but but by vertue only as they speak of their greasing of the Romish Antichrist the mortal enemy of Protestancy by power of their prophane impious sacrilegious orders to be sufficieÌ„t Ministers of their word and sacram O impious Antich word which can be sufficieÌ„tly ministred by vertue of impious AntichristiaÌ„ orders Note ministers Can Antich order Christs lawful Ministers Shal his orders become Christs orders shall Antichrists shaueling slaues be sufficient Pastors for Christ Shall Christ be serued by no other officers theÌ„ such as ether mediatly or immediatly were made by Antichrist See Doue of Recusancie Luth. cont Anabapt Is Christ comen to beg orders at Antichrists haÌ„ds to receaue pastors of his making Can Antichrist giue spiritual supernatural authoritie And haue Christs pastors no other then what came from Antichrist o shameful Christian religion if this be christian religion which hath no bible or word of God but what came from Antichrist no sacrament but from Antichrist no preacher but from Antichrist no orders but from Antichrist no spiritual authoritie or iurisdiction but from Antichrist Sâ—e Suruey cap. 8 3. 1â— Dangor Posit lib. 2. cap. 13. what then maie we conclude but the religion is Antichristian And why shold ProtestaÌ„ts maruail to heare their owne brethren call their Bishops and Ministers Bishops and Ministers of the diuel enemies of God pettie Antichrists and such like sith all the orders they pretend they must deriue from the pope whom they all account the true Antichrist No true religion vvithout true calling and right orders God open the eyes of my deere Countrymen that as they partly see that their Ministers haue nether right calling nor lawfull orders so they maie also see that they haue no true religion which without pastors both rightly called lawfully ordered can not stand And thus hauing shewed how vnfit Luther was to be Preacher both for his life learning calling and orders now let vs come to his doctrine to see whether that be any whit better CHAP. XII That Luthers doctrine was contrarie to the vniuersall faith of Christendom in his time 1. THat Luthers doctrine was contrarie to the vniuersall faith of Christendom at that time I proue by many waies First by the condemnation therof by the cheefe heades spirituall teÌ„porall of the ChristiaÌ„ people of that time For Luthers doctrin condemned by P. Leo. 10. as Protestants confesse Leo 10. than Pope spirituall head of Christian people condemned it An. 1520. whose Bull therof is extant in Fox p. 1166. And not longe after Hieremie Patriarch of Constantinople head as he accounteth him self of the Greeke or East Church condemned their doctrin in a booke which is called Censura Orientalis By Heremie Patriarch of Constantinople wherin he saith ther doctrine was altogeather new and directly both against the Gospell of Christ By charles 5 Emper. Sleid. also lib. 1 fol. 3. setteth doune Emper Maxmil letters against Luther Sleid. lib. 3. fol. 30. 33. 50. 51. By K. Henrie 8 Sleid. lib 3. fol. 34. and right reason and calleth them Hereticks And in the yeare 1521. Charles 5. then Eemperor of Germany King of Spain Naples Sicilie and Sardinia and Lord of all the low Countryes first writ a letter to the States of Germany which is set downe in Fox pag. 778. in which he professed to pursue Luther and all his adherents by all meanes that can be deuised for to extinguish his doctrine And sone after directed a solemne writ of outlawrie against Luther and all them that tooke his parte commanding the said Luther to be apprehended and his bookes burnt Likewise the same yeare 1521. King Henrie 8. of England wrote a booke against Luther in which saith Fox pag. 780. By the French King Sleidan lib. 6. fol. 68. lib. 8. fol. 120. First he reproueth Luthers opinion about pardons 2. He defendeth the supremacy of the Bishop of Rome 3. Laboreth to refel Luthers doctrine of the sacraments And againe in the yeare 1523. writ saith Cooper in Chron. to the Princes of Germany against Luther And in the yeare 1525. as the same Cooper writeth he entred league with the French King to suppresse the sect of the Lutherans vvhich they thought to be no lesse dangerous than the Turkes power And Anno 1535. he writeth that six were burnt in Paris for Lutherans before the French King his sight And Anno t543 that the French King made strait proclamation against the Lutherans By Iames 5 King of ScotlaÌ„d And as for Iames 5. King of Scotland and Grand-father to his Maiesty Hamilton Confut. Caluin a Scottish writer testifieth that when King Henry 8. hauing fallen into one point of Lutheranisme promised to make K. Iames his heire if he would do the like he rather refused so great a profer than consent to his desire And behold the different reward from God of the two Kings King Henrie 8. issue is quite extinguished Note and Iames his royall progenie wee behould not only florishing but possessing King Henries crowme and Kingdome So hath God euen in thie life recompensed By the States of Suizerland Sleidan ib. 3 fol. 54 55. By the learned men of all partes of Christendome the religious zeale of that most Catholick King And as for Swizerland Fox p. 792. writeh that Anno 1524. the States of that countrie in their assembly Decreed that no opinion of Luthers should be tought priuatly nor openly and wrote to the men of Zurich and do much lament saith Fox and complaine of this new broached doctrine which hath set all men togeather by the eares through the occasion of certaine rash and nevv fangled heades and vvill bring destruction both to body and soule And as for the learned men of that age in all Christian Countries their detestation of Luthers doctrin is euident By vniuersities For first the Vniuersities of Louain and Colen condemned Luthers bookes as hereticall in the year 1520. And in the next yeare the Vniuersitie of Paris did the like Sleid. Engl. lib. 1. fol. 14. lib. 3 fol. 32. And in all Christian Contries almost the cheefest learned men wrote against him as Eckius Cocleus Gropperus in Germanie Silueuester Caietan Catherin in Italy Petrus a Soto Alfonsus a Castro Canus Turrianus in Spaine Clictoneus and others in France By a general Councel Bishop Fisheâ—and Syr Thomas More in England Driedo Tapper Erasmus in Flanders Hosius in Polonie
miracles For besides the testimony of the word of God which testified the miracles which we reade in scripture what waÌ„t they to be accounted true miracles that any other miracles had The Deedes were supernaturall The effect of them was supernaturall diuine vz the conuersion of Infidells The meanes of doing them holy to wit prayer to God The doers of them were Saints The testimonie of these Deedes are of many eye witnesses freinds and foes learned vnlearned holy and Wicked forrein and domesticall and coÌ„fessed of diuers which refuse S. Austins religion Than the which greater testimonie for miracles can not be required vnles we would haue God to speake from heauen And on the other side what prudent man is he that wil not iudg Luthers wonderments to be friuolous The things reported o him were naturall The testimonies for them are nether of eyewitnesses nor of enemies nor of Saints nor of great learned men nor are they confessed of any who refuse Luthers doctrine Yea they are denied by such as were both freinds and great scollers of Luthers Whie then should we beleeue them Nay whie should we not deny them CHAP. IX S. Austin and Luther weighed according to the Succession or continuance of their doctrine TRuly said Gamaliel Acts. 5. of the Christian religion then preached by the Apostles Si ex hominibus est consilium hoc aut opus dissoluetur Si vero ex Deo est noÌ„ poteritis dissoluere And in like sorte of hereticks said S. Paul 2. Timoth 3. Vltro non proficient And S. Austin in ps 57. compareth the Catholik faith to a Riuer which hauing a continuall spring euer floweth neuer waxeth drie heresie to a brooke rising vp on raine which while the raine falleth runneth boisterously and they who know not that it waÌ„teth a springe would iudg that it would last loÌ„ger than the quiet riuer See this proued l. 1. c. 14. seq ad fin l. 2. c. 1â— but as soone as it leaueth raining they see the water gon the brooke dryed Wherfor let vs see whither S. Aust or Luthers doctrin hath coÌ„tinewed longer in Engl. in their followers or rather we haue seene it alredy For. S. Aust hath had 69. successors in his Archbishoprick successiuly all of the same religion with him 53. kings of EnglaÌ„d besides diuers others as is before declared that when the Crown kingdome was twise violently taken from the Englishe-men by Danes Normans yet his faith was not taken from his successors Nor by so many so long desolations of the Danes many seuere lawes first by King Henrie 8. and then by Queene Elizabeth and so manie bitter torments hard banishmeÌ„ts streight confinments deep Dongeons could Iorns great â—ines Taxes and paymeÌ„ts bluddy deaths could it be rooted these thousand yeares oute of this land but that this day God be thancked S. Aust there are both noble ignoble clerks seculer religious men weemeÌ„ Children who not withstanding all lawes threats dangers will professe to hould the faith of their Apostle S Aust to agree with him in all points of religioÌ„ to honor that See from whence he came Much more vvold S. Austin haue forborne the Protest Church to refuse as he did to ioine in religioÌ„ with them who obserue not the maner as he said to the BritoÌ„s of the holy RomaÌ„ Apostolik Church In so much as not withstaÌ„ding all the lawes terrors ProclamatioÌ„s searches or paymeÌ„ts Torturs BanishmeÌ„ts executions which haue bene made these 50. yeares I B in his Taile of Tvvo leg Foxes c. 11 yet Ministers in their printed bookes dayly complaine of increase of Priests and Catholicks And one lately in his sermon at Pauls Crosse dedicated to the pretented Archb. of Canterbury and lyked of him saith pag. 79. Som. Collins that no bondage or hard measure can euer be thought able to suppresse or reclame vs. This this sheweth S. Austins worke to haue bene of God the water wherwith he watred the plants of his religion to haue an euerlasting flowing fountain from Heauen and the Church which he founded to be built vpon such a Rock as the gates of hel shall not preuail against it And that they which spurne against it do as S. Paule once did spurne against the pricke And on the other side Cranmer if he were as Fox saith a Lutheran in King Henries time it was but secretly And if he professed it in King Edwards time it was but for a verie short space And long since was there not one true Lutheran Protestant to be found in all England So soone was Luthers work dissolued so soone was his brooke growne drie And in steede of it runneth now Zuinglius or Caluins brooke which though it see me for the present to be ful and runne strongly yet if the Prince whose harte is in Gods hands would but ether disfancy it or at least withould his seuere haÌ„d from Catholicks yow should quickly see this ful brooke brought to a lowe ebbe and quickly dreaned and wax as dry as ether the brooke of Luther or the brookes of 300. Archereticks more wherof diuers haue runne far fuller and longer than ether Luthers or Caluins hath and now no signe of them is left Luther epist ad Albert Mogunt An 1525. forte doctrina mea iterum supprimetur yea scarce their names are knowne This Luther him selfe both forsawe and fourtould as is before declared l. 2. c. vlt. And Caluin also in his Preface before his Cathechisme in these wordes Of Posteritie I am so doutful as I dare scarce thinck therof For vnles God miraculously help from heauen me thinks I see extreme barbarousnes hang ouer the world And I pray God that a while hence our children feele not this to haue bene rather a true prophecie than a coniecture And if we mark we shall see that as Vipers broode killeth their Mother of whome they came So new haeresies destroy the ould from whence they sprange Thus the Puritan impugneth the Protestant and the Brownist vndermineth the Puritan Wherfor let all men that be careful of their saluation harken to S. Hieroms aduise saying to a Luciferian Haeretick I will tel thee my mind breefly and plainly That we should abide in that Church which founded of the Apostles contineweth to this daye For shall we doute saith S. Austin l. de vtil Cred. to put oure selues in the lap of the Church wich from the See Apoostolick by succession of Bishops in vaine Haereticks barking about yt hath gotten the hight of authoritie Epilog 1. THus we see most deerly beloued Contrimen that if we compare according to the true rules of prudence and wisdome the Roman Catholike Protest religion in their first founders here in our English Nation other for learning or vertue for missioÌ„ or orders for motiues to preache for vniuersalitie of religioÌ„ or confession of Aduersaries for miracles or succession and continuance the Catholik