vntrue by their owne Parlaments testifying that in the very Primatiue Church and allwaies it was often ministred in one kinde onely Then no commandment of Christ contrary ca be brought to condemne all Churches times and places for such practise 8. Their 31. Article of the one oblation of Christ finished vpon the crosse denyâ—ng against the whole Church of Christ in all ages and places and thereby depriuing God of all externall sacrifice contrary to scripture and all authoritie will not by the Rule of proportion giue more or so much honour vnto earthlie kings then Catâ—oliks doe giuing this tribute and Sacrifice to the king of heauen and all that is belonging or was euer giuen to their terrene Princes 9. Their 32. Articâ—e of the Marriage of Priests hath married this kingedome to many miseries it did not feele or know before The posteritie proceeded by such lawe or allowaÌ„ce hath brought vs to number hundreds of thousands more then Britanie or England if it had remained Catholike should haue euer seene Many thousands of these are left vnprouided for and not a few are turned or wrested out of their possessions to furnish these Ministers children many of whom also haue fallen to such extreame wants that many of them haue taken desperate courses which the Catholike practise and Religion would haue preuented 10. Their 33. Article Of excommunicate persons how they are to be auoided Differeth not froÌ„ Cathoâ—ikes but that Protestants commit the businesse of excommunication and absolution to such as Catholikes hold haue no power therein when both Catholikes and Protestants confesse that men assigned to such offices by Catholikes haue true lawfull and vndoubted authoritie 11. Their 34 Article Of Traditions of the Church is wholy Ceremonious by their owne expositioÌ„ and no man caÌ„ be so singular in this or any such matter but to thinke any particular Church or kingedome the more it agreeth with the vniuersall or most florishing Christian kingedomes to be more honourable and secure thereby then such as fall into Nouelties and singularities 12. Their 35. Article of homelies is nothing to this purpose And their 36. Article intituled Of Consecration of Biâ—hops and Ministers To whom they commit spirituall Businesse preaching ministring Sacraments and to excommunicate absolue and whatsoeuer in like kinde they take vpon them to practise is quite ouerthrowne by themselues before in their 22. Article where they saie that Order as they vse it Is no Sacrament or effectuall signe of grace and hath noâ— any visible signe or ceremonie ordained of God Then not receiuing or hauing grace or such spirituall power it cannot coÌ„ferre aÌ„d giue it vnto others or so exercise it especially in so many things as is required from truely and lawfully consecrated persons such as they acknowledg the Bishopâ— and Priests of the Roman Church to be 13. Their 37. Article intituled of the ciuill Magistrate doth giue to teÌ„porall Princes supreamacie euen in spirituall things and denieth all Iurisdiction to the Pope of Rome in thiâ— Realme in such affaires Of this sufficient is said before And euery equall minded man may easily see whether the temporall state of England was not more honourable noble powerfull and secure when the Popes Iurisdiction in spirituall thinges ruled here then now it is and euer since it hath beene and yet the Ritches and wealth which fell to our kings and Princes hands and commauÌ„de at such chang were as infinite and so great that king Henrie 8 to haue licence or assent to suruâ—y them to make vse thereby promised to speake in Protestant witnesses words He would create anâ— maintaine 40. Earles 60. Barons Edw. howe 's historicall pref in Henr. â— three thousand knights and fourtie thousand souldiers with skilfull Captaines and competent maintenance for tâ—em all for euer ouâ— of the auntieÌ„t Church reuenewes Neither should the people be any more charged with loane Subfidies and Fifteenes Since wâ—iâ—h time there â—auâ— bâ—ene more statuts lawes subfidies and Fifteenes then in fiue hundred yeares before Thus in the publicke Protestant Historie in the yeare 1614. dedicated to our king now the Prince Charles Since we haue heard and tasted in EnglaÌ„d more matters of this nature And yet if we should make but Robin-hoods penâ—worthes and estimate of what hath beene taken away from holy constant Catholikes for proâ—â—ssing their true and Apostolike Religâ—â—n in the Reigne oâ— Queene Elizabeth king Iames and king Charles euen since he married a Queene prosessing for herselfe Catholike Religion It will amount to more then would haue deliuered a farâ—e meaner king and kingedome then ours of England haue beenâ— accoÌ„pted from such complaintes of feares wants needs dislikes and variaâ—â—â—â— tâ—erein if God had well approued of such proceedingâ— and such means of proceeding against his Catholike SeruaÌ„ts our kings most faithfull 〈◊〉 14. And the spirituall Supreamacie assumed by oâ—r Princes king Henry 8. king Edward 6 and Queene Elizabeth confirmed againe in this Article had wrought so good effects in so short time within 4. yeares of Q. Elizabeths obtaining the Crowne that Protestants in such order or rather disorder and number denied teÌ„porall power in Princes here to put any Rebell or whatsoeuer most greeuious offender to death and they weÌ„t further affirming that Protestants might not fight in defence of their Countrie though the Prince commaunded it wherevpon they were enforced to declare in this Article in this maner against such Protestant Brethren The lawes of the Realme may punish Christian men with death for heinous and greuious offences Is it lawfull for Christian men at the commaundment oâ— the Magistrate to weare Armes and serue in the warrs And there were among them teaching and holding communitie of goods noâ— theft spoiling or Roberie to be punished no iustice or lawe to be executed or Oath to be taken in Iudgement all Courts and Consistories to cease as is euident by the two last Articles 38. and 39. thus following the former intituled Of Christian mens goods which are not common And thus declaring The Riches and goods of Christians are not common as touching the right Title and possession of the same as certaine Anabâ—ptists Protestants doe beast And the last â—9 Article intituled of a Christian mans Oath And thus enacting and declaring We Iudge thaâ— Christian Religion doth not prohibit but that a man may sweare when the Magistrate requireth in a cause of faith and charitie so it be done according to the Prophets teaching in Iustice Iudgment and truth This suffiâ—â—enâ—â—y witnesseth wâ—at goodly coÌ„mon-wealths-meÌ„ their Protestant Religion euâ—n 〈◊〉 Infancie thereof had brought forth in this kingdome THE IX CHAPTER That true and obedient Catholikes be the truest and most obedient subiects 1. And in conclusion to come to the particulare Sâ—ate and Regalitie oâ— our most honoured King Charles and king Iames before him There neuer were any Protestants in England in their times or before which so truely and ducifully carried themselues towards their Monarchicall true Title Right
Gospells from the shoulders of the â—nsecrated But this maketh not much to the â—rpose it being onely as I haue saied a Ceremonie and not essentiall to the Consecration of a Bishop and that true and vndouted Bishops were made before the Gospells were written Otherwise the wholâ— Church then euer after and now and eueâ— had wanted it and had no Ecclesiastical Order at all Which is the lamentable and desperate condition of such as persecute a truâ— Bishop and Priest for their Order and power thereby confessing their want both of thaâ— which is essentiall in this high office as alsâ— consecratours to performe it consecrat truâ— Priests or confer any Ecclesiasticall Ordeâ— or degree at all not the meanest in that kinâ— to any person 20. All Authors agree euen Protestants iâ— their Catalogues of British and English Biâ—hops that we had continuall succession oâ— such here in great numbers vntill Queen Elizabeth by her supreamacie depriued anâ— deposed them And to keepe it farre from thâ—â—â—me of an Innouation to haue one such Bishop Successour to so many if we haue thaâ— libertie in time of Persecution when Bishop are driuen from their Sees vsuall in histories to remember and honour them in Exiâ— and Persecution we haue still kept a Succesion of Bishops in or of this nation Of thoâ—â— which were depriued of their Bishop pricke we haue Richard Pates Bishop of worcheste who subscribed to the Councell of Trent hâ— being there present by this Title Richardâ— Patus wigornieÌ„sis Episcopus Thomas Goldwell Bishop Godw. Catal. of Bish. in Worcest in Ric. Pates in S. Asaph in Thom. Goldwell of Asaph liued at Rome 20. yeares after that deposing Thomas watson Bishop of Lincolne was committed to prison in the I le of Elie and died about the yeare 1584. Thus the Protestants themselues deliuer and moreouer they deliuer much praise and commendatioÌ„s of theÌ„ and all others our renowned Bishops 14. or more in number who were deposed and persecuted by Queene Elizabeth yea far more and greater theÌ„ they doe of those which were intruded into their places Before or soone after the death of Bishop Waâ—son of Lincolne Owen Lew is of this our Nation was consecrated Bishop of Cassan in whose life-time our most Illustrious Cardinall William Allan was honoured with that dignitie and consecrated Archbishop of Maâ—kâ—en who liued with these honours vntill the 16. day of October in the yeare of Christ 1594. â—n his time William Gifford was by Pope Clement the eight made Deane Ecclesiae Diui Petri Insulensis Of Saint Peters Church at Lile And afterward he was ordained Archbishop of Rhemes in Champaine in France where he lately liued And whilst he liued Archbishop both VVilliam of Chalcedon and Richard also who is now so persecuted were by highest Papall authoritie coÌ„secrated ad sent into England And what man of ordinarie knowledge Iudgement or vnderstanding will aduenture to saie but all these were renowned men as also diuerse of our renowned Priests most worthie of Episcopall honour aÌ„d dignitie in equall times honourably stiled and registred for all posteritie not onely as great glories of their CouÌ„trie England but the whole Church of Christ Therefore to haue one of such worthie men a Bishop in his natiue Countrie bearing for auoyding offence his Title of a place so farre hence which froÌ„ the first Conuersion thereof to Christ had 3. Archbishops aÌ„d many Bishops aboue 1400. yeares past should not in the new English Religion teaching the Church of God neuer wanted Bishops and acknowledging both him and all Catholikely consecrated Bishops and Priests to be true and lawfull Bishops and Priests vndoubtedly by right ordination be offensiue but desired such Order Function and dignitie being by their publike testimonies most needefull excelleÌ„t and honourable with all true Professours of Christian Religion 21. Thus we see a Succession of English Bishops though not all in England but in other CouÌ„tries some of them consecrated and remaining a thing not vnusuall in times of Persecution and bannishment of Bishops as in the great lights in their time of Gods Church S. Hilarius S. Athanasius S. Chrysostome and others loÌ„g time exiled yet thereby did not interrupt a continuall Succession in their Sees What least exception then can be taken against our renowned Bishop of Chalcedon for Order and degree so honourable and eminent by all testimonies for his owne worthines and worthily therefore to be had in high reuerence euen with his Persecutours he bringeth able witnesses with him his knowne loue aÌ„d honour to our king Queene and CouÌ„trie his owne holy life and conuersation his learned works and writings with all at home and abroad he hath euer piously and gratefully conuersed and with honour defended and iustified himselfe against Maleâ—olants Among all English Catholickâ— oâ— Protestants few are to be found which haue more defeÌ„ded the honour of our Soueraigne â—one more acceptable to his Maiesties frieds â—nd Allyes in marriage no maÌ„ among so maâ—y renowned Priests of England worthie of â—reatest honour in equall times adiudged so â—t to supply such place by that highest Paâ—or which hath shewed great care and loue four king Queene and hoped Posteritie â—nd Countrie And since Persecution and â—roclamation against him what could such a â—an in Persecution doe more then he hath â—one in decreeing and Ordering that all â—riests and Catholiks should daily with deâ—otion praie for our king Queene State and Countrie And both since the comming in of â—im and VVilliam of Chalcedon of happie â—emorie his Predecessour as likewise before â—e Catholiks of England haue bene and now â—e knowne to be the most loyall dutifull and liuing Subiects in our dearest Countrie of England THE VI. CHAPTER That our English Priests who teach alâ— things with the Apostolicall Religioâ— are truely coÌ„secrated worthie men anâ— are to be honoured and not persecuted 1. Hauing redeemed Episcopall Ordâ—â— and dignitie conferred by the Sâ— of Rome from all Imputation of wickâ— obloquies and made it knowne to be so higâ— and honourable we might spare all furthâ— labour for exemption and defence of Prieâ—â—lie Function seeing euery Bishop of neceâ—sitie must be a Priest and whatsoeuer of thâ— calling is noble and glorious in a Bishop must needs be such in Priests Episcopal hâ—nour and consecration addeth an higher aâ— greater worthinesse to him that was beforâ— Priest but cannot take away or diminish aâ— excellencie or renowne he had before Tâ— Protestants of Scotland doe confesse whiâ—â— all knowe that after Catholike ReligioÌ„ wâ— ouerthrowne there they had not any preteâ—ded Bishops before King Iames accordiâ—â— to his manner of making such gaue suâ— Titles to them And their Knoxe Buchanan Forbs Bale and others both of England â—nd Scotland are not ashamed to saie that â—efore the sending of Saint Palladius thither â—y Saint Celestine Pope about the yeare 430. â—lonckes who were onely Priests supplied â—he place of that dignitie with that People â—ut malice to Episcopall worthinesse and â—ower their owne
in the heauens and â—hatsoeuer yee shall loose on earth shal be loosed in â—e heauens God hath subiected to the hands of the â—riests the Regall head theaâ—hing vs that this Prince greater theÌ„ that The thronâ— power authoritie â—nd dignitie of Priests is aboue Regall this â—leth onely in things temporall the Priest â— heauenly The king of heauen hath giuen his power to his Priests and hath subiected â—e Regall head to thâ— hands of the Priests â—eclaring vnto vs that this is a greater Prince â—en he Neither hath he giueÌ„ such power vnto â—ngels or Archangels as to Priâ—sts Saâ—erdotibâ—â—â—â—um est vt potestatem habâ—ant quam Deus neque Chrysâ—st lib. 3. de Sacerdotio â—ngelis neque Archangelâ—s datam esse voluit Neque â—im ad illos dictum est Quaeâ—unque alligaueritis in â—rrâ erunt alligata in coelo Et quaecunque solueretiâ—â— terrâ erunt soluta in â—oelâ— It is giuen to Priests â—at they shall haue power which God would haue â—uen neither to Angells nor Arâ—hangeâ—â—s For it is not â—ed to them Whatsoeuer you â—hall bind vpon earth â—all be bound also in heauen and whatsoeuer you shall â—ose on earth shall be loosed in heauen The power â—f binding which is in Princes is onely ouer â—odies that of Priests ouer soules and extenâ—eth to heauen Habent terrestres Principes vinâ—li potestatem verum corpâ—rum solum Id autem quod Chrysoâ—â— ibideâ— â—â—o Sacordotum vinculum ipsam eâ—iam animam conâ—ngitatque ad coelos vsque peruadit Terreane Princes â—lso haue the power of fetters but of the bodie onely â—ut that which I saie the bonds of Priests toucheth the â—ule it selfe and passeth vnto the heauens This is the doctrine deliuered by Christ so expâ—â—nded both by the Grâ—â—ke and â—â—â—ine Church in Britaniâ— and all places with all persons all good Emperours Kinges and Princeâ— of England and which the whole Christian worlde haâ—e euer profâ—ssed and declared 17. And the world will witnesse euery where against persecuting England that the Cathâ—likâ— Pâ—iest and Clergie thereof be as leâ—â—ned â—â—ly religious and as saâ—â— fâ—â—m exception and eueâ— haue bene since they were persecuted â—â—mber for number as any â—â—â—giâ—â—â— all Châ—â—stian reâ—owned Naâ—ions And of all Engâ—â—â—h people they haâ—e most â—oâ—oâ—red â—nâ—â—east 〈…〉 offended their Pâ—inces or 〈…〉 Câ—â—â—crie Most of them be and 〈…〉 of noble or 〈◊〉 familiâ—â— and alâ—â—â—bred â—â— and discended that thâ—y haâ—e 〈◊〉 at home and abroad without 〈…〉 or huâ—e They 〈◊〉 left 〈…〉 places i◠〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Englâ—â—d 〈…〉 and all They 〈…〉 Bâ—shoprâ—cks 〈◊〉 or 〈…〉 but leaue 〈◊〉 to thâ—â—â—r 〈…〉 any 〈◊〉 Tribâ—â—es or 〈…〉 From their Aduersaâ—ies The Catholikeâ— of â—nglan◠〈◊〉 these â—o 〈…〉 more the Protestants doe 〈…〉 or many 〈◊〉 Presentations and 〈◊〉 which beâ—oâ—ged 〈◊〉 their â—o â—â—ll into the lapse for the Protestant Bishops to bestowe as thâ—y will Ouâ— Catholikâ— Priests haue no wiues or children to trouble the CoÌ„mon â—ealth withâ—ll Pariâ—heâ—â—nd pâ—aces of birth be not postered or charged with any â—uâ—h nâ—r Schoâ—â—erships or Felâ—owships in Vnâ—uersitieâ— which are not orâ—ained for Ministerâ— childrenâ— Tenanâ—s are â—ot put out of their liuings nor the Church Riâ—ches and liuings horded vp beggars made â—ut not releeued for any 〈◊〉 of Priests â—r Priests fauourers All that be of their acâ—uintance in Religion are instructed in dutie â—o God and Prince and be most true and â—utifull Subiectâ— to â—heir king â—n all occasioÌ„s â—hâ—se caÌ„not be the 〈◊〉 of a bad Religion 18. Their Religion vnder preâ—enâ—e whereâ—f they are presecuted they haue ofâ—eÌ„ in pubâ—shed bookes proued in euery point and â—rticle to be onely true and now doe coÌ„â—â— it â—â—t to pâ—eâ—se which will so demonstrate 〈◊〉 euery Article of thâ— Pâ—â—seâ—utours Reâ—ion euen by the Apostleâ— and Apoâ—olike men and Fathers of that age in â—hich they liued holy Scripturs and Proâ—stants themselueâ— and they haue often â—ade most earnest and huÌ„bâ—e petitions lateâ— pâ—blished in print to the Parlament 〈◊〉 publickly euen with vnequall condiâ—ons to themselues and their causâ—â—â— dispute â—d mâ—intainâ— all and euery part of the doâ—ine they hold and 〈◊〉 against the best â—arned Protestant Bishops or 〈◊〉 their Persecutours And yet if meÌ„ would or should speake doe and proceede consequently as they which takâ—â—pon them to be teachers instructours and Reformers in Religion of all men in all times and places ought and without vtterly disabling themselues therein are bound A Prieste or Bishop that saieth Maâ—se absolueth penitents or reconciâ—eth men to the Catholike faith by power authoritie or Iurisdiction from Rome is no more guiltie of so â—ermed treason by the ParlameÌ„t Protestant Acts and lawes then all other Ecclesiasticall ParlameÌ„t an 〈◊〉 Elizab. Statute 2. Parlam 1. Iacob Parlam â— Carâ—li personâ— dâ—acons or others inferiours Religious of what name title or degree soeuer as SubdeacoÌ„s Acolythists Exorcists or others wanting all such power as is euident by that oâ— Queene Elizabeth receiued and prosecuteâ— by king Iames aÌ„d king Charles Priests therefore are not or should not be so prosecuteâ— for their Priestlie functions God forbyd any English minded man or louer of Englanâ— should thinke or wish it a thing so penall anâ— capitall for any InhabitaÌ„t of England or English man to be borne abid or remaine in hiâ— beloued natiue Countrie of England thougâ— he weâ—e a meaner and more vnworthie maâ— then any meanest Priest of England is 19. The Protestants thus deriue our Clergâ—â— Succession Thâ— first Parlament of Qâ— Câ—mbd Annal pag 36. â—â—izabeth being ended the Oath of thâ— Queens supreamacie was proposed to the Catholike Bishops and Ecclesiasticall Persons many as refused to sweare were depriued their benefices dignities and Bishopriks â— Rulers of Churches 50. Prebendaries 5. â—isters of Colledges 12 Archdeacons 12. â—anes and 14. Bishops all that then â—emaiâ— except one Anthonie Bishop of Landaffe â— calamitie of his See and â—ome commitâ—ed prison in the Tower Fleete Marshallea â— kings Bench. How reuerend and learned â—n those of our Clergie then weâ—e and they â—ch immediately ioyned with the and coÌ„tiâ—d a SuccessioÌ„ of renowned Clergie Priests â— memorable bookes and writings of very â—y of them in defence of Catholike Reliâ—n ther honour therby registred among â— must worthie writers and their glorie in whole Church of Christ are warrant to posteritie I am an vnworthie witnesse â— many older and of more frequeÌ„t conuersaâ— with Priests then I can better testifie that â—hin 25 yeares of the Reigne of Queene Eâ—beth when so many from our Seminaries â— come hither that at one time there were â— of them Prisoners in the Marshallea and â—y of them put to death There were then â—y of Queene Maries Priests depriued and â—secuted by Queene Elizabeth still liuing â— labouring here in this holy cauâ—e and â—st of them were very learned as they were â— which were sent from our Seminaries to â—plie their number and ioyne with them as â—ers published bookes from them their
God with men and he will dwâ—ll with them And they shall be â—is people and he God with them shall be their â—od And God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes and death shall be no more nor mourning nor crying neitâ—er shall there be sorrow any more which first things are gone All you shall or can giue or raâ—her lend for such a recompence of sure Inheritance for euer was giuen you by him that for but lending him the same againe for a time will with so great honour returne you all againe yâ—a an huÌ„dred for one Omnis qui reliquerit domuÌ„ velfraâ—â—es aut sorores aut Patrem aut Matrem aut vxoâ—em aut filios aut agros propter nomen Matth. 19. meum cenâ—â—plum acâ—â—piâ—t vitam â—â—ernam possidebit Euâ—ry one that haâ—â— lâ—ft house or bretherne or sisters or father or mother or wife or childrne or â—andâ—â— for my sake shâ—ll â—eâ—eiue on hundreâ— fold and shall possesâ— life euerlasting 3. You that be great and Noble and Noble Cathoâ—â—kes be not troubled â—or not enioying such â—â—mpoâ—all and fading honours in Court or Countrie which your equals or inferiours enâ—oye not being of your Religion but rather pâ—rsecuting it are exalted or that you haue lost or let any such for this holy cause If there was danger you could not exercise â—uch without offence to God or hurting his Sâ—ruants it is your honour and securitie in conscience to want or loose them Qui amat pericuâ—um in illo peribit Coringrediens duâ—◠〈◊〉 3. â—â—as non habebit successâ— He that lâ—ueth danger shall peâ—ish in it A â—eart that goeth two waâ—es sâ—all not haue Successe And God hath prouided better Lâ—euâ—enanciâ—s and Offices for you in a bettâ—r kingedome Iudicabunt Nationes domâ—nâ—â—untur 〈◊〉 3. populis regnabit Dominus illorum in perpetuum They shall iudge Nations and haue dominion ouer peoples and their Lord shall reigne for euer Let it be your comfort that neuer had the that if you had enioyed such you would as your holy Religion teacheth you haue performed them to you vttermost power to the honour of God our king and Countrie as they which had and lately loste them did euer most faithfull and dutifull to our king in his commaunds and as readie as any Protestants to doe him all seruice and supplies they could by themselues or other meanes they might or were able to procure and more then diuers Protestants did well approue or commend in them for such duties which all Catholikes without exception generally and vpon all occasions in their degree most readily and willingly performed Let it not be a griefe vnto you that you are driuen out of Parlaments whose chiefest and onely members you with the Catholike Bishops and some priuiledged Abbots were with the kings of England long before any howse of Commonâ— was in power Your lawfull and iust refusalâ— of an Oathe made and as it was expounded by king Iames by greatest spirituall power vnlawfull to be taken giueth you lawfull excuse from all assent to Acts of persecution England euer was a noble Nation your Auncestors and of vs all that be truely English came by all Antiquities from a most honourable people and progenitors Saint Gregorie the great so called and in great parte our Apostle and Father in Christ compared them not onely for name but endowments of nature vnto Angells and the liues and conuersation of many thousands of your holy Auncesters when England was holy England were Angelicall and you now with other Catholikes made for profession of your faith a spectacle to the world Angells and men shall 1. Cor. 4. be for your rewarde thus perseuering as Angells Matt. 22. of God in heauen sicut Angeli Dei in caelo Your renowned Priests haue giuen you example in the highest degree of perfection in this kinde and cause in forsaking all at once and with his Apostles following Christ with an Ecce reliquimus omnia secuti sumus te Behold we haue Matt. 19. lâ—fâ— all things and haue followed thee So depriued and persecuted onely in England because we are Priests and borne in England Be not afraide to followe such guides with some hazard losse or diminution of your honours esteeme with carnall mindes Ritches and reuenewes for the like cause aÌ„d for that you are Catholikes of EnglaÌ„d For others both Priests and Catholikes not of England are otherwise entertained here in England not onely â—n times of peace but in times of open hostilitie betweene England and their Countries from whence they are of such by some some Ielousie might be made of English Priests and Catholikes no possible place is left to inuent the least suspition Our Priests haue so long and voluntarily professed pouertie and liued therein that no man of vpright Iudgment can thinke they would disorderly or vniustly seeke for Ritches with hazard of their friends And if his Maiesty should allowe to laie Catholikes which receiue no spirituall good from Protestant Ministers to paie Tithes to others of their Religion this would not be offesiue to God nor hinder but rather further a noble great Nation hauing now more neede of chaste then married of such sorte 5. If we had not preferred our loue of England before all earthly things no doubt but both the Bishop of Calcedon and diuers renowned Priests of England might haue founde farre greater amitie fauour and wordly preferment in other parts then they could euer expect or looke for in their owne Countrie We neuer had hand or singer in these late warrs and contenuons or euer â—aue the least occasion of any daunger difficultie or hazard our dearest Countrie is subiect or exposed vnto as diuers publick Proâ—lamations and other Protestant Relation publish We neuer were of Counsaile or acquaintance with any great Councellour oâ— Courtier dead or liuing full at this time oâ— any such which as many Protestans or â—uritans haue thought did not good offiâ—â—s to this kingedome We were and are 〈◊〉 to all meÌ„ or womeÌ„ Courtiers or others which haue bene suspected to haue furthered the driuing â—â— the French Bishop Priests Ladies and others from the Queene and placed theÌ„selues â—â—â—riends for them the beginning of daba ewith France We are as Innocent of the breath with Spaine either Maâ—â—iage or peace oâ— with any other Prince We haue not disturbed it at â—ome or abâ—oad The rebellion of the Netherlanders Hungarians Austrians 〈◊〉 Luâ—atians Sileâ—ians Moranianâ— French and whatsoeuer Protestants against their Princes were by Protestants not Catholiks allowing but allwayes condemning them As in England in all oppositions of Parlamentarie Protestants against our king hindering or witholding duties from him euen in his times of needs and wants the Catholiks euer yelded to and most readily performed all allthough by Parlament they were charged with double subsidies without any freedome or release of any penalties for Religion All Priests of the Clergie Bishop and others haue vtterly condemned the deniers
these Westerne parts that both Catholik and Protestant Antiquaries thus deliuer vnto vs â—raediâ—abat ad flumen vsque â—ordensâ— ad mare Sâ—oâ—um vbi Caledonios Athalos Horestos ac vicinaâ—m Ion. Baâ—â—â— descript Briten in 〈◊〉 Albaniae regionum Inâ—olas docendo monendo â—r ando ad veritatis obseruationeÌ„â—nstigauit Ex dâ—sâ—ults suis quosdam ad Orchades Insulas ad Norweâ—â— Islandiam misit vt â—orum instructioniâ—us fiâ—i quo que lumen recipeâ—ent Nam in Elguensi Collegio â—centos sexaginta quinque literatos viros ad id â—mper paraâ—os habebat praetâ—r reliquos alijs exercitijs â—ditos He preached aâ— farre as to the riuer of Forde â— the Scotish sea where he stiâ—ed vp the Caledoâ—ns Athaliâ—ns Hoâ—ests and the Inhabitaâ—ts of â— neighboring kâ—ngdoms to Aâ—bion vnto the obseruaâ—n of â—â—ueâ—h by teaching admonishing and 〈◊〉 ing â— sent some 〈…〉 disciples to the Iles of Orâ—i ades to â— waye and â—sland that 〈…〉 instruâ—â—ions they 〈…〉 receiue the light of â—aith For in â—he Collâ—dge â—â—â—gue he â—ad 365. learned â—â—n alwaise readie for â— purpose besides others imploted in other exerâ—â— Saint Asaph his scholler a Bishop of â—â—tanie who as Protestants saiâ— from Roâ—n power Auâ—hâ—â—itatem â—nctâ—nem acceâ—it â— tooke authoritâ— and 〈◊〉 Sucâ—ceded hâ—m â— that great charge and gouernment of at Apostolike Colledge in VVales This S. â—ntegern being by all accounts a Bishop â—0 yeares and disciple to S. â—â—â—uanus conâ—â—aâ—ed Bishop by S. Paâ—â—ad itâ—s who was senâ— ther from S. Celestine Pope in or about the are 431. must needâ— be liuing with Saint â—aph at or a litle before Saint Augustinâ—â—mâ—ning And as our Protestants saâ—e Saâ—â—â—aph ioyned with Saint Augustine So Saint Asaph writer of his maister S. Kentegerns liâ— proueth that S. Kentegern was at Rome whâ— S. Gregorie was Pope and submitted hiâ—selfe to him in all things and was approueâ— by him also in his Apostolike proceedings 16. In this time in the yeare 596. Saiâ— Augustine was sent Legate hither by the saâ— holy and learned Pope S. Gregorie who bâ— his supreame Pastorall power gaue him spâ—rituall authoritie ouer all Bishops and otheâ— here in these his owne words vnto him Bâ— tanniarum omnes Episcopos tuae Fraternitati commiâ—mus Beda l. 1. Eccles hist gentis Angl. c. 27. vt indocti doceantur infirmi persuasione reborâ—tur peruersi authoritate corrigantur We commit â— the Bishops of Britanie to your Fraternitie that the â— learned may be taught the weake by persuasioÌ„ strengâ—â—ned the wicked corrected by authoritie By this Papâ— power and authoritie all things were ordeâ— in the Church of EnglaÌ„d in S. Augustins tiâ— and all his Successours by the same autâ—ritie were setled in that Archiepiscopall Sâ— which he translated after 400. yeares froâ— London to CaÌ„terburie All those Bishops vâ— to the first Protestant Bishop called Mathâ— Parker who was made by Q. Elizabeth bâ— will and manner receiued Consecratioâ— Pall power and Iurisdiction from the See Rome and they swore obedience vnto it their owne Parker Godwin Ioceline aâ— others in the liues of them and those Yorke together with all Registers Recorâ— Annals and Antiquities doe prooue partiâ—â—arly In generall for this place it sufficeth in these Protestants publikely approued confessions to write it in their owne words Archbishop Parker being the 70. Archbishop after Augustine yet of all that number he was the onely man and the first of all which receiued Consecration without the Popes Bulls 17. They assure vs that vntill the 23. of King Henry the eight a ssuming supreamacie to himselfe euery Bishop in England swore â—uch obedience vnto the Pope Hoc Iuramentum â— singulis Episcopis Papae praestari consueuit Obediens â—ro Beato Petro Sanctaeque Romanae Ecâ—lesiae Domino meo Domino Papae suisque successoribus Papatum Romanum Râ—galia S. Petri adiutor ero ad retinendum defendendum saluo meo ordine contra â—mnem â—ominem This Oath was accustomed to be taken by â—uery Bishop I will be obâ—dient to S. Peter and to the Lord my Lord the Pope and to his Successours I will â—e an helpeâ— to hold and defend the Popedome of Rome â—nd Râ—tâ— of S. Peter against all men In the yeare of Christ 1536. and 23. of King Henry S. they â—are and the Statuts themselues so prooue Leges in Parlamento lataesunt de Rege supremo Ecclesiae Anglicanae Capite declarando de Clero Anglicano Regifulijâ—iendo Ne quid deinceps amplius Papae aut Romanae Cuâ—iae quot unque praetextu ex Anglia pendatur De Episcopis consecrandis alijsque quae Roma anâ—ea geâ—ebantur intra Regnum persierendis De Eccleâ—â—asticorum beneficiorum primitijs atque decimis Principi in perpetuum soluendis His legibus potentia Papalis quae nongentis amplius annis in Angliâ— durauis â—entidiâ— Lawes were enacted in the Parliament of declaring the King to be supreame head of the English Church of subiecting the English Cleâ—gie to the King That nothing heareafter vnder what pretence soâ—uer in England shall depend of the Pope or the Court of Rome Of consâ—crating Bishops and performing other aâ—â—airâ—â— within the kingdome which before were done at Rome Of paying pâ—rpetually to the Prince the fiâ—st fruites of Ecclesiasticall Benefices and Tiâ—hes By these lawes the Papall power which hath bâ—ne in forâ—â— for these nine hundred yeares did fall And this was â—o strang a thing and wonder in the world to see the supremacie of the Pope of Rome thus taken from him by a temporall Prince afâ—er so many hundreds of yeares continuance and a lay man to stile himselfe supreame head of the Church that his very flatterers themselues crye out Habetur Conâ—ilium Londini iâ— quo Eccleâ—ia Angliâ—anâ— formam potestaâ—â—s nullis aâ—te temporibus visum induit Henricus enim Rex caput iâ—sius Ecclâ—siâ— constituitur At London there is holden a Councell in which the English Church haâ—h put on a power which in no times past was seene For King Henry is constituted head of that Church So large testimonie haue we from our greatest Aduâ—rsaries witnessing that the Catholikes of England giue no other power or Iurisdiction to tâ—e Pope of Rome then he had euer without any inteâ—ruption And in this we haue â—he generall assent of all our Kings Princes Bishops and others and all the Christians in the world from the timâ— of Christ vntill long aâ—ter the greater part of King Henrie the eight his reigne No King against it but he whom the Protestant Sir VValter Ralegh sufficiently discribeth his young sonne King Edward the sixth of that name ouerruled by Protestant Protectours and Qâ—eene Elizabeth a woman King Iames wiser then any of them hath leâ—t it thus publickâ—y in open assembly declared by his Regall sentence The kings Resolution is that no Church ought further to seâ—erate heâ—selfe froÌ„ the Church of Rome either in doctrine or Ceremonies then she hath departed from herselfe when she was in her floâ—ishing
and best estate Wherfore as â—he Bishop oâ— Chalcedon and Catholiks oâ— England may not depart from the Church of Rome in this question So it will be a great wonder if King Charles and his Councell should thus persecute that which to them and all should be so honourable They may not persecute him for his Episcopall Order for that likewise is prooued the most glorious calling in the Church of Christ All English Parlamentarie Protestants confesse the Bishop of Chalchedon and all consâ—crated as he was by the Roman Order containing all and more then they vse and by most true and lawfull Consecratours to be an vndoubted true and lawfull Bishop And so it must needs be for whether we will follow the present Roman Order euer vsed here since Saint Augustins time before their new deuised forme of so called Consecration made by King Edward the Sixth a child and altered by his Sister Elizabeth Queene a woman or that which the Britans Scots and Irish vsed long before â—t is out of question by all that the Bishop of Chalcedon and euery one such is a true and most vndoubted lawfull Bishop hauing by due and true Consecratours whatsoeuer is contained or prescribed to be done in either of both which the new Protestant forme if they had true Consecâ—atours cometh short and wanteth euen in things essentiall both by all others and their owne iudgment and practise 18. The present Roman Order hath more though Ceremoniall then that of our BritaÌ„s Scots and Irish therefore I exemplifie onely in this and the rather to giue Satisfaction to our Protestants so extolling them for their Apostolik Religion neuer changed or altered as they saie Before S. Kentegern was consecrated Bishop all most 1200. yeares since this was their old vse and maÌ„ner herein as Saint Asaph his Scholler a Bishop and others prooue Mos in Britannia inoleuerat in Consecratione Pontificum tantummodo capita corum sacri Cbrismatis infusione perungere cum inuocatione Sancti Spiritus benedictione manus impositione It was an auntient custome among the Britans that in the Consecration of Bishops they onely annoynted them on their heads with holy Chrisme inuocation of the Holy Ghost Benediction and imposiâ—ion of â—ands This was done by consecrating Bisâ—ops And this was Mos Britonum Scotorum â— Hibernia The Custome of the Britans Scots and in â—eland In those times when Canons of Counâ—ells were not made of this matter or not â—nowne here by reason of great troubles in â—ese parts as our Antiquaries write and yet â—ey were excused as hauing true and essenâ—ally needfull Consecration Insulam enim quasi â—ira orbem positi emergentibus Paganorum infestaâ—onibus Canonum erantignari Ecclesiastica ideo Cenâ—ra ipsis condiscendens excusationem illorum admit tit â—haâ—â—arte Foâ— the inhabitants of the Iland being as were placed out of the world were ignorant of the anons by reason of the Continuall inuasions of the Paâ—ans and therfore the Ecclesiasticall Censure yelding â—nto them in this parte admâ—â—ted their excusation But â—ur Protestants cannot be excused being not â—gnorant but CoÌ„temners of the Canons and â—ot this onely but omitting that which by â—he custome of the Britans Scots and Irish â—he old Roman Order in that time as Alâ—uinus Amalarius and others 800. yeares â—nce terme it in their dayes was vsed then and is now all of them deliuering that â—oly vnction by true Bishops to be necessaâ—ie and essentiall euer naming the man to be â—onsecrated Bishop Bishop elect onely vntill Dienyâ—â—us Aâ—eop l. de Ecclâ—siaâ—t Hâ—erarchia â—hat vnctioÌ„ be ended and then Bishop coÌ„secrated â—piscopus consecratus Our Protestants tâ—eÌ„selues â—ublickly haue written ad warranted that â—aint Denys the Areopagite Vnctionem ponit expressè Doth expresely put vnction Anacletâ— wrote Bishopâ— are to be made by imposition of hanâ— Anacletus Epist 2. §. â— of Bishops and â—oly â—uction by the exampse of the Apostles because all saâ—ctification consisteth in the hoâ— ghoste whose muâ—â—â—ble power is mixed with hoâ— Chrisme and by this Râ—â—e sâ—lemne ordination is to â— celebrated Oâ—â— Protestants a â—o confesâ—e thâ— the holy Fathers both of the Greeke and Lâ—tine Church were thus coâ—ecrated Of Sainâ— Basile Vnâ—â—ionâ— sâ—câ—a adhâ—bâ—ta est â—â—dinatus He wâ— ordained by applying holy â—nnointing Of S. Gâ—â—gorie Nazianzen Me â—ontifiâ—em vngis So of â— Iohn Chrysostome and Saint Seuerus So â— Augustine Viâ—arius Christi Pontifex efficitur iâ— in capite vngitur imitaÌ„do illuÌ„ qui caput est toâ—iuâ— Ecclâ—siae per vnctionis gratiâ— sit ipse caput Ecclâ—siae sibi â—missae The Vicare of Christ is made Bishop aÌ„d therfâ— he is annointed on the head in imitatioÌ„ of him who the head of the whole Church and he by the grace the â—nnointing is made the head of the Chuâ—â— committed vnto him So Saint Gregorie Qui S. Gregor mag in c. 10. l. 1. Regum culmine ponitur Sacramenta susâ—ipit vnctionis quâ— ve ò ipsa vnctio Sacramentum est is qui prâ—mouâ—â—â— benè soris vngiâ—ur sâ—â—ntus virtute Saâ—raâ—eÌ„â—â— robâ—reâ—â— He that is pâ—aâ—ed in the top taâ—eth the Sacraments â— annointing bâ—causâ— the annointing it selfe is a Sacramâ— he that is to be promoted is to be â—nnointed well wiâ—l â—â— if he would be strâ—ngâ—hned within with the â—eâ—tue â— the Sacrament Anâ—â—â— this Tâ—â—e he adiudge the Epiâ—copaâ—l câ—nâ—â—â—â—ation of the Britanâ— Scots aâ—d Iâ—iâ—h â—â— be essentially valiâ—e S Saint Bede Amalâ—â—â—â—s S. Iuo Stephant Eduensis and other auntient writers and Expositours of holy mysteries 19. Concerning the Ceremonie of the Booke of Gospels laied vpon the Consecrated though Alcuinus saieth Non reperitur in Alcuinus lâ—b d◠〈…〉 c. â—â— â—uthoritate veteri neque nouâ sed neque in Romanâ â—raditione It is not found in authoritie either auncient â—â— newe yea not in the Roman tradition And Amaâ—arius Neque vetuâ— authoritas intimat neque Apostolica traditio neque Canoniâ—a authoritas Neither auncient authoritie neither Aposteliâ—all tradition nor Canonicall authoritie doth intimate â—ny such thing Yet we find this Ceremâ—nie to â—aue bene obserued in the time of S. Denis for â—n his booke of the Ecclesiasticall Hieraâ—chie â—e hath these words Pontifex quidem qui ad perfeâ—ionem Dionisiu◠〈…〉 virtutemque pontifice dignam euâ—â—iâ—ur vtâ—oâ—e genu flexo ante altare supra caput habet libros à to traditos manumque pontifiâ—is The Bishop indeede â—hich is eleuated to worthy perfection and vertue of a â—iâ—hop kneling on both knees before the Altar hath â—on his head the bookes giuen from God and the hand â— the Bishop Which Ceremonie is also vsed â—ily in the Catholike Church as is to be â—ene in the Rubâ—iks of the Roman Pontifiâ—ll for after the ring is put on the finger of â—e newe Consecrated Bishop this direction â—â—ntificale â—omanum de Consâ—cratione Elâ—cti â—n Episcâ—â—â—â— giuen Tum Consecrator accipit librum Euangelioâ—â— de spatulis Consecrati Then the Consecratour taâ—h the booke of the