Fulke They Protestants were often driuen into mountaines and desert places of the Alpes Apenin Hercinia silua and other corners of the world or els dispersed kept close in all regions of Europe Surueler The surueier of the pretended discipline c. 8. in this latter age saith he when after a long darknes it pleased God to restore vnto vs the light of the Gospel c. 4. All priests and people drovvned in Poperie from top to toe Priests of all sortes likewise the people all of theÌ„ together from the top to the toe were drowned in the pudles of Poperie And I pray you who was then a Protestant 3. But how long was this ignorance this darknes this drowning of Priests people in Poperie Fox in his Acts edit 1596. which edition I cite in this booke p. 767. Fox saith From 400. yeares heretofore and more the religion of Christ was wholie burned into Idolatrie And p. 390. About the yeare 1370. all the world saith he was in desperat estate and ignoraÌ„â—e of Gods truth ouershadowed the whole world there seemed in a maÌ„ner to be no one litle spark of pure doctrine left Again in his ProtestatioÌ„ befor his Acts. About the yeare 1215. 1080 Christian faith was exstinguished then the true visible Church began to shrink and keep in for fear And further pag. 138 In the time of King Edgar which was An. 954. and of the ould Monkes superstition began to creep into the Church for ignorance of free iustification by faith And yet further speaking of our Christian Kings from our first Christianitie vnto the yeare 800. he writeth thus pag. 120. How much are we Protestants bound to God for the sinceritie of his truth hidden so long to our Ancestors and opened now to vs. Protestantisme hidden to our Anceitors Ibid. They lacked our faith Thus Fox confesseth that the Protestants truth was hidden and vnknowne here for one thousand yeares almost Nay p. 138. he feareth no to write that Shortly after the time of Christ and his Apostles the Doctrine of Christian Iustification which pag. 770. he accounteth the onely principall origin of our saluation and pag. 767. the foundation of all Christianitie began to be forgotten Bale In like manner Bale an other great Antiquarie Centur. 6. cap. 69. calleth the time of King Richard 2. a darkish age And Centur. 5. cap 85. The age saith he of K. Edward 3. was couered with darknes of extreme ignorance And in King Henrie 3. time as he writeth Centur. 4. cap. 6. Holesome truth perished from earth And vnder K. Henrie 2. as he writeth Cent. 3. c. 14. Mannes life was corrupted vpon earth with Antichristian traditions So that all this time ther was no roome for Protestants on earth And yet further Cent. 1. pag. 69. From the yeare 607. saith he puritie of heauenly doctrin vanished in the Church And p. 65. After Greg. the first puritie of doctrine perished And Cent. 1. c. 74. Protestancie for a thousand yeares onely in Ideots and in holes From Phocas who liued An 602. till the renevving saith he of the Gospel by Luther the doctrine of Christ was for that space amongst Idiots and in lurking holes Doest thou hear Reader in whom and wher this new Gospel was for almost 1000. yeares together Napier Napier also in his Treatise vpon the Reuelat. pag. 145. Euen 1260. years saith he the Pope and his Clergie hathe possessed the outward and visible Church of Christians reigning without any debatable coÌ„tradiction Gods truth saith he p 191. 161. 156 most certainly note the word abiding so long latent invisible Behold this ProtestaÌ„t coÌ„fessing that their truth was inuisible for more than twelue hundred yeares Fulke yea Fulk in his Answer to a Counterfeit Cathol pag. 35. will haue the Church to haue decaied immediatly from the Apostles time And to conclude with Luthers testimonie as I began with it He Galath 1. fol. 27. Luther hath these words VVhen the light of the Gospel after so great darknes begaÌ„ first to appear And Galath 3. fol. 154. Of this difference taught by me betwene the lavv and the Gospel ther is nothing to be fouÌ„d in the books of the MoÌ„kes Canonists Scholemen Luthers doctrin not knovvne to the antient Fathers no nor in the books of the ancient Fathers And Galat. 5. fol. 271. This vvas coÌ„mon in these our daies befor the light truth of the Gospel was reueled 4. Thus you see it euideÌ„t by the coÌ„fession of Luther diuers other ProtestaÌ„ts both domesticall and foraine that their Church their faith religioÌ„ was inuisible and vnknowne to the world before Luther And this inuisibilitie of their Church before Luthers time do all ProtestaÌ„ts mantaine who affirme the calling or sending of Luther Caluin such like to preach to haue bene extraordinarie or onely from God because ether there was no protest church or ministrie of which they could be sent ordinarily or at least none such knowne to them And hervpoÌ„ may any maÌ„ of iudgmeÌ„t gather that indeed their Church religioÌ„ was not at all befor Luther For if it were not visible how came they to knowledg of it Or if as Fox saith in his Protest it was not reported in Histories how know they that it was Can they tell what was in times past without relatioÌ„ of those who theÌ„ liued vnles they pretend some such reuelatioÌ„ as Moyses had to know the CreatioÌ„ of the world Is it not a meere fictioÌ„ or imaginatioÌ„ such as euery new start vp Heretick can auouch Is it not a witles witfull assertioÌ„ to affirme that there hath bene euer such kind of people yet not to be able to name one maÌ„ of theÌ„ one place wher they were one witnes of their being Doth Gods word force vs to such poore miserable yea incredible shifts Or rather is it not wrongly vnderstood when we are compelled to inuent such shamefull shifts or els to confesse that Gods truth and religion was no wher in the world before Luther Iuel Surely to vse euen Iuels words in the like matter Articulo 2. diuision 8. It must needs be a straÌ„ge Church that had nether beginning nor ending no defender no reprouer no mouth to vtter or ear to hear it nor pen to write nor place to rest in Tertullian And we may say to such as Tertullian said to ould Heretiks VVho are you whence are you wheÌ„ came you VVher lurked you so long The meetings of witches though they be brought together by the diuel yet be often times seene Protestants for one thousand yeares more inuisible them Fairies The meetings of Fairies though they be spirits some times are discried And were there ProtestaÌ„ts these thousand yeares yet more inuisible than ether witches or Fairies were ther CoÌ„gregations of them yet nether seene heard or imagined of by the world Surely this kind of Church hath her being as Protest
and made 8. The religion of K. Edgar Kings to row him in a boate he setting at the sterne guiding it The RomaÌ„ religioÌ„ of this renowned K. is manifest For Fox l. cit Ingulph pag. 885. saith He was a great Patron of Monkish religion builded as some say as many Monasteries as there be sondays in the yeare or as Edner reporteth 48. pag. 156. Edgar was seduced by Dunstan who was drowned in all superstition and did seuen yeares penance at Dunstans apointment And pag. 161. and 169. reciteth an oration in King Edgar which also is in Stow pag. 111. wherin the King speaketh thus to the Clergy It belongeth to me to rule the lay people It belongeth to me to prouide necessarie things to the Ministers of the Church to the flock of Monkes Behould how he distinguisheth betwene gouerning lay people and prouiding for clergie Item he complaineth there that Priests crownes are not broade nor lay people and prouiding for clergie Item he complaineth there That Priests crownes are not broade nor their rownding conuenient and that they came not deuoutly to Masse CoÌ„staÌ„tins svvord in the Kings hand S. Peters in the Bishops hands and saith to the Bishops I haue Constantins sworde and yee haue Peters sword in your hands let vs ioine right hands let vs cuple svvord to svvord that the Leapers may be cast out of the Temple Touching which oration Fox noteth the religious zeale and deuotion of Kings and the blind saith he ignorance and superstition of that time in both estates Ecclesiasticall and ciuil in esteeming Christs religion cheefly to consist in giuing to Churches and maintaining of Monkery wherin it appeareth saith he how ignorant that time was of the true doctrin of Christs faith K. Edgars time knevv not the ProtestaÌ„ts Doctrin And putteth this note in the margent The doctrin of iustification vnknowne Bale Cent. 2. cap. 34. saith Edgarus c. Edgar earnestly seruing the desires of Monkes And by the inchantments of Dunstan Ethelwald and Oswald being made an Image of the Beast did speake onely as they gaue him breath all things then were ruled at their beck Ingul pag. 883. setteth downe his Charter of Peterborowh wherin he calleth S. Peter Superum Ianitorem The porter of heauen and saith he apointeth there a market for diuers good purposes both of temporall and spiritual profits that Gods ministers may be holpen more neare at hand and that the Christian people meeting there amidst worldly affaires may demand Gods help Note whiles by demanding S. Peters protection and by hearing the misterie of Masse according to the faith of eche one the faultes of diuers sinnes may therin be redeemed And again Hanc regiferam libertatem c we haue procured this royal libertie according to the primitiue institution therof to be strenghned from the See of the Apostolicke Roman Church by the author him selfe of this writing most reuerend Ethelwald And to this Charter subscribe two Archbishops three Bishops many Abbots Dukes and nobles And Malmsb. l. cit citeth an other Charter of that king granted to Glassenburie which he requested to be confirmed by Pope Iohn 12. which Pope confirmed it saying that he tooke the Monasterie in protectione Romanae Ecclesiae beatorum Apostolorum Petri Pauli In protection of the Roman Church and the blessed Apostles Saint Peter and Paule In this kings tyme liued Saint Merwin saith Florent Saints in this King his tyme. An. 967. whome he made Abbesse of Rumsey and confirmed that Monasterie saith Stow pag. 113. in the presence of all the Nobilitie Also Saint Editha his own daughter who from her infancy was brought vp in a Monasterie and would not refuse that lyfe to enioy the crowne after her brother King Edwards death Also S. Elsted a nonne whose life and miracles yow may read in Capgraue S. Edward Martyr XXV 14. I In the yeare 975. began S. Edward the Martyr saith Malmsb. lib. 2. cap. 9â— sonne to King Edgar The vertues of K. Edvvard martyr and reigned three yeares who did saith he follow the steps of his Eathers religion and yeelde both eare minde to good Councell Inguâ—ph pag. 889. saith he was a simple and most holy yong man following much his Father in maners Cooper An. 975 and Sâ—ow pag 113. say he was in all kinde of honest vertues comparable to his Father Edgar began his souerainty with much modestie and mildnes worthely fauored of all Fox Acts. pag. 159 Authors describe him to be a vertuous and noble Prince much pittifull bountifull to the poore And Caius de Antiq. Cantab Miracles pag. 294. saith he is worthilie tearmed a martyr Cooper An 977. saith after his death God shewed for him many miracles which also testify Malmsb. l. cit Westmon Anno. 979. and others wherby the Reader make perceaue what account he may make of Fox who l. cit calleth them tales His religion His Roman religion is manifest partly by what hath bene said of his Father partly because Fox saith l. cit He was by Dunstans meanes elected and consecrated Which also testify Malmsb. l. cit Florent Anno 975. And because as Fox the same Authors testity he stoode with Saint Dunâ—â—an against Priests Wiues Saints In this Kings time liued three great Saints S. Dunstan S. Ethelwald S. Oswald of whome we will speake in the time of the next King when they died King Egelred XXVI 15. IN the yeare 979. saith Malmsb. lib. 2. cap. 10. succeeded King Egelred sonne to King Edgar and reigned 37. yeares Who as say Florent An. 978. Qualities of K. Egelred Houed p. 427. and Cooper An. 978. was Moribus elegans pulcher vultu decorus aspectu excellently manered of fayer faâ—e and gratious countenance His Roman religion is manifest by what hath bene sayd of hiâ— Father His religion Secondly because his mother built two Monasteries one at Amsbury an other at Whorwel and became a Nonne Cambd. in Brit. pag. 177. 221. 228. and as Malmsb. l. cit saith Corpus silicio c. She wrapt her-bodie in haire cloth In the night layd on the grownd without pillow she toke her sleepe c. Thirdly because in his time liued these notorious Papists S. Dunstan S. Ethelwald and S. Oswald Fourthly because he confirmed the Charter of Euisham Monasterie libertatis priuilegium c. And the priuiledg of the liberty confirming signed it with the signe of the Crosse Cambd. in Brit. pag. 327. Fiftly because he receaued the Legat of Pope Iohn 15. and by him made peace with the Duke of NormaÌ„die Miracles Malmsb. l. cit In this time was S. Edward King and martyrs body found incorrupt An. 979. Houed pag. 407. Then also liued S. Dunstan of whome some thing hath bene sayd in the Archbishops Saints S. Ethelwald Bishop of Winchester who saith Godwin in his life was a great Patron of Monks and no lesse enemy to married Priestes And S.
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
Catholick writers such as f Camb. pa. 80 627. 628. de Baron Protestants them selues account most excellent learned and great Historiographers by ProtestaÌ„t Antiquaries such as g D. Bucley 8. Reas art vlt. p. 175. of Camb. Protestant Diuines terme excellent Antiquaries and excellent men And on the other side denied by no one ancient writer Greeke or Latin foraine or domestical Catholick or other And what better proofe will wee require to beleeue a thing done so long agoe than the assertion of men so many learned of such different ages of such different contries of such different religion who haue not ben gainsaid by any one ancient writer To argue against such varietie grauitie of testimonies without any ancieÌ„t writers testimony to the coÌ„trary is indeed rather to cauill which is no maistery to doe against such ancieÌ„t facts than to reason to shew a minde more auerted from S. Peter and his Successors than desirous of truth or honor of his Contrie 2. This faith thus planted amongst the Britons by the Apostles and Apostolick men perished not after their departure but remained as Gildas c. 7. writeth apud quosdam integrè amongst some entire and about the yeare of our Lord 158. was meruaillously increased and coÌ„firmed by meanes of Pope Eleutherius who sending hither at the request of Lucius then King of the Britons his two Legats S. Fugatius and S. Damian the King Queene and almost all the people were baptized and this Land was the first that publickly professed the faith of Christ and iustly deserued the title of Primogenita Ecclesiae For testimony of this we can produce not onely such variety and weight of witnesses as for the former to wit a English Beda l 1. c. 4. Malmes in fast Ethelvverd l. 1. Hunting li. 1. Florent an 184. VVestm an 185 Sander lib de schis â—eland in Bale p. 23. VVelch Gaâ—fred l. 4. c 19. Nannius hist Landâ—ffen Kâ—ng Arthur Foraine Damasus in Pont Ado. Marian in Chron. Platina in Eleuther Geneb Martin Polon Ponticus Virun Polidor Boethius l. 5. hist Baron mart Rom. 26. Maij. ProtestaÌ„ts Bale cen 1. c. 22. 28. 29 Camb. in Brit p. 51. 628. Stovv anno 179 Holins p. 74. Caius l. 1. de ant Godvvin in S. Austin Bilson of obedience p. 57. Cooper an 180. Fox l. 1. p. 51. l. 2. p. 106. 107. D. Sutclif ansvver to 3. Conuers c. 2. Latin English domestical strangers Catholick and ProtestaÌ„ts but euen all our English histories and in a maner all foraine writers which intreate of these tymes And finally the letters patents of King Arthur alleaged by D. Caius a Protestant lib. 1. de Antiq. Cantab. where he saith that all know this to be true and Godwin in the life of S. Paulin addeth that it cannot be denyed Wherby we may see the impudeÌ„cy of a Minister who is not ashamed without all testimony to the contrary to deny this Conuersion of Britany by the Popes meanes and to say that no authenticall author auoucheth it but that it is a fable and seemeth to be deuised by some fauourers of the Church of Rome Which here in the beginning I note to aduertise the indifferent Reader that he giue no beleefe to such impudent fellowes deniall without any sufficient witnesse 3. The Christian faith thus receaued the Britons kept not onely sound Gildas de oxcid c. 7. Bed l. 1. c. 4 and vndefiled from heresies a long tyme but quiet also from troubles and persecutions vntil the reign of Diocletian the Emperor Gildas c. 7. Bed l. 1. c. 6 who began in the yeare of our Lord 286. for ten yeares space raised a more cruel persecution against the Christians than euer had ben before which passing into this Iland honored it with the glorie of many holy Martyrs Gildas c. 8. who constantly stood and died in the confession of their faith Of whome cheefly are named Saint Alban whose miracles and martyrdom are largly set downe by S. Beda lib. 1. c. 7. and Iulius and Aaron This storme of persecution being ouerblown Constantin the Great a Briton borne receaued the Christian faith exalted it in the whole Empire of Rome In whose tyme arose the Arian heresie which running through the world corrupted also this Iland and shortly after all manner of heresies flowed in Heresies enter into England was there receaued of the inhabitants being men as saith S. Gildas their Countryman euer delighted to heare new things and stedfastly retainning nothing certain And for these heresies and other vices were the Britons plagued by God with extreme famin wonderful pestilence in so much as the quick were not sufficient to bury the dead and with most cruel blooddy warre of the Picts and Scotts as yow may read in Gildas and in Beda lib. 1. c. 12. 14. But for the accomplishmeÌ„t of their iniquities after all this they admitted the Pelagian heresie Heresie bane of a Country which hastned their desolation and almost vtter destruction brought sone after vpon them by the Saxons or English For as S. Beda saith lib. 1. c. 17. a few yeares before the coÌ„ming of the Saxons into this Land which saith he lib. 1. c. 15. was in the yeare of our Lord 429. the Pelagian heresies were brought in See S. Bed l. 1. c. 17. seq But of this heresie the Land was after rid by the disputation and miracles first of S. German and Lupus sent by Pope Celestinus anno 429. after by the same S. German and Seuerus anno 435. ex Baronio 4. After this tyme in this place the faith long tyme saith S. Beda lib. 1. c. 21. remained sound and vndefiled But at last in all or most of the Britons it was corrupted by an erroneous opinion about the tyme of keeping Easter The BritoÌ„s error about Easter far differeÌ„t from the QuartadecimaÌ„s See Euseb 5. hist c 24. 25. Austin ser 29 Epiph haer 50. Theod li. 3. de haeres which was not as Beda well quoteth lib. 3. c. 4. the error of the Iewes or Quartadeciman hereticks For the Quartadecimans alwayes kept their Easter on one set day of the moone to wit on the 15. day after the equinoctial and regarded no set day of the weeke The Britons contrary wise celebrated their Easter alwayes on one set day in the weeke to wit on Sonday as Catholicks doe and obserued not any set day of the moone VVherin the BritoÌ„s erred touching Easter as the Quartadecimans did The onely differeÌ„ce betwene them Catholicks was that wheras Catholicks according to the appointemeÌ„t of the CoÌ„ncel of Nice kept their Easter on the SoÌ„day from the 15. day of the moone to the 21. the Britons kept it on the Sonday from the 14. of the moone to the 20. and so they both included one whole day within the coÌ„pas of celebrating Easter to wit the 14. day of the moone which neither Iew nor Christian els included and
Epi. 59. testifieth who rebuketh her therfore And her Bishop was not sent to preach to the English Other nations neglect vs and onely Rome helpeth but as Beda saith lib. 1. c. 25. to assist her and help her in her faith Nether doth he make any mention of this Bishops preaching to our Nation And for other Nations about vs S. Gregory lib. 5. Epist 59. writeth that he heard that the English would willingly be come Christians Sed Sacerdotes qui in vicino sunt Pastoralem erga eos Curam nō habere but that the Priests about them tooke no care of them Be it therfor certaine that the first that preached Christian faith to our English Nation was S. Austin Hovv S. Austin is our Apostle Malm. l. 1. Hist c. 2. Godvvin in vit Augustin Holinshead Chro. an 602. Apologie for oath of allegiance p. 92. 93. Iouius descript Britan whome therfor Pope Honorius lit ad Regem Edwin apud Bedam lib. 2. c. 17. King Withlaf as we heard before and catholick English writers and some Protestants also as Cambden Descript Britan. pag. 515. and 178. Bale cent 13. c. 7. cent 14. c. 13. call the Apostle of England Nether ought Sutclif or others to be offended with this title because wee call not him absolutly an Apostle or Apostle of the whole world as the 12. were who were sent in Vniuersum mundum but with this restriction of England So S. Paul called Epaphroditus the Apostle of the Philippians Philip. 2. and Protestants call Tindal and Latimer Apostles of England as yow may see in Bale cent 8. c. 72. 85. and Fox CHAP. III. That S. Austin and his fellowes preaching tooke great effect in ou English Nation BEcause some Ministers albeit they can not deny but S. Austin preached the faith of Christ here in England yet will extenuatt his benefit as much as they can say that onely a few Saxons were behoulding vnto him Ministers vngratul Sutclif lib. cit c. 3. and that nether Austin nor Gregory deserued any great praise for the conuersion of the Saxons or English I will breefly touch what great good he and his fellowes here did First therfor him self Kingdom of Kent conuerted by S. Austin though through the excessiue paines which he tooke he liued but a short time yet did he conuert Ethelbert King of Kent whose dominion reached vnto Humber many of his people as S. Beda witnesseth lib. 1. c. 26. and christened at one tyme ten thousand as Saint Gregory lib. 7. Epi. 30. Epitaph of S. Austin saith he conuerted this Kings people Fox Acts pag. 119. Cambden in Britan. p. 105. and others do testifie Fox p. 116. addeth that he conuerted innumerable And pag. 118. Baptized a great parte And Godwin in vit Aug. saith he conuerted all the said Kings people Besides this he sent S. Mellit to London where he conuerted Sebret King of Essex And after he had gained saith Malmesb. 2. part histor p. 250 Kent to Christ S. Austin trauaileth through almost all England trauailed throughout all the rest of the English Prouinces so far as the Kingdom of Ethelbert reached Yet Fox Acts p. 119. and Cambden lib. cit say that he passed beyond the dominion of King Ethelbert and christened many thousands in the riuer Swale Christened ten thousands at once Trauaileth barefoote Erecteth Archb. Bishopricks and monast Beda l. 1. c. 26. 33. li. 2. c. 3. Capgr in vit Augustini Cambden in Brit. p. 178. 438. 490. Ealred in vit Edvvardi Laboreth to reduce the Britons And this trauail he tooke saith Capgraue in his life on foote and for the most parte barefoote and had great knobbs on his knees with continual kneeling in prayer Besides in his tyme he procured the erecting of the Archbishoprick of Canterbury and the Bishoprick of London and Rochester the foundations of the Monasteries of the Austins in Canterbury Westminster in London Ely in Cambridgshier and Cernel in Dorsetshier And as S. Beda lib. 2. c. 4. Laied the foundation of our Church well and strongly And not content to labor thus for the cōuersion of English mē endeuored also to reduce the Britons to the right faith and tooke therin saith Godwin much paines Gathered as yow may see in Beda lib. 2. c 2. two meetings of their Diuines conuinced their error both by disputation and miracles All partes of Englād beholden to S. Austin Wherby wee may see that all parts of England both South West East North and Wales to are greatly behoulden to Saint Austin The labores of S. Austins fellovves S. Laurence 2. After Saint Austins death which was as some write about ten yeares after his cōming hither S. Laurence his fellow laborer and successor conuerted Edbald secōd Christian King of Kent And taught the Papists faith saith Bale cent 13. c. 2. almost in all the dominions of the English men And besides wrote letters which are extant in Beda lib. 2. c. 4. to the Scottish and Irish people who were entangled in the Britons error And as Bale writeth cent 1. c. 74. held a Coūcell with thē for that purpose in the I le of Man Yea as Capgraue hath in his life he went to Scotland and there conuerted Tenan Archbishop of Irland to the true obseruation of Easter S. Iustus S. Iustus also another fellow worker and successor of S. Austin conuerted so many as Pope Boniface in Beda lib. 2. c. 8. writeth to him thus yow may shew whole Contries plentifullie multiplied in the faith by yow And both of him S. Mellit and S. Mellit his Predecessor S. Beda lib. 2. c. 7. giueth this testimony they ruled gouerned the English Church with great labor S. Paulin. and diligence Finally S. Paulin an other of S. Austins fellow laborers and first Archbishop of York conuerted and baptized Edwin King of the North parte of England and by conquest ouer England Wales and the Hebrides Iles with all the nobility saith Beda lib. 2. c. 14. of his Contrie and most parte of the common people And as he addeth c. 17. all his subiects of the Northen parts And such paines herein S. Paulin tooke that as S. Beda saith c. 14. cit he stayed in one place 36. dayes togeather from morning to euening instructing and baptizing the people And by meanes of King Edwin was also Redwald King of Est-england and for a while the potentest King of England conuerted and Christened and also his sonne Carpwald Finally to conclude by Saint Austin and his fellow laborers were six English Kings conuerted from Paganisme to Christs faith to wit Ethelbert Sebert S. Austin his fellovves conuerted six English Kings and foure Kingdōe Edbald Edwin Redwald Carpwald Amongst whome Ethelbert Edwin and Redwald were the most puissant Kings of their tyme. And of the 7. Kingdoms which then were they conuerted foure viz. the Kingdom of Kent Kingdom of Est-Saxons Beda lib. 2.
saith that S. Austin had bene brought vp in the rule of Religion and was by the grace of God of much vertue And lib. 9. epist. 58. writing to S. Austin him self saith I haue much hope that by the grace of God thy Creator and our Redemer Lord and God Christ Iesus thy sinnes are alredy forgiuen thee and that thou art therfore choosen that by thee other mens sinnes may be pardoned Nether shalt thou haue sorow of any sinne hereafter who endeuourest by conuersion of many to make ioye in heauen And surely who considereth what great perfection Saint Gregory lib. 4. epist. 24. requireth in a Pastor to wit that he be Pure in thought notable in work discret in silence profitable in speeche neare to all in compassion aboue all in contemplation fellow by humility to all that do well stout through zeale of Iustice against the vices of the offending will nothing doubt but Saint Austin whome he chose to so high a function was an excellent perfect man And lib. 5. epist 52. he saith Austins zeale and indeuor is well known to vs. and repeateth it epist 53. 58. 59. Likwise of the Popes soone after succeeding to S. Gregory Diuers other Popes he is highly commended Of Pope Boniface 4. in Malmsbury lib. 1. Pont. p. 208. he is called the holy Doctor Of Pope Honorius ibidem p. 209. Austin of holy remembrance Of Gregory 3. ibidem p. 210. Austin of blessed memorie Of Leo 3. ibid. p. 211. Blessed Augustin Besides by them who liued with him and saw his happy end he is called in his Epitaph Authors of his epih tap Blessed Austin Stow Chron. p. 67. or as Godwin hath Saint Austin 5. Fourthly Vvitnesses of S. Aust holines after his tyme. touching the testimony of those that liued after Saint Austins tyme the first is Saint Beda whose testimony of his holy life is already set downe to which I add that lib. 2. c. 3. he calleth him the deerly beloued man of God holy Father Austin S. Beda and lib. 4. c. 27. The blessed Father Austin In a Councell of all the Bishops of England held anno 747. A CouÌ„ncell in England in presence of King Ethelbald and all his Nobility it was apointed That the day of our Father Saint Austin be kept holy as writeth Malmesbury 1. lib. Pont. p. 197. and Fox lib. 2. p. 128. After that King Kenulph and all his Bishops Dukes K. Kenulph and his Bishops and Nobles and Nobility writing to Pope Leo 3. say thus Austin of blessed memory most gloriously gouerned the Churches of England ex Malmesb. 1. Reg. pag. 31. S. Odo In the letters of S. Odo Archbishop of Canterbury in Malmesbury 1. Pont. pag. 201. he is called Austin of blessed memory Of Ethelwerd lib. 2. Ethelvverd c. 1. 5. he is called Holy Austin seruant of Christ and innumerable miracles wrought by him Malmesbury 1. Pont. pag. 196. Malmesb. saith thus How great the merits of Austin are before God the great miracles do shew which after so many ages he worketh not suffering Kent yea all England to become slow in honoring of him Huntington Of Huntington lib. 3. pag. 321. he is called the seruant of God man of God to haue imitated the Apostolicall life of the Primitiue Church to haue led a most clean life Of Houeden 1. Houeden part Annal. he is called the glorious Doctor of the whole Kingdom the notable Founder of Christian Faith and Religion And in like sorte is he commended for a great saint of Westmon Chron. an 596. VVestm Marian others Odo chron 583. calleth them timâ—â—tes Deum Marianus ibidem And finally of all writers domesticall and foraine who writt of him before our times 6. Fifthly touching the proofe of Saint Austins holines by the holy life of the Church which he here founded that is euident to all them that reade our Ecclesiasticall Histories The holines of our church founded by S. Austin And so manifest as Fox lib. 2. pag. 114. citeth and approueth these words out of ancient Chronicles In the Primitiue Church of England Religion shined most purely so that Kings Princes Dukes Consuls Barons rulers of the Church incensed with a desire of heauen entred into Monkerie volontary exile and solitarie life forsooke the world and followed Christ. And the same hath Huntington lib. 5. in Prolog and Houeden 1. Confessed by Protestants Fox part Annal. pag. 412. And the same Fox p. 123. saith I do reade and also do credit that the Clergy of that tyme S. Austins tyme of England applyed nothing that was worldly but gaue themselues to preaching and teaching the word of our Sauiour See more in Fox p. 132. 133. Cambden and fillowed the life that they preached by giuing good example Cambden in descript Britan. pag. 345. saith that tyme was most fruitfull of Saints And pag. 628. he braggeth that no Kingdom hath so many canonized Martyrs and Confessors as England hath Of some England vvas called religiosâ— Anglia of others Paradisus Dei See Baron to 9. Serra de reb Mogunt lib. 3. nota 55. ProtestaÌ„ts confesse S. Austine holines Fox and that it which before tymes was called a fertill Prouince of Tyrants may now be called a fertill Contrie of Saints And who will see more of the great holines of our Clergy may reade Beda lib. 3. c. 26. Othlon in vita S. Bonifacij Marcellin in vita S. Suiberti Serrarius de Mogunt lib. 3. 7. Lastly for the confession of Protestants Fox in his Acts pag. 105. saith of Saint Austin and his fellowes thus At length when the King had well considered the honest conuersation of their life and mooued with their miracles wrought through Gods hands by them he heard them more gladly and lastly by their holsom exhortations and example of godly life he was by them conuerted and christened in the yeare 596. And the same he repeateth againe pag. 116. Bilson Bilson lib. Of Obedience pag. 57. saith Austin and his fellowes came with religion to God and submission to Princes Cooper Bishop Cooper anno 599. calleth Austin and his fellowes godly and learned men And anno 630. calleth Paulinus one of the company a holy Bishop Stow Chron. pag. 65. Stovv saith that S. Austin and his fellowes liued in the feare of God Godwin in vita August saith Godvvin He was a Monke of great vertue and calleth him Saint Austin And in vita Paulini saith Paulin his companion was called away to receaue the glorious reward of his blessed labors Holinshed And Holinshed in the Historie of England Austin and his company arriued at Canterbury where he made his abode by the Kings permission exercised the life of Apostles in fasting watching and prayers preaching the word of God to as many as they could despising all worldly pleasures as not appertaining to them receauing onely of them whome they taught things seeming
from his Clergie but followed that trade and forme of liuing which was vsed in the primitiue Church among the Fathers among whome there was none that said that to be his owne which he possessed but all things were comon 2 And as for worldly pleasur what should moue Saint Austin think we to leaue his natiue Contry Nor pleasure and to seeke pleasure in a strange Contry where he knoweth nether place person nor language What pleasure should moue an Italian to chāge Italy for England Rome for Canterbury especially when our Contry as then it was was sauage and barbarous What pleasure can we imagin can moue a Christian to goe to preach Christs faith among barbarous infidells Or what pleasure did Saint Austin seeke here who with his fellowes liued here so Angel like that as Saint Beda writteth lib. 1. cap. 26. our Nation maruailed much at their simplicity of their innocent liuing and our King was then much delighted with the puritie of their life and the example of their godly conuersation And being Archbishop yet left not his religious life and as is before shewed tooke exceeding paines in teaching and baptizing our Nation and wonderfully labored to conuert the Britons also Who as is before said went still on foote and for the most part barefoote and had his knees hard like the knees of a camell by continuall prayer Motiues of S. Austins preaching Wherfore no human motiue but the diuine motiues of obedience to his Maister and lawfull Bishop the great Saint and glorious Doctor of Gods Church Saint Gregory Obediēce who sent him and commanded him to come hither to preach And of Charitie Charitie to saue our Nations soules by bringing them out of heathenish infidelitie to the faith of Christ Gods glorie And glorie of God were the incitements motiues and causes of Saint Austins comming hither and preaching that religion which he did And this is manifest both by the testimonies of Catholick Writers and confessions of Protestants which we cited before touching Saint Austins holines and shall alleadge in this next Chapter where we shall prooue that this great Clerck and holy man Saint Austin moued by these saintly motiues to preach to our Nation was also lawfully sent therto with sufficient authoritie and commission CHAPT VIII That Saint Austin was lawfully sent hither to preach prooued by diuers authorities and confession of Protestants TWO things ther are required to euery lawfull Pastor to wit both right Orders and lawfull Commission to administer the Sacraments and Word of God And albeit by order of doctrine wee should speake first of Saint Austins orders yet because his Commission being cleared his orders will easely appeare to be good I will speake first of his Cōmission where with he was sent to preach And that he was sent of Saint Gregory wee need not prooue For as Sutclif saith in his Subuersion cap. 3. It is not denied that Gregory sent Austin The onely difficulty can be whether he were lawfully sent and by sufficient authoritie or no. Hovv manie vvayes S Austins mission is prooued But that he was lawfully sent to preach I will prooue first by sacred testimony from Heauen Secondly by authority of Catholicks Thirdly by confession of Protestants Fourthly by examples and lastly by reason The testimony from Heauen is of Saint Peter By S Peters testimonie from heauen who appearing in a vision to Saint Laurence successor of Saint Austin when he vpon the reuolt of our Contrie to Paganisme intended to abandon the Land scourged him saith Saint Beda lib. 2. cap. 6. with sharp stripes a great while in the close night and asked why he would forsake the flock which he him self had committed vnto him Behould Saint Peter from Heauen testifieth that he had cōmitted English men to the teaching of Saint Laurence one of Saint Austins fellow labourers whome Saint Austin him self appointed consecrated for his successor And when Saint Laurence awaked saith Godwin he found it more than a dreame for all his body was gore blood VVherfore going immediatly to the King Edbald he shewed him his woundes and together related to him the occasion of them which strook such a terror into the King as by and by he renounced his Idolls and caused him self to be baptized The apparition of S Peter to be true Now that this apparition to S. Laurence was no dreame or illusion appeareth many wayes First by the reall wounds which both Saint Laurence felt and the King sawe Secondly by the authority of Saint Laurēce who being so holy a man would neuer auouch an idle dreame or illusion for a certain vision Thirdly by the beleefe giuen therto by King Edbald and his people who doubtles examined it throughly before they would vpon the credit therof forsake their Idolls Fourthly by the heauenly effect which it wrought which was the recalling of our Contry from Paganisme to Christianity to which ende the Diuell would neuer cooperat any way Fifthly by the authority of S. Beda and our best Chroniclers Malmesbury lib. 1. Reg lib. 2. Pont. Huntington lib. 3. Marianus an 617. Westmon anno 616. ibidem Florent and others who haue credited and recorded it as a true vision Protestāts confesse S. Peters apparition Lastly by the confession of diuers Protestants as Godwin in the life of Saint Laurence and Holinshed in the life of King Edbald And surly who well considereth it can not but account it a singuler fauor of God and honor to our Contrie that first in the Britons tyme it should receaue the faith of Christ by the preaching of S. Peter S. Peters care of this Coūtrie by whose month as he saith Acts 15. From ancient tyme God hath made choice that Gentils should heare the VVord of God and beleeue And afterward in our English Ancestors tyme should recouer the same faith againe by the meanes of Saint Gregory one of the gloriousest successors of Saint Peter that euer was and mooued therto by him from Heauen Which amongst other things declareth that to be true which the same Saint Peter said to Saint Brithwald Ealred in vit S. Edvvardi Sur. tom 1. Regnum Anglorum regnum Dei est The Kingdom of England is the Kingdom of God 2. As for the authoritie of Catholicks S. Austins mission proued by authoritie of Catholicks S. Gregorie the first place is due to Saint Gregory who writing to Eulogius Patriarch of Alexandria lib. 7. epist 30. saith VVhiles the English Nation abiding in a corner of the world remained hitherto in infidelity in the worship of wood and stones by the help of your prayers it seemed good to me God being the Author to send a Monke of my Monastery thither to preach Loe he ascribeth the sending of S. Austin to God as Author and to holy mens prayers as helpes therunto And againe writing to Saint Austins company in Beda lib. 1. c. 23. saith Let nether the trauaill
words f All the aithful of S. Austins time ioyed at our Nations conuersion by him Quis sufficiat c. VVho can tel what ioy arose in the harts of all the faithfull that the English nation by the working of Almighty God his grace and the labor of thy brotherhood hauing cast away the darknes of errors is endued with the light of the holy faith that with sincere deuotion it trampleth the Idolls to which before vvith mad feare it bowed vnto that with a pure hart it is subiect to Almightie God Behould S. Greg. witnesseth that all faithfull of that time acknowledged and reioyced that Austin brought the faith to our English Nation and that they by his meanes serued God with most sincere deuotion and pure harts But yet more plainly auoucheth he this truth Moral 27. cap. 6. Where glorying in God of the conuersion of England he writeth thus S. Austins doctrine the faith of Christendom from the East to the vvest Behould now the faith hath entred the harts almost of all Nations Behould God hath ioyned the bounds of the East and west in one faith Behould the tonge of Britanie which knew nothing but to roare rudely of late hath begun in Gods praises to sound out the hebrew Alleluia O most comfortable speach to all those that follow S. Gregory and S. Austins doctrine Great comfort for Catholicks to heare auouched by irrefragable testimonie that it was the faith of the Church of God from the East to the west aboue a thousand yeares agoe For as Tertullian saith Admit that God had neglected his Church and permitted it to run into errors is it lykly that so many and so great Churches would conspire wholy in error No surely 2. The next is S. Austin him self who in Beda lib. 2. cap 2. saith thus vnto the Britons S. Austins Doctrine proued to be vniuersal by his ovvne testimonie Although in many other points yow do contrary to our custome or rather contrary to the custome of the vniuersall Church of Christ Behould how he testifyeth his custome to be the custome of the vniuersall Church of Christ in his tyme. And lib. 1. cap. 27. in his questions proposed to S. Greg. he asketh VVhere there is but one faith whie be there so many sundry customs of Churches and one custome of Masses obserued at Rome another in France Here he manefestly testifyeth that there was but one faith and one masse in substance euery where and the difference onely in ceremonies S. Greg. communicated vvith all partes of Christendom The same also may be proued by the communion which S. Gregory whose faith was vndoubtedly the same with S. Austin had with all Christendom For lib. 6. epist 4. 5. he communicateth with Cyriacus the Patriarch of Constantinople lib. 4. epist 34. 36. lib. 7. epist 30. he communicated with the Patriarch of Alexandria and gloried to him of the conuersion of England lib. 1. epist 25. lib. 4. epist 37. lib. 6. epist 24. lib. 7. epist 3. 47. he communicated with the Patriarch of Antioch vnder which three Patriarchs was almost all the Eastern Church And touching the Western Church lib. 1. epist 4. lib. 4. epist 46. He communicated with Leander Primat of Spaine lib. 4. epist 51. He communicated with Vigilius primate of France lib. 9. epist 61. he communicated with all the Catholick Bishops of Ireland lib. 2. epist 28. he communicated with all the Bishops of Italy lib. 1. epist 60. 61. he communicated with Ianuarius of Sardinia lib. 1. epist 68. he communicated with all the Bishops in Sicilie lib. 1. epist 76. with Leo Bishop of Corsica lib. 1. epist 75. with all the Bishops of Numidia lib. 2. epist 15. lib. 3. epist 16. with all the Bishops of Dalmatia lib. 3. epist 37. He communicated with all the Bishop of Vizach and epist 30. With the Bishop of Istria And lib. 7. epist 30. with the Bishops of Germanie and consequentlie with all Catholick Churches in the East and west S. vvilfrid auoucheth S. Austins doctrin to be vniuersal 3. Of those that liued after S. Austins tyme. First is S. Wilfrid Archbishop of York who was borne soone after S. Austins death For as S. Beda saith lib. 5. cap. 20. He went vp to Rome in the tyme of Honorius Archbishop of Canterburie who was one of S. Austins fellowes and he was as S. Beda ther writeth a worthie Prelat and notable Bishop This man therfore in Beda lib. 3. cap. 25. disputing with the Scotts for the Roman obseruation of Easter and shauen Crownes saith thus The Easter which we obserue we haue seene to haue bene in lyke maner obserued in Rome in all Italie and France This maner we know to be obserued in Africk in Eegipt in Asia in Grece and throughout all Nations and tongues of the world where the Church of Christ taketh place besides these few Scotts and the Picts and Britons with whome these men do fondly contend against the whole world Behould how S. Wilfrid auoucheth his Religion euen in that point wherein the Scotts then dissented from vs to be the Religion of all the Christian world Nether did the Scotts or could they deny it S. Ceolfrid The next is S. Ceolfrid Abbot and Maister to S. Beda who liued in the same tyme who writing to Naitan King of the Picts in Beda lib. 5. cap. 22. and speaking of his tyme saith The whole Catholick Church agreeth in one faith in one hope and one charitie towards God The third is S. Beda him self who lib. 2. cap. 2. saith S. Beda The Britons preferred their own Traditions before all other Churches which throughout the whole world agreed with Austin in Christ What I pray can be sayd or imagined against these so manifould or irrefragable testimonies Were S. Gregory S. Austin S. Wilfrid S. Ceolfrid S. Beda ignorant what was the vniuersall faith of Christendome at that tyme or were they so impudent as they would write yea auouch to their aduersaries face a knowne vntruth No surely And this truth Protestants also partly openly confesse partly tacitly grant and acknowledg For Napier vpon the Reuelation of S. Iohn See more infr lib. 2. cap. 3. saith Betwene the yeare of Christ 300. and 316. the Antichristian and Papisticall Religion reigning vniuersally without debatable contradiction 1260. yeares And Brocard also vpon the Reuelation pag. 110. writeth that the Church of Protestants was troden downe and oppressed by the Papacy euen from Siluesters tyme vnto these times Bale cent 1. pag. 69. saith From this tyme of Boniface 3. who succeeded S. Greg. with in a yeare or two the puritie of heauenly doctrine vanished in the Church pag. 65. After Greg. tyme puritie of doctrine perished And 73. From Phocas who liued in S. Greg. tyme vvho saith he begot the Papacy till the renewing of the Gospel by Luther the doctrine of Christ was all the vvhile among Idiots in holes Now if the heauenly doctrine
of protestants perished straight after S. Greg. tyme and euer since hath bene onely in Idiots and lurking holes how could it be the vniuersall faith of all Christendome in his tyme Could the vniuersall faith of Christendome perish in one or two yeares Would all learned men and open Churches forsake it in so short time and onely Idiots and holes keepe it See more of this matter lib. 2. cap. 1. infra CHAP. XII That the doctrine vvhich Austin taught vvas the true vvay to saluation Proued by the open confession of his Aduersaries and other things affirmed by them 1. THe first aduersaries which S. Austin had to his doctrine were the Britons before mentioned Of whome S. Beda l. 2. cap. 2. writeth that S. Austin hauing cured a blind man whome they could not The people praised S. Austin as a true preacher of all truth and veritie Britons approue S. Austins doctrine And the Britons confessed indeed that they vnderstood that to be the true way of righteousnes which Austin had preached and shewed to them The same writeth Huntington lib. 3. Stow Chron. pag. 66. and others And albeit his preaching to them then tooke not that effect which he intended yet if Fox say true lib. 2. pag. 123. that in Ina his time began the right obseruing of Easter day to be kept of the Picts and of the Britons with in short tyme the whole Nation not onely approued but also admitted S. Austins doctrine Yea if it be true that Godwin writeth in vit Theod. That to him all the British Bishops and generally all Britany yeelded obedience and vnder him conformed them selues in all things to the rites and disciplin of the Church of Rome they performed this longe before about 60. yeares after S. Austin Protestāts account S. Austins doctrin sufficient to saluation 2. The next open Aduersaries of Saint Austins doctrine in England haue bene the Protestants Of whome diuers haue in their writings openly acknowledged as much as the Britons did For Iuel in his famous challeng Iuel offered to recant if any of the holy Fathers who liued in the first 600. yeares after Christ were found contrarie to him in his Articles In which compasse of yeares both S. Greg. and S. Austin liued And cryed out saying O Gregorie O Austin c. If we be deceaued yow haue deceaued vs. Fulk Fulk in 1. Cor. 15. Seeing Gregorie and Austin saith he taught the truth in all points necessarie to saluation our Contrie hath not beleeued in vaine nor all our fore Fathers are dead in their sinnes Fox Fox in his Acts pag. 111. 120. 122. Calleth the faith planted here by Austin and his fellow-laborers the Christian faith p. 115. 116. the faith and doctrine of Christ pap 121. Christs Religion and that Church the Church of Christ And pag. 112. The perfect faith of Christ Cooper Bishop Cooper Chron. Anno. 636. calleth it the right beleefe Stow Chron. pag. 9. calleth it the Christian faith Stovv And pag. 72. pure and incorupted Christianitie Cambden Cambden in descript Britan. pag. 519. The true Religion of Christ Godvvin Apologie for the oath of alleageance The faith of Christ Godwin in Paulin. The Gospel And in Mellit The faith of Christ Holinshed in Brit. Holinshead The Christian faith The faith of Christ The word of God Bilson of Obed. part 1. pag. 57. calleth it Religion to God Bilson Sutclif Subuers cap. 3. termeth it Faith Religion Christian Religion Sutclif and saith the people were conuerted to Christ Finally Fox lib. 2. pag. 124. after he had tould in particuler how euery one of those seauen Kingdoms which then were in England was conuerted concludeth thus Fox And thus by processe of tyme we haue discoursed from tyme to tyme how and by what meanes the Idolatrous people were induced to the true fayth of Christ And who considereth with him selfe that not onely our Catholick English Ancestors imbraced the doctrine of S. Austin but also the erroneous Britons and Protestants account it the true way of righteousnes the Gospel the Faith of Christ The perfect faith of Christ the right beleefe the true Religion of Christ pure and incorrupt Christianitie and finally true faith of Christ neede seeke no more but what S. Austins faith was and follow it To those that grant that S. Austins faith was the true way to saluaiion I might adde also the Protestants who affirme the same of the present Romā faith whose testimonies yow may see in the Apologie of Protestants Tract 1. Sec. 6. Onely I will content my selfe with his Maiesties wordes to the parlament 9. of Nouember An. 1605. put forth in print thus VVee do iustly confesse that many Papists especially our Forfathers laying their onely trust vpon Christ and his meritts as they them selues teache in Bellarm. may be and often tymes are saued detestinge in that point and thinking the crueltie of Puritans worthy of fyer that will admit no saluation to any Papist 3. Besids this open confefsion of diuers Protestants for the truth of S. Austins Religion it may be also conuinced out of diuers other things which them selues teach For it being supposed out of Gods word heb 11 that without the right faith it is impossible to please God and withall confessed of diuers Protestants that S. Austin and his fellowes were holy men it necessarily followeth that his faith was the true faith of God S. Austin and his follovvers holie men by Protest Of S. Austins holines the English people in general some thing hath bene sayd before Of others Fox lib. 2. pag. 123. saith Cutbert Iaruman S. Cutbert Cedda and VVilfrid I iudge saith he to be of a holy conuersation pag. 125. S. Aldelm Aldelm a worthie and learned Bishop of notable praise for his learning and vertue Ibid. he calleth S. Iohn of Beuerly and S. Egwin Saints pag. 127. S. Iohn Beuerly Touching the integrite and holines of Bedas life It is not to be doubted S. Beda with great comfort of his spirit he departed this life pag. 128. He intituleth S. Boniface a Martyr of God S. Boniface And yet pag. 129. calleth him a great setter vp and vphoulder of Popery pag. 112. calleth king Edmond three tymes Saint S. Edmōd Item pag. 121. King Oswald a Saint saith he had great vertues and by prayer ouercame his enemies S. Osvvald Cooper Chron. an 636. calleth Birin Saint an 643. Oswald a holy king 869 holy king Edmond Stow Chron. pag. 78. Cedda a holy man Iaruman a Bishop of great vertue Ibid King Sebbi very deuout and godly pag. 81. Kinesburg and Kineswith for holy conuersation excelling pag. 99. Cutbert Saint Bale cent 1. cap. 76. saith of S. Aidan that he was a man of most innocent life and ful of the spirit of God and yet was Oswald his scholler a manifest Papist praying before crosses and for the dead euen when him selfe
vndoubtedly the same which his maister S. Gregor lib. de Sacrament and our ancient Contreyman Alcuin lib. de diuinis offic describe which Catholicks now vse and Protestants reiect to wit besids baptising with water to exorcize the child and to breath in his face to make the signe of the Crosse in the childs forhead and brest to put salt into his mouth and to touch his nostrels and eares with spitle and to anoint him betwene the shoulders Surly these things considered me thinkâ— S. Austin may say to vs as Saint Paul did to the Thessalonians My Gospel was not to yow in speech onely but in veritie and in the holy Ghost and in much plentie And that our Ancestors and we may say with the great Doctor Richard de S. Victore The things which we beleeue were confirmed with so many so great so wonderful miracles that it may seeme a kind of madnes any way to doubt of them I would the Iewes Protestants would mark I would the Pagans Puritans would consider with what securitie of conscience we may appeare before God touching this parte May we not with all confidence say to God Lord if it be an error we were deceuied by thee For the things which we beleue were confirmed amongst vs with so greate signes and wonders and with such as could not be wrought but by thee Surely they were deliuered vnto vs by men of great holines and approued with great and authentical testimonies thy self cooperating and confirming their speeche with signes following 11. Finally if any men be founde so Thomas-lyke and hard of beleefe that he will not beleeue that S. Austin wrought any miracle let them answer that which S. Austin saith lib. 22. de ciuit cap. 5. against the Pagans S. Austin who would not beleeue the miracles of the Apostles If they beleeue not that miracles were wrought by the Apostles of Christ by S. Austin and his fellowes that they might be credited this one miracle alone sufficeth that all the world should beleeue without miracles That our English Ancestors should without al miracles forsake their ancient and easy Religion and follow a new and difficult both for points of beleefe as the mysterie of the Trinitie Incarnation Eucharist and more difficult to practice as to refrain both act and thought 12. If any ask why are not miracles now done for confirmation of S. Austins doctrine as wel as then VVhy miracles are not novv I answer with S. Gregorie homil 29. in Euangel S. Austinâ— The multitude of the faithful was to be nourished with miracles that it might increase to faith Because we water the plants which we set til we see them to haue taken roote but after that we leaue watering them S. Greg. And with S. Austin lib. 22. de ciuit cap. 8. I might say that miracles were necessarie before the world of Britanie did beleeue VVho so euer now requireth wonders to beleeue he is a great wonder that beleeueth not when the world beleeueth Was it sufficient for the Iewes to beleeue the doctrine of Moises that their Forfathers saw it confirmed of him by many wonders And shall it not suffice vs that our Forfathers testifie that they saw S. Austins doctrine confirmed in lyke sorte Were not our Forfathers to be credited as wel as those Iewes Or are we more incredulous than their posteritie And hitherto Gentle Reader we haue shewed that Saint Austin had all things requisit to a sufficient and lawful Preacher of Gods word vvhat hath bene hitherto proued to wit great learning famous vertue lawful vocation and right orders we haue also shewed that the Doctrine which he preached was the vniuersal faith and religion of all Christendom at that time is confessed by the greatest Aduersaries therof to haue bene sufficient to bring men to heauen and was aproued and contested by God by manie miracles to be his diuine and infallible faith what now remaineth but to seek out what S. Austins Religion was in particuler that finding it we may be sure to haue found a Religion taught vnto our Ancestors aboue 1000. years agoe by a great Diuine by a famous Saint and a lawful Preacher rightly sent and ordered which so long since was the Religion of all Christendom was approued by God him self by true miracles and is confessed of the aduersaries to haue bene sufficient to saluation Than the which I know not what more amy reasonable man can desire CHAP. XIIII That S. Austin was a Roman Catholick proued by his Maister S. Gregorie 1. HOw careful S. Austin was to follow the doctrin and Religion of his Maister S. Gregorie apeareth by what was sayde before out of S. Beda lib. 1. cap. 27. of the questions S. Austins Rom. religion proued by S. Gregorie which S. Austin sent vnto him so far as from England concerning small matters And therfor his Religion may be euidently gathered by that of S. Greg. But because it would be tedious to proue that Saint Greg. was a Roman Catholick in all substantial points of Religion I will for proofe hereof make choice of two especial points To wit The Popes Supremacie and the Sacrifice of masse Because in the first of these points Do Reinolds in his Confer pag. 568. affirmeth the very being and essence of a Papist to consist And D. Whitaker cont Dur. pag. 503. saith It is the head of popish Religion of which almost all the rest depend And in the masse saith D. Sutclif in his Answer to Exceptions pag. 11 The very soule of Poperie doth consist And D. Whitak loc cit pag. 426. affirmeth that Nothing is more holy and diuine in our conceipt And lastly I will proue it be the open confession of diuers Protestants S. Greg. beleued the Popes supremacie 2. As for the first pointe of the Supremacie S. Greg. lib. 4. Epist 32. faith of Saint Peter who as Bil on saith lib. 1. of Obed. pag. 380. was Founder of the Roman Church It is manifest to all that know the Gospel that by our Lords voice the care of the wholle Church was committed to S. Peter Prince of all the Apostles And lib. 1. epist 24. Peter houlding the Princedome of the Church accounted him self the cheefe in the Church And lib. 11. epist 44. he calleth the Roman Church Caput fidei the head of the faith His words are these Admonemus vt Apostolicae sedis reuerentia nullius praesumptione turbetur Tunc enim status membrorum integer manet si caput fidei nulla pulsetur iniuria Likwise lib. 7. epist 49. he saith The care enioyned to vs of all Churches doth bind vs. lib. 7. epist 6. VVho doubteth but that shee Church of Constant is subiect to the See Apostolick And epist 64. If any falt be found in Bishops I knovv not vvhat Bishop is not subiect to her Church of Rome Which last words do so plainly auouch S. Greg. opinion of the supremacy as Doct. Reynolds Confer pag. 547. findeth no
much filth of superstition D. Fulk Fulk 1. Cor. 4. Austin did not beget the Nation of the English men to Christ by the pure Gospel but vvith the mixture of Traditions And that Christian Religion vvhich he found in the Britons he labored to corrupt vvith Romish inuentions 1. Cor. 15. Austin did not in all points teach the true faith to the Saxons 2. Cor. 12. Aust brought in corruption Syr Francis Hastings in his Wast word once or twise saith that Austin brought in the Romish Religion Osandes Osiander Epit. Hist cent 6. Aust thrust Roman rites and customs vpon the English To vvit Altars Vestements Masses Chalices Crosses Candlesticks Censars Banners holy Vessels holy vvater and bookes of Roman customs B. Bale See Magdeburgenses cent 6. Bale cent 1. pag. 19. After Austins Apostleship saith he vnder the English Saxons there followed an other kind of Monkes which corrupted all with most filthy superstitions Idolatries And cent 1. cap. 70. Austin entred not with the Gospel of Luther of Christian peace but with the banner of his Apostleship with a siluer Crosse Letanies Procession Images painted Pictures Reliques and ritual bookes And cap. 72. Aust made Elbald drinck of the cup of the whore cap. 73. King Ethelbert first of all English men receaued of Greg. 1. Bishop of Rome by Austin the opinions of the Roman ReligioÌ„ with all saith he the imposture or deceit and dyed the one and twentith yeare of his receaued Papisme And pag. 73. he calleth our primitiue church a carnal Synagogue And yet further cent 8. cap. 85. Austin saith he brought in Popish Monkerie besides the Popes traditions o filthie and blasphemous mouth brought no thing but mans dung Cent. 13. c. 1. Austin the Roman brought hither Romish rites without sound doctrine The King receaued Romanisme with the anexed Idolatries He brought in Monkes Altars Vestements Images Masses Chalices Crosses Candlesticks Banners holy as they call them Vessels holy water and bookes of Roman customs Their cheeffest studies were about the oblations of Masses And finally Cent. 14. cap 31. he saith Austin disposed all things in England to the forme of the Sinagogue of Rome and made English men honorers of the Pope Thus plainly is S. Austins Roman Religion confessed by Bale who was both as earnest a Protestant and as skilful in antiquities as euer â—nglish Protestant was Holinshead Holinshead also Descript Brit. cap. 27. saith The Inhabitants of Britanie receaued the Doctrine of Rome brought in by Austin and his Monks Ib. Austin indeed conuerted the Saxons from Paganisme but imbued them with no lesse hurtful superstition than they did know before For besides the name ef Christ and external contempt of their pristinat Idolatrie he taught them nothing at all but rather made an exchange from grosse to subtil trecherie from open to secret Idolatrie and from the name of Pagans to the bare Title of Christians So far were these men from thincking S. Austin to haue bene a Protestant or to haue agreed with them as Fulk would 2. Cor. 12. in the cheefe and most essential points of faith CHAP. XVII That S. Austin was a Roman Catholick proued by the Doctrine and faith of the Engilsh Church which he founded 1. IN this Chapter I will first set downe what Catholicks haue written of the faith of our Primitiue Church and after what Protestants First therfor our Primitiue English Christians sayd Masse Masse in honor of Saints and that in honor of Saints Beda lib. 4. cap. 14. Let them say Masses and giue thanks that their prayer is heard and also for the memorie of King Oswald Likwise they sayd Masse for the dead and consequently beleued it to be propitiatorie for sinnes Masse for the dead Ibid. cap. 22. Tuna a Priest and Abbot did often times cause Masse to be saide for his brothers soule Item lib. 5. cap. 13. and lib. 3. cap. cit They erected Monasteries that dayly praier might be made for the dead Offered to god the pretious bodie and blood of Christ Secondly they did beleeue that they offered to God the pretious body and blood of Christ as we beleeue we do at Masse Beda lib. 5. cap. 22. All Christian Churches throughout the world should prepare bread and wine for the mystery of the flesh and precious blood of the immaculat lambe and when all lessons prayers rites and ceremonies vsed in the solemn feast of Easter were done should offer the same to God the Father in hope of their redemption to come lib. 4. cap. 28. S. Cutbert offered the host of the holsome Sacrifice to God Thirdly CoÌ„fession of sinnes and pennance for them they confessed their sinnes to Priestes and they enioined pennance lib. 4. cap. 25. Adaman in his youth had committed a certain greiuous sinne resorting therfor to a Priest confessed his sinne to him The Priest when he had heard his sinne said a great wound requireth a great cure and medecin therfor giue thy self to fasting and prayer as much as thou art able And lib. 4. cap. 27. He telleth how Saint Cutbert heard mens confessions and enioined them pennance Miracle for confession And lib. 5. cap. 14. He telleth a dreadful punishment inflicted by God on one because in time of sicknes he would not confesse his sinnes Fourthly Priests could not marry their Clergy after holy orders takeÌ„ could not marry S. Greg. in Beda lib. 1. cap. 27. If ther by any in the Clergy out of holy orders that can not liue chast they shall take wiues The same hath S. Beda l. 5. c. 22. Fiftly Dirige Masse for the dead they song dirige ouer night and in the morning sayd Masse for the dead Beda lib. 3. cap. 2. The religious men of Hagstalden haue of long time bene accustomed to come euery yeare the eue and the day that S. Oswald was slayne to keepe Dirges there for his soule and in the morning solemnly to offer for him the sacrifice of the holy Oblation Sixtly they vsed holy water and consecrating Churches Holie vvater candels Crosses holie oile Beda lib. 5. cap. 4. The Bishop S. Iohn sent the sick Lady some of the holy water which he had halowed in the Dedication of the Church and also candles lighted Crosses and holy oyle as we do now as is euident by Malmsb lib. 2. Pont. pag. 235. and Ealred in vit Edwardi Seuenthly they blessed them selues with the signe of the Crosse Blessing vvith the signe of the Crosse Beda lib. 4. cap. 14. Cednam blessing him selfe with the signe of the holy Crosse layd down his head on the Boulster and so falling a little in a slumber ended his life in quiet And lib. 5. cap. 22. Euery congregation of faithful men accustometh to beare the signe of the Crosse on their forheads that by the Diuin power of the same they may be defended from all assaults of the Diuel Eightly their Priests and Monks vsed round shauen
crownes Priests haue shauen crovvnes Beda lib. 5. cap. 22. It behoueth them which being either made by vow Monkes or by profession of the Clergie to binde them selues more strictly with the bridle of continencie for Christs sak to bear in their head by clipping the forme of a crovvne Ibid. All Priests and Religious men had their heads shauen round after the true shape of a crowne But as Bale saith Cent. 14. pag. 194. Tonsura est Romanae Bestiae character Ninthly they erected many Altars in one Church with Martyrs reliques Manie altar Sinono Church vsed lights and other ornaments as Catholicks doe Beda lib. 5. cap. 21. Acca imployed his diligence to gather together out of all places the holy Apostles and Martyrs reliques to the end he might in honor of them build certain Altars aparte by them selues in little Chappell 's made for the same purpose within the precinct and walls of the same Church Morouer he prepared holy vessels lights and other necessaries to the better adorning of the Church of God And lib. 3. cap. 6. They worshiped Reliques Tenthly to omit many more certain Markes of Roman Religion S. Peters supremacie beleued They accounted S. Peter Primat and head of the Apostles Beda lib. 5. c. 22. I desire with all my hart to follow the stepps of Blessed S. Peter head of the Apostles Ibid. They were reduced to the order of S. Peter Primat and head of the Apostles and committed as it were to his Patronage and protection The Pope high B. ouer the vvhole vvorld They accounted the Pope high Bishop ouer the whole world So in plaine termes S. Beda calleth S. Greg. Pope l. 2. c. 1. Accounted the Church of Rome the Catholick and Apostolick Church lib. 3. c. 25. And l. 4. cap. 23. Going to Rome counted a thing of great vertue and deuotion And l. 3. c. 25. Held without all controuersie that these vvords vpon this Rock I vvill build my Church vvere principally spoken vnto Peter and that vnto him the keies of the Kingdome of heauen were giuen And the Bishops being depriued of their Bishopricks both by the King and by other Bishops appealed to Rome Beda lib. 5. cap. 20. Appeal◠from the Bishop◠and king to the Pope VVilfrid the vertuous Bishop of York appealing to the See Apostolick for his cause and by that ful authoritie absolued c. Item Fiue yeares after he was accused of King Alfrid and many other Bishops and depriued of his Bishoprick wherin vpon repairing again to Rome and obtayning licence to plead his owne defence before his accusers Pope Iohn and many Bishops sitting in Iugdment It was by their Definitiue Sentence concluded that in some parte his accusers had falsly forged surmises The Pope wrote to the Kings of England requiring them to see him restored Protestāts confesse the Rom. faith of our primitiue Church Fox And thus much out of Catholick writers now let vs see what Protestants write of the faith of our Primitiue church 2. Fox in his protestation before his Acts. After the coming of Austin and his fellowes from Rome Christian faith began to enter and spring among the Saxons after a certain Romish sorte Acts. pag. 154. Good vvorks done for clensing from sin The causes why solenm Monasteries were first founded in England by Kinges Queenes and Kings daughters and rich Consuls are these pro remedio animae meae c. For remedy of my soule for remission of my sinnes Foundation of Protestancie vnknovvne to our primitiue Church for the safty of my Kingdoms and people which are vnder my gouernment In honor of the most glorious Virgin Whervpon afterward pag. 170. he concludeth that the doctrine of Iustification by onely faith which pag. 840. he calleth the foundation of their Church was then vnknown Bale Bale Cent. 1. cap. 72. saith English men after Austin did dedicat their Churches to dead Saints Our first Christian K. a perfect Papist And cap. 73. King Ethelbert receaued the Roman Rites and doctrine with all the imposture and Cent. 14. cap. 54. saith that the two Hewalds who were the first English martyrs passi sunt pro Papismo papistici Martyres Our first Martyrs suffer for Papistrie Bilson Papistical Martyrs suffered for Papistrie Bilson of Obed pag. 321. The Saxons were soone entreated to receaue the Bishop of Rome for their Patriarch Stovv Stow pag. 77. citeth this Charter of King Ethelbert King Ethelbert by inspiration of God gaue to Bishop Mellit for remedie of his soule the Land which is called Tillingham for the Monastery of S. Paul which kind of giuing goods is quite opposit to Protestancie Honor of S. Peter counted signe of Christianitie Reinolds as yow may see more hereafter And pag. 78. saith King Sebert to shew him selfe a Christian built a Church in honor of S. Peter Reinolds Confer pag. 12. This imagination of the key and Porter and opinion of power to shut and open committed to Peter onely ouer all the Church as it includeth also the Apostles King Oswie conceaued Keys giuen onely to Peter and all his Clergie did agree vnto it And of S. Beda the principal Doctor of our Primitiue Church Osiander Osiander Epit. Cent. 7. pag. 331. saith thus He was wrapped in all the Popish errors and articles in which we disagree this day from the Pope S. Beda a perfect Papist Wherby we may see how perfect a Papist S. Austin was Fulk in Hebr. 10. Fulk Beda liued in a superstitious time yet liued he 80. yeares after S. Austin long after Antichrist did shew him self Beda sayd that men vnderstod that the helthful sacrifice of masse auailed to the redemption of the body and soule euerlasting And in 1. Pet. 3. Beda was caryed away with the errors and corruptions of his tyme. And thus I hope I haue sufficiently proued the Roman Catholick faith of our first Apostle S. Austin by the faith of his maister S. Greg. by his owne deedes and doctrine by Confession of Protestants and finally by the doctrine of our Primitiue Church which he founded and how it was that Christian Religion which was first founded in our Nation and our English Ancestors imbraced when they forsooke Paganisme Now it remaineth to shew that the same Religion hath continewed also constantly vnto this late lamentable reuolt to Protestancy in all our Nation both in the Clergie and Laitie which I will declare in all the Archbishops of Canterburie who were the cheefe of the one order and in the Kings who were heads of the other And by the way I will name in euery Kings time some of the notable men who successiuely haue confirmed it by their holy life and miracles CHAP. XVIII That all the Archbishops of Canterburie from S. Austin to our tyme were Roman Catholicks proued by generall reasons 1. FIrst because there is no mention or memorie in any Chronicle of England No record that anie Archb
Astronomy and Algorisme Beda and so brought them vp in the tongues as some of them yet liuing can speake Latin and Greeke as wel as English Nether vvas there since Englishe men came to Britanie any time more happie than that For England had most valiant Christian Princes the people vvere vvholly bent to the ioyful tidings of heauen and there vvanted no cunning and expert Maisters to instruct them in the scriptures Thus S. Beda of Saint Theodore his great learning Pope Agatho who than liued so highly esteemed his wonderful learning that he deferred the calling of the sixt generall Councel for his coming In ep apud Malmsb lib. 1. Pont Malmesb. pag. 196. and lib. 1. Reg. pag. 11. saith of him and S. Adrian that they had learnt throughly all good learning and made this Iland a dwelling place of Philosophie Godvvin Godwin saith He was wel seene in all good learning that England neuer had so happy dayes nor so many learned men as vnder him England neuer so learned or so happie as in Saint Theodors time And a little after Amongst a great number of others ther were of his breeding Beda Iohn of Beuerley Albinus and Tobias all excellent and very famous men He founded saith he a schoole or vniuersitie at Greclaed And as Caius addeth lib. 1. antique Cantab an other in Canterburie Bale Bâ—le Cent. 13. cap. 6. giueth this testimony of his excellent learning He was accounted inferior to no Romish Monke of his time for ether diuine or human learning either Latin or Greck tongue He brought hither all artes of calculating Counting Versifying singing arguing c. He taught Latin and Greeke Saint Theodor his great vertue Beda Thus both Catholicks and Protestants admire this great Archbishops learning S. Beda lib. 5. cap. 8. thus witnesseth that he was worthie of perpetual remembrance for his singuler vertues And addeth this of him and his Precessors Of whome with the rest of his Predecessors equal both in dignitie and degree it may be truly verified that their names shall liue in glorie from generation to generation time out of minde For the Church of England for the time he was Archbishop receaued so much comfort and increase in spiritual matters as they could neuer before nor after Florent Florent Chron An 690 calâ—eth him Archbishop of blessed memorie Capgraue Capgraue in his life saith In his time England shined with great aboundance of Saints like most bright starres S. Theodor his Cathol faith 7. But as for his Roman Religion that is so manifest as all Protestants confesse it Bale Cent. 13. cap. 6. saith It is manifest that he came with the Character of the great Beast Bale so Bale commonly termeth the Pope He gaue the vayle to Votaries in diuers places for seruice of Popish Religion and finished many things which serued to further the kingdome of Antichrist And Cent. 1. cap. 80. In the yeare 666. the Papists Masse began to be made Latin Item Pope Vitalian who sent Saint Theodor made all things to be done in Latin in the Christian Churches as in howers in stations in Masses and Prayers And pag. 71. Vitalian sent the Monkes Theodore and Adrian into England that they might confirme in the popish faith those that wauered Perfect Papistrie of EnglaÌ„d in S. Thedor his time and that they might signe his beleeuers with the Character of Antichrist So this heretick termeth Christs Vicar He apointed Latin houres Latin songes Masses Ceremonies Masses Idolatries and Prosession in Churches in Latin apointed shauings commanded annoyntings c. And Cent. 13. cap. 7. Theodore apointed many things in a Councel for setting vp of Purgatorie Fulke Apoc 13. Fulk Composition of the latin seruice by Pope Vitalian to be obserued in all regions subiect to the Romish Tyrany Fox lib. 2. pag. 124. Fox Theodore was sent into England by Vitalian the Pope and vvith him diuers other Monkes to set vp here in England Latin seruice Masses Ceremonies Letanies vvith such other Romish VVare pag. Saint Theodor a confessed Papist and all follovved him 125. He addeth that Theodore vvas present at the sixt generall Councel vnder Agatho vvhere marriage vvas forbidden to the Latin Priests Who wel remenbreth this and marketh also that S. Beda lib. 4. cap. 2. writeth Priests forbidden mariage that Theodore visited all the Contry ouer whersoeuer any English people dvvelled for all men did receaue him gladly and heare him He did teach the right vvay and path of good liuing Vnto him all the vvhole Church of the English Nation did consent to subiect themselues All Engl. gladly receaued S. Theodor. Wherto Godwin addeth that all the Britishe Bishops and generally all Britanie yeelded him obedience Godvvin and vnder him conformed themselues in all things vnto the rule and disciplin of the Church of Rome Note Who I say marketh this will neuer doubt but all England was at that time perfect Roman Catholicks Besids that as S. Beda recordeth lib. 4. cap. 18. Pope Agatho sent hither a Nuntio to examine the faith of the English Church English faith approued of the Pope WhervpoÌ„ Theodore called a Councel and sending a Copie of their faith to Rome it was receaued most gladly of the Pope So that S. Theodore and our English Church in his time were all of one faith with the Pope Brithwald Archbishop VIII 8. THe eighth Archb. of Canterburie was Brithwald who was elected saith Beda lib. 5. cap. 9. An. 692. and consecrated the next yeare by Godwin Archbishop of France He sate saith Beda lib. 5. cap. vlt. 37. yeares 6 months and dyed An. 731. Beda cap. 9 cit saith He was a man doubtles wel trauailed in the knowledg of holy scripture The learning of Archb Brithvvald and very skilful in Ecclesiastical and Monastical orders censures and discipline The same saith Florent Chron. An. 692. and Marian Ibid. Godwin in his life saith He was very wel learned in Diuinity and other wise Pope Sergius who gaue his Pal testifieth in his epist in malmsb lib. 1. Pont. pag. 210. His vertue that Brithwald got not his Bishoprick fastu aut tumore sed mente subnixa humili. Bale Cent. 1. cap. 99. saith he was a fine yong man borne to great matters and got great fame of vertue and learning c His Roman Religion appeareth both by that Bale Godwin and others say he was an Abbot His Rom. Religion And as Bale writeth l. cit Images honored in EnglaÌ„d An. 71â— liued an Ermit from his youth And held a Councel in London An. 712. in which according to the decree of Pope Constantine he appointed Images of dead Saints to be honored and Masses to be said before them Item How much saith Bale this man profited Papistrie Geruasius declareth in his Catalog And cap. 94. About the yeare 714. vnder Archbishop Brithwald ther was a Synod at London for confirmation of
that receiuing his Pal he might sweare Antichrists so he stil termeth the Pope faith The like saith Godwin And of his going to Rome for his Pal testify Malmsb. lib. 4. Pont. pag. 289. Hunt lib. 6. Florent an 1021. Houeden 1022. Fox lib. 3. pag. 163. addeth that King Canut following much the superstition of Agelnoth went a Pilgrimage to Rome And Bale l. cit addeth That he perswaded King Canut to resigne his crowne to the Crucifix and calleth him a Bishop of superstition Eadsin Archbishop XXX 30. IN the yeare 1038. succeded Eadsin The vertue and religiō of Archb. Eadsin and died 1050. His Roman religion and vertue appeareth by that as Godwin saith after his death he was made a Saint Malmsb. lib. Pont. pag. 204. and Florent an 1043. write that he anointed King Edward Confess who was a notorious Papist Robert Archbishop XXXI 31. THe next was Robert who succeded an 1050. and sate two or as Malmsb. in Fastis saith 3. yeares His Roman religion is manifest by that he was a Monk Rom. religion of Archb. Robert brought vp as Godwin saith in the Monasterie of Gemetica in Normandie had a Pal from Rome as he saith in the life of Stigand And being accused went saith Malmsb. 1. Pont pag. 204. to Rome from whence he came with letters to clear him and to recouer his See Stigand Archbishop XXXII 32. THe last Archbishop before the Conquest was Stigand who an 1052. vsurped the seate whilst his Predecessor liued and was depriued an 1069. He was saith Godwin stoute and wise inough His Roman religion is manifest by that as Godwin writeth he laboured to procure a Pal of the Pope Rom. religion of Archb. Stigand but could not because of his vnlawful entrance And therfore as Ingulph who liued then writeth pag. 898 Malmsb. lib. 1. Pont. pag. 204. Florent An. 1058. he procured one of an Antipope which then was The first and last Archb. in the Saxons time said Masse and had a Pall. and vsed it saith Florent An. 1070 in Missarum celebratione Thus you see all the Archbishops of Canterburie in the Saxons tyme for 466. yeares together were Roman Catholicks And as S. Austin the first of them had a Pal from the Pope and sayd Masse so did the very last Now let vs shew the same of all the Archbishops from the Conquest vnto our time CHAP. XX. That all the Archbishops of Canterb from the time of the Conquest vnto our tyme were Roman Catholicks 1. THe 33. Archbishop of Canterburie and first after the Conquest of England was Lanfranck He entred an 1070. being Monke and Prior of Becco in regard saith Godwin of his singuler wisdome and great knowledg of all good learning that those times could affoard The singuler great learning and vvisdom of Arch Lanfranck Was first called by Duke William to be Abbot and after hauing conquered England for his wisdom and faithfulnes he made choise of him for Archbishop of Canterburie Godvvin as one in all respects most fit and worthie which being wel known to all men the Couent of Canterb. at the Kings first nomination readily chose him The nobilitie and Laitie willingly receaued him with great applause Bale Bale Cent. 13. cap. 12. saith he was the most perfect of his tyme in all kind of Logick or subtilitie of Aristotle He corrected and amended according to the right faith all the bookes of the olde and new Testament which had bene corrupted by faulte of the writers and also the writings of the holy Fathers Fox Fox lib. 4. pag. 184. From his commendation and worthines I list not to detract anie thing Stovv Stow Chron pag. 148. Lanfranck skilful in science prudent in Councel and gouernment of things and for religion and life most holie His holines And pag. 171. reporteth that King William Conqueror being redy to die said that he supposed that the praises of Lanfranck and Anselme his Successor sound in the vttermost corners of the Earth He was busie saith Godwin in exhorting King Rufus to vertue and godlines Protestāts forced most highly to commend their learning and vertue vvho condemned their Doctrin And as long as Lanfranck liued saith Stow pag. 179. Rufus seemed to abhor all kind of vice in so much as he was counted the mirror of Kings This high praise for learning and vertue Protestants giue to this Archbishop whome to their confusion they confesse as yow shall heare anon to haue bene a most notorious Papist and the greatest enemy of Berengarius Archb. Lanfranc first confuted the deniers of Transubstātiation whome they account their Patriarch for the denial of the real presence If I should alleadg the sayings of Catholick writers in his commendation I should neuer make an ende Onely therfor I will cite two who liued in his time and quote some others Malmsb. Malmesbur lib. 3. Hist pag. 109. saith he was a man comparable to the Fathers in Religion and learning on whom in earnest may be verified A third Cato came from heauen So heauenly sauor had embued his brest and mouth So all the Latin Church did by his learning stir it self vp to the study of the liberal sciences So by his example or feare Monastical perfection did goe for ward in religion And much more he hath of Lanfranck 1. Pont. pag. 213. sequ Ingulph also Hist Ingulph pag. 901. saith he was the most commended and clear Doctor of all liberal sciences and most expert in temporal affaires and most holy in life and religion Marian The like also hath Marian who liued at that tyme Chron. Florent Huntingt an 1070. Florent and Westmon Ibid. Huntington lib. 7. Neubrigen lib. 1. cap. 1. Paris Hist pag. 8. Walsingham in ypodigmate Capgraue and Trithem in Lanfranco 2. And no les notorious was the Roman religion of this worthie Archb. Rom religion of Archb. Lanfranc than his learning and vertue was famous Which for breuitie sake I will onely proue by the confession of Protestants Bale Cent. Bale He an Heretik vvho in faith differeth from the Church of Rome 13. cap. 12. saith plainly He did many things for the exaltation of Papistrie Defineth him to be an Heretick who differeth from the Church of Rome in doctrine of faith Which is as much as any Papist now can or wil say And Cent. 2. cap. 62. Lanfranck and Anselm set vp the mouldy so this wretch blasphemeth Idol of the Masse Priests mariages condemned and condemned the holy marriages of Priestes Fox lib. 4. pag. 173. citeth this beginning of his letter to Pope Alexander To the Lorde Pope Alexander high ouerseer of all Christian Religion Fox Lanfranck due obedience with all subiection Pag. 394. he calleth him a stout Champion of the Pope Pag. 1147. cheefest trobler of Berengarius And pag. 1148. citeth this profession of Lanfranck Lanfranck his profession of Transubstant I beleeue the earthly
Papistical this is and contrary to Protestancie euery one knoweth Beside as Fox saith pag. 115. most like they did this for holines sake thincking in this kind of life to serue or please God better or to merit more which Kinde of act or ende of theirs is plain Papistical and quite opposit to Protestancie And therfore Fox saith that these Kings were far deceaued To these Kings we may adioin 19. Queenes and Kings daughters whome Fox also pag. 134. confesseth to haue left their royall estate Manie ancient Queenes and K. Daughters nunnes and becommen Nunnes Yea pag. 137. he citeth out of an ancient Chronicle That in the Primitiue Church of England Kings Deuotion of English to monkish life Princes Dukes Earles Barons and Rulers of Churches incensed with a desire of heauen laboring and striuing among them selues to enter into Monkerie into voluntarie exile and solitarie life forsooke all and followed the Lord. The same hath Huntington lib. 5. Houed and others Is this thinck we a proceding of Protestants or rather of earnest and deuout Roman Catholicks 5 Out ancient Kings desire the P. to confirme their Charters 2. Fiftly They desired the Pope to confirme their Charters which they made This you may see of King Ethelbert the first Christian King in Malmsb lib. 1. Pont. pag. 208. Of King Coenred and King Offa in Capgraue in vita Egwin Of King Egbert in Florent Chron. An. 676. of King wulfer in Ingulf pag 884. Of an other King Offa in Paris An. 794. Of King Edgar in Malmsb. lib. 2. Reg. pag. 57. 6. They suffered appeals to Rome from them selues 6 Kings suffer appeals to Rome This is euident in King Egbert and King Alfred in Beda lib. 5. cap. 20. 7. They beleeued S. Peter to be Prince of the Apostles as is to be seene in King Offa his Charter in Cambden in Brit. 7 Our Kings beleeue S. Peters supremacie pag. 613. and S. Peter to be higher in degree than S. Paule as is to be seene in King Ina his verses there pag. 193. and Peter onely to haue had the keies to witt of all the Church as Reinolds confesseth Confer pag. 12 And finally the Church of Rome in their time to be the Catholick and Apostolick Church as Beda testifieth lib. 3. cap. 29 at what time the Protestants account the Roman Church the who are of Babilon and the Pope Antichrist 8 Manie of our Kings canonized by the Pope 8. Seuen of these our English Kings are Canonized by the Roman Church in the Martirologe to wit Ethelbert Richard Oswald Sebbi Edmund Edward martir Edward Confessor 9 Our ancient Kings knovv not iustification by onely faith which would neuer haue bene done if they had not bene Roman Catholicks 9. Our ancient English Kings could be no Protestants therfore they were Roman Catholicks For no others challenge them for theirs That they could be no Protestants is most manifest First because the opinion of iustification by onely faith is accounted of Protestants the foundation VVhat is the foundation and soul of Protetestancie Luther head and cheefest point and soule of their Doctrin and Church It is saith Luther Prefat in Ionam the head of Christian Religion the summe of the scriptures Prefat ad Galath If the article of Iustification by onely faith be once lost then is all true Christian doctrin lost And as many as hould not that doctrin are Iewes Turks Papists or hereticks Item By this onely doctrin the Church is built and in this it consisteth And in cap. 1. Galath If we neglect the Article of Iustification we leese all together And in cap. 2. It is the principal Article of all Christian doctrin all other Arcicles are comprehended in it Fox Acts. Fox pag. 840. saith It is the foundation of all Christianitie Chark And pag. 770. the onely principal origen of our saluatian Chark in the Tower disputation saith It is the soule of the Church And the same say all other Protetestants But this foundation this head this soule of Protestancie our ancient Kings knew not as Fox plainly confesseth in these wordes pag. 170. The Doctrin of Iustification by onely faith was then vnknown And pag. 133. writeth thus of our antientest Christian Kings Our Kings knevv not the Protestant Gospel They lackt the doctrin and knowledg in Christs Gospel espetially saith he in the Article of free Iustification by faith and therfor saith he they ran the wrong way Loe he granteth that they were ignorant espetially of that which Protest esteeme the especiallest point of Protestancie And Ibid. speaking of our ancient Christian Kings hath these wordes How great the blindnes and ignorance of these men was who wanting no zeale wanted knowledg seeking their saluation by their meritorious deedes which I write saith he here to put vs in mind how much we at this present are bound to God for the true sinceritie of his truth hidden so long before to our fforancestors and opened now to vs. A plaine confession that none of our Anceitors vvere Protestants This onely lamenting to see them haue such works and want our faith and vs to haue right faith and want their workes Could he say more plainly that our Ancient Princes and Christian Ancestors knew not so much as the foundation of Protestancy and wanted their faith And with what face then can any man challeng them for Protestants And heere I challeng Abbots or what minister so euer VVhat must be shevved of ministers that saie our Anceitors vvere Protestants to shewe one ancient English man Woman or Child that held this forsaid foundation head and soule of their religion And if they can not as indeede they can not let them confesse that there was neuer ancient English Protestant vnles they will make Protest without head or or soule 3. Moreouer to build or indow Religious houses as Doc. Abbots saith Answer to D. pag. 100. Bishop for redemption of their sinnes and purchase of their soules health proceeded of the wāt of the sight of the sunne of righteousnes For vvhat end our Kings built and endevved monasteries And Fox pag. 133. saith it is contrary to the rule of Christs Gospel But the same Fox Ibid. testifieth that our first Christian kings built monasteries seeking for merit with God and remedie of their soules and remedy of their sinnnes and prooueth it by a Charter of King Ethelbald which he might haue proued by as many Charters of those ancient kings as are extant One of King Ethelbald I will cite out of Ingulph made to free monks from taxes the third yeare of his Reigne which was 718 some what more than a hunderd yeares after S. Austin Ego Ethelbald c I Ethelbald King of marchland for the loue of the celestical Contry Good vvorks done to free the soul from bond of sin and for the redemption of my soule haue prouidently decreed to free it by good worke from all bond of sinne
giuen saith Florent Anno. 855. Vniuersali Papae Apostolico To the Vniuersall Apostolicke Pope The same hath Fox lib. 3. p. 136. Fourthly he gaue saith Fox to holy Church and religious men the tenth of his goods and Lands in VVest-Saxons with liberty and fredom from all seruice and ciuil charge And Fox setteth downe his Charter in these wordes Ego Ethelwolphus c. The faith of King Ethelvvolph and his Nobleâ— I Ethelwolph King of the VVest Saxons with the coÌ„sent of my Prelats Nobles will grant an hereditarie portion of my land to be foreuer possessed by God the blessed S. Marie and all the Saints of God Behould how the King by the aduise of his Bishops and Nobles giueth Land to God and his Saints and to what purpose himselfe declareth in these words following For the redemption of our soules Good deeds for remission of sinnes for the remission of our sinnes Which intention as yow heard before out of Abbots Fox is contrary to the Protestants Gospell And therfore Fox vpoÌ„ these words saith Note the blind ignorance and erroneous teaching in these dayes and addeth that they were led with pernicious doctrine to set remission of sinnes and remedie of soules in this donation and such other deedes of their deuotion And further the King saith VVestmon An â—54 as Malmsb. testifieth lib. 2. cap. 2. Placuit Episcopis cum c. It hath pleased the Bishops with the Abbots and the seruants of God to apoint that all our brethren and sisters in euery Church shall sing on wensday in euery weeke fifty psalmes K. Ethelvvolph requireth Masses for him aliue and dead and euery Priest two Masses one for King Ethelwolph another for his Dukes coÌ„senting to this gift for their reward remissioÌ„ of their trespasses And for the K. liuing let them say Oremus Deus qui iustificas c. For the Duke also liuing also PraeteÌ„de Domine c But after their death for the K. alone for the Dukes deceassed iointly together this be so firmly ordained throughout al the daies of Christianitie euen as their libertie is established so loÌ„g as faith increaseth in the English Nation This Charter of Donation was written in the yeare of our Lords Incarn 844. Indict 4. the fift day of Nouemb. in the Citie of VVinchester in the Church of S. Peter before the head Altar And this they did for the honor of S. Michael the Archangell also for the blessed Marie Q. the glorious mother of God of S. Peter the Prince of the Apostles and in like maÌ„ner of our most holy Father Pope Greg. and of all Saints In this Chapter I note how K. Ethelvvolph coÌ„manded not in spiritual matters not the King but Bish apoint Priests to pray say Masses for him and that S. Peter is called Prince of the Apostles the other points of Papistry therin are more euideÌ„t than that I neede to point to them All England Papist in K Ethelvvolhps time And yet as Ingulph saith p. 862. to this chapter subscribed all the Archb. Bishops of England K. Bardred King Edmund after martyr and Princes of a part of EnglaÌ„d vnder King Ethelwolph Abbots Abbesses Dukes Countes and nobles of the whole LaÌ„d innumerable multitude of other people By which we may see the vniuersall faith of our Contry of that time And in a Charter of King Berthulphus in Ingulph p. 861. The King praieth God Quatenus pro intercessione Guthlaci c That through the intercessioÌ„ of S. Guthlack and all the Saints he would forgiue me all my people our sinnes Pardon of sinnes asked by intercession of Saints In this Kings time An. 850. S. WolstaÌ„ nephew to two KK was vniustly murdered and afterward honored by God with miracles FloreÌ„t Chronic. Saints Also S. Ieron an English Priest martyred in Holand An. 849. Bale Cent. 13. cap 75. In this K. time also liued one Offa K. of Eastengland who leauing his Kingdome and trauailing to the holy land in ould Saxonie from whence our Nation came into England elected S. Edmund for his heire and sent him into EnglaÌ„d Capgraue in vit Edmundi Florent An. 855. Houed pag. 415. Stow pag. 76. King Ethelbald XV. 3. THe 15. K. was Ethelbald eldâ—st sonne to K. Ethelwolph who began his reign An. 857. and reigned fiue yeares He was at first dissolut and naught as yow may see in Malmsb. lib. 2 cap. 3. But peracta poenitentia saith Westmon Anno. 859. Hauing done pennance all the time he liued after he gouerned the Kingdom with peace and iustice Wherfore Hunting lib. 5. pag. 348. calleth him optimae indolis aeuenem a youth of very great towardnes saith that all England bewailed his death King Ethelbert XVI 4. THe 16. king was Ethelbert brother to the former begaÌ„ his raigne An. 862. as Malmsb. hath in Fastis and held the gouerment fiue yeares He was saith Ingulph pag. 863. Valour of K. Ethelbert Validissimus adolescens A most valiant yong man and an inuincible triumpher ouer the Danes he stoutly for fiue yeares space gouerned the Kingdome Malmsb. 2. Reg. cap. 3. saith he ruled strenuè dulciterque Manfully and sweetly Houed pag. 405. saith pacifice amabiliter peaceably and gently In this Kings time died S. Swithin Anno 862. Florent Westmon in Chron. Saints As for the Roman religion of these two Princes His Rom. Religion that appeareth both by what hath bene said of their Father and what shal be said of their two brothers King Ethelred XVII 5. THe 17. king was Ethelred 3. sonne to king Ethelwolfe Who began his reign saith Malmsb. lib. 2. cap. 3. Anno 867. and reigned 5. yeares as his brothers did Fortitude and pietie of K Ethelred Of him and his brethren Malmsb. saith They bouldly and stoutly entred battel for their Country and addeth that this king besides ordinary skirmishes fought 9. picht Battels in one yeare against the Danes nine battells in one yeare was oftener Conqueror And that he slewe one king of them 9. Earlers and innumerable people which also testify Ethelwerd lib. 4. cap. 12. Hunting lib. 5. Cambd. in Brit. saith He was Princeps longe optimus Couper Anno 863. satih he was among his subiects mild gentle pleasant against his aduersaries seuere fierce and hardie Of this Fox lib. 3. pag. 141. telleth that being to ioine batell with the Danes Miracle in confirmation of Masse his brother Alfred gaue the onset while the King saith Fox was at seruice and meditations and albeit word were brought him that his brother had the worst yet would he not saith Fox stir one foote before the seruice was fully coÌ„plet And addeth that through the grace of God and their godly manhood the King coÌ„ming from his seruice recouered the victory slew as Ethelwerd who as himself saith desceÌ„ded of that K. lib. 4. c. 2. saith one King Marueilous victorie fiue
of the miracle may by this iudg of the certaintie of the rest The matter was thus An inhabitaÌ„t of Bedford hauing had by forme of the lawe which then was his eyes pluckt out and his stones cut away but vniustly made prayer to S. Thomas for the restoring of them which was done That the man had bene thus maimed the Burgesses and Cittizens of Bedford saith Fox did testifie with publick letters And whither he was cured or no was easy to know All that Fox saith against this or the rest of the miracles is that there was no necessitie of a miracle in a Christian Realm hauing the word of God Forsooth he must tel God when there is necessitie yea tie Gods hands to do nothing but for necessitie Had not the Iewes the word of God when they had the daylie miracles of Probatica piscina Doth not the vertue of miracles shine in the Church for euer as the notes of the English Bible imprinted An. 1576. Iohan. 14. do teach But wel it is that Saint Thomas his miracles haue so many and so authenticall testimonies as he must needs conremn all humaÌ„ authoritie who denieth them to haue bene done King Richard Coeur de Lion XXXVIII 7. IN the yeare 1189. succeeded K. Richard Coeur de Lion so sirnamed of his corage Valour of King Richard Ceur de Lion sonne to King Henrie 2. and reigned 10. yeares He was saith Cambd. de Brit. pag. 331. Animi excelsi erecti c. Of an high and vprighit mind altogether borne for the Christian common vvelth Polid. lib. 14. Englands glorie and terror of the Pagans Cooper Anno. 1189 big of stature and had a mery countenance in vvhich appeared as vvel a pleasant gentlenes as a noble and princely Maiestie to his soldiers fauorable bountifull desirous of vvar Subdued the Kingdom of Ciprus conquered the Citty of Acon vanquished the Soldan in the holy Land whither he went with an army of 30000. foote and 5000. horse His Rom. religion The Roman religion of this famous and magnanimous King is manifest First because Houed who then liued pag. 656. 657. Paris 205. and others tel the maner of his coronation was thus The Archb. Bishops Abbots and Priests in Copes with the Crosse before and holy water and incense brought him to the Church Again he tooke his oath on the Gospel and many reliques of Saints After coronation began the solemn Masse k. Richard crovvned at masse and when they came to the offertorie Bishops brought the king to offer and in like sorte to take the Pax. And after Masse returned again with Procession Secondly pag. 222. Paris telleth how he redeemed the reliques of Ierusalem with 52. thousaÌ„d BisaÌ„tes Quatenus saith he To the ende that Saints of God whose bones he redeemed in earth might help his soule by their intercessions in heauen And pag. 497. He obtained of the Soldan that a certain Priest at the Kings stipend might euery day celebrate masse of the holy Crosse at our Sauiours Sepulcher during the time of the truce Thirdly retiring to England saith Westmon Anno. 1194. he visited S. Thomas of Canterb. S. Edmund and S. Albons Shrines and after went against his Rebells in Nottingham Fourthly Houed pag. 658. setteth downe a Charter of his where he graÌ„teth Land to S. Cutbert For the soule of our Father and Ancestors and of our Successors and for our owne and our heires saluation and for the confirmation and increase of our Kingdome Fiftly Houed p. 677. hath a letter of his to Pope Clement 2. which beginneth thus To his most reuerend Lord and blessed Father by the grace of God cheefe Bishop of the holy Apostolick See health and affection of true deuotion in our Lord. The facts of Princes haue better end wheÌ„ they receaue assistance and fauour from the See Apostolick And pag. 706. When king Richard went to the holy Land he left the care of the gouernment of his kingdome vnto the See Apostolick And pag. 753. The same Houed setteth downe a letter of Pope Celestin in which the Pope saith thus The Church of England hath alwaies kept the sincerity of her deuotion and ancient faith with the Roman Church Finally a little before S. Richards death saith Fox Acts pag. 249. England alvvaies deuout to the Church of Rome Three Abbots of the Cistertian order came vnto him to whome he was confessed and when he saw them somwhat stay at his absolution said these words that he did willingly commit his soule to the fier of Purgatorie there to be tryed til the Iudgment in hope of Gods mercie Saints In this publick profession of Roman Catholick faith gaue this renowned King vp his soule to God In this Kings time died Anno. 1189. the forsaid Saint Gilbert who of his order erected 13. Monasteries in England Polid. l. 14. Then also liued Saint Hugh of Lincoln of whome we shall speake hereafter King Iohn XXXIX 8. THe 39. King was King Iohn brother to King Richard who began his Reign Anno. 1199. and reigned 17. yeares Of this King some ignorant Protestants brag as if he had bene a Protestant Bale Cent. 1. cap. 75. because for a time he disobeyed the Pope polid l. 15. commendeth him of valor liberalitie Christian pietie But with shame inough For he lost all in manner that his Predecessors had in France which was neere as much as England it selfe Qualities of K. Ihon. and had almost lost England too VVas as the Earle of Northampton saith of him in the araignment of Garnet impious as wel sans foy as sans terre and that he was as likly to haue departed with his soule as his Crowne if necessitie had pressed him Nether was he ill onely to him selfe but to his people and Contrie from whome being not content by him selfe to extort what he would sent for many thousand Flemings to do the same to whome he ment to giue Norfolk and Suffolk Paris pag. 360. 367. And pag. 325. he nameth the Embassador whome King Iohn sent to the Mahometan King of Africk to offer the subiection of him self and his Kingdom to him and to accept the law of Mahomet which Paris learnt of them to whome one of the Embassadors tould it Neuer the lesse what Christian religion he had is euident to haue bene Roman Catholick His Râ—m Religion First because he was chosen King cheefely by meanes of Archbishop Hubert Paris pag. 264. who was a notorious Papist Stovv pag. 244. Secondly because vpon his crownation he tooke his oath vpon the reliques of Saints Paris pag. 263. and next day after his coronation went on Pilgrimage to S. Albans pag. 264. at Lincoln offered a chalice of gould pag. 273 holpt to carry on his shoulders the body of S. Hugh pa. 274. Houed pag. 812. Thirdly he heard Masse saith Stow pag. 246. and fell downe before the Abbots of Cisterce desiring to be admitted of them for a brother Fourthly he fouÌ„ded a
the Pope in which he professeth Profession of the King That amongst the rest of the Kings of the whole world we embrace in the armes of our singuler loue our most deere sonne in Christ the renowned King of EnglaÌ„d The popes testimonie of K Henrie 3. who as a Prince Catholick and deuout hath alwaies studied to honor the Roman Church his mother with a filiall subiection and dutifull deuotion because he would no way depart from her good pleasure but rather what things he vnderstood to be gratfull and pleasing to her he hath performed with a ready carefulnes And againe pag. 887. alleadgeth other letters of the Pope to the King wherin he saith Towards your person as to a sonne and speciall deuout of the Apostolick Sea we carying a Fatherly affection of loue do willingly giue audience to your requests as far as we may with God and do impart our benign fauor To these letters I will add two other publick letters of the nobilitie and Commons and of the Clergie at the same time taken out of Fox p. 288. Profession of the nobilitie and CoÌ„mons of EnglaÌ„d of their subiection to the Pope Paris pag. 901. and others To the reuerend Father in Christ Pope Innocent cheefe Bish The nobles with the Communalty of the whole Realme of England sending greeting with kissing of his blessed feete Our mother the church of Rome we loue with all our hartes as our duty is and couet the increase of her honor with so much affection as we may as to whome alwayes we ought to fly for refuge Item Neyther is it to our said mother vnknowne how beneficiall and bounfull a giuer the Realme of England haâ—â— bene now a long time for the more amplifying of her exaltation Againe Our king being a Catholick Prince wholly giuen to his deuotions and seruice of Christ so as he respecteth not the health of his owne body will feare and reuerence the See Apostolick and as deuout sonne of the Church of Rome desireth nothing more than to aduance the state and honor of the same And the said Fox pag. 291. and Paris and Westmon An. 1247. set downe an other letter of the Clergy and Communalty of Canterbury thus To the most holy Father in Christ Lord Innocent by Gods prouision cheefe Bishop The whole Communalty both of the Clergy and laity of the Prouince of Canterbury sendeth deuout kissing of his blessed feete England euer since her first Christianitie deuout to the Church of Rome Like as the Church of England since it first receaued the Catholick faith hate alwayes shewed it selfe faithfull and deuout in adhering to God our holy Mother the Church of Rome studying with al kind of seruice to please serue the same Church of England prostrate at the Popes feet and thincketh neuer otherwise to do but rather to continew and increase as she hath begun So now the same Church most humbly prostrat befor the feete of your holines most earnestly intreat c. And the same persons writing to the Cardinals call them Bases fulcientes Ecclesiam Dei Pillers vnderproping the Church of God Moreouer the said Paris pag. 929. hath the letters of the Religious men to the same Pope in these words professioÌ„ of the religions of England touching their subiection to the Pope To our most holy Father deere Lord in Christ Innocent by the grace of God cheefe Pastor of the vniuersall Church his deuout sonnes the Abbots and the Priors of this Prouince of Canterbury and Yorke health and kisses of your blessed feete The whole Church is gouerned vndet one Father Pastor also the Church of England is a most speciall member of the Church of Rome And pag. 930. The Nobles Clergy and Vniuersall People wish as their duty is health reuerently to such a great Bishop And ibidem The king writeth againe thus He knoweth who is ignorant of nothing that we alwayes placed our mother the Roman Church in the bowels of our sincere affection as her whome we would loue K. Henrie 3. vvould recur to the P in necessitie and vnto whome in immineÌ„t instaÌ„ts of necessitie as a sonne vnto his mother whome she ought to foster and norish from her dugges of milk we would recur Thus the King Clergie Religious Nobles and Commons doe most plainly and publickly professe their Catholick religioÌ„ and subiection to the Pope and his spirituall superioritie ouer them in so much as Godwin in the life of Sewal Archb. of York Protest confesse K. Henr. Cath. religion saith This King subiected and as it were prostrated him selfe to the Pope And Bale Cent. 4. cap. 23. noteth that King Henrie the third did not reigne but bore the Image of the Beast And cap. 6. speaking of the time of this King saith The healthful truth was vanished out of this Land men being led into perdition And cap. 34. Vnder King Henry 3. ther was great decay of true faith in Christ euen vnto our tyme in the merits of condignitie and congruall of the Papists in Indulgences suffrages of Saints Protest except against all vvritings from K. Hen. 3. to Luthers time vowes masses Purgatorie Images c. And therfor exhorteth all to trie the doctrine which florished from the year 1270. to the yeare 1520. So manifest a thing it is that this King and all his successors and Realme since him to the later ende of King Henrie 8. were Roman Catholicks And albeit this King and the common welth in his tyme repined some what at the Pope yet that was not for any points of faith or religion but onely as yow may see in Paris the Kings Chronicler of that time and others because he bestowed English Benefices vpoÌ„ Strangers VVestmon An. 1246. Which he being then driuen out of Rome and from his own liuing by a wicked Emperor was forced to doe Finally this King died as Continuat Paris then liuing writeth pag. 1343. Confessing his sinnes beating his brest absolued houseled aneiled honoring the Crosse Saints In this Kings time liued the holy Archb. of Canterb S. Edmund whose body long after his death was found incorrupt Westmon An 1247. and others Also Saint Richard Bishop of Chichester A man saith Westmon An. 1253. Of eminent knowledge See Sur. tom 2. and singuler or rare sanctitie Godwin in his life saith All men greatly reuerenced him not onely for his great learning but much more for his diligence in preaching his manifould vertues and aboue all his integritie of life and conuersation In regard of which and many miracles fathered saith he vpon him he was canonized In this Kings tyme also died that grear Clerck Robert Grostet Bish of Lincoln whome the Protest wouâ—d make one of theirs onely because he mislyked the Popes preferring of strangers to English Benefices But that reason is too friuolous Besides that Westmon An. 1253. testifieth that the same yeare he died he wrote thus to the Pope Salutem
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
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
Christs faith wherto these two were moued by wordly if not vitious motiues theÌ„ that wherto they were moued by heauenly vertue and miracles That that should be Gods truth which began but the last day rather thaÌ„ that which hath continewed heere this thousand yeares Finally that a Child and one woman are gone to heauen so many vertuous Princes with all their Archbishops Bishops Prelats Diuins and Clergy with all their Queenes Princes Nobles Commons and Ancestors for these thousand yeares not withstanding all their wisdom learning miracles vertuous liues and good deedes are gon to hell for want of true faith in Christ were as the ancient Father Tertullian saith to certain Hereticks of his time so many millions christened in vaine beleeued in vaine serued God in vaine and are dead in their sinnes Perhaps some will say that the forsayd Princes and our Ancestors beleeued so much of the Christian faith as is necessary to saluation But then it euidently followeth that the Protestant faith is not the Christian faith Because as I haue shewne before out of the confession of Protestants those Princes knew not so much of Protestancy as that which Protestants account the soule head and foundation of their religion and without which they say all is lost To wit IustificatioÌ„ by onely faith Yea they are by Fox others plainly denyed to haue known the Protestants faith and affirmed to haue held diuers pointes quite opposit to ProtestaÌ„cy How then could they be saued by any point of Protestancy who knew not so much as the foundation therof and with other points of their beliefe ouerturned it Wherfore others ashamed to condemne so many so worthy and so vertuous Christians to Hel and yet not daring to afford them hope of saluation lest they should condemne their owne religion answere that they will not iudge their forfathers but leaue them to Gods iudgement But these ether are ashamed to vtter what they thinke or haue no firme faith at all For if they firmely belieued their Protestant faith to be Christs faith they must needs thinck that all that haue died without it are damned for without true faith it is impossible to please God or which is a spice of Atheisme and right Antichristianitie that there are more waies to heauen than by Christ and his faith that there are many faiths many baptisms many Christs many Gods From which irreligious atheisme God deliuer my deere country And thus hauing sufficiently shewed how Saint Austin was our English Nations first preacher and what qualities he had fit for such a function and what kind of doctrine his was and how it hath continued in our countrie euer since lâ—t vs now vew Luther and his doctrine see whither they haue the like or rather quite opposit qualities conditions that after hauing weighed both we may the berter iudge wherof to make our choice Finis Primi libri THE SECOND BOOKE OR SCALE VVHERIN The qualities of Luther and of his Doctrine are set dovvne THE FIRST CHAPTER That Luther was the first Author of the Protestant Religion VVhy Catholiks might be alledaged against Luther ALBEIT I might iustly produce the testimonie of Catholick writers who liued at the same time with Luther and some of them in the same Countrie also neare vnto him to proue that he was the first beginner of Protestancie because they could not be ignorant of so notorious a matter and being of that fidelitie as they cannot be disproued in any other weightie matter of that grauity as it can not be thought that they would wittinglie make them selues a scorne to the world by reporting notorious vntruthes and finally being Catholicks whose testimonie as we see in England Protestants vse to account most sure Catholick writers I say being thus qualified I might iustly produce their testimonie especially in so easie a matter for them to know and so easie to be disproued if it were not true For what more easie than to name one liuing man that was Protestant befor Luther if any had bene yet partely because I would auoid all cauils VVhy their testimonies are forborne but especially because Protestants them selues testifie ynough in this matter I will absteine from Catholick witnesses leauing it to the iudicious Reader to considet how euident our cause is which we will proue onely by the testimonie of our aduersaries Fiue kind of Profes that Luther vvas the beginner of Protestantisme And that Luther was the first Author of Protestant Religion I will proue First by the Protestants confession of the inuisibilitie or no appearance in the world of their Church or religion before Luther Secondly by their like Confession of the newnes or late rising of their Church and faith Thirdly by their Confession also of the departure of their first Maisters and Teachers from our Church Fourthly I will proue it by reason And Fiftly by their plaine affirming and graunting that Luther was indeed the beginner of their religion To which profes I will adde in the next Chapters a disprofe of such as some ProtestaÌ„ts chalenge to haue bene of their religion in EnglaÌ„d in former times That the ProtestaÌ„ts Church vvas not visible befor Luther Luther 2. Thouching the first kind of profe that the ProtestaÌ„ts CongregatioÌ„ was not visible in the world before Luther it may suffice that Luther himself lib. de Capt. cap. de bapt complayneth that The Popes tirany saith he for many ages hath extinguished the faith And lib. de libert he crieth out thus Alas Christian life is vnkowne in all the world Erasmus a CoÌ„fessor with Fox Erasm cont Epist non Sab. Luther Fox in his Calendar Reinolds Coâ—for pag. 152. 1â—5 Calvin The alteration of religion vvith the beginning of Charles 5. tooke her original Sleidan prefat histor VVhitaker Perkins and a man of good iudgment with Doct. Reinolds writeth that Luther taught many things which for many ages the Church knew not Caluin Praefat. Institut confesseth plainly that his doctrine diu incognita sepultaque latuit Lay long time vnknowne and buried Againe In the ages past ther was no face of a true Church For some ages all things were drowned in deep darknes And lib. 4. c. 1. § 11. For some ages the pure preaching of the word vanished Doct. Whitaker cont Duraeum pag. 274. we as plainly know saith he the visible Church to haue perished as thou knowest a man to be dead Perkins in his Exposit of the Creed p. 400. Before the daies of Luther for the space of many hundred yeares an Vniuersal Apostacie ouerspred the whole world The protestant Church hid for manie hundred years togâ—tâ—er And in thâ— Resor Catholicke p. 3â—2 Our Church saith he in Luthers time began to shâ—w it selfe as hauing bene hid by an vniuersall Apostacy many hundred yeares togeather Could one speak more plainly And exposit cit p 370. he saith these many hundreds which he meaneth were nine hundred yeares D. Fulke in natis Apoc. 20.
haue their Iustification that is merely by beleef or imaginatioÌ„ not by reall existeÌ„ce But as Tertullian said of ould Heretiks so some now VVill be eeâ—e without Scriptures that they may beleeue against Scripture For what more without Scripture ether of God or man than that there hath bene a Protestant Church for these thousand yeares and yet we nether saw any such nor any that then liued hath tould vs And what mâ—re against Scripture than to beleeue that Chtist and his Church kept especially for so long time in penetralibus in corners and lurking holes Math 4. 24. that his Church and Pastors are not a cittie built vpon a mountaine a light set open vpon a candlestick that it may shine to all Or how could any of them be saued if they professed it not seing confession is made to saluation Rom. 10. 5. And this kind of argument must needs seeme forcible both to Protestants and Puritans because they both vse it against their aduersaries For hereby the forsaid Surueyer cap. 5. proueth that the Puritan disciplin was neuer before Caluin because in all times afore there is no mention or record of it Novv Puritans proue that there vvere no Anabaptists before this age And likwise the Puritans proue that Anabaptisme was not before our daies as you may see in Colloquio Francatal whose words because they make much to our present purpose I will here rehearse If you say they to the Anabaptists be the Church of God it vvill follovv that God vvas without a people and a Church till the year 1522. in which Nicolas Storck and a litle after Thomas Muncer laid the first foundation of your doctrine And this they proue thus For if you read all Histories from the beginning of the vvorld you shall not finde a people which had a Confession of faith like to yours But because say they nether God was from the beginning vvithout a people and Church nor the euerlasting King Iesus Christ vvithout a Kingdom your CoÌ„gregation began first An. 1522. it followeth that you can not be the true Church people of God Thus PuritaÌ„s against the Anabaptists we obiect the same to them 6. As for the second point of the newnes and late rising of Protestancie Luther Prefat Epist Galat. fol. 2. saith thus That the ProtestaÌ„ts Church is nevv and lately risen Luther Apologie alias Iuel In these dayes this healthfull knowledg of Christ is now reuealed and raised vp againe And the Apologie of the English Church in plaine termes acknowledgeth the newnes of their doctrin thus It was easie for thes men Papists fortie yeares agoe to deuise thes and other greater crimes against vs when in midst of that darknes some beame of truth then vnknovvne vnheard of began first to rise Loe he coÌ„fesseth that 40. yeares agoe Protest doct was not heard of before but then began first to appear But let vs hear him further VVhen Martin Luther saith he Hulderic Zuinglius most excellent men sent of God to lighten the world began first to preach the matter was yet new note the euent vncertaine and ther could be no such heinous wickednes imagined which for the nevvnes Note againe and strangenes of the matter vvould not be easily be beleeued of the people against vs. Sleid prafat Histor saith the original of Protestancie vvas in the beginning of Charles 5. reigne Reinolds Behold it twise confessed that their doctrin was new and strange also 40. yeares agoe And pag. 13. he biddeth vs to think of the beginning and proceedings of their religion D. Reinolds also in his Confer pag. 152. writeth thus It is more likelie that you Papists who by long continuance of time haue had long occasion to steale avvay truth should corrupt the Fathers than vve vvho haue not had it Loe Reynolds confesseth that Protestants haue not long continewed Caluin Caluin also 4. instit c. 1. parag 2. hath these words Albeit a heauie desolatioÌ„ vvhich vve euery vvhere see doe crie that ther is nothing of the Church remaining And c. 3. para 4. plainly auoucheth that ther were no Churches rightly setled Cooper and therfore they needed to be sent extraordinarily Cooper in his Chronicle An. 1535. saith that Luther vvrote that Gods light vvas lately renewed Fox And finally Fox to omit others in his Acts p. 788. coÌ„fesseth most plainly that Luthers doctrin was new in the year 1524. ProtestaÌ„ts doctrin but in the blade An. 1524. For theÌ„ saith he the doctrin of Luther first beginning to spring and being but in the blade vvas not yet knovvne vvhitherto it teÌ„ded nor to vvhat it vvold grovv And in like sorte p. 791. he termeth also Zuinglius doctrine new To these I might add that the Patriarch of Constantin to whome the Protest sent their doctrin condemned it and calleth it altogether nevv doctrine And vpon the newnes of their doct it cometh that thes termes are most vsuall with Protest The doctrin of the Gospel vvas borne a nevv Calvin 4. instit cap. 7. 24. Apol. Aug. pag. 56. 194. VVhitak cont Dur. pag. 19. 140. Bale Cent. 8. cap. 60. 68. 100. Cent. 1 cap. 74. Feild of the Church lib. 3. cap. 39 Suruey cap. 8. The Church restored The Gospel restored Christs doctine renewed Gods word began to shine The renouatioÌ„ of the Gospel The rising of the nevv HierusaleÌ„ The birth of the Gospel SecoÌ„d birth of Christ Religion borne againe And their first maisters their first Bishops their Apostles or Euangelists Luther Latimer Ridly the like Hence what will follow euery one seeth to wit that the Protest Church or faith is not the Church or saith of Christ which begun about 16. hundred years agoe but a new Church begun not yet one hundred since Or that Christs Church faith was quite dead gone and Luther raised it againe to life And what Church then I pray you was that wherin he was Christened was it Pagan were his Godfathers Heathens was he wheÌ„ he was baptized made a Paynim wheÌ„ce came this new Church raiser from what heauen fell he from what sea sprunge he from what earth rose he That all the first Protestant Preachers had bene before Rom. Catholiks 7. Touching the third point to be proued that the Protestants first and cheef teachers were once Roman Catholicks and went from our Church and religion it is so manifest as nether is it nor can it be denyed For Luther 1. Gal fol. 37. saith thus of him self I was as earnest for the Popes laws as euer any was I honored the Pope of meere coÌ„scieÌ„ce And fol 38. I diâ— so highly esteeme the Popes authoritie that to dissent from him euen in the least point I thought it a sin worthie of euerlasting deathe and wold my self in defence of the Popes authoritie haue ministred fire and sword And fol. 188 VVe that are ould haue bene trained vp in Popish error euen from our youth
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
This is a very miserable impudent shift For first it is auōched without al proof or testimony besid their owne words And therfor maybe as lightly reiected of vs as it is affirmed of them 2 ly because al Archeretiks claime this kind of sending Protestāts bring no especial proof why we shold beleue Luther in this point more thā other Archeretiks yea Erasm Ep. ad frat infer Germ. writeth that Mahomet may better chalēg the spirit thā Luther Thirdly because Luther himself disclaimeth this kind of sending him For 1. Gal. fo 11. he saith God calleth two māner of waies by means without means He calleth vs to the Ministry of his word this day not immediatly by himself but by man And addeth that ordinary vocatiō hath endured frō the Apostles to our time shall to the end of the world The same hath vogel his scholer in Thesaur Biblico c. de vocat Ministror others And who shold know how Luther was sent better than himself Besids D. Feild l. 3. of the Church c. 48. as disclaming extraordinary calling saith we saie our calling and our Ministrie is not extraordinary And D Fulke in 10. Ioan. Luther saith he had lawfull calling both of God the Church And the 23. Article of the Protestāts faith is this These we ought to iudge lawfully called and sent which be called and chosen to the work by men who haue publick authority giuen to them in the Cōgregation to cal and send Ministers Therfore according to our Protestāts faith Luther cannot be iudged to haue bene lawfully sent vnles he had bene sent by men this of publik authority in the Church yea Caluin him selfe after he had brought diuers proofes out of Scripture that to lawful calling is necessary the sending by men saith thus 4. instit cap. 3. Parag. 15. we haue therefore out of Gods word that that is lawfull calling of Ministers when they which are thought fit are made vvith consent and approbatiō of the people And Muscul loc Com. pag. 394. saith Extraordinary calling is not now in vse D. Serauin in booke of degrees of Ministers termeth extraordinary calling an vnknowne coost See D. Couell in his defence of Hooker pag. 86. 6. Fourtly ether there were Protestant Pastors befor Luther or no If there were what need Luther extraordinary calling who might be sent of these former Pastors If there were none how could ther be a Protestant Church which as Caluin saith loc cit can neuer vvant Pastors and Doctors and as Feild faith lib. 2. of Church cap. 6. The Ministery is an enssentiall note of the Church Yea as Whitaker saith cont Dur. p. 274. the soul of the Church If any say that there were Protest Pastors before Luther but they were inuisible and therfore he was not sent of them I reply that Feild l. cit c. 10. saith that the Ministrie is alwaies visible to the vvorld and the same saith Caluin 4. instit cap. 2. Parag. 2. 11. c. 1. Parag. 11. And in truth it implieth cō radictiō that ther shold haue bene Pastors preaching the word administring the sacramēts and yet inuisible especially to such faithfull men forsooth as Luther was In like sort I demād whither there were Churchs rightly setled before Luther or no. If no then Luther was the setler of the Protestant Church If yea then was not he sent extraordinarily For as Caluin teacheth 4. Instit c. 3. Parag. 3. that calling hath no place in Churches rightly setled or as Fulke saith in 10. Rom. it is not necessary but where ether ther is no Church or the Church is no member of Christ If then Luther were extraordinarly sent ether there was no protestāt Church before him or it was no member of Christ Fiftly Caluin 4. instit c. 2. parag 14 saith that no wise man vvill denie that it is altogether requisit to lawful vocatiō that Bishops be apointed of mē seing ther are so many testimonies of scripture to this end And thē sheweth that though god had extraordinarily called S. Paul yet he kept saith Cal. discipliniā Ecclesiasticae vocationis the disciplin of Ecclesiasticall vocation in apointing the Church to segregate him Barnabas laie hāds vpō thē to the end that the Churches disciplin in apointing Ministers by men might be cōserued Luther vvil haue a more extraordinarie calling than S. Paul If therfore God had called Luther or Calu. as extraordinarily as euer he called S. Paul more I hope of their modesty they wil not chalēg yet to conserue Ecclesiast disciplin he wold haue bidden thē go to some Church to be segregated by her haue hāds laid vpō thē vnles these new Apostles wil chaleng more priuiledg exemption from all Churches approbatiō of their calling thā S. Paul had 7. Sixtly extraordinary miraculous missiō frō God requireth his axtraordinary miraculous attestatiō therof But Luther had no such attestatiō Therfor he had no such missiō The first proposition I proue many waies First by the exāple of Gods procedings hertofore For whē he extraordinarily sent Moises to deliuer the Israelits he cōtested his sending by wonderous miracles whē he sēt Apostls he cōfirmed their missiō by prodiges miracles yea Christ himself though sent most extraordinarily of his Father yet saith If I had not done miraculous works in them which no other hath done they shold haue no sin And shal we sin it not beleuing Luther who maketh no one miracle or wil he desire to be beleued without miracles more than Christ did 2 ly I proue it by the authority of Tertulliā who l. de praescrit biddeth certain Heretiks who pleaded extraordinary sending to proferre virtutes to shew their miracles 3 ly I proue it by reason For euery Prince when he sendeth any extraordinary Embassador giueth him particuler letter of credēce And the particuler letters of extraordinary Embassadors from God are his miracles 4 ly I proue it by the incōueniences that otherwise wold follow For otherwise a false Prophet might make his missiō as credible to vs as a true Prophet At least one that preached true doctrine but indeed was not sent of God to preach might intrude himself in to that office with as much probability as another that was truly sent Lastly I proue that miracles are requisit to extraordinary missiō by the Confessiō of Protestāts Caluin 4. instit c. 2. parag 13. For Calu. saith Because the Ministrie of the Apostles was extraordinarie Calvin that it might be made notable with some more markable note it was to be called and apointed by our Lords own mouth Luther And if some externall note needed to the calling of the Apostles I hope it needed more to the calling of Luther Luther Luther also loc Com. clas 4. cap. 20. saith God sent not any but ether called by man or declared by miracles no not his sonne And to 5. Germ. fol. 491. he asketh a