to be illuminated by thee assureth vs it was the whole west part of the world and not a portion of it onely that was thus by our blessed Sauiour commended and committed to sainct Peter to be illuminated in the true faith by him Neyther could the words of the Rabins or Sybils in this matter be otherwise performed in this greate fisher sainct Peter and his hooke not onely to subiect the city of Rome but Reges the Kings of the Empire and west vnto him nor Rome be truely termed the cheifest place or permancy of the Messias to rule in all the world except this his vicegerent sainct Peter and his successors there by the conuersion of these nations vnto Christ had effected and made it so As we see accordingly as they foretold this fisher his hooke haue made the name of Christ the lambe of God so glorious in that City ouer all the world of Christians and vsque ad fines saeculi and shall so continue to the end of the world as that prophesie agreable with the holy Fathers and scriptures themselues assureth vs. 6. And if we may beleeue the Protestant writers eyther of this or other nations they put vs out of all doubt that sainct Peter both by himselfe in his owne labours in these westerne parts and Plaga Quarter of the world and by his holy and learned disciples most diligently performed this office charge imposed vpon him Our English Protestants are witnesses that the labours trauailes of S. Peter in preaching in these CouÌ„tries were so longe painefull that he did not accomplish them vntill the foureteenth the last yeare of Nero Bassus and Tuscus being then Roman Consuls our Protestants words The holy Stowe and Ed. Howe 's hist of the Romanesan Dom. 70. in Iul. Agricola Apostle S. Peter hauing accomplished his preaching in the west parts returned to Rome where he preached againe as he did before Henricus Pantaleon a german Protestant writeth Cum Diuus Petrus Ecclesiam Christi Romae verbo Dei salutifero pasceret non contentus fuit vno in loco gentilium superstitiones tollere vineam Domini plantare verumetiam ad alias partes pios eruditos viros suos discipulos Henricus Pantal. de viris Illustrib Germ. parte 1. p. 200. ad an 55. emisit qui homines instruerent when S. Peter did feede the Church of Christ at Rome with the holesome word of God he was not content to roote out the superstitions of the Gentiles and plant the vineyard of our Lord in one place but he sent Godly and learned meÌ„ his Disciples to other parts to instruct the people What these were in particular which he thus sent and to what parts of the west he sent them I shall in some parte declare hereafter For this present I speake in generall Henricus 8. Rex Anâ—â—iae in assert 7. Sacram. art 2. of these westerne nations of which also King Henry the eight in his booke against Luther writeth Negare Lutherus non potest quin omnis Ecclesia fidelium sacro sanctam sedem Romanam velut matrem primatemque recognoscat ac veneretur quaecunque saltem neque locorum distantia neque periculis interiacentibus prohibetur accessu Luther cannot denie but euery Church of the faithfull doth acknowledge and reuerence the holy See of Rome as their mother and primate how farre distant soeuer it be from it and daungers betweene them And Marcus Antonius de Dominis euen at that time when he most professed himselfe a Protestant Marc. Anton. de Dominis l. 4. ca. 10. de Repub. Christ and defendor of our English Protestants and most earnest against the see of Rome yet thus confesseth Est caput Roma quatenus ab ea diffusum est Euangelium in reliquas totius ocoidentis Ecclesias in multas Orientis at que in barbaras etiam extra Romanum Imperium nationes Rome is the head because from it the Ghospell was diffused to the rest of the Churches of all the west and to many of the east and to barbarous Nations euen out of the Romane Empire Where we see plainely acknowledged that all the Churches of this west part of the world receaued the faith of Christ from sainct Peter and the See of Rome 7. Wherefore our King Iames in open Parlament publikely pronounced of the Roman Church It is our mother Church An other calleth Kinge Iames Speach in Parl. 1. Ormorod pict Pap. pag. 184. it The eye of the west From which this Nation among others must needs first receaue their sight in Christ Neither can any man without a preiudicate minde considering what hath beene written before be of other opinion Yet we may add much more to that which is already written As that Arnobius who liued with in the first 300. yeares of Christ speaking of the conuersion of the Gentiles and sainct Peters preachinge saith of him that Arnob. l. 2. adu gentes he preached in Insulis atque prouincijs omnibus quas sol Oriens aâ—que Occidens lustrat in all Ilands and prouinces which the sonne rising and setting doth compassc all Iles and prouinces in the west part of the world Michael Singelus saith of him Michael Syngelus in Martyrio Dionisij Areop Regiam vrbem miraculis editis illustrauit occiduâ—m obscuritatem in splendorem clarissimum commutauit Peter did make the Kingly city renowned with the miracles he wrought and chaunged the darkenes of the west into a most bright slyninge by which obscure west he must needs to speake truely meane these furthest and most westerne parts as I haue vrged in the like case before Nicephorus saith of sainct Peter Petrus per orbem habitabilem vadens Ecclesias vbïque constituit Nicephor lib. 2. hist c. 35. Romanam quos supradiximus Successoribus commisit Lino videlicet Anacleto tertio Clementi Peter trauayling throughout the inhabited worlds appointed Churches euery where and committed the Church of Rome to his successors which we haue named before Linus Anacletus so he calleth Cletus and Clement the third And againe Orbem peragrauit he trauayled throughout the world The like haue many others the number of them is too greate to be recited all agreing that after he came to Rome he consecrated there two Bishops sainct Linus and Cletus to supply the spirituall needs in that place and he himselfe trauayled often to preach in these western Regions as he did in the Easte before when he had his Residency at Antioch as the scripture itselfe with all or most Antiquities of that busines are witnesses And this may suffice in generall for the labours of that holy Apostle in these westerne parts so farre as they coÌ„cerne the History of this Nation which we haue in hand What he performed in particular in this kinde and belongeth to the Ecclesiasticall affaires of Britaine so much as these my Protestant directors will giâ—e me leaue shall immediately appeare THE XII CHAPTER WHEREIN
Clement for the same as S. Anacletus doth and he liued in the yeare 255. The like hath Pelagius the second and others And to write from the first generall and greate Councells the first Nicen Councell both in the fourth sixr and seuenth Canon both in Greeke and Latine and in all Copies maketh mention of such Primats and Metropolitans and their priuiledges calling it antiqua consuetudo the old custome so doth the second Councell at Arles in France where our Archbishop of London was present and subscribed for the Cleargie of this Nation about the same time And the first generall Councell of Antioche setteth downe how in euery Prouince there should be a Metropolitan ouer the other Bishops and that other Bishops might doe nothing without his allowance And saith the old Rule and Canon of the Fathers was so and from the beginning secundum antiquam à Patribus nostris Regulam constitutam vt vult qui ab initio obtinuit Patrum Canon as an other translation readeth Therefore this so certaine and auncient a Rule and Canon so generall so binding and from the beginning thus testified by these first generall Councells must needs be the same which is before deliuered from S. Clement and S. Anacletus in this matter 4. And to make all sure by our English Protestants Religion to passe Booke of Consecratiō of Archbishops c. in Praefat. Articl of Relig. 36. Tho. Roger. Annalis Artic. 36. ouer their priuate writers in this case the generall Rule of their Religion for making vnto them such Primats and Archbishops as they haue assureth vs this was the practise of the Church euer since the Apostles time So doth their publik Glosse vpon the Articles of Religion to which all their Protestant Bishops and Ministers haue sworne to maintaine the doctrine thereof as they write Perrused and by the lawfull Authoritie of the Church of England allowed to be publike And thus Intituled on euery leafe as vpon this in particular The Catholike doctrine of the Church of England In which they expressely write of their Protestant Archbishops which they call Primats as their Catholike Predecessors were It is agreable to the word of God and Practise of the Primatiue Church that there should be Archbishops The superioritie which Archbishops enioye and exercise is groūded vpon the word of God And for a summe of their reasons Couell Examinat c. 9. pag. 105. 106. herein thus they print with publike priuiledge Apostolicall ordination reason the custome of all Churches auncient and well gouerned and nature it selfe doth ordaine Archbishops in their Prouinces to Rule the Church Which is asmuch in so few words containing the heads of all cheife Arguments for this matter as either S. Anacletus or any Catholike writer at this day doth or can vse in this busines And giue this greatest warrant they are able to those holy writings of S. Clement and Anacletus and in mysteries besides whether of the Popes Supremacy ouer all Christian people and Churches or any other deliuered in them being the first witnesses hereof we haue after Apostles whome they their immediate Schollers and successors alledge both for teaching and practising the same And for these present questions of cheifest importance as for others hereafter they doe in expresse termes thus both alledge and allowe these so auncient Testimonies of this holy Apostolike mā Anacletus Episcopos officio pares ordine duplici distinxit eos Primates siue Patriarchas appellari voluit qui in illis ciuitatibus praeessent in quibus olim primarij Flamines Robertus Barnes l. de vit Pontif Rom. in Anaclet excuss Lugduni Batauorum 1615. cum gratia priuileg illustrium DD. ordinum generalium sederunt in alijs Metropolitanis vrbibus Episcopos Metropolitanos vel Archiepiscopos nominandos esse censuit Ab ipso Domino Primatum Romanae Ecclesiae super omnes Ecclesias vniuersumque Christiani nomine populum concessum esse asseruit Pope Anacletus did distinguish Bishops equall in calling into two orders he would haue them called Primats or Patriarks which ruled in those Cities in which in olde times the primary Flamins did sitt in other Metropolitan Cities he did holde that the Bishops should be named Metropolitans or Archbishops He affirmed that Primacie was graunted by our Lord himselfe to the Roman Church ouer all Churches and all Christian people Therefore seeing it is so amply confessed that what S. Anacletus hath deliuered vnto vs was by the warrant instruction and example of S. Peter and S. Clement his Predecessor and diuers times among other holy directions sufficiently declareth that in his time it principally appertained vnto him to send Bishops and Preists into this as to other parts of the world that they which would be accompted Sheepe and belonging to the Folde of Christ may knowe whether those Sheephards and Pastors which they followe are true and lawfull Pastors or no we cannot better learne this distinction to knowe them by then of this holy man made Preist and tought by S. Peter himselfe and after succeeding him in that highest Chardge and dignitie especially seeing he hath more particularly then any others of that Age to my reading deliuered this cognizance to Posteritie cheifely to know their cheife Pastors Bishops by and of others so plainely that no man except willfully can be deceaued therein First he setteth downe the Inferior Orders Inferior Ecclesiasticall Orders to assist at the Masse in the Apostles time vnder holy Preisthood as Deacons Subdeacons and other Ministers to assist the Bishop in the holy sacrifice of Masse making that their principall office and dutie as of a Preist to offer the sacrifice of Masse Episcopus Deo sacrificans testes secum habeat plures quam alius Sacerdos Sicut enim maioris honoris gradu fruitur sic matoris testimonij incremento Indiget In solēnioribus diebus aut Septem aut quinque aut Anacletus epist 1. tres Diaconos Subdiaconos atque reliquos Ministros secum habeat qui sacris induti vestimentis in fronte a tergo Presbyteri è regione dextra laeuaque contrito corde humiliato spiritu ac prono stent vultu custodientes eum a maleuolis hominibus consensum eius praebeant sacrificio Where expressely naming Bishops and Preists to offer sacrifice and Deacons Subdeacons and other Cleargie men besides them Diaconos Subdiaconos atque reliquos Ministros and appointing their places and manner of ministring in the holy sacrifice in sacred vestements must needs make that their cheifest office and imploiment And allthough he doth not name in particular those Orders that were inferior to Subdeacons but onely in a generall name atque reliquos Ministros yet thereby expressing they were diuers and their cheife chardge and attendance was to assiste Bishops and Preists at Masse he must needs meane those auncient Inferior Orders which still and euer were in the Catholike Church and which that blessed Father S. Ignatius liuing then
and in the first Age rembreth in his Salutation naming after Preists Deacons and Subdeacons Readers Exorcists Singers Ianitors Labourers Saluto sanctum Presbyterorum Collegium saluto S. Ignat. Epist ad Antiochenos sacros Diaconos Saluto Hypodiaconos Lectores Cantores Ianitores Laborantes Exorcistas Where allthough he doth not set downe the verie forme and manner All Priests and Bishops were ordained to say Masse in the Apostles time and Preists then consecrated by a sacrificing forme and manner as the Roman Church now vseth of consecrating Preists yet calling them sacrificing or massing Preists Sacerdos Episcopus Deo sacrificans peracta consecratione and as our Protestants cite from him sacerdotem Sacrificatorum The forme of their consecration must needs consist of those sacrificing words the Catholike Church now vseth in consecrating Preists or others equiualent vnto them otherwise they could not possibly haue had such sacrificing and Massing power in them as he testifieth they had 5. Concerning Bishops he relateth and prescribeth their manner of Consecration more at large and plainely teacing that by the Apostles order all the Bishops shall assemble or giue consent when a Bishop is to be consecrated Rob. Barn supr in Anacleto and being assembled make diligent examination about the Bishops to be consecrated fast and pray and lay their hands with the booke of the Ghospels vpon them Bishops consecrated in the Apostles time as they are now in the Roman Church and annoint their heads as the Apostles vsed with holy vnction because all sanctification cometh from the holy Ghost whose inuisible power is giuen by holy Chrisme and so they must celebrate Episcopall Ordination And thus he was instructed of S. Peter vt a beato Petro Principe Apostolorum simus instructi scribere vobis sicut petistis non denegauimus Ordinationes Episcoporum authoritate Apostolica ab Anaclet Epist 2. omnibus qui in eadem fuerunt Prouincia Episcopis sunt celebrandae Qui simul conuenientes scrutinium diligenter agant Ieiuniumque cum omnibus celebrent precibus manus cum sanctis Euangelijs quae praedicaturi sunt imponentes sacraque vnctione capita eorum more Apostolorum vngentes quia omnis sanctificatio constat in spiritu sancto cuius virtus Inuisibilis sancto Chrismati est permixta hoc ritu solemnem celebrent Ordinationem And after sheweth how by the example of S. Peter S. Iames and S. Ihon thus ordering S. Iames first Archbishop of Hierusalem they left thereby example to Successors that three Bishops should thus consecrate euery one that was to be admitted to that holy Order And this was the forme and manner of consecrating Bishops heare in Britaine from the beginning and before the Canons were made or knowne heare in this busines as we reade in our auncient and approued Antiquities Mos in Britannia inoleuerat in consecratione Pontificum tantummodo capita eorum S. Asaph in Vita S. Kentegerni Et M. S. antiq Câ—pgr in vita câ—â—â— sacri Chrismatis infusione perungere cum Inuocatione sancti spiritus benedictione manus Impositione and this was the auncient vse both of the Britans and Scots more Britonum Scotorum the old custome inoleuerat 1200. yeares since about which time in the consecrating of S. Kentegerne it is so termed and testified 6. Therefore we haue sufficient warrant to thinke that both Britans and Scots from their first receauing the faith of Christ obserued this holy Rite and manner in consecrating Bishops And without these by the testimony of S. Anacletus warranted therein by S. Peter as he hath told vs the grace and power of the holy Ghost was not giuen in that Sacrament And so where it is wanting as in our Protestants of England and all other Heretikes there can be no true and lawfull Bishops no Preists made by such as be not so consecrated no Sacraments duely ministred no word of God truely and orderly preached euen by the Articles of the English Protestant Religion disabling in Articles of Engl. Protest Religion Articul 19. 23. 36. such things euery one but lawfully and rightely consecrated called Cleargie men saying it is no true Church where these things are wanting And that S. Anacletus did send such Bishops euen Metropolitans and Sacrificing Massing Preists Consecrators and Offerers Sacri corporis Domini tractatores as he nameth Preists of the sacred body of our Lord into diuers Countryes euen Anaclet Epist 2. these parts it is euident where he writeth that S. Peter S. Clement and he himselfe sent such from the See Apostolike Illi qui in Metropoli à beato Petro Anaclet Epist 3. Apostolo ordinante Domino à praedecessore nostro Sancto Clemente seu à nobis S. Anacletus sent diuers Archbishops Bishops and Preists consecrated as before in these parts constituti sunt non omnes Primates vel Patriarchae esse possunt sed illae vrbes quae priscis temporibus Primatum tenuere PatriarcharuÌ„ aut Primatum nomine fruantur And to make it manifest that he aswell as S. Peter and S. Clement did send Metropolitans also as well as Patriarckes and gaue direction where such should be resident he addeth aliae autem primae ciuitates quas vobis conscriptas in quodam Tomo mittimus a sanctis Apostolis a beato Clemente siue à nobis Primates Praedicatores acceperunt Among which were heare our Metropolitan Cities in Britaine Therefore we thus learne of S. Anacletus that either our Metropolitans which S. Peter S. ClemeÌ„t sent hither or ordained heare were now liuing or else their places some at the least were supplied by his Mission of others to succeede them for so he witnesseth And we finde in some our neighboring Countryes which haue better preserued their Antiquities then Britaine hath done that he performed this in particular to them Diuers French Historians among which Richard de Wasseburg Archdeacon AntiquiteÌ„s de la Gaule Belgique per Rich. de Wasseburg f. 28. 29. Bouchard Annal de Bretaigne Antiquit. Ecclesiae Verdunen in S. Sanctino of the Church of Verdune in Lorraine where our worthie Countriman S. Manfuetus was Bishop or Archbishop at Tullum yet and long after liuing and therefore I first name this place as hauing correpondeÌ„ce with our Country is witnes out of the same Church that in this time S. Sanctin which before had bene Bishop of Meux and S. Antonine preached there S. Sanctin was by Pope S. Anacletus constituted Bishop of that place and liued and died there in the yeare of Christ 118. And S. Saluin his next Successor but one the third Bishop there was heare in Britaine as I shall shew heareafter in King Lucius time Which is not vnprobable also of S. Sanctin there so neare vs so many yeares and so neare to S. Mansuetus of this our kingdome visiting it as I haue before mentioned THE II. CHAPTER HOW IN THE PAPACIE OF S. EVARISTVS and Empire of Traiane the same
and giuen you Power also to Iudge of vs and therefore we are rightly Iudged by you But you can be Iudged by none for God hath giuen you as Gods vnto vs and it is not conuenient that a man should Iudge Gods but he alone of whome it is written God stood in the Sinagoge of Gods and in the midst iudged Gods Ait ad Episcopos Deus vos constituit Sacerdotes potestatem vobis dedit de nobis quoque iudicandi ideo nos a vobis rectè iudicamur Vos autem non potestis ab omnibus iudicari Vos etenim nobis a Deo dati estis Dij cōueniens non est vt homo iudicet Deos sed ille solus de quo scriptū est Deus stetit in Synagog a Deorū in medio autē Deos discernit 8. And yet such Assemblyes of Bishops so dignified could not either in this or any other Councell without the consent and sentence of the Pope of Rome decree and impose vpon the Church any Canons and this was a receaued Lawe and Canon before this time as Pope Iulius Socrates and others then liuing witnesse Canon Ecclesiasticus vetat ne Decreta absque sentētia Episcopi Romani Ecclesijs sanciantur And in that time and before this Church of Iulius Papa Socrat. Hist Ecc. l. 2. c. 13. c. 11. Rome had Primacie before and aboue all other Churches Ecclesia Romana Priuilegium praeter caeteras obtinebat And this was acknowledged by those Bishops of the East themselues in their Publike Epistle to Pope Iulius which were the greatest Enemies to S. Athanasius and the Roman See protesting the Roman Church was cheife and principall aboue all others euen from the beginning being the Schoole of the Apostles and Metropolis of pietie Literis Sozom. Hist Eccles l. 2. c. 7. suis fatebantur Romanam Primas apud omnes ferre vtpote quae Apostolorum schola pietatis Metropolis iam ab initio fuisset Thus Protestants themselues translate these Greeke Writers and therevpon are forced to make this their Iacob Grynaeus in Interpret Socratis Sozom. supr Athan. Apol. 2. contra Arian epist ad Marc. Pap. Athan. Episcop Aegypt Theb. l. epist ad Foelic 2. Pap. Tom. 1. Concil owne note and glosse from them Ecclesiae Romanae Primatus The Supremacy of the Church of Rome 9. And not onely Sainct Athanasius which was present at this Nicen Councell doth in diuers places giue this Supremacy to the Roman See but he and all the Bishops of Egypt Thebaida and Lybia doe acknowledge that both they and their Predecessors did then and euer depend of the Roman See and this according to the Decrees of the Canons Pater beatissime quia semper Antecessores nostri nos à vestra Apostolica sansta Sede auxilium hausimus nostri vos curam habere agnouimus praefatam Apostolicam summam expetimus iuxta Canonum Decreta Sedem vt inde auxilium capiamus vnde Praedecessores nostri Ordinationes dogmata atque subleuationes ceperunt And there call the Church of Rome their Mother to giue them suke and plainely say that the Canons commande no greate cause may be Decreed without the Bishop of Rome Canonibus iubentibus absque Romano nos de maioribus causis nihil debere decernere Pontifice 10. And the same Bishops of Egypt in their Epistle to Pope Foelix the 2. in this time writt that it was Decreed in this Nicen Councell by generall consent of all that no Councell might be called without the consent of the Pope of Rome and speake this of their owne knowledge as some of thē then present there scimus in Nicaena magna Synodo 318. Episcoporū ab omnibus cōcorditer esse roboratū non debere absque Romani Pontificis sententia Concilia celebrari nor Bishops Episc Aegypt ep ad Foelic 2. to be condemned nec Episcopos damnari And complaine that the Heretiks then within 25. yeares of that Councell had burned the Canons thereof Synodica Capitula incensa nobisque sublata 11. They testifie also that in the same Nicen Councell was Decreed that from all Bishops and Metropolitans appeals were to be vsed to the Bishop of Rome and that from Christ our Lord himselfe power of binding and loosing by especiall priuiledge aboue all others was giuen vnto that See Similiter à praedictis Patribus Nicaenis est definitum consonanter vt si quisquam Episcoporū aut Metropolitanorum Comprouinciales vel Iudices suspectos habuerit vestram sanctam Romanam interpellet Sedem cui ab ipso Domino Potestas ligandi soluendi speciali est priuilegio super alios concessa 12. This doctrine and practice also is allowed and confirmed in the greate Conc. Sardicen Can. 7. Councell of Sardice held within 22. yeares of that of Nice wherein both Osius Athanasius and others which were then present were also present consented and subscribed granting not onely Supremacie to the Pope of Rome and Appeals to him but that by any Preist his Legate he might inualidate disannull the Acts of Councels in all places To which Decrees the Bishops of this kingdome of Britaine consented being present there And this is euident Epist S. Athanasij Episc Aegypti ad S. Marcum Papam Epist eiusdem ad eosdem Tom. 4. oper S. Athanasij by the proceedings of the Nicen Coūcell itselfe not thinking that the Authoritie of so many Bishops there assembled together with the Popes Legats were of sufficient credit to make Decrees vnquestionable except they were confirmed by the Pope of Rome himselfe And therefore as is manifest by the Epistle of S. Athanasius Patriarke of Alexandria and the Bishops of Egypt to S. Marke Pope of Rome and his Answeare vnto them the very authenticall Copy of the Nicen Councell containing 70. Canons with the very Subscriptions of all the Bishops therein assembled was sent to S. Syluester then Pope of Rome Which can carry no other glosse or interpretation then which the Epistle it selfe of the same Nicen Councell to S. Syluester dated Paulino Iuliano Cōsulibus doth giue entreating him to cōfirme their Decrees Quicquid Epistol Synod Nic. ad Syluest Pap. Syluestri Rescript Tom. 1. Conc. apud Sur. Bin. M. S. Ant. Colonien constituimus in Concilio Nicaeno precamur vestri oris consortio confirmetur And his confirmatorie Rescript confirmo giueth the same dated in the seuēth Consulship of Constantine Which Authoritie of the See of Rome the same Epistle of S. Achanasius the greate Patriarke of Alexandria and all the Bishops of Egipt doth sufficiently proue calling the Church of Rome the Mother and Heade of all Churches quae est mater caput omnium Ecclesiarum 13. And add further that allthough one of them was Patriarke of Alexandria in a distinct part of the world from Europe wherein Rome is in the Councell of Nice itselfe set downe for one of the cheifest Sees yet they were all of