Monke and was the first that paied the Peter pence appointing that euerie householder of K. Ina gaue the Peter pence his kingdome who had thirtie pennie worth of cattle of one sort should pay yearly one pennie to Rome Which money English Seminarie in Rome 900 years since VVestmon anno 727. 764. was partly for the Popes vse partly for maintenance of an English schole or Seminarie which he then built in Rome for bringing vp of English youths there in vertue and learning 18. Not long after about the year 750 saint Richard king K. RICHARD anno 750. Surius to 1. Baronius anno 750. forsoke his kingdome and leaving his two sonnes in Germanie with saint Boniface an Englisman the Popes Legat there went himself in pilgrimage to Rome but dying in the way at Luca is there honorably buried And the year 775 king K. Offa anno 775. Malmesbur lib. 2. Reg. cap. 4. VVestmon anno 194. Polidor l. 4. Fox p. 101. Offa though a warlick Prince went to Rome and imitating the example of king Ina increased the English Seminarie begun by him and imposed the like pension of Peter pence vpon his kingdome of Mercia as Charles the great about the same time imposed vpon France the like tribute to be paied to Rome The loue and affection of king Kenulph a worthie K. KENVLPH anno 808. Malmesbur l. 1. Keg c. 4. Baronius anno 828. Prince and successor to king Offa appeareth by his redeeming the Popes Legat taken of Pirats in the year 808. and by his submissiue letter to the Pope wherein he humblie craueth his blessing as al his Predecessors had desireth to be adopted for his sonne as I saith rhe king loue you like a father and embrace you with al obedience And protested to be willing to spend his life for the Pope K. ETELVVOLPH anno 855. 19. After him king Ethelwolph in the year 857. went to Rome tooke with him his best beloued sonne Alfred to be instructed saith Westmonaster of the VVestmon anno 854. Ethelvverd lib. 3. cap. 3. Stovv anno 839. Ingulfus Bale Cent. 2 p. 113. Asserius in vita afredi Pope in manners and Religion where he aboad a whole year and procured his sonne to be crowned of the Pope and adopted of him for his sonne he also notably repaired the Englith Seminarie at Rome which had been burnt a little before confirming the guifts of king Malmesbur lib. 2. Reg. cap. 2. Stovv anno 839. Fox p. 136. Ina and Offa imposed the pension of Peter pence vpon al England which was afterward paid vntil the later end of King Henrie VIII About the same K. BVRDRED Ethelvverd lib. 4 cap. 3. Malmesbur lib. 1. cap. 4. Stovv anno 875. time king Burdred leauing his kingdome went to Rome and was there buried in the English schole Neither would King Canute though a Dane be K. CANVTE anno 1032. Florent anno 1031. Matmesbur lib. 2. c. 11. Ingulfus Huntington lib. 6. Marian. anno 1033 Stovv in Canute found vngratefull to the sea Apostolick but went to Rome in the year 1032 confirmed the payment of the Peter pence gaue great gifts of gold and silver and pretious things to saint Peter and obtained of Pope Iohn immunitie for the English Seminarie And finally King Edward Confessor last but one of the Saxon bloud would haue K. EDVVARD sonfessor Ealred in vita Edvvardi Baronius anno 1060. gone to Rome in pilgrimage had not his people vpon fear of the Danes inuasion hindred him yet sent he Embassadors to Rome with great presents and confirmed al the duties and customes belonging thereto in England And thus continued the English Kings al the time of their raign in singular affection and deuotion to the sea Apostolick 20. To whom as the Norman K VVILLIAM Conquer anno 1066. Malmesbur lib. 3. Reg. Ingulfus p. 900. Stovv in Harald p. 131. Princes succeded so they followed them in their pietie and religion For besids that they paied the Peter pence in particular Willam the Conquerour having subdued and slain king Harald in the year 1066 sent K. HENRIE I. Malmesbur lib. 1. Pontif. pag. 226. K. HENRIE II. anno 1180. Rob. Montensis Genebrard anno 1180. Sigebertus anno 1163. Neubrigens lib. 2. c. 14. Bale Cent. 2 cap. 94. Holinshed anno 1163. Baronius anno 1162. straight his standard to the Pope as to his particular freind And king Henrie I. professed by his Embassadour to Pope Paschal II. that England was a peculiar prouince of the Church of Rome and paied vnto her yearly tribute King Henrie II. about the year 1180 together with Lewis king of France led Pope Alexanders horse and with great pompe coÌ„ducted him through the citie Tociacum King Richard Coeur K. RICHARD I Polid. l. 14. Genebrard â—n Chron. Stovv â—ale Cent. 2 â— 104. Houeden â— 609. de Lion at the exhortation of the Pope went in person to the holie land with an armie of thirtie thousand foot and fiue thousand horse in which voyage he conquered the kingdome of Ciprus and citie of Ptolemais and ouerthrew the Souldan in a great battel and the like enterprise afterward tooke king Edward I. in the year 1241. King K. HENRIE III. â—tovv anno â—241 Henry III. placed the Popes Legat in the most honorable roome of the table at a publick banquet in Christmas betwixt himself and the Archbishop of Yorke and afterward with great pompe saith Stow and innumerable companie of nobles and trumpets sounding before brought him to the sea How deuout king Richard II. and Englishmen K. RICHARD II. Stovv anno 1407. in his time were to the sea of Rome appeareth by their building an hospital there for receit of English Pilgrims instead of the foresaid Seminarie which as it seemeth was destroyed in that great burning of Rome in the year 1084. in the place whereof S. Thomas of Canterburie had before built a Chappel in honour of the blessed Trinitie This Hospital was afterwards in the raigne of king Henrie VI and Henrie VII reedified and much increased and lastly in the year 1570 was much bewtified and augmented both in buildings and reuenews by Pope Gregorie XIII and by him converted to the ancient vse of a Seminarie retaining stil the obligation of an Hospital 21. The affection of King K. HENRIE IV. Stovv anno 1409. Henrie IV. appeareth by his letter to the Pope in the year 1409 which he beginneth thus Most holie Father our recommendations in humble wise premised And afterward Hauing taken with our said sonne and also with our Prelats and Nobles mature deliberation we beseech with al humilitie and require your clemencie whose state and honor vpon diuers causes as a deuout sonne of the Church so far as we might with God we haue euer embraced and doe embrace by the expresse and whole assent of the estates aforesaid c. And as for king Henrie K. HENRIE V. V he in the year 1416 sent his
TO THE MOST HIHGH AND MIGHTIE PRINCE IAMES BY THE GRACE OF GOD KING OF GREAT Britanie c. 1. IF saint Paul most gratious soueraigne being accused of the whole Synagogue of the Iewes by their Orator Tertullus of diuers heynous crimes both against Gods and the Princes laws found notwithstanding such equitie in the Heathen President Festus as hee answered his aduersaries that is was not the custome of the Acts 25. Romans to condemne any man before he haue his accusers present and place to make his answer and also such fauour at the Acts 26. Iewish King Agrippa as he both licensed him to speak for himselfe and afforded him fauorable audience much more cause haue your Majesties Catholick subjects being accused of Ministers by their hired spokesman Bel to expect the like yea greater fauour and equitie at your Graces hands For if Romans though heathens thought it injustice to condemn a particular man at the clamours of a whole Nation before his accusers were present and his defense were heard and if Agrippa albeit a Iew and enemie to Christians deemed it notwithstanding a Princes part to giue audience to one accused of that religion which he both hated and persecuted how much more will a Christian Prince forbear to condemn the vniuersal cause of his Catholick subjects for the slanders and outcries of Ministers and one hired Proctor before their Accusers be brought face to face and they haue time and place granted to answer for themselues Wherein wee shall account our selues more happie then Saint Paul because wee shall plead our cause not before a Heathen or Iewish Prince but before a Christian King and such a one as better knoweth the questions and customs of Christians then King Agrippa did of the Iews 2. Wherefore seing of late one Th. Bel a fugitiue once from the Protestant religion as he is now from Catholick hath not onely accused but also maliciously slandered the vniuersal Catholick cause in a booke which he hath dedicated to your Maiestie and termed it the Downfal of Poperie and withal challengeth dareth and adjureth in which case our Blessed Sauiour though Math. 26. whith manifest danger of his life made answer al Seminarie Priests al English Iesuits and as he speaketh Iesuited Papists to answer him I haue presumed vpon your gracious fauour to accept his challenge and am readie to performe it hand to hand if your Majestie grant licence and in the mean time to dedicate to your Name this my Confutation of his arguments and slanders wherein I speake not for my selfe as did Saint Paul before King Agrippa but for the religion of your own Progenitors and Predecessors for the faith of your forefathers for the cause of all Catholicks and for the good I dare say of your own Majesties person and Kingdomes For though Bel calumniate Christian Kings and Emperours with opening a window to all Antichristian tyrannie and Catholicks generally with thinking Christ to be killed a thousand times a day and such like yet especially he slandereth the Popes with vsurping power proper to God and to depose Princes and dispose of their Kingdoms at his pleasure for to alienate your minde thereby from the sea Apostolick wherein he not only abuseth your patience with telling you palpable vntruths but also greatly harmeth and endammageth your person and realm by endeauouring by his fals slanders to auert your minde from the Popes who haue been the most ancient most assured and most beneficiall freinds which the Kings and realms of great Britanie haue euer had Which thing that I may make manifest vnto your Majestie I humbly beseech you giue me leaue to set downe some particular examples of the mutuall amitie and kinde offices which haue been betwixt the Popes and the Princes of this land Wherein if I bee somewhat longer then men vse to be in Epistles I hope the varietie and profit of the mattaer will make requitall 3. Not long after the sea Apostolick S. PETER P. was setled in Rome Saint Peter the first Pope about the sixtie third year of Lippoman 29. Iunij tomo 5. CHRIST came saith a Simeon Metaphrastes a Grecian writer about 800. years ago into Britanie where hauing stayed long time and conuerted many nations vnto Christ he saw an Angel who tould him that the time of his departure was at hand and therefore he shold return to Rome where being crucified he should receaue the reward of iustice When therefore he had glorified God and giuen thanks and stayed some daies with the Britans setled Churches and ordered Bishops Priests and Deacons in the twelft year of the Emperour Nero hee returned to Metaphrast liued Ann. 859. Baron ibidem Rome Thus much Metaphrastes all which he professeth to haue taken out of ancient monuments and to haue been publickly related And withall addeth that Euseb Pamphili the ancientest Ecclesiastical Historiographer reporteth that Peter was twelue years in the East and twenty three years in Rome and in Britanie and in the cities of the West So that not onely Metaphrastes but also Eusebius testifieth that Saint Peter came into Britannie Neither hindreth it that this testimonie of Eusebius is not found in any of his books now extant For as S. Hierom. sayeth he wrote innumerable volumes which now are perished in some whereof might be this testimonie For it is no way likelie that Metaphrastes should feigne it both because he is accounted a saint and honoured of the Grecians as such and cited in the Councel of Florence as a man of great authoritie as also because there was no cause to moue him to feigne it and lastly because hee might bee justly laughed at for feiging a thing wherein hee might bee easily disprooued And that saint Peter came into Britanie not only English Catholicks as Harpesfield lib. 1. histor cap. 2. Grecians Italians French Spaniards Germans Polonians Scots English say Saint Peter vvas in Britanie Broughton lib. 1. cap. 24 and others doe affirme but also strangers as Iulianus Petri in Aduersariis § 495. Baronius Anno 46. and his Epitomizers Spondanus Bzouius Bisiola Bernardus Iunius in Chronico Morali anno 46. Biuarrus in Chronico Dextri Anno 46. Ciaconus in vita Sancti Petri Guillimannus in suis Habpurgicis lib. 2. cap. 1. Eiseingrenius Centuria 7. par 7. dis 8. Chesneus in hist Angl. l. 3. Posseuinus in apparatu tom 3. Lesleus in Paraenesi ad Scotos And also learned Protestants confesse the same For thus Cambden Protestants confesso it in his Britanie p. 52. Of the credit of Simeon Metaphrastes Cambden and the Greeks Meneologie our Ecclesiasticall writers report that Peter came hither and spread the light of the Gospel And in his Remains pag. 4. The true Christian religion was planted here by Ioseph of Arimathia Simon Zelotes Aristobulus yea by saint Peter and saint Paul as may bee proued by Dorotheus Theodoretus Sophronius Spede lib. 6. cap. 9. Speed Some ad that S. Peter
the Apostle preached the word of life in this Iland as to others Gentils hee did for whom God had chosen him that from his mouth they might heare the Gospel and beleeue and that he here founded Churches and ordained Priests and Deacons which is reported by Simeon Metaphrastes out the Greeke Antiquities The like hath Vsher in his Antiquities Vsher. of Britanie c. 1. and 16. And also Baker in his historie of Baker England pag. 3. Who addeth that this and more is reported by Authors of good credit And I ad that no graue Author denieth it nor can any sufficient reason be brought why it should not be beleued So that mere inctedulitie or obstinacie can bee opposed against it which may be opposed against anie historical writing whatsoeuer and so all historical belieef ouerthrowne For who beleue in histories what they will and what they will not beleue not doe not beleue histories but themselues 4. Neither was this loue of S. Peter to our countrie extinguished 2. Petri 1. by his death but as himselfe promised to some he had it in minde also after his departure and miraculously assisted it in great necessities So that truly wrote b Malmesbury lib. 1. Pontificum p. 209. S. Sergius first Pope one thousand years ago to our English Kings that S. Peter was mindfull of them And Pope c Eugubin de Donat. Constan Alexander II. to King William the Conquerour and Pope d S. Peter Protector of Enhland Alexander III. to King Henry the second that England was vnder saint Peters protection euer since Christs name was glorified there And Pope e Bede lib. 2. cap. 10. Huntington lib. 3. p. 317. Boniface I. writing to King Edwin calleth S. Peter his Protector For when our countrie about the year of Christ 611. began to reuolt from the faith of Christ and some Bishops had forsaken the land and S. Laurence Archbishop of Canterburie was minded to follow them Saint Peter appearing S. Peter committed Englishmen to S. Laurence to him and scourging him with sharp stripes a great while in the close night chalenged with Apostolical authoritie and asked him why hee would forsake the flocke which he himselfe had committed to him and to what shepheard running now away he would leaue the sheep of IESVS-CHRIST beset in the midst of so many woulues By thes stripes of saint Peter and with these exhortations Laurence being stirred vp and encouraged came boldly to the king early in the morning and loosing his garment shewed him how sore hee was beaten and how pitifully his flesh was torn The King as soone as he heard that for his own saluation the Bishop had suffered such greuous beatings yea and that of the Apostle of CHRIST he feared much and afterward abandoning all worship of Idols he embraced the Faith of CHRIST and being baptized endeauoured to keepe and maintaine the estate of the Church in al points to the vttermost of his power Thus S. Bede lib. 2. c. 6. who liued in the same age in which this happened and the same testifieth the king himself in his g Reiner in Apost charter yet extant Also Alcuin in Epist 97. and our best Historiographers as William Malmesburie lib. 1. Regum Angliae cap. 1. Henrie of Huntington lib. 3. pag. 326. Marianus in Chronic. ann 617. Florentius Anno 616 Westmonasteriensis anno 616. And the Protestants confess it same is confessed by Protestāts as by Bishop Godwin in the life of S. Laurence Holinshed lib. 5. histor cap. 24. Isacson ann 616. Weuer in his monuments pag. 245. who also ibid. pag. 246. rehearseth the Epitaphe vpon the tombe of saint Laurence in which the same is affirmed and lastly the Magdeburgensian Centuriatours Centuria 7. cap. 10. 5. Not long before this when S. Peter consecrated VVestminster Church Sebareth King of the East-Saxons had built a Church in honor of S. Peter in the place where now Westmonasterie stādeth saint Peter came from Heaven and himselfe dedicated the Church and confirmed his dedication by a miracle which long after continued Authors of this are two ancient and holy kings Edgar VVitnesse tvvo English Kings and graue Authors and S. Edward the Confessor in their Charters made to that Monasterie as may be seen in Bishop Vsher in his booke de Primordiis Eccl. Britannicae cap. 16. pag. 741 742 and in vveuer in his Monuments pag. 450. Whereof I will rehearse the words of S. Edwards Charter taken as weuer saieth outof the records of the Toure The Church of S. Peter in Westminster was anciently builded vnder Mellit first Bishop of London fellow and of the same time with Saint Austin first Archbishop of Canterburie and by blessed Peter himself with seruice of Angels dedicated with the imprinting of the holie Cross and vnction of the holie Trinitie And king Edgar as Bishop Vsher relateth in his Charter auoucheth that in the year 604 it was dedicated not of anie other but of S. Peter himself Prince of the Apostles to his own honor The same certifie saint Ealred a most graue Author saieth Spelman in the life of saint Edward the Author of saint Dunstans life William of Malmesburie lib. 1. Regum and lib. 2. Pontificum Capgraue in life of S. Edward Otterburn Walsingam an 1378 pag. 213. and 214. Baronius an 610. And are not two ancient and holie kings and so many graue authors worthie to bee beleued S. Peter restored the royal English blood to the crovvn Likewise when the Danes had oppressed England vsurped the crowne and driuen all the royal English blood out of England Saint Peter appeared in a vision to Brithwold a holy Bishop of Wilton or as some say of Winchester anointed saint Edward king of England and foretold the yeares of his reigne and the end of the furie of the Danes adding these most confortable words The Our best Authors testifie it kingdome of England is the kingdome of God Authors of this are the aforesaid Malmesburie lib. 2. Regum cap. 13. and lib. 2. Pontif. pag. 249. Ealred in life of saint Edward Westmonasteriensis anno 1056 Capgraue in life of S. Edward Polidor lib. 8 Harpesfeld saec 11. cap. 19. Baronius an 1043. And it is confessed Protestants confesse it by Protestants as by Bishop Parker in vita Stigandi by Bishop Godwin in vita Brithwoldi by Cambden in his Remains pag. 5 Holinshed lib. 7. cap. 15 by Isaakson anno 909. and others 6. Neither was the singular affection towards our countrie peculiar to saint Peter but as from a fountain descended to his successors For when the sweet sound of the Gospel here preached by him had in time increased and come to the ears of Lucius then king here he sending to Rome for Preachers P. ELEVTHERIVS Pope Eleutherius the fourteenth Pope after Saint Peter about the year h Gordō 188 186 P Eleutherius Legats conuert Britanie sent hither saint Fugatius and Damian who instructed
increased by Pope b Bede l. 3. cap. 7. Godvvin in vita Birini Parker in Antiquit. cap. 10. Cooper an 636. Ball centur 13. cap. 4. P. VITALIAN anno 668. Honorius his sending hither in the year 635 that Apostolical man S. Birin who conuerted the West-Saxons and by Pope c Bede l. 4. cap. 1. Godvvin in vita Theodori Parker in vita Theod. Vitalian who in 668 sent hither those holie and great learned men Saints Theodore and Adrian by whose teaching Englishmen in short time became the best learned of rhat age and were the beginners of the d Gordon anno 791 Genebrard â—ib 3. saec 8. S. Antonin â—ib 14. c. 4. Palmerius anno 791. Spondanus anno 1334. Bossius l. 21. â—ap 6. P. LEO III â—nno 808. Amoinus â—ib 4. c. 94. Regino in Chron. Baronius anno 808. Vniuersitie of Paris and consequently the chiefest fountain of learning which since hath been in the West After this Eardulf king of the North beiond Humber being driuen out of his kingdome and countrie Pope Leo III. in the year 808. sent Cardinal Adulf his Legat into England who by the help of Charles the gteat his Embassadours restored him peacebly P. LEO IV an 847. or Gregor 4. anno 817. into his kingdome Not long after Pope Leo IV. e Malmesb â— 2. Pontif. â— 242. Baronius anno 847. dispensed with King Ethelwoulph for to marrie which he being a subdeacon could not otherwise doe lawfully And at the same Kings request crowned his sonne f Asserius in vita Alfredi Ethelvverd lib. 3. cap. 3. Malmesbur l. 2. Reg. c. 2. Stovv p. 99. Alfred king adopting him for his sonne who afterwards for his most worthie acts both in war and peace was surnamed the great and for al things became the rarest Prince P. MARTIN I. anno 883. Florentius anno 884. VVestmon anno 883. Godvvin in vita Plegmundi p. 17. that England and perhaps Christendome euer had Likewise Pope Martin at the sute of the same King Alfred released the tribute which the English Seminarie then in Rome paied and sent to the King manie gifts amongst which was a good peece of the holie cross 9. In the year 990 when Richard Marquis of Normandie had purposed to inuade England and make war vpon king Ethelred Pope g Ihon xv anno 990. g Malmesb lib. 2. Reg. cap. 10. p. 64. Baronius anno 990. Ihon XV. sent his Nunce and letters to take vp the matter who happily brought them to aggreement And about the year 1059. P. NICOLAS II. anno 1059 Pope Nicolas II. granted to king Edward the Confessor and to his successors the h Surius in vita sancti Edvvardi Bale Cent. 2. cap. 52. Capgraue in vita saÌ„cti Edvvardi P. VRBAN II. anno 1094. aduousion and protection of the Churches in England And in the year 1094. Pope Vrban II. in a councel at Bari appointed that S. Anselm Archbishop of Canterburie and his successors should sit in Councels beside the Archdeacon of Rome who sitteth before the Pope adding this most honorable speech let Malmesbur lib. 2. Pontif. p. 223. Godvvin in vita Anselm latine vs include in our compass this man as Pope of an other world whereas before it was vnkown saieth Malmesburie what place belonged to our Archbishop And the same place did Pope Paschal P. PASCHAL II. anno 1102. Malmeshur lib. 1. Pont. p. 224. II. confirme in a Councel at Rome about the year 1102. And besides this diuers others dignities and priuiledges haue been granted to the sea of Canterburie by the Popes as to be Primats of al Britanie Legatâ— born and the like 10. Moreouer in the year 1098. the Scots obtained of P. VRBAN II. anno 1098. Genebrard in Chron. Pope Vrbain II. for their Prince that hee might haue the name title and anointment of a King as the i Baronius anno 1000. Bale Cent. 2. part 145. Hungarians and Polonians had obtained for their Princes about the year 1000. wherupon King Edgar was then first anointed King of Scotland And about the year 1107 Pope Paschal II. k Malmesb lib. 5. Reg. p. 163. Gordn anno 1101. Boeth lib. 2. fol. 261. writing to king Henrie I. amongst other things promiseth so to fauour him and his sonne as what sayeth he hurteth you or him may seem to hurt the Church of Rome And in the year 1152. when king P. EVGENIVS III. anno 1152. Stovv anno 1152. Godvvin in vita Theobald P. ADRIAN IV. anno 1160. Par. an 1155 Bale Cent. 2. Giraldus Cambrens in Hibern lib. 2. cap. 6. Io. Sarisbur lib. 4. c. 42. Stovv anno 1160. Cambden in Hibern p. 762. Parker in vita S. Tho. P. ALEXANDER 3. anno 1171. Houeden lib. 2. p. 528. P. LVCIVS III. anno 1183. Houeden lib. 2. p. 628. Stephn hauing vsurped the crown of England endeavoured to cause the Bishop to crown his sonne Eustace thereby to exclude for euer the lawfull heyr Henrie II. Pope Eugenius III. sent commandment to the Clergie not to medle in that matter whereby it was hindred In the year 1106 Pope Adrian IV. gaue vnto King Henrie II the dominion and gouernment of Ireland and sent vnto him the Bull of his grant with a ring of gold in token of the inuestiture Which grant at the request of the said king Pope Alexander III. confirmed to him and his heirs And as for Pope Lucius III his good will appeareth by the great praise which he giueth to the said king Henries ancestours whom he affirmeth to haue far exceded the rest of christiaÌ„ Princes in warlik power and noblenes of minde Which affection continued also in his successor Pope Vrban III. of whom P VRBIN III. anno 1185. Houeden lib. 2. p. 631. Stovv anno 1185. the said king Henrie the second obtained manie things whereof one was that hee might crown which of his sonnes he would King of Ireland which he confirmed by a Bul and in token of his good wil and grant sent him a crown And lastly when not only the King of France but also his own sonnes and nobles had conspired against the said king Henrie II and had inuaded his dominions withfar greater power then he P. CLEMENT III. anno 1189. Houeden lib. 2. p. 652. VVestmon anno 1189. was able to resist Pope Clement III in the year 1189 sent a Cardinal to procure peace who excommunicated the hinderers of peace and threatned to interdict the kingdom of France vnles the king made peace with England 11. Likewise in the year 1193 when king Richard I. was taken prisoner as he came from the holie land by the Duke of Austria P. CELESTIN III. anno 1193. VVestmon anno 1193. Houeden p 773. Polid. l. 14. Paris anno 1195. Stovv anno 1195. Pope Celestin III at the said kings request excomunicated the Duke and enioyned him to release the couenants which hee had compelled the king to make and to send home the pledges
assisted them Popes haue more benefited Engl. then al ChristdeÌ„ome hath done Weigh I beseech your grace in the balance of your princelie wisedome the foresaid benefits with such as your self or ancestours haue receaued from the rest of Christendome and you shal finde that the sea Apostolick alone hath more benefited England then al Christendome besids and consequently that the forsaking the Popes freindship hath more endammaged your realm then if it had forsaken the rest of Christendome But especially I humbly beseech your Majestie weigh them with such as Bel or anie Minister can shew you to haue receaued from their two seats of pestilence in Wittenberg and Geneua What kingdoms haue they bestowed vpon you vnto what Imperial or Royal dignitie haue they exalted you from what Paganisme haue they conuerted you what enemies haue they appeased what assistance haue they afforded you in any need what good litle or great haue they brought to this land Nay what mischiefe haue they not brought That one Apostata firebrand of sedition Knox sent from Geneua brought more mischief to your grandmother your B. Mother to your Father and Kingdome of Scotland then I can rehearse or your Majestie without great griefe can remember Ministers pretend the loue of the Gospel as the cause of persuading you from freindship with the Pope but yet dissuade not from Cenference at Hampion court p. 80. 81. freindship with the Turke They pretend also your Graces securitie but the true cause indeed your Majestie descried and discouered in Knox to wit their own securitie and aduancemeÌ„t which they fear would be endangered if you kept your ancient and surest freind and therefore with your losse as your Majestie perceaued in your Grandmothers case they worke their owne wealth and securitie And thus much of the Popes 15. As for the Christian Princes of this land though they haue been of foure different and most opposite nations to wit Britons English Danes and Normans yet haue they al aggreed in keeping the league of freindship with the Pope being officious vnto him and accounting him their especial freind Of the British kings of K. LVCIVS this land first is king r Beda lib. 1. cap. 1. Lucius whose particular affection towards the sea Apostolick is euident by that he neglecting other Christian Churches neer CONSTANTIN the Great vnto him he sent so far as to Rome for preachers As for Constantin the great the immortal glorie of rhe British kings his extraordinarie loue and affection vnto the sea of Rome is more notorious then I need rehearse For he not only gaue vnto the Pope the gouernment of Rome and of a good part of the West as besids Å¿ In edicto Eugubin dc Donat. Constant Genebrard in Chron. Ciaconus in S. luest 1. Victorellus in notis ad Ciac himself and Latin Histriographers both t Photius in Nomocan Greecks and u Abraham Abben Efra Iewes professed enemies to the Pope doe testifie but also serued him as a lackey holding his stirrop and leading his horse by the bridle Cad wallader also the last British king in England K. CADVALADER ann 652. hauing left his countrie went no whether but to Rome and there ended his days And if the histories of those ancient times were more perfect or the Britons had raigned longer in this Iland no doubt but wee should haue more examples of their deuotion to the sea Apostolicke as appeareth by Salomon K. SALOMON Argentreus hist Britan. lib 2. c. 27. Baron anno 869. their king in litle Britanie after they had been driuen hence by the Saxons who writing to Pope Adrian II. beginneth his letter thus Domino ac beatissimo Apostol sedis Rom. Hadriano Salomon Britannorum rex flexis genibus inclinatoque capite And sendeth him his statua in gold with diuers rich gifts and money promiseth a yearly pension and acknowledgeth his Royal title to haue been giuen to him by Popes This was the loue of the British king vnto the sea Apostolick 16. To the British kings succeded the Saxons or English as wel in their loue and reuerence to the sea of Rome as in their K. ETHELBERT anno 597. Kingdome For king Ethlebert at the verie first receaued saint Gregorie his Legats verie courteously prouided them of al things necessarie and freely licensed them to preach vsing these gracious words worthie to be imitated of your Majestie For so much as you are come so far to impart vnto vs such knowledg as you take to be true we wil not trouble you but rather withall courtesie receaue you After him king Osuin hauing perfectly K. OSVIN anno 665. learned that the Church of Rome saieth saint Bede lib. 3. cap. 1. was the Catholiek and Apostolick Church sent thither in the year 665 a Priest to be consecrated Archbishop of Canterburie And in a conference about the obseruation of Easter hearing that the keyes of heauen were giuen to S. Peter concluded thus I will not gainsay such a â—â—b 3. cap. 25. â—aronius â—nno 664. Porter as this is but as far as I know and am able I wil couet in al points to obey his ordonnance And in the year 670. He bare saith S. Bede such loue and affection to the Apostolick sea of Rome as if he might haue escaped his sicknes he purposed to goe to Rome and to end his life in those holie places there 17. But what he could not through death perform the valiaÌ„t â— CEDâ—ALLA â—â—no 6 9. Prince Cedwalla did in the verie flour of his age and prosperitie For in the year 689 Forsaking his kingdome saieth saint Bede he went to Rome thinking it to be a singular glorie and renoune for him to be regenerated with the Sacrement of Baptisme at the sea Apostolick and withal conceaued hope that as soone as by baptisme he was cleansed from sinne he should depart from this world to immortal ioy Which by Gods prouidence was performed and he honorably buried by the Pope in S. Peters Church Not long after him to wit in the year 709. two English kings Coenred and Offa forsooke their K. Coenred 3706. K. Offa. kingdoms went to Rome and there became Monks coÌ„tinuing saieth saint Bede at the Apostles lib. 5. cap. 10 K. Ina ann 726. tombes in praying fasting and dealing alms vntil their dying lib. 5. cap. ij Baronius anno 729. Ethelvverd lib. 2. cap. 13. Malmesbur lib. 1. Reg. cap. 2. Polidor l. 4. Stovv in Ina. p. 96. day Ina alias Hun successor to king Cedwal in his kingdome succeded him also in his deuotion to the sea Apostolick For after he had raigned saith Bede 37. years he gaue ouer his kingdome and went himselfe to the tombs and monuments of the Apostles in Rome as in those dayes manie English both of the Nobilitie and Commons spiritual and temporal men and women were wont to doe with great emulation Neither went he only to Rome but became there a