Egbert who began his reign An. 800. reigned 37. yeares died An. 837. He was saith Malmsb. lib. 1. Reg. cap. 2. worthely to be preferred before all Kings The vvorthines of K. Egbert 1 Monarch of EnglaÌ„d And lib. 2. cap. 1. Regis Inae abnepos King Ina his great grandchild by his brother Inegilse suldued the mindes of his subiects by clemencie and meeknes and left his sonne great occasions of commendations Houed hist pag. 407. saith he was Vir strenuissimus ac Potens most stout and puissant And as all our English Cronicles testifie in his time subdued all the rest of our English Kings Hunting l. 4. VVallos vicit sabdued the VVelchmen Florent An. 836. Danos fugat Put to flight the Danes The Roman Catholick religioÌ„ of this victorious Prince is euideÌ„t His Rom. Religion First because he suffered his sonne and heir Ethelwolph to be a Monke and subdeacon as both Catholicks and ProtestaÌ„ts affirme Godwin in the Bishops of Winchester saith it is certain Wherby saith Bale Cent. 2. cap 20. He became the Popes Creature by both professions Secondly because he committed his said sonne Ethelwolf to S. Swithin to be taught as testifieth Florent An. 827. Gotzelin and Godwin in vit Swithini Surius tom 4. And as addeth Gotzelin inter precipuos amicos numerauit reconed him in number of his especiall freinds Now this Swithin was a Roman Catholick For as Bale l. cit granteth he was a Monke and as Malmsb. lib. 2. Pont Gotzelin l. cit Westmon An. 862. and others report wrought miracles by the signe of the Crosse is canonised by the Papists for a Saint Thirdly because K. Kenulf who in his time was King of midlengland as Malmsb. saith lib. 1. Reg. Nulli ante se Regi Nothing inferior in power and religion to any King before him and whose praises shal be aduanced on high so long as there is found any indifferent iudg in England writing with all his Bish and nobilitie to Pope Leo beginneth his letter thus Domino beatissimo To my most holy Lord and wel beloued Lord Leo the Roman Bishop of the holy Apostolick See Kenulf by the grace of God King of Merchland with the Bishops Dukes all Degrees of honor within our DominioÌ„s with health of most sincere affection in Christ Infra The sublmity of the See of Rome is our helth The prosperitie of Rome the ioy of England the prosperitie therof our coÌ„tinuall ioy Because whence yow haue your Apostolicall dignitie thence had we the knowledge of the true faith VVherfor I thinck it fit that the eare of our obedience be humbly inclined vnto your holy commaÌ„dements with our whole forces to fulfill what shal be thought coÌ„uenieÌ„t by your holines to performe But now I Kenulf by the grace of God K. humbly beseech your ExcelleÌ„cie to receaue me in quiet peace into your holines lap whome no meanes of merits do support let the large abouÌ„daÌ„ce of your blessing enrich for the gouermeÌ„t of his people that almightie God by your intercessioÌ„ may together with me encorage the Nation against the inuasion of forren foes which your Apostolical authoritie hath imbued with the rudemeÌ„ts of the Christian faith Rome taught England the faith All K. Kenulphs Predecessors had the popes blessing This blessing haue all the Kings who swayed the Mercian scepter deserued to obtaine at your Predecessors hands this same do I in humble maÌ„ner request desire to obtain of yow most holy Father first by way of adoptioÌ„ to receaue me as your child as I loue yow in the persoÌ„ of a Father shall embrace yow with the whole force of obedience Againe he saith Excellentiae vestrae VVe in most humble manner beseech your Excellencie to whome the key of wisdome is giuen by God Again VVith great humility also affectioÌ„ we haue writteÌ„ these to yow most holy Pope Our K. and Peers vvrite vvith great humilitie to the Pope beseeching in most earnest wise your ClemeÌ„cie kindly iustly to answer these things vvhich vve haue bene vrged to propound VVe send yovv here as a smale token of my louing minde that is 120. Mancuzes vvith letters requesting yovv to accept therof in good part vouchsafe to bestovv your blessing vpon vs. And the Pope answering him saith â—hat this K. professed to be willing to lose his life for him acknowledged saith the Pope that Nostris Apostolicis c. That no Christian presumeth to goe against our Apostolicall Decrees Yea Fox p. 132. speaking of this K. the others before him saith They wanted the knowledg doctrin in Christ especially in the Article of free iustification in faith Which p. 840. he termeth the foundation of the Church and all Christianitie and therfor saith he they ran the vvrong vvay And so concludeth that Protestants truth was hidden to our forancestors In which I verily beleeue him King Ethelwolph XIIII 2. THe 14. Christian King was Ethelwolph sonne to the forsaid King Egbert who began his reign An. 837. and reigned 20. yeares and od monethes He was saith Malmsb. lib. 2. cap. 2. by nature gentil and more desirous of peace than of war Vertues and valour of K. Ethelvvolph And yet saith Malmsb. l. cit Danos non semel per se suos Duces contudit The Danes he ouercame more than once by him selfe and his Generalls And besides other victories at Okley in Surey slew so many Danes saith Floren and westmon An. 851. Houed pag. 413. and others as neuer was heard in one Realme and at one time nether before nor after His Roman religion is most notorious His Rom. Religion First by that which hath bene said in the life of his Father Secondly because he procured a dispensation of the Pope becausâ— he had byn a Monke and subdeacon that he might marry which Pope Malmsb. 1. Pont. saith was Leo 3. Bale Centur. 2 cap 20. saith was Gregor 4. others say Leo 4. Thirdly he first sent his sonne Alfred to Rome to be instructed saith Westmon An. 854. of the Pope in manners and religion Kings sonne sent to be instructed of the Pope And after went himselfe and staied at Rome a yeare and ther as all Catholicke and Protestant Cronicles confesse bound all England to pay the Peter pence Ethelvv lib. 3. cap. 3 Stovv pag. 89 Coper An. 852. Houeden pag. 415. Huntingt lib. 5 Ingulp pag. 862. VVestmon An â—57 VVhat maÌ„â—uâ—a is And as Bale pag. 116. speaketh Prouinciam suam c. He made his Countrey tributarie to the Roman Synagog so sayth he was all England made subiect to the Roman Beast Besides this he appointed euery yeare 300. Mancuzes which were as Caius saith lib. 2. de antiq cantab. pag. 287. thirty pence a peece to be sent to Rome wherof one hundred should buy oile for light in S. Peters Church and one hundred for the same vse in S. Pauls and one hundred should be
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
c. Your wisedom knoweth that I with a filiall affection deuoutly and dutifully obey the Apostolicall commandements Rob. Grostets profession of subiection to the Pope and at his death he gaue all his books to the graie Friers Godvvin in vita eius vvher you see his Rom. religion restified by a Cardinal of that time And your anciēt writers are to far from accounting him no Catholicke as they esteeme him a Saint and relat his miracles as yow may see in Paris and Westmon Anno. 1250. Only Paris pag. 1174. saith that he had good zeale but perchance not according to true knowledg In this Kings time liued that grear scoole Doctor and Englishman Alexander de Hales King Edward I. XLI 10 IN the yeare of our Lord 1274. succeded Edward 1. sonne to King Henry 3. and reigned 34. yeares He was saith VValsingham in his Ypodigmate pag. 98. Great praises of K. Edvvard 1. In armes strong victorious warlick vvho gained all England from the hands of valiant Symon de Montfort VVales he got from Leolin Aquitan he wrested from the King of Frāce Polid. lib. 17. Scotland he often subdued Camb. Brit. pag. 700. saith He was a Prince far excelling in whose most valiāt mind God chused a most vvorthie lodging that he might match the heigt of royal maiesty not only vvith fortitude vvisedom but with bewtie also and comlynes of bodie whome fortune in the prime flower of his age trained vp in many warrs and most difficult times of the Common welth whilst that she disposed him for Brittish Empire VVhich when he was established in he so gouerned hauing ouercome the VVelch men and triumphed ouer the Scotts that by good right he is esteemed another ornament of Brittanie The like high praises giue him Cooper Anno. 1274. Stow pag. 304. Bale Cent. 4. cap. 58. and others His Rom. Religion As for the Roman religion of this renowned Prince it is most cleare First because as VValsingham saith Histor pag. 16. His wife Queene Eleoner dying with continuall prayers he did pray vnto our Sauiour Iesus for her for euer ordaining and procuring for her the celebrations of Masses in diuers places of his Kingdom In euery place and Vilage where her Corps rested the King commanded a Crosse to be erected in memorie of the Queene that her soule might be prayed for of those that passed by pag. 33. He Translated a stone to VVestminster which the Kings of Scottland at the time of their coronation were wont to vse for a Throne commanding that a Chair should be made therof for Priests to sit in when they solemnised Masse Besides pag. 13. His daughter Marie was a Nonne And in ypodingm p. 88. He commanded that the Crown of gould that was the king of Scots should be offered to S. Thomas the Martyr And p. 71. He built an Abbey of Cistercian Monkes And as Fox saith Acts pag. 339. Went on Pilgrimage to our Ladie of Walsingham to thanck God for his escape of a great danger And of so great account were religious men in his time as Stow pag. 329. reckneth 61. Abbots and 8. Priors of the Parliament in his tyme. Secondly because as Walsingham hath Hist pag 49. he writeth thus to the Pope To the most holy Father in Christ Boniface by the diuine prouidence cheefe Bishop of the holy Roman and Vniuersall Church Edward by the grace of God king of England Lord of Ireland Duke of Aquitan health and deuout kisses of your blessed feete Beneth Wee do humblie beseech your holines for as much as c. And p. 55. He Fox 341. set downe a letter wherin the Nobles and all the Barons assembled together in parliament write thus to the Pope This vvas scalled vvith 200. seales ypodigm pag. 89. We reuerently and humbly beseech your holines that yow would suffer our Lord king of England who among other sheweth him self Catholick and deuout to the Roman Church c. And Westmon Anno. 1302. putteth the beginning of this letter thus To the most holy Father in Christ L. Boniface by the diuine Prouidence cheefe Bishop of the vniuersall Church The profession of subiection to the P. by the vvhole Parlamēt his deuout sonnes Iohn Earle of VVarren Thomas Earl ofe Lancaster c. Deuout kisses of your blessed feete Behould how both the king and nobles professe to kisse the Popes feete call him cheefe Bishop of the Vniuersall Church In like manner Pope Boniface Writing in VVestmon Anno. 1301. to king Edward saith Scimus fili c. VVe know my sonne and now a long time experienc the Mistres of things hath taught vs how towards the Roman mother Church which in her bowels of charitie hath caried yow representing a kingly deuotion your reuerent regard is shewed your zeale strengthned and that in all promptitude yow obeying the true cōstitutions of the seat make your repose finally after the kings death his body lying at VValtham Destinati sunt c. saith VValsing Hist pag. 67. There were apointed of euery great Monasterie neere bordering six Monks Cannons or other religious which should watch about the body and continually solemnize the funerals And the Cardinall Legat graunted Indulgence of one yeare to them which did say our Lords prayer and the Angelicall salutation for the Kings soule And so manifestly were the times of this king Roman Catholick as the Kings Attorney in the arrainment of Garnet calleth them the verie midnight of Poperie And Bale Cent. 4. cap. 46. cryeth out Vnder King Edward the goulden face of the primitiue Church was obscured the cheefest bewtie of the Gospell changed The house of Israel was turned into rubbish the Ministers of the Churches degenerated into Dreggs and excrements the Friers bearing rule In this Kings time liued that great schoole Doctor and English man Richard Middleton Bale Cent. 4. cap. 77. and dyed that glorious Saint Saints S. Thomas of Hereford who in life was admirable for vertue and after death wonderfull for the greatnes and multitude of his miracles Miracles See Sur. tom 5. which were examined with such straightnes and approued with so great authoritie as who will beleeue any human testimonie can not but beleeue them as is to be seene in our ancient Manuscript yet extant King Edward 2. XLII IN the yeare 1307. Edward 2. sonne to Edward 1. succeeded Qualities of K Edvvard 2. Polid. l. 18. His Rom. Religion and reigned 19. years He was saith Cooper Ann 1308. And Stow pag. 337. faire of body but vnstedfast of maners and disposed to lightnes His Roman religion is certain both by what hath bene saide of his Father and because Caius de Antiq. Cantab. pag. 80. and Stow pag. 337. say He sued to Pope Iohn 22. to renew the priuiledges of the Vniuersities which he did Item He builded the Friers Church at Langley Stow pag. 332. Vowed in the battel of Sterling to build a house for the Carmelits in Oxford which he performed Stow pag. 334.
sent for two Cardinals to make peace betwene him and the Scotts pag. 336. Had a tenth of spirituall goods granted him by the Pope pag. 339. Had a Carmelit for his Confessor Bale Cent. 4. cap. 96. And as he saith cap. 82. In this Kings tyme came in the Friers De paenitentia into England to whome the King gaue the Synagogue of the Iewes Item the Friers of the order of Martyrs the Sarabitae the Paulins and the Trinitaries Bale Centur. 5. cap. 13. calleth these times the middle darknes of Roman superstition In this kings time liued that famous subtil doctor Iohannes Scotus The Cath. religion hitherto in EnglaÌ„d vvithout anie opposition And hitherto haue we proued the Catholicke Roman religion through all our Christian Kings not only cleare and manifest but also without any opposition or contradiction sauing of a few who in Saint Odo his time doubted of the reall presence but were soone conuerted Hereafter in our Country the Catholicke religion hath found some opposition though small by reason of VVick life who arose in the next Kings time and his fellowes CHAP. XXVI That the Kings of England from Edvvard 3. to Henry 8. vvere all Roman Catholick proued in particuler King Edward 3. XLIII 1. THe 43. Christian King of England was Edward 3. sonne to Edward 2. VVorthines of K. Edvvard 3. Began his reigne Anno. 1326. reigned 51. yeares He was saith Walsingahm Hist Anno 1376. amongst all the Kings of the world renowned benign gentle Poâ—d l. 19. and magnificent coragious of hart humble milde and very deuout to God This man saith Cooper Anno 1327. And Stow p. 438. Besids all other gifts of nature was indued with passing comly hewty fauor of vvit prouideÌ„t circumspect gentil doing nothing without great wisdome consideratioÌ„ Of excellent modesty temperance and aduanced such persons to high dignity as did most passe others in integrity innocency of life in feats of Armes verie expert Of his liberality clemencie he shewed very many great examples Breefly in all Princely vertue he was so excellent that few noble men before his time can be compared to him The like praise to him giue Fox Acts pag. 374. Bale Cent. 6. cap. 57. others His victories He wonne the great battell at Cressie where he vanquished the King of France with two other Kings tooke Calis and at the same time ouercame the King of Scotts and tooke him prisoner And his sonne Edward sirnamed the black Prince with a very small army got the battell of Poitiers Wherin he tooke the French king and after that entred into Spaine ouercame the king and draue him out of the Contrie So that this king by him selfe and his company tooke two kings slewe one and vanquished three others Of all our English kings to Henrie 8. Fox of most all challengeth this King and saith pag. 428. That aboue all other Kings to Henrie 8. he was the greatest bridler of the Popes vsurped power During all his time Iohn VVicklef was maintained with fauor and ayde sufficient Indeed King Edward 3. Anno 1374. made a lawe to forbid all procurement of English Benefices from the Pope But the cause therof was not that the King thought amisse of rhe Popes Authority but because he thought that the execution thereof in this point was incommodious and inconuenient to his Realme For other wise none of all our Kings haue auouched the Popes supremacie in which Protestants account the essence of a Papist to consist so cleare as he For in his letters to the Pope extant in Walsingham Anno 1336 and others he writeth thus Otterborne in Edvvard 3. Therfore let not the enuious or sinister interpretation of detractors made of your sonne finde place in the bowels of your mercie and sanctitie who will after the ancient custome of our predecessours persist in yours and the See Apostolickes fauour vntouched But if any such sugestion made against your sonne shall fortune to come vnto your holines eares Let not credit be giuen of your holy deuotion by your holines therunto before your sonne be heard who trusteth and euer intendeth to speak the truth and to iustifie euery one of his causes before your holines iudgement King Edvvard 3 accounteth it heresie to denie the Popes supremacie whose authority is aboue all earthly creatures which to deny is to approue an heresy Behould the King confessing first that it was hereditarie to him from his Anceistors to abide firmely in fauour of the See Apostolicke Secondly that he purposed euer to do soe Thirdly that it was heresie to denie the Popes iudgement praesidere omni humanae creaturae To beare rule ouer all human Creatures Oh when would this famous King haue thought that any of his Posteritie should make that treason which him selfe professeth all his Ancestors to haue held and accounteth it heresie to denie The same saith Pope Greg. 11. in VValsing p. 104. Kings of England especiall children of the Rom. Church And Pope Benedict in his answer of this letter in VValsingham pag. 124. saith thus Your Progenitors Kings of England haue excelled in greatnes of faith and deuotion towards God and the holy Roman Church as her peculier foster-children and deuoted sonnes and haue preserued the splendor of their progeny from any darkesome cloud Betwene the state of your Kingdome and also of the Kingdome of France we greatly desire to make a happy successe of peace and concotd And against you my sonne I cannot shut vp the bowels of my Fatherly affection To which the King returned this answer in Walsingham pag. 130. We haue reuerently and humbly accepted the letters of your Holines Also with a cheerfull hart we do beseech your clemency that if it please you you will duely ponder our iustice and intentioÌ„ founded vpon the truth And that we as occasion serued haue fauored the holy Roman Church in all fulnes of deuotion sound loue and gratious fauor K. Edvv. 3 Professeth to haue euer fauored the Pope as you may coniecture of a most deuout sonne For God is the witnesse of our coÌ„science that we haue desired to exalt defend the honors and liberties of the Church And againe the king Anno. 1343 writing to Pope Clement in VValsing pag. 150. saith thus Professeth the P. is Bishop of the vniuersal Church To his most holy Lord Clement by the diuine prouidence cheefe Bishop of the sacred Roman and vniuersall Church Edward by the same grace of God King of France and England and Lord of Ireland deuout kisses of your blessed feete c. And then calleth him successor of the Prince of the Apostles Infra VVe and ours do desire and ought to reuerence your most sacred person and the holy Roman Church And pag. 15. Clement answereth him thus My deerly beloued sonne yow haue knowne how to exhibit your sincere deuotion to our Lord and to your Mother the holy Roman Church as of famous memorie your
men and trauailled to Rome with great deuotion wher as he saith pag. 110 he became a Monke and pag. 125. granted a peny of euery house to be payd to the Court of Rome Beda lib 5 cap. 7. malmsb loc cit Cooper An. 723. Bale Cent. 11. cap. 97. Sleidan lib. 9. Stovv pag. 96. Bal. lib. cit Cambd. in Brit. p. 192. And pag. 136. founded the English Scoole or Seminarie there Fiftly as Cambden testifieth in Brit. pag. 193. he made verses to be engraueÌ„ in the forfront of Glossenburie in which he plainly confesseth S. Peters supremacie saith he that he was in Degree higher than S. Paul had the Keyes of heauen was the Porter and the firm Rock The verses are these Caelorum portae lati duo Lumina mundi Ore tonat Paulus fulgurat Arce Petrus Inter Apostolicas radianti luce coronas Doctior hic monitis celsior ille gradu S. peters supremacie professed by letters engrauen in stone Corda per hunc hominum reserantur astra per illum Quos docet iste stilo suscipit ille Polo Pandit iter Caelo hic dogmate clauibus alter Est via cui Paulus iaenua fida Petrus Behould Christian Reader this ancient and famous King and consequently all England in his time which is 900. yeares agoe beleeuing and not beleeuing onely but professing nor professing but engrauing in stone for testimony to all posteritie that S. Peter was in degree aboue all the Apostles S. Peter in degree aboue all the rest of the Apostles was the peculier Rock of Christians the proper Porter of heauen and espetially had the keyes of the coelestiall Kingdome Which is plain-ly that supremacie which their Posteritie Catholicks doe attribut vnto S. Peter and his successors And of the royall blood of this vndoubted Catholick and reuouneÌ„d King and so deuoted to the Church of Rome as first of all Christian Kings of the wordl His maiestie descendeth of K. Ina. by his brother he made his Kingdom and euery houshould therof tributary therto by payment of yearly pension by his brother Ingles came King Egbert who after reduced England to a monarchie as testifieth Paris Hist pag. 126. and of this King Egbert by lineall succession descendeth our present Souereign Lord King Iames. 11. In this Kings tyme besids him self three other English Kings left their Kingdoms also and became Monks to wit Four Kings leaue their kingdome and became moÌ„ks Ethelred and Coenred Kings one after the other of mercia or middle England and Offa King of Essex The two last went to Rome and there entred into Religion The third remained heere in England after was made Abbot of Bardney neere Lincoln And besides the Queens before mentioned Kineswitha daughter of King Penda and also espouse to the said King Offa became a Nonne hauing before perswaded him to giue ouer both his Kingdom and suite to her And besides these Osrick King of Northumberland as Godwill in the Bishops of Gloster saith Three Queens of mercia Abbesses one after the other but indeede King of the Victians as Beda called him lib. 4. cap 23. about the yeare 700. founded a Nonnery in Gloster in which Kineburg Eadburg and Eua all Queenes of Mercia were successiuly Abbesses The same saith Cambd. in Brit. pag. 316. Such rare and admirable loue of God and contempt both of pleasures and glorie of this world reigned in our Kings ProtestaÌ„ts glorie of the holines of our Cath. Anceistors Queenes and Princes of those dayes that iustly Cambd. in Brit. pag. 345. calleth this age seracissimum Sanctorum saeculum a most fruitfull wordl of Saints Oh when will Protestants breede such an age In this Kings time fell that most dredfull pumishment of God vpon that Captain who in his sicknes would not confesse his sinnes least he should seeme fearfull Which S. Beda recounteth lib. 5. cap. 14. wher he telleth how a little before the mans death Angels appeared and shewed to him a faire booke Dreadful punishment of one that differed his confession but little in quantitie wherin all his good deedes were written and after there came a huge multitude of Diuels who in a great black booke shewed him all his ill deedes and sinnes VVestmon An 921. Godvv in B. of york and one of them strooke him on the head and other on the feete which strokes crept into his body whâ—n they met he dyed in desperation In this Kings time also dyed S. Iohn of Beuerley who made S. Beda Priest Miracles of S. Ihon of Beuerlay whome he recounteth lib. 5. cap. 2. that by making the signe of the Crosse vpon the tongue of a Domb man he restored his speeche and that he helped an Earles wife with holy water and cap. 5. cured an Earles sonne and his Chaplin by his blessing In this time also liued S. Wilbrord an English man who An. 697. was consecrat Bishop by Pope Sergius and sent to preache in Frisland and Germany which also S. Swibert and many English more did Marcellin 1. mort Surio tom 2. Beda lib. 5. cap. 11. In this time also liued S. Boniface the Apostle of Germanie whome Pope Greg. 2. sent thither to preache An. 719. whose oath of fidelitie and plain Papistrie yow may read in Surius Tom. 3. and Baron An. 723. See also Surius de rebus moguntin At that same time also liued that great Eremit and S. Antonie of England S. Guthlac S. Guthlac the S. Antoine of England Of whome because Fox Acts pag. 125. saith that he secth no great cause why he should be Sainted Nether beleeue I saith he his miracles I will in this Saint giue the reader a taste of Fox his impudencie His holines and a full assurance if any can suffice of S. Guthlac his miracles Wherby euery indifferent man may iudg of the like miracles of Saints As for his holines Cambd in Brit. pag. 472. saith thus Guthlacus summa sanct titate c. Guthlac heere at Crowland lead an heremitical life in exceeding great sanctitie in honor of whome King Ethelbald with wonderfull expence founded a Monasterie in a Marish and vnstable grounde for religion and wealth very famous Behould this Protestant acknowledgeth that S. Guthlac led a most holy life and was so esteemed that King Ethelbald who liued at that same time soone after his death His miracles built a goodly Monasterie in his honor And who will read his life in Surius Tom. 2. shall finde that he was an admirable Saint 12. But as for the miracles of S. Guthlac if any humane testimony or euidence can make a thing certain and vndoubted they are so For Ingulph in his Hist printed and published by Protest who liued in the time of the Conquest setteth doune the Charter of King Kenulph a worthie Prince as all our Chronicles testifie dated Anno Christi 806. in which the King saith that he and his Queene were eye witnesses of many miracles done
see in Malmsb. 1. Pont. pag. 217. 219. it argueth not that he thought he might do so lawfully any more than that he might be as Fox termeth him pag. 1092. a piller and rauiner rather of Church goods or as Godwin in the life of S. Anselme termeth him the most Sacrilegious Simonest that euer reigned in England In so much as Hunting and Paris say An. 1100. when he dyed he had in his hands one Archbishoprick two Bishopricks 12. Abbeies as Stow saith pag. 183. said he would haue all the spirituall liuings in the whole Realme And Malmsb. lib. 4. addeth that he encoraged the Iewes to dispute with the Christians swearing that if they ouercame he would be of their religion Other horrible Villanies of his report Hunt Paris l. cit and others more which declare that he little cared to break Gods or the Churches lawes but conuince no more but that he was an ill Christian and an ill Catholick for life Saints in K. Rufus time In this Kings tyme dyed S. Wulstan Bishop of Worceter whome Godwin calleth Saint and confesseth that men had a great esteeme of him for his streitnes of life and opinion of holines And of other Authors of that tyme he is much commended Marian Cistertian order 〈◊〉 founded by an English man Florent Chron. Malmsb. 1. Pont. And his life is to be seene in Surius Tom. 1. In this Kings time also S. Stephan Harding an Englishman founded the order of Cistertian or white Monks as Bale Cent. 2. cap. 63. Fox Acts pag. 185. Malmsb. lib. 4. Reg. pag. 127. and others write Malmsb. termeth him The cheefe Author of the whole fact and especiall ornament of our dayes In this kings time died also the forsaid Saint Osmund Bishop of Salsburie the Author of that manner of saying masse Breuiarie and administring Sacraments which is called the vse of Sarum King Henrie I. XXXV 4. THe 35. Christian king was Henrie 1. yongest sonne to William Conqueror and borne in England began his Reign An. 1100. and reigned 35. yeares For his knowledg saith Fox lib. 4. p. 191. and science in the 7. liberall sciences he was Sirnamed Beuclerck Valour and qualities of K. Henrie 1. Cooper and Stow An. 1101. say he was a noble valiant Prince mightie of body of comly visage plesant sweete countenance excellent in vvit eloquence had good hap in battel The like write Catholicks of him As for his religion it is euident to be Roman Catholicke His Rom. Religion Fiâ—st because his Archb. was S. Anselm to whose piety he ascribed his conquest of Normandie Ediner in vit Anselm Secondly because he built a Church at Dunstable and by the authority of Eugenius 3. Pope saith Cambd. in Brit. p. 350. placed there Canons regulers Paris p. 98 and VValsing p. 38. name foure Monasteries which hâ— built Thirdly because as Stow saith p 204. Atholph Prior of S. Oswald was his Confessor Fourthly he yeelded vp the Inuestiture of Bishops Fox 194. Malmsb. 5. Reg p. 152. Florent VVestmon An. 1107. Houed 1108. Fiftly saith Paris p. 96. Houed An. 113â— Malmsb. lib. hist nouel lib. 1. Pope Innocent the second was most honorably entertained of him and by his help was admitted through all France Sixtlie Fox p. 192. setteth downe this letter of his to Pope Pascall To the venerable Father Pascall cheefe Bishop Henry by the grace of God K. health I greatly reioice with you at your promotion the See of the Roman Church requesting that the freindship which was betwixt my Father your Predecessors may also continew betwexne vs firme sure And at the same time saith Fox pag. 193. he sent another letter to the said Pope crauing of him his pal for Gerard Archb. of Yorke the forme wherof here followeth K. Henrie 1. Professeth the P. to be vniuersal P. To his reuerend and beloued Father Pascall Vniuersall Pope Henry by the grace of God king of England endeth thus I pray our Lord long preserue your Apostleship Ibid. Fox writeth that this kings Embasador said to the Pope that England of a long continuance had euer bene a prouince peculier to the Church of Rome and paid duely vnto the same yearely tribute Finally in this kings time the Cistertian Monsts entred into England Fox Acts p. 185. Cistertian monks enter into England Bale Centur. 2. c. 63. And in his last sicknes as the Archb. of Roan writeth to Pope Innocent in Malmsb. hist Nouel l. 1. Manner of King Henries death he confessed his sinnes was absolued and receaued the body and blood of our Lord with great deuotion lastly at his own request was aneyled And the Kings Attorney in the arainment of F. Garnet calleth this Kings time the very midnight of Popery S. Cutberts bodie found incorrupt In this Kings time say Florent Houed An. 1104. was the Shrine of S. Cutbert opened by Raph Abbot after Archb. of Canterb. found incorrupt in the presence of Prince AlexaÌ„der after K. of Scotland many more Saints See Saint Anselmes miracles in malb 1. Pont. p 216. 229. In his time died S. Anselm before spokeÌ„ of Thomas Archb. of York who when the phisitians tould him that he must ether vse the company of a woman or die he made choise of death Archb. Thom. vvould rather die than vse the companie of a vvoman For which Godwin in his life accounteth him a martyr though a little before he had said that Saint Oswald in debarring Priests from marriage had set forth the droctrine of Diuels King Stephan XXXVI 5. THe 36. Christian king of England was Stephan grandchild by a daughter vnto the Conqueror Valour of King Stephen He was crowned An. 1135. and reigned 19. yeares He vvas saith Malmsb. lib. 1. Hist Nouel Diligent and stout in war of an immoderat mind prompt to enterprise any hard thing to his enemies inexorable affable to all men Westmon An. 154. A notable souldier and in courage excelling The like hath Hunt l. 8. Cooper Anno 1136. And Stow p. 206. saith he was a noble man and passing hardie of passing comlie fauour and personage in all princelie vertues he excelled as in Martiall policie affabilitie gentlenes and bountifull liberalitie towards all His Rom. Religion His Roman religion is cleare First because his brother Henry Bishop of Winchester was in his time Legat to the Pope Hunting l. 8. Malmsbur hist Nouell Secondly because Stow saith pag. 215. He founded the Abbeis of Coxall in Essex of Furnis in Lankashier of Feuersham in kent Fox pag. 201. Cambd pag 682. 388. a Nonry at Carew an other at Higham Thirdly because being to giue battel on Candlemas day he heard Masse saith Hunting lib. 8. and the candle which he offered broke and the Pix in which the body of Christ was put fell downe vpon the Altar which were taken for aboadments of the losse of the batell Fourthly because in this Kings time
began saith Fox Acts pag. 201. appellations from Councells to the Pope by Henrie Bishopp of Winchester brother to the King In this Kings time Anno 1137. saith Bale Cent. 2. cap. 63. began in England the Monkes called Robertins of Robert their beginner But Capgraue in the life of Robert saith these Monks were Cistertians Monks enter into Englâ—nd In this time saith Bale ibidem entred into England the Moncks called Praemonstratenses Anno 1145. And Anno 1147. began the Gilbertin Monks and Nonnes founded by S. Gilbert Lord of Sempringham Cambd. Brit. p. 475. Neubrig l. 1. c. 16. Capgraue in Gilberto And this time Nicolas Breackspear an English Monke and Cardinall afterward Pope conuerted Norway sayth Bale l. cit ad Papismum to Papistrie And so manifestly were the times vnder King Stephen Papisticall as Bale cent 2. c. 74. speaking of them saith here we vnderstand that there was great want of the pure doctrine of Christ Iesus And cap. 73. saith it was a most corrupt age In this Kings time died also Saint William Archbishop of York Kinsman to King Stephan a man saith Godwin in his life very noble by birth but much more noble in vertue and good maners Saints Miracles many miracles writeth he are said to be vvrought at his Tombe King Henrie II. XXXVII 6. IN the yeare of our Lord 1155. King Henrie second grandchild by the Empresse Maude to Henri 1. succeded and reigned 33. yeares The vvorthines of King Henrie 2. He was saith Fox Acts pag. 234. Eloquent learned manly and bould in chiualrie The like hath Cooper Anno. 1155. and Stow pag. 216. Cambd. pag. 247. hath much of his praise out of Catholick writers of that time Vnder him saith Fox Acts pag. 224. the Dominion of England extended so far as hath not bene seene before VVhom Histories record to haue possessed vnder his rule First Scotland to whome VVilliam King of Scots with his Lords temporall and spirituall did homage both for them and their successors the seale wherof remaineth in the Kings Tresurie as also Ireland England Normandie Guiens Aquitan vnto the mountains of Pirenei He was offered also to be King of Ierusalem by the Patriarch and Maister of the Hospitall Now let vs see what was the religion of this potent King His Rom. Religion and of England when her Dominion was the largest that euer it was First Fox Acts pag. 234. telleth how this King heard Masse Secondly Stow pag. 232. telleth how he built the Nonrie of Font Euerard the Priorie of Stoneley of S. Martin in Douer and of Basing weck To which Cambd. in Brit. pag. 488. addeth Newsted in Nottingham shier and pag. 321. Circester in Glostershier Carthusiian Monks come into England Thirdly he brought Carthusians into England and built them a house at Withan Godwin in vit Hugonis Lincoln Houed saith this was An. 1186. Bale Cent. 2. cap. 63. saith it was 1180. And after Carthusians saith he came in Kinghts of Rhodes and of the Temple And Cambd. Brit. pag. 728. saith the Carmelits were brought in at this time Fourthly saith Stow pag. 216. he was directed cheefely by Thomas Becket in all things Fiftly saith the same Stow pag. 218. He obtained of Pope Adrian 4. both to haue Dominion of the Irish people Bal. Cent. 2 p. 180. and also to instruct them in the â—udiments of faith And the Pope in the letters of the grant calleth him a Catholick Prince Sixtly he Lewis King of France going on foote performing the office of lackeis and houlding the bridel of his horse on the right and lefâ— side Baron tom 12. conducted Pope AlexaÌ„der with great pompe through the Cittie Taciac vnto the riuer of Loir Robert Monten Genebre in Chron. Bale Cent. 2 c. 94. Neubrigen l. 2. c. 14. Thom. Cant. in Ep. ad Henr. 2. Seuenthly Houed p 502. setteth doune the letter of Gilbert Bishop of London to the Pope in which the Bishop writeth that the K. neuer auerted his minde from the Pope nor euer ment it but would loue him as a Father and reuerence the Church of Rome as his mother and had assisted the Pope in all his necessities with all his hart and strength And pag. 550. relateth a letter of Cardinals who writ of the King how obedient he shewed him selfe to the Church of which said they in this our short relation it is not needfull to relate Eightly Fox pag. 227. Cooper An. 1072. and others write that he agreed with the Pope that he should not hinder appeales to Rome and that nether the King nor his sonne should departe from Pope Alexander so long as he should count him or his sonne for Catholicks Bale Cent. 3. cap. 4. saith He permitted Appeals to the Pope and willingly submitted him selfe and his Kingdom to the Popes pleasure And English men came into greater subiection of Antichrist than euer at any tyme before Ninthly he persecuted certain German Hereticks whome Bale Cent. 2. cap 95. calleth Christians and others whome Bale cap. 97. calleth preachers of Gods word And Houed pag. 1573. reporteth that he and the King of France purposed to goe in person against the Albigenses whome Protestants commenly acount brethrem of their Church Finally his death was thus Cùm eger esset saith Houed pag. 654. VVhen he was sick vnto deathe he caused him self to be caried into the Church before the Altar and there he deuoutly receaued the communion of the body blood of our Lord confessing his sinnes And being absolued by the Bishop and Clergie he died And the times of this King were so manifestly Roman Catholick See more of this K. Rom. relig in Baron tom 12. as Fox Acts pag. 224. saith This age was all blinded and corrupted with superstition And yet pag. 225. affordeth it then the name of a Christian Realme that had the word of God And p. 227. noteth the blind and lamentable superstition and ignorance of these dayes Bale Cent. 3. cap. 14. cryeth out that sub Honorio 2. vnder Honorius 2. The life of man was corrupted vpon earth by Antichristian Traditions Saints In this Kings time liued the holy Eremit S. Gudrig Vir saith Cambd. Brit. p. 668. antiqua Christiana simplicitate totus Deo deuotus A man of ancient Christianlie simplicitie wholly deuoted to God Whose holines is described by diuers Capgraue Houed Miracles Anno. 1169. VVestmon Anno. 1171. Neubrigen lib. 2. c. 20. and 28. In his time also liued and died glorious S. Thomas of Canterb. of whose miracles Fox Acts pag. 225. saith he hath seene a booke to the number of 270. of curing all diseases belonging to man or Woman amongst which he nameth one most subiect as he thought by reason of the matter to laughter But who considereth that all the membres of our body were alike created of God may as wel be restored by him again when they are lost and weigheth the testimony which Fox bringeth him self
In this Kings time liued that witty schoolmaÌ„ William Occham King Richard 2. XLIIII IN the yeare 1377. succeeded King Richard 2. Nephew to Edward 3. by his sonne Edward the black Prince and reigned 22. yeares Qualities of K. Richard 2. He passed saith Cooper An. 1377. and Stow pag. 439. all his predecessors in bountie and liberality His Roman religion is most manifest His Rom. Religion First because he was crowned at a Masse wherof Walsingham Anno 1377. setteth downe the beginning of the Introit Graduall Epistle and Offertorie Had a Franciscan Frier for his Confessor Stow pag. 458. In the Commotion of Tiler went to Saint Edwards Shrine prayed before the high Altar offered and Confessed him selfe to an Anchor Stow pag. 459. and gaue to the said Shrine a Ruby then esteemed worth a thousand Markes pag. 593. Made foure Kings of Ireland knights at Masse pag. 501. And made the Earle of Northumberland sweare to him vpon the host after Masse p. 520. But most of all is his religion certain by his owne letters to the Pope and by his lawes and Acts against the Wicklefists Fox Acts p. 590. setteth downe his letters to Pope Boniface 9. thus To the most holy Father in Christ and Lord L. Boniface 9. by the grace of God high Pope of the most holy Roman and vniuersall Church his humble and deuout Richard by the grace of God king of England and France and Lord of Ireland greeting and kissing of his blessed feete And. pag. 511. he citeth an Act of Parlament then made to declare that Vrban was true and lawful Pope And pa. 556. saith King Richard procured letters Apostolicall from the Pope for the confirming of certain statuts of his And pag. 431. citeth a letter of Greg. 11. written in this kings time to the Vniuersitie of Oxford wherin the Pope saith that England doth not onely florish in power and aboundance of riches but is much more glorious and shining in purenes of faith accustomed alwaies to bring forth men excellently learned in the knowledg of holy scriptures grauitie of maners men notable in deuotion and defenders of the Catholick faith The like commendations he giueth in an other letter to king Richard Yea to testifie the Roman Catholick faith of this time and to stop the mouth of some Ministers who are not a shamed to say the Pope giueth leaue to sinne It pleased God this present yeare 1608. to raise in a maner a knight of that time and to make him speake For digging to make a graue in Saint Faiths Church vnder Paules they found the Coffin of Sir Gerard Bray brook the cords wherof were fresh and the herbs of good sauor and vppon his brest a Pardon granted vnto him of Pope Boniface of that time intire and whole in these words Boniface Bishop seruant of the seruants of God To his beloued sonne Gerard Braybrook the yonger Knight and to his beloued daughter in Christ Elizabeth his wife of the Diocese of Lincoln health and Apostolicall blessing It hath proceeded from the affection of your deuotion wherby yow reuerence vs and the Roman Church that we admit to our fauorable hearing your petitions those especially which concerne the halth of your soules Hence it is that we inclining to your requests do by the Tenor of these presents easely grant to your deuotion that the Confessor whom ether of yow shall thinck good to chuse shall by authoritie Apostolick giue to yow a plenarie remission of all your sinnes of which yow shal be in hart contrite and confessed once onely at the point of your death Yow persisting in the sincerity of faith in the vnity of the holy Roman Church and in obedience and deuotion to vs and our Successors the Bishopps of Rome canonically elected So notwithstanding that the said Confessor concerning those things of which satisfaction shal be imposed vpon ether He inioine it to be done by yow if yow return from perill of death or by your Heires if yow then chance to passe from this world that which yow or they are bound to performe as is aforesaid And least which God forbid in regard of such fauor yow be made more prone to committ sinne VVe will that if by any such confidence yow should fortune to transgresse that the foresaid Indulgence shall not any thing profit yow Therfore let it altogether be vnlawfull for any man to infringe this our graunt and will or with rash bouldnes contradict it If truly any shall presume to attempt it lett him know he shall incurre the indignation of Almighty God and his most blessed Apostles Saint Peter and Paul Giuen at Rome at S. Peters the 9. of Iune in the second yeare of our Popedome Behould gentle Keader this ancient pardon and consider by it First the high esteeme that our Catholick Anceistors made of the Popes pardons in so much that this worshipfull knight would send to Rome to procure a particuler one for him selfe and his wife Againe how vntruly Ministers say that Popes giue pardon and leaue to sinne seeing this pardon could not auaile for any sinnes committed vpon hope of the pardon But espetially I would haue thee consider Gods wonderfull disposition in the conseruing and reuealing of this Pardon at this time What thinckest thou that this Knights graue should be neuer opened till this day That the Pardon should be preserued from corruption so long lying in the earth That that onely Coffin in which this Pardon was should haue the cordes so long time sound the flowers so long odoriferous what thinck we this Pardon auailed to the soule of this Knight for which purpose it onely was giuen when it wrought such benefit to his dead corps But now to come to the Kings lawes and Acts against the Wicklefists Fox Acts pag. 441. saith Kings Richards lavvs against vviclefists vvhom Protest account their brethren The King adioined his assent to the setting downe of an Ordinance which was indeede the very first lawe which is to be found made against religion and the professors therof bearning the name of an Act made in the parliament Anno 5. Kichard 2. vvherin saith Fox VVicklefs doctrine is called heresie and notorious errors and slanders to ingender saith the Act discord and dissention betvveene diuers estates of the realme And order is taken for to arest and imprison such till they amend Ibid Fox citeth the letters patents of the King against Wicklef and some other there named or any other noted by any other probable suspition of heresies Again pag. 460. King Richard writeth to the Shrâ—efe of Northamton against the VVicklefists thus VVe willing therfor to withstand the Defenders and maintainers of such heresies Do will and command as wel the fornamed as namely the forsaid Iohn VVoodward to bs apprehended straitly charging the same to be imprisoned by their bodies or otherwise punished as shall seeme good to the Iustices And pag. 504. he setteth downe the Kings Commission in these words VVe 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
vvas Protest befor this time in any writer domestical or forrein no record or monument of antiquitie that til Cranmer any of the Archbishops varied from the faith of his Predecessors Therfor to affirme the contrary is ether to professe to know things past by reuelation or to affirm that which nether him self knoweth nor any man euer tould him Secondly because all the Archbishops vnto S. Odo his tyme which was An. 958. had bene Monks as S. Austin was which Odo himselfe testifieth in Malmesb. lib. 1. Pontif. pag. 200. And Fox lib. 3. pag. 151. where he saith All the Archb. of Cant. Monks til S. Odo This Odo was the first from the coming of the Saxons til his tyme which was Archbishop of Canterburie being no Monke all the other before his tyme were of the profession of monkes And therfor he could not be perswaded to accept the Archbishoprick vntil he had professed him selfe a Monke In a maner all monks til An. 1184. And after that vnto Archbishop Baldwin an 1184. in a manner all the Archbishops were Monks as Godwin a Protestant yet liuing which shall suffice to aduertise the Reader of now because herafter I shall often allegd him testifieth in the life of Archbishop Hubert And what kind of Monkes these were and what vndoubted Catholicks hath bene shewed before Thirdly Archb vvere chosen by Monks they were elected by the Monks of Christ-church in Canterburie where were Monks saith Malmsburie lib. 1. Pont. p. 203 euer since the tyme of S. Laurence successor to S. Austin as is euident by the epistle of Pope Boniface to King Ethelbert Ibid. pag. 208. and appeareth both by their liues in Godwin and by the iudgment of Pope Innocent 3. in Paris pag. 287. Who when the Bishops of England challenged right in the election of the Archbishop the Pope hearing both parties gaue sentence that Monachi legittimè probauerunt c. That the Monks had lawfully proued that the â—â—or and Couent of the Church of Canterbury haue for long times past elected Bishops in their Chapter without the Bishops euen vnto this time and haue obtained their election to be confirmed of the See Apostolick And Fox Acts pag. 232. writeth that the practice of the Monks was first to keepe the election in their own hands as much as they could and secondly either to giue the election to some Prior or Monke of their owne house or to some Abbot or Bishop which some tyme had bene of their company And Ibid. he addeth that the Archbishop of Canterburie was commonly set vp by the Pope especially since the Conquest And pag. 349. that it hath bene alwaies the practice of the Church of Rome euer to haue the Archbishops of their owne setting vp or such a one as they might be sure of on their side And this election of Archbishops by Monkes continewed till Cranmers time For as Godwin writeth Archbishop Deane who was the last but one before him was elected by them And the same he intimateth of Bishop Warham who was the very last befor Cranmer Now of what religion they were whome Monkes did chuse euery one knoweth All the Archb. confirmed by the Pope Fourthly they were all confirmed by the Pope this is manifest by Godwin in their liues And no maruel for before S. Austins tyme Pope Pelagius Predecessor to S. Greg. made a law Vt quisquis Metropolitanus vltra tres Menses consecrationis suae ad fidem suam exponendam Pallium suscipiendum ad Apostolicam sedem non miserit commissa sibi careat dignitate Whervpon Reinolds Confer 458. saith that Pelagius lest he should rashly giue consent to the allowing of any Metropolitan that were not sound in faith required them to make profession of their faith and so to send for the Pal that is to say to send for his consent wherof the Pall was a token Yea pag. 543. speaking generally of the Popes of the last 200. yeares after Christ saith they required the confirmation of the Metropolitans by their consent And besides this profession of faith it was after decreed by Pope Alexander 3. saith Fox pag. 229. An. 1179. in the Councel of Lateran that no Archbishop should receaue the Pal vnles he did sweare this oath I. N. Bishop of N. from this houre forward wil be faithful and obedient to blessed S. Peter the holy Apostolick Roman Church and my Lord Pope N. and his successors Canonically entring The oath of Bishops to the Pope I will neuer by Counsel consent or deed be in cause that they loose life member or be wrongfully imprisoned And what so euer they shall commit to me ether by them selues or their messengers I will neuer wittingly reueale to their preiudice to any person VVith due respect to my vocation I will aide them in the houlding and defence of the Roman Papacie and S. Peters regalities against all men I wil giue honorable entertainment to the Legat of the See Apostolick in his going and returne and assist him in his need Being called to a Synod I will come vnles I be stayed by some Canonical let I will yearly visit the Court of Rome if it be on this side the Alpes or euery second yeare when it is beyond the mounts vnles I be dispensed withal by the See Apostolick I wil nether sel giue nor pawn nor farm out a new nor any way alien the Lands and liuings belonging to my Bishoply maintenance without the priuitie of the Pope of Rome So God me help c. And the like Oath did S. Boniface the Apostle of Germanie in his Consecration sweare to Pope Gregorie in the yeare 723. and the Pal was deliuered to him with these wordes Speech at the deliuerie of the Pall. To the honor of Almightie God the blessed Virgin Mary and the blessed Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul and my Lord Pope N. and the holy Church of Rome as also the holy Church of N. committed to yow VVe deliuer a Pal taken from the body of blessed S. Peter that is the fulnes of Pontifical function to the intent yow vse the same on certain dayes expressed in the Priuiledges granted to it by the See Apostolick c. Now that our Archbishops did receaue their Pal from the Pope is manifest and confessed by Godwin almost in euery one of their liues and shal be more plainly shewed hereafter and is acknowledged by Fox lib. 3. pag. 152. and lib. 4. pag. 172. Therfor there can be no more doubt that our Archbishops were perfect Papists than the Popes were Popes Our Archb. vvere the Popes legats Fiftly our Archbishops were euer the Popes Legats in England The Archbishops of Canterbury were saith Camb. Brit. pag. 296. Legats of the Bishop of Rome and as Vrban 2. sayd as it were Popes of an other world And Pope Iohn 12. in his letter to S. Dunstan We fully confirm thy Primacie in which thou oughtest according to the custom of thy Predecessors to be Legat
Vniuersities disputed excellently and shewed him self in diuers kinds of excercises His Rom. Religion Of his Roman religion can be no question For as Godwin and Bale cent 4 cap. 46. write he was made Archb. by the Pope ex plenitudine potestatis by his absolute authoritie And besides he was a Franciscan frier as Godwin rightly saith and Bale wrongly maketh him a Dominican and Prouincial of their order in England built the Gray Friers house in London and finallie was Cardinal Iohn Peckam Archbishop XLVIII 17. IN the yeare 1278. succeeded Iohn Peckam and departed this life An. Rare learning and behauiour 〈◊〉 Archb. Iohn 1292. A man saith Westmon An. 1278. Perfectissimus in doctrina most Perfect in learning Godwin saith of rare learning vsed great lenitie and gentlenes euery where and of an exceeding meeke facil and liberal minde His Roman religion is vndoubted His Rom. Religion For all write he was a Franciscan Frier and their Prouincial as his Predecessor had bene and made Archbishop as Westmon And Godwin l. cit and Fox Acts p. 349. and Bale Cent. 4. cap. 64. affirme by the meere authoritie of the Pope whervpon he is tearmed of Bale magnus robustus Antichristi miles a mightie and stout Champion of Antichrist Robert VVinchilsey Archb. XLIX 18. THe 49. Archbishop was Robert VVinchelsey elected an 1294. deceased an 1313. Walsingham ypodigmat pag. 100. writeth of him that He ruled the English Church notably in his dayes Exceelent learning vertue and vvisdom of Archb. vvinchelsey Godwin saith that being a childe he was admired for his towardlines and loued for his modest and gentle behauior gouerned the Vniuersitie of Paris with great commendation of integritie and wisdom gaue proofe of excellent knowledg of all good learning by preaching and disputing and was chosen to be Archbishop with the Kings good liking and applause of all men and coming to Rome the Pope a good and vertuous man saith Godwin and Cardinals vvere amazed at his rare learning ioyned vvith discretion and vvisdom He vvas a stout Prelat and a seuere punisher of sinne Such preferments as fel to his disposition he euer bestovved on men of excellent learning maintained many poore schollers at the Vniuersities and to all kinde of poore people was exceding bountiful In so much as therin I thinck he excelled all the Archbishops that euer were before or after him Besides the daylie fragments of his house he gaue euerie Friday and Sonday to euery Begger a loafe of bread VVere not these admirably learned and vertuous men more liklie to knovv the truth than Cranmer and such like And there were euerie such almes daies four or fiue thousand people Besides this euerie great festiual daye he sent 150. pence to such poore people as could not fetch his Almes Thus writeth Godwin of this admirable Archbishop which ioined to that which hath bene recited out of him selfe and others of the rare learning and vertue of many Archbishops before and shal be of many others hereafter were ynough to confound any Protestant and condemn their religion As for his Roman religion it is apparant His Rom. religion For he was chosen by the Monkes went to Rome admired of the Pope and Cardinals and answered thus to the Kinge Vnder God our vniuersal lorde vve haue tvvo other lordes a spiritual lord the Pope and a temporal lord the King and though vve be to obey botb yet the spiritual rather than the temporal as Godwin testifieth VValter Reinolds Archbishop L. 19. IN the yeare 1313. succeded Walter Reinolds and died an 1327. He vvas saith Godwin but meanly learned The great vvisdom of Archb. Reinolds but very vvise and of good gouernment singulerly fauored of King Edward 2. for his assureed fidelitie and great wisdome At the instance of the king saith Godwin he was thrust into the See by the Pope receaued his Pal and procured diuers Bulls from the Pope His Rom. Religion which putteth his Rom. religion out of question Simon Mepham Archbishop LI. Great learning of Archb. Mepham 20. THe 51. Archbishop was Simon Mepham cōsecrated An. 1327. and died An. His Rom. Keligion 1333. He was saith Godwin verie wel learned and Doctor of Diuinitie his Roman relegion is certain For as Godwin writeth He was elected by the Monks and afforded consecration by the Pope at Auinion Iohn Stratford Archbishop LII 21. THe 52. Archbishop was Iohn Stratford elect An. 1333. and continued about 15. yeares Famous learning of Archb. Stratford He was writeth Godwin famous for his learning and gouernment of the Archdeaconrie of Lincoln a good Bishop and both diligently and faithfully serued his king to the last hower a verie gentle and merciful man and gaue almes thrise euerie daye to 13. poore people His Rom. Rellgion His Roman religion is euident For he was as Godwin saith first made Bishop of Winchester by the Pope and after preferred by him also to the Archbishoprick of Canterburie Iohn Vfford Archbishop LIII Nobilitie and learning of Archb. Vfford 22. IN the yeare 1348. succeded Iohn Vfford and died the same yeare He was sonne of the Earle of Suflolke and Doctor of law And as for his Roman Religion that is out of doubt His Rom. Religion because as Godwin saith he was pronounced Archbishop by the Pope Thomas Bradwardin Archbishop LIIII 23. THe 54. was Thomas Bradwardin elected an 1349. and deceased the same yeare He was saith Godwin a good Mathematician a great Philosopher Eccellent learning nd holines of Archb. Bradvvardin and an excellent Diuine But aboue all saith he is to be commended his sinceritie of life and conuersation He was Confessor to King Edward 3. and in that office he behaued him selfe so as he deserueth eternal memorie for the same He was wont to reprehend the King with great bouldnes for such thinges as were amisse in him and in that long war of France he would be neuer from him but admonished him often secreatly and all his army in learned and most eloquent sermons publickly that they waxed not proud of their manifold victories And some there be that haue not doubted to ascribe that notable conquest rather to the vertue and holines of that man than to any prowes and wisdome of others It it certain he was elected Archbishop without his seeking and hardly saith he should yow finde any Archb. in any age to haue obtained his place in better sorte This high commendation giueth Godwin vnto this great and worthie Prelat and withal as great a discommendation to his Protestant religion His Rom. Religion For as Godwin him self saith he was consecrated at Auinion by a Cardinal in the Frier minors Church which sufficiently ynough testifieth his Roman religion in so much as Bale Cent. 15. cap. 87. calleth him Papistam a Papist Simon Islip Archbishop LV. Learning and good deeds of Archb. Islip 24. IN the yeare 1349. was elect Simon Islip and died an
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
Kings of the West Contrie who in time subdued the rest and whose roiall blood yet inioyeth the crown in their rightfull heire both by the English and Scottish line His maiestie descended of the VVest Saxon Kings by both the English and the Scottish line our Souerain Lord King Iames. If any askt me why God permitted the Western Kings to conquer the rest I will not take vpon me to haue bene of Gods counsel yet haue I noted diuers notable things peculier to them which whither they might moue God to blesse them with such temporall benediction or no I leaue to the reader to iudg The first is First Christian K. of vvest saxons became a Monke that the first Christian King of that Contrie namely Kinegilsus left his Kingdome and became a Monk as testifieth Fox Acts. pag. 110. 134. which we read not of the first Christian Kings of the other Kingdoms VVest saxon Kings first vvent to Rome The second is that the kings of this Contrie first left their Kingdoms and went on Pilgrimage to Rome This is manifest by S. Beda lib. 5. cap. 7. in the valiant King Ceadwall Who in the year 689. before all other kings weÌ„t on Pilgrimage to Rome The third is First made their kingdom tributary to the See Apostol that these kings first of all other our Princes made this land tributaire to Rome for the Peter pence This all our Chronicles write of King Ina in the yeare 726. These three notable things these Kings performed first and therfor perhaps their Kingdom continewed longest But now to come to the Kings in particuler King Kynegilsus first Christian King of the west Saxons or west Countrie 2. THe first Christian King of the West Saxons was Kinegilsus alias Cynegilsus Kinegilsus 1 ChristiaÌ„ K. of the VVest Saxons who began his reigne An. 611. as some write or as oâ—hers 612. two or thre yeares before the death of S. Austin our Apostle if he died not before 614. as Malmsb. recordeth The valour of K. Kinegilsus and reigned 31. yeares He was coÌ„uerted to the Christian faith Christened by S. Birin in the yeare of our Lord 635. was a valiant Prince and had prosperous successe in his warrs against the Britons and against Penda the cruel Pagan King of the Mercians or Middle English K. Kynigilsus a Rom Catholick As for the faith of this ancient and valiant King that appeareth to be Roman Catholick many wayes First because he was conuerted by S. Birin whome both Catholicks and Protest grant to haue bene sent hither by Pope Honorius Beda lib. 3 cap. 7. Godvvin in Birin Cooper An. 6â—6 Bal Cent. 13. cap. 4. who was the fourth Pope after Boniface 3. which Pope Protestants as is shewed before cap. 13 account the first Antichrist and head of the Papist Church because he procured Phocas the Emperor to declare that he was head of the Church and in like sort they account of all the Popes since that time And it is not likly that Pope Honorius would send any hither that did not beleeue him to be head of the Church in which point as D. Reinolds and D. Whitaker say the essence of a Papist doth consist Besides this Honorius in his Epistle in Beda lib. 2. cap. 18. plainly calleth S. Peter head of the Apostles and cap. 17 he sendeth two Palls one to the Archbishop of Canterburie and another to the Archb. of York K Kinegilsus conuerted by a Canon regular more ouer he was a Canon regular as saith Ciacon in his life as also was S. Bâ—rin whome he sent which order Bale Cent 1. cap. 82. calleth one of the hornes of the beast and Cent. 1. cap. 70. plainly refuseth Honorius as a Papist saying P. Honorius a Papist He instituted the feast of the Exaltation of the holy Crosse added the inuocation of the dead Saints to Greg. Letanies and ordainet that there should be a Procession euery Saboth day Hence the Procession in Churches seeme to haue had their beginnings Secondly the same S. Birin Apostle as Camb. calleth him in Brit. pag. 338. of the Westsaxons S. Birins esteme of a Corporas waâ— so addicted to masse and things belonging therto aâ— for the loue of a Corporas which he had left on the shoare when he tooke shipp for England Miracle touching a Corporas when he could not perswade the mariners to retuâ—ne to fetch it he aduentured his life by walking on the sea to goe for it as Malmsb. lib. 2. Pont. pag. 241. Iornelasensis and so many Authors affirme as saith Fox lib. 2. pag. 122. I can not but maruel And if he were not obstinat could not but beleeue And Capgrane in his life saith that his bones were founde in Pope Honorius 3. and Archb. Stephans time with a leaden Crosse vpon his brest a little Chalice and two stoles Thirdly this King became a Monk as Fox testifieth lib. 2. pag. 110. and 134. and for what ende hath bene before declared which is an euident badg of Papistrie Fourthly his Godfather in baptisme was King Oswald as Beda saith lib. 3. cap. 7. which Oswald erected Crosses and prayed before them and being to die him selfe prayed God to haue mercy on the soules departed out of Beda cap. 2. cap. 12. which are euident tokens of Papistrie Fiftly This truth is euident by the open confessions of our aduersaries For Bale Cent. 13. cap. 4. writeth that ProtestaÌ„ts confesse K. Kinegilsus to haue bene a Papist Birini opera c. By the industrie of Birin in the yeare of our Lord 635. Dorchester with the Contrie therabout vnder pretence of the Gospel receaued the Papisticall faith And that S. Birin was enrolled amongst the Papisticall Saints Thus the Roman religion of this first Christian King is both euident and confessed Holie men in K. Kinegilsus time 3. In this Kings time besides S. Austin and his fellowes of whose miracles wrought for the testimonie of the Roman Catholick faith is before spoken See Bed lib. 3. cap. 7. Sur. tom 6. Malmsb lib. 2 Pont. Capgraue in Birin liued the saide S. Birin whome to omit Catholick authors Cooper Chron. An. 636. calleth a holy man Cambd. in Brit. pag. 338. saith He was admirally famous for the opinion of sanctitie Godwin in his life saith he was a very zelous and deuout man The holines of the conuerter of K. Kinegilsus to the Cath. faith And Fox Acts lib. 2. cap. 122. saith that by his godly labors he conuerted the King to the faith of Christ And amongst others his miracles walked as is said vpon the seas a thing scarce heard of since S. Peeters time to fetch his corporas Fox dare not denie S. Birin VValking on the sea to fetch a Corporas which is so certain as Fox L. cit dare not deny yet saith he if we will beleeue him on his word that if this miracle were done it was not done for the
Oswald Archb. of York whome Godwin confesseth to haue bene very learned and for his integritie and conuersation much reuerenced The greatest faulte saith he I finde in him was in that he was very earnest in setting forth that doctrin of Diuels that debarreth men who haue promised to God the contrary from marrying In this time also was martyred S. Elpheg Archb. of Canterburie And S. Edmund King and martyr miraculously flew Swain King of Denwark as in the Ecclesiastical histories it is reported of Saint Mercurie Martyr that he slew Iulian the Apostata This miracle Fox him selfe dare not discredit but lib. 3. pag. 161. writeth thus of Swain Miracle He entred the Territorie of Saint Edmund wasted and spoiled the contrie despised the holie Martyr menacing the place of his sepulcher VVherfore the men of the Countrie fel to praier and fasting so that shorlie after Swain died sodenlie crying and yelling Some saye saith he that he was stroken with the sword of S. Edmund In fear wherof Canutus his sonne granted them the fredome of all their liberties and great freedoms quitted them of all tax and tribut And after that time it was vsed that Kings of England when they were crowned sent their Crownes for an offering to S. Edmunds shrine and redeemed the same againe with condigne price And these times were so euidently Papistical as Fox in his Protestation before his Acts saith thus About the year of our Lord 980. sprong forth here in England as did in other places more a Romish kind of Monkery much drovvned in supestition Of this svvarme vvas Egbert Agelbert Egvvin Boniface VVilfrid Agathon Iames Roman Cedda Dunstan Osvvald Athelm Lanfrancke Anselm and such other But well it is that this Iames was as S. Beda saith lib. 2. c. 20. a good godlie man Deacon to S. Paulin who was S. Austines companion by whome we may see the religion of S. Austin and his fellowes Agilbert Agatho Wilfrid Roman Cedda were holy men much commended by Beda lib. 3. cap 25. and liued in S. Austins time or very sone after long before this time The others Egbert Boniface Danstan Oswald Anselm were the famousest Saints which England hath King Edmund Ironside XXVII 16. THe 27. Christian King was Edmund Ironside sonne vnto King Egelred who succeded An. 1016. and reigned one yeare The valour of K. Edmund Ironside He was saith Malmsb. lib. 2. cap. 10. a yong man of notable towardlines of great strength both of minde and body and therfore sirnamed Ironside of the English men The like say Hunting lib. 6. Westmon Anno 1016. Cooper Anno 1016. and Fox Acts Pag. 162. wriâ—e that he was of lusty and valiant courage in martiall affairs both hardie and wise and could indure all paine His religion His Roman religion is manifest by that as the Register of Bury saith he reedifyed Glassenburie destroied as it seemeth by the Danes and by what hath bene said of his Father King Canut XXVIII 17. THe 28. king was king Canut a Dane who by force of armes and dint of sword got the kingdome beginning his reigne Anno. 1017. and reigned 20. yeares Composed saith Malmsb. lib. 2. c. 11. his life magna ciuilitate fortitudine Vertues of K. Canut Of whome Hunting lib. 6. Polidor L. and others recount this story Fox p. 164. That as he sat by the sea side his flatterers magnifying him called him Lord of the land and sea whose flattery to discouer he commanded the waues not to come neere him but they rising according to their course bewet the king wherat he smiling said to his coutriers loe he whom yee call Lord of Sea and land cannot coÌ„mand a smale waue Cooper An. 1018. saith he was a sage gentle and moderat Prince And An. 1027. for his vertuous life worthie to liue perpetuallie He was of great magnificence vsed such iustice temperance that in his daies was no Prince of such renowne towards God humble and lowlie Bale Cent. 2. cap. 45. saith he was Iuuenis c. a yong man of excellent vvit and high minde and notable in Christian modestie That great king who was withall king of Denmark and Norway was euidentlie a Roman His religion Catholick First because after the said speech of his touching the Sea he went to Winchester as Fox pag. 163. Bale l. cit Stow pag. 120. Florent Houed An. 131. Hunting l. cit and others write and taking his crown from his head set it vpon the head of the crucifix Quo c. saith Bale By which he signified that the Kings of those times were no Kings but onely the likenes of Kings and Images of the Beast Secondly Fox pag. 163. writeth that following much the superstition of Agelnoth Archb. of Canterburie he went on Pilgrimage to Rome and ther founded an hospitall for Pilgrims gaue to the Pope pretious gifts and burdened the Land with a tribut called Romescot In his letters to the Nobles and Bishops of England in Malmsb. and Ingulph him self saith that he went oratum c. to pray for the redemption of my sinnes and saith that he had longe vowed it and thancketh God that he had there honored S. Peter and Saint Paule and all the holy places of Rome Et ideo hoc maxime c. And therfor I haue done this principally because I haue learned of wise men that Saint Peter the Apostle hath receaued great power of our Lord of binding and loosing and that he is the Porter of heauen and therfore I thought it very profitable to require especially his protection with God Thirdly in his Charter in Malmsburie he saith he graunteth priuiledges to that Monasterie by the counsel of the Archbishop Agelnoth and also of all the Priests of God and with the consent of all my Peeres for the loue of the Kingdom of heauen and pardon of my offences and the relaxations of the transgressions of my brother King Edmund Wherby wee see that both him selfe and his Bishops and nobles were Roman Catholicks Fourthly he built saith Fox l. cit Cambd. Brit. pag. 415. Saint Bennets in Norfolk and turned Saint Edmunds Bury into an Abbey of Monks And Bale libro cit addeth It is found that next after God he endeuored to appease Saint Edmund by prayers and offerings King Herold XXIX 18. IN the yeare 1036. succeded King Herold sonne to King Canut by Elfgina an English woman as witnesseth Ingulph and reigned 4. yeares and 4. monethes ex Malmsburie lib. 2. cap. 12. His Roman religion is manifest both by his Father Rom. region of K. Herold by that which Ingulph writeth of him pag. 895. He gaue to the Monasterie of Crowland a Cloake of silk set with goulden buttons which he wore at his coronation and he had done to vs many moe good things if ouer hasty death had not taken him away King Hardy Canut XXX 19. THe 30. King was king Hardi-Canut sonne to king Canut Emma who had bene
his death bed as Stow Chron. pag 171. Baron An. 1084. and an other author then present write that he had increased 9. Abbeies of Monks VVhat account K. VVill. made of Monasteries and one of Nonneâ— and that in his dayes 17. monasteries of Monks and six of Nonnes were builded VVith such compasse saith he Monasteries fence of Countries Normandie is fenced and all things which any noble men in Lands or Rents haue giuen to God or Saints for their spirituall health I haue curteously grauÌ„ted and confirmed their Charters These studies I haue followed from my first yeares This I leaue vnto mine heires to be kept in all times In this my children follow me continuallie that here and for euer before God and men yow may be honored Finallie as Stow p. 174. and the said Authors report bâ—ing to giue vp the ghost K. VVilliams last vvords praying to our ladies with great deuotion he lift vp his eyes to Heauen and holding abroad his hands said I commend my soule vnto our blessed Ladie Marie Mother of God that she â—y her holie praiers may reconcile me to her most dere sonne our Lord Iesus Christ And with these wordes saith Stow he presentlie yelded vp the ghost And pag. 176. he addeth that he was buried at a Masse and that the Preacher desired all to pray for the dead Prince This was the ende of this victorious and vndoubted Catholick King Fox his confes of the Cath. time vnder K. VVilliam Conq. and since 2. And so Catholick these times since the Conquest haue bene as Fox Acts pag. 167. speaking after his maner saith Before the Conquest infection and corruption of religion vvas great but in the times folovving it did abound in excessiue measure Which he said onely because the histories of the times folowing are more exant perfect and so afforde more playne and more frequent testimonie of the Catholick faith than those of the former times though they as yow see afford sufficient Bilson also of Obed. pag. 321. saith that the Pope inforced vpon the Normans the headship of the Church Wherin he confesseth that the Normans admitted a cheefe pointe of Papistrie Saints in K. VVilliams time In this kings tyme lyued that holy Queene of Scotland S. Margaret grandchild vnto king Edmund Ironside whose holy life is written by Tungat an English man Bishop of S. Andrews in Scotland Who was saith Bale Cent. 2. cap. 60. oculatissimus testis Virtutum eius a most certain eye vvitnesse of her vertues And Fox Acts. pag. 185. calleth her vertuous and deuout ladie And yet was she a manifest Papist For being to die she called for Priests and made her confession Florent An. 1093. malb l. 4. and was anoiled and howseled as testifie the said Turgot Houed An. 1093. Hunting lib. 7. pag. 373. and others In her life tyme She was a maintaner of pietie iustice peace Holines of Q. Margaret frequent in prayer who punished her body with fasting and watching and of this holy Queene is his present Maiestie descended by both the Royal lines of England and Scotland In this Kinges tyme also liued Berengarius a French Deacon who is the first that is named to haue denyed the real presence of Christs bodie and blood in the Eucharist as the holy Church teacheth saith malmsb l. 3. who liued about that time The same denied some ancient hereticks in S. Ignatius time as he testifieth ep ad Smyrn but nameth none But they were then so fully put downe as from thence to Berengarius which is almost a thousand yeares none is found to haue denyed Christs real presence in the Sacrament Berengar vvho denied the real presence denied also mariage and baptisme of Infants Massou Annal. franc lib. 3. besides such as denyed that he had any real body at all Berengarius denied also marriag to be lawful and the baptisme of Infants as Durand then Bishop of Liege writeth in his epistle to Henrie then King of France tom 3. Biblio Sanctor in fine and Protestants confesse namely Oecolampadius l. 3. p. 710. Crispin l. of the Church p. 289. But at last this Berengarius recanted all his heresies and died a good Catholick as the said Malm. witnesseth Against him wrote our great learned Prelat Lanfranc many others King VVillam Rufus XXXIIII 3. THe 34. Christian King of England was William Rufus Anno 1088. and reigned 13. yeares Vertues of K. Rufus for a time He saith Stow Chron. pag. 179. as long as Lanfranc liued seemed to abhorre all kinde of vice so that he was accounted a mirror of Kings Cooper Anno 1089. writeth that in martiall policie he was verie expert and diligent in all matters he went about stedfast and stable in his promisse and meruailous painfull and laborious But at last vices ouerwhelmed his vertues His Rom. Religion His Roman religion is manifest First because as Malmsb. hath lib. 4. Paris An. 1087. He was brought vp by Lanfranc and by his meanes chiefly made King Secondlie because Fox writeth lib. 4. pag. 184. Lincoln Minster in his time had a Romish dedication And as Paris saith pag. 767. that being done the king called two Cardinalls who were present who had receaued fulnes of power of our Lord the Pope for the disposition of Bishopricks and of the same Church The ordination was such that the Bishop being chosen the Canons placed in their possession from thence forth they should in orderlie discipline of life serue God and his blessed mother day and night Thirdlie because as Stow hath Chron. pag. 160. Rufus gaue to the Monkes of the Charitie the manner of Berdmonsey and builded them a new house And in his Charter yet extant he confirmeth his Fathers graunt to the Monasterie of Batel and saith he doth it for the soule of his said Father A plaine Papiâ—â—â— câ—l Charter of K Rufus and also of his mother matildis of godlie memorie and for the soule of his most glorious predecessor King Edward for my owne saluation likewise and my Successors and for the quiet rest of those that were slaine there in batel VVhich how euident a signe of Papistrie it is hath bene shewed before Fourthly Rufus being once very sick made his confession to S. Anselm Malm. 1. Pont p. 217. and nominated him Archb. of Canterb. whom the Protestants confesse to haue byn a notorious Papist Fiftly Malm. 1. pont p. 220. Florent An. 1095. Fox lib. 4. p 185. and others testify that he sent two messengers to Pope Vrban to entreat him to send his Pal for him Anselm and with charge paines prouided it And that Gualter the Popes Legat delt so with the King that Vrban there being an other Antipope was proclamed lawfull Pope throughout all the realme VVherfore though this king tooke vpon him to forbid Bishops to account any for Pope or to appeale to the Pope without his licence wherin he was resisted by Saint Anselm as yow may
goodly monastery at Beulieu erected a Nonry at Godstow to pray saith Camb. Brit. p. 329 for his Fathers soule for that perswasion had then possessed the minds of all men And in his Charter to Batel Abbey commandeth all his Iustices to defend the Possessions of that monastery sicut saith he nostra propria as our owne And Regist Buriense saith he gaue a great Saphir and a Ruby to S. Edmunds Shrine Fiftly when Grecians came to dispute against his faith he would not hear them Bale Cent. 3. cap. 37. ex Paris Sixtly Fox Acts. pag. 253. writeth that King Iohn submitted himselfe to the Court of Rome and as Bale saith Cent. 3. cap. 75. Acknowledged the Pope to be head of all Christians And though he disobeyed for a time the Pope yet that he did not for a difference in religion but because the Pope would make an Archb. of Canterb. whome the King misliked And as Cooper saith Anno 1201. For vvhat cause K. Ihon disobeyed the Pope for a time did this not vpō iudgment to set vp true religion saith he but vpon couetousnes and of a forward mind Finally vpon his deathbed saith Fox Acts pag. 256. he much repented his former life and had saith Stow pag. 262. a Confessor at his death and receaued the Sacrament at the hands of the Abbot of Crocston and died with these words VVestmon An. 1216. Deo sancto VVolstano animam meam commendo I commend my soul to God and S. VVolstan Paris pag. 389. Of the manner of his death Fox Acts. pag. 256. writeth thus Some write that he died of sorrow as Polidor K. Ihon dieth in profession of the Cathol saith some of surfeting as Redinger some of a bloodie flux as Houed some of a burning ague some of a colde sweat some of eating apples some of eating peares some plummes c. yet saith he most writers agree that he was poisoned by the Monke Symon of Swinfled But who those were he writeth not nor could name one besides a nameles Author of that Chronicle which because Caxton printed it is cald Caxtons Chronicle And it is as Stow well saith pag. 494. a fabulous booke And therfore Bale Cent. 3. cap. 75. referreth this to report saing Vt serunt as men report But who will not beleeue rather Paris pag. 389. Westmon Anno 1216. and others liuing in that same time or sone after who say he died of surfit sorrow then a Chronicle accounted by Protestants themselues a fabulous booke or writen by a nameles Author long after that time In this Kings time Saints died that glorious Saint Saint Hugh Bishop of Lincolne and Carthusian Monke whome Godwin in his life calleth Saint And saith By his integritie of life and conuersation and the opinion of diuers Miracles wrought by him hath purchased vnto him selfe the honor and reputation of a Saint He addeth also that S. Hugh Grew very famous far and neere for his extraordinarie abstinence and austeritie of life And that king Iohn and king William king of Scotts for great reuerence they bare to his holines helped to carry his Corps from the gate of the Cittie vntill it came to the Church dore King Henrie the III. XL. 9. IN the yeare 1216. succeded king Henrie 3. sonne to king Iohn and reigned 56. yeares dyed Anno. 1273. He was saith Cooper Anno. 1218. of nature gentle VVisdom and pietie of King Henrie 3. of minde sage and wise And so pious as Leolin Prince of Wales saith Fox Acts pag. 280. protested that he feared more his almes than his puissance And Westmon Anno 1272. speaking of this king saith Of how great innocencie of how great patience and of how great deuotion he was in obeying his Sauiour our Lord knoweth and they which faithfully adhered to him and of how great merit he was with God the miracles after his death testifie His Rom. Religion The Roman religion of this vertuous king is manifest First because as Fox saith in his Acts pag. 257. He was crowned by Swall the Popes Legat and Stow addeth pag. 263. Being crowned the gouernment of the King and his Kingdome was committed to the Legat to the Bishop of VVinchester c. Secondly because Continuator of Paris who then liued saith pag. 1349. K. Henrie 3. daily heard 3. sung Masses and Walsingham in Edward 1. pag. 19. Euery day he was accustomed to heare three songe Masses and desirous to heare moe serued daylie Priests celebrating priuatly and when the Priest did eleuat our Lords bodie he vsed to hould the Priests arme Deuotion of King Hen. 3. Bal. Cent. 4 cap. 46. and to kisse it And when that Lewis king of France said vnto him that he should oftner heare sermons he answered I had rather see my freind often than heare an other speake of him though neuer so wel Thirdly his Confessor was a Dominican Frier named Iohn Dorlington A. Quene a Nonne Bale Cent. 4. cap. 56. and Walsing in Edward 1. pag. 7. His Queene also after his death became a Nonne Walsing pag. 14. Fourthly in this Kings time came into England diuers orders of Friers as the Dominicans to whome Diuers kinds of Friers enter into England saith Stow pag. 268. the King assigned a house in Oxford The Gray Friers Cooper Anno 1222. The Croochet Friers Anno. 1244. Bale Centur. 4. cap. 3. The Austins Friers Anno. 1252. Centur. 4. capit 17. to whome cap. 46. he addeth the Paulins the Friers of Armenia the Friers de poenitentia the Friers de Viridi Valle and the Bonhomes Which last order Rodulphus l. 2. de Saincto Francisco saith was instituted by Richard Earle of Cornwall and brother to King Henrie Fiftly when the Pope sent a Legat into England saith Paris pag. 589. the King met the Legat most dutifully at the Sea coast and bowing his head to his knees cōducted him most respectiuely to the inermost parts of his Kingdome when he departed brought him with great honor to the Sea Stow Chron. Anno 1241. Sixtly because as is to be seene in Fox Act. 287. others He wrote to the Pope thus Sanctissimo in Christo Patri c. To his most holy Father Lord in Christ Innocent K. Henrie 3. calleth the P Lord in Christ offereth to kisse his feet by the grace of God cheefe Bishop health and kisses of his blessed feete And in the letter May it please your Fatherhood we beseech yow that our lawes and liberties which yow may righly repute none other but your owne yow will receaue to your tuitiō to be cōserued whole sound Vpon which words Fox maketh this note The K. in too much subiection to the Pope And in a letter in Paris pag. 839 The K. professeth to the Pope that In all the time of our reign we haue submirted ourselues our kingdom in all through all things to the wil of your Father hood And pag. 863. he citeth letters of
Progenitors the Kings of England haue done whilst they liued And Fox himselfe Acts pag. 383. setteth downe a letter of the K. and nobles to Pope Clement Anno 1343. thus To the most holy Father in God Lord Clement by the grace of God of the holy Church of Rome and of the vniuersall Church cheefe and high Bishop his humble and deuout children the Princes Dukes Earles Barons Knights Citizens and Burgesses and all the communalty of England assembled at the Parliament houlden at VVestminster the 15. day of May deuout kissing of his feete with all humble reuerence and humility The vvhole Parlament calleth the Pope head of the vniuersal Church Most holy Father yow being so high and holy a Prelat and head of the holy Church by whome the holy Vniuersall Church and people of God ought to be as by the Son beames illightened c. Behould the whole Parlament calling the Pope head and Bishop of the Vniuersall Church and offering to kisse his feete with all humilitie and reuerence And again Fox pag. 387. setteth downe an other letter of King Edwards to Pope Clement in this sort Most holy Father K. Edvv. 3. plainly professeth the Popes supremacie we desire your holines and in as much as lieth in vs require the same that yow that supplie the place of the sonne of God on earth and haue the gouernment of all Christen men c. What could be more clearly spoken for the spirituall supremacie of the Pope And this same Roman religion of his is euident by many other waies For he founded saith Stow pag. 439. the new Abbey neere to the Tower of London where he placed white Monks to the honor of God and our Ladie according to a vow by him made being on the Sea in great perill And a Nonrie at Detford Cambden addeth pag. 333. a Frierie of Carmelits He instituted also the order of the garter in honor of God and Saint Georg and among other rules apointed that when any of the Knights died the Kinge should make a thousand Masses to be saide for his soule and others many hundreds according to their Degree He offered saith Fox pag. 396. after the blind saith he superstition of those dayes in the Church of VVestminster the Vestments wherin Saint Peter did celebrat Masse His Confessor was Thomas Bradwardin whome Bale Centur. 5. cap. 87. accounteth a Papist Finally as Walsingham An. 1376. writeth he dyed thus The Catholik end of K. Edvvard 3. The King when he could not speake with verie great reuerence taking the Crosse did kisse it most deuoutly somtimes stretching forth his hand in signe of crauing pardon and other times also letting fall from his eyes plenty of teares and kissing most often the feete of the Crucifix And after his death Pope Greg. 11. lit in Walsingham Anno 1378. calleth him Catholicum Principem Pugilem fidei A Catholick Prince and Champion of the faith And so euidently was this King and the Realm in his time Roman Catholick Protest confesse K. Edvv 3. time to haue bene Cathol as Fox Acts pag. 377. vpon a letter of the King to the Nobles of France maketh this note Note the ignorance of the time And pag. 396. The blinde superstition of those daies And pag. 424. This is out of all doubt that at vvhat time all the world was in most vilde and desperat estate and that the lamentable ignorance of Gods truth had ouershadowed all the earth VVicklef stept forth c. Behould here manifest that before Wicklef there was not one Protestant in the whole world And how ill a Protestant he was shall hereafter appeare All the vvorld ignorant of Protestancie And pag. 425. In this so horrible darknes of ignorance saith Fox at what time there seemed in a manner to be no one so little a sparke of pure doctrine left In a maner no one litle spark of Protestancie VViclef first raised forsooth the vvorld VViclef sprong vp through whome the Lord would first raise vp again the world which was drowned in the depth of human traditions In like sort Bale Cent. 5. cap. 85. saith This age was shadovved vvith the darknes of great ignorance and blinded with more than Diabolicall fooleries And Cent. 6. cap. 1. the midnight of errors and a dim vvorld And cap. 8. In these times darknes of great ingnorance possessed the vvorld cap. 23. The common blindnes of the time vvas in aduancing the Idolatrie of the Popish Masse As for the discontentment which some time this king had with the Pope that was not for any matter of religion but because as Cooper saith Anno. 1343. VVhy K. Edvv. 3. some time discontented vvith the Pope The Pope gaue diuers Bishopricks and Benefices in England which the king thought not expedient for his temporall estate And as for the fauour which VVicklef found in his time that proceeded rather from the Duke of Lancaster who gouerned all in the olde age of the King and for a time vpheld VVicklef not vpon any liking of his heresie but to spite therby some of the Bishops whome he hated as Stow Anno. 1376 wtih whome Fox agreeth p. 393. testifieth in these words VVhy the D. of lancaster a vvhile fauored VViclef The Duke of Lancaster laboring as vvel to ouerthrovv the liberties of the Church as of the Cittie of Lōdon called vnto him VVicklef c. And when these contentions betwene the Duke and others were appeased He commanded saith Fox pag. 400. Edit 1596. VVicklef to submit him self to his Ordinarie The Cath. religion of the D. of lancaster Which clearly ynough declareth the Roman religion of that Duke which also other wise were euident by the honor wherwith he was receaued by the Cardinals and Bishops in the Popes Courte Stow pag. 399. And by his Confessor Iohn Kinningham a Carmelit who saith Bale Cent. 6. cap. 4. first impugned Wicklef And Cent. 7. cap. 26. saith that Gualter Disse than who none in Antichristi negotijs actuosior more busie in the rules of Antichrists Confessor to the Duke perswaded him for the loue at least of Papistrie to make war in Spaine which then fauored an Anti-pope to which purpose Pope Vrban sent the Duke a standard and made his Confessor his Legat and gaue him authoritie to preach the Crosse with many Indulgences for all them that would follow the Duke At what time writeth Bale out of Purney a wiclefist thē liuing Inualuit tunc Antichristi furor prae caeteris temporibus Antichrists furie preuailed more than in other times More ouer Polidor lib. 19. saith that two Hereticks were burnt in London in this Kings time whome Bale Cent. 5. cap. 74. calleth seruants of Christ In this Kings time liued the vertuous Ladie Mary Countesse of Saint Paule a woman saith Stow pag. 437 of singuler example for life Saints who builded Pembrooke hall in Cambridge and S. Iohn of Bridlinghton of whome we will speake in the next kings time
our speciall Letters Patents in the zeale of our faith haue giuen authoritie and licence vnto the forsaid Archbishops and all and euery of his Suffragans to arest all and euery one of them that will preach or mantain any such Conclusions repugnant vnto the determination of our holy Mother the Church And in other letâ—ers chargeth all not to hinder the Bishops of hereford in suppressing the Lolards Yea pag. 406. Edit 1596. Fox citeth a lawe made Anno 2. Richard 2. for burning of VVicklefists Thus saith Fox pag. 505. King Richard taking parte with the Pope and the Româ—sh Prelats waxed somwhat strait and hard to the poore Christians of the contrary side of VVicklef and saith that though none were burnt vnder him yet some were condemned diuers abiured and did pennance And pag. 513. saith King Richard those to serue the humor of the Pope K. Richard gathereth a Councel against VViclef VViclef condemned by 10 Bishopâ— 44. deuines 20 lavviers To this Bale Cent. 6. cap. 1. addeth that Wicklef was banisht for â—ome yeares And cap. 77. that Anno 1382. Wicklef was condemned by ten Bishops and fourty four Diuines and twenty Lawyers And cap. 82. saith that King Richard at the commandement of Boniface 9. Cent. 7. cap. 11. gathered a great Councell Anno 1392 against the Wicklefists And Fox pag. 507. K. Richard leaueth all to suppresse vviclefists and Walsingham An. 1395. others write that King Richard being in Ireland left all as sone as he heard increase of Lollards and calling the cheefe of them vnto him threatned them greatly if they followed Lollards any more and making one of them sweare therto the K. swore to him that if he broke his oath he should die a foul death So earnest was that King against those whome Protestants account now their brethren And albeit he consented to the Law made Anno 1391. against those that procured or brought any excoÌ„munication of the Pope against any yet that Law was not made to deny any point of the Popes authority but because as Polidor saith l. 20 many were vexed dayly for causes which they thought could not be known at Rome easely The King and Lords Temporal and Commons for the Lords spirituall recâ—amed as Fox witnesseth pag. 512. thought it expedient that in this point the Pope should not vse his authoritie Besides that when Pope Boniface 9. sent to haue these Lawes recalled the King saith VValsingham in Ypodâ—gmate Anno 1391. Vt silius obediens As an obedient child determined to fulfill the Popes demaundes but the Knights of the Parliament would not abrogate the Statute against Prouisors because they would not haue English Benefices at any time giuen to strangers And the times of King Richard were so manifestly Roman Catholick as the Kings Attorney in the araignment of Garnet calleth theÌ„ the midniâ—ht of Poperie Bale Cent. 6. cap 96. Saints saith that Almost all that were in those darck times did erre through ignorance of Gods lawe In this kings time dyed Saint Iohn of Bridlington whose life is written in Capgraue who saith Bale Centur. 6. c. 63. Caelesti Theologiae assiduus cultor adhaesit And VVilliam Fleet an Austin Frier who was canonized as Bale Cent. 6. c. 41. reporteth out of Sabellicus Henrie 4. XLV IN the yeare 1399. succeded king Henrie 4. granchild to king Edward 3. by Iohn Duke of Lancaster VVorthines of K. Henrie 4. and dyed Anno 1413. hauing reigned 14. yeares He was saith Polider lib. 21. of a great corage after the ende of ciuill warrs entertained all most gently His Rom. Religion The same hath Cooper Anno 1399. and Stow Chron. pag. 424. His Roman Catholick religion is most notorious For as Fox Acts pag. 523. and others write he made the Statute ex officio Where is apointed That who so euer is conuicted of Wicklefs heresie before his Ordinarie or Commissioners that then the Shriefes Maiers and Bay lifs of the Cittie Contrie or Towne shall take the persons after sentence is pronounced cause them openly to be burned in sight of the people And pag. 517. Fox setteth down the Kings Decree in parliament wherin he professeth to be zelous in religion and reuerent louer of the Catholick faith And minding to roote out all heresies out of his Kingdom And ther commandeth one VVilliam Santrey a conuict heretick to be burnt which perhaps is he whome Bale Cent. 6. cap. 75. saith was burnt in Smithfield An. 1401. In this tyme was burnt saith Bale Cent. 8. c. 5. that relaps William Swinderby a smith in London for denying the reall presence a Tayler the same yeare 1410. for the same cause Fox pag. 481. nameth his brother Iohn Badby burnt then who as VValsingham ypodig pag 174 who then liued writeth said that the Eucharist is not the body of Christ but worse than a toade or a spider And perhaps he is that VViclesist of whome that graue Author Thomas VValden who was ther present reporteth Tom. 2. c. 63. That standing befor the Archbishop Bishops in presence of the Duke of yorke many nobles Miracle fâ—â—â— not of the Bâ— sacrament he said that a Spider was more to be worshipped thaÌ„ the Eucharist and sodainly from the top of the Church came a great spider sought to enter into his mouth would scarce be kept out by any mans helpe Moreouer Fox Acts 5. 8. saith that this King was the first of all English Kings that began the burning of Christs VViclef Saints for standing against the Pope That K. Henrie burnt VViclefs Saints is euident But he was not the first which burnt such as stood against the Pope as appeareth by what hath bene sayd of Edward 3. K Henrie 4. vvholie bent to the Pope And finally he concludeth that this king was bent altogether to vphould the Popes Prelacie And therfore in his Considerations Considerat 10. saith Protestants rather dyed than liued in the dayes of King Henrie 4. And when the Lollards or Wicklefists requested him as saith Walsingham An. 1410. either to alter or mitigate the forsaid Statute he answered them that he would rather inforce it And when they proposing to him the same bait VVhat baite the VViclefists Proposed to K. Henrie 4. to ouerthrovv religion The like offer made Protestants vvhich Syr Thom more confuted as Protestants did to King Henrie 8. desired him to take away the Church liuings because with them he might maintain 15. Earles 1550. Knights 6200. Squirs and 100. Hospitals he detesting their malice commanded them to silence King Henrie 5. XLVI IN the yeare 1413. succeded K. Henrie 5. sonne to King Henrie 4. and died An. 1422. hauing reigned 9. yeares The rare vertues of K Henrie 5. He was saith Polidor lib. 22. the onely glorie of that time then whome none borne ether for greatnes of courage or for vertue was more famous or excellent whose loue euen yet remaineth amongst men The like commendations giue to
now we finde too true Queene Marie LIII AFter K. Henrie the eight succeeded in the yeare 1546. King Edward the sixt his sonne a child of nine yeares olde which childe wanting the vse of perfect reason and vnfit to gouern him self was the first Protestant Prince that euer was in England and turned the Roman religion which his Father had left though maimed in one principall point to open Protestancie Not for the miracles or rare vertues of the Preachers therof or their conuincing their aduersaries in disputation as King Ethelbert changed his Paganisme into the Roman religion as is before shewed but because the Lord Protector and his complices thought it most sutable to their humors and most fit for their aspiring pretences But how vnfortunat this exchange was not onely to the soules of this King and principall Actors therin but also to their liues and bodies yow may reade in Stow The ill end of the kringets in of Probestancie where yow shall see that the very same yeare 1548. that Proclamation was made for receauing in both Kindes the Lord Admirall a cheefe agent in the change of religion though brother to the Protector and Vnkle to the King was beheaded for a Traitor And the next yeare 1549. VVhen Proclamation was made against Masse sone after also was Proclamation made against the Protector him selfe the principall author of the change and he cast into the Tower And in the yeare 1552. when the newe seruice booke of Common prayer begun in Pauls the said Protector was beheaded And the next yeare the King died and the Duke of Northumberland an other principall actor in the change of religion though against his own conscience as he openly declared at his death was beheaded for treason and Cranmer and Ridley and other fauorers of that change were depriued of their Dignities and sone after burnt This was the rufull end of the first setters vp of Protestancie For maintenance wherof albeit a new Queene was proclaimed Nobles sworne and the strength of England gathered yet in short time almightie God ouerthrew it again without any bloodshed by one vertuous woman Q. Marie Protestancie ouerthrone by a vvoman vvithout any bloodshed Vertue of Q. Marie Author of danger positions l 2 cap. 14. Her Rom. Religion In the arraignment of F Garnat D Doue lib. of Recusancie vvil haue Bellarm. to be a Protest or at lest no perfect Papist who all the time of her life liued so chastly and religiously that all her enemies could not to this day fasten the least suspicion of vice vpon her And whome euen Protestants write to haue Bene of nature and disposition verie milde and pittifull VVhich argueth that they wel deserued the seueritie which shee shewed towards them And so earnest a Roman Catholick shee was as the Protestants write of her that there was Not these thousand yeares a more obedient daughter to the Church of Rome than she was VVherby yow may iugde of the impudencie of Doctor Reinolds who in his Confer pag. 583. denieth not onely all the former Princes but euen Queene Marie euer to haue alowed the Popes absolute spirituall supremacie or as he speaketh the Popes Monarchie but onely to haue granted him such a preheminence as the Duke of Venice hath in that state But with her in the yeare 1558. ended all the glorie of Catholick Princes of England Who except King Henrie 8. for a few yeares and King Edward 6. had continewed from the yeare 598. till the forsaid yeare 1558. the space almost of a thousand yeares And after rose a new kind of Protestancie differing from that of King Edward the childs time Not as I said before through any miracles or strange vertue of the Preachers therof or their ouercomming their aduersaries in Disputation but against the will of all the Bishops and a great parte of the Nobilitie by the counsel of meere Lay men and the authoritie of a woman who was induced to make this change not for zeale of religion which shee little regarded but to assure her state the more because shee feared if she acknowledged the authoritie of the Church of Rome her birth might be called in question But of the cause maner and meanes of erecting Protestancie we shall speake more in the second booke Epilogue HItherto gentle Reader thou hast heard 53. Princes of England successiuly beleeuing and professing the Rom. Catholick faith besides 70. and more others who reigned ouer certain partes of England whiles it was deuided into diuers Kingdoms whose names onely I will here set downe Kings of Kent 13. Ethelbert Edbald Ercombert Egbert Lotharius Edricus VVithâ—ed Edbert Edilbert Alriâ—us Edilbert-pren Cuthred and Baldred Kings of the East Saxons 9. Sebert Sigebert Sigher S. Sebba Sighard Senfred Offa Sclred Swithed Kings of Eastengland 13. to wit Redwald Carpwald S. Sigebert Egris Anna Ethelere Ethelwald Adulph Elwald Beorna Ethelred Saint Ethelbright S Edmund kings of middle England 17. Namely Peda Vulpher Ethelred Coenred Ceolred Ethelbald Bernred Offa Egfert Kenulph Saint Kenelm Ceolwulph Bernulph Ludecan VVithlof Bertulph Burdred Kings of the Northpart of England 18. Edwin Saint Oswald Oswin Oswi Egfrid Alfrid Ostred Kenred Ostrie Ceolwulph Egbert Ostwuld Mollo Alred Ethelbert Alswald Ostred Athelred and some kings also of the South Saxons Consider I pray thee now the number of these kings which is aboue 120 far aboue the smallest number of two Protestant Princes Consider their sex and age who almost all were men and of mature yeares VVheras of the Protestant Princes one was a childe the other a woman Consider their wisdome and valour in which they were inferior to no Princes in Christendome Consider their vertue which was so great as there are more Kings of Ingland Saints than of all Christendome besides Consider the end for which they first embraced the faith which was nether to enioy their lust nor to get any Church goods nor to assure their temporall state but to gaine heauen Consider the Counsellors whose aduise they followed herein were not ignorant and laye men but vertuous and learned Diuines Consider the motiues which drew them to the Catholick religion to witt rare vertue great learning admirable miracles of their first preachers Finally consider how long they continewed in their faith to wit almost a thousand yeares and how almost in euery Kings time here liued some notable men who with rare vertue and miracles haue confirmed their faith Consider I say all this and then iudge whither the Catholick religion of so many and so worthie Kings or the Protestant faith of one Child and one woman be more likely to be good and to come from God Can we thinke that so many Princes of mature yeares and iudgment should be blinde rather then one child a woman that these could see that in so few yeares which all they could not perceaue in a thousand That these two should hit vpoÌ„ Gods truth for temporall endes rather thaÌ„ they for spirituall That that should be
founder of their Church and consequently that their religion and Church is a deuise and inuention of man Wherupon what will follow euery one seeth And as Luther was the Author of Protestancy in Germany so also from him it spred into England and other Countries not only by means of his books but also by his and his scholers Melancthon Pomeran others particuler letters written to English men and by the example of the German ProtestaÌ„ts which as Stow saith King Henry 8. followed in reiecting the Pope And finally because Tindal who is termed the Apostle of England went as Fox saith pag. 983. Tindal the Protest Apostle of England taught by Luther into Germany and there had conference with Luther Wherupon the said Fox saith pag. 1013. that from Germany Luthers Gospell began to spread his beames here in England And so wee may iustly account Luther the Author or founder of ProtestaÌ„t religion in our English Nation Protestancie came out of Germanie into Engl. And howsoeuer some will obstinatly deny against all the forsaid profes that Luther was the Author of their religion but it was forsooth before Luther though they know nether where nor in whom nor can produce any witnes yet neither doth any nor can any deny K Henrie â— in Sledan lib. 8. fol. 1â—2 saith Protestant came into England out of Germaniâ— but that this late reuolt of our English Nation from the See of Rome came originally from Luther as the vnion ther of to the said See aboue one thousand years agoe proceded from Saint Austin which sufficeth me to compare the vnion in faith of our English Nation with the See of Rome with the disunion therof VVhat is shevved of luther the like may be prooued of Calvin or anie other Sectmaister of our time Besides our ministers say Luther differeth from theÌ„ in no substantiall point Iuel Apol Feild of Church Reinolds Confer VViclef no Protestant in their two principall Authors S. Austin and Martin Luther And thus hauing shewed that there was no Protestant liuing ether in England or other wher when Luther began let vs see whether ther had bene any in England in times past CHAP. II. That VVicklefe and his followers were no Protestants 1. ALbeit Protestants challeng some few others who liued about Wicklefs time yet because their greatest hope is in him and his followers in so much that Doctor Fulke answere to a Counterf Catholick pag. 24. saith that he weeneth that we will not deny VVicklef to haue bene of their Church I will for breuity sake omit the rest 1 VViclef knevv not so much as the foundatioÌ„ of Protestancie and shew that euen Wicklife and his companie were far from being Protestants First because to hold iustification by only faith is as is before shewed lib. 1. cap. 21. by generall consent of Protestants the head the soule the foundation of their Church and religion And as Luther saith Praefat Epist ad Galat. As many as hold not this doctrine are either Iewes Turkes Popish or Hereticks But Wicklef and his mates held not iustification by only faith VViclef held not iustification by onely faith For as Melancthon cheefest scholler to Luther writeth Epist ad Fred. Micon inter Epist Zuinglij pag. 622. He nether vnderstood nor held the iustice of faith Besides nether Wicklef nor any of his followers were euer accused by any of the Catholick Inquisitors of those times of that point albeit as Fox saith pag. 750. their inquisition was so strait that no article could be mentioned amongst them but it was discouered Moreouer many of Wicklefes bookes are yet extant and neuertheles no Protestant hath yet found this their fundamentall Article of iustification by only faith in any of his bookes How then could Wicklefe be a Protestant who knew not so much as the head soul and foundation of Protestancie 2 VViclef holdeth diuers things condemned by ProtestaÌ„ts 2. Secondly Wicklef held diuers things which Protestantes condemne as that if any Bishop or Priest be in deadly sin he doth neyther order consecrat nor baptize which Fox pag. 400. sayth can hardly be defended See more of his Articles in Concil Constanâ—â—â—n And that so long as a man is in deadly sin he is no Bishop ot Prelat in the Church of God That temporall Lords may according to their ovvne vvill and discretion take avvay the temporall goods from the Church men vvhensoeuer they do offend which articles Fox pag. cit defendeth no otherwise then by saying that preaduenture they vvere not so strictly ment of him as they were gathered Moreouer Fox pag. 414. amongst other articles of Wiclefe citeth these To enrich the Clergie is against the rule of Christ There is no greater Heretick or Antichrist than the Clerke who teacheth that it is lawfull for Priests and Leuits of the lavv of grace to be endued vvith teÌ„porall possessions To which Stow Anno. 1376. addeth this other That neither King nor any seculer person could giue any thing perpetually to any person of the Church Further more as Fox hath pag. 392. he extolled the perfection of pouerty of the begging Friers and as Stow saith l. cit adioyned himselfe to them And the cause why he inueighed against the Church was as there Stow saith because he had bene depriued by the Archbishop of Canterb. of a benefice that he vniustly as was said was incumbent vpon VVhy VViclef impugned the Cath. faith Lastly Fox pag. 410. setteth downe a letter which he wrote to Pope Vrban 6. Anno 1382. which was about three yeares before he died wherin he confesseth the Pope to be Christs Vicar on earth and addeth thus If I haue erred in any of thes points I will submit my selfe to correction euen by death if necessitie so require Diuers other points which Protestants detest are collected out of his books by the Author of the Protestants Apologie for the Roman Church pag. 106. And more of Wicklefs wicked life and doctrine you may see in walsingham histor pag. 188 206. 302 ypadig pag. 139 142. 3. 3 ProtestaÌ„ts refuse VViclef PaÌ„taleon Melancthon Thirdly diuers Protestants refuse VVicklife for one of theirs and account him an Heretik As Pantaleon Chronall pag. 119. placing VViclife amongst Hereticks saith thus of him VViclife vvith the Lollard preacheth his heresie in England And the foresaid Melancthon epist cit I haue looked saith he into VVicklefe vvho maketh a great adoe about this controuersy of the Eucharist but I haue found many other errors in him by vvhich vve may iudge of his spirit Surely he neither vnderstood nor held the iustice of saith He foolishly confoundeth the Gospell and ciuill affairs nor perceaueth that the Gospell giueth vs leaue to vse the pollicie of all nations He laboreth to proue that Priests shold haue no proprietie He vvill haue no tithes paid but to those that teach He sophistically and very seditiously cauilleth of ciuill dominion In like manner he sophistically cauilleth
and cap. 26. calleth them celestis Sacrificij sedem Seats of the heauenly sacrifice and reprehendeth Priests for sacrificing seldom calleth their sacrifices Sacrosancta Christi Sacrificia 1 Altars of stone Priests Sacrifices Most holy sacrifices of Christ Which argueth that they then had true sacrifices true Altars true Priests 2 Vovves of Chastitie and of Monkish life No mariage for monks after their vovv Suearing by our ladie and Saints Beda And touching Vowes he condemneth cap. 26. Kings for breaking them condemneth one King for marying a woman who had vowed Perpetuam Viduitatis castimoniam Perpetuall chastitie in VVidowhood And exclameth against an other King for forsaking Monks life and calleth his mariage after his vow Praesumptiuas nuptias Pretended mariage Finally cap. 26. he testifieth that the Britons vsed to sweare by God and by our Lady and all Saints All these points of Catholick religion Gildas toucheth Church in honor of Saints Monks Anchorets and nameth no one point of Protestancie As for S. Beda he saith lib. 1. cap. 27. that they had a Church built in honor of S. Martin cap. 11. and lib. 2. cap. 2. That they had Monks and Anchorets l. 1. cap. 17. that S. German with whome they agreed in religion by a fewe sprincles of holy vvater assvvaged tempests and droue avvay Diuels c. 18. that he caried about his neck a bag of reliques Holie vvater Reliques by which putting it to a blinde womans eye he restored her sight Ibid. That they went to S. Albans to giue God praise 3 Thanks to God by Saints Lent Pilgrimage and thancks by him S. Alban and there tooke of the dust where the holy Martirs blood vvas shed cap. 20. Obserued the 40. dayes of Lent deuoutly singing Aleluia after Easter Ibid. God saith Beda gaue S. German and S. Luphus prosperous passage home for their ovvne vertues sake Prosperous successe attributed in parte to Saints and also at the intercession of the blessed martyr S. Alban All these proofes affordeth S. Beda that the Britons were Roman Catholicks before Saint Austins coming and no one proofe that they were Protestants Galfrid 7. Galfrid also lib. 9. c. 12. saith that in this time Saint Dubricius the Archb. of Wales was Apostolice sedis Legatus that is Popes legat the Popes Legat. Malmsb. lib. 1. Reg. c. 1. Malmesb. Huntingt And Hunting lib. 2. say that King Arthur trusting in an Image of our B. Ladie vvhich he put in his vveapons Some hope of help by images he alone put his enemies to flight vvith great slaughter Stow also Chron. p. 61. saith that King Arthurs body was found in K. Henrie 2. time with a leaden Crosse fastned to that side of the stone that lay next his body Stovv Burial vvith Crosses Caius also a Protest lib de Antiq. Cantab. pag. 75. Caius Priuiledges procured from Popes citeth letters of Pope Honorius dated Anno 624. in which the Pope confirmeth the priuiledges which his Predecessors had giuen to the Briton Students and prohibiteth any Archb. or Bishop to excommunicat the students Such authoritie did the Britons acknowledg the Popes to haue ouer them Bale Orders after the Rom. manner Catholik Monkerie Purgatoire Austeritie of life Britons of the same religion vvith the Frēch In this time also saith Bale Cent. 14. cap. 6. Palladius was sent of Pope Celestin to set order amongst the Scotts after the Roman maner And cap. 11. Brigit wrought great wonders with holy water And Cent. 1. cap. 53. Aegiptian Monkerie so he termeth our Monkerie about the yeare 530. vnder Abbot Congel tooke great strength and increase And that S. Columba and Saint Brendan who filled France Germanie Ierland with Monkes and which Brendan Cent. 14. cap. 78. he confesseth to haue held Purgatorie were scollers to this Congel To which he addeth Cent. 1. cap. 50. That Gildas a Briton of this time did seeke the solitarie places of the desert and vse heirecloth next his skin And cap. 61. That Kentigernus vsed goat skinnes and a strait coole Which is no fashon of Protestats Finally S. Sampson a Briton Bishop going in those times out of Britany into France his religion was not onely there admitted for Catholick but him self also had there a Bishoprick giuen to him And his Kinsmā S. Maglorius being a Briton was ordered by him to dispense the quickening bodie of our Lord Real presence Mattins Masse Did eat barley and beane bread on VVensday and friday tooke no meate did afflict his flesh with continuall wearing of hearcloth did watchfully say the prayers of the night which are termed Mattins and prostrat before the Altar did sing Letanies and finally offered sacrifice to God Surius Tom. 5. What signe is there here of Protestancie or rather not of earnest Papistrie Britons in S. Austins time differ not in faith but about Easter S Austins 8. And as for the faith of the Britons in S. Austins time that besides some few ceremonies differed in nothing from S. Austins faith but onely about the time of keeping Easter as may be proued many wayes First by S. Austin him selfe who in Beda lib. 2. cap. 2. speaketh thus to the Britons Though in manie other points yow doe contrary to our custom not faith or rather contrarie to the custom of the Vniuersall Church Yet if yee will agree with vs in three things That is to celebrat Easter in due time to accomplish the mistery of baptisme according to the maner of the holy Roman and Apostolick Church and lastly preach to the English Nation the worde of God all your other ceremonies not heresies rites fashons and customs though they be contrarie to oures we will suffer and bear with them Behould S. Austin though so earnest a Papist as hath bene shewed before yet offering to ioyne with the Britous if they would amend onely three things wherof the first onely concerned faith the other two concerned ceremonies and charity Would he thinck we who was so nice in matters of religion as he would not ioine with the Britons vnles they conforned them selues to him in certain ceremonies haue not much more exacted their conformitie in Masse vse of Images and such like points of religion as it is euident he vsed if they had differed from him in such matters Besides yow see that the other things wherin they differed from him were but as he speaketh ceremonies rites fashions and customs Secondly the Britons them selues in Beda lib. 2. c. 2. publickly confessed that that was the true vvay of righteousnes vvhich S. Austin shevved And the onely reason which they giue there why they would not ioyne with him was pride as they imagined in him Thirdly S. Beda though a perfect Papist as hath bene shewed before by the confession of Protestants yet findeth no more fault with the Britons than S. Austin did The Britons religion by the Irish and Scotts 9. But yet more fully will