doctissimi most learned men as Saint Beda saith lib. 2. c. 2. Yet Saint Austin feared not twise to challeng them all to publick disputations S. Austin confuted most learned Hereticks and at the first ouercame them and at the second they durst not as it seemeth encounter with him The like disputations had after S. Laurence and other of S. Austins fellowes in the I le of Man with Scottish and Irish Deuines and wrote also to the Britons as saint Beda lib. 2. c. 4. speaketh worthy letters and fit for their Degree Protestāts confesse S. Austin and his fellovves learning Cooper Yea the Protestants them selues when they are voide of passion confesse saint Austin and his fellowes to haue bene great scollers For B. Cooper Chron. an 599. saith that Austin Iohn Mellit and others were godly and wel learned men Holinshed Holinshead an 596. calleth saint Austin and his fellowes learned men And Godwin in vita Honorij saith Godvvin Honorius a fellow and successor of saint Austin was very learned and some tymes disciple of Saint Gregory And in vita Laurentij that S. Laurence his immediat successor was a wel learned man That Deusdedit who was an English man scoller to saint Austin was very famous for his learning and other vertues And if the scoller were very famous what may we think of the Maister Bale Yea Bale him selfe cent 13. c. 2. saith that saint Laurence successor and fellow of saint Austin was very skilfull in logick and other Philosophie 3. But how think yow doth Bale proue that saint Austin was ignorant of scripture or his questions voide of all knowledg of the Gospel Surely not at all But it must suffice that this Aristarchus hath so iudged But perhaps it displeased Bale that saint Austin should in them enquire aboute the ceremonies of Masse VVhy S. Austins questions vvere vnsauorie to Bale and about the offering vpon the Altar of saying Masse after pollution in the night or of receauing the blessed Sacrament after a man hath carnally known his wife which questions no maruell if they seeme vnsauorie to Bale and voide of all knowledg of his new Gospel Indeed the questions are not of any profound diuinitie but of practical matters about the gouernment of the Church and holy ceremonies and administration of Sacraments in which matters the greatest Deuines vnles they haue bene practised therin as S. Austin had not bene in his monasterie are not alwaies the most skilful Besides that Saint Austin proposed those questions to saint Gregory not vpon ignorance but vpon humilitie and desire to be directed by him euen in smallest matters This saint Gregory him self testifieth in these words in Beda lib. 2. c. 23. I doubt not but yow haue required Counsell in these matters and I think also I haue alredy made yow answer herein S. Austin could haue ansvvered his ovvne questions Yet that which your selfe could say and think herein I think yow would haue it confirmed with my answer The like account made the French Ministers of Caluin as appeareth by the Surueie of the holy discipline c. 3. p. 43. in these words As any doubtes did arise amongst them concerning Church causes though they were but very simple and such as any student of meane capacity and iudgment might very easely haue satisfyed yet no man but M. Caluin for his tyme and M. Beza afterward was accounted of sufficiency or able to dissolue them Yow heare what simple questions the French Ministers sent to Caluin and Beza and yet without any preiudice of their opinion in learning And why should not S. Austin do the like And surely I here admire the goodnes of God towards our Nation that he would Saint Austin should enquire such small matters of S. Gregory and that his questions should remaine to our dayes both to shew vs by our first Apostle what account we should make of the resolution of the Sea Apostolick VVhat account S. Austin made of the resolutions of the See Apostol and as S. Irenaeus lib. 3. c. 3. wrote aboue 1400. yeares ago in all difficulties recur to her and also to assure vs that S. Austin who in so small matters would do nothing of himselfe but by the direction of S. Gregory would much lesse vary from him in matters of faith or religion And consequently that the faith which he taught our Ancestors was the faith of the greatest Doctor that euer since S. Peter sate in the Church of Rome Belt VVoful cry p. 3. and by the confession of Protestants was as famous and as learned a man as euer was Bishop of Rome yea omnium Pontificum Of all the Bishops of Rome the most excellent for life and learning Bale cent 1. c. 68. Which thing wel cōsidered can not but breed great comfort in them who had the faith of their Forfathers deliuered to them by S. Austin and as great discomfort in them who haue forsaken it And thus much of S. Austins learning now let vs see his vertue CHAP. V. That Saint Austin was a great Saint and holy man IF Ministers were before vnwilling to grant that S. Austin was our first Preacher or a learned man much more loth they are to confesse that he was a holy man And not without cause because therby they perceaue it will follow that his faith was the true faith of Christ For as S. Paul saith Rom. 10. The iust man liueth by faith Heb. 11. without faith it is impossible to please God By hovv manie kinds of testimonies S. Austins great holines is proued But I will prooue not onely by the testimonie of them that saw and knew S. Austin but also by the testimony of his Maister his own life and death by publick and priuat testimony of them that liued with him by all kind of writers following by the vertuous life of the Church which he founded and finally by the confession of diuers Protestants that S. Austin was a saint and vertuous holy man 2. As for S. Austins Maister Ambros lib. 2. de Virginibus saith Hovv vertuous S. Austins Maister vvas The first spur to learning is the excellēcy of the Maister And no doubt but the example of an excellent Maister is a great spur to vertue And what Maister ether in that age or long before or after could S. Austin haue had comparable to S. Gregory who for his great vertue and noble acts is surnamed the great whome S. Isidor lib. de viris illustrib c. 7. who knew him saith S. Isidor was by compunction ful of the feare of God in humilitie cheefest and endued with such light of knowledg as the like was not then nor before 8. Councel Tolet. And the 8. Councel of Toledo doubteth not to prefer him in morall doctrine before all other Doctors S. Ildefonsus S. Ildefonsus also lib. de vir illustrib c. 2. writeth that he excelled so high in perfection of all vertues as setting
words f All the aithful of S. Austins time ioyed at our Nations conuersion by him Quis sufficiat c. VVho can tel what ioy arose in the harts of all the faithfull that the English nation by the working of Almighty God his grace and the labor of thy brotherhood hauing cast away the darknes of errors is endued with the light of the holy faith that with sincere deuotion it trampleth the Idolls to which before vvith mad feare it bowed vnto that with a pure hart it is subiect to Almightie God Behould S. Greg. witnesseth that all faithfull of that time acknowledged and reioyced that Austin brought the faith to our English Nation and that they by his meanes serued God with most sincere deuotion and pure harts But yet more plainly auoucheth he this truth Moral 27. cap. 6. Where glorying in God of the conuersion of England he writeth thus S. Austins doctrine the faith of Christendom from the East to the vvest Behould now the faith hath entred the harts almost of all Nations Behould God hath ioyned the bounds of the East and west in one faith Behould the tonge of Britanie which knew nothing but to roare rudely of late hath begun in Gods praises to sound out the hebrew Alleluia O most comfortable speach to all those that follow S. Gregory and S. Austins doctrine Great comfort for Catholicks to heare auouched by irrefragable testimonie that it was the faith of the Church of God from the East to the west aboue a thousand yeares agoe For as Tertullian saith Admit that God had neglected his Church and permitted it to run into errors is it lykly that so many and so great Churches would conspire wholy in error No surely 2. The next is S. Austin him self who in Beda lib. 2. cap 2. saith thus vnto the Britons S. Austins Doctrine proued to be vniuersal by his ovvne testimonie Although in many other points yow do contrary to our custome or rather contrary to the custome of the vniuersall Church of Christ Behould how he testifyeth his custome to be the custome of the vniuersall Church of Christ in his tyme. And lib. 1. cap. 27. in his questions proposed to S. Greg. he asketh VVhere there is but one faith whie be there so many sundry customs of Churches and one custome of Masses obserued at Rome another in France Here he manefestly testifyeth that there was but one faith and one masse in substance euery where and the difference onely in ceremonies S. Greg. communicated vvith all partes of Christendom The same also may be proued by the communion which S. Gregory whose faith was vndoubtedly the same with S. Austin had with all Christendom For lib. 6. epist 4. 5. he communicateth with Cyriacus the Patriarch of Constantinople lib. 4. epist 34. 36. lib. 7. epist 30. he communicated with the Patriarch of Alexandria and gloried to him of the conuersion of England lib. 1. epist 25. lib. 4. epist 37. lib. 6. epist 24. lib. 7. epist 3. 47. he communicated with the Patriarch of Antioch vnder which three Patriarchs was almost all the Eastern Church And touching the Western Church lib. 1. epist 4. lib. 4. epist 46. He communicated with Leander Primat of Spaine lib. 4. epist 51. He communicated with Vigilius primate of France lib. 9. epist 61. he communicated with all the Catholick Bishops of Ireland lib. 2. epist 28. he communicated with all the Bishops of Italy lib. 1. epist 60. 61. he communicated with Ianuarius of Sardinia lib. 1. epist 68. he communicated with all the Bishops in Sicilie lib. 1. epist 76. with Leo Bishop of Corsica lib. 1. epist 75. with all the Bishops of Numidia lib. 2. epist 15. lib. 3. epist 16. with all the Bishops of Dalmatia lib. 3. epist 37. He communicated with all the Bishop of Vizach and epist 30. With the Bishop of Istria And lib. 7. epist 30. with the Bishops of Germanie and consequentlie with all Catholick Churches in the East and west S. vvilfrid auoucheth S. Austins doctrin to be vniuersal 3. Of those that liued after S. Austins tyme. First is S. Wilfrid Archbishop of York who was borne soone after S. Austins death For as S. Beda saith lib. 5. cap. 20. He went vp to Rome in the tyme of Honorius Archbishop of Canterburie who was one of S. Austins fellowes and he was as S. Beda ther writeth a worthie Prelat and notable Bishop This man therfore in Beda lib. 3. cap. 25. disputing with the Scotts for the Roman obseruation of Easter and shauen Crownes saith thus The Easter which we obserue we haue seene to haue bene in lyke maner obserued in Rome in all Italie and France This maner we know to be obserued in Africk in Eegipt in Asia in Grece and throughout all Nations and tongues of the world where the Church of Christ taketh place besides these few Scotts and the Picts and Britons with whome these men do fondly contend against the whole world Behould how S. Wilfrid auoucheth his Religion euen in that point wherein the Scotts then dissented from vs to be the Religion of all the Christian world Nether did the Scotts or could they deny it S. Ceolfrid The next is S. Ceolfrid Abbot and Maister to S. Beda who liued in the same tyme who writing to Naitan King of the Picts in Beda lib. 5. cap. 22. and speaking of his tyme saith The whole Catholick Church agreeth in one faith in one hope and one charitie towards God The third is S. Beda him self who lib. 2. cap. 2. saith S. Beda The Britons preferred their own Traditions before all other Churches which throughout the whole world agreed with Austin in Christ What I pray can be sayd or imagined against these so manifould or irrefragable testimonies Were S. Gregory S. Austin S. Wilfrid S. Ceolfrid S. Beda ignorant what was the vniuersall faith of Christendome at that tyme or were they so impudent as they would write yea auouch to their aduersaries face a knowne vntruth No surely And this truth Protestants also partly openly confesse partly tacitly grant and acknowledg For Napier vpon the Reuelation of S. Iohn See more infr lib. 2. cap. 3. saith Betwene the yeare of Christ 300. and 316. the Antichristian and Papisticall Religion reigning vniuersally without debatable contradiction 1260. yeares And Brocard also vpon the Reuelation pag. 110. writeth that the Church of Protestants was troden downe and oppressed by the Papacy euen from Siluesters tyme vnto these times Bale cent 1. pag. 69. saith From this tyme of Boniface 3. who succeeded S. Greg. with in a yeare or two the puritie of heauenly doctrine vanished in the Church pag. 65. After Greg. tyme puritie of doctrine perished And 73. From Phocas who liued in S. Greg. tyme vvho saith he begot the Papacy till the renewing of the Gospel by Luther the doctrine of Christ was all the vvhile among Idiots in holes Now if the heauenly doctrine
Latin masse Priests forbidden to marie and for putting away Priests wiues so he terme h Concubins And cap. 91. That he held a Synod An. 710. Cuius Synodi vigore introductae sunt Imagines in omnes Anglorum Ecclesias Besides he was nexu spiritualli adunatus to Boniface that notorious Papist as Boniface testifieth ep apud Baron An. 734. Capgraue in S. Egwins life hath Pope Constantins Epist to this Archbishop in which the Pope writeth that Brithwald sent Saint Egwin twise to Rome Tvvo Engl. Kings request the P. to confirme their Charters 900. years agoe and that two English kings requested him to confirme their Charters of gifts that they had giuen to S. Egwins Monasterie Tacwin Archbishop IX 9. THe 9. Archbishop was Tacwin consecrated in the yeare 731. sate three yeares The learning and vertue of Archb. Tacvvin Died An 734. He was a man saith Beda lib. 5. cap. vlt certes notable for his godlines and wisdome and wel conuersant in holy scriptures Pope Greg. 3. in his letter to the Bishops of England in Malmsb. lib. 1. Pont. pag. 210. saith that he knew him a religious man and of great vertue Florent An 731. Huntington lib. 3. pag. 339. accord with S. Beda Godwin in his life saith he was a man very religious no lesse learned Bale Cent. 2. cap. 3. saith he was notable for Religion and wisdome excellently learned in scripture and spent his youth in best studies His Rom. religion His Roman Religion appeareth by that as Bale saith He wholy dedicated him self to the Benedictin Rules And as Godwin saith and Pope Gregory l. cit testifieth trauailed to Rome in person and there receaued his Pal. Which also contest Beda in Epit. Houeden parte 1. and others Nothelm Archbishop X. 10. THe tenth Archbishop was Nothelm The learning and vertue of Archb. Nothelm chosen an 734. sate fiue yeares died an 739. Bale Cent 2. cap. 8. saith He was a learned and graue yong man of tryed honestie and knovvne to the vvhole Iland for his memorable deedes Beda in the Preface of his Historie saith he was much holpen by him His Rom. religion His Roman Religion is cleare by his going twise to Rome where he receaued his Pal as write Godwin in his life Hunting lib. 4. pag. 340. Houeden 1. parte Anal. Westmon an 736. Besides that S. Boniface that notorious Papist asked his aduise in matters of religion Ex Ep. Bonif. in Baron an 734. Cutbert Archbishop XI 11. THe 11. Archbishops was Cutbert chosen an 742. and died an 758. or as Bale saith 760. He vvas as Bale Cent. The rare learning nd vertue of Archb. Cutbert 2. cap. 14. hath borne of noble race a man of great renowne for his rare learning and ciuil behauior Godwin addeth to his praises that he was a good Pastor His Roman Religion appeareth both by his great familiaritie with Saint Boniface the Apostle of Germany His Rom. religion whome Fox lib. 2. pag. 128. confesseth to haue bene a Papist and Bale Cent. 2. cap. 13. saith vvas next to the great Antichrist at whose aduise he called a Councel in England In which among other things S. Austins day made holie day he apointed that our S. Austins day should be kept holy day And also because he had a Pal from the Pope Ex Westmon ad 740. Besids he sent most freindly letters and presents to the forsaid S. Boniface Ex Epist in Baron an 740. Bregwin Archbishop XII 12. THe 12. was Bregwin chosen an The great learning and vertue of Archb. Bregvvin 759. sate three yeares born saith Godwin of noble parentage chosen in regard of his modestie integritie and great learning Westmon an 760. saith he was a vvise man and learned His Cathol religion His Roman Religion is known both because he was a Monke as Capgraue saith in his life and because he made earnest suit to the Pope that the Archbishops might be buried in Christ-church in Canterb. and not in the Austins as before as Godwin in vit Lamberti writeth Lambert Archbishop XIII 13. THe 13. is Lambert Rom. religion of Archb. Lambert chosen as Malmsberie hath in Fastis an 762. sate 27. yeares His Roman Religion is out of doubt by that as Godwin saith in his life and Malmsb. lib. 1. Pont. pag. 198. he had bene Abbot of the Austins and as Florent saith Chron. an 764. receaued his Pal of Pope Paul Ethelard Archbishop XIIII 14. THe 14. Archbishop was Ethelard created an 793. or as Malmsb. in Fastis saith 791. and that he sate 13. yeares but Godwin saith he sate but 8. or 9. yeares But he is manifestly ouerseene For he putteth his entrance an 793. and his death an 806. which time includeth about 13. yeares The vvorthines of Archb. Ethelard He was saith Malmsb. 1. Reg. cap. 4. a stout man and worthy of God And lib 1. Pont. pag. 199. very industrious and gratious with the Peeres of the Realme He caried the Letters of King Kenulph and of the Bishops of England to Pope Leo for restitution of the Dioâ—esse of Canterburie and was intertained benignâ—y And P. Leo in his epist to King Kenulph calleth him most holy most deere and most skilful VVhich words saith Malmsb. that high and holy Pope would not haue iterated vnles he knew them to be true Ibid. A man after the first Doctors to be compared with the cheefest Bishops And I had almost said saith Malmsb. to be preferred before them His Cathol religion As for his Roman Religion that is manifest by his forsaid going and sending to the Pope Which also Fox lib. 2. pag. 134. and Godwin confesse And by that as Godwin saith in his life he was a Monke and in B. of Winchester he was an Abbot Our ancient Kings hope to buy heauen by god vvorks which also testifie Malmsb. 1. Reg. cap. 4. Hunting lib. 4. Houeden pag. 403. In Ingulph he subscribeth to a Charter in which King Offa professeth Per bona opera mercari praemia sempiterna VVulfred Archbishop XV. 15. THe 15. was Wulfred who succeded as Godwin saith an 807. Rom. religion of Archb vvulfred but Malmsb saith 804. with whome also agreeth Florent Chron. an 804. he sate 25. yeares And his Roman Religion is cleare See the Charter to vvhich he subscribed in Indulph pag. 855. because as Godwin writeth he was made Archbishop at Rome by Leo 3. And again the 9. yeare after his consecration went to Rome Florent an 804. and Westmon an 806. say he had a Pal of Pope Leo. Theologild Archbishop XVI 16. T Theologild was the 16. Who as Godwin saith succeded an 832 but Malmsb. in Fastis saith 829 and dyed the same yeare Of him little is written But as Godwin saith Rom. religion of Archb. Theologild he was Abbot of Canterburie which putteth his Roman Religion out of question Celnoth Archbishop XVII 17. THe 17. place occupied Celnoth an 830. as
Doct. Humfrey that Saint Austin brought it into England And before S. Odo S. Odo Alcuin that great English Deuine Alcuin professeth it clearly in these words Bread of it selfe hath not reason Lib. de dluin offic c. de missa but the Priest prayeth that it be made reasonable of Almightie God by passing into the bodie of his sonne Item After Consecration it is one thing and seemeth an other Transubstant plainly professed For it seemeth bread and wine but it is in truth Christs body and blood VVherfor God prouiding for our weaknes who vse not to eat raw flesh nor duink blood maketh that these two gifts do abide in their ancient forme and yet it is in truth Christs body and blood And S. Beda cited by Walden S. Bede Tom. 2. cap. 82. There it seene the shape of bread where the substance of bread is not nether is it any other bread then that which came from heauen S. Dunstan Archbishop XXIII 23. IN the year 959. succeeded S. Dustan and died in the yeare 988. as all agree The great learning and rare vertue of S. Dunstā He was saith Godw. borne of good parentage and for the most parte brought vp in the Abbay of Glastenburie where besides other good learning he was taught to sing to play vpon Instruments to paint and carue In all which he prooued very excellent For his manifould good partes made much of the Kings most gratious vnto King Edward and King Elbred vnder whome he ruled all things at his pleasure His miracles and for the most parte admired for a most holy and vertuous man and after canonized for a Saint The like hath Bale Cent. 2. cap. 38. Malmsb lib. 1. Pont pag. 202. saith Surius Tom. 3. vvriten by Osborn in the tyme of the Conquest He adorned the stepps of his promotion with vnwearied vertues Those times were happy which had such a Prelat as did nothing lesse than he sayd And much there of his vertue and miracles But who readeth his life in Surius will admire him But his Roman religion is confessed of Protestants His Rom. Keligion For Godwin saith Godvvin He was a Monke and bewitched so he speaketh the forsaid Kings with loue of Monkerie Maried Priests persecuted Fox and applied all his indeuors to the raysing of Monkes and Monasteries and persecuted maried Priests Fox Acts. lib. 3. pag. 136. saith he was drovvned in all superstition And pag. 158. An ennemy to Priestes vviues Bale Cent. 2. cap. 38. He receaued a Pal of Pope Iohn 13. at Rome of vvhome he obtained a Breue by vvhich he might condemn the mariages the Concubins in deede of the Ministers of the Church and compel them to keepe the voue of single life Priests compelled to keep their novv of single life and that he did annihilat saith Bale the vvord of God as Luther vnderstandeth it for the Popes traditions And cap. 40. That he had a Vision at masse though Bale call it a dreame And there is extant the Ep. of pope Iohn 12. to S. Dunstan wherin he maketh him his Legat and giueth him a Pal to vse at Masse Ethelgar Archbishop XXIIII 24. AFter Saint Dunstan succeeded Ethelgar in the year 988 and sat two yeares His Rom. Rom. Religion of Archb. Ethelgar religion appeareth by that as Godwin saith he had before bene Abbot of Winchester which Malmsh lib. 1. Pont. pag. 203. saith he was made by Saint Ethelwald who was a notorious Papist Syricius Archbishop XXV Rom. religion of Archb. Syricius 25. THe 25. Archbishop who succeeded An 990. as Malmsb hath in Fast sate as he sayth fiue yeares was Siricius Whose Roman religion can not be doubted of For as Godwin sayth he was a Monk of Glastenburie and by Saint Dunstan made Abbot of S. Austins in Canterburie and by him also preferred to the Bishoprick of Wilton Alfricus Archbishop XXVI 26. GOdwin and Malmsb. in Fast do-put this Alfricus after Syricius although Malmsburie 1. Pont. pag. 203. put him before Syricius He entred as is said in fastis An. 995 and died An. 1006. as all agree Of these three Bishops little is written because the Danes rage was in their time most furious Rom. religion of Archb. Africus But his Roman religion is out of question For as Godwin testifieth he was brought vp in Glastenburie disciple as Bale saith Cent. 2. cap. 41. of S. Ethelwald Alfricus counted a craftie Papist and Abbot of Abingdon and for his crafte saith he in promoting Papistrie made Archbishop of Canterbury To this man Fox would gladly attribute a sermon in the Saxon tongue published by Protestants of the Eucharist But him self is doubtful pag. 1040. Edit 1596 And the Protestants that published the sermon deny it in their Preface before it And if he were the Author of that sermon it would not be a point of Protestancie as you may see by what Bale hath sayd S. Elpheg Archbishop XXVII 27. NExt followed S. Elpheg an 1006. and sate 7. years vvōderful vertue of S. Elpheg He vvas saith Godwin of great parentage and vvonderfull abstinence neuer eating drinking nor sleeping more than necessitie compelled him spending his time altogether in pietie studie or other necessaire busines So that vvhat vvith preaching and example of holy life he conuerted many vnto Christ And in the Bish of Winchester he addeth that he was a learned man Malmsb. His learning and miracles lib. 1. Pont. pag. 203. saith His life vvas ful of vertues and miracles beyng at Rome he manifestly tould vnto his company the death of Kenulph vvho had succeeded him in VVinchester was slaine of the Danes rather saith Florent An. 1012. than he vvould pil his floock to ransome him vvith 3000. pounds His body saith Malmsb. His bodie in corrupt retaining marks of fresh blood remaineth to this daye vncorrupted His Cathol faith The Roman religion of this blessed man is euident both by his going to Rome after he was chosen Archb. which vndoubtedly was to fetch his Pal and because as Godwin saith and Florent Malmsb. 1 Reg. cap. 11. saith of Bathe and Vestmon An. 984 he was Abbot before he vvas Bishop and finally Canonized by the Papists Liuing Archbishop XXVIII 28. LIuing succeded an 1013. and sate 7. yeares Of whome little is written but that he fled the Realme for feare of Danes But his Roman religion is certain by that which hath bene sayde of his Predeccessors Agelnoth Archbishop XXIX The vvorthines of Archb. Agelnoth 29. THe 29. is Agelnoth sirnamed the good saith Godwin and Florent an 1020 and sonne to the Earle Agelmar He entred an 1020. and sate 18. yeares He was so deere saith Bale Cent. 2. cap. 46. to King Canut that he vsed his wit and help cheefly in dispatching matters His Rom. religion His Roman religion is manifest For as the same Bale writeth he went to Rome as the manner saith he was
that receiuing his Pal he might sweare Antichrists so he stil termeth the Pope faith The like saith Godwin And of his going to Rome for his Pal testify Malmsb. lib. 4. Pont. pag. 289. Hunt lib. 6. Florent an 1021. Houeden 1022. Fox lib. 3. pag. 163. addeth that King Canut following much the superstition of Agelnoth went a Pilgrimage to Rome And Bale l. cit addeth That he perswaded King Canut to resigne his crowne to the Crucifix and calleth him a Bishop of superstition Eadsin Archbishop XXX 30. IN the yeare 1038. succeded Eadsin The vertue and religiō of Archb. Eadsin and died 1050. His Roman religion and vertue appeareth by that as Godwin saith after his death he was made a Saint Malmsb. lib. Pont. pag. 204. and Florent an 1043. write that he anointed King Edward Confess who was a notorious Papist Robert Archbishop XXXI 31. THe next was Robert who succeded an 1050. and sate two or as Malmsb. in Fastis saith 3. yeares His Roman religion is manifest by that he was a Monk Rom. religion of Archb. Robert brought vp as Godwin saith in the Monasterie of Gemetica in Normandie had a Pal from Rome as he saith in the life of Stigand And being accused went saith Malmsb. 1. Pont pag. 204. to Rome from whence he came with letters to clear him and to recouer his See Stigand Archbishop XXXII 32. THe last Archbishop before the Conquest was Stigand who an 1052. vsurped the seate whilst his Predecessor liued and was depriued an 1069. He was saith Godwin stoute and wise inough His Roman religion is manifest by that as Godwin writeth he laboured to procure a Pal of the Pope Rom. religion of Archb. Stigand but could not because of his vnlawful entrance And therfore as Ingulph who liued then writeth pag. 898 Malmsb. lib. 1. Pont. pag. 204. Florent An. 1058. he procured one of an Antipope which then was The first and last Archb. in the Saxons time said Masse and had a Pall. and vsed it saith Florent An. 1070 in Missarum celebratione Thus you see all the Archbishops of Canterburie in the Saxons tyme for 466. yeares together were Roman Catholicks And as S. Austin the first of them had a Pal from the Pope and sayd Masse so did the very last Now let vs shew the same of all the Archbishops from the Conquest vnto our time CHAP. XX. That all the Archbishops of Canterb from the time of the Conquest vnto our tyme were Roman Catholicks 1. THe 33. Archbishop of Canterburie and first after the Conquest of England was Lanfranck He entred an 1070. being Monke and Prior of Becco in regard saith Godwin of his singuler wisdome and great knowledg of all good learning that those times could affoard The singuler great learning and vvisdom of Arch Lanfranck Was first called by Duke William to be Abbot and after hauing conquered England for his wisdom and faithfulnes he made choise of him for Archbishop of Canterburie Godvvin as one in all respects most fit and worthie which being wel known to all men the Couent of Canterb. at the Kings first nomination readily chose him The nobilitie and Laitie willingly receaued him with great applause Bale Bale Cent. 13. cap. 12. saith he was the most perfect of his tyme in all kind of Logick or subtilitie of Aristotle He corrected and amended according to the right faith all the bookes of the olde and new Testament which had bene corrupted by faulte of the writers and also the writings of the holy Fathers Fox Fox lib. 4. pag. 184. From his commendation and worthines I list not to detract anie thing Stovv Stow Chron pag. 148. Lanfranck skilful in science prudent in Councel and gouernment of things and for religion and life most holie His holines And pag. 171. reporteth that King William Conqueror being redy to die said that he supposed that the praises of Lanfranck and Anselme his Successor sound in the vttermost corners of the Earth He was busie saith Godwin in exhorting King Rufus to vertue and godlines Protestāts forced most highly to commend their learning and vertue vvho condemned their Doctrin And as long as Lanfranck liued saith Stow pag. 179. Rufus seemed to abhor all kind of vice in so much as he was counted the mirror of Kings This high praise for learning and vertue Protestants giue to this Archbishop whome to their confusion they confesse as yow shall heare anon to haue bene a most notorious Papist and the greatest enemy of Berengarius Archb. Lanfranc first confuted the deniers of Transubstātiation whome they account their Patriarch for the denial of the real presence If I should alleadg the sayings of Catholick writers in his commendation I should neuer make an ende Onely therfor I will cite two who liued in his time and quote some others Malmsb. Malmesbur lib. 3. Hist pag. 109. saith he was a man comparable to the Fathers in Religion and learning on whom in earnest may be verified A third Cato came from heauen So heauenly sauor had embued his brest and mouth So all the Latin Church did by his learning stir it self vp to the study of the liberal sciences So by his example or feare Monastical perfection did goe for ward in religion And much more he hath of Lanfranck 1. Pont. pag. 213. sequ Ingulph also Hist Ingulph pag. 901. saith he was the most commended and clear Doctor of all liberal sciences and most expert in temporal affaires and most holy in life and religion Marian The like also hath Marian who liued at that tyme Chron. Florent Huntingt an 1070. Florent and Westmon Ibid. Huntington lib. 7. Neubrigen lib. 1. cap. 1. Paris Hist pag. 8. Walsingham in ypodigmate Capgraue and Trithem in Lanfranco 2. And no les notorious was the Roman religion of this worthie Archb. Rom religion of Archb. Lanfranc than his learning and vertue was famous Which for breuitie sake I will onely proue by the confession of Protestants Bale Cent. Bale He an Heretik vvho in faith differeth from the Church of Rome 13. cap. 12. saith plainly He did many things for the exaltation of Papistrie Defineth him to be an Heretick who differeth from the Church of Rome in doctrine of faith Which is as much as any Papist now can or wil say And Cent. 2. cap. 62. Lanfranck and Anselm set vp the mouldy so this wretch blasphemeth Idol of the Masse Priests mariages condemned and condemned the holy marriages of Priestes Fox lib. 4. pag. 173. citeth this beginning of his letter to Pope Alexander To the Lorde Pope Alexander high ouerseer of all Christian Religion Fox Lanfranck due obedience with all subiection Pag. 394. he calleth him a stout Champion of the Pope Pag. 1147. cheefest trobler of Berengarius And pag. 1148. citeth this profession of Lanfranck Lanfranck his profession of Transubstant I beleeue the earthly
1366. He was saith Godwin Doctor of Law a verie frugal man and built the Colledg of Canterb. in Oxford which is now a part of Christchurch His Roman religion is vndoubted His Rom. Religion For as Godwin writeth the Pope bestowed the Archbishoprick vpon him And in his Epitaph S. Peter is professed Princeps Apostolorum The prince of the Apostles Simon Langhorn Archbishop LVI 25. THe 56. Archbishop was Simon Langhorn elect an 1366. and continewed but two yeares He was saith Godwin first a Monke then Prior lastly Abbot of Westminster Thence elected Bishop of London then of Ely and lastly of Canterburie Rom. religion of Archb. Langhorn How Roman a Catholick he was appeareth by Godwin who writeth that the Pope remoued him from Ely to Canterburie sent his Pal and lastly made him Cardinal and Legat into England as appeareth by his Epitaph In this Archbishops time Wicklef began to be angry saith Godwin with the Pope VVhy vviclef reuolted from the Cathol faith Archbishops and Monks because this Archbishop displaced him out of Canterb. Colledg And the better to wreak his anger vpon them went out of the Church and began his heresies VVilliam VVitlesley Archbishop LVII 26. THe 57. Archbishop was William Wittlesley Great learning of Archb. vvitlesley elected an 1368. and died an 1374. He was saith Godwin Doctor of Law and preached in Latin verie learnedly He was a Roman Catholick as the same Godwin declareth saying that he was aduanced by the Popes onely authoritie His Rom. Religion Simon Sulburie Archbishop LVIII Notable learning and qualities of Archb. Sudburie 27. THe 58. was Simon Suldburie elected an 1375. and died an 1381. He was saith Godwin a noble Prelat verie wise learned eloquent liberal merciful and preached in Latin very learnedlie Stow Chron. pag. 458. saith he was eloquent man and wise beyond all wise men of the Realme and fulfilled most worthie martirdom being slaine of the rebellious commons His Rom. Religion His Roman religion is notorious For as the said Godw. writeth he was houshould Chaplin to Pope Innocent and one of the Iudges of his Rota who bestowed vpon him the Archbishoprick and sent him his Bulls VVilliam Courtney Archb. LIX Noblenes and great learning of Archb. Courtney 28. IN the yeare 1381. succeded William Courtney and deceased an 1396. He was writeth Godwin sonne to hugh Courtney Earle of Deuonshire and was a great Lawyer His Rom. Religion As for his Roman religion ther can be no doubt For as Godwin saith the Pope bestowed the Archbishoprick vpon him sent him his Pal and as Walsingham writeth made him Cardinal And Eox Acts pag. 505 saith He set King Richard 2. Vpon the poore Christians of VVicklefs side condemned some made diuers abiure and do pennance Thomas Arundel Archbishop LX. 29. IN the year 1396. succeded Thomas Arundel Noblenes and vvorthines of Archb. Arundel and died 1413. He was saith Godwin sonne to Robert Earle of Arundel and VVarren was vndoubtedly saith he a worthy Prelat wise and very stout And Walsinghan who them liued Hist pag. 432. saith he was eminentissima turris Ecclesiae c. A most eminent Tower and inuincible Champion of the Church of England His Rom. Religion As for his Roman religion there can be no doubt therof For Godwin writeth that by the Popes prouision he was made Archb of Canterb and receaued his Pal. Fox Acts pag. 524. citeth his Constitution wherin he professeth S. Peters supremacie and pag. 507. saith He was a great enemy of English Wicklefian bookes and the Authors of them Bale Cent. 7. cap. 50. saith he imprisoned the Wiclefists and made them abiure their haeresie Henrie Chichley Archbishop LXI The learning and vvorthines of Archb. Chichley 30. THe 61. Archb was Henrie Chichley in the yeare 1414. and departed this wordl An. 1443. He was as Godwin writeth Doctor of lawe much employed in Embassages of the King wherin he euer behaued him self wisely and to the kings good liking He alwaies enioyed his Princes fauor was wise in gouerning his See laudably bountiful in bestowing his goods to the good of the common vvelth and lasly stout and seuere in administration of iustice In Hiham Feris he built a goodly Colledg and also an hospital and in Oxford two Colledges and called one Bernards Colledg an other Al soules His Rom. religion As for his Roman religion there can be no question of it For as the said Godwin writeth the Pope bestowed the Archb. vpon him sent him his Pal and made him Cardinal and his Legat in England And Bale Cent. 7. cap. 50. accounteth him a persecuter of Wicklefists And as is said in the Epitaph of his Tombe was made Bishop by the Popes owne hands Iohn Stafford Archbishop LXII 19. IN the yeare 1443. succeded Iohn Stafford and died Nobilitie and great learning of Archb. Stafford His Rom. Keligion 1452. He vvas saith Godwin in the Bishops of Bathe a man very noble and no les learned sonne vnto the Earle of Stafford and Doctor of Lavve As for his Roman religion that is manifest because as Godwin writeth he was made Archb. by the Popes absolute authoritie and before obtained of Pope Martin the Bishoprick of Bathe Iohn Kemp Archbishop LXIII 15. IN the yeare 1452. succeded Iohn Kemp and deceased An. 1453. He was saith Godwin Doctor of Lavve And his Roman religion is certain for as Godwin writeth The learning and religion of Archb. Kemp. The Pope bestowed the Archb. vpon him sent him his Pal and after made him Cardinal which also testifieth Bale Cent. 11. cap. 55. Thomas Bourchier Archbishop LXIIII. Nobilitie and learning of Archb. Bourchier 33. THe 64. Archb was Thomas Bourchier elect An. 1454 and deceased An. 1486. He was sonne to Henrie Bourchier Earle of Essex brought vp in Oxford of which Vniuersitie he was Chancelor Bale Cent. 11. cap. 75. saith he was a man honorable for his learning vertue and the blood of the Earles of Essex His Rom. religion His Romane Religion is manifest by Godwin Iohn Morton Archbishop LXV 34. THe 65. Archb was Iohn morton An 1487. and dyed An. 1500. He vvas saith Stow Chron. Eccellent learning and vertue of Archb. Morton pag. 789 of excellent vvit learning and vertue Godwin saith he was Doctor of lavv had manifould good partes great learning in the lavv vvisdom discretion and other vertues notable loyaltie and faithfulnes to his Prince Bale Cent. 11. cap. 85. Vir moribus c. A famous man in that age for vertue and learning seuere and a louer of iustice A man that in his time surpassed all the Prelats of England in vvisdome and grauitie As for his Roman religion that is manifest His Rom. religion For he was elected by the Monks confirmed redily by the Pope and made also Cardinal and procured Saint Anselm to be canonized Henrie Dean Archbishop LXVI 35. THe 66. Archb. was Henrie Dean An. 1501. and died
the Pope in which he professeth Profession of the King That amongst the rest of the Kings of the whole world we embrace in the armes of our singuler loue our most deere sonne in Christ the renowned King of EnglaÌ„d The popes testimonie of K Henrie 3. who as a Prince Catholick and deuout hath alwaies studied to honor the Roman Church his mother with a filiall subiection and dutifull deuotion because he would no way depart from her good pleasure but rather what things he vnderstood to be gratfull and pleasing to her he hath performed with a ready carefulnes And againe pag. 887. alleadgeth other letters of the Pope to the King wherin he saith Towards your person as to a sonne and speciall deuout of the Apostolick Sea we carying a Fatherly affection of loue do willingly giue audience to your requests as far as we may with God and do impart our benign fauor To these letters I will add two other publick letters of the nobilitie and Commons and of the Clergie at the same time taken out of Fox p. 288. Profession of the nobilitie and CoÌ„mons of EnglaÌ„d of their subiection to the Pope Paris pag. 901. and others To the reuerend Father in Christ Pope Innocent cheefe Bish The nobles with the Communalty of the whole Realme of England sending greeting with kissing of his blessed feete Our mother the church of Rome we loue with all our hartes as our duty is and couet the increase of her honor with so much affection as we may as to whome alwayes we ought to fly for refuge Item Neyther is it to our said mother vnknowne how beneficiall and bounfull a giuer the Realme of England haâ—â— bene now a long time for the more amplifying of her exaltation Againe Our king being a Catholick Prince wholly giuen to his deuotions and seruice of Christ so as he respecteth not the health of his owne body will feare and reuerence the See Apostolick and as deuout sonne of the Church of Rome desireth nothing more than to aduance the state and honor of the same And the said Fox pag. 291. and Paris and Westmon An. 1247. set downe an other letter of the Clergy and Communalty of Canterbury thus To the most holy Father in Christ Lord Innocent by Gods prouision cheefe Bishop The whole Communalty both of the Clergy and laity of the Prouince of Canterbury sendeth deuout kissing of his blessed feete England euer since her first Christianitie deuout to the Church of Rome Like as the Church of England since it first receaued the Catholick faith hate alwayes shewed it selfe faithfull and deuout in adhering to God our holy Mother the Church of Rome studying with al kind of seruice to please serue the same Church of England prostrate at the Popes feet and thincketh neuer otherwise to do but rather to continew and increase as she hath begun So now the same Church most humbly prostrat befor the feete of your holines most earnestly intreat c. And the same persons writing to the Cardinals call them Bases fulcientes Ecclesiam Dei Pillers vnderproping the Church of God Moreouer the said Paris pag. 929. hath the letters of the Religious men to the same Pope in these words professioÌ„ of the religions of England touching their subiection to the Pope To our most holy Father deere Lord in Christ Innocent by the grace of God cheefe Pastor of the vniuersall Church his deuout sonnes the Abbots and the Priors of this Prouince of Canterbury and Yorke health and kisses of your blessed feete The whole Church is gouerned vndet one Father Pastor also the Church of England is a most speciall member of the Church of Rome And pag. 930. The Nobles Clergy and Vniuersall People wish as their duty is health reuerently to such a great Bishop And ibidem The king writeth againe thus He knoweth who is ignorant of nothing that we alwayes placed our mother the Roman Church in the bowels of our sincere affection as her whome we would loue K. Henrie 3. vvould recur to the P in necessitie and vnto whome in immineÌ„t instaÌ„ts of necessitie as a sonne vnto his mother whome she ought to foster and norish from her dugges of milk we would recur Thus the King Clergie Religious Nobles and Commons doe most plainly and publickly professe their Catholick religioÌ„ and subiection to the Pope and his spirituall superioritie ouer them in so much as Godwin in the life of Sewal Archb. of York Protest confesse K. Henr. Cath. religion saith This King subiected and as it were prostrated him selfe to the Pope And Bale Cent. 4. cap. 23. noteth that King Henrie the third did not reigne but bore the Image of the Beast And cap. 6. speaking of the time of this King saith The healthful truth was vanished out of this Land men being led into perdition And cap. 34. Vnder King Henry 3. ther was great decay of true faith in Christ euen vnto our tyme in the merits of condignitie and congruall of the Papists in Indulgences suffrages of Saints Protest except against all vvritings from K. Hen. 3. to Luthers time vowes masses Purgatorie Images c. And therfor exhorteth all to trie the doctrine which florished from the year 1270. to the yeare 1520. So manifest a thing it is that this King and all his successors and Realme since him to the later ende of King Henrie 8. were Roman Catholicks And albeit this King and the common welth in his tyme repined some what at the Pope yet that was not for any points of faith or religion but onely as yow may see in Paris the Kings Chronicler of that time and others because he bestowed English Benefices vpoÌ„ Strangers VVestmon An. 1246. Which he being then driuen out of Rome and from his own liuing by a wicked Emperor was forced to doe Finally this King died as Continuat Paris then liuing writeth pag. 1343. Confessing his sinnes beating his brest absolued houseled aneiled honoring the Crosse Saints In this Kings time liued the holy Archb. of Canterb S. Edmund whose body long after his death was found incorrupt Westmon An 1247. and others Also Saint Richard Bishop of Chichester A man saith Westmon An. 1253. Of eminent knowledge See Sur. tom 2. and singuler or rare sanctitie Godwin in his life saith All men greatly reuerenced him not onely for his great learning but much more for his diligence in preaching his manifould vertues and aboue all his integritie of life and conuersation In regard of which and many miracles fathered saith he vpon him he was canonized In this Kings tyme also died that grear Clerck Robert Grostet Bish of Lincoln whome the Protest wouâ—d make one of theirs onely because he mislyked the Popes preferring of strangers to English Benefices But that reason is too friuolous Besides that Westmon An. 1253. testifieth that the same yeare he died he wrote thus to the Pope Salutem
putteth one Iohn Goose a VVicklefist burnt vnder him And Ibid. noteth that since the time of King Richard 2. there is no reigne of any King to be assigned hitherto wherin some good man or other hath not suffered the paines of fier for the religion of Iesus Wicklef Besides Stow pag. 690. saith that King Edward vvent crowned in VVestmenster in the honor of God and S. Peter and the next day in paules in the honor of God and S. Paule And his daughter Brigit became a Nonue polidor lib. 24. King Edward 5. XLVIIII THe 49. Christian Prince was Edward 5. soune to Edward 4. a child of a 11. yeares old who liued not many dayes after his Father As for the religion which this child had it may easely appeare by what hath bene said of the Father King Richard 3. L. IN rhe yeare 1483 the 50. Christian Prince was Richard 3. brother to Edward 4 who tooke the Crown held it two yeares The qualities of this K. are notorious in all Chronicles K. Richards religion And his religioÌ„ is known both by what hath bene said of his brother And as Polidor l. 25. he began a Colledg in Yorke of an hundreth Priests King Henrie 7. LI. IN the yeare 1485. succeeded King henry 7. of the house of Lankaster and reigned 23. yeares VVorthines of K. Henrie 7. He was faith Stow a Prince of meruailous wisdomme police iustice temperance and grauity Fox Acts. pag. 729. saith the same His Rom. Religion His Roman Catholicke religion is euident For Fox setteth downe diuers Wicklefists burnt or otherwise punished vnder him as pag. 731. four wherof one the K. caused to be brought before him but when he would not be perswaded was burnt And pag. 774. he reckneth diuers others others abiured and burnt in the cheeke Wherupon Considerat 10. he saith Protestants rather died than liued vnder King Henry 7. And p. 776. saith thus of K. Henrie 7. othervvise a prudent and temperat Prince permitted the rage of the Popes Clergie so much to haue their wills ouer the poore flock of Christ as they had Ibid. The persequution began novv in the Church to be â—oat and he attributteth the death of the K. to the persequution forsooth of the Gospellers Moreouer pag. 799. He roporteth out of G. Lilly how Henry 7. Anno 1506. send three solemne Orators to Pope Iulius 2. to yeald his obedience Ex more saith Lilly to the See of Rome And Stow p. 811. writeth that Pope Iulius 2. sent a cap of maintenance and a sword to King Henrie 7. as to a Defender of the Church And Fox pag. 799. saith that Pope Alexander 6. and Pius 3. had before done the same King Henrie 7. builded also three Monasteries of Franciscans Pollidor in vit In this kings time liued Iohn Alcok Bishop of Elie Holie 7 men A man saith Godwin in his life of admirable temperance for his life and behauior vnspotted and from a child so earnestly giuen to the studie not onely of learning but of all vertue and godlinesse as in those dayes neuer any man bore a greater opinion and reputation of holines He liued all his time most soberly and chastly subduiing the temptations of the flesh by fasting studie and praier and other such good meanes King Henrie 8. LII KIng Henrie 8. sonne to king Henrie 7. began his Reign An. 1509. From the which time to An. 1530. he continewed an earnest Roman Catholick For as Fox saith pag. 789. From Anno. 1509. to 1527. diuers VVicklefists were preseÌ„ted troubled imprisoned And pag. 836. He setteth downe a letter of king Henrie Anno 13. To all Maiors Sherifes Bailifs and Constables and other officers to assist the Bishop of Lincoln for punishing Hereticks according to the lawes of holy Church And Bale Cent. 8. cap. 62. saith that two were burnt An. 1515. for the matter of the Sacrament And cap. 75. that Barnnes was made to recant Anno 1525. And likwise Bilney Garret and others An. 1527. Stow also and others write how king Henrie Anno 1511. wrote to the French king to desist from molesting Pope Iulius 2. and in the next yeare sent an army of ten thousand men into France in the Popes defence And An. 1513. K. Henrie 8. zeal in defence of the Pope VVent himself in person with a royall army conquered Torwin and Turney And not content thus manfully to haue aduentured his person to defend the Pope with his sword did in the yeare 1521. write also an excellent booke in his defence against Luther The originall wherof I haue seene in the Popes Librarie with the Kings subscription therto in these bad verses if I wel remember Hunc librum Henricus Leoni decimo mittit In signum fidei pignus amicitiae This booke to Leo tenth King Henrie the eighth doth send In testimonie of his faith and token of a freind For which booke Pope Leo gaue to him his successors for euer the glorious title of Defender of the faith And again in the yeare 1527. When Pope Clement 7. was taken prisoner he gaue monthly 60. thousand angels for the maintenance of an army for the Popes deliuerie And after this made long time suit to the same Pope that he would by his authoritie pronounce his mariage with Queene Catherin to be none and diuorce them which he not granting King Henrie as yow shall heare in the next Booke renounced the Popes authoritie and made him self head of the Church and yet remained in all other points a Roman Catholick Whervpon Bale Cent. 8. cap. 80. saith K Henrie 8. nevver a ProtestaÌ„t that King Henrie did admitt the Doctrine of Antichrist euen in the matters of greatest moment and did retain the contagious dreggs Sleidan Englil 13. fol. 174. By such phrases this wrech vseth to vnderstand Papistrie And Fox pag. 1291. granteth that Obits and Masses appeare in his will Most seuer of all Engl. Kings against Heretiks And as he saith pag. 1135. made it high treason to deny the reall presence and fellonie to defend mariage of Priests breaking of vowes or to condemne Communion in one kinde priuat Masse or auriculer CoÌ„fession without all benefit of abiuration or Clergie VVhich Lawes were seuerely executed by him And at his death would gladly haue bene reconciled to the Roman Church as Bishop Gardiner with whome he delt about that matter protested openly in a sermon at Pauls Crosse And so Catholick was the people of England in his time euen after his reuolt from the See Apostolick as when the Vicar of Croidon a most famous preacher of that time tolde them in a sermon at Pauls that as they had denyed the supremacie of the Pope so in time they would fall to deny other points of the Catholick faith Zeal of our grand fathers touching the real presence euen the reall presence of Christ in the blessed Sacrament The people at that word cryed out Neuer Neuer Neuer which yet
THE PRVDENTIALL BALLANCE OF RELIGION Wherin the Catholike and Protestant religion are weighed together with the weights of Prudence and right Reason THE FIRST PART In which the foresaide Religions are weighed together with the weights of Prudence and right Reason accordinge to their first founders in our Englishe Nation S. Austin and Mar. Luther And the Catholike religion euidently deduced through all our Kings and Archbishopps of Canterburie from S. Austin to our time and the valour and vertue of our Kings and the great learninge and Sanctitie of our Archbishopps together with diuers Saints and miracles which in their times proued the Catholike faith so sett downe as it may seeme also an abridgment of our Ecclesiasticall Histories With a Table of the Bookes and Chapters conteyned in this Volume PSALM 118. The wicked haue told me fables but not as thy Law Printed vvith Licence 1609. EPISTLE TO THE MOST Noble and renovvned ENGLISH NATION my most deere Countrimen 1. RIGHT Honorable right worshipfull and dearelie beloued Countrymen giue me leaue to ioyne you all in one Epistle whom I contayne in one brest of loue and include in one lincke of entire affection Because the end for which I write vnto you concerneth you all alike and equallie to witt the true Religion and worshipp of God and saluation of your owne soules A matter vs of the greatest weight and worthiest of Search fo in these our miserable dayes of most controuersie and perplexed difficultie Wherin to helpe you the better to discerne true gold from shyninge brasse true religion from false and counterfeit I haue framed for you a Prudentiall Balance of Religion by which euery one of you may by the weightes and rules of right reason and true prudence weighe the Roman Catholique and the Protestant religion together and distincklie perceaue whither of them is more likelie to come from God and to lead you to him VVhy this course of comparinge religions is taken 2. And this course of comparinge these two religions together I haue taken before any other because as the Philosopher teacheth and experience confirmeth Contraria iuxta se posita magis elucescunt Contraries put together do more apppeare As beautie in presence of deformitie seemeth more gratious and deformitie more vglie Truth before lies appeareth more loue lye and lies more odious vertue before vice more amiable and vice more detestable Euery thinge as it were striuinge to shew it selfe more when it is set as it were to wrastle with the contrarie And I haue made choyse of comparinge these religions accordinge to the rules of ttue prudence and right reason VVhy the comparinge of religions accordinge to rules of vvisdome is chosen before others rather then otherwise as the most generall most easie most euident and most effectuall for all sortes of people for albeit Catholiques Protestants agree that to be the true religion of God which is most agreable to his word yet sith they neyther agree which is his word Protestants reiectinge much of that which Catholiques reuerence for Gods heauenly word nor which is they sense therof Thus Tertullian lib. de praescript proued by reason the Cath. religion to be preferred befor anie heresie they can not be brought to agree about one balance of Gods word wherby they may weigh their religions together Besides that not onely Catholicks teach but also Protestants confesse that the weaker sorte of Christians can not iudge which is the true exposition of Scriptures And therfor to weighe religions to them by the balance of Scripture D. Reinolds Confer pag. 149. were to weigh one vnknowne thing by an other But the weights of Prudence and right reason are both commun and euident to all therfor the weighinge of religions by them must needs be most generall most easie and most effectual with all sortes of people And if anie refuse to haue their religion tried by these kinds of weights VVhat religion is against vvisdom and reason is follie they confesse therby that they fear their religion to be contrarie to wisdome and reason which is as much as to be fabulous and foolish For what can be opposit to wisdome and reason but follie and fables 3. Nether let anie think that that religion which is most agreable to Prudence and the light of reason is not also most agreable to Scripture Because reason and Scripture are both God his word and Gods truth the one naturall written by his owne hand in our soules by creation the other supernatural written in paper with the hands of his holie Scribes by reuelation The agreablenes of Religion and reason And therfor though these two words be of different degree they can not be contrarie but rather as twinnes of one and the self same parent haue great sympathie and connexion together For as God doth not by his grace destroie the naturall inclination of our will to good but perfecteth it So by his word and faith he extinguisheth not but increaseth the naturall insight which our vnderstanding hath of truthe yea such is the force of our vnderstanding to pearce into Gods truth as that by it the Philosophers as the Apostle witnesseth Rom. 1. came to know the inuisible proprieties of God and his euerlasting power diuinitie S. Paul And sith we see that men by the light of reason know so much of other moral vertues as without all other teaching they perceaue in manie things what is honest what dishonest what iust what vniust what is vertue what vice why should we doubt that God hath giuen to vs equal knowledge of matters of religion and worship of him self Which vertue as it is the cheefest of all morall vertues so the knowledge therof is most necessaire of them all vnto vs. Yea S. Austin accounted so much of Reason as lib. de vtil credendi cap. 12. he said that Recta ratio est ipsa virtus S. Austin because it is the naturall square and rule which God euen in creation giueth to euery one to know what he ought to do Calvvin And Caluin saith that Semen religionis est in mente humana And Iewel art 6. diuis 12. that naturall reason holden within her bondes is not the enemye Iuel but the daughter of Gods truth And therfor he must be very vnreasonable that will without cause be angrye with reason Doct Reinolds And Doctor Reinolds in his conference pag. 207. saith Reason is a notable helpe of mans weaknes This rule therfor of naturall reason and prudence giuen vnto vs by God common and euident to all authorized by verdit of the Apostle confirmed by reason and approued by consent both of Catholiques and Protestantes is that wherwith I intend to direct you in the choyce of Religion and the Balance wherwith I purpose to to weigh before your eyes the two more famous religions which are in our Lande 4. Not because I thinke that onelie naturall light of reason is able without
thus VVhiles the English Nation dwelling in a corner of the worlde remained til now infidel in the worship of wood and stones by the help of your praier it seemed good to me God being the Author to send a Monk of my monastery to preach to them The same he testifieth lib. 27. Moral c. 8. and in diuers letters lib. 9. Epi. 52. 56. 59 and in S. Beda lib. 1. c. 27. 29. 30. 31. 32. which for breuitie I omit And the same witnesse diuers other Popes as Boniface Honorius Vitalian Sergius Gregorius and Formosus wherof some were aliue in S. Austins tyme and others liued not long after whose letters are extant in Malmesb. lib. 2. Pont. Ang. pag. 208. pag. 209. S. Austins companions Likwise S. Laurence S. Mellit S. Iustus three companions of S. Austin in their publick letters to the Scotts in S. Beda lib. 2. c. 4. write that the English to whome they were sent to preach the word of God were Paynim people and heathen men Englishmen In like maner the English youths before mentioned being asked of S. Gregory whether they were Christiās or no answered as testifyeth Ethelwerd an ancient Historiographer of the blood royal of England No nor as yet hath any preached this vnto vs. The merchants And the merchants added ex Beda lib. 2. c. 1. that they were all Paynims And the very Epitaph set vpon Saint Austins tombe after his death testifieth S. Austins epitaph that he conuerted King Ethelbert and his Realme from the worshiping of Idolls to the faith of Christ in Beda lib. 2. c. 3. Thus yow se both priuat and publick both foraine and domestical testimonies euen of that tyme when S. Austin liued contest that before his comming our English Nation was Heathen wherto I wil add a few witnesses in the ages after that the reader may be assured how vndoubted a truth this hath ben hertofore 3. S. Beda who liued within 80. yeares after S. Austin saith plainly lib. 2. c. 1. that our Nation had ben euer to that time the bondslaue of Idols And Alcuin his scholler S. Beda but maister to Charles the Great in Malmesb. lib. 1. Pont. Ang. pag. 199. 1. Reg. c. 14. calleth S. Austin our First Teacher Alcuin and Canterbury the First Seat of faith King Kenulph who liued within 200. yeares after S. Austin King Kenulph writing letters to Pope Leo 3. in his own name in the name of the Bishops Duks and all the Nobility of his Realme confesseth that from Rome Nobis Fidei veritas innotuit and that that Sea imbued his Nation rudimentis fidei K. VVithlaf King Withlaf in his Charter in Ingulph pag. 858. calleth S. Austin the Apostle of our Nation Odo Odo Archbishop of Canterbury writing about 800. yeares agoe to his Suffragans saith that from the Sea of Canterbury Augustini aliorum studiis Religio Christianitatis primùm cunctis finibus Anglorum innotuit And in a Synod held in the yeare 747. of all the Bishops of England in presence of the King Tvvo English Synods and Nobles S. Austin is called Pater noster and in honour of him they were wont to keepe his day most solemnly And in an other Synod held about 500. yeares since Lanfranc Archbishop of Cāterbury saith Quis nesciat quòd à Cantia manauit Christi credulitas in ceteras omnes Angliae Ecclesias Superfluous it were to add to these the testimonies of such as haue lyued since Protestāts confesse S. Austin to haue ben our first preacher Fox both foraine and domesticall historiographers who all deliuer this for as certain a truth as can be Onely for the confusion of Sutclif and such as he I will add the confession of some Protestants Fox in his Acts and Monuments lib. 4. pag. 172. The Saxons ouercomming the Land deuided them selues into seuen Kingdoms And so being Infidells and Pagans continued til the time that Gregory being Bishop of Rome sent Austin to preach vnto them The like he hath lib. 2. pag. 110. 115. and in his Protestat Holinshead pag. 9. Holinshead in descript of Britany lih 11. c. 7. Austin was sent by Gregory to preach to English men the word of God who were yet blinde in Pagan superstition And an 596. Gregory sent Austin into this Ile to preach the Christian faith vnto the English-Saxons which Nation as yet had not receaued the gospel Godwin in the life of S. Austin Godvvin The Saxons not onely expelled Christian Religion but the followers of the same into a corner of this Iland And our Contrie being in a maner all growne ouer with Paganisme for ther was no publick allowance of Christian Religion anywhere but in VValles It pleased God to giue this occasion of replāting the same here again And telleth how Saint Gregory seeing English boies sold at Rome The English vvithout any inckling of the gospel before S. Austin was mooued to send Preachers And in the life of S. Paulin VVhen the Saxons had gotten possession of this Realme the Britons that were the ould Inhabitants being driuen into a corner therof The rest was without any knowledg or inckling Note of the Gospel And Cambd. in descript Brit. pag. 104. writeth Cambden that S. Austin hauing rooted out the Monsters of Heathenish superstition ingrafting Christ in English mens mindes with most happie successe conuerted them to the faith Who will see more Protestants may read Bale cent 1. c. 73. cent 13. c. 1. Whitaker contr Dur. pag. 394. Fulk 1. Cor. 4. Cooper Chron. an 599. Stow 596. 4. Now let vs see what Sutclif can say against this so confessed a truth For sooth that the English had notice of the Christian Religiō before S. Austin his cōming because some Britons liued amongst them and also because King Ethelberts wife Bertha was a Christian and had a Christian Bishop with her named Luidhard Are not these think wee sounde reasons to wrastle withal against such vniform consent both of his owne and our writers As if we denyed that the English had any notice of Christianity before S. Austins cōming but such it was as the great Turk hath without any beleefe or liking therof And as for the Britons they were so far from preaching of their owne accord as by no persuasion entreaty Britons refused to preach to the English or threatful prophesie of Saint Austin they could be brought to do it as testifieth S. Beda lib. 2. c. 2. and Galfrid lib. 11. cap. 12. Besides that as Bale writeth cent 1. c. 7. Boeth hist Scot. lib. 9. pag. 171. Aspernabantur Angli dogmata Britānorum The English for the hatred of the men despised the Religion of the Britons Q. Betta neglected to persuade King Ethelbert to the faith And concerning the English Queene she was no English but a French woman and before S. Austins comming she had neglected to persuade her husban as S. Gregory lib 9.
be condemned in S. Austin towards his inferiors 5. The third fault is that which the soldierly-Minister Sutclif obiecteth to him c. 3. cit to wit extreme Cowardice not beseeming an Apostolick man Because being sent with his company to England they determined with common consent that it was better to return than go forward S. Austins feare for a tyme excused This wee confesse was a fraylty Yet first See inf l. 2. c. 11. Hovv the Protest Apostles aâ—iure their faith such a one it was as a far greater fel not only to an Apostolick man but euen the Prince of the Apostles S. Peter when for a womaÌ„s word he denyed his maister to all the Apostles when they forsooke him Secondly such a feare it was as might cadere in constantem viruÌ„ For our Nation was then as they sayd truly Barbarous fierse and Infidel and who daylie made war vpon Christians and whose Ancestors saith Beda l. 2. c. 15. had slayne Priests at the Altar and murdered Bishops with their flocks without respect of dignity And as our stories record had made such hauock of Christians as they made great hills yet extant of their bodies and were therfor as S. Gildas termeth them Deo hominibus inuisi Let Sutclif goe now to preach to such Pagans or to the Indian Caniballs and then he may be the better suffered to obiect feare to Saint Austin Besides that Godwin also in his life cleareth Saint Austin of this feare For that he saith not all but in a maner all were afraid to prosecut the iorney Godvvin excuseth S. Austin and they as it were compelled Saint Austin to go back to craue licence to return Wherby we see that Saint Austin was little or nothing faulty in this point Thirdly I say that such a feare it was as Saint Austin and his company manfully ouercame S. Austins Apostlick courage and stoutly performed the iorney and abode here being ready saith Saint Beda lib 1. cap. 26. to suffer both troubles and death it self in defence of the truth they taught Which is courage well beseeming Apostolick men 6. The fourth slander or rather many slanders is that wherwith Iuell chargeth him Art 1. diu 21. where he writeth thus He was by iudgement of them that saw him nether of Apostolick spirit Iuell slandereth S. Austin belieth the Britons nor any way worthy to be called a Saint but an hypocrit and superstitious cruell and bloody man and citeth Galfrid lib. 8. cap. 4. But this is most slanderous For nether is ther any word in that place of Galfrid of Saint Austin or the Briton Bishops nether lib. 11. cap. 12. where he talketh of this matter doth he say that the Britons charged Saint Austin with any crime but that they refused either to be subiect to him or to preach to the English Because sayd they as he reporteth they had an Archbishop of their owne and the English continewed taking their Contry from them And this was all the cause which Galfrid saith they gaue But as for these other crimes of hypocrit superstitious cruell and bloody as Iuell saith they that saw him and knew him iudged him that no Briton though then his enemyes but the vngratfull English hereticks Iuell hath imposed vpon him And if Cham were iustly accused of his Father for reuealing his carnall Fathers shame what deserueth he who falsly imposeth vpon his vpon all English mens spirituall Father for to vse Saint Paules words in Christ Iesus he begat vs through the Gospell shamefull crimes neuer imputed to him by his enemies And this dealing of Iuell with Saint Austin bringeth me in mynde of his damnable writing against the Catholick faith For a little before his death he charged his Chaplin named Iohn Garbrand that as sone as he was dead Iuel vvrote against his ovvne conscience Garbrand should publishe to the world that what he had written he had done against his owne knowledg conscience onely to complie with the State and to vphould that religion which it had set vp And albeit Garbrand did not for feare publish this so openly as he was charged yet did he auouch it to diuers in Oxford Author of this is a Protestant of good account whome I could name yet liuing at Lewis in Sussex who tould it to two Catholick Gentlemen of whome I learnt it And the more credible this is because I could name a Minister a Doctor Learned Ministers impugne knovvne truth and of great account among the Ministers who confessed to a freind of his of whome I heard it that he taught against the truth and his owne knowledg And the same he doubted not to affirme of the rest of his brethren that are learned And thus hauing shewed that Saint Austin had great learning and vertue requisit for a first preacher of Christs faith vnto Infidells let vs see what authority he had to preach and how he was sent to do it CHAP. VII That S. Austin was mooued with holy motiues to come to preach to our Nation ALthough what can be said of this matter will be clear inough partly by what hath bene already said partly by what shall hereafter yet because it helpeth much to the perfect iudgmeÌ„t of religions to know what mooued the first Authors Founders of theÌ„ in any CoÌ„try to preach publish them for therby they may iudg of their sincerity or fraudulent meaning and whether they seeke the glory of God and saluation of the CoÌ„try or their owne good Therfore I will declare now what motiues Saint Austin had to teach vs his religion and afterward in the Second Booke what motiues likewise Luther had to teach vs his First therfore Saint Austin could not be mooued by that proper motiue or spur of all Archereticks or Sect-maisters to abducere discipulos as the Apostle saith of them post se Vaine glorie moued not S. Austin that is to be the head and founder of a Sect because as shal be shewed anon his religion was the vsuall and common religion of all Christendome in his tyme. Secondly he could no be mooued in hope of honor Nor honor for in Rome he was head of his monastery in England among a fierce strange barbarous Nation he could expect none Wherfore albeit beyond all humaine expectatioÌ„ he was made Archbishop yet hauing no hope therof that can not be iustly thought to haue moued him to vndertake that voyage Thirdly profit could not moue him to this enterprise For what profit could he expect here or what profit did he expect who as Saint Beda lib. 1. Nor profit cap. 26. saith of him and his fellowes despised the commodities of this world as things none of their owne taking of them whome they instructed onely so much as might serue their necessities And being made Archbishop did according as Saint Gregory appointed him in Beda lib 1. cap. 27. liue according to his religious rule not a part
was redy to dye ex Bed lib. 3. cap. 2. 12. The same Bale cent 1. cap. 83. saith that Aldelm went happilie to Christ and yet withal confesseth that he wrote for shauen crownes after the Roman maner feasts of Saints single lyfe and such things and was long tyme familiar with P. Sergius cent 1. cap. 93. He calleth Ceolfrid Beda S. Ceolfrid S. VVillebrord Willebrord Boniface and the like most holy monkes And addeth cent 2. cap. 1. that Beda had a most happie end And yet the same man saith of Boniface pag. 79. that he brought the Germans to Papisme and pag. 103. VVas the next to the Pope the greate Antichrist and signed a hundred thousand men in Bauaria with the Popes mark And cent 2. cap. 5. writeth that Willebrord preached Papistrie Of S. Beda he saith cent 2. cap. 1. That he can not be excused from all superstitious doctrine And in the same place saith that Ceolfrid vsed the new ordinations of the Roman superstition And that he was a plaine Papist appeareth by his epistle in Beda lib. 5. cap. 22. where he teacheth one sacrifice of the bodie of Christ rounde shauing of Monks Calleth Peter head and Primat of the Apostles Whervpon Fox lib. 2. pag. 126. termeth him a shaueling condemneth him for calling Peter a Mediator and termeth it a Monkish epistle And in lyke sort Bale speaketh of diuers others S. Hilda For cent 1. cap. 94. he saith S. Hilda Abbesse was a most holy woman Ibid. Iohn of Beuerly a man very learned and pious accounted it most sweet to preach Christs Gospel out of the Pulpit and ended his life in great constancie of Euangelical spirit And cent 2. cap. 1. Calleth him a most holy prelat Cambden also Descrip Britan. pag. 518. Calleth S. Werburg Saint S. VVerburg S. Milburg S. Botulph pag. 526. S. Milburg a most holy virgin p. 612. King Oswald Saint and pag. 150. That that age was most fruitful of Saints pag. 473. Botulph most holy And pag. 472. Guthlac lead his life in great holines This by the confession of Protestants was the fruit of S. Austins religion And if it be true as most true it is which our Sauiour said that we can not gather grapes of thornes nor figges of brambles And if it be true that vertue springeth not out of the Diuels seede nor Saints out of his Religion Sure it is also that S. Austins Religion came not from the Diuel but from God Can any man of sense thinke that so great sanctitie can stand with ignorance of the true way to saluation With ignorance of the true worship of God That men become Saints and attain to heauen by Religion of Diuels Are Diuels so bountiful to men as they will teach them the waye to heauen Or haue they such skil as they can inuent new wayes to heauen besides the way that Christ taught And this for the vertue of S. Austins followers Now let vs see what account Protestants make of the learning of some of them 4. That we may be assured that it was not ignorance which made our Ancestors imbrace S. Austins doctrine That our Ancestors follovved not S. Austin vpon ignorance S. Aldelm Bale saith cent 1. cap. 83. Did so studie both Deuine and Human learning that be far passed all the Deuines of his tyme most learned in Greeke and Latin S. Aldelm in Verse and Prose and cleare in wit and speeche Fox Acts 125. saith he was a learned Bishop of worthy praise for his learning Cambd. Descript Brit. 210. saith he was surely worthie that his memorie should remain for euer For he was the first Englishman that wrote in Latin and first that taught Englishmen to make Latin Verses Godwin in Vit. Aldelm He became Very learned in Poetrie excellent and writ much in Greek and Latin Prose and Verse but his cheefe studie was Deuinitie in the which no man of his tyme was comparable vnto him And yet to assure vs also of his Religion lib. cit affirmeth that he wrote at the commandement of Monks for shauing and anointing of Priests for feasts of Saints and single life and other saith he new rites and that he had great familiaritie with Pope Sergius And cent 14. cap. 26. saith that Maidulph maister of S. Aldelm was sullied with Papistical blemish and was a most eager defender of the Roman constitutions And yet the same Maidulph saith Cambden Brit. pag. 210 was of great learning and singuler pietie S. Beda Of S. Beda Bale cent 2. cap. 1. giueth this testimonie He was so practised in Prophane writers that he scarce had his match in that age he learnt Phisick and Metaphisick out of the purest fountains He knew the misteries of the Christian faith so soundly note that for his exact knowledg both of Greeke and Latin many preferred him before Gregorie the Great There is scarce any thing worth reading to be found in all Antiquitie which in due places is not read in Beda 〈◊〉 if he had liued in the tymes of Austin Hierom Chrisostom I doubt not but he might haue contended for equalitie with them He put forth many bookes ful of all kind of learning Thus Bale of S. Beda and in like sort Fox Acts. pag. 127. saith he was a man of worthy and memorable memory and famous learning The whole Latin Church at that tyme gaue him the maistry in iudgement and knowledg of the holy scripture Stow Chron. pag. 93. Beda a famous learned man Cooper Chron. An. 729. Beda for his learning and godly life was renowned in all the world Bel in his Downfal Beda for vertue and learning renowned in all the world Cambden Brit. pag. 670. Bede the singuler glorie of England by pietie and erudition obtained the name of venerable wrote manie volumes most learnedly And yet how plaine a Papist S. Beda was shal be shewed both by his owne doctrine and by open confession of Protestants cap. 17. 5. The third wherof I will speake is Alcuin scholler to S. Beda Alcuin but maister to Charles the great Of whome Bale cent 2 c. 17. VVriteth thus He was thought by far the most learned Diuine of his age yea of all English men from the beginning after Aldelm and Beda in so much that he was maister to Charles the great and the first beginner of the Vniuersitie of Paris skilful in Latin Greeke and Hebrew Cambd. in Brit pag. 629. Calleth him the onely glorie of York And yet who readeth this Alcuins booke de Diuinis Officijs shall clearly see that he and our Contry then was as perfect Papists as any now are For there he shal finde all our Ceremonies at Baptism of exsufflation exorcising of salt Chrisme and the lyke Our Ancestors vsed all our present Cath. Ceremonies in baptisme Our three Masses on christmasse day Our Candlels on Candlemasse day Our Ceremonies in the holy weeke of keeping the Sepulcher hallowing the font putting out all the candels but one
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
of the See Apostolick as it is knowne that Austin and his Successors Bishops were And can we think that the Pops Legats were not Papists Finally diuers of them haue bene canonized by the Pope Hovv manie Archb of Canterb canonized and their memories in the Roman Martyrologe To wit S. Austin S. Laurence S. Mellit S. Iustus S. Honorius S. Theodor S. Dunstan S. Anselm S. Thomas S. Edmund S. Elpheg to whome Godwin addeth S. Eadsin which would neuer haue bene done if they had not bene known Roman Catholicks CHAP. XIX That euery one of the Archbishops of Canterburie from S. Austin to the time of the Conquest of England were Roman Catholicks proued in particuler S. LAVRENCE II. 1. THe first Successor of S. Austin and second Archb. of Canterb. was S. Laurence of whome S. Austin him self made choise and consecrated him whiles he liued but in what yeare he entred is not certain but he died in the yeare 619. as may be gathered out of Beda The learning and vertue of S. Laurence He was saith Godwin in his life a very Godly and wel learned man and tooke great paines not onely with his ovvne charge but also to reduce the Britons Scotts and Irish men to one consent in matters of religion Bale Cent. 13. cap. 2. writeth that he was very skilful in Logick and other Philosophie Beda lib. 2. cap. 3. saith he endeuored to lift vp the building of the English Church to the perfect highnes both by often wordes of holy exhortation and also by continual example of deuout and godly workes and therin also telleth how he labored to reduce the Britons and Irish as a true Pastor and Prelat And thus much for the worthines of this our holy Prelat But as for his Roman Religion although that be euident by what hath bene sayd before of S. Austin yet will I add what Bale saith of him Cent. 13. cap. 2. He was sent of Greg. to instruct the English Saxons in Roman Religion he taught the people the Papistical faith almost in all the Dominion of the English men S. Mellit Archbishop III. 2. THe third Archbishop was S. Mellit who succeded An. 619. For as S. Beda saith lib. 2. cap. 7. he dyed An. 624. after he had bene Archbishop fiue yeares Of whome and his successor S. Iustus Beda lib. 2. cap. 7. writeth That they gouerned the English Church with great labor and diligence The vertues of S. Mellit that he was noble by birth but much more noble for the excellency of his minde often trobled with sicknes yet euer free and sounde of minde did alwaies feruently burne with the fier of inward charitie and was wont with his holy prayers and holy exhortations to driue from him selfe and others all ghostly tentations And. Miracles Ibid. reciteth how that by prayer he quenched a great fier that burnt Canterburie Godwin in vita eius saith he was a man of noble birth but of greater minde exceeding careful of his charge despising the world and neuer caring but for heauen and heauenly things His Rom. Religion His Roman Religion is manifestest because as Godwin confesseth he was an Abbot of Rome sent hither by Greg. and went after to Rome to confer with Pope Boniface sate in Councel and was by him honorably entertained S. Iustus Archbishop IIII. 3. The fourth Archbishop was Saint Iustus who inmediatly succeeded S. The vertue and learning of Saint Iustus Mellit An. 624. and dyed as it seemeth by Beda lib. 2. cap. 18. An. 633. He gouerned saith S. Beda lib. 2. cap. 7. the English Church with great labor and diligence And as Pope Boniface testifieth in Beda lib. â— cap. 8. of him so greatly and earnestly labored for the Gospel as he could shevv whole Contries plentifully multiplied by him and brought vp king Edbald with great learning and instruction of holy scriptures Godwin in his life sayth he trauailed painfully 12. His Cathol Religion yeares His Roman Catholick Religion is manifest by his Pall receaued from Pope Boniface Beda lib. 2. cap. 8. And by what Bale writeth of of him Cent. 13. cap. 3. Where he calleth him Pedagog of the Roman faith And addeth that he brought king Edbald to the Roman faith S. Honorius Archbishop V. 4. The fift Archbishop was S. Honorius who succeded as appeareth by Beda lib. 2 cap. 18. and Baron affirmeth An. 633 and died as Beda writeth lib. 3. cap. 20. An. 653. hauing sate 20. yeares S. Honorius his great learning and vertue He was saith Beda lib. 5. cap. 20. one of S. Greg. schollers and profoundly learned in holy scriptures Pope Honorius writing vnto him in Malmsb. 1. Pont. pag. 208. saith He gouerned his flock with much toile much labor and troble euils increasing And the same saith Godwin As for his Roman Religion that is manifest by his Pal. which Bed lib. 2. cap. 18. His Cathol Religion saith He receaued with a letter from Pope Honorius which also Godwin confesseth And Bale addeth that he first deuided England into Parishes after the Papistical maner Which thing also testifieth Camb. in Brit. pag. 131. and Stow An. 640. And all these Archb. were Italians and fellow Laborers of S. Austin Deusdedit Archbishop VI. 5. The sixt Archbishop was Deusdedit an English man who succeeded saith Beda lib. 3. cap. 20 after a yeare and a halfe to wit An. 655 and gouerned the See 9. yeares foure Monthes He was saith Godwin famous for his learning and other vertues and attended carefully his charge The learning and vertue of Archb. Deusdedit Capgraue in his life saith of him He was a man worthy of God famous for his life and learning watchful in prayer and of most vnspotted puritie But his Roman Religion is manifest by what hath bene saide of his Maisters and Predecessors His Rom. Religion After him saith Beda lib. 3. cap. 20. Damian was consecrated But because he saith no more of him and Godwin reckoneth him not amongst the Archbishops but amongst the Bishops of Rochester I will also let him passe S. Theodore Archbishop VII 6. The next Archbishop chosen saith S. Beda lib. 3. cap. 29. by the Clergie of England was VVighard a Priest of great vertue and worthie to be a Bishop whome the kings of England sent to Rome to be consecrated but he dying there before his consecration Pope Vitalian made choice of S. Theodore a Grecian borne whome he consecrated saith Beda lib. 4. cap. 1. An 668. and not 666. as Bale fableth to make the time agree with the number of the Beast in the Apocalips and continued Archb. 22. The admirable learning of Saint Theodor. yeares three monthes He saith Beda lib. 4. cap. 2. and Adrian his fellovve vvere exceeding vvel learned both in prophane and holy litterature and gathering a company of schollers vnto them powred into their bosoms holsome knowledg and besides their expounding of scriptures they instructed their schollers with musick
substances which vpon the Lords table are diuiâ—ely sanctified by the ministration of the Priest to be conuerted into the essence of the Lords body the outward formes onely of the things them selues and qualities reserued Bilson Bilson of Obed. pag. 681. Lanfranck and Anselm came in with their Antichristian deuises and inuentions and chargeth him to haue first brought Transubstantiation into England Lanfranck altered nothing in our English faith But how false this is appeareth by that no one Author of that time chargeth him with altering any point of the faith of the English and also by that which before we shewed out of Protest that S. Greg. sent in Transubstantiation into England and that S. Odo defended it both by writing and miracles And who wil more of Lanfrancks earnestnes in Roman religion may read his Epistle to Pope Alexander 2. and Alexanders to him and his booke against Berengarius for the real presence S. Anselm Archbishop XXXIIII 3. THe 34. Archbishop was S. Anselm an 1093. and died an 1109. A most worthie man saith Godwin of great learning The admirable learning and holines of S. Anselm as his works yet extant testifie and for integritie of life and conuersation admirable Vndoutedly he was a good and holy man and as worthy the honor of Saint as any I thinck saith he euer was canonized by the Pope since his tyme. Thus the Protest them selues commend this blessed maÌ„ Of whome who list to know more may read his life in Surius written by Edner his Chaplin Malmsb. who then liued lib. 4. Reg. sayth none was more obseruant of iustice none at that time so soundly learned none so wholly spiritual the Father of the Contrie the mirror of the world And much more lib. 1. Pont. pag. 216. seq As for his religion that is manifest to be Roman His Rom religion For he was a Monk and scholler to Lanfranck as Fox saith pag. 185. had his Pal from Rome appeased from the King to the Pope and pag. 186. he writeth how he tould King Rufus to his face that it was vn iust to command Bishops not to appeale to Rome Vniust to forbid appeals to Rome pag. 195. He was superstitious in religion Bale Cent. 13. cap. 16. and others write that he procured that Kings should not inuest Bishops Cent. 2. cap. 50. He augmented the impudencie of the Popes being their Counsellor in Rome Priests forbidden to marrie and their Vicar in England Finally they all agree that he forbad Priests marriages and as Godwin speaketh persecuted maried Priests extremely pag. 163. Priests forbidden to marrie from the first infancie of our Church In so much as Fox pag. 191. Bale Cent. 2. cap. 59. make him the first that forbad Priests in England to haue wiues and Cambd. in Britan. saith wiues were not forbidden to Priests in England before the yeare 1102. Which how vntrue it is appeareth by S. Greg. words to S. Austin in Beda lib. 1. cap. 27. where Saint Greg. apointeth that if there be any among the Clergie out of holy orders which can not liue chast they shall take wiues S. Gregorie wherin he clearly excludeth all in holy orders from wiues and in Concil Rom. If any Priest or Deacon mary a wife be he accursed And about 100. yeares after that S. Beda Beda lib. 5. cap. 22. said plainly that English Priests professed to binde them selues to chastitie And Prolog in Samuel writeth thus VVe who haue purposed according to the custom of Ecclesiastical life to abstain from wiues and to liue single And S. Bedas scholler Alcuin l. Aleuin de Virtutibus cap. 18. Chastitie is necessarie to all but cheefly to the Ministers of the Altar of Christ For he must haue such Ministers as be not corrupted by any contagion of the flesh but rather shine with continencie of chastitie Bale Bale also Cent 1. cap. 64. writeth thus About the yeare 719. vnder Brithwald Archbish. brithvvald was a Synod held at London for prohibiting of Priests wiues as Nauclerus saith he and others affirme And after that again S. Odo Archb. S. Odo as the same Bale hath Cent. 2. cap. 30. Decreed that the mariages of the Ministers of the Church were Heretical Yea Cambd. him selfe pag. 259. writeth that King Ethelwolph about the yeare 855. CaÌ„bden had a dispensation of the Pope to marry because he was sacris ordinibus initiatus in holy orders But what dispensation had that King needed if it had bene lawful for Priests theÌ„ to marrie And after this Kings time S. DunstaÌ„ Dunstan and his fellows saith Fox Acts pag. 156. caused King Edgar to call a Councel of the Clergie Fox wher it was enacted and decreed that the Canons of diuers Cathedral Churches Collegiats Parsons Vicars Priests and Deacons with their wiues and children should either giue ouer that kinde of life or els giue rome to Monkes And Cambden in Brit. pag. 211. saith this Councel was held an 977. how then could he say that Priests wiues were neuer forbidden before an 1102. After that also Lanfranck as Fulk Annotat. Lanfrank in Math. 8. in a Synod at VVinchester made a decree against the marriage of Priests Fulk And Fox Acts pag. 195. citeth an Epistle of S. Anselm where he hath these wordes Because so cursed a marriage of Priests was forbidden in a Councel of his Father he meaneth the Conqueror and of the said Archbishop Lanfrancus lately I command that all Priests that keepe women shal be depriued of their Churches and Ecclesiastical Benefices VViues forbidden to preists in EnglaÌ„d both by Archb. and councels Wherby it is euident that Priests were not first forbidden to marry or haue wiues by Anselme but by manie both Archbishops and Councels euer since the infancie of our English Church Rodolph Archbishop XXXV 4. THe 35. Archbishop was Rodolph Entred an 1114. and died an 1122. He behaued saith Godwin him self vvel in the place vvas very affable and curteouse and willing to please Malmsb. 1 Pont. pag. 250. saith The marverlous learning and pietie of Archb Rodolph he vvas meruaylously learned and eloquent And pag. 252. very religious His Roman religion is euident for as Godwin testifieth he was a Monke and scholler to Lanfranck His Rom. religion receaued a Pal solemly from Rome and after trauailed in person to Rome VVilliam Corbel Archbishop XXXVI 5. TO him succeded William Corbel an 1122. and departed 1136. He was say Marian. and Continuat Florent Pietie and Rom. Religion of Archb. Corbel vir eximiae religionis His Roman religion is vndoubted because as Godwin saith he was a monk and the Popes Legat. Called a Synod wherin many Canons were made against the mariage of Priests And finally crowned King Stephen at Masse Continuat Florent who then liued saith he went to Rome for his Pal and had it of Pope Calixtus and again an other time and was honorably receaued
of Pope honorius who made him his Legat in England and Scotland Theobald Archbishop XXXVII 6. THe 37. was Theobald chosen an The vvorthines of Archb. Theobald 1138. and deceased an 1160. He was saith Godwin of so svveete and gentle behauiour being very vvise vvithal as he vvas greatly esteemeed of high and lovv Kings Nobles and Commons His Religion is known His Rom. religion by that as Godwin witnesseth he was a Benedictin monke and Abbot coÌ„secrated of the Popes Legat receaued his Pal from Pope Innocent 2. who also indued him and his successors for euer with the Title of Legatus natus which they all kept til the later end of King Henrie 8. Continuat Florent addeth that being called of the Pope he went to a Councel held in Rome S. Thomas Archbishop XXXVIII 7. THe 38. Archbishop and first Englishman after the Conquest was S. Thomas Elect an 1161. martyred an 1171. He was saith Neubrigen who then liued lib. 2. c. 16. vir acris ingenij The excellent partes and vertue of S. Thomas Archb. A man of a sharp wit and competent eloquence comely in fauor and finely handed comparable to the best in the effectual dispach of any busines he had so spetial a prerogatiue of honor and loue in the Princes hart that he seemed to be his fellow mate in the Crowne And Paris who liued soone after pag. 272. saith a primis adolescentiae annis From his very youth he was adorned with manifould grace And pag. 167. Carnem cilicijs attritam cum femoralibus cilicinis edomuit His fleshe worne with haireclothe His vvonderful austeritie of life he tamed with britches of the same Houeden Parte 2. Anal. saith Irreprehen sibilis vita singulis diebus c. Irreprehensible he receaued day by day three or fyue disciplines at the Priests hand his inner garment was of rugged haircloth of Gotes haire wherwith his whole bodie was couered from the elbow euen to the knees he lay vpon the bare ground before his bed and neuer ceased from prayer vntil for very wearines he layd downe his head vpon the stone be there placed insteed of a boulster The same and much more is written in his life by four writers of great credit who then liued Fox Acts. pag. 206. saith of him thus Threatnings and flatterings were to him both one great helps of nature were in him In memorie excellent good ful of deuotion Godwin saith he was most canonically elected and presently after his consecration became so graue so austere so deuoute in al outvvard shevv as he seemed quite an other man And as Westmon an 1162. writeth a Courtiers life he changed into a most saintly Thus both Catholicks and Protestants write of this blessed martir His Rom. religion His Roman religion is doubted of no man Fox Acts pag. 206. saith he was without all true religion supersticious to the obedience of the Pope and pag. 779. saith Lanfranck Anselm Beket brought the Popes Iudicial authoritie from Rome into this Land both ouer Kings and subiects which euer since hath continewed til these later yeares Bale Cent. 2. cap. 100. saith he was Legatus a latere The Popes Legat. assiduus labor c. and his continual labor was to subiect the Princes Maiestie to Antichrist Hovv God revvarded the pennance of king Henrie 2. What great pennance King Henrie 2. did of his owne accord for being some cause of this blessed mans death and how God the same day rewarded him with a miraculous victorie ouer the Scott yow may read in the Chronicles And how great the deuotion of our Forfathers was to this Saint appeareth by the inestimable riches which they gaue to his shrime of which Erasmus writteth vilissima pars c. Deuotion of EnglaÌ„d to Saint Thomas The basest part was golde all shined glittered and cast forth lightening by reason of the rare and mightie gemmes and precious stones yea the whole Church in euery parte abounded more than with royal riches Godwin in vit Baldwin Euery one thought him selfe happie that could doe anything to his honor Of these riches King Henry 8. had 24. waine Loades besides that which others embezeled And our Ancestors deuotion towards him appeareth by the hard marble stones which are to be seene worne round about the place where his shrine stood with the knees of those that came to pray there As Protestante with admiration do shew to those that come thither Richard Archbishop XXXIX 8. IN the yeare 1173. succeded Richard The vvorthines of Archb. Richard and departed this life an 1183. A man saith Godwin very liberal gentle and passing wise His Roman religion is certain His Rom. Keligion For as the same Godwin and Fox pag. 394. confesse he was a Benedictin Monk and consecrated of the Pope Which also testifieth Westmon an 1174. Houeden 1175. saith he held a Councel wherin he decreed Patrum saith he regulis inherentes insisting in the rules of ancient Fathers that Priestes should haue no wiues and be shauen Priests commanded to put avvay vvomen and to be shauen Baldwin Archbishop XL. 9. THe 40. Archbishop Baldwin succeeded an 1184. and deceased an 1190. aâ—very comely man saith Godwin modest and sober of such abstinence as fame durst neuer stamp any sinister report vpon him The admirable vertue and learning of Archb. Baldvvin Of few wordes slovv to anger and very studious from his childhood Fox Acts. pag. 230. addeth that it is saide that he neuer eat flesh in his life He went with King Richard into the holy land where saith Godwin by preaching counsel liberal almes and continual example of a most vertuous life he did great good and there dyed Bale Cent. 3. cap. 27. saith he was eloquent in speech an exact Philosopher and was accounted in those dayes fit for all maner of studie He was very diligent and careful in the discharge of his Archiepiscopal function behauing him selfe as a worthie Pastor His Rom. religion The Roman religion of this holy Prelat is manifest For as Fox Godwin and Bale L. cit say he was a Cistertian Monke and at the commandement of the Pope razed down to the ground a Church which him selfe had built Reginald Fiz Iocelin Archb. XLI 10. THe next was Reginald fiz Iocelin elected saith Godwin by the Monkes of Canterburie an 1191. but he at first withstood what he might Rare humilitie of Archb. Reginald and with teares vnfainedly besought them to make choise of some other and dyed within few dayes after Yet his Roman religion is cleare His Rom. Religion For as Godwin saith the Pope presently afforded him his Pal. Hubert VValter Archb. XLII 11. IN the yeare 1193. succeded Hubert Walter and dyed an Great vvorthines of Archb. Hubert 1205. VVho was saith Paris Hist pag. 26. vir profundi pectoris c. A man of a deepe reache and a singuler piller in the Realme of incomparable stabilitie and wisdome The
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
An. Archb. Dean learned and vvise 1502. He was saith Godwin in Bishops of Salsburie Doctor of Diuinitie a wise and industrious man His Rom. Religion And of his Roman religion none can make doubt for he was an Abbot chosen by the Monks had his Pal from the Pope and tooke his oath of fidelitie to the Pope set downe before c. as yow may see in Godwin VVilliam VVarham Archbishop LXVI 36. THe 67. Archbishop was William Warham an The vvisdom and learning of Archb. vvarham 1504. and deceassed an 1532. He was as Godwin writeth Doctor of lavv and greatly commended for his wisdom by King Henrie 7. That he was a Roman Catholick is manifest His Rom. religion For as Godwin writeth he said masse and was chosen by Queene Catherin for one of her Aduocats to defend her mariage with King Henrie 8. which was contracted by the Popes Dispensation And vndoubtedly when he receaued his Pal he tooke the forsaid oath of fidelitie to the Pope Thomas Cranmer Archbishop LXVIII 37. THe 68. Archb. but first forsaker of S. Austin and his Predecessors faith was Thomas Cranmer in the year 1533. and put to death 1556. He was not chosen for any deserts but being Chaplin to Anne Bullen and known to desire her preferment and to further King Henries lusts was by him first sent in Embassie about the diuorce as yow may see in Fox pag. 1689. and after nominated to this dignitie VVhâ— Cranmer vvas made Archb. to the end that if the Pope refused to pronounce sentence of diuorce betweene him and Queene Catherin Cranmer might do it He was so carnal and so womanish His carnalitie as his own mother would often say she euer thought women would be his vndoing Wherin she was nothing deceaued For as Godwin confesseth He being yet very yong left his fellswship in Iesus Colledg in Cambridg for loue of a woman whome he maried And after being Archb. in his return from Rome he brought with him a Duchwoman to whome saith Fox pag. 1037. it is supposed he was married whome all King Henries time he carried vp and downe with him in a Trunck and in King Edwards tyme married her He was also trecherous to his Prince For abbeit he had receaned so great fauors of King Henrie 8. and was by him His treacherie to his Prince apointed one of the Executors of his will yet streight after his death he agreed to the breaking of it And after King Edwards death wrought all he could to the aduancing of Queene Iane vtter excluding from the crowne of King Henries lawful daughter and his right Prince Queene Marie and first subscribed to the disenheriting of Queene Marie His rebellion and to that rebellious letter which he and his accomplices sent to Queene Marie Fox pag. 1698. And Fox to his euerlasting confusion hath set downe in his Acts pag. 1299. edit 1596. and maruel it were if one who thus forsooke God and his Prince should not also forsake his Predecessors faith Cranmer forsoke God and his prince If he who had thus lost as Saint Paul speaketh a good conscience should not also make ship wrack of his faith Hovv long a Rom. Cathol For first he was a Roman Catholick and so continewed from his childhood til he was Archbishop and a while after At his first going to the Pope was by him made his Penitentiarie as Fox hath edit 1596. pag. 1690. went to Rome for his Pal and there tooke the vsual oath of fidelitie to the Pope But in the next yeare after to wit in the yeare 1534. When king Henrie by Parliament procured him self to be tearmed head of the Church he also forsooke the Pope in that point yet in all other agreed with him as the king did and both by words and deedes persecuted the Protestants Song Masse solemly in King Edvvard 6. time as you may see in Fox in Lamberts death and others And after King Henries death vnder king Edward songe Masse with great maiestie for the king of France his soule assisted with 8. Bishops as writeth Stow Chron. Inconstant euen in heresie pag. 1547. yet after he fel to Lutheranism and set out a Cathechisme wherin with Luther he taught the real presence of Christ in the blessed Sacrament Sliedan lib. 26. An. 1555. But staying not long there from thence turned with the Duke of Somer In his recantation in fox pag. 1710. He taketh god to vvitnes he recanted of his ovvne minde and for conscience sake and yet soone after recalled his retantation Cranmet condemned for rebellion and herefir Sleidan l. 25. f. 429. The miserable end of the Archb that first forfooke S. Austins faith The great nobilitie rare learning and vertue of card Pole to Zuinglianisme and published an other Cathechisme which denyed the real presence After all this vnder Queene Marie for hope of life recanted all his heresies and both by tongue and penne professed the Roman Catholick faith But perceauing that he should die choosing rather to die in account of Protestants a martyr than in iudgment of both them and vs a malefactor he finally ended his life in Zuinglianisme being both condemned for Heresie against God and for rebellion against his Prince as Fox confesseth pag. 1698. Edit 1596. And so as his faith had bene far different for a time from his Prededessors so was his end ignominious and far from the glorie of their happie departures Reginald Poole Archb. LXIX 30. THe 69. and last Catholich Archb. hithertho was Reginald Poole consecrated an 1555. and departed this life an 1558. the same yeare and day that Queen Marie died He was sonne to Syr Richard Pool Cosin german to King Henrie 8. and of Margaret Countesse of Salsburie Daughter of George Duke of Clarence and brother of King Edward 4. He was a man saith Godwin of manifold and excellent partes not onely very learned which is better known than it neede many wordes but also of such modestie in behauiour and integritie of life and conuersation as he was of all men both loued and reuerenced And beyond seas he was so famous that without all seeking of his he was first made Cardinal after Legat to the Councel of Trent and twise elected Pope Card. Poole might haue bene Pope Ridley highly commended Card. Pool His Rom. Religion to which supreme dignitie wanted nothing but his owne consent He was by the confession of Ridley in Fox Edit 1596. pag. 1595. a man worthy of all humilitye reuerence and honor and indued with manifould graces of learning and vertue As for his Roman religion it might seeme needles to proue it if Doctor Bukley and some other Ministers were not ashamed to challeng him for a Protestant whose impudencie I will refel with the testimonie of their owne Authors For Godwin saith in King Henries time he dealt by letters to his frends to exhort them from all conformitie to reformation and being
royal ex Beda lib. 4. cap. 23 A great miracles for Confirmation of masse And in this Kings time also An. 679. befel that great miracle for the approouing of Masse and praying for the dead which S. Beda recounteth lib. 4. cap. 22. of a Priest Who thincking his brother had bene slaine in a battel but indeede was taken prisoner did often times saith Beda cause Masse to be said for his soule By the saying of which Masses it came to passe that no man could bind him but he was streight loosed again about eight a clock in the morning when Masses began to be sayd This miracle fel not out vpon an obscure person but in one that serued Queene Edelred and in an Earles house and not in Englād onely but in Frisland also whither the man at last was sould And many saith Beda that heard these things of this man were stirred in faith and godly deuotion vnto prayer almes and and charitable deedes and to offer vnto our Lord hosts of the holy oblation and sacrifice for the deliuerie and releefe of their freinds that were departed This same saith he was tould me of them that heard it of the very man on whome it was done And therfor knowing it to be true and certain I doubted no whit to put it into this our Ecclesiastical Historie Which words of this great Doctor and Saint then liuing may suffice to con-found the incredulitie of any Minister In the same Kings time also as Beda recordeth lib. 4. cap. 4. was a great mortalitie stayed by the intercession of S. Oswald Plagne ceaseth by intercession of Saints and Masses said to giue God thancks therfor at the apointment of S. Peter and Paul appearing in a vision Which vision to be true Tvvo Queens nonns appeared by the miraculous effects folowing In this Kings time also liued Sexburg Queene of Kent who hauing left her Princly state became a Nonne vnder her sister Saint Edelred in Ely and succeeded her in the Abbesseship And Also as Beda saith lib. 4. cap. 26. Eanfled Queene of Northumberland wife to King Oswin with her daughter Elfled in the Monasterie of Whitbie King Cedwalla VI. 9. IN the yeare 686. succeded king Cedwalla who saith Beda lib. 5. cap. 7. held it two yeares The valiantnes of K. Cedvvalla and leauing it An. 688. as Beda hath in Epit. was baptized of the Pope at Rome on Easter euen An. 689. and there died He was as Beda writeth lib. 4. cap. 15. a valiant yong man Subdued Sussex and the I le of wite And as Malmsb. addeth lib. 1. Reg. cap. 2. often times ouercame the Kentish men His. Rom. Religion His Roman religion is vndoubted For as Beda hath lib. 5. cap. 7. being not yet Christened he left his Kingdome and Contrie and went to Rome thincking it to be singuler glorie and renowne to him to be regenerat at the Sea Apostolick with the Sacrament of baptisme And withall hoped that as sone as he was clensed from sinne he should depart this world Both which saith Beda by the prouidence of God were fullfilled For he was baptised by Pope Sergius and named Peter that he might beare his name whose Tombe he came to see and died while he wore his white aparrell of innocencie was buried honorably in S. Peters Church where in our tyme his body was found neere to S. Peters Sepulcher Saint Cutbert and his religion and miracles In this Kings time dyed S. Cutbert For as S. Beda saith lib. 4. cap. 27. He was consecrat Bishop An. 685. hauing bene two yeares Bishop soone after died and was wont as there and sequ Beda writeth to heare mens confessions to offer sacrifice to God and whose body eleuen yeares after his death was as S. Beda saith who then liued found whole and sound and the Iointes and sinowes soft and pliable and many miracles wrought therby Deuotion of Eng◠people In this time saith Beda lib. 4. cap. 27. it was the maner of the people of England when any of the Clergie or any Priest came to a Village they would all by and by at his calling come to gether to heare the word and willingly harken to such things as were sayd and more willingly follow in works such things as they could heare and vnderstand King Ina. VII 10. THe 7. Christian king was Ina who began his Reign An. 688. as appeareth by S. Beda in Epit. Malmsb. in Fastis and held his kingdome as Beda lib. 5. cap. 7. and all testifie 37. yeares He was saith Malmsb. lib. 1. Reg. c. 2. fortitudinis vnicum specimen The admirable vertues of K. Ina. Malmsb. The onely mirror of fortitud the Image of wisdom and his lik in religion yow could not finde How worthie he was in the affaires of God the lawes may witnesse which he made for correcting of the peoples maners wherein to this day appeareth a liuely representation of his pietie Bale Cent. 1. cap. 97. saith Balc magni consilij fortunae homo a man of profund iugment and great fortune Fox Acts. pag. 127. Fox A worthy and valiant King Cooper An. 687. Cooper Ina of great power and wisdome and ther with valiant and hardie and in feats of armes very expert To which Stow Chron pag. 96. addeth that he was the patern of strength and manlines Stovv an Image of wisdome and his like of no man known at that time for religion and framing his life therafter These high praises for religion Valor and wisdom three singuler properties of a Prince do both Catholicks and Protestants giue to this renowned Prince His Rom. Religion Now let vs see what his religion was First his Bishop was S. Aldelm a notorious Papist as is shewed before whose commādements saith Malmsb. L. cit audiebat humiliter ad-implebat hilariter He humbly listened vnto and cheerfully fullfilled Secondly he built saith Stow loc cit and others Glassenburie Abbey and erected also a Chappell of gould and siluer so termed of the ornaments with ornamentes and vessels of gould and siluer Chlaices Images of gold and siluer gaue to the Altare 264. pounds of gould a Chalice with a Paten of ten pounds of gould a Censor of 8. pounds a holy water bueket of 20. pound of siluer Images of our Lord and our Ladie and the 12. Apostles of 175. poundes of siluer and 28. pounds of gould a Pall for the Altar c. Thre Queens nonns Thirdly his wise Queene Ethelburga liued a Nonne at Berking as Fox saith Acts pag. 125. and others His sister Queene Cuthburga of Northumberland a Nonne at Winborn as Camb. in Brit. pag. 182. and Likwise an other sister of his called Quen-burga as writeth Florent An. 718. K Ina pilgrim to Rome and granteth the Peter Pence Westmon and others Fourthly him selfe as Fox saith pag. 125. setting a side all the pompe and pride of this wordl associated him self in the fellowship of poore
Earles And that I may say so saith Ethelwerd almost all the chiefest youth of the Barbarians that nether befor nor after was there such a slaughter heard of since the English entred Britanie England defended by deuotion to Masse See yow heere this meruailous and miraculous victorie cōfessed by Fox to be obtained by the grace of God and the deuotion of the King to his seruice But what seruice this was which God would thus approue by so miraculous a victorie and by which England was then defended from destruction of Danes Fox was ashamed to tell But our ancient Historiographers Florent VVestmon An. 871. Houed part 1. pag. 416. saith plainly it vvas Masse said by a Priest K. Ethelreds Rom Religion Which alone sufficeth both to shew that this King was a Roman Catholicke and that Masse is diuine seruice Saints Besides that Malmsb. writeth that this King entred battel cruce Dei consignatus Signed vvith the crosse of God And as Fox saith and Godwin in the Bishops of Exeter he builded the Abbey of Exeter In this Kings time An. 870. ex Malmsb. vvas holy King Edmund Cooper saith Anno. 869. slaine of the Danes because he vvould not forsake the faith of Christ VVestmon 870. K. Edmūd His brother Edvvald The same hath Fox pag. 140. Florent Anno 870. Of his great miracles wrought after his death yow may see in his life in Surius Tom. 6. His brother and heire Edwald saith Fox l. cit and Capgraue in vit Edwald became an heremit Duke Fremūd Fremūd also saith Bale Cent. 2. cap. 22. sonne of Algarus Duke of the VVest-Saxons a beutifull yong man and only sonne relinquished the gouernment of the common welth which his parents left him that he might follow Burchard the Monke and was after as Capgr saith in his life slaine of the same Danes which slew S. Edmund Chastitie of S. Ebbe and her Nonnes In this time also S. Ebbe saith Stow Chron. p. 101. Abbesse of Couldingham cut of her nose and vpper lippe and perswaded all the sisters to do the like to keepe her virginitie from the Danes VVestmon An. 870. who therupon burnt the Abbey and Nonnes therin King Alfred the great XVIII 6. THe next K. was Alfred the fourth sonne of K. Ethelwolfe who as Malm. hath l. 2. c. 4. begā his reign An. 872. ruled 28. years a half The vvorthines of K Alfred crovvned of the Pope He alone of all our Kings saith Fox l. 3. p. 141. took his crown vnctiō of the Pope And that we may see how God blessed him whome his vicar crouned and anointed he alone for his admirable deedes both in war peace is sirnamed the Great And the praise which not onely Catholicks but also Protestants giue vnto him in all kinde of vertues surpasse in my iudgement the praises of all Christian kings that euer haue bene But for breuitie sake I will content my self with the praises giuen to him by Protestants who yow may be assured knowing him to be so manifest a Roman Catholick as shall appeare anon would giue him no more than he deserueth Cambden Cambd. in Brit. pag. 243. and 331. calleth him Clarissimum pientissimum Regem Bale A most renouned and godly King Bale Cent. 2. cap. 26. saith he was Egregiae indobis formae adolescens A yong man of a notable towardnes and bewtie born vnto learning and vertue He called for the best learned men to be his Counsellers and instructers Eight howers euery day he spent in reading writing and disputing He gouerned all things with an excceeding good wit and with singular prouidencie He was esteemed an Architecter and most perfect Geometrian a Gramarian a Philosopher a Rhethorician an Historian Musitian and no vulgar Poet. Three Colledges he founded at Oxford one for Gramarians an other for Philosophers the third for Diuines Of studyes and the common welth he best deserued Cooper An. 872. Of faire stature and comely personage and no lesse renowned in martiall pollicie than ciuil gouernment Stow Chron. pag. 105. Victorious Prince studious prouident for widowes Orphans and poore people endued with wisdome iustice fortitude and temperance a most discreete sercher of truth a most vigilant and deuout Prince in the seruice of God and deuided the day and the night into three equal portions wherof the one he spent in studie prayer and such things as belonged to his minde and soule the other in eating sleeping and other excercise of the body the third in the affaires of the common VVelth Fox Fox lib. 3. pag. 141. saith Amongst all the Saxon Kings hitherto is found none to be preferred or all most to be cōpared with this Alfred for the great and singuler qualities in this King worthie of high renown whither we behould his valiant acts and manifould trauells for his Contrie or his godly and excellent vertues ioyned with a publick and tender care of the weale publick or whither we respect his notable knowledg of good letters with a feruent desire to set forth the same throughout all his Realme And p. 143. 145. giueth him high praises for continence valour and learning concluding thus This valiant vertuous and learned Prince Christianly gouerned his realme And much more with great admiration of this King which yow may read in him and in Malmsb. lib. 2. cap. 4. Hunting lib. 5. Ethelwerd lib. 4. Ingulfe Florent pag. 309. VVestmon Chron. Houed p. 417. and others His learning 7. Onely I will out of them note some of his vertuos Fortitude Of his great learning is spoken before For his valour Bale Cent. 3. cap. 43. saith he fougt 57. tymes with the Danes Cambd. in Brit. pag. 213. Nobili praelio contudit and pag. 444. VVisdom Danos contudit ad libitum He repressed the Danes at his pleasur And as Malmsb. and others testifie made them become Christians or forswere the Realme Malmsb. lib. 2. cap. 4. VVestmon An. 892. For his gouernment saith Caius de Antiq. Cantab. pag. 328. Christianissimas leges scripsit promulgauit He writ and promulgated most Christian lawes and caused such peace as he made braslets of gould be hung vp in the high way vvhich none durst touch Chastitie For his chastitie it was such that as Cooper An. 872. after many Catholick writters testifieth he desired of God sicknes that he might not offend against chastitie As for his pietie and deuotion it was such as Florent Westmon An. 871. and others write Missam audire quotidie Deuotion The religion of K. Alfred That he daylie heard masse and sayd his houres and Matins and in the night season vnknovvn to all his seruāts he frequēted Churches to heare seruice Which alone sufficeth to shew his Catholick Roman religiō But besids this Bale Fox l. cit Stow p. 99. Caius l. cit p. 325. confesse he was crowned anoinred of Pope Leo as Bale saith
termed his adoptiue child as is before said instructed of him in maners religiō Moreouer as Caius saith In reparandis ornandis c. In repairing beutifying enriching Monasteries he labored earnestly amongst which he builded two of great renoun But Fox reckoneth three one at Shasburie one at Ethling S. Cutbert encourageth the K. to recouer England the third at Winchester The cause of the building his Monasterie at Ethling was because he being almost quite vāquisht of the Danes and lying there hid for a time S. Cutbert appeared to him badd him be of good corage assuring him both of the present vision and future victorie ouer the Danes by a present miracle Profes of the truth of S. Cutberts vision to K. Alfred This vision was as is said confirmed then by a present miracle and by the perfect conquest of the Danes after following beleeued of this notable prudent King and testifyed as Fox p. 142. cōfesseth by Malmsb. Polichron Houed Iornalasensis others and yet is termed of him without any reason or testimony a dreaming fable onely as we may imagin because it is sayd to come from S. Cutbert For soone after p. 149. he crediteth a Vision of Egwin a Herlot albeit it haue nothing so good testimonie because therin is no mentiō of any Saint Finally this excellēt King in his preface before the Pastorall of Saint Gregory calleth him Christs Vicar sent almes to Rome Westmon An. 889. also to India to performe saith Fox p. 142. His vovv to S. Thomas vvhich he made during the tyme of his distresse against the Danes In this Kings time Burdred King of Merceland forsaking his Kingdom went to Rome A King goeth to Rome and Anno. 889. his Queene Ethelswitha followed him Hollemen in time of K. Alfred In this kings time also liued S. Grimbald whome king Alfred called out of France to teach in Oxford and S. Neotus Scientia saith Bale Cent. 2. cap. 1. In knowledg and manners excelling in counsel good in speeche wise by whose counsel Alfred founded a schoole at Oxford King Edward the elder XIX 8. IN the yeare 901. succeeded King Edward the Elder sonne to king Alfred The vvorthines of K. Edvvard son and reigned saith Malmsb. lib. 2. cap. 3 23. yeares others say 24. He gouerned the land saith Fox lib. 3. pag. 146. right valiantly in Princely gouernment and such like martial prowes he was nothing inferior to his Father but rather exceeded him subdued VVales Scotlād recouered all out of the Danes hāds The same saith Cooper An. 901. Stow p. 107. A great victorie Malmsb. l. cit Florent and Westmon An. 924 Houed p. 122. And Ingulph and Hunting lib. 5. say that in one battel he slew two kinges and 10. Earles of the Danes And Ethelwerd lib. 4. cap. 4. writeth that in all he slew 4. kings of them His Rom. Religion The Roman religion of this valiant and victorious Prince is euident First because as king Edgar his grandchild in an oration which Fox hath lib. 3. pag. 170. testifieth he accounted S. Dustan his Father helper and fellow worker in all things chose him as Bishop and Shepherd of his soule and keeper of his maners obeyed him in all things and preferred his counsel before all treasure Secondly because he obeyed the commandement of the Pope who threatned him excommunication if he procured diuers Bishopricks to be erected ex Malmsb. l. cit Cambden in Brit. p. 198. Thirdly because two of his daughters Edfled and Edburga became nōnes the third Ethelhild vowed virginitie ex Malm. l. cit Houed p. 421. Tvvo daughters of King Edvvard Nonnes and the third vovved virginitie And as Bale saith Cent. 13. c. 77. Gregorie a sonne of his became an hermit in Swiseland Fourthly because he toke awaye his brothers or his brothers sonnes wife from him because she had bene a Nonne Hunt lib. 5. Westmon An. 801. In his time liued the said S. Edburg his daughter Saints and S. Fristan Bishop of Winchester a man saith Godwin in his life highly esteemed of for his learning but much more for his great vertue and holines King Athelstan XX. The VVorthines of K. Ethelstan 9. IN the yeare 924. succeeded king Athelstan sonne to king Edward and held the Crowne 16. yeares ex Malm. lib. 2. cap. 6. He was saith Fox p. 147. Cooper An. 925. and Stow p. 107. a Prince of worthie memorie valiant and wise in all his acts and brought this Lād to one Monarchy For he expelled the Danes subdued the Scotts quieted the VVelchmen The like saith Bale Cent. 2. cap. 22. and also Catholick writers as yow may see in Malmsb. l. cit Hunt lib. 5. Houed pag. 422. His religion His Roman religion is most euidēt For going to the Battel of Brumford against many kings and innumerable enemies Ingulpg Florent An. 938. Hunt lib. 5. pag. 422. he visited saith Ingulph S. Iohn of Beuerley by the waye with great deuotion and God so blessed his deuotiō as in the battel he slew saith Malmsb the king of Scotts fiue kings more A vvonderfull victorie 12. Earles innumerable multitude of his enemies and got one of the greatest victories that euer Englishe wonne And in his return gaue great gifts and priuiledges to S. Iohn of Beutrley and made it a sanctuary for all Debters and Malifactors Ex Ingulph and Cambd. in Brit. pag. 636. Besides he was saith Ingulph and Malmsb greatly delited with a peece of the holy Crosse Hovv K. Ethelstad estemed reliques and Crowne of thorns which Hugh king of France sent vnto him Made S. Aldhelm his Patron Cambd. p. 210. Builded saith Fox pag. 149 the two Monasteries of Midleton and Mithelney for his brothers soule VVhy Kings builded monasteries VVherby saith Fox it may appeare that the espetiall cause of building Monasteries in those dayes was for the releasing sinnes bothe of them departed and of them aliue which cause saith he how it stādeth with Christs Luthers Gospel let the Christian Reader try with him self Thus Fox which confession of his may suffice to shew how all that kings tyme all the Realme was Roman Catholick All Christendom of the same faith vvith K. Ethelston And how all Christendome abroad agreed with him in religiō appeareth by the marriage of his sisters to the Emperor king of Frāce other Christiā Princes In this kings time befel a miracle in Duke Elfred whome the king sent to Rome to purge him selfe of treason by his oath before S. Peters sepulcher Miracle by S Peter But saith the K. in his charter which Fox pag. 148. Malmsb and others haue hauing taken his oath he fel before the Altar and was caried by the hands of his seruants to the English schole and the next night after he ended his life Then also liued Saint Birnstan Bishop of VVinchester Qui c. saith Florēt An. 932. Malm. Polichron
Saints Houed Iornelacensis others more as Fox confesseth p. 148. who dayly song masse for the quiet rest of the soules departed King Ewmund XXI 10. THe 21. Christian King was Edmund sonne to the forsaid Edward who began saith Malmesb. An. 940. VVorthines of K Edmund and reigned six yeares and a halfe He was saiâ—h Cooper An. 940. and Stow p. 108. a man by nature diâ—posed to noblenes and iustice Huntin lib. 5. calleth him inuictum vnconquered saith omnia illi faeliciter successisse all things fel out happily to him And Fox lib. 3. pag. 130. writeth that he achiued noble victories against his enemies and set his studie in maintaining redressing the state of the Church which stoode all then in building of Monasteries Churches His Religion and furnishing them with new possessions and restoring the ould Infra In the time of this king Edward or shortlie after Strait life vsed for merit sake hardnes restraint of life with superstition were had in veneration men for merit sake with God gaue theÌ„selues to leade a streight life which alone would suffice to shew of what religion this King was Besides that as Stow saith p. 108. Florent An. 942. Westmon An. 940. Houed p. 423. he was altogether couÌ„selled lead by S. Dunstan at whose request he reedifyed Glossenburie and made S. Dunstâ—n Abbot therof with a Chapter extant in Malmsb. lib. 2. cap. 7. He granteth many priuilâ—dges to Glossenburie for hope of aeternall reward and forgiuenes of his sinnes In thiâ— Kings time liued his wife S. Elfegia who saith Ethelwerd lib. 4. cap. 6. was canonized after her death Saints and miracles wrought at her tombe King Edred XII 11. The 22. Christian King was Edred third sonne of King Edward He entred An. 946. and held the crowne nine yeares and a halfe as Malmsb. hath lib. 2. cap. 7. The vvorthines of K. Edred and his vertue His magnanimitie saith he did not degenerat from his Father and brethren He subdued the Northumbers and Scotts He humbled himselfe to the feete of holie men deuoted his life to God and S. Dunstan by whose counsell he made his court a schoole of vertue Thus Malm. Cooper An. 946. Stow Chron. pag. 108. saith he was a great maintainer of honestie most abhorred naughty vnruly persons in feats of armes much commended wherby he kept in obeissance the Northumbers and Scotts and exiled the Danes His religion As for his Roman religion ther can be no doubt For as Fox writeth pag. 152. He was much ruled by the Counsell of S. Dunstan in so much as in histories he is reported to haue subiected himself to much pennance inflicted on him by S. Dunstan Such zelous deuotion saith he was then in Princes And as Florent An. 955. Malmsb. l. cit Houed pag. 423. Westmon An. 955. write when he fel sick Accersiuit c. he sent for blessed Dunstan his confessor Ingulph saith Aboue all the Kings his Predecessors he had the purest conscience and a spetiall deuotion to S. Paul And p. 876. he citeth his Chapter in the which he erected a new the Abbey of Crowland as he saith In the regard of the redemption of my soule and is sory that by the destruction of that monasterie prayers for the soules of the kings his prodecessors haue bene intermitted To which Chapter subscribe two Arcbishops 4. Bishops many Abbots and Earles And Stow pag. 198. saith the King sealed this Charter with seales of gould King Edwin XXIII 12. IN the yeare 955. saith Malmsb. l. 2. c. 7. succeded Edwin sonne to king Edmund reigned 4. yeares He was so bewtifull as Ethelwerd lib. 4. c. 8. saith he was commonly called Pancalus but as Malmsb. he abused his bewty to lewdnes for which and for banishing of S. Dunstan writeth Cooper An. 955. he was odible to his subiects Fox pag. 152. addeth that he was deposed of the Northumbers and mercians Edgar chosen in his place yet as it seemeth he amended For Hunting l. 5. writteth that he ruled his kingdeme not without commendation Osbern in vit Dunstani writeth that by the praiers of S. Dunstan he was at his death deliuered from the Diuels His Roman religioÌ„ appeareth by the possession which as Malmsb. saith Religion of K. Edvvin he gaue S. Aldelm whose body saith he was then found and in scrinio locatum placed in a shrine In the Register of the Abbey of Bury she is said to haue giuen to that Monastery the towne of Becklis and diuers other things King Edgar XXIIII 13. THe 24. K. was Edgar secoÌ„d sonne to king Edmund who began his reigne saith Malmsb. lib. 2. cap. 8. Anno 959. and reigned 16. yeares The praises of K. Edgar The praises which both Catholicks and Protestants giue to this king are exceeding Malmsb. calleth him honor delitiae Ang The honor and delight of English men and saith that inter Anglos c. amongst English men the report is that no King nether of his or any former age in England is to be compared with Edgar Ingulph an ancient graue author p. 889. saith he was flos decus c. The floure and ornament of all his Ancestors and the mirror of the VVestern climat of the world the bewtie glorie and rose of Kings Florent An. 975. and Houed p. 426. add that he was as worthie to be remembred of Englishmen as Romulus of RomaÌ„s Syrus of Persians Alexander of Macedonians Arsaces of Parthians Charles the great of the French Huntington lib. 5. p. 356. saith Edgar the peaceable a King magnificent a second Salomon in his dayes the Land was much bettered he was most deuout to God he built many Monasteries And Malmsb. saith that in the yeare 1052. which was about a hundred yeares after his death his body was found Nullius labis conscium voyde of coâ—ruption and that it wrought miracles The like praises do the Protestants afford him Cooper An. 959. A Prince of worthie memorie for his manifould vertues gratly renouned so excellent in iustice and sharp correction of vices as wel in his Magistrats as other subiects that neuer before his day was vsed lesse felonie and extortion Of mind valiant and hardy very expert in martiall policie The like saith Stow Chron. pag. 109. Fox Acts. lib. 3. pag. 154. saith he was much giuen to all vertuous and princely acts worthy of much commendation and famous memory excellent in iustice maintained the godly loued the modest Fox calleth this King a Poehnix was deuout to God and beloued of his subiects whome he gouerned in much peace and quietnes so God did blâ—sse him with aboundance of peace No yeare passed in the time of his Reigne in which he did not some singular and necessarie commoditie for the common welth A great mantainer of religion and learning He had in redines 2600. ships The same say Florent and Westmon Anno 975. Houed pag. 426. of war
the words of the Sacraments he which knew his grāmer was a wonder and a miracle to the rest Monks vvere fine in apparell and had euery kinde of meat indifferent making a mockerie of their rule The nobles giuin to glutonie and Venerie did not go to Church in the morning after the maner of Christians but in their chambers dalying vvith their wiues heard onlie the solemnization of their wiues heard onely the solemnization of Mattins and Masse by a Priest making much hast therin Euery one commonly was giuen to tippling continewing in this exercise nights as wel as dayes wheron vices ensued companions of dronkenes But I would not haue these sayinges to be vnderstood of all I knew many of the clergie at that time walked the path of sanctitie in true simplicitie I knew many Laymen of all sorts and conditions within this same Contrie pleased God Hunting also lib. 6. writeth that before the Conquest a man of God tould them that for their sinnes in murder and treason and because they were giuen to drunkenes and carelesnes of the seruice of God ther should come from France a Lord that should depresse them for euer and not onely they but the Scotts also should rule ouer them to their deserued confusion S. Edmund also prophesied of this cōquest of England which though Fox pag. 165. call but a dreame yet the euent following sheweth it was too true a vision CHAP. XXV That the Kings of England from the Conquest to King Edward 3. time were Roman Catholicks proued in particuler 1. THe 33. King of England was William the Conqueror who entred this Land An. 1066. and reigned 21. yeares He got the crowne of this Realm partly by dint of sword and conquest partly by the graunt of King Edward Confessor whose cosin German remoued he was For as him selfe saith in his Charter in Cambd. in Brit. pag. 111. VVhat right K. VVill. had to the Crovvne of England He got the Kingdome by the help of the graunt of God and of his cosin glorious King Edward who apointed him his adopted heir to the Kingdom of England And Guitmundus in oratione ad Regem saith He got England by the gift of God and by the freindship of Edward his Kinsman And Ingulph who then also liued saith An. 1065. Edward chose VVilliam and sent Robert Archb. of Canterb. who should declare it vnto him And pag. 911. In the Kindred and consanguinitie of Edward our famous King VVilliam framed his conscience to inuade England Paris pag. 1057. It is sayd that blessed S. Edward gaue the Kingdom to VVilliam as a Legacie on his death bed The like hath Walsing ypodigm pag. 28. Houed pag. 609. and others Finally Fox Acts pag. 165. King Edward thought to make Edgar Adeling his heire but fearing partly the mutabilitie of English men partly the malice and pride of Herold and others perceauing therby that be should not so well bring his purpose to passe directed solemne Embassadors to the Duke of Normandie assigning and admitting him to be his lawfull heire next to succeed him after to the Crowne And King William trusting to the right of this title offered Herold as Fox pag. 166. 167. and others write to trye their two titles before the Pope but Herold refusing William neuerthelesse sent and got his title approued by the Popes iudgment This King saith Hunting lib. 6. pag. 370. was wise Valour and vertues of K. VVilliam Conq. but crafty rich but couetous vain-glorious but louing his reputation louing to the seruants of God hard to this withstanders the onely author of peace that a little girle loaden vvith gould might passe tbrough Englād vntouched The like hath Malmsb. lib. 3. and Cooper An. 1067 Bale Cent. 2. cap. 56. addeth that he was of great corage and excellent in the knowledg of warlick affaires His Rom. religion His Roman religion is manifest First because as Westmon An. 1085. and others write Paris An. 185. Euery day he vvas present at Masse heard mattins Lauds Euensong vvith the Canonicall houres K. VVill. Conq. heard euery daie Masse mattins and Houre◠nether vvould he suffer euen vpon most vrgent and difficult affaires him self to be hindred In the meane season he ceassed not to kneele and to pray deuoutly Secondly because as sone as he had gotten the victorie he sent Herolds Standerd to the Pope Stow in Herold Cambd. in Brit. Thirdly he built two Monasteries one at Battel in Sussex Vt orarent that they might pray saith Westmon An. 1067. Paris 1066. Pro ibi mortuis for the dead there And an other at Cane in Normandie Fourthly he made his daughter Cecilia a Nonne K. VVill. daughter a Nonne Paris An. 1075. Stow. pag. 177. S. Osmund was so inward with this King as Bale saith Cent. 13. cap. 14. That he could not be absent scarce any time from King VVilliams presence And yet as he both there saith and Fox Acts pag. 184. Godwin in the Bishop of Salsburie this Osmund in the yeare 1076. was author of the office or maner of saying Masse mattins and administring Sacraments after the vse of Sarum which saye they was afterward in a manner receaued through all England Wales and Ireland Sixtlie Pope Alexander writing to him ep 10. saith Among the Princes and rulers of the world we vnderstand the notable forme of your religion and writeth to him to persist in the study of most Christian deuotion And Pope Greg. 7. whome Protest call Hilddebrand Loue betvvene P. Hildebrand and K. VVilliliam and hate most of all the Popes lib. 1. ep 31. calleth King William the most louing and principall sonne of the Roman Church And ep 69. saith That King William reioised in his promotion and shewed all the affection of a good sonne from his hart And l. 6. ep 30. VVe loued alwaies King VVilliam peculierlie amongst the rest of that dignity And lib 7. ep 26. saith that his Queene Mathildis offered him what soeuer we would haue of theirs he might haue it without delay And lib. 7. ep 5. saith That the King of England although that in some things he behaued himselfe not so religiouslie notwithstanding because he would not consent to enter into league against the Sea Apostolicke with some that were enemies to the Crosse of Christ being requested therto but compelled by oath the Priests to leaue wiues the lay men to pay the tenths which they detayned is praysworthie sufficientlie and more to be honored than other Kings This thus Pope that then liued Seuenthlie King William although he deposed almost all the old English nobilitie yet he tooke not vpon him to depose anie one Bishop or Abbot but procured Pope Alexander to send down two Legats to do it Eightlie K. VVill. Conq. tooke not vpon him to depose Bishops or dispose of Bishopricks King William preferred Lanfrank to the Archbishoprick of Canterburie as all know whome the protestants confesse to haue bene a notorious Papist Ninthlie he glorieth in
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
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
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
at the common receaued opinion of the Eucharist And in loc Com. titul de potest Eccles he plainly saith that VVicklefe plaied the made man Doctor Caius also lib. 2. dt Antiquit. pag. 268. obiecteth Wicklife to the oxonians as a disgrace to their vniuersity Caius And Stow in his Chronicles describeth Bale Oldcastell and others his followers as notorious malefacors and rebells to their Prince Stovv Luther yea Luther himselfe explicat Art 30. speaking of Hussits who were Wicklefists in Bohemia so termed of Hus Wicklefs principall scholler saith So D. Doue of Recusancie vvill haue Bellarmin a Protestant or no perfect Papist They do not well who make me a Hussit for he held not with me And in disput Anno 40. tom 1. pag. 493. Hus saith he tought horrible and diuelish blasphemie So far was Luther from accounting Wicklefs followers for Protestants 4. Finally the Sheriffes in England euer since Wicklefs time do take on oath to persecute Lollards 4 The Sheriffs svvear to pesecute VViclefists which was the vulger name of Wiclefs followers Which King Edward 6. Queene Elizabeth and his present maiestie and Ministers would not suffer nor the Protestant Sheriffs would take such an oath if they accounted Wiclefists Protestants And it being thus manifest that Wicklef and his companie were no Protestants much more manifest it is that no other English man before King Henrie 8. his time was Protestant Cranmer Which thing Cramner neuer doubted of when as Bale reporteth Cent. 8. cap. 90. he offered to defend Protestancie not vsed in Engl for one thousand years befor K Edvv. 6. that the religion apointed by King Edward 6. was more pure and agreable to Gods word than what said he had bene vsed in England this thousand years So clear it was in Cramners iudgment that Protestancie had not bene vsed in England for one thousand years before him But because some Protestants do hope to find some foating of their religion in the ancient Britons before that time let vs see of what religion they were that therby it may appear that nether English nor British were euer Protestants before Luthers time CHAP. III. That the ancient Britons were neuer Protestants VVhy Protestants chaleng the Britons 1. THe reason why Fox Bale Fulke othert calleng the ancient Britons for ProtestaÌ„ts is not because that they can proue that thy held their fundamental point of Iustification by faith or any other substanciall point of Protestancy but only because for a whil they disagreed from our S. Austin in some things to wit about the time of keeping Easter and manner of baptizing and such rites as S. Austin speaketh in Beda lib. 2. cap. 2. and cerimonies And also because they thinck that by reason of scarsitie of Records we cannot proue that Britons held these points of our faith which Protestants do deny Which reasons will serue as wel to proue that the Ancient Britons were Brownists or Anabastis as that they were Protestants But God willing we will shew by irrefragable testimonies of Antiquity that albeit the ancient Britons were some time infected with some ancient heresy lib. 1. c. 1. as hath bene shewed before yet they euer held so many points of Catholicke religioÌ„ as they neuer could be Protestants but quite opposit to them 2. And as for the religion of the Britons for the first 300. yeares after Christ which was the time in the persecution of the primitiue Church that may be easily gathered by the religion which they professed streight after the persecution was ended vnder their glorious Contriman the first Christian Emperour Constantine the great Both because there is no mention of any alteration made by them in religion all that time and also because Gildas cap. 9. and Saint Beda lib. 1. cap. 4. and 8. write that till the time of Arian heresy or as Bale cent 1. cap. 70. Fox in his Protestat Fulke annotat in 2. Cor. 12. testify till the time of S. Austins comming there was no change of their religion Let vs see therefore what religion they professed in Constantins time 3. First they builded saith S. Beda lib. 1. Antient Britons Catholiks Miracles beleued in places of Martyrdoms Temple of holie Martyrs cap. 7. a Temple of a meruailous rich vvorke in the place vvhere S. Alban vvas martired and belieued in that place sick persons to be cured many miracles to be wrought SecoÌ„dly they builded saith he l. 1 c. 8. Temples of holy Martirs And the like did Constantin himselfe Euseb lib. 3. de vit cap. 47. To this D. Abbots against D. Bishop p. 173. answereth That Constantin by building Churches in the honor of Martyrs ment not to honor their persons but to celebrat their names ObiectioÌ„ This glosse destroieth the Text. Ansvver For if the word matyrs do signifie their persons he in building Churches in honor of Martyrs ment ObiectioÌ„ therby to honor their persons Ansvver And as to To honor Martyrs by building Churches is to honor them by a religious act build Churches is no ciuil or prophane act as is to built Trophes or such monuments but a religious act so to honor Martyrs by building of Churches is to giue theÌ„ religious honor And if Christians by building of Churches in honor of Saints had ment no more than an honorable memory of their names whie did they neuer build Churches in honor of Princes or of any persons aliue or dead whose names they might honorablie remember besids that to celebrat ones name not to honor his person is to implie coÌ„tradiction For by celebrating a name we intend not to make such a sound or such letters famous but cheefly and principally the person signified therby And to make a person famous is it no honor to him And if we make him famous by a religious act as Constantin made the Martyrs famous by building of Churches wee giue him a religious honor Collins Wherfore Collins in his sermon at Paules Crosse 1607. dedicated to the Archb. of Canterb. and allowed of him saith pag. 52. that building of Churches to Saints was one cause of Protestants for forsaking our Church 3 Pariers for dead and in honor of Saints 4. Moreouer Constantin as Euseb saith lib. 4. de Constant â—60 caused himselfe to be buried in the Church of the Apostles Ita vt post obitum etiam precibus illis quae eo loci ad honorem Apostolorum futurae essent dignus haberetur Behould CoÌ„stantin hoping after his death to be holpen by prayers See his maiesties allovvance of Constantins religion in all points in Confer at Hampton Court pag. 69. ObiectioÌ„ and those made in honor of the Apostles which are two especiall points of Papistrie To this D. Abbots l. cit pag. 177. answereth that Eusebius mistooke Constantins meaning for he desired no prayers to be made for his soule Because he said lib 4. cap. 63 Now indeed I know that I am a
the Britons religion appeare by the religion of Irish and Scots in those dayes For as Laurence Mellit and Iustus three follow laborers of Saint Austin write in Beda lib. 2. cap. 4. The Scots did nothing differ from the Britons And the Irish being cōuerted by S. Patrick a Britō it is most lykely they agreed with them in religion Hunting lib. 3. and sure it is that they agreed with them in the time of keeping Easter VVhat therfor can be proued of ether of these two Nations may be iustly inferred of the Britons 1 S. Peter head of the Apostles and hoped to be patron Adamannus therfor an Irish Abbot in Beda lib. 5. cap. 22. professeth Saint Peter to be head of the Apostles and looked to haue him as a Patron before God And Colman a Scottish Bishop who altogether agreed with the Britons and obstinatly refused to admit the Romā vse of Easter yet neuer the les agreed with the Catholicks without any cōtradiction saith Beda lib. 3. cap. 25. 2 Peters supremacie That these words Thou art Peter vpon this Rock I will build my Church were principally spoken to Peter And that vnto him the keyes of the Kingdom of heauen were giuen Which brefly is to confesse with Catholicks that Peter was head of the Church For if these words Vpon this Rock I will build my Church were principally spoken to him surely he was principally made the Rock and head of Christs Church VVhich Bale Cent. 14. c. 21. wel perceaued when he writeth that S. VVilfrid who then disputed with Colman founded non interpretabilem as he speaketh Papae authoritatem vpō these words Tu es Petrus c. To whome in this as yow heard Colman agreed without contradiction and consequently beleeued Non interpretabilem Papae authoritatem as wel as Saint VVilfrid And from this vniuersall and former beleefe of Saint Peters Supremacie it came that the Picts when they were reconciled to the Roman vse of keeping Easter and shauing Crownes were all glad that they were reduced to the discipline of S. Peter Prince head as Beda reporteth their words of the Apostles lib. 5. cap. 22 wherby yow may see how vndoubted a thing the headship of S. Peter was then Reinolds Confer euen amōg the Britōs Scotts Picts Irish 3 Purgatoire Beda lib. 3. cap. 19. Bale Cent. 14. cap. 79. In which point the essence of a Papist as Protest write cōsisteth Likwise S. Furseus an Irish man coming into Englād telleth how his soule being taken out of his bodie had seene the fier of Purgatory ex Beda And Bale saith he preached the Gospel not without human Traditions 4 Traditions Beda lib. 4. cap. 25. so Bale termeth Papistry And one Adamā a Scot confessed his sinnes to a Priest did pennance enioined by him 5 Confession and penance lib. 3. cap. 3. Ibid cap. 2. Ibid. c. 12. which are substantiall points of papistrie Saint Oswald also who was as saith S. Beda instructed christened in Scotlād did as the said S. Beda writeth erect a crosse pray befor it and being him self saith S. Beda to be slain immediatly 6 Erecting Crosses praying befor them and for the dead he made his prayer to God to haue mercy vpon the soules of the soldiers Thus wee see that the Irish and Scots consequētly the Britons about S. Austins time professed S. Peter to be head primat of the Apostles beleeued Purgatorie cōfessed their sinnes to Priests did the penāce enioined them erected crosses prayed before thē hoped to haue SS as Patrons befor God praied for the dead Which whether they be notes of protestācy or Papistry rather I remit to the reader to S. Columban also an Irish Abbot who liued both befor after S. Austins coming whome S. Austins fellow labores spoke with all in Frāce as thē selues report in S. Beda lib. 2. cap. 4. This mā I say was vndoubtedly of the Britons religiō both because he obserued Easter as they did also because he was brought vp with the Britō Monks in Bāgor vnder their famous Abbot Cōgellus as Bale Cambd. do affirme Surius tom 6. Bale Cent. 14. cap. 12. Cambd. Brit. p. 537. And yet besides his error about Easter was a perfect Papist as yow may see by his life writtē soone after his death by Ionas his disciple as Bale saith where amōg many other notes of Papistrie he is reported cap. 5. Cent. 14. cap. 15. Monks haue nothing proper Blessing vvith signe of the crosse Church dedicated vvith holie vvater Procession Masse to forbid his Monks to haue any thing proper c. 8. to blesse him self with the signe of the Crosse c. 23. by it to restore sight to the blind And c. 24. to visit S. Martins Tombe But much more by the life of S. Gallus cōtryman scholler to S. Columbā writtē by that graue ancient Author Walfridus Strabo in Surius to 5. where c. 6. it is written that S. Columbā dedicated a Church in honor of S. Aurelia with blessing holy water sprinckling it in the Church with procession Masse said on an Altar And cap. 10. S. Gallus is reported to haue made a Crosse and set it vp Praier befor a Crosse and reliques and taking from his neck a bag of reliques of our B. Ladie and the holy Martyrs S. Maurice and Desiderius to haue hanged them on the Crosse and so prayed before them to Christ that he would in honor of our blessed Ladie and the Martyrs Confessors make that a fit habitation for him cap. 21. he is reported to perswade a Dukes daughter out of whome he had cast a Diuel by the signe of the Crosse to vow virginitie and to refuse the marrying of a King Vovv of virginitie which she did and prayed to S. Stephen to help her therin c. 25. he is reported to offer Sacrificium Salutare Masse for the dead The wholsome Sacrifice to say Masse pro requie for the rest of his Father Columban then dead And cap. 32. When he dyed the Crosse candles were caried before his corps Crosse and candels befor the dead corps This was the religion of Saint Columban Gallus at the time of S. Austins coming consequently of the Britons And therfor no maruel if S. Austin tooke no exception against any point of their religiō but onely about Easter And so far was S. Columban from Protestancie as Bale Cent. 14. cap. 12. saith he wrot superstitiously and praised voluntarie and mens workes After Saint Columban and Gallus liued S. Killian a Scott whome Bale Cent. 14. cap. 23. manifestly confesseth to haue bene a Papist and made Bishop by the Pope about the yeare 686. And after him Maidulphus a Scott also about the yeares 690. who saith he Cent. 14. cap. 26. was sullied with Papisticall blemish and Monkish impostures And in the same Cent. Bale nameth many Scotts who
left their Contrie Praedicare Papismum to preach Papistrie Surius Tom. 3. Baron An. 631. Bishops of Scotland consecrated of the P. And about the yeare 631. which was soone after the custome of Scotland was saith the Author of S. Wirons life for the Inhabitants to chuse their Bishop then to send him to Rome to be consecrated by the Popâ— as S. VViro was Of whome it is also written that King Pepin of France confessed his sinnes to him 11. Thus thou seest gentle Reader that albeit ther be so great scarcitie of ancient records of British matters yet on the one side their coÌ„sent with the Rom. religioÌ„ in many substantiall points Beza Praefat Bibl. ad Cond Perkins Refor Cathol such as Beza Parkins and others confesse to be quite opposit to Protestancie is euidently proued many waies And doubtles their like agreemeÌ„t in more points would be found if more ancient monumeÌ„ts of those times were extant And on the other side ther is no one ancient monumeÌ„t or scroul which testifieth that they held any one substantiall point of Protestancie as Iustification by faith onely Communion of bare bread and Wine Denied Purgatorie or prayer for dead prayer to Saints such like But ProtestaÌ„ts claime them onely because we for lack of ancient records can not shew particulerly that they agreed with vs in all points of faith As if all were Protestants whome we could not shew particulerly to haue agreed with vs in all points or it may not suffice any reasonable man to shew particulerly that they agreed with vs in many substaÌ„tiall points shew the same generally in all other points besides one into which they vpon ignoraÌ„ce Because nether S. Austin nor others fouÌ„d any other falt with the matter of their faith nor Protestants can shew any other Hovv it is proued by the Britons that the Cathol faith is the true faith of Christ Fox Bale in which point also Protestants dissent from the Britons as wel as we And if vnto this euidency of the Catholick Roman religion of the Britons yow adioine what Fulk Fox Bale generally all Protestants write of the certain truth of their religion it will euidently follow that the Roman faith is the true faith of Christ For Fox in his Protestation saith That religioÌ„ remained in the Britons vncorrupt the word of Christ truly preached till the coming of S. Austin Bale Cent. 1. cap. 90. There was alwaies amongst the Britons preaching of truth most sure doctrine such worship as was by Gods coÌ„mandement giueÌ„ of the Apostles to the Churches And pag. 73. calleth the Britons Church of S. Austins time Veram Christi Ecclesiam Fulk And Fulk 2. Cor. 12. calleth the Britons of S. Austins time Catholicks and saith with them Christian religion had continewed euer since the Apostles times And thus hauing shewed that before Luthers time there was nether English nor British Protestant in all England Let vs now see when and how ProtestaÌ„cie first began in Germanie and after in England CHAP. IIII. VVhen where wherfore and how Luther began to preach Protestancie 1. LVther hauing bene long time an Austin Frier and all his life before so earnest a RomaÌ„ Catholick as you heard him self confesse supra cap. 1. Sleidan lib. 1. fol. 1. and Fox in his Acts p. 770. and others coÌ„test began in the yeare 1517. and on the morrow saith Fox pag. 771. after all Saints in the cittie of VVittenberg in Saxonie to oppose him self against the Catholick faith in the matter of Indulgences by publishing and manteining certaine Conclusions against them The place year and daye vvhen Luther began Protestancie This as all Protestant writters agree was the place the time the matter wherin Luther began first to publish their doctrine His Maisters therin were as he saith 4. Luthers maisters of protestancie Neque abhominibus neque per homines VVhen Luther began to preach Protestancie he inteÌ„ded no reformatioÌ„ at all Fox Sleidan lib. 1. fol. 1. Luther at first impugned pardons onely to boult out truth vvith submissioÌ„ to the Church Galat. fol. 208. his gift of knowledg his owne studie and his outward and inward tentations By whâ—ch last instructor perhaps he meaneth his black maister whome as we shall see herafter he confesseth him self to haue had 2. As for the end wherfor Luther began his new doctrin that could not be any reformation of religion by him then intended For as Fox confesseth pag. 771. In the beginning of this controuersie Luther nether dreamed nor suspected of any change that might happen in the Ceremonies And not in the beginning onely but euen a year after For Fox l. cit speaking of the year 1516. saith thus All this while Luther neuer thought of any alteration to come of any Ceremonie much les such a reformation of doctrine Ceremonies as after did follow And a Protest writer of Paralippomena Vspergen whome Fox much followeth saith An. 1518. Luther shewed him self to come in publick against his will but could not staie him self Yea Luther him self in loc Com. Clas 4. confesseth that he fell into this faction so he termeth it by chance and against his wil. And L. de Captiu fol. 5. By force saith he I was drawne into this quarell And epist ad Leon. 10. fol. 4. Eckius saith he drew me into this vnexpected quarrell catching me in a small word about the Supremacie which by chance slipt from me How then could this man intend reformation of religion by his preaching against the old religion if as Fox said Luther impugneth a religion and yet meaneth not to ameÌ„d it for a yeare after he did not so much as dreame of any reformation no not in ceremonies with what conscience think we did he impugne the old religioÌ„ whiles he neither ment nor dreamed to reforme it 3. Luther sought not Gods glorie beginning protestancie In like sorte the end for which Luther began to impugne the Cathol faith could not be Gods glorie For what glory could he inteÌ„d by his new preaching who ment not to make any alteration at all in Gods religion Besides that he often times offered both by word writing to giue ouer his new doctrine if he might not be bound to recant or his aduersaries bound to silence For as Fox hath pag. 772. Luther 4 times offered to suppresse Protestantisme Sleidan Engl. lib. 1. fol. 6. and in fol. 9. in writing to Cardinall Caietan Anno 1518. he promised to proceed no further in any mention therof so that his aduersaries were likewise bound to keep silence And saith Fox if the Bishop of Rome wold haue bene content with this submission of Luther he had neuer bene touched any further of him And againe in the yeare 1520. as Cooper hath in Chron. he submitted himselfe to the P. of Rome so that he might not be compelled to recant And as Doct. Whitaker lib. cont Dur. pag. 11. If at the
particuler causes of the entrance therof into seuerall Contries the generall causes of the increase therof were diuers rising partly from some abuses partly from the religious persons and Clergie partly from the laie people Causes of spreeding Protestancie but especially from Luther and his adherents and their doctrine For it can not be denied but ther were some abuses in some places of some things belonging to Catholik religiō as namely of indulgences Of which abuses Luther tooke his aduantage to bring the holie things them selues into contempt as appeareth by what hath bene said before And this occasion also Caluin his companions vsed in setting vp their religion in Geneua Surueyer as noteth the Surueyer c. 4. wher he well obserueth that when men haue bene bitten with abuses it is an acceptable point to hear the things them selues exclaimed against For it falleth not saith he vnder euery simple mans cap to distinguish well in that matter 3. An other cause were the vices of diuers religious and Clercks Amongst whome especially in Germanie when Luther began diuers things were out of order Whervpon they growing into contempt it was easie to persuade the people that their religion also was contemptuous Men commonly affecting or disaffecting the things as they do the persons to whome they belōg And of this meane principally Luther made benefit for his cause as him self declareth in these words 4. Galat. fol. 229. Luther confesseth that if Catholiks liues had bene good he could haue done nothing If the Papacie had the same holines austeritie of life which it had in the time of the anciēt Fathers Hierom Ambrose Austin others when the Clergie had not yet so euill a name but liued after the rules decrees of the Fathers religiously and holily in outward shew and vnmaried what could we doe now against the Papacie Ib. If that outward shew and apparance of the old Papacie remained at this day we shold peraduenture do litle against it by our doctrine of faith seing we do now so litle preuail This meane vsed also Caluin as witnesseth the forsaid Surueier c. 4. Surueyer wher also he noteth that it is a plausible matter with the people to hear then depraued that are in authoritie In the lay people also Luther found a great greedines and as the Apostle speaketh itching ears to hear nouelties For as him self noteth 1. Galat. fol. 14. The vnscilfull multitude longing to hear news do ioyne themselues to false Apostles And in others ther was a desire of libertie and of power to checke their Pastors And how many this motiue drew to follow Luther Melanchton his cheefest scholer cited by the Surueyer c. 8. telleth in these words Melancthon confesseth that men follovved Luther onely for libertie Many for no other cause I see do loue Luther but for that they thinck they haue cast of their Bishops by means of him and haue obtained a libertie which will not be profitable for our Posteritie Item our fellows saith he do sight so for their owne Kingdom and not for the Gospel And this meane also vsed Caluin and his crew at Geneua as the said Surueyer noteth L. cit saying Surueyer So the Gracches moued sedition in Rome by their leges Agrarias It is a plausible matter with the people especially to vnderstand of anie libertie which may appertaine to them selues And finally in others of the people ther was a vehement thirst for the Church goods which Luther by his preaching exposed to the praye of Princes and people This bate vsed the wiclefists in K. Henrie 4. time to cach that worthie Prince as Stow reporteth with it partely Protestants caught K. Henrie 8. and vsed it to others For as the said Surueier writeth cap. 21. VVhen reformation of religion vvas first vrged it vvas thaught such an effectuall motiue as vvould procure attention vz to entitle Princes after a sorte to the Church goods Church goods confessed to be the effectual motiue to Protestancie But did these reformers mean that Princes shold keep those goods No. For he addeth The learned men perswaded them selues that if by anie policie they could ouerthrovv Poperie Ministers moue Princes to change religion for Church goods but meane to get all them selues it vvold aftervvard be an easie matter to recouer them againe Besides saith he they did not so yeeld ouer their right in that matter to Princes but it was done vvith diuers cautions and prouisos by vertue vvherof they supposed in time to recouer all againe into their ovvne hands But saith he they plaied vvilie beguile them selues 4 Protestation of false preachers 4. On Luther and his partners side the first meane of spreding their religion was which him self in these words 4. Galat. fol. 211. noteth in false Apostles They make great Protestations that they seek nothing els but the aduancement of Gods glorie that they be moued by the spirit to teach the infallible truth and they promise vndoubted saluation to those that receaue their doctrine An other meane on their side was their dissembled sanctie Which meane Caluin and his companie most vsed as noteth the said Surueyer cap. 4. wher he saierh Ministees hypocrisie to seduce the people It is not vnknovvne to anie of iudgment vvhat the profession of anie extraordinarie zeal and as it vvere contempt of the vvorld doth vvork vvith the multitude VVhen they see men goe simply in the streets looking dovvnevvard for the most parte vvringing their necks avvry shaking their heads as if they were in some present greef lifting vp the white of their eyes some time at the sight of one vanitie as they walke vvhen they hear them giue great groanes crie out against this sin and that sin not in their hearers but in their Superiors make long prayer professe a kind of wilfull pouertie speaking earnestly against some mens hauing too much and soome men too litle which beateth into the peoples head a present cogitation of some diuision to be made in time VVhen I say the multitude doth hear such kind of men they are by and by caried away with a maruelous great conceit and opinion of them especially when they take vpon them to shew a waie or disciplin vvhich shal be nothing preiuditiall to the people but rather bring them libertie and yet shall reforme all things amisse as them selues vvold desire Hitherto the Surueyer whose words I haue cited at large because they liuely describe our first Protestant Preachers 5. But the most effectuall mean which Luther had to spread his religiō was his licētious and fleshly sweet doctrin wherwith on the one side he tooke from his followers all fear of God both in this world and the next and of man too as much as he could and withal remoued from them the exercise of all hard and vnpleasing things And on the other side licensed them to enioy all the delites and pleasures of this world and withall assured
ignorance increase when our aduersaries thus openly confesse it And what wilfull imprudeÌ„ce is it to think that these kind of fellows can see more thaÌ„ our ancient Prelats and diuines And hauing thus seene Luthers small learning now let vs behold his life and maners CHAP. VIII That Luther was a naughtie and vicious man Three kinds of proof of Luthers vice 1. MY proofes of Luthers vicious and naughtie life I will reduce to three heads The first shal be touching his owne deeds The second touching his doctrine And the third touching the effects of bothe As for his life it seemeth that for a while after he entred into S. Austins order he did seriously giue him self to pietie and deuotion For that he writeth of him self while he was a Frier 1. Galat. fol. 37 I endeuored my self to keep the Popes laws as much as was possible for me to doe Luthers pietie for the time of his Cath. religion punishing my poore bodie with fasting watching praying and other exercises I honored the Pope of mere conscience vnfainedly and whatsoeuer I did I did it of a single hart of good zeall and for the glorie of God And fol. 38. I keept chastity pouerty and obedience I was free from the cares of this present life I was onely giuen to fasting vvatching praying Thus Luther for a time and happie had he bene if he had so continewed But as he entred into religion vpon fear because he with whome he walked in the feilds was there slaine with a thunderbolt So fear being an il keeper of continuance he afterward fell from this zeall of his owne good Gods glorie and in steed therof fostered as him self writeth fol. 38. cit coÌ„tinuall mistrust doubtfulnes and hatred blasphemie against God Luther confesseth that he hated God And praefat 1. operum tom 1. I felt my self saith he to be before God of a most trobled conscience I loued not yea I hated ô horor to hear God iust and punishing sinnes and vvith secret if not blasphemie yet vvith great murmuring I repined at him Luthers fit disposition to become an Archeretik I raged so vvith a feare and perturbed conscience Thus Luther of him self before he began Protestantisme And I pray the Christian Reader was this change in Luther from zeall of Gods glorie to hatred of God from God or from the diuel was a man in this case likelie to haue particuler light from God touching his truth rather than anie in the world besides Or rather hauing as him self confesseth lost a good conscience was he not like as S. Paul speaketh to make shipwrack also of his faith was not a man of his disposition fit to be made of the Diuel a broacher of heresies and an apt instrument to lead manie soules to hell 2. Of his enuie for which he first began Protestantisme you haue heard befor Hic enuie and likwise of his pride for which he coÌ„tinewed it Pride But his pride was otherwise so notorious as Protestants tax him for it God saith Conrad Regius lib. cont Hessum for the sin of pride wherwith Luther exalted him self hath taken away his spirit from him and in steed therof hath giuen him a wrathfull lying and arrogant spirit Oecolampad lib. cont confes Lutheri writeth that Luther was puffed vp with the spirit of pride and arrogancie And the Tigurin Ministers in their answer for Zuinglius pronounce that Luther is caried away with too much insolencie VVrathe â—lenburg de Caâ—sis Cath. fidei cap. 8 â—al vino turcism libâ— 3. cap. 6. Of his wrath and anger D. Feild lib. 3. of the Church cap. vlt. coÌ„fesseth that Luther was of a violent spirit and caried too much with the violent streame of his passions and the Tigurins Gesnerus and others dislike his distemperat passions Fulk in cap. 3. Philip. giueth this verdict of him Luther pursued contentions more bitterly than was meet The Tigurins respons ad Luther write that he followed too much obstinacie and pride and that much of the malignant spirit was in him Iesner in his bibliotheca saith He could bear none but such as agreed with him in all points God saith he forbid lest by his contention and impudencie he hurt the Church Erasmus a CoÌ„fessor with Fox and of good iudgment and a plaine and wel meaning man with D. Reinolds lib cont epist non sobr Lutheri giueth this sentence of him Luthers epistle breatheth deadlie hatred is all full of impotent if not furious reproches and malitious lies He malepertly rageth against Kings and Princes when he list Extreme hatred desire of command and firebrands of Incitors driue him out of the waie He cracketh naught but diuels Sathans Hobgoblins wiches Magaeras such more than tragicall speeches His minde can be satiated with no raling he is besid him self with hatred he hath no sinceritie no sobrietie no Christian modestie If you take out of his books hyperbols railing scoffing repetition asseuerations articles of VViclefs Hus perhaps litle will remaine of his owne Caluin in Schusselburg lib. 2. theol Caluin fol. 126. concludeth that His leacherie Luther in Sleidan lib. 3. fol 2â— my profession is not of life and manners Luther multis vitijs scatet hath many faults As for Luthers fleshlie filthines him self tom 1. epist Latin fol. 334. saith that I am burnt with the great flame of my vntaimed flesh I am feruent in the flesh slothe lust c. And as the world knoweth contrarie to his promise made to God maried a wife and her a Nonne 3. But to leaue Luthers carnall vices and to come to worse such as by them we may clearly see that Luthers preaching came not from God Reiected a parte of Gods vvord First he reiected a good parte of Gods word as not onely Catholiks say but most Protestants also confesse to wit the Epistle to the Hebrues the second of S. Peter the epistle of S. Iames of S. Iude the second and third of S. Ihon and the Apocalips And this he did vpon friuolous yea vpon no reason as is before shewed Now how hatefull a sin it is to reiect Gods word euery one seeth and God him self declareth by his curse Apoc. 22. Secondly of that part of Gods word which he did admitt he corrupted diuers places namely Rom. 3. Corrupted the rest wher he the Apostle saith that maÌ„ is iustified by saith he added Alone And being asked why de did so he answered so I coÌ„maÌ„d so I wil Biblia German my wil shal staÌ„d for reason stil to 5. Germ. fol. 141. And this heinous vice was so notorius in Luther as Zuinglius his Coapostle L. de Sacrant Tom. 4. pag. 411. 412. thus writeth to him Thou doest corrupt the word of God thou art seene to be a manifest common corrupter of the holie scriptures How much are we ashamed of thee who hitherto estemed the byond all measure and now proue the to be a false
Laurence Saint Paulin What madnes were it to leaue these to follow those CHAP. XIII That Luthers doctrine was neuer confessed by Catholicks to be sufficient to saluation 1. YOw heard before that the aduersaries of S. Austins doctrine as wel the Britons then as the Protestants now confessed that he brought the true way to saluation and that many great learned men haue followed him and come to heauē by the way which he taught which testimonie proceeding from aduersaries mouthes must needes seeme to be the cōfession of most euident manifest truth Here now it cometh in place to shew that no one Catholick euer acknowledged that Luthers doctrine was the way to saluation or that any haue commen to heauen by following him which I shew First That no Cath. allovved Luthers doctrin as Protest do S. Austins because not onely Pope Leo but also the generall Councell of Trent confirmed by the Pope which no Catholick thinketh can erre hath condemned and accursed his doctrin And his bookes are forbidden to be read vnder paine of excommunicatiō Secondly because euery Catholick beleeueth professeth that who keepeth not the Catholick faith wholly vnuiolated shall without all doute perish euerlastingly Thirdly because no Catholicks words can be produced wherin hope of saluation is afforded to Luther his followers But on the contrarie as many Catholicks as write or preach condemne his doctrin for flat heresie Luthers doctrin condemned by all Kind of Christians By Greciās By Anabaptists By Caluinists By Engl. Protestāts By hovv manie our Engl. Protest religion is condemned See Ihonson against Iacob and him self all his obstinat followers for hereticks out of Noes Arke out of Christs fould out of Gods Church out of al hope of saluation so long as they follow Luther 2. Nay not onely Catholicks alow not Luthers doctrine but euen all other Christians besides condemne it The Grecians as is sayd condemn Protestants for Hereticks The Anabaptists as Luther saith account them worse than Catholicks him self affirmeth his followers to be seuen times worse than Papists Caluin iudgeth Luthers opinion of the Eucharist lesse tollerable than the Papists Sutclif addeth that it is hereticall by inference of such conclusions as may be gathered therof The Brownists esteeme our Protestant religion a medle or mode religiō A thousand Ministers in their petition exhibited to his Maiestie 1603. affim that it containeth abuses enormities which they can shew not to be agreable to Gods word Others propose some hundred of doubts against it as yow may see in the booke of Quaeres and the late silenced Ministers in their solemne printed Challeng made to the Bish protestāts saie that if that be truth which the Bishops maintain against them that then that is false which they both maintain against Catholicks and that The silenced preachers prefer the Cath. faith befor the Protestant The foundation of Engl Protest faith condemned by Protestāts Confor at Hampton Court p. 6. their departure from the Pope can not be iustified but that he yea Christ Iesus and his hauenly truth in him haue had great wronge Finally his Maiestie with the tacit consent of the Bishops condemned all the Englishe Bibles the very foundation of our Protestants faith as ill translated and gaue order to translate the Bible a new CHAP. XIIII That Luther neuer confirmed his doctrine by miracles 1. SOme Protestants say that Luther needed no miracles for confirmation of his Doctrine because saith Feild lib. 3. of the Church c. 48. we teach nothing contrary to the confirmed receaued doctrine of the Church of God then in the world when these differences betwene vs and our aduersaries began This impudent saying of his may be ioyned to an other which he hath L. cit cap. 42. That ther is no materiall difference amongst the Protestants See Sleid. lib. 5. fol. 65. no not betwene Luther and Zuinglius in matter of the Sacrament nor betwene Illyricus and others about originall sinne nor betwene Osiander and others about Iustification as shal be iustified saith he against the prowdest Papist of them all But as for the strangnes of Luthers doctrine to all the Church of his time that hath appeared sufficiently here to fore and shall yet more hereafter Wherfore Protestants ascribe two kind of miracles to Luther the one inuisible which Luther him self challengeth to 4. in Isaiam c. VVhat miracles Luther chalenged Luthers allegation of his miracles disproued 35. where hauing tould that Catholicks obiect vnto him that he could not cure a lame horse but was altogether destitute of miracles replieth that by his preaching the spirituall blinde began to see the truth the deaf heard the Gospel The lame that sate in superstition and Idolatrie walk But great fondnes it is to alleadg such miracles for confirmation of his doctrine First because we demand visible miracles Secondly Because Luther saith he wrought those supernaturall effects but no man seeth them Thirdly Because euery Sectmaister can say so Fourthly Because the question is whether his doctrine be such as it can work these spirituall effects Therfore fond it were to prooue his doctrine to be such by these effects vnles the effects were seene or more manifest than the truth of his doctrine This is to prooue idem per idem or ignotum per ignotius For it is all one to say Luthers doctrine worketh those spirituall effects and to say that it is true One poore frier creeping out of a blind cloister began Protestancie See Brētius ansvvering the like miracle wrought by zuinglius in recognit cont Bullenger or at least it is as doubtfull Fox Acts p. 789. and others aleadg this for a notable miracle that one man and a pore Frier creeping out of a blind Cloister should be set vp against the Pope and almost the whole world and work that which all the learned men before him could neuer compasse Mark good Reader how he confesseth his religion to haue begun of one mā and of one Frier creeping out of a blinde Cloister against almost the whole world and not compassed before of all the learned men that were 2. But as I said before this is as great a miracle as to see stones roule from a hil such a one as that notable strumpet bragged of to Socrates saying that her doctrine and p rswasion was more potent than his because she with a few words could drawe cause she with a few wordes could draw his scollers to follow her But Socrates rightly answered that it was no maruel because he lead them vp the hil to vertue she drew them downe the hill to pleasure Pleasure of marrying hauing mony and liuing at commaund drew so many Friers and Nonnes after Luther Pleasure of eating flesh at all times neuer fasting neuer confessing neuer satisfying drew so many lay people after him Pleasure of liuing out of all spituall subiection and getting of Church goods and liuings drew so many Princes after him And great
a side all famous men antiquitie could not shew the like For in holines he surpassed S. Antony in eloquence S. Cyprian in knowledg S. Austin S. Gregor Turon S. Gregor also of Tours who knew him greatly cōmendeth him lib. 10. de Gestis Francorum c. 1. S. Beda lib. 1. c. 13. saith S. Beda See S. Damasen orat 2. de defunctis He was a man of the greatest vertue learning of his tyme. And who will see more of this vertuous man may reade his life in Ioannes Diacon in S. Beda lib. 2. c. 1. Here I will content my self with the iudgment of our famous and ancient King Alfred K. Alfred who thus commendeth him The true seruant of God the Roman Pope Christs Vicar Gregory a man of considerat fortitude King Alfred Praefat Pastoral without rashnes indued with cheefe wit wisdome and Counsel an infinit treasor because he wonne the greatest part of mankinde to heauen the best man of the Romans most abounding in greatnes of courage and most free of Maiestie This was the iudgment of our great King touching S. Gregory and of the same minde were all our Catholick writers as yow may see in Florēt an 605. Malmesb. 1. Reg. c. 3. Westmon an 605. and others In so much as D. Reinolds in his Confer p. 583. Ancient English men writeth that our Ancestors had a reuerend opinion of the Pope long after S. Gregory for S. Gregories sake To these Catholicks I will ad also the verdict of a few Protestants Protestāts D VVhitaker D. Whitaker cont Dur. p. 397. saith He was a learned and holy Bishop and p. 502. I confesse Gregory to haue bene a good and holy man Godvvin Godwin in vita August a good man that blessed and holy Father Gregory Item This good man being made Pope tooke especiall care of sending Preachers into this Land D. Sutclif Subuers c. 2. D. Sutclif Gregory and Eleutherius were Bishops and famous men in the Church for their painful labors and constancy in teaching the truth Bale cent 1. c. 68. saith he was the excellent of all the Bishops of Rome for learning and life That against his will and striuing to the contrary and at last compelled he succeded Pope Pelagius That he was a learned and good man founded hospitals inuited pilgrims to his table sent things necessary to the Monks of Hierusalem and maintained three thousand Virgins And c. 7 He reduced the Goths from Arianisme to the Church professed himselfe by writing the Seruant of Gods seruants that therby he might appeare most far from all ambition and desire of command Bell in his Wofull Cry p. 62. saith Bel. Gregory was a holy Bishop indeed And in his Suruey p. 156. He was vertuous and learned pag. 480. D Humfrey Luth Gal. 4 I tink Greg vvas loued c. 5. the vvorld hath in admiration the holines of Gregory A man of sufficient credit Willet in his Synopsis A modest and humble Bishop D. Humfrey Iesuitismi part 2. pag. 624. Gregory surnamed Great and indeed great a great man and indued with many vertues of deuine grace Thus Protestants account of saint Austins Maister 2. As for S. Austin himself Godwin in Aug. saith He was a man of exceeding tall stature well fauoured S. Austins vertuous deeds and of a very amiable countenance And as for his great holines it appeareth many wayes For first being very yonge he forsooke all the pleasures and commodities of the world and became a Monk entering into S. Gregories monastery which no doubt was a Nurserie of vertue Where as Greg. saith ex Beda lib. 1. c. 27. he was brought vp from his youth in regular discipline and according to his rule imitated the forme and rule vsed in the Primitiue Church of the Fathers among whome all things were common where he so exceeded in vertue as he was made Superior ouer the Monastery ex Greg. lib. 7. epist 112. Secondly at Saint Gregories commandement he left his owne Contry where he serued God in quietnes and came to preach the Gospell both so far of as our Contry is from Rome to such barbarous people as our Nation then was Thirdly after he entred into England he liued so vertuously that albeit he prooued no doubt his doctrine by great learning and confirmed it as shal be shewed hereafter by many and great miracles yet as saint Beda affirmeth lib. 1. c. 26. our Contry was conuerted more by the holines of him and his fellowes liues than by any other meanes See Hunting lib. 3. After they were now entred saith Beda lib. cit into their lodging they began to exercise the Apostolick order of liuing of the primitiue Church S. Austins and his fellovves Apostolick life seruing God in continuall prayer watching and fasting and preaching the word of life to as many as they could despising the commodities of the world as things none of their owne taking of them onely whome they instructed so much as might serue their necessities liuing them selues according to that they taught other and being redy to suffer both troubles and death it self in defense of the truth they taught VVherby many did beleeue and were baptized marueling much at the simplicitie of their innocent liuing and at the sweetnes of their heauenly doctryn Infrà The King him self being much delighted with the puritie of their life and the example of their godly conuersation as also with their sweete promises which to be true they prooued with many miracles did beleeue and was baptized VVhat paines he tooke first in persuading our Nation the Christian faith which was then addicted to Idolatrie after in instructing them who were so rude and ignorant in all faith and lastly in baptizing and administring the sacraments hauing some times to Christen ten thousand at a tyme none can expresse Capgraue in his life saith he went trough England on foote preaching S. Austins paines and frequent praier Had the gift of miracles and of Prophecie and most cōmonly barefoote and had callum in genibus by frequency of prayers Much paines also he tooke vvith the VVelch men in two Councels besides disputation wrought miracles in their sight He had the gift of miracles ex Greg. apud Bedam lib. 1. c. 31. And of Prophecie Beda lib. 2. c. 2. This briefly was the admirable and Apostolick holines of life of Saint Austin and his fellowes which no doubt he cōcluded with a happie death For his Epitaph recorded by S. Beda lib. 2. c. 3. witnesseth after he had conuerted King Ethelbert and his people to the faith of Christ fulfilling in peace the dayes of his office died the 26. of May. Vvitnesses of S. Austins holines S. Gregor 4. Thirdly for the witnesse of those that liued with S. Austin First is S. Gregory himself who best knew him and was best able to iudg of his vertue He writing to King Ethelbert in Beda lib. 1. c. 32.
saith that S. Austin had bene brought vp in the rule of Religion and was by the grace of God of much vertue And lib. 9. epist. 58. writing to S. Austin him self saith I haue much hope that by the grace of God thy Creator and our Redemer Lord and God Christ Iesus thy sinnes are alredy forgiuen thee and that thou art therfore choosen that by thee other mens sinnes may be pardoned Nether shalt thou haue sorow of any sinne hereafter who endeuourest by conuersion of many to make ioye in heauen And surely who considereth what great perfection Saint Gregory lib. 4. epist. 24. requireth in a Pastor to wit that he be Pure in thought notable in work discret in silence profitable in speeche neare to all in compassion aboue all in contemplation fellow by humility to all that do well stout through zeale of Iustice against the vices of the offending will nothing doubt but Saint Austin whome he chose to so high a function was an excellent perfect man And lib. 5. epist 52. he saith Austins zeale and indeuor is well known to vs. and repeateth it epist 53. 58. 59. Likwise of the Popes soone after succeeding to S. Gregory Diuers other Popes he is highly commended Of Pope Boniface 4. in Malmsbury lib. 1. Pont. p. 208. he is called the holy Doctor Of Pope Honorius ibidem p. 209. Austin of holy remembrance Of Gregory 3. ibidem p. 210. Austin of blessed memorie Of Leo 3. ibid. p. 211. Blessed Augustin Besides by them who liued with him and saw his happy end he is called in his Epitaph Authors of his epih tap Blessed Austin Stow Chron. p. 67. or as Godwin hath Saint Austin 5. Fourthly Vvitnesses of S. Aust holines after his tyme. touching the testimony of those that liued after Saint Austins tyme the first is Saint Beda whose testimony of his holy life is already set downe to which I add that lib. 2. c. 3. he calleth him the deerly beloued man of God holy Father Austin S. Beda and lib. 4. c. 27. The blessed Father Austin In a Councell of all the Bishops of England held anno 747. A CouÌ„ncell in England in presence of King Ethelbald and all his Nobility it was apointed That the day of our Father Saint Austin be kept holy as writeth Malmesbury 1. lib. Pont. p. 197. and Fox lib. 2. p. 128. After that King Kenulph and all his Bishops Dukes K. Kenulph and his Bishops and Nobles and Nobility writing to Pope Leo 3. say thus Austin of blessed memory most gloriously gouerned the Churches of England ex Malmesb. 1. Reg. pag. 31. S. Odo In the letters of S. Odo Archbishop of Canterbury in Malmesbury 1. Pont. pag. 201. he is called Austin of blessed memory Of Ethelwerd lib. 2. Ethelvverd c. 1. 5. he is called Holy Austin seruant of Christ and innumerable miracles wrought by him Malmesbury 1. Pont. pag. 196. Malmesb. saith thus How great the merits of Austin are before God the great miracles do shew which after so many ages he worketh not suffering Kent yea all England to become slow in honoring of him Huntington Of Huntington lib. 3. pag. 321. he is called the seruant of God man of God to haue imitated the Apostolicall life of the Primitiue Church to haue led a most clean life Of Houeden 1. Houeden part Annal. he is called the glorious Doctor of the whole Kingdom the notable Founder of Christian Faith and Religion And in like sorte is he commended for a great saint of Westmon Chron. an 596. VVestm Marian others Odo chron 583. calleth them timâ—â—tes Deum Marianus ibidem And finally of all writers domesticall and foraine who writt of him before our times 6. Fifthly touching the proofe of Saint Austins holines by the holy life of the Church which he here founded that is euident to all them that reade our Ecclesiasticall Histories The holines of our church founded by S. Austin And so manifest as Fox lib. 2. pag. 114. citeth and approueth these words out of ancient Chronicles In the Primitiue Church of England Religion shined most purely so that Kings Princes Dukes Consuls Barons rulers of the Church incensed with a desire of heauen entred into Monkerie volontary exile and solitarie life forsooke the world and followed Christ. And the same hath Huntington lib. 5. in Prolog and Houeden 1. Confessed by Protestants Fox part Annal. pag. 412. And the same Fox p. 123. saith I do reade and also do credit that the Clergy of that tyme S. Austins tyme of England applyed nothing that was worldly but gaue themselues to preaching and teaching the word of our Sauiour See more in Fox p. 132. 133. Cambden and fillowed the life that they preached by giuing good example Cambden in descript Britan. pag. 345. saith that tyme was most fruitfull of Saints And pag. 628. he braggeth that no Kingdom hath so many canonized Martyrs and Confessors as England hath Of some England vvas called religiosâ— Anglia of others Paradisus Dei See Baron to 9. Serra de reb Mogunt lib. 3. nota 55. ProtestaÌ„ts confesse S. Austine holines Fox and that it which before tymes was called a fertill Prouince of Tyrants may now be called a fertill Contrie of Saints And who will see more of the great holines of our Clergy may reade Beda lib. 3. c. 26. Othlon in vita S. Bonifacij Marcellin in vita S. Suiberti Serrarius de Mogunt lib. 3. 7. Lastly for the confession of Protestants Fox in his Acts pag. 105. saith of Saint Austin and his fellowes thus At length when the King had well considered the honest conuersation of their life and mooued with their miracles wrought through Gods hands by them he heard them more gladly and lastly by their holsom exhortations and example of godly life he was by them conuerted and christened in the yeare 596. And the same he repeateth againe pag. 116. Bilson Bilson lib. Of Obedience pag. 57. saith Austin and his fellowes came with religion to God and submission to Princes Cooper Bishop Cooper anno 599. calleth Austin and his fellowes godly and learned men And anno 630. calleth Paulinus one of the company a holy Bishop Stow Chron. pag. 65. Stovv saith that S. Austin and his fellowes liued in the feare of God Godwin in vita August saith Godvvin He was a Monke of great vertue and calleth him Saint Austin And in vita Paulini saith Paulin his companion was called away to receaue the glorious reward of his blessed labors Holinshed And Holinshed in the Historie of England Austin and his company arriued at Canterbury where he made his abode by the Kings permission exercised the life of Apostles in fasting watching and prayers preaching the word of God to as many as they could despising all worldly pleasures as not appertaining to them receauing onely of them whome they taught things seeming
same hath Stow pag. 244. and pag. 324. A magnifical and faithful man who as long as he liued kept King Iohn from mischeefe and miserie He was saith Godwin an excellent and memorable man a bridle vnto the King and an obstacle of tyrany the peace and comfort of the people And lastly a notable refuge both of high and lowe against all manner of iniurie and oppression faithful and loyal to his Prince louing and very careful of his Contrie in which he caused many excellent lawes to be established King Richard ceur de Lion had experience of his great wisdom and other manifould vertues Nether was ther euer Clergie man ether befor or after him of so great power neuer any man vsed his authoritie more moderatly His Rom. Religion And as for the religion of this worthie Prelat it is manifest For as Godwin testifieth he founded a monasterie for his owne soules health and for the soules of his Father and mother as him self speaketh in the foundation and an other of Cistercian Monkes After his election professed him selfe a Monke had a Pal from the Pope and was his Legat. Pope Celestin the third in Houeden pag. 763. praiseth him exceedingly and maketh him his Legat at the request as he saith of King Richard and all his Suffragans and testifieth that of Huberts deserts vertue wisdome and learning the vniuersal Church reioyceth And pag. 755. Houeden writeth that this Archbishop held a Councel wherin he apointed diuers things concerning Masse and Priests espetially that they should not keepe women in their houses Priests forbidden to keep vvomen Stephen Langton Archbishop XLIII 12. THe 43. Archbishop was Stephen Langton an 1207. and died an 1228. He was saith Westmon an 1207. A man of deepe iudgment Singuler learning and vvorthines of Archb. Stephen of comely personage fine behauior fit and sufficient as much at lyeth in a man to gouern the whole Church Paris in his Hist pag. 297. addeth that there was none greater nor equal to him for maners and learning in the Court of Rome Godwin saith he was a maÌ„ in regard of many excellent gifts both of mind and bodie very fit for the place brought vp in the Vniuersitie of Paris and greatly esteemed by the King and all the nobilitie of France for his singuler and rare learning made Chancellor of Paris was admirablie learned and writ many notable bookes He deuided the Bible into Chapters in such sort as we now account them VVho built the Archb. palace in Canterb. and built in a maner all the Archbishops Palace at Canterburie The like commendations of learning yeldeth Bale vnto him Cent. 3. cap. 87. As for His Roman religion there can be no doubt His Rom. religion For he was both Cardinal of Rome and made Archbishop by the Popes absolute authoritie as the said Authors and all Chronicles testifie He built also a sumptuous shrine for the bones of S. Thomas of Câ—nterburie and as Bale speaketk after his maner He largely poured out dreggs out of the goulden cup of the harlot Incomparable learning and uertue of Archb. Richard Richard Magnus Archbishop XLIIII 13. THe 44. Archbishop was Richard Magnus elected An. 1223. and continued about two yeares He was saith Paris who then liued Hist pag. 494 Incomparable for learning and vertue Fox Acts. pag. 274 saith that he was of a comely personage and eloquent tongue Godwin addeth that he was a man very vvel learned vvise graue vvel spoken and of good report stoute in defending the rights and liberties of the Church and of a personage all streight and well fauored and that the Pope delighted much with the eloquence grauitie and excellent behauiour of this Archbishop His Rom. Religion The Roman Religion of this notable Prelat is euident For as Godwin saith he was elected by the Pope him self and so great in fauor with the Pope as both he and Fox l. cit write that he obtained of the Pope what so euer he asked S. Edmund Archbishop XLV Famous learning and vertue of Saint Edmund 14. THe 45. Archbishop was S. Edmund elected an 1234. and deceased an 1244. A man saith Westmon an 1234. mirae sanctitatis mansuetudinis of admirable sanctitie and meeknes desiring the peace and honor both of the King and Realme Paris who then liued Hist pag. 730. 743. writeth much of his miracles which Westmon an 1244. saith were so many His Miracles Vt viderentur c. that the Apostles times seemed to be returned again And Bale Cent. 3. cap. 96. confesseth that cum aqua lustrali c. VVith holy water he wrought many miracles That omni tum literarum c. He exercised him self in all maner of learning and vertue Fox Acts. pag. 339. calleth him a Saint Godwin saith he was a man very wel knowne and indeede famous for his vertue and great learning His Rom. Religion The Roman religion of this holy Archbishop is certain For as Godwin writeth he was chosen by the procurement of the Pope and had his Pal from him as both he and Fox pag. 279. do testifie and opposed him selfe against the marriage of a noble womaÌ„ Mariage after vovv of chastitie forbidden who vpon the death of her first husband had wowed chastitie and was after his death canonized for a Saint by Pope Innocent 4. Bale saith he was chosen Tanquam ad Rom. Pont. c. As one more redy at the Popes beck And that vt Virginitatis assequeretur donum Strange deed of S. Edmund to keep his virginitie To attain the gift of Virginitie he betrathed him selfe with a ring to a woodden Image of the blessed Virgin wore hearcloth preached the word of the Crosse for the Pope Boniface Archbishop XLVI 15. IN the yeare 1244. was chosen of the monks at the instance of king Henrie 3. Boniface sonne to the Earle of Sauoie who deceassed An. 1270. He was saith Godwin of a comely person and performed three notable things whorthie memorie Notable deeds of Archb Boniface He payed the debt of two and twentie thousand Marks that he found his See indebted in He built a goodly Hospitall at Maidston And lastly fineshed the stately Hall at Canterburie with the buildings adioyning Of his Roman Religion there can be no doubt His Rom. Religion For as Godw. writeth he was coÌ„secrated with the Popes owne handes and obtained of the Pope the Bishoprick of Valentia and diuers other spiritual promotions Robert Kilwarby Archbishop XLVII Famous learning and sanctitie of Archb. Robert 16. THe 47. Archb. was Robert Kilwarby elected An. 1272 and continued about six yeares He was saith Paris Author of that tyme Hist pag. 1348. Non solum vitae religiosae sanctitatis c accounted most famous not onely for the holines of a religious life but also for knowledg and learning Godwin writeth that he was a great Clerk and left many monuments of the same in writing behind him In both