prooue that the ghospell which was preached â— Britanie in the first times of the Apostles was not â—ely allwaies firmely retained but in euery age augâ—ented and dilated did increased Many of the Chriâ—an Britans fearing the crueltie of Dioclesian fleed â— the Scots among whome very many renowned for â—arning and Integritie of life remained still in Sotâ—d and liued a solitarie life in so great opinion of â—ctitie with all men that after their deaths theiâ—â—lls were chaunged into Câ—urches And therevpon it â—ained a custome to posterity that the old Scots calâ— Churches Cells This kind of Moncks men called â—ldeys worshippers of God The later Kinde of â—onckes was in learning and holinesse so farre â—eriour vnto them how much in riches ceremonies and other externall manner of Rites they exceeded thâ— Theater of great Britanie l. 6. Georg. Buchan Rer. Scotiear l. 4. Reg. 35. l. 5. Reg. 49. Reg 65. VVhen Augustine was sent by Gregorie the Britanâ— were instructed by Moncks which that age had learned and Godly Many scotish Moncks for loue â— Godlinesse trauatled into France and Germanie anâ— preached the Christian doctrine about Rhene anâ— builded Monasteries in many places For there were yâ— among the Scots many Moncks of the old disciplinâ— And the Germans gaue that memoriâ—â—nto them thâ— euen to our age of ProtestaÌ„ts they made Scots Rulers â— them Apud Scotos enim adhuc mults erant Monacâ— vetere Dâ—sciplinâ— nondum extinctâ literis pietâ—â— insignes Manâ— worthy Monâ—ks both for the â—â— Discipline not yet extinguished learning and pieâ—iâ— were yeâ— among the Scots Iohn Capgraue of thâ— Order of Eremites very learned in ProtestaÌ„â— â—apgrau in vit S. Brâ—ndani Iudgment liuing vntill the yeare 1464. â— witnesse that the auntient Rule of the MoÌ„ckâ— written by S. Brendan remained vntill hâ— time Brendanus scripsit ex ore Angeli sanctam Râ—gulam quae vsque hodie mâ—neâ— Brendanus wrote froâ— the mouth of an Angell that holy Rule which to thâ— day continueth And no doubt but that his holy Order and that of our Carmelites as alsâ— our Carthusians most renowned here haâ— discent from thence 18. Their Religion was by the Protestant the true Apostolike Religion and yet theâ— agreed in all essentiall things with those thâ— came from Rome with Saint Augustine whâ— brought hither the same Religion as beforâ— is related which our Catholicks now proâ—esse and our Anceâ—â—ours Saxons receiued â—om them And the chiefest among them in â—ll part whatsoeuer agreed with the Church â—f Rome and had their Apostolike power â—nd allowance thence So S. Kentegern that S. Asâ—pâ— in vâ—â— S. Kenteger Capgrau in â—od â—ent seuen times to Rome and was approued â—ere and at his death gaue seuere charge to â—is Disciples in numbeâ— 9â—5 fiâ—mely to obâ—rue and keepe the Dâ—crees and Ordinances â—f the holy Roman Church Conuocatis Disciâ—lis fuis de obseruatione sanctae Religionis mutuae chaâ—atis pacis hospitalâ—â—atis 〈◊〉 lectionis ac oratioâ—s instantia hortabaâ—ureos De Sanctorum Patrum â—ecretis sanctaeque Romanae Eâ—clâ—siae instâ—tâ—tis firâ—ter custoâ—tendis fortia de it ac dereliquit pracepta â—lling togeather his Dâ—sciples he exborted them to â—e objeruanâ—e of holy Religion mutuall Charitie â—ace hospitalitie and of exact diligence in reading â—d prayer For the constant keeping of the Decrees â— the holy Fathers and the Institutes of the holy Vit. S. Aâ—â—ph Balâ—â—ntis in Asâ—pho Godwin catal in Asaph veremund hist Hector Boeth Scotor hist l. 9. Holinsh hist. of â—cotl â—oman Church he gaue and left forcible precepts â—int Asaph Bishop a Britane Ruler of so â—any Apostolike men here in Britanie in all â—ings agreed with Rome and had Approâ—tion and power thence So S. Molochus â—ost renowned ioyning in all things with â—e Roman Legate â—ainâ— Bonifacius Qâ—iriâ—s and those that came with him Therefore â— cannot be questioned but our Saxon Anâ—stours then receiuâ—d the ame faith and Reâ—gion we Catholike now professe and so â—ffer for profession thereof which will be in euery particular most manifest in that whicâ— now shall followe concerning Articles iâ— Protestant Religion and euery of them thâ— is against Catholike Religion THE IIII. CHAPTER The Religion of the Apostles of our prâ—matiue Christian Britans of the firâ— ChristiaÌ„ Saxons and of our now peâ—secuted Catholiks prooued to be oâ— and the same in euery Article agaiâ— Protestants and Persecutours 1. It is proued before and confessed â— all both Catholiâ—ks and Protestantâ— that the difference betweene Saint Augustiâ— and our Britans was of thinges Ceremoniâ— and whereas our Protestants finde much faâ— Girald Câ—mbren descript Camb cap. 18. Dauid Powell annotâ—t in eund at our Ceremonies which it pleaseth them â— teâ—me Popish Giraldus Cambrensis the leâ—ned British Bishop and writer setteth thâ— downe which the Britans kept otherwâ— then the RomaÌ„s which are more Popish aâ— Papisticall by Protestants Iudgment tâ— the Romans were It is strange among â— best Authors how the Britans should diffeâ— â—l obseruation of Easter or any thing else â—om Rome but by the Iniurie of the trouâ—â—s here by warrs hindering entercourse thiâ—er and from thece for froÌ„ the beginning as â—eâ—ore and in euery age we had our chiefe â—ling Bishops and Priests from thence in â—e first from S. Peter in the second age â—om Saint Eleutherius in the third froÌ„ Pope â—ctor in the fourth by Saint Ninian and â—hers comming and sent from thence in the â—t from S. Celestine by S. Palladius Saint â—ermanus Lupus Patrick Seuerus and â—hers in the sixt by S. Kentegerne S. Aâ—h S. Iuo S. Lethard and others before Augustine And to make a briefe mention euery Article in particular now controâ—sed with these ProtestaÌ„ts as they are conâ—ned in their booke of Articles These our â—tient Britans and Scots retaining their â— Apostolike doctrine as these man said â—eed in euery Article with the present Caâ—liks and in them all dissented from Proâ—ants â— They had the Scripturs from the Roâ— Eleutheâ— Pap. epist ad Lucium Reg. Brit. Gild. l. de excid conquest Britan. Church those which Catholikes hold â— for Scripturs so Eleutherius himselfe â—ildas and others proue That they did â— hold all needfull thinges to be contained â—criptures but some by Traditions their â—ifold Traditions in many matters of moâ—t by Protestant confession is a manifest â—ument and will appeare in many Articles following And this is euident in theâ— Gild. supr Hist Brit. antiq manuscript confessed Sacâ—ifice of Masse and sacrificiâ— Priesthood being to offer Sacrifice for thâ— liuing and dead as Protestants confesse anâ— that in all Masses there is the doctrine aâ— practice of Transsubstantiation and Reâ— presence the doctrine and practise of Puâ—gatorie and praier for the dead of prayiâ— vnto Saincts and their protection of diueâ— orders ecclesiasticall which Protestants haâ— not the doctrine of merits and good deeâ— deniall of Iustification by faith onely aâ— almost all doctrines which Catholikes hoâ— and ProtestaÌ„ts denie to
then â—se where The kings theÌ„selues were not spaâ—d for offeÌ„ding therein but were excoÌ„muniâ—ted and deposed as in the case of king Vorgerne who by S. German the Popes Legate â—th the aduise of the British Clergie was â—communicated and by the whole kingeâ—me after deposed as British â—nd Saxon â—atholike and Protestant Antiquaries thus â—liuer vnto vs. And our Protestants most â—thorised among them coÌ„munion Booke in the title of Matrimonie and publicke solemnizing thereof attribute sufficient vntâ— it against this Article to receiue it as a Sâ—crament 17. Concerning Extreme Vnction there iâ— yet extant a short written Relation Ab authâ—re antiquissime by a most auntient Author â— our Protestant Antiquaries acknowledge wherein concerning this Sacrament S. Iamâ— the Apostle is expounded as Catholiks doâ— and is proued that the BritaÌ„s so professed aâ— practised it Whereby we are assured thâ— the old true beleeuing Britans receiued a the seuen Sacraments as Catholiks now doâ— And yet if after so great losse and hauocâ— made of their Antiquities we had prouâ— they had vsed fower or three this had coâ—demned these Protestants admitting one two for such 18. That it was receiued and vsed alâ— with these true Catholike Britans to reâ—eruâ— and some times to receiue also the Blessed Sâ—crament Gâ—ld â— dâ—â—xcid conquest Britan. Manuscr Antiqu. Câ—â—grau in vit S. 〈◊〉 Conâ— Turonen 2. can 3. of the â—ltar in one onely kinde aÌ„d not in bâ—â— we haue ample testimonie Saint Gildas vpâ— such vsed reseruation there of vpon their hâ—ly Altars calleth the Altar the Seate of â— hâ—auenly sacrifice Sedes coelestis Sacrificij Not oâ—ly therevpon offered but as seated permâ—nent and preserued An old British Antiquâ—tie deliuereth it was the vse here for such â— were daungerously sicke To receiue Extreâ— vnction and communicate thus in one kinde So is in Ireland So in little Britanie receiuing Gregor Turonen l 1. de gloria mariyr c. 86. l. 1. de vit Patr. c 3. Conc. Nican 1. can 3. 63. Arahic Conc. Areâ—laâ—â—n â—e faith from hence and our Britans and it as so decreed there in the secoÌ„d Councell of â—urs in the yeare 570. Vt Corpus Domini sub cruâ—titulo componatur That the bodie of our Lord should placed vnder the title of the Crosse Gregorius Tuâ—ensis recordeth it to be an old Custome those parts And more ouer relateth how holy Bishop S. Gallus there did communiâ—e many people in one kinde onely This stome is remembred and approued in the â—t Nicen Councell which the Britans reâ—ied and that of Arles to which their â—hbishop of London Restitutus for Britaâ— subscribed And our Protestants by puâ—k statute and Parliament haue declared â— in the Primatiue Church Communion â— vsed sometimes in both kindes and â—etimes in one onely Therefore there was expresse commaund of Christ euen by â—e men against one kinde otherwise it â—ld not haue so beene vsed nor could king â—ard the 6. Q. Elizabeth king Iames and Protest ParlameÌ„t an 1. Edw. 6. An. 1. Eliz. An. 1. Iacâ— Parl. 1. Caroli â— Charles so determine and decree it in â—lick Parlaments â—â— Their libertine wanton doctrine For â—iage of Priests is sufficiently confured by Britans before no example to be giuen â—ng them of any one such married man among so many thousands in so many â—asteries Colledges and other places in â— Regiment here in which not any one such as lawfull and allowed Marriage is â— be found The Nicen Councell here then â—ceiued and whereat our king and Emperoâ— with others of this Nation were present doâ— disalowe it Paphnutius himselfe there callâ— Concil Nicaen can 3. it the old tradition of the Church Veterâ— Ecclesiae Traditionem That Priests might aâ— marrie Vt quiâ—unque in Sacerdotum Ordinem leâ— Sozâ—m hist. aeccl l. 1. cap. vlt. 22. gâ—rentur si coniuges nondum essent nè ducerent vxoâ— That whosoeuer should be chosen vnto the Ordeâ— Priests if they were not yet married they should marrie Which is the case of Protestants if thâ— Concil Arelaten â— can 2. had true Priests Like hath the Councell Arles to which our Britans subscribed Aâ—mi aliquem ad Sacerdotia non posse in vinculo coâ—gij constitutum nisi fuerit promissa conueâ—sio Nâ— which are married can be assumed to Priesthood lesse they promisse continancie 20. The rest of their Articles neede â— this Examine little differing from Catâ—likes or to smale purpose Therefore the â— of Catholieks in England concerning Râ—gion being thus holy and warrantable wâ— God and men they which be the Teachâ— and Preachers of such sacred rights â— keepers of others to performe them sucâ— our renowned Bishop and Priests be shoâ— not be persecuted but honoured and reueâ—ced of all But because the malice of Perseâ— tours hath procceeded so farre against thâ— which haue so well deserued and ought be better respected I must take leaue of thâ— Enimies to giue our holy Bishop and Priests â—me parte of their due and honour belonâ—g to their sacred Orders Functions and â—râ—ons THE V. CHAPTER â—at the Consecration Iurisdiction and misâ—ion of our Catholike Bishop teaching the same Apostolicall Doctrine in all things with the Catholike Church is most lawfull holie orderlie and honourable in that his sacred callâ—ng is most worthie and necessarie and therfore he vnwâ—rthiâ—ly Persecuted SO honourable and emineÌ„t is the name and Office of sacred Bishops that noâ—â—ly the holy Apostles in holy Scripturs Apostolick Fathers are so named but â—ist himselfe by the greatest Apostle is stiâ— Bishop of our soules Episcopus animarum 1. Pet. â— â—aruÌ„ And that sacred Order is so necessarie â—e Church euery one in particular to rule gouerne it to confer holy Priesthood and other Orders to minister Sacrament Preach Preserue and continue it and dâ— other their most needfull offices therein thâ— if we will beleeue the holy Scripturs the â—postolick Fathers of the Apostles age â— continuall Tradition and doctrinall practâ— of the true Catholick Church from theâ— euen by Protestants confessions and the teâ—monies of themselues against themselues tâ— now persecute an holy and learned Bishop â— being a Bishop and receiuing Episcoâ— Order and power whence all our Bishâ— hitherto haue and must deriue it it is wâ— out question that as no other degree or â—nitie whatsoeuer is so eminent in spirit affaires So none in such matters and necâ—ties is so behofull and needfull None so mâ— to be honoured reuereÌ„ced and desired â— in the greatest Persecutions 2. In holy Scripturs the flock of Câ— and gouernment of his Church is commiâ— vnto theÌ„ whâ—n it is saied vnto them Attâ— Act. 20. vobis vniuerso gregi in quo vos spiritus sanctâ— suit Episcopos regere Ecclesiam Dei quam acqâ— sanguine suo Take heede to your selues and to the â— flocke wherein the holy ghost hath placed you Biâ— to rule the Church of God which he hath purâ— with his owne bloud Where it is saied Fiâ—eâ—mo 1. Tim.
knowne want thereof or â—rosse Ignorance in Antiquities and Eccleâ—asticall Veremun â—â— hist Boâ—th Scotor histor in Maximo Holinsh. histor of Scotl. Io. Bal. l. de Scripto rib centur 2. in Coil Sedul Sigeâ—ert 〈◊〉 ibid. affaires haue blinded them with this â—arknesse because long before that time in â—he daies of DioclesiaÌ„ Scotland had Bishops â—nd Saint Amphibolus was Bishop in the I le â—f Man In the time of Maximus Scotland had â—iuerâ— Bishop bannished by him And Hildeâ—ertus and Coilus Sedulius Scots by Naâ—on and renowned Bishops are honoured in â—stories before Saint Palladius came thiâ—er as both these Protestants and sarre â—etter Antiquaries deliuer for vndoubted â—uthes 2. But if we should not onely as we must â—teeme Priests inferiours to Bishops but which we may not nor cannot eâ—eÌ„ to themâ—lues and make them but Deacons yet â—oth diuine and best human authoritie asâ—reth vs that by that calling they are to be â—onoured and not dishonorably persecuâ—d The holy Scripture honoureth theÌ„ with â— much true consecration as our Protestants â—estowe vpon their pretended Bishops publike and solemne prayer and imposition of the Apostles the chiefest Bishops hands Orantes imposuerunt eis manus Praying they imposed Act. â— hands vpon them And declareth them Virâ—â— boni testimonij plenos spiritu sancto Men of good testimonie full of the holy Ghost The Apostolike Fathers commaund all laie persons to bâ— subiect vnto and reuerence them Saint Ignatius 〈◊〉 Epist ad Smyrnensis Epist. ad â—phesios saieth Diaconos reuereamini vt ex Dei praecepto ministrantes Honour yea the Deacons as ministrinâ— by the precept of God And Enitimini charissimi subiecti esse Episcopo Presbyteris Diaconis Qâ— enim his obedit ob die Christo My dearest doe yoâ— best to be subiect to the Bishop and Priests and Deacons for he that obeyeth these obeyeth Christ Anâ— other where Oporter Diaconis mysterioruÌ„ Chrâ—sti â—pist ad Tâ—allian ministris per omnia placere Sunt Ecclesiae Dei admâ—nistratores Ipsi itaque tales sunt vos reueremiâ— illos vt Christum Iesum cuius vicarij sunt Quâ— Diaconi quam Imitatores angelicarum virtuâ—um qâ—â— puâ—um inâ—ulpatum ministerium illi Episcopo exhibent vt Sanctus Stephanus Beato Iacobo Tâ— motheus Linus Paulo Anacletus Clemens Pâ—tro Qui igitur his non obedit sine Deo prorsus â—â—mpurus est Christian contemnit constitutionâ—â— eius imâ—inuit And it is expedient to please Deacon the ministers of the mysteries of Christ in all things They are the Administratours of the Church of Goâ— And tâ—ey are such and you should reuereÌ„ce theÌ„ as Iesâ— Christ whose Vicars they are What are Deacons bâ— the followers of Angelicall vertues who presenteth tâ—â—â—e Bishop a pure and perfect mysterie as S. Secuâ— did to Saint Iames Timothie and Linus to Paule Anacletus and Clement to Peter whosoeuer therfore obeyeth not these is altogether without God and impure and doth contemne Christ and doth distroy his Constitution Saint Polycarp saieth subiecti estote S. Policaâ— epist. ad Philip. Presbyteris Diaconis sicut Deo Câ—risto Be yea subiect vnto the Priests and Deacons as to God and Christ Our Protestants themselues in their publike booke named The forme and manner of making and consecrating Bishops Priests and Deaâ—ons Saie that from the Apostles time they haue â—ene in Christs Church euermore had in reuerent estimation Therefore if the Deacons and Ministers to Priests in the holy Sacrifice of Masse their highest dignitie are thus by all testimonies to be reuerenced honoured and obeyed then the sacred Sacrificing Priests to whom they thus minister and serue may not be dishonoured much lesse persecuted with most barbarous and vnchristian contumeâ—ies disgraces and deaths for that their so eminent Order and dignitie 3. The holy Sripturs testifie that in their Consecration they receiue grace the holy Ghost power to bind and loose to retaine â—nd forgiue sinnes to offer Sacrifice to God â—nd to doe what Christ himselfe did in that â—ind So the holy Fathers expound these Scripturs and teach from thâ—m and our most â—untient renowned British writer thus affirmeth Gâ—laâ—◠〈◊〉 â—xâ—id câ—xq 〈◊〉 Omni sancto Sacerdoti promittitur Quaecunque â—oluer is super terram â—runt soluta in â—oelis quaecunque liganeris super terram erunt ligata in câ—â—â— Verò Sacerdoti dicitur tu â—s Petrus super hane 〈…〉 16 petram aedisicaho Ecclesiam meam It iâ— promised to euery holy Priest Whatsoeuer thou â—haâ—t loose in earth it shall be loosed also in the heauens and whatsoeuer thou shalt binde vpon earth it shall he bound also in the heauens To a true Priest it is saied thou art Peter and vpon this Rocke I will build my Church The Scripture saith to and concerning such pascite qui in vobis est gregem Dei Feede the flocke of God 〈…〉 â— which is among you Qui benè praesunt Praesbyteri displici honore digni habeantur maximè qui laborant iâ— verâ—o doctrinà The Priests that rule well let them be esteemed worthie of double honour especially they that labour in the word and doctrine The Apostles Successours giue them as much Presbyteriâ— Saieth Saint Câ—ement si assiduè in studio docendiâ— verbum Dei laborauerint seponatur dupla etiam Clem. Const Apost lib. 2. c. â— periâ—o in gratiam Apostolorum Christi quorum locum tenent â—â—nquam Consilarij Episcopi Ecclesiae coronâ—â—unt enim Cousilia Senatus Ecclesiae Si de parentiâ—us secundum carnem ait diuina Scriptura Honorâ— patrem matrem vt benè tibi sit Eâ— qui malediciâ— c. 35. patriaut matri morte mortatur quanto magis de patribus spiritualibus verbis Dei moneamur honore charitate eos prosequi vt beneficos ad DeuÌ„ Legatos â— 3â— Quanto anima corpore praestanâ—â—or est tanto est Sacerâ—â—tium regno excellentius Let there be a double portiâ— reserued for the Priests in honour of the Apostles of Christ which shall haue labored in teaching of the word of God diligently Whose places they enioye as Counsellours of the Bishop and the Crownâ— of the Church They are the Councell and Senat of the Church If the holy Scripture saieth of carnall parents honour thy father and thy mother that it may be well with thee And whosoeuer doth curse his father or his mother shall die how much more shall we be admonished by the words of God of our Spirituall fathers to respect â—hem with honour and charitie as beneficiall to vs and Legates to God How much more noble the soule is then the bodie so much more excellent is Priesthood before a Kingdome And Saint Ignatius addeth Ignatius epist. ad Smyâ—â—â— Sacerdotium est omnium bonorum quae in hominibus sunt apex qui aduersus illud furit non hominem ignâ—miniâ afficit sed Deum Christum Iesum
of rendring such duties â—nto our King and haue what they could persuaded the Recusants as the refusing Protestants were therin termed to performe such â—onds true offices and obligations of louing subiects Anâ— although our Catholikes hauâ—â—â—ne sondry waieâ— greuiously persecuted for their Religion yet as the world knoweth they haue most dutifully much aboue others honoured our king supplied his wants with free and lardge Donations and Contribuâ—ions when their persecuting Protestants in great number and of great quaâ—itie made deâ—iall No man except maliciously and chridishly very falsely imagining slaunders and â—ntruthes against theÌ„ may surmise that these â—en can be vnmindefull of the dutie and obeâ—ience of true Subiects to their Soueraigne 6. If there be any either in Court or Countrie bearing the name Catholike gaining not looâ—ng rather honoured then â—isgraced preferred then persecuted giâ—en to libertie and disorders such as this â—rotestant time can easily bestowe and â—are and spirituall discipline may not be â—llowed to keâ—pe such in dutie oâ— leaue the â—ame Catholike Catholike Relâ—gâ—on doth â—ot and cannot answeare or make accompâ—â—or such Commonly they be men risen oâ—â—ell reared vp by fall of Religion and Reliâ—ious howses which complaine most against Catholikes who finde proâ—ects of seaâ—e â—â—aâ—ing to loose that they so easily gâ—t Bâ—t 〈◊〉 there is no danger towards them by English Catholikes for many or most oâ—â—hem that be landed meÌ„ haue also such land They be not Catholikes which euer defend â—ld and vnâ—uersall Right which aâ—e to be seaâ—ed in Innouations Nouelists and louers of â—ingularities are the most dangerous in such respects Catholikes of England of all subiects thereof euer were and now be most obseruant of and keeping their Protestant Princes lawes seldome is or can a Catholike be charged with the breach of any excepâ— concerning matters of Religion where iâ— breaketh the lawe of God and his holy Catholike Apostolike Church To keepe thâ— lawe of the king of all kings and his kingedome must not be termed or thought a breacâ— and violating of the lawes of any priuatâ— earthly king or kingedome all which muâ— subiect themselues to that omnipotent king and his gouernment And to make all sure 〈◊〉 Catholikes defence in this cause we wiâ— briefely examine all Articles now questioneâ— betweene ProtestaÌ„ts of England and theÌ„ anâ— prooue in many of these Articâ—es as they aâ— enacted by ProtestaÌ„ts that the Catholike doctrine is farre more agreable and profitabâ— for publike peace vnitie obedience anâ— concord in a good ciuill Monarchicall anâ— Râ—gall gouernment then that which Protestants hold and practise and would forâ—â— Catholikes vnto and not any one Article â—â— Catholike Religion repugnant vnto or preâ—udicing the Rule and gouernment of a moâ— worthie king in a noble Nation THE VIII CHAPTER That euerie Article of Catholike Religion is more agreable with the best temporall gouernment then those of the Protestants and that a Catholike keeping his Religion as he is bouÌ„d to God so he cannot be vndutifull to his temporall Prince and Countrie THe first fiue Articles of their Religion they consisting onely of â—9 â—ade by a few Protestants in fâ—â—werth or â—fth yeare of Queene Elizabeth the old age â— this Religion doe containe nothing conâ—ouersed betweene them and vs but were â—ade against new Sectaries so soone risen vp â—mong them The Sixth and next Article inâ—tuled Of the sufficientie of the holy Scripture for â—luation Denieth the vse and necessities of â—raditions not written in Scripture and deâ—eth many bookes of holy Scripture to be â—ch and some of them as the booke of wiseâ—ome and of Iesus the sonne of Sirach conâ—sting most of morall precepts and coÌ„mandments as all men knowe are most needfulâ— in all kingedomes for ciuill regimeÌ„t So thaâ— whatsoeuer of this nature is coÌ„tained in thesâ— two morrall bookes and tenne others whicâ— they likewise reiect or in holy Apostolikâ— Traditions are wanting in these men and thâ— Catholiks embracing both â—hose bookes anâ— Tradiâ—ioÌ„s exceede them in all temporall obedience and dutie in this respect 2. After this vntill we come to their nintâ— Article stiled Of originall or birth siane they finde no difference in this point But in thiâ— Article they thus enact There is no condemnation for them that beleeue and are baptized By which allowance and Decree the way to all disobedience fellonies treasons and sinnes whatsoeuer is set open to all Protestants whicâ— saie they beleeue and are baptized and â—â— no Treason Rebellion contempt of gouernment can condemne them Catholikes be oâ— the contrarie profession And this Protestanâ— libertie and disâ—bedience is further warranteâ— and allowed in the next Article but one thâ— immediate next Article after by their glossâ— not at all or litle differing â—roÌ„ Catholiks Foâ— this their eleueÌ„th Article intituled of the Iustification of man Thus declareth That we are iustifie by faith onely is a most wholesome doctrine and very full of comfort But this is not very whole some comfortable or secure for any king kingdome common-wealth that it should giuâ— libertie to all offences not to be puâ—ished bâ— God at all nor by Prince if they can secretly be committed and concealed God forbid any bearing the name of of Catholike should euer hold or followe such doctrine And these Protestants Religion in the next Article of good workes giuing litle or no efficacie vnto them will not hinder them in matter of disobedience to God or Prince So doth their 13. Article wherein they saâ—e that workes such as we commonly call among others obedience to kings and Rulers good works Done without the grace of Christ haue the nature of sinne By which if any man â—all into drunkennesâ—e coÌ„mit Adulterie Fornication Perâ—uâ—â—e or any mortall sinne which depriueth of grace he may or rather must make rebellion commit â—reason or whatsoeuer wickednesse he can otherwise containing and abstaining from such horrible wickednesse such his refrainings from those Impieties haue the nature of sinne 3. The 14. next Article against workes of supererogation bringeth into like desperateâ—esse Their 15. and 16. Articles haue no peâ—uliar difficultie Their 17. next Article is intituled of Predestination and Election And it deliuereth plainely that their doctrine and Religion therein euen aâ— it is receiued among them is so perilous a thing That for curious and carnall persons to haue continually before their eies the sentence of Gods predestination is a most dangerous downesall whereby the diuell doth thrust them into desperation or into rechlesnesse of most vncleane liuing no lesse pevillous then desperation These Articles if wâ— should goe no further are sufficient to diswade any man desiring to be a true subiect to God and his Prince from embracing the Religion of ProtestaÌ„ts But to proceede to the end of them the 18 next Article of obtaining eternall Saluation onely by the name of Christ hath nothing in question The next 19. And the 20. Articles the first intituled Of â—he Church And the other Of the authoritie of the Church Are
vntrue by their owne Parlaments testifying that in the very Primatiue Church and allwaies it was often ministred in one kinde onely Then no commandment of Christ contrary ca be brought to condemne all Churches times and places for such practise 8. Their 31. Article of the one oblation of Christ finished vpon the crosse denyâ—ng against the whole Church of Christ in all ages and places and thereby depriuing God of all externall sacrifice contrary to scripture and all authoritie will not by the Rule of proportion giue more or so much honour vnto earthlie kings then Catâ—oliks doe giuing this tribute and Sacrifice to the king of heauen and all that is belonging or was euer giuen to their terrene Princes 9. Their 32. Articâ—e of the Marriage of Priests hath married this kingedome to many miseries it did not feele or know before The posteritie proceeded by such lawe or allowaÌ„ce hath brought vs to number hundreds of thousands more then Britanie or England if it had remained Catholike should haue euer seene Many thousands of these are left vnprouided for and not a few are turned or wrested out of their possessions to furnish these Ministers children many of whom also haue fallen to such extreame wants that many of them haue taken desperate courses which the Catholike practise and Religion would haue preuented 10. Their 33. Article Of excommunicate persons how they are to be auoided Differeth not froÌ„ Cathoâ—ikes but that Protestants commit the businesse of excommunication and absolution to such as Catholikes hold haue no power therein when both Catholikes and Protestants confesse that men assigned to such offices by Catholikes haue true lawfull and vndoubted authoritie 11. Their 34 Article Of Traditions of the Church is wholy Ceremonious by their owne expositioÌ„ and no man caÌ„ be so singular in this or any such matter but to thinke any particular Church or kingedome the more it agreeth with the vniuersall or most florishing Christian kingedomes to be more honourable and secure thereby then such as fall into Nouelties and singularities 12. Their 35. Article of homelies is nothing to this purpose And their 36. Article intituled Of Consecration of Biâ—hops and Ministers To whom they commit spirituall Businesse preaching ministring Sacraments and to excommunicate absolue and whatsoeuer in like kinde they take vpon them to practise is quite ouerthrowne by themselues before in their 22. Article where they saie that Order as they vse it Is no Sacrament or effectuall signe of grace and hath noâ— any visible signe or ceremonie ordained of God Then not receiuing or hauing grace or such spirituall power it cannot coÌ„ferre aÌ„d giue it vnto others or so exercise it especially in so many things as is required from truely and lawfully consecrated persons such as they acknowledg the Bishopâ— and Priests of the Roman Church to be 13. Their 37. Article intituled of the ciuill Magistrate doth giue to teÌ„porall Princes supreamacie euen in spirituall things and denieth all Iurisdiction to the Pope of Rome in thiâ— Realme in such affaires Of this sufficient is said before And euery equall minded man may easily see whether the temporall state of England was not more honourable noble powerfull and secure when the Popes Iurisdiction in spirituall thinges ruled here then now it is and euer since it hath beene and yet the Ritches and wealth which fell to our kings and Princes hands and commauÌ„de at such chang were as infinite and so great that king Henrie 8 to haue licence or assent to suruâ—y them to make vse thereby promised to speake in Protestant witnesses words He would create anâ— maintaine 40. Earles 60. Barons Edw. howe 's historicall pref in Henr. â— three thousand knights and fourtie thousand souldiers with skilfull Captaines and competent maintenance for tâ—em all for euer ouâ— of the auntieÌ„t Church reuenewes Neither should the people be any more charged with loane Subfidies and Fifteenes Since wâ—iâ—h time there â—auâ— bâ—ene more statuts lawes subfidies and Fifteenes then in fiue hundred yeares before Thus in the publicke Protestant Historie in the yeare 1614. dedicated to our king now the Prince Charles Since we haue heard and tasted in EnglaÌ„d more matters of this nature And yet if we should make but Robin-hoods penâ—worthes and estimate of what hath beene taken away from holy constant Catholikes for proâ—â—ssing their true and Apostolike Religâ—â—n in the Reigne oâ— Queene Elizabeth king Iames and king Charles euen since he married a Queene prosessing for herselfe Catholike Religion It will amount to more then would haue deliuered a farâ—e meaner king and kingedome then ours of England haue beenâ— accoÌ„pted from such complaintes of feares wants needs dislikes and variaâ—â—â—â— tâ—erein if God had well approued of such proceedingâ— and such means of proceeding against his Catholike SeruaÌ„ts our kings most faithfull 〈◊〉 14. And the spirituall Supreamacie assumed by oâ—r Princes king Henry 8. king Edward 6 and Queene Elizabeth confirmed againe in this Article had wrought so good effects in so short time within 4. yeares of Q. Elizabeths obtaining the Crowne that Protestants in such order or rather disorder and number denied teÌ„porall power in Princes here to put any Rebell or whatsoeuer most greeuious offender to death and they weÌ„t further affirming that Protestants might not fight in defence of their Countrie though the Prince commaunded it wherevpon they were enforced to declare in this Article in this maner against such Protestant Brethren The lawes of the Realme may punish Christian men with death for heinous and greuious offences Is it lawfull for Christian men at the commaundment oâ— the Magistrate to weare Armes and serue in the warrs And there were among them teaching and holding communitie of goods noâ— theft spoiling or Roberie to be punished no iustice or lawe to be executed or Oath to be taken in Iudgement all Courts and Consistories to cease as is euident by the two last Articles 38. and 39. thus following the former intituled Of Christian mens goods which are not common And thus declaring The Riches and goods of Christians are not common as touching the right Title and possession of the same as certaine Anabâ—ptists Protestants doe beast And the last â—9 Article intituled of a Christian mans Oath And thus enacting and declaring We Iudge thaâ— Christian Religion doth not prohibit but that a man may sweare when the Magistrate requireth in a cause of faith and charitie so it be done according to the Prophets teaching in Iustice Iudgment and truth This suffiâ—â—enâ—â—y witnesseth wâ—at goodly coÌ„mon-wealths-meÌ„ their Protestant Religion euâ—n 〈◊〉 Infancie thereof had brought forth in this kingdome THE IX CHAPTER That true and obedient Catholikes be the truest and most obedient subiects 1. And in conclusion to come to the particulare Sâ—ate and Regalitie oâ— our most honoured King Charles and king Iames before him There neuer were any Protestants in England in their times or before which so truely and ducifully carried themselues towards their Monarchicall true Title Right