Hierusalem but contrariwise condemned by Pope Innocent and Zozimus he stayed and for any thing I finde ther dyed For if him self had brought his heresy into Britany Beda lib. 1. cap. 17. Would neuer haue ascribed the bringing of it to one Agricola long after And therfor I doubt of that which Bale cent 1. cap. 38. citeth out of Walden that Pelagius was à suis Britannis pulsus in exilium ob heresim vnles by driuing into banishment he ment keeping out of the Contrey as perhaps Pelagius was Besides Innocent saith not that he had not authoritie to call Pelagius wheresoeuer he were yea he insinuateth the cōtrary but that Pelagius if he were obstinat would not come at his call and that others that dwelt nerer to him myght do it more conueniently than he who dwelt so far of as Rome is from Palestine His words are these Qui Pelagius si confidit c. VVhich Pelagius if he trust and knowe that he deserueth not to be condemned of vs because he reiectets that which he taught he should not be sent for of vs but he himselfe should make haste that he may be absolued For if he think yet as he did when will he present himselfe to our iudgement vpon any letters whatsoeuer knowing that he shal be condemned And if he were to be sent for that might be better done of them who are nerer than so far of as we are But there shall want no care of him if he will be cured 3. Bilsons proofe out of the Britons deniall of subiection hath no more color or reason than a few rebells deniall of subiection hath to prooue a Prince to haue no authoritie ouer a parte of his Kingdome Cathol Britons euer tooke the Pope to be their superior For their Catholick Ancestors did euer acknowledg themselues vnder the Pope his iurisdiction as appeareth both by that which hath bene said before as also because the Archbishops of the Britons not long before Saint Austins comming were the Popes Legats as writeth Galfrid a man of good account among Protestants lib. 9. cap. 12. Dubritius saith he Primat of Britannie and Legat of the See Apostolick was famous with such great pietie And had Palls from Rome as is euident in the life of Saint Sampson Nether did the heretick Britons refuse to be subiect to Saint Austin because they thought Saint Gregorie to haue no authoritie to apoint an Archbishop ouer them for vndoubtedly they would haue alleadged this as a reason of their refusal if they had so thought it but onely because as Saint Beda reporteth lib 2. c. 2. VVhy the Britons refused to be vnder S. Austin they sayd with them selues If he would not so much as arise to vs If wee should subiect our selues to him he would despise vs. If he had risen to them they were determined to subiect them selues to him as Beda there saith which they neuer would haue done if they had doubted his authority insufficient Secondly I prooue it by reason grounded in scripture Secōd reason in proofe of S. Austins mission The authority which Christ left in his Church to preach to all Nations he gaue to euery Apostle as appeareth by his words Matth. 28. Docete omnes gentes Teach all Nations And Protestants who teach euery Apostle to haue bene head of the rest of the Church besids them selues do not deny Therfore this authority must remaine in some successor of one or other of those Apostles and must not be onely in the whole Church because it must descend to some such as Christ gaue it vnto Authoritie to send preachers to all nations must remaine in some one Bishop Besides if authority to send to all Nations were not in some one Bishop or other but in the whole Church onely when soeuer there were Preachers to be sent to Infidells ther ought to be a generall Councell called which were both absurd and was neuer practised in Gods Church But authority to preach or send preachers to England was more likly to be in Saint Gregory than any other Bishop For touching the Patriarchs or Bishops of the East it is a thing vnheard of that any of them should haue iurisdiction ouer England And as for the Bishops of France certain it is they neuer had any authority ouer England And the same I may say of Scotland Ireland Flanders Spaine and all other Contries The doubt onely may be of Britons because they once had authority ouer the Contry No Bishop could sēd preachers to Englād but the Pope which the English possessed But that could yeald them no spirituall authority ouer the English in Saint Austins tyme because nether was the English euer subiect to the Britons nor was ther in Saint Austins tyme any British Bishop aliue who had had any diocese within England Therfore they could at that tyme clayme no more authority to send Preachers into England than the Bishops of Wales can now Wherfore if this authority was then in any Bishop as needes it must be it was in the Bishop of Rome who euer since the primitiue tyme of the Church hath vsed to send preachers hither as is before shewed And if any require the Princes approbation for the lawfullnes of a Preachers mission this also S. Austin had as is euident by S. Beda l. 1. Protestāts confesse the Pope to haue bene the cheef B. of Christendom D. vvhitak c. 25. Besides Protestants confesse the Pope to haue bene alwaies the cheefe Patriarch Bishop of Christēdom Saith D. Whitaker lib. 6. cont Dur. p. 464. I will not deny that the Bishop of Rome was Primat of all Bishops And p. 148. Rome the Seat of the first Patriarch The See of Rome saith Caluin l. 4. c. 7. § 26. Caluin was in tymes past the cheefe of all Iuell art 4. diu 16. Iuel Of the Patriarches the Pope had the first place both in Councell and out of Councell And. 26. Of the Patriarchs the Bishop of Rome was euer the first And .32 Victor sayth that Rome is the cheefe or head ouer all others which of our parte for that tyme is not denyed Bishop Bilson pag. 60. Bilson saith it is well knowne that the Pope was the cheefe of the Patriarchs D. Reinolds Confer pag. 568. Among all the Apostolick Churches Reinolds the Roman for honor and credit had the chiefty And 554. Chrysostome and Basile gaue the Pope a supreheminence of authority pag. 368. Cyprian giueth a speciall title of honor and preheminence to the Church of Rome The Fathers apply the name of the Rock to the Bishop of Rome Finally Fox in his Acts pag. 18. saith that in Lyrinensis Pascasin Iustinian Athanasius Hierome Ambrose Austin Theodoret and Chrysost S. Peter with his successors is called Head of the Church Cheefe of Bishops Prince of the Apostles And the like confesse all other Protestants Therfor if authority of sending preachers remaine in any Bishop it is most lykly
to remaine in the Pope Third reason for proofe of S. Austins mission 4. Thirdly I argue thus Who hath authority to gouern the whole Church of God hath authority to send Preachers to all Nations But Saint Gregory had authority to gouern the whole Church Ergo he had authority to send Preachers c. The Maior needeth no proofe The Minor I prooue thus Saint Peter had authority to gouern the whole Church euen as it includeth the rest of the Apostles But Saint Gregory succeeded though not immediatly Saint Peter in that authority Protestant graunt euery Apostle to haue bene Head of the rest of the church Ergo That Saint Peter had authority ouer the whole Church besides the Apostles the Protestants do graunt For they teach that Christ made euery one of them Head and Gouernor of all the Church besides them selues D. Whitaker lib. 5. pag. 365. cont Dur. Quis Petrum c. VVho confesseth not that Peter was the foundation of the Church seeing that it is common to all the Apostles And lib. 9. pag. 745. Super Petrum c. Vpon Peter is the Church founded but not vpon him onely Et Petro totius c. And to Peter is the care of the whole Church committed but not to him onely Quia hoc commune c. Because this was common with the rest of the Apostles as the Scripture and Fathers most clearly testifie Declarat of discipl print at Geneua 154◠Christ cōmēded to Peter all his flock Behould how he confesseth that both Scripture and Fathers testifie and that most clearly that the care of the whole Church was committed to Peter D. Reynolds Confer pag. 32. As the name of foundation is giuen to the Apostles Apoc. 21. so the twelue foundations do prooue them twelue heads Ibid. All the Apostles were heads Item pag. 26. Christ promised to build his Church not vpon Peters doctrine onely but vpon his person in some sorte And pag. 28. Christs words to Peter import this sense Vpon thee I will build my Church And Bilson lib. of Obedience pag. 87. granteth The same saith Fulk Annotat. Mat. 16. Ioan. 1. that the Rock on which the Church is promised to be built Matth. 16. was Peters person and that the Church was built vpon him but not vpon him onely but the rest of the Apostles too And if passion did not blynd their eyes they would see that the Scripture and Fathers do as plainly testifie that Saint Peter was Head of the whole Church euen as it includeth the rest of the Apostles as they testifie that euery Apostle was Head of the rest of the Church beside themselues S. Peter as plainly ouer the Apostles as ouer the rest of Christiās For the places of Scripture out of which they do or can prooue that euery Apostle was head of all other Christians as yow may see in Whitaker loco cit pag. 147. and Reynolds loco cit is Matth. 28. where euery Apostle is bidden to teach all Nations and Ephes 2. where Christians are said to be founded vpon the Apostles And Apoc. 21. where the twelue Apostles are called the foundations of the Church by which places they do prooue and well that euery Apostle was made Head ouer euery Christian and the whole Church beside themselues because there is no exception made of any man whome they are not to feede nor of any Christian in the Church which they founded And therfore in the commission giuen by Christ to euery Apostle in the word Nations are included all other beside them selues And in the speech of the Apocalyps vnder the word Church are vnderstood all other Christians whatsoeuer And cōsequently euery Apostle is by the plain verdict of Scripture Preacher to all Nations and Founder of euery Christian beside them selues In which authority because their Apostleship did consist Hovv some Fathers say that others vvere equal in the Apostleship vvith S. Peter and therin all the Apostles were equall to S. Peter for euery one of them was as well sent to all Natiōs with authority to found Churches euery where as he was some Fathers say that other Apostles had parem potestatē with S. Peter as Anaclet dist 21. c. Cū in nouo Cypr. de vnit Eccl. Chrys in 1. Gal. that the Church is equaly foūded on all the Apostles because ouer the rest of the Church besides the Apostles euery one of them had equall authority with Peter the Church not including the Apostles was equaly foūded on euery one of them 5. But by the same maner and in the same euidency that Protestants do prooue that euery Apostle was Head ouer all the Church besides them selues do we prooue that Saint Peter was head ouer all the Church euen as it includeth the rest of the Apostles For as in their cōmission Teach all Nations and the other speech of them Foundations of the Church Proued by Scripture that S. Peters commission includeth the rest of the Apostles all are included beside them selues because none are excepted as they are by reasō of that relatiue opposition which is there found betwene Teachers Taught Founders and Founded therfor euery one of the Apostles being in this speech called a teacher foundatiō none of them in the same speech can be ment to be taught or founded him self So in like sort in S. Peters Commission Ioan 21. Feede my sheepe Luc. 22. Confirme thy brethren and in Christs words of him Mat. 16. Thou art Peter and vpon this Rock will I build my Church No one Apostle or other besides him self who alone is spoken to and is in them apointed Feeder and Confirmer and Foundation is any more excepted than any other Christian is excepted in the Commission of the Apostles in generall And therfore are they as well and as clearly included in his Cōmission vnder the name Sheepe Brethren Church as other Christians are included in theirs vnder the name of Nations and Church And therfor Saint Bernard said de Consider Nihil excipitur vbi nihil distinguitur There being no distinction in these words of Christ my Church my Sheepe thy Brethren made from the rest of the Apostles they are not excepted but included in them Wherfore if Protestants will here admit their commō rule of expounding one place of Scripture by an other they must confesse that Scripture as clearly maketh S. Peter Head of the Apostles as it maketh them Head of all other Christians Secondly prooued by confession of Protestāts Secondly I prooue by confession of Protestāts that Christ in his words My Church My Sheepe Thy Brethren spoken to Saint Peter included the rest of the Apostles For D. Reynolds Conferenc p. 385. saith that Christ by My Church Mat. 16. meant generally the Catholick Church all the chosen But the Apostles were chosen yea the chefest of them And p. 386. It is the Church of Gods elect and chosen which Christ doth call in this place Math 16. my
Church where he addeth that this is cleare and out of all controuersie And p. 368. Christ said of his whole Church that the gates of hell c. Therfore the whole Church was founded on Peter The same he repeateth Conclus 1. p. 615. and Conclus 2. p. 625. and generally all Protestāts graunt the same For out of this place they proue that the Elect can not fall from God because Christ here sayd that Hell gates should not preuaile against his Church That is say they against his Elect. In like sort the said Reinolds Conf. p. 386. saith that these words My Sheepe Iohn 10 where it is sayd my sheepe heare my voice included all the Elect. Therfore Ioan. 21. the very same words include all the Elect beside Peter who is excepted because he is apointed to feede them vnles we will not vpon any different occasion ministred by scripture but vpon our own preconceited opinion expound the same word now one way now an other Finally the sayd Reinolds Conf. pag. 103. confesseth that by Thy Bethren Luc. 22. Christ ment all the faithfull Then surely he included all the Apostles Thirdly by authoritie of Fathers 6. Thirdly I proue that S. Peter was head of the whole Church by the authoritie of holy Fathers whome because Whitaker cōfesseth as yow heard before to teach most clearly that the Church i◠founded vpon Peter I wil omit their words and remit those that list read them to Bellarm. l. 1. de Pont. c. 10. Onely I will shew that they teach that the Church as it includeth the rest of the Apostles is founded vpon Peter onely Cyprian epist ad Iulian. Ecclesia quae vna est super vnum The Church which is one is founded vpon one who by the commaundemēt of our Lord receaued the key therof In which words we see that as the Church is sayd to be one onely so it is said to be founded vpon one onely And lib. 1. epist 8. Ecclesia vna Cathedra vna c. One Church and one Chaire was by our Lords word founded vpon Peter And Saint Hierom. in 2. Isaiae after he had said that the Apostles were Montes mountains addeth Super vnum montium Christus fundat Ecclesiam loquens ad eum Tu es Petrus c. Vpon one of the Montains Christ foundeth his Church and speaking to him thou art Peter c. S. Leo serm 2. de Anniuers saith Saint Peter was plus ceteris ordinatus c. ordained more than the rest whiles he is called a Rock a Foundation and apointed porter of the kingdome of heauen And for this cause the Fathers when they speak of Peter in respect of the rest of the Apostles they manifestly prefer him in authority before them ceteris praelatus discipulis Preferred before the rest of the disciples saith S. Basil homil de Iudicio Eccles And this is so euident as D. Reinolds Confer pag. 179. confesseth that the Fathers call Peter the mouth the Top the highest the President the head of the Apostles and. pag. 562. The Prince the Top the Cheefest of the Apostolick company the Teacher of the whole world and a Father of the houshould And graunteth also that some of these Titles touch gouernment and signifie a preheminence in gouernment Reinolds deuiseth an authoritie in S. Peter to auoid his supremacie Whervpon he is inforced pag. 180. to acknowledg that Saint Peter was superiour among the Apostles as a President of a Parliament in France or as a Consull among the Romans But who wel considereth shall easely perceaue that this is but an authoritie deuised of purpose to delude the words of the Fathers who speaking of Saint Peters authoritie ouer the Apostles vse the very words which we do to declare his supremacy And therfor if they be vnderstood by their own words and not as Reinolds pleaseth to expound them they vsing the same words as we do must be vnderstood as we are But because this question is some what beside my present purpose I will vrge it no farther Onely I would know of Reinolds how Peter did come by his Consulship ouer the Apostles which he graunteth to him Did the Apostles giue it him But where readeth he that Did Christ bestow it on him But where if not Math. 16. and Iohn 21. In which places if Christ gaue him any authoritie ouer the Apostles he gaue him as full power ouer them as ouer other Christians For ther is no limitation of his power towards some more than towards others but they are as well to be foūded on him as others are he was to feede them as wel as others Nether doth this his authoritie ouer the rest of the Church and the Apostles too preiudice the supreme authority of Christ ouer all any more than the lyke authority which the Protestāts graunt euery Apostle had ouer the rest of the Church Secōdly I would know of Reinolds why he doth not graunt this Consulship ouer the whole Church to the Pope or at least to some one Bishop or other but wil make euery Prince head of the Church in his Kingdome That S. Peters authority remaineth in some Bishop of the Church 7. Now that this authority of Saint Peter remaineth still in the Church and descended from him to some Bishop I proue because all the ends for which ether Christ declared or the Fathers affirme that Christ instituted this authoritie to remaine as well after his death as before The first was that the gates of hell should not preuaile against the Church Math. 16. Secondly that what is loosed in earth may be loosed in heauen ibi Thirdly that Peter might cōfirme his Brethren Luc. 22. Fourthly that he might feede Christs sheepe Io. 21. Fiftly that one being made head occasion of Schisme might be taken away Hierom. lib. 1. cont Iouinianum Sixtly that the origine of the vnitie of the Church might appeare Cyprian de simpl Praelat because as he saith lib. 1. epist 3. Priestly vnity rose from Peters chaire And epist ad Fulcian Our Lord began the origine of vnitie from Peter This cause alleadgeth also Leo. epi. 84. and Anast and Optat. l. 2. contra Parmen But all these ends remaine after Saint Peters death Therfore the authoritie also remaineth Besides S. Austin saith l. de Pastor c. 1. Christiani sumus propter nos Praepositi non nisi propter vos Therfore Saint Peter being made Cheefe of Gods Church for the good of it left his authoritie in the Church Whervpon S. Austin tract 50. in Ioannem saith that when Peter receaued the keyes Ecclesiam sanctam significauit he represented the holy Church because he receaued them as her Gouernour vnder Christ and for her good And therfore as long as she remaineth the authority which Saint Peter receaued for her good must remaine Aarons authoritie remained in his Successors Therfore Peters Secondly I proue it because God in the ould law instituted one high Priest who vnder him in
spirituall matters should be head of the Sinagogue as in plaine termes confesse Caluin lib. 4. Instit c. 6. § 2. Whitaker cont Dur. p. 151. Reinolds Conferen pag. 204. 205. And his authoritie descended to his successors so long as the Synagogue continued Wherfore wel said the Archbishop of Canterbury Suruey cap. 8. VVe must not dreame that when the Apostles S. Peter died the authoritie which was giuen to them ceased no more than we may that the authority of Aaron and his naturall sonnes expired and ended with them But the gouernment of the Synagogue was but a figure of the gouernment of the Church For as Saint Paul saith Omnia in figura contingebant illis Therfore c. Who will see more of this matter may read Stapleton contr 3. q. 2. That the Pope is Successor to S. Peter 8. Onely this remaineth that wee proue that the Bishop of Rome consequently Saint Gregory was successor to Saint Peter in this authority Which I proue First because no other Bishop euer claimed it For albeit the Patriarch of Constantinople in Saint Gregoryes tyme claimed to be vniuersall Patriarch that is as Saint Gregory vnderstood him to be the onely proper and formall Bishop as shall be more declared hereafter yet he acknowledged him self vnder the Pope as Saint Gregory him self withall witnesseth in these wordes lib. 7. epist 63. De Constant sede quis dubitet eam Sedi Apostolicae esse subiectam c. VVho doubted but the See of Constāt is subiect to the See Apostolick of Rome which both the most religious Lord the Emperor and our Eusebius religious brother Bishop of the same Citty do dayly professe Where by the way I note that Eusebius is not the name of the Patriarch of Constantinople at that tyme but a sirname giuen vnto him for his great externall acts of religion who also was for his abstinence named Ieiunator that is Faster Secondly because the Bishops of Rome haue alwayes challenged and often practised the same authority The Church of Rome saith Fox Act. lib. 1. pag. 1. in all these ages aboue specified from the Apostles that challanged to it selfe the title and ringleading of the whole Vniuersall Church on earth by whose direction all other Churches haue bene gouerned And pag. 18. VVhat so euer was done in other places commonly the maner was to write to the Roman Bishop for his approbation The testimony of the Roman Bishop was sometymes wont to be desired in those dayes of Pope Iulius for admitting Bishops in other Churches wherof we haue examples in Socrates lib. 4. c. 37. VVhen Bishops of any other Prouinces were at any dissention they appealled to the Bishop of Rome Doct. Reinolds Confer pag. 457. Popes of the second 300. yeares after Christ claimed some soueraignty ouer Bishops pag. 383. Zozimus Boniface Celestin did vsurp saith he ouer the Churches of Africk whiles Austin was aliue pag. 544. They would haue Bishops and elders appealle to Rome And. pag. 550. Popes namly Innocent Leo Gelas Vigil Greg. taught that the Fathers by the sentence of God decreed that whatsoeuer was done in Prouinces far of should not be concluded before it came to the notice of the See of Rome And this they say all Churches tooke their beginning from the Roman that all Bishops had their honor from Peter And yet him selfe saith pag. 545. that Pope Innocent was learned and Catholick And pag. 540. That S. Austin alleadgeth his authority against hereticks And that in those times Popes were learned and Catholicks pag. 552. 554. 555. and sued vnto by S. Basil S. Chrisostom and S. Augustin and the African Bishops sought vnto them for their aduise and counsell for their authoritie and credit Of such acount were those Popes that claymed the supremacie euen amongst the cheefe Doctors of the Church Doct. Whitak lib. 7. cont Dur. pag. 480. saith that Pope Victor practised authoritie ouer externe Churches who was not long after S. Peter and by the iudgment of Protestants a godly martyr Wicklif in Fox pag. 445. confesseth the Bishop of Rome to be Christs Vicar on earth And Luther for some yeares after he began Protestancy confessed the same as yow may see lib. de Captiu Babyl in initio and in Fox pag. 774. Edit 1596. 9. Thirdly I prooue it Third reason that the Pope succeded Peter in his authority because the Pope is successor to Saint Peter in his Bishoprick therfore he is more like to haue his authority than any other That the ancient Fathers say that Saint Peter was Bishop of Rome Protestants nether do nor can deny And therfore I will for breuity omitt their testimonies and content my self with these mens confessions The learned and ancient Fathers saith Bilson lib. of Obedience pag. 143. call the Bishops of Rome Peters successors pag. 380. Saint Peter founder of Saint Leo his Church The Fathers say writeth Reinolds pag. 218. 219 Peter was Bishop of Rome and he nameth Hierom Euseb Irenaeus Bishop Cooper in Chron. Linus first Bishop of Rome after Peter But saith Reinol they meant improperly And why so Because saith he Peter being Apostle could not be Bishop of one Cyttie VVhē the Fathers call Peter Bishop of Rome they meane properly Secōdly because Irenaeus lib. 3. c. 3. nameth Linus first Bishop of Rome and Eusebius in Chron. calleth Euodius first Bishop of Antioch which could not be if Peter had bene a proper Bishop But against these cauils I oppose the propriety of the word Bishop which no Father or ancient writer hath signified that he vsed improperly when he called S. Peter Bishop And all words especially in histories are to be taken properly when the Authors declare not the contrary els we should neuer be sure how we should vnderstād the writer Secōdly they say that S. Peter was first B. of Rome Negare non potes saith Optatus l. 2. writing against hereticks Thou canst not deny that thou knowest that to Peter first was an Episcopal Chaire set in Rome in which first sate Peter to whome succeded Linus Loe how certain was it thē that the very hereticks could not deny but they knew it to be so Wherfor I ask when the Fathers sayd Peter was first Bishop how they vsed the word Bishop If improperly then they meant so of Linus If properly thē we haue our purpose Thirdly in reckoning of the Catalogue of the Bishops of Rome they alwaies name Peter first Iren l. 3. c. 3. Euseb Chron. Epiph. haer 27. Hier. in Clemente Optatus l. 2. Aug. ep 165. But what should he do in the Catalogue of proper Bishops if he were none him self Besides they reckon him first Bishop of Rome as they reckon Mark first B. of Alexandria but Mark was a proper Bishop Fourthly they call the See of Rome the seat or chaire of Peter S. Cyprian lib. 1. Epist 3. lib. 4. epist 2. S. Hierom in Pet. ep ad Damasum Aug. lib. 2. cont Petil cap. 51. Sozom. lib. 1. c. 14.
his time very learned and composed a Chronicle vvith notable paynes which Bale tearmed an excellent and fruitfull vvorke and it hath bene printed by Protestants with great commendations And in the arraignment of F. Garnet he is called by a Protestant noble man a vvitnes of best regard accordinge to the state of those times Thus many thus auncient to omitt the famous Baronius and other later writers also alleadged thus esteemed of Protestants theâ—â— selues are the Authors whose testimonies I produce for what I say of S. Austin and his successors and of our Kings and our forefathers religion VVhose testimonie whether Ministers admitt or refuse they are ouerthrowne For if they admitt them they are clearlie condemned and if they refuse them they are contemned For in matters of Antiquitie to refuse to be tryed by so many so auncient so indifferent writers and so much commended by them selues and to say and that without testimonie of one equall writer to the contrarie that they were all either deceaued or lyed what other is it than vtterlie to condemne them selues and their cause as not able to abide the onelie triall which can be made of auncient matters that is by histories and auncient recordes will they not credit such histories as them selues iudge worthie of credit will they not beleeue such writers as them selues account especiall freinds of truth of singular fidelitie diligence and indifferent and most excellent Historiographers will they not follow them in matters of Antiquitie whom them selues tearme the most true guides of the times past What other thinge were this than obstinatelie to refuse truth it selfe But much more will this appeare when they shall be found not onelie to refuse our writers though neuer so auncient and indifferent and esteemed of them selues but euen their owne best writers or els be condemned Let vs see therfor the Protestant writers whom we produce as witnesses in this triall of Religions A CATHALOGVE Of the cheefe ProtestaÌ„t vvriters On whose testimonies the Authour relieth for what he writeth of S. Austin and Luther A. ABBOTS Doctor and Professour of Diuinitie now an earnest writer both against Cardinall Bellarmin and Doctor Bishop B. BALE Bishop of Ossorie in Ireland in King Edward the Sixt time as him selfe writeth Cent. 8. cap. 100. and one of the first English Preachers of Protestantisme in time of King Henrie for which both vnder him and after vnder Queene Marie he suffered as he saith much As for his skill in Antiquities he writeth of himselfe in his Epistle before his foureteeneth Centurie that he had Antiquitatum penetralia incognitas orbi Historias and in the Epistle before the thirteenth Centurie that he had read the histories and Chronicles allmost of all Antiquities And how earnest a Protestant he was appeareth both by his said sufferinges and allso by his most spitefull kind of writinge against Catholiques which is so great as it seemeth malice did possesse the hart tongue and penn of that man and himselfe is fayne to excuse it in his epistle to the Counte Palatin Of the Authour of the daungerous positions he is reckoned amongst their learned men who in the beginning of Queene Elizabeths raygne Came out of Germanie and of other Protestants often times cited Reinoldes in his Confer Abbots de Antichriso The booke which I alledge of this man is his Centuries of the writeers of Britanie edit Basileae 1559. in fol. BILSON at this present the pretended Bishop of winchester and well knowne for his writinges both against Catholiques and Puritanes C. CAIVS Doctor of Phisicke and halfe founder of Gonell and Caius Colledge in Cambridge So well seene in Englishe Antiquities as by an Oxonian Orator he is tearmed the Antiquarie CALVIN is more famous among Protestants than I need note him and of such account amongst many as Doctor Couel saith his writinges were made allmost the rule of Controuersies CAMBDEN well knowne for his discription of Britanye and tearmed of Protestants an excellent Antiquarie and greatlie commended of diuers in verses before his booke The edition of his booke cited by me is Londini Anno. 1600. in quarto COWPER pretended Bishop first of Lyncolne and after of Winchester well knowne for his Dictionarie and his Chronicle D DAVNGEROVS Positioner So I tearme the vnnamed Authour of a booke called Daungerous Positions by some thought to be the worke of Doctor Bancrofte now pretended Bishop of Canterburie by others of Doctor Sutclife F. FOX most famous amongst Protestants for his Acts monuments of their Martyrs which they haue so credited as they haue set it in diuers of their Churches to be read of all To omitt diuers high praises giuen to him as you may see in the beginning of his booke Ford vpon the Apocalips calleth him most holie father Doctor Abbots in his booke of Antichrist cap. 8. tearmeth him a man of most famous memorie a most graue and most pious man and plainlie a diuine man Bale Cent. 9. cap. 92. saith he was his Achates FVLKE Doctor of diuinitie and a great writer against Catholiques whom I. B. alias Bacster in tayle of two legged foxes cap. 13. thus prayseth profound fulke vvhose truth and great trauell the Church of God hath tryed many a fox hast thou had in chase not able to abide thy hote pursuite Doctor Reynolds in his preface before his Six Conclusions calleth him a stout and faithfull souldier of Christ G GODWIN now Subdeane of Excester sonne to Godwin pret Bishope of Bathe as himselfe saith in his Cathalogue of Bishopes H HOLINSHED notorious for his great Chronicle and most earnest against Catholikes as you may see by what he writeth of S. Austin HVMPHREY Doctor of Deuinitie and the Queenes Reader therof in Oxford whom I. B. loc cit thus comendeth Humphrey of much reading in thy time past vvas then a cheefe hunter of the Romish fox And Bale Cent. 9. cap. 93. highly commendeth him I IEWELL so famous and knowne to Protestantes as I need say nothinge L LVTHER the father of Protestancie and of what high account he is amongst Protestants you may see infra lib. 3. cap. 1. R. REYNOLDS Doctor of Diuinitie who saith I. B. loc cit hath the old fox and his cubbs in the chase S. STOW well knowne for his Chronicle and others his writinges of Antiquitie SVTCLIFE Doctor of Diuinitie and Deane of Excester and a great writer against Catholikes SVRVEYER so I call the vnnamed Authour of the Suruey of the pretended holie Discipline by some taken to be the worke of the said Doctor Sutclife by others the worke of the Lord of Canterburie W. WHITAKER Doctor and Professour of Diuinitie and a great writer against Catholiques whom I. B. loc cit calleth vvorthie VVhitaker of neuer dyinge fame Doctor Willet in his Tetrastylon pag. 9. tearmeth him a vvorthie and learned man pag. 10. a godlie learned man Doctor Bucley in his Apologie of religion pag. 84. An excellent man of blessed memorie These and thus esteemed
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.
from his Clergie but followed that trade and forme of liuing which was vsed in the primitiue Church among the Fathers among whome there was none that said that to be his owne which he possessed but all things were comon 2 And as for worldly pleasur what should moue Saint Austin think we to leaue his natiue Contry Nor pleasure and to seeke pleasure in a strange Contry where he knoweth nether place person nor language What pleasure should moue an Italian to chāge Italy for England Rome for Canterbury especially when our Contry as then it was was sauage and barbarous What pleasure can we imagin can moue a Christian to goe to preach Christs faith among barbarous infidells Or what pleasure did Saint Austin seeke here who with his fellowes liued here so Angel like that as Saint Beda writteth lib. 1. cap. 26. our Nation maruailed much at their simplicity of their innocent liuing and our King was then much delighted with the puritie of their life and the example of their godly conuersation And being Archbishop yet left not his religious life and as is before shewed tooke exceeding paines in teaching and baptizing our Nation and wonderfully labored to conuert the Britons also Who as is before said went still on foote and for the most part barefoote and had his knees hard like the knees of a camell by continuall prayer Motiues of S. Austins preaching Wherfore no human motiue but the diuine motiues of obedience to his Maister and lawfull Bishop the great Saint and glorious Doctor of Gods Church Saint Gregory Obediēce who sent him and commanded him to come hither to preach And of Charitie Charitie to saue our Nations soules by bringing them out of heathenish infidelitie to the faith of Christ Gods glorie And glorie of God were the incitements motiues and causes of Saint Austins comming hither and preaching that religion which he did And this is manifest both by the testimonies of Catholick Writers and confessions of Protestants which we cited before touching Saint Austins holines and shall alleadge in this next Chapter where we shall prooue that this great Clerck and holy man Saint Austin moued by these saintly motiues to preach to our Nation was also lawfully sent therto with sufficient authoritie and commission CHAPT VIII That Saint Austin was lawfully sent hither to preach prooued by diuers authorities and confession of Protestants TWO things ther are required to euery lawfull Pastor to wit both right Orders and lawfull Commission to administer the Sacraments and Word of God And albeit by order of doctrine wee should speake first of Saint Austins orders yet because his Commission being cleared his orders will easely appeare to be good I will speake first of his Cōmission where with he was sent to preach And that he was sent of Saint Gregory wee need not prooue For as Sutclif saith in his Subuersion cap. 3. It is not denied that Gregory sent Austin The onely difficulty can be whether he were lawfully sent and by sufficient authoritie or no. Hovv manie vvayes S Austins mission is prooued But that he was lawfully sent to preach I will prooue first by sacred testimony from Heauen Secondly by authority of Catholicks Thirdly by confession of Protestants Fourthly by examples and lastly by reason The testimony from Heauen is of Saint Peter By S Peters testimonie from heauen who appearing in a vision to Saint Laurence successor of Saint Austin when he vpon the reuolt of our Contrie to Paganisme intended to abandon the Land scourged him saith Saint Beda lib. 2. cap. 6. with sharp stripes a great while in the close night and asked why he would forsake the flock which he him self had committed vnto him Behould Saint Peter from Heauen testifieth that he had cōmitted English men to the teaching of Saint Laurence one of Saint Austins fellow labourers whome Saint Austin him self appointed consecrated for his successor And when Saint Laurence awaked saith Godwin he found it more than a dreame for all his body was gore blood VVherfore going immediatly to the King Edbald he shewed him his woundes and together related to him the occasion of them which strook such a terror into the King as by and by he renounced his Idolls and caused him self to be baptized The apparition of S Peter to be true Now that this apparition to S. Laurence was no dreame or illusion appeareth many wayes First by the reall wounds which both Saint Laurence felt and the King sawe Secondly by the authority of Saint Laurēce who being so holy a man would neuer auouch an idle dreame or illusion for a certain vision Thirdly by the beleefe giuen therto by King Edbald and his people who doubtles examined it throughly before they would vpon the credit therof forsake their Idolls Fourthly by the heauenly effect which it wrought which was the recalling of our Contry from Paganisme to Christianity to which ende the Diuell would neuer cooperat any way Fifthly by the authority of S. Beda and our best Chroniclers Malmesbury lib. 1. Reg lib. 2. Pont. Huntington lib. 3. Marianus an 617. Westmon anno 616. ibidem Florent and others who haue credited and recorded it as a true vision Protestāts confesse S. Peters apparition Lastly by the confession of diuers Protestants as Godwin in the life of Saint Laurence and Holinshed in the life of King Edbald And surly who well considereth it can not but account it a singuler fauor of God and honor to our Contrie that first in the Britons tyme it should receaue the faith of Christ by the preaching of S. Peter S. Peters care of this Coūtrie by whose month as he saith Acts 15. From ancient tyme God hath made choice that Gentils should heare the VVord of God and beleeue And afterward in our English Ancestors tyme should recouer the same faith againe by the meanes of Saint Gregory one of the gloriousest successors of Saint Peter that euer was and mooued therto by him from Heauen Which amongst other things declareth that to be true which the same Saint Peter said to Saint Brithwald Ealred in vit S. Edvvardi Sur. tom 1. Regnum Anglorum regnum Dei est The Kingdom of England is the Kingdom of God 2. As for the authoritie of Catholicks S. Austins mission proued by authoritie of Catholicks S. Gregorie the first place is due to Saint Gregory who writing to Eulogius Patriarch of Alexandria lib. 7. epist 30. saith VVhiles the English Nation abiding in a corner of the world remained hitherto in infidelity in the worship of wood and stones by the help of your prayers it seemed good to me God being the Author to send a Monke of my Monastery thither to preach Loe he ascribeth the sending of S. Austin to God as Author and to holy mens prayers as helpes therunto And againe writing to Saint Austins company in Beda lib. 1. c. 23. saith Let nether the trauaill
Prosper lib. De ingratis Bernard epist 237. And in like sort they call it sedes Apostolica as Caluin confesseth and is euident ex Concil Calcedon Act. 16. And Rein. Confer pag. 369. The Fathers in speaking of the Church of Rome mention often the Chair and seat of Peter Hierom honoreth the Bishop of that See with the name of Peters Chaire Fiftly they call the Bishop of Rome successor to S. Peter S. Hier. ep ad Damas Concil Ephes 1. Tom. 2. S. Eulog apud Greg. lib. 6. ep 37. And that they meane of a proper successor appeareth by that they attribute that peculierly to the Pope Sixtly lastly they say that Peter sate in the Bishops Chaire of Rome as they saye his successors did Cathedra saith S. Austin lib. 2. cont Petil. quid tibi fecit Romana in qua Petrus sedit in qua nunc Anastasius sedet VVhat hath the Chair of Rome done to thee in which Peter sate and in which now sitteth Anastasius Therfore either Peter was a proper Bishop or Anastasius was none To conclude Reinolds sayth P. Damas succeded Peter in his chaire Reinolds him self though vnawares confesseth it pag. 376. where he sayth that Damasus succeded Peter as in Chair so in doctrine 10. As for the first of Reinolds cauils It is no more against Peters Apostleship to be Bishop of one Citty than it was to take a particuler care of the Iewes as he did nor more than it is for the Bishop of Winster to be Parson of Eastmean And for the second Irenaeus doth not call Linus first Bishop of Rome but onely saith that Peter and Paul gaue him the Bishoprick to gouern the Church to wit vnder Peter and in his absence Euseb indeed calleth Euodius first Bishop of Antioch but that he meaneth of pure Bishops which were not also Apostles For before he had sayd Petrus Ecclesiam Antiochenam fundauit òbique Cathedram adeptus sedit And Rein. loco cit confesseth and both he and all graunt that Linus was Peters successor And as for Ruffin his words proue no more but that Peter instituted Linus to help him especially in his absence as Valerius did institute S. Aug. in his life tyme who after his death succeeded him and so did Linus to Peter Thus haue I prooued that S. Gregorie was successor to S. Peter in his Episcopall See and that he succeded him also in faith I neede not proue because protestants although they find some fault with Greg. doctrine yet they confesse as is shewed before that he taught as much as is needfull to saluation and consequently he wanted no thing to true succession to S. Peter 11. Fourthly I proue that the Pope was most likely to succede Saint Peter Proued out of Fathers that the P. succedeth peter in his authority by that which the Fathers attribute to him Saint Hierom epist ad Damasum de nomine hypostasis Ego nullum primum nisi Christum sequens beatitudini tuae id est Cathedrae Petri communione consocior super illam Petram aedificatam Ecclesiam scio Quicunque extra hanc domum agnum comederit prophanus est I following none formost but Christ communicate with thy Holines that is with the Chaire of Peter Vpon that Rock do I know the Church was built who soeuer shall eate the lambe out of this house is prophane Note how he saith that he followeth first Christ and next the Pope and that the reason which he giueth herof after was not why he followed Christ first for that were needles to proue amongst Christians And if he would haue giuen any it would haue bene Hierom follovveth the P. next after christ because Christ made the P. the rock of his Church because Christ is God But the reason which he giueth was why he followed the Pope next to Christ to wit because he knew him to be the Rock on which the Church was built Wherby it is euident that by the Rock he meant not Christ as Bilson lib. de Obed. pag 87. and others would but Pope Damasus as Reinolds cōfesseth p. 370. 376. But yet he meant not saith Reinolds the succession of the Popes because Hierom writeth that Pope Liberius had before subscribed to Arianisme But if Hieroms words be well pōdered he will be found to haue said both that Pope Damasus was the Rock and that his succession to Saint Peter in his Chaire of Rome was the cause why he was the Rock For if a subiect writing to the King should say Nullum primum nisi Deum sequens maiestati tuae id est Throno Conquestoris in temporalibus consocior Super illam petram aedificatum Angliae Regnum scio Quicumque extra hanc domum aliquid egerit rebellis est He should confesse that both the King were head of the Realme and with all tell how he came by that authority to witt by succession to the conqueror So Saint Hierome in the forsaid words both sayd that Pope Damasus person which he meant by Beatitudini tuae was the Rock on which in his tyme the Church was built and sayd with all that his person had that authoriry by his succession to Saint Peter in his Roman Chaire and therfore added these words id est Cathedrae Petri as a further explication of the former And consequently he meant that the Church is built vpon all Popes that lawfully succeed in the Chaire of Peter Which is so euident as Doct. Feild lib. 1. de Ecclesia D. Feild cap. 41. confesseth plainly that Saint Hierome loc cit said that Peters Chaire is the Rock the Church is builded vpon As for Reinolds reasons were it truth that S. Hierome wrote as Reinolds saith of Liberius which yet diuers deny and Reinolds must deny if he will speak agreably to him self For pag. 570. he saith that the words of Austin ep cont Donat. and Hierome ep cit do import a sincerity of faith in the Roman Bishops to their tyme which would not be true if Liberius had fallen But admit I say it were true that Liberius had denyed his faith that maketh no more against his Rock ship than the like fault in S. Peter did against his For as S. Peter though he denyed his faith yet taught not infidelitie as he was Apostle and Pastor of the Church so nether Liberius though he committed a personall crime yet taught he no heresie as successor to S. Peter in which sorte onely he is the Rock of the Church 12. Secondly S. Austin ep contra Donat. saith S. Austin Numerate Sacerdotes vel ab ipsa Petri Sede Ipsa est enim Petra quam non vincunt superbae inferorum portae Number the Priests euen from the very Seat of Peter Successiō of Popes by S. Austin the Rock of the Church It is the Rock which the proud gates of hell do not ouercom Behould how the very succession of Popes from Peter is called the Rock of the Church as the Chair of Peter
vndoubtedly the same which his maister S. Gregor lib. de Sacrament and our ancient Contreyman Alcuin lib. de diuinis offic describe which Catholicks now vse and Protestants reiect to wit besids baptising with water to exorcize the child and to breath in his face to make the signe of the Crosse in the childs forhead and brest to put salt into his mouth and to touch his nostrels and eares with spitle and to anoint him betwene the shoulders Surly these things considered me thinkâ— S. Austin may say to vs as Saint Paul did to the Thessalonians My Gospel was not to yow in speech onely but in veritie and in the holy Ghost and in much plentie And that our Ancestors and we may say with the great Doctor Richard de S. Victore The things which we beleeue were confirmed with so many so great so wonderful miracles that it may seeme a kind of madnes any way to doubt of them I would the Iewes Protestants would mark I would the Pagans Puritans would consider with what securitie of conscience we may appeare before God touching this parte May we not with all confidence say to God Lord if it be an error we were deceuied by thee For the things which we beleue were confirmed amongst vs with so greate signes and wonders and with such as could not be wrought but by thee Surely they were deliuered vnto vs by men of great holines and approued with great and authentical testimonies thy self cooperating and confirming their speeche with signes following 11. Finally if any men be founde so Thomas-lyke and hard of beleefe that he will not beleeue that S. Austin wrought any miracle let them answer that which S. Austin saith lib. 22. de ciuit cap. 5. against the Pagans S. Austin who would not beleeue the miracles of the Apostles If they beleeue not that miracles were wrought by the Apostles of Christ by S. Austin and his fellowes that they might be credited this one miracle alone sufficeth that all the world should beleeue without miracles That our English Ancestors should without al miracles forsake their ancient and easy Religion and follow a new and difficult both for points of beleefe as the mysterie of the Trinitie Incarnation Eucharist and more difficult to practice as to refrain both act and thought 12. If any ask why are not miracles now done for confirmation of S. Austins doctrine as wel as then VVhy miracles are not novv I answer with S. Gregorie homil 29. in Euangel S. Austinâ— The multitude of the faithful was to be nourished with miracles that it might increase to faith Because we water the plants which we set til we see them to haue taken roote but after that we leaue watering them S. Greg. And with S. Austin lib. 22. de ciuit cap. 8. I might say that miracles were necessarie before the world of Britanie did beleeue VVho so euer now requireth wonders to beleeue he is a great wonder that beleeueth not when the world beleeueth Was it sufficient for the Iewes to beleeue the doctrine of Moises that their Forfathers saw it confirmed of him by many wonders And shall it not suffice vs that our Forfathers testifie that they saw S. Austins doctrine confirmed in lyke sorte Were not our Forfathers to be credited as wel as those Iewes Or are we more incredulous than their posteritie And hitherto Gentle Reader we haue shewed that Saint Austin had all things requisit to a sufficient and lawful Preacher of Gods word vvhat hath bene hitherto proued to wit great learning famous vertue lawful vocation and right orders we haue also shewed that the Doctrine which he preached was the vniuersal faith and religion of all Christendom at that time is confessed by the greatest Aduersaries therof to haue bene sufficient to bring men to heauen and was aproued and contested by God by manie miracles to be his diuine and infallible faith what now remaineth but to seek out what S. Austins Religion was in particuler that finding it we may be sure to haue found a Religion taught vnto our Ancestors aboue 1000. years agoe by a great Diuine by a famous Saint and a lawful Preacher rightly sent and ordered which so long since was the Religion of all Christendom was approued by God him self by true miracles and is confessed of the aduersaries to haue bene sufficient to saluation Than the which I know not what more amy reasonable man can desire CHAP. XIIII That S. Austin was a Roman Catholick proued by his Maister S. Gregorie 1. HOw careful S. Austin was to follow the doctrin and Religion of his Maister S. Gregorie apeareth by what was sayde before out of S. Beda lib. 1. cap. 27. of the questions S. Austins Rom. religion proued by S. Gregorie which S. Austin sent vnto him so far as from England concerning small matters And therfor his Religion may be euidently gathered by that of S. Greg. But because it would be tedious to proue that Saint Greg. was a Roman Catholick in all substantial points of Religion I will for proofe hereof make choice of two especial points To wit The Popes Supremacie and the Sacrifice of masse Because in the first of these points Do Reinolds in his Confer pag. 568. affirmeth the very being and essence of a Papist to consist And D. Whitaker cont Dur. pag. 503. saith It is the head of popish Religion of which almost all the rest depend And in the masse saith D. Sutclif in his Answer to Exceptions pag. 11 The very soule of Poperie doth consist And D. Whitak loc cit pag. 426. affirmeth that Nothing is more holy and diuine in our conceipt And lastly I will proue it be the open confession of diuers Protestants S. Greg. beleued the Popes supremacie 2. As for the first pointe of the Supremacie S. Greg. lib. 4. Epist 32. faith of Saint Peter who as Bil on saith lib. 1. of Obed. pag. 380. was Founder of the Roman Church It is manifest to all that know the Gospel that by our Lords voice the care of the wholle Church was committed to S. Peter Prince of all the Apostles And lib. 1. epist 24. Peter houlding the Princedome of the Church accounted him self the cheefe in the Church And lib. 11. epist 44. he calleth the Roman Church Caput fidei the head of the faith His words are these Admonemus vt Apostolicae sedis reuerentia nullius praesumptione turbetur Tunc enim status membrorum integer manet si caput fidei nulla pulsetur iniuria Likwise lib. 7. epist 49. he saith The care enioyned to vs of all Churches doth bind vs. lib. 7. epist 6. VVho doubteth but that shee Church of Constant is subiect to the See Apostolick And epist 64. If any falt be found in Bishops I knovv not vvhat Bishop is not subiect to her Church of Rome Which last words do so plainly auouch S. Greg. opinion of the supremacy as Doct. Reynolds Confer pag. 547. findeth no
much filth of superstition D. Fulk Fulk 1. Cor. 4. Austin did not beget the Nation of the English men to Christ by the pure Gospel but vvith the mixture of Traditions And that Christian Religion vvhich he found in the Britons he labored to corrupt vvith Romish inuentions 1. Cor. 15. Austin did not in all points teach the true faith to the Saxons 2. Cor. 12. Aust brought in corruption Syr Francis Hastings in his Wast word once or twise saith that Austin brought in the Romish Religion Osandes Osiander Epit. Hist cent 6. Aust thrust Roman rites and customs vpon the English To vvit Altars Vestements Masses Chalices Crosses Candlesticks Censars Banners holy Vessels holy vvater and bookes of Roman customs B. Bale See Magdeburgenses cent 6. Bale cent 1. pag. 19. After Austins Apostleship saith he vnder the English Saxons there followed an other kind of Monkes which corrupted all with most filthy superstitions Idolatries And cent 1. cap. 70. Austin entred not with the Gospel of Luther of Christian peace but with the banner of his Apostleship with a siluer Crosse Letanies Procession Images painted Pictures Reliques and ritual bookes And cap. 72. Aust made Elbald drinck of the cup of the whore cap. 73. King Ethelbert first of all English men receaued of Greg. 1. Bishop of Rome by Austin the opinions of the Roman ReligioÌ„ with all saith he the imposture or deceit and dyed the one and twentith yeare of his receaued Papisme And pag. 73. he calleth our primitiue church a carnal Synagogue And yet further cent 8. cap. 85. Austin saith he brought in Popish Monkerie besides the Popes traditions o filthie and blasphemous mouth brought no thing but mans dung Cent. 13. c. 1. Austin the Roman brought hither Romish rites without sound doctrine The King receaued Romanisme with the anexed Idolatries He brought in Monkes Altars Vestements Images Masses Chalices Crosses Candlesticks Banners holy as they call them Vessels holy water and bookes of Roman customs Their cheeffest studies were about the oblations of Masses And finally Cent. 14. cap 31. he saith Austin disposed all things in England to the forme of the Sinagogue of Rome and made English men honorers of the Pope Thus plainly is S. Austins Roman Religion confessed by Bale who was both as earnest a Protestant and as skilful in antiquities as euer â—nglish Protestant was Holinshead Holinshead also Descript Brit. cap. 27. saith The Inhabitants of Britanie receaued the Doctrine of Rome brought in by Austin and his Monks Ib. Austin indeed conuerted the Saxons from Paganisme but imbued them with no lesse hurtful superstition than they did know before For besides the name ef Christ and external contempt of their pristinat Idolatrie he taught them nothing at all but rather made an exchange from grosse to subtil trecherie from open to secret Idolatrie and from the name of Pagans to the bare Title of Christians So far were these men from thincking S. Austin to haue bene a Protestant or to haue agreed with them as Fulk would 2. Cor. 12. in the cheefe and most essential points of faith CHAP. XVII That S. Austin was a Roman Catholick proued by the Doctrine and faith of the Engilsh Church which he founded 1. IN this Chapter I will first set downe what Catholicks haue written of the faith of our Primitiue Church and after what Protestants First therfor our Primitiue English Christians sayd Masse Masse in honor of Saints and that in honor of Saints Beda lib. 4. cap. 14. Let them say Masses and giue thanks that their prayer is heard and also for the memorie of King Oswald Likwise they sayd Masse for the dead and consequently beleued it to be propitiatorie for sinnes Masse for the dead Ibid. cap. 22. Tuna a Priest and Abbot did often times cause Masse to be saide for his brothers soule Item lib. 5. cap. 13. and lib. 3. cap. cit They erected Monasteries that dayly praier might be made for the dead Offered to god the pretious bodie and blood of Christ Secondly they did beleeue that they offered to God the pretious body and blood of Christ as we beleeue we do at Masse Beda lib. 5. cap. 22. All Christian Churches throughout the world should prepare bread and wine for the mystery of the flesh and precious blood of the immaculat lambe and when all lessons prayers rites and ceremonies vsed in the solemn feast of Easter were done should offer the same to God the Father in hope of their redemption to come lib. 4. cap. 28. S. Cutbert offered the host of the holsome Sacrifice to God Thirdly CoÌ„fession of sinnes and pennance for them they confessed their sinnes to Priestes and they enioined pennance lib. 4. cap. 25. Adaman in his youth had committed a certain greiuous sinne resorting therfor to a Priest confessed his sinne to him The Priest when he had heard his sinne said a great wound requireth a great cure and medecin therfor giue thy self to fasting and prayer as much as thou art able And lib. 4. cap. 27. He telleth how Saint Cutbert heard mens confessions and enioined them pennance Miracle for confession And lib. 5. cap. 14. He telleth a dreadful punishment inflicted by God on one because in time of sicknes he would not confesse his sinnes Fourthly Priests could not marry their Clergy after holy orders takeÌ„ could not marry S. Greg. in Beda lib. 1. cap. 27. If ther by any in the Clergy out of holy orders that can not liue chast they shall take wiues The same hath S. Beda l. 5. c. 22. Fiftly Dirige Masse for the dead they song dirige ouer night and in the morning sayd Masse for the dead Beda lib. 3. cap. 2. The religious men of Hagstalden haue of long time bene accustomed to come euery yeare the eue and the day that S. Oswald was slayne to keepe Dirges there for his soule and in the morning solemnly to offer for him the sacrifice of the holy Oblation Sixtly they vsed holy water and consecrating Churches Holie vvater candels Crosses holie oile Beda lib. 5. cap. 4. The Bishop S. Iohn sent the sick Lady some of the holy water which he had halowed in the Dedication of the Church and also candles lighted Crosses and holy oyle as we do now as is euident by Malmsb lib. 2. Pont. pag. 235. and Ealred in vit Edwardi Seuenthly they blessed them selues with the signe of the Crosse Blessing vvith the signe of the Crosse Beda lib. 4. cap. 14. Cednam blessing him selfe with the signe of the holy Crosse layd down his head on the Boulster and so falling a little in a slumber ended his life in quiet And lib. 5. cap. 22. Euery congregation of faithful men accustometh to beare the signe of the Crosse on their forheads that by the Diuin power of the same they may be defended from all assaults of the Diuel Eightly their Priests and Monks vsed round shauen
crownes Priests haue shauen crovvnes Beda lib. 5. cap. 22. It behoueth them which being either made by vow Monkes or by profession of the Clergie to binde them selues more strictly with the bridle of continencie for Christs sak to bear in their head by clipping the forme of a crovvne Ibid. All Priests and Religious men had their heads shauen round after the true shape of a crowne But as Bale saith Cent. 14. pag. 194. Tonsura est Romanae Bestiae character Ninthly they erected many Altars in one Church with Martyrs reliques Manie altar Sinono Church vsed lights and other ornaments as Catholicks doe Beda lib. 5. cap. 21. Acca imployed his diligence to gather together out of all places the holy Apostles and Martyrs reliques to the end he might in honor of them build certain Altars aparte by them selues in little Chappell 's made for the same purpose within the precinct and walls of the same Church Morouer he prepared holy vessels lights and other necessaries to the better adorning of the Church of God And lib. 3. cap. 6. They worshiped Reliques Tenthly to omit many more certain Markes of Roman Religion S. Peters supremacie beleued They accounted S. Peter Primat and head of the Apostles Beda lib. 5. c. 22. I desire with all my hart to follow the stepps of Blessed S. Peter head of the Apostles Ibid. They were reduced to the order of S. Peter Primat and head of the Apostles and committed as it were to his Patronage and protection The Pope high B. ouer the vvhole vvorld They accounted the Pope high Bishop ouer the whole world So in plaine termes S. Beda calleth S. Greg. Pope l. 2. c. 1. Accounted the Church of Rome the Catholick and Apostolick Church lib. 3. c. 25. And l. 4. cap. 23. Going to Rome counted a thing of great vertue and deuotion And l. 3. c. 25. Held without all controuersie that these vvords vpon this Rock I vvill build my Church vvere principally spoken vnto Peter and that vnto him the keies of the Kingdome of heauen were giuen And the Bishops being depriued of their Bishopricks both by the King and by other Bishops appealed to Rome Beda lib. 5. cap. 20. Appeal◠from the Bishop◠and king to the Pope VVilfrid the vertuous Bishop of York appealing to the See Apostolick for his cause and by that ful authoritie absolued c. Item Fiue yeares after he was accused of King Alfrid and many other Bishops and depriued of his Bishoprick wherin vpon repairing again to Rome and obtayning licence to plead his owne defence before his accusers Pope Iohn and many Bishops sitting in Iugdment It was by their Definitiue Sentence concluded that in some parte his accusers had falsly forged surmises The Pope wrote to the Kings of England requiring them to see him restored Protestāts confesse the Rom. faith of our primitiue Church Fox And thus much out of Catholick writers now let vs see what Protestants write of the faith of our Primitiue church 2. Fox in his protestation before his Acts. After the coming of Austin and his fellowes from Rome Christian faith began to enter and spring among the Saxons after a certain Romish sorte Acts. pag. 154. Good vvorks done for clensing from sin The causes why solenm Monasteries were first founded in England by Kinges Queenes and Kings daughters and rich Consuls are these pro remedio animae meae c. For remedy of my soule for remission of my sinnes Foundation of Protestancie vnknovvne to our primitiue Church for the safty of my Kingdoms and people which are vnder my gouernment In honor of the most glorious Virgin Whervpon afterward pag. 170. he concludeth that the doctrine of Iustification by onely faith which pag. 840. he calleth the foundation of their Church was then vnknown Bale Bale Cent. 1. cap. 72. saith English men after Austin did dedicat their Churches to dead Saints Our first Christian K. a perfect Papist And cap. 73. King Ethelbert receaued the Roman Rites and doctrine with all the imposture and Cent. 14. cap. 54. saith that the two Hewalds who were the first English martyrs passi sunt pro Papismo papistici Martyres Our first Martyrs suffer for Papistrie Bilson Papistical Martyrs suffered for Papistrie Bilson of Obed pag. 321. The Saxons were soone entreated to receaue the Bishop of Rome for their Patriarch Stovv Stow pag. 77. citeth this Charter of King Ethelbert King Ethelbert by inspiration of God gaue to Bishop Mellit for remedie of his soule the Land which is called Tillingham for the Monastery of S. Paul which kind of giuing goods is quite opposit to Protestancie Honor of S. Peter counted signe of Christianitie Reinolds as yow may see more hereafter And pag. 78. saith King Sebert to shew him selfe a Christian built a Church in honor of S. Peter Reinolds Confer pag. 12. This imagination of the key and Porter and opinion of power to shut and open committed to Peter onely ouer all the Church as it includeth also the Apostles King Oswie conceaued Keys giuen onely to Peter and all his Clergie did agree vnto it And of S. Beda the principal Doctor of our Primitiue Church Osiander Osiander Epit. Cent. 7. pag. 331. saith thus He was wrapped in all the Popish errors and articles in which we disagree this day from the Pope S. Beda a perfect Papist Wherby we may see how perfect a Papist S. Austin was Fulk in Hebr. 10. Fulk Beda liued in a superstitious time yet liued he 80. yeares after S. Austin long after Antichrist did shew him self Beda sayd that men vnderstod that the helthful sacrifice of masse auailed to the redemption of the body and soule euerlasting And in 1. Pet. 3. Beda was caryed away with the errors and corruptions of his tyme. And thus I hope I haue sufficiently proued the Roman Catholick faith of our first Apostle S. Austin by the faith of his maister S. Greg. by his owne deedes and doctrine by Confession of Protestants and finally by the doctrine of our Primitiue Church which he founded and how it was that Christian Religion which was first founded in our Nation and our English Ancestors imbraced when they forsooke Paganisme Now it remaineth to shew that the same Religion hath continewed also constantly vnto this late lamentable reuolt to Protestancy in all our Nation both in the Clergie and Laitie which I will declare in all the Archbishops of Canterburie who were the cheefe of the one order and in the Kings who were heads of the other And by the way I will name in euery Kings time some of the notable men who successiuely haue confirmed it by their holy life and miracles CHAP. XVIII That all the Archbishops of Canterburie from S. Austin to our tyme were Roman Catholicks proued by generall reasons 1. FIrst because there is no mention or memorie in any Chronicle of England No record that anie Archb
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
that a while before the Conquest and somwhat after Kings tooke vpon them to inuest Bishops and Abbots as appeareth in Ingulp pag. 806. But this fact of theirs done of som ignorantly as must be thought of King Edred and others before the Conquest who were perfect Catholicks in faith as shall appeare herafter and also vertuous in life of others perhaps presumptuously and couetously against the order of the Church proueth no more that they were no Catholicks than worse facts of theirs against the law of Christ proueth them to haue bene no Christians For if Princes maye by euery fact of theirs be iudged of what religion they are they would sometimes seeme no Christians nor yet to haue a God As for S. Edward he might wel doe what he did for he was apointed by the Pope to be his Vicegerent and as it were Legat as we shall shewe in his life obiec ∣ tion 3 2. Thirdly they made saith Abbots lawes for the order and gouernment of the Church as is to be seene in the lawes of Edward of Alfred of Ethelstan and Canutus in Fox Volum 1. in fine and by many laws made since the Conquest against intrusions of the Pope as is to be seene in Syr Edward Cookes reports part 5. Ansvver Touching the lawes of the Christian Kings before the Conquest I answer that they are not Ecclesiasticall lawes such as define any thing as a point of faith or prescribe any thing concerning Religion and worship of God but are meere commandements partly for execution of former Ecclesiasticall lawes partly for procurement and conseruation of externall peace quietnes and order of the Church which kinde of lawes Princes may make as is to be seene in Stapleton Relect. Controu 2. q. 5. Ar. 1. See stapleton Besides that Christian Princes apoint thus some times things in ecclesiasticall matters not of authoritie but vpon zeale and not to dispose of faith and religion As for the lawes made since the Conquest which may seeme preiudiciall to the Popes authoritie the cheefest Authors of them were Edward 3. and Richard 2. who as shall appeare heerafter plainly professed the Popes Supremacie And therfor what lawes they made were no way to denie his authoritie but to restrain the execution therof in some cases because as the Apostle saith Omnia licent sed non omnia expediunt All things are lawfull but all things are not expedient So they thought that some execution of his authority in some matters would be preiudâ—ciall to their temporall state and therfor thought it not expedient that in those cases it should be practised As for Cookes reports they haue bene so answered as I thinck neither him self nor any for him will obiec ∣ tion 4 replie Fourthlie saith Abbots Then were the scriptures in foure seuerall languages of so many seuerall Nations besides the Latin tongue common to them all Beda lib. 1. cap. 1. This is vntrue Ansvver and Beda rather saith the contrarie His words are these This Iland at this present to the number of the 5. bookes of Moises doth studie and set forth the knowledg of one perfect truth that is with the language of the English the Britons the Scotts the Picts and the Latin which by studie of the scripture is made common to all the rest In which words he saith that the Inhabitants preached and published Christs truth in fiue seueral languages but the scripture they studied onely in Latin and therby it became common to all the Inhabitants And before in the life of Theodor we shewed by the confession of diuers Protestants that masse was in his tyme which was before S. Beda in Latin onely But admit that the scripture were then in Latin and in English too how proueth that that English men then were no Catholicks Haue not English Catholicks now the scripture in English Fiftlie saith Abbots obiec ∣ tion 5 Then were they in Monasteries commanded to be exercised in the reading of scriptures and euery one was required to learn the Lords prayer and Creede in the English tongue This is not worth the answering Ansvver For what doth the Monks reading scripture or the peoples learning the Lords prayer and Creed in English make against Catholick Religion 3. Sixtly saith Abbots Then was the CommunioÌ„ obiec ∣ tion 6 ministred in both kindes as Paris in Heraldo and Rafo reporteth of some soldiers Ansvver What Paris saith of soldiers I knowe not For at this present I haue him not at hand But that English men in our Primitiue Church communicated onely with form of bread appeareth by Beda lib. 2. cap. 5. Wher Pagans say to S. Mellit VVhy dost thou not giue vnto vs of that white bread which thou didst giue to our Father Seba and dost yet giue to the people in Church But if S. Mellit had communicated people in both kinds it is lykly they would haue demanded both Besids that Beda expoundeth that place of Luke Cognouerunt eum in fractione panis where mention is of one onely kinde of sacramental communion Therfor he and consequently our English Church then alowed communion in one kinde But whether they communicated in both or one kinde maketh little to proue that they were not Catholickâ— because til lay people were forbidden it was lawful for them to communicate Obiec ∣ tion 7 in both kindes 4. Seauenthlie theÌ„ saith Abbots was Transubstantiation vnknowne and when it began to be broached or not long after Elfricus Archbishop of Canterburie contradicted it Ansvver How vntrue this is of TraÌ„substantiation hath bene shewed before in the life of S. Greg and S. Odo As for Elfric the Protestant Bishops them selues who published that sermon confesse See befor hovv Bale confesseth Archb. Alfric to haue bene a Papist and of Transubstant in S. Odo Archb. that the Author therof was no Archbishop of Canterbury More likly it is to be true which Fox Acts. pag. 1148. saith that it was Elfric surnamed Bata an Heretick who as S. Dunstan appearing to one in a vision said as reporteth Osbern attempted to disherit his Church but I haue stopped him saith S. Dunstan he could not preuaile Albeit indeed that sermon doth more approoue Transubstantiation than disprooue it For in that is saide that Christ turned through inuisible might the bread to his owne body and wine to his blood And that holy howsel is by might of Gods word truly Christs body and his blood And that after their halowing bread and wine trulye are Christs body and blood And what other do Catholicks now say but what here is said Vz. That bread and wine are by inuisible power turned into Christs body and blood and become after consecration truly not figuratiuly his body and blood And though the Author of the sermon ad that the sacrament after consecration is not bodily but Ghostly Christs bodie yet the word ghostly is not added to deny the word Truly which is absolutly affirmed but onely to deny the word Bodily that is carnally
holines of the man yet yow see how holy him selfe and other Protest confesse him to haue bene or corporas but for conuersion of the heathen But it sufficeth that God would work so great a miracle for conuersion of the heathen to the Roman faith In this Kings time liued also King Oswald Miracle for confirmation of praiers made befor Crosses whome Fox Acts pag. 133. calleth a Saint and who by vertue of prayer which he made before a Crosse with a far lesse army vanquished his enemies as not onely S. Beda lib. 3. cap. 2. and Catholick writers but Fox also Acts lib. 2. pag. 121. Cambd. in Brit. pag. 720. and others do grant So wel did God then lyke praying before Crosses As for diuers other miracles done by S. Oswalds reliques and by very chipps of his Crosse which S. Beda lib. 3. cap. 2. 10. 11. other English writers do record Fox dare not denie Saint Osvvalds miracles Fox loc cit saiâ—h he hath not to affirme what the people of that time affirmed of him As if he were amazed not knowing whether to confesse the miracles and so condemne his religion of falsitie or deny them and so condemne him self of impudencie Protest confesse miracles to haue bene done by reliques and the Crosse Especially seeing that Iuel Art 1. diu 19. Bel. Suruey pag. 353. and D. Whitak lib. 10. cont Dur pag. 866. confesse that God hath often times wrought miracles by the reliques of Saints and also done strang miracles and driuen away Diuels with the Crosse as testifie Iuel Art 14. Diu 3. And Fox him selfe Acts pag. 85. testifieth that Constantin the great professed that he did ouercome his enemies salutari Crucis signo Feild lib. 3. of Church cap. 20. lib 4. cap. 31. by the holsom signe of the Crosse In this Kings tyme also Sigebert King of the East Angles left his Kingdom and became a Monke A King a mâ—nk and diuers Kings Daughters Nonnes and S. Edburga daughter to King Ethelbert S. Eanswid daughter to King Edbald and S. Ebba a Lady of the bloud royall left their estates and became Nonnes Beda lib. 3. cap. 18. Capgraue in vita Eanswidae Cambd. in Brit. pag. 670. Hunting lib. 2. King Senwalch the 2. Christian King 4. THe second Christian King of the Westsaxons was Senwalch sonne as Beda lib. 3. cap. 7. and others record of Kinegilsus began his Reigne An. 643. and reigned 31. yeares twice vanquished the Britons The valour and vertue of K. Senvvalch and tooke a great part of land from the Mercians and as Malmsb. writeth lib. 1. Reg. cap. 2. was comparable to the best Princes the middle and last of his time and so religious that as Florent An. 843. Fox Acts. pag. 122. Stow pag. 96. write he built the Cathedral Church at Winchester and gaue all the Contrie within 7. miles about for maintenance of Priests that should serue therin though Godwin in vita Agilberti say his Father began the worke and that he did but finish and confirme his Fathers deed and grant and adde therto thre Manners K. Senvvalch a Rom. Catholick But as for the Roman Religion of this religious and vertuous King it is manifest first by what hath bene sayd of his Father Secondly because after the decease of S. Birin aforsayd his Bishops was Agilbert as Beda lib. 3. cap. 9 Malmsbus lib. 1. cap. 2. Godwin in Agilbert and all agree which Agilbert was so notorious a Papist as Fox in his Protestation before his Acts reckoneth him amongst Romish monkes much drowned as he saith in superstition with Dunstan Lanfranc and such lyke And in a Synod defended the Roman vse of Easter and round shauing of Priests crownes as is to be seene in Beda lib. 3. cap. 26. and Fox Acts pag. 123. Thirdly because after Agilbert his Bishop was Elutherius who at this Kings request as Beda lib. 3. cap. 7. Godwin in vita Elutherij write was coÌ„secrated by S. Theodor whome as is before shewed Protestants confesse to haue bene a notorious Papist Fourthly because S. Egelwin or Egwin was brother to this King as testifieth Malmsb. lib. 2. Pont. pag. 255. Which Egwin Bale Cent. 1. cap. 91. saith was a Benedictin Monk ad superstitiones natus borne for superstitions helped vt statuae ponerentur in Templis venerarentur for the placing of Images in Churches and worshiping of them and was after canonized and how great he was with Pope Constantin appeareth by his life in Capgraue Fiftly because in this Kings tyme came the said S. Theodor into England vnto whome writeth Beda lib. 4. cap. 2. and Godwin in his life all the whole Church of the English Nation did consent and submit them selues Therfor then this King and all his Christian people were as sincerly Papists as S. Theodor him self was Holie men in K. Senvvalch his time 5. In this Kings time among other holy men liued the blessed Bishops S. Chad and Tedda whose vertue and miracles are recorded by S. Beda lib. 3. cap. 23. and lib. 4. cap. 3. likwise ther liued in that time K. Oswin who vowing to God to make his daughter a Nonne if he ouercame his enemies K. Osvvin vouing to make his daughter a Nonne getteth a miraculous victorie got the Victorie though he had but one Legion against thirty ex Beda lib. 3. cap. 24. Hunting lib. 3. Westmon An. 855. And if he had not bene preuented by death ment to go to Rome and there to ende his life as witnesseth Beda lib. 4. cap. 5. K. Sebbi and his sonne become Monks There liued also S. Sebbi King of the East saxons who together with his sonne Sighard became a Monke as may be seene in Beda lib. 4. cap. 1. Malmsb. 1. Reg. cap. 6. Stow Chron pag. 79. In like sort ther liued Oswie a meruailous deuout and godly man saith Beda lib. 3. cap. 14 and Sigibert a holy King of Essex Diuers Kings daughters holie Nonnes of whome writeth Beda lib. 3. cap. 22. And at the same time S. Eartongatha daughter of Ercombert King of Kent S. Edelburg daughter to Anna King of East England and Sedrido his daughter in law S. Eartongath S. Edelburg Sedrido with diuers others went into France and there became Nonnes florishing with great vertue and miracles as yow may read in S. Beda lib. 3. cap. 8. Heresvvid S. VVithburg Elfled S. Hilda Likwise Hereswid mother to Adolph King of East Angles ex Beda lib. 4. cap. 23. And in England became Nonnes S. Withburg daughter to the said King Anna ex Florent An. 798. Elfled daughter to King Oswiex Beda lib. 3. cap. 24. and also S. Hilda a Lady of the blood roiall ex eodem lib. 4. cap. 23. and diuers others Bale Cent. 10. cap. 9. and Capgraue in Botulpho maketh mentioÌ„ of certain sisters of King Athelmond King of Sussex who in this kings tyme An. 650. were Noâ—nes in Gallia Belgica Then also liued S.
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
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
c. Your wisedom knoweth that I with a filiall affection deuoutly and dutifully obey the Apostolicall commandements Rob. Grostets profession of subiection to the Pope and at his death he gaue all his books to the graie Friers Godvvin in vita eius vvher you see his Rom. religion restified by a Cardinal of that time And your anciēt writers are to far from accounting him no Catholicke as they esteeme him a Saint and relat his miracles as yow may see in Paris and Westmon Anno. 1250. Only Paris pag. 1174. saith that he had good zeale but perchance not according to true knowledg In this Kings time liued that grear scoole Doctor and Englishman Alexander de Hales King Edward I. XLI 10 IN the yeare of our Lord 1274. succeded Edward 1. sonne to King Henry 3. and reigned 34. yeares He was saith VValsingham in his Ypodigmate pag. 98. Great praises of K. Edvvard 1. In armes strong victorious warlick vvho gained all England from the hands of valiant Symon de Montfort VVales he got from Leolin Aquitan he wrested from the King of Frāce Polid. lib. 17. Scotland he often subdued Camb. Brit. pag. 700. saith He was a Prince far excelling in whose most valiāt mind God chused a most vvorthie lodging that he might match the heigt of royal maiesty not only vvith fortitude vvisedom but with bewtie also and comlynes of bodie whome fortune in the prime flower of his age trained vp in many warrs and most difficult times of the Common welth whilst that she disposed him for Brittish Empire VVhich when he was established in he so gouerned hauing ouercome the VVelch men and triumphed ouer the Scotts that by good right he is esteemed another ornament of Brittanie The like high praises giue him Cooper Anno. 1274. Stow pag. 304. Bale Cent. 4. cap. 58. and others His Rom. Religion As for the Roman religion of this renowned Prince it is most cleare First because as VValsingham saith Histor pag. 16. His wife Queene Eleoner dying with continuall prayers he did pray vnto our Sauiour Iesus for her for euer ordaining and procuring for her the celebrations of Masses in diuers places of his Kingdom In euery place and Vilage where her Corps rested the King commanded a Crosse to be erected in memorie of the Queene that her soule might be prayed for of those that passed by pag. 33. He Translated a stone to VVestminster which the Kings of Scottland at the time of their coronation were wont to vse for a Throne commanding that a Chair should be made therof for Priests to sit in when they solemnised Masse Besides pag. 13. His daughter Marie was a Nonne And in ypodingm p. 88. He commanded that the Crown of gould that was the king of Scots should be offered to S. Thomas the Martyr And p. 71. He built an Abbey of Cistercian Monkes And as Fox saith Acts pag. 339. Went on Pilgrimage to our Ladie of Walsingham to thanck God for his escape of a great danger And of so great account were religious men in his time as Stow pag. 329. reckneth 61. Abbots and 8. Priors of the Parliament in his tyme. Secondly because as Walsingham hath Hist pag 49. he writeth thus to the Pope To the most holy Father in Christ Boniface by the diuine prouidence cheefe Bishop of the holy Roman and Vniuersall Church Edward by the grace of God king of England Lord of Ireland Duke of Aquitan health and deuout kisses of your blessed feete Beneth Wee do humblie beseech your holines for as much as c. And p. 55. He Fox 341. set downe a letter wherin the Nobles and all the Barons assembled together in parliament write thus to the Pope This vvas scalled vvith 200. seales ypodigm pag. 89. We reuerently and humbly beseech your holines that yow would suffer our Lord king of England who among other sheweth him self Catholick and deuout to the Roman Church c. And Westmon Anno. 1302. putteth the beginning of this letter thus To the most holy Father in Christ L. Boniface by the diuine Prouidence cheefe Bishop of the vniuersall Church The profession of subiection to the P. by the vvhole Parlamēt his deuout sonnes Iohn Earle of VVarren Thomas Earl ofe Lancaster c. Deuout kisses of your blessed feete Behould how both the king and nobles professe to kisse the Popes feete call him cheefe Bishop of the Vniuersall Church In like manner Pope Boniface Writing in VVestmon Anno. 1301. to king Edward saith Scimus fili c. VVe know my sonne and now a long time experienc the Mistres of things hath taught vs how towards the Roman mother Church which in her bowels of charitie hath caried yow representing a kingly deuotion your reuerent regard is shewed your zeale strengthned and that in all promptitude yow obeying the true cōstitutions of the seat make your repose finally after the kings death his body lying at VValtham Destinati sunt c. saith VValsing Hist pag. 67. There were apointed of euery great Monasterie neere bordering six Monks Cannons or other religious which should watch about the body and continually solemnize the funerals And the Cardinall Legat graunted Indulgence of one yeare to them which did say our Lords prayer and the Angelicall salutation for the Kings soule And so manifestly were the times of this king Roman Catholick as the Kings Attorney in the arrainment of Garnet calleth them the verie midnight of Poperie And Bale Cent. 4. cap. 46. cryeth out Vnder King Edward the goulden face of the primitiue Church was obscured the cheefest bewtie of the Gospell changed The house of Israel was turned into rubbish the Ministers of the Churches degenerated into Dreggs and excrements the Friers bearing rule In this Kings time liued that great schoole Doctor and English man Richard Middleton Bale Cent. 4. cap. 77. and dyed that glorious Saint Saints S. Thomas of Hereford who in life was admirable for vertue and after death wonderfull for the greatnes and multitude of his miracles Miracles See Sur. tom 5. which were examined with such straightnes and approued with so great authoritie as who will beleeue any human testimonie can not but beleeue them as is to be seene in our ancient Manuscript yet extant King Edward 2. XLII IN the yeare 1307. Edward 2. sonne to Edward 1. succeeded Qualities of K Edvvard 2. Polid. l. 18. His Rom. Religion and reigned 19. years He was saith Cooper Ann 1308. And Stow pag. 337. faire of body but vnstedfast of maners and disposed to lightnes His Roman religion is certain both by what hath bene saide of his Father and because Caius de Antiq. Cantab. pag. 80. and Stow pag. 337. say He sued to Pope Iohn 22. to renew the priuiledges of the Vniuersities which he did Item He builded the Friers Church at Langley Stow pag. 332. Vowed in the battel of Sterling to build a house for the Carmelits in Oxford which he performed Stow pag. 334.
sent for two Cardinals to make peace betwene him and the Scotts pag. 336. Had a tenth of spirituall goods granted him by the Pope pag. 339. Had a Carmelit for his Confessor Bale Cent. 4. cap. 96. And as he saith cap. 82. In this Kings tyme came in the Friers De paenitentia into England to whome the King gaue the Synagogue of the Iewes Item the Friers of the order of Martyrs the Sarabitae the Paulins and the Trinitaries Bale Centur. 5. cap. 13. calleth these times the middle darknes of Roman superstition In this kings time liued that famous subtil doctor Iohannes Scotus The Cath. religion hitherto in EnglaÌ„d vvithout anie opposition And hitherto haue we proued the Catholicke Roman religion through all our Christian Kings not only cleare and manifest but also without any opposition or contradiction sauing of a few who in Saint Odo his time doubted of the reall presence but were soone conuerted Hereafter in our Country the Catholicke religion hath found some opposition though small by reason of VVick life who arose in the next Kings time and his fellowes CHAP. XXVI That the Kings of England from Edvvard 3. to Henry 8. vvere all Roman Catholick proued in particuler King Edward 3. XLIII 1. THe 43. Christian King of England was Edward 3. sonne to Edward 2. VVorthines of K. Edvvard 3. Began his reigne Anno. 1326. reigned 51. yeares He was saith Walsingahm Hist Anno 1376. amongst all the Kings of the world renowned benign gentle Poâ—d l. 19. and magnificent coragious of hart humble milde and very deuout to God This man saith Cooper Anno 1327. And Stow p. 438. Besids all other gifts of nature was indued with passing comly hewty fauor of vvit prouideÌ„t circumspect gentil doing nothing without great wisdome consideratioÌ„ Of excellent modesty temperance and aduanced such persons to high dignity as did most passe others in integrity innocency of life in feats of Armes verie expert Of his liberality clemencie he shewed very many great examples Breefly in all Princely vertue he was so excellent that few noble men before his time can be compared to him The like praise to him giue Fox Acts pag. 374. Bale Cent. 6. cap. 57. others His victories He wonne the great battell at Cressie where he vanquished the King of France with two other Kings tooke Calis and at the same time ouercame the King of Scotts and tooke him prisoner And his sonne Edward sirnamed the black Prince with a very small army got the battell of Poitiers Wherin he tooke the French king and after that entred into Spaine ouercame the king and draue him out of the Contrie So that this king by him selfe and his company tooke two kings slewe one and vanquished three others Of all our English kings to Henrie 8. Fox of most all challengeth this King and saith pag. 428. That aboue all other Kings to Henrie 8. he was the greatest bridler of the Popes vsurped power During all his time Iohn VVicklef was maintained with fauor and ayde sufficient Indeed King Edward 3. Anno 1374. made a lawe to forbid all procurement of English Benefices from the Pope But the cause therof was not that the King thought amisse of rhe Popes Authority but because he thought that the execution thereof in this point was incommodious and inconuenient to his Realme For other wise none of all our Kings haue auouched the Popes supremacie in which Protestants account the essence of a Papist to consist so cleare as he For in his letters to the Pope extant in Walsingham Anno 1336 and others he writeth thus Otterborne in Edvvard 3. Therfore let not the enuious or sinister interpretation of detractors made of your sonne finde place in the bowels of your mercie and sanctitie who will after the ancient custome of our predecessours persist in yours and the See Apostolickes fauour vntouched But if any such sugestion made against your sonne shall fortune to come vnto your holines eares Let not credit be giuen of your holy deuotion by your holines therunto before your sonne be heard who trusteth and euer intendeth to speak the truth and to iustifie euery one of his causes before your holines iudgement King Edvvard 3 accounteth it heresie to denie the Popes supremacie whose authority is aboue all earthly creatures which to deny is to approue an heresy Behould the King confessing first that it was hereditarie to him from his Anceistors to abide firmely in fauour of the See Apostolicke Secondly that he purposed euer to do soe Thirdly that it was heresie to denie the Popes iudgement praesidere omni humanae creaturae To beare rule ouer all human Creatures Oh when would this famous King haue thought that any of his Posteritie should make that treason which him selfe professeth all his Ancestors to haue held and accounteth it heresie to denie The same saith Pope Greg. 11. in VValsing p. 104. Kings of England especiall children of the Rom. Church And Pope Benedict in his answer of this letter in VValsingham pag. 124. saith thus Your Progenitors Kings of England haue excelled in greatnes of faith and deuotion towards God and the holy Roman Church as her peculier foster-children and deuoted sonnes and haue preserued the splendor of their progeny from any darkesome cloud Betwene the state of your Kingdome and also of the Kingdome of France we greatly desire to make a happy successe of peace and concotd And against you my sonne I cannot shut vp the bowels of my Fatherly affection To which the King returned this answer in Walsingham pag. 130. We haue reuerently and humbly accepted the letters of your Holines Also with a cheerfull hart we do beseech your clemency that if it please you you will duely ponder our iustice and intentioÌ„ founded vpon the truth And that we as occasion serued haue fauored the holy Roman Church in all fulnes of deuotion sound loue and gratious fauor K. Edvv. 3 Professeth to haue euer fauored the Pope as you may coniecture of a most deuout sonne For God is the witnesse of our coÌ„science that we haue desired to exalt defend the honors and liberties of the Church And againe the king Anno. 1343 writing to Pope Clement in VValsing pag. 150. saith thus Professeth the P. is Bishop of the vniuersal Church To his most holy Lord Clement by the diuine prouidence cheefe Bishop of the sacred Roman and vniuersall Church Edward by the same grace of God King of France and England and Lord of Ireland deuout kisses of your blessed feete c. And then calleth him successor of the Prince of the Apostles Infra VVe and ours do desire and ought to reuerence your most sacred person and the holy Roman Church And pag. 15. Clement answereth him thus My deerly beloued sonne yow haue knowne how to exhibit your sincere deuotion to our Lord and to your Mother the holy Roman Church as of famous memorie your
Progenitors the Kings of England haue done whilst they liued And Fox himselfe Acts pag. 383. setteth downe a letter of the K. and nobles to Pope Clement Anno 1343. thus To the most holy Father in God Lord Clement by the grace of God of the holy Church of Rome and of the vniuersall Church cheefe and high Bishop his humble and deuout children the Princes Dukes Earles Barons Knights Citizens and Burgesses and all the communalty of England assembled at the Parliament houlden at VVestminster the 15. day of May deuout kissing of his feete with all humble reuerence and humility The vvhole Parlament calleth the Pope head of the vniuersal Church Most holy Father yow being so high and holy a Prelat and head of the holy Church by whome the holy Vniuersall Church and people of God ought to be as by the Son beames illightened c. Behould the whole Parlament calling the Pope head and Bishop of the Vniuersall Church and offering to kisse his feete with all humilitie and reuerence And again Fox pag. 387. setteth downe an other letter of King Edwards to Pope Clement in this sort Most holy Father K. Edvv. 3. plainly professeth the Popes supremacie we desire your holines and in as much as lieth in vs require the same that yow that supplie the place of the sonne of God on earth and haue the gouernment of all Christen men c. What could be more clearly spoken for the spirituall supremacie of the Pope And this same Roman religion of his is euident by many other waies For he founded saith Stow pag. 439. the new Abbey neere to the Tower of London where he placed white Monks to the honor of God and our Ladie according to a vow by him made being on the Sea in great perill And a Nonrie at Detford Cambden addeth pag. 333. a Frierie of Carmelits He instituted also the order of the garter in honor of God and Saint Georg and among other rules apointed that when any of the Knights died the Kinge should make a thousand Masses to be saide for his soule and others many hundreds according to their Degree He offered saith Fox pag. 396. after the blind saith he superstition of those dayes in the Church of VVestminster the Vestments wherin Saint Peter did celebrat Masse His Confessor was Thomas Bradwardin whome Bale Centur. 5. cap. 87. accounteth a Papist Finally as Walsingham An. 1376. writeth he dyed thus The Catholik end of K. Edvvard 3. The King when he could not speake with verie great reuerence taking the Crosse did kisse it most deuoutly somtimes stretching forth his hand in signe of crauing pardon and other times also letting fall from his eyes plenty of teares and kissing most often the feete of the Crucifix And after his death Pope Greg. 11. lit in Walsingham Anno 1378. calleth him Catholicum Principem Pugilem fidei A Catholick Prince and Champion of the faith And so euidently was this King and the Realm in his time Roman Catholick Protest confesse K. Edvv 3. time to haue bene Cathol as Fox Acts pag. 377. vpon a letter of the King to the Nobles of France maketh this note Note the ignorance of the time And pag. 396. The blinde superstition of those daies And pag. 424. This is out of all doubt that at vvhat time all the world was in most vilde and desperat estate and that the lamentable ignorance of Gods truth had ouershadowed all the earth VVicklef stept forth c. Behould here manifest that before Wicklef there was not one Protestant in the whole world And how ill a Protestant he was shall hereafter appeare All the vvorld ignorant of Protestancie And pag. 425. In this so horrible darknes of ignorance saith Fox at what time there seemed in a manner to be no one so little a sparke of pure doctrine left In a maner no one litle spark of Protestancie VViclef first raised forsooth the vvorld VViclef sprong vp through whome the Lord would first raise vp again the world which was drowned in the depth of human traditions In like sort Bale Cent. 5. cap. 85. saith This age was shadovved vvith the darknes of great ignorance and blinded with more than Diabolicall fooleries And Cent. 6. cap. 1. the midnight of errors and a dim vvorld And cap. 8. In these times darknes of great ingnorance possessed the vvorld cap. 23. The common blindnes of the time vvas in aduancing the Idolatrie of the Popish Masse As for the discontentment which some time this king had with the Pope that was not for any matter of religion but because as Cooper saith Anno. 1343. VVhy K. Edvv. 3. some time discontented vvith the Pope The Pope gaue diuers Bishopricks and Benefices in England which the king thought not expedient for his temporall estate And as for the fauour which VVicklef found in his time that proceeded rather from the Duke of Lancaster who gouerned all in the olde age of the King and for a time vpheld VVicklef not vpon any liking of his heresie but to spite therby some of the Bishops whome he hated as Stow Anno. 1376 wtih whome Fox agreeth p. 393. testifieth in these words VVhy the D. of lancaster a vvhile fauored VViclef The Duke of Lancaster laboring as vvel to ouerthrovv the liberties of the Church as of the Cittie of Lōdon called vnto him VVicklef c. And when these contentions betwene the Duke and others were appeased He commanded saith Fox pag. 400. Edit 1596. VVicklef to submit him self to his Ordinarie The Cath. religion of the D. of lancaster Which clearly ynough declareth the Roman religion of that Duke which also other wise were euident by the honor wherwith he was receaued by the Cardinals and Bishops in the Popes Courte Stow pag. 399. And by his Confessor Iohn Kinningham a Carmelit who saith Bale Cent. 6. cap. 4. first impugned Wicklef And Cent. 7. cap. 26. saith that Gualter Disse than who none in Antichristi negotijs actuosior more busie in the rules of Antichrists Confessor to the Duke perswaded him for the loue at least of Papistrie to make war in Spaine which then fauored an Anti-pope to which purpose Pope Vrban sent the Duke a standard and made his Confessor his Legat and gaue him authoritie to preach the Crosse with many Indulgences for all them that would follow the Duke At what time writeth Bale out of Purney a wiclefist thē liuing Inualuit tunc Antichristi furor prae caeteris temporibus Antichrists furie preuailed more than in other times More ouer Polidor lib. 19. saith that two Hereticks were burnt in London in this Kings time whome Bale Cent. 5. cap. 74. calleth seruants of Christ In this Kings time liued the vertuous Ladie Mary Countesse of Saint Paule a woman saith Stow pag. 437 of singuler example for life Saints who builded Pembrooke hall in Cambridge and S. Iohn of Bridlinghton of whome we will speake in the next kings time
haue their Iustification that is merely by beleef or imaginatioÌ„ not by reall existeÌ„ce But as Tertullian said of ould Heretiks so some now VVill be eeâ—e without Scriptures that they may beleeue against Scripture For what more without Scripture ether of God or man than that there hath bene a Protestant Church for these thousand yeares and yet we nether saw any such nor any that then liued hath tould vs And what mâ—re against Scripture than to beleeue that Chtist and his Church kept especially for so long time in penetralibus in corners and lurking holes Math 4. 24. that his Church and Pastors are not a cittie built vpon a mountaine a light set open vpon a candlestick that it may shine to all Or how could any of them be saued if they professed it not seing confession is made to saluation Rom. 10. 5. And this kind of argument must needs seeme forcible both to Protestants and Puritans because they both vse it against their aduersaries For hereby the forsaid Surueyer cap. 5. proueth that the Puritan disciplin was neuer before Caluin because in all times afore there is no mention or record of it Novv Puritans proue that there vvere no Anabaptists before this age And likwise the Puritans proue that Anabaptisme was not before our daies as you may see in Colloquio Francatal whose words because they make much to our present purpose I will here rehearse If you say they to the Anabaptists be the Church of God it vvill follovv that God vvas without a people and a Church till the year 1522. in which Nicolas Storck and a litle after Thomas Muncer laid the first foundation of your doctrine And this they proue thus For if you read all Histories from the beginning of the vvorld you shall not finde a people which had a Confession of faith like to yours But because say they nether God was from the beginning vvithout a people and Church nor the euerlasting King Iesus Christ vvithout a Kingdom your CoÌ„gregation began first An. 1522. it followeth that you can not be the true Church people of God Thus PuritaÌ„s against the Anabaptists we obiect the same to them 6. As for the second point of the newnes and late rising of Protestancie Luther Prefat Epist Galat. fol. 2. saith thus That the ProtestaÌ„ts Church is nevv and lately risen Luther Apologie alias Iuel In these dayes this healthfull knowledg of Christ is now reuealed and raised vp againe And the Apologie of the English Church in plaine termes acknowledgeth the newnes of their doctrin thus It was easie for thes men Papists fortie yeares agoe to deuise thes and other greater crimes against vs when in midst of that darknes some beame of truth then vnknovvne vnheard of began first to rise Loe he coÌ„fesseth that 40. yeares agoe Protest doct was not heard of before but then began first to appear But let vs hear him further VVhen Martin Luther saith he Hulderic Zuinglius most excellent men sent of God to lighten the world began first to preach the matter was yet new note the euent vncertaine and ther could be no such heinous wickednes imagined which for the nevvnes Note againe and strangenes of the matter vvould not be easily be beleeued of the people against vs. Sleid prafat Histor saith the original of Protestancie vvas in the beginning of Charles 5. reigne Reinolds Behold it twise confessed that their doctrin was new and strange also 40. yeares agoe And pag. 13. he biddeth vs to think of the beginning and proceedings of their religion D. Reinolds also in his Confer pag. 152. writeth thus It is more likelie that you Papists who by long continuance of time haue had long occasion to steale avvay truth should corrupt the Fathers than vve vvho haue not had it Loe Reynolds confesseth that Protestants haue not long continewed Caluin Caluin also 4. instit c. 1. parag 2. hath these words Albeit a heauie desolatioÌ„ vvhich vve euery vvhere see doe crie that ther is nothing of the Church remaining And c. 3. para 4. plainly auoucheth that ther were no Churches rightly setled Cooper and therfore they needed to be sent extraordinarily Cooper in his Chronicle An. 1535. saith that Luther vvrote that Gods light vvas lately renewed Fox And finally Fox to omit others in his Acts p. 788. coÌ„fesseth most plainly that Luthers doctrin was new in the year 1524. ProtestaÌ„ts doctrin but in the blade An. 1524. For theÌ„ saith he the doctrin of Luther first beginning to spring and being but in the blade vvas not yet knovvne vvhitherto it teÌ„ded nor to vvhat it vvold grovv And in like sorte p. 791. he termeth also Zuinglius doctrine new To these I might add that the Patriarch of Constantin to whome the Protest sent their doctrin condemned it and calleth it altogether nevv doctrine And vpon the newnes of their doct it cometh that thes termes are most vsuall with Protest The doctrin of the Gospel vvas borne a nevv Calvin 4. instit cap. 7. 24. Apol. Aug. pag. 56. 194. VVhitak cont Dur. pag. 19. 140. Bale Cent. 8. cap. 60. 68. 100. Cent. 1 cap. 74. Feild of the Church lib. 3. cap. 39 Suruey cap. 8. The Church restored The Gospel restored Christs doctine renewed Gods word began to shine The renouatioÌ„ of the Gospel The rising of the nevv HierusaleÌ„ The birth of the Gospel SecoÌ„d birth of Christ Religion borne againe And their first maisters their first Bishops their Apostles or Euangelists Luther Latimer Ridly the like Hence what will follow euery one seeth to wit that the Protest Church or faith is not the Church or saith of Christ which begun about 16. hundred years agoe but a new Church begun not yet one hundred since Or that Christs Church faith was quite dead gone and Luther raised it againe to life And what Church then I pray you was that wherin he was Christened was it Pagan were his Godfathers Heathens was he wheÌ„ he was baptized made a Paynim wheÌ„ce came this new Church raiser from what heauen fell he from what sea sprunge he from what earth rose he That all the first Protestant Preachers had bene before Rom. Catholiks 7. Touching the third point to be proued that the Protestants first and cheef teachers were once Roman Catholicks and went from our Church and religion it is so manifest as nether is it nor can it be denyed For Luther 1. Gal fol. 37. saith thus of him self I was as earnest for the Popes laws as euer any was I honored the Pope of meere coÌ„scieÌ„ce And fol 38. I diâ— so highly esteeme the Popes authoritie that to dissent from him euen in the least point I thought it a sin worthie of euerlasting deathe and wold my self in defence of the Popes authoritie haue ministred fire and sword And fol. 188 VVe that are ould haue bene trained vp in Popish error euen from our youth
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
This is a very miserable impudent shift For first it is auōched without al proof or testimony besid their owne words And therfor maybe as lightly reiected of vs as it is affirmed of them 2 ly because al Archeretiks claime this kind of sending Protestāts bring no especial proof why we shold beleue Luther in this point more thā other Archeretiks yea Erasm Ep. ad frat infer Germ. writeth that Mahomet may better chalēg the spirit thā Luther Thirdly because Luther himself disclaimeth this kind of sending him For 1. Gal. fo 11. he saith God calleth two māner of waies by means without means He calleth vs to the Ministry of his word this day not immediatly by himself but by man And addeth that ordinary vocatiō hath endured frō the Apostles to our time shall to the end of the world The same hath vogel his scholer in Thesaur Biblico c. de vocat Ministror others And who shold know how Luther was sent better than himself Besids D. Feild l. 3. of the Church c. 48. as disclaming extraordinary calling saith we saie our calling and our Ministrie is not extraordinary And D Fulke in 10. Ioan. Luther saith he had lawfull calling both of God the Church And the 23. Article of the Protestāts faith is this These we ought to iudge lawfully called and sent which be called and chosen to the work by men who haue publick authority giuen to them in the Cōgregation to cal and send Ministers Therfore according to our Protestāts faith Luther cannot be iudged to haue bene lawfully sent vnles he had bene sent by men this of publik authority in the Church yea Caluin him selfe after he had brought diuers proofes out of Scripture that to lawful calling is necessary the sending by men saith thus 4. instit cap. 3. Parag. 15. we haue therefore out of Gods word that that is lawfull calling of Ministers when they which are thought fit are made vvith consent and approbatiō of the people And Muscul loc Com. pag. 394. saith Extraordinary calling is not now in vse D. Serauin in booke of degrees of Ministers termeth extraordinary calling an vnknowne coost See D. Couell in his defence of Hooker pag. 86. 6. Fourtly ether there were Protestant Pastors befor Luther or no If there were what need Luther extraordinary calling who might be sent of these former Pastors If there were none how could ther be a Protestant Church which as Caluin saith loc cit can neuer vvant Pastors and Doctors and as Feild faith lib. 2. of Church cap. 6. The Ministery is an enssentiall note of the Church Yea as Whitaker saith cont Dur. p. 274. the soul of the Church If any say that there were Protest Pastors before Luther but they were inuisible and therfore he was not sent of them I reply that Feild l. cit c. 10. saith that the Ministrie is alwaies visible to the vvorld and the same saith Caluin 4. instit cap. 2. Parag. 2. 11. c. 1. Parag. 11. And in truth it implieth cō radictiō that ther shold haue bene Pastors preaching the word administring the sacramēts and yet inuisible especially to such faithfull men forsooth as Luther was In like sort I demād whither there were Churchs rightly setled before Luther or no. If no then Luther was the setler of the Protestant Church If yea then was not he sent extraordinarily For as Caluin teacheth 4. Instit c. 3. Parag. 3. that calling hath no place in Churches rightly setled or as Fulke saith in 10. Rom. it is not necessary but where ether ther is no Church or the Church is no member of Christ If then Luther were extraordinarly sent ether there was no protestāt Church before him or it was no member of Christ Fiftly Caluin 4. instit c. 2. parag 14 saith that no wise man vvill denie that it is altogether requisit to lawful vocatiō that Bishops be apointed of mē seing ther are so many testimonies of scripture to this end And thē sheweth that though god had extraordinarily called S. Paul yet he kept saith Cal. discipliniā Ecclesiasticae vocationis the disciplin of Ecclesiasticall vocation in apointing the Church to segregate him Barnabas laie hāds vpō thē to the end that the Churches disciplin in apointing Ministers by men might be cōserued Luther vvil haue a more extraordinarie calling than S. Paul If therfore God had called Luther or Calu. as extraordinarily as euer he called S. Paul more I hope of their modesty they wil not chalēg yet to conserue Ecclesiast disciplin he wold haue bidden thē go to some Church to be segregated by her haue hāds laid vpō thē vnles these new Apostles wil chaleng more priuiledg exemption from all Churches approbatiō of their calling thā S. Paul had 7. Sixtly extraordinary miraculous missiō frō God requireth his axtraordinary miraculous attestatiō therof But Luther had no such attestatiō Therfor he had no such missiō The first proposition I proue many waies First by the exāple of Gods procedings hertofore For whē he extraordinarily sent Moises to deliuer the Israelits he cōtested his sending by wonderous miracles whē he sēt Apostls he cōfirmed their missiō by prodiges miracles yea Christ himself though sent most extraordinarily of his Father yet saith If I had not done miraculous works in them which no other hath done they shold haue no sin And shal we sin it not beleuing Luther who maketh no one miracle or wil he desire to be beleued without miracles more than Christ did 2 ly I proue it by the authority of Tertulliā who l. de praescrit biddeth certain Heretiks who pleaded extraordinary sending to proferre virtutes to shew their miracles 3 ly I proue it by reason For euery Prince when he sendeth any extraordinary Embassador giueth him particuler letter of credēce And the particuler letters of extraordinary Embassadors from God are his miracles 4 ly I proue it by the incōueniences that otherwise wold follow For otherwise a false Prophet might make his missiō as credible to vs as a true Prophet At least one that preached true doctrine but indeed was not sent of God to preach might intrude himself in to that office with as much probability as another that was truly sent Lastly I proue that miracles are requisit to extraordinary missiō by the Confessiō of Protestāts Caluin 4. instit c. 2. parag 13. For Calu. saith Because the Ministrie of the Apostles was extraordinarie Calvin that it might be made notable with some more markable note it was to be called and apointed by our Lords own mouth Luther And if some externall note needed to the calling of the Apostles I hope it needed more to the calling of Luther Luther Luther also loc Com. clas 4. cap. 20. saith God sent not any but ether called by man or declared by miracles no not his sonne And to 5. Germ. fol. 491. he asketh a
commission to direct him 10. But diuers learned Protestants finding no colorable answer to make to this demand Protestāts confesse that their Ministers vvant laufull sending and authoritie do plainly confesse as Sadeel a Minister of Geneua testifieth in a book written against such that their ministers are legitima vocatione destituti destitute of lavvfull calling Others though not so plainly do graunt the same in saying that such as ate fit may teach the word without sending Which Caluin insinuateth in cap. 13. Actor wher he saieth that we need no testimonie from heauen that God sendeth some Because saith he vvhome God hath indued vvith sufficient gift seing they are framed and fashioned by his hand we receaue them giuen to vs of him no otherwise than as the prouerb is from hand to hand VVhom Calvin allovveth to preach vnsent And to this same end tended Bilsons complaint l. of obed pag. 300. that the wicked saith he alwaies asked the godly for their authoritie as the Ievvs asked S Ihon Baptist and Christ Bilson And Ib. So long as we teach saith he the same doctrin vvhich the Apostles did vve haue the same povver vvhich they had And pag. 301. He that defendeth truth is armed vvith authoritie sufficient though all the vvorld vvere against him And that a man may preach without commission he bringeth a similitude that when a cittie is on fire or entred by enemies euerie one may crie Alarme though he be no officer and pag. 310. and 311. he produceth the example of Frumentius and Aedesius who taught infidels the Christian faith hauing no sending to that purpose 11. Here thou seest Gentle Reader that confessed by learned Protestants which I intended in this chapter to wit that Luther his first partners were not sent to preach ether of God or man but seing forsooth the Church al on fire with idolatrie See Bal. Cent. 6. c. 85 Cent. 8. cap. 100. Manie principal Ministers preached vnsent The vvāt of sending in Luther Caluin and such like vvold alone conuince them to be false Prophets entred by enemies and thinking thē selues fit for that purpose came rūning of their own accord crying Alarme which Luther did not stick to bost of saying as Caluin reporteth l. de reformat p. 463. Behold I call my self Preacher and with this title haue I adorned my self And who readeth the liues of our first Protestant preachers ether in Bale or Fox shall see that euerie one of them fel to preach vnsent of anie And the forsaid Declaration of disciplin p. 141. saith plainly that manie of their worthie mē for the loue they had to the Gospel thaught it lawful for thē in these times to take vpō thē this Apostolical office 12. But this alone that Luther Caluin such like did preach and administer sacraments as Pastors being not sent nor hauing authoritie giuen them therto wold suffice to cōuince them to haue bene false prophets vsurpers theeues though no other exceptiō cold be takē against them For to preach that is as Pastor to teach without lauful sending or Commission is flatly against Scripture against the example of Christ his Apostles and all the Pastors of Gods Church against reason and Finally against the doctrin and practise now observed of Protestants It is flat against Scripture For Rom. 10. S. Paul asketh how shall they preach vnles they be sent VVant of sending the verie brand of false prophets In so much as both the Prophets Christ and the Apostles do brād false Prophets with this mark of coming vnsent I sent not saith God Hierem. 23. Prophets they ran As manie saith Christ Ioan. 10. as came of them selues are theeus robers Some going out of vs saie the Apostles Actor 15. haue trobled you with words whom we commanded not Loe how the holie ghost hath branded false Prophets with this note of coming vnsēt It is also against the example of Christ the Apostles For of Christ it is said Hebr. 5. Nether doth anie take honor to him self but who is called of God as Aaron So Christ did not clarifie him self to be made a Bishop And Ioan. 17. and 20. Christ him self auoucheth his sending by his Father And of the Apostles it is manifest that they preached not before they were sent of Christ To preach vnsent is to imitate Core Dathan ande Abiron Nether can Protestants produce anie Pastor of Gods Church since the Apostles time which preached before he was sent And to do the contrarie is not to imitate Christ and his Apostles but that schismaticall crue of Core Dathā Abirō whome the earth therfore swallowed hell deuoured See S. Cipr. lib. de simplic Prelat Tertul. de prascrip It is also against reason For as Pastor to preach and administer Gods Sacraments is an act of spirituall and supernaturall authoritie which none can haue vnles it be giuen vnto him and learning vertue or other talents what soeuer wherwith a man is fit to execute such authoritie are things far different from it as is both euident by it self and appeareth in woemen who may haue as much learning vertue and other habilities as some men yet none of them can as Pastors preach or administer the Sacraments because they are incapable of Pastorall authoritie Moreouer to be a Preacher and Pastor is to be Gods Embassador and steward or dispenser of his spirituall goods and misteries And if none can be Embassador of an earthly Prince vnles he be sent none steward of his house vnles he be apointed none officer ouer his people vnles he be constituted How can any be Embassador to God without sending steward of his goods without apointing gouernor of his people without his authoritie And I maruel how Protestants can call Luther Latimer and such like their Apostles and ether confesse that they were not sent at all but came of their owne good wills or can not shew of whome they were sent seing that the verie name of an Apostle signifieth one sent 13. Finally Protestants them selues condemne such preachers as come vnsent Bilson him self l. cit we detest saith he these that inuade the pastorall function without lavvfull vocation and election It is not lavvfull saith the English Clergie in the 23. Article of their faith for any man to take vpon him the office of publik preaching or administring the Sacraments No man saith their Synod in Haga Art 3. ought to take vpon him to preach or administer the Sacraments vvithout a lavvfull calling although he be a Doctor or a Deacon or an Elder And their Synod at Rochel 1607. Art 32. none must intrude him self into the gouernment of the Church Thus teach all Heretiks after they haue gotten possession But before their owne aptnes and talents the glorie of God and the saluation of soules and truth of their doctrine was warrant and authoritie ynough for them to preach as appeareth by what hath bene cited out of Bilson Caluin and others
and others otherwhere Of the Prelats legats 4. Cardinals 2 Patriarchs 3. Acchb. 25. Bishops 168. Abbots 7. Procurators 39. Generals 7 besids a great number of famous diuines Luthers doctrin condemned by all maner of vvaies And after in the CouÌ„cell of Trent where the flower of all ChristeÌ„dom was gathered to gether from all parts of the ChristiaÌ„ world his doctrin was coÌ„demned by the subscription of 255. Prelats Wherby yow may see the vniuersall hatred of Christendome both in the Clergie laytie learned and vnlearned both in the East West Latin Grecke Church against Luthers doctrin HerevpoÌ„ Erasmus saith Luther was condemned with so many iudgments confuted with so many boâ—kes strooken with so many thunderboults 2. Secondly I proue it by the testimony of diuers Protest For Fox pag. 789. accounteth it a miracle that Luther saith he one man should sustain for his doctrin the hatred 〈…〉 who le world being set against him Luther had the Prelats and all Kings of the earth against him Iuel Luthers Gospel almost against all men Luthers Gospel against consent of all men Sleidan prafat Histor The beginning of Protestancie vvas full small and one man alone susteined the malice of all the vvorld and stand openly against the Pope Cardinals and Prelats of the Church hauing the Emperors and all the Kings saith he of the earth against him Iuel in his Apologie p. 13. speaking of the Protestants matters saith they increased inuitis prope omnibus almost against all mens wills And pag. 201. The Gospel of Luther was at this time spread into the world inuitis prope omnibus against almost all mens wills Luther him self L. de Captiu cap. de Eucharistia speaking of his enterprise saith I begin a hard matter as which being confirmed by the vse of so many ages and approued by all mens consents is so setled as it is necessarie to change and alter all the face of Churches And 4. Galat. fol. 187. The world iudgeth vs to be most pernitious Hereticks destroyers of religion c. fol. 210. This day the name of Luther is most odious to the world 6. Galat fol. 291. The whole world most cruelly persecuteth and condemneth vs. But because this matter is euident ynough out of that which hath bene saide in the first Chapter of this booke I omit further proofe and will add a word or twoe to shew what kinde of fellowes they were who began first to fauor Protestancie What Kinde of fellowes those Germans were who first fauored Protestants somewhat hath bene said before As for the French men Caluin Prefat in Iustit saith they were beggerly and abiect VVhat kind of men they vvere vvho against the vvorlds consent fauored Luther VVhat Dutrh VVhat french VVhat kind of fellous our first Engl. preachers of Protestacie vvere Bilney Hovv peruerted wretches miserable sinners before God and in sight of all men most contemptuous the excrements outcasts of the world and if any thing can be named more vilde Yea of their holy Cittie of Geneua he saith as the Surueyer cap. 2. writeth his words That the people were a disordered Dunghil of rifraffe That the Senat of 200. were a tumultuouâ— faction of rakhells and cast awayes that the cheefest Magistrats of the Cittie yea euen the Syndiks were ringleaders of sactions and dissentions And wil English men forsake their worthy vertuous renowned Ancestors and follow this scumme of the world And as for England what kinde of followers they were that first embraced Protestancie hath bene in parte touched before Wherfore I will here add onely a word of the first Preachers therof in this Kingdome 3. Bilney whome Fox pag. 922. calleth the first framer of the Vniuersitie of Cambridg in the knowlegd of Christ and was burnt An. 1531. as he saith pag 920. This man I say was as him selfe testifieth in Fox pag. 915. conuerted by priuie inspiration of the spirit in reading Erasmus Testament and was so ignorant as being apprehended An. 1527. he writeth of him self in Fox p. 918. thus VVhither Christ haue bene a long time heard I know not for that I haue not heard all the Preachers of England And if I heard them Hovv ignorant Hovv often times he abiured Protestancie yet till it was within this yeare or two I could not sufficiently iudg of them Lo this fellow but a year be-before he was apprehended could not iudg of Preachers whither they taught Christ or not So vnconstant also he was in his religion as first he tooke his oath that he should not teach preache nor defend any of Luthers opinions but should impugn the same euery where Fox pag. 910. And being again apprehended and condemned for Prostancie abiured it subscribed to his abiuration went before the procession in Paules bare headed with a fagot on his shoulder and stood before the Preachers at Paules Crosse all the sermon time An. 1529. ex Fox pag. 919. And yet not withstanding Anno 1531. again fell to preach heresie though at his death he recanted all dyed a good Catholick Latimer as Syr Thomas More then Chanceller of England Hovv peruerted Hovv ignorant Hovv often times recanted testifieth and Tindal plainly insinuateth in Fox pag. 986. though Fox deny it 4. Latimer the Apostle as Fox and Bale terme him of England was peruerted by this ignorant and inconstant Bilney and before as him self saith in Fox pag. 919. VVas as obstinat a Papist as any in England VVhose learning yow may gather by his Maister and his inconstancie by his owne deedes For he twise recanted ProtestaÌ„cie once before Cardinall Wolsey as yow may see in Fox p. 1575. and an other time before diuers Bishops as yow may read in Fox p. 1577. which Fox there saith was no great matter nor maruel So little matter he maketh of his religion or his Apostles denying it No maruel or matter for the Apostles of Protestants to abiure their faith Tindal Hovv often times repenteth After this he was vnbishoped by King Henrie 8. and by him cast into the Tower where he lay all his time after and at his own death vsed gunpowder to shorten his life p. 1606. Of Tindal an other Apostle Fox telleth pag. 981. how he was a schol Maister but mentioneth not how he came to Protestancie And after this wearie as it seemeth of this new doctrin would haue bene as yow may see p. 982. Chaplin to Bishop Tunstal a Notorious Papist p. 987. He would haue the real presence accounted an indifferent thing And p. 985. he telleth that he was strangled before he was burnt which manifestly sheweth that he recanted at his death which also I haue read other where Thus yow may see what dubble and triple turncotes what periured and abiured persons were the Apostles and first preachers of Protestancie in England The Foundations and cheefe Pillers as Fox termeth them of their Church O what comparison can ther be betwene such and Saint Austin S.
miracles For besides the testimony of the word of God which testified the miracles which we reade in scripture what waÌ„t they to be accounted true miracles that any other miracles had The Deedes were supernaturall The effect of them was supernaturall diuine vz the conuersion of Infidells The meanes of doing them holy to wit prayer to God The doers of them were Saints The testimonie of these Deedes are of many eye witnesses freinds and foes learned vnlearned holy and Wicked forrein and domesticall and coÌ„fessed of diuers which refuse S. Austins religion Than the which greater testimonie for miracles can not be required vnles we would haue God to speake from heauen And on the other side what prudent man is he that wil not iudg Luthers wonderments to be friuolous The things reported o him were naturall The testimonies for them are nether of eyewitnesses nor of enemies nor of Saints nor of great learned men nor are they confessed of any who refuse Luthers doctrine Yea they are denied by such as were both freinds and great scollers of Luthers Whie then should we beleeue them Nay whie should we not deny them CHAP. IX S. Austin and Luther weighed according to the Succession or continuance of their doctrine TRuly said Gamaliel Acts. 5. of the Christian religion then preached by the Apostles Si ex hominibus est consilium hoc aut opus dissoluetur Si vero ex Deo est noÌ„ poteritis dissoluere And in like sorte of hereticks said S. Paul 2. Timoth 3. Vltro non proficient And S. Austin in ps 57. compareth the Catholik faith to a Riuer which hauing a continuall spring euer floweth neuer waxeth drie heresie to a brooke rising vp on raine which while the raine falleth runneth boisterously and they who know not that it waÌ„teth a springe would iudg that it would last loÌ„ger than the quiet riuer See this proued l. 1. c. 14. seq ad fin l. 2. c. 1â— but as soone as it leaueth raining they see the water gon the brooke dryed Wherfor let vs see whither S. Aust or Luthers doctrin hath coÌ„tinewed longer in Engl. in their followers or rather we haue seene it alredy For. S. Aust hath had 69. successors in his Archbishoprick successiuly all of the same religion with him 53. kings of EnglaÌ„d besides diuers others as is before declared that when the Crown kingdome was twise violently taken from the Englishe-men by Danes Normans yet his faith was not taken from his successors Nor by so many so long desolations of the Danes many seuere lawes first by King Henrie 8. and then by Queene Elizabeth and so manie bitter torments hard banishmeÌ„ts streight confinments deep Dongeons could Iorns great â—ines Taxes and paymeÌ„ts bluddy deaths could it be rooted these thousand yeares oute of this land but that this day God be thancked S. Aust there are both noble ignoble clerks seculer religious men weemeÌ„ Children who not withstanding all lawes threats dangers will professe to hould the faith of their Apostle S Aust to agree with him in all points of religioÌ„ to honor that See from whence he came Much more vvold S. Austin haue forborne the Protest Church to refuse as he did to ioine in religioÌ„ with them who obserue not the maner as he said to the BritoÌ„s of the holy RomaÌ„ Apostolik Church In so much as not withstaÌ„ding all the lawes terrors ProclamatioÌ„s searches or paymeÌ„ts Torturs BanishmeÌ„ts executions which haue bene made these 50. yeares I B in his Taile of Tvvo leg Foxes c. 11 yet Ministers in their printed bookes dayly complaine of increase of Priests and Catholicks And one lately in his sermon at Pauls Crosse dedicated to the pretented Archb. of Canterbury and lyked of him saith pag. 79. Som. Collins that no bondage or hard measure can euer be thought able to suppresse or reclame vs. This this sheweth S. Austins worke to haue bene of God the water wherwith he watred the plants of his religion to haue an euerlasting flowing fountain from Heauen and the Church which he founded to be built vpon such a Rock as the gates of hel shall not preuail against it And that they which spurne against it do as S. Paule once did spurne against the pricke And on the other side Cranmer if he were as Fox saith a Lutheran in King Henries time it was but secretly And if he professed it in King Edwards time it was but for a verie short space And long since was there not one true Lutheran Protestant to be found in all England So soone was Luthers work dissolued so soone was his brooke growne drie And in steede of it runneth now Zuinglius or Caluins brooke which though it see me for the present to be ful and runne strongly yet if the Prince whose harte is in Gods hands would but ether disfancy it or at least withould his seuere haÌ„d from Catholicks yow should quickly see this ful brooke brought to a lowe ebbe and quickly dreaned and wax as dry as ether the brooke of Luther or the brookes of 300. Archereticks more wherof diuers haue runne far fuller and longer than ether Luthers or Caluins hath and now no signe of them is left Luther epist ad Albert Mogunt An 1525. forte doctrina mea iterum supprimetur yea scarce their names are knowne This Luther him selfe both forsawe and fourtould as is before declared l. 2. c. vlt. And Caluin also in his Preface before his Cathechisme in these wordes Of Posteritie I am so doutful as I dare scarce thinck therof For vnles God miraculously help from heauen me thinks I see extreme barbarousnes hang ouer the world And I pray God that a while hence our children feele not this to haue bene rather a true prophecie than a coniecture And if we mark we shall see that as Vipers broode killeth their Mother of whome they came So new haeresies destroy the ould from whence they sprange Thus the Puritan impugneth the Protestant and the Brownist vndermineth the Puritan Wherfor let all men that be careful of their saluation harken to S. Hieroms aduise saying to a Luciferian Haeretick I will tel thee my mind breefly and plainly That we should abide in that Church which founded of the Apostles contineweth to this daye For shall we doute saith S. Austin l. de vtil Cred. to put oure selues in the lap of the Church wich from the See Apoostolick by succession of Bishops in vaine Haereticks barking about yt hath gotten the hight of authoritie Epilog 1. THus we see most deerly beloued Contrimen that if we compare according to the true rules of prudence and wisdome the Roman Catholike Protest religion in their first founders here in our English Nation other for learning or vertue for missioÌ„ or orders for motiues to preache for vniuersalitie of religioÌ„ or confession of Aduersaries for miracles or succession and continuance the Catholik