A DEFENCE OF CATHOLIKES PERSECVTED IN ENGLAND Inuincibly prouing their holy Religion to be that which is the only true Religion of Christ and that they in professing it are become most faithfull dutifull and loyall Subiects to God their King and Country And therefore are rather to be honoured and respected then persecuted or molested Composed by an ould studienâ— in Diuinitie Let none of you suffer as a murderer or a theefe or a railer or a coueter of other mens things But if as a Christian let him not be ashamed but let him glorifie God in this name 1. Pet. 4. Printed at Doway by GERARD PINCHON at the signe of Coleyn 1610. A TABLE OF THE CHAPTERS CONTAINED IN THIS BOOKE Chapter I.  BY way of a Preface to the persecuted Catholikes and by them to their Persecutours of the Innocencie perfection and honour of them and their spirituall Pastours renowned Priests pag. 1. Chap. II.  That the Religion of our English Catholikes as well from the Saxons as Britans is the same with their first Apostles and deduced from them and first of the Saxons conuerted by Saint Augustine and his Roman Mission pag. 15. Chap. III.  The like proued of all other person and parts of England as also the Brâ—tans that their Religion was tâ— same with the Apostles and thâ— which our now Perseâ—uted Catâ—likes Profâ—sse and maintaine pag. 30. Chap. IIII.  The Religion of the Apostles of our primatiue Christian Britans of the first Christiaâ— Sâ—xons and of our now persecuted Catholikes pâ—oueâ— to be one and the same in euâ—ry Article against Protestants anâ—â—eâ—â—eâ—utours pag. 50. Chap. V.  That the Consecration Iurisdiction and mission of our Cathoâ—iâ—e Bishop teaching the same Apostolicall Doctrine in all thingâ— with the Catholike Church is most lawfull â—oliâ— orderlie and honourable in that his sacred calling is most worthie and necessâ—rie and therfore he vnworthily Persecuted pag. 69. Chap. VI.  That our English Priests who teach all things with the Apostolicall Religion are truely consecrated worthie men and are to be honoured and not persecuted pag. 102. Chap. VII  That theÌ„ Catholikes of England taught and directed by such guides in Religion as our Priests be are not to be persecuted but protected defended and imployed as true and faithfull subiects in all things pag. 146. Chap. VIII  That euerie Article of Catholike Religion is more agreable with the best temporall gouernmeÌ„t then those of the Protestants and that a Catholike keeping his Religion as he is bound to God so he cannot be vndutifull to his temporall Prince and Countrie pag. 157. Chap. IX  That true and obedient Catholikes be the truest and most obedient subiects pag. 170. APPROBATIO Viso tâ—stâ—moâ—io câ—iusdam virâ—docti mihique de fide docâ—râ—nâ probè coâ—â—iâ—i quo testatur â—uÌ„c libruâ— cui Tâ—â—ulus est A Defâ—nce of Cathelikes perseâ—utâ—â— in England nihil continere fidei vel bonis moâ—ibus adueâ—sâ—m quin poâ—ius â—ulta quae aâ— Catholicorum Aâ—gâ—oruâ— consolationem â—â—cianâ— â—iâ—num censâ— quem ego 〈◊〉 â—â—eo approâ—â—reâ—â—atâ—m 〈…〉 â—artâ—j Aâ—no 1630. GEOâ—GIVS COâ—Vâ—Nâ—RIVS S Theol. Doctâ— Regius 〈…〉 Pâ—â—fâ—ssor Coâ—legâ—â—ae 〈…〉 poâ—â—tus 〈…〉 Caâ—celâ—aâ—ius libâ—â—um Cenâ—or THE FIRST CHAPTER By way of a Preface to the persecuted Catholikes and by them to their Persecutours of the Innocencie perfection and honour of them and their spirituall Pastours renowned Priests 1. RENOWNED Catholikes of Engâ—and moâ—â— renoâ—ned Catâ—oâ—â—kes 〈◊〉 perseâ—uâ—ed â—or your 〈◊〉 â—eligiâ—â— giue leaue to one yoâ—r old humble â—nd vnworthie seruaâ—t â—n Châ—ist Associate â—nd Partaker now with you and youâ— renowâ—ed Predecessours a long time fâ—oÌ„ his youth â—o old age in prisâ—n peâ—â—â—cution 〈◊〉 â—nd tribulatioÌ„ for the most holy Caâ—â—olike â—aith and Religion to remember hiâ— loue â—nd duâ—ie to you as also the bounâ—en dutie â—nd office of vs all as true seruants to our Master Christ in so noble and iust a cause with the honour reward and recompence which is his ordinarie paie to all his faithfull seruants in such his affaires farre more eminent and excellent thâ— any Potentate Prince or Persecutour on earth can either take away or giue vnto vs or any of them or we in this world inioy 2. Let me beginne with you as Saint Cyprian that glorious Byshop and Martyr did with the constant Martyrs and Confessours of his Countrie and time Quibus ego vos laudibus praedicâ—m fortissimi Martyres c. O most valiant Cyprian â—pisâ—â—l ad 〈◊〉 Confâ—â—sor â—â—â—pist 6. Martyrs with what praises may I blase you forth with what criâ—s of voce may I adorne the fortitude of youâ— heart and perseuerance of faith you haue endured euen to the consuâ—mation of glorie in your examinatioÌ„s most hard torments You haue not giuen place to punishments but they haue rather yealded to you Crownes haue ministred an end to those griefes to which torments gaue no â—nd And presently after he addeth The multitude of those which were present hath seene the heauenlie fight of God the spirituall waâ—re of Christ his seâ—uants to haue stoode with a free voice an vncorrupted minde a diuine force naked truely of wordlie weapons but armed with the shield of faith 3. Let me speake vnto you and of you especially chiefe Prelate and Pastours Priests and persecuted Clergie of England and of your late Predecessours on earth and now happie in heauen as Saint Iohn Chrisostome thus performed to the two most glorious Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paule Quasnam Chrysâ—st seâ—â— de SS Apostolis Petr. â—aul â—p Metaphrâ—st in Breuiadie 6. Iulij vobis referemus gâ—atias qui tantum pro nobis laboraâ—tis memenituâ— Petre obstupesco recordor tui Paule excedens mente lachrymis opprimor c. What â—hankes shall we giue vnto you who haue laboured so much for vs ô Peter I remember thee and am astoniâ—ed O Paule I call the to mind and with excesse tâ—ereâ—f ame oppressed with teares For what shall I speake or what shall I vtter when I behold youâ— afflictions I â—annot tell How many prisons haue you sanctified what chaines haue you adorned what â—orments haue â—ou sustained what curses or reproaches haue you sufâ—ered how haue you borne Christ how with your preaâ—hing haue you ioyed Churches blessed are the instruâ—ents of your tongue your members are sprinckled with â—lood for the Church You haue imitated and followed Christ in all things 4. I doe not I dare not compare my selfe â—o those great lightes Bishops and Rulers in â—he Church of Christ or such as be vnder our â—upreame Paâ—â—our of that highest Order to â—home I owe all dutie and respect yet as an â—ld student in holy â—eâ—â—ing hauing read â—uch and written not a little for the defence â—f you and the cause of God without any â—ust controll neuer adhearing vnto or reaâ—hing suspected or vnsouÌ„d doctrine of sweareâ—ing churchinge châ—pâ—â—â—ge sword â—â—â—â—ing â—r such like stuffe may now more bouldâ—y â—rite and wish I
Gospells from the shoulders of the â—nsecrated But this maketh not much to the â—rpose it being onely as I haue saied a Ceremonie and not essentiall to the Consecration of a Bishop and that true and vndouted Bishops were made before the Gospells were written Otherwise the wholâ— Church then euer after and now and eueâ— had wanted it and had no Ecclesiastical Order at all Which is the lamentable and desperate condition of such as persecute a truâ— Bishop and Priest for their Order and power thereby confessing their want both of thaâ— which is essentiall in this high office as alsâ— consecratours to performe it consecrat truâ— Priests or confer any Ecclesiasticall Ordeâ— or degree at all not the meanest in that kinâ— to any person 20. All Authors agree euen Protestants iâ— their Catalogues of British and English Biâ—hops that we had continuall succession oâ— such here in great numbers vntill Queen Elizabeth by her supreamacie depriued anâ— deposed them And to keepe it farre from thâ—â—â—me of an Innouation to haue one such Bishop Successour to so many if we haue thaâ— libertie in time of Persecution when Bishop are driuen from their Sees vsuall in histories to remember and honour them in Exiâ— and Persecution we haue still kept a Succesion of Bishops in or of this nation Of thoâ—â— which were depriued of their Bishop pricke we haue Richard Pates Bishop of worcheste who subscribed to the Councell of Trent hâ— being there present by this Title Richardâ— Patus wigornieÌ„sis Episcopus Thomas Goldwell Bishop Godw. Catal. of Bish. in Worcest in Ric. Pates in S. Asaph in Thom. Goldwell of Asaph liued at Rome 20. yeares after that deposing Thomas watson Bishop of Lincolne was committed to prison in the I le of Elie and died about the yeare 1584. Thus the Protestants themselues deliuer and moreouer they deliuer much praise and commendatioÌ„s of theÌ„ and all others our renowned Bishops 14. or more in number who were deposed and persecuted by Queene Elizabeth yea far more and greater theÌ„ they doe of those which were intruded into their places Before or soone after the death of Bishop Waâ—son of Lincolne Owen Lew is of this our Nation was consecrated Bishop of Cassan in whose life-time our most Illustrious Cardinall William Allan was honoured with that dignitie and consecrated Archbishop of Maâ—kâ—en who liued with these honours vntill the 16. day of October in the yeare of Christ 1594. â—n his time William Gifford was by Pope Clement the eight made Deane Ecclesiae Diui Petri Insulensis Of Saint Peters Church at Lile And afterward he was ordained Archbishop of Rhemes in Champaine in France where he lately liued And whilst he liued Archbishop both VVilliam of Chalcedon and Richard also who is now so persecuted were by highest Papall authoritie coÌ„secrated ad sent into England And what man of ordinarie knowledge Iudgement or vnderstanding will aduenture to saie but all these were renowned men as also diuerse of our renowned Priests most worthie of Episcopall honour aÌ„d dignitie in equall times honourably stiled and registred for all posteritie not onely as great glories of their CouÌ„trie England but the whole Church of Christ Therefore to haue one of such worthie men a Bishop in his natiue Countrie bearing for auoyding offence his Title of a place so farre hence which froÌ„ the first Conuersion thereof to Christ had 3. Archbishops aÌ„d many Bishops aboue 1400. yeares past should not in the new English Religion teaching the Church of God neuer wanted Bishops and acknowledging both him and all Catholikely consecrated Bishops and Priests to be true and lawfull Bishops and Priests vndoubtedly by right ordination be offensiue but desired such Order Function and dignitie being by their publike testimonies most needefull excelleÌ„t and honourable with all true Professours of Christian Religion 21. Thus we see a Succession of English Bishops though not all in England but in other CouÌ„tries some of them consecrated and remaining a thing not vnusuall in times of Persecution and bannishment of Bishops as in the great lights in their time of Gods Church S. Hilarius S. Athanasius S. Chrysostome and others loÌ„g time exiled yet thereby did not interrupt a continuall Succession in their Sees What least exception then can be taken against our renowned Bishop of Chalcedon for Order and degree so honourable and eminent by all testimonies for his owne worthines and worthily therefore to be had in high reuerence euen with his Persecutours he bringeth able witnesses with him his knowne loue aÌ„d honour to our king Queene and CouÌ„trie his owne holy life and conuersation his learned works and writings with all at home and abroad he hath euer piously and gratefully conuersed and with honour defended and iustified himselfe against Maleâ—olants Among all English Catholickâ— oâ— Protestants few are to be found which haue more defeÌ„ded the honour of our Soueraigne â—one more acceptable to his Maiesties frieds â—nd Allyes in marriage no maÌ„ among so maâ—y renowned Priests of England worthie of â—reatest honour in equall times adiudged so â—t to supply such place by that highest Paâ—or which hath shewed great care and loue four king Queene and hoped Posteritie â—nd Countrie And since Persecution and â—roclamation against him what could such a â—an in Persecution doe more then he hath â—one in decreeing and Ordering that all â—riests and Catholiks should daily with deâ—otion praie for our king Queene State and Countrie And both since the comming in of â—im and VVilliam of Chalcedon of happie â—emorie his Predecessour as likewise before â—e Catholiks of England haue bene and now â—e knowne to be the most loyall dutifull and liuing Subiects in our dearest Countrie of England THE VI. CHAPTER That our English Priests who teach alâ— things with the Apostolicall Religioâ— are truely coÌ„secrated worthie men anâ— are to be honoured and not persecuted 1. Hauing redeemed Episcopall Ordâ—â— and dignitie conferred by the Sâ— of Rome from all Imputation of wickâ— obloquies and made it knowne to be so higâ— and honourable we might spare all furthâ— labour for exemption and defence of Prieâ—â—lie Function seeing euery Bishop of neceâ—sitie must be a Priest and whatsoeuer of thâ— calling is noble and glorious in a Bishop must needs be such in Priests Episcopal hâ—nour and consecration addeth an higher aâ— greater worthinesse to him that was beforâ— Priest but cannot take away or diminish aâ— excellencie or renowne he had before Tâ— Protestants of Scotland doe confesse whiâ—â— all knowe that after Catholike ReligioÌ„ wâ— ouerthrowne there they had not any preteâ—ded Bishops before King Iames accordiâ—â— to his manner of making such gaue suâ— Titles to them And their Knoxe Buchanan Forbs Bale and others both of England â—nd Scotland are not ashamed to saie that â—efore the sending of Saint Palladius thither â—y Saint Celestine Pope about the yeare 430. â—lonckes who were onely Priests supplied â—he place of that dignitie with that People â—ut malice to Episcopall worthinesse and â—ower their owne
westminster saith it was in thâ— yeare 753. by which accompt his Abbots iâ— England must needs be professed in the oâ— British Order 7. Marianus Scotus a Scot by Nationâ— and liuing in a strict discipline a Moncke â— Germanie with in 200. yeares of S. Bonifâ—cius his time though he acknowledgeth hiâ— to be an English man Anglus yet very ofteÌ„â— calleth him Sâ—otus a Sâ—ot in no other respeâ— then for his being of the Scotish Order and iâ— that regard calleth these Monasteries Monastria Sanâ—torum Scotorum Sancti Galli Sancti Bonfacij Monasteries of the â—cotish Saints S. Gallus aâ— S. Bonâ—fâ—ce VVhen it is certaine and he wâ— knew that neither of them was a Scot by Nâ—tion but onely in profession He proueâ— further that euen in his timâ— there weâ— Monckes of the Scotish old Order there whâ— â—ad a peculiar Monasterie in Colen where â—e Abbot with others were Scots Helias Scoâ—s abbas Who professed a strict Religion and â—n the opinion of men giuen to more liberâ—e ouer greaâ—e Discipline Religionem diâ—ictam disciplinamque niâ—â—am and God did miâ—culously approue it This was also the conâ—ition of S. Benedict Biscope Master to Saint â—ede beâ—ng a childe this the condition of â—â—eolfrâ—dus and Easterwinus whâ—m S. Boâ—face constituted Abbots in his absence in â—s Monasâ—eries 8. Waâ—es had seuen Bishops with an â—rchbishop others with their Clergie were â—ed thither out of England and yet diuers â—mained still in other parts with many Chriâ—ians euen Vniuersites as that of Cambridge â—ee then as they saie from all errour and neâ—r Manuscript antiq in vit S. Dauidâ—s Capgrau in cod censured by Saint Gregorie as some were â—heir difference from the Church of Rome â—as not in Questions of faith but others tolâ—rable and tollerated and this had not beene â—ng for in S. Dauidâ— time a litle before all â—greed in all things with Rome Omnes Britanâ—ae Matth. wâ—st in chronic an 794. Stows histor in Mercelâ—â— Ecclesiae modum Regulam Romana authoritate â—ceperunt All the Churcheâ— of Britanie toocke their â—anner and Rule by Roman authoritie 9. The greate Kingedome of Northumâ—erland bounded with Trent and Scotland â—ere thus conuerted The greatest kingedome â—f Mercia which then comprehended 23. â—hyres in 20. tribus Prouinâ—ijs quas Angli Shiras 〈◊〉 â—â—s conuerted by the old renowned Clergie men Bishops Priests anâ— Monckes that were of our old British Ordeâ— they in their Auncestors receiuing Conuersion from such our Britans and theÌ„selueâ— also liuing within the limits and boundes oâ— Britanie or England now for their Iland aâ— Saint Bede and others witnesse belonged to our Countrie Insula Hydesti cuius Monasteriâ— â—ed Eccl. hist. l. 3. cap. 3. in 〈◊〉 penè Septentrionalium Scotorum omniuâ— Pictorum Monâ—sterijs non paruâ— tempore Arcem tenebat regendisque eorum populis praeerat Quae videlâ— ceâ— Insula ad ius quidem Britanniae pertinet non magno ab ea sâ—eâ—o discreta Whose Monasterie in the Ileâ— Hydestine was nâ— small â—imâ— the chiefe house of alâ— the Monasteries Allmost of all the Northeren Scoâ— and of the Abbeys of all the Redâ—hankes and had thâ— soueraintie in ruling of then people VVhich I le iâ— very deede belongeth to the right of Britanie beinâ— seuâ—red from it with a narrâ—w sea Sebert King oâ— the East Angles was conuerted in Burgundieâ— and brought ouer with him who was consecrated after Bishop of his Countrie Sainâ— Felix and he so honoured the Priests of ouâ— old British Order that Saint Furseus onâ— thereof comming hither and with his allowance and donation building a Monasteriâ— of that Order King Sebert himself entered into Monasticall life and was professed â— Monâ—ke therein Regni negotijs cognato suo Egriâ— commendatis in Monasterio à sancto Furseo sibi constructo habitum Monachalem suscepit Committing thâ— affaires of his Kingdome to his Kinsman â—greâ—k he betoocke himselfe to Monasticall habit in a Monasterie â—ounded by S. Furseus 11. Concerning the Kingedome of the East Saxons â—igebert their King ioyned herein with the Northumbers and â—as baptized by Bishop Finan of the Scotish Order ad Bishop of his Countrie Câ—d that was of the same order and consecrated by S. Finan he in all his dominions consecrated Priests and Deacons in all places of Essex but especially at â—thancester and Tilberie For although King Seber's sonne of Sledda was a ChristiaÌ„ before â—et he dying the Countrie vnder his sonnes â—erred and Sigbert deadly enemies to Chriâ—tian profession was till then in Infideliâ—ie 12. To come to the west Saxons although â—hey receiued the faith by Saint Birinus sent â—rom Rome yet at the Baptisme of their King Kinegillus S. Oswald King of NorthuÌ„â—erland was Godfather vnto him and he â—arried King Oswald his daughter and Doâ—auerunt ambo Reges both these Kings gaue him â—orchester sixe miles from Oxford to settle â—here his Episcopall See And in the yeare â—35 He instituted there Canonicâ—s seâ—ulares secuâ—r Canons VVe reade in the Manuscript of the â—ntiquities of winchester that he builded â—gaine the old Monasterie of winchester â—ounded in king Lucius time and did restore â—nto or in it againe holy Monckes which were not long if at all before Saint Augustines comming driuen thence for we are assured that in the time of Constantine kinsmaÌ„ to king Arthur killing the sonne of Mordred Gildus l. de excid â—ritan Matth. â—â—estm Chronic. an 586. before the Altar of that Monasterie they were there and without doubt in king Careticus his time in the yeare â—â—6 when and not before Bishops Priests and Moncks fled into wales So the Moncks placed there could be no others but such as had beene Bed hâ—sto Eccles lib. 4. cap. 13 Manuscrâ—pâ— antiq â—â— vit S. VVilfridi Capgrau â—n catal in â—od driuen from thence before who still in themselues or succession of that order continued in those parts as in the Scotish and British Order in the Monasteries of Bosenham wheâ—e Dicul a Scot was Abbot in Redford vnder Abbot Kinebertus at Malmesburie vnder Meildulphus a Scotish Moncke Natione Scoto eruditione phylosopho professione Monacho By nation a Scot in lerning a Pâ—ylosopher in profession a Moncke VVho was so famous there that he gaue the old name Maildulfesburch to that Guliel Malmesb. Lâ—ntherius Saxoniae Episcop in chart â—â— 675. place where and vnder whom in the same discâ—pline S. Aldelme after Abbot there was brought vp A primo aeuo infantiae from his childâ—ood Bishop Eleutherius in his graunt to that house dated 675. proueth there were many Abbots and Abbies in these places in that time 13. VVilliam of Malmesburie with the Antiquities of Glastâ—â—burie assureth vs that in our â—enowned Abbey of Glastenburie after Saint Augustines comming and during his â—eing here in the yeare 601. we had our old Moncks in quiet and peace their Abbot was â—alled Morgret the Bishop vnder whom they â—hen liued Manuto Manuto Episcopus and their King Rex Domnoniae whose name by the
in the heauens and â—hatsoeuer yee shall loose on earth shal be loosed in â—e heauens God hath subiected to the hands of the â—riests the Regall head theaâ—hing vs that this Prince greater theÌ„ that The thronâ— power authoritie â—nd dignitie of Priests is aboue Regall this â—leth onely in things temporall the Priest â— heauenly The king of heauen hath giuen his power to his Priests and hath subiected â—e Regall head to thâ— hands of the Priests â—eclaring vnto vs that this is a greater Prince â—en he Neither hath he giueÌ„ such power vnto â—ngels or Archangels as to Priâ—sts Saâ—erdotibâ—â—â—â—um est vt potestatem habâ—ant quam Deus neque Chrysâ—st lib. 3. de Sacerdotio â—ngelis neque Archangelâ—s datam esse voluit Neque â—im ad illos dictum est Quaeâ—unque alligaueritis in â—rrâ erunt alligata in coelo Et quaecunque solueretiâ—â— terrâ erunt soluta in â—oelâ— It is giuen to Priests â—at they shall haue power which God would haue â—uen neither to Angells nor Arâ—hangeâ—â—s For it is not â—ed to them Whatsoeuer you â—hall bind vpon earth â—all be bound also in heauen and whatsoeuer you shall â—ose on earth shall be loosed in heauen The power â—f binding which is in Princes is onely ouer â—odies that of Priests ouer soules and extenâ—eth to heauen Habent terrestres Principes vinâ—li potestatem verum corpâ—rum solum Id autem quod Chrysoâ—â— ibideâ— â—â—o Sacordotum vinculum ipsam eâ—iam animam conâ—ngitatque ad coelos vsque peruadit Terreane Princes â—lso haue the power of fetters but of the bodie onely â—ut that which I saie the bonds of Priests toucheth the â—ule it selfe and passeth vnto the heauens This is the doctrine deliuered by Christ so expâ—â—nded both by the Grâ—â—ke and â—â—â—ine Church in Britaniâ— and all places with all persons all good Emperours Kinges and Princeâ— of England and which the whole Christian worlde haâ—e euer profâ—ssed and declared 17. And the world will witnesse euery where against persecuting England that the Cathâ—likâ— Pâ—iest and Clergie thereof be as leâ—â—ned â—â—ly religious and as saâ—â— fâ—â—m exception and eueâ— haue bene since they were persecuted â—â—mber for number as any â—â—â—giâ—â—â— all Châ—â—stian reâ—owned Naâ—ions And of all Engâ—â—â—h people they haâ—e most â—oâ—oâ—red â—nâ—â—east 〈…〉 offended their Pâ—inces or 〈…〉 Câ—â—â—crie Most of them be and 〈…〉 of noble or 〈◊〉 familiâ—â— and alâ—â—â—bred â—â— and discended that thâ—y haâ—e 〈◊〉 at home and abroad without 〈…〉 or huâ—e They 〈◊〉 left 〈…〉 places i◠〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Englâ—â—d 〈…〉 and all They 〈…〉 Bâ—shoprâ—cks 〈◊〉 or 〈…〉 but leaue 〈◊〉 to thâ—â—â—r 〈…〉 any 〈◊〉 Tribâ—â—es or 〈…〉 From their Aduersaâ—ies The Catholikeâ— of â—nglan◠〈◊〉 these â—o 〈…〉 more the Protestants doe 〈…〉 or many 〈◊〉 Presentations and 〈◊〉 which beâ—oâ—ged 〈◊〉 their â—o â—â—ll into the lapse for the Protestant Bishops to bestowe as thâ—y will Ouâ— Catholikâ— Priests haue no wiues or children to trouble the CoÌ„mon â—ealth withâ—ll Pariâ—heâ—â—nd pâ—aces of birth be not postered or charged with any â—uâ—h nâ—r Schoâ—â—erships or Felâ—owships in Vnâ—uersitieâ— which are not orâ—ained for Ministerâ— childrenâ— Tenanâ—s are â—ot put out of their liuings nor the Church Riâ—ches and liuings horded vp beggars made â—ut not releeued for any 〈◊〉 of Priests â—r Priests fauourers All that be of their acâ—uintance in Religion are instructed in dutie â—o God and Prince and be most true and â—utifull Subiectâ— to â—heir king â—n all occasioÌ„s â—hâ—se caÌ„not be the 〈◊〉 of a bad Religion 18. Their Religion vnder preâ—enâ—e whereâ—f they are presecuted they haue ofâ—eÌ„ in pubâ—shed bookes proued in euery point and â—rticle to be onely true and now doe coÌ„â—â— it â—â—t to pâ—eâ—se which will so demonstrate 〈◊〉 euery Article of thâ— Pâ—â—seâ—utours Reâ—ion euen by the Apostleâ— and Apoâ—olike men and Fathers of that age in â—hich they liued holy Scripturs and Proâ—stants themselueâ— and they haue often â—ade most earnest and huÌ„bâ—e petitions lateâ— pâ—blished in print to the Parlament 〈◊〉 publickly euen with vnequall condiâ—ons to themselues and their causâ—â—â— dispute â—d mâ—intainâ— all and euery part of the doâ—ine they hold and 〈◊〉 against the best â—arned Protestant Bishops or 〈◊〉 their Persecutours And yet if meÌ„ would or should speake doe and proceede consequently as they which takâ—â—pon them to be teachers instructours and Reformers in Religion of all men in all times and places ought and without vtterly disabling themselues therein are bound A Prieste or Bishop that saieth Maâ—se absolueth penitents or reconciâ—eth men to the Catholike faith by power authoritie or Iurisdiction from Rome is no more guiltie of so â—ermed treason by the ParlameÌ„t Protestant Acts and lawes then all other Ecclesiasticall ParlameÌ„t an 〈◊〉 Elizab. Statute 2. Parlam 1. Iacob Parlam â— Carâ—li personâ— dâ—acons or others inferiours Religious of what name title or degree soeuer as SubdeacoÌ„s Acolythists Exorcists or others wanting all such power as is euident by that oâ— Queene Elizabeth receiued and prosecuteâ— by king Iames aÌ„d king Charles Priests therefore are not or should not be so prosecuteâ— for their Priestlie functions God forbyd any English minded man or louer of Englanâ— should thinke or wish it a thing so penall anâ— capitall for any InhabitaÌ„t of England or English man to be borne abid or remaine in hiâ— beloued natiue Countrie of England thougâ— he weâ—e a meaner and more vnworthie maâ— then any meanest Priest of England is 19. The Protestants thus deriue our Clergâ—â— Succession Thâ— first Parlament of Qâ— Câ—mbd Annal pag 36. â—â—izabeth being ended the Oath of thâ— Queens supreamacie was proposed to the Catholike Bishops and Ecclesiasticall Persons many as refused to sweare were depriued their benefices dignities and Bishopriks â— Rulers of Churches 50. Prebendaries 5. â—isters of Colledges 12 Archdeacons 12. â—anes and 14. Bishops all that then â—emaiâ— except one Anthonie Bishop of Landaffe â— calamitie of his See and â—ome commitâ—ed prison in the Tower Fleete Marshallea â— kings Bench. How reuerend and learned â—n those of our Clergie then weâ—e and they â—ch immediately ioyned with the and coÌ„tiâ—d a SuccessioÌ„ of renowned Clergie Priests â— memorable bookes and writings of very â—y of them in defence of Catholike Reliâ—n ther honour therby registred among â— must worthie writers and their glorie in whole Church of Christ are warrant to posteritie I am an vnworthie witnesse â— many older and of more frequeÌ„t conuersaâ— with Priests then I can better testifie that â—hin 25 yeares of the Reigne of Queene Eâ—beth when so many from our Seminaries â— come hither that at one time there were â— of them Prisoners in the Marshallea and â—y of them put to death There were then â—y of Queene Maries Priests depriued and â—secuted by Queene Elizabeth still liuing â— labouring here in this holy cauâ—e and â—st of them were very learned as they were â— which were sent from our Seminaries to â—plie their number and ioyne with them as â—ers published bookes from them their
petitions and challendges of dâ—sputatioÌ„ boâ— in the Marshal sea and Tower and their cofuting and confounding their Protestant auersaries doe sufficiently â—estifie 20. Wâ— may take some proportion of thâ— labours and worâ—hinesse â—ere if we call â— minde the sâ—aâ—e of such affair in Engâ—and â— the time of Qâ—eene Elizabeâ—h before aâ—y Râ—ligious men came â—â—ther the Cleâ—gâ—e Prieâ— heing here aâ—lmost alone without other asistance and compare it with the present câ—dition when so many Orders of them â—sides the old Clergie be and haue bene hâ— diuers yeares and we shall not finde feaer the auntient Nobilitie scarceâ—y more of â— chiefest gentrie and not many more otheâ— Catholikes now then in those daies Tâ— which be old may remember it others â— Iudgment in histories and Records may fiâ— it so the time of Persecution threatning â— commaundeth vnto me silence in particulâ— Yet all that are so desirous to examine ◠〈◊〉 Annâ—l pâ— 27. 21. 22. 36. 39. Rowâ—s preface historicall in Quâ—ene Elâ—â—â—beth Stowes 〈◊〉 yeare of Q. 〈◊〉 comparison may easily prooue that moâ—â— I am not in error if they will but readâ—â— Protestant Historicall relations Caâ—dâ— Howes Stowe and others they will sâ—e wâ— Pollicie was vsed to put downe Catholâ— ReligioÌ„ aÌ„d by theÌ„ it will also appeare how â—â—tholike CouÌ„cellours were â—â—moued Catholâ— Iudges Sherifes Iustices of peace and othâ—â— were displaced and Protestants put in tâ— places fiue nowe Protestant Lords made iâ— â—ounties Protestant Bâ—â—gesses chosen for â—rlament Plures è Protestantibuâ— datâ operâ è â—nitatibus tum è â—iuitatibâ—â— Burgis fuisse electos â—ny of the Protestants of set purpose were chosen one 〈◊〉 Counties as well out of Cities as Townes And â—hough the Caâ—holike Bishops were also â—cluded from that Parlament that so Proâ—tant Religion might be the more easily esâ—lished by Parlament yet the Pâ—oâ—estant â—tie exceeded onely in Sixe voices the Caâ—olikes who there profâ—sâ—ed themselues to â—uch and all for the most part of them for â—ong time remained so The Queene herâ—e openly then in that Parlament protested â—â—â—he would neuer vexe or trouble the Roman Caâ—ikes concerning any difference in Religion â—ough we found and felt since how farre â—he â— altered froÌ„ this theÌ„ her intetion ad deternatioÌ„ What I haue saied is found to be true all the opinionâ— of friends and aduersaries 21. And this sufficiently argueth a true â—st lawfull and neuer defectiue knowne sucâ—ion of worthie and learned Priests of the â—ular Clergie who defended in all times â—holy cauâ—e of God in this our Countrie â— conserued still the Catholike Religion in hearts of the Nobilitie gentrie and others â—ll soâ—ts No Order of the Religious can â— so The Iesuits came first of all the Reliâ—us hither but they were not heare before â— went away againe not returning of some â—res The DominicaÌ„s and Franciscans came â—er before the Benedictins but neither they nor any other â—id or could make this claiâ— For our secular Priests haue as is beâ—â— often declared continued alwaies their sâ—cesâ—ion and in this last persecution sheâ— the way and broaken the ice vnto all â— Religious by their Mission of Priests hithâ— from their Colledges beyond the sâ— which I speacke not with any intention dishonour our Reuerend Religious buâ— honour the Secular Clergie and to defend Authour of the ProtestaÌ„s Plea and Petition tâ— ParlameÌ„t for Catholikes Against whom a certâ— Benedictine Moncke in his prefatorie Epâ— to Saint Augustins Meditations Soliloqâ— and Manuall translated by him into Engâ— writeth I here neuer hath beene any Interrupâ— Benedictine Preachers and Teachers in England â— to prooue this his assertion he reciteth â—ly three such Monâ—kes Abbot Fecknam aâ— Moncke to vse his wordâ— whole name was â—rie Stile as I take it Who though bliâ— bodie yet cleare sighted in minde in the Châ—â—â— Westminster publiâ—ly and â—â—outely confuted in an â— none Sermon a precedent railâ—ng Sermon â— D. Horne by appointment of the Councell sâ—â— in the eares of the people to disgrace the profesâ—â— Monckes and Catholike Religion and D. Sâ—â— Buckly and he seemeth to be offendâ—d â— the foresaied Author of the Plea as thougâ— had done wrong to their Order in suppâ—sing D. Abbot Fecknam his namâ— say â—e might haue remembred the famous and â—â— â— Abbot Fecknam But aâ—as this is farre froÌ„ accusing truely that Author or excusing himselfe or prouing what he said before For that Author in that very booke maketh twice an honourable memorie of that noble Abbot in one plâ—ce setting downe to his honour the Oratâ—â—â— he made in the first Parlament of Q. Elizabeth in defence of Religion And â—hat Author of the Plea was so farre and â—till is from being otherwise then a loâ—ing friend and no enimy to the Order of â—aint Benedict that in the time of Q. Elizaâ—eth before any Monckes came hither He â—rote in honour thereof in his Apologie for Catholiks to the Councell of Q. Elizabeth Apolog. â—pâ—st â—o Q Elizab Councall prius an 601. pag 83. â— these words The onely order of Saint Benedict so â—nowned in our Nation hath had abouâ— twentiâ— kings â—d Emperours aboue an hundred grâ—â—t Princes many â—opes sixteene hundâ—ed Archbishops 4000. Bishops â—000 famous men and 15600. most honourable caâ—nised Saints Thus farre ranne his penne with â—eir Moncke and most commender Tritheâ—ius 22. When the first Moncks from Spaine â—me hither about the death of Q Elizabeth â—d had no Faculties this Author at the reâ—iest of one of them his deare frâ—eÌ„d wrote efâ—ctually to the then Archpriest Maister â—ack well to giue them ordinarie Faculties â—hich he did and these were the first Faculâ—s that Congregation in my memorie as â—e Moncks themselues confessed had in England vntill more ample were afterwards and otherwise procured vnto them And that Author hath euer liued ingreat peace loue vnitie and concorde with all the worthiest oâ— that and other Orders of his acquaintance but to that excepting Moncke he â—as noâ— knowne And now at this time and 〈◊〉 afteâ— both that Author and I that write as his anâ— their louing friend will be so farre froâ— being an enimy vnto the Moncks of Sainâ— Benâ—dicts Order that except their auntienâ— learned Moncks Historians and such as theâ— accompt most fauouring to their Order iâ— matter of Historie shall offend and be againâ— them of this time we will not offend theâ— bringing nothing but from these men theâ— selues and such But yet that assertion Tâ— there neuer hath beene any Interruption of Benediâ—â—â— Preachers and teachers in England cannot be sâ— by Moncks and this Moncks owne confâ—sion For if it had bene a thing lawfull foâ— Moncke or any Catholâ—ke to goe twise â—â— day to a Protestant Church where once â— goe iâ— dâ—mnable such a Moncke could not â— a truâ— Preacher and Catholike otherwise aâ— learned man vnder pretente to coÌ„fute Proâ—stants by word or writing might goe to theâ— Churches and deliuer themselues from pâ—â—alties Further this Moncke as they confeâ— went soone after out
of England and died â— of â—t Abbot Fecknam by Moncks and â— dâ—ed in the yeare 1585. And then by â—â— Monckes and all mens confession there liued here in England of the old English Monkes onely F. Buckley no great Preacher or learned man So this onely such Moncke could not abâ—e that proposition There nâ—â—er hath bene any Interruption of Benedictine Preachers and teaâ—â—eâ—â— in England One no Preacher cannot be such and in the plurall number 23. And that Author made no more menâ—ion in particular of Benedictine Moncks â—hen of other Religious Orders all oâ— them â—ailing in learned Priests except of â—he Clerâ—ie to â—heach and defend true Râ—â—igion He â—id not meane there was not any one either â—earned or vnlearned If any such thing is â—here printed it was the printers and not his â—oing neither can any of equaâ—l Iudgement â—inke otherwise for that authour well kâ—ew â—at Father Sebert Buckley was theÌ„ liuinâ— he â—eing well and very louingly acquainâ—eâ— with â—aister Sadler and maister Mahu Priests â—hich first ioyned with that F. Buckley heaâ—ng from them the manner thereof And he â—ath seene vnder one of their hanâ—s more â—en euer he wrote or held That it was â—oubted whether that father Buckley was a â—rofessed Moncke or no and the reasons of â—ch doubt are thus set downe written with â—ne of their hands Quia hoc neque per scripturam â—e publicum Instrumentum neque per testem quirem â—sam nouerat probatum vidit Because he had noâ—â—ne this prooued by writing or puâ—like Instrument nor witnesse that knew it This is more then my friend needeth in this matter or this case now requireth And he euer thought he was a Monke So doe I and honour the Order of S. Benedict and all other Religious Orders and loue and honour all my worthie frieÌ„ds and acquaintance of them as much as euer I did which some of them know to be very much and as they can wish or desire and euer shall yet veritaâ— vincit THE VII CHAPTER That the Catholikes of England taughâ— and directed by such guides in Religioâ— as our Priests be are not to be persecuted but protected defended and imployed as true and faithfull subiectâ— in all things 1. THe honour dignitie glorie and renowne of consecrated Bishops anâ— Priests being thus great ample excelleÌ„t anâ— necessarie among all true beleuing Christianâ— Instituted and ordained by Christ himselfe aÌ„â— according to his owne most holy Order foâ— all professours of his faith and Religion in aâ— â—nd places vntill this life and world is to end and that the publik Sacrifice they offer and celebrate is so holy and heauenly the Religion generally which they professe preach and â—eache vndoubtedly true and that the highest spirituall power by which their Mission is so certaine so aâ—ntiently honourable and honoured and without manifest and vnexcusable offence both to the greatest authoritie on earth or in heauen so to be receiued and reuereuced of all twyce happie blessed and honourable is then your state cause and condition Most Noble and Renowned Confessours of the Nobilitie Gentrie and other Catholike laietie of England in chosing in such times such guides of your soules professing such Religion and which giueth you a second and greater felicitie to be for such a cause so persecuted in your Natiue Countrie of your owne Countriemen kindred and called Christians 2. To suffer Persecution for Iustice is a blessednesse and bringeth to eternall blisse But to endure it in such measure and manner as you haue done and doe it will eleuate you â—o the highest and neuer fading ioyes your â—osse may be of temporarie but your purâ—hase thereby will be of much better and euer â—uting things Terreane glorie flattering and deceitfull honour is often valued bought and solde at too deare a rate but that which Persecution for the cause you suffer in will for euer endowe you with will farre exceede the worth of any price you can bestowe to possesse it Id enim quod in praesenti saieth â— ad Cor. 4. Saint Paule est momentaneum leue tribulationis nostrae supra modum in sublimitate aeternum gloriae pondus operatur in nobis non contemplantibus nobis quae videntur sed quae non videntur Quae enim videntur temporalia sunt quae autem non videntur aeterna sunt For that our tribulation which presently is momentarie and light worketh aboue measure exceedingly an eternall weight of glorie in vs we not considering the things that are seene but that are not seene For things that be seene are temporall but those that be not seene are eternall And c. 5. in an other place he addeth Scimus enim quoniam si terrestris domus nostra huius habitationis dissoluatur quod aedificationem ex Deo habemus domum â—on manufactam aeternam in caelis For we know that if our earthly house of this habitation be dissolued that we haue a building of God a house nâ—â— made with hand eternall in heauen Your liues your lands your liberties honours and what soeuer in things temporall and to be forsakeÌ„ or spoyled and depriued off deare vnto you were lent giuen and but for a time bestowed vpon you as also his most pretious blood and life was after many other Miserie 's sustained for your Ransome aÌ„d RedeÌ„ption by him for whose right and cause you stand and patiently endure afflictions for the same so often so much and so long time Thus he himselfe founde the way and returned to his owne kingedome and glorie immense and eternall and he said at his departure hence to his heauenly throane vnto his blessed Apostles Disciples to you and all that shall serue and suffer for him to the end of the world In domo Patris mei Io 1â— mansiones multae sunt vado parare vobis locum Et â—â— abiero praeparauero vobis locum iterum venio accipiam vos ad meipsum vt vbi sum eg vos sitis Et quo ego vado scitis viam sâ—â—â—is In my fathers house there be many mansions I goe to prepaâ—e you a place I come againe and will take you to my sâ—lfâ— that where I am you also may be And wither I goe you knowe and the way you knowe Euery Mansion in heauen in the howse of God farre surpasseth all Pallaces and pleasures of this world and to be with Christ in eternall glorie infinitely exceedeth all delights and honours here And the glorie and reward of them that come nearest to Christ in sufferings here â—â—ll be â—he highest and greatest with him there in loyes for euer Ecce Tabernaâ—ulum Dei cum hominibus Apoâ—al â—1 habitabit cum eis ipsi populus â—ius erunt ipse Deus cum eis erâ—t coruÌ„ Deus Eâ— absterget Deus omnem Lachrymam ab oculis eorum mâ—rs vltrà non erit neque luctus neque clamor neque dolor erit vltrà quae prima abierunt Behold the Tabernacle of
God with men and he will dwâ—ll with them And they shall be â—is people and he God with them shall be their â—od And God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes and death shall be no more nor mourning nor crying neitâ—er shall there be sorrow any more which first things are gone All you shall or can giue or raâ—her lend for such a recompence of sure Inheritance for euer was giuen you by him that for but lending him the same againe for a time will with so great honour returne you all againe yâ—a an huÌ„dred for one Omnis qui reliquerit domuÌ„ velfraâ—â—es aut sorores aut Patrem aut Matrem aut vxoâ—em aut filios aut agros propter nomen Matth. 19. meum cenâ—â—plum acâ—â—piâ—t vitam â—â—ernam possidebit Euâ—ry one that haâ—â— lâ—ft house or bretherne or sisters or father or mother or wife or childrne or â—andâ—â— for my sake shâ—ll â—eâ—eiue on hundreâ— fold and shall possesâ— life euerlasting 3. You that be great and Noble and Noble Cathoâ—â—kes be not troubled â—or not enioying such â—â—mpoâ—all and fading honours in Court or Countrie which your equals or inferiours enâ—oye not being of your Religion but rather pâ—rsecuting it are exalted or that you haue lost or let any such for this holy cause If there was danger you could not exercise â—uch without offence to God or hurting his Sâ—ruants it is your honour and securitie in conscience to want or loose them Qui amat pericuâ—um in illo peribit Coringrediens duâ—◠〈◊〉 3. â—â—as non habebit successâ— He that lâ—ueth danger shall peâ—ish in it A â—eart that goeth two waâ—es sâ—all not haue Successe And God hath prouided better Lâ—euâ—enanciâ—s and Offices for you in a bettâ—r kingedome Iudicabunt Nationes domâ—nâ—â—untur 〈◊〉 3. populis regnabit Dominus illorum in perpetuum They shall iudge Nations and haue dominion ouer peoples and their Lord shall reigne for euer Let it be your comfort that neuer had the that if you had enioyed such you would as your holy Religion teacheth you haue performed them to you vttermost power to the honour of God our king and Countrie as they which had and lately loste them did euer most faithfull and dutifull to our king in his commaunds and as readie as any Protestants to doe him all seruice and supplies they could by themselues or other meanes they might or were able to procure and more then diuers Protestants did well approue or commend in them for such duties which all Catholikes without exception generally and vpon all occasions in their degree most readily and willingly performed Let it not be a griefe vnto you that you are driuen out of Parlaments whose chiefest and onely members you with the Catholike Bishops and some priuiledged Abbots were with the kings of England long before any howse of Commonâ— was in power Your lawfull and iust refusalâ— of an Oathe made and as it was expounded by king Iames by greatest spirituall power vnlawfull to be taken giueth you lawfull excuse from all assent to Acts of persecution England euer was a noble Nation your Auncestors and of vs all that be truely English came by all Antiquities from a most honourable people and progenitors Saint Gregorie the great so called and in great parte our Apostle and Father in Christ compared them not onely for name but endowments of nature vnto Angells and the liues and conuersation of many thousands of your holy Auncesters when England was holy England were Angelicall and you now with other Catholikes made for profession of your faith a spectacle to the world Angells and men shall 1. Cor. 4. be for your rewarde thus perseuering as Angells Matt. 22. of God in heauen sicut Angeli Dei in caelo Your renowned Priests haue giuen you example in the highest degree of perfection in this kinde and cause in forsaking all at once and with his Apostles following Christ with an Ecce reliquimus omnia secuti sumus te Behold we haue Matt. 19. lâ—fâ— all things and haue followed thee So depriued and persecuted onely in England because we are Priests and borne in England Be not afraide to followe such guides with some hazard losse or diminution of your honours esteeme with carnall mindes Ritches and reuenewes for the like cause aÌ„d for that you are Catholikes of EnglaÌ„d For others both Priests and Catholikes not of England are otherwise entertained here in England not onely â—n times of peace but in times of open hostilitie betweene England and their Countries from whence they are of such by some some Ielousie might be made of English Priests and Catholikes no possible place is left to inuent the least suspition Our Priests haue so long and voluntarily professed pouertie and liued therein that no man of vpright Iudgment can thinke they would disorderly or vniustly seeke for Ritches with hazard of their friends And if his Maiesty should allowe to laie Catholikes which receiue no spirituall good from Protestant Ministers to paie Tithes to others of their Religion this would not be offesiue to God nor hinder but rather further a noble great Nation hauing now more neede of chaste then married of such sorte 5. If we had not preferred our loue of England before all earthly things no doubt but both the Bishop of Calcedon and diuers renowned Priests of England might haue founde farre greater amitie fauour and wordly preferment in other parts then they could euer expect or looke for in their owne Countrie We neuer had hand or singer in these late warrs and contenuons or euer â—aue the least occasion of any daunger difficultie or hazard our dearest Countrie is subiect or exposed vnto as diuers publick Proâ—lamations and other Protestant Relation publish We neuer were of Counsaile or acquaintance with any great Councellour oâ— Courtier dead or liuing full at this time oâ— any such which as many Protestans or â—uritans haue thought did not good offiâ—â—s to this kingedome We were and are 〈◊〉 to all meÌ„ or womeÌ„ Courtiers or others which haue bene suspected to haue furthered the driuing â—â— the French Bishop Priests Ladies and others from the Queene and placed theÌ„selues â—â—â—riends for them the beginning of daba ewith France We are as Innocent of the breath with Spaine either Maâ—â—iage or peace oâ— with any other Prince We haue not disturbed it at â—ome or abâ—oad The rebellion of the Netherlanders Hungarians Austrians 〈◊〉 Luâ—atians Sileâ—ians Moranianâ— French and whatsoeuer Protestants against their Princes were by Protestants not Catholiks allowing but allwayes condemning them As in England in all oppositions of Parlamentarie Protestants against our king hindering or witholding duties from him euen in his times of needs and wants the Catholiks euer yelded to and most readily performed all allthough by Parlament they were charged with double subsidies without any freedome or release of any penalties for Religion All Priests of the Clergie Bishop and others haue vtterly condemned the deniers