Kingdomes of England England Scotland Ireland Scotland and Ireland which being two Ilands the first of them to wit great Britaine containeth in compasse 1836 miles Cambdeni Britannia pag. 2. and Jreland 400 miles in length and about 200 in breadth The Monarch of great Britaine hath in actuall possession 19 antient Kingdomes and principalities England antiently conteined seven Scotland three Wales hath had 3 principalities Ireland five Wales three and the I le of Man one The inhabitants speake nine severall languages as English Scotish Welch Cornish Jrish Monish Gotish in the Orcade Iles which are 32 French in Iarsy and Garnsy and Dutch in severall places where many Netherlanders dwell having Churches their service in their owne tongue The Kingdome of England Imperiorum mundi Catalogus Authore Ioanne Boter Rex Angliae pag. 17. is divided into 52 sheeres In one onely whereof called Yorkeshire it is thought that 70 thousand men may be levied The cheife Citie is London in which and the Subburbs 2 miles about there are esteemed to be about 600000 soules In the last plague there was buried in one yeare about 63000 persons The whole I le of great Britaine may be reputed for one impregnable fortres the sea coasts being generally cliffie and in accessible The shipping thereof are of great force and doubled as I heare since the beginning of the Raigne of our late Soveraigne Lord King Iames. In Auglia Cantu ariensis Patriarcha nominatur Glossa d. 21. verb. Archiepiscopus apud Miraeum notit Episcop lib. 1 Cap 14 pag. 34. In these two Ilands before named are the sees of 8 Archbishops The Archbishop of Canterbury hath hed the title of a Patriarch England hath about 25 Bishoprickes Scotland hath many and Ireland hath had above 40. Againe Iread that there are not so many statly and bewtiful Churches in so much circuit of ground in al the world as are in England And last of all the glory of great Britaine is our religious and pious King Charles for whose prosperity and long life I most humbly supplicate Almighty God Also the kingdome of Denmarke which conteineth under it Denmarke and Norway Boter rel univers par 2 Rex Daniae Norvegtacoe si stende spatio di piu di mille e trecento miglia Mirae lib. 4 cap. 23 notit Episcop the Cimbricke Chersonesse the Balticke Iland and others and the Kingdome of Norway which alone conteineth in length about 1300 miles and in breadth halfe so much there are rekoned in Denmarke and Norwaty two Archbishops and 14 Bishops the Archbishop of Lunden is primate of Denmarke and the Archbishop of Nidrosia is Primate of Norway To this kingdome belong some great Ilands in the Ocean The kingdome of Sweden with Scricfinnia Sweden astimâ—tur haec terrarum pars Italia et Francia maior Im per munds Catat Rex Sueciae Biarmia and other provinces thereunto belonging is bigger than France and Italie but not so peopled The Swedes possesse in Livonia Revalia and Narue and other peeces of good estimation It is divided besides Livonia into three severall kingdomes viz Cothland Sweueland and Vandalia in Sweveland Vpsalia is their cheife Citie and an Archbishopricke Stockholme is the Kings seat There is mainreined in Sweveland and Gothland about 32 Companies of foote every troope consisting of five or six hundred harquebussiers and thirteene companies of horse The late King was thought to have eight thousand peeces of great Ordnance and most of brasse There are in Sweden one Archbishop and six Bishops Part of the Netherlands videl three parts of the Duchy of Guelders Part of the Netherlands Relation of the most famous King domes etcpag 200 the Earledomes of Holland Zeland Zutphen The Lordships of Freezland Vtrech Overissell and Groning and some part of Brabant and Flanders and these countries where the Protestants religion is publiquely professed although they are not so great as the other possessed by the Papists yet they are more populous and richer they keepe about 30000. men in continuall garison In Switzerland of the thirteene Cantons the Protestants in strength Switzers Grizons Sr. Edwins Sands relation sect 45. and amplenesse of Territorie much exceed the Papists I reade that two thirds of the Switzers and Grizous were Protestants For the Protestants in Germany Germanie preface to Mr. Brerewoods enquiries In the preface to Mr. Brerewoods inquire I finde the whole Empire excluding Bohemia and Austria where of the one is rather an Arbiâ—er in the election of the Emperor then an Elector and the Archduke of the other hath onely a kinde of extraordinary place in the dyet amongst the ecclesiasticall Princes consisteth of three orders or Sâ—ats the Princes Ecclesiasticall the Princes temporall and the free Cities Of the last of these to wit the cities some of them termed the hanse townes are seated in the Northerne parts of Germany betweene Dantisck Eastward and Hamburge Westward Many of these Cities as Hamburge Stoad and Lubeck in times past a Dukedome have beene able to put to sea every one of them 150 shipps These Sea townes with the rest of the Inland free Cities Pretestantium partes sequuntâ—â— libere â—ivitates omnes soculares Principes fere omnes Catholicoruns a secularibus principes pauci ut Bavarus Clevensis Thes Politie a potelesma 6. Sleâ—d Comment lib. 24. pag. 302. doe in a manner either in whole or a part professe the reformed religion except three in lower Swe via which adhere wholly to the Roman Church called Gmond whirlingen and Dickels puhell Of the strength and wealth of these inland free Cities we may guesse by a particular losse Which was in Anno 1554 Albert Marquesse of Brandenburge whose sword was in a manner a law and his revenue besieged the City of Norinberg he burnt 100 of the villages belonging to it 70 Manors and farmes appertaining to the Citizens and 3000 acres of wood and yet after all this spoile he compounded with them for 200000 Crownes and sixe peeces of Ordnance All the Princes temporall of the Empire were firmly Protestants Preface before named anno 162â— none of note excepted besides the Duke of Bavaria and Cleve Now what the multitudes of subiects there are professing the same Faith with these Princes we may guesse by the amplenesse of the Dominions under the Government of such onely who for their Commands are chiefâ— and most ominent among them As of the Prince Elector Pilatine the Duke of Saxony the Marquesse of Brandenburg the Duke of Mirtemburg Landgrave of Hesse Manquesse of Buden Prince of Anhault Dukes of Brunswiâ—ke Holst Luneburg Mecâ—lenburg Pomexane Sweyburg Amongst whom the Marquesse of Brandenburg hath for his dominion not onely the Marchisate it selfe containing an circuite about 520 miles and furnished with 50 Cities and aborit 60 other walled Townes but likewise part of Prus â—â— for which he is feudatary unto the King of Poladd The Region of Prignitz The Dukedome of Crossèn the signiories
it hath new and different Articles and doctrines of Faith unknowne to the old Church and not to be found for such in the writings of any of the ancient Fathers for five hundred yeeres after Christ FOr the first The Church of Hierusalem is more ancient then the Church of Rome Hierusalem where our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ himselfe preached and offered himselfe a Sacrifice for our sinnes and where the Apostles and Disciples first preached for although they were sent to preach to all Nations yet they preached first to the lost sheepe of the house of Israel according to Christs Commandement This Church is most ancient St Iames was the first Bishop there The Law went out of Sion Matth. 10.6 the word of the Lord from Jerusalem This Citie was Emporium Isay 2.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Histor Eccles Lib. 5. cap 9. the Mart of Christian faith the mother of all Churches as Theodoret saith 2. 2. Antioch Acts. 11.26 The Church of Antioch in Syria where the Disciples were first called Christians Of this Church Saint Peter was Bishop some yeres before he went to Rome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ad populum Antioch homil 3. and this Church is also more ancient then the Church of Rome Saint Chrysostome calleth this Church the Head of all the world 3. The Greeke Church was planted by Saint Paul 3. Graecians and Saint Andrew from whence and the fore named Churches the name of Christ flowed Eia igitur Graecia mater nostra cui id totum debet quod habet Latina Ecclesia Conc. Trid. orat Episc Bitont as from a spring over all the world and the faith was spread in all places and this the Bishop of Bitonto acknowledged in the Councell of Trent It is our mother Graecia to whom the Latine Church is beholding for that which she hath the Easterne Church was before the Church of Rome in Time and from thence the Church of Rome hath received Christianitie the new Testament the three Creedes the very name of Baptisme Eucharist Bishop Priest and Deacon 4. 4. Aethiopia Aethiopia received Christianitie from the Eunuch of Queene Candases Huic Philippus responsis Sancti Spiritus jussus primò ex omnibus Gentibus mysterium fidei sacramentum Baptismi tradidit velut quasdam eum Dee primitias omnium consecrat nationū Eusch Eccles histor lib. 2. cap. 1. to whom as Eusebius reporteth first of all the Gentiles Philip by the command of the holy Ghost delivered the mysterie of Faith and the Sacrament of Baptisme and consecrated him to God as the first Fruits of all nations Saint Matthew also preached to the Aethiopians 5. For the Antiquity of the Church of Rome both St Hierom and Eusebius testifie that St Peter came to Rome in the raigne of Claudius the Emperour 5. Rome Hierom Catalog Eccles script pag. 265. Euseb Eccles his lib. 2. c. 14.16 and in his second yeere saith Hierom. 6. The Church of England received Christianitie as some say from Joseph of Arimathea others from Simon Zelotes the Apostle 6. England Guildas Sapiens de excidio Britan. Christus suos radios id efl suapraecepta indulget tempore ut scimus sūmo Tiberij Caesaris quo absque ullo impedimento eius propagabatur religio Bibli vet Pat. tem 5. par 3. pag. 675. Britannia omniū provinciarum prima publicitus Christi nomen recepit Sabel in Ennead 7. lib. 5. Guildas reporteth that our Island received Christianitie in the time of Tiberius Caesar who dyed in the yeere of our Lord 39. which if it bee so the Church of England received Christianitie before the Church of Rome some yeeres before Peter came to Rome which was in the time of Claudius who succeeded Tiberius And for the Honour of my Mother Church I speake that Christianity was first publickly professed by authority in this Kingdome about 130. yeeres before it was in Rome Lucius our King beeing as I reade the first Christran King in Europe who reigned about the yeere of our Lord 170. And moreover Constantine the Christian Emperour was borne amongst us who gave the first publique libertie of Religion to the Roman Church So that Rome was beholding for the publique liberty of Religion to Constantine Our country man Speedes histerie pag. 207. Also the inhabitants of Britaine as I reade were instructers unto others as frō hence was Netherland converted to Christianitie as testifieth the storie of Swithbertus Burgundie by our Columbanus saith Sigebert Swedia by Gallus as saith Petrus de Natalibus and Frisia by Wilfred as it is recorded by Beda and Matthew of Westminster The Franconians Hassians and Turingians by Winifred our Devonshire man The Norvegians by Nicolas Breakespere of Middlesex And the Lituanians by Thomas Walden of Essex and all the reformed Churches in Christendome derived their light from the learned Wickleffe of Oxford In regard of this Polidor Virgil doth rightly call England the Parent or Mother-Monasterie of all Europe And Peter Ramus termeth Britaine to be twice Schoolemistris to the Kingdome of France Terra Britanniae ante adventum Christi unius Dei consensit religionem hom 4. in Ezech. moreover Origen writeth that the Britaine 's received the religion of one God before the comming of Christ Secondly whereas the Church of Rome boasteth of Antiquity The Church of Rome since Boniface the 3 and the old Church of Rome planted by St Peter St Paul are not one and the same but are farre different The old Church of Rome as St Paul telleth us was a branch of that Tree whereof Christ Iesus was the root The now Church of Rome will bee no branch but the roote it selfe The ancient Church of Rome was but a member of the Catholique Church of God of which Iesus Christ was Head But the now Church of Rome is the Catholique Church it selfe of which the Pope is head and such a Church was never in Rome for 600. yeares after Christ for so long no Bishop of Rome durst presume to take upon him Christs title to be head of his Church husband of his spouse till Boniface the third with him began this Church Thirdly And as they have a new Church so they have a new Creede and Articles of Doctrine as for example sake 1. That the Pope the head of the Church cannot erre in the matter of faith 2. That all Ecclesiasticall power dependeth upon the Pope 3. That he hath power to canonize Saints 4. That he hath power to depose Kings 5. That the Popes pardons are requisite or usefull to release soules out of Purgatorie 6. That there is a treasurie of Saints merits and superabundant satisfactions at the Popes disposing 7. That the Priest can make his Maker 8. That the sacred Host made by the Priest ought to bee elevated and carried in solemne procession and adored 9. That the effects of the Sacrament dependeth upon the intention of the
Of the agreement of the Ancient Roman East and South Church with vs in the points set downe and also of Gregorie the great Bishop of Rome who sent Austen into England 7 Of the Religion of the Antient Brittans and of their differences from the now Roman Church 8 Of the Pietie and Devotion of the Christians before named 1 The principall differences betweene the Romanists and us THE maine difference betweene the Church of Rome and us consists in certaine points which they of Rome hold for important and necessary Articles of the Christian faith which we doe not beleive or receive for such For the things which we beleeue are verities cleerely founded upon Scripture and summarily set downe in the Creed and vnaminously received by all Orthodoxall Christianes This Creed which the Antients thought compleat enough seemeth to the Romanists defective and therefore they have adioyned and added to the same many new Articles yea to those twelue which the Apostles set downe for a sufficient Summary of wholesome doctrine The Articles of their New Creed and Doctrines are Their Apocryphall Scriptures Their Dogmaticall Traditions which they equall with the holy Scriptures Their Transubstantiation Their Communion in one kinde Their Purgatorie Their Invocation of Saints Their Worship of Images Their Obedience to the Pope without which no salvation Their Latine Service Their Trafique of Indulgences These and other new doctrines are Canonized in their late meeting at Trent and vpon these and the like is the contestation betweene the Romanists and vs these are obtruded by them as vndoubted verities and to be believed under the Popes curse These are reiected by vs as human inventions some of them cunningly devised to advance their ambition avarice without any solid ground or countenance of Scripture or Antiquitie He that desireth to see mere of the differences betweene the Romanists and us let him reade Doct. Field of the Church Doct. Field of the Church Booke 3. cap. 7. pag. 83. 2 The Agreement of the Churches before named with us in the chiefe Points in Controversie following Of the Greeke Church AS the writings of the Greeke Fathers for above five hundred yeares space after Christ give testimonie to our Religion in the maine Points thereof So also the Churches at this day in those parts doe hold with us and we and they against the now Romish Church As 1 The Greekes deny the Popes Supremacie Cyrill Patriarch of Constantinople 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cap. 10. pag. 28. Wee beleeve that no mortall man can be Head of the Church and that our Lord IESVS CHRIST is the alone Head Marke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Concilium Ptorens pag. 721. Binius Archbishop of Ephesus We account the Pope as one of the Pariarks if he be Orthodox Nilus Archbishop of Thessalonica The Greeke Church though it never denied the Primacie of Order to the Pope of Rome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Nilus de Primatu pag. 101. yet their assumed predominancie of Authoritie they have alwayes resisted The Emperour Ioannes Paleologus submitted himselfe to the Pope in the Councell of Florence 1436. in hope of Aide against the Turke Paulus Aemilius cited by Bishop Iewell Defence of the Apolog. pag. 411. for which he was so hated of his people that being dead they denied him Christian buriall Jsodore Archbishop of Kiovia returning from the sayd Councell because he began Hunc Moscovitae obedientiam Romanam praedicantem spoliaverunt in necem extremam impulerunt Mathias à Michou de Sarmatia lib. 2. cap. 1. for unities sake to move the people to submit themselves to the Pope was deposed from his Bishopricke and put to death 2 They account the Pope and his Church Schismaticall The Patriarke of Constantinople doth yearely upon the Sunday In Praefaclene ante acta screpta Theelogorum Wirtembergensium Patriarchae Constantinopolitani Dom. Hieremiae An. Dom. 1576. called Dominica invocavit solemnely excommunicate the Pope and his Clergie for Schismaticks Summum antem Pontisicem Christi Vicarium omnesque Latinos pre excemmunicatis babens Elench Alphab omnium Hareseum lib. 7. pag. 202. Prateolus The Graecians account Christs Vicar the Pope and the Latines excommunicate persons 3 Concerning Transubstantiation Cyrill the Patriarch of Constantinople 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cap. 17. pag. 60. In the administration of the Eucharist we doe confesse a true and reall presence of Christ but such a one as Faith offereth us not such as devised Transubstantiation teacheth For we beleeve the faithfull to cate Christs body in the Lords Supper not sensibly champing it with their teeth but partaking it by the sence of the soule for that is not the body of Christ which offereth it selfe to our eyes in the Sacrament but that which Faith spiritually apprehendeth and offereth to us Hence it ensueth that if we beleeve we cate and participate if we beleeve not we receive no profit by it Hierimi the Patriarch teacheth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Respons 1. pag. 101. a change of bread into the body of Christ which he calleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is a transmutation which is not sufficient to inferre a Transubstantiation because it may signifie onely a mysticall alteration which the Patriarch in the same place plainely sheweth saying the body and blood of Christ are truely mysteries 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Patriar Respons cap. 10. pag. 86. not that these saith he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are changed into humane flesh but wee into them for the better things haue ever the preheminence Neither was the flesh saith he of our Lord. which he carried about him given to his Apostles for meate not his blood for drinke neither now in the holy mysteries doth the Lords body descend frō heaven this is blasphemie Ganlterus The Greeks say Malos dum consecratum panem accipiunt non accipere corpus Iesu Christi hoc ipsum perpeino Calvini Ministri in ore habent In Tabula Chronograph pag. 604. de Photio 19. that the wicked eating the consecrated bread doe not receive Christs body This also the Calvinists Ministers have alwayes in their mouthes 4 They celebrate the Eucharist in both kinds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Patriar Respons de Abusib pag. 129. Hieremie the Patriarch You say the holy Supper ought to be received in both kindes and you say well so also doe we when we doe receive those venerable Mysteries Cyrill the Patriarch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cyrill cap 17 pag 61. As the Institutor speaketh of his body so also of his blood which Commandement ought not to be rent a sunder or mangled according to human Arbitrement but the Institution is to be kept intire as it is delivered to us Prateolus Item esse necessario sub vtraque specîe panis scilicet et vini communis andum adeo quidem vt qui vna specie tantum communicat etiamsi laicus sit peccare dicatur quod ut aiunt
Hildebrand being examined hee had judgement to be deposed and expelled For unadvisedly preaching of Sacriledges and Factions defending perjuries and scandals a beleever of dreames and divinations a notorious Negromancer a Man possessed with an uncleane spirit an Apostate from the true faith c. This being done the Pope stirreth up the Saxons to create Harman Prince of Luxenburg Emperor who was slaine by a woman with a stone cast from a wall Then he seduceth Ecbert Marquis of Saxonie to take upon him the Empire who was slaine in a Mill by the Emperors Guard hard by Brunswicke All these Plots failing the Emperor Henry calleth an Ecclesiasticall Diet wherein Heldebrand is againe condemned and deposed and Gilbert Archbishop of Ravenna is chosen Pope and called Clement the third Hildebrand dyed in exile after whose death Vrbane intruded upon the Papacie aided with the Dutches Matildas Money and the Armies of the Normans who confirmeth Hildebrands Decrees and also draweth into Parricide the Emperor Henries sonne Conrade who was by his Father made Vizeroie of Jtalie and the Pope bestowing Matilda the rich Princesse upon him they expulse Clement But Vrban the Pope and Conrade being quickly dispatched Paschal by the aforesaid Faction was made Pope who reviveth Hildebrands curse against Henry and procureth the Emperors other sonne Henry to take Armes against his Father and to take upon him his Imperiall Estate Henry the Father whom they could not quell by force was taken by treason against publique oath of safe conduct as hee was travelling to Ments to a Diet and so was degraded by his Sonne and by him committed to Prison where hee finished his troublesome dayes in most miserable manner Thus by the meanes before named the Papacie hath obtained such greatnesse that whereas before the Popes were to have the Allowance and Confirmation of the Emperors since Gregorie the sevenths time the Emperors crave the Popes allowance and confirmation For meanes to get money to support Papacie Meanes to get Money Agripâ— de vanit scientiarum eap 61. primus in dulgentiarum nundinas primus in purgatorium extendit indulgentias idems they have invented many as Pope Boniface the eighth first instituted the sale or Market of Pardons hee first made pardons extend into Purgatorie Of their blasphemous Bulls and Indulgences reade a booke called Fiscus Papalis The summes of money which the Pope receiveth for first fruits Palls Jndulgences Bulls Confessionalls Jndults Rescrips Testaments Dispensation tot quots cannot be counted The Archbishop of Ments paid for his Pall to the Popes 26000. Florence The Curtezans of Rome pay yeerely about 40000. ducats The Popes Legats demanded or received for Chrisme in one City before named Ireuaeus Rhodoginus 80 pound weight of Gold What may he have in all other places also for Palls Curtesans and Chrisme The Archbishop of Maidenburg writeth that in the time of Pope Martin the fift There was brought out of France to Rome nine times 1000. Crownes What then might the Pope have out of Germany Spaine England and other Countries You may see a relation of the Popes receipts out of England pag. 640. in Bishop Jewells defence The Popes Treasure issuing out of Purgatorie onely is inexhaustible a Mint lately found out and possessed by the Pope alone for no Patriarch in the world hath any share in it Boter in Latin printed at Coloine Pape non deerunt pecuniae quans diu ipsi manus eruns calamus or ever had For the Popes meanes it is reported That Sixtus the fourth was wont to say that the Pope could never want money solong as his hand could hold a pen. For the Popes State and Magnificence His State and Magnificence it is set downe in the bookes called Caeremoniae Ecclesiae Romanae Sacrarum Caeemoniarum lib. prim pag. 17. in words to this effect Whensoever the Popes holinesse is perswaded to ride on horseback then must the Emperor or King which is present hold his stirrop and after a while leade the horse by the bridle in his hand And alwaies when the Pope will be carried in a Chaire then is the Emperor or King whosoever it bee bound of duty to how downe his necke and to take up the Chaire upon his shoulders And likewise when the Pope goeth to Dinner the duty of the Emperor or King is to serve him with water wherewith to wash his holy hands And he must besure to attend at the Table untill the first course beserved And all men living are bound of Duty as soone as they come within his presence to fall three times downe upon their knees and then to kisse his feete And wheresoever he passeth by there must they all fall down upon their knees and worship him c. as it is set forth in the Booke aforesaid As you have seene the Popes Magnificence so his munificence For his Munificence and gifts Camden in the life of Queene Elizab. 141. Idem ibidem and largesses issuing out of his Treasury are not very great as Pope Clement the 8. gave to Tyrone for all his good services in Ireland a plume of Phenix feathers And Vrban the third gave Earle John sonne to Henry the second King of England a Coronet of Peacockes feathers Leo the tenth gave a Rose to Fredericke Duke of Saxony and Iulius the second a sword to King Henry the seventh And some Princes they reward with Titles or give them their Feete to kisse for a Favour And oftentimes he payeth his men of Warre with his treasure issuing out of Purgatorie as Clement the sixt gave to his crossed Souldiers by his Bull power every one of them to deliver three or foure Soules out of Purgatory even whom they would And by reason of this his wealth greatnesse before named the Pope taketh upon him superlative Authority and hee is very unlike our Lord and Saviour whose Vicar he pretendeth to be for whereas Christ paid Tribute to Caesar he maketh Caesar pay him Tribute And whereas Christ washed his Disciples feet the Pope maketh the Emperor his Lord kisse his Feete To confirme the forenamed relation of the Popes rising reade Guiccardines historie His Relation Lib. 4. prope finem who in the latter end of his fourth Booke not onely denieth the feined Donation of Constantine but affirmeth that divers learned men reported that Silvester he lived in divers Ages Then he sheweth how obscure base they were during the time that the barbarous nations made havocke of Italie Secondly that in the Institution of the Exarchate the Popes had nothing to doe with the Temporall Sword but lived as subject to the Emperors Thirdly that they were not very much obeyed in matters Spirituall by reason of the corruption of their manners Fourthly that after the overthrow of the Exarchate the Emperors now neglecting Italie the Romans began to bee governed by the advice and power of the Popes Fiftly That Pipin of France and his sonne Charles having overthrowne the
coagmentationem concrediti tibi gregis Cum jam Christi gratiâ Aegypto nostrae redditi pace fruamur Ecclesiasticâ res postulat ut fidem per literas Beatit vestrae astrictam liberemus Nusquam siquidem magis quam hac innostrâ Christus Ecclesia altam agit pacem nulla de fide lite aut contentione inter nos gliscente idque adeo inimicis Christiani nominis acerrimis infestissimis habenas moderantibus A quibus etiamsi variis exagitemur exerceamur que modis nobis tamen pro Christinomine quem spiramus cujusque stygmata in corpore circumferimus ab istiusmodi hominibus perquam volupe est affligi vexari sinecesse est durissima atque ultima sustinere ut hac exploratione fides nostra magis magisque splendescat Dei gloria illustretur Ab his igitur nihil nobis timemus sed à canibus potius operariis sudolis Hypocritis dico quibus solenne est aliud clausum habere in pectore aliud promptum in linguâ qui deum ipsum projecta audacia impetere haud erubescunt dummodo Romani pontificis tyrannidi quoquo modo velificentur hi emissarij terrorem mirum in modum nobis incutiunt nostraeque imponunt simplicitati cui mancipandae varias admovent machinas maxime frcti eruditionis fuco spinosarum disputationum aculeis cum nos intereà eruditorum penuriâ laboremus qui cum sciolis istis aequo marte congrediantur Etenim propter peccata nostra despicabiles factisumus prae omnibus gentibus cum imperio artes quoque liberales amisimus Haec cum crebrò animum feriret cogitatio negotium tandem cum charitate vestra contulinus vestrumque consilium auxilium imploravimus Ac ex responso vestrae Beatit maximum cepimus solatium quo non sine mandato principis nobis authores fuistis ut quendam è nostratibus transmitteremus qui sedulam sacro-sanctae Theologiae apud vos navaret operam En igitur hominem graecum gradu presbyterum graecis literis non leviter tinctum Ecclesiae nostrae Alexandrinae alumnum haud obscuro loco natum ingenio ad reconditiorem eruditionem imbibendam probe comparato Cujus progressus non poenitendes fore speramus gratiae Divinae aurâ caelitus aspirante Beatit vestra dextram auxiliatricem porrigente Ac quia utexte audio allubescit hoc consilium nostrum serenissime a Deo coronato regi Iacobo primo gratiae debentur ipsius humanitati qua adcaelestis regis bonitatem misericordiam proxime accedit A quo certe nec aliud expectari poterat utpote cui Deus coelitus benedixerit uberrimis eum gratiae donis locupletaverit ex speciali providentiâ tanti talisque imperij gubernaculis admoverit Quapropter prime a Beatit vestra petimus ut nostro nomine summa cum reverentiâ humillima corporis inclinatione celsissimam ipsius majestatē venerabunde salutes cui ex intimis nos sensibus vitam prolixam senectutem productam comprecamur Deinde ab ipsius humanitate submisissime petimus ut pro innatâ prope dixeram immensâ benignitate scintillulam beneficentiae aliquam huic nostro Metrophani jubeat affulgere Ad extremum si quid in hisce literis nostris quod ad hunc hominem instruendum perpoliendumque pertinet desideretur id omne tua facile assequetur supplebitque prudentia quem deus extulit tanquam facem clarissimā in edito loco constituit ut aliis solatio esse possis nec tuis tantum Britannis sed Graecis nostratibus lucem porrigas Vale vir beatissime largiatur tibi Dominus Deus diuturnam felicem vitam unáque vires subministret quibus regninegotijs Ecclesiae curis par sis subeundus ex Aegypto calendis Martijs aerae Christianae Anno Millesimo Sexcentesimo decimo sexto A Letter sent out of Aegypt into England from the Patriarch of Alexandria to the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Translated by his Graces appointment into Latin out of the Greeke originall by Doctor Featley his Graces Chaplaine in house The Indorsement To the most Reverend and Gratious Prelate the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Adverbum most blessed and magnificent Primate of all England and Metropolitane George Abbat my most honoured Lord with due respect and reverence present these in England The Subscription Cyrill by the grace of God Many Christians call their Priests Papas Pope and Patriarch of the great Citie of Alexandria and oecumenicall Iudge The Letter MOst Reverend Adverbum most blessed and great and right Honourable Lord George Archbishop of Canterbury Primate of England and Metropolitane our dearest brother I pray hartily for the continuance of your Graces health for the welfare of the flocke committed to your charge Now that through the favour of God we are returned into Aegypt and enjoy peace in our Church It is requisite that by our Letters we should acquit us of the promise whereby wee stand engaged to your Grace for there is no Church God bee blessed at more peace then ours is at this present no controversies nor variances arising amongst our selves concerning faith And which is more to bee admired the mortall enemies of Christs name sitting at the sterne and bearing all the sway by whom though wee are many waies molested and disquicted yet for the name of Christ which wee professe and whose markes we beare about in our bodies it is a joy to us to be thus afflicted and vexed yea also if so it be the will of God to abide the utmost extremity of their crueltie that in the fierie triall our faith may shine more brightly and God receive the greater glory from these therefore wee feare little hurt but rather from Dogges deceitfull workemen I meane Hypocrites who speake one thing meane another who blush not with boldnesse to set upon God himselfe so that by any meanes they may advance the Papacie These Romish Scouts doe verie much terrifie us and put trickes upon our simplicitie endeavouring to enthrall us with sophisticall arguments and Logick quirkes but especially they beare themselves upon a shew of learning and acutenesse of disputation wee wanting learned men to deale with them at their owne weapons for by reason of our sinnes we are in comparison of other nations become despicable and together with our libertie have lost all liberall Arts When this thought often came in my minde in the end I brake the busines to your Grace by letters and implored your councell and assistance and from your Graces answer I received extraordinary comfort in which by order from his Majestie you wished us to send over one of our Countrimen to study Divinitie among you and loe heere now I have sent you this Grecian a man in holy orders not meanely skild in the Greeke tongue a member of our Church of Alexandria well borne and of readie capacitie who we hope through Gods grace and your helping hand will make no small progresse