Egbert who began his reign An. 800. reigned 37. yeares died An. 837. He was saith Malmsb. lib. 1. Reg. cap. 2. worthely to be preferred before all Kings The vvorthines of K. Egbert 1 Monarch of EnglaÌ„d And lib. 2. cap. 1. Regis Inae abnepos King Ina his great grandchild by his brother Inegilse suldued the mindes of his subiects by clemencie and meeknes and left his sonne great occasions of commendations Houed hist pag. 407. saith he was Vir strenuissimus ac Potens most stout and puissant And as all our English Cronicles testifie in his time subdued all the rest of our English Kings Hunting l. 4. VVallos vicit sabdued the VVelchmen Florent An. 836. Danos fugat Put to flight the Danes The Roman Catholick religioÌ„ of this victorious Prince is euideÌ„t His Rom. Religion First because he suffered his sonne and heir Ethelwolph to be a Monke and subdeacon as both Catholicks and ProtestaÌ„ts affirme Godwin in the Bishops of Winchester saith it is certain Wherby saith Bale Cent. 2. cap 20. He became the Popes Creature by both professions Secondly because he committed his said sonne Ethelwolf to S. Swithin to be taught as testifieth Florent An. 827. Gotzelin and Godwin in vit Swithini Surius tom 4. And as addeth Gotzelin inter precipuos amicos numerauit reconed him in number of his especiall freinds Now this Swithin was a Roman Catholick For as Bale l. cit granteth he was a Monke and as Malmsb. lib. 2. Pont Gotzelin l. cit Westmon An. 862. and others report wrought miracles by the signe of the Crosse is canonised by the Papists for a Saint Thirdly because K. Kenulf who in his time was King of midlengland as Malmsb. saith lib. 1. Reg. Nulli ante se Regi Nothing inferior in power and religion to any King before him and whose praises shal be aduanced on high so long as there is found any indifferent iudg in England writing with all his Bish and nobilitie to Pope Leo beginneth his letter thus Domino beatissimo To my most holy Lord and wel beloued Lord Leo the Roman Bishop of the holy Apostolick See Kenulf by the grace of God King of Merchland with the Bishops Dukes all Degrees of honor within our DominioÌ„s with health of most sincere affection in Christ Infra The sublmity of the See of Rome is our helth The prosperitie of Rome the ioy of England the prosperitie therof our coÌ„tinuall ioy Because whence yow haue your Apostolicall dignitie thence had we the knowledge of the true faith VVherfor I thinck it fit that the eare of our obedience be humbly inclined vnto your holy commaÌ„dements with our whole forces to fulfill what shal be thought coÌ„uenieÌ„t by your holines to performe But now I Kenulf by the grace of God K. humbly beseech your ExcelleÌ„cie to receaue me in quiet peace into your holines lap whome no meanes of merits do support let the large abouÌ„daÌ„ce of your blessing enrich for the gouermeÌ„t of his people that almightie God by your intercessioÌ„ may together with me encorage the Nation against the inuasion of forren foes which your Apostolical authoritie hath imbued with the rudemeÌ„ts of the Christian faith Rome taught England the faith All K. Kenulphs Predecessors had the popes blessing This blessing haue all the Kings who swayed the Mercian scepter deserued to obtaine at your Predecessors hands this same do I in humble maÌ„ner request desire to obtain of yow most holy Father first by way of adoptioÌ„ to receaue me as your child as I loue yow in the persoÌ„ of a Father shall embrace yow with the whole force of obedience Againe he saith Excellentiae vestrae VVe in most humble manner beseech your Excellencie to whome the key of wisdome is giuen by God Again VVith great humility also affectioÌ„ we haue writteÌ„ these to yow most holy Pope Our K. and Peers vvrite vvith great humilitie to the Pope beseeching in most earnest wise your ClemeÌ„cie kindly iustly to answer these things vvhich vve haue bene vrged to propound VVe send yovv here as a smale token of my louing minde that is 120. Mancuzes vvith letters requesting yovv to accept therof in good part vouchsafe to bestovv your blessing vpon vs. And the Pope answering him saith â—hat this K. professed to be willing to lose his life for him acknowledged saith the Pope that Nostris Apostolicis c. That no Christian presumeth to goe against our Apostolicall Decrees Yea Fox p. 132. speaking of this K. the others before him saith They wanted the knowledg doctrin in Christ especially in the Article of free iustification in faith Which p. 840. he termeth the foundation of the Church and all Christianitie and therfor saith he they ran the vvrong vvay And so concludeth that Protestants truth was hidden to our forancestors In which I verily beleeue him King Ethelwolph XIIII 2. THe 14. Christian King was Ethelwolph sonne to the forsaid King Egbert who began his reign An. 837. and reigned 20. yeares and od monethes He was saith Malmsb. lib. 2. cap. 2. by nature gentil and more desirous of peace than of war Vertues and valour of K. Ethelvvolph And yet saith Malmsb. l. cit Danos non semel per se suos Duces contudit The Danes he ouercame more than once by him selfe and his Generalls And besides other victories at Okley in Surey slew so many Danes saith Floren and westmon An. 851. Houed pag. 413. and others as neuer was heard in one Realme and at one time nether before nor after His Roman religion is most notorious His Rom. Religion First by that which hath bene said in the life of his Father Secondly because he procured a dispensation of the Pope becausâ— he had byn a Monke and subdeacon that he might marry which Pope Malmsb. 1. Pont. saith was Leo 3. Bale Centur. 2 cap 20. saith was Gregor 4. others say Leo 4. Thirdly he first sent his sonne Alfred to Rome to be instructed saith Westmon An. 854. of the Pope in manners and religion Kings sonne sent to be instructed of the Pope And after went himselfe and staied at Rome a yeare and ther as all Catholicke and Protestant Cronicles confesse bound all England to pay the Peter pence Ethelvv lib. 3. cap. 3 Stovv pag. 89 Coper An. 852. Houeden pag. 415. Huntingt lib. 5 Ingulp pag. 862. VVestmon An â—57 VVhat maÌ„â—uâ—a is And as Bale pag. 116. speaketh Prouinciam suam c. He made his Countrey tributarie to the Roman Synagog so sayth he was all England made subiect to the Roman Beast Besides this he appointed euery yeare 300. Mancuzes which were as Caius saith lib. 2. de antiq cantab. pag. 287. thirty pence a peece to be sent to Rome wherof one hundred should buy oile for light in S. Peters Church and one hundred for the same vse in S. Pauls and one hundred should be
In this Kings time liued that witty schoolmaÌ„ William Occham King Richard 2. XLIIII IN the yeare 1377. succeeded King Richard 2. Nephew to Edward 3. by his sonne Edward the black Prince and reigned 22. yeares Qualities of K. Richard 2. He passed saith Cooper An. 1377. and Stow pag. 439. all his predecessors in bountie and liberality His Roman religion is most manifest His Rom. Religion First because he was crowned at a Masse wherof Walsingham Anno 1377. setteth downe the beginning of the Introit Graduall Epistle and Offertorie Had a Franciscan Frier for his Confessor Stow pag. 458. In the Commotion of Tiler went to Saint Edwards Shrine prayed before the high Altar offered and Confessed him selfe to an Anchor Stow pag. 459. and gaue to the said Shrine a Ruby then esteemed worth a thousand Markes pag. 593. Made foure Kings of Ireland knights at Masse pag. 501. And made the Earle of Northumberland sweare to him vpon the host after Masse p. 520. But most of all is his religion certain by his owne letters to the Pope and by his lawes and Acts against the Wicklefists Fox Acts p. 590. setteth downe his letters to Pope Boniface 9. thus To the most holy Father in Christ and Lord L. Boniface 9. by the grace of God high Pope of the most holy Roman and vniuersall Church his humble and deuout Richard by the grace of God king of England and France and Lord of Ireland greeting and kissing of his blessed feete And. pag. 511. he citeth an Act of Parlament then made to declare that Vrban was true and lawful Pope And pa. 556. saith King Richard procured letters Apostolicall from the Pope for the confirming of certain statuts of his And pag. 431. citeth a letter of Greg. 11. written in this kings time to the Vniuersitie of Oxford wherin the Pope saith that England doth not onely florish in power and aboundance of riches but is much more glorious and shining in purenes of faith accustomed alwaies to bring forth men excellently learned in the knowledg of holy scriptures grauitie of maners men notable in deuotion and defenders of the Catholick faith The like commendations he giueth in an other letter to king Richard Yea to testifie the Roman Catholick faith of this time and to stop the mouth of some Ministers who are not a shamed to say the Pope giueth leaue to sinne It pleased God this present yeare 1608. to raise in a maner a knight of that time and to make him speake For digging to make a graue in Saint Faiths Church vnder Paules they found the Coffin of Sir Gerard Bray brook the cords wherof were fresh and the herbs of good sauor and vppon his brest a Pardon granted vnto him of Pope Boniface of that time intire and whole in these words Boniface Bishop seruant of the seruants of God To his beloued sonne Gerard Braybrook the yonger Knight and to his beloued daughter in Christ Elizabeth his wife of the Diocese of Lincoln health and Apostolicall blessing It hath proceeded from the affection of your deuotion wherby yow reuerence vs and the Roman Church that we admit to our fauorable hearing your petitions those especially which concerne the halth of your soules Hence it is that we inclining to your requests do by the Tenor of these presents easely grant to your deuotion that the Confessor whom ether of yow shall thinck good to chuse shall by authoritie Apostolick giue to yow a plenarie remission of all your sinnes of which yow shal be in hart contrite and confessed once onely at the point of your death Yow persisting in the sincerity of faith in the vnity of the holy Roman Church and in obedience and deuotion to vs and our Successors the Bishopps of Rome canonically elected So notwithstanding that the said Confessor concerning those things of which satisfaction shal be imposed vpon ether He inioine it to be done by yow if yow return from perill of death or by your Heires if yow then chance to passe from this world that which yow or they are bound to performe as is aforesaid And least which God forbid in regard of such fauor yow be made more prone to committ sinne VVe will that if by any such confidence yow should fortune to transgresse that the foresaid Indulgence shall not any thing profit yow Therfore let it altogether be vnlawfull for any man to infringe this our graunt and will or with rash bouldnes contradict it If truly any shall presume to attempt it lett him know he shall incurre the indignation of Almighty God and his most blessed Apostles Saint Peter and Paul Giuen at Rome at S. Peters the 9. of Iune in the second yeare of our Popedome Behould gentle Keader this ancient pardon and consider by it First the high esteeme that our Catholick Anceistors made of the Popes pardons in so much that this worshipfull knight would send to Rome to procure a particuler one for him selfe and his wife Againe how vntruly Ministers say that Popes giue pardon and leaue to sinne seeing this pardon could not auaile for any sinnes committed vpon hope of the pardon But espetially I would haue thee consider Gods wonderfull disposition in the conseruing and reuealing of this Pardon at this time What thinckest thou that this Knights graue should be neuer opened till this day That the Pardon should be preserued from corruption so long lying in the earth That that onely Coffin in which this Pardon was should haue the cordes so long time sound the flowers so long odoriferous what thinck we this Pardon auailed to the soule of this Knight for which purpose it onely was giuen when it wrought such benefit to his dead corps But now to come to the Kings lawes and Acts against the Wicklefists Fox Acts pag. 441. saith Kings Richards lavvs against vviclefists vvhom Protest account their brethren The King adioined his assent to the setting downe of an Ordinance which was indeede the very first lawe which is to be found made against religion and the professors therof bearning the name of an Act made in the parliament Anno 5. Kichard 2. vvherin saith Fox VVicklefs doctrine is called heresie and notorious errors and slanders to ingender saith the Act discord and dissention betvveene diuers estates of the realme And order is taken for to arest and imprison such till they amend Ibid Fox citeth the letters patents of the King against Wicklef and some other there named or any other noted by any other probable suspition of heresies Again pag. 460. King Richard writeth to the Shrâ—efe of Northamton against the VVicklefists thus VVe willing therfor to withstand the Defenders and maintainers of such heresies Do will and command as wel the fornamed as namely the forsaid Iohn VVoodward to bs apprehended straitly charging the same to be imprisoned by their bodies or otherwise punished as shall seeme good to the Iustices And pag. 504. he setteth downe the Kings Commission in these words VVe by
excluded the 21. day which the law expresly commanded Exod. 11. Which proceeded of mere ignorance in them For as S. Beda saith lib. 3. c. 4. They knew as Christian men doe that the Resurrection of our Lord ought alwayes to be celebrated on Sonday but as ignorant men in that point they had not learned when that Sonday should come Because as S. Wilfrid in S. Beda li. 3. c. 25. said no cunning Calculator of tymes or Astronomer had come to them Herby it appeareth how fondly some Ministers haue inferred that the Britons Magd. cent 2. c. 2. Fox p. 95. The Britōs error came not from Asia because of this error in keeping Easter learned their faith of the Asian Churches where the Quartadecimans were Both because the Britons error was not the Quartadecimans error but much different as also because the Britons in Constantins tyme when Religion began first to florish agreed with the Roman vse of celebrating Easter as testfieth the said Cōstantin their Countrey man who in Euseb lib. 3. de vita Constantini c. 8. witnesseth that the same keeping of Easter was obserued in the Citty of Rome in Italie Africk Egypt Spaine France Britannie Lybia and all Greece in the Diocesse of Asia and Pontus and finally in Cilicia Vnâ consentiente sententiâ with one vniforme consent Moreouer because as S. Beda li. 1. c. 11. saith that after the forsaid expulsion of the Pelagian heresie the Britons kept the faith sounde and vndefiled which he neuer would then haue said if then they had held their error of Easter because this error he vtterly detested as him self saith lib. 3. c. 16. and lib. 2. c. 19. calleth it Heresie And finally B. Colman pleading in England for the Britons obseruation of Easter and alleadging therto the antiquitie of his Countrymen ascendeth no higher than Abbot Columba VVhē the Britōs error rose who came out of Ireland into Britanie but anno 563. as Beda saith lib. 3. c. 4. which was 33. yeares before S. Austins comming hither and dyed as Sigebert in Chron. and Bale write anno 598. that is two yeares after S. Austins entrance here Nether did he euer auouch that the Britons or Scotts had ben taught that costom of the Asians but gathered it themselues by misunderstanding S. Anatholius his writings Pope Iohn 4. in Bed l. 2. c. 9. attributeth it to ignorance VVhence it arose and by imagining that S. Iohn Euangelist kept it so wherof nether was true as S. Wilfrid prooued to his face in Beda lib. 3. c. 25. The author therfore of this error among the Britons was no Asian but their owne ignorance through rude simplicitie as Saint Wilfrid saith of true calculation of finding the true tyme of Easter And the tyme when this ignorance tooke effect as it apeareth by S. Beda's forsaid words lib. 1. c. 11. was not long before S. Austins comming And for Scotland Beda lib. 2. cap. 29. writeth that by the letters of Pope Iohn 4. written in the yeare 638. or as Baron saith 639. to the Scotts it appeareth plainly that at that tyme this heresie was but a litle before risen in Scotland and that not all the Contrie but certain of them onely were infected therwith Which also appeareth by S. Gregory lib. 9. epist 61. which he writeth to Quirinus caeteris in Hibernia Episcopis Catholicis But as for the Britons it seemeth by Saint Beda lib. 2. cap. 2. that they were generally all infected with this error Galfrid monum li. 11. c. 12. VVestmon an 596. Godvvin Catalog of Bishops in S. Paulin. when S. Austin entred this land And as for the rest of this Kingdom where the English dwelt they as both Welch English Historiographers agree pagana superstitione caecati c. blinded in Heathenish superstition they had extinguished all Christianity in that parte of the Land where they dwelt And as S. Beda writeth lib. 2. c. 1. were all then Pagans and had ben euer vntill that tyme bondslaues of Idols Miserable estate of Britany before S. Austine cōming This was the lamentable estate of England and Wales before S. Austin came miserably opprest partly with heresy partly with infidelity CHAP. II. That S. Austin was the first Preacher of the Christian Faith to our English Nation THat our English Nation came hither out of Germanie being sent for of the Britons to ayde them against the Scotts and Picts all Historiographers agree but they disagree somwhat about the tyme. For some write that it was in the yeare of Christ 449. but S. Beda lib. 1. c. 15. saith that it was in the yeare 449. and later indeede it could not be Sigeb Chro. saith an 431. Malmesb l. 1. an 449. Bal. cent 2. c. 43. an 448. Cābd in Brit an 450. VVhē our English nation entred this land Because at S. Germans first comming hither which was in the yeare 429. as S. Prosper who then liued recordeth the Saxons as S. Beda lib. 1. c. 20. affirmeth waged war with the Britons For being Pagans and ignorant of God and seeing the Land fruitfull and the Britons feeble they measured right by might and turned their wepons against the silly Britōs whome they partly killed Galfrid Mon l. 17. c. 12. Godvvin in vit Paulin. partly droue ouer seas or into those hilly places which now are called Wales And in this parte of the Land which they possessed extinguished as both English and Welch writers record all Christianitie and continewed in their Paganisme which they brought with them for the space almost of 200. yeares til as S. Beda lib. 2. c. 1. and others record S. Gregory seeing certaine English youths sould for slaues in Rome Vpō vvhat occasion S. Gregory sent S. Austin hither and learning of them that their nation was Heathen got leaue of the Pope being then him selfe a Monke to come to preach to them but was recalled at the importunitie of the Romans yet him self being after made Pope and as S. Beda speaketh high Bishop ouer the whole world did in the yeare 596 send hither S. Austin and his cōpany to preach Christs faith vnto them Which truth that S. Austin was the first preacher of Christian faith vnto our English Nation here in England S. Austin the first preacher of Christianity vnto our nation hath bene alwaies hitherto as vndoubted as it is euident and manifest But now because D. Sutclif in his Subuersion of the three Conuersions c. 3. hath called it in question and is desirous rather to giue the glorie to a French man and woman to Queene Bertha and Bishop Luidhard who were then in England or to captiue Britons whome he supposeth to haue liued amongst the English than to S. Austin I will prooue it by as many proofes as can be desired for the beleefe of any ancient thing S. Gregory 2. S. Gregory himself who sent S. Austin writing lib. 7. Epist 30. to Eulogius Patriarch of Alexandria saith
of the miracle may by this iudg of the certaintie of the rest The matter was thus An inhabitaÌ„t of Bedford hauing had by forme of the lawe which then was his eyes pluckt out and his stones cut away but vniustly made prayer to S. Thomas for the restoring of them which was done That the man had bene thus maimed the Burgesses and Cittizens of Bedford saith Fox did testifie with publick letters And whither he was cured or no was easy to know All that Fox saith against this or the rest of the miracles is that there was no necessitie of a miracle in a Christian Realm hauing the word of God Forsooth he must tel God when there is necessitie yea tie Gods hands to do nothing but for necessitie Had not the Iewes the word of God when they had the daylie miracles of Probatica piscina Doth not the vertue of miracles shine in the Church for euer as the notes of the English Bible imprinted An. 1576. Iohan. 14. do teach But wel it is that Saint Thomas his miracles haue so many and so authenticall testimonies as he must needs conremn all humaÌ„ authoritie who denieth them to haue bene done King Richard Coeur de Lion XXXVIII 7. IN the yeare 1189. succeeded K. Richard Coeur de Lion so sirnamed of his corage Valour of King Richard Ceur de Lion sonne to King Henrie 2. and reigned 10. yeares He was saith Cambd. de Brit. pag. 331. Animi excelsi erecti c. Of an high and vprighit mind altogether borne for the Christian common vvelth Polid. lib. 14. Englands glorie and terror of the Pagans Cooper Anno. 1189 big of stature and had a mery countenance in vvhich appeared as vvel a pleasant gentlenes as a noble and princely Maiestie to his soldiers fauorable bountifull desirous of vvar Subdued the Kingdom of Ciprus conquered the Citty of Acon vanquished the Soldan in the holy Land whither he went with an army of 30000. foote and 5000. horse His Rom. religion The Roman religion of this famous and magnanimous King is manifest First because Houed who then liued pag. 656. 657. Paris 205. and others tel the maner of his coronation was thus The Archb. Bishops Abbots and Priests in Copes with the Crosse before and holy water and incense brought him to the Church Again he tooke his oath on the Gospel and many reliques of Saints After coronation began the solemn Masse k. Richard crovvned at masse and when they came to the offertorie Bishops brought the king to offer and in like sorte to take the Pax. And after Masse returned again with Procession Secondly pag. 222. Paris telleth how he redeemed the reliques of Ierusalem with 52. thousaÌ„d BisaÌ„tes Quatenus saith he To the ende that Saints of God whose bones he redeemed in earth might help his soule by their intercessions in heauen And pag. 497. He obtained of the Soldan that a certain Priest at the Kings stipend might euery day celebrate masse of the holy Crosse at our Sauiours Sepulcher during the time of the truce Thirdly retiring to England saith Westmon Anno. 1194. he visited S. Thomas of Canterb. S. Edmund and S. Albons Shrines and after went against his Rebells in Nottingham Fourthly Houed pag. 658. setteth downe a Charter of his where he graÌ„teth Land to S. Cutbert For the soule of our Father and Ancestors and of our Successors and for our owne and our heires saluation and for the confirmation and increase of our Kingdome Fiftly Houed p. 677. hath a letter of his to Pope Clement 2. which beginneth thus To his most reuerend Lord and blessed Father by the grace of God cheefe Bishop of the holy Apostolick See health and affection of true deuotion in our Lord. The facts of Princes haue better end wheÌ„ they receaue assistance and fauour from the See Apostolick And pag. 706. When king Richard went to the holy Land he left the care of the gouernment of his kingdome vnto the See Apostolick And pag. 753. The same Houed setteth downe a letter of Pope Celestin in which the Pope saith thus The Church of England hath alwaies kept the sincerity of her deuotion and ancient faith with the Roman Church Finally a little before S. Richards death saith Fox Acts pag. 249. England alvvaies deuout to the Church of Rome Three Abbots of the Cistertian order came vnto him to whome he was confessed and when he saw them somwhat stay at his absolution said these words that he did willingly commit his soule to the fier of Purgatorie there to be tryed til the Iudgment in hope of Gods mercie Saints In this publick profession of Roman Catholick faith gaue this renowned King vp his soule to God In this Kings time died Anno. 1189. the forsaid Saint Gilbert who of his order erected 13. Monasteries in England Polid. l. 14. Then also liued Saint Hugh of Lincoln of whome we shall speake hereafter King Iohn XXXIX 8. THe 39. King was King Iohn brother to King Richard who began his Reign Anno. 1199. and reigned 17. yeares Of this King some ignorant Protestants brag as if he had bene a Protestant Bale Cent. 1. cap. 75. because for a time he disobeyed the Pope polid l. 15. commendeth him of valor liberalitie Christian pietie But with shame inough For he lost all in manner that his Predecessors had in France which was neere as much as England it selfe Qualities of K. Ihon. and had almost lost England too VVas as the Earle of Northampton saith of him in the araignment of Garnet impious as wel sans foy as sans terre and that he was as likly to haue departed with his soule as his Crowne if necessitie had pressed him Nether was he ill onely to him selfe but to his people and Contrie from whome being not content by him selfe to extort what he would sent for many thousand Flemings to do the same to whome he ment to giue Norfolk and Suffolk Paris pag. 360. 367. And pag. 325. he nameth the Embassador whome King Iohn sent to the Mahometan King of Africk to offer the subiection of him self and his Kingdom to him and to accept the law of Mahomet which Paris learnt of them to whome one of the Embassadors tould it Neuer the lesse what Christian religion he had is euident to haue bene Roman Catholick His Râ—m Religion First because he was chosen King cheefely by meanes of Archbishop Hubert Paris pag. 264. who was a notorious Papist Stovv pag. 244. Secondly because vpon his crownation he tooke his oath vpon the reliques of Saints Paris pag. 263. and next day after his coronation went on Pilgrimage to S. Albans pag. 264. at Lincoln offered a chalice of gould pag. 273 holpt to carry on his shoulders the body of S. Hugh pa. 274. Houed pag. 812. Thirdly he heard Masse saith Stow pag. 246. and fell downe before the Abbots of Cisterce desiring to be admitted of them for a brother Fourthly he fouÌ„ded a
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
AS in the former chapter I did not denie that Luther was once sent to preach the Catholik word or doctrin So Nether in this do I denie that he was rightly ordered to preach the same word to saie Masse and to administer the Catholik sacraments But as he brought a new word so he brought also a new sacrament consisting both of Christs bodie bread also for preaching and administration of which new word and sacrament I saie he was neuer ordered And that his Catholik preisthood could be no sufficient Ministerie of the Protestant word and sacraments is manifest manie waies First by reasō Luthers preishood could be no Protestant order For preisthood cheefly cōsisteth in authoritie to offer sacrifice for the quick and the dead as is euident by these words wherwith men are made Priests Take power to offer sacrifice to God and to saie Masse for the quick and the dead And Caluin 4. instit c 5. para 5 saith we order none but to sacrifice D. Sutlif in his Chaleng pap 34. and in his answer to the Cath. Supplicat sec 19. writeth that our priesthood is apointed onely to offer sacrifice for the quick the dead The like saith the Declar. of disciplin p. 20. and it is manifest But the Protestāt Ministerie detesteth all authoritie of saying Masse of offering sacrifice praying for the dead order to sacrifice saith the said Declarer l. cit is to abolish the sacrifice of Christ ib. hāds are laid vpō preists to an end most contrarie to the Gospel How then can preisthood become protestātish Ministerie vnles one contrarie become the other or as the said declarer saith wel how cā one the same ordering serue to giue one man at the same time offices so diuers and contrarie one to the other 2. Reinolds Secondly I proue it by the iudgment of Protestants For D. Reinolds in his epist befor his Confer calleth our priesthood impious D. Whitaker cont Dur. p. 821. biddeth vs keep our orders to our selues VVhitaker And pag. 653. vve iudge saith he no othervvise of your priests than of Christs aduersaries and enemies of his priesthood And pag. 662. you haue nether lavvfull Bishops nor priests nor Deacons Powel in his Considerations vpon Catholiks reasons Povvel The popish ordination saith he is nothing els but a mere prophanation D. Fulk Answ to a Counterf Catholik pag. 50. you are highly deceaued if you think we esteme your offices of Bishops Fulke Priests or Deacons anie better than laie men and you presume too much to think that we receaue your ordering to be lawfull Penrie Penrie against Some p. 8. Of this I am assured that Popish Priests are no Ministers Declarer The forsaid Declarer p. 20. saith Priests oile and power of sacrificing is no sufficient warrant for them to be Ministers it is a prophane oile and can giue no men authoritie to dispose of the Misteries of God Shameles boldnes for Luther to plaie the Minister vvithout nevv orders Some Sutlif which he proueth their at longe and calleth it a shameles boldnes of Popish Priests to take in hand to be Ministers of the Gospel without anie new calling or apointing thervnto and termeth their orders horrible orders D. Some also as Penrie saith p. 20. calleth Popish preisthood sacriledg D. Sutlif Answ to Exceptions p. 82. The Pope is nether true Bishop nor priest for he was ordeined preist but to offer sacrifice and to saie Masse for the quick and the dead But this ordination doth not saith he make a Priest nor had true priests and elders euer any such ordination And p 87. The Romish Church is not the true Church hauing no Bishop nor Priests at all but onely in name Diuines of Geneua The like he hath in his Chaleng p. 33. seq Finally the Diuines of Geneua in the Proposions pag. 245. conclude that in the Romish Church there is no holy order or Ministrie indeed no lawfull calling but a mere vsurpation Thus thou seest by the iudgment of learned Protestants that Luthers priesthood was so far from right orders and lawfull Ministerie as it was impious opposit to Christ priesthood a mere prophanation nothing better than lay men haue maketh no Minister horrible secrilegious Luther ether a laie prophan impious sacrilegious and horrible Minister or no Ministers at all and what not And he hauing no other orders as is certaine what an impious enemy to Christ prophane lay horrible and sacrilegious Minister must he haue bene if he were any 3. Thirdly I proue it by practise of Protestants that Popish preisthood is no Ministrie For at Geneua when two Bishops of Niuiers and Troie fled thither Lanoyrapliqua Christius 2. Ch. 17. and tooke vpon them the Ministry with out all more ordering the Consistory vpon mature deliberation therupon concluded that they could not do so And in England euerie one knoweth that it is made treasō to receaue popish preisthood and aboue one hundred haue bene executed therfor which they wold neuer do if they thought it to be Protestātish Ministerie what a disorderly religion then must that be which was begun by a man who was neuer ordered to preach it or admininister the sacramēts or seruice therof But what he did therin did only by vertue of impious prophane Lib. de missa angulari horrible sacrilegious and treasonable orders with which before he had said as himselfe confesseth Masse 15. years togeather And what orders hath our Protestant English Clergie Note wherof the greater number as euery one knoweth and both the Answere to an Examination printed at Geneua pag. 33. and others in Dange Posit lib. 2. cap. 13. confesse in the beginning of Queene Elizab. time were Popish Priests neuer ordered to saie the Cōmunion but the Masse quite opposit therto And albeit some of thē were ordered to say Protest seruice yet they were made of such Bishops as ether were Popish Priests themselues as Couendale and Skorey were or had byn made of such Bishops And so all their orders were ether Popish or come originally from Popish Priests See Suruey cap. 16. who not being able to giue other orders than they receaued them selues did ether giue Popish orders or none at all And our English ether haue them or none Wherfore sith English Ministers orders came from Parker who was first Archb. of Canterbury vnder Queene Elizabeth and that he was made Bishop as Sutlif faith Answ to Except pag. 88. of Couendall Skorey who receaued their orders of Cranmer English Ministers haue onely such orders as they account sacrilegious or no orders at all he his of P. Clement 7. I wold know what orders and what authority to giue orders the Pope gaue to Crāmer Surely no othere did the Pope giue or meane to giue then Popish and if Cranmer receaued no other he could giue no other to Couendall and Skorey nor they any other to Parker nor he