which haue the rule ouer you Obey them that haue the rule ouer you and submit yourselues Hebr. cap. 13. v. 7.17 and S. Ignatius liuinge in the first hundred yeares proueth noe such thinge ought to bee done without the Bishops assent Ignat. epist ad Smyrnenses and the puritan presbytery and among our English parlament Protestāts no such matter in their Religion may bee done without the allowance of theire Protestant Bishops And these protestant obiectors themselues before confesse that Pope Syricius tooke order that Masse should not bee said but in places cōsecrated by the Bishop Missas in loco ab Episcopo sacrato celebrandas esse Rob. Barnes in vit Syricij Papae which was soone after the ceasinge of persecution by the Emperors that places might bee freely dedicated to God and hallowinge of altars belōged properly euer to the episcopal dignitie And our protestants ar witnesses that this was then practised and obserued in Britanie by S. Dauid S. Dubritius and others too many to be recited And in Kinge Lucius his time when so many churches with their altars were dedicated by our holy Bishops to God S. Peter and other Saints Godwin conuers cap. 2. pag. 11. Holinsh. hist. of Engl. Theat of great Britanie Capgrau in S. Patricio alij 3. From Horsmida they lepp ouer Ioannes 1. Faelix 4. Bonifacius 2. Ionnes 2. Agapetus 1. Syluerius 1. vntil they come to Pope Vigilius who as these men say decreed that Masse should bee said towardes the caste Instituit vt Missa celebretur versus orientem Io. Bal. l. 2. de Act. Pontif. Rom. in Vigilio or as an other protestant interpreteth it Vigilius instituted that preists being to say Masse should turne their face towardes the east Barnes in vit Vigilij Vigilius instituit vt Missam celebraturi faciem ad orientem verterent But this is onely a ceremony if he had first inuented it but S. Basile telleth vs it was an apostolicall tradition so to pray towards the east Basil l. de Spiritu Sancto cap. 27. for speaking of such traditions from the Apostles not conteyned in scripture he saith vt ad orientem versus precemur quae decuit scriptura to pray with our faces towardes the east is a tradition and not taught in scripture And this tradition and custome of the primatiue Christians to pray and say Masse turning their faces towards the east was so common publick and well known longe before this time Proclus supra in vita S. Patricij Holinsh. histor of Ireland in S. Patrick that as I haue declared before both Catholick and Protestant antiquaries so assuring vs it was giuen for a distinctiue signe by the deuils and magiciens of Ireland to the then Pagan inhabitants therof before the cominge of S. Patrick thither to know him and his Christian disciples by that they should sett their Altar say Masse and pray towards the east as wee generallie see chauncels high altars of Christian churches are framed Therefore wee may be secure that hitherto the church of Rome and Britanie agreed in these misteries nothinge added yet by any Pope which the Britans did not embrace For better testimonie whereof we are told by the antiquaries of Cambridge that Kinge Arthur in his charter of priuiledge to that schole or vniuersitie bearinge date at London in the yeare of Christ 531. doth therin expresse that hee giueth that confirmation with the counsaile and assent of all and euery Bishops and nobles of his kingdome and licence of the see Apostilick of Rome Consilio consensu omnium singulorum Pontificum Principum istius regni licentia sedis Apostolicae Io. Caius l. 1. antiquit pag. 69. Diploma Regis Arthuri 7. die Aprilis an 531. Londini apud Caium supr pag. 68.69.70 therfore if the then Kings of Britanie and all the Bishops and Noble men thereof by which the rest were gouerned did then so firmly adhere to the Pope of Rome in matters of Religion that they would not ioyne in such an Act without his licence no man will thinke there was or then could be any difference in Religion betweene them And to cōfirme vs the more in this great vnion and amitie of Rome and Britanie in such affaires at this time of Pope Vigilius and Kinge Arthur our protestants Matthew of Westminster telleth vs. Matth. Westm. an 533. that this Religious Kinge committed Walwan sonne to Loth his sisters sonne Who should haue inherited the kingedome of Norwey to Pope Vigilius to bee brought vp when hee was but 12. yeares of age and that hee was knighted by him Erat autem Walwanus filius praedicti Loth duodecim annorum iuuenis Vigilio Papae traditus ad nutriendum à quo etiam militiae cingulum accepit How farr this Pope intermeddled in ordering the prefaces in Masse I haue said before these protestants being silent therin thereby rest contented in that point 4. The next additioner with these protestants is the next Pope Pelagius the first who as these men say gaue allowance that in time of Lent preists might say Masse at the ninth hower of the day which is three of the clocke in the afternoone by our accompt In quadrage sima presbytero licere sacra facere hora nona pronuntiauit Rob. Barnes in Pelag. 1. an other saith vt quadrag esimali tempore hora nona sacrificulis missare liceret Bal. in Pelag. 1. but this was but a ceremony and argued how reuerent and deuout preists were in that time to this holy sacrifice that they did and would fast so longe to say Masse so nere the time it was instituted by Christ and Christ was offered vpon the Crosse this proueth they were not protestants in that time which neither reuerence Masse nor fast so longe or at all in Lent But they add of this Pope mortuorum memorias approbauit ac lucri gratia missis adiecit Hee approued the memories of the dead and for gaine added them to Masses Bal. in Pelag. 1. but this Protestant Bishop is either very forgetfull or maketh no scruple to contradict himselfe for he telleth vs before in the life of Saint and Pope Siricius lōge before S. Celestine sent S. German and the rest into these parts that this S. Syricius adioyned memories vnto Masses and yet died a confessor in the yeare of our Lord 399. Syricius Missae memorias adiunxit anno Domini 399. confessor occubuit Balaeus l. 2. de Act. Pontif. Rom. in Syricio and Tertullian in his time setteth it downe for an Apostolicall tradition to say Masse for the deade and keepe their anniuersary daies oblationes pro defunctis pro natalitijs annua die faecimus Tertul. l. de coron milit cap. 3. S. Ciprian S. Chrisostome and others haue the like And our protestants haue confessed before that it was an Apostolicall tradition to say Masse for the dead and that Aerius was iustly condemned of heresie and for an hereticke for his denyall thereof And wee had here in Britanie
said nation of the said Angles much more vvorthie preachers by vvhome they might be brought to the faith And then immediatly they set downe S. Augustine Mellitus Iustus and Iohn with others sent hither by S. Gregory to bee these much more vvorthie preachers by vvhom this nation was brought to the faith And this might suffice in this matter but for the ful clearing of al doubts I will further fully proue how al preists and Bishops in Britanie in this age were sacrificing massing preists and the best learned and most holy amonge them did in all things ioyne with the Popes and church of Rome and they which opposed moste against S. Augustine and his associates sent from thence in some ceremoniall customes did in these points all others which protestants most dislike in Catholick Romane Religion vtterly disagree from these protestants and hold the same doctrine practise generally as S. Augustine did and the members of the present Romane Apostolick church doe at this day THE XXIII CHAPTER Wherein demonstration is made both by protestants and other testimonies that during all this age and hundred of yeares vntill and after the coming of S. Augustine this kingdome had many holy massinge preists and Bishops agreeinge in these and all other articles of Religiō with the church of Rome IN the later end of the fift hundred of yeares of Christ I made relation how amonge many others those two renowned massinge preists S. Dubritius the great Archbishop of Caerlegion and the Popes Legate made Bishop by the massing Bishop and Legate of the see Apostolicke and S. Iltutus disciple of the same massing Bishop and Legate S. Germanus were Tutors and Masters in Religion and diuinitie not only to the cleargie of this Iland but many others and neither did nor could teach them any other doctrine in these points then they had receued from others and practised by themselues about holy preisthood and sacrifice of Masse And as both protestants other antiquaries tell vs both these liued 20. yeares at the leaste in the beginninge of this sixt age S. Iltutus beeing aliue and florishinge in the yeare 520. claruit anno à Christi natiuitate 520. and S. Dubritius liuinge two yeares after obijt anno gratiae 522. Bal. l. de scriptor Britan. cent 1. in Ilchtuto in Dubritio Godw. Catal. in S. Dauids in Dubritius therefore wee may boldly say that among so great numbers of their massing schollers many of them liued a great part if not all this age The auncient Manuscript of the Saints of Wales the Apologist of the antiquitie of Cambridge and others thus testifie of S. Dubritius M. S. antiq de vit Sanctorum Wall in S. Dubritio Io. Caius l. 1. de antiquit Cantabr Academ pag. 145.146 Creuit illius fama cum vtriusque legis nouae veteris peritia per totā Britanniam ita quod ex omni parte totius Britanniae scholares veniebant non tantum rudes sed etiam viri sapientes Doctores ad eum studendi causa confluebant Imprimis Sanctus Helianus Sampson discipulus suus Vbelnius Merchiguinus Elguoredus Gunuinus Longual Artbodu Longur Arguistil Iunabin Conbram Goruan Guernabin Iouan Elheharn Iudnon Curdocui Aidan Cinuarch cum his mille clericos per septem annos continuo in podo seu pago Hentlan super ripam Guy in studio literarum diuinae sapientiae humanae retinuit Where we see he had a thousand schollers at one time and place seuen yeares together that were clergy men students in diuinitie and in an other place called in the Brittish languadge Mocros miraculously assigned vnto him hee had as these antiquities say innumerable schollers many yeares together cum suis innumerabilibus discipulis mansit per plures annos regendo studium l. de vit Sanct. Wall Caius sup pag. 147.148 M. S. antiq Capgrau in S. Iltuto Tatheo 2. The like they write of the scholes of S. Iltutus and S. Tatheus or as some call him Thatheus The antiquaries of Cambridge alleage for the immunities and priuiledges of their vniuersitie the auncient Charter dated at London in the yeare of Christ 531 of Kinge Arthur that knowne reuerencer of sacrificing preists and Masse Charta priuileg Arthuri an 531. apud Caium antiq Cantabrig l. 1. and both Catholicks and protestants testifie that the auncient vniuersitie of Standford continued in this time and vntill S. Gregory interdicted it for heresies that fell amonge the Saxons and Britans together mixt Harding histor in King Ethelbert Stowe and Howes historie in Bladud therefore wee may assure our selues that notwithstandinge so many troubles alterations as chaunced here in those daies they continued the holy doctrine and custome of Masse and sacrificinge preists For S. Gregory so knowne and confessed a Patron and practiser of these thinges neither would nor could haue interdicted that vniuersitie for any thinge which hee himselfe so embraced and honored So that it is euident that the whole kingdome of Britanie in this time followinge the doctrine which their scholes and vniuersities taught them must needs then allowe these holy misteries of which I write The same is euident both by the Kings which then reigned here as also by the Archbishops who ruled in Religious affaires The Kings in the beginning of this age were Vther pendragon who died about the yeare of Christ 515. beeinge for Religion of the same with the massinge Archbishops S. Dubritius and S. Sampson with the sacrificinge Bishops and preists by whose generall consent he was crowned Kinge Vther conuocato regni clero caepit diadema Insula annuētibusque cunctis sublimatus est in Regem Galfr. Mon. l. 8. cap. 17. Math. Westm. ad an 498 and when his death was knowne they as solemly assembled to giue him Princely Christian buriall Cum obitus Regis diuulgatus fuisset aduenerunt Pontifices cum clero regni tuleruntque corpus eius ad caenobium Ambrij iuxta Aurelium Ambrosium more regio humauerunt 2. Next was Kinge Arthur how he was engaged in this holy doctrines it is sufficiēt Argument that being but 15. yeares of age and his birth by many not without exception hee was with the generall applause both of the sacrificinge cleargie and their ghostly children crowned Kinge by S. Dubritius the Popes Legate and renowned massinge Archbishop and primate of Britanie with the other massing Bishops therof Defuncto Vtherpendragon conuenerunt ex diuersis Prouincijs proceres Britonum Dubritio Vrbis Legionum suggerentes vt Arthurum filium Regis in Regem consecraret Dubritius associatis sibi Episcopis Arthurum regni diademate insignuit Galfrid Mon l. 9. cap. 1. Matth. Westm. ad an gratiae 516. Stowe histor Britans and Saxons in Arthur Io. Bal. l. de script Brit. cent 1. in Dubritio Godwin Catalog in S. Dauids to this his whole life in fighting against the enemies of that holy Religion the sacred churches and altars which he reedified for that heauenly sacrifice and charters of
in the holy Popes S. Anacletus Euaristus and S. Alexander allready Rob. Barns in vit Pontific in nominibus citat Downam lib. 1. of Antichrist cap. 3. pag. 35. And soe they teach that al the following Popes vnto S. Eleutherius to witt S. Sixtus the first Telesphorus Higinius Pius and Anicetus the immediate predecessor to Eleutherius tooke vppon them generally the supreamacy and highest commanding power in all spirituall things and all places without exception or limitation S. Sixtus gaue authoritie to appeale to the Popes of Rome from all Bishops Ab Episcopo ad Romanum Pontificem appellandi Ius dedit ecclesiasticis ministris Barnes supra in Sixto Saint Telesphorus prescribed generally the fast of Lent in Telesphoro Published the maner or order of Masse and made a decree as supreame Iudge howe all suites and controuersies should be tryed and decided Saint Higinius made a lawe byndinge all Bishops Metrapolitans and the whole cleargie in Higinio S. Pius dedicated the howle of our renowned contry womaÌ„ S. Pudentiana in Rome to bee a church in Pio made general decrees for the holy sacrifice of the Masse binding all Priests Bishops Declared it to bee sacriledge in all people whomsoeuer which coÌ„uerted laÌ„ds or goods dedicated to Religion to prophane vses Appointed the age of virgins to bee consecrated Hee decreed that matters apperteyning to Religion should bee heard in prouinciall councells of Bishops reseruinge the authoritie of the Pope of Rome and appeales to him Quae ad Religionem spectant à suae Synodis audienda esse statuit salua tamen pontificiae authoritate Idem in vit Pont. in Aniceto S. Anicetus the next before S. Eleutherius made or renewed the decree how both Bishops and Metropolitans were to bee ordeyned That an Archbishop was to bee accused before the Pope of Rome That noe Archbishops should bee called primates except that prerogatiue of name were graunted him from the Pope of Rome Archiepiscopos non primates appellandos nisi ista praerogatiua nomenclaturae ei à Roâ—…ano Pontifice coâ—…e deretur Wherfore these Popes beeing by all Protestants holy Saints and Martyrs and the church of Rome then by his maiestie and al other learned men of the Protestant profession our mother church the true churche commandinge church most high Apostolicque church and these their decrees vniuersal and generall comprehending all and excluding none either in Britanie or any other nation except wee will bee willfully headstronge in disobedience wee must needs acknowledge that this kingdome from S. Peters first preachinge here vnto the generall conuersion thereof in the time of Pope Eleutherius of which sufficiently in the next chapter euer was and did acknowledge it selfe subiect in spirituall thinges to the holy Apostolicke See of Rome And this in particular alsoe proued by soe many auncient and approued Authors historians and others that entreate of this subiect shewinge how often the Popes of Rome in these remembred dayes sent preachers hither and the Britans likewise acknowledginge euer that See for the cheifest and supreame sent thither though soe far distant hence to haue preachers and Instructors to bee sent hither by the highest papall power there I will insist in Protestants relation for this busines They tell vs that S. Bede the old chronicle of LaÌ„daffe Goceline in the life of S. Augustine cap. 31. historiae maioris the old chronicle called Brutus Ioannes Nauclerus an old manuscript history which the ProtestaÌ„t Bishop Godwyn saith hee had in latine say that many preachers were sent hither froÌ„ the Pope of Rome in the yeare of Christ 156. when S. Pius was Pope and I haue read a very old manuscript testifyinge that king Lucius did in that yeare send legats to the Pope of Rome to that purpose An epistle written from the Pope of Rome to the kinge of Britanie dated in the yeare 159. found amonge the old constitutions of this lande and in the old chronicle called Brutus which the Protestant Bishop Bridges saith hee had seene saith there was the like sendinge in or about that time Mennius as these men tell vs affirmeth as much of the yeare 164. soe doth an other auncient chronicle which Godwin citeth William of Malmesbury hath the same of the next yeare 165. S. Edwards lawes say soe of the yeare 167. Henry of Hardford hath the life of the yeare 169. Marianus Scotus published by our ProtestaÌ„ts so writeth of the yeare 177. The Protestant Bishopp Bale hath so of the yeare 179. Polydor Vergil the history of Rochester Matthew of Westminster and Martinus Polonus by ProtestaÌ„ts soe say of the yeare 188. Therefore to saue the creditt of these and many others soe auncient and allowed by Protestants wee must needes by their leaue and allowance say alsoe that this our kingedome in those daies depended vppon the See of Rome in Religious affaires And thus much of this matter before our generall conuersion in the time of Kinge Lucius Io. Caius antiq Cantabrig lib. 1. pag. 109.110.111 Godwin conuers of Britannie p. 21.22 Holinsh. hist of King Lucius Theater of Brit. lib. 6. M. S. pr. gloriosi ac Deo dilecti in S. Dubritio Matth. Westm. an 154. Godwyn Conuers pa. 29.30 Stow hist in Lucius Caius supr pag. 100. Godw. Conuers pag. 29.20.22 Mason booke of consecrat in Lucius Will. Lambard lib. de leg Reg. fol. 130. pag. 2. Godwyn Conuers pag. 22. THE V. CHAPTER How in the generall Conuersion of this kingedome in the time of Kinge Lucius all spirituall thinges were ordered settled and confirmed here by the Popes Authoritie AT the time when our Kinge Lucius this kingedome was generally conuerted there were as these Protestants haue proued or graunted before diuers Bishops and Preists in England wee had many vniuersities as Cambrige Stamford Greekelade Bellisium Oxford and others as our Protestants contend and diuers learned men in them our next and neighbouringe contries Fraunce the hither parts of Germany Lorraine Heluetia and all Italie euen vnto Rome it selfe scituated in the further part thereof were full of Bishops preists and learned cleargie Ioh. Lidgate in Cant. Caius antiq cont Brian Twin antiquit Oxon. Harrison descript of Brit. Cambd. in Britan Harding histor l. 1. c. 15. Ioh. Bal. in praefat ad l. de scriptor c. And yett Kinge Lucius and his nobles now resolued to receaue the faith of Christ could finde noe center to rest their holy desires of soe happy a chaunge vntill they arriued at the Apostolicke See from whence this nation from the first originall of christianitie here euer receaued instructors and instruction And to obteyne this his soe heauenly purpose this Renowned kinge with applause of his nobilitie did not send one onely Messadge Ambassadge or epistle and at one time to that end but as our best antiquities say Epistolas suas Eleutherio Papae direxit Epist Eleuther ad Luc. leg S. Eduardi apud Lumb Calfrid Monum l. 5. cap. 19. Pont. Virun l. 4. Matth. Westm an 185.186
Vicar or Vicegerent in his kingdome to see iustice ministred the church of Christ to bee defended from wronge and the priuiledges thereof to bee kept inuiolable Which this holy king moste christianly performed for when all ecclesiasticall matters were settled here by the Popes authoritie and these Lawes here appointed for this kingedome first here coÌ„cluded and then with the rest confirmed by the Pope cuncta quae fecerant à Pontifice confirmari impetrauerunt Then this kinge accordinge to the direction and instructions of the holy Pope to speake in Protestants owne words endowed the churches of Britanie with liberties Lucius Rex ecclesias Britanniae libertatibus muniuit Which ar to many to bee related and ar sett downe in the Brittish historie Matthew of Westminster and others Pontic Virun lib. 4. in fine Galf. Mon. lib. 4. histor Reg. Britan. cap. 20. Matth. Westm an 186. Protest Annot. vppon Matth. West an 187. Galfrid Monum sup l. 4. Matth. West an 187. And in this sence our best Brittish and christian Saxon kings who were most obedient euer to the church of Rome were from that time and by vertue of that donation of Pope Eleutherius giuinge Lucius the Title of the vicar or vicegerent of God in his kingdome soe called and enioyed that Title as a Protestant Lawier and Antiquarie thus deduceth Selden Analect l. 1. pag 4â—… Ex quo non solum Britannorum sed etiam Anglorum subsequentes Reges hoc nomine vicarij Dei sunt potiti From which time or the graunt of Pope Eleutherius the kings that followed not onely of the Britans but English alsoe obteyned this name of the vicars of God and citeth the auntient Lawyer Henry Bracton for the same But wee neede not demurre vppon the authorities of priuate Lawyers or Antiquaries for this matter For wee haue Lawes themselues of good kinge Edward which William the Bastard afterward confirmed a Protestant Lawyers or rather the words of the Lawe to confirme warraÌ„t this Where the very words of the Lawe thus auntient and confirmed are these Leges S. Eduardi apud Gul. Lamb. fol. 126. pag. 2. leg 1. cap. 17. leg 77. Rex autem quia Vicarius summi Regis est ad hoc est constitutus vt regnum terrenum populum Domini super omnia sanctum veneretur Ecclesiam eius regat ab iniuriosis defendat maleficos ab ea euellat destruat penitus disperdat Quod nisi fecerit nec nomen Regis in eo constabit verum testante Papa Iohanne nomen Regis perdit The kinge because hee is the Vicar of the highest king is constituted for this to rule the terrene kingedome and people of God and aboue all things hee ought to reuerence his holy church and defend it from iniurious people and to pull from it and destroy and wholly ouerthrowe euill doers Which except hee performeth the name of a Kinge shall not bee appearinge in him but as Pope Iohn doth wittnes he loseth the name of a kinge or Ruler Where wee see by the publicke Lawes themselues that the Kinge is not called the Vicar or Vicegerent of God in respect of spirituall but temporall affaires to reuerence and defend it and suffer noe wronge to bee done vnto it or priuiledges taken from it which is more plainely expressed in the same Lawe in this maner leg S. Vsuardi supr Debet Sanctam EcclesiaÌ„ regni sui cum omni integritate libertate iuxta constitutiones patrum praedecessorem seruare fouere manutenere a kinge ought to keepe foster maintayne the holy church of his kingedome with all integritie and libertie accordinge to the constitutions of the Fathers and predecessors Which a kinge ought to sweare in proper parson vppon the ghospels and relicks of Saints before the laietie preists and clergie before hee is crowned by the Archbishops Bishops of the kingdom hither to this holy law of our auntieÌ„t kings I haue insisted vpon this Epistle of Pope Eleutherius the longer because with Protestants it is in soe high esteeme soe auntient and certaine that a Protestant Bishop writeth Wee haue seene the Bishop of Romes owne letter to kinge Lucius that is reputed to bee the first christian kinge of Britanie Iohn Bridges def of the gouernm in the church of Engl. l. 16. pag. 1355. The Theater writers say it is in the custody of Syr Robert Cotton Baronet of Conington in Huntington shire Theater of greate Brit. l. 6. c. 19. Others say it is likewise founde in the old historie called Brutus Caius antiquit Cantab. l. 1. Stowe writeth I finde the same entered in a booke intituled Constitutions pertayninge to the Guilde hall of London Stovve histor in Kinge Lucius And it is founde alsoe amonge the old Lawes of Saint Edward our kinge and others before him and placed receaued as a part of our Lawe both by our Saxon kinges and Norman alsoe as namely kinge William the first as the Protestant publisher of them himselfe a lawyer and antiquarie is witnesse vvith all moste all writers plaerique scriptores omnes as hee testifieth Williel Lambard lib. de Priscis Anglorum legib fol. 1. ante praef fol. 126.131 Therefore I may boldely terme Pope Eleutherius the first Christian Lawe maker and first director and confirmer of Lawes in this kingedome Which how it can stand to bee iustly done as all these our kinges their nobles clergies lawyers and these Protestants auouche without as greate a preeminent power as the Popes of these times doe clayme or commonly Catholicks ascribe vnto them I leaue to the quickest sighted Protestants to distinguish And yet this schole of Protestant antiquaries doe reade a lesson vnto vs to clymbe a stepp higher in such affayres For they assure from the same publick lawes of our auncient Saxon and other kinges and from the same Pope Eleutherius his owne donation that hee declared to be annexed to the crowne of this kingedome all the Ilands betweene vs and Norway and that our kings should haue care thereupon to enioye them The words of that auncient Lawe by Protestant publishing and allowance publick ar these Leges Edâ—…wardi Regis c. 17. apud Lumbard supr fol. 130 pag. 2. Debet de iure Rex omnes terras honores omnes dignitates iura libertates coronae regni huius in integrum cum omni integritate sine diminutione obseruare defendere dispersa dilapidata amissa regni iura in pristinum statum debitum viribus omnibus reuocare Vniuersa vero terra tota Insulae omnes vsque Norwegiam vsque Dariam pertinent ad coronam regni eius sunt de appendicijs dignitatibus Regis vna est Monarchia vnum est regnum vocabatur quondam Regnum Britanniae modo autem vocatur Regnum Anglorum tales enim metas fines praedictae sunt constituit imposuit coronae Regni Dominus Eleutherius Papa sententia sua qui primo
Dei genitricis auxilio in necessitatibus suis refocillobantur The twelue holy men spoken of before S. Ioseph and his companions yeeldinge deuout seruices to God and the blessed Virgin attendinge to watchings fastings and prayers were in their necessities releiued by the helpe of the same Virgin Mother of God Antiquitat Glast apud Capgrau in Catalog in S. Ioseph ab Aramath S. Patricio antiq M. S. tabulis affixae in ead Eccles Glaston and others So that whomsoeuer S. Peter S. Paul S. Ioseph or any other man will truly and seriouslie allowe or in his owne singular conceipt or phantasie imagin to haue beene the first preacher teacher of the Christian faith and Religion in Britanie or what or whose order and forme of Masse and Liturgie they will say was then here vsed and practised they must needs by all authorities warranted iudgements acknowledge that the holy preists here in that time were sacrificinge massinge preists their externall Liturgie and sacrifice the sacrifice of Masse wherein Christs holy body and blood were consecrated and offered both for the liuinge and faithfull departed the Saints were remembred and prayed vnto and no materiall difference betweene that and the present Masse of either the Greeke or Latine church And so I end this first age and hundred yeares of Christ THE SECOND AGE OR HVNDRED YEARES OF CHRIST THE XV. CHAPTER Wherein demonstration is made both by protestants and other antiquaries that sacrificinge massinge preists and Bishops and sacrifice of Masse continued and were honored in this kingdome of Britanie from the beginninge of this hundred yeares vntill Kinge Lucius time when it was wholly conuerted to that faith WE are now come to the beginninge of the second age or century of yeares of Christ when by all accompts in historie Kinge Coillus that was bred vp at Rome was Kinge in Britanie and S. Anacletus Pope of Rome When many of our before remembred massinge and sacrificinge Brittish preists as namely S. Mansuetus S. Beatus his holy companion before by some named Achates and S. Timotheus were liuinge And though I doe not find any particularly named whome S. Anacletus sent hither of the holy preistly massinge order yet to followe euen the opinion and direction of English Protestant antiquaries in this busines wee must needs graunt that hee had a care of this contry as wel as others in this kind for they testifie of this Pope Ab â—…pso Domino primatum Romanae Ecclesiae super omnes Ecclesias vniuersumque Christiani nomine populum concessum esse asseruit Robert Barns l. de vit Pontific Roman in Anaclet Ormerod pict Pap. pag. 78. Pope Anacletus affirmed that supremacy was graunted from our Lord himselfe to the church of Rome ouer all churches and all Christian people Because saith hee Christ said to S. Peter who liued and died at Rome thou art Peter or a rocke and vppon this rocke I will builde my church Quia inquit Petro agenti morienti Romae dixit tu es Petrus super hanc petram aedificabo Ecclesiam meam By which reason amonge others diuers other learned English Protestant writers with publicke priuilege and allowance doe proue vnto vs first confessinge with this holy Pope that Christ made S. Peter the supreame and cheife gouernour of his church secondly that this supreamacy was necessary and to continue foreuer in his church and thirdly because S. Peter dyinge Bishop of Rome and at Rome and there onely possibly to haue his laste and immediate successor and so constituted by himselfe as is euident in S. Clement before it euidently followeth by the reason of this holy Pope and protestants that euen by Christ himselfe this supreamacy ouer all churches and Christians was graunted to the church of Rome Whereuppon these protestants testifie in his life that hee ordeyned diuers lawes bindinge the whole church and still obserued Rob. Barnes in Anacleto 2. And if we may beleeue the first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury and in the whole world also Matthew Parker hee telleth vs how in particular his iurisdiction extended into this kingdome of Britanie and that the diuision and constitution of Archbishops sees with vs was by Pope Anacletus his ordination Ex Anacle to huius insulae diuisionem Matth. Parker antiquitat Brit. pag 24. And that he was a sacrificinge massinge preist it must needs be graunted both by his owne and our protestant testimonies also of him for hee himselfe is witnesse that hee was made preist by the great sacrificinge and massinge Apostle S. Peter à Sancto Petro Apostolorum Principe presbyter ordinatus Anacletus epist 3. To. 1. concil and our protestants do plainely confesse of this holie Pope Sacerdotem sacrificaturum ministros vestibus sacris indutos seu testes custodes sibi adhibere ordinauit Episcopos vero plures ministros sibi in sacris faciendis adiungat quod Sacerdote maior ac dignior sit Robert Barnes l. de vit Pontif Roman in Anacleto Pope Anacletus ordeined that when a preist was to offer sacrifice hee should take vnto him as witnesses and keepers ministers in holy vestiments And that a Bishop should ioyne vnto him more ministers when he said Masse And that hee is greater and more worthie then a preist The authoritie from whence they cite this is much more plaine where the very order wee still vse in solemne Masses is expressed But the protestant words manifestly proue that the sacrifice of Masse and sacrificinge vestures were vsed froÌ„ the daies of the Apostles Therfore this holy Pope exercising supreamacy and enactinge lawes for the whole church in Britanie or wheresoeuer as these protestaÌ„ts there doe testifie it must needs bee confessed that the preists which in his time either for Britanie or any other nation were consecrated immediatlie by himselfe or mediatly by his authority were as himselfe was sacrificinge massinge preistes and the deacons also for which hee made decrees by the testimony of these men Robert Barnes Sup. in Anaclet Matth. Parker antiquitat Britan. pag. 24. were also as they teach such as serued at the altare and sacrifice of Masse as Master Foxe speakinge of the very deacons ordeined by Pope Anacletus proueth in these termes therefore serued the office of the deacons as wee reade to lay the offerings of the people vppon the altare to bee hallowed and when the misteries be consecrated to distribute the cupp of the sacred blood of the Lord to the faithfull people Foxe Tom. 2. in Q. Mary Ambros l. de omnib diuin offic 3. And much part of the aboade and residency of this holy Pope as also of his predecessors and successors as appeareth before and will bee more manifest hereafter was in that knowne massinge and sacrificinge house of our noble contriwoman S. Claudia or her children And the order of Masse which hee vsed was the same which was practised by S. Peter the Apostle and by him deliuered to the church as these protestants haue before
vel comburi vel in sacrarium repositum seruari 19. Therefore this Pope beeinge in all mens iudgements Catholicks and Protestants Ioh. Bal. l. 1. act Pontif. Rom. in Pio 1. an holy Saint and martyr and to vse a Protestant Bishops words one that did many vvorks of true pietie in the field of the Christian church multa verae pietatis opera in agro Christianae Ecclesiae fecisse perhibetur was so wel acquainted with our Christian Britans and both claymed and exercised supreame spirituall iurisdiction ouer all places and parsons in matters of Religion by these protestants Robert Barnes in vit Pij 1. Quae ad Religionem spectant à suae dioceseos synodis audtenda esse statuit salua tamen Pontificia authoritate of all natious this our Britanie must needs then bee an honorer of sacrificinge preists and holy Masse in this time and euer after vnto the generall conuersion of it in the time of S. Eleutherius betweene whome and this Saint Pius there were but two Popes S. Anicetus and S. Sother both which were not Popes many yeares by these protestaÌ„ts not 18. yeares by any of their accompts Robert Barn in Pio 1. Anicet Sother Io. Balaeus in act Pontif in eisdem Edvv. Grimst in the same Popes Foxe Tom. 1. 20. And these Popes were so far from crossinge with this and others their predecessors in these points of supreamacy sacrificinge preists and sacrifice of Masse that by the confession of these protestants they made decrees which confirmed them all makinge lawes bindinge all Archbishops Primates and Metropolitans and shewing they were subiect to the Pope of Rome and prescribed rules for all preists sayinge Masse and shauing their crownes as they now vse in the Roman church at this day Archiepiscopum à suo Episcopo aut coram primate aut Romano Pontifice accusandum esse Archiepiscopos non Primates sed Metropolitanos appellandos esse dixit nisi ista praerogatiua à Romano Pontifice concederetur Capitis verticem spherulae instar radendum Sacerdotibus praecopit Ne Sacerdos celebraret nisi vt minimum duo adessent ordinauit ne Monacha pallam contrectaret neuè thus in aceram poneret statuit So wee are sure these two holy Popes Saints and Martyrs were also sacrificinge Popes and all preists at that time vnder them whether in Britanie or els where beeinge subiect and obedient vnto them were massinge preists And so wee are now come with a continuall deduction of these sacred doctrines and practises both in the church of this our Britanie and others vntill the time of Pope and Saint Eleutherius when and by whose happy meanes historians commonly tell vs this kingedome was generally conuerted to the faith of Christ THE XVI CHAPTER Wherin is proued by testimonies of protestants and others that this kingdome in the time of Kinge Lucius was conuerted by massing Preists and Bishops and the holy sacrifice of Masse and such massinge preists and Bishops continued here in honor all this age IN this happy generall conuersion of this kingdome no man of what Religion soeuer can without prophane and irreligious boldnes and impudentnes affirme in iudgement that so wise and vertuous a Kinge his Nobles so many learned Druides and others especially moued to Christian Religion by the paâ—…ence pietie and vertue of the glorious Martyrs and Saints of those dayes by all antiquities Masse sayinge or Masse hearinge Christians would write such suppliant letters and send Ambassadors so longe a iorney as from hence to Rome to bee conuerted to any other Religion of Christ but that sacrificinge and massinge profession by the miracles and sanctity of whose professors they were so moued and conuinced in iudgement it was the only truth Neither would or could Pope Eleutherius an holy learned Saint and successor onely to sacrificinge massing Popes and preists recommend vnto King Lucius and this kingdome any other then massinge preists and Religion or the learned messengers of Kinge Lucius as our protestants stile them Io. Bal. centur 1. de scriptor in Eluan Meduuin Math. Parker antiq Brit. Godwin Conuers of Britanie consent to any other or so many renowned both preists and Bishops as were still remayninge in or of this nation knowne massinge preists and bishops ioyne with the Legats of Pope Eleutherius in teaching and preachinge any other doctrine or Religion 2. Such were our renowned contrimen S. Mansuetus yet liuinge except the Annals of Treuers or the same name deceaue vs consecrated preist by S. Peter and now remoued from Toul to Treuers for the ecclesiasticall Annals of that archiepiscopall sea tell vs. Petr. Merssaeus Annal. Archiep. Treueren 7. that S. Mansuetus I reade of no other of that name but our holy coutryman in that time was Archbishop of Treuers in the yeare of Christ 160. Mansuetus qui huic nomini vocationi suae vita proba anno Domini 160. optimè respondit And S. Marcellus or Marcellinus our glorious contryman who before his departure out of Britanie had moued Kinge Lucius to the faith of Christ and after of the Tungers and Archbishop also of Treuers returninge hither with the Popes Legats was so renowned an instrument in the conuersion of this kingdome that the Annals of the place where hee was Archbishop say that by the preachinge of this Saint the third Bishop of Tungers Kinge Lucius was baptised Annal-Treuer in S. Marcello S. Marcellus alijs Marcellinus fuit Tungorum tertius Episcopus huius praedicatione Rex Angliae id est Lucius baptizatus est The catalogue of the Bishops of Tunger giueth him greater honor tellinge vs that by his preaching hee conuerted Lucius Prince of Britanie with the whole nation to the faith of Christ Lucium Britanniae Principem cum tota gente sua praedicatione ad Christum conuertit Catalog Episcop Tungrens in S. Marcello And yet I haue shewed before that these were massinge preists and Bishops as their predecessors in those places S Valerius Eucharius Maternus and others were 3. The same I say of S. Tymotheus our holy contryman by his Mother S. Claudia beeinge a knowne massinge preist and one of the owners of that his and his brother Nouatus and Sisters house in Rome so notoriously dedicated to bee the first publick massinge church there for this holy massinge preist came hither in this time and was so great a worker in the conuersion of this his contrie that the histories of Treuers themselues which giue such honor as before to their Archbishop S. Marcellus in this busines yet freely also acknowledge that Kinge Lucius was brought to the Religion of Christ by S. Timothie whome they call S. Paules disciple perhaps because S. Paul maketh so honorable a memory of his parents S. Pudens and Claudia 2. Timoth. 4. likely did baptize this S. Timothie and therby called his disciple though a very child when S· Paul was martyred Martyrolog Rom. die 20. Iunij Baron annot ib. Sur. Tom. 3. die 12. Iunij and the other S.
and vsually offered the sacrifice of Masse pag. 174. Chap 11. How S. Peter the cheife Apostle first founder of the church of Christ in this our kingedome was a sacrificinge massinge preist deliuered a forme of Masse to the church consecrated many massing preists in this part of the worlde nere vnto vs and some of this kingdome pag. 189. Chap. 12. Wherein is proued euen by protestants that whatsoeuer Apostle or other first preached Christ in Britanie brought sacrificinge preisthood hither and S. Peter first founded here our ecclesiastical Hierarchie of sacrificinge massinge preists and Bishops pag. 219. Chap. 13. Wherin is proued how after the death of S· Peter in the time following commonly ascribed to S· Linus and Cletus in the see of Rome and to Marius Kinge in Britanie the Britans both at home and abroade vsed the sacrificing preisthood preistes and Masse pag. 242. Chap. 14. How duringe the time of S. Clement his papacy and all this first hundred yeares of Christ our Christian Britans together with all other continued these holy doctrines and offices of sacrificinge preisthood preists and the sacrifice of the blessed body and blood of Christ in Masse pag. 252. Chap. 15. Wherein demonstration is made both by protestants and other antiquaries that sacrificinge massinge preists and Bishops and sacrifice of Masse continued and were honored in this kingdome of Britanie from the beginning of this hundred yeares vntill Kinge Lucius time when it was wholly coÌ„uerted to that faith pag. 278. Chap. 16. Wherin is proued by testimonies of protestants others that this kingdome in the time of Kinge Lucius was coÌ„uerted by massing Preists and Bishops and the holy sacrifice of Masse and such massinge preists and Bishops continued here in honor all this age pag. 310. Chap. 17. How notwithstandinge the manifold tumults and persecution of Christian Religion in this kingdome of Britanie in this third hundred yeares yet the holie sacrifice of Masse sacrificinge and massinge preists and Bishops still here continued without any totall discontinuance pag. 323. Chap. 18. How the holy sacrifice of Masse sacrificing and massing preisthood preists and Bishops continued in this kingdome of great Britanie in all this age without any interruption or discontinuance pag. 338. Chap. 19. Wherin is manifestly proued that all this fift age the sacrifice of Masse massinge preists and Bishops did continue in honor in this our Britanie pag. 366. Chap. 20. Wherein is proued by protestants and others that the church of Britanie Rome accorded in this age in these misteries and how all the Popes being massinge preists and Popes yet no one of them made any materiall alteration in this sacrifice pag. 388. Chap. 21. Wherein being confessed by our protestant writers that all the Popes of Rome vnto S. Gregory were massing preistes and Popes yet not any one of them by these protestants confession made any the least materiall chaunge or alteratioÌ„ in these misteries pag. 403. Chap. 22. Wherein euident demonstration is made euen by these protestaÌ„ts them selues that neither S. Gregory the great which sent S. Augustine with many other holy learned men into England did make any materiall addition or alteratioÌ„ in these misteries But the Religion which those his disciples preached here was in all points by all testimonies both of God and man Britans themselues and Saxons Catholicks and Protestants auncient and late writers the true Religion of Christ and in all thinges wherin they differed from the Britans more pure then that which they then professed pag. 414. Chap. 23. Wherein demonstration is made both by protestants and other testimonies that duringe all this age and hundred of yeares vntill and after the cominge of S. Augustine this kingdome had many holy massing preists and Bishops agreeing in these and all other articles of Religion with the church of Rome pag. 437. The Errata PAg. 38. line 1. members Numbers Pag. 197. line 23. Martianus Martinus There are two cyphers X. Pag. 130. 174. in the chapters in steed of X. and XI and so consequenter which should haue made the 23. chapters to haue bene 24. AN ECCLESIASTICAL PROTESTANT HISTORIE OF THE HIGH PASTORAL AND FATHERLY CHARGE and care of the Popes f Rome ouer the church of Britanie From the first plantinge of the Christian faith there by S. Peter the Apostle and his Disciples continued in euery age and hundred of yeares by holy Bishops and cleargie men sent hither and consecrated by them his Successors in the See Apostolicke Euidently deduced and proued by historicall narration from the published and priuiledged writings to appease all protestants of the most learned and allowed English protestant pretended Bishops Doctors Antiquaries and others of that Religion Mementote praepositorum vestrorum qui vobis locati sunt verbum Dei. Obedite praepositis vestris subiacâ—…te eis ipsi enim peruigilant quasi rationem pro animabus vestris reddituri Hebr. 13. With licence 16â—…5 THE GENERAL ARGVMENTS OF THE ENSVINGE HISTORIE SERVINGE ALSO FOR A PREFACE to the Reader to declare the scope of the Author and contents of the worke THE Catholick Author well acquainted with the proceedings of Protestants in these times and the controuersies of them to accept and allowe of nothing but what is liked and allowed by them selues and yet to make the world beleeue they are Reuerencers of antiquitie and would willingly embrace and followe that which was our first faith in any question deliuered by the Apostles thence continued from them the greatest of all beeing that who planted here first the holy faith and since had cheifest commanding power in such things Hee setteth historically downe from the best Antiquaries and learned protestant writers of this contry other antiquities approued by them the meanes and maner of our first conuersion vnto Christ and by what spirituall cheife ruling authority this nation hath euer beene gouerned in such thinges since then vntill the conuersions of the Saxons by S. Augustine and his associats sent hither by Saint and pope Gregory the first after which tyme now aboue 1000. yeares our protestants put it out of Question and agree that the power of the popes of Rome absolutely ruled here in such matters Therfore this historie of the first sixe hundred yeares is diuided into sixe Centuries or ages euery one conteyninge one hundred yeares In the first hee sheweth from those protestant Authors and Antiquaries how S. Peter that greate Apostle of Christ both immediately by himselfe and mediately by his holy disciples first preached here founded our church consecrated for vs Bishops preists and other cleargie men and ordeyned all thinges thereto belonging and how from this first institution by him we euer had a continued succession of such consecrated parsons vnto the more generall conuersion by pope Eleutherius in the daies of kinge Lucius after which time there can bee no question of such a succession of Bishops here And how after the death of S. Peter vnto the end of the first hundred
yeares spirituall matters were ordered here by authoritie and direction from the see of Rome and successors of S. Peter there In the second hundred of yeares is proued by the same protestant authors and their antiquities how from the beginninge of that age to the end thereof all spirituall things were likewise managed here by that see Apostolicke more or lesse as the times then permitted And in the generall conuersion of kinge Lucius and his kingdome all ecclesiasticall businesses were done and settled by iurisdiction of the popes of Rome and their legats directed hither by their authoritie exercising here as ample iurisdiction spirituall to the greate honor of this kingdome as any pope of Rome may clayme Such was the estate of spirituall power and proceedings here in the third fourth fift and sixte age or hundred of yeares also in the later end whereof S. Augustine was sent hither to conuert our auncestors the Saxons In all which ages and Centenaries of yeares both the Kings Archbishops Bishops and others both Rulers and Ruled in this kingdome gaue as much priuiledge and prerogatiue to the popes of Rome as Catholicks now may doe by their catholick Roman Religion In which tyme also amonge all those christians which then liued here those Bishops of Scotland and Walles who as our protestants tell vs and commend them for it did onely or most oppose against the pope his legates and authoritie here were those alsoe by the same protestants which did much more intermeddle in princes affaires then any popes their legats or such as were most obedient vnto or Ruled by them Which proceedings the Author doth in all places leaue to protestants relation and medleth not with them otherwise at all But soe much as with probabilitie in historie hee may mitigateth such matters as some protestants euen with publick allowance of the protestant state of EnglaÌ„d haue boldly published to the world in that kinde freely and before God protesting as hee neuer hitherto had any intermedlinge with the temporall affaires of Princes but euer to his vttermost did yeeld and render all dutie vnto them praying for the safety honor and preseruation of his Soueraigne and this kingdome soe hee will euer continue the same moste humble and dutifull affection Other particular Questions in Religion depend vppon this Because whosoeuer in anie Religion hath the cheife chardge and cure the particulars depend vpon his proceedings whether it bee Pope Prince Superintendents Presbyteries or whatsoeuer and soe beeing proued that from the beginninge of christianitie in this kingdome the Pope of Rome euer had cheife coÌ„maund direction in Religious things It must needs followe that which protestants name papistrie euer raigned here But I vnderstand there is a generall controuersiall historie to bee shortly published of all such things in particular from the first preaching of the Gospell in this kingdome which will giue full aâ—… ample satisfaction in all such Questions THE FIRST CENTVRIE OR HVNDRED OF YEARES THE I. CHAPTER Wherein is briefly made demonstration by the best learned protestant Antiquaries and others of England that Saint Peter the Apostle first preached the faith and founded the Church of Christ in this our Britanie TO bringe vs vnto a more certayne and vndoubted knowledge of the first preachers of christian Religion in this kingdome the best learned protestant Antiquaries wee haue prescribe certayne Rules and squares to bee directed by to come vnto them in their iudgment Matth. Parker antiq Britan. pag. 1. Godw. Conuers of Brit. Holinsh hist. of Engl. Mason l. 2· c. 2. pag. 51. Theater of great Brit. l. 6. cap. 9. first they affirme that the Britans receaued the faith soone after the Ascension of our blessed Sauiour in the time of Tiberius Caius Caligula or Claudius Emperor and they build this their assertion cheifely vppon the words of S. Gildas l. de Excid conq Britan. c· 5.6 Who speaking of things done here in Britanie either in the time of Caius or Claudius addeth Interea glaciali frigore rigent Insulae indulget sua praecepta Christus In the meane time while these things were doinge Christ doth afford his precepts to this frozen Iland In which place hee rather meaneth the time of Claudius then any other as may easely appeare to all iudiciall and equall readers of that auncient Author in the place alleadged needles to bee insisted vppon if wee will bee guided by our protestant directors because in their next Rules they shall make it euident It must needes in their opinion bee soe vnderstood For they deliuer for a second Maxime that this nation embraced and was taught the Religion of Christ by some one of the Apostles Soe say their Archbishop Parker in antiq Britan. Bal. in act Pontif. Rom. in Gregor 1. Cambd. in Brit. Fulke Answ. to a Romish cath pag. 40. Powel annot in l. 2. Giral Cambr. Itiner Cambr. c. 1. Holinsh. histor of Eng. c. 21. pag. 102. Stowe histor in Agricola Stow. supr Godwyn supr their Bishops Bale Godwyn their doctors and Antiquaries Cambden Fulke Powel Holinshed Stowe the Theater writers and others inclining to this opinion and some of them plainely teaching with diuers of the auntient fathers that the 12. Apostles deuided the world amongst them to preach the ghospell in assure vs that to speake in their wordes The holy Apostles beeing dispersed throughout the whole earth did diuide the prouinces amongst them to preach the ghospell in and it is deliuered plainely by sundry auntient writers that Britanie fell in diuision amongst the Apostles The third and laste generall Rule which these men assigne vnto vs is that mention is not made of any Apostle in any antiquitie to haue preached here but onely of S. Peter S. Paul and S. Symon Zelotes none of all these alleadged protestants or any other I reade doth speake of any other and amonge these one a protestant Bishop and Antiquarie writeth in these termes Godwyn Conuers of Britanie cap. 1. pag. 2. I finde mention of three onely of the Apostles to haue beene in our Britanie to wit Peter and Paul and Simon Chananaeus called also Zelotes For although some haue written that S. Iames preached in Ireland and S. Philip in this next adioyninge Gallia Fraunce which I haue at lardge refuted in other places yett noe one historian to my remembrance and reading doth teach that either of those twoe or any of the rest except those three before sett downe were at any time in this Iland These Rules of Protestants thus supposed and allowed it will with a small labour euidently appeare vnto vs by these men and all antiquities that the moste glorious Apostle Saint Peter was our first father and teacher in Christ For first concerning S. Paul hee himselfe and other scriptures and these protestants alsoe confesse hee was none of the 12. Apostles by whoÌ„ the world was soe diuided and though miraculously called by god before yett not properly an Apostle vntill in the 13. chapter of the Acts of
hee directed his epistles to Pope Eleutherius diuers Epistles and consequently diuers Ambassadges soe reade the old Brittish historie Ponticus Virunnius Matthew Westminster as they ar published and allowed by our Protestants and others And these soe diuers epistles were onely to become a Christian to haue his kingdome instructed in the faith of Christ and all things thereto belonginge ordered by his highest papall authoritie petens ab eo vt christianus efficeretur And none of these epistles was that which our Protestants tell vs hee wrote vnto that holy Pope for lawes to gouerne his kingdome by which were distinct from this of which I shall speake hereafter Wherby it is euident that this blessed kinge his wisest councell at that time by soe often writinge both to this holy Pope Eleutherius and some others of his predecessors before as appeareth by that I haue written alreadie did fully and constantly informe themselues that the highest directing power in things religious was onely residing in the Popes of Rome otherwise they were all straungers vnto him far distant and aboue all Bishops of the world more persecuted all of them before this time and longe after sufferinge cruell deathes and Martyrdome for Christ Therefore it was for the due honor and right belonginge to that holie See and not temporall glory or countenance as a Protestant Bishop would glosse the matter Godwyn Conuers of Britanie c. 3. pag. 36. but the supreamacy of the Roman Bishops which these Protestants haue giuen to all the Popes before And because to speake in the words of the first Protestant Archbishop in England The renowne of the popes of Rome at that time was most famous in all the world for their often martyrdome and constancy sincere discipline of faith quorum tunc fama crebro martyrio constantia ac sincera fidei disciplina per totum Christianum orbem celeberrima fuit Matth. Parker antiquit Brit. pag 5. This was that which moued kinge Lucius to giue this due honor to the See of Rome and appeale vnto it for instruction for he saw that by that holy See the faith of Christ was dilated into all these nations as the recited Protestant Archbishop thus witnesseth Parker supr pag. 4. Cognouit complures nobiles Romanos candem fidem à pontifice Romano accepisse eorumque exemplo Christianum nomen in singulas prouincias sparsum disseminatum fuisse statuit in eadem fide sub Eleutherio tunc Romano pontifice inaugurari When Kinge Lucius knew that very many noble Romans had receaued the faith of Christ from the Pope of Rome and by their example the Christian name was dispersed and sowen abrode into all prouinces hee did resolue to receaue the same faith from Eleutherius the Pope of Rome Where it is euidently confessed that if kinge Lucius had not acknowledged this highest spirituall dignitie in the See of Rome and haue sued to haue the Christian Religion settled here by that authoritie hee should haue beene singular in that kinde as our Protestants now are all other prouinces giuing then that honor to Rome and hauinge their faith in Christ established from thence And this is euidētly declared by the maner of the sending writting of this kinge to that Pope S. Eleutherius S. Bede saith hist eccl l. 1. c. 4. that K. Lucius did humbly beseech Pope Eleutherius by his letters that by his cōmaundement hee might bee made a Christian. Obsecrans vt per eius mandatum Christianus efficeretur The Roman Tradition saith In the beginninge of the papacy of Eleutherius there came humble letters vnto him frō Lucius Kinge of the Britans to receaue him and his subiects into the number of Christians Huic initio pontificatus supplices literae venerunt à Lucio Britannorum Rege vt se ac suos in Christianorum numerum reciperet Breu. Rom. in S. Eleuther 26. Maij. Baron hist. Eccl. tom 2. A Protestant Bishop readeth praying that by his direction and appointment hee might bee made a Christian Godwyn conuers p. 20. An other Protestant antiquary saith Desiring Eleutherius Bishop of Rome to send some deuout and learned men by whose instruction hee and his people might bee taught the faith and Religion of Christ. The old chronicle of Lādaffe is implorans vt iuxta eius ammonitionem christianus fiat Humbly entreatinge that by his appointment hee might bee made a christian Annal. Landaf apud com antiq Cantab l. 1. pag. 98. thus our Protestants alleadge that Antiquitie Others of them say Lucius sent an Ambassadge to Eleutherius Bishop of Rome by Eluanus and Meduinus Britans intreating Eleutherius by them that hee would open a passadge by himselfe and his ministers for the fosteringe and cherishinge of christian Religion in Britanie Frauncis Mason l. 2. p. 52. ca. 3. Like is the testimony of other historians both Catholicks and Protestants that kinge Lucius proceeded in this humble and submissiue maner in his writings and Ambassadges to the Pope of Rome at that time in these affayres The which highest authoritie spirituall in the Pope of Rome these our Protestants further confirme in that they teach generally that these two Ambassadors of Kinge Lucius Eluanus and Meduinus receaued all the authoritie they had to preach here in Britanie from Pope Eleutherius whoe consecrated the one Eluanus a Bishop and made the other a Doctor to preach the ghospell Theater of great Brit. l. 6. Stow. hist. in Lucius Godwyn conuers of Brit. Mason l. 2. c. 3. Bal. cent 1. in Eluan And the present Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury Doctor George Abbot director of Master Mason as hee protesteth and his directed Scribe ar of this opinion that all the Bishops of Britanie after this deriued consecration and succession episcopal from this one onelie Bishop Eluanus consecrated and authorized by Pope Eleutherius Frauncis Mason consecrat of Bish l. 2. c. 3. p. 55.56 Which and more is approued by an other a Protestant Bishop by whome Pope Eleutherius euen in this great busines is termed Paterfamilias the Master of this spirituall howse and familie of Britanie Bal. l. de Act. Pont. Rom. l. 1. in Eleuther and this kingedome was consequently of his family and vnder his rule and commaund and thereupon as a good Master and Gouernour of this familie did confirme and solidate the Brittans and the whole kingedome in the faith receaued by the Apostles Eleutherius vt bonus paterfamilias de thesauro suo noua cum veteribus proferens effecit vt confirmatis consolidatis Britannis in suscepta prius ab Apostolis doctrina totum illud regnum in eius fidei verba iuraret And to make moste euident demonstration further euen by these Protestants aswel as by al other Antiquities that the supreame power spirituall in all proceedinges in this kingedome at that time was wholly and vndeniably in Pope Eleutherius and those his twoe Legats which hee sent hither Damianus and Fugatianus as they are commonly called The
that the church of Scotland shall bee immediatly subiect to the See Apostolicke Soe that it is most euident by all testimonies that this kingedome of Britanie was from the first conuersion thereof to Christ euer subiect to the See of Rome in spirituall things as farr as the Pope of Rome now requireth or Catholicks attribute vnto him Which these our Protestants of England and from Authenticall Antiquities as they say will more Amply proue vnto vs and in the highest degree of papall priuiledges For they tell vs that kinge Lucius did not onely receaue the Christian faith Iuridicall direction and settling of all spirituall and meerlie Religious affaires by the authoritie of the Pope of Rome but the same holy Pope not onely with the good likinge and consent of Kinge Lucius but by his suite and petition interposed himselfe in the ordeyninge alteringe or correctinge and settlinge the very temporal lawes theÌ„selues in this kingedome to gouerne Rule and direct it euen in ciuill and meerely humane thinges as is manifest in a certaine Epistle which these Protestants with generall consent asscribe to S. Eleutherius himselfe written to kinge Lucius as responsory and satisfactory to some letters which this kinge had written vnto him to such purpose to haue temporall lawes from him to gouerne this kingdome by Petistis à nobis leges Romanos Caesaris vobis transmitti You require of vs writeth this holy Pope to king Lucius the Romane Lawes and the Emperors to bee sent ouer vnto you vvhich you vvould practise and put in vre vvithin your Realme the Romane Lawes and the Emperors vvee may euer reproue but the Lawe of God vvee may not you haue receaued of late through gods mercy in the kingedome of Britanie the Lawe and faith of Christ. You haue vvith you vvithin the Realme both parts of the scriptures out of them by gods grace vvith the councell of your Realme take you a Lawe and by that Lavve by gods sufferance rule your kingedome of Britanie for you bee gods vicar in your kingedome Epist. Eleutherij Papae ad Lucium Reg. Britan. apud Foxe to 1. Iuel contra Hard. Franc. Mason l. 2. Godwyn Conuers of Brit. pag. 38. Lambert in leg S. Vsuardi Stow in Lucio Thus these Protestants translate that part of that Popes Epistle Whereby first it is manifest That Kinge Lucius now a Christian did not and in conscience coulde not write for or absolutely desire the Imperiall Lawes the Emperors then beeing pagans and their Lawes accordingely mayntaining the Idolatries of the gentiles but as they should bee moderated and corrected by the Lawes of Christ which noe man could with more authoritie and better performe then the holy Pope hauing then the supreame place in the church of God For otherwise he should haue beene an enemy to Christ his lawe which hee now professed and beeing in soe high grace and fauour with the Emperor and Roman Senate as these Protestants and other antiquities tell vs hee might should with farr more honor loue and likeinge haue receaued these Lawes from the Emperor himselfe the Senate of Rome or manie Romans here in Britanie whoe then liued accordinge to those Roman and Imperiall Lawes then from Pope Eleutherius whoe liued not as those Lawes commaunded but soe farr otherwise that hee and all the Popes of Rome before and many after him were both persecuted and putt to death for christian Religion by those lawes Therefore kinge Lucius requestinge such Lawes from Pope Eleutherius must needs hereby acknowledge that as by sendinge soe farr vnto him to be instructed in the faâ—…th of Christ and all such matters spirituall to bee settled and ordered here by his highest power soe in his temporall proceedings which to bee iust holy must needs haue a subordination vnto spirituall and the iudgement ouer Lawes Whether they ar holy iust and such as Christians in conscience and Religion ought to vse and bee directed by is to bee made by them cheifly whoe haue the greatest knowledged and commaunde in such cases and iudgements which bee the gouernors and Bishops of the church of God hee thought noe Lawes to bee vncontrolably warrantable but such as the cheife pastor of the church of Christ the Pope of Rome should giue validitie vnto by his confirmation and allowance For amonge soe many Lawes as soe ample and greate a kingedome was to bee ruled and gouerned by there must needs bee many which of necessitie were thus to bee examined by the Lawe of God and cheifest interpreters thereof Which Saint Eleutherius warned Kinge Lucius of when hee prescribed vnto him to haue his Lawes warranted by the scriptures and taken forth of them by the councell of the Realme and by that Lawe to Rule the kingedome where it is euident that hee appointeth the Lawe of Britanie to be conformable to the Lawe of God and to bee secure it should bee such it to bee enacted and concluded by the best councell of his Realme in such things which were the Bishops cleargie and learned diuines cheifely which S. Eleutherius had settled here for they were the onely or principall Interpreters of holy scriptures here at that time and others in a maner concerninge such things Catechumenes to bee instructed themselues and not to drawe Lawes out of scriptures to instruct and direct others And so a Protestant Bishop with such publick warrant expoundeth it in these wordes By the aduise of the cleargie of their dominion Bridges def l. 16. pag. 1355. And S. Eleutherius takinge vppon himselfe as Pope of Rome the supreamacy ouer the whole church as these Protestants haue told vs cannot by any but carelesse or ignoraÌ„t of truth bee interpreted to giue any such preeminence to a newly become Christian temporal prince but calleth him onely the Vicar or Vicegerent of God as all princes Christians and others ar or should bee to see iustice performed to all within their dominions which is sufficiently expressed in this very epistle it selfe where that holy Pope telleth Kinge Lucius what is the dutie and office of a king the wordes by Protestant traÌ„slation ar The people and nations of the kingedome of Britanie is yours such as ar diuided you should gather them together to the Lavve of Christ his holy church to peace and concord cherish maintayne protect gouerne and defend them from the iniurious malicious and their enemies A kinge hath his name of gouerninge and not of his kingedome soe longe you shall bee a kinge as you rule well otherwise you shall not bee soe named and loose that name vvhich God forbid God graunt that you may soe rule your Realme of Britanie that you may Reigne vvith him euerlastingely whose Vicar you ar in the said kingedome Epistol Eleuther apud Godwyn Conuers pag. 23. Foxe tom 1. Stowe and Hovves histor in Lucius Bridg. def p. 1355. Ieuel ag Hard. Lambard de legib Theater of Brit. and others Where wee see in what sence this holie Pope called Kinge Lucius the
come This man had disciples in greate number aswell French men as Britās of the which the cheifest were Sampson Paulinus Dauid and Gyldas Badonicus The same is proued vnto vs by other Protestants Merchiannus Rex in Dipl apud Caium antiq Cantabr l. 1. pag. 147. Catalog Sanct. Wall in S. Iltuto And how the Pope graunted him this priuiledge of such publick teachinge Magistralis tibi cura à Pontifice concessa est as the kinge of those parts in his princely graunt with others witnesse Therefore if the greatest doctors and teachers of others in Britanie in these times were thus licenced by the Popes their Legates and schollers of their legats wee cannot question but such as the Masters such likewise the schollers and disciples were especially when wee find their cheifest Schollers S. Dauid S. Sampson made Archbishops by the Poopes Authoritie and this former primate of all Britanie by the Popes graunt as hereafter Matth. Westm. ad An. 727. And that the scholers of Britanie were not then allowed without the Popes priuiledge doth further appeare by our Protestants Hardinghe Lydgate and others Ioh. Hardinge apud Bal. in praefat ad l. de Script Stow histor Ioh. Caius l. 1. antiq Cantabrig Brian Twin apol Oxon. l. 1. testifying that in the tyme of S Gregorie the vniuersities or publick Scholes of Stamford Caerlegion and perhaps some others were interdicted by the Pope for some errors they held at this time The Antiquaries of Cambridge contend Caius sup l. 1. that their vniuersity was then Innocent and soe preserued and priuiledged Brian Twyn apol l. 2. pag. 143. They of Oxord seeme to graunt and glory in it that S. Germanus the Popes Legate did confirme the orders and constitutions of the vniuersitie of Oxford and alledge Asserius Meneuersis to that purpose Asser Meneu apud Brian Twyn supr Diuum Germanum Oxoniam aduenisse annique dimidium illic esse moratum qui ordines instituta illius loci mirum in modum comprobauit Saint German came to Oxford and stayed there halfe a yeare and greately approued the orders and institutions of that place And to proue that all the Christians of this Britany then in this age acknowledged this power of the Pope or Rome and their dependance of him in spirituall things the Archbishops See of London beeinge wasted and persecuted by the pagan Saxons moste swayinge in the prouinces subiect vnto it wee doe not reade of any Archbishop of London after the martyrdome of S. Vodinus vntill Theonus Bishop of Glocester tooke charge thereof in the yeare 553. as a Protestant Bishop writeth in this manner Godwyn Catalog of Bish in Lond. in Vodinus and Theonas Stow. histor in Lucius I finde onely one of them named viz. Theonus that beeing first Bishop of Glocester forsooke it and tooke the chardge of London vppon him in the yeare 553. soe write other Protestants Therefore wee must now seeke to the other two Archiepiscopall Sees Caerlegion and Yorke For S. Dubricius hee was both consecrated by the Popes Legate S. Germanus and hee himselfe alsoe both the Popes Legate and Primate of all Britanie Britanniae Primas Apostolicae sedis Legatus Galfrid Monum hist Reg. Brit. l. 9. cap. 12. Godwyn Catal. in S. Dauids 1. Landaff 1. Soe that there is noe question of him but hee acknowledged this highest spirituall power in the See of Rome whose Legate hee was then in this kingedome Neyther can there bee any doubt of the Archbishop of Yorke in this behalfe at this time for S. Sampson was then Archbishop there whoe as before was both scholler to S. Dubritius soe earnest a patrō of the Romane See and alsoe of S. Iltutus as before scholler to S. German the Popes Legate and warrāted to bee publick professor teacher here by the Popes allowāce to giue more certaynety herein this holy man S. Sāpson was miraculously chosen of God as Capgraue and others write to the Archiepiscopall See of Yorke Ioh. Capgrau in Sampsone and was consecrated by S. Dubritius the Popes Legate and primate of Britanie Therefore there cannot bee the least suspition but that both hee and the prouinces both of the North of England and Scotland alsoe then vnder his iurisdiction were of the same opinion in this matter And if the Metropolitan See of London a little before destroyed as our histories tell vs. Galfrid mon. histor Reg. Brit. l. 8. cap 9. by the pagan Saxons with other churches of that prouince had then any Archbishop whose name is not remembred noe man of indifferent iudgement will thinke that he differed in opinion in this matter from those glories of this kingedome and church thereof S. Dubritrius the Popes Legate and S. Sampson consecrated by him by whome alsoe whose authoritie from the See of Rome if London then had any Archbishop at this time hee was likewise consecrated noe others then beeing to intermedle in that busines And our kings of that time Vortimer Aurelius Ambrosius Vther Pendragon and Arthur crowned kings by these holy Archbishops Legats patrons and knowne mainteyners of the priuiledges of the Apostolicke See of Rome Kinge Vortimer belonged to the age before therefore I onely here say of him as I am directed by our Protestants in the Brittishe historie as they approue it Galfrid Monum l. 6. cap. 14. Matth. Westm. an 454. That after hee was chosen kinge and obteyned victorie of the pagans soe soone as it was in his power hee did all thinges especially apperteyning to Religion by the direction or rather commaund as the words be of S. Germanus the Popes Legate Victoria potitus Vortimerus caepit reddere possessiones ereptas ciuibus ipsosque diligere ac honorare Ecclesias iubente Sancto Germano renouare Vortimer hauing obteyned victorie began to restore the possessions that were taken from the citizens and to loue and honor them and by the commaundement of S. German to renewe the churches Neyther can wee make it a straūge thing if wee will follow soe manie Protestant guides to leade vs as before that kinge Vortimer followed the commaundement of Saint German the Popes Legate in such affaires when they haue assured vs that by his direction and order both his Father Vortigern kinge before him was deposed and this man by the same power and order was chosen and erected to bee kinge And the same is the condition and case of Aurelius Ambrosius by the same power and proceedings made kinge as these Protestants tell vs when Vortigern was deposed the second time Protest Catalog Regum Britan. Stowe histor in Vortiger Aurel. Ambros and Vterp Holinsh. in eisd Soe likewise of Vterpendragon his brother both of them made kings by cōmon consent of the cleargie nobles the line of Vortigern beeinge quite disinherited and hee himselfe to write in Protestāt words burnt in his castle in Wales by Aurelius Ambrosius his brother Vter Galfrid monum histor Reg. Brit. l. 8. cap. 2.17 But Nennius writeth that one
opinion is which is in libro S. Germani in the booke of S. German that hee with his wicked wyues or concubines was burned with fier miraculously from heauen An other opinion there is that hee wandered vpp and downe vagrantly and his hart burst in sonder The third that the earthe miraculously opened swallowed him vp aliue All agree that for betraying the country to the Infidels and his other moste horrible sinnes hee was iustly and greeuously punished by God and died miserably with eternall infamie and the others were renowned patrons and obedient children to the church of God which had aduaunced them to the regall dignitie Matth. Westm an 465.466.488.490.498 Nennius in M. S. histor in Guorthigurno And if wee will followe Nennius the best Author wee haue of these thinges S. German omitted noe meanes to procure kinge Vortigern to penance when nothinge would preuayle notwithstanding the most horrible sinne of him with his owne daughter hee baptized the sonne soe begotten naming him Faustus hee brought him vp and soe instructed him in pietie that hee was a glorious Saint Nennius supr Quartus filij Guorthigirni fuit Faustus qui illi de filia sua natus est quem Sanctus Germanus baptizauit enutriuit atque docuit vnam habuit filiam quae vt diximus mater fuit Sancti Fausti Next to these was kinge Arthur whoe allthough hee was by birth disabled as our Protestants say ex furtiue concubitu Vtheri Dulcissa Cornubiana natus Yett to speake in Protestants words Protest Index in Galfrid monum V. Arthurus Galfrid mon. histor Reg. Brit. l. 8. c. 19. Stowe histor in K. Arthur Arthur the sonne of Vther at the age of fifteene yeares was crowned kinge of Britanie by Dubritius Archbishop of Legions the Popes Legate as before And this was not the sole Act of that Saint but of all the Bishops and nobles of the kingedome Defuncto Rege conuenerunt Pontifices cum clero Regni populo ipsumque more regio humauerunt Quo facto Dubritius vrbis Legionum Archiepiscopus sociatis sibi Episcopis magnatibus Arthurum filium eius iunenem quindecim annorum in Regem magnificè exercuit Matth. Westm. an 516. Galfrid mon. lib. 9. cap. 1. Kinge Vther beeing deade the Bishops assemble together with the clergie and people of the kingedome and bury him in kingely maner Which beeinge ended Dubritius Archbishop of the citie of Legions the Bishops and Nobles beeing associate vnto him magnificently erect for king-Arthur his sonne a yonge man of fifteene yeares old And yett this worthie prince soe by byrth by himselfe disabled and for age vnfitt to manadge soe many and greate matters yett made kinge by the power I haue related before and followinge the direction of the Pope in matters requisite and his Legate and Bishops here became soe renowned glorious a kinge as all histories report This kinge besides the common benefites hee bestowed on the church of Christ in Britanie then allmoste desolate by the rage of the pagan Saxons hee did in particular to shew his gratefull and due dependance on the Popes of Rome With the consent and counsaile of all the Bishops and peeres of the kingedome and with licence of the See Apostolique graunt priuiledge to the schoole of Cambridge to bee exempt and free from publick vectigals and burthenous workes and this hee did for the loue of the heauenly kingedome and remedy of the soules of his Auncestors as the Protestants of Cambridge produce vnto vs out of his owne charter beginninge thus Charta Regis Arthuri de priuileg Cantabr apud Ioh. Caium lib. 1. de antiquit Cantabr pag. 68.69 Arthurus regali à Deo fultus dignitate omnibus suis salutem pro amore caelestis patriae remedioque animarum antecessorum meorum Britannia Regum pro augmentatione insuper Reipublicae Regni mei Britanniae ac profectu spirituali Scholarium in lege Domini iugiter Cantabrigiae studentium consilio assensu omnium singulorum Pontificium Principum huius Regni licentia sedis Apostolicae statue praesenti scripto firmiter decerno vt ciuitas Scholarium praedicta à publicis vectigalibus operibus onerosis absoluātur Where wee see the Popes licence requisite and first obteyned of this kinge euen from freeing that schole in tēporal respects This licence as it seemeth beeing obteyned from Pope Iohn the second for the Charter beareth date anno ab Incarnatione Domini 531.7 die Aprilis iu ciuitate Londoni the yeare of Christ 531. the seuenth day of Aprill in the citie of London at which time Iohn the seconde is cōmonly thought to haue beene Pope How many Popes confirmed that schole and exempted it from all other iurisdiction but the See Apostolick I haue written before and now add from Pope Sergius the first apud Caium lib. 1. de antiquit Cantabr accadem pag. 78.79.80 shewinge how his predecessors in the See Apostolick had done the same Sergius Episcopus seruns seruorum Dei praesentium authoritate decreuimus vt nulli Archiepiscope seu Episcopo alijue ecclesiasticae personae vel seculariliceat vniuersitatem vestram aut aliquem vestrum suspendere seu excommunicare vel quolibet sub interdicto ponere absque summi Pontificis assensu vel eius mandato speciali prohibemus insuper ne quis priuilegia à sede Apostolica gratiosè concessa vel indulta ausu temerario infringere seu restringere praesumat vel attemptet nulli igitur hominum omnino liceat hanc paginam nostrae concessionis exemptionis infringere vel ei quouismodo contraire Si quis autem hoc attentare praesumpserit indignationem omnipotentis Dei beatorum Apostolorum Petri Pauli se nouerit incursurum Sergius Pope seruant of the seruāts of God Wee haue decreed by the Authoritie of these presents that it shall bee lawfull for noe Archbishop Bishop or other parson spirituall or secular to suspend or excommunicate or any way to interdict your vniuersitie or any of you without the Popes assent or special commandement Wee further forbid that noe man by temerarious boldnes presume or attempt to infringe or restrict the priuiledges gratiously graunted giuen by the See Apostolick It shall bee lawfull for noe man at all to infringe or contradict the tenure of this our graunt and exemptiō if any man presume to attempt it lett him know that he shall incurr the indignation of almightie God and the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul Where wee see all parsons in Britanie then subiect and subordinate in spirituall iurisdiction to the Pope of Rome And this testified by our Protestants thēselues Wil. Lamb. in l. de leg Reg. in Legib Edward· fol. 126. Ingulph histor in fine Whoe goe furher in such things and assure vs from the common lawes themselues of our auncient kings S. Edward the confessor and others and confirmed by king William the first both as Ingulphus and out Protestant antiquaries acknowledge that this kingdome at that time and kings
this day neuer recouered the same Howbeit they vsed all authoritie belonginge to an Archbishop by consecratinge of other Bishops and neither did they euer make profession of subiection vnto Canterburie vntill the time of Henry 1. Kinge of England Godwin supr in Bernard 46. When Bernard Chaplaine vnto King Henry the first and chauncellour to his Queene was consecrate by the Archbishop of Canterbury Iulij 12. 1115. not chosen by the clergie of Walles as hitherto had beene accustomed but forced vpon them by the Kinge of England And there with others declareth how this Bernard tooke vppon him the title of Archbishop but Theobaldus Archbishop of Canterbury prouinge before the Pope in the councell of Rhemes by witnesses cum suam fidem obseruantiam cantuariensi astrinxisse that Bernard had promised obedience vnto the Archbishop of Canterbury the cause was by the Pope adiudged against Bernard and the See of S. Dauid Match West an 1115. Matth. Par. an 1115. Godwin supr Girald Lambr in Itiner Camb. Topogr Harps secul 12. cap. 46. Soe it is euident that from the beginning thereof to the endinge of the same the Archiepiscopall See of Walles depended of the Pope of Rome and it was not hee but the Acts of their owne Bishops which ouerthrew the dignitie priuiledges of it which the Popes had graunted and confirmed Of the Popes power here after the cominge of S. Augustine there is noe denial amonge Protestants all generally consentinge that from that time now aboue a thousand yeares the Popes supreamacy euer ruled here in spirituall thinges hee chaunged the Metropolitone See of London to Canterbury constituted that of Yorke interdicted our vniuersities constituted Bishops in places as seemed best to him Kinge Ethelbert chaunged his lawes and receaued the customes of the Romans cassatis paternis legibus nouas Sapientum consilio iuxta Romanorum consuetudines Anglorum sermone constituit Bal. centur 1. in Ethelberto The greate flaterer of King Henry the eight whoe first denied the Popes supreamacy and tooke it to himselfe Polidor Vergil speaketh of that parlament Polidor Verg. l. 27. pag. 689 Habetur concilium Londini in quo ecclesia Anglicana formam potestatis nallis ante temporibus visam induit Henricus enim Rex caput ipsius ecclesiae constituitur A parlament is held at London in which the church of England did put on a forme of power neuer seene in any time before for Kinge Henry was made head of the church The first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury speaking of the lawes of that parlament plainely confesseth Matth. Parker antiquit Britan. in Tho. Cramner pag. 329. His legibus potentia papalis quae nongentis amplius annis in Anglia durauit facile concidit By these lawes the power of the Pope which had continued here in England aboue neyne hundred yeares was easely ouerthrowne The present Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury director to Francis Mason and hee with others in their booke of pretended consecration of Bishops speaking of the same Matthew Parker Fran Mason Booke of consecrat 3. cap. 4. pag. 131. vit Matth. Parkeri say Concerninge Archbishop Parker beeing the 70. Archbishop after Austin yett of all that number hee was the onely man and the first of all which receaued consecration without the Popes Bulls To this this man himself together with their Protestant Bishop Godwin Goceline and others in the liues of the Archbishops of England doe plainely testifie to this all antiquities and antiquaries agree none dissenteth Matth. Parker in antiq Britan. Godwin Catalog in Canterbury and Yorke Goceline in epist THE XI CHAPTER How by these Protestants the Britans and Scots which opposed against S. Gregories disciples did take vpon then greater or as ample power in Princes matters as euer the Popes of Rome or their Legates did in this kingedome BEcause our Protestant Antiquaries and writers of England doe with a common consent agree in this that the Britans at the coming of S. Augustine hither from S. Gregory did truely and inuiolably keepe in all points that holy Religion which was planted here in the Apostles time especially they which at the first opposed against the proceedings of that our holy Apostles Matth. Park antiq Britan. pag. 1. Godwin Conuers pag. 43.44 Bal. l. 2. de Act. Pont. Rom. in Gregor 1. Theater of greate Brit. l. 6. cap. 9. Dauid Povvel in annot in l. 2. Girald Cambr. Itiner Cambr. c. 1. Holinsh. histor of Engl. cap. 21. pag. 102. Fulk Ansvv. to a count cath pag. 40. therefore to walke still by their directions lett vs now learne of them what was the opinion and practice of those Scots and Britrans in this question of Iurisdiction in spiritual Rulers claimed and deriued from whomesoeuer they will or any of them shall please though it is euidently proued in all ages before that neuer any such was practized here but that which was deriued and approued from and by the Apostolick Roman See And wee shall plainely see that these their soe much by them commended gayne-saiers to S Augustine and the Pope alsoe as many of these men contend did further intermeddle with Princes and temporall affaires then the Popes of Rome or any their Legats in this kingedome our Protestant Antiquaries with others write of Kinge Frequahard or Frechard the first of Scotland sonne to Eugenius in this maner Hect. Boeth lib 9. fol. 179. pag. 1. Georg. Buchan Rer. Scotic lib. 5. Reg. 52. pag. 160. Holinsh. histor of Scotand in Frequahard pag. 112. Frequahard besides other his vvicked behauiours vvas alsoe infected vvith the erroneous opinion of the Pelagian heresie Which suspition vvas the more increased for that hee vsed to haue sondry Brittish preists in his company the vvhich nation had beene euer noted vvith the spot of that damnable infection The nobilitie of the Realme moued herevvith sommoned him to come to a councell vvhich they had appointed to hold of all the states that they might there vnderstand if it vvere true or not vvhich vvas commonly reported of him But hee refusinge to come they assembled together and beseiged him in a castle vvherein hee had inclosed himselfe and vvinning the place got him into their hands and immediately thereuppon committed him to safe keepinge This done they consult together for the administration of the Realme vvhether they should quite depose Frequahard or restore him to his place Then it followerh how they deposed him and sent to S. Fiacre his Brother then an Eremite in Fraunce to gouerne the kingedome but hee refused it Then these Protestants add Holinsh Buch. supr Hect. Boeth supr The Lords of the land assembled themselues together in Argile about the choosinge of a nevv kinge vvhere by common consent Domoald the third sonne of Eugenius beeing called thither vvith Bishop Conan out of the I le of Man vvas inuested kinge vvith greate ioy and triumph Where wee see that S. Fiacre though next heire liuinge in Fraunce where the Popes Authoritie was generally embraced would
THE SECOND PART OF THE PROTESTANTS PLEA AND PETITION FOR PREISTS AND Papists Beeing an historie of the holy preisthood and sacrifice of the true Church of Christ Inuincibly prouing them to be the present sacrificing preisthood prouing also the sacrifice of the Masse vsed in the Catholike Roman church and that these were promised and foretold by the Prophets instituted by Christ and exercised by all his Apostles Moreouer that they haue euer from the first plantinge of Christianitie in this our Britanye in the dayes of the Apostles in euery age and hundred of yeares beene continued and preserued here All for the most part warranted by the writinges and testimonies of the best learned Protestant Doctors and antiquaries of England and others The preisthood beeing chaunged there is made of necessitie a chaunge also of the lawe Hebr. cap. 7. ver 12. WITH LICENCE Anno 1625. AN ADMONITION OF THE Author to all Readers of this his historie comprehending the Argument and contents thereof KNowinge well by longe and daiely purchased experience the great and greeuous persecutions which formerly haue beene raysed and persecuted in England against consecrated Preists of the Romane Church and professors of that Religion and for nothing more then holy priesthood and the sacred sunctions thereof And yet often hearinge all sorts of people euen persecutors themselues contestinge and cryinge out they would willingly stand to the Iudgement of and bee arbitrated by diuine Authoritie and reuerend antiquitie I an vnworthie member of that holy order a longe student in diuinitie to which these are either parts or haue a subordination for my discharge of dutie to God and his holy Church comfort and strengtheninge those that bee in truth and satisfying or confounding such as bee in error haue taken in hand to write a briefe history of this subiect beginning at the first originall of Christianitie especially in this Kingdome of great Britaine to which onely after my more generall Introduction and preface ended to preuent 〈…〉 both in writer and Readers I will confine my selfe And to winne the loue and likinge of all and auoide the dislike of any I meane to follow that most frendly and to all protestants fauourable maner and methode in writinge insinuated in the Title of this worke alwaies or moste commonly to carry with mee the allowance and warrant of the best learned Doctors and Antiquaries of their Religion And yet for Catholicks I trust none of them shall finde the least occasion of feare that though I shal walke vpon so vnlâ—…uell ground I will betray their moste iust and holy cause but rather adde a greater luster and splendor of glory then bringe any the least diminution of honor vnto it And make this matter so palpably manifest by all Authorities diuine and humane the scriptures both of the old and new testament and all kinde of expositors of them friends or ennemies that they which shall not acknowledge the vndoubted and onely truth of the doctrine of the holy Catholike Church in these misteries must needes bee said wilfully with malice to close their eyes against it And though the lawe of Moises wherein the Prophets liued and God spake by them was but a figure of thinges to come and gaue but a darke shadowe or glimeringe of the gratious brightnes and shininge which our blessed Sauiour the true light of the world reuealed vnto it in the lawe of the ghospell yet I shall in the very beginning as a preface to this holy historie so inuincibly proue by the scripture 〈◊〉 old testament by all original texts hebrue or greeke all Authors the Rabines before Christ the best learned Doctors of the primatiue Church of Christ and protestants themselues that the Messias promised and foretold by the Prophets was to ordeine a new sacrificing priesthood and that blessed sacrifice of his bodie and blood which wee coÌ„monly name the sacrifice of the Masse and this was one of the most apparant distinctiue signes to know him by so that whosoeuer denieth this consequently denieth Christ to bee the true Messias And the more plainely to demonstrate this when I come to the first plantinge of the faith of Christ in this kingdome in the Apostles time I will make manifest by all testimonies and antiquities that Christ our blessed Sauiour and Messias accordingly to the prophesies of him did institute this sacrificing priesthood and both celebrated and ordeined the sacrifice of Masse for his Church for euer That all his Apostles were sacrificing massing preists and offered that blessed sacrifice And that in this kingdome of Britanie in particular as in the whole Christian world besides in euery age and hundred of yeares from the first preachinge and receiuing of Christian Religion here in the Apostles time in the first second third fourthe fift and six hundred yeares of Christ and so longe as the best learned protestants affirme that holy primatiue Church remained vnspotted in the first receiued truthe and integritie thereof The same holy sacrificing priesthood a continual succession of sacrificinge massinge preists and Bishops and sacrifice of Masse euer continued here in the same maner as they are now vsed and obserued in the present Romane Church without any the least essentiall change or difference By reason whereof many cheife Articles in Religion now questioned as the supernaturall change or transubstantiation of bread and wine into the blessed body and blood of Christ there offered a propitiatorie sacrifice for sinne prayer to the blessed Virgin S. Mary other Saints and Angels prayer for the faithfull departed merit of sacrifice and good workes with insufficiencie of sole faith and other principall things which protestants commonly disallow in Catholicke Religion will bee thus proued and deduced in euerie age in this our Britanie euen with the allowance of our best learned protestants and such antiquities as they approue and cannot disallow One most materiall point of the Popes power and spirituall prerogatiue in this nation from the first embracinge of Christian Religion in all ages which I promised in my first parte I vnderstand to bee effectually performed already Therefore I shall sparinglie make mention thereof in this history except in some things and places where it shall bee needfull for the more perfect handlinge of the present subiect of this worke And hereby it will sufficiently appeare vnto all protestants and persecutors of the holy Catholike Romane Church that seeing the controuersie is whether the Catholike or protestant church is the true church of Christ that by no possibilitie the protestant congregation can bee this true and holie church For by their owne Articles of their Religion to which all protestant Bishops and ministers haue sworne and subscribed Articl of Engl. protest Relig articul 19. The visible Church of Christ is a congregation of faithfull men in which the pure worde of God is preached and the Sacraments bee duly ministred according to Christs ordinance in all those things that are requisite to the same Which bee the
because according to theire knowne heresie against Christs true humanitie they did reiect the sacrifice of his body and blood in the sacrifice of Masse Theodoret. Dial. 3. Beza Dial. Cyclops Peter Mart. loc 12. Missae Scutlet part 1. Medull patr l. 1. Whitaker contra Camp al. They doe not receaue saith S. Ignatius Eucharist and sacrifice because they doe not confesse the Eucharist to bee the body of our Sauiour Iesus Christ which suffered for our sinnes which his Father by his bountie raised againe apud Theoderet supr 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 12. The protestants of Magdeburg cent 2. col 113. cap. 6. acknowledge which no man can deny in epistolis Ignatij vt hodie extant vtrimque legitur sacrificium immolare Missas facere Wee reade both to offer sacrifice and say Masses in the epistles of Ignatius as they are extant at this day And our English Protestants confesse in these termes Sutclisse subu pag. 32. Wee reade in Ignatius this phrase offerre and sacrificium 〈◊〉 to offer and immolate sacrifice And not to insist vpon the words of S. Ignatius Ignatius epistol ad Smirnens 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which the olde translation turneth â—…ssam facere to say Masse the other Greeke wordes of this holy Saint which the Magdeburgian protestants doe allowe for his Magdeburg supr 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 do in all lexicons and Greeke Authors properly signifie sacrificinge or offering sacrifice and yet as that holy Father witnesseth this was in his time the act and office of Christian preists And saith this preisthood is the toppe or cheife of all good things amonge men and hee that rageth against it doth not reproach maÌ„ but God and Christ his onely begotten Sonne who by nature is the highest preist of God his Father and hee teacheth how an externall sacrifice offered vppon an externall materiall altar is a proper act of this holy preisthood Ignat. epistol ad Hieron epistol ad Ephes And that this sacrifice in particular is a medicine of immortality a preseruatiue against death and procuringe life in God The bread of God heauenly food which is the flesh of Christ and blood of Christ Ignat. epist ad Trallian ad Ephes ad Roman 13. And if wee attend S. Peter in his iorney from the east to these western parts as Rome from thence to this kingdome of Britanie wee shall still finde antiquities and monuments though so many ar loste that hee still continued his holy function in sayinge Masse and neither there nor here did or could consecrate any but sacrificinge massinge preists This holy Apostle cominge in his iorney to Rome to Pisa a famous citie of Hetruria in Italy vppon the Sea coaste with his disciples we finde auncient euidence that he there said Masse in honor memory of him a church was there builded and after his death dedicated vnto him yearely frequented with great resorte of pilgrims Martin Peres l. de diuinis Apost traditionib part 3. fol. 70. and part of the very altar whereon hee said Masse is there still kept in the sacrarie of that church with an antiquitie in authenticall old characters testifying the truth herof Certa parte altaris vbi celebrauit in sacrario templi maioris venerabiliter recondita vna cum testimonio literis valde authenticis vetustis hinc rei fidem minimè suspectam facientibus Also there is at Naples as both Catholicks and protestants witnes an old church where S. Peter said Masse and the church thereuppon called Ad diui Petri aram At the altar of S. Peter Benedict Fulco l. de locis antiq Neopolitan Lindan Apolog. Iacob Gualter tabula chronographic secult 1. pag. 44. at the entrance of the dore whereof this inscription still remayneth to keepe it in remembrance Siste fidelis Et priusquam templum ingrediaris Petrum sacrificantem venerare O faithfull man stay and before thou enter into the church worship Peter sacrificinge 14. For Rome wee haue still the portable and remoueable altare whereon S. Peter and many of his successors there in persecution said Masse Antiquitat Eccl. Lateran Romae Breuiar Rom. die 9. Nouembr in dedica Basilic Saluatoris wee haue all his successors holy Saints and Martyrs allmost 300. yeares by protestants confession all of them sacrificinge and massing preistes as shall bee manifest in their times and places and the foure first of them S. Linus Cletus Clement and Anacletus consecrated and ordered massing and sacrificing preists by their holy Master and predecessor S. Peter himselfe as both they themselues and other auncient authors testifie We are warranted by our protestants with others before that the forme and order of the sacrifice of Masse which S. Peter composed vsed and deliuered to the church was without any chaunge or alteration continued in that church of Rome these western nations aboue 200. yeares from whence it appeareth consequently plainlie by these protestante writers that this kingdome of Britanie receauing the faith from Rome in the Apostles times and generally in the times of Pope Eleuthenus Victor who both were before S. Zepherine in whose dayes they suppose some addition to haue beene vsed in that Masse inuincibly prouâ—…th that this kingdome with others did not onely admit Masse and massinge preists in the first conuersion thereof but the very vnchaunged and vnaltered Masse of S. Peter himselfe We haue the Catalogues and histories of the successions of Bishops in all renowned churches in this part of the world which receaued theire first Apostles and Bishops from S. Peter that are preserued testifyinge that these their first Apostles Preists and Bishops sent vnto them from S Peter were massinge and sacrificinge preists and Bishops If I could exemply but in halfe the number of them which were so ordered and sent by S. Peter into Italy Spaine Germanie and Fraunce I should make to longe a digression from the question of Britanie which I cheifly handle write a forreine historie and entertaine my reader ouer much in such affaires therefore I will only insist in some few of the cheifest those that came nearest vnto vs and with whom our Britans in al probable iudgement had most intercourse commerce or acquaintance 15. I begin with S. Maximinus and S. Lazarus whom Christ raised to life seeing to the first one of the 72. disciples of Christ S. Peter commended S. Mary Magdalen because some protestants thinke S. Ioseph of Aramathia that buried Christ and liued died and was buried with vs in Britanie came into Fraunce with them Guliel Eisengren centenar 1. part 5. dist 3. fol. 148. Theater of great Britanie l. 6. That the first said Masse we are taught because we read that hee did minister the holy Eucharist to S. Mary MagdaleÌ„ after Masse was ended Quod morienti S. Magdalenae post Missarum solemnia Sacrosanctam Eucharistiam administrasse legimus Anton. Democh. l. 2. de Mass contra Caluin Petrus de
and first massinge and sacrificinge preists and Bishops in this nation and shew plainly how wee had and euer continued an holy and hierarchicall succession of such sacred parsons from S. Peter that greatest Apostle of Christ in all ages offeringe the blessed bodie and blood of Christ in the sacrifice of Masse vnto these times So that it shall euidently appeare although this kingedome hath for situation beene called an other world yet it did neuer from the beginning of Christianitie here differ frō the known Catholick Christian world in these holy misteries vntill these times 4. For the truth and veritie of this first plantinge the sacrificinge Christian preisthood and sacrifice of Masse in this kingdome it is little or nothing materiall whether it was S. Peter S. Paul or S. Simon Zelotes or S. Ioseph of Aramathia or any others disciples to any of those or any others of the Apostles because as before is proued they all agreed in these holy thinges yet to know who was our first founder and Father in Christ to whome wee owe for that the greatest reuerence dutiful children should and ought to performe to deriue from him our happy Hierarchicall succession in holy things and to know the truth which some haue veiled and obscured to much it is a thing most worthy our knowledge and our shame if wee shoulde dwell in ignorance thereof Therefore to be breife because it is lately and largely proued that S. Peter was this our first parent in Christ by all testimonies for this place it will suffice to shew how the best learned English Protestant antiquaries most backward in this busines by certaine Maximes or vndoubted grounds in antiquitie doe consequently and by an euident necessitie binde themselues and al others to be of this opinion Stowe and Howes histor 5. First they say the twelue Apostles diuided the world amongst them to conuert it Secondly which followeth from the former that this kingdome fell in diuision to one of these Apostles· Thirdly that there is a silence in histories that any Apostle but S. Peter S. Paul this none of the twelue and S. Simon Zelotes were here Fourthly that this kingdome receaued the faith if not sooner in the beginninge of the Empire of Claudius Fiftly that in his time many Christians came hither from Rome and diuers here were in that time conuerted to the faith of Christ Sixtly that S. Paul came not to Rome nor any of these western parts while longe after the death of Claudius in the dayes of Nero as the scripture it selfe with all histories is witnesse therof Seuenthly none of them doth affirme that S. Simon Zelotes was here at all but if hee were here they incline to thinke hee came not hither vntill the cominge of S. Ioseph of Aramathia in the 63. yeare of Christ when in all opinions diuers of this kingedome were Christians allmost 20. yeares and some preists of this nation very longe before that time 6. From hence an halfe blind man must needs make this vndoubted and infallible conclusion that S. Peter was our first Apostle and Father in Christ These protestant antiquaries of Englād giue vs further warrant both from themselues and antiquitie that S. Peter did in euery Prouince appoint one Archbishop whom all other Bishops of the same Prouince should obey Peter preached in no place but hee there ordeyned Bishops and teachers and founded churches And that it is confirmed almost 800. yeares since by Simeon Metaphrastes a learned Saint of the Greeke church out of the Greeke Antiquities and diuers others that S. Peter preachinge the word of life in this Iland hee here founded churches and ordeyned preistes and deacons And except S. Peter himselfe S. Iohn S. Iames S. Marke and S. Timothie with whom they Paralel S. Aristobulus our first Archbishop were not Archbishops this great Saint was by theire allowance our Archbishop in Britanie and as before so constituted by S. Peter no other being then to ordeine him to that dignitie in this nation all which our protestants thus write with publick warrant and priuiledge Iohn Whitguift answere to the admonition pag. 65. sect 1. and def of the answ pag. 318. Clem. Rom. apud eund Polydor. Virg. l. 4. de inuent c. 12.13 Sutcliff Subuers pag. 3. Theater of great Britanie l. 6. cap. 9. Sim. Metaphrast die 29. Ian. Eisengren centen 1. Thom. Rogers in artic Relig. of Engl. articul 36. 7. Therefore except this great massing preist and Apostle S. Peter should bee of an other opinion and practise in these thinges in this our Britanie then hee and all the other Apostles had beene in all other times and places before which no Christian can once imagine he also consecrated massing and sacrificing preists and Bishops in and for this kingdome And although our losses of such sacred monuments haue beene great yet wee haue not altogether loste the memory of al their names one and the first which I finde in histories was S. Mansuetus natione Scotus borne in this kingdome of great Britanie and by the antiquities of the church of Toul in Lorraine claimed to bee the first Bishop of that citie so likewise of the church of Treuers except the identitie of the name deceaueth mee to be afterwarde liuinge very longe Archbishop there because hee made much stay or residence in those places yet both our learned contriman S. Marianus and Methodus nere the Apostles times affirme that hee as others which they there name S. Clement Felix Rusticus Moses Martinus c. preached both in propria prouincia exterius both in their owne and other nations Annal. Tollens Arnold Mirman in Theatr. conuers gent. Belliforest Cosmograph Petr. Merssaeus Catalog Archiep. Treuerens in S. Mansueto Marian. Scot. l. 2. aetat 6. col 254. Method apud eundem supr 8. This holy contriman of ours beeinge consecrated preist by S. Peter that greate massinge preist and Apostle must needes himselfe also by that if wee had no other argument bee a massinge preist But wee ar not so streightned of proofes in this matter for wee haue warrant by the French German histories that hee was one of the companions of S. Clement vncle to S. Clement the Pope that great massinge Archbishop of Metz sent thither as Arnoldus Mirmannius thinketh in the time of Caius Caligula so auncient a massinge preist he maketh this our glorious contrimā Arnold Mirm. supr Annal. Tullen Bellifor supr Gul. Eisengren centur 1. Petr. de natal l. 11. Demochar l. 2. de Miss contra Caluin Caio Caligula Imperante Tullenses habuere Apostolum suaeque in Christum fidei primum Antistitem S. Petri Apostoli discipulum S. Clementis Collegam origine Scotum The inhabitants of Toul had for their Apostle first Bishop of their faith in Christ S. Mansuetus disciple of S. Peter the Apostle companion of S. Clement hee beeinge a Scot by natiuitie Eisengrenius and the Authors hee followeth hath the same onely saying he was made Bishop of Toul Anno Christi 49. in
note vppon this place the most eminent Christians then in Rome S. Chrisostom Theodoret in 2. Tim. 4. for S. Linus was a Bishop there ordeyned by S. Peter and the other three renowned for their harbouring of the Christians there at that time as most certaine it is of Pudens and Claudia and not vnprobable as I haue shewed in other places that Eubulus was our noble contriman and Father to Claudia and so for his hospitalitie to the Saints of God first remembred in this salutation all histories beeinge silent of him and no other nation claiming him to bee from them 3. Therefore this beeing then so renowned a receptacle and massinge house although S. Linus did not intermeddle in sendinge preists or preachers into this or any other countrie yet the Christian Britans which liued at home could not bee ignorant what was done in such things in this holy house of our so eminent Christians at Rome seeing there was continuall traffick and intercourse betweene Rome and Britanie at that time and so much euen in spirituall things by our best protestant antiquaries of this kingdom Theater of great Brit. l. 6. Matth. Parker antiquitat Britan. pag. 2.3 Godwin conuers of Britanie pag. 17.18 Cambd. in Britan. Stowe histor that they asscribe a great part of the labours and meanes of plantinge the faith of Christ in Britanie to our holy Brittish Lady Claudia and those of that house in Rome All of them beeing Christians as both Catholicks and Protestants write totamque suam familiam Christi fidem amplexos and that number so greate that there were in it in the beginning of the next age an hundred men wantinge foure nonaginta sex homines that were Christians and not fewer in this time by probable opinion the owners of the house beeing both so honorable and religious all of them hearers at the leaste and frequenters of this most holy sacrifice vit S. Pudentianae in Breuiar Rom. die 19. Maij. 4. And to speake in a Protestant Archbishops great aÌ„tiquaries words Matth. Parker antiquitat Britan. pag. 3. Nec verisimil solum sed verum iudicandum est in tam nobilâ—… familia faisse cum Claudia gentiles suos â—…tannos qui vna baptisati fuerunt à quibus Euangelij ignicula per totam gentem Britannicam dispersa viritim ad multos peruenerunt Neither is it onely to bee iudged likely but true that in so noble a family with Claudia there were Britans her countrimen which were baptised with her by whome the smale fiers of the ghospell dispersed throughout the whole nation of Britanie from man to man did come to many And not onely those reuerencers of holy Masse which were of the family of Lady Claudia but many others in Rome at that time both Romane and Brittish Christians in theire owne parsons cominge from thence into Britanie parsonally performed these holy offices as our Theater protestantes thus assure vs. Theater of great Britanie l. 6. cap. 9. it hath also passed with allowance among the learned Senate of our antiquaries that when Nero began a little before this time to banish and persecute the Christians in Rome many Romans and Britans beeing conuerted to the faith fled thence into these remote parts of the earth where they might and did more freely enioy the libertie of their professions Which an other Protestant Bishop and antiquary speakinge of these dayes of Claudia thus coÌ„firmeth Godwin conuers of Britanie pag. 18. cap. 3. Of these times wee speake of I doubt not wee may vse the words of Cassiodorus it was not counted vnlawful for those to bee Christians that dwelt beyond Italy and Fraunce as in Britanie Whereby vndoubtedly it came to passe that many professing Christ not daringe to abide nere vnto the hart of the Empire made choice of our Britanie vvhere to leade their liues in such sort as they might enioy libertie of conscience And hee noteth in the mergine Britanie a refuge for Christians 5. Therefore although wee should follow their opinion that say S. Linus and Cletus executed the papall function excluding S. Clement vntill after their death though wee finde no preists purposely sent by them vnto this kingdome or other nation yet the protestants themselues do freelie graunt The English Protestant Margin annot in Matth. Westm. an 59. Robert Barnes in vit Pontif. in Lino Damas seu Anastas in S. Lino Cleto Breu. Rom. die 26. April 23. Septemb. Martin Pol. in S. Lino Cleto that they were both made preists by the great massinge preist and Apostle S. Peter Petrus Apostolus Linum Cletum presbyteros ordinauit and both of them did also make preists S Linus 18. as both Catholicks and protestants teach and diuers Bishops and S. Cletus by S Peters commaund consecrated in the citie of Rome 25. preists which beeing commaunded by a massinge Apostle and performed by a massinge Bishop must needs bee massinge preists and all those so many Christians of these times by our protestants before either Britans or Romans which either by their concurreÌ„ce at Rome still staying there or by personall presence beinge come and stayinge here gaue assistance and helpe towardes the instruction and conuersion of this our Britanie must needes bee either sayers or hearers of Masse and practisers and approuers of that holy sacrifice and so ioyned themselues with those massinge preists and Bishops in this kingdome which I named before and liued longe after this time as I shall shewe hereafter Or if wee will rather incline to them that say these two were onely coadiutors and not Popes but giue the papacy in this time to S. Clement as some Protestants with many Catholicks before and others hold to speake in a protestants words Robert Barnes l. de vit Pontif Romanor in Petro. Petrus ordinauit Clementem sui officij vices ei committens Peter ordeyned Clement committinge the place of his office vnto him It must needs euen by that title bee that as hee was sacred and receaued this charge and power from that great massing preist and Bishop S. Peter so hee also receaued from him that holy sacrificinge preisthood and power and succeeded him in that as other sacred papall functions of whome I am to speake in the chapter followinge THE XIV CHAPTER How duringe the time of S. Clement his papacy and all this first hundred yeares of Christ our Christian Britans together with all others continued these holy doctrines and offices of sacrificing preisthood preistes and the sacrifice of the blessed body and blood of Christ in Masse THis holy and learned Pope and successor to S. Peter S. Clement whether hee presently executed that highest pastorall function or of humilitie gaue place to S. Linus and Cletus more aunciently consecrated Bishops at and for Rome by S. Peter beeing himselfe consecrated as before a massinge preist and most deuoutly and religiously as I shall demonstrate continually executinge that holy massinge and sacrificinge preistly power and duty did not onely in generall impart
a refuge and receptacle of them that were in those times persecuted for Christian Religion Matthew of West Anno gratiae 115. Ioh. Bal. l. de script in Matth. Westm Rob. Bar. sup in Higinio Matth. Westm. an 150. Matth. Westm. an gratiae 124. 15. And to omit forreine examples beyonde number in this case when the Saxons of this nation were conuerted by the disciples of Gregory though S. Augustine was a very miraculous man and his companions many and holy learned men and industrious in that sacred worke found many worthie and renowned Bishops here with their cleargies that assisted them with al their power in the conuersion of this nation as those glorious Bishops S. Molocus that ioyned with S. Bonifacius sent from Italy with many good mē cum piorum caetu S. Iue S. Kentegern S. Asaph S. Lethardus stiled the precursor and vvay maker to S. Augustine praecursor ianitor venturi Augustini with others and had all the furtherance the holy Queene S. Bertha and her husband Kinge Ethelbert the most potent in this Iland reigninge from the vttermost coasts of kent vnto Humber and by the vertues of S. Bertha and S. Lethardus by many arguments a Christian in iudgement and affection before S. Augustines cominge hither Hect. Boeth hist l. 9. fol. 178. Holish hist of Engl. l. 5. c. 29. pag. 112. Capgrau in S. Iuone M. S. in vit eius in S. Asaph Kentegern Godvvin Catal. Bal. centur 1. de script Capgrau in S. Lethard Matth. Parker antiq in S. Augustin Stowe histor in Kinge Ethelb Holinsh. histor of Engl. Theater of great Brit. in K. Ethelbert Bed l. 1. histor l 2. 16. Yett S. Augustine and fine other Archbishops of Canterbury after him S. Laurence S. Mellitus S Iustus S. Honorius and S. Adeodatus were deade and aboue foure score yeares passed after the cominge of S. Augustine into England before this kingdome wholly submitted it self to the true discipline of holy church in the time and by the labours of that our moste learned Archbishop S. Theodor. Godvvin Catal. in Theodor. Matth. Parker in eodem Capgrau M. S. in vit S. Theodori Therfore seeing wee haue so ample warrant in antiquities as the olde chronicle of Landaffe ascribed to S. Telian S. Bede the old English Chronicle named Beatus Cocelin and others that the faith of Christ was preached in Britanie in the time of Kinge Lucius in the 156. yeare of Christ and very many conuerted by preists sent from the Pope of Rome which was not aboue three yeares after the death of this Pope S. Higinius in the papacy of Pope Pius the first we may not with iudgement thinke but these preists or diuers of them that had wonne so many to Christ in that time were sent in the dayes of this massing Pope S. Higinius and his sacrificinge predecessors which besides that is already said in this matter will more appeare in the next Pope S. Pius the first Chronicon Landaf apud Io. Caium l. 1. antiq Cantabrig pag. 107. Beda l. 1. histor cap. 4. Chronicle Brutus an 156. Gocelin in vita S. Augustini cap. 31. Stovve histor in Kinge Lucius Io. Caius supr 17. This holy Pope by all accompts gouerned the church of Christ at Rome whē by so many auncient authorities the preists sent from thence had so increased and propagated the Christian faith in this kingedome who the better to bee mindefull of this nation as his predecessors by that amonge other motiues were liued and conuersed moste and more then with any of any other contrie or nation with our Christian Britans that were then at Rome in so much that we haue allowance both from Catholicks Protestants that a great part of their cheife residency was in the house of S. Claudia our noble Christian contriwoman and with such freedome and libertie to commaund therein that diuers protestants besides all Catholicke antiquities assure vs this holy Pope by the graunt donation of her holy children did cōsecrate it for the first Christian church in Rome Robert Barnes in vita Pontif. Rom. in Pio 1. Thermas nonati templo dedicauit Pope Pius the first dedicated the house of Nouatus sonne of S. Claudia for a church An other thus writeth of him in this matter Hee consecrated the first temple of Rome vvhich vvas dedicated to 5. Pudentiana the Temples of Christians hauing bene in former times in hidden and obscure caues Edvv. Grimston booke of est in the church of Rome pag. 436. the Catholicke antiquities that testifie this are to many too be cited Act. vit S. Pudentianae Breu. Rom. die 19. Maij. Martyrol Rom. 19. Maij. Baron annot in eod Rom. Martyrol die 20. Iunij but they all agree that the Popes of Rome were ordinarily intertayned in this house of our Christian Britans and especiallie this holy Pope Pius said Masse there and vvas there releiued by S. Pudentiana daughter to our Brittish Ladie Claudia and the Christians came thither vsually to heare Masse vvhen Antoninus the Emperor had forbidden Christians to haue Masse publickly Quòd ab Antonino Imperatore sancitum erat ne Christiani publicè sacrificia facerent Pius Pontifex in adibus Pudentianae cum Christianis sacra celebrabat 18. And to manifest farther vnto vs what a massinge Pope this S. Pius was and how in all probable iudgement that holy doctrine amonge others was propagated here in Britanie these antiquities tell vs there was in that Brittish house ninty sixe Christian men nonagiata sex homines Christiani Pius Pap. 1. epist and the like hee writeth of the house of Euprepia where hee also liued and said Masse vbi nunc cum pauperibus commorantes Miss is agimus And hee was so zelous herein and to haue Masse said with all attention deuotion that he decreed as these protestants testifie to write in their owne words Sacerdotibus negligentius Missae sacra facientibus paenas statuit Robert Barnes in vit Pontific Rom. in Pio 1. Grimston in Pius 1. Io. Func commentar in Chronolog l. 5. in Pio 1. an 145. He ordeyned punishments for preists that said Masse negligently That if any by imprudency shoulde shedd any of the blood of Christ vppon the ground hee shoulde doe penance fourtie dayes If vppon the altare 3. dayes That if vpon the linen cloath vnder the chalice 4. dayes If vpon the other linen cloathe 9. dayes That hee should lick vp the blood of Christ that was shedd or if that could not be either pare it or washe it away and so pared or washed either to bee burnt or kept reserued in the sacrarie Vt si quis per imprudentiam de sanguine Christi effunderet in terram paenitentiam ageret dies 40. Si super altare dies 3. Si super linteum substratum calici 4. dies Si super aliud linteum dies 9. Sanguinem Christi effusum lambere vel si id fieri non possit aut radere aut eluere rasum aut lotum
Syriake text readeth in fractione Eucharistiae in breakinge the Eucharist And Iohn Caluine himselfe doth so plainely expounde the later place of the 20. chapter Actor cap. 2. v. 42. cap. 20. v. 7. Homil 17. operis imperfecti Beda ad cap. 20. act Ionas Aurelianen l. 3. de Imaginib text Syriac· Caluin in act 20. 6. And to make all sure the parlament statute of three Protestant Princes Kinge Edward 6. Queene Elizabeth and Kinge Iames. Statut. parlam· an 1. Edw. 6. an 1. Elizab and an 1. Iacobi Abridg. of stat titul seruice and Sacram. doth warrant vs that in the primatiue church communion was often vsed in one only kinde And the three first Euangelists S. Matthew Marke and Luke ar ample witnesses that the words of Christ drinke you all of this the ground of protestants in this contention were onely present with him and by him at that time made preists by all antiquities Matth. cap. 26. v. 20. Marc. cap. 14. ver 17.18 Luc. c. 22. v. 14. and so the words and commaundement could not possibly bee generall for that cause and if they had beene generall all the whole Christian worlde in all ages Catholicks from the beginninge and protestants since their new cominge had beene and ar guiltie of transgressinge that institution and commaundement Therfore seeing wee cannot finde any innouation in these misteries in this time let vs seeke out some more massing preists of this nation in this tempestuous season For such we finde particularly at Rome S. Mellanius as the Romane Martyrologe with others nameth him but by the auncient Manuscript history of his life and Capgraue S. Mellon He beeing a noble Britane and going hence to Rome to pay the tribute of his contry and serue the Emperor was conuerted to the faith of Christ by the massing Pope S. Stephen and by him takinge first all inferior orders was made a massinge preist Quem praefatus Papa sibi adhaerentem per omnes Ecclesiae gradus vsque ad Sacerdotium promouit Martyrolog Rom. die 22. Octob Baron ib. Vincent l. 11. c. 74. Petr. de natal l. 9. c. 93. Demochar contr Caluin M. S. antiq de vita S. Mellonis Ioh. Capgrau in catal in S. Mellone Episcopo and was so deuout a sayer of Masse that among other times as hee was sayinge Masse an Angell openly appeared both to the holy Pope and him at the right hand of the altare and Masse beeing ended designed him to goe to Rouen in Normandy where hee was the second Bishop next to S. Nicasius as the Annals of that church are witnesse and continued there a massinge preist and Bishop sent from that massinge Pope vntill about the yeare of Christ 280. which being before the beginninge of the persecution of Diocletian wee had then here in Britanie great numbers of massinge preists and Bishops as I haue proued before by our best antiquities 7. And though for that time wee are in a great defect and want of monuments yet wee haue warrant enough that both in and after that persecution wee had both massinge preists and Bishops to continue our hierarchicall succession for the present time of the persecution in this part of Britanie where the Romans ruled the persecution by that oportunitie and power raged wee must not looke into our churches and altars destroyed for publick vse of these holy points of Religion for as our best and moste auncient author S. Gildas writeth the Christians that remained did hide themselues in woods and deserts and hidden caues Qui superfuerant siluis ac desertis abditisque speluncis se occultauere Gildas l. de excid conq Biitan cap 8. S. Bede and others after both Catholicks and protestants haue the like Bed histor Eccl. Angl. l. 1. cap. 8. Matth. Westm. in Dioclet Theater of Brit. 16. Stowe Holinsh. histor of Eng. but if wee goe into the Northern parts beyond the Romans walland bounds where the Christian Britans and Scots vnder King Crathlint that renowned glory of that nation then reigned we shal finde both Masse and massinge preists of this our part of Britanie flying thither in honor and offeringe publicklie the moste holy sacrifice of Masse with great reuerence and solemnitie such were the holy massinge preist and Bishop S. Amphibalus Modocus Priscus Calanus Ferranus Ambianus and very many others alijque permulti preachinge the doctrine of Christ in all the Scottish contries Christi seruatoris doctrinam omnes per Scotorum regiones concionando multis pijsque sudoribus seminantes Hector Boeth Scot. histor l. 6. fol. 102. Veremund apud eund ib. Holinsh. histor of Scotland in K. Crathlint 8. And among these holy doctrines that of holy Masse sacrificing preists preisthood were so honorable and renowned that this religious Kinge Crathlint did build a cathedrall church for that our persecuted massinge Bishop and preists endowinge it with great guifts and al things necessary for the honorable and reuerent sayinge of Masse as chalices patens Candlesticks and other such thinges requisite for the vse of sacrifice made of siluer and gold and an altare inclosed with copper and brasse Sed Crathlintus Rex sacra Antistitis aedem muneribus ornauit amplissimis calicibus patenis candelabris alijsque similibus ad sacrorum vsum commodis ex argento auroque fabrefactis altarique cupro aere clauso And that these and many others flyinge thither in this time were of this part of Britanie where the English inhabite it is plaine by these histories so that it is moste manifest that all this third age or hundred yeeres of Christ the holy sacrifice of Masse massing preists preisthood stil cōtinued in al this kingdome of great Britanie although not in such splendor and glory by reason of the great afflictions and miseries of those dayes as in better times I will make mention of diuers our massinge preists and Bishops that escaped death and suruiued after this persecution in the next age and so end with this THE FOVRTH AGE OR HVNDRED YEARES OF CHRIST THE XVIII CHAPTER How the holy sacrifice of Masse sacrificing and massinge preisthood preists and Bishops continued in this kingdome of great Britanie in al this age without any interruption or discontinuance IN the beginninge of this age and fourth hundred yeare the state of the church of Christ was little different either in Britanie or any other nation from that wherin it was in the later end of the former for as our histories tell vs the persecution begun by Diocletian did not cease although not in such extremitie of rigour vntill Cōstantine the great our contriman had bene Emperor some yeares in the seuenth yeare of his Empire by Matthew of Westminster Florentius Wigorniensis and others caepta semel persecutio vsque ad septimū annum Constantini feruere non cessauit Matth. Westm an gratiae 304. Florent Wigorn. an 299. al. 321. neither doe our Scottish writers Veremundus Hector Boethius and others differ herein for they are witnesses that manie holy Christians of
british Bishops besides with their preists and cleargie sent from hence for Armorica or little Britanie in Fraunce as the holy massinge Bishops and Martyrs sent and martyred with S. Vrsula and the other 11000. Virgins and Martyrs of Britanie S. Michael Iacobus Columbanus Iwanus Elutherius Lothorius and Mauritius Episcop Gen. in vit S. Vrsul Matth. Westm. an 391. Io. Capgrau Catal. in S. Vrsula M. S. antiq ibid. Harris in Theatr. To. 4. in S. Vrsula antiquitat Ecclesia Coloticen al. al which with all other Bishops and preists of this kingdome cōsented with the whole Christian world as is shewed before in the doctrine of holy Masse sacrificinge preists and preisthood which our protestants will more demonstrate vnto vs by the publicklie taught and receaued Religion of Britanie in this time for they produce vnto vs an old auncient sermon written in the latine tonge and translated into the saxon language by Aelfricus in the yeare 996. and to write in protestants words this sermon was vsuall to bee read in the church here in England in the yeare 366. Iohn Foxe Act· Monum pag. 1142. which must needs bee a moste excellent testimonie for this age time And yet amonge many other thinges tendinge to the same purpose thus we finde by our protestants translation therof In the olde lawe faithfull men offered to God diuers sacrifices that had fore signification of Christs body which for our sinnes hee himselfe to his heauenly Father hath since offered to sacrifice Certainely this housell which wee doe now halow at Gods altare is a remembrance of Christs body which he offered for vs and of his blood which hee shed for vs So hee himselfe commaunded doe this in my remembrance Once suffered Christ by himselfe but yet neuerthelesse his sufferinge is daily renevved at this supper through mistery of the holy housel And againe In that holy housel there is one thing in it seene and an other vnderstoode That vvhich is there seene hath bodily shape and that vvee doe there vnderstand hath ghostly might The housell is dealed into sondry parts chevved betvveene teeth and sent into the belly hovvbeit neuerthelesse after ghostlie might it is all in euery part Many receaue that holy body and yet notvvithstandinge it is so all in euery part after ghostly mistery 13. And shewing how the Paschal Lambe was a figure of this holy sacrifice of Christ the Lambe of Innocency and God which taketh away the sins of the worlde as in holy Masse wee so pray vnto Christ there present vnder that denomination they teach it was the vse and custome of our Christians in Britanie in that time to doe the same the very words of that olde brittish publicke homely by our protestants translation bee thus That innocent Lambe vvhich the olde Israelites did then kill had signification after ghostly vnderstandinge of Christs sufferinge vvho vnguiltie shedd his blood for our redemption Hereof singe Gods seruants at euery Masse Agnus Dei qui tollis peccata mundi miserere nobis That is in our speache Thou Lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the worlde haue mercie vpon vs. Where wee see plainelie acknowledged by this so auncient antiquitie in this fourth hundred yeare and the protestants themselues so translatinge and proposinge it that generally in that time the holy sacrifice of Masse was offered by the Bishops and preists of Britanie in all places and all the seruants of God did then acknowledge professe that Christ the true Lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world was therin offered and there present prayed vnto by all Gods seruants Which is as much as any massing preist Bishop or Pope holdeth teacheth or practiseth at this time concerning these things 14. And because in this age this our kingedome had by agreement both of auncient and late writers and by protestants themselues Bal. l. de scriptor in Palladio Niniano a greate dependance of Rome both in temporall and spiritual affaires and many of our cheifest cleargie men as S. Teruanus and S. Ninianus those two glorious Northrē Bishops had both their education instruction ordination and iurisdiction from thence as many others had at this time and the Bishops of Rome are so much charged by our protestant writers for adding vnto the holy sacrifice of Masse I will only vse these mens authority which say they will set downe what euerie Pope did add Quid alij Pontifices addiderint suo loco in Pontificijs actis dicetur And they are so farr from not performinge their promise in this that they rather relate more then lesse added by these holy Popes as will bee made euident by theire owne testimonies hereafter Yet for more ample satisfaction let vs followe them in this point Of S. Siluester I haue spokē before next to him succeeded S. Marke who as these men say was Pope in the time of Constantine the great Constantino Imperante in Pontificatu sedit which time was an holy time in Religion by our Kings iudgement and so this Pope not likely to make any publick lawe vnholie Therefore these protestants onely say of him that hee ordeyned the creede of the Nicen councell to bee said or sunge at Masse Rob. Barnes in act Pont. Rom. in Marc. 1. Io. Bal. in vit Pont. in eod Edw. Grimston in Marc. but this Nicen creed is holy in all iudgements and was receaued and vsed in Britanie here in that time as I haue proued it is receaued by the protestant parlament of England subscribed and sworne vnto by all the protestant Bishops and ministers of England allowed in the articles of their Religion and practised in theire churches Parlam an 1. Eliz. K. Iames can articles of Relig. articl Creed commun booke c. and therefore doth a protestant antiquarie iustly say of that holy creed time in the yeare of Christ 330. At this time the Nicen creed was commaunded to bee sunge or said in all Christian churches Stowe hist. Rom. ad an 330. therefore none but Arrian Hereticks euer did or will impugne it 15. The next Pope which these mē finde to haue added any thinge to this holy sacrifice was holy Damasus an acknowledged good Bishop and as they teache hee onely added the Confiteor Confession vsed in the beginninge of Masse in which there is nothinge which protestants disallowe but confession and prayer to Saints there remembred Io. Whitguift ansvv to the admonit pag. 78. and def of ansvv pag. 489. Bal. in vit in Damaso Barnes in eodem Grimston in Damasus which as I haue proued before was vsed in the church of God and in this Realme of Britanie in the Apostles dayes And to passe ouer so many examples and testimonies of other Christian people and places in the second age our Apostles S. Damianus and Fugatius praied to S. Michaell the Archangell and other Angels dedicated a church or chappell to them the ruines yet standinge neare Glastenburie antiquit Glaston M. S. Gapgrau in Catal
alij diuers churches besides with their allowance were founded and dedicated to S. Peter S. Martin and other Saints In the third age S. Amphibalus at his Martirdome publickly prayed to S. Alban Martyred a little before so did other holy Brittish Christians to him and other Martyrs and Saints of Britanie at that time tabul M. S. in Eccles S. Petri in Cornhill Stowe histor in K. Lucius Caius antiq Cantabrig Harris l. 2. Holinsh. hist. of Engl. M. S. antiq in Lucio M. S. antiq in S. Amphibal Capgrau in eod S. Alban legend antiq alij in the beginninge of this fourth age I haue shewed before what generall buildinge and dedicatinge of churches there was to our Martyrs that had suffered a little before and solemnizinge their festiuities and consequently prayer and inuocation vnto them And all this longe before S. Damasus was Pope being scarcely borne at that time Therefore many our protestants of England confesse that prayer and inuocation of Saints and Angels was publicklie vsed in the primatiue church euen in the sacrifice of Masse And some of them make it an article of our creede for to speak in their wordes If wee deny it wee shall peraduenture depriue ourselues of a great part of their Angels ministery and dissolue that communion of Saints which vvee professe to beleeue as an article of Gods truthe Couel examin pag. 295.178 Parkins problem pag. 89.93 Ormerod Pict Pap. pag. 26.27 Middlet papistom pag. 129. Morton Apolog. part 1. pag. 227.228 Couel ag Burges pag. 89.90 16. Wherefore I may boldly conclude of this holy Pope in this matter in these words of a Protestant Archbishop Damasus vvas a good Bishop and therefore no good thinge by him appointed to bee disallovved Io. Whitg ansvv to the admonit pag. 78. sect 2.3 and def of ansvv pag. 489. of Pope Siricius they say hee commaunded that Masses should bee said in places consecrated by the Bishops Missas in loco ab Episcopo sacrato celebrandas esse Rob. Barnes l. de vit Pont. Rom. in Ciricio but this was onely a ceremoniall decree and to Gods more honor as I haue shewed in our old Britans by their dedication of churches and our protestants in England after their ceremonies obserue it to this day What a protestant Bishop meaneth when hee writeth of this Pope Missae memorias adiunxit Hee adioyned memories to the Masse Io. Bal. l. 1. de act Pontif. Rom. in Siricio I know not if hee meaneth memories of Saints to pray vnto them or memories of other faithfull departed to pray for them as one of them hee must needs vnderstand I haue proued before they were both vsed from the Apostles time and so cannot bee said to bee any additiō of Pope Siricius in this time These protestants do not mention any other Pope in this age to haue added or altered any thinge in this holy sacrifice Therefore by their good leaue I doe here end this fourth hundred of yeares THE FIFTHE AGE OR HVNDRED YEARES OF CHRIST THE XIX CHAPTER Wherein is manifestly proued that all this fift age the sacrifice of Masse massing preists and Bishops did continue in honor in this our Britanie THe first Pope which offereth himselfe in this next and fifth hundred of yeares to speake as a late protestant writer doth was Innocent of Albania or Scotland Edw. Grimst est of the church of Rome Pope 41. pag. 44. an D. 402. and commonly it is written of him both by protestants and others Rob. Barnes in vit Innocentij Io. Bal. in eodem that by contrie hee was Albanus or of Albania the old common and receaued knowne name of Scotland And if hee was of this our Albania it might be occasion that the Scots and Britans of this kingdome did more frequent Rome at this then other times But whether hee was of Northren Albania that is in the east or of Alba in Italy or whencesoeuer sure wee are that many of this nation which proued holy preists and Bishops also had their education and instruction in Religion at Rome in these dayes by the massing and sacrificinge preists and Popes in that place Such were S. Teruanus made Archbishop of the Picts by S. Paladius the Popes Legate in Scotland about the yeare of Christ 432. as our Scottish writers testifie And that he was instructed in the faith at Rome I gather from the same Authors affirming that S. Paladius baptized him beeing an Infant Teruanum Infantem lustrico lauerat fonte Paldius Hector Boeth l. 7. histor foli 133. Posseuin in appar To. 2. pag. 452. which must needs bee at Rome from whence S. Palladius was sent into this kingdome in or about the yeare of Christ 431. died soone after his cominge hither And so hauinge for his Master and Tutor in Religion that massinge preist and Bishop and the Pope also then being the like this man could not bee instructed there in any other Religion different from that And in the same age before this S. Ninian who was also brought vp and instructed by the massinge Popes and their disciples at Rome was sent from thence to teach the same and other holie doctrines of Christian faith to the same people and was theire Bishop as all antiquaries Catholicke and Protestant testifie Bed hist. Angl. l. 3. c. 4. Bal. l. de scriptor cent 1. in Ninian Capgrau in eod Theat of great Brit. l. 6. whose successor S. Teruanus was and about the same time as our Scottish and other histories tell vs S. Seruanus was made Bishop of the Orchades beinge instructed and consecrated by the massinge Bishop Paladius which that famous massinge Pope S. Celestine sent his Legate into this nation of whome herafter Hector Boeth Scotor histor l. 7. fol. 133. 2. Besides these extraordinary the ordinary Archbishops and Bishops with their whole cleargie perseuered in these holy doctrines none to contradict them herin but in other questions moued by Pelagian hereticks And that S. Innocentius the first Pope in this age vnder whome our remembred Bishops had theire education and instruction was a massinge Pope our protestants assure vs testifyinge that hee confirmed the ceremonie of giuinge the Pax in Masse Vt pax in Missa daretur ordinauit The like they testifie of Pope Sozimus and Bonifacius which were betweene S. Innocentius and S. Celestine that sent so many Bishops into this kingdome affirming how they both maintayned sacrificinge preisthood and holy Masse with the ceremonies thereof and the supreamacy of the see of Rome Io. Bal. l. 2. de act Pont. Rom. in Innocent in Sozimo Bonifacio Robert Barne in vit Pontif. in eisdem And for the sacrifice of Masse that it was Missa papistica the papisticall or papists Masse such as Catholicks of this time whome they call papists and their Masse preists and Religion papisticall doe vse Bal. supr lib. 2. in Caelestino before the dayes of Saint and Pope Celestine who as they say added some thinges to the papisticall Masse vsed before his papacie
eod S. Asaph in vita S. Kentegern Capg in eod Io. Bal. centur 1. de script Brit. in Kentegern Elgnen Godwin Catalog in S. Asaph and Probus the auncient writer of S. Patricks life dedicateth it to Paulinus about that time S. Paulinus was Archbishop here which argueth that Paulinus had some acquaintance with or reference to S. Patricke otherwise an Irish Author would not haue dedicated his worke to one in England Those scholes were here of high authority approued both by the Popes Kings of Britanie as Cambridg teacheth Prebus in vita S. Patricij inter opera S. Bedae Io. Caius l. antiquitat Camtab pag. 147.148 10. Now let vs come to S. Patricke who although he was cheifly sent by S. Celestine to the inhabitants of Ireland and Scotland yet hee was a Britane borne and by many antiquities preached much and by some many yeares together before his death liuinge in this nation died here Therefore wee may boldly apply him as a Master and witnes in this busines This man being sent by the massinge Pope S. Celestine was so farr also a massinge preist and Bishop that as the auncient writer of his life not S. Bede but Probus an Irish man more aunciēt then S. Bedes time witnesseth l. 2. de vita S. Patricij in fine the inchaunters and magiciens of that contry especially three which he called Locri Egled and Mel did tell to the Kinge and nobles of that contry beinge idolaters diuers yeares before the cominge of S. Patricke thither that a certaine Prophet should come thither with a new Religion that though it was hard and austere yet it should quite destroy theire auncient worship and there continue for euer And to speake in this auncient Authors wordes of S. Patricks sayinge Masse in particular praecinebant quasi in modum cantici lirico modo compositi ante aduentum Sancti viri duobus aut tribus annis decantantes de eo Haec sunt autem verba cantici secundum linguae illius Idioma in latinum conuersa non tamen manifesta Adueniet artis caput cum suo ligno praecuruo capite ex eo omnis domus erit capite perforata incantabit nephas ex sua mensa ex anteriore parte domus suae respondebit ei sua familia tota fiat fiat Quod nostris verbis potest manifestius exprimi Adueniet totius artis Magister cum signo crucis quod omne cor hominum compungitur de altari Sacramentorum conuertet animas ad Christum omnis populus Christianorum respōdebit Amen Quādo erunt haec omnia regnum nostrum gentile non stabit Quod sic totum completum est They did singe before the cominge of the holy man S. Patricke a songe made lyrickwise of him two or three yeares And these are the words of the song according to that language turned into latine but not manifest The head of art will come with his staffe with a crooked head with that al the house shall bee bored in the heade he shall singe wickednes from his table from the former part of his house all his householde shall answere so bee it so bee it Which in our words may be more manifestly expressed The Master of all art shall come with the signe of the crosse and all the harts of men shall haue compunction and from the altare of Sacraments hee shall conuert soules to Christ and all Christian people shall answere Amen When all these things shall bee then our heathen kingedome shall not stand All which was so fulfilled Io. Capgrau in Catalog in S. Patricio 11. Iohn Capgraue and others in S. Patricks life thus set downe this prediction of S. Patricke adueniet homo cum suo ligno cuius mensa erit in oriente domus suae populus eius retrorsum ex sua mensa cantabit familia respondebit ei Amen Hic cum aduenerit Deos nostros destruet templa subuertet doctrina eius regnabit in seculū seculi A man shall come with his staffe whose table shall be in the east part of his house and the people behinde him and hee shall singe from his table and the companie shall answere vnto him Amen He when he cometh shall destroy our Gods ouerthrowe our temples his doctrine shall reigne for euer Where wee see an euident prediction and foretelling how this great Apostle should be a sacrificinge massinge preist his altar should bee in the east part of the church as altars vsually are and the people should answere Amen How deuout a sacrificinge massinge man hee was the historie of his life is witnes and of many miracles to proue the sanctitie and holines both of that sacrifice and the sacrificer Amonge which a sorcerer ouerthrowinge his chalice when hee said masse the earth opened and swallowed him vp Factum est alto die cum Patricius Missam celebraret quidam magus effudit calicem suam statim terra aperiēs os suum deuorauit eum M. S. antiq in vit S. Patric Capgrau in eod and the altare on which hee vsuallie said Masse healed diseases and wrought other miracles And this moste holy Saint by all testimonies both of Catholicks and Protestants Bal. l. de scriptor Britan. in Patric Prob. in vita eius Capgrau al in eod was so great a promoter of the blessed sacrifice of Masse and sacrificinge massinge preists and Bishops that for the honor and propagation of them to insist in the words of Nennius Nenmus M. S. hist in S. Patricie hee founded 345. churches to that vse Hee consecrated so many or more Bishops endued with the spirit of God and ordered 3000. massinge preists Ecclesias numero fundauit 345. ordinauit Episcopos trecentos quadraginta quinque aut amplius in quibus spiritus Domini crat Presbyteros autem vsque ad tria millia ordinauit 12. Therefore this massing Archbishop liuinge and rulinge in Ireland and Britanie vntill the yeare of Christ 491. by a Protestant Bishop makinge his age 122. yeares and longer by Capgraue others saying hee was annis centum triginta an hundred and thirty yeares old by Probus an hundred thirtie two and more when hee died Bal centur 1. de scriptor Britan. in Patricio Capgrau Catal. in eod M. S. in vita S. Patric Prebus in vit eiusd this kingdome of Britanie could not bee without Masse and many massinge preists and Bishops in this age And as the great recited number of massinge preists and Bishops especially Bishops aboue 340. could not bee wholly employed in these kingdomes which neuer had so many in so short a time we may be bold to extend his mission of such massinge men to a larger circuite and say hee sent diuers of these his massinge disciples euen into Armerica it selfe for wee finde in the aunciently written life of S. Brendan 1100. yeares since M. S. antiq Io. Capgrau in vit S. Brendani of whom one of the Ilands of America still beareth name that in his
wee see by the testimony both of the Britans and protestants themselues that these were more zelously obserued of the Christian Britans at that time whose faith and Religion is so much commended by our protestant writers then they were by S. Gregory or S. Augustine then or be at this time by the present church of Rome and the members therof 11. Therfore it being the common and generally receued opinion both of our English Protestant Bishops as Parker Bale Godwin with others and their Doctors and antiquaries as Powel Foxe Fulke Middleton Gosceline Stowe Howes Holinshed and too many to be recited that at the cominge of S. Augustine hither the faith and Religion of the Christian Britans here was in all materiall points sounde and perfect and the same which they receued in the time of the Apostles much more and rather must they needes yeeld and allowe that honor to the Religion and doctrine of S. Augustine and the other disciples of S. Gregory which they preached and planted here being by so many and all humane testimonies before acknowledged in all matters controuersed betweene them to be the vndoubted true and perfect Religion of Christ Parker antiquit· Britan. pag. 6.45.46 Balaus l. 2. de Act. Pontific in Gregorio Magno l. de scriptor Brit. centur 1. in Augustin Dionotho Godvvin conuers of Brit. Povvell annotat in l. 2. Giraldi Cambr. de Itinerar Cambr. cap. 1. Foxe Act. and Mon. pag. 463. edit an 1576. Fulke ansvv to counterf Cathol pag. 40. Middlet Papistom pag 202. Io. Goscelin hist Eccl. de vit Arch. Cantuar. Stovve and Howe 's hist. in K. Ethelbert Holinsh histor of Engl. cap. 21. pag. 102. 12. And to make all sure and vnquestionable except with athests and infidels enemies to Christ himselfe wee haue both the present and propheticall witnesse of God himselfe that by no possibilitie can deceiue vn in this case and this confessed and receued euen by our protestant writers who first assure vs that in the controuersie betweene the Britans and S. Augustine God gaue so miraculous testimony for S. Augustine his Roman companions to teach the truth in all thinges controuersed then betweene them and the Britans that the Britans were therby so extraordinarily conuicted and confounded to speake in protestant wordes that they confessed in deede that to bee the true way of righteousnes which Augustine had preached and shewed them Stowe and Howes histor in K. Ethelbert and God could not possibly giue other testimony by these protestants and all learninge except hee would or could blasphemie to affirme contradict himselfe for by all professors of Christian Religion he had promised that Catholicke church vniuersall should neuer err and yet protestants with others thus confesse all other churches throughout the world agreed with Augustine in Christ Of Gods propheticall testimonie hereof wee haue many witnesses Catholicks and Protestants S. Asaph in the life of S. Kentegern many Manuscripts the Brittish history Matthew of Westminster with others for Catholicks and amonge protestants their first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury their protestant Bishop Bale with others S. Asaph in vit S. Kentegern M. S. antiq in eod Galfr. Monum l. 7. cap. 3. Matth. Westm an 465. Matth. Parker antiquit Britan. pag. 49. Io. Bal. l. de script Britan. cent 1. in Kentegern this last speakinge of the Pagan Saxons inuadinge this kingdome and ouerthrowinge Christian Religion bringeth S. Kentegern thus to prophesie loÌ„ge before how S. Augustine and his associats should restore it againe not onely vnto the auncient state of Religion but a better then it enioyed in the time of the Britans Christianae legis Religio vsque ad praefinitum tempus dissipabitur Sed in pristinum statim immo meliorem miserante Deo in fine reparabitur 13. The auncient Manuscript history of S. Kentegerns life S. Asaph Capgraue and others say S. Kentegern prophesied this and publickly told it to his disciples at the time of the death of S. Dauid which as our protestants write was aboue 50. yeares before the cominge of S. Augustine hither M. S. antiq de vita S. Kentegerni Io. Copgrau in S. Kentegerno Episcopo Confessore who beeing at that time as often very earnest at his prayers and much lamentinge after being demauÌ„ded by his disciples the cause of his great sorrowe after a short silence thus answered Knovve you my dearest children that S. Dauid the ornament of Britanie Father of his contry is euen novv loosed from the prison of his flesh and gone to the heauenly kingdome Vnderstand you that Britanie depriued of so great a light shall lameÌ„t the absence of so great a patrone who opposed him selfe against the sword of God halfe drawne against it for the wickednes of the inhabitants thereof that it should not be fully drawne and bringe it to destruction Our Lord will giue Britanie ouer to forreine nations that know him not And the Isle shall bee emptied of the inhabitants by Pagans The Religion of the lawe of Christ shall bee destroyed vntill a certaine time in it But by the mercy of God it shall be againe repayred vnto the former and vnto a better state then it was before Seruo Dei quodam die prolixius orationi intento facies eius quasi ignea apparens stupore extasi circumstantes repleuit Intucbantur enim faciem eius tanquam vultum Angeli stantis inter illos Completa oratione grauissimis lamentis se dedit Et cum discipuli causam tristitiae humiliter ab eo peterent paulisper in silentio residens tandem ait Noueritis filij charissimi Sanctum Dauid decus Britanniae patrem patriae carnis carcerem modo egressum regna caelestia penetrasse Credite mihi quod non solum Angelorum multitudo in gaudium Domini sui illum introduxit sed Dominus noster Iesus Christus ei obuiam procedens ad portas paradisi gloria honore coronauit eum me vidente Scitote etiam quod Britannia tanto lumine orbata tanti patroni lugebit absentiam qui gladio Domini propter malitiam inhabitantium semi euaginato super illam ne penitus ad internitionem extractus percuteret semetipsun opponebat Tradens tradet Dominus Britanniam exteris nationibus Deum ignorantibus sed à Paganis ab indigenis euacuabitur insula Christianae legis Religio vsque ad praefinitum tempus dissipabitur in ea sed in pristinum statiâ—… immo meliorem miserante Deo iterum reparabitur 14. Our protestant historians doe likewise relate the actuall chaunge of Religion here then for the better and for better preachers in these wordes Edvv. Hovves and Stovve histor in K. Ethelbert Gild. l. de excid Amonge many the Britans doings which their ovvne historiographer Gildas doth lamentably sett forth in vvritinge hee saith of them thus that they neuer tooke care to preach the ghospell of Christ vnto the Angles and Saxons vvhich inhabited the land amonge them But yet the goodnes of God prouided for the
vita eius Capgrau in eodem Quem principalem Deum crediderunt praecipue Angli de quo originem duxerant cui quaâ—…tam feriam consecrauerant hominem fuisse mortalem asseruit Regem Saxonum a quo plures nationes genus duxerant huius inquit corpore in puluerem resoluto anima in inferno sepulta aeternum sustinet ignem And that this holy Bishop liued vnto this time of S. Gregory ioyned in Religion with him and by him was warranted to preach to the Saxons as to other nations we haue the greatest warrant wee can desire in such thinges both Catholicke and Protestant antiquaries ioyninge in this that hee was a Bishop 260. yeares M. S. antiq Capgrau supr Bal. l. de script Britan. cent 1. in Kenterno Godwin Catalog of Bishops in Asaph whereby it euidently followeth that beinge made Bishop after the beeing of S German and Lupus here as appeareth before he must needes bee liuinge at this time and it is particularly testified by the auncient writers of his life S Asaph his holy scholler and successor Iohn Capgraue and many auncient Manuscripts that hauinge beene seuen times at Rome hee was there in the time of S. Gregory who approuinge his sacred callinge sent him with his Apostolicke warrant into these parts Vir Deisepties Romam adiens Sancto Gregorio speciali Anglorum Apostolo totam vitam suam electionem consecrationem omnes casus qui et acciderunt seriatim enodauit Sanctus vero Papa illum virum Dei Spiritus Sancti gratia plenum intelligens in opus ministerij à Spiritu Sancto illi iniuncti destinauit 13. In the westerne parts wee had then besides the Bishops which opposed themselues to S. Augustine commonly recompted seuen in number yet agreeing with him in these misteries the renowned holy Bishop S. Asaph disciple and successor to S. Kentegern in that see when hee forsooke it This holy massinge Bishop ruler of the colledge of so many massinge preists as I haue before related did in all things ioyne himselfe with the disciples of S. Gregory the Pope in so much as a ProtestaÌ„t Bishop writeth of him A Gregorij Pontificis Romani discipulis Angliam aduentantibus authoritatem accepit Io. Bal. l. de script Britan. cent 1. in Asapho he receued authority from the disciples of Gregorie Pope of Rome which came into England And this is hee who as the same ProtestaÌ„t Bishop writeth wrote the life of S. Kentegern his Master Therfore this holy Prelate must needs bee a massinge preist as all the other vnder him were at that time If we go further to other parts of this nation wee shall finde in the kingdome of the Mercians or by some the easte Angles the renowned miraculous Archbishop S. Iue a noble Persian by birth who beeing sent thither by the Pope of Rome S. Gregory or Pelagius the seconde his predecessor both massinge preists and Popes was also a massing preist and Prelate and dying at the towne now of his name called S. Iues in Hontington shire gaue that name vnto it Annal. Monaster Ramseiae M. S. antiq de vita S. Iuonis Io. Capgrau in Catalog in S. Iuone Episcop Florent Wigorn. in Chronic. ad an 600. And to testifie that hee exercised both his massing preistly and episcopall function there in preachinge to the Saxons his body was found buryed in episcopall manner sepulchro aperto Episcopum Pontificalibus indutum coÌ„spiciunt This Apostolicke doctor of this nation as Florentius Wigorniensis Capgraue and the old Manuscripts of his life â—…ll him Doctor Apostolicus vere caeli nuntius Ino dyed here as Wigorniensis writeth in the yeare 600. foure yeares after the cominge of S. Augustine hither and hither also came with him and preached here sent from Rome besides others not named S. Sithius and S. Inthius his associats massinge preists Qui cum Romam peruenisseÌ„t consilio Papae dispositione Dei Sanctus Iuo cum Sithio nepote Inthio cognato suo alijsque quibusdam in Britanniam intrauit And to shew that hee was a true Apostle of this nation sent by the see Apostolicke of Rome coming through Fraunce hither beeinge honorably entertayned by the Kinge and people of Fraunce to stay there would by no entreaty consent but came as hee was à Domino destinatus ordeyned for vs by God into England Cum Galliam cum suis intrasset à Rege populo honorificè susceptus nec vlla gratia terrena quamuis assiduis precibus rogatus ab ipsis retineri poterat sed Britanniam ingrediens 14. And to passe into the kingedome of Kent it selfe where S. Augustine landed settled himselfe his successors and see at Canterbury there we had at his cominge and twenty yeares before and before the time that Theonus Archbishop of London and Thadiocus Archbishop of Yorke with their massinge preists forsooke their sees in that kingedome and city itselfe of Canterburie a renowned massing Bishop S. Luithardus and his massing preists vsuallie sayinge Masse the Queene S. Bertha being present in their theÌ„ cathedral church dedicated to S. Martine as all antiquaries agree and as I finde in an old Manuscript history builded in the time of Kinge Lucius Bed hist. gent. Angl. l. 1. cap. 27. Io. Capgrau in Catalog in S. Lethardo Episcopo Confessore M. S. antiq in eod And by the persuasion of this holy massinge Bishop S. Luithard the Kinge and Saint afterward Ethelbert entertayned S. Augustine with all humanitie and was by him after actuallie conuerted to the faith of Christ in so much that this holy Bishop is called Ianitor venturi Augustini opener of the dore to S. Augustine Capgrau supr in S. Lethard Gulielm Malm. l. 1. de gest Reg. Anglorum And was before S. Augustines cominge when he still liued a Pagan fauourable and gentle vnto ChristiaÌ„s Benignus erga Christianos in natiua gentilitate fuit By occasion whereof his kingdome extending to Humber and his sister beeing marryed to Slede Kinge of the east Angles and her sonne Sebert or as Henry of Huntington calleth him Sibrictus or Siberctus beeing a Christian Kinge so great parts of this nation were free from persecution and some of the Saxons that were conuerted became massing preists longe before S. Augustine came hither Henric. Hunting histor l. 2. For such is numbred Godelbertus as a Protestant Bishop writeth ex quorundam coniecturis genere Anglosaxo aboue an huÌ„dred yeares before this time an 498. Pitseus historic Rel. Tom. 1. aetate 5. Bal. l. de script Britan. cent 1. in Godelberto Presbytero And as SebastiaÌ„ Munster the first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury witnes S. Offo an English Kings sonne in this our EnglaÌ„d went hence and preached in Germany in the yeare 601. Munster in Cosmograph in German Matth. Parker antiq Brit. pag. 8. not without other associats of this nation except we will make his case singular from all other Apostolick men conuerters of contries And except wee will make a very bold expositioÌ„
the Apostles v. 2. hee was soe ordeyned as our english protestants by their conference of the first chapter and verse of S. Paules Epistle to the Romans Rom. cap. 1. v. 1. are Interpretors hereof when the other Apostles had preached longe before and otherwise alsoe executed their Apostolicke function Secondly it is euident by the same holy scriptures Rom. 1. c. 1. act cap. 27.28 many Antiquities and these protestants themselues soe clearely cōfessinge Theater of great Brit. lib. 6. Godw. Conuers Parker antiq Britan. that S. Paul came not to Rome nor any part neare Britanie or these westerne nations vntill many yeares after S. Peter was both come to Rome and this kingdome of Britanie had receaued the faith of Christ at the latest in the time of Claudius according to these protestants by some Apostle as before the first coming of S. Paul to any of these westerne Regions beeing longe after in the time of Nero to whome hee appealed from the Iewes and Festus and soe was brought prisoner to Rome and soe continued two yeares not going from thence to any other place Actor c. 25. v. 10.11.12 cap. 27. 28. v. 30. That S. Symon Zelotes should bee the first Apostle that preached here or was here at all it is as vnprobable or rather vnpossible by these protestants for first diuers of them disable him euer to haue beene here Stowe and Howes histor in Agricola Holinsh. hist of Engl. l. 4. c. 5. rather thinkinge the place Britānia where some haue thought hee preached to bee mistaken and not to bee vnderstood of this nation or that Simon which is supposed to haue beene here was not S. Simō the Apostle but some other of that name as S. Simon Leprosus or Nathaniel also by some named Simon which preached in these westerne parts namely in Fraunce and not vnprobably here Secondly these protestants which would haue vs thinke S. Simon the Apostle preached here Menologie Graec. in Nathan Bar. in martyrol Rom. 28. octob Guliel Eisengr centurie· 1. alij refer his beeing here vntil the coming of S. Ioseph of Aramathia coniecturinge that hee came with him who came not hither vntil the yeare of Christ 63. when they graunt that Britanie had receaued the ghospell by an Apostle soe longe before as is alreadie declared from them Parker Antiquit. pag. 3. Godwyn Conuers of Britanie pag. 10. Thirdly to make all sure Such as haue taught that one S. Symon did preach in a place called Britannia Doroth. in Synops Maenolog Graec. 6. Id. Maij. doe alsoe affirme that the same S. Symon suffered martyrdome and was crucified in the same place and they keepe the feast of his martyrdome vpon the tenth day of May. When concerning S. Symon Zelōtes the Apostle not onely the whole latine church and all catholicks in the world but Protestants also both of England and all other nations in their most publicke seruice bookes and kalenders of their churches receaued and allowed by their parlaments and highest Rules in their Religion which all of them ar bownde to obey and followe doe celebrate the festiuitie of S. Symon Zelotes the Apostle vpon the 28. day of October aboue fiue moneths after and all iointly agree in the historie of his life and death teaching hee neuer preached in any part of Europe or neare our Britanye and was martyred in Persia diuers thousands of myles frō hence Martyrolog Rom. die 28. Octobr. Breuiar Miss Rom. eod die Bed in Martyr eod die Vsuard Ado eod die Protestant com Booke and all their kalenders with their Bibles 28. of Octob. Now there is noe other left to bee our first Apostle and Father in Christ but S. Peter except some ignorant or willfull man will alledge S. Ioseph of Aramathia who though hee was noe Apostle yett as some say hee was sent hither out of Fraunce by S. Philip one of the Apostles and soe mediately the same S. Philip. though neuer here in parson might bee our Apostle I answere as before that wee contend for the first Apostle that either immediately by himselfe or mediatly by his disciples preached here and founded our church and not to exclude all Apostles in after times from this kingdome for I wil at leaste probably shew that S. Paul was here a little before his death in an other place and there alsoe giue his due to S. Ioseph and his holy company in a far more honorable degree then any protestant or other one writer yet to my reading hath performed towards them But S. Ioseph from whomsoeuer hee was sent cominge hither but in the 63. of Christ almost twenty yeares as before after this kingdome had receaued the faith of Christ neyther S. Ioseph nor any of that holy fraternitie could bee the first preacher here And soe farr vnprobable or impossible it is that by the Iudgment of our English protestants or others S. Philip the Apostle should bee then in Fraunce to send S. Ioseph hither that hee was many yares before crucified soe dead by martyrdome in Phrygia at Hierapolis there in Asia as the common consent of antiquities the whole-church of God and the protestants of England in the Rituall of their Religion generally vsed and allowed by them and all other protestants doe wittnesse and therfore keepe his festiuitie accordingly vppon the first day of May in or about the 54. or 55. yeare of Christ longe before S. Iosephs cominge into this part of the world Bre. Rom. 1. Maij. Martyrolog Rom. Bed Vsuara Ado 1. Maij. Chrysost hom de 12. Apost Abd. lib. 10. Metaphrastes 14. Nou. Euseb l. 4. c. 24. Niceph lib. 1. ca. 39. Pet. de Natal l. 4. c. 107. Antō part 1. tit 6. ca. 11. Eisengr contra 1. Prot. Com. Booke and kalend 1. Maij. Therfore of necessitie both Catholiks and protestants must needs acknowledge that S. Peter the most worthie and blessed Apostle was our first most happy father master in Christ which I haue made lardge demonstration of in other places and will for particulars bee more euident in the next chapter and this whole history an historicall truth soe testified by many authors that Syr William Cambden whome others therein followe the best antiquary of this nation writeth in many editions Quid ni crederemus why should wee not beleeue them Cambden in Britania in diuerse editionis Andree Chesnee l 3. hist d' Angleterre Budley pag. 171. Makinge S. Peters preachinge and foundinge the church of Christ here in Britanie a thinge soe certayne that hee meruayleth any man of Iudgment can make doubt thereof Therfore I may boldly vse these wordes and affirme them true of a protestant Bishop in the name of the rest Wee should accompt it a greate glory to deriue the pedigree of our spirituall linage from soe noble and excellent a father as Saint Peter Godwyn Conuers of Britanie pag. 6. THE II. CHAPTER Where both the former is more manifestly declared and in particular farther proued by these protestants antiquities
in particular soe neare as such a desolation and losse of Antiquities as England hath often suffered will giue vs leaue of this Archbishop and Bishops in particular which S. Peter consecrated for vs to found and begin the first hierarchicall order and Succession in our primatiue church of Britanie Many Authors both auntient and later writers and of these late times both catholicks and protestants ar witnesses that S. Aristobulus one of the seauentie and two disciples of Christ our Lord was Bishop of this our kingdome of Britanie Dorothaeus Bishop of Tyrus Dorothaeus lib. de septuaginta duobus discipulis in Aristobulo And the Maenologe of the Greekes are plainely of this minde The first in his booke intituled de septuaginta duobus discipulis of the seauentie two disciples writeth Aristobulus ab Apostolo ad Romanos commemoratos Episcopus Britannia factus est Aristobulus one of the seauentie two disciples of whom S Paul speaketh in his epistle to the Romans was made Bishop of Britanie And to putt vs out of doubt that hee did not mistake naminge Britania for Bythinia as a protestant writer would seeme to expounde him when hee writeth Dorotheus saith Aristobulus whome the Apostle to the Romans remembreth was made Bishop in Britanie or Bithania Stowe histor titul the Romans in Agricola I thinke this man will hardly finde any Bythania in the world wee reade of Bethania often in the Gospels and S. Iohn saith cap. 11. v. 18. Bethany was nigh vnto Hierusalem about fifteene farlongs off as our protestants translate and their note there vpon is that is about towe miles protest annot marginal in c. 11.11 Io. v. 18. Which was too neare to Hierusalem to bee a Bishops see and the old prouinciall maketh mention of noe such And if by Bythania hee ment the country Bythinia the Region of lesser Asia against Thracia and next Troas which was also somtime called Bebrycia after Mygdonia and by S. Peter Bythinia in the Apostles time and after it is euident that Dorothaeus ment it not for in the next name which is S. Tyticus hee saith that hee was made Bishop of Chalcedonia of Bithâ—…nia Tyticus meminit huius Paulus primus Episcopus Chalcedoniae fuit quae in Bithynia est Doroth. supra in Tyticho Therefore of necessitie by this Author and the rest foe affirming it without doubt or any exception S. Aristobulus needs must bee Bishop of this our kingdome of Britanie noe other place then of that name fitt for a Bishop in the knowne world to apply it vnto And thus testifieth the auntient Maenologe of the greekes with others both catholicks and protestants of whome I haue here noted some Maenolog Graecor die 15. martij Baron annot in martyrol Rom. eod die Arnold Mirman in Theatr. Conuers gent. Auth. of the Exam. of the Calend. praefat and in the 3. Conuers Syr. Ed. Hoby counterf pag. 48. Thom. Rogers vpon the Articles of Relig. articul 36. pag. 197. Protest Theater of Brit. l. 6. Cambden Belg. That this holy Bishop was either consecrated here or sent hither by S. Peter wee may not question beeing soe generally confessed by protestants before that noe other Apostle did or then could performe that office And if the Identitie of the name deceaueth vs not this our holy Bishop or Archbishop was Father in lawe to S. Peter his wyues Father and Brother to S Barnabas the Apostle sent into these west parts by S. Peter for as Simon Metaphrastes writeth S. Simon Metaphr die 26. Iunij Accepit Petrus filiam Aristobuli fratris Barnabae Apostoli ex ea genuit filium vnum vnam filiam Peter maryed the daughter of Aristobulus Brother of Barnabas the Apostle and had by her one sonne and one daughter Martyrolog Rom. 15. Martij Godw. And beeing called in the Romane Martyrologe as a protestant Bishop truely telleth Apostolorum discipulus the disciple of the Apostles Conuers of Brit. It wholy disableth him from beeing disciple to S. Paul whoe alone of the Apostles besides S. Peter was in this kingdome for the scriptures themselues are wittnes Actor cap. 13. v. 2.3.4 that S. Paul was not an Apostle vntill in the 13. chapter of the Acts of the Apostles before which time by the protestants before Britanie had receaued the faith and probably S. Aristobulus was then a Bishop as many others of the 27. Disciples were And many ar called the disciples of the Apostles which were peculiarly the disciples of S. Peter the cheife Apostle as appeareth in diuers places of the same Authority S. Aristo Arch. of this our Britanie And that this holy disciple of S. Peter was not onely our Bishop but Archbishop alsoe in Britanie I haue warrant both of Catholicks and protestants to auouche it First if wee examine either by Dorotheus or any whomsoeuer writing of the resideÌ„cies of the 72. disciples of Christ wee shall hardly finde any amonge them which had not the dignity of that high callinge yea hee relateth S. Aristobulus as a cheife amongst theÌ„ then beeing sent to this kingdome of Britanie soe greate ample And where as in other such kingdomes our protestants before assure vs S. Peter ordeined an Archbishop wee caÌ„not doubt but in particular it was this his moste worthy disciple as also the disciple of Christ which first exercised by S. Peters assignement that Archie and cheife pontificall order in this Iland Secondly because wee reade it confideÌ„tly written and from more auncient authoritie that this holy disciple of S. Peter was not only our first Apostle but here began and first founded the hierarchical order of our Brittish church a thinge proper to that highest spiritual callinge Arnold mirac Theatro conuers gentium in Britan. Aristobulo BritaÌ„nia Straboni à Britone Rege nuncupata primum Aristobulum siue illuÌ„ cuius meminit S. Paulus quod Dorothaeo probatur siue aliuÌ„ vnuÌ„ certe ex 72. discipulorum classe ApostoluÌ„ est nata Deinde FugariuÌ„ DamianuÌ„ qui ordinem Hierarchicè Ecclesiae istic fundatae ab illo inchoatum constituerunt sanxeruntque more nimirum Apostolico Britania so named by Strabo of Kinge Brito or Brutus had for the first Apostle therof Aristobulus either him whome S. Paule remeÌ„breth which Dorotheus approueth or an other surely one of the order of the 72. disciples after that Fugarius Fugatius by others and Damianus whoe constituted confirmed by Apostolick maner the Hierarchical order begun by him of the church founded there Where wee see S. Aristobulus the first founder of the Hierarchicall order in this church of Britanie a thinge which as al protestaÌ„ts against the puritans maketh the peculiar office of an Archbish Whitgift answ to the admonit Bridges eccles gouern Bilson against the purit Couel Downam Barlowe c. Thirdly These protestants of England especially the vniuersitie of Cambridge by their chosen champion Mr. Thomas Rogers for defence of their Articles of Religion of Protestants writing to vse his wordes by the lawfull authoritie of the church of
England allowed to bee publicke Thom. Rogers booke of the faith of England pag. 1. doe playnely saie that S. Aristobulus was Archbishop in this our Britanie Thus hee writeth in the name of English protestants and by their warrant Rogers supra artic 36. pag. Albeit the Termes and Titles of Archbishops we finde not yet the superioritie which they enioye and authoritie which Bishops and Archbishops doe exercise in orderinge and consecratinge of Bishops and ecclesiasticall ministers is grounded vppon the word of God for wee finde that in the Apostles daies how themselues both were in dignitie aboue the Euangelists and the 70. disciples and for authoritie both in and ouer the church as twelue patriarches saith Beza and alsoe established an ecclesiasticall heerarchie Hence came it that bishop was of Hierusalem Iames of Antioch Peter of the Asian churches Iohn of Alexandria marke of Ephesus and all Asia Timothie of all Creete Titus of Philippos Epaphraditus of Corinth and Achaia Apollos of Atheâ—…s Dionisius of Fraunce Crescens of Britanie Aristobulus Beza in act Apost 1.2 D. Chrisosto in Act. Homil. 33.2 Hieron in Gal. Euseb D. Hieron ad Euagr. D. Hier. in 2. Tim. 1. Theod. arg in epist. ad Tit. Theod. in epist. ad Phil. Euseb lib. 2. Dorotheus in Apostol Synops Where we see S. Aristobulus not onely ioyned in ranke and dignitie of spirituall preeminence with the Euangelists and Apostles themselues but with the generall authoritie of the protestant church of England plainely declared to bee the first founder of ecclesiasticall hierarchie and Archbishop of this our Britanie And to giue euident testimonie that in their iudgement this nation of the west both deriued the succession of the Bishops thereof from S. Peter and Aristobulus and neuer wanted by such vntil these dayes they thus conclude in this matter supra pag. 197.198 Finally from the Apostles dayes hetherto neuer wanted a succession of Bishops neither in the East nor Weste churches soe prouideÌ„t hath the almightie beene for the augmentation of his glorie and people by this kinde and callinge of men And thus much for the first Archbishop of Britany ordeyned by Saint Peter Now to come to speake of the Bishops hee consecrated and ordeyned for vs although it is precisely proued before that such there were Episcopos ordinauit S. Peter ordeyned Bishops here in Britanie for vs and euery Archbishop which is cheife of Bishops such as S. Aristobulus was vnto vs doth necessarily inferr and proue some Bishops subordinate and vnder els hee could not bee the cheife and principall for euery Archbishop inferreth necessarily some Bishops or Bishop vnder him their cheife in that callinge Diuers Antiquities of Glastenbury apud Capgrau in S. Ioseph affirme that one of the holy company of Saint Ioseph of Aramathia namly his sonne Iosephe was a Bishop which if so it was hee must needes bee subordinate to S. Aristobulus And yett if I would sett downe vncertayne thinges I might place our holy Bishoppe and marty S. Angulus in or neare this time with much more probabilitie then some without any authoritie I can finde referr him to the dayes of Diocletian his persecution or say that S. Martine to whome the christian Romans builded dedicated the church at Canterbury was a British Bishop and in this time for that such a S. Martyne a Bishop there was about those dayes there bee many testimonies and that hee was consecrated by Romane authoritie and soe aunciently to proue it probable hee was a Britanie that the auntient Manuscript of Radulphus de Diceto deane of London or whosoeuer Author of Abbreuiatio chronicorum saith that it was builded in the time of kinge Lucius for speaking of the time of that our first christian kinge hee affirmeth Abbreuiatio chronicorum in Lucio M. S Tunc constructa est extra Cantuariam ecclesia Sancti Martini then the church without Canterbury dedicated to S. Martyne was builded As diuers also were to S. Peter our moste glorious Apostle One I finde consecrated by S. Peter or his successor at Rome which was both a Britanne and liued and died a Bishop here in the time of S. Aristobulus a Germane writer calleth him Achates but I take not that to bee his name hee was one of the happy companions of S. Beatus our noble contryman consecrated at Rome of whome I will speake more when I come to that glorious man when I haue first entreated of the consecration of S. Mansuetus a renowned Bishop borne in this Iland consecrated by S. Peter himselfe This man as many antiquities say was natione Scotus by contry a Scot of the north part of this kingedome made Bishop by S. Peter whose disciple hee was before and sent into these parts or consecrated by him here and made Bishop of TulluÌ„ in Lorrayne Tullenses habuere ApostoluÌ„ suaeque in Christum fidei primuÌ„ Antistitem S. Mansuetum S. Petri Apostoli discipulum S. Clementis CollegaÌ„ origine ScotuÌ„ Arnold Merman in Theatro Conuers gentiuÌ„ in Metensib The inhabitants of Tullum saith Arnoldus Mermannius bad for their Apostle and first Bishopp of their faith in Christ S. Mansuetus a disciple of S. Peter the Apostle the fellowe of S. Clement a Scot by birth An other citinge alsoe for Authors Antonius Democarez and Petrus de Natalibus saith Guliel Eiseng centenar 1. part 1. dist 3. pag. 56. Petrus de Natal l. 11. c. vlt. Anton. Monchiacen Democh. l. 2. de Miss contr Caluin c. 33. S. Mansuetus natione Scotus ex nobili prognatus familia Simonis Barionâ—… Apostolorum Coryphaei discipulus socius B. Clementis Episcopi Mettensis à Petro Leucorum in vrbe Tullensi primus Antistes consecratus est anno Christi 49. Tiberio Claudio Caesare Augusto In the 49. yeare of Christ in the Empire of Claudius S. Mansuetus a Scot by contry borne of a noble family disciple of S Peter cheife of the Apostles companioÌ„ of S. Clement Bishop of Metz was By Peter consecrated the first Bishop in the citie of Tullum Mermennius before cited saith in Theatro conuers gentium that Saint Clement whose companion this our contrye man Saint Mansuetus was was Bishop of Metz in or about the 40. yeare of Christ in the â—…yme of Caius Caligula Emperor Metensibus fidei Religionisque Antistes fuit S. Clemens Romanus anno quod excurrit 40. Caio Galigula Imperatore S. Petro pontifice maximo But to admitt that S. Mansuetus was not made Bishop by S. Peter vntill the 49. yeare of Christ and was noe Bishop but an assistant of S. Clement at his first sendeing by S. Peter of him to Metz yett to haue a Bishop of our nation and consecrated and sent to forreyne parts by the cheife Apostle is an inuincible argument that both S. Peter was the first founder and father of the Brittans birth and life in Christ disposed of all spirituall affaires here longe before the cominge of any other Apostle either into this kingedome or part of the world to conuert it and left
at that time diuers Bishops in this contrie or fitt for that moste holy order otherwise hee would not haue sent S. Mansuetus of this contrie forth of Britanie to execute that high dignitie in a straunge nation such as Lorrayne where Tullum is then was and still is to this Iland And this I may more boldly write by a consequent and concluded leaue and warrant from our Protestant Bishops and other such Antiquaries whoe in their greate Theater of Britanie giue vs diuers graunts and Rules to leade vs both to soe tymely a beeing of Saint Peter in this kingedome his disciples preaching here both claiming exercising such powerable iurisdiction and authoritie here as I haue related from others First they write in these words Theater of greate Britanie lib. 6. cap. 9. § 5 If Peter were here at all which they graunted and is demonstrated by them before it was before euer he went to Rome and the ghospell was preached here before it was in Rome if Peter were the first as some hold that preached there both which may bee more probable Againe thus they write § 7. It hath passed with allowance amonge the learned Senate of our Antiquaries that when Claudius began to bannish and persecute the Christians in Rome which they think to bee before this time of S. Mansuetus beeing Bishop of Tullum many Romans and Britans beeing conuerted to the faith fled thence into these remote parts of the earth where they might did more freely enioy the libertie of their professions And from this Sanctuarie of saluation the sad lamenting Lady Pomponia Graecina the wife of Aulus Plantius the first Lord lieutenant of Britanie brought that Religion whereof she was accused and stood indited vppon life and deathe which was noe other then the Christian profession And to interpret themselues more clearlye where as they hould this greate Lady the Lord Lieutenants wife was conuerted thus they sett downe their marginall direction concerning this matter Aulus Plantius his wife became a christian in Britanie Now to assure vs how soone it was that S. Peter and his disciples had made soe happie an entrance and wrought soe glorious effects in this our kingdome these very Protestants tell vs. That Aulus Plantius was sent hither out of germany with an army the second yeare of Claudius which was as some Protestants write in the 44. yeare of Christ by others the 45. and stayed here but a short time returninge to Rome and triumphing there for his victories ouer the Britans in the yeare of Christ 49. and then in the yeare 50. Publius Ostorius Scapula was Propraetor here Theater supr lib. 6. c. 6. pag. 193. Protestants in Festis Regum an Dom. 44. Claudij 3. Stowe and Howes histor an D. 45 By which accompt of these Protestants themselues this lamentinge Lady Pomponia Graemia by them here conuerted to the faith of Christ and all her christian company as chaunceth in such cases at soe greate parsonadges conuersion and many other christians of the Britans which they say were then conuerted by those disciples of S. Peter or by himselfe noe others then beeing here must needes bee conuerted before or in the 49 yeare of the Incarnation of our Sauiour in which as I proued before our contryman S. Mansuetus was ordeyned Bishop of Tullum by S. Peter which was 14. yeares before the cominge of S Ioseph of Aramathia hither by all antiquities and diuers by the scriptures themselues before S. Paul came to Rome or any westerne nation And if wee may beleeue the Protestant writers of the Theater they make the coming of S. Paul to Rome longe after writing in these wordes Theater of greate Britanie supr l. 6. § 7. Paule came not to Rome till the tenth of Nero. When both by them and the scriptures hee was a prisoner two yeares and could not depart from Rome Which maketh these Protestants reckoning 16. or 17. yeares after the conuersion of soe many in Britanie and consecration of S. Mansuetus that holy Bishop by S. Peter And to proue further vnto vs not onely that these first christians of Britany were conuerted by S. Peter but that others of this our nation were euen at this time consecrated preists and Bishops alsoe by S. Peter these Protestant Bishops and others hauing immediatly spoken before of the conuersion of Lady Pomponia Graecina herein Britany in or before the 49. yeare of Christ they proceede in these wordes Theater of the Empire of great Britanie l. 6.8.9 B. Rhenan in history of Germany Pantaleon And much about these times as B. Rhenanus in his history of Germany Pantaleon and others doe reporte one Suetonius a noble mans sonne in Britanie conuerted to the faith by the first planters of the ghospell in this Iland and after his Baptisme called Beatus was sent by the bretheren from hence vnto Rome to bee better instructed and further directed by Saint Peter himselfe And returninge through Suitcerland found such willingnes and flockinge of the people to heare and receaue the doctrine of Christ that hee there stayed and built an oratory not far from the bake Thun neare the Towne called Vnderfewen where in preachinge and prayers hee employed his time to the day of his death which happened in the yeare of grace 110. Hitherto the words of our english Protestants of this glorious and renowned man far exceeding that which they giue him here for as their Author Henricus Pantaleon de viris Illustr Germaniae part 1 p. 114 a German Protestant writeth plainely of him that hee was the Apostle of Heluetians S. Beatus Heluetiorum Apostolus Which Title and name none but puritans of anie Religion will giue to any but Bishops and none but such which onely haue power to consecrate preists without which a true church cannot bee can either bee or truely called their Apostle And that this holy Bishop of Britanie though hee staied most in Heluetia yet that hee was principally sent to bee a Bishopp in Britanie by Saint Peter it is euident by these Protestants before testifyinge that hee was returning into Britanie and soe cheifely directed by Saint Peter Pantal. supra Stamph lib. 7. de Sanct. Which Pantaleon with Stamphius and others doe more plainely witnesse saying S. Beatus ille nobilibus parentibus natus ex Britannia in patriam rediens c. S. Beatus borne of noble parents in Britanie returninge into his contry and adding of him omnia bona pauperibus distribuit hee distributed all his goods to the pore must needes bee in Britanie where of these his goods he was to make distributor of them And these Germā historians tel vs that hee had an other companion sent and directed with him from Rome by S. Peter or his authoritie there and beeinge alsoe a Britaine returned hither beeing consecrated Preist or Bishop by the same authoritie and at the same time So that wee see by these Protestants themselues that soe longe as S. Peter liued the Bishops and Preists
of Britanie were consecrated by him in this contry and in his absence hence went vnto Rome for their consecration and to bee directed by him This other companion of S. Beatus borne in this kingdome and consecrated at Rome by S. Peter and returninge hither where for any thinge wee reade otherwise in histories hee continued in preaching all his life and died here some Germane writers haue named Achates Anonymus apud Beat. Rhenan de Reb. German l. 3. pag. 172. Rhen. supr Whether that was his true name or noe it is not materiall to my purpose to question here the historie it selfe in germany beeing soe certainely and generally receaued that it is and aunciently was published printed and painted in their churches there Hac historia non solum picta est in templis ac scripta sed etiam typis expressa of this historie mention is made especially of S. Beatus in the Romane Martyrologe S. Beda Vsuardus Molanus Gulielmus Eisengrenius the Antiquities of Heluetia and expressely in the auncient monuments of the church of Constance and others Martyrolog Rom. 9. die Maij. Beda Vsuard Mol. ab Guliel Eis centur 2. part 5. Annal. Helu Momment Eccle-Constant Baron annot in Mart. Rom. 9. Maij. neyther can wee thinke that these two holy Bishops or preists of this kingedome of our Britanie were singular in this but that wee had more so consecrated and directed from Rome besides them and needed not Bishops and pastors here otherwise S. Beatus would not haue stayed moste of his time in Heluetia forth of his contry nor S. Peter his consercator and director our Apostle by these Protestants before giuen allowāce vnto it Neyther had S. Beatus beene sent the words of our Protestants and Pantaleon alsoe by the brethren from hence vnto Rome to bee better instructed and further directed by S. Peter himselfe Theater and Pantal. supr But that the Brethren and Christians here depended of Saint Peter and accompted it both their dutie and honor to this nation to haue their spirituall Guides Bishops and Preists consecrated and directed by him and his Apostolicque supreame power and commaunde in Religious thinges Now lett vs returne to S. Peters beeinge here in Britanie whereof I haue spoken before how to supply all spiritual wants of this kingedome and founde our church in Britannia longe tempore fuit moratus he stayed in Britanie a longe time as the greeke antiquities remembred vnto vs by our Protestāts haue told vs and to expresse his greate lo◅e care to this other western natiōs more particularly comended to his chardge this longe time was soe longe and his loue to vs so greate that as both S. Simō Metaphrastes and Eusebius Pamphili in some booke not now but in the time of Metaphrastes extāt and by him constantly cited say S. Peter stayed at Rome and in Britanie and the cities of the west three and twentie yeares Eusebius Pamphili dicit Petrum viginti tres annos trāseg◅sse Romae in Britannia in ciuitatibus quae sunt in occidente Simon Metaphrastes die 29. Iunij Eusebius Pamph. apud eund supr Surius 29. Iunij allotinge onely as it seemeth the rest of the 25. yeares which is commonlie said the time of his beeing at Rome and these parts to his Iorney in the east at the time of the migration of the B. Virgin our Lady forth of this world Which is confirmed by some of our Protestant antiquaries of England in these words This yeare 70. beinge the fourteenth yeare of Nero Bassus and Tuscus beeing then Romane Consuls the holy Apostle S. Peter hauinge accomplished his preachinge in the west parts returned to Rome where hee preached agayne as hee did before Ioh. Stow and Ed. Howe 's histor titul Romans in Iulius Agricola And before his departure hence as I haue allready remembred besides S. Mansuetus S. Beatus and such as hee consecrated Bishops of our nation in forreyn places or for them out of Britanie hee ordeyned here and for this kingedome Bishops Preists Deacons Apud Britannos Episcopos presbyteros diaconos ordinauit Who these Bishops in particular were I reade noe man precisely to sett them downe yett if wee will followe the antiquities of Glastenbury saying that S. Iosophe the sonne of S. Ioseph of Aramathia was a Bishop as both Catholicks and Protestants allowe them in other things I craue pardon probably to write that he was one of them which S. Peter consecrated here First because as is graunted before S. Aristobulus our Archbishop vnto whom S. Ioseph whether Bishop or noe was subiect was ordeyned by S. Peter Secondly because S. Ioseph is named a Bishop and yet in probable iudgmēt none when hee came hither with his Father S. Ioseph for by the same and all other antiquities and histories of that matter S. Ioseph his Father noe Bishop was the Abbot or Superior of all that company yet neither Catholick nor Protestant will easily instance that Bishops by order and Sacrament Superiors were or might bee Inferiors or subiects to any of Inferior degree Secondlie there is noe possibilitie by any authoritie that I finde at all to surmise that S. Ioseph was a Bishop before his cominge hither but the wordes of the antiquitie which say of him that Iesus consecrated him Bishop before in the citie Sarath Quem Dominus Iesus prius in ciuitate Sarath in Episcopum consecrauit Antiquit. Glast apud Capgrau in S. Ioseph ab Aramathia Which noe Protestant will or may by their Religion say was a true and reall consecration but rather propheticall what should bee done by orderly consecration after For this vision was longe after Christs Ascension into heauen where all Protestants of England euer since imprison him to keepe him from being present in the B. Sacrament of the altar Thirdlie they and all others generally denie such extraordinary proceedings where an ordinary and vniuersall order as in this case is appointed by Christ himselfe Wherfore S. Paul himselfe that vessell of Election and extraordinary Apostle though miraculously conuerted chosen and called yett bee neither was actually a christian without externall baptisme nor a Bishop but by Imposition of hands and ordinary consecration And wee reade of S. Sampson our holy Archbishop of yorke that before hee was a Bishop S. Peter S. Iames and S. Iohn appeared vnto him saying Io. Capgrau in S. Sampsone Episc Confessore Our Lord Iesus Christ hath chosen thee for a Bishop and sent vs to consecrate thee whom when they had consecrated with benediction they disappeared out of his sight Nocte quadam vidit se densissimis candidatorum turmis circundari tres Episcopos vestibus aureis ornatos cum illo ecclesiam ingredientes orare cuius vnus illorum ab ipso inquisitus qui esset ait Ego sum Petrus Christi Apostolus hic frater Domini Iacobus Euangelista Ioannes Dominus Iesus Christus te sibi in praesulem elegit te consecrare nos misit
Quē cùm benedictione consecrassent ab eius oculis elapsisunt And yett neither S. Sampson nor any other tooke this for a reall consecration but onely figuratiue of that which was after to bee done by the holie externall rite of the church of Christ vntill as wee reade in the same history our holy Archbishop S. Dubricius vpon the apparition and message of an Angell did truely and really externally consecrate him a Bishop nec multo post Angelus Domini beato Dubricio apparens Sampsonem ordinari Episcopum praecepit Capgr supr Soe I might exemplifie in many such cases only propheticall and figuratiue what should afterward bee done and not what was then effected Therfore if S. Ioseph was a Bishop as that antiquitie persuadeth by that figuratiue vision not cōsecrated before hee came into Britanie as is shewed before wee reade of no other which at that time made consecrated Bishops but S Peter I may probably at the leaste affirme that S. Iosephe was one of them which S. Peter at his departure hēce S. Iosephe beeing certainely here at that time was consecrated Bishop by Saint Peter here in Britanie And when I finde both Catholicks and Protestants affirme Martyrol Angl. 7. die Februarij Drekin Almin an 1620. 7. Feb. with others that S. Angulus was our Bishop of London martyr and yet noe historiā Catholick or Protestāt putteth him in the nūber of them which were Bishops there after the time of K. Lucius but quite leaue him out of that catalogue as appeareth by our Protestants Harrison Godwyne Stowe others which with al diligēce they could haue collected the auncient Bishops of London I must needs drawe him to an higher time then that of kinge Lucius was before which noe consecration of Bishops in Britany was or is so memorable as this by S. Peter the Apostle Harris de script of Brit Godw. Catalog of Bishop in London 1. Stowe and Howe l. hist Lucius Iocelin of Furnes l. de Episc Brit. And to end here the Relation of S. Peters proceedings in Britanie wee haue clearly deduced with the allowance of our best English Protestant Antiquaries and other Authors by them approued That S. Peter Prince of the Apostles was our first Father in Christ and renowned Apostle both immediately by himselfe and his holy disciples That hee performed here all cheife and eminent pastorall duties and offices when our Emperors with our Lieutenants here as also all our Kings were pagan Infidels That hee ordeyned and consecrated for vs Bishops preists and other clergie men and founded churches to the honor Religion of Christ and the honor of his blessed Mother S. Mary the Virgin few other christian Saints then deceased as that of Glastenbury not soe dedicated without his approbation beeing cheife in such affaires Hee consecrated other Britans out of this nation exemptinge them from the pagan seruice of those such remembred princes hee sent them by authoritie to preach the ghospell in other contries hee or his disciples conuerted Pomponia Graecina the Lord Lieutenants wife of Britanie as these Protestants haue proued and many in the like case their husbands continuing in their infidelitie and contradiction and many husbands and children the wiues and parents not allowinge as seruants in respect of their Lords and masters and Subiects in regard of soueraignes I a Catholick Preist now demaund of the best learned Protestāts Bishops of England whether these proceedings and prerogatiues in that moste glorious Apostle and his worthie disciples our first Masters in Christ were not as greate and ample as the renowned Preists and Catholicks of this kingedome now attribute and giue to the Popes of Rome his Apostolicke Successors Wee whoe haue reade moste and suffered much for this cause cannot see the difference or finde instance of disparitie except in number of parsons lesse or greater quantities of groundes and some improportions in such thinges which make noe essentiall diuersitie for otherwise wee haue beene told by the best learned Protestants with others that S. Peter and his disciples did manifestlie and directly transfer and chaunge those parsons places and propertie of thinges of this our Britanie from a temporall to al spirituall vse from the commande except in temporall dutie of the present Emperors Lieutenants Kings and Soueraignes alienated from Christiā Religion to the cōmande of Christ his Religion our moste holy Apostle and his disciples by his authoritie soe directinge THE III. CHAPTER How in the rest of this first Hundred yeares of Christ after Saint Peter The Apostolicke See of Rome still continued and exercised this supreame spirituall power in Britanie IT is a question not onely amonge Catholicks but some Protestants also whether S. Linus Cletus were Popes after S. Peter or onely Suffragan Bishops as soe ordeyned by him at the first And Pope Leo the second an holy Saint with there nowned of our Historians to omitt others S. Marianus Florentius Wigorniensis say plainely Si Petrus Apostolorum princeps adiutoris sibi asciuit Linum Cletum non tamen pontificij potestatem cis tradidit sed Clementi successori suo If Peter Prince of the Apostles did take Linus and Cletus to bee his Adiutors yett hee gaue not them the Papall power but to Clement his successor And Linus and Cletus did nothinge by their owne Lawes and power as popes but only soe much as was commaunded them by S. Peter S. Leo 2. in epist. decretal Marian. Scot. lib. 2. aetat 6. Florent Wigor in Siluan Otho Consul Robert Barns in vit Port. Rom. in Linum Therfore to omitt doubtfull and vncertaine thinges and to come next to S. Clement whoe moste certainely by all Cathololicks and Protestants was Pope of Rome nominated by S. Peter though Baronius and others whom he alleageth are of opinion that S. Clement yeelded his right and did not exercise the office of supreame pastour til after Linus and Cletus yet who in S. Peters life him were his Coadiutors after his death his successors before S. Clemēt to 1. Annal. p. 742.743.744.745 before any other by this Pope Doctors were sent into the west as our Protestants tell vs Margin annot vppon Matth. Westin an 94. Matth. Westm supr in greate numbers as S. Denis Nicasius Taurinus Trophimus Paulus Narbonensis Saturninus Martialis Gratianus Iulianus Lucianus Firminus Photinus all Bishops they add S. Regulus Whome although they setle thē with their Bishopricks in Fraunce yett it proueth the power spirituall commaund of that holy pope to haue extended it selfe aswell to this kingdome one and the same reason beeing for and against them both But wee finde diuers Authorities both late and auncient to induce vs to consent that some of these named holy Bishops sent at this time by S. Clement were sent by him into this kingdome of Britanie namely S. Taurinus and S. Nicasius and that S. Taurinus was Archbishop or Bishop of yorke Amonge others William Harrison a Protestant historian In descript of Britanie
pag. 23. Chronolog ibid. an 141. produceth an Antiquitie that soe affirmeth whereuppon hee writeth in this maner Whether Taurinus Bishop ouer the congregation at yorke were one of the nyne schollers of Grantha Cambridge spoken of in the chronicles of Burton I doe not certainely finde But certayne it is that Walterus Rollewink in his history fasciculus temporum an 94. saith S. Taurinus was Episcopus Eboracensis Bishop of yorke which is here in Britanie and soe not Ebroicensis in Fraunce where the same or an other of that name was Bishop about the same time And an other late writer Harris Theatrum l. 1. in his manuscript history alleadging both S. Antoninus and diuers others saith diuers haue written that both S. Nicasius and Taurinus were here in Britanie and for S. Taurinus S. Antoninus saith that S. Taurinus filiam Lucij Regis Britanniae à morte suscitauit S. Taurinus did raise from death the daughter of Lucius Kinge of Britanie S. Antonin hist. part 1. titul 6. cap. Which directly proueth that S. Taurinus was here in out Britanie this Kinge Lucius for certaine was eyther hee that liued to receaue the faith of Christ publickly in the time of Pope Eleutherius beginning his reigne in the yeare of Christ 124 Matt. Westm. an 124. or Lucius Antenous the Romane praefect in Britanie called there vppon Rex Britanniae Kinge of Britanie as well hee might prescribinge lawes vnto vs in Britanie as Hector Boethius Scetor hist l. 5. fol. 76.77.78 with others wittnesse and was resident at yorke in the time of the Emperor Adrian when and where S. Taurinus is supposed to haue beene Bishop and wrought this miracle For S. Anacasius beeing sent hither by S. Clement they which teach soe Harris supr produce the french histories that hee preached to the Britans which in that time were onely those of this kingdome the little Britanie in Fraunce then and longe after named Armorica and not Britannia And yett to omitt others Arnoldus Mermannus in his Theater of the conuersion of nations § Britones saith that amonge other people S. Anacasius beeing delegated thither an Apostle by S. Clement did instruct and informe in the faith the Britans and all the waste of the Ocean Sea Britones Normandos Rhotomagenses Picardos omnemque Maris Oceani tractum instruxit formauitque fide S. Nicasius à S. Clemente illuc Apostolus delegatus And to putt vs out of doubt that S. Clement did take vppon him the spirituall chardge of this our Britanie as well as of Fraunce and other places the same Author from others testifieth that our Archbishop S Aristobulus whoe as Eisingrenius saith had beene a Bishop from anno Christi the 39 the 39 yeare of Christ was yett our Apostle in Britanie aliue in the yeare of Christ 99. S. Clement then Pope Et quod excurrit 99. Clemente Pontifice Maximo Domitiano Imperatore Guliel Eisâ—…ng centen 1. part 1. dist 7. fol. 67. Arnold Mermman Theater conuers gent. in Albione And wee haue vett in England an old manuscript a short historicall relation M. S. antiq pr. Stores in Exordium Of the publicke Masse and church seruice of the Britans and French men from the Apostles time written before the vnion of the Britans with S. Augustines mission by S. Gregorie and written by a Brittish Author testifying that the publicke church seruice and Masse both of the french and Brittans was carried vp to Rome to S. Clement to bee examined and approued by him then Pope which hee accordingly performed by his papall power this Masse was euer after vsed both in FrauÌ„ce and this our kingedome of Britanie Soe that moste euident it is by those few Antiquities left vnto vs that in the time of S. Clement whoe was Pope in the later end of the first beginninge of the second hundred yeare of Christ this our church of Britanie was wholly in spiritual thinges dependant and subordinate to the church and Popes of Rome and thus much of the first age and hundred yeare from the birth of Christ When here and of this nation there were yett liuinge many Bishops consecrated by S. Peter and the Romane Papall authoritie S. Aristobulus Mansuetus Beatus and probably S. Iosephe Taurinus Nicasius Angulus and others for to add to the former S. Anacletus saith in his Epistle approued by our Protestants of England our contryman S. Marianus and others Rob. Barns in vita pont Rom. in Anacl Mar. Scot. l. 2. de aetat 6. col 250. Florent Wigorn. in Domit. that the prouinces where Archbishops were were diuided by the Apostles and S. Clement his predecessor ab Apostolis Beato Clemente praecessore nostro ipsa Prouincia diuisio renouata est Some do make Clitus and Anaclitus alone and make him praedecessour to S. Clement see Baro. to 1. Therefore most euident it is that S. Clement tooke vppon him and exercised this supreame Papall and spirituall power in this kingedome THE SECOND CENTVRIE OR HVNDRED YEARE THE IV. CHAPTER Shewing by these Protestants how the popes of Rome in this second Century of yeares claymed had and exercised supreame spirituall Iurisdiction and power in Britanie TO begin with the second age and hundred yeare Saint and Pope Anacletus offereth him selfe first beeing the next and immediate Successor to S. Clement and as hee himselfe wittnesseth Epist decretal Marian Scot. l. 2. aetat 6. col 250. Florentius Wigorn in Domitiano Matth. Westin an 102. Both instructed and taught and made preist by S. Peter cheife of the Apostles vt à beato Petro principe sumus instructi à quo presbyter sum ordinatus This holy Pope S. Peters disciple beginning his papacy in the 102. yeare of Christ as our Protestants of England enforme vs. Rob. Barns in vit pontif Rom. in Anacleto Ormerod pict of Pap. pag. 78. Thought that the primacy ouer all churches was grauÌ„ted to the church of Rome by our Lord himselfe and ouer all Christian people Ab ipso Domino primatum Romanae Ecclesiae super omnes Ecclesias vniuersumque Christiani nomine populum concessum esse asseruit And they tell vs further how according to this supreamacie graunted by Christ to the Sea of Rome ouer all churches and Christian people hee executed the same in makinge his general decrees bindinge all Bishops Priests and others both concerninge the most blessed sacrifice of the Masse and Iurisdiction Amonge other thinges to speake in Protestant words Rob. Barns supra Episcopos officio pares ordine duplici distinxit eos primates siue patriarchas appellari voluit qui in illis ciuitatibus praeessent in quibus olim primarij Flamines sederunt in alijs metropolitanis vrbibus Episcopos Metropolitanos vel Archiepiscopos nominandos esse censuit Hee distinguished Bishops equall in order into two degrees causinge them to bee named Primates or Patriarkes which ruled in those cities in which of olde the Archflamens did sitt in other Metropolitane cities hee would haue them named Metropolitans or Archbishops and hee
calleth this not his owne decree but the decree of S. Clement his predecessor and Saint Peter alsoe Anacl supr apud Mar. Scot. Flor. Wigorn. supr And setteth downe in a certayne Tome what cytes were to haue primates both accordinge to his owne S. Clements and the Apostles order And this decree of Sainct Anacletus in this highest question of Iurisdiction was soe vniuersall and generall in it selfe soe embraced of all and includinge that as not onely Giraldus Cambrensis and auncient authorities of this nation Lib. 2. de Iure Metropol eccles Meneuen ad Innocent 3. but the cheife Protestant Antiquaries themselues as Mathew Parker the first Protestant Archbishop of Canterburie Lib. antiquit Britannic pag. 24. and Syr Iohn Prise Io. Pris defens histor Britan. pag. 73. doe plainelie acknowledge that by that Tome of Saint Anacletus Pope it was conteyned and decreed how manie and which were the places throughout all this Iland euen as it conteyned England Scotland and Wales And thereupon this Protestant Archbishopp doth in expresse termes call the diuision of Britanie in that respect Ex Anacleto huius Insulae diuisionem The diuision of this Iland according to the decree of Pope Anacletus And though this diuision was not actually made at that time for setting Archbishops in those prouinces at that time but was deferred vntill in after when the faith was recreaued here in more publicke maner when persecution ceased or was mitigated yett by these authorities there is noe doubt but this holy Pope both claymed and exercised the same highest spirituall Iurisdiction as well in this as all other nations that decree beeing generall and without limitation for all nations as it is allowed by these Protestants and making all prouinces in the knowne world substitute and subordinate to the church of Rome in such affaires and none exempted And as this decree alone will witnes hee sent as opportunitie and the cause required Bishops and preists into other contries soe he did the like to this to encrease and continue that happy buildinge which his predecessors had founded here before Soe wee must say of his immediate Successor Saint Euaristus except wee will reiect the authoritie of one of our moste auntient and approued historians Nennius who in his manuscript auntient history written if wee may beleeue the Protestant Bishop Bale l. de scriptor cent 1. in Nennio A thowsand yeares since confidently affirmeth that Britannicus Rex A kinge of Britanie receaued an ambassadge from Euaristus Pope of Rome to receaue the faith of Christ missa legatione à Papae Romano Euaristo Mennius hist. M. S. who yett sayth with others that the generall cōuersion of this land was not vntill the yeare of Christ 167. others making it later This holy Pope began his papacie in the yeare 111. and liued therein vntil 120. before which time our kinge Coillus brought vp at Rome was soe well disposed to Christian Religion that as our Protestants and the antiquities of Glastenbury tell vs hee confirmed the twelue hides of land to the religious Eremitage of Glastenbury Antiquitat glast apud Capgrau in S. Ioseph and others And therefore cominge from Rome into Britanie to bee kinge his Father kinge Marius beeinge deade wee cannot thinke but as many of our contrimen his subiects then at Rome were Christians and in soe greate number that in one Brittish house there the house of S. Claudia our British Lady and children after her there were at or soone after this time in the time of Pope Pius the first 96. christians Act. 5 Pudentianae Breuiar Rom. in vit eius 19. Maij. So many of them and of other nations also and cleargie men were sent hither by the Pope of Rome at that time which many of our Protestant historians will confirme assuringe that both now and at all times vntill the conuersion of kinge Lucius there were many christians which came from Rome liuinge in this kingdome Godwyn Conuers of Britanie pag. Caius l. 1. antiq Cantabrig Will. Harrison descript of Brit. Holinsh hist of Engl. Soe doe diuers auntient antiquities of the Annals of Burton and others of forreine nations And touchinge the time of Pope Alexander the first next successor to S. Euaristus hee beinge made Pope in the yeare 120. and continuinge Bishop of Rome by common opinion 8. yeares and fiue moneths in the fourth yeare of the papacie of this blessed Saint as both Matthew of Westminster Annal. Burton an 141. Catal. Episcop Tungr and the autient Table hanging in the church of S. Peter in Cornehil in London then builded in the time of kinge Lucius wittnesse beeinge the 124. yeare of Christ The yeare of our Lord God 124. Lucius was crowned kinge soe the one the other saith anno gratiae 124. Coillo Britonum Rege defuncto Lucius filius eius regni diademate insignitus est In the yeare of grace 124. Coillus kinge of the Britans beeing deade Lucius his sonne was crowned king Math· Westin an 124. This kinge Lucius although neither hee nor the kingdome were yett soe generally conuerted yet well knowinge that many preachers had beene sent hither from Rome and diuers Brittans here were desirous to embrace the faith of Christ did not onely giue way vnto it in this beginning of his Reigne but except Albertus Krantzius a man well acquainted with our Brittish antiquities as a Protestant antiquary witnesseth doth deceaue vs. Io. Caius antiq Cantabrig l. 1. Albert. Krantzius Metropol l. 1. cap. 6. Did write vnto S. Alexander the first Pope of Rome to haue christian Religion preached in this kingedome Religionem Christi Lucius quondam Britanniae Rex ab Alexandro primo eius nominis summo pontifice impetrauit in Insula predicari Lucius Kinge of Britanie did obteyne of Pope Alexander the first to here Christian Religion preached in that Iland Which is confirmed by many Authorities prouening vnto vs that this Iland at and immediately after that time had diuers preachers of the faith of Christ and among them some Bishops besides those I named before to proue that wee had a continuall succession of holy Bishops from Rome as these alsoe were from our first christianity And that wee had many preachers and many by them conuerted may appeare by that is acknowledged before from these Protestants to which many of them add from antiquities that many Schollers Doctors of our Vniuersities then were conuerted in the yeare 141. nyne in one place of Cambridge In peruetustis Annalibus Burtonensibus sic lego Anno Domini 141. hic baptizati sunt nouem ex Doctoribus Scholaribus Cantabrigiae I doe reade sayth one in very old Annals of Burtō thus In the yeare of our Lord 141. here were baptized nyne of the Doctors Schollers of Cambridge Caius lib. 1. de antiq Cantab. pag. 95. Theater of greate Brit. lib. 6. Harris descript of Brit. Like to this haue many other Protestants who assure vs this succession could not come from S. Ioseph of Aramathia
Protestant Archbishop and his Mason tell vs in these words Mason l. 2. e. 3. p. 55 56. From Rome there came two Fugatius and Damianus but wee cannot learne that eyther of them was a Bishop This is the constant writinge of these Protestants yett to deale plainely these men knew not all thinges or else they might easelye haue knowne that both the Brittish historie Ponticus Virunnius and Matthew of Westminster as they are published by Protestants call them Antistites Bishops and a Protestant Bishop produceth an old Manuscript Author testifying that the first church of Wincester was hallowed and dedicated to the honor of our Sauiour October 29. 189. by Fuganus and Damianus Bishops Galfrid monum l. 4. hist. c. 20. Pontic Virun lib. 4. in fine Godwyn Catal. in Winchest Matth. Westm. an 186. And if they were noe Bishops it soe much more aduaunceth the Popes power in this kingedome for these Protestants with others shall testifie that by their legatine power from Pope Eleutherius they exercised more and greater Iurisdiction spirituall here then any Bishop or Archbishop of that time And if they were Bishops as those Authors affirme yett I finde none to write that either of them was an Archbishop yett as before and shall immediately bee proued they by their delegate power from Pope Eleutherius executed here greater Iurisdiction spirituall and more ample then any Bishop Archbishop prince kinge or whosoeuer the Pope himselfe excepted could lawfully doe Which these Protestants and other vndeniable antiquities doe thus demonstrate vnto vs. The first Protestant Archbishop of Canterburye Parker antiquit Britan. pag. 5. writeth from diuers wittnesses that these two Religious men were assigned by Pope Eleutherius as cheife worke men tanto operi praeficiundo in gouerninge soe greate a worke and establishinge the discipline of christian Religion In sancienda christianae religionis disciplina and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cooperarij adhibiti in administranda ecclesia periti Ioined by Pope Eleutherius with the Bishops in gouerninge the church beeings killfull therein Which must needes bee by their legatine power from Pope Eleutherius Martianus Polonius In Eleutherio Papa col 49. published by Protestants and dedicated by them to Queene Elizabeth saith Papa Eleutherius misit duos Religiosos viros Fuganum Damianum qui Regem praedictum populum baptizarent erant tunc in Britannia viginti octo Pontifices Idolorum quos Flamines vocabant Inter quos tres Archiflamines erant sed praedicti Sancti de mandato Apostolico vbi erant Flamines instituerunt Episcopos vbi Archiflamines Archiepiscopos Pope Eleutherius sent two Religious men Fuganus and Damianus who baptized the said Kinge Lucius and his people There were then in Britanie 28. high preists of the Idols whome they called Flamins amonge which there were three Archflamins but the said holy men by the commaundement of the Pope did institute Bishops where there were Flamins and Archbishops where there were Archflamins This is confirmed not onely by all Antiquities of these things but the cheife Protestant writers amonge which the Protestant Archbishop Whitgift and his frend Foxe write in this maner Whitg defence of the Answ. pag. 323. Foxe tom 1. fol. 146. Eleutherius the good Bishop hearinge the request of the kinge and glad to see the godly towardnes of his well disposed minde sendeth him certaine teachers and preachers called Fugatius or by some Fuganus and Damianus or Dimianus which conuerted first the kinge and people of Britanie and baptised them The temples of Idolatrie and other monuments of gentility they subuerted conuertinge the people from their diuers and many gods to serue one liuinge God Thus true Religion with sincere faith increasing superstition decayed with all rites of Idolatrie There were then in Britanie 28. Head preists which they called Flamins and three Archpreists amonge them which were called Achiflamins hauinge the ouersight of their maners as Iudges ouer the rest These 28. Flamines they turned to 28. Bishops and the three Archiflamines to three Archbishops hauinge their seates in the three principall cities of the Realme That is in London in Yorke and in Glamorgantia videlicet in vrbe Legionum by Wales Thus far these Protestants and one of them named the Archbishop telleth vs that the constitutinge of Archbishops in the places of the gentiles Archflamines by these Legats of Pope Eleutherius was to followe the example and order of S. Peter himselfe whoe did soe as S. Paul likewise and â—…eth this reason Whitgift def of the Anâ—…w pag. 320.321 Which might bee done in respect of the citie and place and not in respect of the Idolatrous preists for Archiflamines were in greate cyties which being conuerted vnto Christ might haue in the place of their Archiflamines godly and learned Archbishops to ouersee and direst the rest of the Bishops and preachers that vnitie and order might bee obserued Thus Paul did at Ephesus and Creta And why might not Peter doe it in other places likewise Master Iohn Selden a greate Protestant antiquary and lawier writinge of these two holy Legats speaketh thus Io. Selden Analect c. 6. Beatâ—… doctores cum per totam ferè Ierusalem paganitatem deleuissent Templa quae in honore plurimorum deorum fundata fuerant vni Deo eiusque Sanctis deaâ—…cauerunt diuersisque ordinatorum coetibus repleuerunt When the blessed Doctors had blotted out paganisme allmost throughout the Iland the temples which were founded in honor of manye gods they dedicated to one God and his Saints and replenished them with diuers companies of cleargie men The very same bee the words of Matthew of Westminster as hee is published by Eâ—…sh Protestants Matth. Westm an Dom. 18â—… And this present Protestant Antiquarie refutinge the ridiculous and ignorant or verie willfull singularitie of Godwyn the Protestant Bishop singularlie and onely as hee himselfe writeth Godw. conuers of Britanie p. 26. excepting Sutcliffe denying Archflamines in this Iland citing for authors Pomponius Laetus and Fenestella thus addeth Pompn laet de Sacerdot Rom. ca. 7. Fenestell de Sacerd. Rom. c. 5. Quemadmodum autem Episcopis apud nos Archiepiscopi sic Flaminibus Archiflamines praeponebatur Horum potestati caeteri Iudices in Insula subijciebantur Hos autom ex praecepto Apostoli Idolatriae eripuerunt vbi erant Flamines Episcopos vbi erant Archiflamines Archiepiscopos posuerunt Sedes autem Archiflaminum in tribus nobilioribus ciuitatibus suerunt Londonijs videlicet Eboraco in vrbe legionum His tribus euacuata superstitione octo viginti Episcopi subduntur diuisisque parochijs subiacuit Metropolitano Eboracensi Deira Albania quas magnum flumen Humbri à Loegria secernit Eboracensis autem Archicpiscopis in omnes Scotiae praesules ac Antistites iure primatis olim fungebatur Quod resaucitum erat sub Henrico secundo Hugone Legato Pontificio celebrato concilio As Archbishops with vs Christians are in power ouer Bishops soe were Archflamines ouer Flamines In this Iland
by this holy Pope was not confined in and with his proceedinges with this kingedome soe happily conuerted to the faith by him but to shew himselfe by these Protestants as his his holy predecessors before haue beene proued by the same allowance to bee the supreame and highest commaunder and gouernor of the church of Christ in all places on earthe hee generally proceeded accordingly makinge and ordeyninge decrees for all parsons and places and times as these Protestants thus assure vs. Robert Barnes in vit Pontif. Rom. in Eleutherio Hoc tempore Lucius Britanniae Rex Christiano caetui cum suis subditis adiungi à Poâ—…fice petijt per literas In this time of Pope Eleutherius Lucius Kinge of Britanie desired of the Pope by his letters that hee and his subiects might bee ioyned to the Christian companie as though S. Eleutherius then Pope by power of that nam place had such power ouer the whole company of Christians that none that is a kinge or greate prince on whose publick conuersion together with his people so manie matters requiring the consent and confirmation of the highest Pastor supreame Iurisdiction depended might bee admitted to bee a Christian without the Popes Approbation And to confirme this highest power spirituall in him as in his predecessors before they further tell vs. Rob. Barns supr That generally in the cases of Bishops which is the greatest hee decreed that nothing should bee defined in their cases but by the Pope himselfe Accusationem contra Episcopos intentatam Episcopos audire permisit sed vt nihil nisi apud Pontificem definiretur cauet And againe that any preist might appeale from his Bishop to the Pope of Rome if the sinceritie of the other iudge his Bishops was suspected Vt nemo Clericum accusatores pertraheret ad alterius dioecesis Episcopum sed accusaret euÌ„ apud suum Episcopum Sivero Iudex Glerico suspectus esset appellandi facultatem dedit Reo Where hee euidently by these Protestants maketh himselfe his Successors in the See Apostolick of Rome supreame Iudge in spiritual thinges and reserueth appeales to them in such affaires from all other Iudges THE VI. CHAPTER How this moste renowned Pope Eleutherius did by these Protestants and antiquities allovved by them clayme exercise and settle here for him and his Successors as ample prerogatiue and Iurisdiction as Catholicke Scholes doe and Catholicques may giue to Popes ANd because there is greate difference betweene Catholicks and Protestants concerninge some priuiledges which the former commonly yeeld and the second as vsually in England denye vnto him and eyther of them would bee thought to reuerence and embrace the opinion and practise of that blessed Pope Eleutherius and those vnspotted times especially as they are interpreted by themselues lett vs now take counsaile and aduise of these ProtestaÌ„ts their persecutors in this kinde whether this moste blessed Pope Eleutherius whoe soe conuerted this nation and was soe blessed and worthie a Saint with these men was not by their Iudgements and testimonies as far ingaged in this matter as Pope Gregorie the fifteenth of that name now is or Kinge Lucius that holy kinge and Saint the holy Bishops and cleargie and all the Christians of this land at that tyme did not giue to the Popes of Rome then as much in this kinde as anie English preist or Catholicke now doth and by the present Roman Religion may giue and allowe to this present Pope or any other This is euidently proued and inuincibly made manifest vnto vs before not onely by soe many our best Antiquities but generallie by the best learned English Protestant historians iointly and with an vniforme consent agreeing in this that at the settlinge of manie Archbishops and Bishops in this Iland by the highest Papall power of Saint Eleutherius by the same alsoe the whole kingedome of Scotland with the Northern Ilands were made subiect to the Archbishopp of Yorke in spirituall thinges as I haue proued before by the best historians Catholicks Protestants which haue written of this matter Which alsoe agree that these kingedomes were at that time longe before and vntill the vnion of them by our present Soueraigne kinge Iames not onely distinct and diuers kingedomes vnder diuers kinges lawes and gouernments but ordinarily as then they were at open warres and hostilitie in ciuill and temporall respects Therfore it was neyther Kinge Lucius whoe to vse the words of Hector Boethius Scator histor l. 5 fol. 83. Godwyn conuers of Britanie pag. 22.23 aggreing with our English Protestants and others in this was but a kinge by curtesie of the Romane Emperors and their Authoritie Lucius Britonibus Caesaris beneuolentia authoritate imperitabat Therefore hee neyther had nor possibly could haue his power and principalitie extended further then that of the Romans was which went noe further then the wall of Adrian which diuided the kingedomes makinge Scotland a distinct kingedome and neuer subiect to the Roman Emperors Which could not allowe to kinge Lucius more then they were Lords and Masters of themselues for accordinge to that lawe maxime vsed by manie Protestants and a grownde in the lawe and light of nature it selfe Nemo potest plus Iuris in alium transferre quà m ipse habet Noe man can giue more power to another then hee himselfe hath For soe hee should giue that which hee hath noe right or power to giue beeinge a thinge vnpossible Therefore kinge Lucius nor the Roman Emperors hauinge any power or right at all spirituall or temporall ouer the Scots or Britans or any people then dwellinge beyond that Wall in the kingedome now called Scotland they could not by any possibilitie giue such spirituall power to the Archbishop of Yorke to commaund in that contrie nor commaund the inhabitants of Scotland in noe respect subiect vnto them to bee subiect to the Bishop of Yorke their subiect in temporall respects Neither did would or could the kings of Scotland then pagans subiect and submitt their people and contry to the Archbishop of yorke of an other kingdome now enemy to them both in spirituall and temporall respects And it is directly against all Protestants professions confessions or churches that any Protestant Prince or other whosoeuer clayminge or pretending supreame spirituall Iurisdiction among them should challendge or presume to extend it further then their temporall ditions and Gouernments as is euident in all places where the new Religion is admitted as England the Lowe contries the cantons of Switserland and the rest where the spirituall Iurisdiction which they claime is limited and confined within the circuites of their temporall Dominions without any further progresse Parlam 1. Elizab. 1. Iacob Scotic Confessiones Heluet. Gallic Saxonia Belgic Therefore this highest supreame directing spirituall power which established at that time and longe after the subordination and subiection of Scotland and the Ilands to the Archbishop of Yorke must needs by these Protestants and all Antiquities bee onely peculiar to the Pope
a Rule to all saith our Kinge Kinge Iames in parlam The other saith Victor was a godly Bishop and a martyr and the church at that time was in greate puritie not beeinge longe after the Apostles times Whitgift Answ. to the admonition p. 80. sect 4. Wherfore Kinge Donalde of Scotland now moued by the example of Kinge Lucius his neighbouring Sociate in terrene principalitie and his whole kingedome and beeing assured by this supreame power spirituall exercised by S. Victor ouer all churches that it was his right and the surest waye in time of controuersies as that was in the obseruation of Easter to adhere vnto the cheife and commandinge church of Rome hee sent to this holy Pope to bee instructed in the faith of Christ a longe paineful troublesome iorney labour on both sides soe many Bishops now beeing in Britanie Fraunce and in all places betweene Scotland and Rome if kinges kingedomes could haue beene conuerted to the faith of Christ and matters of the church with them ordered without his direction or confirmation For as truely write the Scottish historians Pope Victor sent preists in extremam Albionem to the vttermoste part of Albion or the vttermoste Albion to preach the doctrine of Christ Hector Boeth l. 5. Scot. histor fol. 89. p. 2. Boeth supr p. 1. Buchan Rer. Scotic l. 4. Reg. 27. Holinsh. histor of Scotl. in Donald Ed. Grymst p. 20. in Scotl. § 17. the narration whereof is this Talem dederat Donaldo Regi animum pacis Princeps author Christus Dominus quod verae pietati aspernato malorum demonum cultu sese paulò ante addixerat Nam Seuero Imperante Romanis apud Victorem Pontificem maximum qui quintusdecimus post Petrum Ecclesiae praefuit per legatos obtinuit vt viri doctrina Religione insignes in Scotiam ab eo missi se cum liberis coniuge Christi nomen profitentes baptismate insignirent Regis exempla Scotica nobilitas sequuta auersata impietatem Christique Religionem complexa sacro fonte est abluta Fuit annus ille quo Scoti ad lumen verae pietatis Dei Optimi Maximi benignitate vocati sunt recepti ab eo qui primus fuit humanae salutis tertius supra ducēte simum à Scotorum Regni institutione quingentesimus tricesimus tertius Christ our Lord prince and Author of peace gaue such minde to kinge Donald that castinge aside the worship of wicked deuils hee had a litle before addicted himselfe to true pietie For when Seuerus was the Romane Emperor hee obteyned of Pope Victor the fifteenth after S. Peter that ruled the church that men renowned for learninge and Religion sent from him into Scotland might baptise him with his wife and children professinge Christ The Scottish nobilitie followeinge the example of the kinge forsakinge impiety and embracing the Religiō of Christ was baptized This was in the yeare of the Incarnation of Christ two hundred and three and from the beginninge of the kingdome of the Scots fiue hundred thirtie and three And a little after speakinge of the renowned leardned Christians of that time hee addeth Incipere nostri tum primum sacras colere literas Sacerdotibus praeceptoribus quos Victor Pontifex Maximus ad Christi dogma propalandum in extremam miserat Albionem At that time our Scottish men first began to study diuinitie hauinge for their Tutors those preists which Pope Victor sent to teach the Religion of Christ in Albion the vttermost country in this part of the world And againe nostri qua fide pietate instituti semel fuerunt hactenus erroribus aspernatis perseuerant Our contrimen of Scotlād perseuer at this day it was written in the yeare 1526. in the faith and pietie wherein they were then instructed Hector Boeth in fine praefat Bal. centur 5. in Hector Boeth And a Protestant of England in the yeare 1615. writteh Scotland receyued the faith in the time of Pope Victor the first in the yeare 203. Celestin the first sent Palladius thither to roote out the Pelagian heresie which began to increase there vnder Eugenius the second whoe died in the yeare 460. since this time the Realme continued longe in the profession of the Romish church vntill these later dayes Edward Grimston Booke of Estates pag. 20. cap. 17. Hee meaneth the dayes of this our Soueraigne kinge Iames the first of England and sixt of that kingedome Therfore it is a thinge without question that this holy Pope soe earnest for the spirituall supreamacie of his Apostolicke See settled it with other doctrines in this Iland where with the rest it still continued vntill these times as these Protestants haue declared Which is euident by all histories not any one affirminge but rather denyinge that hee altered anie thinge of that constitution of Pope Eleutherius submittinge the whole nation of Scotlande to the Archbishopp of Yorke in spirituall affaires And if kinge Donald and the nobilitie of Scotland then had not beene assured that this supreame spirituall power in disposinge and orderinge church matters in such cases had belonged onely to the Popes of Rome of all people and places in the world they would not haue appealed to Rome for those thinges at that time in the Empire of Seuerus when aboue all others there was the greatest enmytie and warrs betweene the Romans and Scots that euer were testified by all their histories Bed l. 1. histor c. 5. Hect. Boeth lib. 5. Scot. hist Bucan Rer. Scotic l 4. Holinsh. hist. of Scotl. in Seuerus In an other point alsoe wee are assured that S. Victor whoe had by his highest authoritie excōmunicated soe many churches both greeke and latine as these Protestants haue told vs before for their wronge keepinge of Easter settled the right obseruatiō thereof in Scotland at this time For to speake in Protestants wordes of this Pope Hee confirmed the ordinance of Pius touching the celebration of Easter vppon the Sonday Soe did Pope Eleutherius before him and soe consequently alsoe amonge other Christian doctrines by his legates taught and deliuered it here in Britanie And wee are taught by these learned Protestants that in the first generall councell of Nice De obseruatione Paschae antiquus canon sancitus est ne porro in hac re Ecclesiae variarent The old canon of the obseruation of Easter was decreed least the churches should afterward differ about it Ed. Grymstonp· 436. in Victor Rob. Barnes in vit Pont. Rom. in Victor Bal. lib. 1. de act prat in eod Magdeburg centur 3. in Eleuther Damas in Eleuther Barns iu Siluestro Magdeburg cent 4. And that wee had Brittish Bishops there which consented to this decree and receaued it for Britany they testifie in these termes Theater of greate Britanie l 6. cap. 9 pag. 206 n. 19. The Britannes continued constant in christianitie and the censures of their Bishops for the greate estimation of their constancie pietie and learninge were required and approued in greate
points of doctrine amonge the assemblies of some generall councells as that of Sardis where appeales to the Pope were decreed and Nyce in the tyme of greate Constantine vvee had our Bishops present And all men of readinge are assured of this both Constantine the Emperor in his epistle to the churches and S. Athanasius in his Apologie write plainely that this our Britanie receaued the councell of Nice Epist Constāt apud Theodoret Athanas Apolog. Therefore it is a very idle and ignorant coniecture or rather malitious error of some Protestants to seeme to write as though Britany had receaued the faith frō some of the Asiatical churches because some of the later Scots and Britans die erre in that obseruation but this error of the Britans as diuers haue proued allready was quite differēt from that of some part of Asia greeke And the first gretian that came hither except some sent by Roman Authoritie that I finde was S. Regulus Albutus borne in Achaia whoe came into Scotland when Augustinus was kinge allmost two hundred yeares after this and longe after the controuersie of keepinge Easter was ended and brought thither holy relicks of S. Andrew the Apostle vvhoe coming into Pictland and the fame of this knowne very many came to reuerence the holy relicques of the Apostle and made offerings there and the kinge of the picts Hirgustus receaued by him with procession and lyinge vppon the grounde vvith much reuerence kissed the holy relicques and after masse ended hee bequeathed his palace to Saint Andrew and to Regulus and the Preists to serue God in Huius rei fama per Pictorum regiones delata permultorum animos ad visendas venerandasque sacras Apostoli reliquias attendit Confluxerunt ergo illuc vndique donaria Christi Apostolo pretiosa afferentes Affuit Heirgastus Rex eorum quae fama ad eum detulerat visendi cupidas Venientem ad se Regulus cum sociijs pio apparatu cum Sacerdotum ac Monachorum religiosa deductione in hymnis canticis excepit Rex humi procumbens sacras reliquias multa veneratione osculatus vbi sacra Christiano more cuius ipse Heirgustus erat obseruantissimus erant peracta regium palatium amplis structuris ornatum diuo Andreae Regulo ac Sacerdotibus ibidem deinceps Optimo Maximo Deo famulaturis liberè erogauit struxit haud procul à palatio sacram aedem diuo Apostolo dicatam and builded an other church not far from the palace dedicated to the holy Apostle And thus much of S. Victor Next to him succeeded Pope and S. Zepherinus whoe to proue hee still maintayned this Romane supreamacie as his predecessors before ouer all Bishopes Primates Patriarckes and whomsoeuer or wheresoeuer of the cleargie or others did generally decree as these Protestants tel vs. Rob. Barns in vit Pontif. Rom. in Zepherin hee calleth him Seuerus Sine Romani Pontificis authoritate accusatum Episcopum nec à Primate nec à Patriarcha nec à Metropolitano in Iudicio condemnandum esse That a Bishop accused should not bee condemned neyther by the Primate nor Patriarcke nor Metropolitane without the authoritie of the Pope of Rome By which is euident that euen the Archbishops themselues of Britanie to whome all others were subordinate in thinges spirituall were subiect to the Pope of Rome at this time Pope Calixtus succeeded next and to speake in a Protestant Doctors wordes Powel l. 1. of Antichrist pag. 130.131 Calixtus Pope defined that all Bishops though gathered in a generall councell shall fulfill the vvill of the church of Rome They which doe not this are pronounced to keepe a conciliable not a councell And to bee short in this matter the Protestants of England proue vnto vs that this busines of the spirituall power of that See ouer all other churches is the cheife scope of many of their Epistles decretall Rob. Barns in vit Vrbani Antheri Dovvnam lib. 1. Antichristi cap. 3. pag. 35. And to giue some particular instances hereof more in Britanie in this age wee finde in histories Matth. West an 257.258 that Pope Stephē about the yeare of Christ 257.258 or 259. When S. Mellon then noe Christian was sent from hence by publick authoritie to Rome about the temporall affaires of this kingedome conuerted him to the faith of Christ made him preist and soone after Bishop exempting him from his ciuill imployments of this his country and by his Apostolicke power sent him Archbishop to Rhoan in Normandie Petr. de Nat. de vit 51. Vincent in Specul l. 11. c. 74. Martyrol Rom. 22. Octob. Ioh. Capgr in 5. Mel. M. S. antiq in eod Catal. Episcop Rothmag Matt. West And amonge others our glorious men and martyrs here in this age it is the common opinion that S. Amphibalus whoe conuerted S. Alban Matth. Paris p. 178.179 Lidg. in vit cius Engl. Martyrol 25. Iun. both was a Britan borne and consecrated at Rome some say by Pope Saint Zepherinus what and how glorious his historie is for his preaching and martyrdome with vs all histories of that time are full and how renowned hee and others of his holy company sent by that Apostolicke See were at the same time in Scotland namely Modocus Priscus Calanus Ferranus Ambianus and Carnonus both Scottish and English histories wil witnesse Where S. Amphibalus was the first Bishop they had and in Mona the Iland Amphibalus Brito vir insigni pietate primus Antistes ibi creatus Hector Boethius Scotor histor lib. 6. fol. 102. Bal. centur 1. in Amphib Holinsh. hist. of Scotland in Chrakint Veremund apud Boeth supr And soe honored was he of that most worthie Kinge of Scotland Chrathlintus that to shew the honor hee yeelded to this holie Legate and his companions and somewhat to behold the Religiō of that time the Scottish historie thus speaketh vnto vs. Hector Boeth supr Holinsh. hist of Scotlād in Chrah Chrathlintus Rex sacram Antistitis aedem muneribus ornauit amplissimis calicihus patenis candelabris alijsque similibus ad sacrorum vsum commodis ex argento auroque fabrefactis altarique cupro are clauso prouentus ad ea ex agris in sacrae aedis vicini constituit Fuit id templum omnium primum Christiano ritu vbi Pontifex sacerque magistratus sedem haberet primariam inter Scotos cuius nostri meminere scriptores dedicatum Kinge Chrathlint did adorne the Holy Howse of the Bishop Amphibalus with most honorable guifts chalices patens candlesticks and others seruinge for the vse of Masse made of syluer and gold and an Altare inclosed with copper and brasse and appointed reuenewes for them out of the country adioyninge That was the first Christian church where a Bishop and holy magistrate had his cheife See amonge the Scots that is remembred by our writers Thus were the Bishops and preists consecrated at and sent from Rome honored in this nation at that time When wee reade further the See of Rome to haue beene
ioyfull countenance as it were after a winter longe night receaue the temper and cleare light of the heauenly ayre they renew their churches destroied euen to the ground they build churches of the holy martyrs frame and perfect them as it were publicklie sett forth euery where their victorious Ensignes they celebrate holy dayes they perfect their sacrifices or sacred things with a cleane hart and mouth they all doe reioyce as it were children fostered in the lap of their mother the church The very same hath S. Bede whoe addeth Bed histor Eccl. l. 1. cap. 8. Progressi in publicum fideles Christi qui se tempore discriminis siluis ac desertis abditisque speluncis occultauerant The faithfull seruants of Christ shew themselues now in publick whoe in the time of the daunger had hidd themselues in woods and wildernesses and hidden dens And then hee writeth as S. Gildas before By which publick and hierarchicall Acts and offices of Bishops and preists as founding and dedicatinge churches to the honor of holy Martyrs that had late suffered in that persecution in institutinge and celebratinge their festiuities renewing and consecrating other defaced churches which none but Bishops might doe and sayinge Masse which hee expressely by perfecting their sacrifices or sacred rites with a cleane hart and mouth the preistly office and function it is moste euident that diuers both preists and Bishops with other cleargie men escaped in this persecution and soe still continued the hierarchicall succession of Archbishops and Bishops soe vniuersally established here before by the Popes of Rome and with the same dependance which they had before For noe historie maketh mention of any chaunge neyther of our Bishops then putt to death except S. Amphibalus vnlesse wee wil coniecture without warrant that S. Angulus suffered martyrdome in this time And notwithstanding soe many losses and desolations of our Antiquities wee haue testimonie of some Bishops in particular then liuing the persecution being ended For whoe can thinke but some of those which fledd into Scotland whether the persecution extended not with S. Amphibalus remayned there still in the Episcopall See of Mona which kinge Chrathlinte had soe honorably endowed to that purpose and longe after was an Episcopall See I haue named diuers of these renowned men before of whome some one in all probabilitie after the returne of Saint Amphibalus into these parts supplied that place and dignitie there And here in England it is euident by those antiquities wee haue left that wee had preserued from the fury of that persecution many both Bishops and Archbishops To exemplifie in London wee haue the names of Sixteene Archbishops there before the cominge of S. Augustine hither as both Iocelin of Furnes the Protestants Stowe Godwyn and others collect them Iocelin Catalog of British Bish Stowe histor in Lucius Godwyn Catalog in London 1. concil Arelat in Subscript tom 1. concil Stowe Godwyn supr And it is manifest that either Restitutus which was Archbishop of London and was present at the councel of Arles in Fraunce in the yeare 326. soone after this or Thedred or Hillary supposed to bee his immediate predecessors was then Archbishop And soe because euery Archbishop inferreth inferiour Bishops vnder him that wee had Bishops alsoe I will instance onely in Winchester where wee ar informed both by an old Manuscript Author and a new Protestant Bishop Godwyn Catalog of Bish in Winchest 1. old M. S. apud eundem supr That one Constans was Bishop there in this time and in the yeare 309. or 310. did vpon the 15. day of march hallowe and dedicate vnto the honor memory of S. Amphibalus that had suffered death for Christ in the late persecution a church there reedified with such wonderfull forwardnes and zeale as within one yeare and thirtie dayes both it and all the edifices belonginge vnto it were quite finished in very seemely and conuenient māner And that Deodatus was Abbot of this new erected Monastery Thus this Protestant Bishop from an old Manuscript By which and that which is spoken before in this chapter it is euident that England this part of Britanie then had both Bishops and Archbishops continuinge in the same order and maner as they were first instituted here by the See of Rome neither did they now begin to depart or seperate themselues from obedience to that See Apostolicke for soone after this the first general councel of Nice beeinge called these Protestāts haue told vs wee had Bishops there and most euident it is that it was receaued in this kingdome And yet the canon of that councell is soe manifest for the Popes of Rome supreamacy at the least ouer this western world wherein England is both in the time of this holy councell and before that a Protestant Bishop doth thus confesse it Feild l. 3. p. 60.61 In the time of the Nicen councell before as appeareth by the Acts of the councell limitinge their bounds there were three principall Bishops or Patriarkes of the christian church namely the Bishop of Rome Alexandria and Antioch Soe writeth the Protestant Archbishop Whitgift Foxe and others whereof one saith Whitgift def of the Answ. p. 331. Foxe tom 1. pag. 12. Rob. Barns in vit Pont. Rom. in Siluestro Sollicitudinem ecclesiarum pro recepta consuetudine veterum habendam esse statuerunt The fathers of the nicen councell did decree that accordinge to the custome receaued from them of old that the three cheife patriarkes of Rome Antioch and Alexandria should haue chardge of the churches Soe that if wee would seeke noe further then to these great enemies themselues of the Romane See yett they confesse vnto vs that it was not onely decreed in this nicen councell where as our Protestants haue told vs wee had Bishops consentinge and our kinge and contriman Constantine the great Emperor alsoe submittinge himselfe vnto it but that it was the old custome and tradition of the church that the Bishop of Rome was the principall Bishop and commaundinge Patriarke of all westerne churches amonge which this of our Britanie was euer now is and of necessitie must bee one and if wee will bee members of the church of Christ except wee can remoue Britanie from the vttermost part of Europe to lepp to Alexandria in Africke or Antioch in Asia wee must needs by this councel as it is glossed by our Protestants bee subiect to Rome as wee euer were by the old custome before that councell The words of these Protestants Whitgift and Foxe are these Whitgift Def. pag. 331. Foxe tom 1. pag. 12. The councell of Nice which was the yeare of our Lord 340. and in the sixt canon of the said councell wee finde it soe decreed that in euery prouince or precinct some one church or Bishop of the same was appointed and sett vp to haue the Inspection and Regiment of other churches about him secundum morem antiquum that is after the auncient custome as the words of the
councell doe purport Soe that the Bishop of Alexandria should haue power of Libia and Pontapolis in Egipt for as much as the Bishop of Rome hath the like or same maner Therefore seeing there is none named either by the councell or custome related by that councell but the Bishops of Rome Antioch and Alexandria to haue this high Regiment and power ouer the churches wee must needs adhere and appeale to Rome by these men as wee euer did by the old custome from the beginninge of our first life in Christ otherwise wee shall fall into errors and conclude inualidate things euen in the highest matters these men assuringe vs that at this time there were but three 〈◊〉 Metropolitane churches before recited and that to vse their words Whitgift def pag. 359. The church of Rome is called all that is subiect to the Bishop of Rome And Whitgift Answeare to the Admonit cap. 2.17 diuision that notable and famous councell of Nice must be and is of all wise and learned men next vnto the scriptures themselues reuerenced esteemed and embraced in the sixt canon of that councell it is thus written This councell doth determine him to bee noe Bishop which is made without the consent Metropolitani Episcopi of the Metropolitane Which cheife Metrotropolitane to vs then as these men haue told vs was the Bishop of Rome soe that it is euident by them that we could not here haue any Archbishop or Bishopp made without his allowance And yett these our Protestant Bishops Doctors must needs eleuate this power spiritual higher then to make it onely cheife ouer Britanie those West nations and Europe and giue it the highest place in the whole church of Christ for soe all that can bee pretended by these Protestants to haue had interest in such things at that time whether the Pope himselfe S. Siluester and others our kinge and Emperor Constantine or the Bishops of Britanie and other nations for all these in those daies acknowledged the Supreamacy in the Romane See ouer all churches S. Siluester Pope with the consent and Subscription of the Emperor ConstaÌ„tine his Mother S. Helena and 284. western Bishops and 45. preists decreed Concil Roman sub Syluestro can 20. to 1. Concil Nemo Iudicabit primam sedem quoniam omnes sedes à prima sede desiderant temperari neque ab Augusto neque ab omni clero neque à Regibus neque à populo Iudex iudicabitur Noe man shall iudge the cheife See of Rome because all Sees desire to bee gouerned by the cheife See The iudge Pope of Rome shall not bee iudged neither by the Emperour nor by all the cleargie nor by kings nor by the people Where wee see the Pope of Rome to bee by all consent the highest iudge and subiect to noe others iudgment whosoeuer The honor and reuerence which Constantine yeelded to Saint Siluester then Pope is sufficiently knowne by Eusebius in his life and others Euseb de vita Constantini I will onely exemplify by the warrant of an english Protestant Bishop how this greate dutie and Reuerence of him to that holy Pope and endowinge that Apostolicke See with honor and ritches was such that it was longe before foretold by an Angell from heauen to S. Blasius saying l. 1. de Act. Rom. Pontif. in Syluestro That in the time of Constantine Idolatry should cease by his meanes and this Constantine for his honor to the See of Rome should translate the seate of his Empire from thence into Thracia and there settle it at the mouth of the Riuer Bosphorus and leaue Italy and Rome to the Pope Christs vicar there Adueniet Princeps sub quo pacabitur orbis finem accipiet veteram cultura deorum Constantinus apud Thraces qua Bosphorus aequor Thracius Euxinis Aegaeum ingurgitat vndis constituet sedem Imperij latiumque relinquet Christo Romuleam septem in collibus vrbem Now for the Bishops of Britanie there can bee noe question but they gaue this primacie to S. Siluester for first it is most probable some of them were present at this Roman councell soe great consistinge of the westerne Bishops Secondly in all Iudgments they must needs acknowledge this supreamacy either in the Pope or Emperor But not the Emperor which yeelded it to S. Siluester Thirdly because the next Pope Saint Marke who was Pope but three yeares claimed for the Romane See to be mater omnium ecclesiarum the mother of all churches and priuiledged from heresie Marcus epist. ad Athanas caeter Egipti Episcopos And as these Protestants tell vs his successor S. Iulius appointed appeales to the See of Rome and taught noe councel could bee kept lawfully without his consent Rob. Barns in vita Pontif. Roman in Iulio And two other Protestant Bishops speaking of this time affirme The canoÌ„ of the primatiue church made euery thinge voyde that was done without the Bishop of Rome Bilson true differ pag. 66.67 And againe The canon of the primatiue church forbad any councell to bee called without his consent Morton Appeale pag. 286. And to make all sure in this matter that the whole cleargie of Britanie and Christians vnder them at this time attributed this spirituall supreamacie to the Pope of Rome our Protestants haue told vs before which auncieÌ„t Authorities alsoe affirme Theater of greate Britanie l. 6. Sulpit. Seuer sacr histor lib. 2. Athan. apol l. 1. cont Ar. Concil Sardic can 4.7 that wee had of this nation diuers Bishops in the generall councell of Sardis a cytie of Lydia in Asia with 300. Bishops and therfore this kingedome with the rest acknowledged the supreamacie of the Pope of Rome in all places and that Appeales were to bee made to him as highest iudge And whereas the councell of Arles in Fraunce in the time of S. Siluester in the subscription of the Bishops there many Protestants and other Antiquaries assure vs Concil Arelat in subscript Theater of Brit. lib. 6. Stow histor in Lucius Godwyn catalog in London 1. that Restitutus our Archbishop of London was present there and subscribed for this nation that place beeinge soe remote from London wee must needs say that hee was called thither by the Pope of Rome or doe that which neuer any yett would allowe to graunt a superioritie vnto the Bishops of Fraunce ouer them of this kingedome And soe for those our Bishops which were at the councell of Ariminum in this time for noe others medled in these affaires in those dayes Which wee are further taught by the Example of our holy Bishop S. Ninian Capgrau in Catal. in Ninian Bed hist Anglic. Theater of greate Britanie lib. 6. Bal. centur 1. de script in Ninianâ—… Bernini whoe towards the later end of this centurie of yeares was made Bishopp at Rome by the Pope there and by him sent Apostle to the Western parts of Britanie to people there which had not yett receaued the faith of Christ Where hee conuerted the nation of the Picts preached
the ghospell through the contryes of the Britans Scots and Picts ordeyned there preists consecrated them Bishops and diuided the contry into parishes as both Catholicks and Protestants are witnesses Audiens Pontifex Romanus quosdam in occiduis Britanniae partibus necdum fidem Christi suscepisse ad Episcopatus gradum Ninianum consecrauit Concreditum à Deo talentum per Britannorum Scotorum australium Pictorum terras ad senium vsque latissimè profudit Ordinauit presbyteros Episcopos consecrauit totam terram per certas parochias diuisit And liuinge in this preachinge vntill hee was very ould as a Protestant Bishop writeth Bal. centur 1. in Ninian Palladio Patricio he died in the yeare of Christ 432. before which time S. Palladius S. Patricius SS Germanus and Lupus were sent hither by S. Celestine Pope of Rome And yett that hee came hither in the fourth century it is euident for in his cominge hither from Rome hee came by S. Martin Bishopp of Tours in Fraunce as Capgraue and others writte Ioh. Capgr in S. Ninian and yett by Sigebert and others S. Martine died within the first 400. yeares Sigebert in Chronic. ad an 399. In which time alsoe wee had Coelius Sedulius of this nation scholler as a Protestant Bishop writeth to Hildiberthus a learned Bishop of Scotland Ioh. Bal. centur 1. in Coel. Sedul after whose death hee trauailed many nations for learninge sake as Spayne France Italy and Asia and beeinge excellently learned returned to Rome where hee longe time continued and was soe learned holy and gratefull a man to the Popes of Rome that Pope Gelasius to vse the Protestants words in the decrees distinct 15. calleth him venerable Sedulius and much prayseth his writings Neyther can wee thinke otherwise of his Master Bishop Hildibertus of whome hee was instructed and directed in these courses And this Sedulius himselfe alsoe was a Bishop as both Sigebertus and Bostius our contryman and the Protestant Bishop Bale from them are wittnesses Sigebertus Bostius apud Bal. centur 1. de Script in Coel. Sedul In which time alsoe liued S. Kebius our Cornish Bishop successor though perhaps not immediate to S. Amphibalus in the Bishoprick of Mona Ioh. Capgrau in S. Kebio Harpesf histor pag. 26. Pits in Kebio Whoe liued longe time with S. Hilary Bishopp of Poicters in Fraunce that worthie piller of the true Catholick faith and honor of the church of Rome and Successor of Saint Peter there that hee calleth him Hilar. ad Psalm 131. in Matth. can 16. Ecclesiae fundamentum caelestis Regni Ianitor cuius arbitrio aeterni aditus traduntur cuius terrestre iudicium praeiudicata authoritas sit in caelo Foundation of the church porter of the kingedome of heauen The happy foundation of the church the blessed porter of heauen to wose will die eternall passadges are committed whose iudgement on earth is preiudicate authoritie in heauen Such a tutor pedagoge and consecrator alsoe had this our happie contryman Saint Kebius in those turbulent hereticall times of the Arrians and their opposition against the Romane church a greate meanes by this our holy Bishop S. Restitutus Fastidius Priscus our Archbishops then and other godly Bishops of this nation to preserue this kingedome in the true faith and obedience to the Pope of Rome in soe much that S. Hilarie himselfe lib. de Synodis aduersus Arr. commendeth the Bishops of Britanie for the sinceritie in those times to their eternall honor Hee dyed as our Protestants write in the yeare of Christ 370. And in this age alsoe was that renowned S. Vrsula with her glorious company of Bishops other cleargie men Virgins and others as those Protestants ar witnesses whoe as both Ptolomaeus Lucensis Capgraue the Antiquities of Collene and the German histories testifie Baleus centur 1. in Vrsula Cynosura an 390. Stowe histor an 394. in Theodosius Martyrolog Roman die 21. 22. Octob. Beda hac die Vandelbert Baron in annot Ptolom Lucens in S. Vrsula Capgrau in S. Vrsula Annal. Coloniens c. made that their moste holy pilgrimadge to Rome and at their returne receaued the crowne of Martyrdome at or neare Cullen in Germanie where as alsoe in the whole Christian world and both to their honor and the glory of our country they are celebrated in the most auncient Martyrologes in which sacred company as Capgrauius and diuers others testifie there were manye Bishops of this kingedome as namelie Willielmus or Michael Columbanus Ywanus Eleutherius and Lotharius Which I rather name that wee may know how this kingedome at that tyme both was soe replenished with Bishops that it might spare soe manie to bee sent from hence with those holy Virgins and to giue euidence how deuoted and respectiue the Bishops and cleargie with the rest the Christians of this kingedome were towards the See of Rome in these dayes THE FIFTE CENTVRIE OR HVNDRED YEARE THE IX CHAPTER Shewinge by these Protestants of England how both the Popes highest spiritual power was still here continued and a perpetuall succession of our Bishops and Cleargie alsoe in Britanie from the See of Rome as in the other Ages before NOw wee are come to the fift Century in the beginning whereof the first Fathers of Heresie and Opposers against the holy Apostolick See of Rome which I finde to haue beene of our Brittish nation were the monstrous rebellious Hereticks Pelagius and Timotheus not that I finde them more formally directly opposite to the See Apostolick then other Hereticks were but as the nature and necessitie of heresie is to bee euer contrarie and disobedient to their cheife iudge and commaunder in such cases the Pope of Rome with councels assembled for as our Protestants tell vs diuers Popes of Rome both by themselues and in councels had condemned Pelagius for an hereticke and yett hee obstinately persisted in his condemned errors Innocentius the first condemned Pelagius the monke and Coelestius of heresie for preferringe free vvill before the grace of God and sayd the vvil of man by it selfe was sufficient able to fulfill the cōmaundements of God and tooke avvay the necessitie of Baptisme and faith in Christ Rob. Barns in vit Pont. Rom. in Innocent Bal. centur 1. de Scriptorib in Pelagio heresiarcha Innocentius primus Pelagium monachum Coelestium haereseos damnauit quod liberū arbitrium gratiae Dei praeferrent dicerentque voluntatē per se sufficere ad implenda Dei mādata praesul ordinatus Pelagius sui nominis haeresim fabricabat asserens hominem sine peccato nasci ac solo voluntatis imperio sine gratia saluari posse vt ita nefarius baptismum ac fidem tolleret Pelagius after hee was made a Bishopp framed an heresie of his name affirminge that man was borne without sinne and by the onely commaunde of his wil without grace by Christ might bee saued that the wicked man might soe take away both baptisme and faith Pope Sozimus alsoe as these men
tell vs condemned this hereticke and to vse their wordes Rob. Barnes sup in Sozimo Papa That Sozimus might declare that nothinge was in any place ratified that was done in holy things except it were done by the Popes authoritie hee sent Faustinus a Bishop two preists to the councell of Carthadge The decrees of the councell were brought to Pope Sozimus which beeinge by him approued the Pelagian heresie was condemned euery where Vt Sozimus declararet nihil vsquam ratum fore quod in rebuâ—… sacris ageretur nisi id Romani Pontificis authoritate fieret Faustinum Episcopum duos presbyteros ad Cathaginensem Synodum misit Synodalia decreta ad Sozimum perlata sunt quibus approbatis Pelagiana haeresis passim damnata est Thus wee see by these Protestants that the Popes of Rome euen in this time when they were moste afflicted and Rome it selfe taken and sacked by Gothes in the time of this Pope Barns supr beeinge Pope but one yeare 3. moneths and twelue dayes Sozimo Pontifice Roma à Gothis capta est They still exercised and practised this highest spirituall power in all places euen in Africk as these Protestants assure vs and not onely in Europe where our Britanie is In which they shewed and exercised this their highest supreamacy in many and diuers matters in that time And first in this Busines of Pelagius the monke or Abbot of Bangor in Wales Thus writeth a Protestant Bishop with consent of Antiquities Bal. centur 1. de Scriptor in Palladio Graeco Hector Boeth hist Scotor l. 7. fol. 132.133 Holinsh. histor of Scotland Ed. Grymston cap. Relig. of Scotland pag. 20. Prosper in Chronico Palladius Graecus à Caelestino Romanorum Pontifice Antistes mittebatur vt Pelagianam haeresim quae tunc magnam Britanniae partem inquinauerat à Britannorum gente arceret atque Scotorum populum ad veram pictatem à qua continua bellorum atrocitate paulùm aberrarit rite reduceret Hunc ferunt concionibus pijs à quibusdam gentilium superstitiuÌ„culis ecclesias illas purgasse atque ob id in hodiernum vsque diem Scotorum Apostolus appelatur Palladius a Graecian was by Celestine Pope of Rome sent a Bishop to driue from the nation of the Britans the Pelagian heresie which then had defiled a great part of Britanie and rightly to reduce the Scots to true pietie from which by the continuall crueltie of wars they had erred The saying is that with his godly sermons hee purged those churches from some superstitions of the gentiles and soe is to this day called the Apostle of the Scots Here wee see it first left to the Popes Iudgment what was heresie to bee condemned what was error to bee recalled superstition to bee reformed and in his power spirituall the temporall Romane then hauinge nothing to doe in any part of this Iland to assigne and send a Bi-Bishop and Apostle to that nation which was neuer subiect either in temporall respects to the Romane Emperors whoe soe performed the highest sacred duties and authoritie in that church that as before and by all writers hee is called Scotorum Apostolus the Apostle of the Scots as iustlie hee deserued it settling all things there by his legatine power makinge a Bishop an Archbishop and the like matters of greatest Iurisdiction as namely S. Seruanus Bishop of the Orchads and S. Teruanus Archbishop of the Picts Palladius Seruanum Episcopum ad Orchadas Insulas missum vt Populum rudem christiana pietate institueret creauit Teruanum quem InfanteÌ„ lustrico lauerat fonte PictoruÌ„ Archiepiscopum constituit Palladius created Seruanus a Bishopp and sent him to the Orchads Ilands to instruct the rude people in the christian faith and hee appointed Teruanus whome hee baptized when hee was an Infant to bee Archbishop of the Picts Hector Boeth hist. Scotor l. 7. folio 133. pag. 1. Georg. Buchan Rerum Scoticar l. 5. Rege 42. pag. 146. Polidor Verg. hist. Anglic. l. 3. pag. 58.59 Thus the Scottish histories teach vs. By which it is euident that the whole state of the church of Scots and Picts alsoe was then settled by the Authoritie of this Roman Legate and that the other Gouernors which he appointed in it were alsoe sent from Rome for if Teruanus whom hee appointed Archbishop of the Picts was baptized when hee was but an Infant as these Scottish historians tell vs hee was baptized at Rome or those parts where S. Palladius then liued not in this kingdome where it is confessed by all antiquities that S. Palladius liued a verie short time And S. Teruanus beeinge made by him an Archbishopp amonge the Picts it both informeth that there were other Bishops there vnder him els he could not bee Archbishop cheefe of the Bishops there and maketh probable that S. Ninian whoe as a Protestant Bishop writeth Bal. cent 1. in Ninian Bernic died about this time was alsoe Archbishopp there and now dyinge Teruanus was by Palladius his legatine power ordeyned his successor or that both these were Archbishops of Yorke soe appointed by the See of Rome and named Bishops of the Picts because they with other prouinces were subiect to the Archbishops See of Yorke a subordination neyther altered by S. Celestine or any other Pope vntill such time as I haue before declared except in such extraordinary cases of special legats sent immediately from Rome with cheife authoritie such as S. Palladius was whoe by that prerogatiue exercised this iurisdiction extraordinarily in consecrating and instituting Bishops within the limits of the Metropolitane of Yorke which ordinarily belonged vnto his See by the order of Pope Eleutherius from the beginning of our publick receauing of the faith of Christ And the same care and chardge which S. Celestine then Pope of Rome tooke of the Scots and Picts at this time the same alsoe hee had and as cheife pastor performed both to this kingedome of Britanie and Ireland alsoe Concerning Britanie these Protestants assure vs that when Pelagius was dead before and his heresies by many Popes and councells condemned yett it beeing maintayned here by Leporius Agricola a very learned Hereticke Bal. centur 1. de scriptor in Leporio Agricola l. 2. de Act. Pontif. Rom. in Celestino Rob. Barns l. de vita Pontif. Roman in Caelestin That Saint Palladius of whome I haue spoken the Popes Legate in Scotland informed S. Celestine Pope hereof whoe therevppon sent the twoe french Bishops Germanus and Lupus hither to strengthen the Britans in the true doctrine of heaueÌ„ly grace and to coÌ„fute the wicked doctrine of the sufficiency of mans vvorkes vvithout the grace of Christ. Quod per Palladium audieÌ„s Caelestinus Pontifex Romanus Germanum Antissiodorensem Lupum Tracafessum Gallicanos Episcopos illuc misit vt Britannos in fide gratiae caelestis solidarent impiam atque Hipocriticam humanorum operum doctrinam confutarent And that wee may bee fully informed that S. Celestine the Pope did not send these two holy
before and that by the Popes approbation I will shew herafter And it seemeth to bee certayne both by himselfe and others that this Protestant Bishop where hee speaketh of the kings and peoples election did add it of his owne Inuention for both by others and himselfe alsoe in other places there is no such thinge in this narration Iohn Capgraue whome this man much commendeth thus relateth this history Godwin Conuers of Brit. Cum Sanctus Germanus Lupus haeresim illam Pelagianam extirpassent Episcopos in pluribus locis Britanniae consecrarunt dextralis partis Britanniae beatum Dubritium summum Doctorem Archiepiscopum statuerunt Landauensem ecclesiam in honore beati Petri fundatam sedem cathedralem collocarunt collatis autem ecclesiae Landauensi à Rege multis possessionibus ecclesijs Dubricius discipulos per ecclesias diuisit quasdam nouas ecclesias fundauit Danielem in Episcopum Bangerensem Sanctum Iltutum in loco ab illo Lanitut id est Ecclesia Iltuti vocatum ordinauit Ioh. Capgrauius in Catalog in S. Dubritio When S. Germanus and Lupus had rooted out that Pelagian heresie they consecrated Bishops in many places of Britanie they appointed blessed Dubritius cheife Doctor and Archbishop of the right hand part of Britanie and placed the church of Landaffe founded in honor of S. Peter the cathedrall See and many possessions and parishes being giuen by the kinge to the church of Landaffe Dubricius diuided his disciples by the churches builded some new churches Hee ordeyned Daniel Bishop of Bangor and S. Iltutus in a place called of him Lanitut that is the church of Iltutus The very same words without any word added or detracted ar in the life of S. Dubritius in the greate old Manuscript of many Saints written diuers hundreds of yeares since Manuscript antiquum permagnum pr. gloriosi ac Deo dilecti in S. Dubricio And both these Antiquities teach with all others that Aurelius Ambrosius kinge was here at that time with generall commaund and that hee with the whole cleargie consented to haue S. Dubritius Archbishop of Wales and S. Sampson of Yorke their words bee Sancti Episcopi praedicti consentiente Rege Ambrosio Aurelio necnon omni clero Dubritium Archiepiscopum consecrarunt The twoe holy Bishops S. Germanus and Lupus the kinge Ambrosius Aurelius and all the cleargie consentinge consecrated Dubritius Archbishop and againe Impositum est Diadema capiti Regis Aurelij Ambrosij de communi consensu sedem Eboracensem contulit Sampsoni viro Sancto vrbis verò Legionum Archiepiscopatum inclito Dubritio dedit Aurelius Ambrosius was crowned kinge and by common consent of the Legats and cleargie hee bestowed the See of Yorke on Sampson an holy man and the Archbishoprick of Caerlegion on renowned Dubritius Soe that it clearely appeareth that if there was any such kinge as Monric at that time he was but a little Regulus in the cōtry about Lantaui and perhaps temporall Lord of that place and soe his consent for the settlinge of the Archbishops See there by the Legats was requisite and graunted and in noe other sence For this Protestant Bishop himselfe Godwin Catalog in S. Dauies Roger Houeden Matth. Parker antiquit Britan. Producer of this Antiquitie is wittnes with all writers that at this time and at the cominge of S. Augustine soe longe after the Bishopricks of Exeter in Deuonshire Bathe in Sommersettshire Hereford and Worcester which could not belonge to any petty Prince or Regulus were subiect to that Archiepiscopall See therefore such things were rather done by the direction or cōmaund of the Legats Iubente Sancto Germano as our Protestants publish in their Brittish history Galfrid monum histor Reg. Britan. lib. 6. c. 14. And as much confessed by this Protestant Bishop himselfe in diuers others places and in these plaine termes Godwin Catalog in S. Dauids in Dubritius Dubritius was made Archbishopp of all Walles by Germanus and Lupus twoe Bishops of Fraunce that were entreated by Aurelius Ambrosius the Kinge or Ruler of Britanie to come ouer and yeeld their best helpe for extinguishing the Pelagian heresie that had then taken great roote in this contry And they appointed his See to bee at Landaff which soone after was remoued to Caerlegion vppon Vske in Monmoutshire And in an other place thus hee writeth Godwyn Catalog in Landaff 1. in Dubritius The cathedral church of Landaffe is reported to haue beene first built in the time of Lucius about the yeare of Christ 180. But I perceiue not that any Bishop satt there before Dubritius that by Germanus Bishop of Altisiodore and Lupus of Trecasia tvvo Bishops of Fraunce vvas first consecrate Archbishop of those parts and sate sometimes at Caerleon sometimes at Landaffe Where hee quite forgetteth his kinge Monric attributinge all to the Popes Legates And a little after citinge the very same booke of Landaffe which hee did before hee produceth many Bishops of that See to haue excommunicated the kinges or princes of that contry of which hereafter Godvvyn Catalog of Bish. in Landaff pag. 518.520.521.523 edit an 1615. Soe that there is not the leaste suspition left eyther by the booke of Landaffe or any antiquitie but the cheife spirituall power and iurisdiction in this kingedome was euer acknowledged generally to be in the holy Apostolick See of Rome and at this time executed here by those holy Legats from thence Which more appeareth in this holy Archbishop S. Dubritius whoe was not onlie thus consecrated and disposed of in those highest spirituall affaires by authoritie from Rome but was alsoe himselfe the Popes Legate here in Britanie as Robertus Caenalis the french Bishop the Brittish history and other witters say Robert Caenal Gallic hist. l. 1. perioche 6. Galfr. monum l. 9. cap. 12. histor Brit. Ex Vrbe Legionū Dubritius hic Britaniae primas Apostolicae sedis Legatus tanto religione clarebat vt quemcumque langore grauatis orationibus suis sanaret Dubritius Archbishop of Caerlegion Primate of Britanie and legate of the See Apostolicke was soe holy that hee healed all sick parsons by his prayers Therefore beeing the Popes Legate and liuinge here soe longe vntill the yeare of Christ 522. as two Protestant Bishops tell vs. Godwyn sup Bal. centur 1. in Dubricius And Primate of Britanie there can bee noe doubt of the Popes power here in this time if wee had noe other instances and Arguments to Insist vpon in this matter for those daies But these Protestant Antiquaries Galfrid monum histor Reg. Britan l. 6. c. 13. Io. Capgrau Catal. in S. Dubritij Manuscript of Saints old in Dubrit and others tell vs that these Legats thus sent from the Pope did not come hither onely to extirpate those heresies but to preach the true Religion in all other things for the christianitie of the Britans was then corrupted not onely by the Pelagian heresie but by the Pagans which the kinge had brought hither
therof did acknowledge as great power in the See of Rome in matters concerning this nation as any catholick now may yeeld vnto it for our auntient publick lawes warranted by our Protestants thus Instruct vs. Leges S. Eduardi titul de iure appendicijs coronae Regui Britanniae Guliel Lamb. sup p. 137.238 Hackluit booke of trauailes pag. 244. Impetrauit temporibus illis Arthurus Rex à Domino Papa á a Curia Romana quod confirmata sit Norweia in perpetuum coronae Britanniae in augmentum Regni huius vocauitque illam Arthurus Cameram Britanniae Hac vero de causa dicunt Norwegienses se debere in regno isto cohabitare dicunt se esse de corpore regni huius scilicet de corona Britanniae Thus in english by a Protestant minister kinge Arthur obteyned in those dayes of the Pope and Court of Rome that Norway should bee for euer annexed to the crowne of Britanie for the enlardgment of this kingdome and hee called it the chamber of Britanie For this cause the Norses say that they ought to dwell with vs in this kingedome to witt that they belonge to the crowne of Britanie And if wee would bee as little beholding to the See of Rome for confirming Norway to this kingedom as to Pope Eleutherius before to the Ilands and say kinge Arthur claymed Norway by a former Title as Dēmarke was before or Iurebelli as a conqueror and the Pope did nothinge but confirme these or one of these Titles it sufficeth to asscribe the iudgment of that question to the See Apostolicke This seemeth to mee to confesse and acknowlege greate and ample prerogatiue in the Pope of Rome in spirituall maters and directing also of temporal to a spiritual end as Catholicks now attribute vnto him or hee demaunde And yett wee are by these Protestans whoe freely acknowledge the Popes and church of Rome then to haue beene holy assured that the holy Pope and court of Rome soe practized it That our kinge Christianus optimus fuit kinge Arthur was an exceeding good christian who sought accepted it both he the Bishop cleargie and the whole kingedome soe approued thereof that it was by publick authoritie receaued for a lawe in this nation and ratified both by our Britās Saxons Normans after them For it is set downe in this lawe before that from that time the Norses or Norwegians claymed priuiledge to bee free here by those proceedings Which is more plainly expressed afterward in the same lawe in these words by Protestants translation The people of Norvvay may and ought from henceforth dvvel remaine in this kingdome vvith vs as our louinge and svvorne Brethren Qua de causa possint debent praedicti decaetero nobiscū cohabitare remanere in regno sicut coniurate fratres nostri Guliel Lamb. in leg Eduardi sup Richard Hackluyt p. 245. And the motiue whereupon the Pope then soe proceeded in annexing and confirminge the kingdome of Norway to the crowne of Britanie seemeth to bee the very same the spirituall good both of that contrie this kingedome alsoe and the church of God in ordine ad spiritualia Which the present Pope and Catholicque diuines alledge ordinarilie for priuiledges of the See Apostolicke in such causes the spirituall good and helpe of all or many and hurt of none at all For besides many histories of those times soe testifyinge and to bee passed ouer it is recorded in these verie lawes themselues soe warranted by Protestants and antiquities Leges S. Edwardi supr titul de Iure Appendicijs Fuerunt gentes ferae indomitae non habuerunt legem Dei nec proximi fuerunt autem ibi Christiani occultè Arthurus autem Christianus optimus fuit fecit eos baptizari vnum Deum per totam Norweiam venerari vnam fidem Christi semper inuiolatam custodire caperunt vniuersi proceres Norweia vxores suas de nobili gente Britonum tempore illo vnde Norwegienses dicunt se exijsse de gente sanguine regnihuius They were wilde and barbarous nations They had not the lawe of God nor neighbour but there were Christians there secretly But kinge Arthur was an exceeding good Christian and caused them to bee baptized and throughout all Norway to worship one God and to receaue and keepe the faith of Christ inuiolably all the noble men of Norway tooke wiues of the noble nation of the Britans Whereuppon the Norwegians say that they ar descended of the race and blood of this kingedome And then immediatly followeth that which is cited before The aforesaid kinge Arthur obteyned in those daies of the Pope and Court of Rome that Norway should bee for euer annexed to the crovvne of Britanie Whereby it seemeth by these Protestants the motiue of the Pope to ioyne Norway to the crowne of Britany was the spiritual good of both kingdomes and the church of God kinge Arthur soe worthie a christian hauing procured soe straunge and happy an alteration in the kingedome of Norway his victories there against the barbarous giuing free libertie and accesse to such christian preachers as by the Popes licence and allowance were directed thither For S. Kentegern made Bishop by S. Palladius the Popes Legate if wee may beleeue the puritan historian of Scotland vvent seuen times to Rome and the Pope sent him to performe the worke of the ministry enioyned him by the holy ghost Vir Dei septies Romam adiens sanctus Papa illum virum Dei Spiritus sancti gratia plenie intelligens in opus ministerij à Spiritu sancto illi iniuncti destinauit Georg. Buchan Rerum Scotic l. 5. Rege 42. pag. 146. Ioh. Capgr in Catal. in S. Kentegerno And as our Protestants with others testifie this Apostolick man thus warranted and priuiledged sent of his disciples some to the Orchades to Norway and Island that they might receaue the light of faith by their instructions For hee had in his colledge at Elguel in Walles three hundred sixtie and fiue learned men allwayes soe prepared to preach Bal. l. de Scriptor centur 1. in Kentegerno Elguensi Cap. supr eod Hector Boeth Scot. hist. l. 9. Ex discipulis suis quosdam ad Orchadas ad Norwegiam Islandiam misit vt eorum instructionibus fidei lumen reciperent nam in Elguensi collegio trecentos sexaginta quinque literatos viros ad id semper paratos hahebat And to add further to the honor of the See Apostolick of Rome by the example of this moste blessed man S. Kentegern hee neuer beeing but an ordinary Bishop somtimes in Walles sometimes in Scotland yett by the priuiledge hee had from the Popes of Rome in that kinde besides his labors here in Britanie Norway and the remembred other places to write in a Protestant Bishops words Ioh. Bal. centur 1. in Kentegerno in Elguen Formam primitiuae seruauit Ecclesiae Apostolico more pedes ad praedicandum porrexit plaerosque ad fidem
S. Dauid was deade were longe time liuing ruling after this and yett such patrons of the Romane spirituall power with their whole cleargie as before is euidently proued by these Protestants that noe Catholick may yeeld more to the See of Rome in these then they did in those dayes And if S. Dauid was deade yett the next successors of him in that Archiepiscopall See which were Cenauc and S. Teliaus or Eliud must needs alsoe succeed him in that opinion of him towards the Roman See for though little is written of Bishop Cenauc but onely that hee was Bishop of Patern and after successor to S. Dauid in the See Archiepiscopall of S. Dauids this sufficiently conuinceth it for the Bishoprick of Paterne beeing then vnder the iurisdiction of S. Dauid 〈◊〉 cannot thinke that the Bishop thereof was otherwise affected in this matter then his soe holye and learned Metropolitane to whome hee owed obedience And his very beeing Archbishop of Meneuia immediatly after S. Dauid doth proue the same by these Protestants before Godwyn Catal. in S. Dauids Girald Cambr. itiner Cambr. antiquit eccles Meneuen apud Godwyn supr whoe haue tould vs that by the power of the Romane See Meneuia was made the Metropolis and this Bishop did not nor could accept it in any other sence or by other Title of S. Teliaus the matter is more manifest more beeinge written of him by Protestants and others that hee was Scholler to S. Dubritius the Popes Legate the vndiuided companion of S. Dauid in their holy pilgrimadge not onely soe farr as Rome but to Hierusalem it selfe where hee was consecrated Bishop and after his returne home and the death of Cenauc beeing Archbishop of Meneuia then had principalitie ouer all the churches of the west Britanie vnto the end of his life Principatum super omnes ecclesias occidentalis Britannia vsque ad â—…em vitae sua tenuit Godwyn in Landaffe Girald Cambr. Caius antiquit Cantabrig l. 1. pag. 146. Catal. Epis Landaf Ioh. Capgr in Catal in S. Thellao Engl. Martyrol die 25. Nouember And was Archbishop there at and after alsoe by some the death of S. Augustine For it is euident by the Brittish historie as it is allowed by our Protestants and by their owne chronologie of the kings of Britanie that S. Dauid himselfe liued within 16. yeares of S. Augustines coming hither Galfrid monum histor Reg. Brit. l. 11. cap. 3. Tunc obijt sanctissimus vrbis Legionum Archiepiscopus Dauid Meneuia ciuitate intra Abbatiam suam iubente Malgone Venedotorum Rege in eadem Ecclesia sepultus pro eo ponitur in Metropolitana sede Kincos Lampaternensis Ecclesia Antistes ad altiorem dignitatem promouetur Then Dauid the moste holy Archbishop of the citie of Legions died in the citie of Meneuia within his owne Abbey and by commande of Malgo kinge of North walles was buried in the same church Kincus hee which by others before is called Cenauc Bishopp of the church of Patern is placed in the Metropolitane See and promoted to an higher dignitie For as these Protestants Matthew of Westminster and others are witnesses Protest Catalog Rer. Britan. in Malgo. Matth. West an 586 581. this kinge began his Reigne in the yeare of Christ 581. or 580. so that by this calculation there cannot bee from the death of S. Dauid dyinge in this kings time and the coming of S. Augustine hither by all accompts in the yeare 596. aboue 15. or 16. yeares at the moste Soe that wee either must say these two Successor of S. Dauid liued a very short time after they were called to that dignitie the contrarie whereof is sett downe before or that S. Telaus this patrone of the See of Rome and a canonized Saint of that church was liuing in the time of S. Augustines preaching in this kingedome Which is the more confirmed by all those histories which relate the opposition of some Brittish Bishops and religions men against S. Augustine Bed lib. 2. histor cap. 2. Galfrid mon. lib. 11. hist. Matth. Westm. an 603. Capgran in S. Augustino and speaking of an Archbishop of the citie of Legions and yett not anie one of them maketh the least mention that any Archbishop did either resist S. Augustine or pretend the least dislike of the spirituall supreamacie in the See of Rome or gainesay any order or decree of the blessed Pope S. Gregorie which sent him hither nor any Protestants though diuers of them name the Bishops as they coniecture which resisted S. Augustine Matth. Parker ant Britan. in August Godwyn Conuers of Brit. Stowe histor in Ethelb Bal. l. de Act. Pont. Rom. in Gregor 1. doe once name S. Telaus or any Archiepiscopal See at S. Dauids or anye other place in Walles at that time to haue consented to that opposition Hardinge in his Cronicle maketh this matter playne that the Britans which gainsaid S. Augustine did not deny the supreame spirituall power of the Pope of Rome in Britanie at that time but rather defended and maintayned it and thereby alsoe as they thought did iustely refuse S. Augustine for when hee demaunded obedience of them thus they answeared by this Author Ioh. Hardinge Chronicle cap. 88. in Ethelbert kinge of Saxons fol. 83.84 To which BritoÌ„s answeared that they not knew That hee had such estate in all Britanie For they had three Archbishops to obeyu Of Caerlion London and Yorke citie By Bishops of Rome graunted to vs ordinate Full longe afore yee had such dignitie Wherefore wee will obey noe nevv primate And specially none English nevv prelate For Englishmen and Saxons haue vs noyed And haue our Land and all our kyn destroyed Where wee see the Britans were soe far from disallowinge the Popes Authoritie in such things that by the same they both claymed and maintayned the power and prerogatiues of three Archbishops amonge them now foure hundred yeares since But these Protestants themselues with others acknowledge that the moste renowned Bishops that were in this kingedome at that time both receaued the Authoritie of the Pope of Rome and submitted themselues to S. Augustine his holy Legate Of the holines and learninge of S. Assaph I haue spoken before yett a Protestant Bishop saith of him Bal. centur 1. in Assaph A Gregorij Pontificis Romani discipulis Angliam aduentantibus authoritatem accepit hee receaued authoritie from the disciples of Gregorie the Pope of Rome that came into England S. Asaph in the life of his Master S. KeÌ„tegern Capgraue and others after affirme as much of S. Kentegern S. Assaph Ioh. Capgrau in vit S Kentegerni that hee did acknowledg this high power in S. Gregory the Pope and receaued power and confirmation from him All our histories with generall consent affirme the same of S. Lethardus the french Bishop that liued with Queene Bertha in Kent I haue proued the same of S. Iuo the Persian Archbishop that then preached in Huntington-shire Of S. Telaus alsoe the Archbishop of
not consent to the deposition of kinge Frequahard to gaine a kingedome when his Brother Domoald and all those Scots which by these Protestants then opposed against the Popes Authoritie performed this with great Ioy and triumphe Of kinge Frequahard the second they write in this order Holinsh. histor of Scotl. pag. 114. Buchan Rer. Scoticar l. 5. Reg. 54. Hee was couetous wicked towards God a Tormentor of the iust and righteous people insatiable in all vnlawfull affections such of the prelates as hee vnderstood to bee wealthie hee rested not till hee had picked one matter or other vnto them vvhereby they vvere suer to forfeite all their Treasure vnto his coffers Buchanan addeth which I am ashamed to translate Buchan supr Eandem in suos furorem vertit Iugulata vxore stupratis filiabus ob haec scelera communione christianoruÌ„ fuit exclusus For these wicked offences hee was excluded from the communion of Christians Holinsh. supr The Bishops of the Realme namely those tvvo reuerend Fathers Colman Finnan perceyuinge such wickednes in the prince blamed him sharply sondry times for the same and at length because they savv hee regarded not their admonishments hee vvas by them excommunicated Thus continuinge certaine yeares in his vvickednes at length the nobles began to conspire against him soe that they vvould haue deuised a meane hovv to haue ridd him out of the vvay if Bishop Colman had not forbidd them that practise Then followeth how beeing miserably punished for his sinnes and beeinge at the last penitent hee was absolued of his excommunication by the same Bishop Colman whoe was that great opposer against the disciples of Saint Gregory and Saint Augustine and disputant for the Scots against S. Wilfride And the Bishops of Walles which were in the same opposition to the disciples of S. Gregory the Pope were in the same case by these Protestants One a Bishop and antiquary amonge them writeth from the antient antiquities of that nation Godvvin Catalog in Landaff Annal. eccles Landaffen in Oudoceus 3. Kinge Morcant hauinge killed one Frioc his Vncle beeinge therefore excommunicate by the Bishop vppon his absolution besides a graunt of diuers priuiledges vnto the church of Landaff gaue Cyncirill and certaine land called Cynfall as alsoe the churches of Ythat-Haffern In Guruan 10. Bishop Guruan excommunicated Tendur king of Brechinianc for killing Engistill a kinge of that contry trecherously for absolutioÌ„ had from him the guift of Lannihangel tref ceriaÌ„c Guoderec slew his owne Brother Merchion In Greciclus for which deed hee was by Bishop Grecielus excoÌ„municate and enioyned by way of penance before hee might bee absolued to spend a yeare in pilgrimadge to the church of Dola in little Brittanie Garcan the sonne of GuinaÌ„ In Berthygion 14. kept his owne stepmother and beeing excommunicate for that Incest gaue to the Bishop Marchywis In Bish. Cerenhir 18. Houel Kinge of Glewissig by periury circuÌ„uented GalluÌ„ the sonne of Cidrich for which hee was held vnder excommunication by the space of a yeare at the time of his absolution hee gaue Merthir-buceil Merthirminor Tircollan Like was the case of Ili the sonne of Conblus whoe vpon the like occasion gaue Gulipe Aquod sonne of Ioua falling out with the Bishop draue him and his men into the church of Landaff threw stones at them into the very church for soe doinge hee was excommunicate and to bee absolued was glad to giue Pennoun with the church of Lautilul and certaine other Lands In Bish. Ioseph 28. Monric Kinge of Glamorgan beeinge excommunicate for puttinge out the eyes of Ergum the sonne of Guriat of Gueinscot in the time of a truce to haue his absolution gaue Painiprisc Whoe desireth more of such proceedings by the Britans soe recommended by Protestants may enquire theÌ„ in the auntient Annals of Landaffe and this Protestant Bishop Francis Godwin Protestant Bishop there who in his treatise of that See is very plentifull in such Examples And this shall suffice for this short historie of the Popes preeminence and proceedings here from the beginning of our first faith in Christ by them and their happie instruments therein By whome whose preeminence spirituall this kingdome from that time hath receaued many greate and irrecomprehensible graces and benefites both spiritual temporal to bynde vs euerlastingly to honor and reuerence with al dutie that Apostolick See and cheifest pastors thereof successors to our most glorious first Fathers and founders in the faith of Christ and our cheife Sheephards on earth except wee will desperately runne away and cast our selues out of the blessed flock and folde of the militant church of God out of which there is noe saluation FINIS Faults escaped Pag. 42. line 1. distributor reade distribution pag. 52. line 19. there nowned reade the renowned pag. 153. line 19. this reade these AN ADVETISEMENT Whereas in the first hundred yeare it is as suppose written in the story of S. Mansuetus that Ireland was neuer plainely called Scotia I wish it thus to bee qualified pag. 34. For if we graunt as some few write that Ireland hath beene called Scotia or Scotia Maior Scotland or the greater Scotland yett that is very seldome found in histories but it is commonly called in them auntient and late Hibernia Iuernia Inuernia and Ierne Iris and Ogigia little Brittanie and by the Irish themselues Erin when the part of great Britanie after the name of Albania ceased is commonly in all historians named Scotia Scotland Aristotil l. de mundo Pompon Mela l. 3. Solinus Poly. histor c. 25. Strab. l. 4. Iuuenal Satyr 2. Claudian l. 7. Stangh Hunfrid Lhuid Stow Holinshâ—â— hist. Hect. Boeth Buchan Capgr in Catalog â—… Gryimst in Ireland
eate you all of this for this is my bodie which shal be broken for many Likewise also hee tooke the cup after hee had supped the day before hee suffered looked to heauen to thee ô holy Father eternall God giuinge thankes blessed it gaue it to his Apostles and disciples sayinge take you and drinke you all of it for this is my blood Behold all those wordes are the Euangelists vntill those take and drinke either body or blood After they bee the words of Christ take drinke you all of it For this is my blood Consider euery thing who the day before saith hee that hee suffered hee tooke breade in his holy hands before it is consecrated it is breade but after the words of Christ come vnto it it is the bodie of Christ 11. The like hee hath in other places so haue other auncient and holy Fathers and so plainely that our protestants themselues doe freely graunt Foxe Tom 2. act and Monum in Queene Mary that it was so practised and deliuered by the Apostles themselues and that it was further the expresse commaundement of Christ to vse those or their equiualents words verba institutionis caenae râ—…citata omnino videntur Nam Paulus ea non frustra 1. Cor. 11. repetit quidem annexum mandatum hoc facite in mei commemorationem postulat vt historia illa de institutione passione Christi recolatur vt Paulus 1. Cor. 10. The words of the institution of the supper doubtles were recited in the Apostles time for Paul doth not in vaine repeate them in his first Epistle and eleuenth chapter to the Corinthiens and certes the commaundement of Christ do this in commemoration of mee doth require that the history of the institution and passion of Christ bee related as Paul witnesseth 1. Cor. 10. Magdeburgen centur 1. l. 2. cap. 6. col 500. c. Ritus circa caenam Domini Therefore by all consents this holy Pope exercisinge supreame spirituall iurisdiction in all places and beeinge so famous a massinge Pope and still retayninge the Masse of the Apostles and by some as before sendinge preists into this our Britanie neither these which he is supposed to haue sent hither or those others which stil after this suruiued of this natioÌ„ were or could bee any others then sacrificinge massinge preists neither our Christian Brittans at Rome so neare vnto him bee others then hearers or sayers of holie Masse 12. Successor to S. Alexander was S. Sixtus the first of that name who as these protestants tell vs was Pope ten yeares three moneths and 21. dayes succeedinge his blessed predecessor as well in this opinion and practise of sacrificinge preisthood and holy Masse as in the papall dignitie for as these men say Robert Barnes in vit Pontific Rom. in Sixton Io. Func l. 5. commentar in Sixto 1. an 121. sacra vasa ne quis praeter sacros ministros attingerent praecepit Quod corporale appellant ex lineo panno fieri iussit Missam non nisi in altari celebrandam esse constituit Hee commaunded that none but sacred ministers should handle the sacred vessels that which they call the corporall hee commaunded to be made of linnen cloath He ordeyned that Masse should not be celebrated but vpon an altare And so wee are assured by these enemies to holy Masse and sacrificinge preisthood that he in all places maintained both for hee was so absolute for the Popes supreamacy euen by these witnesses that hee gaue power to all ecclesiasticall ministers to appeale from their Bishop to the Pope of Rome Ab Episcopo ad Romanum Pontificem appellandi ius dedit ecclesiasticis ministris 13. Successor to S. Sixtus was Telesphorus both in dignitie and doctrine also by the warrant of these protestaÌ„ts for by them hee was so deuoted a defendor and teacher of sacrificinge preisthood and holy Masse that hee decreed euery preist should say three Masses vpon Christ-Masse day and an other dayes they shoulde not say Masse before the third hower of the day Hee commaunded that the songe of the Angels glory to God on high should bee sunge at Masse Yet say two Protestant Bishops and one theire primate there is nothing conteyned in gloria in excelsis but the same is taken out of the scriptures and to bee vsed of all true Christians Telesphorus who added it was a good Bishop a man notable for learninge and pietie eruditione ac pietate vir insigius and the church of Rome as yet pure in doctrine Rob. Barn supr in Telesphor Func l. 5. comment an 129. Stowe and Howes histor in Helius Adrian Cartwright adm Whitguift answ to admonit pag. 101. def pag. 602. Bal. l. 1. de act Pontif Rom. in Telesphor 14. S. Higinius succeedinge succeeded also by these protestants as well in exercising spirituall supreamacy ouer all Bishops decreeinge that no Metropolitane shoulde condemne any Bishop of his Prouince without the aduise of the other Bishops And for sacrificinge preisthood and Masse hee honored them so much that liuinge in the time of the Emperor Antonius Pius a fauourer of Christians he decreed that Christian churches should be dedicated with solemne rite of sacrifice of Masse Cum solemni ceremoniarum sacrificiorum ritu dedicanda esse Io. Funcc l. 5. commentar an 141. Rob. Barn in Higin supr and by an other protestant Templa dedicare cum solemni ceremonia sacrificio iussit In this Popes time as many of our protestant antiquaries with others from antiquities tell vs we had manie godlie Christian preachers and preists in Britanie which by so many testimonies before without any exception must needes be sacrificing massing preists and by many authorities conuerted many to that holy faith and sacrificinge massinge Religion of Christ in this kingdome Annal. Burton an 140. or 141. Harrison descript of Britanie Io. Caius l. 1. antiq Cantabrig Theater of great Britanie l. 6. Harris Theat Tom. 2. and no meruaile wheÌ„ so many Authors write that in one towne of Cambridge there were theÌ„ nyne such learned ChristiaÌ„s of that only place a schole of learninge at and diuers hundreds of yeares before that time as the antiquities and antiquaries of that vniuersitie informe vs. And no man can doubt of many such preists being here then if he duely consider the difficulties of a generall conuersion of so large and Idolatrous sauage nation as this at that time was and how all agree it was wholly conuerted long before the death of Kinge Lucius who by Matthew of Westminster commended by our protestants for an exact calculator of times and others beeinge borne in the 115. yeare of Christ was at the death of this Pope holdinge the papacie but 4. yeares 3. moneths and a very fewe dayes 35. yeares of age and had bene Kinge 25. yeares his Father Coillus dying when hee was but 10. yeares olde and yet by all antiquities in all his life euen before his owne conuersion a great frend and fauourer of Christians and this his kingedome