Epi. 59. testifieth who rebuketh her therfore And her Bishop was not sent to preach to the English Other nations neglect vs and onely Rome helpeth but as Beda saith lib. 1. c. 25. to assist her and help her in her faith Nether doth he make any mention of this Bishops preaching to our Nation And for other Nations about vs S. Gregory lib. 5. Epist 59. writeth that he heard that the English would willingly be come Christians Sed Sacerdotes qui in vicino sunt Pastoralem erga eos Curam nō habere but that the Priests about them tooke no care of them Be it therfor certaine that the first that preached Christian faith to our English Nation was S. Austin Hovv S. Austin is our Apostle Malm. l. 1. Hist c. 2. Godvvin in vit Augustin Holinshead Chro. an 602. Apologie for oath of allegiance p. 92. 93. Iouius descript Britan whome therfor Pope Honorius lit ad Regem Edwin apud Bedam lib. 2. c. 17. King Withlaf as we heard before and catholick English writers and some Protestants also as Cambden Descript Britan. pag. 515. and 178. Bale cent 13. c. 7. cent 14. c. 13. call the Apostle of England Nether ought Sutclif or others to be offended with this title because wee call not him absolutly an Apostle or Apostle of the whole world as the 12. were who were sent in Vniuersum mundum but with this restriction of England So S. Paul called Epaphroditus the Apostle of the Philippians Philip. 2. and Protestants call Tindal and Latimer Apostles of England as yow may see in Bale cent 8. c. 72. 85. and Fox CHAP. III. That S. Austin and his fellowes preaching tooke great effect in ou English Nation BEcause some Ministers albeit they can not deny but S. Austin preached the faith of Christ here in England yet will extenuatt his benefit as much as they can say that onely a few Saxons were behoulding vnto him Ministers vngratul Sutclif lib. cit c. 3. and that nether Austin nor Gregory deserued any great praise for the conuersion of the Saxons or English I will breefly touch what great good he and his fellowes here did First therfor him self Kingdom of Kent conuerted by S. Austin though through the excessiue paines which he tooke he liued but a short time yet did he conuert Ethelbert King of Kent whose dominion reached vnto Humber many of his people as S. Beda witnesseth lib. 1. c. 26. and christened at one tyme ten thousand as Saint Gregory lib. 7. Epi. 30. Epitaph of S. Austin saith he conuerted this Kings people Fox Acts pag. 119. Cambden in Britan. p. 105. and others do testifie Fox p. 116. addeth that he conuerted innumerable And pag. 118. Baptized a great parte And Godwin in vit Aug. saith he conuerted all the said Kings people Besides this he sent S. Mellit to London where he conuerted Sebret King of Essex And after he had gained saith Malmesb. 2. part histor p. 250 Kent to Christ S. Austin trauaileth through almost all England trauailed throughout all the rest of the English Prouinces so far as the Kingdom of Ethelbert reached Yet Fox Acts p. 119. and Cambden lib. cit say that he passed beyond the dominion of King Ethelbert and christened many thousands in the riuer Swale Christened ten thousands at once Trauaileth barefoote Erecteth Archb. Bishopricks and monast Beda l. 1. c. 26. 33. li. 2. c. 3. Capgr in vit Augustini Cambden in Brit. p. 178. 438. 490. Ealred in vit Edvvardi Laboreth to reduce the Britons And this trauail he tooke saith Capgraue in his life on foote and for the most parte barefoote and had great knobbs on his knees with continual kneeling in prayer Besides in his tyme he procured the erecting of the Archbishoprick of Canterbury and the Bishoprick of London and Rochester the foundations of the Monasteries of the Austins in Canterbury Westminster in London Ely in Cambridgshier and Cernel in Dorsetshier And as S. Beda lib. 2. c. 4. Laied the foundation of our Church well and strongly And not content to labor thus for the cōuersion of English mē endeuored also to reduce the Britons to the right faith and tooke therin saith Godwin much paines Gathered as yow may see in Beda lib. 2. c 2. two meetings of their Diuines conuinced their error both by disputation and miracles All partes of Englād beholden to S. Austin Wherby wee may see that all parts of England both South West East North and Wales to are greatly behoulden to Saint Austin The labores of S. Austins fellovves S. Laurence 2. After Saint Austins death which was as some write about ten yeares after his cōming hither S. Laurence his fellow laborer and successor conuerted Edbald secōd Christian King of Kent And taught the Papists faith saith Bale cent 13. c. 2. almost in all the dominions of the English men And besides wrote letters which are extant in Beda lib. 2. c. 4. to the Scottish and Irish people who were entangled in the Britons error And as Bale writeth cent 1. c. 74. held a Coūcell with thē for that purpose in the I le of Man Yea as Capgraue hath in his life he went to Scotland and there conuerted Tenan Archbishop of Irland to the true obseruation of Easter S. Iustus S. Iustus also another fellow worker and successor of S. Austin conuerted so many as Pope Boniface in Beda lib. 2. c. 8. writeth to him thus yow may shew whole Contries plentifullie multiplied in the faith by yow And both of him S. Mellit and S. Mellit his Predecessor S. Beda lib. 2. c. 7. giueth this testimony they ruled gouerned the English Church with great labor S. Paulin. and diligence Finally S. Paulin an other of S. Austins fellow laborers and first Archbishop of York conuerted and baptized Edwin King of the North parte of England and by conquest ouer England Wales and the Hebrides Iles with all the nobility saith Beda lib. 2. c. 14. of his Contrie and most parte of the common people And as he addeth c. 17. all his subiects of the Northen parts And such paines herein S. Paulin tooke that as S. Beda saith c. 14. cit he stayed in one place 36. dayes togeather from morning to euening instructing and baptizing the people And by meanes of King Edwin was also Redwald King of Est-england and for a while the potentest King of England conuerted and Christened and also his sonne Carpwald Finally to conclude by Saint Austin and his fellow laborers were six English Kings conuerted from Paganisme to Christs faith to wit Ethelbert Sebert S. Austin his fellovves conuerted six English Kings and foure Kingdōe Edbald Edwin Redwald Carpwald Amongst whome Ethelbert Edwin and Redwald were the most puissant Kings of their tyme. And of the 7. Kingdoms which then were they conuerted foure viz. the Kingdom of Kent Kingdom of Est-Saxons Beda lib. 2.
Saint Austin hath continued euer since vnto our time in all our Bishopps Prelats Pastors Deuines and Cleargie except Wiclife and his small crue by the example of their heades the Archbishopes of Canterburye whom I shew to haue bene in number sixtie nyne Likvvise all our laitie and in religion perfect Romane Catholiques The like I shewe of the Queenes ladies Princes Dukes Earles Nobles gentile and commons and generally of all the laytie by the example of their heades the kinges and princes of this land who sucessiuely besides Seauentie more who raygned in some parte of England whiles this land was deuided into many kingdomes haue bene in number sixtie three and in religion as perfect Roman Catholickes as may be See infra lib. 1. c. 21. In so much that it is confessed by Protestants that they knew not so much of Protestancie as that which they tearme the head fountayne and soule therof Amongst whom you shall see the ancient and renowned kinge Inas of the Saxons lib. 1. c. 23. professinge S. Peters supremacie all most nyne hundred yeares agoe and that by letters engrauen in stone buildinge a Seminarie in Rome for his subiectes ther Henrie 2. led P. Alexāders horsse Hen. 5. sued to haue his Countrie accounted a nation that ovveth deuotion to the Church of Rome lib. 1. cap. 25. 26. and makinge his kingdome tributarie to S. Peter And of the Normans blood you shall see the most victorious Prince Edward the third professinge by publicke letters that it is heresie to denie the Popes supremacie or as the kinge speaketh that the Popes iudgment omni humanae praesidet cecatura Amongst them you shall see the auncient and worthie kinge Ethelred so deuout to masse as he would rather aduenture the losse of his armie of his kingdome life than he would misse the hearinge of a whole Masse lib. 1. c. 26. And yet by his deuotion miraculously puttinge his enemies to flight lib. 1. c. 2. 3. You shall see that wise Prince Henry the third to heare many Masses euery day to kisse Preists handes at Masse time cap. 26. and preferre the seinge as he said of his Sauiour ther before the hearinge of the best preacher speaking of him finallie to omitt many other euident testimonies heerafter rehearsed not onelie of their assured Romayne Religion cap. 2◠but also of ther zeale and feruour therin And as many Queenes fourteene of them euen in the two hundred yeares after the conuersion of our Nation surrendred ther scepters Crownes and kingdomes and became either Monkes at home or trauelled in pilgrimage to Rome Lib. 2. cont Iulian. cap 10. 10. And were all these Archbishopps and their clargie were all these kings and ther people blind And hath time to imitate Saint Austins wordes in the like case so changed all things vpside downe that light is accounted darknes and darknes light that to omitt very many others confessed of Protestants to be profound diuines as you shall see herafter S. Austin S. Theodor Lanfrancke and S. Anselme who were the very lights of the land and of Christendome also in ther time for learninge and vertue were blind and Cranmer Parkar Grindall and VVhitgift men of meane learninge and as litle vertue did see what in Gods name should make any thinke so for number we haue all most seauentie for fower for continuance all most a thousand yeares for fiftye for learninge we haue profound knowledge euen by Protestantes confession against meane skill for vertue we haue famous and confessed sanctitie against ordinarie if not vicious life If therfore either number or time or learninge helpe any thinge to finde out Gods truth our Catholique Archbishopes are far more like to see and espie it than the Protestant Prelates or if vertuous life moue God to reueale his truth surelie the Catholique Archbishops are more like to know it than the Protestants And in the like sort touching Princes for two which Protestants can produce we can bring aboue one hundred and twentie for their child of Nyne yeares old and ther woman we can produce aboue an hundred mature graue and wise men who haue they in valour comparable to our Kinge Egbert first authour of our English monarchie to Kinge Alfred the great vanquisher of the daines and deliuerer of his Countrie to our Kinge VVilliam Conqueror of England to our Edward the first Edward the third Henrie the fift and many moe most valiant and victorious Princes whom in magnanimitie haue they aunswerable to our Kinge Ethelstan to our Kinge Edgar King Canute Kinge Richard Ceur de lyon and diuers others who in largenes of Dominion to our Kinge Canute our Kinge Henery the second King Richard the first and others who in learning to our Kinge Ethelwolf Kinge Alfred the great Kinge Henrie sirnamed beuclarke others who in wisdome to Kinge Inas Kinge Alfred Kinge VVilliam conquerour Kinge Henry the first second fourth and Seauenth whom finallie haue they to compare for vertue and sanctitie with Kinge Ethelbert Kinge Edmund the two Edwards Henrie the sixt and very many more 11. And shall we thinke that one child and a woman in so short time should espie that diuine truth which so many Princes in a thousand yeares could not finde That the infancie of a child and weaknes of a woman should discouer that which the rare learninge wisedome and iudgement of so many graue Princes could not attayne vnto That the fruitles life of a child and the ordinarie if not farre worse life of a woman should deserue of God to haue that reuealed vnto them which the rare vertue and holynes of so many excellent Princes who preferred his seruice before their kingdomes could not obtayne what were this but in matter of religion and euerlastinge saluation to giue that iudgment and make that choyce which in no other matter we would do for who is ther if it lay in daunger of leasing liuinges libertie or life would not make choice to follow rather seauentie then fower an hundred rather than two men than children and women and men of famous and confessed learninge wisedome and vertue than others of meane learninge and ordinarie if not naughtie liues And will we when it is daunger of losse of soule and saluation make the contrarie choyce what defence or excuse can we make of this proceedinge either before God or man will we say it is prudence in monye matters and temporall affaires to follow many rather then few men then children and women learned wise and vertuous before others lesse qualified and not to trust to much to our owne iudgments And can we thinke it prudence to obserue the contrarie course in matters of religion and eternall saluation doth the matter so alter the case Is prudence become contrarie to it selfe or is Gods religion so against all reason wisdome and iudgment Can we not become christians but we must leaue to be reasoable men admitt Christes faith but we must
goodly monastery at Beulieu erected a Nonry at Godstow to pray saith Camb. Brit. p. 329 for his Fathers soule for that perswasion had then possessed the minds of all men And in his Charter to Batel Abbey commandeth all his Iustices to defend the Possessions of that monastery sicut saith he nostra propria as our owne And Regist Buriense saith he gaue a great Saphir and a Ruby to S. Edmunds Shrine Fiftly when Grecians came to dispute against his faith he would not hear them Bale Cent. 3. cap. 37. ex Paris Sixtly Fox Acts. pag. 253. writeth that King Iohn submitted himselfe to the Court of Rome and as Bale saith Cent. 3. cap. 75. Acknowledged the Pope to be head of all Christians And though he disobeyed for a time the Pope yet that he did not for a difference in religion but because the Pope would make an Archb. of Canterb. whome the King misliked And as Cooper saith Anno 1201. For vvhat cause K. Ihon disobeyed the Pope for a time did this not vpō iudgment to set vp true religion saith he but vpon couetousnes and of a forward mind Finally vpon his deathbed saith Fox Acts pag. 256. he much repented his former life and had saith Stow pag. 262. a Confessor at his death and receaued the Sacrament at the hands of the Abbot of Crocston and died with these words VVestmon An. 1216. Deo sancto VVolstano animam meam commendo I commend my soul to God and S. VVolstan Paris pag. 389. Of the manner of his death Fox Acts. pag. 256. writeth thus Some write that he died of sorrow as Polidor K. Ihon dieth in profession of the Cathol saith some of surfeting as Redinger some of a bloodie flux as Houed some of a burning ague some of a colde sweat some of eating apples some of eating peares some plummes c. yet saith he most writers agree that he was poisoned by the Monke Symon of Swinfled But who those were he writeth not nor could name one besides a nameles Author of that Chronicle which because Caxton printed it is cald Caxtons Chronicle And it is as Stow well saith pag. 494. a fabulous booke And therfore Bale Cent. 3. cap. 75. referreth this to report saing Vt serunt as men report But who will not beleeue rather Paris pag. 389. Westmon Anno 1216. and others liuing in that same time or sone after who say he died of surfit sorrow then a Chronicle accounted by Protestants themselues a fabulous booke or writen by a nameles Author long after that time In this Kings time Saints died that glorious Saint Saint Hugh Bishop of Lincolne and Carthusian Monke whome Godwin in his life calleth Saint And saith By his integritie of life and conuersation and the opinion of diuers Miracles wrought by him hath purchased vnto him selfe the honor and reputation of a Saint He addeth also that S. Hugh Grew very famous far and neere for his extraordinarie abstinence and austeritie of life And that king Iohn and king William king of Scotts for great reuerence they bare to his holines helped to carry his Corps from the gate of the Cittie vntill it came to the Church dore King Henrie the III. XL. 9. IN the yeare 1216. succeded king Henrie 3. sonne to king Iohn and reigned 56. yeares dyed Anno. 1273. He was saith Cooper Anno. 1218. of nature gentle VVisdom and pietie of King Henrie 3. of minde sage and wise And so pious as Leolin Prince of Wales saith Fox Acts pag. 280. protested that he feared more his almes than his puissance And Westmon Anno 1272. speaking of this king saith Of how great innocencie of how great patience and of how great deuotion he was in obeying his Sauiour our Lord knoweth and they which faithfully adhered to him and of how great merit he was with God the miracles after his death testifie His Rom. Religion The Roman religion of this vertuous king is manifest First because as Fox saith in his Acts pag. 257. He was crowned by Swall the Popes Legat and Stow addeth pag. 263. Being crowned the gouernment of the King and his Kingdome was committed to the Legat to the Bishop of VVinchester c. Secondly because Continuator of Paris who then liued saith pag. 1349. K. Henrie 3. daily heard 3. sung Masses and Walsingham in Edward 1. pag. 19. Euery day he was accustomed to heare three songe Masses and desirous to heare moe serued daylie Priests celebrating priuatly and when the Priest did eleuat our Lords bodie he vsed to hould the Priests arme Deuotion of King Hen. 3. Bal. Cent. 4 cap. 46. and to kisse it And when that Lewis king of France said vnto him that he should oftner heare sermons he answered I had rather see my freind often than heare an other speake of him though neuer so wel Thirdly his Confessor was a Dominican Frier named Iohn Dorlington A. Quene a Nonne Bale Cent. 4. cap. 56. and Walsing in Edward 1. pag. 7. His Queene also after his death became a Nonne Walsing pag. 14. Fourthly in this Kings time came into England diuers orders of Friers as the Dominicans to whome Diuers kinds of Friers enter into England saith Stow pag. 268. the King assigned a house in Oxford The Gray Friers Cooper Anno 1222. The Croochet Friers Anno. 1244. Bale Centur. 4. cap. 3. The Austins Friers Anno. 1252. Centur. 4. capit 17. to whome cap. 46. he addeth the Paulins the Friers of Armenia the Friers de poenitentia the Friers de Viridi Valle and the Bonhomes Which last order Rodulphus l. 2. de Saincto Francisco saith was instituted by Richard Earle of Cornwall and brother to King Henrie Fiftly when the Pope sent a Legat into England saith Paris pag. 589. the King met the Legat most dutifully at the Sea coast and bowing his head to his knees cōducted him most respectiuely to the inermost parts of his Kingdome when he departed brought him with great honor to the Sea Stow Chron. Anno 1241. Sixtly because as is to be seene in Fox Act. 287. others He wrote to the Pope thus Sanctissimo in Christo Patri c. To his most holy Father Lord in Christ Innocent K. Henrie 3. calleth the P Lord in Christ offereth to kisse his feet by the grace of God cheefe Bishop health and kisses of his blessed feete And in the letter May it please your Fatherhood we beseech yow that our lawes and liberties which yow may righly repute none other but your owne yow will receaue to your tuitiō to be cōserued whole sound Vpon which words Fox maketh this note The K. in too much subiection to the Pope And in a letter in Paris pag. 839 The K. professeth to the Pope that In all the time of our reign we haue submirted ourselues our kingdom in all through all things to the wil of your Father hood And pag. 863. he citeth letters of
c. 16. Cambd. p. 178. Founded tvvo Archb. tvvo Bishop fiue Cathedral Churches six monasteries Est-angles and the Kingdom of the North and preached and founded Churches in the fifth Kingdom of Mercia at Lincoln in the sixt of Westsaxons at Cernel in Dorsetshier Founded the two Archbishopricks of Canterbury York and the Bishopricks of London and Rochester erected the Cathedral Churches of Canterbury Rochester London Lincoln and York Beda sup Cambd. p. 490. Capgrau in Augustino Ealred in Edvvardo and the Collegiat Church in Southwel Began the monasteries of the Austins and Christs Church in Canterbury of Westminster in London of Ely in Cābridgshier of Cernel in Dorsetshier Wherby it appeareth that not onely a few Saxons as Sutclif speaketh but the whole nations of English English Scottish VVelch Irish greatly bound to S. Austin and his fellovves Scottish Welch and Irish were infinitly behouldē to Saint Austin and his fellowes for leauing their Contrie for comming so far a iorney as is from Rome for venturing into a barbarous and vnknown Contry as ours then was for hazarding their liues among fierse and sauage people for recalling so many Kings and Kingdoms from Paganisme to Christianitie for laboring so much to reduce Hereticks for erecting so many Episcopal Sees and Monasteries and finally for spending their liues here among vs. And if any parte of this land tooke no great commoditie by them it was not to be attributed to them but to the peoples owne negligence and obstinacy D. VVhitak more gratefull than Sutclif Wherfor D. Whitaker as far more gratfull than Sutclif lib. 5. cont Dur. pag. 394. speaking of our conuersion by S. Gregory meanes saith That he did vs a great benefit we will alwaies gratfully remember And now hauing shewed that S. Austin was the first Preacher of Christs faith to our Nation in England let vs see what qualities he had fit for so high a function to wit what learning and vertue CHAP. IIII. That Saint Austin was a great Clerk and excellent Diuine SOme Ministers are so spitefull against S. Austin our Apostle as they seeke all occasions they can to dishonor him Wher vpon Bale cent 13. c. 1. saith he was ignorant in holy scriptures and the questions which he sent to S. Gregory and are extant in S. Beda lib. 1. c. 27. were most vnsauorie and voide of all knowledg of the Gospel and law of God But no maruell if he and suchlike condemne S. Austin as vnlearned who dare condemne the gloriousest lights of Christianitie the greatest Doctors of Gods Church of blindnes and ignorance But how great a Clerk S. Austin was Argumēts of S. Austins great learning though we had no euident testimony we might our selues gather by many waies For as touching his wit and capacitie of learning it may suffice that he was an Italian and Roman His vvit whome in wit we know to excell The place where he studied was Rome His place of studie where at that tyme as Ioan. Diacon in vit Gregor lib. 2. c. 13. Rerum sapientiâ cū septem artibus floruit His Maister His Maister was S. Gregory him self one of the foure Doctors of the Church as witnesse S. Beda Epi. ad Ceolwolph Regem Ethelwerd lib. 2. c. 1. Malmesb. lib. 1. Pont. p. 195. Amongst his schole-fellowes one was as it seemeth that great Doctor of Spaine S. Isidore His scoole fellovves For as Genebr and Sigebert in Chron. do write he was scholer to Saint Gregory His endeuour And for S. Austins indeuor to attaine to learning for proofe therof it may suffice that he was a Monk of Saint Gregoreis owne Monastery where men were not doubtles suffered to loose their tyme brought vp there vnder regular discipline and at last made Praepositus eiusdem Monasterij Superior of the same Monastery All which testifieth S. Gregory him self lib. 7. Epi. 30. 112. and lib. 2. c. 13. and S. Beda lib. 1. c. 27. His profit And finally for his profit in learning it may suffice that it appeareth by the choice made of him among so many learned men as then were in Rome and made by so great a Doctor as S. Gregory was and so careful to chuse sufficient men and made for so great a matter as to be Dux verbi First Preacher of Christian saith to Infidells and conuerter of learned hereticks For if S. Gregory required so great skill in euery Pastor of soules as he wrote lib. Pastor that Gouernment of soules is the arte of arts How much would he require in him to whome he committed the care of all the Infidells and Hereticks in so great a Kingdom as this is And besides this the care of S. Gregory to send hither a great learned man may apeare by the like great care which Pope Vitalian had afterward as is to be seene in Beda lib. 4. c. 1. to prouide a great and famous Deuine for the Archbishoprick of Canterbury euen after all England was conuerted For neither was Pope Vitalian more ready to furnish England with learned Pastors thā S. Gregory was nor was he more able to iudg of their learning nor had he more choice of learned men If therfor Pope Vitalian sent hither such learned men as S. Theodor and S. Adrian were what shall we think of S. Austin and his fellowes sent by S. Gregory 2. But besides these collections of ours we haue a testimony of S. Austins great learning Omni exceptione maius S. Gregories testimonie of S. Austins great learning For S. Gregory his Maister who best knew him and was best able to iudg and for his holines and rare humilitie was least likly to lye or praise his scholler beyond his deserts writing to King Ethelbert in Beda lib. 1. c. 32. and exhorting him to follow S. Austin in all points saith He was replenished with knowledg of the holy scriptures Ethelvverd And Ethelwerd one of our anciētest historiographers lib. 2. c. 1. saith he was diuino eloquio nimis instructus S. Iustus great learning excedingly instructed in the scriptures Iustus one of S. Austins fellowes and successors Pope Boniface writing to him saith He had brought vp King Edbald with great learning and instruction of holy scriptures as is to be seene in Beda l. 2. c. 8. And doubt we that S. Austin had not done the lyke to King Ethelbert S. Honorius great learning And of Honorius another of S. Austins fellowes Beda lib. 5. c. 20. saith he was a mā profoundly learned in holy scripture And why shoud we think that S. Austin was inferior to him Besides S. Beda lib. 1. c. 22. speaking of the British Preachers whome he accounted most learned men yet comparing them with S. Austin and his fellows saith that these were more worthy Preachers And besides these testimonies of S. Austins great learning we haue an euident proofe by the effect therof For albeit there were among the Britons many viri
crownes Priests haue shauen crovvnes Beda lib. 5. cap. 22. It behoueth them which being either made by vow Monkes or by profession of the Clergie to binde them selues more strictly with the bridle of continencie for Christs sak to bear in their head by clipping the forme of a crovvne Ibid. All Priests and Religious men had their heads shauen round after the true shape of a crowne But as Bale saith Cent. 14. pag. 194. Tonsura est Romanae Bestiae character Ninthly they erected many Altars in one Church with Martyrs reliques Manie altar Sinono Church vsed lights and other ornaments as Catholicks doe Beda lib. 5. cap. 21. Acca imployed his diligence to gather together out of all places the holy Apostles and Martyrs reliques to the end he might in honor of them build certain Altars aparte by them selues in little Chappell 's made for the same purpose within the precinct and walls of the same Church Morouer he prepared holy vessels lights and other necessaries to the better adorning of the Church of God And lib. 3. cap. 6. They worshiped Reliques Tenthly to omit many more certain Markes of Roman Religion S. Peters supremacie beleued They accounted S. Peter Primat and head of the Apostles Beda lib. 5. c. 22. I desire with all my hart to follow the stepps of Blessed S. Peter head of the Apostles Ibid. They were reduced to the order of S. Peter Primat and head of the Apostles and committed as it were to his Patronage and protection The Pope high B. ouer the vvhole vvorld They accounted the Pope high Bishop ouer the whole world So in plaine termes S. Beda calleth S. Greg. Pope l. 2. c. 1. Accounted the Church of Rome the Catholick and Apostolick Church lib. 3. c. 25. And l. 4. cap. 23. Going to Rome counted a thing of great vertue and deuotion And l. 3. c. 25. Held without all controuersie that these vvords vpon this Rock I vvill build my Church vvere principally spoken vnto Peter and that vnto him the keies of the Kingdome of heauen were giuen And the Bishops being depriued of their Bishopricks both by the King and by other Bishops appealed to Rome Beda lib. 5. cap. 20. Appeal◠from the Bishop◠and king to the Pope VVilfrid the vertuous Bishop of York appealing to the See Apostolick for his cause and by that ful authoritie absolued c. Item Fiue yeares after he was accused of King Alfrid and many other Bishops and depriued of his Bishoprick wherin vpon repairing again to Rome and obtayning licence to plead his owne defence before his accusers Pope Iohn and many Bishops sitting in Iugdment It was by their Definitiue Sentence concluded that in some parte his accusers had falsly forged surmises The Pope wrote to the Kings of England requiring them to see him restored Protestāts confesse the Rom. faith of our primitiue Church Fox And thus much out of Catholick writers now let vs see what Protestants write of the faith of our Primitiue church 2. Fox in his protestation before his Acts. After the coming of Austin and his fellowes from Rome Christian faith began to enter and spring among the Saxons after a certain Romish sorte Acts. pag. 154. Good vvorks done for clensing from sin The causes why solenm Monasteries were first founded in England by Kinges Queenes and Kings daughters and rich Consuls are these pro remedio animae meae c. For remedy of my soule for remission of my sinnes Foundation of Protestancie vnknovvne to our primitiue Church for the safty of my Kingdoms and people which are vnder my gouernment In honor of the most glorious Virgin Whervpon afterward pag. 170. he concludeth that the doctrine of Iustification by onely faith which pag. 840. he calleth the foundation of their Church was then vnknown Bale Bale Cent. 1. cap. 72. saith English men after Austin did dedicat their Churches to dead Saints Our first Christian K. a perfect Papist And cap. 73. King Ethelbert receaued the Roman Rites and doctrine with all the imposture and Cent. 14. cap. 54. saith that the two Hewalds who were the first English martyrs passi sunt pro Papismo papistici Martyres Our first Martyrs suffer for Papistrie Bilson Papistical Martyrs suffered for Papistrie Bilson of Obed pag. 321. The Saxons were soone entreated to receaue the Bishop of Rome for their Patriarch Stovv Stow pag. 77. citeth this Charter of King Ethelbert King Ethelbert by inspiration of God gaue to Bishop Mellit for remedie of his soule the Land which is called Tillingham for the Monastery of S. Paul which kind of giuing goods is quite opposit to Protestancie Honor of S. Peter counted signe of Christianitie Reinolds as yow may see more hereafter And pag. 78. saith King Sebert to shew him selfe a Christian built a Church in honor of S. Peter Reinolds Confer pag. 12. This imagination of the key and Porter and opinion of power to shut and open committed to Peter onely ouer all the Church as it includeth also the Apostles King Oswie conceaued Keys giuen onely to Peter and all his Clergie did agree vnto it And of S. Beda the principal Doctor of our Primitiue Church Osiander Osiander Epit. Cent. 7. pag. 331. saith thus He was wrapped in all the Popish errors and articles in which we disagree this day from the Pope S. Beda a perfect Papist Wherby we may see how perfect a Papist S. Austin was Fulk in Hebr. 10. Fulk Beda liued in a superstitious time yet liued he 80. yeares after S. Austin long after Antichrist did shew him self Beda sayd that men vnderstod that the helthful sacrifice of masse auailed to the redemption of the body and soule euerlasting And in 1. Pet. 3. Beda was caryed away with the errors and corruptions of his tyme. And thus I hope I haue sufficiently proued the Roman Catholick faith of our first Apostle S. Austin by the faith of his maister S. Greg. by his owne deedes and doctrine by Confession of Protestants and finally by the doctrine of our Primitiue Church which he founded and how it was that Christian Religion which was first founded in our Nation and our English Ancestors imbraced when they forsooke Paganisme Now it remaineth to shew that the same Religion hath continewed also constantly vnto this late lamentable reuolt to Protestancy in all our Nation both in the Clergie and Laitie which I will declare in all the Archbishops of Canterburie who were the cheefe of the one order and in the Kings who were heads of the other And by the way I will name in euery Kings time some of the notable men who successiuely haue confirmed it by their holy life and miracles CHAP. XVIII That all the Archbishops of Canterburie from S. Austin to our tyme were Roman Catholicks proued by generall reasons 1. FIrst because there is no mention or memorie in any Chronicle of England No record that anie Archb
accused in the Conclaue of fauering protestants and of other matters He cleared himself saith Godwin of all these suspitions absolutely so that the next day they were more resolute to make him Pope than before And infra he saith Queene Marie loued him for his learning and nobilitie but aboue all for his religion and finally that he reconciled England to the Pope and receiued from him his Pal. Bale Cent 8. cap. 100. saith he was a Cardinal soldier of Antichrist not to be commended for any vertue by the seruant of God and saith that in an Oration to the Emperor he called the German Protestants newe Turks Sleidan lib. 10. in fin and their Gospel Turcicum pestiferum adulterinum semen Turkish pestiferous and adulterous seede An. 1607. which Crashew was not a shamed in his sermon at Paules Crosse to affirme that Poole said o the written word of God Farther more Bale termeth this worthie Prelat and great ornament of our Nation horrible beast a rooter out of the truth of the Gospel a most wicked Traitor to his Contrie and prayeth God to confound him So vndoubted it was while Cardinal Poole liued that he was no Protestant but a most earnest Roman Catholick See Andreas Dioditius in vit Poli. Which who readeth his booke and considereth his deedes may yet see more fully But by him may the iudicious reader see with what truth or face our Ministers challeng S. Austin and other holy and antient Archbishops of Canterburie to be of their religion Epilog First and last Cath. Archb of Canterb. said Masse and haue palls from Rome The number of our Archb. Their continuance learning vertue and vvisdom 39. THus yow see the first and the last of the Catholick Archbishops of Canterburie namely S. Austin and Cardinal Pole to haue said Masse and had their Palls from Rome and all of them except one euer since the first Christianitie of our Nation vnto our daies for number thre score and nine for continewance of nine hundred fisty and eight yeares for learning many of them most famous for wisdom most excellent and for vertue diuers of them most admirable as you haue heard by the very confession of Protestants them selues VVho vvil not advventure his soule rather vvith these than vvith Cranmer Thus manie I say thus excellently qualified Primats and Pastors of al England thus long to haue taught the Catholick faith to haue followed it them selues to haue defended it with their great learning maintained it by their miracles authorized it by their notable vertues and finally to haue liued in it most religiously and died most happely What shall wee thinck of them That so many and great Clerks were so many hundred yeares ignorant of the truth That so many and so great Saints so long tyme missed of the way to heauen That all our Ancestors who so many yeares followed them were christened in vaine beleeued in vaine and worshiped and serued God in vaine and finally died in their sinnes and are damned and gon to hel No vvaie to heauen but by Christ and his true faith As we must needs thinck vnles we graunt the Roman Catholick faith to be the faith of Christ and right way to saluation Shall I say such an vnchristian vnnatural and vnreasonable thought enter into our harts And not rather follow the aduise of S. Paul saying Mementote Praepositorum vestrorum qui vobis locuti sunt verbum Dei quorum intuentes exitum conuersationis imitamini fidem Beholding the end of the coÌ„uersation of your Prelats follovv their faith Let vs behould the holy conuersation and happie vertuous ende of those holy and worthy Prelat and primats of England assuring our selues that vertue can not follow the Diuel nor Gods Saints be condemned to Hel. Let vs embrace their faith which was the roote of their vertue and their cheefe guide in their way to heauen whither they are happily ariued and we shall assuredly follow if we keepe their faith and imitat their vertue And thus hauing shewed that all our Archbishops of Canterburie and consequently all our Clergie Bishops Archdeacons Deacons Canons Pastors Vicars Monkes All Besides VViclef and his small number and Friers were Roman Catholicks euen from the first Christianity of our Nation to our age Let vs procâ—ed an shew the same of our Christian Kings and Laitie CHAP. XXI That all our Christian English kings to king Henrie 8. time were Roman Catholicks proued by general reasons 1 No record that anie of our old christian Kings vvas Protestant 1. FIrst because as I said of the Archbishops ther is no script no scrole no record no monument to testifie that our former Christian kings were of any other religion than king Henrie 8. was before he began the change Therfor they that affirme the contrarie either know it by reuelation or speake without booke Besides it is impossible that ther should be an alteration in religion which is the most markablest thing in a Common welth and that there should be no mention therof and altogether incredible in England where we see the first alteration from Paganisme to Christianitie and now lately from Papistrie to Protestancie recorded in all Histories yea priuat mutations made by kings in some Churches from Priests to monks or contrary wise And can we thinck that a mutation from Protestancie to Papistrie if any such had bene would haue bene omitted and forgotten 2. All the Archbishops of Canterburie were Roman Catholicks as is before shewed 2 All their Archb. vvere Catholicks and yet none of them trobled by the kings of former times for his religion yea most of them greatly honored by them and diuers made Archbishops by their kings procurment 3 They suffered Archb. to be consecrat of the Pope c. 3. They suffered the said Archbishops to go to Rome where diuers of them were consecrated of the Pope to receaue their Pal to be his legat and take their forsaid oath of fidelitie to the Pope which if they had bene Protest and not perfect Roman Catholick they would neuer haue permitted yea some of the kings procured Pals for their Archb Kings procure palls from the P. for their Archb. as King Edwin for S. Paulin in Beda lib. 2. cap. 17 King Alfwald for Archbishop Eanbald Florent An. 779. Huntington lib. 3. king Rufus for S. Anselm Fox Acts. pag. 185. 4. Nine of the ancient kings left their Kingdomes and became monks 4 Manie ancient Kings became Monks as Fox confesseth Acts. pag. 133. whose names are these king Kinegilfus K. Cedwalla king Ina king Ethelred king Sigebert king Coenred king Offa king Edbert Monks vovved chastie pouertie and obedience to whome pag. 131. he addeth king Kenred Now moÌ„kes in that time vowed chastitie as is euident in S. Beda lib. 5. cap. 22. lib. 4. cap. 25. lib. 3. cap. 25. And Pouertie lib. 1. cap. 25. And obedience lib. 4. cap. 5. And how
and after a Capharnaitical maner which is Catholick doctrin For though the Eucharist be truly and really Christs body yet is it not Christs bodie after a carnal maner but after a spirituall mystical maner Now wher he saith which Bilson lib. of Obed. pag. 681 and Protestants vrge that holy howsel after bodily vnderstanding is a corruptible and mutable creature maketh nothing against Transubstantiation For his meaning is that the sacrament according to bodily vnderstanding that is according to the outward forme which with bodily eies we see and vnderstand is a corruptible thing which no Catholick denieth Again wher he sayeth that there is much betwen the body that Christ suffered in and the body that is hallowed to howsel He neither said nor meant that ther is much betwene Christs bodie wherin he suffred and the bodie of the howsel Albeit this also be true because Christs body when he suffered was after the maner of visible bodies palpable and parte in one parte of place and parte in an other and here it is inuisible and after the maner of spirits all in euerie part of the sacrameÌ„t For which difference and lesse S. Austin lib. de symbolo cap. 10. said much moâ—e to wit that in the resurrection shal be no flesh and blood In Resurrectione non iam caro erit sanguis because they shall be in far different maner But he said that ther is much betweene the body of Christ and the body that is halowed to housel which is most true for this body is the body of bread obiec ∣ tion 8 5. Eightlie saith Abots Then the Bishops and Princes of this Land did condemn the second Nicen Councel for worshiping of Images out of Houeden parte Ansvver 1. An. 792. To this I answer that it is no waye likly that our English Bishops would then coÌ„demn such honoring of Images as Catholiks vse because they knew that not onely their Christianitie began by S. Austin with vse of Images but also that Archb. Brithwald as is before rehearsed out of Bale Cent. 1. cap. 99. held a Councel in London An. 712. VVherin he commanded vpon the Decree of Constantine Pope of Rome that Images should be worshiped But that which our English Clergie then disproued was as Houeden writeth Imagines adorari debere that is adored or worshiped as God which Houed wel vnderstood when he added Quod Ecclesiae Dei execratur which the Church of God doth detest Which he being a perfect Roman Catholick as Abbots can not denie could neuer say of such honor as Catholicks giue to Images but might most truly say of worshiping them as God For this the Church of God did allwaies and doth accurse Nether though some Catholicks term that worship Latria which is giuen to the crosse of Christ did euer any Catholick affirm that any Image or creatur whatsoeuer was to be worshiped as God as I could easely shew if it were not besids my purpose But in that our English men were mis-informed of the Councel of Nice as if it had commanded Images to be worshiped as God which it did not as to omit other testimonies testifieth D. Feild lib. 3. of the Church cap. 20. and 36. obiec ∣ tion 9 6. Lastly he saith that then were tithes payd to married Priests and so continued to Pope Hildebrand who liued in King William Conquerors time and our most ancient Cathedrall Churches were places for maried Priests Malmsb. lib. 2 Reg. cap. 7. calleth these Priests irregulares and vagos Ansvver not for Popish Votaries as appreareth by the Records of the Church of VVorceter That there were maried Priests or rather that Priests kept woemen as their wiues in Pope Hildebrands tyme and before we deny not But that ther were such euer since the first Christianitie of English men till that time or that mariage of Priests was not alwaies forbidden in England is most vntrue as hath bene sufficient clearly prooued in the life of S. Anselm and by the testimonie of Protestants Likwise most vntrue it is that our most ancient Cathedrall Churches were places for married Priestes For the most ancient of all is Christchurch in Canterburie wher King Ethelbert the first Christian King of England placed monks as Pope Boniface in his letter to him in Malmsb. lib. 1. Pont. pag. 208. testifieth And Malmsb. Ibid. pag. 203. addeth this It is manifest that ther haue bene Monks at Christchurch in Canterburie euer since the time of S. Laurence Archbishop who first succeded S. Austin As for the Record of VVorceter if ther be any such ancient thing and not forged by some Minister it is like to haue bene deuised by some married Priest when in King Edgar and King Edward martyrs tyme they pleaded for that Church against Monks who were restored to diuers Cathedrall Churches which had bene possessed of Preistes euer since the destruction of England by the Danes by the iudgment of S. Dunstan S. Oswald King Edgar two Councels or Parliaments as yow may read in Osbern who liued in the time of the Conquest in the life of S. Dunstan As for the first Cathedrall Church of Worceter it was as Godwin saith in the Bishops of Worceter a monasterie built by S. Egwin I say the first For that which is now was long after founded by S. Wulstan Bishop of Worceter as yow may see in his life in Godwin Or if the first were built of Sex wolf as Cambden saith in Brit. pag. 512. It is nothing likly that he would build it for married Priestes seing as Beda saith lib. 4 cap 6 he was a monke him selfe and built that Monasterie which now is called Peterborough But especially because nether then nor long after there were any maried Priestes in England as is euident by these words of S. Beda lib. 5. cap. 22 written long after the foundation of Worster Church It behoueth them who being ether made by vow Monks or by profession of the Clergie do bind them selues more strictly then maried men with the bridle of continencie Behould how in Bedas time Monks by vow and the Clergie by profession did as they do now binde them selues more strictly to chastitie then other men did Which in other words is to say they did not marry And thus much for the refelling of these slender obiections which if they be compared with the former proofes wherwith wee shewed that our ancient Kings were Roman Cathol will I suppose seeme to any of indifferent iudgment to deserue no answer CHAP. XXIII That all the Christian Kings of England from their first Christianitie to the time of the Monarchie of EnglaÌ„d were Roman Catholicks prooued in particuler 1. VVHen S. Austin entred there were 7. English Kings in this Land Wherof foure were conuerted by S. Austin and his companions But partly because it were to tedious to discourse of all these Kingdoms partly also because what is prooued of one of them will caselie be beleeued of the rest I will discourse onely of the
Kings of the West Contrie who in time subdued the rest and whose roiall blood yet inioyeth the crown in their rightfull heire both by the English and Scottish line His maiestie descended of the VVest Saxon Kings by both the English and the Scottish line our Souerain Lord King Iames. If any askt me why God permitted the Western Kings to conquer the rest I will not take vpon me to haue bene of Gods counsel yet haue I noted diuers notable things peculier to them which whither they might moue God to blesse them with such temporall benediction or no I leaue to the reader to iudg The first is First Christian K. of vvest saxons became a Monke that the first Christian King of that Contrie namely Kinegilsus left his Kingdome and became a Monk as testifieth Fox Acts. pag. 110. 134. which we read not of the first Christian Kings of the other Kingdoms VVest saxon Kings first vvent to Rome The second is that the kings of this Contrie first left their Kingdoms and went on Pilgrimage to Rome This is manifest by S. Beda lib. 5. cap. 7. in the valiant King Ceadwall Who in the year 689. before all other kings weÌ„t on Pilgrimage to Rome The third is First made their kingdom tributary to the See Apostol that these kings first of all other our Princes made this land tributaire to Rome for the Peter pence This all our Chronicles write of King Ina in the yeare 726. These three notable things these Kings performed first and therfor perhaps their Kingdom continewed longest But now to come to the Kings in particuler King Kynegilsus first Christian King of the west Saxons or west Countrie 2. THe first Christian King of the West Saxons was Kinegilsus alias Cynegilsus Kinegilsus 1 ChristiaÌ„ K. of the VVest Saxons who began his reigne An. 611. as some write or as oâ—hers 612. two or thre yeares before the death of S. Austin our Apostle if he died not before 614. as Malmsb. recordeth The valour of K. Kinegilsus and reigned 31. yeares He was coÌ„uerted to the Christian faith Christened by S. Birin in the yeare of our Lord 635. was a valiant Prince and had prosperous successe in his warrs against the Britons and against Penda the cruel Pagan King of the Mercians or Middle English K. Kynigilsus a Rom Catholick As for the faith of this ancient and valiant King that appeareth to be Roman Catholick many wayes First because he was conuerted by S. Birin whome both Catholicks and Protest grant to haue bene sent hither by Pope Honorius Beda lib. 3 cap. 7. Godvvin in Birin Cooper An. 6â—6 Bal Cent. 13. cap. 4. who was the fourth Pope after Boniface 3. which Pope Protestants as is shewed before cap. 13 account the first Antichrist and head of the Papist Church because he procured Phocas the Emperor to declare that he was head of the Church and in like sort they account of all the Popes since that time And it is not likly that Pope Honorius would send any hither that did not beleeue him to be head of the Church in which point as D. Reinolds and D. Whitaker say the essence of a Papist doth consist Besides this Honorius in his Epistle in Beda lib. 2. cap. 18. plainly calleth S. Peter head of the Apostles and cap. 17 he sendeth two Palls one to the Archbishop of Canterburie and another to the Archb. of York K Kinegilsus conuerted by a Canon regular more ouer he was a Canon regular as saith Ciacon in his life as also was S. Bâ—rin whome he sent which order Bale Cent 1. cap. 82. calleth one of the hornes of the beast and Cent. 1. cap. 70. plainly refuseth Honorius as a Papist saying P. Honorius a Papist He instituted the feast of the Exaltation of the holy Crosse added the inuocation of the dead Saints to Greg. Letanies and ordainet that there should be a Procession euery Saboth day Hence the Procession in Churches seeme to haue had their beginnings Secondly the same S. Birin Apostle as Camb. calleth him in Brit. pag. 338. of the Westsaxons S. Birins esteme of a Corporas waâ— so addicted to masse and things belonging therto aâ— for the loue of a Corporas which he had left on the shoare when he tooke shipp for England Miracle touching a Corporas when he could not perswade the mariners to retuâ—ne to fetch it he aduentured his life by walking on the sea to goe for it as Malmsb. lib. 2. Pont. pag. 241. Iornelasensis and so many Authors affirme as saith Fox lib. 2. pag. 122. I can not but maruel And if he were not obstinat could not but beleeue And Capgrane in his life saith that his bones were founde in Pope Honorius 3. and Archb. Stephans time with a leaden Crosse vpon his brest a little Chalice and two stoles Thirdly this King became a Monk as Fox testifieth lib. 2. pag. 110. and 134. and for what ende hath bene before declared which is an euident badg of Papistrie Fourthly his Godfather in baptisme was King Oswald as Beda saith lib. 3. cap. 7. which Oswald erected Crosses and prayed before them and being to die him selfe prayed God to haue mercy on the soules departed out of Beda cap. 2. cap. 12. which are euident tokens of Papistrie Fiftly This truth is euident by the open confessions of our aduersaries For Bale Cent. 13. cap. 4. writeth that ProtestaÌ„ts confesse K. Kinegilsus to haue bene a Papist Birini opera c. By the industrie of Birin in the yeare of our Lord 635. Dorchester with the Contrie therabout vnder pretence of the Gospel receaued the Papisticall faith And that S. Birin was enrolled amongst the Papisticall Saints Thus the Roman religion of this first Christian King is both euident and confessed Holie men in K. Kinegilsus time 3. In this Kings time besides S. Austin and his fellowes of whose miracles wrought for the testimonie of the Roman Catholick faith is before spoken See Bed lib. 3. cap. 7. Sur. tom 6. Malmsb lib. 2 Pont. Capgraue in Birin liued the saide S. Birin whome to omit Catholick authors Cooper Chron. An. 636. calleth a holy man Cambd. in Brit. pag. 338. saith He was admirally famous for the opinion of sanctitie Godwin in his life saith he was a very zelous and deuout man The holines of the conuerter of K. Kinegilsus to the Cath. faith And Fox Acts lib. 2. cap. 122. saith that by his godly labors he conuerted the King to the faith of Christ And amongst others his miracles walked as is said vpon the seas a thing scarce heard of since S. Peeters time to fetch his corporas Fox dare not denie S. Birin VValking on the sea to fetch a Corporas which is so certain as Fox L. cit dare not deny yet saith he if we will beleeue him on his word that if this miracle were done it was not done for the
holines of the man yet yow see how holy him selfe and other Protest confesse him to haue bene or corporas but for conuersion of the heathen But it sufficeth that God would work so great a miracle for conuersion of the heathen to the Roman faith In this Kings time liued also King Oswald Miracle for confirmation of praiers made befor Crosses whome Fox Acts pag. 133. calleth a Saint and who by vertue of prayer which he made before a Crosse with a far lesse army vanquished his enemies as not onely S. Beda lib. 3. cap. 2. and Catholick writers but Fox also Acts lib. 2. pag. 121. Cambd. in Brit. pag. 720. and others do grant So wel did God then lyke praying before Crosses As for diuers other miracles done by S. Oswalds reliques and by very chipps of his Crosse which S. Beda lib. 3. cap. 2. 10. 11. other English writers do record Fox dare not denie Saint Osvvalds miracles Fox loc cit saiâ—h he hath not to affirme what the people of that time affirmed of him As if he were amazed not knowing whether to confesse the miracles and so condemne his religion of falsitie or deny them and so condemne him self of impudencie Protest confesse miracles to haue bene done by reliques and the Crosse Especially seeing that Iuel Art 1. diu 19. Bel. Suruey pag. 353. and D. Whitak lib. 10. cont Dur pag. 866. confesse that God hath often times wrought miracles by the reliques of Saints and also done strang miracles and driuen away Diuels with the Crosse as testifie Iuel Art 14. Diu 3. And Fox him selfe Acts pag. 85. testifieth that Constantin the great professed that he did ouercome his enemies salutari Crucis signo Feild lib. 3. of Church cap. 20. lib 4. cap. 31. by the holsom signe of the Crosse In this Kings tyme also Sigebert King of the East Angles left his Kingdom and became a Monke A King a mâ—nk and diuers Kings Daughters Nonnes and S. Edburga daughter to King Ethelbert S. Eanswid daughter to King Edbald and S. Ebba a Lady of the bloud royall left their estates and became Nonnes Beda lib. 3. cap. 18. Capgraue in vita Eanswidae Cambd. in Brit. pag. 670. Hunting lib. 2. King Senwalch the 2. Christian King 4. THe second Christian King of the Westsaxons was Senwalch sonne as Beda lib. 3. cap. 7. and others record of Kinegilsus began his Reigne An. 643. and reigned 31. yeares twice vanquished the Britons The valour and vertue of K. Senvvalch and tooke a great part of land from the Mercians and as Malmsb. writeth lib. 1. Reg. cap. 2. was comparable to the best Princes the middle and last of his time and so religious that as Florent An. 843. Fox Acts. pag. 122. Stow pag. 96. write he built the Cathedral Church at Winchester and gaue all the Contrie within 7. miles about for maintenance of Priests that should serue therin though Godwin in vita Agilberti say his Father began the worke and that he did but finish and confirme his Fathers deed and grant and adde therto thre Manners K. Senvvalch a Rom. Catholick But as for the Roman Religion of this religious and vertuous King it is manifest first by what hath bene sayd of his Father Secondly because after the decease of S. Birin aforsayd his Bishops was Agilbert as Beda lib. 3. cap. 9 Malmsbus lib. 1. cap. 2. Godwin in Agilbert and all agree which Agilbert was so notorious a Papist as Fox in his Protestation before his Acts reckoneth him amongst Romish monkes much drowned as he saith in superstition with Dunstan Lanfranc and such lyke And in a Synod defended the Roman vse of Easter and round shauing of Priests crownes as is to be seene in Beda lib. 3. cap. 26. and Fox Acts pag. 123. Thirdly because after Agilbert his Bishop was Elutherius who at this Kings request as Beda lib. 3. cap. 7. Godwin in vita Elutherij write was coÌ„secrated by S. Theodor whome as is before shewed Protestants confesse to haue bene a notorious Papist Fourthly because S. Egelwin or Egwin was brother to this King as testifieth Malmsb. lib. 2. Pont. pag. 255. Which Egwin Bale Cent. 1. cap. 91. saith was a Benedictin Monk ad superstitiones natus borne for superstitions helped vt statuae ponerentur in Templis venerarentur for the placing of Images in Churches and worshiping of them and was after canonized and how great he was with Pope Constantin appeareth by his life in Capgraue Fiftly because in this Kings tyme came the said S. Theodor into England vnto whome writeth Beda lib. 4. cap. 2. and Godwin in his life all the whole Church of the English Nation did consent and submit them selues Therfor then this King and all his Christian people were as sincerly Papists as S. Theodor him self was Holie men in K. Senvvalch his time 5. In this Kings time among other holy men liued the blessed Bishops S. Chad and Tedda whose vertue and miracles are recorded by S. Beda lib. 3. cap. 23. and lib. 4. cap. 3. likwise ther liued in that time K. Oswin who vowing to God to make his daughter a Nonne if he ouercame his enemies K. Osvvin vouing to make his daughter a Nonne getteth a miraculous victorie got the Victorie though he had but one Legion against thirty ex Beda lib. 3. cap. 24. Hunting lib. 3. Westmon An. 855. And if he had not bene preuented by death ment to go to Rome and there to ende his life as witnesseth Beda lib. 4. cap. 5. K. Sebbi and his sonne become Monks There liued also S. Sebbi King of the East saxons who together with his sonne Sighard became a Monke as may be seene in Beda lib. 4. cap. 1. Malmsb. 1. Reg. cap. 6. Stow Chron pag. 79. In like sort ther liued Oswie a meruailous deuout and godly man saith Beda lib. 3. cap. 14 and Sigibert a holy King of Essex Diuers Kings daughters holie Nonnes of whome writeth Beda lib. 3. cap. 22. And at the same time S. Eartongatha daughter of Ercombert King of Kent S. Edelburg daughter to Anna King of East England and Sedrido his daughter in law S. Eartongath S. Edelburg Sedrido with diuers others went into France and there became Nonnes florishing with great vertue and miracles as yow may read in S. Beda lib. 3. cap. 8. Heresvvid S. VVithburg Elfled S. Hilda Likwise Hereswid mother to Adolph King of East Angles ex Beda lib. 4. cap. 23. And in England became Nonnes S. Withburg daughter to the said King Anna ex Florent An. 798. Elfled daughter to King Oswiex Beda lib. 3. cap. 24. and also S. Hilda a Lady of the blood roiall ex eodem lib. 4. cap. 23. and diuers others Bale Cent. 10. cap. 9. and Capgraue in Botulpho maketh mentioÌ„ of certain sisters of King Athelmond King of Sussex who in this kings tyme An. 650. were Noâ—nes in Gallia Belgica Then also liued S.
royal ex Beda lib. 4. cap. 23 A great miracles for Confirmation of masse And in this Kings time also An. 679. befel that great miracle for the approouing of Masse and praying for the dead which S. Beda recounteth lib. 4. cap. 22. of a Priest Who thincking his brother had bene slaine in a battel but indeede was taken prisoner did often times saith Beda cause Masse to be said for his soule By the saying of which Masses it came to passe that no man could bind him but he was streight loosed again about eight a clock in the morning when Masses began to be sayd This miracle fel not out vpon an obscure person but in one that serued Queene Edelred and in an Earles house and not in Englād onely but in Frisland also whither the man at last was sould And many saith Beda that heard these things of this man were stirred in faith and godly deuotion vnto prayer almes and and charitable deedes and to offer vnto our Lord hosts of the holy oblation and sacrifice for the deliuerie and releefe of their freinds that were departed This same saith he was tould me of them that heard it of the very man on whome it was done And therfor knowing it to be true and certain I doubted no whit to put it into this our Ecclesiastical Historie Which words of this great Doctor and Saint then liuing may suffice to con-found the incredulitie of any Minister In the same Kings time also as Beda recordeth lib. 4. cap. 4. was a great mortalitie stayed by the intercession of S. Oswald Plagne ceaseth by intercession of Saints and Masses said to giue God thancks therfor at the apointment of S. Peter and Paul appearing in a vision Which vision to be true Tvvo Queens nonns appeared by the miraculous effects folowing In this Kings time also liued Sexburg Queene of Kent who hauing left her Princly state became a Nonne vnder her sister Saint Edelred in Ely and succeeded her in the Abbesseship And Also as Beda saith lib. 4. cap. 26. Eanfled Queene of Northumberland wife to King Oswin with her daughter Elfled in the Monasterie of Whitbie King Cedwalla VI. 9. IN the yeare 686. succeded king Cedwalla who saith Beda lib. 5. cap. 7. held it two yeares The valiantnes of K. Cedvvalla and leauing it An. 688. as Beda hath in Epit. was baptized of the Pope at Rome on Easter euen An. 689. and there died He was as Beda writeth lib. 4. cap. 15. a valiant yong man Subdued Sussex and the I le of wite And as Malmsb. addeth lib. 1. Reg. cap. 2. often times ouercame the Kentish men His. Rom. Religion His Roman religion is vndoubted For as Beda hath lib. 5. cap. 7. being not yet Christened he left his Kingdome and Contrie and went to Rome thincking it to be singuler glorie and renowne to him to be regenerat at the Sea Apostolick with the Sacrament of baptisme And withall hoped that as sone as he was clensed from sinne he should depart this world Both which saith Beda by the prouidence of God were fullfilled For he was baptised by Pope Sergius and named Peter that he might beare his name whose Tombe he came to see and died while he wore his white aparrell of innocencie was buried honorably in S. Peters Church where in our tyme his body was found neere to S. Peters Sepulcher Saint Cutbert and his religion and miracles In this Kings time dyed S. Cutbert For as S. Beda saith lib. 4. cap. 27. He was consecrat Bishop An. 685. hauing bene two yeares Bishop soone after died and was wont as there and sequ Beda writeth to heare mens confessions to offer sacrifice to God and whose body eleuen yeares after his death was as S. Beda saith who then liued found whole and sound and the Iointes and sinowes soft and pliable and many miracles wrought therby Deuotion of Eng◠people In this time saith Beda lib. 4. cap. 27. it was the maner of the people of England when any of the Clergie or any Priest came to a Village they would all by and by at his calling come to gether to heare the word and willingly harken to such things as were sayd and more willingly follow in works such things as they could heare and vnderstand King Ina. VII 10. THe 7. Christian king was Ina who began his Reign An. 688. as appeareth by S. Beda in Epit. Malmsb. in Fastis and held his kingdome as Beda lib. 5. cap. 7. and all testifie 37. yeares He was saith Malmsb. lib. 1. Reg. c. 2. fortitudinis vnicum specimen The admirable vertues of K. Ina. Malmsb. The onely mirror of fortitud the Image of wisdom and his lik in religion yow could not finde How worthie he was in the affaires of God the lawes may witnesse which he made for correcting of the peoples maners wherein to this day appeareth a liuely representation of his pietie Bale Cent. 1. cap. 97. saith Balc magni consilij fortunae homo a man of profund iugment and great fortune Fox Acts. pag. 127. Fox A worthy and valiant King Cooper An. 687. Cooper Ina of great power and wisdome and ther with valiant and hardie and in feats of armes very expert To which Stow Chron pag. 96. addeth that he was the patern of strength and manlines Stovv an Image of wisdome and his like of no man known at that time for religion and framing his life therafter These high praises for religion Valor and wisdom three singuler properties of a Prince do both Catholicks and Protestants giue to this renowned Prince His Rom. Religion Now let vs see what his religion was First his Bishop was S. Aldelm a notorious Papist as is shewed before whose commādements saith Malmsb. L. cit audiebat humiliter ad-implebat hilariter He humbly listened vnto and cheerfully fullfilled Secondly he built saith Stow loc cit and others Glassenburie Abbey and erected also a Chappell of gould and siluer so termed of the ornaments with ornamentes and vessels of gould and siluer Chlaices Images of gold and siluer gaue to the Altare 264. pounds of gould a Chalice with a Paten of ten pounds of gould a Censor of 8. pounds a holy water bueket of 20. pound of siluer Images of our Lord and our Ladie and the 12. Apostles of 175. poundes of siluer and 28. pounds of gould a Pall for the Altar c. Thre Queens nonns Thirdly his wise Queene Ethelburga liued a Nonne at Berking as Fox saith Acts pag. 125. and others His sister Queene Cuthburga of Northumberland a Nonne at Winborn as Camb. in Brit. pag. 182. and Likwise an other sister of his called Quen-burga as writeth Florent An. 718. K Ina pilgrim to Rome and granteth the Peter Pence Westmon and others Fourthly him selfe as Fox saith pag. 125. setting a side all the pompe and pride of this wordl associated him self in the fellowship of poore
men and trauailled to Rome with great deuotion wher as he saith pag. 110 he became a Monke and pag. 125. granted a peny of euery house to be payd to the Court of Rome Beda lib 5 cap. 7. malmsb loc cit Cooper An. 723. Bale Cent. 11. cap. 97. Sleidan lib. 9. Stovv pag. 96. Bal. lib. cit Cambd. in Brit. p. 192. And pag. 136. founded the English Scoole or Seminarie there Fiftly as Cambden testifieth in Brit. pag. 193. he made verses to be engraueÌ„ in the forfront of Glossenburie in which he plainly confesseth S. Peters supremacie saith he that he was in Degree higher than S. Paul had the Keyes of heauen was the Porter and the firm Rock The verses are these Caelorum portae lati duo Lumina mundi Ore tonat Paulus fulgurat Arce Petrus Inter Apostolicas radianti luce coronas Doctior hic monitis celsior ille gradu S. peters supremacie professed by letters engrauen in stone Corda per hunc hominum reserantur astra per illum Quos docet iste stilo suscipit ille Polo Pandit iter Caelo hic dogmate clauibus alter Est via cui Paulus iaenua fida Petrus Behould Christian Reader this ancient and famous King and consequently all England in his time which is 900. yeares agoe beleeuing and not beleeuing onely but professing nor professing but engrauing in stone for testimony to all posteritie that S. Peter was in degree aboue all the Apostles S. Peter in degree aboue all the rest of the Apostles was the peculier Rock of Christians the proper Porter of heauen and espetially had the keyes of the coelestiall Kingdome Which is plain-ly that supremacie which their Posteritie Catholicks doe attribut vnto S. Peter and his successors And of the royall blood of this vndoubted Catholick and reuouneÌ„d King and so deuoted to the Church of Rome as first of all Christian Kings of the wordl His maiestie descendeth of K. Ina. by his brother he made his Kingdom and euery houshould therof tributary therto by payment of yearly pension by his brother Ingles came King Egbert who after reduced England to a monarchie as testifieth Paris Hist pag. 126. and of this King Egbert by lineall succession descendeth our present Souereign Lord King Iames. 11. In this Kings tyme besids him self three other English Kings left their Kingdoms also and became Monks to wit Four Kings leaue their kingdome and became moÌ„ks Ethelred and Coenred Kings one after the other of mercia or middle England and Offa King of Essex The two last went to Rome and there entred into Religion The third remained heere in England after was made Abbot of Bardney neere Lincoln And besides the Queens before mentioned Kineswitha daughter of King Penda and also espouse to the said King Offa became a Nonne hauing before perswaded him to giue ouer both his Kingdom and suite to her And besides these Osrick King of Northumberland as Godwill in the Bishops of Gloster saith Three Queens of mercia Abbesses one after the other but indeede King of the Victians as Beda called him lib. 4. cap 23. about the yeare 700. founded a Nonnery in Gloster in which Kineburg Eadburg and Eua all Queenes of Mercia were successiuly Abbesses The same saith Cambd. in Brit. pag. 316. Such rare and admirable loue of God and contempt both of pleasures and glorie of this world reigned in our Kings ProtestaÌ„ts glorie of the holines of our Cath. Anceistors Queenes and Princes of those dayes that iustly Cambd. in Brit. pag. 345. calleth this age seracissimum Sanctorum saeculum a most fruitfull wordl of Saints Oh when will Protestants breede such an age In this Kings time fell that most dredfull pumishment of God vpon that Captain who in his sicknes would not confesse his sinnes least he should seeme fearfull Which S. Beda recounteth lib. 5. cap. 14. wher he telleth how a little before the mans death Angels appeared and shewed to him a faire booke Dreadful punishment of one that differed his confession but little in quantitie wherin all his good deedes were written and after there came a huge multitude of Diuels who in a great black booke shewed him all his ill deedes and sinnes VVestmon An 921. Godvv in B. of york and one of them strooke him on the head and other on the feete which strokes crept into his body whâ—n they met he dyed in desperation In this Kings time also dyed S. Iohn of Beuerley who made S. Beda Priest Miracles of S. Ihon of Beuerlay whome he recounteth lib. 5. cap. 2. that by making the signe of the Crosse vpon the tongue of a Domb man he restored his speeche and that he helped an Earles wife with holy water and cap. 5. cured an Earles sonne and his Chaplin by his blessing In this time also liued S. Wilbrord an English man who An. 697. was consecrat Bishop by Pope Sergius and sent to preache in Frisland and Germany which also S. Swibert and many English more did Marcellin 1. mort Surio tom 2. Beda lib. 5. cap. 11. In this time also liued S. Boniface the Apostle of Germanie whome Pope Greg. 2. sent thither to preache An. 719. whose oath of fidelitie and plain Papistrie yow may read in Surius Tom. 3. and Baron An. 723. See also Surius de rebus moguntin At that same time also liued that great Eremit and S. Antonie of England S. Guthlac S. Guthlac the S. Antoine of England Of whome because Fox Acts pag. 125. saith that he secth no great cause why he should be Sainted Nether beleeue I saith he his miracles I will in this Saint giue the reader a taste of Fox his impudencie His holines and a full assurance if any can suffice of S. Guthlac his miracles Wherby euery indifferent man may iudg of the like miracles of Saints As for his holines Cambd in Brit. pag. 472. saith thus Guthlacus summa sanct titate c. Guthlac heere at Crowland lead an heremitical life in exceeding great sanctitie in honor of whome King Ethelbald with wonderfull expence founded a Monasterie in a Marish and vnstable grounde for religion and wealth very famous Behould this Protestant acknowledgeth that S. Guthlac led a most holy life and was so esteemed that King Ethelbald who liued at that same time soone after his death His miracles built a goodly Monasterie in his honor And who will read his life in Surius Tom. 2. shall finde that he was an admirable Saint 12. But as for the miracles of S. Guthlac if any humane testimony or euidence can make a thing certain and vndoubted they are so For Ingulph in his Hist printed and published by Protest who liued in the time of the Conquest setteth doune the Charter of King Kenulph a worthie Prince as all our Chronicles testifie dated Anno Christi 806. in which the King saith that he and his Queene were eye witnesses of many miracles done
at is shrine in these words Kenulphus Dei misericordia Rex c. Kenulph by the grace of God King c. The King and Q. of England faire say vvere eye-vvitnesses of S. Guthlacs miracles Be it known to all men that our Lord hath magnified his Saint the most blessed Confessor of Christ S. Guthlac who corporally resteth in Crowland Monasterie with most famous signes and worthy wonders yea with fresh and in numerable miracles as both I and my Queene haue seene with our owne eyes in our Pilgrimage English Pilgrims vvith images of Saints in their hats And there the king freketh all Pilgrims that come to S. Guthlac cum signis eius in caputijs aut capellis with his images in their hatts or capps from all tax and tole And to this Charter subscribe the said king kenulph and Cuthred king of kent Celwal â—rother to King Kenulph Testimonie of K. Burdred for Saint Guthlacs miracles Wilfrid Archb. of Canterb. two Bishops and one Abbot and diuers others And he setteth doune an other Charter of king Burdred in which he testifieth that Crowland Pro frequentibus miraculis c. In respect of the frequent miracles of the most holy Confessor S. Guthlac is alwaies a fertil mother amongst the vinyards of Engaddi And that God by apparant myracles of S. Guthlac hath vouch saffed to shew his mercie To which Charter subscribe the king An. 851. with the whole consent as he saith of the Parliament then gathered against the Danes Archb. Ceolreth six Bishops two Duks three Earles and diuers others And Ingulph addeth that in the ParliameÌ„t the Archb. Ceolreth and diuers others Manie cured miraculously in the Parliament as well Prelats as Nobles were sodenly and miraculously cured of a kinde of palsie which at that time much offended England and ther vpon omnes ad visitandum c. All presently bound them selues in conscience by a most strict vowe to visit in a deuout Pilgrimage with all possible speede the most sacred tombe of the most blessed Saint Guthlac at Crowland The vvhole parliament vovveth pilgrimage What now will Fox say against this cloud of witnesses omni exceptione maiores Will he say as Ministers vse to say of Priests and Monks that they forged these miracles for gaine But this were madnes to say of such great Kings and Princes or will he say that they were deceaued Fox his confusion But some of them were eye witnesses and some of them were such in whome the miracles were wrought as the Archbishop and Bishop of London who testifie the same in their subscription But by this the indifferent Reader may both perceaue what credit he may giue to the miracles of other Saints and with what impudence without any testimony to the contrary they are denyed of Fox and such like And therfore I will not make any more Apology hereafter for the miracles which I shall rehearse but only cite my Authors from whome I haue them King Ethelard VIII 13. KIng Ina going to Rome An. 728. as Florent hath Chron. left his Kingdome to Ethelard Valour of K. Ethelard who held it most quietly saith Malmsb. lib. 1. c. 2. 14. yeares he was saith Malmsb. Cosin to King Ina and a valiant Prince His Rom. Religion His roman religion appeareth both by that King Ina so notorious a Papist chose him to whome he would commit his kingdome as appeareth by Beda lib. 5. cap. 7. and also by other things which are by Protestants confessed of the religion of this time In this Kings time died S. Egbert Priest Anno 729. Saints Ex Beda lib. 3. cap. 27. vvho led saith he his life in great perfection of humility and meeknes continency innocencie and righteousnes and conuerted the Scotts to the right obseruation of Easter And S. Beda himselfe that glorious doctor of our English Church the flower of Christianity at that time for vertue and learning of whose high praises giuen to him by Protestants and of his perfect roman Religion I haue said ynough before Here only I will adde the Elogy of Malmsb. lib. 1. cap. 3. Bedam saith he mirari facilius c you may sooner admire then vvorthly praise Beda vvho liuing in the farthest corner of the vvorld vvith the flash of his doctrine haue a light to all Nations Here vvit faileth vvords are vvanting vvhile I cannot tell vvhat most to commend vvhither the muâ—â—â—tude of his volums Florent VVestmon Anno. 734. Huntingt lib. 4. or the sobriety of his stile For doubtles the diuine vvisdome had vvith no sparing draught giueÌ„ him to drinck that in so short a scaÌ„tling of his life could perfect so huge voluÌ„es The report of his name vvas so famous that the cheefest in Rome had neede of him for the resoluing of doubtfull questions And much more there of his holines VVriters Procure their vvorks to be approued of the Pope Where also he addeth that he died anoiled and hovvseled The like hath Florent and Westmon Anno 734. and Hunting lib. 4. Caius de antiq Canterb. pag. 138. proueth that Beda went to Rome and there read his bookes coram Romana Ecclesia Before the Church of Rome and then gaue them to other to copie forth vvhich vvas saith he ordinarie in the Ecclesiasticall vvriters of that age to deliuer their vvorks first to the Pope of Rome to be examined K. Ceolvvolph a Monke In this Kings time Anno 737. as is in the Epitome of Beda Ceolwolfe King of Northumberland to whome Beda dedicated his history left his Kingdome and became a Monke And as Malmsb. 1. Reg. cap. 3. florished with miracles And about the same time Frigedida Queene of the west-Saxons went to Rome Hunting lib. 4. pag. 340. Q Frigedida a pilgrim Godwin in the Bish of Salsbery which at that time saith Beda lib. 5. cap. 4. And Hunting Deuotion of English in going to Rome l. cit many English men both of the nobilitie and coÌ„mons spirituall teÌ„poral vvere wont to vse vvith 〈◊〉 emulation In this Kings time also about the year 730. as Godwin hath in the Bishops of Oxford though Capgraue in her life say 750. liued the holy Virgin S. Frideswid S. Fridesvvida who flying to saue her maydenhood from Prince Algarus he was miraculously strooke blind Cambd. in Brit p. 331. and she after became Abbesse of a nonry built by her Father DidaÌ„ These dayes were so far from Protestancy and so manifestly Catholicke as Bale Cent. 1. cap. 93. saith they were pessima tempora pubescente Antichristo Very bad time vvhen Antichrist grevv to riper yeares And Centur. 2. cap. 6. writeth of Cymbertus an English Bishop of S. Bedas time After the custome of the rest in the same age he taught and coÌ„mended the Roman customs to be obserued in his Churches And Fulke Annot. in Hebr. 10. saith Beda liued in a superstitious time long after Antichrist did opeÌ„ly shevv himself And 1. Petri
3. Beda vvas carried avvay vvith the errors and corruptions of his time Fox Acts pag. 126. calleth this time a Monkish age And S. Ceolfrid maister to S. Beda a Shaueling So plainly do they confesse England this time to haue bene Roman Catholicke King Cuthred IX 14. IN the yeare 741. as Florent hath in Chron. Anno. 740. Malmsb. in Fastis succeeded king Cuthred and died saith Hunting lib. 4. and Malmsb. lib. cit the 15. yeare of his reign He was Cosin as Florent and Malmsb. and others say as Westmon hath brother to king Ethelard The valour of K. Cuthred and was as Hunting lib. cit and Houeden pag. 408. Rex magnus A puissant King and mightie Prince famous for his prosperous reign and victories His Rom. Religion His Roman religion is manifest both by that which hath bene saide of the former King and also because in his time as Stow saith Chron. pag. 88. Pope Zacharie wrote a letter hither wherin he threatned to excommunicat them that would not amend their incontinent life The Pope threatneth to excommunicate ill liuers in England S Richard K. a pilgrim and his tvvo sonnes and daughter Which was read in presence of the King and Nobles no man thinking that the Pope tooke more vpon him than he might In this kings time S. Richard forsoke his Kingdom and Contrie and went on Pilgrimage to Rome and died by the way at Luca. His two sonnes S. Willibald and Winnibald and his holy daughter S. Walburg following their Fathers example left also their estates and Contrie and went into Germanie to help Surius tom 1. Baron An. 750. S. Boniface their Kinsman in the conuersion of that Nation King Sigibert X. 15. IN the yeare 754. as Malmsb. hath in Fastis succeeded King Sigibert who as Malmsb. saith 1. Reg cap. 2. after a yeare was deposed by the consent of all for his naughtines In his time An. 754. saith Beda in Epit. Sigebert in Chron and others was S. Boniface an English man and Apostle of Germany martyred in Frisland with 53. more of his company This blessed Saint and great ornament of our Nation Bale Cent. 1. cap. 79. saith was very superstitious Saints and martyrs See the manie and highe praises of this S. Boniface both of Catholiks and Protestants ancient and nevv in Sacrariâ—s d rebus moguntin lib. 3 not 57. 58. 59. and brought the Germans to Papistrie And other where saith was next to Antichrist meaning after his maner the Pope Fox Acts pag. 128. calleth him Martyr of God Stow Chron. pag. 85. saith He was martyred for the profession of Christ and his holy Gospel Cooper pag. 716. The Germans about this tyme receaued by Boniface the faith of Christ And yet was this Boniface so notorious a Papist as Fox pag. 129. termeth him a great setter vp and vphoulder of Poperie Bale Cent. 1. cap. 79. plainly saith he brought the Germans ad Papisticam fidem to the Papistical faith And Cent. 13. cap. 3. citeth these wordes of Boniface out of his epistle to the Pope How many scollers or disciples so euer God hath giuen me in this my Legacie I cease not to incline to the obedience of the See Apostolick Surius tom 3. Serrarius de rebus Moguntin He imposed saith Bale single life vpon Priests By this much more in his life in Surius and Baron Tom. 9. yow may see what religion England then professed from whence S. Boniface and all his fellow laborers in Germany did come King Kinulph XI 16. IN the yeare 755. as Malmsb. in Fastis Florent in Chron and others agree succeeded king kinulph and reigned 29. yeares as Malmsb. hath in Fastis died An. 784. ex Florent The valour of K. Kinulph Malmsb. in his Historie saith 31. years Houed writeth the same Malmsb. 1. Reg. cap. 2. Clarus morum compositione militiaeque gestis Honorable both for his vertuous behauiour warlick prowes The like hath Hunting lib. 4. and Houed pag. 408. Cooper Chron. An. 748. saith the vertue of this man surpassed his fame The Roman religion of this king is euident by his Charter set downe by Godwin in the Bishops of Bath in these words His Rom. Religion Ego Kenulphus I Kinulph King of the VVest-Saxons will bestow a peece of Land Good deeds for satisfactioÌ„ of sinnes humbly ascribing it for the loue of God and satisfaction of my sinnes with consent of my Prelats and Nobles to Gods blessed Apostle and seruant S. Andrew Which kind of gifte is contrary to the foundation of Protestancie as is before shewed oute of Fox Abbots and others And Fox Acts pag. 130. addeth that about the yeare 780. which was in this kings tyme Pope Adrian ratified and confirmed by reuelation the order of S. Gregories masse VVhen S. Greg. order of Masse became vniuersall At what time saith he this vsuall Masse of the Papists began to be vniuersall and vniforme and generally receaued in all Churches In this Kings time Egbert or Edbert King of Northumberland leauing his Kingdom became a Monke K. Eadbert a Monke Epitom Bedae An. 758. Florent Westmon An. 757. Malmsb. 1. Reg. cap. 3. Stow Chron. pag. 93. Fox Acts. pag. 131. In this Kings time An. 781. also died Werburga quondam saith Florent sometime Queene to Ceolred King of Merchland Q. VVerburg a Nonne By which kind of speech he insinuateth that theÌ„ she was a Nonne which is plainly affirmed by Houeden pag. 404. And in Germany liued S. Lullus S. Burcardus S. Willebald Saints S. Liobe and many other English both men and women disciples of this forsaid S. Boniface who with vertuous life and miracles planted there the Catholick Roman faith which they carried with them out of England King Bithricus XII 17. THe 12. Christian King was Bithricus who began his reigne An. 784. and reigned 16. yeares as Malmsb. saith 1. Reg. 2. and in Fastis The vertues of K. Bithricus and dyed An. 800. He was saith he pacis quam belli studiosior more desirous of peace than of war Ethelwerd l. 3. calleth him Regem pijssimum A most godly Prince His Rom. Religion Cooper An. 778. saith he Knightly ruled the Land His Roman religion is most notorious For as Hunting lib. 3. Houed pag. 404. Westmon An. 739. and others write Popes legats honorably receaued of all England in his tyme came Legats into England from Pope Adrian antiquam say they renouantes c. renewing the ancient League and Catholick saith who were honorably receaued both of the Prelats and Princes and held a Councell at Cealtid ex Houed pag. 410. Besides he maried the daughter of King Offa K. Offa and King Kenred become monks Peter pence Hunting lib. 4. pag. 342. Houed pag. 409. Bale Cent. 2. cap. 15. who in his time left his Kingdom went to Rome with Kenred King of Northumberland and there bound his Kingdom to pay the Peter pence and finally became a
Monke as Fox writeth lib. 2. pag. 3. and pag. 129. and others Besides of this King Offa Stow writeth pag. 89. that he caused the reliques of S. Alban to be taken vp and put in a Shrine Malmsb. 2. Reg. cap. 4. and adorned with gould and pretious stones and builded there a Prinely Monasterie His Charter saith he is dated An. 793. with the witnesse of him selfe his sonne Egferd 9. Kings 15. Bishops 10. Dukes c. By which we may clearly perceaue the Roman faith of all our Nation then Westmon also An. 794. Telleth how King Offa with the counsell of his Bishops sent to the Pope to haue priuiledges for that Monasterie Pope confirmeth our Kings Charters and the Pope answered that he should grante what he thought conuenient Et nos saith the Pope And we by our priuiledg will confirme our originall And as Paris hath An. 794. Manie Princes became monks He excepted it from all iurisdiction of Bishop or Archbishop subiected it immediatly to the See of Rome His diebus saith Bale Cent. 2. cap 15. In these dayes many Princes in England with shauing tooke vpon them the profession of Monks In this Kings time An. 793. was the Innocent and holy King Ethelbert of East-England slaine S. Ethelbert K. Ethelrida his spouse an Anchoresse Malmsb. in Fastis 1. Reg. cap. 5. Florent Chron. Stow pag 74. Fox Acts. pag. 129. And Etheltida his espouse daughter of King Offa made her selfe an Ancoresse or recluse ex Ingulph In this tyme also was found the body of S. VVithburg daughter of King Anna after 55. yeares buriall ex Florent An. 798. S. Fremund K. In his tyme also liued S. Fremund King and sonne to King Offa Vir saith Cambd. in Brit. pag. 500. magni nominis A man of a worthy name and singuler pietie towards God was canonized for a Saint And Rictrith iamdudum Regina tunc Abbattissa obijt Q Rictrith Nonne Rictrith somtime a Queene then Abbesse dyed Houed An. 786. And An. 799. died Osbald then Abbot K. Osbald Monke Saints but once King of Northumberland Houed Ibid. In this time also died S. Lull Archbishop of Mentz whome not onely Malmsb. lib. 1. Reg. cap. 4. but Bale also Cent. 13. cap. 56. commendeth saying he was homo tum eruditionis c. A man of approoued learning and sanctitie and gaue him selfe as an example of vertue to the Gentills that had any inclination to the Christian faith And yet was he scoller and successor to Saint Boniface that famous Papist Ibid. cap. 57. Bale calleth Saint Burchard his fellowe Virum pium ac religiosum a godly and religious man And cap. 70. he saith that S. Wilhad Archb. of Brome and fellow laborer with them Martirij desiderio pro Rom. Ecclesia flagrabat Burnt with desire of Martirdome for the Church of Rome English desire to die for the Church of Rome In his time also liued that great Clerck Alcuin Confessor to Charles the Great of whome ynough hath bene sayd before 18. Thus thou seest Christian Reader how clearly the Catholick Roman religion hath bene deduced through all those our first Christian Kings for the space of the first 200. yeares after our conuersion from Paganisme to Christianity The effects of Catholike religiō in our nation in 200. years And what notable contempt of the world and holines of life it bred in that time in our Kings Queenes Princes Ten Kings Saints in 200 yaers Clergy and Commons in so much that ten of those Kings that then were are now accounted Saints To wit Ethelbert Fourtene Kings Monks or Pilgrims Edwin Oswald Oswi Sebbi Sigebert another Sigebert Richard Ethelbrit Fremund And fourteene of them forsaking their Kindomes either became Monks or went on Pilgrimages to Rome namely Kinegilsus Centwin Cedwall Ina Sebby Offa VVho vvold not aduenture his soule sooner vvith thes holie Kings Queens and Princes than vvith one boye and a VVomā Princes Cōfessors See marcellin in vit Simbert Princes martyrs Sigebert Ethelred Coenred another Offa Cealwolph Eadbert Kenred Osbald to whome I may adde Oswin preuented by death And 13. Queenes nonnes to wit Bathildis Ethelreda Sexburg kineswith espouse to King Offa Eadburg Eua Emenild Edelburg Ethelburg Canfled Cuthburg VVerburg Erigedida Rictirth to whome I may add Heseswid mother to King Adolph Besides many Kings sonnes as Sighord VVillibald VVinnibald Merefin Adelbert and many more whose names we know not And many Princes Martyrs as Ruffin VVulfhale Elbert Egbrigh and one Confessor S. Pumold And many Kings and Queenes daughters that became nonnes as Edelburg Eartongath Sedrido VVithburg Kings daughters Mildred Milhith VValburg Etheldrida 19. Could such admirable contempt of the world spring from the Diuels religion or rather from his who in our baptisme bindeth vs to renounce the world and pomps therof Can grapes spring of thorns Could so great vertue and holines of life rise from the Diuel the vtter enemy of vertue or rather from God from whome as S. Iames saith commeth all goodnes Can Protestants imagin that God reuealed his truth to them and hid it from so great Saints and seruants of his as those were Did God hide his truth from those vertuous princes and reueal it to a boy and a vvoman who sought it so diligently folowed it so earnestly and as S. Iames speaketh by their workes haue shewed their faith and yet notwithstāding perished euerlastinglie as no doubt must needes be both thought and said if Protestants religion be the only truth of Christ and Christs truth the only way as no doubt it is to saluation No hope of saluation to our Ancestors if the Cath. faith be not the faith of Christ And therfore how soeuer some Ministers say that they will not iudge their Forfathers they cannot but thinke that these holy Princes and their people are damned which they are a shamed to say or that there are diuers wayes to heauen which is right Atheisme or rather Antichristianisme For if ther be any other way to heauen than that which Christ taught we make Christ a lyar But let them thinck as they list I hope all men that are carefull of their saluation and withall consider that as ther is but one God and one Christ so ther is but one baptisme and one faith to wit the Catholick which who keepeth not intirely shall perish euerlastingly will both thinck and say Moriatur anima mea morte iustorum Athan. in Symbolo fiant nouissima mea horum similia Let my soule die the death of the iust and let my end belike to these men And now let vs goe from the Kings of a part of England to the Monarchs of the whole CHAP. XXIIII That all the Kings of England from the Monarchy to the Conquest vvere Roman Catholicks proued in particuler King Egbert XIII 1. THe thirtenth Christian King of the west-Saxons and first that reduced England to a Monarchy was King
termed his adoptiue child as is before said instructed of him in maners religiō Moreouer as Caius saith In reparandis ornandis c. In repairing beutifying enriching Monasteries he labored earnestly amongst which he builded two of great renoun But Fox reckoneth three one at Shasburie one at Ethling S. Cutbert encourageth the K. to recouer England the third at Winchester The cause of the building his Monasterie at Ethling was because he being almost quite vāquisht of the Danes and lying there hid for a time S. Cutbert appeared to him badd him be of good corage assuring him both of the present vision and future victorie ouer the Danes by a present miracle Profes of the truth of S. Cutberts vision to K. Alfred This vision was as is said confirmed then by a present miracle and by the perfect conquest of the Danes after following beleeued of this notable prudent King and testifyed as Fox p. 142. cōfesseth by Malmsb. Polichron Houed Iornalasensis others and yet is termed of him without any reason or testimony a dreaming fable onely as we may imagin because it is sayd to come from S. Cutbert For soone after p. 149. he crediteth a Vision of Egwin a Herlot albeit it haue nothing so good testimonie because therin is no mentiō of any Saint Finally this excellēt King in his preface before the Pastorall of Saint Gregory calleth him Christs Vicar sent almes to Rome Westmon An. 889. also to India to performe saith Fox p. 142. His vovv to S. Thomas vvhich he made during the tyme of his distresse against the Danes In this Kings time Burdred King of Merceland forsaking his Kingdom went to Rome A King goeth to Rome and Anno. 889. his Queene Ethelswitha followed him Hollemen in time of K. Alfred In this kings time also liued S. Grimbald whome king Alfred called out of France to teach in Oxford and S. Neotus Scientia saith Bale Cent. 2. cap. 1. In knowledg and manners excelling in counsel good in speeche wise by whose counsel Alfred founded a schoole at Oxford King Edward the elder XIX 8. IN the yeare 901. succeeded King Edward the Elder sonne to king Alfred The vvorthines of K. Edvvard son and reigned saith Malmsb. lib. 2. cap. 3 23. yeares others say 24. He gouerned the land saith Fox lib. 3. pag. 146. right valiantly in Princely gouernment and such like martial prowes he was nothing inferior to his Father but rather exceeded him subdued VVales Scotlād recouered all out of the Danes hāds The same saith Cooper An. 901. Stow p. 107. A great victorie Malmsb. l. cit Florent and Westmon An. 924 Houed p. 122. And Ingulph and Hunting lib. 5. say that in one battel he slew two kinges and 10. Earles of the Danes And Ethelwerd lib. 4. cap. 4. writeth that in all he slew 4. kings of them His Rom. Religion The Roman religion of this valiant and victorious Prince is euident First because as king Edgar his grandchild in an oration which Fox hath lib. 3. pag. 170. testifieth he accounted S. Dustan his Father helper and fellow worker in all things chose him as Bishop and Shepherd of his soule and keeper of his maners obeyed him in all things and preferred his counsel before all treasure Secondly because he obeyed the commandement of the Pope who threatned him excommunication if he procured diuers Bishopricks to be erected ex Malmsb. l. cit Cambden in Brit. p. 198. Thirdly because two of his daughters Edfled and Edburga became nōnes the third Ethelhild vowed virginitie ex Malm. l. cit Houed p. 421. Tvvo daughters of King Edvvard Nonnes and the third vovved virginitie And as Bale saith Cent. 13. c. 77. Gregorie a sonne of his became an hermit in Swiseland Fourthly because he toke awaye his brothers or his brothers sonnes wife from him because she had bene a Nonne Hunt lib. 5. Westmon An. 801. In his time liued the said S. Edburg his daughter Saints and S. Fristan Bishop of Winchester a man saith Godwin in his life highly esteemed of for his learning but much more for his great vertue and holines King Athelstan XX. The VVorthines of K. Ethelstan 9. IN the yeare 924. succeeded king Athelstan sonne to king Edward and held the Crowne 16. yeares ex Malm. lib. 2. cap. 6. He was saith Fox p. 147. Cooper An. 925. and Stow p. 107. a Prince of worthie memorie valiant and wise in all his acts and brought this Lād to one Monarchy For he expelled the Danes subdued the Scotts quieted the VVelchmen The like saith Bale Cent. 2. cap. 22. and also Catholick writers as yow may see in Malmsb. l. cit Hunt lib. 5. Houed pag. 422. His religion His Roman religion is most euidēt For going to the Battel of Brumford against many kings and innumerable enemies Ingulpg Florent An. 938. Hunt lib. 5. pag. 422. he visited saith Ingulph S. Iohn of Beuerley by the waye with great deuotion and God so blessed his deuotiō as in the battel he slew saith Malmsb the king of Scotts fiue kings more A vvonderfull victorie 12. Earles innumerable multitude of his enemies and got one of the greatest victories that euer Englishe wonne And in his return gaue great gifts and priuiledges to S. Iohn of Beutrley and made it a sanctuary for all Debters and Malifactors Ex Ingulph and Cambd. in Brit. pag. 636. Besides he was saith Ingulph and Malmsb greatly delited with a peece of the holy Crosse Hovv K. Ethelstad estemed reliques and Crowne of thorns which Hugh king of France sent vnto him Made S. Aldhelm his Patron Cambd. p. 210. Builded saith Fox pag. 149 the two Monasteries of Midleton and Mithelney for his brothers soule VVhy Kings builded monasteries VVherby saith Fox it may appeare that the espetiall cause of building Monasteries in those dayes was for the releasing sinnes bothe of them departed and of them aliue which cause saith he how it stādeth with Christs Luthers Gospel let the Christian Reader try with him self Thus Fox which confession of his may suffice to shew how all that kings tyme all the Realme was Roman Catholick All Christendom of the same faith vvith K. Ethelston And how all Christendome abroad agreed with him in religiō appeareth by the marriage of his sisters to the Emperor king of Frāce other Christiā Princes In this kings time befel a miracle in Duke Elfred whome the king sent to Rome to purge him selfe of treason by his oath before S. Peters sepulcher Miracle by S Peter But saith the K. in his charter which Fox pag. 148. Malmsb and others haue hauing taken his oath he fel before the Altar and was caried by the hands of his seruants to the English schole and the next night after he ended his life Then also liued Saint Birnstan Bishop of VVinchester Qui c. saith Florēt An. 932. Malm. Polichron
Oswald Archb. of York whome Godwin confesseth to haue bene very learned and for his integritie and conuersation much reuerenced The greatest faulte saith he I finde in him was in that he was very earnest in setting forth that doctrin of Diuels that debarreth men who haue promised to God the contrary from marrying In this time also was martyred S. Elpheg Archb. of Canterburie And S. Edmund King and martyr miraculously flew Swain King of Denwark as in the Ecclesiastical histories it is reported of Saint Mercurie Martyr that he slew Iulian the Apostata This miracle Fox him selfe dare not discredit but lib. 3. pag. 161. writeth thus of Swain Miracle He entred the Territorie of Saint Edmund wasted and spoiled the contrie despised the holie Martyr menacing the place of his sepulcher VVherfore the men of the Countrie fel to praier and fasting so that shorlie after Swain died sodenlie crying and yelling Some saye saith he that he was stroken with the sword of S. Edmund In fear wherof Canutus his sonne granted them the fredome of all their liberties and great freedoms quitted them of all tax and tribut And after that time it was vsed that Kings of England when they were crowned sent their Crownes for an offering to S. Edmunds shrine and redeemed the same againe with condigne price And these times were so euidently Papistical as Fox in his Protestation before his Acts saith thus About the year of our Lord 980. sprong forth here in England as did in other places more a Romish kind of Monkery much drovvned in supestition Of this svvarme vvas Egbert Agelbert Egvvin Boniface VVilfrid Agathon Iames Roman Cedda Dunstan Osvvald Athelm Lanfrancke Anselm and such other But well it is that this Iames was as S. Beda saith lib. 2. c. 20. a good godlie man Deacon to S. Paulin who was S. Austines companion by whome we may see the religion of S. Austin and his fellowes Agilbert Agatho Wilfrid Roman Cedda were holy men much commended by Beda lib. 3. cap 25. and liued in S. Austins time or very sone after long before this time The others Egbert Boniface Danstan Oswald Anselm were the famousest Saints which England hath King Edmund Ironside XXVII 16. THe 27. Christian King was Edmund Ironside sonne vnto King Egelred who succeded An. 1016. and reigned one yeare The valour of K. Edmund Ironside He was saith Malmsb. lib. 2. cap. 10. a yong man of notable towardlines of great strength both of minde and body and therfore sirnamed Ironside of the English men The like say Hunting lib. 6. Westmon Anno 1016. Cooper Anno 1016. and Fox Acts Pag. 162. wriâ—e that he was of lusty and valiant courage in martiall affairs both hardie and wise and could indure all paine His religion His Roman religion is manifest by that as the Register of Bury saith he reedifyed Glassenburie destroied as it seemeth by the Danes and by what hath bene said of his Father King Canut XXVIII 17. THe 28. king was king Canut a Dane who by force of armes and dint of sword got the kingdome beginning his reigne Anno. 1017. and reigned 20. yeares Composed saith Malmsb. lib. 2. c. 11. his life magna ciuilitate fortitudine Vertues of K. Canut Of whome Hunting lib. 6. Polidor L. and others recount this story Fox p. 164. That as he sat by the sea side his flatterers magnifying him called him Lord of the land and sea whose flattery to discouer he commanded the waues not to come neere him but they rising according to their course bewet the king wherat he smiling said to his coutriers loe he whom yee call Lord of Sea and land cannot coÌ„mand a smale waue Cooper An. 1018. saith he was a sage gentle and moderat Prince And An. 1027. for his vertuous life worthie to liue perpetuallie He was of great magnificence vsed such iustice temperance that in his daies was no Prince of such renowne towards God humble and lowlie Bale Cent. 2. cap. 45. saith he was Iuuenis c. a yong man of excellent vvit and high minde and notable in Christian modestie That great king who was withall king of Denmark and Norway was euidentlie a Roman His religion Catholick First because after the said speech of his touching the Sea he went to Winchester as Fox pag. 163. Bale l. cit Stow pag. 120. Florent Houed An. 131. Hunting l. cit and others write and taking his crown from his head set it vpon the head of the crucifix Quo c. saith Bale By which he signified that the Kings of those times were no Kings but onely the likenes of Kings and Images of the Beast Secondly Fox pag. 163. writeth that following much the superstition of Agelnoth Archb. of Canterburie he went on Pilgrimage to Rome and ther founded an hospitall for Pilgrims gaue to the Pope pretious gifts and burdened the Land with a tribut called Romescot In his letters to the Nobles and Bishops of England in Malmsb. and Ingulph him self saith that he went oratum c. to pray for the redemption of my sinnes and saith that he had longe vowed it and thancketh God that he had there honored S. Peter and Saint Paule and all the holy places of Rome Et ideo hoc maxime c. And therfor I haue done this principally because I haue learned of wise men that Saint Peter the Apostle hath receaued great power of our Lord of binding and loosing and that he is the Porter of heauen and therfore I thought it very profitable to require especially his protection with God Thirdly in his Charter in Malmsburie he saith he graunteth priuiledges to that Monasterie by the counsel of the Archbishop Agelnoth and also of all the Priests of God and with the consent of all my Peeres for the loue of the Kingdom of heauen and pardon of my offences and the relaxations of the transgressions of my brother King Edmund Wherby wee see that both him selfe and his Bishops and nobles were Roman Catholicks Fourthly he built saith Fox l. cit Cambd. Brit. pag. 415. Saint Bennets in Norfolk and turned Saint Edmunds Bury into an Abbey of Monks And Bale libro cit addeth It is found that next after God he endeuored to appease Saint Edmund by prayers and offerings King Herold XXIX 18. IN the yeare 1036. succeded King Herold sonne to King Canut by Elfgina an English woman as witnesseth Ingulph and reigned 4. yeares and 4. monethes ex Malmsburie lib. 2. cap. 12. His Roman religion is manifest both by his Father Rom. region of K. Herold by that which Ingulph writeth of him pag. 895. He gaue to the Monasterie of Crowland a Cloake of silk set with goulden buttons which he wore at his coronation and he had done to vs many moe good things if ouer hasty death had not taken him away King Hardy Canut XXX 19. THe 30. King was king Hardi-Canut sonne to king Canut Emma who had bene
the words of the Sacraments he which knew his grāmer was a wonder and a miracle to the rest Monks vvere fine in apparell and had euery kinde of meat indifferent making a mockerie of their rule The nobles giuin to glutonie and Venerie did not go to Church in the morning after the maner of Christians but in their chambers dalying vvith their wiues heard onlie the solemnization of their wiues heard onely the solemnization of Mattins and Masse by a Priest making much hast therin Euery one commonly was giuen to tippling continewing in this exercise nights as wel as dayes wheron vices ensued companions of dronkenes But I would not haue these sayinges to be vnderstood of all I knew many of the clergie at that time walked the path of sanctitie in true simplicitie I knew many Laymen of all sorts and conditions within this same Contrie pleased God Hunting also lib. 6. writeth that before the Conquest a man of God tould them that for their sinnes in murder and treason and because they were giuen to drunkenes and carelesnes of the seruice of God ther should come from France a Lord that should depresse them for euer and not onely they but the Scotts also should rule ouer them to their deserued confusion S. Edmund also prophesied of this cōquest of England which though Fox pag. 165. call but a dreame yet the euent following sheweth it was too true a vision CHAP. XXV That the Kings of England from the Conquest to King Edward 3. time were Roman Catholicks proued in particuler 1. THe 33. King of England was William the Conqueror who entred this Land An. 1066. and reigned 21. yeares He got the crowne of this Realm partly by dint of sword and conquest partly by the graunt of King Edward Confessor whose cosin German remoued he was For as him selfe saith in his Charter in Cambd. in Brit. pag. 111. VVhat right K. VVill. had to the Crovvne of England He got the Kingdome by the help of the graunt of God and of his cosin glorious King Edward who apointed him his adopted heir to the Kingdom of England And Guitmundus in oratione ad Regem saith He got England by the gift of God and by the freindship of Edward his Kinsman And Ingulph who then also liued saith An. 1065. Edward chose VVilliam and sent Robert Archb. of Canterb. who should declare it vnto him And pag. 911. In the Kindred and consanguinitie of Edward our famous King VVilliam framed his conscience to inuade England Paris pag. 1057. It is sayd that blessed S. Edward gaue the Kingdom to VVilliam as a Legacie on his death bed The like hath Walsing ypodigm pag. 28. Houed pag. 609. and others Finally Fox Acts pag. 165. King Edward thought to make Edgar Adeling his heire but fearing partly the mutabilitie of English men partly the malice and pride of Herold and others perceauing therby that be should not so well bring his purpose to passe directed solemne Embassadors to the Duke of Normandie assigning and admitting him to be his lawfull heire next to succeed him after to the Crowne And King William trusting to the right of this title offered Herold as Fox pag. 166. 167. and others write to trye their two titles before the Pope but Herold refusing William neuerthelesse sent and got his title approued by the Popes iudgment This King saith Hunting lib. 6. pag. 370. was wise Valour and vertues of K. VVilliam Conq. but crafty rich but couetous vain-glorious but louing his reputation louing to the seruants of God hard to this withstanders the onely author of peace that a little girle loaden vvith gould might passe tbrough Englād vntouched The like hath Malmsb. lib. 3. and Cooper An. 1067 Bale Cent. 2. cap. 56. addeth that he was of great corage and excellent in the knowledg of warlick affaires His Rom. religion His Roman religion is manifest First because as Westmon An. 1085. and others write Paris An. 185. Euery day he vvas present at Masse heard mattins Lauds Euensong vvith the Canonicall houres K. VVill. Conq. heard euery daie Masse mattins and Houre◠nether vvould he suffer euen vpon most vrgent and difficult affaires him self to be hindred In the meane season he ceassed not to kneele and to pray deuoutly Secondly because as sone as he had gotten the victorie he sent Herolds Standerd to the Pope Stow in Herold Cambd. in Brit. Thirdly he built two Monasteries one at Battel in Sussex Vt orarent that they might pray saith Westmon An. 1067. Paris 1066. Pro ibi mortuis for the dead there And an other at Cane in Normandie Fourthly he made his daughter Cecilia a Nonne K. VVill. daughter a Nonne Paris An. 1075. Stow. pag. 177. S. Osmund was so inward with this King as Bale saith Cent. 13. cap. 14. That he could not be absent scarce any time from King VVilliams presence And yet as he both there saith and Fox Acts pag. 184. Godwin in the Bishop of Salsburie this Osmund in the yeare 1076. was author of the office or maner of saying Masse mattins and administring Sacraments after the vse of Sarum which saye they was afterward in a manner receaued through all England Wales and Ireland Sixtlie Pope Alexander writing to him ep 10. saith Among the Princes and rulers of the world we vnderstand the notable forme of your religion and writeth to him to persist in the study of most Christian deuotion And Pope Greg. 7. whome Protest call Hilddebrand Loue betvvene P. Hildebrand and K. VVilliliam and hate most of all the Popes lib. 1. ep 31. calleth King William the most louing and principall sonne of the Roman Church And ep 69. saith That King William reioised in his promotion and shewed all the affection of a good sonne from his hart And l. 6. ep 30. VVe loued alwaies King VVilliam peculierlie amongst the rest of that dignity And lib 7. ep 26. saith that his Queene Mathildis offered him what soeuer we would haue of theirs he might haue it without delay And lib. 7. ep 5. saith That the King of England although that in some things he behaued himselfe not so religiouslie notwithstanding because he would not consent to enter into league against the Sea Apostolicke with some that were enemies to the Crosse of Christ being requested therto but compelled by oath the Priests to leaue wiues the lay men to pay the tenths which they detayned is praysworthie sufficientlie and more to be honored than other Kings This thus Pope that then liued Seuenthlie King William although he deposed almost all the old English nobilitie yet he tooke not vpon him to depose anie one Bishop or Abbot but procured Pope Alexander to send down two Legats to do it Eightlie K. VVill. Conq. tooke not vpon him to depose Bishops or dispose of Bishopricks King William preferred Lanfrank to the Archbishoprick of Canterburie as all know whome the protestants confesse to haue bene a notorious Papist Ninthlie he glorieth in
began saith Fox Acts pag. 201. appellations from Councells to the Pope by Henrie Bishopp of Winchester brother to the King In this Kings time Anno 1137. saith Bale Cent. 2. cap. 63. began in England the Monkes called Robertins of Robert their beginner But Capgraue in the life of Robert saith these Monks were Cistertians Monks enter into Englâ—nd In this time saith Bale ibidem entred into England the Moncks called Praemonstratenses Anno 1145. And Anno 1147. began the Gilbertin Monks and Nonnes founded by S. Gilbert Lord of Sempringham Cambd. Brit. p. 475. Neubrig l. 1. c. 16. Capgraue in Gilberto And this time Nicolas Breackspear an English Monke and Cardinall afterward Pope conuerted Norway sayth Bale l. cit ad Papismum to Papistrie And so manifestly were the times vnder King Stephen Papisticall as Bale cent 2. c. 74. speaking of them saith here we vnderstand that there was great want of the pure doctrine of Christ Iesus And cap. 73. saith it was a most corrupt age In this Kings time died also Saint William Archbishop of York Kinsman to King Stephan a man saith Godwin in his life very noble by birth but much more noble in vertue and good maners Saints Miracles many miracles writeth he are said to be vvrought at his Tombe King Henrie II. XXXVII 6. IN the yeare of our Lord 1155. King Henrie second grandchild by the Empresse Maude to Henri 1. succeded and reigned 33. yeares The vvorthines of King Henrie 2. He was saith Fox Acts pag. 234. Eloquent learned manly and bould in chiualrie The like hath Cooper Anno. 1155. and Stow pag. 216. Cambd. pag. 247. hath much of his praise out of Catholick writers of that time Vnder him saith Fox Acts pag. 224. the Dominion of England extended so far as hath not bene seene before VVhom Histories record to haue possessed vnder his rule First Scotland to whome VVilliam King of Scots with his Lords temporall and spirituall did homage both for them and their successors the seale wherof remaineth in the Kings Tresurie as also Ireland England Normandie Guiens Aquitan vnto the mountains of Pirenei He was offered also to be King of Ierusalem by the Patriarch and Maister of the Hospitall Now let vs see what was the religion of this potent King His Rom. Religion and of England when her Dominion was the largest that euer it was First Fox Acts pag. 234. telleth how this King heard Masse Secondly Stow pag. 232. telleth how he built the Nonrie of Font Euerard the Priorie of Stoneley of S. Martin in Douer and of Basing weck To which Cambd. in Brit. pag. 488. addeth Newsted in Nottingham shier and pag. 321. Circester in Glostershier Carthusiian Monks come into England Thirdly he brought Carthusians into England and built them a house at Withan Godwin in vit Hugonis Lincoln Houed saith this was An. 1186. Bale Cent. 2. cap. 63. saith it was 1180. And after Carthusians saith he came in Kinghts of Rhodes and of the Temple And Cambd. Brit. pag. 728. saith the Carmelits were brought in at this time Fourthly saith Stow pag. 216. he was directed cheefely by Thomas Becket in all things Fiftly saith the same Stow pag. 218. He obtained of Pope Adrian 4. both to haue Dominion of the Irish people Bal. Cent. 2 p. 180. and also to instruct them in the â—udiments of faith And the Pope in the letters of the grant calleth him a Catholick Prince Sixtly he Lewis King of France going on foote performing the office of lackeis and houlding the bridel of his horse on the right and lefâ— side Baron tom 12. conducted Pope AlexaÌ„der with great pompe through the Cittie Taciac vnto the riuer of Loir Robert Monten Genebre in Chron. Bale Cent. 2 c. 94. Neubrigen l. 2. c. 14. Thom. Cant. in Ep. ad Henr. 2. Seuenthly Houed p 502. setteth doune the letter of Gilbert Bishop of London to the Pope in which the Bishop writeth that the K. neuer auerted his minde from the Pope nor euer ment it but would loue him as a Father and reuerence the Church of Rome as his mother and had assisted the Pope in all his necessities with all his hart and strength And pag. 550. relateth a letter of Cardinals who writ of the King how obedient he shewed him selfe to the Church of which said they in this our short relation it is not needfull to relate Eightly Fox pag. 227. Cooper An. 1072. and others write that he agreed with the Pope that he should not hinder appeales to Rome and that nether the King nor his sonne should departe from Pope Alexander so long as he should count him or his sonne for Catholicks Bale Cent. 3. cap. 4. saith He permitted Appeals to the Pope and willingly submitted him selfe and his Kingdom to the Popes pleasure And English men came into greater subiection of Antichrist than euer at any tyme before Ninthly he persecuted certain German Hereticks whome Bale Cent. 2. cap 95. calleth Christians and others whome Bale cap. 97. calleth preachers of Gods word And Houed pag. 1573. reporteth that he and the King of France purposed to goe in person against the Albigenses whome Protestants commenly acount brethrem of their Church Finally his death was thus Cùm eger esset saith Houed pag. 654. VVhen he was sick vnto deathe he caused him self to be caried into the Church before the Altar and there he deuoutly receaued the communion of the body blood of our Lord confessing his sinnes And being absolued by the Bishop and Clergie he died And the times of this King were so manifestly Roman Catholick See more of this K. Rom. relig in Baron tom 12. as Fox Acts pag. 224. saith This age was all blinded and corrupted with superstition And yet pag. 225. affordeth it then the name of a Christian Realme that had the word of God And p. 227. noteth the blind and lamentable superstition and ignorance of these dayes Bale Cent. 3. cap. 14. cryeth out that sub Honorio 2. vnder Honorius 2. The life of man was corrupted vpon earth by Antichristian Traditions Saints In this Kings time liued the holy Eremit S. Gudrig Vir saith Cambd. Brit. p. 668. antiqua Christiana simplicitate totus Deo deuotus A man of ancient Christianlie simplicitie wholly deuoted to God Whose holines is described by diuers Capgraue Houed Miracles Anno. 1169. VVestmon Anno. 1171. Neubrigen lib. 2. c. 20. and 28. In his time also liued and died glorious S. Thomas of Canterb. of whose miracles Fox Acts pag. 225. saith he hath seene a booke to the number of 270. of curing all diseases belonging to man or Woman amongst which he nameth one most subiect as he thought by reason of the matter to laughter But who considereth that all the membres of our body were alike created of God may as wel be restored by him again when they are lost and weigheth the testimony which Fox bringeth him self
of the miracle may by this iudg of the certaintie of the rest The matter was thus An inhabitaÌ„t of Bedford hauing had by forme of the lawe which then was his eyes pluckt out and his stones cut away but vniustly made prayer to S. Thomas for the restoring of them which was done That the man had bene thus maimed the Burgesses and Cittizens of Bedford saith Fox did testifie with publick letters And whither he was cured or no was easy to know All that Fox saith against this or the rest of the miracles is that there was no necessitie of a miracle in a Christian Realm hauing the word of God Forsooth he must tel God when there is necessitie yea tie Gods hands to do nothing but for necessitie Had not the Iewes the word of God when they had the daylie miracles of Probatica piscina Doth not the vertue of miracles shine in the Church for euer as the notes of the English Bible imprinted An. 1576. Iohan. 14. do teach But wel it is that Saint Thomas his miracles haue so many and so authenticall testimonies as he must needs conremn all humaÌ„ authoritie who denieth them to haue bene done King Richard Coeur de Lion XXXVIII 7. IN the yeare 1189. succeeded K. Richard Coeur de Lion so sirnamed of his corage Valour of King Richard Ceur de Lion sonne to King Henrie 2. and reigned 10. yeares He was saith Cambd. de Brit. pag. 331. Animi excelsi erecti c. Of an high and vprighit mind altogether borne for the Christian common vvelth Polid. lib. 14. Englands glorie and terror of the Pagans Cooper Anno. 1189 big of stature and had a mery countenance in vvhich appeared as vvel a pleasant gentlenes as a noble and princely Maiestie to his soldiers fauorable bountifull desirous of vvar Subdued the Kingdom of Ciprus conquered the Citty of Acon vanquished the Soldan in the holy Land whither he went with an army of 30000. foote and 5000. horse His Rom. religion The Roman religion of this famous and magnanimous King is manifest First because Houed who then liued pag. 656. 657. Paris 205. and others tel the maner of his coronation was thus The Archb. Bishops Abbots and Priests in Copes with the Crosse before and holy water and incense brought him to the Church Again he tooke his oath on the Gospel and many reliques of Saints After coronation began the solemn Masse k. Richard crovvned at masse and when they came to the offertorie Bishops brought the king to offer and in like sorte to take the Pax. And after Masse returned again with Procession Secondly pag. 222. Paris telleth how he redeemed the reliques of Ierusalem with 52. thousaÌ„d BisaÌ„tes Quatenus saith he To the ende that Saints of God whose bones he redeemed in earth might help his soule by their intercessions in heauen And pag. 497. He obtained of the Soldan that a certain Priest at the Kings stipend might euery day celebrate masse of the holy Crosse at our Sauiours Sepulcher during the time of the truce Thirdly retiring to England saith Westmon Anno. 1194. he visited S. Thomas of Canterb. S. Edmund and S. Albons Shrines and after went against his Rebells in Nottingham Fourthly Houed pag. 658. setteth downe a Charter of his where he graÌ„teth Land to S. Cutbert For the soule of our Father and Ancestors and of our Successors and for our owne and our heires saluation and for the confirmation and increase of our Kingdome Fiftly Houed p. 677. hath a letter of his to Pope Clement 2. which beginneth thus To his most reuerend Lord and blessed Father by the grace of God cheefe Bishop of the holy Apostolick See health and affection of true deuotion in our Lord. The facts of Princes haue better end wheÌ„ they receaue assistance and fauour from the See Apostolick And pag. 706. When king Richard went to the holy Land he left the care of the gouernment of his kingdome vnto the See Apostolick And pag. 753. The same Houed setteth downe a letter of Pope Celestin in which the Pope saith thus The Church of England hath alwaies kept the sincerity of her deuotion and ancient faith with the Roman Church Finally a little before S. Richards death saith Fox Acts pag. 249. England alvvaies deuout to the Church of Rome Three Abbots of the Cistertian order came vnto him to whome he was confessed and when he saw them somwhat stay at his absolution said these words that he did willingly commit his soule to the fier of Purgatorie there to be tryed til the Iudgment in hope of Gods mercie Saints In this publick profession of Roman Catholick faith gaue this renowned King vp his soule to God In this Kings time died Anno. 1189. the forsaid Saint Gilbert who of his order erected 13. Monasteries in England Polid. l. 14. Then also liued Saint Hugh of Lincoln of whome we shall speake hereafter King Iohn XXXIX 8. THe 39. King was King Iohn brother to King Richard who began his Reign Anno. 1199. and reigned 17. yeares Of this King some ignorant Protestants brag as if he had bene a Protestant Bale Cent. 1. cap. 75. because for a time he disobeyed the Pope polid l. 15. commendeth him of valor liberalitie Christian pietie But with shame inough For he lost all in manner that his Predecessors had in France which was neere as much as England it selfe Qualities of K. Ihon. and had almost lost England too VVas as the Earle of Northampton saith of him in the araignment of Garnet impious as wel sans foy as sans terre and that he was as likly to haue departed with his soule as his Crowne if necessitie had pressed him Nether was he ill onely to him selfe but to his people and Contrie from whome being not content by him selfe to extort what he would sent for many thousand Flemings to do the same to whome he ment to giue Norfolk and Suffolk Paris pag. 360. 367. And pag. 325. he nameth the Embassador whome King Iohn sent to the Mahometan King of Africk to offer the subiection of him self and his Kingdom to him and to accept the law of Mahomet which Paris learnt of them to whome one of the Embassadors tould it Neuer the lesse what Christian religion he had is euident to haue bene Roman Catholick His Râ—m Religion First because he was chosen King cheefely by meanes of Archbishop Hubert Paris pag. 264. who was a notorious Papist Stovv pag. 244. Secondly because vpon his crownation he tooke his oath vpon the reliques of Saints Paris pag. 263. and next day after his coronation went on Pilgrimage to S. Albans pag. 264. at Lincoln offered a chalice of gould pag. 273 holpt to carry on his shoulders the body of S. Hugh pa. 274. Houed pag. 812. Thirdly he heard Masse saith Stow pag. 246. and fell downe before the Abbots of Cisterce desiring to be admitted of them for a brother Fourthly he fouÌ„ded a
sent for two Cardinals to make peace betwene him and the Scotts pag. 336. Had a tenth of spirituall goods granted him by the Pope pag. 339. Had a Carmelit for his Confessor Bale Cent. 4. cap. 96. And as he saith cap. 82. In this Kings tyme came in the Friers De paenitentia into England to whome the King gaue the Synagogue of the Iewes Item the Friers of the order of Martyrs the Sarabitae the Paulins and the Trinitaries Bale Centur. 5. cap. 13. calleth these times the middle darknes of Roman superstition In this kings time liued that famous subtil doctor Iohannes Scotus The Cath. religion hitherto in EnglaÌ„d vvithout anie opposition And hitherto haue we proued the Catholicke Roman religion through all our Christian Kings not only cleare and manifest but also without any opposition or contradiction sauing of a few who in Saint Odo his time doubted of the reall presence but were soone conuerted Hereafter in our Country the Catholicke religion hath found some opposition though small by reason of VVick life who arose in the next Kings time and his fellowes CHAP. XXVI That the Kings of England from Edvvard 3. to Henry 8. vvere all Roman Catholick proued in particuler King Edward 3. XLIII 1. THe 43. Christian King of England was Edward 3. sonne to Edward 2. VVorthines of K. Edvvard 3. Began his reigne Anno. 1326. reigned 51. yeares He was saith Walsingahm Hist Anno 1376. amongst all the Kings of the world renowned benign gentle Poâ—d l. 19. and magnificent coragious of hart humble milde and very deuout to God This man saith Cooper Anno 1327. And Stow p. 438. Besids all other gifts of nature was indued with passing comly hewty fauor of vvit prouideÌ„t circumspect gentil doing nothing without great wisdome consideratioÌ„ Of excellent modesty temperance and aduanced such persons to high dignity as did most passe others in integrity innocency of life in feats of Armes verie expert Of his liberality clemencie he shewed very many great examples Breefly in all Princely vertue he was so excellent that few noble men before his time can be compared to him The like praise to him giue Fox Acts pag. 374. Bale Cent. 6. cap. 57. others His victories He wonne the great battell at Cressie where he vanquished the King of France with two other Kings tooke Calis and at the same time ouercame the King of Scotts and tooke him prisoner And his sonne Edward sirnamed the black Prince with a very small army got the battell of Poitiers Wherin he tooke the French king and after that entred into Spaine ouercame the king and draue him out of the Contrie So that this king by him selfe and his company tooke two kings slewe one and vanquished three others Of all our English kings to Henrie 8. Fox of most all challengeth this King and saith pag. 428. That aboue all other Kings to Henrie 8. he was the greatest bridler of the Popes vsurped power During all his time Iohn VVicklef was maintained with fauor and ayde sufficient Indeed King Edward 3. Anno 1374. made a lawe to forbid all procurement of English Benefices from the Pope But the cause therof was not that the King thought amisse of rhe Popes Authority but because he thought that the execution thereof in this point was incommodious and inconuenient to his Realme For other wise none of all our Kings haue auouched the Popes supremacie in which Protestants account the essence of a Papist to consist so cleare as he For in his letters to the Pope extant in Walsingham Anno 1336 and others he writeth thus Otterborne in Edvvard 3. Therfore let not the enuious or sinister interpretation of detractors made of your sonne finde place in the bowels of your mercie and sanctitie who will after the ancient custome of our predecessours persist in yours and the See Apostolickes fauour vntouched But if any such sugestion made against your sonne shall fortune to come vnto your holines eares Let not credit be giuen of your holy deuotion by your holines therunto before your sonne be heard who trusteth and euer intendeth to speak the truth and to iustifie euery one of his causes before your holines iudgement King Edvvard 3 accounteth it heresie to denie the Popes supremacie whose authority is aboue all earthly creatures which to deny is to approue an heresy Behould the King confessing first that it was hereditarie to him from his Anceistors to abide firmely in fauour of the See Apostolicke Secondly that he purposed euer to do soe Thirdly that it was heresie to denie the Popes iudgement praesidere omni humanae creaturae To beare rule ouer all human Creatures Oh when would this famous King haue thought that any of his Posteritie should make that treason which him selfe professeth all his Ancestors to haue held and accounteth it heresie to denie The same saith Pope Greg. 11. in VValsing p. 104. Kings of England especiall children of the Rom. Church And Pope Benedict in his answer of this letter in VValsingham pag. 124. saith thus Your Progenitors Kings of England haue excelled in greatnes of faith and deuotion towards God and the holy Roman Church as her peculier foster-children and deuoted sonnes and haue preserued the splendor of their progeny from any darkesome cloud Betwene the state of your Kingdome and also of the Kingdome of France we greatly desire to make a happy successe of peace and concotd And against you my sonne I cannot shut vp the bowels of my Fatherly affection To which the King returned this answer in Walsingham pag. 130. We haue reuerently and humbly accepted the letters of your Holines Also with a cheerfull hart we do beseech your clemency that if it please you you will duely ponder our iustice and intentioÌ„ founded vpon the truth And that we as occasion serued haue fauored the holy Roman Church in all fulnes of deuotion sound loue and gratious fauor K. Edvv. 3 Professeth to haue euer fauored the Pope as you may coniecture of a most deuout sonne For God is the witnesse of our coÌ„science that we haue desired to exalt defend the honors and liberties of the Church And againe the king Anno. 1343 writing to Pope Clement in VValsing pag. 150. saith thus Professeth the P. is Bishop of the vniuersal Church To his most holy Lord Clement by the diuine prouidence cheefe Bishop of the sacred Roman and vniuersall Church Edward by the same grace of God King of France and England and Lord of Ireland deuout kisses of your blessed feete c. And then calleth him successor of the Prince of the Apostles Infra VVe and ours do desire and ought to reuerence your most sacred person and the holy Roman Church And pag. 15. Clement answereth him thus My deerly beloued sonne yow haue knowne how to exhibit your sincere deuotion to our Lord and to your Mother the holy Roman Church as of famous memorie your
our speciall Letters Patents in the zeale of our faith haue giuen authoritie and licence vnto the forsaid Archbishops and all and euery of his Suffragans to arest all and euery one of them that will preach or mantain any such Conclusions repugnant vnto the determination of our holy Mother the Church And in other letâ—ers chargeth all not to hinder the Bishops of hereford in suppressing the Lolards Yea pag. 406. Edit 1596. Fox citeth a lawe made Anno 2. Richard 2. for burning of VVicklefists Thus saith Fox pag. 505. King Richard taking parte with the Pope and the Româ—sh Prelats waxed somwhat strait and hard to the poore Christians of the contrary side of VVicklef and saith that though none were burnt vnder him yet some were condemned diuers abiured and did pennance And pag. 513. saith King Richard those to serue the humor of the Pope K. Richard gathereth a Councel against VViclef VViclef condemned by 10 Bishopâ— 44. deuines 20 lavviers To this Bale Cent. 6. cap. 1. addeth that Wicklef was banisht for â—ome yeares And cap. 77. that Anno 1382. Wicklef was condemned by ten Bishops and fourty four Diuines and twenty Lawyers And cap. 82. saith that King Richard at the commandement of Boniface 9. Cent. 7. cap. 11. gathered a great Councell Anno 1392 against the Wicklefists And Fox pag. 507. K. Richard leaueth all to suppresse vviclefists and Walsingham An. 1395. others write that King Richard being in Ireland left all as sone as he heard increase of Lollards and calling the cheefe of them vnto him threatned them greatly if they followed Lollards any more and making one of them sweare therto the K. swore to him that if he broke his oath he should die a foul death So earnest was that King against those whome Protestants account now their brethren And albeit he consented to the Law made Anno 1391. against those that procured or brought any excoÌ„munication of the Pope against any yet that Law was not made to deny any point of the Popes authority but because as Polidor saith l. 20 many were vexed dayly for causes which they thought could not be known at Rome easely The King and Lords Temporal and Commons for the Lords spirituall recâ—amed as Fox witnesseth pag. 512. thought it expedient that in this point the Pope should not vse his authoritie Besides that when Pope Boniface 9. sent to haue these Lawes recalled the King saith VValsingham in Ypodâ—gmate Anno 1391. Vt silius obediens As an obedient child determined to fulfill the Popes demaundes but the Knights of the Parliament would not abrogate the Statute against Prouisors because they would not haue English Benefices at any time giuen to strangers And the times of King Richard were so manifestly Roman Catholick as the Kings Attorney in the araignment of Garnet calleth theÌ„ the midniâ—ht of Poperie Bale Cent. 6. cap 96. Saints saith that Almost all that were in those darck times did erre through ignorance of Gods lawe In this kings time dyed Saint Iohn of Bridlington whose life is written in Capgraue who saith Bale Centur. 6. c. 63. Caelesti Theologiae assiduus cultor adhaesit And VVilliam Fleet an Austin Frier who was canonized as Bale Cent. 6. c. 41. reporteth out of Sabellicus Henrie 4. XLV IN the yeare 1399. succeded king Henrie 4. granchild to king Edward 3. by Iohn Duke of Lancaster VVorthines of K. Henrie 4. and dyed Anno 1413. hauing reigned 14. yeares He was saith Polider lib. 21. of a great corage after the ende of ciuill warrs entertained all most gently His Rom. Religion The same hath Cooper Anno 1399. and Stow Chron. pag. 424. His Roman Catholick religion is most notorious For as Fox Acts pag. 523. and others write he made the Statute ex officio Where is apointed That who so euer is conuicted of Wicklefs heresie before his Ordinarie or Commissioners that then the Shriefes Maiers and Bay lifs of the Cittie Contrie or Towne shall take the persons after sentence is pronounced cause them openly to be burned in sight of the people And pag. 517. Fox setteth down the Kings Decree in parliament wherin he professeth to be zelous in religion and reuerent louer of the Catholick faith And minding to roote out all heresies out of his Kingdom And ther commandeth one VVilliam Santrey a conuict heretick to be burnt which perhaps is he whome Bale Cent. 6. cap. 75. saith was burnt in Smithfield An. 1401. In this tyme was burnt saith Bale Cent. 8. c. 5. that relaps William Swinderby a smith in London for denying the reall presence a Tayler the same yeare 1410. for the same cause Fox pag. 481. nameth his brother Iohn Badby burnt then who as VValsingham ypodig pag 174 who then liued writeth said that the Eucharist is not the body of Christ but worse than a toade or a spider And perhaps he is that VViclesist of whome that graue Author Thomas VValden who was ther present reporteth Tom. 2. c. 63. That standing befor the Archbishop Bishops in presence of the Duke of yorke many nobles Miracle fâ—â—â— not of the Bâ— sacrament he said that a Spider was more to be worshipped thaÌ„ the Eucharist and sodainly from the top of the Church came a great spider sought to enter into his mouth would scarce be kept out by any mans helpe Moreouer Fox Acts 5. 8. saith that this King was the first of all English Kings that began the burning of Christs VViclef Saints for standing against the Pope That K. Henrie burnt VViclefs Saints is euident But he was not the first which burnt such as stood against the Pope as appeareth by what hath bene sayd of Edward 3. K Henrie 4. vvholie bent to the Pope And finally he concludeth that this king was bent altogether to vphould the Popes Prelacie And therfore in his Considerations Considerat 10. saith Protestants rather dyed than liued in the dayes of King Henrie 4. And when the Lollards or Wicklefists requested him as saith Walsingham An. 1410. either to alter or mitigate the forsaid Statute he answered them that he would rather inforce it And when they proposing to him the same bait VVhat baite the VViclefists Proposed to K. Henrie 4. to ouerthrovv religion The like offer made Protestants vvhich Syr Thom more confuted as Protestants did to King Henrie 8. desired him to take away the Church liuings because with them he might maintain 15. Earles 1550. Knights 6200. Squirs and 100. Hospitals he detesting their malice commanded them to silence King Henrie 5. XLVI IN the yeare 1413. succeded K. Henrie 5. sonne to King Henrie 4. and died An. 1422. hauing reigned 9. yeares The rare vertues of K Henrie 5. He was saith Polidor lib. 22. the onely glorie of that time then whome none borne ether for greatnes of courage or for vertue was more famous or excellent whose loue euen yet remaineth amongst men The like commendations giue to
haue their Iustification that is merely by beleef or imaginatioÌ„ not by reall existeÌ„ce But as Tertullian said of ould Heretiks so some now VVill be eeâ—e without Scriptures that they may beleeue against Scripture For what more without Scripture ether of God or man than that there hath bene a Protestant Church for these thousand yeares and yet we nether saw any such nor any that then liued hath tould vs And what mâ—re against Scripture than to beleeue that Chtist and his Church kept especially for so long time in penetralibus in corners and lurking holes Math 4. 24. that his Church and Pastors are not a cittie built vpon a mountaine a light set open vpon a candlestick that it may shine to all Or how could any of them be saued if they professed it not seing confession is made to saluation Rom. 10. 5. And this kind of argument must needs seeme forcible both to Protestants and Puritans because they both vse it against their aduersaries For hereby the forsaid Surueyer cap. 5. proueth that the Puritan disciplin was neuer before Caluin because in all times afore there is no mention or record of it Novv Puritans proue that there vvere no Anabaptists before this age And likwise the Puritans proue that Anabaptisme was not before our daies as you may see in Colloquio Francatal whose words because they make much to our present purpose I will here rehearse If you say they to the Anabaptists be the Church of God it vvill follovv that God vvas without a people and a Church till the year 1522. in which Nicolas Storck and a litle after Thomas Muncer laid the first foundation of your doctrine And this they proue thus For if you read all Histories from the beginning of the vvorld you shall not finde a people which had a Confession of faith like to yours But because say they nether God was from the beginning vvithout a people and Church nor the euerlasting King Iesus Christ vvithout a Kingdom your CoÌ„gregation began first An. 1522. it followeth that you can not be the true Church people of God Thus PuritaÌ„s against the Anabaptists we obiect the same to them 6. As for the second point of the newnes and late rising of Protestancie Luther Prefat Epist Galat. fol. 2. saith thus That the ProtestaÌ„ts Church is nevv and lately risen Luther Apologie alias Iuel In these dayes this healthfull knowledg of Christ is now reuealed and raised vp againe And the Apologie of the English Church in plaine termes acknowledgeth the newnes of their doctrin thus It was easie for thes men Papists fortie yeares agoe to deuise thes and other greater crimes against vs when in midst of that darknes some beame of truth then vnknovvne vnheard of began first to rise Loe he coÌ„fesseth that 40. yeares agoe Protest doct was not heard of before but then began first to appear But let vs hear him further VVhen Martin Luther saith he Hulderic Zuinglius most excellent men sent of God to lighten the world began first to preach the matter was yet new note the euent vncertaine and ther could be no such heinous wickednes imagined which for the nevvnes Note againe and strangenes of the matter vvould not be easily be beleeued of the people against vs. Sleid prafat Histor saith the original of Protestancie vvas in the beginning of Charles 5. reigne Reinolds Behold it twise confessed that their doctrin was new and strange also 40. yeares agoe And pag. 13. he biddeth vs to think of the beginning and proceedings of their religion D. Reinolds also in his Confer pag. 152. writeth thus It is more likelie that you Papists who by long continuance of time haue had long occasion to steale avvay truth should corrupt the Fathers than vve vvho haue not had it Loe Reynolds confesseth that Protestants haue not long continewed Caluin Caluin also 4. instit c. 1. parag 2. hath these words Albeit a heauie desolatioÌ„ vvhich vve euery vvhere see doe crie that ther is nothing of the Church remaining And c. 3. para 4. plainly auoucheth that ther were no Churches rightly setled Cooper and therfore they needed to be sent extraordinarily Cooper in his Chronicle An. 1535. saith that Luther vvrote that Gods light vvas lately renewed Fox And finally Fox to omit others in his Acts p. 788. coÌ„fesseth most plainly that Luthers doctrin was new in the year 1524. ProtestaÌ„ts doctrin but in the blade An. 1524. For theÌ„ saith he the doctrin of Luther first beginning to spring and being but in the blade vvas not yet knovvne vvhitherto it teÌ„ded nor to vvhat it vvold grovv And in like sorte p. 791. he termeth also Zuinglius doctrine new To these I might add that the Patriarch of Constantin to whome the Protest sent their doctrin condemned it and calleth it altogether nevv doctrine And vpon the newnes of their doct it cometh that thes termes are most vsuall with Protest The doctrin of the Gospel vvas borne a nevv Calvin 4. instit cap. 7. 24. Apol. Aug. pag. 56. 194. VVhitak cont Dur. pag. 19. 140. Bale Cent. 8. cap. 60. 68. 100. Cent. 1 cap. 74. Feild of the Church lib. 3. cap. 39 Suruey cap. 8. The Church restored The Gospel restored Christs doctine renewed Gods word began to shine The renouatioÌ„ of the Gospel The rising of the nevv HierusaleÌ„ The birth of the Gospel SecoÌ„d birth of Christ Religion borne againe And their first maisters their first Bishops their Apostles or Euangelists Luther Latimer Ridly the like Hence what will follow euery one seeth to wit that the Protest Church or faith is not the Church or saith of Christ which begun about 16. hundred years agoe but a new Church begun not yet one hundred since Or that Christs Church faith was quite dead gone and Luther raised it againe to life And what Church then I pray you was that wherin he was Christened was it Pagan were his Godfathers Heathens was he wheÌ„ he was baptized made a Paynim wheÌ„ce came this new Church raiser from what heauen fell he from what sea sprunge he from what earth rose he That all the first Protestant Preachers had bene before Rom. Catholiks 7. Touching the third point to be proued that the Protestants first and cheef teachers were once Roman Catholicks and went from our Church and religion it is so manifest as nether is it nor can it be denyed For Luther 1. Gal fol. 37. saith thus of him self I was as earnest for the Popes laws as euer any was I honored the Pope of meere coÌ„scieÌ„ce And fol 38. I diâ— so highly esteeme the Popes authoritie that to dissent from him euen in the least point I thought it a sin worthie of euerlasting deathe and wold my self in defence of the Popes authoritie haue ministred fire and sword And fol. 188 VVe that are ould haue bene trained vp in Popish error euen from our youth
other to Ministers Iudg then good Reader what kind of orders they haue if they haue any by their owne verdit Ministers vtterly shame their religion to wit impious prophane horrible and sacrilegious Iudg also what is to be thought of them and their religion who hitherto haue and yet doe permit Popish Priests that is as they accouÌ„t slaues and shauelings of Antichrist and enemies to Christ prophane and mere laie men yea impious sacrilegious no way degraded or new ordered of them but but by vertue only as they speak of their greasing of the Romish Antichrist the mortal enemy of Protestancy by power of their prophane impious sacrilegious orders to be sufficieÌ„t Ministers of their word and sacram O impious Antich word which can be sufficieÌ„tly ministred by vertue of impious AntichristiaÌ„ orders Note ministers Can Antich order Christs lawful Ministers Shal his orders become Christs orders shall Antichrists shaueling slaues be sufficient Pastors for Christ Shall Christ be serued by no other officers theÌ„ such as ether mediatly or immediatly were made by Antichrist See Doue of Recusancie Luth. cont Anabapt Is Christ comen to beg orders at Antichrists haÌ„ds to receaue pastors of his making Can Antichrist giue spiritual supernatural authoritie And haue Christs pastors no other then what came from Antichrist o shameful Christian religion if this be christian religion which hath no bible or word of God but what came from Antichrist no sacrament but from Antichrist no preacher but from Antichrist no orders but from Antichrist no spiritual authoritie or iurisdiction but from Antichrist Sâ—e Suruey cap. 8 3. 1â— Dangor Posit lib. 2. cap. 13. what then maie we conclude but the religion is Antichristian And why shold ProtestaÌ„ts maruail to heare their owne brethren call their Bishops and Ministers Bishops and Ministers of the diuel enemies of God pettie Antichrists and such like sith all the orders they pretend they must deriue from the pope whom they all account the true Antichrist No true religion vvithout true calling and right orders God open the eyes of my deere Countrymen that as they partly see that their Ministers haue nether right calling nor lawfull orders so they maie also see that they haue no true religion which without pastors both rightly called lawfully ordered can not stand And thus hauing shewed how vnfit Luther was to be Preacher both for his life learning calling and orders now let vs come to his doctrine to see whether that be any whit better CHAP. XII That Luthers doctrine was contrarie to the vniuersall faith of Christendom in his time 1. THat Luthers doctrine was contrarie to the vniuersall faith of Christendom at that time I proue by many waies First by the condemnation therof by the cheefe heades spirituall teÌ„porall of the ChristiaÌ„ people of that time For Luthers doctrin condemned by P. Leo. 10. as Protestants confesse Leo 10. than Pope spirituall head of Christian people condemned it An. 1520. whose Bull therof is extant in Fox p. 1166. And not longe after Hieremie Patriarch of Constantinople head as he accounteth him self of the Greeke or East Church condemned their doctrin in a booke which is called Censura Orientalis By Heremie Patriarch of Constantinople wherin he saith ther doctrine was altogeather new and directly both against the Gospell of Christ By charles 5 Emper. Sleid. also lib. 1 fol. 3. setteth doune Emper Maxmil letters against Luther Sleid. lib. 3. fol. 30. 33. 50. 51. By K. Henrie 8 Sleid. lib 3. fol. 34. and right reason and calleth them Hereticks And in the yeare 1521. Charles 5. then Eemperor of Germany King of Spain Naples Sicilie and Sardinia and Lord of all the low Countryes first writ a letter to the States of Germany which is set downe in Fox pag. 778. in which he professed to pursue Luther and all his adherents by all meanes that can be deuised for to extinguish his doctrine And sone after directed a solemne writ of outlawrie against Luther and all them that tooke his parte commanding the said Luther to be apprehended and his bookes burnt Likewise the same yeare 1521. King Henrie 8. of England wrote a booke against Luther in which saith Fox pag. 780. By the French King Sleidan lib. 6. fol. 68. lib. 8. fol. 120. First he reproueth Luthers opinion about pardons 2. He defendeth the supremacy of the Bishop of Rome 3. Laboreth to refel Luthers doctrine of the sacraments And againe in the yeare 1523. writ saith Cooper in Chron. to the Princes of Germany against Luther And in the yeare 1525. as the same Cooper writeth he entred league with the French King to suppresse the sect of the Lutherans vvhich they thought to be no lesse dangerous than the Turkes power And Anno 1535. he writeth that six were burnt in Paris for Lutherans before the French King his sight And Anno t543 that the French King made strait proclamation against the Lutherans By Iames 5 King of ScotlaÌ„d And as for Iames 5. King of Scotland and Grand-father to his Maiesty Hamilton Confut. Caluin a Scottish writer testifieth that when King Henry 8. hauing fallen into one point of Lutheranisme promised to make K. Iames his heire if he would do the like he rather refused so great a profer than consent to his desire And behold the different reward from God of the two Kings King Henrie 8. issue is quite extinguished Note and Iames his royall progenie wee behould not only florishing but possessing King Henries crowme and Kingdome So hath God euen in thie life recompensed By the States of Suizerland Sleidan ib. 3 fol. 54 55. By the learned men of all partes of Christendome the religious zeale of that most Catholick King And as for Swizerland Fox p. 792. writeh that Anno 1524. the States of that countrie in their assembly Decreed that no opinion of Luthers should be tought priuatly nor openly and wrote to the men of Zurich and do much lament saith Fox and complaine of this new broached doctrine which hath set all men togeather by the eares through the occasion of certaine rash and nevv fangled heades and vvill bring destruction both to body and soule And as for the learned men of that age in all Christian Countries their detestation of Luthers doctrin is euident By vniuersities For first the Vniuersities of Louain and Colen condemned Luthers bookes as hereticall in the year 1520. And in the next yeare the Vniuersitie of Paris did the like Sleid. Engl. lib. 1. fol. 14. lib. 3 fol. 32. And in all Christian Contries almost the cheefest learned men wrote against him as Eckius Cocleus Gropperus in Germanie Silueuester Caietan Catherin in Italy Petrus a Soto Alfonsus a Castro Canus Turrianus in Spaine Clictoneus and others in France By a general Councel Bishop Fisheâ—and Syr Thomas More in England Driedo Tapper Erasmus in Flanders Hosius in Polonie
miracles For besides the testimony of the word of God which testified the miracles which we reade in scripture what waÌ„t they to be accounted true miracles that any other miracles had The Deedes were supernaturall The effect of them was supernaturall diuine vz the conuersion of Infidells The meanes of doing them holy to wit prayer to God The doers of them were Saints The testimonie of these Deedes are of many eye witnesses freinds and foes learned vnlearned holy and Wicked forrein and domesticall and coÌ„fessed of diuers which refuse S. Austins religion Than the which greater testimonie for miracles can not be required vnles we would haue God to speake from heauen And on the other side what prudent man is he that wil not iudg Luthers wonderments to be friuolous The things reported o him were naturall The testimonies for them are nether of eyewitnesses nor of enemies nor of Saints nor of great learned men nor are they confessed of any who refuse Luthers doctrine Yea they are denied by such as were both freinds and great scollers of Luthers Whie then should we beleeue them Nay whie should we not deny them CHAP. IX S. Austin and Luther weighed according to the Succession or continuance of their doctrine TRuly said Gamaliel Acts. 5. of the Christian religion then preached by the Apostles Si ex hominibus est consilium hoc aut opus dissoluetur Si vero ex Deo est noÌ„ poteritis dissoluere And in like sorte of hereticks said S. Paul 2. Timoth 3. Vltro non proficient And S. Austin in ps 57. compareth the Catholik faith to a Riuer which hauing a continuall spring euer floweth neuer waxeth drie heresie to a brooke rising vp on raine which while the raine falleth runneth boisterously and they who know not that it waÌ„teth a springe would iudg that it would last loÌ„ger than the quiet riuer See this proued l. 1. c. 14. seq ad fin l. 2. c. 1â— but as soone as it leaueth raining they see the water gon the brooke dryed Wherfor let vs see whither S. Aust or Luthers doctrin hath coÌ„tinewed longer in Engl. in their followers or rather we haue seene it alredy For. S. Aust hath had 69. successors in his Archbishoprick successiuly all of the same religion with him 53. kings of EnglaÌ„d besides diuers others as is before declared that when the Crown kingdome was twise violently taken from the Englishe-men by Danes Normans yet his faith was not taken from his successors Nor by so many so long desolations of the Danes many seuere lawes first by King Henrie 8. and then by Queene Elizabeth and so manie bitter torments hard banishmeÌ„ts streight confinments deep Dongeons could Iorns great â—ines Taxes and paymeÌ„ts bluddy deaths could it be rooted these thousand yeares oute of this land but that this day God be thancked S. Aust there are both noble ignoble clerks seculer religious men weemeÌ„ Children who not withstanding all lawes threats dangers will professe to hould the faith of their Apostle S Aust to agree with him in all points of religioÌ„ to honor that See from whence he came Much more vvold S. Austin haue forborne the Protest Church to refuse as he did to ioine in religioÌ„ with them who obserue not the maner as he said to the BritoÌ„s of the holy RomaÌ„ Apostolik Church In so much as not withstaÌ„ding all the lawes terrors ProclamatioÌ„s searches or paymeÌ„ts Torturs BanishmeÌ„ts executions which haue bene made these 50. yeares I B in his Taile of Tvvo leg Foxes c. 11 yet Ministers in their printed bookes dayly complaine of increase of Priests and Catholicks And one lately in his sermon at Pauls Crosse dedicated to the pretented Archb. of Canterbury and lyked of him saith pag. 79. Som. Collins that no bondage or hard measure can euer be thought able to suppresse or reclame vs. This this sheweth S. Austins worke to haue bene of God the water wherwith he watred the plants of his religion to haue an euerlasting flowing fountain from Heauen and the Church which he founded to be built vpon such a Rock as the gates of hel shall not preuail against it And that they which spurne against it do as S. Paule once did spurne against the pricke And on the other side Cranmer if he were as Fox saith a Lutheran in King Henries time it was but secretly And if he professed it in King Edwards time it was but for a verie short space And long since was there not one true Lutheran Protestant to be found in all England So soone was Luthers work dissolued so soone was his brooke growne drie And in steede of it runneth now Zuinglius or Caluins brooke which though it see me for the present to be ful and runne strongly yet if the Prince whose harte is in Gods hands would but ether disfancy it or at least withould his seuere haÌ„d from Catholicks yow should quickly see this ful brooke brought to a lowe ebbe and quickly dreaned and wax as dry as ether the brooke of Luther or the brookes of 300. Archereticks more wherof diuers haue runne far fuller and longer than ether Luthers or Caluins hath and now no signe of them is left Luther epist ad Albert Mogunt An 1525. forte doctrina mea iterum supprimetur yea scarce their names are knowne This Luther him selfe both forsawe and fourtould as is before declared l. 2. c. vlt. And Caluin also in his Preface before his Cathechisme in these wordes Of Posteritie I am so doutful as I dare scarce thinck therof For vnles God miraculously help from heauen me thinks I see extreme barbarousnes hang ouer the world And I pray God that a while hence our children feele not this to haue bene rather a true prophecie than a coniecture And if we mark we shall see that as Vipers broode killeth their Mother of whome they came So new haeresies destroy the ould from whence they sprange Thus the Puritan impugneth the Protestant and the Brownist vndermineth the Puritan Wherfor let all men that be careful of their saluation harken to S. Hieroms aduise saying to a Luciferian Haeretick I will tel thee my mind breefly and plainly That we should abide in that Church which founded of the Apostles contineweth to this daye For shall we doute saith S. Austin l. de vtil Cred. to put oure selues in the lap of the Church wich from the See Apoostolick by succession of Bishops in vaine Haereticks barking about yt hath gotten the hight of authoritie Epilog 1. THus we see most deerly beloued Contrimen that if we compare according to the true rules of prudence and wisdome the Roman Catholike Protest religion in their first founders here in our English Nation other for learning or vertue for missioÌ„ or orders for motiues to preache for vniuersalitie of religioÌ„ or confession of Aduersaries for miracles or succession and continuance the Catholik