A DEFENCE OF CATHOLIKES PERSECVTED IN ENGLAND Inuincibly prouing their holy Religion to be that which is the only true Religion of Christ and that they in professing it are become most faithfull dutifull and loyall Subiects to God their King and Country And therefore are rather to be honoured and respected then persecuted or molested Composed by an ould studienâ— in Diuinitie Let none of you suffer as a murderer or a theefe or a railer or a coueter of other mens things But if as a Christian let him not be ashamed but let him glorifie God in this name 1. Pet. 4. Printed at Doway by GERARD PINCHON at the signe of Coleyn 1610. A TABLE OF THE CHAPTERS CONTAINED IN THIS BOOKE Chapter I.  BY way of a Preface to the persecuted Catholikes and by them to their Persecutours of the Innocencie perfection and honour of them and their spirituall Pastours renowned Priests pag. 1. Chap. II.  That the Religion of our English Catholikes as well from the Saxons as Britans is the same with their first Apostles and deduced from them and first of the Saxons conuerted by Saint Augustine and his Roman Mission pag. 15. Chap. III.  The like proued of all other person and parts of England as also the Brâ—tans that their Religion was tâ— same with the Apostles and thâ— which our now Perseâ—uted Catâ—likes Profâ—sse and maintaine pag. 30. Chap. IIII.  The Religion of the Apostles of our primatiue Christian Britans of the first Christiaâ— Sâ—xons and of our now persecuted Catholikes pâ—oueâ— to be one and the same in euâ—ry Article against Protestants anâ—â—eâ—â—eâ—utours pag. 50. Chap. V.  That the Consecration Iurisdiction and mission of our Cathoâ—iâ—e Bishop teaching the same Apostolicall Doctrine in all thingâ— with the Catholike Church is most lawfull â—oliâ— orderlie and honourable in that his sacred calling is most worthie and necessâ—rie and therfore he vnworthily Persecuted pag. 69. Chap. VI.  That our English Priests who teach all things with the Apostolicall Religion are truely consecrated worthie men and are to be honoured and not persecuted pag. 102. Chap. VII  That theÌ„ Catholikes of England taught and directed by such guides in Religion as our Priests be are not to be persecuted but protected defended and imployed as true and faithfull subiects in all things pag. 146. Chap. VIII  That euerie Article of Catholike Religion is more agreable with the best temporall gouernmeÌ„t then those of the Protestants and that a Catholike keeping his Religion as he is bound to God so he cannot be vndutifull to his temporall Prince and Countrie pag. 157. Chap. IX  That true and obedient Catholikes be the truest and most obedient subiects pag. 170. APPROBATIO Viso tâ—stâ—moâ—io câ—iusdam virâ—docti mihique de fide docâ—râ—nâ probè coâ—â—iâ—i quo testatur â—uÌ„c libruâ— cui Tâ—â—ulus est A Defâ—nce of Cathelikes perseâ—utâ—â— in England nihil continere fidei vel bonis moâ—ibus adueâ—sâ—m quin poâ—ius â—ulta quae aâ— Catholicorum Aâ—gâ—oruâ— consolationem â—â—cianâ— â—iâ—num censâ— quem ego 〈◊〉 â—â—eo approâ—â—reâ—â—atâ—m 〈…〉 â—artâ—j Aâ—no 1630. GEOâ—GIVS COâ—Vâ—Nâ—RIVS S Theol. Doctâ— Regius 〈…〉 Pâ—â—fâ—ssor Coâ—legâ—â—ae 〈…〉 poâ—â—tus 〈…〉 Caâ—celâ—aâ—ius libâ—â—um Cenâ—or THE FIRST CHAPTER By way of a Preface to the persecuted Catholikes and by them to their Persecutours of the Innocencie perfection and honour of them and their spirituall Pastours renowned Priests 1. RENOWNED Catholikes of Engâ—and moâ—â— renoâ—ned Catâ—oâ—â—kes 〈◊〉 perseâ—uâ—ed â—or your 〈◊〉 â—eligiâ—â— giue leaue to one yoâ—r old humble â—nd vnworthie seruaâ—t â—n Châ—ist Associate â—nd Partaker now with you and youâ— renowâ—ed Predecessours a long time fâ—oÌ„ his youth â—o old age in prisâ—n peâ—â—â—cution 〈◊〉 â—nd tribulatioÌ„ for the most holy Caâ—â—olike â—aith and Religion to remember hiâ— loue â—nd duâ—ie to you as also the bounâ—en dutie â—nd office of vs all as true seruants to our Master Christ in so noble and iust a cause with the honour reward and recompence which is his ordinarie paie to all his faithfull seruants in such his affaires farre more eminent and excellent thâ— any Potentate Prince or Persecutour on earth can either take away or giue vnto vs or any of them or we in this world inioy 2. Let me beginne with you as Saint Cyprian that glorious Byshop and Martyr did with the constant Martyrs and Confessours of his Countrie and time Quibus ego vos laudibus praedicâ—m fortissimi Martyres c. O most valiant Cyprian â—pisâ—â—l ad 〈◊〉 Confâ—â—sor â—â—â—pist 6. Martyrs with what praises may I blase you forth with what criâ—s of voce may I adorne the fortitude of youâ— heart and perseuerance of faith you haue endured euen to the consuâ—mation of glorie in your examinatioÌ„s most hard torments You haue not giuen place to punishments but they haue rather yealded to you Crownes haue ministred an end to those griefes to which torments gaue no â—nd And presently after he addeth The multitude of those which were present hath seene the heauenlie fight of God the spirituall waâ—re of Christ his seâ—uants to haue stoode with a free voice an vncorrupted minde a diuine force naked truely of wordlie weapons but armed with the shield of faith 3. Let me speake vnto you and of you especially chiefe Prelate and Pastours Priests and persecuted Clergie of England and of your late Predecessours on earth and now happie in heauen as Saint Iohn Chrisostome thus performed to the two most glorious Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paule Quasnam Chrysâ—st seâ—â— de SS Apostolis Petr. â—aul â—p Metaphrâ—st in Breuiadie 6. Iulij vobis referemus gâ—atias qui tantum pro nobis laboraâ—tis memenituâ— Petre obstupesco recordor tui Paule excedens mente lachrymis opprimor c. What â—hankes shall we giue vnto you who haue laboured so much for vs ô Peter I remember thee and am astoniâ—ed O Paule I call the to mind and with excesse tâ—ereâ—f ame oppressed with teares For what shall I speake or what shall I vtter when I behold youâ— afflictions I â—annot tell How many prisons haue you sanctified what chaines haue you adorned what â—orments haue â—ou sustained what curses or reproaches haue you sufâ—ered how haue you borne Christ how with your preaâ—hing haue you ioyed Churches blessed are the instruâ—ents of your tongue your members are sprinckled with â—lood for the Church You haue imitated and followed Christ in all things 4. I doe not I dare not compare my selfe â—o those great lightes Bishops and Rulers in â—he Church of Christ or such as be vnder our â—upreame Paâ—â—our of that highest Order to â—home I owe all dutie and respect yet as an â—ld student in holy â—eâ—â—ing hauing read â—uch and written not a little for the defence â—f you and the cause of God without any â—ust controll neuer adhearing vnto or reaâ—hing suspected or vnsouÌ„d doctrine of sweareâ—ing churchinge châ—pâ—â—â—ge sword â—â—â—â—ing â—r such like stuffe may now more bouldâ—y â—rite and wish I
North neither was it in his â—wer so to doe vntill he was Bishop there â—ich was not vntill the yeare of Christ 670. there about by all Authours which was â—ge after S. Benedict Biscops being Abbot â—th in Northumberland and Canterburie â—d whereas some Monckes now would haue Aigulphus a Benedictine Moncke first to â—ie persuaded the Monckes of Lyrinum to Maâ—â—h VVestm â—â—râ—n Floâ—ent VVigorn chron Sigâ—bert aâ—â—â— â—eiue S. Benedict's Rule this cannot be for Aigulphus was a Moncke of FloriacuÌ„ Moâ—sterie which was not builded many yeares â—er this time and so it is not certaine but â—th the Monckes of Canterburie and those Northumberland vnder this holy Abbot Benedict Biscope hitherto were Lyrinian and not Benedictine Monckes and yet as before they were of the most Religious anâ— learned Monckes and Apostolike men in thâ— Christian world as the rest of our Britisâ— Moâ—ckes euen by Protestants confession â— also were 11. â—nd this is the glorie of this our Eâ—glish Nation to haue had generally both iâ— Kent where S. Augustine was and in all othâ— parâ—s câ—nuerted to Christ such renowneâ— Fathers and Protogenitours in him For sucâ— were the Monckes of S. Gregories Monastâ—rie Io. Diacâ—n in vita S. Gregorij l. 2. c. 11. in Rome from which S. Augustine arâ— his fellowes learned and holy Disciples â— the most learned and holy Pope S. Gregoriâ— were sent as our Protestants them selues acâ—nowledge that euer was And so learne were the Monckes of this his Monasterieâ— aboue other Italian Monckes in that timâ— that besides the Apostolike men about 4â— in number which S. Gregorie sent into Eâ—gland he made Maximianus his Abbot theâ— Bishop of Siracusas Marimanus a Moncâ— thereof Archbishop of Rauennas and Prâ—bus another of his Monckes of his Monastâ—rie Mariâ— Sâ—â—put l. 2. atate 6. in S. Benedicto Trithemius l. de script Eccles in S. Benedicto he sent to Hierusalem to build a Monsteâ—ie there we haue also warrant from â— Church of God so witnessing in S. Gregâ—ries publike office that S. Augustine and â— Monckes he sent into Briâ—anie about 40. number were learned and holy men Missiâ— Britanniam Doctis Sanctis viris Augustino â— â—lijs Monachis Sending into Britanie learned and holy men Augustine and other Monckes 12. But whether S. Augustine and those who came into England with him to conuert it as they most happily did were indeede Monckes of S. Benedicts Order I will not heare dispute leauing it perchance to some other worke in hand it being all one â—o this my purpose whether S. Augustine â—nd his companie were Benedicton or other Monckes I onely intending now to shew that from our first Conuersion in S. Peters time vnto these times there was a continuall succession of Priests and of the same Religon for which now in EnglaÌ„d we are so persecuâ—ed And that S. Augustine and his companie were most hoâ—y and learned men Docti and Breuiar Romandie 12. Martij in festo S. Gregor Bed Hist. Eccles Angl. l. 2. Matth. VVesâ— in Chron. Fâ—orent VVigâ—r Chroniâ— Gâ—liel Malmesburâ—â—â— dâ—gâ—st Reg. Angl. â—ancti viri that they taught our Predecesâ—ours the same faith we now professe and that â—hey conuerted to the faith of Christ Ethelâ—ert King of Kent and his Kingdome of KeÌ„t â—nd Sebert or Sigebert King of the East Saxons with his Kingdome and preached in many other places oâ— England conuerting in â—hem many to Christian Religion I saie with â—hem and the whole Christian world then Asia Africke and Europe agreeing with S. Gregorie who sent hither these so holy and â—earned men and therefore is rightly by Saint Beade instiled Apostle of England in Religion vsing his masse and honouring him for a Sainct as our Protestants confesse that their doctrine and Religion was true and for this part of the world Italie froÌ„ whence they came France through which they came England or Britanie whether they came Ireland Scotland and Germanie where some of our Britans and English then were acknowledging S. Augustines Religion to be true so prooue vnto vs. So S. Augustine prooued it both by humaine and diuine testimonie So his Opposits and our persecuting Protestants confesse To vse their words The Britans confessed indeede that to be the way of ProtestaÌ„t in Stowes â—â—st righteousnesse which Augustine had preached and sbewed vnto them 13. And he is a simple witted man if he can vnderstand but the Latine tongue that doth not most clearely see and confesse the same if he will but reade the publicke Church seruice Masse and the others which our Protestants confesse S. Gregorie perused and published the Latine and Greeke Church vsing his Masse translated into Greâ—ke as they doe S. Basiles and S. Chrysostomes as also his holy learned workes which he â— Doctour of the Church and as our Protestants stile him The most holy and learned Popâ— that euer was did publish and are now extant Thus he and his Lâ—gates sâ—nt hither into England generally taught the same Doctrine in all points which we Catholikes now professe euen those for which we are so pittifully persecuted Roman Supremacie Saâ—ifice of Maâ—â—e Sacrificing Priesthood such â—piscopall Roman Ordination and whatâ—euer elsse now controuersed by Protestants â— I shall demonstraâ—e against them in euery â—ticle of their Religion when I come to the â—onuersion oâ— tâ—e other Parts of England â— those which were of our old British Orâ—er and Reâ—igâ—on And yet our English Proâ—stants publickly generally and with such â—thoritie protest and testifie that in the first â—0 yeares of Christ within which S. Greâ—rie and his Legates liued and â—aught the â—hurch of Rome was pure and free from erâ—r And if she had or should haue erred in â—is publicke doctrinall practises and orders â—ncerning the whole Church the whole â—hurch which these men denie should also â—ue erred For they constantly thus ackâ—wledge that this most holy and learned â—pe so published and proposed them Greâ—ius Io. Bal. dâ— Roman Ponâ—ifice Art l. 2. in Gregor Magno Robert â—arnes â— de vit â—ontif Rom. in â—od Magdebur hisâ— Ecclesiasc in Greg. Magnuâ— omnium Pontificum Râ—manorum doâ—inâ viâ—â praestantissimus Scholas Cantoâ—um inâ—uit Ambrosiâ— more ecâ—lesiastiâ—as cantiones quaâ—â—aecè dicimus Antiphonas composuit Officiarium â—clesiae fecit Antiphonarium nocturnum diurnum â—poâ—uit Sacrorum normas digessit Missarum ritus â—â—planauit eius Canonem consarâ—inauit Gregorie â— great the most worthiesâ— of all the Bishops of Rome â— doctrine and life instituted Schooles of singerâ— and â—er Ambrose his manner composed Ecclesiasticall â—ges which in Greeke we call Antiphones He made â—e office of the Church be ordered the nightlie and daylie Antiphonarie he digested the Rites of tâ— Church he polished the Ceremonies of the Masse aâ— the Canon thereof he gathered together 14. It will be very hard for the quickeâ— sighted Persecuting Protestant to finde aâ— one of their Articles of Religion which wâ— not condemned and of Catholikes not pâ—blickly
approued and practised in tâ— Church of Christ in and by those so genâ—rally receiued and professed Ritualls anâ— Doctrinalls of Religion And therefoâ— those pure Protestanâ—s which call Cathâ—likes vsually in respect of their Doctrinâ— Papists and their holy Religion Papistriâ— Papisme Romanisme or the like confesâ— plainly that Saint Augustine from Saiâ— Gregorie bâ—ought hither Masses Altars Vesments Chalices Relickes Massing Priests prayer Saincts for the Deade and to be briefe Româ—nisme Papistrie all which they terme no Io. Bal. l. de Scripto Brit. cen tur c. 2. de Act. Poatif Rom. in Gregor Franc. Godwin conuers of Britan. Dâ—â—â—â—l Poweâ—l in Giralâ— Cambr. in our Catholikes Superstitionâ— And nâ— only Saint Augustine thus taught and deliâ—red but Qâ—â—â—ne Bâ—â—tha the French Ladiâ— and her Bisho◠〈◊〉 Lethardus did tâ— same and King Eâ—helbert with his Couâ—trie waâ— conuerted to that Religion Conuâ—sus â—xoris Berthae â—ersuasione â—thelbertus Rex Râ—manismum cum a liunâ—â—â—s supâ—rstitionibus suscepâ— King â—thelbert being conuerted by the peâ—suasion hiâ— wife he imbraced Romanisme with all it 's Supâ—stitionâ— 15. So we haue not only S. Augustine our â—postle with his Assistants but S. Gregorie â—e Church of Rome Italie and all Subiects that See Apostolike our King Queene â—d all here agreeing then with vs in this Roâ—anisme Papisme and Papistâ—ie for which â—e are now persecuted And this our Conâ—rsion S. Asaph in vit Sâ— KeÌ„tegerni Câ—pgrau in eod D. Bal. l. de Scriptor centur 1. in Kenâ—igernâ— to the truâ— Apostolike Religion of â—hrist which is the same Catholikes now â—osesse as both Catholikes and Protestants knowledge was miraculously prooued ad â—retold by the words of God his prophetiâ—ll holy Bishop S. Keâ—egerne long before in â—e declination of the Britans that God â—ould giue Britanie ouer to Forraine Naâ—ns which knewe not God and Chriâ—nae legis Religio vsque ad praefinitum tempus â—sipabâ—â—ur Sed in pristinum staâ—um unò meâ—em miserante Deo in fine repâ—rabitur the Region of the Christian Lawe vnto a determinate â—â—â—me shall be dissipated but in the â—nâ— by God his mercie it shall be restored to it's former yeâ—â—â—tter state THE III. CHAPTER The like proued of all other persons aâ— parts of England as also the Brâ—cans that their Religion was thâ— same with the Apostles and thâ— which our now Persecuted Cathâ—likes Professe and maintaine 1. NOw let vs come to the Conuersioâ— of the other parts of England nâ— conuerted by S. Augustine or his Missioâ— from Rome but by others our old Britisâ— or Scotish Bishops and Priests in some partâ— before by many writers and in the farâ— greatest aâ—â—er And because amongst otherâ— the Religious of our old British Order haâ— influeÌ„ce therein 〈◊〉 I lately spake of MoÌ„ckâ— sent into England by Saint Gregorie and â— their labours and Religion here I will neâ— ioyne these vnto them Their Antiquitie â— haue deliuered before from S. Ioseph of Aâ—ramathia which buried Christ arriuinâ— here in the yeare of his Natiuitie 63. 2. To take better knowledge of their heauenly life and conuersation on earth I wiâ— set downe their Rule as with some alteratioÌ„â— â—s is vsuall in such holy Orders it was apâ—roued and deliuered to our Monckes by S. â—auid Metropolitane Archbishop in Britaâ—ie that most learned Religious holy Preâ—te The Rule of our old British Monckes Manuscipt antiq in vitâ— S. Dauidis Io. Capgra Câ—tal in â—â—d liuing vntill with in 50. yeares of S. Auâ—ustines comming hither Dauid constructo in â—alle Rosinta Monasterio talem caenobialis praepositi â—gorem decreuit vt Monachorum quisque quotidiano â—sudaÌ„s operi manuum labore suam in commune transâ—eret vitam dicens Qui enim non laborat ait Aâ—stolus non manducet nesciens enim quod secura quies â—itiorum fomes mater esset Monachorum humeâ—s duris fatigationibus subiugauit nam qui sub otij â—iete tempora mentesque submittunt instabilem spiriâ—m libidinisque stimulos sine quiete parturiunt Posâ—siones enim Iniquorum respuebant dona reprobabaÌ„t â—uitias detestabantur boum nulla ad arandum curaâ—â—isque sibi fratribus diuitiae quisque bos Nulâ—n praeter necessarium inter eos habebatur colloquium â—d quisque aut orando aut Deo placiâ—a cogitando inâ—nctum opus peragebat Peracto autem Râ—rali opere â— Monasterij Claustra reuertentes aut legendo aut â—ibendo aut orando totam ad vesperum peragebaÌ„t â—em In vespere verò audito Nolae pulsu dimissis â—x operibus Ecclesiam petebant visis in caelo â—llis ad mensam conuenientes citra saturitatem comeâ—bant nimia enim satietas quamuis solius panis â—uriam generat Pane autem oleribus sale conditis â—sti sitim lacte aquâ mixto restringebant Peractâ â—nâ quasi per tres horas vigilijs orationibus genuâ—ctionibus insistebant Quamdiu in Ecclesia orationiâ—s vacabant nullus oscitare nullus sternutationem facere vel salâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 Hiâ—ita gestis sopoâ—◠〈…〉 〈…〉 expergâ—faâ—li 〈…〉 Cogitationes 〈…〉 etiaâ— vel ad naturae 〈…〉 induebantur 〈…〉 desiderans 〈…〉 priuâ— decem diebus 〈…〉 nâ—â—non veâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 Si auâ—em benè 〈…〉 perstarâ— diem acceptus priuâ—◠〈…〉 constructus seruâ—eâ—a◠〈…〉 desudans fractusque mulâ—â—s 〈…〉 fraâ—rum merebatur inire 〈…〉 â—nem cupientibus eorum nihâ—◠〈…〉 â—â—lu◠è naâ—â—ragio â—uadentes recepti eraâ—â—◠〈…〉 se extollendi non haberent S. autem Dauiâ—â—ost â—tinas frigidam petebae aquam in qua diuâ—â—â—s manâ— carnis ardorem domabat Orphanorum â—â—pilloruâ— Viduaâ—uÌ„ Egentium Peregrinorum multitudineÌ„ pasâ—â— bat In English epitomated They haâ— not Ridâ— or proprietie Receiued nothing of the wiâ—â—â— they lâ—ued by their labour They had not cattell â—â—â—hing bâ— themselues to â—ill their ground no speach â—â—â—pt necesarie at their worke but with praier and meditaâ—â— they performed it They did not eate till â—â—ght â—â— their diet then was bread â—erbs and â—alâ— thâ— drinke water and miâ—â—e mixed together After thâ— resection they persistâ—d three howers in watching aâ— praier vppon their knees then sleeping vntill â—â— croweing â—f the Cocke they arose to their praiers vnâ—â—â—ay light Ending their corporall labour they retuâ—â— their Monasteries and spenâ— all the 〈◊〉 â—â—till the eâ—ning Annaâ—â—â—â—cl 9. 〈◊〉 Gâ—â—w 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 in â— â—â—auid in 〈…〉 Niâ—â—◠〈…〉 Io. Ba◠〈◊〉 â—â—nâ— 1. in Kentigâ—â—n â—â—â—grau â—n â—od God W. catal in S. 〈◊〉 Kâ—â—egâ—r M 〈◊〉 antiq Britâ—â— prima 〈◊〉 Eâ—â—lesiastâ— Seâ—â—â— either in reading writin◠〈…〉 â—rres appeared in the 〈…〉 their â—ll they went to the Church And 〈…〉 â—et of bodie This was part of the 〈…〉 our â—ritish Monclâ—eâ— approued by thâ— greatest â—relate here who receiued iâ— all â—â—â—â—ches â—scipline by tâ—e Roman Authoritie 3. Their Bisâ—ops and 〈…〉 â—steritie in conuersation Tâ—◠〈…〉 â— S. Dauid 〈…〉 â—neu about 〈…〉 The 〈…〉 others 〈…〉 iâ— the 〈…〉 by diuers 〈…〉 Monâ—◠〈…〉 in his Moâ—â—â— 3000. Disciâ—â—e S. VVandiâ—ocus and Goâ—â—ogillus about 〈◊〉 vnder them â— â—entigern and
able to destroâ—e all Obedience Religion and dutie eyther to God or man for the first defining to those of their Religion and declaring that The visible Church of Christ is a Congregation of faitâ—full men in the wâ—ich the pure worde of God is preached and the Sacraments be duly ministred according to Christs ordinance in all those things that of necessitie are requisite to the same And making the Patriarchall Churches of IerusaleÌ„ Alexandria Antioche and Rome the chiefest commaunding Churches by which all others must be ruled and gouerned and yet it is concluded of them all that they Hauâ— erred in matters of faith They take all true faith and Religion which of all things must be most certaine out of the world For no man will or can be of a Religion which is assuredly vntrue nor worship him for God which will so deceâ—â—e vs. And to no purpose to finde truthe but to confirme Infidelitie it is said in the 20. Article The Church hath power and authoritie in Controuersies of faith the Church is a witnesse and keeper of holy writ For if the highest Iudge witnesse and keeper of holy writ and hauing authoritie in Controuersies of faith being to be obeyed of all may thus erre all men should thereby be bound to such error and eternally to be damned No man would be a Christian with such condition No man is likely so to be a true subiect for the certaintie of Religion which causeth certaintie of obedience and dutie to Princes being takeÌ„ away the other will faile 4. This they confirme in their 21. Article Of the authoritie of generall Councels making them though they represent the whole and vniuerâ—all Church to haue no more power or certainetie And if we should followe the Parâ—aments of our Countrie much vnequall to â—he whole Churches Iudgment we should â—inde that they haue often and most inexcuâ—ably erred by their owne Iudgements and confessions And So the Conclusion may be â—uch as Athests and prophaine contemners of Religion and all dutie to God Princes and â—thers in authoritie vse aÌ„d practise Their 22. Article intituled Of Purgatorie denying the â—octrine of the Roman Church concerning â—urgatorie Pardons Images Relicks and â—nuocation of Saints must needs occasiâ—n â—ore neglect of good life and dutie then the Catholike doctrine For first the deniall of Purgatorie and punishment for sinne there after death if it be ioyned with the Protestant doctrine before of sinnes forgiuen by faith and ministeriall absolution from all guilt or paine thereby denying any teÌ„porall paine to be inflicted for or due for sinne ouerthroweth all penalties penance or punishment any Consistorie ciuill or Ecclesiasticall should inflict for any offence For where none is due or to be done in iustice it may not be inflicted And this is more theÌ„ any Pardons or IndulgeÌ„ce the Pope himselfe doth giue or may vse euery pretended beleeuer or Minister taketh more authoritie vpon him herein No vse of holy Images or Reliks vsed by Catholikes can be offensiue in any CoÌ„mon-wealth but it rather teacheth honour and dutie which the Protestant opinioÌ„ doth not He that will haue or vse respect doe honour or reuereÌ„ce to the representing signe or part of any will rather doe it to him they represent then he that denieth it And for honour to Saints he that will not honour them in heaueÌ„ and glorie will sooner be vnmindefull of their dutie to persons which are to be honoured on earth with terreane honour then he that honoureth and praieth vnto Saints in glorie 5. The next Articles 23. and 24. haue litle belonging to this purpose Their 25. Article of Sacraments saying they be Certaine sure witnesses and effectuall signes of grace and Gods good will towards vs by which he dotâ— worke inuisibly in vs. Of seauen Sacraments they onely retaine two and the first of theÌ„ is Baptisme which they minister to infants They leaue here the whole life of man and all states without grace for their callings They barre the married froÌ„ the grace of wedlock or matrimonie Ecclesiasticall persons from all grace in Orders all that liue from the grace of Confirmation offendors from grace by penance Those that are sicke from the grace of Extreame vnction And for the Lords supper as they terme their Communion holding that it doth condemne and hurt those that be in sinne and neuer ministring vnto any but such as be of yeares subiect to many sinnes not taking theÌ„ away by any other Sacrament or meanes this cannot giue grace but rather damnation to the receiuers being in their owne Iudgment vnworthie Receiuers and receiuing to their damnation as they thus declare in their 29. Article The wicked allthough they doe carnally and visibly presse with their teeth the Sacrament of the bodie and blood of Christ yet in no wise are they partakers of Christ but rather to their condemnation doe eate and drinke the signe or Sacrament of so great a thing When Catholikes doe not communicate but after their sinnes be forgiuen in the Sacrament of Penance Confession and absolution of all sinnes So that by this Article Protestants haue no meanes to take away any but Originall sinne in Inâ—anâ—s none for any actuall sinne but without all grace are left alone to all vndutifulnesse disobedience and other sinnes from which Catholikes are by grace giuen in Sacraments preserued and made free and abled to performe their dutie to God and their Princes 6. The 26. Article hath nothing belonging to this question neither the 27. Article following of Baptisme hath any thing needing examine in this matter Their 28. of the Supper of the Lord denying Transsubstantiation and the Reall presence of Christ in the Eucharist and consequently the reuerence and honour due therevnto will not breede more honour to Princes on earth they not hauing more title theÌ„ Christ and by him of honour And they hauing before declared that the Sacraments be effectuall signes of grace and here giuing all prerogatiue to Imagined faith saying The meane whereby the bodie of Christ is receiued and eaten in the supper is faith they attribute nothing to any signe or Sacramentall thing and that Imaginatiue faith is a false faith For except as Catholiks hold Christ be truely present there by the omnipotent promise word and worke of God it is vnpossible faith should be a meane to receiue Christs bodie there True faith is onely of true and not of false things And so againe these men leaue to themselues no Sacrament to giue them grace in all their course of life after Baptisme when they are infants and so must needs be disabled to serue God or their Prince as they should and all men are bound to doe 7. The 29. Article confirmeth this as I haue deliuered before And their 30. Article of both kindes by their doctrine attributing all to their Imagined confuted false faith confirmeth it also And their assertion there That the Cupe by Christs commandment ought to be ministred to all Christian men Is
thâ— Iohn 21. these Saint Peter answered Yea Lord. Theâ— our Sauiour repâ—ied twice Pasce agnos meoâ— Feede my lambes And at S. Peters third answeâ— to the same demand he added pâ—sce oues meâ— feede my sheepe And to his Apostles he said Bonus Pastor animam suam dat pro ouibus suis à goâ— Iohn 10. Pastor giueth his life for his sheepe And Maioreâ— hac dilectionem nemo habet quam vt animaâ— Iohn 15. suam ponat quis pro amicis suis Greater loue thâ— this no man â—ath that a man yeald his life for hâ— friends 9. This Pastorall office and dignitie was euer accompted so perfect and excellent that in all times euen out of danger it was esteemed among the best Religious a perfection and honour for any with them to be preferred to Episcopall or such pastorall charge of soules Therefore the highest Consistorie to wit the Court of Rome hath most iustly and publickly declared the renowned Priests of England to be Ordinis Apostolici Of the most perfect and excellent Apostolicke order And as theire Order is the same with the Apostles so they doe deduce their neuer yet interrupted Frane Godw. Pref. to the Catal. of Bish. conuers of Brit. pa. 6. succâ—sâ—ion therein euen from the highest and chiefest Apostle Saint Peter himselfe from whom so to deriue it to speake in publicke Protestant words VVe should accompt it a great glorie to our Nation to deriue the pedegree of our spirituall linage froÌ„ so noble and excellent a father as S. Peter For both Greeke Latine AuncieÌ„t Later Catholike an Protestant writers assure Sim. Metaphr in SS Petr. Paul Antiquit-Graec ib apud Surin Sanct. Petr. Theater of Brit. l. 6. Camden in Brit. Nicâ—phor apud â—â—â— vs that S. Peter came hither into Britonie Simon Petrus qui fundamenâ—um esse Ecclesâ—ae desinitus est tanquam pâ—obaâ—issimus discipulus c. Simon Peter who like a most approued disciple was declared to be the fâ—undation of the Church as more powerfull then all the rest was commanded to illuminate the obscurer parts of the world in the west and he could entirely fulfull the command He came into Britonie in which place after he had staid long drawne many people to the faith erected Churches and ordained Bishops Priests and Deacons in the twelfth yeare of the Emperour Nero he returned to Rome againe The best Protestant Antiquaries doe hold this for so vnquestionable a truth in Histories that they crie out against any that should doubt thereof Quid ni crederemus why should Cambdâ—n supra we not beleeuâ— 10. Some saie that Saint Philip the Apostle and others would haue it the great Apostle Saint Peter sent S. Ioseph and his Religious companie of Glastenburie hither But S. Peter being alredy proued to be here before their comming and after it might well allowe and approue of their comming and being here but I see not how he did send them hither And as our best Antiquities deliuer they all died without leauing any Successours here vntill Pope Elutherius and King Lucius time But for our Succession of our holy Catholike Clergie Priests it was neuer yet interrupted but continued from S. Peter here vnto this day notwithstanding any howsoeuer outragious tempest of Persecution of whatsoeuer enimies of Christian truth Infidels or Heretikes in great number and constancie by all writers none denying or making doubt thereof And our Protestat Antiquaries themselues doe generally confesse and particularly recompt many Bishops Priests and other Clergie men to haue continued here in euery age both in the Britons and Saxons time without any interruption at all Toâ— tantaque Presbyterorum Monachorum Praesulum Episcoporum Ecclesiarum Caenâ—biorum Math. Parker Antiquit. Brit. pag. 7. 8. Iohn Gosâ—â— hist. â—ccles Iohn Ball de scrip Centur. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Godwin Catal. of Bish. in all Sees Sediumque vetusta nomina quae quouis saeculo extiteruÌ„t So many old names of Priests Monckes Prelats Bishops Churches Monasteries Episcopall Sees which in euery age were extant And vnder the Saxons and English both of Bishops and Priests with their Succession of Bishops vntill the first Parliament of Queene Elizabeth 11. Neither doe our Protestants as latly in publicke Parliament make their Religiâ— to which they would violently enforce you any older then that dare almost 80. years old neither can they except leaping backward ouer Queene Maries Raigne they would patch 4. yeares of youÌ„ge King Edwards youÌ„ger Religion vnto it shewe any Edict Decree Statute Parliament or any publicke proposall or command euen by temporall power for any Religion vse or profession therein to which they would pull and driue you but froÌ„ such younge times and Tutors in Religion That which is true Religion must haue so many hundreds of yeares in age more as then were and now are from Christ and his Apostles daies and other Apostles and Proposers then King Edward and Queene Elizabeth who persecuted and in what they could did suppresse the true old Catholike Apostolike and Christian Religion But in so doing and in whatsoeuer they did or could doe they onely could inuent oâ— giue allowance vnto a newe but not a true Religion Therefore if this onely and nothing else were to be saied vnto you or for you in this cause you are secure you suffer for Iustice you are blessed here and by that title shall so perseuerinâ— be eternally happie in heauen Bishops Priests Monckes Religious and lay Catholikes not so persecuted may perish but perseuering constantly in persecution for Christ's cause they cannot perish Beati qui persecutionem patiuntur propter Matth. 5. Iustitiam Blessed are they that suffer persecution for Iustice As the cause confirmâ—d by Christ himselfe confirmeth Quoniam ipsorum est regnum coelorum Because theirs is the Kingdome of heauen This quoniam because Is more particular vnto you for it is almost proper vnto our Priests and their Predecessours in this holie warre which Christ saied to his Apostles Vos â—estimonâ—um perhibeâ—itis quia ab initio mecum Iohn 15. estis You sâ—all giue testimonie because you are with me from the begining It is theirs and their childrens in Christ Vos autem estis qui permansistis mecum in tentationibus meâ—s You are they that haue Luck 22. remained with me in my temptations It is true of them and all such Catholikes of whom Saint Paul saied to the Romans Fides vestra annuntiatur â—â— Rom. 1. in vniuerso mundo Your faith is renowned in the whole world This of your faith and constancie therin and of your obedience and suffrings Vestra obedientiâ— in omnem locum diuulgata est Your obedience is published into euery place â—d Rom. 16. 12. If Christ will confesse all before his father which is in heauen who doe confesse him before men on eaâ—th this confession of you that haue beene so long Spectaculum Aspectacle 1. Corint 4. to Angels and men will be
from Bishops Neque laico permiâ—uâ—ous facere opus aliquod Sacerdotale vt sacrificium aut Baptismum aut impositionem man us aut benedictionem siue paruam siue magnam Nemo enim sibi sumit honorem sed qui vocatur a Domine huiusmodi namque gratia per impositionem manuum Episcopi datur Neque Presbyteris potestatem damus ordinandi Diaconos aut Lectores aut Ministros sed Episcopis tantum Hic enim est Ecclesiasticus ordo Cum à Deo consequenâ—iam rerum didicerimus Episcopis quidem assignauimus aâ—tribuimus quae ad principatum Sacerdotij pertinâ—nt Presbyteris vero quae ad Sacerdotium Deinde Diaconis quae ad ministrandum vtriusque vt puâ—è castè fiant quae ad Religionem pertinent Neque enim sas est Diacono sacrificium offerre aut baptizare aut benedictionem fiue paruam siue magnam facere neque Presbytero ordinationem ClericoruÌ„facere Ostensum est Anâ—istitum Ordinem perficientem esse perfectionis authorem Non licet sine Episcopo baptizâ—â—e neque dothen celebrare Neither doe we permit â—he Laeâ—ie to doe any Priestly functiâ—n as to offer Sacrifice baptize impose hands or to giue any Benediction either litle or great For no man taketh this honour to himselfe but â—e who is called by God Because this grace is giuen by the imposition of the Bishops hands Neither doe we giue vnto Priestes the power of ordaining Deacons or Lectours or Ministers but onely to Bishops This is the order of the Church When we did lerne the sequell of things from God indeede what appertained to the principalitie of Pâ—iestes we assigned and gaue it to Bishops and to Priestes what belonged to Priestehoode afterward to Deacons what appertained to the assistance of both that these things which concerned Religion might be performed chastly and cleanely Neither is it lawfull for a Deacon to offer Sacrifice or to baptize or to make any Benediction either litle or great neither for Priestes to ordaine Clergie-men It is declared the Order of the Bishops is the perfecting Order and authour of perfection It is not lawfull without a Bishop to baptize nor to offer Sacrifice nor to saie Masse 6. Wherevppon the English Protestants in their most publicke and authorised proceedings thus acknowledge It is euident vnto all men diligently reading holy Scripturs and auntient authors that from the Apostles time there hath beene these orders of ministers in Christ Church Bishops Priests and DeacoÌ„s which offices were euermore had in such reuerent estimation that no man might presume to execute any of them except he were first by publike praier and imposition of hands approued and admitted therevnto And these orders should be continued and reuerently vsed and esteemed in this Church of England And in this both their booke intituled Of Consecration of Archbishops Bishops Priests as their Articles of Religion and coÌ„mon practise doe onely allowe and commit such thinges to them whome they call and apprehend to be Bishops saying Allmightie God giuer of all good things by his holy spirit hath appointed them in the Church Episcopall Order is of diuine Ordination and by law diuine Christ acted it by the hands of the Apostles It is an ordinance Apostolicall He hath enacted it for succeding posteritie and so it is a Canon or Constitution of the whole Trinitie Wherevpon the Protestant PuritaÌ„s conclude If prelacie be de Iure diuino by the lawe of God it receiueth both breath and life from the Religion of Rome And this they offer Publikly to defend and the Parlament Protestants so grauÌ„te claiming that Ministrie they haue by ordination from Rome Wherevpon these Puritans with generall assent haue thus concluded They cannot see how possibly by the Rules of Diuinitie the separation of our Chuâ—ches from the Church of Rome and from the Pope head thereof can be iustified They protest to all the worlde that the Pope and the Church of Rome and in theÌ„ God and Christ Iesus himselfe haue had great wronge and Indignitie offered vnto them and that the Protestant Churches are scismaticall in forsaking the vnitie and communion with them If the English Protestant opinion he maintained That Bishops Iurisdiction is de Iure diuino by the lawe of God his Magestie and all the Nobilite ought to be Subâ—ect to Excommunication 7. Which neither king Nobles or vnnoble no meanest Protestants of England can â—oubt feare or pretend against the Bishop of Chalcedon he neither hauing or claiming the â—easte spirituall power or Iurisdiction ouer â—ny one great or little highe or lowest Protestant in EnglaÌ„d His Episcopall both Order â—nd Iurisdiction which as he construeth beâ—ongeth vnto it extending onely to Cathoâ—iks of this kingedome to keepe them in good order and loyall dutie both to God and â—heir king as good Catholik Bishops doe â—nd are bounde to doe Which must needs be an helpe and no hurt or offence to any Common-wealth Bishops learned louing and knowing their dutie and hauing charge whereof they must render a seuere accompt to God attended with watchfull and reuengfull eyes vpon them for loue will not or feare dare not concurre vnto or suffer vnder them disobedieÌ„ce to heauenly or earthly Prince They which cannot endure spirituall dutie are in most daunger of lapse into temporall disobedience hauing reiected spirituall power keeping them in awe and dutie to temporall VVhich perhaps caused Constantine our wise king and Emperour to saie vpon experience as he did of staggerers in Religion and faithfulnesse to God No doubt but both the Pope of Rome and Rich of Chalcedon know their offices sufficiently without any admonishments They are not ignorant who said and how it concerned them Non possumus aliquid aduersus veritatem sed pro veritate VVe cannot any thing against 2. Cor. 13. the truth but for the truth and potestatem quam Dominus dedit mihi in aedificationâ—m non destructionem The power which our Lord hath giuen me vnto edification and not vnto destruction 8. There is great difference in hauing and exercising power from Rome The first should not feare them which would feare without cause of feare neither secret and prudent exercise in necessitie to redesse or preuent euills Greater meetings and assemblies be often made by some in and of as great daunger and to lesse purpose then would serue priuately to examine witnesses or so to giue a sentence where the litigants be and ought to be secret To doe many vsuall and necessarie actâ— of Religion be as daungerous and require as great and greater assemblies A publike setled Consistoâ—ie in any place or â—laces to be set vp could not but with â—onde â—maginations be thought vpon were the Iudg â—ad not vbi reclinet caput suum Probate of puâ—like wills administrations Tithes Conâ—racts Marriages Diuorces Alimonie Basâ—erdie and publike slanders among ProtestaÌ„ts â—aue publike Protestant Courts and all or â—any mixt with our temporall lawes Many â—f the remembred instances as Tithes and â—asterdies concerning inheriting