of rendring such duties â—nto our King and haue what they could persuaded the Recusants as the refusing Protestants were therin termed to performe such â—onds true offices and obligations of louing subiects Anâ— although our Catholikes hauâ—â—â—ne sondry waieâ— greuiously persecuted for their Religion yet as the world knoweth they haue most dutifully much aboue others honoured our king supplied his wants with free and lardge Donations and Contribuâ—ions when their persecuting Protestants in great number and of great quaâ—itie made deâ—iall No man except maliciously and chridishly very falsely imagining slaunders and â—ntruthes against theÌ„ may surmise that these â—en can be vnmindefull of the dutie and obeâ—ience of true Subiects to their Soueraigne 6. If there be any either in Court or Countrie bearing the name Catholike gaining not looâ—ng rather honoured then â—isgraced preferred then persecuted giâ—en to libertie and disorders such as this â—rotestant time can easily bestowe and â—are and spirituall discipline may not be â—llowed to keâ—pe such in dutie oâ— leaue the â—ame Catholike Catholike Relâ—gâ—on doth â—ot and cannot answeare or make accompâ—â—or such Commonly they be men risen oâ—â—ell reared vp by fall of Religion and Reliâ—ious howses which complaine most against Catholikes who finde proâ—ects of seaâ—e â—â—aâ—ing to loose that they so easily gâ—t Bâ—t 〈◊〉 there is no danger towards them by English Catholikes for many or most oâ—â—hem that be landed meÌ„ haue also such land They be not Catholikes which euer defend â—ld and vnâ—uersall Right which aâ—e to be seaâ—ed in Innouations Nouelists and louers of â—ingularities are the most dangerous in such respects Catholikes of England of all subiects thereof euer were and now be most obseruant of and keeping their Protestant Princes lawes seldome is or can a Catholike be charged with the breach of any excepâ— concerning matters of Religion where iâ— breaketh the lawe of God and his holy Catholike Apostolike Church To keepe thâ— lawe of the king of all kings and his kingedome must not be termed or thought a breacâ— and violating of the lawes of any priuatâ— earthly king or kingedome all which muâ— subiect themselues to that omnipotent king and his gouernment And to make all sure 〈◊〉 Catholikes defence in this cause we wiâ— briefely examine all Articles now questioneâ— betweene ProtestaÌ„ts of England and theÌ„ anâ— prooue in many of these Articâ—es as they aâ— enacted by ProtestaÌ„ts that the Catholike doctrine is farre more agreable and profitabâ— for publike peace vnitie obedience anâ— concord in a good ciuill Monarchicall anâ— Râ—gall gouernment then that which Protestants hold and practise and would forâ—â— Catholikes vnto and not any one Article â—â— Catholike Religion repugnant vnto or preâ—udicing the Rule and gouernment of a moâ— worthie king in a noble Nation THE VIII CHAPTER That euerie Article of Catholike Religion is more agreable with the best temporall gouernment then those of the Protestants and that a Catholike keeping his Religion as he is bouÌ„d to God so he cannot be vndutifull to his temporall Prince and Countrie THe first fiue Articles of their Religion they consisting onely of â—9 â—ade by a few Protestants in fâ—â—werth or â—fth yeare of Queene Elizabeth the old age â— this Religion doe containe nothing conâ—ouersed betweene them and vs but were â—ade against new Sectaries so soone risen vp â—mong them The Sixth and next Article inâ—tuled Of the sufficientie of the holy Scripture for â—luation Denieth the vse and necessities of â—raditions not written in Scripture and deâ—eth many bookes of holy Scripture to be â—ch and some of them as the booke of wiseâ—ome and of Iesus the sonne of Sirach conâ—sting most of morall precepts and coÌ„mandments as all men knowe are most needfulâ— in all kingedomes for ciuill regimeÌ„t So thaâ— whatsoeuer of this nature is coÌ„tained in thesâ— two morrall bookes and tenne others whicâ— they likewise reiect or in holy Apostolikâ— Traditions are wanting in these men and thâ— Catholiks embracing both â—hose bookes anâ— Tradiâ—ioÌ„s exceede them in all temporall obedience and dutie in this respect 2. After this vntill we come to their nintâ— Article stiled Of originall or birth siane they finde no difference in this point But in thiâ— Article they thus enact There is no condemnation for them that beleeue and are baptized By which allowance and Decree the way to all disobedience fellonies treasons and sinnes whatsoeuer is set open to all Protestants whicâ— saie they beleeue and are baptized and â—â— no Treason Rebellion contempt of gouernment can condemne them Catholikes be oâ— the contrarie profession And this Protestanâ— libertie and disâ—bedience is further warranteâ— and allowed in the next Article but one thâ— immediate next Article after by their glossâ— not at all or litle differing â—roÌ„ Catholiks Foâ— this their eleueÌ„th Article intituled of the Iustification of man Thus declareth That we are iustifie by faith onely is a most wholesome doctrine and very full of comfort But this is not very whole some comfortable or secure for any king kingdome common-wealth that it should giuâ— libertie to all offences not to be puâ—ished bâ— God at all nor by Prince if they can secretly be committed and concealed God forbid any bearing the name of of Catholike should euer hold or followe such doctrine And these Protestants Religion in the next Article of good workes giuing litle or no efficacie vnto them will not hinder them in matter of disobedience to God or Prince So doth their 13. Article wherein they saâ—e that workes such as we commonly call among others obedience to kings and Rulers good works Done without the grace of Christ haue the nature of sinne By which if any man â—all into drunkennesâ—e coÌ„mit Adulterie Fornication Perâ—uâ—â—e or any mortall sinne which depriueth of grace he may or rather must make rebellion commit â—reason or whatsoeuer wickednesse he can otherwise containing and abstaining from such horrible wickednesse such his refrainings from those Impieties haue the nature of sinne 3. The 14. next Article against workes of supererogation bringeth into like desperateâ—esse Their 15. and 16. Articles haue no peâ—uliar difficultie Their 17. next Article is intituled of Predestination and Election And it deliuereth plainely that their doctrine and Religion therein euen aâ— it is receiued among them is so perilous a thing That for curious and carnall persons to haue continually before their eies the sentence of Gods predestination is a most dangerous downesall whereby the diuell doth thrust them into desperation or into rechlesnesse of most vncleane liuing no lesse pevillous then desperation These Articles if wâ— should goe no further are sufficient to diswade any man desiring to be a true subiect to God and his Prince from embracing the Religion of ProtestaÌ„ts But to proceede to the end of them the 18 next Article of obtaining eternall Saluation onely by the name of Christ hath nothing in question The next 19. And the 20. Articles the first intituled Of â—he Church And the other Of the authoritie of the Church Are
vntrue by their owne Parlaments testifying that in the very Primatiue Church and allwaies it was often ministred in one kinde onely Then no commandment of Christ contrary ca be brought to condemne all Churches times and places for such practise 8. Their 31. Article of the one oblation of Christ finished vpon the crosse denyâ—ng against the whole Church of Christ in all ages and places and thereby depriuing God of all externall sacrifice contrary to scripture and all authoritie will not by the Rule of proportion giue more or so much honour vnto earthlie kings then Catâ—oliks doe giuing this tribute and Sacrifice to the king of heauen and all that is belonging or was euer giuen to their terrene Princes 9. Their 32. Articâ—e of the Marriage of Priests hath married this kingedome to many miseries it did not feele or know before The posteritie proceeded by such lawe or allowaÌ„ce hath brought vs to number hundreds of thousands more then Britanie or England if it had remained Catholike should haue euer seene Many thousands of these are left vnprouided for and not a few are turned or wrested out of their possessions to furnish these Ministers children many of whom also haue fallen to such extreame wants that many of them haue taken desperate courses which the Catholike practise and Religion would haue preuented 10. Their 33. Article Of excommunicate persons how they are to be auoided Differeth not froÌ„ Cathoâ—ikes but that Protestants commit the businesse of excommunication and absolution to such as Catholikes hold haue no power therein when both Catholikes and Protestants confesse that men assigned to such offices by Catholikes haue true lawfull and vndoubted authoritie 11. Their 34 Article Of Traditions of the Church is wholy Ceremonious by their owne expositioÌ„ and no man caÌ„ be so singular in this or any such matter but to thinke any particular Church or kingedome the more it agreeth with the vniuersall or most florishing Christian kingedomes to be more honourable and secure thereby then such as fall into Nouelties and singularities 12. Their 35. Article of homelies is nothing to this purpose And their 36. Article intituled Of Consecration of Biâ—hops and Ministers To whom they commit spirituall Businesse preaching ministring Sacraments and to excommunicate absolue and whatsoeuer in like kinde they take vpon them to practise is quite ouerthrowne by themselues before in their 22. Article where they saie that Order as they vse it Is no Sacrament or effectuall signe of grace and hath noâ— any visible signe or ceremonie ordained of God Then not receiuing or hauing grace or such spirituall power it cannot coÌ„ferre aÌ„d giue it vnto others or so exercise it especially in so many things as is required from truely and lawfully consecrated persons such as they acknowledg the Bishopâ— and Priests of the Roman Church to be 13. Their 37. Article intituled of the ciuill Magistrate doth giue to teÌ„porall Princes supreamacie euen in spirituall things and denieth all Iurisdiction to the Pope of Rome in thiâ— Realme in such affaires Of this sufficient is said before And euery equall minded man may easily see whether the temporall state of England was not more honourable noble powerfull and secure when the Popes Iurisdiction in spirituall thinges ruled here then now it is and euer since it hath beene and yet the Ritches and wealth which fell to our kings and Princes hands and commauÌ„de at such chang were as infinite and so great that king Henrie 8 to haue licence or assent to suruâ—y them to make vse thereby promised to speake in Protestant witnesses words He would create anâ— maintaine 40. Earles 60. Barons Edw. howe 's historicall pref in Henr. â— three thousand knights and fourtie thousand souldiers with skilfull Captaines and competent maintenance for tâ—em all for euer ouâ— of the auntieÌ„t Church reuenewes Neither should the people be any more charged with loane Subfidies and Fifteenes Since wâ—iâ—h time there â—auâ— bâ—ene more statuts lawes subfidies and Fifteenes then in fiue hundred yeares before Thus in the publicke Protestant Historie in the yeare 1614. dedicated to our king now the Prince Charles Since we haue heard and tasted in EnglaÌ„d more matters of this nature And yet if we should make but Robin-hoods penâ—worthes and estimate of what hath beene taken away from holy constant Catholikes for proâ—â—ssing their true and Apostolike Religâ—â—n in the Reigne oâ— Queene Elizabeth king Iames and king Charles euen since he married a Queene prosessing for herselfe Catholike Religion It will amount to more then would haue deliuered a farâ—e meaner king and kingedome then ours of England haue beenâ— accoÌ„pted from such complaintes of feares wants needs dislikes and variaâ—â—â—â— tâ—erein if God had well approued of such proceedingâ— and such means of proceeding against his Catholike SeruaÌ„ts our kings most faithfull 〈◊〉 14. And the spirituall Supreamacie assumed by oâ—r Princes king Henry 8. king Edward 6 and Queene Elizabeth confirmed againe in this Article had wrought so good effects in so short time within 4. yeares of Q. Elizabeths obtaining the Crowne that Protestants in such order or rather disorder and number denied teÌ„porall power in Princes here to put any Rebell or whatsoeuer most greeuious offender to death and they weÌ„t further affirming that Protestants might not fight in defence of their Countrie though the Prince commaunded it wherevpon they were enforced to declare in this Article in this maner against such Protestant Brethren The lawes of the Realme may punish Christian men with death for heinous and greuious offences Is it lawfull for Christian men at the commaundment oâ— the Magistrate to weare Armes and serue in the warrs And there were among them teaching and holding communitie of goods noâ— theft spoiling or Roberie to be punished no iustice or lawe to be executed or Oath to be taken in Iudgement all Courts and Consistories to cease as is euident by the two last Articles 38. and 39. thus following the former intituled Of Christian mens goods which are not common And thus declaring The Riches and goods of Christians are not common as touching the right Title and possession of the same as certaine Anabâ—ptists Protestants doe beast And the last â—9 Article intituled of a Christian mans Oath And thus enacting and declaring We Iudge thaâ— Christian Religion doth not prohibit but that a man may sweare when the Magistrate requireth in a cause of faith and charitie so it be done according to the Prophets teaching in Iustice Iudgment and truth This suffiâ—â—enâ—â—y witnesseth wâ—at goodly coÌ„mon-wealths-meÌ„ their Protestant Religion euâ—n 〈◊〉 Infancie thereof had brought forth in this kingdome THE IX CHAPTER That true and obedient Catholikes be the truest and most obedient subiects 1. And in conclusion to come to the particulare Sâ—ate and Regalitie oâ— our most honoured King Charles and king Iames before him There neuer were any Protestants in England in their times or before which so truely and ducifully carried themselues towards their Monarchicall true Title Right
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
great if euery one that is persecuted for Iustice shall haue his reward in heauen what will their honour be which haue suffered so much and so long time for that cause Your Protestant Aduersaries and Persecutours themselues taking the altitude of your miseries and suffrings for this greatest iustice haue found their eleuation to be raised to the hight of all former Persecutours who were Pagans professed enimies to Christ and all Christians They which professe Christ and Christianitie may not be such Great was the persecution of Nero and yet Britonie felt it not but was then a Refuge Aâ—yle and as a Sanctuarie to receiue and defend the persecuted Bitter was Dioclesiaus PersecutioÌ„ here in Britonie but as our Gildas telleth vs it was but Nâ—uâ—nnis of nine yeares onely at which time the Scots â—â—cts Saxons Gormundians Aâ—ricans and Dâ—nes â—ll Pagans persecuted the Christiâ—s here But neuer any bearing the name of Christ before â—hese dayes persecuted the Catholike Chriâ—tians of this Kingdome All those Pagans â—ersecuted Christians as enimies to their old Gods and Religion and for not ioyning â—ith them in Idolatrie deeming Christian â—eligion newe and erroneous Our ProtestaÌ„t Persecutours persecute vs for defending the old Religion of Christ which cannot be vntrue and for not imbracing their newe which in the Schoole of Christ cannot be true 13. All the Pagans that euer persecuted here distroied not â—o many Churches and Chappels as King Henrie the eight and his daughter Elizabeth nor tooke from the Church the halfe of that which they did Halse such a Fine and Ransome as the Catholikes paid to them aboue the third part of England in Religious Church-lands possessed by the Clergie here Sixhundred yeares since besides other for fitures would haue stopped the Pagans Persecution The Saxons greatest Persecution next to Dioclesians soone slacked and releÌ„ted no soon â—r had the Saxons driueÌ„ Theonus and Thadiocus Archbishops of LoÌ„don and Yorke with other Bishops Priests and Religious from â—heir Sees and Residences in the yeare of Christ 586. But King Ethelbert of Kent ruling vnto Húber by meanes of his blessed ChristiaÌ„ Queenâ— Bertha and her holy Bishop S. Lethard gauâ— ease and peace to Christians here before S. Augustines and his Associates comming hither and they were receiued by Ethelberâ— not yet a Christian with honours and noâ— indignities All they were strangers and forrainers to the persecuted Our Persecutourâ— be of the same Nation blood and kinred and stiled Christians with them whom thus they persecute for Christs true Religion If King S. Ethelbert Queene S. Bertha and Bishop S. Lethard were now liuing Catholikes would not be persecuted THE II. CHAPTER That the Religion of our English Catholikes as well from the Saxons as Britons is the same with their first Apostles and deduced from them and first of the Saxons conuerted by S. Augustine and his Roman Mission NOw because our Protestants and Persecutours before haue deliuered it For greate glorie to our Nation to deriue our spirituall degree from so noble a Father as S. Peter We will â—riue and deduce from him a continuall â—d neuer interrupted Succession both of â—iscopall and Priestlie function and doâ—ine also in euery point now questioned by â—r Persecutours froÌ„ that so noble a Father â— these Protestant times And to begge more â—ce and fauour from these our enimies in â—s cause they themselues shall briefly make â—s deduction â— And first concerning Bishops and Massing Priests sent hither or consecrated here by S. Peter's or his Roman Successours Iuâ—â—â—diction such as they now so greuiously dâ—◠〈◊〉 â—hey confesse publickly that they had â—o 〈◊〉 but so consecrated as the Roman Church did from the begining and stilâ— doth consecrate vnâ—ill their neâ—â— booke oâ— pretended Consecration maâ—â— by King Edward thâ— Sâ—â—th â— child hiâ—â—â—thoritie brought in thei◠〈…〉 aâ—d they acknowledge 〈…〉 consecraâ—e◠〈…〉 Priesâ—◠〈…〉 and doe 〈…〉 â—â—stifie 〈…〉 Engl. Proteâ—â— in Rogers Booke of articles Annal. Burton an 140. Caiuâ—â—â—tiq 〈…〉 Annâ—l 〈…〉 â—n Mansâ—◠〈…〉 1. 6. Harrison descript of Brit. waâ— oâ—r Archbishop 〈…〉 moreouer that this our 〈…〉 was seâ—lâ—d by this greaâ—est Aâ—ostâ—â— in â—he 〈◊〉 yâ—are of Nero and 67. 〈…〉 â— Peter returned againe to 〈…〉 dâ—uers of thâ—se our Bishops and 〈…〉 Nation as S. Manâ—uetus S. 〈◊〉 S. Maâ—cellus or Marcellinus the renoâ—ned Priests and Preachers of Cambridge â—n and afteâ— the yeare 140. S. Marcellus being and liuinâ— Bishop after King Lucius and Britonie waâ— conuerted when three Archbisbops anâ—â—â—ventie eight Bishops were here placed anâ— all Ecclesiasticall thinges established anâ— confirmed by Papall power in this Kingdome â— To make this Succession without aâ— question they deliuer vnto vs the names aâ— â—me Episcopall Acts of our Archbishops Hollinâ—h Hist of England Stowâ—s Hist. Godwin conuers of Britan. Cataâ— of Bishops in London Yorke and S. Dauids â—f LondoÌ„ Yorke and Caerlegion In London â—e chiefe Metropolitan See S. Theanus S. luanus Cadar Obinus Conanus Pallaâ—us Stephanus I'tutus Theodwynus or â—edwynus Thedredus Hillarius Guiteliâ—s Restitutus Fastidius Vodinus Theoâ—s Others adde S. Augulus Ternokinus â—d Gormcelinus They confesse that Theoâ—s the last Archbishop of London with full â—risdiction continued in his Archiepiscopall â—e notwithstanding the Pagon Saxons inuaâ—n and persecutioÌ„ vntill the yeare of Christ â—â— which was but 10. yeares before S. Auguâ—â—â— coming hither So they testifie of Thaâ—â—us Matth. West an 586. Archbishop of Yorke the same yeâ—â—e â—auing his See and with the Archbishop of 〈◊〉 and many of their Clergie flying into â—alâ—â— and Cornewall to the Christian Bisâ—ps Priests and people there They reâ—pt in thâ— Archbâ—â—â—op See of Yorke Theoâ—sius Sampsoâ—â—â— Taurinus â—eruanâ—s Sampsonâ—◠〈◊〉 and the â—enamed Thadiocu◠〈…〉 â—egion they â— downe Tremonus S. 〈◊〉 S Daâ—id â—iud Conanc Theliaus Eâ—bâ—dus wholiâ—d in S. Augustins time and after him imâ—ediatly succeeding in Archiepiscopall digâ—tie fourty or more vntill the time of Berâ—rd who in the yeare 1115. lost that honour â—om that See by Papall order as all Antiâ—aries Catholikes and Protestants agree 4. These men also deliuer vnto vs a Catalogue of learned holy writers in euery agâ— and in the age whâ— S. Augustine came hitheâ— they recount vnto vs the most noble Sainâ— and Doctours Dubritius Iltutâ—s Congelluâ— Dauid Gildas Kentigeâ—nâ—s Brendant Asaphus and others whâ—ly â—nd absolutâ— agreeing with the Church of â—ome They â—â— downe our Vniuâ—rsiâ—ies 〈…〉 aâ— among others 〈…〉 from all eâ—ror Our 〈…〉 in the greâ—â—ouncelâ—s 〈…〉 â—he same faiâ— with tâ—e whole 〈…〉 they had mâ— entercourâ—e 〈◊〉 â—â—â—municaâ—â—on next to tâ— Popes of 〈…〉 the moâ—â— Catholike aâ— renowâ—â—d 〈…〉 Churcâ— of Christ â— Athanaâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 S. Martine and maâ— more and bâ—th â—â—â—se Tertulâ—â—an S. Chryâ—stome with 〈◊〉 did highly commeÌ„d thâ— our 〈…〉 true Religion 5. Anâ— becaâ—â—â— some Proâ—estants to mu◠〈…〉 libertie cannot well eâ—dure 〈…〉 â—â—ckes and Religious sâ— king wâ—a◠〈…〉 can â—o disgrace suâ— as oâ—her◠〈◊〉 â—â—nowned Clergie especialâ— the 〈◊〉 of S. Benedicts Order
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
thâ—t were coâ—sâ—crated by theÌ„ is confesâ— by all VVe haue the most worthie wiâ—â—â—e of our old Bâ—â—tish antiquities written â—ut 1000 yeares since intituled euen by â—estants glosses Prima â—nstitutiâ— varuâ—as â—siastiâ—â— seruitij The first Institution and varâ—etie â—â—â—ch sâ—ruâ—ce The Masse and publike officâ— which in the time of S. German S. Lupus and S. Patricke was by theÌ„ and others vsed in Britanie Scotland and Ireland was the â—ame which was composed by Saint Marke the Euangelist And thus it continued here so long as the Britans ruled and after they were expelled by the Saxons with the which remained in wales ad Cornewall and theâ— Scots and Irish. All our Archbishops both oâ— London Yorke and Caâ—rlegion Theonus Dubritiâ—s Sampson Dauid and the resâ— with all Bishops and Priests vnder them werâ— sacrificing and Massing Priests Altars foâ— Masse were in all Churches and one tâ—â— thâ— sacrifice of Christs bodie and blood was offered in Masse All which appeareth in â—annâ— histories and their destructioÌ„ by the Pagaâ— SaxoÌ„s in all Churches doth witnesse it Ecclâ—â— Ecclesiastica omnia ad soluÌ„ vsâ— destruebaÌ„â— Sacerdâ—â—es iuxta aâ—iaria trucidabaÌ„t They destroyed euen to â—â— ground the Câ—urcâ—es and all Ecclesiasticall tâ—ings tâ—e â—illed the Priests at the Alâ—ars Such were the Prâ—lats Bishops Priests Abbots and their Seâ—â— Monasteries and Churches where Maâ—â— was vsed in great number and aboundancâ— in euery age â—y the â—rotestants confession â—o Goâ—â—olin histor Eccles Matth. Parker Antiquis Britannis pag. 8. Tot tantâ—quâ— Presâ—â—â—â—rorum Mâ—nacâ—orum Praesuluâ— Episcoporum Ecclesiarum Coenobiorum Sâ—diumâ— vetusta nomina quae quosâ—â— saculo extiterunt Se 〈◊〉 old names of Priests Monckes Prelats Bisâ—oâ— Churches Monastericâ— and Episcopall Seâ—s were in â—uery â—â—ge extante 13. And among the Saxons the first Christian Priests that were permitted here were Massing Priests their Sacrifice was the sacrifice of Masse their Church at Canterburie had Altars and Saint Leâ—hard the Bishop which came hither with the Fâ—enth Cathoâ—ike Christian Ladie Queene Bertha married â—o the Saxon king Etheâ—bert of kent and the Priests with him were all Massing Priests and â—aied Masse in that Church allotted to theÌ„ to â—hat end In antiquissima sancti Pâ—aesulis Marâ—inâ— Ecclesiâ sub vrbe sua beato Pontisiâ—e Lethardâ— praesiâ—ente frequentabat Regina Missarum Oraâ—ioâ—um â—acra cum suorum coâ—itum samiliâ— Christianâ— â—â— the auncient Chuâ—ch of Saint Mâ—rtin cituâ—â—d neare vnto the citie Lethardus the Bishop gouerâ—ng it the Queene wiâ—h her Christian samilâ—â— heard â—asse frequently This was diuers yeares before â—aint Gregâ—riâ— that most holy and â—â—arned â—ope Gregoriâ—s magnus Romanus omnium â—ontisiâ—m Romanorum doctrinâ— vitâ prâ—stantissimuâ— â—egorie the greate a Roman the worthiest of ad the â—oman Bishops in doctrin and life As Protestants â—le him sent Saint Augustine with his holy â—mpanie hither and king Ethelbert as these â—otestants saie by the persuasion of Queene â—rtha his wise and her Clergie receiued the â—ole Roman Religion Conuâ—rsus vxoris Berâ— persuasione Ethelberius Rex Romanismum susceâ— And Saint Augustine brought in among â—her things Altars holy vestiments and â—sselâ— Relicks bookes of Ceremonies the Sacrafice of Masse and in a Councell assembled commaunded the Roman customes to be obserued euery where Introduxit Altaria vestimenta Vasa sacra Reliquias Ceremoniarum codices Prinum corum Studium erat cirâ—a Missarum oblationes Sedes â—piscopalâ—â— ac deâ—imas coactà Syno do maÌ„dauit Romanas vâ—iq câ—sâ—ctuâ—inâ—s sâ—ruari And the Masse which S. Augustinâ— brought hither fâ—om â— Gâ—egoâ—ie was the same which S. Gregoâ—â—e and the Roman Church then vsed and the present Râ—man Church and Catholikeâ— of England doe vse at this time and the very same which was in vse before Saint Gregorie He onely addâ—â—â— vnto it as the Protestants themâ—elues confesse â—ew things not questioneâ— by them as 〈…〉 Lord haue mâ—â—â—ie â—pon â—â— to be diuers times â—â—iâ—erated which they confesse the Greeke Church dâ—d vse long before He added also Diâ—sque â—ostros in â—uâ pace diâ—â—onas And dâ—spose our daiâ—s in thy peace And commaund we â—e deliuered froÌ„ euerlasting damnatioÌ„ and numbred in the sâ—ock of thy electâ— But the Protestants allow and vse all these aâ— also where they saâ—e he hadded Alleluia somâ— times to be vsed it being vsed in Scripture and the saying or singing our Lords prayeâ— Pater noster ordained by Christ and by Protestants confessâ—oÌ„ vsed in Masse in the Apostleâ— time S. Aldeâ—me our holy Bishop and Countrie mâ— who calâ—eth S. Gregorie his Maâ—â—â— writeth that he added in the daily Canon wâ—â— the solenities of Masâ—e are celebrated in the Câ—â—alogue of â—â—â—tyrâ— S. 〈…〉 ioyning the 〈◊〉 S. 〈◊〉 S. Anasâ—â—siâ— and â—thers Qâ—â—◠〈◊〉 Agatha â—Luâ—ia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 noster Gregoâ—â—â—â—n Canone 〈…〉 â—mâ—â—a celeâ—râ—tur â—opulâ—sse 〈…〉 â—â—â—logo 〈…〉 â—gaâ—â—a Luciâ— VVhich S. 〈…〉 and Pedagoge â—regorie â—s 〈…〉 in the dâ—â—ly Canon 〈…〉 them after this mâ—ner 〈◊〉 Catalogue 〈…〉 Anastâ—siâ— Agaâ—â—a 〈…〉 Saint Gregorie added no 〈…〉 to the holy Masse For hereby 〈…〉 the whole Canon was vsâ—d before an◠〈◊〉 Saint Agatâ—a and Saint Lucia to the oâ—hâ—r holy women Martyrs proueth enough 〈◊〉 â—is Act to be holy by former authoâ—â—tie and â—xample those oâ—â—er holy Martyrs being by â—he Church of Christ placed and 〈◊〉 in â—he Canon before S. Gregorie hâ—s 〈◊〉 and S. â—gatha and Sâ—inâ— Lucia in the Caâ—â—â—ders of Protestants 〈◊〉 acknowledged and 〈◊〉 holy 〈◊〉 Saints and Martyrs For Saiâ—â— Greâ—oâ—â—e to ioyne Saints to Saints in honour â—ould â—e no â—nsainctlike Act in him Nâ—ither â—hâ— Priests of Engâ—and doe dâ—serue suâ—h peâ—alâ—ies punishments and peâ—sâ—â—uciors as â—hey naâ—e long suffered and now full â—oe â—ndâ—â—e â—or exeâ—cising their most honourablâ— Functiâ— â—n offering their most diuine Sacriâ—iâ—e instituted by Christ offered by him his â—oly Apostles and in all Ages after in this so approued and receiued Order and forme oâ— Masse vntill it was first here disallowed by king Edward 6 a child and made so penall by Queenes Elizabeths strang proceedings in such affaires For king Henry 8. though otherwise a most strang Enimie to Christs â—oly Church yet concerning Massing Priests anâ— Masse he ordained by his laste will and Testament as is still to be seene Massâ—â— That they should continue in England to the â—nd of the worlâ— willing and charging Prince Edward his sonne aâ— his Executors all his heires and Successours thâ— should be kings of this Realme â—s they will answear before allmightie God at the dreadfull daie of IudgmeÌ„t that they and euery of theÌ„ dreseâ— it performed Neitheâ— euer was there in England before that yoâ— kings time or in any other nation wheâ— Protestant Communion hath in these theiâ— late daies opposed against Catholike Relâ—gion Priests and Masse any other Churcâ— seruice but Catholike Masse and Sacriâ—ieâ— founde heard off or remembred in Antiquities 14. Therefore seeing the honour and dignitie of holy Priesthood in the respect oâ— the most sacred and heauenlie
God with men and he will dwâ—ll with them And they shall be â—is people and he God with them shall be their â—od And God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes and death shall be no more nor mourning nor crying neitâ—er shall there be sorrow any more which first things are gone All you shall or can giue or raâ—her lend for such a recompence of sure Inheritance for euer was giuen you by him that for but lending him the same againe for a time will with so great honour returne you all againe yâ—a an huÌ„dred for one Omnis qui reliquerit domuÌ„ velfraâ—â—es aut sorores aut Patrem aut Matrem aut vxoâ—em aut filios aut agros propter nomen Matth. 19. meum cenâ—â—plum acâ—â—piâ—t vitam â—â—ernam possidebit Euâ—ry one that haâ—â— lâ—ft house or bretherne or sisters or father or mother or wife or childrne or â—andâ—â— for my sake shâ—ll â—eâ—eiue on hundreâ— fold and shall possesâ— life euerlasting 3. You that be great and Noble and Noble Cathoâ—â—kes be not troubled â—or not enioying such â—â—mpoâ—all and fading honours in Court or Countrie which your equals or inferiours enâ—oye not being of your Religion but rather pâ—rsecuting it are exalted or that you haue lost or let any such for this holy cause If there was danger you could not exercise â—uch without offence to God or hurting his Sâ—ruants it is your honour and securitie in conscience to want or loose them Qui amat pericuâ—um in illo peribit Coringrediens duâ—◠〈◊〉 3. â—â—as non habebit successâ— He that lâ—ueth danger shall peâ—ish in it A â—eart that goeth two waâ—es sâ—all not haue Successe And God hath prouided better Lâ—euâ—enanciâ—s and Offices for you in a bettâ—r kingedome Iudicabunt Nationes domâ—nâ—â—untur 〈◊〉 3. populis regnabit Dominus illorum in perpetuum They shall iudge Nations and haue dominion ouer peoples and their Lord shall reigne for euer Let it be your comfort that neuer had the that if you had enioyed such you would as your holy Religion teacheth you haue performed them to you vttermost power to the honour of God our king and Countrie as they which had and lately loste them did euer most faithfull and dutifull to our king in his commaunds and as readie as any Protestants to doe him all seruice and supplies they could by themselues or other meanes they might or were able to procure and more then diuers Protestants did well approue or commend in them for such duties which all Catholikes without exception generally and vpon all occasions in their degree most readily and willingly performed Let it not be a griefe vnto you that you are driuen out of Parlaments whose chiefest and onely members you with the Catholike Bishops and some priuiledged Abbots were with the kings of England long before any howse of Commonâ— was in power Your lawfull and iust refusalâ— of an Oathe made and as it was expounded by king Iames by greatest spirituall power vnlawfull to be taken giueth you lawfull excuse from all assent to Acts of persecution England euer was a noble Nation your Auncestors and of vs all that be truely English came by all Antiquities from a most honourable people and progenitors Saint Gregorie the great so called and in great parte our Apostle and Father in Christ compared them not onely for name but endowments of nature vnto Angells and the liues and conuersation of many thousands of your holy Auncesters when England was holy England were Angelicall and you now with other Catholikes made for profession of your faith a spectacle to the world Angells and men shall 1. Cor. 4. be for your rewarde thus perseuering as Angells Matt. 22. of God in heauen sicut Angeli Dei in caelo Your renowned Priests haue giuen you example in the highest degree of perfection in this kinde and cause in forsaking all at once and with his Apostles following Christ with an Ecce reliquimus omnia secuti sumus te Behold we haue Matt. 19. lâ—fâ— all things and haue followed thee So depriued and persecuted onely in England because we are Priests and borne in England Be not afraide to followe such guides with some hazard losse or diminution of your honours esteeme with carnall mindes Ritches and reuenewes for the like cause aÌ„d for that you are Catholikes of EnglaÌ„d For others both Priests and Catholikes not of England are otherwise entertained here in England not onely â—n times of peace but in times of open hostilitie betweene England and their Countries from whence they are of such by some some Ielousie might be made of English Priests and Catholikes no possible place is left to inuent the least suspition Our Priests haue so long and voluntarily professed pouertie and liued therein that no man of vpright Iudgment can thinke they would disorderly or vniustly seeke for Ritches with hazard of their friends And if his Maiesty should allowe to laie Catholikes which receiue no spirituall good from Protestant Ministers to paie Tithes to others of their Religion this would not be offesiue to God nor hinder but rather further a noble great Nation hauing now more neede of chaste then married of such sorte 5. If we had not preferred our loue of England before all earthly things no doubt but both the Bishop of Calcedon and diuers renowned Priests of England might haue founde farre greater amitie fauour and wordly preferment in other parts then they could euer expect or looke for in their owne Countrie We neuer had hand or singer in these late warrs and contenuons or euer â—aue the least occasion of any daunger difficultie or hazard our dearest Countrie is subiect or exposed vnto as diuers publick Proâ—lamations and other Protestant Relation publish We neuer were of Counsaile or acquaintance with any great Councellour oâ— Courtier dead or liuing full at this time oâ— any such which as many Protestans or â—uritans haue thought did not good offiâ—â—s to this kingedome We were and are 〈◊〉 to all meÌ„ or womeÌ„ Courtiers or others which haue bene suspected to haue furthered the driuing â—â— the French Bishop Priests Ladies and others from the Queene and placed theÌ„selues â—â—â—riends for them the beginning of daba ewith France We are as Innocent of the breath with Spaine either Maâ—â—iage or peace oâ— with any other Prince We haue not disturbed it at â—ome or abâ—oad The rebellion of the Netherlanders Hungarians Austrians 〈◊〉 Luâ—atians Sileâ—ians Moranianâ— French and whatsoeuer Protestants against their Princes were by Protestants not Catholiks allowing but allwayes condemning them As in England in all oppositions of Parlamentarie Protestants against our king hindering or witholding duties from him euen in his times of needs and wants the Catholiks euer yelded to and most readily performed all allthough by Parlament they were charged with double subsidies without any freedome or release of any penalties for Religion All Priests of the Clergie Bishop and others haue vtterly condemned the deniers
and Gouernment as generally Catholikâ— euer haue done and will as they are bound by Religion to doe In the time of young king Edward 6. Cranmar and his Protestant Complices by that young kings will did their vttermost to extinguish and ouerthrowe it Queene Mary and her Catholike RegimeÌ„t did nothing against it but reuiued preserued and confirmed it In the ProtestaÌ„t reigne of Q. Elizabeth Statuts were made to auoide or hinder it It was enacted by Protestant Parlament Capitall to acknowledge it Hales an Engâ—ish Protestant companion to the Scotish Knox wrote a booke expressely against the Title of king Iameâ— No Protestant answeared confuted or seemed to disalowe it Onely Catholiks Sir Anthonie Browne a Iudge Doctour Morgaâ— Doctour of Diuinitie and Doctour Smith of the Ciuill lawe confuted it The death of that glorious Catholike Queene Marie Grandmother to king Charles and true Heire of England was long sought and after contriued concluded and executed by Queene Elizabeth and her Protestants Many worthie Catholicks here for her cause loste their liues lands and what they possessed And all geâ—rally for suspition of fauouring her and king Iames his Title and now of king Charles were much persecuted Yet no Persecution could euer force vs from that dutie to lawfull Princes and their Temporall Titles but we euer performed it though with daunger as we haue and doe our dutie to God and the holy Church No Catholike Clergie man aâ— any time impugned it 2. William Bishop of Chaleedon and Richard now his persecured Successor maintained proued and confirmed it So haue all Archpriests Assistants and all in any authoritie among the Clergie either by opinion word or writing And some of vs that yet liue and write I might here catch hold of my owne penne with others haue as expressely plainely and effectuaâ—ly taught and published it as king Charles can desire The Protestant writers of their great publike Theater of greaâ— Britanie haue not giuen so great allowance vnto it The Lord Verulam in his historie of king Henrie 7. hath not asscribed too much a good Catholike writer would haue gâ—uen more vnto it 3. And to puâ— all out of doubt or question in this businesse because Pâ—â—eâ—ts and Catholikes are charged so much for adhearing to Papall poweâ— in this they are assuredly knowne to be the truest Subiects to our king For all Popes actually or virtually in neuer approuing or legittimating Queene Elizabeth haue ratified and confirmed the iust Right of Scotland in thâ—s kingedome and Ireland And nothing can be saide to be more authentically approuâ—d and confirmed by Popes authoritie then Pope Innocentius 8. by his Papall Bull as our Protestants confesse and relate Bulla Innocentij S. in â—â—trim Henrici Regiâ— Ang. 7. Maâ—â—â— Parker Antiquit. Brit. in â—â— Merit it confirmed both the marriadge of king Henry 7. with Elizabeth daughter and heire to king Edward 4. and his most lawfull and Iust 〈◊〉 to the Crowne of England By all Titles and Rights by Right of Inheritance right of warre right of marriage right of ElectioÌ„ and right of Parlament by hiâ— Pontisicall power Paâ—â— ad confirmandum illud legitimum diuinitusque conciliatum ac ad pacem tranquillitatem Anglorum maximè necessarium Matrimoniuâ— suis Bullis opus esse putauit quia quarto cognationis gradu coniuncti nuptias contraxerunt In quibus etiam nè authoritate carere videretur regnum acquisitum RegeÌ„ confirmauit illudque iure hareditario Iure belli iure coniugali Iure elecâ—â—onis Iure Senatus seu Parliamenti Anglicani necnon Iure Pontificio atque suo ad Henritum Regem septimum eiusque Haredes in perpeâ—â—â—â— spectare debere pronuntiauit The Pope thoughâ— iâ— needefull by his Bulls to confirme that godly reconciled Marriage most nâ—â—â—ssarie for the peace and tranquillitie of English men for that they â—ad married in the sowerth degree In which also least it may seeme to want authoritie â—e coâ—firmed the obtained kingdome on the king and declared it to appertaine perpetually to king Henrie the 7. and his heires by â—â—â—editarie right by right of warre by right of Marriage by righâ— of election by right of the Counâ—ell oâ— Engliâ—â— Parlament by Pontificall and his owne right This is so constringent and bindâ—ng an obligation of all English Catholikes attributing so much to Papall powâ—r and Iuâ—iâ—diction as Protestants saie we doe euer to performe all temporall dutie and obedience to our king Charles the vndoubted true lawfull Heâ—re of that so established king Heryâ—â— to him and his heires for euer that no Catholike man allowing of Papall authoritie can euer be iustly suspected of disobedieÌ„ce or vndutifulnesse to our Soueraigne And all the Protestants of â—ngland in their Religion cannot produce such a bonde testimonie or warrant foâ— their like fidelitie 4. Therefore being thus clearely and manifestly made knowne and euident that the Religion of English Catholikes in euery point is most true and holy plensing to God and profitable in temporall Regiment the sacred Orders of our Bishop and Priest so honourable we hope our king and hiâ— Councell hereafter will rather thinke of defending then offending protecting then persecuting K. Charles Declaration to all Subiects An. 1628. them And besides that is here saide his owne Regall declaration published with aduise of his Councell calleth vpon him and them so to doe For there with that aduise hâ— thus publikly protesteth before God and mâ— We â—all God to record before whoÌ„ we standâ— that it â— and allwayes hath bâ—ne our hearts desiâ—e â—o be founâ— worthie of that Title which we accompt the most glorious in all our Crowne Defendor of the saith 5. We must mâ—st humbly remember vnto him the saith whereof he is â—â—ilcâ—â— Defender wherein there is so mâ—ch gloâ—â—eâ— it is thaâ— onely true saith of Caâ—â—oâ—iks as is here proued and no other true faith being but one â— Ephes 4. Vnus Dominus vna sides vnum baptisâ—a One Lord one faith one Baptisme And this faith of Catholiks of Engâ—and is the true Catholike Apostolik faith and saith of the Church of Româ— now and when that Title Defendor of â—â— faith was giuen to king Henry the 8. beforâ— his lapse from the Church of Rome by the Pope there for defending that faith against Luther The Title giuen must be interpreted by the giuer the Pope not the receiuer which could not receiue but what was giuen And this Title was giuen receiued and vsed many yeares before Queene Elizabeth or before her Religion the Religion of English ProtestaÌ„ts now was borne aÌ„d was vsed both by king HeÌ„ry 8. and Queene Mary not of this new Religion wherefore we hope our king calling God to Record will rather defend the faith of his Catholikes and them then to suffer them to be thus persecuted and his Councell which counsailed him in that declaration will so aduise and counsaile him And his Parlament that could not finde their Religion 80. yeares old will not hinder him in so good a deede seeing it is certaine by their owne accompt that the Title Defendor of the faith is about 30. yeares older then their Religion and so he cannot by that Title defend their faith A non ens can haue no defence It can neither be defended or offended FINIS FAVLTS ESCAPED AND CORRECTED Pag. 17. lin 3. Theanus for Theonus l. 15. Thadiacus for Thadiocus p. 21. l. 22. paene for penè p. 27. l. 28. most worthiest for worthiest p. 39. l. 28. were for was p. 42. l. 18. Phylosopho for Philosopho p. 43. l. 20. Huntingtonsyhre for Huntington shyre p. 47. l. 21. did increased for and encreased p. 51. l. 20. these man for these men p. 52. l. 19. Missae Papisticae for Missa Papistica p. 61. l. 19. Ireland for Iland p. 63. l. 6. translated them for translated p. 69. l. 22. euery one for and euery one p. 71. l. 7. formae for forma p. 80. l. 23. iurisdiction for iurisdiction on the Christians p. 91. l. 18. after S. Peter adde and to the holy Roman Church p. 100. l. 25. make no Parenthesis p. 111. l. 8. Omitt Theodoretus p. 120. l. 26. Omitt Thou shalt p. 123. l. 6. Amphilabus for Amphibalus Some other faults of lese moment I haue not put downe here they being easie for the Reader to correct in reading FAVLTS ESCAPED AND CORRECTED Pag. 13. lin 23. at which time for after which time pag. 17. l. 3. Theanus for Theonus l. 15. Thadiacus for Thadiocus p. 21. l. 22. paene for penè p. 23. l. 24. first to haue perswaded for before to haue brought p. 25. l. 5. as they most happely did for as soone after it most happely was p. 27. l. 28. most worthiest for worthiest p. 39. l. 10. S. Bonifacius for S. Benedict Biscop p. 35. l. 28. were for was p. 42. l. 7. yea 386 for yeare 586. p. 42. l. 18. Phylosopho for Philosopho pag. 43. l. 20. Huntingtonsyhre for Huntingtonshyre p. 47. l. 21. did increased for and encreased p. 51. l. 20. these man for these men p. 52. l. 19. Missae Papislicae for Missa Papistica p. 61. l. 19. Ireland for Iland pag. 63. l. 6. translated them for translated pag. 69. l. 22. euery one for and euery one pag. 71. l. 7. formae for forma p. 80. l. 23. iurisdiction for iurisdiction on the Christians p. 91. l. 18. after S. Peter adde and to the hoâ—y Roman Church pag. 100. l. 25. make no Parenthesis p. 111. l. 8. Omit Theodoretus p. 120. l. 26. Omit Thou shalt p. 123. l. 6. Amphilabus for Amphibalus pag. 125. l. 1. allmost 1000 for aboue 1000. p. 150. l. 22. let for left pag. 156. l. 18. many for euery Some other faults of lese moment I haue not put downe here they being easie for the â—eader to correct in reading
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
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
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
lands and â—onours determinable onely by our tempoâ—all lawes with others cannot come to his auâ—â—ence except such imaginaries could aâ—d â—ould put Ministers out and Priests into â—e Benifices of England A secret and consioable ending of many of these matters amoÌ„g â—atholikes though iuridically can be no â—ore daunger in a Bishop then in a Regulaâ—â—rieste If diuersitie of Iudgments should â—me time happen in the Iudgment of one a â—shop giuen in priuate the inconuenience â—uld be lesse the now it is by the Iâ—dgemeÌ„ts â— many Priests all of them as much differing â—m the Protestants Censures and â—ribunals as those by a Bishop would be Yet these fewâ— cases would chance but seldome We see the Queenes Priests of France and Sotland to be permitted by the king and state to deaâ—e with English Catholâ—ks â—ome times brâ—nging such caâ—es So are all Priests of all Orders litle pleasing vnto the necessitated to doe so But seeing there can be no daunger by sucâ— secret procedings none can take that officâ— from a learned Bishop and leaue it to euerâ— Priest learned or not 9. Such or greater difficulties were froâ— the Apostles time and therein in them anâ— Bishops their Successours among Ethnicâ— and Pagan Princes yet the holy Scripturs before and Apostolike men haue taught aâ— men obedience vnto Bishops euen in suâ— daies and all good Christians did so obâ— them Saint Peter in Scripture strangely eâ— communicated Ananias and Saphira So dâ— S. Paul Hymineus Alexander and the inceâ—tuous Corinthian So did the other Apostlâ— among Pagans exercise spirituall Iurisdâ—ction So did all Bishops among Infidels vâ— till the Emperours and Princes more differiâ— from Catholiks the Protestants should weâ— conuerted yet at that time they exercised spâ—rituall IurisdictioÌ„ and the Christians obeyâ— them And now at this time and long vndâ— the Turks Tartars Chinenses and other eâ—mies to Catholiks Catholik Bishops doe eâ—ercise their Iurisdiction among the Christiâ— and all obeye â—t This is the case of Catholiks vnder their Bishop in Holland among the Protestant Hoâ—landers And in his Maiesties Dominion in â—reâ—and where Bishops are and doe exeâ—cise tâ—eir Iuâ—isdictiâ—n Catholiks obeying them And it is Christs ordâ—nance that â—â— they should doe God forbid any bearing the name Catholike in England â—o renowned for holy Conâ—essouâ—s of true Religion in this time should be wanting in â—uch dutie or any other 10. But because our Protestant Persecuâ—ours pretend most exception against the Bishop of Chalcedon for dâ—riuing Iurisdiâ—tion from the â—ee of Rome we must needs â—ith all antiquitie deliuer vnto them that in â—uery age from Christ we here in Britaniâ—â—aue receiued Bishops and Pastours with â—heir Iurisdiction from the Sâ—e oâ— Rome and â—hat highest Papall power and authoritie â—Ve haue spoakeÌ„ before how in the fiâ—st Age â—aint Peter the first Pope oâ— Rome consecraâ—d Bishops and Priâ—sts and founded â—hurches here We aâ—de â—urther how our Proâ—stants eueâ— king Iames himselfe and others â—y his and their greatest authoritie conâ—sse of the Apostolik Church It is our motâ—er â—urch And Adde Est capuâ— Roma quatenus ab ea â—ffasum est Euangâ—lium in reliquas tâ—â—â—us O 〈◊〉 â—clâ—sias in muâ—â—as Orienâ—â—s aâ—que in â—arâ—arâ—â— etiâ—â—â—tra Râ—manum Impeâ—â—um Nationes Rome iâ— the â—d as sâ—â— it the Gospell is diâ—â—used into the rest of the Churches of all the west and into many of the East as also into Barbarous Nations out of the RomaÌ„ Empiere Peter preached in no place but he there orâ—ained Bishops and teachers and founded Churches The Apostle Peter did in euery Prouince appoint one Archbishop whome all other Bishops of the same Prouince should obey The Archbishop of Britanie was Aristobulus S. Clement his Successour Pope in the later end of this and in the beginning of the second age writeth of him concerning Britanie Sanctus Clemens and other CouÌ„tries Episcopos persingulas Ciuitates quibus ipse non misâ—rat perdoctos nobis miâ—â—ere praecepit Quod facere inchoauimus Domino opeâ— ferente faecturi sumus He commaunded vs to send veâ— learned Bishops vnto all Cities to which he had nâ— sent any Which we haue begun to doe and by Gâ— his healpe shall doe 11. In the second age also Pope Eleuthâ—rius sent hither S. Damianus and Phaganâ— his legats with others who consecrated anâ— VVestm an â—85 seated here three Archbishops with 28 Biâ—hops Templa qua in honorem plurimorum Deoâ—â— fundata fueranâ— vni Deo eiusque Sanctis dedicarunt diueâ—sisque Ordinatorum coetibus repleueruâ— The Churches which were builded in the honour of â—ny Gods they dedicated to one God aÌ„d his Saints aÌ„d fâ—led theÌ„ with diuers â—sseÌ„blies of such as had takeÌ„ Ordeâ— And afterwards they being by King Luciâ— sent to Rome to haue those things confirmâ— Idem an 186. by the Pope which here in Britanie thâ— had done Quibus peractis redierunt in Britannâ— praefati Doctores cum alijs quamplurimis quorum â— â—rina gens Britonum in fide Christi fundata refulsit VVhich being ended the foresaied Doctours accomâ—nied with many others returned againe into Britanie whose doctrine in a short time the Britans grounâ—ed the faith of Christ florished And although in this â—onuersion of Britanie that holy Pope subâ—cted the Countrie now called Scotland not â—mporally subiect to king Lucius of Britanie Bedalib 1. hist. Angl. c. â— â— the Romans vnto our Archbishop of â—rke Susceptamque fidem Britanm vsque in tempora â—ocletiani Principis inuiolatam integramque quieâ—a in â—e seruabant The Britans did with peace keepe the â—th they â—ad receiued whole and inuiolate vntill the â—e of Dioclesianus the Emperour Yet in the beâ—nning Hector Boeth lib. 6 Scote Histor fol. 86. B. of the third age Saint Victor then â—ing Pope of Rome Donaldus king there â—ud Victorem Pontificem per Legatos obâ—inuit vt â—i doctrinà Religone insignes in Scotiam ab eo â—si se cum liberis coniuge Christinomen profitenâ— hapâ—ismate insignirent Regis exemplâ—m Scotica â—bilitas secuta auersata impietatem Christique Reâ—onem complexa sacro fonte est abluta Donaldus â—n King by Legats abtained from Pope Victor that â—â—hie men both for lerning and Religion might from â— be sent into Scotland who might baptize himselfe â— and Childrne professing the name of Christ The â—ish Nobilitie following the Kings example did cast â—y impietie embraced the Christian Religion and â— baptiâ—ed And those Scots or Britans were â—ructed both in learning and Religion Ibidem those Priests and Preachers which Pope â—tor sent Incaepere tum primum sacras colere literas Saâ—erdotiâ—us Praeâ—â—ptoribus ques Victor Pontifâ— Maximus ad Christi dogma propalandum in exâ—â—mam miserat Alâ—ionem Then first of all they bâ—gun to studie the holy Scripturs vnder the Priâ—â— their maisters which Victor the Pope had sâ— into the farthest Albion to diuulge the doctrine Christ 12. When the Persecution of Diocâ—esiâ— raged here 9. yeares many of our Britiâ— Clergie sent
Gospells from the shoulders of the â—nsecrated But this maketh not much to the â—rpose it being onely as I haue saied a Ceremonie and not essentiall to the Consecration of a Bishop and that true and vndouted Bishops were made before the Gospells were written Otherwise the wholâ— Church then euer after and now and eueâ— had wanted it and had no Ecclesiastical Order at all Which is the lamentable and desperate condition of such as persecute a truâ— Bishop and Priest for their Order and power thereby confessing their want both of thaâ— which is essentiall in this high office as alsâ— consecratours to performe it consecrat truâ— Priests or confer any Ecclesiasticall Ordeâ— or degree at all not the meanest in that kinâ— to any person 20. All Authors agree euen Protestants iâ— their Catalogues of British and English Biâ—hops that we had continuall succession oâ— such here in great numbers vntill Queen Elizabeth by her supreamacie depriued anâ— deposed them And to keepe it farre from thâ—â—â—me of an Innouation to haue one such Bishop Successour to so many if we haue thaâ— libertie in time of Persecution when Bishop are driuen from their Sees vsuall in histories to remember and honour them in Exiâ— and Persecution we haue still kept a Succesion of Bishops in or of this nation Of thoâ—â— which were depriued of their Bishop pricke we haue Richard Pates Bishop of worcheste who subscribed to the Councell of Trent hâ— being there present by this Title Richardâ— Patus wigornieÌ„sis Episcopus Thomas Goldwell Bishop Godw. Catal. of Bish. in Worcest in Ric. Pates in S. Asaph in Thom. Goldwell of Asaph liued at Rome 20. yeares after that deposing Thomas watson Bishop of Lincolne was committed to prison in the I le of Elie and died about the yeare 1584. Thus the Protestants themselues deliuer and moreouer they deliuer much praise and commendatioÌ„s of theÌ„ and all others our renowned Bishops 14. or more in number who were deposed and persecuted by Queene Elizabeth yea far more and greater theÌ„ they doe of those which were intruded into their places Before or soone after the death of Bishop Waâ—son of Lincolne Owen Lew is of this our Nation was consecrated Bishop of Cassan in whose life-time our most Illustrious Cardinall William Allan was honoured with that dignitie and consecrated Archbishop of Maâ—kâ—en who liued with these honours vntill the 16. day of October in the yeare of Christ 1594. â—n his time William Gifford was by Pope Clement the eight made Deane Ecclesiae Diui Petri Insulensis Of Saint Peters Church at Lile And afterward he was ordained Archbishop of Rhemes in Champaine in France where he lately liued And whilst he liued Archbishop both VVilliam of Chalcedon and Richard also who is now so persecuted were by highest Papall authoritie coÌ„secrated ad sent into England And what man of ordinarie knowledge Iudgement or vnderstanding will aduenture to saie but all these were renowned men as also diuerse of our renowned Priests most worthie of Episcopall honour aÌ„d dignitie in equall times honourably stiled and registred for all posteritie not onely as great glories of their CouÌ„trie England but the whole Church of Christ Therefore to haue one of such worthie men a Bishop in his natiue Countrie bearing for auoyding offence his Title of a place so farre hence which froÌ„ the first Conuersion thereof to Christ had 3. Archbishops aÌ„d many Bishops aboue 1400. yeares past should not in the new English Religion teaching the Church of God neuer wanted Bishops and acknowledging both him and all Catholikely consecrated Bishops and Priests to be true and lawfull Bishops and Priests vndoubtedly by right ordination be offensiue but desired such Order Function and dignitie being by their publike testimonies most needefull excelleÌ„t and honourable with all true Professours of Christian Religion 21. Thus we see a Succession of English Bishops though not all in England but in other CouÌ„tries some of them consecrated and remaining a thing not vnusuall in times of Persecution and bannishment of Bishops as in the great lights in their time of Gods Church S. Hilarius S. Athanasius S. Chrysostome and others loÌ„g time exiled yet thereby did not interrupt a continuall Succession in their Sees What least exception then can be taken against our renowned Bishop of Chalcedon for Order and degree so honourable and eminent by all testimonies for his owne worthines and worthily therefore to be had in high reuerence euen with his Persecutours he bringeth able witnesses with him his knowne loue aÌ„d honour to our king Queene and CouÌ„trie his owne holy life and conuersation his learned works and writings with all at home and abroad he hath euer piously and gratefully conuersed and with honour defended and iustified himselfe against Maleâ—olants Among all English Catholickâ— oâ— Protestants few are to be found which haue more defeÌ„ded the honour of our Soueraigne â—one more acceptable to his Maiesties frieds â—nd Allyes in marriage no maÌ„ among so maâ—y renowned Priests of England worthie of â—reatest honour in equall times adiudged so â—t to supply such place by that highest Paâ—or which hath shewed great care and loue four king Queene and hoped Posteritie â—nd Countrie And since Persecution and â—roclamation against him what could such a â—an in Persecution doe more then he hath â—one in decreeing and Ordering that all â—riests and Catholiks should daily with deâ—otion praie for our king Queene State and Countrie And both since the comming in of â—im and VVilliam of Chalcedon of happie â—emorie his Predecessour as likewise before â—e Catholiks of England haue bene and now â—e knowne to be the most loyall dutifull and liuing Subiects in our dearest Countrie of England THE VI. CHAPTER That our English Priests who teach alâ— things with the Apostolicall Religioâ— are truely coÌ„secrated worthie men anâ— are to be honoured and not persecuted 1. Hauing redeemed Episcopall Ordâ—â— and dignitie conferred by the Sâ— of Rome from all Imputation of wickâ— obloquies and made it knowne to be so higâ— and honourable we might spare all furthâ— labour for exemption and defence of Prieâ—â—lie Function seeing euery Bishop of neceâ—sitie must be a Priest and whatsoeuer of thâ— calling is noble and glorious in a Bishop must needs be such in Priests Episcopal hâ—nour and consecration addeth an higher aâ— greater worthinesse to him that was beforâ— Priest but cannot take away or diminish aâ— excellencie or renowne he had before Tâ— Protestants of Scotland doe confesse whiâ—â— all knowe that after Catholike ReligioÌ„ wâ— ouerthrowne there they had not any preteâ—ded Bishops before King Iames accordiâ—â— to his manner of making such gaue suâ— Titles to them And their Knoxe Buchanan Forbs Bale and others both of England â—nd Scotland are not ashamed to saie that â—efore the sending of Saint Palladius thither â—y Saint Celestine Pope about the yeare 430. â—lonckes who were onely Priests supplied â—he place of that dignitie with that People â—ut malice to Episcopall worthinesse and â—ower their owne
petitions and challendges of dâ—sputatioÌ„ boâ— in the Marshal sea and Tower and their cofuting and confounding their Protestant auersaries doe sufficiently â—estifie 20. Wâ— may take some proportion of thâ— labours and worâ—hinesse â—ere if we call â— minde the sâ—aâ—e of such affair in Engâ—and â— the time of Qâ—eene Elizabeâ—h before aâ—y Râ—ligious men came â—â—ther the Cleâ—gâ—e Prieâ— heing here aâ—lmost alone without other asistance and compare it with the present câ—dition when so many Orders of them â—sides the old Clergie be and haue bene hâ— diuers yeares and we shall not finde feaer the auntient Nobilitie scarceâ—y more of â— chiefest gentrie and not many more otheâ— Catholikes now then in those daies Tâ— which be old may remember it others â— Iudgment in histories and Records may fiâ— it so the time of Persecution threatning â— commaundeth vnto me silence in particulâ— Yet all that are so desirous to examine ◠〈◊〉 Annâ—l pâ— 27. 21. 22. 36. 39. Rowâ—s preface historicall in Quâ—ene Elâ—â—â—beth Stowes 〈◊〉 yeare of Q. 〈◊〉 comparison may easily prooue that moâ—â— I am not in error if they will but readâ—â— Protestant Historicall relations Caâ—dâ— Howes Stowe and others they will sâ—e wâ— Pollicie was vsed to put downe Catholâ— ReligioÌ„ aÌ„d by theÌ„ it will also appeare how â—â—tholike CouÌ„cellours were â—â—moued Catholâ— Iudges Sherifes Iustices of peace and othâ—â— were displaced and Protestants put in tâ— places fiue nowe Protestant Lords made iâ— â—ounties Protestant Bâ—â—gesses chosen for â—rlament Plures è Protestantibuâ— datâ operâ è â—nitatibus tum è â—iuitatibâ—â— Burgis fuisse electos â—ny of the Protestants of set purpose were chosen one 〈◊〉 Counties as well out of Cities as Townes And â—hough the Caâ—holike Bishops were also â—cluded from that Parlament that so Proâ—tant Religion might be the more easily esâ—lished by Parlament yet the Pâ—oâ—estant â—tie exceeded onely in Sixe voices the Caâ—olikes who there profâ—sâ—ed themselues to â—uch and all for the most part of them for â—ong time remained so The Queene herâ—e openly then in that Parlament protested â—â—â—he would neuer vexe or trouble the Roman Caâ—ikes concerning any difference in Religion â—ough we found and felt since how farre â—he â— altered froÌ„ this theÌ„ her intetion ad deternatioÌ„ What I haue saied is found to be true all the opinionâ— of friends and aduersaries 21. And this sufficiently argueth a true â—st lawfull and neuer defectiue knowne sucâ—ion of worthie and learned Priests of the â—ular Clergie who defended in all times â—holy cauâ—e of God in this our Countrie â— conserued still the Catholike Religion in hearts of the Nobilitie gentrie and others â—ll soâ—ts No Order of the Religious can â— so The Iesuits came first of all the Reliâ—us hither but they were not heare before â— went away againe not returning of some â—res The DominicaÌ„s and Franciscans came â—er before the Benedictins but neither they nor any other â—id or could make this claiâ— For our secular Priests haue as is beâ—â— often declared continued alwaies their sâ—cesâ—ion and in this last persecution sheâ— the way and broaken the ice vnto all â— Religious by their Mission of Priests hithâ— from their Colledges beyond the sâ— which I speacke not with any intention dishonour our Reuerend Religious buâ— honour the Secular Clergie and to defend Authour of the ProtestaÌ„s Plea and Petition tâ— ParlameÌ„t for Catholikes Against whom a certâ— Benedictine Moncke in his prefatorie Epâ— to Saint Augustins Meditations Soliloqâ— and Manuall translated by him into Engâ— writeth I here neuer hath beene any Interrupâ— Benedictine Preachers and Teachers in England â— to prooue this his assertion he reciteth â—ly three such Monâ—kes Abbot Fecknam aâ— Moncke to vse his wordâ— whole name was â—rie Stile as I take it Who though bliâ— bodie yet cleare sighted in minde in the Châ—â—â— Westminster publiâ—ly and â—â—outely confuted in an â— none Sermon a precedent railâ—ng Sermon â— D. Horne by appointment of the Councell sâ—â— in the eares of the people to disgrace the profesâ—â— Monckes and Catholike Religion and D. Sâ—â— Buckly and he seemeth to be offendâ—d â— the foresaied Author of the Plea as thougâ— had done wrong to their Order in suppâ—sing D. Abbot Fecknam his namâ— say â—e might haue remembred the famous and â—â— â— Abbot Fecknam But aâ—as this is farre froÌ„ accusing truely that Author or excusing himselfe or prouing what he said before For that Author in that very booke maketh twice an honourable memorie of that noble Abbot in one plâ—ce setting downe to his honour the Oratâ—â—â— he made in the first Parlament of Q. Elizabeth in defence of Religion And â—hat Author of the Plea was so farre and â—till is from being otherwise then a loâ—ing friend and no enimy to the Order of â—aint Benedict that in the time of Q. Elizaâ—eth before any Monckes came hither He â—rote in honour thereof in his Apologie for Catholiks to the Councell of Q. Elizabeth Apolog. â—pâ—st â—o Q Elizab Councall prius an 601. pag 83. â— these words The onely order of Saint Benedict so â—nowned in our Nation hath had abouâ— twentiâ— kings â—d Emperours aboue an hundred grâ—â—t Princes many â—opes sixteene hundâ—ed Archbishops 4000. Bishops â—000 famous men and 15600. most honourable caâ—nised Saints Thus farre ranne his penne with â—eir Moncke and most commender Tritheâ—ius 22. When the first Moncks from Spaine â—me hither about the death of Q Elizabeth â—d had no Faculties this Author at the reâ—iest of one of them his deare frâ—eÌ„d wrote efâ—ctually to the then Archpriest Maister â—ack well to giue them ordinarie Faculties â—hich he did and these were the first Faculâ—s that Congregation in my memorie as â—e Moncks themselues confessed had in England vntill more ample were afterwards and otherwise procured vnto them And that Author hath euer liued ingreat peace loue vnitie and concorde with all the worthiest oâ— that and other Orders of his acquaintance but to that excepting Moncke he â—as noâ— knowne And now at this time and 〈◊〉 afteâ— both that Author and I that write as his anâ— their louing friend will be so farre froâ— being an enimy vnto the Moncks of Sainâ— Benâ—dicts Order that except their auntienâ— learned Moncks Historians and such as theâ— accompt most fauouring to their Order iâ— matter of Historie shall offend and be againâ— them of this time we will not offend theâ— bringing nothing but from these men theâ— selues and such But yet that assertion Tâ— there neuer hath beene any Interruption of Benediâ—â—â— Preachers and teachers in England cannot be sâ— by Moncks and this Moncks owne confâ—sion For if it had bene a thing lawfull foâ— Moncke or any Catholâ—ke to goe twise â—â— day to a Protestant Church where once â— goe iâ— dâ—mnable such a Moncke could not â— a truâ— Preacher and Catholike otherwise aâ— learned man vnder pretente to coÌ„fute Proâ—stants by word or writing might goe to theâ— Churches and deliuer themselues from pâ—â—alties Further this Moncke as they confeâ— went soone after out
of England and died â— of â—t Abbot Fecknam by Moncks and â— dâ—ed in the yeare 1585. And then by â—â— Monckes and all mens confession there liued here in England of the old English Monkes onely F. Buckley no great Preacher or learned man So this onely such Moncke could not abâ—e that proposition There nâ—â—er hath bene any Interruption of Benedictine Preachers and teaâ—â—eâ—â— in England One no Preacher cannot be such and in the plurall number 23. And that Author made no more menâ—ion in particular of Benedictine Moncks â—hen of other Religious Orders all oâ— them â—ailing in learned Priests except of â—he Clerâ—ie to â—heach and defend true Râ—â—igion He â—id not meane there was not any one either â—earned or vnlearned If any such thing is â—here printed it was the printers and not his â—oing neither can any of equaâ—l Iudgement â—inke otherwise for that authour well kâ—ew â—at Father Sebert Buckley was theÌ„ liuinâ— he â—eing well and very louingly acquainâ—eâ— with â—aister Sadler and maister Mahu Priests â—hich first ioyned with that F. Buckley heaâ—ng from them the manner thereof And he â—ath seene vnder one of their hanâ—s more â—en euer he wrote or held That it was â—oubted whether that father Buckley was a â—rofessed Moncke or no and the reasons of â—ch doubt are thus set downe written with â—ne of their hands Quia hoc neque per scripturam â—e publicum Instrumentum neque per testem quirem â—sam nouerat probatum vidit Because he had noâ—â—ne this prooued by writing or puâ—like Instrument nor witnesse that knew it This is more then my friend needeth in this matter or this case now requireth And he euer thought he was a Monke So doe I and honour the Order of S. Benedict and all other Religious Orders and loue and honour all my worthie frieÌ„ds and acquaintance of them as much as euer I did which some of them know to be very much and as they can wish or desire and euer shall yet veritaâ— vincit THE VII CHAPTER That the Catholikes of England taughâ— and directed by such guides in Religioâ— as our Priests be are not to be persecuted but protected defended and imployed as true and faithfull subiectâ— in all things 1. THe honour dignitie glorie and renowne of consecrated Bishops anâ— Priests being thus great ample excelleÌ„t anâ— necessarie among all true beleuing Christianâ— Instituted and ordained by Christ himselfe aÌ„â— according to his owne most holy Order foâ— all professours of his faith and Religion in aâ— â—nd places vntill this life and world is to end and that the publik Sacrifice they offer and celebrate is so holy and heauenly the Religion generally which they professe preach and â—eache vndoubtedly true and that the highest spirituall power by which their Mission is so certaine so aâ—ntiently honourable and honoured and without manifest and vnexcusable offence both to the greatest authoritie on earth or in heauen so to be receiued and reuereuced of all twyce happie blessed and honourable is then your state cause and condition Most Noble and Renowned Confessours of the Nobilitie Gentrie and other Catholike laietie of England in chosing in such times such guides of your soules professing such Religion and which giueth you a second and greater felicitie to be for such a cause so persecuted in your Natiue Countrie of your owne Countriemen kindred and called Christians 2. To suffer Persecution for Iustice is a blessednesse and bringeth to eternall blisse But to endure it in such measure and manner as you haue done and doe it will eleuate you â—o the highest and neuer fading ioyes your â—osse may be of temporarie but your purâ—hase thereby will be of much better and euer â—uting things Terreane glorie flattering and deceitfull honour is often valued bought and solde at too deare a rate but that which Persecution for the cause you suffer in will for euer endowe you with will farre exceede the worth of any price you can bestowe to possesse it Id enim quod in praesenti saieth â— ad Cor. 4. Saint Paule est momentaneum leue tribulationis nostrae supra modum in sublimitate aeternum gloriae pondus operatur in nobis non contemplantibus nobis quae videntur sed quae non videntur Quae enim videntur temporalia sunt quae autem non videntur aeterna sunt For that our tribulation which presently is momentarie and light worketh aboue measure exceedingly an eternall weight of glorie in vs we not considering the things that are seene but that are not seene For things that be seene are temporall but those that be not seene are eternall And c. 5. in an other place he addeth Scimus enim quoniam si terrestris domus nostra huius habitationis dissoluatur quod aedificationem ex Deo habemus domum â—on manufactam aeternam in caelis For we know that if our earthly house of this habitation be dissolued that we haue a building of God a house nâ—â— made with hand eternall in heauen Your liues your lands your liberties honours and what soeuer in things temporall and to be forsakeÌ„ or spoyled and depriued off deare vnto you were lent giuen and but for a time bestowed vpon you as also his most pretious blood and life was after many other Miserie 's sustained for your Ransome aÌ„d RedeÌ„ption by him for whose right and cause you stand and patiently endure afflictions for the same so often so much and so long time Thus he himselfe founde the way and returned to his owne kingedome and glorie immense and eternall and he said at his departure hence to his heauenly throane vnto his blessed Apostles Disciples to you and all that shall serue and suffer for him to the end of the world In domo Patris mei Io 1â— mansiones multae sunt vado parare vobis locum Et â—â— abiero praeparauero vobis locum iterum venio accipiam vos ad meipsum vt vbi sum eg vos sitis Et quo ego vado scitis viam sâ—â—â—is In my fathers house there be many mansions I goe to prepaâ—e you a place I come againe and will take you to my sâ—lfâ— that where I am you also may be And wither I goe you knowe and the way you knowe Euery Mansion in heauen in the howse of God farre surpasseth all Pallaces and pleasures of this world and to be with Christ in eternall glorie infinitely exceedeth all delights and honours here And the glorie and reward of them that come nearest to Christ in sufferings here â—â—ll be â—he highest and greatest with him there in loyes for euer Ecce Tabernaâ—ulum Dei cum hominibus Apoâ—al â—1 habitabit cum eis ipsi populus â—ius erunt ipse Deus cum eis erâ—t coruÌ„ Deus Eâ— absterget Deus omnem Lachrymam ab oculis eorum mâ—rs vltrà non erit neque luctus neque clamor neque dolor erit vltrà quae prima abierunt Behold the Tabernacle of
oblation anâ— Sacrifice it offereth vnto God omnipotent the highest king and king of kings of heaâ— and the vniuersall created for the liuing anâ— deceased is most certainely and without a doubt or question so great and glorious â—â— dare not least we should be Traitours â—â— God harken vnto theÌ„ but lament their dolefull estate who declare and persecute it as a traiterous estate to Princes on earth which â—hould subiect their wills and lawes to the will and lawe of God reuerence and honour and not so vâ—ly vse his dearest seruants for as Iùstin Dial. cuâ—â—riphon Saint Iustine with all others affirme Neque à quoquam Deus hostiaes accipit nisi à suis Sacerdotibus God accepteth Sacrifices of none except of his Priests oÌ„ potestas saith Saint Ephrem inâ—ffaeâ—ilis quae Ephrem de Sacerdot in nobis dignâ—â—ae est habitare per impositionem manuuÌ„ SacroruÌ„ Sacerdotum ô quam magnam in se continet profunditatem formidabile admiâ—aâ—ile SaecerdotiuÌ„ O inessabile power which vouchsafest to dwell in vs by the imposition of the hands of the holy Priests O what great profunditie doth the dreadfull anâ— admirable Priesthoode containe Sacerdotium saith Saint Chrysost hom 5. de verb. Isaiae vidâ— Dom. Engl. Protest Pref. booke of consâ—cr apud Goâ—ell Defens of Hook pag. 87. 88. 89. Exam. pag. 1â—5 Deâ—ens â—upr pag. â—16 117. 276. Chrysostome principatus est ipso etiam regno venerabilius ac maius Priesthood is a principalitie greater and worthier then a Kinâ—ome it selfe Protestats before by publike regall and all power they contend to haue declared that these Priests were euer in Christes Church and were euermore had in reuerent estimation To which they adde of Priesthood with like allowance It is a power which no Prince or Potentate King or Cesar on earth can giue By blessing visible elements it maketh them inuisible grace It hath to dispose of that â—â—esh which was giuen for the life of the world and that blood which was powred out to redeeme fâ—â—â—es To these Persons God imparteth power ouer his mysticall bodie which is the societie of soules and ouer that naturall which is himselfe a worke which antiquitie calleth the making of Christs bodie 15. And this wiâ—l be sufficient to excuse sacred Sacrificing Priests peâ—secuted for iustice and laâ—e the guilt and offence vpon their vniust Accusers and Persecutours For besides this most honourable sacrificing office and ministring to the sicke in daunger to die the Sacrament of Extâ—â—me vnction deliuered in holy Scripture and euer vsed â—n the Church of Christ and Protestants neuer question it aâ— a matter of State there is nothing in Priestly Oâ—der but these men in some sense or other would haue vsed by therâ— Ministers who vse preaching baptizing marriage euen of themselues forgiuing of sinnes in personall absolution euen without any penance at all â—â—ther by them enioyâ—ed or their Conâ—itents performed or vsed VVhich power they 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 and â—â—â—secrating 〈◊〉 â—riâ—sts aÌ„d Deaâ—ons i◠〈◊〉 Priestâ— â—laime aâ— giuâ—n vnto them by their Protestat Bishops in their admiâ—â—ance to their ministrie in these his words Receiue the holy Ghost whose sâ—nnes thou dost forgiue they are forgiuen and whose sinnâ—â— thou dost retaiâ—e they are retained Take thou autâ—oritie to preach the word of God and to ministeâ— the â—oly Sacraments in this Congregation where thou â—halt be so appointed And they aâ— confidenâ—ly vâ—e it with this further publike warrant and direâ—tion Proâ—eâ—â— comâ—un 〈◊〉 Tâ—tul visit of the sicke in their Communion booke in this manner The sickâ— person shall make a speciall Conâ—â—ssion if he feele his conscience troubled with any weightie matter after which Confession the Priest shall absolue him after tâ—is sorte Our Lord Iesus Christ who hath lefâ— power in â—is Church to al solue all sâ—â—ners which truely repâ—nt and beleeue iâ— him of his great mercie forgiue thee thine offences and by his authoritie committed to me I absolâ—e thee from all thy sâ—nnes in the name of the Father and of the sonne and of the holy ghost Amâ—n All this is or should be vsed by Protestant Ministers by their most publike Regaâ—l ParlameÌ„tall and whatâ—oeuer authoâ—itie their Religion is set out and supported by So not onely permitting tollerating and allowing but directing and commaundâ—ng to be done and practised much more then any Priest presumeth or Pope licencetâ— oâ— euer licenced to be vsed or attempted yea more theâ— any Papall power can so warrant no penance enioyned how many or greuous soeuer the sinnes committed and confessed be no satisfaction or restâ—â—ntion once thought vpon how great and manifold soeuer the offences Iniuries damages and wrongs were Felonyes Rebellions Treasons and all things else how vile soeuer they be are quitted and freed both by ministeriall and legall allonance and are so iudged and ended as if they had beene not the least punishable offence 16. We must free Catholike Priests and all others of their Religion from such presumption practise consenting vnto or approuing sinne No absolution without penance and satisfaction with vs. And yet we with the Church of Christ and holy Fathers saie of holy Priesthood euen in this respect Nè mihi Chrysost Hom. 5. de verb. Isaiae vidi Dominum Ephrom l. de Sacâ—rdorio Gregor Nyssâ—n orat de Baptism orat â—n â—os â—ui alios acerb iâ—dicant Gild. l. de Exci Briâ—an Isichius in Leuiâ—â— l. 6. â— 12. Victor Vtâ—con de persec Vandâ—liâ—a â—â— narres purpuram neque Diadema neque vestes aureas vmbrae sunt isthac omnia vernisque floâ—â—ulis leuiora Nè inquam mihi narres ista sed si vis videre discrimen quantum absit Rex à Sacerdote expende modum potestatis vtrique traditae videbis Sacerdotem multo sublimius Rege sedentem Regiue thrâ—nus rerum terrenarum administrationem sortitus est nec vltra potestatem hanc praeterea quicquam habet authoritatis verùm Sacerdoti thronus in coelis collocatus est de coelestibuâ— negoâ—ijs pronuÌ„tiandi habet authoritatem Quis haec dâ—â—â— ipse coelorum Rex Quaecunque ligaueritis super terram â—runt ligata in coelis quaeâ—unque solueritis super terram erunt selâ—ta in coelis Deuâ— ipsum Regule caput Sacerdotis manibus subiecit nos erudiens quod hic Princeps est illo maior speake not to me of the purple or Diademâ— and gâ—â—lden robes all these are but shadowes and more vaine then spring fâ—owers Speake not to me of these things buâ— if thou wilâ— see the power giuen to them boâ—h thou shall see the Priest sitting much higher in â—igâ—itie theâ— the King The throne of a King is chosen for the administration of earthlie things neither hath he any other authoritie besides this but to a Prieste a throne is placed in heauen and he hath authoritie to iudge of heauenly businesse who saieth this The King of heauenâ— himselfe Whatsoeuer yee shall â—nd vpon earth shall be bound also