A defence of Catholikes persecuted in England invincibly 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 studient in diuinitie.

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 studien● 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 Br●tans , that their Religion was t● same with the Apostles , and th● which our now Perse●uted Cat●likes Prof●sse and maintaine . pag. 30. Chap. IIII. The Religion of the Apostles , of our primatiue Christian Britans , of the first Christia● S●xons , and of our now persecuted Catholikes , p●oue● to be one and the same in eu●ry Article , against Protestants an●●e●●e●utours . pag. 50. Chap. V. That the Consecration , Iurisdiction , and mission of our Catho●i●e Bishop ( teaching the same Apostolicall Doctrine in all thing● with the Catholike Church ) is most lawfull , ●oli● , orderlie , and honourable , in that his sacred calling is most worthie , and necess●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 then 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 gouernment , 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 t●st●mo●io , c●iusdam vir●docti mihique de fide & doc●r●nâ probè co●●i●i , quo testatur ●unc libru● cui T●●ulus est ; A Def●nce of Cathelikes perse●ut●● in England , nihil continere fidei vel bonis mo●ibus adue●s●m , quin po●ius ●ulta quae a● Catholicorum A●g●oru● consolationem ●●cian● ; ●i●num cens● quem & ego 〈◊〉 ●●eo appro●●re●●at●m 〈…〉 . ●art●j , A●no 1630.

GEO●GIVS CO●V●N●RIVS S ▪ Theol. Doct● & Regius , 〈…〉 P●●f●ssor , Co●leg●●ae 〈…〉 po●●tus , 〈…〉 Ca●cel●a●ius , & lib●●um Cen●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 Eng●and , mo●● reno●ned Cat●o●●kes 〈◊〉 perse●u●ed ●or your 〈◊〉 ●eligi●● , giue leaue to one , yo●r old , humble ●nd vnworthie serua●t ●n Ch●ist , Associate , ●nd Partaker now with you , and you● renow●ed Predecessours , a long time f●om his youth ●o old age in pris●n , pe●●●cution , 〈◊〉 , ●nd tribulation for the most holy Ca●●olike ●aith , and Religion , to remember hi● loue ●nd du●ie to you : as also the boun●en dutie ●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 th● 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 praedic●m fortissimi Martyres ? &c. O most valiant Cyprian . ●pis●●l . ad 〈◊〉 & Conf●●sor . ●●●pist . 6. Martyrs with what praises may I blase you forth ? with what cri●s of voce may I adorne the fortitude of you● heart , and perseuerance of faith ? you haue endured euen to the consu●mation of glorie in your examinations , 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 ●nd . And presently after he addeth . The multitude of those which were present , hath seene the heauenlie fight of God , the spirituall wa●re of Christ , his se●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 Chrys●st . se●● . de SS. Apostolis Petr. & ●aul . ●p. Metaphr●st & in Breuiadie 6. Iulij . vobis referemus g●atias , qui tantum pro nobis labora●tis ? memenitu● Petre & obstupesco : recordor tui Paule , & excedens mente lachrymis opprimor . &c. What ●hankes shall we giue vnto you , who haue laboured so much for vs ? ô Peter I remember thee and am astoni●ed . O Paule I call the to mind : and with excesse t●ere●f ame oppressed with teares For what shall I speake , or what shall I vtter , when I behold you● afflictions : I ●annot tell . How many prisons haue you sanctified ? what chaines haue you adorned ? what ●orments haue ●ou sustained ? what curses or reproaches haue you suf●ered ? how haue you borne Christ ? how with your prea●hing haue you ioyed Churches ? blessed are the instru●ents of your tongue : your members are sprinckled with ●lood for the Church . You haue imitated and followed Christ in all things .

4. I doe not , I dare not , compare my selfe ●o those great lightes Bishops , and Rulers in ●he Church of Christ or such as be vnder our ●upreame Pa●●our , of that highest Order , to ●home I owe all dutie and respect . yet as an ●ld student in holy ●e●●ing , hauing read ●uch , and written not a little for the defence ●f you , and the cause of God , without any ●ust controll , ( neuer adhearing vnto , or rea●hing suspected or vnsound doctrine of sweare●ing , churchinge , ch●p●●●ge , sword ▪ ●●●●ing , ●r such like stuffe , ) may now more bould●y ●rite , and wish I had S. Cyprian his learned ●eale , and S. Chrysostome his golden mouth , or pen to laye downe the worth and due o● you all most renowned Teachers , Learnes , and Sufferers in this cause , the cause of Christ ▪ For although the most reuer●nd Father in God Richard Bishop of Chalcedon , and the holy , learned , reuered Priests of England ar● not in person those greatest , or others , among the Apostles ; yet they all , both ou● Bishop and Priests in their Episcopall an● Priestlie Order ( Preaching and teaching a they did , and deriuing Succession , both i● doctrine and dignitie f●●m them , if we ma● beleeue the Apostles , and Apostolike me● Clem. Rom●● . Cost . Apost. l 2. ●●5 . and witnesses ) doe supplie the●r p●ace , and a●● so to be obeyed . Presbyteri , si assiduè in studio decend : verbum Dei laborauerint , Apostolorum locu● tenent . Sacerdo●es sunt omnes Domini Apostoli , q● n●que agros , neque domos haeteaitant hic , sed sempe● Altar● & Deo seruiunt : If Priests will continually labour in the studie of teaching the word of God , the s●all inioye the pla●e of the Apostles . Priests are all t●● Apostles of our Lord , who inheriteth here neith● feil●s nor houses , but alw●yes they serue God and th●● neighbour . Eis qui in Ecclesia sunt Presbyteris obedi● ●rinaeus l. 4. c. 20. 43. oportet , his qui successionem habent ab Apostolis , q● cum Episc●patus successione Charisma certum secundu● pla●●tum pa●ris acceperunt : Those Priests which a● in the Church ought to be obeyed , who haue their Sucession from the Apostles , and with the Succession Iust●● , Di●● 5. 〈◊〉 T●i 〈◊〉 . Bishoprikes haue receaued the certaine gift accordi● to the will of the Father . Neque vero à quoquam De● hostias accipit ; nisi à suis Sacerdotibus : Neither indee● ●oth God Accept of Sacrifices of any , 〈◊〉 of his Priests . ●here we see the honour which ought to ●e done to our preaching , and Sacrificing ●ishop and Priests .

● . And the holy Scr●●turs pronounce and ●clare them wor●●● 〈…〉 1. 〈◊〉 . 5. ●nour . Qui 〈…〉 habeantur maximè 〈…〉 & do●●â : The Priests t●at 〈◊〉 w●ll , let them be esteemed ●r●hie of duble honour : ●●specially they that labour in ● word and do●trine . ●nd I may auerre that ho● conuersation wh●●● you with so many dif●ulties possesse ▪ ●n forsaking all to follow ●rist , to teach , preach , and doe other ●esslie functions , to be the Apostolicall life ●d calling . Our Protestant persecutours alwhich doe acknowledge you for true and ●full Priests , and doe attribute so much to ●aching , and most highly d●e commend ●r holy Apostolicke predecessours , Priests ● Monckes ( who liued as you doe in the ●e of the Britons , before all of the Reli●us Protest . Th●●tor of great Brit. God Win. Conue●s . ●f Brit. Orders that came hither in the Saxons ●e ) should not otherwise vse you then ●h honour and respect : especially when al●es , euen from the begining of Christia●e here they finde it so .

● . In the very first age , yea in the A●les time they auo●ch that S. Ioseph and Associates our first Religious , disconti●d their Monasticall life to preach the ●h . Abbot Fecknam did alleage out of S. Gildas in the fi●st Parliament of Queene Elizabeth , that Pope Elutherius , in his time sent from their Monasticall life such hither to preach . S. German and S. Lupus Religious of Lycinum Monasterie were sent hither into Britonie by S. Celestin , before they wer● Bishops , to the same end and purpose . Whe● our renowned English Apostle S. Gregori● tooke religious Monckes , S. Augustine an● others out of his owne Monastarie , to sen● them hither to preach to the vnbeleeuin● Saxons , and hey terrified with the labou● and perils of such an Apostolicall life , desred rather to returne to their quiet Monast●call conuersation , he vrged them , and se● them forward : because this Apostolicall li● was most perfect , and had greatest reward ● heauen . Omniinstantia , omnique seruore quae i● Gregorius Epist. ad Monachos in Angl. destin●nd . Bed hi●●or ●ccle . l. 1. c. 23. choastis , Deo authore peragite : sciences quod labor● magnum maior retribution i● gloria sequitur ▪ With for●e and seruour finish that you haue by the mo●● of God begun , assuring your selues , that after your gr● labour eternall reward shall followe . And the Berdictine Monckes in their Trithemius , a● others doe glorie much , ( and not witho● cause ) of the many Bishops , Archbisho● Cardinals , and Popes of their Order by t● title of Apostolicall Mission . Our Benectines also of the English Congregation , snites , Dominicans , Franciscans , and Car●lites with dispen●●tion from his Holines , h● left the rigour of their Rule and Order , ● better to applie themselues here in our countrie for the conuerting of soule● , as in a vocation of greater merite and higher perfection ; preferring the Apostolicall preaching life in ●his time and place , before the exact and pro●essed obseruation of their owne particular Orders , thereby to notifie vnto vs and all , ●hat this Apostolicall priestlie life ( euer from ●he beginning of Christianitie here or in the ●orld ) was the most perfect and most excel●nt calling and profession , pleasing to God , ●rofitable to his Church , and honourable in ●he professours therof .

7. All our old holy Bishops , Colledges , Monasteries , Seminaries , or Schooles of lear●ed Christians , such as by our Protestants ●onfession were here extant in euery age , ●uouis saeculo extiterunt : ( and longe before Matth. Parker , Antiquit. Britun . Ion. Iosilin . hist. Eccles. manuscript . Gregorie was Pope , or that he did or could ●nd any Monckes , of what Order soeuer in● England , or any part of Britonie ) sent most ●oly and learned priests , by allowance of the ●e Apostolike to preach in France , Ger●anie , Denmarke , Friseland , Bauaria , Nor●ay , Ireland , Greenland , and into other ●rts of the world diuers times , and in great ●mber , as it shall be hereafter more largly ●clared . Knowing both by holy Scriptures ●d the testimonie of Christ himselfe , that ●is Apostolicall condition , a signed by him his dearest Apostles , first taught and pra●ised in himselfe , not onely to forsake all externall wordlie thinges , as Religious men doe , or be bound to doe , but ●or a man to denie himselfe , the sauing of his health , libertie and life , daily exposing them to losse , and often loosing them for the loue of Christ , ( truely following him in sauing many soules that were in danger otherwise eternally to perish ) is the most absolutly perfect calling , and profession in the Church of God .

8. Monasticall life by abnegation is a State of perfection , and a safe way to saue the professers soule ; but to saue both his owne and many others by a more perfect abnegation , must needs be the greatest perfection ▪ and following of Christ . Si quis vult post me venire , abneget Luc. ● . semeti●sum , & tollat crucem suam quo●idiè & sequatur me : If any man will come after me , let hi● denie himselfe , and take vp his crosse dayly and follow me . And our Sauiour when he demande ▪ of Saint Peter his greatest and most louin● Apostle . Diligis me plus his ? Loues ●hou me more th● Iohn . 21. these ? Saint Peter answered . Yea Lord . The● our Sauiour rep●ied twice , Pasce agnos meo● Feede my lambes . And at S. Peters third answe● to the same demand , he added , p●sce oues me● feede my sheepe . And to his Apostles he said Bonus Pastor animam suam dat pro ouibus suis : à go● Iohn . 10. Pastor giueth his life for his sheepe . And Maiore● hac dilectionem nemo habet , quam vt anima● Iohn . 15. suam ponat quis pro amicis suis : Greater loue th● this no man ●ath , that a man yeald his life for h● 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. succ●s●ion therein , euen from the highest and chiefest Apostle Saint Peter himselfe : from whom so to deriue it , ( to speake in publicke Protestant words . ) We should accompt it a great glorie to our Nation , to deriue the pedegree of our spirituall linage , from so noble and excellent a father as S. Peter . For both Greeke , Latine , Auncient , 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. Nic●phor . apud ●●● . vs , that S. Peter came hither into Britonie . Simon Petrus qui fundamen●um esse Eccles●ae desinitus est tanquam p●oba●issimus discipulus , &c. Simon Peter , who like a most approued disciple was declared to be the f●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 Cambd●n supra . we not beleeu● ?

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 . To● tantaque Presbyterorum , Monachorum , Praesulum , Episcoporum , Ecclesiarum , Caen●biorum , Math. Parker . Antiquit. Brit. pag. 7. 8. Iohn . Gos●● hist. ●ccles . Iohn . Ball . de scrip . Centur. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Godwin . Catal. of Bish. in all Sees . Sediumque vetusta nomina quae quouis saeculo extiterunt : 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 Religi● , 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 younge King Edwards younger 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 from 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 , o● 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 perseuerin● ) 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 , confirm●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 ●estimon●um perhibe●itis , quia ab initio mecum Iohn . 15. estis : You s●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 me●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 ●● 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 obedienti● in omnem locum diuulgata est : Your obedience is published into euery place . ●d Rom. 16.

12. If Christ will confesse all before his father , which is in heauen , who doe confesse him before men on ea●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 , A●yle , and as a Sanctuarie , to receiue and defend the persecuted Bitter was Dioclesiaus Persecution here in Britonie , but as our Gildas telleth vs it was but N●u●nnis : of nine yeares onely ; at which time the Scots , ●●cts , Saxons , Gormundians , A●ricans , and D●nes ●ll Pagans persecuted the Christi●s here . But neuer any bearing the name of Christ before ●hese dayes persecuted the Catholike Chri●tians of this Kingdome . All those Pagans ●ersecuted Christians as enimies to their old Gods , and Religion , and for not ioyning ●ith them in Idolatrie , deeming Christian ●eligion newe and erroneous . Our Protestant 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 ●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 relented : no soon ●r had the Saxons driuen Theonus and Thadiocus Archbishops of London and Yorke with other Bishops , Priests and Religious from ●heir Sees , and Residences , in the yeare of Christ 586. But King Ethelbert of Kent ruling vnto Húber , by meanes of his blessed Christian Queen● Bertha , and her holy Bishop S. Lethard , gau● ease and peace to Christians here before S. Augustines and his Associates comming hither , and they were receiued by Ethelber● ( not yet a Christian ) with honours , and no● indignities . All they were strangers and forrainers to the persecuted . Our Persecutour● 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 ●riue and deduce from him , a continuall ●d neuer interrupted Succession , both of ●iscopall and Priestlie function , and do●ine also , in euery point now questioned by ●r Persecutours , from that so noble a Father , ● these Protestant times ; And to begge more ●ce and fauour from these our enimies in ●s cause , they themselues shall briefly make ●s deduction .

● . And first concerning Bishops , and Massing Priests sent hither , or consecrated here by S. Peter's , or his Roman Successours Iu●●●diction ( such as they now so greuiously d●● 〈◊〉 ) ●hey confesse publickly that they had ●o 〈◊〉 , but so consecrated , as the Roman Church did from the begining ( and stil● doth consecrate ) vn●ill their ne●● booke o● pretended Consecration , ma●● by King Edward th● S●●th ( ● child ) hi●●●thoritie brought in thei● 〈…〉 ; a●d they acknowledge 〈…〉 consecra●e● 〈…〉 ▪ Pries●● ▪ 〈…〉 and doe 〈…〉 , ●●stifie 〈…〉 Engl. Prote●● . in Rogers : Booke of articles . Annal. Burton . an . 140. Caiu●●●tiq . 〈…〉 Ann●l . 〈…〉 ●n Mans●● 〈…〉 . 1. 6. Harrison . descript . of Brit. wa● o●r Archbishop 〈…〉 moreouer that this our 〈…〉 was se●l●d by this grea●est A●ost●● in ●he 〈◊〉 y●are of Nero ; and 67. 〈…〉 ● . Peter returned againe to 〈…〉 d●uers of th●se our Bishops and 〈…〉 Nation , as S. Man●uetus , S. 〈◊〉 , S. Ma●cellus or Marcellinus , the reno●ned Priests and Preachers of Cambridge , ●n , and afte● the yeare 140. S. Marcellus being , and liuin● Bishop after King Lucius and Britonie wa● conuerted , when three Archbisbops , an●●●ventie eight Bishops were here placed , an● all Ecclesiasticall thinges established an● confirmed by Papall power in this Kingdome .

● . To make this Succession without a● question , they deliuer vnto vs the names , a● ●me Episcopall Acts , of our Archbishops Hollin●h . Hist. of England . Stow●s Hist. Godwin . conuers . of Britan. Cata● . of Bishops , in London , Yorke , and S. Dauids . ●f London , Yorke , and Caerlegion . In London ●e chiefe Metropolitan See S. Theanus , S. luanus , Cadar , Obinus , Conanus , Palla●us , Stephanus , I'tutus , Theodwynus , or ●edwynus , Thedredus , Hillarius , Guiteli●s , Restitutus , Fastidius , Vodinus , Theo●s . Others adde S. Augulus , Ternokinus . ●d Gormcelinus . They confesse that Theo●s the last Archbishop of London with full ●risdiction continued in his Archiepiscopall ●e , notwithstanding the Pagon Saxons inua●n and persecution , vntill the yeare of Christ ●● . which was but 10. yeares before S. Augu●●● coming hither . So they testifie of Tha●●us Matth. West . an. 586. Archbishop of Yorke , the same ye●●e ●auing his See , and with the Archbishop of 〈◊〉 and many of their Clergie flying into ●al●● and Cornewall to the Christian Bis●ps , Priests , and people there . They re●pt in th● Archb●●●op See of Yorke , Theo●sius , Sampso●●● , Taurinus , ●eruan●s , Sampson●● , 〈◊〉 , and the ●enamed Thadiocu● ▪ 〈…〉 ●egion they ● downe Tremonus , S. 〈◊〉 ▪ S Da●id , ●iud , Conanc , Theliaus , E●b●dus ( wholi●d in S. Augustins time ) and after him im●ediatly succeeding in Archiepiscopall dig●tie , fourty , or more vntill the time of Ber●rd , who in the yeare 1115. lost that honour ●om that See by Papall order , as all Anti●aries Catholikes , and Protestants agree .

4. These men also deliuer vnto vs a Catalogue of learned holy writers in euery ag● and in the age wh● S. Augustine came hithe● they recount vnto vs , the most noble Sain● and Doctours Dubritius , Iltut●s , Congellu● Dauid , Gildas , Kentige●n●s , Brendant Asaphus , and others , wh●ly ●nd absolut● agreeing with the Church of ●ome . They ●● downe our Vniu●rsi●ies 〈…〉 , a● among others 〈…〉 from all e●ror . Our 〈…〉 in the gre●●ouncel●s 〈…〉 ●he same fai● with t●e whole 〈…〉 ; they had m● entercour●e 〈◊〉 ●●●munica●●on next to t● Popes of 〈…〉 the mo●● Catholike a● renow●●d 〈…〉 Churc● of Christ , ● Athana●●●● ▪ 〈…〉 , S. Martine , and ma● more , and b●th ●●●se Tertul●●an , S. Chry●stome with 〈◊〉 , did highly commend th● our 〈…〉 true Religion .

5. An● beca●●● some Pro●estants to mu● 〈…〉 libertie cannot well e●dure 〈…〉 ●●ckes and Religious , s● king w●a● 〈…〉 can ●o disgrace su● ( as o●her● 〈◊〉 ●●nowned Clergie ) especial● the 〈◊〉 of S. Benedicts Order , very a●ci●●●●●●●gland , and doe endeuour all t● can ●● di●inish the glorie of the Children so noble a Father ( and so doing for disli● rather then loue either of them , vs , or o● first Christian Saxons ) diuers among the doe very forwardly ascribe much to such hat labour . And some of their prime Anti●uaries ( as some lately haue published ) haue ●et downe vnder their hands , that there were ●o● aunciently , and but Egyptian and Bene●ictine Monckes in this Kingdome of Brita●ie , no great glorie , but rather di●honour to his mo●t noble and auncient Nation in Chri●ian Religion . A Nation that may iustly ●aime prioritie in that kinde of honour ●efore Egipt , or any other Countrie in the ●orld , except they can proue their Religious ●ore auncient then S. Ioseph , and his holy ●mpanie here , in the yeare of Christs Nati●tie 63. by their owne confession : and what ●onckes of Egypt they were that came hither ●ey should , if they could , haue instanced ● : To performe which they will haue great ●fficul●ie , sith that they themselues confesse ●at di●ers denie the Egyptian Rule was e●r receiued in the West , and consequently ●re ; Minimè credi volunt nonnulli , Mo achorum Iohn . Selden not & spicileg . in Eadmerum pag. 200. Egyptientium Instituta , in Occid●nte vnquam esse ●epta : Some will not haue it beleeued that the In●ute of the E●yptian Monckes was euer receiued in west . And yet it is certaine by their owne otestant writers , that many Monckes and ●nasterie ▪ were here in Britanie , or in En●nd . Quouis saculo : In euery age . And before ●yp had any Monasteries or Mon●kes ▪

6. We can , and doe recount vnto them ●nckes from Greece and Syria , who came ●o Britanie , though longe after our first Conuersion , and Religious were ●et●ed here . So from the most ●amous Monasterie of Lyrinum Veremun● . Hist. S●●t . Hector . Boeth . Hist. Scot. l. 6. R●phael ●ol●enshed ●ist . of Scots . our Greeke Monckes S. Regulus Albatus and his holy companie , who brought the Relickes of Saint Andrewe the Apost●e into Scotland , and were so nobly entertained by King Heirg●stus , leauing Successou●s ther● ( who after were vnited to our old Bri●is● Monckes ) are ●amou● to posteritie . S. Palladius who was sent Apostle hither by S. Caelestin the Pope , ( as our Protestants write● was also a Grecian , Palla lius Graecus ; And firs● Ioan. Bal. l. de ●cript . ●rit . ●entu● . 1. Nicolaus H●rlem●n Pa●●●●io Graeco . a disciple to S. Iohn Patriarch of H●erusale● that liued a Religious life in Syria especiall● about Mount Carmelus , Ioannis Hierosolymoru● Patriarcha 44. dum adhu● Eremi cultor solita●● Syriae loca , Carmelum praecipuè incoleret , Nicolao Ha●lemio teste , Discipulu● fuit : As witnesseth Nicola● Ha●lem , he was t●e Disciple of Iohn the 44. Patriarc● of Hierusalem , whilst he was as yet a louer of the He●mit●ge , and inhabited the desert places of Syria , b● especially the Mount Carmelus This may gi● antiquitie ●ere to our learned Carmelits , t●king their name thence , and as they saie comming from Syria . S. Germanus and S. Lup●sent Britan. 〈◊〉 . Antiq. in m●●usc●ipt . hither Apostles , by the same holy Pop● were first Monckes of Lyrinum Monasterie , a● brought that Church seruice hither : And ● Patri●ke borre in this our Iland , liui● sometimes with our Glastenburie Moncke● and Scholler to S. G●●man , was in the sa●●anner sent into Ireland . These were t● Rulers and Directours vnto all our British , Scotish , and Irish Monckes , so much renow●ed through the whole world .

7. Both English , and Scoti●h Antiqui●ies V●remund . & Hect. Boeth . supra . Man . Antiq. in vita S. Birini . Capg●● in eodem . witnesse , that soone after S. Augustine of ●ippo his death , and long before any Monckes of S. Benedicts Order came hither , ●he Augustine Monckes ( Canon-Regulars ) ●ere seated and setled here , who were most ●oly and learned men ; Non tam eru●itionis , ●●am pro●atissimarum viriutum , ve●aeque pie●ati●l●● insignes : Not so much famous f●● learning , a● for ●proued vertues , and zeale o● deuotion . S Dauid , ●aint Brendanus , Saint Columbanu● , Con●ellus , and others here wrote Rules of Monckes .

8. To exemplifie but in the worthinesse of Sigibert . 〈…〉 vir . Illustr. in S. C●s●●●o Caesar . Ar●latēsis , Homilia 25. ad Monachos . Tom. 2. B●●liot●●● . Patrum . ●e Lyrian Monckes , who ioyned with ours ● Britonie , as S. Caesarius Archbishop of ●rles neare adioyning thereto , and before ●bbot there testifieth , that Ab Orien●e vsque ad ●ccidentem , & ab omnibus paene locis in quibus Chri●iana Religio ●olitur , religios●ssima vestra conuersatio ● Christi gloriaem praedica●ur : From the East to the ●st , in all places almost , where Ch●●stian Re●igion is ●aintained , th●re to Christ his glorie , your most Chri●ian conuersation was preached . And 〈◊〉 & sae●●●sula Lyrinensis , quae cum p●ruula & plana esse vi●atur ▪ innumerabiles tamen mon●es ad ●aelum misisse ●gnosci●ur . Haec est quae eximios nu●ri● Mon●chos , & ●astan●●ssimos , per o●nes Prou●●cia● erogat Sa●er●●es : The blessed and hap●ie ●●and of ●●rinum , though it seeme to be little and plain● , yet it is knowne to hau● sent vnto heauen innumerable mountains . This is s●e which bring th vp most famous Monckes and through all Prouinces sendeth forth most excellen● Priests .

9. This testimonie of such a witnesse , being giuen a little before S. Gregories tim● who was so learned a Moncke , and Father to many such in Rome , argueth that his Monkes and the Monckes of Lyrinum , could no● be stranger●●o ea●h other . S. Gregorie also commanding his Monckes he sent into England to goe to the Archbishop of ●r●e● , Successour to S. Cesarius so neare Lyr●num 〈◊〉 his assistance ; and they bringing from thenc● into England Assistants and Interpreter ●n● S. Augustine being consecrated after Bisho● of England by E●he●●us Archbishop of Arles ▪ according to S. Gregories directions , confirmeth the same : the accesse of such hither , thei● preaching● and directions here , and our firs● English Moncke : after S. Augustine comming hither , so honouring the Monckes an● Monasterie of Lyrinum that they tra●elle● ouer all England and France with them ; an● Saint Benedict Biscope who was brought ●● with our British Monckes when none other were here being professed in ●yrinum Mon●sterie , showeth how little d●ffe●ence there wa● betweene the old Monckes of Britanie , th● Monckes of Lyrinum , and Saint Augustin● and his fellow Monckes sent hither b● ●ly Saint Gregorie the Pope .

10. By all accompts it is most certaine in ●storie that S. Benedict Biscope was pro●led in Lyrinum , went to Rome , returned ●o the North part of England , where he as Abbot diuers yeares before S. Benedict ● Rule , was first giuen , or receiued in these ●rtes , and was also Abbot at Canterburie ●bey , and gaue place to S. Adrian , who was ●t hither by the Pope with Saint Theodore ●chbishop there , before S. Wilfride the first ●er of S. Benedict's Rule in the North , was ●le● Archbishop of Yorke to giue it , or gaue ●e foresaid Rule to the Monckes ; as the ●onckes themselues confesse . And that he ● not deliuer Saint Benedicts Rule to the ●onckes in the North , neither was it in his ●wer so to doe , vntill he was Bishop there , ●ich was not vntill the yeare of Christ 670. there about by all Authours , which was ●ge after S. Benedict Biscops being Abbot ●th in Northumberland and Canterburie . ●d whereas some Monckes now would haue Aigulphus a Benedictine Moncke , first to ●ie persuaded the Monckes of Lyrinum to Ma●●h . Westm . ●●r●n . Flo●ent . Wigorn . chron. Sig●bert , & a●●● . ●eiue S. Benedict's Rule , this cannot be , for Aigulphus was a Moncke of Floriacum Mo●sterie , which was not builded many yeares ●er this time : and so it is not certaine , but ●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 an● learned Monckes , and Apostolike men in th● Christian world , as the rest of our Britis● Mo●ckes ( euen by Protestants confession ● also were .

11. ●nd this is the glorie of this our E●glish Nation to haue had generally both i● Kent , where S. Augustine was , and in all oth● par●s c●nuerted to Christ , such renowne● Fathers and Protogenitours in him : For suc● were the Monckes of S. Gregories Monast●rie Io. Diac●n . in vita S. Gregorij l. 2. c. 11. in Rome , from which S. Augustine ar● his fellowes , learned and holy Disciples ● the most learned and holy Pope S. Gregori● were sent ( as our Protestants them selues ac●nowledge ) that euer was . And so learne were the Monckes of this his Monasterie● aboue other Italian Monckes in that tim● that besides the Apostolike men about 4● in number , which S. Gregorie sent into E●gland , he made Maximianus his Abbot the● Bishop of Siracusas ; Marimanus a Monc● thereof , Archbishop of Rauennas ; and Pr●bus another of his Monckes of his Monast●rie Mari● . S●●put . l. 2. atate 6. in S. Benedicto . Trithemius l. de script . Eccles. in S. Benedicto . he sent to Hierusalem , to build a Monste●ie there ▪ we haue also warrant from ● Church of God , so witnessing in S. Greg●ries publike office that S. Augustine , and ● Monckes he sent into Bri●anie , ( about 40. number ) were learned and holy men , Missi● Britanniam Doctis & Sanctis viris Augustino , ● ●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 ●o this my purpose whether S. Augustine ●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 England we are so persecu●ed : And that S. Augustine and his companie were most ho●y and learned men Docti and Breuiar . Romandie 12. Martij in festo S. Gregor. Bed . Hist. Eccles. Angl. l. 2. Matth. Wes● . in Chron. F●orent . Wig●r . Chroni● . G●liel . Malmesbur●●● . d●g●st Reg. Angl. ●ancti viri , that they taught our Predeces●ours the same faith we now professe , and that ●hey conuerted to the faith of Christ Ethel●ert King of Kent , and his Kingdome of Kent , ●nd Sebert or Sigebert King of the East Saxons with his Kingdome , and preached in many other places o● England , conuerting in ●hem many to Christian Religion . I saie with ●hem and the whole Christian world then , Asia , Africke , and Europe , agreeing with S. Gregorie ( who sent hither these so holy and ●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 from 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 Protestant . in Stowes ●●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 Gre●ke , as they doe S. Basiles , and S. Chrysostomes ) as also his holy learned workes , which he , ● Doctour of the Church ( and as our Protestants stile him ) The most holy and learned Pop● that euer was , did publish , and are now extant . Thus he and his L●gates s●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 , Sa●ifice of Ma●●e , Sacrificing Priesthood , such ●piscopall Roman Ordination , and what●euer elsse now controuersed by Protestants , ● I shall demonstra●e against them in euery ●ticle of their Religion , when I come to the ●onuersion o● t●e other Parts of England , ● those which were of our old British Or●er and Re●ig●on . And yet our English Pro●stants publickly , generally , and with such ●thoritie protest , and testifie , that in the first ●0 . yeares of Christ , ( within which S. Gre●rie and his Legates liued and ●aught ) the ●hurch of Rome was pure and free from er●r . And if she had or should haue erred in ●is publicke doctrinall practises , and orders ●ncerning the whole Church , the whole ●hurch ( which these men denie ) should also ●ue erred ▪ For they constantly thus ack●wledge that this most holy and learned ●pe so published and proposed them . Gre●ius Io. Bal. d● Roman . Pon●ifice . Art l. 2. in Gregor. Magno . Robert . ●arnes . ● . de vit. ●ontif . Rom. in ●od . Magdebur . his● , Ecclesiasc , in Greg. Magnu● omnium Pontificum R●manorum do●inâ & vi●â praestantissimus . Scholas Canto●um in●uit , & Ambrosi● more ec●lesiasti●as cantiones , qua●●aecè dicimus Antiphonas , composuit . Officiarium ●clesiae fecit , Antiphonarium nocturnum & diurnum ●po●uit . Sacrorum normas digessit , Missarum ritus ●●planauit , & eius Canonem consar●inauit . Gregorie ● great the most worthies● of all the Bishops of Rome ● doctrine and life , instituted Schooles of singer● , and ●er Ambrose his manner , composed Ecclesiasticall ●ges which in Greeke we call Antiphones . He made ●e office of the Church , be ordered , the nightlie and daylie Antiphonarie , he digested the Rites of t● Church , he polished the Ceremonies of the Masse , a● the Canon thereof he gathered together .

14. It will be very hard for the quicke● sighted Persecuting Protestant , to finde a● one of their Articles of Religion which w● not condemned , and of Catholikes not p●blickly approued , and practised in t● Church of Christ , in and by those so gen●rally receiued and professed Ritualls an● Doctrinalls of Religion . And therefo● those pure Protestan●s , which call Cath●likes vsually , in respect of their Doctrin● Papists ; and their holy Religion Papistri● Papisme , Romanisme or the like , confes● plainly , that Saint Augustine from Sai● Gregorie b●ought hither Masses , Altars , Vesments , Chalices , Relickes , Massing Priests , prayer Saincts , for the Deade , and to be briefe Rom●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. D●●●●l . Powe●l in Giral● . Cambr. in our Catholikes Superstition● . And n● only Saint Augustine thus taught and deli●red ▪ but Q●●●ne B●●tha the French Ladi● and her Bisho● 〈◊〉 Lethardus did t● same , and King E●helbert with his Cou●trie wa● conuerted to that Religion . Conu●sus ●xoris Berthae ●ersuasione ●thelbertus Rex R●manismum cum a liun●●●s sup●rstitionibus suscep● King ●thelbert being conuerted by the pe●suasion hi● wife , he imbraced Romanisme with all it 's Sup●stition● .

15. So we haue not only S. Augustine our ●postle with his Assistants , but S. Gregorie , ●e Church of Rome , Italie and all Subiects that See Apostolike , our King , Queene ●d all here agreeing then with vs in this Ro●anisme , Papisme , and Papist●ie , for which ●e are now persecuted . And this our Con●rsion S. Asaph ; in vit. S● Kentegerni , C●pgrau . in eod. D. Bal. l. de Scriptor . centur . 1. in Ken●igern● . to the tru● Apostolike Religion of ●hrist , which is the same , Catholikes now ●osesse ( as both Catholikes and Protestants knowledge ) was miraculously prooued ad ●retold by the words of God his propheti●ll holy Bishop S. Ke●egerne long before in ●e declination of the Britans , that God ●ould giue Britanie ouer to Forraine Na●ns , which knewe not God , and Chri●nae legis Religio vsque ad praefinitum tempus ●sipab●●ur . Sed in pristinum sta●um , unò me●em miserante Deo in fine rep●rabitur : the Region of the Christian Lawe vnto a determinate ●●●me shall be dissipated ; but in the ●n● by God his mercie it shall be restored to it's former , ye●●●tter state .

THE III. CHAPTER .

The like proued , of all other persons a● parts of England , as also the Br●cans , that their Religion was th● same with the Apostles , and th● which our now Persecuted Cath●likes Professe and maintaine .

1. NOw let vs come to the Conuersio● of the other parts of England , n● conuerted by S. Augustine , or his Missio● from Rome , but by others , our old Britis● or Scotish Bishops and Priests in some part● before , ( by many writers , ) and in the far● greatest , a●●er . And because amongst other● the Religious of our old British Order ha● influence therein , 〈◊〉 I lately spake of Monck● sent into England by Saint Gregorie , and ● their labours and Religion here , I will ne● ioyne these vnto them . Their Antiquitie ● haue deliuered before , from S. Ioseph of A●ramathia , which buried Christ , arriuin● here , in the yeare of his Natiuitie 63.

2. To take better knowledge of their heauenly life , and conuersation on earth , I wi● set downe their Rule as ( with some alteratiō● ●s is vsuall in such holy Orders ) , it was ap●roued and deliuered to our Monckes by S. ●auid Metropolitane Archbishop in Brita●ie , that most learned Religious holy Pre●te The Rule of our old British Monckes Manuscipt . antiq. in vit● S. Dauidis . Io. Capgra . C●tal . in ●●d . liuing vntill with in 50. yeares of S. Au●ustines comming hither . Dauid constructo in ●alle Rosinta Monasterio , talem caenobialis praepositi ●gorem decreuit : vt Monachorum quisque quotidiano ●sudās operi manuum labore suam in commune trans●eret vitam , dicens : Qui enim non laborat , ait A●stolus , non manducet ; nesciens enim quod secura quies , ●itiorum fomes & mater esset . Monachorum hume●s duris fatigationibus subiugauit : nam qui sub otij ●iete tempora mentesque submittunt , instabilem spiri●m , libidinisque stimulos sine quiete parturiunt . Pos●siones enim Iniquorum respuebant , dona reprobabāt , ●uitias detestabantur , boum nulla ad arandum cura●●isque sibi & fratribus diuitiae , quisque & bos . Nul●n praeter necessarium inter eos habebatur colloquium , ●d quisque aut orando , aut Deo placi●a cogitando , in●nctum opus peragebat , Peracto autem R●rali opere , ● Monasterij Claustra reuertentes , aut legendo , aut ●ibendo , aut orando totam ad vesperum peragebant ●em . In vespere verò audito Nolae pulsu , dimissis ●x operibus , Ecclesiam petebant , & visis in caelo ●llis ad mensam conuenientes citra saturitatem come●bant : nimia enim satietas , quamuis solius panis , ●uriam generat . Pane autem & oleribus sale conditis ●sti ; sitim lacte aquâ mixto restringebant . Peractâ ●nâ quasi per tres horas , vigilijs , orationibus , genu●ctionibus insistebant . Quamdiu in Ecclesia orationi●s vacabant , nullus oscitare , nullus sternutationem facere , vel sal●●●● 〈…〉 Hi●ita gestis sopo●● 〈…〉 & 〈…〉 experg●fa●li , 〈…〉 Cogitationes 〈…〉 etia● vel ad naturae 〈…〉 induebantur . 〈…〉 desiderans 〈…〉 , priu● decem diebus 〈…〉 n●●non & ve●●●● 〈…〉 Si au●em benè 〈…〉 perstar● diem , acceptus priu●● 〈…〉 constructus seru●e●a● . 〈…〉 desudans , fractusque mul●●s 〈…〉 fra●rum merebatur inire 〈…〉 ●nem cupientibus eorum nih●● 〈…〉 ●●lu● è na●●ragio ●uadentes recepti era●●● 〈…〉 se extollendi non haberent . S. autem Daui●●ost ●tinas frigidam petebae aquam , in qua diu●●●s man● carnis ardorem domabat . Orphanorum , ●●pilloru● Vidua●ū , Egentium , Peregrinorum multitudinem pas●● bat . In English epitomated : They ha● not Rid● or proprietie Receiued nothing of the wi●●● , they l●ued by their labour . They had not cattell ▪ ●●●hing b● themselues to ●ill their ground , no speach ●●●pt necesarie at their worke , but with praier and medita●● they performed it They , did not eate till ●●ght , ●● their diet then was bread , ●erbs , and ●al● , th● drinke water and mi●●e mixed together . After th● resection they persist●d three howers in watching a● praier vppon their knees : then sleeping vntill ●● croweing ●f the Cocke , they arose to their praiers vn●●●ay light . Ending their corporall labour , they retu●● their Monasteries and spen● all the 〈◊〉 ●●till the e●ning , Anna●●●●cl . 9. 〈◊〉 G●●w . 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 in ● . ●●auid , in 〈…〉 Ni●●● 〈…〉 Io. Ba● . 〈◊〉 ●●n● . 1. in Kentig●●n . ●●●grau . ●n ●od . God W. catal in S. 〈◊〉 K●●eg●r . M ▪ 〈◊〉 antiq. Brit●● prima 〈◊〉 E●●lesiast● Se●●● . either in reading , writin● ▪ 〈…〉 ●rres appeared , in the 〈…〉 their ●ll , they went to the Church ▪ And 〈…〉 ●et of bodie . This was part of the 〈…〉 our ●ritish Moncl●e● approued by th● greatest ●relate here who receiued i● all ●●●●ches ●scipline by t●e Roman Authoritie .

3. Their Bis●ops and 〈…〉 ●steritie in conuersation . T●● 〈…〉 ● S. Dauid , 〈…〉 ●neu , about 〈…〉 The 〈…〉 others . 〈…〉 i● the 〈…〉 ( by diuers 〈…〉 ) Mon●● 〈…〉 in his Mo●●● 3000. Disci●●e S. Wandi●ocus and Go●●ogillus about 〈◊〉 vnder them . ● . ●entigern and S. Asaph had vnder each of ●em 960. wherof aboue ●60 . were Aposto●ke Preachers , and y●t to speake euen in our ●emies words Being 〈◊〉 into companies they ●ended the service of God in the Church in such 〈◊〉 , day , and night perpetually , seruice was there con●ued , some while by some , and other ●hile by others , ●ording to an order by him ( S. Kentegern ) esta●shed and set downe .

4. And although in some parte amongst ●e Britans ( afflicted 〈◊〉 Pagans Inoasions , ●d cohabitation with them ) t●●s great pi●tie ●d deuotion was ●●caied , not long before S. Augustines comming hither from S. Gr●gorie then Pope : yet many o●●hese with the holy Disciples , as S. Brendan , Vuandilocu● Gomogillus , Kentegernus ▪ Asaphus an● others still continued in their Apostolike p●ritie and perfection , together with all o● three Archbish●ps of Brita●ie , many Bi●hops , and Priests thereof , in the same fait● and Religion , which they receiued in our fi● Conuersion , some Ceremonies onely ( of whic● the obseruation of Easter was the greatest question●d with some of them , but no materiall and ess●ntiall points at all . And such w● their holinesse euen here in Britanie whe● into the Pagans were entered , that to exe●plifie in one place of Glastenburie , who● Church●yard there vpon was called Tumul● Sanctorum The Sepulcher of Saints thousands ● Saints , Millia , were interred there , before th● yeare of Christ 550. The old Antiquities ● Glastenburie recompt 104000. Cum centu● qua●uor millibu● , and adde that the Church ▪ yar● ( it being one of the greatest in compasse and the Altars aboue , on and vnder the● are so full of holy Relicks that there was ●● spa●e place to be founde : Non in toto illo Coen●● terio à profund●●ate 16. pedum vsqi ad eius superficie● à Sanctorum cinerilus habetur lo●us vacuu● : In ● that Church●yard for 16. Foot de●pe to the superfic● or top the●of , no place was found voyed of the ashes ● Saints . And not onely Churches and Church yards were esteemed thus holy for the Bodie● of so many Saints buried in them , but whole Countries , and Ilands , for , and from the Sanctirie of so many miraculous British Saint●●iuing in them , tooke and doe keepe still their ●ames of holy Iles , Lands , and the lik● . And ●o great was the Sanctitie , learned and Apostolike glorie of these our British Bishops , Culdeys , Priests , and Religious in those times ●hat we may almost saie of them , as the Scrip●ure saied of the Apostles In omnem terram exi●it sonus corum & in sines orbis terrae verba eorum : ●nto all the earth hath the sound of them gone forth : ●nd vnto the end of the whole world the worde of ●hem . They preached in all , or almost all the Manuscript . antiq S. Asap● . & Capgr . in vit. S. Kenteg●r . Bal. scrip-Brit . ●●tu . ● . in Kē● . Godw. Cata. epis . in Asaph , Kentegr . Saxonic . leges antiq. inter leg . S. Edwardi Regis . Gu●●●am●ard . l d● p●is● Anglor ●●gib . world , more then we finde deliuered of any Apostolike Clergie men , or any Religious since then .

5. All the world knoweth their preaching ●nd preuailing in all Britanie , Ireland , and all Ilands ; To the Caledonians , Athals , Ho●ests , Orchadians , Norwegians , Islandians , ●y Papall authoritie and of Saint Gregorie ●imself . It is contained in our old Saxon pub●ick lawes many hundred yeares old , that ●hey preached with like Commission before ●hat time in Island , Greenland ( accompted part of America ) Scantia , Norwegia , Sne●horda Gutlandia or Iutland , Dacia , Seme●andia , Winlandia , Curlandia , Roe , Femelādia , Wirelandia , Flandria , Cherrela , Lappa Lapland , & omnes terras & Insulas Orientalis O●eani vsque Russiam , & multas alias Insulas vl●●a Scantiam vsquedum sub Septentrione : and all other Ilands and Lands to Russia in the East and many other Ilands beyond Scantia in the North. Yf we turne from the East and North to West , euen the West India , or that America , we finde in the old Manuscrip●e Author ( that wrote S. Brendans trauailes and life ) Capgraue and others , that many Apostolike Priests , consecrated by Saint Patrick that great Apostolik man , went thither , preached , liued , and died there . If we turne South , to make a circuite we had in Saint Peters time our Saint Mansuetus his Disciple , an Apostolik Preacher in Germanie and Bishop of Trull in Loraine . We had in the same age our blessed Beatus cons●crated at Rome by Saint Peter , or presently after , Preacher and Apostle of the Heluetians . We had Saint Lucius , or Lucian by some Conuertor and Apostle of the Bauarians as they acknowledge . We had our S. C●lumbanus , S. Gallus , S. Kilianus , Totnanus , the both Ewaldi , Furseus , Foillanus , Vltanus , Offa or Offo , Witbertus or Wictbertus , S. Willibrodus and his eleuen Associats Schollers to S. Egbert of our old British Apostolick Order , S. Wyrus , Saint Plechelmus , Egelbertus , Saint Dysibodius with many in his companie of his Associats . All these were of our old Apostolicall Priests , and Religious Order here before any other Order came into Britanie : who as Apostolike men with Papall authoritie , preached in Gallia , Almania , Italia , Franconia , Bauaria , Thuringia , Ha●sia , Frisia , Dania , and other Countries , diuers of them by Papal power were consecrated Bishops , others Abbots , ●nd in other degrees , they founded Monaste●ies ad Religious houses in great number , which ●ould not be of any other Order than in which ●heir founders and Rules were trained vp , ●nd professed in to wit , that our most aun●ient , holy and learned British Order .

6. This our Protestant Persecutours them●lues acknowledge ; who speakin● of Ban●or , a Monasterie of our British order here ●nd of S. Columban and Brendan , two Dis●iples of Congellus Abbot thereof they testifie ●at : S ●ernardus hunc locum tradit primum exti●ss . Bernard . in 〈…〉 . Io. B●l. Sc●●ptor . Brit. centur 〈◊〉 ●ong●llo . Menasteriorum caput , & multa generauisse Mo●●horum nullia Huius Discipuli fuere plures , quo●m Columbanus Galliam , Germaniam , & ●●aliam ; ●en●anus v●ro Hiberniam & Scotiam Monacho●m habitaculi● implcuit : Saint Bernard relateth this ●ace to haue bene the head and chiefist of Monasteries , ●d to haue begotten many thousands of Monckes , ma● were his Disciples , of whom Columbanus filled ●ance , Germanie and Italie ; Brendan Ireland and ●otland with habitations of Monckes . To these I ●ight adde that renowned Archbishop and ●postolike Legate Arc●bishop of Moguntia ●int Boniface , and his holy companie , and ●artyrs with him , who being a child but of ●ue yeares old was brought vp by our Apo●olik Priests , ad after entered into the Monasteries of Exancester with vul●hardus à Moncke of our old British Order , and after into the Monasterie of Huntscelle vnder Winbert Abbot of the same profession , where he liued a long tim● : and afterwards going into Germanie being and Abbot there , he spen● diuers yeares in preaching , before he wen● to Rome , in the time of Pope Gregorie th● second , by whom he was ordained Bishop ● Archbishop and Legate in the yeare of Chri● 719. and li●ed vntill he was martyred in th● yeare 754. the 36. yeare of his being Bisho● with 53. others : Cum alijs quinquaginta tribu● Matthew of westminster saith , it was in th● yeare 753. by which accompt his Abbots i● England must needs be professed in the o● British Order .

7. Marianus Scotus a Scot by Nation● and liuing in a strict discipline , a Moncke ● Germanie with in 200. yeares of S. Bonif●cius his time , though he acknowledgeth hi● to be an English man Anglus , yet very oftē● calleth him S●otus a S●ot , in no other respe● then for his being of the Scotish Order , and i● that regard calleth these Monasteries : Monastria San●torum Scotorum , Sancti Galli & Sancti Bonfacij : Monasteries of the ●cotish Saints S. Gallus a● S. Bon●f●ce . When it is certaine , and he w● knew that neither of them was a Scot by N●tion , but onely in profession . He proue● further that euen in his tim● , there we● Monckes of the Scotish old Order there , wh● ●ad a peculiar Monasterie in Colen where ●e Abbot with others were Scots , Helias Sco●s abbas . Who professed a strict Religion , and ●n the opinion of men , giuen to more liber●e . ) ouer grea●e Discipline , Religionem di●ictam , disciplinamque ni●●am : and God did mi●culously approue it . This was also the con●ition of S. Benedict Biscope Master to Saint ●ede be●ng a childe ; this the condition of ●●eolfr●dus , and Easterwinus wh●m S. Bo●face constituted Abbots in his absence in ●s Monas●eries .

8. Wa●es had seuen Bishops with an ●rchbishop , others with their Clergie were ●ed thither out of England , and yet diuers ●mained still in other parts , with many Chri●ians , euen Vniuersites , as that of Cambridge ●ee then as they saie from all errour and ne●r Manuscript . antiq. in vit. S. Dauid●s . Capgrau . in cod . censured by Saint Gregorie as some were . ●heir difference from the Church of Rome ●as not in Questions of faith , but others tol●rable and tollerated , and this had not beene ●ng for in S. Dauid● time a litle before , all ●greed in all things with Rome . Omnes Britan●ae Matth. w●st . in chronic . an . 794. Stows histor. in Mercel●● . Ecclesiae modum & Regulam Romana authoritate ●ceperunt : All the Churche● of Britanie toocke their ●anner and Rule by Roman authoritie .

9. The greate Kingedome of Northum●erland bounded with Trent and Scotland , ●ere thus conuerted . The greatest kingedome ●f Mercia which then comprehended 23. ●hyres , in 20. & tribus Prouin●ijs , quas Angli Shiras 〈◊〉 , ●●s conuerted by the old renowned Clergie men , Bishops , Priests an● Monckes that were of our old British Orde● they in their Auncestors receiuing Conuersion from such our Britans , and thēselue● also liuing within the limits and boundes o● Britanie or England now : for their Iland a● Saint Bede and others witnesse belonged to our Countrie : Insula Hydesti , cuius Monasteri● ●ed . Eccl. hist. l. 3. cap. 3. in 〈◊〉 penè Septentrionalium Scotorum & omniu● Pictorum Mon●sterijs non paru● tempore Arcem tenebat , regendisque eorum populis praeerat Quae videl● ce● Insula ad ius quidem Britanniae pertinet , non magno ab ea s●e●o discreta : Whose Monasterie ( in the Ile● Hydestine ) was n● small ●im● the chiefe house of al● the Monasteries Allmost of all the Northeren Sco● and of the Abbeys of all the Red●hankes , and had th● soueraintie in ruling of then people . Which I le i● very deede , belongeth to the right of Britanie , bein● seu●red from it with a narr●w sea . Sebert King o● the East Angles was conuerted in Burgundie● and brought ouer with him ( who was consecrated after Bishop of his Countrie ) Sain● Felix , and he so honoured the Priests of ou● old British Order , that Saint Furseus on● thereof , comming hither , and with his allowance and donation building a Monasteri● of that Order , King Sebert himself entered into Monasticall life , and was professed ● Mon●ke therein , Regni negotijs cognato suo Egri● commendatis in Monasterio à sancto Furseo sibi constructo habitum Monachalem suscepit : Committing th● affaires of his Kingdome to his Kinsman ●gre●k , he betoocke himselfe to Monasticall habit in a Monasterie ●ounded by S. Furseus .

11. Concerning the Kingedome of the East Saxons , ●igebert their King ioyned herein with the Northumbers and ●as baptized by Bishop Finan of the Scotish Order ad Bishop of his Countrie . C●d that was of the same order and consecrated by S. Finan , he in all his dominions consecrated Priests , and Deacons in all places of Essex , but especially at ●thancester and Tilberie : For although King Seber's sonne of Sledda was a Christian before , ●et he dying , the Countrie vnder his sonnes ●erred and Sigbert ( deadly enemies to Chri●tian profession ) was till then in Infideli●ie .

12. To come to the west Saxons , although ●hey receiued the faith by Saint Birinus sent ●rom Rome , yet at the Baptisme of their King Kinegillus , S. Oswald King of Northū●erland was Godfather vnto him , and he ●arried King Oswald his daughter , and Do●auerunt ambo Reges , both these Kings gaue him ●orchester , sixe miles from Oxford , to settle ●here his Episcopall See . And in the yeare ●35 . He instituted there , Canonic●s se●ulares : secu●r Canons . We reade in the Manuscript of the ●ntiquities of winchester that he builded ●gaine the old Monasterie of winchester , ●ounded in king Lucius time , and did restore ●nto , or in it , againe holy Monckes , which were not long ( if at all ) before Saint Augustines comming , driuen thence : for we are assured that in the time of Constantine , kinsman to king Arthur killing the sonne of Mordred Gildus l. de excid . ●ritan . Matth. ●●estm . Chronic. an . 586. before the Altar of that Monasterie , they were there and without doubt in king Careticus his time in the yeare ●●6 . when and not before Bishops , Priests and Moncks fled into wales . So the Moncks placed there could be no others , but such as had beene Bed . h●sto . Eccles. lib. 4. cap. 13 Manuscr●p● . antiq. ●● vit. S. Wilfridi . Capgrau . ●n catal . in ●od . driuen from thence before , who still in themselues or succession of that order continued in those parts , as in the Scotish and British Order in the Monasteries of Bosenham whe●e Dicul a Scot was Abbot ; in Redford , vnder Abbot Kinebertus ; at Malmesburie , vnder Meildulphus a Scotish Moncke , Natione Scoto , eruditione phylosopho , professione Monacho : By nation a Scot , in lerning a P●ylosopher , in profession a Moncke . Who was so famous there , that he gaue the old name Maildulfesburch to that Guliel . Malmesb. L●ntherius Saxoniae Episcop. in chart . ●● . 675. place , where and vnder whom , in the same disc●pline S. Aldelme after Abbot there was brought vp , A primo aeuo infantiae : from his child●ood . Bishop Eleutherius in his graunt to that house dated 675. proueth there were many Abbots and Abbies in these places in that time .

13. William of Malmesburie with the Antiquities of Glast●●burie assureth vs , that in our ●enowned Abbey of Glastenburie after Saint Augustines comming , and during his ●eing here in the yeare 601. we had our old Moncks in quiet , and peace , their Abbot was ●alled Morgret , the Bishop vnder whom they ●hen liued , Manuto , Manuto Episcopus , and their King , Rex Domnoniae , whose name by the old●esse of the Record is not remembred : Quis is●e Rex fuit scedulae ve●ustas negat scire , he was their Be●efactour and gaue them , or confirmed to ●hem Inswitrin , Terram quae appellatur Inswitrin ●d Ecclesiam ve●ustam concessit , ad petitionem Mor●ret ●iusdem loci Abbatis : The land which is called ●nswitrin he granted to the old Church by the p●ti●iō of Morgret Abbot of that place , and their Bishop Manuto wrote and confirmed it . Ego Manuto Epis●opus hanc chartam scripsi : I Bishop Manute wrote t●i●●aper .

14. Besides this Bishop , England had then ●t Saint Augustines comming diuers Bishops ●ere , ordered or sent by the Popes authori●ie , Saint Asaph in the west , S. Iuo in Hun●ingtonsyhre , S. Lethard in Kent : and others not vnprobably in other places , besides ou● British Bishops in Wales , and those of Scot●and . And to remember but the names of our first Bishops in England after S. Augustines comming besides Kent and London , where ●he and his Associats were Bishops , all which vndoubtedly by all writers Catholike and Protestant , old or new , Monasticall or others , either were of our British old Order , or ioyned with them , that were at that time here .

15. We haue in the North Saint Aidan● Finan , Colman , Tuda , Eata , Cuthbert . Fo● Yorke S. Paulinus the first , by Marianus wa● ex Francia , and staied but onely 6. yeares : after him S. Cedda , S. Wilfride , Bosa , Sain● Iohn called of Beuerlaie brought vp in Sain● Hilda her old Monasterie . At winchester w● had S. Birinus spoaken of before who restored in that Monasterie our old Monckes and ioy●ned with the Northumbers : Agilbertus ● Frenchman who preached long in Ireland ioyned ●lso with the Northumbers : Win● also a Frenchman , and Eleutherius remembred before . In Li●hfeild we had Diuma , o● Dwyna a Scot hauing all Middle England for his Dioces , so had sixe or seuen of his Successours , all such vntill the yeare 678. Cellac●● Scot , Trumhere , Ianuman , Cedda , winfride , Saxulf . I passe ouer all the old Sees i● wales knowne and confessed by all to haue had none but such Bishops .

16. Such also was the ordinarie and vniuersall pietie and sanctitie of our old holy Priest● and Preachers of that time , before any later Order was receiued , euen of the laie people conuerted and taught by them , as the learned Saint Bede then liuing much be waileth the great change , and alteration saying : In tantum Beda l. 3. Hist. ●ccles . Angl. cap. 5. au●●m vita ill●us ( Aidani ) à nostri temporis segnitia dist●bat , vt omnes qui cum eo incedebant , siue aettonsi ●●ue laici meditari debe●ent , id est , aut legendi● Scripturis , aut Psalmis discendis : S. Aidan his lif● ●as so farre different from the slouthfulnesse of our ●e , that all those which went with him , wheather ●onckes , or Laickes were to meditate , that is , they ●ere to bestowe their time either in reading Scripture , ● learning the Psalmes . And in an other place ●●aieth thus of Bishop Colman ( who dispu●d with Saint Wilfrid ) and of his Prede●ssours : Bed . hist● . ecclesiast. l. 3. ca. 26. Quantae autem parsimoniae ●uiusque conti●tiae fueri● ipse cum praedecessoribus suis , testabatur ●am ipse locu ; , quem regeba● : Of how great abstinen● and continencie he was with his Predecessours the ●ce it selfe which he ruled , did witnesse , where , ●en they went away , very few howses besides the ●urch remained , and these howses onely without ●ch ciuill conuersation could not continue . They had ●onie , nothing but cattell . If they receiued any mo● of the riche , presently they gaue it to the poore . All care of those Doctours then was to serue God and not worlde . All their desire was for the soule , and no●●bellie : wherevpon in that time the habite of Reli● was in greate reuerence , so that wheresoeuer ●●st or Moncke did come , he was , ioyfully receiued ●ll , as the Seruant of God . And if any trauailing ●eir iornie did meete him ( a Priest ) bending ●selues they reioyced to be signed with his hande , ●ssed by his mouth . They gaue diligent eare to his ●rtatiōs . Vpon the sondayes they floc●ed to the Church ●onasteries to be instructed in the word of God . If Priest chanced to come into a villadge the Inha●ts presently came together , and desired to receiue ●ord of life from him . For there was no other cause ●riests or Ecclesiasticall men to goe to villadges , but to speake briefely , to ●uer soules . And they were so 〈◊〉 from all infection of couetousnesse , that they would n● ( except compelled by the riche men of the world ) ●●ceiue lands or possessions to build Monaste●ies . Whi● custome was gen●rally obserued in the Churc●es of t●●ingdome of Northumberland , sometime af●erward● Thus of Saint Aidan their first Ap●st●e , an● of his Dis●iples and people by him conue●ced , and although he kept Easter otherwi● then those did which came from Rome , y● he was , and worthily beloued of all , euen ● the Archbishop of Canterburie Honori● for his workes of faith , pietie , and chariti● and during his life that difference was patie●tly endured . And this was not an errour c●mon to all Scots , but to some of them , for Ro● and others impugned it . And when it was ro●ted out , it was not done by Monckes or othe● Bed . l. 3. 4. 5. Guliel . Malmesb. Matth. Westm. Floren. ●●ig●rn . from Rome , but as Saint ●ede and othe● prooue either by the Po●es admonition , as ● Ireland , by Bishop Agilbertus , and Sai● Wilfride in Northumberland , and in oth● place , by Saint Egbertus , Adamnanus a● others of their old owne Order and prof●sion .

17. In this I haue the longer insisted , ●● onely for the glorie and honour of those o● Fathers in Christ , ( not iustly to be tak● from them , to be giuen vnto others , and t● it is the honor of our English Priests a● Catholiks to be heires , successours , a● children to such Antecessours and parent● Religion ; ) But because it is the most common Dauid P●w●ll . ●● anno●a● . in l. 2. ●●raldi Cambren . de 〈◊〉 . Cambr. Io. Bal. in Act. R●man . po●●ific . l. 2 ●● G●egor . 1. Francis . Godwin conuers . of B●i● . p. 4● . Fulk . answ . 〈◊〉 cont. Cain . p 4 ▪ Middl●to ▪ papist . pag. 202. Foxe A●● . and Me● . pag. 463. edit. an. 1576. Io. G●s● . lin. H●●●or . e●clesiast . Matth. parker . Antiqui● . Brit. pag. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. receiued , allowed , and approued opinion , and confession of our English Protestants , and those their best learned in their estimation ( to write in their owne very words . ) At the comming of Augustine there florished with ●he Britans the preaching of the truth , sincere do●trine , liuelie faith , and the pure worship ●f God , ●uch as from the Apostles themselues was by Gods cō●aundement deliuered to the Churches . The Britans ●efore Augustines comming continued in the ●aith of ●hrist euen from the Apostles time . After the Britans ●mbraced the saith of Christ they neuer forsooke i● , nei●er when Augustine came into the Iland . So many ●nd so great a number of the old names of Priests ●oncks , Abbots , Prelates , Bishops , Churches , Ab●eyes and Sees , which haue beene in euery age , doth ●fficiently prooue , that the ghospell which was preached ● Britanie in the first times of the Apostles , was not ●ely allwaies firmely retained , but in euery age aug●ented , and dilated , did increased . Many of the Chri●an Britans fearing the crueltie of Dioclesian , fleed ● the Scots , among whome very many renowned for ●arning and Integritie of life remained still in Sot●d , and liued a solitarie life in so great opinion of ●ctitie with all men , that after their deaths thei●●lls were chaunged into C●urches . And therevpon it ●ained a custome to posterity , that the old Scots cal● Churches , Cells . This kind of Moncks men called ●ldeys worshippers of God . The later Kinde of ●onckes was in learning and holinesse so farre ●eriour vnto them , how much in riches , ceremonies , and other externall manner of Rites they exceeded th● Theater of great Britanie l. 6. Georg. Buchan . Rer. Scotiear . l. 4. Reg. 35. l. 5. Reg. 49. Reg ▪ 65. When Augustine was sent by Gregorie , the Britan● were instructed by Moncks which that age had , learned and Godly . Many scotish Moncks for loue ● Godlinesse trauatled into France and Germanie an● preached the Christian doctrine about Rhene , an● builded Monasteries in many places . For there were y● among the Scots many Moncks of the old disciplin● And the Germans gaue that memori●●nto them , th● euen to our age of Protestants , they made Scots Rulers ● them . Apud Scotos enim adhuc mults erant Monac● vetere D●sciplin● nondum extinctâ literis & piet●● insignes : Man● worthy Mon●ks both for the ●● Discipline not yet extinguished , learning and pie●i● were ye● among the Scots . Iohn Capgraue of th● Order of Eremites very learned in Protestā● ●apgrau . in vit. S. Br●ndani . Iudgment liuing vntill the yeare 1464. ● witnesse that the auntient Rule of the Monck● written by S. Brendan remained vntill h● time : Brendanus scripsit ex ore Angeli sanctam R●gulam , quae vsque hodie m●ne● : Brendanus wrote fro● the mouth of an Angell that holy Rule , which to th● day continueth . And no doubt but that his holy Order , and that of our Carmelites , as als● our Carthusians most renowned here , ha● discent from thence .

18. Their Religion was by the Protestant the true Apostolike Religion , and yet the● agreed in all essentiall things with those th● came from Rome , with Saint Augustine wh● brought hither the same Religion ( as befor● is related ) which our Catholicks now pro●esse , and our Ance●●ours Saxons receiued ●om them . And the chiefest among them in ●ll part whatsoeuer , agreed with the Church ●f Rome , and had their Apostolike power ●nd allowance thence : So S. Kentegern that S. As●p● . in v●● . S. Kenteger . Capgrau . in ●od . ●ent seuen times to Rome and was approued ●ere , and at his death gaue seuere charge to ●is Disciples in numbe● 9●5 . fi●mely to ob●rue and keepe the D●crees and Ordinances ●f the holy Roman Church : Conuocatis Disci●lis fuis de obseruatione sanctae Religionis mutuae cha●atis , pacis , hospital●●atis , 〈◊〉 lectionis , ac oratio●s instantia , hortaba●ureos . De Sanctorum Patrum ●ecretis , sanctaeque Romanae E●cl●siae inst●t●tis fir●ter custo●tendis , fortia de it ac dereliquit pracepta : ●lling togeather his D●sciples he exborted them to ●e objeruan●e of holy Religion , mutuall Charitie , ●ace , hospitalitie , and of exact diligence in reading ●d prayer . For the constant keeping of the Decrees ● the holy Fathers , and the Institutes of the holy Vit. S. A●●ph . Bal●●ntis . in As●pho . Godwin . catal . in Asaph . veremund . hist. Hector Boeth . Scotor . hist l. 9. Holinsh , hist. of ●cotl . ●oman Church , he gaue and left forcible precepts . ●int Asaph Bishop , a Britane Ruler of so ●any Apostolike men here in Britanie , in all ●ings agreed with Rome , and had Appro●tion and power thence . So S. Molochus ●ost renowned , ioyning in all things with ●e Roman Legate ▪ ●ain● Bonifacius ▪ Q●iri●s and those that came with him . Therefore ● cannot be questioned , but our Saxon An●stours then receiu●d the ame faith and Re●gion we Catholike , now professe , and so ●ffer for profession thereof , which will be in euery particular most manifest , in that whic● now shall followe , concerning Articles i● Protestant Religion , and euery of them th● is against Catholike Religion .

THE IIII. CHAPTER .

The Religion of the Apostles , of our pr●matiue Christian Britans , of the fir● Christian Saxons , and of our now pe●secuted Catholiks , prooued to be o● and the same in euery Article , agai● Protestants and Persecutours .

1. It is proued before , and confessed ● all , both Catholi●ks and Protestant● that the difference betweene Saint Augusti● and our Britans , was of thinges Ceremoni● and whereas our Protestants finde much fa● Girald . C●mbren . descript . Camb cap. 18. Dauid Powell . annot●t . in eund . at our Ceremonies , which it pleaseth them ● te●me Popish , Giraldus Cambrensis the le●ned British Bishop and writer , setteth th● downe , which the Britans kept otherw● then the Romans , which are more Popish a● Papisticall by Protestants Iudgment , t● the Romans were . It is strange among ● best Authors how the Britans should diffe● ●l obseruation of Easter , or any thing else ●om Rome ( but by the Iniurie of the trou●●s here by warrs hindering entercourse thi●er and from thece ) for from the beginning , as ●e●ore , and in euery age we had our chiefe ●ling Bishops , and Priests from thence : in ●e first , from S. Peter : in the second age , ●om Saint Eleutherius ; in the third , from Pope ●ctor ; in the fourth , by Saint Ninian , and ●hers comming , and sent from thence ; in the ●t , from S. Celestine by S. Palladius , Saint ●ermanus , Lupus , Patrick , Seuerus , and ●hers , in the sixt , by S. Kentegerne , S. A●h , S. Iuo , S. Lethard , and others before , Augustine . And to make a briefe mention euery Article in particular , now contro●sed with these Protestants , as they are con●ned in their booke of Articles : These our ●tient Britans and Scots retaining their ● Apostolike doctrine ( as these man said ) ●eed in euery Article with the present Ca●liks , and in them all dissented from Pro●ants .

● . They had the Scripturs from the Ro● Eleuthe● . Pap. epist. ad Lucium Reg. Brit. Gild. l. de excid . & conquest . Britan. Church , those which Catholikes hold ● for Scripturs , so Eleutherius himselfe , ●ildas and others proue . That they did ● hold all needfull thinges to be contained ●criptures , but some by Traditions , their ●ifold Traditions in many matters of mo●t by Protestant confession , is a manifest ●ument , and will appeare in many Articles following . And this is euident in the● Gild. supr. Hist. Brit. antiq manuscript . confessed Sac●ifice of Masse , and sacrifici● Priesthood , being to offer Sacrifice for th● liuing and dead , as Protestants confesse ; an● that in all Masses , there is the doctrine a● practice of Transsubstantiation , and Re● presence , the doctrine and practise of Pu●gatorie and praier for the dead , of prayi● vnto Saincts , and their protection of diue● orders ecclesiasticall which Protestants ha● not ; the doctrine of merits and good dee● deniall of Iustification by faith onely ▪ a● almost all doctrines which Catholikes ho● and Protestants denie to be contained in Scr●tures , or to be professed ; which Catholi● doctrines against these Protestants in th● Articles of Religion , they themselues acnowledge 〈◊〉 ●al l. 2 〈◊〉 . Roman . 〈…〉 . to be contained in the old Masse● the Britans , the Papisticall Masse , Missae P●s●ica , as some of them terme it before S. ●lestins time .

3. And to speake in order of euery pa●cu●ar , in their Articles that is now questned , Antiquit. ●last . Gulielm . M●l●● . l. de antiq. coe●●b . Glast . Io. Capgr●u . Catalog . in ● . Iosep● . Arimath . omitting the rest . Their Article intitul● of the Iustification of man , asscribing Iustificat●● to faith onely , is vtterly condemned by ● Penitentiall an Order , as I haue recited fr● the Britans , their so many Monasteries in ● ages , by the liues of our first Religious , S● Ioseph of Arimathaea and his fellowes liu● Eremits all their life , in watchings , fastin● and praiers , so performing their deuout ● ●es to God and the blessed virgin , In vigilijs , ●iunijs & or●tionibus vacantes De● & Beatae Vir●●● deuota exhibentes obsequia . So did their ●uc●essours after them , and all British Religious ● other places : So kings and Princes , Bishops ●d greatest learned men , all which ( by our ●●o●estan●s ) truely beleiued , and had true ●ith ▪ though they vndertooke such penall ad ●tisfactorie course● of life . And there great ●arned Doctour , Priest , Historian and Reli●ous man in that Penitentiall O●d●r Saint Gild. Prolog . in lib. ●● exci● . & c●nqu●●t . 〈◊〉 . ●ildas wrote : Sciebam misericordiam Domini , sed ● iudicium timebam Laudaham gratiam ▪ sed reddi●nem vnicuique secundum opera sua verebar : I did ●owe t●e m●rcie of our Lord , but yet I did ●eare his ●dgment , I praysed his grace , but I did dread his re●ard ac●ording to euery ones worckes ▪ which con●mneth our Protestants pretended assuring ●sti●ying faith .

4. Their Article stiled Of workes of supere●gation , teaching , such work●s cannot be tau●ht ●thout arrogancie , is confuted by those Britans ● that is ●aid , as an arrogant saying , ●or if ●e Britans , or any other peop●● had beene ●ounde to such workes of Perfection , such ●haritie , Chastitie , Obedience , voluntarie ●ouertie , to so many Religious Foundations ● they performed and the like ; they that ●e not so must needs be damned , because ● grossely they breake God ▪ Commaunde●ent , among which Protestants recount ●ese , and whatsoeuer man is able to doe in this life , in this their Article .

5. The Britans did not hold with thes● Protestants in their Article intituled of th● Church , That the Church of Rome had erred in ma●ters of faith , otherwise they would not as before haue so diligently and dutifully followed , and obeyed it in all ages : and if th● Church of Rome had then erred , the Britan● still following the doctrine thereof , ●ad als● erred ●n such thinges , which our Protestan● haue before generally denied : And the ●●preme head of the Protestants Church ● England , King Iames in open Parlame● K. Iames speache in ●is 1. Parlam . pronounced of the Church of Rome : It w● a Rule to all , both in doctrine and Ceremonies ▪ wh● it was in her florishing and best estate , w●●ch 〈◊〉 he acknowledgeth to haue beene 〈…〉 in that time . And being it is proued to be su● in such estate , still it must be a Rule , as th● it was .

6. Concerning their Article , Of the Auth●ritie Protestant . in their Theater of great Brit. l. 6. with others . of generall Councells , our Britans who tr●uailed so farre vnto such Councells , subscr●bed vnto them in many Articles contrary ● these of Protestants , and euer had them ● great reuerence , ( as our Protestants co●fesse ) and attributed more to them , then the● men doe .

7. Their Article stiled , Of Purgatorie , fighteth against the Catholike doctrine of Pu●gatorie , Pardons , Indulgences , Relicks ●mages , and Inuocation of Saincts . In a● ●ich by our Britans they are condemned ; ●d first in Purgatorie , and praying for the dead . Antiquit. Gl●ston . Manuscr . tabul●● fix . Guli●●●● . Malm●●b . l. de an●●q . 〈◊〉 . gl●st . C●●pgr●● . in S P●tricio . Chart. Arth. an . 531. apud Ca●um l. 1. de an●●quit . ●a●●ab . Acad●m . pag. 69. 70. Manuscri . antiq. de primo statu La●dauen . eccl●siae . ●he old Antiquities of Glastenburie teach , ●at Masse and Praiers were there dayly offe●d for the Christians buried there . Matthew ● westminster and others witnesse , that our ●oto martyr S. Alban praied for the d●ad , ●mmending them to God . King Arthur ●th the consent of all the Bishops and Nobles Britanie , and with licence of the Pope , by ● Charter of Immunitie to the Schollers of ●mbridge reserued praier for the sou●es of ● the kings of Britanie his Auncestours , Pro●edio animarum antecessorum meorum Britanniae ●um . So did King Mauricus to the old ●urch of Landaffe in S. Dubritius time to ●ie for his soule , the soules of all the kings Britanie and all faithfull soules departed , ● this dayly was to be done . Oratione quo●i●â & ecclesiastico seruitio pro anima illius , & ani●us ●arentum suorum Regum & Prin●ipum Bri●iae , & omnium fidelium defunctorum : In dayly ●er and Church seruice for his soule , and the soules ●is parents , Kings and Princes of Britanie , and of ●he faithfull dead . The Britans in London ●nded a Church to such purpose to con●ue for euer : In qua pro ipso ( Rege ) & fide●ibus Car●●oe . Naucarb●nen . ●ist . de vit S. Gildae man . an●i● . ●nctis obsequia aeternaliter celebrarentur diuina : In ●●b diuine seruice should be allwa●se celebrated for ● ( the King ) and the faithfull which are dead . ●nt Gildas praied dayly for the soule of his other deceased . Orabat pro spiri●u fraterno quotidiè . So too many to be recited .

8. Concerning , Pardons or Indulgences , S. and Antiquit. Gl●st . Chare . S. Pariti Guli●lm . Malmesb. l. Antiq. ●oen●b . Gl●st . Gapgrau . in S. Patric●o . Io. Leland in Artha . Antiqui● . G●●st . Tabul . Fix . Pope Eleutherius by the mediatio of our Apostles Saint Damianus and Phaganus graunted , Decem annos Indulgentiae , tenne yeares Indulgence , for all Pi●grim● to Glast●burie , and 30. yeare● Indulgence to Bishops Pilgrims . And Sain● Celestine Pope graunted 12. yeares Indulgē● to it . And Saint Patricke an hundred dai● Indulgence , S. Patricius dedit centum dies Indugentiae .

9. Touching holy Images , from the fir● entrance of Christians heere , they were he●vied with due reuerence Saint Ioseph and h● holy compan●e brought hither , vsed here , an● after their deathe●● left here the Image● of t● Crosse , and others , Figura● nostrae R●demptio●● aliasque figuras manifestas And these and suc● holy signes ●ere ●uch certa●ne signes of Chr●stians that when Saint Damianus and Ph●ganus Britan : Antiquus . Manuscript . Antiq & Capgrau . in vit. S. Alb●n . Ia●ob . Gennuen . in ●od . Probus in vit. S. Patricij . Capgrau . in ●od . ● . came hither , they certainely knew ● them , that Christians had dwelled here b●fore . Quibus bene cognouerunt ▪ quod Christiani prilocum Inhabitauerun● . Saint Amphibalus and ● Alban vsed the Image off the Crucifixe wi● such reuerence , as if Christ crucified h● beene present : Quasi pendentem Dominum Ies● in Cruce cernerent . What honour our Emper●● Constantine the great , Saint Helena and o● other Britans then vsed to such signes , ● man can be ignorant off : nor of the deuoti● of S. Patrick vnto them . He neuer passed ● ●he Crosse but he praied there : and signed himselfe 100. times in the day and night with that holy signe . King Conual euer had it Hector Boet. Scot ▪ Histor. l. 9. Holinsh. Hist. Sco●● Buchan . l. 5. c. 47. Gul. mal . Henr. hunting . Bed . de locis sanctis . cap. 5. Hect. Boet. l. 10. Hist. Scotor . Holinsh Hist. Scot. pag. 134. c. of lawes . Girald . Cambren . de script . Camb. c. 18. Io. Damascen . Orat. 2. de dormitione Deiparae . Bonifac. Papa Epist. Th. Wal-Singham . in Edouardo . 1. ●orne before him . King Arthur vsed the Image of the blessed Virgin , with great reue●ence . Our Britans went long Pilgrimages ●ea euen to Hierusalem there to reuerence ●he holy Relicks , and the cloath supposed to ●e made by ●he blessed Virgin containing ●he Images of Christ and his 12. Apostles , Saint ●●de and others more auntient so relating . This was here so pub●ike , that it was thus by ●awe decreed : Aras ●empla , Diuorum statuas , O●atoria , Sac●lla , Sa●●●dotes , omnesque sacrae familiae ●iros ex animo venerantor : Lett all the Altars , ●hurche● , statues of Saints , Oratories , Chapells Priests , ●nd all men apperta●ning to the Church be reuerenced ●om the heart .

10. Concerning holy Relicks , the learned ●ritish B●shop saieth of his Countries , old Chri●ian Britans , that they gaue more reuerence ●nto such , then any other Nation . Sanctorum ●eliquijs longè ●agis quam vl●●m gentem honorem de●rre videmu●●● Ios●ph of ●rimathae a brought ●oly Relicks with him h●●●er , and vsed them ●ith reuerence during th●ir liues , and Saint ●oseph being presen● wit● the Apostles at the ●eath of the blessed V●●gin worshipping her ●cred bodie as Saint Iohn Damascen witnes●th by so great warrant , vsed and left such ▪ ●euerence here . The holy Relicks of S. Peter , ● Saint Bonifacius writeth were occasion or motiue of the Scots Conuersion . All our Histories are full , how in all Persecutions by Pagans , one of the greatest cares of our Christian Britans was , to preserue their holy Relicks . Churches were founded and dedicated to our Martyrs in all places , and their Relicks were there preserued with great veneration . Our greatest Apostolike men , as Saint Germanus , and his holy companie went on Pilgrimage vnto them . No noble person in the world shewed more reuerence vnto such , then our most noble countries wom● Empresse and Queene S. Helena , by all Antiquities . Veremund . Hect. Boet. Scot. hist. The reuerence which was giuen to the Relicks of Saint Andrew the Apostle in the yeare 360. ( which were brought from Patras in Achaia ) by King Hei●gustus , his Nobles , and others , with geneflexions or more , and greatest reuerences , doe not giue place to any now vsed by Catholikes . It was a thinge vsuall in those daies for our Christian Britans to goe on Pilgrimage to Rome , and Hierusalem , to render such reuere●●● there . Saint Dauid , S. Paternus , S. Telia●us , and others our most renowned ad learned did so . All places in Britanie where such Relicks were preserued , as Glastenburie . 〈…〉 , London , Caerlegion , winchester , and others were thus frequented and visited .

11. For Inuocation of Saints it was the Religion of our Britans , from their first faith in Christ , Saint Ioseph and his companie praie● vnto the blessed Virgin , and by her were conforted , Antiqui●● glaston . tabulis fix . Gultel . malm . l. Antiquit. Coen●b . glaston . Io. Capgrau . in Iosepho . with her help in all their needs , Virgi●is Dei genetricis auxilio in necessitatibus suis refocil●●bantur . Saint Phaganus and Damianus buil●ed a Chapell by Glastenburie in honour of Saint Michael the Archangell to be honoured ●here : Oratorium aedificauerunt in honore S. Mihaclis Archangeli , quatenus ibi ab hominibus habe●● honorem , qui homines in perpetues honores iubente ●eo est introducturus : They builded an Oratorie in ●onour of S. Michaell the Archangell , to the end he ●ight there be honoured by men , who by God his ap●intment is to lead men vnto perpetuall ho●ours . So in our first generall Conuersion all Churches were founded , vnto God and his Antiquit ▪ Anonym . Britan. Scripror in vit. S. Amphibali . Iacob . Gennuen ▪ & Io. Capgrau . in eod. Matth. Westm. an ▪ 520. Holinsh. Engl hist pag. 103. Gildas l. de exci● . & Conq. Brit. c. 2● . ●aints . Vni Deo eiusque Sanctis . Saint Amphiba●s that conucrted S. Alban , after his martyr●ome , goeing himselfe to be martyred prated ●to him , and his praier was heard , and mi●culously proued to be holy , good , and ●aunted . The examples of our Emperour ●d Empresse Constantine , and Saint Helena ●e very many and honourable in this kinde ●ith auntient approued writers . S. German ●ur Apostle praied to our Saints here , and as●ribed great effects vnto it . So King Arthur , ●o speake in Protestants words ) He commit●d himselfe and his whole armie to the Tuition of ●rist , and his Mother the Virgin . In the publick ●asse they vsed , there was publicke memorie , ●d Inuocation of all Saints . And in their pu●icke Oathes , as S. Gildas witnesseth , they solemnly called the blessed Virgin , and all Saints to witnesse . So the kings themselues at their Inthroning .

12. Their Article intituled , Of ministring in the Congregation , and whatsoeuer concerning Bishops , Priests , and Clergie men shall be handled hereafter in the particular defence and honour belonging to Bishops and Priests where our Auntient Britans shall with others be made Iudges and Condemners of Protestants , and witnesses for Catholiks in this question ; in the meane time I haue said sufficiently before .

13. Their Article superscribed , Of speaking in the Congregation in such a tongue , as the people vnderstand not : Which was made against the publike Sacrifice and Seruice of the Church , i● the latine tongue is plainely condemned by our Christian Britans their Apostle , Bishop● and Priests from the beginning of their Conuerssion . For neither ●aint Ioseph , nor an● of his companie , nor Saint Damianus Phaganus , Germanus , Lupus , Seuerus , PalIadius , our Apostles , or any such other no● Britans , did vnderstand the British languag● to vse it themselues , or translate the public● seruice into it , for the vse of others . Yet al● doe and must needs confesse , such public● Protestant : in Franc. Godwin co●uers of Brit. cap. 3. pag. 36. men vsed publick Church seruice , which mu● needs be that of the latine Church , the lati● seruice therof : Our Protestants themselu● acknowledge , they were vttery ignorant of t● British language , and that they preached by Interpreters . And as it was proued and iustified by the renowned Abbot D. Fecknam publickly in the first Parlament of Queene Elizabeth . The auntient Historiographer D. Gildas witnesseth in the Prologue and beg●nning of his booke of the Britan histories , that Damianus , and Fugatius ( Phaganus ) sent hither from Pope Elutherius , brought hither th● seruice , Church bookes of their Religion in the latine tongue . And though the Protestants haue suppressed this historie , or Prologue thereof , yet they graunt vnto vs , that Gildas citeth diuers passages of the publick Church Office in latine : So doe our Protestants themselues ( as Foxe and others ) prouing Foxe Act. and Mon. pag. 1142. Sermo seu homil. Antiquit. Saxoni●● supr. they were in latine , before S. Germanus his comming hither . And when S. Lupus and Saint German who both had beene Monckes ●n the learned Monasterie in the Ireland Ly●ine by Marcells in Fraunce ( as an old Bri●ish antiquitie with others witnesseth , ) ●rought hither , vsed and left here the Church ●etuice : Vsed by Saint Marke the Euangelist , after ●y S. Gregorie Nazianzen , S. Basile , S. Anthonie , ●aulus , Macharius , Malchus Cassianus in the Mona●erie Lyrinum , and after him , S. Honoratus Abba●●here , S. Cesa●ius , S. Por●ari●s Abhot there , by S. ●upus and Germanus , both in that Monasterie and ●fter they were made Bi●hops , and in Britanie where ●hey preached , and after them S. Wandilo●us and S. ●omogillus who had in their Monasterie about 3000. ●on●kes . After Wandilocus sent to preach by Saint Gomogillus and Saint Columban into the parts of Gallia and the Monasterie Luxouium vsed there the same Ecclesiasticall Office , ad the fame of their ●olinesse was spred in the whole world , and of their Order many Monasteries both of men and women were founded . Where is euident not onely that the latine Church seruice was vsed by our Britans and Scots , but our Religious , and those of that most learned and noble Monasterie of Lyrinum , and others both in France and Italie ioyned together in these daies . This British Author liued and wrote before the Vnion of the Christian Saxons and Britanie here . Neither our learned Countriman Alcuinus or Albinus Tutor to Charles the great Emperour , most conuersant in such Antiquities , nor Amalarius , nor any other Expositour of old Ecclesiasticall seruice and Ceremonies doe finde any other but latine either in Britanie or any place of the latine Church , taking that denomination chiefely therevpon , as the Greeke Church of their Greek Masse and other publick Offices Ecclesiasticall . S. Bede also maketh this Bed . Hist. ●ccl . Angl. l. 1. cap. 1. manifest for Britanie , where he saith , allthough there were diuers Nations , and peoples , English , Britans , Scots , Picts and Latines yet onely the latine tongue was common to them all in Scripture businesse ▪ Meditatione Scripturarum caeteris omnibus est facta communis . Protest . in Doue pag. 23. 2● . ca. of p●●ier . By the studying of Scripturs is made common t● all the rest . And this is so manifestly true , tha● our Protestants thus confesse it , both of th● Latine and Greeke Church : Vntill of late throughout the West part of the world publick praiers were in Latine , in the East parte in Greeke . Their Edw. Sand ▪ Relation of Relig. c. 53. or 54. ( of the Greeke Church ) Li●urgies be the same , that were in the old time , namely S. Basils , S. Chrysostomes , and Sai●t Gregories translated without any bending of them to that change of languadge , which their tongue hath suffered .

14. Their Article which reiecteth fiue of ●he Seuen Sacraments , Confirmation , Pe●ance , Order , Matrimonie , and Extreme-●nction is vtterly reiected by those our Primatiue Christian Britans ; And first for Con●rmation , Girald . Cam●●●n . d●script . Cambr. cap. 18 their learned Bishop and Antiqua●ie defining it , as Catholikes now doe , to be ●n Vnction by a Bishop with holy Crisme by which ●race is giuen , doth testifie that from their first ●onuersion , all Britans desired and sought it ●ore then any people : Episcopalem confirmatio●em , & chrismatis quâ gratia spiritus datur Inun●ionem , Constant ▪ Magn. in priuel●g . Rom. Eccl●s . apud Isodor . Iunior . Tom. 1. Concil. Hist. Brit. l. 12. c. 18. Conc. l. Ni●on. 1. can . 55. art. 6 Concil. Arelaten can. 8 ▪ prae alia gente totus populus magnoperè petit : ●ll the people did more then any other nation greatly ●sire E●iscopall Confirmation and the annointing of ●hrisme wherby the holy Ghoste is giuen . Constan●ne our great Emperour as he himselfe wit●esseth , receiued this Sacrament of Saint Sil●ster the Pope and king Cadwallader going ● Rome was there confirmed by Pope Ser●us . Our Britans receiued the first Generall ●ouncell of Nice , and were present thereat , ●d consented vnto the great Councell of ●les , in both which it is sufficiently acknowledged for a Sacrame● and signe giuing grace ▪ Conference & Hampton pag. 10. 11. Communion Booke tit . confirmat . Articl . of Protest . Relig. 25. And our Pr●testant● publick authoritie more then in one place acknowledge , it was both vsed by the Apostle● , their tradition ▪ and giuing grace by application of an ex●ernall signe , which in this Article they desine t● be a Sacrament .

15. Concerning the Sacrament of H● Orders I shall speake more plentifully in th● defence and honour of Episcopall and P●iest . Function . And it is sufficently acknowledge● when euen Protestants confesse there is n● teaching , Preaching , Ministring of Sacrament giuing and obtaining grace , remission ● sinnes , and euerlasting happinesse , no tr● Church on earth , no comming to heauen o●dinarily without them . Therefore of a people who ar Christians , ( saie our Briti● Antiquaries , Protestants thereto consentin● Girald . Gambren . descript . Cambr. cap. 18. Dauid Pow●ll . H●ct . ●oeth . hist , Scotor . l. 10. p. 208. Raph●el Holinsh. Histor. of S●ot . pag. ● , 4. or not denying it ) our British Christians ga● much more honour to such persons fro● their first faith . Ecclesiasti●is viris longè magis qu● vllam g●ntē honorem deserentes : Yelding farre m● honour vnto Ec●lesiasticall men then any other co●trie . And the old lawes of the Scots made i● deadly offence to hurt a Priest by word deede : There were not of our persecuti● Protestants opinion : Laedere Christi Sacerd●● dicto sactouè ●xitiale sit . Be it a deadly crime to ● a Priest of Christ either in word or deede . It is ●●taine in our Antiquities , that the Britans all essentiall things had the same ordinati● ●ith the Church of Rome , that they had their ●hiefest consecrating Bishops from thence ; ●nd in some part of Britanie the custome was , Manuser . antiq. & Capgrau . in ● . Wyrone Episcopo . ●hen one was to be chosen Bishop , they sent ●im to Rome to be consecrated by the Pope ●here : Moris erat apud Inco●as Pastorem à se electum Romam mambas Apostolicis ordinandum dirigere , ●dinatumque sedem & plebem reuisere : It wa● the ●stome amonge the Inhabitants to sen● t●●ir Pastour ●● them elected to Rome to be ordained by Apostolicall ●nds , and being ordained to returne to his seate and ●ocke .

1. For Matrimonie , the Sacramentall bond ●ere of was with them so strict and indisso●b●e , Nennius Manusc● . Histor. in Guorth●g●●n . Rege . Matth. Westin . an . 450. Matth. Parker . antiquit. Britan. pag. 7. 8. Protest . annot. in Matth. Westin , an . 454. Stows hist. in Vortigern-Holinsh . hist. in eod , that although before Christianitie ●ere , especially in Scotland and towards that ●ountrie the wantonnesse had beene excee●ing , and not to be mentioned : yet after ●race receiued and giuen by this Sacrament , ● was a chaste and holy people , and more ●rict Lawes and punishments for incontinencie ●ere here prouided , and duely executed , then ●se where . The kings themselues were not spa●d for offending therein , but were excōmuni●ted and deposed , as in the case of king Vorgerne who by S. German the Popes Legate , ●th the aduise of the British Clergie , was ●communicated , and by the whole kinge●me after deposed , as British ●nd Saxon , ●atholike and Protestant Antiquaries thus ●liuer vnto vs . And our Protestants most ●thorised ( among them ) communion Booke in the title of Matrimonie ; and publicke solemnizing thereof , attribute sufficient vnt● it against this Article , to receiue it as a S●crament .

17. Concerning Extreme Vnction there i● yet extant a short written Relation Ab auth●re antiquissime , by a most auntient Author , ● our Protestant Antiquaries acknowledge wherein concerning this Sacrament , S. Iam● the Apostle is expounded as Catholiks do● and is proued that the Britans so professed a● practised it . Whereby we are assured th● the old true beleeuing Britans receiued a the seuen Sacraments as Catholiks now do● And yet if after so great losse and hauoc● made of their Antiquities we had prou● they had vsed fower or three , this had co●demned these Protestants admitting one two , for such .

18. That it was receiued and vsed al● with these true Catholike Britans to re●eru● and some times to receiue also the Blessed S●crament G●ld . ● d●●xcid . & conquest . Britan. Manuscr . Antiqu. & C●●grau . in vit. S. 〈◊〉 Con● . Turonen . 2. can. 3. of the ●ltar in one onely kinde , and not in b●● we haue ample testimonie . Saint Gildas vp● such vsed reseruation there of vpon their h●ly Altars , calleth the Altar the Seate of ● h●auenly sacrifice . Sedes coelestis Sacrificij , Not o●ly therevpon offered , but as seated , perm●nent and preserued . An old British Antiqu●tie deliuereth , it was the vse here for such ● were daungerously sicke To receiue Extre● vnction , and communicate thus in one kinde . So is in Ireland . So in little Britanie receiuing Gregor. Turonen . l 1. de gloria mariyr . c. 86. l. 1. de vit. Patr. c 3. Conc. Nican. 1. can. 3. 63. Arahic . Conc. Are●la●●n . ●e faith from hence , and our Britans : and it as so decreed there in the second Councell of ●urs in the yeare 570. Vt Corpus Domini sub cru●titulo componatur . That the bodie of our Lord should placed vnder the title of the Crosse . Gregorius Tu●ensis recordeth it to be an old Custome those parts : And more ouer relateth how holy Bishop S. Gallus there did communi●e many people in one kinde onely . This stome is remembred and approued in the ●t Nicen Councell which the Britans re●ied , and that of Arles to which their ●hbishop of London Restitutus for Brita● subscribed . And our Protestants by pu●k statute and Parliament , haue declared , ● in the Primatiue Church , Communion ● vsed sometimes in both kindes , and ●etimes in one onely . Therefore there was expresse commaund of Christ , euen by ●e men against one kinde : otherwise it ●ld not haue so beene vsed , nor could king ●ard the 6. Q. Elizabeth , king Iames and Protest . Parlament an . 1. Edw. 6. An. 1. Eliz. An. 1. Iac● Parl. 1. Caroli . ● Charles so determine and decree it in ●lick Parlaments .

●● . Their libertine wanton doctrine For ●iage of Priests is sufficiently confured by Britans before , no example to be giuen ●ng them of any one such married man , among so many thousands in so many ●asteries , Colledges , and other places , in ● Regiment here , in which not any one such , as lawfull and allowed Marriage , is ● be found . The Nicen Councell here then ●ceiued , and whereat our king and Empero● with others of this Nation were present , do● disalowe it . Paphnutius himselfe there call● Concil. Nicaen . can. 3. it , the old tradition of the Church , Veter● Ecclesiae Traditionem , That Priests might a● marrie : Vt qui●unque in Sacerdotum Ordinem le● Soz●m . hist. aeccl . l. 1. cap. vlt. 22. g●rentur , si coniuges nondum essent , nè ducerent vxo● That whosoeuer should be chosen vnto the Orde● Priests , if they were not yet married , they should marrie . Which is the case of Protestants , if th● Concil. Arelaten . ● . can. 2. had true Priests . Like hath the Councell Arles to which our Britans subscribed . A●mi aliquem ad Sacerdotia non posse in vinculo co●gij constitutum , nisi fuerit promissa conue●sio , N● which are married can be assumed to Priesthood , lesse they promisse continancie .

20. The rest of their Articles neede ● this Examine , little differing from Cat●likes , or to smale purpose . Therefore the ● of Catholieks in England concerning R●gion being thus holy , and warrantable w● God and men , they which be the Teach● and Preachers of such sacred rights , ● keepers of others to performe them , suc● our renowned Bishop and Priests be , sho● not be persecuted but honoured , and reue●ced of all . But because the malice of Perse● tours hath procceeded so farre against th● which haue so well deserued , and ought be better respected , I must take leaue of th● Enimies to giue our holy Bishop and Priests , ●me parte of their due and honour belon●g to their sacred Orders , Functions , and ●r●ons .

THE V. CHAPTER .

●at the Consecration , Iurisdiction , and mis●ion of our Catholike Bishop ( teaching the same Apostolicall Doctrine in all things with the Catholike Church ) is most lawfull , holie , orderlie , and honourable , in that his sacred call●ng is most worthie , and necessarie , and therfore he vnw●rthi●ly Persecuted .

SO honourable and eminent is the name and Office of sacred Bishops , that no●●ly the holy Apostles in holy Scripturs , Apostolick Fathers are so named , but ●ist himselfe by the greatest Apostle is sti● Bishop of our soules : Episcopus animarum 1. Pet. ● . ●arum . And that sacred Order is so necessarie ●e Church ( euery one in particular to rule gouerne it , to confer holy Priesthood , and other Orders , to minister Sacrament Preach , Preserue , and continue it , and d● other their most needfull offices therein ) th● if we will beleeue the holy Scripturs , the ●postolick Fathers of the Apostles age , ● continuall Tradition and doctrinall pract● of the true Catholick Church from the● euen by Protestants confessions , and the te●monies of themselues against themselues ( t● now persecute an holy and learned Bishop ● being a Bishop and receiuing Episco● Order and power whence all our Bish● hitherto haue , and must deriue it ) it is w● out question , that as no other degree or ●nitie whatsoeuer is so eminent in spirit affaires ; So none in such matters and nec●ties is so behofull and needfull : None so m● to be honoured , reuerenced and desired , ● in the greatest Persecutions .

2. In holy Scripturs the flock of C● and gouernment of his Church is commi● vnto them wh●n it is saied , vnto them : Att● Act. 20. vobis & vniuerso gregi in quo vos spiritus sanct● suit Episcopos regere Ecclesiam Dei , quam acq● sanguine suo . Take heede to your selues , and to the ● flocke , wherein the holy ghost hath placed you Bi● to rule the Church of God , which he hath pur● with his owne bloud . Where it is saied : Fi●e●mo , 1. Tim. 3. si quis Episcopatum desiderat , bonum opus d●rat Asatthfull saying . If a man desire a Bishops ● he desi●eth a good worke . Si quis domnisuae prae●●●ci● , quomode ecclesiae Dei diligentiam habebit ? If ● ●w not to rule his owne howse : how shall he haue ●e of the Church of God ? where it is saied : Oportet ●iscopum sine crimine esse , sicut Dei dispensatorem . Tit. 1. Biohop must be without crime , as the steward of God . ●here S. Peter saith to such : Pascite qui in vobis ● g●egem Domini . Feede the flocke of God which is ●ong you . Neque vt dominantes in Cleris , s●d formae 1. Pet. 5. ●i greg● . Nei●●er as ouerruling the Clergie , but exā● of the flocke Where S. Paul saieth to S. Titus ●hop : Huius reig●atia reliqui to Cretae , vt ea quae Tit. 1. 〈◊〉 corr●gas , & constituas per ●iuitates presbyteros , ● & ●go disposui tibi : For this cause lest I thee in ●e , that thou shouldest reforme the things that are ●ting , and shouldest ordaine Priestes by cities , as so appointed thee . Here they be Rulers , Go●nour● , Fathers and so they must needs be ●oured , reuerenced and obeyed of the●r ●iects and chi●d●en : And as the Scripture ●h expressely commaund temporall obe●ce , vnto temporal Rulers : A●mone illos Tit. 3. ●cipibus & Potestatibu● subditos esse , dicto obedire : ●onish them to he subiect to Princes and Potestats , ●y at a word , So it doth most expresly and ●tly commaund obedience and subiection ●ese our spirituall Rulers : Obedite Prae o●●●estris , Heb. 13. & subiac●te eis , ipsi e●im peruigilant , quasi ●●m pro animabus vestris reddi●u●● , Obeye your ●●s , and be subiect to them . For they watch , as ● to render account for your soules .

Ignatius Successor to S. Peter at An●h , saith : Quid aliud est E●iscopus , qu●m is qui Principatu & Potestate superior est ? Episcopi sun● Sacerdotes baptizant , sacrificant , eligunt , inanus imponunt . Nemo Episcopo honorabilior in Ecclesia , Sacerdotium Deo gerenti pro mundi salute . Pre byteri & Diaconi atque omnis Clerus simul cum populo , & Militibus atque Principibus sed & Caesares obebiant Episcopo . Decet ob●d●re Episcopo , & in nullo illi refragari● terribile namque est tali contradicere . Episcopo subiect estote velut Domino , ipse enim vigila● pro ani●ab● vestris vt qui rationem Deo reddi●urus sit . Nec●●itaque est quicquid facitis , Vt sine Episcopo nihil t●●●e●is . Quemcunque Paterfamilias mi●tit ad gul erna●dam familiam ●unc it a accipere debetis vt illum ips● qui m●etit . Episcopum aspicere oportet , vt ipsum D●minum . Sine Episcopo n●mo quicquam faciat eorun quae ad Ec●lesi●m spectant . Hono●a Deum . vt omnu● authorem , & Dominum Episcopum verò vt Princips Sacerdotum Imaginem De● referentem : Dei quidem prop ▪ Principa●um Christi ve●ò propter Sacerdotium . Ho●rare oportet & Regem : neque enim Rege quisqu● praestantior , aut quisquam similis illi in rebus omnil● creatis : neque Episcopo , qui Deo consecratus est , ●totius mundi salute , quit quam maius in Ecclesia . W● else is a Bishop , but he that is Superiour to all prin●palitie and power Bishops are Priestes , they Baptiz● they off●r sacrifice , they chose others , they imp● hands . None is more honourable then the Bishop the Church excricising Priesthood before Allmight God for the Saluation of the world . Priestes , Deac● and all the Clergie together with the people , Souldi● and Princes , yea and Kings should obey the Bish● and not contradict him in any thing . Be yea sub● vnto the Bishop , as vnto our Lord , for he doth w● ●uer your soules , as who is to render an account to God . Therefore it is necessarie , that whatsoeuer you doe , that you attempt nothing without the Bishop . Whom so euer the good man of the house doth send to gouerne his familie , you ought so to receiue him , as if it were himselfe who sendeth him You ought to receiue the bishop , as our Lord himselfe . Without the Bishop let no man doe any thing which appertainet● to the Church . Honour God as the Authour and Lord of all but the Bishop as the Prince of the Priestes , bearing the ●ma●ge of God : of God indeede , for his principalitie ; and of Christ for his Priesthood you ought also to honour the King ▪ for neither any is chiefer then the King , ●r any licke vnto him in all created things : nor is there any in the Church of God greater then the Bi●hop , who is conjecrated to God for the health of the whole world .

4. S. Clement Successour to S. Peter at Rome , saieth from S. Peters mouth : Omnes Principes terrae & ●unctos homines Episcopis obedire ▪ & capita sua ubmittere , eorumque adiutores existere prae●i●iebat Pe●rus Apostolus . Omne● qui eis contra●eniant , ita damnatos & in●am●s , vsque ad satisfactionem monstrabat : & nisi conuerterentur , à liminibus Ecclesiae alienes esse praecipiebat . O Episcope , ( saith he ) stude mundicie operum excellere , cognosc●n● locum ac dignitatem tuam , tanquam locum Dei obtinens , eò quòd praees omnibus Dominis , Saccrdotibus , Regibus , Principibus , Patri●us , Filijs , Magistris atque Subditis simul omnibu● , Iudica ô Episcope cum potestate ▪ tanquam Deus . Episcopus est media●or inter Deum & vos . Is pietatis magister est , is post Deum Pater vester ▪ ●s princeps & dux vester , is Rex vester , & Dynasta , denique is terrenus Deus post Deum , cui à vobis honor debetur . Episcopus Dei dignitate ornatus est , qua●enus Clero pr●e●● , & omni populo imperat : Peter the Apostle commanded all Princes of the earth , and all men to obeye the Bishops , and to submit their heads vnto them , and to be their helpers . All those which should speake against ●hem he did declare them so to be infamous an damned , vn●ill they had made satisfaction . And vnlesse they would be conuerted , he commanded that they shoul● not p●rticipate of the Chu●ch . O Bishop ( saieth he ) studie to excell in the puritie of thy workes , considering thy place and dignitie , as possessing God his place , in that thou goest b●fore all Lords , Priests , Kings , Princes , Fathers ▪ Soones , Maisters , and also all subiects . O Bishop iu●ge wi●h all power , as God . The Bishop is mediatour betweene God , and you . He is the maister of pietie , he after God is your Father , he is your Prince and Captaine , he is your King , and Ruler ▪ and lastly after God he is your terrene God , w●om you oug●t to honour and reuerence . The Bishop is adorned with the dignitie of God , as he is chiefe of the Clergie , and ruleth all people

5. The like haue S. Dionysius the Areopagite , S. Anacletus and others , our English Protestant● so confessing So they teach with holy Scriptures , there is no other inferior Order of Priesthood , Deacons , or others , to preach or minister any Sacrament , or doe any spirituall thing in the Church , but by consecration from Bishops . Neque laico permi●u●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 consequen●iam rerum didicerimus , Episcopis quidem assignauimus , & a●tribuimus , quae ad principatum Sacerdotij pertin●nt : Presbyteris vero quae ad Sacerdotium : Deinde Diaconis , quae ad ministrandum vtriusque , vt pu●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 Clericorūfacere . Ostensum est An●istitum Ordinem perficientem esse , & perfectionis authorem Non licet sine Episcopo baptiz●●e , neque dothen celebrare . Neither doe we permit ●he Lae●ie to doe any Priestly functi●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 ●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 P●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 Deacons , 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 common 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 Puritans 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 graunte , 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 Chu●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 them 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 Sub●ect to Excommunication .

7. Which neither king , Nobles , or vnnoble , no meanest Protestants of England can ●oubt , feare , or pretend against the Bishop of Chalcedon , he neither hauing or claiming the ●easte spirituall power or Iurisdiction ouer ●ny one great or little , highe or lowest Protestant in England . His Episcopall , both Order ●nd Iurisdiction which ( as he construeth ) be●ongeth vnto it , extending onely to Catho●iks of this kingedome , to keepe them in good order , and loyall dutie both to God and ●heir king , as good Catholik Bishops doe , ●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 disobedience 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 . Which 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 : We cannot any thing against 2. Cor. 13. the truth : but for the truth , and , potestatem quam Dominus dedit mihi in aedification●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 act● of Religion , be as daungerous , and require as great , and greater assemblies . A publike setled Consisto●ie , in any place or ●laces to be set vp , could not but with ●onde ●maginations be thought vpon , were the Iudg ●ad not vbi reclinet caput suum . Probate of pu●like wills , administrations , Tithes , Con●racts , Marriages , Diuorces , Alimonie , Bas●erdie , and publike slanders among Protestants ●aue publike Protestant Courts , and all or ●any mixt with our temporall lawes . Many ●f the remembred instances , as Tithes , and ●asterdies , concerning , inheriting lands , and ●onours determinable onely by our tempo●all lawes , with others , cannot come to his au●●ence , except such imaginaries could a●d ●ould put Ministers out , and Priests into ●e Benifices of England . A secret and consioable ending of many of these matters among ●atholikes , though iuridically , can be no ●ore daunger in a Bishop , then in a Regula●●rieste . If diuersitie of Iudgments should ●me time happen in the Iudgment of one a ●shop giuen in priuate , the inconuenience ●uld be lesse the now it is by the I●dgements ● many Priests , all of them as much differing ●m the Protestants Censures , and ●ribunals as those by a Bishop would be . Yet these few● cases would chance but seldome . We see the Queenes Priests of France and Sotland to be permitted by the king and state to dea●e with English Cathol●ks ●ome times br●nging such ca●es . So are all Priests of all Orders , ( litle pleasing vnto the ) necessitated to doe so ▪ But seeing there can be no daunger by suc● secret procedings , none can take that offic● from a learned Bishop and leaue it to euer● Priest , learned or not .

9. Such or greater difficulties were fro● the Apostles time , and therein , in them an● Bishops their Successours among Ethnic● and Pagan Princes ; yet the holy Scripturs before , and Apostolike men , haue taught a● men obedience vnto Bishops , euen in su● daies , and all good Christians did so ob● them . Saint Peter in Scripture strangely e● communicated Ananias and Saphira ; So d● S. Paul Hymineus , Alexander , and the ince●tuous Corinthian ; So did the other Apostl● among Pagans , exercise spirituall Iurisd●ction , So did all Bishops among Infidels , v● till the Emperours and Princes more differi● from Catholiks the Protestants should , we● conuerted : yet at that time they exercised sp●rituall Iurisdiction , and the Christians obey● them . And now at this time and long vnd● the Turks , Tartars , Chinenses ▪ and other e●mies to Catholiks , Catholik Bishops doe e●ercise their Iurisdiction among the Christi● and all obeye ●t . This is the case of Catholiks vnder their Bishop in Holland , among the Protestant Ho●landers . And in his Maiesties Dominion in ●re●and , where Bishops are and doe exe●cise t●eir Iu●isdicti●n , Catholiks obeying them . And it is Christs ord●nance that ●● they should doe . God forbid any bearing the name Catholike in England , ( ●o renowned for holy Con●essou●s of true Religion in this time ) should be wanting in ●uch dutie , or any other .

10. But because our Protestant Persecu●ours pretend most exception against the Bishop of Chalcedon for d●riuing Iurisdi●tion from the ●ee of Rome , we must needs ●ith all antiquitie deliuer vnto them , that in ●uery age from Christ , we here in Britani●●aue receiued Bishops and Pastours with ●heir Iurisdiction , from the S●e o● Rome and ●hat highest Papall power and authoritie . ●Ve haue spoaken before how in the fi●st Age ●aint Peter the first Pope o● Rome consecra●d Bishops , and Pri●sts , and founded ●hurches here ▪ We a●de ●urther , how our Pro●stants eue● king Iames himselfe and others ●y his and their greatest authoritie , con●sse of the Apostolik Church : It is our mot●er ▪ ●urch . And Adde . Est capu● Roma quatenus ab ea ●ffasum est Euang●lium in reliquas t●●●us O 〈◊〉 ●cl●sias , & in mu●●as Orien●●s a●que in ●ar●ar●● eti●●●tra R●manum Impe●●um Nationes . Rome i● the ●d , as s●● it the Gospell is di●●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 Roman Empiere . Peter preached in no place , but he there or●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 Countries : Episcopos persingulas Ciuitates , quibus ipse non mis●rat , perdoctos nobis mi●●ere praecepit . Quod facere inchoauimus , & Domino ope● ferente faecturi sumus : He commaunded vs to send ve● learned Bishops vnto all Cities , to which he had n● sent any . Which we haue begun to doe , and by G● his healpe shall doe .

11. In the second age also , Pope Eleuth●rius sent hither S. Damianus , and Phagan● his legats with others , who consecrated an● Westm . an . ●85 . seated here three Archbishops , with 28 Bi●hops . Templa qua in honorem plurimorum Deo●● fundata fueran● , vni Deo , eiusque Sanctis dedicarunt , diue●sisque Ordinatorum coetibus repleueru● The Churches which were builded in the honour of ●ny Gods ▪ they dedicated to one God and his Saints , and f●led them with diuers ●ssemblies of such as had taken Orde● And afterwards they being by King Luci● sent to Rome , to haue those things confirm● Idem an. 186. by the Pope , which here in Britanie th● had done , Quibus peractis , redierunt in Britann● praefati Doctores cum alijs quamplurimis , quorum ● ●rina gens Britonum in fide Christi fundata refulsit : Which being ended , the foresaied Doctours accom●nied with many others returned againe into Britanie whose doctrine , in a short time the Britans groun●ed the faith of Christ , florished . And although in this ●onuersion of Britanie , that holy Pope sub●cted the Countrie now called Scotland ( not ●mporally subiect to king Lucius of Britanie Bedalib . 1. hist. Angl. c. ● . ● the Romans ) vnto our Archbishop of ●rke , Susceptamque fidem Britanm vsque in tempora ●ocletiani Principis inuiolatam integramque quie●a in ●e seruabant : The Britans did with peace keepe the ●th they ●ad receiued whole and inuiolate vntill the ●e of Dioclesianus the Emperour ; Yet in the be●nning Hector . Boeth . lib. 6 Scote . Histor fol. 86. B. of the third age Saint Victor then ●ing Pope of Rome . Donaldus ( king there ) ●ud Victorem Pontificem per Legatos ob●inuit , vt ●i doctrinà & Religone insignes in Scotiam ab eo ●si , se cum liberis & coniuge Christinomen profiten● hap●ismate insignirent . Regis exempl●m Scotica ●bilitas secuta , auersata impietatem , Christique Re●onem complexa , sacro fonte est abluta : Donaldus ●n King by Legats abtained from Pope Victor , that ●●hie men both for lerning and Religion might from ● be sent into Scotland , who might baptize himselfe , ● and Childrne professing the name of Christ . The ●ish Nobilitie following the Kings example , did cast ●y impietie , embraced the Christian Religion , and ● bapti●ed . And those Scots or Britans were ●ructed both in learning and Religion Ibidem ▪ those Priests , and Preachers which Pope ●tor sent . Incaepere tum primum sacras colere literas , Sa●erdoti●us Prae●●ptoribus , ques Victor Pontif● Maximus , ad Christi dogma propalandum in ex●●mam miserat Al●ionem : Then first of all they b●gun to studie the holy Scripturs vnder the Pri●● their maisters , which Victor the Pope had s● into the farthest Albion to diuulge the doctrine Christ .

12. When the Persecution of Dioc●esi● raged here 9. yeares , many of our Briti● Clergie sent from Rome , wen● into those p●● w●e●e the Scots now be , and whether the Per●cution did not cum● , and there they ioyned w● those of Pope Victors Mission . And in t● Persecution among so many Archbishops a● Bishops placed here by Papall authoritie , ● finde fewe , if any at all then put to death . ● suruiuing after , to haue consecrated Prie● dedicated Churches , and performed other ●piscopall duties , and offices , as the Prie● and others did theirs also . Bilustro supra ● turbinis ne●dum ad I●●egrum expleto , emarces●●● busque nece suorum authorum nesarijs decretis , lae●●●minibus omnes Christs Tyrones quasi post hiemale● prolix●m noctem ▪ temperiem , l●cemque serenam ● coe●estis excipi●nt , renouant Ecclesias ad solum vs● destruct●● , B●si●itas Sanctorum Martyrum fund● construunt , perfi●●unt , ac velu● Victricia signa pa●● propal●nt , die●s●stos celebrant , sacra mundo corde , ● que ●onficiunt , omnes exultant filij gremio ac si M● Ecclesiae c●nso●i . M●nsit namque haec Christs ca● membro●um consonantia 〈◊〉 donec , Ari●norum p●dia intrauit . Tenue yeares of the foresai●d Trouble● ●ing as yet altogether compleate , and the wicked de●es decaying in the d●th of their authou●s , all the fol●ers of Christ , wi●h i●y●ull l●gh●●● as ●f a●t●r a ●●ng ● er night they had receiued light , ā●●pleasant t●pe●ure of heau●n●●e a●re , they ●newe● the 〈◊〉 ●●ich were fallen to the ground , they ●o●nded ▪ builded ● finished Cathedrall Churches of 〈…〉 ●●●ly did set forth as it were signes of Victor● ▪ th●y ●e●rated feastes th●y saied Masses with pure heart and 〈◊〉 . All ●●ildren in their mother ▪ 〈…〉 ●hey were begotten of the mother the Church and v●●● the wickednesse of the Ar●●●●●red , this sw●●te v●●n of the members of Christ the head ▪ re●a●●ed . So Gild as , S. Bede and other great witnesses , ●d ye● when Arian●sme was di●ated , ●a●●t ●han ●sius , S. H●lary and other authorities ●e cleare Britanie as much as any nation ●rō● at insect●● : For it rema●n●● ▪ ●●me and con●nt obedience to the Popes ●● Ro●e in that ●werth age both in Princes , Bishops and ●hers . Great Constantine our Emperour , ●ng , and borne in Britanie with S. Helen●●● Mother a Bri●an , and Em●●●sse h●no●r●d ●e See of Rome in the high●st maner . They , ●d no doubt diue●s of our British Bishops ● the Councel● at Ro●● of 284 ▪ weste●●●●shops , were present , and assen●ed when i●●● decreed : N●●● 〈◊〉 it prim●m sedem , quo●m omnes ●e●es a 〈…〉 d●sid●rant 〈◊〉 Neque a● Augusto re●ue 〈…〉 R●gihus , neque à pop●●● Iudex 〈…〉 ● . 4. Epis●op● & 4. 5. Presbyt●rs , & 5. Diaconi●● duo sequentes , Augustus Constantinus , & Mater ei● Helena : None shall iudge the first See for all Sees do● desire that iustice be moderated by the first See , neither by Augustus , neither by the whole Clergie , neither by Kings , nor by the people , the Iudg shall be Iudged . A● heare vnto subscribed 2 ▪ 4. Bishops , 45. Priestes , ● Deacons and the two which followeth Constantine ●● Emperour and Helena his mother .

13. We had our Bishops present and subscribing with generall assent of Britanie , ● the great Councell of Sardie , assembled o● of 37. Prouinces , where the Popes Supream● spirituall power in all places is decreed a● confirmed in two seuerall Canons : and A●peales to be made to him as highest Iudg● The Pope then did not onely rule the conue●ted Christians : But also sent Apostolike m● Saint Ninian a Britan instructed at Rom● with others to conuert the Pagan Picts ● this Nation . Audiens Pontifex Romanus quosd● in Occiduis Britanni● partibus necdum fidem Ch●● suscepisse , ad Episcopatus gradum Ninianum consec●uit . Concreditum à Deo ●al●n●um per Britannor●● Scotorum , Australium Pictorum terras , ad seni● vs●ue latissimè profudit . Ordinauit Presbyteros , Ep●●opos consecrauit , & totam terram per certas Pa●chias diuisit . Pontifex Romanus Ninianum praem●●genti datâ bene lictione Apostolum destinauit : T● Pope vnderstanding that some in the westerne parte● Britanie had not as yet receiued the saith of Christ , consecrat●d Ninianus Bishop ; which Talent gi● vnto him from God , he powred forth largly vntill wes ag●d through all Britanie , Scotland , and the Southerne Picts He made Priests , consecrated Bishops , and ●nto certaine Parishes he denide the whole Land , The Bishop of Rome sent Ninianus Apostle to the foresaied people giuing him his benediction .

14. In the fi●●e age Saint Celestine Pope sent S. Pa●ladius to the Irish and Scots , S. Patrick after him to the Irish , S Germanus , Lupus , and Seuerus to the Britans , to roote out Pelagianisme , to quiet and settle the Ecclesiasticall state here , which they did , consecrating Bishops Pr●ests , and what else necessary in these Contries . Which by their power Legatine they so happily performed , that Protestants themselues ( so testifying ) among the Scots . ●alladius in hodres num diem , Scotorum Apostolus appellatur : Palladius vnto this day , is called Apostle of the Scots . Among the Irish Patricius incredibili spiritus feruore Euangelium Hibernis praedicans , ad sinceram Christi fidem eos , per 60. annos in vineâ Domini laborans conuertit . Profan● Deorum destruxit templa , Ecclesias sundauit , verbi ministros ordinauit . Patrike preaching the Gospell to the Irish with incredible feruour of spirit laboring in the viniard of our Lord , for the space of 60. yeares , tenuerted them to the true faith of Christ , the prophaine temples of the Gods ●● d●stroied , he builded Churches , he ordained Ministers of the word . Old Nennius liuing soone after saith : Ecclesias fundauit 365. Ordinauit Nenniu● . Episcopos 365. aut amplius in quibus spiritus Demin● e●at : Presbyteros autem vsque ad ●ri● milliae ordinauit : He founded 365. Churches , he ordained ●65 . Bishops or more in which was the Spirit of ou● Lord : but Priestes he made 3000. Which must needs be done as the Popes Legate , for other Countri●s also , besides Ireland . S. Germanus with Saint Lup●s at the first , and second time w●th Saint Seuerus reformed all things among the Britans , be made Bihops and Priestes , and among the rest S. Dubritius A●●hbishop , ●eauing him to be the Popes Legate here after their going hence .

15. In the Sixt age Saint Dabritius still liued ▪ who resigning his B●●hoprike , S. Dauid succeeded him , both as Archbishop and Legate , reforming all things , and Ownes Bri●anniae E●cl●sia modum & R●gulam R●man●●uthoritate acceperunt All the ●hurche● of Britani● by Roman authoritie receiued both then manner and Rule . The Pope sent Saint Iuo ▪ an Archbishop in●o Britanie , or then England , who liued and died here . Saint Kentegern Bishop receiued Power and Approbation from the Pope of Rome , going thiter seuen times . And Sanctus Papa illum virum Dei & Spiritus sanct● gra●iā plenum intelligens , in ●pus ministerij à Spirita Sancto illi iniun●●i destinauit . The holy Pope vnderstanding him ●o be a man of God , ●eplenished with the grace of the holy Ghoste , he sent him into the worke of the ministerie ●h●ch was enioyned him by the holy Ghoste . So renowned was this holy Apostolicall Legate here and in all these Westerne parts , that both Catholik and Protestant Antiquaries thus deliuer vnto vs ; ●raedi●abat ad flumen vsque ●ordens● & ad mare S●o●um , vbi Caledonios , Athalos Horestos , ac vicina●m Ion. Ba●●● descript . Briten . in 〈◊〉 ▪ Albaniae regionum In●olas , docendo , monendo , ●r ando ad veritatis obseruationē●nstigauit . Ex d●s●ults suis quosdam ad Orchades Insulas , ad Norwe●● & Islandiam misit , vt ●orum instructioni●us fi●i quo que lumen recipe●ent . Nam in Elguensi Collegio ●centos & sexaginta quinque literatos viros ad id ●mper para●os habebat , praet●r reliquos alijs exercitijs ●ditos : He preached a● farre as to the riuer of Forde , ● the Scotish sea , where he sti●ed vp the Caledo●ns , Athali●ns , Ho●ests , and the Inhabita●ts of ● neighboring k●ngdoms to A●bion vnto the obserua●n of ●●ue●h by teaching , admonishing and 〈◊〉ing . ● sent some 〈…〉 disciples to the Iles of Or●i ades . to ● waye , and ●sland that 〈…〉 instru●●ions they 〈…〉 receiue the light of ●aith . For in ●he Coll●dge ●●●gue he ●ad 365. learned ●●n alwaise readie for ● purpose , besides others imploted in other exer●● . Saint Asaph his scholler , a Bishop of ●●tanie ( who as Protestants sai● from Ro●n power , Au●h●●itatem & ●nct●nem acce●it : ● tooke authorit● and 〈◊〉 . ) Suc●ceded h●m ● that great charge and gouernment of at Apostolike Colledge in Wales . This S. ●ntegern being by all accounts a Bishop ●0 . yeares and disciple to S. ●●●uanus , con●●a●ed Bishop by S. Pa●●ad it●s who was sen● ther from S. Celestine Pope in or about the are 431. must need● be liuing with Saint ●aph at , or a litle before Saint Augustin●●m●ning : And as our Protestants sa●e Sa●●●aph ioyned with Saint Augustine , So Saint Asaph writer of his maister S. Kentegerns li● proueth , that S. Kentegern was at Rome , wh● S. Gregorie was Pope , and submitted hi●selfe to him in all things , and was approue● by him also in his Apostolike proceedings .

16. In this time , in the yeare 596. Sai● Augustine was sent Legate hither by the sa● holy and learned Pope S. Gregorie , who b● his supreame Pastorall power gaue him sp●rituall authoritie ouer all Bishops , and othe● here , in these his owne words vnto him : B● tanniarum omnes Episcopos tuae Fraternitati commi●mus , Beda l. 1. Eccles. hist. gentis Angl. c. 27. vt indocti doceantur , infirmi persuasione rebor●tur , peruersi authoritate corrigantur . We commit ● the Bishops of Britanie to your Fraternitie , that the ● learned may be taught , the weake by persuasion streng●●ned , the wicked corrected by authoritie . By this Pap● power and authoritie , all things were orde● in the Church of England in S. Augustins ti● and all his Successours by the same aut●ritie were setled in that Archiepiscopall S● which he translated ( after 400. yeares ) fro● London to Canterburie . All those Bishops v● to the first Protestant Bishop , called Math● Parker ( who was made by Q. Elizabeth b● will , and manner ) receiued Consecratio● Pall , power , and Iurisdiction from the See Rome , and they swore obedience vnto it , their owne Parker , Godwin , Ioceline a● others in the liues of them , and those Yorke , together with all Registers , Recor● Annals , and Antiquities doe prooue parti●●arly . In generall for this place it sufficeth in these Protestants publikely approued confessions , to write it in their owne words : Archbishop Parker being the 70. Archbishop after Augustine , yet of all that number , he was the onely man , and the first of all ▪ which receiued Consecration , without the Popes Bulls .

17. They assure vs , that vntill the 23. of King Henry the eight ( a ssuming supreamacie to himselfe ) euery Bishop in England swore ●uch obedience vnto the Pope . Hoc Iuramentum ● singulis Episcopis Papae praestari consueuit . Obediens ●ro Beato Petro , Sanctaeque Romanae Ec●lesiae , & Domino meo Domino Papae suisque successoribus . Papatum Romanum , & R●galia S. Petri adiutor ero ad retinendum & defendendum , saluo meo ordine contra ●mnem ●ominem : This Oath was accustomed to be taken by ●uery Bishop . I will be ob●dient to S. Peter and to the Lord , my Lord the Pope , and to his Successours : I will ●e an helpe● to hold and defend the Popedome of Rome ●nd R●t● of S. Peter against all men . In the yeare of Christ 1536. and 23. of King Henry S. they ●are ; and the Statuts themselues so prooue : Leges in Parlamento lataesunt , de Rege supremo Ecclesiae Anglicanae Capite declarando , de Clero Anglicano Regifulij●iendo . Ne quid deinceps amplius Papae aut Romanae Cu●iae quot unque praetextu ex Anglia pendatur . De Episcopis consecrandis , alijsque quae Roma an●ea ge●ebantur , intra Regnum persierendis . De Eccle●●asticorum beneficiorum primitijs atque decimis Principi in perpetuum soluendis . His legibus potentia Papalis , quae nongentis amplius annis in Angli● durauis ●entidi● . Lawes were enacted in the Parliament , of declaring the King to be supreame head of the English Church , of subiecting the English Cle●gie to the King . That nothing heareafter vnder what pretence so●uer in England shall depend of the Pope or the Court of Rome . Of cons●crating Bishops and performing other a●●air●● within the kingdome , which before were done at Rome . Of paying p●rpetually to the Prince the fi●st fruites of Ecclesiasticall Benefices and Ti●hes . By these lawes the Papall power , which hath b●ne in for●● for these nine hundred yeares , did fall . And this was ●o strang a thing and wonder in the world to see the supremacie of the Pope of Rome thus taken from him by a temporall Prince , af●er so many hundreds of yeares continuance , and a lay man to stile himselfe supreame head of the Church , that his very flatterers themselues crye out : Habetur Con●ilium Londini i● quo Eccle●ia Angli●an● formam potesta●●s nullis a●te temporibus visum induit . Henricus enim Rex ▪ caput i●sius Eccl●si● constituitur . At London there is holden a Councell in which the English Church ha●h put on a power , which in no times past was ▪ seene . For King Henry is constituted head of that Church . So large testimonie haue we from our greatest Adu●rsaries witnessing that the Catholikes of England giue no other power , or Iurisdiction to t●e Pope of Rome , then he had euer , without any inte●ruption . And in this we haue ●he generall assent of all our Kings , Princes , Bishops and others , and all the Christians in the world , from the tim● of Christ , vntill long a●ter the greater part of King Henrie the eight his reigne : No King against it , but he , ( whom the Protestant Sir Walter Ralegh sufficiently discribeth ) his young sonne King Edward the sixth of that name ▪ ouerruled by Protestant Protectours ▪ and Q●eene Elizabeth a woman . King Iames wiser then any of them , hath le●t it thus publick●y in open assembly declared by his Regall sentence : The kings Resolution is , that no Church ought further to se●erate he●selfe from the Church of Rome , either in doctrine or Ceremonies , then she hath departed from herselfe . when she was in her flo●ishing and best estate : Wherfore as ●he Bishop o● Chalcedon and Catholiks o● England may not depart from the Church of Rome in this question : So it will be a great wonder if King Charles and his Councell should thus persecute that , which to them and all should be so honourable . They may not persecute him for his Episcopall ▪ Order , for that likewise is prooued the most glorious calling in the Church of Christ . All English Parlamentarie Protestants confesse the Bishop of Chalchedon , ( and all cons●crated as he was , by the Roman Order , containing all and more then they vse , and by most true and lawfull Consecratours ) to be an vndoubted true and lawfull Bishop . And so it must needs be ▪ for whether we will follow the present Roman Order , euer vsed here since Saint Augustins time , before their new deuised forme of so called Consecration made by King Edward the Sixth a child , and altered by his Sister Elizabeth Queene a woman : or that which the Britans , Scots , and Irish vsed long before : ●t is out of question by all , that the Bishop of Chalcedon , and euery one such , is a true and most vndoubted lawfull Bishop , hauing by due and true Consecratours whatsoeuer is contained , or prescribed to be done in either of both , which the new Protestant forme , if they had true Consec●atours , cometh short , and wanteth euen in things essentiall both by all others , and their owne iudgment and practise .

18. The present Roman Order hath more , though Ceremoniall , then that of our Britans , Scots and Irish , therefore I exemplifie onely in this ; and the rather to giue Satisfaction to our Protestants , so extolling them for their Apostolik Religion neuer changed or altered as they saie . Before S. Kentegern was consecrated Bishop all most 1200. yeares since , this was their old vse , and manner herein , as Saint Asaph his Scholler a Bishop , and others prooue : Mos in Britannia inoleuerat , in Consecratione Pontificum tantummodo capita corum sacri Cbrismatis infusione perungere , cum inuocatione Sancti Spiritus , & benedictione & manus impositione . It was an auntient custome among the Britans , that in the Consecration of Bishops , they onely annoynted them on their heads with holy Chrisme , inuocation of the Holy Ghost , Benediction and imposi●ion of ●ands . This was done by consecrating Bis●ops . And this was , Mos Britonum , Scotorum , & ● Hibernia : The Custome of the Britans , Scots and in ●eland , In those times , when Canons of Coun●ells were not made of this matter , or not ●nowne here by reason of great troubles in ●ese parts , as our Antiquaries write , and yet ●ey were excused as hauing true and essen●ally needfull Consecration . Insulam enim quasi ●ira orbem positi , emergentibus Paganorum infesta●onibus Canonum erantignari : Ecclesiastica ideo Cen●ra ipsis condiscendens excusationem illorum admit tit ●ha●●arte : Fo● the inhabitants of the Iland , being as were placed out of the world , were ignorant of the anons by reason of the Continuall inuasions of the Pa●ans : and therfore the Ecclesiasticall Censure yelding ●nto them in this parte , adm●●ted their excusation . But ●ur Protestants cannot be excused , being not ●gnorant , but Contemners of the Canons , and ●ot this onely , but omitting that which by ●he custome of the Britans , Scots , and Irish ●he old Roman Order in that time , ( as Al●uinus , Amalarius and others 800. yeares ●nce terme it in their dayes , ) was vsed then , and is now : ) all of them deliuering , that ●oly vnction by true Bishops , to be necessa●ie and essentiall , euer naming the man to be ●onsecrated Bishop , Bishop elect onely , vntill Dieny●●us A●eop . l. de Eccl●sia●t . H●erarchia . ●hat vnction be ended and then Bishop consecrated , ●piscopus consecratus . Our Protestants t●ēselues ●ublickly haue written ad warranted that ●aint Denys the Areopagite : Vnctionem ponit expressè . Doth expresely put vnction . Anaclet● wrote . Bishop● are to be made by imposition of han● Anacletus Epist . 2. §. ● . of Bishops , and ●oly ●uction by the exampse of the Apostles , because all sa●ctification consisteth in the ho● ghoste , whose mu●●●ble power is mixed with ho● Chrisme and by this R●●e , s●lemne ordination is to ● celebrated . O●● Protestants a ●o confes●e th● the holy Fathers both of the Greeke and L●tine Church , were thus co●ecrated . Of Sain● Basile Vn●●ion● s●c●a adh●b●ta est ●●dinatus : He w● ordained by applying holy ●nnointing . Of S. G●●gorie Nazianzen : Me ●ontifi●em vngis . So of ● Iohn Chrysostome and Saint Seuerus . So ● Augustine : Vi●arius Christi Pontifex efficitur , i● in capite vngitur , imitando illum qui caput est to●iu● Eccl●siae , per vnctionis grati● sit & ipse caput Eccl●siae sibi ●missae . The Vicare of Christ is made Bishop and therf● he is annointed on the head , in imitation of him who the head of the whole Church , and he by the grace the ●nnointing , is made the head of the Chu●● committed vnto him . So Saint Gregorie : Qui S. Gregor. mag . in c. 10. l. 1. Regum . culmine ponitur , Sacramenta sus●ipit vnctionis qu● ve ò ipsa vnctio Sacramentum est , is qui pr●mou●●● benè soris vngi●ur , s●●ntus virtute Sa●ra●ē●● rob●re●● He that is p●a●ed in the top ta●eth the Sacraments ● annointing b●caus● the annointing it selfe is a Sacram● he that is to be promoted , is to be ●nnointed well wi●l ●● if he would be str●ng●hned within with the ●e●tue ● the Sacrament . An●●● this T●●e , he adiudge the Epi●copa●l c●n●●●●ation of the Britan● Scots , a●d I●i●h ●● be essentially vali●e . S ▪ Saint Bede , Amal●●●●s , S. Iuo , Stephant Eduensis , and other auntient writers , and Expositours of holy mysteries .

19. Concerning the Ceremonie of the Booke of Gospels laied vpon the Consecrated , though Alcuinus saieth ; Non reperitur in Alcuinus l●b . d● 〈…〉 . c. ●● . ●uthoritate veteri , neque nouâ , sed neque in Romanâ ●raditione : It is not found in authoritie either auncient ●● newe , yea not in the Roman tradition . And Ama●arius ; Neque vetu● authoritas intimat , neque Apostolica traditio , neque Canoni●a authoritas : Neither auncient authoritie , neither Aposteli●all tradition , nor Canonicall authoritie doth intimate ●ny such thing . Yet we find this Cerem●nie to ●aue bene obserued in the time of S. Denis for ●n his booke of the Ecclesiasticall Hiera●chie ●e hath these words ; Pontifex quidem qui ad perfe●ionem Dionisiu● 〈…〉 . virtutemque pontifice dignam eu●●i●ur , vt●o●e genu flexo ante altare , supra caput habet libros à to traditos , manumque pontifi●is : The Bishop indeede ●hich is eleuated to worthy perfection and vertue of a ●i●hop , kneling on both knees before the Altar , hath ●on his head the bookes giuen from God , and the hand ● the Bishop . Which Ceremonie is also vsed ●ily in the Catholike Church as is to be ●ene in the Rub●iks of the Roman Pontifi●ll , for after the ring is put on the finger of ●e newe Consecrated Bishop , this direction ●●ntificale ●omanum de Cons●cratione El●cti ●n Episc●●●● . giuen ; Tum Consecrator accipit librum Euangelio●● de spatulis Consecrati : Then the Consecratour ta●h the booke of the Gospells from the shoulders of the ●nsecrated . But this maketh not much to the ●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 whol● Church then , euer after , and now , and eue● had wanted it , and had no Ecclesiastical Order at all . Which is the lamentable and desperate condition of such as persecute a tru● Bishop and Priest for their Order and power thereby confessing their want both of tha● which is essentiall in this high office , as als● consecratours to performe it , consecrat tru● Priests , or confer any Ecclesiasticall Orde● or degree at all , not the meanest in that kin● to any person .

20. All Authors agree , euen Protestants i● their Catalogues of British and English Bi●hops , that we had continuall succession o● such here in great numbers , vntill Queen Elizabeth by her supreamacie depriued an● deposed them . And to keepe it farre from th●●●me of an Innouation to haue one such Bishop , Successour to so many , if we haue tha● libertie in time of Persecution when Bishop are driuen from their Sees , ( vsuall in histories ) to remember and honour them in Exi● and Persecution , we haue still kept a Succesion of Bishops in , or of this nation : Of tho●● which were depriued of their Bishop pricke we haue , Richard Pates Bishop of worcheste who subscribed to the Councell of Trent h● being there present , by this Title , Richard● Patus wigorniensis 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 commendations of them and all others our renowned Bishops 14. or more in number , who were deposed , and persecuted by Queene Elizabeth yea far more and greater , than they doe of those which were intruded into their places . Before or soone after the death of Bishop Wa●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 Ma●k●en , who liued with these honours vntill the 16. day of October in the yeare of Christ 1594. ●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 William of Chalcedon , and Richard also , who is now so persecuted , were by highest Papall authoritie consecrated 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 and dignitie in equall times , honourably stiled and registred for all posteritie not onely as great glories of their Countries 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 from the first Conuersion thereof to Christ had 3. Archbishops and 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 , excellent 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 Countries 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 long 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 and honour to our king , Queene and Countries ; 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 Male●olants . Among all English Catholick● o● Protestants few are to be found which haue more defended the honour of our Soueraigne , ●one more acceptable to his Maiesties frieds ●nd Allyes in marriage , no man among so ma●y renowned Priests of England ( worthie of ●reatest honour in equall times ) adiudged so ●t to supply such place by that highest Pa●or , which hath shewed great care and loue four king , Queene and hoped Posteritie , ●nd Countrie . And since Persecution and ●roclamation against him , what could such a ●an in Persecution doe more , then he hath ●one , in decreeing , and Ordering that all ●riests and Catholiks should daily with de●otion praie for our king , Queene , State and Countrie . And both since the comming in of ●im , and William of Chalcedon of happie ●emorie his Predecessour : as likewise before ●e Catholiks of England haue bene and now ●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 al● things with the Apostolicall Religio● are truely consecrated , worthie men , an● are to be honoured , and not persecuted ▪

1. Hauing redeemed Episcopall Ord●● and dignitie , conferred by the S● of Rome , from all Imputation of wick● obloquies , and made it knowne to be so hig● and honourable ; we might spare all furth● labour for exemption and defence of Prie●●lie Function , seeing euery Bishop of nece●sitie must be a Priest , and whatsoeuer of th● calling is noble and glorious in a Bishop must needs be such in Priests ; Episcopal h●nour and consecration addeth an higher a● greater worthinesse to him that was befor● Priest , but cannot take away or diminish a● excellencie or renowne he had before . T● Protestants of Scotland doe confesse ( whi●● all knowe ) that after Catholike Religion w● ouerthrowne there , they had not any prete●ded Bishops before King Iames ( accordi●● to his manner of making such ) gaue su● Titles to them . And their Knoxe , Buchanan , Forbs , Bale , and others both of England ●nd Scotland are not ashamed to saie that ●efore the sending of Saint Palladius thither ●y Saint Celestine Pope about the yeare 430. ●lonckes who were onely Priests supplied ●he place of that dignitie with that People . ●ut malice to Episcopall worthinesse , and ●ower , their owne knowne want thereof , or ●rosse Ignorance in Antiquities , and Eccle●asticall Veremun ●● hist. Bo●th . Scotor . histor. in Maximo . Holinsh. histor. of Scotl. Io. Bal. l. de Scripto . rib . centur . 2. in Coil , Sedul Sige●ert . & 〈◊〉 ibid. affaires , haue blinded them with this ●arknesse , because long before that time in ●he daies of Dioclesian , Scotland had Bishops , ●nd Saint Amphibolus was Bishop in the I le ●f Man . In the time of Maximus Scotland had ●iuer● Bishop bannished by him . And Hilde●ertus , and Coilus Sedulius Scots by Na●on and renowned Bishops are honoured in ●stories before Saint Palladius came thi●er , as both these Protestants and sarre ●etter Antiquaries deliuer for vndoubted ●uthes .

2. But if we should not onely ( as we must ) ●teeme Priests inferiours to Bishops , but which we may not nor cannot ) euen to them●lues , and make them but Deacons : yet ●oth diuine and best human authoritie as●reth vs , that by that calling they are to be ●onoured , and not dishonorably persecu●d . The holy Scripture honoureth them with ● much true consecration as our Protestants ●estowe vpon their pretended Bishops ▪ publike and solemne prayer and imposition of the Apostles , the chiefest Bishops hands ▪ Orantes imposuerunt eis manus : Praying they imposed Act. ● . hands vpon them . And declareth them , Vir●● boni testimonij plenos spiritu sancto . Men of good testimonie , full of the holy Ghost . The Apostolike Fathers commaund all laie persons , to b● subiect vnto , and reuerence them . Saint Ignatius 〈◊〉 . Epist. ad Smyrnensis . Epist. ad ●phesios . saieth ▪ Diaconos reuereamini vt ex Dei praecepto ministrantes : Honour yea the Deacons as ministrin● by the precept of God . And Enitimini charissimi subiecti esse Episcopo , & Presbyteris , & Diaconis . Q● enim his obedit , ob die Christo : My dearest doe yo● best to be subiect to the Bishop , and Priests , and Deacons , for he that obeyeth these , obeyeth Christ . An● other where . Oporter & Diaconis , mysteriorum Chr●sti ●pist ad T●allian . ministris per omnia placere . Sunt Ecclesiae Dei adm●nistratores . Ipsi itaque tales sunt , & vos reueremi● illos vt Christum Iesum , cuius vicarij sunt . Qu● Diaconi , quam Imitatores angelicarum virtu●um , q●● pu●um & in●ulpatum ministerium illi ( Episcopo exhibent , vt Sanctus Stephanus Beato Iacobo , & T● motheus & Linus Paulo , Anacletus & Clemens P●tro ? Qui igitur his non obedit , sine Deo prorsus , ●●mpurus est , & Christian contemnit , & constitution●● eius im●inuit : And it is expedient to please Deacon the ministers of the mysteries of Christ in all things ▪ They are the Administratours of the Church of Go● And t●ey are such , and you should reuerence them as Ies● Christ whose Vicars they are . What are Deacons , b● the followers of Angelicall vertues who presenteth ( t●●●e Bishop ) a pure and perfect mysterie , as S. Secu● did to Saint Iames , Timothie and Linus to Paule , Anacletus and Clement to Peter ? whosoeuer therfore obeyeth not these , is altogether without God , and impure , and doth contemne Christ , and doth distroy his Constitution . Saint Polycarp saieth , subiecti estote S. Polica● ▪ epist. ad Philip. Presbyteris , & Diaconis , sicut Deo , & C●risto : Be yea subiect vnto the Priests and Deacons , as to God and Christ . Our Protestants themselues in their publike booke named The forme and manner of making and consecrating Bishops , Priests and Dea●ons . Saie , that from the Apostles time they haue ●ene in Christs Church , euermore had in reuerent estimation . Therefore if the Deacons and Ministers to Priests in the holy Sacrifice of Masse , their highest dignitie , are thus by all testimonies to be reuerenced , honoured and obeyed : then the sacred Sacrificing Priests to whom they thus minister , and serue , may not be dishonoured , much lesse persecuted with most barbarous and vnchristian contume●ies , disgraces , and deaths , for that their so eminent Order and dignitie .

3. The holy Sripturs testifie that in their Consecration they receiue grace , the holy Ghost , power to bind and loose , to retaine ●nd forgiue sinnes , to offer Sacrifice to God , ●nd to doe what Christ himselfe did in that ●ind . So the holy Fathers expound these Scripturs , and teach from th●m : and our most ●untient renowned British writer thus affirmeth G●la●● 〈◊〉 ●x●id . & c●xq . 〈◊〉 ▪ Omni sancto Sacerdoti promittitur . Quaecunque ●oluer is super terram , ●runt soluta & in ●oelis : & quaecunque liganeris super terram , erunt ligata & in c●●● . Verò Sacerdoti dicitur : tu ●s Petrus , & super hane 〈…〉 , 16 ▪ petram aedisicaho Ecclesiam meam : It i● promised to euery holy Priest . Whatsoeuer thou ●ha●t loose in earth , it shall be loosed also in the heauens : and whatsoeuer thou shalt binde vpon earth , it shall he bound also in the heauens . To a true Priest it is saied , thou art Peter , and vpon this Rocke I will build my Church . The Scripture saith to , and concerning such : pascite qui in vobis est gregem Dei : Feede the flocke of God 〈…〉 , ● which is among you . Qui benè praesunt Praesbyteri , displici honore digni habeantur : maximè qui laborant i● ver●o & doctrinà : The Priests that rule well , let them be esteemed worthie of double honour : especially they that labour in the word and doctrine . The Apostles Successours giue them as much : Presbyteri● Saieth Saint C●ement si assiduè in studio docendi● verbum Dei laborauerint , seponatur dupla etiam Clem. Const. Apost. lib. 2. c. ● . peri●o in gratiam Apostolorum Christi , quorum locum tenent , ●●nquam Consilarij Episcopi & Ecclesiae coron●●unt enim Cousilia & Senatus Ecclesiae . Si de parenti●us secundum carnem ait diuina Scriptura : Honor● patrem & matrem vt benè tibi sit . E● , qui maledici● c. 35. patriaut matri , morte mortatur : quanto magis de patribus spiritualibus verbis Dei moneamur , honore & charitate eos prosequi , vt beneficos & ad Deum Legatos . ● . 3● . Quanto anima corpore praestan●●or est , tanto est Sacer●●tium regno excellentius : Let there be a double porti● reserued for the Priests in honour of the Apostles of Christ , which shall haue labored in teaching of the word of God diligently . Whose places they enioye , as Counsellours of the Bishop , and the Crown● of the Church . They are the Councell and Senat of the Church . If the holy Scripture saieth of carnall parents : honour thy father and thy mother , that it may be well with thee . And whosoeuer doth curse his father or his mother , shall die : how much more shall we be admonished by the words of God , of our Spirituall fathers , to respect ●hem with honour and charitie , as beneficiall to vs and Legates to God ? How much more noble the soule is then the bodie so much more excellent is Priesthood before a Kingdome . And Saint Ignatius addeth . Ignatius epist. ad Smy●●● , Sacerdotium est , omnium bonorum , quae in hominibus sunt apex ; qui aduersus illud furit , non hominem ign●miniâ afficit , sed Deum & Christum Iesum primegeni●um , qui naturâ solus est s●●us Sacerdos Patris ▪ Priesthood is the ●rnament of all things , which a●e in men● whosoeuer doth rage against it , he doth not dishonour a man , but God and Christ Iesus the first begotten , who by nature is the onely hight Priest of ●his father . The Apostles Cl●m . const. l. 2. c. 2. write by S. Clements penne . Si Rege● inuadens supplicio dignu● iudicatur , quamuis ●ilius vel ●micus sit , quanto magis qui Sacerd●●●bus insultat : quanto enim Sacerdotium regno est excellentius , cum regendarum animarum officio praesit , tanto gr●uio● supplicio punitur , qui aduersus id al●quid ●emerè fe●erit , quàm qui aduersus regnum : If he that setteth on a King is iudged worthy of punishment , although he be his sonne or his friend , how much more should he be blame worthy that insulteth ouer Priests . For by how much more Priesthood excelleth a Kingdome , when i● doth by office gouerne soules , by so much more greater punishment is he to be afflicted , who shall rashly doe any thing against it , th●● he who hath ●●ended a Kingdome ▪ Presbyteri sunt ( saith Saint Ignatius ) consess● 〈◊〉 ●pist . ad ●●●llon . quidam & coniunctus Apostolorum chorus , sine h● Ecclesia electa non est , nulla sine his Sanctorum congregatio , nulla Sanctorum electio . Quid Sacerdotium aliud est , quàm ●ater caetus , consilia●ij & assessores Episcop● : Priests are indeede a certaine Assemblie an● vnited quie● of the Apostles . Without the●e the Church ● is not chosen , without these ther is no Congregation ● Saincts , nor election of saincts . what else is Priestehood , then an holy assemblie , Counsellours and assistant ▪ of the Bishop ▪ Saint Anacletus Pope liuing in this age and made Priest by Saint Pete● Anacletus Ep. 2. saith : Iniuria Sacerdotum pertinet ad Christum , cui● vice funguntur : The iniurie done vnto Priests , appertaineth to Christ , whose place they supplieth . And a● Protestants ( Magdeburgen : & Rob. Barn . i● Anacleto ) saie : Anacletus Christo alienos esse iudica●bat , qui Sacerdotes in ius vocarent : Christi vel Ecclesi● Magdebu . Rob●●●●arnos . pecunias auserentes , homicidas iudicari debere censui● quia , inquit , priuilegia Ecclesiae & Sacerdotum , Apostoli Saluatoris iuss● inuiolata esse debere iusserunt , i● Ecclesiasticis negotijs , grauiores causas ad Primate● , l●uiores ad Metropolitanum Episcopum referendas , secularia negotia apud prophanos iudices agenda esse iuss●t . Omnibus oppressis licere appellare Ecclesiasti●um forū● Anacletus iudged those to be against C●rist , who would goe to lawe with Priests ; the Robbers of Christ or the Churches monies , he determined they should be condemned ●or Murd●r●● because , saieth he , the Apostles by the ●●ecept of our Sauiour commaunded the priuiledges of the ●●urch and Priests to be kept inuiolated . In Ecclesiasticall affaires he willed the greater matters to be referred ● the Primate , the lesser vnto the Metropolitan Bis●p : and worldlie businesses to be ended by prophaine ●udges , it is lawefull for all those that are oppressed ● appeale vnto the Ecclesiasticall Court .

4. S. Martiall liuing in Christs time and sent ●to France by Saint Clement , hath these S. Martiall ep. ad Bur●● ▪ ga . ●ords ; Sacerdotes Dei omnipotentis , qui vitam vobis ●buunt in calice & viuo pane , honorare debetis . Quod ●d●i per inuidiam immolauerunt , putantes se nomen ●s à terra abolere , nos causa salutis nostrae in ar● sanficata proponimus , scientes hoc s●lo remedio nobis vi● praestandam , & mortem effugandans ; Hoc enim ipse ●minus noster iussit nos agere in sui commemorationem : ●ought to honour the Priests of Almightie God , who ●e●h you life in the Cha●ice and in the liuing ●ead . ●at which the Iewes by ●nuy Sacrifi●ed , thinking ●by to abolish his name out of the World , we in be●● of our owne health do offer vpon the holy Altar , ●wing that by this onely ●●●edie li●e shall be giuen vs , ● death shall not appro●ch neare vs , and this our ●d commaunded vs to doe in ●●●●iorie of him . Pro●ants auouch that in 〈◊〉 Age Pope A●ex●er 〈…〉 Al●xand . for bad that a Clergie man should be ●ught to the common T●●b●nall . Cle●●●ū ad ●ium tribunal pertra●ere pro●ibuit . These are the ●imonies of the Apostles , and Apostolike ● of the first age whom all must subscribe ●o , and followe in such things , and all of ●● except Saint Ignatius , either Popes of ●me , or directed by them . as Saint Martiall , ● so must needes meane and vnderstand ●ests consecrated by Roman Iurisdic●ion power and Order . And Saint Ignatius Su●cessor to Saint Peter , and inscribing his Epistle to the Romans : Ignatius Ecclesiae sanctificat● quae praesidet in loco Regionis Romanorum : Ignatius ● the hallowed Church , which doth beare rule in the R●gion of the Romans . And writing of the highe● power thereof could not denie the pri●● Iurisdiction of that See . And they all direct● speake of Massing Priests , and Sacrifice . ● Clement setteth downe the whole order ● the Masse , and expressely writeth that t●● Priest in masse offereth Sacrificium mun●um ● incruentum per Christum institutum , mysterium ●● S. Clem. const. Apost. l. 8. c. 5. Testamenti . A pure and vnblooddie Sacrifice instit●● by Christ , the mysterie of the newe Testament . Co●tinuall Tradition hath preserued vnto vs ●● Masses of Saint Peter , Saint Iames , Saint M●thew , Saint Marke and other Apostles , a● Dionis . Ar●op . Eccles. Hi●r . ● . 2. 3. Disciples of Christ . Our old British antiq●ties doe prooue that the old Apostles Ro●● Masse was in their time vsed in France and ●● brought ouer hither into Britanie . Saint D●nis the Areopagite Saint Paules scholler , ●sent Apostle into these parts by Saint Pete● or Saint Clements mission , hath a forme the● of setting downe the Al●ar , oblation , concration , Sacrifice , worship and adoration Christ there present : ô diuinum peni●ùs sacr●● mysterium , obducta tibi significantium ope●imenta ●●orum dignanter ap●riens , nobis palam atque ape●r●●esce : O altogether diuine and sacred mysterie vo●safe to disceuer to vs the couerings of thy signifi● ●●gnes , and shine on vs openly and clearely : And he sheweth the Sacrifice to be reuerenced , diuin●●unera reuerenter ostendens . Saint Ignatius speaketh S. Ignati●● epist. ad ●myrn . Ep. ●d Ro. plainely of Priests sacrificing . Sacrificium ●ff●rre . M●ssam celebrere : To offer Sacrifice , to saie Masse . And he assureth vs the Sacrifice is . Panis ●●l●stis , caro Christi Filij Dei : The heauenlie bread , ●he flesh of Christ the sonne of God . And Theodore●us , writing against the Ebeonite Heretiks de●ying Christ to haue a true bodie he saieth ●hus as Theodoret relateth : Eucharistius & ob●●tiones non admittunt , qu●d non confi●●antur Eucha●stiam Igna● ▪ ●pud ●h●●dor . in 〈…〉 ▪ Dialog. 1. ●sse ●arnem Saluaetoris nostr● I●su Christi , quae ●o peccatis nostris passa est , quam Pate● suâ benignita● sus●itauit . They doe not ad●●t the Eu●●rist and ●bla●ons , because they will not confesse the Euch●rist to be ●e flesh o● our Sauiour Iesus Christ , which suffer●d for ●r sinnes , whome the fa●he● thr●ugh h● goodness●●aised ●aine . Where we ●●nde 〈…〉 of ●hrists Incarnation , and ●●uing a true bodi●●d blood to haue imp●g●ed this most holy ●acrifice , and such S●●●ifi●ng Priests : for ●e words and ins●itu●ion of Christ , were so ●aine in ordaining ●his most sacred ob●ation ● his bodie and b●ood vnder the formes of ●ead and wine , and a perpetuall Priesthood ● performe it , that except by deniall of a true ●die to Christ , there was no way la●ed open ● impugne it . And therefore that most holy ●d learned Apostolike man largely there ●nfuteth those imaginarie Hereticks , pro●ing Christ had a true bodie to offer , to su●fer in , to redeeme the world , and the holy Eucharist was the same .

5. S. Martiall hath deliuered this plainely before , saying that the Priests doe offe● vpon the Altar the same bodie of Christ , which the Iewes crucified , And Christ so commaunded . Saint Anacletus was made such a Massin● Prieste by S. Peter , and as Protestants confesse he declared how both Priests and Bishop● ●arnes & Magde●urgenses i● Anacl . were to offer this most blessed Sacrifice : Anacletus sacrificaturus , ministros vestihus sacris indut● ce● testes & custodes sibi ad●ibere ordinauit . Episcop● vero vt plures ministros sibi in sacris faciendis adiūga● Anacletus being to offer Sacrifice appointed that M●nisters adorned with sacred vestements , as witness● and keepers should be admitted vnto him . And that Bishop in offering sacrifices should adde vnto himsel● many assistants . And of Saint Alexander Pop● liuing and learning his diuinitie in this Apostolike age , they acknowledge ▪ In miss● , pri● ●dem in ●lexand . quam patere●ur : vsque ad haec ver●● , hoc est corp● t●eum addi●it , ad memoriam passioni● Christi incul●a●dam : In Eucharistiae Sacrificio aquam vino admisce ▪ voluit , p●ccata Sacrificio , de Eucharistia l●quens , d●leri ●it : ideo passionemin missâ recitandam institu● Rationem effectus huius sacrificij , hoc est , quod peccat● exp●et , adi●cit , dicens : quia corpore & sanguine Christ● in Sacrificijs nihil maius est : In the Masse , the day before he should suffer : vnto these words , this is my bod● he added , to incul●at the memorie of Christ his passio● In the Sacrifice of the E●cha●●st ●e would haue wat●●ingled with wine . He su●ed ( speaking of the E●ch● ●ist ) that sinnes by the Sacrifice were abolished : ther●ore he instituded the paession to be saied in the Masse . He added further the reason of the effect of this Sacri●ice , which is , because it wipeth away sinnes , saying ▪ ●ecause in Sacrifices nothing is greater then the bodie ●nd blood of our Sa●iour .

6. Concerning this matt●r these Prote●ante con●esse of Saint Sixtus hi● Successour ● the See Apostolike ▪ Sacra vas●●e q●i pr●ter ●id●● i● Six●● ●cros ministros attinger●●t , pr●●cepit ▪ Corpor●●e ●x●lince ●n●o fieri iussit ▪ vt , ●●●ct●●e , in ●●m●unione Euchari●iaete●●ancretur , ordina●it . Missa●n non nisi in al●a●●●lebran●● esse constitui● ▪ He comm●●n●e that 〈◊〉 ●t sacred ministers sh●uld touch the ho●● vess●lls , he ●●r●ed that the Corporall shoul●●e ●ade of li●ne●●th . He ordained t●at , Sanctus , ●ould 〈…〉 ● the Communion of the Eucharist . He c●si●t●●●d that ●asse should no● to ●● cel●brated ●ut on ●he ●●●ar ▪ Of ●helesphorus his Suc●essour , they ●ai● ▪ ●es 〈…〉 Th●●●sphor● . missas celebranda● in die ●atilitio Christi san●●●● , alijs die●us ant●●o●●m d●eitertiam M●ssam cele●●●●r●hi●uit Glo●ia in ex●●l●s De● ▪ i● M●ssae canē●m praecepit ; He ordained ●●ree Mass●s to ●● t●l●brae●●n the daye of Christ his Nat●uitie● h● pr●h●bited ●t in other dayes any sho●ld sai● Mass● before t●re●●●●ke , he commaunded , Gloria in excels●● 〈◊〉 to ●e song in ● Masse . Of S ▪ Pius Pope th●y write● ●a●erd●ti● negligen●ius ●id●m i●●i● ▪ Miss● sa●rafaci●n●●bus p●●●● statu●● , ●i quis per imprudenti● de sang●ine Christ●●ffunde●●n terram , paenitentiam agere● dies 40. si super al●e , dies ●re● ▪ si super linteum substratum cali●i , ● ▪ 〈◊〉 si super al●ud li●t●um , dies 9. Therm●s ●ouat● ●●mplo dedicauit . Multa verae pietatis opera , in agr● Christianae Ecclesiae fecisse perhibetur : Martyrij gloriam anno Domini 159. in sui sanguinis ●ff●sion● tum demum adeptus : He appointed punishmen●s for ●●i●st● which should negligently saie Masse ; that if any ●y impr●dence should ●et fall any of the blood of Christ on the ground , he should doe penance for 40. dayes ; if on the Altar , ● . dayes ; ●f on the cloth la●ed vn●er the Chalece , ●●wer daies ; It on any other cloth , nine dayes ; the whote Bathes of Nouatus he consecrated in●o a Church . It i● saied he did many workes of tru●●ietie in the field of the Christian Church ▪ and at las● by t●e shedding of his blood in the yeare of our Lor● 159. ●egained the Crowne of Martyrd●me . Therefor● we n●ede not doubt , but all these liued som● time in the first hundred of yeares . Saint An●cetus being immediate Successor to S. Piu● as he must ●eedes be consecrated a Massin● sacrifi●ing Priest , ( not others once imagine● to be otherwise consecrated , or to giue con●●cration , and confirming and vsing the sa● manner and Order , not onely in Orderi● P●●ests , and other inferiour Ecclesi●stic● persons but Bishops ▪ Archbishops , and M●tropolitans , as his Predecessours had d●n● and so consecrating 17. Priests , ) must of n●cessitie pers●uere in this doctrine and pr●ctise : especially when his immediate Su●●● for Saint Soter by all testimonies made D●crees about all things concerning holy Mass● Altars , and other necessaries and that , Sa●●c●ns habeat secum adiutorem Sacerdotem . vt nu●● ●ost ci●um potu●que siue qu●dlibet minimum sumptum Missae● facere praesumat . vt nullus Pres●yrerorum Missarum solemnia celebrare praesumat nisi duobus praes●ntibu● , sibique respondentibus , & ipse tertius ●a●eatur , qui● cum ab ●o dicitur Dominus vobis●um , & or●te pro ●e , aptissimè conuenit , vt & ipsius respo●●●catur salutationi : He that sacrif●seth ●hall haue with him a ●●riest for h● Coadiutor . That none ●hould presume to ●ate Masse after that he ●ad taken either me●te or drinke , ●r any thing else how litle so●uer it be . That no Pric●●●hould presume to saie Mass● solem●ely without two●●ere present to answere him , and him selfe to be coun●ed for the third person , because when he saieth Domi●us vo●iscum : Our Lord ●e with you , and Ord●● pro ●r● me : praye yea for me . It is most con●en●●● tha●●●swere ●e made to his salutation ▪

7. Thus Protestants and o●●●●rs acknow●edge , and yet do● write of them and thei●●redecessours , that they were holy m●n and ●lartyrs , and that the Church of Rome wa●●●en in pu●itie of doctrine and Religion , and ●●t the Pri●sts the● were Sacrificing Massing ●riests , the Bishops cons●crated no others , ●e publike Seruice and Sacrifice was Mass● ▪ ● such manner as now ●s vsed . And S. El●●●erius which ●mmed●ately succeeded , Sa●●●ter sent such Massing Bishops and Priest●●ther into Britanie , to performe the general●●onuersion thereof , there being no other to ● sent or implo●ed in such , or any like affaires ●● Priestlie office and function , in that holy ●●d vnspotted time of Religion , by all consents . And the chiefest Protestants , euen Matthew Parker their first new fashioned Archbishop of Canterburie with others both acknowledge that Saint Peter and Saint Iames said Masse , and that the Order of Sacrifice , or Masse , Missa si● dictâ , continued from Christs Institution thereof ●n the Primatiue Church , aboue two hundreds of yeares vnto Pope ●epherine his time , and then ●e al●ered i● to a more excellent matter and forme . A Christi ●rimo i●s●ituto , ducentis amplius annis in primiti●● Ecclesia durauit : done eam Z●pherinus 16. Romanus Pontis●x , quorundans suasionibus ad pulchriorem materiam formamque mutare voluit . This Pope S. Zepherine , was after Pope Eleutherius , and Pope Victor , by whose meanes , and holy sa●rificing Bishops and Priests sent hither by there authoritie , this Kingdome of Britanie , wholy and generally was conuerted . And these Persecutours of holy Masse and Priesthood consesse that the very same Masse and celebration thereof , which Christ instituted and hi● hig●e Priests and Apostles vsed , was still prac●●●ed without chang , and alteration . And the ●hang and mutation then in the ●●●e of Saint Zepherine made , was for the more per●ection thereof ; For comming to set downe what this changing was , they finde it to be no other , but that he decre●d Christ blood should not be consecrated in Chalices made of wood , but better matter . Christi san●uin●● Consecrationem in vitreo Calice non ligneo , vt antea ▪ sin● debere flatuit : He decreed that the Consecration of the blood of Christ ought to be done in a Chalice of glasse , not of woode as it was done before . And a●ter Viban● the first of that name immediate ▪ except Calixtus ) Succes●or to the same Saint Z●pherinus , ( by these Protestan●s them 〈◊〉 ) thus declared and ordained that 〈◊〉 should be of Gold or siluer , 〈…〉 in po●ter Churches . Nè vasa 〈…〉 au● au●ea , ●ut argen ea , aut stannea in 〈…〉 gem dixit . We are assured b●th by 〈◊〉 all and particular Testimonies that 〈…〉 Priests came hither , and that the 〈◊〉 Church ser●ice was Ma●●e and ●o the La●ine tongue . So had our old 〈…〉 by Protestants suppressed ▪ in the 〈◊〉 of his booke , as Abbo● 〈…〉 in publi●● Parliament in the first yeare of Queene Elizabeth . Saint 〈…〉 Protestants so also consessing witen●sseth that ●●r ●●itans in this their Conuersion , had 〈◊〉 A●●ars for Masse in their Churches , a●d su●●●●●ests .

8. The Protestanes also propose vnto vs an Author so Reu●rend and au●●●nt in this our Britanie , that ●n the yeare of Christ 366. his Hom●●ies or Sermons were vsually and publickly reade in th● Churches here , where●n , is most manifestly and particularly pro●ed , that the publick seruice was the same Masse which is now vsed , the Priests su●● Priests , and Christ really present , ●●●ere● , worshiped and praied vnto there , as by the same antiqui●ie is ●uident in these words thereof : In the old lawe faithfull men offered to God diuers Sacrifices , that had foresignification of Christs bodie , which for our sinnes he himselfe to his heauenly Father hath since offered to Sacrifice . Certainely this Housell , which we doe now hallow at Gods Altar , is a remembrance of Christs bodie which he off●red for vs , and of his blood which he shed for vs : So ●e himselfe commaunde●● doe this in my remembrance . Once suffered Christ by himselfe , but yet neuerthelesse , his suff●ring is dayly renewed at this Supper , through mysterie of the holy Hous●ll . In that holy Housell 〈◊〉 ● one thing in it seene , and an other vnderstoode . That which is there seene hath bodilie shape : and that we doe there vnde●●stand hath ghostly might . The House● is dealed into sondrie parts , ●hewed betweene teach , and sent into the bodlie . Howbeit neuerthelesse afte● ghostlie might it is all in euery part . Many receiue tha● holy bodie , and yet notwithstanding , it is so all in euery part , after ghostlie mysterie . That innocent lambe which the old Israelits did then kill , had signification after ghostlie vnderstanding , of Christs suffering , who vnguiltie shed his blood for our redemption . Hereof 〈◊〉 Gods seruants at euery Masse , Agnus De● qui ●ollis 〈◊〉 mundi , Miserere nobis . Where we finde a mos● plaine and generall concordance between the old Primatiue Christian Britans , and th● Priests of the Roman Church at this time , ●● this holy sacrificing Massing Priesthood , and Masse , by this most auntient and venerable authoritie euen as it pleaseth Protestant● to publish and translate it . For wereas they 〈◊〉 that Aelfricus in the yeare of Christ 〈◊〉 translated this Authour out of latine into the Saxon language , it is a thing most certaine and vnquestionable with all men that know antiquities , that these words which I haue cited from these Protestants , be not the Saxon and old English speach in that time .

9. Our old Cildas also ( as the Protestants propose and recommend him vnto vs ) teaching ( as they also hold ) that our Christian Britans neuer changed , or forso●ke the Apostol●ke Christian Religion which they receiued from Rome by Massing Priests , and Prelats● their Priests from the beginning saied Mass● , and offered sacrifice on holy Altars , and their Altars were the seate of the 〈◊〉 sacrifice . Sacramundo corde ●reque consici●●● . Sacrific●●●es inter altaria sta●tes . Sacrificium ●●●erences , al●a●● adsistunt , sacra altaria , Sacresan●ta 〈…〉 coel●stis sedes ; And their Priests th●n were consecrated to such holy function as now they are Benedictione initiantur Sacerdo●um man●● : The●●●ands were consecrated , and they which did daily offer the holy and heauenvly sacrifice of Christ● blessed bodie and blood at , and vpon the sacred Altars , consecrating it by conse●rating words Mundo ore con●leiunt , must needes haue such Priestlie power , giuen vnto them in their Consecration , not hauing any such before , to consecrate , and offer Christs most Sacred bodie and blood in the holy Masse , as is contained in the most old and auntient orders of Consecration in those times , and these word● of Bishops consecrating Priests , first praying for them that are to be ordered Priests : ●●run● atque unma●u●●ū m●nisterij tu● donum custodiant , & Po●●●le Romanum in consecratione Presbyterorum . per obsequium ple●●s tuae , panem & vinum in corpu● & sanguinem Filij t●●immaculatâ ben●dictione transforment . That they may obserue the pure and imma●●l● guift of thy mysterie , and t●rough the obedience of thy people , they may transforme bread and wine by the ●● maculat benediction into the bodie and blood of thy sonne . Which prayer being ended , the consecrating Bishop this proceedeth : Expletâ aute● oratione , acc●p●●ns oleum san●●um , fa●●at crucem su●● ambas manus eorum , dicens● Consecrare & sanctifi●●re digneris Domine man●● istas per istam vnctionem , & nostram benedictionem , vt quecumque consecrauerint , consecrentur : & qu●cunque benedixerint , benedicantur & sanctificontur in nomine Domini Iesu Christi . Hoc ●acto acci●● patenam cum obla●● , & Calicem cum vino , & de●●● , dicens : Accipite potestatem , offerre Sacrificium Deo , Missa●que celebrare t●pro viuis , qu● pro de●●eris in nomine Domini . And the prayer being endea , taking the holy oyle , he shall make a Crosse ●● both the hands of the Priests , saying , Thou shalt vouchsafē● Lord to conse●●t and sanctifie these hands by this holy ●yntement , and our benedi●●ion , that whatsoeuer they shall cens●●rat , may be ●onsecrated : and whatsoeuer they shall ●lesse , may be blessed , and sanctified in ●he name of our Lord I●sus Christ , ●● is finished ●e s●all take the patten with the hoste , ●nd Chal●●e with the wine , and shall giue it 〈…〉 saying . ●ake yea power , to offer Sacrifice to God , ●nd saye masse as well for the liuing , a●●r the dead in the name of our Lord . ●his is the most auntient Pontificall which ●tiquitie hath preserued , and del●●ered vnto ● vniformely agreeing with the now vsed ●ntificall in the Roman Church which dif●eth not from , but ag●eath with the most ●ntient Manuscript Copies and Examplare ●tant in the most renowned Labraries . And ●erefore our old British Antiquities deliuer Manus●● antiq. & Cap●● in 〈…〉 . Histor. 〈…〉 . Arthur ▪ dip● . ap●● Cam. & ● . for a receiued Tradition and custome here , in other places for the Priests thereof ac●●ding to their Office and Consecration , to ●er Sacrifice both for the liuing and the dead , ●t consuetudo , tam pro vi●● , qu●● defunctis ho● D●o immolare . And this was so generall a ●●ued truth , and custome in the whole ●●ch from the Apostles time , and Tradition . ●● them ▪ that is was , and iustly , adiudged Heresie ( the Protestants thus acknowleging , ) ●ngl . Protest . in Feild . ●●oke● of the Church ● . 3. ca. 25. pag. ●●8 . Ciu●● 〈◊〉 . pag 〈…〉 . to denie it : Aerius condemned the custome of the Church in naming t●● dead at the Altar , and ●ffering the Sacrifice of 〈◊〉 ●or them : and for this his rash● and inconsidera●●●oldnesse , and presumption in condemning t●e ●●●●e●sall C●urch of C●rist , ●● was 〈◊〉 ●o ●●emned So S. Epiphanius , S. Augustine , Isodorus , Dama●c●nus , and others demonstrate ▪

10. And for England where holy Priests an● Priest●ood are so greuously persecuted , w● thus suc●●ss●uely and without any Interrupti● deduce it in a●● times and changes to the● daies . Saint Peter a massing Prieste , Bishop● and Apostle preaching , and consecrati●● Priests , and Bishops here could consecrat a●● ordaine no others , but such as were to be ● his owne Order . So Saint C●ement his confe●sed massing , and Sacri●icing Sucessor , dircted to se●d such into these parts . Pope Ele●●herius who by his holy Mission of Prie● and Bishops hither , conuerted this kingdome , being also a Massing Priest and Pop● could send no other P●●ests , but such . And ● Churches and sacrificing Massing Altars e●ct●d in them all to such vse , and end , con●sed by all wri●ers Ca●holi●s , and Protesta● doe so demonstrate . All agree we ●ad q●i●●essesse 〈…〉 Relig●● and agreeme●● 〈◊〉 vntill D●ocl●lian his Persecution , wh●n ●●o●g others pers●●u●●ed , the holy Pr●●● Massin● Pri●sts ( as Saint Gildas before ●● proued and others 〈◊〉 ) 〈…〉 Electi Sacerdotes trucidati : and they which escaped , did as often as they could sai● Masse , in places whether they fled to escape da●●ger , as in Scotland , whether the Persecution did not come , ●t not being vnder the Romans . We had many Massing Priests as Saint Amph●labus ▪ ●odocus , Priseus , Calanus , Ferranus , Am●ianus , Carno●us , ●d others who ●●●ed thith●●●ut of our Britanie , now England , and were maintained by king ▪ Crath●●●●en to ●a●e Masse , ●ho founded all things , necessarie to such ●urpose , Churches , Altars , Chal●●● , P●●ens , ●adlesticks , and all things else . Se● Crathlint●us ●ex , sacram Antistitis adem , mun●●ibus ornaui● an●●●ssini●s , Hect. Boeth 〈◊〉 , 6 ▪ Sco● . Hist. fol. 99. ●● . Calicib●●s , Patenis , Candelabris , al●●sque s●●●lib●● ad sacrorum ●vsum commodis ex argen●o aur●●e fabrefactis , Altarique cupro & are cla●●●o ●●prouen●●s ad ca●x agris in sacrae aedis vicin●● constitu●● : But ●● King Crathline adorn●d the Sacred house of the Bis●p with most ample gifts , Chalices , Patens , Cand●stikes , and such like necessaries made of ●●l●er and ●ld for the vse of the Church , with an Altar also e●●ased in Copper and Br●se ▪ to doe all which he allotte●●yearely rents of the fields neare adioyning to that s●●a house .

11. Britanie after this vntill the Pelagian ●●resi● was quiet for Religion , and the●●●pe Caelestine , who was so ●arre a Massing ●pe and Priest , that although the Masse wa●●pisticall before ( as he Protestants acknow●lge ) yet he added the Introi●● , Graduall , ●sponsorie , Tract and O●●e●torie vnto it , strictly commaunding , that Priests shoul● knowe the Popes ●ano● ad ●e sent such Ma●sing Bishops and P●●est , with them in●o the●● kingdom●● 〈◊〉 g●●d S●otland , and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ●●tro●um 〈◊〉 , responsorium , ●ra●●● & 〈…〉 ins●ruit : atque vt 〈◊〉 cod●●e● 〈◊〉 Ca●ones scirent , ar●●e pr●cep● Cerman●m in 〈◊〉 , Palladium in Scott●●● , ● P●●r●●ium cum quod●● 〈◊〉 in ●iberniam , ●● P●lagianas ●aer●ses 〈◊〉 E●iscopos misi● : Caelestin●●●d a●de to the 〈◊〉 all ●asse the Introite , C●a●us● Resp●nsori● , Tra●●● and Offertorie : and be stric● c●mmaunded that the Priests should knowe the Ca●●● of the Bishops . He sent Bishops ●erm●nus into 〈◊〉 Pa●●●●ius into ●●otland and Patricius with one Sege● into ●reland , that they mig●t extirpate thence the P●gia ●●erisse . All m● acknowledge that these w●● Massing Priests and Bishops , and that t●● con●ecrated Such in great numbers bot● England , Scotland , and Ireland ▪ Ne●●usuing neare , or in the time of Saint Patri● writeth thus of him , Ordinauit Episcopo● tre●●● fexagint● quin●ue aut amplius , in quibus sp●●itus ● 〈◊〉 ●rat , P●●sbiteros au●em vs●ue ad tr●a 〈◊〉 ●in●●it : He conse●ra●ed more then 365. Bi●hops , whome wa● the sp●●it of our Lord , but P●●●sts 〈◊〉 ●cd ●000 . And of The●● diuers we●t so ●a as to Ameri●a , ●d there e●ecu●ed their Pri●●●e O●der , ●n o●●ering the sacred bodie a●bl●●od of Christ at M●●se on consecra●ed ●●ar● in one place of America , were l●uing 〈◊〉 the time of Saint 〈◊〉 , ( 〈…〉 ●is life and trauailes allmost 1000. yeare●●ast ) 24. Priests which were Saint Patricks ●isciples , daily hauing Mas●e am●ng them , ●nd others in other p●aces . Immola●●nt agnu●●a ●macula●um : & ●mnes ad communionem ven●●bant ●●entes . Ho● sacrum corpus Dom●n● , & Saluatoris s●●●ite sanguinem vo●●s in vitam ●ternam● They sacri●ed the imma●ulate Lawbe● and all came to the Com●union saying . Ta●e yea this bodie and blood of our ●●d and Sauiour , which will be to you l●se euerla●●g . And to manifest vnto all the vndoubted ●uth of Saint B●●ndans trauai●es and rela●n of these things , i● is set downe in memo●ble Antiquities , diuers h●ndred● of ●eares fore the Spa●iards or Por●ugals enterance to America , that there it was thus Prophe●ally reuealed vnto him : Post 〈◊〉 Anneru●●●●cul● d●●larabitur ist● te●r● vestris Successo●●●us , 〈◊〉 Christiano●●●n super●ene●i● 〈◊〉 After ●● yeares this land shall be discouered ●● your Su●●urs , wh● P●rs●●●tion ●hall come 〈◊〉 the Christians ▪

2. That S. German ▪ S. Lupus , S. Seue●● , S. Paladius , and all th●se which S. Ce●●ne that Massing Pop● s●nt hither into Br●●●ie were Massing Bishops and Priests , as al●● th●t were co●s●crated by them , is confes● by all . We haue the most worthie wi●●●e of our old B●●tish antiquities written ●ut 1000 ▪ yeares since , intituled euen by ●estants glosses , Prima ●nstituti● & varu●as ●siasti●● seruitij . The first Institution and var●etie ●●●ch s●ru●ce . The Masse and publike offic● which in the time of S. German , S. Lupus , and S. Patricke , was by them , and others vsed in Britanie , Scotland , and Ireland , was the ●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 the● Scots and Irish. All our Archbishops both o● London , Yorke , and Ca●rlegion , Theonus ▪ Dubriti●s , Sampson , Dauid , and the res● with all Bishops and Priests vnder them wer● sacrificing and Massing Priests : Altars fo● Masse were in all Churches , and one t●● th● sacrifice of Christs bodie and blood was offered in Masse . All which appeareth in ●ann● histories , and their destruction by the Paga● Saxons in all Churches doth witnesse it . Eccl●● & Ecclesiastica omnia ad solum vs● destruebā● , Sacerd●●es iuxta a●iaria trucidabant . They destroyed euen to ●● ground the C●urc●es and all Ecclesiasticall t●ings , t●e ●illed the Priests at the Al●ars . Such were the Pr●lats , Bishops , Priests , Abbots , and their Se●● Monasteries ▪ and Churches , where Ma●● was vsed in great number and aboundanc● in euery age ●y the ●rotestants confession ●o . Go●●olin . histor. Eccles. Matth. Parker Antiquis . Britannis . pag. 8. Tot tant●qu● Pres●●●●rorum , M●nac●orum , Praesulu● Episcoporum , Ecclesiarum , Coenobiorum , S●dium● vetusta nomina quae quos●● saculo extiterunt : Se 〈◊〉 old names of Priests , Monckes , Prelats , Bis●o● Churches , Monasteric● and Episcopall Se●s were in ●uery ●●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 Le●hard the Bishop , ( which came hither with the F●enth Catho●ike Christian Ladie Queene Bertha , married ●o the Saxon king Ethe●bert of kent , ) and the Priests with him , were all Massing Priests , and ●aied Masse in that Church allotted to them to ●hat end . In antiquissima sancti P●aesulis Mar●in● Ecclesiâ sub vrbe sua beato Pontisi●e Lethard● praesi●ente , frequentabat Regina Missarum & Ora●io●um ●acra , cum suorum co●itum samili● Christian● : ●● the auncient Chu●ch of Saint M●rtin citu●●d neare vnto the citie , Lethardus the Bishop gouer●ng it , the Queene wi●h her Christian samil●● heard ●asse frequently . This was diuers yeares before ●aint Greg●ri● ( that most holy and ●●arned ●ope , Gregori●s magnus Romanus omnium ●ontisi●m Romanorum doctrin● & vitâ pr●stantissimu● : ●egorie the greate a Roman , the worthiest of ad the ●oman Bishops in doctrin and life , As Protestants ●le him ) sent Saint Augustine with his holy ●mpanie hither : and king Ethelbert as these ●otestants saie by the persuasion of Queene ●rtha his wise and her Clergie receiued the ●ole Roman Religion : Conu●rsus vxoris Ber● persuasione Ethelberius Rex Romanismum susce● . And Saint Augustine brought in among ●her things , Altars , holy vestiments , and ●ssel● , 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 cir●a Missarum oblationes , Sedes ●piscopal●● , ac de●imas , & coactà Syno do , mandauit Romanas v●iq ▪ c●s●ctu●in●s s●ruari . And the Masse which S. Augustin● brought hither f●om ● . G●ego●ie was the same which S. Grego●●e and the Roman Church then vsed , and the present R●man Church and Catholike● of England doe vse at this time , and the very same which was in vse before Saint Gregorie ▪ He onely add●●● vnto it , as the Protestants them●elues confesse ●ew things not questione● by them , as 〈…〉 : Lord haue m●●●ie ●pon ●● to be diuers times ●●i●erated which they confesse the Greeke Church d●d vse long before . He added also Di●sque ●ostros in ●uâ pace di●●onas : And d●spose our dai●s in thy peace , And commaund , we ●e deliuered from euerlasting damnation , and numbred in the s●ock of thy elect● But the Protestants allow and vse all these , a● also ( where they sa●e he hadded ) Alleluia som● times to be vsed , ( it being vsed in Scripture ▪ and the saying or singing our Lords praye● Pater noster ordained by Christ , and by Protestants confess●on vsed in Masse in the Apostle● time . S. Alde●me our holy Bishop and Countrie m● , who cal●eth S. Gregorie his Ma●●● writeth that he added in the daily Canon ▪ w●● the solenities of Mas●e are celebrated in the C●●alogue of ●●●tyr● S. 〈…〉 ioyning the 〈◊〉 S. 〈◊〉 S. Anas●●si● ▪ and ●thers . Q●●● 〈◊〉 Agatha & ●Lu●ia 〈◊〉 & 〈◊〉 noster Grego●●●●n Canone 〈…〉 ●m●●a cele●r●tur ●opul●sse 〈…〉 ●●●logo 〈…〉 ●ga●●a , Luci● ▪ Which S. 〈…〉 and Pedagoge ●regorie ▪ ●s 〈…〉 in the d●●ly Canon 〈…〉 them after this m●ner 〈◊〉 Catalogue 〈…〉 Anast●si● , Aga●●a , 〈…〉 Saint Gregorie added no 〈…〉 to the holy Masse . For hereby 〈…〉 the whole Canon was vs●d before ▪ an● 〈◊〉 Saint Agat●a , and Saint Lucia , to the o●h●r holy women Martyrs , proueth enough , 〈◊〉 ●is Act to be holy by former autho●●tie and ●xample , those o●●er holy Martyrs being by ●he Church of Christ placed and 〈◊〉 in ●he Canon before S. Gregorie h●s 〈◊〉 and S. ●gatha and S●in● Lucia in the Ca●●●ders of Protestants 〈◊〉 acknowledged and 〈◊〉 holy 〈◊〉 Saints , and Martyrs . For Sai●● Gre●o●●e to ioyne Saints to Saints in honour , ●ould ●e no ●nsainctlike Act in him . N●ither ●h● Priests of Eng●and doe d●serue su●h pe●al●ies , punishments , and pe●s●●uciors ▪ as ●hey na●e long suffered and now full ●oe ●nd●●e ●or exe●cising their most honourabl● Functi● ▪ ●n offering their most diuine Sacri●i●e instituted by Christ , offered by him , his ●oly Apostles , and in all Ages after , in this so approued and receiued Order and forme o● 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 ●oly Church , yet concerning Massing Priests an● Masse , he ordained by his laste will and Testament , as is still to be seene ( Mass●● ) That they should continue in England to the ●nd of the worl● willing and charging Prince Edward his sonne , a● his Executors , all his heires and Successours , th● should be kings of this Realme , ●s they will answear before allmightie God , at the dreadfull daie of Iudgment that they and euery of them drese● it performed . Neithe● euer was there in England before that yo● kings time , or in any other nation ( whe● Protestant Communion hath in these thei● late daies opposed against Catholike Rel●gion , Priests , and Masse ) any other Churc● seruice , but Catholike Masse and Sacri●ie● founde , heard off , or remembred in Antiquities .

14. Therefore seeing the honour and dignitie of holy Priesthood , in the respect o● the most sacred and heauenlie oblation , an● Sacrifice , it offereth vnto God omnipotent the highest king , and king of kings , of hea● and the vniuersall created , for the liuing an● deceased , is most certainely and without a doubt or question , so great and glorious , ●● dare not least we should be Traitours ●● God , harken vnto them , but lament their dolefull estate , who declare and persecute it , as a traiterous estate to Princes on earth , which ●hould subiect their wills and lawes to the will and lawe of God , reuerence and honour , and not so v●ly vse , his dearest seruants : for as Iùstin ▪ Dial. cu●●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 . ō potestas ( saith Saint Ephrem ) in●ffae●ilis , quae Ephrem . de Sacerdot . in nobis dign●●ae est habitare , per impositionem manuum Sacrorum Sacerdotum . ô quam magnam in se continet profunditatem formidabile & admi●a●ile Saecerdotiū ? 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 an● admirable Priesthoode containe . Sacerdotium ( saith Saint Chrysost. hom. 5. de verb. Isaiae vid● Dom. Engl. Protest . Pref. booke of cons●cr . & apud Go●ell . Defens . of Hook. pag. 87. 88. 89. Exam. pag. 1●5 . De●ens . ●upr . pag. ●16 . 117. 276. Chrysostome ) principatus est ipso etiam regno venerabilius ac maius . Priesthood is a principalitie greater and worthier then a Kin●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 ●●esh , which was giuen for the life of the world , and that blood , which was powred out to redeeme f●●●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 wi●l be sufficient , to excuse sacred Sacrificing Priests pe●secuted for iustice , and la●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 Ext●●me vnction , deliuered in holy Scripture , and euer vsed ●n the Church of Christ , and Protestants neuer question it , a● a matter of State , there is nothing in Priestly O●der , but these men in some sense or other would haue vsed by ther● Ministers ▪ who vse preaching , baptizing , marriage euen of themselues , forgiuing of sinnes in personall absolution ▪ euen without any penance at all , ●●ther by them enioy●ed , or their Con●itents performed or vsed ▪ Which power they 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 and ●●●secrating 〈◊〉 , ●ri●sts and Dea●ons i● 〈◊〉 . Priest● . ●laime a● giu●n vnto them by their Protestat Bishops in their admi●●ance to their ministrie in these his words : Receiue the holy Ghost , whose s●nnes thou dost forgiue , they are forgiuen ; and whose sinn●● thou dost retai●e they are retained . Take thou aut●oritie to preach , the word of God , and to ministe● the ●oly Sacraments in this Congregation ▪ where thou ●halt be so appointed . And they a● confiden●ly v●e it with this further publike warrant and dire●tion Pro●e●● . com●un 〈◊〉 T●tul . visit . of the sicke . in their Communion booke in this manner ▪ The sick● person shall make a speciall Con●●ssion , if he feele his conscience troubled with any weightie matter , after which Confession the Priest shall absolue him after t●is sorte .

Our Lord Iesus Christ , who hath lef● power in ●is Church to al solue all s●●ners , which truely rep●nt and beleeue i● him , of his great mercie forgiue thee thine offences : and by his authoritie committed to me , I absol●e thee from all thy s●nnes in the name of the Father , and of the sonne , and of the holy ghost . Am●n , All this is , or should be vsed by Protestant Ministers , by their most publike , Rega●l . Parlamentall , and what●oeuer autho●itie their Religion is set out , and supported by So not onely permitting , tollerating , and allowing , but directing , and commaund●ng to be done and practised , much more then any Priest presumeth or Pope licencet● , o● euer licenced to be vsed or attempted , yea more the● any Papall power can so warrant ▪ no penance enioyned , how many or greuous soeuer the sinnes committed and confessed be : no satisfaction or rest●●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 Sac●rdorio . Gregor. Nyss●n . orat . de Baptism . orat . ●n ●os ●ui alios acerb . i●dicant . Gild. l. de Exci . Bri●an . Isichius in Leui●● . l. 6. ● . 12. Victor Vt●con . de persec . Vand●li●a ●● . narres purpuram neque Diadema , neque vestes aureas , vmbrae sunt isthac omnia , vernisque flo●●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 thr●nus rerum terrenarum administrationem sortitus est , nec vltra potestatem hanc praeterea quicquam habet authoritatis : verùm Sacerdoti thronus in coelis collocatus est , & de coelestibu● nego●ijs pronuntiandi habet authoritatem . Quis haec d●●● ? ipse coelorum Rex : Quaecunque ligaueritis super terram , ●runt ligata & in coelis : & quae●unque solueritis super terram , erunt sel●ta & in coelis . Deu● ipsum Regule caput Sacerdotis manibus subiecit , nos erudiens , quod hic Princeps est illo maior ; speake not to me of the purple or Diadem● , and g●●lden robes , all these are but shadowes , and more vaine then spring f●owers . Speake not to me of these things , bu● if thou wil● see the power giuen to them bo●h , thou shall see the Priest sitting much higher in ●ig●itie the● 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 heauen● himselfe . Whatsoeuer yee shall ●nd vpon earth shall be bound also in the heauens ▪ and ●hatsoeuer yee shall loose on earth , shal be loosed in ●e heauens . God hath subiected to the hands of the ●riests the Regall head , thea●hing vs , that this Prince greater than that . The thron● , power , authoritie ●nd dignitie of Priests is aboue Regall , this ●leth onely in things temporall , the Priest ● heauenly . The king of heauen hath giuen his power to his Priests and hath subiected ●e Regall head to th● hands of the Priests , ●eclaring vnto vs that this is a greater Prince ●en he . Neither hath he giuen such power vnto ●ngels or Archangels as to Pri●sts ▪ Sa●erdotib●●●●um est , vt potestatem hab●ant , quam Deus neque Chrys●st . lib. 3. de Sacerdotio . ●ngelis neque Archangel●s datam esse voluit . Neque ●im ad illos dictum est : Quae●unque alligaueritis in ●rrâ . erunt alligata & in coelo . Et quaecunque soluereti●● terrâ erunt soluta & in ●oel● : It is giuen to Priests , ●at they shall haue power , which God would haue ●uen neither to Angells nor Ar●hange●●s . For it is not ●ed to them : Whatsoeuer you ●hall bind vpon earth , ●all be bound also in heauen : and whatsoeuer you shall ●ose on earth , shall be loosed in heauen . The power ●f binding which is in Princes , is onely ouer ●odies , that of Priests ouer soules , and exten●eth to heauen Habent & terrestres Principes vin●li potestatem verum corp●rum solum : Id autem quod Chryso●● . ibide● . ●●o Sacordotum vinculum ipsam e●iam animam con●ngitatque ad coelos vsque peruadit . Terreane Princes ●lso haue the power of fetters , but of the bodie onely : ●ut that which I saie , the bonds of Priests toucheth the ●ule it selfe , and passeth vnto the heauens . This is the doctrine deliuered by Christ , so exp●●nded both by the Gr●●ke and ●●●ine Church , in Britani● and all places with all persons , all good Emperours ▪ Kinges , and Prince● of England ▪ and which the whole Christian worlde ha●e euer prof●ssed and declared .

17. And the world will witnesse euery where against persecuting England that the Cath●lik● P●iest , and Clergie thereof , be as le●●ned ●●ly , religious , and as sa●● f●●m exception , and eue● haue bene since they were persecuted ●●mber for number , as any ●●●gi●●● all Ch●●stian re●owned Na●ions ▪ And of all Eng●●●h people they ha●e most ●o●o●red , ●n●●east 〈…〉 offended their P●inces , or 〈…〉 C●●●crie . Most of them be , and 〈…〉 of noble or 〈◊〉 : famili●● , and al●●●bred ●● and discended , that th●y ha●e 〈◊〉 at home and abroad without 〈…〉 or hu●e ▪ They 〈◊〉 left 〈…〉 , places i● 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Engl●●d , 〈…〉 , and all , They 〈…〉 B●shopr●cks , 〈◊〉 or 〈…〉 but leaue 〈◊〉 to th●●●r 〈…〉 any 〈◊〉 Trib●●es , or 〈…〉 From their Aduersa●ies . The Catholike● of ●nglan● 〈◊〉 these ●o 〈…〉 more the Protestants doe 〈…〉 or many 〈◊〉 ▪ Presentations and 〈◊〉 which be●o●ged 〈◊〉 their , ●o ●●ll into the lapse for the Protestant Bishops to bestowe as th●y will . Ou● Catholik● Priests haue no wiues or children to trouble the Common ●ealth with●ll Pari●he●●nd p●aces of birth be not postered or charged with any ●u●h n●r Scho●●erships or Fel●owships in Vn●uersitie● , which are not or●ained for Minister● children● ▪ Tenan●s are ●ot put out of their liuings , nor the Church Ri●ches and liuings horded vp beggars made ●ut not releeued , for any 〈◊〉 of Priests ●r Priests fauourers . All that be of their ac●uintance in Religion are instructed in dutie ●o God and Prince , and be most true and ●utifull Subiect● to ●heir king ●n all occasions , ●h●se cannot be the 〈◊〉 of a bad Religion .

18. Their Religion vnder pre●en●e where●f they are presecuted , they haue of●ē in pub●shed bookes proued in euery point and ●rticle to be onely true , and now doe con●● it ●●t to p●e●se which will so demonstrate , 〈◊〉 euery Article of th● P●●se●utours Re●ion , euen by the Apostle● , and Apo●olike men , and Fathers of that age , in ●hich they liued , holy Scripturs , and Pro●stants themselue● ▪ and they haue often ●ade most earnest and humb●e petitions ( late● p●blished in print ) to the Parlament 〈◊〉 , publickly euen with vnequall condi●ons to themselues and their caus●●● dispute ●d m●intain● all and euery part of the do●ine they hold and 〈◊〉 against the best ●arned Protestant Bishops or 〈◊〉 their Persecutours . And yet if men would or should speake , doe and proceede consequently , ( as they which tak●●pon them to be teachers , instructours , and Reformers in Religion of all men in all times , and places , ought , and without vtterly disabling themselues therein are bound , ) A Prieste or Bishop that saieth Ma●se , absolueth penitents , or reconci●eth men to the Catholike faith ▪ by power authoritie , or Iurisdiction from Rome is no more guiltie , of so ●ermed treason , by the Parlament Protestant Acts and lawes , then all ▪ other Ecclesiasticall Parlament , an . 〈◊〉 . Elizab. Statute . 2. Parlam . 1. Iacob . Parlam . ● . Car●li . person● , d●acons or others inferiours , Religious of what name , title , or degree soeuer , as Subdeacons , Acolythists , Exorcists , or others wanting all such power , as is euident by that o● Queene Elizabeth , receiued and prosecute● by king Iames and king Charles . Priests therefore are not , or should not be so prosecute● for their Priestlie functions . God forbyd any English minded man or louer of Englan● should thinke or wish it a thing so penall an● capitall for any Inhabitant of England or English man to be borne , abid or remaine in hi● beloued natiue Countrie of England , thoug● he we●e a meaner and more vnworthie ma● then any meanest Priest of England is .

19. The Protestants thus deriue our Clerg●● Succession . Th● first Parlament of Q● C●mbd . Annal pag 36. ●●izabeth being ended , the Oath of th● Queens supreamacie was proposed to the Catholike Bishops ▪ and Ecclesiasticall Persons many as refused to sweare , were depriued their benefices , dignities , and Bishopriks ▪ ● Rulers of Churches , 50. Prebendaries , 5. ●isters of Colledges , 12 Archdeacons , 12. ●anes and 14. Bishops , all that then ●emai● , except one Anthonie Bishop of Landaffe ● calamitie of his See , and ●ome commit●ed prison in the Tower , Fleete , Marshallea , ● kings Bench. How reuerend and learned ●n those of our Clergie then we●e , and they ●ch immediately ioyned with the and cōti●d a Succession of renowned Clergie Priests , ● memorable bookes and writings of very ●y of them in defence of Catholike Reli●n , ther honour therby registred among ● must worthie writers and their glorie in whole Church of Christ , are warrant to posteritie . I am an vnworthie witnesse , ● many older , and of more frequent conuersa● with Priests then I , can better testifie that ●hin 25 yeares of the Reigne of Queene E●beth , when so many from our Seminaries ● come hither , that at one time there were ● of them Prisoners in the Marshallea , and ●y of them put to death . There were then ●y of Queene Maries Priests depriued and ●secuted by Queene Elizabeth , still liuing , ● labouring here in this holy cau●e , and ●st of them were very learned , as they were ● , which were sent from our Seminaries to ●plie their number and ioyne with them , as ●ers published bookes , from them , their petitions and challendges of d●sputation bo● in the Marshal sea and Tower , and their cofuting and confounding their Protestant auersaries doe sufficiently ●estifie .

20. W● may take some proportion of th● labours and wor●hinesse ●ere , if we call ● minde the s●a●e of such affair in Eng●and , ● the time of Q●eene Elizabe●h before a●y R●ligious men came ●●ther , the Cle●g●e Prie● heing here a●lmost alone without other asistance ) and compare it with the present c●dition , when so many Orders of them ●sides the old Clergie , be and haue bene h● diuers yeares , and we shall not finde feaer the auntient Nobilitie , scarce●y more of ● chiefest gentrie and not many more othe● Catholikes now , then in those daies . T● which be old may remember it , others ● Iudgment in histories and Records may fi● it so , the time of Persecution threatning ● commaundeth vnto me silence in particul● Yet all that are so desirous to examine ● 〈◊〉 . Ann●l . p● . 27. 21. 22. 36. 39. Row●s preface historicall in Qu●ene El●●●beth . Stowes 〈◊〉 . yeare of Q. 〈◊〉 . comparison , may easily prooue that mo●● I am not in error , if they will but read●● Protestant Historicall relations , Ca●d● Howes , Stowe and others , they will s●e w● Pollicie was vsed to put downe Cathol● Religion , and by them it will also appeare how ●●tholike Councellours were ●●moued Cathol● Iudges , Sherifes , Iustices of peace and oth●● were displaced , and Protestants put in t● places , fiue nowe Protestant Lords made , i● ●ounties Protestant B●●gesses chosen for ●rlament ; Plures è Protestantibu● datâ operâ , è ●nitatibus tum è ●iuitatib●● , & Burgis fuisse electos : ●ny of the Protestants of set purpose were chosen one 〈◊〉 Counties as well out of Cities , as Townes . And ●hough the Ca●holike Bishops were also ●cluded from that Parlament , that so Pro●tant Religion might be the more easily es●lished by Parlament , yet the P●o●estant ●tie exceeded onely in Sixe voices , the Ca●olikes , who there prof●s●ed themselues to ●uch , and all for the most part of them for ●ong time remained so . The Queene her●e openly then in that Parlament protested , ●●●he would neuer vexe or trouble the Roman Ca●ikes , concerning any difference in Religion . ●ough we found and felt since how farre ●he ● altered from this then her intetion ad deternation . What I haue saied is found to be true all the opinion● of friends and aduersaries .

21. And this sufficiently argueth a true , ●st lawfull , and neuer defectiue knowne suc●ion of worthie and learned Priests of the ●ular Clergie , who defended in all times ●holy cau●e of God in this our Countrie , ● conserued still the Catholike Religion in hearts of the Nobilitie , gentrie and others ●ll so●ts . No Order of the Religious can ● so . The Iesuits came first of all the Reli●us hither , but they were not heare before . ● went away againe , not returning of some ●res . The Dominicans and Franciscans came ●er before the Benedictins , but neither they nor any other ●id , or could make this clai● For our secular Priests haue ( as is be●● often declared ) continued alwaies their s●ces●ion , and in this last persecution she● the way , and broaken the ice vnto all ● Religious by their Mission of Priests hith● from their Colledges beyond the s● which I speacke not with any intention dishonour our Reuerend Religious , bu● honour the Secular Clergie and to defend Authour of the Protestans Plea and Petition t● Parlament for Catholikes : Against whom , a cert● Benedictine Moncke in his prefatorie Ep● to Saint Augustins Meditations , Soliloq● and Manuall translated by him into Eng● writeth : I here neuer hath beene any Interrup● Benedictine Preachers and Teachers in England ● to prooue this his assertion , he reciteth ●ly three such Mon●kes ▪ Abbot Fecknam ▪ a● Moncke ( to vse his word● , whole name was ●rie Stile as I take it . ) Who though bli● bodie yet cleare sighted in minde in the Ch●●● Westminster publi●ly and ●●outely confuted in an ● none Sermon , a precedent rail●ng Sermon ● D. Horne by appointment of the Councell s●● in the eares of the people to disgrace the profes●● Monckes , and Catholike Religion , and D. S●● Buckly : and he seemeth to be offend●d ● the foresaied Author of the Plea , as thoug● had done wrong to their Order in supp●sing D. Abbot Fecknam his nam● say ●e might haue remembred the famous and ●● ● Abbot Fecknam . But a●as this is farre from 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 pl●ce setting downe to his honour the Orat●●● he made in the first Parlament of Q. Elizabeth in defence of Religion . And ●hat Author of the Plea was so farre and ●till is , from being otherwise then a lo●ing friend and no enimy to the Order of ●aint Benedict , that in the time of Q. Eliza●eth before any Monckes came hither . He ●rote in honour thereof in his Apologie for Catholiks to the Councell of Q. Elizabeth Apolog. ●p●st ●o Q Elizab Councall prius . an . 601. pag 83. ● these words , The onely order of Saint Benedict , so ●nowned in our Nation , hath had abou● twenti● kings ●d Emperours , aboue an hundred gr●●t Princes , many ●opes , sixteene hund●ed Archbishops , 4000. Bishops , ●000 . famous men , and 15600. most honourable ca●nised Saints . Thus farre ranne his penne with ●eir Moncke and most commender Trithe●ius .

22. When the first Moncks from Spaine ●me hither about the death of Q Elizabeth , ●d had no Faculties , this Author at the re●iest of one of them his deare fr●end , wrote ef●ctually to the then Archpriest Maister ●ack well , to giue them ordinarie Faculties , ●hich he did , and these were the first Facul●s , that Congregation in my memorie ( as ●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 o● that , and other Orders of his acquaintance ▪ but to that excepting Moncke he ●as no● knowne . And now at this time and 〈◊〉 afte● both that Author , and I that write as his an● their louing friend , will be so farre fro● being an enimy vnto the Moncks of Sain● Ben●dicts Order , that except their auntien● learned Moncks Historians and such as the● accompt most fauouring to their Order i● matter of Historie shall offend and be again● them , of this time , we will not offend the● bringing nothing but from these men the● selues and such . But yet that assertion , T● there neuer hath beene any Interruption of Benedi●●● Preachers , and teachers in England , cannot be s● by Moncks , and this Moncks owne conf●sion For if it had bene a thing lawfull fo● Moncke or any Cathol●ke to goe twise ●● day to a Protestant Church , where once ● goe i● d●mnable , such a Moncke could not ● a tru● Preacher and Catholike , otherwise a● learned man vnder pretente to confute Pro●stants by word or writing , might goe to the● Churches , and deliuer themselues from p●●alties . Further this Moncke as they confe● went soone after out of England , and died ● of ●t . Abbot Fecknam by Moncks , and ● d●ed in the yeare 1585. And then by ●● 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 ab●e that proposition : There n●●er hath bene any Interruption of Benedictine Preachers and tea●●e●● in England . One no Preacher cannot be such , and in the plurall number .

23. And that Author made no more men●ion in particular of Benedictine Moncks , ●hen of other Religious Orders , all o● them ●ailing in learned Priests , except of ●he Cler●ie to ●heach and defend true R●●igion . He ●id not meane , there was not any one either ●earned or vnlearned . If any such thing is ●here printed , it was the printers and not his ●oing : neither can any of equa●l Iudgement ●inke otherwise , for that authour well k●ew ●at Father Sebert Buckley was then liuin● , he ●eing well and very louingly acquain●e● with ●aister Sadler , and maister Mahu Priests ●hich first ioyned with that F. Buckley , hea●ng from them the manner thereof . And he ●ath seene vnder one of their han●s , more ●en euer he wrote or held : That it was ●oubted whether that father Buckley was a ●rofessed Moncke or no : and the reasons of ●ch doubt are thus set downe , written with ●ne of their hands Quia hoc neque per scripturam , ●e publicum Instrumentum , neque per testem , quirem ●sam nouerat probatum vidit : Because he had no●●ne this prooued by writing , or pu●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 friends 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 , verita● vincit .

THE VII . CHAPTER .

That the Catholikes of England taugh● and directed by such guides in Religio● as our Priests be , are not to be persecuted but protected , defended and imployed , as true and faithfull subiect● in all things .

1. THe honour , dignitie , glorie , and renowne of consecrated Bishops , an● Priests , being thus great , ample , excellent an● necessarie among all true beleuing Christian● Instituted and ordained by Christ himselfe and according to his owne most holy Order , fo● all professours of his faith and Religion in a● ●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 ●eache vndoubtedly true and that the highest spirituall power by which their Mission is so certaine , so a●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 ●o the highest and neuer fading ioyes ; your ●osse may be of temporarie : but your pur●hase thereby will be of much better and euer ●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 ● . 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 ●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 n●● made with hand , eternall in heauen . Your liues , your lands , your liberties , honours , and what soeuer in things temporall , and to be forsaken , 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 Miseries sustained for your Ransome , and Redemption , 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 1● . mansiones multae sunt , vado parare vobis locum . Et ●● abiero & praeparauero vobis locum : iterum venio & accipiam vos ad meipsum vt vbi sum eg , & vos sitis , Et quo ego vado scitis , & viam s●●●is : In my fathers house there be many mansions : I goe to prepa●e you a place ▪ I come againe and will take you to my s●lf● , 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 , ●●ll be ●he highest and greatest with him there in loyes for euer . Ecce Taberna●ulum Dei cum hominibus , & Apo●al . ●1 . habitabit cum eis , & ipsi populus ●ius erunt , & ipse Deus cum eis , er●t corum Deus . E● absterget Deus omnem Lachrymam ab oculis eorum ▪ & m●rs vltrà non erit neque luctus , neque clamor , neque dolor erit vltrà , quae prima abierunt : Behold the Tabernacle of God with men , and he will dw●ll with them . And they shall be ●is people : and he God with them shall be their ●od . And God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes : and death shall be no more , nor mourning , nor crying neit●er shall there be sorrow any more , which first things are gone . All you shall , or can giue , or ra●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 y●a an hundred for one . Omnis qui reliquerit domum velfra●●es aut sorores aut Patrem , aut Matrem aut vxo●em , aut filios aut agros , propter nomen Matth. 19. meum : cen●●plum ac●●pi●t & vitam ●●ernam possidebit : Eu●ry one that ha●● l●ft house , or bretherne , or sisters , or father , or mother or wife , or childrne or ●and●● for my sake : sh●ll ●e●eiue on hundre● fold , and shall posses● life euerlasting .

3. You that be great and Noble , and Noble Catho●●kes be not troubled ●or not enioying such ●●mpo●all and fading honours in Court or Countrie which your equals or inferiours en●oye , ( not being of your Religion , but rather p●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 ●uch without offence to God , or hurting his S●ruants ; it is your honour , and securitie in conscience to want or loose them ▪ Qui amat pericu●um in illo peribit . Coringrediens du●● 〈◊〉 . 3. ●●as , non habebit success● : He that l●ueth danger , shall pe●ish in it . A ●eart that goeth two wa●es , s●all not haue Successe , And God hath prouided better L●eu●enanci●s , and Offices for you in a bett●r kingedome . Iudicabunt Nationes , & dom●n●●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 Common● was in power . Your lawfull and iust refusal● 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. l●f● 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 , and for that you are Catholikes of England . For others both Priests and Catholikes not of England , are otherwise entertained here in England , not onely ●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 ●aue the least occasion of any daunger , difficultie , or hazard , our dearest Countrie is subiect or exposed vnto , as diuers publick Pro●lamations and other Protestant Relation ▪ publish . We neuer were of Counsaile , or acquaintance , with any great Councellour , o● Courtier dead , or liuing full at this time , o● any such , which ( as many Protestans or ●uritans haue thought ) did not good offi●●s to this kingedome , We were , and are 〈◊〉 to all men or women , Courtiers or others , which haue bene suspected to haue furthered the driuing ●● the French Bishop , Priests , Ladies , and others from the Queene , and placed themselues ●●●riends for them , the beginning of daba ewith France ▪ We are as Innocent of the breath with Spaine , either Ma●●iage or peace , o● with any other Prince . We haue not disturbed it , at ●ome or ab●oad . The rebellion of the Netherlanders ▪ Hungarians , Austrians , 〈◊〉 , Lu●atians , Sile●ians , Moranian● , 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 of rendring such duties ●nto our King , and haue what they could persuaded the Recusants ( as the refusing Protestants were therin termed ) to performe such ●onds , true offices , and obligations of louing subiects . An● although our Catholikes hau●●●ne sondry waie● 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 Contribu●ions , when their persecuting Protestants in great number , and of great qua●itie made de●iall No man except maliciously and chridishly very falsely imagining slaunders , and ●ntruthes against them , may surmise that these ●en can be vnmindefull of the dutie and obe●ience of true Subiects to their Soueraigne .

6. If there be any either in Court or Countrie bearing the name Catholike , gaining not loo●ng , rather honoured then ●isgraced , preferred then persecuted ) gi●en to libertie and disorders , ( such as this ●rotestant time can easily bestowe and ●are ) and spirituall discipline may not be ●llowed to ke●pe such in dutie , o● leaue the ●ame Catholike , Catholike Rel●g●on doth ●ot and cannot answeare , or make accomp●●or such ▪ Commonly they be men risen o●●ell reared vp by fall of Religion , and Reli●ious howses , which complaine most against Catholikes , who finde pro●ects of sea●e , ●●a●ing to loose that , they so easily g●t . B●t 〈◊〉 , there is no danger towards them by English Catholikes , for many or most o●●hem that be landed men , haue also such land , They be not Catholikes , ( which euer defend ●ld and vn●uersall Right ) which a●e to be sea●ed in Innouations : Nouelists and louers of ●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 , excep● concerning matters of Religion , where i● breaketh the lawe of God and his holy Catholike Apostolike Church . To keepe th● lawe of the king of all kings , and his kingedome , must not be termed or thought a breac● and violating of the lawes of any priuat● earthly king or kingedome , all which mu● subiect themselues to that omnipotent king and his gouernment . And to make all sure 〈◊〉 Catholikes defence in this cause , we wi● briefely examine all Articles now questione● betweene Protestants of England and then , an● prooue in many of these Artic●es ( as they a● enacted by Protestants ) that the Catholike doctrine is farre more agreable and profitab● for publike peace , vnitie , obedience , an● concord in a good ciuill Monarchicall an● R●gall gouernment , then that which Protestants hold , and practise , and would for●● Catholikes vnto ; and not any one Article ●● Catholike Religion , repugnant vnto , or pre●udicing the Rule and gouernment of a mo● 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 bound to God , so he cannot be vndutifull to his temporall Prince and Countrie .

THe first fiue Articles of their Religion , ( they consisting onely of ●9 . ●ade by a few Protestants in f●●werth , or ●fth yeare of Queene Elizabeth the old age ● this Religion ) doe containe nothing con●ouersed betweene them and vs , but were ●ade against new Sectaries so soone risen vp ●mong them . The Sixth and next Article in●tuled , Of the sufficientie of the holy Scripture for ●luation , Denieth the vse and necessities of ●raditions not written in Scripture , and de●eth many bookes of holy Scripture to be ●ch , and some of them , as the booke of wise●ome , and of Iesus the sonne of Sirach , con●sting most of morall precepts , and commandments ( as all men knowe ) are most needful● in all kingedomes for ciuill regiment . So tha● whatsoeuer of this nature is contained in thes● two morrall bookes and tenne others whic● they likewise reiect , or in holy Apostolik● Traditions , are wanting in these men , and th● Catholiks embracing both ●hose bookes an● Tradi●ions exceede them in all temporall obedience and dutie in this respect .

2. After this , vntill we come to their nint● Article stiled , Of originall or birth siane : they finde no difference in this point . But in thi● 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 , whic● saie they beleeue , and are baptized , and ●● no Treason , Rebellion , contempt of gouernment can condemne them . Catholikes be o● the contrarie profession . And this Protestan● libertie and dis●bedience is further warrante● and allowed in the next Article but one : ( th● immediate next Article after by their gloss● not at all or litle differing ●rom Catholiks ▪ ) Fo● this their eleuenth 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 giu● libertie to all offences , not to be pu●ished b● 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 sa●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 ●all into drunkennes●e , commit Adulterie , Fornication , Per●u●●e , or any mortall sinne , which depriueth of grace , he may or rather must make rebellion , commit ●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 desperate●esse . Their 15. and 16. Articles haue no pe●uliar difficultie . Their 17. next Article is intituled of Predestination and Election : And it deliuereth plainely that their doctrine and Religion therein euen , a● 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 w● 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 Protestants . 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 ●he Church : And the other , Of the authoritie of the Church : Are able to destro●e all Obedience , Religion , and dutie . eyther to God or man ▪ for the first defining to those of their Religion , and declaring that , The visible Church of Christ is a Congregation of fait●full men , in the w●ich the pure worde of God is preached and the Sacraments be duly ministred according to Christs ordinance , in all those things that of necessitie are requisite to the same . And making the Patriarchall Churches of Ierusalem , Alexandria , Antioche , and Rome the chiefest commaunding Churches , by which all others must be ruled , and gouerned , and yet it is concluded of them all , that they Hau● erred in matters of faith . They take all true faith and Religion , ( which of all things must be most certaine ) out of the world . For no man will or can be of a Religion , which is assuredly vntrue , nor worship him for God , which will so dece●●e vs . And to no purpose to finde truthe , but to confirme Infidelitie it is said in the 20. Article ; The Church hath power and authoritie in Controuersies of faith : the Church is a witnesse and keeper of holy writ . For if the highest Iudge , witnesse and keeper of holy writ , and hauing authoritie in Controuersies of faith , being to be obeyed of all , may thus erre , all men should thereby be bound to such error , and eternally to be damned . No man would be a Christian with such condition . No man is likely so to be a true subiect : for the certaintie of Religion , which causeth certaintie of obedience and dutie to Princes , being taken away , the other will faile .

4. This they confirme in their 21. Article , Of the authoritie of generall Councels , making them though they represent the whole and vniuer●all Church , to haue no more power or certainetie . And if we should followe the Par●aments of our Countrie , much vnequall to ●he whole Churches Iudgment , we should ●inde that they haue often and most inexcu●ably erred by their owne Iudgements and confessions . And So the Conclusion may be ●uch as Athests and prophaine contemners of Religion and all dutie to God , Princes and ●thers in authoritie , vse and practise . Their 22. Article intituled , Of Purgatorie , denying the ●octrine of the Roman Church concerning ●urgatorie , Pardons , Images , Relicks and ●nuocation of Saints , must needs occasi●n ●ore neglect of good life and dutie , then the Catholike doctrine . For first the deniall of Purgatorie and punishment for sinne there after death , if it be ioyned with the Protestant doctrine before , of sinnes forgiuen by faith , and ministeriall absolution from all guilt or paine thereby , denying any temporall paine to be inflicted for , or due for sinne , ouerthroweth all penalties , penance or punishment , any Consistorie , ciuill or Ecclesiasticall should inflict for any offence . For where none is due , or to be done , in iustice it may not be inflicted . And this is more than any Pardons or Indulgence the Pope himselfe doth giue , or may vse : euery pretended beleeuer or Minister taketh more authoritie vpon him herein . No vse of holy Images or Reliks vsed by Catholikes can be offensiue in any Common-wealth , but it rather teacheth honour and dutie , which the Protestant opinion doth not . He that will haue or vse respect , doe honour or reuerence to the representing signe , or part of any ▪ will rather doe it to him they represent , then he that denieth it . And for honour to Saints , he that will not honour them in heauen and glorie , will sooner be vnmindefull of their dutie to persons which are to be honoured on earth with terreane honour , then he that honoureth and praieth vnto Saints in glorie .

5. The next Articles 23. and 24. haue litle belonging to this purpose . Their 25. Article of Sacraments , saying they be Certaine sure witnesses , and effectuall signes of grace , and Gods good will towards vs , by which he dot● worke inuisibly in vs . Of seauen Sacraments , they onely retaine two , and the first of them is Baptisme , which they minister to infants . They leaue here the whole life of man , and all states without grace for their callings : They barre the married , from the grace of wedlock or matrimonie : Ecclesiasticall persons , from all grace in Orders : all that liue , from the grace of Confirmation ; offendors , from grace by penance ; Those that are sicke , from the grace of Extreame vnction . And for the Lords supper , as they terme their Communion , holding that it doth condemne and hurt those that be in sinne , and neuer ministring vnto any but such as be of yeares subiect to many sinnes , not taking them away by any other Sacrament or meanes , this cannot giue grace , but rather damnation to the receiuers , being in their owne Iudgment vnworthie Receiuers , and receiuing to their damnation , as they thus declare in their 29. Article . The wicked allthough they doe carnally and visibly presse with their teeth the Sacrament of the bodie and blood of Christ : yet in no wise are they partakers of Christ , but rather to their condemnation , doe eate and drinke the signe or Sacrament of so great a thing . When Catholikes doe not communicate but after their sinnes be forgiuen in the Sacrament of Penance , Confession , and absolution of all sinnes . So that by this Article Protestants haue no meanes to take away any , but Originall sinne in In●an●s , none , for any actuall sinne , but without all grace are left alone to all vndutifulnesse , disobedience and other sinnes , from which Catholikes are by grace giuen in Sacraments preserued , and made free , and abled to performe their dutie to God , and their Princes .

6. The 26. Article hath nothing belonging to this question : neither the 27. Article following , of Baptisme , hath any thing needing examine in this matter . Their 28. of the Supper of the Lord , denying Transsubstantiation and the Reall presence of Christ in the Eucharist , and consequently the reuerence and honour due therevnto , will not breede more honour to Princes on earth , they not hauing more title than Christ , and by him , of honour . And they hauing before declared that the Sacraments be effectuall signes of grace , and here giuing all prerogatiue to Imagined faith , saying : The meane whereby the bodie of Christ is receiued and eaten in the supper is faith , they attribute nothing to any signe or Sacramentall thing , and that Imaginatiue faith is a false faith . For except as Catholiks hold , Christ be truely present there , by the omnipotent promise , word and worke of God , it is vnpossible faith should be a meane to receiue Christs bodie there . True faith is onely of true , and not of false things . And so againe these men leaue to themselues no Sacrament to giue them grace in all their course of life after Baptisme , when they are infants , and so must needs be disabled to serue God or their Prince as they should , and all men are bound to doe .

7. The 29. Article confirmeth this , as I haue deliuered before . And their 30. Article , of both kindes by their doctrine attributing all to their Imagined confuted false faith , confirmeth it also . And their assertion there , That the Cupe by Christs commandment ought to be ministred to all Christian men : Is 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 , deny●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 Cat●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. Artic●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 allowance , 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 from Catho●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 exposition , and no man can 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 Bi●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 no● any visible signe , or ceremonie ordained of God . Then not receiuing or hauing grace , or such spirituall power , it cannot conferre and 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 Bishop● and Priests of the Roman Church to be .

13. Their 37. Article intituled of the ciuill Magistrate , doth giue to temporall Princes supreamacie euen in spirituall things , and denieth all Iurisdiction to the Pope of Rome in thi● 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 commaunde at such chang , were as infinite , and so great , that king Henrie 8 to haue licence or assent to suru●y them , to make vse thereby , promised ( to speake in Protestant witnesses words ) He would create an● maintaine 40. Earles , 60. Barons , Edw. howes historicall pref. in Henr. ● . three thousand knights , and fourtie thousand souldiers with skilfull Captaines , and competent maintenance for t●em all for euer , ou● of the auntient Church reuenewes . Neither should the people be any more charged with loane , Subfidies and Fifteenes . Since w●i●h time there ●au● b●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 England more matters of this nature . And yet if we should make but Robin-hoods pen●worthes and estimate of what hath beene taken away from holy constant Catholikes , for pro●●ssing their true and Apostolike Relig●●n , in the Reigne o● 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 far●e meaner king and kingedome , then ours of England haue been● accompted , from such complaintes of feares , wants , needs , dislikes , and varia●●●● t●erein , if God had well approued of such proceeding● , and such means of proceeding against his Catholike Seruants , our kings most faithfull 〈◊〉 .

14. And the spirituall Supreamacie assumed by o●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 temporall power in Princes here to put any Rebell , or whatsoeuer most greeuious offender to death , and they went 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 o● the Magistrate , to weare Armes , and serue in the warrs . And there were among them teaching and holding communitie of goods , no● 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 Anab●ptists , ( Protestants ) doe beast . And the last ●9 Article intituled , of a Christian mans Oath : And thus enacting and declaring : We Iudge tha● 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 suffi●●en●●y witnesseth w●at goodly cōmon-wealths-mē their Protestant Religion , eu●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 S●ate and Regalitie o● 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 , and Gouernment , as generally Catholik● 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 Regiment did nothing against it , but reuiued , preserued , and confirmed it . In the Protestant reigne of Q. Elizabeth , Statuts were made to auoide or hinder it . It was enacted by Protestant Parlament . Capitall to acknowledge it . Hales an Eng●ish Protestant companion to the Scotish Knox , wrote a booke expressely against the Title of king Iame● No Protestant answeared , confuted or seemed to disalowe it . Onely Catholiks , Sir Anthonie Browne a Iudge , Doctour Morga● 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 ge●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 a● 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 effectua●ly taught and published it , as king Charles can desire . The Protestant writers of their great publike Theater of grea● 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 g●uen more , vnto it .

3. And to pu● all out of doubt or question in this businesse because P●●e●ts and Catholikes are charged so much , for adhearing to Papall powe● : 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 th●s kingedome and Ireland . And nothing can be saide to be more authentically approu●d ▪ and confirmed by Popes authoritie , then Pope Innocentius 8. by his Papall Bull , ( as our Protestants confesse , and relate Bulla Innocentij S. in ●●trim . Henrici Regi● Ang. 7. Ma●●● . Parker . Antiquit. Brit. in ●● . 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 Election , and right of Parlament by hi● Pontisicall power . Pa●● ad confirmandum illud legitimum diuinitusque conciliatum , ac ad pacem , & tranquillitatem Anglorum maximè necessarium Matrimoniu● , suis Bullis opus esse putauit , quia quarto cognationis gradu coniuncti nuptias contraxerunt . In quibus etiam nè authoritate carere videretur , regnum acquisitum Regem confirmauit , illudque iure hareditario , Iure belli , iure coniugali , Iure elec●●onis . Iure Senatus seu Parliamenti Anglicani , necnon Iure Pontificio atque suo ad Henritum Regem septimum , eiusque Haredes in perpe●●●● spectare debere pronuntiauit : The Pope though● i● needefull by his Bulls to confirme that godly reconciled Marriage , most n●●●ssarie for the peace and tranquillitie of English men , for that they ●ad married in the sowerth degree . In which also , least it may seeme to want authoritie , ●e co●firmed the obtained kingdome on the king , and declared it to appertaine perpetually to king Henrie the 7. and his heires by ●●●editarie right , by right of warre , by right of Marriage , by righ● of election , by right of the Coun●ell o● Engli●● Parlament , by Pontificall , and his owne right . This is so constringent and bind●ng an obligation of all English Catholikes , ( attributing so much to Papall pow●r and Iu●i●diction , as Protestants saie we doe , euer to performe all temporall dutie and obedience to our king Charles , the vndoubted true lawfull He●re of that so established king Hery●● to him and his heires for euer ) that no Catholike man , allowing of Papall authoritie can euer be iustly suspected of disobedience or vndutifulnesse to our Soueraigne . And all the Protestants of ●ngland in their Religion , cannot produce such a bonde , testimonie , or warrant fo● 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 hi● 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 h● thus publikly protesteth , before God and m● We ●all God to record , before whom we stand● , that it ● and allwayes hath b●ne our hearts desi●e , ●o be foun● worthie of that Title , which we accompt the most glorious , in all our Crowne , Defendor of the saith ▪

5. We must m●st humbly remember vnto him the saith , whereof he is ●●ilc●● Defender wherein there is so m●ch glo●●e● it is tha● onely true saith of Ca●●o●iks , as is here proued , and no other : true faith being but one ● Ephes 4. Vnus Dominus , vna sides , vnum baptis●a . One Lord one faith , one Baptisme . And this faith of Catholiks of Eng●and is the true Catholike , Apostolik faith , and saith of the Church of Rom● now , and when that Title , Defendor of ●● faith was giuen to king Henry the 8. befor● 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 Protestants now was borne , and was vsed both by king Henry 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 ho●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 ●eader to correct in reading .