Catholique traditions. Or A treatise of the beliefe of the Christians of Asia, Europa, and Africa, in the principall controuersies of our time In fauour of the louers of the catholicke trueth, and the peace of the Church. Written in French by Th. A.I.C. and translated into English, by L.O.

¶First, Diuision of Christian people.

THe vniuersitie of Christians is diuided in∣to sixe principall parts,a 1.1 which doe equally vaunt themselues of the Name, of the Church of God. The East Church doth pre∣tend, that the first ranke or seate is due to her without any contradiction, in re∣gard of her prerogatiues and priuiledges,b 1.2 a Countrey of great largenesse: almost all the Apostolicke Seas, and the most part of the Patriarkes: The maiestie of an Empire, which during the space of more then a thousand yeeres, hath withstood Paganisme and Mahometisme: The authoritie of seuen vniuersall Councels, celebrated within her iu∣risdiction: The Syrian language, wherein the Sonne of God pronounced his Oracles: and the Greeke tongue in the which they were registred. In this Church doth the Oecumenicall c 1.3 Patriarcke of Constantinople, preside or gouerne, It is com¦posed of Grecians (a Nation acknowledged as a mother by her proper aduersaries)d 1.4 of Syrians, Iberians, Sclauoni∣ans, Russians, Muscouites, and others, scattered into many places of Asia, and Africa:e 1.5 al which do call themselues Ortho∣doxe

f 1.6 Catholickes, and do not differ or varie among them∣selues but onely in feweg 1.7 ceremonies.

The Latine, or Catholicke Romane Church, might conue∣niently be placed in the second place. Her primate is called in Latineh 1.8 Pontifex, or more commonly Papa, in English i 1.9 Pope, a name which all they of the East Church doe giue vn∣to all their Priests. This Pope is acknowledged by the Itali∣ans, Frenchmen, Spaniards, by some Germanes and Polan∣ders, and withall by some Americans and Indians, which of late are conquered and conuerted by the Spaniards. The Romane Catholickes do say and affirme themselues to be very strongly vnited together, because that they depend vpon one head or chiefe: Neuerthelesse, they are not all of one accord so farre as his authoritie doth extend. Some doe attribute vn∣to him full authoritie ouer the Church and Councels, and ouer Kings, and Common-wealthes, others doe contradictk 1.10 it. Neuerthelesse these doe tollerate the Pope in his attempts vnto the very execution of them, which is the cause that Chri∣stendome is noted to be in schismes and scandals, and her peo∣ple in warres and dissentions.

The third Christian nation, is the South or Meridionall Church, which containeth the Nubians, and thel 1.11 Abyssins, subiects ofm 1.12 Negus of Ethiop, otherwise calledn 1.13 Prester-Iohn, and many that are scattered in Egypt, Arabia, and Chaldea, which are called Iacobits or Israelites, because that they are of the linage or race of Iacob, otherwise called Israel: But some are of opinion that they take name of one Iacob an he∣reticke. They are called of some in Greeke Cophites, or in Hebrewo 1.14 Cophtes, because that they vse Circumcision. Their Primate maketh his residence in Caire, and is called Patriarcke of Alexandria, his substitute or Deputy in Ethiop, is calledp 1.15 Abuna.

The fourth Christian nation, are the Nestorians, accu∣sed to hold the heresies of oldq 1.16 Nestor, which are dispersed here and there in Tartaria, Persia, and in the Kingdomes of the Eastr 1.17 Indies: Their Prelat resideth in Mosal ors 1.18 Se∣leucie, and is calleds 1.19 Iascelich. The Historiographers doe not exactly report the truth, what is, or in times past hath beene their beliefe, which is the reason wherefore we do not aleadge them very often.

The fift Nation is that of Armenia,s 1.20 which (peraduen∣ture) might be thought to be of the Romane Church, because that they haue offered themselues to her in hate of thet 1.21 Gre∣cians, and theiru 1.22 Catholike, (for so they call their chiefe head) did submit himselfe to the Pope of Rome: but the truth is, that the Romane Church doeth hold them all forx 1.23 here∣tickes, although that shee doeth deale more discreetly with them, for to withdraw them by little and little to hery 1.24 obe∣dience.

The Protestants or reformed Christians, doe make the sixt Church of Christians, they inhabite a great part of Ger∣manie, and the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, Denmarke, and Swethia, and haue Churches in France, Flanders and Poland. This reformation attempted and desired by the Al∣bigeans, and Valdians, was receiued in Bohemia, in the yeere 1400. or there abouts, and afterwards in the yeere ofz 1.25 1517. established in the said Regions by the doctrine of Luther, Melanchton, Zuinglius, Bucer, Caluin and others. The reformed haue not Primate in common neither any generall Synods, which are thea 1.26 Markes and Bands of Vnitie: and from thence haue proceeded and entred amongst them, with great scandale, the diuisions and names of Hussits, Lu∣therans, Caluins and Puritans.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Sugil. Turc. spurc. cap. 22. And other Authors do reckon ten, they put sometimes three seue∣ral Nations the which doe make but one Church.
• b 1.2

  Respo. Con∣fess. August. cap. 13.
• c 1.3

  Generall.
• d 1.4

  Orat. Corn. Epis. Biton. in concil. Trid.
• e 1.5

  Theuet. Cosm. 1. lib. 18. cap. 13.
• f 1.6

  Cras. Tur∣cogr. lib. 3. in ann.
• g 1.7

  Barlaam. de Papae princ. cap. 15
• h 1.8

  A Bridge-maker▪ Fe∣nest. de Sa∣cerd. ca. 8.
• i 1.9

  Father.
• k 1.10

  Panor. de concil. Basil.
• l 1.11

  Theuet Cos. lib. 4 cap. 2.
• m 1.12

  King.
• n 1.13

  Aposto∣licke.
• o 1.14

  Broken or Cut.
• p 1.15

  Our fa∣ther.
• q 1.16

  Isch-ja a man of God.
• r 1.17

  Vilam. l. 2. cap. 21.
• s 1.18

  M. Paule Venet. Hist. Ind. orient.
• s 1.19

  Sent from God.
• s 1.20

  M. Masius in praef. in lib Mosis de pa∣rad.
• t 1.21

  Nichol. l. 4. cap. 19.
• u 1.22

  Vniuersal.
• x 1.23

  Alphons. de Castro de hae∣res. passim.
• y 1.24

  Vilamont. l. 2. cap. 23.
• z 1.25

  Sleidan de Stat. Rel. lib. 1. c. ••.
• a 1.26

  Cyprian de simpl. Cl.