A defence of the Apologie of the Churche of Englande conteininge an answeare to a certaine booke lately set foorthe by M. Hardinge, and entituled, A confutation of &c. By Iohn Iewel Bishop of Sarisburie.

The Apologie, Cap. 2. Diuision. 1.

Yet truely, we doo not despise Councelles, Assemblies, and confe∣rences of Bishoppes, and Learned mēne: neither haue we donne, that we haue donne, altogeather without Bishoppes, or without a Coun∣cel. The matter hath benne treated in open Parlamente, with longe consultation, and before a notable Synode, and Conuocation.

M. Hardinge.

Either your tonge agreeth not with your harte, or els I wil proue the contrarie by your owne argumentes, which in the nexte Paragraphe before this ye haue huddeled vp. For whereas your mat∣ters are (as ye ordinarily saie) euident by plaine scripture, and the VVoorde of God is readen of euery man (without distinction and limitation) therefore ye do firste of al plaie as fonde a parte, as Kinge Agesilaus did, who receiuinge an answeare of mighty Iupiter, woulde afterwarde bringe the mat∣ter before Apollo. Yea furthermore, ye do mutche more fondely then he, if when ye maie heare God him selfe speake plainely to you in the moste holy scriptures, ye woulde bringe the whole cause to be tried by a Councel.

Howe saie ye then nowe, are not these your owne proper reasons, &c. your foresaid worshipful rea∣sons, &c? If ye meane (as by reason ye muste) the Parlamentes of these later daies, the firste of al did make moste for you: and yet how open was it for you? Had ye any place at al in it? VVere ye admitted within the dores? Or had ye any thing to do in that assemblie? Cōsider thē with what consult atiō your purposes were concluded. Did they tarie many monethes about it? Had they Bishops?* 1.1 Had they Di∣uines and the moste lerned, to reason to and fro with al libertie? VVas the Authoritie of the Vniuersal Churche of Christe, and the Doctrine of the Aunciente Fathers considered? Ye saie in Latine, plenis Comitijs, that is, in the ful and whole assemblie, as though none at al had there resisted, but euery man had yelded to your matters. VVhat saie ye then of the spiritual lordes, a greate parte of the par∣lamente, and without al doubt, the parte, whiche muste be chiefely and onely regarded, when the que∣stiō is of religion? How many of thē gaue you their voice to your Gospel? Yea, which of them al did not resist it? One alone, I muste confesse, was afterwarde made to breake vnitie, of whom a right good, and Catholike Bishop saide to a noble man, we had but one foole among vs, and him ye haue gotten vnto you. But as of the spiritual Lordes ye had none at al (except that one, litle woorthy of the name of a Bishop and lorde, whose lerninge was smal, and honoure thereby mutche steined) so of the temporal ye had not al: and so had ye also in the lower howse very many, and wel learned, that speake againste you.

But let vs consider the notable conuocation, in whiche your matter hath ben treated. If ye meane the cleregie comminge togeather at that first parlament time, of whiche we speake, it was of Catho∣likes,

not of Sacramentaries,* 1.2 and it put vp a bill againste your procedinges: so farre it was of from confirminge them. If ye meane any since that time, in whiche your superintendentships mette to∣geather, for what cause was it a notable Synode, and a notable conuocation?

Ye be desperate in your lieinge, and crake of a full Parlament, and a notable Synode, not regar∣dinge by what meanes ye promote your cause to the multitude, and saue your selues from reproche of extreme folie. For otherwise ye, whiche can so amplifie the small and obscure meetinges of a fewe Caluintstes of one litle Iland, what would ye not saie of the laste generall Councell, to whiche more Nations were assembled togeather, then are shyres in Englande: more yeeres were bestowed in consultation, then weekes in your full Parlament:* 1.3 more Bishoppes defined and subscribed, then were Ministers of all sortes in your notable Synode by many partes.

Lastly if they will needes haue their matters seeme to depende of their Parlament, let vs not be blamed, if wee call it Parlament Religion, Parlament Gospell, Parlamente Faithe.

The B. of Sarisburie.

Wée wil not discusse the Right, & Interest of the Parlamentes of Englande. As mutche, as concerneth Goddes euerlastinge Truthe, wee holde not by Parla∣mente, but by God. Parlamentes are vncertaine, & often contrarie, as wée haue séene. But Goddes Truthe is one, and certaine, & neuer changeth. The thinges, that were so suddainely, and so violently shaken downe in the late time of Queene Marie, are now, of Goddes greate mercie, by oure moste Noble, and Gratious Lady Queene Elizabeth, aduisedly, and soberly reared vp againe, that thei maie the more firmely continewe, and stande the better. What so euer wante, yée i∣magine, was in that Parlamente, for as mutche, as wée were no parte thereof, I truste, wee maie the more easily be excused. How be it, so scornefully disdeigninge the whole State of so Noble a Realme, yée shal hardely winne the opinion, ei∣ther of Sobrietie, or of greate Wisedome.

But your Bishoppes, yée saie, withstoode vs: and your Brethren in the Conuocation promoted a bille againste oure Doctrine. I know, M. Hardinge, they subscribed then againste vs with the very same handes, with whiche, not longe before, they had openly prote∣sted, and solemnely sworne againste the Pope: & with whiche they haue sithence receiued, and embraced our whole Religion, to the vtter condemnation of al your folies.

Onely one foole, yée saie, yee had emongest all your Bishoppes: And he was soone gotten to comme to vs. Happy were they, M. Hardinge, that had but one foole in so greate a companie. If somme of your Louanian Cleregie had then benne Bishoppes, I thinke, they might haue benne sommewhat better stoared. Notwithstandinge, it was not wel donne, of your parte, so vnciuilely to calle your Brother foole. Al the reste of your Brethren, very fewe excepted, haue donne the like. Yet fooles, I trowe, yee wil not calle them: lest happily your owne wittes be called in question.

Where yée would séeme to saie, that the Parlamente holden in the firste yéere of the Queenes Maiesties Reigne, was no Parlamente, for that your Bishoppes refused wilfully, to agree vnto the Godly Lawes there concluded, ye seeme therein to bewraie in your selfe somme wante of skille. The wise, and learned coulde soone haue tolde you, that in the Parlamentes of Englande, maters haue euermore v∣sed to passe, not of necessitie, by the special consente of the Archebishoppes, and Bi∣shoppes, as if without them no Statute might lawfully be enacted: but onely by the more parte of the voices, yea although al the Archebishoppes, and Bishoppes were neuer so earnestly bente againste it. And Statutes, so passinge in Parla∣mente, onely by the voices of the Lordes Temporal, without the consente, and a∣greemente of the Lordes Spiritual, haue neuerthelesse alwaies benne confirmed, and ratified by the Real assente of the Prince, and haue benne enacted, & published

vnder the names of the Lordes Spiritual,* 1.4 and Temporal.

Reade the Statutes of Kinge Idwarde the Firste. There shal yee finde, that in a Parlamente solemnely holden by him at S. Edmundes Burie, the Archebi∣shoppes, and Bishoppes were quite shutte foorthe. And yet the Parlamente helde on, & good, and wholesome Lawes were there enacted, the departinge, or absence, or malice of the Lordes Spiritual notwithstandinge. In the Recordes thereof it is written thus,* 1.5 Habito Rex cum suis Baronibus Parlamento, & Clero excuso, Statutum est, &c. The Kinge, keepinge the Parlamente with his Barons, the Cleregie, (that is to saie, the Archebishoppes, & Bishoppes) beinge shutte foorthe, it was enacted, &c.

Likewise,* 1.6 In Prouisione de Martona, in the time of Kinge Henry the thirde, whereas mater was moued of Bastardie, touchinge y^e Legitimation of Bastardes borne before Marriage, the Statute paste wholy with the Lordes Temporal, whe∣ther the Lordes Spiritual woulde, or no: Yea, and that contrarie to the expresse Decrees,* 1.7 and Canons of the Churche of Rome. The like hereof, as I am en∣fourmed, maie be founde, Richardi. 2. An. 11. Ca. 3. How be it, in these cases, I must confesse, I walke sommewhat without my compasse. Touchinge the Iudge∣mente hereof, I referre mee selfe wholy vnto the Learned.

Further, whereas ye calle the Doctrine of Christe, that now by Goddes great Mercie, and to your greate griefe is Vniuersally, and freely Preached, a Parla∣mente Religion, and a Parlamente Gospel, (for sutche sobrietie becommeth you wel, and maie stande you in steede, when learninge faileth) yee mighte haue re∣membred, that Christe him selfe, at the beginninge, was Vniuersally receiued, and honoured through this Realme, by assente of Parlamente: and further, that with∣out Parlamente, your Pope him selfe was neuer receiued, no not in the laie time of Ouéene Marie. Yea, & euen then, his Holinesse was clogged with Parlamente Conditions, that, what so euer had benne determined in Parlamente, and was not repealed, were it neuer so contrarie to his wil, and Canons, should remaine stil in∣uiolable, and stande in force. Otherwise, his Holinesse had gonne home againe. Sutche, M. Hardinge, is the Authoritie of a Parlamente. Verily, if Parlamentes of Realmes be no Parlamentes, then wil your Pope be no Pope. Therefore with like Sabrietie, & grauitie of speache, yee mighte haue saide, Oure Fathers in olde times had a Parlamente Christe: And your late Fathers, and Brethren had a Parlamente Faithe, a Parlamente Masse, and a Parlamente Pope.

Neither is it so strange a mater, to see Ecclesiastical Causes debated in Par∣lamente. Reade the Lawes of Kinge Inas, Kinge Elfrede, Kinge Edvvarde, Kinge Ethelstane,* 1.8 Kinge Edmunde, Kinge Edgare, Kinge Canute: And ye shal finde, that our godly Forefathers, the Princes, and Peeres of this Realme, neuer vouchesaued to entreate of maters of Peace, or Warre, or otherwise touchinge the Common state, before al controuersies of Religion, and Causes Ecclesiastical had benne concluded. Kinge Canute in his Parlamente, holden at Win∣chester vpon Christemasse daie, after sundrie Lawes, and Orders made, Touch∣inge the Faithe, the keepinge of Holy Daies, Publique Praiers, learninge of the Lordes Praier, Receiuinge of the Communion thrise in the yeere, the man∣ner, and fourme of Baptisme, Fastinge, and other like maters of Religion, in the ende thereof saithe thus, I am sequitur Institutio legum Saecularium: Now folow∣eth an order for Temporal Lavves.

Thus wee see, that the godly Catholique Princes in Olde times, thought it their duetie, before al other affaires of the Common Weale, firste to determine maters of Religion, and that euen by the Parlamentes of this Realme.

In a Parlamente holden by Kinge William the Conqueroure it is written

thus:* 1.9 Rex, quia Vicarius Summi Regis est, ad hoc constituitur, vt Regnum, & po∣pulum Domini, & super omnia, Sanctam Ecclesiam, Regar, & defendat, &c. The Kinge, for as mutche as he is the Vicare of the Highest Kinge, is therefore ap∣pointed to this pourpose, that he shoulde Rule, and defende the Kingedome, and People of the Lorde, & aboue al thinges the Holy Churche, &c. Hereby it appea∣reth, that Kinges, and Princes are specially, and of pourpose appointed by God, not onely to defende, but also to Gouerne, and Rule the Holy Churche.

How he it, wee geue God thankes for the same, that is: and truste, that, for his owne names sake, he wil confirme, that he hath begonne. The hartes of Princes, and Determinations of Parlamentes are in his hande. If any thinge wante, the Arme of the Lorde is not shortened: He is hable to supplie the same.

Yee magnifie mutche your late Chapter of Tridente,* 1.10 whiche you woulde so faine haue called a General Councel: with so many Nations: so many Bi∣shoppes: so many yeeres of Consultation. Yet notwithstandinge of al these so many, and so many Nations, and Countries, if it maie please you to sit downe, & to take the accoumpte, yee shal finde there were onely poore fourtie Bishoppes, and certaine of the same, (as Richarde Pates, the Bishop of VVoorcester, and Blinde sir Roberte,* 1.11 the Archebishop of Armach) that onely had the bare titles of Bishoprikes, and in deede were no Bishoppes. Twoo others of your saide so many, and so Notable Learned, & Holy Bishoppes, beinge at your saide woorthy Coūcel, were euen there killed in Aduouterie: y^• one striken downe with a Clubbe: the other taken in the manoure by the Husbande, & hanged by the necke, out of a greate Lucane windowe, into the streete. For these, and other causes, Henry the Frenche ••nge openly, by his Embassadoure, protested againste the same Councel in the presence of al your so many, and so many Bishoppes there, and saide,* 1.12 It vvas not a Councel General, but a Priuate Couente, or Assemblie of a fevve certaine people summoned togeather for gaines sake.

Now,* 1.13 whereas it hath pleased you, as wel here, as els where, to sporte your selfe with Superintendentes, and Superintendentshippes, and to refreashe your wittes with so vaine a fansie of your owne, if yee had benne so deepely tra∣ueiled in the Doctoures, Nevve, or Olde, as ye beare vs in hande, yee mighte easily haue knowen, that a Superintendente, is an Anciente name, and signifieth none other,* 1.14 but a Bishop. S. Augustine saithe, Vocabulum Episcopatus inde du∣ctum est, quo'd ille, qui praeficitur, eis, quibus praeficitur, Superintendit. Ergo, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Latinè dicere possumus Superintendere. Againe he saithe, Quod Grae∣cè dicitur, Episcopus, hoc Latinè, Superintentor, interpretatur. Chrysostome saithe,* 1.15 Episcopus ex eo dicitur, quo'd omnes inspiciat. S. Hierome saithe, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, id est, Superintendentes. Anselimus saithe, Episcopus Latinè Superintendens dicitur. Beda likewise saithe, Episcopus Latinè Superinten∣dens dicitur. Petrus de Palude saithe, Episcopus dicitur Superintendens: Et Petrus fuit Superintendens toti Mundo: Peter was the Superintendente of the whole Worlde. Your owne Thomas of Aquine saith, Episcopi dicuntur ex eo, quòd Superintendunt. Therefore, M. Hardinge, if Modestie moue you not, yet at leaste for your grauities sake, leaue plaieinge with these vaine, and childishe folies. The Bishoppes of Englande haue this daie, not onely the same Name, but also the same roume, and Authoritie, and Iurisdiction, that other Bishoppes haue euer had before.* 1.16

Notes

• * 1.1

  Vntruthe en∣closed. For they had Diuines: & a solemne Dispu∣tation vvas ap∣pointed at VVeasteminster in the presēce of the States of the Realme But your Felovves fladde from it.
• * 1.2

  Parlamente.
• * 1.3

  A notable great cōpanie. There vvere onely fouretie poore Bishoppes: and yet somme of the samevvere no Bishoppes.
• * 1.4

  Parla∣mente.
• * 1.5

  An. Dom. 1296.
• * 1.6

  Anno 1273. In Prouisione de Martonae, Ca. 9.
• * 1.7

  Extra. Qui Filj sint Legitimi.
• * 1.8

  Leges Canuti.
• * 1.9

  Tridētine councel. Superin∣tendentes.
• * 1.10

  Concil. Trident. Sub Carolo Quinto.
• * 1.11

  Robert. Coecus. vide Concil. Tri∣dent. sub Paulo. 3 Matthias Plac. Illyricus in Pro∣test. contra Con∣cil. Trident. Pa∣gin. 79.
• * 1.12

  Io Sle••danus, Li. 23. Anno. 1551.
• * 1.13

  Conuentus quo∣rundam Priua∣tus vtilitatis gratia institu∣t••es.
• * 1.14

  Augustin. De Ci∣uit. Li. 19 Ca. 19. Augustin. in Psalm. 126.
• * 1.15

  Chrysostom. 1. ad Timoth. Hom 10. Hieronym. Ad ••uagrium. Anselm ad Phi∣lippen. Ca. 1. Beda. 1. Petri. 2. Petrus de Palu∣de, De Potest. Colla. Apostolis, Arti. 1.
• * 1.16

  Thom. 2. 2. quae. 184. Ar. 6.