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 B. of Sarisburie.

Lanfrancus, Euimondus, Abbas Cluniacensis, Thomas Waldensis, Iohn Fi∣sher, and other your like Doctours, M. Hardinge, are ouer yonge, al within the space of this laste fiue hundred yéeres, far vnlike S. Augustine, S. Hierome, S. Ambrose, S. Chrysostome, and others the Ancient Learned Fathers, & Doctours of the Churche. Neither is there any sufficient cause to the contrarie, but that Be∣rengarius, Iohn Wicklefe, Iohn Hus, Doctour Luther, Zwinglius, Oecolampa∣dius, & others, either for Learninge, or for Truthe, or for Iudgement in the Scri∣ptures, or for Antiquitie maye wel & safely be compared with them. At the least I hope wée maye saie of them, as S. Augustine once saide of the Doctours, & Fathers of his time:* 1.1 Neque quorumliber Disputationes, quamuis Catholicorum, & laudatorum hominum, velut Scripturas Canonicas habere debemus: vt nobis non liceat, salua ho∣norificentia, quae illis debetur, aliquid in eorum Scriptis improbare, aut respuere: si fortè inuenerimus, quòd aliter selfserint; quàm Veritas habet: Neither weigh wee the writinges of al meane, be they neuer, so woorthy, and Catholique, as wee weighe the Canonical Scrip∣tures: but that, sauinge the reuerence that is dewe vnto them, we maye wislike, and refuse some∣what in their writinges, if we happen to finde, that they haue thought otherwise, then the Truthe maye beare. Likewise the Councelles, ye meane, are very Newe, & there∣fore beare the lesse authoritie, for that they be so many waies contrary to the Olde. Hereof hereafter more at large. Certainely, there is none of your errours so grosse and palpable, but by some of your late Councelles it hath benne confirmed. There∣fore wee maye iustly saie to you, as S. Augustine sometime saide to Mariminus the Arian Heretique,* 1.2 Nec ego Nicenam Synodum tibi, nec tu mihi Ariminensem de∣bes, tanquam praeiudicaturus, obijcere. Scripturarum Authoritatibus, res cum re, causa cum causa, ratio cū ratione conceuer: Neither maye I saye to thee the Councel of Nice, nor maiste thou laye to mee the Councel of Ariminum, either of vs thinkinge thereby to finde preuidice against the other. But let vs laye mater to mater, cause to cause, and reason to reason, by the Authoritie of the Scriptures.

Ye graunte, there is more lighte and knowledge nowe, then was before. The greatter is either your faulte, or your folie, M. Hardinge, that in the broade daye, & open Lighte so busily set foorthe the woorkes of darkenesse. S. Chrysostome saithe,* 1.3 Hic est multò impudentior. Ex furibus enim leges eos grauiùs puniunt, qui interdiu furantur: He is very shamelesse, that woorketh deceite in the open Lighte. For of al Theeues the Lawe moste sharpely punisheth them, that robbe in the daye time. Therefore S. Cyprian saithe vnto you: Ignosci poruit simpliciter erranti. Post inspirationem verò & reuelationem factam,* 1.4 qui in eo, quod errauerat, perseuerat prudens, & sciens, sine venia ignorantiae peccat. Praesumptione enim, atque obstinatione superatur:.

He that is deceiued,* 1.5 and erieth of simplicitie, maye be pordoned. But after that the Truthe is once reueled, who so continueth neuerthelesse in his former errour witingly and willingly, sin∣neth without pardonne of ignorance, as beinge ouercome by presumption, and wilfulnesse.

You saie, not withstandinge al this greate Light wée talke of, yet our liues are nothinge comparable to the liues of them that haue benne before vs. This, M. Hardinge, hathe euer benne an olde complainte in al ages, as maye appeare by S. Cyprian,* 1.6 S. Augustine, and other Ancient Fathers: It was a common Prouerbe in olde times, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: Thinges a yéere paste are euermore better, then thinges presente. For euery thinge to vs séemeth the greatter, as it séemeth nea∣rest to touche our senses. And bicause wée féele not our Fathers euilles, therefore wée imagine, they had no euil at al. The wise man saithe, Ne dixeris, quae causa est, quòd priora tempora meliora fuerint, quàm praesentia. Stulta enim est huiusmodi in∣terrogatio: Neuer demaunde wherefore the times paste were better then the times presente. For in deede it is a foolishe question.

But, M. Hardinge, wherefore doo you thus condemne our liues in respecte of our Fathers? Certainely you must néedes confesse, there are fewer blasphemies, fewer Othes, fewer breaches of Matrimonie, fewer Stewes, fewer Concubines, fewer Fraies, fewer Murthers emongst vs this daie, then commonly were at any time e∣monge our Fathers. How be it, to let our Fathers passe, if it shal please you to laye our liues to your liues, although we acknowledge many our imperfections, yet Goddes name be blessed, wee haue no cause to flee the comparison.

The Popes woordes, you saie, were neuer taken for Gospel: Yes, M. Hardinge, and somewhat also aboue the Gospel. For proufe whereof it maye please you to re∣member the woordes of certaine your late Doctours. Syluester Prieriâs late Ma••∣s••ter of Pope Leoes Palaice,* 1.7 writeth thus: Indulgentiae authoritate Scripturae non in∣notuere nobis: sed authoritate Ecclesiae Romanae, Romanorum{que} Pontificum, quae maior est: Pardonnes are not warrented vnto vs by the authoritie of Goddes Woorde: but by the authoritie of the Romaine Churche, and of the Bishoppes of Rome, whiche is more, then Goddes VVoorde. Yf this be not sufficient, he addeth farther: A doctrina Romanae Ecclesiae, & Romani Pontificis Sacra Scriptura robur, & authbritatem trahit: The Hosy Scripture taketh strength, and authoritie of the Doctrine of the Bishop and Churche of Rome.

Cardinal Cusanus entituleth his Booke:* 1.8 De authoritate Ecclesiae, & Councilij supra, & contra Scripturam: Of the Authoritie of the Churche, and Councel aboue, and a∣gainst the Scripture.

Your greatest Doctour Albertus Pigghius saithe,* 1.9 Apostoli quaedam conscripse∣runt, non vt scripta illa praessene Fidei & Religioni nostrae, sed potius vt subessent: The Apostles wrote certaine thinges, not to the ende that sutche willinges shoulde he ouer our Faithe, and Religion: but rather, that they shoulde be vnder. Your Canonistes saie, a 1.10 a Papa potest dispensare cōira ius Diuinum: The Pope maye dispense against the Lawe of God:b 1.11 Papa potest dispensare contra Ius Naturae: The Pope maye dispense against the Lawe of Nature:c 1.12 Papa potest dispensare contra Apostolum: The Pope maye dispense against S. Pause the Apostle:d 1.13 Papa porest dispensare contra Nouum Testamentum: The Pope maye dispense againste the Newe Testamente:e 1.14 Papa potest dispensare de omnibus praece∣ptis veteris, & Noui Testamenti: The Pope maye dispense with al the Commaūdementes bothe of the Olde, and also of the Newe Testamente. Hereof more hereafter, as farther occasion shalbe offered.

These be your owne Doctours woordes, M. Hardinge: they be truely reported: they be no scalunders. And therefore Franciscus Zarabelia a Cardinal of Rome saithe thus:f 1.15 Persuaserunt Pontificibus, quòd omnia possent, & sic quòd facerent, quic∣quid liberet, etiam illicita, & sint plusquam Deus: They haue made the Popes beleeue that they might doo al thinges, what so euer they sisted, yea notwithstandinge they were thinges vnlawful? and thus haue they made them more then God.

You saye, The Pope in his common talke maye be deceiued, and erre, as other menue maye: but in his Iudgemente Seate, and Sentence Definitiue of Religion be cannot erre: as if ye would saye, The Pope hath one Sprite in the Consistorie, & an other at home: mutche like, as one saide sometimes vnto Cicero in reproche of his inconstancie,* 1.16 Aliud stans, aliud sedens de Republica loqueris: Touchinge the Common Wease, ye haue one minde sittinge, and an other standinge.

But Christe saide vnto Peter, I haue praied for thee, that thy Faithe should not faile: Therefore, saye you, Wée receiue obediently, what so euer the Pope speaketh in place of Iudgemente. Hereby ye séeme to geue vs secretely to vnderstande, that Christes Praiers were auailable for the Pope, to kéepe him from errour, not in the Churche, or Pulpite, or Closet, or any other common, or Priuate place, but onely in the Consistorie, and Councel, in debatinge doubteful cases of Religion.

But how holdeth this arguments? Christe praied for Peter, that his Faithe should not faile:* 1.17 Ergo, the Pope cannot erre. Verily S. Augustine saithe, Nun∣quid pro Petro rogabat: pro Iohanne, & lacobo non rogabat? Vt de coeteris taceamus: VVhat did Christe praie for Peter: and did be not praie for Iohn, and Iames? I wil not speake of the reste. Neither did Christe praie for Peter onely, or for the Apostles, but, for al the Faithful, that euer should be: as him selfe saithe, I praie not onely for them, but also for al them, that through theire preachinge shal beleue in mée.

How be it, what, saithe M. Hardinge, he so obediently receiueth the Popes De∣crees? Yewis, the Popes them selues wil not so receiue them. Platyna saithe, Acta Priorum Pontificum sequentes Pontifices aut infringunt,* 1.18 aut omninò tollunt. Nihil enim aliud isti Pontificuli cogitabant, quàm vt nomen, & dignitatem maiorum suo∣rum extinguerent: The nexte Pope either breaketh, or vtterly repeaseth his Predecessours Decrees. For these litle petie Popes had none other studie to busie them selues withal, but onely to deface the name and dignitie of the former Popes.

Where you saye, The whole Councel of Chalcedon so estéemed the voice of Pope Leo, as if it had benne the voice of Peter him selfe, this, M. Hardinge, is a manifest Vntruthe, as it shal soone appeare. I graunte, the name of Leo, for his greate learninge, and granitie was mutche regarded. So. S. Ambrose for the like cause was called,* 1.19 Orbis terrarum oculus, Sacerdotum Archisacerdos, & Fundamen∣tum Fidei: The Eie of the worlde, the Head Prieste of al Priestes, and the Fundation of the Faithe. So Paphnutius, beinge no Pope, was hearde against al the reste of the Councel of Nice: So S. Hierome beinge neither Pope, nor Bishop, was re∣ceiued against this whole Councel of Chalcedon.* 1.20

Neither did the Councel folowe Leo alone, as the Vniuersal Bishop, and Head of the Churche, but ioined him together with others, as estéeminge them of equal Authoritie.* 1.21 For thus they made theire general shoote: Omnes ita credimus: Leo Papa ita credit: Gyrillus ita credit: Leo, & Anatolius ita credunt: Thus wee al beleeue: Thus Pope Leo beleueth: Cyrillus thus beseueth: Leo, and Anatolius thus beleeue.

And with what credite can M. Hardinge saie, The whole Councel of Chalce∣don yelded vnto Pope Leo, as if it had benne vnto Peter him selfe? For it is cer∣taine, that the same whole Councel decreed against Leo: and likewise Leo against the Councel. For the Councel decreed, contrary to the olde Canons, that the Bi∣shop of Constantinople emonge the foure Patriarches shoulde be the seconde in di∣gnitie, and that the same Bishop of Constantinople should haue and enioie one au∣thoritie, and like Priuileges with the Bishop of Rome. The woordes be these, Acqua Sāctisissmae Sedi Nouae Romae Priuilegia tribuerunt rationabile iudicantes,* 1.22 vrbem eam ornatam iam Imperio, & Senaru, aequis Senioris Regiae Romae Priuilegijs frui, & in Ecclesiasticis, sicut illa habet, Maiestatem habere negotijs: The Fathers gane equal Priui∣leges vnto the Holy See of Newe Rome (whiche was Constantinople) thinkinge it to be reasonable, that the same Cittie of Constantinople, beinge now furnished with Empire, and

Councel,* 1.23 should enioie equal Priuileges with the Princely Cittie of the olde Rome, and in al Ecclesiastical affaires shoulde beare the same Maiestie, that Rome beareth. This thinge Pope Leo mutche misliked, and founde greate faulte with the Councel, and would in no wise consente vnto it. Thus he writeth,* 1.24 Quae per occasionem Synodi malè sunt attentata reprehenderam: I reproued those thinges that were euil attempted by the Councel of Chascedon:* 1.25 And againe, Nullum vnquàm potuerunt nostrum obtinere con∣sensum: They were neuer hable to geate our consente.

And when these maters were paste by the consente of al the Bishoppes, Lucen∣tius Pope Leoes Legate came whininge in, and besought the Councel, that the whole mater might be repealed. The woordes written in the Councel be these: Lucentius dixit:* 1.26 Sedes Apostolica, quae nobis praecepit, praesentibus humiliati non debet. Et ideò quaecun{que} in praeiudicium Canonum, hesterna die gesta sunt, nob •• absentibus, sublimitatem vestram petimus, vt circunduci iubeatis. Viri Illustrissimi ludices dixe∣runt, Quod interloquuri sumus, tòta Synodus approbauit: Lucentius the Popes Le∣gate saide, The Apostolique See of Rome, whose commission wee haue, maye not by any these dooinges be defaced. Therefore wee beseche your honours, that what so euer was con∣cluded here yesterday in our absence, in preiudice of the Canons, ye wil commaunde the same to be blotted out. The Honorable Iudges made him aunsweare: That we haue talkte of, the same the whole Councel hath allowed.

Thus many waies, M. Hardinge, the Vntruthe of your tale plainely appea∣reth. For the Councel of Chalcedon estéemed not the voice of Leo, as if it had benne the voice of Peter, as you saye: but rather contrariewise made lighte of it, and weighed it none otherwise, then they same cause.

Therefore Liberatus saithe thus touchinge the same:* 1.27 Cùm Anatolius, consen∣tiente Concilio Primatum obtinuisset, Legati verò Romani Episcopi contradicerent, à ludicibus, & Episcopis omnibus illa contradictio suscepta non est. Et licet Sedes Apo∣stolica nune vsque contradicat, tamen, quod à Synodo firmatum est, Imperatorio Patro∣cinio permanet: When Anatolius (the Bishop of Constantinople) by consente of the Councel had obteined the Primacie, notwithstandinge, the Bishop of Roomes Legates stoode against it, yet theire gainesaieinge coulde not be receiued, neither of the Iudges, nor of the Bi∣shoppes. And al be it the Apostolique See of Rome withstande it stil, yet the Decree of the Councel by the Emperours warrante continueth in force.

But you neuer taught vs, ye saye, y^• the whole state of the Churche dependeth of the Pope. It is not your Doctrine: you neuer spake it. And therefore wée are railers, and sclaunderers, that so reporte you. If it be so in deede, M. Hardinge, as you saye, wherefore then suffer you Cardinal Cusanus to write thus, Veritas ad∣haeret Cathedrae.* 1.28 Quare mēbra Cathedrae vnita, & Pontifici coniuncta efficiunt Ecclesiā: The Truthe cleaueth faste to the (Popes) Chaire. Therefore the members vnited to the Chaire, and ioined to the Pope, make the Churche. Wherefore suffer you Iohannes de Parisijs, one of your Catholique Doctours, to write thus: Fiet vnum Ouile, & vnus Pastor. Quod quidem de Christo intelligi non potest: Sed de aliquo alio Ministro, qui praesit loco cius:* 1.29 There shalbe one Plocke, and one shepheard. Whiche thinge cannot be ta∣ken of Christe. We must needes vnderstande it of some other Minister, that ruleth in his steede.

Wherefore suffer you Nosius your Grande Captaine to write thus: Vnum to∣ti praecsse Ecclesiae Vsque adeò est necessarium, vt absque hoc Ecclesia vna esse non possit: It is so necessarie a thinge,* 1.30 that one onely man oueruse y^• whole Churche, y^t without the same the Churche cannot be one. Wherefore suffer you your Canonistes to saie, Constat Ec∣clesiam ideo esse vnam, quia in Vniuersali Ecclesia vnū est Caput Supremū, Scilicet Papa: It is plaine, that therefore the Churche is one, bicause that in the whole Vniuersal Churche there is one Supreme Head,* 1.31 that is the Pope. To be shorte, why doo you your selfe, M. Hardinge, allege S. Hieromes woordes directly, as ye woulde haue vs beleue, to this purpose?* 1.32 Ecclesiae salus à Summi Sacerdotis dignitate pendet: Which woordes into Englishe ye haue turned thus: The safetie of the Churche hangeth of the VVoorship

of the Highe Prieste. He meaneth the Pope Peters Successour. In whiche laste clause, ye misconstrue, and racke S. Hieromes woordes far contrary to his meaninge. For S. Hierome meante not bereby the Bishop of Rome, but euery seueral Bishop within his owne Charge: euery whiche Bishop he calleth the Highest Prieste, as in my Former Replie it is declared more at large.* 1.33

If these thinges be true, why are they nowe deuied? If they be false, why are they not condemned? I truste, it maye appeare by these fewe, that wée reporte the Truthe truely, and are no sclaunderers.

Notes

• * 1.1

  August. ad For∣tunarian. Epis. 111.
• * 1.2

  August. contrae Maximin. Li. 3. Cap. 14.
• * 1.3

  Chrysostom. in Psalm. 9.
• * 1.4

  Cyprian.
• * 1.5

  Pope a∣boue Goddes VVoorde.
• * 1.6

  Cyprian. ad De∣metrianum. August. De Ci∣uita. Dei. Ecclesiastes. 7.
• * 1.7

  Syluester Prie∣riâs, Cōtra Lu∣therum.
• * 1.8

  Nicolaus Cusa∣nus.
• * 1.9

  Albert. Pigghi∣us, Hierarch. Lib 1. Cap. 2.
• a 1.10

  16. q. 1. Qui∣cun{que}: In Clossa.
• b 1.11

  15. q. 6. Autho∣ritate. In Clossa.
• c 1.12

  Dist 34. Lector, & Dist 82 Pres∣byter.
• d 1.13

  Abbas Panot. Extra. De Di∣uorijs. Cap. fin.
• e 1.14

  Summa Angel. in Dictione Papa.
• f 1.15

  Franciscus Za∣rabella, De Se∣ctis. 115.
• * 1.16

  Salust. in Cices ronem. Lucae, 22.
• * 1.17

  Augustin. in Quaesti. Noui Tesla. Quae. 75. Iohan. 17.
• * 1.18

  Platyna in Ste∣phano, & in Romano.
• * 1.19

  Athanas. ad Heronem. Sozomen. Lib. 1. Cap. 23.
• * 1.20

  36 Quaest. 2. Quia legitima.
• * 1.21

  Concil. Chalce∣don. Actio. 2.
• * 1.22

  Concil. Chalce∣don. Actio. 16. Pa. 936.
• * 1.23

  Churche depēdeth of the Pope.
• * 1.24

  Leo Epist. 59.
• * 1.25

  Leo Epist. 53.
• * 1.26

  Concil. Chalcet don. Actio. 16.
• * 1.27

  Liberatus, ca. 13.
• * 1.28

  Nicolaus Cusas∣nus De author. Eccl. & Concil. Supra & cōtra Scripturam.
• * 1.29

  Iohan. De Pari∣sijs De potestate Regia, & Pa∣pali, Cap. 3.
• * 1.30

  Hosius In Cōfes∣sione Petricoui, Cap. 27.
• * 1.31

  Clemen. Lib. 5. Ad nostrum: In Glossae.
• * 1.32

  M. Hard fo 80. b Hierony. contra Luciferianos.
• * 1.33

  Art••. 4. Diul. 15.