The historie of the defendors of the catholique faith Discoursing the state of religion in England, and the care of the politique state for religion during the reignes of King Henrry 8. Edward. 6. Queene Marie. Elizabeth. And our late souereigne, King Iames. ... With all, declaring by what means these kings & queenes haue obtained this title, defendor of the faith, and wherein they haue deserued it ... By Christopher Lever.

CHAP. III.

King Henries first Act of Defence for the Catho∣like Faith.

THE first Act of the Kings De∣fence was in retyring himselfe from the Popes seruice for at that time, were all Christian Princes his seruants. This Act of the kings was that which many Emperors and great Poten∣tates desired might be done, yet neuer durst attempt to doe, or succesfully attemp∣ted it. Such as was the Emperour Frederick Barbarossa, who notwithstanding his great∣nesse both of power and spirit, yet failed he in his attempt, though he neuer pursued any thing with greater stomack. Also King Hen∣ry the Second of England, who fayling in

the fortunes of this businesse, yeelded him∣selfe (though valiant and princely) to such base conditions of pennance, as well may declare the greatnesse of the Pope that im∣posed them: but with this King Henry the Eight it may seeme, that God himselfe did conspire, to make the worke prosperous, and the king for being Gods instrument perpetually famous.

Secondly, The first occasion of difference betweene King Henry and the Pope, was the proceedings in the diuorse of Queene Kathe∣rine the kings first wife, who before had bene wife to Prince Arthur his Brother, wherein the Pope vsed such small regard to quiet the trouble of the kings Conscience, as thereby the king and the State were very much of∣fended, and then such as did not fauour the faction of the Pope, (for so I may call it) tooke the aduantage of time, and grew bold to lay open to the king the deformities of the present time, and the glory hee might purchase in restoring Religion to that puri∣ty, which now (in that holy profession) was altogether defaced.

Thirdly, Those occasions so moue the kings offence, that hee sommons his High Court of Parlyament at Westminster, laying before them his griefe, which was the ouer∣much power the Pope had in his kingdome, and the small respect that hee and his State had from the Pope: whereupon a Statute past by consent of the three estates, whereby the king was made supreme Head ouer the Church of England, aswell in ecclesiasticall as temporal matters, cutting off al manner of Papal authority from the crowne of England. And herein may appeare the greatnes of the king, and the reuerence of his Subiects, who framed themselues to the pleasure of the king, in a matter of much difficultie and be∣yond all expectation. And this was the be∣nefit of Maiesty, which begot in them such duty and awfull regard, which to a remisse and familiar Prince had not beene gran∣ted

Fourthly, This grant of the kings Supre∣macie was the first mortall wound the Church of Rome receiued, loosing at that time the best Crowne shee had in keeping,

whereby a president was giuen to all other Christian Princes, to free themselues from the Captiuity of that Babylon, with whose Fornications the whole Earth was made drunke. And this Act of the State of England was so well approued in the Iudgement of Christendome, as that many the best parts thereof, (in immitation of King Henry,) haue cast from them the bond of Papall au∣thority; yea, doubtlesse so desired it is of all States, as (might it bee done with security) their is no Prince or State, either Religious or politique, but doth so enuie the greatnesse of forraigne Supremacie, as gladly they would bee cleered thereof, finding many times to the great detriment of state, the in∣iury of this power, in interdictions and Pa∣pall curses, as if wee reade the diuisions of Italy we may in them most cleerely iudge, the inconuenience of the Popes vniuersall power, the abuse whereof is so common in those states, as that they are neuer obeyed, but when there wanteth temporall power to withstand them. And therefore did King Henry nobly performe his kingly Office,

and well defend the Catholike Faith, in de∣priuing the Pope of that power, wherewith the Christian Faith was offended,

Obseruations

• Diuine.
• Pollitique.
• Morall.

FIRST, God doth what he list, by what meanes he list, so doth hee produce his miracles by causes naturally vnfitting, and so this miraculous alteration in the state of Christendome, was effected by the king his instrument, who both in Nature and o∣pinion, was thought vnlike for such Reli∣gious effects, being rather armed both by the Pope and Luther to oppose the enter∣prize. So doth God snare the engine ma∣ker; For the Wisedome of this World is but fol∣ly with God.

Secondly, To obserue a iust proportion of state is good in all degrees, but in a Soue∣raigne necessary, yet hee that exceeds his state, doth impaire his state, and by taking more then his owne, he doth loose his own.

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Notes

• The first Act of the Kings Defence.
• Frederick Barbarossa.
• Henry the Second.
• The first oc∣casion of dif∣ference be∣tweene King Henry and the Pope.
• The King first made supreame Head.
• Anno regni. 26.
• An Argu∣ment of the Kings great∣nesse.
• The benefit of Maiestie.
• The incon∣uenience of Papall au∣thoritie.
• Diuine.
• Pollitique.