The suruey of popery vvherein the reader may cleerely behold, not onely the originall and daily incrementes of papistrie, with an euident confutation of the same; but also a succinct and profitable enarration of the state of Gods Church from Adam vntill Christs ascension, contained in the first and second part thereof: and throughout the third part poperie is turned vp-side downe.

The answere.

I say first, that if meere lay men should presume in our churches, to handle the holie mysteries; they could not escape condigne punishment, according to their demerites. I say se∣condly, that the want of your greasing and other your begger∣ly ceremonies, can not make the consecration of our Bishops

vnlawfull. I say thirdly, that our bishops are consecrated and [ 3] confirmed, according to the auncient maner of the primitiue church. For three thinges onely are necessarie; all which are this day (God be thanked for it) practised in the church of Eng∣land; to wit, election of the whole congregation, confirmation of the Prince, and consecration with godly praiers and imposi∣tion of handes. Of the imposition of handes, mention is made to Timothie.* 1.1 Of praiers with laying on of handes, S. Luke speaketh in the Actes. Of election by voyces of the people, S. Peter maketh relation: but of popish paltry ceremonies, I finde no where any word at all.

That election ought to be by consent of the people, S. Au∣gustine shewed plainly in a most godly and prudent epistle,* 1.2 whē in the presence of Religianus, and Martinianus, bishops, and of Saturninus, Leporius, Barnabas, Fortunatianus, Rusticus, Laza∣rus, and Eradius priestes; he humbly requested of all the people that by their consentes, Eradius might be chosen bishop after his death. I wishe the reader to peruse the whole epistle, as which is replenished with all spirituall sweetnes. But S. Cy∣prian is so plaine and copious in this point of doctrine, as who soeuer shal once reade him with iudgement, can no longer stand in doubt thereof. And that which I say of S. Cyprian in this behalfe, must also be vnderstood of Caecilius Primus, Polycar∣pus, and other bishops of Africke, assembled togither for this purpose. For the Bishops and people of Spaine wrote letters by Felix and Sabinus to the African bishops; requiring their aduise concerning the factes of Basilides and Martialis. The bishops of Africa with S. Cyprian, among other things answe∣red to the churches of Spaine in these words.

Quando ipsa (plebs) maximè habeat potestatem vel eligendi dignos sacerdotes vel indignos recusandi:* 1.3 quod & ipsum vide∣mus de diuina authoritate descendere, vt sacerdos plebe praesente sub omnium oculis deligatur, & dignus atque idoneus public•• iudicio ac testimonio comprob••tur.

Because the people hath proper power to elect worthy priestes, or to reiect the vnworthy: which thing we see descen∣deth from Gods owne authoritie, that when the people shal be present, then the priest be chosen before all their eies, and so

be pro••ued woorthie and fit by their publique iudgement and testimonie.

Out of these wordes I note first, that the people may chuse or refuse him for their bishop, whome they like or dislike. I note [ 1] secondly, that the people haue this libertie de iure diuino gran∣ted [ 2] from God himselfe; and consequently, that it cannot be al∣tered by the power of man: which is a speciall point, wel wor∣thy the obseruation. I note thirdly, that the people must giue publique testimonie, to the election of their bishop. I note [ 3] fourthly, that all this freedome is graunted to the people, for the due triall of the life and conuersation of that person, whome [ 4] they must haue to be their bishop. Yea, this case is so cleere, that the great Papist Iacobus Pamelius is enforced to graunt,* 1.4 that this was the practise of the primitiue church, and conti∣nued many hundred yeeres, to witte, vntill saint Gregory the first of that name,* 1.5 who liued aboue fiue hundred and ninetie yeeres after the incarnation of our Lorde and Sauiour Ie∣sus Christ: and so long by Pamelius his graunt, this was the practise of the primitiue church. Yea, this practise was of force indeede, vntill our disholie father Pope Boniface the third inuaded saint Peters chaire, from whome proceeded all idolatrie.

To this Pamelius obiecteth first,* 1.6 that though the voyces of the people were required, yet did they not subscribe to the elec∣tion.

I answere, that that skilleth not, because the subscription was not anie purpose, vnlesse it had the consent of the peo∣ple.

But Pamelius replieth that the bishops were not enforced to admit whomsoeuer the people did require.* 1.7

To the which I answere, that neither were the people en∣forced to receiue, whomsoeuer the Bishops would intrude vpon them.

This practise of the ancient Church will some men say, is not this day obserued in our reformed Churches of Eng∣land.

I answere, that it is virtually obserued,* 1.8 though not for∣mally. For after the election is made by the Deane and Cha∣piter,

libertie is granted to the whole congregation, freely to declare their like or dislike, and what exception they can giue against the partie: which their freedome and liberty therein is made knowne, by letters affixed in publike place.

Now that the Bishop ought to bee confirmed by the letters patents of the Prince, and not of the Pope, which is the third and last thing to be proued, I will vnfold to the gentle reader, by three important and irrefragable reasons, grounded in the verie bowels of that selfe same practise,* 1.9 which the papists will they, nil they, must perforce admit for good. The practise whereof I speake, is euident in the confirmation of these three Popes, Pelagius the second, Seuerinus and Benedictus the se∣cond. For al these three, and al other Bishops of Rome till the said Benedict inclusiue, were euer elected and confirmed, by the emperours commandement. Which veritie is freely confes∣sed in expresse tearmes, by foure famous popish writers, who therefore are and ought to be of more credite and force against the papists then any other authours whosoeuer: the names of the Popish doctors are these. Bapt. Platina, Bar••hol. Car∣ranza, Anastasius Bibliothecarius, and Onuphrius Panui∣nius.

Platina writeth thus, touching the creation of Pelagius; Nilenim tum in eligendo pontifice actum erat,* 1.10 nisi eius elec∣tionem imperator approbasset.

For at that time, (which was after the incarnation of our redeemer 579) nothing was done effectually about the electi∣on of the Pope, vnlesse the Emperour had confirmed the same.

* 1.11Touching the creation of Seuerinus, the same Platina writeth in this manner.

Ʋana tunc enim habebatur cleri ac populi electio, nisi id im∣peratores auteorum exarchi confirmassent.

For the election of the cleargie and the people, was of no force at all in those dayes,* 1.12 vnlesse the Emperours or their lieu∣tenants, had confirmed the same. This was done 637. yeares after Christs incarnation.

Concerning the creation of Benedicte, Platina hath these words.

* 1.13Ad hunc Constantinus imperator sanctionem misit, vt dein∣ceps

quem clerus, populus, exercitús que Romanus in pontificem delegisset eundem statim verum Christi vicarium esse omnes cre∣derent: nulla aut Constantinopolitani principis, aut Italiae ex∣archi expectata auctoritate, vt anteà fieri consueuerat: id enim ratum erat in creando pontifice, quod princeps confirmasset, vel qui eius vices in Italia gerebat.

The emperour Constantine sent a decree to this Pope▪ that whomsoeuer the clergy, people, and Romane souldiers should hencefoorth chuse for their bishop, all people should by and by beleeue him to be the vicar of Christ (scilicet) if they would.

Bartholomeus Carranza a dominican Frier,* 1.14 hath the verie same assertion ad verbum.

Anastasius and Onuphrius haue these expresse words,* 1.15 pon∣tifices qui deinde fuerant, creati & consecrati sunt sine Con∣stantinopolitani imperatoris iussione.

The Popes that liued afterwards, were made and conse∣crated, without the Emperour of Constantinople his com∣maundement: as if they had saide, in the olde time and in the auncient Churche, no Bishoppe of Rome coulde haue beene admitted at anie time, vnlesse hee hadde brought letters pa∣tents from the Emperour, though now the practise bee farre otherwise.

Out of which doctrine,* 1.16 I gather these three euident and most necessarie corollaries. First, that the vulgar and common sort of people are grossely deceiued, when they terme papistrie the olde religion, and repute them for the Catholikes. For wee indeede are the true and auncient Catholikes, and the Papistes are nothing else but flatte Heretikes. For this Benedict coulde not bee made Bishoppe of Rome, without the Emperours Letters Patents. This primacie of the Em∣perour ouer the Bishoppe of Rome, was sixe hundred,* 1.17 foure score and foure yeeres after the incarnation of Christ. For at that time was this Benedict made the Pope. So then the Bishop of Rome, for the space almost of seuen hundred yeres after the incarnation of Christ Iesus, acknowledged the Em∣perour for his superiour and Lorde, as wythout whose Letters Patentes hee coulde haue no Iurisdiction. For,

as in ciuill causes, many are debarred from their lawfull inhe∣ritance,* 1.18 and that by the violent dealing of mightie men; euen so we catholikes haue beene many yeares excluded from our own churches, our ancient and lawfull possessions, and that by the force, violence, and tyrannie, of the bloudy Romish antichrists. And as temporall men are in time restored vnto their aunci∣ent right, by iust and godly magistrates, euen so were we, and are we, by the goodnes of God and most christian princes, king Henry the eight, and king Edward the sixt of famous memory, & our most gratious soueraigne Elizabeth, restored to the old, christian, catholike, and apostolike religion, and placed againe in our owne churches, the spirituall birthright of vs and our ancestours.

I gather secondly, that our Bishops in England are made and consecrated,* 1.19 according to the ancient, christian, catholike, and Romaine manner, that is, by the Letters patents of the Prince.

I gather thirdly, that Christian Emperours vppon a cer∣taine zeale not grounded vppon knowledge,* 1.20 yeelding vppe their soueraigne rights to the Bishops of Rome, opened the window to all antichristian tyrannie. For in short time after, the Romish Bishops became so arrogant and lordly, that they tooke vpon them to depose the Emperours, to translate their Empires, and to dispose at their pleasures, of their royall scep∣ters and regalities.

Notes

• * 1.1

  2. Tim. 1.6. 1. Tim. 4.14. Actes. 13 ver. 3. Act. 1. ve. 21.
• * 1.2

  Aug. in Epist. 11. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 2.
• * 1.3

  ••pud. D. Cypria. b. 1. epist. 4.
• * 1.4

  Iacod. Pamelius in annot.
• * 1.5

  Anno Dom. 590
• * 1.6

  Ob. 1. Pamelii▪
• * 1.7

  Ob. 2. Pameli••▪
• * 1.8

  Virtuall election remaineth yet in the people▪
• * 1.9

  The Pope must be confirmed by the letters pa∣tents of the Prince.
• * 1.10

  Platina in vita Pelagii secundi.
• * 1.11

  Platina in vita Seuerini.
• * 1.12

  Anno Dom 637
• * 1.13

  Platina in vita Bened. secundi.
• * 1.14

  Carranza in epit. p. 301.
• * 1.15

  Anastas. apud O∣nuphr. in ch••••i∣co.
• * 1.16

  The first corol∣larie
• * 1.17

  Anno Dom 684
• * 1.18

  The popes tyran¦ny debarred vs ••rom our an••ient right.
• * 1.19

  The second co∣rollarie.
• * 1.20

  The third corol∣••••rie.