Chap. 2. the seuenth Diuision.
B〈1 line〉〈1 line〉t what if there were no such offices among the Gentiles and Paganes as Archiflamine〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 and Protoflamines? whereof before I shew the coniectures which I haue, I must giue the gen∣tle reader to vnderstand, that I am not ignorant that there are diuerse which say there were such offices among the Gentiles, and namely here in England: that there were. 25. Flamines and three Archiflamines, wherof were made three Archbishops of London, Canterbury, and Yorke, and. 25. Byshops as Platine hath in the chapter E〈1 line〉〈1 line〉eutherius. And Ga〈1 line〉〈1 line〉frydus Monemutensis in his se∣cond booke and first chapter. And 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉s I thinke Gildas also, and Lumbard in his fourth booke speaketh of it, as a generall thing that was in all places where Paganisme was. But if so be that the religion of other Paganes did follow, and was like vnto that of the Romaynes (which is ve∣ry probable) they being then the rulers of the whole worlde in a manner, vnto whose example all men do lightly conforme themselues euen without commaundement, then there is greate lykely∣hood, there were no such Archiflamines or Protoflamines out of Tullie, which sheweth that there were among the Romaines diuerse kindes of Priestes whereof some were called Flamines of a se∣uerall attire which they ware alwayes on there heads, other Pontifices, and a third sorte were cal∣led Salij, and the chiefe of those Flamines was called Flamen dialis, who was als〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 distinguished from the reste by a white hatte: but of any Archiflamines, or Protoflamines, he maketh no mention at al: and therefore it is lyke that there was neuer any such office amongst the Paganes.
Whether there were such offices among the Gentiles or no, the matter is not great, nor woorthie of deciding. But that there were such it is manifest, if any credite is to be giuen to so many Histories and wryters bothe Eccles〈1 line〉〈1 line〉asticall and prophane,* 1.1 not onely those whom you haue reported, but Gratian, Polydore, and others. But as a sufficient confutation of all this that you haue here written, and as an argu∣ment of your vnskilfulnesse in stories, I will set downe the woordes of Master Foxe, Tom. 1. Pag. 146. which be these: Lette vs returne to Eleutherius the good byshop, who* 1.2 hearing the requeste of the King and gladde to see the godly towardnesse of his well dis∣posed minde, sendeth him certayne teachers and preachers: called Fugatius, or by some Fagamus, and Damianus or Dimianus, which conuerted first the King and people of Bri∣tayne, and baptised them with the baptisme and sacrament of Christes fayth. The Tem∣ples of Idolatrie and other monuments of Gentilitie they subuerted, conuerting the peo∣ple from their diuerse and many Goddes, to serue one liuing God. Thus true religion with sincere fayth increasing, superstition decayed with all rites of Idolatrie. There were then in Britayne. 28. head Priestes which they called Flamines, and three Archpriestes among them which were called Archiflamines hauing the ouersight of their manners, as iudges ouer the reste. These. 28. Flamines they turned to. 28. Bishops, and the three Archiflamines to three Archbyshops hauing then their 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉eates in three principall Cities of the realme: that is in London, in Yorke, and in Glamorgantia, videlicet in vrbe legionum, by VVales. Your coniecture therefore is but vayne, and cannot counteruayle so many witnesses.
Moreouer your argument is negatiue from humane authoritie: for you argue that there were no Archiflamines among the Paganes, bycause Tullie maketh no mention of them, and therefore of no credite. Besides why might not the Grecians