The second part of the Protestants plea, and petition for preists and papists Being an historie of the holy preisthood, and sacrifice of the true Church of Christ. Inuincibly prouing them to be, the present sacrificing preisthood: prouing also the sacrifice of the Masse, vsed in the Catholike Roman church: and that these were promised, and foretold by the Prophets, instituted by Christ, and exercised by all his Apostles. Morouer that they haue euer from the first plantinge of Christianitie in this our Britanye, in the dayes of the Apostles, in euery age, and hundred of yeares, beene continued and preferued here. All for the most part, warranted by the writinges and testimonies of the best learned Protestant doctors, and antiquaries of England, and others.

THE VIII. CHAPTER. Wherein is proued likewise by the Protestant diuines, and Antiquaries of England, that the Popes of Rome, euer claymed and ex∣ercised, this their highest power here in this Age.

NOw wee are come to the fourth hun∣dred yeare, in the beginninge whereof, Diocletian the persecutinge Emperor dy∣inge, although hee had put euen in this I∣land, diuers thousands of Christiās to death, and one thousand in one time and place, Lichfeild, (Theater of greate Brit. l. 6. Stowe histor. in the Rom. in Coill.) (taking there∣vpon the name of a Feild of Blood.) yet hee was soe farr from extinguishinge the name of Christ, that wee had a continuall suc∣cession at that very time of Bishops, preists, religious, and other cleargie men, without intermission deudced from this Roman in∣stitution in this kingedome. And this testi∣fied

by the best Antiquities wee haue, S. Gil∣das, S. Bede, and allmoste all after them both Catholicks, and Protestants. (Gildas l. de excid. & conquest. Brit. cap. 8.) The words of Saint Gildas ar these, as Protestants pu∣blish him.

Bilustro supradicti turbinis necdum ad inte∣grum expleto, emercescentibusque nece suorum Authorum nefarijs decretis, laetis luminibus omnes Christi Tyrones quasi post hyemalem ac prolixam noctem, temperiem lucemque serenam aurae celestis excipiunt, renouant ecclesias ad solum vsque destructas, Basilicas Sanctorum Martyrum fundant, construunt, perficiunt, ac velut victricia signa passim propalant, dies festos celebrant, sacra mundo corde, oreque conficiunt, omnes exultant filij gremio ac si matris ecclesiae confoti. When ten yeares of the said persecu∣tion were not wholly expired, and the wic∣ked decrees were now voide by the death of their Authors, al the souldiars of Christ with ioyfull countenance, as it were after a win∣ter longe night, receaue the temper and cleare light of the heauenly ayre, they renew their churches destroied euen to the ground, they build churches of the holy martyrs, fra∣me, and perfect them, & as it were publick∣lie

sett forth euery where their victorious Ensignes, they celebrate holy dayes, they perfect their sacrifices, or sacred things with a cleane hart, and mouth, they all doe re∣ioyce, as it were children fostered in the lap of their mother the church.

The very same hath S. Bede whoe addeth (Bed. histor. Eccl. l. 1. cap. 8.) Progressi in pub∣licum fideles Christi, qui se tempore discrimi∣nis, siluis ac desertis, abditisque speluncis occul∣tauerant. The faithfull seruants of Christ shew themselues now in publick, whoe in the time of the daunger had hidd themselues in woods, and wildernesses, and hidden dens. And then hee writeth as S. Gildas be∣fore. By which publick and hierarchicall Acts and offices of Bishops, and preists, as founding and dedicatinge churches, to the honor of holy Martyrs, that had late suffe∣red in that persecution, in institutinge and celebratinge their festiuities, renewing and consecrating other defaced churches, which none but Bishops might doe, and sayinge Masse, which hee expressely by perfecting their sacrifices or sacred rites, with a cleane hart, and mouth, the preistly office and fun∣ction, it is moste euident, that diuers both

preists and Bishops, with other cleargie men escaped in this persecution, and soe still con∣tinued the hierarchicall succession of Arch∣bishops and Bishops, soe vniuersally establis∣hed here before by the Popes of Rome, and with the same dependance which they had before. For noe historie maketh mention, of any chaunge, neyther of our Bishops then putt to death, except S. Amphibalus, vnlesse wee wil coniecture without warrant, that S. Angulus suffered martyrdome in this time. And notwithstanding soe many losses, and desolations of our Antiquities, wee haue te∣stimonie of some Bishops in particular then liuing, the persecution being ended.

For whoe can thinke but some of those which fledd into Scotland, whether the per∣secution extended not, with S. Amphibalus, remayned there still in the Episcopall See of Mona, which kinge Chrathlinte, had soe ho∣norably endowed to that purpose, and longe after was an Episcopall See? I haue named diuers of these renowned men before, of whome some one in all probabilitie after the returne of Saint Amphibalus into these parts, supplied that place and dignitie there. And here in England it is euident by

those antiquities wee haue left, that wee had preserued from the fury of that persecu∣tion, many both Bishops, and Archbishops. To exemplifie in London, wee haue the na∣mes of Sixteene Archbishops there, before the cominge of S. Augustine hither, as both Iocelin of Furnes, the Protestants, Stowe, Godwyn and others collect them. (Iocelin Catalog. of British Bish. Stowe histor. in Lu∣cius. Godwyn. Catalog. in London, 1. concil. Arelat. in Subscript. tom. 1. concil. Stowe & Godwyn supr.) And it is manifest that either Restitutus which was Archbishop of Lon∣don, and was present at the councel of Arles in Fraunce, in the yeare 326. soone after this, or Thedred, or Hillary supposed to bee his immediate predecessors, was then Archbi∣shop. And soe because euery Archbishop in∣ferreth inferiour Bishops vnder him, that wee had Bishops alsoe. I will instance onely in Winchester, where wee ar informed both by an old Manuscript Author, and a new Protestant Bishop. (Godwyn Catalog. of Bish. in Winchest. 1. old M. S. apud eundem supr.)

That one Constans was Bishop there in this time, and in the yeare 309. or 310. did vpon the 15. day of march, hallowe and dedicate

vnto the honor & memory of S. Amphiba∣lus, that had suffered death for Christ in the late persecution, a church there reedified with such wonderfull forwardnes and zeale, as within one yeare and thirtie dayes, both it and all the edifices belonginge vnto it, were quite finished in very seemely and con∣uenient māner. And that Deodatus was Ab∣bot of this new erected Monastery.

Thus this Protestant Bishop from an old Manuscript.

By which, and that which is spoken be∣fore in this chapter, it is euident, that En∣gland this part of Britanie then had both Bi∣shops, and Archbishops continuinge in the same order and maner as they were first in∣stituted here by the See of Rome: neither did they now begin to depart or seperate themselues from obedience to that See Apo∣stolicke; for soone after this, the first gene∣ral councel of Nice beeinge called, these Pro∣testāts haue told vs, wee had Bishops there, and most euident it is, that it was receaued in this kingdome. And yet the canon of that councell is soe manifest for the Popes of Ro∣me supreamacy, at the least ouer this western world, wherein England is, both in the time of this holy councell, and before, that

a Protestant Bishop doth thus confesse it.

(Feild. l. 3. p. 60.61.) In the time of the Nicen councell, & before, as appeareth by the Acts of the councell limitinge their bounds, there were three principall Bishops, or Patriarkes of the christian church: namely the Bishop of Rome, Alexandria, and Antioch. Soe wri∣teth the Protestant Archbishop Whitgift, Foxe and others, whereof one saith.

(Whit∣gift def. of the Answ. p. 331. Foxe tom. 1. pag. 12. Rob. Barns in vit. Pont. Rom. in Siluestro.) Sollicitudinem ecclesiarum, pro recepta consue∣tudine veterum habendam esse statuerunt. The fathers of the nicen councell did decree, that accordinge to the custome receaued from them of old, that the three cheife patriarkes of Rome, Antioch, and Alexandria, should haue chardge of the churches.

Soe that if wee would seeke noe further then to these great enemies themselues of the Romane See, yett they confesse vnto vs, that it was not onely decreed in this nicen coun∣cell, where, as our Protestants haue told vs, wee had Bishops consentinge, and our kinge and contriman Constantine the great Em∣peror alsoe submittinge himselfe vnto it, but that it was the old custome and tradition of

the church, that the Bishop of Rome was the principall Bishop, and commaundinge Pa∣triarke of all westerne churches, amonge which this of our Britanie was euer, now is, and of necessitie must bee one, and if wee will bee members of the church of Christ, except wee can remoue Britanie from the vttermost part of Europe, to lepp to Alexan∣dria in Africke, or Antioch in Asia, wee must needs by this councel as it is glossed by our Protestants, bee subiect to Rome, as wee euer were by the old custome before that councell. The words of these Protestants Whitgift and Foxe are these. (Whitgift Def. pag. 331. Foxe tom. 1. pag. 12.)

The councell of Nice which was the yeare of our Lord 340. and in the sixt canon of the said coun∣cell wee finde it soe decreed, that in euery prouince, or precinct some one church or Bi∣shop of the same, was appointed and sett vp, to haue the Inspection and Regiment of other churches about him, secundum morem antiquum, that is after the auncient custome, as the words of the councell doe purport.

Soe that the Bishop of Alexandria should haue power of Libia, and Pontapolis, in Egipt, for as much as the Bishop of Rome

hath the like or same maner.

Therefore seeing there is none named ei∣ther by the councell, or custome related by that councell, but the Bishops of Rome, An∣tioch, and Alexandria to haue this high Re∣giment and power ouer the churches, wee must needs adhere and appeale to Rome by these men, as wee euer did by the old cu∣stome from the beginninge of our first life in Christ: otherwise wee shall fall into er∣rors and conclude inualidate things euen in the highest matters, these men assuringe vs, that at this time there were but three 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Metropolitane churches before reci∣ted, and that to vse their words.

(Whitgift def. pag. 359.) The church of Rome is cal∣led all that is subiect to the Bishop of Rome: And (Whitgift Answeare to the Admonit: cap. 2.17. diuision.) that notable and fa∣mous councell of Nice must be, and is of all wise and learned men next vnto the scriptu∣res themselues reuerenced, esteemed and em∣braced, in the sixt canon of that councell it is thus written: This councell doth deter∣mine him to bee noe Bishop, which is made without the consent Metropolitani Episcopi, of the Metropolitane.

Which cheife Metro∣tropolitane

to vs then as these men haue told vs, was the Bishop of Rome; soe that it is eui∣dent by them, that we could not here haue any Archbishop, or Bishopp made without his allowance.

And yett these our Protestant Bishops & Doctors must needs eleuate this power spi∣ritual higher, then to make it onely cheife ouer Britanie, those West nations and Eu∣rope, and giue, it the highest place in the whole church of Christ, for soe all that can bee pretended by these Protestants, to haue had interest in such things at that time, whe∣ther the Pope himselfe S. Siluester and others, our kinge and Emperor Constantine, or the Bishops of Britanie, and other nations; for all these in those daies acknowledged the Su∣preamacy in the Romane See ouer all chur∣ches. S. Siluester Pope with the consent, and Subscription of the Emperor Constātine his Mother S. Helena, and 284. western Bishops, and 45. preists, decreed. (Concil. Roman. sub Syluestro can. 20. to. 1. Concil.) Nemo Iudica∣bit primam sedem: quoniam omnes sedes à prima sede desiderant temperari, neque ab Augusto, neque ab omni clero, neque à Regibus, neque à populo Iudex iudicabitur. Noe man shall iudge

the cheife See (of Rome): because all Sees desire to bee gouerned by the cheife See. The iudge (Pope of Rome) shall not bee iudged, neither by the Emperour, nor by all the cleargie, nor by kings, nor by the people. Where wee see the Pope of Rome to bee by all consent the highest iudge, and subiect to noe others iudgment, whosoeuer. The honor and reuerence which Constantine yeelded to Saint Siluester then Pope, is sufficiently knowne by Eusebius in his life and others. (Euseb. de vita Constantini.) I will onely exemplify by the warrant of an english Pro∣testant Bishop, how this greate dutie and Reuerence of him to that holy Pope, and en∣dowinge that Apostolicke See with honor and ritches, was such, that it was longe be∣fore foretold by an Angell from heauen, to S. Blasius. saying (l. 1. de Act. Rom. Pontif. in Syluestro.) That in the time of Constantine, Idolatry should cease by his meanes, and this Constantine for his honor to the See of Rome, should translate the seate of his Empire from thence, into Thracia, and there settle it at the mouth of the Riuer Bosphorus, and leaue Italy and Rome to the Pope, Christs vicar there. Ad∣ueniet Princeps, sub quo pacabitur orbis: &

finem accipiet veteram cultura deorum. Con∣stantinus apud Thraces, qua Bosphorus aequor Thracius Euxinis Aegaeum ingurgitat vndis, constituet sedem Imperij: latiumque relinquet Christo & Romuleam septem in collibus vrbem.

Now for the Bishops of Britanie there can bee noe question, but they gaue this prima∣cie to S. Siluester: for first it is most proba∣ble some of them were present at this Roman councell, soe great, consistinge of the we∣sterne Bishops. Secondly in all Iudgments they must needs acknowledge this suprea∣macy either in the Pope, or Emperor; But not the Emperor which yeelded it to S. Sil∣uester. Thirdly because the next Pope Saint Marke, who was Pope but three yeares, clai∣med for the Romane See to be, mater omnium ecclesiarum, the mother of all churches, and priuiledged from heresie. (Marcus epist. ad Athanas. & caeter. Egipti Episcopos.) And as these Protestants tell vs, his successor S. Iulius appointed appeales to the See of Rome, and taught noe councel could bee kept lawfully with∣out his consent. (Rob. Barns in vita Pontif. Ro∣man. in Iulio.) And two other Protestant Bis∣hops speaking of this time affirme: The canō of the primatiue church made euery thinge

voyde that was done without the Bishop of Rome. (Bilson true differ. pag. 66.67.) And againe: The canon of the primatiue church forbad any councell to bee called, without his consent. (Morton Appeale pag. 286.) And to make all sure in this matter, that the whole cleargie of Britanie and Christians vnder them, at this time attributed this spirituall supreamacie to the Pope of Rome, our Pro∣testants haue told vs before, which aunciēt Authorities alsoe affirme (Theater of greate Britanie l. 6. Sulpit. Seuer. sacr. histor. lib. 2. Athan. apol. l. 1. cont. Ar. Concil. Sardic. can. 4.7.) that wee had of this nation diuers Bishops in the generall councell of Sardis, a cytie of Lydia in Asia with 300. Bishops; and therfore this kingedome with the rest, ac∣knowledged the supreamacie of the Pope of Rome in all places, and that Appeales were to bee made to him as highest iudge.

And whereas the councell of Arles in Fraunce in the time of S. Siluester, in the subscription of the Bishops there, many Pro∣testants and other Antiquaries assure vs, (Concil. Arelat. in subscript. Theater of Brit. lib. 6. Stow histor. in Lucius. Godwyn. catalog. in London. 1.) that Restitutus our Archbis∣hop

of London was present there, and sub∣scribed for this nation, that place beeinge soe remote from London, wee must needs say, that hee was called thither by the Pope of Rome, or doe that, which neuer any yett would allowe, to graunt a superioritie vnto the Bishops of Fraunce ouer them of this kingedome. And soe for those our Bishops which were at the councell of Ariminum in this time, for noe others medled in these affaires in those dayes.

Which wee are fur∣ther taught by the Example of our holy Bishop S. Ninian, (Capgrau. in Catal. in Ni∣nian. Bed. hist. Anglic. Theater of greate Bri∣tanie. lib. 6. Bal. centur. 1. de script. in Ninian•…•… Bernini.) whoe towards the later end of this centurie of yeares, was made Bishopp at Rome by the Pope there, and by him sent Apostle to the Western parts of Britanie, to people there which had not yett receaued the faith of Christ. Where hee conuerted the nation of the Picts, preached the ghospell through the contryes of the Britans, Scots, and Picts, ordeyned there preists, consecra∣ted them Bishops, and diuided the contry into parishes, as both Catholicks and Pro∣testants are witnesses. Audiens Pontifex Ro∣manus

quosdam in occiduis Britanniae parti∣bus necdum fidem Christi suscepisse, ad Episco∣patus gradum Ninianum consecrauit.

Concre∣ditum à Deo talentum per Britannorum, Sco∣torum, australium Pictorum terras, ad senium vsque latissimè profudit. Ordinauit presbyte∣ros, Episcopos consecrauit, & totam terram per certas parochias diuisit. And liuinge in this preachinge vntill hee was very ould, as a Protestant Bishop writeth, (Bal. centur. 1. in Ninian. Palladio Patricio.) he died in the yeare of Christ 432. before which time S. Palladius, S. Patricius, SS. Germanus and Lupus were sent hither by S. Celestine Pope of Rome. And yett that hee came hither in the fourth century, it is euident: for in his cominge hither from Rome, hee came by S. Martin Bishopp of Tours, in Fraunce as Capgraue and others writte, (Ioh. Capgr. in S. Ninian.) and yett by Sigebert and o∣thers, S. Martine died within the first 400. yeares. (Sigebert. in Chronic. ad an. 399.) In which time alsoe wee had Coelius Sedu∣lius of this nation, scholler (as a Protestant Bishop writeth) to Hildiberthus a learned Bishop of Scotland, (Ioh. Bal. centur. 1. in Coel. Sedul.) after whose death hee trauailed

many nations for learninge sake, as Spayne, France, Italy and Asia, and beeinge excel∣lently learned returned to Rome, where hee longe time continued, and was soe learned holy and gratefull a man to the Popes of Rome, that Pope Gelasius (to vse the Prote∣stants words) in the decrees distinct 15. cal∣leth him, venerable Sedulius, and much pray∣seth his writings.

Neyther can wee thinke otherwise of his Master, Bishop Hildibertus, of whome hee was instructed, and directed in these cour∣ses. And this Sedulius himselfe alsoe was a Bishop, as both Sigebertus, and Bostius our contryman, and the Protestant Bishop Bale from them, are wittnesses. (Sigebertus & Bostius apud Bal. centur. 1. de Script. in Coel. Sedul.) In which time alsoe liued S. Kebius our Cornish Bishop, successor, though per∣haps not immediate, to S. Amphibalus in the Bishoprick of Mona. (Ioh. Capgrau. in S. Kebio. Harpesf. histor. pag. 26. Pits. in Kebio.) Whoe liued longe time with S. Hilary Bis∣hopp of Poicters in Fraunce, that worthie piller of the true Catholick faith, and ho∣nor of the church of Rome, and Successor of Saint Peter there, that hee calleth him.

(Hilar. ad Psalm. 131. & in Matth. can. 16.) Ecclesiae fundamentum, caelestis Regni Ianitor, cuius arbitrio aeterni aditus traduntur, cuius terrestre iudicium praeiudicata authoritas sit in caelo: Foundation of the church, porter of the kingedome of heauen. The happy foun∣dation of the church, the blessed porter of heauen, to wose will die eternall passadges are committed, whose iudgement on earth is preiudicate authoritie in heauen.

Such a tutor, pedagoge, and consecrator alsoe had this our happie contryman Saint Kebius, in those turbulent hereticall times of the Arrians, and their opposition against the Romane church, a greate meanes by this our holy Bishop, S. Restitutus, Fastidius, Priscus, our Archbishops then, and other godly Bishops of this nation, to preserue this kingedome in the true faith, and obedience to the Pope of Rome, in soe much that S. Hilarie himselfe, (lib. de Synodis aduersus Arr.) commendeth the Bishops of Britanie for the sinceritie in those times, to their eter∣nall honor. Hee dyed, as our Protestants write, in the yeare of Christ, 370. And in this age alsoe was that renowned S. Vrsula, with her glorious company of Bishops, other

cleargie men, Virgins and others, as those Protestants ar witnesses, whoe as both Pto∣lomaeus Lucensis, Capgraue, the Antiqui∣ties of Collene, and the German histories testifie (Baleus centur. 1. in Vrsula. Cynosura an. 390. Stowe histor. an. 394. in Theodosius. Martyrolog. Roman. die 21. & 22. Octob. & Beda hac die & Vandelbert. Baron. in annot. Ptolom. Lucens. in S. Vrsula. Capgrau. in S. Vrsula. & Annal. Coloniens. &c.) made that their moste holy pilgrimadge to Rome, and at their returne receaued the crowne of Martyrdome at, or neare Cullen in Ger∣manie, where, as alsoe in the whole Chri∣stian world, and both to their honor and the glory of our country, they are celebra∣ted in the most auncient Martyrologes, in which sacred company, as Capgrauius and diuers others testifie, there were manye Bishops of this kingedome, as namelie Willielmus or Michael, Columbanus Ywanus, Eleutherius and Lotharius. Which I rather name, that wee may know, how this kinge∣dome at that tyme, both was soe replenis∣hed with Bishops, that it might spare soe manie to bee sent from hence, with those holy Virgins, and to giue euidence how

deuoted and respectiue, the Bishops and cleargie, with the rest the Christians of this kingedome, were towards the See of Rome, in these dayes.