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 XXIII. CHAPTER. Wherein demonstration is made both by pro∣testants, and other testimonies, that during all this age and hundred of yeares vntill and after the coming of S. Augustine, this king∣dome had many holy massinge preists and Bishops, agreeinge in these, and all other articles of Religiō with the church of Rome.

IN the later end of the fift hundred of yea∣res, of Christ, I made relation, how a∣monge many others, those two renowned massinge preists, S. Dubritius the great Archbishop of Caerlegion, and the Popes Legate, made Bishop by the massing Bishop and Legate of the see Apostolicke, and S. Iltutus disciple of the same massing Bishop and Legate S. Germanus were Tutors, and Masters in Religion and diuinitie, not only to the cleargie of this Iland but many o∣thers, and neither did, nor could teach them any other doctrine in these points, then they had receued from others, and practised by themselues, about holy preisthood, and sa∣crifice of Masse; And as both protestants & other antiquaries tell vs, both these liued 20. yeares at the leaste, in the beginninge

of this sixt age, S. Iltutus beeing aliue and florishinge in the yeare 520. claruit anno à Christi natiuitate 520. and S. Dubritius li∣uinge two yeares after, obijt anno gratiae 522. (Bal. l. de scriptor. Britan. cent. 1. in Ilchtuto. & in Dubritio. Godw. Catal. in S. Dauids. in Dubritius.) therefore wee may boldly say, that among so great numbers of their mas∣sing schollers, many of them liued a great part, if not all this age. The auncient Ma∣nuscript of the Saints of Wales, the Apolo∣gist of the antiquitie of Cambridge, and others thus testifie of S. Dubritius. (M. S. antiq. de vit. Sanctorum Wall. in S. Dubritio. Io. Caius l. 1. de antiquit. Cantabr. Academ. pag. 145.146.) Creuit illius fama cum vtrius∣que legis, nouae & veteris peritia per totā Bri∣tanniam, ita quod ex omni parte totius Britan∣niae scholares veniebant, non tantum rudes, sed etiam viri sapientes & Doctores ad eum studendi causa confluebant. Imprimis Sanctus Helianus, Sampson discipulus suus, Vbelnius, Merchiguinus, Elguoredus, Gunuinus, Lon∣gual, Artbodu, Longur, Arguistil, Iunabin, Conbram, Goruan, Guernabin, Iouan, Elhe∣harn, Iudnon, Curdocui, Aidan, Cinuarch, & cum his mille clericos per septem annos conti∣nuo

in podo seu pago Hentlan super ripam Guy, in studio literarum diuinae sapientiae & huma∣nae retinuit. Where we see he had a thousand schollers at one time, and place, seuen yea∣res together that were clergy men students in diuinitie, and in an other place, called in the Brittish languadge Mocros, miracu∣lously assigned vnto him, hee had as these antiquities say, innumerable schollers many yeares together, cum suis innumerabilibus dis∣cipulis mansit per plures annos regendo stu∣dium. l. de vit. Sanct. Wall. Caius sup. pag. 147.148. M. S. antiq. & Capgrau. in S. Iltuto & Tatheo.

2. The like they write of the scholes of S. Iltutus, and S. Tatheus, or as some call him Thatheus. The antiquaries of Cam∣bridge alleage for the immunities and pri∣uiledges of their vniuersitie, the auncient Charter dated at London in the yeare of Christ 531 of Kinge Arthur, that knowne reuerencer of sacrificing preists, and Masse. Charta priuileg. Arthuri an. 531. apud Caium antiq. Cantabrig. l. 1.) and both Catholicks and protestants testifie, that the auncient vniuersitie of Standford continued in this time, and vntill S. Gregory interdicted it for

heresies that fell amonge the Saxons and Bri∣tans together mixt. (Harding histor. in King Ethelbert. Stowe and Howes historie in Bla∣dud.) therefore wee may assure our selues, that notwithstandinge so many troubles, & alterations, as chaunced here in those daies, they continued the holy doctrine and cus∣tome of Masse, and sacrificinge preists; For S. Gregory so knowne and confessed a Pa∣tron and practiser of these thinges, neither would, nor could haue interdicted that vni∣uersitie, for any thinge which hee himselfe so embraced and honored. So that it is eui∣dent, that the whole kingdome of Britanie in this time followinge the doctrine which their scholes and vniuersities taught them, must needs then allowe these holy misteries of which I write. The same is euident, both by the Kings which then reigned here, as also by the Archbishops who ruled in Reli∣gious affaires. The Kings in the beginning of this age were Vther pendragon, who died about the yeare of Christ 515. beeinge for Religion of the same with the massinge Archbishops S. Dubritius and S. Sampson, with the sacrificinge Bishops, and preists, by whose generall consent he was crowned

Kinge. Vther conuocato regni clero, caepit dia∣dema Insula: annuētibusque cunctis sublimatus est in Regem. (Galfr. Mon. l. 8. cap. 17. Math. Westm. ad an. 498) and when his death was knowne they as solemly assembled to giue him Princely Christian buriall. Cum obitus Regis diuulgatus fuisset aduenerunt Pontifices cum clero regni: tuleruntque corpus eius ad caenobium Ambrij, & iuxta Aurelium Ambro∣sium more regio humauerunt.

2. Next was Kinge Arthur, how he was engaged in this holy doctrines it is sufficiēt Argument, that being but 15. yeares of age, and his birth by many not without excep∣tion, hee was with the generall applause both of the sacrificinge cleargie, and their ghostly children, crowned Kinge by S. Du∣britius the Popes Legate, and renowned massinge Archbishop, and primate of Bri∣tanie with the other massing Bishops ther∣of. Defuncto Vtherpendragon conuenerunt ex diuersis Prouincijs proceres Britonum, Dubri∣tio Vrbis Legionum suggerentes, vt Arthu∣rum filium Regis in Regem consecraret. Du∣britius associatis sibi Episcopis Arthurum regni diademate insignuit. (Galfrid. Mon l. 9. cap. 1. Matth. Westm. ad an. gratiae 516. Stowe

histor. Britans and Saxons in Arthur. Io. Bal. l. de script. Brit. cent. 1. in Dubritio. Godwin Catalog. in S. Dauids.) to this his whole life in fighting against the enemies of that holy Religion, the sacred churches, and altars which he reedified for that heauenly sacri∣fice, and charters of immunities which he graunted to the most knowne massing pla∣ces of Britanie, as Glastenbury and others, and the great reuerence he vsed to all mas∣singe preists and Prelates, are sufficient tes∣timony of this, and to bee seene allmost in all histories, Manuscripts and others of that time, and hee liued vnto the yeare of Christ 542. Now if wee come to the Archbishops & Bishops vnder them, Matthew of West∣minster and others tell vs, that for Yorke, that renowned massinge man S. Sampson was Archbishop there, 7. yeares after the be∣ginning of this age, anno gratiae 507. Florue∣runt in Britānia Sanctus Sampson Eboracensis Archiepiscopus, & S. Dubritius Vrbis Regio∣num Archiepiscopus. (Matth. Westm. an. 542. & alij. Matth. Westm. an. gratiae 507.) what a miraculous massing preist, and Prelate he was, I haue spoken in the former age.

3. That S. Dubritius ruled all in the Ar∣chiepiscopal

see of Caerlegion, where most both Bishops & preists were in these daies, at the least vntill the 16. yeare of this age I haue shewed before, whē S. Dubritius with the rest of the Bishops of Britanie crowned King Arthur in that yeare. Who was Arch∣bishop of London at this time, it is not so certainly remembred in particular. But the Author of the Brittish history translated by Galfridus assureth vs, that there was an Archbishop of London at this time, & that hee together with S. Dubritius Archbishop of Caerlegion, & the Archbishop of Yorke did crowne Kinge Arthur. Trium Metro∣politanarum sedium Archi Praesules, Londo∣niensis videlicet, Eboracensis, nec non ex vrbe Legionum Dubritius hic Britanniae primas, & Apostolicae sedis Legatus. (Galfr. Mon. histor. Reg. Brit. l. 9. cap. 12.13.) and by the cir∣cumstances of the history, these three Arch∣bishops performed that great solemne co∣ronation at the solēnitie of Masse, at which both the Kinge, these three Archbishops with the other Bishops of theire diuisions, and the nobilitie of Britanie were present. And this coronation is cheifely attributed to S. Dubritius, because it was in his dio∣cesse.

Dubritius quoniam in sua diocesi caria tenebatur, paratus ad celebrandum obsequium, huius rei curam suscepit, and he was the Po∣pes Legate. And all histories agree, that when the Bishops, and cleargie, either of London, or Yorke diuision, were persecu∣ted by the Pagans, they fledd for succour, to the knowne massinge preistes, and Pre∣lates of Caerlegion diocesse, communica∣tinge with them in Religion.

4. S. Dubritius waxinge old, and desi∣rous to liue a solitary and contemplatiue life, the holy Saint Dauid was miraculous∣lie chosen to succeed him. (Capgrau. in S. Dauid. Gyrald. Cambr. Itiner. Cambr. l. 2. cap. 1. Godwin in S. Dauids.) I haue shewed be∣fore, that he was the scholler of the massing preist, S. Iltutus, scholler of the massinge Prelate & Popes Legate S. Germanus. This holy Archbishop was so renowned a mas∣singe preist, and Prelate, that as wee reade both in auncient Manuscripts, and other histories, hee brought with from Hierusa∣lem, beeinge a pilgrime there, an holy and miracalous Altar, giuen him by the Patriake there, on which he consecrated the body of our Lord. In quo Dominicum consecrabat corpus.

(M. S. antiq. de vit. S. Dauidis. Capgrau. in Catalog. in eod.) and to make euident vnto all, that S. Dauid did say ordinarily Masse in Britanie, aswell as at Hierusalem, and likewise so did all the Bishops here of Bri∣tanie then, and with great solemnitie, to omitt many other memorable testimonies hereof, we reade in the antiquities of Glas∣tenbury, Capgrauius, and others, & a Pro∣testant Bishop writeth, that the history is still preserued engraued in Brasse at Wells in Sommersetshire, though hee somewhat minceth it, how S. Dauid and seuen other Bishops goinge to Glastenbury to dedicate the holy church there, Christ appeared vn∣to him the night before the intended dedi∣cation, and bid him absteine from dedica∣tinge it, for it had beene dedicated before to the blessed Virgin Mary his Mother. (M. S. antiq. & Io. Capgrau. Catalog. in S. Pa∣tricio. antiq. Glaston. Godwin conuers. of Brit. pag. 11.) and to testifie the truth of this vi∣sion, & testimony, left a miraculous wound in the right hand of S. Dauid, tellinge him how it should bee as miraculously healed as it was hurt, in this maner: crastina die cum Pontificalibus inductus, cum per ipsum, & cum

ipso, & in ipso, in Missa pronuntias, ipso qui tecum loquitur operante, per ipsum quem sacro conficies ore, vulnus quod nunc abhorres; nus∣quam esse videbis. Et cum sanctus iussa com∣plesset, sicut praedixit Dominus, efficitur sanus. To morrow when thou art adorned with thy pontificall vestiments, and shalt pro∣nounce in Masse the words by him, & with him, and in him, he that speaketh with thee workinge by him whome thou shalt make with thy sacred mouth, thou shalt see noe where the wound, which thou now abhor∣rest. And when the Saint had done as hee was commaunded, as our Lord foretold, he was made found. And it followeth in the same ātiquitie, preserued in Brasse by Tho∣mas Highes of Wells esquier, as that protes∣tant Bishop writeth heretofore, fixed vppon a piller of S. Iosephs chappell, which hee him∣selfe had read. Godwin supr. cap. 2. pag. 11.

5. Postea idem Episcopus Domino reuelante quendam cancellum in orientali parte haic Ec∣clesiae adiecit, & in honore beatae Virginis con∣secrauit, cuius altare inestimabili sapphiro in perpetuam huius rei memoriam insigniuit. Af∣terward the same Bishop (S. Dauid) by the reuelation of our Lord, did add a certaine

chauncell to this church, in the east parte, and consecrated it in the honor of the bles∣sed Virgin, whose Altar for perpetuall me∣mory of this thinge hee did adorne, with a sapphire of an inestimable price. Where we euidently see, the doctrine & practise, both of the Archbishop, and Bishops of Britanie, seuen of them beeing then present, to goe on pilgrimage, to holy places, and relicks, that they were sacrificing preists, said Mas∣se, and with great reuerence, and solemni∣tie, and in that holy sacrifice consecrated by consecratinge wordes of their mouthes, and offered the blessed body and blood of Christ, vsed the same canon wee now doe, as the wordes, per ipsum, & cum ipso, & in ipso, with the other circumstances tell vs, and so honored the holy Altars, whereon this heauēly sacrifice was offered, that they there offered inestimable guifts, and orna∣ments to honor them withall, which is as much as any preist of the present Roman church teacheth, or contēdeth at this time, or Catholicke Religion alloweth them to doe.

6. This renowned Archbishop so mira∣culous for his birth prophetically foretold,

his life, and death and so holy and pleasing vnto God, that as I haue shewed in him al∣readie, God spared to take vengeance on the sinnes of the Britans, for his sake, du∣ring his life, died in the yeare of Christ 546. but 50. yeares before S. Augustines coming hither, as our protestants themselues with others witnesse. (Bal. l. de scriptor. Britan. cent. 1. in Dauid Meneuiensi.) and by an other protestant which faith, he sate longe to witte, 65. yeares. (Godwin Catal. in S. Dauids 1. S. Dauid.) hee liued within 16. yeares or nea∣rer to S. Augustins arriuall in this kinge∣dome, an 596. for as I proued before, his predecessor S. Dubritius was Archbishop there, in the yeare 516. and after, and died not vntill the yeare 522. though in his old age he had a little before resigned his char∣ge to S. Dauid. (Godwin sup. in S. Dauids. in S. Dubritius. Bal. cent. 1. in eod. Galfr. Mon. l. 11. hist. Britan. cap. 3.) there is some ques∣tion in histories whether, as Giraldus Cam∣bronsis and some others say, Cenauc was immediate successor to S. Dauid, or S. The∣liaus, Telianus, Eliud, all one man, by o∣thers. (Girald. Cambr. Itiner. Cambr. l. 2. c. 1. Godw. M. S. Dauids antiquitat. Eccles. S.

Dauidis apud Godwin Catal. Epis. pag· 506. in S. Dauids.) but for this matter it mattereth nothing: for this Cenauc was scholler, and successor to S. Patern, that great knowne massinge preist and Prelate, companion to S. Dauid, in his holy pilgrimage: And so could not differ from these holy Saints, in so great questions in Religion. And for the other S. Telian or Eliud, there is no doubt, for hee was scholler to the renowned mas∣singe Prelate S. Dubritius, and by him so throughly instructed in diuinity, that being indued with the holy Ghost, hee could per∣fectly expound all difficulties of holy scrip∣tures. A sancto Dubritio Episcopo in scripturis sanctis eruditus fuit, donec explicaret. (M. S. de vita S. Theliai & Capgr· Catalog. in eod.) and was so vndiuided a companion of S. Dauid, his predecessor, not onely vnder their Master Paulinus (not vnprobably hee that liued to bee Archbishop of Yorke that great massing Prelate in S. Augustines time) but in his pilgrimage to Hierusalem, and so by Rome from which hee could not differ in Religion: and so intrely and nearely con∣ioyned in Religion, and affection, that as wee reade in his life, they were both of one

minde, perfectly in all things; Sanctum Da∣uid perfectae hominem vitae sibi associauit: quos tanta coniunxit dilectio & sancti spiritus gra∣tia, quod idem velle, & nolle ambobus esset. Therefore hee could not possibly, nor the Bishops and preists vnder him, differ from S. Dauid, in so great matters, but were wholly of the same mind, and practise with him in those thinges. And the church of Rome in all Catalogues receueth and ac∣knowledgeth him for an holy Saint, which it neuer did, will, or can doe, to any an ene∣mie and apposite vnto it, in those misteries. And this sacrificinge massinge Prelate, pro∣bably was Archbishop of Caerlegion a∣monge the Britans, at the cominge of S. Augustine hither, liuinge longe after that time, and as a late writer holdeth. (Engl. Martyrolog. die 25. Nouembr.) vntill the yeare of Christ 626. liuinge before diuers yeares amonge the massing preists and Bi∣shops of Fraunce, and not vnprobably was there when S. Augustine first landed here, and neither present at, or consenting vnto that opposition, to S. Augustine.

7. And concerninge the two other Ar∣chiepiscopall sees, London, and Yorke, al∣though

there is little memory left of Eccle∣siasticall affaires in them, beeing both with their whole diocesses in those times moste greeuously afflicted, and almoste wholly eaten and deuoured vpp, by the Pagan per∣secutors in Religious things; yet for these doctrines wee haue in hand, there is suffi∣cient testimonie left in antiquities, that so longe as the state of Christian Religion had publick and open profession, there was also there the like publicke vse, and exercise, of these points of Catholicke Religion; And after the external face of Christianitie was ouerthrowne, yet at the leaste in many pla∣ces, of those Prouinces, a priuate vse and exercise was still cōtinued of these articles, euen to the coming of S. Augustine and af∣ter, vntill the general conuersion of the Sa∣xons themselues. And for Yorke wee haue the knowne massing Prelate Pyramus cha∣peline to Kinge Arthur, that great Patron of sacrificinge preists & holy Masse, which as his place required, was deputed to say Masse, and ordinarily so did before that Re∣ligious Kinge. (Galfrid. Monum. l. 9. histor. Reg. Briton. cap. 8. Matth. Westm. an gratiae 522.) and as Thadiocus succeeded him in

place and dignitie so likewise hee was his successor in opinion, and practise in those questions, as will euidently appeare, if wee onely consider that they were both ordey∣ned by the authoritie & Legantine power, either of S. Dubritius or S. Dauid those fa∣mous massinge preists, Prelats, primats and Saints. But wee haue the generall warrants of the renowned S Gyldas Badonicus, which now liued and vntill within 16. vea∣res of S. Augustins cominge hither, flori∣shinge in the yeare of Christ 580. as a pro∣testant Bishop and antiquary with others writeth. (Bal. l. de scriptor. Britan. cent. 1. in Gilda Badonico.) & proueth that in this time all the preists of Britanie were, sacrificantes sacrificinge massinge preists, inter altaria, at the holy altars, the seates of the celestiall sacri∣fice, sedes caelestis sacrifi•…•…ij, and Probus that wrote the life of S. Patricke, in this age tes∣tifyinge as much. Gildas l. de excid. & con∣quest. Britan. Probus in vita S. Patricij inter opera S. Bedae.

8 And if we turne our eyes to looke into the further, and more northien parts of the diocesse of this Archiepiscopall see in Gol∣loway, and Albania, wee shall finde many

particular testimonies of this veritie. There wee shall finde S. Kentegern; that most mi∣raculous holy Saint, so far a massing preist, and Prelate, and after the Roman order, that hee had in his schole or monastery vn∣der him in the north of Britany, besides 600. that were not learned, 260 learned diuines, trayned vp to p•…•…eac•…•… and offer the holy sa∣crifice of Masse. (M. S antiq. de vit. S. Ken∣tegerni. Io Capgrau. Catal. in eod. Io. Bal. l. script. Britan. cent. 1•…•… in Kentern. Godwin Catal. in Asaph. Hector Bo•…•… Scotor. histor. l. 9.) and he had an other as great a schoole and compan•…•…e of massinge men in Britany, which he left to S. Asaph, and sent of these into all parts both of this our Britanie, and into other nations, as Norwey, and Island, beeing warranted in all these things by the Popes of Rome, where hee was seuen times on pilgrimage, Romam septies adijt; and in all things conformed himselfe to that holy Apostolicke church, and at his death, gaue strict ommaund to all vnder his charge, to be in all thinges obedient to the church of Rome: de Sanctorum Patrum decretis, sanctaeque Ro∣man•…•… Ecclesiae institutis firmiter custodiendis, fortia dedit, ac dereliquit praecepta. And that

hee liued either after, or vnto the cominge of S. Augustine I will demonstrate herafter.

9. And to come to London diocesse, now afflicted with Pagan persecutors, yet wee find Theonus a massinge preist and Prelate familiarly acquainted with S. Dauid, that massing Archbishop, hauing beene Bishop of Glocester before, to haue beene Archbi∣shop there in these times. A Protestant Bi∣shop writeth: Theonus being first Bishop of Glocester, forsooke it, and tooke the charge of London vpon him the yeare 553. (Godwin Ca∣talog. in London. in Theonus.) but the Brit∣tish historye, proueth him to haue beene Archbishop of London, before the death of S. Dauid: Theonus Glouecestrensis Episco∣pus, in Archiepiscopatum Londoniarum eligi∣tur. Tūc obijt sanctissimus Vrbis Legionum Ar∣chiepiscopus Dauid in Mineuia ciuitate. (Gal∣frid. Monum. histor. Reg. Brit. lib. 11. cap. 3.) and so hee must needs hee ordeyned Arch∣bishop, by the consent, and allowance of that massinge high Prelate, S. Dauid. And hee continued Archbishop there, vntill the yeare of Christ 586 when together with Thadiocus, Archbishop of Yorke, and very many of their cleargy they fled into Walles

and other places. (Matth. Westm. an. 586. Stowe histor. Galfrid. Monum. hist. l. 11. cap. 10.) And to proue all then were sacrificinge massinge preists here, S. Gildas then liuing at that time hath so before affirmed; the sa∣crificinge massinge which protestants and others confesse, to haue beene then in Lon∣don, and other places of that diocesse, con∣firme it; their flying for succour only to the places, where Masse and massinge preistes continued, as in Wales, Cornewayle, and little Britanie, manifestly conuince it to be so. Stowe histor. in Constantine 2. Galfr. Mo∣num. l. 11. histor. cap. 4.

10. This is proued by those holy chur∣ches, and massinge altars, which the Pa∣gans did reserue, and not destroye, by con∣uerting to them to the Idolatrous worship, and sacrifices of theire Pagan Gods. Si qua Ecclesia illoesa seruabitur, hec magis ad confusionem nominis Christiani quàm gloriam faciebant. Nempe ex cis deorum suorum tem∣pla facientes, prophanis suis sacrificijs, sancta Dei altaria polluerunt. (Matth. Westm. ad an. gratiae 58•…•….) And when aboue al other thin∣ges questioned, our protestants moste dis∣allowe the reuerence of holy relicks, and

not contendinge that there was any Chri∣stian Religion in these Archbishops & their cleargie, but either the massinge Religion, or their protestant profession, doe plainely confesse, that these were massinge preistes, and not Protestant Ministers, for they with other ātiquities acknowledg, that the grea∣test care which these two Archbishops, their Bishops, and preists had, in those tem∣pestuous times, was how to keepe with re∣uerence, and from irreuerence, the holy re∣licks of their Saints, & so notwithstanding so many daungers, and difficulties, carryed most of them vnto these places of their rest, and refuge, so farr off, Walles, Cornwaile, and Britanie in Fraunce. (Holinsh. histor. of Engl. Galfrid. Monument. histor. Reg. Brit∣tan. l. 11. cap. 10. Matth. Westm. an. gratiae 586.) Tunc Archipraesulis Theonus Londo∣niensis & Thadiocus Eborascensis, cum omnes Ecclesias sibi subditas solo tenus destructas vi∣dissent, cum pluribus ordinatis, cum reliquijs Sanctorum in Cambriam diffugerunt, timentes ne Barbarorum irruptione, tot & tantorum sa∣cra ossa veterum, à memorijs hominum deleren∣tur, si qua imminenti periculo minimè subtra∣xissent. Plures etiam Armoricanam Britan∣niam

petentes. Therefore no protestant can, will, or by the grounds of their Religion may say, that these were Protestants, but vndoubtedly Catholicke Papists, reueren∣cers of holy Masse, relicks of Saints, & such doctrines, as protestancy doth not allow, & thereuppon they plainely call them, sacrifi∣culos, massinge preists. H. Matius Germano∣rum lib. 5. pag. 39.

11. Neither did these doctrines and the profession of them cease here with vs, bet∣weene this publick desolation in the 586. of Christ, and the yeare 596. when S. Augu∣stine came hither, euen in those parts which the Saxons posessed, but there were diuers Bishops, and sacrificinge massinge preists still continuinge in them, and the holy sa∣crifice of Masse was still, though not so ge∣nerally and publickly as before, continued also in this time, and many of the Saxons themselues, euen from the dayes of Kinge Arthur, when many of them receaued the Christian faith, still continued therein, and this testified by protestant writers. (Holin∣shed histor. of Engl. pag. 122.123. l. 5.) tea∣chinge how vppon a great victory of that renowned Kinge against them, hee pardo∣ned

al that would and did receue the Chri∣stian faith, which were many. And Har∣dinge with others testifieth, that Stanford at this time was a Christian vniuersitie, though with some errors. (Harding histor.) and yet a great part of them must needs bee Saxons. And in those very places themsel∣ues where the Pagan Saxons moste & prin∣cipally ruled, and reigned, the Christian massing sacrificing Religion was there per∣mitted, and tolerated euen by the Kings al∣lowance, as a protestant historian proueth in these words. (Holinsh. histor. of Engl. l. 5. pag. 107.) At the same time that Constantine (the next Kinge to Arthur) was driuen into Wales, there reigned amonge the English men, one Iourmericke the fifth, as Bede saith, from Hengist. The same Iourmerick though hee were not christened himselfe, yet hee per∣mitted the Christian faith to bee preached a∣mongst his people, and concludinge a league with the Scottish men and Picts, kept the same inuiolate duringe his life time. So likewise it was in the kingdome of the Kentish Kings, extendinge to Humber, for Kinge Ethel∣bert had marryed a Christian, & gaue pea∣ce to Christians in his dominions, as wee

may also gather the like of the kingdome of the east Angles, whose Kinge Scebert, was a baptised Christian, except a protes∣tant historian is deceued, in the yeare of Christ 569. or before, then beginninge his Reigne, and beeing christened in Fraunce in the Regiment of his Brother and prede∣cessor Kinge Carpewalde. (Stowe histor. in east Angles in K. Scebert anno. 569.) and in many other places of Loegria, this Englād, the like instances may be giuen: for the eni∣mitie between the Saxons and Britans was not principally for Religiō, but who should rule here, and possesse this kingdome: asper∣nebantur vt plurimum Saxones Britonum Sa∣cerdotum tum Gualiam incolētium doctrinam: tametsi veram profiterentur, inuisae gentis ma∣gis quam disciplinae, de qua multa atque prae∣clara frequentius audiuerant, odio permoti. (Hect. Boeth. l. 9. Scot. histor. fol. 177.) and they had peaceable commerce, amitie, and correspondence with all other Christians, round about them, French, Scots, and Picts, as is declared before.

12. And to putt all out of doubt in this matter, wee are taught by many credible, and vncontroleable antiquities, that euen

at the coming of S. Augustine hither, there were diuers renowned massing, sacrificing Bishops, here with their massinge preists, that preached euen to the Saxons, and con∣uerted many, and that these holy Bishops, and preists did in all things agree, with the Apostolicke Romane church, and receued mission, power, and iurisdiction from then∣ce. Amonge these was S. Kentegern for the Northren and other parts of this kingdome, who preached to the Saxons & proued their Pagan Gods (namly woden) whom princi∣pally they worshipped as cheife God, to haue beene onely a man, a Kinge amonge them, and a damned creature. (S. Asaph. in vita S. Kentegerni. M. S. antiquit. in vita eius & Capgrau. in eodem.) Quem principa∣lem Deum crediderunt, & praecipue Angli, de quo originem duxerant, cui & qua•…•…tam feriam consecrauerant, hominem fuisse mortalem as∣seruit, & Regem Saxonum, a quo plures na∣tiones genus duxerant, huius inquit corpore in puluerem resoluto, anima in inferno sepulta aeternum sustinet ignem. And that this holy Bishop liued vnto this time of S. Gregory, ioyned in Religion with him, and by him was warranted to preach to the Saxons, as

to other nations, we haue the greatest war∣rant, wee can desire in such thinges, both Catholicke and Protestant antiquaries, ioy∣ninge in this, that hee was a Bishop 260. yeares. (M. S. antiq. & Capgrau. supr. Bal. l. de script. Britan. cent. 1. in Kenterno. Godwin Catalog of Bishops in Asaph.) whereby it e∣uidently followeth, that beinge made Bi∣shop after the beeing of S German, and Lu∣pus here, as appeareth before, he must nee∣des bee liuinge at this time, and it is parti∣cularly testified by the auncient writers of his life, S Asaph his holy scholler and suc∣cessor, Iohn Capgraue, and many auncient Manuscripts, that hauinge beene seuen ti∣mes at Rome, hee was there in the time of S. Gregory, who approuinge his sacred cal∣linge sent him with his Apostolicke war∣rant into these parts. Vir Deisepties Romam adiens Sancto Gregorio speciali Anglorum A∣postolo totam vitam suam, electionem, & con∣secrationem, & omnes casus qui et acciderunt, seriatim enodauit. Sanctus vero Papa illum virum Dei & Spiritus Sancti gratia plenum intelligens, in opus ministerij à Spiritu Sancto illi iniuncti destinauit.

13. In the westerne parts wee had then

besides the Bishops which opposed them∣selues to S. Augustine, commonly recomp∣ted seuen in number, yet agreeing with him in these misteries, the renowned holy Bi∣shop S. Asaph, disciple, and successor to S. Kentegern, in that see, when hee forsooke it; This holy massinge Bishop ruler of the colledge of so many massinge preists, as I haue before related, did in all things ioyne himselfe with the disciples of S. Gregory the Pope, in so much as a Protestāt Bishop wri∣teth of him: A Gregorij Pontificis Romani dis∣cipulis Angliam aduentantibus, authoritatem accepit. (Io. Bal. l. de script. Britan. cent. 1. in Asapho.) he receued authority from the dis∣ciples of Gregorie Pope of Rome, which came into England. And this is hee, who as the same Protestāt Bishop writeth, wrote the life of S. Kentegern his Master. Ther∣fore this holy Prelate must needs bee a mas∣singe preist, as all the other vnder him were at that time. If we go further to other parts of this nation, wee shall finde in the king∣dome of the Mercians, or by some the easte Angles, the renowned & miraculous Arch∣bishop S. Iue, a noble Persian by birth, who beeing sent thither by the Pope of Rome S.

Gregory or Pelagius the seconde his prede∣cessor both massinge preists and Popes, was also a massing preist and Prelate, and dying at the towne, now of his name called S. Iues, in Hontington shire, gaue that name vnto it. (Annal. Monaster. Ramseiae. M. S. antiq. de vita S. Iuonis. Io. Capgrau. in Ca∣talog. in S. Iuone Episcop. Florent. Wigorn. in Chronic. ad an. 600.) And to testifie that hee exercised both his massing preistly, and episcopall function there in preachinge to the Saxons, his body was found, buryed in episcopall manner, sepulchro aperto Episcopum Pontificalibus indutum cōspiciunt. This Apo∣stolicke doctor of this nation as Florentius Wigorniensis, Capgraue, and the old Ma∣nuscripts of his life •…•…ll him, Doctor Aposto∣licus & vere caeli nuntius Ino, dyed here as Wigorniensis writeth in the yeare 600. foure yeares after the cominge of S. Augustine hi∣ther: and hither also came with him, and preached here, sent from Rome, besides o∣thers not named, S. Sithius, and S. Inthius his associats, massinge preists. Qui cum Ro∣mam peruenissēt consilio Papae dispositione Dei, Sanctus Iuo cum Sithio nepote, & Inthio cog∣nato suo alijsque quibusdam, in Britanniam in∣trauit.

And to shew that hee was a true A∣postle of this nation, sent by the see Apo∣stolicke of Rome, coming through Fraun∣ce hither, beeinge honorably entertayned by the Kinge and people of Fraunce, to stay there, would by no entreaty consent, but came as hee was, à Domino destinatus, or∣deyned for vs by God, into England Cum Galliam cum suis intrasset, à Rege & populo honorificè susceptus, nec vlla gratia terrena quamuis assiduis precibus rogatus, ab ipsis re∣tineri poterat, sed Britanniam ingrediens.

14. And to passe into the kingedome of Kent it selfe, where S. Augustine landed, & settled himselfe, his successors, and see at Canterbury, there, we had at his cominge, and twenty yeares before, and before the time, that Theonus Archbishop of Lon∣don, and Thadiocus Archbishop of Yorke with their massinge preists, forsooke their sees, in that kingedome and city itselfe of Canterburie, a renowned massing Bishop, S. Luithardus, and his massing preists, vsual∣lie sayinge Masse, the Queene S. Bertha being present in their thē cathedral church, dedicated to S. Martine, as all antiquaries agree, and as I finde in an old Manuscript

history, builded in the time of Kinge Lu∣cius. (Bed. hist. gent. Angl. l. 1. cap. 27. Io. Capgrau. in Catalog. in S. Lethardo Episcopo & Confessore. M. S. antiq. in eod.) And by the persuasion of this holy massinge Bishop S. Luithard, the Kinge and Saint afterward Ethelbert, entertayned S. Augustine with all humanitie, and was by him after actual∣lie conuerted to the faith of Christ, in so much that this holy Bishop is called, Iani∣tor venturi Augustini, opener of the dore to S. Augustine. (Capgrau. supr. in S. Lethard. Gulielm. Malm. l. 1. de gest. Reg. Anglorum.) And was before S. Augustines cominge when he still liued a Pagan, fauourable and gentle vnto Christiās: Benignus erga Chri∣stianos in natiua gentilitate fuit. By occasion whereof, his kingdome extending to Hum∣ber, and his sister beeing marryed to Slede Kinge of the east Angles, and her sonne Se∣bert, or as Henry of Huntington calleth him Sibrictus, or Siberctus, beeing a Christian Kinge, so great parts of this nation were free from persecution, and some of the Sa∣xons, that were conuerted, became mas∣sing preists, longe before S. Augustine came hither. (Henric. Hunting. histor. l. 2.) For such

is numbred Godelbertus as a Protestant Bi∣shop writeth, ex quorundam coniecturis ge∣nere Anglosaxo, aboue an hūdred yeares be∣fore this time an. 498. (Pitseus historic. Rel. Tom. 1. aetate 5. Bal. l. de script. Britan. cent. 1. in Godelberto Presbytero.) And as Sebastiā Munster & the first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury witnes, S. Offo an English Kings sonne in this our Englād, went hen∣ce and preached in Germany in the yeare 601. (Munster. in Cosmograph. in German. Matth. Parker antiq. Brit. pag. 8.) not with∣out other associats of this nation, except we will make, his case singular from all other Apostolick men, & conuerters of contries. And except wee will make a very bold ex∣positiō of the English Author of the booke, de Virginitate, or laude Virginum, of the praise of Virgins, commonly ascribed to our holy learned Bishop, S. Aldelmus, callinge, S. Gregory the Pope his Master, and Tutor, Prae∣ceptor & Pedagogus noster Gregorius. (l. de laude Virginum. Bal. cent. 1. in Adel. Pitseus To. 1. in eod.) wee must needs as the rule of correlatiues. Master and scholler requireth, make him scholler to S. Gregorie the great, which liued but few yeares after S. Augus∣tines

cominge hither, and being Pope then, likely he was Tutor & Master to this aūciēt English writer, before the time of his papa∣cie, as he was to many others, and not after.

15. So I might instance of others, but these aboundantly suffice, to proue, that af∣ter the first plantinge of the faith of Christ in this our Britanie, there neuer wanted in it, either in the time of the Britans, Saxons or whom els soeuer, Masse, massing preists, and Bishops. For euen those Brittish preists and Bishops, which moste opposed against S. Augustine in some other things, were as farr engaged in these articles, to bee sound and Orthodoxe as S. Augustine was, and so both practised here in Britanie, as I haue re∣lated before, & their most learned S. Kelian, Columban, and Gallus, with others going hence into other nations did wholly submit themselues to the Popes of Rome; and their cheifest S. Keliā was made Bishop of Mitz∣burgh by the Pope, receuinge power from him to preach. Romam profectus est, & offi∣cio praedicandi à Papa receptus Episcopus, ordi∣tus. (Manuscript antiq. de vita S. Keliani. Io. Capgrau. Catalog. in eodem. Sur. die 8. Iulij.) And that S. Columbanus the man whose

authority was most obiected against S. Au∣gustine, about the diuers keeping of Easter, was a notorious massinge preist, as also S. Gallus in as high degree, as any Catholicke now is, it is testified in their liues, where we find, S. Columban did dedicat a church, and altar, with the relicks of S. Aurelia, & adorninge the altar said Masse vpon it. Bea∣tus Columbanus iussit aquam afferri, & bene∣dicens illam, adspersit ea templum: & dum cir∣cuirent psallentes, dedicauit Ecclesiam, deinde inuocato nomine Domini, vnxit altare, & bea∣tae Aureliae reliquias in eo collocauit, vestito∣que altari, missas legittimè compleuerunt And in the same Authors wee reade, that S. Gal∣lus did ordinarily vse, Missam celebrare, to say Masse, and beeing vrged both by the Prince, Bishops, and Cleargie, to accept of the Bishoprick of Constance, hee refused it and preferred Iohn his deacon, whome S. Gallus had conuerted vnto the faith of Christ. Who in his consecration was ledd by the Bishops to the Altar, and solemnely consecrated, and said Masse: in which after the ghospell, as the maner was, S. Gallus preached. Episcopi duxerunt eum ad altare, & solemni benedictionts officio ordinauerunt An∣tistitem,

consumatoque sacrae promotionis mi∣nisterio, rogauerunt cum sacrificij salutaris ce∣lebrare mysteria. Praemissis ergo ex more di∣uinae oblationis initijs, post lectionem Euange∣lij rogauerunt venerabilem Gallum, vt multi∣tudini quae aderat, verbi officio sacrae instruc∣tionis pabulum ministraret. Where wee see as much deuotion, and reuerence, vsed by the greatests opposites to S. Augustine, to the holy sacrifice of Masse, sacrificinge preist∣hood, holy water, holy oyle, to consecrate altares, dedication of churches, and such like matters moste disliked by protestants, as S. Augustine vsed, or any learned Catho∣licke now professeth or defendeth.

16. And to remember Masses of requiem for the deade, so soone as S. Gallus heard of the death of Saint Columban, this S. Gal∣lus so renowned a man, called his bretheren together, and they prayed and said Masses for his soule. Audiens mortem S. Columbani col∣legit fratres., causas meroris aperuit. Deinde tanti patris memoriam precibus sacris, & sacri∣ficijs salutaribus frequentarunt. What forme of Masse both these, and they which then continued in Britanie, vsed, I haue proued before, from the Brittish antiquities, as also

how al which here were contrary to S. Au∣gustine in some ceremonials, I haue demō∣strated by all kinde of testimonies, that in these and al other essentiall and fundamen∣tall things, and not ceremoniall, or altera∣ble in Religion, they wholly agreed, and without the leaste difference, consented with S. Augustine, & the church of Rome, and differed in all now controuersed que∣stions, from the present protestants of this nation, and all others. And so Catholicke Romane, or (as protestants call it) the pa∣pists church, as it hath euer since to these dayes of innouation from then, beene the onely knowne and visible church, as these men freely confesse, and acknowledge, all antiquities, writers, and monuments so tes∣tifying; so it was in the same maner the on∣lie true, visible church, in euery age, or hun∣dred yeares from Christ, and his Apostles vnto that time, no other in any thing resē∣bling the present protestants congregation, beeinge knowne, or heard of, at home, or a∣brode, by their owne confessions, and all Arguments, in any one of those ages, of the primatiue church of Christ. And so I end this historie.