The English concord in ansvver to Becane's English iarre: together with a reply to Becan's Examen of the English Concord. By Richard Harris, Dr. in Diuinitie.

D^r. HARRIS Reply.

I Did not say, our Writers did striue about the namer but I asked the Iesuit, why he would brawl about the name, when the thing it selfe was fully agreed vpon. Here then in the beginning of this Iesuits examination, wee haue him taken in a grosse vntruth. For in my English Concord, chap. 1. I prooued an vni∣forme consent of all, not onely in the matter, that is, the kings Supreme Gouernment, ouer all persons, and in all Causes Ecclesiasticall, or ciuill within his dominions; but also in the very English name thereof, to weet, Su∣premacy:

vnto which selfe same thing, and selfe same name of the same thing, all our Protestant English Wri∣ters haue sworne; and in our publike prayers in pul∣pit, we solemnlie professe our allowance thereof, and our concord therein, as being our Kings most iust title.

As for the Latine name Primatus, into the which the English word Supremacy is translated, we all agree therein also. For Becane, Question 12. page 43, brings in M^r. Thomson, calling the kings Supremacy, in Latine Primatum, and the king in respect thereof, Prima∣tem.

How hard then is this Iesuites forehead, affirming that I granted discord in the name to be among vs? In∣deede M^r. Thomson in regard of the Papists [who vn∣derstanding no Primacy but Sacerdotall, that is, Episco∣pall (for by their Canon law, all Patriarks are Primates, and all Primates Patriarks, & so all Primates Sacerdotall) clamour that we, ascribing Primatum Primacy to our King, yeeld him Iurisdiction Sacerdotall, that is, Episco∣pall:] to reforme their misconceit therein, wisheth there were made some Latine word, as Suprematus, or the like, to expresse fully our English word Supre∣macie; thereby to cut off all Popish and childish cauills, and to let them vnderstand, that we by Primacie (af∣ter the Latin word, as it is now translated, or Supreme Gouernment of the Church, called in our English tongue Supremacy) meane not Ecclesiastical Supreme gouern∣ment Sacerdotall or Episcopall; but onely Regall.

In England our two Archbishoppes are called Pri∣mates, as being superiour gouernours Sacerdotall ouer all the Bishoppes, and other inferiour clergie men,

within their Archbishopriks, in causes Ecclesiasticall: but because our king is supreme gouernour, euen o∣uer those archbishops, and all other persons Ecclesiasti∣call and Temporall, and in all causes Temporall and Ecclesiasticall within his dominions, wee call in Eng∣lish, that his supreme gouernment, not Primacy, but Su∣premacie; as if it were, Supre-Primacy, or aboue Prima∣cie. Therefore I had iust cause, to aske the Iesuite, why his friuolous fatherhood wold contend about names, when there was, and is, so full agreement in the verie thing it selfe? In regard whereof, S. Paul depainteth this Becane (as hee sheweth himselfe here to be) in his orient colour thus:* 1.1 He is puft vp, and knoweth nothing; but doteth about questions, and strife of words: vvhereof commeth enuy, strife, rayling, and euill surmising; euerie word falling so pat vpon the Iesuites head, as it S. Paul had pointed him out with the finger. Indeede Becane in asking me, how I vvill concord them in the matter, vvhen I see, and grant varietie of the names, prooueth those words of S. Paul, to fit him well, viz. That he is puft vp, and knowes nothing. For here he knoweth not (which countrey swaynes do know) that there may be, and is, identity of matter, or person, when there is variety of names of that matter, or person. But because I doe commiserate his fatherhoods ignorance herein, I will vouchsafe to teach him this one lesson; taken out of their owne Canon law, which (in Dist. 80. ca. Loca. in the Gloss) schooleth him thus: Idem est Primas et Pa∣triarcha, sicut et dicit lex, differentia tantum nominis est, inter pignus et Hypothecam. A Primate and a Patriarke, is one and the same, as the law faith, the difference is onely in the name of Pignus and Hypotheca, in Latin: in English,

of pledge, and pledge: and so of these two words in La∣tine; Primatus, and Suprematus; in English, (as wee in England vnderstand it) Supremacy and Supremacy.

And the saide Canon law, Dist. 99. ca. de Primati∣bus, in the very text it selfe, schooleth him more fully thus: De Primatibus quaeritur, quem gradum in Ecclesia obtineant; an in aliquo a Patriarchis differant? Primates et Patriarchae diuer sorum sunt nominum, sed eiusdem of∣ficy. Primates and Patriarks haue diuers names, but one office: so the kings Supremacy may, in Latine, haue di∣uers names; but it is one and the selfe same Regall of∣fice.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1. Tim. 6.4