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.

BECANVS Iarre.

THE Kings Supremacy in the Church of England is a new thing. It began vnder King Henry the 8. continued vnder King Edward the 6, and Queene Elizabeth: and now vnder King Iames, the same is rent and torne in peeces, with so many domesticall iarres and diuisions, that long it cannot stand. So as Christ in the Gos∣pell said full well, Omne regnum in se diuisum desolabitur: Euery Kingdome, diuided in it selfe, shall be destroyed. But what, and how great these discords be, I will shew in these few Questions following:

• I. Whether the King of England haue any Primacy in the Church, or no?
• II. Whether the Primacy of the King, bee Eccle∣siasticall and spirituall?
• III. Whether the King by this Primacy, may be cal∣led the Primate of the Church?
• IIII. Whether by vertue of the same Primacy the King may be called Supreme Head of the Church?
• V. Whether this Primacy consist in any Power, or Iurisdiction Ecclesiasticall?

• VI. Whether the King, by reason of his Primacy, can assemble or call together Councels, and sit as President therein?
• VII. Whether he can make Ecclesiasticall Lawes?
• VIII. Whether he can dispose of Ecclesiastical li∣uings, or Benefices?
• IX Whether he can create, and depose Bishops?
• X. Whether he can excommunicate the obstinate?
• XI. Whether hee can be Iudge, and determine of Controuersies?
• XII. From whence hath the King this his Primacy?
• XIII. Whether he can force his Subiects to take the Oath of Supremacy?

In these Questions doe our Aduersaries extreamely differ and disagree; but especially these: M. Doctor Andrewes, in his Tortura Torti; M. William Tooker Deane of Liche∣field, in his Combat, or single Fight with Martin Bucane; M. Richard Tomson, in his Reproofe of the Refutation of Tortura Torti; M. Robert Burhill, in his Defence of Tor∣tura Torti; and M. Henry Salclebridge, in his Refutation of Becane his Examen. Besides these (as opposite vnto them) I will also cite Doctor Sanders, in his booke of the Schisme of England; Genebard in his Chronology; Polydor Vir∣gil in his History of England; Iacobus Thuanus of Aust, in the History of his time; Iohn Caluin in his Commentary vpon the Prophet Amos, and others.

English Concord.

THe Regall Primacy, in the Church of Eng∣land, is much more ancient then the Popish Primacy in the Romane Church. The

Regall Primacy had his beginning from the* 1.1 Anci∣ent of Dayes, vnder the most ancient Patriarchs: It flourished magnifically vnder the Orthodoxall Kings, Israeliticall and Euangelicall: and now in England it flourisheth most of all vnder King Iames; soundly sounded vpon the rock, and built vpon the doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets, permanent for euer; so that, by the fall of raines the comming of flouds, and the wine-blasts of any Iesuits whatsoeuer, it cannot be so much as moued; much lesse remoo∣ued; and least of all rent and torne in peeces: But, of the Popish Primacy, rightly saide Christ in the Gospell; Euery Kingdome diuided in it selfe shall be desolate. Now what and how great their Iarres and discords are, I am to shew, in handling these few Questions following.

English Concord.

BEcane, in his booke of English discord, and in his first Question, demanded,

Whether the King of England haue any Pri∣macy or Supremacy in the Church? And I in my book of English Concord, demaunded,

Whether the Pope haue anie Primacy in the Church? considering that Saint Cyprian asserteth that Peter did neuer challenge or assume any such thing,* 1.2 as to say that he held the Primacy; and that Chrysostome dogmatically writeth thus:

Whosoeuer desireth (or affecteth) the Primacy in

earth (as all Popes doe) shall finde confusion in hea∣uen.* 1.3

Whereunto the Iesuite in his late book, entituled Examen Concordiae Anglicanae, The examination of the English Concord, answereth or obiecteth thus:

Notes

• * 1.1

  Daniel chap. 7. v. 6
• * 1.2

  Epist. ad Quintum. 71. sect. 3
• * 1.3

  Homil. 35 in Matth.