1558.

Queen Elizabeth, and evil Lives, as it is alledged, of certain Popes of Rome; which as I do think were nothing fo ' wicked as they were reported to have been: But let that be, they were fo, What then? A Man is a Man, and, as the Scripture fayeth, Quis eft "homo qui non peccet? What Man is he that finneth not? Again, if that our Saviour Christ had made the like Warrant unto Peter and his Suc'ceffors, as concerning their Converfation and Living, as he did for the Continuance and Stability of their Faith, and had faid unto Peter, Ego rogavi pro te ut non pecces, I have prayed for thee that thou shalt not fin; as he faid, Ego rogavi "pro te ut non deficiat Fides tua, I have prayed that thy Faith fhall never fail; then their evil Lives had been an Argument to have proved, that they ⚫ had not been the true Succeffors of Peter, neither ⚫ had had any fuch Authority given unto them of • God. But feeing that the Warrant was made ⚫ only for the Continuance of their Faith, wherein

they have hitherto, and do yet most constantly • ftand, without any mention of their Converfati⚫on and Living, it is in my Judgment no Proof nor Argument against the Authority and Supremacy of the See of Rome; as we fee that the Adultery and Murther committed by King David, ⚫ doth not diminish the Authority of godly Pfalms written by him; neither the diffolute Living and Idolatry of King Solomon is prejudicial to divers Books of Scripture written by him; nor yet the • Covetoufnefs of the Prophet Balaam did let, in any Condition, the Vertue and Strength of God, the Bleffing of God fent unto the Children of Ifrael by him, nor the Truth of the Prophecy, as ⚫ concerning the coming of our Saviour Chrift, by • him likewise pronounced; even fo the Lives of the Popes of Rame, were they never fo wicked, cannot be prejudicial to the Authority given to Peter and his Succeffors, by the Mouth of our • Saviour Christ.

The Sum of the Objections fecondarily made against his Authority, doth confift (as they do al

ledge)

6

1558.

ledge) in certain Canons of the Council of Ni- Queen Elizabeth. cene, and the fixth Council of Carthage, with the Departure of the Greek Church, and other Realms now in our Days from the Authority of the faid See of Rome. As concerning the Council of Nicene, I do marvel that they will alledge any Thing therein contained in this Matter, feeing in the Preface of the faid Council it is declar< ed, that this Authority which we speak of is given unto the faid See by no Councils or Synods; but by the Evangelical Voice of our Saviour Jesus Chrift: And alfo the Fathers of the faid Council being condefcended and agreed in all Matters of Controverfy, moved in that their Affembly, wrote unto the Pope, defiring to have their De· crees confirmed by his Authority; as it doth ⚫ more at large appear in their Epistle written in that Behalf. Further, Athanafius, which was prefent at the faid Council, and after Patriarch of Alex'andria, doth not only acknowledge the Cure and Charge of the univerfal Church of Christ to be given to Peter and his Succeffors, but alfo being univerfally deprived, did appeal unto the Pope of Rome, and by him was restored again. And likewife the fixth Council of Carthage maketh nothing for their Purpofe. For the Supremacy of the Pope was not called in Question there, but fome Variance there was indeed, which confifteth in this Point only, whether a Bifhop or a Priest, being accused and troubled, and thinking himself to have Wrong, might appeal to Rome for the better Examination and Tryal of his Caufe or no; as one Appiarius a Prieft had done then in Africk. There was alledged for Appellations to be made to Rome a Canon of Nicene Council, which indeed was fought for and could not be found. Which was no Marvel; for whereas the Fathers in Nicene Council made feventy Canons, through the Wickeanefs of Hereticks, there was then but found remaining only twenty-one. Yet that notwithstanding the Bifhops of Africk did not long after fubmit themselves to the Church

• of

Queen Elizabeth. 1558.

' of Rome in that Point. Alfo, they use to incul'cate the Authority of this Council, for because that St Augustine was prefent at it; as he was indeed, which maketh directly against them. For • St Auguftine doth every where in his Works ac'knowledge the Supremacy of St Peter and his • Succeffors; as in his 162d Epiftle, faying thus, In Romana Ecclefia femper viguit Apoftolica Cathedra Principatus: In the Church of Rome hath always been ftrengthened, or flourished, the • Rule or Authority of the Apoftolick Chair.

6

And where I heard a Question moved here of late, whether that ever the Greek Church did ⚫ acknowledge the Superiority of the Church of • Rome or no? Of the which Matter I marvel that · any Man doth doubt, feeing that the Greek Church • did not only acknowledge, but also continue in • Obedience under the faid Church of Rome, by the Space of Eight Hundred Years at the leaft, fo far as I can read myfelf, or learn of others. And • after that it did first renounce the faid Authority, ⚫ it did return again with Submiffion fourteen feveral Times, as good Authors write, and as we may partly gather by the Council of Florence, which was about a Hundred and forty-one Years ago; whereas the Patriarch of Conftantinople him⚫ felf was prefent among other Bishops and learned Men of Greece, in the which this Matter in Controverfy was determined and agreed upon, as it doth manifeftly appear in the Canons of the faid • Council. Moreover, if the Greek Church were not under the Authority and Rule of the Church of Rome, what fhall we think of the Story of Anthemas, Patriarch of Conftantinople, which was depofed for the Herefy of Eutyches, by the Pope Agapetus. For whofe Reftitution earnest and long Suit was made by the Emprefs Theodo< ra, that then was, firft to the Pope Silverius, and after to his Succeffor Vigilius, and could in 6 no Condition be obtained. But as touching the Greek Church, and the Departure of the fame ⚫ from the Church of Rome; this we may briefly

fay

1558.

fay and conclude, that after it did divide itself Queen Elizabeth. from the Church of Rome, it did by little and little fall into the most extreme Miferies, Captivity and Bondage; in the which at this present "it doth remain. And as concerning other Countries that have renounced the aforefaid Authority, C as Germany, Denmark, and as it was here faid, • Polonia, this I have to fay, that the Miseries and Calamities that Germany hath fuffered, fince their < Departure from the Church of Rome, may be a Warning and Example to all other Nations to learn by, and beware of the like Attempt. And < as for Denmark, I do hear indeed they be very Lutherans, and have also renounced the Pope's • Authority; but yet I cannot learn, nor hear, that either the King of Denmark, or yet any Prince of Germany, doth take upon him to be called • Supream Head of the Church. And as for Polonia, although it be troubled with Herefies, as other Realms be, yet I cannot learn, that either the King, or the Clergy thereof, hath, or doth give any Place to the fame, but of the contrary doth moft earnestly withstand them; as may right well appear by certain Books set out this prefent Year, that is 1558, by a Bishop of Polonia, called Stanislaus Hofius; in the which it is declared, • amongst many other Things, that earnest Suit • had been made by the Proteftants to have three • Things granted and fuffered to be practifed within

that Realm; that is to fay, that Priefts might ⚫ have Wives; to have the publick Service in their

Vulgar Tongue; and the Sacrament of the Altar • miniftred under both Kinds; which all three ⚫ were denied them. Whereby it appeareth plainly that Polonia is not in that Cafe that Men reported it to be in. But and if it were so, that all these Realms, yea and more, were gone from the Obedience of that Church, doth it therefore follow that the Authority thereof is not juft? I think not fo. For as Ferdinandus, now Emperor, defcending justly by Election from Conftantine the Great, if the Empire which was under Conftan

'tine's

Queen Elizabeth. 1558.

1

tine's Rule were divided into twenty Parties, it hath icarcely One of the Twenty, and yet the Authority of an Emperor continueth in him still. And as the Departure of Gascoigny, Guyenne, Normandy, Scotland and France, which were all ⚫ fometimes under the Imperial Crown of England, doth not take away the Authority thereof, but that it is an Imperial Crown ftill; even fo doth not the Departure of thefe Countries from the See of Rome, diminish the Authority given unto the fame by God. Befides that St Paul faith, That there fhall be a Departing before the Day of Judgment; which although fome understand of the Empire, yet the most Part refer it to the Church of Rome, from whence Men fhall fall and depart by Infidelity and Herefies; but whether it fhall be in all Countries at one Time or divers Times, it is uncertain.

Thirdly, there is alledg'd a Provincial Council or Aflembly of the Bifhops and Clergy of this • Realm of England; by whom the Authority of the Bishop of Rome was abolished and difannull'd. . Which now fome inculcate against us, as a Matter of great Weight and Authority; whereas in 6 very Deed it is to be taken for a Matter of small Authority, or else none. For first, we know that a particular or a Provincial Council can make no Determination against the universal Church of Chrift. Secondarily, of the learned Men that 6 were the Doers there, fo many as be dead, before they died were penitent, and cryed God Mercy for that Act: And thofe that do live, as all your Lordships do know, have openly revoked the fame, acknowledging their Error. And where fome here doth fay, that they will never truft ⚫ thofe Men which once denied the Pope's Autho rity, and now of the contrary ftand in the Defence of the fame; in my Judgment their Sayings be not greatly to be allowed. For it may happen, as oftentimes it doth chance indeed, that a Man of Honefty, Worfhip, ye of Honour, may ⚫ commit Treafon against his Prince, and yet by • the