CHAP. I.

FIRST, that the Romans receiued the Catholike Faith which our Sauiour planted: Saint Paul witnesseth, saying, To all you that be at Rome be­loued Rom: 1. of God, called Saints, grace to you, and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Iesus Christ. First truely I giue thankes to my God, through Iesus Christ for all you: Be­cause your faith is published throughout the whole world, &c. I desire to see you, and to bee comforted in you, by the faith, which is mutually yours, and mine. Which desire after­ward he obtained, And tarried (in Rome) full two yeares Act. 28. 30. in his hired lodging, and he receiued all that came vnto him, preaching the Kingdome of God, and teaching the things that concerne our Lord Iesus Christ, with all confidence, with­out prohibition. Whereby it is manifest that the Romans receiued the Catholike Faith, planted by our Sauiour, and that their faith was published throughout the whole Rom. 1. world, and was Catholike and Vniuersall.

Secondly, that the Romans were to continue in this their Catholike Faith, thus planted amongst them, vntill the worlds end, is manifest by the Scripture, saying: I Isa. 66. will send of them that shall be saued to the Gentiles, into the Sea, into Africa and Lydia, into Italy and Greece, &c.

And they shall shew my glory to the Gentiles, &c. And I [Page 2] will take of them to be Priests and Leuites, saith our Lord. Because as a new heauen, and a new earth, which I make to stand before me; saith our Lord: so shall your seed stand, and your name. And there shall be moneth after moneth, and Sab­bath after Sabbath. Againe, the Scriptures speaking of the Romans, who at the comming of our Sauiour were the strength, glory, and pride of the Gentiles; say, The strength of the Gentiles shall come to thee. Againe, And Isay 60 5. thy gates shall be open continually, day and night they shall not be shut, that the strength of the Gentiles may be brought to thee. Againe, You shall eate the strength of the Gentiles, and in their glory you shall be proud, &c. For as the Earth Isay 61. 6. bringeth forth her Spring, and as the Garden shooteth forth her seed: so shall our Lord God make Iustice to spring forth, and praise before all the Gentiles. Againe, Thus saith our Isay 66. 12. Lord, Behold I will decline vpon her, as it were a floud of peace, and as a torrent ouerflowing the glory of the Gentiles, (the Roman Empire, which at the birth of our Sauiour was the glory of the Gentiles) that it might be verified which was spoken by the other Prophets, saying, I will make Gen. 12. 2. thee into a great Nation, and I will blesse thee, and magnifie thy name, and thou shalt be blessed. Againe, I will put him, Psal. 88. 28. the first begotten, high aboue the Kings of the earth: And I will keepe my mercy vnto him for euer, and my Testament faithfull vnto him, I will put his seed for euer and euer, and his throne as the dayes of heauen. Againe, Aske of me, and Psal. 2. 8. I will giue thee the Gentiles for thine inheritance, not the refuse of the Gētiles, but the Roman Empire, the strength, glory and pride of the Gentiles, and not onely for a short time. But as a new Heauen, & a new Earth; which I make Isay 66. to stand before me; so shall your seed stand, and your name, according to the words of the Prophet Isay before re­hearsed.

Whereby it is sufficiently manifest, that the Romant receiued the same Faith, they now professe, from the Apostles, and they from our Sauiour: and that the Ca­tholike [Page 3] Roman Faith, is the Faith which was planted vpon earth by our Sauiour, and hath continued, and shall continue Catholike, or vniuersally published throughout the world, vntill the day of Iudgement.

CHAP. II.

THE Apostles and Disciples of our Sa­uiour Matth. 28. 19. going by his appointment to teach all Nations, to obserue, and doe all things whatsoeuer hee had com­manded them; came within so short a time after the death of our Lord in­to this our Iland of great Brittan, as that the Britaines, ancient inhabitants of this Iland; receiued their Faith and Religion from Saint Simon▪ Zelotes, Saint Paul, Saint Ioseph of Aramathia, a Disciple of our Lords, or from all, or some of them, as besides these ancient Wri­ters, Theodoret de cur Graec. affect. lib. 9. Dorotheus Bi­shop of Tyre, in suo Synopsi Apostolorum; Aristobulus, in his Epistle which he writ to the Romans: Guildas, cap. 7. Nicephorus, lib. 2. cap. 40. doe affirme also these Pro­testant Authors, Camden in his Britania, pag. 40. & 52. and 157. Bale, Cent. 1. cap. 26. Doctor Caius de Antiq. Cantab. Harrison in his Description of Brittaine, an­nexed to Hollinshead his great Chronicle of the last [Page 4] edition, vol. 1. pag. 23. Clapham in his Soueraigne re­medie against Schisme, pag. 24. Fulke in his booke a­gainst Heskins, Saunders, &c. pag. 561. and in his Con­futation of Purgatory, pag. 332. Godwin in his Cata­logue of Bishops, pag. 1. Barlow in defence of the Articles of the Protestant Religion, pag. 21. Mayson in his booke of the Consecration of Bishops, &c. That it might be verified which was spoken by the Prophet Isay, saying, I will send of them, that shall bee saued to Isay 66. 19. the Gentiles, to the Ilands farre off, to them that haue not heard of me. Againe, The Ilands expect mee, and the Isay 6. 9. ships of the sea in the beginning, that I may bring thy sons from a farre, &c.

That the Brittans, the ancient Inhabitants of this Iland, did perseuere in this said Christian Faith and Religion, which they receiued from the Apostles, or Disciples, not onely these ancient Writers doe testifie euery one for his time, Tertullian, lib. contra Iudaeos. Origen in Ezechiel, hom. 4. Athanasius in his Epistle to the Emperour Iouinian. Theodoret hist. Eccles. lib. 1. c. 10. But also Protestants themselues giue ample testimo­nies, that the Britaines, who inhabited that part of the Iland, which is now called England, being destroyed, and their name extinct by the Pagan Saxons: yet the remnant of the Brittans, which remained in Wales, re­tained the Faith and Religion which they receiued from the Apostles or Disciples, euen vnto the comming of Saint Augustine into this Iland, for to conuert the English Pagan Saxons, which was about the yeare of our Lord, 599. as Bale in his Pageant of Popes, where he saith, The Brittans being conuerted by Ioseph of Ara­mathia, held that faith at Augustines comming. And Fulke in his Answere to a Counterfeit Catholike, pag. 40. where hee saith, The Brittans before Augustines comming, continued in the Faith of Christ, euen from the Apostles times. FOX his Act. pag. 463. printed 1576. [Page 5] saith, The Brittaines after the receiuing of the Faith, ne­uer forsooke it, for any maner of false preaching of others. And Midleton in his Papisto mastix, pag. 202. proueth by the testimony of the ancient Fathers, in succeeding ages, that the Brittaines did not forsake the Faith, and Religion which they receiued from S. Paul, and Saint Simon Zelotes, and Saint Ioseph of Aramathia, but continued in it, with the Catholike Christians in other parts of the world.

That this Faith and Religion, which the ancient Brittaines receiued from the Apostles or Disciples, and perseuered in vntill the comming of Saint Augustine into this Iland, did not differ from that Faith and Re­ligion which Saint Augustine professed, and planted in this Iland amongst the English, except the keeping of Easter vpon a wrong Sunday, out of ignorance in A­stronomie, and the accomplishment of some mysteries vsed in Baptisme: besides the testimony of Saint Beda hist. lib. 2. cap. 2. these Protestant Authors do affirme, Francis Mayson in his book of the Cōsecration of the Bishops of the Church of England, pag. 58. where he saith, that Augustine said to the Brittaine Bishops: If you will in these three things obey me, that is, in celebra­ting of Easter in due time, in accomplishing the mysteries of Baptisme (by which we are borne to God) according to the maner of the holy Roman and Apostolicall Church: and last of all, in preaching with vs to this English Nation the word of our Lord: all your other ceremonies, fashions and customes, though they be contrary to ours, we will willing­ly suffer, and be content to beare with. And the like affir­meth Hollinshead, Vol. 1. pag. 103. Godwin in his Cata­logue of Bishops, pag. 6. And the Protestant Author of the History of Great-Brittaine, printed 1606. lib. 3. page 133.

Whereby it is manifest, that (the keeping of Easter vpon a wrong Sunday, and the accomplishment of the [Page 6] mysteries of Baptisme excepted) Saint Augustine and the ancient Brittaines held, professed, and taught, one and the same Faith and Religion, and planted it a­mongst the English of this Iland, who then were Pagans.

That the Faith and Religion which Saint Augustine professed, and planted amongst the Pagan English of this Iland, was the same, which at this day the Roman Catholikes of this Iland doe professe, not onely all Catholike Authors doe affirme, but also Protestant Writers doe confesse, as Iohn Bale, Cent. 1. cap. 73. where he saith, That King Ethelbert, an English Pa­gan King, First of all English men, receiued of Gregory the first, Bishop of Rome, by Augustine, the opinions of the Roman Religion. And Cent. 13. cap. 1. hee saith, That AVGVSTINE brought in (amongst the English, who before were Pagans) Monkes, Altars Vestments, Images, Masses, Chalices, Crosse, Candlestickes, Banners, holy (as they call them) Vessels, holy water, and bookes of Roman custome. Their chiefest studies were about the oblation of Masses. Doctor Humfrey in his Iesuitisme, part. 2. pag. 5. and 627. affirmeth, That Saint Gregory and Saint Au­gustine professed and taught Masse, Purgatory, Oblati­on of the holesome Hoast, prayer for the dead, Relikes, Transubstantiation, hallowing of Churches, Indul­gences, Monkish life, Papacie, and the rest of the caos of Popish superstition, as he calleth it. And these (saith he) did AVGVSTINE, a great Monk taught by GRE­GORY, a Monke) bring to the English, who before were Pagan. Ascham in his Apologie, pro Caena Domini, con­tra Missam, pag. 33. affirmeth, That Augustine was The establisher of all Popish doctrine. HARRISON in his last edition of his Description of Brittanie, Vol. 1. pag. 27. saith, That Augustine brought in Poperie a­mongst the English Saxons, who then were Pagan. And the like affirmeth Osiander in his Epitom. hist. Eccl. [Page 7] Cent. 6. pag. 289. The Century Writers in the 6. Cent. chap. 10. col. 748. and other Protestants set downe more at large in the Protestants Apologie for the Ro­man Church.

Now seeing that the Brittaines (the keeping of Easter vpon a wrong Sunday, & the accomplishment of the mysteries vsed in Baptisme excepted) were all of one Faith and Religion with Saint Augustine, and Saint Augustine was in Faith and Religion a Roman Catholike, or Papist: we rightly inferre, that our Sa­uiour was Author of that Faith and Religion, which Protestants doe call Papistrie: since that the Brittans receiued it, as is before said, from the Apostles or Di­sciples, and they from our Lord, and perseuered in it with Saint Gregory and Saint Augustine, and the rest of the Christian world, without any alteration or change, sauing some mysteries vsed in Baptisme, and the kee­ping of Easter vpon a wrong Sunday. In all things else they were so agreeable to the Faith and Religion, which Saint Augustine held and taught; that these two things reformed, he desired their helpe and assistance in the conuersion of the Pagan English Nation, by preaching vnto them the Word of God, which hee neither could, nor would haue done, had they not both (these two things excepted) agreed in one, in al points of Faith and Religion: neither did S. Austen labour to teach, or reforme the Brittaines in any thing else: and seeing in these two things (which to Protestants seeme of little moment) Saint Augustine made so great difficultie, that hee would not receiue them into the Communion of the Catholike Roman Church, vntill they condescended to reforme them: far greater diffi­cultie would he haue made in receiuing them, if they had held any point of Protestantisme, and had denied the Masse, prayer for the dead, worship of Images, and esteemed him an Antichristian man, or Idolater, &c. [Page 8] Neither would he (though they should haue offered themselues) haue admitted them to preach, and con­tradict, and defame him amongst the English Pagans, or Gentiles, vnto whom hee was sent as an Apostle: much lesse would he haue required their ayde and as­sistance in preaching vnto them, if they had accused him, as Protestants do now, of Idolatry, Antichristian doctrine, and to haue been sonne of the Whore of Ba­bylon, &c.

That the Catholike Roman Faith, which Saint Au­gustine planted amongst the English Saxons, is at this day, and in all ages and times, since the said planting hath been confessed, by some knowne English inhabi­tants in this Iland, all our Writers, Chronicles, Histo­ries and Monuments, Lawes in ancient time made in fauour of it, Statutes of late yeeres made to suppresse it, the death of many for it, and the prisons full of such as at this instant doe professe it, giue ample testimony: and if any require further proofe, I referre him to a booke intituled The prudentiall Ballance of Religion, which treateth hereof at large.

Whereupon I conclude, that our Sauiour was Au­thor of the Catholike Roman Faith, and that (the keeping of Easter vpon a wrong Sunday, and some mysteries vsed in Baptisme excepted) it hath in al ages and times, since the plantation thereof by the Apo­stles or Disciples, continued in this Iland; and that no man can or may preach, or teach any doctrine for Christian doctrine, but the Catholike Roman Faith, vnder paine of Anathema, &c. according to the words of Saint Paul, saying: Although we, or an Angell from Galath. 1. 8. heauen Euangelize to you, besides that we haue Euangeli­zed to you, be he Anathema: as wee haue said before, so now we say againe; If any Euangelize to you, besides that which you haue receiued, be he Anathema, that is, sepe­rated from God, according to the words of our Sauiour [Page 9] saying, Depart from mee yee accursed into euerlasting Matth. 24: 41. fire, which was prepared for the Diuell and his angels.

So I appeale to your Maiestie well pleased, to con­sider the wrong and iniustice, your Protestant Mini­sters doe vnto vs Catholikes, your ancient subiects, in persecuting vs, for professing that Faith and Religion, which was planted vpon earth by our Lord and Saui­our Iesus Christ, and euen from the Apostles times vn­till this day, hath continued in this Iland: and humbly beseech your Highnesse, that you would not thinke vs disloyal or vnfaithfull to your Person or State, for that we will not become Anathemaes from God.

For the difference which was betweene the anci­ent Brittans and Saint AVGVSTINE, about the time of the keeping of Easter, it is manifest by Saint Beda, lib. 3. cap. 4. that the Brittans fell into this error, for want of skill in Astronomie, For they knew (saith Saint BEDA) as Christen men doe, that the resurrection of our Lord ought alwayes to be celebrated on Sunday. But as Wilfred in S. Beda, l. 3. ca. 25. ignorant men (in Astrologie) they had not learned when that Sunday should come. That the Brittans fell into this error, after Constantine his time, is manifest by Eu­sebius, who, lib. 3. de vita Constantini, cap. 8. affirmeth, that the same keeping of Easter was obserued in the Citie of Rome, in Italy, Africke, Aegypt, Spaine, France, Britanie, Lybia, and all Greece, in the Diocesse of Asia, and Pontus, and finally in Cicilia, with one vniforme consent.

CHAP. III.

FIRST. Protestants themselues confesse, That the true Church (so they call their Church) de­cayed presently after the Apostles times. So Fulke in his answere to a Counterfeit Catholike, page 35. Sebastianus Franciscus, in his Epistle de abrogandis sta­tutis ecclesiasticis, affirmeth, That for these fourteene hun­dred yeares, the Church (of Protestants) hath been no where externall and visible. Peter Martyr de Votis, page 477. saith, That errours (so they call our Catholike Faith) did begin immediatly after the Apostles times. And page 476. he saith, That presently after their age, men began to decline from the word of God: so they esteeme their Protestantisme. The Protestant Author of the booke intituled Antichristus siue Pronostica finis mundi, page 13. affirmeth; That from the Apostles times, till Luther, the Gospell (of Protestants) had neuer open pas­sage. Melancthon in 1. Cor. cap. 3. affirmeth, Thet pre­sently from the beginning of the Church, the ancient Fa­thers obscured the doctrine, concerning the iustification of Faith, encreased Ceremonies, and deuised peculiar Wor­ships. Whereupon Peter Martyr de Ʋotis, page 476. saith: As long as wee shall insist vpon Councels and Fa­thers, we shall be alwayes in the same errors. And Whita­ker in his Controu. 2. quest. 5. page 299. de Ecclesia, saith: BELLARMINE doth bring foorth certaine te­stimonies [Page 11] out of Caluin, and the Centurie Writers, who haue noted certaine errors of the ancient Fathers, which they hold common with Papists, that is to say, of Free-will, of Merit, of the Limbe, of Inuocation of Saints, of the Vnmaried life of Bishops, of Iustification, &c. I an­swere that it is true, which Caluin and the Centuries haue written, that in many things the ancient Church hath erred, as of the Limbe, of Free-will, of the Merit of Workes, and in other things which are aboue rehear­sed. WHITGIFT in his Defence to the Answere to the Admonition, page 473. saith: How greatly were al­most all the Bishops, and learned Writers of the Greeke Church, and Latine also, for the most part spotted with doctrine of Free-will, of Merits, of Inuocation of Saints, and such like? And page 473. he saith; Surely you are not able to reckon in any age, since the Apostles times, any company of Bishops, that taught and held so sound doctrine in all points, as the Bishops of England doe at this day. Whereupon, Luther in his booke De seruo arbitrio, tom. 2. Wittenb. 1551. affirmeth the Fathers to haue been blinde and most ignorant in the Scriptures, to haue erred al the time of their liues (from his doctrine) and that vnlesse they were amended before their deathes, they were neither Saints, nor pertaining to the Church (of Protestants). And in his Colloquijs men­salibus, he saith: In the Writings of Hierome, there is not a word of true faith in Christ, and sound religion. Ter­tullian is very superstitious. I hold Origen long since ac­cursed. Of Chrysostome I make no account. Basil is of no worth, he is wholly a Monke. Cyprian is a weake Di­uine. The Apologie of Philip Melancthon doth farre ex­cell all the Doctors of the Church, and exceede euen Au­gustine himselfe. POMERAN, a Protestant vpon Io­nam, saith: Our Fathers, whether holy, or not holy▪ I esteeme nothing, they haue been blinded with the Spirit of [Page 12] Montanus, by humane traditions, and doctrine of diuels, &c. They doe not teach purely of Iustification. Beza in his Preface vpon the New Testament, Dedicated to the Prince of Condy, printed 1587. affirmeth; That euen in the best times, the ambition, ignorance, and lewd­nesse of Bishops was such, that the very blinde may easily perceiue, how Satan was President in their assemblies or Councels, because they taught opposite doctrine to the doctrine of the Protestants of this age. Whereupon Perkins in his Exposition of the Creede, page 400. in behalfe of himselfe and all Protestants, saith, Wee say that before the dayes of Luther, for the space of many hundred yeares, an vniuersall Apostasie (from Protestan­tisme, as hee meaneth) ouer-spread the whole face of the earth, and that our Church (of Protestants) was not visible to the world. And many more Protestants confesse that the Faith or doctrine, which Prote­stants now teach and professe, hath been no where visibly knowne, published, or preached, since the A­postles times vntil Luther, as is set down more at large in the Protestants Apologie for the Roman Church.

And it is of it selfe so manifest, that no Protestant hath hitherto bin able to assigne in the time betweene the death of the Apostles, and rising of Luther, one onely Protestant Minister, Doctor, Writer or Teacher, that held, professed, or taught the doctrine which Pro­testants doe now hold and teach.

Whereby it is manifest, that in all that time, which is about the space of one thousand foure hundred yeares, there were no knowne Protestants, but all knowne Christians, who liued within the compasse of these yeares, were either Roman Catholikes, or repu­ted Heretikes by both parties. Whereupon we right­ly inferre, that all knowne Christian men, who liued in all ages since the time of the Apostles, vntill the ri­sing of Luther (knowne Heretikes, and so reputed by [Page 13] both partie onely excepted) doe testifie that our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ was Author of the Catholike Romaine Faith; euery Christian beleeuing that our Lord Iesus Christ was the Author of this Religion, and Planter thereof vpon earth.

Now that there were knowne Roman Catholikes, liuing, and being, during these fourteene hundred yeares; Protestants themselues confesse. Fulke in his Treatise against Stapleton, page 25. affirmeth: Some Protestants haue written, that the Pope hath blinded the world these many hundred yeares; some say a thousand, some one thousand two hundred, some nine hundred. And the same Protestant in his retentiue Motiues, pag. 248. speaking of Leo and Gregory, Bishops of Rome, the first of them liuing about the yeare of our Lord, 440. and the second of them about 590. saith: The mystery of iniquitie (so he calleth the Pope and our Catholike Faith) wrought in the Sea of Rome, neare fiue or six hun­dred yeares before them. MIDLETON in his Papisto­mastix, page 193. affirmeth, saying: Wee are sure that the mysterie of iniquitie (so he pleaseth to call the Pope, and our Catholike Faith) did worke in Pauls time, and fell not a sleepe as soone as Paul was dead, &c. and there­fore no maruell though perusing Councels, Fathers and Stories, from the Apostles forward, wee finde the print of the Popes feete. SEBASTIAN FRANCVS, in his Epistle De abrogandis Statutis ecclesiasticis, affirmeth: That for certaine through the worke of Antichrist (so he calleth the Pope, and our Catholike Faith) the exter­nall Church (of Protestants) together with the Faith and Sacraments vanished away presently after the Apostles departure. So potent were the Pope and Roman Ca­tholikes, euen in the Apostles times, that presently af­ter the Apostles departure, they were able to make the externall Church of Protestants, together with the Faith and Sacraments of Protestants vanished away, [Page 14] as this Protestant affirmeth. Brokard in his Treatise vpon the Reuelations, pag. 110. affirmeth, That the Church (of Protestants) was troden downe, and oppressed by the Papacie, euen from Syluesters time vnto these times. Which he there, and page 123. accounteth to haue been for the space of 1260. yeares. Napper in his Treatise vpon the Reuelations, pag. 68. saith: Betweene the yeare of Christ, 300. and 316. the Antichristian and Papisticall raigne began raigning vniuersally, and without any debatable contradiction, 1260. yeares; and pag. 145. he saith, euen 1260. yeares the Pope and his Cleargie hath possessed the outward visible Church of Christians. Yet the Pope and his Cleargie could not come to raigne vniuersally, and without any debatable contradiction vpon a sudden, as wee see by experience in Protestant Ministers, who haue beene now about an hundred yeares, and yet doe not reigne, or possesse their Reli­gion in any one Countrey: without some opposition, whereby it is manifest, that the Pope and his Cleargie were many hundred yeares, before they could obtaine to reigne vniuersally without any debatable contradi­ction. Downham in his Treatise of Antichrist, lib. 2. cap. 2. pag. 25. affirmeth; That the generall defection of the visible Church, foretold in the second of the Thessalo­nians (which hee esteemeth to haue beene wrought by the Pope and Roman Catholikes) began to worke in the Apostles times. Caelus secundus Curio, in his booke De amplitudine Regni Dei, lib. 1. pag. 43. saith; Are we ignorant in how great darkenesse, blindnesse, and ignorance (so he calleth our Catholike Faith) the world hath con­tinued almost from the Apostles age, to these very times, in which aboue all expectation our Lord began to manifest himselfe. And Perkins vpon the Creed, page 307. af­firmeth; That during the space of nine hundred yeares, the Popish heresie (so he pleaseth to call the Catholike [Page 15] Roman Faith) hath spread it selfe ouer the whole earth: whereby appeareth that it was fiue or sixe hundred yeares before; since it could not spread it selfe of a sudden ouer the whole earth. And by these confessi­ons of Protestants themselues, and by many more, set downe in the Protestants Apologie, it is manifest that the Catholike Roman Faith did begin euen in the A­postles times, and hath raigned vniuersally ouer the visible Church of Christians 1260. yeares, if wee will beleeue the confession of our Aduersaries themselues.

So dread Soueraigne, if the testimonies of all known Christian men, who liued in all ages and times, from the Apostles times, vntill the rising of Luther, may find grace and credit with your Maiestie, they all (knowne Heretikes, and so reputed by both parties onely ex­cepted) doe witnesse, that our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ, was the Author of the Catholike Romane Faith; for that they all beleeued and esteemed our Lord to be Author of that Religion, they themselues professed.

And this were sufficient to shew vnto your most excellent Maiestie, that the Sonne of God was Author of the Catholike Roman Faith: but because Prote­stant Ministers do so often bragge, that the Scriptures, or written Word of God doth make for them: I will further examine the Scriptures, to see what they say of the Religion which was to be planted by our Sauiour, and wil begin with the old Testamēt, according to the directions of our Lord, saying; Search the Scriptures, (the olde Testament, for as then no part of the New Iohn 5. 39. was written) for you thinke by them to haue life euerla­sting, and the same are they that giue testimony of me: and after descend downe vnto the New, and so prooue by the generall consent of the whole Scriptures, that our Sauiour was Author of the Catholike Roman Faith.

CHAP. IV.

TO discerne the true Prophet from the false, and to discerne the word of God from the words of arrogant men; God Almightie gaue vs this rule, saying: If in secret cogitation thou answere. How Deut. 18. 21. shall I vnderstand the word that our Lord spake not? This signe thou shalt haue: that which the same Prophet foretelleth in the name of the Lord, and com­meth not to passe, that our Lord hath not spoken. But by the arrogancie of his minde, the Prophet hath forged it. And the Prophet, that being depraued with arrogancie, Deut. 18. 20. will speake in my name the things that I did not command him to say, shall be slaine. Whereupon our Sauiour saith, All things must needs bee fulfilled, which are written in the Luke 24. 44. Law of Moyses, and the Prophets, and Psalmes of mee, otherwise Moyses and the Prophets, should haue been false Prophets, and our Sauiour none of the Messias, but a seducer and deceiuer, and the God of the Scrip­tures a false God. So supposing that our Sauiour was the Messias promised to be sent, for the redemption of mankinde, and that the Prophets of both Testaments were true Prophets, and not guiltie of death, but pro­phecied things which must be infallibly fulfilled. We will seeke out what they say of the Seed, Faith, Religi­on, or Gospell, which was to be planted by our Saui­our vpon earth.

And to let passe other promises and prophecies written by Moyses, we will begin with that great pro­mise [Page 17] and oath made by God to ABRAHAM, the Fa­ther of all that beleeue: Whereupon is grounded and Rom. 4. 11. founded the succession of the Church in all ages; the oath of God being the highest act, that can bee made in heauen or in earth, in confirmation of a truth, it cannot bee contradicted without great impietie; or denied to be fulfilled, without making the God of A­braham our Lord, to bee forsworne, and a false God, which is the highest kinde of vntruth; opposite to the greatest truth that can be giuen.

Abraham going to sacrifice his only begotten son Isaac, according as God had commanded him; so greatly pleased his diuine Maiestie in that act of obe­dience, that he confirmed his former promise made vn­to him (that he should be heire of the world) by an oath, saying; By my owne selfe haue I sworne, saith the Lord, Gen. 12. 3. and 15. 5. Rom. 4. 13. Gen. 22. 16. because thou hast done this thing, and hast not spared thy onely begotten sonne for my sake. I will blesse thee, and I will multiply thy seede as the starres of heauen, and as the sand that is by the sea-shore, thy seede shall possesse the gates of his enemies, and in thy seede shall be blessed all the Nations of the earth, because thou hast obeyed my voyce. He saith not (saith Saint Paul) and to seeds, as in many; Galath. 3. 16. but as in one, and to thy seede, which is Christ. That in Christ Iesus, the Sonne of Dauid, the Sonne of Abra­ham, not the Nation of the Iewes, or Brittans onely, but all the Nations of the earth should be blessed, and become children of Abraham, and sonnes, and seede of Christ Iesus, borne againe (as Saint Peter saith) not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible by the word of God. 1. Pet. 1. 23. Whereupon Saint Paul saith to the Corinthians, In 1. Cor. 4. 6. Christ Iesus, by the Gospell, I begate you. And to the E­phesians he saith, That the Gentiles are coheires, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise by the Gospel. And so saith, That Christ hath redeemed vs from the Galath. 5. 14. [Page 18] curse of the Law, that on the Gentiles the blessing of A­braham might be made in Christ Iesus, that we may re­ceiue the promise. The Scriptures foreseeing that God in­stifieth Galath. 3. 8. the Gentiles by Faith, shewed vnto Abraham be­fore, that in thee shall all Nations be blessed. Not for a day, or a yeare, but for euer, according to the words of Saint Luke, saying: He hath receiued Israel his childe, Luke 1. 55. being mindfull of his mercy: As he spake to our Fathers, to Abraham and his seed for euer. So likewise God said to ABRAHAM, SARA thy wife shall beare thee a son, Gen. 17. 19. and thou shalt call his name Isaac, and I will establish my couenant to him, for a perpetuall couenant, and to his seed after him. Whereby wee see that this oath of God to Abraham, is to bee fulfilled in and vpon Christians, professing the Faith and Gospell planted by our Saui­our, and that those Christians, vpon whom this oath can, or may be fulfilled, are the seede of our Sauiour, and the children of his Kingdome, and heires of the Promises, & none else, vnlesse we will make God Al­mightie forsworne, which is too great impietie, and a vanitie for any man to acknowledge him for a God, whom he professeth in deeds to be a violater of oathes and promises. So it resteth to examine, whether this oath of God be verified vpon Roman Catholikes, or vpon Protestants: that we may clearely see which of them are true Christians, and heires of the Promises, and seed of our Sauiour.

And as for Protestants, they themselues confesse, that their Faith and Religion, which they now pro­fesse, hath been so farre off from being multiplied as the Starres of heauen, and as the sand that is by the sea shore, that presently after the Apostles times it be­came no where externall or visible; as we haue shewed in the precedent Chapter: And it is of it selfe so ma­nifest, that Protestants are not able, from the time [Page 19] of the Apostles, vntill the rising of Luther, which is during the space of fourteene hundred years or there­abouts, to assigne one knowne man of the Religion they now professe. If this oath be made to Protestan­tisme, where is the seede of Protestants multiplied as the Starres of heauen, and as the sand that is by the sea­shore? Seeing that for many hundred yeares, neuer a Protestant Starre appeared. And if this oath was made to Protestants, That they should possesse the gates of their enemies, and that in their seed, all the Nations of the earth should be blessed: As he spake to Abraham, and his seede Luke 1. for euer. How commeth it to passe, that presently af­ter the Apostles times, Protestants were so ouercome by Roman Catholikes, that from that time vntill Lu­ther, they haue been no where visibly knowne, but so latent and inuisible, as for all that space they cannot produce one Protestant Minister or Doctour, who taught or maintained the doctrine they now teach?

If it be true that the God of the Protestants hath made these promises, and this oath to them, it must needs be, that he is a very wretched vnfaithfull God, that hath for fourteene hundred, or fifteene hundred yeares together violated his oath and promises.

And I appeale to your Maiestie, well pleased to consider how great injustice it is, to haue your ancient Subjects spoyled of their Lands, Goods, Libertie and Life, and be condemned as Fellons and Traytors, for that they wil not beleeue in such a prejured God. And how happie a thing it is to be a Roman Catholike, see­ing this oath of God is so manifestly fulfilled in them, that (as it is set downe in the last Chapter) euen our Aduersaries themselues confesse, for twelue hundred ceares together they haue bin dilated ouer the world, and possessed the gates of their enemies, and blessed all the Christian Families of the earth with temporall [Page 20] and spirituall birth, by regeneration in Baptisme, and education, &c. These are the seed of Abraham his ser­uant, Psal. 104. the children of Iacob his elect, he is the Lord our God, in all the earth are his iudgements, he hath bin mind­full for euer of his Testament, of the Word which he com­manded vnto thousand generations. Our Lord is not as Deut 32. 31. their Gods: our enemies also are Iudges.

It may please your Maiesty to obserue the notes and markes of our Catholike Romane Church, and Faith, heere set downe in this oath of God to Abra­ham, viz. Ʋnity, Vniuersality, and Succession. The Vni­tie is promised in these words, Thy seed, not diuers seeds, that there might bee as many sects, as men, as some Elizabethians, some Lutherans, some Caluinists, some Hussites, some Anabaptistes, some Armenians, some Gomaristes, some Trasquits; all differing in Faith and Religion: but one seede, Faith, or Word of God planted in the hearts of men, by the preaching of our Lord, as witnesseth our Sauiour, expounding the Pa­rable of the Cockle of the field, said to his Disciples: He that soweth good seed, is the Sonne of man. Againe, Matth. 13. 37. The good seed, those are the children of the Kingdome. Matth. 13. 38. Againe. O Father, the words which thou gauest me, I Io. 17. 8. haue giuen them: and they haue receiued, and knoweth in very deed, that I came forth from thee, and haue beleeued that thou diddest send me, to fulfill the promises made to Abraham, the Patriarkes and Prophets.

The second marke is Catholike or Vniuersall, heere promised in these words: And I will multiply thy seed as the Starres of heauen: which doe manifestly appeare and shine in all Countries. And God brought Abra­ham Gen. 15. 5. forth abroad, and said to him: Looke vp to heauen, and number the Starres if thou canst. And he said to him, so shall thy seed be, as the Starres of heauen, shi­ning in all Countries; not onely in Brittanie, France, [Page 21] or in Germany, but in all Nations, according to the oath of God, saying: In thy seed shall be blessed all the Nations of the earth. Whereupon our Sauiour said; He that soweth good seed, is the Sonne of Man, &c. and Matth. 13. 37. the field is the world. Againe, You are the light of the Matth. 5. 15. world. Againe, Teach yee all Nations, &c.

The third marke is Succession, which is promised in these words: Thy seed shall possesse the gates of his ene­mies. Gen. 12. As he spake to our Fathers, to Abraham and his Luke 1. 55. seed for euer: not that the Succession should decay, or become inuisible; that there should neede new missi­ons, but that it should continue vntill the worlds end; according to the words of our Sauiour, saying: I haue Ioh. 15. 16. appointed you, that you go and bring fruit, and your fruit abide. Againe, And this Gospell of the Kingdome shall be Matth. 24. 14. preached in al Nations, and then shal come the consumma­tion of the world. Againe, The gates of hell shall not Matth. 24. 3. preuaile against it, &c. And the like three markes, or notes of the Church, which was to be planted by our Sauiour, your Maiesty may obserue to be set downe almost in euery Prophecie; though I omit to speake more of them for breuities sake.

Secondly, God Almightie promised to Isaac, say­ing: I will performe the oath▪ which I sware vnto Abra­ham Gen. 26. thy father, and I will multiply thy seed as the Starres of heauen; and in thy seed shall be blessed all the Nations of the earth, because Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my precepts and Commandements.

Thirdly, hee promised to Iacob, saying: Thy seed Gen. 28. shall be as the dust of the earth, thou shalt be dilated to the West, and to the East, and to the North, and to the South, and in thee, and thy seed, all the Families of the earth shal be blessed, and I will be thy keeper wheresoeuer thou shalt go, and I will bring thee againe into this Land, neither wil I forsake thee, vntill I haue performed whatsoeuer I haue [Page 22] spoken. Which Prophecies we see haue been manifest­ly fulfilled in our Catholike Roman Faith, which hath been vniuersally and successiuely dilated ouer all Na­tions, according to these Prophecies, as we haue pro­ued in the former Chapters: and can no way be veri­fied vpon Protestantisme, since it decayed presently after the Apostles times; and for a thousand and foure hundred yeares together, was neuer knowne to haue been taught or practised, and now is but scattered in diuers corners of the earth, diuided into many sects, teaching opposite doctrine in matters of Faith, and heere we seeke for one Faith, or seed dilated ouer the world.

God Almightie heere saith; I will performe the oath which I sware to Abraham, neither will I forsake thee, vn­till I haue performed whatsoeuer I haue spoken. And I appeale to your Maiesty wel pleased to consider, whe­ther it bee more conuenient to beleeue the words of God, when hee saith, hee will performe his oath and promises, then the words of Protestant Ministers, who affirme that the seede of Christ hath failed, and now after a thousand and fiue hundred yeares, they are sent to plant it, in corners of the earth. What is found more madde, (saith Saint AVGVSTINE) then this folly, or August. cont. epist. Parmenia­ni. lib. 1. rather frenzie? In so many Nations of the world, and for the most part God hath fulfilled, and doth yet fulfill, vntill it come vnto all, which he hath promised; who said, I will not leaue thee, vntill I doe these things, which I haue spoken vnto thee: And now these (Protestants) doe be­leeue such as tell them, that it is not fulfilled what God promised; and that therefore the seed of Abraham, which is Christ, to haue decayed in those parts of the earth, in which it was planted; and that the promises of God are voide, because they are not admitted into their Communi­on, amongst whom it is fulfilled. Thus Saint Augustine.

So If the oath of God, or the Promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, written by Moyses, may finde grace and credit with your Maiesty, it is mani­fest by their testimonies, that our Sauiour was the Au­thor of the Catholike Romane Faith.

CHAP. V.

OVR Sauiour saith, That all things must Luke 24. 44. needs be fulfilled which is written in the Psalmes of him. So we will examine what the Psalmes say of our Sauiour and his seede, the Christians, that wee may see, whether the Prophecies con­tained therein be verified vpon Romane Catholikes, or vpon Protestants; it being now a thousand and six hundred yeares since the Natiuitie of our Sauiour; those must needs be his seed, and true Christians, vp­on whom they are verified, seeing that it is impossible Hebr. 6. for God to lye.

First, the Psalmes say; Thou art my Sonne, this day haue I begotten thee: Aske of me, and I will giue thee the Psal. 2. 7. Gentiles for thine inheritance, and thy possession, the ends of the earth.

Secondly, All the ends of the earth shal remember, Psal. 21, 27. and be conuerted to our Lord: and all the Families of the Gentiles shall adore in his fight: Because the Kingdome is our Lords, and he shall haue dominion ouer the Gentiles.

Thirdly, For thy fathers there are borne sons to thee, Psal. 40. thou shalt make them Princes ouer all the earth, they shall [Page 24] be mindefull of thy name in all generation, and generati­ons, for euer, and for euermore.

Fourthly, The God of gods, our Lord hath spoken, and Psal. 49. 1. hath called the earth, from the rising of the Sinne, vnto the going downe thereof.

Fiftly, Their sound is gone into all the earth, and their Psal. 18. words into the ends of the world.

Sixtly, He shall descend as raine vpon a fleece of wooll, Psal. 71. 6. and as the drops distilling vpon the earth. In his dayes shal arise Iustice and abundance of peace, so long as the Moone endureth. And he shall rule from sea to sea, and from the riuer vnto the end of the world.

Seuenthly, I will put him, the first begotten, higher Psal. 88. 27. then the Kings of the earth. I will keepe my mercies vnto him for euer, and my Testament faithfull to him. I will put his seed for euer and euer, and his Throne as the dayes of heauen. But if his children shall forsake my Law, and keepe not my Commandements, I will visite their iniquitie with a rod, and their sinnes with stripes; but my mercy I will not take away from him, neither will I hurt in my truth.

And many more the like Prophecies of the conuer­sion of the Gentiles, and propagation of the Faith, or seede of our Sauiour ouer the world for euer; which cannot bee verified vpon Protestants, or Protestan­tisme, who haue beene so farre off from hauing the Gentiles for their inheritance, and their Possessions vnto the ends of the earth, or conuerting all the Fa­milies of the Gentiles, or from hauing abundance of peace, as long as the Moone endureth, or from hauing their seed to endure for euer, and their throne as the dayes of heauen: that in all the time which was be­tweene the death of the Apostles, and the rebellion of Luther; which is for one thousand and foure hundred yeares or thereabouts, they are not able to assigne one [Page 25] Doctor, Preacher or Writer, that held or taught the doctrine Protestants doe now preach and teach.

That our Catholike Romane Faith was planted by the Apostles and Disciples of our Lord, and hath con­tinued successiuely dilated ouer the world, according to these Prophecies, we haue proued in the first, se­cond, and third Chapters.

Whereupon wee rightly inferre, that by the testi­monie of Dauid and the Psalmes, our Sauiour was the Author of the Catholike Romane Faith, and conclude this Chapter with the words of Saint AVGVSTINE, saying: We may see many accuse themselues of their for­mer August. epist. 48: blindnesse, who could beleeue that Christ was exalted aboue the heauens, though they did not see it, and yet did deny that his glory was ouer all the earth, although they did see it: When the Prophet hath so clearely comprehended them both in one sentence, saying: Be exalted aboue the Psal. 107. heauens, O God, and thy glory ouer all the earth.

CHAP. VI.

THE Prophet Isay speaking more a­bundantly of the seed (Faith and Re­ligion, which was to be planted by our Sauiour) then the rest of the Pro­phets, saith: It is a small thing, that thou Isay 49. shouldest bee my seruant, to raise the Tribes of Iacob, and to conuert the dregges of Israel. Be­hold I haue giuen thee to be a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be saluation, euen to the furthest part of the earth. Kings shall see, and Princes shall rise and adore for [Page 26] our Lords sake, because he is faithfull, and for the holy one of Israel, who hath chosen thee. Againe, Behold I will Isay 49. 22. lift vp my hand to the Gentiles, and to the people I will ex­alt my signe. And they shall carry thy sons in their armes, and thy daughters vpon their shoulders. And Kings shalbe thy nursing fathers, and Queenes thy nurses, with counte­nance cast toward the ground, they shal adore thee, and they shal licke vp the dust of thy feete; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord. This Prophecie cannot be verified of Protestanisme: First, for that they were neuer yet any light to the Gentiles, and a saluation to the fur­thest part of the earth, that they might become Chri­stians; many Protestants denying Christianity, become Turkes in Transiluania and Hungary, and many Eng­lish at Tripolis, Algiers and Tunis: And some learned Protestants, as Sebastian Cestalio, Bernard Ochine, Da­uid George, Adam Neucers and others, who being ob­stinate against Catholike Religion, either turned Turkes or Iewes, seeing the Prophecies not fulfilled in Protestantisme.

Secondly, for that they are not able to produce any one Heathen or Pagan King or Queene, that hitherto hath embraced Protestanisme. Your Maiesty and o­ther Christian Kings and Queenes, your Predecessors, in the Kingdome of Great Brittanie, haue had no o­ther Christendome, then that they haue receiued from Catholike Romane Priests.

Thirdly, It is not the custome of Protestants to a­dore their God with such respect or reuerence, as the Prophet Isay heere speakes of: euery Protestant is so well assured of his saluation, that hee hath no need to humble himselfe befor his God; to aske forgiuenesse of his sinnes, or saluation of his soule. Not a Prote­stant Boy or Girle, that doth not vse more respect or reuerence to their masters, when they speake vnto [Page 27] them, and all Protestants in their degrees and estates, to their temporall Lords and Princes; then they doe, when they pray, or speake to their God. When they speake to their earthly Lords or Kings; either they Note. stand, or kneele handsomely, with their hats in their hands; but when they speake to their God, common­ly they either speake sitting, with their cappes on, as haile fellow well met with their God; or else with their noses thrust into their hats, for feare, as it see­meth, that the euill smelles, which come from their God should infect their braines. Their Temples and Synagogues are not so neate as their Bed-chambers, Galleries, or Chambers of Presence or audience; and when they come into their Temples to treate with their God, or heare his Word or Law, vnlesse it be for respect of some man there, euery one without respect to his God, sitteth him downe, and putteth on his cap: In so much as the God of the Protestants, is the most vnciuill, euill-mannered God of all those, who haue borne the name of Gods vpon earth, yea worse then Pan, the god of Clownes, that can endure no ceremo­nies or good manners: whereby it is manifest, that this Prophecie is not verified vpon so vnciuill, and vnman­nerly a Religion as Protestantisme is: but vpon our Catholike Romane Faith and Religion, which all the knowne Christian Kings and Queenes, that euer haue been before Luther, professed (reputed Heretikes by both parties onely excepted) as we haue set downe in the third Chapter.

Againe, God Almightie by the Prophet Isay saith to the Gentiles, whom he calleth the barren women, for that before the Incarnation of our Sauiour, they were without fruit of eternall life. Prayse O barren Isay 54. 1. woman which bearest not, sing prayse and make ioyfull noyse, which diddest not beare, because many are the chil­dren [Page 28] of the desolate (of the Gentiles which were be­fore the comming of Christ desolate of spiritual helpe) more then of her that hath a husband (the Synagogue of the Iewes) enlarge the place of thy tent, and stretch out the skins of thy Tabernacles, for thou shalt penetrate to the right hand, and to the left, and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles. Againe: For a moment, a little while, haue Isay 64. 7. I forsaken thee, and in great mercies will I gather thee, in a moment of indignation haue I hid my face a little while from thee, and in mercies euerlasting haue I had mercy on thee, saith thy Redeemer our Lord. As in the dayes of Noe, is this thing to me, to whom I sware, that I would no more bring the waters of Noe vpon the earth. So haue I sworne not to be angry with thee, and not to rebuke thee, for the mountaines shal be mooued, and the little hils shal tremble, but my mercy shal not depart from thee, and the couenant of my peace shal not be mooued, saith our Lord thy Miserator. Againe, Euery vessel that is made against Isay 64. 17. thee shal not prosper, and euery tongue resisting thee in iudgement, thou shalt iudge. This is the inheritance of the seruants of our Lord.

This Prophecie of Esay cannot bee verified vpon Protestantisme, for that since our Sauiours time, there hath not been more Protestants then Iewes, neyther haue the children of the Protestants bin more in num­ber, then the children of the Iewes, who are a great people in number, and haue continued visible in great numbers, dispersed through many parts of the world, as Protestants themselues confesse: as the Centurie Writers, in the fourteenth and fifteenth Chapter of euery Centurie, where they make mention from time to time of their abode, and at this day the Synagogue of the Iewes is more dilated, and greater then any one Sect of Protestants in the world.

Secondly, neither can this be verified of Protestan­tisme, [Page 29] that after our Sauiours comming, They should enlarge the place of their tents, penetrate to the right hand and the left, and that the seed of Protestants should inhe­rite the Gentiles. Neither could this oath of God bee made to Protestants: I haue sworne not to be angry with Protestants, and not to rebuke them; for the mountaines shal be moued, and the little hils shal tremble, but my mer­cie shal not depart from Protestants, and the couenant of my peace shal not be moued, saith our Lord thy Miserator: vnlesse they will make God Almighty forsworne, since they themselues confesse that Protestantisme vanished away presently after the Apostles times, and was so extinguished, that for a thousand and foure hundred yeares, they cannot name one Protestant man, that taught the doctrine they now teach. In such sort, as this malediction of the Prophecie is fulfilled in them, as vpon the enemies of our Sauiour; where it is writ­ten, Euery vessel that is made against thee shal not pro­sper. And all the blessings of this Prophecie are veri­fied vpon our Catholike Romane Faith, which was planted by the Apostles, and hath beene dilated ouer the world, and embraced of all Christian people, who liued betweene the death of the Apostles and rising of Luther, (reputed Heretikes to both parties only ex­cepted) as wee haue prooued in the first, second, and third Chapters.

And by this oath of God heere set downe, it is as certaine that the Catholike Roman Church and Faith shall neuer bee suppressed; as it is certaine that the world shall not be drowned with water any more: the oath and promise of God Almightie being equally giuen for assurance of both, saying: As the day of Noe is this thing to me, to whom I answere, that I would no more bring in the waters of Noe vpon the earth: so haue I sworne not to be angry with thee, or rebuke thee, for the [Page 30] mountaines shal be moued, and the little hils shal tremble, but my mercy shall not depart from thee, and the couenant of my peace shal not be moued, saith our Lord thy Mise­rator. And your Maiestie may be pleased heere to obserue, that those Kings and people, who persecute the Catholike Romane Faith, do but bring misery and vnhappinesse vpon themselues, according to the word of God in this Prophecie, saying; Euery vessel that is made against thee shal not prosper: and after all their rage and crueltie of hanging, drawing and quartering, im­prisonments, and seuere Lawes made against Romane Catholikes, they must come to be judged by them, ac­cording to the words of God in this Prophecie, say­ing; That euery tongue resisting thee in iudgement, thou shalt iudge, this is the inheritance of the seruants of our Lord (Iesus Christ) and their iustice with me, saith our Lord; to bee Iudge of those, who resisted them in judgement.

Againe, God Almightie speaking of the encrease of Christian Religion, saith; Arise, be illuminated Ie­rusalem, Isay 60. because thy light is come, & the glory of our Lord is risen vpon thee: Ʋpon thee shal our Lord arise, and his glory shal be seene vpon thee. And the Gentiles shal walke in thy light, and Kings in the brightnesse of thy rising, lift vp thine eyes round about, and see al these gathered toge­ther, they are come to thee: thy sonnes shal come from a far, and daughters shal rise from thy side. Then thou shalt see and abound, and thy heart shal maruaile and be enlarged, when the multitude of the sea shal be conuerted vnto thee, the strength of the Gentiles shal come to thee. Againe, For Isay 60. the Ilands expect me, or the ships on the sea in the begin­ning, that I may bring thy sonnes from far. Againe, And Isay 60. thy gates shalbe open continually, day & night they shal not be shut, that the strength of the Gentiles may be brought to thee, and their Kings may be brought. For the Nation [Page 31] and the Kingdome that shal not serue thee, shal perish.

Now suppose that there were Protestants in our Sauiour and the Apostles times, yet is it manifest that these Prophecies cannot be verified vpon them, That the Gentiles should walke in the light of Protestantisme, and Kings in the brightnesse of their rising, and the multi­tude of the sea be conuerted vnto them, and the strength of the Gentiles, or that the Islands did expect Protestantisme, and the ships of the sea in the beginning, or that the gates of Protestants Temples, were open continually, day and night, that the strength of the Gentiles might be brought to Protestanisme, and their Kings. Since the Protestants themselues confesse, that after the Apostles times Pro­testantisme vanished away, and was no where so much as visible, for a thousand and foure hundred yeares. In such sort, as within all that space they are not able to name any one man; much lesse one Heathen or Pagan King, conuerted to the Religion they now professe.

So, suppose that in our Sauiours time there were Protestants, it is manifest that they were these enemies of Christian Religion, vpon whom was verified this part of the Prophecie, saying; The Nation, and the Kingdome that shall not serue thee, shall perish.

Againe, God Almightie speaking of the Christi­ans after our Sauiours comming, saith by the same Prophet: I will giue their workes in truth, and make a Isay. 61. perpetual couenant with them, and they shall know their seed in the Gentiles, and their bud in the middest of peo­ples, all that shall see them, shall know them, that these are the seed which the Lord hath blessed. Againe, Ʋpon thy Isay 62. walles, Ierusalem, I haue appointed watchmen, al the day, and al the night, for euer, they shal not hold their peace. And you that remember our Lord, hold not your peace, and giue not silence to him, vntil he stablish, and vntil he make Ierusalem the praise in the earth. Our Lord hath sworne [Page 32] by his right hand, and by the arme of his strength: If I shall giue thy wheate any more, to be meate to thy enemies, and if the strange children shall drinke thy wine, wherein thou hast laboured. Because they that shall gather it to­gether, shall eat it, and shall praise the Lord, and they that caried it together, shal drinke it in my holy courts. Sup­pose that there were Protestants in our Sauiours & the Apostles times, yet these Prophecies could not be ve­rified vpon them, that God Almightie should make a perpetuall couenant with Protestants, visibly to main­taine their seed in the Gentiles, and their bud in the midst of peoples. Neither can this oath be verified vpon Pro­testants: Our Lord hath sworne by his right hand, and by the hand of his strength, that he would giue the wheate of Protestants no more to be meat for their enemies, and that strangers should not drinke the wine, wherein Protestants haue laboured: who decayed presently after the Apo­stles times, as they confesse, and were so farre off from enioying these blessings heere promised, that all the maledictions prophecied to wicked and impious men, enemies to Gods truth, fell vpon them in such sort, that there is lesse memorie of them, then of Sodom and Gomorra, which was destroyed with fire from heauen, or of Coar, Dathan and Abiron, who were swallowed vp quicke into the earth; of whom there is some men­tion made in other mens writings. But of Protestants liuing after the Apostles times, who should before Lu­ther hold, and teach the doctrine they now teach. No Author doth giue testimony of any such men, or make so much mention of them, as of any of their names, or Countries where they dwelt, or where they were de­stroyed: wherefore it seemeth, that if euer they were in these times, they were enormous wicked vile peo­ple, cursed of God aboue all the men that euer liued vpon the face of the earth; euen such abominable [Page 33] people, as all men were ashamed to name, or make any mention of any one of them; people that descended in­to hell quicke, of whom they would keepe no memory. Now, that all these Prophecies are verified vpon our Catholike Romane Faith and Religion, we haue suffi­ciently shewed in the first, second and third Chapters of this booke: whereupon we inferre, that by the te­stimonies of the Prophet Isay, our Sauiour was Author of the Catholike Romane Faith, and planter of it vpon earth. And so conclude this Chapter with the words of Saint AVGVSTINE, saying: What can be exacted August. de Vnit. Ecclae. to be spoken more manifestly? Behold how many, and how cleare testimonies haue been brought out of one Prophet, and yet there is resistance and contradiction made, not to any man, but to the Spirit of God, and to the most euident truth. And yet the glory of Christ is enuied by those, who will boast of the name of Christians, that those things wbich haue been so long before foretolde of him, may not be beleeued to be fulfilled; whereas now they are not foretold, but shewed, seene and possessed. So Saint AVGVSTINE; and we with him.

That these Prophecies of Isay are spoken of the Church of Christ; Protestants themselues confesse in the Collections of the Contents of the Chapters, set downe before euery Chapter, in their English Prote­stant Bibles.

CHAP. VII.

THE Prophet Ieremie speaking of the estate of the Church after our Saui­ours comming, saith: Behold the dayes Ierem. 31. 37. shall come, saith our Lord, and I wil make a new couenant with the house of Israel, &c. And this shal be the couenant that I will make with the house of Israel: after these dayes saith the Lord, I will giue my Law in their bowels, and in their heart I will write it: I wil be their God, and they shal be my people. And a man shal no more teach his neigh­bour, and a man his brother, saying; Know our Lord, for all shal know me, from the least of them, euen to the grea­test, saith our Lord, for I wil be merciful to their iniquitie, and their sinne I wil remember no more. Thus saith our Lord that giueth the Sunne for the light of the day, the or­der of the Moone, and of the Starres for the light of the night: that troubleth the sea, and the waues thereof doe sound, the Lord of hostes is his name: If these Lawes shal faile before me, saith our Lord, (that there be no more Sunne for the light of the day, and Moone and Stars for the light of the night, and ebbing and flowing of the Sea) then also the seed Israel shal faile, that it be not a Nation before me for euer. Wherupon our Sauiour saith; This Gospel of the kingdome shal be preached in the whole Matth. 24. world, for a testimony to al Nations, and then shal come the consummation of the world, and the Sun shal be darkened, and the Moone shal not giue her light, and the stars shal fall from heauen. Vntill then, if wee will beleeue the [Page 35] Word of God, the seed of our Sauiour, the Church of God shall in all ages and times so flourish vpon earth, as that the Christians shall not neede, secretly one to teach another: But all shall know our Lord, from the least of them to the greatest, and be a visible Nation for euer.

So I appeale to your Maiesty well pleased to con­sider, how ignorant hee should bee in the Scriptures, that should make himselfe of the Congregation of Protestants, in hope to enter into this Testament with God, when they haue been so inuisible for one thou­sand and foure hundred yeares together, that they are not able to assigne one man, who for all that time pro­fessed the Faith they now hold; much lesse one Nati­on. So if Protestants would prooue by the Scriptures, that their Religion (which hath been so many hun­dred yeares vnknowne) were the Faith planted by our Sauiour, they should first proue, that for one thousand and foure hundred yeares, there hath been no Sunne for the light of the day, or Moone for the light of the night, to make good the Word of God: otherwise they proue nothing, but that they are ignorant in the Scrip­tures, and in effect and deede, blaspheme God and his holy Word, by affirming him in effect and deed, to be a violater of his promises written in the Scriptures.

That this promise of God heere spoken of, is to be performed in, and vpon Christians: Saint Paul witnes­seth in the eight to the Hebrewes, where he repeateth the foresaid words of Ieromie, as to be fulfilled in and vpon Christians.

That our Catholike Romane Faith hath successiue­ly continued according to this Prophecie, wee haue shewed in the first, second and third Chapters.

CHAP. VIII.

THE Prophet Ezechiel speaking of the estate of the Church after the com­ming of our Sauiour, saith; I will saue Ezech. 34. my flocke, and it shalbe no more into spoile, &c. And I will raise vp ouer them one Pastor, who shall feed them; my seruant Dauid he shal feed them, and he shall be their Pastor. And I the Lord wil be their God; and my seruant Dauid the Prince in the middest of them. I the Lord haue spoken, and I will make a couenant of peace with them, and will make the cruel beasts to cease out of the Land. And they that dwell in the desart (the Hermits and religious men, who now, and in the Primatiue Church liued in the desart, as witnesseth Saint Austine, Epist. 121.) shall sleep secure in the forrost. And I will put them round about my hill (his Church) a blessing. And I will bring downe the shower in his time, there shall bee raynes of blessing (abundance of spirituall graces, and consolations of the holy Ghost, according to the words of our Saui­our, saying: He that beleeueth in me, out of his belly shal Iohn 7. 38. flow riuers of liuing water.) And the tree of the field (our Sauiour the Vine, or Oliue tree) shal giue his fruit, and Iohn 15. Rom. 11. the earth (humane nature, of which it is said, thou art earth) shal giue his spring, and they shal be in their Land Gen. 3. without feare, and they shal know that I am the Lord, when I shal haue broken the chaines of their yoke, and shal haue deliuered them out of the hand of those that rule ouer them. And they shal be no more for a spoile to the Gentiles, [Page 37] neither shal the beasts of the earth deuoure them: but they shal dwel confidently without any terror, and I wil raise vp to them a bud of name, and they shal be no more diminished for famine in the Land, neither shal they beare any more the reproach of the Gentiles.

This Prophecie to be spoken of our Sauiour vnder the name of Dauid; first, Protestants in their Bibles confesse it: secondly, it is manifest, for that Dauid the Prophet was dead many yeares before the time of E­zechiel. Yet this Prophecie cannot bee verified vpon Protestants, that Protestants shall liue in their Land without feare, deliuered out of the hand of those who rule ouer them, and bee no more for a spoile to the Gentiles, nor be any more diminished, nor beare any more the reproch of the Gentiles, since they haue bin so spoiled and oppressed for one thousand and foure hundred yeares together, that during all that time, they are not able to assigne one knowne man, who professed the Religion they now professe. This Pro­phecie to be verified vpon Romane Catholikes, wee haue shewed in the first, second and third Chapters.

CHAP. IX.

AND in like manner all the rest of the Prophets, as often as they haue occasiō to speake of the estate of the Church, after the comming of our Sauiour, say; that it shal be vniuersally dilated ouer the world for euer, as Daniel, saying: In the dayes of Dan. 2. 44. [Page 38] those Kingdomes, the God of heauen wil raise vp a King­dome that shal not be destroyed for euer, and this Kingdom shal not be deliuered to another people: and it shal breake in peeces, & shal consume al those Kingdoms, & it self shal stand for euer. Which Prophecie we finde verified by experience vpon the Catholike Roman Church, which as Protestants themselues confesse, was so potent pre­sently after the Apostles times, that it destroyed and consumed the Church of Protestants, and for these one thousand and two hundred yeares hath raigned vniuersally, without any debatable contradiction, as is set downe in the third Chapter. Againe, we see by experience, that all other Kingdomes and Monarchies of Christians haue been interrupted and changed; as the Empire first from the West vnto the East, and after into Germany: Spaine was first possessed by the Ro­mans, after by the Goathes, and lastly, for many yeares by the Moores: France was long time tributarie to the Romans, and about the yeare of our Lord 451. the Franck Germanes, who dwelled beyond the Rhyne, be­gan to conquer them, and in processe of time obtained their Kingdome, and changed their name from Gaules to French; and about the yeare 461. elected Mirouee for King: after France was possessed by the English, and Henry the sixt was crowned King of France, about the yeare 1422. from which time the Kings of Eng­land haue alwayes challenged to be Kings of France.

England was vnder the Romanes vntill the time of Honorius, and shortly after it was conquered by the Saxons, and then by the Danes, and last by Norman French: In so much as that it is manifest to experience, that the Catholike Romane Church is the Kingdome raysed vp by God, which shall not bee destroyed for euer.

Whereupon the Prophet Ioel saith: Yee children of Ioel 2. 23. [Page 39] Syon (the Church of God) reioyce and be ioyfull in the Lord your God, because he hath giuen you a Doctor of iustice, and hee will make the earely and the late showre to descend to you, as in the beginning. And the floores shal be filled with wheate, and the presses shall ouerflow with wine and oyle. And I wil render you the yeares which the Locust, the Bruke, and the blast, and the Eruke hath eaten: my great strength which I haue sent vpon you. And eating, you shal eate, and shal be filled, and you shal praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath done maruailes with you, and my people shal not be confounded for euer. And you shal know that I am in the middest of Israel, and I the Lord your God, and there is none besides, and my people shal not be confounded for euer.

So the Prophet Micheas saith: And thou Bethelem Mich. 4. 2. Ephrata art a little one in the thousands of Iuda, out of thee shall come forth vnto me, he that shal be the Domina­tor in Israel: and his comming forth from the beginning, from the dayes of eternity, &c. and the remnant of his bre­thren shal be conuerted to the children of Israel: And he shal stand and feed in the strength of our Lord, in the height of the name of our Lord his God; and they shal be conuer­ted, because now shal he be magnified, euen to the ends of the earth, &c. And the remnant of Iacob shal be in the Gentiles, in the middest of many peoples, as a Lyon amongst the beasts of the forrest, and as a Lyons whelpe amongst the flocke of cattell, who when he hath passed, and trodden downe and taken, there is none to deliuer. Thy hand shall be exalted ouer thine enemies, and thine enemies shall perish.

So the Prophet Abacuc saith: God wil come from Abac. 4. 3. the South, and the holy one from the shady mountaine, his glory shal couer the heauens, and the earth is full of his praise. That is, saith S. AVGVSTINE, the Gospell shall begin from Ierusalem, and Mount Oliuet, and so [Page 40] be dilated ouer the world: For Ierusalem (saith Saint AVGVSTINE) is placed Southward, as is read in the Aug. [...]p. 166. booke of Iesus Naue, from whence the name of Christ hath been spread, and there is a shadie mountaine, Mount Oliuet; from whence he ascended into heauen, that his ver­tue might couer the heauens, and the Church might be fil­led with his praise, throughout the whole earth.

So the Prophet Zacharias saith: Behold thy King will come to thee, the lust, and Sauiour: himselfe, poore and riding vpon an Asse, and vpon a Colt, the Fole of an Asse, &c. He shal speake peace to the Gentiles, and his power from sea, euen to sea, and from the riuers (of Iordan, Matth. 5. 13. where he was baptised) euen vnto the end of the earth; not for a day, or a month, or a yeare: But as he spake to Luke 1. 55. our Fathers, to Abraham and his seed for euer. These Prophecies to be verified on our Catholike Roman Faith, we haue shewed at large in the first, second, and third Chapter, and are so far from being verified vp­on Protestantisme, that for a thousand and foure hun­dred yeares together Protestants are not able to name one man, who held and taught the doctrine, they now hold and teach.

So dread Soueraigne, if the testimonies of Moyses and the Prophets may find grace and credit with your Maiesty, they affirme that our Sauiour was Author of the Catholike Romane Faith, as we haue abundantly shewed. Yet the testimonies of Moyses and the Pro­phets were of such force with our Sauiour, as he bring­eth in Abraham, saying; If they heare not Moyses and Luke 16. 31. the Prophets, neither wil they be perswaded though one rise from the dead. Againe, hee saith to the incredulous Iewes; Had you beleeued Moyses, you would peraduen­ture Iohn 5. 46. haue beleeued me, for he wrote of me. And if you beleeue not his writings, (which are confirmed by so many oathes, and promises, and found true by [Page 41] experience) how wil you beleeue my words?

And so I conclude the Prophecies of the old Testa­ment with the words of Saint Augustine, saying: The Aug. in Psal. 30. Prophets haue spoken more obscurely of Christ, then of the Church, I thinke, because they did see in spirit, that men would rebell against the Church, and would not haue so great strife concerning Christ, but would raise vp great contentions concerning the Church: therefore, that about which men were to make great strife, was more plainly fore­told, and more manifestly prophecied; that it might serue for their condemnation, who did see it, and fled out.

CHAP. X.

HAVING (most dread Soueraigne) ac­cording to the counsel of our Sauiour, Iohn 5. 39. sought the old Testament, to see what it saith of the Faith, Seed, and Chil­dren of the Messias, and hauing found that by it, our Lord was the Author of the Catholike Romane Faith, Seed or Religion: we will now descend downe vnto the New, to see what it saith in generall, of the Faith, Seed, Word, or Gospel, which our Sauiour planted vpon earth: that wee may also see, whether according to the testimonie of the new Testament, our Lord was Author of our Catho­like Faith and Religion.

And first the Angell Gabriel foretelling the estate of the Church to come, saith to our blessed Lady, Thou Luke 1. 31. shalt conceiue in thy wombe, and shalt beare a Sonne, and thou shalt call his name IESVS, he shal be great, and he [Page 42] shal be called the Son of the most High, and our Lord God shal giue him the seat of Dauid his Father, and he shal reigne in the house of Iacob for euer, and of his Kingdome there shal be no end. And in like manner, an Angell of our Lord said vnto the Shepheards: Behold, I euange­lize Luke 2. 10. to you great ioy that shal be to al people; not to one people of Brittans, or Germans, but to al people: because this day is borne to you a Sauiour, which is Christ our Lord. And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heauenly armie (a multitude of Angels) praysing God, and saying: Glory in the highest to God, and in earth Peace to men of good wil. As it was foretold by the Pro­phet Isay, saying: A little childe is borne to vs, &c. His Empire shalbe multiplied, and there shalbe no end of peace: he shal sit vpon the throne of Dauid, and vpon his King­dome: that he may confirme it, in iudgement and iustice, from this time, and for euer.

That the Kingdome heere spoken of, is the Church professing the Faith, or Gospell planted by our Saui­our, our Lord himselfe doth witnesse, saying: In the Matth. 13. 14. end of the world, the Sonne of Man shall send his Angels, and they shal gather out of his Kingdome all scandals, and them that worke iniquity. Againe, And this Gospell of the Kingdom shal be preached in the whole world. Againe, Matth. 24. 14. And Iesus went about teaching, and preaching the Gospel Matth. 4. 23. of the Kingdome.

So if the Angels of God, and multitude of his hea­uenly Armie, may finde grace and credite with your Maiestie, to be beleeued by their testimonies, it is ma­nifest, that our Sauiour came to plant the Catholike Romane Church and Faith: which, as we haue proued in our first Chapter, was taught by our Sauiour, and planted by the Apostles amongst the Romans, & hath continued, and shall continue amongst them vntill the day of Iudgement: and as is confessed by Protestants, [Page 43] hath reigned vniuersally: without any debatable con­tradiction, 1200. yeares, as is set downe in the third Chapter.

CHAP. XI.

OVR Lord & Sauiour Iesus Christ fore­seeing that many Heretikes would a­rise; and say, that his Seede, Faith, Word, Church, or Gospell had failed and decayed, and that they were im­mediatly sent from God, to plant a new Faith, or reforme or restore the Gospell, &c. To preuent their hereticall falsehood, hee warneth all his faithfull that they should not beleeue them, saying: Doe not thinke that I came to breake the Law (the olde Matth. 5. 18. Testament) or the Prophets, I am not come to breake, but to fulfill; for assuredly I say to you, Till heauen and earth passe, one iot, or one tittle shall not passe of the Law (the olde Testament) till all be fulfilled; and the Church of Matth. 5. 2. God, begunne in Ierusalem and Iuda, be dilated to the West, and to the East, and to the North, and to the Gen. 28. South, as God spake to Abraham and his seed for euer. Luke 1. 55.

So supposed that our Sauiours words are true, and that hee was the Messias, and came to fulfill and per­forme the things promised by the Prophets, and not to breake or violate their promises; the Sunne was neuer more manifest in the moneth of August, then it is ma­nifest that he fulfilled the Prophecies, by planting the Catholike Romane Faith, and not by planting Prote­stantisme, [Page 44] since Romane Catholikes haue been visibly multiplied ouer the world, for many hundred yeares; some Protestants say for nine hundred years, some say for a thousand, other Protestants say for twelue hun­dred, and others say for more, as is set downe in the third Chapter: whereas the Prophecies haue beene so farre off from being fulfilled in Protestantisme, that presently after the death of the Apostles it vanished away, and hath been no where visibly knowne, for one thousand foure hundred yeares. So we may speak to Protestants (who imagine that their Religion is true, or was the Faith planted by our Sauiour) and say to them in the words of our Sauiour: Doe not thinke that our Sauiour came to break the Law or the Prophets, Matth. 6. 18. he came not to breake, but to fulfill.

Secondly, our Sauiour foretelling the estate of his Church to come, saith: All things must needs be fulfilled which are writted in the Law of Moyses, and the Pro­phets, Luke 24. 44. Gen. 22. and the Psalmes of me. And the Law of Moyses saith: I wil multiply thy seed as the Starres of heauen, &c. The Prophets say; Behold thy King will come to thee, the Iust one, and Sauiour, himselfe poore and riding vpon an Zach. 9. 9. Asse, &c. He shal speake Peace to the Gentiles, and his power from sea, euen to sea, and from the riuers, euen to the end of the earth. Againe, And I wil send of them that shal be saued to the Gentiles into the sea, into Asricke Isay 66. and Lidia, into Italy and Greece, to the Ilands farre off, to them that haue not heard of me, and haue not seene my glory. And they shal shew forth my glory to the Gentiles, and they shal bring of your brethren of al Nations, a gift to our Lord, vpon horses, and in chariots, and in horselit­tors, and on Mules, and in coatches, to my holy mountaine Ierusalem. Because, as new heauens, and a new earth, which I make to stand before me, saith our Lord, so shal your seed stand, and your name. The Psalmes say. Al the [Page 45] ends of the earth shal remember and be conuerted to our Psal. 41. 28. Lord: and all the families of the Gentiles shal adore in his sight. Againe, Thou art my sonne, this day haue I begot­ten Psal. 2. 7. thee, aske of me, and I will giue thee the Gentiles for thine inheritance, and thy possession the ends of the earth. Againe, I wil put his seed for euer and euer, and his throne Psal. 88. as the dayes of heauen. I haue sworne in my holy, if I lye to Dauid his seed shal continue for euer. All which, and many more the like promises and Prophecies, of the encrease, continuance, and dilatation of the Christi­ans, the seed of our Sauiour, the seed of Dauid, the seed of Abraham ouer the world, must (as our Sauiour Luke 24. 44. saith) needs be fulfilled, and yet we see by experience, that they are fulfilled in no other people kindred, or Nation, but Romane Catholikes, whom Protestants confesse to haue reigned vniuersally ouer the world, for twelue hundred yeares, as is set downe in the third Chapter. And so I conclude out of our Sauiours words, that the Catholike Romane Faith, must needs be the Faith and Religion which our Sauiour planted, and that Romane Catholikes are true Christians, since neither the promises in the bookes of Moyses, nor in the Prophets, nor in the Psalmes, are, or can bee veri­fied, or fulfilled in, or vpon any other.

Thirdly, our Sauiour speaking of the estate of his Church, saith: The Kingdome of heauen is resembled vnto a man that sowed good seed in his field, but when men Matth. 13. 24. were asleepe, his enemies came and ouer-sowed Cockle a­mong the Wheate, and went his way, and when the blade was shut vp, and had brought forth fruit, then appeared al­so the Cockle. And the seruants of the Good-man of the house, comming, said to him: Sir, diddest thou not sowe good seed in thy field? Whence then hath it Cockle? and he said to them; the enemie man hath done this. And the seruants said to him, Wilt thou we goe, and gather it vp? [Page 46] And he said noe: lest perhaps gathering vp the Cockle, you may roote vp the Wheate also, together with it, suffer both to grow vntill the haruest: and in the time of haruest I wil say to the Reapers, Gather vp first the Cockle, and bind it into bundles to burne; but the wheate gather yee into my Barne. And expounding this Parable of the Cockle of the field, he said to his Disciples; He that sowed the Matth. 13. 37. good seed is the Son of Man, and the field is the world, and the good seed, those are the children of the Kingdome, and the Cockle, those are the children of the wicked one, and the enemy that sowed them is the Diuell: but the Haruest is the end of the world, and the Reapers are the Angels. So our Sauiour in describing his Church, by which description it is manifest, that our Sauiour sowed the Catholike Romane Faith, and that Romane Catho­likes are the children of the Kingdome of God, and all other Sects, of what kinde or sort soeuer, are Coc­kle sowed by the Diuell, after death, or at the end of Matth. 13. 38. the world, to be gathered vp and cast into a Furnace of fire. Since there neither is at this instant, nor yet hath been heretofore any Nation, People, Faith, Religion, or Sect, which challenged the name of Christians, that hath been successiuely dilated ouer the world, accor­ding to our Sauiours description, but the Catholike Romane Faith, which as Perkins, a Protestant, saith: Vpon the Creed. fol. 307. During the space of nine hundred yeares, spread it selfe ouer the whole earth.

Fourthly, our Sauiour speaking of his Church, saith: The Kingdome of heauen is like vnto a mustard­seed, Matth. 13. 31. which a man tooke and sowed in his field; which i [...] the least surely of all seeds, but when it is growne, it is greater then all hearbes, and is made a tree, so that the fowles of the ayre come to dwell in the branches thereof. Againe, The Kingdome of heauen is like to Leauen, which Matth. 13. 33. a woman tooke and hid in three measures of meale, vntill [Page 47] the whole was leauened. Againe, The Kingdome of hea­uen Matth. 13. 47. is like to a net, cast into the sea, and gathering toge­ther of all kinde of fishes. Which words of our Sauiour cannot bee verified vpon Protestantisme, supposing that it was in the Apostles times, as they affirme, since it did not encrease or grow greater then al other sects, nor leauened the whole world, nor gathered together all kinde of people. But so vanished away after the Apostles departure, that for fourteene hundred yeares together they are not able to assigne one man, profes­sing the Religion they doe now.

Fiftly, Our Sauiour setting downe the state of his Church to come, saith: I chose you, and haue appointed Iohn 15. 16. you, that you go and bring fruit, and your fruit abide. A­gaine, This Gospell of the Kingdome shal be preached in Matth. 24. 14. the whole world, for a testimony to all Nations, and then shal come the consummation. Againe. Holy Father, I pray Iohn 17. not that thou take them away out of this world, but that thou preserue them from euill, &c. And not for the Apo­stles only do I pray, but for them also that by their words, shal beleeue in me. Againe, Teach yee all Nations, and Matth. 28. behold I am with you all daies, euen to the end of the world. Which words of our Sauiour cannot be verified vpon Protestants, that our Sauiour hath appointed Prote­stants to goe and preach in the world, and bring fruit, and their fruit abide; or that Protestantisme should be preached to all Nations; or that our Sauiour prayed that Protestants should not be taken away out of the world, but be preserued from euill; or that our Saui­our would be with Protestants, ayding and assisting them in the conuersion of Nations, euen to the consum­mation Matth. 28. 20. of the world: since wee see it false by expe­rience.

Sixtly, Our Sauiour speaking of the estate of his Church, saith to the chiefe Priests, and Ancients of the [Page 48] people: Haue you neuer read in the Scriptures; The stone Matth. 21. 42. which the builders reiected, the same is made the head of the corner. By our Lord was it done, and it is marueilous in our eyes. Therefore I say to you, that the Kingdome of God shall be taken away from you, and giuen to a Nation yeelding the fruit thereof. And he that falleth vpon that stone shal be broken, and on whom it falleth, it shal al to bruise him.

These words of our Sauiour cannot be verified vp­on Protestants, that our Sauiour should become head, to vnite Iewes and Protestants together in one family of Christians: or should take away his Church, and Kingdome vpon earth, from the Iewes, to giue it to Protestants, or that the Church of Protestants should yeeld more fruit then the Church of the Iewes, or he that should fall vpon the Church of Protestants should be broken: since as Sebastianus Francus, a Protestant, In epist. de Abro. stat. Eccl. affirmeth; That for certaine, through the worke of Anti­christ, the external Church (of Protestants) together with the Faith & Sacraments, vanished away presently after the Apostles departure, and that for these fourteene hundred yeares, the Church (of Protestants) hath bin no where ex­ternal and visible. Which being so, dread Soueraigne, I appeale to your Maiestie, wel pleased to consider, how ignorant hee should be in the Scriptures, that should make himselfe a Protestant, out of hope to become one of the Kingdome of God, heere spoken of.

That all these promises and Prophecies of our Sa­uiour are verified vpon Papists; Protestants themselues giue sufficient testimonie, who affirme that Papistrie began in the time of the Apostles, and hath raigned vniuersally for twelue hundred yeares, as is set downe in the third Chapter.

So if the words and testimonies of our Sauiour himselfe, may finde so much grace and fauour with [Page 49] your Maiesty as to be credited, it is manifest that by this testimony and description of his Church, that he was the Author of the Catholike Romane Faith.

CHAP. XII.

FIRST, Saint Peter speaking of the estate of the Church planted by our Sauiour, saith: MOYSES indeed said, that a Prophet shal the Act. [...]. 22. Lord your God raise vp to you, of your brethren, as my selfe, him shal you heare, according to al things whatsoeuer he shal speake to you. And it shal be, euery soule that shal not heare that Prophet, shal be destroyed out of the people. And al the Prophets from Samuel and afterward, that haue spoken, could of these dayes: you are the children of the Prophets, and of the Testament which God made to our Fathers, saying to Abraham: and in thy seed shal all the Families of the earth be blessed. To you first God raising vp his Sonne, hath sent him, blessing you. That this Seed heere spoken of, is the Church of Christians, our Sa­uiour and Saint Paul do witnesse, saying: The good seed, those are the children of the Kingdome. Againe: If you Matth. 13. 38. Galath. 3. 29. be Christs, then are you the seed of Abraham, heires ac­cording to promise.

That this blessing can no way bee verified vpon Protestantisme, is manifest, for that it vanished away presently after the time of the Apostles, and for faure­teene hundred yeares together, there is not to be found one man that professed it, much lesse one Family, or all the Families of the earth. That this blessing in gene­rall, [Page 50] hath been verified vpon Roman Catholikes, Pro­testants themselues confesse; some Protestants affir­ming, that Papistry hath been spread ouer the world for nine hundred yeares, some for a thousand, some for twelue hundred, and some for more, as it is set downe in the third Chapter.

So if the testimony of Saint Peter, Moyses, and all the Prophets, from Samuel and afterward, may finde so much grace and fauour with your Maiestie, as to be credited; they all affirme that our Sauiour was to bee the Author of our Catholike Romane Faith. And sup­posed that there were Protestants in our Sauiours and the Apostles times, who after their departure vanished away (as Protestants affirme) it is manifest by the testi­mony of Moses and Saint Peter, that they were ene­mies of Christian Religion, and so were destroyed from among the people, according to the words of Moyses and Saint Peter, saying: Euery soule that shal Act. 3. Deut. 18. not heare that Prophet, shal be destroyed out of the people.

Secondly, Saint Poter speaking of the estate of the Church, saith: Behold I put in Syon a principall corner­stone, 1. Pet. 2. elect, preciaus. And he that shal beleeue in him, shal not be confounded. To you therefore that beleeue, honor; but to them that beleeue not, the stone which the builders reiected, the same is made into the head of the corner, and a stone of offence, and a Rocke of scandall to them that stumble at the Word, &c. But you (who beleeue) are an elect generation, a Kingly Priesthood, a holy Nation, a peo­ple of purchase, that you may declare his vertues, which from darknesse hath called you into his marueilous light.

Now supposed that there were Protestants in our Sauiours time, yet these words of Saint Peter cannot be verified vpon them, that they should not bee con­founted, but honored, and made an elect generation, a Kingly Priesthood, or holy Nation, a people of pur­chase, [Page 51] to declare our Sauiours vertues in fulfilling the promises, by conuerting the Gentiles to the Christian Faith: Since they vanished away presently after the departure of the Apostles.

Thirdly, Saint Paul describing the estate of the Church to come, saith: Christ ascending on high, he led captiuity captiue, he gaue gifts to men. And he gaue some Ephes. 4. 8. Apostles, and some Prophets, and other some Euangelists, and other some Pastors, and Doctors, to the consummation of the Saints, vnto the worke of the Ministery, vnto the edifying of the body of Christ, vntill we meet all into the v­nitie of Faith, and knowledge of the Sonne of God, that now we be not children, wauering, and carried about with euery winde of doctrine, in the wickednesse of men, in craftinesse to the circumuention of error: So Saint Paul describing the estate of the Church to come. If this be spoken of the Church of Protestants, where were their Prote­stant Apostles, Euangelists, Prophets, Pastors and Do­ctors, for fourteene hundred years together? Since for all that time, they are not able to assigne one man, who held the doctrine they now hold, much lesse one A­postle, Euangelist, Pastor, or Doctor: and yet Saint Paul saith, that they should teach and preach truth, euen vnto the Consummation of the Saints, that the Church might not be wauering, and carried about with euery winde of doctrine, in the wickednesse of men; wher­by we see, that if Saint Paul were a true Apostle and Prophet, the Church of Protestants is a false Church: That this Prophecie of S. Paul is verified vpon Roman Catholikes is manifest, for that Romane Catholikes haue had Doctors, Preachers, and Teachers, in all ages, as we haue proued in the first, second, and third Chap­ters.

Againe, Saint Paul speaking of the estate of the Church to come, saith: God according to his promise Act. 13. [Page 52] hath brought forth to Israel a Sauiour. Againe, We preach Act. 13. 32. vnto you that promise which was made to our Fathers, which was, I will multiply thy seed as the Starres of hea­uen, Gen. 22. &c. As God spake to our Fathers, to Abraham, and Luke 1. 55. his seed for euer: which words and preaching of Saint Paul should be false, if Protestantisme were the Faith and Religion planted by our Sauiour, and Preached by Saint Paul: since it hath been so farre off from ful­filling the promise, that it vanished away presently af­ter the Apostles times.

Againe, Saint Paul speaking of the estate of the Church, saith: By the offence of the Iewes, saluation is to Rom. 11. 11. the Gentiles, that they may emulate them: And if the of­fence of the Iewes be the riches of the world, and the dimi­nution of the Iewes the riches of the Gentiles? how much more the fulnesse of them? Againe, If the losse of the Iewes Rom. 11. 15. be the reconciliation of the world, what shal the receiuing be? Againe, Blindnesse in part hath chanced in Israel, vntill the fulnesse of the Gentiles might enter, and so all Is­rael might be saued: Which cannot bee verified vpon Protestātisme, supposed it were in the Apostles times, since Protestants haue neither been so eminent, as that the Iewes should emulate them, nor the riches of the Gentiles, neither hath the world been reconciled to Protestantisme, neither hath the fulnesse of the Gen­tiles entred into Protestantisme, which for fourteene hundred yeares together was not knowne vnto the men of the earth: That all these words of Saint Paul are verified vpon Romane Catholikes, Protestants themselues giue ample testimony, as is set down here­tofore.

By these and many more Prophecies of the estate of the Church to come, set downe by the Apostles and Euangelists, it is manifest that our Sauiour was the Au­thor of the Catholike Romane Faith.

So dread Soueraigne, if the Generall consent of both Testaments, the testimonie of God, of Angels, of Patriarkes, of Prophets, of Apostles, of Euangelists, and of all knowne Christen men that euer were before Lu­ther, may find grace and credite with your Maiesty, to be beleeued; they all (reputed Heretikes by both par­ties onely excepted) affirme that the Sonne of God was Author of that Catholike Romane Faith, which is now persecuted within your Dominions.

CHAP. XIII.

CHAP. XIV.

THE Kingdome of England together with the Crowne, after the death of Queene Mary, belonging by all Law and right, vnto your Maiesties Mo­ther, as lineally descended from Henry the seuenth (Henry the eights lawfull Line being en­ded [Page 69] in Queene Mary): to the great prejudice of your Maiesties Mother, Lady Elizabeth tooke vpon her the Crown; and knowing, that not only of all Catholikes, shee was esteemed Illigitimate, and for such published by the Church of God, planted by our Sauior, for that shee was borne of Anne Boloigne, during the life time of the first wife of King Henry the eight, her supposed Father; but also by a Decree in publike Parliament, holden in the eight and twentith yeare of the Reigne of Henry the eight, her supposed Father: Shee was (to vse the words of the Statute) iudged Illigitimate, exclu­ded and barred to claime, challenge, or demand any Inhe­ritance, as lawfull Heire to Henry the eight; as remaineth yet to bee seene amongst the Statutes of Henry the eight, printed by Thomas Berthlet, the Kings Printer, and set forth with Priuiledge.

And fearing, lest for the said cause of Illigitimation, her Subjects should forsake her, and stand to the right Heire, your Mother, or that Christian Kings would not permit so euill a president, in prejudice of the law­full Lineall discent of Kings: casting off all feare of God, shee resolued, at what price soeuer to reigne, and to that end beganne to practise Ieroboams policie, of whom it is written, that hauing obtained a part of Ro­boams Kingdome, Thought in his heart, now will the 3. Reg. 12. Kingdome returne to the House of Dauid. If this people shall go vp to make Sacrifice in the house of our Lord, into Ierusalem, the heart of this people will be turned to their Lord Roboam, the King of Iuda, and they will kill me, and returne to him: and finding out a deuice, he made two gol­den Calfes, and said to them, Go vp no more into Ierusa­lem: Behold thy Gods, Israel, which brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt: And he put one in Bethel, and ano­ther 2. Parap. 11. in Dan. And he made Priests of the obiects of the peo­ple, which were not of the Tribe of Leui, and cast off the [Page 70] Priests and Leuites, that were in all Israel, and their poste­ritie, that they should not execute the Priest-hood of our Lord. And by these meanes Ieroboam esteemed, though falsely to establish the Kingdome of Israel in him, and his Posteritie.

So Ladie Elizabeth being thus ascended to the Crowne of England, contrary to the Law of God, Nature, and Nations, fearing lest her Subjects should forsake Her, and adhere vnto Your Mother, the lawful Heire (if they continued in the Catholike Faith, with Your Mother, and other people, and Kingdomes) shee put in practise this Ieroboams wicked policie, and Cas­sered al the Catholike Priests and Bishops in this Land and their Posteritie, that they should not execute the Priest-hood of our Lord, and vnder a veile of a Su­preame Gouernour, shee tooke vpon her all spirituall Power and Authoritie, and would not admit any to be Archbishop, Bishop, or Minister, who would not ab­jure and renounce all authoritie deriued from Iesus Christ, the Sonne of God, and his Apostles, and re­ceiue all their Power, Spirituall Authoritie, and Iuris­diction from her a woman: So that none could in her time be made an Archbishop, Bishop, Minister or Dea­con, or receiue any Degree in Schooles, or beare any Office vnder her, but he must first take the oath of Ab­renunciation, of all power and authoritie, which was not deriued from Her, as followeth.

I. A. B. Doe vtterly testifie, and declare in my con­science, Stat. An. 1. Eliz. cap. 1. that the Queenes Highnesse is the onely Supreame Gouernour of this Realme, and of all other Her Highnesse Dominions and Countries, as well in all Spirituall, or Ec­clesiasticall things, or causes, as Temporall, and that no forraine Prince, Person, Prelate, State, or Potentate (such as were our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ, and the A­postles, who were borne in Iuda, or thereabouts) hath [Page 71] or ought to haue any Iurisdiction, Power, Superiorite, Preheminence or Authoritie Ecclesiasticall or Spirituall, within this Realme, and therefore I doe vtterly renounce and forsake all forraine Iurisdiction, Powers, Superiorities and Authorities.

And if any did refuse to take the said oath of Abre­nunciation of all forraine Authoritie, such as was the Authoritie deriued from our Sauiour and the Apostles, and deny her Supreame Spirituall Authoritie in all things, they should neither beare Office, nor be admit­ted to any Degree in Schooles, or bee made Archbi­shops, Bishops, Ministers, Deacons, as is set downe at large in the first Chapter of the said Statute made in the first yeare of her reigne. And that there should be in her time no person or persons, or man whosoeuer, that might challenge any authoritie from Christ Iesus, or the Apostles; but that all Spirituall Power, and Ec­clesiasticall Iurisdiction, might be wholly in her, and receiued from her: Shee made a Law in her said first Parliament, That no forraine Prince, Person, Prelate, Stat. An. 1. El. cap. 1. State or Potentate Spirituall or Temporall, shal after the last day of this Session of Parliament, Ʋse, enioy or exer­cise any manner of Power, Iurisdiction, Superiority, Au­thority, Preheminence or Priuiledge, Spirituall or Ecclesia­sticall, within this Realme, or within any of her Maiesties dominions, or Countries that now be, or hereafter shal be, but from henceforth the same shalbe clearely abolished out of this Realme, and all other your Highnesse Dominions for euer: any Statute, Ordinance, Custome, Constituti­ons, or any other matter, or cause whatsoeuer to the contra­rie in any wise notwithstanding.

By which Law, shee hath not onely abolished out of this Realme, all the Authority which the Sonne of God left vpon earth, but also as much as lyeth in her power, shee hath debarred him from comming to [Page 72] Iudgement within her Dominions, or sending any one hither to preach or teach, that all authoritie might bee in her selfe, and come from her, to her Subjects, as from their God, or golden Calfe, vpon earth.

And lest there might be some doubt, how far her womanly Supreame-headship, in all things, might ex­tend, shee made another Law, to make it as large, as euer was the authoritie of our Lord, or his Apostles vpon earth; saying in the aforesaid Parliament: Be it enacted by the authoritie aforesaid; That such iurisdi­ctions, Stat. An. 1. El. cap. 1. priuiledges, superiorities, and preheminences, Spiri­tual and Ecclesiastical, as by any Spiritual, or Ecclesiasti­cal power, or authoritie, hath heretofore been, or may law­fully be exercised or vsed, for the Ʋisitation of the Eccle­siastical State and persons, and for reformation, order, cor­rection of the same, and of al manner errors, heresies, schismes, abuses, offences, contempts and enormities, shal for euer, by authority of this present Parliament, be vni­ted and annexed to the Imperial Crowne of this Realme. That being crowned Queene, though a woman, and a Bastard; yet now shee might haue as large Spirituall authoritie, as any man euer had, or might haue.

And so shee translated the Spirituall authoritie of Priesthood, not only from Spirituall to Temporall, but also from male vnto female, that whatsoeuer Spirituall or Ecclesiasticall power or authoritie, hath heretofore been, or may be lawfully vsed or exercised, for the vi­sitation of the Ecclesiasticall State and persons, and reformation and giuing of orders, and for the corre­cting them, and all manner of errors, heresies, schismes, abuses, offences, was by this law supposed to be who­ly in her a woman. And executing her Supreame Spi­rituall Function, in the first yeares of her raigne, shee set out two and fiftie Injunctions, vnder title of the Queenes Injunctions, with this Conclusion annexed [Page 73] to them. All which and singular Iniunctions, the Queenes Maiestie ministreth vnto her Clergie, and to al her louing Subiects, straitly charging and commanding them to ob­serue and keepe the same, vnder paine of deprauation, se­questration of fruits and Benefices, suspension, excommu­nication, and other such cohersion of Ecclesiasticall Iuris­diction.

And by this meanes, shee had all the Clergie at her command, both the enjoying of their Temporall Be­nefices, and Spirituall Offices, depending wholly vpon her feminine authoritie. In so much as, in the first yeare of her raigne, there arising some doubts about the lawfull making of her Archbishops, and Bishops; she by her effeminate authoritie, dispensed with all their disabilities, in these words: Her Highnesse by her Su­preame Stat. An. 5. El. cap. 1. power, hath dispensed with all causes or doubts of any disability, &c. about the making of the said Arch­bishops and Bishops, &c. that no cause or scruple, ambigui­tie or doubt, can or may be iustly obiected against the said Elections, Confirmations, or Consecration. And in the eight yeare of her raigne, doubts arising againe about the Consecration and making of her Archbishops and Bishops, she signifieth her former dispensation, saying; For as much as diuers questions hath lately growen, about Stat. An. 8. El. cap. 1. the making and consecrating of Archbishops and Bishops within this Realme, &c. Her Highnesse by her Supreame power and authoritie, hath dispensed with al causes or doubts of any imperfection or disabilitie, that can or may any wise be obiected against the same. And in the nine and thirtith yeare of her reigne, yet some doubts re­maining amongst her Subiects, that the Catholike Bi­shops, whom shee out of her effeminate authority had depriued, were lawfull Bishops, and hers false: shee depriued the Catholike Bishoppes againe, and made their authoritie void, to all intents and purposes, esta­blishing [Page 74] by her Law; That al and euery depriuation, and Stat. An. 39. El. Cap. 8. depriuations, and al euery sentence, and sentences of depri­uation whatsoeuer, had, pronounced, or giuen, at any time betweene the beginning of the reigne of the Queenes most excellent Maiesty that now is, and the tenth of Nouember in the fourth yeare of the same, (against any person or per­sons, which was, or tooke vpon him to be Archbishop, or Bi­shop of any Sea, or Bishopricke, or Deane of any Deanery, within this Realme, or any the Dominion thereof, in the reigne of the said late Queene Mary, from such Sea or Bi­shopricke) be adiudged, deemed, and taken good, and suf­ficient in Law to all intents and purposes, and so shal re­maine and continue, any appeale, exception, or other mat­ter, or thing whatsoeuer to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding: And that al such Archbishops, and Bi­shops, Note. and Deanes as were ordained, or made, by the au­thority or licence of the Queenes Maiesty that now is, at any time betweene the beginning of her reigne, and the said tenth day of Nouember, in the fourth yeare of her Maie­sties reigne, shalbe taken and adiudged to be lawful Arch­bishop, or Bishop of the Sea or Bishopricke, and Deane of the Deanery, vnto the which he was so preferred, assigned or appointed: And that the same Sea of Archbishop or Bi­shopricke and Deanery, vnto the which he was so preferred, assigned or appointed (though there were in it a Catho­like Bishop, as they were all in the beginning of her reigne, yet it) shalbe deemed, and adiudged to be meerely void to all respects and purposes, &c. And by this means, as much as lay in her, shee depriued all the ancient Archbishops and Bishops, both of their Spirituall au­thorities, and Temporall Bishoprickes, to all intents and purposes, and admitted and established these one­ly, who, whereas the Statute saith, ordained, or made by the authority of the Queene: and allowed, and ad­mitted of no authoritie, Spirituall or Ecclesiasticall, [Page 75] but in her and from her deriued to them. In so much as Fulke, glorying in the Spirituall influence he recei­ued from this Illigitimate Lady, in his Answere to a Counterfeit Catholike, pag. 50. saith to Catholikes, You are vtterly deceiued, if you thinke your Offices of Bi­shops, Priests and Deacons, any better then Lay-men; and you presume too much, to thinke that we receiue your or­daining to be lawfull. And in his Retentiue Motiues, pag. 67. he saith; With all our hearts, we defie, abhorre, detest, and spit at, your stinking, greasie Antichristian Or­ders. And WHITAKER cont. Durem, lib. 9. p. 821. saith; I would not haue you to thinke we make such recko­ning of your Orders, as to make our owne vocation vnlaw­full without them, and therefore keepe them to your selfe.

And all the Spirituall or Ecclesiasticall power, which any Archbishop, Bishop or Minister, hath ei­ther to teach, preach, administer Sacraments, or or­daine Ministers, together with any right, which they can pretend to any Archbishopricke, Bishopricke, Par­sonage, &c. doth so fully and wholly depend vpon Queen Elizabeth her womanly authoritie, and Statutes made by her, that her femall Supreme Spirituall autho­rity and Statutes repealed, all the Archbishoprickes, Bishopricks, and Parsonages within this Realme, toge­ther with their Offices, are voyde in Law, and as void, rest to be disposed. So that no other can, or may bee justly said, to be the Author and Founder of that Faith and Religion, which is now by publike authority pro­fessed in England, but onely Queene Elizabeth, for that from her, the English Protestant Archbishops, Bishops and Ministers, had whatsoeuer Priesthood, or Spiritu­all authority they can, or may pretend, or challenge, either to administer Sacraments, Teach or Preach, or execute any other spiritual supposed function: neither can English Protestant Ministers deny it, vnlesse they [Page 76] deny the Queenes Supremacie, and proclaime them­selues to be perjured in the oath of Supremacie, which they haue sworne. Whereupon they are justly and tru­ly called Elizabethians, and ought not, nor should not be called by any other name, seeing they haue no o­ther Author, or Founder of their Religion and Priest­hood, but Queene ELIZABETH, as we haue pro­ued by publike Statutes.

And this Queene ELIZABETH did, not that shee did thinke, that she being a woman had Supreme authoritie in all Spirituall things, or causes, the Scrip­tures saying: Let women hold their peace in the Church, 1. Cor. 14. for it is not permitted them to speake, but to be subiect. A­gaine, It is a filthy thing for a woman to speake in the Ibid. Church. Againe, Let women learne in silence, with all subiection, for I doe not permit a woman to teach. But de­sirous 1. Tim. 2. to reigne in this world, with whatsoeuer disho­nor of God, and danger soeuer of losing of her soule, and damnation of her Subiects, shee tooke vpon her IEROBOAMS Policies, to strengthen her selfe against Your Mother.

So I appeale vnto your Maiesty, well pleased to consider the wrong, and injustice your Protestant Mi­nisters doe vnto vs Roman Catholikes, your ancient Subjects, in persecuting vs, with the losse of goods, lands, libertie and life, for that we will not forsake the Religion planted vpon earth by the Sonne of God, to professe in place thereof, a Policie inuented by an Illi­gitimate woman.