A Discourse Penned by a Romish Priest, Appendix
Appendix.
HEre followeth the forme of recantation enjoyned the Lollards, Anno Regis Richardi Secundi decimo nono. Together with the resolution of the Fathers in the Councel of Trent, 1564. and the Oathes of Supremacie enacted 35. Henry 8. and 1. Elizabeth; as also a proviso for expounding the Oath the fift of Elizabeth. and the Admonition annexed to the Injunctions Elizabeth 1. whereof there is often mention made in the Animadversions.
Ex Rotulo clausarum de Anno decimo nono Richardi Secundi — m. 18. dorso.
MEmorand. quod primo di… Septembris Anno Regni Regis Richardi secundi▪ De memorando irrotulat….post conquestū decimo nono Willielmus Dinet, Nich-Taylour, Nich-Poucher, et Willielmus Steynour de Nottingham in Cancellar. ipsius Regis personaliter, constituti Sacramenta divisim praestiterunt sub eo qui sequitur tenore.
I William Dynet byfor yhow worschipefull fader and Lorde Archbishop of Yho…ke and yhour Clergie with my free will and full avysede swere to God and to all his Seynts upon this holy Gospels, yat fro this day forthwarde I shall worship ymages with preying, and offering unto hem in the worschep of the Seintes, that they be made after. And also I shall nevermore despyse pygremage ne states of holy Chyrche in noe degree. And also I shall be buxum to the lawes of holy Chyrche and to yhow as myne Archbishop and to mine other ordinaries and Curates, and keepe tho lawes up my power, and meyntein hem. And alsoe I shall never more meyntein ne techen, ne defenden Errours, conclusions, ne techinges of the Lollardes, ne swych conclusions and techynges that men clepyth Lollards doctrine, ne I shall her bokes ne swych bokes ne hem or any suspect or diffamede of Lollardery receive or company withall wittingly or defend in tho ma…ters, and if I know any swych, I shall with all the haste that I may doe yhow or els your ner officers to wytten and of her bokes. And also I sha…l excite and stirre all tho to good doctrine that I have hyndred with myne Doctrine up my power. And also I shall stond to yhour declaration which es heresy or errour and do thereafter. And also what penance yhe woll for that I have done for meyteyning of this fals doctryn injuyne me and I shall fulfill. And I submit me thereto up my power. And also I shall make no other glosse of this myne oath, bot as the words stonde. And if it be soe that I com agayn or do agayn this oth or any party thereof, I yhelde me here cowpable as an heretyk and to be punyshed by the law of an heretyke, and to forfet all my godes to the Kings will withouten any other processe of law; and thereto I require the Notarie to make of all this the which is my will an Instrument agayns me.
Et ex habundanti idem Willielmus Dyn…t eodem die voluit et recognovit quod omnia bona et catalla sua mobilia nobis sint forisfacta in casu quo ipse juramentum praedictum seu aliqua in eodem juramento contenta de cetero contravenerit ullo modo.
Declaratio Patrum concilli Tridentini, circa frequentationem Ecclesiarum, Eo tempore, quo hereticiritus exercentur, aut praedicatur haeresis.
Pax Christi quae exuperat omnem sensum, custodiat corda vestra & intelligentias vestras, Amen.
Viri Dignitate conspicui, religione, & multis nominibus illustres aequam & honestam postulationem vestram ad nos detulerunt N. & C. quam à vobis ad se praelatam asserebant cujus hoc est exemplum.
REligione in Anglia mutatâ, & poenâ propositâ, si quis Diebus Dominicis & festis à templis abstineat, interim Dum Psalmi, & ex utro que testamento lectiones, lingua vulgari recitantur: laici multi catholici, nobiles, & Deum timentes; partim in carcere agentes, partim mox eò conjiciendi, amicorum & consanguineorum precibus ac monitionibus & imminentium periculorum metu invitantur, ut saltem ea tenus, de sententia denuo, se permittant, ut in templis protestantium tantisper interesse velint Diebus Dominicis & aliis festis, Dum Psalmi ex more linguâ vulgari, decant arisoliti & lectiones ex Bibliis linguâ item vulgari depromptae; nec non conciones quae ad eorum dogmata approbanda apud pop. frequentiùs habentur; commemoratae sunt. Iam qui huc usque nullo modo deduci potuerint, ut publicis predictis precibus, & concionibus interessent, magnopere … postulant, quid his faciendum censeant viri pii & … Nam si nullo animae periculo, aut nulla Dei offensione, …ubli…o regni sui Decreto parere & obedire liceat: liben…r …d fecerint. Contra vero si quid in hac re periculum sit sa…utis aeternae, aut l…sae Divinae Majestatis: quae vis perpeti de…reverunt potiùs qùam quicquam agere aut committere unde Deum off…nsum iri, aut irritatum intelligant. Haec quest… cum multas pias & religiosas conscientias exerceat, & co… tu…bet, r…ga…di estis omnes per v…scera misericordiae, & charitatem quam Christus à suis omnibus exigit, ut eam palu… & dilucide quam primùm expediatis, qua multi in ho… regno implicat… torquentur.
Quod haec charta complectitur, nullius nomine singulariter praefertur quia non ad unum aliquem pertinet, quod hic petitur, sed ad omnes fere nobiles quos Anglia habet Catholicos, quibus jam multis modis pericula intentantur. Iis universis in tua illustrissima Dominatione magna spes auxilii effulget, si eadem vel Dei, vel nobilitatis respectu, agere dignabitur cum amicis quos in concilio habet Tridentino ut huic questioni, quae totius nobilitatis nomine his adjuncta est, responsum maturum & Deliberatum accommodetur, & huc commoda tuae D. opera perferatur. In quo haud dubie acquiessent perturbatae nunc conscientiae, si ex tetam sancto & nobili patre certiores fieri possint, quid patres hac de re iudicent. Quanquam fortasse tutum non fuerit, hanc questionem publice in concilio proponi, ne res divulgata nostrorum protestantium animos exacerbet, & aliquibus periculum acceleret, (nisi tuae prudentiae aliter videatur) ideo tua prudentia consultius fecerit, si ita cum selectis quibusdam hanc causam egerit, ut quod ipsi in hac causa piissimi & doctissimi theologi consulti significaverint, id proinde valeat, ac si universi patres sententias dixissent: Caeterum hoc totum tuae Do judicio, & arbitrio relinquendi satius sit, ut ipsa quod magis in rem esse prospiciat, …d libere agat. Qui in Anglia …unc sunt theologi partim metuunt, partim varie respondent▪ ideo plane omnibus satisfaciet, quod te procurante ex Triden…no huc respondebitur.
Pro quo vestro tam firme christiano & vere religioso animo non possumu… non Deo opt. max. agere gratias, & nobis magnopere gratulari. Etsi enim calamitatum vestrarum sensus, cunctos vehementer tangat & cruciet, ut Christiana charitas hortatur, quae tam arcto necessitudinis vinculo omnes devinctos & constrictos tenet, ut mutuo afficiat membra, atque fratrum commoda & incommoda non aliena sed propria ducat; in illo tamen non est minima consolatio, quod calamitosis hisce temporibus & in eo potissimum regno, in quo fides religiosorum miserè jacet, cernimus nullo iniuriarum concursu, aut metus vi charitatis vestrae ardorem extingu…, aut fidem convelli, aut constantiam labefactari: quinimò vos esse, qui in tanta rerum omnium confusione, ac molestiarum turbulentissimá tempestate nunquam curvaveritis genua ante Baal, non sine magna Divini nominis Christianae que disciplinae gloria. Ne igitur vestris constans animus, qui nullis cōmodis ad impietatem torqueri flective unquam potuit, fallacibus rationibus ad vestram perniciem comparatis aut Divinae legis ignoratione pietatisve simulatione deciperetur & minueretur: quod sustinemus dignum & Christiani hominis officio debitum existimavimus vestris piissimis optatis morem gerere; causam que vestram examinandam accuratè, diligenter, maturè que commissimus gravissimis quibusdam patribus ac reverendissimis Dominis Archiepiscopo Bracharensi, Archiepiscopo Lanci…nensi, Episcopo Dombriscensi, Episcopo Lerenensi, reverendo patri Iacobo Laine… generali societatis Iesu: simul que spectatissimis quibusdam Doctoribus Alphonso Salmeroni Fratri Petro de Soto quem arbitramur vobis & facie & nomine notissimum; D. Georgio de Fr. Francisco Fercensi. Doct. Melchiori Cornelio: Iacobo Paiva de Andrada item Doctori, quorum omnium religio, pietas & eruditio certissimis testimoniis explorata est. Quorum sententias nostro etiam judicio comprobatas non dubitamus quin sententiae totius concilii instar sitis merito habituri. H…i igitur patres ac Theologi quibus haec provincia data est, cum s…pe convenissent, atque diligenter & circumspectè divina oracula, & sanctorum patrum sententias & instituta deliberando evolvissent, communibus suffragiis concluserunt minime vobis sine magno scelere, divina que indignatione licere hujusmodi hereticorum precibus, illorumve concion…bus in…eresse; ac longe multum praestare, quaevis atrocissima perpeti quam in profligatissimis sceleratissimis que rit…bus, quovis signo illis consentire. &c.
The Oath of Supremacie Enacted 35. Henrici octavi.
I A. B. Having now the vaile of darknesse of the usurped power, authoritie and jurisdiction of the See and Bishops of Rome, clearely taken away from mine eyes, doe utterly testifie, and declare in my conscience, that neither the See, nor the Bishop of Rome, nor any forrein Potentate, hath, nor ought to have any jurisdiction, power, or authoritie, within this Realme, nether by Gods, law nor by any other just law, or means. And though by sufferance and abuse in times passed, they aforesaid have usurped, and vendicated a fained and unlawfull power and jurisdiction within this Realme, which hath been supported till few yeeres passed, therefore because it might be deemed, and thought thereby, that I tooke or take it for just and good, I therefore now doe clearely and franckly renounce, refuse, relinquish, and forsake that pretended authoritie, power and jurisdiction, both of the See and Bishop of Rome, and of all other forrein powers. And that I shall never consent and agree, that the foresaid See, or Bishop of Rome or any of their successours, shall practise, exercise, or have any manner of authoritie, jurisdiction or power within this Realme, or any other the Kings Realmes or Dominions, nor any forrein Potentate, of what estate, degree, or condition soever he be, but that I shall resist the same at all times, to the uttermost of my power: And that I shall beare faith, truth, and true Allegiance to the Kings Majestie, and to his heires and successours, declared or hereafter to be declared by the authoritie of the Act made in the Session of the Parliament holden at Westminster the fourteenth day of Ianuary, in the five and thirtieth yeere, and in the said Act made in the eight and twentieth yeere of the Kings Majesties reigne. And that I shall accept, repute and take the Kings Majestie, his heires and successours (when they or any of them shall enjoy his place to be the only supreame Head in earth, under God of the Church of England and Ireland, and of all other His Highnesses Dominions. And that with my body, cunning, wit, and uttermost of my power, without guile, fraud, or other undue means, I shall observe, keepe, maintaine, and defend all the Kings Majesties styles, titles, and rights, with the whole effects and contents of the Acts provided for the same, and all other Acts and Statutes made, or to be made within this Realme, in and for that purpose, and the derogation, extirpation and extinguishment, of the usurped and pretended authoritie, power and jurisdiction of the See and Bishop of Rome, and all other forrein Potentates, as afore. And also aswell the said Statute made in the said eight and twentieth yeer, as the Statute made in the said Session of the Parliament holden the 35. yeere of the Kings Majesties Reigne, for establishment and declaration of His highnesse succession, and all Acts and Statutes made, and to be made in confirmation and corroboration of the Kings Majesties power, and Supremacie in earth, of the Church of England and Ireland, and of other the Kings Dominions. I shall also defend and maintaine with, by body and goods, and with all my wit and power, and this I shall doe against all manner of persons, of what estate, dignitie, degree, or condition they be, and in no wise doe nor attempt, nor to my power …uffer, or know to be done, or attempted, directly or indirectly, any thing or things privily or apertly to the let, hinderance, damage or derogation of any of the said Statutes, or of any part of them, by any manner of means, or for or by any manner of pretence. And in case any Oath hath been made by me to any person or persons in maintenance, defence, or favour of the See and Bishop of Rome, or his authoritie, jurisdiction or power, or against any Statutes aforesaid, I repute the same as vaine and annihilate, and shall wholly and truly observe and keepe this Oath, so helpe me God, all Saints, and the holy Evangelists.
The Oath of Supremacie enacted 1•. Elizabeth, cap. 1o.
I, A. B. Doe utterly testifie and declare in my conscience, that the Queenes highnesse is the onelyonly Supreame governour 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 forreigne Prince, Person, Prelate, State, or Potentate, hath or ought to have any jurisdiction, power, superioritie, preheminence, or authoritie, Ecclesiasticall, or Spirituall, within this Realme: and therefore I doe utterly renounce and forsake all forraigne jurisdictio…s, powers, superiorities, and authorities, and doe …omise that from henceforth I shall beare faith an… …rue Allegiance to the Queenes Highnesse, her … and lawfull Successour and to my power, shall ass…st and defend all jurisdictions, priviledges, preheminences, and authorities, granted or belonging to the Queenes Highnesse, her Heires, and Successours, or united and annexed to the Imperiall Crowne of this Realme. So helpe me God, and by the Contents of this Booke.
A Proviso in an Act 5 o. Elizabeth, c. 1o. for expounding this Oath.
PRovided also, that the Oath expressed in the said Act made in the said first yeere shall be taken and expounded in such forme as is set forth in an Admonition annexed to the Queenes Majesties Injunctions, published in the first yeere of her Majesties reigne, that is to say, to confesse and acknowledge in her Majestie, her Heires and Successours, none other authoritie, then that was challenged and lately used by the noble King Henrie the eighth, and King Edward the sixth, as in the said Admonition more plainly may appeare.
The Admonition annexed to the Injunctions Elizabeth 1o. followes with this Title.
An Admonition to simple men deceived by malicious.
THe Queenes Majestie being enformed, that in certaine places of this Realme, sundry of her native subjects, being called to Ecclesiasticall Ministrie in the Church, be by sinister perswasion, and perverse construction, induced to finde some scruple in the forme of an Oath, which by an Act of the last Parliament is prescribed to be required of divers persons for the recognition of their Allegiance to her Majestie, which certainly neither was ever meant, ne by any equitie of words, or good sense can be thereof gathered; would that all her loving subjects should understand, that nothing was, is, or shall be meant, or intended by the same Oath, to have any other Dutie, Allegiance or Bond required by the same Oath, then was acknowledged to be due to the most noble Kings of famous memorie, King Henry the eight her Majesties Father, or King Edward the sixt her Majesties Brother.
And further her Majestie forbiddeth all manner her subjects to give eare or credit to such perverse and malicious persons, which most sinisterly and maliciously labour, to notifie to her loving subjects, how by the words of the said Oath it may be collected that the Kings or Queenes of this Realme possessours of the Crowne, may challenge authoritie and power of Ministrie of Divine Offices in the Church, wherein her said subjects be much abused by such evill disposed persons. For certainly her Majestie neither doth, ne ever will challenge any other authoritie, then that was challenged and lately used by the said noble Kings of famous memory, King Henrie the eight, and King Edward the sixth, which is and was of ancient time due to the Imperiall Crowne of this Realme, that is, under God to have the Sovereigntie and rule over all manner of persons borne within these her Realmes, Dominions and Countries, of what estate either Ecclesiasticall or Temporall soever they be, so as no other forreigne power, shall or ought to have any superioritie over them.
And if any person that hath conceived any other sense of the forme of the said Oath shall accept the same Oath, with this interpretation, sense, or meaning, her Majestie is well pleased to accept every such in that beh…lfe, as her good and obedient subjects, and shall acquit them of all manner penalties contained in the said Act, against such as shall peremptorily or obstinately refuse to take the same Oath.