ists approve not of
this course of reconciliation, they (I know) would purge the ceremonies of
the blame of it. I will therefore show, that Reconcilers are set forward
in their course of reconciliation, by means of the Roman rites remaining
in reformed churches.

G. Cassander, in his book _de Officio pii Viri_, relates unto us how he
was entered into this course, and conceived this purpose of
reconciliation, and tells, that from his youthhood, he was most observant
of ecclesiastical ceremonies, yet so, that he abhorred all superstition.
And when he had read the writers of that age, who promised some
reformation and repurgation of superstitious worships and absurd opinions,
he saith, _Mire illorum institutum placuit: qui tamen ita superstitiones
et abusiones, quae nonnullis ceremoniis ecclesiasticis admixtae erant,
exosas haberem ut ipsum ecclesiasticam politiam, quae his ceremoniis fere
constant, non sublatum et eversam, sed repurgatam et emendatam esse
vellum_. We see the first thing which induced him to a reconciliation, was
his liking which he had to popish ceremonies, and their remaining in
protestant churches, and as this course hath been attempted, so is it also
advanced by the ceremonies, for thereby people are induced to say, as they
said once, when popish ceremonies did re-enter in Germany.(300) "We
perceive now, that the Pope is not so black as Luther made him." And as
for the Reconcilers themselves, may they not conceive strong hopes to
compass their end? May they not confidently embark in this business? May
they not with great expectation of prosperous success achieve their
project? When once they have footing upon our union with Rome in
ceremonies and church policy, they cannot but hereupon conceive no small
animosity to work out their intended purpose.

Do I talk of a chimera, and imagine now that which is not? Nay, I will
really exemplify that which I say, in that Proteus and Versipelles, the
Archbishop of Spalato, for, in the narration of the passages which were
betwixt his Majesty and him, collected by the Bishop of Durham, we
find,(301) that he thought the procuring of concord betwixt the church of
England and the church of Rome to be easy. And his reasons were,(302)
because he was verily persuaded, that the Pope would approve the English
liturgy and the public use of it, as he professed in his colloquy with the
Bishops of London and Durham, and the Dean of Winchester. And
further,(303) he told he was