The Bee Hive of the Romish Church, Argument
The argumēt of this booke: Wherein the Epistle or Letter missiue of Maister Gentian Heruet, is deuided into sixe partes, and the meaning of the same brieslie declared.
THis deepe grounded and most learned Epistle of the right worshipfull Doctour, Maister Gentian Heruet, directed to those, that are declined & fallen from the holie Romishe Catholike Church, is deuided into sixe speciall and principall partes: whereof the first is:
1 That the Heretikes and Huguenotes cannot repute them selues for faithfull people, so farre forth as they do not beleeue all things, which our louing mother the holie Church beleeueth, without whom no saluation can be obteined: & especiallie, for that they will not beleeue the Transubstantiation of the breade into the verie bodie of Christ.
2 The second is knitte to the first: namelie: They mainteine iniuriouslie, that wee ought to allowe nothing, but what is mainteined by Scripture.
3 Thirdlie: They doe not beleeue nor allowe of seuen Sacramentes, especiallie▪ Auricular confession, the sacrament of Matrimonie, and the holie ointment of Vnction.
4 Fourthlie: They doe the Catholikes great iniurie: insomuch as they repute them for idolaters and worshippers of idols.
5 Fifthlie: They seeke nothing else, but fleshlie libertie, and their owne appetites.
6 Sixthlie & lastlie: Their Preachers are vnlearned Doultes, and leade a lewde, loathsome, and wicked life.
In these sixe pointes is brieflie rehearsed the whole grounde and foundation of the holie Catholike doctrine, taught by the Romishe Church▪ and is so gallantlie established: yea, and all the Heretikes so finelie fetche ouer the coales, that there remaineth not a iotte to be spoken of anie further. Yet, seeing the ground and meaning of this Epistles Authour, did stretch chieflie to challenge the Heretikes foorth into the fielde, and then Championlike, to combate with them: (like as hee sheweth that not long since the noble Knight, Maister Nicholas Villegaignon, who by his writing thought to egge foorth Maister Iohn Caluine, and by that meane to hauehave wonne a perpetuall fame, and euerlasting memorie.) It is euen in like sorte fallen out with this good fellowe, as it did with the saide Villegaignon. For his happe was, the better to fitte his purpose, to set downe (as hee before mencioned) manie doubtfull partes, verie darke and obscure reasons, yea, and some somewhat grose, supposing herewithall (as with a baight) to drawe the fishe into his net. Whereby (alas) it came to passe, that his good and godlie meaning was spelde and construed a wrong waie, and the Heretikes did seeme to make a mocke of it, as though he were vnworthie to hauehave an answere to the same, considering that hee did shewe verie litle scripture or authoritie to affirme his matter: Euen in like manner as they had in times past iested with the foresaid Villegaignon.
Therefore it hath seemed both good and necessarie vntounto vsus, and for the preferrement of the holie Romishe Church, most auaylable, that this present Epistle shoulde be at large declared: and verie strong and apte authorities to be brought in, for euerie part and parcell of the same, collected aswell out of the Scripture, as out of the bes… and fittest bookes of the auncient Fathers, Councels, and Decrees, wherewithall our louing mother the holie Churche is most supported: to the ende wee should the better conceiue the costlie hidden treasures, which are comprehended in this short Epistle: and that eache might vse the same to his most aduantage, and for a publike instruction, hoping (thorough this holie and meritorious worke) to purchase heauen, and withall to redeeme and set free two or three soules out of Purgatorie.