The Antipathy of the English Lordly Prelacy, Part 2 · Chapter 8 · Section 4 (3 of 4)

The Antipathy of the English Lordly Prelacy · Part 2 · Chapter 8 · Section 4 (3 of 4)

p. 418You have heard now the opinion of our Martyrs, Prelates, and godly Writers touching Episcopacie, Lordly Prelates, their trayterly practises, T…mporalties, and perniciousnesse to our Church and State both before and in K. Henry the eighth his raigne, in the very in…ancie of reformation, many then desiring and earnestly writing for their utter exterpation, as most pernicious instruments of mischiefe both to King, Church and Kingdome: I shall now proceed to give you some briefe account, what hath beene …hough of these particulars by our Writers, and Martyrs in King Edward the sixth, Queene Maries, and Queene Elizabeths subsequent raignes.

MARTYN BUCER.Learned Martyn Bucer, Professor of Divinity in the University o… Cambridge, in King Edward the sixth his raigne… in his booke **Lib. 2. c. 1.2.12. In his Scripoa Anglicana Basilea. 1577. p. 65.69.70.71.580.De Regno Christi (dedicated to this King) and Devi & usu sancti Ministerii, determines thus of Lordly Prelates, and their temporall offices: First, I doubt not, Most noble King, that your Majesty discernes, that this reformation of Christs Kingdome which wee require, yea which the salvation o… us all requires, Ab Episcopis nullo modo expectandum, is by no meanes to be exspected p. 419from the Bishops, since there are so few among them (even in this Kings raigne when they were best, which is worthy noting) which do clearly know the power of this Kingdome, and the proper offices thereof; yea, most of them by all meanes they may and dare, do either oppugne it, deferre or hinder it: and thereupon hee adviseth the King not to make use of Doctors Bishops, who had the greatest Titles, and largest revenues in this reformation, but of other godly Ministers, and Lay-men, wherein the knowledge and zeale of God did most abound; & to choose them for his Counsellours in this great worke who b… knew the power of Christ Kingdome, and desired with all their hearts that it might prevaile and raign first in themselves, & then in all others. And because (writes he) it is the duty of Bishop to govern the Churches, not by their owne sole pleasure, but with …he counsell of Presbiters, and Ministry of Deacons, there will be a nececessity, as al the offices of Churches are now dissipated, and perverted, to adjoyne to every one of the Bishops, though never so approved, a councell of Presbyters, and ministry of Deacons, who also ought to be most holily examined and tryed, whether they have received of the Lord, both ability and will to be assistant to their Bishop in the administration and procuration of the Churches: the Presbyters in councell, and assistance, the Deacons in observance, and ministration, &c. But now there are some of the Bishops, whose service your sacred Majesty useth in the administration of the Kingdome. But sith nothing in this world is commended to the care of men by the most high; which ought more solicitously & religiously to be looked to and managed, then the procuration of religion, that is, of the eternall salvation o… the elect of God; summum est nefas, it is the highest impiety to preferre any other Businesse before this care, or for any cause whatsoever to hinder them, so as their ministeries be lesse …ully adhibited to their Churches. Moses was most amply endued with the spirit of God, and excelled with incredible wisedome, and he altogether burned with a most ardent study of planting and preserving the true religion; yet seeing hee ought to governe the whole Common-wealth of I…rael, hee by Gods command set Aaron his brother with his sonnes over matters of religion, that they might WHOLY bestow themselves in them. The Maccabees truly joyned the Civill administration to the Ecclesiasticall, p. 420but with what successe their histories testifie, wherefore it is to be wished that Bishops according to Gods Law, religionibu… solis vacent procurandis, should onelyonly addict themselves to matters of Religion, and lay aside all other businesses from them, though beneficiall to mankind, and leave them to those who should wholly bestow themselves on them, being chosen thereto by God. There is no office that requires more study and care …han the procuration of soules. **It is the Divell then, not God that calls Bishops to be Courtiers and temporall officers.Satan knowing this very well, hath brought to passe, that Bishops and chiefe Ecclesiasticall Prelates should be sent for by Kings & Emperours unto their Courts to manage publike affaires, both of warre and pe…ce. Hence these mischiefes have ensued; first, a neglect of the whole sacred ministry, the corruption of doctrine, the destruction of discipline. After as soone as Prelates began to usurpe the place of Lords, they challenged their luxury & pomp to themselves to which end since the wealth of Princ…s was requisite, that which they ought to bestow out of their Ecclesiasticall revenues, upon the faithfull Ministers of Churches, upon Schooles, upon the poore of Christ, all these things being taken from them by horrible sacriledge, they spent them upon riot, and princely pompe. And when as the goods of the Church were not sufficient to maintaine this luxury and pompe, they flattered away, and begged, and by various frauds tooke from Kings goodly rich po…sessions, and great Lordships:**How Prelates came by their great Lordly possessions. by which accessions their luxury and pride was thenceforth not onelyonly fostered and sustained, but likewise infinitely increased: which afterwards so farre prevailed, that the spoyles of single Churches would not suffice each of them, but they brought the matter to this passe, that one at this day may fleece or spoyle three or foure Bishoprickes, Abbies, and other Prelacies, and such a multitude of parish Churches as is horrible to name; for they say there is one lately dead in this Kingdome who fleaed above 20. Parishes. So Bucer, See his Scripta Anglicana. pag. 254.255.259.291, 292, 293. and Comment. in Matth. 16. And …he unbishoping of Timothy and Titus. p. 106, 107, 108.Matt 16who held Bishops & Ministers to be all one, and that the power of ordination (resting originally in Christ, derivatively in the whole Church, and ministerially onelyonly in Bishops, and Presbyters as servants to the Church) belonged as well to Presbyters as to Bishops; with whom Peter Martyr his fellow Regius professor of Divinity in the University of Oxford fully concur…es, in his Commonplaces, printed at London cum privilegio: Ann. 1576. Class. 4. Loc. 1. Sect. 23. p. 849. to which I shall referre you for brevity sake.

p. 421To these I might adde; The image of both Pastors, written by Huldricke Zwinglius, Zwinglius.translated into English by Iohn Veron, dedicated to the Duke of Somerset, Lord Protector, and Printed at London, Cum privilegio, An. 1550. Wherein he proves the parity and identity of Bishops and Presbyters: condemnes the Lordly and sec…lar dominion, Wealth, Pompe, Pride, Tyranny, Nonpreach, and rare preaching of Prelates; and manifests Lord Bishops, as then they stood (and now) to be false Pastors, and meer papall and antichristian officers, not warranted by Gods word; but because Zwinglius was a forraigner, I shall passe it by without transcribing any passage thereof.

Mr. Iohn Hooper, Bishop Hooper.both a Bishop, and martyr of our Church, a great **Fox vol. 3. pag. 46.137.opposer of Ceremonies, Episcopall Rochets, and Vestments in which hee would not b… consecrated, **Upon the 8. Commandement p. 78.writes thus of the secular imployments, wealth, and calling of Bishops. For the space of 400. yeares after Christ, the Bishops applyed all their wit only to their owne vocation, to the glory of God, and the honour of the Realmes they dwelt in: though they had not so much upon their heads as our Bishops have, yet had they more within their heads, as the Scripture and Histories testifie. For they applyed all the wit they had unto the vocation, and ministry of the Church, whereunto they were called. But our Bishops have so much wit that they can rule and serve (as they say) in both States, in the Church, and also in the Civill policie, when one of them is more then any man is able to satisfie, let him doe alwayes his best diligence. If hee be so necessary for the Court, that in Civill causes he cannot be spared, let him use that vocation, and spare the other: It is not possible hee should doe both well. **See Rucerus d… r…gn… Christi, l. 2. c. 12.It is a great oversight in Princes thus to charge them with two burthens: the Primitive Church had no such Bishops as wee, they had such Bishops, as did preach many godly Sermons in lesse time, than our Bishops horses be a bridling. Their house was a Schoole, or treasure house of Gods Ministers, if it be so now let every man judge. The Magistrates that suffer the abuse of these goods be culpable of the …ault; if the fourth part of the Bishopricke remained to the Bishop, it were sufficient; the third part to Schoolemasters:Note. the second to poore, and souldiers were better bestowed; If any be offended with me for this my saying, he loveth not his owne soules health nor Gods Laws, nor mans; out of which I am alwayes ready to p. 422prove the thing I have said to be true. Further, I speake of love, not of hatred. And in his Apologie hee saith, It is both against Gods Laws & mans, that Bishops and clergie men should be judges over any subjects within this Realme, for it is no part of their office, they can do no more but preach Gods Word, and minister Gods Sacraments, and excommunicate such as God… Lawes do pronounce to be excommunicated; who would put a sword into a madmans hand? And in his exposition on Psal. 23.1580. f. 40. Although Bishops (saith hee) in the raigne of Constantine the Great obtained, that among Bishops some should be called Archbishops, and Metropolitans, &c. Yet this preheminencie was at the pleasure & discretion of Princes, & not alwaies tyed to one sor… of Prelates, as the impiety of our time beleeveth, as we may see in the Councell of Calcedon & Africke. So that it is manifest, that this Superior preheminency is not of Divine, but of humane right, instituted out of civill policie. So Hooper.

The Booke of ordination of Ministers,The Booke of Ordination. and Consecraation of Bishops, compiled by the Bishops in King Edwards dayes, ratified by **3 Edw… 6. c. 12.8. Eliz. c. 1.two Acts of Parliament, and subscribed to by all our Canon. 36.Ministers, hath this notable passage, and charge against the Lordlinesse, and secular imployments of Prelates and Ministers, prescribing all Bishops, when they ordaine Ministers, Archbishops, or Bishops, to use this exhortation to them. Have alwayes printed in your remembrance, how great a treasure is committed to your charge, for they be the sheepe of Christ which hee bought with his death, and for whom he shed his blood… the Church and Congregation, whom you must serve, is his spouse and body; And if it shall chance the same Church, or any member thereof to take any hurt or hinderance by reason of your negligence, yee know the greatnesse of the fault, and also of the horrible punishment which will ensue. Where…ore consider with your selves the end of your Ministry towards the children of God, towards the spouse and body of Christ; and see that you never cease your labour, your care, and diligence, untill you have done all that lyeth in you, according to your bounden duty to bring all such as are or shall be committed to your charge, unto …hat ripenesse or perfectnesse of age in Christ, that there be no place left among them either for errour in religion, or for vitiousnesse of life. (And what Prelate or Minister hath done this?) And for this selfe same cause, yee see how yee ought to forsake, and se… p. 423aside (as much as you may) all worldly cares and studies. Wee have good hope, that you have well weighed, and pondered these things with your selves long before this time, and that you have cleerly determined by Gods grace to give your selves wholly to this vocation, whereunto it hath pleased God to call you; see …hat (as much as lyeth in you) you apply your selves who…ly to this one thing, and draw all your care and study this way, & to this end; And that you will continually pray for the heavenly assistance of the Holy Ghost, that by daily reading and weighing of the Scriptures, you may so waxe riper, and stronger in your Ministry. And …hat this your promise shall more move you to doe your d…ties, yee shall answer plainly to these things which we in the name of the Congregation shall demand of you touching the same.

Will you give your faithfull diligence alwayes to …inister the Doctrine and Sacraments,The Bishop. and the Discipline of Christ, as the Lord hath commanded, and as this Realme hath received the same, according to the Commandements of God; so that yo… may teach the people committed to your cure and charge, with all diligence to keepe, and observe the same?

I will so doe by the helpe of God.Answer.

Will you be diligent in Prayers,The Bishop. and in reading of the holy Scriptures, and in such studies as helpe to the knowledge of the same, laying aside the study of the World, and the Flesh?

I will endeavour my selfe so to doe,Answer. the Lord being my helper. And at the consecration of every Archbishop and Bishop, this charge by the direction of the said booke is given to him.

Bee thou to thy flocke a sheepheard, not a wolfe; feed them, but devoure them not. And it is worthy observation, that the same Chapters and Epistles are read at the ordination of Ministers, and consecration of Bishops; which proves their office and function both one and the same by divine institution.

The third part of the Homily, of the perill of Idolatry, ratified by the 35. Article of our Church; subscribed unto by all our Prelates and Ministers,The Booke of Homilies. published in King Edward …he 6. his dayes, and reprinted by King Iames his speciall command. determines thus against the Courtship, and secular imployment of Prelates. That Bishops in the Primitive Church did most diligently, and sincerely teach and preach, for they were then preaching Bishops, and more often seene in Pulpits than in Princes Palaces; more often p. 424occupied in his Legacie, who said, Goe yee unto the whole world and preach the Gospell unto all men; than in Ambassages and affaires of Princes of this world. And in the 5. and 6. part of the Homily against wilfull rebellion, and the second part of the Homily for Whitsunday, notably paints forth at large the treasons, conspiracies, practises, aud rebellions of Popes, and our Prelates against the Emperours and our Kings in former ages, which hee that will may there read at his leasure, being too common and large to recite.

Father LatimerM. Hugh Latimer (who gave over his Bishopricke out of conscience, in K. Hen…y the 8. his raigne, and never resumed it againe; skipping for joy, h…e was rid of that heavie burthen,) In his **in his Sermons, f. 17, 18, &c.Sermon of the Plough preached thus, God saith by the Prophet Ieremy, Maledictus qui facit opus Dei fraudulenter, guilefully, and deceitfully: some bookes have, negligenter, negligently, or slackly. How many such Prelates, how many such Bishops (Lord for thy mercy) are there now in England? And what shall wee in this case do? shall wee company with them? O Lord, for thy mercy shall we not company with them? O Lord, whither shall wee flee from them? But cursed be hee that doth the worke of the Lord negligently or guilefully: A sore word for them that are negligent in discharging their office ill; Yee that be Prelates looke well to your office: for right Prelating is busie labouring, and not Lording, therefore preach and teach, and let your plough be doing. Ye Lords (I say) that live like loyterers, looke well to your office, the Plough is your office and charge; if yee live idle, and loyter, you doe not your duty, &c. They have to say for themselves long customes, ceremonies, and authority, placing in Parliament, & many things more And I fear mee this Land is not ripe to be ploughed, for as the saying is, it lacketh withering. This Land lacketh withering, at least it is not for mee to plough. For what shall I looke for among thornes, but pricking and scratching? What among stones, but stumbling?Note this. what (I had almost said) among Scorpions, but stinging? But thus much I dare say, that since Lording, and loytering hath come up, preaching hath gone downe, contrary to the Apostles times; for they preached and Lorded not, and now they Lord and preach not; for they that bee Lords will ill goe to the Plough, it is no meete o…fice to them, it is not seeming for their estate: Thus came up Lording loyterers: thus p. 425crept up unpreaching P…elates: for how many unlearned Prelates have wee now at this day? And no marvell, for if the ploughmen that now be, were made Lords, they would cleane give over ploughing,Note this wel…. they would leave their labour and fall to Lording outright, and let the plough stand; & then both ploughs not walking, nothing should be in the Common-wealth but hunger: For ever since the Prelates were made Lords and Nobles, their plough standeth, there is no worke done, the people starve: they hawke, they hunt, they card, they dice, they pastime in their Prelacies with gallant Gentlemen, with their dauncing Minions, and with their fresh companions, so that ploughing is set aside, and by their Lording, and loytering, preaching and ploughing is cleane gone. And thus if the ploughmen in the Country were as negligent in their office, as Prelates be, wee should not long live for lacke of sustenance. And as it is neces…ary to have this ploughing for the sustenta…ion of the body, so must wee have also the other for the …atisfaction of the soule, or else we cannot live long ghostly: for as the body wasteth and consumeth away for lacke of bodily meate, so doth the soule pine away for want of ghostly meate; And as diligently as the Husband man plougheth for the sustentation of the Body, so diligently must the Prelates and Ministers labour for the feeding of the soule: Both the Ploughs must still be going, as most necessary for man: they have great labours and therefore they ought to have good livings, that they may commodiously feed their flocke; for the preaching of the Word of God is called meate: Scripture calleth it meate, not strawburies that come but once a yeare: and tarry not long, but are soone gone: but it is meate, it is no dainties: the people must have meate that must be familiar, and continuall and daily given unto them to feed on, &c. And wherefore are Magistrates ordained, but that the tranquillity of the Common-wealth may be confirmed, limiting both Ploughes? But now for the fault of unpreaching Prelates, mee thinkes I could guesse what might be said for excusing of them: they are so troubled with Lordly living; they be so placed in Palaces, couched in Courts, ruffling in their rents, dauncing in their Dominions, burthened with Embassages, pampering of their paunches like a Monke that maketh his Iubilee, mounching in their maungers, and moyling in their gay Mannors and Mansions, and so troubled with loytering p. 426in their Lordships, that they cannot attend it: they are othe…wise occupied, some in Kings matters, some are Embassadours, some of the Privie Counsell, some furnish the Court, some are **Fath…r La…ymer would not have Bishops Lords of the Parliament, or to sit therein.Lords of Parliament, some aree Presidents, and controllers of Mints. Well, well, Is this their duty? is this their calling? is this a meere office for a Priest, to be controllers of Mints? is this a meete office for a Priest that hath cure of soules? is this his charge? I would here aske a question, Who controlleth the Divell at home at his Parish whiles hee controlleth the Mint? If the Apostles might not leave the office of preaching to be Deacons, shall one leave it for minting? I cannot tell you; the saying is, that since Priests have beene Minters, money hath beene worse than it was before. And they say, that the evilnesse of money hath made all things deere. And in this behalfe I must speake to England: Heare my Country England, as Saint Paul said in 1 Cor. 6. (for Paul was no sitting Bishop, but a walking and a preaching Bishop) Is there (saith hee) utterly among you, no wise man to be an arbitrator in matters of judgement? What? not one of all that can judge betweene brother and brother, but one brother goeth to Law with another, and that under Heathen Iudges… Appoint those judges that are most abject and vile in the Congregation … Which hee speaketh in rebuking them, …or saith hee, ad e…ubescentiam vestram dico; I speake it to your shame. So England I speake it to thy shame, is there never a Nobleman to be a Lord President, but it must be a Prelate? Is there never a wise man in the Realm to be a Controller of the Mint? I speake it to your shame, I speake it to your shame: If there be never a wise man, make a water-bearer, a tinker, a cobler, a slave, a page controller of the Mint: Make a meane Gentleman, a Groome, a Yeoman, make a poore Begger Lord President. Thus I speake, not that I would have it so; but to your shame. Is there never a Gentleman meete nor able to be Lord President? For why are no… the Noble men, and young Gentlemen of England so brought up in the knowledge of God, and in learning, that they be able to execute offices in the Common-wealth? the King hath a great many Wards,Note this. and I heare there is a Court of Wards; Why is there not a Schoole of Wards, as well as there is a Court for their Lands? Why are they not set to the Schooles where they may learne? or why are they not sent to Universities, that they may be able to serve the King when they come to age? The onelyonly cause why Noble men be not made Lord Presidents is, because they have not beene brought up in learning, yet there be already Noblemen enough, though not so many as I could wish, able to be Lord Presidents; and wise men enough for the Mint: and as unmeet a thing it is for Bishops to be Lord Presidents, or Priests to be minters, as it was for the Corinthians to plead matters of variance before hea…hen Judges: It is also a slaunder to the Noblemen, as though they lacked wisedome, and learning to be able for such offices: A prelate hath a charge and cure otherwise, and therefore he cannot discharge his duty… and be a Lord President too, for a Presidentship requireth a whole man, and a Bishop cannot be two men; A Bishoop hath his office; a flocke to teach, to looke unto, and therefore he can…ot meddle with another office which requireth an whole man… hee should therefore give it over to whom it is meete, and labour in his owne businesse, as Paul writeth to the Thessalonians, Let every man doe his owne businesse, and follow his calling: Let the Priest preach, and the Noblemen handle Temporall matters. Well, I would all men would looke to their duty as God hath called them, and then wee should have a flourishing Christian Commonweale, &c. You may read all the Sermon to this purpose. In the close whereof he proves the devill to be the best Bishop in England, because hee alwaies followes his plough night and day, is never a Non-resident: and manifests our Bishops, even in King Edward… dayes when they were best, to be as bad or worse than the Devill, and chargeth the King in many of his Sermons to out with them, and make them all Quondam….

In his fift Sermon before King Edward, f. 61, 62. he thus prosecutes the same argument. Though, I say, that I would wish more Lord Presidents, I meane not, that I would have Prelates Lord Presidents, no… that Lord Bishops should be Lord Presidents. As touching that, I said my mind and cons…ience the last yeare. And although it is said, Praesint, it is not meant that they should be Lord Presidents, the office of a President…hip is a Civill office, and it cannot be that one man shall discharge both well, &c. In his Sermon at Stanford. p. 96. Christ was not the Emperours Treasurer, therefore he meddled not with that point, but left it to the Treasurer to define and determine. Hee went p. 428about another vocation to preach unto the people their duty, and to obey their Princes, Kings, Emperours, and Magistrates, and to bid them give that the King requireth of them, not to appoint a King, what hee shall require of them. It is meete for every man to keepe his owne vocation, and diligently walke in it, and with faithfulnesse to study to be occupied in that God hath called him unto, and not to be busie in that God hath not called him unto, &c. In his Sermon on S. Iohn Evangelists day. f. 284. But it is a thing to be lamented that the Prelates and other spirituall persons will not attend upon their Offices, they will not be amongst their flockes, but rather will run hither, and thither, here, and there, where they are not called, and in the meane season leave them at adventure of whom they take their living; yea and furthermore, some will rather be Clerkes of Kitchins, or take other offices upon them, besides that which they have already: but with what conscience these same doe so I cannot tell, The Spirituall Pastors have a great charge.I feare they shall not be able to make answe…e at the last day for their follies, as concerning that matter: for this office is such a heavie and mighty office that it requireth a whole man, yea and let every Curate or Parson keepe his Cure to w…ich God hath appointed him, and let him doe the …est that he can, yet I tell you he cannot chuse but the Devill will have some, for he sleepeth not, he goeth about day & night to seek whom he may devoure. Therfor… it is neede for every Godly Minister, to abide by his sheepe, seeing that the Wolfe is so neere, and to keepe them, and wit…stand the Wolfe. Indeed there be some ministers here in England which doe no good at al, and therefore it were better for them to leave their benefices, and give roome unto others. Finally, in his Sermon Preached before the Convocation Iune 9. in the 28. of Henry 8. he thus speaketh to the Clergie of England, In his Sermons fol. 10.11.and Lordly Prelates touching the utilitie of their Councels and assemblies for the Churches good: The end of your Convocation shall shew what ye have done, the fruite that shall come of your consultation, shal shew what generation ye be of. For what have ye done hitherto I pray you these 7. yeares & more? What have ye engendred? What have yee brought …orth? What fruite is come of your long and great assembly? what one thing that the people of England hath beene the better of an haire? Or you your selves, either accepted before God, or better discharged toward the people, committed unto your cure? Or that the people is better learned and taught now, then they were in time past, to whether of these ought p. 429we to attribute it, to your industry, or to the providence of God, and the foreseeing of the Kings Grace? Ought we to thanke you, or the Kings highnesse? whether stirred other first, you the King that ye might preach, or he you by his Letters, that ye should preach oftner? Is it unknowne thinke you, how both ye and your Curates were in manner by violence enforced to let bookes to be made not by you, but by prophane and lay persons, to let them I say, be sold abroad and read for the instruction of the people? I am bold with you, but I speake Latine and not English to the Clergie, no… to the Laity: I speake to you being pre…ent and not behind your backes. God is my witnesse, I speake whatsoever is spoken of the good will that I beare you, God is my witnesse which knoweth my heart, and compelle…h me to say, that I say. Now I pray you in God his name what did you, so great Fathers, so many, so long a season, so oft assembled together? what went you about? what would ye have brought to passe? two things taken away, the one, that ye (which I heard) burned a dead man: the other, that ye (which I le…t) went about to burne one being alive. Him because he did, I cannot tell how, in his Testament withstand your profit, in other points, as I have heard, a very good man reported to …e of an honest life, while he lived, full of good workes, both good to the Clergie, and also to the Laity; this other, which truely never hurt any of you, ye would have …aked in the Coales, because he would not subs…ribe to cer…aine Articles, that tooke away the Supremacie of the King. Take away these two Noble Acts, and there is nothing else left, that ye went about, that I know, saving that I now remember, that somewhat ye attempted against Erasmus, albeit as yet nothing is come to light. Ye have oft sit in consultation, but what have ye done? ye have had many things in deliberation, but what one put forth, whereby either Christ is more glorified, or else Christs people made more holy? I appeale to your owne conscience. How chanceth this? How came this thus? Because there were no Children of light, no Children of God among you, which setting the world at nought, would studie to illustrate the glory of God, and thereby shew themselves Children of light. So this godly Martyr, who hath sundry such like passage in his Sermons.

In the Conference, Dr. Harpesfield & Iohn Bradford. Fox Acts & Monuments v. 3. p. 293.Anno. 1555. betweene our Religious Martyr Iohn Bradford and Doctor Harpesfield Arch Deacon of p. 430London. Master Bradford complaines, that the Pillars of the Church were persecuters of the Church, and tells him you shall no… …nde in all the Scripture this your essentiall part of succession of Bishops: whereupon Harpesfield sayd, Tell me, were not the Apostles Bishops? To which Bradford replyed: No, except you will make a new definition of a Bishop, that is, give him no certaine place. Harpesfield, Indeede the Apostles Office, was not the Bishops office: for it was universall, but yet Christ instituted Bishops in his Church as Paul saith: he hath given Pastors, Prophets, &c. So that I trow it be proved by the Scriptures the succession of Bishops to be an essentiall point. Brad. The Ministry of Gods Word and Ministers be an essentiall point. But to translate this to the Bishops and their succession is a plaine subtilty. And therefore, that it may be plaine I will aske you a question; Tell me, WHETHER THAT THE SCRIPTVRE KNEW ANY DIFFERENCE BETWEENE BISHOPS AND MINISTERS, which ye called Priests? Harps. No. (So that by the joynt confession of Papists and Protestants in Queene Maries time Bishops and Ministers by the Scripture are both one.) Brad. Well, then goe on forwards, and let us see what ye shall get now by the succession of Bishops, that is of Ministers, which can be understood of such Bishops as minister not, but Lord it. Edmund All…n.Lord Bishops than are none of Christs institution, nor of the Apostles succession. Master Fox his Acts and Monuments of our Martyrs Lond. 1610. p. 1796. I finde this Dialogue betweene Dr. Iohn Baker, Collins his Chaplaine, and Edmund Allin a Martyr. Baker, I heard say, that you spake against Priests and Bishops. Allin, I speake for them, for now they have so much living and especially Bishops, Arch-deacons, and Deanes, that they neither can nor will teach Gods Word. If they had a hundred pounds a peece, This is the present objection for the continuance of Bishops, Deanes, and Chapters.then would they apply their study, now they cannot for other affaires. Collins, who will then set his children to schoole? Allin, Where there is now one set to schoole for that end, there would be 40. because that one Bishops living divided into 30. or 40, parts, would finde so many as well learned men as the Bishops be now, who have all this living; neithe… had Peter nor Paul any such revenue. Not….Baker, Let us dispatch him, he will mar all. Collins, If every man had a hundred pounds, as he saith, it would make more learned men. Baker, But our Bishops would be angry if that they knew it. Allin. It were for a Commonwealth to have such Bishoprickes divided, for the further increase of learning.

Infinite are the declamations and complaints of our godly p. 431Martyrs in Queene Maries and King Henry …he 8. his raigne against the Antichristian calling, Wealth, Temporalties, Tyranny, Pride, Pompe, Lordlinesse, and secular imployments of our Prelates … which because they are ordinary, and every man may reade them in Master F…x his Acts and Monuments, I shall therefore passe them by in silence, and proce…de to some other Authorities.

Our learned Io…n Bale IOHN BALE.determins thus of our Lordly Bishops.**His Image of both Churches on. Apoc. 19. & 20. part. 3. f. 195.208.Rev 19 The Bishops compasse every where about with tyranny and malice possible, the holds, the dwelling houses and places of resort pe…taining to the …aith…ull brethren: they vexe their bodies on every side with rebukes, sco…nes, blasphemies, lyes, scourgings, imprisonments, open shames of the world, and all manner of kindes of death: seldome escape any from the terrible hands of the Prelates and Priests, that sincerely …avour the truth: every where have they their spies, their Judasses, their false accusers, their Sommoners, their Bayliffes, and their pick-thankes, with o…her Officers to bring th…m in. In all places are they diligently watched, fiercely examined when they are taken, and cruelly enforced to accuse so many as they know of that beleefe. Every where have they spirituall prisons and Bishops Dungeons, with plenty of ropes, stockes, and irons, and as little charity else as the Devill hath in hell. This hath beene their order from the time of Satans Liberty, and this have they taken for an high point of Christian Religion. For this is the houre that Christ prophecied of, wherein men should thinke to doe God great service when they put one of his unto death. None other caused Herod and Pilate to put Christ to death, but Ann…s & Caiaphas. None other moved Felix the President of Iury to imprison Paul, but the puffed up Prelate Ananias. Trajanus the Emperour would never so extreamely have persecuted the Christian Church, nor yet o…her cruell tyrants ever since, had they not beene propped forward by such pampred Palfryes of the Devill, the beastly Bishops. Whose calling and trayterly Practises he much declaimes against both there, and in his Centuries, to which I shall referre you.

Matthew …ar…er Archbishop of Canterbury in the life of Hubert his predecessor,MATTHEW PARKER. writes thus of Bishops intermedling with secular offices and affaires:**Antiquit. Ec…l. Brit. p. 139.140.141.142.143. that about the yeare of our Lord …197. there was nothing …ound and sincere in the Christian republike, that the whole Clergie under a feigned and counterfeit p. 432shew of Religion, did wallow without punishment in wickednesse, in bribes, in honours and rapinesse, neglecting utterly the preaching of Gods Word. The Originall (saith he) of this evill sprung from this, that the Clergie did too much intermeddle with worldly affaires, contrary to the Decrees of the Orthodox Fathers. For at that time the Deane of Pauls was made Lord Treasurer; who carrying that Office, quickly hourded up a great treasure; at last falling into a deadly disease past recovery, he was exhorted by the Bishops and great men to receive the Sacrament of Christs body and blood, which he trembling at refused to doe: whereupon the King admonished and commanded him to doe it,A strange evill death of a Clergie Lord Treasurer, who like Iudas Christs Treasurer and bag-bearer dyed in despaire. he promised him thereupon to doe it the next day: being admonished to make his Will, he commanded all to voyd the roome but one Scribe. Who beginning to write his Will in the accustomed forme; In the Name of the Father, of the Sonne, &c. The Deane perceiving it, commanded him in a rage to blot it out, and these words onelyonly to be written; **Lego omnia bona m…a Domin… Regi, corpus sepultur…, Anim…m Diabolo. Qu… dict… expiravit, &c.I bequeath all my goods to my Lord the King, my body to the grave, and my soule to the Devill; which being uttered, he gave up the Ghost. The king hereupon commanded his carcasse to be carried in a cart, and drowned in the River. This kinde of examples (writes he) are therefore to be produced, that Clergie men may be de…erred from being Lord Treasurers,Note. Collectors of the kings customes, and from civill and publicke imployments. In Huberts time all secular offices almost were in Clergie mens hands, for some of them were Chauncellours, some Justices, some Treasurers of the kingdome, others had other O…fices in all the kings Courts and Pluralities of many great livings besides: which wealth, honours, offices, and dignities, as it made them like to kings in State and magnificence, so it puffed them up with such pride and arrogance, that in the 36. yeare of king Henry the third, they were removed from all Civill Offices and honours, at the instant request and desire of the greatest Noblemen to whom the same Offices were committed. Hence some of all orders in our present times have most See Nicholas de Clemangiis, De Corrupto Ecclesia statu. c. 17.18.19. an excellent Discourse against Bishops intermedling in temporall affaires, and bearing civill of…ces.sharpely reprehended the Clergie for this very thing, that being advanced to the degree of Divinity, than which nothing in humane life ought to be deemed more holy, they should bee hindred there-from with secular businesses, as with servile workes, and being with…drawne from divine things, should give themselves p. 433to pecuniary and Exchequer affaires which are most estranged from the dignity of their life, by which some (as appeares by the example of that Deane of Pauls) have made shipwracke both of Conscience and soule to. Willielmus Nubrigensis speaking of Hugh Bishop of Duresine, for intermedling with the procuration of temporall affaires, hath these words. That Office (to wit of Lord Chauncellor or chiefe Justice) was committed by the King to the Bishop of Duresine, who did not so much as refuse, but cheerefully imbrace it, who verily contenting himselfe with his proper office, had much more decently beene a minister of Gods Law, than of mans; since no man can serve both, as hee ought. And that saying of our Lord to the Apostles, Ye cannot serve God and Mammon, did principally respect the Apostles Successors. For if a Bishop that he may please both the heavenly and earthly king, at once wil devide himself to both Offices; Verily the heavenly King, who wils that men should serve him with all the heart, with all the soule, and with all the strength, doth neither approve, nor love, nor accept his divine ministry. What then will he doe, if a Bishop doth not give peradventure not so much as halfe of himselfe, to execute the things which are of God, and become a Bishop, but commits his cures to unworthy and remisse Executioners, that he may wholly serve an earthly Court or Palace? For no halfe man can sufficiently administer the Offices of an earthly Prince. By which sentences and examples we verily are admonished, that assiduous care and study of Clergie men, in worldly and Civill affaires, which makes them prove slow and unfit to divine things, is by all meanes to be reproved, and that the complaint of those is very unjust, who taxe them for not intermeddling with temporall affaires, and studie to call them backe from divine things, to which they ought with all their might to apply themselves. He further addes out of Roger Hoveden and others,**H…ved…n A…l. pars post…i…r. p. 779. Speed. p, 550 that the Pope enjoyned Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury, without delay to lay downe all his Temporall Offices, as being contrary to the Canons …o enjoy them, and against his honour and dignity; and further diligently admonished King Richard the 1. with a …atherly admonition, that as he tendred the Salvation of his soule, he should not permit the sayd Arch-bishop any longer to enjoy his secular office under him, and that he would neither admit him nor any other Bishop or Clerke to any other secular administration: and hee likewise commanded all Prelates of Churches, by vertue of their p. 434Canonicall Obedience; Ne ipsi ausu temerario seculares administrationes susciperent; that they should not rashly attempt the managing of any worldly imployments; because being intangled in secular affaires, they could nor sufficiently attend their Ecclesiasticall cures, seeing the wise man saith,

Pluribus intentus, minor est ad singula sensus.

And hence **Annal. pars posterior. p. 767.768.Roger de Hoveden, thus exclaimes against Huber… for resuming his temporall offices againe, after he had seemingl… informed the King that he would give them over; seeing …h… charge of his Church (as he sayd) was worke enough …or one man, whereunto onelyonly he would gladly dedicate himselfe. O in…licem Praesulem! licet saepius legisset, Neminem posse doubus Deminis se ruire, aut enim umun odio habebit, & alterum diliget, au… unumsustinebit, & alterum contemnet; praeelegit tamen officium sacerdotale postp…nere, quam regi terreno non adhaerere: & si… accepta regn… regiminis potestate officii administrationem ecclesias…ici, cui professionis voto ast rictus fuerat, parvi pendens, pro castris Regis Angliae stare non recusavit. So this Historian. Thus this Bishop.

THOMAS BEACON.Thomas Beacon a Prebend of Canterbury and a fugitive …or Religion in Queene Maries dayes in his Catechisme in the first volume of his workes Printed at London, Cum privilegio, Anno, 1560. Dedicated to both Archbishops and all the Bishops of England, F…. 499.500 And in his Supplication (written in Queene Maries time) Vol. 3. fol. 14.… 23. resolves thus of the parity of Bishops and Ministers, and the Antichristianity, cruelty, wealth, and secular imployments of our Lordly Prelates.

Father. What difference is there betweene a Bishop and Spirituall Minister, or Presbyter?

Sonne. None at all, their Office is the same, their authority and power is One; therefore S. Paul calls Spirituall Ministers sometimes Bishops, sometimes Presbyters, sometimes Pastors, sometimes Doctors, &c.

Father. What is a Bishop in English?

Sonne. A Watchman, or superintendent, as Paul saith to the Presbyters or Bishops of Ephesus, Acts 20.28. &c. Then hee addes that the first and principall point of a Bishops Spirituall Ministers Office is to teach and preach the Word of God. And concludes, that such a Bishop as either doth not, or cannot preach, is a Nicholas Bishop & an Idoll, and indeed no better than p. 435a painted Bishop on a Wall: yea, he is as the Prophet saith,Isay. 36.10.Isa 36:10 a dumbe dogge, and as our Saviour Christ saith, unsavory salt, worth nothing but to be cast out, Mat. 5.13.Matt 5:13and to be trodden under foote of men. Woe be to such Rulers that set such Idols and white daubed walls over the …ocke of Christ, whom hee hath purchased with his precious blood. Horrible and great is their great damnation. Our Saviour Christ saith to his Disciples, As my Father sent me, so send I you. Joh. 20.21.John 20:21Now who knoweth not, that Christ was sent of his Father to preach the Gospell? If they preach not (the case of many of our Lord Prelates) it is an evident token that Christ sent them no…, but Antichrist and the Devill. After which he thus proceedes in his supplication; Thou callest thy selfe a jealous God, why then dost thou suffer thy people, thy Congregation, thy flocke, thine heritage, to be thus seduced and led away from thee unto all kinde of spirituall fornication and abominable whoredome by that Antichrist of Rome, that great Baal, that stout Nemroth, that false Prophet, that beast, that whore of Babylon, that sonne of perdition, and by his abhominable adherents, Cardinalls, Arch-bishops, Bishops, Suffragans, Arch-deacons, Deanes, Provosts, Prebendaries, Commissaries, Parsons, Vicars, Purgatorie-rakers, Priests, Monkes, Fryers, Channons, Nunnes, Anckers, Anc…eresses, Pardoners Proctors, Scribes, Officialls, Somners, &c. with all the …able of beastly hypocrites that have received the beasts Marke, which doe nothing else than seeke how they may establish their An…ichristian Kingdome by suppressing thy holy Word, and leading the people into all kinde of blindnesse, errours and lyes, &c. But now the Shepheards,Wolvish Sheepheards. yea rather the Wolves, which are burst into thy sheepefold; and with violence have unjustly thrust out the faithfull and fatherly Pastors out of their cures, are Lordly, cruell, bloodthirsty, malicious and spitefull against thy sheepe. They are such Wolves as spare not the flocke, but scatter and destroy the flocke. They are theeves, robbers, murtherers and soule slayers. They feede themselves with the fattest, and cloath themselves with the finest wooll, but thy flocke they nourish not. The foode wherewith they Pasture thy sheepe, is the drowsie dreames and idle imaginations of Antichrist. In steede of the preaching of thy lively Word, they feede thy flocke with Latine mumblings, with dumbe Images, with Heathenish Ceremonies, with vaine sightes, p. 436and such other apish …oyes. In steede of the ministration of the holy and blessed Communion, they feede thy sheepe with vile stincking, abominable, devillish, blasphemous and Idolatrous Masses. And unto these unwholesome, pestilent, and poysonfull Pasturs, they drive the sheepe will they, nill they; and if any of thy flocke refuse to come and to taste of those their pestilent poysons, and poysons full of Pestilences, him they accite to appeare before the great Wolfe,The description of a certaine head Wolfe, clathed in a Bishops rotchet. whose face is like unto the face of a she Beare that is robbed of her young ones, whose eyes continually burne with the unquenchable flames of the deadly Cockatrice, whose teeth are like to the venemous tushes of the ramping Lyon, whose mouth is full of cursed speaking and bitternes, whose tongue speaketh extreame blasphemies against thee and thy holy Anoynted, whose lippes are full of deadly poyson, whose throate is an open Sepulcher, whose breath foameth and bloweth out threatning and slaughter against the Disciples of the Lord, whose heart without ceasing imagineth wickednesse, whose hands have a delight to be embrued with the blood of the Saints, whose feete are swift to shed blood, whose whole man both body and soule goe alwayes up and downe musing of mischiefe. This Wolfe O Lord is so arrogant, haughty, and proud, seeing the government of the whole Realme is committed unto him, that he hath cast away all feare of thee. He maketh boast of his owne wit, learning, and policy; his wayes are alway filthy, thy judgements are farre out of his sight, hee defieth all his enemies. For he saith in his heart, Tush, I shall ne…er be cast downe, there shall no harme happen unto me. He sitteth lurking like a Lyon in his den; that he may privily murther the innocent and sucke his blood. When such, O Lord God, as will not obey their Popish and devillish proceedings, are brought before that grievous Wolfe, they are miserably taunted, mocked, scorned, blasphemed, as thy deerely beloved sonne was in Bishop Caiphas house, and afterward cruelly committed to prison, to the Tower, to the Fleete, to the Marshalseys, to the Kings Bench, to the Counters, to Lollardes Tower, to Newgate, &c. where they are kept as sheepe in a pinfold appointed to be slaine. And as this cruell and bloody Wolfe dealeth with the poore Lambes, even so doe the residue of that lecherous litter. He with all other of that Wolvish kind, hunger and thirst nothing so greatly as the devouring of the bodies, and the sucking of the blood of thy poore and innocent Lambes. Ah Lord p. 437God, under that most wicked Queene Iezabel, A comparison betweene Queen Isabels time and ours.were not the Prophets, more cruelly handled, than thy faithfull Ministers be now? for as in the days of the wicked Queen Iezabel the Priests of Baal were had in great honour, & were chiefest and of highest authority about the Queen, none bearing so much rule in the Court as they, none having so much reverence done unto them, as they had; even so now is it with the idolatrous Priests of England;Priests chiefe in the Country, and thorow out England. they alone be chiefest and of much estimation with the Queene. They alone …uffle and raigne; they alone beare the swing in the Court; they alone have all things going forward as they desire; they alone be capped, kneeled, and crowched to; they alone have the keyes of the English Kingdome hanging at their girdles: whatsoever they binde or loose, whispering and trayterously conspiring among themselves, that same is both bound and loosed in the starre Chamber, in Westminster-Hall, in the Parliament house, yea in the Queenes privie Chamber, and throughout the Realme of England. The very Nobility of England are in a manner brought to such slavery,Awake Nobility. that they dare not displease the least of these spitefull spirituall limmes of Antichrist. It is writ, that certaine men gave their judgements, what thing was most mighty and strongest upon earth. The first sayd wine is a strong thing. The second sayd the King is strongest. The third sayd, women yet have more strength, but above all things the truth beareth away the victory. But we may now say (unto such an height is the tyranny of the Spirituall Sorcerers growne) that Priests in England are mightier, than either Wine, King, Queene, Lords, Women, and all that is there besides. But how agreeth this with the example of Christ, which fled away, when the people would have made him a King or a temporall governour? Christ refused to meddle with any worldly matters, as the History of dividing the inheritance betweene the two brethren doth declare. Christ willed his Disciples to refuse all worldly dominion and temporall rule. When they strove among them, who of them should be taken for the greatest: Christ sayd unto them, The Kings of the Gentiles reigne over them, and they that beare rule over them are called gracious Lords, but ye shall not be so, for he that is greatest among you, shall be as the least, and he that is chiefe, shall be as the minister. Christ sent not his Disciples to be Lords of the Councell, Lords of the Parliament, Lord President, Lord Chauncellour, Lord Bishop, Lord Suffragan, Lord Deane, Master Queenes p. 438Amner, Mr. Comptroller, Mr. Steward, Mr. Receiver, Sr. Iohn Massemonger, &c. but to be Ministers and disposers of the Mysteries of God, to be Preachers of the Gospell, to bee labourers in the Lords harvest, to be Pastors and feeders of the Lords flock, to be the salt of the earth, and the light of the world, to be an example to the faithfull in word and conversation, in love, in spirit, in faith and in purenesse, to feede Christs flocke so much as lyeth in their power, taking the oversight of them, not as though they were compelled, but willingly, not for the desire of filthy lucre, but of a good minde, not as though they were Lord… over the Parishes, but that they be an ensample to the flocke, that when the chiefe shepheard shall appeare they may receive an uncorruptible crowne of glory.The ambition and security of the Papists. But these things O Lord, have they all forgotten. These ambitious Antichrists are so drowned in vaine glory, and in the desire of filthy lucre and worldly promotions, that they neither regard God, nor the higher powers, that they neither esteeme their office, nor any one point of godlinesse & honesty, that they neither think upon the dreadfull day of judgement, nor yet remember themselves to be mortall. Their whole study in the time of this their Lucifer… like pride is nothing else but to suppresse thy holy truth, and to advance and set up their Antichristan Kingdome, that they as Gods may sit alone in the Consciences of men. But O Lord God, though thou sufferest these Priests of Baal for our unthankefulnesse a while to prosper, to raigne, to rule… to ruffle, to flourish, to triumph, and to tread downe thy holy Word under their …eete, yet are we certaine, that thou wilt at the last arise, defend thine owne cause against these Antichrists, bring thine enemies unto confusion, and set thy people (after they have unfainedly repented) in a quiet and blessed State. So he, and blessed be God that he after, and we now, live to see this verified in part.

Miles Coverdale once Bishop of Exeter in King Edward the sixth his reigne,MILES COVERDALE. being deprived of it in Queene Maries, would **Godwins Cat. p. 338.not returne thereto againe in the beginning of Queene Elizabeths raigne, but led a private life in London, where he writ a booke intituled an Apologie in defence of the Church of England Printed at London 1564. wherein he writes thus of Bishops intermedling with secular affaires, and of their Treasons against p. 439our Kings, by the Popes instigation. The Old Canons of the Apostles command that Bishop to be removed from his Office, which will both supply the place of a civill Magistrate, and also of an Ecclesiasticall person. These men for all that both doe and will needes serve both places; Nay rather the one office which they ought chiefely to execute, they once touch not, and yet no body commandeth them to be displaced, &c. And as …o…u…, we of all others most justly have left him. For our Kings, yea even they which with greatest reverence did follow and obey the authority and faith of the Bishops of Rome, have long since found and felt well enough the yoake and tyranny of the Popes Kingdome. For the Bishops of Rome took the Crowne off from the head of our King Henry the second, and compelled him to put aside all Majesty, and like a meere private man to come unto their Legate with great submission and humility, so as all his Subjects might laugh him to scorne: more than this, they caused Bishops and Monkes and some part of the Nobility to be in the field against our King Iohn, and set all the People at liberty from their Oath whereby they owed allegiance to their King, and at last wickedly and most abominably they bereaved the King not onelyonly of his Kingdome, but also of his life. Besides this, they excommunicated and cursed King Henry the eight the most famous Prince, and stirred up against him sometime the Emperour, sometime the French King, and as much as in them was, put in adventure our Realme to have beene a very prey and spoyle, yet were they but …ooles and mad, to thinke that either so mighty a Prince could be scared with bugges and rattles, or else that so Noble and great a Kingdome, might so easily even at one morsell be devoured and swallowed up. And yet as though all this were too little, they would needes make all the Realme tributary to them, and exacted thence yearely most unjust and wrongfull taxes. So deere cost us the friendship of the City of Rome.

Iohn Ponet sometimes Bishop of Winchester, JOHN PONETwhich hee afterwards deserted, in his Apologie against Doctor Martin, in defence of Priests marriage, c. 4.5. p. 44.52.53.54. expressely reckons up Popes, Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, Monkes, Cannons, Fryers, &c. to be the Orders of Antichrist, taxing them likewise severely, and comparing them with the Eustathian he…etickes for refusing to weare usuall garments, and putting upon p. 440them garments of strange fashions, to vary from the Common sort of people in apparell: likewise of the name Bishop and Superintendent. And …urther whereas it pleaseth Martin not onelyonly in this place, but also hereafter to jest at the name of Superintendent, he sheweth himselfe bent to condemne all things that be good, though in so doing he cannot avoyde his open shame. Who knoweth no… that the name Bishop hath so beene abused, that when it was spoken, the people understood nothing else but a great Lord, that went in a white Rotche…, with a wide shaven crowne, and that carrieth an Oyle box with him, wh… he used once in 7. yeares riding about to confirme children, &c. Now to bring the people from this abuse, what better meanes can be devised than to teach the people their errour by another word out of the Scriptures of the same signification? which thing by the terme Superintendent would in time have beene well brought to passe. For the ordinary paines of such as were called Superintendents, …hould have taught the people to understand the duty of their Bishop, which your Papist… would faine have hidden from them. And the word Superintendent being a very Latine word made English by use; should in time have taught the people by the very Etymologie and proper signification, what things were meant, when they heard that name which by this terme Bishop, could not so well bee done, by reason that Bishops in the time of Popery were Over-seers in name, but not indeed. So that their doings could not …each the people their names, neither what they should looke for at their Bishops hands. For the name Bishop, spoken amongst the unlearned, signified to them nothing lesse than a preacher of Gods Word, because there was not, nor is any thing more rare in any order of Ecclesiasticall persons, than to see a Bishop preach, whereof the doings of the Popish Bishops of England can this day witnesse; but the name Superintendent should make him ashamed of his negligence, and afraid of his idlenesse, knowing that S. Paul doth call upon him, to attend to himselfe and to his whole flocke: of the which sentence our Bishops marke the first peece right well, that is, to take heede to themselves, but they be so deafe, they cannot hearken to the second, that is, to looke to their flocke. I deny not but that the name Bishop may be well taken; but because the evilnesse of the abuse hath marred the goodnesse of the word, it p. 441cannot be denied, but that it was not amisse to joyne for a time another word with it in his place, whereby to restore that abused word to his right signification. And the name Superintendent is such a name, that the Papists themselves (saving such as lacke both learning and wit) cannot finde fault withall. For Peresius the Spaniard and an Arch-papist (out of whom Martin hath stollen a great part of his booke) speaking of a Bishop saith; Primum Episcopi munus nomen ipsum prae se fert, quod est superintendere, Episcopus enim Superintendens interpretant, visitans aut supervidens, &c. that is to say: the chiefe Office of a Bishop by interpretation signifieth a Superintendent, a visitor, or an Over-seer. Why did not Martin as well steale this peece out of Peresius, as he did steale all the Common places that he hath for the proofe of the Canons of the Apostles, and of traditions in his second and third Chapters? Martin in the 88. leafe is not ashamed in his booke to divide the significations of the termes (Bishop and Super-intendent) as though the one were not signified by the other. But it may be that Martin, as the rest of the Popish Sect, would not have the name of (Superintendent) or minister used, least that name which did put the people in remē brance of Sacrificing and blood sapping, should be forgotten. Thus, and much more he.

Walter Haddon, WALTER HADDON.Vice-Chancellour of the University of Cambridge for sundry yeares in King Edward the 6. and Deane of the Arches in Queene Elizabeth raigne, in his Booke against Hierome Osorius, l. 3. fol. 251, writes short but sharpe, of the Treasons of our English Prelates against our Kings. There have beene few Princes in this our Britaine for the space of 5 hundred yeares to whom most sordid Monkes, but especially those who have possessed the See of Canterbury, have not procured some troubles. Anselme, how insolently opposed he himselfe to William Rufus and Henry the first? Theobald how proud was hee against King Stephen? how great Tragedies did Thomas of Canterbury, whom you have canonized for a Saint for Sedition, raise up against Henry the second? William of Ely, and also Thomas Arundell of Canterbury, a nefarious Traytor, what wonderfull troubles procured he, not onelyonly to King Richard the second, but to all estates of the Kingdome? What King Iohn suffered from Langton and other Bishops, (who procured him to be judicially deprived of his Crowne and Kingdome by the p. 442Pope) is unknowne to none: neither was Edmund of Canterbury lesse opposite to King Henry the third: Edward the first succeeded Henry his Father in the government, whom Iohn Peckham of Canterbury resisted with incredible boldnesse, leaving Winchelsie his Successor, who nothing degenerating from his footsteps, had wonderfull contentions with the King: Both of them an Archbishop, each of them an arch-contemner of Majesty. What shall I say of Arch-bishop Walter, to whom it was not sufficient by force to rescue Adrian (or Alton) Bishop of Hereford in despite of King and Parliament from his legall tryall in open Court, and to send him away uncondemned, unlesse he likewise conspired with Queene Izabel against King Richard the second. That I may in the interim omit the furies and bitter concertations of others with their Princes. So he.

Bishop ALLEY Bishop PILKINGTON. Mr. Nowel.Wil. Alley Bishop of Exeter in his poore mans library: par. 1. Miscellanea. Praelect. 3. p. 95.96. Printed Cum Privilegio. Iames Pilkington Bishop of Durham, in his Treatise of burning of the Pauls Church: and in his exposition on Agge. ch. 1. v. 1.2.3.4.9…12.13. c. 2. v. 1.2.3.4.9.10. and on Abdyas. v. 7.8. and Mr. Alexander Nowel Deane of Pauls in his Reproofe of Dormans proofe London. 1565. f 43.44.45. Conclude, that Bishops and Presbyters by Gods Word, are one and the same, citing S. Hieromes words on Titus, 1. and to Euagrius, and declaime much against the Pompe, wealth, and secular imployments of Bishops: their words for brevity I shall pretermit.

BISHOP ELMER.Mr. Elmer, afterwards Bishop of London, in his Harborow for faithfull subjects, Printed at Strasborough, writes thus against Bishops Civill Authority, Lordlinesse, and wealth. Christ saith Luke 12. Who made me a Iudge betweene you? as though hee would say, it belongeth not to my Office to determine matters of Policy and inheritance, that belongeth to the Civill Magistrate. If he had thought it had beene within the Compasse of his function, why and with what Conscience refused he to set them at one, who were at strife, and to put that out of doubt which was in suite? If he might doe it, and would not, he lacked Charity, and did not his duety. If it belonged not to him, how belongeth it to any of his Disciples or Successours? had he not as large a Commission as he gave? or could he give that he had not? But he knowing his Office, as the Prophet Esay had foretold; to preach the Gospell, would doe nothing without warrant. p. 443And therefore being asked if he were a King, answered simply and by a plaine negative, My Kingdome is not of this world. If his Kingdome was not here, neither the ordering of Policies; yea when they would have taken him up to have made him a King, as one that refused that belonged not to him,Few of our Prelates would now refuse such a proffer. he conveyed himselfe from among them. If imperiall jurisdiction belonged to him, why refused he his calling? If it did not, where had Paul, Peter, or any other, any authority to meddle with that which he refused: seeing he saith, As my Father sent me, so send I you. In another place, Christ knowing the bounds of his calling, would not meddle with externe policy. Hence Bishops me thinkes by his example, should not give themselves too much the bridle, and too large a scope to meddle too farre with matters of policy. If these two Offices, I meane Ecclesiasticall and Civill be so jumbled in both functions, there can be no quiet or well ordered Common-wealth. Christ saith to his Disciples: Princes of the Nations doe beare rule like Lords, it shall not be so with you. It falleth not into an Apostles or Church-mans Office, to meddle with such matters. For none going to warre, intangleth himselfe with the affaires of this life, it is enough for them to attend upon one Office; to attend as sole Priests nor as errant Bayliffes. (And elsewhere in that Booke he proceeds thus.) Come off ye Bishops, away with your superfluities, yeeld up your thousands, be content with hundreds, as they be in other reformed Churches, where there be as great learned men as you are. LET YOUR PORTION BE PRIEST-LIKE, NOT PRINCE-LIKE. Let the Queene have the rest of your temporalties, to maintaine warres, and to build Schooles throughout the Realme, that every Parish Church may have its Preacher, every City her superintendent to live not pompously, which will never be unlesse your Lands be disposed and bestowed upon many, which now feede and fat but one. Remember that Abimelech, when David in his banishment would have dined with him, kept such Hospitality, that he had no bread to give him but the Shewbread. Where was all his Superfluity to keepe your pretended hospitality? for that is the cause that you alleadge, you must have thousand thousands; as though you were commanded to keepe Hospitality, rather with a thousand than with an hundred: Remember the Apostles were so poore, that p. 444when the lame man who lay at the Temple gate called beautiful… Act. 3.… to 7.Acts 3asked an Almes of Peter and Iohn as they went about to goe, into the Temple; Peter answered him in this manner, Silver and gold have I none; and Paul was so far from having Lordships, that his owne hands ministred oft times to his necessities. If the Apostles of our Saviour had so small possessions and revenues,Cor. 4.12. why should our Prelats, who boast themselves to be their proper Successours enjoy or covet so great: when as Paul, enjoynes them, if they have but food and rayment,**1 Tim. 6.8.1 Tim 6:8 therewith to be content, godlinesse alone with contentment being great gaine, and a sufficient portion.

Nicholas Bullingham after Bishop of Lincolne, NICHOLAS BULLINGHAM.in his Printed Letter to Master Bull Decemb. 5. 1564. writes thus from Embden, where he arrived after many stormes: Would God Master Bull, that all the Prelates of England had beene with me, when we fell to cutting of Cables, & riding at Anchor in the raging Seas. There would have beene tearing of square Caps, renting of Rotchets, defying of Bishoprickes, despising of pompe, promising of new life; crying for mercy; O what a Tragedy would there have beene! Well, well, though now they walke dry shod in their Palaces, there is a God that will try them and all his people by fire or by water, unlesse we heartily repent. Grace to repent, grant us, O Lord, without delay, Amen, Amen.

Iohn Bridges Deane of Salisbury afterwards Bishop of Oxford and a great stickler for Episcopacy,IOHN BRIDGES. in his Booke entituled, The Supremacy of Christian Princes, …ver all persons throughout their Dominions, in all cases so well Ecclesiasticall at Temporall. Printed at London, 1573. p. 359. to 364… writes thus of the parity and identity of Bishops and Presbyters, and of clearing Aeriaus from Heresie in this point… First, that Aerius said, there was no difference betweene a Priest & Bishop, Difference betweene Priests and Bishops.and ye aske (Mr. Stapleton) how say we to him. Whatsoever we say to him, we have first to say to you, that saving the reverence of your Priesthood, there is no difference betweene you and a lyer, to object Aerius herein to us, whereas (ye know well enough) our Church doth acknowledge in the ministry, a differen…e of Deacon and Elder, from a Bishop, although not according to your Popish Orders: For as neither Epiphanius, nor yet Augustine (quoted by you) speaketh there of any sacrificing Priest, so he never knew any such Pontificall Prelates as your Popish Church breedeth; and yet of p. 445those that were even then in Epiphanius time, and of their difference from the Elders or Priests, if yee know not how it came, **Hi…r…ni…us … Titum Dist. 63. Can. Oli… id…m.Hierome that lived in the same age will tell you; or if ye have not read him, your owne Canons will tell ye what he saith. Idem est ergo Presbyter qui Episcopus, & antequam Diaboli studia, &c. An Elder or Priest therefore is the same that a Bishop, and before that the studies of the Devill were made in Religion, and that the people sayd, I hold of Paul; I of Apollo, I of Cephas, the Churches were governed by the Common Councell of the Elders; but after that every one did account those to be his, and not to be Christs, whom hee had baptized, in all the world, it was decreed, that one of the Elders being chosen, should be placed above the rest: to whom all the care or charge of the Churches should belong, and the seede of Schismes be taken away. And a little after, Sicut ergo Presbyteri, as therefore the Elders know that they by the custome of the Church are subject to him, that is set over them: so let the Bishops know, that they more by custome, than by the truth of the Lords dispensation, are greater than the Elders. This was the judgement of the ancient Fathers, and yet were they no Arians nor Aerians therefore. Yea Pe…er Lombard the master of the sentences, citing also Isidorus to witnesse, saith.**Lib. 4. Dist. 24.1. Apud veteres idem Episcopi & Presbyteri fuerunt. Among the the Ancient Fathers, Bishops and Elders were all one. And againe alleadging the Apostle S. Paul, he saith, Qualis autem, &c. But what manner an El…er ought to be chosen, the Apostle writing to Timothy declareth where by the name of Bishop he signifieth an Elder, … Tim. 3…and a non after; Cumque omnes, and when all of them (he meaneth his false seven orders) are spirituall and holy, yet the Canons account onelyonly two Orders to be excelling holy, that is to say Deaconship and Eldership. Because the primitive Church is read to have these alone, and we have the Apostles Commandement of these alone, for the Apostles in every City ordained Bishop and Elders. Neither the Master onelyonly writeth thus; but almost all your Schoolemen, yea though they be themselves of the contrary opinion, yet they write this was the ancient opinion. And so Durandus, though he make a difference betweene the power of Jurisdiction, and the power of order, yet he sheweth that both the Scripture, and S. Hierome maketh no difference, but onelyonly the custome and institution of the Church. The Apostle (saith he) writing to the Philippians cap. 1. saith, with p. 446the Bishops and the Deacons, by them understanding the Elders, sith in one City as in Philippos, many Bishops oug…t not to be. Againe, Act. 2. he saith, Looke to your selves and to all the flocke in which the Holy …host hath placed you to be Bishops. And he spoke unto them of the onelyonly City of Ephesus. But this appeareth more expressely to Titus the 1. Where he saith, For this cause I have left thee at Crete, that thou shouldst correct those things that want, and ordaine Elders throughout the Cities, even as I have appointed to thee, if any be blamelesse, the husband of one wife. And straight he setteth under it, a Bishop must me blamelesse: and whom before he named an Elder hee calleth now a Bishop: and in the 4. of the 1. to Timothy, Despise not (saith he) the grace of God which is given to thee through the imposition of the hands of an Elder, that is to say of a Bishop. S. Paul called himselfe an Elder, when he was the Bishop that ordained him. Thus farre and more at large Durandus, concluding at length Sic Ergo, Thus therefore saith S. Hierome, that a Bishop and an Elder, olim fuerunt synonyma, &c. were in the old time diverse names betokening one thing indifferently, and also of one administration; because the Churches were ruled by the Commune Counsell of the Priests. But for the remedy of a Schisme, lest each one d…awing the Church after him, should breake her, it was ordained that one should be above the rest, Et quoad nomen, &c. And so farre forth as stretcheth to the name, that he onelyonly should be called Bishop, and that so farre as stretcheth to the administration of some Sacraments & Sacramentals, they should be reserved to him by the custome and constitution of the Church: And this would Hierome, expressely 93. Dist. cap. legimus, in Esa & super Epistolam ad Tit. & recitatur. Dist. 93. cap. Olim Presbyteri, &c. Consuetudo aut institutio Ecclesiae potest dare Iurisdictionem, sed non potestatem ordinis aut consecrationis, quare &c. He therefore that counteth this erronious or perrilous let him impute this to Hierome, out of whose saying in the fore alleadged Chapter Legimus in Esa, the foresayd authorities are taken. Where also he putteth an example. That is of a Bishop in respect of Priests, as of an Arch-Deacon in respect of Deacons: unlesse the Deacons chuse one among themselves whom they call Arch-deacon, &c. In the end, Durandus reconciling Hierome, saith, and the authorities alleadged by Hierome withstand it not, because according to the name and the truth of the thing, every Bishop is an Elder, and on the other part, so farre as stretcheth to the name, every Elder having cure, may be called a Bishop, as Superattendent p. 447on other, although the consecration of a Bishop, or the chiefe Priest, be larger than of a simple Priest or Elder, but peradventure in the Primitive Church, they made not such force in the difference of names as they do now; And therefore they called a Bishop every …ne that had a cure. Thus writeth Durandus of the ancient Fathers opinions. And will you count him or them Aerian… too? And this also doth your Insti…uti… d…ctr. Christi, de sh…r… ordinis. fol. 196.Institution in Colonie Councell confesse: Non est tamen putandum. Wee must not for all this t…inke, that hee ordained Bishops another order from Priests, for in the primitive Church Bishops and Priests were all one. The which the Epistles of Peter and Paul the Apostles; Saint Hierome also and almost all the ancient Ecclesiasticall Writers do witnesse. And chiefly that place of the first Epistle of Saint Peter the fift Chapter, is evident to declare this: For when Peter had said, the Elders that are among you, I also an Elder with you beseech, which am also a witnesse of the passions of Christ, and partaker of the Glory to come that shall be revealed: He joyned under it, feed or guide the flocke of Christ that is among you, and oversee it, not by compulsion, but willingly, according to God, wherein it is spoken more expressly in the Greeke foreign, that is to say, Super-attendent, from whence also the name of Bishop is drawne. Wherefore Priesthood is esteemed the highest order in the Church. In the meane time, no body is ignorant, that this order is distinguished againe, by a certaine order of offices, and dignities. Thus do your Scholemen, and Divines wi…nesse.

First, that in the substance, order or character as they terme 1it, there is no difference betweene a Priest and a Bishop.

Secondly, that the difference is but of Accidents, and Circumstances, 2as degrees of dignity, jurisdiction, honour, &c.

Thirdly, that in the Primitive Church this difference was 3not knowne, but they were meerely all one and the same.

Fourthly, that this difference was taken up by custome, consent 4and ordinance of the universall Church, when it once began to be dispersed in all the World.

Fifthly, that it was done for the avoiding of factions and sects, 5that grew in the time of the Ministers equality, even anon after the Primitive Church. And some of them in the Apostles time But quite con…rary, to this judgment of your Divines are all your Canonists, your Divines make seven orders; Et in hoc, saith, **Summa Ang… lica. L. Ord.Angelus de Clavisio, concordam communiter Theol. On this the Divines p. 448agree commonly, but the Canonists hold that there are nine orders, according to nine Hierarchies, that is to wit, the first notch or Psalmist, and the order of a Bishop, & that the first notch is an order, the text is in C. cu… contingit & ibi do. Anto. & Canonistae de aeta. & quali or similiter quod Episcopatus est ordo, & quod imprimatur character judicio meo, facit inconvincibiliter, te…t. in C. i. de ordinatis ab Episcopo, &c. And so according to the Canonists there shall be nine Orders.The papist… controversie about their holy order. Great adoe your Schoolemen & Canonists make about this, insomuch that Aerius heresie will draw very neere to one of you, light on which side it shall. But your selfe may hold on both sides M. Stapleton, being both a Batchelor in the one, and a student in the other. But as for your Popish Clergy, there is indeed little difference in this point or none, which barrell is better herring, Bishop o… Priest; both starke nought, or rather, neither of them, either true Priest or Bishop by Saint Pauls description.

The Heavenly and earthly Kingdome are not … joyned that the Bishops may be earthly Kings.Af…er this, p. 926.929. He writes thus concerning Bishops intermedling with temporall affaires. You say M. Sanders, the temporall Kingdome and the heavenly did indeed once ja…e, but now they agree, the heavenly and the earthly Kingdome… are conjoyned together. Agreement is a good hearing M. Sanders, but what meane you by this conjunction that the one is become the other, and not still distinguished from it? or that your Pope may be King, and his Bishops Princes of both? nay M. Sanders, you finde not that agreement and conjunction. For Christ hath put such a barre between them, that his spiritual Ministers cannot have earthly Kingdomes, nor that earthly Kings should in the estate of their earthly Kingdomes, become subject in such wise to his spirituall Ministers, otherwise than to yeeld their obedience to their spirituall ministry, representing the power and mercy of God unto them, &c. The objection you made was this.M. Sanders objetion and answer. Whether Bishops and Pastors of the sheepe of Christ may rule temporall Kingdomes? you answer, properly and of it selfe in no wise: but as those Kingdomes do subject themselves to the Christian faith. This is a proper elusion, M. Sanders, thinke you to escape thus? is it all one to subject their Kingdomes to the Christian faith, and to subject their Kingdomes to the Bishops? Good right it is that the faith should beare the chiefe rule? But the objection was, Whether the Bishops should or no? and therefore this distinction serveth p. 449not. For Christ simply without this or that respect debarreth all his spiritual ministers from ruling of temporall Kingdomes. Who knoweth not that properly, and of their owne nature temporall Kingdomes should not be ruled of spirituall Pastors, but of Temporall Kings? None is so simple to move such a fond objection: but the objection is, Whether the one be coincident to the other? whether a Bishop,Whether a Bishop may take a Kingdome upon him p…operly or unproperly. to whom properly by his Bishoply office a Kingdome belongeth nor, may take upon him the government of a Kingdome, that properly by his Kingly office belongeth to a King? this is the question. And you say properly he cannot, I say much lesse unproperly, but properly or unproperly, Christ hath cleane debarred it …vos autem non sic: But you shall not do so. These words strick dead, M Sanders, & therefore your …nproper distinctions may goe pike him. Page 931… he writes that the deposings of Princes have not come so much by the violence of their unnaturall Subjects: as by the practises of the Popish Bishops,Deposing of Princes by the Prelates practises. as the ensamples of King Iohn in England, of Childericke in France, the Henries, and other in Germany, and in other Countries, do testifie, yet were these dealings of those Bishops not allowable, but detestable: yea though it were granted that those Princes had deserved them; and broken their faith and prom…se, which (if it were a good faith, and promise) was no doubt an evill breach of it, and God will take the vengeance of it, it belongeth not to the people, nor to the Bishops Vengeance is mine, saith God, and I will render it He saith not my Bishop shall, but I will render it. Heb. 10.Heb 10He addes p. 980, 981.1026 Christs Kingdome is spirituall and not earthly, and his Ministers may not exercise in secular causes, an earthly Kings authority. M. Saunders pretendeth this is to promote the Church of Christ,The Churches promotion. but such promotion confounds devotion, and hath poysoned the Church of God, as they say, a voyce was heard what time Constantine (although falsely) is supposed to have endowed the Church with such royall honour, Hodie venenum intravit in Ecclesiam, This day entred poyson into the Church. But Christ hath flatly forbidden it,Matth. 2….Matt 2 and told his Disciples when they asked such promotion, that they knew not what they asked. But afterward, they knew and found the saying of Christ to be true, that their promotion lay in their affliction, and not in their Kingly honour, &c.Glossa in Ly…p…r I…h. And this your owne glosse out of your owne Pope Gregory might have taught you. Sicut …isit me Pater, id p. 450est, ad passiones, &c. As my Father sent mee, that is to say, to troubles and afflictions, so send I you to suffer persecution, not to raigne like Kings, and rule Kingdomes. And therefore sith this sentence of Christ is true, that he sent them as hee was sent, and he was not sent in his humane nature to depose Kings, nor to dispose of their Kingdomes, nor to governe them. Therefore his Disciples were not sent thereto. But the Pope saith he was sent thereto, and takes it upon him, therefore he is neither minister of Christ, nor successor of his Disciples; but his Disciple that hath offered him worldly Kingdomes, if hee would fall downe and worship him… as he hath done, and s… hath gotten his Kingdomes &c. Hofmeister one of your stoutest Champions hath these words:Hofmeister in Luc. 12.Luke 12 Truly those things that have beene spoken and heard from the beginning of this Gospell do enough declare the Kingdome of Christ, not to be of this world, neither that hee would raigne temporally in the world, sith hee taketh not souldiers that can oppugne others, but Fishermen, readier to suffer than to strike. And so in this place, with most manifest words Christ decla…eth, that hee came not for this purpose, to take upon him the office of a Magistrate,Why Christ took not on him the office of a Magistrate. but rather, that hee might raigne in our hearts, so that it might be our hap to come to the …ternall goods, whatsoever happened of our temporall goods. Therefore when hee was interrupted of a certaine Jew, that hee would helpe him in recovering his inheritance, hee answered, Man, who hath made mee a judge or divider over you? As though he should say, hath not this world Judges that may decide so base controversies? it is not appointed unto mee, that this or that man should waxe rich by inheritance, but that all men should come to the inheritance of life immortall. But in these words, Christ would be token many things, to wit, that he which hath an Apostolicall office, ought not to be wrapped with prophane and filthy affaires: for so the Apostle saith otherwhere, No man going warfare under God entangleth himselfe with worldly businesse. And the Apostles say all at once, It is not meete for us to leave the Word of God and attend on the Tables. Christ also by this reproving, would declare that this doctrine taketh not away the Magistrates offices, but rather confirmeth them. Whereupon hee saith also elsewhere, Render to Cesar that that is Cesars. And when his Disciples strived for preheminencie, he said, The Kings of the Nations governe them, p. 451and so forth. Whereby he declared, that neither hee himselfe, nor his, ought (as they call them) to be secular Judges: neither did hee by this refusing abolish the order of the Magistrate, but much more (as we have said) confirme it.Christ abolished not the magistrates office, though he him…elfe re…used it. Thus farre your owne Doctor, Hofmeister against you, that the intent of Christ refusing to be a Judge herein was chiefely against such usurpation of worldly Magistracie, as the Pope and his Prelates too, exercise. Pag. 1095. he concludes, that a Bishop may in some cases lawfully excommunicate a wicked Prince. But who denieth this (M. Sanders) that a godly Bishop may upon great and urgent occasion, if it shall be necessary to edifie Gods Church, and there be no other remedy, to flee to this last censure of excommunication against a wicked King. The Bishops need not therefore calumniate Presbyteries, upon pretence, that they hold it lawfull to excommunicate Kings, since they themselves averre, that Bishops may lawfully doe it, and de facto, have sundry times put it in practise, both at home and abroad. So Bishop Bridges.