The Antipathy of the English Lordly Prelacy, Part 1 · Chapter 1 · Floating text 1

The Antipathy of the English Lordly Prelacy · Part 1 · Chapter 1 · Floating text 1

p. 102AN ACT EXTINGVISHING the Authority of the Bishop of Rome.

**28. H. 8. c. 10. See 35. H. 8. c. 1. to the like cl…use and Oath.FOrasmuch as notwithstanding the good and wholsome Lawes, Ordinances and Statutes heretofore made, enacted and established by the Kings Highnesse, our most gracious Soveraigne Lord, and by the whole consent of his High Court of Parliament, for the extirpation abolition and extinguishment out of this Realme, and other his graces Dominions, Seigniories, and Countries, of the pretended power and usurped authority of the Bishop of Rome, by some called the Pope, used within the same, or elsewhere concerning the same Realme, Dominions, Seigniories or Countries, which did obsuscate, and wrest Gods holy Word and Testament, a long season, from the spirituall and true meaning thereof, to his worldly and carnall affections, as Pompe, Glory, Avarice, Ambition, and Tyranny; covering and shadowing the same with his humane and politicke Devises, Traditions and inventions, set forth to promote and stablish his onelyonly Dominion both upon the soules and also the bodies and goods of all Christian people, excluding Christ out of his Kingdome and rule of mans soule, as much as he may, and all other temporall Kings and Princes out of their Dominions, which they ought to have by Gods Law upon the bodies and goods o… their Subjects, whereby he did not onelyonly rob the Kings Majestie (being onelyonly the supreame head of this his Realme of England, immediately under God,) of his honour, right, and preheminence due unto him by the Law of God, but spoyled this his Realme yearely of innumerable treasure, and with the losse o… the same, deceived the Kings loving and obedient Subjects, perswading to them by his Lawes, Bulls, and other his deceivable meanes, such dreames, vanities and fantasies, as by the same many of them were seduced and conveyed p. 103unto superstitious and erronious opinions, so that the Kings Majestie, the Lords Spirituall and Temporall, and the Commons of this Realme being over-wearied and fatigated with the Experience of the infinite abominations and mischie…es proceeding of his impostures and craftily colouring of his deceits, to the great damages of soules, bodies and goods, were forced of necessity for the publicke weale of this Realme, to exclude that forraine pretended power, jurisdiction and authority, used and usurped within this Realme, and to devise such remedies for their reliefe in the same, as doth not onelyonly redound to the honour of God, the high praise and advancement of the Kings Majestie and o… his Realme, but also to the great and inestimable utility of the same. And notwithstanding the sayd wholsome Lawes so made, and hereto…ore established, yet it is commen to the knowledge of the Kings Highnesse, and also to divers and many his loving, faithfull and obedient Subjects, how that divers seditious and contentious persons, being **The Bishops naturall Pedegree.Impes of the sayd Bishop of Rome and his See, and in heart members of his pretended Monarchy, doe in corners and else-where as they dare whisper, inculke, preach, and perswade, and from time to time instill into the eares and heads of the poore simple and unlettered people, the advancement and continuance of the sayd Bishops fained and pretended authority, pretending the same to have his **As our Bishops in imitation of him pretend their Episcopacy to have.ground and originall of Gods Law, whereby the opinions of many be suspended their judgements corrupted and deceived, and diversitie in opinions augmented and increased, to the great displeasure of Almighty God, the high discontentation of our sayd most Dread Soveraigne Lord, and the interruption of the unity love, Charity, concord, and agreement that ought to be in a Christian Region and Congregation. For avoyding whereof nd repression of the follies of such seditious persons … are the meanes and Authors of such inconveniences; Be it enacted, ordained and established by the King our Soveraigne Lord and the Lords spirituall and temporall, and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled, and by Authority of the same; That if any person or persons, dwelling, demurring, inhabiting or resiant within this Realme, or within any other the Kings Dominions, Signiories, or Countries, or the Marches p. 104of the same, or elsewhere within or under his obeysance and power, of what Estate, Dignity, Preheminence, Order, Degree or Condition soever he or they be, after the last day of July, which shall be in the yeare of our Lord God, 1530… shall by Writing, Cyphering, Printing, Preaching, or Teaching Deed or Act, obstinately or malicio…sly hold, or stand with, to extoll, set forth, maintaine or defend, the Authority, Jurisdiction, or Power of the Bishop of Rome, or of his See hereto…ore claimed, used, or usurped within this Realme, or in any Dominion or Countie, being of, within, or under the Kings power or obeysance; or by any pretence obstinately or maliciously invent any thing for the extolling, advancing, setting forth maintenance or defence of the same, or any part thereof… or by any pretence obstinately or maliciously attribute any manner of Jurisdiction, Authority, or P…eheminence to the sayd See of Rome, or to any Bishop of the same See for the time being within this Realme or in any of the Kings Dominions or Counties: That then every such person or persons so doing or offending, their ayders, assistants, comforters, abettors, procurers, maintainers, factors, Counsellours concealors, and every of them, being thereof lawfully convicted according to the Lawes of this Realme, for every such default and offence, shall incurre and run into the dangers, penalties, paines, and forfei…ures ordained and provided by the Satute of Provision and Prae…nire, made in the …6. yeare of the Raigne of the Noble and Valiant Prince King Richard the second, against such as attempt, procure, or make provision to the See of Rome, or elsewhere, for any thing or things, to the derogation or contrary to the Prerogative Royall, or Jurisdiction of the Crowne and Dignitie of this Realme.

And for stronger defence and maintenance of this Act, It is ordained and enacted by authority aforesayd, that all & every Ecclesiastical Judge, ordinary, chancellour, commissary, official, vicar-generall, and other Ecclesiastical officer or minister, of what dignity, preheminence, or Degree soever they shall be; and all and every Temporall judge, justicia…, Major, bayliffe, sheriffe, under-sheriffe, Escheater, Alderman, Iurat, Constable, Head-borough, third-borough, borsholder, & every other said officer & Minister to be made, created, elected, or admitted within this Realme, or any other the Kings Dominions, of what state, order, p. 105degree or condition soever he shall be, from and after the sayd last day of July, shall before he take upon him the Execution of such Office, make, take and receive, a Corporall oath upon the Evangelists, before such person or persons as have or shall have Authority to admit him: That he from henceforth shall utterly renounce, refuse, relinquish, or forsake the Bishop of Rome and his authority, power, and jurisdiction; and that he shall never consent nor agree, that the Bishop of Rome shall practise, exercise, or have any manner of authority, jurisdiction or power within this Realme or any other the Kings Dominions, but that he shall re…ist the same at all times to the uttermost of his power; and that from hen…eforth he shall accept, repute and take the Kings Majestie to be the onelyonly supreame head in earth of the Church of England, and that to his cunning, wit, and uttermost of his power, without guile, fraud, or other undue meanes, he shall observe, keepe, maintaine and defend the whole effects and contents of all and singular Acts and Statutes, made, and to be made, within this Realme, in derogation, extirpation, and extinguishment, of the Bishop of Rome and his authority: and all other Acts and Statutes made and to be made, in reformation and corroboration of the Kings power of supreame head in earth of the Church of England, and this he shall doe against all manner of persons of what estate, dignity, degree, or condition they be; and in no wise doe nor attempt, nor to his power suffer to be done, or attempted, directly or indirectly, any thing or things, privily or apertly, to the let, hinderance, dammage, or derogation thereof, or of any part thereof, by any manner of meanes, or for any manner of pretence: and in case any o…th be made, or hath beene made by him to any person or persons in maintenance, defence, or favour of the Bishop of Rome, or his authority, jurisdiction, or power, he repute the same as vaine and adnihilate; So helpe him God, &c. I could wi…h this obsolete Oath were now againe revived, to hinder the further growth of Popery.

This forementioned Oath to the Pope, usually taken by all our Prelates, being one maine Pillar to support the Popes usurped Monarchy both at home and abroade; and a chiefe engine to undermine the royall Prerogatives of Christian Princes; and perchance the groundworke of many of our owne and forraine Prelates Treasons, Treacheries, Rebellions, Conspiracies, and contempts against their Soveraignes; It will not be amisse, no… impertinent here to inser… that excellent discourse, which our p. 106famous Martyr, (m)(m)In his workes p. 195. to 205.Doctor Barnes hath long since made upon it, in his Supplication to King Henry the 8. where he thus writes. I dare boldly say that if we poore men, which be now condemned for Hereticks, and also for Traytors against our King, had not beene, the Realme of England had not stood in …o good a condition as it is, for men had beene bound still in their Conscience, to obey this wretched Idoll: who durst have kept this innumerable summe of money, within the Realme, that yearely was sucked out, by this Adder, if our godly learning had not instructed their Conscience? Let all the Libraries be sought in England, and there shall not be one Book written in 4. C. yeares, (and admitted by the Church of Rome, and by our spiritualty) found, that doth teach this obedience, and fidelity toward Princes, and delivereth our Realme from the bondage of this wicked Sathan the Pope, or else that is able to satisfie, and to quie… any mans Conscience within this Realme: and yet I dare say he is no… in England, that can reprove our learning by the doctrine of our Master Christ, or else of his holy Apostles. Yea, men have studyed and devised how they might bring our mighty Prince, and his Noble Realme, under the feete of this Devill. There could be nothing handled so secretly within this Realme, but if it were either pleasant or profitable to the Pope to know, then were all the Bishops in England sworne, to reveale tha… matter to him. This may well be proved by their shamefull and trayterous oath, that they contrary to Gods Law, mans Law, and order of nature, have made to this false man the Pope. The words of their oath, written in their (n)(n)In vi. lib. 2. Tit de jurej… …and… c. Ego Episc…pus.owne Law, be these… Then he recites the forementioned oath, which he descants on in this manner … There hath been wondrous packing used, and hath cost many a thousand mens lives, ere that the spiritualty brought it to passe, that all they should be sworne to the Pope, and owe none obedience to any man, but to him onelyonly. This matter hath beene wondrous craftily conveyed, for at the beginning the Bishops were not sworne so straitely unto the Pope as now. For I doe reade in the …ime of Gregory the third, which w…s in the yeare of our Lord 759. how their oath was no more, but to sweare for to keepe the faith of our Holy Church, and to abide in the unity of the same, and not to consent for any man… pleasure to the contrary, p. 107to promise also to seeke the profits of the Church of Rome. And if any Bishops did live against the old Statutes of Holy Fathers, with him they should have no conversation, but rather forbid it, if they could, or else truely to shew the Pope of it. This Oath continued a great many of yeares, till that a mortall hatred sprang betweene the Emperour, and the Pope, for confirming of Bishops; then as many Bishops as were confirmed by the Pope did sweare the Oath that I have first written. For this Oath that Gregory maketh mention of, was not sufficient… because that by it the Bishops were not bound to betray their Princes, not to revela…e their Counsailes to the Pope. The which thing the Pope must needes know, or else he could not bring to passe his purpose, that is to say, he could not be Lord over the world, and cause Emperours and Kings, to fetch their confirmations of him, and to kneele downe, and kisse his feete. The which when he had brought to passe, he proceeded further, adding more things to the Bishops Oath… to the maintaining of his worldly honour and dignity, as it shall afterward appeare. But first we will examine this Oath, how it standeth with Gods Word; and with the true obedience to our Prince: I pray you tell me out of what Scripture, or else out of what example of our Master Christ and his Holy Apostles you have taken this doctrine, to learne to sweare to S. Peter? or else to the Church of Rome? or else to the **The same may be sayd of the Oath of Canonicall obedience to Bishops.Pope? What neede you to sweare to S. Peter? ye can neither doe him good by your fidelity, no… yet hurt by your falshood. Oathes be taken, that he that the Oath is made unto, might be sure of the true helpe and su…cour of him that sweareth, against all men that could hurt him. Now S. Peter hath none enemies, and though he had, yet is not he afraid of them, neither can you helpe him, nor deliver him if he had neede. But the verity is, that good S. Peter must here stand in the fore-front to make men afrayd with, and to make men beleeve that you are his friends, but God knoweth that you neither favour his person, learning nor living. For if S. Peters person were here with his net on his necke, I thinke you would bid him walke begger, if you called him not Hereticke. Why doe you not swe…re to follow his living? and to preach and teach his Doctrine? but that maketh nothing for your purpose. Therefore you sweare all onelyonly …o p. 108Saint Peters name. But wherein will you be faithfull to Saint Peter? to maintaine his worldly honours, dignities, or riches? you know well he saith, that he hath forsaken all these things for Christs sake, and for these things, I thinke he will require none Oath of you. Wherefore if you will needes be faithfull, and sworne unto S. Peter, it must be in maintaining, and in defending spirituall things, as preaching of Christs Gospell purely and sincerely, ministring truely after the institution of our Master Christ, the blessed Sacraments of holy Church, and in vertuous living, giving example to the Holy Church of Christ. But now if this be your Oath, truely you are perjured, and worthy to weare Papers, for you doe reckon your selves too high and too honourable, to goe about such simple things as these be. And therefore you have applyed your selves to other greater matters, as to Christening of Bells, to hallowing of Churches,The holy workes of Bishops. to blessing of Candles, to consecrating of Holy Oyle, to hallowing of Chalices, vestments, and A…tars, and to giving 40. dayes of pardon to them that receive your blessings in the streete, and to some that visite Holy Saints, and such like great matters, which pertaine nothing to your Oath. Wherefore I doe reckon that after the true forme of your Oath, we have but few Bishops, but that be perjured or abjured (call it what you will) both against God, against S. Peter, and against their Prince. It followeth. And to the Holy Church of Rome. What needeth this? what good can you doe to the Church of Rome, or what profit is it to her that you sweare? thinke you that …he will compell you by your Oath to be true to her? then must she needes sue you of perjury if you breake your Oath. But marke how the Church of Rome is set in your Oath, as the better person before the Pope: wherefore it must needes follow, that the Pope is under the Church, and lesse than the Church, and no head of the Church, except you will make him a third person: ye… neither pertaineth to S. Peter nor yet to holy Church: but is a thing of himselfe, and as your (o)(o)In Pr…. 6. …. Quoniam in …rbo Papa.Law saith; neither God nor man, but middle betweene them both, that is as much to say, after my learning, as the Devill himselfe. But what meaneth it, that you sweare onelyonly to the Holy Church of Rome? will you be traytors to the Holy Church of Constantinople? or else to the Holy Church of England? Or doe you thinke other p. 109Churches not holy? tell us what you meane; for it seemeth a marveilous thing, and also a speciall thing, that you make such an Oath all onelyonly to the Holy Church of Rome, naming none other Church. Why are you not rather sworne to keep? and to feede? to nourish? and to be true to your owne Church of the which you have taken cure and charge? As (p)(p)1 Pet. 5.2.3.1 Pet 5:21 Pet 5:3S. Peter commandeth you. See that you feede Christs flocke which is among you. For of these you have taken your name, living and dignity, you are called Bishop of Winchester, of London, and of Lincolne; and of these you are Fed, but these be forgotten in your Oath, and these you little regard, but to maintaine the Holy Church of Rome, that giveth you never a penny, but robbeth all other Churches, you must be …raitely sworne. And why? Antichrist must have a cloake for his Treason. For now if he be a Traytor, he is to be excused: Why? for he is sworne to it.Bishop Fisher answered, that he was sworne to the Pope, and and therefore would not sweare to the Kings supremacy. But shall I tell you what I doe take out of it? The truth is, that you sweare to betray, to kill, and slay all members of all other Churches, saving those that live after the whoredome, and mischief that is used in Rome. For if you should be bound to seeke out in Rome Christened men, and those that doe live after the living of the holy Church, I thinke you should finde but few, yea and unto those, you would thinke scorne to be sworne. Ergo, it must follow that you are sworne to the worst sort of Rome, and that your holy Church of Rome is taken for such a sort, as liveth against his blessed Word, against the living of holy Apostles, against the conditions of our holy Mother the Church. I would say in all oppression, in all Sodomitry, in all murther, in all pompe and pride, summa summarum in all manner of mischiefe, what tongue can tell, or heart can thinke. But I will not say so: for men would reckon me uncharitable and too vehement. Neverthelesse all the world knoweth, that you doe reckon your selfe, by the vertue of your Oath, bound to no men, but unto such, as in very deede, liveth after this ungracious manner; and yet will you be faithfull, and true unto them against all men? yea I dare say: if that their con…cience had not condemned them of such mischiefe, they would never have desired this assistance of you. But the verity is, they are naught, and have neede of maintainers in their mischiefe. And also suspect you not to be t…e, except you made an Oath to them, yea and p. 110scarsely then, unlesse that you in very deede, at time and place convenient, doe betray your Princes, for that is the cause of your Oath, and other profit hath not the King by it, I will be reported by all practise that ever came out of your Oath. It followeth, And to my Lord the Pope. I would gladly learne where the Pope hath got the dignity of a Lord. This thing is little regarded of my Lords the Bishops, to bring in such a worldly dignity, yea they will say, it is but a trifle, and mocke men for speaking against it; but …he truth is, i… they durst as much now, as in times past, they would burne for this little trifle, the best Lord in England. For I dare say, it hath cost many a mans life, or ever they brought the Pope to Lordship. Blessed S. Peter (whose successor the Pope boasteth himself to be) knew nothing of this Lordship, for he saith unto his fellowes, They (q)(q)1 Pet. 5.1 Pet 5shall not exercise any lordship over the Congregation. And likewise (r)(r)2 Cor. 8.2 Cor 8S. Paul durst not take upon him to command as a Lord, collections to be made for poore men, but meekely desires them without any Lordship. Also in anothe… place: (s)(s)1 Cor. 4.1 Cor 4Let no man judge us, but as the Ministers of Christ; blessed S. Paul reckoneth himselfe but a Minister and a Servant: and yet the day hath beene, that he was so good, as my Lord the Pope. Our Master Christ, that came to teach both Peter and Paul, learned his Disciples not to use themselves (t)(t)Mat. 20.Matt 20as Lords but as Servants. And marke the occasion of that he had sayd, there be two new disciples brought unto him, and the old (being not yet perfect) thought scorne that these two should sit above all other, the one of the right hand, and the other of the l…ft hand: but our Master Christ reprove…h this proud stomacke of theirs, very straightly, saying, How the Princes and Rulers of the infidels hath power over their Subjects; but so shall not yee: for he that will be greatest among you, shall be least. Here our Master Christ learneth none Hypocrisie, that they should be called least in name, and be greatest in very deede: but he will that this Doctrine shall be expressed in their deedes. My Lord the Pope calleth himselfe in words, the Servant of all servants, but in very deed h… will be Lord over all Lords. Yea …nd my Lords Bishops will be sworne to him, as unto a Lord, and they will reckon themselves perjured if they burne not all them that will take the Pope but for a servant. Is not this a marvellous Hypocrisie, to be called servant p. 111of all servants; and yet desire to be taken as Lord and King over all Kings? Yea, and unto this be our Bishops sworne, cause they will be obedient to their Princes. But and their **Note this.consciences were ripped, you should finde no man sit there as a King, but my Losell the Pope, and we poore men must be condemned for reproving of this. And why? verily because my Lords have sworne to him, against their Prince, and all his true subjects. But how standeth it with your Oath toward your Prince, for to be sworne to the Pope? which is not all onelyonly another Lord, but also contrary, yea and as the world now is, the greatest mortall enemie, that our Prince hath. For I dare say, that if this wre…ched Clement could drowne our Noble Prince with one word, it would not be long (By Cardinall Poles practise and Instigations) undone sine clementia. The Common saying went in Hamburgh, that this caitise hath not all onelyonly excommunicated our Noble Prince, but also given away the Kingdome to another. And this fact must you defend, for you are sworne to …he Pope: Yea I dare say, if you had convenient occasion, you would declare your fidelity. I doe Judge after your …acts, that you have done to Kings in times past, whensoever that you had power and might to bring to passe that which you have conceived against your Prince. If you thinke I judge amisse, or else doe you wrong, let me be put to my proose, and you shall see, what an heape of holy facts that I will bring you out of your owne Chronicles and Bookes, for the which you will be lauded, and praised Highly, that you have so faithfully stucke unto this damnable Idoll of Rome: yea I dare say it had beene Heresie within this two yeares, to have written, or sayd thus much against the l…mme of the Devill on our Princes side. This all the world can testifie, where…ore I thinke yo… will put me to no …ryall. But to your Oath. How doth it stand with your allegiance toward you… Prince, to be sworne to the Pope: your owne (v)(v)In 6. lib. 2. d…sent. & …. judicata cap. pastoralis in verb… Homagi….Law saith, that a leige man can make none Oath of fidelity to none other man, but to his ow…e King. Moreover you doe remember your Oath made unto you… Prince, wherein you doe renounce all clauses, words and sentences, made unto the Pope, which may be hur…full or prejudiciall to his Highnesse: how agreeth these two Oathes? you may set them together as well as you can; but I know no wayes to avoyd your p. 112perjury.Excuse the Bishops perjury who can. For the very truth is, that the Kings grace, and his councell, considering your Oath made to the Pope, to be prejudiciall to his regall power, causeth you in your Oath a…terward made unto him, to revoke those things that thou hast afore sworne to …he Pope: and to declare, that his grace and his councell did reckon your Oath made to the Pope to bee against him: therefore he maketh you to revoke it by name, naming the same Oath, and also the same Pope. So that you may clearely perceive, how that our Prince doth suspect you, for your Oath making. And in very deede the Popes meaning and yours was none other, but for to betray the King, and his Realme: and therefore as soone as there was any variance betweene the King and the Pope, then were you first of all assoyled of your allegeance due unto our King, and that absolution was blazen and blowne, preached and taught throughout all the world, and all doores and postes must bee decked with papers and bulls for your discharge. But for to helpe your Prince, you could never be discharged of your hereticall and trayterous Oath made unto the Pope, against your Prince. Here neither Peter nor Paul can helpe, nor there is no key that can open that locke. O Lord God how have we beene blinded thus trayterously to handle our naturall Prince? But how this Caterpiller is come to be Lord and hath brought Kings under his feete, I will speake (God willing) after this in a particular treatise It followeth, and to his successors, lawfully and regularly entring in. After what Law? I read in your owne **Di. 23. Qui episcopus ex concilio 4 Cartha.Bookes of law, after which me thinkes there be very few Bishops made, wherein I finde among all other good things, that he should be chaste of living, meeke, gentle to speake to, mercifull, well learned in the new and old Testament, and that he should not forbid marriage, nor should blame the eating of flesh, and should also beleeve, that all manner of sinnes, as well actuall as originall, be clearely forgiven in Baptisme. How many of these things the Popes Holinesse is indowed withall, and how many he alloweth, his owne bookes and deedes will testifie. Wherefore I reckon that your oath doth not meane this Law, nor yet the Law that blessed (y)(y)Tim. 3. Tit. 1.Titus 1Saint Paul writeth of. For then I reckon, that by the vertue of your Oath, you have not beene bound to one Pope this 400. yeares, so that it must follow, that you have other Lawes, than blessed S. Paul speaketh of, p. 113or the Councell of Carthaginence to choose your Pope by, the which as farre as men can reckon, by common experience and practise be these. Inprimis, He that shall be able to be Pope,Who is lawfull to be Pope. must be a vengeable tyrant, never keeping peace but alwayes warring for the defence (as ye call it) of S. Peters patrimony. To suffer no Prince to dwell in rest by him, but to snatch his possessiones to the unholy Church of Rome. To set Princes together by the eares, till they be both weary, and then to take the matter in his hand, and never to make an end, till both parties hath given some possessions to his Holy Father-head: to assoyle the soules, that hath been slaine through his packing:The Popes wickednesse described at large. and he that dare most boldly, and with least shame, depose Princes without a cause, he is best able to be Pope. He that can by any traine, craft, or subtilty, bring under him any Bishop or any spirituall person, or invent any new clause in their Oath, he is to be allowed afore other. Moreover, he that keepeth fewest women, and hath most of them, that you wo… of, he is holiest, and apt to be head of your Church. And he that can most tyrannously burne men for preaching of the Gospell, and he himselfe to take no labours therein. Item, to burne Priests that marry wives and he himself to live in all mischiefe, and whoredome, yea in such abominablenesse, as no man may with honesty speake (you know what I meane,) this man I say hath a testimony, afore his spiritual…y, that he is a lawfull man to that Office. Furthermore, he that is a whores sonne, as our Holy Father is now, and can finde the meanes that 12. men will forswear themselves, that he is lawfully born… as this holy Clement did. This is a fit Fat…, for such children. Finally, he that can give most money, and buy the greatest part or Cardinals of his side, he is best worthy to be called Pope, and to set on Peters stoole. For it cannot be unknowne to you how that Thomas VVoulcy, an holy pillar of your Church, would have been Pope, when this Clement was chosen, and did offer for it a reasonable penny; but Clement dashed him out of conceite, with 2000… pound more than he offered, and so he was judged best worthy, and entred in lawfully and regularly, and unto him our Bishops be sworne, and obedient. And why? because they will have such a head, as they be members: for how could else their Kingdome stand? For if one should be chosen after the rule of blessed S. Paul, or else after p. 114the living of these new Heretickes, which be simple and poor…, and care not for no dignities, nor will never sweare nor fight, and would rather marry a wife of their owne, then take other mens, and are alwayes studying and preaching Gods Word, seeking onelyonly the honour of God, and the profit of his neighbour, and will be subject and obedient in all things (desiring none exception) to his Prince. This man, I say, should be unlawfull, and not elegible, for he were able to destroy the whole Kingdome of the Papists, and not worthy to receive an Oath of my Lords the Bishops, which will not gladly be prejured for such a mans sake. For he were able to destroy the whole Church of Rome, unto the which our Bishops have beene before sworne. It followeth in your Oath, I shall no… consent in Counsell or in deede, that they should lose either life or member, or that they should be taken or trapped by any evill meanes. What neede you to sweare thus unto the Pope? doth not the order of Charity binde you thus to use your selfe toward all men, that is to say, neither to hurt them, nor to harme them, neither to intrappe them, nor betray them. But all men must be betray'd, and with craft and subtletie undone, for the maintenance of this one person. The truth is, that never man spake against this Popet, but you destroy him, and betray'd him: but this Popet hath blasphemed, and betrayed all Protestants, and yet you were never against him. And why, because you be sworne to him. And you will keepe your Oath be it right or wrong. But in your last Oath, which hath beene newly made, is added this clause, that no man should lay violent hands upon them in any wise, or any wrong should be done unto them by any manner of Colour. This part is newly brought in, si…e the flesh of the Pope hath beene so holy, that no man might touch it but Harlots. Christian men must patiently suffer injuries and wrongs, but your head will forsweare that point, and maintaine himselfe through your power against all men. How neere that this is the Apostles living, all Christian men can well judge. It followeth in your Oath: Their Councell that shall be shewed unto me; either by their letters, or by their messengers, I shall open to no man to their hurt or damage. Let Princes beware when the Pope sendeth couns…lls unto you, for their meaning is to betray them. For all the world knoweth that the Pope and you doe little regard, p. 115what the beggars of the world doth handle: But what Emperours, Kings, and Dukes doth handle, …hat must you let and destroy. For that is the Counsell, and you may shew it to no man, No not to your King, and why? because you are sworne to the Pope. But what say you to your Oath made unto your Prince? wherein you sweare, that you shall be faithfull and true, and beare unto him above all creatures, love and favour, to live and to dye with him, and to open him all manner of Counsells, that may be hurtfull unto his grace. Now it is well knowne, that the Pope hath done and dayly doth handle such Counsells as be against our Princes honour,The Pope dot… practise Counsels against th… honorable state of Princes. and conversation. And yet you may neither tell it to your Prince, nor let it, and why, because you be sworne to the Pope, and forsworne to your Prince. Tell me when any thing was opened unto our Prince, by you, that the Pope had handled in counsell against our Prince: Of this thing I will take record of his Noble grace, whether I say true or false… and yet must I be accused of Treason. And why, because you are sworne to the Pope, and I am true to the King: It followeth: I will helpe to defend and maintaine the Papistry of Rome, against all men, saving mine order. And in your, new Oath, now in our days made is added, The regalls of Saint Peter. What and in all men be contained your Prince? you must needes defend him. And why, because ye be sworne to the Pope, and forsworne to your Prince;(z)(z)Quest. 6. c… Aliu…. For your Oath to your Prince is to defend him with all your wit and reason against all men, now must you forsake one of them; and your practise hath beene alwayes to forsake your Prince, and sticke to the Pope:H…re is specially to be noted the practise of P… lates. For … are the doing… of the Holy … ther of Rome, that for Rebellion against Princes he would give absolution, but for matter against his Popedome there was never absolution might be obtained. for of your Oath made to your Prince, you have been oftentimes assoiled. And as your Law saith, the Church of Rome is … so to doe. But of your Oath made unto the Pope, there is no absolution, neither in heaven nor earth. Neither was it ever read, heard, nor seene, that there could be any dispensation for it. Let me be reported by all the Bookes that ever were written, and by all the Bulls that ever were granted, and by all the experience that ever was used; and if I be found false, let me be blamed; and yet I am sure many men will reckon that I speake uncharitably; but I would faine learne of all Charitable men in England, with what other English words I could declare this intolerable or subtile treason, thus long and shamefully used p. 116ag…inst my Prince, which is necessary to be knowne. And I am compelled by violence to declare both my con…ession and learning in this cause. For men hath not beene ashamed to report that I would (which am but a wretch and poore simple wonne, and not able to kill a Cat, though I would doe my utte…most) to make insurrection against my Noble and mighty Prince, whom (as God knoweth) I doe honour, wor…hip, love and favour to the uttermost power of my heart, and am not satisfied because it is no more. This I speake afore God. Let him be mercifull unto me as it is true: and if I were not so true in my heart, it were not possible for me so earnestly to write against them, whom I doe reckon to handle unfaithfully, and untruely with their Prince, yea against both Gods law and mans law. The very truth is, I can suffer, (through Gods grace) all manner of wrongs, injuries, and slanders; but to be called an hereticke against God, or a Traytor against my Pri…ce, he liveth not, but I will say he lyeth; and will be able so to prove him, if I may be reported by my workes or deedes, by my conversation or living, or by any thing that ever I did; (and I dare say as much of my self, notwithstanding our Prelates slanders of me.) But unto my purpose; the Bishops doth swear one Oath to the Pope, & another contrary to their Prince. And yet they will be taken for good and faithfull children: And I poore man must be condemned,The Popes Regals. and all my workes for Heresi…, and no man to reade them under the paine of Treason. And why? because I write against their perjurie toward their Prince. But how commeth Saint Peter by these regales that you are sworne to defend? seeing that he was never no King, but a Fisher? All the world knoweth, that Regalia belongeth to Kings, and to like power of Kings. Why are you no… rather sworne to defend Peters net and his Fisherie? the which things hee both had and used, and never regalls.Peter was acquainted with his nets but not with Regals. But these things will not maintaine the holy Church of Rome, and therefore yee sweare not to maintaine them. But what meane you by that sentence; Saving mine order? why say you not, saving my Kings pleasure your glosse saith, you may not defend these things with weapons. But oh Lord God what unshamefulnesse is this,In verb…s …lus …. thus to delude with words all the whole world? Men knoweth that when the Pope hath neede of your helpe, there is no men sooner in Armes than you are, if you call Armes Harneys, p. 117Bylles, and Glaves, swords and gunnes, and such other things. Doe you not remember how soone the Bishop of Norwich, Henry Spenser, was in Armes to defend Pop… Vrban, it were but folly to recite examples.These Articles be now granted and are no Heresie. In the yeare of our Lord 1164. was there a controversie betweene the Kings Grace, and the Bishops of England, for certaice Prerogatives belonging to the King. Wherefore the King required an Oath, and a confirmation of the Bishops, as concerning those Articles prerogatives. But answere was made of the Bishops, that those prerogatives, cum omnibus pravitatibus in regio scrip…o contentis, were of none effect, nor strength, because they did forbid to appeale to the Court of Rome, unlesse the King gave licence. And because that no Bishop might goe at the Popes… calling out of the Realme, without the Kings assent. And because the Clerkes should be convented in criminall causes a fore a temporall Judge. And because the King would heare matters, as concerning tithes and other Spirituall causes.The Prelates cannot abide to use obedience to their Prince. And because that it was against the See of Rome, and the dignity of the same, that a Bishop should be convented afore the King. Briefely, they would not be under the King, but this addition should be set unto it, Salvo honore Dei, & Ecclesiiae Romanae, & ordine nostro, We have been… led by blind guiders.that is, we will be under your grace, saving the honour of God, of the Church of Rome, and of our order: the cause why they did except these things, was this, as they themselves grant. For Kings received their authorities, and power of the Church,The Kings power is immediately of God. but the Church receiveth her authority of Christ onelyonly, wherefore they conclude that the King cannot command over Bishops, nor absolve any of them, nor to judge of tithes, nor of Churches, neither ye… to forbid Bishops, the handling of any spirituall cause. Is not here a marveilous blindnesse and obstinacie against their Prince? They will make it against Gods honour, to obey their King, and are not ashamed to say in the Kings face, that his power is of them. But I pray you whether was Kings before Bishops, or Bishops before Kings? you shall finde, that God had long admitted Kings, or any Bishops (as you take him) was thought of. Doth not the Holy Ghost command that we should honour King?1. Pet. 2.1 Pet 2 Also in another place. Let all men b… under the higher powers, for the power is of God, and he that res…steth, resisteth the power of Gods Ordinance, Rom. 13.Rom 13Here Paul saith that Kings power is of God, & p. 118of Bishops. Furthermore, what reason is it to defend the Popes Prerogative against your Princes?He that defendeth the Pope against his Soveraigne Lord or Lady is an unnaturall Subject. Is not your Prince nearer, and more naturall unto you then this wretch the Pope? But here is a thing, that maketh me to marveile. When you sweare to the Pope (saving your order) is as much to say, as you shall not use no weapons, but else you shall be ready and obedient in all things. But when you shall sweare to your King, then (saving your order) is as much to say,Saving of Order hath two significations. as you have authoritie to confirme Kings, and to be their fellowes, and neither to be obedient unto them, nor yet to answere to any Justice before them, but clearely to be exempted, and they not to meddle with you, except they will give you some worldly promotion. If I would use my selfe as uncharitably against you, as you have handled me, doubtlesse I could make something of this, that should displease you. How would you cry, and how would you handle me poore wretch, …f you had halfe so much against me as this is, but I will let you passe, God hath preserved me hitherto o… his infinite mercy against your insatiable malice, and no doubt but he will doe the same still. I will returne to your Oath. It followeth,The Pope will hold a Councell when and where it pleaseth him. I shall come to the Synod when I am called, unlesse I shall be lawfully let. But why doe you not sweare to compell the Pope to call a Councell? seeing that it hath beene so often, and so instantly required of him, by many & Noble Princes of Christendome, yea seeing that al Christendom, (such was their desire of Reformation) doth require with great sighes, an order to be taken, and set in the highest Articles of our faith: but unto this you are not sworne. And why: because it is against your holy Pope of Rome: for it there were a generall Councell, both he, and you doe know, that there must needes follow, both over him and you a streight reformation. Therefore after my Counsell say, that you cannot come, for you be lawfully let. It followeth; I shall honourably entreate the Popes Loga…, both going and comming, and in his necessity I shall helpe him. I pray you see, and provide well that he goe not a begging as Peter did. And see also that he neither preach nor teach, but pill and poll, with all mischiefe and unshame fastnesse. And why… because you are sworne this to maintaine. It followeth: I shall visit yearely my selfe, or by some other messenger, the Pope of Rome, unlesse I …e dispenced with of them. I pray p. 119you what pertaineth this to the Office of a Bishop, yearely to visit Rome? Christ and the most of his Apostles were never at Rome, and yet they were meetly good Christian men. But I reade in the traditions of the Turke,Iu. 6. l. 1. de Majoritate & obedientia: Delecti …ili… De Iureiu…ando c. Ego, in verbo singulis. that certaine of them must yearely visit their Mahomet. From whom I thinke you have taken this custome. Your owne Law saith, that unto this clause must these Bishops all onelyonly be bound, that be immediately underneath the Pope. Now are not you such, for you sweare an oath to the King, that you will immediately take your Bishopricke of him, and hold it all onelyonly of his grace. Wherefore then doe you here sweare against your owne Law? And also against your Oath made to your Prince? Moreover, you know that there was an old custome, in the dayes of King Henry the second, that no Bishop should goe out of the Realme, without the Kings Licence.The Prelates will obey the Pope but not the Prince. Are you not bound to keepe this custome: but answere, that the Pope hath dispensed with you, and that you are not bound to keepe any obedience toward the acts that your Prince maketh. Moreover, I marvaile sore, that you be all so straightly sworne of so long time, and never one of you that ever went in my dayes to discharge this Oath. And why? because you are dispensed with. But were it not as good to leave it out of your Oath at first, seeing you intend not to keepe it, as afterward to dispence with you for it. No forsooth for then the Pope could not bind you to come to Rome at his pleasure, and betray your King, and all his Counsailes. But in your Oath that is newly made, and that you have sworne last, is added, that if the Pope be on this side the mountaines, then you shall visite him every yeare: but if he be beyond the mountaines, then every three yeares. O… that knew not your practise and the circumstances of you… facts that hath beene done, would little suspect this addition: but the very truth is, there is a mischievous and abominable treason in it against Princes. For if it chanced the Emperour, or else any temporall Prince neere unto Rome, to fall at variance with the Pope, then did the Pope straight runne into France, that is to say on this side the Mountaines,A devilish Practise of Prelates where you must visite him yearely. And why? because your God is in distresse, and hath conceived a deadly hatred against a Prince, and cannot bring it to passe, without your helpe and counsell. Where…ore p. 120you must come yearely. And also he must know, through your betraying, how your Prince is minded, and whether he be addicted to his contrarie part or not. If he be, you must betray his Counsell, and that yearely: and why? because the Pope is on this side the Mountaines. But and if he be in Rome, and hath all Princes neckes under his girdle, yet is it sufficient that you come every third yeare. For you can at once comming devise as much Treason, as Princes shall avoyd in five yeares. But what belongeth this unto a Bishop: that the Pope is on this side the mountaines, or beyond. If he be bound by Gods Law, yearely to visite the Pope,The Bishops sweare to visit the Pope yearely. then must you visite him wheresoever he be, though he were either with God or the Devill: and if you be not bound by Gods Law, what a presumption is it of him to bind you? yea what an over-sight is it of you, to let your selfe thus to be bound? and what a wickednesse is it of you so straightly to keepe this Oath: to the which you are not bound by Scripture, against your obedience made to your Prince, which is commanded by Gods Word? But I pray you what example hath either he, or blessed Saint Peter, to bind by vertue of an Oath, the other Apostles yearely to visit him at Rome? All the world may perceive that this Oath is invented of insatiable covetousnesse, that the Pope and you have toward honours and dignities. And that is well declared by these words, that follow in your Oath. The possessions of my Church, I shall not sell, give, lay to morgage, or make any feoffement, or by any other meanes alienate the same without the Counsell of the Pope.The Pope taketh sure Order with his Bishops But I pray you tell me one thing, why doe you not sweare that you shall neither buy, nor yet receive any possessions to your Church, nor you shall … pill nor poll, nor shave, to encrease the possessions of y…r Church? But the truth is, all is fish that commeth to the net with you. And if it come once within your clouches it never commeth out againe, though the king and his Realme should stand in never so great need: but to receive all his Land, you are alwayes ready, and it is not against your Oath. I doe not say thus, because I would ye should sell or alienate the Possessions of the Church, but because I see that there is nothing maintained by them, but all onelyonly your mischievous pompe and your pride. Your owne law commandeth, that the fourth part of the spirituall goods, should be p. 121distributed among poore men. And for that cause they be called, Bona pauperum, but how little their part is, all the world can testifie. Wherefore doe you sweare,1212Quest. 2. …. Quantu: & de Reditibus, &c. Mos est. not to alienate your goods, without the Popes licence? The Pope gave them not to you, but the King and his subjects. How commeth he now to be so neare of your Counsell in alienating them? and the King is thrust out, the which hath deserved best to be of your Counsell. But doe you not remember your owne Law? the which doth forbid, that the Pope in any wise, or for any necessity, …hould alienate the goods of the Church,1212Quest. 2. cap. Non liceat Pap…. except it be old houses, which cannot be kept without great charges. This is your owne Law, and against this will you sweare? then must you needes be perjured: for if you alienate your goods with the Popes licence, then is this decree against you and curseth you. Wherefore then put you this in your Oath, seeing you cannot alienate your goods with his consent nor yet without it? It followeth in your new Oath, Decrees, Ordinances, Sentences, Dispositions, Reservations, Provisions and Commandments Apostolicke, with all my power, I will observe, and shall cause other men to observe them: These things were added, when this Idoll was brought so high, that no man durst winch against him,In 6. Tit. 4. c. Ad Apost. in verbo Co…tin…tar. and when he might say & doe what he would. And as your Law Commandeth, no man so hardy to aske him why he doth so. Then began Decrees, Ordinances, Depositions, Dispositions, Reservations, Provisions with like shamefulnesse for to spring, and there is no remedie, but they must continue: And why? Because you are sworne to keepe them your selfe, and to compell other men also to keepe them. And out of the keeping of this part of your Oath, springeth forth another sentence th… …loweth,This is the clause that m…intaineth the Popes Pompe and glory, and this is that that giveth him liberty to say and doe what he will. which is this: All Heretickes, Schismatickes, and … towards our sayd Lord the Pope, to my power I shall prosecute and withstand. This is the cause that made us poore men so great Heretickes. For it can never be proved, that ever wee spake against God, or our King, and yet we be Heretickes. And why, forsooth because the Bishops are sworne to the Popes Decrees, the which condemneth all them for. Heretickes, that speaketh against his holinesse, though he be as holy as my horse; for he saith himselfe in his law,Dist. 40. c. Non nos. that he needeth not to be holy himselfe, but it is sufficient, that he sitteth in an p. 122holy seate, the…e be his words: who doubteth but he is holy, the which is exalted to so great a dignity?Glo…s… in verbo quis. In whom though good workes of his owne merits be wanting, yet are those good workes sufficient, the which were done by his predecessours: upon the which text their glosse saith, that if it bee openly knowne, that the Pope be an Adulterer, or a Murderer, yet ought he not to be accused, &c. Now we poore men cannot suffer such mischievous voyces, wherefore we must be Heretickes.The Preachers of the Doctrine of Christ must needs be Heretickes, for the sayd Doctrine is against the Pope 2 Joh. 7. they preach against the Pope & therefore are Heretickes.2 John 1:7 But why? because my Lords the Bishops are sworne to persecute us: but neverthelesse, I trust to Gods grace, and the Kings, that my Lords the Bishops will not be so hard in this point of their Oath, as they have beene. And why? because men may now come to their answere; Surely, there be many clauses in his last Oath added, that be cleare injurie unto P…inces, and against Gods Law, and mans Law, and yet our Bishops will sweare them, yea and that which is worst of all, they will accuse other men of Treason and Rebellion and there is no man sworne to treason nor Rebellion but they onelyonly. Wherefore most gracious Prince with all meekenesse and lowlinesse that is due to so noble a Prince, and also that doth become a true subject to doe, I lowly and meekely require and desire your grace, to judge betweene the Bishops and me, which of us is truest and faithfullest to God and to your Grace:The writers Petition to the Kings Grace. I speake all onelyonly of those that hath, and also would now (if they durst) defend the Pope, and his Lawes. Against them I make this supplication, and against them have I declared the learning and Doctrine, that I have both taught and written. And as for my facts and deeds, what I have done against God and your grace, I require them to say … uttermost that they can prove, or else by your graciou… …vour, I am here present and offer my selfe to prove them lyars; and that under any manner of paine, that your grace shall assigne: and against them I have declared the learning and Doctrine of their Church, and also brought examples of their facts and deedes, with the which they have put their Doctrine in exercise. Now if they be grieved or thinke themselves wrongfully handled of me, then I require no more of your grace but indifferently and graciously to heare both them and me, the which thing no doubt as your grace doth know our heavenly Father doth require of you: who preserve your highnesse in all honour and dignity, Amen. Thus far Dr Barnes.

p. 123But to returne againe from these Trayterly disloyall Oathes to our Arch-Bishops: (a)(a)Antiquit Eccles. Brit. f. 346. to 380.436. Godwin p. 166. to 170. Holinshed. p. 878.910. to 923.William Warham, 3131WILLIAM WARHAM.the next Arch-Bishop, as he received his confirmation, consecration, Pall, together with a power Legatine from Pope Iulius, by sundry Bulls, against the Lawes and Statutes of the Realme, and tooke the forenamed Oath to the Pope, which made him no good Subject to his Prince; so the Royall Pompe at his instalment and inthronization was meerely Anti-Christian. The day before his comming to Canterbury, went thither the Duke of Buckingham who was his **For which Office of Execution he had an annuall Fee from the Arch-bishop worthy so great an Arch-bishop, and so great a man. Antiqu. Eccl. Bri…. p. 436.Steward [a goodly Office …or the grea…est Peere of the Realme] attended with 140. horse, to see all things in a readinesse. This Duke had also the Office of Chiefe Butler; and being unable to execute both duties, he deputed Sir George Bourchier unto the Butlership. The Duke himselfe tooke great paines to see that nothing requisite, for the performance of this Solemnity in the most magnificent manner, might be wanting. The next day [being Sunday] he me… the Arch-bishop over against S. Andrewes Church, and doing low obeysance unto him… went before him bareheaded to Christ Church: from which Church he was attended by the Duke in like …ort as he was thither ward. The Cheere at dinner was as great as for money it might be made, with severall Verses, Pageants, Theaters, Sceans, and Player-like representations, in natu…e o… a Puppet-play, (made in puffe-past or March-pane) before every Course, de…cribed more largely by (b)(b)Antiquit. Eccles. Brit. p. 350.351.352.436.Matthew Parker, fitter for a Maske than a Bishops Consecration; and savoring of more than Asian Luxurie, as this his Suc…essor confesseth. Be…ore the first Messe, the Duke himselfe came riding into the Hall upon a great Horse, bare headed, with his white staffe in his han… and when the first dish was set on the Table, made obey …an…y bowing his body to the Arch-bishop.(c)(c)Holinshed, p. 812. Such Vassals did …ho…e proud Popes of Canterbury make the very greatest Nobles, as thus to become their Servants, and waite upon their Roche…s. In this Arch-Bishops time, there fell out great contestations and s…ites at Rome betweene him, and the Bishops of Winchester, London, Lincolne, Exeter, and other his Suffragans, touching the Iurisdictions of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury; which cost much money. After this he, and Cardinall Wolsi…, who by his power Legatine invaded and swallowed up all the Jurisdiction & Rightes of the other Pr…a…es and of the See of Canterbury) had divers p. 124contests, and bickerings. Anno 1512. This Arch-Prelate by an Oration in Parliament against the French King, raised up a bloody warre betweene England and France, towards which two fifteenes were granted by the temporalty and two tenths by the Clergie: after which, Anno. 152…. (d)(d)Holinshed. p. 911.912. Hall. 22. H. 8. fol. 188.189. whose words are here but transcribed.When the Commons were assembled in the nether house, they began to Commune of their grie…es, wherewith the Spiritualty had before time grievously oppressed them, both contrary to the Law of the Realme, and contrary to all right, and in speciall they were sore moved with sixe great causes.

1The first, for the excessive fines, which the Ordinaries tooke for Probate of Testaments, insomuch that Sir Henry Guildford Knight of the Garter, and Controller of the Kings house, declared in the open Parliament on his fidelity, that he and others being Executors to sir William Crompton Knight, payed for the Probate of his Will to the Cardinall and the Bishop of Canterbury a thousand Markes sterling. After this Declaration where shewed so many extortions done by Ordinaries for Probates of Wills, that it were too much to rehearse.

2The second was, the great polling and extreame exaction, which the Spirituall men used in taking of Corps, Presents, or Mortuaries. For the Children of the desunct should all dye for hunger, and goe a begging, rather than they would of Charity give to them the seely Cow which the dead man ought, if hee had but onelyonly one, such was the Charity then.

3The third cause was, that Priests being Surveiors, Stewards, and Officers to Bishops, Abbots, and other Spirituall heads… had and occupied Farmes, Granges, and Grasing in every Country, so that the poore Husband men could have nothing but of them; and yet for that they should pay deerely.

4The fourth cause was, that Abbats, Priors and Spirituall men kept Tan-houses, and bought and fold Wooll, Cloath, and all manner of Merchandize, as other Temporall Merchants did.

5The fifth cause was, because that Spirituall Persons promoted to great benefices, and having their Livings of their Flocke, were lying in the Court in Lords houses, and tooke all of the parishioners, and nothing spent on them at all, so that for lacke of Residence, both the poore of the Parish lacked refreshing, and universally all the Parishioners lacked Preaching and true… p. 125Instruction of Gods Word, to the great perrill of their Soules.

The sixth cause was, to see one Priest little learned to have 6ten or twelve Benefices, and to be resident upon none, and to know many well learned Scholars in the Universities, which were able to preach and teach, to have neither Benefice nor exhibition. These things before this time might in no wise be touched, nor yet talked off by any man, except hee would be made an Hereticke, or lose all that he had. For the **Note the mischiefe of Prelates being great temporall Officers.Bishops were Chancellors, and had all the rule about the King, so that no man durst once presume to attempt any thing contrary to their profit or commodity. But now, when God had illuminated the eyes of the King, and that their subtile doings were once espied; then men began charitably to desire a Reformation; and so at this Parliament men began to shew their grudges. Whereupon the Burgesses of the Parliament, appointed …uch as were learned in the Law, being of the Commons house, to draw one Bill of the Probates of Testaments, another for Mortuaries, and the third for Non-residence, Pluralities, and taking of farme… by spirituall men. The learned men tooke much paines, and first set forth the Bill of Mortuaries, which passed the Commons house, and was sent up to the Lords. To this Bill the Spirituall Lords made a faire face, saying, that surely Priests and Curats tooke more than they should, and therefore it were well done to take some reasonable order: thus they spake, because it touched them little. But within two dayes after was sent up the Bill concerning Probate of Testaments; at the which the Arch-bishop of Canterbury in especiall, and all other Bishops in generall both frowned and gra…nted, for that touched their profit. Insomuch as D. Iohn Fisher Bishop of Rochester said openly in the Parliament Chamber these words: My Lords, you see dayly what Bills come hither from the Commons house, and all is to the **What ever makes against the Bishops gaines, be they never so unjust, must be said to tend to the Churches destruction.destruction of the Church. For Gods sake see what a Realme the Kingdome of Bohemia was, and when the Church went downe, then fell the glory of the Kingdome: now with the Commons is nothing but downe with the Church, and all this me seemeth is for lacke of faith onelyonly. When these words were reported to the Commons of the nether House, that the Bishop should say, that all their doings were for lacke of faith, they tooke the matter grievously, for they imagined, that the Bishop esteemed them as Heretickes, and so by his slanderous words would have perswaded the Temporall Lords, to have p. 126restrained their consent from the sayd two Bills, which they before had passed. Wherefore the Commons after long debate, determined to send the Speaker of the Parliament to the Kings highnesse, with a grievous complaint against the Bishop of Rochester; and so on a day, when the King was at leasure, Thomas Audley speaker for the Commons, and thirty of the chiefe of the Commons House, came to the Kings presence in his Palace at Westminster, which before was called Yorke-place, and there very eloquently declared, What a dishonour to the King, and the Realme it was, to say, that they which were elected for the wisest men of all the Shires, Cities, and Boroughs, within the Realme of England, should be declared in so Noble and open a presence, to lack faith; which was equivalent to say, that they were infidels, and no Christians, as ill as Turkes or Sarazens, so that what paine or study soever they tooke for the Common wealth, or what Acts or Lawes soever they made or stablished, should be taken as Lawes made by Painims and Hea…hen People, and not worthy to be kept by Christian men. Wherefore he most humbly beso…ght the Kings Highnesse, to call the sayd Bishop before him, and to cause him to speake more discreetly of such a number as was in the Commons-house. The King was not well contented with the saying of the Bishop, yet he gently answered the Speaker, that he would send for the Bishop, and send them word what answere he made; and so they departed againe. After this the King sent for the Archbishop of Canterbury and sixe other Bishops, and for the Bishop of Rochester also, and there declared to him the grudge of the Commons: to the which the Bishop answe…ed, **A silly and false evasion of a Prelate.that he meant the doings of the Bohemians, was for lacke of Faith, and not the doings of them that were in the Commons House. Which saying was confirmed by the Bishops being present, who had him in great reputation: and so by that onelyonly saying, the King accepted his excuse, and thereof sent word to the Commons by Sir VVilliam-Fitz-VVilliams Knight, Treasurer of his Household, which blind excuse pleased the Commons nothing at all. After, divers assemblies were kept betweene certaine of the Lords, and certaine of the Commons, for the Bills of Probates of Testaments, and the Mortuaries; the Temporalty layd to the Spiritualty their owne Lawes and Constitutions, and the Spiritualty sore defended them by prescription and usage; to whom p. 127this answer was made by a Gentleman of Grayes-Inne, The usage hath ever beene of theeves to Rob on Shooters-hill, Ergo, is it Lawfull With this answere the Spiritual men were sore offended, because their doings were called robberies. But the Temporall men stood still by their sayings, insomuch that the said Gentleman said to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury, that both the exaction of Probates of Testaments, and the taking of Mortuaries as they were used, were open Robbery and theft. After long disputation, the Temporall Lords began to leane to the Commons, but for all that the Bills remained unconcluded for a while. The King like a good and discreete Prince, not long after ayded them for the redresse of their griefes against the Spiritualty, and caused two new Bills to be made indifferently, both for the (e)(e)See these 2 Acts yet in force, viz. 21. H. 8. c. 4.5.Probates of Testaments and Mortuaries; which Bills were so reasonable, that the Spirituall Lords assented to them all; though they were sore against their minds, and in especiall the Probates of Testaments sore displeased the Bishops, and the Mortuaries sore displ…ased… the Parsons and Vicars. After these acts thus agreed, the Commons made another (f)(f)21. H. 8. c. 13.Act for Pluralities of benefices, Non-Residence, buying, selling, and taking of Farmes by Spirituall Persons; which Act so displeased the Spiritually, that the **It is no new thing for Priests to rayle against Parliaments for making good Lawes to order them.Priests railed on the Commons of the Common house, and called them Heretickes and Schismatickes; …or the which divers Priests were punished. This Act was sore deba…ed above in the Parliament Chamber, and the Lords Spirituall would in no wise consent. Wherefore the King perceiving the grudge of his Commons, c…used …i…ht Lords and eight of his Commons to mee…e in the S…a…h…er a… an after-noone; and there was sore debating of the cause, insomuch that the Temporall Lords of the Upper house which were there, …ooke part with the Commons against the Spirituall Lords, and by force of reason caused them to assent to the …ill with a little qualifying. Which Bill the… next day was wholly agreed to in the Lords house, to the great rejoycing… of the Lay people, and to the great displeasure of the Spirituall persons… Immediately after this, not onelyonly Cardinall VVol…e himselfe, but the Arch-bishop and whole Cle…gi… of …gland were brought into a Pr… by this Parliamen… the Cardinall for accepting of a power Legati…e from th… Pope, contrary to the Lawes of the Realme, and the … of the Cl…i… for consenting and submitted p. 128thereunto, and holding a Synode by vertue of i…: to avoid this danger, and purchase a pardon, the Clergie of the Province of Canterbury pro…fered to give the King one h…ndred thousand pounds, and the Clergie of the Province of Yorke 18000 …ounds more; but the King would not accept of this summe, unlesse they would declare him in the Act by which they granted him this subsidie, to be supreame head of the Church of England here on earth, next under Christ: but proceeded to take the forfeiture of the Premunire against them. This put the Prelates, the Popes sworne vassals, to a great Dilemma; for either they must plainly renounce the Popes usurped supremacie, or the Kings mercy, and fall under the lash of a Premunire, whereby all their Bishoprickes, goods, livings were for…eited to his Majestie; and their lives and liberties at his devotion. Loath were the Bishops to forsake their old Lord the Pope, whose servants they had beene so long, and therefore they used all delayes and adjournments to spin out the time, and delude the King, but hee would not be mocked by them. At last therefore they agreed upon this recognition. Wee acknowledge the Kings Majestie to be the singular Protector, the supreame Lord, and likewise supreame head of the Church and Clergie of England so farre forth as it is lawfull for him to be by the Lawes of Christ. But the King much offended with this ambiguous dubious, and equivocating acknowledgement (which in truth was no concession of what he demanded) required them to make a full and plaine acknowledgement of his supremacie in direct and positive termes, without ambiguity or shifts, or else to denie and conclude against it, and incur…e the penalty of the Premunire. Being thus put to it the Archbishop and Bishops hereupon made many adjournments of the Convocation, and at last put it over from Aprill, to the fifth of October, to …hunne the rocke on which they were like to split themselves, or their holy Father the Pope, in which space the Archbishop died: At last they agreed to give the King the Title he desired, and inserted it into a publike instrument: Whereupon the King at last granted them a generall pardon, in Parliament, which begins thus: (g)(g)22. H. …. c. 15.The King our Soveraigne Lord, calling to his blessed and most gracious remembrance, that his good and loving sub…ects, the most Reverend Father in God the Archbishop of Can…erbury, and p. 129other Bishops, Suffragans, Prelates, and other spirituall persons of the Province of the Archbishopricke of Canterbury, of this his Realme of England, and the Ministers under-written, which have exercised, practised, or executed in spirituall Courts, and other jurisdictions within the said Province, have fallen, and incurred into divers dangers of his Lawes by things done, perpetrated, and committed contrary to the order of his Lawes, and sp…ially, contrary to the forme of the Statutes of Provisours, Provisions, and Premunire: and his Highnesse having alway a tender eye, with mercy, pitty, and compassion …owards his spirituall subjects, minding of his high goodnesse and great benignity, so alwayes to impart the same unto them, as justice being duly administred, all rigour being excluded, and the great and benevolent minds of his said subjects, largely, and many times approved towards his highnesse, and specially in their Convocation, and Synode now presently being in the Chapiter house of the Monastery of Westminster, by correspondence of gratitude to them to be requi…ed: of his meere motion, benignity, and liberality, by authority of this his Parliament, hath given and granted his liberall and free pardon to his said good and loving spirituall subjects, and the said Ministers, and to every of them to be had, taken and enjoyed to and by them and every of them by vertue of this present Act, in manner and forme ensuing: that is, to wit; The Kings Highnesse of his said benignity, and high liberality, in consideration that the sad Archbishop, Bishops, and Clergie of the said Province of Canterbury in their said Convocation, now being, have given and granted to him a subsidie of one hundred thousand pounds of lawful…mony currant in this Realme, to be levied and collected by the said Clergy at their proper costs and charges, and to be paid in certaine forme specified in their said graunt thereof, is fully and resolutely contended and pleased, that it be ordained, established, and enacted by authority of this his said Parliament, that the most Reverend Father in God William Archbishop of Canterbury, Metropolitan and Primate of all England, and all other Bishops, and Suffragans, Prelates, &c, shall be by authority of this present pardon, acquired, pardoned, released, and discharged against his Highnesse, his heires, successours, and executors, and every of them, of all and all manner offences, contempts, and trespasses committed or p. 130done, against all and singular Statute and Statutes of Provisours, Provisions, and Premunire, and every of them, and of all forfeitures, and titles, that may grow to the Kings Highnesse by reason of any of the same Statutes, and of all and singular trespasses, wrongs, deceits, misdemeanours, for…eitures, penalties and profits, summes of mony, paines of death, paines co…porall and pecuniar, as generally of all other things, causes, quarrels, suits, judgements and exactions in this present Act hereafter no… excepted, nor soreprised, which may be or can be by his Highnesse in any wise, or by any meanes pardoned, before and to the ten…h day of the monethmonth of March, in the 22. yeare of his most Noble Raigne to every of his said loving subjects. Provided alway that this Act of free pardon shall not in any wise extend or be beneficiall to the Reverend Father in God Iohn Archbishop of Dublin, now being in the Kings Dominions of Ireland, nor shall in any wise extend to pardon, discharge, or acquit the Bishop Hereford, Peter Ligham, Iohn Baker, Adam Travers, Robert Cliffe; Rouland Philips, and Thomas Pelles Clerkes: who it seemes were guilty of some notorious crimes against the King, and therefore excepted out of this generall pardon: But to returne againe to Warham. This (h)(h)See Fox Acts and Monuments: p. 952. and in the pages before.Archbishop persecuted, and shed the blood of some of our Martyrs, and caused the corpes of VVilliam Tracy Esq. for some orthodoxe passages in his Will, to be taken out of the grave, and burn… for an Hereticke by an Order made in Convocation: sending a Commission to Doctor Parker Chancellour of Worcester to execute this wicked sentence, who accomplished the same. King Henry the eighth hearing his Subject to be taken ou… of the ground, and burnt without his knowledge or due order of Law, sent for the Chancellour, laid this to his charge as an high offence, who excused himselfe by this Archbishops command then newly dead, but in conclusion it cost the Chancellour 300… to pu…chase his pardon, and would have cost the Archbishop more, had not his death prevented this danger: In fine, this (i)(i)H…lins…ed, p. 936, 937. Hall An. 25. H. 8. f. 218. b. Speed, p. 1029.Archbishop VVarham, and Fisher B. of Rochester, gave credit and countenance to the forged visions & revelations of Elizabeth Barton, afterwards condemned of high Treason for the same, as …nding to the reproach, perill, and destruction of the Kings pers…n, honou…, fame, and dignity; and Thomas Laurence Register to the Archbishop (it is likely by his Masters privity) proceeded so p. 131farre, as to write a booke of her counterfeit miracles, revelations and holinesse: for which she and her complyces were afterwards execu…ed as Tiburne as they had justly deserved, being attainted of treason by Parliament: among which cursed c…ue, Richard Maister Priest, Edward Bocking Doctor of Divinity, and Henry Deering Munkes of Canterbury, Henry Gold Bachelor of Divinity, Thomas Laurence Register to the Archbishop o… Canterbury Warham, and Hugh Ric. a Frier observant (who seduced this silly girle to effect their owne, and the Prelates designes the better thereby) suffered death as Traytors, by hanging, drawing, and quartering at Tiburne: The act of their attainder, treasons and execution is at large related by M. Hall in his Chronicle, 25. H. 8. f. 218, 221, 222, 223, 224. to which I shall referre the Reader.

Thomas Cranmer next to him in succession, was made Archbishop by King Henry the 8. much against his will:3434THOMAS CRANMER. for in his Discourse with (k)(k)Fox Acts and Monuments pag. 1703.D. Martyn, a little before his Martyrdome, being charged by him, that he had aspired to the Archbishopricke of Canterbury; he replyed, I protest before you all, there was never man came more unwillingly to a Bishopricke than I did to that, insomuch that when King Henry did send for mee in Post that I should come over, I prolonged my journey by seven weekes at the least, …hinking that …ee would be forgetfull of mee in the meane time. Hee comming to the (l)(l)Antiq. Eccl…s. Brit. p. 381. to 405. Fox Act… and Monuments. p. 1690. to 17….See, tooke the like Oath to the Pope as his predec…ss…rs had done, and therefore was deeply charged of perju…y by Martyn, for renouncing and swearing against the Popes Supremacie afterward, though he answered, that the first oath was against the Lawes of God, of the Realme, the Kings Prerogative, and made void by Parliament, and so not binding. After the nullifying of which oath, partly by his meanes, but principally by the Lord Cro…wels (whom the King made his (m)(m)31. H. 8. c. 10.37. H. 8. c. 17 … Acts & monuments, p. 1074. to 1089, 99….1000, 1001.Vicegerent Generall in all Ecclesiasticall affaires and causes, and superiour to the Archbishop of Canterbury in place and Ecclesiasticall power) the Popes Supremacy, and usurped jurisdiction was by severall Acts of Parliament quite abolished out of England, as prejudiciall, and directly opposite to the Kings Prerogative Royall: King Henry dying, the Archbishop swore to his will, by which Queene Mary was to succeed to the Crowne as next heire, in case King Edward died without issue. King Edward seeing the obstinacie of Q…en… Mary in matters of Religion, what a pillar she was like to prove to the p. 132Church of Rome, and persecutor of the true Professors of the Gospell (n)(n)Fox Acts and Monuments, pag. 1698. Antiquit. Eccles. Brit. pag. 401.ordaines by his last VVill, that Queene Mary should be put by the Crowne, and the Lady Jane succeed him as next Heire; to which Testament all the Councell swore, and the Archbishop too at last, after much adoe: Whereupon King Edward, and Queene Mary getting the Crowne, and putting by the Lady …ane; Cranmer (o)(o)Holinshed, p. 1090.1093.who also aided the Duke of Northumberland with horse and men against the Queene, was thereupon committed prisoner to the Tower, and soone after condemned of high treason, and that by an (p)(p)Cr…mptons Jurisdic. of Courts. f. 12. b.ordinary Iury, for seeking thus to disinherit the Queen: who pardoning all the rest that were guilty of this crime, released likewise the Treason against him, (q)(q)Holinshed. p. 1091.(though shee excepted him out of her generall pardon, and some other Bishops,) and accused him onelyonly of heresie as those times deemed it, for which hee was deprived, degraded, and burnt at last for a Martyr, repenting of that Recantation, which he had over-cowardly made before, out of feare, and humane frailty. And here, not to detract any thing from the due praise of this our glorious Martyr, give mee leave onelyonly to observe.

1First that hee had a hand in the condemnation, and execution of (r)(r)See Fox Acts and Monuments in their historiesLambert, Frith, and some other of our godly Marryrs, before hee was thoroughly instructed in the points of our Religion.

2Secondly, that hee was the chiefe man in accomplishing the divorce betweene Henry the 8, and Queene Katharine, which occasioned much trouble, dissention, warre; and a furtherer of this Kings subsequent lustfull, if lawfull marriages.

3Thirdly, that the Lincolne-shire rebels in the sixt Article of their grievances presented to King Henry the 8. complaine thus against this Archbishop, and other Prelates. (s)(s)Speed history, p. 1033.That wee your true Subjects find them grieved, that there be divers Bishops of England of your Graces late promotion, that have subverted the faith of Christ, as wee thinke, which is the (t)(t)Thomas Cranmer.Archbishop of Canterbury, the (u)(u)Iohn Fisher.Bishop of Rochester, the Bishop of Salisbury, the Bishop of S. Daveyes, and the Bishop of Develin, And in speciall, as we thinke, the beginning of all the trouble of this Realme, and the great exactions that hath beene taken of your poore Communalty, have risen by the occasion of the (x)(x)Iohn Long…and.Bishop of Lincolne, by whose Officers, and by other of the Lord Cromwells servants, a great rumor and noyse is risen, and the common voyce is, that such jewels, plate, and other p. 133ornaments of our Parish Churches, which wee occupy in the service and honour of God, should be taken from us, and spoyled in like manner and fashion, as the houses of Religion have beene. Adde to this.

Fourthly, that though the Popes Supremacy were abolished 4in his time, by sundry Acts of Parliament, yet the Bishops of that age laboured underhand to support it, what they might, and were both willing to continue & set it up againe, as is cleare by …1 H… 8. c. 14. the two notable Statutes of 37. H. 8. c. 17. and 1. Ed. 6. c. 2. worthy consideration. And likewise by M. Tindall, in his obedience of a Christian man, and practise of Popish Prelates, by Rodoricke Mors his complaint to the Parliament, c. 19, 20, 21. by VVilliam VVraghtons hunting and finding ou… of the Romish Fox among the English Bishops, and his rescuing of the Fox, by Henry Stalbridge his exhortatory Epistle, D. Barnes his supplication to King Henry the 8. (s)(s)Acts and monuments, p. 1472 old edition.M. Fox, and other Treatises written in those dayes even by Protestants, which prove the Bishops of those times to be Traytors to the King; close enemies to the Kings Prerogative, and fast friends to the Popes unjust us…rpation, as Bonner, Stephen Gardener, with other of them shewed themselves in Queene Maries daies. By which it appeares, that the Bishops in those times were generally disliked and complained against on all hands.

Fifthly, that the bloody Statute of 31. H. 8. c. 14. called by (t)(t)Halls Chronicle. 31. H. 8. f. 234. Holinshed. p. 946. Speed. p. 1044, 1045.some the sixe Articles, by others the whip with sixe strings, and by the most part the bloody statute, was made and devised in this Archbishops time, by the cruelty and policy of the Bishops, especially of Stephen Gardener Bishop of VVinchester: which Statute for the miserable and pernicious tyranny & rigid execution, of the same is worthy of no memory among Christian men, but rather to be buried in perpetuall silence of oblivion, as (u)(u)Acts & Monuments, p.… 586, 587.589.1289.1472. old edition.M. Fox determines. (x)(x)Antiq. Eccl. Brit. p. 389, 390.396.Ma…thew Parker indeed records that Cranmer opposed this Act at first, then caused it to be (y)(y)32. H. 8. c. 10.35. H. 8. c. 5.6.moderated, and at last to be repealed in King Edwards dayes, but others seeme to imply that he gave consent thereto at first.

Sixtly, that he is the onelyonly Martyr of all the Archbishops of 6Canterbury, none ever dying in defence of the Gospell of Christ but he alone; the others making many Martyrs in all ages by their persecutions, but never being any themselves. Hence Matthew Parker his Successour, writes thus; (z)(z)… Antiq: Eccles. Brit. p. 403… 404.…Cranmerus fide p. 134integra, non Pontificia censura in libro vitae scriptus coelestem h…reditatatem cum Christo consecutus est, ut si in hominibus gloriari fas esset, non ab Augustino, Dunstano, Elphego, Anselmo, Thoma Becket, Edmundo, & reliqua pontificia …urba, sed ab hoc uno, qui solus in Christi causa contra Antichristum Flammarum incredibili dolore… ad coelos subla…us est, Cantuariensis sedes nobilitata esse videatur.

7Seventhly, that as this Prelate at first, was unwilling to be made a Bishop, so he suffered Martyrdome onelyonly after his deprivation and degradation from his Bishopricke, not whilst hee was a Bishop.

8Eightly, that hee failed more in his Marty…dome by reason of his cowardly recantation, than any of his fellow Martyrs, and that (a)(a)Fox Acts and Monuments, vol. 3. p. 666, 667. in the last edition. Antiq. Eccles: Brit. p. 403.through promises and hopes of life and restitution to his former dignity and Archbishopricke, the chiefe motives inducing him to this shamefull recantation.

Ninthly, that though he suffered Martyrdome for Religion only as a private Christian, after he was put from his Bishoprick, 9not whiles he continued Archbishop, yet he was condemned as a Traytor for-high treason, and that justly, as he confessed, whiles hee was an Archbishop, for an Act done by him as an Archbishop, and Counsellour of State, for which he professed both his sorrow, and repentance; And this Archprelate, and (b)(b)Holinshed, p. 1089.Bishop Ridley (committed likewise for Treason) were very importunate suitors to King Edward the 6. to tolerate the use of Masse in his Sister Maries familie; (c)(c)Fox Acts and monuments, old Edition. p. 881.884, 885. Speed. p. 1223.pressing him with divers politicke reasons to condescend to this their importunate suite, which the infant King, not onelyonly rejected with strong pious reasons, but teares, to these Bishops great reproach: who thereupon said to M. Cheeke the Kings Tutor: Ah M. Cheeke, you may be glad all the dayes of your life, that you may have such a Scholler, for he hath more Divin…y in his little finger, than all we have in all our bodies.

3535CARDINAL POOLE.But to passe from this Martyr to Cardinall Poole, his immediate successor. (d)(d)Antiq. Eccles. Brit. p. 405. to 424. Godwin. p. 171, 172. Speed, p. 1143, 1144.This Archprelate though almost, if not quite a Protestant in the point of justification, was yet a notori-Traytor, and so procliamed by King Henry the 8. who thereupon gave his D…anery of Exeter to another, and that no… without just cause: for he refused to come out of Italy to the King his Soveraigne when he sent for him: hee was sent twice by the Pope as his Legate, both to the French King, and the p. 135Germans, to stirre them up to make warre against King Henry the 8. and to invade England, though with ill successe; The King thereupon requested th…m to send him over into England, that he might proceed against him as a Traytor. He was intimate with the Pope, studied to advance his power, and suppresse his Soveraignes, stirred up his friends in England against the King by his letters, whereupon the King banished both him and his mother the Countesse of Salisbury by Act of Parliament, proclaymed him a Traytor (whence Father Latimer in his 5. Sermon before King Edward calls him Cardinall Poole the Kings Traytor, &c.) and after that be headed his mother and elder brother Vicount Mountacute for high treason. What manner of person,fol. 60, 61. and Traytor this Cardinall was to his Soveraigne, will appeare by a (f)(f)Recorded in M. Fox Acts and monumens, pag. 972. and Thomas Bacons reports of certaine men, vol… f. 266.267. The manifold ingratitude of P…le.Letter written to him being at Rome by Cutbert Tonsiall Bishop of Duresme, and Iohn Stokerley, Bishop of London, which begins thus: For the good will that we have borne unto you in times past, as long as you continued the Kings true subject, wee cannot a little lament and mourne that you neither regarding the inestimable kindnesse of the Kings highnesse, heretofore shewed unto you, in your bringing up, nor the honour of the house that you be come of, nor the wealth of the Country that you are borne in, should so decline from your duty to your Prince, that you should be seduced by faire words, and vaine promises of the Bishop of Rome, to wind with him, going about by all meanes possible to pull downe, and put under foot your naturall Prince and Master, to the destruction of the Country that hath brought you up; and for the vain-glory of a Red Ha…, to make your selfe an instrument to set forth his malice, who hath stirred up by all meanes that he could, all such Christian princes as would give eares unto him, to depose the Kings highnesse from his Kingdome and to offer it as a prey to them that should execute his malice, and to stirre if he could his subjects against him in stirring, and nourishing rebellions in his Realme: where the office and duty of all good Christians, and namely of us that be Priests, should be to bring all commotion to tranquillity, and trouble to quietnesse, all discord to concord, and in doing the contrary, wee shew our selves to be but the Ministers of Sathan, and no… of Christ, who ordained all us that be Priests to use in all places the legation of peace, and not of discord. But since that cannot be undone, p. 136that is done, the second is, to make amends, and to …ollow the doing of the Prodigall Sonne spoken of in the Gospell, who returned home to his father, and was well accepted, as no doub… you might be, if you will say as he said, in acknowledging your folly, and do as hee did, in returning home againe from your wandring abroad in service of them who little care what come of you, so that their purpose by you be served.

This Cardinals Treason, ingratitude, and perfidiousnesse, is yet further exemplified by the same Cutbert Tonstall, in his Sermon which he preached before King Henry the 8. upon Palme Sunday, in the yeare of of our Lord, 1538. Printed anciently by i… selfe, in part recited by Holinshed p. 1164, 1165. and more largely by (g)(g)In his reports of certaine men: vol. 3. f. 279, 280.Thomas Becon, where he thus blazons both the Pope and him in their native colours.

The Bishop of Rome, because he can not longer in this Realm wrongfully use his usurped power in all things as hee was wont to doe, and sucke out of this Realme by avarice insatiable, innumerable summes of money yearly to the great exhausting of the same; hee therefore moved and repleat with furious ire, and pestilent malice, goeth about to stirre all Christian Nations that will give eare to his Devillish enchantments, to move warre against this Realme of England,The madnesse of the Pope against England. giving it in prey to all those that by his instigation will invade it. And the Bishop of Rome now of late to set forth his pestilent malice the more, hath allured to his purpose a subject of this Realme Reginald Pole, comming of a noble blood, and thereby the more arrant Traytor, to goe about from Prince to Prince, and from Country to Country, to stirre them to warre against this Realme, and to destroy the same being his native country;Reginald Pole, & his unnaturalnesse to the Realme of England. whose pestilent purpose, the Princes that hee breaketh it unto, have in much abomination, both for that the Bishop of Rome (who being a Bishop should procure peace) is a stirrer of warre, and because this most arrant and unkind Traytor is his minister to so devillish a purpose, to destroy the Country that he was borne in, which any heathen man would abhorre to doe. But for all that without shame hee still goeth on, exhorting thereunto all Princes that will heare him, who do abhorre to see such unna…uralnesse in any man as he shamelesse doth set forwards; whose pernitious treasons late secretly wrought against this Realme, have been by the worke of Almighty God, so marvellously p. 137detected, and by his owne brother without looking …herefore so diclosed, and condigne punis…ment ensued, that hereafter (God willing) they shall not take any more such roote to …he noysance of this Realme. And where all Nations of Gentiles, by reasons and by law of nature, do preferre their Country before their Parents, so that for their Country they will dye against their Parents being traytors; this pestilent man, worse than a Pagan, is not ashamed to destroy (if he could) his native Country. And whereas Curtius an Heathen man was content for saving of the City of Rome where he was borne, to leape into a gaping of the earth, which by the illusions of the devill was answered should not be shut, but that it must first have one: this pernicious man is contented to ru…ne headlong into hell, so that he may destroy thereby his native country of England, being in that behalfe incomparably worse than any Pagan. And besides his pestilent treason, his unkindnesse against the Kings Majestie, who brought him up of a very child, and promoted both him, and likewise restored his blood being tainted, to be of the Peeres of this Realme, and gave him money yearly out of his coffers to maintaine him honourably at study, makes his Treason much more detestable to all the world, and him to be repured more wild and cruell than Tyger. But for all this thou English man take courage unto thee, and be nothing afraid, thou hast God on thy side, who hath given this Realme to the generation of Englishmen, to every man in his degree after the lawes of the same: thou hast a Noble, Victorious and Vertuous King, hardy as a Lyon, who will not suffer thee to be so devoured by such wild beasts. OnelyOnly take an English heart unto thee, and mistrust not God, but trust firmly in him, and surely the ruine intended against thee shall fall on their owne neckes that intend it, and …eare not though the devill and his disciples be against thee, for God thy protector is stronger than hee, or any other, and shall by his grace give him and them a fall; and so shew unto thee, that God is on thy side. Consider, that it is written in Prov. 6. that amongst many crimes there rehearsed, that God hateth chiefly, hee doth detest those persons that sow discord among their brethren (as all we Christians are brethren under our heavenly Father) Also it is written in Iohn 8. that those that do stirre men to murther are children of the Devill, which was from the beginning a murtherer, p. 138and brought Adam to sinne, and thereby to death; as the Jewes (his children) stirred the peop…e to put Christ to death. Saint Paul also in Rom. 16. warneth them to beware of those that make dissention and debate among them, against the Doctrine that he had taught them, and biddeth them eschew their company; wherein the Holy Ghost wrought in Paul, for these many yeares past little warre hath beene in these parts of Christendome,The Pope mover of wa…res. but the Bishop of Rome either hath beene a stirrer of it, or a nourisher of it, and seldome any compounder of it, unlesse it was for his ambition and profit. Where…ore since as S. Paul saith in 1 Cor. 14. that God is not the God of dissention, but of peace, who commandeth by his Word peace alway to be kept; we are sure that all those that goe about to breake peace betweene Realmes, and to bring them to warre, are the children of the devill,Breakers of peace, and sowers of discord, are the children of the devill. what holy names soever they pretend to cloake their pestilent malice withall, which cloaking under hypocrisie is double devillishnesse, and of Christ most de…ested; because under his blessed name they do play the Devills part. And therefore seeing Christ is on ourside against them, let us not feare them at all, but putting our confidence in Almighty God, & cleaving fast to the Kings Majesty, our supreme head on earth next under Christ of this Church of England, as …aithfull subjects by Godslaw ought to do; though they goe about to stirre Gog & Magog, and all the ravenners of the world against us, we trust in God verily, and doubt not but they shall have such a ruine as is prophesied by Ezekiel in C. 39. against Gog and Magog going about to destroy the people of God, whom the people of God shall so vanquish and overthrow on the mountaines of Israel, that none of them shall escape, but their carkasses there to lye to be devoured by ki…es, and crowes, and birds of the aire; and if they shall persist in their pestilent malice, to make invasion into this Realme: then let us wish that their great Captaine Gog, (I meane the Bishop of Rome) may come to them to drinke with them of the same cup that hee maliciously goeth about to prepare for us, that the people of God might surely live in peace. Thus Tonstall, concerning the Pope and the Cardinall, though a Papist. It is an Italian proverbe of our English men (h)(h)Ant…q. Eccles. Brit. p. 408.That an Italianated English man, is a devill incarnate: such a one was this Cardinall; qui Italis pontificiisque adulationibus, con…iliis, atque technis in Regis atque Patriae discrimine sic se p. 139… passus …st, … non modo … PRODITOR, writes his immedia…e successor of him… (i)(i)…In the 31. yeare of King Henry the 8… he put the King & Kingdome to extraordinary trouble and expence …or the King being then enformed by his …rusty and faithfull friends, that the cankered and cruell Serpent the Bishop of Rome, by that Arch-tr…ytor Reginald Poole, enemy to Gods Words, and his naturall country, had moved and stirred divers great Princes and Potentates of Christendome to invade the Realme of England, and utterly to destroy the whole Nation of the same; Wherefore his Majesty in his owne person, without any delay, tooke very laborious and pain…ull journeys …owards the Sea coasts; also hee sent divers of his Nobles and Counsellours to view and search all the Ports and dangers of the Coasts where any mee…e and convenient landing place might be supposed, as well on the borders of England, as also of VVales, and in all such doubtfull places his highnesse caused divers and many Bulwarkes and …ortifications to be made: And further, his Highnesse caused the Lord Admirall, Earle of Southhampton, to prepare in readinesse ships for the Sea, to his great cost and charges: And beside this, to have all people in a readinesse, hee directed his commissions throughout the Realme to have his people mustered, and the harnesse and weapons seene and viewed, to the intent that all things should be in readinesse if his enemies should make any attempt into this Realme, and likewise caused a generall muster to be made of all the Citizens of London betweene the age of 60. and 16. This (k)(k)Antiq. Eccles. Brit. p. qua supr…Arch-traytor after the Pope had imployed him to move the Emperour and King of Spaine to breake their league with King Henry, and to proclaime warre against him, kept a continuall guard about him, lest the King should send some to murther him. And retiring to Viterbium, where he lived some space neere a Nunnery, he bega… two bastards (a sonne and a daughter) on the Abbe…se, who oft repaired to his lodging; which was afterwards objected to him, when he was (l)(l)God…, pag. 124. to 129. See Speed, p. 1143, 1144. Martin… Hist: p. 397, to 401.elected Pope by the major part of Cardinals, and yet lost that Antichristian See by his owne negligence and delayes King Edward the 6. deceasing and Queene Mary comming to the Crowne, she presently sent for this Traytor home; the Pope upon this occasion makes him his Legate, to reduce England under his vassallage, and tyranny. The Cardinall hereupon sore longed homeward, not doubting but if p. 140things stood, as hee thought, to get a dispensation to lay off the Hat, and put on a Crowne. But the Emperour mistrusting what the Prelate intended, found devises to hold him beyond the seas, untill the match was concluded betweene Queene Ma…y and his sonne. Anno 1554. he arrived in England, and the same day he landed, an Act passed in the Parliament house (through the Queenes, and VVinchesiers meanes) for his restitution in blood, and the utter repealing of the Act of at…ainder against him in King Henry the 8. his raigne. The Cardinall soone after caused Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury to be deprived and degraded, seating himselfe in his See; and making a long Oration in Parliament, declaring the offence and schisme of the Kingdome in casting off the Pope, and his willingnesse to receive them into the bosome of the Church againe upon their submission; he caused the Parliament to make an Act, repealing all Statutes, Articles, and Provisions made against the See of Rome since the 20. yeare of Henry the 8. reviving the Popes supremacie, and denying the Queens, wherein the whole Realm submitted it selfe to the Pope: some parts of which Act, pertinent to my purpose, I shall crave leave to recite,

(m)(m)1. & 2. Phil. & Mary, ch. 8. See Holinshed, p. …1…2, 1123.Whereas since the 20. yeare of K. Henry the 8. of famous memory, Father unto your Majesty, our most naturall Soveraigne, and gracious Lady and Queene, much false and erroneous Doctrine hath beene taught, preached, and written, partly by divers naturall borne subjects of this Realme, and partly being brought in hither from sundry other forraine Countries, hath beene sowne and spread a broad within the same, by reason wherof, as well the spirituali…y as the temporality of your Highnesse Realmes and Dominions have swerved from the obedience of the See Apostolicke, and declined from the unity of Christs Church, and so have continued, untill such time as your Majesty being first raised up by God, and set in the seat royall over us, & then by his divine & gracious providence knit in marriage with the most Noble and Vertuous Prince the King our Soveraigne Lord your husband, the Popes holinesse, and the See Apostolike sent hither unto your Majesties, as unto persons undefiled, and by Gods goodnesse preserved from the common infection aforesaid, & to the whole Realm the most reverend father in God the Lord Cardinall Poole, Legate de Latere, to call us home againe into the right way, from whence we have all this long while wandred, and p. 141strayed abroad; and we a…er sundry long and grievous plagues, and calamities, seeing by the goodnesse of God… our owne errours, have acknowledged the same unto the said most reverend Father, and by him have beene and are the rather at the contemplation of your Majesties, received and embraced into the unity and bosome of Christs Church, and upon our humble submission, and promise made for a declaration of our repentance, to repeale and abrogate such Acts and Statures as had beene made in Parliament since the said 20. yeare of the said King Henry the 8. against the supremacie of the See Apo…stolike, as in our submission exhibited to the said most reverend Father in God by your Majesties appeareth. The tenor whereof ensueth. Wee the Lords spirituall and temporall, and the Commons assembled in this present Parliament, representing the whole body of the Realme of England,The submission of the whole Realme to the Pope. and the Dominions of the same, in the name of our selves particularly, and also of the said body universally, in this our supplication directed to your Majesties, with most humble suit, that it may by your graces intercession and meanes be exhibited, to the most reverend Father in God, the Lord Cardinall Poole Legate, sent specially hither from our most holy Father Pope Iulius the third, and the See Apostolike of Rome, do declare our selves very sory and repentant of the Schisme and disobedience committed in this Realme and dominions aforesaid, against the said See Apostolike,Schisme and disobedience against the Se… Apostolike. either by making agreeing, or executing any Lawes ordinances, or Commandements against the supremacy of the said See, or otherwise doing or speaking that might impugne the same, offering our selves, and promising by this our supplication, that for a token and knowledge of our said repentance, we are and shall be alwayes ready under, and with the Authorities of your Majesties, to the uttermost of our powers to doe what shall lye in us for the abrogation and repealing of the said Lawes and Ordinances in this present Parliament, as well for our selves as for the whole body whom wee represent: whereupon wee most humbly desire your Majesties, as personages undefiled, in the offence of this body towards the said See, which neverthelesse God by his providence hath made subject to you, so to set forth this our most humble suit, that wee may obtaine from the See Apostolike, by the said most reverend Father, as well particularly as generally, absolution, release, and discharge p. 142from all danger of such censures and sen…en…s, as by the Lawes of the Church wee are fallen into; and that wee may a… children repentant be received into the bosome, and unity of Christs Church, so as this noble Realme, with all… the members thereof may in this unity and perfect obedience to the See Apostolike, and Popes for the time being, serve God and your Majesties to the furtherance and advancement of his honou… and glory: wee are at the intercession of your Majesties, by the authority of our holy Father Pope Iulius the third, and of the See Apostolicke, assoyled, discharged and delivered from excommunication, interdictions, and other censures Ecclesiasticall, which have hanged over our heads for our said defaults since the time of the said schisme mentioned in our said supplication. The which time the said Lord Legate, and wee do all declare, recognise, and meane by this Act to be onelyonly since the 20. yeare o… the raigne of your most Noble Father King Henry the 8. It may now like your Majesties, that for the accomplishment of our promise, made in th… said supplication, that is, to repeale all Lawes and Statutes made contrary to the said supremacie and See Apostolike, during the said schisme, which is to be understood, since the 20. yeare of the raigne of the said late King Henry the 8. and so the Lord Legate doth accept, and recognise the same. After which they repeale in this Act also, the Statutes against the Popes supremacie, and profit: And declare, that the title or stile of supemacie, or supreme head of the Church of England, and of Ireland, or either of them, never was, nor could be justly or lawfully attributed, or acknowledged to any King or Soveraigne Governour of this Realme, nor in any wise could or might rightfully, justly, or lawfully by any King or Soveraigne Governour of this Realme, be claymed, challenged, or used. And withall they commend Queene Mary for omitting this stile, though s…led by 25. H. 8. c. 19.21.26. H. 8. c. 1.3.27. H. 8. c. 15.28. H. 8. c. 7.10.31. H. 8. c. 10.14.32. H. 8. c. 22, 24, 26.33. H. 8. c. 29.34. & 35.H. 8. c. 17.19.35. H. 8. c. 1.3.37. H. 8. …. 17.Act of Parliament. And to colour this disloyalty and prejudice to the Crown, they adde this srivolous clause to the end of this Act, And forasmuch as we your Majesties humble & obedient subjects the Lords spirituall and temporall, and Commons in this present Parliament assembled, neither by the making or delivering of either the supplications afor…said, nor by any clause, Articles or Sentence thereof, or of any other Clause, A…ticle, or Sentence of this or any other Statu…e, or the preambles of the same, made or p. 143agreed upon in this Session of this pr…s…nt Parliament, by any manner of interpretation, construction, implication, or otherwise intend to derogate, impaire, or diminish any of the prerogatives, liber…ies, franchesies, preheminences, or jurisdictions of your Crowne imperiall of this Realme, and other the Dominions to the same belonging; Wee do most humbly beseech your Majesties that it may be declared and ordained, and be it …nac…ed and declared by authority of this present Parliament, that neither the making exhibiting or inferring in this present Statute, or in the preambles of the same, of the supplica…ions or promise aforesaid, or either of them, nor any other things, words, sentences, clauses, Articles in the preambles, or body of the Acts aforesaid, shall be construed, understood, or expounded to derogate, diminish or take away any the liberties, priviledges, prerogatives, preheminences, authorities, or jurisdictions, or any part or parcell thereof, which were in your Imperiall Crowne of this Realme, or did belong to your said Imperiall Crowne, the 20. yeare of the raigne of your the Queens Majesties, most noble Father, (Henry the 8.) or any other your most noble Progenitors before the said 20: yeare. And the **More care is here taken for the Popes, than Queenes supremacy.Popes holinesse, and See Apostolicke to be restored, & have and enjoy such authority, preheminence and jurisdiction, as his Holinesse used and exercised, or might lawfully have used and exercised by authority of his supremacie, the said 20. yeare of the raigne of the King your Father within this your Realme of England, and other your Dominions without diminution or enlargement of the same, and none other, and the Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction of the **Restored here to their jurisdiction, together with the Pope, as members of his body.Archbishops, Bishops, and Ordinanaries to be in the same Sta…e for processe of sui…s, punishment of crimes, and execution of censures of the Church, with knowledge of causes belonging to the same, and as large in these points as the said jurisdiction was the said 20. yeare.

Where observe, that the Prelates usurped Jurisdiction over the Kings prerogative was much eclipsed, if not quite abolished by severall statutes made in King Henry the 8. and Edward the 6. his raigne, and expired together with the Popes, as appeares by these words of the Clergies supplication recited in the body of this Act. Nos Episcopi & Clerus, &c. cum omni debita humilitate & reverentia, exponimus Majestatibus vestris, quod licet Ecclesiarum, quibus in Episcopos, Decanos, Archidiaconos p. 144&c. constituti sumus bona, Iurisdictiones & jura in pernicioso hujus Regni praeterito schismate DEPERDITA ET AMISSA, omni studio & totis nostris v…ribus, recuperare, & ad pristinum ecclesiarum jus revocare, juris remediis niti deberemus, &c. Insuper Majestatibus vestris supplicamus, ut pro sua pietate efficere dignentur, ut ea quae ad jurisdictionem nostram & libertatem Ecclesiasticam pertinent, sine quibus debitum nostri pastoralis officii & curae animarum nobis commissae exercere non possumus, nobis superiorum temporum injuria ablata, restituantur, & ea nobis & ecclesiis perpetuo illaesa & salva permaneant; & ut omnes leges, quae hanc nostram jurisdictionem & libertatem Ecclesiasticam tollunt, seu quovis modo impediunt, abrogentur, ad honorem dei, & majestatum vestrarum, &c.

As therefore the Bishops & Popes Jurisdiction were suppressed together before, so it is worth the observation, that they are both revived together by this Act, upon the restauration of Popery; And good reason, for Nicholas le Maistre in his Instauration of the Ancient Principality of Bishops, Dedicated to the great French Cardinall Richeleiu, Printed at Paris 1633. in his Dedicatory Epistle to this Cardinall informes us; That verily the Majestie of the Pontificall and Episcopall jurisdiction is so conjoyned and confederated together, that the enemies cannot so guide their hands, but with the same audacity wherewith they assaulted the Popes Crowne, they likewise shaked the Bishops Miters, and as it were with one bloody wound pierced both their sides. Whence it came to passe, that the atrocity of the Bishops sorrowes increased so farre, that their patience sufficient to digest their owne domesticke injuries, was let loose to the dangers of the chiefe Pontise, the Pope, and brake forth into the most sharpe indignation and hatred… that thence it might appeare, that the glory of their owne name could never be more secure, than when and where the Popes greatnesse shall be adorned with greatest honours: which being violated, all the splendor of the Episcopall Order must necessarily dye and grow contemptible. Hence we see it comes to passe by a certaine Divine assent and Counsell, that the Authority of Bishops should be expelled out of the same Provinces, out of which unhappy lust had thrust out the Papall Majestie. So this Author of late, by which we may discerne what a neare and indissoluble connexion there is betweene the Papacy and the Prelacie, and p. 145how the Pope and Prelates ever mutually strive to support and advance one anothers authority. Cardinall Poole thus reviving the Popes and Prelates Jurisdiction, and suppressing and eclipsing the Royall Prerogative, as you have heard, hereupon the Queenes name and Title **See the Br… viate of the Prelates Encroachments, &c. p. 106.107… 114.115.125.1…6.127.91. to 100…formerly used in all Ecclesiasticall Processe, with this clause, Suprema Autoritate Regia legitime fulcitus & the like, was wholly omitted out of them; and whereas all such processes were sealed with her seale, and all Probates of Wills and Letters of Administration granted in her name, and under her seale onelyonly, not the Bishops, like Writs at the Common Law, according to the Statute of 1 Ed. 6. c. 2. the Bishops thenceforth used onelyonly their owne seales and names, excluding hers, and so set themselves in her Royall Throne. To effect this, the **Fox Acts and monuments, in the old Edition. p. 684.689.924…690. In that of 1610. p. 1294.1495.Cardinall and Prelates caused Queene Mary to send Articles to the Ordinaries to be put in Execution, whereof this was one; **Fox Acts and Monuments old Edition. p. p. 9…4that no Bishop or his O…ficer, or any other Person hereafter in any of their Ecclesiastical writings, in proces or other extrajudiciall Acts, doe use to put in this clause or sentence, Regia autoritate fulcitus, or doe demand any Oath touching the Primacy: to which Master Fox annexeth this Marginall annotation, The Kings Authority giveth place to the Popes Authority, the supremacy of the King repealed; and hereupon in the **Fox Acts and Monuments p. 927.Queenes writ to Bonner, …or the sommoning of a Convocation, her stile of Supremum caput was taken away; where note (good Reader, writes Master Fox) concerning the altering and changing of the Queenes stile, the later part hereof to be le…t out of her Title which is, Ecclesiae Anglicanae & Hibernae supremum caput, because in the Parliament last past, the supremacy being given away from the Crowne of England to the Pope, thereupon this parcell of the Title was also taken away: likewise the sayd Bonner giving his Certificate upon the same, left out, Autoritate illustrissimae, &c. legitime fulcitus; w^ch parcell also in the said Parliament was reprived and taken away the same time.**See the Hi…ory the Councill, of Trent. p 339. to 3…5. Sir Iohn Davis Irish Reports. f. 97.98. See the Br…via… p. 91. to 100. & Cooke Ca… dries Case f. …. Which notable usurpation upon the Crowne, though abolished by 1. El. c. 1.8. El. c. 1.1. …ac. c. 25. and other Acts which revive the statute 1. El. 6. c. 2. being nothing but the Common Law, our Prelates (in imitation of these and other their undutifull Popish Predecessors) have not onelyonly continued, but likewise upon the now Arch-Bishop of Canterburies motion in Star-Chamber, procured a Resolution and Certificate of all the Judges of England p. 146against the Laws & Kings prerogative royall, to justifie this their usurpation, of issuing out processe under their owne names and seales, and keeping Visitations and Courts in their owne names, without any Patent or Commission from his Majestie, to be legall; as appeares by **See I new discovery of the Prelates tyranny. p. 34. &c.two Orders of Starre-Chamber, 12. Maii, and 4. Iunii. 13. Caroli. This Arch-prelate Cardinall, having thus re-established the Popes and Prelates jurisdiction here by Act of Parliament, **Antiqu. Eccles. Brit. p. 422. Fox Acts and Monuments p. 1537. in the old Edition.caused divers of our Martyrs to be burnt, of which his Predecessor Cranmer was one; and in his Visitation at Oxford and Cambridge, caused the dead rotten Corps of learned Martin Bucer, Paulus Fagius, Peter Martyrs wise to be digged out of their graves, and burnt to ashes for Heretiques: yea **Antiq. Ecclesiae Brit. p. 420.421.the common talke was, that he purposed to have taken up King Henry the 8. his body at Windsor, and to have burnt it, yea and King Edward the 6. his Corps too, as many thought. I cannot here omit what his immediate suc…essor **Holins…ed p. 1134. Antiq. Eccles. Brit. p. 422.Matthew Parker, records of him, that this Cardinall being out of hope to get the Crowne of England to himselfe, to which he aspired, endeavoured to transferre all his right therein to King Philip, le…t Queene Mary dying without issue, Queene Elizabeth (who differed from him and the Papists in matters of Religion, whose life he and they had layd in waite for, keeping her in long and strict imprisonment) should of right injoy it: to which purpose they very secretly entred into most wicked consultations concerning this matter, to this effect; that Mary not onelyonly by the Common Law should be proclaimed Queene, but likewise a conquerour of the Kingdome by right of warre; so as by this pretext shee might change all publike and private rights and interests, and give the Kingdome to whom soever she pleased. But this coun…ell, though liked of at first, yet because it was doubtfull and dangerous, was not long approved of. Wherefore rejecting it they thought it best and most expedient for the establishment of the Popes affaires, that the Lady Elizabeth should be either dispatched out of the way, or married to some Noble Spaniard. But God providing for her and our safety, dissipated all these wicked consultations, and brought them to nothing. And Cardinall Poole perswading Queene Mary to joyne with King Philip her husband in a warre against the French King, with whom Pope Paul the fourth had confederated against the Emperour seeking to betray the Kingdome o… Naples to him; the Pope p. 147was …arre exasperated hereby against the Cardinall, **See Martins Chronicle p. 415.416. G…dwin p. 125.126.12…that he revoked his power Legatine, imprisoned Cardinall Moron Protector of the English at Rome, and Pooles speciall friend, cited Poole to appeare at Rome as suspected of Heresie, and created William Peter a Franciscan to be his Legate in his place. The Queene hereupon intercedes for the Cardinall, who having intelligence of this matter refused to have his silver Crosse (the badge of his authority) carried be…ore him, till by the intercession o… Ormanet the Popes D…tary here in England, and the Queenes mediation, he was at last restored to his Office. In …, **Speedes History p. 1145.the flames of persecution consumed 5. Bishops, 2…. Divines, 8. Gentlemen, 84. Artificers, 100. Husbandmen, Servants, and Labourers, 26. Wives, 20. Widowes, 9. Virgins, a… Boyes, and 2. Infants. To close up all concerning him in Holmsheds words, **Hollinshed p. 1165.A Trayter he lived, and a Traytor he dyed: **Speed p. 1153. Godwin, p. 128.the same day on which Queene Mary expired, the Tydings of whose depar…ure strucke him quite dead, being sicke before of a quartane Feaver **Antiq. Eccles. Brit. p. 423.Illud autem (saith his Successour) ad aternam …mmanitatis Pontificiae memoriam, infamiamque contra Polum valebit, quod eo Legato ac accelerante, integerrimus, Doctissimusque Archiepiscopus Cra…nerus igne crematus est, quod Archiepiscopo praeterea (quod legimus) accidit nemini (sew or none of them having zeale enough to make them Martyrs) pluresque in ill… sue legationis triennio ferro, sta…maque crudeliter macta… sun…, qu…m in …uiusquam regis eorum, qui post Lucium huic insulae imperabant, longissimo regno. Ita Cranmerum Martyren…, Polum tyram…um …antuaria celebrat: hic plumbo depressus, ille cineribus atque flamma ad coelos elatus est.

Matthew Parker his immediate successor,3636MATTHEW PARKER. though a man of better temper, a learned Antiquary,**Antiq… Eccles. Brit. p. 427. &c. 436.437. Martin… History. p. 508.…. a frequent Preacher of Gods Word, not onelyonly in his Cathedrall at Canterbury, but in sundry Parish Churches; was yet over-Pontificall and Princely in his buildings, feasts, houshold-stuffe, and apparell, if not an over…stiffe maintainer of his Jurisdiction and Ecclesiasticall Courts, which grew so odious among the people, that they offered violence to the Ministers and Promoters of those Courts (Anno. 1566.) …eating and vexing them with clamors and out-cryes, as they went along the streetes; which insolency the Queene by her opportun… severity repressed: Two yeares af…er (Anno… 1568.) C…lem…n, Burton, Hallingham, Benson, and others, making profession of p. 148the purer Religion more zealously than was knowne before, would allow of nothing but what was taken out of the Scriptnres, and out of a desire of reformation, not onelyonly openly questioned but condemned the received Discipline of the Church of England, with the Church Liturgie, and the very calling o… Bishop, as favouring too much of the Popish Religion; protesting in the Pulpits, that it was an impious thing to hold any thing Common with the Church of Rome, using all diligence to have the Church of England reformed in every point, according to the Rule of the Church of Geneva. These the Queene (by this Arch-Bishops instigation) commanded to be layd by the heeles: yet it is almost incredible how upon a sudden their followers increased every where (knowne by the envious name of Puritanes) through a kinde of obstinate perversenesse of their owne, stopping their eares against all advise; (so Martyn, though I think rather out of solide judgement and the inconveniences they saw and found in the Lordly Prelacie in thos… best times) which …saith hee) might seeme to be helped forward also by the sloathfull connivency of the Bishops (some of whom then misliked their owne calling and government, and could have beene content with its dissolution and change to a better) and the secret favour of some Noble men at Court; whom Martyn slaunders, to have gaped after the goods of the Church; when as they rather did it out of the mischiefes and dislike of the Prelaticall government. In his time the **Marti…s History, p. 548.549.550.552.Earles of Northumberland, and Westmerland, the Lord Dacres and others… Anno 1569. being pressed forward by one Nicholas Martin a Romish Priest, sen… from the Bishop of Rome to pronounce Queene Elizabeth an Hereticke, and therefore to have lost all Dominion and Soveraignty, raised a Rebellion in the North to set up Popery and restore the Romish Religion, the 5. wounds of Christ being painted in their Banners: Murrey, then Regent of Scotland, informed the Queene, that the Bishop of Rosse, then in England, was the Author of that Rebellion… whereupon he was committed to the Bishop of London and remained his prisoner. And the same yeare **Sp…d. p. 1170. to 1176. Martins Chron. p. 557. to 560.Pope Pius the fifth by his Bull excommunicated and deprived Queene Elizabeth from her Crowne, and absolved all her Nobles, Subjects, and people of the Realme from their Oath of allegiance or any other duty to her, which Bull Iohn Felton setting up at the Bishop of Londons Palace gate, was p. 149executed for his paines: yet I read of no re…utation of it made by this Archprelate.

Edmund Grindall next enjoying this See,3737EDMVND GRINDALL. a grave and pious man, and a fugitive in Queene Maries raigne, stood highly in Queene Elizabeths …avour for a long time: till by the cunning devises of some, who accused him as a favourer of the Puritans,**Martyns History. p. 662.654, 655. Continuation of Holinsh…d. pag. 1322. to 1329. Conventicles, and prophecying (which he justified in a particular treatise which I have seene, dedicated to the Queene, and subscribed by all his suffragans) hee utterly lost the same; being thereupon suspended from his Bishopricke and so dyed suspended. Martin records, that the true cause of his suspension was, for disallowing the matrimony of Julio, an Italian Physitian, with another mans wife, therein thwarting the Earle of Leicesters pleasure. In his dayes M. Iohn (or rather Philip) Stubs of Lincolnes Inne, lost his hand, for writing a booke against the Queenes intended match with the Duke of Anjou, with this Title, The gulfe wherein England will be swallowed up by the French marriage, with which the Queene was sorely vexed and displeased. Sentence was pronounced against him by vertue of a Law made in the raigne of Philip and Mary, then expired, and personall to them; whereupon the Iudges and chiefe Lawyers were at variance concerning the force of that Statute:3838IOHN WHITEGIFT. but might prevailed therein against right. And about the same time Edward Campian, Ralph Sherwin, Luke Kerby, Alexander Briant Priests, were indited, condemned, and executed for high Treason, for plotting the ruine of the Queene and Kingdome, as adhering to the Pope, the Queenes enemie, and comming into England to raise forces against her.

Iohn VVhitegift, next to him in succession, a stately Pontificall Bishop, **See Sr G…orge Paul in the life of Whitegift. Martyns Hist. p. 663.676.761, 762.780, 781, 782, 783. Iohn Penry his supplication to the Parliament: the Petition to Qu. Elizabeth. The Register…. The Abstract of certaine Acts of Parliamen…. The Demonstration of Discipline. M. Cart…rights reply, Mar…in Marpr…lat…, and others.contested much for the authority and Lordly jurisdiction of Prelates, in defence whereof hee then writ, though hee durst not averre our Archbishops to be of divine institution. Hee had some contestations with the Judges, whom he much troubled about Prohibitions, ex officio oathes, and proceedings, the power of the high Commission and other Exclesiasticall Courts, … he endeavoured to enlarge to the prejudice of the Queenes prerogative, and the Subjects liberties; whereupon, in the Parliament Anno 1585. divers Bils and complaints were exhibited against the oath ex officio, the granting of faculties by Bishops, Non-residencie, and other abuses, p. 150which this Prelate by his power, to prevent a reformation… crossed and frustrated, to the great disturbance of the Church and State, and the increase o… schismes and divisions in both. After this Anno 1588. hee procured these reverend Ministers and Gentlemen, M. Vdall, M. Penry,, M. Cartwright, King, Prudlar, Paine, M. Knightly, M. Wigstone, and others, to be questioned, and fined in Starchamber, for writing against the English Hierarchy, and caused M. Penry, Vdall, and others against all Law, and Justice to be condemned, and executed for this cause, whereupon the Judge, before whom they were arraigned, much troubled in conscience, fell into desperation, and died miserably. These his violent proceedings stirred up VVigginton, Coppinger, and franticke Hacket (whom the Prelates oppression made starke mad) to accuse the, Archbishops of Canterbury and Yorke of high Treason, and to runne into extravagant actions and opinions, which they afterward recanted. And not these alone, but others likewise, opposing the government of the Church of England, disallowed the calling of Bishops, and got some eminent Lawyers (as M. Maurice Atturney of the Court of Wards, and others) to write against the government of Bishops, and the Oath ex of…icio, which troubled much the whole Church, State, Judges, Parliament and Kingdome, and fired them almost into an uproare; this Archprelate straining his Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction beyond its bounds, farre higher than any of his predecessors since the reformation. Whereupon multitudes of bookes were written against the calling, Lordlinesse, and extravagances of the Prelates, and their Courts, some in serious, others in more light and jesting manner, wherewith the Prelates were much nettled, and their government rendred very odious among the people, which certainly had then beene subverted, had not the power of this Archprelate made a privy Counsellor, and of Chancellour Hat…on (a man popishly affected, as was generally then reported) kept it from ruine. This Archprelates traine of servants was extraordinary great, to the number of above 60 menservants) who were all trained up to martia… …ires, and mustred almost every weeke, his stable being sti…l well furnished with good store of great horses; a commendable thing in a warlike Prelate, though scarce allowable in a pious Apostolicall Bishop, who should rather traine up schollers for the pulpit, than souldiers for the field.

p. 151Richard Bancroft his great creature,3939RICHARD BANCROFT. and immediate successor, had many conflicts with the Judges, concerning prohibitions, ex officio, Oathes, and the power of the High Commissioners, before the King and Councell, to the great disquiet of the Realme, and oppression of the people: hee **In his Sermon at Pauls Crosse, by D. Reynolds in his letter to Sr. Francis Knoles.defended the Bishops Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction to be jure Divino, and not derived immediately by Letters Patents from the King, like an ungratefull wretch; contrary to the expresse Acts of 26. H. 8. c. 1.31. H. 8 c. 9, 10.37. H. 8. c. 17. 1. Edw. 6. c.. 1. Eliz. c. 1.1. & 2. Phil. & Mar. c. 8. 8. Eliz. c. 1. and the whole streame of the Fathers, forraine Protestants, and our English writers, to the great affront of the Kings prerogative royall: And if some men yet alive may be credited (who accused him to the Councell of these crimes, and offered to prove them) hee had a hand in the compiling of Dolmans the Jesuites Booke concerning the succession of the Crowne of England; the maine scope of which booke (written, as **Martyns Chron. p. 793.some say, by Cardinall Allen, and Fr. Ingelfield, Dolmans enemies) was to exclude all persons, how neere soever allyed to the Crown, unlesse they were Roman Catholikes, contending further for the right of Isabel Infanta of Spaine, and seeking to disprove King Iames his most rightfull title thereunto; which Dolman with other old Priests and Jesuites hee harboured in his house; where they affirme this booke was Printed: and some thought hee was privie to that devillish plot of the Gunpowder-treason, most of the traytors lying at Lambeth whiles they were about that hellish worke. This Relation I had from others, who averred it for truth, and offered to prove it in his lifetime, could they have beene heard. And it seemes for the point of Dolmans booke, and conniving at such other seditious, traiterly, popish pamphlets of that nature, this Prelate was not altogether cleare: for in the p. 48, 49.Conference at Hampton Court before King Iames, when D. Reynolds moved the King, that such unlawfull and seditious bookes might be suppressed, at least restrained, which unsetled and corrupted the minds of many young Schollers in both Universities, instancing in Ficlerus a Papist, De jure Magistratus in subditos, for one: Bancroft (then Bishop of London) supposing himselfe principally aimed (and why should hee have such a suspition, unlesse conscious of some guilt, upon such a generall motion and information?) answered, first in the Generall: that p. 152there was no such licentious divulging of those Bookes as hee imagined, or complained off. And secondly, to the particular instance of Ficlerus, that he detested both the Author and applyer alike. But for the first my Lord Cecill justified the complaint true; taxing also the unlimited liberty of dispersing and divulging these Popish and seditious Pamplets both in Pauls Church-yard, and the Universities; instancing in one then lately set forth, and published, namely, Speculum Tragicum; which both his Majesty, and the Lord Henry Howard Earle of North-Hampton, termed a dangerous booke both for matter and intention. Yea Lewis Hughes, an ancient Minister **In his certaine grievances well worthy the consideration of the right honourable Court of Parliament. p. 14, 15.writes thus of this Arch-Prelate; In the later end of Queene Elizabeths raigne, when shee began to be sickly, and not like to live long; D. Bancroft (then Bishop of London) knowing that King Iames was to succeed her, and fearing that his Majestie would reforme things amisse in the worship and service of God, and in the government of the Church, did license a booke written by a Jesuite that hee kept in his house, wherein was written, That it was in the Popes power as a gift appropriate to Saint Peters Chaire, to depose the Kings of England, and to give authority to the people to elect and set up another. Fifteene hundred of those bookes were printed, and dispersed, and being questioned for it, his answer was, that hee did set the Jesuites to write one against another, that hee might out of their writings picke matter against them. It was thought by many, hee had no good meaning in licensing, and suffering so many dangerous Bookes to be dispersed. So hee. Which sufficiently discovers this Arch-Prelates traiterly heart to his Soveraigne, his affection to the Popes supremacy, and disaffection to our Religion; he being a great Persecutor and Silencer of hundreds of our most conscionable preaching Ministers; and, if I may credit other mens reports, his life was ill, and his death fearfull.

4040GEORGE ABBOT.George Abbot, his successor in this See, though a man of a better temper, and worthy praise for his frequent preaching; was yet taxed by some, for being over-stately to his fellow brethren, and for his overmuch delight in shooting at deere, which he exercised so long, till at last by the unhappy glance of his arrow, hee kild his keeper instead of the Bucke hee let loose at. He incurred his Majesties displeasure so farre (by whose means I know nor, unlesse by his successors,) that hee was debarred p. 153acc…sse to the Kings Court, yea & suspended from his o…fice of Arch-Bishop for a season, which was executed in the interim by Commissioners. He was a means of some good mens troubles in the High Commission,4141AVGVSTINE. where he caused M. Huntly a Kentish Minister to be most unjustly fined,**See Antiq. Eccles, Brit. p. 15. to 45. & 1. to 7. Fox Acts & monuments, p. 149. to 156. Malmesde gestis Pontif. l. 1. William Harrisons Description of England. l. 2. c. 1.2. and imprisoned, for denying to preach a Visitation Sermon, when hee was sicke and unable to doe it, and therefore sent the Arch-deacon 20^s to procure another, which was refused; and which is …arre more inju…ious, when this poore Minister after many motions was released by the Judges of the Kings Bench by an Habeas Corpus, …rom his unjust imprisonment, hee, and the other Prelates caused him for this very Act of seeking his just relief in a legall way, to be apprehended by their pursevant immediately after the Judges had bayled him,**See Greg. Epist. l. 11. epist. 36.44. and Morney his mystery of iniquity Sect. 22. p. 116, 117. even in the face of the Court, and for this very cause deprived and degraded him in the High Commission, and committed him a fresh, and gave his living to his Chaplaine, to the great affron… of justice; for which act he might have smar…ed in a high degree, had hee beene but questioned.

I should now descend to the present Archbishop,**Antiq. Eccles. Brit. p. 4, 5, 6, 7. Matth. Westm. An. 603. p. 204, 205, 206. Beda Eccles. hist. l. 2. c. 21, 22. Fox Ac… and Monuments, p. 153, 154. Polichron. l. 5. c. 19. f. 194, 195. Fabian, part. 5. c. 109, 110. Malmesb. l. 5. de Regibus H…ric… Spelman… concilia tom. 1. p. 104. to 112. Godwin… catalogue of Bi…hops, p. 5, 6. Iacob. Vsserius de Britannicarum Ecclesiarprim…rdiis, pag. 133.9…2.1157. Malmes. de gestis, regum A… gli…. l. 1. c. 3. William Laud, the last of this See, but that I must first ascend to Au…tin the first Archbishop of Canterbury, whom I have purposely reserved to this place the better to parallell them together.

The Archbishopricke of Canterbury, had its originall creation from Pope Gregory the first, (a very traytor to his Soveraigne Mauritius, and flatterer of the usurper Phocas) about the yeare of our Lord. 600. This its unhappy derivation from …uch a trecherous, and rebellious parentage, hath tainted the whole line of our Canterburian Arch-Prelates, and infused such an occult pernicious quality into this See, as hath made it a very chaire of Pestilence, which hath infected all, or most of those, who have sate therein, and made them as great Traytors, and rebels to their Soveraignes of England, as their Holy Fathers of Rome have proved to their liege Lord…, the Roman Emperours, and to plague our …and with civill dissentions, warres, and bloodshed, almost as much as the Popes have molested Italy and Germany in this kind.

Augustine the first Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, sent from Rome by Gregory the first, rather to pervert, that convert our Nation to the Christian faith, about 600. yeares after Christ, was consecrated Bishop of the English Nation (for no lesse Diocesse p. 154or title would content him) by Etherius Archbishop of Arelat, electing Canterbury for his Archiepiscopall See. After which by the assistance of King Ethelbert in the yeare 602. hee caused the Brittish Bishops, and learned men to meete together in a Synode at a place called Augustines Ok…, to dispute with them, concerning the observation of Easter day, and the Ceremonies of Baptisme; wherein they differed from the Church of Rome, to whom hee would have them conforme, not onelyonly in doctrine, but even in rites and ceremonies, using both perswasions, prayers, and threatnings to bring them under his yoke and discipline. But the Britains refusing to conform to his demands at this Synode: Augustine, not long after caused another Synode to be sommoned: Whereunto 7. British Bishops, and a great number of Monkes, especially of the famous Monastery of Bangor, repaired; who inquired of an holy Anchorite living among them, whether they should submit to Austins preaching, and ceremonies, or no? who answered, If hee be a man of God, then obey him: They replying, How shall wee know him to be such a one? hee subjoyned, If hee be meeke and humble, it is credible that he beares the yoke of Christ, and will offer it to you to beare; but if he bee haughty and proud, hee is not of God, and therefore not to be lis…ned to by you. But how, said …hey, shall wee know this? Observe, quoth hee, how he carrieth himselfe when hee first enters into the Synode, and if hee shall rise up to y…u, know that hee is Christs servant, and obey him in all things: bnt if hee shall do contrary, and whereas you are many, shall proudly despise you, do ye neglect and contemne him againe. Augustine en…ers first into the Synode with pride and pompe, with the banner of his Apostleship, a silver Crosse, a Letany, Procession, Pageants, painted Images, Reliques, Anthems, and such like rituall trifles: The British Bishops approaching neare him, sitting ambitiously in his chaire, he did not onelyonly not rise up to salute them, but also no… so much as daigne to shew them any signe of love, or benevolence with his countenance or gesture. The Britons observing this arrogancy of the man, contradicted what ever he propounded to them: and whereas hee commanded them to observe the manners and customes of the Church of Rome in all things: they not onelyonly stoutly repugned them, but likewise affirmed their owne rites and ceremenies to be farre ancienter and better than those hee prescribed them, which having received from their ancesters who were followers of the Apostles, p. 155and having so long observed, they ought not to change propter no vos dogmatistas, for new dogmatists pleasures. They further added, that they would not account him for their Archbishop; s…eing they had an Archbishop of their owne already resident at Leicester, to whom t…ey ought to and would obey, and that they would not subject themselves to a forraine Bishop. With which answer Augustine …eing enraged, fiercely threatned future warres, and revenge of death unto them, which followed soone after. For Augustine requesting the Britons in this Synode, that they would receive him for their Archbishop, and joyne in common labour with him to preach the Gospell to the English Saxons; The Britons who were driven out of their owne country by them refused to doe it, adding, that they had worthily hated the English and their religion, which were esteemed by them but as dogs, and therefore unworthily contemned. This answer of the Britons Augustine gladly …aid hold on, imagining that he had gained an occasion from them, whence hee might revenge their neglect and contempt of him. Therefore hee greedily carries the newes of this contumely to King Ethelbert, which this King not unwillingly laid hold on, and thereupon instigated Edelfred King of the Northumbrians, his kinsman, although a Pagan, against the Britons: who thereupon, Anno Dom. 613. comes with a numerous, and almost …tupendious army to Leicester, called by the Britons Ca…legan (now Chester) where Brochinal the Captaine of the Britans expected his comming, and whether Abbot Dinoth-with a great number of Priests, Hermites, and Monkes, …specially such as were of Bangor monastery, had fled. These keeping a fast for three dayes space, prayed to God to protect his people from the swords of the Barbarians. The King commanded them to turne their armies first of all upon those who fought against him, though not with armes, yet with their prayers which was more, whom Brochinal their Generall also, (terrified with the first comming of the enemies, flying most shamefully) exposed weaponlesse and naked to the swords of the enemies; 50. men onelyonly of them escaped by flight, the residue to the number of 1200 were slaine with the sword of …delfred. Beda relates, that Augustine taught by divine Oracle, foretold this warre to the British Bishops, and Clerkes in the Augustinian Councell; when as it is more likely, that hee having communicated counsell with King Ethelbert, was not onelyonly p. 156cons…ious to the inferring of that warre, but also the cause thereof. For he was familiar with the King, by whose perswasion and instigation Edelfred inflicted this calamity on the Britons. And verily it is **Epitom. Chron.reported, that Augustine in his first conference concerning these Rites, when hee could not perswade them by entreaties, threatned them. Moreover, **Amandus Xi… …ixiensis.Amandus Xierixiensis, a man of the order of the Friers Minorites, seemes to suffragate to this conjecture, whose very words I will subjoyne. VVhereas the …ritains, saith he, were Catholikes, the Saxons were Gentiles, to convert whom S. Gregory sent Augustine and Mellitus, who converted the Saxons. But when as Augustine with his Apostolicall authority would perswade the Brittish Bishops and Abbots to receive him for their Legate, and to preach with him to the English, discord was moved for their disobedience to Saint Augustine, so a warre was raised betweene the King of the Britons, and the King of the Sa…ons, who now being converted would make the Britons subject to Augustine: by whom (writes Matthew Parker) we are able to prove out of historians, that Religion was overturned and rooted out, or at least depraved and corrupted. And this they say was predicted by Merlin in these words… Religion shall be blotted out againe, and there shall be a transmutation of the chiefe Sees: The dignity of London shall adorne Canterbury; which was fulfilled by Augustine, who caused 1200. of the Monkes of Bangor in Wales to be slaine, because they obeyed him not in the councell, as Alexander Essebiensis plainly teacheth. It is marvellous that Merlin in one prophecie and in coherent words should thus foretell the deletion of religion, the transmutation of the Principall Sees and the transferring of the dignity of London to Canterbury. This slaughter of these Monkes of Bangor by Edelfred, the avenger of Augustines wrath, was avenged soone after by God, who hated his cruelty: for whiles the King hastned to …oote out the remainder of them, and burne their famous Monastery; three Dukes of the Britaines met him, slew ten thousand and sixty of his souldiers, routed his whole army, wounded the King himselfe, and put him to a shamefull flight. This was the fruit of this first Archbishop of Canterbury, to raise up such a bloody warre within the bowels of our Kingdomes, to the ruine of both parties, and all to advance his owne jurisdiction, and introduce his Roman ceremonies. And verily (writes **Antiq. Eccles. …rit. p. 4, 5. where hee notably inveighs against ceremomonies, and the …igorous pres…ng of them.Matthew p. 157Parker his successour) that first contention raysed by Augustine about the introducing of Roman Rites, which could not be appeased but with the overthrow and blood of the innocent Britaines, ad nos…ra recentiora tempora, cum simili pernicie, coedeque Christianorum pervenit, is desceuded to our latter times, with the like destruction of Christians.

And had he lived to have seen and heard the violent actions & practises of his present successor William Laud;4242WILIAM LAUD. whose min…on **Sunday no Sabbath, p. 2.43, 44. Altare Christianum.D. Iohn Pocklinton, in two severall pernitious Pamphlets (adjudged solemnely to be burnt in both Universities by the Lords House of Parliament, though licensed for the Presse by D. Bray this Canterburies owne domesticke Chaplain, who by like order fron the Lords House hath publikely recanted his licensing of these Pamphlets in a Sermon at Saint Margarets in VVestminster, before sundry of the Commons House) hath proclaimed to the World, that this present Prelate of Canterbury derived his lineall succession from this Augustine; first Prelate of this See, and so through his loynes from Pope Gregory the first founder of it, and through his predecessours, from S. Peters Chaire at Rome; though I doubt **See D. R…nald… conference with Ha…. c. 6. Divil. 3. p. 210. to 218. Christopher C…rlil…, his St Peters life and peregrination, proving that Peter was never at Rome… M. B…rnard his fabulous foundation of the Popedome.Peter never sate Bishop, nor ever had any chaire there: I say, had he but survived to have seene Bishop Lauds strange violent acts, and tyranno…s proceedings to advance his Archiepiscopall authority, and erect Romes superstitions, rites, and ceremonies in the Churches of England, Scotland, and Ireland; and that even by warre, by blood shed rather than saile in his designes; by cutting of Ministers, Lawyers, Physitians and Mechanicks eares, searing their che…kes, slitting their noses, whipping them openly through the streetes at carts tailes; banishing them their Country, shutting them up close Prisoners in remote Ilands, where neither their kindred, friends, wives, nor children must have any accesse to them, no nor yet once set footing in those Ilands to enq…ire how their husbands did, under paine of like imprisonment, no… they have pen, inke, or paper once allowed them to write to their friends for necessaries; and by a bloody cruell warre betweene England and Scotland, which Bishop Peirce truly termed Bellum Episcopale, the Bishops warre:**See M. R…us… his speech to the Lords at the Transmission of M. Smarts cause. he would have thought himselfe a Prophet, & this saying of his more experimentally verefied by this Arch-prelate, than by any of his Predecessors; all whose tyranny, malice, fury, violence, injustice, lawlesnesse, oppression, inhumanity, p. 158trechery, pride, ambition, extravagances, treasons, and prelaticall vices seeme to meere and lodge together in him, as in their prop…r center, as I could largely manifest by particulars, did not his unjust and rigorous proceedings against my selfe, and all who had relation to mee, without any just cause or provocation on my part or theirs, command mee silence, lest I might seeme malicious or revengefull. Since therefore these his practises are so notorious unto all, I shall forbeare to rip up particulars, and close up all concerning him, with the whole house of Commons, Articles, and Charges of high Treason against him, as they were transmitted to the Lords by that worthy Gentleman (my much honoured friend) M. Iohn Pymme, which being a publike charge of all the Commons by way of justice, in the supremest Court of Judicature, published already to the world in Print: I hope it will neither be reputed a scandalum magnatum, nor matter of revenge in mee, if I here insert them, since most pertinent to the Subject matter of this Treatise, which I had in part digested many yeares by-past, before his last information in Starchamber exhibited against mee.