The Antipathy of the English Lordly Prelacy, Part 2 · Chapter 8 · Section 4 (1 of 4)

The Antipathy of the English Lordly Prelacy · Part 2 · Chapter 8 · Section 4 (1 of 4)

p. 361The ninth Article.

He hath openly holden, said, and affirmed, preached, and taught, that the Lawes of the Church, that is to say, the sacred Canons, approved and allowed by the holy Catholique and Apostolique Church, are of no force, strength, or effect; alleadging therefore and affirming, that they are made and intended contrary to the Law of God.

p. 362God forbid that I should say, that those things which are approved by the holy Catholike Church, should be of no effect or value. For well I know, that the holy Apostolique Church hath never been allowed, ordained or taught any thing which shee hath not learned of the Lord: the Apostles are witnesses therof, Peter and Paul, whereof the one of them dared not freely utter or speake of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by himselfe for the obedience of the Gentiles.

The other exhorteth, That if any man speake, he should speake the praises of God: but I condemne those lawes which the Bishops of Rome have made according to their owne will and mind, and say that they are spirituall, pertaining unto the salvation of the soule, and necessarie unto everlasting life; for so much as the writings of the Apostles doe evidently declare, that there was no authority knowne amongst them to make or ordaine any ordinances or lawes.

Furthermore, the Scriptures doe manife…tly shew the same, how oftentimes, even by the Lords owne mouth, this foresaid authority is taken from the Ministers of the Church, so that no excuse for them remaineth, but that they be plaine rebels against the Word of God, how many soever doe presume or take upon them to appoint or set any new lawes upon the people of God. Which thing is more manifest and evident, than the light it selfe, in many places of the Scripture. For in the three and twentieth chapter of Ioshua, it is written; You shall observe and doe all that is written in the Law of Moses, neither shall you swarve from that, either to the right hand or to the left hand. But that which is written in the …welfth chapter of Deuteronomy ought to move them somewhat the more. What soever I command, saith the Lord, that shall you observe and doe; thereunto you shall adde nothing, neither shall you take any thing from it, &c. This point hee there excellently prosecutes at large; where yo… may read more at your leisure.

M. William Tyndall, our famous Martyr,M William Tyndall Martyr. in his obedience of a Christian man, Printed C…m Privilegio at London, 1573. p. 98. writes thus of Bishops and their practises. God promised David a Kingdome… David.and immediately stirred up King Saul against him, to persecute him, to hunt him as men do Hares with Greyhounds, and to ferret him out of every hole, and that for the space of many yeares to tame him, to meere his lusts, to make him feele other mens diseases, to make him mercifull, to make him understand, that hee was made King, to minister, and to serve his brethren, and that he should not thinke that his Subjects were made to minister unto his Lusts, and that it were lawfull for him to take away from them life and goods at hi… pleasure.

Oh that our Kings were so nurtured nowadayes,How Bishops instru… Kings. which our holy Bishops teach of a farre other manner, saying; your Grace shall take your pleasure; yea, take what pleasure you list, spare nothing: wee shall dispense with you, wee have power, wee are Gods Vicars, and let us alone with the Realme, wee shall take paine for them, and see that nothing be well: your Grace shall but defend the faith onelyonly.

After which he proceeded thus **Pag. 114, 115. Kings defend the false authority… of the Pope their office punishing of sinne laid apart. Bishops ministe… the Kings duty, their owne laid apart: yea they persecute their owne office.: Kings were ordained then, as I before said, and the sword put in their hands to take vengeance of evill doers, that others might feare, and were not ordeined to fight one against another, or to rise against the Emperour to defend the false authority of the Pope that very Antichrist: Bishops they onelyonly can minister the temporall sword; their office, the preaching of Gods Word laid apart, which they will neither do, nor suffer any man to do, but slay with the temporall sword (which they have gotten out of the hand of all Princes) them that would. The preaching of Gods Word is hatefull and contrary …nto them: why? for it is impossible to preach Christ except they preach against Antichrist, that is to say, them which with their false doctrine and violence of sword enforce to quench the true doctrine of Christ. And as thou canst heale no disease except thou begin at the roote: even so canst thou preach against no mischiefe except thou begin at the Bishops. Kings they are but shadowes,Kings doe but wait on the Popes Pleas…r…. The jugling of the Pope. vaine names, and things idle, having nothing to do in the world, but when our holy Father needeth their helpe. The Pope contrary to all conscience, and against all the Doctrine of Christ, which saith, My Kingdome p. 362is not of this world (Ioh. 18.) hath usurped the right of the Emperour. And by policy of the Bishops of Almany, Bishops of Almany.and with corrupting the electours or choosers of the Emperour with mony, bringeth to passe, that such a one is ever chosen Emperour that is not able to make his party good with the Pope. To stop the Emperour that hee come not at Rome, he br…ngeth the French King up to Milane, Milaine.& on the other side, bringeth he the Venetians. If the Venetians come too nigh, the Bishop of France must bring the French King.Bishops of France. And the Socheners (that is, the Switzers) are called and sent for to come & succour. And for their labor he giveth to some a Rose, to another a Cap of Maintenance.A Cap of Maintenance. Most Christian King… Defender of the Popes Faith. One is called most Christian King, another, Defender of the Faith, another, The eldest sonne of the most holy Seate. The eldest sonne of the holy seat.He blazeth als… the armes of other, and putteth in the holy crosse, the Crown… of thornes, or the nayles and so forth. If the French King goe too high, and creep up either to …ononie or Naples, then must our English Bishops bring in our King.Blasing of arms. The English Bishops. The craft of the Bishops is to entitle one King with anothers Realme. He is called King of Denmarke, and of England:The falshood of Bi…hops. hee, King of England, and of France. Then to blind the Lords, and the Commons, the King must challenge his right. Then must the Land be taxed, and every man pay, and the Treasure borne out of the Realme, and the Land begger'd. How many a thousand mens lives hath it cost? And how many an hundred thousand pounds hath it carried out of the Realme in our remembrance? Besides, how abominable an example of gathering was there?A cruell, and an abominable example of …yranranny, judge them by their …leeds saith Christ. such verily as never tyrant since the world began did, yea such as was never before heard or thought on, neither among Jewes, Saracens, Turkes or Heathen, since God created the sunne to shine; that a **Hee meanes Cardinall W…lsey in case of the La…tie.beast should breake up into the Temple of God, that is to say, into the heart and consciences of men, and compell them to swear every man what he was worth, to lend that should never be paid againe. How many tho…sands **See Latymers Sermons, at S…mford, f. 97.…orsware themselves? How many thousands set themselves above their abilities, partly for feare lest they should be forsworne, and partly to save their credit? When the Pope hath his purpose, then is peace made, no man wo…teth how, and our most enemy is our most friend. Now because the Emperour is able to obtaine his right, French, English, Venetians, and all must upon him… O great whore of Babylon, The Whore of Babylon.how abuseth shee the Princes of the world? How p. 363drunke hath shee made them with her wine? Hee further addes, p. 124. They that are sworne to …e true unto Cardinalls and Bishops, that is to say, false unto God, the King, and the Realme, may breake their oathes lawfully without grudge of conscience by the authority of Gods word. In making them they sinned, but in repenting and breaking them they please God highly, and receive forgivenesse in Christ. Let Kings take their duty of their Subjects, and …hat is necessary unto the defence of the Realme. Let them rule their Realme, themselves, with the helpe of Lay men that are sage, wise, learned, and expert. Is it not a shame above all shame…, and a monstrous thing, that no man should be found able to governe a worldly Kingdome save Bishops and Prelates, that have forsaken the world, and are taken our of the World, and appointed to preach the Kingdome of God? Christ saith, that his Kingdome is not of this world, Ioh. 18. and Luke 12. unto the young man that desired him to bid his brother to give him part of the inheritance,Note this. Hee answered, Who made thee a Iudge, or a divider among you? No man that layeth his hand to the plough and looketh backe, is apt for the Kingdome of heaven. Luk. 9. No man can serve two masters, but he must despise the one. Mat. 6. To preach Gods word is too much for halfe a man.Bishops. And to minister a temporall Kingdome is too much for halfe a man also. Either other requi…eth an whole man. One therefore ca…ot well do bot…. He that avengeth himself… on every … is not mee… to preach the patience of Christ,Behold the face of the Pope, and of the Bishops in this glasse. how that a man ought to forgive and to suffer all things. He that is overwhelmed with all manner riches, and doth but seeke more daily, is not meere to preach poverty. Hee that will obey no man, is not meete to preach, how we ought to obey all men. Pe…e… saith, Act. … It is not mee…e that we should leave the Word of God and serve at the Table. Paul saith in the 9. Chapter of the …rst Corinth; W… i… m… if I preach not: a …errible saying verily, for Popes, Cardinals, and Bishop…. If he had said,Peters patrimony. Woe be unto mee, i… I fight no…, …nd move… Princes unto warre, or if I increase nor Saint Pe…ers Pa…rimony (as they call it) it had beene a more … saying for them,The Popes authority is improved. Christ forbiddeth his Disciples, and that oft (as thou mayst …, Matth. 1 & and also 20. Marke 9. and also 10. Luk. 9. and also … even at his last Supper) no… onelyonly to clime above …ords, Kings, and Emperours in worldly rule, but also to exalt themselves one above …nother in the Kingdom… of God: B…t in vaine, for the Pope, would p. 364not heare it, though he had commanded it ten thousand times. Gods Word should rule onelyonly, and not Bishops decrees,Bishops have captived Gods Word with their own decr…es. or the Popes pleasure. That ought they to preach purely and spiritually, and to fashion their lives after, and with all ensample of godly living and long suffering, to draw all to Christ, and not to expound the Scriptures carnally and worldly, saying, God spake this to Peter, and I am his successor, therefore this authority is mine onelyonly: and then bring in the tyranny of their fleshly wisedome, in Praesentia majoris, cessat potestas m…noris, that is, in the presence of the greater, the lesse hath no power. There is no brotherhood where such Philosophy is taught.

After which, speaking of Kings, the Prelates Canon Law, and the Bishops treacheries, he proceedes thus. pag. 137.138, Alas, Kings be Captives to the Prelates ere ever they be Kings,Kings are in cap…ivity. yea, almost ere they be borne. No man may be suffered about him but flatterers, and such as are first sworne t…ue unto our most holy Fathers the Bishops, that is to say, false to God and man. If any of the Nobles of the Re…lme be true to the King, and so bold that hee dare counsell him, that which should be to his honour, and for the wealth of the Realme; They will wait a season for him (as men say) they will provide a ghostly Father for him. God bring this wickednesse to light. There is no mischiefe whereof they are not the roote, nor bloodshed, but thorough their cause, either by their counsell, or in that they preach not true obedience, and teach not the people to feare God.The duty of Kings. If any faithfull servant be in all the Court, hee shall have twenty spies waiting upon him; hee shall …e cast out of the Court, or, (as the saying is) conveyed to Calice, and made a Captaine, or an Ambassador, hee shall be kept farre enough from the Kings presence. The Kings ought, I say, to remember, that they are in Gods stead, and ordained of God, nor for themselves, but for the wealth of their Subjects. Let them remember that their Subjects are their brethren, their flesh and blood, members of their owne body and even their owne selves in Christ. Therefore ought they to pity them,,Vnlaw…ull Oaths ought to be broken and may without dispensation. and to rid them from such wily tyranny, which encreaseth more and more daily. And though that the Kings by the falsehood of the Bishops and Abbots be sworne to defend such liberties: yet ought they not to keepe their Oathes, but to breake them; For as much as they are unright, and cleane against Gods Ordinance, and even, but cruell p. 365oppression, contrary unto brotherly love and charity. Moreover the spirituall Officer ought to punish no sinne,The King onelyonly ought to punish sinne: I meane that is broken forth, the h…rt must remaine to God. but if any sinne breake out, the King is ordained to punish it, and they not, but to Preach and exhort them to feare God, and that they sinne not. And let the Kings put downe some of their tyranny, and …urne some unto a Common wealth. If the tenth part of such tyranny were given the King yearely, and layd up in the shire townes against the Realme had neede, what would it grow to in certaine yeares?

Moreover, One King, one Law; is Gods Ordinance in every Realme.Against the Co…on Law. Therefore ought not the King to suffer them to have a severall Law by themselves, and to draw his subjects thither. It is not meete will they say, that a spirituall man should bee judged of a worldly or a temporall man: O abomination! the King is in the roome of God, and his Law is Gods Law,The Kings Law is Gods Law. and nothing but the Law of nature and naturall equity, which God graved in the hearts of men; Yet Antichrist is too good to be judged by the Law of God, he must have a new of his owne making. It were meete verily that they went to no Law at all. No more needed they, if they would study to Preach Gods Word truely, and be contented with sufficient, and to be like one of their Brethren. Moreover when the spirituall officers have excommunicate any man, or have condemned any opinion for heresie, let not the King nor temporall officers punish and slay by and by at their Commandement;Kings ought to see what they doe, and not to beleeve the Bishops, namely seeing their living is so sore suspect. but let them looke on Gods Word, and compare their judgement unto the Scripture, and see whether it be right or no, and not beleeve them at the first chop, whatsoever they say, namely in things that pertaine unto their owne authorities and power. For no man is a right judge in his owne cause. The Emperour and Kings are nothing now adayes but even hangmen unto the Pope and Bishops, The Kings are become Antichrists hangmen.to kill whatsoever they condemne, without any more adoe, as Pilate was unto the Scribes and Pharisees and the High Bishop, to Hang Christ. For as those Prelates answered Pilate (when he asked what he had done) If he were not an evill doer we would not have brought him unto thee. As who should say, we are too holy to doe any thing amiss… thou mayst beleeve us well enough: yea and his blood on our heads sayd they, kill him hardily, we will beare the charge, our Soules for thine; we have also a Law by which hee ought to dye, for he calleth himselfe Gods Sonne. Even so say our Prelates, p. 366he ought to dye by our Lawes, he speaketh against the Church. And your Grace is sworne to defend the Liberties and Ordinances of t…e Church, and to maintaine our most holy Fathers Authority… our soules for yours, ye shall do… a meritorious deede therein. Neverthelesse a… Pilate escaped not the judgement of God, even so is it to be feared lest our Temporall powers shall not. Wherefore be learned ye that judge the Earth, Be learned ye that judge the …arth.lest the Lord be angry with you, and ye perish from the right way. Who slew the Prophets?Who slew the Prophets. Who slew Christ? Who slew his Apostles? who the Martyrs, and all the righteous that ever were slaine? The Kings and the Temporall sword at the request of the false Prophets. Page. 140. He goes on thus. Behold the monsters how they are disguised with Miters, Croses, and Hats, with Crosses, Pillars and Pollaxes, and with three Crownes? What names have they?Glorious Names. My Lord Prior, my Lord Abb…t, my Lord Bishop, my Lord Arch-Bishop, Cardin…ll and Legate: if it please your Father-hood, if it pleas your lordship, if it please your Grace, if it please your Holinesse, and innumerable such like… Behold how they are esteemed,How are they esteemed. & how high they be crept up above al, not into worldly seates onelyonly, but into the seate of God, the hearts of men, where they sit above God himselfe. For both they and whatsoever they make of their owne heads is more feared and dread than God and his Commandements. In them and th…ir deservings put we more trust than in Christ and his merits. To their promises give we more …aith, than to the promises which God hath sworne in Christs blood. The Hypocrites say unto the Kings and Lords,Kings ar… downe they cannot goe lower. These Heretickes would have us downe first, and then you, to make of all Common. Nay, ye Hypocrites and right heretickes approved by open Scripture, the Kings and Lords are down… already, and that so low that they cannot goe lower, ye tread them under your feete, and lead them captive, and have made them your bond Servants to waite on your filthy Lusts,Note this. and to avenge your malice on every man, contrary unto the right of Gods Word; ye have not onelyonly robbed them o… their land, authority, honour, and due obedience, which ye owe unto them, but also of their wits, so that they are not without understanding in Gods Word onelyonly, but even in worldly matters that pertaine unto thei… offices, they are more than Children; ye beare them in hand what ye will, and have brought them even in case like unto them, which when they dance naked in nets, beleeve they are invisible. We would have them p. 367up againe, and restored unto the room… and authority which God hath given them, and whereof ye have robbed th…m. And your inward falshood we doe but utter onelyonly wi…h the Light of God… Word, that your hypocrisie might be seene. Be learned therefore ye that Judge the world, lest God be angry with you, and ye perish from the right way, Page. 141. He proceeds thus? When all men lose their Lands, they remaine alwayes sure and in safety,They win somewhat alwayes. and ever win somewhat For whosoever conquereth other mens Lands unrightfully, ever giveth them part with them: To them is all things Lawfull… In all Councels and Parliaments are they the chiefe, without them may no King be Crowned, Note this.neither untill he be sworne to their Liberties. All secrets know they, even the very thoughts of mens hearts. By them all things are ministred. No King nor Realme may thorough their falshood live in peace. To beleeve they teach not in Christ, but in them and their disguised hypocrisie And of them compell they all men to buy, redemption and forgiven…sse of sinnes. The peoples sinne, they eate, and thereof wax fat. The more wicked the people are, the more prosperous is their common wealth. If Kings and great men doe amisse, they must build Abbies and Colledges, meane men build Chauntries, poore finde Trentalls and Brotherhoods and begging Fryers. Their owne heires doe men dis-herit to endote them. All Kings are compelled to submit themselves to them. Read the Story of King Iohn, and of other Kings. They will have their causes avenged, though whole Realmes should therefore perish. Page 142.143. He Addes. What signifieth that the Prelates are so bloody, and cloathed in Red?The Prelates a…e cloathed in red. that they may be ready every houre to suffer Martyrdome for the testimony of Gods Word. Is that also not a false signe? when no man dare for them once to open his mouth to aske a question of Gods Word, because they are ready to burne him. What signifieth the Pollaxes that are borne before high Legates A Latere?Pollaxes. whatsoever false signe they make of them, I care not… but of this I am sure, that as the old hypocrites when they had slaine Christ, …et Pollaxes to keepe him in his Sepulcher, that he should not rise againe: even so have our hypocrites buried the Testament that God made unto us in Christs blood, and to keepe it downe, that it rise not againe, is all their study, whereof these Pollaxes are the very signe. Is not that Shepheards hooke the Bishops crosse, a false signe? Is p. 368not that White Rotchet that the Bishop and Channons weare so like a Nunne, and so effeminately, a false signe? what other things are their Sandals, Gloves, Miters, and all the whole pompe of their disguising, then false signes, in which Paul prophesied that they should come? And as Christ warned us, to beware of Wolves in Lambes skins, and bad us, looke rather unto their fruites and deedes, Judge the tree by his fruite, and not by his leavesthan to wonder at their disguisings; Runne throughout all our holy religious, and thou shalt finde them likewise all cloathed in falsehood.

Againe, Page 145. He writes thus; But Christ saith, Mat. 7. By their fruites shalt thou know them, that is by their filthy covetousnesse and shamelesse ambition, and drunken desire of honour, contrary unto the example and doctrine of Christ and of his Apostles.Compare their deedes to the Doctrine and deedes of Christ and of his Apostles, and judge their fruites. Christ sayd to Peter, the last chapter of Iohn, Feede my sheepe, and not sheare thy flocke. And Peter saith, 1 Pet. 5. Not being Lords over the Parishes, but these sheare, and are become Lords. Paul saith, 2 Cor. 2. Not that we be Lords over your faith: but these will be Lords and compell us to beleeve whatsoever they lust, without any witnesse of Scripture, yea cleane con…rary to the Scripture, when the open text rebuketh it. And Page 146. (saith he) as for that solemne doubt, as they call it, whether Iudas was a Priest or no:What Judas is now. I care not what he was then, but of this I am sure, that he is now not onelyonly Priest, but also Bishop Cardinall and Pope. Page 155. he addes. Confession is there held, thereby know they all secrets, thereby mocke they all men, and all mens wives, and beguile Knights and Esquires, Lord and King, and betray all Realmes. The Bishops with the Pope have a ce…taine conspiration and secret Treason against the whole world.Bishops w…rke Treason through Con…ession. And by Confession know they what Kings and Emperours thinke. If ought be against them, doe they never so evill, then move they their Captives to warre and to fight, and give them pardons to s…ay whom they will have taken out of the way. They have with falsehood taken from all Kings and Emperours their right and duties, which now they call their Freedomes, Liberties, and priviledges, and have pe…verted the Ordinances that God left in the world, and have made every King sweare to defend their falsehood against their own selves.Kings be sworne to the Bishops, and not the Bishops unto the Kings. So that now if any man preach Gods Word truely, and shew the freedome and Liberty of the Soule which we have in Christ, or entend to restore the kings againe unto their duties and right, p. 369and to the roome and authority which they have of God, and of shadowes to make them Kings indeed, and to put the world in his order againe, then the Kings deliver their swords and authority unto the Hypocrite… to slay him. So drunken are they with the wine of the whore.

Page 180.181.182.183. He there thus farther proceedes. On the other side I have also uttered the w…ckednesse of the Spiritualty, the falsehood of the Bishops an… juggling of the Pope, and how they have disguised them…elves, borrowing some of their pompe of the Jewes, and some of the Gentiles, and have with subtile wiles turned the obedience that should be given to Gods Ordinance unto themselves. And how they have put our Gods Testament and Gods truth, and set up their owne traditions and lyes, in which they have taught the people to beleeve, and thereby sit in their Consciences as God, and have by that meanes robbed the world of Lands and goods,The … reape by having Bishops. of peace and unity, and of all temporall authority, and have brought the people into the ignorance of God, and have heaped the wrath of God upon all Realmes, and namely upon the Kings, whom they have robbed (I speake not of worldly things onelyonly) but …ven of their very naturall wits. They make them beleeve that they are most Christian, when they live most abominably, and will suffer no man in their Realmes that beleeveth on Christ, and that they are defenders of the …aith, when they burne the Gospell and promises of God, out of which all faith springeth… I …wed how they have ministred Christ, King and Emperour ou… of their roomes, and how they have made them a severall kingdome, which they got at the first in deceiving of Princes, and now pervert the whole Scripture to prove that they have such authority of God. And l…st the L…y-men should see how falsely they alleadge the places of the …ripture, is the greatest, c…use of this per…ec…t…on. They have … Confession for the same p…pose to …blish t…eir Kingdome withall.Confession… Note this P… licie. All secrets know they thereby… The Bishop knoweth the Confession of whom he …usteth throughout all his Diocesse. Yea, and his C…ncellour comm…deth the Ghostly Father to deliver it writt… The Pop…, his Ca…dinal… …nd Bishop… know the confession … Kings, and … all Lords,The manifold …ormities which their Auric…la… Confession … br…d… a…d by confession …hey know all … cap…e…. …f …ny …leeve in Chri…t by co…f…ssion, …hey know him. … where p. 370thou wilt: Wh…ther at Sion, Charter-house or at the Observants, thy con…ession is knowne well enough. And thou, if thou beleeve in Christ, art waited upon. Wonderfull are the things that thereby are wrought.No wonder then our Prelates and Priests of late were so eager to bring in Confession againe. The wife is fear…d and compelled to utter not her owne onelyonly, but also the Secrets of her husband, and the Servant the Secrets of his Master. Besides that, through confession they quench the faith of all the promises of God, and take away the effect and vertue of all the Sacraments of Christ. They have also corrupted the Saints lives, with lyes and fained miracles, and have put many things out of the sentence or great curse, as raising of Rents and Fines, and hiring men out of their hou…es, and whatsoever wickednesse they themselves doe; and have put a grea… part of the stories and Chronic…es out of the way, lest their falshood should be seene. For there is no mischiefes or disorder, whether it be in the temporall regiment,The Pope and his Chaplaines are the Fountaines of all evills in spirituall regiment or temporall. or else in the Spirituall, whereof they are not the chiefe causes, and even the very Fountain… …nd Springs, and as we say, the Well head so that it is impossible to Preach against any mischief except thou begin at them, or to set any reformation in the world, except thou reforme them first. Now are they indurate and tough as Pharaoh, and will not bow unto any right way or order. And therefore persecute they Gods Word and the Preachers thereof; and on the other side, lye awaite unto all Princes, and stirre up all mischiefe in the world, and send them to war, and occupy their mindes therewith or with other voluptuousnesse, lest they should have leisure to heare the Word of God, and to set an order in their Realmes. By them is all things ministred, and by them are all Kings ruled: (marke that which …olloweth) yea in every Kings Conscience …it they ere he be King, and perswade every King what they lust, and make them both to beleeve what they will, and to doe what they will. Neither c… any King or any Realme have …est for their businesses. Behold King Hen…y th… 5. whom they sen… ou…, for such a purpose, as they sent …ur King that now i…. See how the Realme is inhabited. A…ke where the goodly Townes, and their walls, and the people that was wont to be in them a… become, and where the blood Royall of the Realme is become also. Turne thine eyes whither thou wilt, and thou shalt see nothing pro…perous but their subtle polling, with th… it is flowing water, yea and I trust it wil… be shortly a full Sea. In all their doings, p. 371though they pretend outwardly the honour of God or the Common wealth,VnderUnder an o…tward pretence of Gods honour the Popes Clergie procured their owne dignity. their int…nt and secret Counsell is onelyonly to bring all under their power, and to take out of the way whosoever letteth them, or is too mighty for them. As when they send their Princes to Ierusalem to conquer the Holy Land, and to fight against the Turkes, whatsoever they pretend outwardly, their secret intent is, while the Princes there Conquer them more Bishopricke…, to conquer their Land in the meane season with their false Hypocrisie, and to bring all under them; Which, thou mayst easily perceive by that they will not let us know the faith of Christ. And when they are once on high, then are they tyrants above all tyrants, whether they be Turk… or Saracens. How minister they proving of Testaments? How causes of Wedlocke? or if any man dye intestate? If a poore man dye and leave halfe a dozen young children, and but one Cow to finde them, that they will have for a mercilesse Mort…ry, let come of wi…e and children what will. Yea, let any thing bee done against their pleasure, and they will interdict the whole Realme, sparing no person. Read the Chronicles of England [out of which yet they have put a great part of their wickednesse] and thou shalt finde them alwayes both Rebellious and disobedient to the Kings, Note this.and also Churlish and unthankefull, so that when all the Realme gave the King somewhat to maintaine him in his right, they would not give a mi…e. Consider the story of King Iohn, where I doubt not but they have put the best and fairest for themselves, and the worst for King Iohn. For I suppose they make the Chronicles themselves. Compare the doings of their holy Church (as they ever call it) unt… the learning o… Christ and of his Apostles. Did not the Legate of Rome assoyle all the Lords of the Realme of their due obedience, which they ought to their king by the Ordinance of God? would he not have cursed the king with his solemne pompe, because he would have done that office which God commandeth every king to doe, and wherefore Go… hath put the sword in every kings han… that is to wit, becau…e king Iohn would have p…ished a wicked Clarke that had coyned false money. The Lay men that had not done halfe so great faults must dye, but the Clarke must goe & escape free. Sent not the Pope also unto the king of France remission of his sinnes to goe and Conquer king Iohns Re…lme? So …ow …emission of sinnes commeth not by faith in the Testament that God hath made in Christs blood, but by fighting and murmering for the Popes p. 372pleasure. Last of all, was not king Iohn faine to deliver his Crowne unto the Legate, and to yeeld up his Realme unto the Pope, wherefore we pay Peter-Pence? They might be called the Polling-Pence of false Prophets well enough. They care not by what mischiefe they come by their purpose… Warre and conquering of Lands is their harvest. The wickeder the people are, the more they have the Hypocrites in Reverence, Not….the more they feare them, and the more they beleeve in them. And they that conquer other mens Lands, when they dye, make them their heires, to be prayed for, for ever. Let there come one conque…t more in the Realme, and thou shalt see them get yet as much more as they have [if they can keepe downe Gods Word,The keeping downe of Gods Wo…d promoted the Popes spiri…ualties, honour. that their jugling come not to light.] Yea, thou shalt see them take the Realme whole into their hands, and Crowne one of themselves King thereof. And verily I see no other likelihood, but that the Land shall be shortly conquered. The Starres of the Scripture promise us none other fortune, in as much as we deny Christ with the wicked Jewes, and will not have him raigne over us: but will be still children of darkenesse under Antichrist, and Antichrists possession, burning the Gospell of Christ, and defending a faith that may not stand with his holy Testament. If any man shed blood in the Church, it shall be interdicted, till he have payd for the hallowing. If he be not able, the Parish must pay, or else shall it stand alwayes, interdicted. They will be avenged on them that never offended. Full well prophesied of them Paul in the second Epistle to Timothy 3. Some men will say, wouldst thou that men should fight in the … unpunished? Nay, but let the King ordaine a punish… …or them, as he doth for them that fight in his Palace, and le… not all the Parish bee troubled for ones fault. And as for …heir hallowing, it is the juggling of Antichrist. A christian man is the Temple of God and of the Holy-Ghost, and hallowed in Christs blo…d. A Christian man is holy in himselfe by reason of the Spirit that dwelleth in him, and the place wherein he is, is holy by reason of him, whether he be in the field or towne. A Christian husband sanctifieth an unchristian wife, and a Christian wife an unchristian husband, [as concerning the use of Matrimony] saith Paul to the Corinthians. I… now while we seeke to be hallowed in Christ, we are found unholy and must be hallowed by the ground, or place, or walls, then dyed Christ in vaine. Howbeit p. 373Antichrist must have wher…with to fit in m…ns Consciences, and to make them feare where there is no …eare, and to rob them of their faith, and to make them trust in that that cannot helpe them, and to seeke holinesse of that which is not holy in it selfe. After that the old King of France was brought downe out of Italy, marke what pageants have …e…ne played, and what are yet a playing to seperate us from the Emp…rour, (least by the helpe or ayde o… us he should be able to recover his right of the Pope) and to couple us to the French men, whose might the Pope ever abuseth to keep the Emperour from Italy. What prevaileth it for any King to marry his daughter or his Sonne, or to make any peace or good ordinance for the wealth o… his Realme? For it shall no longer l…st than it is profitable to them: Their Treason is so secret that the world cannot perceive it. Th…y dissimule those things which they are onelyonly cause of, and simule discord among themselves when they are most agr…ed. One shall hold this, and another shall dispute the contrary: but the conclusion shall be that most maintaineth their falshood, though Gods Word be never so contrary. What have th…y wrought in our dayes, yea and what worke they yet to the perpetuall dishonour of the King, and rebuke of the Realme, and shame of all the nation in whatsoever Realmes they goe? I uttered unto you partly the malicious blindnesse of the Bishop of Rochester, The Bishop of Rocheste… is a fit patterne to judge all the rest of affinity by.his juggling, his conveying, his Fox wilenesse, his …opeepe, his wresting, renting and shamfull abusing of the Scripture, his Oratory and alleadging of Heretickes, and how he would make the Apostles Authors of blind Ceremonies without signification, cont…ary to their owne doctrine, and have set him for an ensample to judge all other by. The cause why Laymen cannot rule Temporall Offices, is the falshood of the Bishops. Their polling i… like a consumption wherein a man complaineth of fe…l…ne…se and of faintnesse, and worteth not whence his disease commeth it is like a pocke that fretteth inward and consumeth the very marrow of the bones. There seest thou the cause why it is impossible for Kings to come to the knowledge of the truth.Th… cau… why Kings could not come to the knowledge of the truth. For these spirits lay awaite for them, and serve their appetites at all points, and through con…ession buy and sell and betray both them and all their true friends, and lay …aites for them and never leave them till they have blinded them with their sophistry and have brought them into their nets. And then when the King is captive, they compell all the rest p. 374with violence of his sword. For if any man will not obey, be it right or wrong, they cite him, suspend him, and curse or excommunicate him: if he then obey not, they deliver him to …ilate, that is to say, unto the temporall Officers to destroy him. All this and much more he …ully proves and more largely prosecutes in his Booke intituled The Practise of Popish Prelates. Concerning Bishops interm…dling with temporall matters he thus writes. Our Saviour Jesus Christ answered Pilate, Ioh. 18. that his Kingdome was not of this world. And Mat. 10. he saith: The Disciple is not greater than his Master… but it ought to suffice the Disciple that he be a… his Master is. Wherefore if Christs Kingdome be not of this world, nor any of his Disciples may be otherwise than hee was, then Christs Vicars which minister his Kingdome here in his bodily absence,The ministers of Christs Doctrine may not have …n… temporall offices. and h…ve the over-sight o… his flocke may be none Emperours, Kings, Dukes, Lords, Knight…, Temporall Iudges, or any temporall Officer, or under false names have any such Dominion, or minister any such Office as requireth violence. And Mat. 6. No man can serve two Masters;Mat. 6.Matt 6 where Christ concludeth saying, Yee cannot serve God and Mammon; that is, riches, cove…ousne…se, ambition and temporall dignities. And Christ called his Disciples unto him, and sayd… Mat. 20.Matt 20Ye know that the Lords of the Heathen people have dominion over them, & they that be great do exercise power over them: Howbeit, it shal not be so among you, but whosoever wil be great among you, shall be your minister, and he that will be chiefe, shall be your servant; even as the Son of man came not that men should minister unto him, but for to minister and give his life for the redemption of many: Wherefore the Officers in Christ… Kingdome may have no temporall dominion or jurisdiction, no… execute any temporall authori…y or Law of violence, nor may have any like manner among them. The Officers in Christs Kingdome may have no temporall dominion.But cleane contrary they must cast themselves downe under all and become servants unto all, suffer o… all, and beare the burthen of every mans infirmities, and goe before them, and …ight for them against the world with the …word of Gods Word, even unto the death, after the example of Christ. And Mat. 18. when the Disciples asked,Mat. 1….Matt 1 Who should be greatest in the Kingdome of heaven, Christ called a young Child unto him, and set him in the midst among them, saying: Except ye turne backe and become as children ye shall not enter into the Kingdome of heaven. Now young children beare no rule one over another, but all is fellowship among them; and he sayd moreover, Whosoever humbleth hims…lfe, p. 375after the ensample of this Child, he is greatest in the Kingdome of heaven, that is, to be (as concerning ambition and worldly desire) so childish that thou couldst not heave thy selfe above thy Brother, is the very bearing of rule, and to be great in Christs Kingdome. And to describe the very fashion of the greatnesse of his Kingdome, he sayd: He that receiveth one such child in my name receiveth me. What is that to receive a childe in Christs name?To receive a child in Christs name what it is. verily to submit, to meeke and to humble thy selfe under all men, and to consider all mens infirmities and weakenesses, and to helpe to heale their diseases with …he word of tru…h, and to live purely, …hat they see no contrary ensample in thee to whatsoever tho… teachest them in Christ, that tho… put no stumbling blocke before them to make them …aile while they be yet young and weake in the faith: But that thou abstaine as Paul teacheth, 1 Thes. 5.1 Thess. 5.1 Thess 5 Ab omni specie mala, from all t…at might seeme evill, or whereof a man might …urmise amisse; and that thou so love them, that whatsoever gift of God in them is, thou thinke the same theirs, and their food, and for their sakes given unto thee, as the …ruth is; and that all their infirmit…es be thine, and that thou feele them, and that with all thy power to helpe to amend them, and cease not to cry to God for them neither day nor night: and that thou let nothing be found in thee that any man may rebuke, but whatsoever thou teachest them, that be thou; and that thou be not a Wolfe in a Lambes skin, as our Holy Father the Pope is, which commeth unto us in a name of hypocrisie, and in the Title of cursed Cham o… Ham, calling himselfe Serv…s servo…um, the Servant of all …ervants,The Pope i… … Wolfe in a Lamb… Ski… and is yet found tyrannus …yrannorum, of all tyrants the most cruell. This is to receive young Children in Christs name, and to receive young Children in Christs name is to beare rule in the Kingdome of Christ. Thu… ye see that Christs Kingdome is altogether spirituall, and the bearing of rule in it is cleare contrary unto the bearing of rule temporally: Wherefore none that be… reth rul… in it may have any temp…rall jurisdiction, or minister any temporall Office that requireth violence to compell withall. Thus and …arre more Mr. Tyndall. All whose passages are very remarkable, and worthy serious consideration.

Iohn Fri…h our learned English Martyr,JOHN …RIT…. in his Bound up wit… M. Ty…lls worke…Answere to the Prefac… of Mr. Moores Book. pag. 116 writes thus of Bishops an… their great possessions; This Canker then began to p. 376spread in the Congregation, and did full sore annoy the body, insomuch that within foure hundred yeares, there were very many Sects scattered in every coast. Notwithstanding there were faithfull Fathers that diligently subdued them with the sword of Gods Word. But surely since Silvester received such possessions,Silve…er. hath the Canker so crept in the Church, that it hath almost left never a sound member. And as Cistercensis writeth in the eighth booke, that day that hee received revenues was a voyce heard in the ayre, crying over the Court, which sayd, This day is venome shed into the Church of God. When corruption entred into the Church.Before that time there was no Bishop greedy to take a Cure. For it is no honour and profit as it is now, but onelyonly a carefull charge which was like to cost him his life at one time or other.Bishoprickes were not greedily sought after in the Primitive Church, for then it was a charge and not a Lordship. And therefore no man would take it, but he that bare such a love and zeale to God and his …locke, that hee could be content to shed his blood for them. But after that it was made so honourable and profitable, they that were worst both in learning and living, most laboured for it. For they that were vertuous would not entangle themselves with the vaine pride of this world, and weare three Crownes of gold, where Christ did weare one of thorne.Mat. 27.Matt 27 And in conclusion it came so farre… Mark. 25.that whosoever would give most money for it,Joh. 1….John 1 or best could flatter the Prince (which he knew well all good men to abhorre) had the preheminence and got the best Bishopricke, and then instead of Gods Word, they published their owne Commandements, and made Lawes to have all under them, and made men beleeve they could not erre whatsoever they did or sayd, and even as in the Roomes & stead of Moses, Aaron, Eliazer, Iosue, Caleb, and other Faithful folk, came Herod, Annas, Caiphas, Pilate and Iudas, which put Christ to death… A great alteration in the Ch…rch since the time of Christ and his Apostles.So now in the stead of Christ, Peter, Paul, Iames, and Iohn and the faithfull followers of Christ, we have the Pope, Cardinalls, Arch-Bishops, Bishops, and proud Prelates with their Proctors… the malicious Ministers of their Master the Devill, which notwithstanding transform… themselves into a likenesse,… Cor. 11… as though they were the Ministers of righteousnesse, whose end shall bee according to their workes. So that the body is cankered long agone, and now are left but certaine small members which God of his puissant power hath rese…ved uncorrupted… A little fl…cke is left that are not corrupted.and because they see that they cannot be cankered as their owne …lesh is, for pure anger they bu…e them… p. 377lest if they continued there might seeme some deformity in their owne cankered carkasses, by the comparing of these whole members to their scabbed body.

Our godly Martyr, D. Barnes, D. Barnes.in his Articles, pag. 210, 211, 212, 213. writes thus of Bishops; I will never beleeve, nor yet I can never beleeve that one man may be by the Law of God a Bishop of two or three Cities, yea of an whole Country:The sixt Article. for it is contrary to Saint Paul, which saith, I have left thee behind, to set in every City a Bishop. Tit. 1.Titus 1And if you find in one place of Scripture, that they be called Episcopi, you shall find in divers other places, that they be called Presbyteri. I was brought before my Lord Cardinall into his Gallery,The Cardinall and D. Barn…s r…s…n…d togeth…r. and there he read all my Articles till he came to this, and there he stopped, and said, that this touched him, and therefore he asked mee if I thought it wrong, that one Bishop should have so many Citties underneath him? unto whom I answered, that I could no farther goe, than to Saint Pauls text, which set in every City a Bishop. Then asked hee mee,B…t therefore was I am hereticke. if I thought it now unright (seeing the Ordinance of the Church) that one Bishop should have so many Cities? I answered, that I knew none Ordinance of the Church (as concerning this thing) but Saint Pauls saying onelyonly: neverthelesse I did see a contrary custome and practice in the world, but I know not the Originall thereof. Then said hee, that in the Apostles …ime there were divers Citie…, some seven miles,O figmentum. some sixe mile… long, and over them was there set but one Bishop, and of their Suburbes also. So likewise now, … bishop hath but one City to his Cathedrall Church, and the country about, is as Suburbs unto it. Mee thought this was farre fetched, but I durst not deny it, because it was great Authority, and of so holy a Father, and of so great a Divine.If I fained such a thing I should be an hereticke. But this date I say, tha… his Hollinesse could never prove it by Scripture, nor yet by any authority of Doctors, not yet by any practice of the Apostles, and yet it must be tr…e, because a pillar of the Church hath spoken it… But let us see what the Doctors say to my Article: Athanasius doth declare this text of the Apostle. I have left thee behind; &c. Athanius, com. in T…t…m… c. 1.Hee would not commit unto one Bishop a whole Isle, but hee did enjoyne, th…t every City… should have his proper Pastor, supposing that by this meanes they should more diligently oversee the people, and also that the labour should be more easie to beare, &c.Chrysostome in Titum. Also Chrysostome on that p. 378same text. Hee would not that a whole Country should be permitted unto one man, but hee enjoyned unto every man his Cure; by that meanes hee knew, that the labour should be more easie, and the subjects should be with more diligence governed, if the teachers were not distracted with the governing of many Churches, but had cure and charge of one Church onelyonly, &c. Mee thinketh these be plaine words, and able to move a man …o speake as much as I did. But grant that you may have all these C…ies, yet can you make it no heresie. For my Lord Cardinall granted, that it was but against him, and against you, who be no gods.The eighth Ar…i…le. But I poore man must be an heretique, there is no remedy, you will have it so, and who is able to say nay? Not all Scripture, no… yet God himselfe. Sure I am, that they cannot by the Law of God have any jurisdiction secular, and yet they challenge both powers, which if they have why do …hey not put them both in use? for they must say, as the Jewes said, Wee may kill no man. This is the Article that did bite you: for you cannot be content with the office of a Bishop, but you will be also Kings. How that standeth with Gods Law, and with your Oat…, I have declared it to our Noble Prince. I doubt not, but he will put you to the tryall of it.Officers be but Bishops hangmen, God amend it. Have you not this many yeares condemned many a poore man, and then delivered him to the Temporal power to be put to death, which knew nothing of his cause? And if he would, that yee should put him to dea…h your selves, …hen answered yee, how you might kill no man. So that they were always your hangmen. They say they b… …he Successors of Christ and of his Apostles,The ninth Ar…l…. but I can see them follow none but Iudas. For they beare the purse, and have all the money. And if they had not so great possessions, I am sure an hundred would speake against them, where now dare not one, for losse of promotion. And for this Article, I will overcome you with the witnesse of all the world, you may well condemne it for here…ie, but it is as true as your Pa…er Noster, Iudas sold our Master but once, and you …ell him as often as he… commeth in your hands. But I would it were that yee could prove mee a lye…, and that you followed …ny of the Apostles …aving Iudas onelyonly, yet I would that yee were in certaine points as good …s Iudas was.The tenth Ar…icle. These ordinary Bishops and Prelates do follow that …lse Prophet Ba…a…m, For they would curse the people, but by the provision of Go… they were compelled to blesse them, that is to say, to …each p. 379them to live well, though they themselves live most mischievously. And so the Asses which they ride upon, that is, the common people, have their lives in abominat…on. This is the hainous here…ie. For it speaketh against the holy Fathers, which be almost as holy as Balaams Asse, that did once speake the Word of God to a good purpose. And so do they never. But I grant that I did offend in calling you Ordinary Bishops, for I should have called you inordinate butchers. And as …or that that I compared you to Balaam, it is your owne Law. 2. quest: 7. Secuti sunt. And cap. Nos si. 2. qu. 7. Secuti sun… & …ap. No… si.And as for your living, all the world knoweth it. I could tell here many holy points of Bishops living, as keeping of mens wives, and daughters, but I will not, for I should be reckoned uncharitable. But you may do them breaking not your holy charity. So he.

The namelesse Author of a Supplication to King Henry the eight,A supplication to King He…r… the eight. printed 1544. writes thus of Bishops, their calling, practises, and great revenues; How cruelly do the Bishops punish all them which pretend to have learning, and especially in Gods Word? such …hey call heretiques, and persecute with putting them to open shame, with imprisonment, and in conclusion with death most fea…efull and painfull. All this they do to discourage all men from the study of Gods word, fearing lest that by such studious braines which learne Gods Word and publish the same, their iniquity should be made manifest. What study and pains do they take to keep the light from the people… But no man which knoweth the Scriptures will marvell of …his their policie and cruelty. For Saint Iohn declareth their practice plainly,Ioh. 3.John 3 saying. Hee that doth evill hateth the light, and why? bec…use his workes which be evill should not be reproved by the light. And for as much as our Bishops coun…enance of living their great possessions, and Lordly Dominions in them agreeth with Gods Word, …s death with life, God with the Devill, light with darknesse, therefore they hate the light which declareth the same, and study … …uppresse the same by all …ra…t and poli…y. Also they be enemies … all men which can and doe preach Gods Word sincerely and truly, because they live …ontrary to the same. And …his i… the originall ground, and ca…se of the ab…ndance of …nd i…cr…se of darkenes, and of sinne, … …lso of the long contin…nce o… Popish blindnesse, which hath …aigned in this Realme so l…g. After which he proceeds thus, Most dread Soveraigne Lord, I see p. 380two foule deformities… and great lamentable mischiefes annexed to the vocation and office of Bishops, which not reformed will poyson and utterly corrupt the godly vocation and election of the said Bishops. The onelyonly infection, and pestilent poyson is their great Lordships and dominions with the yearly provents of the same, which hath so fashioned them in proud countenances, and worldly behaviour, that now they be most like the Heathen Princes, and most unlike unto Christ, although they would be esteemed of all men to be his true successours: yet poore Christ saith, The f…xes have holes, the birds have nests, but the Sonne of man hath not wherein to lay his head. But our Bishops have gorgeous and sumptuous builded houses, mannors, and castles pleasantly set about with Parkes well replenished with Deare, warrens swarming full of conyes, and pooles well stored with divers kinds of fishes. And not onelyonly these commodities and pleasures, but also divers other pleasures. How doth this Lordly and worldly Bishoplike estate agree with Christs words? I thinke a man cannot reasonably conjecture or imagine by their countenance and living that they be Christs true Disciples. The other mischiefe, and evill is, that they have too many worldly cares and businesses. For to these Mannors and Lordships belong many Tenants, for whose leases to be made fines and haryots to be appointed and taken, amerciaments to be assessed, taxed and also forgiven and dispensed, there be no few suits made to my Lord Bishop: also the hearing of Testamentary causes, divorces, causes of Matrimony, causes of slanders, of lechery, adultery and punishment o… bawdery, and such other bumme Court matters (whereof not one belong to his office and vocation appointed by Gods Word) My Lord Bishop is so occupyed and unquieted, that he hath no leasure to study, nor to preach Gods word. But such affaires and worldly businesses, nothing pertaining to his vocation, be very great hinderance and let to my Lord Bishop that hee can not apply him to exercise his owne office. Matth. 5.Matt 5For no man can serve two masters, saith Christ. The Apostles thought it not just and equall to provide for the necessary living of the poore, Act… 6.Acts 6leaving Gods word untaught. But my Lord Bishop doing these things nothing pertaining to his office thinketh that he hath exactly done his office. From these great Mannors commeth yearly great rents, pleasures, and profits, which although they be the good creatures …f God, yet the abundance of them (being where they be more impediment than helpe) be a great occasion of corruption in the user of them. And peradventure they would allure and p. 381intice a Bishops heart to trust in them, and so corrupt him, as the Scripture saith: Blessed is the rich which is found without blemish, hath not gone after gold nor hoped in mony and treasures; Where is …here such a one, and wee shall commend him and call him blessed, for great things doth hee among his people. And if my Lord Bishop should give the superfluity of his goods to the poore (whose goods justly they be) as the Proph…t Esay saith;Isay 3.Isa 3 then my Lord should lacke them to furnish his Lordly countenance, and so my Lord should lose his Lordly honour and prayse of the world. Wherefore as these superfluous possessions be annexed to estates of Bishops by mans vaine fantasie, and not by Gods word, so my Lord Bishop will either keepe them to make him more friends (remembring that riches maketh many friends;Prov. 14.20.Prov 14:20 but the poore is forsaken of his neighbour,) or devise the expence of them contrary to Gods Word, either to make sure friends in the Court about the King to obtaine more promotions and benefices, or in curious building, sumptuous and delicate fare, well apparelled servants, trimme decked horses to ride pompeously like a Lord. Although there were no authority to prove this, yet the Lordly countenance, and fashion of Bishops, yea their common exercise, and practise can well prove and testifie this plainely before the face of all men, which knoweth the Lordlinesse of Bishops, as the Prophet Esay saith.Isay. 11.Isa 11 The changing of their countenance bewrayeth them; yea they declare their owne sinnes themselves at Sodomites, and hide them not. Do no… these things faintly agree with the saying of their predecessour Paul the Apostle, which saith, When wee have food and rayment, wee must be contented. 1 Tim. 6.1 Tim 6Is not this Lordly honour directly against Christs words, which saith,Luk. 22.Luke 22 The Kings of Nations raigne over them, and they that have authority over them are called gracious Lords: but you shall n…t be so. Also Peter speaketh to his true successors, saying,1 Pet. 5.1 Pet 5 Feed you Christs flocke as much as lyeth in you, taking the oversight of them, not as compelled thereunto, but willingly after a good sort, nor for the desire of filthy lucre, but of a good mind, not as though you were Lords over the parishes, but that you be an example to the flocke and that with good will. But our Lordly Bishops estate and proud countenance of living (as it is now used) is contrary to Gods Word, as it appeareth by these words, But you shall not be so. And also by these sayings. p. 382Not at though you were Lords over the Parishes. And Christ saith, Hee that is not with mee is against mee. Wherefore so long as they raigne so Lordly in the Clergie contrary to Gods Word, so long be they against God and so long as they be against God, they be not sent from God, and then can they not preach truly and si…cerely his Word: For, how can they Preach except they be sent? Rom. 10.Rom 10saith Paul. Christ was s…nt to preach, as it appeareth, Mar. 1. Luk. 4. and Isay 61. And Christ saith to all his true Disciples.Joh. 2.John 2 As my Father sent mee, so do I send you. And commandeth also all his Apostles and true Successors of the Apostles, to preach the Gospel to the whole world, and not Lordly to raigne in the Clergie. Whom Paul teacheth to be as Ministers, saying… Let a man this wise esteeme us even as the Ministers of Christ, and the stewards of the secrets of God. 1 Cor. 4.1 Cor 4To preach the Gospel therefore (most gratious and prudent Lord) is the true vocation and office of all godly Bishops, Parsons, Vicars and of other Shepheards, and not to be Ambassadors to Princes, not to be judges to heare matters of contention, Testamentary causes, divorces, slanders, baudery, and such other. Your Grace hath of your Lay see sufficient both in Learning and wisedome, and of good conscience to heare, and judge such causes and variances, remitting Bishops to attend their office and vocation by God (and not by man) appointed. And therefore they should not exercise any other office than God hath appointed to them: for no man can serve two masters. Mat. 6.Matt 6And if Bishops and other Pastors would diligently execute their vocation & office, much …ewer of those matters of contention shall be in ure, & experience either to be heard or judged. Seeing the Scriptures commandeth so earnestly every man to walke as hee is called. Many Christian men marvell greatly why the Bishops desire and procure so greedily to exercise the office pertaining to another vocation, and to leave their vocation and office (appointed by God to them, to be exercised) not executed, nor performed and done:Ioh. 9.John 9 Verily because they love the glory of men, more than the glory of God. And surely, even as Caiphas and Annas being Bishops and exercising the office of secular and temporall Judges did judge Christ to be crucified, so our Bishops so long as they contrary to their calling, do exercise the office of temporall judges, so long shall they persecute Christ and his members, and study to suppresse his Word, and not to preach the same. Have not they businesse p. 383sufficient wherewith to occupie them in their owne office? If they would looke well thereunto, do not they see on every side detestable sinne to raigne throughout all this your Realme? Detestable vices raigne in this your Realme, against the which our Bishops and other Pastours should continually cry out, as the Prophet saith;Isay 5.Isa 5 Cry now as loud as thou canst, leave not off, lift up thy voyce like a trumpet, and shew my people their offences, & the …ouse of Iacob their sins. But alas they be become both blind and dumbe, as the Prophet saith.Isay 66.Isa 66 His watchmen are all blinde, they have altogether no understanding, they are all dumbe dogges, not able to barke, they …re s…epy, foolish are they, and lye snor…ing, they are shamelesse dogges that …e never satisfied. The shepheards also in like manner h…ve no u…derstanding …ut every man turneth to his owne way, every out after his owne covetousnesse withall his power. What is the cause that they do not execute this their office? Other beca…se they cannot, or because they have so much worldly businesse, that they will not apply …hemselves to performe both. Or else they be afraid to spe…ke the truth lest they should displease men, whom Paul reproveth saying:Gal. 1.Gal 1 If I should please men, I should not be the servant of Christ. Also the Prophet saith,Psal. 53.Ps 53 God breaketh the bones of them which study to please men… they be confounded because the Lord … th…m. Our Bishops love so well their great dominions… whereby they maintaine their Lordly honour, th…t they will …ot disple…se men with pre…ching the …ruth lest they should …h…n loose their great po…essions, and consequently their Lordly glory. But surely, as long as they possesse their great Dominions, so long they will continue and maintaine their pride: And so long as they continue in pride, so long they shall not receive the holy Ghost, which shall reach them to speake the truth. For upon whom shall my spirit rest (saith the Prophet Esay) but upon the m…ke and lowly, and upon him which feareth my sayings? Isay ….Also the Prophet saith, God res…steth the proud, and unto the m…ke and lowly h…e giv…th …is grace. Wherefore so long as the Bishops conti…e in this worldly wealth and honour, so long will they … their du…y and office, but ra…her pers…cute the word of Go…, which declareth and sheweth what is their office …nd their duty. And so long as they do not e…ercise their off…e …nd voc…ion, but …o pe…secu…e …he Word, and such as sinc…ely p…each the same so long shall sinne incr…ase. For if the eye be wicked, all the body shall be p. 384…ull of darknesse. For even as at such time, when the Bishop of Rome was first endowed with great possessions, a voice was heard, saying, Now venome and poyson is cast and shed forth into the Church of God. In like wise no doubt, most godly Governour, semblable voyce and saying may be verified in, and upon all the Church of England, sith your Bishops were endowed with so great possessions and Lordly Dominions.Note this. No doubt, gracious Lord, so long as great Lordly Dominions, worldly honours, and wealth be annexed and knit to the vocation and offices of Bishops and other pastours, these mischiefes and inconveniences shall ever ensue and follow. First the most proud and ambitious, the most covetous and wicked which other by mony, friendships, or flattery can obtaine the benefice, will labour with all studie and policie to get the benefice, onelyonly for the worldly honour, and not for the zeale and love which he should have to instruct and teach the people committed to his cure and charge. And for the Profit which belongeth and appertaineth to the same benefice, they will dissemble humility, and despection, of all worldly profits and pleasures so colourably and subtilly, that it shall be very hard for your Majesty, or any other having authority to give benefices to perceive them. And when they have obtained the benefice, then every Christian man shall well perceive, that he hath not entred in by the doore; that is, for the zeale and love to do and execute the office, but hath climed up and ascended by another way, that is, for the lucre and honour annexed to the office. And then certainly, whosoever ascendeth and entereth in by another way, cannot be but a theefe by day, and by night, whose study and labour must be to steale, kill and destroy, as Christ (whose words must ever be true) saith.Ioh. 1….John 1 The theefe commeth not but to steale, to kill, and to destroy. So that so long as so much worldly profit and honour belongeth to the benefice, so long will hee that for want and lacke of learning cannot doe the office, and also the most covetous and proud will labour to have th… …fice, whereby the people committed to his cure shall not on… be untaught, and not learned in Gods Word, but also all they which can preach and teach Gods Word, and love the same, by such a worldly wolfe shall be extremely persecnted and tormented. For hee cannot but steale, kill, and destroy, and utterly abhorre and hate the godly, as Christ saith,Iohn 15.19.John 15:19 If you were of the world, the world would love his p. 358owne. But because you be not of the world, but I have chosen you from the world, therefore the world doth hate you. No doubt a man shall much rather upon thornes gather grapes, and upon brambles, and bryers gather figges than of such greedy theeves to have any Christian religion, either set forth, preached, or stablished. Wherefore (most redoubted Prince) seeing that their great possessions, riches, wordly offices, cures and businesse be the impediment, and let that they do not execute their vocation and office, which is so godly, profitable & necessary for this your Commonwealth; You, being our Soveraigne Lord and King (whom God hath called to governe this your Realme, and to redresse the enormities, and abuses of the same) by all justice, and equity are bounden to take away from Bishops, and other spirituall shepheards such superfluity of possessions and riches, and other secular cures, businesse, and worldly offices which be the cause of much sinne in them, and no lesse occasion whereby they be letted to execute their office to the great losse and hindrance of much faith, vertue, and goodnesse, which might be administred to your subjects through the true preaching of Gods Word. And that done, then circumspectly to take heed that none be admitted to be Pastours, but such as can preach and have preached sincerely Gods Word: And all such as will not, to remove them from their cures. This godly order observed in the election of spirituall Pastours, & the pestilent poyson removed, and taken away from their vocation; faith shall increase, and sinne shall decrease, true obedience shall be observed, with all humility to your Majesty, and to the higher powers by your grace appointed in office: civill quietnesse, rest, and peace shall be established. God shall be feared, honoured, and loved, which is the effect of all Christian living.

O Lord, save our most Soveraigne Lord King Henry the eight, and grant that hee may once throughly feele and perceive what miserable calamity sorrow and wretchednesse we suffer now in these dayes abroad in the Country by these unlearned, Popish, and most cruell tyrants, even the very enemies of Christs Crosse, whose paine shall be without end, when wee shall live in joy for ever: Grant yet once againe, I say, good Lord, and most mercifull Father, through thy Sonne Jesus Christ, that when his Grace shall know and perceive (by thy gift and goodnesse) their most detestable wayes in misusing thy heritage, that hee p. 386will earnestly go about to see a redresse among them, and to the penitent and contrite in heart, to shew his accustomed goodnesse, and to the other his justice according to Saint Pauls Doctrine, and his Graces Lawes. And most dread Soveraigne (with all humility, and humblenesse of heart) I beseech your grace (according to your accustomed goodnesse) to take this my rude Supplication to the best as a fruit of my obedience, wherein I have not dissembled, but have opened fully unto your Grace the ground and very bottome of my heart, not of any grudge, evill will or malice that I beare to any spirituall Shepheard (God I take to record) but onelyonly for the glory of God, the honour of your Grace, and the wealth and profit of your most naturall and loving subjects. Thus this namelesse Supplicant.

Our learned Martyr Iohn Lambert.Iohn Lambert, alias, Nicholson, Anno 1538. in his answer to his 9. and 22. Articles, thus determins of the parity and identity of Bishops and Ministers. As touching Priesthood in the Primitive Church,Fox Acts and Monument, old edition. p. 541. 553. when vertue bare (as ancient Doctors do deeme, and Scripture in mine opinion recordeth the same) most roome, there were no more officers in the Church of God than Bishops and Deacons: that is to say, Ministers, as witnesseth, besides Scripture, full apertly Ierome in his Commentaries upon the Epistles of Paul, whereas he saith, That those whom we call Priests, The order and state of Priestswere all one and none other but Bishops, and the Bishops none other but Priests; men ancient both in age and learning so neere as could be chosen. Neither were they instituted and chosen as they be now adayes, with small regard of a Bishop, or his officer onelyonly, opposing them if they can construe a Collect; but they were chosen not onelyonly by the Bishop, but also with the consent of the people among whom they should have their living, as sheweth Saint Cyprian. And the people (as hee saith) ought to have power to chuse Priests, that bee men of good learning, of good and honest report. Election of Ministers in the old time, not without the assent of the people.But, alacke for pity, such elections are now banished, and new fashions brought in; which if wee should conferre with the forme of the election shewed of Christ by his Apostle Paul, wee should find no small diversity, but all turned upside downe.

In the 2…. where you demand, Whether I beleeve that it is lawfull for all Priests freely to preach the Word of God or no: and that in all places, at all seasons, and to all persons to whom they shall please, although they be not sent? I say, that Priests are called in p. 387Scripture by two distinct words, that is to wit, Presbyteri and Sacerdotes. The first is to say, ancient men, Seniors and Elders: and by that word or vocable are the secular Judges, or such like head officers sometimes also signified; as wee read in Daniel, of these that defamed and wrongfully accused Susanna; but this is seldome, and nothing so customeablely, as those be called Presbyteri, which are set to be Prelates in the Church, to guide the same by the word of God and his blessed Doctrine, that is the rod of direction, and the foundation of Christs faith. And Priests thus called Presbyteri in the Primitive Church (what time we…e but few traditions and ordinances to let us from the straight trade or institution made by Christ, and his Apostles) WERE THE SAME AND NONE OTHER BUT BISHOPS, as I have shewed you in the first part of mine answer, by authority of Saint Hierome, and Paul recordeth the same right evidently, and Tit. 1. in this forme. I left thee Titus (said blessed Paul) behind mee in Crete, that thou shouldest correct, or set in a due order such things as lacke, or be not else perfectly framed, and that thou shouldest set Priests in every Towne, like as I did appoint thee, such as are without reproach or blamelesse, the husband of one wife, having faithfull children, not subject to the vice of riot, or that hee be not unruly: for so ought a Bishop to be, &c. These are not my words, but of Saint Paul in the Epistle to Titus; where you may see, that a Priest called Presbyter, should be that same that a Bishop, whom he requireth a little after, to be able by wholsome Doctrine of Gods Scripture to exhort the good to follow the same doctrine; and those that shall speake against it, to reprove them thereby. And marke you how hee would have a Bishop, otherwise called an ancient man, and a Priest, to make exhortation by holy Scripture, and thereby to reprove them that shall speake against the truth, & not to condemne them by might or authority only, or else by traditions of men made in generall Councels. And as many as are these wise Priests which are called commonly Presbyteri, otherwise Bishops, such as in the Church are set to take cure of soules, and to be spirituall Pastors, ought to Preach freely the Word of God, in all places and times convenient, and to whomsoever it shall please them, if they suppose, and see that their preaching should edifie and profit. And whereas you adde this particle, though they were not sent. I say, that all such are chosen to be Preachers, and therefore sent, for of this speaketh p. 388S. Gregory in his Pastorals, in this wise… Praedicationis, quippe officium suscepit, quisquis ad sacerdotium accedit, &c. So hee, who much condemned Ex Officio Oathes and proceedings; the Canon Law; and inequality of Bishops and Ministers, as contrary to Christs institution, who made all his Apostles of equall authority, in his answers to the 29.30.41. and 43. Articles, too large and too common to transcribe.

The Image of a very Christian Bishop, &c.The booke intituled: The Image of a very Christian Bishop, and of a counterfeit Bishop, (written & printed cum privilegio regali, in Henry the eight his raigne, though by the Bishops practice called in by this **See Fox Acts and monuments. old edition, p. 574.Kings injunctions, An. 1539. with sundry other orthodoxe bookes,) determins thus both of the Bishops callings, and practices in those times. The booke being very rare, I shall transcribe more of it than otherwise I would doe.

The preachers ought much rather to rebuke the spirituall heads, than the temporall, for divers just causesOver and besides this, the Ministers of the Word of God are principally bound hereunto, that they shall more sharpely rebuke the Bishops and the Primates of the Church, than the worldly Princes and Rulers, and that for many causes; first, because that Ecclesiasticall highnesse and dignity, as it is now, is not of God; for God doth not acknowledge, not elect this disguised, and painted deceitfull people, and these childish, and in a manner counterfeit, and Nicholaicall Bishops, forasmuch as they do neither teach, no… yet do execute any point belonging to the office of a Bishop. Secondly,Nicholaicall Bishops, I wene he means the Bishops made of children at Saint Nicholas time. these shadows of Bishops have not beene constituted by men, but they have exalted their owne selves, and they have catched unto themselves Empire, Dominion, and Lordships, against both God and men, against reason, common sense or judgement; after the nature and property of Tyrants, which doe rule onelyonly by the wrath, and great indignation of God. The Temporall, or Worldly Governours, and Officers are constituted by the gracious favour, and mercifull ordinance of God, to the chastisement, and punishment of evill men, and to the protection, defence, and maintenance of good men.Tyrants. Temporall Princes and Governours. Besides this, the worldly Governours, although they do injury and wrong never so much, and do unjustly and wickedly,Rom. 13.Rom 13 yet for all that, they doe but onelyonly hurt the temporall goods, and the body. But these great estates, and Prelates of the Church, if they be not good and vertuous, and do not promote, and …e… forwards the course of the word of God unfainedly, and with their hearts, they are meere wolves, and most cruell murderers of soules. And it is much like in evill and p. 389wicked Bishops as if Satan having a Miter on his head, and rings on his fingers, did …i… in a chaire and did rule the people. Wherefore even the Bishops also which doe not teach the pure Word of God, are no lesse to be eschewed than the Devill himselfe. For wheresoever the Word of God is not,The Word of God. there without doubt is nothing else but humane errour, meere doctrine of Devills, and butchery and slaughter of soules; for the consciences or soules without the Word of God can neither live no… bee delivered from the Devill.